If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. A major courtroom battle in Los Angeles is testing how far the United States will go in blaming technology companies for the mental health struggles of young users and whether censorship or digital ID mandate pressure grows. The case involves a 19-year-old woman from California, identified as K.G.M., who says she became hooked on social media platforms as a teenager and that the companies behind them deliberately built products to keep her and millions of others scrolling endlessly. Her lawsuit targets Meta, ByteDance, and Google, accusing them of negligence and of knowingly designing addictive systems through Facebook, Instagram, YouTube. More: California Content Law Design Code Faces Free Speech Clash Snapchat and TikTok were also named early on but settled already without disclosing terms. What makes this trial significant is not only its focus on social media design but its potential to erode the long-standing legal protections that have kept tech firms largely immune from responsibility for what users post online. Thousands of similar claims are waiting behind this one. Most were folded into a broader judicial proceeding, from which three representative lawsuits involving K.G.M., R.K.C., and Moore were chosen to move forward. The outcomes could set the stage for how future cases are handled or whether mass settlements emerge. Jury selection for K.G.M.’s trial begins this week in Los Angeles County Superior Court. Key to the plaintiff’s case is a strategy that attempts to sidestep Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, the statute that shields online services from liability for third-party speech. K.G.M.’s attorneys insist their case is not about user posts but about the deliberate engineering of algorithms, notification systems, and design loops that keep people engaged. Judge Carolyn Kuhl has already dismissed part of the complaint on Section 230 grounds, particularly those linked to TikTok’s so-called “challenge” videos. Yet she allowed the broader negligence claims to continue, writing that “there is evidence in the record that K.G.M. was harmed by design features” and that “the cause of K.G.M.’s harms is a disputed factual question that must be resolved by the jury.” More: Judge Orders Tech CEOs to Testify in Case Using Algorithmic Design Rules as a New Avenue for Indirect Online Censorship Pressure If a jury finds that design alone can constitute a harmful product, it would mark a turning point in how internet services are regulated and open the door to litigation targeting almost any platform that uses engagement-based algorithms. Attorneys for YouTube and the other defendants argue that the lawsuit cannot logically separate design from the content it delivers. In one clip shown to the court, K.G.M. said, “I have gotten a lot of content promoting…like body checking, posts [of] what I eat in a day, just a cucumber, making people feel bad if they don’t eat like that.” That admission, defense lawyers contend, proves the problem lies with user-created material rather than interface mechanics. What appears to disturb or influence someone online is still a protected expression, not a design flaw. Once design becomes the target of liability, the distinction between engineering and editorial control collapses. If a company can be sued for making a product that amplifies legal speech, its safest response would be to restrict speech itself. Even setting the free speech question aside, the evidentiary burden is formidable. The jury must decide how much of K.G.M.’s distress stems from the apps themselves, how much from the content she consumed, and how much from unrelated life factors. These efforts share a common idea: that platforms should be held responsible for the time and attention people give them. Yet if courts accept that premise, nearly every digital service, including news sites, streaming platforms, and shopping apps, could be accused of “addiction by design,” and bills to address online “harm” through censorship and digital ID mandates will pile up. If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. The post Landmark LA Trial Targets Social Media Addiction Claims appeared first on Reclaim The Net.

If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. Newly disclosed internal records, obtained by the US House Judiciary Committee, reveal that Brussels privately warned X that it could be blocked from operating in the European Union unless it obeyed a set of Digital Services Act demands. We obtained a copy of the records for you here. The decision, stretching across 184 pages, became the foundation for a fine of nearly $150 million. Buried in the text is a clear threat: if X failed to comply, the Commission could “disable access to the infringing service.” That phrase, lifted straight from Article 75(3) of the DSA, turns regulatory oversight into a power switch. The fines themselves read like parodies of seriousness. €45 million for “misappropriating” the blue checkmark. Somehow, allowing people to pay to show they’re a real person and get a checkmark supposedly distorted “cross-industry visual standards.” €35 million for an ad repository deemed too limited. €40 million for withholding data from “qualified researchers,” some based outside the EU. We all know what type of “researcher” that is. Even the supporting evidence borders on comic. One example cited a parody of a Donald Duck account. Regulators claimed the cartoon’s blue checkmark could “mislead users” into believing the fictional duck was real. In Brussels, satire is treated as a compliance issue. The Commission’s orders go beyond Europe’s borders, demanding that X give global researchers access to platform data, including material related to US politics. The House Judiciary Committee called this an overreach into American sovereignty. For Brussels, it is just another box to tick under “responsible governance.” Officials compared X’s operations to other platforms and faulted it for “operating differently.” That phrase captures the real offense: refusing to follow a standardized moderation model shaped by bureaucratic preference. The documents outline a strategy of control built on process and penalties. The Commission presents itself as an impartial referee, yet wields the threat of erasure to enforce conformity. If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. The post EU Records Reveal Absurd Justifications for $150 Million Fine Against X appeared first on Reclaim The Net.

If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. Washington is preparing legislation designed to prevent foreign governments from extending their online speech restrictions into the United States. Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy Sarah Rogers confirmed that a new “censorship shield law” is being drawn up to ensure that laws such as Britain’s Online Safety Act or the EU’s Digital Services Act cannot be used to censor US citizens or companies. Rogers said she expects “some kind of shield legislation” to be tabled soon, adding that any attempt to apply these overseas statutes in the United States runs counter to the country’s founding legal principles. “Clearly, these censorship statutes are so anathema to the First Amendment that judgments under them shouldn’t be enforced here,” she told Harry Cole Saves the West. Her comments mark one of the strongest rebukes yet from an American official toward the United Kingdom’s online regulation strategy. Rogers accused Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government of showing “authoritarian intentions” in its digital policies, remarking that “The Labour Party has not distinguished itself with advocacy for free speech or sanity on migration.” The US State Department has clashed repeatedly with British authorities in recent months, particularly over Ofcom’s role in policing online speech under the new Act. Rogers said Washington has no intention of allowing British regulators to dictate what can or cannot be published by US platforms. “It’s our 250th birthday, and we’re going to stand up for our First Amendment rights, and we’re going to stand up for American industry, and we’re going to stand up for American political freedoms,” she said. Rogers also issued a warning over Britain’s expanding use of artificial intelligence and facial recognition technology in policing. She cautioned that “when a government has authoritarian intentions, then a powerful tool can be used for powerful authoritarian ends,” suggesting that such systems, when combined with censorship powers, risk becoming tools of political control rather than public safety. More: The GRANITE ACT: Wyoming Bill Targets Foreign Censors With $10M Penalties To illustrate what she described as a troubling trend, Rogers cited the case of Lucy Connolly and the more than 12,000 “non-crime hate incidents” logged in recent years by British police. She said she would “be heartened to learn that the UK had done that,” referring to enacting protections akin to the First Amendment that guarantee a broader range of free expression. The proposed American legislation would effectively block the enforcement of any foreign orders or penalties that attempt to silence online speech protected under US law. By doing so, it would safeguard domestic companies and individuals from being compelled to remove lawful content merely because it violates another country’s restrictions. This approach builds on the Trump administration’s earlier criticism of the UK for what it described as “serious restrictions” on free speech. Officials at the time pointed to the Lucy Connolly case, media limits around the Southport attack, and the new Online Safety Act as evidence of growing government interference in public discourse. If passed, the censorship shield would permanently prevent international regulators from reaching across borders to influence American speech standards. For the first time, the United States would have a clear statutory barrier ensuring that what Americans can say online remains determined by the US Constitution, not by foreign governments. If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. The post Washington Plans “Censorship Shield Law” to Block UK and EU Online Speech Restrictions appeared first on Reclaim The Net.

Become a Member and Keep Reading… Reclaim your digital freedom. Get the latest on censorship, cancel culture, and surveillance, and learn how to fight back. Join Already a supporter? Sign In. (If you’re already logged in but still seeing this, refresh this page to show the post.) The post The Slow Murder of Private Communication appeared first on Reclaim The Net.

If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. The Federal Trade Commission’s January 28 workshop on age verification featured a familiar promise from Washington and Silicon Valley: that technology can keep children safe online without compromising privacy. Yet many of the proposed systems, even those described as privacy-preserving, still rely on constant monitoring of how people behave online. FTC Commissioner Mark Meador promoted “behavioral age verification,” which he defined as “ascertaining a user’s age by the way they interact with an online platform or system.” He added, “Machine learning can help detect patterns in browsing and usage behavior that consistently indicate whether a user is too young to be on the platform.” While Meador presented this as a technical solution that avoids intrusive ID or facial scans, the underlying approach requires platforms to watch and record how users move, click, and communicate. That continuous observation might not require a government ID, but it still means being profiled, not for advertising this time but to prove one’s age. FTC Commissioner Christopher Mufarrige echoed support for expanding such tools, saying “age verification technologies will play an enormously important role in protecting kids online.” He acknowledged the tension between new verification schemes and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which restricts collecting personal data from children without parental consent. Rather than seeing that conflict as a red flag, Mufarrige said the agency is exploring “potential solutions” to reconcile privacy law with these technologies. Several lawmakers and policy advocates also pushed for stricter verification requirements. South Dakota State Representative Bethany Soye argued that digital platforms should face the same kind of restrictions that exist in the physical world, saying, “We shouldn’t be treating the digital world any different from the physical world…if you are the one producing something dangerous to children, you should be keeping it out of their hands.” Clare Morell of the Ethics and Public Policy Center framed age verification as both protective and empowering for parents. “Age verification laws are to both protect children and empower parents,” she said. Morell insisted that “the technological means are there to both age gate and protect privacy,” and urged lawmakers to write laws focused on “account creation” instead of content. That claim, that mass verification systems can protect privacy simply through design, drew skepticism throughout the event. Such systems still depend on the large-scale collection, inference, or sharing of user data, even if governments or companies avoid calling it that. Sara Kloek of the Software & Information Industry Association said, “Everyone in the ecosystem is going to have a role to play, including the FTC and Congress, in the age verification process.” Utah’s Katherine Hass credited enforcement pressure for the spread of parental controls, stating, “We would not have parental controls but for the lawsuits from the states, the FTC’s 6(b) authority, the companies saw the writing on the wall and are doing it because of the lawsuits.” Others questioned whether these approaches truly enhance safety without building new databases of user behavior. Jennifer Huddleston of the Cato Institute warned that “one of the key concerns (about laws) are concerns around data privacy, and the data privacy of young users,” adding that verification laws “could provide a honeypot for bad actors.” Apple’s Nick Rossi was more direct about the risks for developers. “Age assurance has never been a good fit for app developers,” he said, describing it as a compliance burden that forces unnecessary data transmission. “We can’t lose sight of that significant portion of our members for whom age assurance presents a risk without a need.” From Google, Emily Cashman Kirstein acknowledged that the company already uses its own model to infer a user’s age from existing data. “Google’s age inference model takes data we know about a user, without collecting additional data, and works to confirm whether the user is an adult,” she said. “If the user is an adult, we don’t want to hamper their ability to use Google’s services, or ask for privacy intrusive information. If the user is a minor, we want the user to be able to take advantage of the services developed for minors.” Even as she recognized that “there is always going to be a privacy tradeoff,” Kirstein suggested that app developers, not broader ecosystem players, should be responsible for verification. Her statement reinforced a key contradiction in the tech industry’s approach: companies claim to minimize data use while maintaining systems that depend on continuous data inference. The workshop revealed growing political and corporate enthusiasm for digital age verification, but also an unsettling consensus that monitoring user behavior may be an acceptable price for online safety. If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. The post The FTC’s Privacy Paradox: Guarding Kids by Tracking All Users appeared first on Reclaim The Net.

If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. Wyoming has taken a historic step to insulate American speech from foreign interference with the introduction of the Wyoming Guaranteeing Rights Against Novel International Tyranny and Extortion (GRANITE) Act, House Bill 0070, which would be the first US law designed to create a private right of action against foreign censorship enforcement. Representative Daniel Singh introduced the bill, declaring that “foreign governments have decided they can threaten American citizens and American companies for speech that is protected by our Constitution…Wyoming is drawing a line in the sand.” The measure aims to establish Wyoming as a refuge for free expression and digital innovation, directly challenging what lawmakers describe as an escalating campaign of transnational censorship pressure. The legislation provides that any Wyoming resident, business, or US person with servers in the state may sue foreign governments or international organizations that attempt to enforce censorship demands against them for First Amendment protected speech. Each violation could cost the offending entity at least $1 million or 10% of its US revenue, whichever is higher. The GRANITE Act prohibits Wyoming courts and agencies from recognizing or enforcing foreign censorship judgments. It also forbids any state cooperation with such orders, including extradition requests or data demands linked to speech that is constitutionally protected in the US. Under the bill, no Wyoming authority may help a foreign state investigate, penalize, or prosecute individuals over lawful expression. We obtained a copy of the bill for you here. Service of process provisions ensure that foreign governments cannot use procedural loopholes, such as registered agents or international legal treaties, to intimidate Americans into silence. The bill emphasizes that even receiving a foreign censorship demand within Wyoming constitutes harm occurring inside the state’s jurisdiction. A Response to Global Censorship Campaigns Lawmakers cited specific examples in the bill’s findings, including the UK’s Office of Communications (Ofcom) threatening US-based platforms with fines, Brazil’s Supreme Court ordering the shutdown of X, and similar enforcement efforts from the EU’s Digital Services Act. Supporters argue these cases show a growing pattern of international attempts to penalize American companies and individuals for online speech that is lawful under the First Amendment. Wyoming’s legislature describes this as “foreign coercion and intimidation” incompatible with constitutional protections. The GRANITE Act positions Wyoming as a legal sanctuary for companies and individuals facing overseas censorship. The bill explicitly encourages technology firms to relocate or host their servers in the state to benefit from its protections. Representative Singh summarized the principle simply: “The First Amendment doesn’t stop at the water’s edge just because a foreign bureaucrat sends a threatening letter. If you’re in Wyoming, you speak freely. Period.” By establishing substantial penalties and a clear jurisdictional framework, Wyoming seeks to deter foreign authorities from targeting US speech through financial or legal pressure. The legislation is drafted to remain within federal constitutional boundaries, aligning itself with the federal SPEECH Act, which blocks enforcement of foreign defamation judgments inconsistent with the First Amendment. Federal Attention According to Singh’s office, a similar version of the GRANITE Act is now under review in Congress, with reported interest from the White House and the US State Department. If enacted, this law could mark the strongest legal defense yet against extraterritorial censorship, reflecting a broader American effort to assert that domestic free speech protections cannot be overridden by foreign regimes or international bureaucracies. Preston Byrne, a US-based attorney who represents online platforms 4Chan and Kiwi Farms in disputes over international censorship demands, was instrumental in drafting the Wyoming GRANITE Act. Byrne describes the new law as a decisive response to foreign governments seeking to impose speech restrictions on American platforms through measures like the United Kingdom’s Online Safety Act. “If Australia attempted to enforce its social media ban against a company with a sufficient Wyoming nexus, the GRANITE Act’s shield would protect that company from that enforcement, and the ‘sword’ would expose Australia to a lawsuit with statutory damages of minimum $1 million,” Byrne said. He explained that the law’s reach is not limited to Wyoming corporations but extends to anyone who establishes a basic connection to the state. “To use it, all you need to do is create the requisite Wyoming nexus, and hosting content in-state is enough,” Byrne said. This feature effectively turns Wyoming into a safe harbor for speech and digital publishing, allowing platforms to situate part of their infrastructure within the state to gain legal protection from censorship attempts originating overseas. Byrne emphasized that the legislation respects the sovereignty of other nations while firmly defending the rights of those under Wyoming’s jurisdiction. “Foreign governments remain free to do what they want on their own soil. What GRANITE does is it stops foreign governments from communicating threats to persons with a Wyoming nexus, by making those threats toothless in Wyoming, and by imposing a high cost for making the threats,” he said. Under the act, such “threats” could trigger lawsuits carrying statutory damages of at least $1 million per violation, along with attorney fees and other remedies. Byrne characterized the law as not merely defensive but transformative in scope. “We are going to free the entire world with this law,” he said in a statement to Reclaim The Net, reflecting a broader ambition to extend the protections of the First Amendment into the digital sphere and to provide a model that other states could adopt. By establishing a clear legal boundary against foreign censorship demands, Byrne believes the GRANITE Act could become the legal template for safeguarding free expression in the face of increasing global pressure to regulate online speech. If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. The post Wyoming Introduces First-Ever Foreign Censorship Shield Bill appeared first on Reclaim The Net.

At a Glance: The Best Chicken Breeds for Beginners: Cold Climate Edition Heavy-bodied birds retain heat better than small, lightweight breeds. Larger chickens have more body mass to generate warmth and less surface area to lose it through. The best chicken breeds for cold climates are Buff Orpingtons, Silver Laced Wyandottes, and Black Australorps. These three breeds consistently thrive better than other chickens in freezing temperatures. Choose breeds with small, flat combs, such as Rose Combs or Pea Combs. Large single combs stick up in the air and freeze easily, while small combs stay protected against the bird’s head. You can collect fresh eggs all winter without heat lamps or electricity. These breeds continue laying through sub-zero temperatures when paired with proper ventilation and basic coop setup. Planning to raise chickens in a cold US. region, but worried the flock won’t survive? It’s not an impossible feat, as long as you choose birds specifically built for freezing temperatures. This guide walks you through the best chicken breeds for beginners to raise in cold climates and covers the three basic coop setups to protect the flock from frostbite. Understanding the Cold Climate Constraint When you’re just starting to raise a flock, winter weather is your biggest challenge. Choosing a bird based on looks alone can lead to problems during the first freeze. In cold climates, you want chicken breeds with three specific traits: The Comb Science: A chicken’s comb releases body heat, kind of like a radiator. Specifically, large “Single Combs” stick up in the air and lose too much heat in winter. Meanwhile, Rose, Pea, and Cushion combs sit flat against the chicken’s head and help boost warmth and avoid frostbite. Body Mass: Larger breeds retain warmth far better than smaller, lighter Mediterranean breeds. It’s simple physics working in your favor. Feather Density: “Loose-feathered” breeds trap air against their skin. The plume keeps the bird warm even when temperatures drop below freezing. The Best Chicken Breeds for Beginners (Cold Climate Edition) If you’re planning to raise chickens in a cold climate, narrow your choices to these five proven winter-ready breeds. The Buff Orpington The Buff Orpington is the “Golden Retriever” of the chicken world. They’re friendly and gentle, which makes them perfect for first-time owners and families. Their fluffy feathers make them look twice their actual size and provides excellent insulation against cold weather. The Silver Laced Wyandotte The Silver Laced Wyandotte is the ultimate low-maintenance winter breed. Their Rose Comb is flat against their head, that’s why this variant don’t freeze easily. They can also handle snow better than almost any other breed. The Black Australorp If you want winter eggs, the Black Australorp is what you’re looking for. Their black feathers work like solar panels on sunny winter days, soaking up warmth even when it’s freezing outside. These birds keep laying eggs when other breeds slow down or stop completely. The Brahma The Brahma are the gentle giants of cold-climate chickens. Brahmas have feathers that grow down their legs and cover their feet, which gives them extra protection in deep snow. They’re calm and easy to handle, though they take longer to start laying than other breeds. The Rhode Island Red The Rhode Island Red is the workhorse breed of winter chickens. They keep producing eggs no matter what the weather throws at them. They also have dense underfluff that traps heat close to their bodies. They’re not as cuddly as Orpingtons, but they’re incredibly low-maintenance and practically indestructible. Cold-Climate Chicken BreedBeginner Skill LevelCold-Hardy FeatureWinter Egg ProductionBuff OrpingtonVery Easy (Docile)Extreme Feather DensityReliableWyandotteEasy (Sturdy)Rose Comb (Frost-proof)GoodBlack AustralorpEasy (Quiet)Massive Body WeightExcellentBrahmaMedium (Gentle)Downy Leg FeatheringModerateRhode Island RedVery Easy (Rugged)Dense Under-fluffHigh Essential Winter Chicken Coop Setup for Beginners Winter coop prep doesn’t require expensive equipment. These three practices keep cold-hardy breeds healthy and productive through freezing temperatures. Winter Chicken Coop Ventilation The biggest mistake beginners make is sealing the coop completely. Doing so traps moisture from the chickens’ breath and the dampness settles on their combs and causes frostbite. You’ll need vents at the very top of the roof to let steam escape and keep the roosting area draft-free. The 2×4 Roost Hack Use the flat side of a 2×4 board instead of a round perch to let the chickens sit flat on their feet. This way, they can cover their toes with their warm belly feathers. Zero-Electricity Coop Heating Try the “Deep Litter Method.” Let 6 to 8 inches of pine shavings build up on the coop floor. As the shavings break down, they create natural heat. This approach reduces the fire risk from using heat lamps. Frequently Asked Questions How do I protect my chickens from frostbite? Use ventilation at the top of your coop to remove moisture. Choose breeds with small combs. For extremely cold nights, you can put a thin layer of petroleum jelly on their combs. This acts as a moisture barrier. What is the easiest chicken breed for cold weather? Buff Orpingtons are the easiest cold-weather breed for beginners. They’re extremely docile, handle freezing temperatures without issues, and their thick feathering provides natural insulation. They’re also forgiving if you make mistakes with coop setup or feeding schedules. What are the best winter egg layers for beginners? Black Australorps are the top winter egg layers for new chicken keepers. They continue producing consistently even when daylight hours shorten and temperatures drop. Rhode Island Reds come in second, maintaining high production through harsh conditions. Do chickens need a heated coop during winter? No. Cold-hardy breeds don’t need heated coops, even in sub-zero temperatures. Adding heat actually makes things worse because it prevents chickens from acclimating naturally. If the power goes out, heated birds can go into shock from the sudden temperature drop. How many chickens should a beginner start with? Start with 3 to 4 hens. This gives you enough eggs for a small family (2 to 3 dozen per week) without overwhelming you while you’re learning daily care routines. You can always add more birds once you’ve established a rhythm.

The landscape of Britain has been shaped by thousands of years of human endeavour. Every generation leaves a mark – communities travelling through the wilderness, modifying the terrain as they went. Every footfall, every animal hoof, and every wooden wheel carved tracks into the earth. If you know where to look, you can still find these ancient ways crisscrossing Britain today, offering an opportunity to follow literally in the footsteps of our ancestors. In the two-part special Ancient Ways: The Ridgeway, anthropologist and keen hiker Mary-Ann Ochota tracks these prehistoric pathways along the Ridgeway – one of England’s oldest routes and a true ‘Stone Age Highway’. Join Mary-Ann as she visits some of the trail’s most iconic landmarks, from the enigmatic Uffington White Horse to the megalithic wonders of Avebury Henge. Sign up to watch A braid of routes Five thousand years ago, the Ridgeway wasn’t a single, officially designated path; it was a braid of multiple routes heading roughly in the same direction across the high ground. While the modern Ridgeway National Trail spans 87 miles from Ivinghoe Beacon in Buckinghamshire to Avebury in Wiltshire, the original prehistoric route stretched much further – running from the Wash in Norfolk, southwest all the way to the Dorset coast. “To understand the past,” Mary-Ann explains, “we need to understand how people moved and why.” The Neolithic people who first used this route – the same builders responsible for Stonehenge – were farmers who raised cattle and sheep. They travelled for trade, pilgrimage, and community events, using the high chalk ridges to stay above the marshy, wooded and often dangerous valleys below. Production shot – filming on The Ridgeway This path forms a distinctive white ribbon through the landscape. This chalk was formed 145 to 65 million years ago, in the age of the dinosaurs, when the area sat near the equator under a subtropical sea. Created by the compacted skeletons and shells of ancient sea creatures, this unique geology now supports a rare ecosystem of specialist plants, insects, and birds. Production shot from The Ridgeway Uffington: the horse and the hillfort Mary-Ann begins her journey at Uffington Hill, a site thick with prehistoric treasures. At the summit sits a massive Iron Age hillfort, half a mile in circumference. But the true mystery lies beside it: the Uffington White Horse. At 111 metres long, this semi-abstract ‘geoglyph’ is the oldest hill figure in Western Europe. National Trust ranger Andy Foley explains that while it looks like a simple chalk drawing, it is actually a complex feat of engineering. Trenches were dug a metre deep, backfilled with chalk rubble, and smoothed off on top. Scientific dating reveals that the horse’s deepest layers are at least 2,500 to 3,000 years old. Created at the dawn of the Iron Age – coinciding with the introduction of domesticated horses to Britain – the figure was likely a tribal statement of status and power. Remarkably, the figure only remains visible because it has been scoured and cared for by the local community for three millennia. Andy suggests that the horse’s specific placement may indicate its care was initially connected to religion. Mary-Ann Ochota with National Trust ranger Andy Foley at the Uffington White HorseImage Credit: History Hit Wayland’s Smithy Walking west, Mary-Ann reaches Wayland’s Smithy, a burial chamber nearly 2,000 years older than the White Horse. This megalithic monument, dating to roughly 3,400 BC, is a ‘Cotswold-Severn’ type barrow, consisting of a stone edifice, an earthen mound over 100 metres long, containing a central passage with chambers inside to bury the dead. Although seeming quite a straightforward burial site, archaeology reveals a complex history: a smaller timber-and-earth burial site existed here first. A century later, as farmers claimed territory more permanently, they constructed longer-lasting monuments to house the dead, including the massive stone edifice seen today. Curiously, historians believe the design was already ‘old-fashioned’ when it was built, suggesting the builders were attempting to claim a deep, ancestral association with the land to legitimise their presence. Production shot of Mary-Ann Ochota filming at Wayland’s SmithyImage Credit: History Hit The site is steeped in Saxon legend. Historian and storyteller Jason Buck explains that the name comes from Wayland, the Germanic smith of the gods. Legend says that if you leave your horse here with a coin, the invisible smith will have it shod by morning. Production shot – Mary-Ann Ochota shares a cuppa with historian and storyteller Jason Buck as she sets up camp for the nightImage Credit: History Hit The Neolithic toolkit After a night in a tent, Mary-Ann’s journey continues from Hackpen Hill to Fyfield Down, where she uncovers the reality of prehistoric industry. Though they lacked metalworking, people at this time were using stone tools, flint tools, leather, bone, antler, and natural textiles. As Mary-Ann explains, stone tools weren’t just bashing two rocks together, “they were really sophisticated craftspeople. They really understood their materials.”  In the Neolithic period (4,500 BC to 2,300 BC), stone axes were one of the key components in their toolkit – the ‘Swiss Army Knives’ of the age. While flint axes were used for everyday timber work, ‘posh’ versions of axes made from carefully chosen polished volcanic and sedimentary stones were symbols of elite status. These were either ground into shape or, in the case of flint and chert, fashioned through ‘knapping’ – a precise process of striking the stone to chip away the edges. To achieve a mirror-like, glass-smooth finish, craftsmen would rub the piece against abrasive sarsen stones for days or even years to get it perfectly polished.  Remarkably, these stones weren’t local; analysis shows that rough-cut blocks for polished axes were quarried across the UK – from the Lake District to Cornwall, even as far as Northern Ireland – and traded along the Ridgeway. ‘Polisher stone’ at Fyfield DownImage Credit: History Hit Mary-Ann visits a ‘polisher stone’ at Fyfield Down – a sarsen boulder featuring deep, smooth grooves used to create, sharpen and shape the edges of the axe. These marks were created by humans sitting for hundreds of hours, grinding stone axe heads against the rock using wet sand to achieve a mirror-like finish. Standing by the stone, one can almost feel the presence of the craftsmen who laboured here 5,000 years ago. It’s unknown why this particular sarsen stone was chosen above the others for this purpose, but it is seen as a treasure of the Neolithic age. Watch Episode 1 of Ancient Ways: The Ridgeway on History Hit to join Mary-Ann Ochota on this incredible trek through time and learn more about these ancient landmarks. Sign up to watch

Regular dog health checkups catch problems early and keep your pup healthy for years to come. At DogingtonPost, we know that many dog owners feel unsure about what happens during these visits. This guide walks you through each part of a vet appointment, from physical exams to blood work. You’ll also learn how to prepare your dog and what questions to ask your veterinarian. What Happens During a Standard Vet Checkup Your vet’s hands-on examination reveals health insights that matter. When your dog arrives, the vet measures temperature, heart rate, and respiration rate as baseline vital signs. A normal dog temperature sits between 101 and 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit, and heart rate varies by breed size, ranging from 60 to 100 beats per minute in larger dogs up to 100 to 140 in small breeds. These numbers matter because deviations signal infections, heart problems, or other issues that need attention. The vet listens to the heart and lungs using a stethoscope to catch abnormalities like murmurs or fluid buildup that you won’t notice at home. The head-to-tail physical exam follows, where the vet checks eyes for cloudiness or discharge, ears for infection or mites, skin and coat for dryness or lumps, and joints for early arthritis. The vet palpates the abdomen to feel for masses or organ enlargement and checks lymph nodes for swelling. This thorough approach catches problems before they become serious. Dental Health Gets Priority Dental disease affects most adult dogs, yet most owners skip home care entirely. Your vet examines teeth and gums for tartar buildup and gum disease, which can lead to kidney and heart problems if left untreated. Many vets recommend professional cleaning when tartar accumulates, and at-home dental care between visits makes a real difference. Daily tooth brushing with a pet-specific toothbrush and toothpaste works best, though many owners find this challenging. If brushing feels impossible, dental chews or water additives offer a backup, though they’re less effective than brushing. Your vet can recommend specific products and help you establish a routine that actually works for your household. Oral pain often goes unnoticed by owners, so the vet’s exam catches issues you might miss. Weight and Body Condition Tracking Your vet tracks weight at every visit because unexplained changes signal underlying problems. Weight loss can indicate cancer, kidney disease, or dental pain that prevents eating, while weight gain accelerates joint problems and diabetes risk. The vet assigns a body condition score on a scale of 1 to 9, with 5 being ideal. A dog at score 7 or higher carries excess weight that shortens lifespan and reduces quality of life. The vet measures this through palpation, feeling ribs and spine to determine if they’re easily felt or hidden under fat. This objective assessment guides diet and exercise recommendations tailored to your dog’s age, breed, and health status. Tracking these numbers over years helps your vet spot trends and adjust care before problems escalate. These baseline measurements set the stage for the blood work and screenings that come next. Common Tests and Screenings at Vet Visits Blood Work Reveals Hidden Health Problems Your vet orders blood work and urinalysis because these tests catch silent killers before symptoms appear. A complete blood count measures red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets to assess immune function and detect anemia or infection. The chemistry panel checks kidney and liver function, electrolytes, proteins, and glucose levels to reveal metabolic problems your dog shows no signs of yet. Abnormal results in either test indicate infections, organ dysfunction, or conditions like diabetes that need immediate treatment. Urinalysis complements blood work by detecting kidney issues, urinary tract infections, and diabetes that blood tests alone might miss. Parasite Screening Starts Early and Continues For puppies, a fecal exam screens for intestinal parasites like roundworms at every wellness visit until 16 weeks old, then annually for adults. Many puppies carry parasites without obvious symptoms, yet these worms rob them of nutrients and can spread to humans. Your vet will ask you to bring a fresh stool sample, which makes the exam faster and more accurate than relying on visual inspection alone. Annual heartworm testing happens every 12 months even if your dog takes heartworm prevention, because breakthrough infections do occur and catching them early prevents serious heart damage. The American Heartworm Society recommends this annual test as non-negotiable for all dogs over seven months old. Parasite Prevention Requires a Tailored Approach Many modern parasite prevention products cover multiple threats in a single monthly or quarterly dose, protecting against fleas, ticks, intestinal parasites, and heartworms simultaneously. Your vet will recommend specific products based on your dog’s weight, age, and any health conditions that might affect tolerance. This customized approach saves money by eliminating unnecessary treatments while maximizing protection against the parasites your dog actually faces. Vaccination Status Needs Regular Review Vaccination status requires review at every visit because core vaccines like rabies, distemper, and parvovirus need boosters every three years, though some vets use titer testing to confirm immunity before revaccinating. Non-core vaccines like Bordetella for kennel cough or Lyme disease depend on your dog’s exposure risk and lifestyle. Your vet will explain which vaccines your dog actually needs rather than giving unnecessary shots, which saves money and reduces potential side effects. Staying current on vaccines prevents diseases that spread rapidly in boarding facilities and dog parks, protecting your dog and others in your community. With testing and prevention plans in place, the next step involves preparing your dog for the appointment itself. How to Prepare for Your Dog’s Vet Visit Showing up to a vet appointment unprepared wastes time and money. Bring your dog’s complete medical history, including vaccination records, previous test results, and any medications or supplements your dog takes. If your dog has seen other vets, request those records in advance so your current vet has the full picture. Write down any changes you’ve noticed in the past few weeks-appetite shifts, energy levels, bathroom frequency, or behavioral changes. Many owners forget these details during the appointment, so a written list prevents blanking when the vet asks questions. If your dog has limped, scratched, or acted differently, document when these issues started and how often they occur. The vet uses this baseline information to connect dots that might otherwise stay hidden. Gather Essential Documents and Information Bring a fresh stool sample in a sealed container if your dog hasn’t had a parasite screening recently, which speeds up fecal exam diagnostics. Call ahead and ask for a cost estimate so you know whether blood work, vaccines, or other tests will fit your budget. Some clinics charge 40 to 90 dollars for an office visit, with blood work running 50 to 200 dollars and urinalysis adding 20 to 60 dollars. Knowing these numbers prevents sticker shock and lets you plan financially before the appointment. Manage Your Dog’s Anxiety Before the Visit Anxious dogs often resist exams and blood draws, making the visit harder on everyone. Start with short, positive trips to the vet clinic before the actual appointment so your dog associates the building with good things rather than fear. Walk in, let the staff offer treats, and leave without any medical procedures. Repeat this a few times if your dog shows real anxiety. On appointment day, exercise your dog beforehand so excess nervous energy dissipates, making your dog calmer during the exam. Avoid a large meal right before the visit since stress can upset the stomach. Bring high-value treats your dog loves so the vet and staff can reward calm behavior throughout the appointment. Ask your vet about anti-anxiety medication if your dog panics during visits, since some vets can prescribe a mild sedative given before arrival. Ask Questions That Matter Most Come prepared with specific questions written down so you don’t forget what matters most to you. Ask about dental care recommendations for your dog’s age and breed, whether your dog needs any non-core vaccines based on lifestyle, and what parasite prevention makes sense for your region. Discuss diet and exercise routines to confirm they match your dog’s current health status and weight. Ask about the cost of preventive care versus emergency care so you understand why routine checkups save money long-term. Clarify the clinic’s after-hours emergency protocol and whether they have a preferred emergency facility in your area. These details matter because emergencies happen at midnight on weekends, and knowing your options prevents panic. Final Thoughts Regular dog health checkups form the foundation of responsible pet ownership. The physical exams, blood work, and parasite screenings you’ve learned about aren’t optional extras-they’re the difference between catching kidney disease at stage one versus stage four, between treating a urinary tract infection with antibiotics versus dealing with sepsis. Your vet’s hands-on assessment catches problems your eyes miss, from early arthritis to heart murmurs that show no symptoms yet. Preventative care costs far less than emergency care. A wellness visit runs 40 to 90 dollars, while treating a ruptured bladder or advanced cancer can exceed thousands. Annual blood work at 50 to 200 dollars catches metabolic problems before they become critical, and heartworm prevention costs pennies compared to treating heartworm disease, which damages the heart permanently. Schedule your dog’s appointment today and ask for a cost estimate so you can budget accordingly. We at DogingtonPost believe every dog deserves this level of care, and your commitment to regular dog health checkups shows your dog that their wellbeing matters.

Foster-to-adopt programs transform the way dogs find their forever homes. By spending time in a temporary home first, dogs get the chance to relax, show who they really are, and build trust with their potential family. We at DogingtonPost believe this approach works because it benefits everyone involved. The dog gets a second chance to thrive, families make better matches, and shelters free up space for more animals in need. Why Foster-to-Adopt Actually Works Foster-to-adopt programs succeed because they strip away the shelter environment’s noise and stress. A dog living in a kennel shows only fragments of their personality-fear, confusion, or defensive behavior mask who they truly are. In a foster home, a dog decompresses over weeks or months, and their real temperament emerges. This matters because adopters see the actual dog they’re getting, not a traumatized version wearing a mask. Foster families know exactly what behavioral quirks, health needs, and personality traits they’re committing to before signing adoption papers. This clarity eliminates the guesswork that leads to returns and failed placements. The Decompression Effect Changes Everything A dog fresh from a shelter or rescue needs time to regulate their nervous system. The first two to four weeks in a foster home are critical-dogs stop reacting to constant noise and overcrowding, sleep patterns normalize, and anxiety drops noticeably. Foster parents witness this transformation firsthand. They see a fearful dog become playful, or a hyperactive dog settle into a calm routine. This decompression period also reveals medical or behavioral issues that shelter staff might miss. A foster parent spends daily time with a dog and catches subtle signs like limping, digestive problems, or resource guarding that require attention before adoption. These discoveries prevent adopters from inheriting expensive surprises or behavioral challenges they’re unprepared for. Strong Bonds Form Before Adoption Day Foster families don’t just observe dogs-they build genuine relationships. Feeding a dog daily, taking them for walks, playing in the backyard, and sleeping under the same roof creates attachment that matters. When a foster family decides to adopt permanently, they’re not meeting a stranger; they’re formalizing a bond that already exists. Fostered dogs form secure attachments to their caregivers, which accelerates adjustment in the new home because the dog already knows their adopter’s voice, routine, and expectations. Families who foster-to-adopt report higher satisfaction because they’ve eliminated the unpredictable adjustment period that typically follows adoption. The dog settles faster, behavioral problems are fewer, and the family feels more confident in their decision. This proven model reduces adoption returns significantly compared to direct shelter adoptions, which means fewer dogs cycle back into rescue systems and more permanent placements stick. What Foster Parents Discover About Their Dogs Foster parents uncover information that transforms adoption outcomes. A dog’s true personality emerges in a home environment, revealing whether they’re social butterflies or introverts, high-energy athletes or couch potatoes. Foster parents also identify specific needs-a dog might require medication for anxiety, need extra time with other pets, or thrive best as an only dog. This detailed knowledge allows adopters to make informed decisions and prepare their homes appropriately. Rescue organizations rely on foster feedback to match dogs with the right families, not just any family willing to adopt. When adopters understand a dog’s actual needs before commitment, they’re far more likely to succeed long-term. The Ripple Effect on Shelter Capacity Foster-to-adopt placements free up shelter resources in ways that direct adoptions cannot. Each dog that moves from foster care to permanent adoption opens a kennel space for another animal in crisis. Shelters operate at capacity constantly, and foster programs act as overflow systems that allow rescues to save more dogs. Foster families essentially become extension workers for rescue organizations, providing care that would otherwise consume shelter budgets and staff time. This efficiency means more dogs get second chances instead of facing euthanasia or prolonged confinement. Real stories from foster families reveal just how transformative this process becomes-and what happens when a temporary home becomes forever. Getting Ready to Foster and What Happens Next Rescue organizations structure foster programs with clear expectations and support systems, though the specifics vary by organization. Most rescues require foster parents to complete orientation training covering basic dog behavior, handling techniques, and health monitoring before a dog arrives. This training typically takes two to four hours and covers recognizing stress signals, managing resource guarding, and identifying medical red flags. Foster parents receive written guides specific to each dog, including dietary needs, medication schedules, behavioral quirks, and emergency contact information. The best rescue organizations assign a dedicated caseworker or foster coordinator who remains available throughout the placement, answering questions and troubleshooting problems in real time. This support matters because foster parents aren’t veterinarians or behaviorists-they’re temporary caregivers who need guidance when a dog shows unexpected behaviors or health issues. Before committing to foster care, ask potential rescue organizations how they train foster parents, what written materials they provide, and how quickly they respond to urgent questions. Daily Care Responsibilities That Matter Daily foster care involves consistent routines, careful observation, and detailed record-keeping that directly impacts adoption success. Foster parents feed the dog at regular times, monitor appetite and digestion, track bathroom habits, note any limping or signs of discomfort, and observe how the dog interacts with other pets and visitors. This daily documentation becomes invaluable information for adopters and rescue staff. Foster parents should record behavioral changes, medication effectiveness, sleep patterns, and social preferences in a simple log or notebook-many rescues provide templates for this. Health monitoring is non-negotiable; foster parents must recognize signs of illness like lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, or excessive scratching and report these immediately to the rescue. The Critical First Weeks Reveal Everything The critical first weeks reveal the most critical information about a dog’s true temperament and medical status. Foster parents who maintain consistent schedules-regular walk times, feeding times, play sessions-help dogs regulate their nervous systems faster and show their authentic personalities sooner. A dog that arrives anxious and withdrawn often transforms into a playful, confident companion once the decompression period takes hold. This window of time allows foster parents to identify whether a dog needs medication for anxiety, requires extra socialization with other pets, or thrives best as an only dog. The observations foster parents make during these weeks directly shape which families receive matches and how well those matches succeed long-term. Transitioning to Permanent Adoption The shift from foster care to permanent adoption happens gradually if the foster family adopts. Foster parents work with the rescue to finalize paperwork, arrange a veterinary checkup if needed, and update microchip information. If a different family adopts the dog, foster parents should prepare the dog for the change through consistent messaging and maintain open communication with the new adopters about the dog’s preferences and routines. This handoff period typically takes one to two weeks and involves the foster family introducing the new adopters to the dog, sharing detailed notes about what works, and discussing any behavioral strategies that proved effective during foster care. The foster parent’s role shifts from caregiver to mentor, ensuring the dog’s transition remains smooth and the new family feels confident in their adoption decision. What Foster Dogs Actually Teach Us About Adoption Success Foster-to-Adopt Placements Succeed at Higher Rates Foster-to-adopt placements succeed at dramatically higher rates than traditional shelter adoptions. Foster families commit to dogs they already know intimately, reducing the shock of behavioral changes or unmet expectations. The dogs themselves benefit too-they arrive in their permanent homes already decompressed, already bonded to their adopters, and already confident in daily routines. Foster parents spend weeks observing a dog’s true personality, and that observation becomes the foundation for successful matches. A foster parent might notice that a dog resource guards with food, needs anxiety medication, or requires an only-pet household. These discoveries prevent adopters from inheriting problems they’re unprepared to handle. When adopters receive detailed foster reports showing exactly what they’re getting, they make informed decisions and follow through with commitment. The foster period essentially screens out mismatches before they happen, which is why dogs from foster care stay in their forever homes. What Foster Parents Discover During Temporary Care Foster parents uncover details during temporary care that directly shape adoption outcomes in measurable ways. A dog showing excessive barking in a shelter might simply experience stress, but a foster parent learns over four weeks whether the barking persists in a quiet home or stops completely once decompression happens. A dog that appears shy in a kennel might reveal itself as highly social once it trusts a caregiver. Foster parents identify medical needs too-skin allergies, arthritis, ear infections, or behavioral anxiety that shelter staff missed during brief evaluations. This detailed knowledge gets documented and shared with adopters, who then prepare appropriate care plans before the dog arrives permanently. Foster families also build confidence in dogs through consistent routines and safe spaces during foster care. How Confidence Transfers to Permanent Homes A fearful dog that learns to trust one person in a foster home transfers that trust more easily to an adoptive family because the foundation already exists. The foster period acts as a confidence-building bridge that accelerates adjustment in the permanent home. Rescue organizations that invest in foster programs report higher adopter satisfaction scores and lower behavioral complaints post-adoption because families understand exactly what they’re committing to and dogs arrive psychologically ready for their new environment. Final Thoughts Foster-to-adopt programs create permanence where traditional adoptions often fail. Dogs that spend weeks decompressing in foster homes arrive in their permanent families already bonded, already confident, and already understood. Adopters who foster to adopt eliminate the guesswork that leads to returns and heartbreak. One foster home creates ripples far beyond a single dog’s life. When a foster family commits to temporary care, they free up shelter kennel space for another animal in crisis. Rescue organizations operating at capacity depend on foster networks to save more dogs, and each transition from foster care to permanent adoption opens resources for the next animal waiting for rescue. If you’re ready to make a difference, contact a local rescue organization and ask about their foster program structure, training requirements, and support systems. Most rescues welcome foster parents and provide everything you need to succeed. Visit DogingtonPost for expert advice and real stories from families who’ve transformed their lives through fostering to adopt.