On Friday‚ Federal District Court Judge Thomas S. Kleeh ruled that the federal prohibition against 18 to 20-year-olds purchasing handguns is unconstitutional. The plaintiffs in the case are Steven Robert Brown‚ Benjamin Weekley‚ the Second Amendment Foundation‚ and the West Virginia Citizens Defense League. Judge Kleeh blocked enforcement of the law against the plaintiffs in […] The post Unconstitutional: Banning Handgun Purchases by 18-20 Year Olds appeared first on www.independentsentinel.com.

In a recent turn of events‚ the political arena witnessed a fiery exchange as former President Donald Trump’s campaign launched a verbal salvo against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. The rhetoric escalated to new heights with Trump’s team branding DeSantis as a “third-rate OnlyFans wannabe‚” a comment that has since reverberated through the corridors of conservative circles. The statement came just before a much-anticipated debate between Governor DeSantis and California Governor Gavin Newsom. The event‚ which took place in Alpharetta‚ Georgia‚ was a strategic choice given its significance as a key swing state in national politics. The debate‚ moderated by Sean Hannity‚ was a platform for both governors to represent their respective parties and spar over critical issues such as the economy‚ pandemic restrictions‚ and the leadership of President Joe Biden. DeSimps everywhere right now after Trump called DeSantis an onlyfans model: pic.twitter.com/eoFXhSCSfc — Yoshi The Patriot (@yoshithepatriot) December 1‚ 2023 Trump’s campaign spokesperson did not hold back‚ criticizing DeSantis for his approach to the presidential race. The remarks suggested that instead of focusing on campaigning and improving his polling numbers‚ DeSantis opted for a debate with Newsom‚ who was described dismissively as a “Grade A loser.” This move was portrayed as an act of desperation for attention rather than a genuine political strategy. The debate itself was a spectacle of policy clashes and personal jibes. DeSantis took aim at Newsom‚ labeling him a “slick‚ slippery politician” whose state was allegedly failing. In response‚ Newsom pointed out DeSantis’ lagging position in the polls‚ particularly highlighting the 41-point deficit in his home state of Florida. The exchange underscored the tension and competitiveness that define the current political landscape. I will never vote for Paul Ryan‚ Jeb Bush‚ or Ron DeSantis because all they want is war money and power. They hate America and love the swamp. I will vote for Donald J. Trump because he is pro-peace‚ loves America‚ hates the swamp‚ and plans to clean it up. TRUMP OR BUST! pic.twitter.com/n6Au87hEP1 — Freedom (@PU28453638) December 1‚ 2023 Despite the heated exchanges‚ both governors seemed to agree on one point: the likelihood of neither becoming their party’s nominee for the 2024 presidential election. Newsom backed President Biden for re-election‚ while DeSantis faced the daunting task of closing the gap with Trump‚ who leads him significantly in national polls. The debate‚ dubbed ‘The Great Red vs. Blue State Debate‚’ lacked a live audience but was charged with the energy of two political heavyweights vying for national attention. It served as a microcosm of the broader ideological battles that are shaping up as the country heads towards the next presidential election. Trump’s lead in the polls is a testament to his enduring influence within the Republican Party. His ability to command such a significant advantage over a prominent figure like DeSantis speaks volumes about his political clout. The former president’s supporters view his leadership as pivotal to the party’s future success‚ and his words carry considerable weight among the conservative base. The characterization of DeSantis by Trump’s campaign is indicative of the high stakes involved in the run-up to the 2024 elections. As potential candidates jockey for position‚ the rhetoric is likely to become even more pointed. The use of colorful language and sharp critiques reflects the intensity of the internal competition within the GOP. As the political drama unfolds‚ observers are keenly watching how these early skirmishes will shape the contours of the Republican primary race. With the nation’s eyes fixed on the unfolding narrative‚ the stage is set for a showdown that will determine the direction of conservative politics in America. The question remains: who will emerge as the standard-bearer for the Republican Party as it navigates the challenges of the upcoming election cycle? The post Trump’s Campaign Takes Aim at DeSantis with Scathing Remarks Ahead of High-Stakes Debate appeared first on The Conservative Brief.

They say good things come to those who wait. This woman held on to a front-of-the-line pass for over two decades… and now she’s reaping the benefits! In 2000‚ this sister was too short to ride the Jurassic Park ride‚ and park employees gave her a voucher to skip the line if she came back to the park when she was taller. This image is from TikTok. Well‚ she did — 23 years later! Employees were completely surprised that she held on to the front-of-the-line pass for so long. This sister’s tenacity paid off‚ and she got to jump the line! Tens of thousands of people expressed their surprise with this woman’s dedication to jumping the line. “Mom playing the long game‚” said one viewer. “My mom has a free McDonald’s Cheeseburger voucher that I earned for perfect attendance in 1st grade back in 1986‚” said another viewer whose mother has demonstrated the same dedication to holding onto vouchers! What an incredible (and hilarious) display of patience! She waited something to the tune of 23 years to use her front-of-the-line pass for Jurassic Park. I wonder if she thought it was worth the wait? Check out this clip for yourself and see this unique experience for all involved! @kori614 23 years later my sister cashed in her front of the line pass for the Islands of Adventure Jurassic Park ride …. Employees were shook #fyp #foryoupage #funny #jurassicpark #islandsofadventure #fy ♬ son original – reuniontourisme The featured image for this post is from TikTok. The post Sister Cashes In On Front-Of-The-Line Pass… 23 Yrs Later! appeared first on InspireMore.

It’s always important to reward your pets for good behavior. This family has an adorable way to recognize their cats and dogs for exhibiting proper conduct! Every week‚ they gather their four-legged friends together for a special gathering to reveal who has won “Pet of the Week.” Obviously‚ pets who have misbehaved recently are “ineligible” for the award during the pet of the week meeting. If you’re wondering what exactly goes down during these meetings‚ you’re in luck. The pet parents have been sharing the proceedings on TikTok! In one of their earliest videos‚ the two finalists for the week were a cat named Tonks and a dog named Taquito. Although the tiny pooch walked away with the title of “Pet of the Week‚” all of the animals received treats for their efforts during the meeting! @thevetnursecurse Replying to @the_dane_ We have been doing “Employee of the Month” with our pets since WFH in 2020 during covid (not shared online‚ just a poster on our wall)‚ but >;>; @Alex and Kelsey #potw #petoftheweek ♬ original sound – Dannie In another video‚ the proud pet parents showed off a set of elegant portraits featuring their cats and dogs in historical clothing. Whoever has been on their best behavior that week gets the “Pet of the Week” label underneath their portrait. Watch the video below to see the creative portrait wall! @thevetnursecurse Replying to @plezznoi If you’ve seen my house tour video you’ll have noticed these frames before‚ but I wanted to hold out on uploading another video of them until Maple’s portrait arrived! Thanks @Purrandmutt! ♬ original sound – Dannie You can find the source of this story’s featured image here. The post Man Announces “Pet Of The Week” In Hilarious Meeting With Cats And Dogs. appeared first on InspireMore.

Jon Anderson‚ born on October 25‚ 1944‚ in Accrington‚ Lancashire‚ England‚ is a renowned musician best known as the lead vocalist and a key creative force in the progressive rock band Yes. His musical journey began in the 1960s‚ but he rose to prominence with Yes in the 1970s‚ contributing to groundbreaking albums like “Fragile” and “Close to the Edge.” Anderson’s distinctive high-pitched voice and imaginative songwriting were central to the band’s success‚ helping them to achieve multiple gold and platinum albums. Apart from Yes‚ he has had a prolific solo career‚ with albums like “Olias of Sunhillow” and “3 The post Complete List Of Jon Anderson Solo Albums And Songs appeared first on ClassicRockHistory.com.

Our partner Rob Brezsny‚ who has a new book out‚ Astrology Is Real: Revelations from My Life as an Oracle‚ provides his weekly wisdom to enlighten our thinking and motivate our mood. Rob’s Free Will Astrology‚ is a syndicated weekly column appearing in over a hundred publications. He is also the author of Pronoia Is the Antidote […] The post Your Weekly Horoscope: A ‘Free Will Astrology’ From Rob Brezsny appeared first on Good News Network.

Marine mammals are known for their high levels of intelligence‚ their social skills‚ and their association with Netflix documentaries. However‚ most people probably wouldn’t list skincare as one of a whale’s most famous activities – and that’s where they’d be wrong. While orcas and humpback whales have been filmed enjoying a spa day‚ now they’ve got a new skincare method involving kelp.Baleen whales including humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) have been observed “kelping” and swimming around with seaweed on their heads. Off the east coast of Australia‚ three direct observations of humpback whales rolling around and actively seeking kelp beds or seaweed have been recorded. This behavior has also been seen in grey whales (Eschrichtius robustus)‚ which are known to feed on both seaweed and seagrasses. By analyzing 100 social media posts regarding whale and seaweed interaction recorded by citizen scientists‚ whale-watching tours‚ and members of the public‚ the team found that the most frequently observed areas for the whales to have seaweed on themselves were between their front flipper and the front of their face‚ called the rostrum. This represented 56 percent of the social media interactions. Uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) were also used to observe whale and seaweed interactions‚ they filmed whales rolling with seaweed wrapped around different fins or on their rostrums. So what are the whales up to? The researchers suggest that they are using the kelp as a kind of exfoliant helping to remove parasites such as the whale louse‚ dead skin‚ and bacteria from their bodies‚ there may also be an element of simply playing with the seaweed for sheer enjoyment.“There are two plausible theories: play and/or self-medication with seaweed. This behaviour may be playful but could also serve additional benefits in the context of learning and socialising‚ as well as ectoparasite removal and skin treatment by using brown algae’s antibacterial properties.” said Dr Olaf Meynecke‚ the paper's lead author‚ in a statement.With the increased use of UAVs in this context‚ the team expects to see more observations of this behavior. However‚ they also suggest that the consequences of kelp dieback could present some issues‚ and conservation efforts may need to include this in future plans. The paper is published in the Journal Of Marine Science And Engineering.

This article first appeared in Issue 14 of our free digital magazine CURIOUS.The question of whether there’s a tangible difference between male and female brains is one of the most compelling – and controversial – in the history of neuroscience. On reading the title of this article‚ you might have immediately rolled your eyes: “What’s she going on about? Surely‚ we left these kinds of conversations behind with the suffragettes!” Or‚ you might have nodded sagely: “Of course there are differences‚ and I can’t wait to read an informed treatise on the subject whilst my wife fixes dinner.” As it turns out‚ we’re going to have to disappoint both hypothetical readers to some degree. There are some differences‚ just as there is a difference in average height between biological males and females. The question of just how profound these differences are is a trickier one to answer‚ as is the arguably more important one: does it even matter?The historical perspectiveThe idea that something fundamental sets male and female brains apart really gained momentum in the 19th century. As explained by cognitive neuroscientist Gina Rippon in her book The Gendered Brain‚ this era saw an increasing push from women for greater rights and inclusion in society. For some reason‚ this disturbed the men who had enjoyed a monopoly on all the power and influence‚ and galvanized the scientific community into producing evidence that women were far too incapable and fragile to be taken seriously.Enter the “science” of craniology. The idea was simple: a bigger brain meant greater intelligence. Through much fudging of data and a somewhat laissez-faire approach to experimental consistency‚ many “measurements” that seemed to prove that men had the better brains were produced. However‚ the theory did not stand up to closer scrutiny. Rippon explains how a team of mathematicians – including statistician Alice Lee‚ one of the first women to graduate from the University of London – produced data that led to the swift abandonment of craniology after demonstrating that some of the smallest heads in their sample belonged to a group of celebrated‚ and male‚ anatomists. As they say‚ size matters.This wasn’t the only – or the last – attempt to use scientific thinking to demonstrate the alleged immutable differences between the sexes. For example‚ there was the argument made by Edward H. Clarke in Sex in Education; or a Fair Chance for Girls‚ that exposing women to the same teaching methods used to educate men was to risk “neuralgia‚ uterine disease‚ hysteria‚ and other derangements of the nervous system‚” including such choice insights as‚ “Boys must study and work in a boy’s way‚ and girls in a girl’s way.” You might be surprised (or horrified) to hear similar ideas persisted in education well into the 21st century. As neuroscientist Lise Eliot explained for The Conversation in 2021‚ “About a decade ago‚ teachers were urged to separate boys and girls for math and English classes based on the sexes’ alleged learning differences‚” adding that “Fortunately‚ many refused.” Archaic ideas about how males and females think and learn proved hard to shake off‚ and the advent of more sophisticated scientific techniques did not see the end of this debate.New questions‚ but still no answersIn the age of EEGs‚ PET scans‚ and MRIs‚ a huge amount of energy has been devoted to finding an anatomical or functional difference between male and female brains. There’s no shortage of papers claiming evidence for this‚ but there’s also a lot of work that falls on the opposite side‚ including a 2021 review led by Eliot that roundly rejected the notion of sexual dimorphism in the human brain.New ways of studying the brain only meant new ways of trying to find the difference that many remain sure is there‚ lest it reveal the reason behind supposedly sex-specific behaviors. As Rippon explains‚ “In looking for sex differences‚ neurologists cheerily matched their assumptions about which bits of the brain were the most important to their findings about which bits of the brain were largest in males‚ even if it meant reversing earlier conclusions.”Let’s get one fact out of the way: males really do have larger brains‚ on average. The simple reason for this is that males‚ on average‚ have larger bodies. Similar differences‚ some even more pronounced‚ can be observed in other organs.One problem‚ though‚ is that no one can seem to agree on the best way of correcting for this very real average difference in brain sizes. It’s also much more difficult than your biology textbooks would have you believe to go around linking certain parts of the brain to specific functions. To illustrate this‚ Rippon details the example of what she calls the “corpus callosum wars” (not the title of the next Star Wars spinoff).Subscribe to our newsletter and get every issue of CURIOUS delivered to your inbox free each month.The corpus callosum is a bundle of nerve fibers‚ part of the brain’s white matter‚ which connects the two hemispheres together. A paper back in 1982 found that in females‚ part of the corpus callosum was larger. The fact that this difference was so minor as to be statistically insignificant did not seem to matter‚ and the idea took root.It seemed to offer a neat explanation for some of the “known” differences in how men and women think. A smaller corpus callosum equals fewer connections between the left and right hemispheres. This should allow the two hemispheres to perform their supposed separate functions more effectively‚ giving men an advantage in the fields of mathematics and science‚ while women were hindered by the constant interplay between the emotional and rational halves of their minds. We’ll pause there while you stop laughing.The fact that this finding‚ and others like it‚ gained so much traction speaks to another facet of this conversation: publication bias. Given how ingrained ideas about the “proper” places for males and females are in many societies‚ it’s perhaps unsurprising that research supporting these ideas is so attention-grabbing.The role of environmentModern neuroscience is learning more every day about just how adaptable the human brain is. Our brains physically change when we acquire new skills. The classic example is that of London taxi drivers‚ who undergo a training program called the Knowledge to memorize the meandering layout of the city streets. Learning the Knowledge has been demonstrated to change the brain structures of those drivers who pass‚ most notably by increasing the gray matter in the posterior hippocampus‚ which is linked with spatial memory. Other skills‚ like learning a musical instrument‚ also leave their mark on the brain. What this suggests is that differences between two individual brains may have more to do with their different experiences‚ rather than their biological sex. The way young male and female children are treated in society could also be affecting their brain development. Much attention has been paid to the important question of gender biases in toys‚ and whether societal pressures are restricting girls’ future career choices. Although some research has found that preferences for stereotypically “male” or “female” toys exist even in monkeys – who presumably have not had to endure a barrage of pink or blue advertising from birth – it would be difficult to say for certain that differences between male and female brains are innate when most people still grow up in an environment where a child’s gender expression affects something as basic as how adults speak to them. When things go wrongOne sticking point in this debate has been the fact that certain psychological‚ neurological‚ and developmental disorders affect one sex more than the other. How else can that be explained other than some fundamental difference in their brains?A 2020 study in PNAS found some differences in the sizes of brain areas between males and females‚ as well as different patterns of gene expression that were linked to sex chromosomes – something that had previously only been shown in mice. The authors suggested that learning more about sex-specific gene expression patterns could reveal more about sex differences in brain disease.However‚ we also can’t ignore the fact that some of what we thought we knew about the different sexes’ susceptibilities to various conditions is turning out not to be true.One example of this is autism‚ once thought to be something that almost exclusively affected males. In fact‚ under something called the brain organization theory‚ it was thought that sex hormones present during fetal development permanently “masculinized” boys’ brains in ways that made them‚ among other things‚ more likely to have autism. Recently‚ there’s been a rethink and a huge increase in our understanding of how autism presents differently in women and girls‚ leading to many more diagnoses. Where does that leave us?We can say with certainty that there are some differences between male and female brains‚ and that there’s more to be discovered about where these arise from. Redressing the balance by including females – be they human or otherwise – in research‚ where this has not always been a priority‚ would be a good start.As to whether these differences tell some secret about the capabilities or aptitudes of men and women‚ that is becoming less clear with each new addition to the literature. More interesting and instructive answers might come from looking at our brains as a function of the lives we’ve lived and experiences we’ve had‚ not only the sex chromosomes we were born with.And thankfully‚ in much of the world at least‚ fewer and fewer of these potentially brain-altering life experiences are now solely the preserve of the menfolk. CURIOUS magazine is a digital magazine from IFLScience featuring interviews‚ experts‚ deep dives‚ fun facts‚ news‚ book excerpts‚ and much more. Issue 17 is out now.

In the forest of the Indian Subcontinent‚ an extraordinary phenomenon is said to occur – trees “walk”.Specifically‚ Banyan trees‚ which are sacred in Hinduism‚ expand their footprints by sending out roots that grow their own branches. These roots are flexible and can “crawl” in ways that allow them to reposition for optimal sunlight and nutrients‚ which makes it look like they have been walking.Due to this ability‚ these trees are recognized as the biggest in the world in terms of the area they can cover as individuals. If you look at a Banyan tree (Ficus benghalensis)‚ you will likely think you are looking at a whole forest‚ but you’re not. It is likely just one massive organism. In fact‚ the largest example‚ known as the Great Banyan‚ covers 14‚500 square feet (1‚347 square meters).This enormous specimen is located at the Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Botanical Garden‚ in Calcutta‚ and has an expansive canopy that is about the same size of a Manhattan city block.How does this work‚ one tree is a forest?Also known as the “strangler fig”‚ banyan trees grow from seeds that land on other trees and then send their roots down to smother them. Delightful little arboreal marvels. As the host tree dies‚ the banyan sends out its characteristic branch-supporting roots that look like other trees.But while animal movement may be swift‚ these trees walk is unhurried. It navigates the forest floor at a pace that is largely imperceptible to humans‚ responding to their environment and adapting to the ecosystem. These trees can also grow to become really old‚ ranging between 250-500 years.Beyond its fascinating biological peripatetic activities‚ the tree is also symbolically significant too. In India‚ the tree is referred to as "the Vata-vriksha‚ and is associated with Yama‚ the god of death. As such‚ the tree is often grown near crematoriums in certain villages.According to Hinduism‚ Krishna delivered his sermon of the sacred Bhagavad Gita while standing under a banyan tree. The Hindu cosmic “world tree” also depicts an upside-down banyan that has its roots in heaven and grows its roots towards Earth.Through the centuries‚ the tree has had various other associations with life‚ fertility and resurrection‚ but when the British invaded India‚ they used these sacred trees to hang dissidents.Ever since their independence‚ the Indian people have reclaimed this tree for themselves and it now their national tree.

The Earth’s magnetic field plays a big role in protecting people from hazardous radiation and geomagnetic activity that could affect satellite communication and the operation of power grids. And it moves.Scientists have studied and tracked the motion of the magnetic poles for centuries. The historical movement of these poles indicates a change in the global geometry of the Earth’s magnetic field. It may even indicate the beginning of a field reversal – a “flip” between the north and south magnetic poles.I’m a physicist who studies the interaction between the planets and space. While the north magnetic pole moving a little bit isn’t a big deal‚ a reversal could have a big impact on Earth’s climate and our modern technology. But these reversals don’t happen instantaneously. Instead‚ they occur over thousands of years.Magnetic field generationSo how are magnetic fields like the one around Earth generated?Magnetic fields are generated by moving electric charges. A material that enables charges to easily move in it is called a conductor. Metal is one example of a conductor – people use it to transfer electric currents from one place to the other. The electric current itself is simply negative charges called electrons moving through the metal. This current generates a magnetic field.Layers of conducting material can be found in the Earth’s liquid iron core. Currents of charges move throughout the core‚ and the liquid iron is also moving and circulating in the core. These movements generate the magnetic field.  Earth’s magnetic field is generated by what’s called a “dynamo effect.”Earth isn’t the only planet with a magnetic field – gas giant planets like Jupiter have a conducting metallic hydrogen layer that generates their magnetic fields.The movement of these conducting layers inside planets results in two types of fields. Larger motions‚ such as large-scale rotations with the planet‚ lead to a symmetric magnetic field with a north and a south pole – similar to a toy magnet.These conducting layers may have some local irregular motions due to local turbulence or smaller flows that do not follow the large-scale pattern. These irregularities will manifest in some small anomalies in the planet’s magnetic field or places where the field deviates from being a perfect dipole field.These small-scale deviations in the magnetic field can actually lead to changes in the large-scale field over time and potentially even a complete reversal of the polarity of the dipole field‚ where the north becomes south and vice versa. The designations of “north” and “south” on the magnetic field refer to their opposite polarities – they’re not related to geographic north and south.The Earth’s magnetosphere‚ a protective bubbleThe Earth’s magnetic field creates a magnetic “bubble” called the magnetosphere above the uppermost part of the atmosphere‚ the ionosphere layer.The magnetosphere plays a major role in protecting people. It shields and deflects damaging‚ high-energy‚ cosmic-ray radiation‚ which is created in star explosions and moves constantly through the universe. The magnetosphere also interacts with solar wind‚ which is a flow of magnetized gas sent out from the Sun.The magnetosphere and ionosphere’s interaction with magnetized solar wind creates what scientists call space weather. Usually‚ the solar wind is mild and there’s little to no space weather.However‚ there are times when the Sun sheds large magnetized clouds of gas called coronal mass ejections into space. If these coronal mass ejections make it to Earth‚ their interaction with the magnetosphere can generate geomagnetic storms. Geomagnetic storms can create auroras‚ which happen when a stream of energized particles hits the atmosphere and lights up.During space weather events‚ there’s more hazardous radiation near the Earth. This radiation can potentially harm satellites and astronauts. Space weather can also damage large conducting systems‚ such as major pipelines and power grids‚ by overloading currents in these systems.  Earth’s magnetosphere protects life on Earth from ejections from the Sun.Space weather events can also disrupt satellite communication and GPS operation‚ which many people rely on.Field flipsScientists map and track the overall shape and orientation of the Earth’s magnetic field using local measurements of the field’s orientation and magnitude and‚ more recently‚ models.The location of the north magnetic pole has moved by about 600 miles (965 kilometers) since the first measurement was taken in 1831. The migration speed has increased from 10 miles per year to 34 miles per year (16 km to 54 km) in more recent years. This acceleration could indicate the beginning of a field reversal‚ but scientists really can’t tell with less than 200 years of data.The Earth’s magnetic field reverses on time scales that vary between 100‚000 to 1‚000‚000 years. Scientists can tell how often the magnetic field reverses by looking at volcanic rocks in the ocean.These rocks capture the orientation and strength of the Earth’s magnetic field when they are created‚ so dating these rocks provides a good picture of how the Earth’s field has evolved over time.Field reversals happen fast from a geologic standpoint‚ though slow from a human perspective. A reversal usually takes a few thousand years‚ but during this time the magnetosphere’s orientation may shift and expose more of the Earth to cosmic radiation. These events may change the concentration of ozone in the atmosphere.Scientists can’t tell with confidence when the next field reversal will happen‚ but we can keep mapping and tracking the movement of Earth’s magnetic north.Ofer Cohen‚ Associate Professor of Physics and Applied Physics‚ UMass LowellThis article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.