Adding a touch of melted chocolate to cookies‚ strawberries‚ pretzels‚ or marshmallows is an easy to way to elevate your favorite sweet (or salty) treat. While you can melt chocolate in a double boiler on the stovetop or over direct heat in a saucepan‚ the quickest and‚ in my opinion‚ easiest way is to melt chocolate in the microwave. If you need chocolate for dipping holiday cookies‚ coating truffles‚ or adorning berries‚ this is a foolproof method for melting chocolate in the microwave. READ MORE...

  In 1066‚ William‚ Duke of Normandy set sail for England. On October 14‚ he defeated the Anglo-Saxon king‚ Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings. By the end of the year‚ the Duke of Normandy had been crowned King William of England.   Unknown artists crafted a piece of embroidery that depicts the Norman conquest of England on an elaborate tapestry. Nine strips of linen make up the Bayeux Tapestry. Stitched together‚ it measures more than 68 meters (223 feet) in length. Embroidered on the linen is a pictorial depiction of the Norman conquest of England consisting of individuals‚ buildings‚ ships‚ animals‚ and objects. Guiding the narrative is a Latin inscription that runs across the tapestry.   1. Mysterious Origins of the Bayeux Tapestry Bishop Odo‚ possible commissioner of the Bayeux Tapestry‚ Bayeux Tapestry‚ 11th century‚ via Reading Museum‚ Reading‚ England   What’s in a name? The Bayeux Tapestry emerged in the inventory of the Bayeux Cathedral in 1476 CE and took its name from the location of its discovery. But was the Bayeux Tapestry made in Bayeux‚ Normandy‚ France? Why was it made at all? And who did the embroidering? Over the years many theories have been submitted to answer these questions. Many scholars are convinced that William the Conqueror’s brother‚ Bishop Odo‚ initiated the project as a form of medieval propaganda‚ showcasing the downfall of the Anglo-Saxons and the triumph of the Normans. It is suggested that Anglo-Saxon women completed the embroidery. One scholar believes that the dimensions of the Bayeux Tapestry match the Bayeux Cathedral’s nave and the embroidery was made specifically for the cathedral.   2. Major Players King Edward the Confessor‚ Bayeux Tapestry‚ 11th century‚ Source: Wikimedia Commons   The main characters of the Bayeux Tapestry’s saga are symbolized by the style of their clothing and described by the Latin text next to them. The three main characters are the three men who held the throne of England: Edward the Confessor‚ Harold Godwinson‚ and William the Conqueror. The easiest means of identifying Edward and Harold is to search for crowns in the Bayeux Tapestry. Edward the Confessor was the pious king of the Anglo-Saxons from 1042 to 1066 CE. He married Edith‚ a noblewoman from the powerful Anglo-Danish Godwin family. After over two decades of marriage‚ Edward and Edith lacked an heir to the throne. Edward thought his first cousin once removed‚ William‚ Duke of Normandy‚ could do the job.   King Harold Godwinson and his oath to William‚ Bayeux Tapestry‚ 11th century‚ Source:Wikimedia Commons   King Edward sent his brother-in-law Harold Godwinson to ask William to become his heir. But Harold and many other Anglo-Saxons were opposed to inviting the Normans to take over England. Instead‚ Harold decided he would make a better king of England. He was crowned in January 1066 CE soon after Edward’s death. While Edward and Harold are marked by their royal regalia‚ William is the only character embroidered with tassels. William the Conqueror was born to Robert the Magnificent‚ Duke of Normandy‚ and Arlette in 1027 CE. His father died at age eight‚ leaving him to take over the title and management of the duchy of Normandy at a young age. He married Mathilda of Flanders in 1050 CE and began angling for England the following decade.   William the Conqueror‚ Bayeux Tapestry‚ 11th century‚ via the Bayeux Museum‚ Normandy   3. The Three Women of the Bayeux Tapestry Likely depiction of Queen Edith‚ Bayeux Tapestry‚ 11th century‚ via Reading Museum‚ Reading‚ England   The Bayeux Tapestry depicts a medieval military conquest; thus‚ it is not that surprising that there are more depictions of men than women. In fact‚ there are just three women embroidered on the tapestry. One woman appears in the scene that illustrates the death of Edward the Confessor. The woman mourning beside Edward the Confessor’s death bed is believed to be Edith‚ wife of one king and sister to his successor.   In another scene‚ William the Conqueror’s troops set fire to a structure as they make their way through Hastings. Another woman appears in this panel. She stands beneath the building being set alight. It is unclear if she is trapped inside the building or is escaping the building.   The mysterious Aelfgyva‚ Bayeux Tapestry‚ 11th century‚ via the Reading Museum‚ Reading‚ England   The third woman to appear on the Bayeux Tapestry is named Aelfgyva. Though unique in the twenty-first century‚ Aelfgyva was a common Anglo-Saxon name. As yet‚ no medieval manuscript has been discovered that reveals a prominent Aelfgyva or her role in the Norman conquest of England. In her scene‚ Aelfgyva stands under a doorway. A man reaches out to her face and seems to remove the veil that frames her face. The Latin text above Aelfgyva introduces her‚ but gives little additional information‚ reading simply: “…where a clerk and Aelfgyva…” Historians continue to debate Aelfgyva’s identity with suggestions including a noble and a scandalous woman.   4. Horsing Around Horses charging into battle‚ Bayeux Tapestry‚ 11th Century‚ via the Bayeux Museum‚ Normandy   By count‚ there are over 700 animals embroidered on the Bayeux Tapestry. Included in this tally are over two hundred horses. The Anglo-Saxons were not known for their ability to fight on horseback. In fact‚ their deficiencies on horseback were seen as their major weakness on the battlefield. On the Bayeux Tapestry‚ Normans are depicted on horseback far more frequently than Anglo-Saxons. Many of the depictions of Anglo-Saxons on horseback appear to be of Harold Godwinson.   William the Conqueror and his Norman warriors appear on horseback more frequently. The Normans’ horse-riding skills were held in higher regard by contemporaries and by historians. Estimates vary but William the Conqueror crossed the English Channel with a fleet that contained thousands of horses. The Bayeux Tapestry shows Norman seamen poling a ship onto the coast‚ laying a mast down‚ and guiding horses into Anglo-Saxon waters. Transporting so many animals across the water was no little accomplishment and the horses proved critical in William’s conquest of Anglo-Saxon England.   5. The Bayeux Tapestry: A Guide to Medieval Warfare The chaos of the Battle of Hastings‚ Bayeux Tapestry‚ 11th century‚ via the Bayeux Museum‚ Normandy   It took more than horses for the Normans to defeat the Anglo-Saxons at the Battle of Hastings‚ and King Harold’s men did not go down without a fight. The Bayeux Tapestry shows a variety of weapons used in the battle for England. The embroidery repeatedly shows Anglo-Saxon warriors wielding long-handed battle axes‚ shields‚ spears‚ and swords.   The Normans are also armed with spears‚ shields‚ and swords‚ but scenes depict them with other weapons that may have offered a strategic advantage on the battlefield. The embroidery shows several Norman archers‚ but just one Anglo-Saxon archer. The Normans also arrived on horseback in armor with lances under their arms‚ giving them a significant advantage over the Anglo-Saxons‚ who marched into battle on foot. Innovative martial technology proved essential to the Normans when William sought to attain the crown offered to him by his late cousin.   6. Sailing Technology Ships depicted in the Bayeux Tapestry‚ Bayeux Tapestry‚ 11th century‚ via the Reading Museum‚ Reading‚ England   Some scholars‚ (who probably lack experience with embroidery themselves)‚ have criticized the artists of the Bayeux Tapestry for a lack of consistent detail. However‚ the range of details provided on the ships‚ while inconsistent in some ways‚ offers insight into medieval sailing technology.   Harold Godwinson sails under a sail that is square and supported by ropes held by Anglo-Saxon seaman. In another scene‚ Harold’s ship is operated by oars. The ships engaged in the battle for Anglo-Saxon England were prepared for an assault as seen by the shields fixed to the ship’s interiors. The embroidery also indicates that ships were not simply transportation‚ they were decorated in intricate detail in scenes depicting the Anglo-Saxon and Norman fleets.   7. The Vikings Loomed Large Viking-style ships on the Bayeux Tapestry‚ Bayeux Tapestry‚ 11th Century‚ via The Guardian   On the face of it‚ the Battle of Hastings did not concern the Vikings. Details in the Bayeux Tapestry hint at the historical relationship between the Norse‚ the Anglo-Saxons‚ and the Normans. Queen Edith was born to the Earl of Godwin and his wife Gytha (also spelled Gyda). Gytha hailed from the Danish Vikings who previously had invaded and settled in England. Her brother was Canute (or Cnut) the Great’s brother-in-law. Born a Danish prince‚ Canute ruled England‚ Denmark‚ and Norway in the early eleventh century CE‚ taking the Norman Emma as his wife. The major characters of the Bayeux Tapestry retained ancestral ties to the Vikings‚ though the Norse did not join the combat. Their ships were another matter. The Bayeux Tapestry depicts longships in the Viking style with sails and ornate stems. In small details‚ the Bayeux Tapestry shows that the Vikings cast a long shadow on those they had invaded for centuries.   8. Medieval Feasting A great feast on the Bayeux Tapestry‚ 11th century‚ via the V&;A Museum‚ London   Another panel depicts the preparation and consumption of a grand feast by William of Normandy and his troops. Cooks are shown rotating chickens that are skewered over a fire. Others prepare a stew over an open fire and other food in an outdoor oven. The food is then spread onto a table that appears to be round‚ where the Normans dine. Studies of residues on pottery suggest that the cuisine of medieval England underwent some changes after the Norman conquest. Anglo-Saxon England consumed more beef‚ lamb‚ mutton‚ and goat‚ while Norman England showed a preference for pork. However‚ the rest of the diet in England appears to have been unchanged by the Norman conquest.   9. The Star of the Bayeux Tapestry Halley’s comet on the Bayeux Tapestry‚ 11th century‚ via the European Space Agency‚ Paris   The Bayeux Tapestry is a one-of-a-kind work of art that depicts events that would have been unique to the medieval artisans who crafted it. One panel shows a group of men staring and pointing at something that soars above them. The accompanying text reads: “These men marvel at the star.” The star is Halley’s Comet‚ which appears on Earth’s horizon approximately once every 76 years. As yet‚ its appearance on the Bayeux Tapestry represents the famous comet’s earliest known depiction. However‚ it was documented in texts of ancient Babylonia‚ China‚ Japan‚ India‚ the Middle East‚ and Europe. Historical chroniclers saw the comet as a bad omen. For Harold Godwinson‚ the comet may very well have signaled bad news‚ but for William the Conqueror‚ Halley’s Comet may have portended the grand triumph immortalized by the Bayeux Tapestry.

The couple were planning to be together‚ but plans changed. Continue reading…

Nearly 80% of children between the ages of 12 and 17 have unintentionally come across pornography‚ and over 50% of them actively seek it out. Even among younger children—those between 9 and 11—37% have seen porn. Frequent exposure to pornography at a young age cultivates unhealthy views of sexuality and an inclination toward violent behavior. Children may develop a poor understanding of what constitutes a healthy relationship‚ what behavior is appropriate or inappropriate‚ how to establish and maintain boundaries‚ and the importance of respecting other people’s boundaries. Blocking and filtering software has proved to be insufficient in preventing online access to pornography‚ and not everyone utilizes the software on every device a child may access. Furthermore‚ even the most well-intentioned parent is not monitoring every second of their child’s online activity. We need federal legislation requiring age verification for pornography websites. When I turned 18‚ a friend gifted me a flavored cigar that I smoked partially sometime later. I also went to the adult entertainment store in town with some friends where we were asked to show our IDs to prove we were at least 18 years old. I surely did not look 18‚ as I was frequently mistaken for a high schooler when I was a college student and as an intern when I was a young professional. Anyway‚ my friends and I were in there for maybe five minutes. We snickered and gasped at various items as we awkwardly walked around the store. None of us bought anything and left. I was naïve‚ and that was the most scandalous thing I had ever done. I also registered to vote when I turned 18‚ but there’s nothing provocative to tell about that experience. Take a road trip‚ and at some point‚ you’ll see billboards from the interstate for adult stores and inevitably drive by one when you exit for gas or fast food. While you can’t control whether you see a billboard‚ you don’t exactly accidentally find yourself in one of those stores‚ making a purchase at the register‚ or later watching a video that you previously purchased. You have to physically park your car and go inside‚ like I did when I was 18. That’s not the case when it comes to viewing the adult content found in these stores on the internet. Is there a rallying cry for letting children into adult-only stores? Of course not‚ but there is a growing consensus that we need better guardrails to prevent them from accessing this same hardcore pornographic content online. In most states‚ your child can watch pornography online without anyone first checking whether he or she is 18. Louisiana was the first state to successfully implement age verification for online pornography. The state already had LA Wallet in place‚ the state-issued digital driver’s license that provides a seamless and secure way for websites to verify a user’s age. The pornography website Pornhub blocked access to its site in Arkansas‚ Mississippi‚ Utah‚ and Virginia when those states passed laws requiring age verification but did not have a statewide verification system in place. Louisiana has shown that its model works‚ proving the adage that states are laboratories of democracy. It is time we pass similar legislation at the national level. Sen. Mike Lee‚ R-Utah‚ recently introduced the SCREEN Act‚ which requires age verification for pornography websites nationwide. The bill establishes clear data-security requirements‚ parameters to ensure the websites or third-party age verifiers only collect data that is minimally necessary to verify a user’s age‚ and requirements for data deletion. The bill subjects the IP addresses of all users on porn websites to the age verification measure. An IP address is the unique numerical identifier and geolocation of a device connected to the internet. Technology such as proxies and virtual private networks‚ or VPNs‚ can be used to manipulate an IP address to make a device appear as if it’s in a different location (such as a different state or country‚ perhaps one without age verification). The bill subjects those accessing porn websites while using such proxies and known VPNs to the age verification measure as well. This will make it harder for those who alter their real IP addresses to get around the age verification requirement—an issue some have identified as a gap in state-level legislation. The bill directs the Federal Trade Commission to issue guidance to assist covered websites in complying with the law. It also directs the FTC to enforce the law‚ treating any violation as an unfair or deceptive act or practice under Section 18 of the Federal Trade Commission Act. It does not require new regulations or expand the size of government. Importantly‚ the bill makes the case for why requiring online age verification on porn websites is the least restrictive means for Congress to shield children from pornographic content. Demonstrating that a bill is using the “least restrictive means” is a crucial component for passing First Amendment scrutiny in the courts. (Full disclosure‚ I worked for Lee and worked on this legislation.) Returning to the subject of my childhood‚ I was embarrassed in front of my classmates in third grade when one girl pointed out in astonishment that my parents had sex five times since I was one of five siblings. Most other kids were only one of two or three. This was before my parents had a sex talk with me. It’s inevitable that kids will learn some things about sex from their peers. According to a National Institutes of Health study‚ “61 percent of adolescents had learned some or a lot about sex in general from their parents‚ and 54 percent each had learned that much about sex from peers and from the media.” But as the evidence shows‚ it’s unfortunately becoming more common that kids learn about sex from the internet and come across sexual content and pornography‚ whether it is from an innocent search query or falling down a rabbit hole of clicking videos and links that come their way. Changing culture is a difficult task‚ but we can start making ours less “pornified” if we make it harder for porn companies to influence children. Porn companies hate this legislation. They say it’s not right to make it harder for adults to lawfully consume their content. (Bear in mind‚ not all of their content is lawful‚ but that’s a topic for another day.) But for a reality check on this one‚ I ask anyone who looks like they are under the age of 35: How many times have you been unable to purchase alcohol or get into a bar because you forgot your ID? I guess by porn companies’ logic‚ that just wasn’t right either. I hope you get justice soon. They also say that requiring age verification puts children and your privacy at risk. It’s unclear how it puts children at risk‚ but establishing data security and placing limits on the data that can be collected and how long it can be retained is an integral part of the legislation. These companies are not altruistic. They care about their profit margin and this bill hurts it. Many members of Congress are focusing on establishing guardrails for social media‚ artificial intelligence‚ and Big Tech companies‚ which have their own problem of peddling inappropriate or otherwise harmful content‚ but few members are talking about pornography. Porn is a dirty topic‚ an awkward topic‚ but I hope I have convinced you it is a necessary one to confront. It is indisputable that pornography is inappropriate for children‚ and we need to do more to stop their unencumbered access to it. Have an opinion about this article? To sound off‚ please email letters@DailySignal.com‚ and we’ll consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular “We Hear You” feature. Remember to include the URL or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state. The post The Need for Federal Legislation Requiring Age Verification for Porn Websites appeared first on The Daily Signal.

A federal probe may reveal violations of law in the University of Pittsburgh’s testing of body parts from aborted babies‚ according to a pro-life organization monitoring the school’s program. The U.S. government began investigating the University of Pittsburgh’s protocols in its program to harvest fetal organs‚ documents released under the Freedom of Information Act reveal.  Pitt came under fire in August 2021 for potentially violating federal law by altering abortion procedures to harvest organs from babies old enough to survive outside the womb.  Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania provides university researchers with the aborted bodies of unborn babies‚ according to the pro-life Center for Medical Progress‚ which sought the documents.  The Office of Inspector General in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services subpoenaed the University of Pittsburgh on Oct. 28‚ 2021‚ for information about its organ-harvesting program called Genitourinary Development Molecular Anatomy. The subpoena is revealed in documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act by the Center for Medical Progress and the government watchdog Judicial Watch‚ then published Dec. 12 by the center.  David Daleiden‚ founder of the Center for Medical Progress‚ told The Daily Signal that he believes Pitt’s research program disregarded humanitarian concerns associated with testing fetal body parts.  “People who are disturbed by barbaric experiments with aborted babies would love nothing more than to see institutions like the University of Pittsburgh commit to ethical research only‚” Daleiden said in an email Thursday‚ adding that such ethical research “does not rely on exploiting the unequal and vulnerable status of children in the womb and women or couples experiencing a challenging pregnancy.”   Daleiden‚ his associates at the Center for Medical Progress‚ and his lawyers have been entangled in legal proceedings since 2015‚ when Daleiden made and released undercover videos in which Planned Parenthood officials apparently discussed the sale of fetal body parts to research facilities. Planned Parenthood consistently has denied any wrongdoing by its employees in the recorded conversations. In November 2019‚ after a civil trial‚ a California jury awarded Planned Parenthood and others over $2.2 million. That verdict is under appeal. In a Nov. 5‚ 2022‚ email to a National Institutes of Health official uncovered by the FOIA request‚ Pitt’s senior vice chairman for research‚ Rob Rutenbar‚ wrote: “With regard to your request for documentation/information‚ please be aware that we received a subpoena from HHS OIG requesting similar documentation on Oct. 28.”  More than 65 Republican congressmen and senators had demanded an investigation into fetal tissue research in a letter dated Sept. 21‚ 2021. The lawmakers sent the letter after the Center for Medical Progress revealed that the National Institutes of Health had awarded about $1.5 million to Pitt to study “congenital diseases of the genitourinary tract (kidneys‚ bladder‚ ureter‚ urethra)” by obtaining those organs from aborted babies for research.  The released documents show that the congressional lawmakers’ call for a federal investigation was answered by HHS’ Office of Inspector General.  Michael Lauer‚ NIH’s deputy director for extramural research‚ emailed Pitt’s Rutenbar asking for a copy of the school’s human fetal tissue testing policies and standard procedures‚ documentation of patient consent protocols‚ tissue collection procedures‚ and an explanation of tissue obtained from unborn babies after 25 weeks of gestation.  “The scientific and ethical challenges associated with research utilizing human fetal tissue make it imperative that researchers and their organizations be fully aware of and in compliance with the federal requirements‚” Lauer said in the email to Rutenbar dated Sept. 27‚ 2021.  Pitt’s 2016 application for a federal grant of $600‚000 emphasized that it minimizes the “warm ischemia time” for aborted fetuses‚ meaning the amount of time a baby’s body parts would remain at body temperature after the blood supply had been cut off but before the body parts were cooled. Federal law prohibits the alteration of abortion procedures solely for the purpose of obtaining fetal tissue. NIH‚ HHS‚ and the University of Pittsburgh did not respond to The Daily Signal’s requests for comment before publication time. The Daily Signal also sought comment from Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsyvania and the Planned Parenthood Federation of America‚ but received no response. Rutenbar acknowledged Pitt’s awareness of allegations about the university’s fetal testing procedures but denied misconduct in an Oct 26‚ 2021‚ letter to the NIH’s Lauer‚ the released documents show. “As we discussed during the phone call‚ the university maintains rigorous protocols and procedures to ensure that researchers comply with all legal requirements and ethical duties related to fetal tissue research‚” Rutenbar said in the email.  “While we have no evidence of non-compliance with any applicable legal requirements‚” the Pitt official added‚ “as part of our ongoing commitment to our obligations‚ we have commissioned the law firm of Hyman‚ Phelps &; McNamara to conduct an independent review of the university’s fetal tissue research processes and practices.” In the email‚ Rutenbar described Pitt’s protocol for picking up fetal tissue from Planned Parenthood and reviewing the patient consent form. No tissue was tested from unborn babies after 25 weeks‚ he said.  Pitt’s biospecimen core‚ the group responsible for tissue research‚ minimizes “warm ischemia time‚” defined as “the time between the core staff receiving the specimen and depositing it into the core’s storage facility‚” Rutenbar added.  “This means that once tissue is made available to the core‚ core staff transport it to the storage facility as quickly as possible and log the time it took to do so‚” he said.  Senior administrators at Pitt defended the school’s organ-harvesting policies‚ referring to investigations of the university’s tests on fetal tissue as “efforts to undermine important science using fetal tissue‚” according to one of the obtained documents. Pitt responded to “rotating attacks about research using fetal tissue” with what it called an outside review of procedures‚ while believing it followed all appropriate laws‚ Jeremy Berg‚ Pitt’s associate senior vice chancellor for science strategy and planning‚ told NIH Distinguished Investigator Francis Collins‚ the agency’s former director‚ in an email Oct. 16‚ 2021.  “We have been discussing these issues and it seems that this is an organized attempt to delegitimize science based on fetal tissue rather than to identify misbehavior (although‚ of course‚ any misbehavior does create opportunities for outrage)‚” Pitt’s Berg wrote to NIH’s Collins. “In light of this‚ we feel that the scientific community would benefit if more institutions could stand together to take some of the power out of the one-at-a-time strategy that appears to be operating.” The Center for Medical Progress‚ Daleiden’s pro-life organization‚ hopes to undo redactions regarding results of the federal subpoena in the documents released under the Freedom of Information Act.  “Working together with Judicial Watch‚ we are continuing litigation against NIH seeking further production and un-redaction of documents under FOIA concerning the University of Pittsburgh and the GUDMAP program‚” Daleiden said‚ referring to Pitt’s tissue-harvesting program. “We hope to have more to report soon.” The federal investigation of Pitt’s program is an encouraging sign‚ but it would be more so if the Biden administration forbade use of taxpayer dollars to support “unethical and obsolete” fetal tissue research‚ Melanie Israel‚ a policy analyst in The Heritage Foundation’s DeVos Center for Life‚ Religion‚ and Family‚ told The Daily Signal. (The Daily Signal is Heritage’s news outlet.) “When President Biden took office‚ HHS reversed the Trump administration’s ban on funding for NIH intramural research and a requirement that extramural research be subject to an ethics advisory board‚” Israel said. “The next conservative administration should right the ship. NIH should support life-saving research that also respects innocent human life‚ and Congress should prohibit research using fetal tissue obtained from elective abortions once and for all.” Have an opinion about this article? To sound off‚ please email letters@DailySignal.com‚ and we’ll consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular “We Hear You” feature. Remember to include the URL or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state. The post Inside the Federal Probe of Pitt’s Fetal Organ Harvesting Program appeared first on The Daily Signal.