'We elected leaders but we can't see any help'

'We go to Harvard and we have some big f*cking brains'

Our Complete List Of Cheap Trick Band Members looks at the musicians of a band formed in 1973 in Rockford‚ Illinois. The band’s original lineup consisted of vocalist Robin Zander‚ guitarist Rick Nielsen‚ bassist Tom Petersson‚ and drummer Bun E. Carlos. Everyone loved this band instantly when they first broke onto the scene in 1977. Robin Zander Robin Zander‚ the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist‚ joined Cheap Trick in 1974. His joining marked a significant turn in the band’s sound and style. Zander’s first album with the band was their self-titled debut‚ “Cheap Trick‚” released in 1977. He has been The post Complete List Of Cheap Trick Band Members appeared first on ClassicRockHistory.com.

The Story of Dexter Wade Grows Even Stranger

The Gulf of Mexico is home to a wealth of oil and gas rigs‚ fishing boats‚ shipping lanes – and one of the most endangered whale species in the world. Only 51 Rice’s whales remain and‚ according to experts and conservation groups‚ bringing them back from the brink of extinction means that human activities in the region will need to change. But are people willing to?A species in dangerRice’s whales are a species of baleen whale found solely in the Gulf of Mexico‚ thought to be the region’s only year-round baleen resident. They were not discovered until 1965 and even then‚ they were believed to be a subspecies of Bryde’s whale. It wasn’t until a whole host of the whales were killed in the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon incident‚ and washed up on the shore‚ that researchers conducted genetic tests and discovered they were their own species.It also became clear that the Rice’s whale was in danger. At present‚ it’s estimated that there are only 51 remaining‚ making them one of the most endangered whale species in the world. "Every animal counts at that point‚" said Jane Davenport‚ a senior attorney at Defenders of Wildlife‚ a conservation nonprofit‚ speaking to NPR. "Every one you kill is another nail in the coffin."However‚ the species was only listed in the Endangered Species Act in 2019‚ and scientists and conservation groups have argued that not enough is being done to protect the whales. While it has proposed a designated “critical habitat” for the species‚ the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has yet to solidify it‚ and even then the area won’t represent a marine preserve. Conservation versus commerceThere are numerous recognized threats to Rice’s whales; the Deepwater Horizon incident‚ for example‚ demonstrated that they can be affected by oil spills‚ which continue in the Gulf to this day. Another of the most significant threats is ships‚ through means of vessel strikes and noise disturbances.Some conservation groups have taken to petitioning NOAA to establish speed limits for large ships traveling through the whale’s habitat‚ in an effort to push the agency into action and minimize future vessel strikes. This didn’t go down too well with the energy and marine industries and both House and Senate bills were proposed that would block NOAA from taking action‚ arguing that it could affect commerce in the region. In the end‚ the agency rejected the petition.Although little is known about Rice’s whales – they’re notoriously shy – it’s thought that hearing is also critical to their activities‚ such as communicating with each other and sourcing food. This could be disturbed by human activity in the Gulf‚ which ecologist Aaron Rice described as a “constant blanket of human noise."One of the main noisemakers in this region is air guns‚ which are used in seismic surveys to locate gas and oil fields. Whilst quieter alternatives exist‚ switching costs money‚ and without steadfast rules in place‚ companies are under no obligation to do so. "If the regulations aren't there‚ they’re not going to do it‚" said Robin Ellis‚ a vice president of sales at Sercel‚ a company selling both types of air guns. Oil and gas companies have also argued that these things take time and that new technologies are not yet efficient enough to make an effective alternative.What happens now?Whilst the battle to protect the Rice’s whale rages on‚ the species remains endangered. Some scientists aren’t convinced we’ll be able to save it. “I’m not confident that in 50 years they’re going to be around‚” said Jeremy Kiszka‚ a Florida International University marine biologist‚ speaking to The Washington Post. “Honestly‚ I wouldn’t bet my life on it.”Meanwhile‚ NOAA’s proposal to designate a critical habitat for Rice’s whales remains in progress‚ after a public hearing took place in September. Only time will tell if the proposal goes through and if so‚ whether it will have an impact in bringing the Rice’s whale back from the brink of extinction.[H/T: NPR]

The idea of a red apple doesn’t seem all that unusual – unless we’re talking about its color inside. Whilst most apples have off-white flesh (and hopefully‚ a satisfying crispness)‚ slice into a Mountain Rose or Redlove apple and you’ll find insides with a bright and vivid red. But why do some apples possess such colorful insides? Researchers believe it’s all down to an important molecular pathway controlling pigmentation.Pigment productionThe pathway in question controls the production of anthocyanins. A group of water-soluble pigments‚ anthocyanins are also found in a number of other unusually colored fruits and vegetables‚ giving them a distinct red‚ purple‚ or black hue. In the case of red-fleshed apples‚ a team of researchers demonstrated that anthocyanins likely give the flesh its characteristic color‚ caused by the expression of a gene called MYB10.MYB10 is a transcription factor in an anthocyanin pathway‚ meaning that it regulates the expression of other genes that eventually result in anthocyanin production. When the team of researchers genetically altered Royal Gala apple trees to overexpress MYB10‚ the resulting fruit had intensely plum-red insides‚ and high levels of anthocyanins. This indicated that the molecule was responsible for the color of the flesh.Color with a purposeBeyond looking pretty‚ the high level of anthocyanins in red-fleshed apples has a more practical purpose. As the authors wrote‚ "These compounds are essential for plant health and performance‚ but are also considered as phytonutrients or markers for dietary health."Anthocyanins are thought of as antioxidants. In the case of plant health‚ antioxidants are important for protecting cells from free radicals. Whilst a normal byproduct of metabolism‚ they are highly reactive molecules‚ and can sometimes cause damage when they are not well-regulated. This can happen in the human body too. “Free radicals can damage the body’s cells by changing a cell’s DNA‚ or it can alter a cell’s membrane‚” explained registered dietitian Nicole Hopsecger‚ speaking to the Cleveland Clinic. “This interaction between free radicals and the body is called oxidative stress‚ which is often thought to be what contributes to the increased risk of developing chronic disease.”A new superfood?Red-fleshed apples‚ then‚ could be popular with health-conscious consumers – many antioxidant-rich fruits‚ like blueberries and goji berries‚ have been labeled “superfoods”. But if you’re hoping that means a red-fleshed apple a day will keep the doctor away‚ you might be disappointed. “Superfoods tend to be tied more to a marketing trend‚” said Hopsecger. “We can’t rely on any single antioxidant or nutrient to do all the work‚” the dietitian explained. “We need to get a variety of those to make sure we stay healthy and the best way to do that is through a healthy‚ balanced and varied diet.”Still‚ some have described the flavor of the red-fleshed Mountain Rose as like a “strawberry Jolly Rancher” – so it might be worth popping one in your lunchbox anyway.

After receiving regulatory approval earlier this week‚ SpaceX is about to attempt a second launch for its Starship rocket. With a problem-laden first attempt‚ only a 20-minute window to launch‚ and the hopes of the next Moon landing in the balance‚ the stakes are higher than ever.The rocket is scheduled to lift off from the Starbase site in Texas within 20 minutes after 8 am EST (1 pm GMT). The plan is essentially a repeat of what was intended for April’s launch – all being well‚ Starship will head east across the ocean for around 90 minutes‚ after which it will land in the Pacific near Hawai’i.A livestream of the launch can be viewed below.Today’s launch happens a day after it was originally supposed to‚ November 17. The delay came after SpaceX operators found an issue with the grid fins on the first-stage booster‚ Super Heavy. In case of a last-minute delay today‚ there’s another potential launch window for tomorrow. 

When New Jersey Democratic Senator Bob Menendez was charged with corruption two months ago‚ even the liberal media couldn’t resist showing images of the damning horde of cash and gold bars found in Menendez’s New Jersey home. Yet six years ago‚ the networks had a chance to properly report on Senator Menendez’s alleged corruption during an earlier federal trial‚ and they blew it. At the time‚ NewsBusters documented how ABC‚ CBS‚ NBC and CNN buried the embarrassing (for Democrats) trial detailing how Menendez accepted extravagant gifts and travel‚ in exchange for federal favors. That trial ended in a mistrial six years ago this week (November 16‚ 2017)‚ but the lack of a decisive verdict in November does not excuse the media for ignoring the trial in September and October. If the tawdry details had been given proper exposure at the time‚ it’s anyone’s guess whether or not Menendez would have been re-elected in 2018 and thus have had the opportunity to commit the new acts for which he’s currently criminally charged. When Menendez was first indicted in a completely different matter (in April 2015)‚ the networks initially gave that case a fairly decent amount of coverage. As ABC’s David Wright explained on Good Morning America‚ a Florida eye doctor‚ Salomon Melgen (who would later be convicted on 67 counts of Medicare fraud)‚ “used the Senator as sort of a personal errand boy on Capitol Hill....In exchange‚ according to the indictment‚ the Senator accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign funds from Melgen‚ plus lavish Caribbean holidays‚ deluxe hotel rooms in Paris and expensive trips on board the doctor’s private jet.” By the time the trial began on September 6‚ 2017‚ even MSNBC admitted Menendez’s conduct looked indefensible. “The case against Menendez as a legal matter doesn’t look close‚ it looks overwhelming‚” The Beat’s Ari Melber argued that night. Yet by then‚ the broadcast networks had apparently decided they weren’t interested in exposing viewers to the Democratic scandal. ABC and NBC skipped the first day of arguments entirely‚ while CBS This Morning gave it a minuscule 22 second preview (and nothing on that night’s Evening News). Over on FNC’s Special Report‚ however‚ correspondent David Lee Miller relayed: “During opening statements‚ the prosecution told the jury that is part of the bribery scheme‚ Menendez sent the doctor an e-mail asking him to provide a $1‚500 a night Paris hotel room with a limestone bath and a view of the courtyard.” By September 27‚ the trial had been going on for three weeks‚ and the lack of liberal media coverage was glaring. MRC Research Analyst Mike Ciandella found just seven stories on CNN from September 5-26. Yet in 2008‚ he found‚ CNN had churned out far more coverage of a similar trial for a Republican‚ Alaska Senator Ted Stevens (36 stories in a similar time period‚ a nearly six-to-one disparity). The next day (September 28)‚ prosecutors exposed how Menendez had attempted to manipulate a port security arrangement to benefit his benefactor‚ Dr. Melgen‚ but only Fox News viewers heard about it. Correspondent Brian Llenas on that night’s Special Report explained: “The prosecution alleges Senator Menendez trying to get the Dominican Republic government to use Melgen’s port security equipment and to reject a U.S. donation of screening equipment in the process.” As NewsBuster’s Nick Fondacaro faithfully documented‚ ABC‚ CBS and NBC skipped the news; so did CNN. On October 11‚ the prosecution rested; ABC‚ CBS and NBC paid no attention. The following Monday‚ the judge denied Menendez request to dismiss the case; once again‚ there was no interest from the broadcast networks. On November 2‚ the lawyers delivered their closing arguments. “This is what bribery looks like‚” federal prosecutor J.P. Cooney declared. Again‚ the network evening newscasts revealed none of it. As the jury deliberated‚ the media scorecard stood as follows: just 1 minute‚ 48 seconds on ABC (all a single Good Morning America piece on September 13‚ a week into the trial); 22 seconds on CBS (a quick tease on CBS This Morning on September 6 announcing the start of the trial); and nothing at all on NBC’s morning and evening news programs. Then on November 9‚ the Washington Post reported allegations that Alabama GOP Senate candidate Roy Moore had fondled underage girls when he was in his 30s. Contrary to their reluctance to cover courtroom evidence against a sitting Democratic Senator‚ the networks raced to report media allegations against a Republican candidate. In just 24 hours‚ MRC’s Ciandella documented‚ ABC‚ CBS and NBC had cranked out 12 times more coverage of the allegations against Moore (24 minutes‚ 36 seconds) than they had spent on the entire Menendez trial during the preceding 10 weeks (just 2 minutes‚ 10 seconds). Then-White House advisor Kellyanne Conway noted the double standard when she was badgered about Moore by ABC’s Martha Raddatz on This Week on November 12: “We‚ already in this conversation‚ have probably spent more time talking about Roy Moore and this‚ than we have talked about a Democratic United States Senator who’s sitting in a federal courthouse as a criminal defendant in a trial‚ has been indicted on some serious criminal counts‚ and we can’t get coverage on it.” Only after the judge declared a mistrial on November 16 did the network evening newscasts finally spare a little airtime for the Democratic scandal. ABC’s World News Tonight gave it 19 seconds; the NBC Nightly News‚ just 22 seconds. The CBS Evening News‚ which hadn’t said a word about the evidence during the trial‚ offered up 1 minute‚ 50 seconds‚ casting Menendez as vindicated. “Supporters cheered as Senator Robert Menendez stepped to the podium to blast government prosecutors‚” correspondent Anna Werner touted. Later on‚ she added: “Menendez had one more thing to say as he heads back to Washington. He said‚ ‘To those who were digging my political grave so you could jump into my seat‚ I know who you are and I won’t forget you.” But while the jury couldn’t find agreement‚ Menendez did receive a unanimous guilty verdict the following April‚ when both the Republicans and Democrats on the Senate Ethics Committee agreed that he had violated Senate rules regarding the gifts he had received from Dr. Melgen‚ and then “used your position as a Member of the Senate to advance Dr. Melgen’s personal and business interests.” The bipartisan group upbraided Menendez in a “Public Letter of Admonishment” saying his actions brought “discredit upon the Senate.” Yet none of the three networks mentioned any of this on their April 26‚ 2018 broadcasts. Let’s hope they do a more complete job when the next Menendez trial gets underway. It’s currently scheduled for May 6‚ 2024. For more examples from our flashback series‚ which we call the NewsBusters Time Machine‚ go here.                  

Riley Gaines Wipes the FLOOR with Laura Loomer and Her 'Investigative Skills' After She Doxxed Her

RedState Weekly Briefing: IDF Takes Out Hamas Terrorist‚ Storms Al-Shifa‚ Biden Bumbles Along