There was a powerful solar flare that knocked out radio‚ and it could be headed for the Earth. It’s one of the largest ever recorded. The flare is the strongest in six years‚ knocking out radio frequencies. It will hit Earth in several days‚ scientists warn. “This is likely one of the largest solar radio […] The post Largest Solar Flare Ever Recorded Knocked Out Radio Frequencies appeared first on www.independentsentinel.com.

Daily Wire hosts‚ major influencers‚ and social media users reacted to Tim Pool’s surprise cover of Smokey Mike &; The god-king’s hit song “Together Again‚” praising the new release while quipping about their thoughts on the original song.  Pool and producer Carter Banks debuted their cover of “Together Again” in a midnight release that hit the top spot on the iTunes chart above songs like Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You” and “No More Dream” by BTS. Smokey Mike &; the god-king performed “Together Again” live at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville last year during a Daily Wire “Backstage Live” event. Pool posted on X Friday morning‚ praising Smokey Mike &; The god-king for producing “the best song ever written.” “It’s no surprise that we hit #1 in only a few hours‚” said Pool. “Together Again by Smokey Mike And The god-king is the best song ever written. We are just riding their coattails.” Daily Wire co-founder and Smokey and The god-king singer Jeremy Boering responded to Pool’s post‚ calling Pool‚ “A middling talent‚ but a truth teller.” A middling talent‚ but a truth teller. https://t.co/VUIFJWKVxU — Jeremy Boreing (@JeremyDBoreing) December 15‚ 2023 Boreing’s fellow Smokey Mike &; The god-king singer Michael Knowles praised the cover‚ calling it a “masterful tribute.”  “And just like that‚ I’m transported right back to the ‘60s—right back to my youth‚” said Knowles. “What you’ve done here is a masterful tribute. Thank you.” Daily Wire Editor Emeritus Ben Shapiro shared what made the song special for him‚ writing‚ “Oh man‚ all those amazing holiday memories of listening to Smokey Mike and the god-king on my parents’ old 78. It’s like @Timcast has made them new again.” “Oh wow‚ my Dad used to play the original version on his radio show‚” Daily Wire host Andrew Klavan remarked. “Nice to hear @Timcast bring back a classic.”  Daily Wire host Matt Walsh said it was “amazing” to hear Pool’s version of “Together Again.” “Wow I heard this song constantly growing up‚” said Walsh. “My parents were big SMGK fans. Pretty amazing to hear it reimagined like this.” Pool’s music label Trash House Records said in a press release that Smokey Mike &; The god-king’s “iconic” song “captured previous generations” and is now “being given new life for today’s generation.” “‘Together Again’ by the legendary duo Smokey Mike &; The god-king–which saw an unprecedented 87-week run at the top of the Spicy 100 charts in 1967 and 1968–has long remained untouched by modern artists‚ which many say is a testament to its timeless brilliance and the revered‚ indelible mark it left on the music industry‚” Trash House Records said.   “Legendary Artists like Smokey Mike &; The god-king have been largely overlooked by today’s mainstream music industry‚” Trash House Records continued. “But Banks and Pool’s cover embraces the foundation laid by the duo‚ whose commitment to tradition‚ quality‚ and artistry was unshaken by the liberal counterculture movements of the decade — a quality often credited with their historic run at the top of the charts.” Social media users also praised both Pool’s cover and the original “Together Again” after the re-imagined version topped the charts.  “I remember at one time it was Take Me Home‚ Country Roads by John Denver and Together Again by Smokey Mike &; The god-king. Man those were the times‚” Matthew Rairdon said.  “I feel like I’ve been whisked away back to my childhood. Sitting in front of the fire place on Christmas morning‚ watching mom and dad dance in the kitchen together listening to ‘together again‚’” wrote X user Waffles Sensei. “Grew up listening to SMGK on the radio because the DJ would never stop playing them on repeat on the oldies channel‚” wrote Rebel News contributor Ian Miles Cheong. Jenna Ellis added‚ “Amazing cover! This this brings back memories of road trips to the mountains in Colorado as a kid listening to Smokey and the god-king ON CASSETTE TAPE.” Not everyone seemed thrilled with the new cover‚ however.  “Does Timcast have no shame?” one person asked on social media. “Taking a timeless classic that we all grew up with and mucking it up with modern sounds. We call ourselves conservatives but what are we conserving?” Pool responded‚ “Cry more. These haters are mad that we made Together Again Great Again.”  Hosts of The Daily Wire’s sports show “Crain &; Co.” also commented on the release of the viral song.  “My Uncle was absolutely in love with Smokey Mike and the god king. He always said Smokey Mike was his ‘spirit animal‚’” Jake Crain posted on X.  Crain’s brother and fellow host Blain Crain said Pool’s cover of “Together Again” didn’t reach the greatness of Smokey Mike &; The god-king‚ simply writing‚ “The original was better.”  David Cone‚ co-host of “Crain &; Co.” posted on X‚ “Fun fact‚ my parents met at a Smokey Mike and the god-king concert.” Banks and Pool’s cover of “Together Again” is available now on thebestsongever.com‚ iTunes‚ Spotify‚ YouTube‚ and all major music platforms. 

Southwest Airlines is going viral for their company-wide “Customer of Size” policy‚ which allows overweight travelers to potentially get extra seats for free if they don’t fit. The policy states that customers who “encroach upon any part of the neighboring seat(s)” may purchase however many extra seats they need. Those passengers can then request a refund after travel‚ according to their website. Southwest says the policy isn’t focused on just weight‚ but applies to anyone who doesn’t fit in the seat because of their body type. The space is determined by the placement of armrests. “The armrest is considered to be the definitive boundary between seats‚” the policy says. “If you’re unable to lower both armrests and/or encroach upon any portion of a seat next to you‚ you need a second seat. Our policy does not focus on weight.” “The purchase of additional seats serves as a notification of a special seating need and allows us to adequately plan for the number of occupied seats onboard‚” the policy continues. “It also helps us ensure we can accommodate all customers on the flight for which they purchased a ticket and avoid asking customers to relinquish their seats for unplanned accommodation.” A TikTok influencer named Kimmy Garris‚ who calls herself a “fat solo traveler‚” posted a video of herself boarding a Southwest plane in October and asking about their policy for overweight passengers. The customer service agent can be seen giving Garris an extra ticket‚ which the TikTok user said “should be the industry norm.” But unlike Garris‚ many social media users were annoyed by the new policy.  CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP “Rewarding bad behavior. Society is regressing‚” one person wrote. “Fat supremacy in action‚” another commenter agreed. Many comments questioned whether tall travelers would get extra perks as well. “I presume this means that tall people will be upgraded to Business Select class for free‚ then‚ [SouthwestAir]?” another person asked. Most social media users worried that the airline giving away free seats to certain passengers would result in ticket prices going up for everyone else.

Independent film studio A24 dropped a chilling trailer about director Alex Garland’s upcoming dystopian movie “Civil War‚” which shows an America torn apart and descending into chaos. In the opening scene from two-minute-plus trailer‚ smoke can be seen rising in a metropolitan city and a voiceover says that “19 states have seceded” and that the United States Army” has ramped up activity.” The viewer is told the White House has issued a warning to “Western forces as well as the Florida Alliance‚” before we learn about a “third-term president” who has assured the populace that any uprisings will be “dealt with swiftly.” “In the near future‚ a team of journalists travel across the United States during a rapidly escalating civil war that has engulfed the entire nation‚” a description on IMDb read. Text that was shown between images of war and chaos said “All Empires Fall‚” as the film follows journalists‚ played by Kirsten Dunst and Wagner Moura‚ making their way across the country‚ Mashable reported. In one clip‚ a reporter confronts the president‚ played by Nick Offerman‚ about using airstrikes against American citizens. Images of tanks‚ displaced Americans‚ an American flag with just two stars‚ and the Lincoln Memorial in Washington‚ D.C. being blown up are also featured in the trailer. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP Comments on social media reacting to the trailer have been mixed‚ with many people having trouble understanding how liberal California and conservative Texas entered into an alliance in the world of the film‚ UPROXX noted. “Trying to think of what shared political principle could estrange Texas and California from the rest of the United States‚ and my only conclusion is they go to war over the difference between Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr‚” one person wrote on X. Another person added‚ “I’m gonna need elaborate context on this one‚ like explaining how and why Texas and California somehow banded together to secede.” “Civil War” is scheduled to hit theaters April 26‚ 2024.

As the Biden administration has avoided confronting Islamic Houthis in Yemen aligned with Iran who are impeding navigation in the Middle East‚ two of the world’s largest container shipping lines —both of which have had ships attacked by the Islamist group —announced on Friday they have paused transits through the Red Sea. Maersk‚ whose ship Gibraltar was attacked on Thursday‚ stated they would instruct ships passing through the Bab al-Mandab Strait‚ which connects the Indian Ocean to the Red Sea‚ to pause their journeys “until further notice.” Germany’s Hapag-Lloyd AG announced they would pause their ships’ journeys until Monday‚ “then will decide for the period after.” Maersk is the second largest container shipping company by volume‚ according to the Financial Times‚ while Hapag-Lloyd is the fifth largest‚ according to Marine Insight. After three years of a feckless Iran policy‚ the Biden Administration has effectively lost control of the Red Sea. pic.twitter.com/bCW0RaZcen — Mark Dubowitz (@mdubowitz) December 15‚ 2023 “The moves will pile pressure on the US and its allies to improve security along one of the world’s most important trade corridors to avoid undermining the global economic recovery‚” Bloomberg News opined. On Friday‚ two Liberian-flagged ships in the Bab al-Mandab Strait were attacked from Houthi-controlled Yemen. A ship owned by Hapag-Lloyd called Al-Jasrah was hit. “While the Houthis are pulling the trigger‚ so to speak‚ they’re being handed the gun by Iran‚” U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan stated. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP “It’s an international problem. It’s going to take an international solution‚ and we’re working with allies and partners on that‚” Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks stated Wednesday. Iran’s Defense Minister Mohammed-Reza Ashtiani said the U.S. “will face tremendous problems” if they move forward with a plan to protect ships‚ adding‚ “No one can maneuver in a region that we dominate.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly told President Joe Biden that if the U.S. does not take action against the Yemen-based Houthi terrorists‚ Israel will‚ as the Houthis have targeted shipping vessels with ties to Israel. Numerous U.S. defense officials told POLITICO that Biden’s approach to dealing with the situation was problematic because by trying to avoid escalation‚ the opposite is happening. “Near to immediate term‚ where are the strikes on [Houthi] targets?” said Marc Polymeropoulos‚ former CIA official‚ on social media. “Need to see this ASAP.” Retired Vice Adm. John Miller‚ the former commander of U.S. 5th Fleet‚ told POLITICO that the U.S. was “not taking this seriously” because these attacks “have gone largely unanswered.” “We’re not deterring anybody right now‚” Miller said. Ryan Saavedra contributed to this article.

Brad Paisley and his wife‚ actress Kimberly Williams-Paisley‚ announced they have opened a free toy store ahead of the holidays for kids in the Nashville area. The 51-year-old country singer and his wife have opened “The Toy Store” which offers free toys for 400 families this season‚ giving parents — who might not otherwise be able — the chance to give their kids a special gift for Christmas‚ Parade reported. “The emotional aspect of being able to give your child something your child wanted versus just something to sort of get you through the holidays‚ that’s such a load off the minds of somebody who maybe didn’t think they were going to be able to do that‚” Paisley told the Associated Press of the shop. “People come on hard times and we want this to be a safe‚ welcoming place for everybody‚ whether you’re volunteering or whether you’re needing the services‚” Williams-Paisley added. “It’s just a community and we’re all in it together.” Brad Paisley and Kimberly Williams-Paisley Provide 400 Families with Holiday Gifts Through Free Toy Store https://t.co/ACuVoP0WLR — People (@people) December 12‚ 2023 In a video posted on Instagram‚ the singer talked about when they launched their year-round free grocery store called “The Store” in Nashville in 2020‚ their goal was to eventually “do a Christmas Toy Store for kids and parents to have the same experience of shopping with dignity and choice‚ but in an extra-fun way.” “Seeing it happen was magical‚” he added. “The look on the faces of these kids was worth every bit of effort. Thanks to all who helped make this happen. Hopefully just the start!” CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP He also thanked the great companies who he said generously donated toys. Brad and Kimberly said despite all this good news‚ they could still use more help with their free grocery store as the cost of groceries keeps going up. “We’re still not serving everybody that we want to serve. Food insecurity is on the rise‚” Williams-Paisley told the AP. “The USDA just released its report saying 17 million households in this country are facing food insecurity and that’s on the rise from 2021.” Related: WATCH: Brad Paisley Drops In On Founders Of ‘Black Or White‚ Have A Beer’ Movement‚ Sends Tons Of Beer

The other day‚ I briefly talked about a racially segregated holiday party that was just thrown by the mayor of Boston‚ Michelle Wu. In case you missed it‚ the mayor’s office only wanted to invite the non-white members of the Boston city council to the event. They wanted to exclude all the white people. To that end‚ the mayor’s staff sent out a bunch of emails addressed to “electeds of color‚” which is yet another example of the fact that Leftists are simply incapable of speaking English. They’re well on their way to creating their own language at this point. But there was a problem with this party. By mistake‚ the mayor’s office sent out invitations to all of Boston’s city council members‚ including the white devils. It wasn’t just “Electeds of Color” who got an invite‚ seven white people got one‚ too. In an administration that cared about the Constitution‚ or basic morality‚ this would be a highly embarrassing episode. The mayor would apologize for discriminating on the basis of race and resign. But that’s not what happened in this case. Instead‚ Wu apologized — not for the discrimination‚ but for accidentally sending the invitation to white people. She says that was the only error she made. Watch: The mayor also clarified that this “Electeds of Color” party has been going on for several years‚ and it’s only now been discovered because of the mistake that her staff made. So rest easy‚ the racial discrimination is nothing new. That’s the position of the mayor’s office. Whatever you make of that‚ there are a few legal experts who have suggested it might violate Massachusetts law‚ which doesn’t allow government officials to use city resources to enforce racial segregation. The Massachusetts Public Accommodations Act bars officials from‚ “making any distinction‚ discrimination‚ or restriction in admission to or treatment in a place of public accommodation based on race.” This event was held at the Parkman House‚ which is owned by the city‚ although it’s not open to the public. WATCH: The Matt Walsh Show Maybe that’s the “out” here. Maybe the mayor can say that it’s legal to discriminate on the basis of race‚ as long as it’s in a city building that isn’t a “public accommodation.” That still doesn’t address the question of why Wu was so intent on keeping white people away from this event.  It’s especially strange given that Wu has a white husband. You might be tempted to think that Wu just wanted to attend a holiday party without her husband around. Maybe that’s what’s going on here. She also has two half-white children — are they allowed to be at the party for half the time? Is that how that works? But this is not a completely satisfying explanation‚ mainly because it does seem that the mayor has a deep-seated disdain for white people‚ at least in general.  For one thing‚ just a year ago‚ Wu cracked a joke about how many “white” problems she’s had to deal with in the city. Watch: “I’m getting used to dealing w problems that are expensive‚ disruptive &; White”. -Boston Mayor Michelle Wu #Boston‚ @MayorWu has finally shown her true colors. This isn’t funny. This is disgusting. #ShameOnWu @CotterReporter @TuckerCarlson @HowieCarrShow @DoctorTurtleboy pic.twitter.com/eFTWomIH3O — Boston First Responders United (BFRU) (@BostonFRU) March 20‚ 2022 This is the point where you have to wonder how someone like Michelle Wu became the mayor of a city like Boston‚ given that she clearly hates most of the city’s residents based on their skin color. In fact‚ even though the white population in Boston is declining‚ it’s still one of the whitest major cities in the country. And yet it has‚ arguably‚ the most anti-white mayor in the country. How does that happen? Well‚ not a lot of people are asking that question right now‚ even in Boston. As I mentioned yesterday‚ even white members of the city council — the very people that Wu excluded from the holiday party because of their skin color — are mostly shrugging this whole episode off. They’re suggesting it’s an isolated incident‚ as if that would somehow make racial segregation acceptable. But it’s not an isolated incident‚ not even close. You don’t hear a lot about it‚ but explicit anti-white discrimination is no longer unusual in this country. I’m not talking about racial bias‚ or affirmative action admissions‚ or racial preferences in hiring and promotions. Everyone knows that’s been going on. I’m talking about policies — in government‚ universities‚ and school systems — that overtly ban white people from participating. This is a real problem. It’s not just happening at the mayor’s holiday party in Boston. Racial segregation has made a comeback in this country in a big way. You just don’t hear very much about it. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILY WIRE APP Right now‚ for example‚ a school district in Illinois is segregating its English and math classes by race. At Evanston Township High School‚ black and Latino students go into one classroom when it’s time to learn English‚ calculus‚ and algebra. Whites and Asians go into a different room. This is the kind of program that legal experts say is clearly unconstitutional. If anyone sued‚ it would be struck down immediately. But people aren’t interested in suing‚ at least not yet. So the program will continue. They even have a name for this whole system of racial discrimination. The school board calls it “AXLE” — for “Advancing Excellence‚ Lifting Everyone.” As shocking as this sounds‚ it’s nothing new for Chicago. A couple of years ago‚ Chicago’s mayor at the time‚ Lori Lightfoot‚ announced that for one day‚ she wouldn’t talk to white reporters. She just straight-up said that she didn’t want to deal with them. Again‚ there was mostly a collective shrug from reporters in the city. Watch: Lightfoot never apologized for that. And why would she? She understands that in Chicago — the third biggest city in the United States — open anti-white race hate isn’t just tolerated‚ it’s popular. Again there are many more examples. In the wake of George Floyd’s overdose‚ Rice University students demanded the construction of a literal “Black House” on campus‚ along with segregated housing. And last year‚ the New York Post reported that an off-campus housing co-op at U.C. Berkeley had banned white people from the common areas. This is a five-story building called the “Person of Color Theme House.” Here’s an excerpt from the house rules: Many POC moved here to be able to avoid white violence and presence‚ so respect their decision of avoidance if you bring white guests. … White guests are not allowed in common spaces. In fact‚ some white guests weren’t allowed at all. As one student reported‚ “‘[I] was not allowed to let my dad enter the house because he’s white.” If you’re wondering where Berkeley’s administration stood on all of this‚ the answer is that they support it. Anti-white hatred is endemic at the university. Three years ago‚ in the summer of George Floyd‚ a third-year student named Seth Smith was shot in the back of the head‚ execution-style‚ while he was out for a walk. Smith’s killer was a black career criminal who mocked Smith for being white when he was arrested. How did Berkeley administrators respond to this incident? The chancellor released this statement: “Many of you may have had a close relationship with Seth and are feeling a sense of loss and disbelief. Others‚ like many of us‚ are experiencing stress‚ grief and anxiety related to the coronavirus pandemic and the recent murders of George Floyd‚ Riah Milton‚ and other Black Americans.” In other words‚ sorry about the white kid who just got murdered. But isn’t the death of George Floyd — a felon with no connection whatsoever to Berkeley — also really upsetting? That’s what they said. Imagine being one of Seth Smith’s friends or family members and seeing that email. You’d understand the message immediately‚ which is that white people don’t matter. This is a message that Berkeley has communicated a lot recently‚ in various ways. For example‚ the university recently held a blacks-only graduation ceremony. They’ve been doing this every year for a while now‚ but earlier this year one clip went viral. Watch: This is state-funded segregation. And there are many more examples of it‚ outside of the Bay Area. As of 2019‚ more than 75 universities in this country offer black-only graduation ceremonies. The actual number by now is probably much higher. Harvard still hosts “affinity celebrations” for graduates‚ which are subdivided by skin color. White people‚ of course‚ are the only racial group that doesn’t get one. What’s important to keep in mind is that none of these incidents were national scandals‚ although they obviously should have been. In many cases‚ the people being discriminated against don’t seem to mind that much. Those impacted by these policies could file lawsuits and‚ even in our court system‚ easily win them. A lot of this stuff just isn’t remotely legal. But nobody challenges it. Nobody sues. Nobody even objects‚ most of the time. And because of that ambivalence‚ “racial equity” is rapidly becoming what it was always going to become‚ which is the return of racial segregation. 

In a move that has sent shockwaves through the toy industry‚ a leading toymaker has announced the layoff of more than 1‚000 employees just as the holiday season approaches. This decision has raised eyebrows and questions about the underlying reasons for such a drastic measure during what is traditionally the most lucrative time of year for toy manufacturers. The company‚ renowned for its popular brands such as Peppa Pig‚ Transformers‚ Monopoly‚ and Dungeons &; Dragons‚ has been facing a downturn in sales. The CEO cited the first three quarters as particularly challenging‚ especially in the toy sector‚ which is still reeling from the highs of the pandemic era when families turned to board games and action figures to pass the time during lockdowns. TOY MAKER HASBRO TO LAYOFF ANOTHER 20% OF ITS EMPLOYEES IN ORDER TO CUT COSTS OVER WEAK HOLIDAY SALES$HAS pic.twitter.com/Kq2HGfsAS4 — GURGAVIN (@gurgavin) December 12‚ 2023 Speculation is rife that the partnership with Disney may have contributed to the company’s woes. Recent years have seen a decline in the popularity of certain Disney franchises‚ with toys linked to the latest Indiana Jones movie and Marvel offerings failing to meet sales expectations after both films performed poorly at the box office. Social media users have not hesitated to draw connections between the layoffs and the toymaker’s association with Disney. Some suggest that Disney’s recent decisions have negatively impacted other companies‚ including those producing merchandise for its franchises. The reported revenue declines of between 10 and 17 percent year-on-year have only added fuel to this fire. I see many people attacking @Hasbro for the announced layoffs. While the company hasn't done itself any favors with its handling of IPs like D&;D. People need to realize this is also a ripple effect. Hasbro's revenue is in part dependant on Marvel and Star Wars and @Disney has… — CountryGentlman (@Gentlman_Gaming) December 12‚ 2023 Critics have pointed to the broader implications of embracing certain policies and cultural stances‚ implying that the company’s current predicament could be a result of prioritizing diversity‚ equity‚ and inclusion (DEI) initiatives over business fundamentals. This perspective suggests that such policies may have alienated a portion of the consumer base‚ leading to financial repercussions. The closure of the Providence‚ Rhode Island office marks a significant contraction for the toymaker‚ signaling a shift in the company’s operational footprint. This development has left many wondering about the future of the employees affected by the layoffs and the local economy that benefited from their presence. As the news spreads‚ there is a growing sense of unease among shareholders and consumers alike. Questions are being raised about the strategic direction of the company and whether the partnership with Disney is sustainable in the long term given the current market dynamics. In conclusion‚ the mass layoffs at this iconic toymaker have sparked a debate about the influence of partnerships‚ brand associations‚ and corporate policies on business health. As the company navigates these turbulent times‚ the industry will be watching closely to see how it adapts to changing consumer tastes and market challenges. The coming months will be critical in determining whether the toymaker can bounce back or if this is the beginning of a deeper decline. The post Major Toymaker Faces Mass Layoffs Ahead of the Holidays: A Closer Look at the Causes appeared first on The Conservative Brief.