NASA’s Psyche mission began eight weeks ago when it launched from the Kennedy Space Center. While it won’t reach its objective‚ the metal-rich asteroid Psyche‚ until 2029‚ the spacecraft has already travelled 26 million km (16 million miles.) During that time‚ it’s already had its share of success as it ticks off items on its checklist of tests. Now‚ we have our first images from Psyche. And while they don’t show us anything about its eventual target‚ they give us a behind-the-scenes look at how complex spacecraft prepare themselves as they cruise toward their destinations. When spacecraft like Psyche are launched‚ they’re ensconced in the nose of the rocket that carries them. All eyes are on the rocket and its successful launch. But once they separate from the rocket‚ they’re on their own and mission engineers monitor them carefully‚ powering up systems and checking scientific instruments according to a precise checklist. Psyche has already streamed back some data and powered up scientific instruments. Now its twin cameras are operating‚ and we have our first images. They’re starfield images used to tell Psyche where it’s at in space. Psyche’s imaging system sent back a total of 68 images‚ all from the constellation Pisces. The image data will verify that the spacecraft is following thruster commands properly‚ allow mission personnel to verify that telemetry is working‚ and also allow images to be calibrated. These images are like a newly-commissioned telescope’s first light. Jim Bell is an astronomy professor at Arizona State University and the Psyche Imaging team lead. “These initial images are only a curtain-opener‚” Bell said in a press release. “For the team that designed and operates this sophisticated instrument‚ first light is a thrill.” Psyche will take opportunistic images of other bodies along its journey. These images also give mission operators a chance to test and verify the spacecraft’s imaging system in preparation for its rendezvous with the asteroid Psyche. “We start checking out the cameras with star images like these‚ then in 2026‚ we’ll take test images of Mars during the spacecraft’s flyby‚” Bell said. “And finally‚ in 2029‚ we’ll get our most exciting images yet – of our target asteroid Psyche. We look forward to sharing all of these visuals with the public.” We don’t have any great images of Pysche. Most of the images are artist’s illustrations based on scientific data. They can only give us an indication of what it actually looks like. All of our images of Psyche are illustrations based on scientific data. We’ll only get a good look at it when NASA’s Psyche finally rendezvous with the asteroid in 2029. Credit: Maxar/ASU/P. Rubin/NASA/JPL-Caltech Spacecraft cameras often employ a system of filters to make them more versatile and scientifically productive. Psyche’s imaging system is a multispectral imager made of two identical cameras that provide redundancy in case there are any problems. The cameras have a system of filters that helps Psyche determine the nature of the asteroid’s topography‚ composition‚ and geology. Imager data will also build 3D maps of the asteroid’s surface. Psyche’s multispectral imager during assembly and testing on Sept. 13‚ 2021‚ at Malin Space Science Systems in San Diego‚ California. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS “We don’t even know for sure just what Psyche is.”Lindy Elkins-Tanton‚ Psyche mission Principal Investigator. As for the asteroid itself‚ it’s unique. In fact‚ it’s not just unique‚ it’s improbable. It may be the core from a planetesimal that was stripped of its outer layers through collision with another body. So this is a rare opportunity to examine something that nature has kindly excavated for us. According to one Psyche design document‚ the mission will give us a “Look inside the terrestrial planets‚ including Earth‚ by directly examining the interior of a differentiated body‚ which otherwise could not be seen.” Psyche’s “first light” images make up this mosaic showing a starfield in the constellation Pisces. A version of the mosaic annotated with the names of the stars shown is at the bottom. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU Psyche is a mystery. If it is a planetary core‚ it’s nothing like the rocky planets. Rocks on Earth‚ Mars‚ and Venus contain ample iron oxides. From a distance‚ Psyche doesn’t seem to contain many of these compounds. This suggests that its formation history is much different‚ but only a closer look can tell for sure. Scientists are keen to understand more clearly how our Solar System and its bodies formed‚ and outliers like Psyche are an important part of the bigger picture. Much of what we know of Psyche’s surface comes from optical albedo and radar measurements. Image Credit: Shepard et al. 2022. Once Psyche reaches its target‚ it’ll perform four progressively lower science orbits. Each orbit not only gives higher resolution science data‚ but they effectively “train” Psyche’s magnetometer. Its data will become more precise as Psyche gets closer. This is important because it’s up to the magnetometer to answer the huge question about the asteroid: is it the iron-rich core of a protoplanet or not? The Psyche mission features four progressively lower science orbits. Each orbit’s final parameters cannot be defined until after the spacecraft arrives in the vicinity of Psyche when the gravity field can be measured in detail. Image Credit: Oh et al. 2019. The imaging system is only the most recent successful test operation. The Psyche team has already fired the thrusters and tested part of the spacecraft’s gamma-ray and neutron spectrometer. They’ve also tested the new Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) system that uses lasers to send and receive data. We have to wait until 2029 for all this work to pay off. At that time‚ Psyche will enter orbit around the asteroid and begin its nearly two-year mission to study it. While other missions have returned samples of asteroids‚ and while NASA’s Lucy spacecraft will visit a handful of asteroids in a single mission‚ none of those targets are like Psyche. “This is a whole new kind of world‚” said Lindy Elkins-Tanton‚ a professor of Earth and space exploration at Arizona State University and principal investigator for the Psyche mission. “We don’t even know for sure just what Psyche is‚” she said. “We’re used to going to Mars‚ where we know a lot about it already—we have a lot of context. We just don’t have that for Psyche.” The post Psyche Gives Us Its First Images of Space appeared first on Universe Today.

One of the chief objectives of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is to study the formation and evolution of the earliest galaxies in the Universe‚ which emerged more than 13 billion years ago. To this end‚ scientists must identify galaxies from different cosmological epochs to explore how their properties have changed over time. This‚ in turn‚ requires precise dating techniques so astronomers are able to determine when (in the history of the Universe) an observed galaxy existed. The key is to measure the object’s redshift‚ which indicates how long its light has been traveling through space. This is the purpose of the Cosmic Evolution Early Release Science Survey (CEERS)‚ a collaborative research group that analyzes Webb data to learn more about galactic evolution. These galaxies are known as “high-redshift‚” meaning that their light emissions are redshifted all the way into the infrared spectrum. Galaxies that existed ca. 13 billion years ago can only be observed in the near-infrared spectrum‚ which is now possible thanks to Webb’s Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam). Even so‚ obtaining accurate redshift measurements from such distant galaxies is a very tricky‚ and requires advanced techniques. When observing distant galaxies‚ astronomers will analyze their light using a spectrometer – a device that breaks light down into its respective wavelengths – to measure for redshift. In essence‚ redshift determines how long light has been traveling through space to reach us. Consistent with Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity‚ we know that the speed of light is constant light’s regardless of the motion of the observer or source. However‚ since the space between the source and observer is constantly expanding‚ the light’s wavelength is elongated‚ causing it to shift towards the red end of the spectrum (hence the term “redshift”). A spectral diagram comparing emitted light from an object to the observed redshifted light. As the Universe expands‚ it stretches light into lower frequencies‚ or towards the red portion of the spectrum. Credit: NASA/ESA/C. Christian/Z. Levay (STScI) By obtaining accurate measurements of a galaxy’s redshift‚ astronomers can place it in the context of cosmic history. If a galaxy has a redshirt value of 6 (z = 6)‚ astronomers will conclude that its light has been traveling through space for roughly 12.7 billion years. This means that the galaxy they are observing appears as it would have almost 13 billion years ago. Obtaining these values is not easy‚ but astronomers have come to rely on various techniques to make it easier. Micaela Bagley‚ a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Texas at Austin‚ is a member of the CEERS research group and is responsible for processing all the images taken by the Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam). As he explained in a recent NASA interview‚ two techniques involve measuring emission lines and using a “break” in a galactic spectrum – abrupt changes in the light intensity at specific wavelengths. A common break astronomers rely on is the spectral break of neutral hydrogen (or the Lyman Break)‚ which corresponds to the amount of energy it can absorb before it becomes ionized. Similarly‚ there’s the Balmer break‚ where electrons become completely ionized directly from the second energy level of a hydrogen atom. Galaxies that show both of these breaks are called double-break galaxies. Since astronomers know the wavelength of these breaks‚ they can target galaxies at certain distances by looking for breaks with the right redshift. Some of the first images Webb took were of double-break high redshift values (z = 7)‚ meaning they existed when the Universe was less than one billion years old (ca. 13 billion years ago). However‚ these galaxies were much brighter and larger than expected‚ which did not sit well with prevailing cosmological models. This illustrates a flaw in the double-break method‚ which is great for finding galaxies but can introduce biases into the data. But as Bagley said‚ this is where the NIRCam instrument comes in handy: “We take images using multiple filters to collect the object’s light in several different colors. When we measure a galaxy’s photometry‚ or how bright it is in an image‚ we’re measuring the brightness of the object averaged across the full range of wavelengths transmitted by the filter. We can observe a galaxy with NIRCam’s broadband imaging filters‚ but there is a lot of detailed information hidden within each single measurement for every 0.3–1.0 microns in wavelength coverage. Yet we can start to constrain the shape of a galaxy’s spectrum.” The shape of a galaxy’s spectrum is affected by several properties‚ including the numbers of stars forming within it‚ how dusty it is‚ and how much its light has been redshifted. The measured brightness of the galaxy is then compared in each filter to what galaxy models predict‚ spanning a range of properties at a range of redshifts. Based on how well the model fits the data‚ astronomers can determine the galaxy is at a certain “moment in history.” This analytical process‚ where a “best fit” redshift is found‚ is known as the photometric redshift. In July 2022‚ teams with the CEERS Survey used NIRCam images to identify two previously undetected galaxies with photometric redshifts greater than z = 11‚ corresponding to more than 13.4 billion years ago. Unfortunately‚ photometric redshift measurements of galaxies are also subject to a degree of uncertainty. As Bagley went on to explain‚ astronomers may be able to detect a spectral break in a filter but not the precise wavelength of the break: “While we can estimate a best-fit redshift based on modeling the photometry‚ the resulting probability distribution is often broad. Additionally‚ galaxies at different redshifts can have similar colors in broadband filters‚ making it difficult to distinguish their redshifts based only on photometry. For example‚ red‚ dusty galaxies at redshifts less than 5 (or when the universe was 1.1 billion years old or older) and cool stars in our own galaxy can sometimes mimic the same colors of a high-redshift galaxy. We therefore consider all galaxies that are selected based on their photometric redshifts to be high-redshift candidates until we can obtain a more precise redshift. To address this‚ astronomers will attempt to constrain a galaxy’s redshift by obtaining a spectrum‚ which is where Webb‘s Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) comes in. Astronomers can improve their calculations of redshift probability distribution by measuring the perceived brightness (photometry) of a galaxy in ever finer wavelengths. As they go from broadband filters to narrower filters to a spectrum‚ the distribution narrows until a very precise redshift measurement is obtained‚ known as a spectroscopic redshift. The redshift probability distribution (right panels) narrows as we measure the photometry of a galaxy (left panels) in ever finer wavelength steps. Credit: Micaela Bagley In February 2023‚ the CEERS team used the NIRSpec to obtain precise spectroscopic redshifts on two previously identified high-redshift candidates. One was Maisie’s Galaxy‚ which had a confirmed redshift of z = 11.4‚ corresponding to a distance of 13.4 billion light-years (when the Universe was 390 million years old). But when another team of astronomers analyzed the redshift measurements obtained by Webb‚ they determined that Maisie’s Galaxy had a redshift of z = 4.9 – corresponding to a distance of just over 12 billion light-years (about 1.2 billion years after the Big Bang). “Even cases where we discover that a high-redshift candidate is actually a lower-redshift galaxy can be very exciting‚” said Bagley. “They allow us to learn more about conditions in galaxies and the way those conditions affect their photometry‚ to improve our mod.els of galaxy spectra‚ and to constrain galaxy evolution across all redshifts. However‚ they also highlight the need to obtain spectra to confirm high-redshift candidates.” Clearly‚ observing objects at cosmological distances and constraining their properties is no easy task. But with improved instruments and the sophisticated methods they allow‚ our measurements of the cosmos are rapidly improving. This‚ in turn‚ will allow astronomers to resolving the greatest cosmological mysteries of our time. These include the existence of Dark Matter and Dark Energy and the discrepancy between distance measurements to determine the rate of cosmic expansion – aka. the Hubble Tension. Slowly‚ but surely‚ we are getting closer to understanding how everything in our Universe fits together! Further Reading: NASA The post Why Was it Tricky to Know the Distances to Galaxies JWST Was Seeing? appeared first on Universe Today.

A serious problem.

A barbershop owner in Hendersonville‚ Tennessee says seeing his community’s response to the devastating tornado that damaged his shop gives him new faith in America. “We were scared we lost everything. Until you see your phone and you see that many phone calls‚ there’s no fear here‚” Steven Lightfoot‚ the owner of Hendersonville Barbers‚ told The Daily Wire a day after a tornado damaged his business. “You realize this is a group of people that want to make things right‚ and in the microcosm‚ everything you believe America is‚ or was‚ is still here.” A structure from an adjacent building had flown into the side of his shop‚ causing glass to shatter and fly into the interior of the building. The barbershop was full of clients when the storm hit‚ with Lightfoot saying that roughly 12 to 15 employees and clients sought shelter in the business’s basement. BARBERSHOP OWNER THANKS COMMUNITY AFTER TORNADO STRIKES BUSINESS The tornado struck not only Hendersonville‚ but also several other cities in middle Tennessee‚ including Gallatin‚ Clarksville‚ and Madison‚ leaving at least six people dead and over 160‚000 residents without power. Lightfoot says he’s determined to not only get his own shop ready — “if we get the generator working tomorrow I’ll cut hair tomorrow‚” he said — but also to make sure everyone else gets back on their feet. “We’re good‚ we’ll make it‚” Lightfoot said. “Everybody else will too‚ because when we’re done here we’ll help everybody else.” “In a moment like this you realize exactly what kind of people we are. The success of this area of the country will be a testament to what we are as a people‚” he said.  “I don’t got fear or stress‚ it’s just going to take time.” More footage of the destruction in Tennessee‚ where a deadly tornado struck just north of Nashville. Reporter @SpencerLndqst toured the hardest hit areas in Hendersonville‚ where a state of emergency was just declared. pic.twitter.com/TPSRfv2542 — Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) December 11‚ 2023   He also recounted the outpouring of support from the community on a video on Instagram‚ saying that “more people than we could ever use” reached out to help Hendersonville Barbers in the aftermath of the storm. Volunteers are gathering in Clarksville at a local church this week to assist in the effort to clean up the area.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Hendersonville Barbers (@hendersonvillebarbers)

Special counsel Jack Smith asked the Supreme Court on Monday to quickly determine whether former President Donald Trump is immune from prosecution before an appeals court ruling in the matter. The prosecutor’s filing‚ which claims precedent from the Nixon Watergate tapes case‚ indicates Smith is going out of his way to maintain a schedule that would have his 2020 election case in Washington‚ D.C.‚ against Trump go to trial in March. “The United States recognizes that this is an extraordinary request. This is an extraordinary case. The Court should grant certiorari and set a briefing schedule that would permit this case to be argued and resolved as promptly as possible‚” Smith’s team wrote. In particular‚ the question Smith wants the high court to answer is‚ “Whether a former President is absolutely immune from federal prosecution for crimes committed while in office or is constitutionally protected from federal prosecution when he has been impeached but not convicted before the criminal proceedings begin.” Trump‚ who was impeached for allegedly encouraging the U.S. Capitol breach on January 6‚ 2021‚ before getting acquitted by the Senate‚ pleaded not guilty in the federal case in which he is accused of unlawfully plotting to overturn the results of the 2020 election. His lawyers filed to dismiss the case in October by arguing that Trump’s actions were “within the heartland” of his “official duties.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP But U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan‚ an appointee of former President Barack Obama‚ rejected Trump’s immunity claims‚ saying that the defendant’s “four-year service as Commander in Chief did not bestow on him the divine right of kings to evade the criminal accountability that governs his fellow citizens.” Trump filed an appeal and requested a pause in the proceedings late last week. The response from Smith’s team on Monday included a separate filing to the federal appeals court in Washington‚ D.C.‚ seeking expedited proceedings in anticipation of the Supreme Court not agreeing to snap up the case before a ruling at the appellate level. “A HUGE gambit by Jack Smith. He goes DIRECTLY to the Supreme Court on the immunity issue‚ while moving for expedited briefing in appeals court‚” former federal prosecutor Harry Litman said in a post to X. “He’s inviting trouble but obviously has calculated they’re going to decide whether to take it at some point so might as well be sooner.” The trial has been set to start on March 4‚ 2024 — one day before Super Tuesday — which is significant as Trump is running a campaign seeking another term in the White House. Over the course of the case‚ Trump has been restrained in what he can say about it due to a gag order. Trump is facing three other criminal cases‚ including another one led by Smith over the former president’s handling of classified documents‚ as well as civil litigation. Trump has broadly denied any wrongdoing and has argued that politically motivated prosecutors are conducting a “witch hunt” against him.

Determining the worst Christmas songs of all time ultimately comes down to a matter of taste. There will never be a consensus on the best or the worst. Also‚ some massively popular songs — we’re looking at you‚ “All I Want For Christmas Is You” — will inevitably show up on both best of and worst of lists.  But while we live in a world caught in the clutches of moral relativism where no one can agree on the existence of right and wrong‚ good and evil‚ or beauty and ugliness‚ it’s important to establish that there are some Christmas songs which are objectively bad.  There are lots of obscure Christmas songs that almost no one listens to‚ like New Kids on the Block and their cringe-worthy “Funky‚ Funky‚ Xmas.” This list‚ however‚ includes songs which are still popular despite how bad they are. These terrible singles keep playing over and over on radio stations across the nation‚ burning into the eardrums of listeners and making everyone a little worse for it. Without further ado: here are five of the worst popular Christmas songs that radio stations won’t stop playing.  “The Christmas Shoes‚” by NewSong Holiday-themed jingles are meant to evoke emotions and make you feel a certain way‚ but the problem with the melodramatic narrative found in “The Christmas Shoes” is the same one present in so many explicitly Christian entertainment efforts – it’s trying too hard. The song was written by Christian vocal group NewSong members Eddie Carswell and Leonard Ahlstrom and was released in 2000. It became massively popular shortly after‚ reaching number 31 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart spending one week on the top spot of the Adult Contemporary chart. The song features the narrator shopping on Christmas Eve when he encounters a young boy who wants to buy a pair of shoes for his terminally-ill mother but doesn’t have enough money. The poor little boy explains how he “want[s] her to look beautiful if mama meets Jesus tonight.” The intent of the song is clear. Christmas shouldn’t be about materialism‚ but rather should focus on love‚ faith‚ and family. And while this song is despised by Leftists for being so-called “poverty porn” and presenting the wealthy narrator as being too self-congratulatory after giving the boy money for the shoes‚ the real problem with this song is the syrupy sentimentality that makes it embarrassingly cheesy rather than reflective. cyano66. Getty Images. “Wonderful Christmastime‚” by Paul McCartney  This holiday staple from 1979 gets a lot of radio airtime even now‚ but it must be from people who are intentionally tuning out the lyrics. All it takes is a moment of contemplation to realize that this effort from a former Beatles band member is lazy‚ nonsensical‚ and outright bad. Even setting aside the obnoxious synthesizers in the background‚ which is difficult to do‚ the overall message of the song makes zero sense. The song begins‚“The mood is right/The spirit’s up/We’re here tonight/And that’s enough.”  Then there’s the chorus: “Simply having a wonderful Christmastime. Simply having a wonderful Christmastime.” Verse two isn’t any better. “The party’s on/The feeling’s here/That only comes/This time of year.” The third verse isn’t even words‚ but is mostly noises. “The choir of children sing their song/Ding dong‚ ding dong‚ ding dong‚ ding/Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh/Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh/Doo doo doo doo doo doo doo.” McCartney clearly didn’t put much effort into this one‚ yet it remains a popular play on all the holiday stations. The real question is‚ why? MJ Kim/MPL Communications Ltd via Getty Images “Do They Know It’s Christmas?‚” by Band Aid “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” is a charity song written in 1984 to raise money for the famine in Ethiopia. It was originally recorded by Band Aid‚ a group of popular British and Irish musicians including Bono‚ Phil Collins‚ Boy George‚ Paul McCartney‚ Sting‚ George Michael and several others. It was written by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure after a series of reports on the African famine aired on the BBC‚ drawing more attention to the issue. The song succeeded in raising millions for the cause and was even re-recorded and repurposed for future issues‚ including an Ebola outbreak. But just raising money for a good cause doesn’t help fix its problems or explain why it’s still in such heavy rotation today. The lyrics are a major part of the issue here‚ with “throw your arms around the world at Christmas time” and “Well tonight thank God it’s them instead of you” standing out as some particularly egregious lines. Again‚ it makes no sense why this song has become such a popular Christmas song when it’s so strangely specific.  Steve Hurrell/Redferns via Getty Images “Santa Baby‚” by Eartha Kitt For some reason‚ a slew of female vocalists feel compelled to record their own version of Eartha Kitt’s consumerist ode‚ “Santa Baby.”  The song is already eye roll inducing thanks to the overall sentiment. Kitt first released the song with Henri René and His Orchestra in 1953. The lyrics beg Santa to bring the singer a cache of ridiculously expensive gifts‚ including a sable‚ a convertible‚ a duplex‚ blank checks‚ a yacht‚ and the deed to a platinum mine. It doesn’t help that each new version seems to up the ante on being more sexually suggestive than the last with each new singer breathily requesting for Santa to “hurry down the chimney tonight.”  Truly‚ the whole thing is a big “ick.” John Malmin/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus‚” by Jimmy Boyd Listening to “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” as an adult is way different than listening to it as a child‚ which only becomes more painfully apparent as parents have to explain to their kids why this song isn’t abhorrent without giving the punch line away. The song was originally recorded in 1952‚ though The Jackson 5’s 1970 version gets a lot of radio playtime. Young kids might wonder why a little boy is singing about his mother getting frisky under the mistletoe with a man she’s not married to and why everyone seems to find this so amusing.  Those in the know realize that Santa is (hopefully) the family patriarch and that husband and wife are just expressing some of their Christmas cheer while dad is dressed in a Santa suit. But for little kids‚ the whole concept is alarming. Especially when the narrator worries what his dad will do if/when he finds out. Maybe this song would be less offensive decades ago before non-monogamy and promiscuity were celebrated. But in this degenerate age‚ this type of thing just isn’t that funny anymore. Blank Archives/Getty Images

Former Pittsburgh Pirates all-star closer Felipe Vazquez was deported back to Venezuela recently after being convicted of various child sex crimes. Vazquez — who was suspended by Major League Baseball and the Pirates in 2019 after allegations of child solicitation were introduced — was found guilty in May 2021 on 15 counts‚ including statutory sexual assault‚ sexual abuse of children‚ and child pornography. He was sentenced to two years in prison on August 17‚ 2021. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said in a statement late last week that an immigration judge with the Justice Department’s Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) in Cleveland‚ Ohio‚ ordered on May 31‚ 2023 that Rivero must be deported back to Venezuela. “Rivero Blanco’s removal demonstrates ERO Philadelphia’s commitment to protecting U.S. persons from predators regardless of their public persona or status‚” said ERO Philadelphia Field Office Director Cammilla Wamsley. NEW: ICE in Philadelphia has deported former MLB All Star pitcher Felipe Vazquez back to Venezuela. He was previously convicted of statutory sexual assault of a minor‚ sexual abuse of a child‚ child porn‚ &; other charges in Pennsylvania after he had sex w/ a 13-year-old girl. pic.twitter.com/UWNMQkQy4I — Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) December 11‚ 2023 As The Daily Wire previously reported‚ Vazquez was initially arrested in September 2019 after the mother of a 15-year-old girl in Florida discovered photos and illicit messages from the MLB star on her daughter’s phone. The mother sent Vazquez a message telling him her daughter was a minor before contacting police. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP After his arrest‚ Vazquez told police he had “sex but not really” with the then 13-year-old girl in 2017. According to Westmoreland County Assistant District Attorney James Lazar‚ Vazquez said the two started talking in the summer of 2017 when she reached out to him to wish him a happy birthday‚ after which Vazquez asked that the conversation be moved to Snapchat. As reported by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette‚ the victim testified that she and Vazquez had sex in his car in 2017 when she was 13 years old. Vazquez said the girl had sent him a photo of an ID showing her to be of legal age‚ a claim the victim disputes. During the trial‚ the prosecution presented text messages that appeared to show Vazquez referring to the victim as his “slave” and “possession.” The two continued to exchange messages‚ including one in December 2019 when she told him that she was at Walt Disney World‚ and Vazquez responded by telling her to “give up” pictures of her body. She later sent him a picture in her underwear‚ and Vazquez said‚ “Wow look at you. Not the one little kid I meet three years ago anymore.”

Kate Middleton and Prince William were mocked on social media on Monday after the royal family dropped their annual Christmas card‚ and fans claimed to have identified several Photoshop failures. The Princess and Prince of Wales posted a black-and-white family photo on X and Instagram of their 2023 family Christmas card featuring their three children: Prince George‚ Princess Charlotte‚ and Prince Louis. Right away people noticed some things seemed to be out of place. Like 5-year-old Prince Louis missing a middle finger. The young royal is seen in the image standing next to a chair where his big sister‚ Princess Charlotte‚ is sitting and there appears to be a gap where one would likely see a finger. “Did William and Kate rent a child? What’s happening am trying to find out or Did they just photoshop the entire picture I need answers‚” one account posted.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by The Prince and Princess of Wales (@princeandprincessofwales) Another asked if Louis’ finger “got amputated” in the “heavy editing process.” While another added‚ “Ok… how is it 6? There are 4 fingers + one partial missing finger in this photo. No thumb. If you add the digits plus the thumb‚ it’s 6. Obviously a photo shop error. The Royal photographer goofed on this one.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP Others seemed disturbed by the fact that one of Louis’ legs didn’t appear to match up with the other. “Prince Louis finger is missing‚ also they have photoshopped someone else’s leg onto his‚” another account posted. “I certainly hope taxpayers didn’t pay for it.” Another added‚ “Are Prince William children even real or are they fake? Why does Louis not have a finger and look at Louis leg both legs don’t look similar.” While a third wrote‚ “Prince Louis middle finger is missing and his legs look strange.” There were also claims a person could see an image of a crown on Prince George’s head when the photo was viewed from a certain angle. “If you look at Prince George’s head it looks like he’s wearing a crown the way the light hits his head- and once you see it you can’t unsee it!” the account posted on Instagram. “How fitting is that! Photographer is amazing‚ wow he’s good… ” Related: Kate Middleton Cracks Joke When Asked If She Would Be Performing Solo At Christmas Concert

NFL commentators and fans alike criticized Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes for his sideline meltdown following a tough loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. Upset about an obvious offensive offsides call against the Chiefs‚ which likely cost them the game‚ Mahomes threw his helmet to the ground‚ yelled‚ and was held back by teammates moments after the loss. Perhaps most notably‚ Mahomes even complained to opposing QB Josh Allen about the call when the two met to shake hands — a moment that’s usually a display of sportsmanship. “Wildest f***ing call I’ve ever seen‚” Mahomes is heard saying to Allen‚ in video captured by WROC-TV Sports Director Thad Brown. “Offensive offsides on that play‚ man. F***ing terrible.” Allen pats Mahomes on the chest and walks away. Patrick Mahomes was still upset about the offside call meeting with Josh Allen after the game. #Billsmafia pic.twitter.com/6TYGJ1xnS9 — Thad Brown (@thadbrown7) December 11‚ 2023 Further video shows Mahomes being held back by teammates while he yells about the referees and their call. Patrick Mahomes was NOT happy on the sideline pic.twitter.com/kFdVMF7PrM — Ben Brown 🌻 (@BenBrownPL) December 11‚ 2023 Even after Mahomes had time to cool off‚ the QB continued to complain about the call during a post-game presser. Mahomes seemed to acknowledge that his teammate Kadarius Toney was indeed offsides‚ but argued that referees rarely make such a call without at least giving a warning. He also expressed anger that teammate Travis Kelce’s impressive catch and pitch backward to Toney‚ who ran it in for a touchdown‚ was negated by the offsides call. “I mean‚ he [Toney] probably is barely offsides‚ but for the [referee] to take the game into his hands over a call like that‚ that doesn’t affect the play at all — at all‚ didn’t affect anything. I mean‚ it’s just tough‚” Mahomes told the press. #Chiefs Quarterback Patrick Mahomes when asked about Von Miller being offsides. He gives his thoughts on the officiating crew today. pic.twitter.com/YwmQhMXbAp — Nick Jacobs (@Jacobs71) December 11‚ 2023 Fans online ripped Mahomes for whining about the call‚ which most viewed as correct. Likewise‚ sports commentators criticized Mahomes for taking his anger out on the referrers‚ instead of Toney‚ who they argued cost the Chiefs the game. “I lost a little respect for Patrick Mahomes‚” Sal Iacono reacted. “And I love that guy.” He added offensive offsides is not something that’s “never called‚” like Mahomes insisted. “They called it twice last year‚ they called it 11 times this year — so they definitely call that‚” Iacono said. “I lost a little respect for Patrick Mahomes.”@BillSimmons and @TheCousinSal react to Mahomes’s meltdown in yesterday’s loss to Buffalo: pic.twitter.com/5lSHpta22I — The Ringer (@ringer) December 11‚ 2023 “Beyond insane thing to say to the opposing QB after the game‚” posted Sports By The Book’s Jeff Parles‚ reacting to Mahome’s interaction with Allen. Beyond insane thing to say to the opposing QB after the game https://t.co/S1amLXBCzv — Jeff Parles (@jeffparles) December 11‚ 2023 “This is such a terrible look for Mahomes‚” ESPN Radio host Jake Asman said. “Funniest thing is that it was the right call too and he gets more calls going his way than anybody!” “I get why super star QB Patrick Mahomes is upset‚ but he’s dead wrong‚” former NFL player Ryan Clark wrote. “The officials weren’t. Now in that moment would you rather an official not throw the flag? Hell ya‚ but it’s not their job to see in to the future &; know that throwing this flag negates one of the greatest improv plays in football history away.” “Patrick is the ultimate teammate and has continually covered for his guys‚ &; accepted accountability for so many things that aren’t his fault‚” Clark continued. “He finally cracked‚ &; took out his frustrations on the officials. They didn’t deserve it but the wide outs that constantly cost this team games definitely do!” I get why super star QB Patrick Mahomes is upset‚ but he’s dead wrong. The officials weren’t. Now in that moment would you rather an official not throw the flag? Hell ya‚ but it’s not their job to see in to the future &; know that throwing this flag negates one of the greatest… pic.twitter.com/sWueASDKa1 — Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) December 11‚ 2023 Related: Joe Rogan Mocks Patrick Mahomes’ Wife; She Responds

In a chilling development that underscores the increasingly volatile political climate in the United States‚ Vivek Ramaswamy‚ a rising star in conservative politics and a 2024 presidential hopeful‚ was the subject of a death threat that led to swift action by federal authorities. The incident occurred ahead of a campaign trip to New Hampshire‚ an early and pivotal primary election state. On December 11th‚ 2023‚ the FBI arrested a man from New Hampshire after he issued a harrowing threat to “blow his brains out” referring to Ramaswamy‚ and further threatened to kill “everyone in attendance” at the event. This arrest highlights the dangers faced by political figures in today’s charged environment‚ where ideological differences have escalated into threats of violence. 1/5 US News: The FBI has announced the arrest of Tyler Anderson‚ a 30-year-old man from Dover‚ New Hampshire‚ who is facing criminal charges after threatening to assassinate Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and attendees at his campaign event. According to the pic.twitter.com/vTYCylB3he — Real News No Bullshit (@NewsNotBs) December 11‚ 2023 Despite the threat‚ Ramaswamy courageously proceeded with his scheduled campaign event in Portsmouth‚ demonstrating a commitment to engaging with voters and not allowing intimidation tactics to derail the democratic process. His appearance at a local diner was a testament to his resolve and dedication to his campaign. The suspect‚ whose identity has been withheld‚ is facing up to five years in prison for the threats made against Ramaswamy. Federal agents executed a search warrant at the suspect’s residence‚ where they seized a mobile phone believed to be used for sending the threatening messages and firearms. The discovery of these items paints a grim picture of what could have been a devastating event had law enforcement not intervened. Vivek Ramaswamy is looking like a real force either now if Trump can’t run or in the future. Also a retired FBI agent has expressed concern for his safety to him. He’s saying things that are stirring the pot like no other candidate in either side. This could get interesting. — Z () (@Lardacious) December 11‚ 2023 This is not the first time Ramaswamy has been targeted by individuals with hostile intentions. In a previous incident in October‚ a young driver aggressively rammed their vehicle into Ramaswamy’s campaign rental car during a stop in Grinnell‚ Iowa. Although Ramaswamy was not in the vehicle at the time‚ the act was a stark reminder of the risks public figures face while on the campaign trail. Tricia McLaughlin‚ a spokesperson for Ramaswamy’s campaign‚ expressed gratitude towards law enforcement for their prompt and professional response. She also pointed out the concerning double standard in media coverage and public discourse when it comes to threats and violence against conservative candidates‚ highlighting a perceived bias that often downplays or ignores such incidents unless they fit a particular narrative. The suspect’s court appearance was scheduled for the afternoon of the same day as the arrest‚ signaling the urgency and seriousness with which authorities are treating the case. The investigation is ongoing‚ and officials are working diligently to understand the full scope of the suspect’s motives and whether there are broader implications for the safety of political candidates. As the nation grapples with deep political divisions‚ this incident serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of civility and respect in our political discourse. It is imperative that all sides come together to condemn violence and threats of violence‚ regardless of political affiliation‚ to preserve the integrity of our democratic institutions and ensure the safety of those who seek to serve the public. The post Presidential Hopeful Targeted: FBI Thwarts Potential Tragedy appeared first on The Conservative Brief.