Why is chocolate bad (Toxic) for dogs?

 As a dog dad, I felt it important to share this informative article about why dogs should never eat chocolate. It can be fatal. Here's the story from LiveScience.

Why is chocolate bad for dogs? 

By Remy Melina , Mindy Weisberger LIVESCIENCE April 18, 2022

Veterinarians frown upon giving dogs any kind of "people food" but are especially adamant about keeping chocolate far away from our canine friends. During holidays such as Easter, when delicious chocolate may be more commonly found around the house, it's even more important to be vigilant about your pet gulping down this human treat.

But why is chocolate — milk or dark — so toxic for dogs?

Chocolate contains the chemicals theobromine and caffeine, and these two stimulants — which dogs can't metabolize as easily as people can — accumulate in the animal's body, where they can rev up a dog's bodily functions and cause dangerous side effects, according to VCA Animal Hospitals.

The severity of chocolate's negative impacts on a dog are determined by the levels of theobromine and caffeine in the chocolate product, how much of it the dog ate, and the dog's weight and sensitivity to chemical stimulants. Chocolate that is dark and bitter is more toxic to dogs, as it contains a higher concentration of theobromine per ounce than milk chocolate (130 to 450 milligrams per ounce, compared with milk chocolate's 45 to 58 mg per ounce). White chocolate, on the other hand, contains just 0.25 mg of theobromine per ounce, and therefore poses a much lower toxic threat to dogs, according to VCA Animal Hospitals.

WHAT ARE SYMPTOMS OF CHOCOLATE TOXICITY IN DOGS? Initial symptoms of chocolate toxicity typically appear within 6 to 12 hours, and may include excessive drooling and panting, increased thirst and urination, and an upset stomach followed by vomiting and diarrhea, according to the American Kennel Club (AKC). The dog may experience an increased heart rate and become restless, nervous and excited, much like a caffeine-sensitive person who has downed too many cups of coffee.

In severe cases, irregular heart rate from chocolate consumption can reduce circulation, resulting in a drop in body temperature. Extreme symptoms include lethargy, muscle spasms, seizures and coma, sometimes leading to death, according to VCA Animal Hospitals. And because theobromine has a long half-life, which means it takes longer for the body to break it down, symptoms of chocolate poisoning can persist for days.

In some cases, dogs consume chocolate but show no symptoms; that's because the dosage size of the toxins can affect an animal's response to being poisoned, according to the Office for Science and Society at McGill University in Ontario, Canada.

HOW DO VETERINARIANS TREAT CHOCOLATE POISONING? Veterinarians typically treat chocolate toxicity by inducing vomiting or administering doses of activated charcoal, which purges toxins from the dog's digestive system before they can be absorbed by the animal's bloodstream, according to the AKC. Depending on the severity of the poisoning, medication or fluids may be required to counteract the poisoning, the AKC says.

WHAT MIGHT AFFECT A DOG'S REACTION TO CHOCOLATE? How a dog reacts to chocolate can depend on the animal's size, said veterinarian Dr. Greg Nelson, Director of Surgery and Director of Diagnostic Imaging at Central Veterinary Associates in Valley Stream, New York. A square of chocolate will therefore have a more pronounced effect on a Chihuahua, which typically weighs about 4 to 6 pounds (1.8 to 2.7 kilograms) than on a Saint Bernard, which can weigh as much as 180 pounds (81.6 kg).

"One hundred milligrams of theobromine and caffeine per each kilogram of a dog's weight is enough to be lethal," Nelson told Live Science. (A kilogram equals 2.2 pounds.) "Different chocolate products have varying levels of theobromine and caffeine, and the worst offender is baker's chocolate. In my experience, one ounce of baker's chocolate per kilogram [of the dog's body weight] can be lethal."

Milk chocolate is less dangerous than baking chocolate because it contains less stimulants, but Nelson warns that if your dog has ingested any type or amount of chocolate, you are always better off being safe than sorry.

"I advise clients to come in instead of second-guessing and possibly creating an emergency by not having the dog looked at right away," Nelson said. "At the very least, call your veterinarian or the national Animal Poison Control center for advice." (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Animal Poison Control Center can be reached 365 days a year at 888- 426-4435.)

While chocolate poisoning may affect dogs at any time, pups are more likely to find and consume chocolate on holidays such as Christmas and Easter when plentiful chocolate is available as figurines (such as bunnies and Santa Claus), as well as in bars, eggs, liqueurs, cakes and decorations, researchers wrote in a 2017 paper in the journal Vet Record. In fact, during Christmastime, dogs are four times more likely to require a vet visit for chocolate poisoning than during non-holidays; and on Easter, dogs are twice as likely to be sickened by chocolate, compared with other times of the year, Live Science previously reported.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Read more from the ASPCA on their Toxicology and Poison Control web page, to learn about toxins, medications, hazards and resources that could help you save the life of your pet in the event of a toxic exposure. The Veterinary Emergency Group provides tips for identifying symptoms of chocolate toxicity in dogs, and recommends what to do in an emergency. The ASPCA also compiled a list of other human foods that are hazardous for pets to eat, such as avocados, coconuts, citrus and alcohol, among others.

Originally published on Live Science.

Explanation: What if abortion rights law gets overturned?

 The potential ruling of the Supreme Court doesn't just have indications for abortion rights- it has indications against birth control, freedom to marry - LGBTQ people, perhaps even mixed-race marriages. While countries around the world are expanding rights, the Republican/Conservative party and Supreme court are Removing rights. Think about it. If you are not straight, White, and Christian, these MAGA idiots will be coming for you, too. Here's LIVESCIENCE's Article about what happens if the U.S. goes backwards after 50 years>

(Credit: Forbes.com) 

Roe v. Wade FAQ: What if abortion rights law gets overturned? 

By Rachael Rettner , Nicoletta Lanese  / Live Science

It would drastically change abortion rights in America.

In a leaked draft opinion made public Monday (May 2), the U.S. Supreme Court voted to overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark case that has protected abortion rights in the U.S. for nearly 50 years. Although the leaked draft is not necessarily the final opinion of the Court, it has sparked a wave of reactions from both abortion rights and pro-life advocates. If the final opinion mirrors the draft, it would drastically change abortion rights in America.

Here are answers to questions about what could happen if the landmark ruling is overturned.

What happens if Roe v. Wade is overturned? If Roe v. Wade were overturned, each state would determine its own laws regarding abortion. More than 20 U.S. states have laws that could restrict access to abortion without Roe v. Wade. These include 13 states with "trigger laws" that would immediately make abortion illegal if Roe v. Wade is overturned and nine states that still have abortion bans on the books from before Roe v. Wade was enacted (which are currently not enforced), according to the Guttmacher Institute, a nonprofit organization for sexual and reproductive health research and advocacy.

Where would abortion be illegal? 

According to the Guttmacher Institute, 26 states are certain or likely to ban abortion in the event that Roe v. Wade is overturned. These include 22 states that already have laws in place that make it near-certain that they will ban abortion, including trigger laws, pre-Roe bans on abortion, laws that ban abortion after six weeks (before many people know they are pregnant) and constitutional amendments that prohibit abortion rights. These states include: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

FOUR MORE WACKY MAGA STATES TO BAN ABORTION 

In addition, four states — Florida, Indiana, Montana and Nebraska — appear likely to ban abortion in light of recent actions to limit access to abortion, according to the Guttmacher Institute. 

16 SAFE STATES FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS 

In contrast, the 16 states with laws in place to protect the right to abortion include California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.

Can people get abortion out of state? Currently, yes, people can cross state lines to access abortion care in a state that allows it, provided they have the time and resources to do so. In the months after Texas passed a near-complete abortion ban in September 2021, disallowing abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, about 1,400 pregnant people each month traveled to Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Oklahoma to receive an abortion, The New York Times reported.

SOME STATES BAN RESIDENTS FROM GOING TO ANOTHER STATE However, some states may soon restrict out-of-state abortions, and Missouri has already attempted to. Missouri lawmakers recently proposed legislation that would allow private citizens to sue anyone who helps a state resident have an abortion, whether or not that individual resides in Missouri, Politico reported. The law was initially blocked in the state’s legislature, but it could gain traction again if Roe falls, experts told The Guardian.

Are there abortion options that don't require going to a doctor's office? Yes, "self-managed abortions" describe a situation where someone induces their own abortion outside of a medical setting, according to Whole Woman's Health. Self-managed abortions involve taking abortion pills called mifepristone and misoprostol; these drugs are either taken in combination or misoprostol can be taken by itself, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In general, taking pills for abortion is known as "medication abortion."

The combination regimen involves taking mifepristone, orally, waiting 24 to 48 hours, and then taking misoprostol by placing the pill in the vagina, under the tongue or in the cheek, the WHO states. Mifepristone blocks a hormone called progesterone, which is required to maintain pregnancy, and misoprostol induces contractions, which can trigger bleeding, uterine cramping and pain, similar to a miscarriage, according to Whole Woman's Health.

"Medication abortion is a safe and highly effective method of pregnancy termination," according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. If administered by the ninth week of pregnancy, "the pregnancy is terminated successfully 99.6% of the time, with a 0.4% risk of major complications, and an associated mortality rate of less than 0.001 percent (0.00064%)."

Misoprostol taken alone can also effectively and safely end a pregnancy, although the combination regimen is specifically approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Whole Woman's Health website notes.

The FDA has approved the use of mifepristone (brand name Mifeprex) and misoprostol within 10 weeks of the person's last menstrual period. As of 2021, the agency has allowed people to receive these medications by mail, rather than needing to get them in person from a health provider at a specialized clinic, The New York Times reported. Providers can prescribe the pills and mail them after a telemedicine appointment with the patient.

However, several states restrict at-home access to abortion pills by forbidding the mailing of pills; requiring pills to be picked up in-person; or setting an earlier limit on when the pills may be taken, meaning earlier than the 10 weeks specified by the FDA. Some states also ban telemedicine appointments for abortion care. Pregnant people in states with such restrictions have, in the past, traveled to a permissive state and received the pills by mail there, instead, according to the Times.

How would abortion bans affect the rates of the procedure?

Exactly how much abortion rates would fall after Roe v. Wade being overturned is hard to predict. That's because pregnant people who live in states where abortion is illegal may still order pills online, or seek potentially dangerous illegal abortions, according to The New York Times. It's also possible that more clinics would open in areas where abortion is legal to treat patients from out of state, the Times reported.

By one estimate, legal abortions in the country would decline by 14%, according to the Times. That's based on research of the effects of abortion clinic closures, which make it more difficult for patients to receive in-clinic abortions. If Roe v. Wade is overturned, the average distance that a person seeking an abortion would need to travel to reach a clinic would increase from about 35 miles to 279 miles (56 to 449 kilometers), the Times reported.

How do abortion bans affect pregnant people? Studies have found that preventing people from obtaining wanted abortions can have serious adverse consequences, including mental, physical and financial effects. In one study known as the Turnaway Study, researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, analyzed information from 1,000 U.S. women who sought abortions and either received an abortion or were denied an abortion because they were beyond their states' gestational limit. The study found that women who were denied an abortion and gave birth were more likely to have serious complications, including eclampsia (seizures tied to high blood pressure in pregnancy), postpartum hemorrhage and death, than women who received an abortion.

In addition, being denied an abortion was linked with increases in anxiety, stress and lower self-esteem shortly after the denial, compared with women who received an abortion; these increases went away after six months.

People who were denied an abortion also experienced financial hardship, including an increase in household poverty that lasted at least four years, the researchers said. Originally published on Live Science.

Research: Severe COVID-19 may cause similar cognitive deficits as 20 years of aging

It's amazing to think there are still people in the U.S. who are so dumb that they don't think COVID is a serious disease. New research shows that severe cases of COVID (usually found in the unvaccinated) ages some brain functions by 20 years, cognitive impairments AND brain shrinkage! Here's the story from livescience.

(Image: Credit: Forbes.com) 

Severe COVID-19 may cause similar cognitive deficits as 20 years of aging

By Nicoletta Lanese LIVESCIENCE, May 5, 2022

Severe infection was linked to lasting deficits.

People who require hospitalization for COVID-19 develop lingering cognitive problems similar to what you'd expect if they'd aged 20 years.

That's according to a new study conducted in the United Kingdom and published online on April 28 in the journal eClinicalMedicine. The research is somewhat limited in that it included fewer than 50 COVID-19 patients, but it adds to the ample body of research already suggesting that the coronavirus infection leaves a lasting impact on the brain.

For example, a 2021 study showed that many COVID long-haulers — those who experience various symptoms for weeks or months after their initial infection — reported experiencing multiple brain-related symptoms, including "brain fog," or trouble thinking, headache and the loss of sense of smell or taste, Live Science previously reported. These lingering symptoms weren't unique to those who developed severe COVID-19 infections, but also affected those who experienced only mild illness, according to the study.

More recently, a large study found distinct patterns of brain shrinkage in hundreds of people who previously caught COVID-19, and it's possible that this abnormal atrophy may contribute to patients' observed cognitive deficits, the authors suggested. FULL ARTICLE: https://www.livescience.com/cognitive-decline-like-aging-coronavirus?utm_source=SmartBrief&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=368B3745-DDE0-4A69-A2E8-62503D85375D&utm_content=0EE88BC8-CE0B-4F5C-A0AB-1C5B3747210D&utm_term=cb486bd9-5e56-49fc-869b-ea0dd0662c29

Mass. now has an official state dinosaur

 I'm a huge dinosaur enthusiast and have been since I was a kid, so when I saw the news earlier this month that my home state now has an official state dinosaur, I thought it was cool!  Here's the story from the Boston Globe/boston com>

Mass. now has an official state dinosaur, and he’s a cute little guy

Podokesaurus holyokensis is officially our dinosaur.

Restoration of Podokesaurus holyokensis. Based on figures in original description and skeletal diagrams of the related Coelophysis, such as in the 2016 book The Princeton Field Guide to Dinosaurs by Gregory S. Paul. Michael B.H. via Wikimedia Commons

By Susannah Sudborough

May 3, 2022

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In what is perhaps the most delightful law to ever be passed in Massachusetts, Gov. Charlie Baker signed a bill Monday that solidified Podokesaurus holyokensis as Massachusetts’s official state dinosaur.

Massachusetts residents have Rep. Jack Lewis, of Fitchburg, to thank for coming up with the idea to designate a state dinosaur.

“While this project only accounted for a small percentage of my time spent as your state representative, I am proud of everything this inspired & look forward to partnering to continue to find new, creative ways to help make the legislative process more accessible and, yes, fun,” Lewis wrote in a tweet Monday.

It all started when Lewis was trying to think of COVID-safe activities to help entertain his child’s cub scout group. A lifelong dinosaur enthusiast, he quickly became interested in an activity related to dinosaurs, which sparked the idea to bring dinosaurs to the State House.

In January 2021, Lewis announced that he was going to file a bill to designate a Massachusetts-discovered dinosaur as the state dinosaur. He created a poll so that Massachusetts residents could vote for which dinosaur they wanted to become the official state dinosaur.

In February 2021, Lewis announced that Podokesaurus was the clear winner, having garnered about 60% of 35,000 votes.

Podokesaurus was a tiny little guy who is estimated to be about one-foot tall and about three-feet long from head to tail. It was a small theropod, meaning it was a bipedal carnivore with a body shape similar to that of the T. Rex and the velociraptor.

Size comparison of the small coelophysoid theropod Podokesaurus holyokensis. – Slate Weasel via Wikimedia Commons

The tiny dino lived during the mid-Jurassic period, about 195 to 180 million years ago, in modern-day Massachusetts, and its name means “swift-footed-lizard.”

Podokesaurus was discovered by Professor Mignon Talbot, one of the first women to earn a Ph.D. in geology from Yale University and also the first woman to become a member of the Paleontological Society. Talbot taught geology and geography at Mount Holyoke College.

When walking with her sister one day near Mount Holyoke in 1910, Talbot spotted a dinosaur skeleton embedded in a sandstone boulder, which was a huge discovery. That day she became the first woman to find a nearly complete dinosaur skeleton.

Talbot named it Podokesaurus holyokensis in 1911, but the specimen was destroyed in a fire in 1916, and no other specimens have ever been found.

A holotype photograph of the Podokesaurus skeleton from 1911. – Asa S. Kinney via Wikimedia Commons

Lewis told MassLive Tuesday that he hopes making Podokesaurus the state dinosaur helps Talbot receive more recognition.

“There is also such great energy around how this project can not only elevate Professor Mignon Talbot, and make sure that her story is more well known, but also how to ensure that fields like paleontology, which historically have not been fields of study that women have been attracted to in the same numbers as men, but how we can reflect on the role of women in science and the role of inspiring today’s younger generation of women,” he told the news site.

Massachusetts is now the 13th state to designate a state dinosaur.

Rare medieval manuscripts digitized for first time

 It's an exciting thing when ancient documents are finally digitized so the world can enjoy it. Here's a story about 9th century documents that were just digitized in Scotland! How cool is that!?!

(Image: NATIONAL LIBRARY OF SCOTLAND

Image caption,

The collection includes the 15th Century Book of Hours from Italy which boasts lavish gold illumination)

Rare medieval manuscripts digitized for first time 

BBC news 5/2/22

Rare manuscripts dating back as early as the 9th Century have been shared online for the first time.

More than 200 precious documents have been digitised by the National Library of Scotland.

The collection boasts a 15th Century medical almanac, printed illustrations and a 12th Century manuscript of the Rule of the Knights Templar order.

A donation from Alexander Graham, creator of the BBC's "Who Do You Think You Are?" made the work possible.

Due to the reformation in the 16th Century, it is extremely unusual to find documents from the period, particularly those used by the Roman Catholic Church.

Ulrike Hogg, manuscripts curator at the National Library in Edinburgh, said: "This fascinating digitised collection is international in origin, though a large part of the volumes were written in Scotland.

(Image: NATIONAL LIBRARY OF SCOTLAND

Image caption,

A 12th Century manuscript of the Rule of the Knights Templar order, includes advice on the "superfluity" of beards and moustaches (left))

"The survival rate of medieval Scottish manuscript volumes is generally low.

"For example, only 1% of religious manuscripts of Roman Catholic use - many of which were systematically destroyed during and after the Scottish Reformation - are believed to still be in existence.

(Image: NATIONAL LIBRARY OF SCOTLAND

Image caption,

A 15th Century medical almanac could be folded up and worn on the belt)

"It is difficult to estimate how many cultural treasures were lost during these times. The collection presented here includes a number of those fortunate survivors that have endured subsequent centuries. The collection includes:

A 15th Century folded medical/zodiac almanac, which probably belonged to a doctor based in northern England. Folded up, it could be worn on the belt A 12th Century manuscript of the Rule of the Knights Templar order, including advice on the "superfluity" of beards and moustaches A selection of historical doodles showing rich period detail A 15th Century psalter written and illuminated at Culross Abbey, Fife A tiny 15th Century Book of Hours from Italy with lavish gold illumination An early 16th Century manuscript written and illuminated in Dunkeld. Volumes produced in England, France, Italy and north-west Europe are also in the 240-piece collection.

Idiot of the Week: So. Dakota Attorney General Impeached for Lying About an Accidental Killing

 This week's idiot thinks he deserves to stay in office as a lead law enforcement officer for the state of South Dakota when, as a distracted driver – he rode up on the side of the road and killed a man.  He Lied and said he hit a deer. Then the truth came out and an innocent man is dead, while this guy can't even accept responsibility.  Now he’s been thrown out of office so he’s blaming the Governor and not himself. Further, he thinks impeaching him is ridiculous. Here's the story of the idiot: 

Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg Impeached, slams Gov. Noem 

Jonathan Ellis/ Joe Sneve , Sioux Falls Argus Leader April 13, 2022

 

The South Dakota House of Representatives on Tuesday, April 12, 2022 voted to impeach Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg, who hit and killed a man with his car in 2020, after he initially told law enforcement he had struck a deer.

Jason Richard Ravnsborg is an American attorney and politician. A Republican, he was elected Attorney General of South Dakota in 2018. Ravnsborg previously ran in the Republican primary for the 2014 United States Senate election in South Dakota, which was won by former Governor Mike Rounds.

 The accident killed 55-year-old Joe Boever. Joe Boever is remembered as a caring man who loved spending time with the elderly and worked on a farm. Boever leaves behind a wife, mother, six brothers and sisters and several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.

HOW IT HAPPENED: Investigators alleged that Ranvsborg had been reading news articles on his phone prior to the crash and that he had driven onto the shoulder of Highway 14 west of Highmore where he hit Boever, who was walking along the highway.

 The Attorney General seems to want make his removal from office about South Dakota’s Republican Governor to distract House members.

Gov. Noem's office responded, "He killed an innocent man, lied about the events of that evening, and abused his office to cover it up," the statement continued. "He had months to offer his testimony to the impeachment committee but instead waited until the night before the House meets. The question for the House is whether they believe all of the law enforcement officers who investigated this case are lying? Jason does; I do not. I stand with law enforcement."

 

Hero of the Week: Mallory McMorrow of Michigan Stands up to Bully, Lies

I've always hated bullies and now understand they are that way because there's something missing within them. Recently, a Michigan State Senator stood up against a horrible bully. The bully falsely accused the senator of "sexualizing children" and other horrible things. Fortunately, Senator Mallory McMorrow stood up against her vicious, lying bully. "Democrats need to call hate what it is," McMorrow said.  Here's the story. 

Sen. Mallory McMorrow gains national spotlight pushing back against 'hateful garbage'

 April 20, 2022

Mallory McMorrow, a Democratic Michigan state senator, delivered an impassioned response after GOP state Sen. Lana Theis accused her of being “outraged” at not being able to “groom and sexualize kindergarteners," in a fundraising email. “You can’t claim that you’re targeting marginalized kids in the name of ‘parental rights’ if another parent is standing up and saying no,” McMorrow struck back.

A Democratic Michigan state senator delivered an impassioned response after a Republican colleague accused her of supporting pedophilia, reiterating a common right-wing talking point.

State Sen. Lana Theis, a Republican, made the troubling claims against state Sen. Mallory McMorrow in a fundraising email sent to her constituents on Monday. In the email, Theis branded her Democratic colleague a “social media troll” and a “snowflake” who was “outraged” at not being able to “groom and sexualize kindergarteners.”

McMorrow struck back at the the smear, which she called a “hollow, hateful scheme,” while speaking on the Michigan Senate floor early Tuesday.

“You can’t claim that you’re targeting marginalized kids in the name of ‘parental rights’ if another parent is standing up and saying no,” she said. “So you dehumanize and marginalize me. You say I’m one of them. You say: She’s a groomer, she supports pedophilia, she wants children to believe they were responsible for slavery and to feel bad about themselves because they’re white.”

Watch footage of McMorrow’s speech below. @MalloryMcMorrow (Follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MalloryMcMorrow) "Senator Lana Theis accused me by name of grooming and sexualizing children in an attempt to marginalize me for standing up against her marginalizing the LGBTQ community...in a fundraising email, for herself. Hate wins when people like me stand by and let it happen. I won't."

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/iLWo8B1R0MY

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iLWo8B1R0MY" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Later in the speech, McMorrow evoked her own upbringing, saying she’d been taught from an early age to recognize her privilege and understand that working in public service meant being empathetic to “people who were marginalized, targeted [and] who had less, often unfairly.”

“I want my daughter to know that she is loved, supported and seen for whoever she becomes,” she added. “I want every child to feel seen, heard and supported, not marginalized and targeted if they are not straight, white and Christian. ... Call me whatever you want. I know who I am. I know what faith and service mean, and what it calls for in this moment. We will not let hate win.”

Reporters reached out to Theis’ office for comment but did not immediately hear back. As of Tuesday afternoon, footage of McMorrow’s speech had been viewed more than 1.6 million times after being posted on Twitter.

McMorrow made local headlines last week after she and two colleagues walked out of the state Senate during an invocation by Theis. In the speech, Theis defended the GOP’s controversial efforts to block teachings that address LGBTQ issues as well as America’s history of racism.

THE BULLY IS A RELIGIOUS NUT-  “Dear Lord, across the country we’re seeing in the news that our children are under attack,” Theis said in her invocation, according to the Michigan Advance, “that there are forces that desire things for them other than what their parents would have them see and hear and know. Dear Lord, I pray for your guidance in this chamber to protect the most vulnerable among us.”

THE BULLY'S RESPONSE: Theis later tweeted the Michigan Advance’s article and noted: “Our children are in danger from progressive indoctrination, putting the rights of the education bureaucracy ahead of the rights of parents. Unfortunately, Lansing Democrats are more concerned with virtue signaling than protecting our kids.”

Rude Award: Missouri lawmaker Tells retired teacher: ‘I don’t care about your feelings’

There are idiots in the world, but then, there are people like Chuck Basye lawmaker of Missouri who sent the most rude response to a teacher who sent a nice letter expressing her concern about transgender students.  Ironically, Bayse also has a gay brother who was afraid to come out to him. 

      You can disagree with people, but when you're an elected official it's your job to care about what your constituents think and consider everyone in your district. Further, in his letter response to this teacher, he tossed in the ""Brandon" (FU) insult to President Biden. Chuck Basye should be removed. That is absolutely abhorrent behavior. Here's the story from the Kansas City Star news and a short video of a Missouri Gay lawmaker questioning Bayse about his "Anti-Transgender Bill."  

(Image: Facebook/Chuck Basye Missouri State Representative)

Missouri lawmaker writes back to retired teacher: ‘I don’t care about your feelings’

The Kansas City Star Editorial Board Mon, April 25, 2022, 5:36 PM

On April 14, retired Missouri teacher Nedra Jeffress, of Independence, wrote a letter to state Rep. Chuck Basye, the Rocheport Republican who is pushing hardest to ban transgender girls from school sports.

“I’m wondering if there is data supporting the need for bills regulating this in Missouri or if this (is) a solution in search of a problem,” Jeffress wrote. “As an educator who has worked at the middle school and high school level in Missouri, I know how hard it is for transgender students to be accepted by peers, parents, churches and some teachers. If they are able to participate on an athletic team, they may find acceptance important to their well-being. I hope you would sponsor bills that support positive mental health for each citizen of the state of Missouri instead of proposing bills that attack a population already at risk. Thank you for your time,” she said in closing.

The next morning, she received this far less respectful reply: “Nedra, Do your own research. I don’t care about your feelings nor do I care about your resume. “Bottom line, my intent is to keep women’s/girl’s sports for the female gender. “If a person was born with a penis, that individual doesn’t belong in sports designed solely for females.

“Now go ahead and have your meltdown and/or temper tantrum. Remember, Let’s Go Brandon!!”

Was this a parody, or a prank? Even with vitriol in politics and in everyday life increasingly not just tolerated but rewarded, would any elected official answer so rudely?

We emailed Basye, asking if he had really responded this way to a constituent, and if so, why.

He wrote right back to say that he had written the message, only taking issue with our characterization of Jeffress as a constituent: “This individual is not a constituent according to our management database. The statement speaks for itself.”

Whether she lives and votes in his district isn’t the point, of course, and that she can’t vote either for or against him doesn’t make his incivility any more acceptable.

Jeffress, who taught in Independence for 29 years, and now works part-time as a middle school graduation coach, said she’d waited a full week before sending us what he’d written to her, because she did not want to contribute to our current divisions.

But after thinking about it, she decided that she did want to “stand up” by making his comments public, because “that’s what’s wrong with politics, the personal attacks.”

She has written to other officials with whom she disagreed, she said, including Sen. Roy Blunt and then-Gov. Eric Greitens, “but this is the only time I’ve ever received a response like this.”

In the race to lower the bar on what passes for defensible behavior, yesterday’s lapses are today’s fundraising opportunities. But Basye is still wrong, and he still owes Jeffress an apology.

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 Watch this 2 MIN VIDEO: #Missouri State (gay) Rep. Mackey addresses Rep. Basye about an anti-trans bill: “I was afraid of people like you growing up … Gentlemen, I’m not afraid of you anymore because you’re going to lose. You may win this today, but you’re going to lose.” LINK: https://www.tiktok.com/@msnbc/video/7086608390864080174

@msnbc #Missouri ♬ original sound - MSNBC

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OTHER  STATES WHO NOW HAVE TRANS SPORTS BANS: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia have all implemented bans against transgender athletes.  Source: People.com: https://people.com/politics/viral-video-between-missouri-lgbtq-lawmaker-and-colleague-proposing-transgender-restriction/

Genius! 13 Year Old Boy, a Physics Major to Graduate from Univ. of Minnesota

Physics and mathematics were hard enough for me as an adult, and a 13 year old boy, Elliott Tanner, Majoring in Physics with a Mathematics minor is graduating from the University of Minnesota this month. This kid is going to make some amazing discoveries, I'm sure.  He's trying to raise money to get his PhD... and you can help him at https://elliotttanner.com/.   Here's his story and a video interview.

Boy, 13, set to graduate from University of Minnesota 

By Ben Hooper /April 26 (UPI) --

A 13-year-old Minnesota boy is set to graduate with a bachelor's degree from the University of Minnesota in May -- and he's planning to get his doctorate.

Elliott Tanner of St. Louis Park is scheduled to graduate in May from the University of Minnesota with a major in physics and a minor in math.

Tanner said the next step in his education will be the school's doctoral physics program.

Elliott's mom says he started reading, without being taught, and doing math at age three. Tanner started reading college-level textbooks at the age of 9, and two years later he graduated from Normandale Community College with an associate of science degree

He has appeared on the Dean's list at the University of Minnesota and maintains an overall 3.78 GPA. He is also an undergraduate student researcher at the university working on simulation and analysis for the Short-Baseline Neutrino program at Fermilab and has been awarded a UROP stipend for his research project.

"It's amazing. It's sort of been a crazy ride getting here, but it's just been such a nice experience," Tanner said.

He said he is hoping to earn his doctorate and give back to the university.

"I'm hoping to become a professor at the University of Minnesota in order to also spread this joy and passion for physics with other people," he said. VIDEO:

Invention! Researchers develop a paper-thin loudspeaker

If you like music speakers, but don't like them big and bulky, here's something that will be perfect for you-  Paper thin speakers! They were developed at the Massachusetts Institute of  Technology. Here's the story and a video showing how it works! : 

(Image: MIT researchers have developed an ultrathin loudspeaker that can turn any rigid surface into a high-quality, active audio source. The straightforward fabrication process they introduced can enable the thin-film devices to be produced at scale. Credits  Image: Felice Frankel) 

Researchers develop a paper-thin loudspeaker 

The flexible, thin-film device has the potential to make any surface into a low-power, high-quality audio source.

MIT engineers have developed a paper-thin loudspeaker that can turn any surface into an active audio source.

This thin-film loudspeaker produces sound with minimal distortion while using a fraction of the energy required by a traditional loudspeaker. The hand-sized loudspeaker the team demonstrated, which weighs about as much as a dime, can generate high-quality sound no matter what surface the film is bonded to.

To achieve these properties, the researchers pioneered a deceptively simple fabrication technique, which requires only three basic steps and can be scaled up to produce ultrathin loudspeakers large enough to cover the inside of an automobile or to wallpaper a room.

Used this way, the thin-film loudspeaker could provide active noise cancellation in clamorous environments, such as an airplane cockpit, by generating sound of the same amplitude but opposite phase; the two sounds cancel each other out. The flexible device could also be used for immersive entertainment, perhaps by providing three-dimensional audio in a theater or theme park ride. And because it is lightweight and requires such a small amount of power to operate, the device is well-suited for applications on smart devices where battery life is limited.

 It can be used anywhere. One just needs a smidgeon of electrical power to run it,” says Vladimir Bulović, the Fariborz Maseeh Chair in Emerging Technology, leader of the Organic and Nanostructured Electronics Laboratory (ONE Lab), director of MIT.nano, and senior author of the paper.

Bulović wrote the paper with lead author Jinchi Han, a ONE Lab postdoc, and co-senior author Jeffrey Lang, the Vitesse Professor of Electrical Engineering. The research is published today in IEEE Transactions of Industrial Electronics.

The new loudspeaker simplifies the speaker design by using a thin film of a shaped piezoelectric material that moves when voltage is applied over it, which moves the air above it and generates sound.

HOW THEY MADE IT WORK

Most thin-film loudspeakers are designed to be freestanding because the film must bend freely to produce sound. Mounting these loudspeakers onto a surface would impede the vibration and hamper their ability to generate sound.

To overcome this problem, the MIT team rethought the design of a thin-film loudspeaker. Rather than having the entire material vibrate, their design relies on tiny domes on a thin layer of piezoelectric material which each vibrate individually. These domes, each only a few hair-widths across, are surrounded by spacer layers on the top and bottom of the film that protect them from the mounting surface while still enabling them to vibrate freely. The same spacer layers protect the domes from abrasion and impact during day-to-day handling, enhancing the loudspeaker’s durability.

HOW THEY BUILT IT

To build the loudspeaker, the researchers used a laser to cut tiny holes into a thin sheet of PET, which is a type of lightweight plastic. They laminated the underside of that perforated PET layer with a very thin film (as thin as 8 microns) of piezoelectric material, called PVDF. Then they applied vacuum above the bonded sheets and a heat source, at 80 degrees Celsius, underneath them. Because the PVDF layer is so thin, the pressure difference created by the vacuum and heat source caused it to bulge. The PVDF can’t force its way through the PET layer, so tiny domes protrude in areas where they aren’t blocked by PET. These protrusions self-align with the holes in the PET layer. The researchers then laminate the other side of the PVDF with another PET layer to act as a spacer between the domes and the bonding surface.

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/pABxdxTuAY8

FOR THE REST OF THE STORY: https://news.mit.edu/2022/low-power-thin-loudspeaker-0426?utm_source=join1440&utm_medium=email

Fun Challenge! 35 of the Best ‘Bookface’ Challenge Photos You’ll Ever See

If you love books like I do, here's something fun you can do on social media! A bookface challenge.

 

35 of the Best ‘Bookface’ Challenge Photos You’ll Ever See 

By Arnesia Young on April 11, 2022  MyModernMet.com 

Though it’s generally accepted that you’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover, it’s hard to deny that some good book cover art can really make a difference. An eye-catching book jacket can make or break whether a reader snatches a volume off the shelf or passes it by as it sits collecting dust. And it’s not always about whether or not the book seems like an interesting read. In fact, some creative bookworms might simply be scouring the shelves in search of a distinctive cover to capture the perfect snapshot for what’s known as the “bookface” challenge.

For more incredible bookfaces check out Librairie Mollat’s Instagram or even give the hashtag a search. And if you’re inspired to try making a bookface of your own, all you need is a book, a camera, and perhaps a trusty sidekick.

MORE: https://mymodernmet.com/librairie-mollat-book-face-challenge/?utm_source=join1440&utm_medium=email&utm_placement=newsletter