Gen Z is saying no to drugs, as the percentage of students who abstained from drugs reached record levels this year, according to research from the University of Michigan. read more
After more than a month of sightings across multiple states, lawmakers and the general public are no closer to finding out what the mysterious drones are spotted in New Jersey and a handful of other states. An unexplained large number of drones began flying over sensitive military sites in New Jersey in mid-November, and while the White House and the Pentagon insist they don't pose a threat, lawmakers are demanding answers.
Mike Brewer of Brewer and Shipley. Loved them! "One toke Over The Line" -- that song was not played on bunch of stations because it was about Pot. But the song put them on the map. read more
Louisiana's health department has been barred from advertising or promoting vaccines for flu, COVID-19, and mpox, according to reporting by NPR, KFF Health News, and New Orleans Public Radio WWNO. read more
For the first time in modern history, the House majority will rest on thinner margins than the Senate's in the 119th Congress. read more
Interesting tune just popped up on the playlist here...
Delaney & Bonnie & Friends - Never Ending Song Of Love (1971)
www.youtube.com
Lyrics excerpt ...
...
I've got a never-endin' love for you (Ee-ha)
From now on that's all I wanna do
From the first time we met I knew
I'd have a never-endin' love for you
I've got a never-endin' love for you
From now on that's all I wanna do
From the first time we met I knew
I'd have a never-endin' love for you
[Verse]
After all this time of being alone (Yes)
We can love one another, live for each other
From now on (Heh, heh, hey)
Feel so good I can hardly stand it (Yes)
...
@#8 .... It's still lower than countries with socialized healthcare ...
Well, yeah.
Health care for all seems to win out over healthcare for profit.
Countries With the Longest and Shortest Life Expectancies (December 13, 2024)
www.usnews.com
... In 2022, Europe was home to the highest life expectancy among regions listed in the World Bank data, at 81.7 years among the 20 European Union member states that have adopted the euro as their currency. That compared to 57.6 years in western and central Africa, which had the lowest average life expectancy of any included region.
Most of the countries with the longest life expectancies in 2022 were wealthy nations in Asia and Europe, with Liechtenstein and Japan topping the list at around 84 years.
Countries With the Longest Life Expectancy
Liechtenstein 84.3 years
Japan 84.0 years
Switzerland 83.5 years
Australia 83.2 years
Sweden 83.1 years
Spain 83.1 years
Ireland 83.1 years
Luxembourg 83.0 years
Italy 82.9 years
Singapore 82.9 years
...
Whoa, 80+ years?
Midge Ure - Dear God (1988)
www.youtube.com
Lyrics excerpt ...
...
Dear God, is there somebody out there?
Is there someone to hear my prayer?
I'm a simple man with simple words to say
Is there some point in asking?
Asking for more only got us where we are today
Lost and alone and afraid
Give me, love for the lonely
Give me, food for the hungry
Give me, peace in our restless world
Give me, hope for the children
Give me, a worldwide religion
Give me, peace in our restless world
Dear God, can you hear me crying?
A whole world crying
Looking for something to say
We had it all and we threw it all away
Is there somebody watching
Somebody watching over the mess that we've made
We're lost and alone and afraid
...
Don McLean - Vincent (1971)
www.youtube.com
Lyrics in the video of the song, written about Vincent van Gogh....
But if you prefer not to listen...
Lyrics excerpt ...
genius.com
...
Starry, starry night
Paint your palette blue and grey
Look out on a summer's day
With eyes that know the darkness in my soul
Shadows on the hills
Sketch the trees and the daffodils
Catch the breeze and the winter chills
In colors on the snowy linen land
[Chorus]
Now I understand
What you tried to say to me
And how you suffered for your sanity
And how you tried to set them free
They would not listen, they did not know how
Perhaps they'll listen now
[Verse 2]
Starry, starry night
Flaming flowers that brightly blaze
Swirling clouds in violet haze
Reflect in Vincent's eyes of China blue
Colors changing hue
Morning fields of amber grain
Weathered faces lined in pain
Are soothed beneath the artist's loving hand
[Chorus]
Now I understand
What you tried to say to me
And how you suffered for your sanity
And how you tried to set them free
They would not listen, they did not know how
Perhaps they'll listen now
[Bridge]
For they could not love you
But still your love was true
And when no hope was left in sight
On that starry, starry night
You took your life, as lovers often do
But I could have told you, Vincent
This world was never meant for one
As beautiful as you
[Verse 3]
Starry, starry night
Portraits hung in empty halls
Frameless heads on nameless walls
With eyes that watch the world and can't forget
Like the strangers that you've met
The ragged men in ragged clothes
The silver thorn, a bloody rose
Lie crushed and broken on the virgin snow
[Outro]
Now I think I know
What you tried to say to me
And how you suffered for your sanity
And how you tried to set them free
They would not listen, they're not listening still
Perhaps they never will
...
@#2 ... He could just pull a Vlad and invade Greenland. ...
As he seems to be threatening of Panama?
@#5
Curious that fmr-Rep Gaetz seems to come from a politically powerful family in Florida.
Matt Gaetz
en.wikipedia.org
... The son of prominent Florida politician Don Gaetz ...
Oh, wow,
Fraud lawsuit
en.wikipedia.org
... In 2013, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against VITAS for allegedly committing Medicare fraud since 2002, when Gaetz still worked at the company. Gaetz denied any role in any wrongdoing that occurred.[20] The case was settled in January 2018 with a confidential settlement.[21] ...
There's this ...
Southeastern U.S. Seas Are Rising at Triple the Global Average (2023)
www.scientificamerican.com
... Sea levels off the southeastern U.S. have risen more than a centimeter a year over the past decade -- about triple the global average -- and the effects on communities near the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean already are being observed ...
--- and this ---
Miami Beach is Raising Streets by 2 Feet to Combat Rising Seas
www.miamirealestateguy.com
... The City of Miami Beach is raising streets in an effort to protect the city from the impending sea level rise. We all know that the Sunset Harbour and West Avenue neighborhoods of Miami Beach have been BURIED by construction over the past couple of years, but this new project all but guarantees that construction will continue for the time being.
In all honesty, the construction is welcome, considering that we are all well aware that every year, we are seeing our streets flooded with more and more water. The West Avenue and Sunset Harbour areas are consistently underwater due to sea level rise, and raising them is one major aspect of the City's solution. ...
@#3 ... Or will it succumb to the whims of Mr Musk? ...
Musk posts support for Gaetz: Hammer of Justice' (November 19, 2024)
thehill.com
... Tech billionaire Elon Musk publicly backed President-elect Trump's pick for attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), pushing back against concerns over allegations of misconduct against him.
Musk, in a statement early Tuesday on the social platform X, noted Gaetz has "an axe to grind," which he said was necessary for the job.
"Matt Gaetz has 3 critical assets that are needed for the AG role: a big brain, a spine of steel and an axe to grind," Musk wrote. "He is the Judge Dredd America needs to clean up a corrupt system and put powerful bad actors in prison."
"Gaetz will be our Hammer of Justice," he added. ...
OK, those coments rise more questions ....
@#27 ... Are we counting the empty ones? ...
My question ... is Russia using up (a.k.a., losing) it's wartime equipment more quickly than it can replace it?
Analysis: Russia's War Economy Is Hitting Its Limits
foreignpolicy.com
... Key weapons are running out as Moscow tries to mobilize ever more labor and resources. ...
Signs that the official data masks severe economic strains brought on by both war and sanctions have become increasingly apparent.
No matter how many workers it tries to shift to the defense industry, the Kremlin cannot expand production fast enough to replace weapons at the rate they are being lost on the battlefield.
Already, around half of all artillery shells used by Russia in Ukraine are from North Korean stocks. At some point in the second half of 2025, Russia will face severe shortages in several categories of weapons.
Perhaps foremost among Russia's arms bottlenecks is its inability to replace large-caliber cannons. According to open-source researchers using video documentation, Russia has been losing more than 100 tanks and roughly 220 artillery pieces per month on average.
Producing tank and artillery barrels requires rotary forges -- massive pieces of engineering weighing 20 to 30 tons each -- that can each produce only about 10 barrels a month. Russia only possesses two such forges. ...
Interesting ...
Quick Facts on Crime in West Palm Beach
farkas-crowley.com
... s the population throughout the world continues to grow, and our law enforcement teams continue to struggle to keep up with crimes, as a result, crime rates also increase.
Crime rates may be higher or lower, depending on the particular neighborhood, county, and state. However, if you live in or around West Palm Beach, your chances of being involved in or being a victim of a crime is greater than other cities in Florida and in the country.
Here are some quick statistics on crime in West Palm Beach:
- - - There are over 5,600 violent and property crimes combined each year.
- - - The national median of violent crimes is 3.8 percent; the West Palm Beach median is 6.9 percent. ...
Steve Forbert - Make It All So Real (1979)
www.youtube.com
Lyrics excerpt ...
...
Take your seat in the table
Watch the cabaret fill
Ted came down for the singer
He saw the name on the bill
How the minutes were draggin', as the audience grew
Ted was growing impatient, as he swallowed his brew
"It's time to welcome the artist", he heard somebody say
Saw a face in the floodlight and ev'rything was ok....
Singer man, do your work
Sing your song
Make it hurt
Sing the tears
Sing the pain
Make it all so real
Then the singer was singing all his serious songs
And his band was a-playing;
Ted was hummin' along
Meanwhile back in a corner
There was a table for two
Where sat the singer's cute lover
And she was drinkin' a few
All snuggled up with a stranger
Who had his hand on her thigh
She was receivin' his message
And gazing into his eyes...
See upcoming pop shows
Get tickets for your favorite artists
Make it hurt
Sing the tears
Sing the pain
Make it all so real
So the sound came a-rollin'
Tumblin' into the night
And all the people were ravin'
Saying, "Man our singer's alright!"
And "Such a burnin' performer!"
"What a fabulous show!"
Little lover was stirrin'
She was ready to go
And while the singer was wailing she got up to depart
The crowd was stompin' and cheering
She was breakin' his heart...
...
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