XCR1250

All the "Green" Crap including EV Junk is a major joke.

https://news.yahoo.com/biden-admin-sent-tens-millions-080047580.html

Retired Israeli general who rescued his family under siege from Hamas is being compared on social media to Liam Neeson's character in 'Taken' Rebecca Rommen Sat, October 14, 2023 at 6:12 AM CDT·5 min read A grandfather and retired IDF general rescued his granddaughters from their kibbutz as Hamas attacked. Noam Tibon, 62, is being compared on social media to Liam Neeson's character in "Taken." On the way, Tibon helped kill Hamas militants and then fought his way onto the kibbutz to save his family. A former Israeli general's rescue of his son's family from Hamas fighters attacking their kibbutz is being compared to Liam Neeson in "Taken" on social media. Award-winning journalist Amir Tibon was at home in Nahal Oz, a kibbutz bordering Gaza, when Hamas attacked communities along the border on October 7. As the sounds of gunfire came closer to the safe room Amir's family was sheltering, he rang his father, Noam Tibon, a 62-year-old retired major-general living in Tel Aviv. On hearing the news, the grandfather, who spent his military career specializing in counter-terrorism, replied to his son: "Trust me, I will come.'" He knew that I would come. This is my profession, nobody can stop me," Noam told NBC Nightly News. He immediately left Tel Aviv with his wife, armed only with a handgun, and drove south intent on saving his family, battling Hamas gunmen along the way, rescuing survivors of the music festival massacre, and helping wounded Israeli soldiers. His son Amir told The Atlantic, "After 10 hours, we hear a large bang on the window, and we hear the voice of my father. Galia, my oldest daughter, says, 'Saba higea' — 'Grandfather is here.' And that's when we all just start crying. And that's when we knew that we were safe." Noam's outstanding bravery has been hailed on social media, with users declaring him a real-life Bryan Mills, a former black ops specialist played by Liam Neeson in the 2008 movie "Taken" who rescues his teenage daughter from human trafficking kidnappers. Many compared Tibon's comment, "This is my profession, nobody can stop me," to the oft-quoted line from Mills to his daughter's captor: "If you are looking for ransom, I can tell you I don't have money. But what I do have are a very particular set of skills, skills I have acquired over a very long career, skills that make me a nightmare for people like you."

US oil production hits all-time high, conflicting with efforts to cut heat-trapping pollution SETH BORENSTEIN Updated Fri, October 13, 2023 at 5:41 PM CDT·4 min read 355 FILE - The sun shines through the clouds as it begins to set behind a pumpjack, March 30, 2022, outside of Goldsmith, Texas. United States domestic oil production has hit an all-time high, contrasting with efforts to slice heat-trapping carbon emissions by the Biden administration and world leaders. (Eli Hartman/Odessa American via AP, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)More United States domestic oil production hit an all-time high last week, contrasting with efforts to slice heat-trapping carbon emissions by the Biden administration and world leaders. And it conflicts with oft-repeated Republican talking points of a Biden “war on American energy.” The U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration reported that American oil production in the first week of October hit 13.2 million barrels per day, passing the previous record set in 2020 by 100,000 barrels. Weekly domestic oil production has doubled from the first week in October 2012 to now. With the United Nations and scientists saying the world needs to cut carbon emissions — from burning coal, oil and natural gas — by 43% by 2030 and down to zero or close to it by 2050, several developed countries across the world are dangerously producing more, not less, fossil fuels, experts say. “Continuing to expand oil and gas production is hypocritical and not at all consistent with the global call to phase down fossil fuels,” said climate scientist Bill Hare, CEO of Climate Analytics which helps track global actions and policies to curb climate change. “The U.S. support for expanded fossil fuel production will undermine global efforts to reduce emissions.” But the U.S. isn’t alone in this. Hare pointed to Norway, Australia, the United Kingdom and Canada, adding France because of support of the company TotalEnergies. And the designated president of upcoming climate negotiations heads the United Arab Emirates national oil company, which has announced plans to boost drilling. “From Exxon-Mobil to Shell, Guyana to Cote d’Ivorie, those with fossil resources seek to boost production and delay action to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions,” said MIT professor John Sterman, a senior advisor at Climate Interactive, an organization that models future warming based on countries' proposed actions. He said that path will lead to “catastrophe.” Stanford University climate scientist Rob Jackson, who heads the emissions-tallying group Global Carbon Project, said no country or company wants to cut oil and gas production if someone else is going to sell oil anyway. “We’re in a fossil trap,” Jackson said. White House officials have long considered increased oil production inside the United States as a bridge to help soften the transition to renewable energy sources. Officials have closely tracked domestic production, noting that output has risen by an average of more than one million barrels a day over the past year. It’s evidence that many of the oil price increases reflect the policy choices of other countries including Saudi Arabia on what is a globally priced commodity. The Biden administration has committed several hundred billions of dollars in government incentives for moving away from fossil fuels to limit the damage from climate change. Just because the United States is increasing oil production, that doesn’t mean it won’t phase down emissions, said Samantha Gross, director of energy security and climate at the centrist Brookings Institution. She said U.S. oil is less carbon-intensive than other oil, an argument the UAE’s oil company also makes. “So long as oil is demanded,” Gross said. “Demand drives production — we need to change the whole system to reduce oil demand.” “Replacing oil in power production is a lot easier than replacing oil in transportation,” Gross said in an email. “We need changes in the transportation sector, along with policies to reduce demand for transport — like teleworking, walkable neighborhoods and good public transportation.” The Energy Department’s EIA in a separate document predicted global carbon emissions will rise, not plummet, through 2050. “If the EIA is right, we’ll add another trillion tons of CO2 pollution to the atmosphere by 2050 and millions of people will die,” Stanford’s Jackson said. “There’s no other way to see it.” Republican senators and congressmen, including the House Energy and Commerce Committee, this year have repeated the phrase “Biden’s War on American Energy.” Jared Bernstein, chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, pushed back on that last month. “There are thousands of available permits — places where oil companies could drill,” Bernstein said. “They’ve been highly profitable. They’ve been highly productive. So, I don’t think that’s the problem.” Stanford’s Jackson said the Biden administration has swung back and forth on energy exploration, approving the Willow oil project in Alaska but cancelling drilling permits in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. “It’s clear that the Biden administration is not running a war against fossil fuels, or if it is, it’s a very unsuccessful war,” Climate Analytics Hare said. Associated Press reporter Joshua Boak contributed from Washington, D.C.

'Top secret' Hamas documents show that terrorists intentionally targeted elementary schools and a youth center Anna Schecter Fri, October 13, 2023 at 6:15 PM CDT·3 min read 594 Documents exclusively obtained by NBC News show that Hamas created detailed plans to target elementary schools and a youth center in the Israeli kibbutz of Kfar Sa'ad, to "kill as many people as possible," seize hostages and quickly move them into the Gaza Strip. The attack plans, which are labeled "top secret" in Arabic, appear to be orders for two highly trained Hamas units to surround and infiltrate villages and target places where civilians, including children, gather. Israeli authorities are still determining the death toll in Kfar Sa'ad. The documents were found on the bodies of Hamas terrorists by Israeli first responders and shared with NBC News. They include detailed maps and show that Hamas intended to kill or take hostage civilians and school children. One page labeled “Top Secret” outlines a plan of attack for Kfar Sa’ad, saying “Combat unit 1” is directed to “contain the new Da’at school,” while “Combat unit 2” is to “collect hostages,” “search the Bnei Akiva youth center” and “search the old Da’at school.” Another page labeled “Top Secret Maneuver” describes a plan for a Hamas unit to secure the east side of Kfar Sa’ad while a second unit controls the west. It says “kills as many as possible” and “capture hostages.” Other orders include surrounding a dining hall and holding hostages in it. The detailed plan to attack Kfar Sa'ad is part of a trove of documents that Israeli officials are analyzing, according to one source in the Israeli army and one in the government. Surveillance video of Hamas terrorists entering a kibbutz on Oct. 7 shows tactics similar to those laid out in the documents obtained by NBC News. The Israeli officials said that the wider group of documents show that Hamas had been systematically gathering intelligence on each kibbutz bordering Gaza and creating specific plans of attack for each village that included the intentional targeting of women and children. "The dental office, the supermarket, the dining hall," an Israel Defense Forces source said. "The level of specificity would cause anyone in the intelligence field's jaw to drop." The plan of coordinated attacks flies in the face of recent claims by Hamas that it did not kill children. A video released by Hamas on Friday showed armed terrorists holding and feeding Israeli children taken hostage, including babies. The Hamas documents, footage of the aftermath of the massacre and interviews with eyewitnesses and first responders tell a harrowing story. "I saw murdered babies. I saw murdered children. I saw mothers and children murdered together," said Yossi Landau, a commander of ZAKA, an Israeli first responder organization. Kibbutz Kfar Aza was one of the worst hit locations in the unprecedented terror attack on the morning of Saturday, Oct. 7. The Hamas maps obtained by NBC News show blue circles around Kfar Sa’ad and three other villages that also border Gaza: Kfar Aza, Nahal Oz and Alumim. Two Hamas units were to approach Kfar Sa'ad separately from two different assembly points, according to the documents. The also described the numbers and types of vehicles to be used by each group. "Group 1 assembly point: HAMZA transportation: one jeep and four motorbikes... "Group 2 assembly point: ABDEL RAHMAN transportation: one jeep and four motorbikes." Exactly how the vehicles should drive to the target villages was also laid out: "Length of platoon train: approximately 125 meters... "Shape and length of each group on the motorbikes: 50 meters for each group." One IDF official, who declined to be named while the investigation is ongoing, said he was astounded by the degree of planning that went into ensuring maximum civilian casualties. He said, "I've never seen this kind of detailed planning" for a mass terrorist attack. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com

Hamas flaunt Israeli babies and children in chilling video Susie Coen Fri, October 13, 2023 at 3:28 PM CDT·2 min read 2.9k A Hamas terrorist holding a crying baby placed on top of his rifle Hamas has released chilling footage that appears to show terrorists picking up and cradling Israeli babies and small children. The 49-second video includes a clip of a gunman clutching a crying baby placed on top of a rifle. In another, a baby gurgles as a Hamas terrorist pats it on the back while walking out of what looks like a living room. The footage also shows a little boy sitting on the knee of a terrorist, surrounded by at least eight more, in the garden of what appears to be a family home. A masked man is also seen holding a small boy and another baby as he speaks to the camera in Arabic. It is not known where or when the footage was taken or whether the children, or their parents, are still alive. It is not known where or when the footage was taken or whether the children, or their parents, are still alive The 49-second video includes a masked man holding a small boy and another baby as he speaks to the camera in Arabic Hamas released the footage as Israel Defense Forces prepare to mount a ground assault in Gaza after warning 1.1 million civilians to evacuate their homes. Dozens of Israeli children are known to have been killed or kidnapped by Hamas after it mounted its attack last Saturday. It is feared that more than 100 Israeli hostages will be used by the terrorists as human shields. The video may have been also released in response to some of the horrific images published by the Israeli government which appear to show babies and infants murdered by Hamas. The images showed a blood-stained infant, still dressed in a babygrow and nappy, lying inside a small body bag. “This is the most difficult image we’ve ever posted. As we are writing this we are shaking,” the Israeli government’s foreign ministry said in a post on Twitter. “We went back and forth about posting this, but we need each and every one of you to know. This happened.” On Friday, the foreign ministry posted another two graphic images. One showed a man who had been shot in the head, while another showed a limp, half-naked body being driven away on a motorbike. Alongside the images, it wrote: “Women and girls raped. People burned alive. Young kids kidnapped. Babies tortured and murdered. Parents executed in front of their young children. Hamas is ISIS.”

Menendez accused of acting as foreign agent for Egypt while helming Senate Foreign Relations Committee Erica Orden Thu, October 12, 2023 at 11:55 AM CDT·4 min read 269 Alex Brandon/AP NEW YORK — Federal prosecutors accused Sen. Bob Menendez on Thursday of secretly acting as an agent of the government of Egypt while serving as the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, adding to the slate of criminal charges for which the New Jersey Democrat was indicted last month. Prosecutors in the Manhattan U.S. attorney’s office unveiled an updated indictment adding the charge of conspiracy for a public official to act as a foreign agent, alleging that Menendez; his wife, Nadine Menendez; and a New Jersey businessman, Wael Hana, used his Senate position to benefit the government of Egypt without registering as foreign agents. The new indictment comes three weeks after a federal grand jury charged all three — along with two other New Jersey businessmen — with conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud and conspiracy to commit extortion. That set of charges also centered on Menendez’s alleged efforts to advocate for Egypt. In combination with the earlier charges, the new indictment paints a damning portrait of a sitting congressman allegedly using his office not to benefit his constituents but to advance the interests of a foreign nation. The original charges accused the Menendezes of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes in cash, gold bars, a Mercedes-Benz C-300 convertible and home mortgage payments. In exchange, prosecutors said, the couple benefitted the three New Jersey businesspeople and the government of Egypt between 2018 and 2022, “including with respect to foreign military sales and foreign military financing.” Menendez had significant influence over those matters as the chair and, prior to that, as the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. All of the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges in the original indictment. In a statement Thursday evening, Menendez insisted he is innocent. “The government’s latest charge flies in the face of my long record of standing up for human rights and democracy in Egypt and in challenging leaders of that country, including President El-Sisi on these issues," he said. "I have been, throughout my life, loyal to only one country — the United States of America, the land my family chose to live in democracy and freedom. An attorney for Hana, Larry Lustberg, called the allegation against his client "as absurd as it is false." He added: "As with the other charges in this indictment, Mr. Hana will vigorously defend against this baseless allegation.” The new indictment accused the Menendezes and Hana of a more extreme level of advocacy on behalf of Egypt, saying that the senator “promised to take and took a series of acts on behalf of Egypt, including on behalf of Egyptian military and intelligence officials,” and that his wife and Hana “communicated requests and directives from Egyptian officials” to the senator. The indictment details several specific instances in which Menendez allegedly sought to benefit Egyptian officials. In May 2019, the senator, his wife and Hana met with an Egyptian intelligence official at Menendez’s Senate office, where they discussed an American citizen who had been injured in a 2015 airstrike by the Egyptian military using a U.S.-manufactured helicopter, according to the indictment. The incident had resulted in some members of Congress objecting to awarding military aid to Egypt. Shortly after the meeting, Menendez searched for information about the incident online, according to the indictment, and a week later the Egyptian official told Hana in an encrypted message that if Menendez were to help resolve the matter, “he will sit very comfortably.” Hana replied: “orders, consider it done.” The official then sent Hana screenshots of a statement from the American citizen’s attorney, which Hana sent to Nadine Menendez, who forwarded it to her husband. The indictment also alleges that in the spring of 2020, after Nadine Menendez arranged a meeting between her husband and the same Egyptian official about a dam on the Nile River that “was generally regarded as one of the most important foreign policy issues for Egypt,” Menendez wrote a letter to the then-Treasury secretary and the then-secretary of state to push them to resolve negotiations over the dam. “I am writing to express my concern about the stalled negotiations between Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan over [the dam],” Menendez wrote, according to court papers. “I therefore urge you to significantly increase the State Department’s engagement on negotiations surrounding the [dam].” Although Menendez had said prior to the September indictment that he planned to run for reelection in 2024, he appeared less certain after facing the first set of charges. “I’m not going to jeopardize any seat in New Jersey under any circumstances,” he told reporters earlier this month, saying he hasn’t made a decision yet.

https://apnews.com/article/steve-scalise-blood-cancer-house-republican-leader-f98d35f1d09e8c8009e180068b191daa

How many G- warts you have?, Take some pics for the Liberal clown posse, they'll get all wound up.

Tesla owner slams the car company after finding a litany of issues with his $140,000 Model S: ‘Absolutely horrible’ Jeremiah Budin Thu, October 12, 2023 at 4:00 AM CDT·2 min read 994 EVs are only getting more popular, and Tesla certainly deserves a big portion of the credit for showing drivers that high-end electric vehicles are more than just a fantasy. Still, when it comes to actually manufacturing these cars, the evidence continues to pile up that Tesla has more than its share of shortcomings. One Redditor recently posted a video on r/Wellthatsucks detailing all of the problems with his brand new $140,000 Tesla Model S Plaid. “I don’t understand,” he says while poking around the loose, unsecured door trim, front trunk, and more. “Can somebody please explain to me the build quality of Teslas?” “I understand Teslas are pretty much computers and they happen to manufacture vehicles,” he continues, “but the bits and pieces don’t fit, nothing is flush. It looks like toddlers put this together during recess.” The unhappy driver’s fellow Redditors were quick to weigh in. “Sister and her partner have a Model X,” one commenter writes. “The doors never close 100% making it absolutely horrible for your feet in winter.” “My friend has the same model,” another commenter adds. “Can confirm the same quality build. But he showed me the dash bends and moves just as bad!” “Some assembly is required!” writes a third. “All jokes aside, that must sting for the owner.” As for the reasons why this incredibly expensive car seemingly has so many issues, many commenters speculated that the company’s treatment of its employees was part of the problem. This is far from the first time that Teslas have made the internet buzz for their faultiness. The company is currently under investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for several crashes where self-driving Teslas ran into parked emergency vehicles, including one where the driver was killed. There have also been reports of Tesla steering wheels falling off while the car was in motion, and Tesla batteries spontaneously bursting into flames. Luckily for any prospective EV buyers, however, there are now many other EVs on the market that cost a fraction of Tesla’s asking price and don’t come with a litany of assembly and safety issues

https://news.yahoo.com/lifestyle/driver-went-viral-strapping-mountain-161300691.html

Analysis: Voters have concerns about President Joe Biden’s age. Biden’s team has been unwilling to answer those worries. President Joe Biden in Washington on March 17. Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images file Oct. 11, 2023T By Chuck Todd Amid all of the news and issues on the top of political minds, there is one non-versation that continues to dominate: Can Joe Biden do this again? I call it a “non-versation” because the folks wringing their hands the most about whether Biden is up to the task of winning in 2024 are people who, in many cases, have already endorsed him for re-election. A few even work directly for him — and are still having the same uneasy feeling as they watch Donald Trump methodically consolidate Republican support while a right-wing information ecosystem turns the Biden brand into the Clinton brand circa 2016. Ultimately, Democrats in Washington — in both the executive and the legislative branches — share the same concern voters have been expressing for the last six months: They fear voters can’t be convinced Biden is up to the job, and they don’t have confidence the team around Biden fully appreciates the concern. The caveats before this non-versation are all very similar. “He’s really done a remarkable job, given the circumstances,” goes a common one. The handwringing after the various caveats are set aside all has the same sound to it, too, with answers hidden in questions like: “Do you think he looks too old?” Team Biden has tried to brush off the concern, pointing to the unpopularity of the last two Democratic presidents at this same moment in their presidencies — before they went on to win re-election. At this time in 2011, Barack Obama was bruised by a protracted standoff with House Republicans over the debt ceiling and government spending levels. It was the low point of his re-election campaign. Bill Clinton’s first-term struggles and low point were a tad earlier, but in the spring of 1995, things were grim enough to spark talk of a Bill Bradley primary challenge. And then there’s the one Republican president Team Biden is fond of using for age-related comparisons: Ronald Reagan. Like Reagan, Biden battled a nasty inflation issue at the start of his term. Like Reagan, Biden was the oldest president ever elected. Reagan had a brief moment in 1984 when it appeared the age issue could become a problem, but he joked his way out of it and did enough campaigning to reassure the country he was up to it. Of course, given all we learned about Reagan’s health in his second term, perhaps there should have been more of a rigorous debate about his abilities, in hindsight. Still, all three examples — Obama, Clinton and Reagan — are reassuring historical points that offer potential Biden parallels. But one of the worst afflictions that can affect the political class and the Washington media class at times is “been there, done that disease.” Just because something happened a certain way the last time doesn’t mean things will turn out the same way this time. And yet, an overreliance on historical precedent can delude the normally intelligent mind. At the end of the day, it could turn out that negative feelings about Trump and anger at the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision on abortion are enough to secure Biden’s re-election. It’s probably the most likely formula, given what we are witnessing in just about every election held since the Dobbs decision. But while the power of the abortion issue might save Biden, it’s separate from the question of whether he owes the public a better picture of his ability to do the job. So far, Team Biden has decided not to accept the premise of the age question. It publicly chalks it up to the media, even going so far as to say the media should stop asking about it in polls. There’s a naive belief among some Biden partisans that if you don’t mention his age, it won’t be an issue. In the real world, concern about Biden’s age is an issue, and the voters are screaming it. Every reputable pollster who has asked has found more than 50% of registered Democrats want a primary campaign. The numbers stem from a simple fact: A number of Biden supporters were never enamored with him but saw him as the safest way to get rid of Trump. When you look at these numbers, it’s as if Democrats are ready to hand Biden a gold watch and thank him for beating Trump, making Congress slightly more functioning and expanding NATO — and call it a legacy. So what will it take to fire up Democrats for Biden? The best elixir for him could well be a primary challenge. The best way to disprove the age and ability issue is to run an active campaign, something Biden has yet to do. This advice may be easier to give than receive. For one thing, Team Biden will remind any skeptic like me that running a “Rose Garden”-style campaign from his Delaware home in 2020 worked, though there’s a counterclaim about whether he would have won by more — or had longer coattails — with a more robust campaign. Biden partisans also argue that his focus on democracy instead of inflation in the midterms was the right call, given his party’s overperformance against the GOP. Personally, I think history will remember the 2022 midterms more as the first evidence of the Dobbs fallout over abortion more than its being evidence of Trump’s unpopularity in key swing states. As Yogi Berra has been credited with saying, “it’s getting late early” in this Biden handwringing story. If others are going to run, they have to do it now. And this is where Biden ought to be saying “bring it on,” answering this whisper campaign wondering whether he has what it takes to win again by showing voters. Currently, this White House has decided a “do no harm” strategy is the best way to go about this. It has basically given up fighting the news cycle and instead is trying to ignore it — or to use certain media outlets or media personalities to talk to certain constituency groups on their terms. What you don’t see is Biden barnstorming the country. He’s spending very little time with voters, though the few times his team has had him with the people (see the UAW picket line event), he has done pretty well. A confident Biden team would push the president to say things like: “If I were a voter, I’d be concerned to about my age. So watch me.” Well, right now, folks are watching, and they don’t love what they see. At some level, it’s about trusting the voters. The voters know the difference between someone who is 80 but still has it, even if at a slightly slower pace, and someone who is 80 and doesn’t seem to keep a schedule that any previous modern presidents have kept. So get out of the White House and Delaware. The more he’s out on the trail or with the people, the more any single gaffe will get minimized. Need a proof of concept on that? Just look at all things Trump. He’s so ubiquitous with his grievances and outrages that when he ends up stepping on himself in some way, the moment (while it goes viral and gets dunked on by his critics) disappears as fast as it comes, because there’s something else he says or does for his supporters and detractors to chase. Right now, every Biden public appearance seems unique, not ubiquitous. It only serves to elevate any gaffe or misstep. But if he is campaigning a lot and tripping over himself every once in a while, it becomes “Biden being Biden” more than “Biden showing his age.” And it’s that perception the current White House and campaign team have some control over. They simply have to believe it’s better to let Biden be Biden, no matter what. As our polarization becomes more ingrained, it does make it seem as if every annual election cycle — be it an even-numbered year or an odd-numbered one — is now nationally important. This year is no different — though in my 30 years covering campaign politics, this election cycle has been among the most ignored by the national media. Part of the reason is that the three main statewide races are in three states that don’t share a media market with Washington, D.C., or New York. The year after presidential elections, races for governor of Virginia and New Jersey easily get nationalized and produce nationally ambitious winners. That hasn’t been the case in Kentucky or Mississippi or Louisiana, the three states holding governor’s races this year. And yet, this election cycle features what may now be among the best national bellwether elections: Kentucky governor. Since the turn of this century, the party that has won Kentucky’s Governor’s Mansion has foreshadowed the party that wins the presidency the following year. In 2003, Republican Ernie Fletcher flipped the Governor’s Mansion to the GOP. A year later, George W. Bush won re-election. In 2007, Democrat Steve Beshear (father of the current Kentucky governor) defeated the incumbent Fletcher; a year later, Democrats would expand their majorities in the House and the Senate and win the presidency. In 2011, in tough economic times, Beshear won re-election quite handily. A year later, Obama won re-election with over 50% of the vote, one of the largest vote shares any Democratic presidential campaign has received since LBJ in 1964. In 2015, a conservative firebrand named Matt Bevin was the surprise GOP nominee (upending the Mitch McConnell-led GOP establishment) and won the governorship. Bevin was the canary in the Kentucky coal mine for Trumpism and the grievance politics that handed the White House to Trump in 2016. In 2019, Andy Beshear (son of the former two-term governor) defeated Bevin, foreshadowing Biden’s defeat of incumbent Trump a year later. And that brings us to 2023 and 2024. Right now, Beshear looks like a solid favorite for re-election. The GOP nominee, Daniel Cameron, while he’s a McConnell protégé, has tied himself in knots on the abortion issue and can’t seem to find a safe political position. So does a Beshear re-election victory foreshadow a Biden re-election victory? In some ways, the political climate one year before a presidential election is usually more similar than it is different a full year later. And the singularity of the abortion issue in Beshear’s re-election definitely could foreshadow the issue terrain Democrats believe plays in their favor nationally. As Kentucky goes, so goes … America? We could find out soon enough.

Gasoline today is $3.34 a gallon near us in Exland. Coming down..

We've owned 3 of those chairs, none lasted more than a year.

Renewable stocks are taking an outsized beating among other stocks in the utility sector, which was down more than 10% last quarter. Investors may be betting that going green will take longer and require more capital in a higher-for-longer interest rate environment. “As utilities struggle with converting to more green energy, their operating margins are getting squeezed until they can get their utility rates increased,” Louis Navellier, founder of Navellier, a money management firm, told Yahoo Finance. Higher interest rates are impacting the renewable sector because clean energy projects are capital intensive. To make matters worse, falling valuations are making it harder for companies to tap into public markets to fund their projects. Also, bonds offering higher yields are competing against dividend yields on utility stocks. “There is an exodus from ESG products that are suffering from outflows,” said Navellier. The Global Clean Energy ETF (ICLN) is down about 30% year to date. The solar and wind energy benchmarks Invesco Solar ETF (TAN) and First Trust Global Wind Energy ETF (FAN) are down 35% and 32% during the same period, respectively. The selling in renewables intensified after NextEra Energy Partners (NEP), a subsidiary of NextEra Energy (NEE) focused on renewables, cut its growth target by half to 6% through at least 2026. "Tighter monetary policy and higher interest rates obviously affect the financing needed to grow distributions at 12%," read the company statement on Sept. 27. NextEra Energy Partners is down 69.27% year to date, on pace for its worst year on record, while its parent company NextEra Energy hit a 52-week low on Friday, down 42% year to date. Bank of America analysts called the recent sell-off "overblown with collateral damage unfounded." "Rates have indeed moved higher through the same period and utilities and renewables are rates sensitive," wrote Julien Dumoulin-Smith and Paul Zimbardo in a note to clients. They continued that "the collapse in confidence in NextEra - the world's largest renewable developer - has precipitated a draconian view for the outlook of renewables as an asset class, and the associated returns." 'It is expensive to go green' Some of the biggest solar companies initially rallied after Russia invaded Ukraine in late February 2022 and oil prices spiked. The invasion hastened investments in a push towards green technologies in both Europe and the US as crude and natural gas became more expensive and governments saw a need to rely on other sources of energy. The Inflation Reduction Act, or IRA, of 2022 was also seen as a boon for renewable energy companies, making clean energy stocks the clear winners of the legislation passed in August 2022. The IRA focuses on tax credits for companies to manufacture items like solar panels and wind turbine parts in the United States. The measure also offers credits of up to $7,500 for electric vehicles assembled domestically. But some of the federal and local government's recent green initiatives are facing challenges, or scaling back. Earlier this year policy changes went into effect in California, the largest US solar market. The new measures reduced the money credited to rooftop solar panel owners for sending excess power they generate into the grid. Analysts note California’s so-called net metering reform has created headwinds for companies like Enphase Energy (ENPH). In April, the solar inverter maker's stock fell 25% in one day following disappointing second quarter revenue guidance amid concerns of slowing demand. In July the stock took another hit of 11% in one day after Enphase Energy's third quarter guidance came in weaker than expected. "Our microinverter sell-through in the US peaked in the fourth quarter of 2022," Badri Kothandaraman, CEO of Enphase, said during the company's earnings call. "The sell-through in the first half of 2023, in both Q1 and Q2, was approximately 20% below the fourth quarter due to the high interest rate environment in the US." Three wind turbines from Deepwater Wind stand in the water off Block Island, R.I., the nation's first offshore wind farm, Aug. 15, 2016. The governors of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut announced a multi-state agreement Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023, designed to streamline the selection of offshore wind energy projects. (Michael Dwyer/AP Photo, File)© Provided by Yahoo Finance The delay of offshore wind farms in the Northeast is seen as another setback for the renewable industry. Six Democratic governors recently sent a letter to the Biden Administration asking for more federal help with the planned projects after wind developers asked to renegotiate contracts amid rising costs, dwindling supply chain issues, and tighter credit. “Absent intervention, these near-term projects are increasingly at risk of failing,” the governors wrote. “Without federal action, offshore wind deployment in the US is at serious risk of stalling because states’ ratepayers may be unable to absorb these significant new costs alone.” The governors are asking for the Biden Administration to ensure offshore wind projects are fully eligible for federal clean energy tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act. They also want the government to expedite clean energy permitting. “The bottom line is it is expensive to go green,” said the strategist Navellier. Having said that, as a sector "utility stocks grossly oversold," he said. “We will sort this out during the Q3 earnings announcement season.” Renewable energy stocks may have gotten so cheap, analysts at BofA say, it may be time to buy. "We continue to see significant utility scale growth in renewables in the coming years, and do not agree with the collateral damage we saw in the space in the last week; we see particularly attractive buying opportunities," wrote the analysts.

Because they're JUNK.

Close this content, you can also use the Escape key at anytime U.S. sends warships to eastern Mediterranean after Hamas attack on Israel S. Dev Sun, October 8, 2023 at 1:28 PM CDT·3 min read 587 U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced Sunday that he has ordered American military ships, including an aircraft carrier and additional aircraft, to move closer to the eastern Mediterranean in response to Hamas' unprecedented, multi-front attack on Israel. "Today, in response to this Hamas attack on Israel, and following detailed discussions with President Biden, I have directed several steps to strengthen Department of Defense posture in the region to bolster regional deterrence efforts," Austin said in a news release. The USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group includes the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, which is the largest warship in the world, in addition to the Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Normandy and four Arleigh-Burke-class guided missile destroyers. The USS Gerald R. Ford was in the western Mediterranean when it received orders to deploy. Depending on its precise location, it could have to travel over a thousand miles. Austin also announced steps to augment U.S. Air Force fighter aircraft squadrons in the region. USAF aircraft are going into bases in the Middle East where they will be available for operations against Iran. The munitions the U.S. will be sending over are being airlifed. The announcement came shortly after the White House confirmed that President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke again Sunday morning. The two leaders discussed Hamas' taking of Israeli hostages, with Mr. Biden assuring Netanyahu that U.S. assistance for the Israel Defense Forces was on its way to Israel, with more to follow over the coming days. "The President emphasized that there is no justification whatsoever for terrorism, and all countries must stand united in the face of such brutal atrocities," the White House readout of the call said. "President Biden updated the Prime Minister on the intensive diplomatic engagement undertaken by the United States over the last 24 hours in support of Israel," the readout added. Austin confirmed that the first movement of U.S. security aid to the IDF will begin moving Sunday and arrive in the coming days. "My team and I will continue to be in close contact with our Israeli counterparts to ensure they have what they need to protect their citizens and defend themselves against these heinous terrorist attacks," Austin said. Israeli officials confirmed to CBS News on Sunday that at least 600 Israeli civilians and members of the military had died since Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel from Gaza early Saturday morning. Another 1,800 were wounded. Many Israelis, both civilians and security forces, have been taken hostage. Israeli ambassador Michael Herzog said on "Face the Nation" on Sunday that Americans were among said he is under the impression that there were Americans taken hostage, but he didn't have details. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on "Face the Nation" that the U.S. investigating reports that Americans were among those taken hostage. There is not yet any serious planning for the evacuation of American citizens, U.S. officials said. The Gaza Ministry of Health said Sunday that 370 Palestinians have died and 2,200 were wounded. —Eleanor Watson contributed to reporting.

https://news.yahoo.com/u-sends-warships-eastern-mediterranean-182823995.html#:~:text=Close this content,contributed to reporting.

Wonder if MC ever attended any schools, must be easy for MC to be this stupid on here every day.

Kids as Young as Kindergarteners Will Be Allowed to Use Cannabis at School if Michigan Passes New Law SANDRA ROSE SALATHE October 6, 2023 at 12:32 PM The legislation would legally allow students with approved conditions to consume medical marijuana in the form of edibles, beverages, and other low-THC products on school premises Getty Michigan K-12 students may soon be permitted to use medical marijuana and CBD-infused products at school under a new bill presented last week. Michigan K-12 students may soon be permitted to use medical marijuana and CBD-infused products at school under a new bill presented last week. Proposed by Democratic representatives in the Michigan House, the legislation would legally allow students to consume edibles, beverages and other low-THC marijuana products on school premises or buses. The administration of these products would be overseen by a designated school staff member. Only students with clear written authorization detailing the timing and purpose, such as for emergency relief or symptom prevention, could use them. "What it does is allow medical marijuana pediatric patients to have their medication in the schools the same way anyone else has their medications stored," Michigan State Rep. Jimmie Wilson Jr., told CBS News. "The same way, whether it be in a nurse's office or an administration office, they would go up and access their medication the same way anyone else would, and they would go back to class." Related: Kentucky Legalizes Medical Marijuana in Bipartisan Vote After Decade of Failed Attempts The new initiative aims to increase accessibility to medical marijuana for eligible students. In addition, the bill showcases Michigan's evolving stance on drug policies, aligning with both its legal and illegal drug environment. For example, a bill introduced in September aimed to decriminalize psychedelic plants, and there was a recent revision to the drug-testing policy for new hires this month. State Sen. Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor) expressed his intent to broaden the dialogue regarding specific substances and their place in society. "Should people go to jail for this? Should we spend money for these crimes? My answer is no," he said at the time. Irwin cited potential medical benefits the substances may offer, like reducing depression. “Most of those students who have autism or have chronic pain or epilepsy have to take time out of the school day, miss instructional hours and go off campus to take medicine, and then come back," Dylan Wegela, one of the bill's sponsors, discussed the new initiative with CBS. "This would simply make their day a lot more cohesive." Related: Seth Rogen Says Wife Lauren Miller 'Held My Hand' in Creating Cannabis-Inspired Brand Houseplant HB 5603, now under the purview of the Committee on Regulatory Reform since Sept. 28, 2023, also offers guidelines on the transportation and storage of these products. It emphasizes that they should be managed like any other student medication. In 2015 a New Jersey teen with epilepsy and autism returned to school full time after winning the fight to have the medical marijuana oil she needs administered to her at school. Inspired by her case, Governor Chris Christie enacted a law allowing parents or primary caregivers to give edible medical marijuana to their ailing or disabled children during school hours. This law also safeguards school districts from potential liabilities. As of January 2022, 36 states, four U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia have legalized medical marijuana. Meanwhile, 18 states, the District of Columbia, and two U.S. territories have legalized marijuana for recreational use by adults. In 2008, the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act made Michigan the 13th U.S. state to embrace medical marijuana. A decade later, with the passage of Ballot Proposal 1 in 2018, it became the 10th state to endorse recreational marijuana use. Notably, Michigan stands as the first midwestern state to enact such legislation, which grants adults and eligible patients the right to acquire, possess, and consume marijuana. Six children hospitalized in Florida after eating cannabis gummies at after-school program MELISSA RUDY October 6, 2023 at 9:33 PM Six children were hospitalized in Florida after they ate candy containing cannabis at the Lauderhill Boys & Girls Club on Wednesday. Police officers were dispatched to the location in Broward County three times that afternoon, according to a local report from NBC 6 South Florida. A total of eight children ranging from 6 to 8 years of age consumed the gummies. Six of the children were transported to Broward Health and Florida Medical Center, according to Lauderhill Fire Rescue officials. CALLS TO POISON CENTERS FOR ADHD MEDICATION ERRORS HAVE RISEN 300% SINCE 2000, STUDY FINDS All of the children now have been released and are "returning to their normal activities," said the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County in an official statement provided to Fox News Digital. It is believed that one of the children brought a package of cannabis-infused gummy candies into the club after school and shared the candies with the other members, the statement said. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Edible products are often packaged in ways that are very similar to name-brand candy and snack products for children, a toxicologist warned. "The safety and protection of the young people we serve is always our absolute highest priority, and we take any situation that might impact their well-being very seriously," the club added. A spokesperson for the club told Fox News Digital on Friday that the source of the gummies is still under investigation. Edible products are often packaged in ways that are very similar to name-brand candy and snack products that are familiar to children, according to Kelly Johnson-Arbor, M.D., a medical toxicologist and co-medical director at the National Capital Poison Center in Washington, D.C. "Children are often not able to differentiate between these snack products and their cannabis lookalike varieties — and this can result in unintentional consumption," she told Fox News Digital. These products can also contain large amounts of cannabis, with doses intended for adults. MELATONIN GUMMIES FOUND TO CONTAIN POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS LEVELS OF THE HORMONE: STUDY Stacia Woodcock, PharmD, pharmacy editor at GoodRx in New York City, said it’s possible for cannabis edibles to be dangerous for children, but it depends on exactly what cannabinoids the edibles contain and how much the children consume. "In most cases, if a child consumes a cannabis edible by mistake, they’ll just feel extra sleepy or loopy until it wears off," she said. "Agitation, red eyes and a fast heart rate are also possible," she added. "More severe side effects, like seizures or breathing issues, are rare but still possible — especially with large amounts of THC." It’s possible for cannabis edibles to be dangerous for children, but it depends on exactly what cannabinoids the edibles contain and how much the children consume, a pharmacist told Fox News Digital. The risk of a life-threatening issue is higher with illicit or unregulated cannabis edibles, said Woodcock, as these are more likely to contain heavy metals, pesticides or other substances — such as fentanyl — that could be dangerous for children to consume. Children are more likely than adults to experience severe signs of symptoms, Johnson noted, which is why it’s important to seek medical attention. ‘FOURTH WAVE’ OF FENTANYL OVERDOSE DEATHS HAS GRIPPED THE NATION, EXPERTS SAY: ‘THE NORM, NOT THE EXCEPTION’ "The degree of monitoring and treatment needed after cannabis ingestion in children depends on multiple factors, including the dose consumed, the child's age and any underlying medical issues," she went on. "In some cases, specialized treatments, including intravenous medications and respiratory support, may be required," said Johnson. Regardless of whether the child has symptoms, experts say it’s important to reach out to a medical professional. The signs and symptoms of cannabis poisoning in children may last for several hours, Johnson said — and in some cases, children may require hospitalization for several days. Although cannabis possession is legal in some states, it remains illegal on a federal level, Johnson said. "This means that for cannabis edibles, there are no federal regulations for childproofing or use of packaging that is not attractive to children," she said. "Because of this, it is very important to keep all cannabis edible products far away and out of reach of children." In the event of an accidental consumption, the first step is to gather the facts, said Woodcock. "The packaging of the edible will tell you what kind of edible they ate and the THC level or other cannabinoid content, such as CBD or CBN," she said. LOOK WHO'S EXPERIMENTING WITH MARIJUANA TODAY MORE THAN ANY OTHER AGE GROUP Regardless of whether the child has symptoms, Woodcock said it’s important to reach out to a medical professional. "Call 911 if they’re having severe symptoms, like trouble breathing or changes in behavior," she said. "It’s important to keep in mind that the effects of cannabis edibles can take an hour or two to appear," she noted. "So just because your child seems fine at first doesn’t mean they’ll stay that way." If you keep cannabis in your home, experts say to store it in a secure location that’s out of reach of children. If you don’t notice any changes, you should still contact Poison Control, either online at www.poison.org or by phone at 1-800-222-1222, to receive "free, personalized, and evidence-based medical guidance for monitoring and treatment," said Johnson. If you keep cannabis in your home, Woodcock said to treat it like a prescription medication and keep it in a secure location that’s out of reach of children — ideally a lockbox. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER "Make sure everyone in your home knows the difference between a cannabis edible and a regular food item," she said. "Keep cannabis products in their original packaging, and make sure it’s clearly marked to avoid any confusion." "Since there’s not much information on the long-term effects of a cannabis overdose in children, prevention is truly key to protecting your child’s safety," Woodcock also said.

He's stupidist guy on FS.

And they wrecked a 1963 Ford Covertable in Pic#9.

U.S. Gasoline Prices Could Be Headed Down Below $3 By Tsvetana Paraskova - Oct 06, 2023, 4:53 AM CDT U.S. gasoline prices are heading lower and could average below $3 per gallon in half of the U.S. states by the end of this month, as crude oil prices tumbled this week and demand is expected softer, Tom Kloza, global head of energy analysis at the Oil Price Information Service (OPIS), has told Reuters. Currently, the national average price of a gallon of regular gasoline is $3.768 as of October 5, according to AAA data. That’s lower than $3.835 a gallon a week ago. Gasoline futures, meanwhile, have fallen to $2.216. With falling wholesale prices, U.S. consumers will soon see more relief at the pump, analysts say. “While the trend is likely to be a strong one to the downside, small issues here and there could temporarily delay the onset of lower prices, but for now, motorists need not be in any rush: lower gas prices are on the way for every U.S. state in the weeks ahead,” Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said at the beginning of this week. According to AAA’s analysis from Thursday, “The decline in pump prices accelerated a bit since last week, with the national average falling seven cents to $3.76. The primary culprits are slack demand and the falling cost of oil, which has shaved more than $10 and is hovering near $82 per barrel.” “Drivers are finally seeing some relief at the pump as the seasonal swoon picks up momentum,” said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson. “At least one state has locations selling gas below $3 a gallon, and we should begin to see more states join in over the next few weeks.” GasBuddy’s De Haan noted on Thursday that the data from the fuel-saving app shows the national average is now at its lowest level since July. “I expect October will be filled with treats in the form of falling #gasprices for motorists in every state,” De Haan said. As of now, the bottom for the national average is $3.20/gal, but that target could likely move, he added. OPIS’s Kloza told CNN on Thursday that the national average could drop to as low as $3.25 a gallon by Halloween.

Putin says ‘fragments of hand grenades’ found in remains of dead on Wagner boss’s crashed plane Mariya Knight and Tara John, CNN Thu, October 5, 2023 at 3:15 PM CDT·2 min read Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested Thursday that it was not an “external” attack that crashed the plane carrying Wagner warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin in August, but hand grenades within the aircraft. Speaking at the Valdai Forum in Sochi, Putin said the “chairman of the investigative committee just reported a few days ago that the fragments of hand grenades were found in the bodies of the victims. There was no external influence on the plane, it is an established fact.” Prigozhin, who led a failed uprising against the Kremlin, was among the 10 people on board the private plane which crashed in a field northwest of Moscow in August while en route to St. Petersburg. All on board, including Prigozhin and his top aides, were killed. The Russian leader, whose government has denied involvement in the crash, did not detail how grenades might have exploded on the plane, but said that he thought investigators should have performed drug or alcohol tests on the bodies of the victims. A wreckage of the private jet is seen near the crash site in the Tver region, Russia, August 24, 2023. - Stringer/Reuters “I repeat, in my opinion such an examination should have been carried out but it wasn’t,” he said, also saying that “10 billion in cash and 5 kilos of cocaine” had previously been found by Russian security forces in Wagner’s office in St Petersburg. Putin said the chairman of the investigation committee said it was ok to “share this information publicly” as it was “an established fact.” The crash came two months to the day after Prigozhin’s attempted mutiny against Russia’s military leadership, which posed the biggest challenge to Putin’s rule in decades. In June, Prigozhin and his Wagner troops seized key military sites and marched toward Moscow, where the Kremlin had deployed heavily armed troops to the streets. But before they could face off, a deal was struck that ended the rebellion and sent Prigozhin and his fighters to neighboring Belarus. Following the deadly crash, Russian officials said they were considering various scenarios surrounding the incident, including the possibility of a “deliberate atrocity,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in late August. US and western intelligence officials, however, told CNN at the time that they believed the crash was deliberate. US President Joe Biden even suggested that Putin may have been involved. “I don’t know for a fact what happened, but I’m not surprised,” he said in late August. Peskov has denied claims that the Kremlin might have been involved in the plane’s demise, calling such speculation an “absolute lie.”

Owners of a popular electric pickup reported horrifying repair estimates for a common fender bender Eye-watering bills for repairs could also be a reality for future Tesla and Toyota EV owners. James Ochoa 2 Hours Ago Dents, dings and other miscellaneous damage to body panels are the just some of the quirky and inevitable realities of car ownership that affects drivers of all makes and models. Whether you, or the people you trust with your precious set of wheels, are bad at parking, the victim of runaway shopping carts or fall victim to the driving mishaps of other drivers, the replacement or repair of damaged body panels and bumpers are procedures for which owners will commonly put off or begrudgingly shell out the funds. Such common incidents can result in very expensive trouble for owners of Rivian’s popular R1T electric pickup truck, as several dissatisfied customers took to social media to report five-figure repair estimates for seemingly minor dents in one vulnerable part of the car. Small dents turn into big headaches for owners Workers assemble R1T trucks Monday, April 11, 2022, at the Rivian electric vehicle plant in Normal. Chicago Tribune/Getty Images A recent video by Florida-based, paintless dent repair specialist Matt Boyette, known as “The Dent Slayer” on YouTube, showed how he saved an R1T owner a quoted $40,000 due to a dent in the truck’s rear panel by working his methods on the dent. Similarly, Ohio R1T owner Chris Apfelstadt took to his Rivian owners' Facebook group in February 2023 to report similar damage that resulted from a rear-end collision. Unlike the owner serviced by the Dent Slayer, Apfelstadt was given a final repair bill of “over $42,000” from a Rivian-certified repair shop. YouTube electric car personality and Tesla modification enthusiast Rich Benoit, better known as Rich Rebuilds, reported in May 2023 that he faced a repair bill of $37,475 after a rear end collision damaged the same body panels on his Rivian (RIVN) - Get Free Report. These expensive repair costs are the result of an unfortunate design flaw of this truck. The steps taken for the sleek and futuristic design of the R1T to separate itself from run-of-the-mill pickup trucks results in certain complications when it comes to collision repair. “You have to understand how these vehicles are made; this isn’t a bed like a normal pickup truck, this is more like an SUV. The quarter panel […] is tied to the cab of the truck, it goes all the way across the roof across the vehicle, all the way to the rear view side mirror,” explained Boyette in his video. “In order to replace this panel, all that has to be cut off; the back glass has to be taken out, the panoramic roof has to be taken out, the windshield, the battery pack has to be removed. There’s a lot of disassembly that has to occur in order to for this to get fixed the conventional way at a body shop.” A stark reality for future buyers A Tesla Model Y is seen in a production hall of the Tesla Gigafactory during the open day. In Grünheide, east of Berlin picture alliance/Getty Images Though Rivian made use of large body panels to create a sleeker car, huge repair bills like the ones that the R1T owners faced could become a reality for other prospective EV owners, as both Tesla (TSLA) - Get Free Report and Toyota (TM) - Get Free Report set out to use gigacasting methods to produce cheaper electric cars in the future. Gigacasting speeds up the process of creating a vehicle through the elimination of welding joints — traditionally done by people or robots — by making large components of the car out of a huge single casting. The downside of such methods is that damage to said components can result in owners facing the same reality of the mentioned R1T owners, where the littlest of damage can impact a major part of the car. Mix the possibilities with Tesla’s reputation for poor build quality and you have a recipe for disaster put in the hands of owners. This is already a reality for Tesla owner Nizar Kamel, who took to social media in August 2023 after discovering large cracks in gigacasted components in his five-month-old Model Y that were large enough to jeopardize the car’s structural integrity. As the race to innovate and introduce the next best thing in electric vehicles to the most amount of people, potential buyers should be warned about what these innovations actually innovate and what headaches they can result in.