There’s something about the back-to-school season that makes my wallet nervous. One minute I’m stressing over summer childcare options and the next I’m receiving detailed back-to-school lists from my children. Between clothes, shoes, backpacks and supplies, it’s amazing how quickly the total climbs. And I know that’s just the beginning of the school expenses. I don’t even want to start thinking about parking passes, club dues, PTO registrations, field trip expenses or the cost of school lunches. But here we are, approaching the start of the school year, and it’s staring us down. So, what’s a parent to do? Well,…
It’s a Prehistoric Recipe that Has Emerged as Today’s Health Food. Bone broth is exactly what it sounds like: A broth made from bones, although some contemporary recipes add vegetables for flavor and added nutrients. From a culinary standpoint, it’s the fundamental recipe for a stock that is often used in soups, stews, and gravies. As more and more people looked at the nutritional profile of bone broths, they started to notice certain elements and nutrients that have been shown to have health benefits in other occurrences. Some clinical studies soon followed, and the evidence began to grow indicating that…
Ford has been hard at work for a couple of years in its Long Beach, Calif., skunk works facility developing an affordable electric pickup. Now, thanks to an announcement Ford made on Thursday, we know it will be called the Fathom and will start at $29,945. The name isn’t all that impressive, subjectively, but it’s the price that we’re really interested in. Ford is clearly seeking to take a big ol’ bite out of Slate’s potential market share in the budget electric truck category. Given the rocky starts that most new car companies go through, the Fathom will probably feel…
After more than two years of litigation, a coalition of Second Amendment groups and advocates have reached a settlement with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department over its policies and practices related to our right to bear arms. California Rifle & Pistol Association, Second Amendment Foundation, Gun Owners of America, Gun Owners of California, and Gun Owners Foundation filed suit against LASD and the city of La Verne in December 2023, alleging that the sheriff’s office was taking well over a year to process concealed carry applications, while La Verne officials were imposing exorbitant fees…
The Trump administration on Thursday announced sanctions on five Cuban entities and eight individuals accused of procuring weapons and military equipment for the Cuban regime from Russia and China, the latest escalation in a months-long campaign targeting the island’s military-run economy. The designations, announced by the State Department, hit companies and officials linked to the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces and to GAESA, the military conglomerate that controls roughly 40% of Cuba’s economy. The action was taken under an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on May 1, 2026, that authorizes sweeping sanctions on Cuba because of government…
It was the Fourth of July in Colorado, and I was about to host the backyard party of the year. Twenty or so friends were on their way for a low-country boil, a delicacy from my home state of Georgia. The volleyball net was up. Camp chairs were arranged for prime spectating. Thirty pounds of corn, shrimp, potatoes, and sausage were ready to hit the pot. But there was an issue: It was well over 85 degrees. The afternoon sun was beating down on my exposed backyard. And the only reprieve (since I didn’t have a slip n’ slide or…
In the Army hierarchy, commissioned officer ranks are structured into three tiers: company grade, field grade and general. Company grade officers, designated in the ranks of O-1 to O-3, form the initial tier. Field grade officers, encompassing pay grades O-4 to O-6, make up the middle level of leadership. General officers are categorized in the pay grades O-7 and above. Commissioned officers, the highest of the Army ranks, wield presidential commissions and undergo Senate confirmation for their respective ranks. Army Officer Ranks and Their Insignia Second Lieutenant (2LT) (O-1) Addressed as “lieutenant” or “second lieutenant.” Typically the entry-level rank for…
Cornell University has added a new rule to its Community Living Standards for the 2026-27 school year: Students can’t process wild game in communal residence hall kitchens. The policy is only one sentence long, but it doesn’t leave much room for creative interpretation. “Processing wild/game animals in community kitchens is strictly prohibited,” the updated standards state. Cornell confirmed the addition was prompted by an incident last September, when two students brought a legally killed black bear into a North Campus residence hall and butchered it in the communal kitchen. A Legal Bear Hunt Ends in a Dorm Kitchen (Photo/Left &…
Montgomery County, Maryland officials are facing three separate legal challenges over several newly-enacted “gun-free zones,” including parks and houses of worship. Now the county’s chief executive has weighed in with his take on the lawsuits filed by the New Civil Liberties Alliance and the Department of Justice. Marc Elrich told reporters on Wednesday that the county will defend its restrictions on lawful carry, and had some choice words for those who are trying to get rid of the victim disarmament zones. “We’re just not going to surrender,” Elrich said. “If we get to a legal point…
From PCS moves to vacations, military families don’t stay put for very long. That’s why they’re always on the lookout for places to stay that offer special deals and discounts while traveling. Here are some great deals for military families to find cheap lodging on the go: Installation Lodging Most military installations offer temporary, space-available lodging for low prices, such as Navy Lodges, Air Force Inns, Army Lodging, Inns of the Corps. These facilities are typically geared toward service members traveling on orders or families who are PCSing. Reservation policies vary between service branches and facilities so call ahead for…
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To enlist in the military, you must take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test and get a good score. In the Space Force, career roles are represented by Space Force Specialty Codes (SFSC). The ASVAB tests your knowledge of basic concepts and skills and produces two main types of scores. One determines which branch of the military you are eligible for (the Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT), and the other determines the specific jobs you are qualified for through lines scores. First, let’s explore what a good ASVAB score is, and what SFSC your scores qualify you for.…
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This article was originally published by Michael Matulef at The Mises Institute. Every July 4th, Americans are handed sparklers and told to celebrate their freedom. Politicians climb podiums, flags wave, a hundred million dollars’ worth of fireworks scatter across the sky, and somewhere between the hot dogs and the stadium-rock anthems, it becomes easy to confuse the theater of freedom with the substance of it. Let’s be precise about what actually happened in 1776. The men who signed the Declaration of Independence were not, by any stretch, anarchists. Many owned slaves. Most had no intention of dissolving the institution of…
The ATF, among the many other rule changes, has been looking at making gun transfers between dealers easier. Basically, what they’re looking to do is update the system with newer technology so that the entire process isn’t rooted in the previous century. Fair enough, right? Well, on Thursday, they announced that the change was being put on pause. Why? They said they were getting a lot of “adverse comments” on it.In the direct final rule entitled, “Licensee “eZ Check” Verification for Transfers” ATF stated that if significant adverse comments were received by June 5 the…
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A series of unclaimed airstrikes that hit Iran after the U.S. said it finished its attacks have again raised questions of who else may be targeting the Islamic Republic. The strikes Thursday, just as Iran prepared to bury the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, hit areas across southern Iran. The country’s theocracy hasn’t directly blamed anyone for the strikes, though one lawmaker issued a warning to the United Arab Emirates over allegedly providing support to the United States in its campaign against Iran. Gulf Arab states, which repeatedly have been targeted by Iran…
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NORFOLK, Va. — The USS Nimitz docked Thursday at Naval Station Norfolk, one of the last steps in its 51 years of commission. The aircraft carrier will remain in Hampton Roads to train Navy sailors and aviators for a year or two before it is officially retired. But its captain said he isn’t convinced this is the finale for the Nimitz. “As I say I might be the last captain, I say this tongue in cheek, I am the third ‘last captain’ of USS Nimitz,” Commanding Officer Joseph Furco said. “The world gets a vote, the U.S. Navy might need…
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If you’ve been on the homestead long, you probably already have plenty of experience canning food from your garden or orchard. I had heard of dry canning but naively thought it was the same as vacuum sealing the mason jar using the valve attachment. While vacuum sealing does remove the air from within the jar, it doesn’t necessarily kill all of the eggs or bugs that could be lurking in your dry goods. As homesteaders, we can all use new techniques to extend our food stock, and dry canning is just one option to use. Dry canning is not a…
The U.S. Coast Guard has started a $32 million airfield reconstruction project in North Carolina. The service is modernizing Runway 1-19 at Base Elizabeth City, in Northeastern North Carolina. In partnership with the contractor RQ Construction, the efforts involve rebuilding the runway, upgrading the taxiways, and installing new airfield lighting. Rear Admiral Zeita Merchant, commander of the Coast Guard East District, speaks during a ground breaking ceremony July 7, 2026, at Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. Credit: (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew Thieme) Base Elizabeth City is an important Coast Guard…
