A federal funding freeze has delayed conservation and infrastructure projects in Joshua Tree, Mojave and Death Valley.

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON, Oct 15 (Reuters) - The order to limit a satellite system used by Ukraine for battlefield communications and drone operations came from inside the White House, according to two US ...

The Normal People author’s determination to support Palestine Action, even if it means that her books are withdrawn from sale in the UK makes a mockery of Britain’s terrorism laws

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Japanese authorities do not engage in espionage in Russia, responding to the detention of Hokkaido Shimbun correspondent Yuki Imai in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.

(The Conversation) — There is no single way to tell the story of the ‘Ramayana.’ People from different religious traditions and cultural backgrounds have reimagined the epic in countless ways.

Under U.S. pressure, Canada, Lithuania, and the EU withdrew sponsorship of a disinformation convening—and left researchers to defend themselves.

Mood: Ready to parry. _Snap-hiss._ It is arguably the most recognized sound effect in cinema history. Ben Burtt, the genius sound designer for _Star Wars_ , created it by recording the idle motor of an old movie projector and mixing it with the electromagnetic hum of a television picture tube. To most people, that sound signifies "Cool Sci-Fi Sword." To me, a blind man living in a world of silent threats, that sound signifies something else entirely. It signifies _Hope_. Here is the thing about weapons in the real world: they are terrifyingly quiet. A gun is just a cold piece of metal that makes no noise until it is too late. A knife is a whisper of air that you don't hear until it touches you. Real violence is silent, sudden, and ambush-based. It is a world of silent alarms and suppressed malice. But a lightsaber? A lightsaber is honest. From the moment it ignites— _psshhh-shhh_ —it announces its existence to the entire room. It says, "I am here. I am dangerous. And I am right _here_." There is a profound safety in that auditory feedback. When a Jedi stands with a lightsaber ignited, the blade emits a constant, low-frequency idle hum. _Vrmmm… vrmmm…_ It is a rhythmic, hypnotic sound. It sounds like a large, mechanical cat purring in your hand. It vibrates. Even through the speakers of my laptop, I can feel the texture of that sound. It has grain. It has weight. For a blind person, this is the ultimate user interface. If I held a lightsaber, I wouldn't need to see the blade to know where it was. The sound design tells me exactly where the danger ends and the safety begins. When you wave it, the pitch constantly fluctuates. That pitch shift gives me precise data on the speed and arc of the swing. I can map the blade’s position in 3D space purely by the rise and fall of that magnetic hum. It is a weapon that grants me total spatial awareness without any extra effort on my part. In the movies, the lightsaber blocks blaster bolts. _Crackle-hiss._ But metaphorically, that hum creates a force field of personal space. It creates a boundary that sings. It pushes the silence back. I often wish the real world was designed by Ben Burtt. Imagine if obstacles in my path emitted a low hum like a lightsaber blade. Imagine if a flight of stairs announced itself with a distinct, static crackle. Imagine if bad intentions had a thrumming audio frequency. We live in a world that prizes silence. Engines are getting quieter (electric cars are terrifying stealth missiles to the blind). Technology is sleek and soundless. People are passive-aggressive and quiet. The lightsaber rejects all of that. It is a "force" in the truest sense—a presence that vibrates the air and demands to be acknowledged. So when I watch _Star Wars_ , I can't wait to hear that first _HISS_ A Lightsaber demonstrates to the world what the world could be if the world were designed for other people instead of immediate needs. Perhaps that's why so few actually listen to Lightsabers. They are scared of what their design reveals about the selfishness of the powerful. If you enjoyed this observation, you might enjoy Star Wars: Eyes Like Stars: A Star Wars Romance Novel by Ashley Poston

Kash Patel has spent almost a decade using Russian disinformation to try to frame Trump's adversaries -- first Hillary Clinton, then Jim Comey. That means, when Kash goes to Russia this week, they will have enormous leverage over the FBI Director. Because they know his secret. The post Kash Patel Colluded with Russian Spies to Frame Jim Comey, and He Probably Will Again appeared first on emptywheel.

On righteous anger, stone hearts, and how to turn this hash into hash browns

Massachusetts native 📍 | Your guide to local activism & staying loud ✊✨ Democracy is a verb ✨

A history of the Evil One, from the earliest times to the present.

Trump disclosed 517 August trades, including up to $5 million in debt from SpaceX, a major Pentagon contractor and NASA launch provider.

Simon Andriesz reflected on the impact of his speaking out in his final post on X. "The personal consequences of whistleblowing, and the retaliation I say followed, have been devastating for my family and me," Andriesz wrote.

Christian History Institute (CHI) provides church history resources and self-study material and publishes the quarterly Christian History Magazine. Our aim is to make Christian history enjoyable and applicable to the widest possible audience.

I am in hospice care and reflecting a lot on what a good life is.

There is outrage from advocates and survivors in Worcester after the Massachusetts attorney general released a report detailing a lengthy investigation into child sexual abuse across three Catholic dioceses.