The patriarch of a right-wing Canadian family of eight had just about enough of the gay people existing in his country. "We didn't feel safe for our children there in the future anymore. There's a lot of left-wing ideology, LGBTQ, trans, just a lot of things that we don't agree with that they teach there now, and we wanted to get away from that for our children."

So mom and dad sold everything they had to move to sunny Russia to raise their kids in "orthodox" values. They also gladly took donations on their social media platform from fellow right-wingers so they could live in Putin's wonderland. They did all of this just three weeks ago, and Russian officials assured them that they would work with them to get them established, and even help them get a farm. Long story short, they lived happily ever after. Except they didn't.
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First off, the Russian bank where they moved their funds immediately froze their assets. The amount of money seemed suspicious, as I guess it would since most Russians outside of Putin's circle are dirt poor. As a result, the family doesn't have money to live on, and those nice Russian officials disappeared.

Since no one in the family speaks Russian they've had a bear of a time trying to argue for their money since Russia doesn't require any bank, or any business, to hire English translators. In the meantime, they discovered that Russia is a pretty damn miserable place to be right now.

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Down 2 percent from last year, and 5 straight years of decline. The calf crop is at its lowest since 1948. Prices for beef will remain stable for now, but are expected to rise in the Fall. Feed usage is up for now, but expected to fall, affecting farmers who count on supplying cattle with feed.
Not linking, the Iowa Farm Bureau Spokesman doesn't make that easy. Their article does not give reasons as to why farmers are not holding herd size stable, or increasing herd size. I believe 6 months or so ago when the last US herd report was released prolonged drought was blamed as the principle reason for the declines.

Bundestag votes in favor of legalizing cannabis consumption

"German lawmakers have approved the partial legalization of cannabis in the country.

407 parliamentarians voted in favor of the legislation put forward by the ruling coalition, comprising Chancellor Olaf Scholz's center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD), the business-focused Free Democratic Party and the environmentalist Greens.

226 lawmakers rejected the bill. Four MPs abstained.

The governing parties say the new law will facilitate the responsible use of cannabis as it calls for limited legal availability of the drug with numerous rules, regulations and restrictions.

Germans are deeply divided over the measure, with a YouGov poll showing that about 47% of the respondents somewhat or completely in favor of it while 42% of them somewhat or completely rejecting."

So I've shared a little on here that I'm currently working 4 jobs in an effort to purchase a small businesses by 2027. I've also always had the "the average millionaire has 7 streams of income" in the back of my head. Outside of traditional, I work for a wage, type income, what are other ways you have found to bring income in? I imagine there are landowners and home renters here but know little about it other than my father owns a few rental houses in the dirty D. Anyone have good passive income types?

Iowa football is prioritizing the 2025 recruiting class right now with spring visits right around the corner.

But who are some 2026 and 2027 recruits Hawkeyes fans should keep an eye on? A few familiar names here.

Premium:

LOLOLOLOL... Bwahahahahaha... Bwahahahaha... lol lol lol... Bwahahaha... These people on the (what used to be extreme but now are mainstream) right are so precious in their victimhood... Bless their unchristian hearts

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It’s getting tough out there for the poor folks who have never faced systemic inequality but desperately want to feel oppressed. That’s why America First Legal — a conservative legal group led by Stephen Miller, a former adviser to former President Trump — is claiming that NASCAR is actually racist against white American men. That’s a first!

America First Legal (AFL) is asking the EEOC to investigate NASCAR and Rev Racing for “illegal discrimination against White, male Americans,” per a Bloomberg Law report. NASCAR founded something called the Drive For Diversity program back in 2004 where the whole goal has been to offer opportunities to marginalized communities.

Deplorable:
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is trying to shut down a Catholic nonprofit organization in El Paso based on allegations that the group may be facilitating illegal immigration, harboring immigrants who entered the country illegally, and engaging in human smuggling.

Paxton filed a lawsuit against the nonprofit Annunciation House, which has operated in the state for nearly 50 years. The lawsuit asks the District Court of El Paso County to revoke the organization’s nonprofit registration, which would prohibit it from continuing to operate in Texas.

“The chaos at the southern border has created an environment where [nongovernmental organizations] funded with taxpayer money from the Biden administration facilitate astonishing horrors including human smuggling,” Paxton said in a statement. “While the federal government perpetuates the lawlessness destroying this country, my office works day-in and day-out to hold these organizations responsible for worsening illegal immigration.”

In response to the lawsuit, Annunciation House issued a statement that called Paxton’s actions “illegal, immoral, and anti-faith” and his allegations “unfounded.” According to the statement, the organization has “provided hospitality to hundreds of thousands of refugees for over [46] years” and that if its activities are illegal, “so too is the work of our local hospitals, schools, and food banks.”



“Annunciation House has kept hundreds of thousands of refugees coming through our city off the streets and [has] given them food,” the statement read. “The work helps serve our local businesses, our city, and immigration officials to keep people off the streets and give them a shelter while they come through our community.”

The attorney general’s office first approached Annunciation House on Feb. 7 of this year with concerns that it may be facilitating illegal immigration. Paxton’s office ordered the nonprofit to immediately turn over various documents and records to examine whether it is engaged in illegal activities.

Annunciation House’s lawyers requested 30 days to respond, but the attorney general’s office refused. Rather, Paxton’s office informed the organization that if it did not provide the requested documents by Feb. 8, which was the following day, that it would “be in noncompliance.”

Annunciation House quickly filed a lawsuit against the attorney general’s office on Feb. 8, which argues that the demand violates the nonprofit’s right to due process. In its public statement, Annunciation House stated that it wants the court to decide which documents the attorney general’s office is legally entitled to receive.

“There is nothing illegal about asking a court to decide a person’s rights,” the statement read. “The [attorney general’s office] has now made explicit that its real goal is not records but to shut down the organization. It has stated that it considers it a crime for a Catholic organization to provide shelter to refugees.”

A spokesperson for Annunciation House declined to speak about the lawsuit when reached by CNA but said the organization will hold a news conference on Friday, Feb. 23.





When contacted by CNA about Annunciation House’s response to the legal action, the attorney general’s office referred back to Paxton’s original statement.

WHO: Indiana Hoosiers (21-4 Overall, 12-3 Big Ten)
WHEN: 7:00 PM CT (Thursday, February 22, 2024)
WHERE: Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall (Bloomington, Indiana)
TV: https://www.peacocktv.com/watch/home
RADIO: Hawkeye Radio Network
ONLINE: https://www.peacocktv.com/watch/home
MOBILE: https://www.peacocktv.com/watch/home
FOLLOW: @IowaAwesome | @IowaWBB | @IowaonBTN

It's late February now and it's still not clear how good Indiana is this season. Coming into the week, the Hoosiers only had three losses and they had come against #2 Ohio State, #3 Stanford, and #4 Iowa. The losses to Stanford and Iowa were 32- and 27-point losses, respectively, but each can be explained to an extent. The Stanford game was Indiana's first road game and just the second game of the season. Against Iowa, Indiana didn't actually make it to Iowa City until the day of the game, and the game itself was in doubt for days due to a winter storm.

On the other hand, Indiana's best victory is over #25 Princeton. After that, the Hoosiers' two best victories are over Nebraska and Michigan State, teams projected as a seven seed and and eight seed in ESPN's latest Bracketology. The Hoosiers' best argument at this point for being a Top 16 team--and the right to host the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament--is their lack of bad losses, not their quality wins.

That argument was itself disrupted on Monday as the Hoosiers were clobbered 86-66 by an Illinois team that entered the game with a 12-12 record. The Illini are a better team than their record might indicate, but Indiana was also down double digits for most of the game.

Thursday's matchup against Iowa could go a long way in proving just how good Indiana is this season. The Hoosiers finally get to face a Top 10 team at home. A win would give the Hoosiers their best win of the season and show that they deserve to host the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament as a Top 4 seed. A close loss would sting, but keep Indiana in the discussion to host. A blowout loss might end the Hoosiers' hosting hopes.

More here: https://iowa.rivals.com/news/preview-no-4-iowa-wbb-at-no-14-indiana

I remember a time in Iowa, when you received 10 years in the pen with no ifs, ands or buts for breaking into someone's house.

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Truck and car horns blared as they drove laps Wednesday around the Iowa Capitol complex as union members and advocates rallied in opposition to a proposal that would impact Iowa public workers’ collective bargaining rights.



Two semis emblazoned with graphics for the Teamsters union were a part of the caravan of at least two dozen vehicles that circled the complex for roughly an hour, and an Iowa Teamsters leader addressed reporters on the Capitol steps.


The proposed legislation, Senate File 2374, would decertify a public worker collective bargaining unit if the public employer fails to submit to the state a list of union-eligible workers.




Labor advocates have called it a “union-busting” bill because it places bargaining units’ fate in the hands of the employer. Union members compare the proposal with a 2017 law that stripped Iowa public workers of most of their collective bargaining rights.


“When things aren’t broke, don’t fix it,” Jesse Case, secretary-treasurer and principal officer of Teamsters Local 238 in Iowa, said during his remarks to reporters. “The public sector bargaining law wasn’t broken in 2017, and they broke it. And now they want to break it some more. Well guess what: we’ve had enough.”




The Teamsters union has six local chapters in Iowa, Case said, representing roughly 12,000 members in law enforcement, freight, warehouses, county road crews, public works and school bus drivers.


Shortly after the new legislation was introduced, Case recorded a video in which he said Teamsters unions may engage in “rolling” strikes. During Wednesday’s events at the Iowa Capitol, Case said Teamsters members also are considering other options.





Case claimed that some Teamsters members across the state have been working while technically off-duty, and as an example said some public workers are answering work calls even though they are off the clock and not on-call. Case said if state lawmakers pass the latest legislation on collective bargaining, unions will tell those public workers, for example, to stop taking those off-duty calls.


“Our members are not obligated to go above and beyond the call of duty while they’re under attack” from lawmakers, Case said. “And I’m telling you right now, the next time that there’s a union-busting bill signed into law, people across the state will start feeling the effects of service.”

Anybody watch the first episode tonight?

Thought it was pretty good, by first take, it looks to be much better than second season.

Smaller government, fewer regulations, pro-parents’ rights conservatives are trying to make it illegal for people under 16 to have social media accounts.

Of course.

Certified babe.

For those who don't speak Russian, "запретный" means forbidden according to my translation app. For those who have Putin as their new overlord, you likely didn't need explanation. Just a reminder that Russia is still our enemy and would do anything it could to squash the U.S.A.

He gives me the creeps

...to murder a woman.

An American icon in bun form, the cheeseburger beckons in countless variations. But with so many contenders, where do you find the ultimate melty masterpiece?

We've scoured the nation, state by state, to unearth the most popular, well-rated, and downright beloved cheeseburgers out there.

So step up your travel game and get ready to embark on a coast-to-coast burger odyssey.

Iowa: Short’s Burger & Shine
If you want something a bit more upscale, Short’s Burger & Shine offers a gourmet menu alongside craft beers.
Everything is made local with fresh ingredients, including the 18 South Clinton, a simple option with lettuce, tomatoes, and pickles that you can then add a special sauce to for a bit more.
Choose from cheese sauce, blue cheese spread, mango jalapeno, and many others.


I'm gonna have to disagree, while Shorts does make a mean burger it is far from the best in the State of Iowa.

MSN

Illinois doesn't think so. They propose doctors should get a free pass.

Even worse, they want to make it illegal for parents to not provide gender affirming care.

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Trump pledges that as president he would immediately launch “the largest domestic deportation operation in American history.” As a model, he points to an Eisenhower-era program known as “Operation Wetback,” using a derogatory slur for Mexican migrants. The operation used military tactics to round up and remove migrant workers, sometimes transporting them in dangerous conditions that led to some deaths. Former administration officials and policy experts said staging an even larger operation today would face a bottleneck in detention space — a problem that Trump adviser Stephen Miller and other allies have proposed addressing by building mass deportation camps.

Read more at: https://www.stripes.com/theaters/us...wye3nEm6aLoc5ituo69IHrLZQllPHHyCvwfsF27E93Dq0
Source - Stars and Stripes

Didn't think I'd see that this season

MD guy drives the ball to the hoop, past Chuckie Hepburn, but CH pushes his body out a bit to initiate a brush of contact and then throws his body back and ref calls a charge.

Utterly horrible call. Even Bardo said so.