Free Republic

Hogzilla or Jaws? More humans are killed annually by wild pigs than by sharks, a startling new study reveals. By slice, puncture, hook, and gouge, the global number of fatalities from wild pig attacks is rising by the decade. Between 2014 and 2023, the average yearly number of fatal shark attacks worldwide was 5.8, while the average number of fatal wild pig attacks was 19.7. In 2024 alone, there have already been seven deaths from wild pig incidents. According to groundbreaking research published in 2023, the number of humans killed by wild pig attacks steadily climbed from 2000 to 2019,...

Data released Wednesday by Weedmaps revealed that New York consumers spent more on their individual cannabis purchases than in other markets. The average order value for New Yorkers on orders placed through the platform outstripped than the national average by more than 50% during the first quarter of 2024 ($123.16 in New York vs. $80.78 nationally). In addition, New York has a 6% higher basket size through Weedmaps vs. the national average in the same period (2.35 items vs. 2.22 national). Another difference between New Yorkers and national cannabis shoppers: New Yorkers prefer in-store shopping versus delivery.

June 12 (UPI) -- Firefighters in California conducted an unusual rescue when a crow spotted struggling high up in a tree turned out to be entangled in sewing thread. The Orange County Fire Authority said Truck 56 responded to a report of a bird in distress near the top of a Ladera Ranch tree on Tuesday. Firefighters ascended the ladder and discovered the distressed crow was entangled in sewing thread. The Fire Authority shared a video of the rescue on social media. "We can't translate what the crow is saying, but we do know the kids' cheers mean they are...

NATIONAL CUCUMBER DAY Today is June 14 and National Cucumber Day at National Day Calendar and we are enjoying fresh cucumbers all day long! Join us as we crunch on this crisp summer favorite and enjoy the fruits of summer. #NATIONALCUCUMBERDAY You can almost taste the crisp, watery goodness of a cucumber during the summer months. With fresh fruits and vegetables at our fingertips, we feel very little guilt indulging in this salad favorite. Whether we grow them in our garden or purchase them at a local farmers market, we love the freshness a cucumber adds to our diets. Most...

Some bugs are eating on my son's pumpkin plants in the backyard. They are getting sun and some shade to cool part of the day. Temps here are about 90 but with shade and a little breeze it's been nice so far this season. Is there some chemical to spray on them that keeps bugs off but doesn't hurt the plants?

NATIONAL JERKY DAY National Jerky Day on June 12 celebrates the rich history, immense popularity, and nutritional benefits of dried meat snacks known as jerky. On this food holiday, we are going to share some information for you to chew on. #NationalJerkyDay This nutrient-dense meat is made lightweight by drying. A pound of meat or poultry will weigh only about four ounces after transforming it into jerky. Properly prepared jerky can be stored for months without refrigeration because the drying process removes most of the moisture. Salt added to the meat before the drying process begins helps to prevent bacteria...

June 11 (UPI) -- The Utah Department of Transportation said it was a "melon-choly" morning on Interstate 80 when a truck spilled its load of watermelons into the roadway. The department shared photos on social media showing the sticky mess of smashed watermelons littering the roadway near Echo Reservoir in Summit County on Monday. A photo shows the semi truck that was carrying the melons with the side torn off of its trailer. It was not clear how the damage occurred. "It was a melon-choly morning on I-80 today," officials wrote. "At 3 a.m. our team learned of this fruity...

Idaho farmers are in danger of having their water shut off. The water shutoff order affects half a million acres of farmland and about 6,400 people who use the water. Without water, their farmland is worthless. The state of Idaho has put a water curtailment order, which is basically a water shutoff order on literally a half million acres of farmland. ‌ Many farming this land have already invested in thousands of acres, thousands of dollars per acre, to grow potatoes. It’s too late for them to survive without water. Why is the water being cut off? Essentially, this curtailment...

TV shows like Yellowstone and Longmire and stars like Beyonce have helped to make cowboy fashion popular again. That's good for Wyoming stores as tourists are spending big money on hats, art and all things western. Steam flies at a busy Kemo Sabe store in Jackson, where workers are putting the right shape on hats for waiting customers. (Renee Jean, Cowboy State Daily) JACKSON — Mary Sullivan of Colorado says she’s not normally one to “pull the trigger” on an ultra-expensive cowboy hat, but last weekend she was one of dozens of customers swarming the Western-chic Kemo Sabe hat shop....

Few things are as refreshing—or nutritious—on a warm summer day as a tall glass of cold milk. With essential nutrients like calcium, potassium and vitamin A, plus protein to help build and repair muscle tissue, milk is a great choice for many active people. Even more exciting are the foods made from milk: a slice of cheese temptingly melted over a grilled hamburger or a dish of ice cream providing the perfect summer dessert. No wonder the dairy industry chose June as the perfect month to celebrate dairy foods and the family dairy farms that produce them. What Is National...

Americans nibble their way through more than 3 million tons of chocolate each year, savoring the aromatic bitterness that only the seeds of the cacao plant can deliver. To make the signature flavor palatable as a sweet treat, chocolate manufacturers combine a paste made from cacao seeds with sugar. Lots and lots of sugar – often enough to rival all the other ingredients combined, in fact. Together with significant amounts of saturated fatty acids, provided by the addition of cocoa butter from the fruit, the few health benefits provided by the chocolate bean are swamped by ingredients that increase the...

NATIONAL MOONSHINE DAY On June 5 we toast National Moonshine Day to recognize a beverage with a notorious record of blurring the lines of history and the law, turning ordinary men (and women) into criminals and common criminals into legends. Follow along as we discuss how the history is just as strong as the drink. #NationalMoonshineDay Traditionally, moonshine is an illegally distilled whiskey spirit mostly made from a corn mash and typically produced by an individual illegally without a permit. Also known as white lightning, mountain dew, homebrew, hillbilly pop, rotgut, and moonshine has served as a means for people...

NATIONAL CHEESE DAY Moooove over whiners! June 4th is National Cheese Day! An encyclopedia of cheese will cover the alphabet and broaden your vocabulary. It will undoubtedly contain more varieties of cheese than what's found at the local grocer. #NationalCheeseDay Cheese is produced from the pressed curds of milk. The milk can come from cows, buffalo, goats, or sheep. Temperature and aging affect the flavor and texture of the cheese, as well as spices and other seasonings added during the process. The opportunity to go to a cheese tasting or visit a cheesemonger who is knowledgeable about pairings will improve...

The MONTHLY Gardening Thread is a gathering of folks that love soil, seeds and plants of all kinds. From complete newbies that are looking to start that first potted plant, to gardeners with some acreage, to Master Gardener level and beyond, we would love to hear from you. If you have specific question about a plant/problem you are having, please remember to state the Growing Zone where you are located. This thread is a non-political respite. No matter what, you won’t be flamed, and the only dumb question is the one that isn’t asked. It is impossible to hijack the...

Scientists hope the study of it and other giant genomes will shed light on species resilience. The New Caledonian fork fern (Tmesipteris oblanceolate) possesses the largest genome yet found. ORIANE HIDALGO ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The human genome is made up of 3 billion base pairs of DNA. But that’s nothing compared with the New Caledonian fork fern (Tmesipteris oblanceolate), a leafy, tendrilled plant native to several Pacific islands. Its genome contains an astonishing 160 billion base pairs, making it the largest genome ever discovered, researchers report today in iScience. The finding could help scientists understand how genomes grow so large, and how...

May 30 (UPI) -- Traffic on a pair of California highways turned into a jam when a truck loaded with strawberries overturned, dropping barrels of the fruit into the road. The California Highway Patrol said the overturned truck, carrying about 40,000 pounds of fruit, blocked the northbound connector ramps to Highway 101 and Interstate 880 in San Jose on Wednesday morning and was leaning over a guardrail. The ramps were closed as crews worked to lift the truck upright and remove the fallen barrels of strawberries. No injuries were reported from the crash or ensuing traffic jams on both highways....

(Best USA Beef)—In mid-2022, we set up a news alert for terms like “cricket protein” and “cricket burgers.” Since then, there have been occasional peaks with a whole lot of valleys in interest as Americans generally aren’t excited about the prospects of getting their necessary protein from bugs. There was a spike that started shortly after news broke that bird flu was being transmitted to cattle. On the surface this makes sense, but it was conspicuously odd that there was no spike when bird flu was limited to poultry. Surely Americans would be concerned about their sources of protein whether...

NATIONAL COQ AU VIN DAY Each year on May 29th, National Coq Au Vin Day celebrates a delicious French dish. Coq au vin is French braise of chicken, cooked with wine, lardons (salt pork), mushrooms, and garlic. #NationalCoqAuVinDay A French staple, Coq au vin translates to “rooster with wine.” It’s a rustic, peasant-style dish that is easy to serve when entertaining because a lot of the work can be done in advance. And since we all celebrated National Wine Day just a few days ago, you might be prepared and have an extra bottle on hand just for this recipe....

Founded in 2020 by National Day Calendar® and National Cattlemen's Beef Association. NATIONAL BEEF BURGER DAY If you hear a sizzle and your mouth begins to water, it just might be National Beef Burger Day! On May 28th and all summer long, there's no better time to enjoy a juicy beef burger. The day is all about kicking off the grilling season and honoring America's favorite grilling protein – beef! #NationalBeefBurgerDay A beef burger starts with real ground beef on a bun or between two slices of bread. And don't forget the toppings like cheese, onions, pickles, and condiments. Each...

Glenn told us we were going to eat bugs, and here we are... If you live anywhere between Texarkana and Chicago, you have likely already seen—or heard—about the 2024 cicada superbrood. This Biblical-scale insect invasion is the result of two cicada broods, Brood XIII and Brood XIX, emerging simultaneously. The last time something like this happened was in 1803. Trillions of cicadas will swarm out of the earth and fill the trees with a chorus of deafening buzzing. It didn't take long for the leftist elites to hop on this opportunity to push Klaus Schwab's dream: "eat the bugs." The...