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MOST PEOPLE believe humans are different. The reason is that Homo sapiens has evolved to be conscious. Many animals feel pain and pleasure; some appear to be self-aware. But the human mind’s unique potential to exhibit a sense of self marks out every member of the species for special treatment. In his encyclical in May, Pope Leo upheld this insight by drawing a line between humanity and its growing army of bots. Artificial-intelligence systems, he said, do not undergo experiences or feel joy or pain. He is not alone. Many people feel that to confer personhood on AIs would be...

...For 2025, we brought it down by more than a percent. ...

Transport for London has clarified that comedian Ricky Gervais never submitted controversial advertisements for his vodka brand featuring references to stab vests for approval to run in the city's transport network. The clarification came after Gervais posted images of the advertisements on social media on October 31, 2025, claiming they had been rejected by authorities.

A man dressed as the iconic “Star Wars” villain Darth Vader on Wednesday appeared to defend the use of Flock cameras before the San Diego City Council, assuring that “this is what the emperor needs.” The man approached the podium to address the Public Safety and Livable Neighborhoods Committee meeting, with the character’s signature breathing audible to the council chamber’s microphone. The council addressed him as “Darth Vader.” “This is what the emperor needs. This technology will help us find the rebel scum and the hidden base on Hoth,” the man said, referring to the ice planet from “The Empire...

https://x.com/MelissaRedpill/status/2090215457005391960 Brian Cates - Political Columnist & Pundit repostedMelissa Redpill@MelissaRedpill·23hHUUUGESomething big is about to happen with deportations in America. You should be ready for this…I just spoke with a senior DHS official. They shared deportation numbers with me that frankly stunned me.+27,000 deportations. Last week.+3,600 a day average.Tracking for 1.4 million deportations across the calendar year.+69,000 illegals are in DHS jails waiting to be deported at this moment.And you haven’t heard a blip about it in the corporate press. Why? My DHS source says “stealth tactics.”“We’re everywhere in every major city. We tell no one. Plain clothes. Beat up old...

A Greek woman named Phryne became an iconic figure in ancient Athens, remembered for the extraordinary moment when her beauty purportedly saved her life. Not many people in history can claim that they were so close to being imprisoned, or worse, executed for something they had committed, but whose beauty saved their lives, but this was the case for the ancient Greek woman. Phryne’s life in the shadow of impiety in ancient Athens Phryne lived in Athens during the fourth century BC. She was born in Thespiae in Boeotia around 371 BC before moving to Athens, ancient Greece’s epicenter. The...

Darth Vader comes out in favor of Flock cameras ...

Archaeologists in Egypt have uncovered new evidence that could help pinpoint a long-lost ancient city along a military route, with possible ties to the biblical Exodus. The discovery was announced by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities on August 15. The excavation centered on Tell Abu Seifi, an ancient fortified site in northeastern Egypt near the Sinai Peninsula that archaeologists believe may be the long-lost city of Mesen.

Looking for Film DvD Bluray recommendations. Life is hard right now and I am looking for immersive films and shows that aren't too treacle sweet but have a bit of depth. Not violent, complex is good. Nice is good. My beloved Morse trilogy has worked, Gentlemen prefer Blonds, Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend, Harvey, the original All Creatures Great and Small, the Poiot series, Babbetes Feast, Primer, Signs, singing in the Rain, It happened one night,Mrs Miniver, Blast From the Pat, Galexy Quest, Christmas in Connecticut, An ebayer is trying to screw me over by having sent me the...

Plus: Why Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers are guilty, and why Shohei Ohtani is not Jason Russell | 8.18.2026 10:25 AM Has any famous athlete ever had such an unnecessary public relations fumble as Jayden Daniels' demand that LSU stop using his name, image, and likeness (NIL)? The Commanders quarterback is getting relentlessly mocked online by almost everyone—not just random people online, but even professional teams in other leagues. Examples if you click below: New York Mets @Mets Stopped at 4 out of respect for Jayden Daniels #LGM #MetsWin NFL Drop @TheNFLDrop Five Guys has changed their name to Four...

WASHINGTON — They’re a shady bunch. A California family that swindled $18 million in COVID-19 relief cash to splurge on various trappings — including a Harley-Davidson, diamonds and luxury homes — inspired a Senate crackdown on so-called “fraudster families.” Two of the family members, Richard Ayvazyan and his wife, Marietta Terabelian, cut off their ankle bracelets and ditched their three children via a goodbye note to flee the US after being convicted on fraud charges, before being caught in Montenegro. Years later, the saga inspired Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), who has led the Senate DOGE Caucus, to push for legislation...

Explanation: Like an illustration in a galactic Just So Story, the Elephant's Trunk Nebula winds through the emission region and young star cluster complex IC 1396, in the high and far off constellation of Cepheus. Also known as vdB 142, this cosmic elephant's trunk is over 20 light-years long. The detailed telescopic view features the bright swept-back ridges and pockets of cool interstellar dust and gas that abound in the region. But the dark, tendril-shaped clouds contain the raw material for star formation and hide protostars within. Nearly 3,000 light-years distant, the relatively faint IC 1396 complex covers a large...

In the second century A.D., Roman emperor Hadrian commissioned a temple dedicated to the gods. To this day, the Pantheon still possesses the largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world. How do these ancient Roman concrete structures withstand the test of time? Well, superior engineering for one. For example, skilled artisans used lighter aggregates higher in the Pantheon's dome. Roman seawalls owe their extreme longevity in part to their “self-healing” capacity. Exposure to seawater facilitated the continued growth of crystalline structures in the concrete. Researchers have also focused on volcanic ash as a secret to the durability of Roman concrete...

Latest news from the Iran conflict. Tousi TV now broadcasting from the temporary studio in South Florida.

Lindsey Austen received an alert that a drone was approaching her home in Richmond on Monday – prompting her to excitedly run outside to see it. Austen told Storyful it was the first time one of her packages had been dropped off by the flying robot. She began recording before the drop-off turned out to be a total disaster. Footage showed the drone hovering high above her pool in her backyard, making tons of noise as the propellers kept it in the air before a hatch opened, releasing her package. 'Oh my god,' Austen said in shock. The drone dropped...

Wirskye also shared texts in which Anthony expressed being “on the verge” and fantasized about stabbing someone and licking the blood from the blade. The prosecutor told the court that Anthony’s girlfriend, Valeria Perez, went to school officials that very morning and reported that she had broken up with him and that he was stalking her. Roughly one hour later, Metcalf was stabbed to death under the Memorial High School tent at David Kuykendall Stadium. He died in his twin brother's arms. Text messages recovered from that morning show Anthony writing “I’m low key on the verge,” a statement Wirskye...

After most of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus’ top legislative goals failed this year, Rep. Rachel Williams, who heads the hard-line conservative group, told reporters they needed “reinforcements in Cheyenne.” On Tuesday, the caucus failed to reach that goal, instead losing majority control in the House and backsliding in the Senate. The caucus, which officially formed in 2020, won majority control of the House for the first time in 2024. But when most of its top legislative goals fizzled in the 2026 budget session, the group’s leadership blamed the failure on lacking a supermajority in the House and insufficient support in...

Conor Kennedy, son of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., was placed on Russia's wanted list over allegations he fought as a mercenary for Ukraine. Kennedy, 32, could face seven to 10 years in prison if convicted in Russia. "When I heard about Ukraine's International Legion, I went to the embassy to enlist the next day," Conor Kennedy spent about 2½ months in Ukraine before returning to the United States and resuming his law studies at Georgetown University.

Five teenage boys have died and four people have been taken to hospital following a two-vehicle crash in County Kildare. The collision occurred on the M9 Northbound at Junction 3 at about 03:00 local time on Sunday. Gardaí said the bodies of the five teenage boys, all occupants of one vehicle, have now been removed from the scene and taken to Naas General Hospital where post-mortem examinations will take place. They said the vehicle had been travelling on the wrong side of the carriageway when a head on collision occurred with a second car. The driver and front passenger, both...