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  • Did Mitch McConnell vote against sick leave during 4 separate years?

    Did Mitch McConnell vote against sick leave during 4 separate years?

    Ball, Karen. “Clinton Puts Family Leave Bill into Law.” The Free Lance-Star [Fredericksburg, Virginia], 5 Feb. 1993, p. A1, https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-free-lance-star/203536399/.

    Burkes, Paula. “Pending Law Would Provide Families Paid Sick Leave, Expanded FMLA.” The Oklahoman [Oklahoma City, Oklahoma], with Kristin Simpsen, 17 Mar. 2020, p. B5, https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-oklahoman/203546459/.

    Buttigieg, Pete, and Julie A. Su. “S1 Signed.” U.S. Department of Transportation, 25 Sept. 2024, https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/2024-09/Blank_DOT%20%26%20%20DOL%20Letter%20-RR%20Paid%20Sick%20Time%209.25.24.pdf.

    “Congress on 2-Week Recess.” Peninsula Daily News [Port Angeles-Sequim-West End, Washington], 30 Mar. 2015, p. A5, https://www.newspapers.com/article/peninsula-daily-news/203540559/.

    C-SPAN. https://www.c-span.org/.

    DeFazio, Peter A. “H.Con.Res.119 – Providing for a Correction in the Enrollment of H.J. Res. 100.” United States Congress, 117th Congress (2021-2022), 1 Dec. 2022, https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-concurrent-resolution/119.

    Enzi, Michael B. “S.Con.Res.11 – An Original Concurrent Resolution Setting Forth the Congressional Budget for the United States Government for Fiscal Year 2016 and Setting Forth the Appropriate Budgetary Levels for Fiscal Years 2017 through 2025.” United States Congress, 114th Congress (2015-2016), https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-concurrent-resolution/11.

    “February 5, 1993: Remarks at the Signing of the Family Medical Leave Act | Miller Center.” Miller Center, 5 Feb. 1993, https://millercenter.org/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/february-5-1993-remarks-signing-family-medical-leave-act.

    Jalonick, Mary Clare. “McConnell Returns to the Senate for the First Time since His June Hospitalization.” The Associated Press, 14 Sept. 2026, https://apnews.com/article/mitch-mcconnell-senate-return-abe03e84e30a174da4076385692b5751.

    Jalonick, Mary Clare. “McConnell Says a Fall Led to His Hospitalization, Breaking Weeks of Silence about Health Condition.” The Associated Press, 12 July 2026, https://apnews.com/article/mitch-mcconnell-hospitalized-fall-health-senate-d708e9a1f18763fbb961fd3879227ce3.

    Kertscher, Tom. ‘Bernie Sanders Stated on November 29, 2022 in an Interview: In the First Three Quarters of 2022, “the Railroad Industry Made $21 Billion in Profits, Provided $25 Billion in Stock Buybacks and Dividends” and CEOs Are Paid up to $20 Million a Year, While Railroad Workers Have “Zero Guaranteed Sick Leave.”‘ PolitiFact, 8 Dec. 2022, https://politifact.com/factchecks/2022/dec/08/bernie-sanders/bernie-sanders-correct-railroads-net-billions-vast/.

    Kertscher, Tom. “Fact Check: Railroad Workers Had ‘zero Guaranteed Sick Leave’ as Industry Made $21B in Profits.” Houston Chronicle, PolitiFact, 12 Dec. 2022, https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/politifact/article/Fact-check-Railroad-workers-had-zero-guaranteed-17643343.php.

    Legum, Judd, et al. “McConnell, out Sick for Two Months, Voted against Medical Leave 23 Times since 1985.” Popular Information, 13 Aug. 2026, https://popular.info/p/mcconnell-out-sick-for-two-months.

    Lowey, Nita M. “H.R.6201 – Families First Coronavirus Response Act.” United States Congress, 116th Congress (2019-2020), 18 Mar. 2020, https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/6201.

    McConnell, Mitch. “Trimming the Budget Fat.” The Tribune-Courier [Benton, Kentucky], 20 Jan. 1993, p. 9A, https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-trib-marshall-county-tribune-courie/203538750/.

    McLeod, Paul. “Mitch McConnell Successfully Blocked Mandatory Paid Leave For Workers With COVID.” BuzzFeed News, 22 Dec. 2020, https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/paulmcleod/paid-sick-leave-ends-coronavirus-mcconnell.

    Murray, Patty. “DEFICIT-NEUTRAL RESERVE FUND FOR LEGISLATION TO ALLOW AMERICANS TO EARN PAID SICK TIME.” United States Congress, CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE, 25 Mar. 2015, https://www.congress.gov/114/crec/2015/03/25/161/50/CREC-2015-03-25-pt1-PgS1929-5.pdf.

    ———. “PAID SICK TIME AND PAID LEAVE.” United States Congress, CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE, 18 Mar. 2020, https://www.congress.gov/116/crec/2020/03/18/166/52/CREC-2020-03-18-pt1-PgS1808-3.pdf.

    Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/.

    “On Passage of the Bill (H.R. 1, As Amended ).” United States Senate, 103rd Congress – 1st Session, 4 Feb. 1993, https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1031/vote_103_1_00011.htm.

    “On Passage of the Bill (H.R. 6201).” United States Senate, 116th Congress – 2nd Session, 18 Mar. 2020, https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1162/vote_116_2_00076.htm.

    “On the Amendment (Murray Amdt. No. 798).” United States Senate, 114th Congress – 1st Session, 26 Mar. 2015, https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1141/vote_114_1_00098.htm.

    “On the Amendment (Murray Amdt. No.1559).” United States Senate, 116th Congress – 2nd Session, 18 Mar. 2020, https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1162/vote_116_2_00074.htm.

    “On the Concurrent Resolution (H.Con.Res. 119).” United States Senate, 117th Congress – 2nd Session, 1 Dec. 2022, https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1172/vote_117_2_00371.htm.

    Payne, Donald M. “H.J.Res.100 – To Provide for a Resolution with Respect to the Unresolved Disputes between Certain Railroads Represented by the National Carriers’ Conference Committee of the National Railway Labor Conference and Certain of Their Employees.” United States Congress, 117th Congress (2021-2022), 2 Dec. 2022, https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-joint-resolution/100/all-actions.

    Pecorin, Allison. “Sen. Mitch McConnell Announces He Has Been Discharged from Rehab Facility.” ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026, https://abcnews.com/Politics/mcconnell-discharged-rehab-facility/story?id=135434047.

    “Providing Americans Insured Days of Leave (PAID Leave) Act.” National Women’s Law Center, Mar. 2020, https://nwlc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/PAID-Leave-Act-v2.pdf.

    ‘Sen. Mitch McConnell Returns to Senate to Vote for First Time Since June 11’. C-SPAN, 14 Sept. 2026, https://www.c-span.org/clip/us-senate/sen-mitch-mcconnell-returns-to-senate-to-vote-for-first-time-since-june-11/5206407.

    Shepardson, David, and Moira Warburton. “U.S. Congress Averts Railroad ‘Christmas Catastrophe,’ Biden Says.” Reuters, 1 Dec. 2022, https://www.reuters.com/world/us/biden-administration-makes-case-quick-senate-vote-avoid-rail-shutdown-2022-12-01/.

    “Statement From Senator Mitch McConnell.” U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell, 12 July 2026, https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2026/7/statement-from-senator-mitch-mcconnell.

    “The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, as Amended.” U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, 5 Feb. 1993, https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fmla/law.

    Thomas, Richard G. “How They Voted: Federal.” The Republican [Springfield, Massachusetts], 22 Mar. 2020, p. C3, https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-republican/203548704/.

    “Update From Senator Mitch McConnell.” U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell, 6 Aug. 2026, https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2026/8/update-from-senator-mitch-mcconnell.

    “U.S. Department of Labor Publishes Guidance on Expiration of Paid Sick Leave and Expanded Family and Medical Leave for Coronavirus.” U.S. Department of Labor, 31 Dec. 2020, https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/whd/whd20201231-1.

  • The Best Early Prime Day Computer Monitor Deals Worth Keeping an Eye On

    The Best Early Prime Day Computer Monitor Deals Worth Keeping an Eye On

    Amazon’s Big Deal Days is scheduled for Oct. 6 but the discounts have started popping up early. It’s one of the best times of the year to lock down some serious savings on a must-have upgrade, like a brand new computer monitor. You also don’t have to break the bank for one either, so we’ve put together a list of some of the best deals on computer monitors from brands like Asus and Samsung, just for you. We’re going to be updating this list as the date gets closer, so be sure to check back in!

    Samsung Early Prime Day Deals

    Movingstyle Portable Smart Monitor


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    This smart monitor is fantastic for portability since it can moved anywhere around the room. So whether you’re in the house or at work it can always go where you are. Plus, the display can be detached and set down with the kickstand for even more flexibility in using it. and don’t worry about plugging it in, as it has a built-in battery that’ll let you avoid pesky wires. The 27-inch touchscreen display gives you more options in interacting with the monitor, and Galaxy Watch users can use Bixby’s voice assistant and gesture commands for a hands-off experience. With its smooth 120Hz refresh rate, it makes for a solid choice for watching movies and gaming.

    Our expert Tony Hoffman awarded a similar model an “Excellent” rating. In our in-depth review, he said, “Samsung’s The Movingstyle Essential, a 32-inch smart monitor that can be moved around on a wheeled stand, is tops for entertainment and light productivity use.”

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    49-inch Odyssey OLED G9


    Samsung 49-inch Odyssey OLED G9

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    This Samsung monitor has a super-wide 49-inch 1000R screen that’s perfect for work and play. Because of its large display, you’ll be able to multitask while having plenty of tabs open. With 110 pixels per inch, you’ll see every bit of detail and color pop out on screen. And its contrast is out of this world too. The darkest shadows and brightest lights will look amazing. It has a 144Hz refresh rate too, providing a smooth gameplay experience. Not only that, but it has thermal modulation, which can help control brightness automatically to reduce heat output, as well as a screen saver that dims the monitor after 10 minutes of inactivity, both of which extend its longevity.

    PCMag’s Zackery Cuevas awarded it an “Outstanding” rating. In his in-depth review, he said, “It’s pricey, but the slim, feature-rich Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 is a feast for the eyes and the ultra-wide monitor to beat for immersive PC gaming.”

    Asus Early Prime Day Deals

    TUF Gaming Curved Monitor


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    This Asus TUF gaming curved monitor sports a 32-inch display with a 240HZ refresh rate and supports AMD FreeSync technology. So not only will your gameplay feel smooth, but your visuals will look great too. Additionally, Asus Extreme Low Motion Blur technology will enhance your experience by reducing screen tearing, ghosting, and motion blur. It’s very flexible, as it also has an adjustable hilt so you can put it at a comfortable angle and supports VESA mounting. You’ll also receive a three-month subscription to Adobe Creative cloud so if you want to get your creative juices flowing, this is a chance to try it out! And with a three-year warranty, you know the manufacturer is confident in this.

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    Our expert awarded a similar model an “Excellent” rating. In our Asus TUF Gaming VG27AQL3A review, he said, “The Asus TUF Gaming VG27AQL3A is an impressive entry-level gaming monitor, thanks to a palatable price and a surprising amount of performance-enhancing features.”

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    Check out more of our Amazon Prime Day coverage and other deals on things like meshes and SSDs.

    The Best Editor-Vetted Early Prime Day Deals

    *Deals are selected by our commerce team

    About Our Expert

  • Claim Democrats shot 4 presidents, MLK Jr. and Charlie Kirk gets the facts wrong

    Claim Democrats shot 4 presidents, MLK Jr. and Charlie Kirk gets the facts wrong

    Assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. | The Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute. https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/assassination-martin-luther-king-jr. Accessed 15 Sept. 2026.

    Assassins | Music Theatre International. 29 Dec. 2020, https://www.mtishows.com/assassins.

    Bullet Speech | Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library. https://www.trlibrary.com/bullet-speech. Accessed 15 Sept. 2026.

    By. “JOHN HINCKLEY REFUSED VOTE IN D.C.” Orlando Sentinel, 19 Sept. 1990, https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1990/09/19/john-hinckley-refused-vote-in-dc/.

    Byman, Daniel, and Riley McCabe. Left-Wing Terrorism and Political Violence in the United States: What the Data Tells Us. Sept. 2025. www.csis.org, https://www.csis.org/analysis/left-wing-terrorism-and-political-violence-united-states-what-data-tells-us.

    C, et al. “John Hinckley, Who Tried To Kill A President, Wins His Freedom.” NPR, 27 July 2016. America. NPR, https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/07/27/487595220/john-hinckley-who-tried-to-kill-a-president-wins-his-freedom.

    Cavendish, Demetria Kalodimos, Steve. “Sara Jane Moore, Who Tried to Kill Gerald Ford, Dies at 95.” Nashville Banner, 24 Sept. 2025, https://nashvillebanner.com/2025/09/24/sara-jane-moore-dies-gerald-ford/.

    Charlie Kirk Murder Suspect Tyler Robinson Pleads Not Guilty as Judge Clears Way for Death Penalty Trial. 2 Sept. 2026, https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj4jn9q7evpo.

    Chayka, Kyle. “Charlie Kirk and Tyler Robinson Came from the Same Warped Online Worlds.” The New Yorker, 17 Sept. 2025. www.newyorker.com, https://www.newyorker.com/culture/infinite-scroll/charlie-kirk-and-tyler-robinson-came-from-the-same-warped-online-worlds.

    Coscarelli, Joe. “A Bullet Casing Quoted ‘Bella Ciao,’ an Antifascist Anthem Now Popular With Video Gamers.” The New York Times, 12 Sept. 2025, https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/12/us/tyler-robinson-bella-ciao-bullet.html.

    Crucible of Empire – PBS Online. https://www.pbs.org/crucible/tl20.html. Accessed 15 Sept. 2026.

    Deng, Rae. “Charlie Kirk Shooting Suspect an Unaffiliated Voter, Not a Registered Republican.” Snopes, 12 Sept. 2025, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/kirk-shooting-suspect-republican/.

    ———. “Posts Falsely Claim Charlie Kirk Shooting Suspect Was a Trump Donor.” Snopes, 12 Sept. 2025, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/charlie-kirk-suspect-trump-donor/.

    Duran, Celinet. “Far-Left versus Far-Right Fatal Violence: An Empirical Assessment of the Prevalence of Ideologically Motivated Homicides in the United States.” Criminology, Criminal Justice, Law & Society, vol. 22, no. 2, Aug. 2021. ccjls.scholasticahq.com, https://ccjls.scholasticahq.com/article/26973-far-left-versus-far-right-fatal-violence-an-empirical-assessment-of-the-prevalence-of-ideologically-motivated-homicides-in-the-united-states.

    Editors, HISTORY com. “Gerald Ford Survives First Assassination Attempt | September 5, 1975.” HISTORY, 16 Nov. 2009, https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/september-5/gerald-ford-survives-first-assassination-attempt.

    ———. “Malcolm X Assassinated | February 21, 1965.” HISTORY, 24 Nov. 2009, https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/february-21/malcolm-x-assassinated.

    ———. “Sirhan Sirhan Receives Death Penalty for Assassination of Robert F. Kennedy | April 23, 1969.” HISTORY, 13 Nov. 2009, https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/april-23/sirhan-sirhan-receives-death-penalty.

    ———. “The Republican Revolution | November 8, 1994.” HISTORY, 9 Feb. 2010, https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/november-8/the-republican-revolution.

    “Findings on Martin Luther King, Jr. Assassination.” National Archives, 15 Aug. 2016, https://www.archives.gov/research/jfk/select-committee-report/part-2b.html.

    Franklin D. Roosevelt: The American Franchise | Miller Center. 4 Oct. 2016, https://millercenter.org/president/fdroosevelt/the-american-franchise.

    House, The White. “Trump Administration Unleashes Global Campaign to Crush Radical Left Terrorism.” The White House, 16 July 2026, https://www.whitehouse.gov/releases/2026/07/trump-administration-unleashes-global-campaign-to-crush-radical-left-terrorism/.

    How Misinformation and Disinformation Fuel Online Radicalization. 5 Dec. 2024, https://www.qu.edu/academics/experiential-learning/course-projects-and-capstones/student-projects/political-extremism-and-online-radicalization/.

    In Remembrance: 40 Years since the Assassination Attempt on President Reagan. https://www.secretservice.gov/reagan40thanniversary. Accessed 15 Sept. 2026.

    Jasko, Katarzyna, et al. “A Comparison of Political Violence by Left-Wing, Right-Wing, and Islamist Extremists in the United States and the World.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 119, no. 30, July 2022, p. e2122593119. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2122593119.

    Jipson, Art, and Paul J. Becker. “Right-Wing Extremist Violence Is More Frequent and More Deadly than Left-Wing Violence − What the Data Shows.” The Conversation, 17 Sept. 2025, https://doi.org/10.64628/AAI.khvnvmtrk.

    “John Hinckley Jr., Who Shot Ronald Reagan to Impress Jodie Foster, Says He Wishes Her Well.” NBC News, 12 Aug. 2026, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/john-hinckley-jr-jodie-foster-wishes-her-well-rcna592130.

    Jones, Brea. “Posts Make Unfounded Claims About Political Affiliation of John Wilkes Booth.” FactCheck.Org, 22 Apr. 2022, https://www.factcheck.org/2022/04/posts-make-unfounded-claims-about-political-affiliation-of-john-wilkes-booth/.

    Jones, Seth G., and Catrina Doxsee. The Escalating Terrorism Problem in the United States. June 2020. www.csis.org, https://www.csis.org/analysis/escalating-terrorism-problem-united-states.

    Kasprak, Alex. “Trump Shooter Once Donated Money to a Democratic Cause?” Snopes, 15 July 2024, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/trump-shooter-donation/.

    Kates, Graham, et al. CBS News Investigation: The Secret Double Life of Thomas Crooks, Trump’s Would-Be Assassin. https://www.cbsnews.com/lifeofthomascrooks/. Accessed 15 Sept. 2026.

    Knight, Athelia, and Neil Henry. “Love Letter Offers Clue To Motive in Shooting.” The Washington Post, 1 Apr. 1981, https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1981/04/01/love-letter-offers-clue-to-motive-in-shooting/2474a225-eeba-47ef-94a1-045db2e0b57b/.

    Murder and Extremism in the United States in 2024 | ADL. https://www.adl.org/resources/report/murder-and-extremism-united-states-2024. Accessed 16 Sept. 2026.

    Orders, Executive. “Designating Antifa as a Domestic Terrorist Organization.” The White House, 22 Sept. 2025, https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/09/designating-antifa-as-a-domestic-terrorist-organization/.

    Rascouët-Paz, Anna. “Yes, Trump’s Alleged Would-Be Assassin Was a Republican.” Snopes, 15 July 2024, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/trump-shooter-republican/.

    Saelee, Mike. Research Guides: James Garfield Assassination: Topics in Chronicling America: Introduction. Research guide. https://guides.loc.gov/chronicling-america-james-garfield-assassination/introduction. Accessed 15 Sept. 2026.

    Smith, Philip, and T. R. Reid. “Hinckley Seeks Absentee Ballot From Colorado.” The Washington Post, 6 Sept. 1984, https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1984/09/07/hinckley-seeks-absentee-ballot-from-colorado/f7db62af-1114-4d87-9e55-d40b85f8a0ae/.

    Wizevich, Eli. “Harvey Milk, One of the World’s First Openly Gay Politicians, Was Assassinated on This Day in 1978.” Smithsonian Magazine, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/harvey-milk-one-of-the-worlds-first-openly-gay-politicians-was-assassinated-on-this-day-in-1978-180985464/. Accessed 15 Sept. 2026.

  • Dolly Parton Posthumously Accepts Americana Award in Newly Released Video Recorded Before Her Death: ‘Just Know That I Will Always Love You’

    Dolly Parton Posthumously Accepts Americana Award in Newly Released Video Recorded Before Her Death: ‘Just Know That I Will Always Love You’

    In the video, Parton says ,”Well, hey, it’s Dolly, and I am so honored to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Americana Music Association. I mean, roots music, or what is now called Americana music, is what I grew up playing back in the Smoky Mountains. It’s that same music that drew me back to East Tennessee back in 1997 to write and record my album ‘Hungry Again.’

    “And that project really opened the door to a series of bluegrass and acoustic albums that changed the course of my career in so many ways. Now, new fans discovered these albums, new Americana music communities embraced them, and now, looking back at it all, I see this era of my career as a musical renaissance of sorts.”

    She concluded, “And I want to thank everybody at the AMA for recognizing me with this award. It’s a great honor, truly. And just know that I will always love you.”

    Parton receiving the lifetime achievement award was announced just this month, but obviously long in the works. The existence of the acceptance speech was a surprise to the audience, as was the musical performance that followed.

    On the red carpet, Carlile told Variety, “Dolly’s being honored this year, and that makes me feel really good to be able to be there and bear witness to that.”

    In her introductory speech, Harris — who collaborated with Parton on the hit “Trio” album, along with Linda Ronstadt — explored her legacy.

    “Just a few weeks ago, something utterly unthinkable happened: Dolly Parton left our world. But over her time here, this tiny, extraordinary woman made it a better, brighter and kinder place,” Harris said to applause.

    “One of the many pearls — Dolly would call them rhinestones — of wisdom she imparted was her four-part motto: dream more, learn more, care more, be more,” Harris continued. “Dolly was more from the very start. More than the odds anyone gave her growing up in poverty in Locust Ridge, Tennessee, the fourth of 12 children. More than the precocious 10-year-old who sang on a local TV show. More tha just another pretty woman moving to Nashville with her guitar. And certainly more than the ‘dumb blonde’ she sang about, but never was.

    “In 1967, Dolly got a good start on her big dream when she landed a gig as the girl singer with Porter Wagoner. All right, remember those? Their duets were a hit on the show and on the charts, but Dolly was nobody’s sidekick. She wanted more and she deserved more, and she set out to get it, always, always, on her own terms. And we all know what happened when Dolly set her sights on something. She didn’t just succeed, she expanded the borders of what a musician could be.

    “She was a country star, then a pop star, then a global icon. She was one of our all-time greatest songwriters, but she shined just as brightly on stage. She lit up the TV screen and then she lit up the movie screen. Her stunningly beautiful, pure mountain voice could make us cry and then crack us up with a well aimed, sometimes bawdy joke.

    “There was nothing Dolly couldn’t do, and so she did it. She opened Dollywood, a theme part that continues to provide a real economic boost to the area she grew up in… She created a relief fund that helped hundreds of families get back on her feet after the wildfires ravaged east TN a decade ago. well all remember those. And she saved lives all over the world by funding research that helped lead to a COVID vaccine. Yeah, man, she did that. Closest to her heart was her Imagination Library. it’s given out more than 300 million free books just so far, and that’s showing kids all over the country that they can dream more and be more.”

    Saying goodbye before the video rolled, “Farewell, Dolly, godspeed, and thank you for everything.”

  • Pay $40 Just Once for 1TB of Cloud Storage for Life

    Pay $40 Just Once for 1TB of Cloud Storage for Life

    TL;DR: LifetimeCloud Secure Storage is just $39.99 (MSRP $199) for lifetime access to 1TB with zero-knowledge AES-256 encryption.

    Paying for the same cloud space every month or year isn’t the only option. LifetimeCloud Secure Storage gives you lifetime access to 1TB for $39.99 (MSRP $199), with no monthly or annual renewal fees.

    The ownership model is the main attraction. For comparison, Dropbox Plus costs about $120 per year, while this LifetimeCloud plan is a single $39.99 purchase.

    Privacy is another key distinction. LifetimeCloud uses zero-knowledge AES-256 encryption, which means your files are encrypted before leaving your device and can’t be read by LifetimeCloud itself. Data is hosted in Italy under EU regulations, and the service is GDPR compliant.

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  • BBC, Bobby Prod, Folivari, Gao Shan Pictures Honored by Europe’s Animation Industry at Cartoon Forum

    BBC, Bobby Prod, Folivari, Gao Shan Pictures Honored by Europe’s Animation Industry at Cartoon Forum

    Cartoon Forum, the leading co-production event in Europe for animated series, has unveiled the winners of this year’s Cartoon Tributes, recognizing the dedication and creativity of key players in the European animation industry.

    Chosen by the event’s attendees gathered in Toulouse, the winners in the three established categories (Producer, Broadcaster and Investor/Distributor of the Year) were celebrated today as the Forum slowly comes to a close after three days of intense pitching sessions, networking and debates around the state of European animated TV industry.

    This year, the Producer of the Year went to Bobby Prod (France), who presented “The Broos” back in 2024 at Cartoon Forum. Now streaming on ARTE France, the series (which originated on social media before being developed as an animated series in co-production with ARTE) highlights the potential of digital-first storytelling to reach wider audiences, with creators and communities deeply tied together.

    An approach that’s been at the heart of Bobby Prod for more than 15 years, as the studio built its strong identity around irreverent humour, creative freedom and bold storytelling. From bringing known IPs to life with “Creatures Commandos” or “Dead Cells,” Bobby Prod and sister company Bobbypills are now expanding into their own originals IPs with French hit queer animated feature “Jim Queen” now being presented at TIFF, and Jordan Firstman announced as lead voice cast.

    France’s Folivari International takes home the Investor/Distributor of the Year award. Two year since its creation by Folivari, the independent sales agency carefully built its distinctive slate blending in-house titles and third-party acquisitions, with hit series such as “Samuel,” and buzzy titles currently in production and/or development, such as “Pil’s Adventures,” “Ted & Paula’s Tadpole Journey,” “Nino Dino” and “The Baker Street Four,” all presented at Cartoon Forum.

    BBC, UK’s public-service broadcaster and a major player in the global economy of animated TV series, received the Broadcaster of the Year award, emphasizing the enduring ties between European animation and the post-Brexit United Kingdom. With its children’s services CBeebies and CBBC catering respectively to preschool and school-age audiences, BBC remains a major commissioner and co-producer of children’s animation, with a strong focus on original content and partnerships with independent production companies. A long-standing presence at Cartoon Forum, BBC boarded several European series to its slate after their Forum pitches, including “Duck & Frog,” “Maddie + Triggs,” “Piggy Builders,” “Pablo” and “Dungeons & Kittens.”

    This year’s Tributes also introduced a fourth category, the Ecoprod-Cartoon Tribute, honoring a European animation production company or initiative that has made a significant contribution to advancing sustainability in the sector.

    Presented in partnership with Ecoprod, a French non-profit organisation supporting the audiovisual industry’s environmental transition, the new award featured three nominees, with the winner selected by Ecoprod in recognition of its commitment to sustainability across its operations, production methods and storytelling.

    The very first Ecoprod-Cartoon Forum Tribute went to French, Réunion Island-based Gao Shan Pictures, a 2D and 3D animation service studio and production company creating bold, distinctive and meaningful films for international audiences with sustainability at its core. A stance that is reflected both in the stories it chooses and in the way they are produced, with credits including “In Waves,” “The Smurfs,” “Jim Queen” and “Allah is Not Obliged.” At Cartoon Forum 2026, Gao Shan Pictures presented “The Roots of My Hair,” a 2D animated series for teenagers aged 12 to 15 adapted from the eponymous best-selling graphic novel.

    This year, all nominees had strong ties to Cartoon Forum, having participated in the event both to pitch their projects and to connect with the European animation industry. Companies from the Czech Republic, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Spain and Sweden were also among this year’s nominees.

    Created in 1990 to boost the co-production and distribution of European animation across television and new media platforms, Cartoon Forum has since helped more than a 1,000 1,053 animation series obtain financing, totaling more than €3.83 billion ($4.39B).

  • Nex Playground Gaming Console Maker Raises More Than $150 Million in Funding, Niantic’s Jeff Shouger Joins as CFO

    Nex, the company behind the popular family gaming console Nex Playground, has secured more than $150 million in new financing to support expansion across retail distribution and growing its content ecosystem with major gaming and entertainment partners.

    According to Nex, the company plans to roll out “connected play,” which will allow families to play together across households and distances. Nex also plans to expand across Europe and Asia, following its recent expansion into Canada, the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. Nex will move into Germany later this year, with Japan and Korea planned for 2027.

    Nex Playground’s current lineup consists of 60 games, including globally recognized franchises and characters such as Bluey, Barbie, Kung Fu Panda and Peppa Pig, with experiences spanning music, sports, fitness, party, and learning. The slate will continue to grow this fall and holiday season with NFL Flag, Dude Perfect Trickshot Challenge, PAC-MAN with Bandai Namco Entertainment, and more.

    The late-stage funding comes in the same year that Nex Playground crossed more than one million units sold, with the system now distributed across more than 7,000 U.S. retail locations, including Costco, Sam’s Club, Target, Walmart and Best Buy. Nex’s subscriber base has grown sevenfold over the past 18 months and is approaching 1 million subscribers, a milestone the company expects to surpass by year-end.

    This new round of financing includes a Series E led by Baillie Gifford and BAI Capital, with participation from NBA Investments, Logitech, Medici Capital Partners, and the Raine Group, alongside a new credit facility with JPMorgan.

    Additionally, Nex has brought on Ninantic vet Jeff Shouger as its chief financial officer and set Shouger and gaming and technology industry veteran Bing Gordon as new members of the company’s board of directors.

    “Families have timeless needs: to move, grow, connect, and have fun. The response to Nex Playground
    has shown us that active play can serve those needs at a meaningful scale,” Lee said. “We are building Nex to be a 100-year company. This investment gives us the resources to bring active play to millions more families around the world, and Jeff and Bing bring extraordinary experience building enduring gaming and technology companies. I’m thrilled to have them with us for this next chapter.”

  • The Next Short? Economist Compares Hyperscaler AI Debt Stress to 2008 Housing Collapse

    The Next Short? Economist Compares Hyperscaler AI Debt Stress to 2008 Housing Collapse

  • Avalanche’s Helicon upgrade cuts validator lockups from 14 days to 48 hours

    Avalanche’s Helicon upgrade cuts validator lockups from 14 days to 48 hours

    Avalanche’s Helicon upgrade is scheduled to give validators shorter, auto-renewing commitments while raising the uptime cutoff for rewards and reducing returns at the shortest durations.

    The network upgrade is set to activate on Avalanche Mainnet on Sept. 22 at 15:00 UTC. Validators must install AvalancheGo v1.15.0 beforehand to remain compatible with the upgraded chain.

    Infographic shows Helicon reducing validator commitments from 14 days to 48 hours, raising reward uptime to 90%, and lowering short-duration ARR by 1.3 points.

    What changes for validators

    Helicon will cut the minimum Primary Network validation period from 336 hours to 48 hours. It will also let eligible validators automatically begin another cycle when the current one ends, reducing manual signing work and potential reward gaps from repeatedly leaving and rejoining the validator set.

    Operators can choose how much of each cycle’s reward to compound into the next one and can update the configuration for a future cycle. That creates a way to combine brief capital commitments with continuous validation, instead of choosing between a long lockup and repeated manual restaking.

    The feature applies only to the validator’s own stake. Delegations will not auto-renew, and each delegation must fit inside one validator cycle because the validator is not guaranteed to continue beyond that boundary.

    Validation periods that start on or after Helicon activation must achieve at least 90% uptime to earn rewards, up from 80%. The rule is not retroactive: periods that began before activation remain subject to the existing 80% requirement even if they extend beyond Sept. 22.

    Avalanche’s uptime measurement will not change, and rewards will remain all or nothing. Falling below the applicable threshold forfeits the full reward for that period, though the validator’s principal is not slashed.

    For a validator using auto-renewal, missing the threshold has an additional consequence. The position will not roll into another cycle, and the validator will exit. Its principal and rewards accrued in earlier cycles are returned, but the failed cycle’s reward is lost.

    Short cycles reduce how long capital is committed, while the higher threshold raises the operational reliability required to collect each cycle’s reward and continue automatically. For operators, that links continuity to cycle-by-cycle performance without changing how Avalanche measures peer responsiveness or adding a partial-reward buffer.

    How short-duration Avalanche rewards change

    Helicon will also begin a 90-day adjustment to Avalanche’s reward curve. The protocol’s minimum consumption rate, an input that helps determine staking rewards, is scheduled to decline linearly from 10% to 7.5%. The maximum rate at the one-year duration will remain unchanged.

    Avalanche’s modeling estimates that this adjustment will reduce the annualized reward rate at the shortest duration by about 1.3% after the phase-in. The exact realized yield will remain variable because it depends on factors including $AVAX supply, duration, and compounding choices.

    The same modeling projects annual $AVAX inflation falling by roughly 0.5% to 1% and the stake-weighted average duration increasing by about two months. Those outcomes are estimates depending on how validators and delegators respond.

    The mechanical trade-off is more certain: Helicon makes short, renewable validator commitments easier to use, but sets a lower reward at the short end while preserving the one-year rate and demands more reliable uptime for new validation periods.

  • Bizarre ‘footprints’ spotted on Mars leave scientists scratching their heads

    Bizarre ‘footprints’ spotted on Mars leave scientists scratching their heads

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    Scientists are perplexed by the discovery of what looks like footprints on the surface of Mars.

    Images captured by the Curiosity Rover show an unusual feature on the Red Planet’s surface – broad, shallow pits unlike anything researchers have previously spotted.

    The discovery was made as Curiosity explored Mount Sharp, a vast mountain rising from the floor of Gale Crater.

    The rover has been exploring Mars since landing in 2012, and despite more than a decade on the planet, it continues to find things that puzzle scientists back on Earth.

    These mysterious markings on Mars’ surface were found by the Curiosity Rover (Picture: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS/Cover Images)

    Small pits and depressions are relatively common on Mars. They can form when harder nodules or pebbles embedded in rock gradually weather away, leaving a hollow behind.

    But the newly observed features are different. They are much wider and shallower than similar pits seen previously, and researchers could not identify obvious objects that might once have occupied them.

    The Curiosity team used the rover’s cameras and instruments to examine the features in detail.
    MAHLI and the Mastcam instrument captured overlapping images that can be combined to produce three-dimensional models of the pits and their structure.

    Detail of a mosaic taken by NASA?s Perseverance rover shows a boulder field on ?Mount Washburn? on May 27. Intrigued by the diversity of textures and chemical composition in the light-toned boulder at centre, the rover?s science team nicknamed the rock ?Atoko Point.? Scientists say they are puzzled over a bright white rock never seen before on Mars. The 14-inch-high boulder stands out among a large field of dark rocks and is described as
    Nasa’s Perseverance rover previously captured what appeared to be a boulder field on the Red Planet (Picture: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS / SWNS)

    The team does not believe the marks are actual footprints, but the unusual formations provide a new clue about the geological processes that have shaped this part of Mount Sharp.

    The surrounding bedrock also provided plenty for Curiosity’s instruments to investigate. Mastcam images and measurements from the ChemCam instrument revealed layers whose texture and structure changed over relatively short distances.

    Maybe astronauts could whip up a mushroom risotto on Mars once Starship gets going? (Picture: Nasa/UFO Sightings Daily)
    People think they spotted a mushroom on Mars in previous images released by Nasa (Picture: Nasa/UFO Sightings Daily)

    Scientists say these variations could indicate changes in the conditions under which the sediments were deposited.

    The rover also examined rough, grey layers that were more resistant to erosion than the surrounding rock. ChemCam, MAHLI and the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) analysed the material, which may have a different chemical composition from the bedrock around it.

    After almost 14 years on Mars, Curiosity continues to provide scientists with new glimpses of the planet’s geological history – and, occasionally, features they have never seen before.

    In an image taken in 2013, UFO hunters thought they’d spotted a wrinkly mushroom on the planet’s surface.

    Arrow MORE: Nasa finds ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ moon crater bigger than the Roman Colosseum

    Arrow MORE: Scientists find 27 strange new objects hovering on the edge of our Solar System

    Arrow MORE: US has put a mystery weapon into space but won’t reveal what it is