Best Christmas Gifts for 2024: Part 1

Entertainment 7 Minutes

Christmas is a time of giving and receiving gifts.  If you’re not the best at choosing gifts for the special people in your life, I found an article detailing the “best” gifts for this year.  Most of these gifts are pricey and some are just odd—a heated eye massager?? REALLY??? Who needs that??

lululemon Go Getter Bag 2.0

“Give your exercise-obsessed giftee this versatile gym bag from lululemon for Christmas this year. It has designated space for sweaty workout clothes, their water bottle, and all other essentials they need at the gym. But it’s also great for travel, too, thanks to its water-repellent fabric and padded handles for comfy carrying. It also has an interior padded pocket for a 16-inch laptop and a quick-access pocket for their phone. It will become an instant mainstay in their accessories collection.” — Best Products Staff

Renpho Eye Massager with Heat

“Give your recipient’s eyes a break with this heated eye massager. It features internal heating pads, built-in speakers to listen to Bluetooth music, adjustable compression, and five different massage modes to help your recipient’s eyes relax. Thanks to its foldable and portable design, they can take it wherever they go. It’s so relaxing, they might even use it to get some much needed shut-eye. Bonus: It helps ease dark circles, too!” — Best Products Staff

Skylight Calendar Max

“The Skylight 27-inch is a home digital calendar that makes life easier. you can load your family’s Outlooks, Gcal, iCal, and more into the system so that everyone knows each other’s schedule. You can import them one by one as well. We use it so that the kids know when we’re going to be out, and we know when they have after-school activities.” — CB

Golfguru Golf Practice Net

“If your dad (or any other golfer in your life) can’t always hit the links, this is the best Christmas gift to bring the links to him. This golf training kit comes with a tri-turf golf hitting mat, 10 golf balls, seven golf tees, two golf rubber tees, and a hitting net that features one large target and three chipping target pockets so he can practice all his shots and swings from the comfort of his home. And since it can be set up in less than 5 minutes, your favorite golfer can spend more time practicing their swing than dealing with gear.” — Best Products Staff

Carhartt Deluxe Insulated Lunch Bag

“Lunch boxes may seem too practical, but this option from Carhartt is definitely gift-worthy — especially for the teachers on your list. It features two insulated compartments for extra storage, a zippered pocket ideal for utensils, and two carrying options — a top handle and shoulder strap. It’s also made of durable water-repellent fabric, so your recipient can take it on rainy days and know their food will be safe. Choose from five colors to make the gift feel more personalized for your recipient.” — Best Products Staff

Netany Drinking Glasses Set

“This drinking glass set will help your recipient ditch plastic one drink at a time. They’ll have everything they need for worry-free sips and a move toward a more sustainable lifestyle. This includes four can-shaped glass cups with a 16-ounce capacity, four lids made from 100% bamboo, and four reusable glass straws. It also comes with a pair of brushes so they can make sure the straws stay squeaky clean between uses.” — Best Products Staff

Intoval 3-in-1 Wireless Charger

“If your loved one is an Apple user, they will love this Christmas gift. It will not only give them a designated space to store all their devices but also offers wireless charging. Its sleek design can hold an iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods, so all their devices can charge at one time without a mess of cords. We’re confident that this useful gift will have a permanent spot on their desk or nightstand.” — Best Products Staff

Ember Temperature Control Smart Mug 2

“Keeping tea, coffee, and hot cocoa warm has never been easier than with Ember’s genius smart mug. It can be controlled with a smartphone and has a long-lasting battery. It maintains their preferred sipping temperature (up to 145 degrees Fahrenheit), so they don’t have to run to the microwave occasionally to heat up lukewarm java. It’s convenient, clever, and something your recipients probably wouldn’t buy themselves — all the ingredients for one of the best Christmas gifts.” — Best Products Staff

Lost Boy Entertainment ‘Words Are Hard‘ Card Game

“This game is fast-paced and competitive but still accessible. Because the premise is based on the pictures on the cards, basically anyone of any age can play. I’ve played this before over drinks with some friends and at a birthday party with my young family members; both times were equally fun. It’s also easy to play with larger groups because you rotate between turns so quickly that nobody is ever left waiting for long. The game is nearly impossible to play without getting a little too competitive.” — Tom Price, Associate Editor, Reviews

Razer Kishi Ultra Gaming Controller

“The Razer Kishi Ultra mobile gaming controller is the new gold standard for design, ergonomics, and performance in its product category and rightfully one of my favorite gadgets of 2024. Its full-size grips, onboard switches with best-in-class performance and tactility, and customizable RGB lighting can transform any phone — with or without a case — into a portable gaming console.” — Stefan Vazharov, Senior Technology Editor, Reviews

Gurgle Pot Beverage Pourer

“As the name implies, this pitcher will create a gurgling sound after each pour when placed upright, and it’s always a delight whenever we have friends or family over for dinner. The pitcher’s open-mouthed fish design is certainly unique, but it’s so charming and great for anyone who wants a statement piece for their kitchen or dining area. It comes in different color options, too.” — Xavier Piedra, Senior Editor, Reviews

Dupray Bloom Air Purifier for Large Rooms with Planter

“Adding another clunky appliance into a small apartment is a bummer, but feels necessary after a year of constant construction pollution, wildfire smoke, and intense allergies. This Dupray air purifier is much less of an eyesore than the traditional boxy design. You can use it as an accent table or a planter and simultaneously have it purifying over 1500 square feet with its HEPA-13 filter. Dupray gives you a choice of finishes for the tabletop and the color of the mesh around the base, too!” — Bridget Clegg, Senior Digital Art Director

Bearaby Hand-Knit Weighted Blanket for Adults

“I am someone who relies on a lot of assistance to get a good night’s rest. A weighted blanket is critical for me, and my favorite blanket is by Bearaby. It’s a woven style with a soft cover and a deeply weighted feel. It’s also machine washable, which, as a hot sleeper, makes things feel cleaner overall.” — Cat Bowen, Senior Editor for Commerce, Reviews

Clixo Super Rainbow (60-Piece Pack)

“This Christmas gift can help break a kid’s screen addiction by giving them a huge collection of Clixo’s beloved multisensory toys to fiddle around with. The magnetic, flexible shapes can be turned into any 2D and 3D shape a child can imagine, whether they want to build a dog, a hat, or a plane. The kit also fosters open-ended play and helps kids develop creative confidence and innovation skills, so it’s a Christmas gift parents can appreciate, too!” — Best Products StaffApple AirTag (4-Pack

“Imagine never having to worry about where you left something ever again. Thanks to Apple AirTags, you can gift that sense of relief to all the forgetful folks on your list! These tags stick onto just about anything — from wallets to dog collars — and they work as a tracker, so your gift recipient will always know where their things are. If they can’t find their item immediately, they can activate an audio alarm to help locate it. And if they do lose something, they can report it as lost in the Find My network, which comes standard with all Apple devices.” — Best Products Staff

Anker MagGo Power Bank

“Anker’s MagGo Power Bank (10K) has been my go-to iPhone battery pack since its launch in early 2024. Featuring support for the latest Qi2 wireless charging standard and ample battery capacity, the accessory treated my iPhone 15 Pro Max to quick and easy power-ups on the move. Its built-in viewing stand, fast USB-C port, and color display were also handy for monitoring the charging process.” — SV

Badesofa Back Bath Pillow

“For whoever loves to spend time in the bathtub, this pillow makes it easy to find comfortable positions and up the experience.” — Pavlína Černá, Senior Features Editor

Rumpl Original Puffy Camping Blanket

“I love when gear intended for outdoorsy stuff does double-duty as home decor. That’s the case with Rumpl’s Original Puffy blanket, which is an excellent addition to any camping trip but also looks great unfurled on my bed or couch as a throw. The insulated puffer’s water-resistant ripstop nylon shell is super-soft, pulled up against your nose and chin, and a sewn-in clasp along the edge transforms the blanket into a cape. It’s available in more than two dozen colorful, groovy graphic prints and a few solids, and it stores in a matching stuffsack.” — Rachel Klein, Deputy Editor, Reviews

Bird Buddy Original Smart Bird Feeder with Camera

“From bird lovers to new homeowners, this smart bird feeder is a surprising gift idea that’s sure to win Christmas. It features a high-resolution AI-powered camera that captures photos, recognizes over 1,000 bird species, and works with a convenient companion app that notifies your recipient of any feathered visitors — so your loved one won’t miss any of the action when they’re not at home. It’s also lightweight, weather-resistant, and made of recyclable plastic housing.” — Best Products Staff

Cave Tools Barbecue Spatula with Bottle Opener and Serrated Edge

“This heavy-duty spatula does more than flip burgers: Its serrated edge cuts through even the fattiest piece of meat to check for doneness or create perfect-sized portions. It also has a built-in bottle opener for your griller to pop a cold one the next time they’re on duty. And when they’re done, it’s dishwasher-safe for extremely easy clean-up.” — John Gilpatrick, Senior Editor, Reviews

SOURCE: BESTPRODUCTS.COM

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Published by pat frederick

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132 thoughts on “Best Christmas Gifts for 2024: Part 1”

  3. Morning All!

    walmart was interesting last evening. lots of people shopping…the bread aisle was EMPTY…not a loaf of ANYTHING to be found. when we got to the register the cashier was wearing a walmart hohoho red Santa hat and matching half gloves, so i asked–where’s the bread?

    she laughed, she said this is the first week of the month–lotta food stamp folks in here coupled with the first snow? lotta older folks in here getting their milk and bread.

    I was skeptical till this morning when we woke up to 3 more inches of snow…sigh.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Morning, Pat! My money is definitely safe, too. I tried the electric heating cup – that went in the trash! What is this weighted blanket silliness? Such a waste of $$$!!!

      Liked by 1 person

  10. Roger Severino
    @RogerSeverino_
    Justice Thomas sprung a killer question on the ACLU lawyer: “What remedy are you seeking?” Strangio, flummoxed by such a seemingly simple question said an injunction. Justice Thomas then asked “practically, you would get different treatment based on sex?” and the trap was laid.

    Strangio said the plaintiff (a girl who identifies as a boy) would be allowed to get drugs for “a typical male puberty” despite having a “birth sex [of] female.” That answer made clear that girls who identify as boys would get a right under the Constitution to testosterone, but boys who identify as boys would not, which is…sex discrimination! Genius.

    Liked by 1 person

  12. no sauce with this…but IF this were true, then the pardons wouldn’t protect them from charges from these countries and justice will be served.

    Fromseatoshinningsea

    December 5, 2024 7:36 am

    They cannot close every door to justified retribution & punishment. Pardons may appear to tie Trump team’s hands, but there are doors they can’t close. Putin has the goods on H Biden, biolabs, kick backs & more. Putin has everything.

    Other govts including Japan have goods on Fauci’s millions, Pfizer, Moderna, etc.

    PDJT has leverage and the cabal knows it. The organuzed hit on United Health CEO is a message. P Donald needs to tuck his ego and lower public appearances.

    Like

    1. Oh, FFS – the hit on the United Health CEO is in an entirely different category! WTF is this BS “tuck his ego?” GFY, asswipe!

      Liked by 1 person

  13. Mind boggling and beyond infuriating!!! SMDH

    EXCERPT: “House Democrats pressured U.S. Capitol Police to provide special financial assistance and even a promotion to the officer who fatally shot unarmed protester Ashli Babbitt during the Jan. 6 riot, resulting in tens of thousands of dollars in taxpayer and charitable assistance not provided to other officers, according to internal emails reviewed by Just the News.

    “He is very upset about how he is being treated. He wants us to figure this out and now,” a top congressional aide to then-House Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, wrote to Capitol Police in November 2021 pressing for more assistance to Lt. Michael Byrd after he killed Babbitt.

    2021.11.18 – Chairman was speaking with.pdf

    The records show that pressure also came from then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s staff and from then-Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, causing Capitol Police to find any solution they could to make Byrd and Democrats happy. Despite the extraordinary assistance, Byrd expressed dissatisfaction and continued to insist he deserved more, to the chagrin of Capitol Police officials, according to records assembled by Congress. 

    “We play the game as you request and then once we’re in compliance You guys change the rules on us,” Byrd wrote to U.S. Capitol Police General Counsel Thomas DiBiase in November 2021 after being informed he wouldn’t be able to immediately access charitable funds from a memorial fund for fallen or wounded officers.

    2021.11.16 – Re Memorial Fund (play the game).pdf

    The department’s chief later told Byrd he would not be offered any further assistance from the memorial fund, but Capitol Police instead helped set up a GoFundMe that landed Byrd more than $160,000 in extra funds. Rep. Eric Swalwell, D- Calif., was one of the many progressives who donated to and promoted the fundraising.

    The revelations were uncovered during probe by Chairman Barry Loudermilk’s House Administration Oversight Subcommittee into the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) and follow findings that Byrd has a significant disciplinary record that resulted in six referrals to the USCP’s Office of Professional Responsibility. 

    At least one of these incidents resulted in a referral to a prosecutor and others ended with temporary suspensions, Just the News reported earlier this month.  

    “In addition to USCP’s decision to promote Byrd despite his disciplinary history, I also have concerns about the decisions USCP made with respect to Byrd after January 6, 2021,” Loudermilk wrote in a letter to current USCP Chief Thomas Manger, previously published by Just the News.

    Loudermilk told the “Just the News, No Noise” TV show that it is understandable that House Democratic leadership would want to ensure that Byrd was well taken care of considering he did end up unfortunately taking a life, but that their calls for assistance for the then-lieutenant went above and beyond other officers. 

    “[They] went to extremes, to where they gave bonuses to officers who are on the front line of the battle, that was a few thousand dollars—Byrd gets one of $37,000 okay, it’s not equally played,” Loudermilk said. 

    “I think people should really be considering the earlier question, which is whether he should have been on the force,” the chairman said referring to the now-captain’s lengthy disciplinary record.

    You can read Loudermilk’s letter below: 

    11.20.2024 Letter From Rep. Barry Loudermilk to USCP Chief of Police Manger.pdf

    The committee’s investigation uncovered evidence that the USCP went to extraordinary lengths to promote Byrd and provide him financial support dwarfing that received by other officers on duty on Jan. 6, including attempts to use a memorial fund for wounded officers to compensate him…..”

    https://justthenews.com/accountability/hldofficer-who-shot-j6-protestor-shown-favoritism-capitol-police-under-political

    Liked by 1 person

  14. NF: Grothman is 100% correct!!!

    Just The News: “Congressman Glenn Grothman, R-Wis., said he thinks President-elect Donald Trump ought to end birthright citizenship through an executive order because he doubts the Senate will pass such a measure.

    “In the Senate, they have a filibuster rule which means for things that are purely policy-related, they’re going to need 60 votes,” Grothman said on the “Furthermore with Amanda Head” podcast. “They’re not going to get 60 votes. So it’s going to have to be his just order coming down.”

    Trump had talked about getting rid of birthright citizenship in his previous term but it didn’t happen. “He never got around to it,” Grothman said, referencing Trump. “Other countries don’t do it. As we pick new Americans, We got to pick them for some reason other than somebody made a tourist trip here, had a baby … that’s the hook to get in more and more people.”

    Conservative scholars have argued that the Citizenship Clause of the 14th Amendment doesn’t grant citizenship to children of immigrants if they are born in the U.S., while liberal scholars argue it does. Former Florida GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz introduced legislation in July that would end birthright citizenship for immigrants who came to the U.S. 

    Grothman argued that Democrats misinterpreted the 14th Amendment and said it was aimed at former slaves, not immigrants.

    “When they said in the Constitution, or when the amendments in the Constitution were put in, as to who was a citizen, they were aiming at former slaves,” he said. “And now, the Democrats misconstrued [it].”

    Liked by 1 person

  15. Just The News: “NBC on Wednesday announced that President-elect Donald Trump is scheduled to sit down with host Kristen Welker this weekend, for his first televised interview since winning the presidential election last month.

    The interview is expected to air during “Meet the Press” on Sunday morning, at 10:30 a.m. but highlights will be teased and released before the show. The interview itself will take place on Friday. 

    A full transcript of the interview will also be publicly available on Sunday.

    Welker previously interviewed Trump in 2023, where they discussed the border and illegal immigration. They also outlined his plans for a second administration.

    It is not clear what the interview will entail, but it comes as Trump announces critical members of his next administration, including his presidential Cabinet. Some of those nominees have come under fire, including his nominee for Defense Secretary, and face scrutiny in the Senate.

    It also comes after Trump announced several major goals for his first day in office, including placing high tariffs on Canada, China, and Mexico, if they fail to help him secure the border and stop the illegal flow of fentanyl into the U.S.

    Trump’s presidential inauguration is scheduled for Jan. 20.”

    Liked by 1 person

  17. EXCERPT: “Someone committed murder. At least, according to George Strait and Alan Jackson when they sang “Murder on Music Row” in 1999. “The almighty dollar and the lust for worldwide fame/Slowly killed tradition, and for that someone should hang.”

    Classic country artists like Strait and Jackson consistently portray deeply American values like faith, family, and freedom overcoming human vices like drinking, gambling, and cheating. But as these artists age out, a cheap replica of “country” is rising in their place.

    While Strait is still performing, the 72-year-old cowboy launched his first “final tour” in 2013. And Jackson, 66, announced in 2021 he has a form of neuropathy making it difficult to perform. Even 62-year-old contemporary country artist Toby Keith, known for patriotic anthems like “Courtesy of The Red, White and Blue,” died earlier this year.

    In place of the classic country, which conveys deeply binding human values, a cheap corporatized image of “country” has emerged. Beyoncé donned a cowboy hat this year to sing “Texas Hold ‘Em” — which has nothing to do with Texas, but everything to do with deeming herself relevant. “Putting a cowboy hat on Beyoncé doesn’t make her country, and no country fan thinks she is country,” classic country artist Monte Warden told The Federalist. “She may sell a bunch of records in the country market, no country fan is buying that…..”

    “….The demise of traditional country began with the advent of streaming services in the early 2000s, according to Warden, who said he has been in music studios since 1981. “If you wanted to own music, you had to go buy the record, and then, all of a sudden, you could have it on your computer,” he said. “Suddenly, record companies were making 80 percent less.”

    Record companies began making “360 deals” close to 2002 or 2003, according to Warden, in which they would get a cut of the artist’s income from merchandise, touring sales, and publishing. “If you don’t write your own songs, you have zero publishing income. The record company felt it would make good business sense to then turn every artist into a songwriter,” Warden said. 

    He said under this format, Americans would never have heard of legendary artists like Elvis Presley, George Strait, George Jones, and Emmylou Harris. “Because they didn’t write their own songs, they would not be signed today,” he said.

    According to Warden, this format brought an influx of poor songwriters. He called this “the beginning of the creaking of the door open” to reducing music quality.

    “If you have three great songwriters and a sh–ty songwriter on the appointment, the song is pulled down to the quality of the least-talented writer in the room. It is never pulled up to the most talented writer,” he said….” 

    “…“They just put a cowboy hat on it, and put boots on it, and went, ‘Look, it’s country,’” Warden said. “And that is not at all the case….”

    “….Warden said labels have left true country fans behind, pointing to Strait’s recent concert at Texas A&M’s Kyle Field, which broke the record for largest ticketed concert in America with 110,905 fans.

    “There were people from eight to 80 at that show, and those fans didn’t go away or die off or start listening to other stuff,” he said. “They’ve not been given the opportunity to continue to have new music in the music that they love….” 

    More about the new artists bringing back the old style: https://thefederalist.com/2024/12/05/corporate-music-is-killing-classic-country-and-its-american-values/

    Liked by 1 person

  18. This bitch needs to STFU!!! I can’t stand her personally!

    EXCERPT: “Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, has been leading an “aggressive” personal jihad against Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump’s nominee for defense secretary, multiple sources within Trump world with direct knowledge of her outreach to Trump told The Federalist on Wednesday.

    Ernst’s efforts included personal calls to Trump to urge him to dump Hegseth ahead of her meeting with the Army veteran on Wednesday afternoon. Ernst did not tell Hegseth during her meeting with him about her efforts to derail his nomination, sources told The Federalist.

    “She’s waging a campaign to replace Pete with herself,” a Trump source familiar with her phone calls with Trump said.

    Ernst posted a tweet on X following her meeting with Hegseth on Wednesday afternoon. The Iowa senator said she “appreciate[s] Pete Hegseth’s service to our country,” and that they “had a frank and thorough conversation.” She did not, however, say whether she will support his nomination to become defense secretary.

    When pressed on Wednesday by The Hill’s Alex Bolton on whether she’s interested in becoming Trump’s defense secretary, Ernst didn’t give a direct answer, instead saying, “Pete is the nominee,” according to Punchbowl News reporter Andrew Desiderio….”

    “…..Ernst has also come under fire with allegations of an inappropriate extramarital sexual relationship. According to a 2019 Associated Press report, “In the court documents, Ernst’s ex-husband, Gail Ernst, accused her of having an affair with one of her soldiers while she was deployed as a company commander.”

    Ernst has denied the allegations.

    Sources told The Federalist that Ernst began calling Trump within the last two days threatening to get all the female senators to vote against Hegseth if the president-elect didn’t pull his nomination. When asked when exactly Ernst called Trump this week to deliver her anti-Hegseth ultimatum, a source in Trump world sighed and said, “It wasn’t just one time….”

    https://thefederalist.com/2024/12/04/trump-world-sources-joni-ernst-is-waging-aggressive-personal-jihad-against-hegseth/

    Liked by 1 person

    1. she seems like a back stabber. threatening PDJT? who the hell does SHE think she is? she’s doing mitch’s bidding. I said it before, I will say it again…MAKE THEM VOTE PUBLICLY ON THESE NOMINATIONS AND OWN IT. so their constituents can see (and ELON too) who to target

      Liked by 1 person

      2. Not to mention – every single internal Congressional “rule” needs to be publicized and VOTED ON BY THE PEOPLE!!! That is OUR House and Senate!!!!

        Liked by 1 person

  19. EXCERPT: “…..Now, Jonathan Martin of Politico is reporting that Biden WH aides are, according to sources, in fact in discussions about a raft of other, possible pardons: 

    Joe Biden’s senior aides are conducting a vigorous internal debate over whether to issue preemptive pardons to a range of current and former public officials who could be targeted with President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House, according to senior Democrats familiar with the discussions.

    Biden’s aides are deeply concerned about a range of current and former officials who could find themselves facing inquiries and even indictments, a sense of alarm which has only accelerated since Trump last weekend announced the appointment of Kash Patel to lead the FBI. Patel has publicly vowed to pursue Trump’s critics.

    They’re so predictable.

    Of course, it isn’t because the people in question may have done things wrong, it’s because they’ve “angered Trump” and Patel, according to  Martin’s sources. This is pretty far-reaching, who they might try to protect from prosecution. If you thought Hunter’s pardon was stomping on norms, this completely rips them to shreds: 

    The deliberations touch on pardoning those currently in office, elected and appointed, as well as former officials who’ve angered Trump and his loyalists.

    Those who could face exposure include such members of Congress’ Jan. 6 Committee as Sen.-elect Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and former GOP Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming. Trump has previously said Cheney “should go to Jail along with the rest of the Unselect Committee!” Also mentioned by Biden’s aides for a pardon is Anthony Fauci, the former head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases who became a lightning rod for criticism from the right during the Covid-19 pandemic.

    Then if the pardons are as preemptive and broad as Hunter’s, they could absolve them of all kinds of potential criminal behavior. This is a complete repudiation of the rule of law. And as I said, Martin’s column blames the discussions on concerns about “reprisals” and “revenge.” 

    Martin even cites Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) as an example of someone pushing the preemptive pardon angle. Markey dropped the “it’s for the good of the nation” point in a recent interview: 

    “If it’s clear by January 19 that [revenge] is his intention, then I would recommend to President Biden that he provide those preemptive pardons to people, because that’s really what our country is going to need next year,” Markey said on WGBH last week.

    Martin writes other officials he spoke to are as “emphatic” about Biden granting the pardons. 

    What has some Biden aides particularly concerned is that even the threat of retaliation could prove costly to individuals because they’d be forced to hire high-priced lawyers to defend themselves in any potential investigation.

    Especially for those officials without significant means, the specter of six-figure legal bills in the coming years is unnerving. Some Biden appointees, I’m told by people facing scrutiny, are already considering taking the best-paying jobs next year in part to ensure they have the resources to defend themselves against any investigations.

    Gee, you mean like Trump and his associates had to face?….”

    https://redstate.com/nick-arama/2024/12/04/report-on-more-pardons-in-discussion-n2182825

    Liked by 1 person

    1. those pardons can be challenged if they are done to obstruct justice. BUT foreign countries are under no such restrictions to go after them–Fauci can be treated like a war criminal for his role in releasing or creating covid.

      and then too…after being pardoned they can be subpoenaed to testify to what actually happened.

      Liked by 1 person

  20. Oh, FFS! Now they want to unionize pharmacists!!!!

    EXCERPT: “….Like the Longshoremen, the recent example of Big Labor working to organize pharmacists and pharmacy techs highlights a troubling trend in modern union negotiations: Rather than negotiating in good faith to arrive at a solution both sides can live with, unions come to the bargaining table with unrealistic demands they know an employer cannot meet.

    And when it can’t, union officials respond by characterizing the denial/ counteroffer as evidence of “corporate greed” in their sales pitch to convince workers they need a union to protect them.

    The result is more dues-paying members for the union but too often little or no benefit to the workers. 

    Since last spring, American pharmacy workers have been the target of opportunity for union organizers who envision using the same sort of leverage the dock workers did, only more so. If you think a strike becomes personal when it reduces the amount and selection of retail goods available on store shelves, imagine not being able to purchase your insulin or pain meds because your pharmacist is out on the sidewalk in front of Walgreens carrying a picket sign.

    But in an example of how effective businesses operate, CVS recently worked with their employees through numerous meetings to ratify a new agreement that saw an increase in wages, increased health care bonuses for employees and health care benefit protections.  

    As individuals, the country’s longshoremen are conscientious workers with a personal stake in keeping retail shelves stocked with products. Likewise, those who work in pharmacies and drug stores no doubt care deeply about their patients and customers.

    The question is whether that objective is better served by working cooperatively with their employers or being forced to go through a middleman.”

    https://redstate.com/freedom-foundation/2024/12/05/pharmacy-guild-like-dock-workers-union-cares-more-about-control-than-compassion-n2182836

    Liked by 1 person

  21. The fact that deliberations are still on-going in this trial at all is a travesty!!!

    EXCERPT: “NEW YORK — The jurors weighing 26-year-old Marine veteran Daniel Penny’s fate Wednesday asked the judge for another look at three key pieces of evidence in his manslaughter trial…..

    Here’s a look at the evidence jurors asked to see again.

    Daniel Penny’s NYPD interrogation….

    The Vazquez video….

    NYPD bodycam compilation….

    Jurors also asked for the judge to read his instructions again regarding “justification,” whether Penny’s use of force was legally justified given the threat Neely posed. 

    The jury also requested testimony from forensic pathologist Dr. Cynthia Harris on cross-examination from Nov. 15, when she answered the defense about issuing the second death certificate and mentioned she would not have changed her mind even if the tests showed the presence of fentanyl. 

    They asked to hear all testimony until and including the part where she admits she told the grand jury she didn’t know if she observed “consistently sufficient pressure.” 

    https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/daniel-penny-trial-3-pieces-of-evidence-jurors-asked-to-see-again-during-deliberations/ar-AA1vjimq

    Liked by 1 person

    1. “….Mr. Thompson was the subject of a Justice Department investigation for insider trading (via NY Post): 

      UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was one of several senior executives at the company under investigation by the Department of Justice when he was gunned down outside a Manhattan hotel on Wednesday. 

      Thompson — who was killed in what police called a targeted shooting outside the Hilton hotel in Midtown — exercised stock options and sold shares worth $15.1 million on Feb. 16, less than two weeks before news of the federal antitrust probe went public, according to a Crain’s New York Business report from April. 

      The stock price dropped sharply after the revelation that the DOJ was investigating whether the company had made acquisitions that consolidated its market position in violation of antitrust laws, a source familiar with the probe told the outlet. 

      https://townhall.com/tipsheet/mattvespa/2024/12/05/nypd-discovers-a-chilling-clue-in-targeted-killing-of-health-care-ceo-n2648652

      Liked by 1 person

  23. If Hegseth ends up bowing out, I want Trump to nominate Col. MacGregor as head of DoD!!! And anyone who is touting ConRon for that spot is out of their ever-loving mind!!!

    Liked by 1 person

          1. Oh, I know….sometimes THE simplest things just fly away somewhere into the ether! Sucks to get old! Thanks for the card, BTW!

            Like

      2. EXCERPT: “….Lt. Col. Macgregor’s battalion significantly outperformed its colleagues in a November 1993 exercise at the Army’s National Training Center (NTC) at Fort Irwin against the “Opposition Force (OPFOR)”.

        His unit won three, lost one, and drew one of the five battles, which generally result in four defeats and a draw for the visiting units. The group led by Macgregor dispersed widely took unorthodox risks and predicted enemy movements.

        Burke-Macgregor, LLC, a consultancy business with headquarters in Reston, Virginia, employs Macgregor as vice president.

        He contested General James F. Amos’ position in the US Marine Corps in 2012. According to Macgregor, the Marines, and the Army’s XVIII Airborne Corps were both “as relevant as the Army’s horse cavalry in the 1930s” due to their military prowess and pertinence.

        High-ranking commanders are now expected to study MacGregor’s 2003 book, Transformation under Fire, according to Aviv Kochavi, Chief of the Israeli Defense Force General Staff.

        On February 17, 2020, Macgregor made a trip to Israel to meet with the IDF General Staff and a number of senior officers to talk about General Kohavi’s current initiative to reshape the IDF for upcoming 21st-century warfighting missions.

        The White House disclosed Donald Trump’s intention to appoint Macgregor as the United States’ ambassador to Germany on July 27, 2020.

        As part of a significant restructuring of the senior defense staff, the Pentagon said on November 11, 2020, that President Trump had appointed Macgregor to the position of senior advisor to the new Acting Secretary of Defense, Christopher Miller.

        At the time, Macgregor supported Trump’s strategy of withdrawing from Afghanistan, which was opposed by the military establishment.

        Senator Rand Paul, who called Macgregor a buddy, applauded his appointment. Due to Macgregor’s previous remarks disparaging refugees, the appointment generated criticism. He served in that capacity until January 2021, when Trump departed office.

        Macgregor was nominated by President Trump to a three-year term on the advisory board of his alma mater, the United States Military Academy at West Point, in December 2020.

        The appointment was contested by the West Point Black Alumni Association and board member Tammy Duckworth, among others, because of the xenophobic claims made against him. In September 2021, President Joe Biden revoked his appointment….”

        https://www.ngnews247.com/douglas-macgregor-biography-age-height-career-wife-children-net-worth/

        His website: https://ourcountryourchoice.com/

        Liked by 1 person

  25. And yes, that IS a real “thing!” SMDH

    EXCERPT: “Anatidaephobia is the irrational fear that one is constantly being watched by a duck. They believe that somewhere in the world there is a duck that is watching them nonstop around the clock. Someone suffering from anatidaephobia may find the mere thought of a duck watching them to be immensely anxiety provoking to the point to where they may even experience full blown panic attacks.

    Anatidaephobia is likely to be one of the rarer phobias unlike arachnophobia, (fear of spiders), claustrophobia (fear of confined spaces), and acrophobia (fear of heights), among others. Nevertheless, those suffering from full blown anatidaephobia will find day to day life to be quite difficult as they may become extremely paranoid that they are being watched by a duck….”

    https://psychtimes.com/anatidaephobia-fear-of-being-watched-by-a-duck/

    Liked by 1 person

        1. the only legitimate reason for anyone to have any apprehension of foul is if they were bitten or chased as a child. but even then worrying a duck is constantly watching them? some doctor wanted in the annals of medicine as “discovering” a new phobia and some idiot wanted his name int there too is my guess

          Liked by 1 person

  27. Colkitto

    December 5, 2024 10:16 am

    Reply to  Clarion

    The Treachery of VP Mike Pence Explained

    https://www.emerald.tv/p/the-treachery-of-vp-mike-pence-explained

    Olivia Troye And The COVID Vaccines
    “The worst mistake that President Trump made during his administration was probably turning over the COVID Task Force to VP Mike Pence — because Pence turned it over to his chief of staff Marc Short and Marc Short turned it over to a little known national security official with no medical expertise. If you want to know the name of the person most responsible for unleashing the Dr. Fauci vaccine nightmare on America then remember the name of Mike Pence’s “COVID advisor”: Olivia Troye.
    Why was the decision made to treat the COVID virus (developed and funded by the U.S. Government under the thin disguise of the EcoHealth Alliance) exclusively with experimental vaccines (developed with funding from DARPA) instead of therapeutics? Perhaps because Pence picked a national security official to advise him on COVID who regularly appears on TV now with a framed picture of Dr. Fauci hanging prominently behind her in her house.

    Olivia Troye was just as motivated to destroy the Trump Administration as Jennifer Williams, but she didn’t have the same level of interest in protecting VP Mike Pence from the fallout. (Pence’s people probably figured this out the day that Troye appeared in a TV ad announcing that she would vote for Biden.) Once again, Gen. Keith Kellogg was sent out to explain that Olivia Troye was another bad apple that happened to be planted in Pence’s office. (In fact, Kellogg announced that he had personally escorted Troye out of the White House when she was fired.) Troye then started a personal grift operation called the Republican Accountability Project — in which she came out of the closet as a full time political operative for the Democrat Party.
    So that’s three members of VP Mike Pence’s office who engaged in anti-Trump activities during normal business hours. That’s a lot of treachery. Let’s not forget the ringleader of so much of this malice too: Pence’s chief of staff Marc Short.”

    Liked by 1 person

    1. “According to this report, a paltry 6% of the federal workforce “report in-person on a full-time basis” while almost one-third of federal workers are remote on a full-time basis, in a sharp turn-around from the pre-pandemic era in which only 3% teleworked daily, a report from Sen. Joni Ernst’s (R-Iowa) office found. Ernst, who has long crusaded against the rise in remote federal work, is planning to reveal the fruits of her office’s year-and-a-half inquiry to Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) co-heads Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy during their visit to the Capitol Thursday.

      “The nation’s capital is a ghost town, with government buildings averaging an occupancy rate of 12[%],” Ernst wrote in the blistering report. “If federal employees can’t be found at their desks, exactly where are they?”

      “President Biden is setting the example. He was out of office 532 days over the last three-and-a-half years, about 40[%] of the time he was expected to be in the Oval Office.

      Her office collaborated with Open the Books, a non-profit group that advocates for government transparency for taxpayers and claims that the Biden administration redacted the “work locations of over 281,000 rank-and-file federal employees.” Leasing and maintenance costs for federal office buildings as well as the tab to keep them running is about $15.7 billion annually, according to her report.”

      Liked by 1 person

        1. They need to get their asses back into their offices! You know they are only doing half the work while they are at home, IF that!!!

          Like

  30. “What the fuck kinda messaging is this craziness? I have no clue. 

    Fashion Awards called Consani “a trailblazing top model and influencer known for her distinct look, vibrant personality, and role as a leading voice in the fashion industry,” adding that the transgender individual has been modeling since the age of 12, and quickly gained “attention for her striking features and unique presence.”

    In his acceptance speech for Model of the Year, Consani told a star-studded audience at the Royal Albert Hall in London that the win meant a “big step in the right direction,” according to a report by CNN.”

    Liked by 1 person

  31. https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/scotus-transgender-care-ban-12-04-24/index.html

    Our Take: Two interesting takeaways from Wednesday’s SCOTUS oral arguments on gender affirming care stand out to me:

    First, Justice Gorsuch was silent. The rainbow movement was reportedly looking for Gorsuch to signal his position during these arguments.

    The second stand out moment is Justice Alito’s focus on immutability. Alito pressed the parties on whether transgender status is an immutable characteristic — a legal chess move that could shake up the transgender debate and reinforce guardrails on the ever-changing landscape of “protected status.”

    Civil rights protections have evolved through the law over the decades based largely on immutability; that is, these laws build on the idea that one’s unchangeable characteristics cannot lead to the deprivation of their rights. On the basis of race, sex, etc.

    Alito asks a simple but powerful question in the trans debate: If self identification is fluid and can be changed, then how is self identification immutable? If self identification is not immutable, then it follows that self identification does not result in protected status. They have the same ol’ rights as everybody else, and they have full access to these rights just like everybody else.

    The real world result is that transgender individuals lose their imaginary “special rights” that afford them the power to infringe upon the protected rights of others. Like girls in sports or women’s award ceremonies and historical records.

    Checkmate.

    The petitioners may come to regret bringing this question before the High Court; this has the potential to result in a victory for equality, a blow to equity, and a potentially powerful moment of change. It could transform the power dynamics within the transgender debate in much the same way that Loper Bright transformed Chevron and the power dynamics of the administrative state, and how Dobbs transformed Roe and the power dynamics of the abortion industries.

    Transformational change is happening all around us. We’re not even at Day One. — Ashe in America

    Liked by 1 person

  33. No shit, Sherlock!!!

    Just The News: “Americans overwhelmingly oppose President Joe Biden’s pardon that erased his son Hunter’s federal tax and gun convictions, according to a new poll released Thursday.

    Pollster Scott Rasmussen’s Napolitan News Service survey found 62% oppose the pardon, including 41% who strongly opposed it. Only 30% of voters favored Biden’s clemency,

    The poll also found Americans rejected the rational the 46th president offered in explaining his decision,

    Biden has said that Hunter Biden was unfairly targeted by prosecutors for political purposes, but 54% disagreed with his rationale, while 37% agreed.

    Voters were more sympathetic to President-elect Donald Trump, with 46% declaring they believed that the Department of Justice unfairly targeted him under Biden’s leadership, while 42% disagreed.”

    Liked by 1 person

  34. “Why America Needs to Break Wall Street’s Kneecaps: Could a 21st-Century Pecora Commission Do the Trick?”

    Matthew Ehret, Dec 05, 2024

    EXCERPT: “It is more than a little depressing to consider the impending systemic meltdown that immanently presses upon our current world.

    Since the 1971 floating of the U.S. dollar, a once proud and productive western industrial economic system has been increasingly asset stripped by bank deregulation, outsourcing, cheap labor and monetarism into a cult of post industrialism, which has wrecked moral and economic havoc upon the world.

    If America and the western order is to somehow find its moral fitness to survive, and if a world war is to be avoided in the coming near-term future, then certain fundamental banking reforms will be needed. Among the most important of these reforms will be a breaking up of banking activities into two categories under a renewal of the Glass-Steagall bank reform, which was repealed by Bill Clinton in 1999.

    It is known that at the very beginning of Donald Trump’s first term, the new president called for a 21st Century Glass Steagall, saying, “We support reinstating the Glass-Steagall Act of 1933, which prohibits commercial banks from engaging in high-risk investment.”

    Sadly, the deep state in play at that time crushed any further discussion of the topic, and Trump wasn’t able to get the program advanced beyond mere words. The breaking up of bankrupt Wall Street banks with a 21st century Glass-Steagall into two categories would include:

    1) speculative trash and illegitimate usury, which must be “deleted” under a debt jubilee and

    2) legitimate savings and other useful commercial banking activities tied to “real” values, without which society couldn’t sustain itself….”

    https://badlands.substack.com/p/why-america-needs-to-break-wall-streets

    Liked by 1 person

  35. Light pillars in Canada

    Luminescent shores in the Maldives

    Rainbow Eucalyptus

    Bismuth Crystals—bismuth is a solid, highly lustrous grey metal

    Halos

    Liked by 1 person

  37. Ha! this lady has the right idea…

    steph_gray

    December 5, 2024 1:38 pm

    Made my calls to Senate RINOs today about Pete Hegseth.

    Just a couple notes on it. Got through to the swamp offices of Collins & Murkowski, but mailboxes were full there for Joni Ernst & Lindsey Graham, so found local office #s for both of them.

    My messages mentioned two points I heard from Poso today on the warroom. First for all of them was that they were not “honoring Senate tradition” by bringing political stances into the process of Advice & Consent.

    But there was also shaming Linseed for pretending to support PDJT and not doing it. And mentioning his primary in ’26.

    And opining to Joni that if she keeps blocking nominees she just may find that Iowa loses the 250th birthday of the USA now planned to be held there.

    I like to give them food for thought. ☺️

    Like

  38. Glowworm caves in New Zealand

    Sky mirror in Bolivia

    Sakurajima, Japan volcano is just breathtaking when it rains fire and ash.

    Desert roses

    Circumhorizontal Arc

    Liked by 1 person

      2. I do a lot of searches and often try to make a mental note of the site, then forget. Now I try to remember to bookmark them!

        Liked by 1 person

  39. I can’t remember any more what pictures I’ve posted and which ones I haven’t. If there are repeats, at least they’re pretty repeats!!! 😳🤪😏🙄🤔

    Liked by 1 person

    1. OHHH…you just reminded me. at walmart last night i wanted to get a case of water for my mom. so i pushed the cart up to it, and then squatted to get it on the bottom shelf of the cart. the cart backed away a bit, so i pulled it forward. and i pushed the case on–it only went about halfway. then i heard a voice…he said Miss? may i help you? i looked up to see and older gentleman with his wife peering down at me. I said sure and he held the cart handle while i pushed and that did the trick! I thanked him many times and he smiled and walked away.

      so i returned the favor 2 times last night…helping other people. it’s contagious!

      Liked by 1 person

  44. CA earthquake was 7.0; still under tsunami warning right off of Eureka, which is close to the epicenter of the quake….an hour or so from Rodney….😲🙁😖😧😟

    Liked by 1 person

  45. OK – no way Trump would go for this! She’s even worse than I thought!!!

    “Sen. Joni Ernst, who is reportedly lobbying to replace Hegseth as Trump’s SecDef nominee, supports the transing of the military and requiring women to be eligible for the draft. Not entirely surprising she prefers the status quo to Pete Hegseth.”

    Liked by 1 person

    1. United States Sen. Joni Ernst made an appearance on “Firing Line” with Margaret Hoover on Aug. 9. Ernst supported transgender inclusion in the military and expressed her support for requiring females to sign up for the draft. 

      Ernst was asked about her stance against President Donald J. Trump in that she supports transgender inclusion in the military. She added that she disagrees with the idea that the military has become too woke. 

      “When it comes to wokeness in the military, I always push back because our military is not woke,” Ernst said. “I would say that there is civilian leadership of the military that is woke. OK, so there is a difference between the leadership and those that serve in uniform.” 

      Ernst said the military has transgender people serving in the military. 

      “They will bleed red just as the rest of us,” she said. 

      Ernst said if transgender people “bring value” to the unit, then that talent needs to be brought into our services. 

      “I’m looking at what’s good for our nation,” she said. “And believe me, when we’re facing a recruiting challenge right now, if people are physically willing and able to serve our country, we want them to do so.”

      https://townhall.com/tipsheet/mattvespa/2024/12/05/a-very-disappointing-development-regarding-joni-ernst-n2648671

      Like

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