Top Earners Shoulder the Bulk of U.S. Income Tax Burden

In a striking illustration of America’s progressive tax system, a relatively small slice of the population—those in the top 10% of earners—continues to pay a disproportionately large share of federal income taxes.

As of 2024, only 13.1 million households qualified as top earners, roughly 10% of the nation’s 131 million total households. To make the cut, a household needed to earn at least $234,769 annually, while individual filers required a minimum income of around $150,000.

While the top 10% comprises a modest portion of American households, their economic influence is substantial. Members of this income bracket earn significantly more than the average U.S. worker and pay a significant share of total federal income taxes. According to recent tax data, the top 10% is responsible for over 70% of all federal income taxes collected.

The wealth and tax responsibility of the top 1% are even more concentrated. As of 2022, this elite group included just 1.31 million households and 1.78 million individual workers.

The income threshold for entry was steep—around $787,712 annually—and significantly higher in affluent states like California, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, where it exceeded $1 million. In contrast, states with lower living costs, like West Virginia, had thresholds closer to $420,000.

THE BINDER DOCTRINE:
Whitmer’s Surprise Cameo in Trump’s Oval Office Reality Show

In a moment sure to be archived under “Nope, not today”, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer inadvertently pioneered a new political survival tactic: The Binder Shield—the ancient art of blocking your face with office supplies when caught in the wilds of an unscheduled Oval Office press conference.

The presumed 2028 presidential hopeful had come to D.C. to talk about boring, important things like Michigan’s ice storms and tariffs. But before she could say “Great Lakes,” she was whisked into the Trump Show, Season ∞, Episode “Let’s Sign Some Orders and Blame the Deep State.”

There she stood—“glumly,” as the New York Times kindly put it—while the former president monologued like a man who thinks executive orders are collectible baseball cards. Cameras flashed. Whitmer flinched. Then came the moment: face half-obscured by binders, she stared into the middle distance like someone stuck in an elevator with a karaoke machine playing YMCA on loop.

Her team moved faster than a campaign intern at free pizza hour. “The governor was surprised to be brought into the Oval Office without notice,” her spokesperson told CNN, “and her presence is not an endorsement of… well, any of it.”

Trump, of course, took the chance to praise Whitmer as a “very good person” and a “great governor” from the “great state of Michigan.” This is interesting, considering just a few years ago, he publicly lambasted her as “that woman” who dared to blame the federal government during a pandemic—and who was later the target of a literal kidnapping plot by people who took his rhetoric a little too seriously.

Speaking later at a college in Michigan, Whitmer offered a polite-but-pointed “hard pass” on the whole ordeal. “Not my scene, not my script, not where I wanted to be,” she said. “But I stayed in the room to advocate for Michigan. That’s the job.”

Meanwhile, critics—primarily online but increasingly meme-equipped—focused less on policy and more on her well-timed Binder Shield technique. One tweet read, “That’s not just a binder; that’s emotional armour.”

Gefilte Fish:
A ball of ground fish, onions, and matzah meal poached into a taste that only a Jewish mother could love.
Served cold, with horseradish that could dissolve enamel, and often the subject of domestic feuds.
Chilled, poached, and perplexing. Comes with horseradish that could wake the dead. Warning: bones may still be emotionally present.

Kugel:
A casserole made of noodles, potatoes, or whatever survived the Depression. It's usually sweet, but it may contain surprise onions.

“The last time I was at Katz’s Deli, I asked for the truth. They gave me chopped liver.”

Kinsh:
A meal wrapped in a mystery inside a carbohydrate.
Potato, kasha, and one mystery flavor. Lightly baked, heavily judged.

“A shlemiel spills his soup on the schlimazel. And the nudnik is the one who won’t stop talking about it.”

Borscht :
Served with sour cream and existential confusion. Pairs well with memories of your grandmother shouting at beet stains.

“A shlemiel spills his soup on the schlimazel. And the nudnik is the one who won’t stop talking about it.”

Borscht :
Served with sour cream and existential confusion. Pairs well with memories of your grandmother shouting at beet stains.

“My parents didn’t want to waste money on psychotherapy, so they sent me to a deli. Same emotional support, better pastrami.”

Stuffed Cabbage:
Beef, rice, and regret wrapped in boiled cabbage leaves. It smells like Tuesday at Aunt Ida’s and lingers like her opinions.

Mandelbrot:
Jewish biscotti. Twice-baked, three times ignored. May chip a filling.

Water flow regulations for showers in the United States are primarily set by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to conserve water and energy. These regulations limit the maximum flow rate of showerheads sold and installed in the country.

Here’s a breakdown of the key rules and standards:

 1. Federal Showerhead Flow Standard

• Established: 1992 under the Energy Policy Act

• Maximum Flow Rate: 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm) at 80 psi (pounds per square inch) of water pressure

• Applies to all showerheads manufactured and sold in the U.S.

2. EPA WaterSense Standard (Voluntary)

• Launched: 2006

• Maximum Flow Rate: 2.0 gpm

• Must maintain good pressure and spray quality

• Showerheads that meet this standard carry the WaterSense label, meaning they are both efficient and effective

• Voluntary but widely adopted by states, municipalities, and building codes

3. State-Specific Regulations (Stricter in Some States)

Some states have gone further than the federal rule to encourage conservation:

California

• Current standard: 1.8 gpm

• Enacted during severe drought conditions and is now permanent

• Applies to showerheads sold or installed in the state

Washington

• Adopted 1.8 gpm standard, similar to California

New York

• Follows federal standard (2.5 gpm), but some city buildings (like in NYC) install low-flow heads for savings

Colorado, Hawaii, Vermont, and Oregon

• Also have adopted 2.0 gpm or 1.8 gpm max flow standards

4. Multi-Head Showers

• A 2010 federal clarification states that combined flow from all active heads in a multi-head system must not exceed 2.5 gpm unless each head is controlled separately.

5. Exemptions and Modifications

• Older homes may still have higher-flow heads unless updated

• Some commercial or institutional uses (like gyms or hotels) may have customized plumbing allowances but still must follow sale/manufacture restrictions

Why It Matters:

• Reducing flow from 2.5 to 2.0 gpm can save thousands of gallons of water per year

• Also reduces energy costs (less hot water used)

• EPA estimates households can save up to $70 per year just by switching to a WaterSense-certified showerhead

• the US allows a higher maximum flow than most other developed countries.

• Canada, Australia, and Singapore have stricter limits, often between 6–9 L/min.

• European countries generally don’t have mandatory flow restrictions yet, but eco-certifications (like BREEAM or LEED) push for more efficient fixtures.

• Water-scarce nations (e.g., South Africa, Israel, and parts of Australia) tend to enforce lower limits and strict conservation practices.

Madrid Restaurant Shut Down for Serving Street Pigeons as “Duck”

A Chinese restaurant in Madrid’s Usera district has been shut down after police discovered it was serving street pigeons disguised as roast duck.

During a late March raid on the Jin Gu restaurant, authorities found plucked pigeons, questionable meat, and illegally obtained sea creatures in a hidden, cockroach-infested storeroom. Police believe the pigeons were caught locally and prepared in the kitchen without proper documentation.

“It’s not illegal to breed pigeons in Spain, but there was no paperwork—so we’re confident they were taken from the streets,” according to a police spokesman.

Behind a sliding shelf in a filthy bathroom, officers uncovered a concealed room where defrosted meat strips were drying on a clothes rack. Eight broken freezers were crammed with untraceable meat, fish, and possibly banned sea cucumbers. Bags of bivalve mollusks believed to come from Asian wetlands were also found, along with rat traps baited with rotting meat.

Police said the hidden room contained over a ton of illegal food products.

Though open for over ten years and with some positive online reviews, the restaurant has also drawn complaints of strange-tasting ducks and poor hygiene. One review warned of “terrible food” and an unclean kitchen, while another claimed family members became ill after eating there.

The unnamed owner is under investigation for public health violations and trafficking in protected species.

Turning Moon Dust into Solar Panels:
A Step Toward a Sustainable Lunar Base -

As humans prepare to return to the Moon, scientists are exploring innovative methods to make lunar living more sustainable. One emerging idea attracting attention involves transforming the Moon’s surface dust—known as lunar regolith—into glass suitable for manufacturing solar panels.

With NASA’s Artemis 3 mission targeting a Moon landing for astronauts in 2026 and plans for a longer-term lunar base, establishing a reliable power source on the Moon is vital. Transporting solar panel materials from Earth would be costly and complex. Therefore, a team of researchers has suggested a solution that utilises what is already present: moon dust.

The idea is to utilise a type of solar technology known as perovskite solar cells. These differ from traditional silicon solar cells. Perovskites possess a unique crystal structure that enhances their efficiency in converting sunlight into electricity. They are also lightweight, flexible, and simpler to manufacture than silicon panels, making them ideal for use in space, where weight and durability are essential.

To enhance the effectiveness and durability of these panels on the Moon, scientists propose developing a protective layer of “moonglass”—glass derived from melted lunar regolith. This glass could serve as a substrate (the base material for solar cells) and a shield to protect the panels from space radiation, extreme temperatures, and micrometeorite impacts.

The production process would utilise a solar furnace on the Moon. This device, constructed with mirrors or lenses to focus sunlight, would transform the Moon dust into usable glass. Since lunar regolith requires minimal purification, the process could be straightforward compared to glass production on Earth.

What makes this approach so promising is its In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) aspect, which means it uses local materials instead of relying on supplies from Earth. This reduces costs, eliminates long-distance transportation, and paves the way for scalable energy production on the Moon.

Ultimately, this could support habitats, research stations, and manufacturing facilities on the lunar surface. If successful, this technology may also be applied on planets like Mars, where transferring supplies from Earth would be even more challenging.

In short, by converting moon dust into glass and integrating it with advanced solar technology, scientists are making a significant leap toward establishing a self-sustaining presence in space.

Fluoride has been added to public drinking water supplies in the U.S. since 1945 to prevent tooth decay, a practice supported by many health organizations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that fluoridated water decreases cavities by about 25% in both children and adults. 

The American Dental Association (ADA) also supports water fluoridation, citing its safety and effectiveness in preventing tooth decay. 

However, recent discussions have raised concerns about potential health risks associated with fluoride. Some studies suggest that excessive fluoride exposure may lead to dental fluorosis (a cosmetic discoloration of teeth) and, at very high levels, skeletal fluorosis (affecting bones). Additionally, research has indicated a possible link between high fluoride exposure and lower IQ scores in children, though these findings are primarily associated with fluoride levels higher than those recommended in U.S. water supplies. 

In April 2025, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. directed the CDC to stop recommending water fluoridation, citing these potential health concerns. 

This move has sparked debate among public health officials and organizations. The ADA reaffirmed its support for water fluoridation, emphasizing its role in preventing dental disease and promoting overall health. 

Major Stock Market Crashes & Recoveries

1929 – The Great Depression

• Crash: Dow Jones lost nearly 90% from 1929 to 1932.

• Recovery time: It took 25 years for the market to return to 1929 highs (not until 1954) fully.

• Why it took so long: Deep recession, policy mistakes (tight money, tariffs), and a lack of strong safety nets.

1973–74 Oil Crisis & Stagflation

• Crash: S&P 500 lost 48% over two years.

• Recovery time: About 6 years to return to previous highs (1980).

• Cause: OPEC oil embargo, inflation, unemployment, and loss of investor confidence.

2000 – Dot-Com Bubble

• Crash: Nasdaq fell 78% from its peak in March 2000 to 2002.

• Recovery time: About 15 years for the Nasdaq fully recovers (2015).

• What happened: Overvaluation of tech companies with no earnings, mass speculation.

2008 – Global Financial Crisis

• Crash: S&P 500 dropped 57% from Oct 2007 to March 2009.

• Recovery time: It took about 4–5 years to recover (2012–2013) fully.

• Trigger: Housing bubble collapse, toxic mortgage-backed securities, and global banking crisis.

2020 – COVID-19 Pandemic Crash

• Crash: S&P 500 plunged 34% in just 33 days (Feb–March 2020).

• Recovery time: Just 5 months — a record-fast rebound.

• Why? Massive central bank intervention (Fed stimulus), government relief packages, and vaccine optimism.

A landmine-detecting rat in Cambodia has set a new world record as the first rodent to detect over 100 mines and other dangerous remnants of war.

Ronin, an African giant pouched rat, has uncovered 109 landmines and 15 items of unexploded ordnance since 2021, charity Apopo, which trains the animals, said in a statement.

Cambodia remains littered with millions of unexploded munitions following about 20 years of civil war that ended in 1998.

The Guinness Book of World Records said that Ronin's "crucial work" makes a real difference to people who have had to live with the "fear that one misstep while going about their day-to-day lives could be their last."

Apopo, which is based in Tanzania, currently has 104 rodent recruits, or HeroRATS, as the non-profit likes to call them.

The rats are trained to sniff out chemicals found in landmines and other weapons abandoned on battlefields. Because of their small size, the rats are not heavy enough to detonate the mines.

The charity says the rats can check an area the size of a tennis court in about 30 minutes, whereas a human with a metal detector might take four days to clear the same area.

They can also detect tuberculosis, an infectious disease that commonly affects the lungs, far quicker than it would be found in a lab using conventional microscopy, Apopo says.

Ronin's impressive work in Cambodia's northern Preah Vihear province has surpassed the previous record held by Magawa, a rat who sniffed out 71 mines and was presented with a gold medal for his heroism in 2020.

Since its 25-year-old beginning, Apopo has cleared 169,713 landmines and other explosives worldwide, more than 52,000 of which have been in Cambodia. The charity also works in other countries affected by war, including Ukraine, South Sudan, and Azerbaijan.

There are still an estimated four to six million landmines and other exploded munitions buried in Cambodia, according to the Landmine Monitor.

The largest set of demonstrations ever held in the U.S. is widely considered to be the Women’s March on January 21, 2017 — the day after Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration.

Women’s March (2017)

• Estimated turnout: Between 3.3 million and 5.2 million people across the U.S.

• Largest single-day protest in U.S. history

• Main issues: Women's rights, reproductive rights, immigration, healthcare, LGBTQ+ rights, racial justice, and opposition to Trump’s policies

• Number of events: Over 650 marches took place in all 50 states

• The largest gatherings were in:

  • Washington, D.C. (~500,000)

  • Los Angeles (~750,000)

  • New York City (~400,000)

  • Chicago (~250,000)

The Ordre National du Mérite (National Order of Merit) is a distinguished French honour established by President Charles de Gaulle on December 3, 1963. It recognises individuals with distinguished merits in public service, military endeavours, or private sector activities.

Structure of the Order: The order is organized into five levels:

1. Chevalier (Knight)

2. Officier (Officer)

3. Commandeur (Commander)

4. Grand Officier (Grand Officer)

5. Grand-Croix (Grand Cross)

These distinctions are awarded to French citizens and foreign nationals who have significantly contributed to France or its interests.

Notable Recipients: Over the years, the Ordre National du Mérite has been conferred upon numerous prominent individuals, including:

• James Gerard: friend, and leader of the AOMDA, securing Franco-American relations in the common cause of friendship, liberty and democracy.

• Jacques Cousteau: Renowned oceanographer and filmmaker honoured with the Grand Croix for his contributions to marine science.

• Michel Sardou: Celebrated French singer and songwriter recognized for enriching French music.

• Jean Gabin: Iconic French actor awarded for his significant contributions to cinema.

• Bernard Duhaime: Acknowledged for his dedication to human rights and international law.

Medal Design: The Ordre National du Mérite's insignia features a six-armed Maltese asterisk in blue enamel, centred with a medallion bearing the Republic's effigy. The reverse side displays the motto "Ordre National du Mérite." The medal is suspended from a ribbon of blue silk moiré, symbolizing the order's prestige.

According to a new report by the European Space Agency (ESA), the growing threat of human-made debris in orbit worsened significantly in 2024. The number of tracked space debris objects rose by approximately 8% last year, reaching around 40,000, with countless smaller fragments still capable of damaging satellites or spacecraft.

The report highlights a particularly alarming incident in August: a Chinese Long March 6A rocket exploded, generating one of the largest clouds of orbital debris in decades. Events like this and lingering pieces of defunct rockets, satellites, and other hardware have created a hazardous environment for satellite operators such as SpaceX’s Starlink and Eutelsat Communications’ OneWeb, which deliver the internet from low-Earth orbit.

“The amount of space debris in orbit continues to rise quickly,” ESA warned, citing “several major fragmentation events” in 2024 that contributed to the accelerating clutter.

With more companies—including Amazon.com Inc., Telesat Corp., and various state-owned Chinese enterprises—racing to build satellite constellations, regulators in Europe and the U.S. have tightened rules. 

One key mandate now requires satellite operators to deorbit unused satellites within five years to reduce long-term collision risks in an increasingly crowded orbital neighbourhood.

American patients undergo an estimated 40 million MRI scans each year to help diagnose cancer, brain and spinal cord injuries, strokes, and heart conditions. 

The superconducting magnet-powered imaging machines provide doctors with clear, high-resolution images of areas inside the body that cannot be seen on X-rays and CT scans. However, MRI machines cannot maintain magnet cooling to generate these images without liquid helium, the Earth's coldest element. 

Three of five U.S. helium suppliers are rationing the element to prioritise life-or-death uses like MRI machines over less-essential uses like keeping party balloons afloat. 

The cost of helium has already increased by more than 400% in five years. 

Helium is essential in various stages of semiconductor manufacturing, primarily because of its high thermal conductivity and inert characteristics.

Its capacity to quickly cool chips during production renders it indispensable, significantly as semiconductor nodes shrink and become more efficient.

With emerging industries like electric vehicles and 5G telecommunications fueling semiconductor innovation, the demand for helium is expected to rise dramatically.

Helium's inert nature and ability to remain a gas even at extremely low temperatures make it ideal for pressuring liquid hydrogen and other fuel tanks in rockets, ensuring efficient fuel flow to the engines. 
 
Helium is used in cryogenic systems to maintain instruments and engines at optimal temperatures, especially in spacecraft and satellites. 
 
Helium is a purge gas to clean out rocket engines and other systems. 
 
Helium's small atomic size allows it to escape easily through even the tiniest openings, making it valuable for testing leaks in critical systems. 
 
Helium's buoyant properties are essential for high-altitude balloons in atmospheric research and communications. 
 
The Space Shuttle made extensive use of helium to pressurise various systems. 

NASA uses helium to separate hot gases from ultra-cold liquid fuel during rocket lift-off. 
 

Sourcing helium domestically or from Canada is the easiest and most economical option. Transit time is crucial: If the shipment takes 35 to 48 days, the liquid helium will evaporate. 

The two other most enormous helium reserves are in Qatar and Russia.
The U.S. hasn’t been able to tap into Russia’s helium supply because of strained trade relations and the war in Ukraine. Meanwhile, attacks on ships in the Red Sea by Yemen’s Houthi rebels have forced Qatar to send liquified natural gas shipments, which contain helium, around the Cape of Good Hope, a route that adds at least 20 days to the journey. 

There is a finite amount of helium on Earth. The largest reserves are in massive underground pockets in Algeria, Qatar, Russia, and the U.S. 

Hooters of America is $300 million in debt, and is filing for bankruptcy. In 2024, it closed about 40 locations in the United States.

Hooters was founded by six businessmen: Lynn D. Stewart, Gil DiGiannantonio, Ed Droste, Billy Ranieri, Dennis Johnson, and Ken Wimmer. They opened the first Hooters restaurant in Clearwater, Florida on October 4, 1983.

They referred to themselves humorously as the "Hooters Six" and originally started the restaurant as a fun, tongue-in-cheek project, not expecting it to become a national chain.

Hooters grew into a massive international brand from that single Clearwater, Florida location. Here's a quick look at how big it got at its peak:

Peak Size & Reach

• Over 430 locations worldwide

• 29 countries including the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Australia, Japan, and several in Europe, South America, and the Middle East

• At its height in the early 2000s, it was a pop culture phenomenon with branded merchandise, calendars, and even its own airline for a short time (yes, Hooters Air, launched in 2003)

Business Model & Appeal

• Famous for its "Hooters Girls" — a controversial but central part of the brand identity

• Focused on casual dining with burgers, wings, beer, and sports on TV

• Targeted primarily toward a male demographic

Decline & Challenges

• The brand has seen declining popularity in recent years due to:

• Changing cultural attitudes

• Increased competition from other sports bars and restaurants

• Trouble attracting younger generations

British police assisted in capturing a submarine transporting 6.5 tonnes of cocaine to Europe, marking one of the largest drug busts of its kind.

The vessel had departed from Brazil when it was captured by Portuguese police in the Atlantic Ocean, 500 nautical miles south of the Azores Islands.

Five crew members from Brazil, Colombia, and Spain were arrested and transferred to the Portuguese island of São Miguel.

Officials stated that the submarine contained £530 million worth of cocaine.

A Portuguese newspaper reported that it was one of the largest semi-submersibles ever built to transport the drug from South America to Europe.

“The traffickers planned to collect the drugs near the coast using high-speed vessels and smuggle them ashore,” stated Spain’s Guardia Civil.

Spanish authorities, who alerted the Portuguese, noted it was the first time a drug-running semi-submersible had been intercepted in the open sea.

“The transatlantic movement of semi-submersibles is increasingly frequent, with several cases in recent years,” Spain’s Guardia Civil said.

“These types of vessels are difficult to detect and often carry a large amount of cocaine… the crew can easily sink them if caught, making it more difficult to recover the drugs as evidence of the crime.”

Europe is the largest cocaine market after the US, with hundreds of homemade submarines being launched to the continent since the practice began two decades ago.

In 2019, the discovery of a submarine carrying 3.3 tonnes of cocaine off the coast of Spain was described by police as the first “narco-submarine” to be intercepted in Europe.

The latest bust, dubbed Operation Nautilus, also involved the Portuguese Air Force, the UK’s National Crime Agency, the US Drug Enforcement Administration and the Lisbon-based Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre, of which Britain is a part.

Cocaine was one of the first effective local anaesthetics, and ophthalmology (eye surgery and treatment) was one of the first medical fields to adopt it widely.

Cocaine in Eye Treatments

• In the 1880s, doctors discovered that cocaine could numb the surface of the eye without affecting its function — a huge breakthrough.

• In 1884, Viennese ophthalmologist Karl Koller famously used a cocaine solution to perform eye surgery without general anaesthesia.

• This allowed for precise operations and was much safer than previous methods, often involving ether, chloroform, or nothing.

• Cocaine became standard in eye surgeries for a time — not just to numb the eye, but to reduce bleeding and irritation.

Sigmund Freud (yes, that Freud) was a big proponent of cocaine’s medical uses, including for mood elevation and nerve disorders. But Karl Koller, Freud’s colleague, applied it to ophthalmology and changed surgery forever.

Eventually, due to addiction issues and the development of safer alternatives (like procaine, aka Novocaine), cocaine fell out of favor medically — but its role in eye care was a significant part of its early reputation as a “miracle drug.”

Want to see what other weird things doctors used before modern anaesthetics?

The Code Talkers: Unsung Heroes of Wartime Communication

Overview

The Code Talkers were Native American soldiers who played a pivotal role in U.S. military operations during both World Wars—most notably World War II—by using their Indigenous languages to create secure, unbreakable codes for battlefield communication.

These contributions were vital in ensuring operational secrecy and success, especially in the Pacific Theater.

Origins and Development

The concept began in World War I, when Choctaw soldiers used their language to transmit coded messages. The success of this method led to its revival and expansion during World War II.

The most famous Code Talkers were from the Navajo Nation, recruited by the U.S. Marine Corps in 1942. Other tribes involved included the Cherokee, Choctaw, Comanche, Hopi, Meskwaki, and others.

Why Native Languages?

• Many Indigenous languages were unwritten, complex, and unfamiliar to outsiders.

• They lacked standardized alphabets or dictionaries, making them impossible for Axis codebreakers to decipher.

• Native speakers could communicate messages instantly, far more efficiently than encryption devices like the Enigma machine.

The Navajo Code

• Developed by 29 original Navajo recruits, the Navajo code included over 600 terms for military communication.

• It was never broken by the enemy, making it one of the most secure communication systems in modern military history.

• A typical message that takes 30 minutes to encrypt and decrypt by a machine can be sent and understood in under a minute by Code Talkers.

Key Battles

Navajo Code Talkers played critical roles in:

• Guadalcanal

• Iwo Jima

• Saipan

• Okinawa

At Iwo Jima, Major Howard Connor stated, "Were it not for the Navajos, the Marines would never have taken Iwo Jima."

Post-War Recognition

Code Talkers were sworn to secrecy despite their heroism and received little recognition for decades.

Eventually, they were honored:

• 2000: President Bill Clinton awarded the original 29 Navajo Code Talkers with the Congressional Gold Medal.

• 2008: The Code Talkers Recognition Act honored all Native American Code Talkers from both World Wars.

FYI: THE FDA IS NOT A-OK

Top F.D.A. Vaccine Official Resigns, Citing Kennedy’s ‘Misinformation and Lies’

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been crucial in protecting public health in the United States for over a century. Here are some of the most noteworthy actions and milestones in its history:

🏛️ 1. 1906 – Formation of the FDA (Pure Food and Drug Act)

• The FDA was born out of public outcry over unsafe food and medicine, largely thanks to Upton Sinclair’s novel The Jungle.

• The Pure Food and Drug Act prohibited the sale of misbranded or adulterated food and drugs and led to the creation of the FDA’s earliest form.

💊 2. 1938 – Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act

• Approved after more than 100 people died from a toxic ingredient in Elixir Sulfanilamide.

• Required drugs to be proven safe before marketing.

• Gave the FDA authority over cosmetics and medical devices for the first time.

🧪 3. 1962 – Drug Efficacy Amendment (Kefauver-Harris Amendment)

• It passed after the thalidomide disaster in Europe, which caused birth defects.

• The required drugs must be proven effective and safe before approval.

• Introduced stricter clinical trial regulations and informed consent for patients.

💉 4. 1987–1992 – HIV/AIDS and Accelerated Drug Approvals

• In response to the AIDS crisis, the FDA began accelerating drug approval processes for life-threatening conditions.

• Approved AZT (zidovudine), the first major AIDS treatment, in just 20 months.

• Introduced Expanded Access Programs to allow patients early access to experimental drugs.

🧬 5. 1997 – FDA Modernization Act

• Streamlined drug approval and expanded access to experimental treatments.

• Encouraged innovation in drug and biologics development, particularly in oncology.

🥬 6. 2011 – Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)

• Shifted the FDA’s focus from reacting to contamination to preventing it.

• Strengthened oversight of both domestic and imported food.

🧫 7. 2017 – First Gene Therapy Approved

• The FDA approved Kymriah, the first gene therapy for a type of leukaemia.

• Marked a new era in personalized medicine and biotech innovation.

💉 8. 2020–2021 – COVID-19 Vaccine Emergency Use Authorizations

• The FDA granted Emergency Use Authorizations (EUAs) for COVID-19 vaccines like Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna.

• Played a central role in vaccine safety monitoring, public communications, and combatting misinformation during the pandemic.

🧠 9. 2021 – Approval of Controversial Alzheimer’s Drug (Aduhelm)

• Approved despite conflicting clinical trial results, sparking debate over FDA standards, transparency, and relationships with pharma.

🚭 10. Tobacco Regulation

• The FDA has been authorized to regulate tobacco products under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act since 2009.

• Implemented rules on flavoured tobacco, graphic warning labels, and e-cigarette oversight.

Alaska’s Mount Spurr is about to erupt. Be ready.

That’s the current message from the Alaska Volcano Observatory. Continued unrest at the volcano roughly 75 miles west of Anchorage within the Tordrillo Mountains leads officials to warn residents of an impending eruption.

The group wrote in an update that it is “monitoring activity at Mount Spurr for signals indicating that the volcano is moving closer to an eruption.

”Uncertainty continues at the volcano, as seismic activity “remained elevated with numerous small, shallow volcanic earthquakes detected beneath the volcano.”

Still, the eruption may not come immediately. Based on previous eruptions, experts said they expect to see additional ground deformation and fumarolic activity as the magma moves closer to the surface of the 11,000-foot-tall mountain.

“If an eruption occurred,” officials wrote, “it would be preceded by additional signals allowing warning.”

Even with that caveat, the group said now is a good time for residents of South Central Alaska to familiarise themselves with the possible hazards of a Mount Spurr eruption, the biggest of which is ashfall.

Other hazards from an eruption impact only the areas immediately surrounding the volcano.

The pyroclastic flow—a molten mix of ash, rock, and gas moving at high speeds—could mix with additional mudflows for immediate danger in the area around the volcano.

While no residential areas are in the immediate vicinity, some are popular recreational sites.

“Anyone considering a visit to the area around Spurr should be aware of these hazards, keep up to date with Spurr activity,” the group posted on X (formerly Twitter), “and obey any restrictions that might be put in place by land and emergency managers.”

The warning level for the mountain’s activity moved from green to yellow in October 2024, following months of unrest and the formation of a small lake in the summit crater in the summer of 2024.

Canadians Are Traveling Less to the U.S.—and It’s Starting to Show

Canadians have long been the top international travellers to the United States. But now, many are choosing to stay home.

The shift began after former President Donald Trump announced tariffs on Canada. In response, then–Prime Minister Justin Trudeau encouraged Canadians to vacation domestically and explore their own country instead. The message resonated.

According to preliminary data from Statistics Canada, Canadian residents made 13% fewer air trips to the U.S. in February than last year. Land-border crossings decreased even more sharply—down 23% year over year.

The trend isn't limited to Canada. Other countries have also updated their travel advisories in light of recent U.S. policies and detentions.

Germany has updated its travel guidance for the U.S., warning that violations of entry rules could now lead to denial of entry and arrest or detention.

At least three German citizens—including one who holds a U.S. green card—have reportedly been detained for extended periods despite a lack of clear violations of visa or immigration rules.

One such incident took place at Boston’s Logan Airport.

The UK Foreign Office has also strengthened its advice. British traveller Becky Burke, a tourist from Wales, was held for three weeks after being stopped at the U.S.–Canada border while backpacking across America.

Last week, members of the UK Subs, a British punk band, were refused entry and detained at Los Angeles International Airport.

Even before these incidents, tourism forecasts for the U.S. had been downgraded.

Tourism Economics, an industry analytics firm, revised its 2024 forecast from a projected 5% increase to a 9% decrease in international visits.

The group cited “polarising policies and rhetoric of the Trump administration,” particularly regarding tariffs, as key factors.

The climate of concern deepened recently when Denmark and Finland issued travel advisories for transgender travellers.

These advisories followed changes in U.S. State Department rules aligned with a Trump administration policy recognising only two genders.

Denmark advised travellers with passports marked with an “X” gender designation to consult the U.S. embassy before travelling.

Finland warned that travellers whose gender identity has changed might not be permitted entry.

Canadians express that it’s not only the tariffs but also the rhetoric that concerns them.

Trump’s previous comments about annexation have alarmed and offended many, reinforcing their choice to steer clear of the U.S. altogether.

Reports of prolonged detentions of tourists and even green card holders have further strengthened that resolve.

The impact of this informal boycott could be significant. In 2024, Canadians made approximately 20.2 million trips to the U.S.

According to the U.S. Travel Association, a 10% decline in Canadian travel could cost the U.S. economy $2 billion and result in 14,000 job losses.

The ancient Mediterranean world documented the use of perfumes for the human body and for creating scented environments.

However, this study explores the lesser-known practice of using perfumes on living beings and sculptures. 

Ancient sculptures were not only polychrome and adorned but, in some cases, also scented, creating an experience that engaged both the visuals and the olfactory senses.

Ancient perfumes were denser than modern ones because their base was typically a plant-derived oil or, less commonly, animal fat, in contrast to today’s alcohol-based formulas. 

This is particularly relevant when considering their use on sculptures, as these oily substances were applied like balms or creams, not poured.

Some inscriptions specifically mention the use of myron rhodion, a perfume made from roses. Popular since Homeric times, it was one of the most highly regarded perfumes.

Theophrastos described it as a light fragrance best suited for men, containing rose petals, schoinos, aspalathos, kalamos, and salt.

Dioscurides provided a recipe for myron rhodinon involving oil mixed with schoinos, dry rose petals, and honey. 

The petals were kneaded and pressed, then left overnight; the mixture was strained and reused with fresh petals for several batches.

Pliny noted that rose perfumes were widely adopted and relatively simple, made from common roses. 

Later recipes featured rose blossoms, alamos, honey, sweet rush (incus), and occasionally anchors (alkanet) or cinnabar for colour. Salt was used to slow decay.

Perfumed oils were not the only method for scenting sculptures; flowery wreaths and garlands also served as adornment.

These were common in Greek and Roman life, often made of roses and violets, which added fragrance. Both men and women wore them during festive, secular, and religious events.

Funerary wreaths adorned the deceased. While most organic examples have decayed, miniature versions of lead, terracotta, and gold have survived, particularly in tombs.

Precious metal wreaths also served as temple offerings, as noted in temple inventories, and may have been worn by priests or guests during rites or placed on cult statues.

One prominent example is the Rosalia, or Rosaria, festival, which celebrates roses during the Roman Empire. Roses were widely used in both public and private festive settings.

The Rosalia was not celebrated on a fixed date but typically took place from May to mid-July, aligning with the blooming of roses. 

These festivals are noted in various texts, with the earliest references dating back to the reign of Domitian.

Therefore, in addition to their visual allure, ancient sculptures engaged multiple senses, including smell.

Scented oils and fragrant garlands transformed static images into multisensory experiences, blurring the boundaries between art and ritual and between human and divine.