Here we are right before cold and flu season and the FDA has done a study and found that the active ingredient in some cold medications, Phenylephrine, does not work. 

Quote:A decongestant used by millions of Americans looking for relief from a stuffy nose is likely no better than a dummy pill, say government experts who reviewed the latest research on the long-questioned drug ingredient.

Quote: The same researchers also challenged the drug's effectiveness in 2007, but the FDA allowed the products to remain on the market pending additional research.

https://lists.youmaker.com/links/QVP9KMe...Y6qt09fwYX

Quote:Here's How Much Social Security Payments Will Increase in 2024 Under New Estimate

A group estimated that Social Security recipients will see higher payments in 2024 as the yearly cost-of-living adjustment will be announced in October.
Blank Social Security checks are run through a printer at the U.S. Treasury printing facility in Philadelphia, Pa., on Feb. 11, 2005. (William Thomas Cain/Getty Images)

By Jack Phillips
9/15/2023
Updated:
9/15/2023
Hotter-than-anticipated inflation numbers in August will likely push Social Security recipients' payments higher in 2024, coming just weeks before the Social Security Administration releases its cost-of-living adjustment.
The Senior Citizens League said Wednesday that the likely Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will be 3.2 percent for benefit payments in 2024. That would average out to about a $57 increase in extra benefits, raising them to about $1,790 for the average recipient, it estimated in a press release.
The 3.2 percent COLA is far lower than the 8.7 percent that was received for 2023's payments, which was the highest increase in about four decades, according to the group. However, the estimated 2024 COLA would be higher than the 2.6 percent average over the past 20 years, it said.

In August, the league had predicted that, based on inflation, the COLA would be 3 percent. That came before the Department of Labor released its August inflation numbers.
The Social Security Administration is expected to announce the COLA for 2024's benefits sometime in October, with the increased payments coming next January. The agency uses the Consumer Price Index (CPI) that measures inflation during the months of July, August, and September before making its decision.
Mary Johnson, with the Senior Citizens League, told USA Today that despite the decades-high COLA for 2023, retirees haven't been able to recover the losses incurred by recent high inflation. In mid-2022, the CPI hit 40-year highs in the wake of multiple trillion-dollar spending packages, supply-chain issues, exceptionally high gas prices, and the aftermath of pandemic-related chaos.
Seniors Can't Keep Up
While inflation has slowed in 2023, it has remained stubbornly high—especially when compared with much of the 2010s and 2000s.
Major Warning Given on Social Security Checks | Facts Matter



“Inflation was so severe in 2021 and 2022 that the average Social Security benefit fell behind by $1,054, leaving 53 percent of retirees doubting they will recover because household costs rose more than the dollar amount of their COLAs,” Ms. Johnson told the outlet.
Elsewhere, she noted that among recipients, there are "two different groups," adding: "There are the planners who put money aside, maybe worked for companies that had pensions," reported Newsweek. "They may have a 401k or worked in the military and had retiree benefits. And then there's the other side."
Ms. Johnson also noted that some Social Security recipients also have to pay taxes. A survey in July found that about 23 percent of respondents paid taxes on a portion of their Social Security benefits for the first time during this past tax season, and it's likely that figure may jump due to last year's COLA increase.

“We expect the number who pay tax on a portion of their Social Security benefits to jump even more as next year’s tax season reflects the 8.7 percent COLA increase in 2023,” she told USA Today.

Medicare Premiums
Estimated COLA figures don't include the anticipated rise in Medicare costs, according to the group. The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services also announces Medicare premium adjustments in the fall as well.
"The bottom line for retirees won’t be known until Medicare premiums are announced, which is typically in November. The Social Security Administration automatically deducts Medicare Part B premiums from Social Security benefits before the benefits are received," the Senior Citizens League said in its release.
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The group forecast that most Medicare Plan B beneficiaries will see their premium rise by approximately $15 per month as compared with 2023, according to the group. But it stipulated that "other costs" may drive monthly premiums up even more.
In March, the Medicare Trustees predicted that Plan B premiums will increase to $174.80 next year, or up about $$164 from 2023.
Rates Could Rise
The prediction comes as Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said late last month that the central bank may need to raise interest rates even more to cool still-too-high inflation, coming after it raised rates again in July.
"We will proceed carefully as we decide whether to tighten further or, instead, to hold the policy rate constant and await further data," Mr. Powell said in a keynote address in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. "It is the Fed’s job to bring inflation down to our 2 percent [inflation] goal, and we will do so."
Since March 2022, the Fed has raised rates by 5.25 percentage points in a bid to curb inflation. "We are prepared to raise rates further if appropriate, and intend to hold policy at a restrictive level until we are confident that inflation is moving sustainably down toward our objective," he said last month, according to Reuters.
This week, Reuters also polled economists on when exactly the Fed will start lowering rates. About 87 percent predicted that the central bank would cut rates by the middle of 2024

Quote:Well, now......here's something I never knew before, and now that I know it, I feel compelled to send it on to my more intelligent friends in the hope that they, too, will feel edified.

Before the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, the French, anticipating victory over the English, proposed to cut off the middle finger of all captured English soldiers. Without the middle finger it would be impossible to draw the renowned English longbow and therefore they would be incapable of fighting in the future. This famous English longbow was made of the native English Yew tree, and the act of drawing the longbow was known as 'plucking the yew' (or 'pluck yew').
Much to the bewilderment of the French, the English won a major upset, and they began mocking the French by waving their middle fingers at the defeated French, saying, See, we can still pluck yew! Since 'pluck yew' is rather difficult to say, the difficult consonant cluster at the beginning has gradually changed to a labiodental fricative 'F', and thus the words often used in conjunction with the one-finger-salute! It is also because of the pheasant feathers on the arrows used with the longbow that the symbolic gesture is known as 'giving the bird.'
And yew thought yew knew every plucking thing ...

I just started this  story of an unlikely Survivor...I did like the first few minutes..enjoy

The video starts with Tucker in Argentina where the Peso has tanked . He exchanges $100 for a bag full of Pesos at a black market exchange; he would have got maybe 1/2 bag if he would have gone to a bank or a government exchange.

He ties their problems with printing money into our USA problems and inflation.

Michigan idiot leadership and even Texas as promises are made but are empty.
 Video runs until about 17:10 then goes weird with a Chinese ?? advertisement ??

This is blowing up on Reddit.

https://reddit.com/r/aliens/s/KSbtR1pWS2

Basically these dessicated bodies, about 20 of them, were found in a compound that was constructed near Nazca, Peru.  Sound familiar?

The bodies are small, have three fingers, have some sort of copper/osmium brace built into their chest walls.  The alloy I believe is used today in satellite technology, and also has medical applications.  They found eggs in one body.  DNA analysis showed they are not human.  The bodies are believed to be around 1,000 years old, but I don't know when they were discovered.  They looked suspiciously like sloths to me, so I started looking at the bone structures of sloths, and it doesn't match.

This press conference wasn't some Mexican Greer, it was apparently held by the Mexican Congress, along with their president of the commission of science and technology.  It just happened about an hour ago, I'm still reading up on it.

The hearing, with English subtitles, bodies talked about around the 3 hour, 12 minute mark:




Some images of the bodies:

So, was this on your 2023 bingo card?

Quote:
Now, before you dismiss this as political theater, hear us out. The mental acuity and overall health of our nation's leaders are not matters to be taken lightly. When signs of cognitive decline become evident, it's not just a personal issue; it's a national security concern.

We're all aware of the gaffes, the lapses in memory, the freezes, and the incoherent statements made by these two powerful men. These aren't mere quirks; they're red flags. The decisions made in the Oval Office and on the Senate floor have far-reaching implications, affecting both domestic policy and international relations. If the individuals making these decisions aren't at their cognitive best, the consequences could be dire.

President Biden's frequent verbal missteps and moments of confusion aren't merely embarrassing; they're alarming. From forgetting names to stumbling over words to saying straight up gibberish or shaking hands with the air, the President's behavior raises legitimate questions about his mental fitness for the highest office in the land. This isn't about partisanship; it's about the well-being of our nation.

Similarly, Mitch McConnell has exhibited behavior that should give us all pause. His public appearances have been marked by contradictory statements, a lack of focus, and he has literally froze during press conferences multiple times. As the Minority Leader of the Senate, McConnell wields significant influence. If he's not mentally up to the task, it's not just his problem—it's America's problem.

Beyond the easily observable mental and physical instabilities of both men, the indefensible incurrence of $4.8 Trillion in debt, continued involvement in an unwinnable proxy war in Ukraine, questionable and potentially criminal business and political affiliations, and lack of awareness to the state of the United States domestically make these conservatorships a matter of utmost urgency.

Why Conservatorship?

Conservatorship is a legal mechanism designed to protect individuals who cannot take care of themselves. While it's an extreme measure, we believe the situation calls for it. The Libertarian Party is taking this step to send a clear message: the mental health of our leaders is a priority that should transcend political affiliations.

This action is about more than just two individuals. It's a wake-up call for voters and politicians alike to prioritize mental fitness in our leaders. Cognitive ability should be a non-negotiable qualification for public office.

We, the voters, have the ultimate power to hold our leaders accountable. It's our responsibility to ensure that those in office are mentally capable of the tasks they've been elected to perform. This conservatorship action is a step in that direction, but it's not the end. We must continue to scrutinize, question, and, when necessary, replace those who are not fit to lead.

We are seeking legal representation in these matters in Washington DC so that we can move forward with the proceedings as quickly as possible. If you are a DC probate attorney and you are interested in assisting us with this action, please reach out. We also encourage other aggrieved parties to file for conservatorship of as many incompetent geriatric members of the federal government as possible

We invite you to join us in this critical endeavor. The future of our nation depends on the mental fitness of those at its helm. Let's act before it's too late.

Sincerely,

The Libertarian National Committee

You know it is really bad when a senator has to read this crap aloud to call out the liars. Democrats are sick for supporting this pornography in schools. Now they are passing laws so that the Porn cannot be removed.

Twitter Video Of Senate Hearing Here:

https://twitter.com/greg_price11/status/...4894446999

Quote:Sen. Kennedy reads passages from pornographic books Genderqueer and All Boys are Blue.

The Illinois Sec. of State Alexi Giannoulias responds by saying "those words are disturbing coming from your mouth."

His state's new law stops parents from being able to remove it from libraries.

Quote:Republican Sen. John Neely Kennedy of Louisiana read from a pornographic book at a Senate hearing on Tuesday amid a heated exchange about school boards removing such books from libraries.


Kennedy read from two books — “All Boys Aren’t Blue” and “Gender Queer: A Memoir” — both which have been removed from bookshelves in school districts across the country over their sexual conduct. The hearing, titled “Book Bans: Examining How Censorship Limits Liberty and Literature,” was held by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

“I put some lube on and got him on his knees and I began to slide into him from behind. I pulled out of him and kissed him while he masturbated. He asked me to turn over while he slipped a condom on himself. This was my ass, and I was struggling to imagine someone inside me. He got on top and slowly inserted himself into me. It was the worst pain I think I have ever felt in my life. Eventually, I felt a mix of pleasure with the pain,” Kennedy read from “All Boys Aren’t Blue.”
The book is described as a “young-adult memoir [that] weaves together the trials and triumphs faced by Black queer boys” on Amazon.

Quote:.@SenJohnKennedy reads passages from Bokmål All Boys Aren’t Blue and Genderqueer
“I put some lube on and got him on his knees and I began sliding into him from behind,” Kennedy read.
pic.twitter.com/AKxz6J50zC
— Nicole Silverio (@NicoleMSilverio) September 12, 2023

“I got a new strap-on harness today. I can’t wait to put it on you. It will fit my favorite dildo perfectly. You’re going to look so hot. I can’t wait to have your cock in my mouth. I am going to give you the blowjob of your life. Then I want you inside of me,” he read from “Gender Queer: A Memoir” by Maia Kobabe.

Kennedy then questioned Democratic Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias of Illinois, a witness at the hearing, about whether he thought the book should be available to kids, as well as Cameron Samuels, a student who uses “they/them” pronouns and had a placard with the title “Mx. Cameron Samuels.”

“It’s pronounced Mix,” Samuels said. “Senator, your definition of ‘sexual’ is synonymous with LGBTQ identity.”

Samuels went on to say that there should be “collaboration between students, parents, and educators” on the availability of books and defended the books from which Kennedy read.

“All Boys Aren’t Blue, the scene you mentioned, is about sexual abuse. It’s not erotic … Students who do not read books like All Boys Aren’t Blue cannot learn what is appropriate,” Samuels said.

“All I’ve heard is the librarians [get to decide] and parents have nothing to do with it. If that’s your response, what planet did you just parachute in from? Or what country, more appropriately? This is not China,” Kennedy said.

“Mr. Secretary, I understand this is good for your politics back home,” he told Giannoulias. “It has everything to do with your politics. You came here with a problem. I’m trying to understand the solution, but you don’t have one.”

Quote:[b]FORT WORTH, Texas[/b] - Earlier this month, Fort Worth ISD announced it removed three books from elementary and middle school libraries.


The district says the graphic, sexual content or gender identity exploration in the books is not appropriate for students that age.

The move came after a conservative social media account shared news of Fort Worth ISD having those books in those libraries.

Two dozen people signed up to speak during public comment. Three different speakers began reading excerpts from the graphic books, but they were cut off by the school board and district staff because the language was inappropriate. The speakers wondered if they can’t read it to the board, why can their kids read it?

No surprise here. Anything that Biden touches turns to shit. 

'Don't Underestimate Joe's Ability to F*ck Things Up'?

- Barack Obama

Child Poverty More Than Doubled In Biden’s Second Year, Census Data Shows

https://dailycallernewsfoundation.org/20...ata-shows/

Quote:The U.S. saw a sharp rise in the government’s supplemental poverty rate and a fall in real incomes for Americans in 2022, with the rate for children more than doubling, according to census data released Tuesday.

The government’s Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM), which calculates poverty by including the impact of government programs, geographic variation in housing expenses, taxes and medical expenses, increased for children from 5.2% in 2021 to 12.4% in 2022, while overall poverty increased by 4.6 points to 12.4% during President Joe Biden’s second year in office, according to a release from the U.S. Census Bureau. Biden blamed the rise in child poverty seen under his tenure on the lapse of the expanded Child Tax Credit, according to a Friday statement from the White House.


“Higher frequency data released since 2022 strongly suggest that some of the 2022 income dynamics that Census is expected to report on Tuesday have improved substantially in 2023, as employment and labor supply have continued to reach new highs, inflation has fallen substantially, and real earnings have grown,” the White House said Friday before the data had been released. “On the other hand, the increase in poverty is likely to persist absent congressional action to restore the enhanced Child Tax Credit (CTC), as President Biden has proposed.”


The official poverty rate, which measures how many Americans fall below a certain income threshold, remained the same at 11.5% for 2022, according to the census data. The increase in the SPM was the first since the metric was introduced in 2010.


The median for real household income fell 2.3% in that same time frame, from $76,330 to $74,580, following a period of high inflation that degraded real wages, according to the census data.


The loss in real wages from the year accompanies persistently high inflation, which peaked at 9.1% in June 2022. Inflation has since come down but still remains elevated above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target, at 3.2%.


The rise in poverty comes as debt reached an all-time high in the second quarter of 2023 at $17.06 trillion, with $1 trillion of that being credit card debt.