All posts tagged: trail

Weaponized Humanism: Stories from the Campaign Trail in Florida

Weaponized Humanism: Stories from the Campaign Trail in Florida

Published by skeptic

I’ve been a Democrat as long as I’ve been an atheist—since I could think for myself and begin to develop the moral compass that led me to find myself in Tallahassee, Florida in April 2022, filing to run for the Florida House of Representatives. I grew up in southern Indiana, the only Democrat and the only atheist I knew—so I’ve been passionate about standing up for the underdog for a while. And being a Democrat in Florida is certainly running as an underdog. When I moved to the Sunshine State, I immediately jumped into local politics, eventually serving as the President of the Young Democrats of Seminole County. And as a volunteer for a local State Senate campaign and for President Joe Biden’s 2020 election, I learned so much about our community and fell even more in love with my adopted hometown. A couple of years into my time here in central Florida, the team at the Florida House Democratic Campaign Committee reached out to ask me to consider running for office against an incumbent …

Save on my favorite trail walking shoes—now 25% off a REI

Save $35 on my favorite trail walking shoes—now 25% off a REI

Published by skeptic

Is it me, or is it muddier than usual for the time of year? If you find yourself slipping when out for a walk, I recommend buying the Merrell Moab Speed 2. I tested these hardy walking shoes in 2024 and they scored the title of best trail shoes in my guide to the best walking shoes. The Vibram sole is grippy on uneven terrain and the shoe’s upper is structured and supportive to keep you on your feet. Despite their bulk, these are quite bouncy, comfortable shoes, something I find isn’t always the case with shoes built for off-roading. They weigh in at 9.7oz/275g per shoe (women’s), which is light for a rugged shoe. These are some of the more water-resistant shoes I’ve tested, not quite as watertight as the Adidas Terrex (which survived a full puddle dunk), but still able to stand up to wet weather. If you’re looking for something to carry you safely across soggy terrain, the Merrell Moab Speed 2 can do the job. Source link

All Is Well on the Appalachian Trail — Or Is It?

All Is Well on the Appalachian Trail — Or Is It?

Published by skeptic

A view from the Appalachian Trail (photo by Tom Krattenmaker) Reassurance awaited me at every turn during my recent three-day backpacking trip on the Appalachian Trail. The ancient forest dazzled on the stretch of trail I covered along the Connecticut-New York border. The sun-dappled, luxuriant green exuded a sense of health and flourishing. Vistas beckoned to the east and west. My alarmingly close encounter with a rattlesnake—they’re rare but still present in this part of the country—woke me up to the enduring wildness of the place. (As if I needed reminding; I’d seen a bear and cub during a day hike not far from the rattlesnake spot three weeks before.) The weather was northeast summertime at its finest, temperatures peaking at a manageable eighty degrees in the afternoon and cooling to the high fifties overnight. All was well, climate change or not. Or was it? The thru hikers I talked with on the trail and at the tent sites had a different story to tell. I, of course, had been watching the forecast from New …

America’s premier pronatalists on having ‘tons of kids’ to save the world, Marina Hyde on the election campaign trail, and is doing nothing the secret of happiness? – podcast | Life and style

America’s premier pronatalists on having ‘tons of kids’ to save the world, Marina Hyde on the election campaign trail, and is doing nothing the secret of happiness? – podcast | Life and style

Published by skeptic

Rishi Sunak is so convinced he can’t win he’s promising any old mad thing, while the Lib Dems are deliberately falling off paddleboards – Marina Hyde on the election. The couple on a mission to make it easier for everyone to have multiple children – Elon Musk (father of 11) is a supporter. Few of us have the money to take a long pause from work – but, as Anita Chaudhuri discovers, even a day can make a difference How to listen to podcasts: everything you need to know Source link

Trump’s Hush Money Trial Turns to a New Phase: the Paper Trail | National News

Trump’s Hush Money Trial Turns to a New Phase: the Paper Trail | National News

Published by skeptic

After spending weeks building a narrative that Donald Trump and his inner circle went to great lengths to conceal hush money payments made to silence claims of extramarital sexual encounters with the former president, the prosecution on Monday delivered the receipts. In what amounted to a boring but seemingly bulletproof testimony, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s team walked jurors through bank statements, invoices, emails and handwritten notes that appeared to bolster their case, showing how a series of payments made to Trump’s former lawyer were disguised as legal expenses when in fact they were reimbursements for money he paid to silence a former porn star, and that the money came directly from Trump’s personal bank account. Trump, the first former U.S. president to face a criminal trial, is charged with 34 counts of falsifying business documents to cover up allegations of extramarital affairs that threatened his 2016 White House campaign. He pleaded not guilty. Taking the stand for most of Monday was Jeffrey McConney, who worked as the corporate controller at the Trump Organization, and …

Powerful film ‘The Justice Trail’ documents 1828 forced Potawatomi removal

Powerful film ‘The Justice Trail’ documents 1828 forced Potawatomi removal

Published by Sam

New movie walks viewers through the ‘Trail of Death,’ draws parallels to modern struggles for Biblical justice PLYMOUTH, Ind. — The much-anticipated feature-length film, “The Justice Trail,” is set to premiere on September 4th, 2024, marking the 186th anniversary of the Potawatomi Trail of Death. The film follows national prayer leader Geoff Eckart as he retraces the Trail of Death from Indiana to Kansas, shedding light on the barbaric forced removal of 859 members of the Potawatomi nation from Indiana to Kansas.   In anticipation of the film’s release, Geoff Eckart will lead “The Justice Walk,” on May 18th, inviting participants to walk a portion of the Trail of Death, starting from its origin near Plymouth, IN. Attendees are encouraged to walk in support of groups or people who have experienced injustice, and participants will also have an exclusive sneak preview of the film, gaining insights into Eckart’s personal journey and the broader themes of justice it explores.  Eckhart, CEO and founder of the national youth ministry Never the Same, Lead Pastor at Daybreak Church …

India’s animated video wars cause stir on the campaign trail

India’s animated video wars cause stir on the campaign trail

Published by Sam

An animated video released by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party was taken down from Instagram after it sparked a backlash for demeaning Muslims. The removal put a spotlight on what has been called a war of animated videos between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Congress party, notes FRANCE 24’s Leela Jacinto. Issued on: 05/05/2024 – 09:20 4 min Barely a day after it was released, an animated video posted on the official account of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was taken down from Instagram.  It was removed after many Instagram users flagged it over hate speech concerns. But although the video is not available on Instagram, the animated clip is still circulating widely on WhatsApp and other messenger platforms. Policing hate speech these days is a challenge that security experts liken to a game of whack-a-mole. While the video is certainly incendiary, it drew particular attention since it was not created by some overenthusiastic BJP supporter. That can happen on the campaign trail in many …

Enormous help”: Convicted ex-Trump Org CFO left behind “potentially priceless paper trail

Enormous help”: Convicted ex-Trump Org CFO left behind “potentially priceless paper trail

Published by skeptic

Allen Weisselberg is currently sitting in a cell on Rikers Island, again, after pleading guilty to perjury, so it may come as little surprise that the long-time financial controller for the Trump Organization may have been less than honest about the the role he played in his former boss’ 2016 campaign for president. But emails obtained by The Daily Beast suggest not only that Weisselberg provided unreported labor for the campaign, in possible violation of campaign finance laws, but specifically helped on its filings with the Federal Election Commission. The 2016 Trump campaign’s compliance with FEC filing requirements is tied to Manhattan criminal case against the former president, who is charged with falsifying business records to avoid reporting a hush payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels. Though Weisselberg is not expected to testify in the case, he “left behind a potentially priceless paper trail” for prosecutors, according to the report. Weisselberg’s contribution to the 2016 campaign was detailed in an email sent by Rick Gates, a former Trump aide who himself pleaded to lying …

Trump swaps a criminal trial for the campaign trail in Michigan and Wisconsin

Trump swaps a criminal trial for the campaign trail in Michigan and Wisconsin

Published by skeptic

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Freeland, Mich., on Wednesday. A pair of rallies in the pivotal states of Wisconsin and Michigan are his first campaign trail appearances since his trial in New York over alleged campaign finance violations started. Paul Sancya/AP hide caption toggle caption Paul Sancya/AP Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Freeland, Mich., on Wednesday. A pair of rallies in the pivotal states of Wisconsin and Michigan are his first campaign trail appearances since his trial in New York over alleged campaign finance violations started. Paul Sancya/AP Donald Trump’s first campaign rallies since the start of his criminal hush money trial in New York barely mentioned the reason for his absence from the campaign trail. But in lengthy speeches in Waukesha, Wisc., and Freeland, Mich., Wednesday, Trump continued to escalate his rhetoric around what a second term would look like — and the consequences he foresees if he doesn’t win. Trump echoed comments he made in a TIME …

2 Hikers Drown After Falling Into Creek on Tennessee Trail

2 Hikers Drown After Falling Into Creek on Tennessee Trail

Published by skeptic

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) — Two family members drowned while hiking near a lake outside of Chattanooga, officials said. The Signal Mountain fire and police departments were called to Rainbow Lake Trail on Sunday evening after two people were reported underwater, authorities said. Rescue personnel hiked a mile (1.6 kilometers) down the trail and spoke to a female who said she was hiking with the others to a large creek on the trail when another woman trying to cross the creek fell in. She said a man jumped in and tried to rescue her, but he also disappeared. Crews were able to pull the woman out and tried to revive her but were unsuccessful, police and fire officials said. They recovered the man’s body later. Police identified the woman as 23-year-old Greffania Merilus, of Cohutta, Georgia, and the man as 20-year-old Gullson Elve, of Birchwood, Tennessee. Their exact relation between the two wasn’t clear, but they were members of the same extended family, Holloway said. Photos You Should See – April 2024 Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. …