Tuesday, March 19, 2024

A Tuesday Tune - Lunar


Mia Asano, an electric violinist hailing from Denver, Colorado, combines classical training with a passion for alternative music. A Berklee College of Music graduate with a dual major in Violin Performance and Professional Music, Mia gained early recognition in the Colorado fashion scene before achieving global success on TikTok and Instagram.

Her viral videos, with over 10 million views, catapulted her into the spotlight, leading to collaborations with renowned artists like Dragonforce, Two Steps From Hell, and Lindsey Stirling. Mia has graced prestigious venues, including Carnegie Hall, and toured internationally, leaving an indelible mark on stages in Vienna and Valencia.
Recipient of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra's best Violin performance award in 2020, Mia's violin prowess shines in diverse genres, from rock and metal to electronic and Celtic music. Her love for breaking musical boundaries and spreading positivity is evident in her projects, including collaborations with Ally the Piper and the RAMENSTEIN quartet. Mia's most recent album with Ally the Piper, Mia X Ally: The Viral Hits, reached the impressive position of #6 on the Billboard Classical Crossover chart.
As a featured violinist on Two Steps From Hell's 2023 European Arena Tour, Mia Asano continues to captivate audiences with her dynamic performances. Thomas Bergersen, acclaimed composer and member of Two Steps From Hell, expressed admiration for Mia on his Instagram: "[Mia] has achieved so much in her life at such a young age. She was born for the stage and showers everyone with beautiful violin playing and her contagious smile. She brings out something special in all of us."


Monday, March 18, 2024

Feds Try to Outlaw Maryland Blue Catfish

WBOC, Maryland Senators Announce Funding to Eradicate Blue Catfish in the Chesapeake Bay

Maryland's two U.S. senators have announced a significant development in the preservation efforts for the Chesapeake Bay. This announcement comes as a part of the recently passed agriculture appropriations bill, unveiling package aimed at supporting catfish processing and saving other species within the bay.

Blue catfish, recognized as a major predator threatening the bay's ecosystem, preying on crabs, rockfish, and oysters, have long been a concern for fisheries. In response, federal funding provisions within the bill will channel resources to Maryland, forming a comprehensive four-part package to address the issue.

"One way to control it is to eat it. And one way to encourage more commercial fishing on catfish is to make it more economically viable," remarked U.S. Senator Ben Cardin.

The allocation of $4.5 million will facilitate the expansion of processing facilities, provide marketing assistance, continuing to pay USDA inspectors, and help DNR and others to fight the catfish.

"This funding brings a lot more opportunities for sustainable growth of the blue catfish industry. Because we're focused on processing, marketing, and ensuring around-the-clock operations," stated Senator Chris Van Hollen.

Nick Hargrove, owner of the Eastern Shore's only USDA-certified blue catfish processing facility, emphasized the importance of stability in the industry. "The goal here is to provide a more stable industry for the fishermen. That way we can handle the capacities when the fish are really coming ashore," Hargrove said.

Hargrove explained his facility processes around 100,000 lbs. of catfish per week and he is looking to expand to a facility in Ridgely, Md.

In addition to funding for processing expansion, efforts to curb the invasive catfish population have also gained momentum. The Department of Natural Resources unveiled a new initiative called the Department of Invasive Species Program, specifically targeting the eradication of blue catfish. Maryland Secretary of Natural Resources, Josh Kurtz, emphasized the program's focus on understanding catfish biology and its ecosystem impact to develop effective management strategies.

"It will allow us to really look at the biology of the catfish, the ecosystem itself, and focus on the actions that we can take at the department and how we can support the ecosystem of others that are doing the work too," Kurtz explained.

It might help to build the market a little, but I think we can safely predict that the Blue Catfish in the Chesapeake Bay will survive the assault of the bureaucrats. 

Flotsam and Jetsam - Trump Predicts Bloodbath!

  . . . in the auto industry if Biden is elected. Democrats and Media blow up. UK Mirror, Donald Trump chillingly warns of a 'bloodbath' in the US if he isn't elected as president again. At Breitbart, Biden Campaign, Establishment Media Attack Trump with Fake Interpretation of ‘Bloodbath’ Comments in Ohio Rally. Sundance at CTH, President Trump Warns of a Looming Bloodbath in the Auto Industry Related to Chinese EV Plants in Mexico – Media Go Bananas. Sarah Arnold at TownHall says How the Liberal Media Reacted to Trump’s Latest Comment Is Why Americans Have Lost Trust. Rick Moran at PJM,  Trump Warns of a 'Bloodbath' if He's Not Elected. The Reaction Is Exactly What Trump Was Looking For. Nick Arama at RedState, With New 'Bloodbath' Claim Against Trump, We're Watching 'Hoax-Making In Progress'. PM, Biden campaign, liberal media spread hoax that Trump threatened ‘bloodbath’ if not elected—he was talking about auto industry "The official Biden campaign page, CNBC, Politico, Mediaite, Keith Olbermann, and others took Trump out of context to suggest he was making violent threats if he lost the election.." Madeleine Hubbard at JTN reports Elon Musk defends Trump and slams establishment media for taking quote out of context. "Musk said the headlines with the word "bloodbath" were "legacy media lies" and he made multiple posts Sunday criticizing their use of the term and stressing the need for context." The Babylon Bee snarks Media Reports Trump Threatened Nuclear War After He Says, 'This Guacamole Is The Bomb!' Instapundit helpfully provided this montage: SUPERCUT! Trump critics would never use a term like “bloodbath”

Breitbart has the, Memo: Hunter Biden Tried to Help CCP-Linked Company Purchase U.S. Maker of Nuclear Reactors. At PJM Grayson Bakich reports Even More Dirt on the Bidens Dredged Up.  Steve Richards at JTN takes a close look at Hunter Biden's partners: A rogues' gallery of corruption, indictments, and charges of treason. "Hunter Biden's foreign business partners were a cast of characters suspected of corruption, indicted by U.S. authorities, and--in one case--charged with treason." TNP, Impeachment Investigators Subpoena Over a Decade of Hunter Biden Phone Records. That could be enlightening.

From WaEx, Biden’s State of the Union hushed Democratic criticism but hasn’t helped him in the polls. At RedState, Nick Arama hears a Report that Biden Is Losing It Over Reelection Chances Against Trump, 'Seething' Behind the Scenes. At Breitbart, Holder: Media Will Change Coverage and That’ll Help Biden Win. They'll certainly try. At Da Caller, Former AG Eric Holder Says Obama, Biden Comparisons Are ‘Not Fair’. From Wired, Silicon Valley Opens Its Wallet for Joe Biden "A WIRED analysis finds roughly 95 percent of contributions by employees of six big tech firms have gone to Trump's Democratic challenger." The Free Bacon want you to WATCH: Joe Biden's Senior Moment of the Week (Vol. 85). Steve Guest at Hat Hair, Yes, That's Our POTATUS Lost in the Rain. AP, Biden says at DC dinner that of 2 presidential candidates, 1 was mentally unfit. ‘The other’s me’. Hat Hair's KT hears Biden Torches Trump at Gridiron Club Dinner, Rips DeSantis, Too. ET, Gold Star Dad Who Interrupted State of the Union Explains Why He Did It. "Three years of bottled-up emotion burst out during the State of the Union as Steven Nikoui waited for Biden to say his son Kareem’s name." Madeleine Hubbard again, Washington Post continues pressuring Kamala Harris to leave 2024 ticket. "Parker explained that Harris, who is incredibly unpopular, should step down because if Biden picks another running mate instead, he risks losing the 2024 election." At OTP, Kamala’s Stepdaughter Raising Money For Allegedly Terror-Linked UNRWA

'Bonchie' at RedState reports the Border Patrol Slams Joe Biden for Being Senile, As Things Are Getting Downright Scary Border Patrol Union - NBPC@BPUnion, "It isn't Biden's "age" that concerns us. Not all 80-year-olds are equal. But when he instantly gets hyper-focused while exhibiting angry bursts of energy during a debate or SOTU, then the next day transforms back to a state of extreme bumbling confusion, something ain't right." NewsMax, Trump on Migrant Crisis: 'Nobody Could Afford This, Morally It's So Wrong'. Jazz Shaw at Hat Hair sees NYC Abandon Its Right to Shelter... Sort Of. Rick Moran, Look Whose District Has Become a Third-World Brothel and Bazaar. NYPo reports an Illegal migrant from Lebanon caught at border admitted he’s a Hezbollah terrorist hoping ‘to make a bomb’ — and was headed for NY. To be fair, they voted for it.

TNP reports Joe’s Bidenflation is Hurting St. Patrick’s Day! "The Trump team pointed to the “skyrocketing” prices for traditional Irish fare, including inflation-suffering onions, potatoes, corned beef, beef for Irish stew, cabbage, and carrots." At Breitbart, Shithead Maher: ‘Inflation Persists for a Lot of Things,’ But Biden’s Ratings Are Bad Because Many Live with ‘Head in the Toilet’. At Da Mail, Tyson Foods BOYCOTTED as it sacks 1,300 staff at Iowa pork plant and offers 'job-and-lawyer' packages in bid to hire 42,000 asylum seekers in New York. James Bovard at NYPo, Joe Biden is once again taking a ‘wrecking ball’ to America’s housing market. "In his State of the Union address, Biden proclaimed, “My administration is also eliminating title insurance on federally backed mortgages.”  What could possibly go wrong?" TownHall's Jeff Davidson asks Has Anyone Fared Better Financially With Democrats in Charge? and Julio Rivera says Biden Cyber-Disaster Only Getting Worse in 2024

Matthew Continenti at the Free Bacon says America's Political Realignment Is Real, The education divide could restore Trump to office." From Spiked, 2024 will be the Latino election. "America's largest racial minority could swing the vote for Trump." Sundance hosts The Most “Non-Pretending” and Brutally Honest Video So Far This Year




Insty wonders HOW LONG BEFORE THE FEDS REALIZE THEY, THEMSELVES, ARE THE EXTREMISTS? The Feds Are Coming for “Extremist” Gamers. Dapper Detective @Dapper_Det, "BRACE FOR IMPACT Black Lives Matter activist and State Senator @CharlaneOliver calls for RIOTS after TN Senate passes a pro-police / anti-crime Bill. Note: 12 people shot, 4 dead in multiple Memphis shootings over the past 24 hours." So, another day ending in Y? Sundance is annoyed that Elon Musk’s SpaceX Building Global Satellite Surveillance Network for U.S. Intelligence Agency.

Althouse is on a free speech kick with "A forced sale of TikTok within 180 days, as House-passed legislation requires, would be one of the thorniest and most complicated transactions..." , "In short, realistically, it's a ban," It's sad to see the NYT framing the fight for freedom of speech as a perverse force, and Bully, "“A central dimension of presidential power is the use of the office’s bully pulpit to seek to persuade Americans — and American companies — to act in ways that the president believes would advance the public interest,” Solicitor General Elizabeth B. Prelogar wrote. In response, lawyers for the states wrote that the administration had violated the First Amendment. “The bully pulpit,” they wrote, “is not a pulpit to bully.”" At Racket Matt Taibbi on Today’s Absurd New York Times Hit Piece, Correcting the record after a desperate slam job on the Twitter Files, published just before oral arguments in a historic First Amendment case in the Supreme Court." From Hollywood in Toto, Jimmy Kimmel Loves Using Fake News Against His Foes. "'Live' host attacks Aaron Rodgers with spurious claim, and it's hardly the first time." OutKick, John Stockton, Numerous Doctors Sue Washington Medical Commission In A First Amendment Case. At WaEx, Trump calls Facebook ‘worse’ than TikTok as Senate weighs bill that could ban app. He has a point. 

WSJ (archive), DEI Got Me Sacked From My Nursing Job "It didn’t matter that my critical Facebook posts made no reference to the hospital where I worked." At the De Moines Register, I'm a Christian pastor. Here's what I'll tell my son about history and his white heritage. "I am going to teach my son that he can be grateful for the sacrifices of his forbearers while also having the courage to reckon with our crimes against African and Indigenous people." Beege Wellborn at Hat Hair snarks "And then this clown will wonder why the little fellow is a basket case when he hits his teens. This also shines a light on the modern, liberal versions of "religion," does it not?" Sci Am ripped for calling mothers "birthing parents." Hat Hair, Trust the Experts™ Update: Scientific™ American Has Article on 'Birthing Parents'. And at the Temple of Mut, Scientific American’s Latest Foray into Gender-Based Science Analysis. At the Telegraph, Trans women included in push for more female chief executives in FTSE 100. "Campaign aims to have 25 women running bluechip companies by next year."

At Twitchy, Wow, That's Weird: Fairfax County Schools Suddenly Care About 'Different Experiences' and allow students to skip a lecture on the holocaust. Luke Rosiak@lukerosiak "Virginia’s largest school district will let students skip a presentation from a Holocaust survivor, saying the diverse district includes students with “different experiences.” The district later claimed the policy was so Jews weren't uncomfortable."

Don Surber examines Education polarization. "Those without a sheepskin refuse to bow to the credentialed class."

The Monday Morning Stimulus

It may soon be time to wake up and smell the lab-grown coffee made from cultured plant cells. But it's not clear whether drinks from this product replicate coffee beans' complex flavors. Now, a study in ACS' Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found that some of the comforting aromas and tastes of a conventional cup of coffee could be reproduced by roasting and brewing coffee cell cultures.

Coffee is one of the most popular beverages worldwide. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 23 billion pounds of beans are expected to be produced during the 2023-24 growing season. However, coffee cultivation is increasingly threatened by a warming climate because the plants grow only at specific temperatures and altitudes.

Researchers have been investigating lab-grown coffee plant cells since the 1970s as an alternative to farmed beans, but little research has evaluated how laboratory products taste and smell compared to traditional beans. So, Hieko Rischer and coworkers tested how roasting coffee plant cells impacts them and the beverage made from them.

The team first cultured cells from chopped Coffea arabica leaves in a laboratory-scale bioreactor. Then the cells were freeze-dried, ground into a fine powder and roasted under three different conditions. Longer roasting times produced colors similar to dark roast coffee beans; the researchers mentioned this was important for flavor perception.

Additionally, the current lab-grown powders contained twice as much caffeine as previous bioreactor coffee products, although the current powders' levels were much lower than those in farmed beans. The team brewed beverages with the roasted cell cultures or dark roast C. arabica beans and served them to trained taste-testers.

The following conclusions were drawn:
  • Panelists identified similar levels of bitterness and sourness in lab-grown and conventional drinks.
  • The new brews had more roasted, burned sugar, and smokey smells.
  • Some Maillard reaction products that give coffee its distinct flavor, such as guaiacol and several pyrazines, weren't found in the cell-based drinks, though other Maillard reaction products were present.