We love ourselves too often and need reach out much more often. It is a social responsibility and it effects the environment also.
USA TODAY Trump, joined by Musk in Oval Office, orders up big cuts in federal workforce Joey Garrison, USA TODAY Tue, February 11, 2025 at 1:37 PM PST5 min read 13.8k Videos cannot play due to a network issue. Please check your Internet connection and try again. Error Code: 400-750 Session Id: m26j65bs (Pls: 1b746780-01d4-4cad-8d1c-aa5f0910a66f) WASHINGTON ― Joined by Elon Musk in the Oval Office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order Tuesday that seeks to significantly reduce the size of government by instructing heads of federal departments and agencies to undertake plans for "large-scale reductions in force." Trump's newest order directs the federal government to implement a "workforce optimization initiative" created by Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, which has been moving rapidly from one department to another to slash spending and gut programs. "It's not optional to reduce federal expenses, it's essential," Musk, wearing a black MAGA hat and joined by his son, X, said in remarks standing next to Trump, who was seated behind the Resolute Desk. Musk called the federal bureaucracy an "unelected, fourth, unconstitutional branch of government" that must be held accountable. More: 5 ways Elon Musk is working to dismantle the federal government "The people voted for major government reform and that’s what the people are going to get,” Musk said, responding to detractors who call DOGE's involvement a hostile takeover. “That’s what democracy is all about.” Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk joins U.S. President Donald Trump during an executive order signing in the Oval Office at the White House on February 11, 2025 in Washington, DC. Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk joins U.S. President Donald Trump during an executive order signing in the Oval Office at the White House on February 11, 2025 in Washington, DC. Agency heads are ordered to "coordinate and consult with DOGE to shrink the size of the federal workforce and limit hiring to essential positions," the White House said in a summary of the order. "Agency heads shall promptly undertake preparations to initiate large-scale reductions in force, consistent with applicable law," the order reads. It states that "all offices that perform functions not mandated by statute or other law" should be prioritized in the cuts. Musk vows transparency, wants to 'right-size' workforce Trump did not sign the order while reporters were present inside the Oval Office but did so after media members were escorted out, the White House confirmed. "We've already found billions of dollars of abuse incompetence and corruption," Trump said of DOGE's efforts to find wasteful spending, which both Trump and Musk repeatedly called "fraud" during a more than 30-minute exchange with reporters. Their joint appearance marked the first time the billionaire SpaceX CEO has taken questions from reporters in a public setting since he's assumed power in Trump's second term. Musk took several questions from reporters, defending DOGE's accountability and insisting he won't engage in work that poses potential conflicts of interest. Through SpaceX, Musk has billions of dollars in contacts with the Pentagon. "All are actions are fully public," Musk said, adding that observers won't hesitate about flagging conflicts. "It's not like people are going to be shy about saying that. They'll say it immediately." U.S. President Donald Trump speaks as Elon Musk carries his son X on his shoulders in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 11, 2025. U.S. President Donald Trump speaks as Elon Musk carries his son X on his shoulders in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 11, 2025. The new order comes as Trump's administration has offered buyouts to nearly all 2.3 million federal employees in a push to drastically reduce the federal workforce. But the offer, which would pay employees through September if they agree to resign, is currently held up in court after a federal judge in Massachusetts extended a pause Monday to hear arguments from both sides in a legal challenge brought by federal employees unions.
Harvard adopts controversial IHRA antisemitism definition Harvard's acceptance of IHRA definition settles discrimination case brought by students who said pro-Palestine protests were antisemitic Students from MIT, Harvard University and others rally at a protest encampment on MIT's Kresge Lawn in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on 22 April 2024 (Scott Eisen/Getty Images via AFP) By MEE staff Published date: 22 January 2025 20:07 GMT | Last update: 2 weeks 6 days ago 329 Shares facebook sharing buttontwitter sharing buttonwhatsapp sharing buttonmessenger sharing buttonemail sharing buttonsharethis sharing button Harvard University has agreed to accept the controversial International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, after settling a lawsuit from Jewish students who accused other students of harassment during pro-Palestine protests on campus in 2024. The student group, Students Against Antisemitism, filed a complaint in January 2024 in a court in Boston, saying that Harvard was failing to protect them under Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, a law that prohibits any school from receiving federal funding from discriminating against anyone based on race, colour or national origin. The complaint cited last year's pro-Palestinian protests against Israel's war on Gaza as the source of antisemitic rhetoric from other students. Middle East Eye has previously reported on these accusations of antisemitism against pro-Palestinian protesters at US universities, which often conflate support for Palestinian rights with antisemitism. As a part of Harvard's settlement of the case brought by Students Against Antisemitism, the university has agreed to use the IHRA definition of antisemitism when applying its non-discrimination and anti-bullying policies. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Your email "This resolution includes specific, meaningful actions to combat antisemitism, hate and bias on college campuses that illustrate the University’s strong commitment to further protecting their Jewish and Israeli community," Marc Kasowitz of Kasowitz Benson Torres, LLP, from the counsel for Students Against Antisemitism said in a statement. The controversial IHRA definition was formulated in 2004 and published in 2005 by antisemitism expert Kenneth Stern in collaboration with other academics from the American Jewish Committee, a pro-Israel advocacy organisation founded at the beginning of the 20th century and based in New York. Critics say some of the examples provided in the definition conflate antisemitism with criticism of historical policies that led to the creation of the state of Israel in 1948 - known to the Palestinians as the Nakba or "catastrophe". The Antisemitism Awareness Act is a full frontal assault on free speech Read More » During the Nakba, hundreds of thousands of indigenous Palestinians were expelled from their homes by Zionist paramilitaries. Critics also say the definition conflates antisemitism with criticism of current Israeli policies against Palestinians, such as human rights abuses and the occupation by Israel. The IHRA definition was adopted by the first Trump administration in 2019, and was reaffirmed by the Biden administration. Harvard also said it would provide training on "combating antisemitism" and that its Office for Community Conduct would incorporate the IHRA definition when reviewing complaints of discrimination. The move by Harvard follows other similar measures implemented by leading US universities to prevent any criticism of Zionism. In August 2024, New York University declared Zionists a "protected class". In response to Israel's war on Gaza that began after the Hamas-led attacks on 7 October 2023, thousands of university students across the US began organising protests against the war. Many of those protests evolved into concerted efforts to call on their institutions to defund any financial stakes in companies profiting from Israel's war, which has killed more than 46,000 Palestinians. In many cases, the protests were met with harsh responses from university administrations, and in some cases police were called in to forcefully remove protesters. Over the past academic year, schools have adopted more forceful measures aimed at curbing any protests against Israel, including issuing new speech guidelines and incorporating surveillance tactics against student organisers.
Have I ever thought super big and done it? I made my website about 20 years called UPLIFTING THOUGHTS with big plans for it, even when I got only two visitors a day. When the site improved I reached two crisis points where I would say my optimism is 90% and my brother and niece thought I was amazing and cool for staying positive. Eventually the website closed up, but this blog is a result and the missions are the same: Make the world a better place, be uplifting, think clearly, and change the world,
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No clowns dancing around at home Nice to go back to the cow palace Once saw a mighty circus Just perfect when I was a kid Nay cave ...
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Unstoppable in power Cascading both fierce and tender To carress Trees shoot their roots out The ants rush about As things secre...