Banana Republic unveils spring 2023 campaign in Taos, New Mexico. Photo: Richard Phibbs
Get ready to fall in love with Banana Republic’s Spring 2023 campaign, which transports us to the stunning landscapes of Taos, New Mexico. Swapping out the chilly backdrop of their Holiday advertisements set in Iceland, the brand has embraced the warmth and natural charm of the Southwest for this season’s collection.
Banana Republic Spring 2023 Campaign
The Banana Republic spring 2023 campaign, shot by renowned photographer Richard Phibbs, features models Louise de Chevigny, Maria Borges, and Ella Eckersley, who perfectly embody the relaxed elegance of the new line in images as well as films.
Maria Borges poses with turquoise jewelry in Banana Republic spring 2023 campaign. Photo: Richard Phibbs
Underneath the clear blue skies and amidst the sprawling open fields of Taos, the models showcase an array of fringe-adorned jackets, pleated long dresses, relaxed trench coats, and denim. These versatile pieces effortlessly combine comfort and sophistication, making them the perfect addition to your spring wardrobe.
Louise de Chevigny poses with a buffalo in Banana Republic spring 2023 campaign. Photo: Richard Phibbs
The hair and makeup for the shoot complement the serene surroundings and the laid-back vibe of the clothing. Hair stylist Moiz Alladina crafts effortlessly chic styles, while makeup artist Leanne Hirsh uses natural tones and subtle highlights to accentuate the models’ beauty.
Ella Eckersley models a fringed jacket and pleated maxi dress in Banana Republic spring 2023 campaign. Photo: Richard Phibbs
Maria Borges wears a green silk dress in Banana Republic spring 2023 campaign. Photo: Richard Phibbs
Students who finish the course will be given several options for continuing the Bitcoin journey, including the variant to start a full-time job at a renowned Bitcoin firm.
El Salvador has come up with a new crypto initiative for its citizens. The Bitcoin Officer has announced a new six-month educational program called “CUBO+” that strives to churn out elite-level Bitcoin and Lightning developers via the Salvadoran university system. According to the announcement, the dev Bitcoin courses will commence in May and will comprise a comparatively small group of students, who are under 25 and who were selected from the best universities in El Salvador.
The first batch will be invited from the University of Don Bosco. They will be participating in the inaugural Plan B Fellowship, sponsored by Tether and Fulgur Ventures. The project is a consequence of the recently launched deal between El Salvador and Lugano, Switzerland for the world’s first Bitcoin Embassy in the Swiss city.
The program will be driven by one of the best minds in Bitcoin who will be announced soon. Classes will have topics from high-level technical development particularly for Bitcoin, to distributed technologies like Holepunch, Nostr, and Web5. The program will receive private funding and all students who become eligible for the Plan B Fellowship will receive a stipend to cover the price of the course.
The initial two months of the program will be held online, after which there will be a two-week in-person boot camp, constituting intense full-day courses held in San Salvador. The remaining months will comprise immediate online mentorship with some of the big names in Bitcoin.
However, things have not been very easy for President Bukele and his BTC-advocating supporters. Since the government granted BTC legal tender status in September 2021, the Bitcoin market has witnessed long periods of instability.
However, in October last year, it was stated by a survey at the Central American University that seventy-seven percent of Salvadorans thought BTC adoption was not advantageous for them at all. However, Bukele doesn’t plan on changing his obsession with crypto. Bukele also seeks a second term in the upcoming elections after relatively high approval rates by the people of Salvador.
The revealed information explained how the program will provide an infrastructure upon which others can leverage an open-source standard for high-level Bitcoin Education. Educational experts are also contributing to the course design which aims to set the standard for other countries to follow.
Students who finish these courses in El Salvador will be given several options for continuing the Bitcoin journey, comprising the option to adopt a full-time job at a renowned Bitcoin firm. Alternate options of entrepreneurial opportunities or education will also be offered.
The title “CUBO+” is emanated from an undertaking that President Nayib Bukele commenced in his Mayor position in San Salvador. As a mayor, the city would construct buildings in relatively poor places, and this development acted as libraries and community centers for more education. The program seeks to create inspiration for building El Salvador’s future.
Sanaa is a chemistry major and a Blockchain enthusiast. As a science student, her research skills enable her to understand the intricacies of Financial Markets. She believes that Blockchain technology has the potential to revolutionize every industry in the world.
Senator Michael Bennet from Colorado said that Signature Bank didn’t make “prudentially sound” decisions while dealing with crypto. Other US lawmakers believe crypto is being made a scapegoat in the failed banking policies of the Fed.
Michael Bennet, the United States Senator from Colorado, recently opened up about the shutting down of crypto-friendly Signature Bank, with the intervention of the Fed and the FDIC.
He said that the bank with crypto clients didn’t make “prudentially sound” decisions while functioning. Speaking before the Senate Finance Committee on Thursday, March 16, Bennet spoke about the close of Signature Bank in discussion with US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.
During his discussion, Bennet drew a comparison between the relationship between banks and crypto firms similar to the one between institutions and marijuana dispensaries. Bennet said:
“Signature Bank failed and almost a fifth of its deposits came from crypto. They’re not allowed to do anything with marijuana, but apparently they can lay 20% of this on crypto – a notoriously unstable […] thing that nobody here even understands and where the value of the assets can soar and collapse.”
According to Bennet, crypto wasn’t even as stable as the Marijuana industry, thereby implying that it may have been a factor in the collapse of the Signature Bank.
However, not all US lawmakers are on the same platform when it comes to their views about the Signature Bank shutdown. Former U.S. Representative Barney Frank recently noted that there was no issue with Signature Bank’s solvency before the NYDFS took over.
Using Banks to Weaponize Crypto
Earlier this week on Wednesday, March 15, US Congressman Tom Emmer wrote a letter to FDIC Chairman Gruenberg asking some stern questions over several reports that suggest that the agencies have been weaponizing banks to strike down on the crypto industry.
He said that such measures could have a disastrous effect as they would push these companies to offshore, unregulated, opaque, and unsafe markets.
Today, I sent a letter to FDIC Chairman Gruenberg regarding reports that the FDIC is weaponizing recent instability in the banking sector to purge legal crypto activity from the U.S. 👇 pic.twitter.com/fDmaA0XGWv
Ark Invest’s Cathie Wood also responded to Tom Emmer’s letter stating that she too believes “regulators are using crypto as a scapegoat for their own lapses in oversight of traditional banking”.
She said that the failure of the banks last week was due to the inability to match securities earnings and deposit rates. Cathie Wood blamed the Fed policy as the primary culprit behind this collapse. Wood further explained:
“Crypto did not force SVB and Signature into bankruptcy. In my view, Fed policy was the primary culprit. Because of a VC funding drought and higher yields on money market funds, deposits left the US banking system. In our view crypto is a solution to the central points of failure, the opacity, and the regulatory mistakes in the traditional financial system. Made the scapegoat for policy mistakes, crypto will move offshore, depriving the US of one of the most important innovations in history”.
Bhushan is a FinTech enthusiast and holds a good flair in understanding financial markets. His interest in economics and finance draw his attention towards the new emerging Blockchain Technology and Cryptocurrency markets. He is continuously in a learning process and keeps himself motivated by sharing his acquired knowledge. In free time he reads thriller fictions novels and sometimes explore his culinary skills.
A tentative sense of relief prevailed among investors on Friday morning following two very different financial rescues the day before: one of a global banking giant in Switzerland and another of a midsize regional lender in San Francisco. The moves to shore up the flailing lenders with injections worth tens of billions of dollars had produced a pause in the mayhem that had gripped banks and markets.
As Asia and Europe opened for business on the last day of a tumultuous week, markets conveyed a measure of calm, at least for the moment. Stock indexes in Asia and Europe posted gains, and banks recovered some of their losses.
“We’re starting to see a modest change in the mood music,” Jim Reid of Deutsche Bank wrote in a Friday note assessing the early moves in markets, citing the stabilization of bank stocks and signs of less stress in the bond market, after the European Central Bank on Thursday stuck to its plan to raise interest rates despite the market turmoil.
Still, there is little confidence that this crisis has fully run its course. Banks in the United States borrowed record amounts from the Federal Reserve to meet short-term needs this week, and shares of the recently rescued banks remain shaky.
Some sense of solace took shape just after midnight on Thursday in Zurich, when Credit Suisse, facing questions about its financial health, announced that it had grabbed a $54 billion lifeline from Switzerland’s central bank. Credit Suisse has been battered by years of mistakes and controversies that have cost it two chief executives over three years. But on Thursday, shares in the 166-year-old Swiss bank, which had plunged to a record low the day before, turned around and rose nearly 20 percent.
Our Coverage of the Investment World
The decline of the stock and bond markets this year has been painful, and it remains difficult to predict what is in store for the future.
The rescue of Credit Suisse, which the bank and Swiss regulators had insisted needed no rescue, followed a classic playbook: A powerful central bank threw its full support — and a big chunk of financial firepower — behind an institution that investors had decided needed urgent help. Investors responded in kind.
Later that day, First Republic Bank, a midsize lender based in San Francisco whose stock price has fallen more than 70 percent this month, erasing roughly $16 billion in value, announced a $30 billion rescue package that was as unconventional as the Credit Suisse support was traditional.
Four storied names in American finance — JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Citigroup and Wells Fargo — agreed to each place $5 billion in uninsured deposits with First Republic. Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, mainstays of Wall Street, pitched in $2.5 billion apiece, and five smaller regional banks added $1 billion each.
The industry-led action spoke loudly: These 11 institutions were confident that First Republic deserved saving. The banks, normally fierce rivals, issued a joint statement explaining their move: “America’s larger banks stand united with all banks to support our economy and all of those around us.”
The government’s overseers of the banking industry, some of whom helped bring the deal together, stood on the sidelines, issuing a bland statement saying that the banks’ show of support for First Republic was “most welcome.”
Stocks in the United States on Thursday swung from early losses to close 1.8 percent higher. The S&P 500 index remains up for the year and is on course to close out its second-best week of 2023, absent another reversal on Friday. U.S. stock futures, which signal the direction markets will take when they open in New York, indicated a flat open on Friday, retaining Thursday’s gain.
Signs of anxiety persist. New data from the Federal Reserve released on Thursday also showed that banks borrowed record amounts of emergency funds from the central bank, tapping both existing facilities and a new program to shore up liquidity that was announced after the government takeovers of a once-obscure lender to the tech world, Silicon Valley Bank, and the small Signature Bank in New York. That said, the borrowing was still smaller, as a share of the banking system’s current deposit base, than it was during the last surge of emergency borrowing, during the financial crisis of 2008.
And Credit Suisse’s shares are slipping again, eroding some of Thursday’s gains. The same goes for First Republic, with premarket losses on Friday erasing part of the previous day’s gain, suggesting that trading in banking shares will remain volatile on Friday.
Analysts at UBS wrote that banking stocks would “truly settle only after the market feels as if there is a longer-term solution” to First Republic’s woes. An index tracking the largest U.S. largest banks has fallen nearly 20 percent this year, with much of the loss concentrated in the past week, lagging the gain in the broader market over that period.
Before the broad panic about banks first surfaced last week, the biggest challenge facing economic policymakers was rapid inflation. Central bankers were caught between trying to tame price rises while not causing growth to stall out. Those efforts suddenly appeared far more complex with the sudden prospect of successive bank runs.
With a few exceptions, bank stocks, the focus of this week’s turmoil, appeared to regain their feet at the end of a seesaw week of trading. But “we shouldn’t get ahead of ourselves,” Mr. Reid of Deutsche Bank said. “It’s worth remembering that we’ve already had a temporary period of stability on Tuesday that was then dented by the Credit Suisse worries on Wednesday.”
Joe Rennison, Rob Copeland and Lauren Hirsch contributed reporting.
LEOMINSTER, Mass. — The music was blaring on a February afternoon when Francisco Torres stopped by a Massachusetts barbershop, proclaiming he was half-angel, half-devil.
He wanted a dozen people to come outside the shop and shoot him with an automatic weapon stored in his car trunk. Before anyone could make sense of the request, Torres fled the shop and drove off. They never saw a weapon and he didn’t return.
“I didn’t get what he was saying but then I realized he was talking about a gun. I told him there are kids in here, why are you saying this,” said Saul Perez, who was visiting friends at the shop and noted that an employee called 911, ushered children into the back and shut down the shop. “I was spooked.”
The incident took place about a week before Torres would be arrested for attacking a flight attendant and attempting to open the plane’s emergency door on a cross-country United flight from Los Angeles to Boston earlier this month.
Confrontations on flights have skyrocketed since the pandemic started, with some altercations captured and replayed endlessly on social media.
In a video taken by a fellow passenger, Torres loudly threatens to kill people and promises a bloodbath before charging the front of the plane, where a group of passengers tackled him down to the ground to restrain him.
He remains behind bars pending a mental health evaluation, with a judge ruling he “may presently be suffering from a mental disease or defect rendering him mentally incompetent.”
Torres objected to the evaluation through his federal public defender, Joshua Hanye, who didn’t return a call Thursday seeking additional comment. A relative for Torres would not comment on the case.
The flight attack was part of a decadeslong pattern of Torres demonstrating signs of a mental illness. He spent time in mental health facilities, according to lawsuits since closed that he filed in 2021 and 2022 against two hospitals in Massachusetts. Torres says he argued in one of the lawsuits that he was misdiagnosed for a mental illness and, in the other, that he was discriminated against for being vegan.
In December 2022, police confronted him at his house in Worcester County, where he was outside in his underwear saying he was protesting climate change, according to a police report. On another occasion in 2021, police responded to a call from his mother reporting that he was yelling “homicidal threats” out a window. He told police that he was in World War 3 and he had a special device giving him “super sonic hearing,” which he used to listen to his neighbors talking about him.
His case history demonstrates the challenges facing airlines and federal regulators when handling passengers like Torres. Especially since experts say data shows those with mental illnesses are more often the victims of crimes than those responsible for committing violent acts.
Despite repeated run-ins with police, authorities said that he rarely acted violent. He once was accused of grabbing his mother’s arm, but those charges were dismissed. He didn’t legally own a weapon, even though he often talked about guns. And there were no signs of trouble when he boarded that cross-county flight last month, a passenger said, or during the first five hours in the air.
“He is really a nonviolent offender,” said Leominster Police Chief Aaron Kennedy, who is familiar with Torres from previous run-ins. “This guy was pretty mild.”
And even if past incidents raised red flags, experts said there isn’t a whole lot that airline companies can or should be doing. Airlines say they don’t share banned passenger lists with each other, though there have been a few cases so notorious that the passenger’s name became widely known.
The FBI maintains a no-fly list for people suspected of terrorism, to which special agents and other approved government employees can submit names for consideration.
People with mental illnesses are not prohibited from getting on a plane, according to Jeffrey Price, an aviation-security expert at Metropolitan State University of Denver. Federal law gives U.S. citizens “a public right of transit through the navigable airspace,” he said.
Legislation backed by airlines and their labor unions was introduced in Congress last year to create a new no-fly list including people who were charged or fined for interfering with airline crews. The bills died without hearings in the Senate or House, but backers plan to re-introduce them later this month.
Several Republican senators opposed the proposal, saying it could be used to punish critics of the federal rule requiring passengers to wear masks — even to “equate them to terrorists.” From January 2021 to April 2022, while the federal mask mandate was still in effect, the vast majority of unruly-passenger cases reported by airlines involved disputes over masks, according to Federal Aviation Administration figures.
Some liberal groups also opposed the legislation, arguing that the current no-fly list of people suspected of terrorism is opaque and unfair.
The American Civil Liberties Union has sued the government several times over the last decade on behalf of people who didn’t know why they were on the list or how to be removed from it. The ACLU also has accused the FBI of putting some people on the list to pressure them to become informants in counter-terrorist investigations against Muslim communities in the U.S.
The captain of an airline flight can decide not to fly with a particular passenger on board, although flight attendants say this usually happens when a passenger appears to be drunk.
The government runs what it calls “trusted traveler” programs such as TSA PreCheck, which lets people who are fingerprinted and pass a background check speed through security without removing shoes, belts, jackets and laptops from their bags. People can be denied PreCheck for certain crimes, which extends to those who are found not guilty by reason of insanity. But of course people who are denied PreCheck can still fly.
Adding travelers like Torres to any no-fly list or barring them from a flight raises a host of logistical and constitutional questions. And determining who would get on a list would be controversial in a country that prides itself on protecting individual rights and keeping health information private by following strict HIPAA rules.
Plus, having a “mental health challenge” is “not a prediction, necessarily, that someone’s going to have outbursts, have unpredictable behavior,” said Lynn Bufka, a psychologist and the American Psychological Association’s associate chief of practice transformation. “That’s not going to be a good marker for determining whether or not someone should safely board.”
Before Torres became agitated and threatened those around him, fellow passenger Jason Loomis said he didn’t exhibit any strange behavior during boarding and was quiet for the beginning of the flight. Hours later though, Loomis witnessed his outburst. Initially, he spoke with Torres to try to calm him down, but when Torres’ anger escalated, Loomis joined other passengers in restraining him.
Still, Loomis said he couldn’t envision keeping Torres off the flight in the first place. Instead, he said it was a reminder that society needs to take better care of mentally ill people.
“I know there has been a lot of talk about airplane security and safety these days, but this was a very rare occurrence,” Loomis said. “It wasn’t like he was shouting in the airport. He wasn’t threatening anything. He was perfectly fine and then something just snapped.”
Ford has issued a safety recall for 1.28 million Fusion and Lincoln MKZ sedans sold in the U.S. over faulty brake fluid hoses that can rupture, requiring more distance to stop the vehicles and “increasing the risk of a crash,” according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The affected vehicles are approximately 1.2 million Ford Fusions made between 2013 and 2018, and about 113,000 Lincoln MKZs of the same model years.
A worker prepares a Ford Fusion Energi sedan at the company’s booth ahead of the Los Angeles Auto Show in Los Angeles, California, in this Nov. 14, 2016 file photo.
Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg/Getty
NHTSA said in a document detailing the recall that 2% of the affected vehicles are estimated to have the defect. Owners of vehicles subject to the recall will be “notified by mail and instructed to take their vehicle to a Ford or Lincoln dealer” for the required repair, NHTSA said, adding that the notification letters are “expected to be completed by April 28, 2023.”
Owners will not be charged for the repair, NHTSA said.
According to the federal agency, a hose carrying brake fluid to the front brakes on the affected vehicles can rupture due to normal wear and tear associated with its interaction with suspension and steering hardware, causing “a progressive brake fluid leak.”
In cars that have the leak, drivers may notice the brake pedal depressing further under their feet, “together with a reduction in the rate of deceleration, increasing the risk of a crash.”
In addition to the change in the braking behavior of affected vehicles, NHTSA said a brake fluid warning light may illuminate on the dashboard if a leak is detected.
It’s not the first brake-related recall for Ford in recent years. Almost one year ago exactly, the auto giant recalled nearly 215,000 pickup trucks and large SUVs in the U.S. and Canada because of a potential brake fluid leak.
That recall covered some F-150 pickups from 2016 through 2018, as well as Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs from 2016 and 2017.
This luxurious and silky-smooth dessert is sure to impress! Made with a feathery-light chocolate mousse and a slightly crunchy shortbread base, this Chocolate Raspberry Mousse Tart delivers a deeply satisfying combination of textures in every bite. Serve this prized French dessert at any celebration meal or “just because.”
Recipe Highlights
This recipe is easy to make yet so impressive to serve!
It uses simple ingredients that are readily available.
Our recommended chocolate offers a deep, rich chocolate flavor.
This tart is freezer-friendly at many stages.
You can let your inner decorator free for the finishing touches. Instead of using fresh raspberries, for example, you can pipe whipped cream and add chocolate curls or additional fruits that work well with chocolate.
This is a spectacular dish that friends and family will love!
Ingredients You’ll Need
Please check the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact quantities and detailed instructions (scroll down).
All-Purpose flour: Standard all-purpose flour works best here; skip the cake, bread, and wheat flour. Make sure to measure accurately. In my opinion, a kitchen scale is the best way to measure your ingredients.
Sugar: Regular white granulated sugar o caster sugar.
Salt: I prefer kosher or sea salt. If you only have table salt handy, I recommend reducing the amount to half.
Butter: Like most recipes, this recipe is written with unsalted butter in mind. If all you can find is salted butter, though, it’s no problem. Simply reduce the amount of salt required by the recipe!
Cornstarch: You can substitute for potato starch 1:1.
Heavy cream: Ensure it has at least 35% of fat content.
Dark chocolate: Many types of chocolate are available, but not all are real. We recommend dark chocolate containing only cocoa butter as the fat for this recipe.
Vanilla Extract: Reach for pure vanilla instead of imitation for optimal flavor. Even better, try homemade vanilla extract! If you are looking for non-alcoholic vanilla flavoring, I recommend Simply Organic Vanilla Flavoring.
Powdered sugar: Regular powdered sugar, also known as confectioner’s sugar.
Rum (optional): Rum is very high in alcohol, but we use only a tiny bit in our delicious dessert. We mark it as optional because you may wish to eliminate it entirely.
Fresh Raspberries: Although frozen raspberries can be substituted for fresh raspberries in the filling for this dessert, we recommend using fresh raspberries for the garnish.
Process Overview: Chocolate Raspberry Mousse Tart Step-By-Step
Please check the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact quantities and detailed instructions (scroll down).
Make the Crust
To make the shortbread base, whisk together the flour and granulated sugar in a medium bowl. Add the butter, then use your fingers to pinch it into the flour and sugar until the butter pieces are roughly the size of peas. Then roll it large enough to cover the bottom and sides of the prepared pan. Carefully transfer the dough to the pan and, without stretching, press lightly to fit. Prick the bottom of the dough several times with a fork to prevent bubbles, then bake until golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool completely on a wire rack.
Make the Raspberry Filling
To make the Raspberry filling, simmer the fresh raspberries and sugar over medium heat until the raspberries have broken down, about 5 minutes. Scrape the raspberries into a sieve placed over a clean pot, then press the raspberries through the sieve and discard the seeds. Dissolve the cornstarch in 1 tablespoon of water. Transfer the pot of strained raspberries to the stove and bring it back to a boil. Stir in the dissolved cornstarch, then remove from heat and cool slightly. Spread the raspberry purée over the cooled base, right to the edges, then refrigerate while making the chocolate mousse.
Make the Chocolate Mousse
To make the Chocolate Mousse, heat 1 cup (240 ml) of the whipping cream in a small saucepan over medium-high heat until bubbles begin to form around the edges. Remove from heat, then add the chopped chocolate and let sit for 1 – 2 minutes to allow the chocolate to melt. Stir gently with a whisk in circular motions until all chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth. Cool the mixture slightly by whisking in the remaining 1 cup (240 ml) of whipping cream, along with the vanilla extract. Press a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the chocolate cream, then refrigerate until very well chilled, about 6 hours or overnight.
After the chocolate mixture has chilled, whip the chocolate cream on medium speed with a stand or hand mixer until stiff peaks just form. This will not take long. Be careful not to over-whip since this could cause the mousse to separate. Carefully scrape the mousse into the tart without disturbing the parchment collar, then refrigerate for at least 1 hour or until firm.
Make the Chocolate Glaze
Melt the dark chocolate, powdered sugar, and butter in a heat-proof bowl set over simmering water. Remove the bowl from the heat and stir in the water and rum (if using); mix until incorporated. Let the glaze cool.
Before serving, unclip the springform pan and carefully lift it off. Transfer the tart to a serving plate. Spoon the cooled chocolate glaze over the chilled mousse and carefully smooth the surface. Garnish with fresh raspberries and mint leaves as desired. Serve immediately.
Tips & Variations
Only the best-quality, 70% dark chocolate is recommended for this recipe.
Frozen, drained raspberries may be used for the tart filling but not for the garnish since they are too watery.
The recipe may be halved and prepared in a 6” (16cm) springform pan.
Look over the timing carefully. For example, the mousse component must be chilled for 6 hours, and the assembled tart must be chilled again to set.
Instead of a shortbread crust, you can make this mouse tart on a graham cracker or oreo crust. Or, for a richer crust, use my Eggless Pastry Crust.
Additions and/or Variations
If raspberries aren’t an option, feel free to substitute another chocolate-friendly fruit, such as fresh cherries or strawberries.
If you prefer, you can sift a little cocoa powder or powdered sugar onto the surface of the mousse, then garnish the tart with whipped cream instead of — or along with — fresh fruit.
Other ideas for garnish include chocolate jimmies and chocolate curls.
Storing & Freezing Instructions
Tart may be wrapped and refrigerated for 3 days. To freeze, wrap in plastic wrap, then over-wrap with foil. Tart may be frozen for 2-3 weeks. Defrost in the refrigerator for 24 hours, then remove the wrapping and touch up the mousse as needed with a warm, dry knife.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this chocolate mousse tart in one day?
Yes, but allow approximately 8 hours because the tart must chill for 7 hours. Tart can also be chilled overnight before completing it the next day.
Can I use chocolate melts in this recipe?
We do not recommend using chocolate melts. This recipe has been tested only with Dark Chocolate containing a minimum of 70% cocoa butter.
Can this tart be frozen?
Yes, although touch-ups may be required to smooth the surface of the mousse.
How many people will this tart serve?
This 10” tart will yield 8-10 servings.
More Egg-Free Tart Recipes You’ll Love!
Recipe Card 📖
Chocolate Raspberry Mousse Tart
Leah Johnson
This luxurious and silky-smooth dessert is sure to impress! Made with a feathery-light chocolate mousse and a slightly crunchy shortbread base, this tart delivers a deeply satisfying combination of textures in every bite. Serve this prized French dessert at any celebration meal or “just because.”
Prep Time 30mins
Cook Time 15mins
Chilling Time 7hrs
Total Time 7hrs45mins
Servings 10servings
Instructions
Make the Crust:
Preheat oven to 350º F (180º C).
Spray the bottom and sides of a 9-inch (23 cm) springform pan with cooking spray, then line the bottom and sides with parchment paper and spray again. Set aside.
Whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, and salt in a medium bowl. Add the butter, then use your fingers to pinch it into the flour and sugar until the butter pieces are roughly the size of peas. PRO TIP: You can also do this in your food processor. In the bowl of a food processor, combine the flour, sugar,and salt. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture looks fine and crumbly.
Roll the dough into a 12-inch circle on a lightly floured surface, or roll it large enough to cover the bottom and halfway to the sides of your prepared pan. Then, carefully transfer the dough to the pan and, without stretching, press lightly to fit.
Prick the bottom of the dough several times with a fork to prevent bubbles, then bake for 15 – 20 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool completely on a wire rack.
Make the Raspberry Filling:
Dissolve the cornstarch in 1 tablespoon of water.
Combine cornstarch mixture, raspberries, and granulated sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Using a silicone spatula, stir the mixture, lightly mashing the raspberries as they begin to heat. Keep simmering until the raspberries have broken down, about 5 minutes.
Press the warm sauce through a fine mesh strainer to remove the seeds, if desired. Let the mixture cool at room temperature until just slightly warm.
Spread the raspberry purée over the cooled base, right to the edges, then refrigerate while making the chocolate mousse.
Make the Chocolate Mousse:
Heat 1 cup (240 ml) of the whipping cream in a small saucepan over medium-high heat until bubbles begin to form around the edges. Remove from heat, then add the chopped chocolate and let sit for 1 – 2 minutes to allow the chocolate to melt.
Stir gently with a whisk in circular motions until all chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth.
Cool the mixture slightly by whisking in the remaining 1 cup (240 ml) of whipping cream, along with the vanilla extract. Press a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the chocolate cream, then refrigerate until very well chilled, about 6 hours or overnight.
After the chocolate mixture has chilled, whip the chocolate cream on medium speed with a stand or hand mixer until stiff peaks just form. This will not take long. Be careful not to over-whip since this could cause the mousse to separate.
Carefully scrape the mousse into the tart without disturbing the parchment collar, then refrigerate for at least 1 hour or until firm.
Make the Chocolate Glaze:
Melt the dark chocolate, powdered sugar, and butter in a heat-proof bowl set over simmering water. Remove the bowl from the heat and stir in the water and rum (if using); mix until incorporated. Let the glaze cool.
Before serving, unclip the springform pan and carefully lift it off. Transfer the tart to a serving plate. Spoon the cooled chocolate glaze ver the chilled mousse and carefully smooth the surface.
Garnish with fresh raspberries and mint leaves as desired. Serve immediately.
Store: Tart may be wrapped and refrigerated for 3 days.Freeze: To freeze, wrap in plastic wrap, then over-wrap with foil. Tart may be frozen for 2-3 weeks. Defrost in the refrigerator for 24 hours, remove the wrapping, and touch up the mousse with a warm, dry knife.Tips & Variations
Only the best-quality, 70% dark chocolate is recommended for this recipe.
Frozen, drained raspberries may be used for the tart filling but not for the garnish since they are too watery.
The recipe may be halved and prepared in a 6” (16cm) springform pan.
Look over the timing carefully. For example, the mousse component must be chilled for 6 hours, and the assembled tart must be chilled again to set.
If raspberries aren’t an option, feel free to substitute another chocolate-friendly fruit, such as fresh cherries or strawberries.
If you prefer, you can sift a little cocoa powder or powdered sugar onto the surface of the mousse, then garnish the tart with whipped cream instead of — or along with — fresh fruit.
Other ideas for garnish include chocolate jimmies and chocolate curls.
If you’re making this recipe, please read the whole post content to get lots of tips, tricks, variations, and frequently asked questions.★ Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!Please note that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary depending on the products used.
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Gorgeous pixel art adventure game Unreal Life($6.99) from hako life and room6 hit mobile platforms following its release on PC and Nintendo Switch. Before hitting mobile, Shaun covered it at TGS 2018. Today, Unreal Life has been discounted by about 40% off on all platforms. If you’ve not tried it yet, Unreal Life has you playing as a girl who has lost her memories but only remembers one name: “Miss Sakura”. You try and find Miss Sakura with the help of a traffic light and have the ability to read the memories of objects you touch. The discount has rolled out worldwide now. I need to get around to replaying it for review, but Unreal Life is a special experience, and is definitely worth grabbing if you enjoy these kinds of games. Watch the Unreal Life mobile gameplay trailer below:
Unreal Life is cheapest on mobile followed by Steam and the Nintendo Switch. It is regularly priced at $22.99 on Nintendo Switch, but is down to $13.79 right now. It is down to $11.99 from its $19.99 price point on Steam. On mobile, it is about $3.99 on iOS and Android. You can buy it on the App Store for iOS here and on Google Play for Android here. Check out the official English website for Unreal Lifehere. I just downloaded it on Nintendo Switch to try out and compare with how the game runs on mobile and Steam Deck. Have you played Unreal Life on any platform yet or will you be taking advantage of this sale?
Vice President Kamala Harris, unfortunately, witnessed her alma mater, Howard University, lose to the defending NCAA men’s basketball national champion Kansas on Thursday, 96-68.
Howard and Kansas played at the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa, and when Harris appeared on the video board, she received an icy reception. According to multiple reports, the boos outweighed the cheers from the fans.
After the game, the vice president got a chance to give downtrodden Bison players a pep talk in their locker room after their loss.
Howard’s Elijah Hawkins, #3, tries to get past Kansas’s K.J. Adams Jr. during the second half of a first-round college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament Thursday, March 16, 2023, in Des Moines, Iowa.(AP Photo/Morry Gash)
“You played hard. You played to the very last second. You made all us Bisons proud,” she said. “You are smart. You are disciplined. You put everything you had into the game. You guys did not stop, and that is so inspiring. So you keep playing with chin up and shoulders back because you showed the world who Bison are.
Kansas guard Dajuan Harris Jr. loses the ball out of bounds in front of Howard guard Bryce Harris, #34, in the second half of a first-round college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament, Thursday, March 16, 2023, in Des Moines, Iowa.(AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
“So I know you may not be feeling great right now, OK, but know who you are. You are excellence. You are hard work. You are powerful, and you are winners.”
Harris’ speech, however, did not really resonate with the rest of social media.
Howard was just in their third NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament appearance in program history. It was the second time the team was selected as a No. 16 seed. The Bison were a No. 12 seed in 1981.
Vice President Kamala Harris and husband Douglas Emhoff watch during the second half of a first-round college basketball game between Howard and Kansas in the NCAA Tournament Thursday, March 16, 2023, in Des Moines, Iowa.(AP Photo/Morry Gash)
This season, Howard coach Kenneth Blakeney led the team to a 22-12 – his best record yet as the head coach. It was only three years ago when Howard only had four wins.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.
A 16-year-old wounded his mother with a firearm and then killed two police officers before taking his own life in western Canada early Thursday, officials told The Associated Press.
A police official and a senior government official said the male suspect shot and wounded his mother in Edmonton, Alberta. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity as each was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.
Earlier, Edmonton Police Chief Dale McFee said the two officers were fatally shot when they arrived at an apartment building on a domestic dispute call around 12:47 a.m. He said there was no indication the officers were able to return fire.
Police investigate the scene where two officers were shot and killed on duty in Edmonton on Thursday, March 16, 2023.
Jason Franson /The Canadian Press via AP
McFee said other officers sent to the apartment then found the young man dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He had said the shooter and woman were related without saying how or giving the suspect’s age.
The chief said the woman was in a life-threatening condition when taken to a hospital but was later listed in serious but stable condition.
McFee identified the deceased officers as Travis Jordan, 35, who had been with the Edmonton force for 8 1/2 years, and Brett Ryan, 30, an officer for 5 1/2 years.
Father-to-be and ‘snow angel’: Edmonton officers shot and killed on duty remembered https://t.co/54GMzqlwpj
“This is an extremely tragic day for the Edmonton Police Service and our city,” McFee said in a statement. “These officers gave their lives while trying to protect our community. They will never be forgotten.”
Ellis said the names of the officers would be added to the monument for fallen police officers on the grounds of the legislature, the CBC reported.
Ryan is being remembered as a pillar of the community and a longtime youth league hockey referee.
Darcy Carter, with the Spruce Grove Minor Hockey Association, said the officer and his wife were expecting a child.
Ryan was a paramedic before he became a police officer, and was passionate about his work in the police, Carter said. “That’s something that I’ll never forget … just his face lighting up when he talked about his job.”
Jordan was remembered for his kindness.
Jessica Shmigelsky said she was driving to work after a heavy spring snowfall in 2020 and Jordan pulled her over because her snow brush wasn’t working. But instead of giving her a ticket, he cleaned off her ca, she said.
“He did his job, and he did more than what his job really entailed,” Shmigelsky said.
Ryan and Jordan were remembered with a moment of silence before the hockey game between the Stars and the Oilers in Edmonton on Thursday night with their photos projected on the scoreboard.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted his condolences and support to the officers’ loved ones and colleagues.
“Every day, police officers put themselves in harm’s way to keep people safe. The news that two Edmonton police officers have been killed in the line of duty reminds us of that reality,” Trudeau wrote.
The killings are the first for the Edmonton Police Service since 2015, when Constable Daniel Woodall, a hate crimes investigator, was shot numerous times while using a battering ram to enter a residence. Another officer, Sgt. Jason Harley, was struck by a round that penetrated his body armor but survived.
On Thursday, Woodall’s widow, Claire Woodall, offered her condolences to the families of Ryan and Jordan, the CBC reported.
“It has understandably brought back painful memories,” she said. “I’m saddened to think these same feelings will be shared by the fallen officers families again today.”
Before Woodall’s death, Constable Ezio Faraone was shot to death while responding to an armed robbery in 1990.
NRX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a clinical-stage small molecule pharmaceutical company. It engages in developing of novel therapeutics for the treatment of central nervous system disorders and life-threatening pulmonary diseases. The company was founded on September 18, 2017 and is headquartered in Wilmington, DE.
How to determine the right size wheelchair for your pet
Choosing the right size wheelchair for your dog is easier than you might expect. You only need two pieces of information to determine what size Walkin’ Wheels dog wheelchair is best for your pet: their weight and a measurement of their rear leg height.
1. Know your dog’s weight
Your pet’s weight determines what size wheelchair frame your pet will need. Use the wheelchair measurement guide below to see which dog wheelchair is recommended for your pet based on it’s weight and size:
2 to 10 lbs. – Mini Wheelchair
11 to 25 lbs. – Small Wheelchair
26 to 49 lbs. – Medium Wheelchair
50 to 69 lbs. – Medium/Large Wheelchair
70 to 180 lbs. – Large Wheelchair
There are special wheelchairs sizes for both the dachshund and the corgi whose long bodies may need a little extra length.
2. Measure your dog’s rear leg height
Your dog’s rear leg height measurement should be taken with your dog lying down on its side. First, hold your dog’s hind leg in a natural, standing position. In this position, the leg shouldn’t be stretched out but have a natural bend. To get an accurate measurement, measure from where the leg meets the torso down to the bottom of your dog’s paw.
For dogs under 25 lbs., you may be asked for an additional body length measurement. This measurement is called the armpit to rump measurement or ATR. The ATR is taken from the back of the front leg, through the center of your dog’s body, all the way to the end of the body (at the rump).
Want help choosing the right size Walkin’ Wheels wheelchair? Enter your pet’s breed, weight, and measurements into the SureFit® calculator to have our online wheelchair selector find the perfect size wheelchair for your pet.
Understanding the different types of dog wheelchairs
The right kind of wheelchair for your pet will be based on where they need the most support. For example, a rear wheel dog wheelchair is the type of cart most often required. Most pets with mobility problems experience hind leg weakness or paralysis. Therefore, a rear wheelchair is best for dogs with limited or no use of their back legs. In s style of cart, the back wheels are aligned with a dog’s hips offering support directly underneath a dog’s hind end.
A full support or quad wheelchair is for pets who have lost both front and back legs. Along with the two wheels in the back, a quad cart also features two wheels at the front of the dog. A four-wheel wheelchair is often used for pets with a degenerative mobility condition or neurological disorder. This style of wheelchair offers balanced support on all four legs. Typically, the front wheels on a quad wheelchair are caster wheels, which allow the dog to turn and maneuver the wheelchair easily.
Walkin’ Wheels Rear Wheelchair
Walkin’ Wheels Full Support Wheelchair
The third type of wheelchair is a front-wheel wheelchair, and just like it sounds, this style wheelchair has wheels positioned at the dog’s front legs. Most often, a front-wheel wheelchair is needed due to a conformational deformity or missing limb(s).
Is a Walkin’ Wheels dog wheelchair the right cart for my pet?
There are many benefits to choosing an adjustable dog wheelchair over a custom-built wheelchair. Here are a few of the reasons why a Walkin’ Wheels adjustable dog wheelchair may be right for your pet:
Quick ordering and shipping
Since the Walkin’ Wheels is intended to fit a wide range of dogs, each wheelchair can be shipped the same day! No long wait times or delays, which means your dog can get back on its feet even sooner. Place your order before 3:00 pm EST, Monday through Friday, to have your new Walkin’ Wheels wheelchair can ship the same day.
A dog’s weight can fluctuate
Just like in humans, a dog’s weight can change. Dogs that have been inactive for a while can experience significant weight gain. Once they get into their new wheelchair, they’ll move more and get regular exercise, which can help them maintain a healthy weight. An adjustable dog wheelchair allows you to widen or narrow the width of your dog’s cart, so their wheelchair always fits them, regardless of how much they weigh!
The wheelchair can adapt to change with your pet’s mobility needs
A pet’s mobility loss can change with time. Many mobility conditions are degenerative, meaning the pet’s leg strength will worsen. For example, in the early stages, a dog may experience some weakness in their back legs which may progress to hind leg paralysis.
We want to encourage these dogs to continue walking on their back legs as long as possible. They should start with their back legs touching the ground to continue to exercise those leg muscles. When that same dog is paralyzed, use the stirrups to lift the back legs off the ground. They can continue to walk in the wheelchairs, but the legs and paws are elevated to prevent dragging and scrapping.
A dog diagnosed with degenerative myelopathy will experience significant changes in mobility as the disease progresses. In its earliest stages, the hind legs will weaken and become paralyzed. Expect the dog’s symptoms to worsen until the DM affects the front leg strength. Dogs with DM will need a wheelchair that will change with their condition. The Walkin’ Wheels rear dog wheelchair is designed to convert to a full support wheelchair with the simple addition of the front wheel attachment. This allows one dog to use the same cart throughout and avoid the expense of purchasing multiple carts.
Easy to fit
The Walkin’ Wheels dog wheelchair features adjustable height, length, and width. So you can finetune the fit of your dog’s cart easily. Each adjustment is as simple as a push of a button, similar to how you’d adjust your own crutches. And the best part, if you have a growing dog or your dog’s body shape changes, the wheelchair can be adjusted to accommodate them.
Common reasons why a dog may need a wheelchair
There are many different reasons why a dog may need a wheelchair. Although many dogs will rely on a wheelchair their entire life, a mobility aid can also be beneficial in the short term as a pet heals.
Short Term Uses for a Wheelchair
During injury recovery
As part of their rehab therapy
To reduce the weight placed on painful joints (can be used permanently for this purpose as well)
Cruciate injuries and CCL tears: can be a surgery alternative, allow for continued mobility during recovery, or preventative to reduce pressure placed on the remaining healthy knee.
Long-Term Uses for a Wheelchairs
Degenerative Myelopathy
Hind leg weakness
Paralysis
Cerebellar Hypoplasia
IVDD
Chronic osteoarthritis or severe hip dysplasia
Wobbler’s Syndrome or CVI
Dogs, cats, and other pets need to use a wheelchair for a whole host of reasons. Wheelchairs can provide stability, help pets stand, and help keep pets walking. Whether they only use the cart on days when they’re tired or stiff. Or rely on a wheelchair for a short time as they heal. Or need a wheelchair all the time. However and whenever your best friend uses their wheelchair the goal is the same – to keep pets active!
How to use a dog wheelchair
Using a dog wheelchair is easy. The first step is understanding how the wheelchair works and what each part does for your best friend.
Wheelchair Parts: What the are and how they work
A dog wheelchair is constructed of many different wheelchair parts. Each piece of the wheelchair has a unique function and use. Here is a brief overview of the different parts of your pet’s Walkin’ Wheels dog wheelchair.
Wheelchair frame
This is the most important part of your dog’s cart. All components of your pet’s wheelchair will attach to the frame. The size of the frame is determined by your pet’s weight.
When you get your wheelchair, you will see the width connector comes already attached. This silver metal bar at the back will allow you to adjust the width of the cart using the push buttons. On the side of the wheelchair frame are the knuckles and attaches the leg of the wheelchair to the frame.
Side Extenders
These are the silver bars that attach to the wheelchair and run along the center of your dog’s body. Once your pet is in the wheelchair, the front harness will attach to the side extenders. To adjust the length, simply use the push buttons on either side of your dog to shorten or lengthen. When fitted correctly, the side extenders should stop right behind your dog’s shoulder blades.
Wheels and Struts
Available in a range of sizes. Your pet’s wheels and struts are based on their rear leg height measurement. Attach the strut to the leg of the wheelchair frame and use the push buttons on either side to get the right height for your pet. Repeat on both sides.
Leg Rings
The leg rings form a saddle underneath your dog’s hind end. Your pet’s leg rings are foam covered and will look like back-to-back c’s. The leg rings attach to the wheelchair frame at four points in the back of the car. Your pet’s legs will be placed on either side of the leg rings. The leg rings will help to reduce the weight on your dog’s back legs and offer them comfortable support.
Front Harness
The harness sits across your dog’s chest, over the back, and behind the front legs. A three-pronged clip called the D-Ring is on either side of the front harness. These clips will slide over the side extender bars and clip into the mount pad on the wheelchair. The harness helps to keep your pet in its wheelchair and keep it properly aligned.
Stirrups
The stirrups attach to the silver metal loops on the back of your dog’s wheelchair frame. Your dog may not ever need the stirrups. We recommend using the stirrups only if your dog’s hind legs are fully paralyzed and need to be elevated off the ground. To use, first attach the stirrups to the silver loops on the back of the cart and put your dog into their cart. When ready, lift one leg off the ground at a time, and place through the stirrup. The stirrup should sit right above the dog’s hock.
Belly Belt
The belly belt is an optional support that attaches to either side of the side extenders and supports under the spine. Most often used for dog’s with a bad back, spinal issues, or those that need additional support in the center of the body.
How to get the perfect fit for your dog’s new wheelchair
Here is a quick guide to walk you through what your dog’s wheelchair should look like when it’s adjusted correctly:
Airbnb has changed the way people travel and experience new places. It has also provided a new source of income for homeowners who are looking to earn extra money. If you have a spare room or property that you are not using, then Airbnb could be the perfect opportunity for you.
This blog post will guide you through the process of starting your own Airbnb business and help you make the most of this opportunity.
What is Airbnb?
Airbnb is an online platform that connects travellers with local hosts who provide accommodation. The platform has revolutionised the hospitality industry by offering travellers an affordable and unique way to experience new places. Airbnb provides a range of accommodation options, from a single room in a shared apartment to an entire home or villa.
Why you should start your own Airbnb business
Earn additional income: By becoming an Airbnb host, you can earn extra money from your unused space.
List for free on Airbnb: It is completely free to list your property on Airbnb. You only pay a small commission when you receive a booking.
Complete control over listing: As a host, you have complete control over your listing. You can set your own rules, prices and availability.
Host Protection Insurance: Airbnb provides Host Protection Insurance to all hosts, which protects against damages caused by guests.
Steps to starting an Airbnb
Get relevant permissions: Before listing your property on Airbnb, make sure you have the necessary permissions and approvals from your local council or landlord.
Find and prepare your Airbnb space: Prepare your space to meet the standards of Airbnb guests. Make sure it is clean, tidy, and has all the necessary amenities.
Work out how much to charge: Research the market and see what similar properties are charging. Set a competitive price that reflects the value of your property.
Create a compelling listing: Your listing is your advertisement. Take high-quality photos, write an engaging description, and highlight the unique features of your property.
Boost your profits: You can boost your profits by offering additional services such as airport transfers, breakfast, or tours. You can also offer discounts for longer stays.
Other things to consider before listing on Airbnb
Safety: Ensure your property is safe for guests. Install smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and provide clear instructions on how to use appliances.
Insurance: Check with your insurance provider to see if you need additional coverage for hosting on Airbnb.
Tax implications: Hosting on Airbnb may have tax implications. Make sure you understand the tax laws in your area.
Refunds/cancellations: Establish your refund and cancellation policies before listing your property on Airbnb.
Summary
Starting an Airbnb business can be a great way to earn extra income, but it’s important to do it right. Remember, you don’t need a mansion to get up and running, you can still generate income with small home on your land. By following these expert tips, you can increase your chances of success as an Airbnb host.
Hampshire College on Thursday offered admission to all New College of Florida students in good standing. The offer also includes a match of their costs on tuition, which is much greater for Hampshire students than Florida students.
“This opportunity is in response to the continuing attacks on New College of Florida intended to limit intellectual exploration, turn back progress toward inclusion, and curtail open discussion of race, injustice, and histories of oppression,” Hampshire said. “By committing to impose a narrowly politicized curriculum on New College, the newly appointed trustees broke promises made to its current students to support a self-directed, rigorous education grounded in a commitment to free inquiry.”
The college added, “What is happening at New College of Florida is merely the most radical example of increasingly aggressive efforts to suppress meaningful examination of the realities of our society and curb the advancement of democratic ideals, aspirations that should be the mission of higher education. Increasingly, public institutions are a target for those trying to censor discussions of racism, white supremacy, gender identity, structural barriers to equity, and the reproduction of oppressive hierarchies. This doesn’t serve the students, it doesn’t serve democracy, and it certainly doesn’t serve the world those students seek to improve.”
A spokeswoman for Hampshire told CBS News that four students applied to the college Thursday.
A spokesman for the Florida Department of Education did not respond to a request for comment.
ATCHAFALAYA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, La. — Stacks of valves, networks of pipes and hulking, two-story-tall tanks litter parts of the swampy landscape of Louisiana’s Atchafalaya Basin, rusting relics of sites where oil wells were drilled in the 1970s, an unwanted legacy of the energy industry that has long helped drive the Louisiana economy.
They are among an estimated 2 million unplugged U.S. “ orphan wells,” abandoned by the companies that drilled them. There are more than 4,500 such wells in Louisiana, according to the state Department of Natural Resources. The owners can’t be found, have gone out of business or otherwise can’t be made to pay in a state where there are decades-long political debates involving legislation and litigation over the environmental effects of oil and gas drilling.
The Biden administration plans to tackle the problem nationally with $4.7 billion from the bipartisan infrastructure bill passed in late 2021. Administration officials joined their state counterparts in the Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge recently to tout the efforts.
“The state and federal government, we are left to clean them up because of the hazard they present,” Martha Williams, director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said. She was visiting what is known as the B-5 well site with Thomas Harris, secretary of the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources., and Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Jack Montoucet.
The abandoned wells can leak oilfield brine and cancer-causing chemicals that are components of crude oil, such as benzene. They also can emit methane, a greenhouse gas that’s 80 times as potent as carbon dioxide.
In the south Louisiana wetlands, where salty water can exacerbate the deterioration, defunct wells threaten the environmental health of an area that is home to an abundance of wildlife: numerous species of migratory fowl; deer, beaver, bears and a variety of other mammals; the once-endangered alligator among many other reptiles. Coastal wetlands also act as nurseries for Gulf of Mexico crabs, shrimp and other fish species.
Williams’ agency last year announced it had received more than $13 million of infrastructure bill money to remediate 175 orphaned wells on six national wildlife refuges in Oklahoma and Louisiana.
Montoucet said the infusion of money to help plug the wells is welcome, but he also pointed to the need for greater oversight by the state.
“With this new injection of money and addressing the issue that we have, I think we’re on the right path,” Montoucet said. “And from now on, when people come for applications to drill, certainly we’re going to have more regulations in place to ensure that these sites are not left like this.”
Earlier this year, Charlotte Sands released ‘Alright,’ a powerful song that tugged at our heartstrings and even got us a little teary. This month, we’ve been blessed with ‘Six Feet Under,’ an invigorating track showcasing her immense talent. It’s safe to say that we are obsessed with this song!
“‘Six Feet Under’ is a song about having the impulse to sabotage your own life whenever it feels comfortable and the addictiveness of having highs and lows instead of balance and stability,” Charlotte states about her latest release. “It’s for anyone that finds themself having self-destructive tendencies and constantly struggles with embracing solidity.”
I hope you love this song and I hope it brings you some kind of peace knowing you are not the only person who feels more at ease when surrounded by chaos.
Charlotte Sands
We love this song, and we’re sure it’s already been added to many people’s playlists. It’s definitely on so many of ours! But why does this track have us so obsessed? Here are three reasons why.
The Lyrics Are Relatable
Charlotte Sands is a lyrical genius. She’s capable of writing songs from a first-person perspective and capturing how so many people feel. This song is no different.
“And I’m fighting with the mirror when I thought that we were friends / I wanna disappear but then I’m going out again / Am I getting better or just better at pretending”
We’re sure we can all relate to the lyrics in this song in one way or another. That internal conflict that we can have with ourselves. The inner battle we have and the excruciating moments of self-doubt. That’s something she portrays perfectly.
Image Source: LLCollection via GIPHY
The Pace Portrays The Mind
Charlotte has an incredible voice, and there’s no denying that. We’ve fallen in love with her vocals over and over. From ‘Alright’ to ‘Dress,’ she captures us with her voice every single time.
But the way she uses her voice in ‘Six Feet Under?’ Remarkable. Her talent has us enthralled! The way she starts a little slower in the first verse, but when it leads up toward the chorus, there’s a change of pace. It’s a perfect depiction of how chaotic the mind can be.
See Also
Image Source: LLCollection via GIPHY
It’s Charlotte Sands!
That’s right! We are putting the legend herself down as a reason why! We are huge stans of Charlotte Sands and we can’t help but become addicted to every single song we hear from her.
Not only that, but we love her for her. We love her positive influence and the way she wants to empower people. We adore her ambition, her talent, her energy, her everything!
Image Source: LLCollection via GIPHY
Another thing that we adore is Charlotte’s desire to create a safe space for those that need it and that she’s an advocate for mental health support. Did you know she’s teamed up with BetterHelp to provide her fans with access to a month of professional therapy? That’s so incredible! She really is a beautiful, caring person through and through, and we’ll forever adore her and her unbelievable music.
What about you? Do you stan Charlotte Sands as much as we do? What do you think of ‘Six Feet Under?’ Let us know in the comments below or by tweeting us @thehoneypop! You can also find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Discord.
Footage of the incident shows a jet dumping fuel on the droneCredit: The Mega Agency
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The drone’s broken propeller can be seen at the endCredit: DOD/UNPIXS
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Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has given medals to the pilots of the jetsCredit: AP
It is understood the move was authorised by top-level Kremlin officials.
Russia claims to have since located the wreckage of the drone at a depth of up to 2,953 ft in the Black Sea off major naval port Sevastopol.
Meanwhile, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has presented medals to the pilots of two Su-27 fighter planes that intercepted the drone near the Ukraine frontline.
Announcing the awards, the ministry repeated Russia’s version of events – disputed by Washington – that the Russian planes did not make physical contact with the drone.
A spokesman said: “As a result of sharp manoeuvring, the MQ-9 unmanned aerial vehicle went into uncontrolled flight with a loss of altitude and collided with the water surface.”
It said the drone had been flying with its transponders turned off and violating airspace restrictions that Russia had made public in connection with what it calls its special military operation in Ukraine.
The US military said the Russian fighter planes approached its MQ-9 Reaper drone during a reconnaissance mission over the Black Sea in international airspace.
It said the fighters harassed the drone and sprayed fuel on it in an encounter lasting 30-40 minutes before one clipped the drone’s propeller, causing it to crash into the sea.
The clip also showed a damaged propeller in the aftermath.
A top US general said the incident demonstrated Moscow’s increasingly aggressive behaviour.
It is the first time since the height of the Cold War that a US aircraft has been brought down by the Russians.
State Department spokesman Ned Price slammed what he called Russia’s “brazen violation of international law”.
US Air Force General James Hecker, commander of US Air Forces Europe and Air Forces Africa also condemned the Russians.
He said: “Our MQ-9 aircraft was conducting routine operations in international airspace when it was intercepted and hit by a Russian aircraft, resulting in a crash and complete loss of the MQ-9.”
“In fact, this unsafe and unprofessional act by the Russians nearly caused both aircraft to crash.”
Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Patrick Ryder said the Russian planes had been stalking the drone prior to the collision.
“It seems like approximately 30 to 40 minutes they were flying in the vicinity of this MQ-9,” he said.
The US has been operating Reapers drones over the Black Sea since before the beginning of the war to track Russian movements on the Ukraine battlefield
The drones can fly up to 50,000 feet for 10 hours making them ideal for gathering intelligence and performing reconnaissance for extended periods of time.
The area where the incident is believed to be where there is intense NATO military activity close to the frontlines of the Ukraine war.
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It is understood the move was authorised by top-level Kremlin officials, though it is unclear if Putin made the orderCredit: AP
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The drone that crashed was an MQ-9 Reaper, like the one pictured
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The drone collided with a Russian Su-27 jetCredit: UK MOD Crown
