If only we baby boomers had been a bit more promiscuous, America wouldn’t be in this fix.
Instead, we blundered into an economic crisis of our own making — or rather not making. As in not making enough babies. (It turns out the peace and love generation was proficient at neither.) We started a long, disquieting, downward trend in baby-making.
According to the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics, America’s annual birthrate started dipping below “replacement-level fertility” rates way back in 1971. (The same year Disney World opened in Orlando. Coincidence? Maybe. Maybe not.)
Demographers calculate that a society requires 2.1 births for every woman age 15 to 45 to maintain a stable population. Fall below the magic equation, the population shrinks, gets older and considerably more crotchety.
Since 2007, the decline has become precipitous. Nowadays, Americans are cranking out barely 1.6 children per woman, according to the CDC study. Just 3.8 million babies were born in 2020, the fewest since 1979.
These findings indicate that the great ongoing labor shortage crippling America’s economic recovery might well be attributable to this 50-year decline in fertility
The Public Safety and Recreational Firearms Use Protection Act or Federal Assault Weapons Ban (AWB) was a subsection of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, a United States federal law which included a prohibition on the manufacture for civilian use of certain semi-automatic firearms that were defined as assault weapons as well as certain ammunition magazines that were defined as large capacity.
The 10-year ban was passed by the U.S. Congress on August 25, 1994 and was signed into law by President Bill Clinton on September 13, 1994. The ban applied only to weapons manufactured after the date of the ban’s enactment. It expired on September 13, 2004, in accordance with its sunset provision. Several constitutional challenges were filed against provisions of the ban, but all were rejected by the courts. There were multiple attempts to renew the ban, but none succeeded.
The scientific consensus among criminologists and other researchers is that the ban had little to no effect on overall criminal activity, firearm deaths, or the lethality of gun crimes. Studies have found that the overwhelming majority of gun crimes are committed with weapons which are not covered by the AWB, and that assault weapons are less likely to be used in homicides than other weapons. There is tentative evidence that the frequency of mass shootings may have slightly decreased while the ban was in effect, but research is inconclusive, with independent researchers finding conflicting results.
The balsamic glaze adds such a great flavor to the chips and when it mixes with the ranch dressing and blue cheese it’s a marriage made in heaven. These can also be served without heating them up. The heating step just helps the cheese melt ever so slightly.
Blue Cheese and Balsamic Kettle Chips: Kettle brand potato chips with sea salt Crumbled Blue Cheese Balsamic Glaze (find it in the salad dressing or marinade aisle) Ranch dressing Bacon, cooked and crumbled Green onion, chopped
Arrange potato chips on an oven safe dish, and drizzle LIGHTLY with dressing, and sprinkle on blue cheese. Warm in oven {at 350} for about 3-4 minutes, or microwave for about 10 seconds. Just enough to get the cheese warm.
Remove dish and drizzle with balsamic glaze. Sprinkle with bacon and green onions and serve.
In 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife, Sophie, were shot to death in Sarajevo by Serb nationalist Gavrilo Princip — an act that sparked World War I.
Franz Ferdinand, archduke of Austria, and his wife Sophie riding in an open carriage at Sarajevo shortly before their assassination.
In June 1914, Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie traveled to Bosnia, which had been annexed by Austria-Hungary, for a state visit.
On June 28, the couple went to the capital city of Sarajevo to inspect imperial troops stationed there. As they headed toward their destination, they narrowly escaped death when Serbian terrorists threw a bomb at their open-topped car.
Their luck ran out later that day, however, when their driver inadvertently drove them past 19-year-old Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip who shot and killed Franz Ferdinand and his wife at point-blank range. Austria-Hungary was furious and, with Germany’s support, declared war on Serbia on July 28.
Within days, Germany declared war on Russia—Serbia’s ally—and invaded France via Belgium, which then caused Britain to declare war on Germany.
The DIY laundry detergent that I’m sharing today has been my go-to for about five years now. It’s easy to make, and it doesn’t irritate my skin as some other detergents do, like Tide. Oh, and did I mention that it makes nearly a year’s worth of laundry detergent for around $24 in supplies? I’ve made adjustments to the recipe over the years due to supply chain issues and haven’t noticed any issues. I have noted some changes below.
So here it is:
3 (5 oz) bars Fels-Naptha Laundry Bar [or Zote Laundry Bar] 1 (65 oz) box Mule Team Borax 1 (55 oz) box Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda 2 (16oz) box Great Value Baking Soda 2 (16oz) LA’s Totally Awesome Power Oxygen Cleaner 2 (21 oz) bottles Purex Crystals Fragrance Booster
Step 1 – Make Powdered Detergent
First, you’ll break down the bars of Fels-Naptha into fine pellets of laundry soap. The pieces need to be small enough that they will dissolve readily in your washing machine. I like to do this by using a cheese grater, then blending them in my food processor along with a few scoops of Washing Soda. (The Washing Soda keeps the laundry soap pieces from sticking to each other too much.)
Step 2 – Mix The Ingredients
Next, you’ll combine all the detergent ingredients. In my experience, the easiest way to do this is to use a couple of trash bags!
If you live in a humid area, like I do, make sure to choose an airtight container so that your detergent stays dry.
How Much Detergent Should I Use? For a standard wash load, use 2 tablespoons of homemade laundry detergent. For large or heavily soiled loads, use 2 1/2 tablespoons. For small loads, use 1 1/2 tablespoons. This detergent works perfectly in any washing machine, including high-efficiency machines! (Bonus HE Tip: Skip the dispenser and toss the detergent right into the washer!)
Notes: Washing soda has a higher PH than regular baking soda. So if you want to make more eco-friendly laundry detergent, you can increase the washing soda and eliminate the borax.
Original recipe called for 2 (55oz) boxs of OxiClean, however, due to the pandemic and supply chain issues I no longer can justify the cost. I use 2 (16oz) cans of Dollar Tree’s Oxygen cleaner and notice no difference at all. It turns out that using a third of the original oxygen cleaner doesn’t white wash my cloths as much. Dollar Tree for the win!
Adding Purex Crystal is an easy way to give homemade laundry detergent a fresh and lasting scent. If you prefer to avoid fragrances, feel free to leave the crystals out! The detergent will work just fine without them.
Approx Cost Breakdown: (Walmart / Dollar Tree 6-27-22)
$3.27 – 3 (5 oz) bars Purex Fels-Naptha Laundry Bar $5.47 – 1 (76 oz) box Borax $4.17 – 1 (55 oz) box Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda $0.72 – 1 (16oz) box Great Value Baking Soda $2.00 – 2 (16oz) LA’s Totally Awesome Power Oxygen Cleaner – Dollar Tree $7.94 – 2 (15.5 oz) bottles Purex Crystals Fragrance Booster
Starting on July 1, days before the Fourth of July holiday, Florida police will start ticketing people for loud music.
According to WJAX, the Florida statute controlling radio volume once again becomes enforceable on July 1 and will be enforced statewide. Basically, police will start ticketing drivers for playing their music too loud when on the road.
The statute says that “it’s unlawful if the sound coming from a motor vehicle is plainly audible from 25 feet or more, or louder than necessary for convenient hearing in areas with churches, schools, or hospitals,”.
Tickets could cost about $114, since it’s a noncriminal traffic infraction that is punishable just as a nonmoving violation.
