Good morning. It's Sunday. Here's what's shaping the day: |
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Back to Butler: Former President Donald Trump held a rally on Saturday in Butler Township, the site of the first assassination attempt against him.
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Another Storm: Tropical Storm Milton is now expected to become a major hurricane before it makes landfall on Florida’s west coast, according to the National Hurricane Center.
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Election Extension: The South Carolina Election Commission said on Friday that the state’s voter registration deadline has been extended to Oct. 14 due to the widespread impact of Hurricane Helene.
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Platinum for the Masses: Costco has started selling platinum bars and coins for its members in what appears to be an expansion of its already robust precious-metals business.
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Master of Laughter: Ronald Reagan loved jokes and funny stories, and he had a comedian’s knack for timing and delivery. Jeff Minick revisits the former president’s comedic heritage to glean five tips for a better life.
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People at a rally held by former President Donald Trump, in Butler Township, Pa., on Oct. 5, 2024. Samira Bouaou/Epoch Times |
Former President Donald Trump spoke on stage in Butler Township, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, returning to the place where he survived an assassination attempt on July 13 this year.
Roughly 45 minutes into the speech, Trump invited billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk on stage. Musk urged the crowd and the audience watching to register to vote. He cautioned that this year will be "the last election" if people don't take the step. "Nothing is more important," Musk said.
The former president, who is in the final stretch of his second bid to regain the White House, had vowed to come back to Butler shortly after narrowly avoiding a direct hit from a bullet; it pierced his right ear. |
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Trump thanked the law enforcement and first responders who were involved in protecting him and rushing him off the stage and to a hospital.
- He also devoted several minutes to commemorate Corey Comperatore, the man who was killed in the shooting. The former president paused the rally for a minute of silence in memory of Comperatore, timed to 6:11 p.m., the moment the shooting in July began. A singer performed "Ave Maria" as the crowd stood by.
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"The love that he showed on that day and throughout his life is the love that sustains the entire movement, love that our families have, and it's love of our communities and love of our country," Trump said of Comperatore, who leapt to shield his family when the shots ran out. |
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Aside from spending several minutes attacking the Biden-Harris administration over the federal response to hurricane Helene, Trump traversed familiar themes during the speech.
- In a departure from the traditional rally lineup, Trump remained on stage after the speech as opera singer Christopher Macchio performed.
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At the July 13 rally, an estimated 15,000 people waited in scorching heat for hours. Trump had only spoken for a few minutes before the shots rang out, bringing the rally to an abrupt end.
The U.S. Secret Service has faced criticism for security lapses surrounding the shooting and another gunman’s foiled plan to kill Trump as he golfed in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15. Most concerns have centered on on-site planning failures; Trump and others have praised agents for acting swiftly after threats became obvious in both instances.
Ahead of the Oct. 5 rally, local and federal officials expressed confidence that necessary adjustments have been made to protect Trump and the public. Read the full story here. |
Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump pitched competing plans for creating auto manufacturing jobs in Michigan at rallies held just one day and 40 miles apart. |
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Harris promised a Flint audience on Oct. 4 that she would continue the Biden administration’s government investments in manufacturing, which she said had created jobs and new auto plants.
- Trump told rallygoers in Saginaw on Oct. 3 that he would revive American auto manufacturing through a system of tax incentives, tariffs on imported cars, and low-cost energy.
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Attendees cheered both plans for job creation, though their comments showed that their voting is motivated by broader concerns. With a month left in the presidential campaign, the rallies illustrate the importance of Michigan, a state that has been defined by auto manufacturing for more than a century, in this election.
More on the election: |
The South Carolina Election Commission said on Friday that the state’s voter registration deadline has been extended to Oct. 14 due to the widespread impact of Hurricane Helene. The initial deadlines for in-person, online, and mail-in voter registration were Oct. 4, Oct. 6, and Oct. 7, respectively. All registration methods have now been extended to Oct. 14 for voters in all counties. The announcement followed a recent decision by Circuit Court Judge Daniel Coble to grant an extension following a lawsuit filed by the South Carolina Democratic Party (SCDP) on Oct. 3.
The party had asked the court to extend the deadlines for all forms of voter registration, citing the destruction caused by Hurricane Helene, which made landfall on Sept. 26 as a Category 4 hurricane. In its suit, the SCDP said the storm had shuttered numerous government offices, including those in charge of voter registration, and many residents were still without power and internet. “We are pleased the voter registration deadline has been extended. This isn’t a partisan issue. It’s an issue of the public good and ensuring the right to vote is protected for everyone,” SCDP Chair Christale Spain said in a statement on Oct. 4. More U.S. news: |
Costco has started selling platinum bars and coins for its members in what appears to be an expansion of its already robust precious-metals business. Starting last year, the retailer began selling both gold bars and silver coins through its website. How Much Are the Bars and Coins? |
- The Kirkland, Washington-based retail giant started selling one-ounce Canadian Platinum Maple Leaf coins for $1,089.99 this week via its website, according to an Epoch Times review. A membership with Costco is required to purchase the item.
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Costco is also selling Swiss-made one-ounce platinum bars for $1,089.99 via its website, also requiring a Costco membership, which was rolled out on Costco’s website this week.
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For both the bars and coins, Costco said it is limiting members to one transaction with a maximum of five units.
- Customers cannot return the bars or coins after they purchase them, and delivery isn’t available in Nevada and Louisiana, according to a review of the company’s website.
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More than two and a half years since Russia invaded eastern Ukraine, Moscow’s forces have seized the initiative in the eastern Donbas region, the total control of which remains a key Russian objective. Kyiv, meanwhile, has been thrown on the defensive and continues to struggle with serious shortages of both manpower and military equipment.
In the past two months alone, advancing Russian forces have taken several strategic positions in Donbas, begging the question: Is Russia poised to win the war?
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While most Western observers note that Russia is making steady headway in Donbas, they are quick to dismiss the notion of an imminent Russian victory in Ukraine.
- “I don’t think the Russians are poised to win anytime soon,” Robert Peters, a defense policy analyst at the Heritage Foundation, a Washington-based think tank, told The Epoch Times.
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“But neither is Ukraine,” said Peters, who previously served as a civilian policy analyst at the U.S. Defense Department.
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You’ve just savored a delicious meal, and now you’re reaching for that tall, frosty glass of water. Could that be setting you up for digestive distress? |
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In 1913, a doctor penned a letter to the editor of the Journal of the American Medical Association, saying:
- “We are often called to treat people with severe cramps suddenly developed during or right after a meal. In many of these cases, we find that the sufferer drank large quantities of too-cold water.”
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Buckle’s century-old observation raises questions that still perplex us today. When is the best time to drink water in relation to our meals? And does the temperature of the water matter?
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Despite constant reminders to stay hydrated, many of us remain as confused about the timing and type of water we should drink as were our great-grandparents. A 2023 review in the journal Antioxidants highlights this ongoing dilemma:
“Recommendations about total daily fluid intake are less common and accurate than food recommendations.”
Indeed, traditional wisdom and modern advice often clash when it comes to drinking water around mealtimes. While research has yet to provide definitive answers, some common ground exists.
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Abstaining from drinking for a couple of hours after eating can help keep the lower esophageal sphincter sealed, according to Dr. Manisha Ghei, an internist. When this valve does not function properly, it can lead to gastroesophageal reflux, which can cause symptoms such as burning, nausea, and regurgitation.
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Ancient ayurvedic wisdom offered similar advice: |
- Stop drinking 20–30 minutes before a meal.
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If you drink while eating, take slow sips of room-temperature water.
- Try not to drink for at least 90 minutes to two hours after eating.
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“Only at the end of the road does one think of turning on to the right track.” |
—Cao Xueqin, from The Story of the Stone |
In the 1984 presidential debates, Ronald Reagan, 73, faced off with his Democrat opponent, Walter Mondale, 56. During their second debate, journalist and moderator Henry Trewhitt asked this question of Reagan:
“You already are the oldest president in history, and some of your staff say you were tired after your most recent encounter with Mr. Mondale. I recall yet that President Kennedy had to go for days on end with very little sleep during the the Cuban Missile Crisis. Is there any doubt in your mind that you would be able to function in such circumstances?”
“Not at all, Mr. Trewhitt,” Reagan replied. “And I want you to know that also I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent’s youth and inexperience.” Reagan’s response brought down the house. Even Mondale burst out laughing.
Here are five lessons gleaned from the former president’s comedic heritage: Lesson 1: Don’t Take Yourself Too Seriously
Ronald Reagan loved jokes and funny stories, and he had a comedian’s knack for timing and delivery. In his desk in the Oval Office he kept a stack of 3 x 5 notecards inscribed with one-liners that he had collected or invented. He often inserted one or more of them into speeches. Search online for topics such as “Ronald Reagan’s jokes,” and we find an array of video and print compilations featuring the best of this president’s comedic moments. |
- While many of his “truths spoken in jest” concerned politics, Reagan also directed his humor at the human condition, often making himself the butt of the joke. Done with a smile, this technique of poking fun at himself gave him an air of self-confidence while making him appear open and warm in the eyes of others.
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A Case in Point: As he did in his debate with Walter Mondale, Reagan frequently lampooned his age. In 1984, while delivering an address for the National Alliance for Senior Citizens, Reagan said: |
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“You know, I’ve been around a while myself. One of my favorite quotations about age comes from Thomas Jefferson. He said that we should never judge a person by his age, only by his work. And ever since he told me that, I’ve stopped worrying.”
- Regarding cat naps snatched from a busy day by older people, Reagan said, “I have left orders to be awakened at any time in case of national emergency, even if I’m in a Cabinet meeting.”
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America's Test Kitchen/TNS |
From America's Test Kitchen Without using a fiery spit, we managed to mimic the typical cooking method of this Greek favorite in three steps. To jump-start the cooking, we first covered the marinated pork and steamed it in the oven. Uncovering and continuing to roast the pork helped dry out its exterior. Finally, some time under the broiler gave the meat a crisp, well-charred crust for the best pork gyro.
Get the full recipe here. |
Play today’s spot the difference here. More games from Epoch Fun: |
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Thanks for reading, have a wonderful day. |
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