Gateway to Grand Finale – NASA's cassini makes last and fateful close flyby with Saturn's moon 'Titan'

NASA's Cassini spacecraft successfully made its 127th and last close encounter with Saturn's hazy moon last week, enabling scientists to get their first glimpses of Titan's seas, weather patterns and rippling sand dunes.

On April 21 at 11:08 p.m. PDT (2:08 a.m. EDT on April 22), the spacecraft passed at an altitude of about 608 miles (979 kilometers) above the surface of Saturn's moon, beginning its final set of 22 orbits around the ringed planet.

After buzzing Titan, Cassini coasted onward, reaching the farthest point in its orbital path around Saturn at 8:46 p.m. PDT (11:46 p.m. EDT) on April 22. This point, called apoapse, is where each new Cassini lap around Saturn begins.

Following the encounter, Cassini transmitted its images and other data to Earth. Scientists with Cassini's radar investigation will be looking this week at their final set of new radar images of the hydrocarbon seas and lakes that spread across Titan's north polar region.

"Cassini's up-close exploration of Titan is now behind us, but the rich volume of data the spacecraft has collected will fuel scientific study for decades to come," said Linda Spilker, the mission's project scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.

The flyby also put Cassini on course for its dramatic last act, known as the Grand Finale.

Technically, Cassini began its 'Grand Finale' orbits at this time, but since the excitement of the finale begins in earnest on April 26 with the first ultra-close dive past Saturn, the mission is celebrating the latter milestone as the formal beginning of the finale.

Cassini's first finale dive will take place on April 26 at 2 a.m. PDT (5 a.m. EDT). The spacecraft will be out of contact during the dive and for about a day afterward while it makes science observations from close to the planet.

NASA says the earliest time Cassini is scheduled to make radio contact with Earth is 12:05 a.m. PDT (3:05 a.m. EDT) on April 27. Images and other data are expected to begin flowing in shortly after communication is established.

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Liberals Want To Kill Free Speech, So We Patriots Must Fight Back - Kurt Schlichter

Understand that if America is stupid enough to let liberals take power again, they will persecute and prosecute normal Americans like us who dare to dissent. That’s not a guess or a prediction – that’s a commitment they have made to their fascist followers. They’ve seen what the truth can do to their schemes. After 2016, there’s no way they are going to take a chance on another electoral rejection by us normals, so they don’t even pretend to support free speech anymore. It will be one gender neutral being-one vote, one more time, and then never again.

Hold on. That’s clearly nuts, right? This is obviously crazy talk that’s talking crazy, isn’t it? Don’t liberals love free speech?

No.

We know they don’t love free speech because they tell us they don’t, in both words and deeds. The whole free speech thing lost a lot of its luster for the libs when people like us decided to try it out. The liberals didn’t count on that – free speech was supposed to be their jam, a way to offend, annoy, and outrage us squares, to blow our bourgeois minds with their transgressive, no-holds-barred free thoughtery and critical thinkery. But they never intended for it to allow those banjo-strumming rubes living between I-5 and I-95 to express wrong thoughts and thereby win elections.

So now the progressives are trying to do something about it. Recently, every single Democrat voted to effectively repeal the First Amendment. You see, the words “Congress shall make no law … abridging the freedom of speech” were too expansive for liberals’ tastes because they prevented Congress from making laws abridging the freedom of speech.

This creepy idiocy was in response to Citizens United, a Supreme Court case that, to people who actually believe in free speech and not liberal fascism, conforms to the First Amendment by telling the federal government that no, you can’t put people in jail for making a movie critical of Hillary Clinton.

NYT editor says paper avoids term ‘female genital mutilation’ — here’s why

The New York Times took some flak over the weekend when the health and science editor refused to use the term “female genital mutilation” to describe the Detroit-based doctor arrested this month for performing the barbaric procedure.

Times reporter Celia Dugger said using the “culturally loaded” phrase would “widen the chasm” between African and Western civilizations. Since Dugger’s April 13 story, a second doctor has been arrested for performing female genital mutilation, which is frequently abbreviated to FGM.

“I began writing about this back in 1996, when I was an immigration reporter on the Metro desk covering the asylum case of Fauziya Kassindja,” Dugger wrote. “I decided in the course of reporting that case — especially after a reporting trip to Togo, her home country, and the Ivory Coast — to call it genital cutting rather than mutilation.”

She continued: “I never minced words in describing exactly what form of cutting was involved, and there are many gradations of severity, and the terrible damage it did, and stayed away from the euphemistic circumcision, but chose to use the less culturally loaded term, genital cutting.”

Dugger’s explanation came in response to a complaint filed by a Times reader who took issue with the journalist’s April 13 story and headline, “Michigan Doctor Is Accused of Genital Cutting of 2 Girls.”

“There’s a gulf between the Western (and some African) advocates who campaign against the practice and the people who follow the rite, and I felt the language used  [female genital mutilation] widened that chasm,” Dugger argued.

However, the practice has been widely rejected as unacceptable and barbaric — not an issue of cultural nuance. The World Health Organization describes FGM as “a violation of the human rights of girls and women.”

And the United Nations took it a step further, asserting that the use of the word “mutilation,” rather than Dugger’s word choice, “emphasizes the gravity of the act and reinforces that the practice is a violation of women’s and girls’ basic human rights.”

“This expression gained support in the late 1970s, and since 1994, it has been used in several United Nations conference documents and has served as a policy and advocacy tool,” the organization wrote.

Last week, the Justice Department announced the arrest of 53-year-old Dr. Fakhruddin Attar and his wife, Farida Attar, 50, who have been charged with allegedly conspiring with Dr. Jumana Nagarwala, who was arrested earlier in the month and charged with performing FGM on young girls at a medical clinic in Livonia, Michigan.

Nagarwala has denied the accusations against her, saying she understands FGM is illegal and has never performed the procedure on anyone. Rather than cutting, the doctor claims she removed a membrane from the girls’ genital area using what she called a “scraper.”

She went on to tell investigators she then gave the membrane to the girls’ parents, who would then bury it in the ground as part of a “religious practice,” the Detroit Free Press reported.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Kenneth Blanco described the doctor’s alleged procedures as “horrifying acts of brutality on the most vulnerable victims.”

“The Department of Justice is committed to stopping female genital mutilation in this country, and will use the full power of the law to ensure that no girls suffer such physical and emotional abuse,” he said.

Nagarwala’s case marked the United States’ first federal prosecution of FGM.

7 Fast Food Meals That Contain Less Than 500 Calories

You know you should avoid it, but sometimes there is no getting around a stop at a fast food restaurant. For starters they’re everywhere. Then, there’s their unbeatable prices and the fact that, yes, sometimes nothing satisfies like a Big Mac or fast food fries. When you find yourself on fast food row, it pays to know what chains or menu items will pack a lighter calorie punch. These meals will satisfy your craving while not taking up two meals worth of calories or packing an overly high dose of sodium or fat.

1. McDonald’s, Artisan Grilled Chicken Sandwich 

When you find yourself under the golden arches, don’t allow guilt to scare you away. McDonald’s has a few salads that come in under 500 calories, but the real bombs are the dressings, which typically include well over 1,000 milligrams of sodium. For a hearty and calorie-conscious meal (with less sodium), choose the Artisan Grilled Chicken Sandwich. The sandwich alone is 380 calories and 37 grams of protein. The chicken is served on an artisan bun with McDonald’s vinaigrette sauce and herb seasoning. Not bad, McDonald’s.

2. Subway, Roast Beef Sandwich 

You probably already know Subway is a great fast food choice when you’re trying to eat healthy. While many of the subs are low in calories, some pack a hefty amount of fat. Avoid the fat by ordering off their 6 grams of fat or less menu, which includes the Roast Beef Sandwich. The sub has about 320 calories, 5 grams of fat, and 25 grams of protein. Load on the veggies and opt for mustard over mayo or any of the other tempting dressings. Want chips? Substitute in a bag of apple slices, which have only 50 calories and 2 grams of fiber.

3. Burger King, Flame Broiled Burger 

As crazy as it sounds, at Burger King choosing a classic burger beats settling for a salad. When all you want is the classic taste of a fast food hamburger, choose Burger King’s classic flame broiled burger. Even when paired with apple slices, the meal comes in at 260 calories and 11 grams of protein. If you aren’t one to pass up fries, add on the “value” or absolute smallest size of fries for an additional 220 calories that still keeps you under the 500 limit.

4. Dunkin’ Donuts, Turkey Sausage Wake-Up Wrap 

If you’re a fast food breakfast lover, head to Dunkin’ and check out their DDSmart Menu. Their Wake-Up Wraps are deliciously low in calories to get your day started on the right foot. At 280 calories and with an impressive 15 grams of protein, the Turkey Sausage Wake-Up Wrap will keep you satisfied until lunch. Pair with an iced coffee for a true get-up-and-go breakfast.

5. Wendy’s, Chili-Topped Potato 

While this meal isn’t on the Wendy’s menu, it’s easy enough to create. Order the plain baked potato and a small chili, and then drench your potato with the thick, spicy chili. Together, they provide 440 calories and an impressive 22 grams of protein. The best thing about this meal is you’ll be eating real food (that isn’t fried) at a fast food chain. The chili-topped potato gives you a dose of healthy carbohydrates, fats, and fiber to keep you fuller longer than if you opted for fries and a burger.

6. Chipotle, Steak Burrito Bowl 

Chipotle is often considered an upscale version of fast food that uses plenty of veggies and carefully sourced meat. While often high in sodium, Chipotle shouldn’t be overlooked for a healthy fast food option. Order the Burrito Bowl with Steak and add on black beans, fajita veggies, fresh tomato salsa, cheese, and lettuce. For a heaping bowl of goodness you’ll only sacrifice 420 calories while gaining 35 grams of protein. Skip the sour cream and rice to keep this bowl low in fat and calories.

7. Del Taco, Carne Asada Tacos 

At just 180 calories each, you can order two of Del Taco’s delicious Carne Asada Street Tacos and still have some wiggle room (ahem, that means dessert or a soda). Each taco has 11 grams of protein and just 7 grams of fat, which isn’t bad considering Del Taco is known for being loaded with flavor. If you’re really in a rush, the tacos are portable and easy to pack around for later.

7 of the Worst Fruits and Vegetables You Can Eat

Most people don’t need much convincing in the way of the many health benefits of produce. When it comes to fruits and vegetables, you know a wide array of goods are delivered more times than not. But few things in life can be 100% perfect, 100% of the time, and fruits and veggies are no different. While upping your intake of fresh, whole foods is certainly recommended, there are a few you may want to steer clear of, or at least not overindulge in too often. While we’re not recommending you cross these seven fruits and veggies off your grocery list, we’re simply suggesting keeping an eye out for times you’re tempted to finish an entire bowl.

1. Pineapple 

The relaxing sounds of Hawaiian music begin to lull in the back of your mind every time you take a bite of this sweet, succulent fruit. The sweetness can be chalked up to its sugar content — one cup of solid chunks contains 16.2 grams of sugar. Available year-round, pineapples can be tough to stay away from (pineapple pizza, anyone?). Thankfully, they’re only ripest during a few months a year. Phew. After all, there’s a reason pineapple upside-down cake is a thing.

2. Cherries 

Cherries might be the perfect accompaniment to your cocktail, but we recommend you don’t eat too many. While a bag of cherries definitely makes for a great midday snack, just keep in mind that their addicting nature exists for good reason. In just one cup of cherries with pits, you’re getting 17 grams of sugar.

3. Pomegranate 

Figuring out the best way to crack open a pomegranate is hard enough, so once you’re in there, it’s likely you’ll want to fully enjoy the fruits of your labor (pun very much intended). But did you know that a whole pomegranate has 39 grams of sugar? This is why it’s sometimes better to retrieve the seeds and eat them as is, or as a topping in your yogurt.

4. Mango 

A common ingredient in smoothies, sushi rolls, and guacamole (and pretty much anything else you’d want to eat), this juicy fruit sure is tough to stay away from. Mangoes are full of sweet, sweet goodness, so it’s no surprise one cup of sliced mango has 23 grams of sugar, making them the perfect addition to most tasty things in life.

5. Potato 

You guessed it — potatoes are probably the most cautioned of all veggies. While they’re an absolute necessity (in any form) on Thanksgiving, the starchy vegetable isn’t exactly the most revered when it comes to your choice of a healthy side. The main deterrent is the 36 grams of carbs that are packed into one potato. So, eat these starchy veggies in moderation.

6. Winter squash 

Winter squash, which includes butternut, acorn, and spaghetti, comes with its fair share of health benefits, but in the grand scheme of the vegetable world, it might not top the charts. Averaging around 21 grams of carbs per cup of winter squash, the entire veggie packs a seriously carb-heavy punch.

7. Jicama 

A farmer’s market favorite, jicama is a sometimes undiscovered root vegetable. But in the overall scheme of things, it’s also one that ranks high in the carbohydrate department: One cup of slices has 10.6 grams of carbs. Its crunch is alluring, and its juicy consistency is similar to that of a savory apple. It’s yummy, but also worth noting it’s not the best veggie to go overboard on if you’re counting carbs.