Thad Barnes

[Thad Barnes @ThadBarnes7]

@DIYfuru @RepMcDowell Wow didn’t realize it’s that easy to circumvent a crime

[Anish Moonka @anishmoonka]

Fred Rogers met with a child psychologist every week for 22 years to build his show. She shaped everything: every script, prop, and song. The whole point was to give a child's nervous system time to slow down. In 1984, a single regulatory decision ended all of it.

The psychologist was Dr. Margaret McFarland, who co-founded the Arsenal Family and Children's Center alongside Benjamin Spock and Erik Erikson. She and Rogers understood that the prefrontal cortex in children, the part of the brain that controls impulse, emotion, and attention, takes decades to fully develop. At the start of every episode, Rogers tied his sneakers and changed his sweater while children settled in. Those pauses were intentional, designed to help a child's nervous system shift into a calmer, more focused state.

What ended it had nothing to do with child development science. In 1984, Reagan's FCC chairman Mark Fowler abolished the advertising limits that had protected children's programming from commercial pressure. Toy companies moved within months. Between 1984 and 1985, cartoons tied to toy lines increased by 300%, from a handful of shows to more than 40 animated series. In almost every case, the toy was designed first. The cartoon was built to sell it.

Researchers later put numbers to what parents were already noticing. A 2011 study in Pediatrics from the University of Virginia tested 60 four-year-olds across three groups: one watching SpongeBob, which cuts scene every 11 seconds; one watching a slow PBS show, which cuts scene every 34 seconds; and one drawing. Nine minutes later, all three took tests on attention, impulse control, short-term memory, and problem-solving. The SpongeBob group scored significantly worse across every measure.

In the 1970s, children began watching television around age 4. Research from pediatrician Dimitri Christakis found that by 2009, the average age of first screen exposure had dropped to 4 months, as the content got faster and the audience got younger. Researchers separately found that each additional hour of daily screen time at ages 1 or 3 raised the risk of attention problems at age 7 by 9%.

[Polymarket @Polymarket]

JUST IN: Bolt CEO Ryan Breslow fired the company’s entire HR team because they were “creating problems that didn’t exist.”

[Scott Fowler @scott_fowler]

Eric Church is an NC treasure. I finally watched his whole UNC commencement speech instead of just the clips I had seen online, and it is fantastic.

[Scott Fowler @scott_fowler]

This is really good, from @Danielle_Stein9 about the path of Coby White.

[Thad Barnes @ThadBarnes7]

@TBoneWFNZ

[Darth Powell @VladTheInflator]

I'm sorry I thought this was America

[Darth Powell @VladTheInflator]

I'm sorry I thought this was America

[Thad Barnes @ThadBarnes7]

@TBoneWFNZ Oregon’s??

[Brad Panovich @wxbrad]

🚨 URGENT WEATHER ALERT: THIS IS THE REAL DEAL 🚨

Folks, I cannot stress this enough: Please prepare now!

We have all day today (Friday) and most of the daylight hours on Saturday to get ready. After that, the window closes. This is not a "bread and milk" situation—this is a major to extreme ice threat. We are looking at a setup we haven't seen in at least 10 years, and if the higher ice totals hold, we could be looking at something we haven't dealt with in 20 years (think back to the 2002 ice storm).

Here is the reality of what is coming this weekend (Sat PM - Monday):

🧊 THE ICE THREAT
Look at the maps attached. That pink and purple area isn't just "snow." It is freezing rain and heavy ice accumulation.
The forecast shows potential for 0.25" to 0.75" of ice.
What that means: At 0.25", tree limbs snap and power lines go down. At 0.50"+ (which is possible in the darker purple bands), we are talking about widespread, long-duration power outages and impassable roads.

🛑 IMPACTS: WHAT TO EXPECT

POWER OUTAGES: This is my biggest concern. With ice accumulating on trees and lines, outages are likely. If you are in the high-risk zones, you need to be prepared to be without power for days, not hours.
TRAVEL: By Saturday night, travel will likely become dangerous to impossible. Do not plan to be on the roads Sunday. If you get stuck in an ice storm, emergency crews may not be able to reach you quickly.
TREES: The weight of the ice will bring down weak limbs and trees. If you have large trees over your driveway or home, be hyper-aware.

⏳ YOUR ACTION PLAN (DO THIS NOW):
You have until Saturday evening to get this done. Do not wait.

1. CHARGE EVERYTHING: Phones, laptops, tablets, and power banks. Do it now while the grid is 100%.
2. HEAT: If the power goes out, how will you stay warm? Have blankets ready. If you have a fireplace, get wood. **NEVER** use a generator or grill indoors—carbon monoxide is a silent killer.
3. FOOD/WATER: You don't need to panic buy, but have enough food that doesn't require cooking (sandwiches, dry goods) and water for 72 hours.
4. MEDICAL: If you need prescriptions or oxygen, secure it today.

The Bottom Line:
This isn't a "fun snow day." This is a damaging ice event. We have been lucky for a long time, but the data is showing a setup that demands respect and preparation.

Use today and tomorrow to prepare your family and check on your elderly neighbors, then stay off the roads once this starts.

Stay safe, stay warm, and stay tuned for updates.

#cltwx #ncwx #scwx #wcnc #iceOMG #icestorm #wxbrad

[Brad Panovich @wxbrad]

Wednesday, January 21, 2026 | 9:15 AM EST Winter Storm Update.

Here is a look at the latest probability maps for Winter Storm Warnings across the region. It’s important to distinguish between the threat of significant ice versus heavy snow, as the impacts will vary heavily depending on your location.

❄️ Snow Potential (Map 1): The probability of seeing a Winter Storm Warning for snow (3-4"+) is highest (purple areas) across the mountains and the northern foothills. For the metro and points south, the chances drop off significantly.

🧊 Ice Potential (Map 2): This is the concern to watch closely. The probability of seeing a Winter Storm Warning for Ice (0.25"+ accretion) extends much further south and east, covering a large portion of the Piedmont. Remember, it doesn't take much ice to cause travel issues and power outages.
I’ve also included the NWS criteria map to show you the specific thresholds required to trigger a "Heavy Snow" warning in your specific county. Note how the criteria change as you move from the mountains into the foothills.

Stay weather aware and keep checking back for updates as we fine-tune the forecast.

#cltwx #ncwx #scwx #wcnc #WinterStorm #Ice #Snow #WeatherAware

[Luke Combs 🎤 @lukecombs]

My first ever show was 14 years ago tomorrow at Parthenon Cafe in Boone, NC. It doesn't seem that long ago but I guess time flies when you're having fun!

[DaShawn Brown @DaShawnWSOC9]

The NFL announced #Panthers receiver Tetairoa McMillan has been named a finalist for the Pepsi Rookie of the Year award.

McMillan finished the season with 1,014 yards - the most among rookie pass-catchers and 14th in the league overall.

Fans can vote at https://t.co/1AgeA9Jux9

[Scott Adams @ScottAdamsSays]

A Final Message From Scott Adams

[JJ Jansen @44DoubleJ]

Rule proposal: Ban the QB Baseball Slide

#1: QBs get concussed at a high rate on these plays

#2: Defenders have nowhere to avoid contact on a late slide

#3: QBs weaponize a late slide to draw penalties

Every other player head first slides or takes a knee to give themselves up

[Carolina Panthers @Panthers]

NO bad vibes

RT to vote

Tetairoa McMillan | #ProBowlVote

[Chris McClain @macwfnz]

You know the drill Panther Nation. Operation Get JJ to the Pro Bowl. Please RT to vote

#ProBowlVote JJ Jansen

[Thad Barnes @ThadBarnes7]

@_danny_dinsmore @bobpockrass No shit

[Chris McClain @macwfnz]

#ProBowlVote JJ Jansen

Repost to get Americas Long Snapper to his rightful place.

[Carolina Panthers @Panthers]

What a pro

RT to vote

Jaycee Horn | #ProBowlVote