No one does magic quite like Disney. The movies, the theme parks, and the beloved characters are a huge part of millions of people’s lives. When Walt Disney first sketched Mickey Mouse, he never could have dreamed the impact he’d have on the world for generations to come. Diamonique and Marcus Valentine took their 3-year-old, Mali, to see Disney on Ice. They’d just welcomed a baby girl and wanted some special one-on-one time with their little boy. They had no idea his reaction to seeing Mickey Mouse would make him a viral star. Diamonique posted a video on Instagram of Mali seeing Mickey for the first time and crying with excitement because he was so happy to see his “boy.” The moment made Diamonique and Marcus both cry, too. We dare you to keep the tears in. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Diamonique Valentine (@diamoniquevalentine_) Diamonique and Marcus Had No Idea How Emotional Mali Would Be Seeing Mickey Mouse “We were just dancing and having a good time, and next thing we know, our boy is so full of emotions and joy that it brings tears to his eyes, which brought tears to our eyes. We were definitely surprised,” Diamonique told People. After the show ended, Diamonique asked why Mali cried, and he told her, “Because he’s like my buddy.” The little boy wanted a hug from Mickey Mouse that night, but sadly, he didn’t get a chance to meet him. But with more than 11 million views, his reaction video went viral, and Walt Disney reached out to make that dream come true. Days later, Diamonique, Marcus, and Mali went to Walt Disney World to meet the big guy in person. The moment was true Disney magic. “He was overwhelmed in the best way. But he did it. Our boy met Mickey. This all started with one video. Last week he cried because he couldn’t hug “his boy”…today, he met him,” Diamonique shared on Instagram. “Millions watched the moment that led to this. In a world that feels so heavy, this little moment brought so many people light, happy tears, joy, and a reason to smile. Y’all made this happen. The internet showed up & @disney truly delivered the magic. Love yall!” This story’s featured image can be found here.

'This whole issue is not really about fraud'

'So it is met on the face'

Iraq is steaming forward with its development after years of strife and war. Just recently, the long-running UN Assistance Mission for Iraq ended its mandate after 22 years, and the UN’s humanitarian coordinator for the country told journalists that the country has transformed itself. “For those who lived through the troubled early years of the […] The post Iraq ‘Unrecognizable and Remarkable’ After Decades of Conflict: UN Coordinator appeared first on Good News Network.

Books Romantasy For the Love of Cinnamon Rolls: Five Romantasy Books With Sweet Love Interests There are anti-heroes and golden retrievers, stoic protectors and forbidden lovers. But we’re not here to talk about any of them… By Ruby Martinez | Published on January 20, 2026 A Cruel Thirst cover art by Eevien Tan Comment 0 Share New Share A Cruel Thirst cover art by Eevien Tan If you’re a voracious romantasy reader like me, you’re probably familiar with the various categories our beloved MMCs (male main characters) fall into. Of course, there’s the ever-popular shadow daddies who may or may not have shadow magic but are certainly dark, mysterious, and morally gray (I’m looking at you, Rhysand). Then we have the charming rogue, a character who uses his wit to protect a secretly vulnerable heart. These guys are clever, funny, and always down for a verbal sparring match (think Rory from The Knight and the Moth, or, a lesser-known favorite of mine, Alarian from A Nameless Curse). There’s anti-heroes and golden retrievers, stoic protectors and forbidden lovers. But we’re not here to talk about any of them. No. We’re here to talk about the cinnamon rolls.  My personal favorite MMC, these guys are soft, gooey, sensitive. While there may be some wit and verbal sparring, it doesn’t detract from their sweet demeanor, and over the course of their story, there may be times you want nothing more than to give them a big hug. These guys are where toxic masculinity goes to die. Think Peeta, from The Hunger Games (and yes, I am staunchly team Peeta).  They’re my kryptonite, but they can be hard to find. So, if you love them too, fear not! I’ve got your back. I’ve read the books, done the research, and I’m here to present five romantasy stories with cinnamon roll MMCs, six if you include my own novel, An Embroidery of Souls. In it, Lukas contains everything I love most about cinnamon rolls. He cries. He’s soft. He really needs a hug, and he’s always there for Jade. Whether it’s guiding her through a panic attack or helping her catch the soul-stealing murderer they’re investigating, he never fails to supply a kind word or sturdy embrace. Even his soul has cinnamon roll qualities, which Jade can see (and embroider) with her magic. He’s just so damn sweet, and tender, and he’s not alone either! So, without further ado, here’s some others: Behooved by M. Stevenson Firstly, allow me to share the premise of Behooved: Boy (impending king) threatens girl’s country. Girl agrees to a marriage alliance. Assassin tries to kill boy. Girl saves boy, but accidentally turns him into a horse by day. Hijinks ensue as they race to discover who’s behind the assassin plot, get boy crowned king, and fall in love as they go. Now, I’ll admit, I was skeptical about whether Aric (the aforementioned boy) was a true cinnamon roll. A friend recommended Behooved based on my search for sweet and gooey MMCs, so when I picked it up, I was a tad confused, because when you first meet Aric, he’s cold. Not overly kind. Definitely not sweet. But oh, is he worth the wait. I’ll avoid spoilers here, but let’s just say that Aric had *reasons* for his cool demeanor in the first act. But like ogres and onions, Aric has layers, and you only have to peel back one to find the warm, gooey cinnamon roll beneath. He’s shy. He likes loves books. On the “desperately needs a hug” scale, I’d put him at a ten. Really, he’s just a sweet guy with self-esteem issues who adores Bianca, the FMC. What more can you want? So, if you’re looking for cinnamon rolls, don’t sleep on Behooved! There’s a lot to love about it—from a hooky premise to impactful disability representation. Aric’s fabulous, but I promise, he’s only one part of this story’s charm. A Cruel Thirst by Angela Montoya I have three words for you: Cinnamon. Roll. Vampire. Would you care for a few more words? Cinnamon roll vampire sets off on a quest to end all vampires, during which he promptly meets a very stabby vampire hunter, with whom he forms a reluctant partnership. Are you sold yet? Because that was all it took for me. But in case you need more, please allow me to introduce you to Lalo, the softest, sweetest vampire who hates sucking blood. He’s terrible at hunting, fighting, and generally anything you’d expect vampires to be good at, but he makes up for it with his soft heart, introverted tendencies, and killer fashion sense. And honestly, with lines like these, how can you not Love Lalo: “Soon, he’d have to endure yet another social gathering.”  (Relatable) “Stealing the whole book would’ve been easier, but he had standards of decorum to uphold. A library was a sacred place, after all.” (We stan a respectful book lover) Lalo is perfect, and made even more-so by his love-interest, Carolina. If Lalo is soft and sweet, Carolina is spiky and irritable, but in the best way. Watching them fall in love is such a joy, and doing so in a Latine setting is even better. I highly recommend this to all lovers of vampires who are ready for a twist on the trope! A Werewolf’s Guide to Seducing a Vampire by Sarah Hawley Ok, picture this: a socially awkward werewolf (Ben) drunkenly purchases a crystal online without realizing it contains a 600-year-old vampire succubus with little knowledge of modern times (Eleonore). What ensues is a hilarious rom-com in which they try to figure out how to free Eleonore from the crystal for good, and perhaps fall in love in the process. That’s right. I haven’t simply delivered a cinnamon roll vampire in this article, but a cinnamon role werewolf too. Ben. Oh, Ben. Where do I even start? If cinnamon rolls are where toxic masculinity goes to die, then Ben is single-handedly taking down the entire corrupt social construct armed with nothing but his knitting needles and perhaps a spiky succulent. Truly, this man is to die for. I mean, who wouldn’t want their next book boyfriend to be described as: “the body of a berserker, the glasses and general demeanor of a librarian.”   Honestly, Ben’s perfect. He loves sweater vests (which he knits himself), his plant nursery, and he’s rather, well, generous (if I may supply an obvious innuendo). He hates socializing, a lack of control, and accidentally killing innocent rabbits while in his werewolf form. This poor man is so soft, and so anxious, which makes his love interest, Eleonore—a blunt, violent, star-trek loving vampire succubus—his perfect match. And while this article is about Ben, please allow me to say I adored Eleonore. Her fiery demeanor was incredible, and I can’t remember the last character who made me laugh so hard. So, if you’re eager for some laughter too, check this one out! It’s the third in a series, but stands alone without issue. The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst This book, y’all. There’s so much to love about it! It follows Kiela, a librarian fleeing the capitol when a revolution sends her library up in flames. She finds sanctuary on her childhood island home, but she’s a little broken inside, and the island has its cracks too. Over the course of the story, there’s plenty of healing to be had through mutual connection and Kiela’s forbidden spells. From sentient plants to a wholesome setting to a character arc that’s incredibly resonant, I couldn’t put this one down. But we’re not here to talk about any of that—we’re here to talk about cinnamon rolls, which brings me to another reason to love The Spellshop: Larran.  Let me tell you, this man is adorably awkward, wholly sweet, and he takes acts of service to an entirely different level. Because don’t we all want a tall, handsome, awkward man to do our chores for us? On top of all that, he owns a herd of merhorses, which he adores, so you can add “animal lover” to his list of attributes.  In the acknowledgements, Sarah Beth Durst talks about how she wanted to write a book that felt like drinking hot chocolate, and not only did she 100% succeed, but Larran is a part of that. So, if you enjoy big, helpful, cinnamon roll (hot chocolate???) men, add The Spellshop to your TBR! Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross I have a confession to make: I avoided Divine Rivals for a long time because I wasn’t a fan of the cover. Yes, I am one of those people who judges a book by its cover, but when it comes to this particular book, I can admit that judgment was misplaced. This story is incredible. In a setting reminiscent of the early 1900’s, it follows two rival journalists turned war correspondents as they discover the truth behind the gods and the war, all while remaining connected through their magical typewriters. There’s honestly so much to love about this book, and one of its biggest attributes? That would be Roman Kitt. If you google “romantasy cinnamon roll MMC,” I guarantee you Roman’s name is going to pop up more than any other, and I get it. Roman isn’t an in-your-face cinnamon roll. He doesn’t knit like Ben, doesn’t possess Lalo’s standards of decorum, nor is he adorably awkward like Larran. But there’s something about Roman, a soft, tender quality, especially in the way he cares for Iris, that’s pure and beautiful. It also doesn’t hurt that he’s a wizard with a pen (or, rather, a typewriter), so when he writes to Iris, whether it’s of fantastical myths or finally confessing his love, the reader can feel that tenderness soaked into every word. And on that note, I’ll end with something Roman wrote for Iris, that I think defines the heart of a cinnamon roll well: Sometimes strength isn’t swords and steel and fire, as we are so often made to believe. Sometimes it’s found in quiet, gentle places. The way you hold someone’s hand as they grieve. The way you listen to others. The way you show up, day after day, even when you are weary or afraid or simply uncertain. So, here’s to Roman and all the cinnamon rolls out there! I adore their gentle strength, and I can’t wait to read—and write—more of them.[end-mark] Buy the Book An Embroidery of Souls Ruby Martinez A romantic, heart-pounding mystery set against the backdrop of Mexican and German lore. Buy Book An Embroidery of Souls Ruby Martinez A romantic, heart-pounding mystery set against the backdrop of Mexican and German lore. A romantic, heart-pounding mystery set against the backdrop of Mexican and German lore. Buy this book from: AmazonBarnes and NobleiBooksIndieBoundTarget The post For the Love of Cinnamon Rolls: Five Romantasy Books With Sweet Love Interests appeared first on Reactor.

Author of How to Prep When You’re Broke and Bloom Where You’re Planted online course We live in a convenience-driven society. Fast food businesses thrive while home cooking flounders. Trips to the pharmacy can now be undertaken without getting out of your car, using the handy drive-through. Standard cleaning products are quickly being overtaken by disposable items you toss in the trash after one use. We’ve been brainwashed by the marketing companies to believe that the simplest things are wildly inconvenient, and that in our time-crunched society we must pay for shortcuts. All of this convenience has a high price tag. Not only are you spending money unnecessarily at the check-out counter for all of that convenience, but the planet is getting buried under mountains of rubbish. The average American produces 1600 pounds of garbage per year. Did you ever stop to think about how many disposable things you buy? We do our shopping monthly instead of weekly, and this makes it a lot more noticeable on our bill when we load up with things that will be thrown out. I just checked the price, and a 6-pack of good-quality paper towels would add about $15 to my bill. If you’re in a position in which every penny counts, that $15 could be buying you a necessity like food. Even if you have no concern about the landfills, you probably want to save money, right? Pennies each week add up to dollars each month, and hundreds of dollars over the course of a year. From a preparedness point of view, having items that don’t have to be replaced on a weekly basis only makes sense. If you are unable to go to the store for a long period of time due to a personal financial crisis or some other type of upheaval, you won’t have to worry about running out of paper towels or diapers if you don’t use them. On the other hand, for power outages, I do stock a stash of some convenience items to make my life easier. However, they’re for emergency use only, and are rarely pulled out of the stockpile. A dozen things you’ll never have to buy again It probably goes without saying that if you’re on a strict budget, you should not be buying silly things like cleaning wipes for the counters, paper plates, disposable dusters, and, for crying out loud, disposable toilet brushes. However, there are lots of other conveniences that can be just as easily replaced with reusable items. Here are 12 things that you don’t need to spend money on during your regular shopping trips.   Once you make the initial purchase, you won’t need to replace these items for a very long time. Trust me, you won’t even miss the throwaway version once you get used to the higher quality reusable products. Coffee filters  We love coffee in our family. There’s a pot on for most of the day every day. Not only do we have a conventional drip coffee maker, but we also have a Keurig for a quick cup in the afternoon. Here’s the awesome thing: you can get reusable filters for both for well under $10. We’ve replaced the throwaway paper filters for our coffee pot with a little mesh basket like this.  They also have a pointy version if your coffee maker uses the cone type of filter. For the Keurig, you can get a stainless steel reusable pods. This saves money by allowing you to use your own high quality coffee at a fraction of the cost of k-cups. Napkins This is a no-brainer.  We have a lovely collection of cloth napkins, many of which have been purchased at yard sales or thrift stores. I don’t get fabrics that require ironing (made that mistake before!) and we simply toss them in the hamper just off the kitchen when they need to be washed. I think they look so much prettier on the table than the paper kind. If it isn’t yard sale season, you can start out with a dozen for just over $1 apiece. Some people like to stick to white so that stains can easily be bleached out. Paper towels At the brokest point of my life, I decided that paper towels were completely unnecessary when they meant the difference between buying a roast that would feed my family for several days or not. I use – gasp – towels. I’m a big fan of the barmop type of towels for cleaning. They’re very absorbent and soak up big spills quickly and easily. You can also use this easy  tutorial to make your own unpaper towels for an even lower cost. Feminine hygiene products Avert your eyes, gentleman readers. Breaking news: tampons and disposable pads are actually not necessary for life as a woman. Women had monthly cycles well before Tampax formed a company to convince them that a disposable product was imperative. There are lots of different options, including fabric pads, feminine cups, and natural sea sponges that just get rinsed out and reinserted. You can get washable, waterproof bags for storing the used pads if you are away from home that are designed to keep moisture and odor contained. These are all actually much healthier than commercial tampons and pads that contain all sorts of toxic “absorbent” materials. If you are a DIY kind of person, here are instructions to make your own pads. Diapers With baby number 1 we lived in a tiny second story walk-up with no washer and dryer, so I used disposable diapers. With baby number 2, our circumstances had improved and I cheerfully embraced cloth diapers. The cloth diapers today are so much better than the ones our grandparent used. They have liners, snaps, different sizes, and all sorts of conveniences to make a mama’s life easier. In fact, they look a lot like disposables. You can often pick these up secondhand since they can’t be used for other purposes like the old-fashioned foldable diapers. While the initial purchase is an investment, if you’re committed to using cloth, you will save hundreds of dollar throughout your child’s diaper days. Baby/Cosmetic wipes Umm….use washcloths. I don’t have any links or snazzy how-tos or advice, except that we have black washcloths specifically for removing makeup so that you don’t see any mascara stains. Dryer sheets Replace dryer sheets but still have soft clothing with those nifty dryer balls, or even tennis balls. Even a crumpled piece of aluminum foil can be tossed in to remove static cling, and that same piece of foil will be good for up to 6 months. You can make your own dryer balls using 100% wool yarn. I like to scent them with a little bit of essential oil so that I get a lovely clean smell without the nasty dryer sheet chemicals. (My favorites are a mix of Basil and Lavender – trust me, it’s fresh and delightful! Lunch bags Everyone is enamored with the pretty lunch bags that almost look like purses, but you can take it a step further. Get rid of the plastic sandwich and snack baggies and use fabric ones that can be tossed in the wash. You can even make your own in about 15 minutes. Of course, only you can judge whether or not these will make it home. If your kids toss them in the trash or lose them, the fabric version will be exponentially more expensive. Shopping bags In our area, many of the stores now charge for shopping bags. At 10 cents a pop, this can add up over the course of a year to well over $50. (It could be far more depending on how much you buy). Stash some reusable bags in your car so that you always have them available. You can buy 10 of them for less than $20.  Making your own from old t-shirts can be a fun (and free) project to do with kids. Swiffer covers We live on a farm. A dusty, dirty farm.  With a cat and dog that come in the house. This means our floors need to be dust-mopped every single day. I like the convenience of a Swiffer, but not the expense of the disposable covers for it. With these machine-washable covers, I can use a fresh one each time I dust-mop. Also, check out this super-easy-peasy version you can make from a sock. (Finally a way to make use of those lonely, single socks!) Water bottles Did you know how many water bottles get thrown out each year? More than 22 billion!!!!! That is almost an unfathomable amount. Purchasing water in individual bottles is awfully hard on the budget, too. If it isn’t too toxic, you can filter your tapwater and fill your own bottles. If you must purchase your water, go with the 5-gallon refillable jugs, and dispense it into your own, BPA-free bottles. Batteries With flashlights, remotes, and other gadgets, we go through about a kajillion batteries a year, although less than when my kids were little and had battery operated toys. We use almost exclusively rechargeable batteries. These have to be purchased far less frequently, need a simple recharging device, and can save you a bundle over time. This charger works for everything from AAA to 9V and even works on non-rechargeable batteries. When every penny counts, don’t throw away money If your budget is tight like mine, every penny counts. Be sure to spend your money wisely by investing in reusable items, making the ones you can, and hitting the thrift stores to channel our frugal grannies. What reusable products do you use in your household in place of disposable ones? Please share in the comments section. About Daisy Daisy Luther is a coffee-swigging author and blogger who’s traded her air miles for a screen porch, having embraced a more homebody lifestyle after a serious injury. She’s the heart and mind behind The Organic Prepper, a top-tier website where she shares what she’s learned about preparedness, self-reliance, and the pursuit of liberty. With 17 books under her belt, Daisy’s insights on living frugally, surviving tough times, finding some happiness in the most difficult situations, and embracing independence have touched many lives. Her work doesn’t just stay on her site; it’s shared far and wide across alternative media, making her a familiar voice in the community. Known for her adventurous spirit, she’s lived in five different countries and raised two wonderful daughters as a single mom.  Daisy is the best-selling author of 5 traditionally published books, 12 self-published books, and runs a small digital publishing company with PDF guides, printables, and courses at SelfRelianceand Survival.com You can find her on Facebook, Pinterest, and X. The post 12 Ways to Switch to Reusable Stuff in a Disposable World appeared first on The Organic Prepper.

If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. A confrontation over a Facebook comment has drawn attention after two Miami Beach police detectives appeared at a resident’s home to question her about remarks critical of Mayor Steven Meiner. Raquel Pacheco, who once ran for the Florida Senate as a Democrat and has been openly critical of Meiner, posted a comment on one of his social media updates alleging that the mayor “consistently calls for the death of all Palestinians, tried to shut down a theater for showing a movie that hurt his feelings, and REFUSES to stand up for the LGBTQ community in any way…” Shortly afterward, officers arrived at her residence. In a video she recorded, one detective cautioned her that such a statement “could potentially incite somebody to do something radical.” Police later clarified that the exchange was not tied to any criminal probe, but the encounter has raised concerns about policing free expression. In a letter addressed to Police Chief Wayne Jones, FIRE described the officers’ actions as “an egregious abuse of power” that “chills the exercise of First Amendment rights and undermines public confidence in the department’s commitment to respecting civil liberties and the United States Constitution.” Aaron Terr, Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE)’s director of public advocacy, accused the department of using its authority to discourage lawful speech. “The purpose of their visit was not to investigate a crime. It had no purpose other than to pressure Pacheco to cease engaging in protected political expression over concern about how others might react to it,” Terr wrote. “This blatant overreach is offensive to the First Amendment.” FIRE’s letter urged the department to acknowledge publicly that Pacheco’s post is constitutionally protected and to ensure that “officers will never initiate contact with individuals for the purpose of discouraging lawful expression.” The organization also asked for copies of departmental rules and training materials dealing with police responses to protected expression, adding that the resident’s statement does not fit the legal definition of a “true threat.” Chief Jones, in a written response, maintained that the detectives acted appropriately and on his directive alone. “At no time did the Mayor or any other official direct me to take action,” he said, adding that his department “is committed to safeguarding residents and visitors while also respecting constitutional rights.” A police spokesperson confirmed that Meiner’s office had flagged the Facebook comment for review but declined to provide further details. Requests for additional records, including internal communications between the mayor’s office and the police, remain pending. If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. The post Miami Beach Resident Questioned by Police After Facebook Post Criticizing Mayor Steven Meiner appeared first on Reclaim The Net.

Our interstellar visitor will soon be to dim for amateur astronomers to see.

The experiment takes so long that two of its previous custodians have already died.

It's unlikely that this site was linked to the Neanderthal "bear cult".