Mohammed Sinwar, the younger brother of slain Hamas chief and Oct. 7 mastermind Yahya Sinwar, has risen to the top of Hamas’ chain of command — and has managed to rebuild the terror group’s numbers…

Plastic waste accounts for 10 to 12 percent of all solid waste in Kenya, according to the United Nations Environmental Program. A Kenyan tech company is using plastic waste to print 3D models that help…

News AnalysisSince the advent of COVID-19 in January 2020, there have been many increasing global health threats—pneumonia, Streptococcus Group A, lung infections, fungal pathogens, and the periodic…

A group of thugs sent by Democrat Rep. Leigh Finke today attempted to obstruct House Republicans from conducting a scheduled Public Safety hearing,” Rep. Walter Hudson said. See more Branco toons HERE!…

Born in New York City in 1941, Neil Diamond began his musical career in 1962 and went on to become one of the most influential American artists of all time. In addition to being an incredible singer, he is also a prolific songwriter. However, something many people unfamiliar with Diamond's career might not realize is that several major hit songs by other artists were actually written by him. 3 big hit songs by other artists which were written by Neil Diamond  The Monkees “I’m a Believer” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZLdcSKXz5k&pp=ygUxwqBUaGUgTW9ua2VlcyDigJxJ4oCZbSBhIEJlbGlldmVy4oCdIG5laWwgZGlhbW9uZA%3D%3D "I'm a Believer" was not only The Monkees' biggest hit but also one of the most famous songs in the world released in the 60s. Neil wrote the song and gave it to the band in 1966. He was a young songwriter and his records were not yet successful. He made a deal so that he could also record a version and ended up releasing his own version in 1967. The Monkees version with Micky Dolenz on vocals became a number one hit all over the world. The single sold an estimated amount of more than 10 million copies worldwide. Neil's version, which was featured on his second album "Just For You" failed to repeat the same performance. It peaked at number 51 on the Billboard Hot 100, for example. In an interview with Mojo back in 2008, Diamond explained why he gave the song to The Monkees. "(I was) thrilled (to give the song to them). The head of my record company freaked. He went through the roof because he felt that I had given No. 1 records away to another group. I couldn't have cared less because I had to pay the rent, the Monkees were selling records, and I wasn't being paid for my records." Curiously, a few decades later, in 2001, the band Smash Mouth recorded a new version. Similar to the one made by The Monkees, the track became part of the movie "Shrek". It became a huge hit for them and presented the song to younger generations. Urge Overkill “Girl, You’ll Be A Woman Soon” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-TE0Jk1ZeY&pp=ygUobmVpbCBkaWFtb25kIGdpcmwgeW91J2xsIGJlIGEgd29tYW4gc29vbg%3D%3D "Girl, You'll Be A Woman Soon" was written and originally released by Neil Diamond on his second album "Just For You" (1967). It was a successful track and peaked at the time at number 10 on the United States Billboard Pop Singles. The famous British musician Cliff Richard even covered the track one year later. The song experienced a major resurgence and was introduced to younger generations after director Quentin Tarantino featured it in Pulp Fiction (1994). However, he selected the Urge Overkill version from their second EP, Stull, released in 1992. Uma Thurman's character famously dances to the song in one of the movie’s most iconic scenes, which was approved by Neil. He even revealed later on that he liked the Urge Overkill version. Many younger viewers might not realize that the track was written and originally recorded by Neil Diamond. Diamond once explained that in the late '60s, young girls made up a significant part of his audience, which inspired him to write the song. UB40 “Red, Red Wine” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFyNHpNlECI&pp=ygUUbmVpbCBkaWFtb25kIHJlZCByZWQ%3D "Red Red Wine" was another song written by Neil Diamond which was featured on his second album "Just For You" (1967). His original version peaked at number 62 on the United States Billboard Hot 100. But in 1983, a British Reggae band called UB40 covered the track. Besides being released as a single, it was also featured on their fourth studio album "Labour Of Love" (1983). Curiously, in the beginning they had no idea it was a song written by Diamond. They first heard the version by a classic Reggae musician called Tony Tribe. It was only after their recorded they version that the band did the research to find out who the songwriter was. Their version became a number hit in many countries. Some of them were Canada, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, United Kingdom and United States. In the UK, the song sold an estimated amount of more than 1.2 million copies.The post 3 big hit songs by other artists which were written by Neil Diamond appeared first on Rock and Roll Garage.

Brave the Dark tells the true story of Nate, a troubled teenager battling homelessness, and Stan Deen, a dedicated teacher who refuses to give up on him. Brave The Dark Review Sometimes, a movie is Worth it just because it supports the right filmmakers and lifts up the right people. Such is the case with Brave The Dark, the latest cinematic offering from Angel Studios. An amazing story of how simple kindness can profoundly affect the lives of others, Brave the Dark is regrettably a very average film about an extraordinary man and astonishing circumstances. Regrettably, most of the performers just barely get the job done. Even veteran actor Jarred Harris (The Crown) struggles to convey the full range of emotions hinted at in the script, and sadly, the lead, Nicholas Hamilton, is not ready for Prime Time. Hamilton’s wooden portrayal of a deeply troubled young man leaves the job of making an empathic connection with the audience to the idea of the story. It’s almost enough to do so, but his inability to successfully convey the deep hurt of his character has the added effect of dimming the lights around him. This is most obvious in what are supposed to be tense scenes shared between the two leads. The script, too, lacks the complexity and oomph to adequately portray the emotional turmoil inherent in such out-of-the-ordinary, tragic, and inspirational events. Ultimately, you have to decide if supporting Angel Studios is enough of a reason to buy a ticket. Quick little movies like this help to pay for their more significant efforts. Role Models: Men Mr. Deen Jarred Harris portrays Mr. Deen, a high school teacher who opens his heart and home to a very troubled young man. This completely changes the direction of the young man’s life and rescues him from his downward spiral. WOKE ELEMENTS None Nothing  The post Brave The Dark first appeared on Worth it or Woke.

In early February 2024, Beyoncé rocked the music world by releasing a surprise new album of country tunes. The album, Renaissance: Act II, includes a song called "Texas Hold 'Em," which shot up the country charts—with a few bumps along the way—and landed Queen Bey at the No.1 spot. As the first Black female artist to have a song hit No. 1 on Billboard's country music charts, Beyoncé once again proved her popularity, versatility and ability to break barriers without missing a beat. In one fell swoop, she got people who had zero interest in country music to give it a second look, forced country music fans to broaden their own ideas about what country music looks like and prompted conversations about bending and blending musical genres and styles. And she inspired the Gardiner Brothers to add yet another element to the mix—Irish stepdance.In a TikTok that's been viewed over 17 million times, the Gardiner Brothers don cowboy hats while they step in time to "Texas Hold 'Em," much to the delight of viewers everywhere. Watch: @gardinerbrothers Beyoncé ? Irish dancing #beyonce #countrymusic Michael and Matthew Gardiner are professional Irish-American stepdancers and choreographers who have gained international fame with their award-winning performances. They've also built a following of millions on social media with videos like this one, where they dance to popular songs, usually in an outdoor environment. The melding of Irish dance with country music sung by a Black American female artist may seem unlikely, but it could be viewed merely as country music coming back to its roots. After all, country music has its roots in the ballad tradition of the Irish, English and Scottish settlers in the Appalachian region of the U.S. And despite modern country music's struggle to break free from "music for white people" stereotypes, it has roots in African-American traditions as well. For instance, the banjo, which has long been used in bluegrass and country music, was created by enslaved Africans and their descendents during the colonial era, according to The Smithsonian. People are loving the blending of genres and culture that the TikTok exemplifies."Never thought I’d see Irish step dancing while Beyoncé sings country," wrote on commenter. "My life is complete. ♥️""So happy Beyoncé dropped this song and exposed my timeline to diversified talent ????," wrote another."Beyoncé brought the world together with this song ?," offered another person."Ayeeee Irish Dancing has entered the BeyHive chatroom… WELCOME!! ???" exclaimed another."I don’t think I can explain how many of my interests are intersecting here," wrote one commenter, reflecting what several others shared as well. The Beyoncé/Gardiner Brothers combo and the reactions to it are a good reminder that none of us fit into one box of interest or identity. We're all an eclectic mix of tastes and styles, so we can almost always find a way to connect with others over something we enjoy. What better way to be reminded of that fact than through an unexpected mashup that blends the magic of music with the delight of dance? Truly, the arts are a powerful uniting force we should utilize more often.And for an extra bit of fun, the Gardiner Brothers also shared their bloopers from filming the video. Turns out stepping in the rain isn't as easy as they make it look. Beyoncé Bloopers #texasholdem #gardinerbrothers @gardinerbrothers Beyoncé Bloopers #texasholdem #gardinerbrothers This article originally appeared last year.

Watching musically gifted children never gets old. Whether you credit it to being born under a lucky star, or a simple case of good genetics, it does at least feel like something of a miracle. That was certainly the feeling evoked when shy 9-year-old Journeyy Belton stepped onto the stage for “America's Got Talent” on July 23, 2024, and blew audiences away with his powerful original song “Paradise.” Showing off not just an incredibly soulful voice that belied his age, Journeyy also shared his exceptional songwriting skills as he brought to life an imaginary dream world filled with “purple clouds” and “automatic lullabies.” Listen below and tell me this kid doesn’t remind you of Sia: 9-Year-Old Journeyy Sings Original Song, "Paradise" | Auditions | AGT 2024 www.youtube.com The incredible performance wowed the judges, the live audience and online viewers alike, many of whom hailed the kid a young “musical genius.”“I have never felt so unskilled,” one person joked. “This child has so much talent! I can’t wait to see them grow their music.”Another praised, “His ability to hear and create melodies, the sophisticated lyric writing, the piano skills, and his incredible voice tell me he will 100% be a star selling out stadiums!”A fun surprise—Simon Cowell revealed moments before Journeyy’s audition that he had heard him perform before on TikTok only a few days ago. His account is full of amazing covers, like Oceans by Hillsong United, which has racked up tons of views and glowing praise.“Things are gonna happen for you. I can feel it,” Cowell told Journeyy. “You are somebody who has a God-given talent. And it’s rare.”That certainly seems to be the case, no matter how the competition goes. Whatever happens, Journeyy, you’ve got loyal fans rooting for you! This article originally appeared last year.

For nearly two decades, people have been enjoying "Got Talent" competitions all over the world, inspired by the first "America's Got Talent" in 2006. And thanks to social media and YouTube, we can enjoy the most memorable auditions over and over again. For instance, this one from Taryn Charles on the 2024 season of "Britain's Got Talent."Charles is a music teacher who works with special needs kids. She even brought one of her students and her parent to be part of the audience during her audition. When the judges asked why she wanted to be on "Britain's Got Talent," Charles said, "I love to make people smile and I think my voice is alright." Talk about an understatement.As she stands waiting for the music to start, she shakes her hand by her side a few times, clearly getting some nerves out. But as soon as she starts to sing the first line, "Looking out on the morning rain, I used to feel so uninspired…" it's clear from her rich, raspy voice and easy stage presence that she's got something special.And it only gets better from there. "(You Make Me Feel Like a) Natural Woman" was written by singer-songwriter Carole King, then famously covered by Aretha Franklin, which is a hard act to follow. But Charles knocked it out of the park, blowing away the audience and judges alike. In fact, the performance earned her not one but two standing ovations and inspired judge Bruno Tonioli to smash the Golden Buzzer button before the judges even began to offer their feedback. Watch:What makes this performance especially memorable is how humble and unassuming Charles is before and after her knock-out performance. If you didn't watch til the very end, you may have missed her hilariously real, "I think I've wet myself," which only makes her even more endearing. "WOW I was blown away with her angelic and powerful voice," wrote one commenter. "And yet she is so humble and has a beautiful soul. Plus, I have never in my life seen a double standing ovation, she so deserves a golden buzzer, wishing her the best success." "This is how you do an audition, stunning tone to her voice.....if anyone deserves a chance it's this lady......BOOM!!" wrote another."This was so inspirational. Taryn I am in tears," shared another. "I know what it feels like to struggle with self-worth. You are a mirror to show me that that those people are not always right. You are phenomenally gifted and you have an amazing career as a professional singer ahead of you! Blessings!"Talent competition judges often warn contestants about the challenge of singing songs done by big vocal divas, and we've seen singers attempt to sing the likes of Whitney Houston or Mariah Carey and fall flat. It's not easy to sing an iconic song most people associate with Aretha Franklin—the Queen of Soul and Rolling Stone's #1 singer of all time—and have any hope of impressing people. And yet, Taryn Charles managed to make the song her own and wow everyone in the process with her unique voice. We'll definitely be keeping an eye on this humble music teacher as she makes her way through the "Britain's Got Talent" gauntlet. Heck of a way to kick it off.This article originally appeared last year.

Speech-language pathologist Christina Hunger and her dog Stella were the first to experiment with talking buttons in 2019. Since then there has been a surge of online content showing other pet parents using similar kits to communicate with their own pups. The most fascinating aspect of this phenomenon is the question of whether or not canines are able to understand full-blown complicated sentences beyond “treat” and “outside.” While the overall jury is still out on that, scientifically speaking, dogs like Ripley seem to make an incredibly compelling case for believing the hype.The Australian Shepherd has an entire TikTok account documenting his impressive talk button journey, but a video posted on March 28, 2024, feels next-level.In the clip, Ripley presses the “smell” button as his parents eat lunch. When that doesn’t get their attention, he begins to bark. “What do you smell?” a voice finally asks. To which Ripley replies “outside,” followed by “gardens.”Confused, someone asks, “It smells like the gardens outside?” Ripley’s parents had apparently just started a load of laundry before making lunch, and the detergent had been spilling all over the floor from the washing machine. Ripley had been smelling the detergent, which was reminiscent of the gardens outside.Unfortunately, they didn’t put two and two together until after they went back to the laundry room. Hence the moral of the story: “You should always listen to your dog.” @letsgoripley He’s so freakin’ smart! #Talkingdog #letsgoripley #ripleytalks #fluentpet #australianshepherd #dogs ♬ original sound - Ripley the Australian Shepherd Ripley’s amazing feat prompted lots of praise from viewers.“All of the treats,” one person wrote. Another added, “I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, he is brilliant.” Others were quick to compliment the breed. And rightfully so, as Australian Shepherds are known for their remarkable intelligence, as well as their strong drive and exuberance, according to the American Kennel Club. They thrive when they have a job, and the way Ripley jumped into action is a pretty great example of this characteristic. So, while we might not have definite evidence for the efficiency of talk buttons, one thing remains abundantly clear—our dogs are trying to communicate with us in whatever way they can. All we need to do is listen.Check out even more of Ripley's talk button shenanigans on TikTok. This article originally appeared last year.