6 Prayers for Father's Day

There’s way more to being a musician than seeking out fame and fortune, and singer-songwriter Noah Kahan understands this. For the viral social media sensation turned folk-pop superstar, what’s most important is connecting to others through music. In Kahan’s case, this involves a lot of touring. While this can be pretty grueling, it’s all worthwhile when he sees his fans singing along. In a beautiful video on social media, Noah Kahan shared some footage from the audience that really touched his heart. Two little girls were hugging each other and crying along to the singer’s lyrics. They were wearing nearly matching outfits. It’s sweet, and perhaps a little heartbreaking, to see these young children experiencing such intense emotions during a concert. “Sometimes people ask me why I’ve been touring for so long,” the musician said in his caption. In the text over the clip, he wrote “Here’s why I’m out here.” @noahkahanmusic Sometimes people ask me why I’ve been touring for so long #fyp #stickseason #noahkahan #noahkahanmusic ♬ original sound – Noah Kahan Many commenters could relate to the two small girls weeping over Noah Kahan’s incredible songwriting. “This is so cute and basically sums up all your concerts for us,” wrote one user. “Me right now listening to Noah Kahan while I wash dishes,” added another. Although the artist’s music is often based on his very specific life experiences, there are some emotions that everyone understands on a deeper level. Boston tells us that Noah Kahan writes a lot about his upbringing in a small New England town. However, once he started posting his songs to social media, he found that people from all over the place could relate to his feelings. Mental health is extremely important to Noah Kahan, which is why he’s so open about his experiences in therapy. His willingness to confront and examine his emotions is part of how his music strikes a chord with so many listeners. Screengrab from TikTok “It wasn’t until I started going to therapy very seriously, and taking medication, and meditating, and making changes in my life, and re-evaluating my behaviors and my actions that I felt like I started to really heal,” said the artist. Fame has a way of changing people, but Noah Kahan remains very genuine even as his name gets bigger and bigger. We’re betting that’s because he’s in the business for all the right reasons. You can find the source of this story’s featured image here. The post Noah Kahan Shares Heartwarming Reason He’s “Been Touring For So Long” appeared first on InspireMore.

LET'S GO CATS

I came across this really great video from my friends over at Mind4Survival and it was so helpful, I wanted to post it here. There are some stockpile foods you can store that never expire, no matter how long you have them, as long as they are stored correctly. They make the backbone of a fantastic stockpile, too. Check it out below. And please, do me a favor and subscribe to this channel. Brian puts out great content like this as well as insightful interviews that will help you be better prepared. It’s all done very positively and I really enjoy the channel and would love to see it grow. Looking for more advice on pantry building? For more information on building a stockpile, check out my online course here and my book here. What do you think about these stockpile foods? Are there any other foods you can keep basically forever? Have you had good luck with the foods above? Let’s talk about it in the comments section. The post 15 Stockpile Foods You Could Store Forever appeared first on The Organic Prepper.

It could be argued that death has become sanitized in some parts of the modern world, a far-removed concept few of us have to face until it happens to someone close, and even then we typically experience grief from a distance to the actual dead. In the Victorian era, the advent of photography brought in a new trend of memento mori in which the recently dead were posed for a posthumous portrait. It might sound weird, but was it healthy?The awareness of death is known as mortality salience and it’s a key concept in terror management theory. The theory goes that we humans are biologically predisposed for self-preservation, but we’re also smart enough to know that death is inevitable, and marrying those two ideas can cause paralyzing terror.To be able to function with the knowledge of our own mortality, TMT says we lean on culture and self-esteem to get by. Culture gives us a sense of permanence, that our influence can extend beyond our life expectancy, while self-esteem is a buffer because it makes us feel like we’re making the most of the time that we have.There’s been lots of research into mortality salience, but a 2010 review looked at two decades of research to see how it influenced people’s behaviors and beliefs. The paper kicks off with a sage quote from Ernest Becker attributed to 1973:The idea of death, the fear of it, haunts the human animal like nothing else; it is a mainspring of human activity—activity designed largely to avoid the fatality of death, to overcome it by denying in some way that it is the final destiny for man.The Dance Of Death, a 15th century fresco at the National Gallery of Slovenia, poetically demonstrates how death connects us all.Image credit: Janez iz Kastva, Public Domain, via WikimediaSo, how does that mainspring materialize in our lives? The analysis confirmed that mortality salience is indeed a driver for human behavior and cognitive processes, and that it has a lasting effect on us. The effect can be defensive and negative, but it can also be good. Death reminders come in different packages, but in the example of near-death experiences, it found mortality salience had the potential to lead to positive growth.Gathering around Great Aunt June for one last selfie might seem strange in the moment, but the memento mori of the Victorians may have had its merits. For starters, photography was brand new at the time and a dead subject makes for a photogenic one when you’re dealing with long exposure times. The deceased could also be posed with their favorite things, dressed in their Sunday best, and it wasn’t uncommon for the photo to be the first and last ever taken of them.Memento mori hasn’t died out, being a practice that’s encouraged in some hospital settings, particularly in the instance of bereaved parents. In Parental Grief and Memento Mori Photography, authors Cybele Blood and Joanne Cacciatore explored the narrative, meaning, culture, and context surrounding memento mori in the modern era.Their investigations revealed that for some parents, having photos of their dead child contributed to psychological wellness, ritualizing behaviors, and the generation of meaning. This was reflected in the themes of the participant responses, some of whom spoke about tributes and honor, and of how the event led to family bonding or significant life changes such as a switch in career.As terror management theory suggests, for some people, confrontation with the death of others and our collective mortality can be a driver for change. There is no single, evidenced prescription for facing down mortality, but it's possible experiencing it from a distance may be removing ourselves from the sometimes life affirming influence of mortality salience.

Two NFL players recently recounted a vivid UFO sighting during a team flight. This remarkable revelation emerged on Las Vegas Raiders’ defensive end Maxx Crosby’s podcast, featuring teammate Andre James, reports coasttocoastam.com. As the conversation turned to conspiracy theories, James shared his belief that “UFOs are here and have been here for a long time.” He then described an eerie experience from last November when the team was flying home after a game in Miami. James explained that on these chartered flights, players sometimes visit the cockpit to chat with the pilots. During this trip, the visit took a strange turn when the plane’s radio system reported something unusual in the sky. “All the pilots are coming on,” he recalled, “they’re like ‘hey, do you guys see those lights out there?'” James and two teammates saw nothing unusual, prompting the pilots to suggest they were being pranked, and the players returned to their seats. Twenty minutes later, James was called back to the cockpit by a teammate who pointed out strange anomalies. “I go up there and immediately I just see this big white light,” he marveled, “it’s getting bigger and smaller, bigger and smaller.” Initially, the pilots speculated it could be a satellite, but that theory was dismissed when the light moved in a circle. The pilots admitted it wasn’t a satellite. The sighting grew stranger when a second light appeared below the first, and the two objects seemed to move around each other. The pilots, despite their military experience, were baffled. James noted, “it was one of the weirdest things I’ve ever seen.” The sighting lasted about twenty minutes and “everyone saw it,” confirmed by Crosby. Although the UFO eventually vanished, James claimed they captured footage of it, which he hopes to share someday. NFL @Raiders Andre james and Maxx Crosby recorded UFOs on @Raiders flight after a game ??? https://t.co/1GhBiWpYiU via @YouTube #ufotwitter #ufox #nfl #ufo #uap #aliens #alieninfoo #ufosofireland pic.twitter.com/lw7Q0Rfqq0 — Alieninfoo (@AlienNationPod) June 8, 2024 The post NFL players share astonishing UFO sighting during team flight appeared first on Anomalien.com.

Nestled along the picturesque South Carolina coastline, Charleston beckons conservative families to enjoy a vacation that features a captivating blend of historical significance, cultural preservation, natural beauty, and Southern hospitality. Charleston presents a myriad of activities and attractions for the entire family that embody cherished conservative values. For the ninth consecutive year, Charleston was named the top U.S. vacation city by Travel + Leisure readers – and for a number of valid reasons. Take a step back in time by traveling to Charleston – founded in 1670, making it one of the oldest cities in the United States. This living, breathing museum city entices visitors to meander down cobblestone streets flanked by magnificent antebellum mansions and historic centuries-old churches. Steeped in rich history, Charleston stood as a crucible of revolution. Listen closely and you can hear the defiant whispers of the ghosts of patriots who laid the revolutionary groundwork for American independence. The blood and sweat of American freedom fighters were shed in several critical battles of the American Revolution. Charleston also held a pivotal and strategic role in the American Civil War, which reshaped the country's identity. Over 135 engagements took place in South Carolina during the Revolutionary War. Learning about the thrilling history will cause anyone to work up an appetite. Thankfully, Charleston boasts a vibrant culinary scene. The mouthwatering restaurants in Chucktown have been presented with prestigious awards from the James Beard Foundation, Southern Living, and OpenTable. Tripadvisor named Charleston as the second-best food city in the country this year. Charleston is known as the Holy City for its legacy of touting a remarkable diversity, tolerance, and inclusiveness of religious denominations that were welcomed early in the city's history at a time when most places were far more prejudiced against other faiths. This helpful travel guide will provide you with vacation ideas, key attractions, must-see sightseeing destinations, historical landmarks, exciting adventures, and hidden gems of charming Charleston that highlight traditional American values. This trusty travel companion guide for Charleston will ensure that you can plan the best vacation for your conservative family in the red state of South Carolina. Rich history visionsofmaine via iStock / Getty Images Plus Discover America's history: Numerous significant buildings have been meticulously preserved and restored. Visitors can explore museum houses once inhabited by distinguished dignitaries, such as the Aiken-Rhett House, Calhoun Mansion, Drayton Hall, Edmonston-Alston House, Heyward-Washington House, Joseph Manigault House, and Nathaniel Russell House. Additional historical sites include Dock Street Theatre, Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon, Charleston City Market, and vibrant Rainbow Row. Fort Moultrie was constructed primarily from palmetto logs and sand under the direction of Colonel William Moultrie. The fort on Sullivan's Island sheltered South Carolina's colonial forces from a British attack. Visit the island base of Fort Sumter, where the first shots in the American Civil War were fired on April 12, 1861. Revisit Charleston's storied past and follow in the footsteps of the ghosts of Charleston with a city walking tour. Located in neighboring Mount Pleasant is the Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum. The floating museum is located on the USS Yorktown – an Essex-class aircraft carrier that served during World War II and the Vietnam War. Guests can explore the USS Laffey destroyer as well. Patriots Point offers exhibits, educational programs, and guided tours that highlight the history and significance of these military vessels and their role in American naval history. The Holy City is renowned for its wealth of historic churches, synagogues, and a culture of religious tolerance. St. Philip's Episcopal Church, dating back to 1680, is one of the oldest churches in South Carolina and features a distinctive steeple that has become an iconic symbol of Charleston. Circular Congregational Church, established in 1681, is known for its unique circular sanctuary design and profound influence on Charleston's religious and cultural heritage. First Baptist Church, constructed in 1682, is the oldest Baptist congregation in the South. Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim synagogue, dating back to 1749, is known for its significant role in American Jewish history. St. Michael's Episcopal Church, established in 1751, is famed for its stunning Georgian architecture. Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, founded in 1816, is the oldest African Methodist Episcopal church in the southern U.S. and was also the first independent black denomination in the United States. The French Huguenot Church, built in 1844, stands as a testament to Charleston's French Protestant roots, showcasing Gothic Revival architecture and an eye-pleasing pink exterior. The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, founded in 1854, is celebrated for its awe-inspiring architecture, intricate stained glass windows, and ornate interiors. Scrumptious food ReDunnLev Creative via iStock / Getty Images Plus Mouthwatering restaurants: Enjoy soul-warming low country classics from Magnolia's. Chef Sean Brock’s Husk celebrates American Southern cuisine. FIG has earned several James Beard Foundation Awards over the years. While everything on the menu is exceptional, don't miss the ricotta gnocchi alla bolognese and the fish stew Provençal — they are absolute must-tries. A delightful breakfast spot is Eli’s Table – definitely get a Bloody Mary and the delicious shrimp and grits benedict. Devour fresh raw seafood or the lobster roll from 167 Raw. If you are craving steaks, the place to go is Hall’s Chop House. You can't go to Charleston without enjoying the Southern delicacy of shrimp and grits, which you can eat at Slightly North of Broad. For fantastic fried chicken, check out Leon’s Oyster House or Boxcar Betty’s – about 15 minutes from downtown Charleston. Get your hands on fall-off-the-bone spare ribs at Rodney Scott’s Whole Hog BBQ, but definitely order the cornbread and banana pudding. Pitmaster John Lewis brings delectable Texas BBQ to Chucktown at Lewis Barbecue. But it's not all Southern fare; go to Stella's for great Greek food and Le Farfalle for delicious Italian cuisine. For dessert, head on over to Peninsula Grill for the world-famous towering 12-layer coconut cake. Indulge in a decadent Tollhouse chocolate pie from Kaminsky’s. Don't forget to snatch some chocolate gophers from the Savannah Candy Kitchen. World-class golf David Alexander/Getty Images Golfer's paradise: The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort hosted the 1991 Ryder Cup, as well as the 2012 and 2021 PGA Championships. If that wasn't impressive enough, the courses were designed by PGA pros such as Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio, and Gary Player. Wild Dunes Resort also boasts golf courses designed by Tom Fazio and includes challenging holes that feature stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean. Charleston National Golf Club was designed by Rees Jones, who has previously redesigned iconic courses, such as Bethpage Black, Torrey Pines South, and East Lake Gold Club. Beautiful beaches choicegraphx via iStock / Getty Images Plus Charleston offers top beach destinations: Traveling to Isle of Palms promises a perfect beach setting for relaxation and family fun. Just a short drive from Charleston, this barrier island features beachfront bars and restaurants. Sullivan’s Island is an absolutely charming shore town with a quaint main street featuring scrumptious food options, such as tasty burgers at Poe’s Tavern, barbecue at Home Team, or fantastic pizza at Obstinate Daughter. Another beach destination is Folly Beach, which has a very Bohemian aura. Visitors can check out the Morris Island Lighthouse and the East Coast’s second-largest fishing pier where they hold tournaments. Kiawah Island is home to seven award-winning golf courses, a shopping village, and a world-class resort. Stunning natural attractions Steve Rosenbach via iStock / Getty Images Plus Awe-inspiring natural beauty awaits: Explore the Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, which was honored as one of "America’s Most Beautiful Gardens" by Travel + Leisure. This grandiose 464-acre garden was founded in 1676 and opened to the public in 1870 – making it one of the oldest public gardens in the United States. Besides stunning landscapes, the estate features exhibits offering insight into the lives of Gullah slaves. Don't miss the Audubon Swamp Garden, where you can observe alligators basking in the water and families of egrets and herons nesting in cypress trees amidst the natural beauty. Middleton Place is a historic plantation renowned for its exquisite gardens and rich heritage. The plantation was built in the mid-1700s and is America's oldest landscaped gardens. Middleton Place boasts meticulously landscaped grounds and stunning views of the Ashley River. Visitors can venture on guided tours of the house museum, grounds, and a look at the livestock breeds that were on the plantation. Embark on a scenic boat tour in Charleston to observe playful dolphins frolicking in the Ashley River and the Cooper River. Some of the top-rated Charleston boat tours include Charleston Harbor Tours, Fort Sumter Tours, Adventure Harbor Tours, and Schooner Pride. Fishing enthusiasts have a bevy of charters in the Charleston area. A few of the best-reviewed options include: Absolute Reel Screamer Charters, Charleston Charter Fishing, Exclusive Fishing Charters, and Lowcountry Outdoor Adventures. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

There is a splendid, although now largely debunked, myth that Grigory Potemkin, a former lover and official in the service of Russian Empress Catherine the Great, constructed a series of lovely fake villages (by erecting only facades) along the Dnieper River that could be moved as the monarch progressed, to impress her with this actually insubstantial evidence of her imperial glory. Whatever the truth of this Russian ministerial chicanery, it appears that we are in the throes of what could be described as a “Potemkin presidency.” Joe Biden makes some ceremonial appearances but avoids almost all substantive encounters with the press, and when he does speak in public, he has a halting delivery, appears to struggle with inaccurate memory, and betrays confusion. If Biden is as ineffective as he appears, and if others are running the show, then we are experiencing a fundamental betrayal of “our democracy.” We are told by those who purportedly work with Biden that in private he is quite different and that he is, supposedly, much sharper than his aides. The notion that the private Biden is everything one could want in a president was exploded in an influential Wall Street Journal exposé, headlined “Behind Closed Doors, Biden Shows Signs of Slipping,” based on interviews with 45 Republicans and Democrats occurring over several months. Biden is now the oldest incumbent president and will presumably be nominated by his party to serve another four-year term. There are certainly grounds to question his fitness for office. But curiously, most of the mainstream media seems content not to question his abilities and to accept at face value the claims of actor Michael Douglas and MSNBC host “Morning Joe” Scarborough, both of whom describe Biden as “sharp as a tack.” There have been other times in our history when the spirit of Potemkin reigned. Edith Wilson appears to have been the power behind the last months of her husband Woodrow’s presidency. The same was said of Eleanor Roosevelt and some of FDR’s other advisers at the end of his time in office. The present motto of the Washington Post is “Democracy Dies in Darkness.” At the moment, the American people are in the dark about who is actually running the executive branch of our government. It could be Jill Biden, or Barack Obama, or Susan Rice, or some other holdover from an earlier administration, or some set of lower-level functionaries in this one. If we had a press with the same zeal that investigated Richard Nixon and drove him from office 50 years ago, we might know how capable Biden is and who, if he is not, is actually in charge. If Biden is as ineffective as he appears, and if others are running the show, then we are experiencing a fundamental betrayal of “our democracy” and quite possibly something much worse. The Constitution provides mechanisms to remove an incompetent president, but these depend on the vice president and the Cabinet acting to accomplish this, and for whatever reason, those officials show no inclination to act. Perhaps we can wait five months until voters have a chance to weigh in on Biden’s fitness for office, although we are, sadly, deprived of the information with which to evaluate him fully. Still, when one special counsel has concluded that Biden is too old and infirm of memory to be tried for misconduct involving classified documents, when the speaker of the House can state that “It’s quite obvious to everyone that he [Biden] is not on his A game. I’ll say that charitably. He intimated to me that he didn’t quite understand what he had signed,” and when the acerbic but usually accurate columnist Kurt Schlichter can declare, “We watched him at Normandy staggering about, looking like Mr. Magoo without the edge,” we are in dire straits. Enterprising reporters should be asking cui bono? Who is benefitting from this Potemkin presidency, and what relevance does this have for November? Is Biden being propped up, like Potemkin’s insubstantial walls, to conceal domestic corruption or foreign intrigue? The myth of the fabricating Russian official was a tale of a dishonest courtier who sought to please his former lover and sovereign, but what is happening with this nation is much more venal and much more dangerous.

It finally happened. Primary voters final rose up and ejected a critical mass of uniparty Republicans in a red state primary. Together with gains in open seats in both chambers of the legislature, the Freedom Caucus and its allies are now poised to be the dominating force within the state, change legislative leadership, and force Gov. Kristi Noem to tack right.What’s the secret sauce of success where everyone else on the “RINO hunting trail” has thus far failed? Thank the landowners and the greedy green energy pipeline corporatists who raised their anger ... and activated their activism.Although the top leaders in both chambers held onto their seats, the entire dynamic of the legislature has changed.When Brown County farmer Jared Bossly faced an eminent domain lawsuit from Summit Carbon Solutions, which sought to use his property for a “carbon capture” pipeline under Joe Biden’s Green New Deal, he appealed to Noem for help. “Am I supposed to fight all your battles?" the governor retorted, even though it was her former chief of state signing off on the court filings.Well, the landowners did fight their own battle in the end — no thanks to Noem and her allies, donors, and lobbyists. It resulted in the defeat of 13 liberal incumbents in the primary and an influx of conservatives willing to fight this senseless pipeline.Included in the RINO bloodbath was the entire House whip team: J.D. Wangsness, Gary Cammack, Becky Drury, and Kirk Chaffee. In the Senate, four milquetoast Republicans were defeated, including Appropriations Committee chairman Jean Hunhoff, David Johnson, Erin Tobin, and Michael Walsh. Also, the current Senate majority whip, Ryan Maher, tried crossing over to the House but was defeated by a conservative, while a much more conservative challenger picked up his Senate seat.These were all Senate and House supporters or allies of SB 201, the bill that allows carbon capture pipeline companies to override local ordinances to use eminent domain to build their nonsensical pipeline on private property.Earlier this year, the House voted down a bill from Rep. Jon Hansen to prohibit private-use eminent domain for carbon pipelines. Every single House incumbent who lost Tuesday night was on the wrong side of that vote. In addition, the Senate picked up at least four Freedom Caucus-aligned members in open seats, and many more won their races in the House.Although the top leaders in both chambers held onto their seats, the entire dynamic of the legislature has changed, making it unlikely they will keep their leadership positions. Republicans control the Senate 31-4, but only 10 Republicans opposed the pipeline bill. Now, there will easily be close to 20 votes against the pipeline and likely a majority of the caucus against current leadership across the board.In the House, where conservatives had a stronger position heading into the election, they should be able to replace the leadership easily. In total, 24 out of the 33 Freedom Caucus-aligned candidates won, which is an astounding rate of success for underfunded, often novice, candidates going up against a party apparatus backed by the Chinese-funded Summit Carbon Solutions. Only seven of the 70 current members of the House are Democrats, and several of them are vulnerable in a general election with Trump likely to win the state by a landslide.Going forward, conservatives have a chance to unite behind new leadership and build for the 2026 gubernatorial primary. Perhaps someone like Rep. Jon Hansen, a lawyer from Del Rapids who was former speaker pro tempore, would make a great candidate for speaker and beyond. He was instrumental in recruiting many of these candidates and has led the fight against the pipeline and COVID-19 tyranny.Before South Dakota grassroots activists prepare for next year’s legislative session, however, there is unfinished work to be done for the November elections. Noem earlier this year signed the bill allowing Summit to preempt all local ordinances when constructing its carbon pipeline. We cannot wait until next year for relief. Landowners now have two weeks left to finish collecting signatures to place a repeal of SB 201 on the ballot for November. What better way to shape the arc of the general election than by making the race about property rights with voters given the opportunity to choose liberty?So far, this year’s primaries have been disappointing. An apathetic voter base has generally renominated every single liberal Republican, especially at a federal level. Will South Dakota turn the tide midway through primary season?

OPINION: No Más to Mass Deportation?