You always stole my thunder. You gave them everything they wanted. You never said no when they asked for anything. Tina Platamura A second helping of dessert. Candy before dinner. A few more minutes in the bath. Money for the ice cream truck.I struggled to show you respect and appreciation while trying to make sure you didn't spoil my children. I thought you would turn them into “selfish brats" by giving them everything they wanted. I thought they might never learn to wait‚ to take turns‚ to share‚ because you granted their wishes as soon as they opened their mouths and pointed.You held each one of my babies long after they fell asleep. Didn't you understand that I needed them to learn to fall asleep on their own?You ran to them as soon as they made the tiniest sound. How would they ever learn to self-soothe?I resented you for buying the best and most expensive gifts on their birthdays and on Christmas. How could I possibly compete with you?"I thought they might never learn to wait‚ to take turns‚ to share‚ because you granted their wishes as soon as they opened their mouths and pointed."And how they loved afternoons spent with you. You made their favorite things for dinner — three different meals for three different boys. And you always had a little surprise. A present‚ candy‚ or a special treat. I didn't want them to associate you with gifts and sweets. I thought they should love you for you. I tried to tell you this‚ but you wouldn't listen.I spent a lot of time wondering why you did all these things and how I could get you to ease up. I know grandmothers are supposed to “spoil the kids" then send them home‚ but you were ... ridiculous.Until you were gone.I had to hold my boys and tell them that their grandma died. It didn't seem possible — you were supposed to be there for all the other special moments: proms‚ graduations‚ weddings. But they lost their grandma too soon and too suddenly. They were not ready to say goodbye.During those years when I wished you'd stop spoiling them‚ I never thought about how much you loved them. So much that you showed it in every way possible. Your cooking. The gifts. The candy and sweets. Your presence. The way you could recount every detail of a special moment‚ whether it was a perfect catch in the outfield or a sweet and slightly off-key note sung at a school concert. Your grandmotherly love for them knew no bounds. Your heart poured love from every place possible — your kitchen‚ your pocketbook‚ your words‚ and your tireless arms.It's pointless to dwell on regrets‚ but I often think about how I had it all wrong. I was so wrong in how I perceived your generosity.My kids‚ now in their teens‚ miss you dearly. And they don't miss your gifts or your money. They miss you.They miss running to greet you at the door and hugging you before you could step in. They miss looking up at the bleachers and seeing you‚ one of their biggest fans‚ smiling and enthralled to catch their eye. They miss talking to you and hearing your words of wisdom‚ encouragement and love.If I could speak to you one more time‚ I would tell you that every time a precious moment steals my heart‚ every time I watch them arrive at a new milestone‚ and every time they amaze me with their perseverance‚ talents‚ or triumphs‚ I think of you. And I wish that they could have you back.Come back and love them one last time‚ like no one else in the world but a grandmother could. Bring your sweets and surprises. Reward them with gifts for the smallest accomplishments. Painstakingly prepare their favorite meals. Take them anywhere they want to go. All and only because you love them.Come back and see how much they've grown. Watch each boy becoming his own version of a young man. Be in awe with me as we admire how family‚ friendship‚ time‚ and love helped them grow so beautifully over the years.The more I long for you to come back‚ though‚ the more I realize that in a way‚ you never left.I understand now. I know you loved them in every way you could. I know that being their grandma gave you joy and purpose. And of course I know that you can't come back‚ but I do know that your love for them will always remain. Your love built them and sheltered them in ways that cannot be described. Your love is a big part of who they are and what they will become as they grow. For this‚ and for every treat and gift‚ and every time you held them too long or consoled them too much or let them stay up too late‚ I will always thank you.And I will wish a million times that you could do it all again.This article was written by Tina Plantamura and originally appeared on 04.14.16

Sadly‚ a lot of men go out of their way to avoid learning anything about a woman's period.(That could be why throughout most of the United States — where the majority of lawmakers are men — feminine hygiene products are subject to sales tax.)So we should give some love to the guys who make an effort to learn a bit about the menstrual cycle so they can help their family members when they're in desperate need of feminine hygiene products.Personally‚ as a guy‚ the feminine hygiene aisle can be a little intimidating. There are multiple brands‚ styles of products‚ scents‚ absorbency levels‚ and they are all color-coded.What do the colors mean?Knowing there's a lot I don't know‚ I take a picture on my phone of the box I'm about to purchase and send it to my wife‚ asking‚ "Is this the right one?"A dad in the U.K. is getting some love on social media for the hilarious way he navigated the world of feminine hygiene products while showing how much he loved his daughter in the process.It all began when Tia Savva sent her dad to Tesco‚ a popular U.K. drug store‚ to pick up some tampons.For all the guys out there that need a solid primer on what goes on in the feminine hygiene product aisle‚ this quick tutorial from Mel magazine does a pretty great job.This article originally appeared on July 2‚ 2019

Although The Cure achieved critical acclaim in the early 1980s‚ they weren't "professional". The post The first “professional” album by The Cure‚ according to Robert Smith first appeared on Far Out Magazine.

A collaboration made in heaven. The post The “intimidating” musician Robert Plant wanted Jimmy Page to work with first appeared on Far Out Magazine.

"I'm going to be totally wiped out." The post The Grateful Dead’s five wildest drug stories first appeared on Far Out Magazine.

Don't miss your chance to see 'Labyrinth' &; 'The Muppet Movie' on the big screen once again!

It was a very different episode featured in the fifth season.

The actor most recently appeared in the HBO show’s 12th and final season.

In one sense‚ the 2024 election cycle has been exceptionally exciting. The leading Republican candidate has been indicted on a total of 91 felony counts and somehow has still run one of the most successful primary campaigns in American history. One of those indictments has devolved into a comical exposé of Democrat corruption. Meanwhile‚ the incumbent comes across to most Americans as a senile grandpa with major memory problems. READ MORE: Engoron Goes Medieval on Trump In another sense‚ the 2024 election cycle has been exceptionally predictable and uninteresting. Take‚ for instance‚ last night’s primary in Michigan. Former President Donald Trump swept the Republican vote by a large margin (he won 69 percent of the vote)‚ and it became once again clear that Nikki Haley should stop wasting donor money and bow out (although she claims she won’t until after Tuesday’s voting at the earliest). Furthermore‚ Trump managed to lead Haley across the state (including in Detroit and Grand Rapids) and was neck-and-neck with her in Ann Arbor. Of course‚ the fact that Haley’s best was in Ann Arbor wasn’t surprising either. The city is easily one of the most left-leaning university towns in the state‚ and Haley tends to do well with independents and liberal-leaning Republicans. It’s a miracle if you managed to make it this far into this piece without your eyes glazing over. Frankly‚ this primary election stuff feels like a charade. Any American with two brain cells and a modicum of common sense could have told you in February of last year where we would be today. At this point‚ most Americans aren’t paying attention — and I‚ for one‚ certainly don’t blame them. (READ MORE: We Are the Conservatives (An Alternative Rhetoric for CPAC)) There are likely several reasons Americans seem to be losing interest in politics. One of them is that four years ago‚ in late February‚ we were all about to be locked away in our homes for months glued to daily updates coming from Anthony Fauci. Compared to the COVID-19 pandemic‚ which impacted every American’s daily life for months‚ the news cycle in 2024 has been strikingly irrelevant (although it does explain why we’re all paying more for food than we were a year ago). Unless the apocalypse happens‚ or the government starts conscripting men and women to fight in World War III‚ most people will likely continue to ignore politics. Another reason could be a sense of defeated fatalism coupled with depressive realism. The news cycle is bad‚ and watching it begets only depression‚ not change. (READ MORE from the Spectator P.M.: Why Are We Having Less Sex?) The more I think about this issue‚ the more I realize that the problem (at least for the media) is this: Simple novelty begets interest. If Americans don’t feel as though there is anything novel happening due to a lack of connection or understanding‚ they’re unlikely to be at all interested in what is going on. This article is an excerpt from The American Spectator’s Spectator P.M. newsletter. Subscribe today to read future letters from our staff! The post The Primary Is Just a Charade. Just Ask Michigan. appeared first on The American Spectator | USA News and Politics.

Last week‚ the Justice Department released charges against Japanese criminal syndicate Yakuza leader Takeshi Ebisawa‚ who was caught in a Drug Enforcement Administration sting attempting to sell weapons-grade plutonium to Iran. In the midst of the Gaza war‚ which has seen tensions with Tehran continue to rise‚ nuclear trafficking almost entered the already hostile situation for American troops in the Middle East. READ MORE: Iran Is Using Drug Money to Fund Terrorism. We Can Fix That. Ebisawa and Thai national Somphop Singhasiri‚ previously charged with gunrunning and drug trafficking across international boundaries in 2022‚ first got caught up in the nuclear sting in 2020 when Ebisawa contacted DEA operatives known only as UC-1 and CS-1. He offered to sell significant portions of nuclear material‚ showing photographs of Geiger counters measuring a rock-like substance as evidence. In response‚ UC-1 offered to broker a deal with an “Iranian general” who was actually a DEA agent‚ reports the DOJ. Claiming to work on behalf of one of the rebel armies currently fighting Myanmar’s military junta‚ Ebisawa added a wish list of weapons the rebels wanted in exchange for almost 4‚500 pounds of thorium and over 200 pounds of a concentrated uranium powder called “yellowcake.” Ebisawa’s unnamed co-conspirators said the total amount of nuclear material available was over five tons. As the talks continued‚ Ebisawa and UC-1 met on the Thai island of Phuket‚ where the DEA agent was shown a substance alleged to be yellowcake‚ reports Radio Free Asia. Following the meeting‚ Thai authorities raided a Bangkok office where Ebisawa had deposited the radioactive materials‚ which were then sent to the U.S. for analysis. American officials confirmed Ebisawa’s claims that the nuclear materials truly were weapons-grade. How exactly the Myanmar rebels first obtained weapons-grade nuclear material remains unclear. The Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun reports that they had been mining it in their territory. According to nuclear watchdog NTI‚ Myanmar has five uranium mines that could have sourced the material‚ though only one has higher than low-grade ore. Though none of those five mines are located in his territory‚ Yawd Serk‚ leader of the ethnic rebels in the Shan state of Myanmar‚ has been accused of sourcing Ebisawa’s uranium. While he admitted this week that foreigners have asked about obtaining uranium‚ he denied ever selling any. Regardless of the materials’ origin‚ the Yakuza has proven itself willing to sell it to Iran. When asked by the undercover DEA agent if the material for Iran was weapons-grade‚ Ebisawa answered‚ “I think so and I hope so.” “This is an extraordinary example of the depravity of drug traffickers who operate with total disregard for human life‚” DEA administrator Anne Milgram said. “I commend the men and women of DEA and this prosecution team for their tireless work to protect us from such evil. The post DEA Halts Weapons-Grade Plutonium En Route to Iran appeared first on The American Spectator | USA News and Politics.