The granddaughter of the nurse featured in an iconic photo of her being kissed by a random sailor after the announcement of the end of World War II said her grandmother was “proud of the image” and “never felt violated.” On V-J Day in 1945‚ dental nurse Greta Zimmer‚ who was Jewish and had fled Austria to escape Hitler and the Nazis in 1939‚ was walking through Times Square in New York City when a U.S. Navy sailor‚ most likely George Mendonsa‚ grabbed her‚ bent her backwards and kissed her. Famed photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt snapped the photo‚ which was published a week later in Life magazine and immediately became immortal. Zimmer later married Mischa Friedman and had a son and daughter. But RimaAnn Nelson‚ the VA assistant secretary for health for operations‚ sent a memo in February to the Veterans Integrated Services Network Directors saying the photo should be removed and replaced at all VA facilities because it “depicted a non-consensual act‚” and “is inconsistent with the VA’s no tolerance policy toward sexual harassment and assault.” The memo stated that the photo needed to be removed to maintain the department’s “respectful‚ safe and trauma-informed” workplace. EXCLUSIVE: The Department Of Veterans Affairs just BANNED the V-J Day kiss photo from all department facilities. "To promote a culture of inclusivity and awareness… your cooperation is vital." pic.twitter.com/MZfNHbpV76 — End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) March 5‚ 2024 After backlash ensued‚ VA Secretary Denis McDonough later tweeted‚ “Let me be clear: This image is not banned from VA facilities — and we will keep it in VA facilities.” Let me be clear: This image is not banned from VA facilities – and we will keep it in VA facilities. pic.twitter.com/dYSikLxHAJ — Secretary Denis McDonough (@SecVetAffairs) March 5‚ 2024 Caroline Branin‚ Friedman’s granddaughter‚ told The Daily Mail‚ “As my grandmother told it to me‚ she was at work and she went downstairs at lunchtime to see what was happening. George grabbed her and kissed her. It was a split second thing and the photographer just happened to be there. She never felt violated or anything like that … She was always very proud of the image and she thought it was two young people celebrating in the street … My grandma signed images of the photo up until she died. She was proud to be an American citizen. She was a refugee from Austria and so the end of the war marked more to her than for everyday people.” “She never felt it was something inappropriate‚” she continued. “It’s interesting they tried to reframe historical events in today’s values. I have a picture in my house that my grandma signed and even George Mendonsa signed it. My grandma stayed in contact with George and she did parades on V-J Day with him. She never said it was anything she felt was uncomfortable.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP “At college I had a women and gender studies teacher who showed that image and said: ‘This is a sexual assault‚’” Branin recalled. “I put my hand up and said that’s actually my grandma‚ she didn’t view it that way. The teacher disagreed with me. I can understand the argument but for my grandmother it represented the end of the war and they’re celebrating.” Friedman only learned about the photograph in the 1960s and immediately recognized herself. She and Mendonsa communicated in later years and became friends; she died in 2016 at the age of 92.

Parents are willing to go to great lengths in order to keep their children safe. Unfortunately‚ they can’t always be around. That’s why so many look for creative ways to keep their kids out of danger‚ no matter how far away they are. For this Utah teen‚ that includes a secret signal for when he’s in danger but can’t communicate directly with others. Just this week‚ it seems to have saved his life. The 14-year-old’s harrowing story starts online. Here‚ he met 36-year-old Austin David Arnold. The two had been talking for a while. But things escalated when Austin‚ who lives in California‚ planned to travel all the way to Utah so they could meet in person. Austin‚ along with three other adult men‚ ended up at a hotel with the teen. YouTube Meanwhile‚ the teen’s parents had no idea what was going on. All they knew is that their son was missing. Then‚ as soon as they called his phone‚ they knew without a doubt that something was wrong — he had changed his voicemail. Teen’s Secret Signal to Family Saves His Life “This was something that the family had recently discussed as a possible safety tip in case something were to go wrong‚” Stephanie Dinsmore with the Davis County Sheriff’s Office explains. YouTube Hours later‚ the teen was able to share his phone’s location with a family member‚ allowing investigators to locate him and the four men swiftly. Now‚ Austin is in jail and an investigation is ongoing. Plus‚ the teen is now safe at home — in large part thanks to the planning him and his parent did. The InspireMore team wishes the teen and his family well as they heal from this traumatic event. You can find the source of this story’s featured image here and here. The post Teen Uses Secret Signal To Call For Help‚ Thwarts Potential Child Predator appeared first on InspireMore.

Many of us recall Steve Irwin from our childhoods. The animal expert would teach us all about animals we’d never even heard of. But now‚ Robert Irwin‚ his son‚ is carrying on his legacy — let’s learn about legless lizards! @robertirwin Rescuing legless lizards off a country road! ♬ original sound – Robert Irwin Robert Irwin was driving along a country road when he found a legless lizard in his path. Rather than leaving it there‚ Irwin created a learning opportunity for all of us. Have you ever heard of a legless lizard? It’s not a snake‚ nor is it an injured lizard. In fact‚ it’s a unique creature with its own genetic makeup. While it resembles a snake‚ it differs in a few ways. This image is from TikTok. Robert Irwin walked us through the basics of legless lizards‚ including their large tongue and unique scales on their underbelly. Viewers were thankful to be catching this clip from Robert. “So thankful to grow up and still be learning about animals from an Irwin‚” shared one fan in the comments. Both Irwin children — Bindi and Robert — have continued their father’s incredible legacy of animal protection and education — and we couldn’t be more grateful for it! The featured image for this post is from TikTok. The post Robert Irwin Is The Spitting Image Of His Father As He Rescues A Legless Lizard From The Road appeared first on InspireMore.

Anastasios Adamopoulos has been a driver for the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) for about a year now‚ but he’s never seen anything quite like this. The 63-year-old was on his 2 a.m. route when he spotted flames. With only one passenger onboard with him‚ a man named Chris Campbell‚ the bus driver didn’t hesitate to make sure the residents got out before the fire got too out of control. In fact‚ even Chris joined him. “We started banging on doors and yelling ‘fire‚ fire‚ fire!’ at the top of our lungs and just trying to wake as many people up and alert as many people as we possibly could‚” Anastasios recalls. “The only thing I was focused on was getting the people out.” YouTube Getting closer‚ it was clear that two homes were engulfed in the flames. And thanks to the quick action of these two heroes‚ everyone was able to get out safely. According to Anastasios‚ there were about 14 people‚ including several children. “Thank God everyone got out‚” the driver says. YouTube Brave Bus Driver and Passenger Spot a Fire — Then Jump Into Action Once residents of the homes made it outside‚ they were welcomed on Anastasios’ bus as firefighters arrived. Although it’s still unclear how the fire got started or where‚ one of the homes lost its roof and back porch. Thankfully‚ though‚ the American Red Cross is said to be helping those displaced by the fire. YouTube “We applaud this operator’s quick thinking and brave actions to help fellow Chicagoans‚” his employer‚ the CTA‚ says. After about 45 minutes of helping out these residents‚ Anastasios continued on with his shift. He’s being hailed a hero for his bravery and quick thinking‚ but he insists that what he did isn’t heroic. “I don’t think I did anything more than what the next guy would do‚” he says. You can find the source of this story’s featured image here and here! The post “The Flames Were Reaching For The Heavens” Bus Driver &; Passenger Rescue Residents From Burning Homes appeared first on InspireMore.

Danny Jones took the crown on The Masked Singer UK last month‚ and the audience was shocked when they learned his identity. But no one was as shocked or excited about the unmasking as his son‚ Alfie. The McFly singer and guitarist competed under the guise of Piranha. During the final round‚ he beat The Last Leg host Alex Brooker‚ who competed as Bigfoot‚ and Dust singer Lemar Obika‚ who sang as Cricket. After the finale wrapped up‚ Danny sat down and watched it with his wife‚ Georgia Horsley‚ and Alfie. He made sure to record the reveal to capture his son’s reaction‚ and we’re happy he did because Alfie was genuinely overcome with joy. The video showed the family relaxing in their living room during the final moments. They chanted “Take it off” with the crowd‚ and when Danny finally removed the mask on television‚ Alfie froze. @dannyjonesofficial ♬ original sound – Danny Jones Once reality set in‚ Alfie looked at Danny Jones for a second almost like he was reaffirming that he had the same face as the one on The Masked Singer. Then he nearly burst out of his skin yelling‚ “It’s Daddy! It’s you! It’s You!” The six-year-old leaped onto Danny’s lap and covered his in hugs as he continued to shout‚ “It’s You!” Danny Jones competed on the show for eight weeks and managed to keep his Saturday night identity a complete secret. People guessed his character was James Morrison‚ Donnie Wahlberg‚ or Elton John. “I’ve had the most amazing time‚” Danny said on stage after his big win. “I can escape behind here and just be Piranha and sing these songs‚ you know.” “I’ve learnt so much‚” he continued. “I’m able to sing higher now just from being on this show. I’ve gone up a whole tone. It’s amazing! I am so happy‚ thank you for making me the champ.” You can find the source of this story’s featured image here and here! The post Danny Jones Shares Adorable Moment His Son Found Out He Was On The Masked Singer appeared first on InspireMore.

The baby products we all wish we had when becoming a new parent.  These 25 baby products are literal lifesavers giving you convenience and time‚ recommended by new parents and found by 3 am Amazon hauls during night feeds.  Fail to prepare‚ prepare to fail. 1. A mastermind baby stroller/car seat combo to save space and just make your life a lot easier  Amazon Saves you money and time‚ this baby stroller and car seat is the ultimate storage-saving travel system. Hello‚ convenience.  “I bought this for my first born and it has held up beautifully. The car seat slots in perfectly and my baby is comfortable and safe and happy riding around in this. The seat is adjustable and easy to fold up. Cannot recommend this highly enough. – Shanelle W.“ Buy on Amazon 2. This nifty sock contains a baby monitor to track all your baby’s health readings such as pulse and oxygen  Amazon The Owlet baby monitor truly is a dream sock allowing you to have peace of mind whenever you need it and a deeper understanding of your little one’s health. Perfect for anxiety-ridden mums.  “If you are anxiety-ridden like most parents‚ just buy it. It’s pricey‚ yes. But the way this little sock puts my mind at ease has been worth every single penny. The app gives you the ability to track your little one’s sleep through the night‚ but more importantly‚ will alert you if something triggers it” – Taylor Buy on Amazon 3. You never quite know when the next blowout is with your baby‚ which is why this portable changing mat is a literal lifesaver Amazon Waterproof for liquid accidents‚ convenient for days out‚ and surprisingly stylish too. This portable mat is a must-have.  “I ordered this because we needed a larger changing pad for traveling. This is the perfect size‚ folds up nicely‚ and is easy to wipe clean! I also love the cute print!” – Sarah. Buy on Amazon 4. Supermom mode activated‚ these wearable breast pumps allow you to multitask and get things done while pumping on the go Amazon Yep‚ a smart-ass breast pump that is USB rechargeable‚ has two modes‚ and operates hands-free‚ allowing you the freedom to move around and get things done as you wish‚ no more being attached to a machine. “I hated pumping with my son. Had the classic spectra sit down pump and the hard flanges were uncomfortable and I hated being stuck there. So with my daughter I now have even more to do and the convenience of being able to be mobile with these pumps is a game changer. I love the soft flanges too.” – caitlin m. Buy on Amazon 5. Make those night-time feeds feel like a dream with this instant formula dispenser which warms the formula to the exact temperature needed  Amazon It looks like an espresso machine‚ but it’s even better‚ and will probably save you having to have an extra coffee the next day. Jokes aside‚ this Brezza instant formula dispenser saves you a lot of time compared to hand mixing. “This changed my life! No more crying while the bottle warms up. You get a perfect bottle in seconds and the thing that has to be cleaned every few feeds is really not a big deal it’s super easy and still takes less time than warming up a bottle.” – Carrie07222 Buy on Amazon 6. This white noise sound machine with 20 looping sounds and even has a memory function  Amazon With no looping sounds and over 20 types to pick from‚ this soothing white noise machine may even help you sleep‚ never mind the baby.  “I love all of the sounds it’s incredible! My baby falls asleep to rain so well! It’s compact! There’s literally a sound for anyone though! The only downside it turns off after like 2 hours.” – Akira  Buy on Amazon 7. A convertible crib that can turn into a full-sized bed because who wants to buy three different beds when you could get them all in one Amazon The Grace Benton convertible crib saves you money in the long run since it adapts to your growing baby. Its plain white design also makes it look timeless. “Beautiful 5 in 1 crib. Very sturdy and easy to assemble. The best part is that it will accommodate your baby as it grows. You can change the height of the mattress as needed. Turns into a youth. Trundle bed. Full size bed. – eric v.  Buy on Amazon 8. This wearable sleeping baby sack is safer than blankets‚ and has an easy zip fastening‚ plus‚ they look like a cute little burrito Amazon Get peace of mind with this zipper Burt’s Bees baby sack by avoiding loose blankets and allowing your baby to move freely. They are also really cute‚ which is important‚ right? “This is super sturdy‚ comfy and warm. The zipper is good quality. It fits my baby’s arms and neck snuggly but not too tight and there is plenty of room for his feet. Great to have for the winter.” – Luke  Buy on Amazon 9. An all-access gas pass‚ designed for your baby’s bottom to get rid of any trapped wind  Amazon This gas passer is a godsend and relieves your baby’s gas instantly‚ it’s very safe to use at home too despite it looking a little scary.  “It is not scary to use and is highly effective. Be careful‚ some poo may come out of the straw in the process. Ha ha. Be sure to have a diaper at the end to catch the poo. It does release a lot of air as well. Read the directions‚ massaging my babies belly helped.” – KC Buy on Amazon 10. These handy silicone bibs are made to catch any spillage and are super easy to keep clean  Amazon No more washing cloth bibs every time your baby eats with these silicone inventions. Mealtime becomes easy and so does cleaning.  “I like the simple colors. These stay on my 12-month-old well. They fold up to fit in his backpack for travels. They are easy to clean. They catch a lot of food. Would definitely by again.” – Jillian Buy on Amazon 11. This ultimate baby play gym with 5 areas catered to different stages of development for endless playtime and more me time Amazon This all-in-one play gym is perfect for engaging your baby and challenging their learning‚ there is also no overstimulation thanks to the fact you can reveal/conceal. “It’s so easy to assemble‚ wash‚ and take along with us‚ I can’t recommend this enough. Entertains my child for hours and lets me get some work done. It’s worth every penny.” – K. Cham Buy on Amazon 12. A 2 in 1 shopping cart cover and high chair cover to keep your baby comfortable on the grocery run  Amazon No more sore bottoms while shopping and no more germs from your baby touching random carts‚ plus there are snack pockets and they look super cute. “Perfect for shopping carts. Easy to put on and take off. Does not shrink in the wash.” – Moriah Buy on Amazon 13. A portable automatic rocking swing to keep your baby and your back happy  Amazon Soothing melodies‚ six different speeds‚ and a toy bar to keep your baby entertained‚ no manual rocking needed.  “Easy to set up‚ easy to put away after use. We purchased this for a monthly event that offers free daycare and we feel confident to use the product for babies. It feels sturdy‚ easy to put away‚ and comfy for baby.” – Ashley Westgate Buy on Amazon 14. This stylish diaper caddy to carry all your baby essentials and be repurposed in the future for storage space  Amazon Can be used for multiple storage purposes with a removable insert and neutral color‚ a very modern stylish caddy.  “I know it’s something simple‚ but it’s perfect!! I didn’t expect to love this diaper caddy so much! My fifth baby boy will be here in less than 8 weeks and I wanted something cute‚ simple‚ stylish‚ and aesthetically appealing.” – Momof5 Buy on Amazon 15. A portable wipe warmer for your baby because who likes cold wipes on your bottom? Amazon This portable wipe warmer keeps your baby comfortable during changes and is best of all‚ portable for wiping on the go! “We’ve been using this wipe warmer everyday for 17 months and it works great! It has never dried out our wipes or burned them. It is on 24/7 and is super convenient to just have the wipes handy in the nursery. Highly recommend!” – Tim D. Buy on Amazon 16. A dedicated baby car mirror for peace of mind when driving to keep an eye on your little one Amazon With a night vision option and adjustable position‚ this baby car mirror gives you peace of mind when driving‚ and stops you from turning around every five seconds to check your baby helping you drive safer. “This is really nice! I’ve got two kids and a third on the way. I needed something to help me see the kids fighting in the back hahahaha! No but really it is nice to see them instead of having to turn around every five seconds unsafely.” – Sarah Buy on Amazon 17. Stop the backbreaking and get more done with this ergonomic baby carrier to keep your hands free  Amazon Giving you hands-free convenience‚ a comfortable fit‚ and the ability to wear it facing in or out as well as on your back‚ this carrier is a lifesaver for any mum or dad with a newborn. “This carrier is super sturdy and it is very appropriately sized for many stages of baby. We were having issues with carriers because our daughter was born on the small size.” – Katherine Roberts Buy on Amazon 18. This 3 in 1 baby bassinet can act as a stand-alone bassinet‚ bedside sleeper‚ and a playpen as your baby gets bigger Amazon Saving you money‚ saving you space‚ and also portable‚ this 3 in 1 baby bassinet is perfect for any new parents‚ plus it also has wheels that can be locked in place‚ allowing you to move it easily from room to room. “The reasons why I chose this in the first place are: 1) true bedside bassinet: you can see baby without any mesh in between. Making it extra easy to pickup and lay down baby. 2) it has wheels!! In a small apartment it’s perfect to be able to have her next to me regardless of being in bed or in the living room. 3) solid‚ but not bulky. It feels sturdy and safe‚ but it’s not bulky or too heavy.” – Marta G. Buy on Amazon 19. Yep‚ it’s kinda gross‚ but this nose aspirator will become an essential gadget if you want to avoid finger-picking those boogers  Amazon Makes cleaning snot more enjoyable (if that’s possible) and helps your baby breathe easier too.  “Works really well to clear my baby’s nose‚ you do have to suck harder than I initially thought. It’s great seeing the look of relief on her face when her nose is clear!” – Rebecca Buy on Amazon 20. This adorable baby bullet blender is for all your baby food-making needs  Amazon Allows you to make fresher healthier food at home fast and easy‚ plus‚ comes with sweet little storage cups.  “The blender is just the right size to use when making pureed baby foods. We can use it to make smoothies for baby as well. Very versatile and we use it often with making fresh food purees/smoothies for baby.” – K. Gillian Buy on Amazon 21. Trimming your baby’s nails is a pretty terrifying job‚ but with this electric nail trimmer it makes it easy Amazon Designed to cut safely with different filing heads for different ages‚ it can be used on adults too so a great purchase for the whole family. “This product worked perfectly for trimming my baby’s fingernails. I was able to trim them without fear of cutting her and even if she squirmed I was still able to accomplish the task so she wasn’t scratching herself. The case is also convenient to keep everything together.” – D. Bebout Buy on Amazon 22. This 360-degree baby activity center to keep your little one entertained for hours on end  Amazon Lots of whole-body play options combined in one activity center such as bouncing‚ swiveling‚ and sitting‚ and can be repurposed as a coloring table when your baby gets older. “This couldn’t have made my granddaughter any happier! At almost 4 months she can push on her tippy toes at the highest level and the activities attached made her so incredibly happy and excited! You could see the interest they held. Excellent!” – Lori M. Buy on Amazon 23. These stroller hooks are a game changer for hanging diaper bags and shopping bags when you are out and about  Amazon These hooks allow you to free up your hands while pushing your stroller and even have a second life for connecting multiple dog leashes or hiking. “These make the stroller even more helpful! They’re large and sturdy so they can hold a lot. I like to keep them on our travel stroller so we can clip backpacks‚ purses‚ diaper bags to the stroller and save the basket underneath for the suitcase (because YES the stroller becomes a luggage cart in the airport duh)! Definitely worth it.” – Lisa Jenoure Buy on Amazon 24. A whisper-quiet ultrasonic humidifier to give your baby a restful night’s sleep Amazon No more stuffy noses and coughs with this super quiet humidifier‚ it also prevents your baby’s skin from getting dry. “We bought it for our baby‚ it has helped with dry skin (especially during winter months due to the heater killing any/all humidity) and it helped when she got sick too! Easy to use‚ low maintenance‚ lasts all night‚ and has a nice soft blue light.” – Mike DeFrancesco Buy on Amazon 25. This set of 4 Soothie pacifiers because trust us‚ you need them all Amazon Safe for your baby thanks to its BPA-free material and doesn’t interfere with oral development. “As a speech therapist I recommend these pacifiers to all my new babies on my caseload. The cylinder type nipple head is best for oral motor development. In addition- great quality product” – Marnie Buy on Amazon InspireMore may collect a portion of sales from purchases. The post These 25 Baby Products Will Make Your Life So Much Easier appeared first on InspireMore.

Do you believe that our loved ones can still communicate with us after death? Something incredible happened to this TikToker when he couldn’t recall one of his late mom’s recipes well enough to recreate it. He went to bed feeling miserable‚ but he had the most amazing dream that night. Mom not only made an appearance‚ but she showed him how to cook that exact recipe in detail. When he woke up‚ he knew it was more than a dream. This TikToker shared his incredible encounter with his late mother in a short video. He said that the dream had taken place in his childhood home. After teaching him the recipe‚ his mom spoke some very powerful words to her son: she told him that she “loved” and “forgave” him. @bugznest it wasnt just my subconcious; she taught me a recipe i had never learned how to make. she came to say goodbye. ♬ original sound – sophie “It wasn’t just my subconcious‚” wrote the young man. “She taught me a recipe I never learned how to make. She came to say goodbye.” Commenters were truly moved by the TikToker’s dream about his late mom and her special recipe. “People say we don’t have magic in our world‚” wrote one user. “Sure‚ we can’t lift rocks with our minds or turn chairs alive‚ but we have this. This is magic.” Screengrab from TikTok Another person shared‚ “I lost my mom the same age. Every time I’m worried I’m forgetting her‚ I have a dream about her. Either her or my brain won’t let me forget.” It’s so beautiful that this loving son got to share one last moment with his mother‚ even if it was a dream. Now‚ he has his mom’s recipe to remember her by. You can find the source of this story’s featured image here. The post “She Taught Me A Recipe I Had Never Learned How To Make” Late Mom’s Final Visit Will Give You Goosebumps appeared first on InspireMore.

'The IDF says the interrogations of the operatives provides helpful information'

'Biden's open-border policies have created a real crisis'

Only the Hollywood rags liked it‚ and I bet they are lying