Oh goodness… Parker McCollum has had no filter during recent interviews, and I’m here for it. It does make me chuckle that this is happening after he has welcomed his first child into the world, which is when folks usually put more of a filter on their word choice and stories, but it’s had the opposite effect on McCollum. The “Solid Country Gold” singer has detailed quite a few wild events in his life, like the most country thing he’s ever done. “Um, I rode a horse bareback, naked, one time.” Yes, and the ladies reading this and fantasizing about that- there was one part of his body that was covered. His feet… No free foot content in this daydream. “And you do it one time, and that’s all you need to do. Cause it ain’t that good. One time, it’s… the experience will come shortly after you need it. I was wearing Crocs, too… Just the Crocs. True story. I’m being dead serious.” @tennessean_ We don’t think you can top this! Parker McCollum shares the most country thing he’s ever done. #CMAFest #ParkerMcCollum #Music ♬ original sound – Tennessean But if you think that’s wild, it sounds like that’s child’s play when compared to the strangest thing that McCollum has been asked to autograph. During a recent episode of the Country Heat Weekly podcast, hosts Kelly Sutton and Amber Anderson asked McCollum what the strangest thing is that he’s never been asked to sign. “Can’t say that. It’s a body part.” Given that the podcast was recorded as a live session, the audience is taken aback, and you can hear a few gasps from the crowd. When asked to dig a little deeper by Kelly Sutton and Amber Anderson, he reveals that the body party was not exposed to him in private, and was already exposed when he saw it. “It was exposed when I saw it.” So yeah..I’m sure we are all in the same boat when it comes to where our minds are wandering. And I fear this is the one exception that you can let your mind go into the gutter. McCollum even jokes that he knows what fans are thinking about as he continues: “People ask some weird stuff. I’ve signed a baby. I’ve signed exactly what you’re thinking about right now.” While McCollum isn’t opposed to signing items for his fans, he does share that he never understands why fans get his signature tattooed on them, especially if it is not legible. “Like people all the time are like, will you sign my arm, and then like they’ll come to another show and they’ll be like, I got it tattooed. And I’m like, why didn’t you tell me you were going to do that?” That’s fair. He would probably have laid down a pretty signature and not signed the body party with a chicken-scratch autograph had he known it wasn’t going to be washed off. @outlawcountrysongs #ParkerMcCollum shared the strangest things he’s had to autograph on the #CountryHeatWeekly podcast featured on @AmazonMusic #country #countrymusic #podcastclips #podcast ♬ original sound – Outlawcountrysongs This video makes your mind wonder what setting this strange body part was signed in. Now, if a Wheeler Walker Jr. fan asked him to sign the body part that I’m imagining, that would be less of a surprise… Wheeler Walker Jr. Superfan Shows Off Tattoo Of His Portrait Question for all of the girls out there. You’re on a first date with a man who tells you he has a portrait of Wheeler Walker Jr. on his leg… how are you reacting? Even better, as a follow-up, you start dating a man, and 3 months in, you see this for the first time. While many fans often draw inspiration for tattoos from their favorite artists, whether it’s song lyrics, a mantra, or even a symbol that reminds them of their favorite musical talent, a full-on portrait of an artist is a commitment. And I think it is even more commitment when the artist you are getting tattooed on you has songs like “F**k You B*tch” or “Sluts in Heaven.” Fans attending Walker Jr.’s VIP acoustic set during the  Spread Eagle Tour are bringing all of the superfan goodies. From a couple revealing their first dance song was “God Told Me To F**k You,” to this fan, Gabe, who has a full-fledged portrait of Walker Jr. tattooed on his shin. “I do have a tattoo of you on my leg.” Gabe revealed during a pre-show acoustic set. Wheeler, of course, was dying to see this tattoo after hearing that tidbit of information. After some fans yelled for the man to take his pants off so they could see (don’t worry, folks, he did not drop trou), Gabe rolled up his jeans to reveal a… beautiful (?) tattoo. “Holy sh*t. Whoa. That’s one of the best ones I’ve ever seen. Gabe, that is f**kin’ awesome.”  Wheeler says when he lays eyes on the portrait with the track “Summers In Kentucky” written in script under it. Unlike most Walker Jr. songs, “Summers In Kentucky” starts out relatively wholesome with lyrics of: “Sneakin’ out of my house, I was just sixteenMet you in the dark down by the creekWe’d mess around until we got cold feetSummers in Kentucky they were hard to beat…” However, once you get to the chorus, you get that signature Wheeler Walker Jr. flair that fans know and love. Walker Jr. then asks a pressing question of if the tattoo helps him out with the ladies, to which Gabe replies: “Um, no.”  Walker Jr. then comes back with one of the most incredible responses I have ever heard. “Yeah, trust me. I’ve got it on my face. I can’t imagine doing that voluntarily.”  Wheeler Walker Jr. fans… man, they need a protective act on them. Truly one of a kind. @wheelerwalkerjr my fans ♬ Born To Fuck – Wheeler Walker Jr. The post Parker McCollum Won’t Reveal The Strangest Thing He’s Autographed, But It’s A Body Part: “It Was Exposed When I Saw It” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

A household item that retails for less than $5 can provide a good first-line preventive measure against tick-borne illnesses.

The podcast discusses RFK Jr.'s pivotal Senate confirmation hearing for HHS head, featuring Jonathan Emord and Dr. Robert Verkerk advocating for health freedom, FDA reform and an end to corporate-driven censorship, while promoting their book “The MAHA Mandate” as a roadmap for policy change. For more videos, visit BrightLearn.ai Full length interview on Brighteon.com: https://brighteon.com/c457a593-b95b-41b1-aa08-33f24bdc3d66

More than 100 people are reported dead and over 160 remain missing after catastrophic floods devastated Kerr County, Texas this week, including 27 children at Camp Mystic, an all-girls summer camp. Questions remain about how prepared the region was for the floods and whether the losses could have been prevented. The Trump administration enacted cuts to both the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Weather Service (NWS) through the Department of Government...

The impulse and ability to create art is one of the highlights of being human. It's a key quality that sets us apart from the animal world, one that makes life more meaningful and enjoyable. While there are artistic skills that make it easier for people to bring their imaginations into the visible, tangible world, art doesn't abide by any hard and fast rules. Especially kids' art. Especially young kids' art.There is no right or wrong in art, only expression and interpretation. That's the beauty of it. Unlike working with numbers and spreadsheets and data, there is no correct answer and no one way to arrive at the proper destination. As the famous quote from Dead Poet's Society goes, "Medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for."That's why one mom was furious when her 6-year-old's art teacher told the girl her painting was "wrong."Gemma Leighton, mother of 6-year-old Edie, shared her daughter's painting on Twitter with a request for support. Edie created the painting in an after school art club, and her art teacher told her she did it wrong. "You can't do art wrong!" wrote Leighton. "She was so upset as art is her favourite thing to do." — (@) Now, we don't know exactly what the teacher said to Edie, or why, but if a 6-year-old comes home upset and feeling like there's something wrong with their art, the teacher did something wrong. Full stop. Six-year-olds are just beginning to learn about technique, and encouragement is the most vital thing a teacher can offer a budding artist.The internet rightfully pounced to Edie's defense, and the responses are incredibly heartwarming.Many people shared how hurt they were as children when a teacher told them something was wrong with their art—and that they were wrong. Knowing that grown-ups had experienced the same kinds of unnecessary criticism as kids and realized that it was wrong can help Edie feel confident that her painting is not "wrong."Others pointed out the famous artists that her painting reminded them of. Seeing how her own painting reflects some of the style and color choices of professional artists can help Edie see the spark of genius in her own artwork. — (@) Songwriter Kimya Dawson, most famous for her songs in the movie Juno, shared that a middle school English teacher had told her to stop writing poems because they were "too juvenile.""I never stopped though and making rhyming poems has been my career for over 20 years!" Dawson wrote in a Reply. "Your painting is perfect! Keep it up! Don't worry what anyone else thinks."Professional artists chimed in with words of encouragement, pointing out that Edie's use of perspective and expressionism were quite impressive for her age."The only 'wrong' is not making art that speaks from your heart," wrote an artist who goes by @Artsy on Twitter. "When she expresses her passion, her vision of her world, her personal reactions to what she sees and feels, she'll never be 'wrong.'"Now that's how it's done! Experts say that not just general encouragement, but pointing out specific things in a child's work that are the building blocks of art and literacy are key to building their self-esteem. In fact, the creative process in and of itself is great at building a child's self-esteem! It allows them to practice independence and feel immense pride at their finished product, no matter what anyone thinks it looks like. Really the only way to turn art into a negative thing for a child is to criticize it.Even KISS guitarist Paul Stanley offered Edie words of encouragement. Judging technique can come later. Way later. For now, just let kids create. Photo by Bahar Ghiasi on Unsplash "Your art is AWESOME!!!" he wrote. "There is no such thing as doing art 'wrong.' There are only teachers who are wrong!!! Your art shows amazing freedom and spirit. How can that be 'wrong'?!?! Keep doing EXACTLY what you are doing. I LOVE it!!!" — (@) Imagine being a heartbroken 6-year-old who has been told by a teacher that her art was wrong, and then seeing a flood of thousands of supportive comments from people who looked at the same piece of art and told you what they loved about it. This is how social media should be used. To lift people up, to encourage and inspire, to share beauty and creativity.After the outpouring, Leighton created a new Twitter account called Edie's Art for people to share kids' artwork, and gracious, it's a delight to peruse. There's nothing more pure, more colorful, more full of life than art that came from a child's imagination. They may not have the technical skills to perfectly create what they envision in their minds or what they're looking at for inspiration, but that's part of what makes it so beautiful. They aren't self-conscious enough yet to hold back, and their art comes from a place of confidence and acceptance of their own abilities—that is, until some adult comes along and squashes their artistic spirit. — (@) One of my favorite things as a parent has been watching my kids' artistic expressions evolve as they've grown, and I've loved their artwork at every stage. And not just because I'm their mom, but because kid creations are the best reminder of how natural the human impulse to create really is, and how beautiful it is when we share that impulse without fear or doubt.As for Edie, she didn't let that early criticism keep her down. The original story happened about four years ago, and today Evie continues to pursue art. Her mom still occasionally shares the odd piece or two on Twitter/X, and even posted a fun stop-motion video Evie created using one of her stuffed animals. Clearly, her creative spirit could not be suppressed so easily."Edie is now immersed in the digital art world and still creates wonderful things every day Keep creating little artists," her mom shared in a recent update on X. Keep painting, Edie, and all you kiddos out there. Don't let one person's opinion—even a teacher's—hold you back.This article originally appeared four years ago. It has been updated.

I grew up in "the house." In high school, my home was the designated place where my friends gathered, sometimes in big groups, sometimes just my small core squad. My three best friends spent the night there almost every Friday and/or Saturday night for four years straight. We devoured Totino's frozen pizzas by the dozens, inhaled soda, and laid waste to any snacks or leftovers that were brave enough to exist somewhere in the kitchen. Not only that, but my house was pretty small — four teenage boys took up a lot of space in the living room (the whole thing) and made a lot of noise playing video games deep into the night. It must have driven my parents and older brothers crazy. It's a wonder anyone put up with it.Or so I thought when I was younger. When I became a parent myself, I started to understand a little more why my mom and dad were so willing to host and feed me and all my friends every single weekend. Why the outrageous grocery bill and constant chaos in the house was probably a small price to pay.One mom has perfectly encapsulated the value of turning your home into "the house" for your kids and their friends, and exactly how she did it for her family. Want your house to be THE house for teens? These suggestions could help. Photo credit: CanvaAmy White shared a reel on Instagram showing her college-aged son hanging in her dining room with a group of friends playing cards. The text overlay reads "What makes your kids high school friends want to come over, play cards & spend the night on their College Christmas Break". I think most parents can agree that we want our kids to keep coming home as long as possible! So how exactly did White pull this off?Her explanation in the caption was spot-on.First, White says that you have to start early. Become "the hang out house" in high school or even earlier. Then you have a better chance of holding onto the mantle into your kid's college years.Glee Finn Hudson GIFfrom Glee GIFs Next, be ready to stock the house with snacks and drinks, and don't make a fuss when your kid's friends have at it. "The kids knew we had food," she writes, "BUT they also knew I didn't care what they had. They knew they could eat anything in my pantry and fridge."Third, and this is a big one, don't mistake being the "cool house" for being "the house." Some parents choose to allow their underage kids and friends to drink alcohol under their supervision, but you don't have to bend your morals and the law to lure the squad over to your place. Pizza and Coke is plenty to keep most teens happy. "We were not the house that served alcohol or even allowed the kids to bring alcohol to our house. And Guess What?? The kids still came and wanted to hang at our house!" There's a difference between being "the cool house" and being "the house." media0.giphy.com Fourth, always say Yes (as often as possible, anyway) when your kids want to have friends over. "They know my answer is 99% of the time YES," White writes. "You have to have your kids take the leadership of offering your home and if your home was 'open' to their friends in high school, they know it will be 'open' to their friends in college."As a bonus tip, White pleas with parents not to worry about the mess having friends over makes. "I love a clean house and organization, BUT I would much rather have a crazy messy house for the kids where memories are made than a quiet house with nothing going on just to keep my house 'clean.'" See on Instagram White writes, "It's worth being 'the house', so let go of control & get to know your kids friends." Commenters agreed.White's video went viral to the tune of 8.5 million views and hundreds of comments. Parents shared their own experiences of what it's like being the default hang out house."Our house was the high school hangout for my son and friends... every weekend... I loved it!! Miss it now that they are all college graduates and have moved away. I love seeing them when they do come home for the holidays""A wise man once said don't be the house with the alcohol. Be the house with the food.""Amy 1000% agree!!! My house is full of teenagers on the weekends and I love every bit of it. Even though I wake up to a kitchen that looked much different from when I left it" We all miss our teenage metabolism, don't we? Photo credit: Canva"We never allowed alcohol, drugs, bad language, always respectful, and guess what, our house was always the house where the kids hung out. First my daughter, then my son. Through grade school, high school, then when my kids went out of state for college their college friends would come spend a couple weeks during the summer. I always thought of it this way, I loved knowing my kids friends and, who knows, maybe some of those kids, especially during the younger years, just maybe those kids just needed an adult to care. Anyway, it was always fun to have them here!""It used to crack me up when my daughter would bring over a bunch of her friends (girls and boys) in high school and instead of hanging out in the family room they all wanted to crowd into either the kitchen with me or our tiny office and happily share all the gossip with me."Experts say that knowing your kids' friends, and their parents, can have huge benefits. Not only will it bring you the peace of mind of knowing where your kid is and who they're with when they get to those crucial high school years, it has been shown to tangibly improve kids ability to create positive relationships and problem-solve collaboratively. Plus, it can actually be really fun! Kids and teens are the funniest, silliest, most interesting people on the planet. Having a house full of them is messy and loud, but it's always a good time.One caveat: "don’t feel bad if your house isn’t the chosen house," one commenter reminds us. "Just be happy your kid has a good group of friends and be thankful they have somewhere safe to hang out."This article originally appeared in February

At Upworthy, we've covered a lot of stories centered around the traditional Māori war dance known as the haka. In recent years, people around the world have come to know and be enchanted by the passion, rhythm, and raw emotion that comes from these powerful performances. Many viewers are even brought to tears simply by watching. Having a window into such a rich culture can make people curious on how cultural traditions like the haka are passed down. Surely Māori babies aren't born knowing this dance instinctively, nor is there a magic switch that flips when they reach a certain age. One family gave a little glimpse into how the culture is passed down from one generation to the next and it's beyond adorable.In late 2024, New Zealand wife and mum Hope Lawrence uploaded a video of her 18-month-old practicing the haka with his dad in the dining room, and the little guy is surprisingly good. In the video, the baby starts off with a stomp and grunt as his dad shows him the wero, which is the trembling hand often seen in the dance. As the dad walks back and forth starting the chant along with wero, the little one tries his best to mimic his dad.Before too long the toddler is chanting along and copying the dad's moves almost exactly, even if you can't quite make out what the little guy is saying, his haka is still powerful. This isn't the first time the baby has been caught doing the haka. Just a month before the adorable video, he was caught practicing his haka along with the New Zealand rugby team All Blacks on the family television. His tiny haka moves have taken social media by storm with over 53 million views, 7.1 million likes, and more than 53K comments. @hopeylawrence Teach them the way young ? Keep our culture going #haka #maoritok #fyp #hakawithdad #maori #aotearoa #newzealand #maoritiktok #culture #pukana #kamate #parliament #toitutetiriti #dad #standtall #tamariki ♬ original sound - Hope Lawrence People cannot get enough of his powerful little dance, with one person writing, "The Haka is so powerful but seeing this father teaching his baby is so much powerful. I am deeply moved."Another person thinks the dance is just the light people need to see right now, saying, "The world has never needed the haka more than it does now."Someone else noticed the confidence exuding from the toddler, noting, "The way y'all were in complete cadence together with the leg slap... he came in with confidence because of you, and y'all nailed it perfectly together." @hopeylawrence Our little haka obsessed boy practicing his Kia Rite ? ? #pov #hakapractice #haka #nzhaka #fyp #pukana #viral #kiarite #maori #NZ #nztiktok #aus #nzmaori #allblacks #newzealandallblacks #haka #hakaleader ♬ original sound - Hope Lawrence One viewer appreciates the peek into another culture, saying, "I LOVE THIS!!! if it wasn't for tik tok I would've never been exposed to Māori culture. can't tell you how many Haka performances I've watched. they make me feel so empowered."Appreciation of culture being passed down is a common theme among commenters with one saying, "This is truly beautiful to watch, not just because the father is keeping interaction and culture with child, but it's keeping a beautiful culture present... some other cultures didn't have this." @hopeylawrence The haka is on repeatt? #haka #babyhaka #maoritok #maori #culture #hakatime #fyp #toitutetiriti #aotearoa #pukana #viral ? credit:@Zealan_lawrence ♬ Ngā iwi E - Live - Creative Nātives Many people who watch the haka have a deeply emotional reaction they can't explain even though they have no personal connection to the culture. The dance seems to speak to a part of humans that may be missing their ancestral connections, possibly awakening some dormant longing. There's no real way to know for sure, but the amount of people who report being brought to tears every time the dance is performed is significant. This baby will surely keep his culture alive as he grows into adulthood, likely teaching his own child as his father taught him.And by the looks of it, the haka isn't the only piece of his heritage that this little guy is learning. Below, we see dad teaching him Mau rākau, an ancient Māori marital art that incorporates staffs. @hopeylawrence Learning Mau Rākau with dad ? Another awesome way to learn our culture and bond with our tamariki We were gifted these beautiful Rākau from @tekotiri who make these Rākau and have heaps of educational resources available on their youtube channel, instagram and Tik tok for those wanting to learn and dive more into their Te Reo Māori. Please go check them out and give them a follow- IG Tekotiri Follow our journey as we learn more #dadsoftiktok #hakababy #tereomaōri #viral #haka #hakadad #dadandson #maoritiktok #maurakau #maori #fyp #foryoupage #pov #dads #newzealand #trending #dads ♬ original sound - Hope Lawrence Learning about ourselves, where we come from, and the world around us is indeed a never-ending adventure. This article originally appeared last year.