We’ve been following Gonzalo since the war began. He criticized the war and the Biden administration on his blog. Many of his videos were removed from YouTube. He sounded much like Col. MacGregor. His friends told him to leave Ukraine‚ but he stayed too long‚ and he was eventually arrested only five miles from Hungary’s […] The post US Citizen Gonzalo Lira Died in a Ukrainian Prison Over His Free Speech appeared first on www.independentsentinel.com.

Work has begun on “Top Gun 3‚” per a Deadline report‚ following the massive success of “Top Gun: Maverick” in 2022. Despite a gap of 36 years between the first “Top Gun” (1986) and the sequel‚ it became an absolute box office smash and the most lucrative film of actor Tom Cruise’s long and successful career. It comes as no surprise that Paramount is gearing up for a third installment in hopes of capturing more of that money-making magic.  The outlet noted that “Maverick” co-writer Ehren Kruger is currently writing a script for the newest “Top Gun” installment. Rumor has it that actors Miles Teller and Glen Powell are involved with the project‚ and that producers Jerry Bruckheimer and David Ellison are also on board. Joe Kosinski is slated to either direct or produce‚ according to Deadline. Cruise is currently shooting “Mission: Impossible 8” for Paramount. The 61-year-old action star also just signed a huge non-exclusive deal with Warner Bros. Discovery to develop and produce theatrical films‚ as The Daily Wire previously reported. “Top Gun: Maverick” earned a whopping $1.49 billion at the global box office. It was nominated for six Academy Awards‚ including Best Picture‚ and won Best Sound.  It was also named the Best Film of 2022 by the movie review site Rotten Tomatoes. “Maverick” was rated 96% certified fresh from critics out of nearly 500 reviews and achieved a near-perfect 99% fresh audience score. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP It’s believed that one reason the “Top Gun” sequel performed so well is that it was free from radical progressive messaging and virtue signaling. The action film recalled a simpler time in Hollywood‚ when movies were made to inspire and entertain rather than to push an agenda. The Federalist called the “Top Gun” sequel “unabashedly patriotic” and “free of token left-wing social and political propaganda.” Reviewer Elle Reynolds wrote‚ “The only agenda being pushed is that America is the best country in the world and the men and women who risk their lives to defend her are heroes worthy of our respect.”  Another surprising detail about the sequel is how it appealed to a range of audiences both young and old. 

Could Generation Z — the generation currently in their teens and early 20s — be finding religion? This week‚ a TikTok from the fall resurfaced showing a young girl who looks to be in her early 20s sitting alone in a large‚ empty church with her knees up as the sound of someone playing piano echoes through the cavernous space. “2023 hit so hard I had to turn to religion‚” reads the caption of the video‚ which was originally posted back in October. is the next vibe shift a Gen Z religious revival? this tiktok has 2.1M views &; 382k likes‚ with comments like: “I started praying”“I got baptized”“I went to church last week for the first time in my life” what’s going on? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/IWbfXwFkGu — Danielle Vermeer (@DLVermeer) December 15‚ 2023 A quick look at the comments casts doubt on the idea that the post might just be a joke. The video has a whopping 385‚000 likes and more than 8‚000 comments‚ most of which are from other Zoomers saying they too have wandered into churches recently. “For real. I went to a church last week for the first time in my life. I get it now‚” someone wrote. “No bc low-key this‚” wrote another. (That means “I kind of identify with this‚” in Gen Z speak for those of you who are not chronically online.) “The way I went from basically atheist to praying every day and going to church w my family now‚” posted another. “Nah bc I randomly started praying consistently‚” another wrote. “So relatable I left the church at 15 and now I’m back as an adult because I’m so scared of life‚” one girl wrote. Two commenters said they were just recently crying and looking up nearby churches. Others expressed relief that they were not alone in their desire to become religious. “This wasn’t only me oh my gosh?? I became religious this year and go to church every week. Loving it‚” someone wrote. “Ok so it’s not just me? I literally started the process of becoming catholic‚” someone wrote. “So is this a collective thing? Cus it’s so bad that I even went to church yesterday‚ I need a reason to keep going on life‚” someone wrote. At least four people commented that they recently got baptized. Several said they recently returned to the Catholic Church‚ and one said they “literally went to confession the other day.” Other commenters wrote that they were thinking of going to church for “some sort of direction in my life‚” and one girl said a “breakup pushed me to church.” At one point‚ the girl who posted the video commented‚ “Imma keep showing up.” Comments like this‚ written in telltale Zoomer lingo‚ go on and on. Just when you think the hate comments are around the corner‚ more Zoomers are posting that they went to church. A few other TikToks show young people saying the same thing — that they started going to church last year‚ although those videos got fewer views. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILY WIRE APP On paper‚ Gen Z is the least religious generation. Nearly half‚ 49% of Zoomers say they do not have a religious affiliation‚ according to a 2022 YouGov survey. However‚ about a year ago another survey noted a surprising increase in young people saying they believe in God. About a third of people age 18 to 25 say they believe‚ more than doubt‚ the existence of a higher power‚ according to a survey from the Springtide Research Institute. That’s up from only about a quarter of young people in 2021. While belief in God does not necessarily translate to joining organized religion‚ some Zoomers commented on TikTok that they were drawn to church for the “peace and quiet.” Back in April‚ a Los Angeles rabbi told the Wall Street Journal that more young adults were showing up to Friday night services at the synagogue. In many more traditional Catholic parishes‚ the churches are filled with young people‚ including older Gen Z-ers who are already young parents with small children themselves. Another driving force in these young people’s turn to religion could be Gen Z’s rampant anxiety. More than 40% of 18 to 26-year-olds are diagnosed with a mental health condition‚ and 90% of the time it’s anxiety‚ according to a survey by Harmony Healthcare IT. The pandemic sent the most anxious generation’s mental health further into a tailspin‚ isolating them and intensifying worries about finances and their loved ones. In response to life’s stressors‚ some Zoomers say they are searching for relief in something beyond themselves and that faith provides an answer. Belief in God “gives you a reason for living and some hope‚” an Iowa college student told the Journal last year. Some of the TikTok commenters said they ended up in church for this reason as well. Whatever the reason Gen Z-ers are ending up in church‚ clearly the next generation has the same age-old longing for peace‚ meaning‚ and truth.

A South Carolina man who was filmed crying after finding his 5-year-old son’s body has been arrested for the boy’s murder. Victor Lee Turner‚ 69‚ and his wife Megan Turner‚ 63‚ have been charged with the murder of 5-year-old Justin Turner‚ whose body was found in the couple’s camper back in 1989‚ the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post. The office said that its cold case unit reopened Justin’s case in April 2021 and reviewed it to see if new or unused technology could be applied. Physical evidence collected at the scene and Justin’s autopsy was sent to forensic pathologists and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division’s lab for analysis. “We have dedicated detectives who are committed to reviewing and investigating criminal cases where factors have prevented a timely resolution of justice.” Berkeley County Sheriff Duane Lewis said in the post. “These detectives have worked hard to be sure that the life of Justin Lee Turner is remembered and that his murderers are brought to justice.” Justin was reported missing on March 3‚ 1989‚ and an extensive search was launched at the time‚ CBS News reported. On March 5‚ 1989‚ reporters with WCBD-TV filmed part of the search‚ which involved Victor entering the doors to the family’s camper‚ which was parked near the home‚ and quickly backing out of the vehicle while saying: “My son’s in there.” Victor can then be seen crying and repeating the words over and over again as the cameras continue to film. Justin’s body was found in a cabinet of the small camper and showed signs of strangulation and sexual assault. “We know for a fact that Justin was strangled to death. There were ligature marks on his neck. We recovered what we believe to be evidence of the murder. We have a lot of forensic evidence. We got here because of new technology and forensic medicine‚” Sheriff Lewis said at a press conference on Wednesday‚ according to WCBD. Lewis said detectives were able to use new technology to narrow down the time of Justin’s death. “We are able to use some forensic testing that was not previously available‚ enabling them to tie in the murder weapon believed was used to strangle Justin to clothing and fabric on Justin’s clothing at the time of death‚” Lewis said‚ according to the outlet. An affidavit reviewed by WCBD said detectives found fibers from a ligature in Justin’s home that matched the fabric of his shirt when he was found. During a 1989 broadcast following the discovery of Justin’s body‚ WCBD stated that investigators had searched the camper several times before Justin’s body was found‚ indicating he had been placed there after he was killed. Sheriff Lewis suggested that in a statement to WCBD‚ saying‚ “You have to make that determination for yourself. But that is what it appears to us.” Lewis added that the archived footage was key to determining that Justin’s father and stepmother knew more than they told police at the time of his disappearance. Lewis also said that there were inconsistencies in the Turners’ initial statements and that the crime scene appeared staged. The Turners initially told police that Justin had never returned home from school‚ but witnesses stated that he never got on the bus and was marked absent. “He never got on that bus. He never got on that bus because he was dead inside that house‚” Lewis said at the Wednesday press conference. “I can’t think of a more tragic‚ horrendous murder. A 5-year-old boy.” Megan Turner reportedly told police she didn’t see her son leave home that day because she was in the shower. “[She] provided misinformation to investigators about her specific whereabouts on the morning of Friday‚ March 3‚ 1989‚ and provided inconsistent information about her activities‚” the warrant for the Turners’ arrest said‚ according to WCSC. Victor and Megan are currently being held at the Hill-Finklea Detention Center and will face a circuit court judge for a bond hearing within the next 30 days.

A Navy helicopter carrying six crewmembers crashed into San Diego Bay on Thursday evening during a training exercise.  All six crewmembers‚ who were operating a MH-60R Seahawk helicopter‚ survived and were rescued off the coast of Coronado by a nearby Navy boat after they went down at around 6:40 p.m. local time.  “Due to the nature of the training‚ a safety boat was on location‚” a statement from Cmdr. Beth Teach of the Naval Air Force Pacific Fleet said.  The crew members went through medical evaluation but none of them appeared to suffer any life-threatening injuries‚ according to the Navy.  The Federal Fire Department San Francisco helped with the rescue‚ as did a helicopter from the U.S. Coast Guard. The MH-60R Seahawk had been stationed at Naval Air Station North Island‚ according to Navy officials.  The investigation into the cause of the crash is still ongoing.  The Navy says that the MH-60R Seahawk is its “primary anti-submarine and surface warfare helicopter specially designed for all aspects of land or maritime operations from any aviation ship or air-capable vessel. The MH-60R has demonstrated unmatched multi-mission capabilities since achieving full operational capability in 2010 and has achieved the highest mission capable rates of any maritime helicopter.” Its primary purpose is for anti-submarine warfare‚ surface warfare‚ electromagnetic warfare‚ command and control‚ and non-combat operation‚ according to the Navy.  CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP The helicopter crash comes just one week after a B-1 Lancer bomber crashed in South Dakota‚ forcing the entire crew to eject during a training mission.  The crash landing took place at Ellsworth Air Force Base during a training exercise. The 28th Bomb Wing at Ellsworth said that the accident happened while the plane was “attempting to land on the installation. At the time of the accident‚ it was on a training mission. There were four aircrew on board. All four ejected safely.” There were reportedly poor winter weather conditions at the time of the crash‚ which is still being investigated by an officer board.

The National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) was hit with a lawsuit from Do No Harm‚ an organization that opposes the politicization of medicine‚ over a scholarship program that discriminates against white people. The suit from Do No Harm‚ filed this week‚ alleges that the association violated federal law by barring white applicants from a “diversity scholarship” set up to award $1‚250 to four students studying to become emergency medical technicians. The scholarship has been removed from the organization’s website following the lawsuit’s filing. “The National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians is given the important responsibility of training America’s first responders‚” said Dr. Stanley Goldfarb‚ Chairman of Do No Harm.”Like all aspects of healthcare‚ training the best and brightest to provide the best care for patients should be the primary concern of all medical organizations‚ not the skin color of an EMT.” The suit specifically contends that since the scholarship is legally designated as a contract‚ barring white students on the basis of their race violates the Civil Rights Act of 1866‚ with Do No Harm representing an anonymous white student who is about to start classes to become an EMT. The suit from Do No Harm‚ which has grown to over 6‚000 members since launching in April 2022‚ seeks a “permanent injunction barring NAEMT from continuing the program‚” as well as a “a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction barring NAEMT from closing the application period‚ selecting scholarship recipients‚ or enforcing the racially discriminatory eligibility criteria.” The association declined to comment on the lawsuit‚ telling The Daily Wire it can “not comment on legal matters.” The lawsuit comes as institutions across America‚ ranging from multi-billion dollar corporations to Ivy League universities‚ embrace the diversity‚ equity‚ and inclusion (DEI) agenda‚ often attempting to justify acts of racial discrimination. The DEI agenda has gained currency in the health field under the banner of “health equity‚” which applies the doctrines of Critical Race Theory to the medical field. The Daily Wire revealed that the National Institutes of Health even allocated more than a million taxpayer dollars to a study on “anti-racist healing in nature‚” which offered free trips to the California redwoods as part of a “health equity” initiative. The study alleged that nature can be “unwelcoming‚ unsafe‚ or triggering for people of color‚” and only allowed those who identify as “a person from the latine/x/o‚ Black‚ Pacific Islander‚ and/or Filipinx community” to participate in the government-funded study. Meanwhile‚ a major journal on health policy and research held a “health equity” fellowship that barred white applicants on the basis of their race‚ and major universities hold “anti-racism” trainings that embrace the doctrines of Critical Race Theorists like Robin DiAngelo. Dr. Stanley Goldfarb @one1iron of @donoharm warned against the approach: “Health equity means the way to overcome the oppression in the health arena is to guarantee equal outcomes between the oppressor class‚ primarily white males‚ and the oppressed class‚ primarily blacks.” — Spencer Lindquist 🇺🇸 (@SpencerLndqst) December 5‚ 2023 Do No Harm has taken a stand against efforts to embed Critical Race Theory into the health field‚ seeking to “protect healthcare from the disastrous consequences of identity politics.” Goldfarb reaffirmed the importance of the organization’s suit against NAEMT‚ contending that “First responders and all medical professionals should be given opportunities‚ training‚ and scholarships on the basis of merit.”

In a display of military precision and resolve‚ the United States and its ally‚ the United Kingdom‚ have launched a series of targeted strikes against Houthi military installations in Yemen. This decisive action comes as a response to the escalating threat posed by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels‚ who have been conducting a series of dangerous and destabilizing attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea. The strategic importance of the Red Sea as a global trade route cannot be overstated‚ with a significant percentage of the world’s shipping passing through its waters. The Houthi assaults on commercial vessels not only threaten the safety of maritime crews but also risk severe disruptions to the flow of goods and commodities worldwide. Such reckless actions exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in Yemen and undermine international efforts to maintain peace and stability in the region. A massive protest in Sa'da Yemen against the US-UK attacks on locations across the country. pic.twitter.com/ZTiYcM2NEv — Quds News Network (@QudsNen) January 12‚ 2024 The coalition’s response was meticulously planned‚ involving over 100 missiles targeting more than 60 Houthi sites. The operation included the use of fighter jets‚ warships‚ and submarine-launched Tomahawk missiles. Among the assets deployed was HMS Diamond‚ a Type 45 destroyer of the Royal Navy‚ which successfully shot down a barrage of drones and missiles aimed at causing havoc. This show of force serves as a testament to the West’s commitment to upholding freedom of navigation and protecting the vital interests of the international community. The UK’s Defence Secretary has emphasized that the action taken was necessary to protect innocent lives and the global economy‚ highlighting the UK’s role in maintaining security in key maritime corridors. Absolutely massive protest in Yemen’s capital city of Sanaa today‚ in support of Palestine and in condemnation of the US-UK aggression against the country. pic.twitter.com/UkTZelXhqm — sarah (@sahouraxo) January 12‚ 2024 Critics of the operation have called for parliamentary oversight‚ with some demanding a retrospective vote on the strikes. However‚ the urgency of the situation and the need to act swiftly in defense of national and international interests justified the government’s decision to proceed without delay. The Houthi rebels’ narrative‚ framing their attacks as a form of resistance against Israel’s actions in Gaza‚ fails to justify their indiscriminate aggression towards civilian shipping and infrastructure. Their threats of retaliation and vows to continue targeting what they perceive as Israeli-linked vessels only serve to escalate tensions further. NATO has expressed its support for the coalition’s actions‚ underscoring the defensive nature of the strikes. The alliance has called on Iran to rein in its proxies and cease activities that threaten regional security. The message is clear: the international community will not stand idly by while rogue actors seek to disrupt peace and commerce. As the situation continues to unfold‚ the West remains vigilant‚ prepared to defend its principles and interests against any threats. The successful strikes against the Houthi rebels send a strong message that acts of aggression will be met with unwavering resistance and that the rule of law will be upheld on the high seas. The post Western Resolve in the Face of Aggression: US-UK Coalition Strikes Back at Houthi Threats appeared first on The Conservative Brief.

When you deliver packages for a living‚ there is always the possibility of running into an unleashed dog. Many delivery drivers are in the habit of carrying dog treats for these encounters. Drivers on regular routes get to know their canine “customers” and can return them to their homes when they escape. In addition to the dogs‚ some drivers even get kitty greetings. Our video today is about a golden retriever who cons the delivery driver into a game of fetch. After putting the Amazon packages on the porch‚ this driver returned to his truck. He noticed a golden retriever following him‚ so he stopped to pet the dog. Like many goldens‚ this one wants all the pets and sweet words. Image from TikTok. There were pets. The doggie was pleasant and rolled on its side for some much-needed belly rubs. Then the driver noticed that the pup had something in its mouth: a very slobbery‚ wet tennis ball. Image from TikTok. Talking sweetly‚ the driver got the dog to release the ball. The happy golden started running in anticipation of the throw. The delivery driver prepares for the throw. He takes a few tentative steps as the golden retriever runs to make the catch. There’s the wind-up. Image from TikTok. And the pitch! It’s a long ball! That is OUT OF THE PARK! The driver put his whole body and all his strength into that throw. Image from TikTok. Time For The Delivery Driver To Escape As the dog scampered off in pursuit of the holy‚ slobbery tennis ball‚ the delivery driver looked at his wet hands in disgust. He wiped them on his trousers before hopping back into his trusty vehicle to drive off into the sunset. And this concludes another episode of golden retriever delivery driver fetch. @pawsomepets He just wants to play #goldenretriever #deliverydriver #play #dog #fyp ♬ original sound – Pawsome Pets You can find the source of this story’s featured image here. The post Golden Retriever Bounds Up To Delivery Driver‚ Slobbery Tennis Ball &; All‚ For The Cutest Game Of Fetch! appeared first on InspireMore.

Strokes affect people differently. One person may suffer a minor loss of physical movement‚ while another might have almost complete paralyzation on one or both sides of the body. The grandpa we meet today hasn’t been able to hug his grandkids with both arms for ten years. He suffered paralyzation and lost motor control of his left arm. While he maintained the use of his right arm‚ one-armed after-stroke hugs just aren’t the same as a fully encircled grandpa bear hug. Image from YouTube. The simple device was called (appropriately) the Hugger‚ but it has been renamed the HugAgain. Stroke victims can use their good arm to assist a paralyzed limb‚ allowing them to perform two-armed hugs. The product was the result of the teamwork of students Larissa Garcia‚ Lisa James‚ Casey Parsons‚ and Erica Dexter. The group was enrolled at Arkansas State University as occupational therapy students. The project began as a challenge from Professor Emily Sisco. The task was to develop adaptive equipment for stroke victims‚ specifically Emily’s father‚ Kevin Eubanks. Image from YouTube. Students interviewed Kevin‚ asking questions about what he needed help with due to his physical limitations. The most profound answer he gave was that he missed being able to fully hug. What they came up with is a simple strap with a velcro closure on one end. The strap wraps around the paralyzed limb and fastens securely with velcro. The person then uses their good arm to grasp the other end of the device. By pulling snugly‚ the device allows them to manipulate the non-functioning limb. @themothergothel Never taking hugs for granted again how beautiful #humanitycontent #huggy ♬ Sun Is Rising – ZydSounds Hugs Can Be Therapeutic For Stroke Victims Hugs are an important part of human interaction. There are studies that prove hugging is healthy. Some of the benefits include reducing anxiety. lowering blood pressure‚ and balancing out stress hormones. Hugs make us live longer and increase health and performance. If you want to order a HugAgain adaptive device for someone in your family‚ you can check it out here. As always‚ if you enjoyed this story‚ please share it. You can find the source of this story’s featured image here. The post Grandpa Finally Gets To Hug His Grandkids After Ten Years Thanks To Nifty Gadget For Stroke Survivors. appeared first on InspireMore.

Shopping can be a mundane task‚ but it often turns into an unexpected adventure filled with bizarre encounters and hilarious moments. From customers confusing simple product names to odd requests at the meat counter‚ these 10 silly interactions highlight the lighter side of retail experiences. Each story serves as a reminder that a day at the store can turn into an amusing anecdote. 1. Collision Course in the Craft Aisle Quora When autopilot mode goes wrong: A phone-focused shopper meets their match in a determined aisle stander. Collision imminent! 2. Oatly or Not Oatly? Reddit The great milk debate: Is it Oatly‚ OATly‚ or just a hilarious linguistic mix-up? Spoiler: It’s all of the above‚ with a side of laughter. The post 10 Silly Interactions People Have Had While Shopping appeared first on InspireMore.