A popular beauty influencer, who promoted the COVID jabs to millions of her followers, died suddenly at the age of 36 after suffering a massive heart attack while on vacation in Malta. Farah El Kadhi [...] The post Popular Beauty Influencer Who Promoted COVID Jabs Dies Suddenly at 36 appeared first on The People's Voice.

Also in this issue: Heart, Black Country Communion, Allman Brothers, Ian Hunter, Manic Street Preachers, ELP, Black Crowes, Anvil, Marcus King, Lindisfarne, Lemon Twigs, Mitch Ryder and more

New-look UK prog quartet will be playing live throughout Europe in Spetember and October

6 Essential Characteristics of a Godly Woman

5 Addictive Behaviors That Are Not Substance Abuse

Ellie Holcomb Says Motherhood Deepened Her Understanding of God’s Love

Prepare for a burst of cuteness!!! When this little boy was offered a choice between 1000 pounds and a mystery baseball, he made a decision you wouldn’t expect. Instead of taking the cash, he opted for the ball — and with it came an incredible surprise! @mdmotivator “My dream is to play in MLB ” @MLB @MLBeurope #londonseries #mlb #money #kindness #baseball #london #surprise #diabetes #happy ♬ original sound – Zachery Dereniowski While I’m pretty sure this child would have been thrilled to just have the ball, it came with a letter. The letter read: “Congratulation! On behalf of Major League Baseball, I want to invite you and your family to the London Series to watch the Phillies vs. The Mets play and to meet all the players.” Wow wow wow! This mystery baseball just made this boy’s whole life! His dreams are about to come true. This image is from TikTok. After he picked the mystery baseball, this little boy shared that his favorite baseball team was the Phillies. Now he’s going to see them in action! The interviewer asked him about where his love for baseball came from, and he shared that when he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, he fell in love with the sport. Now he’s got a dream to play professionally and a ticket to see his favorite team, live and in person! What a special gift. This absolutely adorable image is from TikTok. His mom could not have been more happy for him. At the end of the clip, you can see him wearing his journey at the game. The smile didn’t come off his face the whole time! Then, lovers of this clip took to the comments to share their joy. “He’s very passionate about baseball, you can tell!” said one viewer about this kiddo. Indeed, it seems like this little boy was the perfect kid to ask the mystery baseball question. The featured image for this post is from TikTok. The post Little Boy Selects Between Money Or A “Mystery Baseball” & His Reason Will Warm Your Heart appeared first on InspireMore.

Cristobal De La Cruz enters a classroom at the Orange County Juvenile Hall in Southern California, carrying a condom in his back pocket. A group of young guys, ranging in age from 12 to 18, are waiting. De La Cruz, who is only 28, is young enough to connect with the youth over video games and Spanish slang, yet is mature enough to lead an important session on sexual health and consent. De La Cruz, a health educator with Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties, has a goal: to teach these young men about anatomy, pregnancy, birth control, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and the value of healthy relationships. He also addresses toxic masculinity, attempting to dispel damaging gender stereotypes. The condom demonstration is the highlight of his workshop. ‘Wow, are you going to open it?’ the boys ask De la Cruz. Ultimately, that is the plan, but only after some critical groundwork is laid. The fundamentals: consent and communication De La Cruz begins by asking, “What is the first step in using a condom?” The boys usually cry out answers like “get the girl” or “buy the condom”, yet these are not what De Le Cruz is looking for. “The first step,” he says, “is consent. Consent is ongoing. If at any point a person doesn’t want to have sex, consent is not given and they will stop. That’s step number one.” He also tackles common misunderstandings head-on. If a young participant claims he is too well-endowed for a condom, which apparently happens quite often during these sessions, De La Cruz demonstrates its flexibility by stretching it a couple of feet lengthwise or inserting his hand up to his wrist. “This isn’t just an old man trying to teach me about math or life choices and how to be responsible,” he says. “But I am teaching them about life and how to be responsible—in their sexual and reproductive health—and in a fun way.” Comprehensive education Beginning in 2013, Planned Parenthood has held seminars at both Juvenile Hall and the Theo Lacey Facility, a neighboring maximum-security correctional complex. These sessions address a variety of issues, including healthy relationships, gender and sexuality, and sex trafficking. One session, the Male Involvement Program, delves into “the man box,” a notion that addresses the constraints imposed on men’s behaviors by traditional masculinity. The curriculum is consistent with the sex education curricula offered in California’s middle and high schools. Many detained young males miss these lessons due to truancy or early incarceration, putting them at a lifelong disadvantage in sexual health knowledge, which contributes to the poorer health outcomes observed in disadvantaged communities. The Orange and San Bernardino chapters hope to reach approximately 300 jailed male youths and young men by the end of June, with plans to extend to institutions in San Bernardino County.  Bridging the gap Planned Parenthood is frequently associated with women’s health, so how did the organization come to serve incarcerated young men? Faviola Mercado, community education manager at Planned Parenthood’s Orange and San Bernardino chapters, explains that improving young men’s sexual and reproductive health benefits their female partners as well. “We’re increasing the likelihood of men being more open to seeking resources and testing for STIs,” she claims. “It helps their own sexual reproductive health, and we also know that toxic masculinity traits can be harmful to themselves and to women and children.” Changing perceptions The workshops have shown encouraging indicators that mindsets are shifting. Participants are now reconsidering traditionally feminine tasks, such as cooking, as acceptable for guys to do. This transition is promoted by interactive workshops that promote open communication and mutual respect. “Our presentation is less of a teacher telling students what to do and more of a conversation, with respect between each other,” explains health educator Neil Reyes. “We’re breaking down ideas of masculinity, learning about reproductive health, and helping partners.” Overcoming challenges However, developing emotional expression and empathy in a correctional atmosphere, where traditional ideals of masculine power predominate, is difficult. “The participants are not in a place where empathy is rewarded,” Reyes says. “So it’s not clear how much the message of men being OK to cry or to show emotions is being put to use where they are.” Less restricted notions of gender and sexuality also spark resistance. De La Cruz and Reyes address this by providing explanations, listening to opposing opinions, and encouraging respect for all individuals. “I say, at the end of the day, ‘I’m not trying to say what is right or wrong,'” adds De La Cruz. “But let’s talk about it. Let’s be respectful and have this conversation.” Assessing success Evaluating the long-term success of prison programs can be difficult, as it frequently relies on the basic indicator of recidivism rates. Lois Davis, a senior policy researcher at the RAND Corporation who specializes in penitentiary education, emphasizes the difficulties. However, the Planned Parenthood programs at the Theo Lacey Facility are part of a larger project known as the Transitional-Age Youth (TAY) sector, which accommodates males aged 18 to 25 and offers extensive classes in employment, addiction, mental health, and re-entry preparedness. TAY administrators will conduct interviews with participants up to three years after their release to measure their adherence to sexual health practices, with results compared to a control group. Although the findings are still pending, Marie Gillespie, the program’s co-developer and clinical director, is encouraged by the rapport instructors such as De La Cruz and Reyes have built with the young men. “They’re incredibly approachable,” she says. “They’re able to connect with these young men perhaps at a level other people haven’t attempted to connect with them on. It’s not a peer relation but someone you can see in your shoes saying, ‘These are essential skills.’ That’s going to resonate more with young adult populations.” A healthier future De La Cruz and Reyes are currently refining their programs based on participant input. One noteworthy event for Reyes was when a participant, who had been taught to hide his feelings, showed support for his future son’s emotional expression. “I absolutely remember that moment and thought it was pretty cool,” Reyes says. “Now I know that this person got something from the workshops that he could show the next generation if he has his own son.” Planned Parenthood’s groundbreaking sex education program for jailed young men in Southern California fills knowledge gaps and promotes healthier, more responsible behaviors. These programs attempt to make a long-term beneficial difference in the lives of these young men and their communities by emphasizing consent, dissolving toxic masculinity, and fostering open discourse.The post Sex education for incarcerated men in California first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

For four years, orcas have been ramming and sinking luxury yachts in European waters, perplexing scientists. These intelligent, gregarious creatures have demonstrated a new, destructive behavior that has confused scientists and boat owners alike. However, current research suggests an unexpected explanation: mere child’s play. A playful misunderstanding Following a lengthy examination, a team of biologists, government officials, and marine sector representatives concluded that the orcas’ acts were not motivated by aggressiveness or territorial disputes. Instead, these actions are driven by young orcas’ innate playfulness and curiosity. The approximately forty severely endangered Iberian killer whales that eat only large fish have benefited from the region’s extraordinary recovery of bluefin tuna in recent years.  “In addition, climate change could be playing a role,” the experts stated. The year-round abundance of tuna in the Gulf of Cádiz indicates that orcas no longer need to hunt as actively, leaving them more free time to indulge in playful behaviors or ‘hobbies’. Juvenile orcas at play The study concentrated on a core group of 15 orcas, mostly male juveniles and teens, who were identified as the major participants in these encounters. These young orcas, known as “the most curious and exploratory” of their species, have acquired a tendency to collide with boat rudders. This behavior, which was initially harmless, has increased as the orcas have grown larger and stronger. Notably, no orcas over the age of 25 have been spotted engaging in these behaviors, indicating that this is a young tendency. “Killer whales are known to play with other objects or animals in their environment to the point of damaging them,” the investigators noted. This behavior is consistent with similar patterns reported in other orca populations, such as those in Washington, USA, where individuals have been known to ‘play’ with harbor porpoises, even hurting them. Cultural transmission and fads Orcas are well known for their ability to adopt and disseminate behaviors within their social groupings, similar to how viral fads spread among people. In 1987, for example, a female orca in the Pacific Ocean was sighted carrying a dead salmon on her head, a practice that swiftly spread to her pod and two others before disappearing. Similarly, the present trend of boat-bumping may be viewed as a passing fad. “Different populations often have distinct dietary specializations that are maintained by cultural transmission, and these ‘ecotypes’ typically have a variety of persistent behavioral traditions,” the authors said. Examining ephemeral traditions in other well-studied cultures may help us understand the orcas’ recent interactions with boats. The human perspective While orcas’ actions may appear fun from their perspective, they have devastating implications for people. Since 2020, the Atlantic Orca Working Group (GTOA) has documented 673 incidents between orcas and watercraft, with at least four boats sinking. Just a few weeks ago, orcas repeatedly struck the 49-foot yacht Alboran Cognac in the Strait of Gibraltar, sinking it after the passengers and crew were rescued. The rise in these kinds of encounters has forced authorities to issue warnings. The Spanish marine rescue service SASEMAR has cautioned boat owners not to venture too far from shore and to avoid lowering anchors in high-risk areas. “In an ideal world, there would be a simple strategy for mariners to follow when killer whales interact, which would avoid vessel damage and harm to the whales,” the scientists said. Unfortunately, such a strategy does not currently exist. Moving forward Experts agree: these encounters are not hostile in nature. It does not ring true to refer to them as ‘attacks’. Instead, they should be viewed as playful, sociable actions. The researchers found, “The singular agreement amongst the experts at this workshop is that the interactions between Iberian killer whales and vessels are not aggressive. The interactions have more elements consistent with fad behavior or play/socializing than aggression.” While the tendency is likely to fade in time, boat owners and authorities remain cautious. The objective is that sustained research and surveillance will reveal new insights into these playful sea monsters, thereby reducing hazards and promoting cooperation between humans and orcas.The post Orcas are smashing boats. Researchers finally think they know the truth behind this trend first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

You know Angel Reese is gonna flex about this (LMAO)