"There is no one here worthy of being a United States Marine. ... There isn't anybody here I want in my Marine Corps."

The credentials of a college degree are no longer all they're cracked up to be as artificial intelligence advances, impacting the future of millions.

??? Karl Stefanovic you are an absolute disgrace and all you main stream media reporters should be ashamed of yourselves. With thanks to Hoody and well said!!!

"I just wanted to play the best we could."

You may know Philly for its cheesesteaks and tomato pies. However, the city is also home to an eatery that serves an entirely different style of food.

  From medieval storms like the St. Lucia’s Flood in 1287 and the catastrophic All Saints’ Flood of 1570 to the brutal Siege of Haarlem during the Eighty Years’ War and the 1953 North Sea Flood that reshaped flood policy, the Netherlands has repeatedly faced existential threats. Each crisis fueled innovations, from Renaissance canal networks and reclaimed polders to water-based defense lines. In Utrecht, Amsterdam and beyond, history is etched in living structures and landscapes. This guide highlights nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including windmills, forts, industrial icons, and reclaimed lands, that reveal how Dutch resolve, engineering, and design turned hardship into heritage.   1. Kinderdijk-Elshout Windmills Kinderdijk-Elshout Windmills, Netherlands. Source: Wikimedia Commons   In the flat polder of South Holland, a historic stretch of 19 windmills, built between 1738–1740 in Kinderdijk-Elshout, stands as the world’s largest concentration of 18th‑century drainage mills. These monumental mills suck water from the low-lying Alblasserwaard polder, channeling it into reservoirs and, when river levels allow, into the Lek and Noord rivers, a feat of hydraulic ingenuity rooted in medieval drainage systems.   Today, the site is UNESCO‑listed (since 1997) and protected as a cultural landscape, preserving not only the mills, but also sluices, dikes, pumping stations, and Water Board buildings. Visitors can walk or cycle along the canals, step aboard a boat tour, or enter two museum mills, such as the 1738 Nederwaard, where displays unveil the gears, living quarters, and life of miller families.   The Wisboom pumping station adds modern context, showing how steam, diesel, and electric machinery gradually supplanted wind power.   2. Schokland and Surroundings Schokland and Surroundings, Netherlands. Source: Wikimedia Commons   In the heart of the Noordoostpolder lies Schokland, a former island once surrounded by the wild waters of the Zuiderzee. Declared the Netherlands’ first UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995, it stands as a powerful symbol of the Dutch people’s long battle against the sea. Schokland has been inhabited for over 10,000 years, with archaeological remains from prehistoric times through the Middle Ages. By the 15th century, rising sea levels turned it into an isolated island. Centuries of flooding made life increasingly dangerous, and in 1859, the government ordered its evacuation.   Today, Schokland is a fascinating open-air museum. Visitors can explore Museum Schokland, perched on a raised mound called a “terp,” with exhibits showcasing the island’s history, archaeology, and geology. Footpaths lead past the ruins of churches, old sea walls, and a lighthouse that now stands in the middle of farmland.   3. Wadden Sea Wadden Sea near Pieterburen, Coastal Wetlands of the Netherlands. Source: Wikimedia Commons   The Wadden Sea, located along the northern coast of the Netherlands, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the world’s largest continuous intertidal zone. It stretches across the Netherlands, Germany, and Denmark, covering over 1 million hectares. The area is critical for biodiversity, supporting more than 10,000 plant and animal species, and serving as a stopover point for 10 to 12 million migratory birds each year.   The Dutch portion of the Wadden Sea is especially popular for mudflat hiking (wadlopen), where licensed guides lead visitors across the seabed at low tide. Other common activities include birdwatching, seal spotting, and visiting the Frisian Islands by boat. Nature reserves and observation points provide access without disturbing sensitive ecosystems.   Recognized for its ecological value and natural processes, the Wadden Sea is protected and monitored closely. It offers a rare chance to experience a tidal landscape that’s both dynamic and fragile, an essential part of Dutch environmental heritage.   4. Defence Line of Amsterdam (Stelling van Amsterdam) Defence Line of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Source: Wikimedia Commons   The Defence Line of Amsterdam (Stelling van Amsterdam) is a 135 km circular ring of defense built from 1880 to 1914. It wasn’t walls. It was water. 45 forts, batteries, dikes, sluices and pumping stations formed a system to flood low-lying polders around the city to about 30–50 cm. That depth was too deep to walk across yet too shallow for boats, an ingenious middle ground.   Thanks to early concrete construction, these forts marked a shift in military architecture. They predate the Maginot Line and Atlantic Wall but already used reinforced concrete. Although never tested in battle, the line was mobilized in WWI and briefly flooded in WWII before the Dutch surrender.   Today you can bike, walk, or rollerblade along the green ring, stopping at revamped forts like Fort Pampus (reachable by ferry) and Kunstfort Vijfhuizen (art holster). Some host galleries, cafés, or bird hides, others are silent sentinels in fields and wetlands.   UNESCO recognizes it as part of the Dutch Water Defence Lines (201,000 ha), a living landscape of hydraulic and military innovation.   5. Beemster Polder (Droogmakerij de Beemster) Beemster Polder, Netherlands. Source: Wikimedia Commons   In 1612, the Dutch drained a lake north of Amsterdam using 43 windmills, creating Beemster Polder, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This wasn’t just land reclamation; it was a vision of perfect order. Inspired by Renaissance ideals, engineers designed an exact grid of canals, roads, and fields, forming a geometric landscape still intact today.   The Beemster lies 3.5 meters below sea level, protected by a ring dike and a network of sluices. Walk or cycle through this unique polder and you’ll see how water control and aesthetics merged centuries ago. The area is dotted with historic farmhouses known as stolpboerderijen, each with a pyramidal roof, and the layout is best appreciated from De Nachtegaal windmill or a drone’s-eye view.   Stop by the village of Middenbeemster for local cheese made from cows grazing on the fertile reclaimed soil.   6. Rietveld Schröder House Rietveld Schröder House, Netherlands. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Built in 1924 for widow Truus Schröder by furniture designer-turned-architect Gerrit Rietveld, the Rietveld Schröder House in Utrecht remains a singular manifesto of De Stijl architecture, earning UNESCO recognition in 2000.   Truus and Rietveld collaborated to create a home “preferably without walls,” blending living spaces with flexible sliding and pivoting panels on the open-plan upper floor.   The façade appears as an abstract composition of white planes, primary-color accents in red, blue, and yellow, and cantilevered balconies, a three-dimensional Piet Mondrian brought to life.   Inside, visitors see movable walls that shift the interior from one large loft to multiple rooms, emphasizing transparency and connection.   Now a museum operated by the Centraal Museum, the house offers guided tours through its intact original design, furniture, and fittings. It stands as a pioneering moment in modern architecture and a testament to a progressive woman’s vision, preserved almost unchanged since Schröder lived there until 1985.   7. Van Nelle Factory Van Nelle Factory, Southern Façade, Rotterdam, Netherlands. Source: Wikimedia Commons   The Van Nelle Factory in Rotterdam, constructed between 1925 and 1931, is a landmark of early modernist (Nieuwe Bouwen) architecture and was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014.   Designed by Leendert van der Vlugt and Johannes Brinkman, its sleek steel-and-glass façades and mushroom‑column concrete supports created an industrial workspace flooded with daylight, an intentional move to improve worker well‑being.   Commissioned by visionary director Cees van der Leeuw, who toured American factories for inspiration, the complex processed coffee, tea, and tobacco with efficiency in mind: distinct wings, overhead bridges, and offices all linked seamlessly to logistics.   Today, the building lives on as a vibrant creative hub, housing startups, studios, event spaces, and a visitor center where guided tours explain its history, industrial design, and sustainable retrofit. Architect Le Corbusier famously praised it as “the most beautiful spectacle of the modern age.” Visiting the Van Nelle Factory lets you step into a functioning poem of steel, glass, and social progress, where 1920s ideals still hum with purpose.   8. Colonies of Benevolence (Frederiksoord, Wilhelminaoord, etc.) Colony house of the Society of Benevolence, Netherlands. Source: Wikimedia Commons   In 1818, General Johannes van den Bosch launched an ambitious response to post‑Napoleonic poverty by creating the Colonies of Benevolence, agricultural settlements where impoverished urban families would reform through work, education, and disciplined living. The first site, Frederiksoord, served as the Society of Humanitarianism’s headquarters and welcomed its first settlers later that year.   Between 1818 and 1825, colonies sprouted: Wilhelminaoord (a free farming community), and unfree institutions like Veenhuizen and Wortel, where orphaned or homeless individuals lived under stricter regimes. Arranged along precise orthogonal roads, these settlements featured neat rows of small farms, communal churches, kitchens, schools, and dormitories, materializing Enlightenment ideals in landscape form. At its peak, more than 11,000 residents lived across these sites.   Designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites in July 2021, the Colonies of Benevolence reveal a compelling historical narrative: the belief that environment and structure could mold character and society.   Today, visitors can tour the Museum de Proefkolonie in Frederiksoord, explore the National Prison Museum in Veenhuizen, and cycle through Wilhelminaoord’s orderly lanes. These villages remain intact as living testimony to a radical fusion of social reform, planning, and human aspiration.   9. Dutch Water Defence Lines (Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie) Fort Honswijk on the Island of Schalkwijk in Utrecht, Netherlands. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Beginning in 1815 and finalized by 1940, the Dutch Water Defence Lines, or Hollandse Waterlinies, span over 200 km from near Amsterdam down toward the Biesbosch, combining the historic Defence Line of Amsterdam with the New Dutch Waterline.   Conceived as a sovereign fortress, it transforms ordinary lowlands into temporary moats: dikes, sluices, canals, and pumping stations inundate broad polders to about 40 cm, too deep to walk yet too shallow for boats. Within this watery barrier lie 96 forts, six fortified towns and two castles, each guarding a strategic passage. Many are hidden in green meadows, now repurposed as museums, cafés, or overnight stays.   Cyclists, hikers, and boaters can follow the LF Waterline route, spanning 250 km, which passes through Culemborg, Gorinchem, Vianen, and Utrecht, connecting scenic towns and military heritage seamlessly.   Unlike static fortresses, this living landscape still functions: some inundation zones today help manage floodwater. Visiting the Water Defence Lines is a unique way to see how Dutch innovation turned defense into an environmental asset.

  The Islamic Golden Age, spanning the 8th to the 14th centuries, was a rare historical period where developments in arts, culture and science coalesced, leading to a series of seismic academic breakthroughs. Islamic scholars advanced older knowledge or created their own intellectual or cultural accomplishments. This foundation laid the groundwork for the Renaissance.    What Contributed to the Islamic Golden Age? Design of Baghdad in the 8th century. Source: insidearabia.com   The Islamic Golden Age began with the rise of Islam starting in the 7th century. The Prophet founded Islam after receiving divine revelations. Islam, now spread by trade or war, offered a clear one-God religious message (Tawheed). With this message came madrasas (Islamic schools), which preserved ancient knowledge from Greek, Roman, Persian or Indian sources. As Islam spread from India to Europe, the schools began their intellectual rise.    The Abbasid Caliphate, established in 750 CE, provided patronage that helped power the Golden Age. Within the walls of the Caliphate’s capital, Baghdad, the House of Wisdom was founded.    The House became a central hub for translation, learning, and advancements. In other Arabic cities like Cordoba or Cairo, astounding advances in math, astronomy, medicine, and chemistry occurred. Places like the House were sometimes the only locations where older knowledge was preserved.   Which Ancient Knowledge Did Arab Scholars Improve? Traditional Islamic Paper-Making Source: Muslim Heritage   The knowledge at the scholar’s fingertips was vast. Ibn Sina, or Avicenna to the West. He wrote the Canon of Medicine, which, in time, became a standard text across the Middle East and the West. Next, Islamic scholars improved and enhanced Indian astronomy. Researchers like Al-Fazari and Ibn Tariq used translated texts to polish Indian astronomical knowledge, especially in astronomical tables.   These same learned men also fused Indian, Persian, and Greek astronomy sources into comprehensive yet practical knowledge. This collaboration led to the astrolabe. Users calculated the sun’s position, stars, and even time. Navigators used the astrolabe to determine their latitude by measuring the sun or stars’ height against the horizon.   A little-known but historically critical turning point was paper- the Islamic Golden Age’s improved paper production. Before this, slow, intensive Chinese and Central Asian methods made paper expensive. Around the start of the Golden Age, the use of linen rags and water-powered mills sped up production.   What Unique Achievements Did the Islamic Golden Age Produce? A Jew and a Muslim playing chess from El Libro de los Juegos, commissioned by Alphonse X of Castile, Madrid, 13th century. Source: Wikimedia Commons   While Islamic intellectuals preserved and refined previous civilizations’ knowledge, their accomplishments also turned history’s wheel. The mathematician Al-Khwarizmi developed algebra (Arabic: al-jabr) into a separate field. Specifically, Al-Khwarizmi developed a methodical approach to solving linear and quadratic equations.    The Islamic Golden Age created a climate of engineering pioneers. Unique inventions that still are used or looked at for inspiration. A key device was the crankshaft from scholar Al-Jazari. This part’s uses range from agricultural industrial to modern devices. For example, a crankshaft exists in every automobile produced, which is remarkable for something invented centuries ago.    Al-Jazari used his talents to create the elephant clock, a water clock shaped like an elephant (an important symbol in Islam.) The Islamic scholars created the first robots called “automata.” A famous example was the hand-washing automaton. This provided the water, then towels to dry one’s hands.   Where Was Knowledge Spread? Map of the Silk Road. Source: The New York Times   The Islamic Golden Age emerged during a time when communication became easier. Though great swaths of Europe still lay in the Dark Ages, trade and ideas continued. Aided by the Silk Road and passed via Constantinople (Byzantine Empire), the incredible advancements of Islamic scholars slowly began to spread.   As time went on, contact between East and West grew, especially during the Crusades. Religious wars, though they were two separate cultures, did cause interaction and influence each other. Scholars could now produce tomes cheaply. Paper replaced costly vellum after the 8th century, unless for religious or high-quality works.   History’s pivot during the Islamic Golden Age can be credited to Islam’s quick ascension. Muslim armies conquered huge areas, but only a few places were reconquered. With calm returning, ideas were absorbed. Islam facilitated changes, too, as more conversions occurred over time. Diplomacy efforts yielded trade treaties and alliances, creating greater opportunities to interact. Making money is always essential, and trade, like the Silk Road, made trade agreements necessary.    How Crucial Was This Turning Point? Three Ages of Man by Giorgione, 1501. Source: Wikimedia   The Islamic Golden Age happened during a period with few bright spots. With the Classical Empires of Rome and Persia gone, dangerous pressure points remained (Vikings, barbarians, later the Mongols), so any accumulated knowledge could’ve been lost. Yet with, Islam’s swift expansion facilitated learning. The ancient wisdom, translated from all sources, became their base, bridging gaps between East and West. The Golden Age’s preservation and innovation would be picked up by Europe’s Renaissance and later in modern times.

  Folk beliefs in the Middle Ages included a variety of fantastical creatures pulled from a hodgepodge of local customs, ancient tales, Judeo-Christian teachings, and limited understanding of zoology. The sea monsters and demons that feature in these stories range from the famous to the obscure to the downright bizarre. It is unknown how many people actually believed in the existence of these creatures or if they were considered metaphors and moral tales. Here are just a few notable examples of sea monsters, fantastic beasts, and strange cryptids that reportedly roamed the world during the Middle Ages.   Medieval Sea Monsters Sea Serpent, by Olaus Magnus, 1555. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Look at any of the maps made during the Middle Ages and the earlier portion of the early modern era, and the oceans will be filled with fearsome sea monsters. This is unsurprising, as the sea is a dangerous place. Unexpected storms, poor navigation, or any number of other mishaps could spell disaster, even in the modern day, never mind the medieval era. Oftentimes, sea monsters would be placed on maps as a way to show the danger of the unknown. While these could be generic warning signs, there was also a belief in many unusual, and often dangerous creatures that lived beneath the waves.   Among the most commonly referenced sea creatures were sea serpents. These could be colossal and able to sink a ship with ease. The most famous of these was Jörmungandr, who, according to the Norse, was so large that he lay coiled around the entire outer sea of the world and had an ongoing rivalry with the thunder god Thor.   The Hafgufa was a sea monster believed to occupy the waters around Iceland and Greenland. It was described as an enormous sea steamer that vomited up a kind of chumming bait to attract prey, including whales and ships, into its open mouth, which it would then swallow. According to the 13th-century The Kings Mirror, when the king told his son about this fantastical creature and said that he would not believe it if he had not seen it with his own two eyes. The creature is also mentioned in the 14th-century Orvar-Odds Saga, which says that the creature sits below the surface with just its nostrils and jaws poking out. These look like rocks, and the creature devours ships when they sail between them.   Kraken, by J. Gibbons, 1887. Source: BBC   The Kraken was probably the most famous creature in Norse lore, and it was believed to be a colossal octopus or squid that lived in the sea between Norway and Iceland. Olaus Magnus drew the creature on his map in the 16th century, and it is referenced as pulling down ships in several 18th-century texts. It may have been inspired by giant ships, often 12-15 meters in length.   Other sea serpents, while not as grand in scale, were still considered dangerous to ships and sailors. Some illustrations depict sea serpents blowing water from a spout, which would imply that they were whales that have been misidentified. Other possible culprits are conger eels, which can grow up to ten feet in length and are found in coastal waters around Europe. Oarfish, which have been measured at over fifty feet, inhabit waters around the world. Oarfish live in much deeper waters, though occasionally, this snake-like fish will be washed ashore, much to the amazement of witnesses.   Even fresh water held these fearsome creatures, such as the famous legend of the Lambton worm, which terrorized a village and met its demise in a local river.   Bronze statue of a mermaid, Padua, Italy, c. early 16th century. Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York   Mermaids were also famous nautical creatures in the medieval world. These half-fish-half-woman beings were inspired by tales in the ancient world of Sirens, who lured sailors to their deaths, and Atargatis, a Syrian deity who was also half-human-half-fish. Tales of mermaids vary significantly. They could be malicious, luring sailors to their deaths, a nuisance, cutting fishing lines, or even beneficial, warning sailors of impending storms. They were often used as lessons in morality, warning about the dangers of lust, envy, or greed. In some depictions, the mermaid has two tails, a motif that is still used today as the Starbucks logo.   Deadly Dragons St. George and the Dragon, attributed to Hans Klocker, c. 1475. Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York   Without a doubt, the most famous creatures in medieval folklore were dragons. These fire-breathing menaces were usually depicted as evil, killing innocents, despoiling the land, and being the source of hardship. In the Anglo-Saxon tale Beowulf, the final creature the hero encounters is a massive dragon that sits upon a horde of stolen treasure. In this way, they represent sinfulness in general and, more specifically, greed. When combined with Christian beliefs, the dragon was a representation of, or at least used as a metaphor for, Satan.   Dragons were driven off or killed by a saint in single combat, showcasing the power of faith as a way of banishing evil. The most famous example is St. George, who slew a dragon about to eat a princess that was sacrificed to the beast. This made him the patron saint of England, warriors, and those with dangerous professions. St. Margaret was eaten whole by a dragon, but she cut her way free using a crucifix, escaping from the beast’s stomach unharmed.   Bees, Serpents, and Dragons in a Bestiary, MS Harley 3244, fols. 58v-59, c. 1236-75. Source: Getty Blog   Though it was usually considered an evil creature, dragons were also used to represent positive, or at least useful, traits. On the famous Sutton Hoo helmet, a prominent dragon is embossed on the front of the helm, easily visible by anyone looking at it from the front. Though it was more than likely used as a ceremonial piece, the helmet represents strength, power, and wealth, and makes it clear that the owner of the helmet is someone to be taken seriously. Dragons were also used as heraldry, once again denoting power, martial strength, and wealth.   In Wales, it was believed that the wizard Merlin saw a red and white dragon fighting, and the red one managed to drive off his rival. This was interpreted to mean that the native Britons would drive out the Saxon invaders. While this didn’t happen, the red dragon is still a potent symbol of national pride and is currently the centerpiece of the Welsh flag.   Dragons were also used for mundane purposes, being painted on walls and tapestries for decoration, carved as gargoyles on cathedrals, and even made into pitchers for carrying water. Their purpose in this is purely for aesthetic value, not representing anything other than something that looks interesting.   Mythical Unicorns The Unicorn Rests in a Garden, the Unicorn Tapestries, France, c. 1495-1505. Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York   Another well-known creature in the Middle Ages is the Unicorn. Legends of the one-horned creature exist as far back as the ancient world, with Greek and Roman writers commenting on them. By the time of the medieval era, the unicorn was seen as a symbol of strength, purity, and grace, whose horn had healing properties and could purify polluted waters. Cups made from its horn, likely narwhal or rhinoceros horn, were said to be able to heal illness and injuries. Unicorns were also fearsome and were known to fight and kill elephants, goring the massive animals with their horns. It was also impossible for a man to capture a unicorn, but they could be subdued or at least controlled by young women, particularly virgins.   This combination of purity, strength, and healing ability led many religious figures to associate Unicorns with Christ. It became a popular heraldic symbol and was placed on Scotland’s national coat of arms. More than likely, the idea of the unicorn was probably inspired by the oryx, a type of antelope. The two names, unicorn and oryx, are often used interchangeably. There are some descriptions of unicorns that date to the ancient world that describe an animal very similar to a Rhinoceros. A similar creature is the monoceros, another one-horned beast more akin to a stag than a horse.   Hybrid Creatures Griffin, by Martin Schongauer, c. 1470-91. Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York   Several medieval cryptids—which are creatures that have not been proven to exist—were combinations of several mundane animals into a single beast. One of the most famous of these was the griffin, which had the head and forelegs of an eagle, but the body and rearmost legs of a lion, though in some cases the lion would be part ox. These fearsome creatures have their origins in the ancient world, and belief in them continued through the Middle Ages. Griffins were large, much larger than a lion, and were strong enough to fly off with a horse and its rider with ease. Like the unicorn, the griffin was a symbol of strength and ferocity and was a popular heraldic symbol.   Another hybrid creature was the manticore. This beast has its origins in Persian folklore and has the body of a lion and the head of a human, with the tail of a scorpion. It is sometimes able to shoot poisonous darts from it at a distance. It is a fearsome creature, eating any other animal it encounters, except for lions, whom it could never defeat in combat. However, their preferred prey were humans, and they used cunning as their main hunting method, hiding in tall grass with their human heads high enough for people to see. When the person approached to investigate, they would spring out, poisoning the victim with their stinger or ripping them apart with their claws.   Human-Like Creatures Illustration of monstrous humans including a monopod, cyclops, conjoined twins, blemmyae, and cynicephalus, by Sebastian Munster, c. 1544. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Some cryptids were not mere savage beasts but sapient beings as intelligent as any human. Perhaps the most famous of these was the Cynocephali, or dog-headed men. As the name suggests, these had the heads of dogs but otherwise were the same as normal humans. Living far to the east, they were first described in ancient Greece. They had functioning societies and were capable of rational thought. During the Middle Ages, there was even debate about whether the Cynocephali had souls, which would show how seriously many took their existence. According to Christian tradition, St. Christopher helped carry a young Christ across a river and is depicted either as a giant or as having a dog’s head. It is possible that tales of dog-headed men were inspired by baboons or some other primate.   Blemmyae from manuscript BL Royal 15 E VI, f. 21v, 1444-1449. Source: British Library   While the Cynocephali were strange for having a dog’s head, at least they had one. Even more strange was the race of headless men called the Blemmyae. They have human bodies but nothing above the shoulders. They could have their eyes situated either in their chests or located on each shoulder, with their mouths located in the center of their torsos. In some versions, the creatures were large in size, being up to eight feet tall. Though they were often depicted as being smooth-skinned, some descriptions have them covered in shaggy fur or having long beards that hang down past their legs. As with most unusual creatures, the Blemmyae were a representation of the unknown in distant lands. They were believed to inhabit either the far reaches of India or Africa. This last possible location has a grain of truth to it, as the Blemmyes are a tribe that lived along the Red Sea coast, just south of Egypt.   While people in the past may or may not have believed in these creatures, today they are believed to be myths, relics from a time when there was a reason to fear the unknown and distant lands held untold marvels. Still, dragons, mermaids, dog-headed men, and other fantastical beasts still capture the imagination, regularly appearing in modern popular culture.

Not sure if you’ve noticed, but we like to have fun around here… And we like the “bennies”! We work hard, really hard, but we also play hard and enjoy life and we want you to enjoy it too! That’s why I like to bring you cool Giveaways whenever I can. In fact, we have so many running right now that I created a whole page that you can bookmark and save and check back from time to time to enter new ones:  https://wltreport.com/giveaways/ Giveaways And now I have a brand new one that just launched that I don't think you're going to want to miss... 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One lucky winner will get this beauty shipped right to your door! For more on why this stuff is so awesome, read here: PATRIOT SPOTLIGHT: Featuring Patrick Gunnels! PATRIOT SPOTLIGHT: Featuring Patrick Gunnels! I'm really excited to bring you our first ever PATRIOT SPOTLIGHT....and for our first one we're featuring Patrick Gunnels. Some of you may know Patrick, but I'm guessing most of you will not. And that's what I love about this new series, because I get you to tell you all the amazing things Patrick is going. First, I think Patrick would describe himself as one of the old-school "Anons" if you remember back to the 2017 era. I love these guys... These are the guys who do deep dives into everything to search for the truth about what's really going on out there. Things like...the truth about Pizzagate! Or the truth about the Podesta emails. Or the truth about COVID or vaccines or viruses. That's a big part of Patrick's story, just going down one deep dive rabbit hole after another, similar to what we do here at WLT Report but much deeper! Digital warriors fighting the battle in cyberspace and digging until we get far beyond the MSM narrative and find out where the truth actually lies.  Often for no pay or fame of any sort, just working for the sake of getting the truth out there. I love these guys! Kindred spirits to what we do here. But that's only where Patrick's story gets started, because that eventually led into him creating his own Rumble show called "Reading Epic Threads" which Patrick started as a service to other people. He knew his friends and so-called "normies" wouldn't have the time to do all the research he was doing, even if he handed it to them on a silver platter, but they would maybe watch or listen to a video. So he started creating them. 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In fact, if there wasn't Junk Science on the topic, there truly wouldn't be any science at all. Literally no proof at all that any of this is even real, but we've been told all about viruses and germs ever since we first started watching Sesame Street, haven't we? And yet the truth is that you can pretty much lump these theories into the same bucket as the "6 feet distance rule" from COVID.  Or "two weeks to stop the spread". Neither had any basis in reality and we're told we have to believe them because "trust the science". I'm telling you, this was a fascinating conversation and that led into the last part of our chat which I'm also very impressed with. In his spare time, Patrick decided to start up a company to fill a need he saw out there. He saw the same thing I've been warning you about for years, how so many of the things we put on our skin (like sunscreen, or makeup, or gels or lotions or potions or serums) are all chalked full of carcinogens and things like EDCs (Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals). I've been shouting from the rooftops about this for years now, because I believe it's one of the leading factors why the birth rate has plunged in recent years and why so many people cannot get pregnant.  Kind of a serious problem for families and continuing the human race! So Patrick jumped in and created a company called TulipBlooms where he makes everything himself.  And he makes it GOOD. These aren't white-label products. They're not made overseas. Every bottle and jar is formulated, mixed, poured, and labeled by hand —right here in his office in Houston, by their team. Every ingredient is carefully sourced for safety and also sourced for American-made. All employees of the company are American employees. The guy is just doing everything right. This is exactly why I created the PATRIOT SPOTLIGHT, to shine the spotlight on people like this, the unsung heroes doing amazing things in the world. I'll give you more info on TulipBlooms down below (including a FREE giveaway to win a $150 deluxe spa gift basket from TulipBlooms) , but first here's the link to our show, I think you're really going to enjoy this one: I told you that was good! Ok, now a little more about what they sell over at TulipBlooms.... Two good things you're going to love: (1) It's not overpriced.  So many of these things cost $100+, I know because I've sadly seen too many of those end up in our house over at the wife's sink!  But these are just great products, reasonably prices. (2) Patrick is giving a 10% discount to anyone reading this, just type in "Noah" at checkout and you'll automatically get 10% off. How cool is this? These are their top 3 most favorite products: Rainfall ($55).  Our daily aloe-based moisturizer. It's built around organic aloe vera and just enough high-quality oils to hydrate deeply without leaving shine. It's light, fast-absorbing, and leaves your skin feeling calm and actually nourished. Not slippery. Not sticky. Just right. Castor Blend ($35).  This one's heavier, on purpose. It's built on organic castor oil and cut with skin-supporting oils like apricot kernel, argan, and amaranth. Use it on dry patches, sore joints, scars, stretch marks-anywhere you need more than a moisturizer. It's dense, old-school, and shockingly effective. Blue Calm ($60).  Our vivid blue nighttime face oil. It melts into the skin and gets to work on inflammation, dryness, and irritation. The color comes from blue tansy-one of the gentlest, most powerful oils we've found. A little goes a long way. NO cancer-causing chemicals... NO Endocrine-disrupting chemicals... Never, not ever! And here's the last thing you're going to love. I asked Patrick if he'd be willing to do a Giveaway for everyone at WLT Report and he said sure! So he put together a Deluxe spa gift basket valued at $150 which you can enter to win right here: iframe.setAttribute('id', 'rafflepress-'+ID); iframe.setAttribute('class', 'rafflepress-iframe'); iframe.setAttribute('src', src); iframe.setAttribute('frameborder', '0'); iframe.setAttribute('scrolling', 'no'); iframe.setAttribute('allowtransparency', 'true'); if (minHeight) { iframe.setAttribute('style', 'min-height:'+minHeight); } iframe.setAttribute('onload', 'rafflepress_resize_iframe_'+ID+'(this)'); document.getElementById(wrapperID).appendChild(iframe); } // phpcs:disable insertIframe( '72864258','https://wltreport.com/?rafflepress_page=rafflepress_render&rafflepress_id=24&iframe=1&giframe=false&rpr=&parent_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwltreport.com%2Ftag%2Fpush%2Ffeed%2F&82202&rp-email='+rafflepress_getParameterByName('rp-email',location.href)+'&rp-name='+rafflepress_getParameterByName('rp-name',location.href),'' ); // phpcs:enable Four ways to enter. All 100% free. Winner gets this Gift Box shipping right to their door, you don't even have to cover shipping! Good luck to everyone. And if you'd like to nominate someone for a future PATRIOT SPOTLIGHT, please send me all nominations here at the link below.  I'm having a lot of fun with this and I want to do a bunch of these! Can We Feature You In Our PATRIOT SPOTLIGHT? (Tap Here) Share!