With Christmas just around the corner, the holiday spirit can be felt in the air.
For Carrie Underwood and her sweet son Isaiah Christmas came early and they wanted to treat fans with an enchanting rendition of one of the season’s favorite songs, The Little Drummer Boy.
This holiday classic, which has its roots in a traditional Czech melody that gained widespread recognition a decade after its initial release, has been covered by many big names in the world of music, including Bing Crosby.
However, Carrie duetting with her 5-year-old son brings a different type of emotion and breaths new life into the famous tune.
Carrie herself admits that this duet brought out “so many emotions.”
“I was in the booth with him, and trying to get him to access all his little 5-year-old emotions, which he can totally do on his own … When I heard the song back with his sweet little voice on it, I was laughing and crying,” Underwood shared with Today. “I’m so proud of him.”
Little Drummer Boy is part of Underwood’s new holiday album, My Gift, and Isaiah’s voice is just the perfect fit. His and his mom’s voice blend in a perfect harmony.
This is the singer’s first ever Christmas album and she’s proud of it. Underwood hopes that her fans will ‘need’ it as much as she needs it.
“I’m so proud of the music that we were able to create, but, also, we were able to create it this year, through all the obstacles,” Underwood shares. “We just want to bring some Christmas joy to people, so I’m super excited.”
In her HBO Special, My Gift: A Christmas Special From Carrie Underwood, the singer explained that having her young son be a part of the album was of great importance to her because “children are truly our greatest gift.”
The proud mom noted that Isaiah’s performance surpassed expectations because not only he did an excellent job but he also bears a striking resemblance to the boy depicted in the song’s narrative.
Underwood’s album is scheduled to be released on December 25. It consists of Christmas classics and original songs by the artist.
To listen to the emotional mother-son duet go to the video below.
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When we think of the past, one of the first thoughts that runs through our mind is how people lived without electricity. Nowadays, we can’t even imagine a day without it because all of our appliances and devices run on electricity.
The truth is, however, that most homes don’t have enough power outlets to keep everything running and charged, so most of us rely on power strips without being aware that appliances that consume a lot of energy become dangerous fire hazards when we plug them into a power strip.
Although power strips are the thing to go to when it comes to charging your phone or power an entertainment setup, there are certain devices that should never be plugged into a power strip.
Air conditioners, space heaters, toasters, and other appliances that use high wattage can easily cause power strips to overheat, which can easily lead to a fire hazard.
Even before plugging anything into a power strip consider the ammount of power they support. This is usually listed on the product itself.
High-capacity appliances need to draw a lot of power through an electrical circuit to work. Keep in mind that an appliance does not need to be large in size to draw large amounts of power.
Below is the list of appliances that should never be plugged into a power strip.
1. The oven: Even though the oven is not used continually, it is a power-hungry appliance that should not be plugged into a power strip. In fact, it should be plugged into its own wall outlet on its own circuit.
2. Refrigerator: Refrigerators require a lot of power and frequently cycle on and off which can easily overload a power strip and cause damage. Much like the oven, refrigerators require a wall outlet dedicated solely to powering the appliance.
3. Washing Machine: When turned on, washing machines pull a lot of power. This is the main reason why these appliances shouldn’t share a receptacle with any other appliance or device.
Most washing machines use a max of up to 1400 watts, putting it dangerously close to the max load of most power strips. On top of that while working, washing machines are usually left unattended and work longer hours, at least an hour, which is long enough for a power strip to overheat.
4. Heating: Portable heaters should never be plugged into a power strip because most of them use 1,500 watts of energy on their high setting and they usually run for extended periods of time.
5. Microwave: Since they consume a lot of energy when used, most microwave ovens are plugged into their own receptacle and that is always a good practice.
6. Coffee Maker: Those who own a coffee maker are not fully aware of the power these appliances use, and this is why they should never be plugged into any sort of power strip or extension cord.
7. Toaster: You may think that browning up slices of bread or bagels doesn’t require a lot of energy, but the truth is that toasters use a lot of energy when in use and they should be plugged directly into the receptacle rather than a power strip.
8. Another Power Strip: Power strips are not meant to be used in conjunction with another power strip, although many people do exactly that. This, however, violates most safety codes because it can easily lead to overloading the electrical system.
9. Electronics (Computer, TV, Router): These types of electronic devices don’t necessarily use a lot of power on their own, but they are sensitive to surges and you can find yourself with a burnt out computer or TV very quickly if you plug them into a power strip.
If you want to protect these sensitive devices from power surges, opt for a power strip that functions as a surge protector.
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At the beginning of this year, the much-anticipated nonfiction film featuring the life of beloved actor Michael J. Fox premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City. The film, produced by Oscar-winning filmmaker Davis Guggenheim, retells the story of the actor who rose to stardom in the 80s by landing roles in iconic movies such as Back to the Future, and series such as Family Ties.
The film had a special showing at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival in Austin, Texas, and Michael was there accompanied by wife Tracy Pollen. During the Q&A, he opened up about his life with Parkinson’s disease, which he was diagnosed with at the age of just 29.
It was short after he and Tracy got married and had their first child. Tracy never left her husband’s side and is his biggest support. The two are doing their best to cope with Michael’s condition and are working hard on raising funds for finding cure for Parkinson’s disease. He disclosed his condition with the public in 1998 and semi-retired from acting two years later as his health worsened.
It took young Michael a lot of time to accept the reality, but he finally decided to make the best out of his life despite the struggles the disease forced him to face.
“Parkinson’s sucks, but it’s a great life, so thank you for it,” the actor said. “Pity is a benign form of abuse. I can feel sorry for myself, but I don’t have time for that. There is stuff to be learned from this, so let’s do that and move on,” he contined.
“My fans have basically given me my life. I wanted to give these people who have done so much for me my time and gratitude. It was great for me to hear from all of you.”
Facebook/The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research
In the past, the Spin City star spoke of the decision to continue making movies following the diagnosis and said, “I have no regrets. You do what you have to do, but you do not want to kill yourself. And that’s when I stopped.”
Along with his wife, Michael established the Michael J. Fox Foundation whose goal is finding cure for Parkinson’s disease through funded research. The organization is currently the largest non-profit founder of Parkinson’s disease research in the world. His dedication to helping patients with the disease he suffers from himself placed him on the 2007 Time Magazine’s list of 100 people “whose power, talent or moral example is transforming the world.”
Although he continued acting after the diagnosis, his work was mainly focused on lending his voice in films like Stuart Little and Disney’s Atlantis: The Lost Empire.
The actor has written four books, Lucky Man: A Memoir (2002), Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist (2009), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future: Twists and Turns and Lessons Learned (2010) and his fourth, No Time Like the Future, released on November 17, 2021.
Recently, he opened up about his life yet again and explained that despite his efforts to project positivity about his disease, things are getting harder.
“I’m not gonna lie. It’s gettin’ hard, it’s gettin’ harder. It’s gettin’ tougher,” Fox told CBS Sunday Morning anchor Jane Pauley.
“Every day it’s tougher. But, but, that’s, that’s the way it is. I mean, you know, who do I see about that?”
He also spoke about the spinal cord surgery he was forced to undergo.
“[I] broke this arm, and I broke this arm, I broke this elbow. I broke my face. I broke my hand,” Fox told Pauley.
“You don’t die from Parkinson’s. You die with Parkinson’s,” Fox concluded. “I’ve been thinking about the mortality of it. … I’m not gonna be 80. I’m not gonna be 80.”
“I’m in intense pain. Each tremor is like a seismic jolt,” the actor shared.
“It’s not so much pain from the movement, but from the not moving. It’s when you freeze, and in that freezing that not-movement becomes infused with all this energy and it becomes this burning, impending thing that never happens.
“I don’t want to get the violins out. I’ve broken my hand, my elbow, my humerus, my other humerus, my shoulder, my face and some other s— too. And all that stuff is amplified by the electricity of the tremors. So, yes, it hurts a lot. But what you learn is that nobody gives a s—. It’s just life. It doesn’t matter. You suck it up and you move on. And there might be a story to tell in it. But only that. There’s no chit that you can present to a window for a refund.”
Despite everything that is going on in his life, he promised his fans he’s not going anywhere.
“The depression is [not] so deep that I’m going to injure myself … it always comes back to a place where I go, ‘Well, there’s more to celebrate in my life than there is to mourn.’ The pain speaks for itself. You either tolerate it or you don’t. And I’m not going anywhere.”
Michael J. Fox is an incredible actor and individual, we only wish him the best in the years to come.
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Simone Biles is a remarkable athlete who won 7 Olympic medals across two Olympic Games.
Being part of the Tokyo Olympics was just another gem in her career’s crown of glory. This time, with her decision to withdraw from the competition, she became sort of a spokesperson for the importance of the mental health. “It’s been a long week. It’s been a long Olympic process. It’s been a long year. Just a lot of different variables and I think we’re just a little bit too stressed out, but we should be out here having fun and sometimes that’s not the case,” she said after announcing her withdrawal, as per USA Today.
Biles’ life hasn’t always been easy. As a young child, she and her sisters were part of the foster system before their grandparents could adopt them. Her grandmother Nellie, whom the star calls ‘mom,’ has always been very supportive of Biles’ dreams. “She encourages me and never lets me feel down about something for too long,” Biles told CNN.
Getty Images
In her Facebook series Simone vs. Herself, she spoke of the time she and her siblings were taken from their mother and then given to their grandparents.
“I don’t remember a lot about foster care, but I definitely knew that we had been taken from our biological mom and then you just think you’re going to go back to her,” she wrote. “[Me and my siblings] were very fortunate that we actually got to stay with our siblings because a lot of the time you either get regrouped from home to home to home or you and your siblings get split up.”
Biles fell in love with gymnastics “by accident,” or better said after a serendipitous encounter with the equipment used in the sport that would help her reach for the stars. Namely, as part of the daycare program she attended when she was just 6, they were supposed to go on a trip to a farm, but after the weather went bad, they were taken to a tumbling gym instead.
Recently, USA Gymnastics announced that Biles is ready to return to gymnastics. She is scheduled to compete at the 2023 US Classic in August, and fans are looking forward to see her compete again.
In April and May 2023, Biles wed NFL player Jonathan Owens in two separate ceremonies. They had a simple civil wedding in the US and the following month they flew to Cabo, San Lucas. They wed with their closest family and friends in attendance.
Following the wedding, the couple moved into their Houston home of modern, minimalist looks. The house, which Biles both back in 2019 for $2 million features a modest black-and-white interior, a modest-sized kitchen, a spacious and homey living room, a gorgeous L-shaped pool, and a backyard table set featuring swings as its chairs.
This however, isn’t what her parents would choose because the home resembles ‘an LA home but in Houston.’ According to the athlete, whenever her parents visit, they tell their daughter it’s not the type of home they would choose. But then Biles reminds them that she loves how her house looks like.
Late Steve Irwin’s children, Bindi and Robert, followed into their father’s footsteps and although many say they have big shoes to fill, they are both doing extraordinary job keeping their dad’s legacy alive.
The love they feel for the animals is enormous and their efforts to preserve different species is effortless.
Steve Irwin, TheCrocodile Hunter star and one of the most famous conservationists and wildlife experts died aged 44 in what is described a freak accident. He was pierced in the chest by a stingray barb while filming in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.
“…Even if we’d been able to get him into an emergency ward at that moment we probably wouldn’t have been able to save him, because the damage to his heart was massive. As we’re motoring back I’m screaming at one of the other crew in the boat to put their hand over the wound and we’re saying to him things like, ‘Think of your kids, Steve, hang on, hang on.’ He just sort of calmly looked up at me and said, ‘I’m dying.’ And that was the last thing he said,” one of the underwater cameramen tragically recalled.
Today, his wife Terri, and the children run the Australia Zoo.
Recently, Robert uploaded an old footage of his late father’s face being bit by a python snake along with another video of himself being bitten in the same manner by the same kind of snake.
“Déjà vu. Dad and me getting bitten by the same species of snake (carpet python) decades apart,” Robert wrote in the caption for the video. “I found this python on the side of a road, but as you can see, sometimes snake rescues don’t quite go to plan 😂”
Just like his late dad, Robert handled the bites with the same composure.
“I got a little too close, so he gave me a bite. They’ve got extremely sharp teeth like little needles,” he captioned the video.
During the devastating wildfire which struck their homeland, the Irwin family helped save tens of thousands of animals. They save approximately 800 koalas each year. Animals which are one of the most famous species of Australia and which hold a very special place in the hearts of the Irwins. In fact, one of the most famous photos of Steve is the one holding a koala in his arms.
Robert has made many appearances on American TV to promote Australia zoo and the work that he and his family do for wildlife. He resembles his late father in many ways.
Shutterstock
Despite the time that has passed since his passing, wife Terri still misses him badly. Although he’s no longer around, she is forever grateful she had her ‘happily ever after’ with him.
“Every day is hard, and after 16 years, the sadness stops being a rock in your heart and starts walking beside you,” she opened up during an emotional interview on the program Anh’s Brush with Fame.
In September, Robert paid tribute to his dad on what was the anniversary of his death as well as Father’s Day in Australia. He made a post and wrote, “It’s Father’s Day today in Australia, and I am sending my love to those who are missing their dad today. I cherish all the good times with my dad and feel grateful to be able to keep his memory and legacy alive ❤️.”
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Life is unpredictable. The truth is that we never know what awaits us at the corner and what challenges we would face in the future.
What we know is that we are oftentimes forced to make decisions, no matter how hard and challenging that is.
A man shared a story of how he wanted to adopt his young sister following the passing of their parents, but that caused tensions in his relationship with his wife.
It was either his wife or his sister. To learn how he handled the situation and what decision she made read the text below.
“I [28M] have been married to my wife [28f] for 2 years. We do not have kids and we do not plan to. I have a little sister [11f]. Due to the age gap , I am more like another father than a brother.
“My father passed away from pancreatic cancer. There are 2 options for my sister: either I take her in or my uncle [dad’s brother]. So we asked her who she wanted and she chose me. Here is the problem, my wife and I decided that we did not want kids, so she does not want to adopt my sister especially since my uncle can.
“But my sister has no parents now and I want to make sure she is able to recover and be healthy and since she wants to be with me, I will not force her to be with our uncle. This is causing a lot of tension with my wife, things escalated and finally told her I am doing this whether she agrees or not, she can either accept it or we get divorced. We have not talked since then. What I can do in such situation?”
“I talked with my wife again. She still refused as she does not want kids. So we basically decided to go our separate ways. She said you really are choosing your sister over me. I told her I do not want to go into this discussion again but if that what you want to hear then fine. Yes my sister takes the priority now, I am choosing her over you.”
“This was our last conversation. I have been living with my sister for 1 week now. Being a single father-ish brother is definitely challenging but I am really enjoying it.”
“I got separated from my wife. I am taking care of my sister.”
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School can be boring sometimes. I am sure you’ve fallen asleep during some of the classes you weren’t really fond of while a student. Well, to a girl named Mary Margaret that happened quite too often. The catholic teacher didn’t like her napping while she was teaching so she had some questions for Mary Margaret. But, she never expected to get such answers. Read the story below, you’re going to love it.
Little Mary Margaret was not the best student in Catholic School, usually she slept through the class.
One day her teacher, a Nun, called on her while she was sleeping.
“Tell me Mary Margaret, who created the universe?”
Pixabay
When Mary Margaret didn’t stir, little Johnny who was her friend sitting behind her, took his pencil and jabbed her in the rear.
“God Almighty!” shouted Mary Margaret.
The Nun said, “Very good” and continued teaching her class.
A little later the Nun asked Mary Margaret, “Who is our Lord and Savior?”
But Mary didn’t stir from her slumber.
Once again, Johnny came to her rescue and stuck Mary Margaret in the rear.
Pixabay
“Jesus Christ!!!” shouted Mary Margaret, and the Nun once again said, “Very good,” and Mary Margaret fell back asleep.
The Nun asked her a third question…”What did Eve say to Adam after she had her twenty-third child?”
Again, Johnny came to the rescue.
This time Mary Margaret jumped up and shouted, “If you stick that damn thing in me one more time, I’ll break it in half!”
The nun fainted…
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Being married means making compromises every now and then because the truth is that every marriage has its ups and downs.
No matter how much they love each other, most partners out there have differences and the story below is the perfect illustration of that. Make sure you read it until the end.
A priest and a nun were lost in a blizzard. After a while, they came upon a small cabin.
Being exhausted, they prepared to go to sleep. There was a stack of blankets and a sleeping bag on the floor – but only one bed. Being a gentleman, the priest said, “Sister, you sleep on the bed. I’ll sleep on the floor in the sleeping bag.”
Just as he got zipped up in the bag and was beginning to fall asleep, the nun said “Father, I’m cold.”
He unzipped the sleeping bag, got up, got a blanket and put it on her.
Once again, he got into the sleeping bag, zipped it up and started to drift off to sleep when the nun once again said, “Father, I’m still very cold.”
He unzipped the bag, got up again, put another blanket on her and got into the sleeping bag once again. Just as his eyes closed, she said, “Father, I’m sooooo cold.”
This time, he remained there, giving the woman a wink and a smile, then said, “Sister, I have an idea. We’re out here in the wilderness where no one will ever know what happened. Let’s pretend we’re married.”
The nun purred, “Sounds good to me.”
To which the priest yelled out, “Okay then – get up and get your own stupid blanket!”
Oh the beauty of marriage!
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Bored Daddy
Love and Peace
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