I was surprised when the Tom Hanks SNL controversy flared up, with Republican viewers especially annoyed by his latest sketch on the 50th anniversary show. The performance included a callback to Hanks’s “Black Jeopardy!” character named Doug, originally from a 2016 SNL episode. Doug was portrayed as a Donald Trump supporter, complete with a MAGA hat. And this time around, the skit reignited arguments on social media over political stereotypes and comedic boundaries.
Revisiting the Sketch
In the original “Black Jeopardy!” scene, Doug avoided shaking host Darnell Hayes’s hand—played by Kenan Thompson—and casually suggested a spin-off called “White Jeopardy!” during the exchange. The new tribute saw Hanks revisit that same persona. Once Doug got a correct answer, Darnell offered a handshake, only to have Doug decline, uttering an awkward “oh no no.” Then Doug quipped about creating a version of the show tailored for white participants. This little snippet ignited the Tom Hanks SNL controversy among Republican viewers who felt singled out.
Social Media Outrage
Some conservative fans took to social media to say Hanks mocked them and labeled them all as “slobs.” One user claimed the entire bit was a desperate attempt to poke fun at half the country. Another vowed to boycott Hanks’s films in the future. Critics argued that the reference to “White Jeopardy!” implied SNL was ridiculing millions of Americans. Despite the backlash, plenty of viewers saw it as standard political satire—especially given SNL’s long history of skewering current events. Even so, the Tom Hanks SNL controversy underscores how divisive political humor can be nowadays.
Please SHARE this article with your friends and family on Facebook.
I was stunned to learn that DOGE reveals missing Treasury codes for a whopping $4.7 trillion in federal payments. According to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the Treasury had an optional field known as Treasury Access Symbols (TAS). The big issue? Trillions of dollars were paid out without those codes, making traceability nearly impossible. DOGE praised the Treasury for requiring these codes moving forward, hoping it will shed light on exactly where all that money goes.
Staggering Figures, Surprising Solutions
The revelation came on Feb. 17, when DOGE reported that these missing codes caused huge gaps in financial tracking. Treasury Access Symbols are meant to denote which fund or account a particular payment belongs to, so you can imagine the confusion when DOGE reveals missing Treasury codes for such a massive sum. Meanwhile, DOGE also pitched a plan to do away with paper checks to save taxpayer money—citing an estimated $750 million in annual savings. They claim that, in fiscal year 2024 alone, the Treasury processed around 116 million paper checks.
Ongoing Legal Battles
Led by Elon Musk, DOGE is an advisory commission created under President Donald Trump to sniff out potential government downsizing and cost cuts. However, their reach hasn’t gone unnoticed. Several Democratic lawmakers and labor unions are arguing in court that DOGE’s access to federal systems is unconstitutional. Despite that, DOGE reveals missing Treasury codes has rattled Washington, with the agency claiming it uncovered $55 billion in potential savings through contract cancellations, fraud detection, and more.
Agencies Under the Microscope
Not everyone is thrilled about DOGE’s approach. Some argue that it’s less about efficiency and more about pushing a political agenda. Still, the group ranks USAID first among agencies with the highest contract savings, followed by the Department of Education and the Office of Personnel Management. And though attorneys general from 14 states are suing to limit Musk’s authority, Trump insists Musk must have presidential approval before making changes—something the president says is firmly in place. That hasn’t stopped headlines like “DOGE reveals missing Treasury codes” from sparking public debate about the real cost of government inefficiency.
Big Plans Ahead
Musk and DOGE say they’re determined to press on, insisting that “the people voted for major government reform.” Whether you see them as heroes of accountability or disruptors to the status quo, one thing’s clear: the staggering $4.7 trillion missing identification codes highlight the scale of potential financial chaos. If nothing else, it’s a stark reminder of how vital transparency is when billions (or trillions) of taxpayer dollars are on the line.
Please SHARE this article with your friends and family on Facebook.
Atherosclerosis, or clogged arteries, is a condition that occurs when fatty deposits accumulate along artery walls. This leads to the narrowing of the arteries and restriction to the blood flood to the heart and other body parts, thus causes coronary heart disease.
The symptoms of clogged arteries depend on the arteries affected.
Carotid arteries: carotid artery disease occurs when the arteries in the brain get clogged. This increases the the risk of stroke. During a stroke, the brain is left without oxygen and brain cells begin to die. Stroke is the leading cause of death and disability in America.
Coronary arteries: CHD or coronary heart disease happens when the arteries in the heart are clogged. When this happens, the heart muscle fails to receive enough blood, which can lead to chest pain, or angina.
Renal arteries: clogged renal arteries in the kidneys can lead to chronic kidney disease which can impair kidney function over time.
Peripheral arteries: Peripheral arterial disease is a result from plaque buildup in the arms, legs, and pelvis.
Shutterstock
If you are diagnosed with atherosclerosis, the treatment includes lifestyle changes, medications, procedures or surgeries.
When it comes to prevention and improving the symptoms, changing the lifestyle is a must.
Additionally, what reduces the risks is opting for healthier food options, keeping a healthy weight, limiting the alcohol consumption, stopping smoking cigarettes and other tobacco products, as well as taking medications prescribed by your doctor, such as those for high blood pressure and diabetes.
Further, some foods that help with clogged arteries are:
Curcumin (in Turmeric): Curcumin, found in turmeric, can help lower inflammation in the body and prevent LDL cholesterol from becoming oxidized.
Garlic: People have used garlic as a natural medicine for treating various health conditions for centuries. Its consumption helps lower the high blood pressure and cholesterol levels. At the same time, it can improve C-reactive protein (CRP) and coronary artery calcium (CAC) levels, linked to inflammation and plaque buildup in the arteries. With that, it can help prevent atherosclerosis.
Ginger:Ginger is rich in anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties, as well as heart-protective compounds like shogaols and gingerols.
Cayenne pepper: Capsaicin is a component of the cayenne pepper that can help reduce LDL cholesterol in the blood. A study from 2009 shows that capsaicin could potentially prevent the vascular and pulmonary complications caused by the combination of HAART drugs – highly active antiretroviral therapy – and the HIV protease inhibitor ritonavir.
Lemon: Lemons are a great source of vitamin C, high doses of which “strengthen arteries, reduce total cholesterol, increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL), inhibit platelet aggregation, and reduce inflammation.”
Cinnamon: Cinnamon regulates blood sugar and blood pressure. As such, it potentially lowers the risk of diabetes and hypertension, two conditions that contribute to clogged arteries.
Ground flaxseed: Flaxseeds are rich in Omega 3, fiber, and lignans.
Fermented cabbage: Fermented cabbage and hot peppers makes a well known Korean drink known as kimchi. Further, an active compound in this probiotic drink, 3-94-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl, prevented the development of aortic atherosclerosis in high-cholesterol-fed rabbits, a 2009 study published in Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry showed. Kimchi can also help break down harmful substances, such as bisphenol A and the insecticide chlorpyrifos.
Walnuts: Study shows that walnuts are rich in PUFAs, fiber, essential minerals like potassium and calcium, and various vitamins. As such, they help reduce inflammation and lower the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases..
Avocado Oil: As per a recent study, avocado oil is rich in healthy fats and its consumption promotes a healthy heart.
*This information serves for informational purposes only and not a replacement for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your doctor or healthcare provider with any medical concerns or questions.
Please SHARE this article with your family and friends on Facebook.
Gout is a form of arthritis that causes sudden and severe pain in the joints. While its treatment involves medications such as painkillers, it is the person’s lifestyle choices that can help prevent future attacks.
The most common medications, as per NHS, are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) such as ibuprofen. However, in case the swelling persists, the patient may also be prescribed steroids.
Gout is caused by tiny crystals of uric acid (a chemical made by your body) formed in and around your joints. The most affected area by gout is the big toe joint. Further, it can affect the ankles, the knees, the fingers and wrists, the elbows, and the middle of the feet.
Uric acid appears naturally in the body when when substances called purines are broken down into waste products. Some foods and drinks that are rich in purines are: red meat, alcoholic beverages, fish and shellfish, mushroom, and certain vegetables such as asparagus, spinach, and cauliflower.
As per the Mayo Clinic, as gout progresses, it limits the range of motion in the joints.
For a successful treatment, it is of crucial importance to seek medical help when the first signs appear.
While the conventional medicine is the primary treatment for gout, changes in the lifestyle can also help relief the pain. Besides medications, doctors may also prescribe supplements like omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) or gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) into the daily routine. These help decrease inflamation.
In order to reduce the sweeling, you can take Vitamin C, which reduces uric acid levels in the body, raise and rest your joints, keep your joints cool and don’t cover them, cool them with an ice-pack 15 to 20 minutes a day but don’t apply the ice directly to the skin to prevent damage to the skin.
*This information serves for informational purposes only and not a replacement for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your doctor or healthcare provider with any medical concerns or questions.
Please SHARE this article with your family and friends on Facebook.
Delta Airlines plane crashed and flipped while landing at Toronto Pearson International Airport on February 17.
Luckily, all of the 76 passengers and the four members of the crew survived. Eighteen people have been injured with only few of them reported to have sustained more serious injuries.
“We are very grateful there was no loss of life and relatively minor injuries,” Deborah Flint, CEO of Greater Toronto Airports Authority, said.
One of the passengers, and a plane crash survivor, who was on the flight that was heading from Minneapolis to Toronto was John Nelson.
REUTERS/Cole Burston
He recalled the moment the plane flipped upside down.
Talking to ABC News, Nelson said, “The winds were whipping pretty hard and the runways were snow covered. There was no warning.”
He recalled that the plane hit the ground “extremely hard,” before popping a bit and then learning to the left.
“It was just incredibly fast. There was a giant firewall down the side. I could actually feel the heat through the glass,” Nelson recounted. “Then we were going sideways. I’m not even sure how many times we tumbled, but we ended upside down,” he shared with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos.
The plane crash survivor also recounted his memory of the stressful event to CNN, saying “It was a surreal feeling. And then everyone was just like, ‘Get out! Get out! Get out!'”
He added: “We could smell jet fuel. Even now I smell like jet fuel.”
Luckily, all of the passengers and the crew members were evacuated before more of the aircraft set on fire.
Many agree that it was miracle the plane didn’t burst into flames.
“The fact this plane did not explode in flames because of the amount of jet fuel is nothing short of a miracle,” one person commented on YouTube. “Thank god all the souls on this flight survived.”
Please SHARE this article with your family and friends on Facebook.
Being a single mom of two, after my husband found someone else and vanished from our lives just like that, felt like a real struggle. Keeping up with my job, everything around the house, and my kids’ needs, I sometimes felt I was failing both as a human and as a mom. I was praying to God to give me the strength to endure it all, and then, something unlikely happened. I got Chinese food I didn’t order and the message on the back of the receipt set of a strange chain of events.
After my husband left, my world turned upside down. It wasn’t that I missed him, but I certainly missed the support, both financial and with my kids. All of a sudden it was just me and my children against the world, and things were hard.
Honestly, I struggled to provide food for them and pay all the bills while finding the time to be around them as much as they needed me to.
My kids were quick to sit at the table, waiting to have their share.
As we ate, I noticed there was a message on the back of the receipt that read: “Life has a way of surprising us in wonderful ways. Keep your heart open, and kindness will always find its way back to you.”
It felt strange, but I was glad about the mix up with the order.
In the morning, I noticed that my lawn was mowed. “What’s this?” I thought to myself. I was getting ready to mow it for days, but I couldn’t find the strength or the time, and now someone did it for me. But who could it be?
A couple of days later, as I headed to my car, I noticed a not placed on the windshield that read, “I noticed your car might need a little work. If you ever want to stop by, I’ll take a look—no charge. Just passing on the kindness.”
The man told me that my story “spread around.” In fact, it was him who wrote about me in the local Facebook group without revealing my identity. The neighbors decided to step in without me even knowing.
I looked at that young man and gave him a hug. I thanked him for everything he and the rest of the neighbors have done for me without making me feel like I owned them anything. Honestly, I have never felt like I belonged somewhere like I had around all those people from my tiny community.
Please SHARE this article with your family and friends on Facebook.
Actress Kirstie Alley passed away in 2022 after battling cancer. She was diagnosed with the disease shortly before her passing, according to her children who shared the devastating news on the social media.
Alley was a two times Emmy winner.
She was born on January 12, 1951, in Wichita, Kansas where she attended high-school and graduated from university.
However, Kansas wasn’t the place where she wanted to be and she only realized that after she got involved with drugs.
Speaking of those times, the late actress revealed to Parade, “The truth of how I escaped Kansas is being high. I was drugged out of my mind … I got in the car, and I left to go to California.”
“If I hadn’t been drugged out, I would never have been able to realize my dream. It sounds so stupid but to extricate myself from Wichita, Kansas really took some doing.”
Shutterstock/carrienelson
“With reality shows and things like that on TV now, people probably feel a little more hopeful that they could make something of themselves. But at that time, 30 years ago, it was just like, ‘How could I possibly dare to think that I could go be a star? How could I possibly think that?’ That’s more of a Midwest thing, you’re sort of humbled, and if you’re not humbled people will humble you, like, “Well, who the hell do you think you are to move to California and be a star? I mean, come on, Kirstie,” she added.
As she continued doing drugs, a tragedy in which her mother lost her life because of a drunk driver was an eye opener for Kirstie Alley that she needed to change her life.
It was then that she underwent rehabilitation and joined the controversial church of Scientology.
Brad Elterman/FilmMagic
It was in 1982 that Alley landed her first roles, but her big breakthrough came with the role of Rebecca Howe in the sitcom Cheers for which she earned a Golden Globe and an Emmy Award.
Kirstie Alley went on to stare in other big productions such as David’s Mother, which brought her another Emmy, Veronica’s Closet, Look Who’s Talking movies and Drop Dead Gorgeous, among the rest.
She was also part of Dancing with the Stars and starred in Fat Actress.
Shutterstock/Bart Sherkow
The truth is that Alley struggled with her weight which she gained after she was diagnosed with Lyme disease.
Her weight loss journey, which wasn’t an easy one, served as inspiration to many.
“If I made cookies, I wouldn’t eat two cookies. I would eat 12 cookies! And I really went off the rails … I started drinking 12 grape sodas a day. I was consuming massive amounts of sugar!” she explained.
But she did manage to lose a significant amount of weight thanks to the weight-loss program Jenny Craig. When she became part of the dancing competition, many claimed Alley starved herself, which, according to the actress, wasn’t the case.
Alley was married twice. She and her second husband, actor Parker Stevenson, adopted two children together, son William and daughter Lillie. The couple divorced in 1997.
It was Alley’s children who announced the actress’ passing in 2022.
They shared that their mother died of cancer “she was diagnosed with just recently.”
“To all our friends, far and wide around the world…We are sad to inform you that our incredible, fierce and loving mother has passed away after a battle with cancer, only recently discovered. She was surrounded by her closest family and fought with great strength, leaving us with a certainty of her never-ending joy of living and whatever adventures lie ahead,” the statement read.
“As iconic as she was on screen, she was an even more amazing mother and grandmother.We are grateful to the incredible team of doctors and nurses at the Moffitt Cancer Center for their care. Our mother’s zest and passion for life, her children, grandchildren and her many animals, not to mention her eternal joy of creating, were unparalleled and leave us inspired to live life to the fullest just as she did. We thank you for your love and prayers and ask that you respect our privacy at this difficult time. With love always, True and Lillie Parker.”
Shutterstock/DFree
In the last years of her life, Kirstie Alley didn’t leave her home in Clearwater, Florida.
“She’s done with LA.,” a source told OK Magazine. “She’s happily disappeared into a quiet life in Clearwater, where she can also be more open about her beliefs.”
Another person close to the late actress added, “Kirstie hasn’t worked in over a year, and she’s fine with that,” an insider previously said. “She has no plans on returning to Hollywood.”
Shutterstock
Her ex-husband, Parker Stevenson, posted a touching tribute to Alley on Instagram.
“Dear Kirstie, I am so grateful for our years together and for the two incredibly beautiful children and now grandchildren that we have,” he wrote alongside a photo of Alley. “You will be missed. With love, Parker.”
Further, many of her colleagues and friends paid their tribute. Among the first who posted a touching message of condolences was actor John Travolta. “I love you, Kirstie,” he wrote on Instagram. “I know we will see each other again.”
Rest in peace, Kirstie Alley.
Please SHARE this article with your family and friends on Facebook.
Ovarian cancer affects 7,500 women each year in UK only, making it the 6th most common cancer in women.
This cancer affects the ovaries and is more common in women over the age of 50. Sadly, it is often diagnosed late, but if caught early, it is more treatable.
Even women who had had their ovaries removed are not immune to this cancer as it can also affect the fallopian tubes, or the lining inside the tummy (peritoneum).
Although the exact cause of ovarian cancer is unknown, there are certain factors that can increase or reduce the risks.
As per the Cancer Research UK, some of those factors are age – most affected women of this form of cancer are those aged 75 to 79 – inherited faulty genes, previous diagnosis of cancer at younger age (especially breast cancer), using hormone replacement therapy (HRT), smoking, and certain medical conditions such as endometriosis or diabetes.
The symptoms of ovarian cancer can be vague. The most common ones include:
Abdominal bloating: Feeling bloated during menstrual period or after consuming certain foods is rather normal. However, if the bloated tummy persists it can be a symptom of ovarian cancer. Around 72% of individuals with ovarian cancer experienced bloating.
Pelvic or stomach pain: A research by the National Library of Medicine reports that 39% of women with this type of cancer experienced pelvic or stomach pain. Some described it as an intense pressure, while others compare it to menstrual pain.
Bowel pattern changes: Diarrhea and constipation have been experienced by around 20% of women with ovarian cancer prior to their diagnosis, a research reveals.
Urinary changes: The need for frequent urination is listed as yet another ovarian cancer symptom. Besides this, some individuals reporting feeling a burning sensation during urination, or feeling their bladder being full after urinating.
Changes to your cycle: A 2020 research shows that 13% of women diagnosed with this type of cancer experienced vaginal bleeding prior to their diagnosis.
Weight loss: Another symptom of cancer is weight loss even when the individual isn’t trying to lose any.
Other conditions can show similar symptoms so it is always of crucial importance to consult with your doctor if you notice any changes in your body that may indicate any sickness.
Please SHARE this article with your family and friends on Facebook.
