Former child star killed in LA wildfire after mom tries to put out the fire

By
Monica Pop
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One of the people who tragically lost their lives in the raging Los Angeles fires is former child star Rory Callum Sykes.

According to his devastated mother, Rory, known for his appearance on the TV programme Kiddy Kapers in the 1990s, died of carbon monoxide poisoning at the cottage where he lived located on the estate of his family’s Malibu estate.

Rory was born with cerebral palsy. At the time of his passing, he was 32 years of age.

Freepik

His mother, Shelley tried to put out the flames on her son’s cottage, but failed due to shortage of water. She tried calling the emergency services but couldn’t connect to get help. “He died needlessly,” she told Australian outlet 10 News First. “He said ‘Mom, leave me,’ and no mom can leave their kid.”

Sadly, Shelley was unable to lift or move her son.

So she ran to get help, and sadly, when she and the firefighters returned, the cottage was burnt to the ground.

The child star, who was born in Australia and only moved to the US just recently, went through so much in his life. He had undergone plenty of surgeries in order to be able to learn to walk and to regain his sight. Despite his pain, he wished he traveled the world.

Twitter

In her post, his mother wrote, “British born Australian living in America, a wonderful son, a gift born on mine & his grandmas birthday 29 July, 92.”

She concluded her post, “He will be incredibly missed.”

“I couldn’t put out the cinders on his roof with a hose because the water was switched off,” Shelley explained on social media. “Even the 50 brave firefighters had no water all day.”

Sadly, Rory is at least one of 11 deaths linked to the wildfires.

Besides being a child star, Rory was also a “sought after motivational speaker” at the age of eight.

Recently, he and his mom had founded Happy Charity.

We are so very sorry for the loss of Rory.

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Supercomputer projects the end of human civilization

By
Monica Pop
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From a number of blockbuster films that predict the apocalypse, to ordinary people wondering if and when the human civilization may come to an end, the discussions of people’s future on planet Earth seems to be a never ending one.

Recently, a supercomputer made a projection on the topic and the prognosis are bleak.

According to it, a destruction of what we know as our home could come in roughly 250 million years from now.

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Further, the study, which was initially published in Nature Geoscience, analyzed the results of the supercomputer, taking into account various geological and biological factors.

It discussed the merging of tectonic plates, colossal slabs that constitute the Earth’s crust. With this, the Earth’s continents as we know them are expected to converge, forming a new supercontinent called Pangaea Ultima.

Pixabay

Sadly, this would lead to a drastic change in the climate – extreme temperatures and increased volcanic activity. The harsh conditions that would result from these changes would make it nearly impossible for mammals to survive.

“The newly-emerged supercontinent would effectively create a triple whammy, comprising the continentality effect, hotter sun and more CO2 in the atmosphere, of increasing heat for much of the planet,” Dr. Alexander Farnsworth, a lead researcher of the study stated.

© The Hearty Soul

In 250 million years from now, researchers believe the temperatures will reach 40-50 degrees Celsius. But it would be the extreme humidity that would put lives at risk. This humidity will greatly reduce how much heat mammals’ bodies will be able to release into the air.

In addition, around 8 to 16 percent of the land would be habitable for mammals when this supercontinent forms and humans would seriously struggle to adapt to the new climate extremes.

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However, despite the bleak prognosis, the good thing is that humans have plenty of time ahead in order to prepare for this possible future. Who knows, maybe those plans would involve colonies on Mars.

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Performance of Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood at Jimmy Carter’s funeral faces backlash for being disrespectful

By
Monica Pop
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Former president Jimmy Carter died aged 100. He had spent the last 19 months of his life in hospice care. On his funeral, country singers Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, long-time friends on the Carters, paid their tribute with a performance of John Lennon’s Imagine.

This was a rare appearance of Brooks and Yearwood, who first met the Carters on a Habitat for Humanity building project, since Brooks was accused by a former employee of sexual assault.

YouTube

The singer denied the allegations and told People in October, 2024, “I trust the system, I do not fear the truth, and I am not the man they have painted me to be.”

The couple attended president Carter’s 100th birthday in St. Paul, Minnesota for the 2024 Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Week Project.

While some found the tribute lovely, many took to social media to criticize the country musicians because of their choice of song.

The memorial being held inside an Episcopal cathedral and the lyrics of the song, including: ‘Imagine there’s no heaven / It’s easy if you try / No hell below us / Above us, only sky,’ led to backlash.

PBS News

“Of all the songs to play at a funeral; being held in a church! Horrible,” someone commented.

“What a bad choice of song at a devout Christian’s funeral. This is actually a terrible song if you listen to the words,” another added.

“He really wanted everyone to imagine ‘there’s no heaven’… in a church. At a funeral. Whoever made that call… sheesh,” a third person wrote.

Even with the criticism, there were plenty of people who stood up for Brooks and Yearwood. According to them, Imagine conveys a profound message of peace, unity, and bridging divides, making it an ideal tribute to Carter’s international humanitarian efforts.

In the past, president Carter had mentioned during interviews that Imagine was his favorite song. He once referred to it as a powerful anthem for our shared humanity.

Following the funeral, Brooks and Yearwood shared their heartfelt tributes to President Carter. Brooks posted, “President Carter, the legacy you and Rosalynn have left us is as beautiful as the life you lived.”

He emphasized the joy, warmth, and unwavering determination that Carter infused into every cause he supported. Yearwood shared similar thoughts: “Rest easy, Mr. President. Your legacy of love, along with Mrs. Rosalynn’s, will endure for all time.”

The couple didn’t comment the controversy surrounding their performance at the funeral.

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Granny pods allow your elderly parents to live in your backyard

By
Monica Pop
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When our parents reach that age when they can no longer take care of themselves or need assistance doing everyday things, it’s on us to be there for them and find the most suitable solution. Sometimes, children decide that placing them at facilities is the best thing to do, others, however opt for taking them in with them. But there is also another solution that I guess fits both sides just perfectly, and that’s the MEDCottage places, or granny pods.

These cottages are portable apartments that are placed in the the yard. This allows the parents to be really close to you, and still enjoy their privacy and independence.  

“That wasn’t our name,” Ken Dupin, MEDCottage’s founder told CBS News. “You don’t get to choose your nickname.”

The places are just awesome. They include all the safety features that nursing homes have, such as safety rails, first aid kits, defibrillator, and more. 

There are also cameras installed so the caregivers could monitor the parents. 

If you love the idea of purchasing a granny pod for your mom and dad you have to be ready to spend between $85,000 and $125,000. 

The only difficulty related to these homes is the placing, but Virginia already passed a law allowing the placement of MEDCottages. 

Why granny pods would be a better solution than nursing homes is the fact that 40% of residents of nursing homes have reported abuse and more than 90% of them reported incidents of neglect.

At the same time, a 2010 study showed that half of the caregivers at nursing homes admitted to elderly neglect or abuse. That same percent admitted to verbally abuse the residents at some point.

By 2030, one in five Americans will be over the age of sixty-five. This number would outweigh the facilities and resources available to them. And knowing that almost 90 percent of the elderly population would like to age in their own home, it’s safe to say that granny pods are the perfect solution.

Don’t you just love them?

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Christmas feast that my husband demanded I prepare with the $50 he threw at me – He never expected my payback

By
Monica Pop
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With the holiday being around the corner and our budget being tight, my husband Mike still insisted on inviting his family over for Christmas. For me, that meant endless hours of cleaning and cooking and then listening to his parents’ harsh comments about the kind of housewife I was. But things took even worse turn when Greg, who was incredibly irresponsible with his spending habits, threw $50 at me and told me to cook the Christmas feast, reminding me not to embarrass him in front of his family.

Looking at him, I smiled because I was sure he was joking this time. “Greg, this money isn’t enough for the turkey alone. How do you expect me to cook dinner for that many people with this little money?” I asked. “You’ll figure something out,” he responded. “Look at my mom, she is a magician in the kitchen and never spends much on groceries.”

Midjourney

I couldn’t believe he was doing this to me yet again. Ever since we married two years ago, both he and his parents, Richard and Maureen, treated me as their personal cook and their maid. They even joked about me cooking for every single holiday and most of the weekends. My father-in-law even suggested I start a catering service because I was cooking for free anyways. He then started laughing and his wife and son joined in the fun.

Their remarks and high expectations of me became something I couldn’t put up with any longer.

But, I had a plan. I knew I needed to teach Greg a lesson he would never forget.

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He always believed I didn’t deserve to have money on my own, because according to him I didn’t need any. I was a housewife and that’s how he saw me throughout our marriage.

However, I had some savings; money I put aside when doing the grocery shopping. Greg didn’t know of that money and I was about to use it for this Christmas.

So, instead of cooking, I pre-ordered everything from the nicest restaurant in town. I got a roasted turkey, pies, freshly-baked rolls, creamy mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce. The table resembled one from the catalogs. Everything was perfect, all I needed to do was reheat the food.

Thanksgiving feast

When Greg saw what I prepared, he said, “I knew you could make this. This is what happens when you have a husband who trusts in you.”

I couldn’t stand the irony in his tone of voice. He thought giving me this little validation would satisfy me.

His parents always judged people who ordered food instead of cooking it at home, saying they didn’t deserve to celebrate properly. They would also say they would never allow themselves to eat takeouts, especially on special days like Christmas.

When they arrived that afternoon, the first thing Maureen said was that I missed a spot at a shelf, pointing to a dust-free space. Anyways, I tried to act as cool as possible and even thanked her for her remark, adding I would take a note for the next time.

Midjourney

Greg, his parents, and his two brothers sat at the perfectly arranged table and couldn’t wait to try my specialties.

It was then that I raised a glass and said I did my best with the $50 my husband gave me and told me to work my magic. Yes, he believed that a Christmas feast was only worth that much money.

His brothers exchanged looks and I told everyone that I was treated as a personal maid and chef for way too long. Then, I revealed that the food was from a restaurant, took my purse, and left the house.

When I got in my car, I headed to the park where I used to find my peace. I opened the bottle of wine I had taken with me and I poured myself a glass.

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My phone went crazy. I received so many messages from Greg. They went from anger to desperation.

But I didn’t answer back.

Later that evening, I returned home. Greg was already asleep and the table was still set; the turkey untouched. The chairs were pushed as though the guests were in a hurry to leave the so much anticipated Christmas feast.

Pexels

In the morning, I told Greg it was done. I filed for divorce and for the first time in two years, I stopped fearing the holidays. I never felt so liberated before.

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Amid the Los Angeles wildfires, the business tycoon shares how the ‘miracle’ property remained completely ‘untouched’

By
Monica Pop
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Freepik

Among the properties that were completely destroyed in the Palisades fire in Los Angeles, there is a $9 million property that remained untouched.

The owner of the house, David Steiner, believes there is an explanation behind the miracle of his property not being affected by the wildfire.

Unfortunately, the fires that rage in LA have burnt over 20,000 acres. So far, first responders have managed to put out three of eight wildfires.

Freepik

Reports are that over 5,000 buildings, including homes, businesses, and landmarks have also been destroyed.

Authorities believe that the Kenneth fire, that threatens homes near Calabasas and Hidden Hills was set on purpose by a man that has since been arrested. The suspect was detained by the locals until police arrived. He was seen riding a bicycle and carrying a torch, trying to lit garbage cans and old Christmas trees.

Among those who lost their homes are a number of celebrities, among which Anna Faris, Eugene Levy, Paris Hilton, and Billy Crystal.

AFP via Getty Images

Tycoon David Steiner is surprised his property remained untouched by the raging flames.

When a local contractor sent him a video from the fire on January 7, Steiner, a retired retired waste-management businessman, was certain his three-story home was doomed, but that’s not what happened.

“[The contractor] was watching the news reports and saw my neighbor’s house going down and told me, ‘It looks like your house is going too’,” Steiner stated to the New York Post.

Soon, people started calling him on the phone, telling him his home was all over the news.

“I started getting pictures and realised we had made it through,” Steiner continued. “My wife sent me something this morning that said, ‘Last house standing’. And it brought a pretty big smile to my face at a pretty bad time.”

© AP

He believes that the house survived due to its cruise ship-like construction.

“It has an ‘ultra-sturdy construction’ and was built to withstand earthquakes,” the father of three said.

He explained that “It’s stucco and stone with a fireproof roof,” and boasts pilings ‘like 50 feet into the bedrock’ which keep it steady when strong waves crash in.

“To be totally honest with you, I never in a million years thought a wildfire would jump to the Pacific Coast Highway and start a fire,” Steiner said. “I thought, ‘If we ever have an earthquake, this would be the last thing to go’. I honestly didn’t think that if we had a fire, this would be the last thing to go. And it was.

Reuters

“The architecture is pretty nice. But the stucco and fireproof roof are real nice.”

When people texted him, saying they were praying for him, Steiner said he’d only lose a property, not his home. He didn’t have family memories there. He says we need to pray for those who have lost their homes.

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This dish can be the reason why people die of cancer

By
Monica Pop
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The food we consume plays a significant, if nor crucial, role in maintaining good health. Having said that, moderation is the key. Consuming too much of certain food can affect our overall well-being.

We should all strive for a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains if we want to maintain good physical and mental health.

Speaking of foods that can have a negative impact on our body, there is a certain Thai dish that is so dangerous to consume it is believed to take the lives of 20,000 people each year.

The ingredients themselves don’t impose any danger, except for one key component.

This dish, known as Koi Pla, is made of raw fish, lemon juice, herbs, and spices, but it is considered a salad by the people living in modern-day Laos and Isan. Sometimes, galangal, shallots, and mint are used for added flavor.

Wkimedia Commons

The fish used to prepare this dish is caught from a body of water in the Mekong region which contains parasitic flatworms.

Sadly, people consume this dish, they are likely to end up with the parasites in their body. These parasites attack the liver and cause liver cancer.

This type of cancer is mostly present in people of East Asia.

Doctor Narong Khuntikeo is trying to raise awareness of the dangers of Koi Pla. His own parents died of liver cancer after consuming this dish.

Unfortunately, the Lao people won’t listen. They simply won’t give up their tradition of preparing and consuming this dish that can lead them to death.

“It’s a very big health burden around here,” Dr. Khuntikeo told Agence France-Presse. “But nobody knows about this because they die quietly, like leaves falling from a tree.”

In 2017, the doctor, along with a group of scientists, performed ultrasound scans and urine tests at the people of the region where the dish is consumed on a daily basis.

The results showed that around 80 percent of the people from different communities have had the parasite.

When sharing the findings with the residents, most of them won’t care.

“Oh well, there are many ways to die,” one of them said. “I’ve never been checked before, so I think I will probably have it because I’ve been eating (koi pla) since I was little,” another added.

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Young boy loses his life in a rare ‘one-in-a-million’ skiing accident while on a trip with his entire family

By
Monica Pop
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Just before New Year, the Murray family of Weymouth, Massachusetts, lost their son Jack during a skiing accident described as “one-in-a-million.”

As he enjoyed the snow, sweet Jack struck a tree while on an intermediate trail. He was 12 years old.

The police confirmed that at the time of the tragedy, Jack had his safety gear on, including a helmet.

He was found unconscious and was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

At the time of his tragic passing, he was surrounded by his parents, his brother, his cousin, and his uncle.

Speaking of his son, Jake’s dad told WCVB, “He was skiing on a trail that was well within his ability. He was wearing his helmet and safety gear. Just kind of a one-in-a-million accident that, unfortunately, cut his life too short.”

Although he was still very young, Jake had accomplished a lot.

His obituary read: “Jack is the most magical little boy and was on his way to becoming a truly exceptional man. His positivity and laughter are infectious. He is a loving and patient person who always sees the best in people.

“Despite his short life he did more in twelve years than most do in a lifetime. He was an artist and musician who loved to draw, paint, build, invent, play trombone and drums.”

GoFundMe

“He was an entrepreneur who started an eBay store to sell thrift store finds. [Jack] sold cookies to local restaurants and sold and drew caricatures for the neighborhood with his friends.

“He even created a clothing brand, shirt designs and built an online store all by himself. Jack has a passion for everything in life, he is a soccer player, assistant coach for Finn’s team and referee in Weymouth Youth Soccer.

Family handout

“He was on the Chapman Wrestling team, loved basketball, paddle boarding with his mother, swimming, boating with his father, and movies at the Cameo with friends.”

Jack’s family started a GoFundMe page that has helped raise over $100,000 so far.

That tragic skiing accident affected their lives forever.

Our thoughts and prayers go to Jack’s grieving family.

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