Category: News

Once home to 10,000 people, Bodie boomed in the 1870s and 1880s, when gold was found in the hills surrounding Mono Lake. It’s now a State Historic Park, with some parts of the town preserved in a state of “arrested decay”—think tables with place settings and shops stocked with supplies. The haunted history of Bodie’s beginnings The town of Bodie began much like many boomtowns of the 19th century: with a euphoric discovery of gold!  The lucky prospector who made the fateful find was William (aka Wakement or Waterman) Bodey, who had been tirelessly searching in the area for 10 years. Once he got a glimpse of gold in the hills around modern-day Bodie, he and a group of friends founded a mining camp in 1859. But, fate turned on the prospector that same year when he got lost in a blizzard on his way to Monoville. His body was found the following spring, and his mining buddies memorialized him by calling their new town Bodey, later to be changed to Body and then Bodie. Bodie becomes a den of debauchery During its peak, Bodie was a quintessential Wild West town. It had a downtown area with up to 65 competing… CONTINUE READING…

Mark Harmon is one of those actors whose character might just be more famous than the actor himself. Harmon got the role of a lifetime as Leroy Jethro Gibbs on NCIS – and it made him one of the most famous faces in the world. But behind the scenes, Mark Harmon has faced his share of hardships, and his sister’s tragic death in 2018 was a huge blow for the actor and his family. Mark Harmon has been in the entertainment industry his entire adult life. Though he’s had a long and storied career, the last 20 years have been almost entirely focused on his role as Leroy Jethro Gibbs on the hit television show NCIS, for which he’s been nominated for Emmys and other awards. In just a matter of years during his youth, Harmon transformed from football hunk to a great actor. At the same time, he’s been very quiet about his private life, always putting his family first. Mark Harmon & Wife Pam Dawber (Photo by Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images) Mark’s father, Tom Harmon, was an All-American football player who won the 1940 Heisman Trophy. He was even the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft in 1941…. CONTINUE READING…

The US supreme court has declined to halt Donald Trump’s upcoming sentencing for his conviction in state court in New York on felony charges involving hush money paid to an adult film star, Stormy Daniels, and a related gag order until after the 5 November election. The decision by the justices came in response to a lawsuit by the state of Missouri claiming that the case against Trump infringed on the right of voters under the US constitution to hear from the Republican presidential nominee as he seeks to regain the White House, Reuters reports. Trump is set to be sentenced on 18 September in Manhattan. He was found guilty in May of all 34 counts of falsifying business records in a criminal hush-money scheme to influence the outcome of the 2016 election. He is the Republican party nominee for president in the election in November, facing Kamala Harris for the Democrats.

A tiny, shivering  puppy was found abandoned in a cruel and heartless manner. Wrapped in a damp blanket, he was left to fend for himself near a bustling park. It was a scene that tugged at the heartstrings of anyone who witnessed it. The little creature was immediately taken to the Sacramento SPCA, a beacon of hope for countless animals in need. A Puppy’s Journey from Abandonment to Love Upon examination, it became clear that this  puppy was not like the others. He struggled with a condition called cerebellar hypoplasia, a neurological disorder affecting the brain. This difference made him appear unusual and led to his cruel abandonment. It’s a heartbreaking reality that many animals face: rejection due to something beyond their control. A  Puppy’s Journey from Abandonment to Love A Fighting Spirit Despite the challenges he faced, the  puppy, later named Petey, exhibited an indomitable spirit. The dedicated staff at the Sacramento SPCA refused to give up on him. They understood that with the right care and support, Petey could overcome his obstacles. Physical therapy sessions were initiated to help him build strength and coordination, while love and affection provided the emotional support he desperately needed. A New Beginning Slowly but surely, Petey began to improve…. CONTINUE READING…

VISITORS TO CHINGUETTI HAVE THE chance to see new Chinguetti, where most accommodations are located, and old Chinguetti, the semi-abandoned, half-buried city where ancient libraries can be found. There is, however, a third Chinguetti, which has almost entirely been reclaimed by the desert. A little over one mile (two kilometers) northeast of modern Chinguetti, on the way to the village of Entkemkemt, the desert track runs through a set of unimpressive sand dunes. Buried under these sand dunes are the remains of the older Chinguetti.  Chinguetti was founded in the year 777 CE and became a major trading, cultural, and religious hub in the region by the 11th-century. It was around this time that Chinguetti reached its apogee and started declining. After two centuries of steady decline, the settlement was eventually abandoned and a new Chinguetti was re-established as a fortified trading center. It is undetermined whether remains from the original Chinguetti can be found among the ruins under these dunes. The terrain is harsh, interspersed with thorny bushes, scrawny goats, and ramshackle huts. There is, however, one imposing, isolated building that stands out. It is the only building from older Chinguetti that has been kept clear of the sand: the… CONTINUE READING…

In another rare public appearance for former First Lady Melania Trump, who appears to have been staying at the family’s New York City residence in Trump Tower in the weeks following the former president’s shocking conviction on all 34 felony counts brought against him by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, stunned with her tasteful and beautiful outfit. As background, Melania has not been very present during this election cycle, with Trump saying that she is more of a private person but will do what she can to help the country success. Talking about her private nature and willingness to eschew it for the good of the country, he said,  “It’s funny, she was a very successful model, very, very successful, and yet she was a private person. She’s going to be out a lot. Not because she likes doing it, but she likes the results.” Continuing, he added, “She wants to see this country really succeed. She loves the country.” Continuing, Trump re-emphasized Melania’s essentially private nature compared to other First Ladies. He said, “You know, a lot of first ladies would go out — they want to be everywhere. They get angry at their husband because he’s not introducing them.” He then continued, “If I… CONTINUE READING…

A luxury Parisian hotel was forced to apologize to Serena Williams and her family after the retired American tennis player was reportedly denied entry to the hotel’s rooftop restaurant. “Yikes @peninsulaparis I’ve been denied access to rooftop to eat in a empty restaurant of nicer places but never with my kids. Always a first,” Williams wrote on X Monday. Williams, 42, has been in Paris with her husband Alexis Ohanian, and their two daughters Olympia, 6, and Adira, 10 months, since the start of the 2024 Olympics. The four-time Olympic gold medalist was involved in this year’s Olympic torch relay as the torch made its way from the Seine to the Olympic Cauldron. During her segment, she was joined by Rafael Nadal, Carl Lewis, and Nadia Comăneci. Following more than a week of games, Williams attempted to dine at the rooftop restaurant of the Peninsula Paris, a five-star hotel whose restaurant offers a view of the Eiffel Tower. However, when she arrived, Williams claimed she and her family were denied entry despite what she called an “empty restaurant.” As many fans reached out to show their support, so did the Peninsula Paris. “Dear Mrs. Williams, Please accept our deepest apologies for the disappointment you… CONTINUE READING…

Congresswoman and “Squad” member Cori Bush lost big in her primary race on the evening of Tuesday, August 6. Polling from the eve of the election and well before was correct in showing that St. Louis County prosecutor Wesley Bell, a marginally more moderate candidate who had the backing of pro-Israel groups, would blow her out of the water. So, voters in the far-left 1st Congressional District of Missouri voted to unseat her in what appears to be a rebuke of the Squad’s farthest left stances, particularly on Israel. In that respect, it is similar to Rep. Jamal Bowman’s brutal loss in New York, a loss that saw the American Israeli political action committee pour money into his opponent’s race. Victor Wesley Bell released a statement after his victory had been called. In the version of it posted to X (formerly Twitter), the statement began by saying, “Tonight, Wesley Bell defeated incumbent Rep. Cori Bush to win the Democratic primary for Congress for Missouri’s 1st Congressional District.” The statement then quoted Bell as thanking all those who voted and volunteered for him, saying, “I am deeply honored and humbled by the trust the people of this district have placed in me. This victory belongs to every… CONTINUE READING…