Category: News

This abandoned building, which is the second-largest structure on the Maltese island of Comino, has a complicated past.  Comino may be the third-largest island in the Maltese Archipelago, but, throughout its history, it has been relatively sparsely populated compared to the neighboring islands of Malta and Gozo. Many tourists travel to the island every day, but most only visit the shores of the Blue Lagoon. Few people travel to the island’s interior, which features quite a few old and abandoned buildings. The second largest building on the island is the Isolation Hospital, which is currently in a nearly abandoned state and has a rather complicated past. Part of the building, which was originally called il-Palazz (the Palace), was built in the early 17th century as a military barracks near Santa Marija Tower, one of six such fortresses built on the islands at that time. Both were constructed by the orders of Grand Master Alof de Wignacourt, the leader of the Knights of St. John and ruler of the of the Maltese Islands. In the later half of the 19th century, when Malta was a British colony, the government decided to build an extension to il-Palazz and convert it into an isolation… CONTINUE READING…

This modest structure is where noted musician and the Band drummer Levon Helm grew up.   Mark Lavon “Levon” Helm grew up in a small and simple home in Turkey Scratch, Arkansas, about 80 miles southwest of Memphis. From a young age, he helped on his family’s cotton farm. By age six, Helm knew he wanted to leave to pursue a career in music, after seeing legendary bluegrass mandolinist and singer Bill Monroe perform. He took up guitar at age eight, and then drums.  His first break came when he was 17 years old, when rockabilly star Ronnie Hawkins found himself performing at the West Helena Delta Supper Club without a drummer. Hawkins’ band took Helm to Toronto, Canada, where the band eventually broke away from Hawkins and began making a name for themselves. Folk legend Bob Dylan took note and asked them to join him on a 1966 tour of the United Kingdom.  After recording with Dylan in Woodstock, New York, inside a pink house, the Band, as they were now called, released their debut album in 1968, called Music from Big Pink, which, with its country and western, R&B, and Appalachian influences, among others, countered the psychedelic musical culture of the time. Several… CONTINUE READING…

In the summer of 2017, over 35,000 scouts converged in Sønderborg, southern Denmark, for an international jamboree. The event’s theme, “We Leave Marks,” materialized with the unveiling of an extraordinary landmark: a colossal hiking boot named Støvlen (‘The Boot’). Stretching 66 feet (24 meters) in length and boasting a men’s shoe size of US 450 (EU 3600), Støvlen is a marvel of whimsical architecture. The toe of this giant boot serves as a sheltered gathering spot for barbecues, while the shaft houses an accessible toilet and a stair tower ascending to a viewing platform 40 feet (12 meters) above the ground. The unique structure, featuring a steel frame and thatched wooden surface, resulted from a collaboration between various companies and dedicated scout volunteers. Among these volunteers were engineers, carpenters, and electricians who worked tirelessly from dawn till dusk over several months. Their collective effort embodied the spirit of the scout movement, putting their best foot forward. Unlike most scout jamboree landmarks that are dismantled post-event, Støvlen has been preserved permanently. It now stands as a lasting footprint in Sønderborg, making a BIG impression on visitors. Know Before You Go ‘Støvlen’ stands in a natural reserve on the Kær Peninsula, at Sønderborg’s northern edge. Open 24/7 with free admission,… CONTINUE READING…

PARIS – An Olympic athlete who swam in the Seine River in Paris has fallen ill, forcing Belgium’s Olympic committee to withdraw its team from the mixed relay triathlon.  The Interfederal Committee said in a statement that  Claire Michel, who competed in the women’s triathlon Wednesday, “is unfortunately ill and will have to withdraw from the competition.”  Paris 2024 organizers had no immediate statement. The mixed relay triathlon is scheduled to take place Monday, with the swim portion of the competition slated for the Seine as well. The statement did not elaborate on Michel’s illness but it comes after concerns over the river’s water quality. Organizers had said that water quality tests done the day of the individual triathlon races showed “very good” bacteria levels. Daily water quality tests measure levels of the fecal bacteria, including E. coli, in the Seine’s waters. World Triathlon’s water safety guidelines and a 2006 European Union directive assign qualitative values to a range of E. coli levels. Under World Triathlon’s guidelines, E. coli levels up to 1,000 colony-forming units per 100 milliliters can be considered “good” and can allow competitions to go forward. World Triathlon’s medical committee said it considers water quality analysis, sanitary inspection and… CONTINUE READING…

Sounding off on Vice President and likely 2024 Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, Fox News Channel host Laura Ingraham threw some hilarious jabs VP Harris’s way, questioning why on earth Harris is in the position of immense responsibility that she is and noting that she seems far from qualified or prepared for such a situation. Beginning, Ingraham noted that Kamala seems to have been pushed along not by her talent but by her connections and that one who acts in such a way can only keep the truth about their awfulness hidden for so long. In her words: “When you don’t really ever get vetted, when you get pushed along in your career not for your talent, but because of connections — well, you can fake it for a while, but the truth is always going to come out.” Continuing, she argued that the truth about Harris that is now readily apparent is that she is far worse than any of the recent Democrat grandees at politics. As she put it: “And here’s the truth: Harris is nowhere close to being as politically adept as Hillary Clinton or Joe Biden, let alone in the same stratosphere as Obama.” Giving some examples… CONTINUE READING…

Mazi, a sweet-natured Beagle with large, expressive eyes and floppy ears, woke up excitedly on his birthday. He was five years old today and had spent every year of his life with his owner, Sarah. The morning had started like any other, with Mazi eagerly wagging his tail as Sarah greeted him with a pat on the head and his favorite breakfast. However, today there was an unusual tension in the air. Sarah seemed distracted, her movements hurried and her voice tinged with sadness. She didn’t sing “Happy Birthday” as she usually did, and the special treat Mazi anticipated was nowhere to be found. Instead, Sarah quietly packed a bag, her eyes avoiding Mazi’s inquisitive gaze. By mid-morning, Sarah had put Mazi in the car. Mazi loved car rides—they usually meant trips to the park or visits to friends. But today, the drive was silent. Sarah’s eyes stayed fixed on the road, and when Mazi tried to nuzzle her, she gently pushed him away, tears silently streaming down her face. They arrived at a building Mazi didn’t recognize. The sign outside read “City Animal Shelter.” Mazi’s tail wagged uncertainly as they walked inside. The smell of other animals and the… CONTINUE READING…

Famous actor Rob Schneider recently announced that he would no longer be watching the Olympics after the controversial opening ceremony that many believe was an overt mockery of “The Last Supper.”  Amid the outpouring of criticism against the Olympic Games from Christians worldwide, Schneider announced that he would no longer be watching the competitions. “I am sorry to say to ALL the world’s GREATEST ATHLETES, I wish you ALL THE BEST, but I cannot watch an Olympics that disrespects Christianity and openly celebrates Satan,” the famous actor shared in a July 28 post on social media. “I sincerely hope THESE @Olympics get the same amount of viewers as @cspan,” Schneider further wrote on X. In another post, Schneider referenced an incident in the ceremony in which the testicles from one of the drag queens could allegedly be seen protruding from their shorts in very close proximity to a child.  “Guys with their genitalia hanging out in front of children?! Drag Queens?! I wasn’t sure if I was watching the @Olympics or if I was watching a school board meeting…” he said, seemingly taking a jab at how woke many school districts have become with gender ideology. Schneider’s outrage to the ceremony makes sense, given his… CONTINUE READING…