What Happened to Chuck Norris? Where Is He and What Is He Doing in 2024?

Chuck Norris: The Man, the Myth, the Legend

Remember the early 2000s when Chuck Norris jokes about his unmatched strength were everywhere? While those memes have mostly faded, rumors of his death seem to resurface every year. This mix of humor and hoaxes has left many wondering what Chuck Norris is up to these days. Once a top action star, Norris has largely stepped out of the public eye. We looked into what he’s doing now and whether he has any plans for the future.

Why We Don’t See Him Anymore – Chuck Norris Left Hollywood to Care for His Wife

Chuck Norris’s last major film role was in 2012’s The Expendables 2. In 2020, he made a guest appearance on Hawaii Five-0, but apart from the occasional late-night infomercial, he has been largely absent from Hollywood. The reason for his departure is deeply personal—his wife, Gena, fell seriously ill in 2017 after undergoing a series of MRI scans. She received three gadolinium injections in eight days, which led to severe symptoms like joint pain, weakness, and full-body tremors. At one point, she even lost 15 pounds and struggled to swallow, requiring a diet of baby food.

The Norris family believed she suffered from gadolinium poisoning, although doctors were divided on the diagnosis. Gena eventually found relief at a clinic in Nevada, and Chuck decided to step away from his career to care for her and raise awareness about the potential dangers of gadolinium. They filed a $10 million lawsuit, which they later dropped in 2020.

What Is Chuck Norris Doing Now?

Since stepping away from the spotlight, Chuck Norris has kept a low profile, making it difficult to track his activities. However, it’s confirmed that he was not involved in the Capitol riot on January 6th, despite a lookalike being spotted there. His representatives quickly clarified that it wasn’t him.

Through these life changes, Chuck Norris remains a beloved figure, choosing to focus on his family and health, far removed from the glitz of Hollywood.

Sally Field, 76, Called ‘Ugly’ after Deciding to Age Naturally – She Found Joy in Being a Grandma of 5 and Living in an Ocean-View House

 Sally Field, known for her iconic matriarchal roles, also ventured into comedy with “Gidget” in 1965. Though it was short-lived, she cherished the experience, which opened doors for her in Hollywood. Her stepfather’s influence during her tough upbringing pushed her to audition for Columbia Pictures’ acting workshop.

At eighteen, Field’s breakout role came after graduating from Birmingham High School. She endured two divorces, her first with high school sweetheart Steven Craig, lasting seven years and yielding two sons. Her relationship with actor Burt Reynolds, reminiscent of her stepfather, followed. Later, she married film producer Alan Greisman, welcoming a son, Samuel, in 1984, but they parted ways in 1994.

In 1979, Field won an Academy Award for her role as a union organizer in “Norma Rae,” solidifying her Hollywood success. Her determination and resilience have been instrumental in her impressive journey.

Cher’s Age-Defying Looks Leaving Fans in Awe

 Cher, the iconic singer and actress, continues to wow audiences with her youthful appearance as she turns 77.

Cher’s young appearance has remained unwavering despite the passage of time, making fans curious about her secret to resisting the clutches of time. In this post, we’ll look at the actress’s most important anti-aging tips.

Cher’s Ultimate Anti-Aging Secrets
Cher’s stunning figure and wrinkle-free skin have impressed many. Last year, she amazed the crowd at Paris Fashion Week, strutting the catwalk in Balmain’s dazzling silver spandex bodysuit. During the Versace show, she stunned once again, wearing another skintight outfit from the designer’s latest collection.

While Cher has admitted to undergoing cosmetic procedures, she attributes her ageless appearance primarily to her healthy lifestyle. In her book, “Forever Fit,” she shared her tried and tested anti-aging methods contributing to her timeless beauty.

Prioritizing Health for Ageless Beauty
According to Cher, giving yourself a fighting chance is the most important thing. She has adopted various habits that have undoubtedly helped her defy aging. Here are some of her fundamental principles:

A Healthy Lifestyle: Cher quit smoking, avoids drugs, seldom drinks coffee or alcohol, and has eliminated chiefly red meat from her diet. These choices have undoubtedly given her an advantage in maintaining her youthful glow.

2. Moderation is Key: In an interview on Today, Cher revealed that her only vice is chocolate. She emphasized that she doesn’t drink, smoke, or do drugs. She follows a workout routine and pays attention to her diet. Although she enjoys the occasional indulgence, she maintains a sensible approach.

3. Retin-A: A Secret Weapon: Cher discovered the wonders of Retin-A, an adult acne treatment, in the 1970s. She noticed that it also had anti-aging benefits besides effectively controlling her acne. To this day, Cher continues to use Retin-A, attesting to its effectiveness and de-aging properties.

4. Cher’s Honest Approach to Plastic Surgery: In addition to her healthy lifestyle, Cher is open about having undergone plastic surgery. She had a nose job, a decision to enhance her confidence while appearing on the big screen. Cher firmly believes that people should do what makes them happy and comfortable in their skin.

In conclusion, Cher’s ageless appearance can be attributed to healthy lifestyle choices, skincare practices, and cosmetic procedures. Her commitment to prioritizing her health and confidence in making personal decisions about her appearance has undoubtedly contributed to her timeless beauty.

With her unwavering allure, Cher continues to inspire fans of all ages and serves as a testament that age is just a number.

Rosie O’Donnell’s Son Marries ‘The Love of His Life’ at Charming Wedding in Front of Family: Photos

 Blake Christopher O’Donnell and Teresa Garofalow Westervelt tied the knot in a stunning ceremony on August 16, 2024. Surrounded by family and friends, the couple exchanged vows in a celebration that was nothing short of magical.

Rosie O’Donnell, Blake’s proud mom, shared her joy on social media, posting heartwarming photos from the day. “Awwww… #newlyweds –Blake and Teresa O’Donnell #loveuso,” she captioned one image of the couple gazing lovingly at each other.

The wedding was filled with special moments, including Anne Steele, Blake’s stepmother, singing her original song “Timeless” for the couple’s first dance. “It was my honor to sing…I will never forget it,” Anne shared in her post.

The reception was a lively affair, with guests dancing the night away on a smoke-machine-infused dance floor. Teresa, later changing into a different dress and sneakers, and Blake were seen jumping by the DJ booth as sparkles lit up the scene.

Rosie also posted a touching tribute to her late mother, Roseanne O’Donnell, with a “memory table” at the wedding, commemorating loved ones who couldn’t be there.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the beautiful couple and wish them everlasting love and happiness!

Only a laser-eyed genius can spot the hidden key in 7 seconds!

 Only a laser-eyed genius can spot the hidden key in 7 seconds!

Optical illusions are mind-bending images that challenge your perception and test your observation skills. These fun challenges also help scientists understand how our brain processes visual information.

Engaging with optical illusions can enhance cognitive abilities and stimulate the brain to think creatively. Practising these activities regularly helps improve memory and sharpens problem-solving skills.

Do you have laser eyes? Let’s find out!

Take a look at the picture above. You see a woman standing outside her house, searching frantically through her purse for the key to open the door. The trick here is that the key isn’t in her purse— it’s hidden somewhere else in the picture.

Can you find it in just 7 seconds? Test your visual acuity with this challenge. Your time starts now!

Check the image carefully. If you pay close attention to the details of the picture, you might be able to spot the hidden key easily.

Readers with excellent visual skills will likely be the first ones to spot the hidden key. Have you spotted it? It is tough to locate the hidden key at first glance, isn’t it?

Hurry up; the clock is ticking! Quickly, take one more look at the image.

And… Time’s up. Stop looking now! How many of you were able to spot the hidden key?

If you found the hidden key, you have laser eyes. For those who couldn’t spot it, don’t get discouraged! Practising more of these challenges can improve your observation speed.

Find Hidden Key: Solution
The hidden key can be spotted hanging from the lamp post on the top right corner of the image.

If you enjoyed this optical illusion challenge, why not share it with your family and friends to see who solves it the fastest?

Phil Donahue, legendary talk show host, dead at 88

 

Phil Donahue, the legendary daytime talk show host, is dead. He was 88.

Donahue died “peacefully” at his home Sunday, August 18, following a long illness. He was surrounded by his wife of 44 years, Marlo Thomas, as well as “his sister, his children, grandchildren and his beloved golden retriever, Charlie,” according to a statement shared with Today.

Born in 1935, Donahue began his career in media in the late 1950s. After working as a local reporter in his native Ohio, Donahue launched his eponymous talk show. It initially aired on a local CBS affiliate before changing to a local NBC affiliate in Dayton, Ohio in 1967. Three years later it was picked up for syndication and aired around the country.

The Phil Donahue Show, later changed to Donahue, paved the way for future daytime talk shows.

Donahue’s show was the first to allow audience members to question guests.

“One day, I just went out in the audience, and it’s clear there would be no Donahue show if I hadn’t somehow accidentally brought in the audience,” Donahue told WGN in an interview.

In addition to paving the way for other daytime hosts such as Oprah Winfrey and Sally Jesse Raphael, Donahue won 20 Emmy Awards and most recently was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Biden.

Donahue’s family requested in lieu of flowers donations be made to to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Phil Donahue/Notre Dame Scholarship Fund.

Phil Donahue, we will miss you. Thank you for all your contributions to daytime television. May you rest in peace.

I’m at a loss for words after discovering this fascinating antique object in my country home! What is it, and how was it utilised in the past?

 

Unveiling the Vintage Brass Water Sprayer: A Tale of History, Utility, and Heritage

The vintage brass water sprayer stands as a testament to craftsmanship, utility, and heritage. From its humble beginnings to its enduring legacy, this iconic tool has left an indelible mark on gardening and horticulture.

A Glimpse into History
The history of the vintage brass water sprayer traces back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries when gardening emerged as a popular pastime among the affluent. Crafted from durable brass, these sprayers were meticulously handcrafted by skilled artisans, reflecting an era when attention to detail and quality craftsmanship were paramount.

Utility and Versatility
The vintage brass water sprayer was more than just a gardening tool; it was a symbol of sophistication and refinement. Its sturdy construction and ergonomic design made it ideal for a myriad of tasks, including watering delicate plants, misting foliage, and applying pesticides or fertilizers with precision.

Gardeners cherished its reliability and versatility, as it provided a gentle, even spray that nurtured plants without causing damage. Its ergonomic handle and pump mechanism allowed for effortless operation, ensuring an enjoyable gardening experience for enthusiasts of all ages.

Enduring Legacy
Despite the advent of modern gardening tools, the vintage brass water sprayer remains a cherished heirloom in many households. Its timeless design and enduring functionality evoke a sense of nostalgia, harkening back to a bygone era when gardening was a cherished pastime.

Today, collectors and enthusiasts alike prize these vintage sprayers for their historical significance and aesthetic appeal. Whether displayed as a decorative accent or used as intended in the garden, they serve as tangible reminders of a simpler time when quality and craftsmanship reigned supreme.

Conclusion
In conclusion, the vintage brass water sprayer stands as a testament to the rich history and enduring legacy of gardening. From its origins as a utilitarian tool to its status as a cherished heirloom, it continues to captivate the imaginations of enthusiasts around the world. As we tend to our gardens with these timeless treasures, we honor the craftsmanship and tradition that define gardening’s timeless allure.

It used to be one of the most commonly used items. I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t know what it is.

 

The vintage hair dryer, particularly the bonnet style, became a symbol of beauty and convenience in the mid-20th century. Introduced in the 1950s, this innovative device was a response to the growing desire for at-home hair care solutions. Unlike modern handheld dryers, the bonnet hair dryer featured a cap connected to a hose, which was attached to a portable or tabletop unit. The device’s popularity soared in the 1960s and 1970s as women sought salon-quality results from the comfort of their homes.

Usage

Using the vintage bonnet hair dryer was a simple yet time-consuming process. After washing and setting their hair in rollers, users would place the bonnet over their heads. The bonnet, typically made of soft, flexible material, was designed to evenly distribute warm air around the head, ensuring consistent drying. This hands-free approach allowed women to engage in other activities while their hair dried, making it a convenient tool for multitasking. The bonnet dryer was particularly favored for setting curls, giving hair the voluminous and polished look that defined the era.

Legacy

The legacy of the vintage bonnet hair dryer is one of both nostalgia and innovation. Although modern hair dryers have evolved into more compact and efficient devices, the bonnet style remains a beloved relic of a bygone era. It represents a time when beauty routines were more leisurely and meticulous, reflecting the cultural values of the mid-20th century. Today, vintage hair dryers are cherished by collectors and beauty enthusiasts alike, not only as functional devices but as iconic symbols of style and elegance. Their influence can still be seen in contemporary hair care tools, where the focus on achieving professional results at home continues to be a priority.

My kid vanished when he was just 10.

 

Ah, the carefree spirit of youth—often leading teenagers to make the most impulsive decisions, right? But sometimes, these decisions can shape our lives in unexpected ways. Let me tell you about Joey, a bold 16-year-old who followed his dreams, against all odds.

oey was a young boy with a burning desire to pursue a medical career. He lived in a rural farm with his widowed mother, Flora. But he knew that to achieve his dreams, he had to leave the familiar behind and venture into the unknown.

Leaving a heartfelt goodbye note beside his mother’s sewing machine, Joey set off on his grand adventure. The note read, “Dear Mom, I’m off on a journey to chase my dreams. I’ll always love you, and I’m sorry for causing you worry. Take care. With Love, Joey.” Little did Joey know that this journey would soon test his resilience and teach him valuable life lessons.

In the bustling city, Joey faced the harsh reality of starting from scratch. Luckily, he found solace in his friend Dan, who became his guiding light in the urban jungle. However, the dream of becoming a doctor seemed distant with every costly taxi ride and meager grocery store paycheck.

Joey’s optimism kept him going, and he postponed calls to Flora, hoping to share good news soon. Determined to make his dreams come true, he asked Dan eagerly, “When can I start?” Dan, always encouraging, replied, “Don’t worry, Joey. You’ll start earning enough to cover your expenses soon.” These words ignited hope within Joey’s heart, even though the mounting expenses kept his dreams at bay.

As time went on, Joey faced more struggles than successes. The road to his dreams was not as smooth as he had imagined. But fate had an unexpected encounter in store for him. One icy day, Joey slipped and fell, only to be saved by a mysterious elderly man named Mr. Clark.

Mr. Clark, with his wise eyes and gentle smile, extended a helping hand to Joey. After the incident, he slid Joey a business card and simply said, “Keep going, young man. You’re destined for greatness.” Joey was both puzzled and intrigued by Mr. Clark’s words, but he held onto that business card as a symbol of hope.

Little did Joey know that this encounter would change his life forever. As he reached out to Mr. Clark, a world of opportunities and mentors unfolded before him. With their guidance and support, Joey regained his focus and rekindled his determination to pursue his dream of becoming a doctor.

Joey’s journey was far from ordinary, but it taught him invaluable lessons about resilience, friendship, and the power of believing in oneself. With renewed passion and unwavering determination, Joey continued on his path, ready to conquer the challenges that lay ahead.

And as for Flora, his loving mother, she may have started the day oblivious to her son’s plans, but little did she know that Joey’s uncommon journey would ultimately bring him back to her, not just as a loving son but also as an accomplished doctor, fulfilling his dreams and making her proud.

Joey’s story reminds us that sometimes, the road to our dreams may be bumpy and uncertain, but with perseverance and the support of those who believe in us, we can overcome any obstacle. So, no matter your age, never stop chasing your dreams and believing in the magic that lies within you.

Actor Passes Away at 79

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Whitney Rydbeck, the talented actor known for his role in “Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives,” has sadly left us at the age of 79. He passed away on Monday due to complications from prostate cancer while in hospice care in Chatsworth, California.

The news was confirmed by Tommy McLoughlin, the director of the sixth “Friday the 13th” film, who paid tribute to Rydbeck on Instagram.

McLoughlin fondly remembers Rydbeck as not only a funny comedian and actor but also as one of the most genuine and kind-hearted human beings he has ever known.

He expressed his sorrow and offered his blessings to the departed actor, saying, “God Bless You and Rest in Peace..Whitney Rydbeck. Our Loss is Heavens’ Gain.”

Born in Los Angeles, Rydbeck attended Pasadena High School, Pasadena City College, and Cal State Fullerton, where he studied theater. He began his acting career with a role in an episode of “Nanny and the Professor” in 1970 and went on to appear in popular shows like “The Brady Bunch,” “MAS*H,” and “Monster Squad,” as well as notable films such as “Love at First Bite,” “Rocky II,” and Steven Spielberg’s “1941.”

Rydbeck’s portrayal of Roy, a paintball soldier in “Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives,” became one of his most memorable performances. In the film, Roy attempts to kill the infamous mass murderer Jason Voorhees but tragically becomes one of his victims instead.

Apart from his acting career, Rydbeck gained recognition as a crash test dummy named “Larry” in seat belt safety public service announcements during the 1980s. In these campaigns, Rydbeck and Tony Reitano portrayed the consequences of not wearing seat belts, depicting the serious damage caused by (fake) car accidents. The commercials concluded with the famous line, “You could learn a lot from a dummy. Buckle your safety belt.”

Rydbeck attributed his success in the commercial role to his experience as a mime.He also emphasized the importance of seat belt usage, stating, “I always buckle up, I’ll tell you that.”

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Rydbeck continued to make his mark in both television and film, appearing in shows such as “7th Heaven,” “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” “Murder, She Wrote,” “Living Single,” and “Party of Five.” His movie credits included “Oliver & Company,” “A Very Brady Sequel,” and “Murder of Innocence.” After starring in the 2007 short film “The Oates’ Valor,” Rydbeck decided to retire from acting and reportedly became a drama teacher at Pasadena City College.

Whitney Rydbeck’s legacy as a talented actor and kind-hearted individual will be cherished by his fans and colleagues alike. His contributions to the entertainment industry will continue to resonate, and he will always be remembered for the memorable characters he brought to life on screen. May he rest in peace.

What an epic 18th-century scientific row teaches us today

 

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The aristocratic French polymath Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon chose a good year to die: 1788. Reflecting his status as a star of the Enlightenment and author of 35 popular volumes on natural history, Buffon’s funeral carriage drawn by 14 horses was watched by an estimated 20,000 mourners as it processed through Paris. A grateful Louis XVI had earlier erected a statue of a heroic Buffon in the Jardin du Roi, over which the naturalist had masterfully presided. “All nature bows to his genius,” the inscription read. The next year the French Revolution erupted. As a symbol of the ancien regime, Buffon was denounced as an enemy of progress, his estates in Burgundy seized, and his son, known as the Buffonet, guillotined. In further insult to his memory, zealous revolutionaries marched through the king’s gardens (nowadays known as the Jardin des Plantes) with a bust of Buffon’s great rival, Carl Linnaeus. They hailed the Swedish scientific revolutionary as a true man of the people. The intense intellectual rivalry between Buffon and Linnaeus, which still resonates today, is fascinatingly told by the author Jason Roberts in his book Every Living Thing, my holiday reading while staying near Buffon’s birthplace in Burgundy. Natural history, like all history, might be written by the victors, as Roberts argues. And for a long time, Linnaeus’s highly influential, but flawed, views held sway. But the book makes a sympathetic case for the further rehabilitation of the much-maligned Buffon. The two men were, as Roberts writes, exact contemporaries and polar opposites. While Linnaeus obsessed about classifying all biological species into neat categories with fixed attributes and Latin names (Homo sapiens, for example), Buffon emphasised the vast diversity and constantly changing nature of every living thing. In Roberts’s telling, Linnaeus emerges as a brilliant but ruthless dogmatist, who ignored inconvenient facts that did not fit his theories and gave birth to racial pseudoscience. But it was Buffon’s painstaking investigations and acceptance of complexity that helped inspire the evolutionary theories of Charles Darwin, who later acknowledged that the Frenchman’s ideas were “laughably like mine”.   Engravings of anatomical parts of an apus (triops) cranciformis in one of the 35 popular volumes on natural history written by Buffon © De Agostini/Getty Images In two aspects, at least, this 18th-century scientific clash rhymes with our times. The first is to show how intellectual knowledge can often be a source of financial gain. The discovery of crops and commodities in other parts of the world and the development of new methods of cultivation had a huge impact on the economy in that era. “All that is useful to man originates from these natural objects,” Linnaeus wrote. “In one word, it is the foundation of every industry.”  Great wealth was generated from trade in sugar, potatoes, coffee, tea and cochineal while Linnaeus himself explored ways of cultivating pineapples, strawberries and freshwater pearls. “In many ways, the discipline of natural history in the 18th century was roughly analogous to technology today: a means of disrupting old markets, creating new ones, and generating fortunes in the process,” Roberts writes. As a former software engineer at Apple and a West Coast resident, Roberts knows the tech industry.  Then as now, the addition of fresh inputs into the economy — whether natural commodities back then or digital data today — can lead to astonishing progress, benefiting millions. But it can also lead to exploitation. As Roberts tells me in a telephone interview, it was the scaling up of the sugar industry in the West Indies that led to the slave trade. “Sometimes we think we are inventing the future when we are retrofitting the past,” he says. The second resonance with today is the danger of believing we know more than we do. Roberts compares Buffon’s state of “curious unknowing” to the concept of “negative capability” described by the English poet John Keats. In a letter written in 1817, Keats argued that we should resist the temptation to explain away things we do not properly understand and accept “uncertainties, mysteries, doubts, without any irritable reaching after fact and reason.” Armed today with instant access to information and smart machines, the temptation is to ascribe a rational order to everything, as Linnaeus did. But scientific progress depends on a humble acceptance of relative ignorance and a relentless study of the fabric of reality. The spooky nature of quantum mechanics would have blown Linnaeus’s mind. If Buffon still teaches us anything, it is to study the peculiarity of things as they are, not as we might wish them to be.

A Hero’s Sacrifice: Remembering Corey Comperatore

Tragedy struck the PA Trump Rally when 50-year-old Corey Comperatore lost his life while trying to protect his daughter. He was identified as the man killed by a sniper during an attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. The shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, injured the former president and two others before being taken down by law enforcement.

Corey’s sister, Dawn Comperatore Schafer, shared the heartbreaking news on Facebook, revealing the devastating impact of hatred. She wrote, “The PA Trump Rally claimed the life of my brother, Corey Comperatore. The hatred for one man took the life of the one man we loved the most.”

Described as a hero, Corey died shielding his daughter from harm. His sister expressed the limitless nature of hatred and the boundless love Corey had for his family. She called for prayers for the grieving family, acknowledging the painful reality they now face.

Corey’s wife and daughter also shared their experiences from that fateful day. His daughter, Allyson, recounted how her father bravely shielded her from the bullet. With immense love for his family, Corey selflessly put himself in harm’s way. She fondly referred to her father as a “real-life superhero.”

Helen, Corey’s wife, expressed the profound sorrow they now carry. What was supposed to be an exciting day turned into a nightmare that their family will never forget. The impact on their young girls is something that can never be undone. Despite the tragedy, Helen acknowledges that Corey died the hero he always was.

Corey Comperatore’s bravery and unwavering love for his family will forever be etched in the hearts of those who knew and loved him. His untimely death serves as a painful reminder of the senselessness of violence and the immeasurable depths of a father’s love.

Brave Seven-Year-Old Boy Rescues Family After Scary Waterside Incident

A heartwarming story emerged recently, highlighting the bravery of Chase Poust, a seven-year-old boy who saved his family from a perilous situation by swimming for help. The incident occurred on Memorial Day weekend, May 28th, when Chase, his father Steven, and four-year-old sister Abigail went out boating near Mandarin Point in Jacksonville, Florida.

The family had anchored their boat on the St. Johns River, with the plan for Steven to enjoy some fishing while Chase and Abigail swam nearby. Unfortunately, things took a turn for the worse when the current proved stronger than Steven had anticipated. Little Abigail, who was wearing a life jacket, was suddenly pulled away from the boat.

In a heartwarming interview with news channel WJXT, Chase recounted the terrifying moment: “The current was so strong that my sister … and she let go. So, I let go of the boat and grabbed her, and then, I was stuck.”

Despite not having a life jacket himself, Chase bravely released the boat and tried to help his sister. Steven also jumped into the water in an attempt to rescue Abigail, but she continued to drift further away. Steven recalled, “I told them I loved him because I wasn’t sure what was going to happen. I tried to stick with both of them. I wore myself out. She drifted away from me.”

With tremendous courage and determination, Chase swam against the current for a whole hour, using a combination of doggie paddle and floating on his back to conserve energy. Finally, he reached dry land and promptly ran for help.

“I screamed for help at the top of my lungs and waved my arms, and sure enough, someone heard us,” Steven exclaimed. “Little man also made it to shore and got help, and that’s what saved our lives.”

Assistance arrived in the form of the Sheriff’s Office and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, who successfully rescued Steven and Abigail one hour later. They had drifted a mile away from their boat but emerged unharmed.

During a news conference, Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department spokesperson Eric Prosswimmer expressed relief and gratitude: “We had every resource we could have possibly had coming quickly, and we’re happy to say all three have been recovered, and all three are doing well. We couldn’t ask for a better outcome.”

This incident serves as a powerful reminder of how quickly situations can change, especially when it comes to water-related activities with children. We urge all parents to exercise extreme caution and vigilance when near water. Share this remarkable story on Facebook to increase awareness of water dangers and applaud the heroic efforts of young Chase.

The Rise of the Berlin Wall through rare photographs, 1961-1989

A crowd of West Berliners gathers at the newly erected Berlin Wall while an East German soldier patrols on the other side in August 1961

The Berlin Wall’s story began in the early hours of August 13th, 1961, when the government of East Germany ordered the closure of all borders between East and West Berlin. As the sun rose that morning, Berliners were awoken by the sound of trucks, jackhammers, and other heavy machinery.

Watched by Soviet troops and East German police, workmen began breaking up roads, footpaths, and other structures, before laying thousands of meters of temporary but impassable fencing, barricades, and barbed wire.

They worked for several days, completely surrounding the western zones of Berlin and cutting them off from the city’s eastern sectors.

Berliners were in shock. “A concentration camp barrier” has been stretched through the center of Berlin, said then mayor – and later chancellor – Willy Brandt a few hours later in front of the city’s parliament.

The Berlin Wall would remain for exactly 10,315 days, becoming a symbol of the Cold War and dividing the world into two hostile blocs: the capitalist West and the communist East.

The wall became a stark and foreboding symbol of the Cold War. In the West, its presence was exploited as propaganda. The Berlin Wall, Western leaders said, was evidence that East Germany was a failing state, that thousands of its people did not want to live under communism. US Secretary of State Dean Rusk called the Wall “a monument to communist failure” while West German mayor Willy Brandt called it “the wall of shame” .

In Washington, there was considerable debate about how the US should respond to the erection of the Berlin Wall. Ever the realist, President Kennedy knew that threats or shows of aggression might provoke confrontation or lead to war. He instead focused his attention on West Berlin, hailing it as a small but determined bastion of freedom, locked inside an imprisoned state.

East German soldiers, left, set up barbed-wire barricades at the border separating East and West Berlin on August 13, 1961. West Berlin citizens, right, watch the work.

Kennedy visited West Berlin in June 1963 and was greeted by ecstatic crowds, which cheered wildly and showered his motorcade with flowers and confetti.

In the Rudolph Wilde Platz (later renamed the John F. Kennedy Platz), the US president told a rapt audience: “There are many people in the world who really don’t understand, or say they don’t, what is the great issue between the free world and the Communist world. Let them come to Berlin. There are some who say that communism is the wave of the future.

Let them come to Berlin. And there are some who say in Europe and elsewhere we can work with the Communists. Let them come to Berlin. And there are even a few who say that it is true that communism is an evil system, but it permits us to make economic progress. ‘Lass sie nach Berlin kommen’: let them come to Berlin…

Freedom is indivisible, and when one man is enslaved, all men are not free… All free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin, and therefore, as a free man, I take pride in the words: ‘Ich bin ein Berliner’ (I am a citizen of Berlin).”

A young East Berliner works on a concrete wall that was later topped by barbed wire at a sector border in the divided city on August 18, 1961. People’s Police stand guard in the background as another worker mixes cement.

Improvements on the Wall continued until 1980 when the entire wall had been converted to reinforced concrete sections which were 12 feet high and 4 feet wide each.

On top of the wall was barbed wire in addition to watchtowers manned with soldiers having machine guns. By the 1980s, the wall had extended 28 miles through Berlin and covered 75 miles around West Berlin. There were extensive barriers along the border of East and West Germany that covered 850 miles.

The demolition of the Berlin Wall began on the evening of November 9, 1989. Over the following weeks, citizens of East Germany began using varied tools to demolish parts of the wall creating unofficial crossing points.

Soon afterward the government of East Germany demolished sections of the wall to create ten official crossing points, and by December 22, 1989, it allowed visa-free travel on both sides of the wall.

On June 13, 1990, East Germany’s army began official demolition of the wall and completed the job in November 1991 signaling the official reunification of Germany.

During the 28 years, it stood, only about 5,000 people managed to cross over the wall, escaping into West Berlin. More than 100 are believed to have been killed in the attempt, most shot by East German border guards.

Under the eye of a Communist “People’s Policeman,” East Berlin workers with a power shovel destroy one of a number of cottages and single-family houses along a sparsely settled stretch of the east-west Berlin boundary in October 1961.

Tracks of the Berlin elevated railroad stop at the border of the American sector of Berlin in this air view on August 26, 1961. Beyond the fence, the Communist-ruled East Berlin side, the tracks have been removed.

West Berliners gather near the newly built Berlin Wall in August 1961.

West Berliners, angered by taunts from East Berlin Police, throw rocks in August 1961.

West Germans peer over part of the newly constructed Berlin Wall while waiting for relatives to return from the eastern sector in August 1961.

Workers set up a sign warning pedestrians they are leaving the American sector of Berlin, Germany, on Wiener Strasse (Vienna Street) in the district of Kreuzberg in West Berlin, on August 13, 1961. In the background is the Berlin Wall that divides East and West Berlin.

Russian (background) and American (foreground) tanks face each other at the Friedrichstrasse checkpoint in Berlin during the construction of the Berlin Wall on October 28, 1961.

Barbed wire on the west side of the Brandenburg gate, put up as a “safety measure” by the British, photographed in November 1961.

Friends reach across the barrier to touch each other in August 1961.

Communist People’s Police officers string barbed wire along a fence between East and West Berlin in September 1961.

A young girl gazes pensively through the pane of her apartment window, which reflects the image of barbed wire fencing that tops the nearby Berlin Wall, in December 1962.

A refugee runs during an attempt to escape from the East German part of Berlin to West Berlin by climbing over the Berlin Wall on October 16, 1961.

An East German VOPO (Volkspolizei) border policeman uses binoculars while standing guard on one of the bridges linking East and West Berlin, in 1961.

A 17-year-old East Berlin youth is helped down from the Berlin Wall by two friendly West Berlin police officers after he climbed over to freedom in October 1961.

After East Germans jumped to freedom in the West, the windows of this building on the eastern side of the wall were bricked over. The building was later demolished. Photographed in 1962.

One of six West Berliners who dug a 20-inch-wide tunnel under a border street to East Berlin crawls out sometime over the weekend of June 8–10, 1962. Sixteen East Berliners, relatives of the diggers, came through the tunnel dragging an infant behind them in a wash basin. The tunnel was believed to have been discovered in early June 12, a few hours after the 17 reached the West.

A 75-year-old woman is helped into Tunnel 57, through which 57 East Berlin citizens escaped to the western sector of the city on October 3 and 4, 1964. The tunnel was dug from West to East by a group of 20 students led by Joachim Neumann, from a disused bakery building on Bernauer Strasse, under the Berlin Wall, to a building 145 meters away on Strelitzer Strasse in East Berlin.

Original caption: “To give the impression of normality, East German authorities sent children to the base of the Berlin Wall to act as if they were at play. Berlin, 1962.”

A dying Peter Fechter is carried away by East German border guards who shot him down when he tried to flee to the West in this August 17, 1962, photo. Fechter was lying in no-man’s-land for 50 minutes before he was taken to a hospital, where he died shortly after his arrival.

President John F. Kennedy stands before a huge crowd in West Berlin on June 26, 1963. Here he made his famous declaration: “Ich bin ein Berliner,” and pledged support to West Berlin against Communist threats.

Thousands of people line up at the Schillerstrasse in Charlottenburg, Berlin, to apply for a passage slip to get across the border on December 19, 1963.

A photograph taken on August 10, 1966, of the system of walls, barriers, watchtowers, and an open “death strip,” along the border separating East and West Berlin, looking toward the Brandenburg Gate, as seen from the German Reichstag Building.

East German border guards carry away a refugee who was wounded by East German machine-gun fire as he dashed through Communist border installations toward the Berlin Wall in 1971.

U.S. President Ronald Reagan visits the Berlin Wall with German Chancellor Helmut Kohl (left), in June 1987.

In this photo taken on August 11, 1988, the year before the Berlin Wall came down, a message is seen painted on the wall at Potsdamer Platz: “Berlin will be wall-free.” A little more than a year later, on November 9, 1989, the wall finally came down.

(Photo credit: The LIFE Picture Collection).

These Photographs Capture the American struggle during The Great Depression, 1929-1940

A cotton sharecropper with his family at their home in Hale County, Alabama, 1935.

Nobody could tell exactly when it began and nobody could predict when it would end. At the outset, they didn’t even call it a depression.

At worst it was a recession, a brief slump, a “correction” in the market, a glitch in the rising curve of prosperity.

Only when the full import of those heartbreaking years sank in did it become the Great Depression – Great because there had been no other remotely like it.

Crowd of men at Employment Office Desk.

In retrospect, we see it as a whole – as a neat decade tucked in between the Roaring Twenties and the Second World War, perhaps the most significant ten years in American history, a watershed era that perhaps scarred and transformed the nation.

But it hasn’t been easy for later generations to comprehend its devastating impact. The Great Depression lies just over the hill of memory; after all, it has been such a long time.

A struggling family during the Great Depression.

The Great Depression began in August 1929, when the economic expansion of the Roaring Twenties came to an end.

A series of financial crises punctuated the contraction. These crises included a stock market crash in 1929, a series of regional banking panics in 1930 and 1931, and a series of national and international financial crises from 1931 through 1933.

The downturn hit bottom in March 1933, when the commercial banking system collapsed and President Roosevelt declared a national banking holiday.

Between 1929 and 1932, worldwide gross domestic product (GDP) fell by an estimated 15%. By comparison, worldwide GDP fell by less than 1% from 2008 to 2009 during the Great Recession.

An unemployed man lies down on the New York docks. 1935.

Although the Great Depression was relatively mild in some countries, it was severe in others, particularly in the United States, where, at its nadir in 1933, 25 percent of all workers and 37 percent of all nonfarm workers were completely out of work.

Some people starved; many others lost their farms and homes. Homeless vagabonds sneaked aboard the freight trains that crossed the nation.

Dispossessed cotton farmers, the “Okies,” stuffed their possessions into dilapidated Model Ts and migrated to California in the false hope that the posters about plentiful jobs were true.

By 1933, industrial production declined by 50 percent, international trade plunged 30 percent, and investment fell 98 percent.

Unemployed men line up in front of a Chicago soup kitchen, which was operated by Al Capone.

Cities around the world were hit hard, especially those dependent on heavy industry. Construction was virtually halted in many countries.

Farming communities and rural areas suffered as crop prices fell by about 60%.

Facing plummeting demand with few alternative sources of jobs, areas dependent on primary sector industries such as mining and logging suffered the most.

Arkansas cotton pickers. 1935.

Drought persisted in the agricultural heartland, businesses and families defaulted on record numbers of loans, and more than 5,000 banks had failed.

Hundreds of thousands of Americans found themselves homeless, and began congregating in shanty towns – dubbed “Hoovervilles” – that began to appear across the country.

In most countries of the world, recovery from the Great Depression began in 1933. In the U.S., recovery began in early 1933, but the U.S. did not return to 1929 GNP for over a decade and still had an unemployment rate of about 15% in 1940, albeit down from the high of 25% in 1933.

Two young boys sit on the porch in Arkansas, 1935.

There is no consensus among economists regarding the motive force for the U.S. economic expansion that continued through most of the Roosevelt years (and the 1937 recession that interrupted it).

The common view among most economists is that Roosevelt’s New Deal policies either caused or accelerated the recovery, although his policies were never aggressive enough to bring the economy completely out of recession.

Some economists have also called attention to the positive effects from expectations of reflation and rising nominal interest rates that Roosevelt’s words and actions portended.

It was the rollback of those same reflationary policies that led to the interruption of a recession beginning in late 1937.

Public health nurses from the Child Welfare Service visit a shanty home for a checkup.

One contributing policy that reversed reflation was the Banking Act of 1935, which effectively raised reserve requirements, causing a monetary contraction that helped to thwart the recovery. GDP returned to its upward trend in 1938.

The common view among economic historians is that the Great Depression ended with the advent of World War II.

Many economists believe that government spending on the war caused or at least accelerated recovery from the Great Depression, though some consider that it did not play a very large role in the recovery, though it did help in reducing unemployment.

A poor mother stands with her two children in Oklahoma. 1936..

The Great Depression transformed the American political and economic landscape.

It produced a major political realignment, creating a coalition of big-city ethnics, African Americans, organized labor, and Southern Democrats committed, to varying degrees, to interventionist government.

It strengthened the federal presence in American life, spawning such innovations as national old-age pensions, unemployment compensation, aid to dependent children, public housing, federally-subsidized school lunches, insured bank depositions, the minimum wage, and stock market regulation.

The family of an unemployed man sits around a wood stove in their empty home, 1937.

It fundamentally altered labor relations, producing a revived labor movement and a national labor policy protective of collective bargaining.

It transformed the farm economy by introducing federal price supports.

Above all, it led Americans to view the federal government as an agency of action and reform and the ultimate protector of public well-being.

Children from the homes of unemployed miners gather together for nursery school in March of 1937 in Scott’s Run, West Virginia.

The memory of the Depression also shaped modern theories of economics and resulted in many changes in how the government dealt with economic downturns, such as the use of stimulus packages, Keynesian economics, and Social Security.

It also shaped modern American literature, resulting in famous novels such as John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men.

The Central Park of New York City became Hooverville, a shanty town for the newly impoverished (named for President Herbert Hoover, in office during the market crash and widely blamed for it). 1933.

An old woman receives her Thanksgiving ration of food as other hungry people wait in line. 1930s.

Unemployed men sit outside their makeshift homes in lower Manhattan, 1935.

A large group of New Yorkers waits on a food line, 1932.

Unemployed men smoke cigarettes amid their shantytown in lower Manhattan, 1935.

Men wait on a breadline in New York, 1932.

Unemployed single women march to demand jobs, 1933.

A family of migrant workers fleeing from the drought in Oklahoma camp by the roadside in Blythe, California, 1936.

An unemployed man during the Great Depression.

Men looking for work hold up signs. 1930s.

Children from Oklahoma staying in a migratory camp in California. 1936.

The children of a migrant family living in a trailer in the middle of a field south of Chandler, Arizona, 1940.

Thirty-two-year-old Florence Owens Thompson with three of her seven children at a pea pickers’ camp in Nipomo, California, 1936. The picture is famously known as “The Migrant Mother” .

Crowd gathering at the intersection of Wall Street and Broad Street after the 1929 crash.

Crowd at New York’s American Union Bank during a bank run early in the Great Depression.

Crowds outside the Bank of United States in New York after its failure in 1931.

Buried machinery in a barn lot; South Dakota, May 1936. The Dust Bowl on the Great Plains coincided with the Great Depression.

Greek migratory woman living in a cotton camp near Exeter, California, ca. 1935.

Unemployed coal miner’s daughter carrying home can of kerosene. Company housing, Scotts Run, W. Va., 1938.

Farmer walking in dust storm. Cimarron County, Oklahoma circa 1936.

Government agent interviewing a prospective resettlement client in Garrett County, Maryland circa 1938.

Prospective homesteaders in front of the post office at United, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. 1935.

Power farming displaces tenants from the land in the western dry cotton area. Childress County, Texas, 1938.

Farm foreclosure sale. 1930s.

Toward Los Angeles, California.

Schoolchildren line up for the free issue of soup and a slice of bread during the Depression. 1934.

Unemployed workers sleeping in the bandstand at a park. 1938.

Interior of Ozark cabin housing six people,” Carl Mydans, Missouri, May 1936.

Lewis Hunter with his family, Lady’s Island, Beaufort,” Carl Mydans, South Carolina, June 1936.

Interior of a rural home, Greene County, Georgia.

Family of migrant packinghouse workers in their quarters, Homestead, Florida. 1939.

Tenant farmer moving his household goods to a new farm, Hamilton County, Tennessee. 1937.

(Photo credit: Library of Congress / Wikimedia Commons).