“It needs to be no more than three minutes.That was the gentle but firm request from my uncle to anyone in my family who wanted to speak at my grandfather’s funeral. Last I heard‚ that number was 8 people and growing—and that was just family members. My sweet uncle didn’t want to leave anyone out‚ so three minutes it was. I knew there was no way I could limit my thoughts to three minutes‚ and so here we are.My grandpa‚ Stan (also Stan the Man‚ Gramps‚ and Spaghetti Head)‚ died two days ago at the ripe old age of 87. The man battled heart attacks‚ strokes‚ Parkinson’s‚ and more for a lot of years and‚ as I put it to my daughter‚ his body got tired. Given that my body gets tired just from carrying said toddler up a flight of stairs‚ this seems fair.Death has a way of bringing about a sudden (and fleeting) burst of clarity‚ and I’ve found myself there for the last 48 hours. There’s an immense amount of pressure to figure everything out‚ because there’s no way to know how long this clarity will last. I think this is the brain’s way of trying to make sense of such a huge loss—the inconceivable hole left by the absence of a man so vital to my life. No matter what direction my mind goes‚ I keep landing on the same thought‚ that the greatest gifts Grandpa ever gave me‚ or any of us‚ were his time and his interest.I was the child of a single mom‚ which meant that I got to spend a lot of time with my grandparents‚ much to my benefit. Grandpa stood at my side at all the ‘father-daughter’ events a girl typically has‚ and some of the more mundane tasks too. A memory that keeps popping up for me is of us in his car‚ driving home from an after-school date at Steak ‘n’ Shake. I was quizzing him on my classmates–giving him the first letter of a name and asking him to guess‚ sometimes throwing in a hint that second-grade me thought would be helpful. Why were we doing this? I have no idea. But I remember being absolutely tickled any time he got one right (and he got quite a few). How this man found the time to keep track of my elementary school friends is beyond me. But the underlying message—that I was important enough for him to have this information—was invaluable.There are endless words that describe my grandpa—driven‚ hardworking‚ smart‚ kind. He was successful in business and devoted to his family. And in the midst of everything he juggled—the jobs‚ the house‚ the investments‚ the golf‚ the family‚ the friends‚ the church‚ the charity—his office door was (literally) always open. Courtesy of Mandy Haury Ready to live life more meaningfully? Subscribe to our newsletter. Me wandering in wasn’t ever inconvenient or a bad time; he made me feel as though he was absolutely delighted at the interruption. He even kept a Thomas the Tank Engine puzzle in his desk drawer—a testament to my childhood obsession. I’d climb up on his lap and we’d put it together on his big‚ fancy desk and do our best to slid it into the box without the pieces coming apart. Content‚ I’d be on my way back to my other toys and books‚ or off to work on some homework. That same puzzle sits on a shelf in my daughter’s playroom now and serves as a reminder of what his time meant to tiny me‚ and it encourages me to give the same gift to her.One of Grandpa’s favorite things was to take his grandkids aside‚ one by one‚ on family vacations or at family gatherings and talk about life. I both loved and dreaded these times with him. I didn’t have the answers to the questions he was asking; I didn’t know who I wanted to be‚ what I wanted to do‚ or where I wanted to go. I left more than one of those talks in tears‚ sure that I was destined to be a disaster of a human. But now‚ in my state of uncomfortable clarity‚ I’m also recognizing how much I needed to be asked those questions‚ because it made me think about the answers. Questions about my future pushed me to think about what I wanted that future to look like. Our debates about the way the world works (and the way I think it should work) helped me learn to articulate my thoughts‚ and how to verbalize my dissent. Did he know that by giving me his time he was helping me this way? I don’t know‚ but given that he always seemed about four steps ahead of everyone else‚ I think it’s likely.Grief is such an uncomfortable and necessary feeling; one that invites action but requires patience. It connects and isolates at the same time‚ bringing me closer to my family even while I know that none of us are grieving in the exact same way.I’m still figuring out what to do with mine‚ though writing this feels like a step in some sort of direction. It feels important to make sure the world has a chance to know my gramps‚ because anyone who had that privilege is surely better for it.” Courtesy of Mandy Haury Have a story of love‚ kindness‚ or healing to share? Visit our submissions portal to submit today. Read more stories like this: 18 Things I Learned About Life After My Grandfather’s Death Grandparents Think Baby’s Gender Is The Big Surprise When Mom Says To Bring In The Secret Twin Do you know someone who could benefit from reading this? SHARE this story on social media with family and friends.

Chris Pratt revealed how his attempted prank on his wife Katherine Schwarzenegger over her obsession with labeling everything totally backfired. In a Thursday post on Instagram‚ the 44-year-old actor talked about his “wife’s penchant for compulsive organization” and how she “labels everything.” “As a prank‚ I decided to ‘label’ her label maker‚” Pratt explained. “I waited in the wings for her to notice so I could pounce out like a cat‚ ‘Ha! Got you!'” “She immediately pointed out that I misspelled ‘label maker‚'” he added. “So‚ there you go. I Uno Reversed myself.” The post included a picture of the “Guardians of the Galaxy” star holding up the label maker with the misspelled label that read “lablemaker” across the front.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Chris Pratt (@prattprattpratt) The replies to the Marvel star’s post are just as hilarious as what happened to him‚ with people finding creative ways to troll Pratt. “‘Lable’ Hmm‚ must be French‚” one person wrote. Another added‚ “Next time maybe go with Patti Labelle Maker?” While a third person wrote‚ “It’s labeled. Thank God‚ otherwise we wouldn’t know what it was!” CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP In January‚ Pratt dropped exciting news that production will soon get underway for a prequel to “The Terminal List‚” titled “The Terminal List: Dark Wolf.” Pratt shared a poster on his social media revealing the title for the prequel to the hit Amazon Prime series. It will once again star Pratt and Taylor Kitsch. “From the Producers of [TheTerminalList] and NYT Bestselling author [Jackcarrusa]–introducing THE TERMINAL LIST: DARK WOLF‚ a prequel series featuring Ben Edwards and James Reece‚” the post read. “Production begins early this year.” In the first season‚ Pratt’s character‚ former Navy SEAL officer James Reece‚ must investigate “why his entire platoon was ambushed during a high-stakes covert mission‚” a description on IMDb reads. The show was a huge success for the streaming site‚ scoring the No. 2 spot on Nielsen’s weekly Top 10 streaming ratings chart‚ Deadline noted.  It was also a massive hit with audiences‚ despite critics trying to slam it as “anti-woke” and more‚ as previously reported. It hit the streaming site on July 1‚ 2022. Pratt was previously married to actress Anna Farris‚ and the two welcomed a son in 2012. In 2018‚ the couple got divorced after nearly ten years of marriage. In 2019‚ Pratt and Schwarzenegger got engaged‚ and the couple share two little girls.

Republicans in Congress have continued to call for the repeal of the FACE Act after six pro-lifers face over a decade in prison after being convicted of FACE Act-related charges in federal court in Nashville.  The lawmakers have said in recent days that the FACE Act‚ a Clinton-era law that criminalizes the use of force or threats of force that prevent someone from accessing an abortion facility‚ has been weaponized against pro-life activists. The six pro-lifers convicted on Tuesday face hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines and up to 10.5 years in prison after the Biden administration accused them of conspiring against rights secured by the FACE Act. On Friday‚ Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) urged his colleagues in the House to take up a bill he introduced last year that would repeal the FACE Act.  “We must end this weaponized law NOW. [House Republicans] should take up Rep. Roy’s FACE Act Repeal(HR577) immediately‚” Roy’s press account posted on X.  "The TN case is part of a disturbing pattern of overcharging and using absurd amounts of law-enforcement resources to intimidate pro-lifers.” 💯%—we must end this weaponized law NOW@HouseGOP should take up Rep. Roy's FACE Act Repeal(HR577) immediately https://t.co/GCx0JKqKGq — Rep. Chip Roy Press Office (@RepChipRoy) February 2‚ 2024 The legislation‚ which was sponsored by Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) in the Senate‚ was referred to as the “Restoring the First Amendment and Right to Peaceful Civil Disobedience Act.”  “Free Americans should never live in fear of their government targeting them because of their beliefs. Yet‚ Biden’s Department of Justice has brazenly weaponized the FACE Act against normal‚ everyday Americans across the political spectrum‚ simply because they are pro-life. Our Constitution separates power between the federal government and the states for a reason‚ and we ignore that safeguard at our own peril‚” Roy said last year when introducing the measure. “The FACE Act is an unconstitutional federal takeover of state police powers; it must be repealed.” Other Republicans in the House have echoed support for taking up Roy’s legislation after the Nashville verdict‚ including Freedom Caucus Chair Bob Good (R-VA).  “Being jailed for singing hymns and trying to protect innocent babies? I strongly support [Roy’s] FACE Act Repeal Act to protect these individuals from injustice‚” he said. Being jailed for singing hymns and trying to protect innocent babies? I strongly support @RepRoy's FACE Act Repeal Act to protect these individuals from injustice. https://t.co/cSY5F5650t — Congressman Bob Good (@RepBobGood) January 31‚ 2024 “Proud to cosponsor @RepChipRoy’s FACE Act Repeal Act. This law has been abused by the Biden administration to target peaceful pro-life activists‚” Rep. Mark Green (R-TN) posted on X. Proud to cosponsor @RepChipRoy’s FACE Act Repeal Act. This law has been abused by the Biden administration to target peaceful pro-life activists. https://t.co/IbkihOp8CQ — Rep. Mark Green (@RepMarkGreen) February 1‚ 2024 Lee noted on X that the FACE Act‚ which is also supposed to be used to protect churches and pregnancy centers‚ appears to only be used to target pro-life activists and not pro-abortion activists.  CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP “Bottom line: the Biden administration incarcerates people for praying at abortion clinics while ignoring violent acts at churches and pregnancy centers. So many camels. So much obsessive attention paid to harmless things mistaken for gnats‚” Lee said on Tuesday.  The push comes after pro-lifers Chet Gallagher of Tennessee‚ Coleman Boyd of Mississippi‚ Heather Idoni of Michigan‚ Cal Zastrow of Michigan‚ Paul Vaughn of Tennessee‚ and Dennis Green of Virginia were convicted of conspiracy against rights and violating the FACE Act. The six were indicted by the Department of Justice after a protest that took place in a hallway outside of a Mount Juliet abortion provider on March 5‚ 2021. On that day‚ a group of demonstrators gathered on the second floor of an office building in the hallway outside the Carafem Health Center Clinic. The group prayed‚ sang hymns‚ and urged women showing up to the clinic not to get abortions.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said he doubts President Joe Biden is the one calling the administration’s shots on immigration policy as the speaker pushes Biden to take executive action to secure the southern border. Johnson told Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo on Friday that he and his fellow Republicans have shown Biden that he has the constitutional authority to secure the border with executive power‚ but said that he thinks the president’s staff is stopping him from taking action. “He knows that he has the authority. We’ve documented it for him. I’ve read to him the law myself — to the president. Read him the provisions of the law and said‚ ‘Mr. President‚ please take action‚’” the speaker said. “I don’t think he’s allowed to do it. I’m not sure Joe Biden is actually making these decisions‚” Johnson added. “I think it’s staff around him‚ and they’re pushing him to hold the — or to keep the border open.” Earlier in the interview‚ Johnson told Bartiromo that Biden and Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas’ actions starting on the first day of the administration show that the border crisis “is by design.” “Biden went in on the first day of office and began issuing executive orders to … create this catastrophe. Maria‚ we say it’s ‘by design’ because there is no other explanation‚” said Johnson. “We documented 64 executive actions‚ agency actions‚ that he and Mayorkas have taken to create this. They could unwind it today by the stroke of a pen.” Johnson and the White House have been sparring over border security as Republicans push the Biden administration to do more to stop the record flow of illegal immigrants into the country. Biden has asked for Congress to pass a bipartisan bill addressing the illegal immigration crisis‚ claiming he can’t properly act on the issue without congressional authority. In the Democrat-controlled Senate‚ a bipartisan group of senators is working to hash out a deal coupling aid for U.S. allies‚ such as Ukraine and Israel‚ with border security reforms‚ but Johnson has already indicated it would be “dead on arrival” in the GOP-led House. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP The Republican speaker has pressed Biden to use Section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act‚ which gives the president the power to block entry to foreigners deemed to be “detrimental” to U.S. interests‚ to “regain operational control of the border.” More than eight million migrants have been encountered by Customs and Border Protection after crossing the border illegally since Biden was sworn into office in January 2021. Illegal immigrant encounters in December set the single-month record with 302‚034‚ which was just shy of the 303‚916 illegal immigrants Border Patrol agents encountered in the entire 2017 fiscal year. Daniel Chaitin contributed to this report. 

The Biden administration gave another warning to Iran and its Islamic terrorist proxy groups in the Middle East on Friday that the U.S. Military was currently en route to bomb them. The forthcoming bombing campaign comes after Iranian-backed terrorists inside Iraq launched a drone attack against a U.S. base last week that killed three U.S. soldiers and wounded nearly three dozen more. After repeatedly telegraphing its plans to the enemy through a series of leaks to the media‚ the administration told The Wall Street Journal on Friday that it will strike targets inside Iraq and Syria — including Iranian personnel and facilities — as soon as this weekend. But the attacks “will be ‘tiered‚’ mixing military actions with other steps that can be adjusted to signal that Washington doesn’t seek further escalation.” A U.S. official with the Department of Defense told Sky News Arabia that B-1B Lancer heavy bombers were currently en route for a “mission” in the Middle East. Sky News Arabia said that the U.S. air campaign “has begun and zero hour is very close.” The Journal noted that the Biden administration’s overt telegraphing of its plans to Iran has given it time to “reposition personnel and equipment‚ limiting the effectiveness of the U.S. attack.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP Joseph Votel‚ a retired U.S. Army general and former top Middle East commander‚ said that while the administration needed to be careful about the targets it strikes so it does not spark an all out war‚ the targets need to valuable to Iran or else the bombing campaign will be pointless. “There has to be a very unambiguous message to Iran that we hold them responsible for the actions of these militias‚” he said. “I think the targeting has to include some targets that are of value to Iran.”

Actor Carl Weathers‚ best known for appearing in classic films including “Rocky” and “Predator‚” has died at the age of 76. “We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Carl Weathers‚” his family said in a statement‚ per Deadline. “He died peacefully in his sleep on Thursday‚ February 1st‚ 2024. … Carl was an exceptional human being who lived an extraordinary life. Through his contributions to film‚ television‚ the arts and sports‚ he has left an indelible mark and is recognized worldwide and across generations. He was a beloved brother‚ father‚ grandfather‚ partner‚ and friend.” Weathers had a successful Hollywood career spanning five decades‚ appearing in more than 75 films and TV shows over that time. The actor achieved international stardom while playing Apollo Creed in the “Rocky” franchise. Creed was the heavyweight champion of the world who gave Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) a shot at the title in the first film. Weathers played the same role in “Rocky II” (1979) and “Rocky III” (1982). His character was killed off in the “Rocky IV” (1985) while facing off in the ring against Russian heavyweight Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren). Movie fans will also recall the actor appearing in the Adam Sandler comedy “Happy Gilmore” as golf coach Derick “Chubbs” Peterson. Sandler added a tribute to the late actor with an X post. “A true great man. Great dad. Great actor. Great athlete‚” he wrote. “So much fun to be around always. Smart as hell. Loyal as hell.  Funny as hell. Loved his sons more than anything. What a guy!! Everyone loved him. My wife and I had the best times with him every time we saw him. Love to his entire family and Carl will always be known as a true legend.” Recently‚ Weathers played the character of Greef Karga opposite Pedro Pascal in the Disney+ Star Wars series “The Mandalorian.” His turn on the series earned Weathers a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series. The outlet noted that Lucasfilm is currently working on a film version of the hit series called “The Mandalorian &; Grogu‚” but it’s unclear if Weathers was involved. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP Other projects Weathers participated in include playing Colonel Al Dillon in “Predator” (1987) and giving voice to Combat Carl in the “Toy Story” franchise. The actor played Detective Beaudreaux in the television series “Street Justice” (1991–1993) and appeared as a fictionalized version of himself in the comedy series “Arrested Development.” Weathers was married three times. He and his ex-wife‚ Mary Ann‚ have two sons‚ Jason and Matthew. The actor was also drafted by the NFL in 1970 and signed with the Oakland Raiders after playing college football for at San Diego State University.

  In the quaint town of Atkinson‚ New Hampshire‚ a new business has sparked a wave of controversy and debate among its residents. A recently opened ‘Diaper Spa‚’ where adults can engage in roleplay as babies‚ has left the small community of approximately 7‚000 people in a state of shock and concern. The establishment‚ founded by Dr. Colleen Murphy‚ a board-certified integrative medicine physician and sexologist‚ offers an array of services designed to cater to the adult baby/diaper lover (ABDL) community. These services include activities such as playtime‚ story time‚ nap time‚ cuddle time‚ and changing time‚ with seasonal activities like making snow angels in the winter or playing with water wings in the summer. The spa insists that all interactions are non-sexual‚ with a strict policy against any sexual activity. New Hampshire is now home to "The Diaper Spa" where adults who seek acceptance can come to wear diapers and role play as children. Activities include cuddle time‚ changing time‚ coloring‚ &; story time. It’s filled with stuffed animals‚ cribs‚ highchairs‚ and plenty of diapers.… pic.twitter.com/2Yg4bGh5Mq — Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) January 30‚ 2024 Despite the spa’s assurances‚ local residents have expressed their unease. A petition was launched by a concerned citizen‚ Kayla Gallagher‚ although it appears to have been removed since. The petition voiced the community’s collective concern regarding the potential threats to the safety and well-being of children in the area. Residents fear what kind of individuals the spa may attract and the implications it could have on the community. The spa’s clientele is limited to those over the age of 21 who can provide consent‚ and all clients are screened against the National Sex Offender Database prior to their appointments. Dr. Murphy has defended her business‚ stating that the services offered help individuals process childhood traumas and provide a sense of safety they may have lost. Can we talk for fifteen minutes about the adult diaper spa in New Hampshire? pic.twitter.com/v49mcuZcM6 — Dr. Jebra Faushay (@JebraFaushay) January 30‚ 2024 Critics argue that while the spa may claim to offer therapeutic benefits‚ the nature of the activities and the target demographic raise ethical questions. The concept of adults seeking to relive their infancy through such immersive experiences is difficult for many to understand or accept‚ especially within a conservative framework that values traditional family structures and behaviors. The pricing of the spa’s services has also raised eyebrows‚ with virtual playdates costing $200 an hour‚ nursery spa care at $300 an hour‚ and a 24-hour premier spa experience priced at a steep $1‚500. This has led some to question the financial motivations behind the spa and whether it truly operates in the best interest of its clients. As the debate continues‚ the Diaper Spa stands as a testament to the diverse and often divisive nature of modern society. While some see it as a harmless outlet for a niche group‚ others view it as a disturbing development that challenges the moral fabric of the community. As Atkinson grapples with this unusual business‚ the discussion around personal freedom versus community standards remains fervently alive.   The post Controversial ‘Diaper Spa’ Stirs Debate appeared first on The Conservative Brief.

  In the early hours of a quiet Sunday morning‚ flames erupted in a building in Golden Valley‚ Minnesota‚ drawing immediate concern and widespread attention. The structure‚ which housed several conservative organizations‚ is now at the center of a federal investigation as authorities suspect the fire may have been a deliberate act of arson. Federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol‚ Tobacco‚ Firearms and Explosives (ATF)‚ alongside the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and local law enforcement‚ are meticulously combing through the charred remains of the office building. The blaze‚ which caused significant damage to the premises‚ has raised alarms about the safety and security of political groups across the spectrum. Marxist’s intimidation and character assassination are too obvious to ignore. Fire at building housing 3 conservative organizations being investigated as arson: https://t.co/2SDizVvYk5 — Gary Doan (@GaryMichaelDoan) February 1‚ 2024 The targeted building was home to the Center for the American Experiment (CAE)‚ the Upper Midwest Law Center (UMLC)‚ and TakeCharge‚ among other tenants. While the fire’s origins remain under investigation‚ the pattern of destruction has led many to believe that this was no accident but a calculated strike against conservative voices. John Hinderaker‚ president of CAE‚ expressed his concerns‚ noting that the fire selectively harmed organizations with conservative affiliations while leaving others untouched. This selective damage has not only sparked fears of politically motivated violence but also highlighted the vulnerability of organizations engaged in policy advocacy and legal battles for freedom and constitutional rights. Highly probable this was arson directed at three conservative organizations in Minnesota. Where else have we seen this behavior? https://t.co/KzuRgjH9I8 pic.twitter.com/mhM3ZwhJGm — Archway Defense (@ArchwayDefense) February 2‚ 2024 The UMLC‚ known for its legal work against government overreach and public union corruption‚ and TakeCharge‚ an organization dedicated to challenging cultural narratives about race in America‚ both stand as pillars of conservative thought and action in the region. The potential arson attack has been described by James Dickey‚ assistant general counsel for the UMLC‚ as an act of domestic terrorism. Despite the setback‚ the conservative community has rallied‚ refusing to be silenced or intimidated by such acts. Kendall Qualls‚ the president of TakeCharge‚ declared that the incident would only strengthen their resolve to be louder and more robust in their endeavors. As the investigation continues‚ the affected organizations are grappling with the reality of their offices being uninhabitable for the foreseeable future. This disruption poses a significant challenge to their operations‚ yet the spirit of perseverance is palpable. The incident has not only united conservative groups in solidarity but also underscored the importance of protecting the fundamental right to free speech and political expression in a climate where differing viewpoints can sometimes lead to conflict. The implications of this incident reach far beyond the scorched walls of a Minnesota office building. It serves as a stark reminder that the fabric of civil discourse must be safeguarded with vigilance and that any attempt to undermine it through violence must be met with unwavering resolve and justice.   The post Federal Investigation Underway After Suspected Arson Targets Conservative Groups appeared first on The Conservative Brief.

'Like the Plaintiff‚ Mr. Laurinaitis is a victim in this case'