Visionary Tom Ruck Set to make history as the only person to have both marched and actively participated in All Major Landmark Parades with his Appearance in this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, creating a special moment in patriotic history.

His upcoming Appearance in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday, November 23^rd, 2023 will see him make history as the only person to have both marched and actively participated in All Major Landmark Parades in the United States with his Appearance in this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

After applying earlier this year, Ruck was selected as an official balloon wrangler for the new character appearance of “Leo.” Based on the Adam Sandler Netflix animated comedy, he will march down Fifth Avenue in Manhattan and past the storied halls of Macy’s Department store to the delight of thousands of revelers on the street and millions of fans worldwide watching the broadcast show on both television and internet streaming.

As a proud American citizen, it was his belief in the importance of the traditions of America that spurred his involvement which over time led to his appearing in some of the biggest parades rooted in the tradition and heritage in the country.

“I believe in America and American traditions,” Tom states. “There’s nothing more traditional and more American than the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade as well as the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade on New Year’s Day.”

Few people can boast about playing a big part in recognizable parades such as the Thanksgiving celebration along with the Tournament of Roses Parade, which is the annual parade held along Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena, California, on New Year’s Day.

During his high school years in 1971 he was selected as a member of the prestigious McDonald’s All American High School Band, where two musicians were selected from each state and marched in the 1971 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and following that the 1972 Tournament of Roses Rose Parade. After high school, while at the University of Missouri Ruck continued his participation in Music with “Marching Mizzou”.

Years later as an adult he moved to California and joined the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association. He became a member of the tournament as a “White Suitor” and has been involved with the organization since 2008.

Making an American dream come true has always been a motivating factor for Ruck. As an individual has accomplished several notable feats during his professional career that have carved out profound chapters that motivate the reader of his personal biography.

Currently based in Alexandria, Virginia, his life has led down a road worthy of a Hollywood screenplay. He has been presented to two Presidential Transition Teams for the position of Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs. The Boeing Corporation and his “hometown” St. Louis Cardinals have honored Ruck for his achievements in supporting America’s Veterans and his contributions to veteran causes.

He also is an accomplished author and has published an award-winning book that honors the American Veteran. “Sacred Ground, A Tribute to America’s Veterans” was released by Regnery Publishing, now part of Salem Media Group, and achieved a #5 ranking on Amazon.

“I created this book as a labor of love to honor the truest of American heroes, our veterans,” he enthusiastically expresses, “and to give back I donate all royalties from the book to the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund.”

Ruck has appeared on over 100 radio and television programs and served as featured speaker at over 50 national and regional events. He was also an invited guest speaker at the 70^th anniversary of D-Day in 2014 in Sainte Mere-Eglise in Normandy, France honoring the men of the 82^nd and 101^st Airborne for their courageous efforts that fateful day.

Ruck has held national leadership positions primarily with nationwide financial and healthcare corporations. He also has served with the Department of Veterans Affairs, as the Director at Fayetteville National Cemetery, and the Director of the Los Angeles National Cemetery, and also served as the Strategic Planning Officer for the Department of Veterans Affairs Long Beach Medical Center.

Ruck recently moved to the Washington DC area to accept the position of Senior Engagement Manager with the Department of Homeland Security, Blue Campaign, developing national partnerships and awareness campaigns for Human Trafficking in 2022.

Now, his next walk on the journey of his life in Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade will once again tell the tale of a great American showing incredible patriotic love for their country and compassion for the citizens of the country.

This is your very important wake up call!

The climate crisis is now and it has dramatically impacted human beings, global industries, and the health of our environment.

“Humans, land, and breathable air are not the only collateral damage from climate change,” says Chris Weber, co-founder of Animals Around the Globe. “Animals everywhere are also greatly affected by the results of climate change.”

Climate change has had a potentially catastrophic impact on wildlife as rising temperatures, the breakdown of fragile global ecosystems, and diminishing habitats have led to a decrease in at-risk populations of certain species.

As world leaders and climate change experts work to combat the negative effects of climate change, Weber goes on to say there will need to be champions for wildlife who step up to take part in the fight.

Animals are part of a healthy ecosystem, and their habitats — with abundant trees and untouched nature — help absorb carbon and limit rising temperatures. Keeping animals and their habitats safe is part of the work to fight climate change.

“We need to cultivate a greater sense of affection toward and deeper connection with animals. When people care, they are more inclined to protect,” says Weber.

Through their animal-centered website and podcast, both Chris Weber and his fellow co-founder Jan Otte, have championed the need for focus on biodiversity and action on climate change. In a recent discussion with Lea Henzgen of the AMES Foundation, the two discussed with Henzgen how the biodiversity crisis may be a larger issue than the climate crisis, yet does not receive as much attention.

Biodiversity and climate change are intertwined. As the temperature of the Earth increases, vegetation, food sources, the makeup of habitats and environments, and water access and quality alter dramatically, forcing animals to migrate or adapt to find more livable conditions. If livable conditions cannot be found or adapted to, entire species could potentially be lost to extinction.

However, the climate crisis is not the only factor in the loss of habitats and extinction. Development by human beings and poaching play a significant role in the biodiversity crisis. The issue of conservation is complex, and goes beyond simply caring what happens to animals that may live a world away.

“One key challenge is the stark contrast between populations in developed regions, which possess the financial resources needed to assist but often remain distanced from wildlife, and those in developing regions, which live alongside wildlife but often exploit it for sustenance and income to combat pressing economic need,” Weber explained in an article for the Otto Beisheim School of Management.

Fighting the biodiversity crisis alongside the climate crisis takes a deeper understanding of economics and cultural differences, along with a grasp of the science behind climate change.

As climate change intensifies, the animal kingdom and the human world are becoming far more intermingled. Along with habitat loss that comes with human development and the negative effects of extreme weather like hurricanes and tsunamis, wildlife is increasingly in greater danger due to human interaction.

Ecosystems change due to climate issues, animals must move further and further from their original habitats to find food, shelter, and water; and as human beings occupy more geographical space and encroach on where animals are sourcing their food and water, chaos can ensue. In the end, it’s typically animals that bear the brunt of that chaos.

“We look at three core pillars to address these issues,” says Weber. “First, entertaining people. We want to capture their interest and draw them into the world of wildlife. Second, educating that audience. We are channeling the knowledge and insights of our experts and allowing them to share their own forays into the wild. Third, building an online community where users can immerse themselves in the topic and one that facilitates firsthand encounters, whether virtual or real.”

For Weber, Otte, and many like them interested in conservation and animal welfare, engaging people in caring about animals is the first step to saving them from the negative effects of climate change. By working to decrease conflict with humans — whether by saving habitats or helping animals find safe havens — the biodiversity and climate crisis issues are being addressed. Both crises are slippery slopes that, if not properly addressed and mitigated, will lead to further issues.

Through advocacy and boots-on-the-ground work, climate change and biodiversity crisis activists are making real change in the world. According to research, climate change is one of the primary concerns of voters — especially among younger generations. Making a noted difference for animals globally starts with awareness and small steps toward meaningful change.

Cover art by David Clode on Unsplash

Tommy Feight’s “The Best Hug in the World”  is a tale of magical moments that will appeal to both children and their parents. Illustrated by graphic designer Daniel Klein, the charming book tells the story of a young boy’s love of hugging.

Rather than being a celebration of heartfelt moments, however, this emotional journey is anything but straightforward for young Shams and his father. The sweet, brown-eyed boy at the center of the story is determined to become the world’s best hugger, but his noble quest is fraught with setbacks.

Join Shams and his father as their father-son relationship is tested like never before. “The Best Hug in the World” is packed with endearing characters, genuine love, and a profound message that will resonate with parents and children alike.

Buy this book online today, and share heartfelt story times with your children that teach invaluable life lessons.

Macy’s had a drone show for the first time ahead of the start of its 4th of July Fireworks this year. Spectators cheered when 500 drones formed the shape of the Statue of Liberty on East River.

The drone show took place before the Macy’s fireworks celebrating the United States’ 247th independence day.

The drones formed LL Kool J, a radio, Stars and Stripes, a turning Statue of Liberty, an American flag and spelled out the word “Macy’s,” all while Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” blared along the water.

It truly was spectacular.

If you’re one of the many former smokers around the world who has made the switch to vaping, it’s likely that your vaping device is in your mouth dozens of times every day – so if cleaning your disposable vape isn’t something that has crossed your mind before, it’s probably time to start thinking about it. After all, you clean your silverware every time you use it; why should your vape be any different?

In the past, keeping your vaping device clean was only necessary if you used a refillable device. If you used a disposable vape, you didn’t really have to worry because you’d be replacing your device after a day or two anyway. Today, though, the most popular disposable vapes have the ability to last thousands of puffs. That’s as long as an entire carton of cigarettes or even longer. If anything is going to be in your mouth thousands of times before you’re done with it, you definitely want to keep it clean.

Knowing how to clean a disposable vape isn’t just a matter of preventing microbial growth and germ transmission. When you’re not using your disposable vape, it’s going to be in your pocket and is likely to pick up plenty of dust and pocket lint along the way. Failing to keep your device clean could affect its flavor and may even impact its ability to charge when the battery dies.

The next time you buy a disposable vape from a high-end vape shop like Cloud City, you’ll need to know how to maintain it. Here’s how to clean a disposable vape.

How to Clean the Body of a Disposable Vape

If your disposable vape has collected a few fingerprints and stains while you’ve used it, you can remove those contaminants without any trouble by rubbing the body of the device with a soft lint-free cloth.

When you clean your disposable vape, you should never use any harsh solvent or other liquid on the main body of the device, and you should never immerse the device in water. That’s partially because water could get inside the device and damage its internal components. It’s also because many disposable vapes have decorative stickers – and if you clean your device with a solvent, it could cause the sticker to peel and come off.

How to Clean the Mouthpiece of a Disposable Vape

The mouthpiece is the part of a disposable vape that collects the most germs from use, so it’s the most important part to clean properly. While you’re cleaning the rest of your disposable vape with a soft cloth, you can use the same cloth to clean the device’s mouthpiece and remove old lip balm and other contaminants. You can disinfect your disposable vape’s mouthpiece using a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol. Be careful not to get any of the alcohol inside the mouthpiece’s opening. Allow the alcohol to dry completely before using your disposable vape again.

Remember that alcohol vaporizes at a temperature of just 173 degrees Fahrenheit, which is much lower than the temperature at which the coil in a disposable vape operates. You definitely don’t want to inhale alcohol vapor – so after you clean your disposable vape’s mouthpiece, it’s very important to wait until the alcohol has evaporated completely.

For complete disinfection of a surface, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends using alcohol with a purity of at least 70 percent. At that concentration, alcohol can kill most viruses, bacteria and fungi. In order to completely kill any germs that may be lurking on your disposable vape’s mouthpiece, the rubbing alcohol needs to remain on the surface of the mouthpiece for at least 30 seconds.

After cleaning the mouthpiece of your disposable vape, it’s a good idea to complete the project by rubbing the mouthpiece with a cotton swab that you’ve dipped in water. That’s especially the case if you’re using rubbing alcohol with a strength of 70 percent because the impurities in the alcohol may not evaporate completely when you’re done cleaning your device – and you might get a bit of a nasty taste in your mouth when you go back to vaping.

How to Clean a Disposable Vape’s Charging Port

The charging port is the final component that you’ll need to address when cleaning your disposable vape. It’s very likely that you carry your device in your pocket when you aren’t using it – and when you do that, the charging port can get clogged with dust and lint. If that happens, your device may charge more slowly than it should and may not even charge at all. If you have a disposable vape that isn’t lighting up and charging when you connect it to your computer, the charging port is the first thing you should address.

To clean your disposable vape’s charging port, you need to use a thin tool that isn’t made of metal. A USB port typically uses gold-plated contacts to ensure reliable power transmission – and if you use a metal tool to clean the charging port, you could scrape the metal away accidentally. In that case, the charging port may stop working. You’ll find that a toothpick is usually the best tool to use in this situation. Insert the toothpick into the charging port and use it to carefully scrape the contaminants out. If your disposable vape still isn’t charging after you’ve cleaned the USB port, you should try replacing the USB cable.

Cleaning Your Disposable Vape Promotes Good Hygiene and Improves Your Vaping Experience

As you’ve learned from reading this article, cleaning a disposable vape is a simple task that only requires a few minutes of your time. It’s also worth the effort because a modern disposable device can easily last as long as a couple of weeks before it runs out of vape juice. If you’re going to use a vaping device for that long, it can easily pick up some germs along the way. In addition to being best for hygiene, cleaning a disposable vape is also the right thing to do for the quality of your vaping experience. It’ll ensure that your device works reliably and charges quickly until it’s time to replace it.