When I was about 17 I was in a high school class called the "Theory of Knowledge," and our teacher was hell-bent on pushing our smushy little brains to the very extent of their thinking. For some reason, we were talking about love in class and he asked, to no one in particular, "Do you love someone for what they do for you, or for who they are?" Now, this is not a particularly mind-blowing thought as an adult, but it is when you're young. I think about that question especially around days like Father's Day. It can be so easy to be thankful for our parents, guardians and caretakers for what they do for us, but what about who they are? To the fathers and father figures out there, being a father is just one reason you're awesome. And all of those other reasons? Well, they make you an even more awesome father in return.
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| Our favorites this week Get going with some of our most popular good news stories of the week
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A new perspective
What does it mean to see the world? For Sassy Wyatt, it means something unique. Wyatt, now in her thirties, began losing her eyesight in her teens, and in her 20s, became completely blind. She comes from a family in the UK that has always championed travel, but losing such an important sense didn't mean the end of her adventures. Instead, it meant a new beginning. With the help of her guide dog and loved ones, Wyatt still jet-sets around the world and documents her trips on her blog, Blind Girl Adventures. By engaging her other senses — the feel of a breeze, the distant sound of traffic from atop the Empire State Building in New York City — she's experiencing the world in a completely different way. "I really do believe that my blindness has actually opened up the world to help me see it better," Wyatt says. Read the whole story here. |
[Insert your own cat pun here]
Congratulations to Max the cat, who recently earned his Doctorate in Litter-ature from Vermont State University's Castleton campus. The six-year-old tabby is in a class of one, as the university doesn't actually award doctorate degrees (to humans, at least). But he deserved some sort of reward for the hard work of visiting campus all of the time and helping students cling to their emotional stability during finals season. Maurice Ouimet, the school's dean of admissions and enrollment services, says Max is very affectionate and was also a huge support to students during the pandemic. "[The degree] was just intended to be just kind of lighthearted and kind of a joke but at the same time, realize that this cat did conjure up real feelings and real emotions and was a real support to a lot of people on our campuses during a difficult time," he said. Read the whole story here. |
Golfing goats
The caddies at Silvies Valley Ranch in the Blue Mountains of Eastern Oregon are ... well, they're a little short. And not too talkative, unless you count all of the bleating. The resort employs a rigorously trained team of goats to caddy for golfers on their seven-hole challenge course; a practical decision since the rugged terrain doesn't allow for safe crossing by golf cart. The caddies are whittled down from the thousands of grazers on the ranch's land, and only ones who are healthy, friendly and willing enough are put to the test. If they're comfortable, they're fitted for a custom-made golf bag that's empty for training. Once they're fully vested caddies, the bags can contain six clubs, extra balls and tees, six drink cans and their daily wage: a few dozen peanuts. Read the whole story here. |
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Seven ways to make money by doing (almost) nothing There's nothing to be ashamed of if you're living paycheck to paycheck or struggling to make ends meet. Thankfully, there's a few simple ways that you can make and save some money right now if you are struggling financially. Your best home equity loan rates for June 2024 Home equity loans unlock ways to get cash for your financial needs. Compare offers for free today. |
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| This week on the 5 Good Things podcast, creative kids in Ireland are celebrating a holiday by performing their viral rap song. A World War II veteran marries his bride in a special place. Plus, a dog saves the day for an Oregon man. Listen to the latest episode here! | |
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Do you know what a Dyson Sphere is? It's a science fiction-inspired bit of theory put forth by the renowned British American physicist Freeman Dyson. He hypothesized that advanced civilizations would likely have found a way to create infinitely renewable energy, perhaps by constructing a shell made up of mirrors or solar panels that completely surrounds a star — harnessing all the energy it produces. While the actuality of it seems quite far out, literally, scientists have always liked the idea that, in order to find these advanced civilizations, you could start by looking for waste heat detectable as infrared radiation. Now, scientists have actually found several instances of infrared radiation of this kind. Are they Dyson spheres? There's no evidence to suggest it, but it's a good starting point for more advanced work into these unusual indicators of energy. Read the whole story here. |
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When you call an African elephant, make sure to address it by name. That's likely what other African elephants do, according to new research. A study in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution finds elephants learn, recognize and use individualized name-like calls to address others of their kind. Some other animals, like dolphins, also display this behavior by mimicking the calls of other dolphins. The elephants seem to be able to do this without mimicry, leading scientists to better associate it with the idea of a specific elephant "name." Elephants maintain lifelong varied social bonds with many individuals and are often separated from their closely bonded social partners, according to the study, so individualized "name" calls could help them connect more specifically with each other. Read the whole story here. |
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Rec of the week Brought to you by CNN Underscored |
Hate doing laundry? This hamper from Amazon makes it easier Not all laundry baskets are created equal. If schlepping your dirty clothes to the washer makes your groan, you have to check out this Amazon find. It boasts multiple deep pockets and wheels, plus it's not an eyesore like those plastic baskets we've all used. |
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Shameless animal video There's always time for cute animal videos. That time is now. |
We all know possums "play dead," but we really don't give them enough credit for their masterful acting! (Click here to view) |
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