Vacation ideas, panda arrivals and adorably ugly dogs

All the Good Stuff that happened this week

View in browser   June 29, 2024 I've never met someone who wasn't fascinating in some way, given the time, patience and safety to reveal themselves. The person you sit next to on a park bench is an international buyer for a major coffee chain, or maybe they have been playing the oboe for 30 years. The person in the next room in the retirement home is a veteran with multiple honors and a set of very colorful nicknames. The person behind you in line at the grocery store had an upbringing so vastly different than yours that you could ask them questions for hours and still feel you were just scratching the surface. Your neighbors are fluent in multiple languages. Your coworker in their 60s can make a perfect three-point shot every time. Treat everyone like they're fascinating — because they are, and so are you. If there's something you'd like to see here, drop us a line. Know someone who could use a little Good Stuff? Send them a copy! We hope you love it as much as we do. Our favorites this week Get going with some of our most popular good news stories of the week A handy addition Tennessee middle school student Aubrey Sauvie, 12, was born without hands, but she still figured out how to jam on the drums by holding the drumsticks in the creases of her elbows. She's retired that technique thanks to a generous gift from a group of college engineering students who created a custom pair of 3D-printed hands. Ten Tennessee Technological University students made the special prosthetics as part of a dynamics of machinery class during the spring semester for Aubrey, who was born as a triple congenital amputee. Her band director knew of a program at Tennessee Tech called Tech Engineering for Kids that involves students working in teams to design custom assistive technologies for children with special needs in the Middle Tennessee region. The team worked with Aubrey throughout the process, asking for her feedback so the hands fit her — and her drum set — just right.  Read the whole story here.  Pandaplomacy New panda alert! Beijing has granted new panda loans to the US for the first time in two decades, and they'll soon stealing hearts in their new home at the San Diego Zoo. The two pandas, Yun Chuan and Xin Bao, were given a celebratory farewell in China, attended by American and Chinese dignitaries. Then they were carefully packed off with plenty of fresh bamboo, bamboo shoots, fruits, vegetables and a specially-made cornbread known as "wotou." Five breeders and veterinary experts from both countries were also on the flight, with the Chinese experts staying on for three months after the pair arrives to help them "adapt to the new living environment." Read the whole story here.    He's beauty and he's grace Wild Thang, it's you're time to shine! After five attempts, this scrungly little guy won the annual World's Ugliest Dog contest at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, California. The 8-year-old Pekingese has been a fan favorite for a while. "He's kind of like the bridesmaid and never the bride," judge Fiona Ma said. "He really tugged at our heart strings and deserved to win." Of course, one can't win on looks alone. Many of the dogs involved in the contest contribute to their communities, visiting senior homes and hospice centers, spending time with foster animals or raising money for good causes. Wild Thang and his humans have helped raise money to evacuate seven of his fellow Pekingese from Ukraine. Do yourself a favor and read more about the rest of the dogs that made a showing at this year's contest. It'll put a snaggletoothed smile on your face. Read the whole story here.  Sponsor Content by Babbel Start speaking a new language this summer The trip of a lifetime starts now. With Babbel, you can have real-world conversations in a new language and travel like a local this summer. All you need is 10 minutes a day. Get 60% off during their July 4th sale! This week on the 5 Good Things podcast, a dad's offer to be a stand-in parent for LGBTQ couples has grown into a global network of allies. And in Missouri, a small-town fire department's bank account was running out, until a 91-year-old man gave them a game-changing donation. Listen to the latest episode here!  Raise a glass to... Frank Bensel Jr., a 56-year-old golfer who made back-to-back holes-in-one at the US Senior Open. In case you're wondering, the odds of that happening are 67 million to one, according to the National Hole-in-One Registry, and a hole-in-one is made just once every 3,500 rounds across more than 500 million rounds played in the US each year. No golfer has ever made back-to-back aces in any Tour-sanctioned event on record either, according to the PGA Tour Champions, a professional tour for golfers aged 50 and over that is hosting the third of five major championships this week. Read the whole story here.  Wanna get away? CNN Travel has been working hard to curate a special list of America's Best Towns to Visit in 2024. These are recommendations straight from their source; from CNN staffers and friends who have lived there or just loved to visit. The #1 town to visit in 2024? Richmond, Virginia, which scored high for its cultural attractions, dining scene and intriguing neighborhoods. Portland, Maine (above) also makes the list for its gorgeous ocean views and frankly dangerous lobster rolls. (Dangerous, because you'll never be satisfied with any other kind for the rest of your life.) It isn't called the lobster capital for nothing!  Read the whole list here.  Rec of the week   Brought to you by CNN Underscored We're obsessed with this $39 Amazon jumpsuit Versatile? Check. Comfortable? Check. Affordable? Check. Our Underscored editors cannot get enough of this Amazon jumpsuit thanks to how you can dress it up or down — not to mention it's so soft, flattering and very easy to wear. Shameless animal video   There's always time for cute animal videos. That time is now. This airline offers luxury flights for dogs and their humans. The prices are astronomical, but one can dream! Plus, the dogs look beside themselves with excitement. (Click here to view) Made with love by CNN's 5 Things team.  A newsletter for the good in life Sign up Sponsor Content by FinanceBuzz Bonus alert: unlimited cash back match Getting a 0% intro APR credit card could help ease pressure while you pay down your balance. 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