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London School Transforms Poor Performance by Giving Every Student a Violin—Thanks to Andrew Lloyd Webber

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Despite studies that show how music lessons significantly enhance children’s cognitive abilities and lead to improved academic performance, music education has been disappearing from schools in recent decades, due to reduced funding for the arts and a heavier focus on academic test results.

The proof that structured music instruction can improve a child’s ability to plan, organize, and complete tasks has now been harmoniously demonstrated by a community school in Walthamstow, England—which boosted test scores by embracing a new melody.

Frederick Bremer School has risen up the scale by gifting students their own instruments. Every new pupil who enters the inner-city secondary (middle) school is given a violin, viola, or flute and is mentored through three years of classical music lessons.

Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber has abhorred the government cuts to music education in public schools, so in 2017, he donated £1.4 million from his own foundation to provide free music lessons to 6,000 kids in the city schools of London.

RELATED: High School Football Team Without a Band Invites High School Band Without a Team to Play at Their Games

“What the government should be grasping is that every penny you spend on music – not to turn people into musicians, but music as an empowering force in schools – comes back to you tenfold,” Lloyd Webber told Classic FM.

Frederick Bremer School was about to be closed before the new music program was brought in five years ago. Soon afterward, the school’s Ofsted rating, a system of grading school performance throughout the UK, was raised to outstanding.

“I went to the school, and in many cases, a violin was the first thing that these kids had actually owned. The music literally turned the school around, and within four years they got their first scholarship to Oxford.”

WATCH: Supertramp Singer ‘Gives a Little Bit’ Inviting Teens With Autism on Stage to Perform with 39 Piece Orchestra

Head teacher Jenny Smith, who runs the music program, told The Times: “The school is unrecognizable from where it was in 2014. We are celebrating the best results the school has ever had.”

The program is now being expanded to schools outside London for the first time and aims to reach every school in England.

“It helps on every level from behavior through to academic level of achievement, and actually self-esteem,” says Lloyd Webber, “because music is an empowering force for all kids.”

Elsewhere in the world, the Country Music Association in America has taken similar action and donated millions of dollars to public schools in Nashville, Tennessee, while in Venezuela an inspiring program gives hope to the poorest children with an opportunity to travel and perform, thanks to rigorous classical music training.

A 24-year-old Hollywood film, Mr. Holland’s Opus, about a dedicated music teacher who impacted generations of students, inspired a foundation that has donated 29,000 instruments—including 75 of Eddie Van Halen’s guitars—to local schools.

Find help organizing your own instrument donation program at SpiritOfHarmony.org, a foundation that was started by musician Todd Rundgren.

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(Cowritten by Jennifer Zolper – Photo by Jim, the Photographer; CC license)

14-Year-old Awarded $25,000 For Her Invention That Totally Eliminates Blind Spots in Your Car Using a Projector

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McKinley Corbley
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Samueli Prize Winners

If you’ve ever struggled to see vehicles approaching in the blind spots of your car, this young brainiac has come up the most ingenious solution—and she hasn’t even gotten her driver’s license yet.

14-year-old Alaina Gassler designed a system that eliminates the blind spot by installing a webcam into the interior of the car so that it records a live feed of the objects on the other side. She then installed a small light projector inside of the car so the webcam’s feed would be projected onto the part of your car that blocks the needed view.

Once the system is online, the parts of the car’s structure that prevent the driver from fully seeing their surroundings are rendered seemingly invisible by the projector.

RELATED: Students Invent Door Handle for Public Bathrooms That Can Clean and Sanitize Itself

Alaina first got the idea for the system after she witnessed her mother struggling to see beyond those blind spots in her own car—and she now hopes that her invention will prevent traffic collisions in the future.

“There are so many car accidents and injuries and deaths that could have been prevented from a pillar not being there,” said Alaina. “And since we can’t take it out of cars, I decided to get rid of it without getting rid of it.”

Earlier this week, the teenager from West Grove, Pennsylvania won the $25,000 Samueli Foundation Prize, which is the top award in the Broadcom MASTERS science and engineering competition for middle school students.

MORE: 15-Year-old Turns School Bathroom into $56,000 Sweets Empire

“Congratulations to Alaina, whose project has the potential to decrease the number of automobile accidents by reducing blind spots,” said Maya Ajmera, President and CEO of the Society for Science and the Public and Publisher of Science News.

“With so many challenges in our world, Alaina and her fellow Broadcom MASTERS finalists make me optimistic,” she added.

(WATCH the science project in action in the video below)

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“If light is in your heart, you will find your way home.” – Rumi

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File photo by Lovestruck, CC

Quote of the Day: “If light is in your heart, you will find your way home.” – Rumi

Photo: by lovestruck., CC license on Flickr – cropped

With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quotes page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?

 

After 99-Year-old Expresses Wish to Meet a Penguin, Her Entire Nursing Home is Delighted By a Surprise Visit

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SWNS
SWNS

These adorable pictures show three penguins parading around an English care home after a 99-year-old resident expressed her wish to “meet one” in her lifetime.

Great-gran Joyce Gardner couldn’t believe her eyes when the two-foot-tall birds waddled into the facility three months after she made the unusual request.

Speaking after the visit, Gardner said: “I’ve always loved animals, especially penguins. To meet one in real life was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had.”

RELATED: Pet Me! Therapy Dog Refuses to Give Up on Hospice Patient

The visit was orchestrated by facility manager Elizabeth Stephens after she learned of Gardner’s bucket list wish. Stephens spent weeks working out how she could possibly get penguins inside her nursing home; thankfully, she was eventually put in touch with officials at Heythrop Zoological Gardens in Oxon, which houses 20 Humboldt penguins that often work on camera or at live events.

Last week, three of the pint-sized animals called Pringle, Groot, and Charlie, traveled to the care home in Lincoln with two experienced handlers—and the home residents were thrilled by the surprised visit.

“I’m always looking for something different to entertain the residents, so when Joyce requested to meet a penguin, I thought it was a great idea,” said Stephens.

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“I’m so glad we were able to get it organized because everyone had an absolutely wonderful time, including the penguins,” she added. “They’re such incredible and inquisitive little animals, so they interacted amazingly with the residents, who couldn’t believe their eyes.”

The cheerful little birds, which hail from Chile but live at a British zoo, have incredibly sociable natures, meaning they can be picked up and petted by humans.

MORE: Dementia Patients Live in the Moment, Become Hen Keepers

Whenever new residents arrive at Bernadette House they are asked to make a wish, to see if it can be granted.

“Some people ask for a certain type of cake or a specific film to watch but Joyce asked to meet a penguin, which was a first for us,” mused Stephens.

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“I did some research to see if it was possible and eventually managed to make it happen.”

The care home owner added that the penguins were “incredibly friendly”. Making the rounds were Pringle, a 6-year-old male, Charlie, a 12-year-old male, and Groot, a young 7-month-old female.

WATCH: Jonas Brother Star Grieving His Own Loss, Helps 83-Year-Old Widower Check Off Bucket List After Wife’s Death

“They were clearly very used to being around people because their behavior was wonderful,” said Stephens. “I’m not sure who enjoyed the day more, the residents or the penguins.”

This is not the first time that animals have been used as therapy for nursing home residents—research shows that contact and companionship with animals can reduce a patient’s cortisol levels and provide an overall boost to their wellbeing.

SWNS

The unorthodox form of therapy is said to help with a range of issues including anxiety, autism, poor behavior, low self-confidence, stress, and trauma.

In recent months, Stephens has arranged for llamas, dogs and even chicks to visit her home.

“Elderly people—and particularly those with dementia—seem to have a really special and unique connection to animals,” she said. “I think it’s because they are very non-threatening and calming.”

SWNS

The Humbolt penguins that visited last week have been dubbed “showbiz penguins” because they’re so often featured on camera or at live events.

Their most famous English screen appearance was in a 2017 episode of Netflix series The Crown when they’re pictured being fed by Matt Smith playing Prince Phillip.

(WATCH the February news coverage of the penguins in action below)

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Get Inspired by the Stunning Footage of This Holy Temple Sitting Amongst the Clouds of China

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Good News Network
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If you’re looking for a humbling new travel destination—and you don’t suffer from vertigo or an aversion to heights—then take some inspiration from these breathtaking views of the Red Clouds Golden Summit.

The Summit is a pair of temples that rest at an elevation of 8,400 feet (2,500 meters) on top of Mount Fanjing—the highest peak of the Wuling Mountain range in southwestern China.

The temples are considered to be the “bodhimaṇḍa”—the place of enlightenment—of the Maitreya Buddha.

In addition to the temples recently being added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, they have served as a pilgrimage destination for thousands of Chinese Buddhists in search of inspiration and tranquility.

(WATCH the Great Big Story video below)

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Heineken Joins the Ranks of Major Beer Companies Ditching Plastic 6-Pack Rings for Compostable Alternatives

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Heineken UK is eliminating plastic rings and plastic shrink wrap from its entire line of beer and cider sold in multi-pack cans—including Foster’s, and Kronenbourg—removing 517 tons of plastic annually from the supply chain—which is the equivalent of about 94 million plastic bags a year.

The initiative is part of the Dutch company’s newly-announced £22 million investment for a scalable innovative replacement: a 100% plastic-free topper for multi-packs that uses sustainably sourced cardboard.

The new packaging was designed to not only remove plastic, but also to minimize the use of materials and reduce waste. The cardboard topper is 100% recyclable and compostable and—importantly for shoppers—is robust and easy to grip.

MORE: More and More People Are Swapping Out Plastic Straws for Coconut Leaves Thanks to Café’s Facebook Post

The cardboard design will be rolled out across Heineken, Foster’s, and Kronenbourg multi-pack cans and made available in UK retailers starting in April 2020. This will be followed by all Heineken brands in multi-pack cans, including Strongbow, Bulmer’s and John Smith’s by the end of 2021.

Heineken UK Marketing Director Cindy Tervoort said: “The effect of single-use plastic is having on our planet can’t be ignored. Creating an eco-friendly solution that eliminates plastic while still meeting the demands of our beer and cider drinkers has been a big focus in our business.

“Now, after years in development and huge investment, we’re extremely pleased to announce our recyclable and compostable topper innovation, a significant milestone in our journey to eliminate all single-use plastic,” she concluded.

LOOK: Canadian Supermarket Proves a Little Humor Can Go a Long Way to Help Save Ourselves From Plastic Bags 

The company already sells over half of its beers and ciders on draught in pubs around the country through refillable kegs that can be used for up to 30 years.

The pledge to eliminate plastic rings from the UK is the latest commitment in Heineken’s ‘Brewing a Better World’ strategy to become more sustainable. During the past three years, Heineken UK has employed several eco-friendly initiatives, including “light-weighting” glass bottles and aluminum cans, trialling deposit return schemes at festivals to encourage recycling, and decreasing CO2 by 68% since 2008 through investments in new technology.

Despite how Heineken is not the first—or second, or third—major beer company to ditch plastic 6-pack rings, Heineken representatives told ITV News that they wanted to make sure that their cardboard was sustainably sourced. Once the cardboard packaging is fully deployed across their line of products, only 2% of the company’s packaging will be comprised of plastic.

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New York City Launches Dramatic Transportation Project With 250 Miles of New Bike Lanes

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Chris Smith
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The Five Boroughs are shifting gears to make New York City a safer and cleaner place for its cyclists and pedestrians.

For several years now, the city has been promoting bicycle use by launching such initiatives as installing bike rental kiosks to promote a cheaper, cleaner and easier way to navigate the streets.

With more and more pedestrians cycling throughout the Big Apple, however, the number of automotive related accidents and injuries have increased.

Thankfully, the recently-approved ‘Streets Master Plan’ aims to rectify this by adding 250 new miles of bike lanes that will be physically separated from traffic to protect the cyclists.

Furthermore, the city will be developing more than 1 million square feet of pedestrian space and 150 new miles of separated bus lanes.

RELATED: Toronto Garbage Trucks Will Soon Be Powered by Biogas From the Very Food Scraps That They Collect

“The way we plan our streets has made no sense for far too long, and New Yorkers pay the price every day stuck on slow buses or as pedestrians and cyclists on dangerous streets,” said City Council Speaker Corey Johnson.

“We need faster buses, safer streets, and more pedestrian space. We need to do everything we can to encourage sustainable modes of transportation, especially with the realities of climate change growing more dire every day. This plan will get us there, and by doing so it will make New York City a much more livable and enjoyable place to call home.”

This is just the beginning of the bill’s impact on the city since “the legislation will require the Department of Transportation to implement a transportation master plan every five years.”

CHECK OUT: Struggling Bats Can Now Fly Freely Through Countryside Thanks to First-of-Their-Kind Street Lights

“Benchmarks will be developed for each five-year plan,” said the city council in a statement. “The plan’s goals would be to prioritize the safety of all street users, the use of mass transit, the reduction of vehicle emissions, and access for individuals with disabilities.”

With these new bike lanes coming to New York by 2021, the city will hopefully set a brand new precedent for encouraging eco-friendly transportation elsewhere in the country.

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“Think whatever makes you truly happy to think.” – Gerald Jampolsky

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Olga Kay, CC license, via Flickr

Quote of the Day: “Think whatever makes you truly happy to think.” – Gerald Jampolsky

Photo: by Olga Kay, CC license on Flickr – cropped

With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quotes page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?

 

9-Year-old Who Got in Trouble for Doodling in Class Now Has Job Drawing On Restaurant Walls

By
McKinley Corbley
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Joe Whale is the pint-sized English artist who is more famously known as “The Doodle Boy” because of his knack for drawing cool little doodles—but Joe was not always encouraged to pursue his passion for drawing.

The 9-year-old from Shrewsbury, Shropshire used to continuously get in trouble with his school teachers for drawing on the classroom table’s whiteboard whenever he finished with his work.

Rather than scold the youngster for his drawing, however, his parents signed him up for an after-school art class.

LOOK: After Years of Gaining Trust of Local Squirrels, Photographer Has Captured the Most Wholesome Pictures

“He was in school getting frustrated at the little amount of art he could do so he used to doodle on the table’s whiteboard in class and get into trouble for doodling,” Joe’s father told reporters. “His mum and I decided to get him into an art class outside of school called Bloom, he’s been there for about six weeks and he loves every minute of it.”

Joe’s art teachers were so blown away by the boy’s talent, they began posting his work on Instagram. His drawings then caught the eye of the management at the local Number 4 restaurant.

MORE: Listen to the Moment an Awestruck Child’s ‘Wow!’ Created ‘One of Concert Hall’s Most Wonderful Moments’

The Number 4 owners reached out to Joe and asked if they could commission him to decorate the restaurant. At first, the boy thought that he would simply be doodling a small framed picture—but upon arriving at the restaurant, the staffers said they wanted him to cover the entire white wall of the restaurant in doodles.

Needless to say, Joe was more than happy to oblige.

If you don’t have a chance to check out the walls of Number 4 yourself, the Doodle Boy now has his own website, Facebook, and Instagram page.

(WATCH the interview below) – Photo by Caters News Agency

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China Achieves Notable Success of Reaching Ultra-Low Emissions in Advance of the 2020 Goal

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Good News Network
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China is working hard to reduce emissions and mitigate global climate change despite the significant challenges it faces as an emerging economy—and this new study says that the country has achieved notable success by beating its own rigorous timetable.

Scientists from the Academy of Mathematics and Systems Science (AMSS) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), along with other collaborators, recently revealed that China’s coal-fired power plants met ultra-low emission (ULE) standards ahead of schedule and also achieved substantial emission reductions between 2014 and 2017.

The study, entitled “Substantial emission reductions from Chinese power plants after the introduction of ultra-low emission standards” was published in Nature Energy on October 7th.

China began its more recent ambitious shift towards sustainability back in September 2014 by introducing ambitious ULE standards for renovating coal-fired power generating units. The new and stringent standards for coal-fired power plants called for 580 million kW of existing installed capacity—71% of the total in 2014, to meet ULE standards by 2020.

LOOK: What Was Once One of the Most Polluted Landscapes on Earth Now Has Some of the Cleanest Air in the Region

The researchers found, however, that 591 million kW of pre-existing coal-fired capacity had already been renovated to meet ULE standards by the end of 2017—i.e., 11 million kW over the original goal.

As a result, China’s annual power plant emissions of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and particulate matter dropped by 65%, 60% and 72% from 2.21, 3.11 and 0.52 million tons in 2014 to 0.77, 1.26 and 0.14 million tons in 2017, respectively.

“The ULE standards, as an example of China’s effective environmental regulation policies, provide insights and implications for reducing power emissions worldwide,” said Professor Wang Shouyang of CAS. “Additionally, these emission reductions can lead to an improvement in air quality and considerable health benefits.”

MORE: This Revolutionary Blast Furnace Vaporizes Trash and Turns It into Clean Energy (Without Any Emissions)

As part of their work, the researchers identified three types of units where enhanced ULE compliance could best reduce China’s power generation emissions: 1) coal-fired units, since they represent the largest proportion of total capacity; 2) units in western China; and 3) small-capacity units, since they are dominated by super-polluting units.

Professor Tang Ling of the Beijing University of Chemical Technology and Beihang University noted that China achieved its emission goals ahead of schedule due to China’s strict emission supervision system, effective economic incentive mechanisms, and the nationwide application and upgrading of ULE technology.

In reporting their results, the researchers used actual monitoring data to show that emissions were 18-92% below recent estimates. This method contrasts with most existing research, which relies on ex-ante studies to estimate how ULE standards will affect power emissions based on assumptions about changes in emission concentrations.

CHECK OUT: Determined to Save His Country’s Water Supply, 26-Year-old Has Revived 10 Lakes From a Polluted Mess

“With coal being the most widely-used fuel in China, cutting the number of thermal power plants within a short timeframe is challenging. The results of this research are encouraging in demonstrating that coal can be used in a much cleaner way to generate electricity,” said Dr. Mi Zhifu from University College London.

The researchers also developed an open access platform—the China Emissions Accounts for Power plants (CEAP)—to share accurate and real-time results for each power plant. This publicly available database presents, organizes and analyzes data from China’s continuous emissions monitoring systems network.

Reprinted from the Chinese Academy of Sciences

Power Up With Positivity By Sharing The Good News With Your Friends On Social Media – File photo by Andrey Filippov, CC

Wistful Facebook Comment Leads Dozens of Volunteers to Fulfill Bucket List Wish for Woman With MS

By
McKinley Corbley
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Photo by Horst Klotz
Photo by Horst Klotz

It has been several decades since Janelle Boston missed her chance to climb this specific mountain in Australia—but thanks to a simple Facebook comment, her childhood wish was finally fulfilled.

The 55-year-old grandmother was originally supposed to climb Mount Tyson in Tully, Queensland when she was a little girl, but the hike was canceled due to bad weather.

For years, Boston planned to return to the mountain so she could check it off her bucket list. After she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in her 20s, however, the neurodegenerative condition left her unable to complete the hike.

Back in February, Boston saw a post on the Tully Community Cuppa and Chats Facebook group page about things people wished they had done in their life, but never gotten the chance to do, and she felt compelled to mention her dream of climbing Mount Tully.

LOOK: When Grandma Confesses She Has Never Seen the Ocean, Grandson Takes Her On Epic Cross-Country Trip

Though she may not have thought much of the comment, it certainly made an impact on Graham Sollitt, the group administrator responsible for the post.

“After I read that, I sort of had a lump in my throat and I thought, ‘My God, we have to try and do something about it,’” he told ABC News. “I came up with the idea: why not ask Tully Rugby League if they’d be interested in doing a training run up the mountain and maybe they could take Janelle up there on a training run.”

The rugby team was more than happy to assist in granting Boston’s wish. Sollitt then asked his fitness trainer if she would want to help. Not only did she agree, she recruited dozens of her clients to join them on their mission.

MORE: For 3 Hours, Firefighters Carry Park Ranger’s Gurney Through a Forest So He Could Be in Nature One Last Time

A local welder also contributed to the cause by making a custom metal chair that would allow the hikers to carry Boston up the mountain with ease.

On the day of the hike, 40 volunteers showed up to carry Boston to the top of the steep mountain. Each volunteer took turns carrying Boston throughout the 5-hour hike—and she “smiled the whole way”.

“I’m ever so grateful to all those people,” Boston’s mother tearfully told ABC. “Some guy piggybacked her up a certain part that was just too steep for them to carry the chair. People like that who are so generous deserve so much recognition.

“I can say thank you but they just really won’t understand what it means to me, what they have done for Janelle.”

Photo by Horst Klotz

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Microsoft Japan Recently Gave Their Employees a 4-Day Work Week—and Productivity Skyrocketed by 40%

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McKinley Corbley
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The five-day work week may soon be a thing of the past thanks to Microsoft Japan’s latest contribution to the mounting body of research on how the four-day work week is better for companies and their employees.

The company recently concluded a month-long experiment in which their employees were only required to work four days per week instead of five. Throughout the month of August, all 2,300 of their employees were given Fridays off without a decrease in pay.

Upon publishing the results of their Summer 2019 Work-Life Choice Challenge, the company was surprised to find that their employees were happier; their meetings were more efficient; and their productivity had skyrocketed by a stunning 40% compared to the same time period from last year.

RELATED: 67% of People Dream of Telling Their Boss ‘I Quit’ – But It’s Not Because They Hate Their Job

Furthermore, the company saved money by reducing their operational costs; the building consumed 23% less electricity and the workforce reduced their paper consumption by almost 60%.

Since 92% of the employees said they preferred the shorter work week, Microsoft Japan will be launching another 4-day work week trial in the winter, although the workforce is still encouraged to take more time off with increasingly flexible scheduling.

“Work a short time, rest well, and learn a lot,” Microsoft Japan president and CEO Takuya Hirano said in a statement to Microsoft Japan’s website. “I want employees to think about and experience how they can achieve the same results with 20% less working time.”

CHECK OUT: Aldi Celebrates Record-Breaking Year By Giving UK Employees a Raise Above the Living Wage

This is not the first time that a company has enjoyed the benefits of a 4-day work week. Back in March 2018, Auckland-based firm Perpetual Guardian launched a “world-first” trial in which they started giving their 240 employees an extra day off for free.

Based on metrics that were utilized by outside researchers, the trial had a multitude of benefits. In addition to feeling less stressed and more satisfied with their lives, workers were also less compelled to check social media and they were less distracted by out-of-work projects.

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You Can Now Get Directions From the Cookie Monster Thanks to Navigational App’s New Voice Option

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McKinley Corbley
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Me want cookies… and good directions!

As a means of celebrating the Cookie Monster’s birthday on November 2nd, the Waze navigational app has just released a new Cookie Monster voice option.

The company used a short cartoon video of the Sesame Street character riding in a car to announce their new voice feature on Twitter earlier this week.

LOOK: Need to Escape Reality? This Dr. Seuss Exhibit Takes You to Another World

“November 2nd was [Cookie Monster’s] birthday, so we’ve brought his voice and mood back to Waze. Use them while you can,” tweeted the company. “Sure, cookies may be great to celebrate with, but this is even better!”

All Waze users have to do to get directions from the pastry-loving television hero is go to the “Voice and Sound” section of the app and select the Cookie Monster option from the “Voice Directions” menu.

 

Much to the disappointment of Sesame Street fans, the feature will only be available for a limited time—but Twitter users are still vying for Cookie Monster’s voice to remain a permanent fixture on the app.

“Oh keep him!!! He’s the best. You can’t have road rage when Cookie is your guide!” said one Twitter user.

Another Cookie Monster fan said: “Please keep him forever!! My son asks for [Cookie Monster] every time we get in the car!!”

Regardless of whether you use Waze, we do encourage Twitter users to pay a visit to the Cookie Monster’s official page—it’s the perfect internet treat to brighten up your day.

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“I’ve watched my peers get better with age and hoped that would happen with me.” Bonnie Raitt (born 70 years ago today)

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Good News Network
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Fotolia

Quote of the Day: “I’ve watched my peers get better with age and hoped that would happen with me.” Bonnie Raitt (born 70 years ago today)

Photo: licensed by Fotolia

With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quotes page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?

 

Village in India Plants 111 Trees Whenever a Girl is Born – Watch the New Video

By
McKinley Corbley
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Typically in Asian cultures, the birth of a girl is considered an unfortunate responsibility because of the dowry system that puts a financial burden on the parents. For this reason, daughters were never as celebrated as sons.

But in one village in India, the residents honor the birth of a daughter with a unique ritual of planting one hundred and eleven fruit trees.

The number 111 in Indian culture is believed to bring success—and that’s exactly the sentiment on which the practice was founded.

Through this tradition, every time a girl is born, the people of Piplantri, Rajasthan, combat the historical prejudice against daughters and beautify their homeland at the same time.

The village’s former leader, Shyam Sundar Palawal, first started the practice in 2006 to honor the death of his daughter Kiran.

Palawal’s daughter Kiran – Image credit: Great Big Story

Wanting to ensure the future protection and care of female children in the village, he launched a program that would not only enhance the local environment but also raise money for the girl’s family. The noble custom has endured for well over a decade.

In order to make sure that the young women are always provided for, the villagers come together to raise 30,000 rupees ($480) to set aside as her fund for the next twenty years. The parents of the child then reciprocate the gesture by signing an oath that their daughter will not be married until she has reached the age of 18 and will receive an education.

LOOK: Woman Works For 14 Years Photographing Earth’s Oldest Trees

These incredible actions serve as more than just hope for the future of gender equality in India. Planting the fruit trees has ensured that resources will be available for the expanding population of the village. With 60-65 girls born every year, Piplantri has planted 350,000 trees.

From one man’s compassion, more than a quarter of a million trees are bearing fruit, and hundreds of girls have gone on to become independent and self-sufficient.

(WATCH the video from our friends at Great Big Story – Feature photo from Piplantri.com in 2015)

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Man Runs Marathon in SWAT Gear, Saves a Life, and Gets Engaged—All on the Same Day

By
McKinley Corbley
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Sgt. Mike Nowacki has just proven himself to be a real-life superhero after he saved a woman’s life; ran a 15k race in full SWAT gear; and then successfully proposed to his girlfriend—all in the same day.

Nowacki, who has been with the Chicago Police Department for 19 years, wanted to show his appreciation for the law enforcement family by running the Allstate Hot Chocolate 15K earlier this week in 50 pounds of SWAT gear.

Upon completing the marathon, Nowacki planned to pop the question to his longtime girlfriend Erin Gubala, who is also a Chicago police officer.

MORE: Airman Who Was Traveling to Receive Heroism Award Nonchalantly Saves a Choking Baby on the Way

However, Nowacki got sidetracked from his labors of love when he suddenly heard a crowd of people calling for a medic near the finish line.

Nowacki diverged from the marathon and found an unconscious woman who was not breathing. He and a nearby firefighter then conducted CPR on the woman until paramedics arrived and whisked her off to the hospital. After doctors successfully treated the woman for cardiac arrest, they said that Nowacki’s quick actions alongside the firefighter helped to save the woman’s life.

Nowacki then returned to finish the marathon—and upon crossing the finish line, he dropped to one knee in front of Gubala.

 

 

At first, Gubala thought that her boyfriend was hurt—but it quickly became apparent that he was simply speechless.

“Mostly what I was trying to do as I finished the race was come up with something good to say [but] I was totally thrown off by having to perform CPR,” Nowacki told WLS-TV in the interview below.

RELATED: Cheerleader Jumps Off Parade Float So She Can Save Choking Toddler in the Crowd

Gubala added: “He’s sweating and I wanted to talk to him about what happened down the way, find out more information, and then he got down on one knee and I thought that he was hurt and then he just said, ‘Erin, I don’t know what to say’ and then I realized what was going on.”

In case you’re wondering, Gubala said yes—and they are now excited to share a life together that has already proved to be pretty eventful.

(WATCH the news coverage below)

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Mexican Student Develops New Form of Rubber Road Pavement That Repairs Itself When Exposed to Rainwater

By
McKinley Corbley
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A Mexican college student has created a new formula for road pavement that repairs itself when exposed to rainwater.

Israel Antonio Briseño Carmona developed the groundbreaking formula by melting recycled tires into a putty combined with a number of other additives. The putty then harnesses rainwater as a catalyst for regeneration so that—instead of building roads that slowly crumbling away as they are exposed to inclement weather—the water spurs the road mixture to form calcium silicates that repairs itself.

Carmona, who is a student at Coahuila Autonomous University, says that he was inspired to develop the formula as a means of addressing Mexico’s notoriously deteriorated roads.

“Damage is caused by rain filtering to the base of pavements, weakening it and creating subsidence,” says Carmona. “This is how the idea [for] turning the greatest degradation agent into a recovery agent was born.

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“At present, there are already pavements that regenerate—but none use water as a means of regeneration … much less made of tires,” he added.

Carmona’s ingenious road recipe won him the top national James Dyson Award of 2019 last month.

He now plans to get the formula approved for use in Mexico so he can begin brewing the asphalt through his own construction company.

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Boss Pays Off His Employee’s Mortgage So the Vietnam Vet Can Finally Retire

By
McKinley Corbley
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This 69-year-old Vietnam veteran can finally retire now that his mortgage is paid off—and it is all thanks to his compassionate boss.

Albert Brigas has been working as a mechanic at Renown Auto Restoration in San Antonio, Texas for the last 13 years. He has also been living in the same house for the last 24 years—and he had been putting off retirement until he could finish paying off the mortgage in 2020.

Brigas’s boss, Rudy Quinones, has known about the vet’s eager retirement plans. In fact, Quinones told KENS: “Albert has been grumbling about that for the past year. His ultimate goal was to retire and have his house paid off.”

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So as a means of expressing his gratitude for all the years of Brigas’s hard work, Quinones called Brigas into his office last month and wrote his dedicated employee a check for $5,000 to pay off the rest of the mortgage.

Since paying off the house and retiring, Brigas is happy to report that he now has more than enough time to spend with his wife and grandkids—and Quinones is simply happy that he could repay his former employee for all of his dedication.

“To give them something they’ve been yearning for their whole lives—it’s incredible,” Quinones told the news outlet.

(WATCH the news coverage below) – Photo by KENS

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“Nature always seems trying to talk to us as if she had some great secret to tell. And so she has.” – John Lubbock

By
Good News Network
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Quote of the Day: “Nature always seems trying to talk to us as if she had some great secret to tell. And so she has.” – John Lubbock

Photo: copyright 2019 – GWC

With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quotes page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?

 

Apple Commits $2.5 Billion to Combatting Housing Crisis in California

By
Good News Network
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This week, Apple announced a comprehensive $2.5 billion plan to help address the housing availability and affordability crisis in California.

As costs skyrocket for renters and potential homebuyers—and as the availability of affordable housing fails to keep pace with the region’s growth—community members like teachers, firefighters, first responders, and service workers are increasingly being forced to relocate to cheaper housing further away from their jobs.

Nearly 30,000 people left San Francisco between April and June of this year and homeownership in the Bay Area is at a seven-year low.

“Before the world knew the name Silicon Valley, and long before we carried technology in our pockets, Apple called this region home, and we feel a profound civic responsibility to ensure it remains a vibrant place where people can live, have a family and contribute to the community,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “Affordable housing means stability and dignity, opportunity and pride. When these things fall out of reach for too many, we know the course we are on is unsustainable, and Apple is committed to being part of the solution.”

Apple designed its initiative to accelerate and expand new housing production; jump-start long-term developments that would otherwise not be possible; help first-time buyers purchase homes; and support new housing and programs to reduce homelessness, after extensively studying the issue and listening to different perspectives.

In partnership with Governor Gavin Newsom, the state of California and community-based organizations, Apple is providing a significant investment that offers statewide housing support as well as funding for projects in Silicon Valley and the Bay Area.

RELATED: Wells Fargo to Donate $1 Billion to Affordable Housing and Homelessness Across America

“This unparalleled financial commitment to affordable housing, and the innovative strategies at the heart of this initiative, are proof that Apple is serious about solving this issue. I hope other companies follow their lead,” said Gavin Newsom, governor of California. “The sky-high cost of housing. . . can only be fixed by building more housing. This partnership with Apple will allow the state of California to do just that.”

Apple’s commitment to the state of California includes their new $1 billion affordable housing investment fund committed to the state of California, which is a first-of-its-kind affordable housing fund that will provide the state and others with an open line of credit to develop and build additional new, very low- to moderate-income housing faster, and at a lower cost.

Additionally, the tech company is working with the state to launch their $1 billion first-time homebuyer mortgage assistance fund for first-time homebuyers, which will provide aspiring homebuyers with financing and down payment assistance.

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The funding commitment to California is expected to take approximately two years to be fully utilized depending on the availability of projects. Capital returned to Apple will be reinvested in future projects over the next five years.

In addition to these initiatives, Apple is working to identify private developers who, with the right financing and investment, are ready to start construction on affordable housing projects in the Bay Area immediately.

Apple will also provide $200 million to support new lower-income housing and help some of the most vulnerable populations in the Bay Area:

  • $150 million Bay Area housing fund: In a public-private partnership, Apple is launching a new $150 million affordable housing fund with partners including Housing Trust Silicon Valley to support new affordable housing projects. The fund will consist of long-term forgivable loans and grants.
  • $50 million to support vulnerable populations: Apple will donate $50 million to support Destination: Home’s efforts to address homelessness in Silicon Valley and focus its contribution on driving systemic change across the many factors affecting homelessness. Apple will also be identifying similar efforts in Northern and Southern California, focusing on strategies that both end and prevent homelessness.

“We’re so grateful that Apple has made this significant philanthropic commitment towards solving Silicon Valley’s growing homelessness crisis,” said Jennifer Loving, Destination: Home’s CEO. “With this generous contribution, we’ll be able to scale two proven strategies for reducing homelessness in our community: the production of more permanently affordable housing for our most vulnerable residents and an expansion of prevention programs that help at-risk families remain stably housed.”

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One of the first projects Apple will fund as part of its philanthropic commitment to Destination: Home will be an expansion of the organization’s Homelessness Prevention System, a network of service providers offering employment assistance, legal aid, rent subsidy, case management and other support to reduce homelessness.

“We have worked closely with leading experts to put together a plan that confronts this challenge on all fronts, from the critical need to increase housing supply, to support for first-time homebuyers and young families, to essential philanthropy to assist those at greatest risk,” said Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives. “Apple is committed to being a good neighbor and helping to write the next chapter of the region that has been a great home of innovation and creativity for generations.”

By putting its $2.5 billion investment to use across multiple initiatives and partners, Apple’s housing initiative offers a comprehensive and multi-pronged approach to address some of the most urgent challenges facing affordable housing in California. This initiative is a major step, and Apple will continue looking for ways to support communities and affordable housing.

Be Sure And Share The Good News With Your Friends On Social Media – File photo by Ibudiallo

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