90 years ago today, The Wilderness Society was formed by an “organization of spirited people who will fight for the freedom and preservation of the wilderness.” Fast forward to modern times and the society has successfully aided in the establishment of 111 million acres of wilderness in 44 states. READ about their early years… (1935)
“Be of love a little more careful than of anything.” – E. E. Cummings
Quote of the Day: “Be of love a little more careful than of anything.” – E. E. Cummings
Photo by: JSB Co. for Unsplash+
With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quote of the Day page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?
Dad Gives Kidney to Little Girl After Daughter Dies Following Her Own Transplant
A dad has bravely donated his kidney to save an 11-year-old girl who reminded him of his own daughter, who passed away.
Andy Emmott says he offered himself up “without hesitation” when he discovered young Amber was in desperate need of a kidney to save her life.
It’s a heartwrenching story. Emmott’s daughter Sarah died from kidney disease at just eight years old despite his tireless search for a donor.
She had been battling congenital nephrotic syndrome and other complex health problems since she was born, spending much of her young life at Leeds General Infirmary and Martin House Hospice.
After a brave fight and a widespread campaign that was supported by soccer team Leeds United and England National Football player Kalvin Phillips, Sarah finally managed to secure a kidney transplant.
However, she tragically passed away exactly 364 days after receiving the organ.
“I donated a kidney because a kind stranger donated one to my daughter,” said the 55-year-old Emmott. “I saw the appeal for Amber and there were so many similarities between Amber and Sarah that I felt I just had to put myself forward and luckily, I was a very good match.”
The Yorkshire native is recovering well and has since returned to his job at Northern Powergrid, albeit sticking to office duties only until fully recovered.
His manager, Amanda White, has expressed her gratitude and pride for Andy, saying “I am scared stiff to donate blood, so to donate a kidney is amazing.”
“As a team we are really proud of Andy, and we wish both him and Amber a full and speedy recovery.”
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Inspired By Daughter’s Life-Saving Kidney Donor, Father Returns the Favor and Becomes a Donor
Since Sarah’s diagnosis, Andy has worked tirelessly to raise funds for Theodora Children’s Charity.
“Theodora Children’s Charity supported Sarah during her numerous stays on the children’s ward at Leeds General Infirmary. They brought so much joy and laughter to her and were a great distraction…” said Emmott.
OTHER STORIES OF GROWTH AFTER LOSS: Teens Step in to Rebuild a Jeep After Sentimental Family Project Stalled With Dad’s Death
“They are a small charity and don’t get as much support for the work that they do, having to compete with bigger well-known charities so any donations are much appreciated.”
Donations can be made here.
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Carrots May Be Key to Unlocking Microbiome’s Diabetes Defense System
An anti-fungal agent produced naturally by carrots has been suggested in a new study to substantially aid in the regulation of blood sugar.
The authors suggest that carrots may be a useful, low-cost, non-pharmaceutical diabetes treatment, although as the study was only conducted in mice, they stress further studies are needed.
Americans are crazy about dieting. Health enthusiasts and those concerned about their weight have practiced every diet imaginable, but health researchers rarely have the time and funding to properly investigate their supposed benefits.
Among these many eating patterns are ones that aim to help the proliferation of beneficial microbes that live throughout the human GI tract. Researchers at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) recently found that two bioactive compounds in carrots were linked to better composition in the microbiome, including species that aid in the regulation of blood sugar.
“Everything we eat affects the composition of gut bacteria,” explains project coordinator Morten Kobæk Larsen, associate professor at the Department of Clinical Research, SDU. “Consuming carrots shifts the gut bacteria towards a healthier balance, benefiting mice with type 2 diabetes.”
The benefits of a healthy gut microbiota are manifold. One key feature to remember is that beneficial gut bacteria help to break down fiber in the gut, producing short-chain fatty acids in the process which our cells need for various processes including preventing colon cancer, reinforcing the gut lining, and regulating energy metabolism.
The study from SDU studied the effects of carrots over 16 weeks in two groups of mice—one that was diabetic and another that wasn’t. One group was fed with a diet containing a supplement of freeze-dried carrot powder, which was found by study’s end to have had a positive effect on blood sugar regulation.
KEEP THEM IN THE KITCHEN: Keep Out All the Christmas Spices – They’re Powerful Antioxidants Known as ‘Nutraceuticals’
“Our study showed that carrots altered the composition of the gut microbiome—the billions of microorganisms living in the gut that play a crucial role in digestion and health. Mice consuming carrots exhibited a healthier balance of gut bacteria,” said Larsen.
The chief bioactive compounds in carrots are called falcarinol and falcarindiol and are produced by the carrots and members of the carrot family like parsnips, fennel, and parsley, for the purpose of defending themselves from fungal infections. These phytonutrients are just two of many—originating in fruits and vegetables of all kinds—that seem to confer fitness-promoting effects to humans who eat them.
MORE FOOD-FOCUSED HEALTH: Eating Dark Chocolate Is Associated with Lower Risk of Diabetes Type 2 in Large Study
These compounds have many names; one may have read about polyphenols, terpenes, triterpenes, or carotenoids. All these variations provide for similar purposes: defending the plant against infections.
The researchers at SDU told Sci-tech Daily that they are currently securing funding for future trials in humans to investigate whether the effect in mice can be replicated in diabetics, as well as to find out which varieties of carrots contain the most falcarinol and falcarindiol.
GIVE Your Friends On Social Media A Bite Out Of This Good News Story…
Crowns and Scepters Discovered Hidden Inside the Walls Beneath a Lithuanian Cathedral
Crowns, jewels, and a scepter belonging to royal members of the old Poland-Lithuania commonwealth have recently been found behind loose stones under a cathedral in Vilnius.
Hidden away for safeguarding before the outbreak of World War II, the artifacts were described as “priceless historical treasures,” that demonstrate the close union between the two countries.
According to Polish news, the hunt for the lost royal treasures began a decade ago. While the Archdiocese of Lithuania knew the items were down in the subterranean level of the Vilnius Cathedral, they weren’t exactly sure where.
Specialists from the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania Museum arrived last October for a survey using endoscopic cameras, and were able to locate the treasures hidden behind medieval stonework under a staircase. The discovery was announced on January 6th.
“The discovered insignia are priceless historical treasures: symbols of Lithuania’s long tradition of statehood, symbols of Vilnius as the capital city and magnificent works of goldsmithing and jewelry,” Gintaras Grušas, the Archbishop Metropolitan of Vilnius, told reporters at the time.
The items included the funerary crown of Alexander Jagellion, King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania between 1501 and 1506. The crown was not meant for the man during his life, but was sculpted for his eventual entombment.
MORE ROYAL FINDS: Amateur Treasure Hunter Unearths Missing Centerpiece of Henry VIII’s Crown — And It’s Worth Millions
Also among the items were the scepter, orb, rings, chains, and medallions of two women: Elisabeth of Austria and Barbara Radziwiłł, the first and second wives of another king/grand duke, Sigismund II Augustus.
Elisabeth hailed from the Hapsburg family, which along with the Jagellion dynasty formed two of the longest and most powerful royal families in northern Europe for centuries.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Extremely Elaborate 2,200-Year-old Tomb Discovered That May Have Belonged to a King–‘Most Complex Structure of its Kind’
Collected after a 1931 flood exposed the coffins of the monarchs in the understorey of the cathedral. Hastily wrapped in newspaper and hidden behind the wall, they are the most valuable historical artifacts from this period in Lithuania’s history, during which it was joined in political and matrimonial bonds to Poland for a period of around 400 years.
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Record Test Scores Buoy School Where Failing Students Put Phones Away
A high school in East London where teachers have convinced students to delete social media accounts and hand in their phones is seeing test scores soar.
Cumberland Community School in London’s Newham is ranked among the most consistently improving institutions year over year in the whole of the UK.
The percentage of students who achieved a GPA of 3.0 and above in their English and math exams is also well above the national average.
It seems undeniably the result of an initiative started back in 2023 during the end-of-year exam period when teachers convinced students to give up TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram for two months.
That year, out of 300 students at Cumberland, 160 agreed to delete the social media platforms. Many also agreed to hand in their mobile phones while in school taking exams to avoid any temptation or distraction.
Last year 120 students took part and the school is planning to replicate the initiative in 2025.
HAVING FAITH IN OUR KIDS: More Teens Than You Think Understand the Positive and Negative Aspects of Smartphones–Survey
“The social media ban was a game changer for us because all of a sudden our students were 100% focused on revising for their exams,” said Principle Ekhlas Rahman.
“The [2023] cohort that stuck to it throughout the revision and exam period did significantly better than they were predicted. We did it again this last year and the results were similar.”
HAVING FAITH IN OUR KIDS: Think Kids Are Addicted to Phones? US ‘Stationery Nerds’ Are Fueling a Japanese Notebook Boom
“Huge credit goes to our staff and students who have put so much effort into this sustained improvement.
“Five years ago this school was failing its students… Now we are among the top performing in the country, it means much greater opportunity for our students.”
CELEBRATE The Achievement Of This School And Its Kids On Social Media (Ironically)…
“My heart is like a singing bird.” – Christina Rossetti
Quote of the Day: “My heart is like a singing bird.” – Christina Rossetti
Photo by: Trac Vu
With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quote of the Day page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?
Good News in History, January 20
184 years ago today, the British Empire first occupied Hong Kong Island. The positioning and power of the British Empire in the region was coupled with the famously deep water port to create a trading post like no other. The influence of the British and Chinese working together turned this tribal backwater into one of the world’s most generative economies and unique destinations. READ some flashpoints in its history… (1841)
Poll Reveals Common Misunderstandings Americans Have About Taxes–And How Generations Differ
A survey of 4,000 Americans who plan to file taxes this year reveals that, though it may be one of life’s unavoidables, most generations are unaware of some of the terms and intricacies.
The poll divided the respondents evenly by generation and gender and found some differences.
According to those surveyed, 20% of Gen Z believe that students don’t need to file taxes, 17% believe that you can write anything off as a business expense, and 13% think that if you’re paid in cash, you aren’t required to pay taxes.
One in four Baby Boomers believed that you don’t need to file taxes if you earn under the IRS income requirements (27%). And a quarter of millennials and Gen X even believe that immigrants don’t pay taxes.
The facts are: a business expense can only be included if it is something necessary and directly related to your business; students and people earning below the IRS threshold are not required to file, but should file if federal taxes were taken out of any earnings or if you are eligible for certain refundable credits because you may have a refund coming.
And immigrants are indeed required to pay taxes on any U. S. income made throughout the year.
Nearly a quarter (23%) of Gen Z and 28% of millennials have filed their own taxes directly, sending to the IRS without anyone’s help.
But many admit they haven’t ever filed their own taxes. Instead, 54% of millennials opt for an online tax service and 37% use a professional. One-third of Gen Z said they coral their parents to do it, whereas, half of Gen X and 44% of Baby Boomers use an online or tax software system to file.
Conducted by Talker Research on behalf of TurboTax, the survey also put respondents’ tax knowledge to the test.
Less than half of those polled (47%) were able to properly match the term “earned income tax credit” with its definition, with only 37% of Gen Z hitting the mark, compared to 56% of baby boomers.
DID YOU KNOW? IRS Collected Half a Billion Dollars in Back Taxes From Delinquent Millionaires in 2023, Sentencing Some to Prison
53% of all respondents correctly defined “cost basis” as the original amount paid for an asset, and 52% knew what a “standard deduction” was.
A majority was familiar with the terms “dependents” (67%), “filing status” (61%), “tax deductions” (59%) and “child tax credit (57%). Generationally, baby boomers are twice as likely to be familiar with the term “estimated tax payments” than Gen Z.
“Filing taxes can feel overwhelming” said Lisa Greene-Lewis, CPA and spokesperson for TurboTax. “There’s no need to be overwhelmed, as there are options. . . whether you want to do your taxes yourself or have a tax expert do your taxes for you.”
Regardless of how familiar they are with the terms, more than three-quarters (77%) of Americans agree that when it comes to filing taxes, they just want their money as soon as possible.
This may be why 57% of respondents typically file by the end of February and only 13% wait until the month of April.
Over one-third of those surveyed (34%) believe that they will get more money in tax refunds this year than they did in 2024.
Scientists Drill Ice Core–2 Miles Down–Extracting 1.2 Million Years of Climate Record On Earth
An international team of scientists in the Antarctic has successfully extracted what is believed to be the world’s oldest ice—a historic milestone for climate science.
They drilled down almost two miles to extract 2.8-km of ice core, reaching the actual bedrock beneath the Antarctic ice sheet.
The air bubbles trapped inside the ice are “like tiny time capsules of Earth’s atmospheric past”. The samples equate to a continuous record of climate history dating back to 1.2 million years ago, which could illuminate the mysteries of glacial climate cycles.
This was the fourth Antarctic field mission for the Europeans behind the ‘Beyond EPICA – Oldest Ice’ project, funded by the European Commission.
They achieved more than 200 days of successful drilling and ice core processing operations across four seasons in the harsh environment of the central Antarctic plateau, working at an altitude of 3,200 meters above sea level with an average summer temperature of -35°C.
The ice core from Beyond EPICA will offer unprecedented insights into the Mid-Pleistocene Transition, a remarkable period between 900,000 and 1.2 million years ago when glacial cycles slowed down from 41,000-years to 100,000-year intervals.
The reasons behind this shift remain one of climate science’s enduring mysteries, one which this project seeks to unravel.
“We have marked a historic moment for climate and environmental science,” said Carlo Barbante, Coordinator of Beyond EPICA and professor at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, a member of the Institute of Polar Sciences of the National Research Council of Italy (Cnr-Isp).
“This is the longest continuous record of our past climate from an ice core, and it can reveal the interlink between the carbon cycle and temperature of our planet.”
The team speculated that even older ice—dating back 2.58 million years ago—may be discovered within the core’s base.
Watch a cool video about their operations…
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When Car’s Windshield is Smashed, Clever Son Spots Nearby Rock and Discovers a Meteorite as the Culprit
A family woke up and found their car windshield with a hole in it, but their curious son soon cracked the mystery.
Paul Butler and his family were watching TV the night before when they heard a loud bang outside, but dismissed the noise as holiday fireworks and went to bed.
The next morning, they noticed the car’s window was shattered, but their 12-year-old son discovered a small black shiny rock nearby that didn’t match any of the other stones.
The eagle-eyed Nathan put a magnet next to the rock, revealing it was magnetized—a tell-tale sign the stone probably plummeted to Earth from outer space.
“I was looking around on the ground near the car and right by the front wheel was a black rock that stood out from all the others,” Nathan told SWNS news.
“I wondered if it could possibly be a meteorite but wasn’t sure until we used a magnet and researched it online.”
His 55-year-old father said it had “a strange shape” and “looked like it had been burned“.
“It is the only logical explanation for what caused the damage because it wasn’t there when the car drove into the driveway.
“The impact looks like it splintered the glass, which was inside the car and covering the dashboard and driver’s seat.”
The family took the car to a nearby repair garage in Stratford-Upon-Avon, England, where they delighted in explaining the billion-to-one cause of the damage.
How to tell if a rock is a meteorite
To identify if a rock is a meteorite, look for a dark, thin “fusion crust” on its surface, check if it’s unusually heavy for its size due to high iron content, test if it’s magnetic, and look for unusual surface indentations called “regmaglypts”.
- Density: Meteorites are usually quite heavy for their size, since they contain metallic iron and dense minerals.
- Magnetic: Since most meteorites contain metallic iron, a magnet will often stick to them. For “stony” meteorites, a magnet might not stick, but if you hang the magnet by a string, it will be attracted.
- Unusual shape: iron-nickel meteorites are rarely rounded. Instead, they have an irregular shape with unusual pits like finger prints in their surface called “regmaglypts.”
- Fusion crust: stony meteorites typically have a thin crust on their surface where it melted as it passed through the atmosphere.
According to the University of New Mexico Meteorite Museum, meteorites do NOT have the following:
– Light-colored crystals: Quartz is a common, light-colored crystal in Earth’s crust, but it is not found on other bodies in the solar system.
– Bubbles: volcanic rocks or metallic slag on Earth often have bubbles or vesicles in them, but meteorites do not.
– Streaking ability: if you scratch a meteorite on an unglazed ceramic surface, it should not leave a streak. A dense rock that leaves a black or red streak probably contains the iron minerals magnetite or hematite, respectively, neither of which are typically found in meteorites.
LOOK: Meteorite Hunter Finds Space Debris and Crafts it into Jewelry–Millions and Billions of Years Old
Nathan plans to take the space rock into Myton School in Warwick, to show off to his classmates. Meanwhile, Paul quipped, “When we found out it was about a billion-to-one chance of a meteorite hitting the car in our driveway we started buying lottery tickets.”
RELATED: Huge Meteorite Found in Antarctica–One of the Biggest Ever Recovered
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“Accustom yourself continually to make many acts of love, for they enkindle and melt the soul.” – Saint Teresa of Avila
Quote of the Day: “Accustom yourself continually to make many acts of love, for they enkindle and melt the soul.” – Saint Teresa of Avila
Photo: Licensed from SWNS
With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quote of the Day page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?
Friends Miraculously Get Car Keys Back When Ocean Returns Them in Big Wave–VIDEO
Two friends miraculously found their car keys minutes after they’d watched them get washed away by the ocean.
Alisha Kelly and girlfriend Lauren Thompson were at Trigg Beach in Perth, Australia, when their phones and keys got swallowed up by a large wave.
Alisha had managed to retrieve their phones before they were sucked into the sea, but they had given up on ever seeing the car keys again.
Then, ten minutes later while the 27-year-old was making a video describing what just happened (see below), Lauren suddenly spotted the keys floating lightly up the sand just a few feet away–riding another wave.
The video captured Lauren’s immense delight at finding the keys—and even more so when they realized the electronics still worked.
“We felt so lucky and grateful!” said Alisha, who’s from the Gold Coast.
“We had the keys sitting up on the beach on a rock and a random monster wave came and swept them away.”
“About 10 minutes later, we were laughing that they were gone—stuck without our car keys—and a wave brought them back up the beach about five meters away in another spot!
MORE GOOD LUCK:
• Indian Farmer Changes His Fortunes–Finding Two Diamonds in His Field
• 1,000 year old Viking Sword Fished out of an Oxfordshire River with a Magnet–LOOK
“What was even more amazing is that they worked perfectly despite the swim… We genuinely were just so lucky.”
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Hero Brain Surgeon and Son Save 5 Malibu Homes From Wildfire Through Preparation and Sheer Will (WATCH)
A brain surgeon and his son ignored evacuation warnings and instead put into action an emergency plan to save their oceanfront home—and their neighbor’s home—in the gorgeous Malibu community near Los Angeles.
For two straight days and nights before firefighters arrived, a neighbor joined them in struggling to put out fires wherever they erupted during the blustery conditions brought on by fierce Santa Anna winds.
Brain surgeon Dr. Chester Griffiths says their victory over the Palisades Fire wasn’t just physical bravery.
For years in advance he planned for a wildfire by buying high pressure hoses, professional firefighting gear, and flame retardant home-building materials. Not only that, they trained to learn about disaster preparedness.
As a result, the father-son duo, along with neighbor Clayton Colbert and local firefighters, saved five homes along the beach where so many others were turned to smoldering rubble.
“We did it,” he said, exhausted, in a video for social media (watch below). “Our houses are here!”
Thankfully, the winds have finally died down in California, allowing firefighters to bring 40,000 acres of wildfires under control.
HAIL THESE HEROES By Sharing The Good News On Social Media…
Fish Rescued From Garden Pond After it Grew to be 6-feet Long–From Just Six Inches (LOOK)
A fish was finally rescued from a backyard pond after it grew to be nearly six-feet long from its original size—when it could fit in the owners’ hand.
The sturgeon, nicknamed Stanley, was placed into an 11×10 foot garden pond by the Parker family when he was just six inches in length.
25 years later, homeowners Daniel and Jennie Parker were forced to pay a team of specialists to come and remove him after he grew to a massive 5’8″ long.
Fish expert Steve Aldridge, the owner of Gloucester Koi Rescue, traveled 40 miles to the home in in Bradford-on-Avon, England, to safely retrieve the overgrown Diamond Back Sturgeon.
“Stanley is the biggest sturgeon I have ever had to rescue,” said 51-year-old Aldridge. “The owners were under the impression he was about three to four feet long but he was much bigger than that.
The decades-old Diamond Back was transported to a private manor house and given a new lease of life in a much larger watery home.
“He has moved from a one-room apartment to a mansion,” joked the couple’s son, Tristan Parker, who split the cost of buying Stanley in 1999 for about £50 ($60) with his mom.
“We fed him loads and he just kept getting bigger and bigger.”
When the fish was smaller it would eat food from Tristan’s hand, but he hasn’t done that for “quite a while”, said Mrs. Parker.
In the end, the Koi rescue team didn’t even have a big enough box to transport him.
“I had to hand-build one to store him in for the journey.
“We had to stop four times on the journey to make sure he was okay,” recalled Aldridge.
LOOK: Massive 1100-Pound Sturgeon Reeled in –and Released– by British Tourist in Canada
Jennie Parker says they are missing Stanley already.
“We talk about him all the time,” she mourned. “But it wasn’t fair to keep him in our pond as it was too small.
Sturgeons evolved millions of years ago with the dinosaurs but this species is now critically endangered in Europe.
MORE GOOD NEWS: Primeval Sturgeon Swim Again in Sweden After Scientists and Anglers Unite to Bring Them Back
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Your New Weekly Horoscope from ‘Free Will Astrology’ by Rob Brezsny
Our partner Rob Brezsny, who has a new book out, Astrology Is Real: Revelations from My Life as an Oracle, provides his weekly wisdom to enlighten our thinking and motivate our mood. Rob’s Free Will Astrology, is a syndicated weekly column appearing in over a hundred publications. He is also the author of Pronoia Is the Antidote for Paranoia: How All of Creation Is Conspiring To Shower You with Blessings. (A free preview of the book is available here.)
Here is your weekly horoscope…
FREE WILL ASTROLOGY – Week of January 18, 2025
Copyright by Rob Brezsny, FreeWillAstrology.com
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19):
During the next three weeks, doing the same old things and thinking the same old thoughts are strongly discouraged. For the sake of your spiritual and physical health, please do not automatically rely on methods and actions that have worked before. I beg you not to imitate your past self or indulge in worn-out traditions. Sorry to be so extreme, but I really must insist that being bored or boring will be forbidden. Stated more poetically: Shed all weak-heart conceptions and weak-soul intentions. Be of strong heart and robust soul.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18):
Wilderness campers have developed humorous terms to gently mock their fears and anxieties. The theory is that this alleviates some of the stress. So a “bear burrito” refers to a hammock. It addresses the worry that one might get an unwanted visit from a bear while sleeping. A “bear fortune cookie” is another name for a tent. “Danger noodle” is an apparent stick that turns out to be a snake. “Mountain money” is also known as toilet paper. I approve of this joking approach to dealing with agitation and unease. (And scientific research confirms it’s effective.) Now is an excellent time to be creative in finding ways to diminish your mostly needless angst.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20):
If you were producing the movie of your life, what actor or actress would you want to portray you? Who would play your friends and loved ones? How about the role of God or Goddess? Who would you choose to perform the role of the Supreme Being? These will be fun meditations for you in the coming weeks. Why? Because it’s an excellent time to think big about your life story—to visualize the vast, sweeping panorama of your beautiful destiny. I would also love it if during your exploration of your history, you would arrive at interesting new interpretations of the meanings of your epic themes.
ARIES (March 21-April 19):
Abdulrazak Gurnah is a Tanzanian writer who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2021. He has also been shortlisted for four other prestigious awards. I find it odd that his acclaimed novels have received mediocre scores on the prominent book-rating website, Goodreads, which has 150 million members. Why is there such a marked difference between expert critics and average readers? I speculate that those in the latter category are less likely to appreciate bold, innovative work. They don’t have the breadth and depth to properly evaluate genius. All this is my way of encouraging you to be extra discerning about whose opinions you listen to in the coming weeks, Aries—especially in regard to your true value. Trust intelligent people who specialize in thoughtful integrity. You are in a phase when your ripening uniqueness needs to be nurtured and protected.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20):
“Every joke is a tiny revolution,” said author George Orwell. I agree, which is why I hope you will unleash an unruly abundance of humor and playfulness in the coming days. I hope you will also engage in benevolent mischief that jostles the status quo and gently shakes people out of their trances. Why? Because your world and everyone in it need a sweet, raucous revolution. And the best way to accomplish that with minimum chaos and maximum healing is to: 1. do so with kindness and compassion; 2. be amusing and joyful and full of joie de vivre.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20):
Research suggests that if you’re typical, you would have to howl with maximum fury for a month straight just to produce enough energy to toast a piece of bread. But you are not at all typical right now. Your wrath is high quality. It’s more likely than usual to generate constructive changes. And it’s more prone to energize you rather than deplete you. But don’t get overconfident in your ability to harness your rage for good causes. Be respectful of its holy potency, and don’t squander it on trivial matters. Use it only for crucial prods that would significantly change things for the better.
CANCER (June 21-July 22):
I invite you to write a message to the person you will be in one year. Inform this Future You that you are taking a vow to achieve three specific goals by January 15, 2026. Name these goals. Say why they are so important to you. Describe what actions you will take to fulfill them. Compose collages or draw pictures that convey your excitement about them. When you’ve done all that, write the words, “I pledge to devote all my powers to accomplish these wonderful feats.” Sign your name. Place your document in an envelope, write “MY VOWS” on the front, and tape the envelope in a prominent place in your home or workplace.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22):
Congratulations on all the subtle and private work you’ve been doing to make yourself a better candidate for optimal togetherness. Admitting to your need for improvement was brave! Learning more about unselfish cooperation was hard work, and so was boosting your listening skills. (I speak from personal experience, having labored diligently to enhance my own relationship skills!) Very soon now, I expect that you will begin harvesting the results of your artful efforts.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22):
Construction on the Great Wall of China began in the 7th century BCE and lasted until 1878. Let’s make this monumental accomplishment your symbol of power for the next 10 months, Virgo! May it inspire you to work tirelessly to forge your own monumental accomplishment. Take pride in the gradual progress you’re making. Be ingeniously persistent in engaging the support of those who share your grand vision. Your steady determination, skill at collaborating, and ability to plan will be your superpowers as you create a labor of love that will have enduring power.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22):
We are all accustomed to dealing with complications and complexities—so much so that we may be tempted to imagine there’s never a simple solution to any dilemma. Copious nuance and mystifying paradox surround us on all sides, tempting us to think that every important decision must inevitably be taxing and time-consuming. As someone who specializes in trying to see all sides to every story, I am especially susceptible to these perspectives. (I have three planets in Libra.) But now here’s the unexpected news: In the coming weeks, you will enjoy the luxury of quickly settling on definitive, straightforward solutions. You will get a sweet respite from relentless fuzziness and ambiguity.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21):
When my daughter was 11 years old, she published her first collection of poems. The chapbook’s title was Secret Freedom. That’s a good theme for you to meditate on in the coming weeks. You are currently communing with a fertile mystery that could ultimately liberate you from some of your suffering and limitations. However, it’s important to be private and covert about your playful work with this fertile mystery—at least for now. Eventually, when it ripens, there will come a time to fully unleash your beautiful thing and reveal it to the world. But until then, safeguard it with silence and discretion.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21):
From a distance, the river in Brazil known as Rio Negro, looks black. The water of Rio Solimões, also in Brazil, is yellowish-brown. Near the city of Manaus, these two rivers converge, flowing eastward. But they don’t blend at first. For a few miles, they move side-by-side, as if still autonomous. Eventually, they fuse into a single flow, becoming the mighty Amazon. I suspect the behavior of Rio Negro and Rio Solimoes could serve as a useful metaphor for you in the coming weeks, Sagittarius. Consider the possibility of allowing, even encouraging, two separate streams to merge. Or would you prefer them to remain discrete for a while longer? Make a conscious decision about this matter.
WANT MORE? Listen to Rob’s EXPANDED AUDIO HOROSCOPES, 4-5 minute meditations on the current state of your destiny — or subscribe to his unique daily text message service at: RealAstrology.com
(Zodiac images by Numerologysign.com, CC license)
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“Fine art is that in which the hand, the head, and the heart of man go together.” – John Ruskin
Quote of the Day: “Fine art is that in which the hand, the head, and the heart of man go together.” – John Ruskin
Photo: Vincent van Gogh ‘Almond blossom’ (cropped)
With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quote of the Day page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?
Good News in History, January 18
Happy Birthday to actor, director, producer, and musician Kevin Costner, who turns 70 today. His love of baseball has enriched us all, through stellar films like Field of Dreams, Bull Durham, and For Love of the Game. He rose to prominence in Hollywood with his 1987 portrayal of Eliot Ness in The Untouchables, which was followed by a string of movie successes, like No Way Out, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, JFK, and The Bodyguard. READ more… (1955)
Dad’s Hilariously Bad Paintings Go Viral–Now He’s Flooded with Portrait Requests (LOOK)
An English dad’s hilariously bad portraits have gone viral and now he’s receiving commissions for his works worldwide.
Jamie Lee Matthias’s whacky side hustle started by accident after he painted a terrible portrait of his wife Kate as a wedding gift.
Kate thought the artwork was so funny she posted a picture of it on social media and within days it racked up thousands of views and comments.
41-year-old Matthias has since been inundated with requests from people desperate for him to create funny versions of their own photographs.
“I actually don’t mean to paint badly and I’m doing my best to recreate the photos I get sent but it’s just the way they turn out,” he said, explaining that he, his wife, and their three kids have always painted. “It’s like a family activity. Kate was making a comment about how bad mine were and I said I would paint one for our wedding day, as a joke.”
“For me it’s just about the reactions and people have been loving it,” he said.
Matthias says he tries “to create an alternate universe where proportions have no meaning,” and never outrightly considered them as bad until people started telling him.
The painting he made for his wedding day was brought out by the kids, and the audience loved it, leading Matthias to get the idea of doing some over Christmas of family and friends.
“The reactions were priceless. I thought I’d stick one out there and see if anyone wanted one,” he explained to the English news media outlet, SWNS. He was stunned by the reaction.
“As a bit of a joke set up a… Instagram account called Terrible Art by Jamie Lee. We sent out the picture, the reaction, and a bit of a blurb and it just kind of blew up.”
“We’ve got orders all over England, Scotland, Wales, and even Northern Ireland, people all over the country seem to be really enjoying it. We’re at 71 orders now, and we put it up on January 2!” he said.
Best of all, his customers are totally getting into the joke, with the owner of the following portrait praising the “attention to detail.”
Each picture is acrylic on canvas and priced at £25 plus postage, which has led to a fairly sizeable demand which Matthias now balances with his job as an accountant.
“I’ve been drawing this way since I was a child, if anything some of the paintings have got a lot worse,” he said, adding that “there’s no risk of it getting better.”
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A Desert Full of Power: Gargantuan Solar Array 250-Miles Long to Power Beijing
To anyone walking under the grey skies of a smoggy Beijing day, it may seem madness to suggest that the entire city could run on solar power.
However, The sense of the plan comes into full focus through a pair of photographs taken by NASA’s Landsat 8 and 9 satellites—a vast array of solar panels stretching across the deserts of Inner Mongolia.
At 250 miles long, 3 miles wide, and currently generating 5.4 gigawatts, the Kubuqi Desert solar array will be the world’s largest by a country mile when finished in 2030. Nicknamed the “photovoltaic sea,” there are already over 3 million solar panels shimmering along a stretch of mostly lifeless sand.
The Kubuqi’s sunny weather, flat terrain, and proximity to industrial centers make it a desirable location for solar power generation, NASA explains. Panels are being installed in a long, narrow band of dunes just south of the Yellow River between the cities of Baotou and Bayannur.
A split-screen image shows the incredible progress made between 2017 and 2024, including a giant image of a galloping horse—an homage to Mongolia’s culture and past—that holds the Guinness World Record for the largest image made out of solar panels.
It’s called the Fine Horse Solar Power Station in Chinese, and it currently generates enough electricity to power 400,000 homes.
The stretch of dunes over which the photovoltaic sea is ebbing was part of an ecosystem that was communicated to 13th-century Venetian traveler Marco Polo as being a “sea of death” and Chinese officials have a hunch that the solar arrays may bring tertiary benefits of transforming the desert into a more fertile area.
MEGA SOLAR PROJECTS: Largest US Solar Storage Project Goes Online – Enough for a Quarter Million Homes
The solar panels will help keep the sand dunes from moving and smothering nearby fields. The shade will keep the sand cooler and allow moisture to remain within it for longer, giving hardy plants a chance to gain a foothold in the area.
Western China has severe challenges with desertification and water stemming from the unique geography of the region. China has relied on heavy industry and importation to improve the livelihoods of communities here, as agriculture is extremely difficult.
A VERY SIMILAR STORY: China Announces Completion of a 1,800-Mile Green Belt Around the World’s Most-Hostile Desert
In a report from China Daily in September of last year, the Mayor of Ordos city near the Fine Horse Power Plant said that locals are beginning to plant crops underneath the solar panels and are having success with the exercise.
Authorities believe the solar sea could power all of Beijing in the future by channeling the energy of the panels down past the Gansu corridor into north-central China.
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