Onlookers ‘in Awe’ After Orca Pod Leaps Out of Water Just Meters From the Beach – WATCH

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Mar 3, 2024

orca killer whale breach-pubdomain Rémi Boudousquié — By Rémi Boudousquié

Beach goers near Seattle experienced an incredible sighting last week when a pod of orcas began leaping out of the water just meters from the shore.

Alyssa Slovinac was visiting Golden Gardens Beach, in the state of Washington on February 24 when she was treated to an astonishing show that left onlookers ‘in awe’.

The video below shows one member of the orca pod breach clear out of the surface of the bay while another appears to wave with its massive fin.

Belonging to the largest species in the dolphin family, the six orcas frolicked in the foreground, while one leaped from the water, twisting in midair before landing again.

“I was absolutely ecstatic,” said Alyssa.

“I’m a bit of an orca enthusiast, so I’ve seen this type of behavior before—but this was the first time in my seven years in Seattle that I’ve seen them this close to shore.

“The environment on the beach was electric as everyone was so thrilled by such a close encounter.

LOOK: Farmer Filmed the Adorable Moment His Newborn Quails Caused a Mini Stampede in His Home

“The level of surface activity varied over the near hour and a half we watched them, but during this time there was lots of celebrating after what I’d guess was a quick snack.”

They are often called ‘killer whales’, maybe because of such appetites but not a misnomer because orcas (and all dolphins)—along with porpoises, sperm whales, beluga whales, and narwhals—are members of the the sub-order of whales that have teeth, known as odontocetes.

WATCH the thrilling video from SWNS below…

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Top Keepsakes Parents Save From Their Baby’s First Years and Why

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Mar 3, 2024

baby clothes and toys-copyright GWC — One mom kept a variety of baby items and now is doling them out for grandchildren. (Copyright)

One mom kept a variety of baby items and now is doling them out for grandchildren. (Copyright)

A survey of 2,000 parents looked at how they hold onto their child’s younger years, with three in four saying their child is growing up way too fast.

Most of them believe they’ve became a more sentimental person since becoming a parent—and their answers confirmed it.

The child’s age that parents missed the most, on average, was two years old, and most of those surveyed said they would go to great lengths to get that time back.

“They change so much and so fast,” said one respondent. “I really miss them being a child.”

Since they can’t go back, the survey conducted by OnePoll for baby-products company Stokke found that 84% have kept something related to an important childhood milestone.

The average parent in the random double-opt-in poll said they were holding on to nine things from their child’s earliest years, with one in seven saying they’ll hold onto at least 20 different items.

Some are common keepsakes like their baby’s clothes (51%), a copy of their footprint or handprint (50%) and their pregnancy test or ultrasound images (48%).

Others have kept a memento that belonged to their baby like a lock of their hair (35%) or a fallen tooth (28%).

When asked why parents are sentimental about items from their child’s early years, one mom simply said, “The socks are so tiny and cute!”

FOR PET PARENTS: Do You Know Your Pet’s Love Language? Survey Shows Which are the Most Popular

Another said, “It just reminds me of a happy time.”

Parents save things primarily for memories, but 37% also hope to be passing them down to those kids when they’re older.

Although they feel sentimental, parents are also keen on keeping their home clutter-free, so most have given away certain items to other families, especially when kids outgrow things so fast.

ALSO: Survey Says These Are the Best Things About Raising a Child – #1 are the Cuddles

To be resourceful and look for value, the same percentage (82%) would accept used items from other parents.

But wistfully hearkening back to the past happens not only when the child turns 18, but for all time.

“He was growing and would no longer be my little baby, (but) only in age would he not be my baby forever.”

These Are the 20 Best Cities in America By the Numbers… 7 Are in California and 7 in the Midwest

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Mar 3, 2024

Lake Elizabeth in Fremont, California, by Oleg Alexandrov, CC license

As the International Day of Happiness approaches on March 20, an interesting comparison of cities in the US was published, which provides helpful benchmarks for anyone thinking of moving.

Although WalletHub entitled its new report “The Happiest Cities in America”, they didn’t actually interview people to find out if they were happy. Rather, they looked at which cities provide the best conditions for residents to optimize mental and physical well being.

They compared more than 180 of the largest U.S. cities, including the 150 most populated—plus at least two of the most populated cities in each state—across three key dimensions: 1) Emotional & Physical Well-Being, 2) Income & Employment, and 3) Community & Environment.

They evaluated these categories using 29 key indicators of happiness—from the depression and suicide rates to sports participation, from the income-growth rate to job satisfaction and unemployment, along with the weather, average leisure time and how many parks per acre, among others.

Taking all these into consideration, Fremont, California (located in the San Francisco Bay Area) is the best overall U.S. city for residents today.

One contributing factor is that Fremont (with its population of around a quarter million) has the highest share of households with an income above $75,000—at nearly 80%. Studies have shown that people who make at least $75,000 per year are happier than people with lower incomes. In addition, Fremont has the lowest separation and divorce rate in the country (4.6 times lower than in Detroit, the city with the highest). Fremont also has the lowest share of adults who report having 14 or more mentally unhealthy days in the past month.

California must have a lot of positives going for it, because seven of the top 20 cities are in the Golden State. In the category of Emotional and Physical Well-being, the top four cities are all in Cali.

According to the new report, the top 20 Best Cities in America are:

1. Fremont, CA
2. Overland Park, KS
3. San Jose, CA
4. Madison, WI
5. Irvine, CA
6. Honolulu, HI
7. San Francisco, CA
8. Pearl City, HI
9. Columbia, MD
10. Scottsdale, AZ
11. Sioux Falls, SD
12. Huntington Beach, CA
13. Minneapolis, MN
14. Garden Grove, CA
15. San Diego, CA
16. Fargo, ND
17. Portland, ME
18. Seattle, WA
19. Lincoln, NE
20. Bismarck, ND

CHECK OUT: Beautiful City of Savannah Wins Survey of Top 5 Most Underrated Places to Visit in USA

Interesting Facts:

Newark, New Jersey, has the lowest number of suicides per 100,000 residents, which is 7.9 times lower than in Casper, Wyoming, the city with the highest.

Two cities in Hawaii—Honolulu and Pearl City—scored in the Top 20, and they also snagged the top two spots in the Community and Environment category.

While the Midwest figured prominently in the Top 20 cities, no Southern cities ranked higher than 22 (Charleston, SC). Texas and Florida were not on the list until you drop down to #35 (Plano, TX) and #48 (Pembroke Pines, FL).

The two worst ranking cities were Detroit and Cleveland, with the bottom 20 rounded out by many Southern metropolises—3 in Alabama, and 2 each in Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi.

NEW POLL: 82% of U.S. Adults Are Hopeful About Their Own Future and Their Community’s Future

“Money can buy happiness to a certain degree because a stable income is essential… but the happiest cities combine economic security with kind communities and conditions that are conducive to low depression rates and high life satisfaction,” said Cassandra Happe, a WalletHub analyst.

VIEW the full report to find your U.S. city’s rank.

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He Lost 210-lbs on Carnivore Diet Eating Just Meat and Eggs–After Fertility Became an Issue

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Mar 3, 2024

Isaiah Caldwell before and after photos on carnivore diet-SWNS — Before and after photos of Isaiah Caldwell on a carnivore diet - SWNS

Before and after photos of Isaiah Caldwell on a carnivore diet – SWNS

A man shed a staggering 210 pounds—almost half his bodyweight—by eating a diet consisting of just meat and eggs.

After tipping the scales at 434 pounds and being told his weight might be causing fertility issues, the 28-year-old decided to change his lifestyle.

Isaiah Caldwell now weighs 224 since sticking with a carnivore diet, which includes anything that come from animals—meat, fish, eggs, bone broth, and dairy.

The 6-foot-4-inch salesman from St Louis, Missouri, says he’s now happier and healthier—and hopes to jumpstart his family with his wife Amanda.

“Having a baby became an obsession of ours—we were really excited about it,” Isaiah recalled. “We started trying for a year before we began to suspect that there might be some issues fertility-wise.

“I knew if there was anything I could do to give us a chance, I would do it.”

He decided to ditch all food groups except for meat, eggs, and dairy, and found out that it was pretty easy to lose weight.

“People think there’s some magic to it, but the reality is you’re just eliminating overeating—as it’s really hard to binge eat meat.

He lost 21lbs in the first month by eating steak and smoked brisket—and said he was “blown away”. He decided to stay on the carnivore diet for another month, and lost another 18 lbs, so continued on it.

“I felt unbelievable even one week; psychologically I felt so much better, my brain fog was totally gone. I felt a million times better.”

CHECK OUT: Cutting Calories by 12% Can Help People Live Healthier, Longer Lives, Says Study

He knew he wasn’t going to be able to keep it up forever, just eating meat, and after months, he expanded his diet to include some fruit.

After ten months he had lost a mammoth 118 pounds.

Once the weight loss began to slow up, Isaiah decided to start a training regime used by bodybuilders and began meticulously tracking his calorie intake.

He lost another 35 pounds, and now continues his calorie counting.

“If anyone is thinking maybe they can’t do it, they should know that I felt exactly like that too. It felt impossible and hopeless, but everyone is capable of it.”

Isaiah Caldwell with his wife Amanda after his weight loss (via SWNS)

He admits that because it is a very restrictive diet, it’s “probably not for everyone.”

There is little scientific research on the carnivore diet, but plenty of anecdotal reports of lowered blood pressure and joint pain, and better sleep. One 2021 study based on a self-reporting survey of 2,029 adults concluded in a paper published by the American Society for Nutrition that adults consuming a carnivore diet experienced “few adverse effects and instead reported health benefits and high satisfaction”.

DON’T FORGET FISH: Holy Mackerel! Fish Really Is Brain Food – Even if You Only Eat a Small Amount

Many professionals in the nutrition industry would prefer—because the full range of effects from the carnivore diet have not been studies—that people follow carb-limiting meal plans, instead—such as the ketogenic (keto) diet which hyper-restricts carbohydrates (flour, sugar, grains, and most fruits) and loads up on proteins and fats, like meats, cheese, avocados, and nuts.

As for Isiah and Amanda, they are due to go back to the doctors in the coming months to see if his efforts have had an impact on his fertility.

“We’re really optimistic,” said the newly-fit hubby. “I’m going to get testing done, but I’ve increased odds from zero to at least something.

WHAT ABOUT THE EARTH? How Do Nutritional Plant-Based Diets Compare With Meat Diets For Our Environment? Scientists Answer.

“I’m in best shape of my life and we are excited to find a way to be parents no matter what.”

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“When one paints an ideal, one does not need to limit one’s imagination.” – Ellen Key

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Mar 3, 2024

Quote of the Day: “When one paints an ideal, one does not need to limit one’s imagination.” – Ellen Key

Photo by: A Girl with Flowers on the Grass by Jacob Maris (1878, Rijksmuseum)

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?

First Known Photos of ‘Lost Bird’ Not Seen in 2 Decades are Captured by University of Texas Scientists

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Mar 2, 2024

The first-ever photograph of Yellow-crested Helmetshrike-Prionops alberti-Credit Matt Brady : The University of Texas at El Paso — The first-ever photograph of Yellow-crested Helmetshrike (Prionops alberti) Credit: Matt Brady / The University of Texas at El Paso

For the first time, scientists have captured photos of a bird in Africa that was unseen for nearly twenty years.

Known as the Yellow-crested Helmetshrike, the species had been listed as a ‘lost bird’ by the American Bird Conservancy because it had not been spotted in nearly two decades.

Scientists from the University of Texas at El Paso discovered a small flock of the birds during a six-week expedition to a mountain range in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

“It was a mind-blowing experience to come across these birds. We knew they might be possible here, but I was not prepared for how spectacular and unique they would appear in life,” said UTEP assistant professor Michael Harvey, Ph.D, an ornithologist.

Harvey co-led the expedition with UTEP Professor Eli Greenbaum, Ph.D. They were joined by ornithologist Matt Brady, as well as a group of Congolese researchers from the Centre de Recherche en Sciences Naturelles.

The team trekked on foot for 75 miles through the depths of the Itombwe Massif mountains, studying birds, amphibians, and reptiles along the way.

While exploring the cloud forests on the slopes of a mountain, Harvey and Brady stumbled upon the helmetshrike—a striking black bird with a bright yellow “helmet.”

In total, about 18 helmetshrikes appeared in noisy and active groups among the mid-layer of forest vegetation at three sites, during the expedition.

LOOK: Prehistoric Bird Once Thought to Be Extinct Returns to New Zealand Wild

The bird is endemic to the western slopes of the Albertine Rift of Central Africa, according to Harvey, a region that has been largely inaccessible due to war and security issues, but which has recently become safer to visit.

“This inspires hope that perhaps the species still has a reasonably healthy population in the remote forests of the region,” Harvey said.

With mining, logging, and agriculture making inroads deep into the forests of the Itombwe range, the team is in discussions with other researchers and conservation organizations to launch efforts to protect the helmetshrikes.

SURPRISE! Girl Hatches a Quail From a Supermarket Egg And Now Has a Devoted Pet (WATCH)

“Right now is a golden opportunity to protect these tropical forests, so that we don’t lose species like the helmetshrike before they are known and studied,” said Harvey.

The expedition, which ran from December 2023 to January 2024, yielded other important discoveries.

The Red-bellied Squeaker Frog (Arthroleptis hematogaster) had not been seen since the 1950s – Credit: Eli Greenbaum / The University of Texas at El Paso

The herpetology team rediscovered the Red-bellied Squeaker Frog (Arthroleptis hematogaster) which had not been seen since the 1950s.

This was Greenbaum’s eleventh expedition to the Democratic Republic of the Congo where he was inspired to write his book, Emerald Labyrinth: A Scientist’s Adventures in the Jungles of the Congo.

The dean of the College of Science at UTEP hopes these groundbreaking discoveries will illuminate and inspire students and scientists worldwide.

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5 Days After Vanishing, Puppy Found Stuck Inside Bramble Thicket Unseen Except By Heat-Seeking Drone (Video)

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Mar 2, 2024

Dog missing for five days saved after heat-seeking drone camera found him trapped in 6ft brambles — Jodie Dance with puppy found by Drone Search and Rescue For Lost Dogs UK / SWNS

Heat seeking drone finds dog in thicket By John Watton w Drone SAR For Lost Dogs UK / SWNS

A puppy was rescued from a ditch that was covered in thick brambles five days after she vanished—thanks to a heat-seeking drone.

Six-month-old cocker spaniel Bow got lost while on a walk with her owner Jodie Dance, who hunted for hours on February 19 but was forced to abandon the search when it got dark.

The next day she put an appeal on Facebook for people to look out for her beloved pooch near where she went missing in Warwickshire, England.

Five days later a jogger in Burton Dassett Country Park overheard barking coming from a bramble-filled railway embankment about a mile away from the park and raised the alarm.

Drone search and rescue operator John Watton with Drone SAR For Lost Dogs UK used a thermal imaging camera to spot the animal trapped inside the thicket.

“A jogger heard barking but couldn’t see the dog so we were called in and I took the drone over to his location. Within a few minutes I picked up a heat signature.

“It was literally about 6-feet inside brambles but I got a heat signature of a fox-type size.”

John Watton for Drone SAR For Lost Dogs UK / SWNS

Footage from Sunday’s rescue shows Jodie and her friends hacking down the thick brambles with hedge trimmers before hauling Bow to safety.

“Just the reaction from the owner was unbelievable. She was completely in tears,” said the 50-year-old drone operator.

“To be honest I was nearly blubbering.”

Jodie had taken Bow and her sister Bella for a run in the countryside when they both ran away.

HERO HUSKIE: Dog That Won’t Stop Digging Saves Entire Neighborhood After They Find Dangerous Gas Leak Underground

Jodie Dance with her spaniel puppy, Bow – SWNS

“They are only pups but they love running so I took them to Burton Dassett and let them off the lead. They were having a fabulous time on the hills but then both disappeared from view and then only Bella came back.”

LOOK: Man Whose Dog Ran Away While He Was in a Coma Is Reunited Thanks to Strangers on Internet

“Drone SAR were just brilliant.

“It’s a miracle she was found and it wouldn’t have happened without the thermal drone.”

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Women Get the Same Exercise Benefits As Men, But With Less Effort, Huge Study Shows

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Mar 2, 2024

work out dumbells on yoga mat pubdomain Elena Kloppenburg — By Elena Kloppenburg

Researchers have discovered a “gender gap” between men and women when it comes to working out—and it favors women, who are not likely to exercise as often.

Data analyzed from 412,000 adults in the U.S. showed that females get more ‘heart health benefit’ from exercise than males.

They can get the same benefits from exercise as men, but with less effort, according to Professor Martha Gulati, director of Preventive Cardiology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

She explained that women have historically lagged behind men in how often they engaged in meaningful exercise.

“The beauty of this study is learning that women can get more out of each minute of moderate to vigorous activity than men do.”

The team analyzed 22 years of data gathered by the National Health Interview Survey, and published their findings in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC).

They revealed that women can exercise less often than men, yet receive greater heart gains.

MORE MOTIVATION: Even Exercising Just Once a Week Can Help You Lose Weight, Says New Study

“For all adults engaging in any regular physical activity, compared to being inactive, mortality risk was lower,” said study senior author Professor Susan Cheng.

“Intriguingly, though, mortality risk was reduced by 24 percent in women and 15 percent in men.”

The team also studied moderate to vigorous physical activity—such as brisk walking or cycling—and found that men reached their maximal survival benefit from doing this level of exercise for about five hours per week while women achieved the same from only two-and-a-half hours per week.

When it came to weightlifting and other muscle-strengthening body exercises, men reach their peak from doing three sessions per week compared to women who only need one.

CHECK OUT: Slow Moving Tai Chi is ‘More Effective Than Aerobic Exercise’ For Reducing High Blood Pressure

The study also showed that women achieved maximal survival benefit if they exercised for 140 minutes per week, while men need to perform twice as much at 300 minutes per week to gain the same benefits.

Women continue to get further benefits for up to 300 minutes a week.

Prof. Christine Albert hopes women will take the research to heart.

“I am hopeful that this pioneering research will motivate women who are not currently engaged in regular physical activity to understand that they are in a position to gain tremendous benefit for each increment of regular exercise they are able to invest in their longer-term health.”

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Your Horoscope for the Week – ‘Free Will Astrology’ From Rob Brezsny

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Mar 2, 2024

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 March 2, 2024
Copyright by Rob Brezsny, FreeWillAstrology.com

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20):
In old Hawaii, the people loved their deities but also demanded productive results. If a god stopped providing worshipers with what they wanted, they might dismiss him and adopt a replacement. I love that! And I invite you to experiment with a similar approach in the coming weeks. Are your divine helpers doing a good job? Are they supplying you with steady streams of inspiration, love, and fulfillment? If not, fire them and scout around for substitutes. If they are performing well, pour out your soul in gratitude.

ARIES (March 21-April 19):
In my astrological estimation, the coming weeks will be an ideal time for you to declare amnesty, negotiate truces, and shed long-simmering resentments. Other recommended activities: Find ways to joke about embarrassing memories, break a bad habit just because it’s fun to do so, and throw away outdated stuff you no longer need. Just do the best you can as you carry out these challenging assignments; you don’t have to be perfect. For inspiration, read these wise words from poet David Whyte: “When you forgive others, they may not notice, but you will heal. Forgiveness is not something we do for others; it is a gift to ourselves.”

TAURUS (April 20-May 20):
Many of you Tauruses have a robust capacity for doing diligent, effective work. Many of you also have a robust capacity for pursuing sensual delights and cultivating healing beauty. When your mental health is functioning at peak levels, these two drives to enjoy life are complementary; they don’t get in each other’s way. If you ever fall out of your healthy rhythm, these two drives may conflict. My wish for you in the coming months is that they will be in synergistic harmony, humming along with grace. That’s also my prediction: I foresee you will do just that.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20):
Many people choose wealthy entertainers and celebrity athletes for their heroes. It doesn’t bother me if they do. Why should it? But the superstars who provoke my adoration are more likely to be artists and activists. Author Rebecca Solnit is one. Potawatomi biologist and author Robin Wall Kimmerer. The four musicians in the Ukrainian band DahkaBrakha. Poet Rita Dove and novelist Haruki Murakami. My capacity to be inspired by these maestros seems inexhaustible. What about you, Gemini? Who are the heroes who move you and shake you in all the best ways? Now is a time to be extra proactive in learning from your heroes—and rounding up new heroes to be influenced by.

CANCER (June 21-July 22):
Your homework assignment is to work on coordinating two issues that are key to your life’s purpose. The first of these issues is your fervent longing to make your distinctive mark on this crazy, chaotic world. The second issue is your need to cultivate sweet privacy and protective self-care. These themes may sometimes seem to be opposed. But with even just a little ingenious effort, you can get them to weave together beautifully. Now is a good time to cultivate this healing magic.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22):
If you don’t recognize the face in the mirror right now, that’s a good thing. If you feel unfamiliar feelings rising up in you or find yourself entertaining unusual longings, those are also good things. The voice of reason may say you should be worried about such phenomena. But as the voice of mischievous sagacity, I urge you to be curious and receptive. You are being invited to explore fertile possibilities that have previously been unavailable or off-limits. Fate is offering you the chance to discover more about your future potentials. At least for now, power can come from being unpredictable and investigating taboos.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22):
I invite you to study the fine art of relationships in the coming weeks. Life’s rhythms will redound in your favor as you enjoy expressing tenderly and freely with the special people you care for. To aid you in your efforts, here are three questions to ponder. 1. What aspects of togetherness might flourish if you approach them with less solemnity and more fun? 2. Could you give more of yourself to your relationships in ways that are purely enjoyable, not done mostly out of duty? 3. Would you be willing to explore the possibility that the two of you could educate each other about your dark sides?

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22):
Creativity teacher Roger von Oech tells how bandleader Count Basie asked a club owner to fix his piano. It was always out of tune. A few weeks later, the owner called Basie to say everything was good. But when Basie arrived to play, the piano still had sour notes. “I thought you said you fixed it!” Basie complained. The owner said, “I did. I painted it.” The moral of the story for the rest of us, concludes von Oech, is that we’ve got to solve the right problems. I want you Libras to do that in the coming weeks. Make sure you identify what really needs changing, not some distracting minor glitch.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21):
Most of us have received an inadequate or downright poor education about love and intimate togetherness. Given how much misinformation and trivializing propaganda we have absorbed, it’s amazing any of us have figured out how to create healthy, vigorous relationships. That’s the bad news, Scorpio. The good news is that you are cruising through a sustained phase of your astrological cycle when you’re far more likely than usual to acquire vibrant teachings about this essential part of your life. I urge you to draw up a plan for how to take maximum advantage of the cosmic opportunity. For inspiration, here’s poet Rainer Maria Rilke: “For one human being to love another human being: that is perhaps the most difficult task entrusted to us, the ultimate task, the final test and proof, the work for which all other work is merely preparation.”

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21):
The myths and legends of many cultures postulate the existence of spirits who are mischievous but not malevolent. They play harmless pranks. Their main purpose may be to remind us that another world, a less material realm, overlaps with ours. And sometimes, the intention of these ethereal tricksters seems to be downright benevolent. They nudge us out of our staid rhythms, and suggest reality is not as solid and predictable as we might imagine. I suspect you may soon have encounters with some of these characters—and that they will bring you odd but genuine blessings.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19):
Some studies suggest that less than half of us have best friends. Men are even less likely to have beloved buddies than the other genders do. If you are one of these people, the coming weeks and months will be an excellent time to remedy the deficiency. Your ability to attract and bond with interesting allies will be higher than usual. If you do have best friends, I suggest you intensify your appreciation for and devotion to them. You need and deserve companions who respect you deeply, know you intimately, and listen well. But you’ve got to remember that relationships like these require deep thought, hard work, and honest expressions of feelings!

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18):
Among all the zodiac signs, you Aquarians are among the best at enjoying a bird’s-eye perspective on the world. Soaring high above the mad chatter and clatter is your birthright and specialty. I love that about you, which is why I hardly ever shout up in your direction, “Get your a** back down to earth!” However, I now suspect you are overdue to spend some quality time here on the ground level. At least temporarily, I advise you to trade the bird’s-eye view for a worm’s-eye view. Don’t fret. It’s only for a short time. You’ll be aloft again soon.

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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“I cook with wine; sometimes I even add it to the food.” – W. C. Fields

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Mar 2, 2024

Quote of the Day: “I cook with wine; sometimes I even add it to the food.” – W. C. Fields

Photo by: Boryslav Shoot

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?

Kyoto Passes Law to Protect Traditional Geisha From the Obnoxious Tourist ‘Paparazzi’

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Andy Corbley

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Mar 1, 2024

A geisha on Gion's Hanamikoji street - Jay, unsplash

GNN has long been an employer of travelers, and is quick to point out positive developments in tourism—which includes when malbehaved tourists are ‘corrected’ by the application of a smart law.

In Japan, Kyoto has installed a new schedule of fines for “Geisha paparazzi” as a means of preventing tasteless tourists from harassing the city’s professional female entertainers for photographs.

Furthermore, the citizens of the famous Gion quarter, where geisha and their understudies (called maiko) are most often found, have taken it upon themselves to staunchly enforce Japanese etiquette on their own—like a kind of citizen’s arrest.

Isokazu Ota, Representative Secretary of the Gion-town South Side District Council, tells CNN that unauthorized geisha photography is punishable by a fine of up to ¥10,000 ($67). Technically non-enforceable on the large public thoroughfare of Gion called Hanamikoji Street, the signs posted that warn of the fine don’t mention this particular detail of Japanese legal codes.

FAMOUS PLACES SAVED FROM OVERTOURISM: Italy Bans Cruise Ships from Entering Historic Venice City Center

Additionally, many of the picturesque side alleys of Gion, which geisha and maiko use to avoid paparazzi, can be subject to the ban, though Ota’s didn’t tell CNN exactly why—perhaps because the alleys are home to restaurants, teahouses, and private residences.

Walking down the streets of the historic neighborhood, these geisha transport the scenery back 200 years with their colorful kimonos, makeup, and fans.

But being that Gion is one of the most tourist-heavy districts in the tourist-heavy city of Kyoto, the geisha and maiko (these words are already plural) are too often bothered by visitors looking for photographers at all costs, and incidents of these women being physically harassed are not uncommon.

Geisha are quite simply entertainers. They practice traditional Japanese activities like singing, playing musical instruments, and serving tea, to those dining and eating at restaurants. They fit in so well with the scenery of Gion, that foreign tourists come to believe they’re part of it, when in reality they are often simply on their way to work.

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Earn Credit From J. Crew by Helping Them Recycle Your Old Swimwear–Keeping Clothes Out of Landfills

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Andy Corbley

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Mar 1, 2024

American swimwear and accessory brand J. Crew is offering free store credit to anyone who feels like taking the time to recycle their old bathing suits and bikinis.

Unlike cotton jeans, swimwear is often made of blends of different fabrics, both artificial and organic. While this makes them ideal for the sea, it essentially destines them for the landfill.

Looking to make the extra effort to cut out fashion waste from their supply chain, J. Crew has partnered with a recycling firm called SuperCircle to help gather up and properly dispose of old, ripped, or unwanted swimwear.

“…[W]e needed to help our customers responsibly dispose of their swimsuits—either ours or other brands—when they were done wearing them and avoid them going into landfill,” Lisa Greenwald, the company’s chief merchandising officer, told Adele Peters at Fast Company Magazine.

J. Crew already uses some recycled fibers for making new products, but Greenwald and the rest of the execs felt they had to do more.

MORE TAKE-BACK RECYCLING PROGRAMS: Ikea to Buy Back Used Furniture Worldwide in Recycling Push For Black Friday

A take-back program organized by J. Crew but fulfilled by SuperCircle is present at all of its stores. $5.00 in store credit is given to anyone who brings a ruined or unwanted swimsuit from their brand or any other brand. You can even get free shipping labels online to send them in via the mail.

MORE TAKE-BACK RECYCLING PROGRAMS: H&M In-Store Recycling Machine Turns Old Clothes into New Threads—A World First

Once collected, SuperCircle uses company data to sort bathing suits and bikinis by textile type. Tags are removed, and the clothing is shredded into loose fiber and baled into large bundles to be united with those of other corporations. Then these large bales are sent to textile manufacturers to make new thread, or elsewhere for downcycled products like packaging or insulation.

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12-yo Leap Year Quadruplets Celebrate ‘Third Birthday’–Brothers Are All Unique But 3 Are Triplets

By

Andy Corbley

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Mar 1, 2024

Leap year quadruplets celebrating their third official birthday - as they turn 12 this month — Quadruplets (L-R) Samuel, Joshua, Zachary and Reuben – SWNS

Quadruplets (L-R) Samuel, Joshua, Zachary, and Reuben – SWNS

Britain’s only leap year quadruplets are celebrating their ‘third’ birthday this week—12 years after birth.

Reuben, Samuel, Zachary, and Joshua Robbins were all born within six minutes of each other on February 29th, 2012.

They celebrate their birthdays on March 1 each year, but every four years they get to mark the real day, being that it disappears from the calender for three.

Their sire Martin Robbins has a real handful this time around, as each child wants to do something different to celebrate the real day.

“One wants to go bowling, another go-karting, one wants to do archery, so we’ve got to come to a happy decision!” he said.

Martin has been speaking to the media about their very unusual litter, and if readers were ever curious about what it’s like having quadruplets, the interview is a great opportunity to hear first hand.

Mother Emma Robbins gave birth to the boys via emergency Caesarean section, with Reuben being delivered first, followed by the second, Zachary. Zachary’s identical twin Joshua was the heaviest, and Samuel, who doesn’t look the same as the other three, was delivered last; with dark hair no less.

All four Robbins brothers were conceived naturally – SWNS

The quads have an older brother too, 14-year-old Luke, whom the quads “love very much”.

They often shadow him around because they look up to him, Martin said.

Three of the quadruplets are genetically identical—Reuben, Zachery, and Joshua, and while Samuel is not identical to his brothers he looks like his older brother Luke, and his mom.

OTHER UNUSUAL FAMILY SITUATIONS: Family Adopts Elderly Neighbor as ‘Honorary Grandpa’ for Holidays and Heartwarming Daily Moments (LOOK)

“Sam is like the ring leader, who socially and mentally seems to be the boss of the four,” said their father. “The other three are all one and the same! Just like me, they are fair-haired and Sam has dark hair.”

“All the boys are quite different in themselves and as they’ve gotten older, they have become more engaged in other interests. They are all individual in their own rights, sometimes people want to put them in a basket and I’ve never understood that.”

BIG HAPPY FAMILIES: She’s Happily Married with 6 Kids–All Because of a Text Sent to the Wrong Number

“Josh is very sporty, he loves football and basketball. Zach and Reuben are very musical, they like to sing and dance and play keyboard. Reuben and Zach are very artsy and creative. Sam is the technical one; he has a curious mind and is always asking questions,” Mr. Robbins elaborates, adding that at their new school in Bristol, the four enjoy the collective nickname ‘copy-paste’.

“It’s the most important time for them, and is important for their social development so they can come into their own individuality,” he added. “It helps them make new and solid friends and have something to talk about when they come home”.

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Bizarre New Plant Species Feeds on Fungi: First New Flora Species in 100 Years to Be Discovered in Japan

By

Andy Corbley

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Mar 1, 2024

In botany, it’s well-established that plants and fungi have multiple symbiotic relationships under the dirt of the forest floor, but a new species of plant identified in Japan has been found actually consuming fungi—a behavior never observed before.

Scientists also say it’s the first time a new plant has been identified in Japan—a country renowned for its extensive flora research—in almost 100 years.

The new species of fairy lantern, a group of tiny glass-like plants, is white and doesn’t engage in photosynthesis, but rather feeds on fungal mycelia in the ground.

Fairy lanterns, or Thismiaceae as they are known to botanists, are very unusual plants found mainly in tropical but also in subtropical and temperate regions.

The Japanese researchers explained that they are often hidden under fallen leaves and only for a brief period produce above-ground flowers that look like glasswork.

The Japanese name for Thismia, one of the major groups within this family, is Tanuki-no-shokudai—which means “raccoon dog’s candleholder” and refers both to their shape and their underground lifestyle.

However, they are also extremely rare and difficult to find.

“At present, approximately 100 species within the family have been identified, nearly half of which are known only from their first discovery, sometimes from a single specimen,” said Kobe University botanist Dr. Kenji Suetsugu.

Dr. Suetsugu has long-term collaborations with local botanists who have access to secluded areas all over Japan.

“The dedication of Japanese amateur researchers to revealing the hidden flora of these regions has been crucial in identifying species unknown to science.”

When he was sent a specimen of a fairy lantern that a hobby botanist had found and that a local expert thought represented a new species of the genus of Tanuki-no-shokudai, he knew he had to investigate.

“This plant was not included in any of the existing genera, such as Thismia, because of its unique features, and it became necessary to obtain additional individuals for further examination,” said Dr. Suetsugu.

MORE WILD JAPAN: Japanese Eels Found Living in Polluted River are Shining Example of Resilience

He went to Kimotsuki, where the discovery had been made, but could not find any other samples. A year later he tried again and got lucky, finding four more plants in the same narrow area.

Based both on morphological and genetic analysis, the research team concluded that the plant is not only a new species, but in fact different enough from Tanuki-no-shokudai to be a different genus.

The researchers, whose findings were published in the Journal of Plant Research, believe that the plant probably diverged at an early stage in the evolution of the whole Thismiaceae family and retains characteristics that are common to the family but have been lost in the Thismia genus.

Dr. Suetsugu chose the name Mujina-no-shokudai—meaning “badger’s candleholder” for the new plant.

He explained that “Mujina” is an old Japanese word for a badger, but sometimes has also been used for the raccoon dog which it resembles but is different from.

“Japan is one of the regions in the world where botanical surveys are most advanced, making the discovery of new plant species extremely rare, and the discovery of a new genus even more so,” adds Dr. Suetsugu, who explained that the last discovery of a new vascular plant concurrently identified as a separate genus was the discovery of Japonolirion in 1930, almost 100 years ago.

“This research might suggest that many other new species may be hiding in regions previously thought to be well-studied and underscores the critical need for ongoing exploration and investigation of the planet’s flora both abroad and at home.”

A plant that feeds on fungi and is so limited in its local spread is also exceptionally vulnerable to environmental change, according to the research team.

“A segment of our future research will be dedicated to ecological studies aimed at deciphering the interactions between Relictithismia and its fungal hosts, in addition to assessing the impact of environmental alterations on these associations,” said Suetsugu.

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“One-fifth of the people are against everything all the time.” – Bobby Kennedy

Quote of the Day

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Good News Network

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Mar 1, 2024

Quote of the Day: “One-fifth of the people are against everything all the time.” – Robert F. (Bobby) Kennedy

Photo by: Courtesy of John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum, Boston (Senator Robert F. Kennedy addressing a crowd at San Fernando Valley College during 1968 presidential primary campaign)

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?

Hero Garbageman Rescues Man, Woman, and Dog from House Fire

By

Andy Corbley

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Feb 29, 2024

Kevin Marriott and Steve Whitehouse garbage men-released by Serco — Kevin Marriott (left) and Steve Whitehouse – Courtesy of Serco

Kevin Marriott (left) and Steve Whitehouse – Courtesy of Serco

GNN often reports on lifesaving rescues by firemen, risking life and lung to pull people from burning buildings, but these two are not firemen, and are a different sort of hero.

They’re heroes, no doubt, but by trade they haul trash. Nonetheless, while working in Tipton, England, on Tuesday morning, they saw fires ripping through a small brick townhome, and rescued a man, woman, and their dog.

Steve Whitehouse and Kevin Marriott work for Serco garbage collection, and it was Whitehouse who first jumped into action.

“I saw a young woman screaming from the balcony and all I could think was that I needed to get to her as quickly as possible,” Whitehouse told the BBC.

Whitehouse climbed up to a first-floor balcony three times to rescue the trio from the flames. He first carried the woman down, but when he turned back to help the young man, he found he was shouting to his dog, still inside. Bundling the dog in a blanket, Whitehouse climbed down and told the owner throw the dog to him. After catching him, the garbageman returned up to the balcony to help the man.

MORE UNLIKELY HEROES: Massachusetts Mailman Scoops Toddler Away from Traffic After Day Care Escape: ‘Right place at the right time’

Meanwhile Whitehouse’ partner Marriott went door to door shouting for people to get clear of the connected townhomes.

Both the man and the dog were suffering from smoke inhalation when 19 firefighters arrived from West Midlands Fire and Rescue. The dog was treated on site while the man was rushed to the hospital.

BRITISH RESCUE STORIES: Crane Operator is Hero for Saving Man From Top of Burning Skyscraper After Seeing Him Wave His Coat (VIDEO)

“I have no doubt that without Steve’s incredible bravery the outcome could have been very different,” said senior firefighter Chris Green. “I have no idea how he managed to do what he did. It was heroic. The fire and smoke were coming out of the property’s rear door like a blow torch.”

According to the BBC, the two garbagemen debriefed and recovered over a cup of coffee, and went right back out to finish their collection rounds.

Not all heroes wear capes, some of them wear, well, whatever garbagemen wear.

SHARE These Awesome Heroes With Your Friends In England…

Cavemen Used Glue to Make Stone Tools 40,000 Years Ago–the Evidence is Sticky

By

Andy Corbley

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Feb 29, 2024

Neanderthals created stone tools held together with a glue made from scratch, a team of scientists has discovered.

They are the earliest evidence of a complex adhesive in Europe, suggest these predecessors to modern humans had a higher level of cognition and cultural development than previously thought.

The stone tools from an archaeological site in Le Moustier, France, were used by Neanderthals during the Middle Paleolithic period of the Mousterian between 120,000 and 40,000 years ago. Kept in the collection of Berlin’s Museum of Prehistory and Early History, they had not previously been examined in detail.

The tools were rediscovered during an internal review of the collection and their scientific value was recognized.

“The items had been individually wrapped and untouched since the 1960s,” said Ewa Dutkiewicz, from the Berlin museum. “As a result, the adhering remains of organic substances were very well preserved.”

The researchers discovered traces of a mixture of ochre and bitumen on several stone tools, such as scrapers, flakes, and blades. Ochre is a naturally occurring earth pigment; bitumen is a component of asphalt and can be produced from crude oil, but also occurs naturally in the soil.

“We were surprised that the ochre content was more than 50%,” said Patrick Schmidt from the University of Tübingen’s Early Prehistory and Quaternary Ecology section, who lead the reseach.

“This is because air-dried bitumen can be used unaltered as an adhesive, but loses its adhesive properties when such large proportions of ochre are added.”

He and his team examined these materials in tensile tests—used to determine strength—and other measures.

“It was different when we used liquid bitumen, which is not really suitable for gluing. If 55 percent ochre is added, a malleable mass is formed,” Schmidt says.

The mixture was just sticky enough for a stone tool to remain stuck in it, but without adhering to hands, making it suitable material for adding a convenient handle to a small blade of flint—like a cheese knife—allowing for much greater manipulation of the small tool by thick Neanderthal hands.

“The tools showed two kinds of microscopic wear: one is the typical polish on the sharp edges that is generally caused by working other materials,” explains Radu Iovita, an associate professor at NYU’s Center for the Study of Human Origins, who conducted this analysis.

MORE NEANDERTHAL TECH: Remains of Prehistoric BBQ Suggests Dinner was Served 780,000 Years Ago–600,000 Years Earlier than we Thought

“The other is a bright polish distributed all over the presumed hand-held part, but not elsewhere, which we interpreted as the results of abrasion from the ochre due to movement of the tool within the grip.”

The use of adhesives with several components, including various sticky substances such as tree resins and ochre, was previously known from early modern humans, Homo sapiens, in Africa but not from earlier Neanderthals in Europe. Overall, the development of adhesives and their use in the manufacture of tools is considered to be some of the best material evidence of the cultural evolution and cognitive abilities of early humans.

OTHER TECHNOLOGY THAT GOES WAY BACK: Thousands of Years Ago, a Woman Underwent Two Surgeries to Her Head–and Survived Both Procedures

“Compound adhesives are considered to be among the first expressions of the modern cognitive processes that are still active today,” says Schmidt.

In the Le Moustier region, ochre and bitumen had to be collected from distant locations, which meant a great deal of effort, planning, and a targeted approach, the authors note.

“What our study shows is that early Homo sapiens in Africa and Neanderthals in Europe had similar thought patterns,” adds Schmidt. “Their adhesive technologies have the same significance for our understanding of human evolution.”

The study was published in Science Advances.

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Village Saves 45,000 Toads From Roadway Deaths Cutting Casualties By 60%—All the Way Down to 3% Rate

By

Andy Corbley

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Feb 29, 2024

toad on road at night — Photo by T-Bone Sandwich, CC license

Dispersed around the UK, hundreds of heroic volunteers soak themselves to the skin on early spring nights in order to save toads, frogs, and newts from being squished under the tires of passing cars.

This network of volunteer societies are literally transforming England by slowly walking across dark asphalt with a high beam flashlight and a high-visibility jacket, picking up amphibians and dropping them into a bucket for safe transport across the road.

They are reducing the toll of roadkill on local amphibian populations by enormous amounts, and ensuring they can keep up their valuable ecosystem services like keeping insect populations in check, and filling the spring air with their soft croaking songs.

If you don’t live in a wet or rain-prone area, and you’ve never been on the road during frog/toad mating season, you might think “how hard is it to just avoid running them over?” But it’s not that simple, for starters because they can gather in such numbers that swerving to avoid one puts your tires on another, and small frogs and news look just like leaves and twigs on the dark tarmac through a rain-splattered windshield.

Last year, England’s 203 amphibian rescue groups saved at least 115,000 animals from roads.

The Guardian’s Adrian Sherratt went out one night with Charlcombe Toad Rescue, near the ancient city of Bath, to photograph and participate in a rainy night’s rescue operations.

This group has brought the numbers of amphibian deaths from road crossings down to 3% from 60%. When you think that in March, hundreds of mama toads and frogs cross the street with bellies full of eggs, that equates to the survival of thousands of animals.

MORE AMPHIBIAN KINDNESS: Endangered Frogs See ‘Population Explosion’ After 422 Ponds Were Built in Switzerland

Bath is renowned for wet areas and hot springs, and frogs and toads need to reach these bodies of water to mate or lay eggs. But being a well-developed area, it involves crossing a lot of roads.

“I find it very emotional, actually,” said Angela, a Charlcombe volunteer. “And it becomes more emotional as you do it. You see a creature that’s so vulnerable just sat there, and you can see it’s pregnant and bulging with babies. You want them to have a fighting chance of making it to their breeding grounds.”

KINDNESSSS TOWARDSSSS REPTILESSSS: A Tiny Gecko is Enjoying a Big Recovery After International Collaboration has Nearly Doubled Their Numbers

Charlcombe has been active during the breeding seasons since 2003, and have saved over 40,000 animals from roads. There is a waiting list to join the 50 or so volunteers needed for the operation, which also crowdfunds a £1,500 sum to pay for the main road to be closed during the breeding season.

Froglife is a charity that coordinates the mass data collection that these efforts generate. They also help connect those desiring to volunteer with toad patrols in their area.

On that note, there are dozens and dozens of toad patrol groups that need new members, particularly in Cheshire, Lancashire, and the Isle of Wight.

SHARE This Heroic Effort To Save Innocent Animals From The Squish…

Teen’s Family Struggled to Afford Size 23 Shoes–Shaq Sent a Dozen Pairs, Including Superman Slippers

By

Andy Corbley

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Feb 29, 2024

Jor'el Bolden - credit, Tamika Neal, GoFundMe

Jor’el Bolden – credit, Tamika Neal, GoFundMe

A 16-year-old from Independence Missouri wears shoes so big you could fit your arm in them—but they were too small.

That’s because young Jor’el Bolden wears a size 23, which essentially means he wears nothing because most companies don’t sell shoes that big.

The Independence community rallied around Bolden and his mother Tamika, raising $12,000 through a GoFundMe which attracted the attention of national news, and one very famous, very generous, and very large celebrity.

“Entertainment Tonight, they messaged me and she was like ‘someone special wants to talk to you’,” his mother, Tamika Neal, told KCTV 5 where the story originally aired.

NBA legend and renowned good-guy Shaquille O’Neal, who’s heard his fair share of bigfoot jokes, got abreast of KCTV 5’s story and organized to have a Zoom call with Jor’el.

In the call, Shaq told him to expect some goodies in the mail, and within three days there were several large boxes full of Shaq-sized, Jor’el-sized clothes, and 20 pairs of size 23 shoes.

“It’s better than Christmas morning. Santa didn’t send this, Shaq did,” Neal told KCTV 5.

The 6-foot-5, 380-pound lad wants to become an athlete, specifically a heavyweight boxer, but was never really able to train properly because all the size 22 shoes the family had managed to find on eBay hurt his feet.

This isn’t the first time Shaq has come through for fast-growing young man.

MORE GENEROUS CELEBRITIES: Country Star Steps in to Pay Woman’s $250,000 Court Damages for Using His Likeness–a Case he Was Unaware of

In 2019, GNN reported on Shaquille O’Neal bringing a young basketball player named Zack Keith to his favorite shoe store in Georgia to outfit him with 10 pairs of size 18 shoes.

The king of big-boy generosity struck again—this time in Michigan, when in 2023 Shaq had to work in concert with Puma and Under Armor to outfit Eric Killburn Jr. with “Eric Killburn-size” shoes. It’s believed, though not confirmed, that Eric has the largest feet ever recorded in a human teenager.

Puma declined to say whether or not they were size 23—noting that the custom dimensions that Eric needed were not those of a shoe one size larger than 22. Shaq himself wears size 23, but couldn’t send any of his own shoes to help the 16-year-old defensive tackle.

YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY: Shaq Brings 2,000 Nintendo Switches and PS5s To Underprivileged Kids On Christmas: A Long List of His Good Deeds

Eric’s mom had similar struggles providing footwear for her son to those of Tamika, at one point requiring a specially made pair constructed by orthopedic surgeons to the tune of $1,500.

It’s clear that if you’ve got a big, big boy under your roof, there’s only place to turn.

WATCH the story below from KCTV 5…

SHARE This Latest Shaq-Attack Of Kindness Towards The World…

“Forgiveness is the final form of love.” – Reinhold Niebuhr

Quote of the Day

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Good News Network

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Feb 29, 2024

Quote of the Day: “Forgiveness is the final form of love.” – Reinhold Niebuhr

Photo by: Melanie Stander

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?