Quote of the Day: “Love does not dominate; it cultivates.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Photo: Sdf Rahbar
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An extraordinary fossil of a dinosaur being attacked and eaten by a mammal has been unearthed by paleontologists.
It features the entangled skeletons of a beaked and horned herbivore and the smaller, meat-eating Repenomamus at a prehistoric animal graveyard in China’s Liaoning Province dubbed ‘Dinosaur Pompeii,’ for the number of pristine fossils uncovered there.
The amazing scene was frozen in time when a mudslide entombed them both and contains some of the first evidence to show actual predatory behavior by a mammal on a dinosaur.
“The two animals are locked in mortal combat—intimately intertwined,” said co-author of the English language paper of its discovery, Dr. Jordan Mallon from Ottawa’s Museum of Nature. “The weight of the evidence suggests that an active attack was underway.”
Close examination shows the dinosaur is lying prone with its hindlimbs folded on either side of its body. Psittacosaurus was about the size of a large dog.
The weasel-like Repenomamus, the largest mammal of the Cretaceous, coils to the right and sits atop—gripping the jaw of its prey while biting into some of the ribs. Its back foot is holding onto Psittacosaurus‘ hind leg.
The international team ruled out scavenging as the bones of the dinosaur bear no tooth marks. It’s also unlikely the two would have become so entangled. Furthermore, Repenomamus was known to have preyed on Psittacosaurus because of fossilized baby bones of the herbivorous dino found in the mammal’s stomach.
FROM AROUND THE SAME PERIOD: Bizarre Creature From China Had a Dinosaur Head on Bird’s Body – a Missing Link From 120 Million Years Ago
The elevated position of Repenomamus also suggests it was the aggressor.
Lone wolves are known to hunt larger animals, including caribou and domestic sheep, in the modern world, and the Mustelids, like stoats, weasels, and martins, routinely prey on much larger rabbits and other mammals.
MORE AMAZING FOSSILS: Paleontologists in India Have Hit on an Epic Find: Hundreds of Bowling Ball-Sized Titanosaur Eggs
There were also small mammals, lizards, and amphibians buried suddenly en masse by mudslides and debris following volcanic eruptions nearby.
Dr. Mallon said in his paper that he is sure the fossil beds at Lu Jia Tun will continue to yield new evidence of interactions among species otherwise unknown to the fossil record.
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This year’s annual convention for the American Veterinary Medical Association has been turned into a medical care drive for the companion animals of the homeless in the Denver area.
In partnership with the Street Dog Coalition and a number of corporate sponsors, the event held over last weekend allowed anyone to bring in an animal to receive a free health check, vaccinations, and essential supplies to take home with them.
Social isolation is as deadly to human beings as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, and a companion animal can almost entirely alleviate those maleffects.
For people experiencing homelessness, that emotional support can be even more important.
“I think there’s a big judgment and stigma out there about, ‘gosh you need to be able to afford everything or you shouldn’t have a pet,’ and I really struggle with that,” says Dr. Ashley Ackley, one of the volunteer veterinarians who offered up their time during the convention.
Each pet owner was given a referral for spaying, neutering, or follow-up vaccinations depending on what was required within the Denver area.
MORE STORIES LIKE THIS: This Crew of Street Veterinarians Treat the Pets of L.A.’s Homeless Residents of Skid Row
“People experiencing homelessness have incredibly strong bonds with their pets who provide companionship, purpose, and unconditional love. By providing free compassionate care to both ends of the leash, we hope to help preserve, protect, and strengthen those bonds,” said Katrina Weschler, Executive Director of The Street Dog Coalition.
WATCH the story below from NBC 9 news…
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From the Pacific Ocean comes a harrowing and inspiring tale of survival, as sailor Timothy Shaddock, 51, and his dog were rescued after 3 months adrift at sea.
Now being treated by the ship’s doctor onboard a tuna trawler that rescued him, Australian news reports that he has sustained no major or serious injuries.
“I’m just needing rest and good food because I have been alone at sea a long time,” Shaddock said after being rescued. “Otherwise I’m in very good health.”
Nevertheless, his appearance was one of a man on the ragged edge, with a diminshed physique, and hair grown out in such a way that the ship doctor compared him to Tom Hanks’ character in Castaway.
Shaddock departed from Sydney in May in a catamaran en route to French Polynesia, but bad weather knocked out all his electronics, and he was soon lost in the great blue nothing.
MORE SURVIVAL STORIES: Woman Lost 8 Days in the Australian Bush Survives to See Her 4 Children Again ‘It is miraculous’
Shaddock kept himself protected from sunburn by hiding under a canopy, and the heroic, persevering sailor managed to catch enough fish with the gear he had onboard for him and his dog Bella to survive over 2 months of isolation.
Rainwater kept them alive while they hoped for rescue, which came in July in the form of the tuna trawler’s helicopter. He’s being brought back to Mexico where he will receive proper medical attention.
WATCH the story below from Channel 9 News, Australia…
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Perhaps you’ve watched nest cam footage from organizations like the Fish and Wildlife Service that monitors bird nests, and if you’re a fan of that then you’ll surely leap like a humpback at the chance to watch Polar Bears International’s “Beluga Cams.”
During the ice-free months of summertime, about two-thirds of the world’s beluga whales—about 57,000 animals, migrate to the waters around Churchill Valley and Hudson Bay in Canada.
From the deck of their Beluga Boat, PBI scientists maintain underwater microphones that allow you to listen in on the constant whistling, chattering, and singing of these incredible creatures.
The cameras were set up over the last weekend, which PBI has designated as Arctic Sea Ice Day, (July 15th) to raise awareness about polar bears, and sea ice loss.
“Arctic sea ice regulates our planet’s climate, and is essential for polar bears and humans alike,” says Krista Wright, executive director of Polar Bears International, adding, “On Arctic Sea Ice Day, we bring the Arctic to people around the world through outreach like the beloved Beluga Whale Live Cam.”
“As we expand our operations across the Arctic, we believe it’s more important than ever to work together to slow global warming and preserve Arctic sea ice along with the creatures that depend on it.”
MORE ARCTIC ANIMAL NEWS: Fin Whales Are Feeding In Huge Numbers in Antarctica for First Time in 45 Years – WATCH
The Beluga Cams are also the focus of a big citizen science project. PBI asked viewers to collect individual screenshots from the livestream footage and register them to gather data on the individual animals below the waves. In total more than 22,000 photographs have been taken by Beluga Cam viewers.
CHECK out the Beluga Cam below…
SHARE This Very Different Sound Of Nature To Narrate Your Day…
Quote of the Day: “I had to live in the desert before I could understand the full value of grass in a green ditch.” – Ella Maillart
Photo: Ries Bosch
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Last Friday, it was believed a young farmer had been caught in the act of leopard poaching in India—a crime that’s easy to believe based on the amount of animal-human contact in rural areas of the country.
In reality, the film of the 25-year-old man driving his motorbike with a leopard hog-tied over the rear wheel came out as evidence of him actually saving the leopard’s life.
The man, Venugopal aka Muttu, from the Hassan District of the Indian state of Karnataka, found the juvenile leopard lying unconscious in the corner of his field. After observing the feline for some time, Mr. Muttu concluded it was not well, and “summoning up his courage” he decided to intervene.
OTHER INDIAN STORIES: This Ultra-White Paint is Cooling the Homes Inside the Poorest of India’s Slums
Face to face with the big cat he realized it was too exhausted to move, so he brought it back to the village on his motorbike. Seeing their neighbor with the cat, the villagers immediately called the forest service who got to Muttu, learned of the situation, and sped the leopard off to veterinary care.
“The leopard is around nine-month-old and must have strayed into the village seeking food which led to dehydration,” said Ashish Reddy, an official from the Hassan DCF. “Our staff members have given him advice on what needs to be done about noticing wild creatures in the area.”
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When asked about the way Muttu tied the leopard to his bike, Reddy said the state was not intending to press charges as the leopard is in stable condition and there was no criminal intent behind Muttu’s actions.
Human-animal conflict, particularly involving charismatic animals like elephants, tigers, and leopards, is always a major challenge for Indian communities and states to try and manage, wanting to protect both people and property, and the animals that share the rural territory.
The story is a heartening reminder that some rural folks are not only willing to make room for wild predators, but give them a helping paw as well.
WATCH live video of the rescue…
BREAK The Bad News Cycle With This Great Compassion For Wildlife…
Open to skateboarders, BMXers, scooter riders, and rollerbladers, an abandoned Sainsbury’s in the UK has become a community skatepark.
The Pitt Street skatepark in Portsmouth, about 75 miles southwest of London, is located in the city center, and is seen as a way to help “unlock long-term regeneration opportunities.”
“As a child, skateboarding was my outlet and I want to give others the opportunity to use it in a positive way,” said Founder and skater at Pitt Street, Jacob Skinner, who said he was inspired to support the project after skateboarding helped him as a youngster.
“We are really passionate about changing the view of skateboarding in the community, it’s also so important to remember that you are never too old to skate.”
“We want to bring the community together through this venue and encourage people of all ages to get involved.”
In an effort to be inclusive for the whole community, sessions such as the “silver surfers” and “teeny boppers” will allow those of all ages to get stuck in.
Local councilor Steve Pitt, no relation to the street, said he was happy to see the empty building transformed.
MORE SKATEBOARDING NEWS: How Tony Hawk Joined an Apache Pro Skater to Bring New Skate Park to Reservation
“Pitt Street Skatepark gives a real opportunity for people to come together and explore a new passion,” said Pitt.
“We know this area has huge potential to help transform the city centre and using empty spaces like this is a great way to start to unlock new community facilities and business opportunities while we develop long-term regeneration plans.”
Watch “A TOUR” of the skatepark…
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Get ready to fall in love with the sincerity of this 11-year-old Texan boy who went to a neighbor’s house asking if they knew any kids in the area because he really needed some new friends.
The heartbreaking-then-heartwarming interaction between Shayden Walker and his neighbor Brennan Ray was caught via a doorbell security camera, and trigged a viral storm of offers for friendship on social media.
“Um, I just wanted to see if you knew any kids around like 11 or 12, maybe,” the boy can be heard saying in the video. “I need some friends, like really bad.”
Ray suggests some kids in their area of Amarillo Texas, but Shayden replies that he doesn’t see them anymore “because they’re bullies.”
Ray then says that if Shayden wanted to he could play with his daughter, but she was only 2 years old, to which the young man replies “Oh great! I love 2-year-olds, to be honest, they’re like the most cutest things I’ve ever known.”
Ray was struck by Shayden’s honesty and demeanor and took to TikTok to try and solve his conundrum.
“You never know what people are going through until you get a chance to talk to them. This young man is well-mannered, kind, and brave. So TikTok can we help Shayden make some friends?” Ray captioned the video which garnered an absolutely staggering 69 million views.
MORE FRIENDSHIP RALLIES:
“I figured I could post it and some local people would see it and help me connect to them,” he told USA Today.
Shayden has been diagnosed with several mental disorders, and his mom said he’s always had trouble maintaining friends, but after the TikTok video he now has friends in China, the UK, Hawaii, and Australia.
At first, admits mom Kimberly, she thought the video would lead to more ridicule.
“When that didn’t happen, the relief that washed over me and the pure joy that people actually were showing compassion, that was huge,” she said.
Shayden also spoke with USA Today, and said he felt drawn to visit the Rays because their dog ran into his yard one day, and when the Rays come over to get him they seemed like nice people.
Ray and his wife thought they could use all the publicity to help Shayden, so they started a GoFundMe which raised $37,000 for whatever he wants—a clause stipulated in the fundraiser. The families are extremely close after the ordeal, and Shayden does in fact play with their daughter despite all his new friends.
When a Philly man with autism boarded the wrong train and ended up lost in the mammoth network under New York City’s Grand Central Maddison, his family had to cut their day plans short to travel to the Big Apple for an emergency pick-up.
But before they hit the road, three NYC transit officers who had gotten the call came to the rescue, locating the man and coming up with a rather Daoist solution to the problem—just put him back on the train.
Officers Azad Miah, Rochester Joseph, and Sergeant Craig Siegelbaum located the man named Tyree, who was happy to hear they were there to help him.
“The family was going to come to New York to pick him up originally and someone came up with the idea to get him on an Amtrak train and have the family meet him there, Siegelbaum told ABC 7 news in a touching reunion with Tyree and his family over Zoom.
One of the key tenants of Daoism is the life principle of being like water, originally interpreted to mean “do as little as needed to move forward.”
OTHER TRAIN RESCUES: Hero Conductor Stops Train to Rescue 3-Year-Old Boy Lost on the Tracks (Video)
In making their mini-rescue, the officers went with the flow of the situation, escorted the man to the correct train, let the conductor know what was happening, and let it carry him back to his family.
“I’m grateful that they were even able to coordinate something like this because I’ve heard of countless times where it didn’t end like this,” Tyree’s uncle, Kevin Watson, said.
Tyree thanked the officers for helping him over Zoom.
WATCH the Zoom call below…
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Quote of the Day: “I have never been hurt by what I have not said.” – Calvin Coolidge, US President
Photo: Etty Fidele
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Architects and designers of eras past had to adapt to the planet’s challenges long before electricity, air conditioning, and heating were invented, and as modern humans try and find a way to reduce carbon emissions, the ancients have much to teach us.
In China, more and more modern buildings are being planned around antique design features known as “skywells”—and they’re doing so not only because the design significantly cools a building’s interiors, but because it reduces carbon emissions by cutting down on the need for air conditioning.
Used in the country’s humid south at least since the Ming Dynasty of the 14th century, a skywell is basically a square or rectangular courtyard in the middle of the floor plan on which one side is a stone wall. Overhead hang the classic dou gong, or beam and bracket eaves. This shades the ground and funnels rainwater into a central basin.
When the wind blows across the roof of a skywell house, it’s often colder, and therefore heavier, than the still air indoors. It’s funneled down, especially by the wall, into the interior which then pushes the warmer still air higher and out of the opening.
Even if the wind isn’t blowing though, openings such as skylights, chimneys, or smokestacks tend to create circulation. As warm air rises up through the skywell, it pulls air from the other rooms into it.
Traditional Chinese designs will have a basin of water replenished by the rain sitting in the middle of the skywell. As the water evaporates it cools the surrounding air, before rising and creating the circulation mentioned earlier.
People living in hot environments the world over have used these principles to cool their homes for millennia, as it can reduce interior temperatures by 9.5°F (4.3°C).
MORE CLIMATE FRIENDLY DESIGNS: Oil Refinery Factory Being Transformed into Green Cultural Park to Showcase Fossil-free Future in China
In Persia for example, “wind towers” act like chimneys of cold air that brought desert wind down into a house or even a subterranean cold chamber which created a constant movement of cold air in, hot air out; a design that has been replicated in Andalusia, Spain.
Recently, the BBC reports great interest in the revival of traditional Chinese architectural principles, and the skywell is one that is receiving a lot of attention because of its ability to cut down on air conditioning use in accordance with a recent government initiative for greener buildings.
Furthermore, there is a real aesthetic beauty to the skywell that when combined with its pleasant climate creates the perfect place for meals, reading, or spending time with family. It’s a buffer zone where one can get the benefits of being outdoors while not suffering from the heat, sunburn, or bugs.
MORE NEWS FROM CHINA: ‘Vast Canyon of Books’ Splits Open in Stunning New Public Library in China
However it’s a principle that isn’t limited to family homes. The National Heavy Vehicle Engineering Technology Research Centre in the eastern Chinese city of Jinan has an 18-story tower block with a massive skywell in the middle of it. The bathrooms, conference rooms, and elevators are all located on the interior walls facing the skywell, allowing for better ventilation and temperature control.
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With the curtain closing on the All England Lawn Tennis Club’s annual championships at Wimbledon, it’s another successful year in the books for the real king of Centre Court—Rufus the Hawk.
For any Nigels reading this, it will likely be a case of heard it all before, but us Yankees might not know that a family of falconers has been training Harris’ Hawks for use as pigeon control officers on Wimbledon’s grass courts for 20 years.
Taking over from the previous hawk, Hamish, for 15 years Rufus has spent a few hours every morning during the 42-day-long tournament scaring away pigeons that may have entered the grass courts to roost during the night. Rufus doesn’t hurt the pigeons, but he scares them away by triggering a flight or fight response which can take days to get over.
It all began back in 1999 when Donna Davis was watching a match of the eventual champion Pete Sampras. A plague of pigeons was repeatedly disrupting the action and gave Donna the idea to call the organizers and offer her services.
Typically, Donna, or another member of the Davis family, Imogen, will begin the day on Court No.1 and carry on clearing all the courts of pigeons who fly down to munch on the grass seed. Small bells on his feet alert the Davises below where he is heading.
Rufus would have enjoyed a memorable year. Having seen some exceptional performances in his time, the Gentlemen’s Singles Final between GOAT Novak Djokovic and young-blood and world #1 Carlos Alcaraz will certainly be up there.
The Spaniard denied the best to ever do it his 8th Wimbledon title, and 24th Grand Slam of his career with a mixture of raw power and confidence in a tightly contested match. Indeed, even as late as the 9th game of the 4th set, each man had won the same number of points: 134. Djokovic had trouble with a number of Alcaraz’s brilliant slices and drop-shots, and was unable to take enough games off of Alcararz’ service, which was routinely clocked at 130 mph.
MORE SPORTS MASCOTS: England Team Players Adopt ‘Big Dave’ the Stray Cat Who Made Himself a Social Media Star Like a Mascot
The Ladies’ Singles Final was hardly less memorable, as the Czech Republic’s Marketa Vondrousova became the first unseeded player since Billie Jean King in 1963 to make it to the final or win the tournament. She took the tile over Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur, the first Arab or North African to ever make it to a Women’s single’s final in any tournament. While not a washout, Vondrousova, who finished last season ranked 99th in the world, won back-to-back sets 6-4.
Though it’s believed Rufus enjoyed the Gentlemen’s Singles Final more, because in 2019, he was cheering for Federer.
WATCH the story below from the Wimbledon YouTube…
SHARE This Brilliant Bird With Your Friends Who Watched The Finals…
In the rolling hills and green fields of Dorset, Dorchester, archaeologists have discovered a polishing boulder, known as a polissoir, which would have been used to make hundreds of axe heads.
Identified in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the boulder will be left where it was found—in a spot called the Valley of the Stones—rather than being taken to a museum.
Made of sarsen stone, the same sandstone mineral composition in the megaliths at Stonehenge, the find was described as “unexpected” and excavations will now begin in the surrounding area with an eye toward finding some of the stone tools this polissoir would have allowed the prehistoric Britons to create.
“The stones would have been extremely important to Neolithic people, as without axes they could not have cleared woodland and farming would have been impossible,” he said.
Over 1,000 large sarsen boulders have been identified in England, but this is only the second one where evidence of its use as a polishing boulder has been clear.
They’re so rare that archaeologist Dr. Anne Teather described them as “hen’s teeth”. The director at Past Participate, a small organization that does archaeology alongside volunteers in communal places, wrote that she promised a bottle of fine whiskey as a reward for any volunteer who finds one.
MORE AX-CELLENT ARCHAEOLOGY: English Teenager Discovers Hoard of 3,300-Year-Old Axes and Becomes Metal-Detecting Celebrity
“This incredible discovery represents the research value that community heritage projects can bring,” said Dr. Teather, who thanked Historic England, and the local landowners who helped make the discovery possible.
“Several examples of portable polissoirs have been found but there are only a handful that have been found on larger, ‘earth-fast’, stones such as ours,” Dr. Teather wrote on the organization’s blog.
MORE BRITISH ARCHAEOLOGY: ‘Most Important Prehistoric Discovery in a Century’ Revealed by British Museum
“Several of these are in the Avebury area, and almost all have been moved from their original location. Some were moved in prehistory, such as those used to build West Kennet Long Barrow. Others have been spotted repurposed in farm walls!”
Stone axes played the starring role in shaping the British landscape, which was once almost entirely forested. The crafting of axes on polissoirs like this one allowed Neolithic people to harvest trees for houses, firewood, or for rollers to move large stones.
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Imagine if you could turn a material that costs $100 per ton into one that costs thousands of dollars per pound—it’s the kind of story attached to the fable of the Philosopher’s Stone.
At Rice University, a group of scientists started turning coal, an energy source of little value, into graphene, a raw material with dozens of applications in electronics. Then, the scientists realized they could use any carbon source, which for their experiments included dead cockroaches, coffee grounds, and girl scout cookies.
Graphene comes from a mineral called graphite, a carbon allotype, and one of only two forms of naturally-occurring carbon. It has metal-like properties and is valuable for use as a conductor in aerospace, medicine, and electronics.
The global demand for this material is predicted to top $1 billion at an average price of $67,000 per ton.
Using a technique they created called “flash graphene” the scientists were able to create high-value graphene flakes from a variety of raw materials by hooking them up to a pair of capacitors and electrodes that delivered a 3,000° Kelvin shock.
This, according to experiment lead Dr. James Tour, a professor of materials and nanotechnology at Rice University, passes a current through the trash or coal with enough energy to break every carbon-carbon bond in the substance, before they reorganize themselves as graphene.
“You can put your finger right on the container a few seconds afterwards,” Tour said. “And keep in mind this is almost three times hotter than the chemical vapor deposition furnaces we formerly used to make graphene, but in the flash process the heat is concentrated in the carbon material and none in a surrounding reactor.”
This, Tour says, has unique advantages and allows the team to create flash graphene in bulk.
“All the excess energy comes out as light, in a very bright flash, and because there aren’t any solvents, it’s a super clean process,” he said.
MORE GREAT INNOVATION: Samsung Cuts Energy Usage of Their Computer Chips by 50% In Big Market Innovation
Graphite mining comes with all the environmental unhappiness of any other kind of mining, and the team identify two ways in which bulk flash graphene, along with making a variety of products much cheaper, could really improve the environmental footprint of manufacturing.
The first is shown in the paper Tour et al. published in Nature on their work—that adding just 0.1% of graphene to concrete could reduce its environmental footprint by one-third.
MORE MATERIALS ENGINEERING: Startup is Recycling Solar Panels Turning Waste into Valuable Material
“Essentially, we’re trapping greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane that waste food would have emitted in landfills,” Tour told his university press. “We are converting those carbons into graphene and adding that graphene to concrete, thereby lowering the amount of carbon dioxide generated in concrete manufacture. It’s a win-win environmental scenario using graphene.”
Second, as he explains in the video below, existing coal mines and companies which mine coal could sell their product to flash graphene production rather than coal power plants. This would eliminate any CO2 emissions that would normally come from that coal being burned, and would likely save thousands of jobs for coal companies.
WATCH the story below…
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Quote of the Day: “He who is brave is free.” – Seneca (Roman philosopher, statesman)
Photo: Austin Schmid
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Summer’s most coveted family travel gig is back with a $15,000 payday, endless funnel cake, and blue ribbons.
Summertime officially marks the return of the Midwest’s iconic state fairs and to celebrate the iconic summer staple, the family-friendly Wyndham hotels are back offering this summer’s best gig: apply to become the AmericInn State Fair Family.
They’re searching for one adventurous family to travel across the Midwest in search of the best things each state fair has to offer. Best of all, the job comes with $15,000 to help with travel.
From Iowa to Illinois, the winning State Fair Family will have the enviable task of visiting three iconic state fairs over the course of a week and sharing their pro tips and tricks via social media.
In exchange for the family’s hard work of sampling powdered sugar-covered confections and adrenaline-inducing rides, the winning family will be provided with 7 paid nights at AmericInn hotels, a $10,000 travel stipend and $5,000 cash. The family will also score a suitcase packed to the brim with AmericInn swag, an upgrade to Wyndham Rewards® Diamond membership, and lasting memories for a lifetime.
“Alongside the good old-fashioned hospitality and modern comforts at our hotels, the lucky State Fair Family will fully immerse themselves in the best of the Midwest’s iconic state fairs,” said Clem Bence, VP and brand leader at AmericInn by Wyndham. “All while captivating an audience on social media with their memorable adventures along the way.”
Now through July 25, families can submit a written or video application via email ([email protected]) or by visiting www.americinn.com/fairfamily. Submissions should demonstrate—in under one minute or 300 words—what makes each family the ideal candidates for the role, while showcasing family flair, fun, and social-media savviness.
Families should also provide the handles to any public or active social media accounts. Video is highly encouraged from applicants, for assessing storytelling skills and social savviness.
AmericInn will select the winners on or about the week of August 2. Families must be available to attend three separate Midwest state fairs over the course of one week, on or about August 10-18, and document your adventures in real-time with unique photo and video content. (See complete rules at the website.)
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Grateful residents have raised thousands for a popular milkman who is retiring after nearly half a century. They’re helping him out until his state pension kicks in next year.
Mick Tutton has been delivering jugs to doorsteps in the neighborhood of St. Michaels in St Albans, a historic town 25 miles north of London, England, since 1976.
Known as ‘Mick the Milk’, the community saw him as much more than only a cheery milkman—he was the unofficial security guard, a social worker, football pundit, and cheerleader for local residents.
But the 65-year-old decided to take the opportunity to retire after his decades-old electric milk truck broke down beyond repair.
When local residents heard he was retiring they arranged a special fundraising night at the local pub and raised $20,000 (£15,280) as a retirement present.
Mick won’t receive his state pension until next year, so the town’s donations will be a bridge for him until then.
More than 100 residents signed an online card wishing him a happy retirement.
“Mick has been an integral part of our community, working through the night in all weather to deliver day in, day out to our doorsteps,” said organizer Kate Crick, who also lives in the Hertfordshire area.
“But he was so much more than our milkman. He looked out for people, especially the elderly, and became a family friend to many of us. Our children have grown up knowing and loving him, and our dogs too.
“Mick always carried some doggie treats – they got so excited when they saw him coming down the road.
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“When we started this collection, we couldn’t have dreamed we would raise more than £15,000 for our dear friend Mick.
“The huge size of the collection is testament to the love and regard in which Mick was held by the residents of the streets he served.”
Apart from cheering up residents, Mick ran in the St. Albans half-marathon for many years, raising thousands of pounds for charity.
And, in 1999, Mick was awarded his MBE in the Queen’s birthday honors list for his service to the community.
CHECK OUT: Lonely 67-Year-Old Sets Up Woodworking ‘Shed’ to Combat Loneliness in Men, Following Global Trend
His father was a milkman and Mick followed in his footsteps as a 16-year-old apprentice.
“I’m grateful he made me do it, as I’ve had a wonderful career, meeting a community full of wonderful people,” Mick told SWNS news.
By the time he retired at the end of March, he was delivering milk to 600 houses a week.
“My wife and I are using the money to help pay our rent, and to potentially visit our daughter’s husband’s family in Brazil.
“At the moment I’m enjoying having the free time to spend with my granddaughter Florence, but it goes without saying I’m already missing seeing everyone everyday.
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“I’ve never been somewhere where there is so much love and compassion and I’ve had an incredible 47 years serving the community.”
Watch the SWNS interview with Mick below…
HAIL the Sweet Generosity of St. Albans—And Deliver This to Social Media…
Diamonds grown in a laboratory are becoming more and more popular as newlyweds opt for a more sustainable alternative to mined gems.
Some jewelers say interest has grown by more than 2,000 percent in five years, as people find out about the more affordable option.
Physically and chemically identical to their natural counterpart, lab-grown diamonds cost up to 85 percent less.
A new survey of 1,500 spouses and engaged couples found 70 percent would be willing to opt for a lab-grown alternative. Value for the money (55%) and sustainability (43%) are the top reasons they’d make the switch.
But 69 percent admitted they wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between the two types of gems.
So the diamond retailer Queensmith put it to the test before the general public where passers-by were left surprised by the price difference, while struggling to tell the gems apart.
Situated in the historic Hatton Garden district of London, Queensmith revealed the market for lab-grown diamonds has increased by 2,860 percent in just five years.
In 2019, its lab-grown sales equated to just one percent of overall diamond sales, but this year, that figure has swelled to 81 percent of overall sales, with the jeweler on track to sell 1,900 lab-grown diamonds in 2023.
A spokesperson for the brand, which commissioned the poll, said 46 percent were not even aware lab diamonds even existed.
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“It’s no surprise to see people willing to move away from mined diamonds. Lab-grown diamonds provide a great alternative that is less impactful on the environment, which is a big concern for most people.”
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53 percent of respondents who plan to tie the knot would choose a cheaper engagement ring if it meant they could splash out more on their wedding day. The venue (53 percent) and the wedding outfit (34 percent) are the main priorities—with the rings (31 percent) taking third place.
For some, that future is already here, as more than one in four people questioned by OnePoll said they either owned jewelry with a lab-grown diamond, or knew someone who did.
Although not as rare as their natural diamond counterpart, people find them just as beautiful. Available in yellow, pink, green, orange, blue, and clear, they’re created in a setting that mimics how they are made naturally, using one of two methods: chemical vapor deposition (CVD) or high pressure high temperature (HPHT).
During HPHT, pure carbon is pressed within a metal cube and exposed to immense heat and pressure through electric pulses.
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The carbon breaks down and crystalizes into a diamond. Any metal traces within a HPHT diamond will be minuscule and usually not visible to the naked eye, with most experts considering HPHT diamonds to be better quality than CVD diamonds. They reportedly have the same atomic structure as a mined diamond, and is therefore optically, chemically and physically identical.
“As people become more knowledgeable about lab diamonds, I’m sure we’ll see increased demand and clients looking to learn more for themselves.”
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Sam Farr has snapped a picture of himself in a barber chair every decade since the 1970s. And while the camera model changes over time, it’s the same two good friends—a barber and his customer—just getting older together.
In 1973, the newspaper photographer snapped a black and white ‘selfie’ while his stylish barber Joe Pace was giving him a trim in Bath, England.
“The first time I took the photo, I had just bought Rolleiflex camera for about £100, a lot of money back then, and I wanted to see what I looked like.
“I used to take photos for so many people back then but never took pictures of myself, so I decided to snap one and started a tradition.”
Sam went on to document himself at ‘Giuseppe’s of Bath’ five times in 50 years—in 1973, 1985, 2007, 2015 and 2023.
In each photo the barber’s smile gets bigger as their friendship grows, and Sam is seen sporting a new camera each time, ending at age 78 with an iPhone.
“He’s been cutting my hair for so long that he’s changed locations three times,” said Sam, who always gets same haircut each time, describing the look as ‘aging Beatle’.
“Every time I would come in, he would always say ‘oh it’s been 30 years, 40 years’.
“When we hit 50 years, we thought it would be special to celebrate it. He even gave me a free haircut.”
His daughter Nicky says this picture will likely be his last, due to his battle with Parkinson’s, because it’s too hard for him to hold a camera anymore.”
“The tradition has been lovely for him and us as a family though.
“Joe has always been a close friend and the pictures constantly come up on social media. The lovely thing is they always comment on how happy be looks.
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The former photo-journalist for the Bath Evening Chronicle quipped with a twinkle in his eye: “I have always stuck with Joe because if I keep coming back, he might get it right one day.”
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