A small boy is holding his mother’s hand as they make their way across a railway platform. Weighed down by a heavy burden on her back and hampered by limited vision, she loses her grip. The child tumbles onto the tracks just as an approaching train barrels toward the station.
But in the blink of an eye, a hero swoops in, scoops the child to safety, hoists himself onto the platform a split-second before the locomotive thunders past, and a tragedy is averted.
If you’re thinking the man who saved the day in this scenario might be Clark Kent’s alter-ego, think again because this was a series of events that recently played out in real life at India’s Vangani station about 60 miles out of Mumbai.
When railway worker Mayur Shelke saw the 6-year-old boy fall into the path of the oncoming train, instinct took over. “I ran towards the child but also thought that I might be in danger too. Still, I thought I should save him,” Shelke told Asian News International. “The woman (with the child) was visually impaired. She could do nothing.”
A new father himself, Shelke felt impelled to act. “The child who [slipped and fell] is someone’s precious child, too,” he told Times Now News. “My child is the apple of my eye, so must that boy in peril have been to his parents. I just felt something stir within me and I rushed without thinking twice.”
The entire remarkable incident might have gone unremarked—except that the whole thing was caught on CCTV. (Shelke reports he hadn’t even mentioned it at home fearing he’d be scolded for putting himself in harm’s way.) In a matter of days, the viral video took the Internet by storm.
The railway employee’s quick reflexes and willingness to act in the face of grave personal danger quickly earned him much well-deserved praise. After being feted in a congratulatory ceremony, Shelke was awarded a ₹50,000 ($660) honorarium by the Ministry of Railways.
He was also gifted with a motorbike courtesy of Jawa Motorcycles as a token of their esteem. “Mayur Shelke’s courage has the Jawa Motorcycles family in awe,” tweeted company CEO Anupam Thareja. “Humbled by his act of exemplary bravery, truly the stuff of legends.”
One of the country’s leading industrialists, Anand Mahindra, CEO of the Mumbai-based global conglomerate Mahindra Group was likewise impressed. “Mayur Shelke didn’t have a costume or cape, but he showed more courage than the bravest movie Superhero,” Mahindra tweeted.
“In difficult times, Mayur has shown us that we just have to look around us for everyday people who show us the way to a better world.”
(WATCH the BBC’s footage of the daring rescue below.)
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North Carolina-based writer Judy Cole has a new rom-com murder mystery debuting at Amazon: And Jilly Came Tumbling After (from Red Sky Presents).
You’ll want to set aside a little moon-gazing time this Monday evening—as April 26 is set to be the night of the Super Pink Moon.
The best time to see it is as it’s appearing over the eastern horizon. At that point the Moon will appear a deep tangerine, then a steady gold, then pure white as it climbs ever higher in the sky. This is because of Rayleigh scattering—the same phenomenon that causes sunsets to take on reddish tints.
Contrary to its name, this month’s full Moon won’t actually look pink. According to Farmer’s Almanac, it actually gets its name from the North American wildflower Phlox Subulata, also known as creeping phlox or moss phlox, which blooms in spring.
Other traditional names include Sucker Moon, Breaking Ice Moon, Egg Moon, Wildcat Moon, and Budding Moon of Plants and Shrubs.
Supermoons are typically about seven percent bigger and around 15 percent brighter than a regular full Moon. And this month’s is special, being one of only two such supermoons for 2021 (the next is in May).
But is the Moon actually closer to us when it’s on the horizon? Is that why it looks so huge? According to NASA, the answer is no. It’s just an illusion.
If you do to want to try taking one of those spectacular photos where the Moon looks ginormous as it rises up above the mountains, a calm ocean, or a prairie field, here’s a NASA-certified tip: “Photographers can simulate the Moon illusion by taking pictures of the Moon low on the horizon using a long lens, with buildings, mountains or trees in the frame.”
Illusion or not, look out at the rising Pink Moon this Monday and you’re sure to see a beautiful, if fleeting sight.
BRIGHTEN Your Friends’ News Feeds with the Good Lunar News…
The French government is planning to give citizens who want to trade in their old cars a $3,000 grant (€2,500) towards the purchase of an electric bike.
Himiway Bikes
The notion has been approved by lawmakers at the National Assembly in a preliminary vote and is part of a more ambitious round of emissions cuts planned for 2040, at which point the French government hopes to have reduced them 40% compared with 1990 levels.
The French Federation of Bicycle Users (FUB) told Reuters that, if adopted, France will become the first country to offer such a trade—all in an effort to reduce the number of cars on the road, especially the ones that produce more emissions.
Electric bikes add power to each rotation of the gears, propelling the cyclist further with less effort than a traditional one, but a good e-bike can also achieve speeds of 20 mph without so much as a single pedal turn simply by using the throttle, making them ideal for city commutes.
The decision by France was hailed by green lobbying and cycling groups, who see bikes as a major solution to combat vehicle emissions. Modern EU and UK emissions standards on cars, especially those registered in major cities, are extremely strict, meaning older models carry an emissions burden much larger than their share of the total percentage of vehicles on the road.
Cycling Industries Europe, a trade association, welcomed the move, with their chief executive saying: “We are seeing a welcome increase in stand-alone incentives for bicycle purchases, but the French Assembly has made it clear—e-bikes and cargo bikes are to be supported as vehicle replacements.
Tasked with helping ensure Utrecht’s canals remain full of life, and convincing everyone it wasn’t an April Fools’ Day joke, two ecologists in the Dutch city have invented the world’s first “fish doorbell.”
An underwater, live-streaming camera at the “Weerdsluis” lock door allows residents to ring a virtual doorbell heard by the local lock keeper when they see that fish are trying to get through.
A lock is a gate that raises or lowers canal boats into different levels of water separated by two doors, and a sluice is a small fish-sized door that allows water (and fish) to pass between them.
“You have to see the Oudegracht (the canal) as a motorway for fishing. Sometimes you see literally dozens of fish floundering in front of the lock gate, so a fish jam is created,” says underwater nature expert Mark van Heukelum.
“The Weerdsluis is the link between the Vecht and the Kromme Rijn. In winter the fish swim deeper, it is warmer and safer there. In the summer they want to go to shallow water so that they can reproduce,” he adds, according to AD.
Van Heukelum came up with the doorbell idea when—while working with wildlife ecologist Anne Nijs on a project to highlight the biodiversity in Utrecht’s canals—they noticed how lock keeper Patrick opened the sluice to allow a large group of arriving fish to pass through.
Nijs says it’s a great way to connect residents with their aquatic neighbors, and noted that when Mark took the idea to the municipality they were very excited. The only uncertainty was why create a camera and a signal to Patrick when they could just install a motion-activated sensor?
Van Heukelum explains: “Technically that is probably possible, but this is of course much more fun,” he says. “I am already addicted to it myself and watch it every night. You suddenly see a large pike swimming by or a lobster. It would be nice if you could spot a rarer fish such as a bindweed or bleak. Or maybe an eel.”
If you want to get addicted to watching fish swim in a Netherlands canal, you can watch the livestream here.
WATCH a video to see the doorbell in action. (See an English translation below.)
Every spring thousands of fishes swim straight through the city of Utrecht. They go through the Oudegracht in search of a spot to lay eggs. They mainly do this in the dark. Other animals can’t see them at that time of day, so it is safer.
There is just one problem: the Weerdsluis doesn’t open often enough… We have thought of a solution. The fish doorbell!
There is an underwater camera near the Weerdsluis. You can watch the footage live at www.visdeurbel.nl. Do you see fish? Ring the fish doorbell. The lock-keeper gets a sign. If there are many fish lying in wait, he will open the gate.
Will you help fish get through the Oudegracht? Visit visdeurbel.nl (Translated by Lara Dekker)
Quote of the Day: “Give your best. Whether you want to be a chef, doctor, actor, or a mother, be passionate to get the best result.” – Alia Bhatt (Bollywood actress)
Photo: by Hieu Tran
With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quote of the Day page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?
Scientists could be a step closer to finding a way to reduce the impact of traumatic memories, according to a new study.
Stephen Maren, professor of psychological and brain sciences at Texas A&M University, said the group’s findings suggest that procedures used by clinicians to indirectly reactivate traumatic memories render a window whereby those memories can be altered, or even erased completely.
In therapy, imaginal reminders are often used to safely retrieve traumatic memories of experiences. For example, Maren said a military veteran wounded by an improvised explosive device may be asked to re-experience trauma cues—like the lights and sounds of the explosion—without the negative consequences. The idea is that the fear responses can be dampened through this exposure therapy.
“The one major challenge is when you do the extinction procedures, it doesn’t erase the original trauma memory,” Maren said. “It’s always there and can bubble back up, which is what causes relapse for people who re-experience fear.”
With this in mind, the researchers hoped to answer whether they could isolate a memory and drive fear responses by reactivating it artificially—and potentially disrupt the original memory itself. Maren said their findings, published in Nature Neuroscience, suggest that procedures currently used by clinicians to indirectly reactivate traumatic memories create an opportunity to change or eliminate them.
To do this, the researchers used a conditioning procedure in which a cue becomes indirectly associated with a fearful event. When the cue is presented later, it indirectly reactivates a memory of the event and increases activity in the hippocampus, a brain area important for memory.
The study showed that indirectly reactivating a contextual fear memory through re-exposure to the cue can make the memory vulnerable to disruption. Maren said further research is needed to answer if scientists can produce a permanent loss of the traumatic information—but this initial finding is a hopeful one for anyone impacted by trauma.
Sports fans love to root for the underdog, and golf lovers are no exception. At this year’s Masters Tournament when a low-ranked player rose up to take top honors, he became an instant hero here in America, and back home in Japan.
Ranked at Number 25, and without a PGA win since 2017, oddsmakers pegged Hideki Matsuyama as a long shot prior to the first tee-off. But with a decisive swing that freed him from the 18th hole bunker, plus two sterling putts on the green, the 29-year-old became the first Japanese man to don the coveted green winner’s jacket at Augusta.
While his road to a championship was never guaranteed, being a role model for younger players coming up behind him has been part of Matsuyama’s long-term game plan from the beginning.
In 2009, during Tiger Woods’ heyday, the Asia-Pacific Amateur Tournament was established to showcase talented up-and-coming players from a region that was sorely under-represented on the world golf stage.
“It became obvious fairly quickly that the place we could impact the most would be throughout Asia,” Billy Payne—who helped develop the tournament—told AP. “We thought if we could identify good golfers and create heroes who would be emulated by other kids, in the process they would be attracted to the game.”
The following year, the event was held at Kasumigaseki Country Club about an hour outside Tokyo. Matsuyama took the competition with a five-shot lead. His win there was followed by his first appearance as low-amateur at the Masters.
A lot has happened in the decade since Matsuyama’s Masters debut, but after this week’s victory, he hopes his example encourages others from Japan and elsewhere to follow in his cleated footsteps across the fabled threshold of Augusta’s Butler Cabin.
“It’s thrilling to think that there are a lot of youngsters in Japan watching today,” he said to AP. “Hopefully in five, 10 years, when they get a little older, some of them will be competing on the world stage.”
Five-time Masters winner Tiger Woods, who knows more than a little about inspiring young golfers, was effusive in his praise for Matsuyama. “Making Japan proud Hideki,” Woods tweeted. “Congratulations on such a huge accomplishment for you and your country. This historical Masters win will impact the entire golf world.”
While it’s true that Matsuyama’s respectable final score of 1-over, 73 won’t earn him a spot in the record books, a little birdie tells us that his deeply ingrained desire to “play it forward” will continue to score a hole in one every time.
(WATCH the ESPN video about his win below.)
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North Carolina-based writer Judy Cole has a new rom-com murder mystery debuting at Amazon: And Jilly Came Tumbling After (from Red Sky Presents).
In the fantasy genre, it’s popular for writers to invent some kind of special, magical material, such as “Valerian steel” from the Game of Thrones series, or Frodo Baggins’ mithril chainmail in J. R. R. Tolkien’s writings.
Now in Bangladesh, a lost art of weaving that once created the most spectacular fabric the world had ever known is being revived, bit by bit and full of improvisations, to restore a piece of intangible cultural heritage and the national pride of a nation.
The material in question is called Dhaka muslin, and a feature piece by the BBC explains why one would be excused for thinking its story was pulled from The Lord of the Rings.
Described in texts thousands of years old, Dhaka muslin is an ultra fine, ultra soft fabric made from a potentially extinct species of sorry-looking cotton that grows along the banks of the holy Meghna River. The cotton, known locally as phuti karpas, was very delicate, snapped and frayed easily, and could only be finagled under conditions of extreme—sometimes artificially enhanced—humidity.
Eventually though, somewhere in the mists of time, ancient Bangladeshi weavers managed to convert this unseemly plant into the height of luxury fabrics, one which adorned Greek statues, Mughal emperors, the aristocracy of Europe, and even the empress of France, Josephine Bonaparte.
Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection
Its principal properties were its lightness and transparency. It was termed “woven air” by the Mughal, and described by one Dutch traveler in the 1700s as being “made so fine that a piece of twenty yards in length or even longer could be put into a common pocket snuff box.”
However the subjugation of local master weavers who passed the secret of creating this fabric through the generations by the British East India Company resulted in many of the techniques being lost—even to this day, and the scraggly cotton, no longer needed, receded into the wilds.
The muslin revival
It’s not uncommon that history and progress don’t always march arm and arm, and despite our technological brilliance today, the secrets of those weaver families in ancient Dhaka have not been restored.
Bengal Muslin
One man, however, is on the path of reestablishing the Dhaka muslin trade as the world’s top textile.
Saiful Islam runs Bengal Muslin, a heritage crafting enterprise seeking to adapt the ancient techniques and restore the phuki karpas cotton plant. He got started down this path in 2013 when the company he was working for asked him to adapt an English exhibition on the material for Bangladeshi viewers.
Born in Bangladesh, Islam felt he needed to do his own research, which resulted in several cultural exhibitions, a book, and a film commission, all of which led him and his colleagues to feel that it was perhaps possible—if only they could find the unique cotton—to restart the craft industry around the legendary fabric.
Indeed he did, and Bengal Muslin, his project dedicated to the fabric’s revival, now sells the real deal to buyers around the world, while also attending and hosting numerous events celebrating the craft.
However none of this would be possible if phuki karpas was unlocatable, and Islam had to sequence its DNA from a single pressed specimen from the 19th century kept at the Royal Botanic Gardens.
Then sailing up and down the Meghna River, a major feeder for the Ganges, he snapped up anything that looking like the pressed picture, and eventually managed to find a plant that had about three-quarters of the same genetic code—an ancestor, perhaps.
Bengal Muslin
Cultivating it on an island in the middle of the river, Islam managed to produce enough to spin a thread using many improvisations to make up for the lack of ancestral knowledge. The next part was finding someone to weave the thread into a fabric.
National prestige
However Dhaka muslin’s historical value didn’t translate to willing employees, strangely enough, particularly due to the demand for high thread count. Gowns and dresses preserved in British and French museums and private collections have thread counts of 800-1,200, compared to modern cotton muslin of between 40 and 80 threads.
“None of them [the weavers] wanted to work on this, as a matter of fact,” Islam tells Zaria Gorvett of the BBC. “They all said that this is crazy. They said: ‘Thank you very much for telling us that story and heritage, but no thanks’.”
Bengal Muslin
They did eventually find a weaver of traditional Jamdani muslin, and together they were able to create a Dhaka muslin cloth with a thread count of about 300 fibers per square inch. Their first few traditional shirts, called saris, were sold for thousands of dollars, and Islam is inspired that the legend of the fabric’s quality is alive and well.
Bengal Muslin
“In this day and age of mass production, it’s always interesting to have something special. And the brand is still powerful,” he says. “It’s a matter of national prestige. It’s important that our identity is not poor, with a lot of garment industries, but also the source of the finest textile that ever existed.
Featured image: Bengal Muslin
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Increased consumption of flavanols—a group of molecules occurring naturally in many fruit and vegetables—could protect people from mental stress-induced cardiovascular events such as stroke, heart disease, and thrombosis, according to new research.
In their study, researchers at the University of Birmingham discovered that blood vessels were able to function better during mental stress when people were given a cocoa drink containing high levels of flavanols than when drinking a non-flavanol enriched drink.
A thin membrane of cells lining the heart and blood vessels, when functioning efficiently the endothelium helps to reduce the risk of peripheral vascular disease, stroke, heart disease, diabetes, kidney failure, tumour growth, thrombosis, and severe viral infectious diseases. We know that mental stress can have a negative effect on blood vessel function.
A UK research team from the University of Birmingham examined the effects of cocoa flavanols on stress-induced changes on vascular function—publishing their findings in Nutrients.
“Flavanols are extremely common in a wide range of fruit and vegetables. By utilizing the known cardiovascular benefits of these compounds during periods of acute vascular vulnerability (such as stress) we can offer improved guidance to people about how to make the most of their dietary choices during stressful periods.”
In a randomized study, conducted by postgraduate student Rosalind Baynham, a group of healthy men drank a high-flavanol cocoa beverage 90 minutes before completing an eight-minute mental stress task.
The researchers measured forearm blood flow and cardiovascular activity at rest and during stress and assessed functioning of the blood vessels up to 90 minutes post stress—discovering that blood vessel function was less impaired when the participants drank high-flavanol cocoa. The researchers also discovered that flavanols improve blood flow during stress.
Stress is highly prevalent in today’s society and has been linked with both psychological and physical health. Mental stress induces immediate increases in heart rate and blood pressure in healthy adults and also results in temporary impairments in the function of arteries even after the episode of stress has ceased.
Single episodes of stress have been shown to increase the risk of acute cardiovascular events and the impact of stress on the blood vessels has been suggested to contribute to these stress-induced cardiovascular events. Indeed, previous research by Dr Jet Veldhuijzen van Zanten, co-investigator on this study, has shown that people at risk for cardiovascular disease show poorer vascular responses to acute stress.
“Our findings are significant for everyday diet, given that the daily dosage administered could be achieved by consuming a variety of foods rich in flavanols—particularly apples, black grapes, blackberries, cherries, raspberries, pears, pulses, green tea, and unprocessed cocoa. This has important implications for measures to protect the blood vessels of those individuals who are more vulnerable to the effects of mental stress,” commented Dr. Rendeiro.
It sounds like now is as good time as any to relax and bring a little more berries, tea, and good-quality cocoa powder into our lives.
When a suspected burglar broke into a restaurant in the early hours of a Saturday morning, the last thing they must have been expecting was a show of kindness from the owner.
Owner Carl Wallace is a special sort of person. When he found his restaurant’s front door smashed in, and surveillance footage of the suspect, he took to Facebook and offered his help to someone on the wrong course in life.
While the thief has not yet come forward, Wallace’s act of forgiveness has since had him seeing lots of friendly faces at his Augusta, Georgia restaurant Diablo’s Southwest Grill.
“I thought [the Facebook post] was probably one of the best things that I had ever read,” customer Cher Best told WRDW-TV. “So as a result of what I read and the compassion… I wanted to support the business.”
Quote of the Day: “Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough.” – Og Mandino
Photo: by Anna Samoylova
With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quote of the Day page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?
A Washington state man returned ten thousand dollars in cash that he serendipitously found in the road, reuniting it with its rightful owner.
Michael King had just taken out the money from the bank to cover a business debt he owed. For whatever reason, he was so distracted, he accidentally left his wallet on his vehicle before cranking up the engine and heading home.
“I just took the withdrawal that day, and I don’t know what compelled me to leave it on the bumper of the truck,” King told the Seattle Times. “… I am just flabbergasted that it didn’t get picked up by somebody else. It would have crippled us to have that amount of money disappear.”
Meanwhile, Steve Harrison, who was heading in the opposite direction noticed something floating in the breeze. Quickly realizing it was cash, he pulled over and snatched it up. He found King’s wallet as well.
After pulling into a Costco parking lot, Harrison counted the booty—one hundred $100 bills and three singles for a total of $10,003. Though it might have been tempting to use the windfall, Harrison used his own money to pay for his purchases.
His next order of business: tracking down King and returning his bankroll and wallet.
“I never took seriously the notion of keeping it,” Harrison told the Times. “It’s just simpler to do the right thing. Once I realized that there was an ID involved, I knew I would return the money.”
When the two arranged to meet, retired painting contractor King wasn’t able to give Harrison a financial reward. Instead, he presented King with a jar of homemade applesauce—which he told Harrison was made with love and care by his family.
While that might sound like a problem to some readers, to us, it’s a form of currency that would leave a good taste in anyone’s mouth.
And King isn’t stopping there with his gratitude. Harrison has been promised home-smoked salmon, homemade blackberry jam, and many more tasty treats in his future besides.
ADD Some Honesty to Your Friends’ News Feed, Share This Story… (File photo by Emil Kalibradov)
North Carolina-based writer Judy Cole has a new rom-com murder mystery debuting at Amazon: And Jilly Came Tumbling After (from Red Sky Presents).
Earth Day is all about making the well-being of the Earth our business. For some people that means something to pay attention to, like being extra diligent with the recycling, or planting a tree.
For others it means business, and for two women entrepreneurs who make all-things Earth their business, Earth Day is when most people get a taste of what they do year round.
Take New York’s Amanda David, Owner of Rootwork Herbals, manager of a community medicine garden, and recent recipient of the $10,000 cash prize accompanying the Made for More Small Business Award. For David, helping people reconnect with the Earth is a full-time job, particularly through the growing of medicinal herbs and produce.
“The healing that comes through tending plants together in community is as old as humankind, so I don’t consider it a trend, however I do love to see more and more folks reclaiming it,” says David.
“This reclamation is particularly powerful for inner city folks… and others who have systematically lost access to land and thus the healing it offers.”
City gardening
Urban community gardens, like the Food Forest at Browns Mill in Atlanta, are growing rapidly in popularity across the country. Between 2012 and 2018 the number of community gardens in the U.S. increased 44%, totaling 29,000 in 100 major cities.
Often this takes form as garden plots in city parks, but has even been started in the ruins of old properties. David manages one of these community gardens on Native American land south of Ithaca, New York, and hosts herbalism classes for people looking to connect with that tradition, as well as an apothecary where she sells herbal remedies.
“Community Gardens are places of healing,” she says. “Connecting with the land and being outside is healing, growing food and medicine is healing, having access to fresh, local produce is healing, creating connections with other gardeners is healing, enjoying the beauty of a garden is healing.”
Her herbalism classes, to which she plans to devote her grant money, are a source of joy and learning for both her and the attendees.
“We facilitate lots of classes locally which attract folks exploring various aspects of herbalism, from growing and harvesting to medicine making and community care,” she says.
Autumn Layne, Rootwork Herbals
“Our herbalism school, The People’s Medicine School and our mentorship program, We Care for Us, attract folks who are interested in forming deep relationships with plants to care for themselves and their community.”
Another one of America’s community gardens is tended by another winner of the Made for More Small Business Award, sponsored by Ball home canning supplies. In Cincinnati’s Over-the-Rhine (OTC) neighborhood, the oldest community garden in America, started in 1980, is flourishing thanks to the leadership of Christina Matthews.
Christina Matthews
Founder of The Flower Lady LLC. her path to entrepreneurship started through her work with the OTC People’s Garden.
“Beginning in 2014, I became the volunteer garden coordinator for the historic Over-the-Rhine People’s Garden because I saw a great need for fresh fruits and vegetables surrounding [the neighborhood],” says Christina.
“So in the fall of 2013 a very good friend of mine, who also lives in the neighborhood, and I, decided to do something about the food shortage and together we successfully applied for a $10,000 grant from Grow Appalachia to help support the garden.”
Matthews’ plan was never to get into the florist business, but happened as a consequence of her work in the People’s Garden. For her, it was following her dreams, and she took everything she learned in the garden to heart.
Now she sells bespoke floral arrangements, floral installations, garlands, and more for any kind of event, and oversees the fresh flower décor in brick and mortar stores. She also offers gardening coaching for those looking to bring flowers into their worlds as well.
“I am so fortunate to be able to devote all of my time and energy to what I love—growing a business in conjunction with volunteering my time with the Over-the-Rhine People’s Garden,” says Matthews.
“This fall I became involved with the City of Cincinnati’s Urban Agricultural program, and I just acquired a 1/3 of an acre lot to grow more flowers for the city I love so much,” she adds, responding to what she will do with her grant.
“This money will most definitely help me with all the supplies I need to make things grow such as: soil, seeds, plants, pest deterrents, T-posts, organic fertilizer, labels, and netting. I also plan to continue my free “Grow Your Business” garden workshops with the youth groups at the community garden.”
It’s not the most common way to celebrate Earth Day—celebrating entrepreneurs who turn the Earth into a business, but these feel-good stories of dream-catching and gardening could make anyone feel like happily digging in the dirt a little.
Want to make someone’s day? It may be as simple as playing them their favorite song, or pointing out a newly blossoming tree to them.
2,000 Americans revealed in a poll that their top simple pleasure is hearing music they love. Seeing flowers bloom also made it into the nation’s top ten simple joys.
Others pleasures include sleeping in a freshly made bed, the feeling of the sun on your face, and going to the beach. Being somewhere new, watching a cherished movie, and seeing stunning views all feature too.
Those surveyed enjoy an average of eight moments of simple pleasure each week, about one a day. The satisfaction of a moment’s pleasure can last for upwards of 20 minutes on average, although 11 percent get a glow for up to an hour.
The research was commissioned by Small Luxury Hotels of the World, which also commissioned poet Laurie Bolger to come up with a piece on life’s simple pleasures.
The wordsmith said: “I wanted my poem to remind people about the feeling you get when you are able to enjoy life’s simple pleasures.”
“But on the other hand, I also wanted to highlight that the reason some of these things are so enjoyable is because they are a break from the norm.” Bolger added. “Feeling the sun on my face is definitely one of my favorite simple pleasures in life, and I’m glad the survey reflected that, and that we’re starting to see brighter weather too.”
THE TOP 50 SIMPLE PLEASURES IN LIFE
1. Listening to your favorite songs
2. A nice dinner
3. Watching your favorite movie
4. Finishing a really good book
5. Doing exercise
6. Spotting a species of bird you’ve never seen before
7. Seeing flowers and trees blossom
8. Wearing an outfit that makes you feel good
9. Home cooking
10. A match on Hinge (or other dating site) with someone you’re attracted to
11. Stunning views
12. Going to the beach
13. Not having to set the alarm at the weekend or on a day off
14. Getting a delivery in the mail
15. Dining out
16. Finding money you had forgotten about
17. Laughing out loud at a film
18. Having dinner made for you
19. Staying in bed on a Sunday morning
20. Making someone smile or laugh
21. Sound of rain on the window
22. Having a picnic
23. Hearing the wind blow through the trees
24. Being somewhere new
25. Sleeping in a freshly made bed
26. Receiving a compliment from a stranger
27. Swimming outside
28. Discovering new food
29. Feeling the sun on your face
30. Playing sport with friends or family
31. Waking up to sun
32. Donating to charity
33. Getting a cuddle from your children
34. Meeting new people
35. Buying fresh local food produce
36. Hearing nothing but birds tweeting
37. Payday
38. Cake
39. Having a coffee/tea in bed
40. People watching
41. Putting your out of office on as you head off on a vacation
42. Smell of toast in the morning
43. Spontaneous outings
44. Long walks
45. Playing a musical instrument
46. Sleeping in a big incredibly comfy bed
47. Wearing a new pair of socks for the first time
48. Having a gossip or catchup with friends
49. Being in the countryside
50. Seeing a butterfly
First celebrated 51 years ago on April 22nd, Earth Day was a holiday born of civic-mindedness, meant to celebrate nature in all her glorious forms, and to take one rotation of the Earth to give something back to her.
Sustainability was not so much a buzz word then as it is now, and we were unlikely to see Earth Day sales on recycled rugs or buy-one-plant-one offers back in the ’70s.
Today though, Earth Day has a whole new connotation, since caring for our rock is becoming more important than ever before.
This year, GNN has gone out and found some great deals for responsible splurging—ways to treat yourself, your wallet, and the planet.
1) Buy-1-Plant-5 on recycled smartphone cases
A couple of 100% biodegradable plant-made smartphone cases are a great way to reduce plastic pollution. Incipio makes such phone cases for all Samsung and Apple phones, and for Earth Day they’ve partnered with Eden Reforestation to offer customers a way to allow their consumer spending to aid in regrowing the biosphere.
Throughout the month of April, Incipio will increase its donation from one tree to five trees for every Organicase sold, contributing to reforestation in places like Madagascar, Haiti, Nepal, and others.
2) Plan the Greenest-Possible Funeral
Better Place Forests
Better Place Forests allows people to leave behind a legacy of conservation by reserving of a memorial tree in their unique “memorial forest preserves.”
At a fraction of the cost of a normal funeral service, one can reserve a tree in some of the most beautiful forests in the U.S., around which ashes can be scattered. The costs of the service go to preserving the forest in the highest possible standard forever.
Partnering with nonprofit One Tree Planted to help reforest America, for each memorial tree that is reserved, Better Place Forests plants anywhere from 25-400 Impact Trees, in the customer’s honor, in areas that have been impacted by deforestation or forest fires. This month, in honor of Earth Month, Better Place Forests will be looking to plant 25-50 additional Impact Trees for every person who schedules a tour with them before Earth Day.
My Green Mattress started when a mattress crafter wanted to design a superior mattress for his child who suffered from eczema and allergies. Now they offer Certified Organic mattresses made from organically grown and responsibly sourced materials.
Right now they’re offering $100 off a twin or larger-size mattress, with the coupon code broadcast on their website.
4) Those ocean plastic bracelets
4Ocean
The famous maker of bracelets that pulls plastic out of the ocean is offering a special Earth Day bracelet. Pairing with a non-profit that plants coastal trees, the normal deal of one pound of marine trash per one bracelet sold is also including a $1 donation to tree planting.
Their limited edition bracelet comes with two charms, one for 4Ocean and the other for SeaTrees, the non-profit, and features green beads in addition to blue ones.
GNN featured 4Ocean’s efforts last year, when they reached 8 million pounds of diverted ocean garbage, to try and show this brand is actually making a huge difference.
The money it costs to be a seriously sustainable fashion company these days can be recouped by the demand for responsible consumerism. Therefore we picked the most sustainable fashion brand we could find, and came up with a company that uses wood pulp, hemp, organic cotton, and recycled polyester—and only recycled packaging materials.
Tentree’s fashion staples also plant trees for every one sold, which has so far resulted in 55 million planted. Each purchase you make comes with a code which you can enter on their website to see where in the world your trees were planted.
For the whole month of April they are supporting projects from other sustainable brands as well as offering big savings on their items, and if you use the promo code SAPLINGS10, you’ll get an additional 10% off.
6) Wearing clouds
Soft Serve Clothing
Made of post-consumer recycled plastic water bottles and organic cotton, Soft Serve Clothing’s hoodie and joggers get rave reviews all saying the same thing: It’s like wearing a cloud.
Allegedly as soft as a baby chinchilla, all of their products are ethically produced in sweat-shop-free manufacturing environments, and the materials come sourced in a sustainable fashion that is eco-friendly and free from any harsh chemicals. Get $10 off when signing up for their email updates.
7) Walk the earth
Earth Shoes do things differently in the world of footwear. They use water-based, non-toxic adhesives in all their shoes and packaging. They also cut out chemicals in their tanning process, using vegetable tannins instead.
They also help reforest the Earth, through their partner treesforthefuture.org, which has so far planted over 1.7 million trees.
Sorry lads, this Earth Day sale is only for the gals, but you can get up to 50% off a large variety of footwear, from boots to sandals.
If you are in need of new linens, Simply Organic Bamboo bedsheets, bedspreads, throws, duvets, and towels are a great way to give the bedroom a sustainable spring cleaning. Bamboo grows extremely fast and stores little carbon, so it is perfect for many different uses, including linens.
Naturally antibacterial, softer than cotton, and better at remaining cool overnight, it’s a great alternative to less sustainable options.
They have a deal going on now where the coupon code: CUDDLY gets you half off the price of a bamboo throw blanket to give as a gift, if you buy one.
9) K-cups that are now recycled and reward charities
While K-cups and Nespresso pods are convenient for making a hot cuppa joe, they are not easily recyclable, and just create far more waste than normal coffee brewing. However, in a new partnership with GNN’s favorite recycler, Terracycle, you can not only ensure your morning coffee is not adding to landfills, but that it’s actively contributing to important causes.
Don Francisco’s coffee is delicious, and if you buy their K-cup and Nespresso pods, either directly or through Amazon, they will give you a pre-paid shipping label to mail them back all your coffee-pod waste, and earn points towards donations to charities of your choice.
Also if you use the code EARTH20, you’ll save 20% off of your coffee orders.
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What’s black and yellow, makes a buzzing sound, produces honey—and lives at an airport? Don’t let that last part fool you, these bees have found a great new home.
Bees are being welcomed onto the natural landscape surrounding Pittsburgh International Airport to help rebuild colony numbers in the state. This is after the airport’s wildlife administrator, Ben Shertzer, found several colonies fixed onto the underside of a plane’s wings.
As the world’s foremost pollinators, bees govern the fate of literally billions of agriculture dollars, and the existence of many of our fruit and nut commodities.
Beekeepers move their hives across the country pollinating meadows and orchards, and it’s estimated that 35% of agricultural goods in the US rely to some degree on bees.
Shertzer had to hire Steve Repasky, a master beekeeper, to remove the hives from the Delta aircraft’s wings, but it also sparked in him an interest in the buzzing insects—an interest which led him to learn about the plight of the bees around the world and how valuable they are to our society.
The two men came up with a plan to utilize the woods and unmowed fields around the exterior of the airport to host an apiary, but had to wait several years for an administrator sympathetic to the apids’ plight to get started.
Now, spread across 8,000 acres and 110 colonies, 4 million bees buzz around the airport’s property, and they’re helping the staff monitor air pollution created on the premises in a curious way.
Swarming behavior, when in spring a hive separates and the bees go off a mile or more looking for a new home, looked as if it was going to be a bit of a problem, since at one point Repasky was removing 15 hives a year from runway vehicles and planes.
Steve Repasky, Pittsburgh International Airport
Yet “swarm traps” placed on the edges of the tarmac has reduced this number down to three.
Air & Space Magazine reports that many airports in the country and around the world are actually beginning to keep bees—including Seattle-Tacoma, Austin-Bergstrom, and Minneapolis-St. Paul.
It’s a curious trend that could help reverse decades of decline in bee populations which are beginning to rise again thanks to reductions in pesticide use and efforts of people like Shertzer.
For example, in Germany the honey collected (and given away for free at certain airports) is examined for traces of heavy metals and hydrocarbons to see if air pollution regulations are being met.
Airbus
As it turns out, the honey is equivalent to honey produced in areas without heavy industry—an exciting find indeed.
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Quote of the Day: “You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” – Mae West
Photo: by Scott Broome
With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quote of the Day page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?
Kevin Mager was born without the part of his brain that connects the two hemispheres—and doctors suggested he would never walk or talk.
Twitter screenshot
But today, at 18, he sings, reads, runs, plays sports, and loves life.
He has also become an advocate and source of inspiration for those with the same condition, called agenesis of the corpus callosum.
He says people might not notice he has any disabilities at all, but he has short-term memory loss, has a hard time remembering names, and is “hyperactive” all day long.
After nearly completing high school, he began applying to colleges.
This video shows the moment Kevin learned he was accepted into the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
All his hard work has paid off, and the folks at ‘Big Orange’ tweeted, “We can’t wait for you to get here!”
Get ready for Rocky Top, Kevin! We can't wait for you to get here! 🍊 #NewVols
Video courtesy of @chrisulmer, whose organization Special Books By Special Kids strives to create a more inclusive world for everyone. pic.twitter.com/0SDnmmwtWc
In celebration of Earth Day 2021, a new documentary “The Year Earth Changed” was released, narrated by Award-winning broadcaster Sir David Attenborough.
Produced by the BBC, it is now available globally on Apple TV+, showcasing exclusive nature footage from around the world after an unprecedented year of worldwide human quarantine.
“During this most difficult year many people have reappraised the value and beauty of the natural world and taken great comfort from it,” said Attenborough. “But the lockdown also created a unique experiment.
“Less noise, less fume in the air… Creatures around us have flourished, by and large, in this last year,” Attenborough told CBS.
Especially whales. They were able to vocalize to their young much easier with no cruise ships nearby. The parents could travel farther to feed, knowing their young could hear them. Scientists had never heard some of the sounds.
From witnessing whales communicating in new ways, to hearing a new birdsong in cities, to encountering capybaras in South American suburbs, people all over the world have had the chance to engage with nature like never before.
In the one-hour special, viewers can contemplate what can be accomplished by closing beaches a few days a year, for instance, which can have a profound impact on nature.
“The stories of how wildlife responded have shown that making even small changes to what we do can make a big difference.”
Stepping into the future of carbon-neutral freight transportation, Daimler Trucks North America is now accepting orders for its first all-electric freight trucks, which they call the longest-range commercial battery EVs for interstate shipping in North America today.
Freightliner’s eM2
Daimler’s Freightliner manufacturing division has put the eM2 box truck and eCascadia freight tractor into the hands of customers, who have been running real freight in the real world for over two years.
Having demonstrated the concept, they will begin production of the trucks in 2022 and provide a “dedicated network of Freightliner dealers to support the end-to-end process of fleet electrification.”
Currently with 38 trucks in a pilot fleet covering hundreds of thousands of miles in testing, senior vice president Richard Howard said, “The entire team at Daimler Trucks North America is incredibly proud of our progress.”
With its ePowertrain technology developed by Detroit®, the eAxle design offers up to 23,000 lb-ft of torque, giving it ample power to move the eCascadia’s 82,000 lbs. with a maximum range in excess of 230 miles on a full charge for the medium-duty eM2, and 250 miles for the Class 8 eCascadia tractor.
In the lead-up to production, Freightliner’s test fleets have covered a variety of applications, including drayage, regional and local pickup and delivery, and food and beverage delivery—logging 750,000 collective miles, accumulating valuable data and driver perspectives.
“These are the largest demonstrator electric fleets ever seen in the industry, and the valuable collaboration and feedback has translated directly into a more versatile, more durable, and more reliable product,” said Howard.
The eCascadia will carry a 475 kWh battery pack which charges to 80 percent in 90 minutes, while the eM2 has a smaller 315 kWh pack which will charge to 80 percent in 60 minutes.
eCascadia by Freightliner
Considering that the average Class 8 tractor trailer is achieving miles-per-gallon in the single-digits on the highway, these trucks could slash not only pollution, but the cost of moving goods from one place to another.
