Quote of the Day: “No man is a failure who is enjoying life.” – William Feather
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?
How to Become More Disciplined and Fight Past Imaginary Limits to Your Identity
The Lesson: Tony Robbins defines the single most powerful motivational function of the human mind: the desire to stay true to one’s identity. He banishes myths such as “lucky coincidences” and the notion that one can “stumble into success”; because the difference between people who are fit, wealthy, and have fulfilling relationships and those who do not is the standards to which they hold themselves. Those who fundamentally define themselves as people who are overweight, condition their minds in order to stay overweight – and those who define themselves as athletes will do whatever it takes to maintain their identity. In this talk, Tony Robbins breaks down these standards into bite-sized, daily pieces called rituals that make it possible for anyone to become more disciplined and achieve all of their goals.
Notable Excerpt: “I remember one time I was with my family at the circus and they had this big giant elephant and they take this little rope and put it around this elephant’s neck and they drive this stake into the ground and you know that elephant could rip down that entire tent with almost no effort and yet the elephant doesn’t struggle, doesn’t try. Why? Because the elephant is conditioned. And they take that elephant and condition it when it’s a baby elephant – that’s how they train them. When it’s a little baby elephant and it doesn’t have the power yet, they put a big rope around it and drive this huge stake in the ground and the elephant fights and fights and fights and one day finally that elephant decides – I’m not capable of pulling this out. And once that becomes the definition of an identity of anyone – an elephant, in this case – they don’t even try anymore. It’s just who I am, that’s how it is, that’s just the way it is in my life. I’d like to ask you to take a look at any place in your life with a limitation and ask yourself: when did I decide to accept that limitation?”
The Speaker: Tony Robbins is a best-selling author, motivational speaker, life coach, philanthropist, and entrepreneur. The California-based strategist has become such an influential lecturer, over 4 million people have attended his live seminars. In addition to founding several different companies (and his own foundation), Robbins has also done with work with such charities as Feeding America, Spring Health, and Operation Underground Railroad.
Podcast: The Tony Robbins podcast is available for free on Spotify and iTunes. You can also find more of his motivational talks and interviews on his YouTube channel.
Books: Robbins is the author of “Awaken the Giant Within,” “Unshakeable: Your Financial Freedom Playbook”, “Money: Master the Game”, and “Unlimited Power: The New Science of Personal Achievement”.
(LISTEN to the inspiring talk below)
Good Advice? SHARE It – And, CHECK Out More on our Good Talks Page…
More Evidence That Proves Your Dog Will Do Anything to Help When You’re Distressed
Most people would insist that their canine companions are good dogs – but this sweet new piece of research may prove that they’re even better than you think.
A study that was conducted at the Ripon College in Wisconsin researches whether dogs are empathetic animals who are upset by their owner’s pain. In order to study this claim, the researchers recruited 34 dogs and their owners for a social experiment. The dogs, who were of varying degrees of age, breed and training, were kept in one room while their owners were kept in another room that was separated by a transparent plexiglass door.
Half of the owners were asked to say the word “help” every 15 seconds in a distressed tone, and make crying noises in between. The other half of the owners were asked to say “help” in a normal tone, and hum “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” in between. The researchers then studied the dogs’ reactions to their owners.
Since the plexiglass was only secured by three small magnets, the dogs could easily open the doors as a means of getting to their owners. Roughly half of the dogs opened the doors for their owners – and although there was no difference between the dogs who opened their doors for the calm owners versus the distressed owners, the time it took for them to open the doors varied greatly.
RELATED: Dogs Love Your Smile So Much, They Are Willing to Ignore Danger
It only took the dogs in the crying group an average of 23 seconds to open the doors, while the dogs in the humming group took an average of 96 seconds.
Additionally, dogs who did not end up opening the door in the crying group showed very clear signs of distress, such as panting and pacing, which imply that the canines were too anxious to know how to help because they may “love you too much”. The dogs who did end up opening the door showed lower signs of stress which implies that they were trying to keep a calm head in order to optimize their assistance.
“The idea is that if you can perceive someone else being in distress but it doesn’t overwhelmingly stress you personally, then you’re more likely to be able to provide help,” the study’s co-author, Emily Sanford, a doctoral candidate in psychology at Johns Hopkins University, told CNN.
MORE: Dogs Dream About How Much They Love Their Humans, Says Harvard Psychologist
Plus, the researchers say that owners should not be concerned about their dogs not opening the doors, because if humans experience varying degrees of empathy, then dogs probably would as well.
“There are some people who just don’t have as strong empathy toward other people,” said Sanford, according to TIME. “So we are not surprised at all to find that there’s a range in other species besides our own.”
The study, which was published in Learning & Behavior on Tuesday, is being hailed as an endearing new piece of evidence that dogs really are man’s best friend.
(WATCH one of the pups in action in the video below)
Be Sure And Share This Pawesome News With Your Fellow Dog Lovers –
Mother of Waffle House Survivor is Working to Repay Waitress Who Saved Her Son
Some might say that it’s luck that saved Michael Garth Sr.’s life after the Waffle House shooting back in April – others might say it was fate. Regardless, he credits his survival to a waitress whose simple actions led to his survival.
Virginia Stanley had been working at the restaurant in Antioch, Tennessee when Garth and his friends walked in looking for a meal. Since the waitress was washing dishes, she suggested that the group sit at a different table because she didn’t want to splash water on them.
This small suggestion put Garth and his friends just out of range of the gunfire that later hit the restaurant.
In the month following the incident, Garth’s mother Vickie Davis became determined to track down Stanley and thank her for the little gesture that saved her son’s life.
RELATED: A Mother’s Mighty Love After 45 Years Apart: ‘She knew you would be back.’
By chance, Davis was getting her tires changed when she happened to run into the Waffle House’s former manager, who then put her in touch with Stanley’s fiancé. As the two chatted, Stanley’s fiancé told Davis that they were soon getting married and his bride-to-be had been trying to get a wedding dress for the ceremony.
So as a means of repaying the waitress for her kindness, Davis contacted Glitz Nashville bridal store about securing a dress. Since the shop gives free dresses to women in the military, Davis, who is an Army veteran, made a special request to the store and asked them to donate a dress to Stanley.
Though it took some persistence, the store eventually obliged and gave Stanley her dream wedding dress for free.
MORE: Girl Given Months to Live is Saved Thanks to Determined Mom Emailing 130 Doctors for Help
Stanley and her fiancé have expressed their love and gratitude towards Davis for her compassion, but the determined mother isn’t done yet. Stanley has been in and out of the hospital since the shooting, and she has difficulty being around loud noises or large crowds – so now, Davis wants to pair Stanley with a therapy dog to help her deal with her anxiety.
“I’m on a mission today to try and find someone to donate her a service dog,” Davis told CNN. “I don’t know how, but I’ll do my best to make it happen.”
Be Sure And Share This Sweet Story Of Kindness With Your Friends – Photo by Michael Garth Sr.
Chicago Cubs Give Young Fan Autographed Baseball After Foul Ball Was Thought to Have Been Stolen
When going to a baseball game, DON'T be this guy. pic.twitter.com/pAeiRN6Q2X
— Cut4 (@Cut4) July 22, 2018
Social media users were outraged on Sunday when a Twitter video was released of a Chicago Cubs fan who seemed to be getting away with a dastardly deed – and even though it turned out to be a misunderstanding, the incident highlighted true sportsmanship in everybody involved.
The video, which was published by sports outlet Cut4, depicted a Cubs player tossing a baseball to a young boy in the stands. The ball hits the floor, rolls behind the little fan’s seat, and is then snagged by an older man in the row behind him.
RELATED: Player’s Honesty Costs Him the Match, But Wins Hearts w/ Sportsmanship
The man can be seen handing the ball to his wife as the boy looks on, and despite it being an incriminating image, the situation is not how it seems.
Thinking that the boy’s foul ball had been stolen by another spectator, the youngster was later given another ball that was autographed by Javier Baez, the Cubs’ infielder.
The boy was then delighted to be the proud owner of two game balls… that’s right, two game balls.
A @javy23baez signed ball should take care of it. #EverybodyIn pic.twitter.com/4YzUlG8qfN
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) July 22, 2018
While the Cubs’s kind gesture towards a young fan may have been heartwarming enough, several Twitter users came forward to elaborate on the older man’s actions.
MORE: 19-Year-old French Superstar Donates Every Penny of World Cup Earnings to Charity
Chuck Mycoff was one of the spectators who had been sitting next to the man throughout the game. He took to social media to say that even though the gentleman looked like he had been stealing a prized possession from a kid, he had been catching foul balls throughout the game so he could give them to youngsters sitting around them.
A few innings previously, the man had caught a foul ball and given it to the very boy who received the Baez autograph – hence why he ended up with two game balls.
I was sitting next to this guy. That ball was between my feet. The kid already had a ball the same guy helped him get. He handed it to his wife. She took a picture of it and they gave it to the kid next to them. This guy was great. This story is BAD.
— Chuck Mycoff (@cmycoff2) July 23, 2018
After he handed the ball to his wife in the video, she took a photo of it and passed it to another young fan sitting on her right.
The testimony was backed up by Jeff Rose, another spectator who had been sitting close to the man.
So all-in-all, there was no bad guy in this story – just a lot of kind men encouraging a kid’s love of the game.
Score Big With Your Friends And Share The Sweet Story With Your Friends – Photo by Chicago Cubs
Ultrasound Waves Applied to Brain Could Be a Treatment for Dementia—Free of Side Effects
Japanese scientists have found that applying ultrasound waves to the brain can improve cognitive dysfunction – and possibly combat dementia.
The research found that applying low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) to the brains of mice improved blood vessel formation and nerve cell regeneration without having obvious side effects.
The research, which was conducted by scientists at Tohoku University in Japan and led by cardiologist Hiroaki Shimokawa, shows promising results for human treatment.
“The LIPUS therapy is a non-invasive physiotherapy that could apply to high-risk elderly patients without the need for surgery or anesthesia, and could be used repeatedly,” says Shimokawa.
RELATED: Alzheimer’s Gene is Neutralized in Human Brain Cells for the First Time
Despite dementia affecting about 50 million people worldwide, there are currently no curative treatments available for vascular dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, the most common causes of dementia. Also, the cells lining the brain’s blood vessels are tightly packed, forming a blood-brain barrier that prevents large molecules from crossing into the brain tissue. This limits the types of drugs and cell therapies that could be made available to treat dementia.
Shimokawa and his team had conducted previous studies showing that LIPUS improved blood vessel formation in pigs with myocardial ischemia, a condition where there is reduced blood flow to the heart. Other studies have reported that LIPUS increases the production of proteins involved in nerve cell survival and growth, in addition to a role in promoting nerve regeneration. Focusing LIPUS treatment on a region in the brain called the hippocampus, which is involved in memory, has also been found to improve dementia in mice, but the details of how it does this need to be more fully investigated.
The Tohoku University team wanted to find out if whole-brain rather than focused LIPUS is effective in treating mouse models of dementia, and if it was, what was happening at the molecular levels to achieve this.
CHECK OUT: When Grandma With Alzheimer’s Can’t Do Her Puzzles, Teen Comes Up With Perfect Solution
They found that cognitive impairment markedly improved in mice with conditions similar to vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease when LIPUS was applied to the whole brain three times a day for 20 minutes each time. The mice with vascular dementia received the treatment on the first, third and fifth days following a surgical procedure that limited the brain’s blood supply. The mice with a condition simulating Alzheimer’s disease in humans received 11 LIPUS treatments over a period of three months.
At the molecular level, genes related to the cells lining blood vessels were turned on. Also, there was increased expression of an enzyme involved in blood vessel formation and a protein involved in nerve cell survival and growth.
The researchers conclude that their study, recently published in the journal Brain Stimulation, provides the first experimental evidence that whole-brain LIPUS therapy markedly improves cognitive dysfunctions without serious side effects by enhancing specific cells related to dementia’s pathology.
The first clinical trials to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the LIPUS treatment are already underway.
(Source: Tohoku University)
Help Treat Negativity By Sharing The Good News With Your Friends – Photo by Hiroaki Shimokawa / Tohoku University
Recovering Addict Anonymously Pays for Ambulance Crew Eating Breakfast
An anonymous stranger is making headlines after she picked up the tab for an exhausted group of EMTs who were eating breakfast after a long overnight shift.
The medics, who are on the Toms River First Aid Squad of New Jersey, had just finished eating their pancakes at an iHOP when they asked for the check.
Instead, they got a receipt from the woman who had already paid for their collective $77 meal, saying: “Thank you for all you do! Have a great day! –Recovering Addict”
Captain Alyssa Golembeski says that when she read the note, it brought an emotional hush over their “boisterous bunch” of medics.
LOOK: Firefighters Pay it Forward Big Time After Waitress With Heart of Gold Picks Up Tab
Golembeski and her five other crew members tried to ask the manager who the anonymous benefactor was, but he said that the woman did not want anyone to know her name, and she had already left the restaurant.
“It was just a reminder that there is still so much good in the world. The note and paying for our breakfast…we are a boisterous bunch but that brought our table to complete silence,” Golembeski told nj.com.
MORE: Good Manners Pay Off: When Man is Desperate to Meet Lotto Deadline And Stranger Lets Him Go First
Despite not being able to thank her properly, the First Aid Squad posted a picture of the note on Facebook with a caption thanking the woman for her kindness and wishing her luck on her road to recovery.
“This gift was amazingly thoughtful, and brought our table of tired EMTs to tears,” said the squad. “We are so blessed to be able to serve you and everyone else who lives and works in the greater Toms River area. Good luck on your journey of recovery!”
Pass On The Positivity And Share The Good News With Your Friends – Photo by Toms River First Aid Squad
“You are very powerful, provided you know how powerful you are.” – Yogi Bhajan
Quote of the Day: “You are very powerful, provided you know how powerful you are.” – Yogi Bhajan
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?
You Can Bring Your Plastic Waste to This Store to Use as Currency
The Lesson: The Plastic Bank has two enemies: extreme poverty and ocean pollution – and their unique business model is bringing an end to both issues by selling essential products to people for the price of plastic waste, which they then give to companies for recycling. David Katz, Plastic Bank’s CEO, says that this brings us one step closer to closing the loop in the circular economy because “preventing ocean plastic could be humanity’s richest opportunity.”
Notable Excerpt: “We are the world’s largest chain of stores for the ultra-poor, where everything in the store is available to be purchased using plastic garbage. Everything. School tuition. Medical insurance. Wi-Fi, cell phone minutes, power. Sustainable cooking fuel, high-efficiency stoves. And we keep wanting to add everything else that the world may need and can’t afford.”
The Guest: David Katz is the founder and CEO of the Plastic Bank, the only organization that monetizes plastic waste and provides opportunities for the world’s disadvantaged to trade and collect plastic waste as currency.
(LISTEN to the inspiring talk below) – Photo by The Plastic Bank
Good Advice? SHARE It – Or Check Out More On Our Good Talks Page…
River Pollution is Being Collected and Recycled to Make Gorgeous Floating Public Parks
This organization is transforming piles of trash into a gorgeous way of fighting river pollution.
The Recycled Island Foundation has been collecting litter from the Maas River in Rotterdam and recycling it into floating islands that benefit people and the aquatic ecosystem on which they drift.
For a year and a half, the organization used litter traps placed at strategic points along the river to collect trash from the water.
The Dutch group then sorted and recycled the materials into hexagonal platforms that are designed to float on the river’s surface.
LOOK: City is Converting Highway Pillars into Vertical Gardens to Clean the Air
By filling the platforms with greenery and native plant species, the platforms can benefit larger land critters and offer up shelter and breeding grounds for microorganisms and fish.
After 5 years of research, development, and work, the foundation’s first recycled park just opened up in Rotterdam on July 4th. The innovative public space is 1,500 square feet of habitat made from 28 hexagonal platforms.
The organization is now looking for new locations to continue their mission and build more parks
(WATCH the video below)
Clean Up Negativity And Share The Good News With Your Friends – Photo by Recycled Island Foundation
Tires May Soon Be Made With Wood Instead of Oil in Bid for Sustainability
French tire maker Michelin has announced that they will be replacing their tire’s oil-based ingredients with wood chips instead.
The gesture is part of the company’s efforts to make one set of their tires last a lifetime.
Additionally, using locally-source wood chips as a renewable ingredient in the products is expected to help curb the tire industry’s dependency on oil. Wood ingredients are also expected to drastically lower production costs.
Michelin’s first wood-based tire is expected to be unveiled in 2020.
“The elastomers from wood chips will replace the oil content in tires. 80% of the materials in tires are coming from oil,” says Cyrille Roget, the company’s worldwide director of scientific and innovation communication, according to Motoring.
“We have a project working with wood chips. We will use the waste from the wood industry to create elastomers that come into tires,” he added. “We believe it is a good solution for the future.”
The company is currently working with self-sustaining wood plantations in Brazil as a means of developing the process.
Another method that Michelin will be using to extend the lifespan of their tires will be using 3D printers to retread and repair tires as they’re worn down from use.
The company estimates that 3D printing tire surfaces will not come to fruition for another 10 or 15 years, but it may be much sooner depending on how the technology develops.
Roll The Good News Over To Your Friends And Share To Social Media – Photo by TheDaddy_Chazz, CC
After Youth Walks 7 Hours to First Day of Work, CEO Hands Over His Own Car as a Thank You (Podcast)
A young man’s perseverance and spirit has earned him praise from around the world – and a big reward and friendship he didn’t see coming. Click above to hear The Good News Guru tell the inspiring story (from the July 20, 2018 Ellen K. Morning Show on KOST-103.5 radio).
WATCH a video and learn more, at Good News Network…
Police Officer Shaves Homeless Man’s Beard in Gas Station Parking Lot So He Can Land a Job
UPDATE: the man got the job.
This police officer went above and beyond the call of duty so he could help a needy citizen get back on his feet.
A woman had been sitting in her car earlier this week when she saw Officer Carlson of the Tallahassee Police Department in Florida shaving a man’s beard outside of a gas station.
After he was finished, the homeless man left and the police officer went inside the gas station.
Curious about the strange interaction, the woman went inside the gas station, offered to buy Carlson a drink, and asked him why he was shaving a man’s beard.
LOOK: When Cops See Boy Wearing Torn, Dirty Socks, They Return With New Shoes and Ice Pops
Carlson said that the homeless man had been talking to McDonald’s staff members when they told him he would not be allowed to start working at the restaurant until he shaved his beard.
The officer then grabbed some clippers, and offered to help shave the man’s beard right there in the parking lot.
When he was finished, the homeless man went back to the McDonald’s to lock down the job.
WATCH Police Officer Handle a Crisis With Toddler Wandering On the Side of Highway
The woman was so impressed by the officer’s kindness, she and her mother sent a video of Carlson and the homeless man to the Tallahassee Police Department where they expressed appreciation for the compassionate act.
“I am so proud to live in a community where our deputies and officers are such wonderful people,” says the woman. “Good job Tallahassee Police Department!!!”
(WATCH the video below)
Clean Up Negativity By Sharing This Sweet Story With Your Friends – Photo by Tallahassee Police Department
After Youth Walks 7 Hours to First Day of Work, CEO Hands Over His Own Car as a Thank You
LISTEN to this story here, as told by The Good News Guru, from Friday’s radio broadcast with Ellen K and Geri, GNN’s founder, on KOST-103.5 — Or, READ the story below… (Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes – or for Androids, on Podbean)
A young man’s perseverance and spirit has earned him praise from around the world – and a big reward he didn’t see coming.
The night before his first day of work with a moving company, Walter Carr’s vehicle broke down, and though he frantically tried to find someone to drive him the 20 miles— everything fell through.
The 20 year-old was broke and he didn’t want to miss the first day of his job, so he decided to walk the 20 miles from his apartment in Birmingham, Alabama to the job site, which he calculated would take him seven hours.
He took a long nap, got up at midnight, and started walking. Half way there, he decided to take a break in a parking lot, when a police car pulled up. Officer Mark Knighten listened as the young man explained his determination to get to his first day of work. He offered to buy him a hot breakfast and drove him the last ten miles.
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They arrived, 30 minutes before any of the other laborers, at the home of Jenny Lamey, who listened as the officer told her about Carr’s dedication.
“He said, ‘I’ve got this nice kid in my car. He’s a great kid, he’s been walking all night to get to your house,’” Lamey told The Washington Post. “That’s when the tears started coming. I just started crying.”
Carr zealously got to work on the move, and as they chatted, Lamey felt like she’d known him for years. Remaining cheerful the whole time, Carr even played ball with Lamey’s sons, after he worked hard loading the truck.
“I just can’t tell you how touched I was by Walter and his journey. He is humble and kind and cheerful and he had big dreams!” Lamey wrote in a lengthy, appreciative Facebook post. “I am in total awe of this young man!”
RELATED: Immigrant Endures Misery, But Stays Positive Until a Brilliant Idea Unlocks the American Dream
Lamey was so touched, she set up a GoFundMe campaign to raise $2,000 for Carr’s automotive repairs. She then called his boss and retold her incredible experience with her new friend, leaving them both in tears.
The next day, Luke Marklin, who is the chief executive of Bellhops moving company, validated Carr for his work ethic by handing over the keys to his own 2014 Ford Escape, saying that it would be put to better use in Carr’s possession.
The video of the surprise gift has been shared thousands of times and people around the world are praising Carr for his inspiring personality. Lamey’s GoFundMe page has now raised over $60,000 and counting, and she hopes to maintain a friendship with the young man for the years to come.
Carr says that he’s simply happy because “he’s always wanted to inspire people.”
(WATCH the video below)
Share This Inspiring Story Of Perseverance And Reward
361 Golden Retrievers Met Up in Scotland to Celebrate Their Breed’s Birthday
It’s a dog lover’s dream come true.
Golden Retrievers from all over the world met up at the Guisachan Estate in Tomich, Scotland this week to celebrate the 150th anniversary of their breed’s birth.
WATCH: Bus Driver Has Stopped to Feed Stray Dog Every Day for the Last 2 Years
A whopping total of 361 golden doggos attended the gathering, which was orchestrated by the Golden Retriever Club of Scotland.
According to the organization, the meeting welcomed more retrievers than ever before, saying that only 188 canines attended the 2006 gathering.
Dudley Majoribanks, also known as Lord Tweedmouth, bred the first litter of Golden Retrievers on July 19th, 1868.
The first Golden Retriever puppies were born as a result of Tweedmouth crossing a wavy-coated retriever with a tweed water spaniel.
LOOK: Comfy Armchairs Pouring in For Animal Shelter So Every Pet Can Have a Spot
The Scottish lord had reportedly been trying to breed a dog that could swim longer distances to retrieve water foul.
Ashleigh Baird, one of the gathering’s attendees, told LADBible: “It was a fantastic day, lovely to see all the Goldens playing and having fun together.”
“We were so surprised that people had travelled from all over the world to be there, but that made it all the more special,” she added. “We tried to pet and cuddle all 361 goldens and it was heaven.”
(WATCH the video below)
Be Sure And Share The Pawesome Story With Your Friends – Photo by Golden_Chewbacca Instagram
“A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.” – Lao Tzu
Quote of the Day: “A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.” – Lao-Tzu
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?
British Teen Posts Uplifting Notes on Bridge and ‘Helps Save Six Lives’
An 18-year-old girl’s ingenious idea to attach messages onto a bridge in Sunderland is inspiring those in despair to think twice before jumping.
Paige Hunter wrote more than 40 heartfelt notes and tied them to the railings of the Wearmouth Bridge hoping to provide comfort at a time when it is needed most.
The encouraging words penned by the East Durham College student included: ‘Even though things are difficult, your life matters; you’re a shining light in a dark world, so just hold on’.
Northumbria Police presented her with a framed commendation certificate this week, with Chief Superintendent Sarah Pitt explaining, “We thought it was important to applaud the work Paige has been doing and the help she has given those in Sunderland who are going through a mental health crisis.”
RELATED: Suicide Rates at Japanese Train Stations Have Plummeted Thanks to Simple Solution
“Paige has shown an incredible understanding of vulnerable people in need of support, and this is an innovative way to reach out to those in a dark place. She should be very proud of herself.”
After receiving the commendation, the sales assistant, who works at Poundworld, said: “I wasn’t doing this for an award; it was just something that I wanted to do.”
“It’s just amazing, the response it has had. I’ve been told it’s already helped save six lives.”
ALSO: World’s First ‘Mental Health Ambulance’ is Helping Hundreds of People in Sweden
A team set up in 2013 across six local jurisdictions already sends dedicated officers and mental health nurses to respond to individuals in crisis who have come into contact with the police, ensuring they receive mental health support and an assessment of their needs at an early stage.
She includes a phone number on her signs for a group called Samaritans that offers free support to anyone in the UK who is in emotional distress: 116 123
MULTIPLY the GOOD by Sharing this Great Idea!
Starbucks to Open Their First Ever American Sign Language Store
Starbucks has just announced that they will be opening their first American Signing Store that specifically accommodates and welcomes deaf workers and customers.
Not only that, the store, which is set to open in Washington D.C. in October, will be entirely run by employees who are fluent in American Sign Language (ASL), whether they be deaf, hard-of-hearing, or an ally.
According to a press release from the store, the café will be designed with deaf-friendly aspects, such as an open environment for communication and low glare reflective surfaces. Visual communication options will be available for ordering and receiving beverages at the hand-off counter. Additionally, artwork and merchandise, including a custom mug, designed by deaf artists
“The National Association of the Deaf applauds Starbucks for opening a Signing Store that employs feaf and hard-of-hearing people,” said Howard A. Rosenblum, CEO of the National Association of the Deaf. “Starbucks has taken an innovative approach to incorporating deaf culture that will increase employment opportunities as well as accessibility for deaf and hard of hearing people, while at the same time educating and enlightening society.”
RELATED: Mom Develops New App That Alerts Deaf Parents to When and Why Their Babies Are Crying
Though this is the first deaf-friendly Starbucks store in America, the company’s first ever Signing Store in the world opened up in Malaysia back in 2016.
“This is a historic moment in Starbucks ongoing journey to connect with the Deaf and hard of hearing community, hire and engage Deaf and hard of hearing partners, and continue to find ways to be more inclusive, accessible and welcoming to all,” said Rossann Williams, Starbucks executive vice president of U.S. Retail.
Help Your Friends Hear About The Good News: Share To Social Media
Thanks to Police Department’s ‘Pugshot’ of Lost Dog, Owner Pays Bail in Cookies
Getting a mugshot is no laughing matter—unless it helps a canine on the run.
Bean the pug is going viral on social media after the Cape May Police Department of New Jersey found her wandering around someone’s backyard earlier this week.
WATCH: Locked Out of House, Watch Woman’s Gleeful Reaction to Clever Pup Opening the Door
After taking Bean into custody, the cops tried to get her to hop into the back of their cruiser, but they told NJ.com that “her short little legs couldn’t make it into the car, so I had to lift her up.”
They took the crooked canine back to the safety of the station and had Bean pose for a “pugshot.” The officers then posted it to their social media page in hopes that the owner would see it and ‘bail out’ the pug.
“This is what happens when you run away from home,” wrote the department. “This guy was captured sneaking through yards on the 1300 block on New Jersey Avenue.”
Sources only guess that Bean was too tough for the good cop–bad cop interrogation routine, although judging by her face, she didn’t mind the ‘incarceration’ too much.
WATCH: Guy Takes Advantage of Toys ‘R’ Us Closing Sale to Make Giant Ball Pit For His Dog in His Hallway
Finally, after the original “pugshot” was shared over 10,000 times, it eventually caught the eye of Bean’s owner, Hadley Hubbard.
As a means of repaying the officers for taking care of the furry felon, Bean’s owners reportedly paid her bail in cookies.
“Thank you CMPD from Bean the pug‘s family for taking such good care of her,” Hubbard wrote. “She is sound asleep after an exciting afternoon on the run.”
Share This Pawesomely Hilarious Pugmug With Your Friends – Photos by Cape May Police Department
Couple Fights Lawsuit Until Judge Rules They Can Keep Their “Starry Night” Home
— richard barrenechea (@barrenechea69) March 21, 2018
This family was facing thousands of dollars in fines from the city after they turned their home into a masterpiece.
Lubomir Jastrzebski and his wife Nancy Nemhauser of Mount Dora, Florida created a mural on the front of their home that resembled Vincent Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” painting. The gorgeous house drew attention from tourists and social media until it eventually captured the attention of the city.
The local legislature ordered the couple to cover up the painting because it could be considered “graffiti”. When they expanded the mural to include the entire front of their house, the city told them that it was too distracting for passing drivers and dealt the family a fine of $100 per day until they took it down.
The couple fought back, refusing to pay the fines and filing a lawsuit against the city claiming that the fines were a violation of their freedom of expression.
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It wasn’t just freedom of expression they fought for, either – Jastrzebski and Nemhauser’s 25-year-old son has autism, and by making their home an obvious and identifiable landmark, the couple hoped it would help their son find his way home if he ever got lost.
Finally, after five months of legal struggle and roughly $10,000 in unpaid fines, a federal judge ruled that the couple could keep the mural.
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As part of the city’s settlement with the family, the mayor will issue a formal apology, the couple will be paid $15,000 to cover their legal fees, and the legislature will be rewriting their city ordinance codes to accommodate such freedoms.
“It’s a big day for the arts,” Richard Barrenechea, the artist who painted the mural, told The Associated Press. “It’s a big day for Mount Dora, and a big day for freedom.”
(WATCH the video below)
Be Sure to Share The Gorgeous News With Your Friends – Photo by Associated Press via Daily Mail Youtube