It's easy to get lost in all the negative news coverage. But good things are happening! If you read a good news story, anything that might make us smile, or restore our faith in humanity, or just make us say, "Way to go!" - please post it here.
Nick Taylor becomes first Canadian since 1954 to win Canadian Open Canada's Nick Taylor won the Canadian Open title Sunday in a playoff, becoming the first Canadian to win the country's men's national golf championship since 1954. Taylor defeated England's Tommy Fleetwood in the fourth playoff hole with an insane 72-foot putt to take home the title and snap a drought for the Canadian men that lasted 69 years.
Four kids survive 40 days in the jungle after a plane crash that killed their mother. The oldest was 13, the y0ungest 11 months: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-65871238
What a remarkable story. I get the impression their community will rally around them to help them recover from this ordeal.
I'm genuinely impressed. That's an amazing idea with all the bad press that's been going on since the 2020's began and the world went into a downward spiral. We need to remind people that good things are happening too, and that things will get better at some point. I'm not in the lounge much but I'm hoping to share some good news here.
Homeless man climbed up burning recycling facility in Peru to rescue 25 dogs trapped on the roof Sebastián Arias saved 25 dogs from dying in a building next to a recycling plant that was on fire in Lima, Peru, on Friday The Colombian man said he was thinking about his wife, who recently attempted to commit suicide, when he spotted the helpless dogs Arias, who is homeless, said he is interested in finding work so that he no longer has to live in the streets
Jack and the Beanstalk for reals yo! It's a perfect metaphor for the creative process, or the growth process in general. Sometimes you must be patient.
A sheep dubbed “Britain’s loneliest” has finally been rescued by 5 strapping farmhands after being stuck on a beach for two years. Fiona the sheep was first seen at the base of a cliff by a kayaker in Sutherland, Scotland. Hemmed in by sheer cliffs and the frigid Cromarty Firth, there was enough fodder and water for her to survive to grow a huge fleece. After several animal rescue organizations determined the rescue was too complicated, a group of local farmers managed to haul the beast up the cliff; and though it went well, there was an unforeseen difficulty—Fiona was very fat. Stranded Sheep Rescued After Two Years of Loneliness at the Base of Scottish Cliff
In tackling climate doom and eco-anxiety: On Euronews.com, Wales is Green Country of the Month. Peatland, plastic and phasing-out coal: Here’s why Wales is our Green Country of the Month
Baby found alive in tree after Tennessee tornado A deadly tornado on Saturday tore apart a mobile home, picking up a bassinet with the baby still inside of it. He survived and was discovered in a fallen tree in the pouring rain. "I thought he was dead," Ms Moore said. "I was pretty sure he was dead and we weren't going to find him."
Cape Verde Becomes the First African Country in 50 Years to Eradicate Malaria Becoming the first sub-Saharan African country to eliminate Malaria in half a century, Cape Verde has gone three years without a single case of transmission. ( Note: I discovered the website this links to during the pandemic. Only positive news articles to read! )
Cheers to the end of this polar vortex! Tomorrow it gets back up in the 30's, and the next day the 40's!
We had a snowy weekend, but we've got rain in the forecast for most of the upcoming week. It's going to get up to 6 C (43 F)!
This woman is an inspiration. Michelle Rohl, a 58-year-old grandmother, is competing in racewalking for Team USA in the Paris Olympics. She previously competed in the 1992, 1996 and 2000 Olympics, but took twenty years off for her kids. 58-year-old grandma makes Team USA for upcoming Paris Olympic Games
Wow. For 58, she's in great shape. I hope I'd be in good a shape as that when I'm that age. (And for a second there, I accidentally reversed the digits and misread that as "85-year-old grandma", which surely would be even more impressive).
Alice Walton - the only daughter of Walmart founder Sam Walton - and America's richest woman - has given away more than $1.5 billion dollars during her lifetime (making her America’s 26th-most generous philanthropist.) Last year, she made her largest charitable gift ever - $249 million to help fund the new Alice L. Walton School of Medicine in her family’s hometown of Bentonville, Arkansas. https://www.forbesmiddleeast.com/leadership/philanthropy/americas-richest-woman-donates-%24250-million-to-fund-medical-school-in-her-name
In the mail today, I received the 2023 Impact Report from Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres, or MSF) and found out that there were a lot of Canadians on assignment, including 130 providing direct care to patients as MSF medical personnel (doctors, nurses, midwives, medical specialists), and 258 workers overseas on Canadian contracts to help deliver emergency medical care. If you’re looking for a good organization to support, this is one that’s very deserving. I am amazed at the vital work MSF does around the world. The map show MSF programs around the world: And in the Ukraine: https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/what-we-do/where-we-work/ukraine
The North Sea is making an ecological comeback. Over-fishing had led to a devastating biomass decline over the last few decades, but a bounce-back is happening. Bottlenose dolphins, along with humpback and minke whales, have been spotted in greater numbers in recent years along England’s North Sea coast, monitoring groups say. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jan/09/north-sea-bouncing-back-glory-days-grey-seals-minke-whales-bluefin-tuna-aoe
It is heartening to see the North Sea returning to its former days. I, however, am sad that the proud northern bottlenose whale isn't even mentioned, while dolphins (and sperm whales, killer whales, and humpbacks) get all the attention. I have always had a fondness for the northern bottlenose whale, ever since Flanders and Swann wrote a fun song about him. He's one of those creatures who doesn't get much attention, which is too bad. The song is always available on YouTube, here, if you'd like to listen to it.
