Author: Darby Jones

  • Israel, U.S. Among Countries to Congratulate India For Crossing Milestone of One Billion Covid Vaccinations
  • On Thursday, India reached the major milestone of administering one billion doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, just nine months after the country launched the “world’s biggest vaccination drive.”  Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the country had “scripted history.”  Around 75 percent of all adults in India have received their first dose of the vaccine, and approximately 31 percent have received both doses. The Israeli Prime Minister and United States Embassy are among several countries that have reached out to congratulate Prime Minister Modi on the feat. Prime Minister of Nepal Sher Bahadur Deuba tweeted his congratulations and his hopes that the achievement will provide a “massive boost in ensuring safety in the neighbourhood and beyond.” Bill Gates even reached out on Twitter to congratulate PM Modi, saying the milestone is “a testament to India’s innovation, ability to manufacture at scale, and the efforts of millions of health workers.” Image source: CNN
  • Four-year-old New Zealand Boy Calls Police Because He Wants to Show Them His Toys
  • A four-year-old boy from New Zealand called the police on an emergency number and asked them to come over and check out his toys. Police shared audio of the call and said the incident was “too cute not to share.” The call begins with: “This is the police, where is the emergency?” There is a pause, followed by: “Hi, police lady?” “Yes,” says the dispatcher. “What’s going on?” “Um, can I tell you something?” asks the boy. The dispatcher says yes, so the boy says, “I’ve got some toys for you.” “You’ve got some toys for me?” says the dispatcher. “Yep. Come over and see them,” the boy responds. The boy’s father gets on the phone, confirming that the call was a mistake. Then, the woman that spoke to the boy sends out a police dispatch and gives the address: “There is a 4-year-old there who is wanting to show police his toys, over.” “Yeah, I’m one-up, I’ll attend to,” responds an officer. The officer, identified as Constable Kurt, drove to the boy’s house — located in the South Island city of Invercargill — where he was shown an array of toys. They said the officer had a “good, educational chat” about the proper use of the emergency number, which is 111 in New Zealand. “He did have cool toys,” said Constable Kurt. They also said the boy was able to see the patrol car, and Constable Kurt even turned on the lights for him. Image source: CNN
  • Dutch Students Complete 1,800-mile Eurotrip in Solar-Powered Vehicle They Designed and Built
  • A group of 22 Dutch university students designed and built a solar-powered van that they named Stella Vita. The students completed an 1,800-mile road trip from Eindhoven, in the Netherlands, to Tarifa, Spain. They hope to inspire a faster transition to greater sustainability. "To accelerate this transition we are going to inspire as many people in Europe as possible for the sustainable future during our journey," student team manager Kjell Revenberg said in a press release. The students attended Eindhoven University of Technology — located in the southern region of the Netherlands — and refer to themselves as Solar Team Eindhoven. "Stella Vita generates energy through its solar panels on the roof and uses this energy for both driving and living," the student inventors explained. "Stella Vita generates enough solar energy to drive, shower, watch TV, charge your laptop and make coffee. You are completely self-sustaining and independent. Hereby, you are free to go wherever you want, without harming the environment." Stella Vita also allows drivers and passengers to track the energy used for cooking, showering and watching television. The students say that Stella Vita is the world’s first solar-powered mobile home, and is designed for two people. It has a kitchen, seating area, bed, shower and toilet.  On sunny days, it can travel up to 450 miles in 24 hours and reach a speed of 75 miles per hour. It also has a 60 kilowatt-hour battery that allows it to travel 373 miles at night. It can also drive in gray weather. “On a cloudy day, the vehicle can still produce 60-70% of the energy,”said the students’ team coordinator, Dr. Carlo van der Weijer. “And even if there is no sun at all, you still have an efficient, normal electric car that you can charge from a charging port.” The students hope to inspire automakers to follow their lead. Image source: New Atlas, Daily Mail
  • Vietnam Veteran Reunited with Stolen Purple Heart Medals 40 Years After Robbery
  • Almost 40 years ago, burglars broke into Gus Allbritton’s home while he was at work as a sheriff’s deputy and stole one of his most cherished items. The burglars stole several guns and a five-gallon glass water bottle filled with coins, pocket knives and other valuables – including one of three Purple Heart medals he was awarded after being wounded during the Vietnam War. The 71-year-old veteran had given the other two medals to his son and daughter, and assumed the third would be safe in the bottle. “When I saw that the water bottle — and everything in it — had been stolen, I figured that was it. I’d never see it again,” Allbritton told The Washington Post. “I reported it missing, but I knew the odds were slim to none that I’d ever get it back.” Thirty-eight years had passed since the 1983 break-in when Allbritton, who now resides in Dublin, GA, found a shocking message waiting for him at the Carl Vinson VA Medical Center, where he regularly volunteers. “It said that somebody had found my Purple Heart,” said Allbritton. “And there was a phone number in Florida for a man named Jamie Bath.” Allbritton called Bath, who said he had recently purchased a medal for $2 at a local yard sale and noticed the inscription on the back: “For Military Merit — Gus A. Allbritton.” “He Googled my name and tracked me down at the Dublin VA,” said Allbritton. “I couldn’t believe it. How did something as small as that medal turn up after 38 years?” Bath said he knew he had to find the rightful owner of the medal as soon as he saw the name on it. “It was a war medal, and I knew it must mean a lot to the person who’d earned it,” he said. “Giving it back was the right thing to do.” Bath said it took only a few days to find Allbritton — he searched for his name online and found a news release about his volunteer efforts with veterans. Allbritton has devoted more than 35,000 hours to assisting other veterans. “When Jamie called and said he’d like to mail me back my medal, I gave him my address. And sure enough, it arrived just a few days later in a little box,” said Allbritton. “It’s a very humanitarian thing he did.” Image source: The Washington Post
  • Sikh Hikers Use Makeshift Rope From Turbans to Save Hikers From Waterfall
  • Five hikers in British Columbia used their turbans to create a makeshift rope to save two men on their trail that had fallen into a pool below a waterfall. Kuljinder Kinda and four friends were hiking in Golden Ears Provincial Park on Oct. 11 when they learned that two men had slipped on a slippery rock and fallen into a pool above a waterfall and could not get themselves back to safety. Kinda said they did not have cellphone service to call emergency services, so they came up with the idea to create a rope out of their turbans. “We were trying to think how we could get them out, but we didn’t know how to,” Kinda, an electrician originally from Punjab, India, who is Sikh, told NBC News. “So we walked for about 10 minutes to find help and then came up with the idea to tie our turbans together.” The group removed their turbans and other articles of clothing to tie the fabric together and create a 33-foot makeshift rope, which they threw down to the men and instructed them to tighten it before pulling themselves up. “In Sikhi, we are taught to help someone in any way we can with anything we have, even our turban,” said Kinda. “We really just cared about the safety of the men.” Two two men, whose identities remain unknown, thanked Kinda and his friends for their kindness before leaving. The Sikh Community of British Columbia tweeted the video of the interaction and gave kudos to the group of men for their selflessness. Image source: New York Post
  • Spa Day! Dog Walks Itself to Pet Spa After Escaping Yard
  • Last Saturday morning, a dog named Gem from Winnipeg — located in Manitoba, Canada, just north of Minnesota — decided it was time to head to the spa when it escaped from the backyard. The staff at Happy Tails Pet Resort & Spa saw the pooch cross the gate around 6:30 a.m., but they never saw the dog’s owners show up. “They were looking in the parking lot and saying, ‘Where’s your parents?’” said Happy Tails co-owner Shawn Bennett. As the employee opened the door, the five-year-old shepherd-cross came running in, tail wagging. Gem is a frequent visitor, so the staff knew who her parents were and called them right away. They were surprised Gem got out of the yard, but they were not surprised she went to Happy Tails. “She’s one of the many dogs that love coming here,” Bennett said. “I always call it Disneyland for dogs because they play with all their best buddies and it’s amazing to watch them.” Many dogs are visiting the spa less now that the pandemic has increased work-from-home policies, but Bennett says that it is important to keep a routine schedule for pets. Gem visited the spa three-to-four times per week before the pandemic, but now only visits one time per week — she simply decided that was not enough! Image source: Happy Trails Pet Spa & Resort
  • Day After Brain Surgery, Elementary School Teacher Reads Bedtime Story to Students on Facebook Live
  • K.D. Meucci is a fourth grade teacher at Benjamin Franklin Elementary School in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. Last week, she found out she had a brain tumor, though it was “probably benign.” She had surgery to remove the tumor on Wednesday, and on Thursday evening, she read a bedtime story to her students on Facebook Live like she always does — this time from her intensive care unit hospital bed. “I’m sorry if I look a little weird. I know I look a little weird. I got this black eye going right here because, again, they cut open my head right here to take out my brain tumor,” she told her students. Meucci created the Facebook Group “Franklin Bedtime Stories” several years back, so when she packed for the hospital, she made sure to include a book. During the Facebook Live, Meucci read the book “Mr. Walker Steps Out” by Lisa Graff and ensured her students that she is doing well. “You are my friends. You are an important part of our school community. You are an important part of our world. You are loved,” said Meucci. “I wanted to see you, to see that I’m OK. I look a little funky, but I wanted you to see and know that I’m OK.” As she recovers, Meucci says that doctors think they were able to remove the entire tumor. Image source: NBC12
  • Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research Reaches More Than $1 Billion Raised
  • Michael J. Fox moved from his home country of Canada to the United States around 40 years ago as he followed his dream of becoming an actor. He booked a McDonald’s commercial in 1980 and then was cast on the popular show “Family Ties.” Throughout his four decades in entertainment, Fox has won five Emmys, two Golden Globes and two SAG awards. However, at just 29 years old, Fox was told he had Parkinson’s disease in 1991. After announcing his diagnosis to the public, Fox created the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research to help fund research for therapies and cures. The organization just reached a major milestone — over $1 billion has been raised. Oct. 23rd marks the 20-year anniversary celebration of the foundation — the event was postponed for one year due to the pandemic. “All I wanted to do was book that McDonalds commercial,” the now 60-year-old Fox recalls about his start in Hollywood. “I didn’t know I’d be trying to find a cure for Parkinson’s.” While there is not a cure for the disease yet, Fox says his foundation has directly helped form several therapies. “They are therapies that have made life a lot better for a lot of people,” he told Variety. “I enjoy life more. I’m more comfortable in my skin than I was 20 years ago. I can sit down and be calm. I couldn’t do that 25 years ago. That’s the medications, the drug cocktails and therapies that we’ve been a part of.” “I just want to get this done,” he says about finding a cure. “I’m committed to this. I won’t stop until it happens.” Image source: The Sun
  • Shot of a Lifetime: Australian Golfer Makes Hole-in-One Just Before His 100th Birthday
  • Hugh Brown has been golfing for over six decades, and he finally hit his best shot just shy of his 100th birthday.  Typically, the correct golfing etiquette is to wait for the group in front of you to finish on the green before you hit your drive. But, Brown typically struggles to even make the green in one shot, so he teed off early with the group still on the green at the Indooroopilly Golf Club in Queensland, Australia.  The group ahead of Brown began waving their hands, so he thought they were upset he had played before they were off the green. As he made his way down to ask where his ball was, he was in shock when the group pointed to the hole. He had made a hole-in-one on the 161-yard par-3 hole, just two months before his 100th birthday. This marked his first ace since 1960, putting an end to an astonishing dry spell. He is also the oldest Australian golfer to achieve the hole-in-one.  In true fashion, Brown bought a round of drinks for his companions, as is customary after hitting a hole-in-one. The group is called “Old and Bold,” and they play together three times per week. This round of drinks cost Brown less than it did the last time he hit the ace. “I think it cost me 15 pounds ($337.73 USD in 1960) which was a lot of money in those days,” he said. Image source: CNN
  • Perfect Match: 24-Year-Old Man Finds Fiancé and New Kidney Through Tinder
  • Reid Alexander, a 24-year-old man from Colorado, battled kidney disease before meeting 28-year-old Rafael Diaz. The pair matched on Tinder in August 2020 and are now married — and Diaz donated a kidney to his new husband.  Shortly after they started dating, Alexander shared that he suffered from Alport syndrome, a genetic disease that causes damage to blood vessels in the kidneys, among many other symptoms. In Sept. 2020, just weeks after starting to date, Alexander had to undergo surgery to prepare for dialysis, so Diaz stepped in to help Alexander recover. “He stayed at the hospital for me and drove me home and everything,” Alexander told USA Today. “He’s the first person to ever get me flowers, so, yeah, I kind of knew he was the one.” The couple got engaged in February and married in April, keeping the ceremony small so they could pay for their surgeries, but they plan to have a larger celebration in a year or two. Shortly after the wedding, Diaz began testing to learn whether he could donate a kidney to his husband. That is when they got the good news: he was a perfect match. Their hospital in Colorado initially told the couple that they would not be able to perform the surgery, so they went to doctors in Alexander’s home state of Indiana. In early June, the team at IU Health told the couple that they would be able to complete the surgeries, which took place in August — almost exactly a year after matching on the dating app. Alexander said he has recovered well and quickly, but still has some limitations. Diaz is happy to see his husband’s condition improve. “I’m just so glad. I’m so glad to see Reid all day and see how good he’s doing,” said Diaz. “It was the best experience of our life,” said Diaz, who noted he would do it all over again if given the chance. “It’s just incredible.” Image source: CNN