Happy 74th Birthday to Sir Kenny Dalglish, the greatest Scottish footballer of all time, and an iconic figure in the past and present culture of Liverpool FC. Known affectionately as “King Kenny,” Dalglish spent half his career at Celtic, and the other at Liverpool where he scored 172 goals in over 500 appearances, lifted 6 English First Division titles and 3 European cups, and took over the reins as manager on two occasions, winning trophies during both tenures. READ more about the King… (1951)
Good News in History, March 4
Scientists Harness Phantom Limb to Allow an Amputee to Feel Hot and Cold in New Prosthetic
Phantom limb is one of those enduring medical mysteries: that someone could feel sensations in a hand which had long ago been lost to amputation.
A little like harnessing the placebo effect, scientists have been able to stimulate nerve endings on the skin of an amputated arm which trigger thermal phantom limb sensations, including hot and cold.
Adapting one patient’s existing prosthetic arm and socket with sensors and ‘thermodes’ or small devices which can change temperature, placed at these key nerve endings allowed the man to distinguish a hot water bottle from a cold or room temperature one—not because his prosthetic was detecting it, but because his phantom limb was.
“In a previous study, we have shown the existence of these spots in the majority of amputee patients that we have treated,” says Solaiman Shokur at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne.
Study participant Fabrizio Fidati was able to tell the temperature of a bottle grasped by his modified prosthetic 100% correctly, falling to just one-third without it.
“Warmth is the most beautiful sensation there is,” Fidati told Shokur. “It’s an interesting technology that would serve to improve prosthetics a lot. The integration of these sensations—hot and cold—in my opinion, we need to shake hands (and improve social interactions) with other people… heat is fundamental.”
Shokur said he imagined when testing patients that after the nerve ending stimulation, each subject would point to a certain area on their stump that Shokur’s team was interacting with; exactly the same as if you put a hot cup of tea against the skin on your forearm.
Instead, patients would point to a place on their prosthetic hand and remark that it was here that they felt the sensation, either hot or cold.
MORE ADVANCES LIKE THIS: Woman Becomes First Human to be Fitted with Nerve and Bone Fused Bionic Limb
“Of particular importance is that phantom thermal sensations are perceived by the patient as similar to the thermal sensations experienced by their intact hand,” explains Shokur, EPFL senior scientist neuroengineer who co-led the study.
Another patient, Francesca Rossi, described the feeling as “beautiful,” adding that her phantom limb “does not feel phantom anymore.”
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“When I touch the stump with my hand, I feel tingling in my missing hand, my phantom hand. But feeling the temperature variation is a different thing, something important… something beautiful,” she said.
“Temperature feedback is a nice sensation because you feel the limb, the phantom limb, entirely. It does not feel phantom anymore because your limb is back.”
WATCH the story below from New Scientist…
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Degraded Lands Transformed into Productive Farms: With Science, We Can Create Wonders
In a degraded and semi-arid farming area in India, simple science-driven changes to the landscape have colored the horizon, and a village’s fortunes, with green.
In the Latur district in the central western state of Maharashtra, 40 years of erratic rainfall, groundwater depletion, soil erosion, and crop failures have impoverished the local people.
In the village of Matephal, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) launched a project in 2023 that aimed at addressing these challenges through integrated landscape management and climate-smart farming practices.
Multiple forms of data collection allowed ICRISAT to target precise strategies for each challenge facing the 2,000 or so people in Matephal.
Key interventions focused on three critical areas: water conservation, land enhancement with crop diversification, and soil health improvement. Rainwater harvesting structures recharged groundwater around 1,200 acres, raising water tables by 12 feet and securing reliable irrigation. Farm ponds provided supplemental irrigation, while embanking across 320 acres reduced soil erosion.
Farmers diversified their crops, converting 120 or so acres of previously fallow land into productive farmland with legumes, millets, and vegetables. Horticulture-linked markets for fruits and flowers improved income stability.
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Weather monitoring equipment was also installed that actively informed sustainable irrigation practices.
“It is a prime example of how data-driven approaches can address complex agricultural challenges, ensuring interventions are precise and impactful. Matephal village is a model for other semi-arid regions in India and beyond,” said Dr. Stanford Blade, Director General-Interim at ICRISAT.
Farmers actively participated in planning and decision-making, fostering long-term commitment.
ALSO CHECK OUT: Simple Bacteria Spray Can Solve India’s Air Pollution and Also Enrich Local Farmers
“This ICRISAT project improved yields, diversified crops, and boosted incomes. It also spared women from walking over a kilometer for drinking water, now available in the village for people and animals,” said Mr. Govind Hinge of Matephal village.
Looking ahead, ICRISAT writes it wants to use Matephal as a case study to scale these methods across India’s vast and drier average. As Matephal’s fields flourish, the village is a testament to the power of collaboration and science in transforming lives and landscapes.
WATCH the story from ICRISAT below and see the land transform…
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This Year Is the 250th Anniversary of the First Battle of the American Revolution, But it Ended in a Standoff
Without any shots to hear around the world, a little-known and heated standoff marked the opening of America’s Revolutionary War.
On February 26th, 1775, two-hundred and fifty years ago last week, British Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Leslie led a raid into the town of Salem, Massachusetts, to seize what they expected to be cannon stored at a makeshift armory.
Rather than finding artillery, after arriving at the north bridge into town they found an inflamed citizenry, largely unarmed, but indignant in the face of British demands. The colonists flooded Salem’s streets and barred Leslie’s passage until the officer was forced to negotiate and withdraw.
Charles Moses Endicott, a man who fancied himself Salem’s official historian, recorded the event from eyewitness accounts offered by elderly Salemites, and is, as Robert Pushkar writing for the Smithsonian Magazine points out, the only reason we know of it.
“Here … we claim the first blow was struck in the war of independence, by open resistance to both the civil and military power of the mother country; comparatively bloodless, it is true, but not the less firm and decided,” Endicott wrote in his account published by “W. Ives & G. W. Pease, printers.”
According to Pushkar’s references, the British Army commander relied on a network of spies and Loyalist sympathizers to uncover that the colonial militia were converting ship cannon into land-operable pieces, a domineering aspect of war at the time which could be used to control vast acreage of approach terrain.
Launching a raid to confiscate the cannon on a Sunday, Commander-in-Chief Thomas Gage thought, would be convenient since the inhabitants of Salem would be in church or at home resting. This, Pushkar writes, was the wrong deduction. The fact that the Salem townspeople sat in congregation allowed word of the approaching British regiment to spread instantly.
Approaching Salem by ship, the 64th British Regiment of Foot disembarked with muskets, bayonettes, and equipment for searching crates and homes for contraband. They approached, and Major John Pedrick of the local militia raced to town on his horse to alert his commanding officer, Minuiteman Colonel David Mason, who went into church to spread word.
The people raised one portion of the drawbridge that marked the north entrance into the town. Faced with their passage blocked, an angry throng of catcalling, whistling, and fist-waving colonists, and the prospect of fire coming from the local militia on the northern bank of the river, who warned the British that they would be “dead men” if they opened up on the crowd, Leslie, an experienced military officer, was in a bind.
Gage had told him not to open fire unless fired upon, but his goal was an imperative one and it lay on the opposite end of the bridge. Without knowing where the cannon were or who had hidden them in which house, it would require egregious violations of Colonial law, British Common Law, and the general conduct of war to enact a violent raid in which innocents would be killed and private property destroyed.
MORE STORIES LIKE THIS: Previously Unknown Mozart Song Discovered in German Library After 200 Years
After an hour and a half consultation though, Leslie insisted that he could not withdraw, telling the colonists he was ready to stay there “until next autumn.”
Pushkar notes that had a British or Colonial soldier gone rogue, the Revolutionary War would have all but certainly started that day. Yet the combination of a young Loyalist minister’s appeals and the understanding that Lieutenant Colonel Leslie needed to save face led to an agreement: the drawbridge would be lowered and the regiment permitted to “march in a peaceable manner” no more than 275 yards into the town, “and then return, without molesting any person or property,” Endicott wrote.
This they did, and jeers followed their retreat, including one from a local nurse who supposedly asked them “Do you think we were born in the woods to be frightened by owls?”
ALSO READ: Unused Train Stations Across US Are Being Revitalized into Hotels, Restaurants and Even Museums
Gage, an officer and a gentleman, issued the same orders during the approach of the British to Concord, where more cannon were believed to be stationed. However, he selected John Pitcairn as commanding officer over Leslie, perhaps changing the course of destiny, as the former was a more resolute type, and bade the redcoats open fire when a shot rang out that is recognized as the start of the war.
History, it is often said, is written by the victors, and the Salemites certainly would have been the greatest of victors America had ever seen if violence had been avoided. As such, they themselves have been responsible for saving the memory of that fateful day, called the Salem Gunpowder Raid, and thank goodness they did.
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Galápagos Rail Rediscovered After 190 Years Following Island Restoration
Despite being arguably the most famous island chain in the world in terms of biodiversity, the Galápagos Islands are still surprising scientists today.
A bird seen and recorded by Charles Darwin on his visit to Floreana island in 1835 has been observed in the wild there for the first time in 190 years.
Darwin’s observations from the small, south-central island in the volcanic chain included the presence of a small, secretive bird called the Galápagos rail (Laterallus spilonota).
Just two years ago, several organizations began work on the large-scale Floreana Island Restoration Project. By removing invasive species that devastated native wildlife for generations, the local environment once again became a haven for species to recover and thrive.
The Galápagos rail, a land-bird endemic to the archipelago, has been severely impacted by these invasive species. It dwells on the ground, is extremely vulnerable to predators, and relies on dense, lush vegetation to hide in. But despite these dangers, the rail has proved to be a resilient and resourceful little bird.
The rails, locally known as Pachays, have been quick to return to restored islands. In 2018, six years after the conservation nonprofit Island Conservation successfully removed invasive species from nearby Pinzón Island, the Rails were among the first locally-extinct animals to reappear—along with other species such as the cactus finch.
It hasn’t been long since the Floreana Island Restoration Project began, but the rails have already repopulated it.
During their most recent annual landbird monitoring expedition on the island, teams from the Charles Darwin Foundation and Ecuador’s state agency for managing the archipelago recorded the bird’s presence at three distinct sites.
The birds were present and away from human habitation and agriculture, in a grassland shaded by guava trees. Confirmed findings include six acoustic records, two visual sightings, and one photograph. And it isn’t a coincidence that they’re back now—the site has been monitored for the Galápagos rail consistently since 2015, and this is the first year they’re back.
“The rediscovery of the Galápagos rail confirms what we’ve seen on islands worldwide—remove the invasive threats, and native species can recover in remarkable ways,” said Island Conservation’s Conservation Impact Program Manager Paula Castaño in a statement.
“This is an incredible win for Floreana, and fuels our excitement about what other native species might resurface as the island continues its journey toward ecological recovery.”
ALSO CHECK OUT: Tiny Indian Ocean Island Shows How Quickly Seabirds Recover When Invasive Predators Are Removed
Next, scientists must use genetic sampling to determine whether these newly recorded birds are from a self-reintroduced lineage or whether there was a tiny population of rails that survived, undetected, for 190 years.
Island Conservation details how that’s not unheard of: on nearby Rábida, the organization’s restoration efforts led to the rediscovery of a species of gecko that was only known to science through subfossil records dated more than 5000 years old. They’d been living on the island in very low numbers for hundreds of years, but it was only once holistic restoration had taken place that they were able to increase their numbers to detectable levels.
MORE NEWS FROM THIS FAMOUS PLACE: 500 Giant Tortoises Reintroduced to Four Galapagos Islands in 2023
With a local population already establishing itself, chances are good for a successful reintroduction. Soon, it’s hoped, Floreana’s grasslands will be home to a large, thriving colony of rails.
“It gives us hope that there might be even more ‘extinct’ Galápagos species to find,” the statement read.
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“Only as one is willing to give up his present limitations and identity can he become that which he desires to be.” – Neville Goddard
Quote of the Day: “Only as one is willing to give up his present limitations and identity can he become that which he desires to be.” – Neville Goddard
Photo by: Tor Lindstrand (CC License)
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?
Good News in History, March 3
150 years ago, George Bizet’s Carmen premiered at the Opéra-Comique in Paris. The story of a love-entranced Spanish soldier losing his marbles over the feisty personality of a gypsy has become one of the most performed operas in history, and the principle arias, Habanera, and the Toreador Song, stand out among the tradition’s greatest and most instantly recognizable melodies. Among its most notable characteristics is the register of Carmen, the gypsy protagonist. Breaking from the tradition of female leads with the highest possible voices, Carmen is sung by a mezzo-soprano, the equivalent of a male baritone. WATCH the ballet interpretation of the famous Opera… (1875)
Verizon Erased $10 Million of Consumer Debt for 6,500 North Carolina Residents in Path of Hurricane Helene
Verizon teamed up with ForgiveCo to eliminate $10 million in consumer debt for 6,500 Western North Carolinians who are still recovering in the wake of Hurricane Helene’s sweeping devastation.
The North Carolina families learned that Verizon—the world’s second-largest telecommunications company—cleared their medical, financial, and other debts with the help of ForgiveCo, whose “random acts of kindness” model purchases consumer debt, with no applications required. In fact, no further action was required by the beneficiaries.
Recipients were then notified through surprise letters, emails, and text messages.
But, if a phone call learning that your debt has been cleared isn’t exciting enough, Basketball Hall of Fame coach and Asheville native, Roy Williams, signed on to be the one to share the news with the impacted families.
“These are challenging times, but I’ve seen the strength and resilience of this community. Verizon’s support is a powerful reminder that no one is alone, and together, we’ll rise stronger,” said Mr. Williams.
“It’s a privilege to share this message of hope with the incredible people of North Carolina.”
The hurricane destroyed Shelley Queen’s home in Jackson County but she was one of those touched by Verizon, having medical debt forgiven after she was diagnosed with diabetes, which turned her family’s life upside down.
“There were numerous hospital visits, including times I was in a coma and needed a pump to survive. These medical challenges have been difficult, both emotionally and financially. This forgiveness is truly a life-changing gift.”
INSPIRING CORPORATIONS: 14 Luxury Hotels Are Donating Outdated Furniture to Low-Income Families in Need
Craig Antico, Founder and CEO, ForgiveCo confirmed the debt relief, saying, “Through this effort, Verizon will bring transformative change to the lives of North Carolinians in crisis, leaving a lasting mark on future generations.”
Tim Luker, who also lives in Jackson County, has congestive heart disease and was hospitalized the day before the hurricane hit. Since then, he’s been working tirelessly to clean up lots of water damage, floor issues, and yard damage. “When I got out of the hospital, I couldn’t go home because of storm damage.”
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“It means everything to me,” said Tim. “I don’t have much… $11,000 is life-changing for someone like me.”
“This makes a huge difference.”
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Cat Goes on Parachute-Skiing Adventures – Sporting its Very Own Tiny Helmet (Video)
A daredevil cat soared through the skies on a parachute-skiing adventure, sporting his very own tiny helmet.
The bengal-mix named Thoth was securely strapped to owner Ivan Kuznetsov as they soared down the slopes of Gribanovka Ski Resort in Russia, last month.
After testing out downhill skiing together in December, the duo decided to take things up a notch leading to their high-flying stunt.
To keep Thoth secure, Ivan attached his harness to the speed glider’s own safety gear and the tiny adventurer also wore a warm down jacket to ward off the cold mountain air.
Ivan, an alpine ski instructor and skydiver from Arsenyev, Russia, said Thoth trusts him completely and feels safe.
“During the flight, he looked around with curiosity and was totally calm,” said the 37-year-old cat lover.
“The only thing that scared him was the noise of the cable car, so we started landing farther away from it.
Ivan first discovered Thoth’s love for adventure when the kitten crawled out of his backpack during a bike ride and perched on his shoulder for the entire trip.
Now the seven month-old kitty, accompanies Ivan on all his adventures.
“As soon as I put on his jacket and harness, he runs to the door purring.
“He enjoys walking in the park, cycling, skiing, snowboarding and even swimming.
“We started by getting him used to wearing a helmet. Then my friends made cheap replicas of the Cloud 9 skydive helmet, which happened to fit Thoth perfectly.
“I’m glad we both had this unique experience. It was meant to be.”
Ivan and Thoth are now preparing for their next challenges: rafting and tandem rock climbing. Next will come a parachute jump, with a specially designed fabric container for the fearless feline.
Watch the cool video of their ride, below… (NOTE: Be sure to Click Stop, or it will play other news videos afterward)
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Welcoming Mental Health Patients Back Into the World Is a Big Part of the Cure – Clubhouse Movement Gets a Boost
(Research and writing contributed by Robby Berman)
A huge donation from MacKenzie Scott is uplifting a unique organization in New York, so they can transform the lives of even more people who’ve struggling through mental health problems.
The former wife of Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos delivered a grant of $12 million to the Fountain House as part of her pledge to give away most of her wealth following a divorce in 2019 after 25 years.
The donation will allow Fountain House to expand its impact at a time when mental health is an urgent concern, building on its philosophy that a psychiatric diagnosis is not remotely the sum total of who a patient can be.
By not focusing solely on illness, they are able to profoundly improve a patient’s range of activities, social interactions, and quality of life.
The Fountain House story
In the late 1940s, psychiatric patients at Rockland State Hospital in Orangeburg, New York, established a self-help club to provide mutual support. Upon release from Rockland, they sought the same kind of support system, so club members decided to establish a new group on the outside.
They called their club ‘We Are Not Alone,’ or ‘WANA’. The steps of the New York Public Library in New York City served as WANA’s first meeting place, but in 1948, philanthropic women, together with the National Council for Jewish Women, donated funds for the purchase of a permanent home.
They chose a red brick building on West 47th Street in New York City, located in what’s known today as “Hell’s Kitchen.” The building was christened “Fountain House,” owing to the fountain in its courtyard.
While Fountain House provided a welcome meeting place for many ex-patients, it began eventually to lose focus, until 1955, when it hired its first mental health professionals, along with John Beard as executive director, leading to a powerful intersection of psychiatric philosophies.
Beard expanded the facility’s hours and began engaging the skills and enthusiasms of members in its operation. He invited them to help hire staff, maintain the premises, assist with clerical operations, and prepare and serve food for members of the ‘clubhouse’.
As new needs arose, club members were consulted and involved in solutions.
The result was greater engagement on everyone’s part, and close friendships between members and staff. There was a transformative effect, both for the self-image of all the individuals involved and for the organization itself.
Today, Fountain House has about 1,400 active members. It also operates a second location in New York, in the Bronx, with approximately 200 members. (Roughly a third of Fountain House’s members have been homeless at some point in their lives.) Fountain House and its philosophy have also served as a model for the modern Clubhouse movement, with over 300 such facilities operating around the world.
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In fact, Fountain House’s clubhouse model is used by more than 60,000 people with serious mental illness in the U.S, according to Harvard Public Health Magazine.
The current Chairman of the Board, William Hilburn, was surprised and delighted by the $12 million gift from Ms. Scott.
“We are thrilled to be recognized by MacKenzie Scott and have her as part of the network of foundations and individuals that recognize the urgent need to change how we support those most impacted by serious mental illness, and Fountain House’s life-changing work.”
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“The bamboo that bends with the wind is stronger and more resilient than the oak tree that resists.” – Japanese proverb
Quote of the Day: “The bamboo that bends with the wind is stronger and more resilient than the oak tree that resists.” – Japanese proverb
Photo by: Joey Zanotti (CC license via Flickr)
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?
Heart Transplant Girl Misses Father-Daughter Dance Until Hospital Came to the Rescue (Watch)
A ten-year-old girl waiting for a heart transplant missed out on her school’s father-daughter dance—so the staff recreated the magic in a hospital.
Ava Cooper was born in 2014 with several heart defects and had her first open-heart surgery when she was six days old.
Later a sinus infection escalated, pushing her into heart failure, and she was put on the transplant list.
Recently, she has spent more than 200 days at the Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital in Ohio waiting for a donor heart.
Every February, Ava would look forward to attending a beloved father-daughter dance at school, but missed it this year.
So, on February 12, the hospital decorated a room and turned it into a dance hall.
Corsage in hand, her dad Sean was waiting for Ava outside her room to take her to the ball.
Caregivers, who have been more like family, greeted her with a round of applause as she entered the valentine-decorated space.
She and her father danced to a curated playlist of her favorite songs put together by one of the music therapists.
“It was an unforgettable experience,” said Sean.
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“We can’t thank Ava’s care team, and everyone involved, enough for making this such a special dance.”
“I’m grateful to be a girl dad,” he said. “It means being inspired to always be better.”
(Watch the video of the sentimental moment below…)
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Good News in History, March 2
60 years ago today, The Sound of Music premiered in movie theaters, featuring the incredible singing performance of 28-year-old Julie Andrews as the spunky nanny who goes to work for the von Trapp family in Austria. The patriarch disciplinarian played by Christopher Plummer places the guitar-playing nun in charge of his seven lonely children. WATCH one of the charming musical numbers… (1965)
Abandoned Puppy Found With Severe Skin Condition Makes Remarkable Recovery
A 14-week-old puppy found abandoned with a severe skin condition that left her bald has made a remarkable recovery.
The Cane Corso was found running loose in January on the Rochdale Canal in Manchester suffering from significant hair loss on her body.
She wasn’t microchipped or wearing a collar so was taken to the Manchester and Cheshire Dogs Home, where she was given her name, Pearla.
Pearla’s face and front legs were covered by scabs that were bleeding, so was taken to the RSPCA’s Greater Manchester Animal Hospital where she underwent treatment.
Now adorable—with fur restored—the puppy has made a full recovery and even has a potential new owner.
“Pearla is your typical energetic puppy, who is bouncy, playful and always on the go.” said an RSPCA spokesperson. “She is gentle and friendly with everyone that she meets.”
“She is learning how to walk nicely on the leash, along with basic commands.
“She loves playing with her toys, whether in your company or not, and enjoys spending time relaxing in her bed.”
AWWW, CUTE: Girl With Cleft Lip Adopts Dog Born With the Same Feature
RSPCA Inspector Jess Pierce, who was investigating what happened to Pearla, said it was “really upsetting to see a young dog in such a dreadful state”.
But thanks to the RSPCA officials and compassionate health workers, Pearla is about to be adopted, according to SWNS news agency in the UK.
LOOK: Neglected Beagle Freed From 4ft Chain Enjoys First Cozy Christmas Thanks to Anonymous Caller
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Humpback Whales Are Singing More: Number of Songs Has Doubled as Food Sources Became More Abundant
Eavesdropping on whale songs over the last six years is providing new information vital to answering questions about these giants of the ocean.
The number of whale songs detected is associated with shifting food sources, according to the California scientists—and the number of days humpbacks have been singing has nearly doubled.
When monitoring baleen whale songs in the Pacific Ocean, researchers found year-to-year variations corollated with changes in the availability of the species they forage on.
In vast oceans, monitoring populations of large marine animals can be a “major challenge” for ecologists, explained Dr. John Ryan, a biological oceanographer at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute in California (MBARI).
Their team deployed underwater microphones called hydrophones to study and track baleen whales, which communicate over long distances through sound.
“Surprisingly, the acoustic behavior of baleen whales provides insights about which species can better adapt to changing ocean conditions,” said Dr. Ryan, a lead author of the study.
They also monitored songs from blue, fin, and humpback whales off the West Coast of the U.S. to see what the song data could reveal about the health of their ecosystem.
The findings, published in the journal PLOS One, showed “large” year-to-year variations in whale song detection.
“The amount of humpback whale song continually increased, with their songs being detected on 34% of days at the beginning of the study and rising to 76% of days after six years,” said Dr. Ryan.
“These increases consistently tracked improved foraging conditions for humpback whales across all study years—large increases in krill abundance, followed by large increases in anchovy abundance.
CHECK OUT: In World First, Scientists Share What Was Almost Certainly a Conversation with a Humpback Whale
“In contrast, blue and fin whale song rose primarily during the years of increasing krill abundance.
“This distinction of humpback whales is consistent with their ability to switch between dominant prey. An analysis of skin biopsy samples confirmed that changes had occurred in the whales’ diets.”
He explained that other factors, including the local abundance of whales, may have contributed to patterns in song detections observed in some years, but changes in foraging conditions were the most consistent factor.
“Overall, the study indicates that seasonal and annual changes in the amount of baleen whale song detected may mirror shifts in the local food web.”
WHALES ON THE COMEBACK TRAIL:
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“The results suggest that an understanding of the relationship between whale song detection and food availability may help researchers to interpret future hydrophone data, both for scientific research and whale management efforts”, which could better protect endangered species.
LISTEN to the enchanting whale songs in winter…
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Party-Loving Senior Celebrates 105th Birthday with a DJ and a Rave (LOOK)
A sprightly senior who says she loves to “dance and party” told her care-givers that she wanted to hold a rave to celebrate her 105th birthday.
So last Tuesday, Hilda Jackson swapped her walker for glowsticks and UV paint as a DJ descended on the Holbrook Hall Care Home in Derbyshire, England.
Staff helped organize the bash with fellow residents, who enjoyed the ‘open bar’ and lively dance classics spun from a booth set up in the lounge.
Hilda rolled back the years by swaying to disco tunes with friends and family—and tipping a gin and tonic.
Young-at-heart Hilda who received over 250 cards from well-wishers including King Charles, said, “I love a party so I’m going to be raving.
“I’ve enjoyed every minute of my life, which I intend to keep on doing while I can.”
“I never thought I’d get to this age but fortunately I’m here, and I’m grateful.”
Nottingham rapper Bru-C also entertained the 70 guests with a specially-written rap for Hilda and her major milestone birthday.
Jagermeister provided drinks for the guests—although many only opted for soft drinks.
Hilda, who was born when George V was on the throne, is the senior home’s oldest resident.
As to her secret for a long and healthy life, Hilda said, “I couldn’t get enough tennis.”
WATCH: Grandma Dances All Night at Granddaughter’s Wedding After Being Told She Wouldn’t Live to See it
She loved playing and watching tennis—especially Wimbledon—and was an avid traveller in her younger days.
“I just keep on and on, while I can, and take the day today as it comes.”
Following her husband’s death, her sister Vera also became a widow, so the two lived together for 63 years until Vera died.
The pair would often travel around the UK on dancing holidays and also abroad on dancing cruises.
She has lived through 22 different Prime Ministers and carried on driving until the age of 100.
Care home manager Rebecca Wass said she thinks Hilda picked up the idea of a rave from a TV show.
“She’s always been a big fan of dancing and living life to the fullest and said she wanted to do something to represent that. A few were up dancing away—and even Hilda gives it a go.”
AGE IS JUST A NUMBER: Man, 87, Goes Viral for Delivering Party Invitations Door-to-Door: 4 PM until the cops arrive
Described as a very cheeky lady who is constantly on the go, Hilda has some advice for fellow oldsters.
“Just keep on—keep batting.” (Watch the video from SWNS news agency…)
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Your Weekly Horoscope from ‘Free Will Astrology’ by Rob Brezsny
Our partner Rob Brezsny, who has a new book out, Astrology Is Real: Revelations from My Life as an Oracle, provides his weekly wisdom to enlighten our thinking and motivate our mood. Rob’s Free Will Astrology, is a syndicated weekly column appearing in over a hundred publications. He is also the author of Pronoia Is the Antidote for Paranoia: How All of Creation Is Conspiring To Shower You with Blessings. (A free preview of the book is available here.)
Here is your weekly horoscope…
FREE WILL ASTROLOGY – Week of March 1, 2025
Copyright by Rob Brezsny, FreeWillAstrology.com
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20):
Octopuses have three hearts, each with a different function. Every one of their eight limbs contains a mini-brain, giving them nine in total. Is there any doubt, then, that they are the patron creature for you Pisceans? No other zodiac sign is more multifaceted than you. No other can operate with grace on so many different levels. I celebrate your complexity, dear Pisces, which enables you to draw such rich experiences into your life and manage such diverse challenges. These qualities will be working at a peak in the coming weeks. For inspiration, consider putting an image of an octopus in your environment.
ARIES (March 21-April 19):
Aries author Anne Lamott articulated a thought that’s perfect for you to hear right now: “Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.” I might amend her wisdom a bit to say “for a few hours” or “a couple of days.” Now is a rare time when a purposeful disconnection can lead you to deeper synchronization. A project or relationship will improve after a gentle reset. Your power mantra: “Renew yourself with quiet inaction.”
TAURUS (April 20-May 20):
Beavers are the engineers of the natural world. The dams they fabricate not only create shelters for them, but also benefit their entire ecosystem. The ponds and marshes they help shape provide rich habitats for many other species. Boosting biodiversity is their specialty. Their constructions also serve as natural filters, enhancing water quality downstream. Let’s make beavers your inspirational symbol for the coming weeks, Taurus. In their spirit, build what’s good for you with the intention of making it good for everyone whose life you touch. Ensure that your efforts will generate ripples that nourish your tribe and community.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20):
I predict that you will soon have reason to celebrate a resounding success. You will claim a well-deserved reward. You may even shiver with amazement and gratification as you marvel at how many challenges you overcame to emerge triumphant. In my view, you will have every right to exude extra pride and radiance. I won’t complain if you flirt with a burst of egotism. In accordance with my spirituality, I will tell you, “Remember that this wonder you have spawned will live for a very long time.”
CANCER (June 21-July 22):
When you see the stars in the night sky, you’re looking at the ancient past. Light from those heavenly bodies may have taken as long as 4,000 years to reach us. So we are beholding them as they used to be, not as they are now. With that as your inspiration, I invite you to spend quality time gazing into your own personal past. Meditate on how your history is alive in you today, making its imprint on all you do and say. Say prayers and write messages to yourself in which you express your awe and appreciation for the epic myth that is your destiny.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22):
On one hand, I mourn that climate change is heating up our beloved planet. Among many other distortions, it has triggered yellow forsythias and blue gentians to blossom during winters in the Austrian Alps—an unprecedented event. At the same time, I am also able to marvel at the strange beauty of gorgeous flowers growing on the winter hills of ski resorts. So my feelings are mixed—paradoxical and confusing—and that’s fine with me. I regard it as a sign of soulfulness. May you be so blessed, Leo: full of appreciation for your capacity to hold conflicting ideas, perspectives, and feelings.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22):
The quietest place on earth is a room at Microsoft’s headquarters near Seattle. It’s made of six layers of steel and concrete, and its foundation includes vibration-dampening springs. Within it, you can hear your heartbeat, the swishing of your clothes, and the hum of air molecules colliding. The silence is so eerily profound that many people become flummoxed while visiting. Here’s the moral of the story: While you Virgos are naturally inclined to favor order and precision, a modicum of noise and commotion in your life is often beneficial. Like background sounds that keep you oriented, minor wriggles and perturbations ensure you remain grounded. This will be extra important for you to acknowledge in the coming weeks.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22):
To make a Mobius strip, you give a half twist to a strip of paper and attach the ends. You have then created a surface with just one side and one edge. It’s a fun curiosity, but it also has practical applications. Using Mobius strips, engineers can design more efficient gears. Machinists make mechanical belts that are Mobius strips because they wear out less quickly. There are at least eight other concrete functions, as well. Let’s extrapolate from this to suggest that a similar theme might be arising in your life. What may seem like an interesting but impractical element could reveal its real-world value. You may find unexpected uses for playful features. One of your capacities has dimensions you have not yet explored, but are ready to.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21):
Sandra Cisneros is a visionary writer with Sun and Mercury in Sagittarius. She is always in quest of the next big lesson and the next exciting adventure. But she also has the Moon, Venus, and Saturn in Scorpio. Her sensitive attunement to the hidden and secret aspects of reality is substantial. She thrives on cultivating a profound understanding of her inner world. It took her years to master the art of fully expressing both these sides of her character. I bring this to your attention, Scorpio, because you’re primed to go in quest for experiences that will open your heart to novel amazements—even as you connect with previously unknown aspects of your deep self that resonate with those experiences.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21):
The Moeraki Boulders are spread along a beach in New Zealand. Many of the 50 big rocks are nearly perfect spheres and up to six feet in diameter, so they provide a stunning visual feast. Scientists know that they have steadily grown for the last 4 million years, accumulating ever-new layers of minerals. I propose we make them your symbols of power until July 1. In my astrological estimation, you are in a phase of laying long-term groundwork. What may seem to be a tedious accumulation of small, gradual victories is part of a grander undertaking. Like the Moeraki Boulders, your efforts will crystallize into an enduring foundation.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19):
A Japanese proverb says, “The bamboo that bends with the wind is stronger and more resilient than the oak tree that resists.” That’s true. When storms bluster, oak branches may get broken and blown away. Bamboo looks delicate, but is actually strong and capable of withstanding high winds. It flourishes by being flexible instead of rigid. That’s the approach I recommend for you in the coming weeks, Capricorn. Challenges may emerge that inspire you to stay grounded by adapting. Your plans will probably become better once you adjust them. By trusting your natural resilience, you could find unexpected inspiration and help. Your strength will emerge from your ability to bend without breaking.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18):
Seattle’s Space Needle serves as an observation tower. It’s 605 feet high. For years, there was a restaurant with a rotating floor at the top. In its early days, the movement was so brisk that some visitors got dizzy and nauseous. Engineers had to recalibrate the equipment so it was sufficiently leisurely to keep everyone comfortable. Your current situation resembles this story. The right elements are in place, but you need to adjust the timing and rhythm. If there are frustrating glitches, they are clues to the fine-tuning that needs to be done.
WANT MORE? Listen to Rob’s EXPANDED AUDIO HOROSCOPES, 4-5 minute meditations on the current state of your destiny — or subscribe to his unique daily text message service at: RealAstrology.com
(Zodiac images by Numerologysign.com, CC license)
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“Love is a continuous act of forgiveness.” – Maya Angelou
Quote of the Day: “Love is a continuous act of forgiveness.” – Maya Angelou
Photo by: Alok Verma
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?
Good News in History, March 1
244 years ago today, the Articles of Confederation were officially adopted by the Continental Congress after ratification by all 13 states as the supreme law of the land in post-Revolutionary America. Calling into existence the most limited and constrained form of government ever achieved by modern man, affording it only those powers the former colonies had recognized as belonging to the King of England. There was no president, no executive agencies, no judiciary, and no tax base. READ More… (1781)
All 50 States Have Now Introduced Right to Repair Legislation
Legislation under the moniker “right to repair” has now been introduced in all 50 states, marking a major milestone in this grassroots consumer movement.
GNN has reported on the march of right to repair laws across the US, but also the kind of entrepreneurialism they engender: like an aftermarket auto parts company that makes replacements for well-known faulty components in automobiles.
Passed in New York, Minnesota, Colorado, California, and Oregon, Wisconsin just became the final US state to introduce some sort of right to repair laws.
In broad terms, all of these bills would generally guarantee a consumer’s right to access replacement parts for devices and machines, repair manuals or other relevant documents for expensive products, diagnostics data from original manufacturers, and even in some cases, such as automobiles, appropriate tools necessary for maintenance.
They may also ban the use of technological protection measures, sometimes called “software locks” that are designed to restrict repair only to authorized repair technicians.
“Americans are fed up with all the ways in which manufacturers of everything from toasters to tractors frustrate or block repairs, and lawmakers are hearing that frustration and taking action,” Nathan Proctor, right to repair director for consumer rights group PIRG, told 404 Media’s Jason Koebler, who has been tracking right to repair legislation for 10 years.
OF A SIMILAR SPIRIT: 580 Repair Shops Form a Flourishing Subculture Fixing Toasters, Electronics, Coffee Makers and Lamps
He details that at first, big tech and big engineering, such as Apple, John Deere, and others, ardently lobbied against these bills, saying that trade secrets protections would be violated if they were forced to turn over diagnostics, telemetry, or other insider data to non-company actors.
The progressive difficulty with which modern products, particularly electronics, are designed prevents most amateurs from being able to repair them if they break.
MORE RIGHT TO REPAIR NEWS: EU Approves Groundbreaking New ‘Right to Repair’ Laws Requiring Appliances to Be Easier to Fix
Screws are forsaken in favor of plastic locking toggles which break if removed, fuse or wire cover panels are replaced with jointless polymer molded covers, both of which and many more examples besides are designed to deter the fix-it-minded folks enough so that they will just throw the product away and buy a new one.
Electronic waste is one of the largest sources of non-recyclable landfill waste, and hopefully enough of these right to repair bills pass that some of these millions of powerstrips, lamps, phones, computers, and televisions can be kept out of the ground.
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