60 years ago today, the Wilderness Act was signed into law. Written by Howard Zahniser of The Wilderness Society, it has been used to preserve 757 areas encompassing 109.5 million acres of federally owned land in 44 states and Puerto Rico. The law is well-known for Zahniser’s poetic and succinct definition of what “wilderness” meant. READ the law’s poetic language below… (1964)
True Story of Penguin’s Annual Return to See the Man Who Saved it From Oil Spill is Now a Feature Film (See Trailer)
Released to a delighted movie audience, My Pengiun Friend tells the story of a man and his long-lasting friendship with a Megallanic penguin.
But before the silver screen bore witness to the tale, it arose first on the news—in Brazil, where a retired stonemason named João Pereira de Souza discovered a penguin covered in oil from a recent spill on Proveta Beach in Rio de Janeiro state.
Taking the penguin home, João found the bird exhausted and depleted from his bout swimming through the oil spill. He nursed the penguin back to health, with plenty of soapy scrubbing and fish treats, naming it ‘Dindim’ after the toddler-speak of his son trying to say the Portuguese word for penguin (pinguim) when he was growing up.
After Dindim recovered his pomp, João released him on an island near Proveta Beach and went home; only to find that Dindim had followed him back, and remained on his lawn waiting to be let inside.
He finally left of his own accord in February of 2012. What happened then, and continued happening for years, is an annual visit following the fishing season where penguins remain at sea for months slurping squadrons of fish. Dindim would always come back to Proveta to see João, rather than travel off to a lovely summer island with his kin.
Every February he would leave, only to return in June—again and again for eight years.
Brazilian director David Schurmann embellished the story for My Pengiun Friend, at times going beyond the facts of the original story. (See the trailer below…)
“It’s lovely, lively, and guaranteed to get kids interested in the wild world around them,” writes Kate Erbland at the Indie Wire. “All the better if that also includes some outside research into what really happened with João and Dindim.”
ALSO CHECK OUT: Thousands Raised for Homeless Busker After Performance Goes Viral on TikTok (WATCH)
“I had to tell Jean Reno, a cinema legend, ‘Jean, the penguin is more important than you in this film’… he was incredibly respectful and understood,” Schurmann told the Guardian.
He tried to drop in an environmental angle with the utmost subtlety since he wanted the film primarily to “give people… a bit of relief and hope in this harsh world.” However it was the oil spill that started the story, and as director of the Voice of the Oceans Institute, an organization that combats marine pollution, Schurmann felt it needed to be highlighted.
MORE KINDNESS TOWARDS ANIMALS: Adorable Dutch Webcam of Rescued Seals Is a Big Hit in Japan (WATCH)
The film premiered this month to mostly positive reviews, including an 87% on Rotten Tomatoes. Film critic Christy Lemire gave the film three out of four stars and wrote:
“There’s something radical about the old-fashioned approach of My Penguin Friend. It’s an earnest, crowd-pleasing family film – nothing snarky or self-referential, no on-the-nose needle drops – just a sweet, beautifully made movie that earns the emotion it’ll surely draw from its viewers.”
WATCH the trailer below…
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Toddler Gone Missing in 10-foot-tall Corn Field Is Finally Detected During Nighttime Search for the 3-year-old
A little 3-year-old wandered into a cornfield behind his house, determined to catch a kitty he had seen run between the stalks.
For anyone who’s enjoyed a late summer/early autumn corn maze, they’ll know it’s an easy micro-environment to get lost in. And sure enough, the boy was in over his head within moments.
Deputies responded to calls from the child’s parents in the town of Alto, in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin on August 25th. By 7:30 p.m., they still hadn’t found him, but suspected he was somewhere among the 100 acres of ears beside their house.
As the light faded away, all nearby homes and barns had been searched, and the deputies realized they had to comb the cornfield on foot.
But fortunately they had a special electric eye in the sky—a search and rescue drone from the Pont du Lac Police Department Technology Response Group, equipped with a thermal imaging camera.
While officers entered calling out for the boy, the drone quickly spotted a thermal signature amongst the corn stalks at about 9:30. Drone operators radioed the deputies who could be guided to the boy’s position.
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“We’re right here buddy, we’re right here for ya,” first responders said as they closed in on the boy. You’re safe now. You’re alright. We’re going to go back and we’re going to find your mom, okay?”
“He said he’d been chasing a cat into the cornfield,” said Lt. Alex Volm of the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office. “So, a harmless thing, you know, but it could have turned out really bad had we not had the opportunity to use our tools and collaborate with our law enforcement partners.”
WATCH the story below from WISN 12…
Give Your Friends An EARFULL Of This Rescue Story On Social Media…
New Process ‘Vaporizes’ Plastic Bags and Bottles to Help Make Recycled Materials
An innovative chemical procedure turns ubiquitous waste plastic items in our society into hydrocarbon building blocks for use in making new plastics.
The scientists behind the project explained that the process works “equally well” with the two dominant types of consumer plastic waste: polyethylene, the component of most single-use plastic bags; and polypropylene, the stuff of hard plastics, from microwavable dishes to luggage—which together are called polyolefins.
It also efficiently degrades a mix of the two types of plastics, according to the findings published in the journal Science.
The research team says the catalytic process, developed at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, could help bring about a circular economy for many throwaway plastics, with the plastic waste converted back into the monomers used to make polymers, thereby reducing the fossil fuels used in making virgin plastic.
“We have an enormous amount of polyethylene and polypropylene in everyday objects, from lunch bags to laundry soap bottles to milk jugs—so much of what’s around us is made of these polyolefins,” said research leader Professor John Hartwig, of University of California, Berkeley.
Hartwig and his collaborators in a public sector-academia partnership developed a chemical process that employed three different bespoke heavy metal catalysts: one to add a carbon-carbon double bond to the polyethylene polymer and the other two to break the chain at this double bond and repeatedly snip off a carbon atom. However, the catalysts broke down in the liquid reaction and were rarely recoverable, making the process difficult to scale.
That was two years ago. Today, as part of a new process, the expensive, soluble metal catalysts have been replaced by cheaper solid ones commonly used in the chemical industry for continuous flow processes that reuse the catalyst, including sodium on alumina, and tungsten oxide on silica.
“You can’t get much cheaper than sodium,” Hartwig said, “and tungsten is an earth-abundant metal used in the chemical industry in large scale, as opposed to our ruthenium metal catalysts that were more sensitive and more expensive.”
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Continuous flow processes can be scaled up to handle large volumes of material, a necessary prerequisite if this is to be used widely and at scale.
Polyethylene and polypropylene plastics make up about two-thirds of consumer plastic waste worldwide. About 80% end up in landfills, incinerated, or simply dumped in the street where they degrade into microplastics to eventually enter rivers and oceans.
To reduce waste, scientists have been looking for ways to turn polyolefins into something more valuable, such as the monomers that help to produce new plastics.
Hartwig noted that while many researchers are hoping to redesign plastics from “the ground up” to be easily reused, today’s hard-to-recycle plastics will be a problem for decades.
“One can argue that we should do away with all polyethylene and polypropylene and use only new circular materials, but the world’s not going to do that for decades and decades,” he said. “Polyolefins are cheap, and they have good properties, so everybody uses them.”
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Elon Musk’s Starlink Offers Free Emergency Phone Coverage in Wilderness Areas Worldwide
The satellite internet service Starlink is seeking approval to facilitate 911 calls from wilderness areas to help improve search and rescue efforts and reduce deaths.
Elon Musk’s satellite constellation has served a variety of publicized uses, like giving Ukrainians the ability to communicate during wartime. The most recent is a partnership between Starlink and T-Mobile seeking FCC regulatory approval for a direct-to-cellular service that would allow those deep in the mountains and forests to reach emergency services.
“SpaceX Starlink will provide emergency services access for mobile phones for people in distress for free,” Musk wrote on his social media platform X, formerly Twitter.
“This applies worldwide, subject to approval by country governments. Can’t have a situation where someone dies because they forgot, or were unable to pay for it.”
Direct-to-cellular functions would have a greater scope than just emergencies. Speaking about their application to the FCC, the chairwoman of the regulatory agency referred to it as the beginning of the “Single-network future” which she described as one in which the user “won’t need to think about what network, where, and what services are available; connections will just work everywhere, all the time.”
According to Newsweek, Musk’s proposed service aims to close mobile “dead zones” by providing extra coverage from space using T-Mobile’s PCS G Block spectrum. Wilderness areas, correctly, don’t contain terrestrial towers, but Musk’s satellites could offer service to these vast spaces if a lost hiker, explorer, or sportsman needed them.
MORE STORIES LIKE THIS: Ukraine Receives Truckload of Starlink Terminals From Elon Musk For Uninterrupted Internet
The network wouldn’t be beamed down into the area via electromagnetic waves. Instead, the phone would reach space, and the satellites would bounce their call to emergency services.
SHARE This Lifesaving Service Soon To Be Available For Free…
“A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep.” – Saul Bellow
Quote of the Day: “A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep.” – Saul Bellow
Photo by: Nubelson Fernandes
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 September 2
Happy 60th Birthday to Keanu Reeves, the actor who might be called one of the nicest guys in show business. The Canadian started his career with humor and light-hearted films like Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, before moving onto becoming an action star with his protagonist role as Neo in The Matrix trilogy, Point Break, and the John Wick movies. In addition to his career as an actor and musician, Reeves is the co-writer and creator of the BRZRKR comic book franchise. GNN reported on its release. READ more about this charismatic star… (1964)
Inmates Training Hard-to-Adopt Dogs in New Mexico Creates Joy On Both Ends of a Leash
A no-kill animal shelter charity was invited to start an inmate dog training program at the Southern New Mexico Correctional Facility last year—and now joy and fulfillment are being created on both sides of the leash.
The ongoing program has helped the inmates to develop compassion and to comply with rules. Their task is to socialize the dogs and teach basic obedience that will get the fur-babies adopted more easily.
Eight inmates at the Las Cruces prison are now caring for 4 dogs in the program. The inmates have become so devoted to their mission that they held a fundraiser to help pay for program’s costs.
Diana Bell, a volunteer with the charity called Deming Animal Guardians, told GNN that one of the program’s requirements at the beginning was to hire a dog trainer: “This is a significant expense for our small charity but we were committed to give it a try, since we saw it as a win-win opportunity.”
They were pleasantly surprised when they received a check from the inmates themselves.
The dog trainees asked a staff member to purchase items from Sam’s Club which were then packaged and sold as “toiletry kits”. They advertised the program inside the prison and managed to net $350—especially because many inmates, even if they aren’t participating, love seeing the dogs on the grounds.
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The program teaches the dog boundaries (what it is allowed, and not allowed, like getting up on furniture), along with basic commands, like ‘stay’ and fetch.
The inmate learns grooming, dog first aid, and how to potty train, taught by the professional trainer in one to two sessions per week. $350 will pay for 2 weeks of the trainer’s visits.
During the week, inmates work with the dogs to teach these skills, while living together 24 hours a day. The dogs are taken outside 4 times each day to pee, play, and work on commands.
“I am changed by this experience,” wrote one of the inmates named Antoinetti, aka ‘Coolie’, in a letter. “I believe these men will go home more prepared for the world by finally owning up to being responsible, rather than careless, with another life.”
“These dogs are all amazing in their own ways. None of them are broken beyond repair.”
“We are creating something very special with this program,” said the program’s current trainer Jaime Banegas from WorkDogWork. “Dogs that were once castaways are being loved and cared for by individuals in a place where love and care are in short supply.”
“The dogs are emerging from cocoons of fear and loneliness. Inmates are pushing past mental and emotional barriers so they can become more effective at being a positive influence.”
As for the charity, the positive impact did become a win-win for all: Every pup but one that has graduated from the program has been quickly adopted.
Find out how you can help by visiting their website.
SHARE THE PAW-SOME GOOD WORK With Animal Lovers On Social Media Who May Want to Help…
Dad Interviews Daughter on First Day of School Every Year–And the Final Video Has Gone Viral (Watch)
A dad who interviewed his daughter on the first day of school every year has now shared the final video, as she starts her final year of high school before heading off to college.
Ray Petelin came up with the idea to ask his little girl, Elizabeth, a series of questions at the start of each new school year to see how their daughter’s ambitions would change as she grows.
In 2012, while Elizabeth waited for the bus to take her to kindergarten at five-years-old, Ray sat her down and asked what she wanted to be when she grows up.
In the new compilation video, the little girl’s answer evolves over the years from doctor to teacher, magician to waitress, and from heart surgeon to physical therapist.
“She did say magician one year, but I knew that wasn’t going to last.”
Now, after the bittersweet moment of finishing their thirteenth interview, the 47-year-old TV meteorologist shared the the final video.
“I put this together late at night so no one would be around,” Ray admitted. “Because I was just bawling the whole time.”
“I looked back at the first video, and it still feels like it was yesterday.
“I wanted to show her (the video) when she is a senior—and as she is now a senior, this will be the last one—but I will certainly get one when she moves into her own place.”
Ray’s video below, was posted on Facebook and Twitter/X where it tallied over 50 million views and led to multiple TV interviews broadcast on major networks and on his own station, KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh.
He’s also received many supportive comments from people all over the world, especially moms and dads.
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“Parents have commented on the video saying that I should be ‘Dad of the Year’.”
The idea has also inspired many parents to start doing same thing with their own school children.
CHECK OUT: Dad Hilariously Struggles to Keep Triplets From Climbing Furniture
DON’T FORGET TO SHARE THE LOVELY IDEA With Parents on Social Media…
I’m Creating Tiny Homes to End Sleeping on the Street After My Brother Became Homeless
A man is making tiny homes on wheels to provide innovative shelter for unhoused people—inspired after his brother became homeless.
Ryan Donais started building the portable homes in July, concerned about the levels of homelessness in his city of Toronto, Canada, where he was seeing a huge growth in the tent cities popping up.
In a bid to provide a solution for local authorities, the 37-year-old construction manager spent 100 hours working on the prototype, and two months building the first unit.
Made from fiberglass-reinforced plastic, the homes feature a bed, a desk, a sink, and a camping toilet.
Ryan says he came up with the idea of building them after his brother became homeless five years ago, having struggled with addiction for 20 years.
“My brother has been suffering with addiction for years,” Ryan told SWNS news. “He is one of the tent people. My mom still speaks to him, but I haven’t spoken to him in years.”
Ryan is currently finishing his second unit and has successfully incorporated the project, called Tiny Tiny Homes, as an official nonprofit organization.
“The project is in its infancy. I am doing this all by myself while trying to get connected with the right people.”
The mini homes are insulated, weatherproof, and watertight. They use solar power for the lights and fan, and come with a window, and door. The bed turns into a sofa, with 12 cubic feet of storage space underneath for personal items.
“I want every homeless person to get one of these. Tent encampments are not a healthy environment,” he said. “My latest model has a sink where people can wash and a camping toilet.”
Ryan said he doesn’t want this to be a permanent home for people but instead a midway point, until people can secure permanent housing.
“I want this to be an awakening program for the government. They need to step up and start housing people.”
Ryan is sharing his developments on TikTok @tinytinyhomes and Instagram @tinytinyhomestoronto. He’s set up a GoFundMe campaign that has raised $5,000 so far.
“I want to make a difference in people’s lives, and that’s why I am raising funds on GoFundMe to buy materials (in bulk)—after funding the first model myself. My goal is to raise $100,000 to scale production, with each unit currently costing around $5,000 to build (not including sweat equity).”
He also accepts donations of plywood, caulking, PL and rectangle tubing, and RV windows—and is looking for a larger shop space, while searching for help with social media and marketing.
Watch a tour of the tiny home…
PLEASE SHARE THE OPPORTUNITY To Help–By Spreading the Word on Social Media…
How Americans are Reinventing Retirement – They’re Choosing Travel and Hobbies Over Relaxing
Retirees are living lives that their younger selves would be jealous of, according to a new poll of 2,000 Americans who have retired, or will retire before 2029.
The ‘Benjamin Button’ effect appears to be in full play, as retirees agree they’re aging backward and feeling more vivacious than ever.
60% of respondents are planning for, or already have implemented, a “retirement reinvention”—stepping into a completely new version of themselves—with more than a quarter saying their younger self would ‘love’ to live their current life.
Nearly half (43%) have picked up an old hobby (or plan to), and a third (33%) believe retirement will be their time to learn a new skill.
Eleven percent are getting into sports, while others are becoming writers (17%) or learning a new language (16%)—perhaps to prepare for some of their travel plans during retirement.
Commissioned by IHG Hotels & Resorts and conducted by Talker Research, the survey explored what this “new version” looks like, and the role that travel plays in respondents making the most of their retirement years.
Four in ten people surveyed have taken, or plan to take, the trip of a lifetime to celebrate retirement—and the majority (59%) are planning on traveling more during retirement than they traveled during their working years.
This may be due in part to 36% of retirees regretting how much they worked during their careers, compared to how much time they spent doing other things.
ALSO: Survey Reveals Americans are Retiring Earlier Than They’d Expected
Respondents said their biggest roadblocks to traveling during their careers were lack of budget (49%) and job flexibility (43%). But to make up for this, half want to spend less in other areas of their budgets, so they’re able to put more money toward travel.
The survey looked at the top destinations for those who went, or will go, on a retirement celebration trip. Locations in the U.S. topped the list for 59%, Europe was the favored spot for 31%, and somewhere else in North America was chosen by 23%. A few adventurers even pointed to Antarctica for their retirement trip.
“It’s incredible to see how many people are taking advantage of their retirement to enjoy things they didn’t have time for in their working years,” said Connor Smith, a vice president at IHG Hotels & Resorts. “The reality is, people put their careers and families first. So, in their retirement era, it’s inspiring to see them live their best lives.”
Along with traveling, respondents also said they’d probably start a side gig (freelancing with a small, part-time job or business) to have a little bit of extra income (78%) and to fend off boredom (45%).
While many have big travel plans and are picking up hobbies, the survey also explored who respondents might be enjoying these activities with.
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Looking into their love lives, nearly one in six (15%) want to find love during retirement and are planning to spend more time dating to find “the one.”
But some single retirees are happy on their own — so when planning how to make the most of their retirement, 16% have (or plan to) boldly put a solo trip on the books.
Regardless of whether they’re going solo or have travel mates, for those with an upcoming trip, 25% plan to spend as much time as possible exploring and adventuring rather than resting and relaxing.
“One of people’s biggest fears when heading into retirement is being bored,” said Smith. “But now we’re seeing that retirees have countless ideas on how to make the most of their hard-earned time. Whether that’s traveling, starting a side hustle or picking up a hobby, retirement can be an opportunity for adventure and reinvention, and anything but boring.”
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RETIREES’ TOP HOBBIES
– Gardening – 43%
– Reading – 42%
– Cooking – 38%
– Baking – 28%
– Fishing – 22%
– Painting – 17%
– Writing – 17%
– Learning a new language – 16%
– Photography – 15%
– Sewing – 14%
– Learning an instrument – 11%
– A sport – 11%
– Carpentry – 9%
– Dance – 9%
– Pickleball – 9%
– Singing – 7%
– Stand-up comedy – 2%
“Nature was my kindergarten.” – William Christopher Handy
Quote of the Day: “Nature was my kindergarten.” – William Christopher Handy
Photo by: Meghan Holmes
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, September 1
Happy Birthday to the comedian and actress Lily Tomlin, who turns 85 years young today. She began as a standup comedian in her hometown of Detroit before her breakout role on the TV variety show Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In in 1969. She currently stars with Jane Fonda on the Netflix series Grace and Frankie. Contracted for a 6th season with new episodes out now, it earned her multiple Emmy nominations, 3 SAG Awards, and a Golden Globe. WATCH her on the Ellen Show talking about her 80th birthday… (1939)
102-Year-old Woman Becomes Britain’s Oldest Skydiver–to Inspire People in Their 80s or 90s ‘Not to Give up Anything’
A 102-year-old woman has become the oldest skydiver in Britain after jumping out of a plane at 7,000-feet.
Daredevil Manette Baillie celebrated her latest birthday this month with a tandem skydive at Beccles Airfield in Suffolk, England—her first ever parachute jump.
She said she was ‘breathless’ after the jump, which also raised money for charity.
“It was a bit scary,” Manette admitted in an interview with BBC Radio 4. “I must admit I shut my eyes very firmly.
“I just want other people who are getting towards 80 and 90 not to give up anything.”
Manette, who served during WWII in the Woman’s Royal Naval Service (WRENS), has always had a thirst for adventure.
Two years ago, for her 100th birthday, she marked the century with a visit to Silverstone Circuit race track, where she got behind the wheel of a Ferrari, speeding along at 130 miles an hour. In fact, she still drives her own car.
“I’ve been so lucky to be fit and well that I’ve got to do something with it—that’s really the back of it.
“I can’t just waste it. Other people are crippled with arthritis, and I’m not.”
She said her secret to living a long and fulfilling life is “community, friends and being among people”.
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To foster those values, she is raising money for renovations on her beloved Benhall Ex-Servicemen’s Village Social Club, where her birthday party will take place. It was built 80 years ago for ex-servicemen after the war.
“The Benhall Village Hall started as a rickety tin hut for those coming home from the war,” said Manette, who plays a lot of board games there.
“I want to help ‘do it up’ for the next generation.
Her advice to people reaching their elderly years? “Just keep going.”
WATCH the determined daredevil jump…
RECOMMEND THIS ROLE MODEL To Friends and Seniors On Social Media…
Thousands Raised for Homeless Busker After Performance Goes Viral on TikTok (WATCH)
Donations totaling nearly five thousand dollars were raised for a homeless busker after a video of his soothing voice and guitar riffs went viral on TikTok.
The 59-year-old was filmed wowing strangers with his rendition of the Dire Straits hit ‘Sultans of Swing’ as drivers queued up at a MacDonald’s drive-thru.
And now nearly £5,000 (British pounds) have been donated to John Metcalfe, who says he’s hoping to buy a camper van to tour the country while playing music.
Before the fateful encounter, Stephen Flynn had dined with some colleagues for breakfast in Liverpool on August 20.
“Coming back out, we spotted John on the corner. My mate said, ‘Look at him with his guitar.’
“So I drove round and started to record. I just said, ‘Give us a little tune,’ and the rest is history.
“I put it on TikTok and it just went through the roof.”
Stunned by the tally of 11 million views of the performance (watch it below), Stephen decided to do more to support the man, beyond his original cash tip.
“I went back, and I saw him, and I went, ‘John, you’ve gone viral. Give us your number, I’ll stay in contact with you.’”
He set up a GoFundMe page to support John after learning he’d been living in a broken-down Peugeot.
“I’ve been ringing him every day and I’ve been going up and looking after him.”
Stephen said he was in awe of the amount of money that locals donated to John—but the notoriety has also led to an opportunity to perform in Liverpool.
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“People just come together when things like this happen.
“He just needed a little bit of a pick me up. He hasn’t looked back since.
“Hopefully he’ll get his little camper-van and he can then sail off into the sunset—that’s the plan.”
‘YOU MATTER’: Boy Stops at Random House to Leave Pep Talk on Stranger’s Doorbell Cam (Watch)
WATCH the moment John’s luck changed…
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Pilots Live Through Miracle Landing After Their Aircraft Crashes Into Busy Road Without Hitting Cars
Two men escaped without serious injury after their motor glider crashed into a road in Gloucestershire, in South West England.
The plane appeared to have skidded through a hedge during rush hour late Tuesday afternoon, and ended up on the A 419, blocking both lanes.
The pilots may have overshot the runway at Aston Down airfield, which is home to the Cotswold Gliding Club where the two occupants were members.
The Club released a statement saying they were both qualified pilots.
“They suffered some injuries and were taken by ambulance to hospital to be checked over.”
One witness said that it “looked like it stalled and nose dived into the main road”.
Mila Vukelić captured photos that documented the scene right in front of her car—capturing the two pilots looking shocked just after their crash landing.
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Motorists assisted the men in exiting the fixed-wing aircraft until ambulances arrived.
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Your Weekly Horoscope – ‘Free Will Astrology’ From 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 August 31, 2024
Copyright by Rob Brezsny, FreeWillAstrology.com
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22):
When an infant giraffe leaves its mother’s womb, it falls six feet to the ground. I suspect that when you are reborn sometime soon, Virgo, a milder and more genial jolt will occur. It may even be quite rousing and inspirational—not rudely bumpy at all. By the way, the plunge of the baby giraffe snaps its umbilical cord and stimulates the creature to take its initial breaths—getting it ready to begin its life journey. I suspect your genial jolt will bring comparable benefits.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22):
Many people living in the Napo province of Ecuador enjoy eating a dish called ukuy, which is a Kichwa word for large ants. This is not an exotic meal for them. They may cook the ukuy or simply eat the creatures alive. If you travel to Napo anytime soon, Libra, I urge you to sample the ukuy. According to my reading of the astrological omens, such an experiment is in alignment with the kinds of experiences you Libras should be seeking: outside your usual habits, beyond your typical expectations, and in amused rebellion against your customary way of doing things.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21):
The theory of karma suggests that all our actions, good and bad and in-between, send ripples out into the world. These ripples eventually circle back to us, ensuring we experience events that mirror our original actions. If we lie and cheat, we will be lied to and cheated on. If we give generously and speak kindly about other people, we will be the recipient of generosity and kind words. I bring this up, Scorpio, because I believe you will soon harvest a slew of good karma that you have set in motion through your generosity and kindness. It may sometimes seem as if you’re getting more benevolence than you deserve, but in my estimation, it’s all well-earned.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21):
I encourage you to buy yourself fun presents that give you a feisty boost. Why? Because I want you to bring an innovative, starting-fresh spirit into the ripening projects you are working on. Your attitude and approach could become too serious unless you infuse them with the spunky energy of an excitable kid. Gift suggestions: new music that makes you feel wild; new jewelry or clothes that make you feel daring; new tools that raise your confidence; and new information that stirs your creativity.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19):
On a Tuesday in August in 2012—one full Jupiter cycle ago—a Capricorn friend of mine called in sick to his job as a marketing specialist. He never returned. Instead, after enjoying a week off to relax, he began working to become a dance instructor. After six months, he was teaching novice students. Three years later, he was proficient enough to teach advanced students, and five years later, he was an expert. I am not advising you, Capricorn, to quit your job and launch your own quixotic quest for supremely gratifying work. But if you were ever going to start taking small steps towards that goal, now would be a good time. It’s also a favorable phase to improve the way your current job works for you.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18):
Three years ago, an Indonesian man celebrated his marriage to a rice cooker, which is a kitchen accessory. Khoirul Anam wore his finest clothes while his new spouse donned a white veil. In photos posted on social media, the happy couple are shown hugging and kissing. Now might also be a favorable time for you to wed your fortunes more closely with a valuable resource—though there’s no need to perform literal nuptials. What material thing helps bring out the best in you? If there is no such thing, now would be a good time to get it.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20):
For many years, I didn’t earn enough money to pay taxes. I was indigent. Fortunately, social programs provided me with food and some medical care. In recent years, though, I have had a better cash flow. I regularly send the US government a share of my income. I wish they would spend all my tax contributions to help people in need, but just 42% of my taxes pay for acts of kindness to my fellow humans, while 24% goes to funding the military. Maybe someday, there will be an option to allocate my tax donations exactly as I want. In this spirit, Pisces, I invite you to take inventory of the gifts and blessings you dole out. Now is a good time to correct any dubious priorities. Take steps to ensure that your generosity is going where it’s most needed and appreciated. What kind of giving makes you feel best?
ARIES (March 21-April 19):
Although there are over 7,000 varieties of apples, your grocery store probably offers no more than 15. But you shouldn’t feel deprived. Having 15 alternatives is magnificent. In fact, most of us do better in dealing with a modicum of choices rather than an extravagant abundance. This is true not just about apples but also about most things. I mention this, Aries, because now is an excellent time to pare down your options in regard to all your resources and influences. You will function best if you’re not overwhelmed with possibilities. You will thrive as you experiment with the principle that less is more.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20):
Taurus comedian Jerry Seinfeld, now 70 years old, has testified, “As a child, the only clear thought I had was ‘get candy.’” I encourage you to be equally single-minded in the near future, Taurus. Not necessarily about candy—but about goodies that appeal to your inner child as well as your inner teenager and inner adult. You are authorized by cosmic forces to go in quest of experiences that tickle your bliss.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20):
I’m not saying I would refuse to hire a Gemini person to housesit while I’m on vacation. You folks probably wouldn’t let my houseplants die, allow raccoons to sneak in and steal food, or leave piles of unwashed dishes in the sink. On the other hand, I’m not entirely confident you would take impeccable care of my home in every little way. But wait! Everything I just said does *not* apply to you now. My analysis of the omens suggests you will have a high aptitude for the domestic arts in the coming weeks. You will be more likely than usual to take good care of my home—and your own home, too. It’s a good time to redecorate and freshen up the vibe.
CANCER (June 21-July 22):
These days, you are even smarter and more perceptive than usual. The deep intelligence of your higher self is pouring into your conscious awareness with extra intensity. That’s a good thing, right? Yes, mostly. But there may be a downside: You could be hyper-aware of people whose thinking is mediocre and whose discernment is substandard. That could be frustrating, though it also puts you in a good position to correct mistakes those people make. As you wield the healing power of your wisdom, heed these words from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: “Misunderstandings and lethargy produce more wrong in the world than deceit and malice do.”
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22):
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart had an older sister, born under the sign of Leo. Her nickname was Nannerl. During their childhoods, she was as much a musical prodigy as he. Supervised by their father, they toured Europe performing together, playing harpsichord and piano. Nannerl periodically got top billing, and some critics regarded her as the superior talent. But misfortune struck when her parents decided it was unseemly for her, as a female, to continue her development as a genius. She was forcibly retired so she could prepare for marriage and children. Your assignment in the coming months, Leo, is to rebel against any influence that tempts you to tamp down your gifts and specialties. Assert your sovereignty. Identify what you do best, and do it more and better than you ever have before.
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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“Even when we don’t ‘win’, there is fulfillment in the fact that we have been involved, with other good people, in something worthwhile.” – Howard Zinn
Quote of the Day: “Even when we don’t ‘win’, there is fulfillment in the fact that we have been involved, with other good people, in something worthwhile.” – Howard Zinn
Photo by: Dim Hou
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Good News in History, August 31
144 years ago today, Wilhelmina Maria, Queen of the Netherlands, was born. The longest-reigning female monarch outside Great Britain, and the longest-reigning monarch in Dutch history, Wilhelmina was a constant figure in 20th-century world affairs, with a deep intellect, charm, and august presence coupled with a demonstrable business acumen giving her natural wisdom, until the occupation of her country by the Nazis forced her to become a symbol of the resistance. READ some highlights from her life… (1880)
Potential New Source for Drugs to Fight Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Found Deep in Arctic Ocean
“Promising” antibiotic candidates were found by Finnish scientists in microbes under the seafloor in the Arctic Ocean.
70% of all currently licensed antibiotics have been derived from actinobacteria in the soil, but most environments on Earth have not yet been searched for them.
Scientists say that focusing the search on actinobacteria in other habitats is a good strategy—especially if it were to yield new molecules that neither kill bacteria outright nor stop them from growing, but only reduce their “virulence” or capacity for causing disease.
They explained it’s hard for targeted pathogenic strains to evolve resistance under such conditions, while such anti-virulence compounds are also less likely to cause unwanted side effects.
The rate of discovery of fundamentally new antibiotics has been much slower than in previous decades, and opening research objectives to include antivirulent agents could greatly increase the number of potential candidates available for testing.
“We discovered a compound that inhibits enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) virulence without affecting its growth, and a growth-inhibiting compound—both in actinobacteria from the Arctic Ocean,” said Professor Päivi Tammela, of the University of Helsinki.
Tammela and his team were part of the crew onboard Kroprins Haakon, a research vessel that made a trip around the seas off the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard in 2020. They developed a new suite of methods that can test for the anti-virulence and antibacterial effects of hundreds of unknown compounds simultaneously.
They targeted an EPEC strain that causes severe and sometimes deadly diarrhea in children under five, especially in developing countries. EPEC causes disease by adhering to cells in the human gut.
Once it adheres to those cells, EPEC injects so-called ‘virulence factors’ into the host cell to hijack its molecular machinery, ultimately killing it.
The tested compounds were derived from four species of actinobacteria, isolated from invertebrates sampled in the Arctic Sea off Svalbard.
HOPE FOR A HEALTHIER FUTURE: Scientists Hail New Antibiotic That Can Kill Drug-Resistant Bacteria
The research team found two unknown compounds with strong anti-virulence or antibacterial activity: one from an unknown strain, called T091-5, and another from an unknown strain, dubbed T160-2 found in Kocuria—a genus of gram-positive bacteria.
The compounds showed two complementary types of biological activity, according to the findings published in the journal Frontiers in Microbiology, but T091-5 was the most “promising” strain of the two as it also slowed the growth of EPEC, and was predicted to reduce the likelihood that EPEC would ultimately evolve resistance against its anti-virulence effects.
MORE ANTIBIOTIC DISCOVERIES: Thousands of Sources for New Antibiotics to Fight Superbugs Found Using AI–and Dozens Worked
“The next steps are the optimization of the culture conditions for compound production and the isolation of sufficient amounts of each compound to elucidate their respective structures and further investigate their respective bioactivities,” said Tammela, indicating a long road lies ahead before Arctic antibiotics would behind the counter at Walgreens.
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