Good News Thursday
- May 21
- 4 min read
Some tasty bite-sized chunks of upbeat news to brighten the day.
Summer of Marilyn
It’s about to be the “summer of Marilyn.” The first day of June marks what would have been the 100th birthday of 20th-century Hollywood’s biggest star, Marilyn Monroe, with exhibitions, film screenings and an official centenary book marking the occasion. As are auction houses. Heritage Auctions’ Marilyn Monroe, Unfiltered sale, set for what would have been Monroe’s big birthday, includes handwritten letters, watercolor paintings and other private effects. Born in Los Angeles in 1926, Norma Jeane Mortenson spent her youth in foster homes and an orphanage, while her mother often was confined in an asylum. She worked as a photography model before signing a contract with Twentieth Century-Fox - at which point she adopted the screen name Marilyn Monroe. In the 1950s, she starred in the films Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, How to Marry a Millionaire and There’s No Business Like Show Business. Monroe’s personality and bombshell looks became a widespread cultural obsession.
Marilyn Monroe Quotes: A dozen insightful quotes from the woman once known as Norma Jean.
Everest Record
A renowned Nepali Sherpa guide has scaled Mount Everest for the 32nd - more than any other person ever. Kami Rita Sherpa, 56, reached the 8,849-metre (29,032 foot) peak again last weekend while guiding clients. Nepal's Department of Tourism congratulated the Sherpa for achieving the “historic milestone” and for his contributions to promoting mountain tourism. Kami Rita was born in the same Thame village in Solukhumbu district as Tenzing Norgay. Norgay and New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary were the first to climb Everest in 1953.
New Dinosaur Species
Paleontologists in Thailand have identified a new dinosaur - and it may be the largest one ever unearthed in Southeast Asia. The long-necked, plant-eating creature has been named as Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis. The behemoth likely stretched more than 88 feet long and weighed nearly 30 U.S. tons as it lumbered around 100 million to 120 million years ago, according to a study published in the journal Scientific Reports. The bones were discovered in northeastern Thailand, after a local man spotted some unusual-looking rocks protruding from the banks of a public pond, reports National Geographic. The strange specimens weren’t rocks, however, but the fossilized remains of a prehistoric giant.
Canine Kindness
Congratulations are in order for Sapper, a sunglasses-wearing husky who was named USO Canine Volunteer of the Year for offering comfort and support to more than 13,000 US soldiers and their families every month. Sweet Sapper is just a cool dude who likes to shake a paw with service members, receive pets and offer a firm cuddle when he knows someone needs it.
Preventive Healthcare
Greece is leading a nationwide shift toward prevention rather than treatment. The healthcare program, called Prolamvano (or “I Prevent”), debuted in 2024 with an emphasis on early detection and diagnosis. Today, the program has grown to include over six million patients, reports Tovima. A senior Greek health official said that early testing has already led to the detection of around 200,000 medical cases at an early stage and estimates that cardiovascular screenings alone have helped avert more than 60,000 strokes and heart attacks - “saving lives here and now,” not just in the future. Industry officials said that preventative healthcare is a win-win-win: Screenings and early treatment are more affordable than active care, which means lower costs for patients, less strain on the hospital system, and fewer people in pain.
Jedi Lighting
Bicycle tail lights have a way of playing second fiddle to their brighter, more interesting headlight siblings. We're sure you'll agree, however, that the Hi-Tail is one tall, telescoping safety beacon that definitely won't be "outshined." The device is available in three models - one for recumbents, cargo bikes and adult trikes; one that mounts directly onto the seat post; and one with a built-in cargo rack. In all three cases, the light-saber-like lighting unit itself quickly attaches/detaches to and from a bayonet mount at the rear end of the main bracket. So yes, you can easily pull it off and pretend you're Luke Skywalker … or you can recharge its battery.
“As you get older, three things happen. The first is your memory goes, and I can’t remember the other two.” Norman Wisdom
On This Day
21 May 1927: Aviator Charles Lindbergh, in the Spirit of St. Louis, lands in Paris after the first solo air crossing of the Atlantic - a grueling 33.5-hour, 3,610 mile journey from New York. The flight was motivated by the $25,000 Orteig Prize, which was offered to the first aviator to successfully complete a nonstop flight between New York and Paris. When Lindbergh finally touched down in Paris, a crowd of over 150,000 wildly enthusiastic spectators rushed the airfield, carrying the exhausted pilot in triumph.
Today's Articles
Transform Your Life: Collection of ideas for tiny changes that may help transform your life for the better.
Project Silica: Microsoft’s glass chip solves the 'Digital Dark Age' as it can preserve information for 10,000 years.
Mood Boosting Video
Official Trailer: More brainwaves, more sheep and certainly more chaos as Clarkson's Farm 5 streams from 3 June.
