Celebrating the end of the week with some bite-sized chunks of uplifting news.
Arise Sir Claire
Grayson Perry has collected his knighthood while wearing a “burgundy taffeta” dress, inspired by the coronation of King Charles III. The British artist “famed for his maverick dress sense,” according to the BBC, won the Turner Prize in 2003 for the piece Claire's Coming Out Dress - a nod to his female alter-ego. Perry said that “they’re very cool at the Palace” when he announced his plans to collect the award wearing a dress. In 2014 he collected his CBE wearing what he said was a “mother of the bride” outfit. He is believed to be the first person to receive a knighthood while dressed as the opposite sex.
Country Crowned
For the first time in over 40 years, two country songs are occupying both the #1 and #2 spots on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. While hip-hop and pop have ruled the charts over the past decade, country may have always been as popular - experts say that it just took the genre’s fans longer to transition to streaming. Morgan Wallen’s Last Night and Luke Combs’ cover of Tracy Chapman’s Fast Car are ruling the charts.
Strange But True
A pick-your-own event was due to start this week at Cotehele, a mediaeval house managed by the National Trust in southwest England. But the event has been cancelled after “cheeky” blackbirds “jumped the queue” and ate “ALL of the cherries in the orchard”, said an announcement on Cotehele’s Facebook page. “Never work with children or animals,” the post advised.
Sweet Dreams
‘Barbie’ movie’s marketing budget is off the charts - and now they’ve created a real Malibu Dream House which you can book on Airbnb. In Barbie world, life is plastic, fantastic and bright pink. Her Malibu beach pad, known as the Dream House, is a dazzling behemoth that leaves Barbie and her houseguests (it could be you!) wanting for nothing. Everyone in Barbie Land can request to book Ken’s room in Barbie’s Malibu DreamHouse beginning July 17 at 10:00 AM PT at airbnb.com/kendreamhouse. Guests are responsible for their own travel to and from Malibu.
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Malaria-Free
The World Health Organization has certified Belize as malaria-free, following the country's over 70 years of continued efforts to stamp out the disease.With this announcement, a total of 42 countries and 1 territory have been certified as malaria-free by WHO, including 11 countries in the Region of the Americas.
Ammonia Power
In the search for solutions to further sustainable mobility, China's Guangzhou Automobile Group Co. (GAC) has introduced an engine that runs on Ammonia, which can add to the list of greener solutions like electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cells, reports Bloomberg. The newly released motor, aimed for use in passenger vehicles, harnesses ammonia, a clean and readily available fuel source, as its primary energy source. This may represent a significant step toward combatting climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions (the company claims a reduction of 90 percent) associated with traditional gasoline-powered vehicles.
"It all comes to this: The simplest way to be happy is to do good." Helen Keller
On this Day
30 June 1936: American author Margaret Mitchell published Gone with the Wind.
Archaeologists in Pompeii have uncovered a painting which depicts what might be the precursor to the Italian pizza. Fresco...
New species that flowers and fruits underground flummoxes botanists as they admit they have no idea how its pollinated. Mystery...
Mood Booster
Golden retriever and a tiny kitten surprised by a chick.