- Jun 15, 2022

OGN Wednesday

Updated: Jun 24, 2022

Mid-week collection of upbeat news nuggets to help put a spring in your step.

Cat Photoshopped

People do different things with their spare time. This cat owner likes to create hairstyles for his cat using the wonders of technology - with hilarious results. You can see more weird and whacky hairdos on his instagram page

Face of a cow with its tongue hanging out

Pricing Burps

Sticking to the animal theme, but on a rather different subject, we all know that cow and sheep burps are huge emitters of methane - which is 80 times worse than CO2. But while livestock is the main contributor to the agriculture sector’s emissions, they are often excluded from emissions trading plans. The New Zealand government has recently put forward a proposal that seeks to price agricultural emissions from belching livestock in order to put a dent in of the country’s largest sources of greenhouse gases. If it gets implemented, New Zealand will become the first country in the world to require farmers to pay for their livestock’s emissions.

Everyday Hero

Anthony Perry, 20, is being hailed as a hero for jumping into action to save someone who fell off a platform onto train tracks in Chicago. The man was unconscious on the electrified rail. "The guy didn't have control of his body so I really felt like if I don't help him, who will help?" Perry told USA Today. Perry performed CPR as he waited for paramedics to arrive on the scene. In recognition of his bravery and life saving assistance, Perry was delighted and surprised to receive a brand new car as a thank you.

Pandiculation

When you get up in the morning, sit on the edge of your bed, and stretch your arms in all directions, you’re actually pandiculating.

Caribou Conservation

A wildlife recovery effort in British Columbia, Canada, has successfully increased a caribou herd from 38 individuals to 113 in less than a decade, according to a new study. Two First Nations communities partnered with Canadian scientists, the government, and private companies to reduce predators and care for new calves, while restoring habitat in the long term by securing more than 7,000 hectares (17,300 acres) of land for caribou.

Classroom Strategy

Every Friday, this fifth grade teacher asks students to write down four classmates' names next to whom they'd like to sit the following week. They know their selections may or may not be honored. Each student also nominates one classmate, who they believe has been an exceptional classroom citizen that week. All ballots are submitted privately. After the students go home, the teacher goes through the ballots: "Who is not getting requested by anyone else? Who can't think of anyone to request? Who never gets noticed enough to be nominated? Who had a million friends last week and none this week?" Instead of seating chart ideas or model classmates, what this educator looks for are isolated and lonely students. "Whose gifts are going unnoticed by their peers? Who is being bullied, and who is doing the bullying?" From a simple weekly vote, the teacher leans into her classroom of 10 and 11 year-old's patterns of disconnection, and finds ways to redirect them towards understanding and love.

We're Going to Mars

It's finally happening: SpaceX can officially launch its colossal Mars rocket - Starship - into orbit from South Texas, says the Federal Aviation Administration. While several more actions must be completed to reduce the ecological impact on the surrounding environment by Starship launches, Musk's aim to send humans to Mars is finally in motion. Space Race 2.0 is about to take its biggest step in years.

Quote of the Day

“You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching, Love like you'll never be hurt, Sing like there's nobody listening, And live like it's heaven on earth.” William W. Purkey

On this Day

15 June 1215: Magna Carta - the first document to put into writing the principle that the king and his government was not above the law - was sealed this day, under threat of civil war, by King John in 1215.