Today's bite-sized chunks of upbeat news to get the day off to a good start.
New U.S. Navy Leader
Admiral Lisa Franchetti is set to become the first female to lead the U.S. Navy. It marks another first for the Biden administration’s Defense Department, which has now had the first Black secretary of defense and the first female Army secretary. Franchetti was commissioned in 1985 and is currently serving as the vice chief of naval operations.
National Symbol
His love of art, gardening and the outdoors have been well documented over the years. Now King Charles is bringing them together in a spectacular way, constructing a giant thistle-shaped maze with his Scottish residence forming a stunning backdrop. The attraction in front of Balmoral Castle, Aberdeenshire, is taking shape and is already shown on maps handed out to visitors. The thistle is the flower of Scotland and one of its most recognisable symbols. Since King Alexander III, who ruled from 1249 to 1286, it has been Scotland's national emblem.
5 Royal Estates Where You Can Stay The Night: Whether you’re a royalist, a history buff, or just looking for a taste of aristocratic life, here’s a handful of royal residences that any commoner can stay in, even if just for a few nights...
Sawfish Recovery
It's been a good week for sawfish (also known as carpenter sharks), as scientists have hinted at the potential “slow return” of the species. It comes as the rare 13-foot animal was spotted in Florida, farther north than any such fish in decades. Sawfish were the first native marine fish listed under the endangered species act, said Florida University, and the sighting has been viewed as a sign they are recovering.
Amazon Rainforest
The eight South American nations that make up the Amazon rainforest will adopt Brazil’s pledge to end illegal deforestation by 2030, reports Bloomberg. It’s the most ambitious government effort yet to protect the world’s largest rainforest, whose preservation scientists see as key to helping avert climate change.
Winnie Winner
A US woman has built a collection of more than 20,000 unique items of Winnie the Pooh memorabilia. Deb Hoffman, of Wisconsin, set a world record in 2008, when she had a mere 2,891 pieces related to A.A. Milne’s toy bear. But her record has now been updated by Guinness World Records after she was confirmed to have 23,632 different items. She has vowed to keep collecting. “Boy, I just don't see an end in sight,” she told WTMJ-TV.
Hop-timistic Attitude
Aldi, a leading UK supermarket, is launching a nationwide hunt for a new Official Beer Taster. Aldi will ask the successful applicant to “down ales and lagers” and review them to help bosses choose what to buy for their next range. Applicants will need to have “a love of lager, passion for ale and a hop-timistic attitude” said the supermarket, as it encouraged “anyone who has a passion for beer” to apply.
Community Radio
Radio is India’s second-most accessed medium after television. When the Indian government began to give out licenses to communities to set up their own radio stations in 2008, many communities jumped on board (there are now nearly 400 stations) and it’s having an impact. Often operated out of small rooms with basic infrastructure, they transmit information both relevant and important to their audiences in rural India. The content is always in the regional dialect – rarely heard on mainstream media. This is especially significant in a country with 22 official languages. These stations can choose their content focus and have been especially useful for communicating important information during crisis situations. While the direct impact is difficult to measure, community radio is becoming a space “where people on the margins can go tell their own stories to others like them.”
“Old age is like everything else. To make a success of it, you’ve got to start young.” Theodore Roosevelt
On this Day
27 July 1886: First transatlantic telegraph cable comes ashore at Heart's Content, Newfoundland after being laid out 1,686 miles by Isambard Kingdom Brunel's Great Eastern steamship.
An extremely rare letter by Einstein pondering God and science is going up for auction for the very first time. Reconcilable?
It has been truly weird and crazy time for a woman called Barb Heimer once her Facebook profile was discovered. OMG!
Mood Booster
How an owl flies so silently compared to other birds.