Friday's Upbeat News
- Editor OGN Daily
- May 2
- 3 min read
Celebrating the end of the week with some upbeat news nuggets from around the world.
Beach Huntress
It's an unusual sight to see a lion on a beach, but you often can in Namibia. The photographer, Griet Van Malderen, says: “Gama, a desert adapted lioness and part of a small group of lions that have learned to navigate this unforgiving landscape, venturing to the ocean’s edge to hunt seals. In a place where survival is a constant battle, Gama embodies the resilience and adaptability of nature’s most elusive predators.” This image is part of a collection for a publication coming out in October called 10 Years of Remembering Wildlife. “Remembering Wildlife exists to raise awareness of the plight facing wildlife, as well as funds to protect species at risk. More than 55,000 books have been sold worldwide since its first title, Remembering Elephants, was published in 2016. All profits from the books go to conservation and more than $1.55 million has been donated to 79 projects in 34 countries.”
Font of Wisdom?
A famous anti-piracy campaign from the early 2000s is in the spotlight after it appeared the font used in the adverts was pirated. The dramatic campaign compared pirating films to stealing cars, handbags and televisions, telling viewers: "You wouldn't steal a car". It appeared in cinemas and on DVDs around the world. The "XBAND Rough" font seen in the much-parodied "You Wouldn't Steal A Car" ad appears to be an unlicensed "clone" of a font called "FF Confidential", created by Just Van Rossum in 1992. Luckily, Van Rossum sees the funny side. "I find it hilarious."
Teacher of the Year
It’s that time again, when one out of millions of teachers in America is selected for the prestigious title of National Teacher of the Year. This year, that honor goes to Ashlie Crosson, an educator of more than 14 years who currently teaches English and advises the journalism program at Mifflin County High School in Pennsylvania. That's also the same high school she graduated from. “It's an incredible honor, it feels like a big responsibility,” she says, adding: “It’s an incredible … chance to share my kids and my community with our country.”
Billboard's Shortest
Variety reports that Jack Black’s 34-second song from A Minecraft Movie, “Steve’s Lava Chicken,” is now the shortest song ever to enter the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Meanwhile, the movie has powered to $816 million at the global box office last weekend.
Better Than Fiction
After being told he had two months to live due to a rare cancer, Michael Wolff underwent a cutting-edge genetic sequencing process “that seemed like science fiction,” he told CBS News. But it was far from fiction, as the technology led to a treatment that cured his cancer. Fast forward a decade, he remains cancer-free and has returned to his career as a jazz pianist and composer. “I’ve been able to record so much music and play so many concerts around the world. Every time I do something like that, I’m just so thankful to be able to do it.”
Solar & Biodiversity
A new study from RSPB and the University of Cambridge shows that well-managed solar farms can make significant contributions to nature while delivering renewable energy, reports the BBC. The research, published in the journal Bird Study, examined two types of solar parks in the East Anglian Fens in the UK. Researchers discovered that solar farms had a greater number of bird species and individual birds per hectare compared to the surrounding agricultural land. Particularly noteworthy was that solar parks managed with a mix of habitats, where grass was left uncut and hedges preserved, had nearly three times more birds than nearby farmland.
"The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience." Atticus Finch, from Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird
On This Day
2 May 1803: The United States purchased the Louisiana Territory from France at a rate of less than three cents per acre for 828,000 square miles (2,144,520 square km), which soon proved to be a tremendous bargain.
Today's Articles
Precision Fast Food: BurgerBots are doing the jobs nobody else wants to do, and two thirds of staff support the idea.
Mood Boosting Video
Stop That! Hilarious video of a penguin caught cheating.
