Good News
I read the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal every morning and watch the breaking news feeds throughout the day. I’m sure most of you have your own routines for staying abreast of what’s happening in the world. And I’m sure you’ll agree that there’s precious little in the news these days that feels uplifting. This week alone we had “covfefe,” the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris climate accords, the Kremlin denial of hacking during the U.S. presidential election, and a devastating bomb blast in Kabul.
Just for the exercise, I decided to surf around the internet to see what good news I could find to cheer myself up. I can only take so much. Here are a few stories that might make you smile, too:
New Yorkers Stage Makeshift Commencement for Student Stuck on Subway
Hunter College nursing student Jerich Marco Alcantara and his family got stuck on an E subway train for three hours en route to his graduation, and the poor guy missed it! His fellow passengers rose to the occasion by downloading a diploma, playing graduation music, and shooting videos until the train started to roll.
Girl’s Essay on Papa John’s Pizza Gets Her into Yale
The admissions counselor who read her application wrote, “I laughed so hard on your pizza essay. I kept thinking that you are the kind of person that I would love to be best friends with.” I guess she already has a BFF. She will be attending Auburn University instead, where they have a Papa John’s in the student center.
Supermarket Now Accepts Recyclables as Payment
There is a supermarket in a remote part of Brazil that lets customers exchange plastic bottles and aluminum for locally grown produce.
School Bullying Rates Fall for the First Time in 6 Years
The rate of school bullying among 12 to 18 year-olds fell to 22% in 2013 from 28% in 2005, 2009 and 2011 and a brief 32% spike in 2009, according to a new report from the U.S. Dept. of Education. The drop is attributed to successful anti-bullying campaigns at the federal, state and local levels. Let’s hope they can have the same effect online, the new “schoolyard” kids have to worry about.
Utah Legalizes Lemonade Stands
Utah passed legislation allowing “occasional businesses” run by minors to operate without a license or permit. A lot of states regulate kid entrepreneurs out of business, but not in Utah, where kids can earn their own pocket money and learn a few life lessons along the way. Talk about making lemonade out of lemons!
Policeman Skateboards with Teens While on Patrol
Police Officer Craig Hanaumi in Bellevue, Washington, bonds with the local community by skateboarding with teens while on duty, playing trombone with a community group, and practicing jujitsu. He hopes to help change negative perceptions of police while building trust with area residents. I would say he’s already doing that.
