Let's talk about comfort. After a difficult news week with lots of losses, it helps to take stock of things that soothe your soul. Of course, there are the classics: a good book, a check-in with a treasured friend, a nice weighted blanket. (A day with no errands would be nice, too, though we all know that's unlikely.) But let's get more specific. For me, comfort will come this weekend in the warmth of my sleeping dog pressed up against my leg, or the strains of a college football game wafting from another room on a brisk autumn afternoon. If I'm lucky, I'll wrap myself in the smell of a good dinner cooking, or my mother's laugh on the back porch. It's amazing how our hearts learn these moments, and let us know when we are safe. What's bringing you comfort today?
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Our favorites this week
Get going with some of our most popular good news stories of the week
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Football for all
Football is one of the most popular sports in Uganda, but it's not exactly accessible to everyone. Visually impaired players, for instance, tend to choose goal ball, a throwing game specifically designed to be played without sight. However, disability inclusion advocate Jagwe Muzafaru had seen other accommodations made for visually impaired football players in other parts of the world, and wanted to bring those opportunities to his own country. Last year, he founded Blind Football Uganda. With the help of the International Blind Football Foundation, Muzafaru's organization now has four men's teams and two women's teams. The game is played with an audible ball on a pitch surrounded by "kick-boards" -- a physical barrier indicating the touch lines. Players also wear eye masks to ensure fairness. Muzafaru says opening up the world of sport to more people with disabilities not only helps bring African countries into more inclusive spaces, it also helps people socialize and find joy.
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Hand stencils found in the Borneo cave where the amputated skeleton was discovered. |
Caring is in our bones
Ready for an absolutely mind-blowing historical revelation? Archaeologists have found the bones of a young person in a cave in Borneo that show evidence of a careful amputation of a leg below the knee. The remains are estimated to be 31,000 years old. That's Stone Age time. That's prehistory. With the information scientists have, it looks like this group of ancient humans understood blood loss, infection risks and other complex medical concepts enough to successfully amputate a limb. But perhaps even more impressive, the community also had the capacity and desire to support someone who needed intense and long-term care. "I think what's most amazing is this is real, direct archaeological, tangible evidence for a really high degree of community care," said one of the professors involved in the study.
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A delicious journey
How far would you go to satisfy a craving? For Albert Van Limbergen, the answer is about 870 miles. By bike. The cyclist from Liège, Belgium is a major lavender lover, and saw a news segment about a baker in Nice, France, who made lavender croissants. Boulangerie Roy Le Capitole, run by artisan baker Frédéric Roy, makes its croissants using lavender grown along a plateau on the French Riviera. Lavender water is kneaded into the dough, giving the pastry a pleasant color and signature herbal flavor. To Roy's knowledge, his bakery is the only one to offer such a concoction. Thus, it was completely understandable -- nay, necessary -- for Limbergen to hop on his bicycle and take a little trip. Were they good? Limbergen said yes, but suggested the addition of Belgian pastry cream for an even more magnificent, trek-worthy experience.
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Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Dominic Monaghan, Billy Boyd and other "Lord of the Rings" stars who are speaking up to make everyone feel included in Middle Earth. Amazon's new spinoff series "Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" has received a lot of hate from viewers who have criticized casting people of color as Elves, Dwarves and Harfoots, among other fictional races. All four actors have appeared wearing gear that reads, in Elvish, "You all are welcome here," along with several ears of different characters in a spectrum of skin tones. Even creators from other fantasy realms have lent their support to the actors under attack for their involvement in the show. The "Star Wars" franchise lent support to the cast in a Twitter statement: "From Middle-earth to a galaxy far, far away... #YouAreAllWelcomeHere."
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Everyone's favorite anthropomorphic railway locomotive has a new friend! The long-running children's show "Thomas and Friends" is introducing its first autistic character. Bruno the brake car loves puns and rail schedules (same, Bruno). He also has a lantern to indicate his emotional state and ear defenders that can puff steam if he feels sensitive to loud noises. The new series regular will be voiced by autistic actors Chuck Smith, 10, and Elliot Garcia, 9, in the US and the UK, respectively. Mattel developed the character of Bruno with the help of autistic writers and organizations in the United States and Europe, including the Autism Self Advocacy Network and the UK's National Autistic Society.
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Image credit: Tim Graham/Getty Images |
In honor of Queen Elizabeth II, CNN Style compiled a beautiful journey of the Queen's legacy through fashion. From her coronation gown, hand-picked from from nine different designs and decked with pearls, to the iconic bright colors and timeless silhouettes, the history of Queen Elizabeth's clothing reveals a leader who knew the power of appearance, and used it to great effect. (In case you didn't know, the Queen reportedly favored bright colors because they made her seem warm and approachable -- and, at her diminutive size, easy to find in a crowd.)
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I will always take the opportunity to extoll the virtues of Harper's Ferry, West Virginia. Truly one of my favorite places, Harper's Ferry is a gorgeous, vibrant mix of history, industry and wild nature. Whether you want to learn about the Civil War, dip your toes in the Potomac or just have an afternoon of first-rate antiques shopping, this hidden gem is the place to do it. It's one of CNN Travel's Most Underrated Destinations in the US. (Buffalo, Durham and Pennsylvania, you get some love on this list too!)
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With an eye made quiet by the power of harmony, and the deeper power of joy, we see into the life of things.
- William Wordsworth, English poet |
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Rec of the week
Brought to you by CNN Underscored
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Jennifer Aniston’s LolaVie just rolled out a shampoo and conditioner, and it’s sublime
Jennifer Aniston has been setting the hair standard for decades. Now the masses are two steps closer to achieving that benchmark, thanks to Aniston’s hair care line finally dropping a shampoo and conditioner. Underscored spoke with the actor to get the details on the new products and you won't want to miss it.
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Shameless animal video
There's always time for cute animal videos. That time is now.
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