Ahhh, it's the end of another stressful week. Time to slip into soft pants and prepare a little something to take the edge off. By something, of course, I mean a mound of chocolate. Despite general economic woes, chocolate sales are having a moment now, and I wouldn't be surprised if it's because everyone is, well, eating their feelings a little bit. And that's OK! We all deserve a little treat. If every day starts feeling little-treat-worthy, well, that's your business.
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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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An iconic flight
Rumeysa Gilgi is a pretty tall deal. The tallest living woman, in fact, according to one of her five Guinness World Records. Gilgi, 25, stands over seven feet tall. Her proportions are due to Weaver syndrome, a rare genetic condition that causes bone overgrowth. She's been something of a celebrity for a while now and travels around to share her story and spread body positivity. But due to her condition, she was never able to take a plane flight safely. That changed when Turkish Airlines staff removed several seats from a plane so Gilgi could take a 13-hour flight from her home country of Turkey to San Francisco while resting comfortably on a stretcher. Gilgi's trip also opens the conversation about better accessibility for air travel. I spoke to an expert from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which is finding new ways -- from better communication to new architectural and mechanical designs -- to ensure that everyone can fly safely and with dignity.
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Just keep swimming
Does anyone else have an "absolutely not" list? You know, skydiving, attempting stand-up comedy in front of a live audience, et cetera? Here's one to add to it: Swimming clear across the Red Sea! Endurance swimmer Lewis Pugh recently became the first person to ever do it, and it took him 16 entire days. That's 16 days in shark-infested waters, dodging oil tankers and praying thalassophobia doesn't kick in. For some of the swim, Pugh was joined by open-water swimmer Mariam Saleh Bin Laden – who became the first Arab, first Saudi and first woman to swim from Saudi Arabia to Egypt – and Egyptian swimmer Mostafa Zaki. Why did they do it? The purpose of the swim was to shine a spotlight on the world’s coral reefs, which are abundant in the Red Sea's waters. (And quite beautiful, Pugh says. Assuming you can get over the shark thing.)
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Lo, how a rose e'er blooming
Did you know there are literally thousands of different cultivated types of roses? We're talking hyper-specific, historic roses that are so rare they go for hundreds of dollars among private collectors. In fact, rare rose collectors are helping save some of these flowers from extinction. Commercial trends, disease, pests and climate change can easily threaten these delicate buds, and growers say once a type is lost, it's likely lost forever. That's why these enthusiasts are eager to trade varieties like beautiful, fragrant Pokemon cards to be loved and pampered for generations. “If we think we are the only owner we try to get them in the hands of another,” says one private gardener in Idaho. At an annual auction organized by the California Coastal Rose Society, the star of the show was "The Iron Throne" rose, above, which sold for $350 and is treasured for its mesmerizing color combination.
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Dusty Baker, who won his first World Series as the manager of the Houston Astros! Now, you need to understand that Baker is living, breathing baseball history. The 73-year-old was the first Black manager to win 2,000 games, and one of only two individuals in MLB history to produce 1,800 hits as a player and 1,800 wins as a manager. Now, he's the oldest manager to win a World Series and only the third Black manager to ever do so. He's also famous in baseball for being a genuinely awesome guy (which is why you are seeing a fan of the Washington Nationals, where he served as manager for a time, giving lines to anyone affiliated with the Astros). During playoff games, it was common to see fans of all strips cheering the phrase, "Do it for Dusty." He has had some amazing things to say about his achievement, too. “I’m so happy that it took this long,” Baker said in an interview after his big win. “Maybe, it wasn’t supposed to happen, so that I could hopefully influence a few young men's lives and families, and a number of people in the country, showing what perseverance and character can do for you.”
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Gaze into Magic's fathomless eyes as she imparts the secrets of the universe! Ocala, Florida, is prime horse country, so it kind of makes sense that the local police department would take on a mini therapy horse as a member of the force. Magic the miniature horse is an “honorary police officer” for the Ocala Police Department and provides specialized emotional support. The pint-sized officer is part of the equine therapy nonprofit Gentle Carousel, where trained mini horses visit thousands of hospital patients, people in hospice programs, veterans, and first responders who have experienced trauma each year. The police department also says she'll be a great way to interact and build relationships with the community.
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CNN has chosen the top 10 CNN Heroes of 2022! For the next few weeks, we'll be highlighting each of these incredible people who are using their unique skills and experiences to make the world a better place. Read all of their stories here.
Richard Casper, a Marine veteran who was forever changed by his service in Iraq. When he realized art created an outlet for his PTSD, he founded CreatiVets, which offers visual art and songwriting programs to wounded combat veterans. His work has helped more than 900 veterans, and he says it's also a way to honor his fallen friends. Read Richard's story here.
Nelly Cheboi, a computer science professional who grew up in poverty in rural Kenya. Her nonprofit, TechLit Africa, uses recycled computers to create technology labs in schools in Kenyan communities like those of her childhood. She says computer skills are a way to empower young people and give them opportunities for a brighter future. Read Nelly's story here.
Daily voting is now open to determine the CNN Hero of the Year, so cast your vote before the big reveal on Sunday, December 11th!
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One ought, every day at least, to hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture and, if possible, speak a few reasonable words.
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, German poet and writer |
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Rec of the week
Brought to you by CNN Underscored
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Nina Dobrev and Julianne Hough share their 9 party must-haves
'Tis the season to start planning your holiday party. Make the night one your guests will never forget with the help of Nina Dobrev and Julianne Hough's holiday party must-haves. Plus, their picks start at just $14.
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Shameless animal video
There's always time for cute animal videos. That time is now.
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How to describe Pallas cats? They're chunky, not very fast, and seemingly permanently grumpy. In other words, perfect. (Click here to view) |
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A newsletter for the good in life |
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