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Jan 23rd, 2021, 5:25 pm
Free broadband offered to disadvantaged families in UK

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Thousands of families in the UK with no internet connection are to get free broadband until the end of the summer, thanks to a partnership between Hyperoptic, an internet provider, and 37 local authorities, including Leeds Council, Newcastle Council and City of London.

The connectivity drive comes as millions of children across the UK adapt to home learning due to school closures. Telecoms regulator Ofcom estimates that 880,000 pupils lack broadband access at home.

“Every child deserves to be able to virtually learn and harness the opportunities that are enabled by connectivity,” said Hyperoptic’s Liam McAvoy, announcing the initiative. The free broadband offer follows a campaign, launched last week, to get unused laptops to disadvantaged children.
Jan 23rd, 2021, 5:25 pm

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Jan 23rd, 2021, 6:24 pm
Survival kits for homeless save lives...COVID couldn't stop 22nd annual Project Winter Survival

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Jody Steinhauer wasn’t about to let COVID stop her efforts for the homeless. Steinhauer is the founder of Engage and Change, the charity behind Project Winter Survival. This year, as she has for the past 22 years, Steinhauer and a team of volunteers have put together thousands of Winter Survival Kits, each containing items that can mean the difference between life and death to those sleeping rough in Toronto — a sleeping bag, gloves, hats, socks, hygiene items and more. It’s a huge undertaking every year. The pandemic turned it into a Herculean task.

How do you gather items, pack them and distribute them when nobody can get within six feet of one another? Luckily, Steinhauer said she has terrific working partners. Strashin Developments, The Salvation Army, Fortigo Freight Service, Toronto Police Services 13 Division, and The Bargains Group pulled together — over months — to gather materials and get the kits organized to be distributed.

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The third Saturday in January is the day the kits are handed over to social agencies each year, although this year even that part of the initiative had to be staggered over a couple of weekends. They created 3,000 kits. “But we had requests for 18,000. We’ve never been asked for so many,” said Steinhauer. “There’s a big gap. This year I’ve seen so many religious institutions doing outreach now, in all the encampments.”

There are 30 items in each kit. Steinhauer consulted with a homeless couple she knows to find out exactly what was most needed. A spray sanitizer became crucial, for example, when COVID lockdown meant the homeless couldn’t even go to a public bathroom or coffee shop to wash their hands. Describing all the extra effort needed to follow COVID safety measures this year, Steinhauer said, “We’re so blessed that everything came together.”

The kits are distributed to frontline agencies — Red Cross, Covenant House, various shelters and Salvation Army among them — and then handed out to those in need. “There is hope,” Steinhauer said. “People want to help and they really came forward for this project.” Engageandchange.org exists 100% through donations and volunteers.
Jan 23rd, 2021, 6:24 pm

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Jan 23rd, 2021, 9:33 pm
He Thought it was a Kitten Lost in the Snow – But it was One of The Most Endangered Mammals in Europe

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A man who found a tiny kitten buried in snow thought it was a lost cat—only to find it was one of the most endangered mammals in Europe.

32-year-old chef Pete MacNab was out for a walk in Scotland’s Cairngorms National Park with his baby son and a friend.

They spotted a group of sheep circling something. As they drew closer, the animals scattered, revealing a tiny tabby kitten lying in the snow in rural Dava Way.

The feline was unable to get on its feet. It looked freezing and its coat was all matted with snow. Not wanting to leave the creature in difficulty, Pete’s friend, Piotr, carried it the three miles back to town. He noted its claws were like “miniature razors,” and the pair joked that the little creature must be a Scottish wildcat: a rare species known to live in the Highlands.

After it was left at the vets on Wednesday, Pete began posting on local Facebook groups but no owner came forward.

Piotr and his partner began planning to get a cat bed and re-home the kitten—which they’d named Huntleigh.

But, the following day, the vet confirmed a specialist had in fact identified the wee tabby as a Scottish wildcat.

There are only around 100 to 300 of the species left. The only wild member of the cat family in the UK, it’s also one of the most endangered mammals in Europe.

Because of their bond with the kitty, Peter and Piotr have since begun a fundraiser to raise money for a charity helping other wildcats—which has raised more than £5,000 ($6,800) so far.

Peter’s now been contacted by the Royal Zoological Society, which is part of the breeding program, to say the campaign has happily boosted their fundraising, too.

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Jan 23rd, 2021, 9:33 pm

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Online
Jan 24th, 2021, 11:03 am
"Monster wolf" robot born in northern Japan scares away bears

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A machinery parts maker in central Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost main island, is drawing attention at home and aboard with its "monster wolf" robot designed to scare away bears and other wild animals.

The 1.2-meter-long robot developed by Ohta Seiki Co. in Naie can emit up to 60 different sounds, including the howling of wolves and human voices. It detects approaching animals with an infrared sensor, moving its head with glaring LED eyes.

Some 70 units of the robot, priced at 400,000 to 500,000 yen, have been installed around Japan, including Ishigaki Island in the southernmost prefecture of Okinawa, where locals are troubled by wild boars.

It began to draw international media attention last October when Japan's public broadcaster NHK reported efforts in Takikawa, Hokkaido, to keep away bears with the robot. Since then, the robotic wolf has been covered by such media organizations as Reuters, The New York Times and Bloomberg.

Yuji Ohta, president of the parts maker, says he expected good demand for such robots due to the need to control crop damage by wild animals. The company has had inquiries from abroad about the monster wolf and is making preparations to start exports.

source
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021 ... bears.html
Jan 24th, 2021, 11:03 am

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Jan 24th, 2021, 11:32 am
Ancient ‘Bobbit worms’ leaped from under seafloor to snag prey and drag it beneath the sand: study

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Leaping out of the seabed like something from a horror flick, the ancient Bobbit worm — named for infamous, penis-lopping Lorena Bobbitt — snatches an unwitting fish as it swims by and drags the wriggling, hapless creature underground for consumption.

Known generically as sand strikers, these carnivorous, stealth predators can reach 10 feet long, though they’re less than 2 inches in diameter. They live entirely under the seafloor, absorbing oxygen through their skin.

Researchers believe they have found fossilized lairs belonging to the worm’s predecessor — an ancient ancestor that lived 20 million years ago — in northeast Taiwan, according to a study published Thursday in the journal Scientific Reports.

The so-called trace fossils are “geological features such as burrows, track marks and plant root cavities preserved in rocks, which allow for conclusions to be drawn about the behavior of ancient organisms,” Nature explained in a press release.

Worms and other soft-tissue marine animals don’t leave bones, so the only way to know whether they’ve been there is by studying the remnants of their activity, researchers at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia said.

The “very, very distinctive” fossils left by the ancient Bobbit worm were “like nothing we’ve ever seen before in the rock record,” study co-author and Simon Fraser earth sciences professor Shahin Dashtgard told CBC News.

National Taiwan University geosciences professor Ludvig Löwemark and Japan’s Kochi University biological sciences professor Masakazu Nara, two of the study’s co-authors, found these ancient clues in a 20 million-year-old sandstone formation in Taiwan’s Yehliu Geopark and Badouzi promontory while they were seeking traces of other marine animals.

They studied 319 specimens preserved within layers of a seafloor that had been formed during the Miocene era, reconstructing an L-shaped burrow about 6 feet long and less than 2 inches wide.

“I was fascinated by this monster burrow at first glance,” grad student Yu Yen Pan, now a PhD student at Simon Fraser, said in a statement. “Compared to other trace fossils which are usually only a few tens of centimeters long, this one was huge; two-meters long, and two-to-three centimeters in diameter. The distinctive, feather-like structures around the upper burrow were also unique, and no previously studied trace fossil has shown similar features.”

The analysis of the burrow’s makeup did not match that of other marine animals, Löwemark told Gizmodo.

“In the beginning, we were firmly convinced it was a very fancy shrimp burrow,” Löwemark told Gizmodo. “And then, after talking to some other experts, we were leaning towards this bivalve hypothesis. But in the end, we became more and more convinced that it’s actually a Bobbit worm that made this trace.”

The discovery sheds a rare light on the hunting behavior of this ancient invertebrate, Pan told CBC News, as well as giving a “rare glimpse” into the behavior of these creatures under the seafloor, said Nature.

https://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/ ... story.html
Jan 24th, 2021, 11:32 am

Book request - The Mad Patagonian by Javier Pedro Zabala [25000 WRZ$] Reward!
https://forum.mobilism.org/viewtopic.php?f=72&t=5412023
Jan 24th, 2021, 2:47 pm
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I sometimes get REALLY DEPRESSED reviewing the news these days.
It's always about a global pandemic threatening life as we know it,
protests around the world, stupid politicians, natural disasters,
or some other really bad story.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

Welcome to The mobi weekly news magazine
IN OTHER NEWS
SUNDAY JANUARY 24

What is it?
Here is your chance to become an "ACE REPORTER" for our weekly news magazine.
It is your job to fine weird, funny or "good feel" stories from around the world and share them with our readers in our weekly magazine

How do you play?
Just post a story that you have come across that made you smile, laugh, feel good...
BUT NOTHING DEPRESSING :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

EXAMPLE POST
Naked sunbather chases wild boar through park after it steals his laptop bag
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A naked sunbather was seen chasing wild boar through a park after it stole his laptop bag.
Amusing photographs from Germany show the man running after the animal to try and claim the plastic bag back.
But the cheeky boar and its two piglets appear to be too quick for the sunbather, who can't keep up with their speedy little trotters.
As the incident unfolds, groups of friends and family sat on the grass watch on and laugh.
Heads are seen turning in surprise and amusement in the hilarious photographs.
The incident happened at Teufelssee Lake - a bathing spot in the Grunwell Forest in Berlin, Germany.

Rules:
Each Edition of IN OTHER NEWS will be open for 7 days...
You may post One Story in any 24 hour period
So in other words, you can enter only once a day
Each news day will start when I post announcing it
OR at:
9:00 AM CHICAGO TIME (UTC -6)
3:00 PM GMT (UTC -0)

on those days I space out and forget to post or can't due to Real Life :lol:
Stories may be accompanied with images - but No big images, please! 800x800 pixels wide maximum
Videos are allowed, but please keep them to under a minute, and post a short summary for those that don't like to click on videos
No Duplicate stories - Where a post has been edited resulting in duplicates, then the last one in time gets disallowed.
And please limit this to reasonably family friendly stories :lol: :lol: :lol:

Reward:
Each news story posted that I feel is acceptable (must be a real story, too few words or simply a headline are not considered acceptable) will earn you 50 WRZ$
If you post multiple stories on any given day, you will only earn 50 WRZ$ for the first story of the Day
Special Bonus - Each week I will award "The Pulitzer Prize" for the best story of the week
The weekly winner of the "The Pulitzer Prize" will receive a 100 WRZ$ bonus
It's just my personal opinion, so my judgement is final

So help bring GOOD news to the members of mobi, and join our reporting team...

IN OTHER NEWS


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Jan 24th, 2021, 2:47 pm

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Jan 24th, 2021, 3:03 pm
Inventor unveils airbag jeans to protect motorcyclists in crashes

A designer of safety equipment for motorcyclists unveiled his latest invention: jeans fitted with airbags to prevent leg injuries in crashes.

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Moses Shahrivar, who has been designing motorcycle safety jeans since partnering with Harley-Davidson Sweden 16 years ago, said his latest invention uses similar technology to airbag-equipped vests that are currently on the market for protecting a rider's chest, back and neck in a crash.

The jeans, which Shahrivar demonstrated in a YouTube video posted to the official account of his Mo'Cycle brand, are tethered to the rider's motorcycle, and when the tether is pulled airbags deploy up and down the wearer's legs to cushion an impact.

Only one prototype of the Airbag Inside Sweden AB jeans currently exists, but Shahrivar is in the process of getting the jeans certified to European Union health and safety standards and hopes to bring them to market in 2022.

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2021/01/22 ... 611348627/
Jan 24th, 2021, 3:03 pm
Jan 24th, 2021, 3:07 pm
Goats wander into Utah elementary school

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A Utah school district shared photos from an elementary school that received an unusual visit from a pair of escaped goats.

The Granite School District said in a Facebook post that the two goats wandered into Morningside Elementary School on Thursday from a nearby property.

District spokesman Ben Horsley said the goats belong to a woman who lives nearby the school.

Animal control officers responded to the scene and were able to return the goats to their owner.

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2021/01/22 ... 611331737/
Jan 24th, 2021, 3:07 pm

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Believe me, you are someone's crush. Yes, you are!
Jan 24th, 2021, 3:24 pm
Frances Passes Law To Protect The Sounds And Smells Of The Countryside

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Senators voted to approve the law, which passed through the lower house of parliament last year, on Thursday in the wake of several high-profile conflicts by village residents and vacationers.

One case involved a rooster called Maurice, who was put on trial in July 2019 after neighbors complained about his early morning crowing. Thousands of people signed a "Save Maurice" petition.

The court eventually rejected the neighbors' complaints and sided with the rooster.

The case came to symbolize growing divisions between rural and urban France.

"Living in the countryside implies accepting some nuisances," Joel Giraud, the government's minister in charge of rural life, told lawmakers.

In a similar case from 2019, a woman was brought to court by a new neighbor fed up with the babbling of the ducks and geese in her back garden. A court in southwest France also threw out that case.

Cow bells (and cow droppings), grasshopper chirps and noisy early-morning tractors are also now considered part of France's natural heritage that will be codified in its environmental legislation.
Jan 24th, 2021, 3:24 pm

Twitter: Fatima99@fatima99_mobi
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Jan 24th, 2021, 3:27 pm
Pets, touch and COVID-19: Why our furry friends are lifesavers

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Lockdowns, job losses and social isolation have been the hallmarks of 2020 as COVID-19 tightens its grip on the world, not only infecting millions and leaving a mounting death toll, but also denying humans the most basic sense -- touch.

In the absence of human-to-human contact, in millions of households worldwide, animals have stepped into the breach for many people, providing much-needed comfort via cuddles, pats and a constant physical presence.

A new study published by University of South Australia researchers points to the lifesaving role that pets have played in 2020 and why governments need to sit up and take notice.

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The Journal of Behavioral Economics for Policy (JBEP) paper outlines how pets have a crucial role to play in an era where human-human contact can be life endangering.

Lead author Dr Janette Young says physical touch is a sense that has been taken for granted -- even overlooked -- until COVID-19 visited our door earlier this year.

"In a year when human contact has been so limited and people have been deprived of touch, the health impacts on our quality of life have been enormous," Dr Young says.

"To fill the void of loneliness and provide a buffer against stress, there has been a global upsurge in people adopting dogs and cats from animal shelters during lockdowns. Breeders have also been inundated, with demands for puppies quadrupling some waiting lists."

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Spending on pets was already hitting record levels, topping $13 billion in Australia and in the region of US$260 billion globally in 2020, but this is bound to be surpassed.

It is estimated that more than half the global population share their lives with one or more pets. The health benefits have been widely reported, but little data exists regarding the specific benefits that pets bring to humans in terms of touch.

"Pets seem to be particularly important when people are socially isolated or excluded, providing comfort, companionship and a sense of self-worth," Dr Young says.

"Touch is an understudied sense, but existing evidence indicates it is crucial for growth, development and health, as well as reducing the levels of the stress hormone cortisol in the body. It is also thought that touch may be particularly important for older people as other senses decline."

In interviews with 32 people, more than 90 per cent said touching their pets both comforted and relaxed them -- and the pets seemed to need it as well.

Examples of dogs and cats touching their owners when the latter were distressed, sad, or traumatized were cited.

Many people referenced pets' innate ability to just "know" when their human counterparts weren't feeling well and to want to get physically close to them.

"The feedback we received was that pets themselves seem to get just as much pleasure from the tactile interaction as humans," Dr Young says.

Not just dogs and cats either. Interviewees mentioned birds, sheep, horses and even reptiles who reciprocate touch.

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"Animals, like people, are living, breathing others, with individual interests, styles and preferences. While culturally, animals are not seen as 'human', they are still seen as individuals with likes and dislikes.

"In the era of COVID-19, social distancing, sudden lockdowns and societal upheaval, our pets may be the only living beings that many people are able to touch and draw comfort from.

"Humans have an innate need to connect with others but in the absence of human touch, pets are helping to fill this void. They need to be considered from a policy angle, therefore, to help mitigate some of the mental and physical stressors that people are experiencing during this time."

Dr Young says hospitals, hospices and aged care facilities should be encouraging pet connections with residents.

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"Residential aged care is yet to recognise the value of human-animal relationships. Had more pets being living with their owners in aged care when COVID-19 restrictions were applied, it could have helped people immeasurably," she says.
Jan 24th, 2021, 3:27 pm

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Jan 24th, 2021, 7:11 pm
Volunteers Remove 9,200-lbs. of Trash From One of the Dirtiest Rivers in the US

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In an epic cleanup weekend, volunteers dug out more than 9,000 pounds of trash from along the banks of the Tennessee River.

Organized by nonprofits Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful and Johnsonville State Historic Park

The team led another cleanup in October, when they collected 4,811 pounds of trash. And there’s still more to be cleaned; the team is planning another event in April and aims to collect 100,000 pounds of trash from the river by the end of the year.

25 volunteers gathered over three days to remove a whopping 9,208 lbs. of trash, with the help of KTNRB’s 25-foot aluminum work boat launching from Pebble Isle Marina.

Three river miles were adopted by volunteers who wanted to keep up the work on their own after this weekend.

“That’s how the change for our river will happen: through local partners and individuals who are eager about taking ownership to protect and improve their beautiful river community,” said Kathleen Gibi, KTNRB Executive Director.

When KTNRB hosted a cleanup in October, they partnered with national nonprofit Living Lands & Waters who brought five 30-ft work boats to remove 4,811-lbs. of trash—that’s a grand total of 14,019 lbs. of trash removed from four cleanups.

The group hopes to stage another event in April and aims to collect 100,000 pounds of trash from the river by the end of the year. Follow KTNRB on Facebook or other social media or check their website to learn about upcoming cleanup dates.

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Jan 24th, 2021, 7:11 pm

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Online
Jan 24th, 2021, 8:01 pm
Boy, 11, helps families at home with 'Cucina Kids' children’s cooking subscription boxes

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TORONTO -- An 11-year-old boy from Etobicoke has co-founded a cooking subscription box to help kids get more involved in the dinner-making process.

“I love cooking for my family,” Matteo Biscaro told CTV News Toronto. “It’s one of my favourite things to do, possibly my favourite!”

Biscaro has been cooking since the age of four and currently makes dinner for his family four nights a week.

“Sometimes I make homemade pasta, biscotti with my aunt, or even pierogis with my grandma,” Biscaro explained. “I feel a great connection with the kitchen and it’s just a great place for me.”

Biscaro knows, however, that not all children feel the same way about making meals as he does.

“Most of the kids I know aren’t that big of fans of cooking,” he admitted. “They cook so that they will survive, but I cook because it’s fun. So I’m trying to get the people that cook to survive, into the fun side!”

With the help of his mother, Biscaro recently co-founded ‘Cucina Kids’ – a cooking subscription box for children. Each box celebrates cuisine and recipes from different corners of Canada and includes special cooking tools and conversation ‘chit chat’ cards.

“A couple of my friends after texted me, ‘like this is so cool, can’t wait for the next one!’” he said. “And whenever someone does that, I’m just really proud of myself.”

Children who have subscribed to Cucina Kids say it has made them excited to spend time with their parents in the kitchen.

“It’s a fun way to learn more,” Jordan, a friend of Biscaro’s, told CTV News. “It’s just amazing that [Biscaro] thought of this for other kids his age and younger, and older, to experiment with cooking.”

Biscaro hopes that his entrepreneurial venture with ‘Cucina Kids’ will help children who are spending a lot of time at home find a new project and develop a new skill.

“I think it’s great to cook for fun, it’s a great stress-reliever. I think it’s a great thing to do,” he said.

The hope, Biscaro adds, is that families will be brought closer together as the cook and spend time conversing around the dinner table.

“You’re actually learning something while you’re making something, which is great for this time,” he said.

As for kids who may be hesitant to get into the kitchen, Biscaro has this message.

“If it turns out bad, don’t worry! There’s many more chances you’ll get, so just go for it.”
Jan 24th, 2021, 8:01 pm

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Jan 24th, 2021, 8:43 pm
Jaguars returned to Argentina’s Iberá Wetlands

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There was more positive news for the rewilding movement this week as pictures emerged of jaguars prowling Argentina’s Iberá Wetlands for the first time in 70 years.

The big cats were driven out of the swampy region in north-east Argentina by hunters. But now they have returned after conservationists released a mother and her two cubs as part of an ongoing reintroduction programme.

“We are not only restoring a population where the species became extinct, but also we are learning how to reproduce and prepare jaguars to be reintroduced in the wild,” Agustín Paviolo, of the National Research Council of Argentina, told Mongabay. “We expect that this experience could serve to lead the way of jaguar recovery in many regions of America.”
Jan 24th, 2021, 8:43 pm

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Jan 24th, 2021, 11:40 pm
Man who's delivered pizzas in same town for 31 years gifted new car from community

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An Indiana community is giving back to the man who delivers pizzas with a smile.

Tanner Langley, 28, a customer of the Tipton Pizza Hut said he and his family have been getting deliveries from Robert Peters since Langley was a child.

"The town of Tipton calls him Mr. Smiley," Langley told "Good Morning America." "He makes that impact on everybody and he's a very kindhearted individual."
Peters has worked for the restaurant for 31 years but was recently having trouble with his 28-year-old Oldsmobile and spoke to Langley about it.
Langley decided it was time to thank Peters for his kindness, so he started a GoFundMe campaign in hopes to buy him a new car. In just days he surpassed the $12,000 goal, reaching over $18,000.
On Jan 11, Langley surprised Peters with a 2017 Chevy Malibu. The car's registration, insurance and taxes were also covered and Peters was given a $500 gas card, plus a thank-you tip from the neighborhood.

"He couldn't express how appreciative he was to the community for what they had done," Langley said.

Peters told "GMA" it was heartwarming to know Langley and the community would go out of their way for him.

"I just hope that all those who made this happen will be blessed as much as they have blessed me," Peters said. "This has really been an awesome experience that I'll remember for the rest of my life."

https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/living/story/man-delivered-pizzas-town-31-years-gifted-car-75368714
Jan 24th, 2021, 11:40 pm
Jan 25th, 2021, 1:52 pm
Driver has miracle escape after huge oak tree crushes car as Storm Christoph moves in

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A driver has had a narrow escape after a huge oak tree toppled over and crushed his car as Storm Christoph started to batter the country.

The front half of the small Fiat 500 was almost buried beneath the hefty tree when it fell across Ixworth Road in Thurston, Suffolk.

Amazingly, the driver managed to escape without any injuries.

Norfolk and Suffolk Roads and Armed Policing Team (NSRAPT) attended the scene, and shared the photos on Twitter just after 6.30am this morning.

The team wrote: "First casualty of the bad weather... this convertible Fiat 500 had an oak tree fall on top of him as he was driving along.

"Amazingly no injuries. Ixworth Road, Thurston is currently closed in both directions.

"Be careful out on the roads! Drive to the conditions."

It comes as the UK braces itself for Storm Christoph, with amber or yellow weather warnings in place for much of the country.

source
https://sports.yahoo.com/suffolk-driver ... 00577.html
Jan 25th, 2021, 1:52 pm

Twitter @HgwrtzExprss
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