[goldie0608]

Grandma Told She Was 'Too Old' For A Dog Gets The Sweetest Surprise From Her Husband



As a lover of dogs, Andriu Hijar’s 76-year-old grandma has had the pleasure of raising several pups throughout her life.

But, sadly, when she decided to yet again open her heart and home to a new furry companion, Grandma’s happy years on Earth were exactly what threatened to stand in the way. After learning that her grandma wanted to adopt a dog, Hijar offered to help. She reached out to several rescue groups near their home in Peru, seeking a good fit for her grandparents. The response was surprising.

“In the end, they rejected them because of their age,” Hijar told The Dodo. “It made me sad. They are a very loving couple, but were being denied something they were very excited about.”

Grandma was understandably devastated, but tried to accept that she would likely never have a dog in her life again. Hijar, meanwhile, kept looking.

And it’s a good thing she did. One day, Hijar came across a post from a man who had a puppy in need of a loving home. She reached out to him, hoping he would see Grandma’s age differently than the others. And sure enough:

“He agreed to give the puppy to us, knowing that my grandparents were going to take care of her and love her very much,” Hijar said. "My dad went with my grandfather to pick her up."

They named her Princesa. Then, with Princesa cozy in Grandpa’s arms, it was time to surprise Grandma with the good news.

“I was very moved to see her reaction,” Hijar said. “It was very emotional seeing her so happy and full of joy.”



Though some may have doubted it on account of their ages, Princesa couldn’t have found more perfect parents. Hijar understands that adopting a dog, especially a puppy, isn't a decision that should be made lightly. And though older adopters might need extra help down the line, that fact alone shouldn't bar them, she said.

In truth, Princesa isn't just Hijar's grandparents' dog. She's now a part of their whole family." Adopting changes your life," Hijar said. "If a family is ready and with open arms to welcome the little one, then go ahead. That little animal will be eternally thankful for having a family."

And in the end, the love of a dog knows no age.

[Fivetide]

Feds seize 68 big cats from ‘Tiger King Park’ in Oklahoma


In this Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2013, file photo, one of the tigers living at the Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park is pictured at the park in Wynnewood, Okla. The animals were moved to a different zoo called, Tiger King-Zoo in Thackerville, Okla. Federal authorities have seized 68 big cats from Netflix's "Tiger King" stars Jeffrey and Lauren Lowe's animal park in Thackerville. The U.S. Department of Justice announced on Thursday, May 20, 2021, the seizure of the federally protected lions, tigers, lion-tiger hybrids and a jaguar. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)

Federal authorities have seized 68 big cats from an animal park in Oklahoma featured in Netflix’s “Tiger King.”

The U.S. Department of Justice announced Thursday that the seizure of the federally protected lions, tigers, lion-tiger hybrids and a jaguar as part of a court-approved agreement to resolve a DOJ complaint against Jeffrey and Lauren Lowe over the animals’ care.

The civil complaint, filed in November, accused the Lowes of recurring inhumane treatment and improper handling of animals protected by the Endangered Species Act. The couple has received numerous citations for failing to properly care for the animals following three inspections of the Tiger King Park in Thackerville since December 2020.

During a hearing last week, a judge found the couple in contempt for failing to comply with court orders to employ a qualified veterinarian and establish a program of veterinary care for the animals. Daniel Card, an attorney for the couple, told a federal judge that the Lowes “want out completely.”

“They don’t want to fight this anymore. They don’t want to do it,” Card told the judge.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicholas McQuaid said in a statement that the DOJ is working to ensure the animals are sent to “responsible animal preserves where they can be safely maintained rather than exploited.”

Former Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson, who now co-chairs the National Law Enforcement Council for Animal Wellness Action, a group that endorses policies to prevent animal cruelty, said the seizure punctuates a long series of federal actions to shut down an “unethical roadside zoo operator.”

“Joe Exotic and Jeff Lowe ran slipshod operations and the chickens have come home to roost,” Edmondson said.

Jeffrey Lowe was a central figure in “Tiger King” that featured a mullet-wearing zookeeper named Joe Exotic and became a cultural phenomenon last year. Joe Exotic, a pseudonym for Joseph Maldonado-Passage, is serving a 22-year sentence in federal prison in Texas for his 2020 conviction on charges that he participated in a murder-for-hire plot and violated federal wildlife laws.

Google Maps shows eerie 'ghost plane' at site of deadliest US crash that killed 273
In a grim reminder of the US's deadliest airline accident, a passenger jet with a missing wing and cockpit can be seen near where American Airlines Flight 191 crashed

A Google Maps satellite image reveals a "ghost plane" flying above the site of a famous US plane crash which killed 273.

The spooky passenger jet can be seen near where American Airlines Flight 191 crash landed in Des Plaines, Illinois.

It is missing a right wing and front end of its fuselage in a grim reminder of the tragedy and the US's deadliest airline accident.

The domestic passenger flight plunged to Earth just moments after take-off from O'Hare International Airport on May 25 1979.

All 258 passengers and 13 crew on board the LA-bound jet were killed along with two people on the ground.

The McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10 aircraft was taking off from runway when its left engine detached leading to it crashing less than a mile from the end of the runway.



An investigation blamed improper maintenance procedures used at American Airlines.

The Google Maps image was recently uploaded to Reddit and described as showing a "ghost plane".

Its uploader, BewareTheSpamFilter, provided a link to the Google Maps location and a Wikipedia page about the tragedy.

A pin marking the crash site is just a short walk across a field where the white aircraft can be seen going over a creek.

The plane appears to have missing parts due to its movement between snapshots taken from a satellite.

A memorial with all the names of those who died in the tragedy has been erected near the crash site.

The small bronze plaque and a knee-high garden wall's bricks hold the names of the victims.

Previously a Google Maps user picked up an unnamed individual waving to the car using the caption: "Say hello to the camera!"

Many comments praised the t-shirt of the individual, while others speculating about where the happy chap was.

Some thought the picture was taken in Israel.

One said: "I bet this is Israel," later adding when asked about why he thought that: "Well I live there, can't exactly explain how can I tell, but I simply know it."

Another said: "This friendly guy made me happy."

https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/weird- ... t-24158345

[lush]

8 Unusual Wedding Traditions Around the World
Posted on May 20, 2021*

• Introduce some international whimsy to your wedding with one of these weird customs.

Wherever you are in the world, two people joining together in marriage is an occasion for joy. And that’s where the similarities sometimes end.

Different places have different traditions, and that also goes for weddings. For some people, walking down the aisle might seem like an awfully dull ceremony.

Here are eight unusual wedding traditions from countries all over the world.



1) Congo – No Smiling at a Wedding

We just said that weddings are happy events, but you might not think that from seeing a Congolese wedding. That’s because the bride and the groom aren’t allowed to smile. At all.

The couple has to keep a stoic, stern face throughout the entire ceremony. Nor can they crack a smile for photos, or during the after-party, even if the rest of the crowd is going completely nuts.

It’s not that they aren’t happy – weddings are just an extremely serious business in Congo. By not smiling, the bride and groom show that they aren’t treating their lifelong commitment as a joke.

2) South Korea – Beating the Groom’s Feet

Love can hurt sometimes, but the South Koreans make sure it does so right from the wedding say. It’s a tradition in the country to give the soles of the groom’s feet a good beating before he’s allowed to leave with his new wife.

The groom’s friends remove his shoes and socks, tie his ankles, and proceed to beat the crap out of his feet. The beating implement is usually a stick, but it could also be a dried fish.

The friends also often question the groom about his bride and his plans for marriage. The point of the tradition is to get a measure of the groom’s determination and personal strength.

If he can put up with the beating, he can put up with the marriage. Not sure about the message here is, but hey, whatever works.

3) Germany – Breaking the Bride’s Dishes

In Germany, there’s a tradition called Polterabend. It translates to “bachelor party,” but this isn’t like any party we’ve ever heard of.

On the eve of the wedding, the couple’s friends will gather at the bride’s place. They then proceed to smash breakable dishes and crockery on the floor.

After the act, the couple gets to clean it all up together. This way, they show that they can work together to overcome any challenges they might face in their marriage.

It’s a nice sentiment, but… Plates can be pretty expensive. Who’s paying for this?

4) France – Banging All Night

After the wedding, the newlyweds in some parts of France will retreat to their new home. There will then be banging that lasts all night.

Nobody’s consummating their marriage, though. Instead, the couple’s family and friends gather at the house and start banging pots and pans.

The couple is then supposed to respond by showing up in their wedding attire and serve snacks and drinks to the crowd. We’re really not sure what the point is, but that’s the French wedding tradition of Charivari for you.

5) Mauritania – Fattening the Bride

In the West, brides usually try to lose a few pounds before the wedding to fit into the most fashionable dress. Not so in Mauritania – in fact, it’s the complete opposite.

A chubby bride is traditionally seen as a sign of wealth and fortune, and apparently according to some testimonies, Mauritanian men just like their brides thick. As such, it’s not weird to see a bride trying to intentionally gain weight before the big day.

There’s a darker side to this, though. Some brides-to-be are sent to a Bizarro World fat camp, where they’re force fed enormous amount of food – and sometimes even growth hormones – to fatten them up.

In recent years, younger brides and grooms have started to combat the fat camp tradition. Still, according to a 2001 study, roughly 65% of both women and men approved of it.

6) Greece – Groomsmen Groom the Groom

The groomsmen usually help take care of the practical aspects of the wedding on behalf of the groom. But in Greece, their role can become far more literal.

On the wedding day, a Greek best man and the rest of the groom’s wedding entourage show up at his home. They then proceed to give the groom a thorough, clean shave.

The tradition signifies trust between the groom and his friends. Women also have a similar tradition where the bridesmaids help the bride get dressed and do her makeup.

The best man’s better have a steady hand, though. It might not be so good for the groom to show up with his face covered in pieces of toilet paper.

7) China – The Weeping of the Women

The Congolese aren’t allowed to smile at the wedding, but the Tujia people of China take things a couple steps further. For an entire month before the wedding, the bride is supposed to spend one hour every day in tears.

After 10 days, the future mother-in-law will join her daughter in her daily waterworks. Another 10 days along the line, the bride’s grandmother will be crying with them as well.

But the trio isn’t miserable. In fact, because the women cry in different tones, the tradition is supposed to be an expression of joy since their weeping resembles a song.

According to folk stories, the tradition dates back nearly 2,000 years. The story goes that the mother of a princess broke down at her daughter’s wedding and cried for a month straight.

8) Kenya – Father-in-Law Spits on the Bride

In most places of the world, the bride’s father spitting on her during the wedding would surely ruin the day. But among the Maasai people of Kenya, it’s expected.

Before the bride leaves with her new husband, the fresh father-in-law will spit on her head and her chest. There’s absolutely no disrespect intended, though, because the Maasai believe that spitting on something brings good luck.

The tradition isn’t restricted just to weddings, either. Maasai men will spit on their hands before shaking hands with an elder to show respect.

Newborn babies will also get spat on as a good luck charm. There’s just something special about that Maasai mucus.

[johngriffen]

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
SATURDAY MAY 22
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

EXAMPLE POST

​Naked sunbather chases wild boar through park after it steals his laptop bag

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 can post as many stories as you like, but you will only get paid for One Story in any 24 hour period
So in other words, you can only earn WRZ$ once a day.
Each news day will start when I post announcing it
OR at:
9:00 AM CHICAGO TIME (UTC -5)
2:00 PM GMT (UTC -0)
on those days I space out and forget to post or can't due to Real Life
Stories may be accompanied with images - but No big images, please! 800x800 pixels wide maximum
Videos are allowed, but please keep them short, 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

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
All payments will be made at THE END of the weekly news cycle.
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

BOOBY TRAP Male fraudsters dressed as women with fake breast rake in £2m after blackmailing men who exposed themselves on webcams

FRAUDSTERS donning fake breasts as part of a disguise have raked in millions of pounds after blackmailing men who exposed themselves on webcams thinking they were chatting to women.

A bizarre trend in China has seen male internet scammers make themselves look like females with imitation skin and prosthetic boobs to take part in live nude chats with unsuspecting victims.





They then secretly film men while naked before blackmailing them for large amounts of cash.

Cops have issued an official warning to people taking part in the crime, which is reportedly spreading like wildfire across the country.

Police even published a video on the Chinese social media network Weibo to make people aware of the techniques used so they don't fall foul to the trend.

In the video, officers demonstrate how conmen dress up as “fake women” - and to show just how realistic they can look.

The cops are pictured wearing a bra and underwear before pulling the prosthetic skin away, revealing a male chest underneath.

The video then cuts off to footage of two men holding up sets of “fake skin” disguises.



A voice-over from a female police officer says: “You think what you think is what you think?”

She then adds: "Boys, don't chat nude. It’s fraud”.

The video was originally posted in the eastern Zhejiang province and then shared by police social accounts across China.

Fraudsters spend weeks grooming their victims before inviting them to “naked” chats.

The conmen encourage them to download what appears to be a video chat app but is actually spyware designed to scan their phone and email contacts.

The crime has become increasingly prevalent during the coronavirus pandemic.

In the first six months of 2020, The Guangdong Public Security Department received more than 9,000 complaints of blackmail relating to so-called “nude chats”.

At least 10 separate blackmail gangs had been identified and 86 offenders have been arrested, according to a police report.

At least 2,000 victims have been identified and more than £2million has been extorted by the crooks.

https://www.the-sun.com/news/2926173/ma ... d-webcams/

[Fatima99]

Humble homes with incredible secrets - ball pits, jungles and hidden valleys

Buyers beware - sometimes you really don't know what's inside a home until you step through its doors.

Earlier this week, a builder was left baffled after discovering a whole train carriage hidden within a bungalow he was demolishing.

Andy Teal, 49, found the structure - believed to be more than 100 years old - was being used as a living room at the property in Durrington, Wiltshire.

He told The Sun : "We didn’t know the full scale of it until we took the shell down. We were shocked when we realised someone was using a train carriage to live in.”

Of course, across Britain and beyond there are thousands of ordinary-looking homes with some seriously unique selling points.

Ball pits, lavish jungles and secret pub rooms that put your local to shame - these grand designs might give you an idea for that next big DIY project.



Once used as a Second World War command centre, this period Victorian home is no short of history.

Yet in recent years, it's become more of a fun house - hiding an entire ball pit ideal for keeping the kids busy for a few hours.

The five-bed house in Lincolnshire - said to have once been the residence of the Mayor of Grimsby - was snapped up quickly after being put up for sale for £350,000.



Complete with hundreds of plastic balls, colourful walls and a climbing net, the basement is anything but dark and dingy.

Frankly, we wouldn't blame the adults for taking over the room occasionally - it looks like a perfect way to beat lockdown boredom.



Ever struggled to keep a pesky houseplant alive? Well take a leaf out of the book of Nick Wilson, who brought an entire rain forest to life in his back yard.

The software salesman spent 20 years and £15,000 on this incredible project after being inspired by family holidays to Cornwall in the 1990s.



The semi-detached home in Leeds is stuffed full of ferns, bamboos and big leaf plants, and has welcomed hundreds of visitors since opening to the public.

"I had no idea that I liked big, thick enormous plants so much," said Nick. "It was just such a difference to soft, fluffy garden plants. It's definitely a bloke's garden.


"My inspiration came from family holidays to Cornwall in the 1990s and suddenly my back garden was overflowing with massive plants."

The father and grandfather of one has since raised thousands of pounds through viewings for charities including Marie Curie and McMillan.

Best bar none


Ok, so this dreamy getaway in Adelaide, Australia, is far from an ordinary home anyway, with a massive pool to relax in during those scorching summers.

Nonetheless, its best feature is hidden away behind an old bank vault door - a fully-stocked pub cellar complete with a vast booze menu on the walls.



The amazing bar comes with a truly massive wine rack, beers and spirits on tap, and a jukebox in the corner.

Put up for sale at around £447,000, the ultra-modern house features three bedrooms and - crucially after an all-night bar session - four bathrooms.



Local estate agents Harcourts Sergeant said the owners installed the vault doors especially for the secret getaway.

“The business that they own, they actually install bank vault doors,” they told Real Estate.Com.Au.

“That’s why they put that door in there, just as something a little bit different.

Letting this one slide


This grand mansion in Alyth, Perthshire boasts nine bedrooms... and a curious way to get out of one.

Starting in one of the upstairs rooms and twirling down to the kitchen is a huge metal slide - ideal for getting breakfast in a rush.



The stainless steel contraption cost £10,000 to install at the Highland retreat, which went on the market for £695,000.

The stunning property also has five bathrooms, a granny flat and an attached holiday cottage, accessible through a separate door.



A spokesman for Edinburgh-based agents McEwan Fraser Legal said: “The owner was keen for the slide to go in as they felt the house had lots of things in it for the adults and they wanted to have something special for kids.

“Any child will love this unique feature and will never be late for a meal again."

Animal kingdom



This Grade II-listed property in Cranford, Northamptonshire, might require a bit of work if you want to put your own stamp on it.

Behind its well-kept lawns and humble exterior lies a "new surprise in every photo" - ranging from golden bedrooms to decadent chandeliers and a zoo's worth of stuffed animals.



On a grand table in the conservatory sits a giant peacock, while deer heads and birds fill every corner of the home.

The interiors are a bold mish-mash of wooden panelling, vintage clocks, and animal-print wallpaper, and even the ceilings of the bedrooms look like they were painted by Michelangelo.



Said to have been inspired by the interiors of Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire, the two-bed cottage was bought last year after going on sale for £345,000.

An online description said the home had been "fully renovated and uniquely styled", featuring "hand-painted wall coverings, a custom-designed kitchen and bathroom suites, reclaimed oak flooring and French polished doors".

[ozswede]

Marcus Rashford: Man Utd forward becomes youngest person to top Sunday Times Giving List

Marcus Rashford also appears in Young Rich List for the first time after he successfully lobbied the UK Government into a U-turn over its free school meals policy during the coronavirus lockdown; Jordan Henderson is sixth on the list for his role in the #PlayersTogether coronavirus appeal


Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford is the youngest person to top The Sunday Times Giving List

Manchester United and England forward Marcus Rashford has become the youngest person to top The Sunday Times Giving List - the annual measure of philanthropy among the super-rich.

The ranking sets the sums donated to or raised for charity against the Rich List wealth valuation for those individuals or families.

Rashford, who also appears in the Young Rich List for the first time with a fortune put at £16m, successfully lobbied the UK Government into a U-turn over its free school meals policy during the coronavirus lockdown, ensuring children in need would receive free meals throughout the summer.


England international Rashford launched a high-profile campaign to get children eligible for free school meals fed regularly when schools were shut during lockdown

The 23-year-old was awarded an MBE in October 2020 for services to vulnerable children during the pandemic and has since formed a child food poverty task force, linking up with some of the nation's biggest supermarkets and food brands.

Acting as an ambassador for FareShare, Rashford's efforts triggered an estimated £20m of additional donations to the food poverty charity. This gives him a Giving Index of 125 - the £20m representing 125 per cent of his net worth of £16m.

Lindsay Boswell, FareShare chief executive, said: "We are delighted he's been honoured in this way. Marcus' support for FareShare over the last year and his commitment to tackling child hunger has simply been incredible.

"His own experience of relying on free school meals to eat brings authenticity and compassion to his campaigning, and his status as a Premier League footballer means people and politicians sit up and take notice."

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson also features in this year's Giving List, ranked sixth, to mark his role in raising £4m for the NHS from fellow Premier League footballers through the #PlayersTogether coronavirus appeal.

In January, Henderson was named the first NHS Charities Together 'Champion'. The role means he will act as an ambassador for the organisation which supports staff, volunteers and patients within the NHS and raises funds for more than 240 related charities.


Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson is sixth on the list for his role in the #PlayersTogether coronavirus appeal

For the first time, donations tracked by The Sunday Times exceeded £4 billion, representing a 36.1 per cent rise on last year.

Donations have been more widely based than ever, with 182 Rich Listers among the £1 million-plus donors in the past year, beating the previous record of 177 set in 2016.

The Sunday Times Giving List recorded nine donations of more than £100m and 71 gave at least £10m, up from 42 recorded in 2020.

Covid-19 has fuelled the giving spree and The Sunday Times Giving List have tracked £520m of donations to this end alone, covering PPE supplies, the alleviation of food poverty, community support and the vital area of helping to plug the cumulative £10 billion funding gap in the finances of charities up and down the country.

Source

Cyclist's embarrassing selfie fail captured on live TV




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rwtgKzvlM4

A woman trying to snap a selfie while riding on a city bike trail ended up being a distraction on national television.

MSNBC reporter Guad Venegas was reporting live from Santa Monica, Calif., in front of a bike path when a woman glides into view behind him, holding her cellphone up with one hand.

A second later, she starts to swerve and the bike tips over, causing her fall on her bottom.

Fortunately, the woman was unharmed by the fall, and quickly got up while still holding her phone.

Though Venegas, who was reporting about the CDC’s new mask guidelines, was understandably unaware of the cyclist’s embarrassing moment, his colleague, anchor Geoff Bennett, pointed out the mishap to viewers.

https://torontosun.com/news/weird/cycli ... on-live-tv

[prokroustis]

Conspiracy Theorists Think These Elongated Skulls Are ‘100 Percent Alien’



Internet conspiracy theorists think these ancient Peruvian cone-shaped skulls are proof that aliens have visited Earth.

In a now deleted viral Facebook post shared earlier this month, one conspiracy theorist shared a video of the skull, writing: "Check the eye sockets 100 percent alien."

According to a report from USA Today, the post had more than 500 shares and linked to a video on YouTube that contained footage of skulls found in the mountains of Huancavelica in Peru.



The person who posted the video on Facebook told USA Today 'the video was made by a local boy and looks 100 percent real'.

The skulls were originally found in the 1920s by Peruvian archaeologist Julio C. Tello.

Their unusual shape has led to all sorts of theories, including one claim (since debunked) that the skulls' DNA indicated they were 'a completely new human-like being', Snopes reports.

Before we all get too excited about the prospect of having had alien visitors, experts reckon the skulls were actually formed using bindings.

Speaking to USA Today, Peru anthropology specialist Professor Melissa S Murphy, said: "The eye sockets are normal and perfectly within the range of human variation and look like eye sockets of other human skulls from Peru."

She added: "Prehispanic peoples on the south coast of Peru and elsewhere in Peru have engaged in this practice for thousands of years.



"Deliberate head shaping is a form of cultural modification of the body that marks different things, like one's identity, a rite of passage, an occupation."

A 2018 report in Science News suggested that elongated skulls were seen as a status symbol in ancient Peru and were found amongst members of the elite.

Members of a community called the Collagua intentionally altered their skulls to try and create a taller, thinner shape.

Bioarchaeologist Matthew Velasco of Cornell University noted in a 2018 study: "In times of crisis and social upheaval, the creation of new kinds of collective identity can strengthen or undermine political reintegration.

"It may have promoted cohesion among local elites and facilitated cooperation at higher levels of inclusiveness to coordinate agropastoral exchange, manage irrigation, or mobilise against outside forces, including (but not limited to) the encroaching Inka state."

And not a single mention of aliens, which is a bit of a disappointment, isn't it?

[PennySerenade]

'I'm having a baby on the 407': Dramatic moment Ontario mom delivers baby on the side of highway captured on camera



TORONTO -- As Troy Campbell passed Brock Rd. on Highway 407 in Pickering, Ontario, his vlog took an unexpected turn.

What was supposed to be a car ride to the hospital, recorded on video, turned into a highway delivery.

Troy’s wife, Erika Campbell, went into labour on May 10 and the two set out for the hospital, just ten minutes away, but it quickly became evident that their baby was ready to enter the world much sooner.


Troy and Erika Campbell were surprised by the arrival of their baby while driving to the hospital on Highway 407.

In Troy’s vlog, Erika can be heard saying she is ready to push while still in the car.

"You gotta push? What do you mean you gotta push?" Troy said to his wife.

Through contractions, the couple managed to get their midwife on the phone, who was able to direct Troy to pull the car over and call 9-1-1. The dispatcher then aided him in assisting Erika through the labour.

"I'm having a baby on the 407," Erika can be heard saying to the 9-1-1 dispatcher.

"I can see the baby's head. The baby's head is out," Troy told the dispatcher. "It's almost out. Tell me what to do, please."

Within minutes, the baby was born, but for approximately 20 seconds, the couple waited anxiously for the baby to begin to cry.

Erika says those 20 seconds were the scariest part of the entire incident.

The ambulance arrived shortly after, the couple says, and the group was transported to hospital, where they were deemed in good health.

"I did what I had to do," Erika told CTV News Toronto on Thursday.

FULL VIDEO HERE:
https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/video?playlistId=1.5436148

[goldie0608]

Woman reunited with fishermen 35 years after they rescued her



Fishermen are known for their fish stories. But the story charter boat captains Mark Pisano and Paul Strasser tell is all too real.

Thirty-five years ago, Pisano and Strasser were piloting a charter back from Catalina Island off the California coast, when they came across a capsized boat and an orange life vest bobbing in the waves. Pisano jumped in and pulled out 9-year-old Desiree Rodriguez — the only survivor.

"That story, it really throws a loop at me," Strasser said.

"It was catastrophic. Imagining what she went through that day is unspeakable, really," Pisano added.

Her mother, father, sister, aunt, and uncle all perished in the incident. Rodriguez had been in the water for 20 hours when Pisano and Strasser found her.

"It was against all odds that she was still coherent and alive," Pisano said.

This was the last time Pisano and Strasser ever saw Rodriguez, but they always wondered about her.

That's until a podcaster named Phil Friedman invited both men on his show, along with a surprise guest.

On Friedman's show, Strasser and Pisano were reintroduced to Rodriguez. The brims of their ballcaps weren't nearly wide enough to hide the joy. Thirty-five years was not nearly long enough to erase their bond.

"When I connected with them, they brought a lot of closure," Rodriguez said.

Since then they have stayed in touch, and this week Strasser and Pisano invited Rodriguez, the aunt who raised her, and the rest of her family to take a little journey. It was Rodriguez' first time back on the ocean, and it was a journey that would bring her full circle right back to where she was found.

"I'm glad we could come together today and kinda heal," Rodriguez said on the trip.

The bodies of her father, sister and uncle were never recovered. The journey was their first memorial — a commemoration of the family she lost — but also a celebration of guardian angels she gained.

"I hope to know you guys forever," Rodriguez said to the two men who found her.

"You know everyone says God works in mysterious ways," Pisano said.

Fishermen usually tell stories about the one that got away — but Strasser and Pisano will always cherish the one who got to stay.

Large chunk of ice falls from sky through Florida home’s roof

It’s a bird, it’s a plane, no it’s falling ice. Wait, what?

A Palm City homeowner had a large, heavy piece of ice fall through their home’s roof Wednesday, according to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies posted to Facebook writing, “a startling start to the morning for a homeowner in the Danforth community in Palm City after a large, solid, heavy piece of ice fell from the sky and landed on the home’s roof.”

Photos posted show a hole in the roof and a very large and thick piece of ice on the ground.

Thankfully, the ice hit the edge of the room and hit the ground outside and not inside the home.

Deputies said there were no injuries and no other reports of damage.

And there’s no explanation of where the falling ice came from, deputies shared in the post.

[stanley123]

Penguin in Antarctica Leaps into Passing Tourist Boat – Enjoys the Respite



Watch video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeKDL-AN0M0

An eager penguin leaped into a tourist boat and stayed onboard for 10 minutes to enjoy the above-water view with the other passengers.

Polar guide John Bozinov was leading a tour through Antarctica’s Ross Sea when a sole chinstrap penguin made a couple of attempts to jump onboard his Zodiac vessel.

The 30-year-old cut off the engine to make it easier for the animal to make the leap, and it finally landing successfully on the side of the boat next to one of the passengers.

The speculation is that the penguin was possibly trying to avoid predators in the water, like leopard seals and killer whales—especially because after he jumped ship, he hopped over to another vessel piloted by John’s colleague Steve Reynolds.

Confused, jealous wife stabs husband after seeing her younger self in old photos

A woman stabbed her husband several times after thinking she found photos of him with a younger woman.

It turns out that she herself was that “other” woman. The photo of the couple was taken years ago, when they were dating, police in Sonora, Mexico said.

Authorities from the municipality of Cajeme reported that a suspect identified only as “Leonora N” was arrested for wounding her husband “Juan N” with a knife after finding several photos on his cellphone.

The husband, who managed to take the knife from her, explained that the photos were of them back when they were more youthful and slim.

Juan apparently convinced his wife that he had digitized the old snapshots to store on his cellphone.

Fortunately for the man, the police arrived at the scene after neighbors heard screaming and sounds of a scuffle.

Local media last reported that the woman was being detained by authorities pending charges.

https://yucatanmagazine.com/confused-je ... ld-photos/