What better way to wrap up the week than with a global round-up of positive news stories?
Profits to Charity
You’ll likely want a slice of Newman’s Own frozen pizza after reading this story. Ever since the brand was founded by the late Paul Newman and A. E. Hotchner in 1982, it has operated under a commitment to “give it all away,” i.e. donate 100 percent of profits to charity. Now, in celebration of what would have been Newman’s 100th birthday, the Newman’s Own Foundation has launched the 100% for Purpose Club to inspire other companies to follow suit. Alex Amouyel, the foundation’s CEO and president, says that the approach combines “the best of the for-profit and nonprofit business models.”
Biden's Talent Agency
Just weeks after leaving office, Joe Biden is laying the groundwork for his post-presidential era in Hollywood. One of the entertainment industry’s biggest talent firms, Creative Artists Agency, which represents actors including Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts, says it has signed Biden to its roster. CAA will be representing him in all areas, including publishing and speaking engagements.
Own Goal
A Nottinghamshire pub in central England promised punters a free pint for every Nottingham Forest goal in Saturday's Premier League match against Brighton – only for the side to pull off a freak 7-0 victory. The Gedling Inn gave away around 300 free pints as the goals "started coming thick and fast", said The Guardian. "It got to half-time and I thought: 'Oh my gosh, I don't know if I can carry this on'," said landlady Beccy Webster. "But I decided I was sticking to my word."
Tongue Twister
Tongue twisters are those delightfully tricky phrases or verses that are designed to challenge the articulation and coordination of speech. The hardest tongue twister is packed with sequences of similar sounds, particularly consonants, that are super tricky to say quickly or repeatedly. English tongue twisters, such as "She sells seashells by the seashore," are commonly used to improve pronunciation and elocution. If English is your native language, these challenges serve as a fun and engaging way to sharpen muscular articulation. You might be surprised to learn that this short phrase won the title for the most difficult tongue twister in the world: "Pad kid poured curd pulled cod." It might not look that tricky at first glance, but in a study by MIT speech communication scientists, the researchers created this tongue twister, which ended up being the hardest tongue twister for their test subjects to pronounce and repeat.
Posthumous Grammy
Following his death at age 100 in December, President Jimmy Carter won a Grammy Award last weekend. After narrating the audiobook Last Sunday in Plains: A Centennial Celebration, the late 39th U.S. president was honored with Best Audiobook, Narration & Storytelling Recording, marking his fourth Grammy win since 2006.
US Heat Pumps
During the first 11 months of 2024, people in the U.S. bought 37 percent more air-source heat pumps than gas furnaces, the second-most popular heating appliance. That figure shatters the 21 percent lead heat pumps had in 2023, showing a clear momentum for the “greener” alternative - and it’s no surprise why. Essentially two-way air conditioners that can both heat and cool, electric heat pumps have comfort, climate, and health benefits, reports Canary Media. They are three to four times as efficient as fossil fuel alternatives, are one of the most effective ways an individual can reduce emissions, and can save money.
“The measure of who we are is what we do with what we have.” Vince Lombardi
On This Day
7 February 1964: The musical British Invasion began when the Beatles landed in New York City this day in 1964, and two nights later, as Beatlemania stormed America, their performance on The Ed Sullivan Show was watched by 73 million viewers.
Today's Articles
Is That Me? A badger appearing to admire a Banksy-style graffiti version of itself has won an award.
First Glimpse: Badly burnt scroll from Roman town of Herculaneum digitally "unwrapped", providing the first look inside for 2,000 years.
Mood Boosting Video
Cats watching scary movies.