Some bite-sized chunks of positive news to brighten the day.
Who Knew?
Police in Wyoming are reminding residents to decorate their homes for Christmas instead of their vehicles after a driver was pulled over with their car illuminated by festive lights. The Wyoming Highway Patrol shared a photo on social media showing a Ford Mustang pulled over by a trooper who noticed the entire vehicle was decked out in colorful lights for the holidays. The police said "no person shall drive or move any vehicle or equipment upon any highway with any lamp or device thereon capable of displaying a red or blue light visible from directly in front of the center thereof." The post said that while decorating a car "might look cool and be festive, we would to remind you that it is illegal."
Holiday Bonus
600 staffers at various independent bookstores across America are receiving $500 holiday bonuses from James Patterson, the bestselling novelist who has been awarding independent store employees since 2015. “Booksellers save lives. Period,” Patterson said in a statement released through his publisher, Little, Brown and Company. “I’m happy to be able to acknowledge them and all their hard work this holiday season.” Along with his gifts to booksellers, Patterson has given millions of dollars to schools, libraries and literacy programs. In 2015, the National Book Foundation presented him an honorary National Book Award - the Literarian Award - for “outstanding service to the American literary community.”
Oldest Newlyweds
You’re never too old to find love - and Marjorie Fiterman and Bernie Littman are proof of that. The Philadelphia couple met each other in their 90s at a nursing home after their spouses passed away. And after dating for nine years, they tied the knot earlier this year to become the oldest couple ever to get married, at the age of 102 and 100 respectively. Littman’s granddaughter, Sarah Sicherman said: “They both love each other’s humour and intellect. They keep each other young.” But the couple have different ideas. Littman attributed his longevity to reading and keeping himself current. For her part, Fiterman credited buttermilk.
Youngest World Champ
World chess champion is an extraordinary title very few can say they’ve held - and 18-year-old Gukesh Dommaraju is officially the youngest person on the list. The Indian teenager has made history at the 2024 FIDE World Championship in Singapore when he took on reigning champion Ding Liren and came out on top after a nail-biting match. He was considered somewhat of an underdog at the beginning of the tournament. “It’s a proud moment for chess, a proud moment for India … and for me, a very personal moment of pride,” he said.
London's Electric Ferry
Commuters in London will soon have a greener way to travel up and down the Thames with the arrival of the UK’s first all-electric river ferry. The Orbit Clipper was given a March 2025 launch date this week. The ferry will be able to carry 150 passengers and 100 bikes, and will “provide an accessible, green and fast route across the Thames seven days a week”, said its operator, Uber Boat by Thames Clippers.
Stop Greenwashing
Keurig’s SEC greenwashing fine highlights challenges in single-serve coffee pod recycling and the importance of truthful sustainability claims. The US Securities and Exchange Commission has fined Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. $1.5 million for making false statements about coffee pod recycling of its pods. This regulatory action highlights growing concerns about corporate transparency and environmental sustainability claims.
"A Huge Achievement"
The happiest country in the world is making a name for itself in ocean preservation as well. The Finnish Parliament has just passed legislation that bans cargo ships from discharging wastewater in the country’s coastal waters. Set to take effect in July, this new law is the first to put such regulations on wastewater from cargo vessels, holding them to the same standards as passenger ships. “This is a huge achievement. Major environmental victories are rare, but this decision is truly world-class. No other country has enacted such ambitious laws,” Ville Wahlberg, CEO of the Baltic Sea Action Group, told Yle, Finland’s national public broadcasting company.
“Seek out what magnifies your spirit.” Maria Popova
On This Day
18 December 1966: The TV special How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, an adaptation of Dr. Seuss's classic children's book, aired for the first time and became a holiday staple.
Today's Articles
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Mood Boosting Video
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