“I intend to put up with nothing that I can put down.” – Edgar Allan Poe
“A children’s story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children’s story in the slightest.” – C.S. Lewis
“It is a great thing to start life with a small number of really good books which are your very own.” – Arthur Conan Doyle
(quote)
Children aren’t reading for pleasure according to new research
The National Literacy Trust’s annual literacy survey 2025 reveals that one in three children and young people do not enjoy reading, with only 35% of eight to 18-year-olds stating that they enjoy reading in their spare time. This is the lowest figure recorded since 2005 when the National Literacy Trust started to gather this data. This
(quote)
This goat hopped into a Newfoundland marathon — and won a medal
Joshua the goat has become a star, says Mayor Darrin Bent
As marathon runners made their way through winding forest pathways and residential roads on Newfoundland’s east coast on Sunday, they were joined by a four-legged competitor who has since become a sensation, says one mayor. he Town of Conception
(quote)
In the last two years, tennis has taken over our closets (court-appropriate garb can be found everywhere from Skims to Miu Miu), our screens (who could forget Zendaya’s turn as the tennis protogé-turned-elite-coach Tashi Duncan in “Challengers”) and now — our living rooms.
At least that is the hope of Belgian eco-designer Mathilde Wittock, who fashions bespoke furniture
(quote)
Cheesemaker Pierre Brisson, who moved to Paris 15 years ago and also runs a cheesemaking school, has decided to open a Musée du Fromage to showcase traditional cheesemaking processes.
‘I realised that lots of things were already organised in Paris to promote wine. Wine culture is developed in France,’ Frisson said to euronews, ‘Cheese is also a big thing, but there
(quote)
‘I was a shy pensioner – now I’m a 70-year-old model proving it’s never too late’
Anne Flanagan, 70, from Belfast, was approached by a photographer in the street who asked to take her picture – and now she’s a model with a local agency
A 70 year old woman has shown that age is no barrier to new
(quote)
A practical guide on how to stop buying clothes.
Six years ago, Lauren Fay decided to stop buying new clothes for a full year. At the time, this seemed like a radical thing to do; but she was an early member of a growing movement devoted to drastically reducing our clothing consumption.
Back then, Fay was partly motivated to save money. She’s
(quote)
Developers Offered a Texas Family Millions for Their Land. They Chose to Make It a Park Instead.
Daniel Kozmetsky wades through a sea of lemon-yellow wildflowers growing along a ridge and looks over a wide valley that stretches in front of him, part of the sprawling RGK Ranch his grandparents founded half a century ago. “This is the spot,” he says, sweeping
(quote)
Finland Tops Happiest Countries List for the Seventh Time
For the seventh year running, Finland has been named the happiest country in the world by the United Nations’ World Happiness Report. The Nordic nation has long been known for its sauna culture, but the Finns’ enduring well-being goes beyond warm rooms and cold plunges. Some Finns have told the press that their citizens
(quote)
Gen Xers and older millennials really just want to go back in time to before the internet existed
According to a new survey, Americans are yearning for an era before constant connectivity. Can we blame them?
According to a new Harris Poll shared exclusively with Fast Company, most Americans would prefer to live in a simpler
“The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just the body, but the soul.” – Alfred Austin
“It will never rain roses: when we want to have more roses we must plant more trees.” – George Eliot
“To plant a garden is to dream of tomorrow.” “Even if you have only a tiny piece of earth, you can create something beautiful, which we all have a great need for. If we
(quote)
In his book Power vs. Force, Dr. Hawkins goes through the scale consciousness.
…from the lower levels of Shame, Guilt, Apathy, Fear, Anger, and Pride; to Courage, Acceptance, and Reason; all the way up to the more expanded levels of Love, Ecstasy, Peace, and Enlightenment. These “higher” energy fields are a carrier wave of immense life energy.
(unquote)
Image courtesy gracemastered.com
(quote)
Barrel-chested Lucas Helmke, 33, from Brisbane, Australia, has pushed his strength and stamina to their limits to break the most push ups in one hour world record. Lucas performed 3,206 push ups within one hour – that’s an average of over 53 per minute. The previous record of 3,182 was set by another Aussie, Daniel Scali, in April 2022. Lucas
(quote)
“Hi, Joel? It’s Marty Cooper.” Engineer Martin Cooper cradled a bulky object to his ear, listening. The gray device had two rows of numbered buttons between the ear and mouthpiece. An antenna poked from the top, reaching skyward to pick up invisible signals from the city’s jangling atmosphere. Next to the sidewalk, cars and taxis zipped down
