Buzz
If the week’s headlines have been bringing you down, this collection is here to turn things around. We focus exclusively on stories that inspire, entertain, or make you feel good. For those interested in the more unusual events of the week, check out our offbeat list.
This week, we spotlight everyday heroes who went the extra mile in their jobs. A shoeshiner who saved money for sick children, a pizza delivery driver who granted a dying man's final wish, and two political candidates who proved that competition can still be civil and even friendly.
We’re also moved by the courageous actions of a dog, amazed by the cleverness of a Girl Guide, and amused by the ridiculous antics of Belgium's worst criminals.
10. The Shoeshiner With A Heart Of Gold
Albert Lexie, 76, passed away last week after more than 30 years working as a shoeshiner at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s Children’s Hospital. Over that time, he donated all his tips, amounting to over $200,000.
Twice a week, Albert would take three buses from his home in Monessen to the hospital, earning about $3 per pair of shoes he polished. Despite earning only around $10,000 annually, he gave every tip to the Free Care Fund, which helped provide health care to uninsured or underinsured children. By the time he retired in 2013, Albert had donated $202,000, according to the hospital.
UPMC Children’s Hospital president Christopher Gessner described Lexie’s kindness and generosity as a true “inspiration for all of us.” Former Monessen Mayor Louis Mavrakis, who had known Albert since childhood, called him “one of a kind.”
9. Understanding Your Audience
Work smarter, not harder. This is the valuable lesson from nine-year-old Girl Guide Elina Childs, who managed to sell her entire stock of cookies by setting up shop outside a newly opened cannabis store in Edmonton.
Elina and her father, Seann Childs, arrived at Nova Cannabis last Wednesday with a wagon carrying 30 boxes of cookies. In under 45 minutes, the cookies were sold, and Elina raised $120 for the Girl Guides.
Seann came up with the idea, realizing that many people would be craving a snack. He also saw it as a teachable moment for Elina to learn about marijuana now that it has been legalized in Canada. He described the experience as positive, noting that everyone they met was respectful and “incredibly friendly.”
8. A Political Duet
Two political opponents decided to put their differences aside and surprise their supporters with a concert.
Lucy Rogers, the Democratic candidate for the state House of Representatives seat in Lamoille County, Vermont, is facing off against Zac Mayo, the Republican candidate for the same position. Despite their fierce competition, the two found an unexpected moment of unity.
After a debate at a local library, the candidates asked the audience to stay for a few minutes while they moved some furniture to make space. Then, Rogers pulled out her cello, Mayo grabbed his guitar, and they performed a duet of Jerry Hannan’s “Society.”
Collaborations like these across party lines have become rare, which is why Mayo believes there is a need for “these kinds of stories” to remind Americans of their shared identity. Rogers, on the other hand, explained that this wasn’t a political stunt designed to grab national attention. It was simply about demonstrating that, on a local level, they could work together despite their political differences.
7. One Last Slice
Steve’s Pizza in Battle Creek, Michigan, doesn’t offer delivery. However, manager Dalton Shaffer made an exception and embarked on a seven-hour drive to Indianapolis to bring one final pizza to a couple battling cancer.
Twenty-five years ago, Rich and Julie Morgan lived in Battle Creek and considered Steve’s Pizza to be the best place in town, making it a regular stop every payday. Although they had moved since then, they planned to return to the pizzeria for Julie’s birthday. However, their plans were interrupted when Rich’s cancer worsened, and he had to be placed in hospice care.
Julie’s father, David Dalke, reached out to the pizzeria and shared their story, hoping they might send a simple message to Rich and Julie saying, “Sorry, you couldn’t make it,” to lift their spirits. Instead, Dalton asked what their favorite pizza was and announced he was heading to their home with two pepperoni-and-mushroom pies, despite the Morgans living 360 kilometers (225 miles) away.
6. The Most Inept Robbers in Belgium
This display of criminal incompetence is sure to bring a smile to anyone's face. Six would-be robbers walked into an e-cigarette shop in Belgium with plans to hold it up. The owner told them he didn’t have any money at the moment and asked them to return later. Oddly enough, they did… only to be promptly arrested.
It was business as usual when Didier opened his shop in Charleroi. But then, six men entered in broad daylight and demanded cash. They spent 14 minutes in the store during which Didier tried to strike up a friendship. He must have some serious charm because he convinced the crooks that he’d have €2,000 to €3,000 available if they just came back at closing time.
Naturally, Didier called the police as soon as the thieves left, though the officers were doubtful that the criminals would actually return. However, at 5:30 PM, one of the robbers showed up at Didier’s door. The owner, unfazed, told him there was still an hour until closing and that he should come back even later.
At 6:30 PM, five thieves came back and were promptly arrested by police who had been waiting in the back of the store. Didier later likened the whole situation to a comedy film and referred to the criminals as the “worst robbers in Belgium.”
5. NASA Gets Its Groove Back
Good news for NASA this week, as it seems the Hubble Space Telescope is nearly back to full operation after enduring several weeks of malfunctions and technical issues.
Few instruments have contributed to our understanding of the universe more than the Hubble telescope, but it’s been in service for quite some time. On October 5, one of its gyros that helps it rotate and lock onto targets failed. Thankfully, the telescope was switched to “safe mode,” and a backup gyro was activated. Unfortunately, that one was also faulty, causing the rotation rates to be far higher than normal.
NASA scientists took several measures to fix the faulty gyro. First, they employed the universal IT fix—they turned it off and on again. They suspected the fault might have happened during startup since the gyro hadn’t been in use for over seven years. Unfortunately, this didn’t work.
Next, they tried the trusty “jiggle method,” where NASA technicians shook the gyro in hopes of dislodging any potential blockages. To do this, they had the Hubble perform a series of movements in opposite directions while switching between high and low modes on the gyro. This seemed to help, so another round of maneuvers was carried out on October 19.
It now seems like the gyro is functioning as it should. However, it still needs to undergo further testing before the Hubble can resume its scientific operations. At the moment, NASA is still uncertain about the root cause of the initial issue. They are optimistic that the Hubble could continue working until 2030–2040, but the James Webb Space Telescope is set to launch in 2021 as its replacement.
4. Dance Like No One’s Watching
A man who had been unable to dance for 10 years due to multiple sclerosis (MS) was able to dance once again following a new treatment that helped him overcome his wheelchair-bound limitations.
For ten years, Roy Palmer from Gloucester, England, was unable to feel his legs due to his multiple sclerosis (MS). However, last year, he came across a relatively new treatment called hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).
After researching, he found that the procedure was still considered experimental. HSCT is a difficult and risky treatment that can lead to several severe side effects and may not work for everyone. Despite these challenges, Palmer decided it was worth trying.
HSCT essentially involves removing your stem cells, which are then frozen while you undergo chemotherapy to wipe out your immune system. Once that’s done, the stem cells are reintroduced into your body.
When successful, this procedure effectively reboots your immune system. Fortunately, Roy’s treatment worked. Within two days, he regained sensation in his left leg, and shortly after, he was able to take his first walk in over ten years.
Over time, Roy was even able to dance again. Seizing the opportunity to make the most of his second chance, he recorded himself and shared videos of himself participating in viral trends like “flossing” and the “Kiki challenge.”
3. Quick Thinking of a Mother Helps Thwart School Shooting
Sadly, school shootings have become all too common, and they often bring deep sorrow. However, this story offers a brighter outcome, as a woman from New Jersey may have helped stop a school shooting thanks to her sharp instincts.
Authorities identified the suspect as Dylan Jarrell from Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. They arrived at his home just as he was about to leave, discovering he had a firearm, a bulletproof vest, and over 200 rounds of ammunition. A search of his devices showed that both his computer and phone contained research related to school shootings and threats of harm against multiple individuals at a school.
Police have not revealed the name of the school that Jarrell had intended to target.
2. Military Dog Awarded Prestigious Honor
For the first time since World War II, an Australian animal has been granted the Dickin Medal for acts of bravery or devotion to duty. Kuga, a Belgian Malinois, was honored posthumously for his courageous actions under fire, which saved his squad from an ambush in Afghanistan.
The Dickin Medal, named after Maria Dickin, the founder of the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA), was created to recognize animals’ heroics during World War II. Between 1943 and 1949, 54 medals were awarded, after which the medal went on a 51-year hiatus. It was revived in 2000, being occasionally awarded to animals for extraordinary bravery.
Kuga was the only recipient of the award this year. Serving as a military dog with the Australian Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) in 2008, Kuga showed incredible bravery in August 2011 during a patrol in the Khas Uruzgan district of Afghanistan. His handler, Sergeant J, allowed Kuga to scout ahead, and the dog detected a threat. Kuga rushed down a bank, where an insurgent lay in ambush. Despite taking five bullets, Kuga subdued the attacker and forced him to retreat.
After an emergency medical evacuation, Kuga survived the initial attack. However, the toll of his injuries and the long process of rehabilitation were too overwhelming, and Kuga passed away nearly a year later. This week, he was honored with the Dickin Medal, which will be displayed at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra next year.
1. Company Converts Cannabis Packaging Waste Into Prosthetic Limbs
With the legalization of cannabis in Canada, the industry has faced its share of growing pains. The expansion of this new market brings both new opportunities and challenges. One such challenge recently raised by Nova Scotians is the excessive use of packaging for cannabis products.
Health Canada has established regulations requiring marijuana packaging to be tamper-evident, child-resistant, and protective against contamination while keeping the product dry. However, each province has the flexibility to determine specific requirements. In Nova Scotia, the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation (NSLC), the sole legal cannabis retailer, has come under fire for its excessive use of plastic and cardboard for packaging its cannabis products.
Where others see obstacles, Jacob Boudreau, the founder of Kindness3D, sees an opportunity. He aims to gather plastic caps and repurpose them into prosthetic limbs.
Kindness3D is a nonprofit that creates 3-D printed prosthetics for those in need, completely free of charge. Initially recycling bottle caps for materials, they have expanded their efforts to include plastic lids from cannabis containers. The organization has also launched a petition urging the NSLC to collect and donate used cannabis packaging from across the province.
