Tag Positivity

The root of all goodness

Michael 6 Comments

In keeping with what I started last week, I’m loading up on good news from around the world. We really do have to go around the world for this because that’s where we find the good news.

Remember when the orange menace decried wind power being bad for birds? Certain Scottish cranes would like to have a word with him. Efforts to restore wetland and peatland areas have helped to return the country’s largest bird that have been gone for centuries. What’s that now about wind power? Wind power is Scotland’s fastest growing source of energy in the country, producing more than the country uses. They’ve been expanding on and off shore windmill farms and are intent on doubling wind produced energy by 2030. And after a 1,000 year absence, the cranes are back. Causation? Or just correlation? Does it matter to the birds?

By the way, in neighboring England, even though natural gas powered electricity continues to be the largest source at 30%, wind is gaining and now contributes 29.2%. Experts say estimate wind will take the number 1 space by the end of the year. No word on missing birds there.

In a rare moment of doing something that doesn’t line their pockets, a bipartisan bill has been introduced to the US Senate. The bill proposes to protect American call center jobs and make sure customers know whether they’re talking to a real person or artificial intelligence. Under the bill, call center employees must disclose their locations at the beginning of all interactions, and share whether AI technology is being used. I’d rather have the Consumer Financial Protection Center back but hey, at least it’s something different coming out of the upper chamber than the usual trend of trying to name everything in town after Dumbbell Donny.

Do you have a telescope? For the first time in 15 years, this Monday you will be able to see the underside of Saturn’s rings using a basic telescope. Saturn will be visible with its iconic rings on 11 to 12 August allowing stargazers to see the flat undersurface rather than just the band. Maybe not good news but something to look forward to besides rising prices.

There is good news coming out of Yellowstone Park. Back in 1995, when the government cared about our natural wonders, the gray wolf was reintroduced to the park area. Now, 30 years later, a direct benefit from this action has been noted. For the first time in over 80 years, young quaking aspens are in the northern section of Yellowstone National Park. The unexpected return of this iconic tree is being attributed to the return of the gray wolf. How? The loss of the gray wolves from the park in the 1930s allowed the elk population to balloon to an estimated 17,000 by the end of the twentieth century. The elk would eat the emerging aspen sprouts, never allowing the tree to flourish. Returning the apex predator wolf species returned the park to balance and now tree, wolf, and elf are flourishing.

Those trees could not have survived 90 years of lost growth without strong roots. We also need strong roots to flourish. Can we make adjustments to keep us growing? Yes! And we talk about strengthening our roots and growing great in this week’s Uplift post Growing Greatness.

 

 

 

Choose your case scenarios

Michael 9 Comments

With all that’s wrong in the world, it’s easy to want to consider the worst-case scenario. When was the last time you considered the best-case scenario? I realize I spend a lot of digital energy bringing up some pretty bad things that are happening. Given the chuckle crew based in Washington DC, it’s just too easy not to find laughingly stupid, or stupidly laughing examples of criminal behavior, let alone their usual level of just dumb crap. Given all of that, good things still do happen.

Among all the wars, conflicts, skirmishes, and scuffles going on, Cambodia and Thailand signed an immediate and unconditional ceasefire on July 28th following military activity along a disputed border. Yay, peace without insisting someone say “thank you” first.

Following months of reports regarding the unconscionable shifting of previously targeted humanitarian aid (aka money) to blood-sucking billionaires, word comes of a new medical school just opened that aims to train new doctors on preventative medicine funding by (be still, my heart) a billionaire! Walmart heiress Alice Walton put up the money for the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine. So she’s not modest about it. We’ll give her that. At least she’s spending her own money.

If other cash-rich American have an altruistic streak in them, there is a opportunity in Vermont. Realizing how spotty cell phone service is in his area, Vermonter Patrick Schlott bought an old pay phone and installed it outside a local general store using a device that doe some magic and changes an internet connection to an (old-fashion) analog telephone line. He then removed the coin-operation mechanism and free phone service was available where previously no cell phone service existed. 370 calls were made from the phone in June, many of them students who needed a pickup from a parent. Schlott would like to expand the project if he can figure out financing. Billionaires of America, here’s your chance to prove you’re human too.

While we are discouraging alternate energy sources, nay, actually encouraging energy dependance on dead dinosaurs, for the first time ever, June saw solar energy become the largest source of electricity in the European Union, supplying a record 22 percent of power. At least 13 countries saw solar output hit a new monthly high in June, with solar amounting to more than 40 percent of the power generated in the Netherlands! Take that T. Rex!

While we find more ways to close parks and remove finding for environmental projects, for the first time in over a century, Parisians and tourists will be able to take a dip in the Seine. The river is opening up as a summertime swim spot following a 1.4 billion euro ($1.5 billion) cleanup project.

So there are good things happening and positive influences around the world. Even in America (gasp!) What prompted my foray down the sunny side of the street? Life on the Sunny Side, this week’s Uplift post of course. We explored how by saying, thinking, and doing positive words, thoughts, and actions, we can shift the focus to looking for those best-case scenarios. Give it a read. Please.