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  • Steven John

    Steven John is a writer based near New York City (after 12 years in LA, four in Boston, and the first 18 just outside DC). When not writing or spending time with his wife, son, and daughter, he frequently jogs and bikes, sometimes gets in a kayak, and occasionally climbs mountains. He writes for several major outlets, and his novels can be found on his website stevenjohnbooks.com
friends ready for game night
Pop Culture

Hard Trivia Questions for Your Next Game Night

People love trivia, that’s just a fact. That explains the popularity of long-running shows like Jeopardy or Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, and countless volumes of trivia books. Despite its close relationship to "trivial," trivia can be of great importance, particularly to those who love nothing more than to challenge -- and, ideally, beating -- their friends in battles of knowledge. And for that, they require hard trivia questions for the next big game night. RELATED: Do the 36 Questions Really Lead to Love? But how do you plan the best trivia night for your friends? You come up with the best trivia questions, and difficult trivia questions definitely rank among them. Note, however, that doesn't mean the hardest trivia questions. It’s remarkably easy to come up with dozens of hard trivia questions that require knowledge too obscure to answer -- or to be any fun. We’ll share a few examples of bad trivia questions below for reference. One secret to creating great (and fun) trivia questions that aren't too challenging is to come up with ones that can have more than one correct answer. That way, you allow people to plumb the depths of their knowledge, and find not only the right answer but also enjoy that boost of self-confidence that comes with getting it right. And really, when you’re having a trivia night with friends, isn’t that more important than stumping everyone? If you agree with that sentiment, then, by all means, avoid questions like those found in the first segment Skip ahead: Hard Trivia Questions About American History Hard Trivia Questions About Geography Hard Trivia Questions About The Human Body Hard Trivia Questions About Sports Hard Trivia Questions About World War II Hard Trivia Questions About Everything Else! Examples of Bad Trivia Questions for Your Game NightKangchenjunga, the world's third-highest mountain, by Noor Salim on Unsplash Here are five examples of trivia questions that are too difficult to be considered fun. Why? Because they are almost surely unanswerable by most players. Thus, they risk leaving people feeling as if they came up short. RELATED: Truth or Dare Questions for Your Next Game Night 1. What is the capital of Togo? (It’s Benin, but unless players have prepared specifically for geography, this is probably too obscure.) 2. What is the third-tallest mountain on Earth? (It’s Kangchenjunga, in the Himalayas, in the border region between Nepal and India. However, almost no one is going to readily answer that.) 3. What is the 10th decimal digit of pi? (It’s 5, but people who can recite pi to 3.14159, a standard number of digits recalled, will feel they perhaps should have known.) 4. Who was Teddy Roosevelt’s first lady? (It was Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt, but this is a “gotcha” question, because it's rather obscure, and because she wasn't his first wife.) 5. Name five former U.S. secretaries of state. (There are plenty to name, but this question asks for too many responses to be much fun!) Now, let’s move on to some great hard trivia questions. Hard Trivia Questions About American HistoryThe Lincoln Memorial photo by Pixabay from Pexels These questions have a single correct answer. Plus, U.S. history is a subject in which most American citizens can be expected to have at least some grounding. RELATED: 101 Deep Questions to Ask Your Boyfriend, Girlfriend or Partner 1. What is the oldest European-founded city in the United States? (St. Augustine, Florida, founded in 1565) 2. Name all four U.S. presidents who were assassinated while in office. (Abraham Lincoln, James Garfield, William McKinley and John F. Kennedy) Ford Model T photo by Matthew Lancaster on Unsplash 3. In which war did the most Americans die? (the American Civil War, in which an estimated 620,000 men, or 2 percent of the U.S. population at the time, lost their lives) 4. In what year did the first Ford Model T sell? (1908) 5. Who was the first U.S. president to appear on television? (Franklin Delano Roosevelt, on April 30, 1939, during the opening session of the New York World's Fair) 6. What does the middle initial "S" stand for in U.S. President Harry S. Truman's name? (This is a little tricky. Truman had no middle name. His parents gave him the middle initials as a compromise to honor both grandfathers, Anderson Shipp Truman and Solomon Young) Hard Trivia Questions About GeographyMount Whitney, in California. Photo by Nico on Unsplash Most of these have multiple correct responses, which is a great way to make a hard trivia question a bit easier to field. And it's more fun for a wider group of participants. RELATED: 100 of the Best Questions to Ask People to Get to Know Them 1. In what state is the tallest mountain in the continental United States? (California) 2. Name two of the five deepest points in the world’s oceans. (Mariana Trench, Puerto Rico Trench/Milwaukee Deep, Java Trench, South Sandwich Trench, Molloy Hole) 3. Name five countries whose names begin with the letter G. (Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana) 4. What is tallest mountain in Australia? (Mount Kosciuszko) 5. What is the longest river in Europe? (Volga) 6. Which country's flag features a dragon? (Three possible answers: Bhutan, Malta or Wales) Hard Trivia Questions About the Human BodyPhoto by Nhia Moua on Unsplash These questions can be fun with players of different ages. Kids often will know more about the human body than adults do, because they more recently learned about it. RELATED: The Most Powerful Questions to Ask Your Partner to Connect on a Deeper Level 1. Name the three bones found in the inner ear. (Hammer, anvil, stirrup) 2. How many total chromosomes does a human cell have? (46 – 23 pairs, but 26 total) 3. What is the second-biggest organ in the human body? (Liver) 4. Name four types of bone found below your pelvis. (Femur, patella, tibia, fibula, tarsals, metatarsals, phalanges) 5. Does an average head of full hair have about 1,000, 7,500, 10,000 or 15,000 hairs? (10,000) Hard Trivia Questions About SportsPhoto by Prapoth Panchuea on Unsplash These questions mostly have single answers, as statistics are such an important part of sports. RELATED: You’re Making Friends Wrong – Here’s How to Do It Right 1. Which sport is older, basketball or American football? (Football) 2. In which decade was baseball’s first perfect game thrown? (1880s) 3. Name five positions on a soccer/football team. (Goalkeeper, sweeper, center back, full back, defensive midfielder, central midfielder, attacking midfielder, wing back, winger, striker, forward) 4. This Major League Baseball team (currently) has the second-most World Series wins. (Cardinals, 11) 5. Who (currently) holds the all-time point record in the National Basketball Association? (Kareem Abdul-Jabar, 38,387) 6. In which year was the first football World Cup held? (1930) Hard Trivia Questions About World War IIPhoto by Chandler Cruttenden on Unsplash What can we say? People love trivia about the Second World War. RELATED: Are You a Good Friend? These Tips Will Help You Become an Even Better One 1. On what day did Nazi Germany invade Poland? (Sept. 1, 1939) 2. Name three European countries that remained neutral during World War II. (Ireland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey) 3. On what date was victory declared in Europe? (May 8, 1945) 4. Name three types of American World War II fighter planes. (P-51 Mustang, P-47 Thunderbolt, P-38 Lightning, P-40 Warhawk, F4 Corsair, F6 Hellcat, P-63 Kingcobra, etc.) 5. What was the deadliest battle of World War II? (Battle of Stalingrad, with approximately 2 million casualties) Hard Trivia Questions About Everything Else!Image: Disney Sometimes, it's more fun to take a wide-open approach. So here are 10 more great trivia questions from all sorts of topic areas. RELATED: 6 Ways to Build New, Meaningful Friendships as an Adult 1. How many legs does a centipede have? (30) 2. Name one of the only African countries that were never colonized. (Ethiopia and Liberia) 3. How many humps does a dromedary camel have? (One) 4. Who was the youngest U.S. president ever? (Teddy Roosevelt, at 42) 5. In which decade were the first artificial Christmas trees manufactured? (1930s) 6. What is the hardest natural substance on Earth? (Diamond) 7. What is the best-selling album of all time? (Michael Jackson’s Thriller) 8. Who was the youngest British prime minister ever? (William Pitt the Younger, at 24) 9. What is the only mammal that is fully covered in scales? (Pangolin) 10. Who was the first Disney princess? (Snow White) KEEP READING: What Are Interesting Questions to Ask a Guy?

Jon Bon Jovi Married His High School Sweetheart 35 Years Ago–Why the “Rock Star” Life Never Mattered
Celebrities

Jon Bon Jovi Married His High School Sweetheart 35 Years Ago–Why the “Rock Star” Life Never Mattered

Jon Bon Jovi and his wife Dorothea can boast more years together than most. The two met when they were in high school and have been going strong ever since!And it looks like early love may run in the family with the news that their son Jake Bongiovi, 20, is officially engaged to Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown, 19. The two actors announced their engagement on Instagram in typical Gen Z fashion. Luckily they have excellent role models in couple Jon Bon Jovi and Dorothea who have set a high bar.After all, the '80s rocker and his wife have been married for the majority of their adult lives. And they were close before either was technically even an adult at all. How have Jon Bon Jovi and his wife Dorothea managed to not only buck the all-too-common trend of divorce in America in general, but also to overcome the much greater odds of celebrity divorce?The “secret” to Bon Jovi’s long and happy marriage is no secret at all; he and Dorothea love each other, like each other, and most importantly respect each other.How Jon Bon Jovi and Dorothea Met @jonbonjovi/InstagramThe man known to the world as Jon Bon Jovi was born John Francis Bongiovi Jr. in 1962. By the mid 1970s, while still a teenager in high school, the naturally gifted songwriter, singer, musician, and performer was playing music in clubs around his native New Jersey.While still in those high school years, after transferring schools before his junior year, Bon Jovi met another New Jersey native, Miss Dorothea Hurley. Initially just friends, as Dorothea was romantically involved with a mutual friend, there was an instant connection between the two. But it didn't take long before the two were soon dating. RELATED: Adam Sandler Insists “Nobody Wants to Hear About My Secret to Marriage,” But He Is Dead WrongEven as Bon Jovi’s career began to take off in the early 1980s, the shared love between Dorothea and the rocker only grew. By 1986, Bon Jovi, the band named for its lead, was a global sensation. They toured the world, played sold-out stadiums, and had number-one hits including “Livin’ on a Prayer” and “You Give Love a Bad Name.”In an era where womanizing, drugs, and wild, reckless behavior were the standard operating procedure for rock stars, Jon Bon Jovi completely bucked the trend. Instead of making headlines for crazy offstage antics, the gifted musician and performer spent most of his time off the stage with his significant other.How Many Children Do Jon Bon Jovi and Dorothea Have?@jonbonjovi/InstagramAnd in keeping with his practice of being a showman on the stage but a quiet and down-to-earth gent off of it, Bon Jovi married Dorothea in a private and secret ceremony in 1989. The couple wed at a chapel in Las Vegas, the musician briefly slipped away from his band’s The New Jersey Syndicate Tour to marry her in the Graceland Wedding Chapel. Since that semi-elopement in 1989, Jon and Dorothea, properly known as John and Dorothea Bongiovi, maintained a wonderfully close relationship and have grown their union into a family of six. The first of the couple’s four children, a daughter named Stephanie, is 29 at the time of this writing. Their first son, Jesse, is 28, while their younger two sons are Jake, currently 20, and Romeo, who is 19 and headed off for college.How Bon Jovi and Dorothea Make Their Marriage WorkSimply put, Jon Bon Jovi never “fell for” the celebrity life. He said via People that he always strove to give his kids “a normal life” and that approach was always in play in his earlier rock star days, too, albeit in regards to his wife. And both he and Dorothea knew all along what succumbing to stardom can do.“We work hard at [our relationship], but we enjoy each other and we never fell for the trappings of what celebrity can do. We've witnessed that happen over the years to people that were close to us and people that we knew from afar. It’s just what I do, it's not who I am. I write songs. I happen to be very good at performing them. That's it." RELATED: The Simple Secrets to Felicity Huffman and William H. Macy’s 25-Year “Fairytale Marriage”And well that they be mindful: per stats cited on LinkedIn, the divorce rate among celebrities is a staggering 67% higher than it is with “normal” couples, and is worst of all among musicians. (Those rates tend to fall if the relationship endures for more than a decade, it should be noted.) Be it the actions of one or both spouses, the pressures from the wider world, the strains of the unique career of a star, or other factors, it’s hard to say, but the numbers don’t lie. Bon Jovi and Dorothea are the very happy exception. For them, the only number in question is which anniversary is next, with this year slated to mark their 33rd.Bon Jovi Stays Grounded Despite a Wild Career@jonbonjovi/InstagramWhen most people think of Jon Bon Jovi, the likely first think of surging rock ballads like “Livin’ on a Prayer.” And that’s entirely fine, it’s a great song. What others might think of is his solo work and soundtracks for movies. Others might note that he is also an actor, having appeared in movies like Little City and U-571 and in several TV shows, too. Still others might note his involvement in politics and philanthropy. Or that he opened and often works in a restaurant called JBJ Soul Kitchen that is devoted to serving very low cost or no-cost meals to people struggling with poverty.Long story short, the term “rock star” can very much be applied to Jon Bon Jovi but it sells him short. And if husband and dad are not on that list of terms, you can be sure he would feel underrepresented. The secret to their love? “Mutual respect. Having grown up together and grown together. And we really like each other. We want to hang out.″It seems the two realized early on that we are not what we do, we are who we love and who loves us. His son Jake and Millie Bobby Brown not only have great examples of enduring love and how to balance the spotlight with family but the two actors may have a lot to live up to!

Zendaya’s Siblings: Who Are They and What Is Her Relationship With Them Like?
Celebrities

Zendaya’s Siblings: Who Are They and What Is Her Relationship With Them Like?

Zendaya's family isn't just big, they are close. With five siblings, nephews, nieces, stepsisters and cousins, the Euphoria star doesn't have to worry about ever being alone.Many of the biggest stars in Hollywood are tight-lipped when it comes to their families. Then, on the other hand, you have some A-list celebrities who make their families a full part of their story. Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman, usually only known as Zendaya, is already an international star with major roles in film, TV, and tens of millions of followers on social media. But this is one star who is outspoken about her love and pride in her family, and she regularly credits them for her own success.The way Zendaya feels about her family is touching and inspirational, and all the more so because the feelings are clearly mutual among the loving and grounded family.How Many Siblings Does Zendaya Have?@zendaya/InstagramZendaya is the youngest of six siblings, and all of her brothers and sisters (she has two brothers and three sisters) are in fact half-siblings, her father having had them with a woman from a relationship before meeting her mother. The fact that they are half-siblings has had no effect on how close the brothers and sisters are.RELATED: The Real Reason Why Zendaya Is Staying Away From RelationshipsZendaya’s oldest sibling is her brother Austin Stoermer Coleman. Her oldest sister is Katianna Stoermer Coleman, and Zendaya often remarks on how much she looks up to her older sister in particular, calling her a role model and positive influence. “I look up to my big sister and realise the influence she’s had on me and making me a better person. Having such a big, grounded family, I realised as you get older how important that is.”Zendaya’s Relationship With Her Siblings@kazembeajamu/InstagramZendaya’s next eldest sibling is Annabella Stoermer Coleman, followed by her other brother, Julien Stoermer Coleman. Her closest sibling in age is sister Kaylee Stoermer Coleman, who has accompanied Zendaya to several major movie events.It’s also important to note how close Zendaya is with her nieces and nephews — all of Zendaya's siblings being older, it’s no surprise that the Spider-Man co-star has lots of nephews and nieces running about.Katianna Stoermer ColemanZendaya's oldest sibling prefers to stay out of the spotlight. Does Zendaya Have a Twin Sister?@zendaya/instagramContrary to rumors that often swirl, Zendaya does not have a twin — remember, she does not even have a full-blood sibling. One reason many people think Zendaya has a twin sister is because of her work with actress Storm Reid in the show Euphoria. Reid and Zendaya do share quite a resemblance, but absolutely no relation; and in fact, Storm Reid is many years younger than Zendaya.Who Are Zendaya’s Parents?@kazembeajamu/InstagramZendaya’s father, Kazembe Ajamu Coleman, is African-American. He is a former teacher who today operates as the actress’s manager. He is a fiercely loving and protective father, and Zendaya is equally loving of her dad, often sharing photos of her with him before her millions of followers on social media.RELATED: How Tom Holland and Zendaya’s Slow-Burn Relationship Flourished Against All OddsZendaya’s mom is Claire Stoermer, and Claire, who is Caucasian, is arguably the most important person in Zendaya’s life — though Zendaya’s boyfriend actor Tom Holland may not like to hear that. Claire Stoemer was an educator for more than two decades, working primarily in schools that served underprivileged children. This served as a great inspiration for Zendaya, who saw her mother always treating her students with the utmost care and respect and helping instill an appreciation for education in young minds. Little wonder that Claire Stoermer is a frequent guest of Zendaya’s at red carpet events and awards shows and ceremonies.@kazembeajamu/InstagramToday, Zendaya’s parents are separated but they remain on cordial terms and, as a whole, the family is quite close and connected.A quick scroll through Zendaya’s Instagram feed shows a star who is aware of her fame and her place in the world yet who does not take herself too seriously and remains grounded in reality. She has posted images of herself on magazine covers and in lavish, high-fashion outfits, but she also shares images of herself as a little kid, casual snaps with her equally famous boyfriend, and candid images of her just hanging out and being a regular 26 year old. We get the sense of a person who would be as much fun to chat with at a family gathering as she would be to watch on the screen — in other words, she comes across as a genuine person.

State Trooper Doesn't Hesitate to Buy Donuts for Young Girl Without Money — The Letter She Sends Him Afterwards Sets off Amazing Chain Reaction
Uplifting News

State Trooper Doesn't Hesitate to Buy Donuts for Young Girl Without Money — The Letter She Sends Him Afterwards Sets off Amazing Chain Reaction

Little changes can have big impacts.It was on a December day in the year 2017 when a girl named Brooke walked into a Sheetz gas station in Butler, PA, hoping to get something sweet to eat. She had her heart set on some donut holes, but she soon found she had not brought enough money into the store with her.Brooke was about leave the Sheetz when a man named Chad stepped in.Pennsylvania State Trooper Chad Savannah is his full title, and he happened to be there in the gas station at the same time as Brooke. When Officer Savannah realized what was happening, he immediately opened his own wallet and bought Brooke her donut holes.To Serve, Protect, and Treat(WTRF)Thrilled, Brooke hurried out of the Sheetz and went home. Savannah didn't twice about his little act of kindness, and went on with his day.But Brooke was thinking twice about the moment, and she couldn’t let things rest as they were without a formal thank you.At home later that day, Brooke wrote a note of thanks to Officer Savannah, though she didn’t even know his name at the time. The note read in part:“My name is Brooke and I am 9 years old. I was at Sheetz and didn't have enough money. A nice police officer behind me kindly paid for my item. I thanked him, but felt bad because I didn't offer him the money I had. So, I am donating this money. I want to thank this officer again. Stay safe. Brooke.”A Gift Given and Then Shared OnShe sent the letter off to the police where it was received with so much appreciation that Chad Savannah and his fellow officers just had to keep the loop of kindness going.Officer Savannah and his fellow troopers quickly pooled $50 and bought a Toys ‘R’ Us gift card for Brooke and sent her a letter of her own along with it. The letter told Brooke she should use the gift card to buy some toys.And Brooke did buy toys, but not for herself. Instead, she kept on spreading joy. Brooke used the money the officers had gifted her to get toys that she then donated to the Toys for Tots organization, a program the works to ensure all kids have some cherished toys despite the socioeconomic circumstances in which they live.It’s easy to imagine that because Officer Savannah bought Brooke those few donut holes that December day, many other kids had a happier day sometime later. And the ripples spread further than we can see.

Young Man With Rare Medical Disorder Gets to Meet Santa — His Reaction Will Make You Cry Tears of Joy
Uplifting News

Young Man With Rare Medical Disorder Gets to Meet Santa — His Reaction Will Make You Cry Tears of Joy

For Andy Pollone of O’Fallon, Illinois, Santa is still real, even in Andy’s 24th year. This is because of a rare medical condition called 15Q24.Thanks to a 2017 encounter with a man dressed as Santa, Andy will forever remind us all that believing in Santa — or in anything else that gives us joy — is a beautiful thing at any age.When Andy Met SantaAndy Pollone’s mom Jennifer knew her son had a few great loves in life. A few of her son’s favorite things are Harley Davidson motorcycles, hamburgers, and Santa Claus.Knowing how much Andy loved St. Nick, Jennifer started filming when Andy approached the doors of a Harley Davidson showroom where Santa was greeting visitors. In the clip, we see Andy peering through the glass doors and exclaiming a long, loud, and thrilled “Oh! Ooooooh!”With his hand clapped over his mouth in utter disbelief, Andy enters the showroom and gleefully cheers: “Santa! Mama, Santa!”Andy then runs toward “Santa” with open arms and as he reaches his hero, the man in the red suit stands and says: “Hi, buddy! How are ya!”Andy and Santa embrace and the young man’s face is simply filled with glee. We get the feeling that it’s a moment Andy Pollone will surely remember and cherish forever.How Andy’s Moment with Santa Touched Lives Far and Wide(Sunny Skyz)For Andy, meeting Santa was a happy moment. But that moment has multiplied into countless hours of happiness given how many times it has been watched and re-watched by people all over the globe.A quick glance at just a few of the comments left on Facebook and YouTube show how much good the encounter did for people far beyond the Pollone family's hometown.Posters left comments like: “I want to hug him right now” and “So much love and happiness. Merry Christmas Andy!” Others expressed deep emotions with words like: “This is truly the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.”And one recurring theme in the online comments was a sense of gratitude, summed up by one man who said in part: “Made my Christmas. I have watched this over and over. Thank you for posting this.”Is Santa real? No, not in the classic magical man who lives at the North Pole way. But is the magic of Santa Clause real? Yes, and the joy can be powerful to all.

5-Year-Old Boy Goes Out in Pyjamas to Find His Mother — He Nearly Freezes to Death Before a Heroic Snowplow Driver Spots Him
Everyday Heroes

5-Year-Old Boy Goes Out in Pyjamas to Find His Mother — He Nearly Freezes to Death Before a Heroic Snowplow Driver Spots Him

According to the National Weather Service, a few degrees below zero with wind speeds of just five to 10 miles per hour, wind chill can easily drop to 20 degrees below zero.And at that temperature, frostbite and hypothermia can take effect on a human body in well under a half hour, unless the person is properly attired for extreme cold conditions.And that’s assuming the human body in question is an adult. The person at the center of this story was certainly not clothed for extreme weather, and he was certainly not an adult, either.Five-year-old Maddox Pierce was wearing nothing but onesie pajamas when he headed out into a frigid, snowy, and windy early morning one day in February 2021. Had it not been for a lot of luck and the immediate action taken by a snowplow driver named David Gehrke, that date in February may well have ended up chiseled into a young child’s gravestone.Why Maddox Headed Out into the ColdPer WISN, on that fateful February morning, young Maddox Pierce awoke before four in the morning and found himself living every small child’s nightmare: he was home all alone. Except that of course the five-year-old had not been left alone, he had simply forgotten that his teenaged aunt was babysitting him while his mother worked in the wee hours of the morning.Not finding his mom where he expected her and not realizing his aunt was there asleep in the house, Maddox panicked and left. He planned to make his way by foot to his grandfather’s house, but being just five, he failed to realize how life-threatening the conditions he would face on the walk would be.When Maddox emerged from his family’s townhouse, he was clad only in thin pajamas. The temperature out was well below freezing, it was snowing, and it was windy. The conditions would have been dangerous even for an able-bodied adult of sound, mature mind — for a little kid, it was very likely a death sentence.Thankfully, when the worst of winter’s weather rears its head, that’s when David Gehrke gets to work.Saved by a Stroke of Luck and a Quick Response(ABC)When David Gehrke climbed into his snowplow that blustery morning, the conditions were awful. Gehrke said: “It was snowing, blowing and miserable.”He set to work on a route clearing the streets near the southeastern end of town and it was there that he came across a sight he had never expected to see: a child wandering alone in the snow.Gehrke only spotted the boy by luck, Maddox being briefly illuminated by the lights shining off the side of the truck. But it was enough — instantly Gehrke knew this was a bad situation. He stopped the snowplow and leapt from the cab, picking up the shivering child and wrapping Maddox in his own coat.Gehrke loaded Maddox into the truck’s cabin, cranked up the heat, and immediately called the police. When officers arrived, they found Maddox unhurt and returned the boy home after contacting his mother.Reunited with her son, Brittany Weissenburger was shaken and emotional but in no trouble; the police determined there had been no wrongdoing of any kind, just a case of a child making an innocent mistake and being saved by luck and kindness — a kindness for which David Gehrke was formally recognized with a certificate of appreciation.The snowplow driver hero said later that he appreciated it but hardly needed a commendation; he was just happy to know the boy was safe.

64-Year-Old Artist Receives Worldwide Recognition by Creating Unbelievable Snow Art — With His Feet
Motivation

64-Year-Old Artist Receives Worldwide Recognition by Creating Unbelievable Snow Art — With His Feet

We've probably all made a snowman in our lives, but have you ever seen snow art?Yes. It exists. In order to find anything like the amazing works of art created by a 64-year-old British man named Simon Beck, you have to consider several other types of art blended together.You can consider a sand mandala, wherein part of the beauty is the inherent ephemerality. You can consider geometric Bauhaus-style art that briefly flourished in the early 1900s. You can even consider crop circles.Long story short, it’s very hard to sum up the work of Beck by comparing it to other art, because he has essentially created a new art form: snow art. And massive snow art, at that.Beck’s Professional Background Perfectly Prepared His Artistic PathBorn in London in 1958, Beck would eventually settle in the French Alps, the landscape that would become the “canvas” for much of his work. Before he began that work, however, Beck earned a degree in Civil Engineering from Oxford University and he worked for many years as a cartographer.Both his training and his work experience would prove to be the perfect background for a man who was destined to create some of the most unique artwork of our time, for indeed Beck’s snow art combines the planning and math of engineering with the geographical acuity of a mapmaker.His art also requires being able to keep moving along over snowfields for hours on end, also known as being fit. And determined.The Mapmaker Switches to Massive-Scale ArtAround the time he turned 50, Simon Beck made a change in his life that would soon be to the awe of people all around the world. He began to make his snow art.To create his massive works, Beck first does a lot of planning, using the same types of tools he would have employed in cartography.Then he straps on a pair of snowshoes and heads out into the field.To create a single piece of his amazing snow art, Simon Beck may end up trudging as many as 30 miles in a given day, putting in some 40,000 steps for some of his pieces. Some of the natural installations measure a mile across, and all are astonishingly intricate and complex, appearing created with computer-like precision when seen from afar.Given how long it takes a make a single piece of snow art, it’s impressive that Beck manages to create a few dozen of them each year.But don't our word for it -- see for yourself: Simon Beck’s Refreshing Outlook on Ephemeral ArtA piece of artwork created with snow or sand as the medium is, by its very nature, temporary. But does it bother Beck that he puts in hours and hours of work only it to be blown or washed away before long?Not at all. “Most people will only ever see most of the world's artwork as photographs," Beck is quoted as saying via Artsy. "Even with the Mona Lisa, probably only a minority of people have actually seen the real thing, but everyone's seen a photograph of it.”Is seeing a photo of Beck’s work as good as beholding a massive snowy work of art in person? No, but it’s far better than not seeing it at all.

He Went From Six Figures a Year to Living on the Streets as a Homeless Drifter — Until One Kind Woman Stopped to Help Him
Uplifting News

He Went From Six Figures a Year to Living on the Streets as a Homeless Drifter — Until One Kind Woman Stopped to Help Him

No one sets out in life with a plan to end up homeless and on the streets. Finding yourself in that situation is all the more disorienting, saddening, and frightening when your life was, for many years, an objective success.This happened to a Canadian man named David McDonald. And then, a woman named Kim Cormier and her partner Andrew Embury came into McDonald’s life, changing everything.A Downward Spiral Ends Alone on the StreetsFor many years, David McDonald’s life was the picture of normalcy and comfort. He owned a gas station and enjoyed pay of nearly six figures each year. He had a decade-long relationship with a beloved partner. He had a trusty Dodge Durango. He lived close to his teenaged daughter. And he had a home.It all started to go south when gas prices shot up and business dried up. In 2010, McDonald was forced to give up his business. Soon, with no meaningful income, he lost his home. Then his partner left him. Then he had to give up the truck.McDonald relocated about three hours west from his home of Kingston to Toronto in order to stay close to his daughter who had recently made the move. Unfortunately, she soon moved again, leaving him alone and with no work and no stable housing.McDonald took a bus all the way to Vancouver, some 2,700 miles west, looking for a new start, but instead he found himself experiencing homelessness for the first time.About a year later, McDonald made his way back to Toronto via bicycle, hitching, and foot. There and in Kingston, he would spend years without stable housing. At times, McDonald shared a small apartment with strangers, often facing threats of violence over the fact that he is gay. At times he was on the streets.And at nearly all times, McDonald was miserable. Once a happy, successful, and cared for man, he now found himself depressed, destitute, and alone in the world.But what should have been just one more kick while down turned out to be the spark that changed it all.The Definition of a Happy Accident(Postitive Outlooks)One day in 2021, David McDonald was riding his scooter along a Kingston, Ontario, street when a tire blew out. The e-scooter being his primary means of transportation, McDonald needed to repair the tire even though it would be an expense.Fearing his possessions would be stolen, McDonald asked a woman if she would watch his things while he went and bought the replacement part.That woman was Kim Cormier, and she readily agreed. But merely helping by watching this stranger’s possessions was truly the littlest Cormier could do.When McDonald came back with the inner tube, Cormier and her partner, Andrew Embury, invited him in to have dinner with them. An instant affinity developed among the three, and that new friendship would mean the end of McDonald’s time living in homelessness.A New Home for a New Friend(Yahoo)Cormier invited the then 46-year-old to set up camp in her backyard. And thanks to some donated items, this “camp” was the picture of comfort.McDonald moved into a spacious tent complete with a queen-sized mattress, a couch, and even a refrigerator. When he needed to use the restroom or do laundry, he was welcome in Cormier’s home. And, amazingly, Cormier never saw her hospitality as charity — in fact, she and Embury so enjoyed McDonald’s company that in many ways they felt he was the one doing them a kindness.As cold weather loomed, a larger community came together to do an even bigger act of good, per Global News, donating enough money for an 80-square-foot micro home that was complete with insulation and weather sealing and that would be set up in Cormier’s yard to give McDonald a safe, comfortable place to spend the winter.And that little home would be McDonald’s to keep for good and set up where he pleased, whether it remained in Cormier’s yard or if David McDonald chose to take his home with him anywhere else in the world.We can change each other's lives. And our own in the process.KEEP READING: 4 Years Ago, He Was Homeless – Today, He Bought His First House

Smarty Pants: 28 Fun, Interesting, and Random Facts About Everything
Just for Fun

Smarty Pants: 28 Fun, Interesting, and Random Facts About Everything

Why do human beings love trivia so much? According to experts, trivia can literally make us feel good. “Playing trivia games can provide a dopamine rush much like gambling, without the negative effects, says Healthline writer Lori Roniger, adding: “It can be quite satisfying and doesn't have many downsides. That's how psychologists describe the mental health benefits of trivia.”RELATED: 5 Interesting Facts Everyone Should Know – These Can Lead to Great ConversationsThere’s also a degree of social capital involved in knowing lots of fun facts.When you have a lot of interesting facts ready for quick recall, it can make for more interesting conversations that can make you more enjoyable to be around, and not just on trivia night, but on any day of the week. And then there is the fun of it all. Fun facts are just a pleasure to learn and share and heck, you might even learn a thing or two.From facts about animals to famous people to planet earth and beyond, we’ve got you covered with these 28 random facts that will fill your brain with interest. And dopamine.Fun Facts About Human Beings and Other AnimalsLet’s start off with fun facts about the human body and the bodies of our animal friends, because biology is pretty amazing. (And sometimes gross.)The Skin of Polar Bears Is BlackUnsplash/Hans Jurgen MagerSure, we think of these giant, fierce mammals as being all white save for those eyes and noses, but under their fur, these bears have dark black skin.Blue Whales Can Communicate with Each Other Across Hundreds of MilesUnsplash/Venti ViewsA blue whale’s “song” can be as loud as 188 decibels — louder than a jet engine — and can travel for hundreds of miles through the water.Sea Lions Can Go Deeper Than Any Scuba DiverUnsplash/Maura MikhailSea lions can dive down to depths of 450 feet, which is more than a hundred feet deeper than even the best-trained divers are supposed to reach.You Have More Bones in Your Hands and Feet Than in the Rest of Your BodyUnsplash/Owen BeardThe bones in your hands and feet add up to 106 bones in total, which means more than half of the bones in the entire adult skeletal system are in these extremities.Your Taste Buds Are “Refreshed” WeeklyUnsplash/Nicole ElliottHumans have an average of 4,000 taste buds on their tongues, and the receptor cells on taste buds are replaced about every seven to 10 days.The Elephant Is the Only Mammal That Cannot JumpUnsplash/Nam AnhThey can run pretty fast at 25 MPH, they can perform deft feats with their trunks, and of course, they never forget, but elephants cannot jump — at least one foot always remains on the ground.The Female Human Nose Is More Powerful Than a Male’sUnsplash/Engin AkyurtThe part of the brain that processes smell is, on average, 50% larger in women than it is in men.The Only Animal That Does Not Require Oxygen Is a Fish ParasiteUnsplash/Karyna PanchenkoAn eight-millimeter parasite called the Henneguya salminicola that infects certain types of salmon is the only known creature that requires no oxygen to live.A Shrimp's Heart Is in Its HeadUnsplash/Elle HughesThe heart of the shrimp is located in the head, evidently having evolved to be located as such due to the thickness of the protective exoskeleton around that body part.An Ostrich's Eye Is Bigger Than Its BrainUnsplash/Simon InfangerThe ostrich eye, which is five times large than a human eyeball, is larger than its brain, which is in fact considered underdeveloped.The Average Person Spends About 122 Days Asleep Each YearUnsplash/ShaneAssuming you get an average of eight hours of sleep each night, that’s 2,920 hours in a year, which is just under 122 days.Interesting Facts About Our WorldOur planet is a pretty amazing place, especially with all the amazing things we have built on certain parts of it through the ages.The Tallest Building on Earth is the Burj KhalifaUnsplash/Kuriakose JohnThere Have Been Over 130 Pyramids Found in Ancient EgyptBuilt in Dubai between 2004 and 2010, this true skyscraper is an astonishing 2,717 feet high, meaning it is just over half a mile in height.Unsplash/Osama ElsayedWe may think only of the impressive trio of pyramids at Giza, but in fact, at least 130 Egyptian pyramids are known, surely representing but a fraction of the totalThe Pacific Ocean Covers an Area of More Than 63 Million Square MilesUnsplash/Thomas VimareThe entire surface of the planet is about 197 million square miles, and the Pacific is responsible for the largest amount of that coverage by a large margin.The Eiffel Tower Was Supposed to Be Built in BarcelonaUnsplash/Denys NevozhaiThe eponymous designer of the famed Parisian landmark, Gustave Eiffel, first proposed building his tower in Barcelona, but the city rejected it as a likely eyesore.Those Iconic Stone Heads Have BodiesUnsplash/Thomas GriggsThe otherworldly dark stone heads for which Easter Island is famous are in fact perched atop huge bodies that have simply been covered up with soil over the years.The Empire State Building Was Erected in Less Than Two YearsUnsplash/Kit SumanIn fact, this iconic skyscraper, which was finished in 1931 and was the world’s tallest building until 1971, took just 20 months to build.Saint Lucia Is the Only Country in the World Named After a WomanUnsplash/Omar Eagle ClarkeThere are plenty of nations named after men, but at present only Saint Lucia is named for a woman, namely Saint Lucy of Syracuse.Delaware Is the Only US State Without Commercial Air ServiceUnsplash/Ivan ShimkoIf you want to visit the First State, you’ll need to drive, bike, walk, or hop on a train, because no commercial airlines fly there at present.There Are Now More Than Eight Billion People AliveUnsplash/Aleksandr PopovThe population of living humans is estimated to have surpassed eight billion in the closing weeks of the year 2022.Totally Random Facts Just for KicksSometimes, you just want a lot of fun trivia, categorization is not necessary. Let’s close out with these fun facts.One Man Has Set More Than 600 World RecordsUnsplash/Giorgio TrovatoThe record of all records. Ashrita Furman has set more than 600 official Guinness Records, thus holding the Guinness world record for the most Guinness world records.George Washington Was the Only President Not to Live in the White HouseUnsplash/Library of CongressThe executive mansion was not completed until near the end of Washington’s second term, thus he lived at his manor to the south, Mount Vernon.Twice as Many Civilians Died During World War II Than SoldiersUnsplash/Free Walking Tour SalzburgHardly a fun fact, but a real one — of the estimated 60 million deaths caused by the war, the majority of those who died were not combatants.The First Person to Have Reached 120 Years of Age Was Jeanna CalmentUnsplash/Danie FrancoShe lived from 1875 until 1997, reaching 122 years of age and she may well be the oldest person to have ever lived.There Is Only One Letter That Does Not Appear in Any State NameAnd that letter is Q. Even J and X and other more obscure letters are used.Unsplash/Mackenzie CruzOnly One Person Has Earned Two Unshared Nobel Prizes in Different CategoriesUnsplash/Anastacia DviLinus Pauling earned a Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1954 and then earned the Nobel Peace Prize in 1962.It Is Physically Impossible to Lick Your Own ElbowUnsplash/Lucaxx FreireOK, actually some people can do it, but we hope it was worth a laugh either way if you just tried.