What do you think of when you think about the father figure in your life? I'll always remember our early morning drives to school, when my dad let me control the music, even though I'd always play the same CD. I remember the way he'd hold onto me in parking lots to protect me from passing cars; the way he still stands closer to the street when we're walking side-by-side. The way he'd run around the house with me and my brother with blankets tied around our necks like superhero capes, catching us when we leapt off the couch and every other time we fell. Speaking of dads: The illustration above brings to mind Brian Wilson, a father of seven who famously sang about surfing. Though his relationship with his own children was imperfect, they loved each other fiercely. So let's celebrate the dads in our lives, imperfect though they may be — God only knows where we'd be without them. Here are some good things that happened this week. |
Making coffee at home is a pedestrian task many of us perform every morning. For Luka Krizanac, brewing his own coffee is a life-altering milestone: Months ago, he didn't have hands at all.
Krizanac was 12 when a severe infection turned into sepsis and required amputation of parts of his arms and legs. It took 17 more years for Krizanac to complete a double hand transplant, an extremely rare procedure that required years of planning and a team of 20 to perform.
Krizanac has for years used prosthetics on his arms, but they weren't quite as dexterous as his leg prosthetics. Months after the transplant, Krizanac is still on a regiment of physical therapy and medication to make sure his hands stay healthy. But his life has completely changed, he says: He's using his phone, washing his hands and reacting to the rush of cold water on his fingers — not to mention honing his craft as an at-home barista! |
When you think of your "happy place," chances are it's where you feel most comfortable and relaxed. Not so for CNN's Bill Weir. His happy place is deep in the deserts of Utah: Buckskin Gulch, a snaking 16-mile slot canyon — one of the longest in the world — and, to Weir's ears, maybe the quietest, too.
"The only sounds are the buzz of a fly and maybe a commercial airliner 35,000 feet above," he said on his recent trip, documented in the CNN Original Series, "My Happy Place."
At Buckskin Gulch, prehistoric images are carved into the rock, which has been warped over centuries to create the rounded, striped pathways that Utah's desert canyons are known for. It's not an easy trek, though: Weir warned of "crotch-deep, ice-cold puddles" throughout the journey, alleys that are only as wide as your shoulders, scorpions and even quicksand, among other risks. But the risks are worth the epic reward, Weir said: "My happy place usually involves some threat of danger." |
It's hard to be a dog. Take Amber, a 5-year-old pup who ran off from her new foster family only one day after being rescued, for example. She traveled to London from Qatar — that's a long journey! No wonder she was jumpy. She traversed the English countryside for over a month, covering more than 100 miles and evading capture even when her rescuers set up cameras and feeding stations in an attempt to lure her back home. She even swam a mile to a wildlife sanctuary on an island where dogs aren't welcome. Luckily, a boat spotted her mid-swim back to shore as she was struggling against the tide. After some much-needed R&R (because sometimes you need a vacation from a vacation), she was returned to her foster family, who now keep her on as many as three leashes at once when she's in their backyard — they're not taking any chances! |
Alyssa Stone/Northeastern University |
A smiley science superhero |
Let it be known that this is a very pro-amphibian newsletter (you remember the Kermit speech, right?). For more proof, I present these glow-in-the-dark axolotls, a type of friendly-faced salamander that can regenerate lost limbs. Now, we finally know how they do it! Regeneration kicks off with the help of an ingredient some of you may recognize — retinoic acid, which often appears in retinol acne treatments. It helps signal which part of the body an axolotl's injured cells should regenerate, researchers from Northeastern University reported in a new study. Human embryos develop with retinoic acid, too — it tells our cells where our head and feet should go. But our cells eventually stop listening to the molecule while we're in utero. Learning more about how the axolotls' retinoic acid continues to speak to its cells to regrow body parts could help us develop new, innovative ways of healing people, the Northeastern crew told CNN. |
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Mike Kemp/In Pictures/Getty Images |
When I visited Dublin, it was the pubs I loved best. Once the hangouts of the local literati, of which James Joyce and Oscar Wilde were members, the historic pubs we drank in felt like monuments to the time-honored tradition of grabbing a casual drink with friends. (Especially after work hours, when they filled with off-the-clock coworkers unwinding.) Apparently, I should've brushed up on my pub etiquette before popping in for a pint, according to a CNN Travel guide to pub-going in the UK and Ireland. Firstly, know your pub: There are at least 12 varieties, from freehouses to flat-roofs to gin palaces. When it's time to order, don't queue up for a beverage — just sort of stick around up front until you (politely) get a bartender's attention, CNN's Will Noble advises. Tipping isn't as common at a pub as it is here, but you can ask your bartender to "have one for yourself" and they'll add the price of another drink to your tab as a tip. And rather than having every member of your group ordering and paying individually, it's easiest for one of you to buy the first round. (But that's good advice for US bar hopping, too!) |
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Brought to you by CNN Underscored |
Most beach chairs aren't worth it, but these three won us over Relaxing on a beach towel works just fine, but sometimes, a great beach chair can really elevate your day. We spent a full day testing 15 highly rated chairs and found three that stood out for their exceptional comfort, durability, and ease of portability. |
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RudyBalasko/iStock Editorial/Getty Images |
Pictured above is my summer home. KIDDING. It's actually Germany's Neuschwanstein Castle, built in the late 19th century, making it one of the younger strongholds in this CNN Travel roundup of the world's most beautiful castles. Read on for bite-sized history lessons on gorgeous fortresses around the world, from Slovenia's treacherous-yet-stunning Predjama Castle, which was built into the side of a cave on the side of a cliff sometime in the 13th century, to Portugal's playful Pena Palace, painted in vivid reds and yellows. Some of the most beautiful structures, though, are far beyond Europe: Morocco's rectangular wonder, Ksar of Aït-Ben-Haddou, is made of mudbricks and regularly stands in for fictional fortresses in series like "Game of Thrones." And I'm quite taken with Japan's Himeji Castle, often called the "White Heron Castle" for its resemblance to the graceful bird in flight. |
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| This week on CNN's 5 Good Things podcast, this dentist once caddied at the course where he's now playing golf with the pros. A quirky Canadian farm hosted a very moo-ving wedding ceremony. Plus, for Father's Day, listeners share what they love about their dads and what they love about being one. |
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Sharks get a bad rap as menacing loners, but you wouldn't guess it based on this video of 12 sharks feeding together in peace. No competition, no aggression — just hungry tummies and chill vibes. Click here to watch! |
may your days be filled with good things |
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