The Positive Thread

[farmerge]

My bit of good news story for today.
We moved 2 hay balers this morning. Good move achieved without any dramas.
Got home and crashed. Had an hours kip before lunch, another good move.
In the afternoon lost interest in the day and lazed around the house and chatted idly on ASF on and off. Another good move.

 

[basilio]

Want to get a good lift ? Want to make someone else feel pretty good as well ? This article reminded me of the times I have had a long chat with total strangers. I do a bit of train commuting and on a few occasions have enjoyed long spontaneous conversations. Always felt good about it.

The big idea: why we should spend more time talking to strangers​

We focus on friendships, but encounters with those we hardly know are vital too

Sophie McBain

@semcbain
Mon 6 Nov 2023 23.30 AEDTLast modified on Tue 7 Nov 2023 01.37 AEDT
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2...spend-more-time-talking-to-strangers#comments
176
The stranger struck up conversation on a delayed flight between Florida and New York. We were both struggling to entertain our toddlers, and we commiserated awhile. After the children fell asleep, he told me he’d recently left the Mormon church. He said he missed the community and the certainty he once felt. He was still figuring out how to raise a child without faith: for example, would I say there was a heaven if my daughter asked, even if I didn’t fully believe it?

Maybe it feels more natural to speak intimately with a stranger on a flight, when you are both uprooted and disoriented, not quite sure if it’s night or day or where the sun should hang in the sky. Maybe it’s more natural for your mind to turn to existential questions when you’re hurtling through the atmosphere at great speed, held up by forces you can’t fully understand. For a few hours we talked about fear and loss, and I later thought that while this kind of intensity is discouraged, maybe such subjects are actually best explored with someone completely unfamiliar to you, who sees the world quite differently.

The big idea: why we should spend more time talking to strangers

We focus on friendships, but encounters with those we hardly know are vital too

www.theguardian.com

 

[basilio]

Came across this very positive use of AI . An AI companion that can realistically support older people in many practical ways.

ElliQ: Your AI sidekick for happier, healthier aging

Meet ElliQ, your AI care companion robot designed to empower independence and promote healthy living. Enjoy entertainment, stay connected to loved ones, and collaborate with ElliQ to achieve your health and wellness goals

elliq.com

This Israeli robot kibitzes, plays games, and gives doctors vital information on elderly patients - Jewish Journal

SWAMPSCOTT – Brenda Newell picked up the phone in her Lynn home to talk with the Journal about her participation in a groundbreaking pilot study. In the background, a clear and pleasant voice asked, “Do you want to play again?” “Not now, ElliQ,” Newall answered, before speaking directly into the...

jewishjournal.org

 

[sptrawler]

Came across this very positive use of AI . An AI companion that can realistically support older people in many practical ways.

ElliQ: Your AI sidekick for happier, healthier aging

Meet ElliQ, your AI care companion robot designed to empower independence and promote healthy living. Enjoy entertainment, stay connected to loved ones, and collaborate with ElliQ to achieve your health and wellness goals

elliq.com

This Israeli robot kibitzes, plays games, and gives doctors vital information on elderly patients - Jewish Journal

SWAMPSCOTT – Brenda Newell picked up the phone in her Lynn home to talk with the Journal about her participation in a groundbreaking pilot study. In the background, a clear and pleasant voice asked, “Do you want to play again?” “Not now, ElliQ,” Newall answered, before speaking directly into the...

jewishjournal.org

Did you cc Joe Biden in.

 

[farmerge]

Did you cc Joe Biden in.

We saw a really positive story on the TV news tonight. A bloke who has suffered with Parkinson's for many years and struggled to walk, has had a state of the art surgery and this has enabled to walk unaided, a truely mind blowing positive story.

 

[qldfrog]

For our part of Qld, sunny coast, most of places reach Christmas green, some flooded.
Not for my own little area where dams are still dry and we missed most of storms but after a la Nina last year with cold winter and no rain locally, this year el nino is bringing us unexpected and welcomed storms , rain

Fires stopped as fire bugs can not light them anymore, and grass a plenty for the 4 legged herds
It is sticky, muggy, hot and steamy, as we like summer here in qld

 

[rcw1]

For our part of Qld, sunny coast, most of places reach Christmas green, some flooded.
Not for my own little area where dams are still dry and we missed most of storms but after a la Nina last year with cold winter and no rain locally, this year el nino is bringing us unexpected and welcomed storms , rain

Fires stopped as fire bugs can not light them anymore, and grass a plenty for the 4 legged herds
It is sticky, muggy, hot and steamy, as we like summer here in qld

Good morning qldfrog
and ... and ... Santa will be here too in a week hearsay is that the lad likes frogs ...

Have a safe and happy Christmas.

Kind regards
rcw1

 

[qldfrog]

We locally just need a few 100mm downpour to fill the dams, flow the rivers and cool the air, and my farm to sell and then it is nearly paradise

 

[UMike]

Thinking of another tassie trip

 

[noirua]

Finland Tops Happiest Countries List for the Seventh Time​

Scandinavia dominates the 2024 World Happiness Report, while the U.S. drops out of the top 20. Plus, how to sign up to qualify for Finland's free Happiness Hacks vacation.

Finland Tops the World’s Happiest Countries List Again—and Is Giving Away Free Trips

Scandinavia dominates the 2024 World Happiness Report, while the U.S. drops out of the top 20. Plus, how to sign up to qualify for Finland's free Happiness Hacks vacation.

www.outsideonline.com

 

[noirua]

Where did Australia rank in the happiest countries list? Our great southern land ranked 12th on the list this year. This is the same as it was in 2022, but we dropped down from our position of 11th in 2020. The highest we've been in the last decade was in 2016, when we were ranked 9th globally.

It's official: Australia is one of the top happiest countries in the world

The 2023 World Happiness Report results are in!

www.timeout.com

 

[noirua]

The UK is the 20th happiest nation in the world - but young people are significantly more likely to be unhappy than older generations. Britain dropped one place from the 2023 rankings, placing it below Lithuania and Czechia, while Finland, Denmark and Iceland were the top three happiest countries.20 Mar 2024

Britain falls in world happiness rankings - with young people more miserable than older generations

Lithuania, Israel and Australia were among the countries ranking above the UK, while colder countries dominated the top of the list.

news.sky.com

Finland was in the top spot for the seventh year in a row, while Afghanistan placed last.

 

[noirua]

 

[farmerge]

@noirua I had completely forgotten about this thread.
Being Good Friday I had a good day off with a couple of naps to boot.
Made for a Positive Day come Outlook for Me and She.