Goodable

June 6, 2024, marks 80 years since D-Day, a pivotal moment that laid the foundation for the Allied victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. Operation Overlord, as it was codenamed, saw tens of thousands of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada landing on five beaches in Normandy, France, transforming the course of history.

The planning for D-Day began over a year in advance, involving meticulous military deception to mislead the Germans about the invasion's timing and location. Originally set for June 5, 1944, the operation faced a one-day delay due to storms, finally commencing on June 6 at 6:30 a.m. Despite the challenges, the Allies successfully landed on Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword beaches, securing a foothold that allowed them to push further into Europe.

D-Day demonstrated unprecedented international cooperation, with over 2 million troops prepared for the invasion. Not only did American, British, and Canadian forces participate, but troops from Australia, Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Greece, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), and Poland also played crucial roles. This collaboration showcased the global unity and determination to overcome tyranny and restore peace.

Despite the initial heavy losses, particularly at Omaha Beach, the Allies' perseverance led to a crucial victory. The successful landings paved the way for the liberation of France and the eventual defeat of Nazi Germany. D-Day stands as a testament to courage, strategic brilliance, and the collective effort of nations united against a common enemy. This remarkable day reminds us of the power of collaboration and the enduring spirit of freedom.

80 Years Since D-Day: How the Normandy Landings Led to the Nazi's Defeat in World War II

inspiremore

Cody Sabol doesn’t use brushes. He doesn’t need them.

The Pittsburgh-based artist paints with his fingers, and he does it faster and better than most people could with a full toolkit. This week, he took his talents to live television, appearing on Talk Pittsburgh to recreate one of the most beloved holiday characters ever — Will Ferrell’s Buddy the Elf — entirely by hand, and in real time.

The result? A jaw-dropping portrait that came together in less than six minutes. No outlines, no tracing, just raw speed and talent.

It started with some broad strokes, but it didn’t take long before the familiar green hat and wide-eyed expression began to take shape. By the time Sabol added the details around the eyes, there was no mistaking it: Buddy the Elf was back, and staring straight at the camera.

“Painting Will Ferrell’s Elf in less than 6 minutes!! Who should I paint next!? What’s your favorite Christmas Movie!?” Sabol wrote on Instagram after the segment. “Huge thanks to my friends at @talkpittsburgh for having me!!”

Fans were quick to jump in with ideas — and jokes. “Would you rather eat the dessert spaghetti or have a snowball fight with Buddy the Elf?” one asked. “Either way, you eat cotton balls and smell like beef and cheese.”

Another fan dropped the classic line from the movie: “Bye Buddy, hope you find your dad!”

Some had holiday suggestions for who Sabol should paint next. “Christmas Vacation. Cousin Eddie and Clark. Home Alone crew Kevin, Marv, Harry,” one commented.

But the biggest praise came from a follower who compared their excitement to a certain elf’s energy level: “You know how Buddy the Elf gets excited when he finds out Santa is coming? That’s how I feel when you drop a new reel.”

Sabol is no stranger to viral moments. He’s painted athletes, musicians, celebrities, and now holiday icons — all with his signature finger painting style and lightning-fast speed. But there’s something about watching Buddy the Elf appear in just a few minutes, with nothing but hands and paint, that feels a little bit like magic.

Just in time for Christmas.

This Artist Finger Painted Buddy the Elf on Live TV — in Under 6 Minutes

Good News Network

A tiny dog named Choco is back where he belongs—curled up on the couch with the family that never stopped missing him.

After vanishing from his home in Antelope, California in 2019, Choco was found this November more than 3,000 kilometers away in Detroit. It had been five years since anyone in the family had seen the little pooch. His owner, Patricia, said they searched high and low after he disappeared, but eventually had to accept he might be gone for good.

Then came the phone call.

“Shocked,” was how Patricia described hearing the voicemail that said Choco had been found. At first, she thought they meant a nearby city. “I called the number, ‘You’re talking about Lincoln, California, right? No, Lincoln, Michigan,’” she told CBS News.

Choco had turned up chained to a fence and was taken in by the Lincoln Park Animal Shelter. When staff scanned his microchip, they found a match that led back to Patricia—more than 2,000 miles away. That’s when Helping Paws and Claws, a volunteer-run animal rescue group, stepped in.

Not only did they track down Choco’s original owner, they also made sure he got home.

With some help from a kind stranger named Pamela—who donated her SkyMiles to fly Choco back to California—the group arranged a flight for Penny, one of their volunteers, to bring the dog back herself.

The reunion was emotional. Patricia’s family had grown in the time Choco was away, but his spot in the house, and in their hearts, had always been saved.

“Microchip your dogs,” Patricia said. “With the holidays and the extreme cold, a story like mine can be your story next.”

Choco’s journey remains a mystery. No one knows how he ended up in Michigan or who had him all those years. But just in time for Christmas, he made it home.

A Lost Dog Was Just Reunited With Its Family After 5 Years, Thanks To a Microchip And Kind Strangers

Sunny Skyz

Melinda Pereira has walked countless laps around Echo Lake Park in Virginia, usually to unwind during lunch or clear her head before work. But on November 5, what began as a typical stroll turned into a moment that changed — and nearly ended — her life.

“Just something felt off,” Pereira recalled. Moments later, she collapsed.

She doesn’t remember what happened next. The next thing she knew, she was waking up in a hospital bed. Doctors told her she had gone into cardiac arrest. First responders filled in the rest: her life was saved thanks to the quick action of a bystander — a stranger believed to be a nurse — who immediately started CPR.

“I was not breathing, no pulse, and unconscious,” Pereira said. “And some guardian angel started the first steps to life-saving measures, and that’s why I’m still here today.”

Though she’s never met the woman who helped her, Pereira said doctors were clear — the bystander's fast response was critical. “They said if everything hadn’t lined up the way it did, it would’ve been a different outcome,” she said. “I have the sore ribs to prove CPR was done — and that effort is why I survived.”

Now in recovery, Pereira has gone back to Echo Lake Park, not just to walk — but to find the stranger who saved her. She’s hoping to reconnect and finally say thank you, face-to-face.

“I just want her to know how grateful I am,” she said.

Woman Seeks 'Guardian Angel' Who Rescued Her During Cardiac Arrest During Park Walk

Talker News

A dog daycare in Greater Manchester has gone all-in on Christmas cheer — by turning its pups into a full-blown Nativity cast.

Staff at Pooches Playhouse in Failsworth dressed their daycare dogs in costume and set the scene in a straw-filled barn, complete with a festive backdrop. Video footage shows the dogs patiently sitting in place, each one playing a different role in the classic Christmas tableau.

Cocker spaniels Maeve and Reggie starred as Mary and Joseph, while baby Jesus was played by a tiny Yorkshire Terrier named Toby, who curled up comfortably in a basket. CJ the cockapoo donned wings to become the angel, Betty the English Bulldog played the donkey, and Snoop the cockapoo posed as the shepherd. The three wise men? That honour went to Rottweiler Axel, Labrador Red, and Doberman Lilo, who each wore a crown.

Niamh Knowles, a spokesperson for the daycare, said the idea came from a desire to lift spirits during the holidays.

“We are always looking for fun ideas for our dogs to get involved in,” she said. “First, we had to get them in costumes, which, as you can imagine, was hard work! Once they were ready, we did some training exercises to get them to sit and stay for the photos, of course with lots of treats.”

She added that all the dogs were “happy and comfortable” throughout the process, which took hours of patience and reward-based coaxing.

“At this time of year, we know Christmas can be tough for some people, so we wanted this Nativity to bring a little joy and happiness to someone’s day,” she said.

Judging by the reaction online, it’s doing exactly that. The video and photos have already started spreading across social media, with commenters calling the display “hilarious,” “brilliant,” and “the best thing I’ve seen this Christmas.”

Doggy Daycare Stages a Tail-Wagging Nativity Scene — and It’s Adorable

ESPN

As Bobby Wagner nears a historic NFL milestone, he’s already crossed a different finish line—one that could define his future long after football.

The Washington Commanders linebacker just wrapped up coursework for an MBA at Howard University. He started the 18-month business program in January 2024 and will officially graduate in May. To free up his spring, Wagner overloaded on classes this past summer, attending some in person and completing the rest online.

“Sometimes when you come from playing football and go into the business world, a lot of people feel like... we skip steps or they feel like we haven't done the work,” Wagner said. “I've done the work through challenging times that most people wouldn't have done."

Wagner has already dipped into the business world as a minority investor in the WNBA’s Seattle Storm, a move that signaled his long-term interests. But the degree, he said, was about more than business—it was about credibility. He wanted people to know he was serious.

With just three games left in the regular season, Wagner is also within reach of becoming only the third player in NFL history to notch 2,000 career tackles, joining Ray Lewis and London Fletcher. Fletcher, now the Commanders’ radio analyst, recently spoke with Wagner about what the milestone represents.

For Wagner, it’s less about personal stats and more about making those who started with him proud.

“It’s been a challenging season, but I enjoy playing,” Wagner said. “I enjoy being around these guys and they make it fun.”

Wagner is already considered a lock for the Hall of Fame, with 11 All-Pro selections (six first-team) and 10 Pro Bowl nods. But he’s also used his platform to challenge stereotypes around athletes and education.

“From the outside world, if you do something else, then they feel like you're not focused,” he said. “And then when you retire and don't have nothing going on, they're like, 'Why you didn't do something else?'... I'm trying to break that concept. You can master the field you're in and also learn and study other things.”

Wagner said the idea of furthering his education had been planted early in his career. “I was just like, 'Man, I just got here.' In my mind, I have 10 plus years,” he said. “But I had really good mentors that pushed me to understand that this game could be taken away from you at any given moment.”

Rather than spend downtime on video games like many players, Wagner said he simply chose to learn. He credits Kobe Bryant as a major inspiration.

“He was a guy that I felt like... all he does is basketball and nothing else,” Wagner said. “And then he retired, [and you] realized how much he wrote in his off time... poetry, piano, business, all these different things. And if somebody like that can do it, then anybody could do it.”

As he stood in front of reporters wearing a Howard sweatshirt, Wagner reflected on how far he’s come from his Utah State days.

“I was going to school and playing ball,” he said. “But I think being intentional about what you want is something I learned. I like education. I like education, clearly that’s why I did it.”

This NFL Linebacker Just Graduated With an MBA From Howard University — Here's Why

Khaleej Times - Culture

In Abu Dhabi, art isn’t confined to museums or gallery walls anymore—it’s in the streets, on crosswalks, bus shelters, and even utility boxes. Across the city and beyond, everyday spaces are being transformed into public art displays that reflect the UAE’s identity, history, and sense of community.

More than 400 pieces of art have been installed across 130 locations in Abu Dhabi City, Al Ain, and Al Dhafra since the launch of Abu Dhabi Canvas, an initiative led by the Department of Municipalities and Transport. The goal: bring art into daily life, and turn public spaces into places of curiosity, connection, and conversation.

“We launched Abu Dhabi Canvas to transform everyday spaces such as residential areas, shopping centres and bus shelters into engaging artistic experiences that encourage meaningful interaction and cultural appreciation,” said Noor Shamma, acting executive director of the department’s Marketing and Communications Sector. “Simply put, it reflects our belief in art as a unifying force.”

The results are everywhere—from sprawling murals to smaller visual surprises that invite passersby to pause, reflect, or smile. The initiative has brought together more than 100 Emirati and UAE-based artists, who have collectively logged around 17,000 hours painting and installing works covering nearly 7,800 square metres of surface area.

The artwork isn’t chosen for decoration alone. Each piece goes through a curated process to make sure it aligns with themes like community, mobility, sustainability, culture, and urban growth, while also respecting the UAE’s heritage.

“Artworks are not selected only for their visual impact,” Shamma explained. “They are chosen for their ability to enrich public spaces and create moments of connection, reflection and dialogue among residents and visitors.”

That sense of connection was echoed by several artists involved in the project.

Emirati artist Ahmed Al Mehairi described public art as a mirror of the city’s soul. “I see walls as the true voice of a city’s culture,” he said. “They reflect pride, joy and identity. Through my work, I wanted to introduce an element that sparks curiosity and invites people to question and explore the meaning behind it.”

His inspiration, he said, came from Abu Dhabi’s unique blend of heritage and innovation. “No matter how far we advance, authenticity remains the foundation of everything.”

Visual artist Farah Falaknazi, whose work draws from themes of nature and sustainability, called her experience “deeply fulfilling.”

“When the work moved from concept to reality, it exceeded my expectations,” she said. “Working on site gives you a completely different feeling and allows you to add details that enhance the final piece.”

She believes public art plays an essential role in city life. “Public art gives a place its own character. It strengthens emotional connections, improves wellbeing and supports local artists. Sometimes, a single artwork can communicate more powerfully than an entire media campaign.”

For Ghaith Al Roubi, his contribution aimed to “create a quiet dialogue between past and present,” weaving together Abu Dhabi’s heritage and its modern-day evolution in a way that felt simple, balanced and meaningful.

Sultan Al Hashemi, who grew up in the capital, saw the project as a chance to give back to a city that shaped him.

“Abu Dhabi is my city. I was raised here, and I wanted to leave a mark that reflects my connection to it,” he said. “This project gave me the chance to highlight its heritage, architectural character and everyday beauty through art.”

Al Hashemi’s journey started with pencil drawings and evolved to large-scale public installations using paint, brushes and spray techniques. For him, tools are secondary to the message. “Art depends on the person more than the materials,” he said. “What matters is how clearly the idea and emotion are communicated.”

According to Shamma, the public has embraced the project wholeheartedly. “The strong public engagement we have seen reassures us that people value seeing art integrated into their daily environments.”

Behind the scenes, it’s taken collaboration to make it work. Abu Dhabi Canvas is supported by multiple organisations, including the Mubadala Foundation, Ma’an (the Authority of Social Contribution), and the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge. Each helps provide funding, coordination and support for implementation.

There were also practical challenges—especially the summer heat. Shamma said most installation work is scheduled during cooler months, with durable materials chosen to withstand the harsh climate.

Still, for the artists and organisers, the effort is more than worth it.

“One of the most rewarding aspects of this initiative is seeing art come to life across crosswalks, utility boxes and bus shelters,” Shamma said. “This would not have been possible without the commitment of our partners and artists.”

In a city where innovation meets tradition, Abu Dhabi Canvas is helping rewrite the urban experience—one mural at a time.

Abu Dhabi Transforms Streets Into Open-Air Art Galleries With 400 Installations

BBC News

A small Christmas tradition in Cheshire is quietly turning into something magical for hundreds of families—thanks to painted rocks, a little imagination, and a lot of heart.

For the past seven years, Helen Nelson and Tracy Wilkinson have been hiding colourful “fairy rocks” in a local woodland near Lymm. Each December, they place the hand-painted stones—each with its own unique fairy character—throughout what’s become known as the “fairy glen.” The idea is simple: find a rock, enjoy it, then return it in the new year so others can share in the magic.

“It’s just magical seeing the looks on some of their faces,” said Helen, who shares clues on a local Facebook group to help guide people to the glen.

The project has quietly grown over the years, with Helen and Tracy starting their painting in September. By Christmas this year, they had prepared around 300 rocks. Every fairy gets a name, and some have even struck a personal chord with visitors.

Helen said they’ve received “heartwarming messages” from people who found rocks named after loved ones. It’s one of the reasons they keep going.

“Christmas is all about magic and sharing and doing nice things,” she said.

What began as a creative hobby has now become a cherished December tradition for many families in the area. Parents and children bundle up, head into the woods, and go rock-hunting together.

Seven-year-old Aria was thrilled to find one that reminded her of Santa. “It’s just amazing,” she said. Jessica and Madeline agreed. “They’re all so beautiful, it was very hard to pick,” they said. “Finding the fairy glen made us feel very happy.”

Tracy said the joy the rocks bring is contagious. “Some families have told us it’s become their new Christmas tradition,” she said.

It’s a quiet, joyful kind of holiday magic—hidden in the woods, one painted rock at a time.

Families are Embracing a New Festive Tradition This Christmas: Hunting "Fairy Rocks"

Fox News

Lowering blood sugar levels in people with prediabetes could do more than just delay type 2 diabetes — it might also cut their risk of heart disease in half, according to new research.

A study published this week in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology found that people who reversed prediabetes had a significantly lower risk of heart attacks, heart failure, and cardiovascular death over the long term.

The research pulled from two major studies — one from the U.S. tracking participants for 20 years, and another from China spanning three decades — and looked at how lifestyle changes affected long-term heart health. In both cases, individuals with prediabetes were encouraged to make changes to their diet, exercise habits, and weight to lower blood sugar levels.

Researchers then compared outcomes between people whose blood sugar returned to normal (the "remission" group) and those who remained in the prediabetic range. The difference was striking.

Those who achieved remission saw a 58 percent lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease or being hospitalized for heart failure. They also had lower rates of other serious heart issues and overall death.

"Reaching prediabetes remission is linked to a decades-long benefit," the researchers wrote, calling the outcome a potential shift in how doctors approach heart disease prevention. "Targeting remission might represent a new approach to cardiovascular prevention."

Dr. Andreas Birkenfeld, one of the study’s authors and a professor of medicine at University Hospital Tübingen in Germany, told Fox News Digital the findings highlight that prediabetes isn’t a fixed condition — and that early, targeted intervention can lead to powerful results.

“It’s not only relevant for reducing the progression of type 2 diabetes,” he said. “It may also be associated with a meaningful reduction in… heart attack risk, cardiac death, and heart failure.”

That intervention doesn’t always require medication. The participants who benefited most from remission were those who followed structured programs focused on lifestyle — including healthier diets, more physical activity, and weight management.

“Prediabetes is a modifiable stage,” Birkenfeld emphasized. “Timely, evidence-based interventions can make a real difference.”

The researchers acknowledged some limitations to the findings. The original studies weren’t designed to specifically track heart outcomes, so while the results show a strong link, they don’t prove a direct cause-and-effect. Other factors, including differences in health behaviors or risk levels between participants, could have influenced the outcomes.

Still, the results suggest a powerful takeaway: making positive changes at the prediabetes stage — before full diabetes develops — may carry long-term heart benefits.

In the U.S., the need is urgent. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 98 million adults — roughly one in three — have prediabetes. Most don’t know it. In fact, 80 percent are unaware they have it.

That’s why Birkenfeld encourages people to talk to their doctors. "What is my current status? What is my personal cardiovascular risk? What is my target blood glucose level?" he suggested patients should ask.

It’s also worth asking how often blood sugar, cholesterol, blood pressure, and related risk factors like kidney function or sleep apnea should be monitored, he said.

“And if lifestyle changes aren’t enough or my risk is high,” he added, “would medication be appropriate for me — and what are the benefits and downsides?”

While the study focused on long-term trends, the message is simple: catching prediabetes early and taking action could help people avoid not just diabetes, but serious heart problems later in life.

Scientists Report Simple Lifestyle Changes Slash Heart Attack Risk For Millions

ABC News

A sacred rock carved with petroglyphs by ancestors of the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation more than 1,000 years ago has finally been returned to its rightful home in the mountains of northern Utah.

The 1,134-kilogram boulder, which had been embedded in concrete outside a church in Tremonton for around 80 years, was airlifted back to its original hillside location earlier this month—marking the end of a repatriation effort that began in 2011.

Brad Parry, vice chair of the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation, called the return deeply meaningful. “Our history is so fractured with a lot of things that happened to us,” he said. “To have these positive things now that are coming out — it’s rebuilding our history. And I can’t overstate that.”

The rock had been removed from its natural setting sometime in the early to mid-20th century. Its relocation to the front of a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meetinghouse in Tremonton was never properly documented, though accounts suggest it was hauled into town by a group of locals. Over the decades, it sat on display near a flagpole and later on the church’s north side.

“It’s a mystery why it was brought to the church,” said Ryan Saltzgiver, history sites curator with the Church History Department. “The intention wasn’t malicious—just a lack of understanding of what the rock represented.”

The process of returning it began after amateur archaeologists matched it to a 1937 rock art survey, pinpointing its origin. From there, the tribe, church officials, and the Utah State Historic Preservation Office began working together on a plan for preservation and repatriation.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which oversaw the removal, said it had a moral and ethical responsibility to return the rock. Once extracted from its concrete base, the rock was taken to Provo for conservation. Specialists from the Midwest Art Conservation Center used bamboo and plastic tools, along with soap and water, to gently remove lichen buildup while preserving the stone’s natural patina.

It was then transported north to a remote area near the Utah-Idaho border. The final leg of the journey was by helicopter, lifting the rock back into the rugged terrain where it originally sat—alongside other petroglyph-covered stones in what Parry described as a spiritual place used by Shoshone ancestors for camping and hunting.

To mark the moment, tribal spiritual leader Rios Pacheco offered a blessing in Shoshoni. The tribe has not disclosed the rock’s exact location to protect it from potential harm.

“This rock was meant to be here,” said Parry. “It’s like this rock knows it’s home.”

Church Returns Sacred Rock Covered With Petroglyphs After 14-Year Effort

A man from Blackpool has been crowned this year’s World Pie-Eating Champion after downing a meat pie in one minute and two seconds.

Tom O’Neil, 24, beat 18 other competitors at the long-running contest in Harry’s Bar, Wigan—the unofficial pie capital of the UK—where the annual event has been held since 1992. The pies are standardised to 12cm in diameter and 3.5cm deep.

O’Neil, who was born in Wigan, called it a “proud day” and said he’s already planning to return next year to defend his title.

“I won a local contest about two years ago and then I saw this pop up online, so I thought I'm gonna go for it,” he told BBC Radio Manchester. “And now I'm here.”

Asked if he had any secret technique, O’Neil kept it simple: “Just eat and then swallow, that’s it really. There’s no magic to it, you’ve either got it or you’ve not I suppose.”

Tony Callaghan, owner of Harry’s Bar and self-declared “piemaster,” wasn’t entirely impressed with the winning time.

“A minute and two seconds was ridiculous,” he said. “We’ve had 15 seconds, 30 seconds, 20 seconds in previous years so I don’t know what’s going on today.”

Despite the slower pace this year, Callaghan remains strict about the contest rules, especially the long-standing ban on any “lubricants.”

“I will not allow gravy and I won’t allow any lubricants, don’t come to the competition if that’s what you want,” he said. “I think it’s wrong—you eat a pie as it is. You don’t stick it in a bowl of gravy, that’s for Southerners.”

Even with the complaints about speed, the spirit of competition and tradition remains strong. And for O’Neil, it's now about holding onto his title—one dry pie at a time.

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