Author: Matt Gilligan

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A Man Stepped in and Saved California’s Oldest Newspaper From Shutting Down

As a person who grew up reading the Kansas City Star every day before school all the way through middle school and high school, this story warms my heart.

I know the newspaper industry, at least in its traditional printed form, is in big trouble and that makes me very sad, but it’s people like Carl Butz who are keeping the tradition alive.

Butz is a retiree who recently stepped in and saved California’s oldest newspaper, the Mountain Messenger from shutting down. The paper has been around for 166 years in Downieville, California, and, get this, even Mark Twain once wrote for the Messenger.

Don Russell has been the owner and editor for the past 30 years and he said about Butz,

“I’m just delighted that I found someone stupid enough to take it over.”

Butz retired to Downieville about ten years ago and decided to buy the newspaper instead of taking a long vacation.

He said,

“I thought, ‘God, if I’m going around the world and the paper is gone, I’m going to feel guilty for the rest of my life for not stepping up and, and doing something.’”

Butz added,

“Local papers can be something to bind together a community.”

Yes they can, sir.

Here’s a video about Butz saving the Mountain Messenger. Enjoy!

What do you think?

Are you sad to see the decline of the printed newspaper?

Talk to us in the comments!

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A Grandmother Stole Her Granddaughter’s New Clothes and the Internet Wasn’t Having It

Relationships with older people can be kind of strange. Grandparents are our family, but sometimes you just don’t get along that well with them.

Maybe it’s because you come from different generations, maybe it’s because they’re from another country, the possibilities for a clash are endless.

A young woman took to Reddit to tell the strange and kind of infuriating story about her “Grandmonster” stealing her new clothes…to trade them in for some utensils.

Let’s see how this turned out!

Here is the whole story that the young woman wrote on Reddit.

My entitled grandmother stole my new clothes and exchanged them for steel utensils. So I gave away her utensils. from pettyrevenge

Oh boy, did people have something to say about this story…this one was very pleased.

Photo Credit: Reddit

Here’s someone who definitely felt this story in a DEEP way.

Photo Credit: Reddit

The story struck a chord with this reader.

Photo Credit: Reddit

And this person could relate on multiple levels.

Photo Credit: Reddit

And just remember that alliances are always important.

Photo Credit: Reddit

Wow. That is quite a story.

What do you think? Have you ever butted heads with your grandparents over things and had it escalate like this?

Talk to us in the comments!

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A Young Boy Beat Leukemia and His Classmates Celebrated His Final Chemo Treatment

It’s a bad situation when anyone has a terrible disease like leukemia, but it’s especially heartbreaking when a young child has to deal with that life and death scenario.

And that’s exactly what a 6-year-old boy named John Oliver Zippay, known as J.O., recently battled for three long years.

J.O. lives in Newbury, Ohio, and he recently completed his final found of chemotherapy. When he returned to St. Helen Catholic School, his classmates, teachers, and family welcomed him back with a heartwarming way with a standing ovation.

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Daddy's little deer hunter!

A post shared by Megan Zippay (@meganzippay7) on

J.O. was diagnosed with leukemia in November 2016. His parents said, “He had a meta-port in his chest so he wasn’t able to do any physical activity for three years. So it was hard for him, had to sit back for gym class and things.”

The boy’s mother, Megan Zippay, said, “You want that for your child, to grow up and get dirty and play outside and have fun and we kept him in a bubble so we’re excited. Looking forward to the future and having our little boy back.”

Here’s the video of J.O’s return to school. You might want to have some Kleenex handy…don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Good work to all the kids, parents, and teachers who made J.O. feel so great about ending his treatment!

And good work to J.O., the little boy who faced down leukemia in a way that I’m sure many adults wouldn’t have dealt with in such a strong way.

Take care of yourselves and each out there and remember to treat everyone with respect and dignity, because you don’t know what people and families are struggling with behind closed doors.

The post A Young Boy Beat Leukemia and His Classmates Celebrated His Final Chemo Treatment appeared first on UberFacts.

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You Can Unlock Your Phone During a Viral Epidemic With These Surgical Masks That Look Like Your Face

“How do I use Face ID with my face mask on” is probably not the highest on the list of priorities during a pandemic. But no worries, you can still unlock your phone without taking off your mask if you buy one of these face masks that imitate the bottom half of your face.

Danielle Baskin, a San Francisco-based artist, invented the semi-satirical N95 masks after being inspired by a discussion with her friends about how common surgical masks are becoming. Danielle was able to make Face ID compatible masks fairly easily, because she runs multiple companies that specialize in printing on curved surfaces.

“Unlock your device with a surgical mask that looks just like you,” the website for the face-recognition respirator masks says.

“After uploading your face, we use computational mapping to convert your facial features into an image printed onto the surface of N95 surgical masks without distortion.”

Don’t worry, these masks are perfectly functional despite their unique look.

“Our printer uses inks made of natural dyes. It’s non-toxic and doesn’t affect breathability. You can use your mask for everyday life as a barrier for airborne particle droplets.”

A brief FAQ question includes the question we’re all wondering: “Is this a joke?” The answer: “Yes. No. We’re not sure. Viruses are not a joke. Wash your hands when you can. And get vaccines when you can.”

Fair enough. If you do want to purchase one of these masks, know that they are still in development, but they will cost $40 per item, and Danielle doesn’t plan to produce any while there’s a global mask shortage.

Photo Credit: Face ID Masks

Also, you’ll need to set the face mask as an additional face on your phone. Creepy? Inventive? Disturbing? All of the above, we say.

The post You Can Unlock Your Phone During a Viral Epidemic With These Surgical Masks That Look Like Your Face appeared first on UberFacts.

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Would Take Less Money To Work From Home? A Marketing Expert Asked Linkedin and These Are Their Responses

Working 40+ hours a week is difficult.  The stress to keep up with projects and meet deadlines can seriously damper the home life. Add children to the mix and you have two full time jobs on your hands!

Jobs demand a lot of our time and energy. The work doesn’t stop while our kids are needing help with homework and bedtime. But what if you were asked to take 10% less while still clocking in 40 hours? Would you do it?

Shanee Moret, a healthcare marketing consultant, shared a real life story about her friend that had this scenario. Recently coming back from maternity, her employer offered her 10% less to work from home. Moret goes on to say her friend took the offer in a heartbeat.

Moret took to Linkedin to gather more responses.

Was it a good offer or not?

“My friend just returned to work from maternity leave. Her employer offered to let her work from home. With a 10% pay cut.

She didn’t even think twice.

Then I asked ten of my friends this question…”If your employer offered you a 10% pay cut to work from home, would you take it?”

Eight of them said “Yes” instantly.

As times progress, what people want is freedom. Money means nothing without the freedom to live your life.

Agree?”

Racking up almost 250K views and 900 comments, her post garnered mostly a “thumbs up” to the idea.

This mom misses everything, so she’s totally on board!

Yeah, what about all the traffic and road rage? Sign me up!

See, there is a cost savings to this as well!

Life goals, right here.

On the other side of the coin, there was a noticeable “thumbs down”.

Ok…maths.

Separate spaces are a plus too!

This guy’s got a great point.

Both sides bring up good fodder and the beauty in this topic is that people can consider their personal gains. If you’re not paying for childcare, or gas bills for transportation this could work. Although, the childcare thing might be a sticking point. You can’t very well get the job done with toddlers begging for attention.

What do you think? Is a 10% pay cut for the same output of work worth it?

The post Would Take Less Money To Work From Home? A Marketing Expert Asked Linkedin and These Are Their Responses appeared first on UberFacts.

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A Mom Received a Hilarious Photo From Neighbor Who Caught Her Son Naked in the Window

Have you ever walked down the street and see something totally unexpected? Take the neighbor of Jeni Boysen, a mother of two.

While minding her own business, she looks up at Boysen’s house and lo and behold a naked child is flashing the neighborhood.

Ya know. Sometimes you think you’re doing okay at life and then you get a message like this from a neighbor. I just cried I laughed so hard ??? This is exactly the laughter I needed tonight.

Posted by Jeni Boysen on Monday, February 3, 2020

The neighbor snapped a pic with a cute emoji with a simple message. “Your kid is naked in the window.” She assured Boylen the pic was deleted and only to show proof of the boy having a good time.

Boysen laughed and posted on Facebook,

“Ya know. Sometimes you think you’re doing okay at life and then you get a message like this from a neighbor.

I just cried I laughed so hard ???”

It also prompted others to crack up, racking up over 155K shares!

And responses show that this kid isn’t the only one proud to wear his birthday suit.

Photo Credit: Facebook, Jeni Boysen

Boyz will be boyzzzz.

Photo Credit: Facebook, Jeni Boysen

Can’t boys them anywhere and apparently can’t trust them at home. Poor Mama Boysen was just trying to get things done!

Photo Credit: Facebook, Jeni Boysen

The absolute joy this brought people is hilarious! Who knew? And what an awesome neighbor.

Photo Credit: Facebook, Jeni Boysen

I think we all peed a little.

Cheers to Dax who made the day a whole lotta fun!

And cheers to mom and dad for raising a cool kiddo.

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You Can Buy GPS Shoe Insoles for People With Alzheimer’s or Dementia

If you happen to lose your iPhone, you can simply use “Find My iPhone” to figure out where it is. One company is using the same technology to help relatives of people with Alzheimer’s, dementia, autism, or other disabilities find their loved ones if they get lost.

The company, GPS SmartSole, designed a pair of shoe insoles that contain a built-in tracking chip with a cellular signal. This tracker can be paired with a smartphone, computer, or tablet.

The company website states,

“This is wearable technology that not only provides peace of mind but can also save lives while preserving the privacy and dignity of the wearer.”

Photo Credit: GPS SmartSoleSimilar tracking devices do exist already, such as bracelets. However, those products are more visible and obvious, which can deter some patients from actually wearing them. Moreover, people with memory impairment might forget to put a bracelet on before they leave the house. Their shoes, though?

The website also says,

“This system capitalizes on procedural memory, which means even those with advanced memory disorders typically remember to wear shoes!”

These insoles are reportedly comfortable to wear despite being thicker than typical insoles. They were specifically designed for young adults and teens with autism and developmental disabilities, and seniors with Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Photo Credit: GPS SmartSole

The insoles come in three sizes: small, medium, and large. The sizes can each be trimmed to fit a wearer’s specific shoe size.

One pair of GPS SmartSoles costs $299, plus monthly service costs for the cellular data used by the chip. But the peace of mind this device may bring is priceless.

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Now You Can Buy Your Kid a Desk That Looks Like an Open-Mouthed Shark

The shark desk is sold by Cilek Kids Room, a company that specializes in imaginative furniture for children’s rooms. This desk features a huge-mouthed shark with rolling blue eyes. Its light-up teeth serve as lamps for reading or studying. Your kid will love sitting at their desk with this around, so it can help improve study habits and encourage imaginative play.

Photo Credit: Cilek Kids Room

“Cilek Pirate Shark Desk is the perfect desk for adventurous pirates,” the item description reads. “It is the most fun ever desk with rolling shark eyes. Features a molded shark body with illuminated teeth as reading lights.”

The shark desk is part of an entire collection of pirate-themed kids’ furniture. There’s a toy chest that looks like a treasure chest, a twin bed that looks like a pirate ship, and a desk chair with a skull-and-bones design.

The collection includes every little detail for your kids’ bedroom, including a nightstand, comforter, chest of drawers, bookcase, table lamp, and a more regular-looking wooden pirate desk. There’s even a pirate area rug with, of course, a treasure map.

Photo Credit: Cilek Kids Room

The shark desk costs $699. Cilek Kids Room also makes car beds, plus furniture specifically for young girls and teens.

What do you think? Something you’d spend the money on? Maybe make one yourself?

Let us know in the comments!

The post Now You Can Buy Your Kid a Desk That Looks Like an Open-Mouthed Shark appeared first on UberFacts.

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A Dog Show Judge Asks Little Girl With Autism to Show Her Stuffed Dog

Want to hear some good news? This extra-special story will do the trick!

It involves cute dogs and cute kids and kind adults. The magical “happy news stories” trifecta!

At an American Kennel Club dog show, a little girl with autism brought her stuffed dog to watch the competition. One of the judges noticed her, and he generously asked her if she’d like to “show” her stuffed dog — just like the real dogs competing in the show.

Happily, the girl complied. She ran around in a circle with the dog in tow, parading him around the stage. Afterward, she went back to the judge and gave him a big ol’ hug.

Luckily for those of us who weren’t there, someone captured video of this moment and posted it on Reddit. It promptly melted everyone’s hearts and now has over 58,000 upvotes.

Watch it for yourself:

Dog show judge asks little girl with autism if she wants to show her dog like the others from aww

According to one commenter, this is a real thing, in real life, for many kids at dog shows.

“This looks like a peewee class!” the Reddit user orangetangerine wrote. “They offer this at dog shows so the kids can participate without the potential risk of using a real dog and getting hurt/losing control. It’s adorable but also hilarious because of the bouncing stuffed dogs haha.”

For kids who are old enough, there’s also Junior Showmanship, an often-free program with the AKC where children ages 9 to 18 years old “learn basic handling abilities, and how to care for, and present, different breeds in a competition.” This involves real dogs, not the stuffed kind.

What do you think? Let us know in the comments!

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This Dog Is the Real Baby Yoda and it is Pretty Awesome

What if we told you Baby Yoda was real? Well he is, kinda.

Meet Mork a rescue pup with over 150K follows on social media!

Just look at this “Mork”-alorian!

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Portrait of a Morkalorian ?❤? #chubbychibbychops

A post shared by Mork (@morkskywalker) on

Mork’s not only Baby Yoda adorable, he’s a special little guy.

He was rescued in China by Harbin SHS an organization of “Just 3 girls in China. Trying to save as many animals as possible.”

Since 2016, three women banded together to save the “vast amount of animals needing help in Harbin, and China as a whole.”

Mork was one among the group. He was so weak, he was immediately hospitalized him and nearly didn’t pull through.

Once little baby Mork got his legs under him, the Nikki Carvey of the Road Dogs & Rescue adopted him.

Bored Panda interviewed Carvey about the experience.

“Mork is a survivor.

He was rescued, along with a bunch of other dogs, from a meat truck in China, by Harbin SHS.

Sadly, some people still think it is cool to eat dogs there, and many unwanted dogs are sold to the meat trade.”

Who could eat Mork with a face like that?

Thank goodness for organizations like Harbin SHS. Carvey mentions how well the process went in getting Mork safe to the US.

Harbin truly focus on getting the puppers healthy while simultaneously partnering with dozens of US based recuses. Carvey’s organization is one of them.

 “So far we have found loving homes for over 50 dogs. Including Mork!

As soon as I his photo, I knew that he was meant to come to me.”

Mork is now living his best life with Carvey even with certain health complications.

He was only 12.4 pounds when he arrived at her rescue causing irritable bowel syndrome. And even though his face melts the hearts of anyone who sees him, he was victim to poor breeding conditions.

He does have “heart, breathing, jaw malformation” which is cause for concern but Carvey is super optimistic.

‘The good news is that he has now gained 5lbs and we are working with various specialists to get him to be the best Mork he can be.”

Since he’s been living with Carvey, he’s gained weight through home cooked meals and medications. Looks like he’s well on his way.

Let us know what you think about dis whittle baby yoda pup.

Give a paws up if he makes you smile!

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