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Thread of good things in the world today

Pancho

By Pancho
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Nonbryan

Nonbryan 177

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driving in silence with my 8th grade son tonight and he decides to speak up....He asks me for a $1.  I say ok, what are you going to do with it.  He explains that a small boy on the bus ride home, he thinks a 6th grader, was frantic and feeling down b/c he had purchased one of those fund raising chocolate bars at school today for his dad and he had lost it somewhere.  My son said, I want to go to school tomorrow and buy him one and give it to him to give to his dad.  Let me tell you what, that one hit me deep right smack dab in the middle of my chest.  My child was a shining example today that good people do good things every day! I am an extremely proud dad today!

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Brisketexan

Brisketexan 107100

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By all accounts, Jack Black is a good dude.  

Found this thread, because I saw this story and this is where it belongs:

https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/dallas-author-best-seller-shawn-warner-book-tiktok-viral/287-9e41be5d-6db0-43a5-a9a2-b196dae46bb5

Quote

Warner explains the premise of his book, "Leigh Howard and the Ghosts of Simmons-Pierce Manor," to the men.

"It's about a teenage girl who teams up with a ghost of multiple personalities to solve the mystery of her parents' murder," Warner said.

Jerrad Swearenjin told WFAA he filmed the video after feeling inspired by Warner's dedication to selling his book. 

"It was just supposed to be, hey, here’s a fellow neighbor who’s just struggling and I wanted to help him out," Swearenjin said.

Swearenjin's caption in the middle of the video reads, "I don't know this guy and this isn't a sponsorship. I just wanted to show a stranger some kindness." 

The TikTok poster bought two copies of the book. After just two days since it was posted, the video garnered over 15 million views, and Warner's book shot up to the No. 1 best seller on Amazon. 

"[The response to the book] hasn't stopped!" Swearenjin told WFAA Wednesday. "I can barely open the app without it freezing and crashing because it’s getting so much love."

Warner thanked everyone who saw the video and bought his book. He said was still looking into the next book signing at another Kroger location in Dallas.

He told WFAA the outpouring of support makes him emotional.

"Just to be nice to some guy sitting alone selling books...the generosity that poured out of that was just amazing, I get choked up," Warner said tearfully. "They gave me a chance. And that’s just beautiful."

The rave reviews for the book seem pretty genuine -- real comments on the characters and pacing, plot twist, etc.  Cool story.

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YGIFS

YGIFS 19460

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On 10/28/2021 at 1:37 PM, Guest Lobo said:

Last year, during lockdown, two UT undergraduates who'd never met were both suffering from severe mental health issues.  Even after on-campus services resumed in person, both were having an impossible time getting appointments with therapists.  Even at a campus of UT's size, there's just not enough resources.  They even tried to private pay with professional therapists in the great Austin community.  But between the patient background incorrectly matching specialists, insurance red tape, and long wait times before appointments became available, both silently suffered.  They met in the Dept. of Student Affairs lobby, both desperately thinking if they could make their appeal to get some help in person, they'd be scheduled faster.  

Using tele-health technology to match therapists outside Austin who have both expertise and time available, an AI program that more accurately pairs you with potential therapists, beta test help from a couple of big insurance companies, and therapists/counselors who know that engaging a person in their 20's can significantly reduce customer acquisition costs as they may stay on longer as a patient.....they launched:  https://psykheweb.wixsite.com/website/services    PSYKHE (remember the name) 

They gave a helluva pitch on Saturday and we awarded them $10,000 from the Kelleher Center for Entrepreneurship.  They now have access to tremendous mentoring and early stage funding at McCombs/UT.  In less than a year, they went from mental trauma to a viable business model that will reach back for all the other young people our systems leave behind in this country 

 

Shameless plug for this company and its founders.  A great deal of what they built was used as a blueprint for what the System Regents just enacted:

https://www.utsystem.edu/news/2023/06/20/ut-system-regents-invest-new-student-mental-health-resources

Their model will now help hundreds of thousands of college students system/state-wide.  We forget that college wasn't all sunshine and giggles for everybody.  Stress about grades, housing, and finances.  Substance abuse, sexual assault, loneliness, depression, anxiety, etc.  18-25 when your brain finishes wiring itself is a very tumultuous time.  Psykhe started out as two students trying to help one another and their circle of friends.  They had a big hand in helping save a generation of Texans.  Nothing short of amazing what we are capable of when we finally realize not everybody out there is coming to take something from you personally.  I can't wait to see what's next for these students.

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Brisketexan

Brisketexan 107100

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You know, I'm gonna put one on here, and I'll do it as something of a brag, too....although to be genuine and fair, what's in his heart is mostly him, I suspect that his mother and I only had a small part in it: I have a good damned son with a good heart.

Y'all may remember his efforts to prepare food and serve Ukrainian refugees streaming into Berlin last year.  Also when he was in Berlin, one week a friend from Austin was visiting him, and he shared this story with us when he got back (this is one of the boy's jewish friends, he tells us "your son is a mensch") -- they were headed home from a night of drinking and raising hell, probably around 3:00 a.m.  They're on one of the U-Bahn lines that goes through Alexanderplatz.  Across from them on the train was this slight girl and her FUCKED UP boyfriend, who was a big dude.  He slumps to the ground.  They get to their stop, and she can't even lift him.  My son realizes what's happening, and goes over to lift him up, and help her get him off the train.  He gets off with them, and works with her to try to get the boyfriend up and about -- no use, he's wasted.  Girlfriend is freaking out.  My son says "okay, your boyfriend needs to get someplace safe.  I'm either calling you an ambulance, or calling you an uber, which is it?"  She opts for the uber.  The boy calls it, and helps her get him up the stairs to the uber pick up.  They get him loaded up, and the uber takes them home.  I asked how he did that, did he use their account or something?  Naah.  He just used his account, and paid for it himself, because they needed to get home safely.

I was reminded of this because this last week, we flew in and out of LAX.  The boy was flying in from overseas (visiting his best friend in Italy, crashing on his couch), had been traveling all day, but landed right after us.  Get to our rental car place, and the line is NUTS.  Going to be over an hour to stand in line, get the car, etc.  The boy catches up with us there, taking the shuttle from his terminal.  There's a McDonald's nearby.  I suggest that maybe, to stave of his exhaustion and give the rest of us some refreshment, he can walk over there and get us some iced teas while I stand in the absurd line.  He goes.  He's gone for a good bit.  Comes back with drinks.  Mom asked why he was gone so long.  He explains that when he got there, there was a guy digging through the trash outside, nabbing bits of leftover food.  The boy walks up to him and tells him that nobody needs to eat dinner out of the trash.  Come inside, let me buy you a meal.  Dude goes in with him and orders a Big Mac combo, sits down, and enjoys his meal.  The boy covers the tab.

It's the little things.  The acts of kindness and decency in the moment.  Those are where we find so much of the good.  I'm not sure where in the hell he got it, but I'm damned glad he does.  And I know he's not alone, there are plenty of kids like him.  So, there's your good thing in the world -- there's a lot of good young people out there, treating their fellow humans with kindness because that's what they do.  One of those good people is my kid, who's already turned out to be a helluva lot better man than his old man is.

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YGIFS

YGIFS 19460

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4 hours ago, Pancho said:

 

 

 

I love stuff like this. 

About 12 years ago, we had a young woman accepted to our leadership Academy at UT for first-gen students of color.  When she received her "what to bring/pack/wear" email, she called one of the counselors soon after crying.  She was from the Rio Grande Valley, owned only sports shorts and jeans.  Attire for the whole week was business casual (they get polos but have to bring pants and shoes that are appropriate).  Counselor told Director, we called Target who already stroked a $50k check to our overall budget.  Every year since then, they send us 5 $100 gift cards for attendees (who don't know we have the gift cards) to use if they come forward with issues about having proper clothes or shoes or even toiletries (you forget not every 17 year old has their own dopkit with $30 worth of travel size sundries, they share soap and bulk shampoo with the whole family).  5 years later, that young lady graduated UT-Austin's McCombs School of Business, first in her family, and today works in Global Supply Chain for Target.  Her younger siblings have gone on to college as well.  All because somebody she didn't know took the time to send her a pair of khakis.  

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Brisketexan

Brisketexan 107100

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Kind of a bummer this thread had slipped so far down. I had to search for it to share a little, but really nice thing that happened to me today.

Running errands today, including a trip to the arboretum Target. I park, and am walking towards the store. Heading out is a woman pushing a cart, she’s probably 60 or so. With her is a younger woman, probably around 30. I presumed they were mother and daughter, didn’t give it much thought. Made eye contact with the younger one, who was smiling. I smiled back. And as I walk past them, she breaks away, comes right up to me, and extends her hand with an enthusiastic “hello!” And in her voice and expression, I realized that she was somehow mentally/developmentally challenged. I immediately extended my hand to shake hers, and couldn’t help but grin myself and say “well hello!” Her mom quickly corrected her, something like “no, Jane,” and I turned to her and said “really, it’s ok.” And it was. We shook hands, greeted each other, and each went on our way. She was a good dose of positive energy and kindness. I’m glad I got to shake her hand.

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YGIFS

YGIFS 19460

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On 2/3/2024 at 9:49 PM, Brisketexan said:

Kind of a bummer this thread had slipped so far down. I had to search for it to share a little, but really nice thing that happened to me today.

Running errands today, including a trip to the arboretum Target. I park, and am walking towards the store. Heading out is a woman pushing a cart, she’s probably 60 or so. With her is a younger woman, probably around 30. I presumed they were mother and daughter, didn’t give it much thought. Made eye contact with the younger one, who was smiling. I smiled back. And as I walk past them, she breaks away, comes right up to me, and extends her hand with an enthusiastic “hello!” And in her voice and expression, I realized that she was somehow mentally/developmentally challenged. I immediately extended my hand to shake hers, and couldn’t help but grin myself and say “well hello!” Her mom quickly corrected her, something like “no, Jane,” and I turned to her and said “really, it’s ok.” And it was. We shook hands, greeted each other, and each went on our way. She was a good dose of positive energy and kindness. I’m glad I got to shake her hand.

I thought about this at Church service the other day.  Family in front of me, never seen them before, probably Palm Sunday increased attendance.  Didn't notice the little guy until the "peace be with you" portion of the service.  And I saw he is Down's Syndrome.  And he smiled at us and I made a silly face to him and flashed the peace symbol and he had a terrific smile.  And after service, I go and do hospitality ministry-making breakfast and coffee and cleaning the kitchen.  And I wanted to show him a photograph on my phone of my now 54 year old sister with Down's Syndrome but I realized at his age (he is probably about 4), that it would be a bit much.  But wanted to show him that there are people all around him of all ages.  If you think about it, you don't see people with it that live to be very old.  For various reasons.  But he has a whole life ahead of him.  It won't be easy, but with the kindness of strangers everywhere from church to parking lots of Target, it can be quite pleasant.  We are all thing shining.  

And then, as fate would have it, my other sister happen to drive by our old house that we grew up in outside Chicago.  And send me a cellphone pic.  And it had these two little brick walls with coach lights at the foot of the driveway.  And when I was about 6, we had this horrific blizzard  there.  School was canceled, it was so bad.  But I think my older sister still had junior high.  But my 'disabled' sister and I are at home.  Mom and Dad are gone so we're outside making snowballs.  And I was then old enough to realize she is different, but still my sister and the best member of our family.  So we're out there and we sling one at this shitty, rusted-up Pontiac that passes down our street (we didn't recognize it, so we assumed it was cool to fling it at a stranger's car).  And the car brakes to a squeal.  and this absolute wall of a woman gets out of the driver's seat.  I mean, she wasn't obese but would easily fit into a 48R jacket, shoulders like a WWF wrestler.  Sweatpants and a Marlboro 100 dangling from her dank-ass lips.  And she starts screaming at us.  And my 'disabled' sister put her hand on my my shoulder as I was getting ready to charge the woman and tell her ass to leave my sister alone, and said "I'm your older sister, I'll take care of this."  And this past weekend, she sent a text for my youngest's birthday telling her that she will always love and protect her.  Just as I had remembered that memory from 40 years ago.  

For now, there ain't no rock but this one...

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LTtxfan

LTtxfan 50040

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Hated Spelling Bee as a kid.     Enjoy!!!  😋

 

Also saw this video today. Did not know Brian played football, and had teammates play in NFL.

Brian Regan More Than Just a Comedian | NFL FIlms Presents

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Brisketexan

Brisketexan 107100

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Bumping this because I've been following (loosely) cleanup and recovery efforts in N. Carolina after Helene.  I know enough folks from and in the area that they share social media updates.  A shitload of people are in the area, doing heavy-lifting and hard work on cleanup.  Folks are also showing up to feed everyone -- locals who still need hot meals because they don't have a place, electricity, what have you, as well as feeding the people who showed up to work.

But the stories and images showing the people at work are fantastic, and pure fucking America.

One update was from the United Sikhs sending workers and aid.

002-2-768x450.jpg

And individuals, too -- sharing love and support in all the best ways.

462631105_579942211031334_66418347139697

"On this freezing cold day, a warm and delicious surprise arrived. Consuelo and her son brought us freshly made tamales and hot strawberry atole—pure comfort in a cup. There’s no better way to keep working side by side, for and with our community, than by receiving the love and care of so many.

As Consuelo handed me the tamales, she smiled and said, “My grandfather taught me how to make these. With this food, we celebrate birthdays and weddings. With this food, we ease our pain at funerals. I know it has been with us for generations, just like you at BeLoved Asheville. It’s there in good times and in the hard times.”

 

We CAN be a really good place, where a collection of people, cultures, and ways of being in the world working together for our common purpose is our STRENGTH, if certain people will fucking let it happen.

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gofuckyourself

gofuckyourself 9146

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So this is as good a place as any:

Halloween in the neighborhood last night was a damn good time.

A couple of the neighbors were out in their driveways with a table set up, dispensing candy and playing Halloween tunes. We had our own with lights and cool melting skull candles. 

I did my Dad Jokes Duty and told the kids who were brave enough to wander over that if they could guess the Halloween Dad joke punchline, they'd get extra candy.

None did (but they got extra candy for putting up with me).

Just some good, neighborly shit.

The world ain't too bad if you take some time now and then to get to know it (and ignore the asshole fuckers who refuse to do that).

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InkaUtexas

InkaUtexas 27083

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Yeah, we had a real fun time. Our street gets packed. Handed out about 1000 pieces of candy.

Wife did the whole front as a cemetery. Friends came over and everyone carved a pumpkin. My job was sneak around and scare the elementary aged kids. Not bad, just enough to spook them. Scared a little and felt like shit. Took off my mask (I as a parrot) and she laughed came up and gave me a hug. Made my week.

I love Halloween.

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