A Sikh superhero, snails and a good dose of kindness

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June 24, 2023

"Is it just me, or are we getting kinder?" This random comment I read, left under a random video on social media, really stuck with me this week. The video showed a crowd cheering wildly for Hayden Christensen, whose role as Anakin Skywalker in the "Star Wars" prequels netted him years of criticism and derision. Now, fans seem to have a new appreciation for him. To me, it's a lesson far beyond "Star Wars" or celebrities or fame. Are we, collectively, getting kinder? What does that mean? In this case, it means seeing unkindness in the past and seeking to do better. Maybe it means being more gentle with others; recognizing their humanity and our own power to either affirm or reject it. It's such a simple, hopeful question. What if we are getting kinder? How could we change the world?

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Our favorites this week

Get going with some of our most popular good news stories of the week

The post office at the end of the world
The world's most remote post office is on Antarctica's Goudier Island and it's currently run by a team of four women -- and a lot of penguins. Postmaster Clare Ballantyne, base leader Lucy Bruzzone, wildlife monitor Mairi Hilton and shop manager Natalie Corbett beat out thousands of others for the yearlong position, which led them some 8,000 miles away from their homes in the UK to the tiny island on the western side of the Antarctic peninsula. Luckily, they aren't wanting for company. The island is also populated by more than a thousand Gentoo penguins. As part of their jobs, the women keep count of the penguins, and the scientific data they gather on the Gentoos' breeding patterns is part of a decadeslong study of the colony.

Read the whole story here.

A Sikh superhero
If you could make a new version of an American superhero, what would it look like? For cartoonist Vishavjit Singh, maybe it would look a little like him: an American Sikh, with a turban and a beard and a patriotism as powerful as any other. In 2013, Singh donned a Captain America outfit for a photoshoot, and it was a bit of a revelation. A stranger came up and hugged him. Police officers took photos with him and firefighters offered him a ride on their truck. He even got pulled into a wedding. In short, a Sikh Captain America seemed to resonate with people, and Singh saw the power such an image could hold at combating prejudice and preconceptions. His latest creation is "American Sikh," an animated short film he co-directed with Ryan Westra. The film, one of several animated shorts selected by Whoopi Goldberg, premiered this month at the Tribeca Film Festival and tells the story of how Singh came to adopt his alter ego. Singh's message is simple: A Sikh Captain America is just as American as any other kind.

Read the whole story here.

Slow and steady wins the race
Three thousand pea-sized snails were recently sent on a 3,000-mile journey from a zoo in the north of England to Bermuda. Call it a snail holiday, or call it a historic effort at reviving the critically endangered species. Lesser Bermuda land snails originate from their namesake archipelago in the North Atlantic Ocean, and a number of threats over the last five decades have reduced populations of the species significantly. Since 2017, a breeding program at the Chester Zoo has been building their numbers back up, and now they're heading back to hopefully repopulate their home. Only time will tell how successful the reintroduction will be, but scientists assume progress will move at, well, a snail's pace. Still, there's plenty of hope: They've already seen success reintroducing the species' larger cousin, the greater Bermudan land snail.

Read the whole story here.

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Heroes among us

How cool is this? As you probably know, CNN Heroes elevates people who have have sparked positive change in their communities and the world. Each year, CNN Heroes also chooses a group of Top 10 Heroes to honor. Recently, a group of past Top 10 CNN Heroes honorees joined forces in Miami at the Make Good Famous Summit, presented by the Elevate Prize Foundation. Not only did they receive training to make the most of their resources, they also joined Elevate Prize winners to help restore Miami's vibrant ecosystem. The Heroes participated in a service project organized by Miami Waterkeeper on nearby Virginia Key. Plus, you just know all kinds of wonderful new ideas are going to come out of this. "It's iron sharpening iron," said 2022 CNN Hero Debra Vines about the event. "I see so many collaborations that are gonna happen."

Read the whole story here.

Wanna get away?

What will the future of travel look like? Several new emerging technologies promise a horizon with less stressful airport visits, robotic taxis and hi-tech enhancement of tourist destinations. For example, augmented reality could change the way we explore the world, whether it's being guided through the Accademia Gallery in Florence by a talking "David" sculpture or embarking on a digital treasure hunt through the streets of Paris. Plus, we already have technology that helps us overcome language barriers, like Google's Pixel Buds that can either translate what's being said directly into your ear or share a transcription so you can follow along. CNN Travel describes several other cutting-edge ways our travel experiences may change for the better in the future.

More Good Stuff summer reads!

I'm actually at a writing and fiction retreat in Valyermo, California this weekend, so I am thinking a LOT about the power of story. Good thing our Good Stuff family has plenty of recommendations to share!

Positive reads

The Ogress and the Orphan by Kelly Barnhill

A children's book for all ages combines fantasy with a powerful tale of kindness.

"It's uplifting for these dark times we find ourselves in." -- Sally W.

The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay

"I have recommended or given this book to more people than I can remember. It is still the most powerful and memorable book I have ever read. It's a coming-of-age story of a young boy in South Africa. He has such a hard time of things! He's picked on as a young boy, then he befriends an older man who teaches him the wonders of life. The book is beautifully written, and the story is extremely compelling." -- Pamela D.

The Magician's Daughter by H.G. Parry.

Hailed as a cozy, nostalgic fantasy classic-in-the-making, this coming-of-age story follows a girl and her quest to find her missing, magical guardian.

"I've read many, many books in the last three years, but this is my current 'just one more chapter' favorite" -- Pamela Y.

The Music of Bees by Eileen Garvin

"I was totally immersed in this book. It had me dreaming of laying amongst the wildflowers as the bees flitter above. What a wonderful way to learn about bees! The story is well written, it's uplifting and interesting and educational and exciting and emotional." -- Lynda M.

Other picks:

The Sweet Everlasting by Judson Mitcham

"Mitcham was born and raised in Georgia, and was Poet Laureate of Georgia from 2012 to 2019. Though he is better known for his poetry, he has published two novels as well. The Sweet Everlasting is both a love story and a heart-breaking examination of the cost of racial inequity and bias. The writing is spare and hauntingly beautiful. Mitcham does not waste words; to read his work is to savor the importance of every phrase and sentence." -- Stephanie K.

From Old Hollywood to New Brunswick: Memories of a Wonderful Life by Charles Foster

Follow the unpredictable, wholly satisfying life of Charles Foster, an honorary Maritimer and Hollywood publicist who crossed paths with the likes of Charlie Chaplin, Marilyn Monroe, Jack Kennedy and other legends.

"His life was so unbelievable that I decided to Google the truth . Sure enough, he was real and so was his marvelous life." -- Bob B.

Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

"I seldom reread books, but this is an exception. His prose is so descriptive and helps me to imagine Ethiopia, a setting I've never experienced in life. I've learned so much from this novel including medical insights and family dynamics." -- Randi V.

Hear, hear!

Shall we make a new rule of life from tonight: always to try to be a little kinder than is necessary?

- J.M. Barrie, in his 1902 novel "The Little White Bird."

Rec of the week

Brought to you by CNN Underscored

Paris Hilton shares her travel essentials

If we're going to take travel tips from anyone, it has to be Paris Hilton. The businesswoman and heiress of the famed hotel brand caught up with CNN Underscored to tell us the seven travel products she won't leave home without. From her favorite perfume to a sparkly water bottle, shop her favorites.

Shameless animal video

There's always time for cute animal videos. That time is now.

I'm almost a little jealous of the neighborhood that witnessed this herd of runaway goats. You just know they'll be talking about this for decades. (Click here to view)