Link About It: This Week’s Picks
A 9/11 search-and-rescue dog gets celebrated, a TED talk about what really matters, Hayao Miyazaki’s theme park and more in this week’s look at the web
1. The Last Living 9/11 Search Dog Gets the Best Day Ever
Once in a while, BarkBox will choose a special pup and treat them to a “Dog’s Best Day.” And no dog is more deserving than their latest honoree Bretagne: the last known living search and rescue dog to work at Ground Zero on 9/11. To salute Bretagne for her incredible service and to help celebrate her 16th birthday, BarkBox treated her to a day full of treats, toys and spoils in the city she helped so many years ago: NYC. Watch the whole heart-warming video of Bretagne’s festivities on YouTube.
2. Everything That Happened at Apple’s Latest Keynote
Another Apple event has come and gone, and—like so many before it—it’s tough to nail down a singular product or feature to focus on. Thanks to The Verge, you won’t have to. They’ve compiled a comprehensive yet digestible round-up of all the shiny new toys to come out of the Cupertino campus—from 3D Touch to the iPad Pro, Apple Pencil and more. So if you didn’t catch the live-stream, head to The Verge to see what you missed.
3. “Superhenge” Has Been Discovered
A bigger, older Stonehenge has been discovered buried below the ground in England and it’s being called “Superhenge.” Using multi-sensor radar technology, archaeologists were able to spot the giant subterranean stones sitting just 1.8 miles away from the original site. Though only 30 stones are believed to have survived, researchers think there were once up to 90 of them—with some standing as high as 15 feet tall—organized to align with the sunrise of the winter solstice. If it’s ever unearthed, England’s sure to gain an influx of visitors.
4. The Evolution of Smartphone Etiquette
Since their introduction, telephones have evolved drastically. Smartphones now blur the line between telephone and computer, and the social norms regarding usage in public have morphed along with them. So what exactly is “correct” when it comes to modern-day smartphone etiquette? In a new study by Pew Research Center, 77% of adults felt it was OK for people to use their phones while walking down a street, 38% are OK with people using them at dinner and just 5% think it’s fine to use phones at a meeting. Compare that to the “rampant” rudeness of telephone users back in 1907, as declared by a New York Times reporter.
5. “The Volcano House” Can Be Yours for $650k
Ever wish you could live on top of a volcano? Because it’s (almost) possible. A mid-century masterpiece dubbed “The Volcano House” is currently available for purchase and can be bought for $650,000. The one-of-a-kind home sits atop a 150-foot cinder cone and features a 360-degree view—amongst other architectural highlights. It also comes with 60 acres of land located 45 minutes just outside of Barstow, California. Check it out on The World’s Best Ever.
6. Japan’s All-White Eggs
A recent push by the Japanese government to use rice as livestock feed has resulted in chickens laying eggs with white yolks. A hen’s diet is known to significantly influence the color of their egg yolks, so substituting the normal corn-based feed with rice has unsurprisingly led to the milky color. The new eggs, called Komestuya, are known to have a naturally sweet flavor and are slowly gaining popularity across Japan. One of the Komestuya farm’s officials strongly believes that “in the not-too-distant future, white sunny-side ups will be part of the daily cuisine for Japanese [people].”
7. Animator Hayao Miyazaki is Opening a Theme Park
After wrapping up a hallmark career in animation back in 2013, Hayao Miyazaki vowed to never produce animated films again—much to the disdain of his devoted fans. Thankfully, his imagination hasn’t slowed down, and while we won’t be seeing a follow-up to “Spirited Away” or “My Neighbor Totoro,” Miyazaki has revealed plans for a kids’ theme park. But unlike Disneyland, the park will feel reminiscent of his acclaimed animations—dreamy and serene—and will encourage kids to explore the outdoors. It’s slated to begin construction in 2016 on the remote Japanese island of Kume.
8. BJ Miller on What Really Matters at the End of Life
At a recent TED Talk, palliative caregiver BJ Miller took the stage to discuss mortality, healthcare and what it means to prepare for death. In many hospitals, this means throwing every possible medicine or procedure at a patient in order to curb their illness. But Miller argues that that’s just bad design. Instead, healthcare should focus on the person’s inner wellbeing and, in many cases, this means the smell of cookies, the comfort of a family pet or a risky outdoor adventure. Toward the end of life, he says, “Our role as caregivers, as people who care, is to relieve suffering—not add to the pile.”
Link About It is our filtered look at the web, shared daily on social media and published weekly every Saturday morning.
