United States of America eSeries: Time for a new start!

May 1, 2021

You know that satisfying feeling you get when you open a new notebook for the first time, or scratch across a page with a freshly-sharpened pencil? That's kind of what a new month feels like. So many possibilities! So many pristine, promising new squares on the calendar! If only we could bottle that new month motivation to have it on hand all the time. Here's hoping your May 1 lasts as long as possible -- in spirit, at least.

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Our favorites this week

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

The need for speed
It's Derby Day, that hallowed event when the most majestic animals in sport sprint for glory and victory. We're talking about the Kentucky Turtle Derby, of course. Last year, when the Kentucky Derby was postponed due to Covid-19, bourbon company Old Forester decided to take a cue from history and host a, well, different type of event. Before the pandemic, the only time the Kentucky Derby had been postponed before was during World War II. That year, in 1945, a group of Louisville sports reporters decided to host a "turtle derby" instead (this is what happens when you let sports reporters get bored, folks). Old Forester revived the practice last year, and it was so popular, they're doing it again today, on the same day of the actual Kentucky Derby. It premieres on Youtube at 4 p.m. ET, but before you watch, be sure to pick a favorite turtle. Will you place your trust in Pardon My Mulch, or Reginald Boxworth? Perhaps you prefer the dark turtle of the group, Steve. Anything can happen.

A childhood dream come true
Imagine passing by a massive aquarium expecting to see a normal array of tropical fish, and being greeted by 100 shimmering, flapping merpeople instead. That was the scene at the Ambassador Lagoon inside China's Atlantis Sanya resort on the island of Hainan this week. The finned gathering was an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for largest underwater mermaid show -- a category that apparently inspires some stiff competition. Mermaid diving is its own sport of sorts, or perhaps it's more of an art. Similar to freediving, mermaid divers don't wear a tank or use any external aids except for their mermaid tail. Enthusiasts say it takes a lot of belly and waist control to move properly, almost like a dolphin. The pastime has really taken off in recent years, and has even become officially standardized around the world, with schools popping up everywhere from Singapore to the US.

Lift your voice

Singer Tabitha Haly has some serious pipes, and her strong singing voice is precious to her in more ways than one. Haly has spinal muscular atrophy, also known as SMA, which is a degenerative condition that affects muscle movement and respiration. She has never been able to walk, but her father introduced her to music when she was three years old, setting off a lifelong healthy singing practice. Some physical tasks have become difficult for her over the years, but being able to maintain strong lungs and vocal cords has kept her voice ringing loud and clear. Haly released her first album, "I Wrote Life," in 2019. At her live shows, Haly advocates for disability rights, and her first single, "I Am Able," sends a similar message. "This particular song is a reminder," she says. "I can help someone. I can be someone. I can be generous to someone. And most importantly, I can be loved like anyone else."

Raise a glass to...

John Hinkle Jr., who bowled a perfect game in honor of his father while using a special bowling ball that contained his father's ashes. Hinkle, a school counselor from Peoria, Illinois, comes from a family of bowlers. He and his twin brother, Joe, started leagues when they were 4 years old. Their parents bowled, as well. After their mother died in 2014 and their father in 2016, they considered quitting the sport because it just wasn't the same without them. But Hinkle had the idea to keep his father close by putting some of his ashes in a bowling ball. What a triumph it was, then, to achieve the highest feat in the sport with such a keepsake. "I was shaking. I had tears in my eyes the last couple balls," the 38-year-old said of the emotional moment. "I just knew what it meant to my dad and my brother to do this."

You gotta see this

That's quite a coin! This huge 22-pound, $13,950 commemorative gold coin was made by the British Royal Mint to pay tribute to the "Queen's Beasts" -- 10 mythical creatures that represent the royal ancestry of Queen Elizabeth II. How many can you make out? There are two lions, a bull, a falcon, a unicorn, a dragon, a griffin, a greyhound, a horse and a mythical creature called a yale. Creating the design took 400 hours in total, from traditional minting processes and modern engraving to a four-day polishing session. It's also, unsurprisingly, the largest coin the Mint has ever produced.

Heroes among us

Pandemic- era virtual learning isn't just a challenge for kids. It's also a challenge for parents who have to balance their own work with the new demands of online education. Jennifer Maddox, a 2017 CNN Hero, is helping families find balance in this new reality. Since 2011, Maddox and her non-profit, after-school program Future Ties have provided mentoring, tutoring and a safe space for more than 100 children living on Chicago's South Side. Now that the pandemic has messed everything up, Maddox transformed her center into an e-learning hub where remote students receive the technology and support they need. Laptops and WiFi are provided for children who don't have computers or dependable internet access, and they can also grab breakfast and lunch at the center. Maddox, a former member of the Chicago Police Department, says this is the kind of support families need so parents can go to work knowing their children will be safe and studying.

Wanna get away?

The Cappadocia region of Turkey may be renowned for its historic underground cities, but it's equally as compelling when viewed from above. A tranquil ride in a hot air balloon provides the perfect vantage point to admire the region's ethereal "fairy chimneys," made of tufa rock spewed from volcanos thousands of years ago. The soft limestone peaks hide winding cave systems and caverns that served as natural protection against medieval marauders. The area is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the people of Cappadocia have worked hard to preserve the history and the traditional cultures that have grown here, both above ground and below.

Hear, hear!

Good music can act as a guide to good living.

- John Cage (1912 - 1992), American composer and philosopher

Who knew?

The Alabai, a breed of herding dog, is so important to the people of Turkmenistan that they just celebrated a new national holiday in its honor. The native dog breed is a symbol of national pride in the Central Asian country, and is widely used by the many traditional herders among its population of 6 million. Turkmenistan's President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov is such a big fan, he unveiled a huge golden statue of the dog in the capital city of Ashgabat last year. He's also written a book and a poem about the Alabai. For this year's inaugural Alabai holiday, Berdymukhamedov's son handed out prizes at an Alabai dog show. It wasn't all about the Alabai, though. Akhal-Teke purebred horses, another national icon, were also celebrated during the event.

Rec of the week

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Shameless animal video

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

A thousand thanks to reader Shari for sending in this top-tier video of a puppy playing with a butterfly. They make such a happy pair. (Click here to view)