Israel faced an avalanche of condemnation and denunciation in the International Court of Justice on Monday‚ as Palestinian representatives accused Jerusalem of creating a permanent and illegal occupation in the West Bank and East Jerusalem‚ and of establishing a system of apartheid in its treatment of the Palestinians. The proceedings on Monday were the first of six days of hearings in The Hague over the UN General Assembly’s request for an advisory opinion by the ICJ on the “legal...

I have a confession to make. I'm 48 years old‚ my youngest child is in high school and I can't stop watching "Bluey." For the uninitiated‚ "Bluey" is a kids' cartoon from Australia aimed at 5 to 7-year-olds. It's been nearly a decade since my household has seen that demographic‚ so when people kept telling me I should watch "Bluey‚" my reaction was basically‚ "Yeah‚ I've already done my kiddie show time‚ thankyouverymuch." Then my almost-15-year-old started watching it just to see what the fuss was about. And as I started tuning in‚ I saw why people love it so much. I figured it was going to be a wholesome show with some good lessons for kids‚ and it is. But it's also laugh-out-loud hilarious.As I got sucked deeper and deeper down the "Bluey" hole‚ I also saw why so many adults say the show is healing their inner child. It doesn't just have good lessons for kids; some episodes are a masterclass in creative‚ engaged‚ positive parenting. Now I'm hooked‚ along with the rest of my family of 40-somethings and young adults. We even have favorite episodes that we rewatch‚ for goodness sake. So what is it that makes "Bluey" such a beloved show for all ages?The kid actors are fantastic. Seriously‚ so darn funny. The children who play 6-year-old Bluey‚ her 4-year-old sister‚ Bingo‚ and their various cousins and friends are outstanding. Their voices are cute‚ but they're also top notch comedians. One of my personal favorite bits on the show is when the kids pretend to be grannies. Here's a clip with Bluey‚ Bingo and their cousin‚ Muffin‚ pretending to be grannies at their neighbor's yard sale. It gets even funnier when the "grouchy granny" encounters an actual‚ real-life grouchy granny who wants to buy the granny mobile and haggles with her. (We've watched this episode four times. It only gets funnier.)The parents teach lessons through imaginative playThe clip below shows how Bandit (Bluey and Bingo's dad) creatively uses a unicorn puppet to drive home the importance of good manners and personal care habits when Bluey won't stop chewing with her mouth open. Using characters that struggle with whatever a kid needs to learn is a great way to help drive home a lesson. And doing it with silliness and creativity makes the learning process both enjoyable and effective. Also‚ the parents' love for each other shines through in the show in adorable ways. The parents share their own learnings along the wayBluey episodes are short—the full episode below is less than 7 minutes—and it's amazing how much they can squeeze into them. Here‚ Bluey's mom teaches Bluey not to compare herself to others by sharing her own comparison story from when Bluey was a baby‚ which also includes a lesson for the parents who may be watching as well. It also tugs right at the heartstrings at the end. I'm just consistently amazed at how well the show executes on every level. It's therapeutic—literally.For folks with positive childhoods‚ the show is nostalgic and comforting. For those with tough childhoods‚ the show can feel healing. And for people who raising their own kids‚ it can be a resource to help them be better parents. My colleague (and Licensed Clinical Social Worker) Jacalyn Wetzel says she recommends "Bluey" to clients who are having a hard time with parenting. "When parents of young children mention that they're struggling with being able to emotionally regulate through their child's tantrums‚ outside of talking to them about ways children express unmet needs‚ I often recommend the cartoon 'Bluey‚'" she says. "Bluey behaves very much like a typical preschooler‚ which sometimes means she accidentally pushes buttons or does something wrong. The way her parents interact with her in those moments are great examples of acknowledging a child's emotions and responding with kindness‚ understanding and age appropriate terms." The show includes real-life parenting moments that can be hard to navigate‚ so she encourages parents to watch how the parents interact with Bluey and Bingo. "Parenting doesn't come with a handbook but 'Bluey' is helping those that maybe didn't have the best example of it growing up‚ and that's special‚" she says.It's just a near-perfect show in almost every way. There's even some silly potty humor if that's your jam. (See what I mean? A little something for everyone.) You can watch full seasons of "Bluey" on Disney + and find clips and some full episodes the "Bluey" YouTube channel.This article originally appeared on 12.1.23

There's something about dogs that makes people just want to cuddle them. They have some of the sweetest faces with big curious eyes that make them almost look cartoonish at times. But not all dogs get humans that want to snuggle up with them on cold nights; some dogs are neglected or abandoned. That's where animal shelters come in‚ and they work diligently to take care of any medical needs and find these animals loving homes.Volunteers are essential to animal shelters running effectively to fill in the gaps employees may not have time for. Rocky Kanaka has been volunteering to sit with dogs to provide comfort. Recently he uploaded a video of an extremely emaciated Vizsla mix that was doing his best to make himself as small as possible in the corner of the kennel. Kanaka immediately wanted to help him adjust so he would feel comfortable enough to eat and eventually get adopted. The dog appeared scared of his new location and had actually rubbed his nose raw from anxiety‚ but everything changed when Kanaka came along. The volunteer slowly entered the kennel with the terrified dog‚ crouching on his knees for an easy escape if needed. But the dog attempted to essentially become invisible by avoiding eye contact and staying curled in a tiny ball. It seemed like it was going to take a long time for this nervous pup to warm up. Before long‚ he's offered a treat. Success! The brown dog takes the treat‚ and as minutes pass you can see his body slowly relax‚ eventually coming to sit directly next to Kanaka for pets. In the few minutes of the video‚ you see such an amazing transformation that proves this little guy just needed some love."It was so cute when he started wagging his tail. You could tell his whole demeanor just changed‚ and he was happy. Just a few kind words and a little attention. That’s all animals need. Well‚ besides food. Lol‚" one commenter says."That moment when he starts to realize he's actually safe. That gradual tail wag‚ and the ears perking‚ the eyes lighting up. You don't have to be an expert to show an animal love and respect‚" another writes."After that first treat his entire demeanor changed. He went from not trusting you to thinking you may be kind and he could feel less stressed. That was really amazing to see‚" someone gushes.This sweet scared dog just needed human connection by someone taking the time to sit with him to know he was safe. Once he was sure the shelter was a safe place‚ the dog even welcomed those who came to visit him after seeing the video."I went to the shelter today to visit 'Bear'! Everyone would be thrilled to hear that he seems very happy and energetic! He has a little red squeaky bone toy that he loves. He licked my hand immediately and rubbed his head on my legs and arms‚ eager for affection. What a sweetheart‚" a commenter writes. Thanks to Kanaka's sweet gesture‚ the dog‚ now named Shadow Moon‚ was adopted and is now living his best life with his new human dad and husky brother. You can follow Shadow Moon's journey on his Instagram page. This article originally appeared on 12.1.23

Don’t know if you heard‚ but the cost of living is pretty high these days. Prices for groceries‚ restaurants‚ gas‚ and other necessary items just to‚ you know‚ live in the world‚ reaching an all time high is already making what used to be a decent wage barely enough to get by. And let’s not forget the biggest financial whammy of all: rent prices. According to Zillow‚ the average rent price in the US was $1‚958 ( recorded in January 2024). That a whopping 29.4% price jump since pre-pandemic times. And of course‚ that not even taking larger‚ more expensive cities into account. It’s enough to make you wonder: “Is it actually cheaper to just live in an all-inclusive resort at this point?”This question was certainly on Ben Keenan’s mind. In a now-viral TikTok‚ the 31-year-old compared the cost of living in a resort to that of his Seattle apartment. And let’s just say…it sparked a conversation. Keenan broke down how much he spent each month on essentials like rent ($2300)‚ utilities ($300)‚ WiFi ($40)‚ car/insurance ($320) and groceries ($400)‚ plus nice-to-haves like dinners out ($300)‚ drinks ($300) and his gym membership ($40). All totaling to $4000.The first all-inclusive resort that Ben showed‚ located in Mexico‚ was priced at $4‚500. For a little more‚ Ben could get everything he was used to having‚ minus any chores. "Yes‚ that's $500 more than what I normally spend on rent‚ but bear in mind‚ I'm not paying the most expensive rent out there compared to‚ like‚ what other people in Seattle might be paying‚ for example. Also‚ is that $500 worth me never having to do a single ounce of laundry or any of my cleaning or whatever?" he said in the clip. The next resort in the Dominican Republic would be $3‚100‚ already cheaper than what he currently pays. And if he were to‚ say‚ split a double room with a roommate‚ well…you don’t have to be good at math to know that’s a lot less. In the video's caption‚ it seems pretty clear that Keenan might be tempted to abandon it al fo that sweet resort life. "I just might find myself on a beach somewhere sucking down cocktails and WHAT OF IT‚" he wrote. @ivebentraveling Honestly‚ kind of a joke but kind of serious - I might just find myself on a beach somewhere sucking down cocktails and WHAT OF IT 😩 #allinclusive #allinclusiveresort #resortlife #livehack #mexico #dominicanrepublic #travel #travellife #travelmeme ♬ Funny video "Carmen Prelude" Arranging weakness(836530) - yo suzuki(akisai) Down in the comments section‚ Keenan’s video struck up a conversation about another affordable alternative lifestyle: cruises. A few even referenced Nancy and Robert Houchens‚ the retired couple who famously began living on cruise ships because “it’s cheaper than a nursing home.”Not to mention…it inspired some pretty funny (if not a little bittersweet) jokes from millennials.“New retirement plan” rent our house and live at an all-inclusive resort with a butler til I die‚” one person wrote.“All inclusive resort aka millennial assisted living‚” another quipped.And perhaps the most millennial joke of them all: “‘Suite Life of Zack and Cody’ got it right all along.” It’s no secret that many working adults can’t foresee a future where they’d be able to afford the same “American Dream” that their parents achieved. And if having a forever home isn’t a possibility‚ traveling the world or enjoying a relaxing retirement very well might be the next best thing. And even if finances aren’t an issue‚ this kind of lifestyle just might align with current values a bit more.

As a participant in the Amazon Associates affiliate program‚ Upworthy may earn proceeds from items purchased that are linked to this article‚ at no additional cost to you. Out of all human inventions‚ books might just be the greatest. That may be a bold statement in the face of computers‚ the internet and the international space station‚ but none of those things would be possible without books. The written recording of human knowledge has allowed our advancements in learning to be passed on through generations‚ not to mention the capturing of human creativity in the form of longform storytelling. Books have the power to change our lives on a fundamental level‚ shift our thinking‚ influence our beliefs‚ put us in touch with our feelings and help us understand ourselves and one another better.That's why we asked Upworthy's audience to share a book that changed their life. Thousands of responses later‚ we have a list of inspiring reads that rose to the top.Unsurprisingly‚ the most common responses were religious scriptures—the Bible‚ the Quran‚ the Book of Mormon‚ etc. Beyond those‚ here are the most common books‚ both fiction and non-fiction‚ that people considered life-changing. 1. "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho"From the very first page‚ Coelho's storytelling prowess weaves a tapestry of adventure‚ wisdom‚ and self-discovery that is unparalleled. The protagonist's quest for his personal legend resonated deeply with me‚ prompting introspection into my own aspirations and purpose. The narrative‚ while seemingly a simple tale‚ unravels layers of universal truths and timeless wisdom that are applicable to every reader's journey." – Matt Brown"Such greatness. Coelho tells the story with simplicity and elegance‚ and it is beautiful. The Alchemist is rhetorical kind of book that stays with you‚ and demands some time to unfold in your mind. Loved it!" – J. Green2. "The Four Agreements" by Don Miguel Ruiz"This book literally changed my outlook on so many things. I’ve read it at least three times completely through. It helps deal with anxiety and helps you reframe and analyze your thoughts which may be troubling you. The writing style is great and I’ve already read other books by the same author. Would highly recommend purchasing this if you want to rethink your assumptions about yourself or other people." – Freddy"By far the best book I’ve read. The simplicity in composition and detail is amazing. Would recommend everyone have a read. This book is truly a masterpiece." – Joshua3. "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee"I remember reading the book many years ago and being moved by it especially being from the North and not as familiar with racism. I wondered why some schools were banning it so decided to revisit. I had forgotten the details but it is still an important book and reminds us that the fight against all prejudice is never finished and its current resurgence is cause for concern. This book should be required reading at a pretty young age. We can’t change what we don’t understand. If you have children read it with them and teach them well." – Maria"I can’t imagine‚ for the life of me‚ why this book has been banned. It is the most moral and righteous book I’ve ever read. It represents a time in our history when racism was endemic to the white population except for one compassionate lawyer. Told from his children’s point of view with an unforgettable narrator‚ the story of a small southern town comes alive." – Peggy4. "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle"This has become a true icon in the book of books on understanding how the mind works and how we become trapped in it. A must read." – Bill C."This book helped me through the toughest time in my life. It was an easy read‚ but ultimately‚ it helped me open my mind to many things and see things from multiple perspectives. My life coach recommended this book‚ and I'm happy that she did. It truly did save my life." – Coach J.5. "The Midnight Library" by Matt Haig"I did not expect to enjoy this book so much. I very much admire the writer's prowess in creating a beautiful and inspiring story out of a depressing premise and what I admire even more is the perspective he has given me about life." – Ashish S."'The Midnight Library' by Matt Haig is nothing short of a literary masterpiece that effortlessly weaves together the threads of life‚ regret‚ and the boundless possibilities that lie in our choices. This No.1 Sunday Times bestseller and worldwide phenomenon is a soul-stirring exploration of the human experience that lingers in the reader's mind long after the final page." – George L.6. "Atomic Habits" by James Clear"Atomic Habits by James Clear isn't just a book; it's a roadmap to personal excellence. Deserving a resounding 5 out of 5 stars‚ this masterpiece has profoundly impacted my approach to habit formation and personal development." – Ahamed"Whether you're looking to break free from destructive habits‚ achieve ambitious goals‚ or simply lead a more fulfilling life‚ this book is a must-read. Clear's insights have the power to ignite change and propel you towards the best version of yourself." – SC7. "Tuesdays With Morrie" by Mitch Albom"I wish I had read this book earlier. It teaches to love those in your life with everything you have. We never know when life will take them away. Our parents will continue to age. Our friends will drift away. We will end up driving away the ones we say 'I love you' to. It’s not too late to tell them how much you love them. It’s not too late to show them how much you love them. If you share your love before it’s too late‚ you won’t live your life with regret." – P.M."Mitch Albom is my favorite author. Tuesdays with Morrie did not disappoint. Please please read this book. It is heartwarming‚ inspirational and will make you do an introspection that will change your priorities. I promise." – A.C.8. "Untamed" by Glennon Doyle"By page 16‚ I’d already sobbed‚ laughed‚ sobbed‚ reconsidered who I am‚ how I live my life‚ and what I’m doing next‚ and cried again. So much fire lit. This is a masterpiece. Thank the universe (and Glennon) it published now. Lord knows we need this now. It is already one of my top favorite books ever‚ and I read a lot. Like‚ a LOT." – Anna S.""Untamed" is a powerful and empowering memoir that delves deep into themes of self-discovery‚ authenticity‚ and breaking free from societal expectations. Doyle's writing is raw‚ honest‚ and deeply relatable. From the moment I started reading‚ I felt a connection to her journey and the struggles she navigates. One of the standout qualities of this book is Doyle's ability to articulate complex emotions and thoughts in a way that resonates with readers. Her insights into the expectations placed on women‚ the constraints of traditional roles‚ and the journey to reclaiming one's true self are both enlightening and inspiring." – Frank C.9. "Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor Frankl"Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor E. Frankl is a poignant exploration of resilience under the most testing conditions. As a Holocaust survivor and psychiatrist‚ Frankl intertwines his concentration camp experiences with his psychological expertise. Central to the book is the idea of logotherapy‚ which posits that finding meaning in life is the primary human drive. Frankl's narrative transcends its historical context‚ offering timeless insights into human endurance and the quest for purpose. The book is especially impactful for those facing personal adversities‚ as it highlights the power of choice and perspective in shaping one's destiny." – Neal W."This little one hundred page book is perhaps the most meaningful and profound that you can ever read. Disturbing‚ yet full of 'tragic optimism‚' this book will change the way you think about life‚ happiness‚ and meaning." – Paige T.10. "The Untethered Soul" by Michael Singer"Michael A. Singer's "The Untethered Soul" is a literary masterpiece that has left an indelible mark on my journey of self-discovery. I stumbled upon this gem through a TikTok video recommendation‚ and I am profoundly grateful that I did." – Matt B."This book encapsulates every spiritual book I’ve read into a concise oneness! Everyone would benefit in some way by reading this book. Period." – Joe S.11. "The Giver" by Lois Lowry"Brought this book since my daughter had to read it for school and I always like to know what are they are teaching her. I am going to be honest very surprise that they are giving this kind of story to a 8th grader since the story is very intense‚ surprising‚ sad but at the same time beautiful and teach the real meaning of love and sacrifice. That live in an idealistic world does not work and it's never better than having love in your live." – Marla"The way Lois slowly introduces us into her idyllic and yet cruel world is simply amazing. The end of the book has left me completely moved and flabbergasted." – Nathan S.12. "The Last Lecture" by Randy Pausch"I’ve read this book twice now. Once at 18 and now again at 33! Both time it hits deep. Fantastic read!" – A.C."Professor Randy Pausch was diagnosed with terminal cancer. In response‚ Pausch wrote and delivered one last lecture--a self-help guide on living life with purpose and meaning. But his lecture wasn't really for his students or for the world‚ although it's been a massive bestseller. It was for his children.One of my favorite books of all-time‚ with one of my favorite lines of all time. 'If I could only give three words of advice‚ they'd be‚ 'Tell the truth.' If I got three more‚ they'd be‚ 'All the time.' --Randy Pausch" – Phil W.If you enjoy inspiring reads‚ our upcoming book‚ "Upworthy—GOOD PEOPLE: Stories From the Best of Humanity" features 101 stories of human decency and is now available for pre-order! Learn more here.

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