Over 170 students set to graduate from North Carolina State University were about to get the surprise of a lifetime when they filed into the arena in their red caps and gowns. As with all graduation speeches, possibilities seemed palpable; hopes and dreams were waiting on the horizon. Unbeknownst to the scholars, their commencement speaker, […] The post College Commencement Speaker Announces He’s Paying Off Final Year of Loans For Graduates to Honor Father appeared first on Good News Network.

If you know the song, sing along! “Robin Hood and Little John, walking through the forest/Laughing back and forth at what the other’n has to say/Reminiscing this and that and having such a good time/Oo-de-lally, oo-de-lally, golly, what a day… “Never ever thinking there was danger in the water/They were drinking, they just guzzled it down/Never dreaming that a scheming sheriff and his posse/Was a-watching them and gathering around.” There never was a greater set of foes than Robin Hood and that evil Sheriff, whose greed was even more legendary than Robin Hood’s archery skills. A metal detectorist just found the Sheriff’s ring In a deliciously ironic turn of fate, a retired merchant navy engineer in England has found a treasure that would have made his country’s most popular folk hero proud. Graham Harrison, a 65-year-old metal detector enthusiast, discovered a gold signet ring that once belonged to the Sheriff of Nottingham. The discovery was made on a farm in Rushcliffe, Nottinghamshire, 26.9 miles from Sherwood Forest. The forest is known worldwide for being the mythological home of Robin Hood and his band of Merry Men. A central road that traversed the forest was notorious in Medieval times for being an easy place for bandits to rob travelers going to and from London. Today, the forest is a designated National Nature Reserve. It contains ancient oaks that date back thousands of years, making it an important conservation area. “It was the first big dig after lockdown on a glorious day. We were searching two fields. Other detectorists kept finding hammered coins but I’d found nothing,” Harrison said according to the Daily Mail. “Then I suddenly got a signal. I dug up a clod of earth but couldn’t see anything. I kept breaking up the clod and, on the last break, a gold ring was shining at me. I broke out into a gold dance.” Harrison sent the ring to the British Museum’s Portable Antiquities Scheme to have it authenticated. After doing some research they found that it was once owned by Sir Matthew Jenison, who was the Sheriff of Nottingham between 1683 and 1684. March Historica & Coin Auction. 24 March — 25 March. The Sheriff of Nottingham’s gold signet ring #Historica #Auction @HansonHistoricaCheck out HansonsAuctions's video! #TikTok https://t.co/vaJVz5I175 pic.twitter.com/cbdwbWrqdH— Hansons Auctioneers (@HansonsUK) March 23, 2022 The first accounts of Robin Hood, then known as Robyn Hode, first appear as early as the 13th and 14th centuries, a few hundred years before Sir Matthew served as sheriff. But there’s no doubt that the archer and leader of Merry Men would have been delighted to know that an everyday guy came into possession of the Sheriff of Nottingham’s ring. Sir Matthew was knighted in 1683 and acted as a commissioner to examine decaying trees in Sherwood Forest. He was later elected to Parliament in 1701. However, a series of lawsuits over shady land dealings would eventually be his ruin and he’d die in prison in 1734. The gold signet ring bears the coat of arms of the Jenison family, who were known for getting rich off a treasure trove of valuables left for safekeeping during the English Civil War. The valuables were never claimed, so the Jenisons took them for themselves. Was Robin Hood a real person? The whole thing makes you question how much of the legend of Robin Hood is actually true. Experts debate whether Robin Hood stories are based on one person or accounts of multiple different people. Various versions of the mythology begin and end in different time periods, but all share some similarities: Namely, Robin Hood shooting a bow and arrow and being constantly at odds with the evil Sheriff of Nottingham. In the end, Robin Hood was said to have been murdered by his aunt. As he bled to death, “Little John placed Robin’s bow in his hand and carried him to a window from where Robin managed to loose one arrow. Robin asked Little John to bury him where the arrow landed, which he duly did. … A mound in Kirklees Park, within bow-shot of the house, can still be seen and is said to be his last resting place,” according to Historic UK. Another site, a cemetery in Yorkshire, features a tombstone that reads: Here underneath this little stoneLies Robert, Earl of HuntingdonNe’er [never] archer was as he so goodAnd people called him Robin HoodSuch outlaws as he and his menWill England never see again. Believe it or not, that wasn’t the only ring What makes the story even more remarkable is that a second ring found at the same site five minutes before Harrison’s discovery was sold at auction in 2023. The circa 1560 posy ring, inscribed with the words “I Meane Ryght,” was found by water company worker Andy Taylor and is also believed to have belonged to a member of the Jenison family. What happened to the ring after it was found As for Harrison, he decided that he would sell the ring to someone who appreciates its importance. “There can’t be many people who’ve found anything like that. I’m only selling it because it’s been stuck in a drawer,” Harrison said. “I hope it will go to someone who will appreciate its historical value.” It was sold at auction by Hansons Auctions for £8,500 ($11,115). You can witness the intense final moments of the auction here: WOW! The final moments as the Sheriff of#Nottingham ring goes under the hammer… @HansonHistorica @HansonsAuctions@nottslive@BBCNottingham pic.twitter.com/NLssFdaksL— Hansons Auctioneers (@HansonsUK) March 24, 2022 Let’s hope that the man who sold the ring does what Robin Hood would have done with a piece of jewelry that adorned the hand of a nobleman whose family came into money by taking other people’s loot. Surely, he’d take the proceeds from the auction and give them to the poor. This article originally appeared four years ago. It has been updated. The post A lucky ‘metal detectorist’ found the Sheriff of Nottingham’s ring, valued at $11,000 appeared first on Upworthy.

Sometimes, when we encounter unsavory behavior from others, a response is warranted. But the real art is responding in a way that’s clear, strong, and yet still peaceful. For an example of this, look no further than Xander’s dad, who was on the receiving end of hate from his neighbor. Rather than spewing back the same amount of vitriol, his colorful comeback had courage, wit and just the right amount of flair. As Xander tells us in the video, the retort came after the neighbor told his dad that having two gay kids (Xander’s sister Claire is a lesbian) meant he “failed as a parent.” “So dad took a moment then replied with this…” the onscreen text reads. Next thing you know, Xander’s dad can be seen filling his backyard with huge (like, parade-level huge) rainbow pride flags. A dozen of them at least. The video ends with the words: “No, saying things like that does.” @fitxander Some AWESOME shade from my dad ?? #gay #dad @claire_training ♬ Kings & Queens – Ava Max Then it happened again with even more flags In another video, we learn that the not-so-friendly neighborhood watch told his dad that he wasn’t allowed to fly “gay flags” anymore. @fitxander Follow me on IG for more ? #lgbtq #gay #pride ♬ original sound – StyleBuyNetwork But rather than accept defeat, or resort to cruelty, he simply looked at the rules, only to discover that his house was actually outside the map by 2 meters (6.5 feet). So up the pride flags went! And even more this time! Flag responses seem to run in the family. In another video, Xander explains that his neighbor (where have all the friendly ones gone?) said he couldn’t sell his house because of the small window-sized trans flag hung near the roof. So Xander got an even bigger one that covered the entire back side. Are gay people more likely to have gay siblings than straight people? In another video, Xander introduced his sister, who is a lesbian, raising the question: is it more likely for gay people to have a gay sibling than a straight person? Research says yes. Gay women and men are more likely to have gay siblings than straight women and straight men. Somewhere between 7 to 16% of gay people also have a gay sibling. @fitxander We really did say this. What were we thinking! #gay #lesbian gaysiblings ♬ She’s Always a Woman – Billy Joel Why the pride flag still matters so much Pride Flags have long been a nonviolent way to stand up for the LGBTQ community. And yet, they still manage to whip up plenty of heated controversy, particularly at schools. The original eight colors all had a specific meaning, and only one color (pink) denoted sexuality. Meaning that the pride flag was and is just as nuanced and dynamic as the people it represents. The flag has taken on many different forms over the years as it evolves to speak for more marginalized communities, but it remains a peaceful and artistic form of protest. One that always seems to get the message across. This article originally appeared four years ago. It has been updated. The post Father of LGBTQ kids has a perfect response to homophobic new neighbor who tried to shame him appeared first on Upworthy.

Raising kids is tough no matter what generation you fall into, but it’s hard to deny that there was something much simpler about the childrearing days of yesteryear, before the internet offered a million and one ways that parents could be, and probably are, doing it all very, very wrong. What’s especially fascinating is that our data and best-practices have gotten so much better over time. Parents in the 80s had no idea that crib bumpers were dangerous, just like their parents didn’t know that using whiskey as a sleep aid probably wasn’t the best idea! We know better, and yet, we’re burdened by the overwhelming amount of knowledge and potential dangers around us. Taylor Wolfe, a millennial mom, nails this conundrum perfectly as she asks her own mother a series of rapid-fire questions about raising her during the 80s and the stark contrast in attitudes becomes blatantly apparent. The conversation that hit a collective nerve In a clip posted on TikTok, Wolfe and her mom sit side by side on the couch and have a fascinating discussion. First off, Wolfe can’t comprehend how her mom survived without being able to Google everything. (Not even a parent, but I feel this.) “What did we have to Google?” her mom asks while shaking her head incredulously. “Everything! For starters, poop!” Wolfe says. “Cause you have to know if the color is an okay color, if it’s healthy!” “I was a nursing mom, so if the poop came out green, it was because I ate broccoli,” her mom responds. …Okay, fair point. But what about handy gadgets like baby monitors? How did Wolfe’s mom keep her kid alive without one? “I was the monitor, going in and feeling you,” she says. Wolfe asked her mom how she slept without a baby monitor and knowing for certain, at every instant, that she was safe? “We just slept” her mom deadpanned. Her mom’s answers are something else entirely Could it really be that easy? It was for Wolfe’s mom, apparently. Rather than relying on technology, she simply felt her child and adjusted accordingly. “If you were hot, you slept in a diaper. If you were cold, you had a blanket around you.” Done and done. Wolfe then got into more existential questions, asking her mom if she ever felt the stress of “only having 18 summers” with her child, and how to make the most of it. Without missing a beat, Wolfe’s mother says, “It’s summer, I still have you.” Cue the tears! Going by Wolfe’s mom, the 80s seems like a time with much less pressure on parents. @thedailytay She had some big feelings. #parentsoftiktok #gentleparenting #satire #fyp #foryoupage #momlife #parents #millennialsoftiktok ♬ original sound – TaylorWolfe From feeding her kids McDonald’s fries guilt-free to being spared the judgment of internet trolls, she just sort of did the thing without worrying so much if she was doing it correctly. Parents today are feeling it too That’s nearly impossible in today’s world, as many viewers commented. “Google just gives us too much information and it scares us,” one person quipped. Another seconded, “I swear social media has made me wayyyy more of an anxious mom.” “it’s almost like all the technology, and it’s advertising, leads to so much unnecessary anxiety” someone added. Even a professional noted: “As someone who has worked in pediatrics since the 80s, the parents are way more anxious now.” It’s no wonder that parents’ mental health is, collectively, in the toilet. We’re more stressed today about money, work-life balance, getting into good schools, signing up for activities that gobble up all our time… everything. So what can modern parents actually do? Experts say there are ways parents can manage the stresses of modern life, though. Reducing phone and social media use, for starters, is a good way to avoid ruminating on all the potential dangers of the world. Parents are also challenged to push themselves out of their comfort zone by allowing their child more freedom and independence than they’d normally be comfortable with. For example, letting your kids walk to school or go buy something from a store without your help. I don’t think anyone truly wants to go back in time, per se. But many of us are yearning to bring more of this bygone mindset into the modern day. And the big takeaway here: No matter how many improvements we make to life, if the cost is our mental state, then perhaps it’s time to swing the pendulum back a bit. This article originally appeared three years ago. It has been updated. The post Millennial mom is stunned when grandma compares parenting in the 80s to now appeared first on Upworthy.

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a cat? To watch the world from less than a foot off the ground, seeing and hearing things humans completely miss, staring out the window for hours while contemplating one of your nine lives? Well, thanks to one person, we need wonder no more, at least about the what-they’re-seeing part. The TikTok channel Mr. Kitters the Cat (@mr.kitters.the.cat) gives us a cat’s-eye view of the world with a camera attached to Mr. Kitters’ collar. The result is an utterly delightful POV experience that takes us through the daily adventuring of the frisky feline as he wanders the yard. @mr.kitters.the.cat Spicy cats #fyp #cat #meow ♬ original sound – Mr. Kitters the Cat The most popular video is something else In a video titled “Spicy cats,” which has accumulated tens of millions of views on TikTok, we begin with the cutest cat sneeze ever. Then we hear Mr. Kitters’ meow as we walk with him through the grass before the scene switches to a thrilling, yowling cat chase he witnesses across the yard (while tucking himself even more securely under the bush he’s in). The best is seeing his kitty paws as he walks and then digs in the mulch. And there’s apparently something very exciting that needs to be pounced on right along a chain link fence. The comments are as good as the video The commenters made their delight known. “I love how he saw the cat fight and was like that’s not my business today,” wrote one person. “WHEN HE DIGS WITH HIS LIL PAWS,” declared another. “People: Cats only meow at humans.” Mr Kitters -Meows at everything-” wrote another. And of course, countless people responded simply to the sneeze with “Bless you.” Mr. Kitters has other POV videos as well. This one demonstrates how chatty he is and shows his black cat buddy as well. @mr.kitters.the.cat “What do you want?” “Nothing!” #fyp #cat #meow ♬ original sound – Mr. Kitters the Cat It really sounds like he says, “Let me in,” doesn’t it? And this “extreme sports” video is riveting. @mr.kitters.the.cat Extreme sports #fyp ♬ original sound – Mr. Kitters the Cat For those who can’t get enough, here is WAY more Mr. Kitters: Why does this captivate so many of us? It’s funny how something as simple as putting a camera around the neck of a cat can draw in tens of millions of people. We’re all so curious about the lives of the creatures we see every day, and the adorable quirkiness of cat behavior is a big part of why we keep them as companions in the first place. Seeing the world through their point of view is just one more way we can enjoy and learn about our pet friends. This article originally appeared three years ago. It has been updated. The post Cat owner put a first-person camera on its collar and accidentally filled the world with delight appeared first on Upworthy.