If you love the idea of tending to a beautiful garden but don't love all the organization and rules required to form those perfect lines, then chaos gardening might be your thing. "Chaos gardening is all about breaking the rules of traditional gardening. It's about letting plants grow however they want, without symmetry or strict order," meadow designer Kori Kasper told Real Simple. Learn how to start your chaos gardening journey and embrace "the wild side of nature."
Forget Nightclubs — Today's Younger Generations Find Fun and Connection in Book Clubs
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If you think book clubs are boring, think again. What were once gatherings largely consisting of sitting in a circle and answering discussion questions have now become jumping off points for an array of social activities — all thanks to millennials and Gen Zers breathing new life into these classic clubs. Book club events on Eventbrite increased by 31% in 2024 compared to 2023, according to the company. This spike goes hand in hand with the younger generations' repopularization of physical books, with a 2023 survey showing that both millennials and Gen Zers prefer to buy print books over e-books or audio. And while bonding over the written word is still the backbone of book club meetings, modern iterations also incorporate everything from themed food and drinks to workout classes and creative endeavors, like candle-making. The clubs now serve as an opportunity to connect with others in person after years of pandemic loneliness and take a break from staring at screens. "Reading is such an escape," Allison Yates, founder of Chicago's Read and Run club, told NBC News. "But really what people want is to feel something deeply, and it slows us down a lot in a time when everything is digital and everything is fast-paced." We'll also take this opportunity to shamelessly plug the Nice News Book Club — mark your calendars for the next meeting on May 6.
Together With FinanceBuzz
Tackle Credit Card Debt With 0% Interest for up to 21 Months
Paying off credit card debt can feel overwhelming, but the right strategy makes all the difference. Transferring your debt to a 0% intro APR credit card can ease the pressure, helping you take control and work toward financial freedom faster. And FinanceBuzz is here to help you choose the right card for you. The site's credit card experts have identified one of their top cards for balance transfers, offering a 0% intro APR period of up to 21 months and no annual fee. It's perfect for anyone looking to pay off debt instead of adding to it.
Pro Women Hockey Players Cheer Girls on at First-Ever "Breakthrough Cup"
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At an ice rink in Minnesota earlier this month, 600 girls competed to gain control of the puck — and in the stands, women from the first-of-its-kind Professional Women's Hockey League were cheering them on through every move, pass, and shot. "It takes me back to when I was a little girl, and you know, having those interactions with players who [I] idolized," Montreal Victoire forward Abby Boreen (pictured right) told CBS News of the recent "Breakthrough Cup" tournament for young female hockey players, hostedin St. Paul. "I just want to be like the best role model for them." Although the pro hockey league Boreen plays in is only in its second season, it's already breaking records for women's sports and inspiring the next generation of athletes. "Our attendance is up almost 35%," said Amy Scheer, the league's executive vice president of business operations. "We hit our millionth fan 14 months into our existence, and it shows … that there is a place for women's hockey in the sports ecosphere." As for the girls who competed at the early April tournament, the burgeoning success of women's hockey is a glimpse into what they can achieve. "I really look up to them and I want to be just like them when I grow up," participant Sophia Breckheimer said. Watch the young players in action.
Culture
Change Is in the Air: Streamlined Airport Check-in Process Could Be the Future
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Good news for travelers who struggle with the art of holding a boarding pass, passport, phone, and kiddo's hand in airport security lines: Air travel officials are looking to ditch analog documents and manual check-ins, potentiallywithin the next three years. The International Civil Aviation Organization, the U.N. body responsible for crafting global airline policy, has plans to switch up the existing systems for airports and airlines with the debut of a "digital travel credential," The Guardian reports. As opposed to manually checking in online or at the airport, getting a boarding pass, and having it scanned at various checkpoints, this system will allowpassengers to download a "journey pass" to their devices upon booking that will automatically be updated if changes are made to the flight reservation. Flyers would also be able to store passport information on their phones and check in via a facial recognition system that'll alert airlines when passengers arrive and wipe their details within 15 seconds of each contact with a touchpoint, such as a security gate. These updates are "the biggest in 50 years," Valérie Viale, the director of product management at Amadeus, a travel technology company, told The Times. She added: "At the moment, airlines have systems that are very siloed. … In the future, it'll be far more continuous and the journey pass will be dynamic."
Global Good
🇹🇻 Tuvalu, a remote Pacific Island nation, unveiled its first ATMs, marking a historic shift to e-banking (read more)
🇷🇴 Two metal detectoristsfound a stash of centuries-old buried treasure in Transylvania (read more)
🇸🇨 Humble heroes: On Indian Ocean atoll Aldabra, giant tortoises are steadily restoring the ecosystem (read more)
🇬🇧 To protect a local waterfall, a U.K.community is hoping to buy the site themselves (read more)
🇸🇮 Slovenian researchers are developing a new cooling technology to replace outdated, toxic refrigerants (read more)
Something We Love
P.S. Longevity Multivitamin P.S., a consumer products brand focused on clean, high quality products, launched a new anti-aging multivitamin called Longevity. Balance is key, so Longevity has just the right amount of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to help reduce cellular aging and mitochondrial damage. It's composed of the most bioavailable form of every ingredient, including methylated B vitamins. Bonus: P.S. ships the daily multivitamin in glass bottles to avoid microplastics, forever chemicals (PFAS), BPA, and phthalates.*
*Indicates a Nice News brand partnership or affiliate
Inspiring Story
Meeting neighbors where they're at
Minnesota motel owners Rick and Kelly Bestul took notice when more guests started extending their stays, having no permanent place to call home. To help fill that need, they transformed their property into affordable housing, capping weeklong stays at $300.
The worlds of space and jewelry are colliding in the "Cosmic Splendor" collection at New York's Museum of Natural History. A black hole bracelet, star-like rings, and a 4.3 billion-year-old crystal are just some of the dazzling Van Cleef & Arpels pieces on display. See the out-of-this-world jewelry.
Brad's Deals: Are You Taking Advantage of Your Amazon Prime Perks?
Most of us love Amazon Prime for the free shipping and exclusive access to free shows and movies, but your membership offers way more perks. From Whole Foods savings to free music and exclusive deals, these nine lesser-known perks compiled by Brad's Deals might just convince you to sign up — or help you unlock even more value if you're already a member.
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Up This Weekend
Pride & Prejudice Re-Release: In honor of the 20th anniversary of Joe Wright's Pride & Prejudice adaptation, the film is being re-released in some U.S. theaters — find a showtime
Coachella Weekend 2: It's back to the desert for Lady Gaga, Green Day, Post Malone, and plenty of other artists, big and small (but you can watch the livestream from home)
National Park Week: National parks across the country will be free to enter tomorrow, marking the start of National Park Week
The Nice News merch collaboration with Because Weekend is all about celebrating optimism and making every day feel like the weekend. To help us spread that ethos beyond the inbox, shop our collection of T-shirts and sweatshirts here.
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