Dolly Parton’s Buddy Program

Rusty Blazenhoff posted this piece about Dolly Parton's Buddy Program, an educational initiative by the Dollywood Foundation that offered $500 to middle school students in Sevier County, Tennessee. Steve Henderson was one of the two buddies who signed the contract above. They agreed to not drop out of high school on each other's watch. If they both kept their promise, they got to split $1K courtesy of Dolly. If one dropped out, neither would get anything. Steve and his buddy, Nathan, graduated from high school and each got $500. Steve went on to work at Dollywood in its early days and later came back to voice some park campaigns.

Are You A Functional Phone Addict?

Arthur Brooks has a blunt test for whether you're addicted to your phone

(Open Culture)

Daisy Chain Fields Festival

Here’s a link to all the wonderfulness at Olivia Rodrigo’s Daisy Chain Fields Festival this past weekend. The all female event raised $10m for nonprofits benefiting women and girls. Melinda French Gates matched the amount, bringing the reported total to about $20m. Yay!

Here’s a NYT gift link for a Daisy Chain Fields Playlist.

Kitten Rescue

Komatsu North America was so impressed by the rescue that they sent Sue a tiny reflective construction vest and a hard hat with ear holes.

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A post shared by River Reach Construction (@riverreachconstruction)

More:  Laughing Squid 

Claymation

This brings to mind the days when we had one television station and the only things we could watch were The Gumby Show, Captain Kangaroo and Howdy Doody. The claymation adventures of Gumby and Pokey seem kind of quaint now.

Via Memo Of The Air

Photograph Of The Day

  This is a photo by Shane Paris. 

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A post shared by Shane Paris - On A Halifax Pier (@onahalifaxpier)

Shadowologist

 

https://tilbageidanmark.tumblr.com/post/826235172454318080/vincent-bal-a-belgian-shadowologist

Melting Pop

A chocolate cake popcorn zoetrope by French food artist Alexandre Dubosc.

Via Langweiledich.net 

What’s Her Secret?

The fabulous Emmy Blotnick.

Via Memo Of The Air

David Byrne

 Since last fall David Byrne has been touring with this footage included in his shows.

Just when you think you couldn’t love David Byrne more he goes to the Hollywood Bowl playing "Life During Wartime" projecting ICE raids 🔥

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— WuTangIsForTheChildren (@wutangforchildren.bsky.social) August 29, 2026 at 6:53 PM