114-YEAR-OLD LIES TO GET A FACEBOOK PAGE

Anna Stoer is 114 years old. You read that right – 114. She lives in Minnesota. She wanted to create a Facebook page. She had to lie because the age dropdown menu goes only to age 99.

Here's the video story:

You can read more at Buzzfeed but watch out for that $%^ autostart audio.

CHILDREN FULL OF LIFE DOCUMENTARY

From my friend Jim Stone, here is how the YouTube page explains this extraordinary video:

”...a fourth-grade class in a primary school in Kanazawa, northwest of Tokyo, learns lessons about compassion from their homeroom teacher, Toshiro Kanamori.

“He instructs each to write their true inner feelings in a letter, and read it aloud in front of the class. By sharing their lives, the children begin to realize the importance of caring for their classmates."

Take a look at Part 1 – you will be astonished and wish that all children could have a teacher like this man.

You can watch the full documentary here. It is about 40 minutes long.

FBI MAKES ANIMAL CRUELTY A CLASS A FELONY

Cruelty to animals seems an especially heinous crime to me because unless provoked, they have nothing but love for humans. Certainly you remember the case of NFL star Michael Vick and his dog fight ring.

What you might not know is how widespread dog fighting rings and other kinds of animal cruelty are. Now, reports Alternet,

“...the FBI is making animal cruelty a Group A felony, along with homicide, arson and assault. The move, announced two weeks ago, will take animal cruelty out of the category of 'other' crimes not considered major by the FBI and will offer a way to track animal abuse.”

Read more here.

ENTERTAINMENT DURING THE REAGAN ADMINISTRATION

Darlene Costner sent this video of juggler Michael Davis performing at Ford's Theater in Washington, D.C. For then-President Ronald Reagan and his wife along with then-Speaker of the House, Tip O'Neill and his wife.

A LOT OF US HERE LIKE CATS. A LOT OF US HERE

...are grammar mavens. So this image from my friend John Brandt seems to be a good fit for us.

JOHN OLIVER TAKES ON PUMPKIN SPICE LATTES

John Oliver's HBO show, Last Week Tonight was on hiatus last Sunday so he provided us with this web-only diatribe against pumpkin spice flavor – have fun.

HOW TO CRUSH A POLITICAL BIGOT

In 1970, The New Republic magazine printed a story by Douglas J. Stewart calling for denying the vote to elders. An excerpt:

”...it makes no sense to allow the vote to someone who is actuarially unlikely to survive, and pay the bills for, the politician or party he may help elect...As a class they are not...wise, benign, and tolerant...their chief characteristics are greed, cowardice, resentment over the cheats of life...”

The New Republic gave the rebuttal forum to Fahrenheit 451 author, Ray Bradbury, which he used in the tone and attitude the proposal deserved. An excerpt:

”I am much in your debt for publishing the brilliant article by Douglas J. Stewart. Taking the vote away from old people is great. But, may I suggest an even better alternative? Let us build ovens and gas chambers and really do the job right.

“I have other plans for cripples, the blind, and the Jews, if Mr. Stewart wishes to hear them. Meanwhile, onward and upward. Let’s get that vote, first, and then the life of the Voter!”

You can (and should) read Bradbury's entire response here.

This exchange is part of a celebration of the magazine's 100 years in existence with reprints of 100 stories from their century of publication. You'll find that series here. (Hat tip to TGB reader, Tom Delmore)

PAPER SCULPTURES OF LI HONGBO

Maybe you think you know something about paper sculptures. Unless you've seen this video, you probably don't.

If you would like to know more, here's another video of the artist, who started out in his professional life as a book publisher, talking about his work.

WALTER THE LAB'S DASH FOR THE SEA

I know someone who has a dog named Walter. What makes that wonderful and pleases me every time I think of it is that the person's surname is Brennan. (Maybe you have to be older than 60 or so to get the joke.)

Here's another dog named Walter although I don't know his person's surname. The temperature had been more than 90 degrees in Sicily where Walter lives and he can't wait to cool off in the sea.

The YouTube page says Walter has “an insane passion for diving and swimming.” Here is little more of his over-the-top joy – can't you feel it?

Interesting Stuff is a weekly listing of short takes and links to web items that have caught my attention; some related to aging and some not, some useful and others just for fun.

You are all encouraged to submit items for inclusion. Just click “Contact” in the upper left corner of any Time Goes By page to send them. I'm sorry that I probably won't have time to acknowledge receipt and there is no guarantee of publication. But when I do include them, you will be credited and I will link to your blog IF you include the name of the blog and its URL.