2019-08-01_Mindful

In a small yet vital step toward

halting climate change, the

majority of Norwegian politi-

cians withdrew support for

oil drilling, worth billions, off

Norway’s Lofoten Islands. The

country is also beginning to

invest its oil wealth in renew-

able energy projects.

“Syniad gwael” is Welsh for

“bad idea.” And this would

be an apt response to a

grocery store in Wales that

goofed up when translating

“Alcohol-free” into Welsh,

causing their sign to adver-

tise “Free Alcohol.” ●

A truck driver sued his

employer for around a year

and a half of lunch breaks

($3,500) that he said he’d

worked through. He won—but

he only offered one week’s

worth of evidence of having

worked through his lunch, so

he was awarded just $35.

Researchers showed eighth

graders an exposé on

junk-food giants’ manipula-

tive marketing tactics. The

hypothesis? Teens’ desire to

rebel against “the man” could

motivate healthier snack

choices. It worked: Even three

months later, teen boys were

still buying 31% less junk food

and soft drinks at school.

In Devon,

UK, a highly

industrious border collie

named Rocky went above,

beyond, and a bit too far in

performing his sheepdog

duties: While his owner

was away, he herded

nine sheep into her

kitchen.

MINDFUL OR MINDLESS?

Our take on who’s paying attention and who’s not

by AMBER TUCKER

MINDFUL MINDLESS

Putting sick
kids in the driver’s
seat can help ease
their anxiety. At a Califor-
nia hospital, young surgery
patients are allowed to
drive adorable, kid-size
cars into the operat-
ing room.

16 mindful August 2019

top of mind