Godyears

We first met Marvel Cinema's version of Prince T'Challa in Captain America: Civil War and watched as tragedy turned him into the king of Wakanda and yes, into the superhero The Black Panther.

But there is so much more to this character, both in the comics as well as in the movie releasing in 2018. As the Black Panther arrives in theaters across the globe this week, bolstered by huge critical applause from reviewers who got to see it first, it is time to up your Marvel General Knowledge about Marvel's first black superhero.

20 Fun Facts About Marvel's Black Panther

1. 'Black Panther' refers to a title here and not just one person, passing from protector to protector of the fictional African country, Wakanda.

2. While it remains isolated from the outside world which considers it a stereotypical rural nation, Wakanda in the comics is one of the most technologically advanced countries, blending science with tradition. Remember the Quinjet planes you've seen the Avengers fly around in all those movies? Ya, well, in the comics, the technology and build is courtesy T'Challa.

3. The rare element 'Vibranium' which formed Captain America's shield is available only in Wakanda and is the material the Black Panther suit in the movie is made up of. In the comics, this source comes from a meteorite that crashed in Wakanda.

4. The Black Panther's comicbook debut was way back in 1966 as a character in the more popular 'Fantastic Four' comic book series (Issue #52).

5. He was the first lead Black superhero in comic books.

6. The Dora Milaje - The Adored Ones - are the female warriors (identifiable by their shaved heads and major weapons-and-martial arts skills) trained to protect the King. You had a glimpse of them in Captain America: Civil War.

The Dora Milaje - The Adored Ones - are the female warriors (identifiable by their shaved heads and major weapons-and-martial arts skills) trained to protect the Black Panther. You had a glimpse of them in Captain America: Civil War.

7. Where you associate Iron Man with 'playboy tech genius billionaire' and Captain America with 'loyal boy scout', the term you want to think of when one talks of the Black Panther is 'regal'. Even in the comics, he is considered one of the most intelligent of all Marvel superheroes.

8. In the comic books, Black Panther is married to a super heroine you have seen on-screen since the year 2000! Any guesses? Yes, it is the X-Men alumni Storm (played by Halle Berry in the first series of movies) - she who can manipulate weather. Sadly the marriage was annulled in the comic books as he had to choose his duty for his country over his own family life.

In the comic books, Black Panther is married to a super heroine you have seen on-screen since the year 2000! Any guesses? Yes, it is the X-Men alumni Storm (played by Halle Berry in the first series of movies) - she who can manipulate weather. Sadly the marriage was annulled in the comic books as he had to choose his duty for his country over his own family life.

9. Think of any Marvel Superhero team and the Black Panther has been a part of it - the Avengers, yup. The Fantastic Four? Yes, he and Storm took over for awhile when Reed and Sue were missing. Defenders in Hells Kitchen? Yes, again. Oh, and since his wife is Storm, he has been a honorary member of the X-Men too.

10. The Black Panther shares many similarities with Batman from the DC comics - no super powers, prefers to work alone, rich, uses technology, prefers to use darkness and shadows as an ally and advanced fighting skills and a tendency to think many steps ahead.

11. The Black Panther (at least in the comic books) does get super strength, stamina and abilities from a particular heart shaped herb found in Wakanda.

12. The movie marks the first time you have a black Marvel superhero (technically, I guess Blade counts as a vampire superhero!) with a nearly all-black star cast and a black director as well. Every indication from early reviews seems to suggest they have done a brilliant job showcasing their culture and pride.

13. Actor Chadwick Boseman who plays the Black Panther insisted on using an authentic African accent to showcase how since Wakanda had never been colonized, the people within this country would not have a European accent.

Actor Chadwick Boseman who plays the Black Panther insisted on using an authentic African accent to showcase how since Wakanda had never been colonized, the people within this country would not have a European accent.

14. In 1966, there was an actual 'Black Panther' movement among African-Americans with violent tendencies en route to their demands for freedom. Though Marvel comics had used the title first, Marvel had changed the hero's name to Black Leopard for a brief period to avoid association with this group.

15. In the comics, the Black Panther has fought and beaten up the real-life white supremacy terrorist group, the Ku Klux Klan. (I don't know why but that just makes me feel so happy.)

16. Who created the original comic book character? Well, the answer remains the same for most Marvel comic characters - Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.

17. Kirby and Lee are not invincible, of course. Their first draft of the Black Panther had him without a mask and with a silly name called Coal Tiger.

Not their best work!

18. The first talk of a Black Panther movie dates all the way back to 1992! Actor Wesley Snipes pushed a lot for it to happen. Sadly, it took 26 years from that time for the King to get his own movie.

19. His sister Shuri (you will meet her in the movie, played by actress Letitia Wright) has taken over the role of Black Panther as well in brief stints when he was injured / comatose.

We met one of Black Panther's most iconic villains way back in Avengers: Age of Ultron. Ulysses Klaw who lost a hand in that movie while trying to negotiate a deal for vibranium with Ultron, is in the comic books, a physicist with extra-human abilities including 'a prosthetic sonic emitter device' for a wrist.

20. We met one of Black Panther's most iconic villains way back in Avengers: Age of Ultron. Ulysses Klaw who lost a hand in that movie while trying to negotiate a deal for vibranium with Ultron, is in the comic books, a physicist with extra-human abilities including 'a prosthetic sonic emitter device' for a wrist.

The main villain in the movie though appears to be Erik Killmonger (played by Micheal B Jordan in a role that has got rave reviews), an exiled Wakandan out to dethrone the Black Panther.

So that is it from my side. You are now ready to go watch The Black Panther movie. I hope you learned something new from this post. Have a great day! And remember...

#BlackPanther

All Hail the King!

Bonus trivia:
If you remember, I had talked about the 6 powerful Infinity stones that Thanos - the main villain of this whole Marvel Cinematic series - is searching for. The Soul Stone is the only one left to appear from the six we discussed and based on the scenes in the Avengers: Infinity War trailer, it is likely that the Stone is in Wakanda (There is no other reason for Thanos and his army to bother launching a fight there as shown in the trailer)

So, let us keep an eye out for that too in this movie, eh?

You know what the list is about from the title, don't you? I know fellow movie lovers would love to have this list too so I thought I would categorize some of the likely good Hollywood movies to hit the screen this year, based on the month of release.

Since there are over 40 movies that made the final list, I've divided the list into four sections, based on the calender.

After starting off with some strong script-oriented films in January, we change gears from February to offer quite a few intriguing options for science fiction and thriller fans.

Without further adieu, let us dive in.

I know fellow movie lovers would love to have this list too so I thought I would categorize some of the likely good Hollywood movies to hit the screen this year, based on the month of release. This one is from January to March

January 2018

As January has already passed, I have the luxury of showcasing in this list movies that all opened up to rave critical reviews.

I, Tonya

A unique dark comical take on the real-life 1994 scandal about American skater Tonya whose family plotted to assault her rival.

Phantom Thread

Daniel Day Lewis shines alongside Vicky Krieps in this historical drama of a renowned dressmaker whose tailored life is disrupted by love.

Call Me By Your Name

Insightful, this coming-of-age movie delves into the forbidden love between two young men discovering who they are.

The Post

Based on real events, the movie focuses on the battle between the press and the U.S. government over cover-ups and lies told by the latter for decades.

February 2018

Black Panther

After what transpired in "Captain America: Civil War", T'Challa returns to the technologically superior African country Wakanda to become its ruler. But political conflicts stemming from within the mysterious country ensure it will not be a peaceful beginning.

USP (Unique Selling Point) - The reviews are already out with almost all critics rating it as one of top 5, if not the best, movie ever from Marvel studios. Well-fleshed out characters, a relevant political story, brilliant effects and a standout performance by Micheal B Jordan as the villain of the movie.

(Trailer here)

Annihilation

When the sole survivor of a team of soldiers who went into a quarantined environmental disaster zone is left grievously wounded, his biologist wife (Natalie Portman) and three others volunteer for another expedition to find out what happened.

USP - Based on Jeff VanderMeer's Southern Reach novel Trilogy, the movie is a blend of sci-fi, mystery and horror with stunning visuals from the director of Ex-Machina, Alex Garland.

(Trailer here)

Mute (Netflix)

In this science fiction mystery, a mute bartender searches for his missing girlfriend in a city filled with secrets of its own.

USP - Director Duncan Jones struck it big with his debut film in 2009 (Moon). Mute is a spiritual successor to that movie with a wonderful starcast including Alexander Skarsgård, Paul Rudd and Justin Theroux.

(Trailer here)

March 2018

Red Sparrow

A ballerina (Jennifer Lawrence) recruited by the Sparrow School, a Russian intelligence spy training agency, engages in a cat-and-mouse game with the Americans.

USP - It has been awhile since we had a good spy vs spy movie.

(Trailer here)

A Wrinkle in Time

Based on the best-selling novel of the same name, the sci-fi movie, the movie follows the travails of a young woman who seeks the help of three astral travelers (Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling) to save her father trapped in a distant planet.

USP - I am personally not sold on the premise but then, in addition to having the Disney banner, look at that star cast. In addition to those mentioned above, you also have Micheal Pena, Chris Pine and Zach Galifianakis. They must know better than me.

(Trailer here)

Tomb Raider

Alicia Vikander stars as the iconic computer game adventuress Lara Croft aka Tomb Raider, here on her first mission to complete her father's research and uncover ancient artifacts.

USP - Nostalgia more than anything else will drive crowds to see how the series fares in 2018.

(Trailer here)

Isle of Dogs

Critically acclaimed director Wes Anderson returns with his second animated movie (after the 2009 Oscar nominated 'Fantastic Mr Fox') with a moving story of a dystopian Japan where dogs are quarantined after a 'canine flu' and how a team of five dogs help protect a boy who came looking for his dog from the Japanese authorities.

USP - The animation and the feel of the trailer is so different from the Pixel features we are used to. And with Wes Anderson, you know it will be a large-hearted story.

(Trailer here)

Ready Player One

This sci-fi movie (AGAIN!) based on a best-selling novel and directed by Steven Spielberg focuses on a future Earth where everyone spends their life interconnected in a virtual space called Oasis. When the founder of Oasis dies, he leaves games and puzzles behind which bequeath ownership of Oasis to those who solve it.

USP - High nostalgia feel for those from the 80s and 90s as much like in the book, you can expect to see hundreds of pop culture references (from movies like Nightmare on Elm Street, Back to the Future, Tomb Raider (!), King Kong, Child's Play, Mad Max etc).

(Trailer here)

Pacific Rim 2

The successor to the iconic first film once more features the huge human-controlled robots - the Jaegers - coming back to action as disturbances within the ocean suggest the huge creatures (Kaijus) have returned.

USP - Big Robots vs Huge Monsters. What part of that did you not get?

(Trailer here)

Rest assured, there are so many more awesome movies in the months to come and I will update the next 3 sections for this year in the coming posts. For now, from this list, which movies excite you the most?

Authors note:

The article is written as part of the #SuperBloggerChallenge2018 by #Instacuppa conducted by HealthWealthBridge.com, FashionableFoodz.com and AllAboutTheWoman.com and should not be re purposed, republished or use otherwise. The content herein is owned by the blogger. SuperBloggerChallenge2018 is not responsible for any infringement caused.

Nathan Neidigk is a Maths teacher at Volcano Vista High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico who has had a hard year. Having lost his wife shortly after the birth of their child, heartbreak continued to follow him when a few years later, his three year old son was diagnosed with leukemia.

Looking after his son in the hospital meant he had to be absent from class occasionally. It also meant he wouldn't be able to buy the little one presents for Christmas as all his money went for hospital bills. The students at his class realized this and so each pitched in and surprised him the next time he came to their class.

Kindness and compassion - When they realized that widower Nathan Neidigk was struggling with medical bills for his young son suffering from leukemia and could not buy his child a Christmas present, the students of Volcano Vista High School in Albuquerque decided to show him how much they cared and chipped in to buy the child a Nintendo Switch along with games and accessories to help ease the suffering of the family during these hard times.

“We’re aware of your situation and we really want to help you out, so we all got together and we got you this,” they told their teacher, handing him a wrapped package. It turns out the students had bought his son a Nintendo Switch gaming console as well as two games for the young one to play with, leaving Nathan emotional and overjoyed at the same time.

“It was an incredibly generous gesture,” Nathan commented. "They found the opportunity to do something nice and allow my family to have fun moments in time of intense stress.”

You can watch the moment teacher Nathan Neidigk opens his present here.

There is also a fundraiser to help pay the medical bills for his child Mikey's medical bills that has reached over 70% of its target. You can choose to contribute if you wish by clicking here or share the page to support him by letting others know of his young child as well.

Authors note:

This post is part of the We Are the World Blogfest, a monthly event to showcase stories of compassion.
The hosts for this month are Peter Nena, Eric Lahti, Inderpreet Kaur Uppal, Shilpa Garg and myself. The idea is to spread positivity and light to counterbalance the negativity and darkness in socialmedia. You can check their pages to find the list of feel-good stories written by bloggers from around the world.

I chose to tell a story about students because in the wake of the latest school shooting in USA earlier this week in the town of Parkland, what came through was the strength of the young survivors who had lost their friends and classmates. They refused to accept the apologies of the political leaders and demanded more be done to keep them safe.
This next generation may be too young to vote but they have kindness in their heart and resilience in their bones. We need to encourage them to do what we couldn't - be real life heroes of Kindness and Compassion.

Do you want more stories of 'Real-Life Heroes of Kindness and Compassion' from around the world? I have been compiling a list for more than a year now - from small children to elderly women, from waiters to Presidents - you will see that everyone of us is capable of being a hero of kindness to others if we choose to be so.
You can check them out here.

In the first part of this series, I had talked about the movies worth looking out for from January to March 2018. Continuing from there, this, the second part of this article series focuses on movies that should be fun to watch and release between the blockbuster season of 2018 i.e. April to June.

the second part of this article series focuses on movies that should be fun to watch and release between the blockbuster season of 2018 i.e. April to June.

April 2018

A Quiet Place

An intriguing concept, this horror-thriller features a family living in a farm in isolation, scared of an entity attracted by sound forcing the family to avoid any form of sound.

USP - The concept of using silence to magnify fear is a welcome change from jump scares. Real-life Husband and wife couple John Krasinski (also the director and co-writer) and Emily Blunt star.

(Trailer here)

Avengers: Infinity War

A decade of Marvel superhero movies comes down to this movie as the purple Titan, Thanos, finally comes to Earth seeking the infinity stones to power his gauntlet, forcing the superheroes to put aside their differences and work together as a team.

USP - Easily the most anticipated movie of the year, there are huge stakes in this movie - a star cast featuring everyone you have met till now in a decade of Marvel movies, an insane budget, two directors who have proven they are capable of handling big star casts as well as misdirecting the audience and yes, the very realistic possibility that will be actual superhero deaths this time.

This movie releases a week early in India. In the US, it releases in May.

(Trailer - already at 140 million views! - here)

May 2018

Solo: A Star Wars Story

A spin-off from the iconic Star Wars series, this movie serves as a prequel taking us back to the origins of a young Hans Solo, his co-pilot Chewbacca and their daring escapades.

USP - The Star Wars tag should be enough to earn it big bucks though there have been production issues with directors getting swapped midway (never a good sign)

(Trailer here)

Deadpool 2

The merc-with-a-mouth is back in another fun superhero romp, fighting more bad guys while also dealing with Cable, a time-traveling mutant from the future.

USP - The first Deadpool movie was unlike any other, taking full advantage of its adult 'R' rating and also being LOL hilarious with Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds in peak form) often breaking the fourth wall and talking directly to the audience. Judging by the trailer, that humour is still in good form.

(Trailer here)

Life of the Party

When she gets dumped by her husband, Deanna decides to go back to college to finish her degree. That translates to living the teenage life again at 40 and tagging along with her daughter who studies in the same college.

USP - Perfectly placed during the Mother's Day weekend, this 'going back to college' premise promises to be one of those comedies that caters to Melissa McCarthy's brand of humour which is actually quite nice (Bridesmaids, The Heat, Ghostbusters). The supporting star cast ( Molly Gordon, Gillian Jacobs, Maya Rudolph, Julie Bowen and Matt Walsh) all point towards a talented set of comedians.

(Trailer here)

Rampage

Loosely based on the 1986 video game, a genetic experiment gone wrong mutates docile animals into giant creatures that break loose from captivity and go on a 'rampage'.

USP - Leave the brains behind and go for this if you enjoy these kind of romps. Dwayne 'the Rock' Johnson takes on the XXXXL versions of a white ape, a flying wolf and a crocodile.

(Trailer here)

June 2018

Oceans 8

Danny Ocean's (George Clooney from the Ocean's 11 trilogy) estranged sister sets up a team to pull off a monumental heist.

USP - I loved the Ocean's 11 trilogy and really hope this all-woman's cast succeeds. Sandra Bullock, Anne Hatheway, Cate Blanchett, Mindy Kaling, Helena Bonham Carter and Rihanna star.

(Trailer here)

The Incredibles 2

A superpower family struggles to maintain their secret identity, living a normal family life in the city. Things will only get harder when a new villain arrives on the scene with a devious plot.

USP - The first Incredibles movie was way back in 2004 and a huge hit. It would be fun to see the family back together again.

(Trailer here)

Sicario 2

When the Mexican drug problem becomes too much to handle, the CIA send in undercover operatives to deliberately start a war between the Mexican drug syndicates.

USP - Sicario was brilliantly directed. With two key characters (played by Josh Brolin and Benicio del Toro) returning, except another well-crafted and acted out thriller.

(Trailer here)

Hereditary

When an aging grandmother of the family dies, an other-worldly presence starts to manifest in the house, focusing its attention on the teenage granddaughter, just like the grandmother used to.

USP - The trailer creeped me out. I mean, seriously. Don't read my synopsis and go 'meh! been there, seen that.' The film has been shown in various film festivals and boasts a 100% rating in Rotten Tomatoes, as of today and is being spoken in the same cult-defining breath as The Exorcist.

(Trailer here)

Jurassic world: Fallen Kingdom

The fifth installment of Jurassic Park finds the dinosaurs roaming freely in the isolated island after the destruction of the Jurassic World theme park. But things are about to change as a volcano in the area starts to get active, forcing the old team to make a trip once more, this time to save the dinosaurs, even as they uncover a conspiracy that could destabilize the world.

USP - What can another edition of dinosaurs roaming around offer? Let us keep our fingers crossed and hope for some good thrills.

(Trailer here)

So, those are my picks. Which movies in this list intrigued you the most?

Also, if you want to see what's coming up earlier than this, here are the list of movies worth checking out from Hollywood in February and March 2018.

Authors note:

Summer is here and once more, there is the very realistic scenario of this being one of the hottest we've faced in decades. And yes, while an ice cold glass (jar? barrel?) of drinks is super-appealing, you should consider adding some natural nutritious coolers to your diet as well.

To help you make the right choices, here is my selection of fruits and vegetables that would make great summer foods.

Cucumber

(Indian name - Kheera)
High water content
Inexpensive.
Potassium, magnesium and fiber help maintain blood pressure.
Versatile - use it in salads, sandwiches, juices or even in infused waters.
Detoxifies the system.

Bitter gourd

(Indian name - Karela)
Easily available.
Good against rashes and fungal infections.
Good against diabetes and hypertension.

Vegetables like cucumber, bitter gourds, bottle gourds and ash gourds tend to have a high water content and are perfect for the hot summers

Bottle gourd (Calabash)

(Indian name - Louki)
96% percent water.
High in dietary fiber and vitamins.
Promotes weight loss.
Good for hypertension.

Ash gourd

(Indian name - Petha)
Rich source of Vitamin B and C.
Combats acidity due to spicy food.
Aids in weight loss.
Anti-stress.

Snake Gourd

(Indian name - Chichinda)
Increases body Hydration.
Strengthens immunity and detoxifies the system.
Helps in management of diabetes too.

In addition to being vitamin rich, citrus fruits and berries aid in digestion, building immunity and weight loss

Lime and lemons

(Indian name - Nimbu)
Aids immune system.
Helps in digestion and weight loss.
Vitamin-rich.
Helps get a healthy skin.

Tomatoes

(Indian name - Tamatar)
High water content.
Rich in antioxidants and Vitamin C.

Oranges

(Indian name - Naarangee)

80% water - Replenishes water losses.
Potassium rich - helps avoid muscle cramps.

Pumpkin

(Indian name - Kaddu)
Cooling effect.
Aids in weight loss.

Watermelons

(Indian name - Tarbooj)
92% of it IS water.
Curbs food cravings and keeps you feeling full.
Lycopene in it helps reduce skin damage from the harsh sun.

Corn

(Indian name - Makka)
Has anti-oxidants (lutein and zeaxanthin) that protect from harmful ultraviolet rays.
Rich in fiber.

Berries

(Indian name - Ber)
Raspberries/ Blueberries are rich in fiber.
Anti-oxidant properties.

Coconut water

(Indian name - Nariyal ka paani)
Excellent for replacing lost electrolytes.
Natural diuretic.

Pumpkins, spinach, tomatoes and coconut waters are excellent food choices for summer and aid in weight loss, hydration and strengthening skin against harmful UV rays

Amaranth

(Indian name - Chaulai)
Protein-rich.
Improves digestion.
Fiber content aids in weight loss.
Gluten free alternative.

Spinach

(Indian name - Palak)
Dietary fiber assists in weight loss.
Protects skin from harmful effects of ultraviolet rays.
Boosts immunity.
Anti-inflammatory properties.

Have a happy, healthy summer.

Authors note:

Even among those who are into fitness supplements, hydrolyzed proteins a.k.a. protein hydrolysates is a term few may be very familiar with. That is sad really because hydrolyzed proteins actually offer quite a few benefits over traditional protein supplements.

What does Hydrolyzed proteins even mean?

In essence, a hydrolyzed protein is a protein that has been been broken down from its typically large size by adding proteolytic enzymes, resulting in it breaking down into its smaller building blocks, amino acids.

How does that help?

This smaller version of the parent protein allows for faster and greater delivery from your intestine (after eating) to your muscles, reducing the role of the 'border patrol' liver to steal certain amino acids before they reach the muscle. Thus, more product reaches the destination.

What are the other benefits of hydrolyzed protein?

The higher insulinotropic effect ensures you have a higher production of insulin. This helps speeden the recovery process after a workout by replenishing glycogen in your body.

Replacing regular protein supplements with protein hydrolysates is a good option for the elderly suffering from protein deficiencies too as the latter speeds up protein intake and absorption in the body.

In India, the only brand presently offering hydrolyzed proteins is Protinex which in addition to having zero trans-fats is also a 100% vegetarian product to boot, making it an excellent supplement during workouts. They offer India not just a variety in flavours (original, vanilla, elaichi and chocolate) but also cater to specific groups such as diabetics and pregnant women.

nutritionist and health writer Kavita Devgan at the Protinex event

Of course, as nutritionist and health writer Kavita Devgan pointed out, its benefits extend beyond the gymnasium.

Most of our sources of protein - egg, chicken, fish and pulses - contain intact proteins and so take longer to get absorbed, losing key amino acids along the way. Using these supplements along with our natural diet helps avoid facing the key problems of protein deficiency.

Is protein deficiency a big deal in India?

As per studies published in 2017, around 73 % of Indian diets are protein deficient with the numbers rising to 84 % for vegetarian diets. Metros and tier two cities are not exempt from this with Lucknow having a massive 90 % deficiency and Chennai up to 84 %.

Dr Nandan Joshi, the Head of Nutritional Science and Medical Affairs of Danone pointed out the sad truth that while proteins are one of the key nutrients for our survival, awareness of the right food groups containing it and the problems related to deficiency of proteins is extremely poor in India. Worse still are the misconceptions that come with it with nearly 73% thinking green leafy vegetables are an excellent source of proteins. In the study, over 93 % of respondents were not aware of their ideal protein requirement.

What is my ideal protein requirement?

As part of the initiative to educate the public about protein deficiency, Protinex launched the Protein Calculator in February 2018, unveiled by the captain of the World Cup winning Under 19 cricket team, Prithvi Shaw.

An easy guide for you to remember your protein requirement is to note that under normal circumstances, you need at least 0.75 to 1 gram of protein per kilogram body weight.

Take-away message

While it is important to dispel myths about protein deficiency, it is also necessary to take corrective measures and add the right supplements to one's diet. With over sixty years in the market, Protinex is a trusted brand that offers a good solution via their hydrolyzed proteins to not just help regain muscle mass but also make up for loss of proteins as would normally occur with a regular Indian diet.

Healthy and tasty, fruit infused waters nourish your body while being ridiculously easy to make and offering so many unique fruit based combinations suited specifically to your needs.

What is Fruit Infused Water?

Also known as detox water, fruit infused water requires meticulous milliliter perfect calculations of each ingredient to attain the right balance. Just kidding!

Fruit infused water is the simplest drink you can make at home, combining various combinations of sliced fruits, vegetables and herbs in cold water +/ - ice. Over time, these fruits infuse their nutrients, vitamins and minerals into the water.

Fruit Infused Waters offers you a drink that is now tasty, has no calories, keeps you hydrated throughout the day and helps you in various specific health aspects too, be it weight loss or digestion.

Benefits of Fruit Infused Water

It helps you achieve that goal of 8 glasses a day easily by making the water you drink tasty and nutritious. Drinking water is one of the simplest methods to lose weight and fruit infused waters are a blessing in motivating you in this aspect.
Nutrients from the fruits disperse into the water, making it rich in vitamins and minerals.
An excellent way to wean away from energy drinks and sodas which do more harm to your body in the guise of making you feel energized with their caffeine-and-sugar highs.
Anti-oxidants from fruit infused waters slow aging and help fight damage caused by free radicals, affecting your skin.
Anti-oxidants also help eliminate toxins and cleanse your body.
These combinations are great to sip throughout the day, reducing muscle fatigue and keeping your energized.
In addition to keeping you hydrated, specific combinations help you achieve your health goals, be it weight loss, increasing immunity or maintaining sugar control.
Multiple mix-and-match variations means you have literally hundreds of flavours coming your way that are healthier for you too.
A fresh batch of fruit infused water takes all of one minute to make.
Cheaper than carbonated drinks and a better alternative for those sweet cravings, both at home and at work.

Why I recommend a Fruit Infuser Water Bottle

While you can opt for a pitcher at home and fill it with the combination of fruits, vegetables and herbs alongside ice and cold water, when you have to go to work, you can't very well put huge open-ended jars in your bag and travel. For me the logical solution would be a fruit infuser water bottle.

My advice: Keep one pitcher of fruit infused water in your refrigerator at all times and have one portable fruit infuser water bottle for each family member as well to take to work/ office/ school/ gym/ on long drives.

I use the Instacuppa Fruit Infuser Water Bottle - Tritan Edition myself and carry it to work with me for my 24 hour duty nights. Benefits include:

Leak-proof no matter how you twist and turn it.
A full-length infuser rod allows you to add all the fruits you want in there.
Highly durable with TRITAN copolyster material.
A nice anti-sweat sleeve is also provided so that if you transfer the chilled bottle to your bag before leaving for work, the contents of your bag do not get wet from the condensation droplets.
Easy to clean. I mean, really really easy!
Eco-friendly (100% BPA free)
Recyclable.
As I mentioned, the whole process of making this from slicing the fruits to placing the fruit infused water bottle inside the fridge takes less than 60 seconds.

There is also a stylish Instacuppa Fruit Infuser Water Bottle - Thermos Steel Edition version - a 1200 ml flask with infuser rods within which keeps the fruit infused water chilled for 24 hours or even hot for up to 12 hours. Speaking of keeping things hot, the other product I have purchased from them is the Instacuppa Green Tea Detox Bottle - Double walled Glass Edition. If you follow me on social media, you know I am a fan of exotic teas so this is exactly what I need.

I am sharing here some super-easy fruit infuser water recipes to try out at home along with the key benefit each combination offers for you.

My advice:

Keep one pitcher of fruit infused water in your refrigerator at all times and have one portable fruit infuser water bottle for each family member as well (to take to work/ office/ school/ gym/ or maybe the flask if you are going on a long drive and want that water chilled longer).
Try out different combinations at home and see what everyone's favourites are.
Continue making the journey to health a tastier, healthier ride.

Authors note:

For Week 5 of the #SuperBloggerChallenge2018, one of the prompts really appealed to me more than the others. It asked me to reminisce on some of the best moments I've had with the blog. Even by normal standards, I have been blessed because I have some blogging highs that not many amongst a crowd of tens of millions of Indian blogs can claim to have achieved. Here are some of the best moments that Godyears has given me over the years.

1. Winning Awards

One of the biggest wins for me would definitely be winning the 'Best Creative Writing Blogger in India' at the country's first live blogging conference awards ceremony, Win'14. It came at a difficult time in my life and really was the start of an amazing year where over 10 of my short stories would also get published in various national anthologies. Winning the Best Blog from Kerala at the Indian Blogger Awards 2017 meant a lot too, ending another tough year with a smile.

2. Going viral

You won't believe it but it is 2018 and I still get recognized in medical conferences across the country and even social gatherings featuring random doctors for this one blogpost!

I had written earlier too about the flawed Indian medical system and how things needed a radical approach for improvement. But somehow, that article in 2015 which was written over a period of nearly 3 weeks and was close to 3000 words (!!) struck a chord with the medical community in India first and then abroad over the weekend. I did not really notice it gaining traction initially and was already planning to write my next blogpost (some random movie review) when the calls started coming. First it was doctors. Then it was online medical sites. Then newspapers, news sites, news channels and yes, even BBC.

By the end of that week, the article had been shared over 40,000 times just from the parent site, besides being copied in various websites and debated widely across news channels and social media.
Today, the article has over half a million views just at my site. I have read the comments of over a 1000 doctors across India - from first year students to medical directors of India's top institutions to budding 12th standard students. I have been featured on the front page of newspapers and have articles dedicated to me in health magazines. Bouquets and brickbats have both been answered to (worryingly, in a 4:1 ratio supporting my stand.)

3 years later, do I stand by what I said? Sadly, yes. I would still rather my child be a pole dancer than a doctor in India. The system is still in an unholy mess and nothing - infrastructure, resources, apathy to violence, hatred towards the community, flawed education systems, improvement in either quantity or quality - has changed. What is worse, I now know that most doctors agree with me. How I wish the powers-that-be had fought harder to prove me wrong.

3. Inspiring the youth of India

In 2017, the combination of being a Blogger - Doctor - Author paid off in a unique way, with the Changing Tomorrow Youth Summit inviting me to be a speaker in Jaipur alongside many celebrities from various fields (including actress Raveena Tandon and politician Sachin Pilot) and inspire an audience of over 1500 young minds to think beyond the normal choices shown to them. It was fun, reliving the journey that linked the above three titles.
I think it was well received by the students too - at least there were no tomatoes and eggs flying in my direction so that counts as a win, I guess!

4. Finding a New Family

One of the best things that came out of blogging was the new family I made. These fellow bloggers reveal their hearts and souls in their words and it is a wonderful way to know who matches your wavelength. And even though we are hundreds of miles apart, the opportunities to meet up arise via blogger events. I've been lucky to have attended a few over the years and met/made some awesome friends along the way who even today are there for me when real-life friends and family aren't.

Today, I can walk into a dozen cities in India I have never been to before and there are blogger buddies I have never met before happy to see me and meet up.

5. Inspiring people via the 'Heroes of Kindness' blog series

One of the biggest highs that has come from blogging was purely by accident. After doing TV Shows in 2016, I was stuck searching for a theme in 2017 for the A to Z challenge (Where you write every day of April except Sundays on a particular topic, each article corresponding with a letter of the month.) While randomly going through the net, I found a small heartwarming article that really made me smile on a day filled with bad headlines. And that got me thinking of all the similar inspiring real-life stories lost in between news of war and hatred.

I ended up doing a series of Real-Life Heroes of Kindness where I found a person for every letter of the alphabet from all corners of the world who had done a kind deed. Instead of just writing about them, I tracked many of them down and talked to them directly or in some cases to the recipients of their kindness too.
My main aim was to prove that kindness exists in this world if you choose to search for it and readers loved this series for how it restored their faith in humanity so much, I have continued it even after April has passed by.

That was 5 of my top moments in this blogging journey. What did you think of them?

Also, what has been the best blogging moment you have had? Do tell.

Authors note:

The #AtoZ Challenge is here once more. For those who need a reminder, it is a writing challenge where bloggers across the world write for every day (except Sundays) of the month of April, usually following the sequence of the alphabets as guides for the posts.
In 2016, I had done a fun series based on something I am good at - Tv shows and trivia.

In 2017, I chose something unique.

It started when I was thinking of what to write about and came across a single two line snippet in the news paper of a good deed done by someone in a foreign country. In a whole newspaper filled with hundreds of articles, that was the only good news story I read that day. It was a deed of kindness done by someone for some elderly people. And it got two lines. No one would remember him over all the other terrible stories of hate, racism and war.

That is where my series 'Heroes of Kindness' began. I decided that it was time to showcase the good deeds done by people as an antitheses of what newspapers and media tends to do.

Was it easy?

Hell, no. This was not something I could randomly google or 'wiki' and jot down information. I had to literally search the corners of the globe for stories of small, kind deeds done by random people and then fit it into a A to Z format, no less. My searches took me from the cockpits of a German fighter plane in World War 2 to a superstitious village in Nigeria, from Disney princesses in hospitals to intimidating bike riders.

But I did it. I searched for each of these random people in the real world and found many too, contacting a dozen of them and eventually interviewing quite a few, including in some cases, the recipients of these acts of kindness.

I planned to go with something simpler this year.

Music, comicbook and movie trivia comes naturally to me. But then, rifling through my Evernote entries, I realized there are still so many wonderful stories that I have saved over the year to showcase, so many heroes who missed out the first time around. And these were stories that can still inspire people today. They can still be 'the only good news story that someone reads that day.'

Last year I struggled to get one hero for each letter of the alphabet. This time, I've decided to double down on last year's A to Z challenge. I'm betting that I will find another 26 heroes (and more!) who will make you smile with their deeds, cry as the world repays them back and yes, make you have faith once more.
I have small children in my list and old grandfathers. I have convicts and cleaners, newly-weds and cleaners. I have people of different races and hues. I have acts of kindness that cut across the divisive boundaries of society and religion.

I have Heroes of Kindness once more.

Till date, I have 39 articles of real-life heroes and 66 individual positive moments within these articles. I intend to end April with 60+ real-life heroes and a 100 individual inspiring moments.

So join me next month every day of the week as I look to restore your faith in humanity.

The best songs are the ones that sing to your heart. And yes, sometimes even break your heart. Some of the most iconic numbers over the years have their origins from loss, with grief giving rise to legendary songs.

Without further adieu, here are some of the most touching song tributes of all time. I hope you have your headphones on... you are in for a treat today.

Some of the most iconic numbers over the years have their origins from loss, with grief giving rise to legendary songs.

See You Again - Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth

Tribute for: actor Paul Walker

This piano-hiphop ballad still brings tears to the eyes of grown men today as they watch the final scene of Furious 7, from the Fast and Furious movie franchise, serving as a beautiful goodbye to actor Paul Walker who died in a car accident.

I'll be Missing You - Puff Daddy with Faith Evans

Tribute for: Rapper The Notorious B.I.G.

The assassination of rapper The Notorious B.I.G. broke the hearts of millions of fans. Puff Daddy and Faith Evans (the wife of the deceased) would perform their take of the Police's 'Every Breathe You Take' later that year, honoring him.

Candle in the Wind - Sir Elton John

Tribute for: actress Marilyn Monroe and Princess Diana

Elton John first sang this song in honour of the late actress Marilyn Monroe. He would rework it two decades later and perform it at the funeral of Princess Diana. The second version would go on to become the second best-selling single of all time, selling over 33 million copies. The video below is of the live performance by Sir Elton John at Princess Diana's funeral in 1997.

Happy Birthday - Stevie Wonder

Tribute for: Martin Luther King Jr

You can hear the song being performed live by Stevie Wonder over here.

Shine on You Crazy Diamond - Pink Floyd

Tribute for: band member and co-founder Syd Barrett

Trivia: Syd Barrett was not dead at the time but had lost his way due to drugs and mental illness and left the band.

Tears in Heaven - Eric Clapton

Tribute for: His son, Conor.

One of Eric Clapton's most iconic numbers stems from tragedy, having lost his 4 year old son who fell from an apartment window.

Jesus to a Child - George Micheal

Tribute for: his lover, Anselmo Feleppa.

One of George Micheal's biggest hits, a fact that was revealed following his death in 2016 was that he secretly donated all his earnings from this song to a 24 hour child helpline service in UK, ChildLine.

Man on the Moon - R.E.M.

Tribute for: legendary comedian Andy Kaufman.

This would be the same eccentric comedian played by Jim Carrey in the 1999 biopic 'Man on the Moon'. The lyrics of this song perfectly mimic Kaufman's brand of comedy.

You can listen to the song here.

American Pie - Don McLean

Tribute for: Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. 'the Big Bopper' Richardson.

Long before Madonna sang this song, the original song paid tribute to the three artists who died in a 1959 plane crash. You can listen to this poignant American classic here.

Missing you - Diana Ross

Tribute for: Singer Marvin Gaye

Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye were longtime friends who had worked together for over 20 years and even had a best-selling musical album 'Diana & Marvin'. Marvin's tragic death at the hands of his own father following a family dispute is considered one of the top ten shocking moments in rock and roll history.

Life Changes - Wu-Tang Clan

Tribute for: band member Ol' Dirty Bast**d

That chorus is truly haunting. You can listen to the song here.

Wake Me up When September Ends - Green Day

Tribute for: the father of frontman Billie Joe Armstrong who died of cancer.

Authors note:

One of the fun 'blogpost genres' that used to be there back in 2005-6 when I started blogging was the 'Blogger Tags' where you had to answer a set list of questions and then tag others to take it up. It was nice because there was a personal touch to the post for everyone. Nowadays, with most blogs having become niche, we hardly get to see such personal posts and tags, which is kind of sad.

Anyway, I decided to take up one that I found online, modifying some questions to make it more personal and yet, informative and even helpful for other readers.

Going old-school once more with a 'tag post' where you get to know more about the blogger

Question 1: Do you have a hidden talent? If so, what?

I can whistle really badly. It sounds like a kettle boiling over.

Question 2: Do you have a pet or pets? If so, what kind and what are their names?

One beagle. About to be five years old in a month or so. Snoopy. Typical beagle - super friendly, super naughty... hates baths though.

He is sleeping beside me now as I type this.

Question 3: What’s your biggest blog-related pet peeve?

The social media algorithms. I find it totally unfair that people can hit a 'Like' for your Facebook page and then the next time you post something on that page, only 10% of all the readers get that post. If they chose to like it, should they not have access to future posts from that page?

Question 4: What’s your biggest non-blog related pet peeve?

The constant wars online these days. Everything - from animals to pollution to even clothes - gets related to either politics or religion directly. Makes it tough to be on social media (especially Twitter which used to be so much fun in the starting years.) It drains me emotionally too, at times.

Question 5: What’s your favourite song right now?

Somebody shared Martin Garrix & David Guetta's 'So Far Away' recently and that has now become a ear worm.

For something softer, this lovely song by Hailee Steinfeld comes to mind.

Question 6: What’s your favourite social media website?

Used to be Twitter and Facebook. Now I prefer Instagram and Pinterest. They are much more likely to be positive, even if it is the same friends on all four websites.

Question 7: What’s your favourite way to spend your free time when you’re alone?

TV shows. It keeps me sane, watching sitcoms and re-reuns. The likes of Will and Grace, 30 Rock, Parks and Recreation, Brooklyn Nine Nine etc should really be considered as therapeutic anti-depressants.

Question 8: What’s your favourite junk food?

Everything I eat tends to fall under the category of junk food. So it is tough to choose one.

Question 9: What are your number one favourite fiction and non-fiction books?

I am going old school here. Wodehouse and Dr Brian Weiss.

Question 10: What’s your favourite beauty product or tool?

Evil friends would suggest that the best product that enhances my beauty would be a big voodoo mask covering my face. But they are just screwballs who are jealous. But to answer your question, yes, it would be a big voodoo mask *grumble grumble*

Question 11: When were you last embarrassed? What happened?

My big belly in a cramped train seat resulting in annoyed stares from the person sitting next to me comes to mind. Sigh... does anyone want some 30 kgs of extra fat?

Question 12: If you could only drink one beverage (besides water) for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Damn, that is tough. The Malayali in me knows that our cult should probably pledge allegiance to coconut water by default but so many options come to mind - a good mango shake, perfectly done chilled mint lime, smooth whiskey, tangy Bloody Marys...

Question 13: What’s the best movie you saw this year?

A tie between Black Panther and Coco.

Question 14: What was your favourite and worst subject in school?

I used to be good at Maths. Struggled for a long time with chemistry, now that I remember it. Ironically, as an anaesthesiologist, I have to deal with both together every day of my life.

Question 15: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?

I've not found that place yet... but I will.

Question 16: Last romantic gesture from a crush, date, boy/girlfriend, spouse? (or kind gesture from a friend)

Will have to stick to 'gesture from a friend' here. I won this month's Write India contest - the one with Twinkle Khanna as a judge - and a friend sent flowers to my hospital to congratulate me. That meant a lot.

These were delivered to my hospital while I was on a twenty four hour duty. A means of congratulating me for my #TOIWriteIndia win from someone who cared to make the extra effort. Thank you. It means a lot.
A post shared by Roshan Radhakrishnan (@pythoroshan) on Mar 26, 2018 at 8:46am PDT

Question 17: Favourite celebrity?

Ellen Degeneres. A person I want to emulate in life. I've explained why in detail here.

Question 18: Who is your biggest inspiration?

For comic timing, sense of right / wrong and choosing to take bold stands when you know you are right, I would say Hawkeye Pierce, the doctor from the iconic TV show M*A*S*H* played by another major role model of my life, Alan Alda. Like with Ellen, I have written about why growing up, I was inspired by this man. You can read about it here.

Question 19: Name three restaurants you would recommend and why?

Well, that would be

Chifonets in Kannur (Best Indo-Chinese food I have had and I have tried the best of most metropolitan cities too),
Paragon in Calicut (Best Malabar biryani) and
Hotel Maharaja in Mangalore (consistently good seafood and Mangalore-styled dishes at very reasonable rates.)

prawns ghee roast from Hotel Maharaja in Mangalore (consistently good seafood and Mangalore-styled dishes at very reasonable rates.)

Prawns ghee roast - absolute heaven with the rich ghee, fresh prawns and perfect blend of spices

Question 20: One thing you are proud of this year?

I am ready to start my Heroes of Kindness series for 2018. Last year, I had scoured the internet for stories of genuinely kind souls, with the aim of showcasing their deeds to a wider audience. This year, even though it is tough and time-consuming, I am doing it again. Because these inspiring stories can be the only rays of sunshine in some people's lives.

I am tagging all the bloggers participating in the Instacuppa SuperBloggerChallenge2018 to take up this tag and let your readers know a little more about you. I’m looking forward to reading your answers so if you do take it up, leave the link to your blogposts in the comments section below.

Author's note

99 times out of a hundred, this situation would have ended badly for the cheerleader from NorthWestern High who had traveled down with her school's basketball team to Hardin-Central High School. Due to both ailments as well as rescheduling of the match, Tori Adams ended up being the only cheerleader in the stadium for her school for an away match. The stadium was packed with locals who were there to support their team. Sufficed to say, the high school girl was scared about going out there alone to face the vocal home crowd.

That was when something no adult in that stadium expected occurred.

Realizing her predicament and seeing how scared she was, the young cheerleaders of the home team walked over to Tori and offered their support to her. In an extraordinary gesture, they quickly learned her cheers too and presented them to the crowd when the time came, ensuring Tori was not alone.

You can watch the footage of the cheerleaders joining Tori and doing their own opponent team's routine below. I don't know the outcome of the game but for once, it was the cheerleaders who won the hearts of everyone in that stadium.

As adults, the chances of us behaving as nicely as the cheerleaders of Hardin Central High School is quite remote. Forget the cheerleaders, we know in our hearts that even we would just end up mocking the lone woman cheerleader in this scenario.

That is why it is lovely to showcase these young women... they are better than us and we need to let them know they are inspiring the world with these small acts of kindness.

heroes of kindness: When rescheduling and health issues left the away basketball team from NorthWestern High with just one cheerleader, she was understandably scared as she stood there alone in front of the opposition crowd. That was when cheerleaders from the home team of Harden Central High School rallied around her, learning her school's moves and supporting her when the time came by cheering alongside her.

Authors note:

This post is part of the We Are the World Blogfest, a monthly event to showcase stories of compassion. The hosts for this month Sylvia McGrath, Sylvia Stein, Shilpa Garg, Eric Lahti and Belinda Witzenhausen. The idea is to spread positivity and light to counterbalance the negativity and darkness in socialmedia. You can check their pages to find the list of feel-good stories written by bloggers from around the world.

There are always heroes around us.

We just need to look hard enough.

I believe in that. It is what got me started on this venture to find real-life people from across the world who go the extra mile to bring joy and happiness in the lives of others. I ended 2017 finding 40 heroes of compassion and over 60 positive moments.

I decided I am not ready to quit yet. So in 2018, the journey to find kind souls from across the world continues.

My goal by seeking out these people of all ages, races and cultures is to inspire you - not just to believe once more that kindness exists in this world but also to remind you that you too are capable of being a real life hero of kindness.

You too are capable of being a real life hero of kindness for someone around you.

A -

B -

C -

D -

Of course, I have been tracking these lovely human beings for years now and have found children as young as six years old and old women in their eighties from across the world who will restore your faith in humanity.

You can find the entire list of heroes of kindness and compassion here.

Aaron Tucker desperately needed a job. This was a man who had just gotten out of prison following a 22 month stint (for a weapons charge), was living temporarily in a halfway house and had a 2 year old son to look after, so yes, finding a job meant a lot to him. It meant so much, in fact, that he had even bought a brand new shirt to wear just to ace the interview at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que in Stamford, Connecticut. He had prepped himself and was on the bus to his destination. And yet, he missed his interview.

As the bus was heading down the road, it came across a really bad car crash. The car was overturned and smoke emitted out its sides. Aaron Tucker asked the bus driver if he would stop the bus to help the wounded inside. The driver said no as he had a route to maintain. For the same reason, the driver informed him that he could not stop for even a few minutes to check if the people in the car were okay.

The car crash that Aaron and the bus came upon still had an injured man inside the car

Aaron - who probably had the most to lose in that bus - got off and with the help of a few pedestrians pulled the injured man out of the smoking car. He then took off his clean, new shirt that he had bought specially for this interview and used it as a tourniquet around the injured man's head to stop the bleeding.

"Your family wants to see you. Keep your eyes open." he repeated over and over to the injured man, waiting there on the road without a shirt on his back until an ambulance finally arrived. The man survived.

Aaron did not get the job, obviously, as he never attended the interview. This was doubly tough because all he had left in his pocket that day as he left for the interview was $2 (Rs 130.) But the community that watched him risk his own life and give up his own chance at moving forward in life just to save a stranger's life did not forget his story. They set up a GoFundMe campaign to thank Aaron Tucker for his compassion, hoping to reach a target of $35,000 ( Rs 22.6 lakhs).

In 8 months, they have nearly doubled that target ($65,900 / Rs 42 lakhs) with strangers across the world, deciding they wanted to let Aaron know he mattered.

Author's note:

This is part of my #AtoZChallenge where I will be focusing on Real Life Heroes of Kindness.

The list for this year's (2018) Heroes of Kindness can be found here.

Of course, I have been tracking these lovely human beings for years now and have found children as young as six years old and old women in their eighties from across the world who will restore your faith in humanity. You can find the entire list of Real-life Heroes of Kindness and Compassion here.

When Kate McClure's car ran out of gas one night on the outskirts of Philadelphia, the young woman was definitely scared. She was weighing the risks of hiking to the nearest gas station when she noticed a bearded homeless man walking up to her car. Unsure of what to do, she stayed inside her car as he approached. But even she could not have imagined the events that occurred next.

The man, Johnny Bobbitt Jr, asked her if she was okay and when he realized her car had broken down, told her to stay inside and lock the doors. He then hiked three kilometers to the nearest gas station and came back with a filled gas can. The homeless man had used up the only money he had on him - $20 - to buy her fuel. And Kate did not even have money to pay him back that night, which he did not mind, happy to see her drive off safely.

When Kate McClure's car broke down outside town, she was afraid to walk out alone at night. Seeing her predicament, a homeless man Johnny Bobbitt Jr told her to stay inside the car, then walked three kilometers to buy fuel for her with the only $20 he had, unmindful of the fact that Kate had no money to pay him back. Determined to repay him for his kindness, Kate would drop off clothes and food regularly for him in the days to come. She set up a GoFundMe page for this former U.S. Marine Corps veteran and paramedic that would go on to raise an astounding $400,000 in a single month for Johnny with which he could finally buy a house once more.

Kate was determined to repay this kindness though and often dropped by that street corner, dropping off warm clothing, water, food and money. She would then watch as Johnny - a former U.S. Marine Corps war veteran and paramedic who had fallen on bad times - would go and share it all with his homeless friends.

Watching his constant selflessness with everyone around him, Kate decided she needed to do more. She set up a GoFundMe campaign and let the world know about this man, hoping to raise around $10,000 ( Rs 6.5 lakhs) for him. The world though disagreed with Kate there. Numerically, at least.

In less than a month, $40,000 (Rs 26 lakhs) were donated by strangers who wanted to help the man return back into society. If you were surprised by those numbers, well, you may want to sit down for the next few sentences.

On seeing this huge donation, Johnny begged Kate to end the campaign because he felt other needy people deserved the money being given to him and Kate complied with his wishes. The campaign was shut down for all of 12 minutes though, because Kate's inbox was overflooded with messages from strangers demanding she keep the campaign open because they still wanted to help him.

The campaign was finally shut down after a month. In one month, strangers across the world raised $400,000 (Rs 2.6 crores) for Johnny Bobbitt Jr.

Since then, Kate has assigned a lawyer and a financial advisor who have set up trust funds for the war veteran, providing him a yearly salary as well as a retirement fund. Slowly reintegrating him back into society, the money has helped buy a new home for him as well as get his dream truck - a 1999 Ford Ranger!

And yes, Johnny still donates a part of that yearly salary he is given to various organizations and people who helped him over the years.

Final thoughts:

In this story, it occurred to me that both Kate and Johnny went out of their way to help someone they did not know. It was a circle of kindness in the end with rich rewards for all who were touched by it.
Before you started reading this post, did you know of a single stock in the world that could convert $20 into $400,000 ( 20,000 %) in just one month? Now you do. It is named Kindness. And here is the best part - you already own it. You just need to know to use it.

Author's note:

This is part of my #AtoZChallenge where I will be focusing on Real Life Heroes of Kindness and Compassion.

The list for this year's (2018) Heroes of Kindness can be found here.

Dealing with cancer can be one of the most devastating challenges a family can go through. Besides the physical and emotional trauma, cancer ravages the finances of the family too, often forcing many families to give up basic requirements just to fund treatment for this deadly disease.

This realization hit Debbie Sardone hard in 2005 when - having given an estimate to a client for cleaning their house via her Buckets and Bows Maids Service - she received a reply that the caller was undergoing cancer treatment and needed every dollar she could save. Debbie realized that like her, many cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or struggling with the medicines were too weak to clean their homes but could not afford to have it cleaned either. Determined to do something, Debbie pitched forward an idea at a national cleaning industry convention that elicited support from cleaning companies across America. That was the beginning of Cleaning for a Reason.

Cleaning for a Reason is a non-profit organization that for over 11 years has provided free house cleaning services to women suffering from cancer across America and Canada. The goal has not changed even today - to allow brave women suffering from cancer to focus on their health and not worry about their house.

Debbie Sardone - who started working out of the trunk of her car - today runs one of the largest maid services in the country with Cleaning for a Reason. Over 1200 maid services from a hundred different agencies have volunteered their time and expertise to provide free house cleaning to over 28,000 women suffering from cancer. Financially, that comes up to $8,000,000 (Rs 52.2 crores.) of free services over the last 12 years, paid for entirely by donations and good will.

When Debbie Sardone who ran a cleaning service realized that cancer victims could not afford to spend money on cleaning their homes, she started a non-profit organization, Cleaning For A Reason which offered free home cleaning services to victims of cancer so they could focus on getting better.

Final thoughts: We are all capable of kindness. We just need to realize the true power of our potential and choose to take the first step.

Author's note:

This is part of my #AtoZChallenge where I will be focusing on Real Life Heroes of Kindness and Compassion.

The list for this year's (2018) Heroes of Kindness can be found here.

Despite 'doing it' for 12 years, David Deutchman's selfless gesture of love gained prominence only recently. Ironically, for a man well past his seventies, this story begins in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

With her baby born prematurely at 25 weeks, a young mother was struggling between watching her child anxiously inside the hospital for weeks and coming home every night to look after her elder child. Every morning, she worried about how her newborn must feel, alone at night inside the hospital ICU. Until one morning she walked into the PICU and found her tiny infant snuggling happily in the arms of an elderly man. The picture she shared and the story she had to tell would bring the 'NICU Grandpa' into the spotlight.

“He rocked our baby for countless hours.

What a wonderful gift he has, and what a blessing it is that he shares that love with others.”

- Kristin Cook Walker.

For 12 years, like clockwork, David Deutchman visits the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta hospital twice - on Tuesdays, he heads to the PICU and on Thursdays to the NICU. He has only one goal. This hospital volunteer sits, cuddles, sings and whispers words of encouragement to the tiniest and weakest of newborn children in the ICU of the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, children whose parents cannot be with them throughout the day. He sits patiently inside the ICU for hours, rocking the babies throughout the day and meets the parents to allays their fears, letting them know that 'the ICU Grandpa' will be there throughout the day for their child.

For 12 years, David Deutchman visits the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta hospital twice a week, heading to the Paediatric ICU every single time. This hospital volunteer sits, cuddles and whispers words of encouragement to the tiniest and weakest of newborn children in the ICU. He sits patiently inside the ICU for hours, rocking the babies throughout the day and meets the parents to allays their fears, letting them know that he will be there for their child.

The photo of David Deutchman shared by the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta presently has an astonishing 248,000 likes, 66,200 shares and more than 10,000 comments.

One comment though stands apart even here, with over 21,000 likes.

"I've known David as a special man for 53 years -- he's my dad! To read the thousands of comments and see the outpouring of affection is very moving to our entire family. Thank you for recognizing my dad. He truly loves what he does."

- Susan Lilly.

Author's note:

This is part of my #AtoZChallenge where I will be focusing on Real Life Heroes of Kindness and Compassion.

The list for this year's (2018) Heroes of Kindness can be found here.

Teenager Evoni Williams works at Waffle House in La Marque, Texas, with the aim of saving money so that she can go to college. She does a good job serving meals but it was the random act of kindness she served to a diner that changed her life overnight.

Evoni was at work in the diner when an elderly man arrived. The 78 year old man was on oxygen and by his own admission later, having trouble using his hands in addition to being unable to cut his meal without getting breathless. The partially disabled man could hold a fork but could not use his knife. Seeing this, young Evoni took his plate and cut his food for him into small bite-sized pieces.

Unknown to her, diner Laura Wolf, seated at another table photographed this act and posted it online, noting that she was "thankful to have seen this act of kindness and caring at the start of my day while everything in this world seems so negative. If we could all be like this waitress & take time to offer a helping hand." Laura noted that this act of kindness "may seem small but to him, I'm sure it was huge."

The public agreed with her. And so, even as Evoni stood beside the mayor and other representatives of the community who wanted to thank her for being kind, she had no idea what was in store for her.

The Mayor of La Marque had Evoni struggling to hold back her tears as he proclaimed March 8, 2018 as Evoni 'Ninni' Williams day in her honour.
The tears would finally begin when a representative from the Texas Southern University appeared beside her and informed her that they wanted individuals like her to represent their fine name and so were providing her with a $16,000 ( RS 1.04 million) college scholarship in addition to a counselor to help Williams.

You can watch the heartwarming moments Evoni got surprised over here. Friendly advice - Keep tissues nearby.

Final thoughts:
The representative from Texas Southern University said it best while describing her, quoting Ralph Waldo Emerson -
'It is one of the beautiful compensations in this life that no one can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.'

Teenager Evoni Williams was working in a waffle house to earn some money to go to college when a customer snapped a picture of her selflessly cutting up the food into smaller portions for an old man struggling with his hands. The picture went viral and was loved by the public but the best was to come a few days later. In a ceremony held to applaud her compassion , the mayor declared March 8,2018 Evoni Williams Day in her honour. The Texas Southern University then had Evoni weeping tears of joy by surprising her with a $16,000 college scholarship.

Author's note:

This is part of my #AtoZChallenge where I will be focusing on Real Life Heroes of Kindness and Compassion.

The list for this year's (2018) Heroes of Kindness can be found here.

Thanos is coming. You have to be living under a rock if you are not aware that the behemoth movie event Avengers: Infinity Wars is coming to cinemas this April. It marks the culmination of a decade of cinematic storytelling that began with a billionaire playboy named Tony Stark getting kidnapped and held hostage inside a cave.
Since then, oh, how far we have gone.

We have been to the mystical land of Asgard where we saw the best (Thor) and worst (Loki, Hela) of the people there.
We have been to the past, watching as a scrawny little runt went on to become an inspirational figure during World War 2, going by the name of Captain America.
We have watched a nerdy scientist turn into a Green beast of a Hulk.
We have been to outer space and laughed beside talking raccoons and walking trees.
We have web-swung with the youngest version of Spiderman and shifted sizes with Ant-Man.
We have seen the birth of an indefinable being called Vision and the transformation of a pompous doctor into a man of magic in Doctor Strange.
And yes, we have witnessed technology and class come together in a little known African nation called Wakanda.

18 movies. It is incredible how consistently good the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been for ten years. Even the relatively weaker movies (I have 2 choices in that list but I am not telling you so as not to influence you) have had their fans and done well with fans worldwide. This becomes even more impressive when you note how their main rivals, DC Comics, stumbled so badly while trying to emulate them in building a shared movie universe, even though the latter had far more famous and established superheroes in Superman and Batman.

The coming year is going to mark a significant shift in the Marvel movie story lines with many characters we have grown to love leaving (or dying) and new heroes (Miss Marvel in 2019) taking over. So before that time comes, I thought I would get your opinion via a poll on what you thought of the 18 movies til date.

Which, in your opinion, were the 3 best Marvel movies of the 18 till date? Join the poll and have your say.

Specifically, I am looking to see which, in your opinion, were the 3 best Marvel movies of the 18 till date? Join the poll below - tick the 3 movies you loved the most And click the 'VOTE' button.

online polls

Haven't had your fill? Here is a reminder of what is coming at the end of this month.

Author's note

9 year old Mikah Frye was walking down the streets with his grandmother discussing Christmas gifts when he saw some homeless people struggling to stay warm in the cold night. When he asked aloud if he could do something for them, his grandmother suggested giving up a gift to donate a blanket for one of them.

That thought stayed in Mikah Frye's mind and when he reached home, Mikah informed his parents not to buy the Microsoft XBox gaming device he had asked for earlier. Mikah had been doing the math in his head and realized that by not buying the $300 device, he could instead donate not one but 30 blankets to the homeless. He knew how much it meant to be warm in the cold holiday season. You see, three years ago, Mikah and his parents were the ones living in a homeless shelter.

Having suffered a financial crisis, they too had lost their house and lived night after night for a few weeks, not knowing where their next meal would come from and sharing a blanket every night. Mikah was six years old then but he remembered what it was like to have to give back that precious blanket every morning.

Reaching out to the emergency shelter program that looked after them 3 years ago, the family donated 60 blankets in the end, each with a personalized message of hope in Mikah's handwriting stating:

“They gave me a blanket, but I had to leave it. That's why I want you to have your own blanket. Today, I live in my own house, and someday you will too.

Your friend, Mikah."

The homeless people at the shelter may not have been able to give Mikah a Christmas gift in return but his gesture was noted by the billion dollar company Microsoft who made sure that Mikah was fooled into visiting their store so that Santa Claus could personally deliver an XBox from the company to him as a reward for making the top of 'Santa's list of nice boys' that year.

Having been homeless himself for a brief period 3 years ago, 9 year old Mikah Frye knew the value of a warm blanket in winter. So when Christmas came, Mikah asked his parents not to buy him the $300 Microsoft XBox gaming device he had been talking about all year but instead help him donate 30 blankets (eventually 60) to the homeless with personalized notes from the young boy. Noting his generosity, Microsoft tracked Mikah down and got Santa Claus to give him an XBox for Christmas.

You can listen to Mikah explain his reasons and watch the moment he got surprised by ~~Microsoft~~ Santa Claus here.

Authors's note:

This is part of my #AtoZChallenge where I will be focusing on Real Life Heroes of Kindness and Compassion.

The list for this year's (2018) Heroes of Kindness can be found here.