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Thai cave rescue: Soccer team found alive one kilometer underground

Chiang Rai, Thailand (CNN)Thais reacted with relief and jubilation after rescue teams reported that they'd found all 12 boys and their soccer coach alive in a cave in Thailand nine days after the group went missing.

The Thai Navy released a video on Facebook apparently showing the moment the group were found. In the almost 5-minute clip, the boys are illuminated by torchlight while a diver can be heard speaking to them.

In the tape of the encounter, one of the British rescuers asks, in English, how many were in the group. Thirteen, the boys report. "Thirteen, brilliant!" the diver replies -- the number accounts for the entire missing party.

"We are coming, many people are coming. Many people, we are the first." The dazed boys, unaware of how long they've been trapped deep underground, ask what day it is.

"It's Monday, you have been here 10 days, 10 days," the rescuer replies. "You are very strong, very strong. We come, ok, we come."

The boys repeatedly tell them, in Thai, that they're hungry and need food. The rescuer replies that a Thai Navy SEAL team will come, along with "food and doctors and everything."

The boys, who are between 11 and 16 years old, are all members of the Wild Boar soccer team. They entered the Tham Luang Nang Non cave system on Saturday, June 23 but became stranded in the dark tunnels by a sudden and continuous downpour.

International rescue teams -- which include the Thai Navy SEALs as well as experts from the US, China, Australia and the UK -- had been working to reach a large, deep chamber, informally known as Pattaya Beach, where the missing boys were believed to have taken refuge.

"I confirm they are all safe," Narongsak Osottanakorn, governor of the local region Chiang Rai, told reporters on Monday night.

Family members greeted the news with relief and tears of happiness, punching the air when they heard that their boys were alive.

"I was happy to hear the cheering from the rescue workers. I felt that I have hope that I am going to get to see my son alive," said Adisak Wongsukjan, whose 14-year-old son Ekarat is one of the boys seen huddling in the cave.

"I want to hug my son... usually our family sleep in the same bed together. We are a very close family."

Deep underground

In the days following the boys' disappearance into the vast network of tunnels, rescuers had focused on reaching Pattaya Beach, on the assumption that boys and their coach would go there to escape rising flood waters.

However, Osottanakornsaid when rescuers reached Pattaya Beach they found it too was underwater. Divers continued a further 300 to 400 meters where they found the team perched on a muddy incline.

The boys were found around two kilometers (1.24 miles) into the cave and somewhere between 800 meters to one kilometer below the surface, according to a British Cave Rescue Council briefing note.

The briefing warns, however, that the danger has not abated. While Monday was relatively dry, by Tuesday the rains had started to steadily fall once again and while huge pumps are working overtime to bring the water levels down in the cave complex, any downpour could potentially set back efforts to bring the children out safely.

Amid the emotional discovery, Osottanakorn warned that the mission is "not done yet" and medical experts need to enter the cave to assess the boys.

"We will drain all water out from the cave then we will take all 13 people out of the cave. We are now planning how to send (a) nurse and doctor inside the cave to check their health and movement. We will work all night," he said.

Capt. Akanand Surawan, a commander with the Royal Thai Navy said additional divers will accompany the doctor and nurse. Rescuers will also pump air into the cave to improve conditions.

The next phase of the operation involves supplying the team with four months' worth of food and teaching the boys how to dive, Surawan said.

Pat Moret, a rescue consultant, said the team will likely need a lot of medical treatment before they can be moved.

"They'll need fluids replacing (and) possibly feeding. They're going to need reheating. They've possibly been lying still for days now. And sensory faculties won't be what they should be. So I would think that they're not really fit to move for maybe 12 hours or so really."

Even after that, the kids and their coach may need to dive to get out of the cave, Moret added.

"Worst case scenario is that they have to dive them out. So they're being fully immersed in water, wearing what we know is a full face mask or maybe even some sort of commercial dive helmet to make it a little less stressful for them. But it will be a truly terrifying experience," Moret said.

Outpouring of relief

Thais across the country, who have been following every twist of the nine-day long saga, reacted to Monday night's news with joy and relief.

One Thai twitter user said that he was "crying in (a) taxi" at the news.

Many had been posting cartoons of the rescue attempts, and by Tuesday the drawings had changed into pictures of gratitude.

Thai-language papers uniformly led with the boys' rescue in their Tuesday morning editions.

Thai Prime Minister, Prayut Chan-o-cha, said he was delighted with the news, according to Thai state media.

In an article published in the National News Bureau of Thailand, the Prime Minister thanks the army, police, volunteers, the general public and the media for working together and making the rescue operation a success.

"This incident has shown the unity of the Thai people... Today is a good day for all Thai people, including the families of the children," Prayut said.

A park officer first sounded the alarm on June 23 after spotting the boys' bicycles near the entrance to the off-limits cave complex.

The cave is popular with tourists who venture into the cavernous entrance, however the tunnels narrow to the point that it's only possible to crawl through them. The tunnels open into wider chambers, and it's in one of those chambers that the boys were found.

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Cops were called on him for mowing a lawn. Now his business is booming.

On June 23, Lucille Holt spotted a boy named Reggie and his siblings outside a dollar store with lawn care equipment.

"To see him with everything, to be that equipped, it caught my attention," the 51-year-old told BuzzFeed News.

She asked Reggie and his siblings if they'd be interested in mowing her lawn in Maple Heights, Ohio, just south of Cleveland. They agreed.

Reggie and his little brother. All photos courtesy of Mr. Reggie's Lawn Cutting Service.

So impressed by their work ethic, Holt took a video of them from her front door. In it, she commented that "he's struggling a little" as Reggie pushed the mower over a bump in the grass. "But he's doing his thing." That's when things took a turn.

A neighbor saw Reggie and his siblings in action. And she called the police.

The neighbor, a white woman, had been concerned the kids were trespassing on her property.

"Who does that?" Holt is heard saying in another video she recorded after the police arrived, claiming the neighbor once called the police because her kids were throwing snowballs. “Who calls the police for everything?”

White people, apparently.

The incident in Maple Heights is just the latest in a string of stories documenting white people calling the police on black people for doing mundane things. In June, "Permit Patty" called the cops on an 8-year-old black girl for selling water outside her apartment building. Earlier this spring, "BBQ Becky" reported a group of black people lawfully having a cookout in a public park. In April, a Philadelphia Starbucks employee infamously called the police on two black men for visiting the store without immediately purchasing any food or drinks.

(White people, we seriously need to get it together.)

Similarly to these other incidents, Reggie's story started spreading far and wide. And lots of people were outraged.

Reggie's mom shared Holt's video on Facebook, adding that "this is what happens when your kids are doing positive things in Maple [Heights]. The police show up."

Fortunately, plenty of people in Ohio — and across the country — turned that outrage into positive action.

Knowing Reggie had wanted to expand his lawn-cutting business, Holt launched a GoFundme page.

It started with just a $1,000 goal for Reggie to get a shed to store his equipment and to buy other lawn supplies. But since its launch, more than $37,000 has been raised.

The comment section, by the way, is pure delight.

"What an amazing young man!" one supporter wrote. "You’re an inspiration! Good luck."

"Please don't let small-minded, petty people ruin your spirit," a supporter noted. "You are a good kid with a good work ethic and a bright future. You can help change the world for the better."

"Way to go kiddos!!!!!" another chimed in. "Don't let anyone or anything ever get into the way of your dreams!!!"

The funds are helping transform Mr. Reggie's Lawn Cutting Service into a flourishing business serving the Cleveland area.

The business' Facebook page is filled with glowing reviews, videos of Reggie and his siblings putting in the work, and before-and-after shots of the lawns Reggie's mowed.

"I'm so very proud of my son," Reggie's mom told Fox 13 News. "I think it is so amazing how everyone is so supportive from all over the country."

A Maple Heights police officer visited Reggie to congratulate him on his business success.

She said all the support has inspired Reggie to dream bigger — once focused solely on mowing grass, the 12-year-old now hopes to expand his business to include raking leaves in the fall and snow-blowing during winter.

Reggie says he wants to turn all this positivity into actual results.

"I just want to thank everyone for all the kind words and all the support," he says. "It really makes me want to succeed."

Learn more about Mr. Reggie's Lawn Cutting Service on Facebook.

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Why I Shave My Face For The Beauty Benefits & You Should Too Betches

I’d like to preface this article by informing you that no, I’m not Helga the lunch lady with long black hairs stemming from my chin. In fact, I’m naturally fair-skinned with naturally light brown hair. In other words, I’m not the girl who’s been getting her lip waxed since middle school and has to shave her arms everyday. (Shouts out to those girls, because I can barely bring myself to shave my armpits on a daily basis, let alone the rest of my body, so respect.) Point is, I don’t have to shave my face out of necessity. Rather, I choose to shave my face because of its undeniable beauty benefits.

Now, before I share said benefits, I’m going to debunk the myth that I know you’re all thinking right now: “If I shave my face, the hair is going to grow back thicker, darker, and faster.” False, false and false. I think this is a rumor that the waxing ladies at the salon started so they wouldn’t lose all their business. But, Big Waxing, we see you. 

This myth is based on the illusion that the hair is growing back thicker and darker. According to a salon specialist in an article from InStyle, this is due to the fact that cutting off the hair at its thickest point leaves a blunt edge, giving the appearance of thicker hair as it starts to grow back. Like, think about the hair on your head. As you get to your ends, your hair becomes thinner because that’s just how hair grows. If you cut off the thin ends, your hair looks thicker, even though the actual hair follicle hasn’t changed. If you need more proof, just look it up.

Anyways, now that we’ve settled that, I’ll tell you why I choose to shave my face.

1. Bye, Bye Peach Fuzz

I don’t have a thick mustache. What I do have is some not-so-cute peach fuzz above my lip that becomes super visible in broad daylight. I’ve tried plucking and Nair-ing it, but both resulted in a new mustache of red bumps. So I shave my face. By shaving it, I don’t have to hide away like a vampire at the slight chance of sunlight (or risk having a red bumpy ‘stache in its place).

2. Exfoliation

If you’ve ever gotten a spray tan or used self-tanner then you know that when you shave your legs, they all of a sudden look a lot less tan. This is because shaving removes dead skin cells, acting as a means of exfoliation. Shaving your face has the same effect. Not to mention, exfoliation is ESSENTIAL to anti-aging because it removes the build up of dead skin cells, leaving the skin brighter and more even looking.

3. Product Penetration

Due to the effectiveness of the exfoliation aspect, shaving your face allows your skincare products to penetrate deeper and more effectively into the surface of the skin. Which, considering I spend enough at Sephora to be VIB Rouge for the rest of my life, is vvv appealing to me.

4. Smoother Makeup Application

Besides the removal of unwanted hair, smoother makeup application is the most noticeable immediate effect. Since your skin is exfoliated and hairless, your foundation will go on smoother than ever. Like, legit, you can expect airbrush flawless, Olivia Culpo-smooth status.

I shave my face with a Tinkle razor, and I recommend it, although different people will say different things. You want to make sure you shave in the same direction that the hair grows and to only do it on clean skin. Some people suggest using shaving cream; however, I find this unnecessary and personally don’t want to risk clogging my pores and causing a breakout. Rather, I use a face oil and, from my own experience, this has worked phenomenally. 

Note, if you have acne-prone skin or have any current breakouts, you shouldn’t try face shaving. But, if not, grab a (new) razor and get to it!

Images: Kevin Reinaldo / Unpsplash; Giphy (3)

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It is now legal to breastfeed in public in all 50 states. Just now. In 2018.

Idaho and Utah recently joined the party, meaning that parents in every state can legally breastfeed in public.

Over the years, stories of people who have been asked to leave restaurants or other public places because someone complained about the way they fed their babies have made headlines, prompting outcry from advocates and providing fodder for debate among the masses.

Prior to states passing laws, there was little recourse for parents in such incidents. In fact, breastfeeders could be cited and fined for public indecency if a law enforcement officer responded to a complaint in some situations.

Photo by Ezequiel Becerra/Getty Images.

These laws were not passed without controversy — in fact, Utah's almost didn't make it past committee.

Utah's Breastfeeding Protection Act passed the House Business and Labor Committee by the narrowest of margins in February, with a 6-5 vote in favor. Sponsored by Rep. Justin Fawson, the bill states that breastfeeding is legal "in any place of public accommodation." The original bill also clarified that it didn't matter whether the breast was covered or uncovered.

"I don't feel like we should ever relegate a mom to a restroom to breastfeed their child," Fawson told the local news. "That's a big reason why I'm running the bill. I'm seeking to further normalize breastfeeding and allow moms to feed their babies as needed."

Others lawmakers took issue with it, however. Rep. R. Curt Webb, one of the five who voted against the measure, expressed concerns about modesty.  “But this seems to say you don't have to cover up at all," he said. "[I'm] not comfortable with that at all, I'm just not. It's really in your face.”

For those who are not comfortable with Mothers breastfeeding in public! We found a solution ✊🏿 pic.twitter.com/QItaWfhO6Q

— Patrick Star (@Yommie_Scream) July 19, 2018

When language about the breast being uncovered was removed from the bill, it passed in the Utah House of Representatives 66-5.

Breastfeeding parents have worked hard to get these laws passed through legislatures largely dominated by cisgender men.

One issue that has long affected the legality of breastfeeding in public is the fact that legislatures have long been dominated by people who don't give birth or breastfeed. Even in 2018, only a quarter of state legislators are women — a percentage that has barely changed in the past 20 years. In fact, Utah's House Business and Labor Committee (the one who narrowly passed the Breastfeeding Protection Act to send it to the House floor) is made up of 11 men and one woman.  

It's not that cis men can't pass laws that benefit cis women and folks of other genders who give birth — but when your whole gender historically hasn't done any breastfeeding, you may be less likely to sympathize with the needs of those who have and still do. Hence the need for decades of appealing to legislators, staging "nurse-ins," and other acts of civic engagement being performed by breastfeeding advocates to provide legal protections to nursing parents and babies.

Eligia Spinosa breastfeeds her 2-month-old son outside New York's City Hall during a rally to support breastfeeding in public in 2014. Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images.

After all, these laws are only necessary because too many people see breastfeeding as something sexual or perverse.

Far too many people conflate feeding a baby with immodesty or exhibitionism. And while there's a lot that can be discussed about breastfeeding in public — you can read responses to common complaints about it here — there are a few points that must be reiterated over and over until the general public internalizes them:

• There's nothing sexual about breastfeeding. Breasts are biologically designed for feeding babies. Yes, they have a sexual function, too — but so do mouths, and no one complains that people eat with their mouths in public. Two totally different functions that can, and should, be wholly differentiated.
• If you really don't want to see someone breastfeeding, don't watch. Moving one's eyes a few millimeters in one direction is a whole lot easier than keeping a cover over a squirmy breastfeeding baby, and far more desirable than banishing a parent and baby away from people to eat.
• Breastfeeding parents already have enough on their plate. Having a baby is hard. Let's give parents some grace and applaud them for keeping their tiny humans alive in whatever way they deem best — without forcing them to sit on public toilets to do it.

Hollie McNish - Embarrassed

Breastfeeding in public is 👏🏼not 👏🏼awkward.👏🏼

Posted by Upworthy on Saturday, February 24, 2018

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Scott Pruitt Resigns From The EPA Amid Ethics Scandals

EPA chief Scott Pruitt resigns amid scandals, citing ‘unrelenting attacks’

(CNN)Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt has resigned after months of ethics controversies, citing "the unrelenting attacks" on himself and his family, which "have taken a sizable toll on all of us."

READ: Scott Pruitt's resignation letter to President Donald Trump

RELATED: EPA chief Scott Pruitt's long list of controversies

"I have accepted the resignation of Scott Pruitt as the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency," Trump tweeted. "Within the Agency Scott has done an outstanding job, and I will always be thankful to him for this."

Pruitt's resignation follows months during which the EPA administrator has been embroiled in one ethics controversy after the next.

It also comes two days after an exclusive CNN investigation revealed a former top aide alleged Pruitt and his staffers held regular meetings to "scrub," alter or remove controversial events from his calendar. That investigation sparked two Democratic congressman to call Thursday for the EPA inspector general to investigate whether Pruitt committed a federal crime.

Trump said on Twitter that Pruitt's recently Senate-confirmed deputy Andrew Wheeler will on Monday assume the duties of acting administrator of the EPA.

RELATED: Who is Andrew Wheeler

"I have no doubt that Andy will continue on with our great and lasting EPA agenda. We have made tremendous progress and the future of the EPA is very bright!" Trump tweeted.

On Air Force One en route to Montana later Thursday, Trump voiced support for Pruitt, saying the allegations against his EPA head did not bother him but he accepted the resignation because Pruitt believed they had become a distraction.

"There was no final straw," Trump said. "Scott is a terrific guy. He came to me and he said, 'Look, I have such great confidence in the administration. I don't want to be a distraction.' "

Trump said Pruitt had approached him about resigning "a couple of days" prior and that the decision was "very much up to" Pruitt.

Asked if there was anything about the accusations against Pruitt that troubled him, the President said, "No."

"He'll go on to great things," Trump said. "He's going to have a wonderful life, I hope."

Cloud over Pruitt

An ethics cloud hung over Pruitt for months, as lawmakers from both parties, environmental groups and government watchdogs raised questions about his spending, housing arrangements, security team and raises for political appointees.

Pruitt's resignation letter to Trump offered regret about leaving the role, but said "unrelenting attacks" had taken a toll.

"It is extremely difficult for me to cease serving you in this role first because I count it a blessing to be serving you in any capacity, but also, because of the transformative work that is occurring," Pruitt wrote. "However, the unrelenting attacks on me personally, my family, are unprecedented and have taken a sizable toll on all of us."

He added, "My desire in service to you has always been to bless you as you make important decisions for the American people. I believe you are serving as President today because of God's providence. I believe that same providence brought me into your service. I pray as I have served you that I have blessed you and enabled you to effectively lead the American people."

Two EPA officials told CNN they found out about Pruitt's resignation from Trump's tweet and had no idea the news was coming.

Pruitt had lost the confidence of many career and political EPA appointees, but many of those eager to see him go had begun to lose hope that he would resign or be pushed out by the President.

"Still in shock to be honest," one EPA official told CNN. "Incredible that he lasted as long as he did."

All told, Pruitt left EPA having faced more than a dozen inquiries or reviews into his practices at the agency, including his first-class plane travel, a room that he rented from a lobbyist at $50 per night and the installation of a soundproof booth in his office.

A spokesman for the EPA's Office of Inspector General told CNN that ongoing or pending reviews of Pruitt will continue, even though he has resigned.

"Any ongoing or pending OIG reviews related to the Administrator and/or his team will continue—regardless of the Administrator's resignation," the spokesman said.

But at the same time, Pruitt was one of the most effective implementers of the President's agenda. Coming into office as a critic of EPA and a climate skeptic, Pruitt moved aggressively to scale back Obama-era moves on climate change, automobile pollution standards and other industrial pollutants.

As recently as June 8, Trump praised Pruitt, telling reporters on the South Lawn of the White House that the EPA administrator was "doing a great job within the walls of the EPA," and that "we're setting records."

"Outside, he's being attacked very viciously by the press. I'm not saying that he's blameless, but we'll see what happens," Trump said then, and didn't answer a reporter who asked if Trump was "tired' of Pruitt.

RELATED: Whistleblower says EPA's Pruitt kept secret calendar to hide meetings

Pruitt was also involved in some intra-administration maneuvering this spring when he urged Trump to fire Attorney General Jeff Sessions and install Pruitt as the head of the Department of Justice, according to three sources.

But as summer unfolded, the amount of pressure on Pruitt began to near its breaking point as former staffers came forward to air their concerns and accusations about the EPA chief. Former aide Kevin Chmielewski told CNN that Pruitt and his staff kept "secret" calendars and schedules to hide controversial contacts with industry representatives and The Washington Post and The New York Times revealed aspects of testimony Pruitt aides gave to Congress about the EPA administrator enlisted them for personal errands.

Turn to the right

Pruitt, an Oklahoma Republican, came to the job as one of the EPA's chief critics and was seen as someone philosophically at odds with the agency Trump tapped him to run.

While serving as Oklahoma's attorney general, Pruitt was one of the chief architects of the legal battle against Obama's climate change policies and repeatedly sued the agency. He described himself in his biography for that job as "a leading advocate against the EPA's activist agenda."

Critics of Pruitt's nomination drew on his past statements to label him as a "climate skeptic," a term for someone who denies the scientific link between human activity, climate change and associated impacts.

RELATED: Trump nominees say climate change is no hoax, but still invite skepticism

Along with Trump, who once said that "global warming was created by and for the Chinese," Pruitt oversaw the efforts to dismantle major climate regulations. Trump announced at the beginning of June last year that he would withdraw the US from the Paris climate accords.

Pruitt announced in October he would withdraw the Clean Power Plan, an Obama-era regulatory structure to limit greenhouse gas emissions on a state-by-state basis.

Inquiries and reviews into Pruitt's practices at EPA

Pruitt incurred a sizable number of investigations into his spending and practices at EPA, including inquiries by the House, Senate, the EPA itself and the White House. Among them were inquiries into Pruitt's travel practices, spending within the agency and use of email.

The EPA inspector general is reviewing all of Pruitt's 2017 travel, which is expected to include multiple taxpayer-funded weekend trips that Pruitt took to Oklahoma, as well as official travel to Italy and Morocco. The inspector general told Congress in a May 2018 letter that he expects the review will be completed by the end of September.

RELATED: EPA watchdog expects to complete Pruitt travel review this summer

A different EPA inspector general review involves Pruitt's travel practices, suggesting that it will review Pruitt's use of his round-the-clock security detail, which travels with him even when off-duty on family vacations.

Separately, South Carolina Rep. Trey Gowdy, the Republican who chairs the House Oversight Committee, has asked EPA to justify Pruitt's use of first or business class seats on flights.

This spring, Gowdy said Pruitt was not forthcoming with records.

RELATED: Rep. Trey Gowdy says EPA didn't turn over records

There are also multiple inquiries into Pruitt's lease of a $50-a-night Capitol Hill condo in 2017 from lobbyist Vicki Hart. Hart's husband, J. Steven Hart, who is also a lobbyist, met with Pruitt at the same time that he was leasing that room.

RELATED: Pruitt met with lobbyist whose wife rented him a room

A review of EPA emails showed deeper ties between Pruitt and lobbyists, including that a family friend of those lobbyists was considered for a position at EPA.

RELATED: EPA considered hiring family friend of Pruitt's lobbyist landlords

Both the EPA inspector general and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) are reviewing an April 2017 meeting that Pruitt had with the National Mining Association regarding the Paris climate agreement, which critics said may have violated anti-lobbying laws.

GAO found in April that Pruitt's installation of a $43,000 soundproof phone booth violated federal spending laws because EPA didn't notify lawmakers that it exceeded the $5,000 limit for agency heads to improve their offices. Pruitt and other EPA officials said Pruitt used the booth to receive classified information and to talk with White House and other administration officials.

RELATED: Nearly a dozen reviews underway of Scott Pruitt's decisions

Several reviews have to do with Pruitt's use of email. Senate Environment and Public Works Chairman John Barrasso, a Wyoming Republican, began looking into reports that Pruitt had four EPA email addresses, at least one of which was not disclosed. EPA's inspector general said in May that it would review Pruitt's use of multiple email accounts, at the request of Senate Democrats.

Compounding all of these bruising headlines have been semi-frequent accounts of Pruitt's personal conduct and use of official resources. Reports included Pruitt wanting to use sirens to get to an upscale French restaurant in Washington, having security and aides help him find a preferred lotion and pick up a used mattress from the Trump hotel in Washington. The anecdotes offered ammunition for critics of the now-outgoing EPA chief as a creature of the swamp Trump promised to drain.

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Obama offers Democrats tough love ahead of midterms: ‘Enough moping’

Beverly Hills, California (CNN)Former President Barack Obama, re-emerging into the political fray for a Democratic National Committee fundraiser here on Thursday, had a message for troubled Democrats: Do more than just mope.

"If what you are doing requires no sacrifice at all, then you can do more," Obama told the tony crowd at a sweeping multi-million-dollar Beverly Hills home. "If you are one of these folks who is watching cable news at your cocktail parties with your friends and you are saying 'civilization is collapsing' and you are nervous and worried, but that is not where you are putting all your time, energy and money, then either you don't actually think civilization is collapsing ... or you are not pushing yourself hard enough and I would push harder."

At one point, he turned to the crowd and declared, "Enough moping, this is a mope-free zone."

And the former President even suggested to the roughly 200 donors in attendance, who also enjoyed a performance from Christina Aguilera, that Democrats can't get fixated on the glitz and personality of politics.

"We shouldn't expect (politics) to be entertaining all the time -- and Christina Aguilera was wonderful -- but you don't need to have an amazing singer at every event," he said. "Sometimes you are just in a church basement making phone calls and eating cold pizza."

The fundraiser, the first Obama has done for the DNC this year, is a rare foray into electoral politics for a former president who has spent much of his time focused on two priorities: His forthcoming book, which he is writing by hand on a yellow legal pad, and The Obama Foundation, his non-profit that will eventually be housed in his Chicago library.

But Obama's message on Thursday, sitting in overstuffed armchairs across from DNC chair Tom Perez, was far more a call for Democratic self-reflection than the hope and change the launched him into the White House 10 years ago. At an event that included opening remarks from Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Obama urged Democrats to not grow complacent and at times validated their fears about the last 18 months.

"This is a moment of great urgency and you are right to be concerned," he said.

At no point in the event did Obama actually say Trump's name. But he did sprinkle his remarks to ardent Democrats, some of whom spent thousands to see him, with plenty of knocks against the opposing party.

"They are mad even when they win," he exclaimed. "Have you noticed that? They don't look happy at all!"

The fact Obama has returned to the political fight will be welcome news for Democrats who, facing what they believe to be a generational fight against Trump, have publicly pleaded with the former president to stop avoiding the day-to-day political drama.

But his tough love message to the party is likely not what those Democrats expected.

"I would caution us from extrapolating too much from a bunch of special elections and starting to think, 'OK, this will take care of itself,'" he said. "Because it won't."

Obama to step up involvement in midterms

Obama stays in regular contact with informal advisers and keeps tabs on the news, said one strategist close to him, but he has avoided weighing in on a host of issues, despite the calls for his involvement.

"He takes what's happening seriously," said the strategist, but Obama often talks "about the long arc of history" and how "our country, like all others, will zig and zag."

"Yes, he definitely follows the news and is engaged but is not consumed with day-to-day Trump news -- certainly doesn't follow the hysterics on Twitter or cable news," the source said.

That could soon change.

A host of Democrats said that the former president has signaled to top lawmakers and operatives that he will be stepping up his involvement in the midterms soon and is telling friends and advisers that his priorities are flipping the House and backing up redistricting efforts led by former Attorney General Eric Holder's National Democratic Redistricting Committee.

Obama's midterm strategy is not yet fully formed and his top advisers are still plotting the role he hopes to play the election. And while his message is a work in progress, Obama will likely urge Democrats to keep up the momentum they have shown over the last 18 months.

Obama acknowledged that Democrats are still searching for a message in the midterms and took a stab at a message of his own.

"The simple message right now is that if people participate, and they vote, then this democracy works," he said, "And if we don't vote, then this democracy does not work."

He added: "So, I am happy to talk about specifics, but I want you to know for those of you who have decided you have got something else to do, I am giving you the executive summary: Vote! Participate! Get involved!"

Obama argued on Thursday that the divide in America is a split between "a fundamental contrast of how we view the world and what is going on right now" and that America is "seeing the consequences of what happens when one vision is realized, or at least is in charge."

"That's the bad news," he said. "The good news is that it is entirely within our power to solve it."

Fundraising trip

Obama's visit to California was part of a broader fundraising swing to the state.

On Friday, Obama will travel to the Bay Area to headline a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee fundraiser with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Anna Eshoo. The luncheon event is expected to raise millions, with top tickets to the event running $237,300 per couple and general entry running $10,000, according to an invitation.

The trip will also benefit Obama's growing post-presidency foundation, with the former President meeting with prospective donors to his foundation.

Democrats close to Obama describe him as very hands on with the library, including everything from programing, outreach to the Chicago community and the library's architectural planning -- a reflection of the fact that the former President once pined to be an architect.

Obama regularly meets with the architects for hours, one of his advisers said, and they often bring in design models for him to look over, causing the meetings to go on far longer than their allotted time.

It was clear throughout the event that even though Obama has been away from day-to-day politics over the last 18 months, he had not lost his quickness on the stump.

Asked about women in politics, he opened by saying, "First of all, lets stipulate that women are smart." When the women in the audience hollered, he added, "But, women, you guys aren't perfect, let's be clear. I just don't want you to feel, to quote Beyonce, I don't want you to feel yourself too much now."

When a helicopter was heard buzzing overhead, causing numerous donors to look upwards, Obama said, "Don't worry, everyone seems very concerned about the helicopter."

"Is it yours?" a woman in the audience asked.

"No, I don't have one anymore," he said. "That one that I had, that was a loaner."

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This woman may have accidentally set up two strangers on a plane, and it’s perfect

Air travel can be a truly awful experience that involves being waaaaay too close to far too many people. But there's also something strangely romantic about it. Especially when your trip involves potentially falling in love with a fellow passenger.

Rosey Blair and her boyfriend were on a flight home on Monday night, but their seats were in different aisles. Rosey decided to ask a woman to switch seats with her. In so doing, she may have altered someone's life forever. 

Last night on a flight home, my boyfriend and I asked a woman to switch seats with me so we could sit together. We made a joke that maybe her new seat partner would be the love of her life and well, now I present you with this thread.

— Rosey Blair (@roseybeeme) July 3, 2018

"We made a joke that maybe her new seat partner would be the love of her life," Rosie tweeted, going on to give the internet a detailed play-by-play of what happened next. 

Apparently, the two mystery people instantly hit it off.

pic.twitter.com/y51CRx1fXQ

— Rosey Blair (@roseybeeme) July 3, 2018

They were both into fitness, too. This is a good start.

Last night on a flight home, my boyfriend and I asked a woman to switch seats with me so we could sit together. We made a joke that maybe her new seat partner would be the love of her life and well, now I present you with this thread.

— Rosey Blair (@roseybeeme) July 3, 2018

The entire flight, Rosey kept a close eye on any arm touching that was going down. 

pic.twitter.com/hunDLMjuAv

— Rosey Blair (@roseybeeme) July 3, 2018

It was clearly the highlight of their flight.

pic.twitter.com/VMAZeyetiO

— Rosey Blair (@roseybeeme) July 3, 2018

The couple did not get drinks, but they did share a cheese board. How romantic.

pic.twitter.com/eH2FFYi549

— Rosey Blair (@roseybeeme) July 3, 2018

They even shared family photos.

pic.twitter.com/B1n9qoVEX6

— Rosey Blair (@roseybeeme) July 3, 2018

Rosey originally posted the plane saga to her Instagram story. Her followers were hooked.

pic.twitter.com/xay0sDeWwY

— Rosey Blair (@roseybeeme) July 3, 2018

Things got pretty serious.

pic.twitter.com/sRW76oAnri

— Rosey Blair (@roseybeeme) July 3, 2018

THEN IT GOT REAL SERIOUS.

pic.twitter.com/3VpVAFKOGO

— Rosey Blair (@roseybeeme) July 3, 2018

After some internet sleuthing, Rosey's boyfriend Houston found the mystery couple's Instagram accounts. 

pic.twitter.com/SDWFnDE8Gi

— Rosey Blair (@roseybeeme) July 3, 2018

That's where they found out they're both single.

pic.twitter.com/NQDiErCXxO

— Rosey Blair (@roseybeeme) July 3, 2018

And they're both based out of Dallas,Texas.

pic.twitter.com/o3OArIbJPe

— Rosey Blair (@roseybeeme) July 3, 2018

"They're gonna fall in love, and get married, and have babies!" Rosey said excitedly. 

Whoa, Rosey, let's slow things down a bit. You may or may not be invited to the wedding.

If you are or know one of these mystery people, please let us know. We'd love to hear your side of the story. 

WATCH: This moon blob meme was the only good thing on the Internet this week

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The story of her helping a man on a flight went viral. She hopes it inspires others.

It was by total coincidence that Clara Daly and Tim Cook ended up on the same flight.

Tim Cook is blind and deaf. After visiting his sister in Boston, he was returning home alone to Portland. Clara Daly and her mom were on the same flight after their original trip back to Los Angeles had been canceled.

While the airline staff reportedly did their best, they were unable to communicate with Cook, and they reached out to other passengers for help, asking if anyone onboard knew American Sign Language (ASL). Daly had recently been studying ASL, and she gladly stepped in.

Image courtesy Clara Daly.

It was unclear whether Cook had made accessibility requests with the airline or not, but regardless, flying while disabled presents a number of challenges — and the burden is often left on the person with the disability. The Air Carrier Access Act of 1986 attempted to address many accessibility issues, but there continue to be stories where airlines fail in their duty.

Daly, however, immediately put her ASL skills to work communicating with Cook about his needs on the flight.

Pressing her hand against Cook's, she was able to sign out words one letter at a time. Their communication began with him simply asking for a glass of water. But she returned several times throughout the flight and spent the last 30 minutes keeping him company before they landed. In a follow-up with Cook, the airline said he made it safely back home after meeting a service provider in Portland.

And in a video posted by Portland's KGW8, Cook said of his experience with Daly, "I was very moved and happy for you to come talk with me. ... Talking with you was the best part of my trip."

"I think ASL is a beautiful language that is not only for deaf people but is a language everyone should get to know," Daly says. "We are all part of the same world and it is our duty to make it a place we all want to live in."

Her act of kindness went viral and she's using it as a teaching moment.

A fellow passenger on their flight took a picture of Daly signing to Cook and posted it to her Facebook page. It went viral, with more than 1 million people reacting and more than 650,000 people sharing the story.

I saw this gentleman, Tim, in Boston's Logan airport with the sister he'd been visiting. It appeared he was both deaf...

Posted by Lynette Scribner on Tuesday, June 19, 2018

About the viral nature of her story, Daly says, "All I can hope people can get from this is an inspiration do some good themselves."

These small acts of kindness can have a profound impact — we all need to remember that.

There are things each of us can do every day to help others, whether it's offering a service or supporting your favorite disability advocacy group — particularly when gaps in accessibility persist. A seemingly small act might be a great and welcome relief to someone else. That's something people forget too often.

"I think people need to help people as much as we can," Daly said.

Daly may be just 15, but hers is the kind of wisdom the world needs right now. And if the response to her act is any indication, it's one people are really grateful to see.

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