Sam Wilmot has been evaluating benches on his aptly named Instagram page, @ratethisbench, for over seven years. But the 29-year-old Brit waited until a very special moment to give out his first 10/10 rating: His wedding day. In a post that’s since gone viral, Wilmot and now-wife Sophie pose on the bench outside the 13th-century church where they wed in June. “No moment or bench will ever come close to this for me, I can proudly say I have found my 10. In Sophie, and this bench,” he wrote in the caption. See the sweet photo and learn more about Wilmot’s bench-rating hobby.
Must Reads
Meet the 89-year-old widower with a fanbase of young Germans who eagerly await his thoughts on matcha and much more
We hope this becomes a song: Grammy winner Diane Warren adopted a runaway pig spotted scampering about West Hollywood
Health
Costco Is Gearing Up to Offer Medicare Plans — No Membership Required
Mike Campbell—NurPhoto/Getty Images
Costco fans already know the warehouses provide much more than free samples, inflation-proof rotisserie chicken, and enormous teddy bears. A membership can also get you a slew of health services, from fertility care to prescription eyeglasses — and soon the chain will offer Medicare plans at select stores without the requirement of a membership. In a pilot program set to roll out in three states (those are TBD), Costco is teaming up with the nonprofit insurance provider SCAN Health Plan to streamline health care access for older adults, per an announcement from the two companies last week. The “suite of senior-focused insurance products” potentially in the pipeline include ear and eye care, over-the-counter-medication benefits, and pharmacy services, all aimed at making life a little easier for the millions of older adults who rely on Medicare. “Older adults want health care that is easier to navigate, more responsive to their needs, and rooted in organizations they trust,” said SCAN CEO Sachin H. Jain. “Our expanded partnership with Costco will give us a strong foundation to explore new ways to help people stay healthy and independent while delivering the quality, value, and service both of our organizations are known for.”
Together With Atlantis
A Family Vacation Where the Possibilities Never Run Out
At Atlantis Paradise Island, one adventure leads to the next. Every stay includes unlimited access to Aquaventure — the largest water park in the Bahamas, spanning 141 acres of slides, rivers, and pools. You can also meet rescued bottlenose dolphins up close at Dolphin Cay, then explore the legend of Atlantis inside The Dig. By evening, bring everyone together over family-style southern Italian favorites at Carmine’s. Less than an hour by air from Miami, Atlantis feels worlds away. Book by Aug. 31 and save up to 35%, in addition to a $250 resort credit, daily breakfast, and more thanks to Atlantis Paradise Island’s Summer Sale.
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Culture
Stolen Pablo Picasso Print Discovered in an Empty Wisconsin Apartment
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When landlord Tim Dertz was clearing out a vacant apartment in Milwaukee, he saw something unexpected left behind: a signed 1949 Pablo Picasso print titled “Torero.” “It looked like it had been there a long time because it had tons of dust across the top of it,” he told the Associated Press. Dertz took the print to an antique dealer friend, who matched it to a description of a piece stolen from a nearby art gallery in 2018 — a sticker from the gallery was even attached to the back of the frame. That led Dertz to the Milwaukee Police Department, where investigators tracked down the museum’s owner, Bill DeLind. “I was at a loss for words. It was an overwhelming moment for me,” DeLind said, adding, “It came back full circle.” The artwork from Picasso, pictured here at a bullfight in 1965, depicts a matador, also known as a torero. See the print — which is one of only 30 known signed copies and worth up to $50,000.
Environment
How Snowmaking Equipment Could Help First Responders Fight Wildfires in the Alps
Uwe Lein—picture alliance/Getty Images
Earlier this summer, an Alpine resort in the Swiss ski region of Adelboden-Lenk announced plans to put its snowmaking equipment to good use year-round — harnessing the machines to fight forest fires in the warmer months. Snow cannons and lances can be repurposed as giant sprinklers to douse fires,or even prevent blazes during dry periods. Networks of underground pipes, pumps, and water reservoirs intended for snow season can also assist local fire departments. For example, the reservoirs could stall flames, giving emergency services extra time to arrive. “We can help firefighters with our infrastructure,” Jürg Klopfenstein, who is responsible for the Adelboden-Lenk resort’s snowmaking operations, told the Associated Press. Learn more about the cool effort.
In Other News
Team USA won its first wheelchairrugby world title in 16 years, dethroning Australia (read more)
Lunar life:NASA scientists found that some Earth microbes could survive weeks to months on the moon (read more)
The FDA greenlit a new drug to treat adults with a rare bone disorder, and one for children is in the works (read more)
A half-male, half-female bird was spotted at a nature preserve outside of Chicago — see the rare bobolink (read more)
Dozens of artifacts were returned to Egypt after an investigation by the FBI’s Art Crime Team in LA (read more)
Inspiring Story
The 208 boys
A kind crew of Idaho teens known as the “208 boys” have gained quite a bit of traction for their Goonies-esque outdoor adventures — including picking up trash in the Boise River. “We’re here almost every day in the summer using it so we really want to give back,” one of the teens said, adding, “To know that we can make a difference for us and people in the future is super cool.” Meet the crew.
Photo of the Day
Michael Ukas—picture alliance/Getty Images
Happy belated birthday to Leni and Lotti! The Berlin Zoo celebrated the giant panda twins’ 2nd birthday with a three-tiered cake made from frozen beetroot and carrot juice, which the sisters seemed to thoroughly enjoy.
Money: Is Your Car Insurance Loyalty Costing You?
Many drivers assume staying with the same insurer means better rates over time. But loyalty doesn’t always pay. If you haven’t compared car insurance quotes in the last year or two, you could be paying more than necessary for the same coverage. Money’s free comparison tool makes it easy to compare quotes from providers in your area.
