Happy Star Wars Day — and May the Fourth be with you! The origins are unclear on exactly when enthusiastic fans turned the famous phrase “May the force be with you” into a pun, and subsequently an unofficial holiday, but it lives on nearly 50 years after the first film premiered. And whether you’ve memorized every movie or have yet to see a single one, it’s a fun way to add a little silliness to your Sunday. San Francisco’s BART has definitely gotten into the spirit: The rapid transit system is turning one of its trains into a starship for a free 90-minute ride today with live music, trivia, and prizes for the best costumes. Want to test your knowledge from the comfort of home? See how you fare with 30 bits of trivia that only hardcore Star Wars fans would know. — the Nice News team
Featured Story
Practicing Self-Control Offers a Range of Benefits — Here Are 3 Ways to Get Started
Maria Stavreva/ iStock
Where there’s a will, there’s a way — but what if you have no will? Whether you want to get better at putting down that cookie, taking deep breaths before blowing up at a friend, or resisting your fifth Amazon purchase of the week, mastering self-control is an important life skill when it comes to relationships with ourselves and others. There’s plenty of scientific evidence to back up that claim; research shows that self-discipline may help boost everything from academic success to life satisfaction. But as anyone who’s ever made a New Year’s resolution knows, harnessing willpower is more difficult than it sounds. At the link below, we unpack exactly what self-control is (including breaking down the three types), dive into the benefits it can bring to your life, and offer specific, tangible tips to help you hone your skills.
Free shipping and exclusive shows might be the most popular benefits when it comes to Amazon Prime, but did you know your membership comes with even more perks? From free music and podcasts to exclusive lightning deals and Whole Foods discounts, there’s a whole world of benefits waiting for you. The experts over at Brad’s Deals discovered these must-have Prime perks to help you save money, stream more, and shop smarter. And if you’re not a member yet, the additional benefits might just convince you to sign up. Don’t miss out — start unlocking all the perks of your Prime membership today.
“A City in a Park”: Chattanooga, Tennessee, Is North America’s First National Park City
Jeremy Poland/iStock
North America is home to hundreds of national parks — and now, one National Park City. Last month, Chattanooga, Tennessee, became the first on the continent to be named as such by the U.K. nonprofit National Park City Foundation. The third in the world, it follows London and Adelaide, Australia, which nabbed the designations in 2019 and 2021, respectively. Chattanooga’s recognition was hard-earned: The journey toward it began two years ago, and after rallying residents’ support, the city council passed a resolution in 2024 establishing an official campaign to go after the status. With a population of around 190,000, the city undertook “a community-driven effort to celebrate, elevate, and conserve” the culture, people, and places that make it unique, per the interactive portfolio it submitted for consideration. On April 3, the Foundation announced its decision, citing Chattanooga’s “remarkable story” of transformation from one of the country’s most polluted cities in the 1970s to a biodiversity hot spot and unparalleled outdoor destination. Indeed, OutsideMagazine previously named it the best town in the U.S., twice.
Culture
Social Psychologist Explains How to Practice Gratitude When Times Are Stressful
Karl Tapales/Moment via Getty Images
This article was written by Monica Y. Bartlett, a professor of psychology at Gonzaga University, for The Conversation. A lot has been written about gratitude over the past two decades and how we ought to be feeling it. There is advice for journaling and a plethora of purchasing options for gratitude notebooks and diaries. And research has consistently pointed to the health and relationship benefits of the fairly simple and cost-effective practice of cultivating gratitude. Yet, Americans are living in a very stressful time, worried about their financial situation and the current political upheaval. How then do we practice gratitude during such times? I am a social psychologist who runs the Positive Emotion and Social Behavior Lab at Gonzaga University. I teach courses focused on resilience and human flourishing. I have researched and taught about gratitude for 18 years. At the best of times, awareness of the positive may require more effort than noticing the negative, let alone in times of heightened distress. There are, however, two simple ways to work on this: Learn them.
Humanity
“Violin of Hope”: A Secret Note Was Found Tucked Inside an Instrument Made by Dachau Survivor
Sven Hoppe/picture alliance via Getty Images
Today, people are gathering at the site of the Dachau concentration camp in Germany to commemorate 80 years since the Nazi camp’s liberation. And in honor of that anniversary, we have a related story of resilience. A pair of art dealers recently discovered a note hidden in the F hole of a violin crafted by a Jewish instrument maker while he was imprisoned at Dachau. The note is short but impactful, reading: “Trial instrument, made under difficult conditions with no tools and materials. Dachau. Anno 1941, Franciszek Kempa.” The violin and its hidden note went unnoticed for more than eight decades. Hungarian art dealers Tamás Tálosi and Szandra Katona found the instrument among a furniture set, and were perplexed by the combination of skilled craftsmanship and poor materials. They eventually sent the piece for repairs, at which point its moving history revealed itself at last. Although some instruments were brought into Dachau, this is the first known one built at the camp. And while it’s still a mystery how the violin ultimately made its way to Hungary, documents revealed that Kempasurvived the war and returned home to Poland, where he continued making instruments before dying in 1953. “We named it the ‘violin of hope’ because if someone ends up in a difficult situation, having a task or a challenge helps them get through a lot of things,” Tálosi told the Associated Press. “You focus not on the problem, but on the task itself, and I think this helped the maker of this instrument to survive the concentration camp.” See the violin and note.
It’s safe to say that most nuns aren’t on TikTok — but Sister Monica Clare isn’t most nuns. The 59-year-old mother superior began posting under the handle @NunsenseForthePeople in 2020, and today boasts over 214,000 followers. In her videos, she answers questions about faith (e.g. “What do we do if God doesn’t answer our prayers?”) and shares what life is like in a progressive Episcopal order. Her new book details her journey from being in an unhappy marriage and pursuing a career in comedy to taking a vow of celibacy and struggling to fit in with 11 other women. More than a memoir, it’s a “rallying cry” to believe in your own worth.
Calling all Liz Lemon fans: You don’t need to binge 30 Rock for the fifth time to get your Tina Fey fix — the multi-hyphenate is back on TV screens with a new show. Co-starring Steve Carell and Colman Domingo, among others, Fey’s Four Seasons is an adaptation of the 1981 Alan Alda film of the same name. The eight-episode miniseries follows six old friends who go on a trip together — only to discover that one of the three couples is headed for a breakup. Dubbed “The White Lotus with more comedy”by Cosmopolitan, it hit Netflix Thursday.
Join the Nice Book Club
Nice News’ first book club meeting on April 3 was a smashing success, so we can’t wait to bring you another one. On May 6 at 5 p.m. ET, we’ll host a conversation with Stephanie Harrison, author of New Happy. Harrison will help you learn how to break free from the old definition of happiness (one rooted in achievement, comparison, and constant striving) and embrace a new, research-backed path to deeper joy, meaning, and connection. It’s free to join — you don’t even have to read the book beforehand! And as a special thank you to the Nice News community, event sponsor Beam is offering up to 40% off Glow, a delicious daily supplement designed to support hormone balance, mood, and energy. Click here and use code NEWHAPPY40 at checkout to claim your exclusive discount.
The stars were out for the inaugural Grammy Awards — then called the Gramophone Awards — nearly 70 years ago: Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., and Ella Fitzgerald were among those who attended one of two ceremonies that evening, held at Los Angeles’ Beverly Hilton hotel and New York City’s Park Sheraton hotel. The newly formed Recording Academy recognized winners in 28 categories that first year, a paltry number compared to the 94 that this year’s artists were up for. Fitzgerald won two awards — best female vocal performance and best jazz performance — while Sinatra lost out in all but one of the six categories he was nominated in. Ol’ Blue Eyes ended up taking home his first golden gramophone for best album cover, thanks to his art direction on “Only the Lonely.” The big winner of the evening was Domenico Modugno, who landed record of the year and song of the year for the hit “Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu (Volare).”Watch him perform it on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1958.
Sundays for Dogs Sells Fresh Pup Food Without the Fuss
Sundays for Dogs is transforming how people feed their dogs. While most “fresh” dog foods are frozen, messy, and full of fillers, Sundays uses gently air-dried, human-grade ingredients that are actually good for pups — and easy to serve. There’s no freezer required and no prep needed, just pour and watch your furry friend dig in. Founded by a veterinarian and backed by science, Sundays offers a two-week starter box that’s perfect for dogs easing into a new routine.
