HapiFriDay Friends! 👋

Today marks the 163rd anniversary of the first Pony Express delivery, which arrived in San Francisco just 11 days after setting off from St. Joseph, Missouri. Doing what everyone at the time thought was impossible, the Pony Express carried newspapers, mail, and small packages across the Great Plains, over the Rocky Mountains, and through the Sierra Nevada range.

With 120 riders, 184 relay stations, 400 horses, and several hundred personnel, this legendary route connected the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, proving essential for California. One of their most renowned riders, William "Buffalo Bill" Cody, once rode 322 miles in under 22 hours on 21 different horses at just 16 years old. As a result, California newspapers received news of President Lincoln's election just seven days and 17 hours after their East Coast counterparts.

Now let’s explore more incredible stories from around the globe! 👇

Quote of the Day 🗣

Lost Dog’s 166-Mile Trek Home 🐾

Nanuq, a 1-year-old Australian shepherd, embarked on an incredible 166-mile journey across ice in the Bering Sea, only to be found in Wales, a small village on the western Alaskan shore. The dog's owner, Mandy Iworrigan, who lives in Gambell, Alaska, was visiting relatives in Savoogna when Nanuq and another family dog named Starlight disappeared from home. Weeks later, Starlight turned up 37 miles away in Savoogna, and Nanuq was found in Wales after people posted pictures online of the lost dog.

Despite Nanuq's swollen leg and bite marks from an encounter with a seal or polar bear, the adventurous dog was in surprisingly good health. The details of Nanuq's journey remain a mystery, but the 166-mile distance from Gambell to Wales could have been covered over plates of sea ice. Mandy believes Nanuq may have survived on leftovers from seals and birds, as the dog is known to eat native foods. Nanuq was flown back to Gambell on a regional air carrier last week, where the family was finally reunited.

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HapiFriDay News Roundup 👏

💅 Free manicures for all

19-year-old certified nail technician Marielle Smith provides free nail art manicures to residents at Good Samaritan Society senior living community in Minnesota. The residents, who encouraged Smith to attend beauty school, express pride in their nails and appreciate the added joy and self-care the manicures bring to their lives.

📝 Poetry is alive and well

Hiram Sims, a creative writing professor and poet, founded the Community Literature Initiative (CLI) to help local poets in South Los Angeles develop their manuscripts and connect with publishers. Inspired by his students' needs, Sims also established the Sims Library of Poetry, a space offering 9,000 poetry books, workshops, open mics, and performances to cultivate a love for poetry in the community.

🐀 No more rates in NYC 

Kathleen Corradi, New York City's first "Rat Czar," is taking on the city's notorious rodent population. With a background in education and sustainability, she plans to unite various city departments to tackle the issue, vowing that New Yorkers will see "a lot of her and a lot fewer rats."

🦁 Topeka Zoo welcomes new African Lion

The Topeka Zoo welcomes Tatu, a 4-year-old African Lion from the Denver Zoo, in a move to support species conservation and sustainability. Zoo officials are eager to see how Zuri, a female lion who grew a mane after the previous male passed away, reacts to Tatu's arrival, as it could provide valuable insights into this rare phenomenon.

☄️ Meteorites touch down in Maine

A museum in Maine is offering a $25,000 reward for the first person to find a meteorite weighing at least 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) from a recent meteorite fall near the state's border with Canada. The Maine Mineral and Gem Museum hopes to add the space rock to its collection, which already includes moon and Mars rocks, but there is no guarantee that any meteorites large enough to claim the payout exist in the area.

Post of the Day 👀

HapiReview of the Day 🎉

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