Paul Oliver ⁕

Googler. Packt Author. .NET, Ruby on Rails, NodeJS, EmberJS, Docker, Azure, AWS, Huskers.

[Paul Oliver ⁕ @ItsPaultastic]

@HuskerTom1994 That ratio says it all

[Robert Sterling @RobertMSterling]

I just had the craziest experience at the airport.

We are about to board a flight to Atlanta when the pilot from the incoming plane walks out of the jetway. Guy is probably late 50s, salt and pepper hair, military look. The kind of pilot you instantly feel good about seeing on your flight.

Pilot walks over to the counter, gets on the PA system, and starts addressing everyone. “Folks, I’ve been doing this a long time. Flying one of these jets is easy. The hard part is looking at 130 people and telling them their flight is going to be delayed.”

Audible groans throughout the boarding gate. Most people here are flying to Atlanta as a layover before another flight. 130 people just had their day become a complete mess.

The pilot goes on. “I get it, trust me. But here’s the deal: During our landing, we had a small mechanical issue. I’m not your pilot for the next leg, but I don’t feel confident the jet’s safe to fly until we have a mechanical team look it over, and I don’t feel comfortable asking the next pilots to fly you guys until we get confirmation.”

He points at the agents next to him behind the counter: “Now, none of this is the agents’ fault. Please be kind to them. I’m the one who made this decision, not them, so any inconvenience you experience is my fault. Just please know that I don’t do this lightly, and I’m only doing it because I believe it’s in the best interests of everyone’s safety.”

Now this is where the story gets crazy. The pilot puts the microphone down, grabs his suitcase, and all the people in the gate…

Start clapping.

I’m not joking, everyone starts clapping for the guy. 130 people who just had their travel plans ruined give an ovation to the guy who made the decision and delivered the message.

All because he addressed them with decency and transparency, took ownership of the decision, made it clear that it was necessary, and explained why it was in everyone’s best interest.

It’s honestly one of the best examples of strong communication—of strong leadership, for that matter—that I’ve seen in a long time.

@Delta, whoever your Atlanta to Wichita pilot was this morning, he’s one of the good ones. Please tell him the delayed passengers of flight 1637 appreciate what he did.

[College Football Zone @CollegeFBonX]

If you weren’t old enough to watch Tommy Frazier I feel bad for you. He was incredible to watch play football at Nebraska!

[Charly Wargnier @DataChaz]

true af

[Turbine Traveller @Turbinetraveler]

There is still good left in humanity.

Captain Jon Jackson was supposed to take his final retirement flight with Spirit Airlines today. But after Spirit's shutdown, he instead found himself as a passenger on a Southwest Airlines flight into Baltimore.

What happened next was truly special. Capt. Jackson was honored with a traditional water cannon salute and a surprise welcome celebration at the gate.

This is a powerful reminder that the aviation community is built on respect, compassion, and solidarity—especially when it matters most. Above all, this moment was about honoring a fellow aviator.

Congratulations, Capt. Jackson, and thank you for your years of service in the skies.
Well done Southwest Airlines 💙

[Interesting things @awkwardgoogle]

I love this man and his son, making me believe that humanity exists 🧡

[Will Compton @_willcompton]

Holy shit man

Take two minutes to listen to this

[Paul Oliver ⁕ @ItsPaultastic]

Designed in Google Flow.

https://t.co/YhXtSKZ2pV

[Paul Oliver ⁕ @ItsPaultastic]

IBM Training Manual (1979)

[Lemma the Optimist @DoctorLemma]

19 years ago, a high school basketball coach put his team manager into a game for the final four minutes. The kid had never played a single minute of competitive basketball in his life. He scored 20 points.

Jason McElwain was diagnosed with severe autism at age two. He didn’t speak until he was five. He couldn’t chew solid food until he was six. He wore a nappy for most of his early childhood. As a baby, he was rigid, wouldn’t make eye contact, and hid in corners away from other children.

He tried out for his school basketball team every year and got cut every time. Too small. Too slight. Barely 5’6 and about 54 kilograms. But he loved the game so much that his mum called the school and asked if there was any way he could be involved. The coach created a team manager role for him. For three years, McElwain showed up to every practice and every game. He wore a shirt and tie on match days. He ran drills, handed out water, kept stats, and cheered every basket like he’d scored it himself.

On 15 February 2006, the last home game of his final school year, the coach let him suit up in a proper jersey and sit on the bench. With four minutes left and a comfortable lead, the coach sent him in.

His first shot missed. His second missed. Then something shifted.

He hit a three-pointer. Then another. Then another. His teammates stopped shooting entirely and just kept passing him the ball. He hit six three-pointers and a two-pointer. 20 points in four minutes. The highest scorer in the game. When the final buzzer went, the entire crowd rushed the court and lifted him onto their shoulders.

His mum tapped the coach on the shoulder, in tears. “This is the nicest gift you could have ever given my son.”

McElwain won the ESPY Award for Best Moment in Sports that year, beating out some of the biggest names in professional sport. He’s 36 now. He works at a local supermarket, coaches basketball, has run 17 marathons including five Boston Marathons, and travels the country speaking about never giving up.

When asked about that night, his coach still gets emotional. “For him to come in and seize the moment like he did was certainly more than I ever expected. I was an emotional wreck.”

[Mens_Corner__ @Mens_Corner__]

This might be the most accurate video I’ve ever seen

[Paul Oliver ⁕ @ItsPaultastic]

Don't let them hang #Erfan_Soltani #ErfanSultani .

Make him famous so they don't hang him.

[Will Compton @_willcompton]

Not sure if I’ve ever gotten this emotional watching a commercial before

The conversations, the memories, the music

It all broke me

Thank you for making me cry today, Chevrolet

[Paul Oliver ⁕ @ItsPaultastic]

@perseverare1776 @grok Post fake videos to get engagement?

Straight to blocked.

This is AI, the story is full of holes and different versions are popping up all over the Internet. Block and report this account.

https://t.co/tqTSYopDJ2

https://t.co/8kpoCNvFPt

https://t.co/dWUPGgQijs

[Paul Oliver ⁕ @ItsPaultastic]

@WallCloud777 @HuskGuys I don't. I especially don't miss the blowout losses, record yards against our defense, and the embarrassment of seeing him crash out on live TV.

You know he hated Nebraska and our fans, right?

[Paul Oliver ⁕ @ItsPaultastic]

@JohnWGaddis @simongerman600 Do you know anyone in Fort Morgan or Greeley?

[Mindset Machine  @mindsetmachine]

Not everything deserves your energy…

[Dudes Posting Their W’s @DudespostingWs]

a dude orders a "black coffee"

[Kaleb Henry @iKalebHenry]

Cam Newton weighs in on the Dylan Raiola-Patrick Mahomes conversation that has dominated this week.

[Paul Oliver ⁕ @ItsPaultastic]

@EricLDaugh He said this at the 1:00 mark:

https://t.co/HIeHHTHoSd