mareela

[The Husky @Mr_Husky1]

When Michael Caine told his mother how much he had earned for a film, she asked a question that stopped him cold. She understood hunger, rent, exhaustion, and counting every coin, but a million pounds meant nothing to her. So he translated wealth into the only language that mattered: “It means you never have to work again.”

By the late 1960s, Michael Caine had become a major British actor. Films such as Zulu, The Ipcress File, and Alfie had carried him from working-class South London to international fame. Hollywood wanted him. Audiences knew his face. His paychecks had grown beyond anything he had imagined as a boy.

But his mother, Ellen, still measured life differently.

She had raised Michael and his brother Stanley in Rotherhithe, where money was always short. Their father worked as a fish-market porter. Ellen cleaned other people’s homes, cooked when work was available, and returned exhausted after long days spent keeping wealthier households in order.

Michael remembered the poverty clearly.

He remembered hunger, worn clothing, cramped housing, and the fear that one unexpected expense could break the family. During the war, bombing and rationing added new dangers, but Ellen continued working because her sons needed food, shelter, and a better future.

She rarely complained.

Her hands became rough from scrubbing floors belonging to others. Her body carried the strain of years spent standing, lifting, washing, and worrying. Yet she kept encouraging her boys to escape the limits surrounding them.

Michael never forgot what that cost her.

When his acting career finally took off, success did not feel complete until he could share it with the woman who had sacrificed everything. One day, Ellen asked how much he was being paid for a film.

He told her the figure.

It was a sum so enormous that she could not connect it to ordinary life.

“How much is that?” she asked.

She had heard the number. She simply had no way to understand it. Her life had been built around small wages stretched across food, rent, clothing, and bills. Wealth on that scale existed in another universe.

Michael realized that giving her another number would explain nothing.

So he told her what the money meant.

She would never have to clean another house.

She would never again have to worry about rent or groceries.

She would never have to work until her hands hurt simply to survive.

That, Ellen understood.

Michael bought her a home and made sure she had security for life. The woman who had spent decades cleaning rooms owned by other people finally had a place no landlord could take from her.

Fame carried Michael into premieres, hotels, and film sets worldwide, but he continued returning to his mother. She never became comfortable with celebrity or wealth. The glittering world around her son remained distant from the life she had known.

What mattered was peace.

She could wake without wondering whether there was enough money for the week. She could rest without guilt. She could grow older without depending on exhausting labor.

Michael later spoke often about the debt he owed her. Awards, titles, and success never erased the memory of a mother who worked herself tired so her children might have choices she never possessed.

The million pounds was not really the heart of the story.

The promise was.

Michael Caine became one of cinema’s greatest stars, but his most meaningful achievement happened away from every camera.

A son looked at the woman who had given him everything and told her that the struggle was over.

She had spent her life buying his future with her labor.

When his future finally arrived, he used it to buy her freedom.

That is why her question still matters.

“How much is that?”

It was enough that she could stop working.

Enough that she could stop worrying.

Enough that, after a lifetime of sacrifice, she could rest.

[Wolf of X @WolfofX]

For years, retired teacher Du Yingrong and his wife, retired doctor Lu Suying, lived a life that many people couldn't understand.

The childless couple from Shanghai shared simple meals that cost just 17 to 18 yuan, about USD 2.50, often stretching a single takeaway meal between the two of them. They lived in a small apartment, repaired old belongings instead of replacing them, and avoided spending money on themselves whenever they could.

People assumed they were simply being frugal.

In 2018, after learning about children born with congenital heart disease whose families could not afford lifesaving surgery, they quietly donated 500,000 yuan. Not long afterward, they made an even bigger decision, donating another 4.5 million yuan, bringing their total contribution to 5 million yuan, roughly USD 735,000.

When a hospital social worker visited their modest home and suggested they keep some money for themselves, Du replied,

"Neither of us has much time left. We receive pensions and still have some savings. We don't need much money."

Their donation eventually helped fund heart surgeries for 455 children, giving hundreds of families a chance they never thought they would have.

Du Yingrong passed away in 2018 at the age of 81. Lu Suying continued living the same humble life until her death in 2025 at 92. With no children of their own, they entrusted a charitable foundation to carry out their final wishes.

[Mike Netter @nettermike]

He told his students to go to the windows.
Get out. Jump if you have to.
Then Liviu Librescu walked to the classroom door and pressed his body against it.
He was 76 years old. He weighed 140 lbs
The gunman was in the hallway.
It was April 16, 2007. A Monday morning. Solid mechanics class at Virginia Tech, Room 204. Twenty-two students, most of them 19 or 20 years old.
At 9:45 AM, gunshots echoed through Norris Hall. Room by room, the shooter was working his way down the corridor.
Liviu heard it. He understood immediately.
He had survived the Holocaust. He had survived a labor camp. He had spent decades living under Communist oppression. He knew exactly what evil sounded like.
He told his students to escape through the windows. Second floor — it was a drop, but they'd survive. Then he walked to the door and held it shut with his body.
The shooter tried to force it open. It wouldn't move.
He fired through the door. Wood splintered. Bullets came through.
Liviu stayed.
Behind him, students were climbing out the windows. Dropping to the ground. Running. One by one, all twenty-two of them got out.
The shooter kept firing through the door.
Liviu held it shut until every student was safe.
Then the bullets killed him.
When police arrived, they found his body at the door.
All 22 of his students survived. Not one was injured.
Liviu Librescu was born on August 18, 1930, in Ploiești, Romania.
He was Jewish. In 1941, when he was eleven years old, Romanian authorities sent him and his family to a labor camp. His father died there. Liviu survived. When the war ended, he was fifteen.
He went back to school. Studied engineering. Earned a doctorate from the University of Bucharest.
But Communist Romania had no interest in allowing a Jewish intellectual to succeed. He was blocked from academic positions. Passed over for jobs he deserved. He applied to emigrate. The government kept refusing.
Finally, in 1978 when Liviu was 48 years old — Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin personally intervened. Romania let him go.
He had spent most of his adult life trapped in a country that didn't want him.
In Israel, he taught at Tel Aviv University. Published over 300 papers. Became an international expert in aeroelasticity — the science of how air flows over aircraft wings.
In 1985, Virginia Tech offered him a position. He moved to Blacksburg, Virginia. He taught there for 22 years. His students loved him — demanding but kind, high standards, genuine care.
He was still teaching full-time at 76. Still publishing research. Still showing up every Monday morning for solid mechanics.
April 16 was the first day of Passover — the Jewish holiday celebrating liberation from slavery and oppression.
Liviu Librescu died on the day his tradition sets aside to celebrate freedom.
He spent his entire life escaping death and oppression by luck, by persistence, by the intervention of others. And on his last morning, he chose to stand at a door so that twenty-two young people could have the future he had fought so hard to reach.
He could have run. He could have hidden. He could have climbed out a window with his students.
He chose to stay.
The Virginia Tech shooting killed 32 people that day — the deadliest school shooting in American history at the time.
Room 204 had zero casualties.
Because a 76-year-old Holocaust survivor held a door with his body until every student behind him was gone.
His funeral was held in Israel. Students from Virginia Tech flew across the ocean to honor him. The Israeli government awarded him the Star of David Medal posthumously. Virginia Tech named a scholarship in his memory.
His son said his father died the way he lived — protecting others.
A man who survived everything evil threw at him for 76 years.
On his last day, he made sure 22 kids survived too.
Professor Liviu Librescu. August 18, 1930 — April 16, 2007.
Holocaust survivor. Labor camp survivor.
302 published papers. 22 years at Virginia Tech.
22 students out the window.
He held the door.

[Craig Hill @CraigHill01]

In 1974, Gough Whitlam introduced free university for all Australian citizens. In 1989, Bob Hawke introduced an annual flat fee of $1800 per student, because of unexpected surges in enrolments. In 1993, Howard basically ended free university, by introducing a 30% co-payment. I reckon we have the wealth: university should be free for all.

[Steven Miles @StevenJMiles]

The Premier said it wasn't fair when pressed about why he scrapped independent oversight into DFV reform. I don't think it's fair that women and children are dying from domestic and family violence.

[mareela @mareela6]

@Brad_Fitz__ @Mon4Kooyong Bit hard yo believe those numbers, considering overall there were very few who died compared to those who got the vaccine.

[Michael Marina @Michaelmarina7]

I am struggling to find the right words. I woke up this morning thinking it would be another busy but normal day. Our six-month-old baby, Charlotte, had an appointment with an eye doctor to find out why her eyes were crossed. We scheduled this appointment two months ago and didn’t expect anything serious. I went to the appointment with all three of my daughters. After examining Charlotte’s eyes, the doctor noticed something unusual and sent us to Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City for an eye ultrasound to check more closely.

I drove the half hour to the hospital, and Stuart left work early to meet me there. He arrived just as the ultrasound was happening. I held Charlotte close while facing away from the screen so the doctor could get clear images. Stuart was looking at the screen and suddenly said, “Whoa, that’s big.” In that moment, my heart sank. The doctors found a cancerous tumor behind her left eye and partly in her right eye. It is called retinoblastoma, and it is the reason her eyes will not straighten.

I didn’t know how to react. So many thoughts, fears, and emotions rushed through me all at once. I am still trying to understand it. I am still in shock and unsure how to think or what to do. The doctors told us Charlotte needs an MRI to confirm the diagnosis and to see how much the cancer has spread, if it has spread at all. They talked about treatment options, including chemotherapy and surgery. They also explained that the specialist team for this condition is in Phoenix, and we need to get there as soon as possible to start treatment.

Right now, everything feels overwhelming. I don’t yet understand what the future looks like for Charlotte, for Stuart, for our family, or for myself. But I do know the most important thing I can ask from anyone reading this is to please pray for us. Please send a sincere prayer to our Father in Heaven and ask Him to make everything okay, whatever that may look like. I believe prayer is real, prayer is powerful, and prayer will help carry our family through this. Please pray for baby Charlotte.

[mareela @mareela6]

@PhatDadCoach @GBC_Press Realistically we all know that will NEVER happen as he is nothing but a narcissist who is in love with himself and MONEY only.
God help America.

[🕶️🦉Sassy Leo 🦉🕶️ @Loud_Lass]

P.K nails it again
#auspol

[Kenny Devine @TheKennyDevine]

Thank you, @PaulineHansonOz
It gives me great peace of mind to hear that no taxpayer money was used to fund your holiday.

And that it was instead paid for by a mining billionaire who also gives you millions of dollars, a plane, and policy advice.

Such a relief.

Kenny x

[Steven Miles @StevenJMiles]

Pulled up to smoko. Had to ask: pie or sausuage roll, free rego or the money earned on your rental bond?

[mareela @mareela6]

@rustyynail888 @RobertStevenso9 Where’s the evidence and where is the money? Lots of talk but NO evidence. Lots of propaganda from Australia’s right wing papers and let’s be honest Australia’s media is overwhelmingly right wing.

[Robert Stevenson @RobertStevenso9]

Much of what is good about Australian society has been due to the work of Trade Unions and their members, and the Australian Labor Party and its supporters.

[Mr PitBull Stories @MrPitbull07]

At just 21 years old, she had been diagnosed with terminal lung, bowel, and liver cancer, and her doctors had gently broken the news that there were no treatment options left.

Knowing her time was incredibly short, Vivian put together a short, humble bucket list of things she hoped to experience before she died.

Among simple wishes like seeing her young daughter grow a little older and celebrating her wedding, there was one hope that seemed almost impossible: she wanted to meet her favorite actor, Robin Williams.

For years, Robin’s films had been her sanctuary. When the pain and fear of her illness became too heavy to carry, she would put on Good Will Hunting or Dead Poets Society.

His warmth on the screen made her feel safe, like she was being wrapped in a giant hug. But because she was far too weak to travel from her home in New Zealand, a trip to America was out of the question.

Desperate to bring his wife a moment of pure joy, her husband, Jack, decided to reach out to the actor’s team, hoping against hope that the message might find its way to him.

It did, and Robin’s response was instant.

At that very moment in 2014, Robin was privately fighting his own severe, exhausting battles with depression and the early stages of Lewy body dementia.

Yet, without a second thought, he set his own immense pain aside to be there for a stranger.

He grabbed his phone and recorded a short, deeply personal video. There was no fancy lighting, no script, and no Hollywood production. It was just Robin, speaking from the heart.

"Hey, girl, what's going on down there in New Zealand?" Robin said in the video, his voice filled with a gentle, comforting energy.

He put on a fake accent, teased himself about his overgrown beard, and smiled warmly into the lens.

"Sending all my love to you, Jack, and Sophie. Knock this off your bucket list. Much love to you, baby."

When Jack played the video for Vivian, the room fell completely silent. She was too weak to speak or jump with joy, but she didn’t need to.

Tears filled her eyes, and a soft, beautiful smile spread across her face.

"She was just absolutely thrilled," Jack later shared, recalling the moment her face lit up. "We couldn't believe it. He was one of her absolute heroes, and he took the time to do this just for her."

For the rest of her days, that short clip became Vivian’s anchor. Whenever the fear started to creep back in, she would press play.

She would close her eyes, listen to his voice, and let the comfort wash over her. Even the hospital staff noticed how much calmer she became whenever she watched it.

Robin never told a single reporter about the video.

He wanted absolutely no credit; he just wanted to make a dying young woman feel seen.

Vivian passed away peacefully, and the video remained right by her bedside until the very end.

In a world where we can choose to be anything, Robin chose to be kind, proving that a simple moment of love can light up even our darkest hours.

[Craig Hill @CraigHill01]

Pauline Hanson represents all Australians, except immigrants, descendants of immigrants, Indigenous Australians, Muslims, Asians, Africans, LGBTQI+, the disabled, media workers, union members, parents, and workers. Enquiries as to whether you are represented can be directed to Gina Rinehart.

[Mohamad Safa @mhdksafa]

You cannot commit genocide in Gaza, invade Lebanon, bomb Iran, Syria, Yemen, and Iraq, violate Geneva and Vienna Conventions, international law, human rights, and state sovereignty, then hide behind anti-Semitism.

There is no rise in anti-Semitism. There is a rise in the number of people who are very angry at what Israel is doing. Your inability to separate the two is equally problematic.

[The Grand Tourist @TheGrandTourist]

@WolfofX My great aunt was originally from Estonia. She fled to Sweden as a child. After the fall of communism she returned to discover she owned an entire block of apartments. She signed over every single one to the tenants gifting them the properties.

[Wolf of X @WolfofX]

For 23 years, Jane Sayner called the same house in St Albans, Melbourne, home. She wasn't the owner. She was the tenant. Month after month, year after year, she paid her rent on time and treated the property as if it were her own.

The owners lived overseas, so Jane became the person they trusted completely. She looked after the house, handled many small repairs herself instead of bothering the landlords, and quietly cared for the property for more than two decades. Over the years, the relationship grew beyond that of landlord and tenant. It became a genuine friendship built on trust and respect.

When the owners eventually decided they no longer wanted to keep the house, they made an extraordinary decision. Rather than putting it on the market, they transferred ownership directly to Jane.

There was no legal obligation and no agreement promising her the property after a certain number of years. It was simply a remarkable gesture from owners who believed the person who had faithfully cared for their home for 23 years deserved to have it become her own

[Jim Chalmers MP @JEChalmers]

NEWS: More new businesses were created in June, after the Budget, than in any other month on record.

New numbers out this week show more new businesses were registered last month than in any other month since these records first began in 1999.

More businesses were created in the month after the Budget than in any other month on record.

There’ve been 30 times the businesses starting up than closing down each day on average under Labor, and insolvency rates are almost half what they were under the Howard Government.

[Dr Monique Ryan MP @Mon4Kooyong]

Today, we secured a big win.

The government and Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) have listened to the MS community, with the Health Minister confirming that Ocrevus, Kesimpta and Lemtrada will remain available on the PBS.

Over the past weeks I've heard from many people living with MS, and their families, about the anxiety and uncertainty that removing these medications from the PBS would have caused. These medicines have helped thousands of Australians remain healthy, continue working, and live independently.

Thank you to everyone who contacted my office, shared their stories, and helped put pressure on the government. This is your win.
https://t.co/AN1IDGidM9