GOOD

Tattoo Artist Helps Bullied Boy By Transforming His Back Brace

It can be tough being different in middle school.

 Tod Perry
11.03.17

Image via Facebook.

For most middle schoolers, there’s nothing more important than fitting in. It’s not that conformity is cool, but kids who are a little different are almost always singled out and subject to bullying. Recently, a 12-year-old boy named Xavier in Orlando, Florida, was heartbroken to learn he’d have to wear a back brace until he stops growing to correct his scoliosis and pectus. He tried to hide the cumbersome hunk of plastic beneath his clothes, but it was too uncomfortable. So Xavier wore the brace outside of his clothing, making him a target for bullies.

Image via Facebook.

Upset that her son was being singled out at school, Xavier’s mother, Ashley King, reached out to her friends on Facebook to see if there was anyone who could help.

“Okay FB , I just left the Orthopedic Dr. , And Xavier is going to have to wear this back brace longer then expected. He has scoliosis and Pectus, this is suppose to help him straighten out in his growing years. He’s embarrassed to wear this to school. Last year he wore it under his shirt but it’s very noticeable , and got picked on. I’m looking for a place that can possibly do a airbrush design on this in Orlando . Please share this help him out. Thanks !!”

After her post, King was put in touch with “Evil” Anjel, a local tattoo artist at Anarchy Tattoos & Art Co. Anjel proved he wasn’t so evil after all by using his amazing artistic talents to airbrush a cool design on Xavier’s back brace. Now, instead of going to school wearing an unfashionable chunk of white plastic, Xavier had a menacing great white shark on his chest.

Image via Facebook.

“I’m so touched I just had to share this positive story,” King wrote on Facebook. “My son has scoliosis and has to wear a back brace until he stops growing. He was getting teased at school, so I put something on Facebook to see if I can make his back brace ‘cool.’ A man named Anjel reached out to me, and he airbrush a design onto his back brace, at no charge. It might not seem like a big deal, but to my son, it’s everything!”

This isn’t the first time Anjel has helped out a member his community. After the tragic mass shooting at nearby Pulse nightclub in June 2016, Anjel and his team gave away free “Pulse” tattoos to help the community heal.

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Education

The 6 most important quotes from Hillary Clinton's epic interview with Howard Stern

via The Howard Stern Show / YouTube

Former Secretary of State, first lady, and winner of the popular vote in the 2016 presidential election, Hillary Clinton, sat own for an epic, two-and-a--half hour interview with Howard Stern on his SiriusXM show Wednesday.

She was there to promote "The Book of Gutsy Women," a book about heroic women co-written with her daughter, Chelsea Clinton.

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Men are paid more than women - even when they're on parental leave

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Offering parental leave for new fathers could help close the gender gap, removing the unfair "motherhood penalty" women receive for taking time off after giving birth. However, a new study finds that parental leave also has a pay gap. Men are less likely to take time off, however, when they do, they're more likely to get paid for it.

A survey of 2,966 men and women conducted by New America found that men are more likely to receive paid parental leave. Over half (52%) of fathers had fully paid parental leave, and 14% of fathers had partially paid parental leave. In comparison, 33% of mothers had fully paid parental leave and 19% had partially paid parental leave.

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6 attractive alternatives to everyday products that are better for the environment

Bans on plastic bags and straws can only go so far. Using disposable products, like grabbing a plastic fork when you're on the go, can be incredibly convenient. But these items also contribute to our growing plastic problem.

Fortunately, you can cut down on the amount of waste you produce by cutting down on disposable products. And even more fortunately, there are sustainable (and cute) replacements that won't damage the environment.

Coconut bowls


Cocostation

Who says sustainable can't also be stylish? These cute coconut bowls were handmade using reclaimed coconuts, making each piece one of a kind. Not only are they organic and biodegradable, but they're also durable, in case your dinner parties tend to get out of hand. The matching ebony wood spoons were polished with the same coconut oil as the bowls.

Cocostation Set of 2 Vietnamese Coconut Bowls and Spoons, $14.99; at Amazon

Solar powered phone charger

Dizaul

Why spend time looking around for an outlet when you can just harness the power of the sun? This solar powered phone charger will make sure your phone never dies as long as you can bask in the sun's rays. As an added bonus, this charger was made using eco-friendly silicone rubber. It's win-win all around.

Dizaul Solar Charger, 5000mAh Portable Solar Power Bank, $19.95; at Amazon, $19.95; at Amazon

Herb garden kit

Planter Pro

Put some green in your life with this herb planter. The kit comes with everything you need to get a garden growing, including a moisture meter that helps you determine if your herbs are getting the right amount of food to flourish. All the seeds included are certified to be non-GMO and non-hybrids, meaning you can have fresh, organic herbs right at your fingertips.

Planter Pro's Herb Garden Cedar Planter, $39.00; at Amazonedar Planter, $39.00; at Amazon

Reusable Keurig cups

K & J

Keurig cups are convenient, but they also create a ton of plastic waste. These Keurig-compatible plastic cups are an easy way to cut down on the amount of trash you create without cutting down on your caffeine. Additionally, you won't have to keep on buying K Cups, which means you'll be saving money and the environment.

K&J Reusable Filter Cups, $8.95 for a set of 4,; at Amazon

Low-flow shower head

Speakman

Low-flow water fixtures can cut down your water consumption, which saves you money while also saving one of the Earth's resources. This shower head was designed with a lighter flow in mind, which means you'll be able to cut down on water usage without feeling like you're cutting down on your shower.

Speakman Low Flow Shower Head, $14.58; at Amazon

Bamboo safety razor

Zomchi

Instead of throwing away a disposable razor every time you shave, invest in an eco-friendly, reusable one. This unisex shaver isn't just sustainable, it's also sharp-looking, which means it would make a great gift for the holidays.

Zomchi Safety Razor, $16.99; at Amazon

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