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Judge determined to help homeless defendant reach family after finding out he's a lawyer

"I was an attorney for 15 years."

good judges; court; lawyers; homelessness; homeless population; nice texas judge; judge helps homeless lawyer
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Judge realizes homeless defendant is a lawyer, works to reunite him with family

There are often sayings about how close average people in America are to becoming homeless. Many Americans are a brief layoff away from being homeless as savings accounts are depleted with inflation. So it's not always surprising when someone ends up without a home and with people living further away from their parents or extended family, help isn't aways just down the road.

One man found himself standing in front of a judge with a court appointed attorney to plead his case. The defendant was arrested after allegedly throwing something through a store window in retaliation for a verbal altercation he had with the owner. Mr. Lane is currently homeless living in Houston, Texas, appearing in court with an acquaintance who was arrested alongside Lane.

It didn't take long to discover that Lane didn't fit the stereotypical image of a homeless person that many people might imagine upon hearing the word. Before Judge David Fleischer addresses the man, he is intently studying the paperwork in front of his lawyer. Upon hearing what the two defendants are charged with, Fleisher asks, "what are you doing with yourself these days Mr. Lane?"

All Rise Nbc GIF by Law & OrderGiphy

The man's response stuns the judge and likely everyone else in the courtroom, "presently? I'm not doing anything, I'm unemployed. I was an attorney for 15 years in Chicago, Illinois and I moved here in July, late June."

Lane admits that he is unaware if his license has officially expired in Illinois, but before moving to Texas he was a practicing attorney. The judge is visibly shocked by this revelation, wondering aloud how a lawyer from Chicago becomes homeless in Houston. In reality, homelessness can happen to just about anyone in America without adequate savings and family support.

Home Equality GIF by INTO ACTIONGiphy

Homelessness has reached a record high, increasing 18% from 2023-2024 with 34% of the homeless population being families with children. But of all the over 700k homeless individuals, 69% of them are men. People who couch surf, reside in homeless shelters or sleep in their cars are all considered to be homeless, and moving to a new state makes some people more vulnerable to the risk of homelessness.

Relocating is expensive which can deplete savings. Oftentimes people relocate for employment or better opportunities, but jobs can fall through and opportunities may be harder to come by than originally thought. This reality can cause many people to rely on whatever they have left in savings to make ends meet. In Lane's case, he claims to have relocated at the behest of his extended family members but once arriving to Houston he became overwhelmed with the process of getting his Texas bar license.

Angry Dick Wolf GIF by Wolf EntertainmentGiphy

"I love being a lawyer," Lane exclaims before answering the judges next question. "In order to practice here, which is my my new home, it would've been a process of I think taking a bar...three days you guys have. Yeah, and uh...I had some other things going on in my life that producing..." he says before being cut off.

As Lane continues talking Judge Fleischer finds out the man comes from a family of lawyers. His parents and younger sister are lawyers in San Fransisco and it sounds as if his older brother is also in the legal field but he has not informed them of his predicament. It's then that the judge becomes determined to get the man in contact with his family members so he can get help to get back on his feet.


"Here's the problem Mr. Lane, it's that we gave you a free bond, you picked up a new case and the last thing I want is to just let you go and you're going to be roaming the streets of Houston. It's just not a good place to roam and if you've got nowhere to go, you've got nothing to do, it could be a recipe for trouble and that's why I want to let you out but not just to the street. If you have a place to go to, if you have family, if someone's willing to take you in, then we can work something but for you to just be let out on the street," Judge Fleischer shrugs.

Instead of just handing down a sentence, Fleischer goes back and forth between Lane and his lawyer to find a way to attach release to contacting family support. Lane, who is clearly well versed in courtroom proceedings is not opposed to having the lawyer contact his family.

In the end, it was decided by all three men that Lane's lawyer would reach out to family members as a condition to be released. Hopefully contacting family helps the man start moving back towards a more positive direction. We never find out why he didn't return home after realizing he was not going to be successful in Texas but thanks to Judge Fleischer, Lane has a second chance.

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Pop Culture

'Wheel of Fortune' fans left shocked after contestant wins $50,000 solving impossible puzzle

“How in the world did you solve that last one?” asked host Ryan Seacrest.

Wheel of Fortune/Youtube

That was quite impressive.

Listen, while we all love a hilarious Wheel of Fortune fail, watching an epic win can be just as entertaining. And that’s exactly what recently happened on The Wheel when a contestant named Traci Demus-Gamble made a winning puzzle solve so out-of-nowhere that it made host Ryan Seacrest jokingly check her for a hidden earpiece.

In a clip posted to the show’s YouTube account Friday, Jan. 17, Demus-Gamble waved to her husband who was standing on the sidelines before going up to the stage for her next challenge: guess a four-word “phrase.”

Demus-Gamble wasn’t off to a great start, as only two of her given letters (“T” and “E”) made it to the board. And the odds didn’t improve much after Demus-Gamble, admittedly “nervous,” gave the letters “M,” “C,” “D,” and “O” and only two of those letters showed up once on the board.

“Again, not too much more, but who knows, you’ve had a lot of good luck tonight,” Seacrest said. “Maybe it’ll strike you.”

Then, all in under ten seconds (more like in 1.5 seconds), Demus-Gamble correctly guessed, “They go way back” like it was nothing.

Watch the incredible moment below:

- YouTubewww.youtube.com

As the audience cheered, Seacrest playfully circled Demus-Gamble, as though searching for an earpiece that must have fed her the winning guess. Down in the comments, people were equally floored.

“Now THAT was an amazing solve.”

“Wow! That was impressive!”

“I couldn't solve that one to save my life, but Demus-Gamble got it like it was nothing.”

“There's only one way to describe this to me: 😦”

At the end of the clip, Seacrest opened the envelope to reveal that Demus-Gamble’s puzzle solve won her $50,000, earning her a total win of $78,650. Certainly not chump change.

As for her winning strategy—Demus-Gamble assured no cheating was involved. “I just dug deep," she told Seacrest. We’ll say.

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Pets

Daycare dubbed 'Heaven for Dogs' lets house dogs run wild on a 20-acre farm

This is like no doggie daycare you've ever seen.

Adelaide Dog Farm Days

Back when I lived and worked in the city, I used to take our dog to doggie daycare. It was a cute little building not far from my office, and I would drop her off in the morning and pick her up on my way home. Periodically throughout the day, I'd get pictures of her playing with the other pups on the enclosed outdoor turf area, or I could check the live camera feed. When I finally got her into the car, she would be happily exhausted. It was a little pricey but she loved it! And it sure beat leaving her home alone all day.

That's the doggie daycare that I know — simple, but a good way to keep your dog stimulated and exercised while you're away. But now I wish that I lived in Adelaide, Australia because there's a new doggie daycare picking up buzz and it might be the greatest thing I've ever seen in my life.

Adelaide Dog Farm Days starts in the most unique and adorable way possible. They come pick your dog up from your house – on a school bus!

The pups pile inside together like a bunch of kids heading to elementary school. It gets a little raucous in there as the excitement for the day builds.

(Spoiler alert: Check out the before and after video. These dogs are wiped out at the end!)

@adelaidedogfarmdays

Friday was hectic! Let’s do it all again next week #dogdaycare #dogbus

Once they get to the farm, they've got a jam-packed day of adventure ahead of them.

We all know the joke that when your dog dies as a kid, your parents tell you that he went to go live on a farm so he could run free and play with other dogs. Well these dogs actually get to do it.

Bus pick up runs from 7-9am, and then the pups get about six hours of free play on a 20-acre farm. They can run through the dirt and grass just about as far as they could ever imagine (the edges are gated in for safety, but the space is massive). They can swim in the lake and roll in the mud. They can follow scents and dig in the dirt uninhibited — no turf playgrounds here! And of course, when they need a break, the staff is on hand to give belly rubs and scratches to anyone who needs one.

Your pup is bound to get messy while he's living his best life, that's why you can opt to have them bathed at the end of the day so they're returned to you fresh and clean.

Seriously, just look at how happy these dogs are. It's no wonder people call this place "Heaven for dogs."

The founder, Owen, recalls sitting at home in his small townhouse with his pet border collie and thinking "You're a farm dog. You deserve a farm."

"All dogs deserve a chance to run around and be a farm dog," he says. That thesis inspired him to open his unique business.

There's nothing wrong with more traditional doggie daycares. They give dogs a chance to play and exercise with other dogs in a safe and contained area instead of being cooped up all day. Play is incredibly important for dogs — did you know that while many mammals love to play, dogs and humans are some of the only ones who never lose that love of games? Even as dogs get older and slow down, they never lose their interest in fun and adventure. In fact, regular play is hugely important for dogs' brains, and can help slow cognitive decline as they age. And of course, the exercise is always important, and even necessary — ask anyone who has an energetic puppy how important it is to let them run every single day.

Few dogs get to ever experience the level of fun and adventure found on an open farm where they can run and swim to their hearts' content. Adelaide Dog Farm Days is getting tons of love on social media, but it's not the only daycare of its kind. You can find similar getaways for your pup in many U.S. states — though they won't always have the adorable morning school bus pick up.

I may not live anywhere close to Adelaide, but watching these videos is inspiring me to get my lazy house dogs some more adventure in their lives. Maybe we'll start with a hike and work our way up to an exhausting, six-hour day on a farm. They definitely deserve it.

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Joy

Service dog sees his favorite character on a Disney cruise and utterly loses his cool

Pure. Joy.

Photo credit: Canva

Service dogs deserve vacations, too.

Service dogs are professionals who are trained to be attentive, helpful and extremely well-behaved for their owners who rely on them for everyday living. They aren't easily distracted and have solid control over their impulses because their job performance is vital to humans who need them. No one wants a service dog going rogue.

But underneath all of that self-control and professionalism, service dogs are still dogs, as an adorable reunion on a Disney cruise ship makes delightfully clear.

Ashton McGrady is a content creator who shares her adventures with her Golden Retriever service dog, Forest, who has an affinity for Disney characters. In one video, she shows Forest choosing his own stuffy at a Disney gift shop, even putting the money on the counter to pay for it himself. But another video of Forest being reunited with his favorite character, Pluto, has people the world over feeling his joy vicariously.

Watch:

@radiantlygolden

proof that distance won’t keep the very best of friends apart ❤️🚢✨ we love you pluto!!! #servicedog #servicedogteam #disneytiktok #disneycruiseline #disneycruise #hostedbydisney

Ashton calls Forest her "best pal and lifesaver," and it's clear from her videos that they make a great team. People loved seeing the good doggo get to let loose and enjoy a romp with Pluto and how the cast member interacted with him as well.

"Those dogs are such good pups and work so hard to keep their owners safe, it’s nice to see them play for a bit ❤️"

"This is the most golden retriever golden I’ve ever seen 🥰🥰🥰"

"i just know the actor under the costume was having the best day ever."

"DID PLUTO WAG HIS OWN TAIL??? This is the best thing I’ve seen all day"

"It's like the Disney hug rule applies to dogs...but it's play with them until they are done."

The "Disney hug rule" referenced here is an apparently unofficial "rule" that DIsney cast members when dressed in character don't end a child's hug until the child let's go—basically letting the child hug the character as long as they want to. It's not an actual rule, but it's a thoughtful practice some cast members use to make sure their young guests don't leave a character meet disappointed.

For Forest, the equivalent is playing until he (or his owner—he's on the job, after all) decides he's done.

This isn't the first time Forest has had a touching reunion with Pluto. Ashton shared another video with a similar interaction—it's clear that Pluto truly is Forest's bestie.

@radiantlygolden

I just want to go back to this moment 🥹 if you’re friends with pluto and you see this, you made our entire day ♥️ #waltdisneyworld #wdw50 #epcotfestivalofthearts #festivalofthearts #epcot #charactermeetandgreet #disneytiktok #distok #servicedog #servicedogteam #servicedogsatdisney


Ashton also uses social media to educate people about service dogs, as there are a lot of misunderstandings out there about what service animals are, how they work, and where they are allowed to be.

Though service dogs and their owners will often naturally form a bond, a service dog is not a pet; it's a working animal that assists a person with disabilities or health conditions. In fact, service animals are considered medical equipment, in the same category as a wheelchair or an oxygen tank, and they are allowed to go anywhere the person they are serving would normally be allowed to go—even if other animals are not allowed. As the Americans with Disabilities Act website states: "Under the ADA, State and local governments, businesses, and nonprofit organizations that serve the public generally must allow service animals to accompany people with disabilities in all areas of the facility where the public is allowed to go."

Service dogs are sometimes confused with emotional support animals, but they are not the same thing. Service animals are trained to do specific tasks related to mitigating a person's disability, which could range from recognizing when their owner is needing medical attention to reminding them to take a medication to guiding them around an obstacle or across a street.

@radiantlygolden

If a business is not pet-friendly, they may only ask these TWO questions! note: “emotional support” is NOT considered a valid answer to question 2. thank you @Disney Parks for this great example of how it should be done. #servicedog #servicedoglife #servicedogteam #disabilitytiktok #disneyparks

There are some guidelines and laws that govern how the general public as well as private businesses should interact with service animals. First, no one should pet a service animal unless their handler specifically invites them to. Second, there are only two questions a business owner or their staff members are allowed to ask a person with a service dog: 1) Is the dog a service animal who is required because of a disability? And 2) What work or task has the dog been trained to perform? They are not allowed to ask for documentation, ask what disability the person has or ask that the dog demonstrate what they can do.

For people who need them, service animals like Forest are a vital part of living a full life. They are also working professionals who deserve a break now and then, so it's fun to see this good doggo having the time of his life with his buddy, Pluto.

You can follow Ashton on TikTok and YouTube.

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Friendship

Americans find out about their letters from 'Li Hua' and tearfully respond 20 years later

Americans are crying. Chinese citizens are crying. We're all crying.

Photo credit: Canva and screenshot from Xiaohongshu

20 year old letters from Li Hua reach America bringing tears of joy

As social media users counted down to the infamous TikTok ban of January 2025, many of the sites faithful users flocked to Xiaohongshu, a Chinese social media app, often referred to as "Red Note" or "Red Book" outside of China (but which actually translates to "Little Red Book." Initially the move to the app was a form of protest over the potential banning of TikTok in the United States.

But as Americans, myself included, quietly poked around Xiaohongshu, our new Chinese digital pals were kind and gracious hosts. However, one question kept coming up from the Chinese users of the app: Had we Americans received their letters from Li Hua? Many of began to wonder, what in the world is Li Hua? And most of weren't prepared for the wholesome answer.

It turns out that Chinese children are mandated to take English as their second language starting in grade school. In order to be proficient in writing in English, each child is instructed to write to an imaginary American penpal as a child named Li Hua or to a child name Li Hua depending on the assignment.


@yalvangreenminibus Here's a letter from your Chinese friend 李华 to all tiktok refugees. 李华 is a WE. we've written trillions of letters to you before but this is the first time you get to receive them #refugee #tiktokrefugee #rednote #xiaohongshu #lihua #李华#chinese ♬ 原聲 - Yalvan绿色面包车

They would write to their friend about daily life, Chinese culture and their favorite foods, often signing the letters with "I look forward to your response" or something similar. The kids took the assignment seriously and wrote as if a real friend would be writing back. But because the letters were simply used for an assignment, there was never a response. Their teachers graded their writing and moved on. Many of those students never left China or interacted with Americans in real time, that is until the potential TikTok ban was imminent.

Americans poured into the app essentially answering questions asked in those letters, making real life connections to penpals they had no idea existed. When the Chinese users explained who Li Hua was and how they felt Americans were answering their long lost letters, American users decided to start writing back. They shared their responses on Xiaohongshu, some even taking the time to write by hand in Mandarin.


@theloafandcrumb I am overwhelmed with so many emotions over all of this I LOVE HUMANS BEING HUMANS WE LOVE YOU 😭♥️ #xiaohongshu #rednote #tiktokban #tiktokrefugee #cultureexchange #fyp @nnnnnnnnanhuhule @David Hanart ♬ original sound - Hol | Butter Girl 🧈

The letters are bringing Chinese and American users to tears but it's not just the physical letters, it's the entire experience for many users. Several Americans point out that when they were children their parents would tell them that if they dug a hole too deep they'd end up in China. Turns out, this whole time Chinese children were writing their American friends but neither knew much about the other until Xiaohongshu became a safe refuge to bridge cultures.

One Chinese woman who goes by FiDo on Xiaohongshu explains through tears, "I spent eight or nine years. Study English so hard every day. Write a letter to Li Hua. Introduce him to Hangzhou (a city in China). Introduce him to China. Introduce him to all I can think of. All the best words in English. I wrote to Li Hua," she says before reading the response from her American "Li Hua."


@little.zee.636 These letters make me cray everytime. I'm gonna post a few because, it really is awesome to see our people coming together. #fyp#fypシ #LiHua ♬ original sound - little.zee.636

Miranda, the woman that responded to FiDo hand wrote her response in Mandarin and took a picture, uploading it to Xiaohongshu. "My dearest Li Hua, I'm sorry it took so long to reply." FiDo reads Miranda's letter still sobbing before switching to English. "She said, 'it might not last long but if it ends it won't be the end, because we found each other. We're friends now. We aren't going anywhere.'"

An American crossposted her response on TikTok saying she's been crying all day on Xiaohongshu seeing people's responses to Li Hua.

"What I really want Chinese people to know is that we dug for you. As Americans we used to dig holes in the beach and dig holes in our backyards, and our parents would tell us if we dig deep enough we would go to China. So we are connected. We were connected, you sent letters and we dig holes," the woman says while encouraging American Xiaohongshu users to write letters back to their Chinese friends that never expected a response.


@wild.nomi Probably the last letter from Li Hua on TikTok #tiktokban #rednote ♬ original sound - wild_nomi

The connections being made between ordinary people in both countries are healing wounds, dispelling myths and answering questions. Americans have been on their best behavior, reminding other American newcomers to respect the culture, language and social differences. Recipes are being exchanged, people are giving each other fashion advice, and even grocery shopping hauls are part of the conversation.

Americans have discovered Chinese people on the app have a very similar sense of humor. Many American Xiaohongshu users have happily paid the "taxes" required to access the app. It's a tax nearly anyone can afford–a picture of your cat...or dog, snake, alligator, really it doesn't matter. They just want to see your pets so they can show you theirs. While many Americans were only visiting the Chinese app out of frustration, they wound up answering 20 years worth of letters they never received and made new friends in the process. It's a reminder that the Internet itself was often first promised as a place of connection unlike any the world had ever seen and can often happen in the most surprising of ways.

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Health

Health experts agree that adults should have recess, too

Giving grown-ups time to play boosts physical, mental, and social health. Plus, it’s fun!

Photo credit: Canva

Playtime is beneficial at any age.

Have you ever wished you could just stop at your desk for thirty minutes and go outside to play a game, jump around a bit, or even just play with play dough for a while? Well, what’s stopping you? Experts say that taking a recess period isn’t just good for kids, but is good for adults, too.

The National Library Medicine has a 2022 study showing how “playtime” and recess helps the physical and mental well-being of adults along with a 2018 study showing how playing helps improve the lives of mentally ill seniors, too. But doesn’t it seem childish? Is it just nostalgia? Is it just… Well, needless fun?

In an interview with CNN, Dr. Bowen White, a physician and head of the National Institute of Play, a non-profit group that researches the benefits and history of recreation, provided some insight:

“Play is essential to our health,” he says. “Your blood pressure goes down. You release dopamine.”

Woman making large bubbles and smiling.Laughing and making bubbles is good for you!Photo credit: Canva

He’s not wrong. Play isn’t just fun, it’s healthy. Many activities that you used to play as a kid require you to go outside, which is both physically and mentally healthy. While it’s important to exercise, working out is part of the job of being an adult. The word “work” is in it. Playing in a dodgeball league or a game of double-dutch as an adult adds in some extra physical activity that can benefit you. Also, playing in general leads to laughter, which can reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and provide cardiovascular benefits like physical games do.

Men playing dodgeballDodgeball is a good way to get some playful aggression out.Photo credit: Canva

If you’re more in the mood for some less physical activity, doing more relaxing forms of play like playing board games, coloring in a coloring book, or sculpting with play dough can also release endorphins like those other recess activities while also stimulating your brain, improving your problem solving skills and increasing your imagination. Through fun!

Because of these benefits, many employees get better ideas, collaborate better with coworkers, and just plain work better when given time away from their desk to play around a little. There’s a reason why the “office foosball table” has become a popular trope in corporate America.

Office workers playing foosball in a high rise buildingSee? Photo credit: Canva

And the desire and instinct to play isn’t a human invention, it’s evolution.

“Play is so deeply ingrained in terms of our own evolutionary drive to survive,” said Bowen. “We all come into the world knowing how to play.”

Playtime is just a part of our evolution according to Scientific American. It’s also in nature. You’ve seen animals play with one another, likely from your own pets or certain articles here on Upworthy, and it’s not taught to them from human behavior. It’s an instinctual way for young animals to learn certain hunting or gathering skills, find mates, and create allies through social interaction to ensure better survival and lives in the world. Same with humans.

So to recap: Having some form of recess isn’t childish, is beneficial to your overall health in all aspects, is a part of human evolution, and is a part of nature itself. Oh, and it’s fun, too. So how can you incorporate more of it in your life, especially since we’re all so busy all of the time?

Well, it’s best to carve out some time for yourself to play each day, much like you had done at school. When you have a lunch break, take it. Use that time to not just eat, but to play. Go to a nearby park and shoot some hoops, on your own or in a pick-up game. Don’t worry if you suck, that’s not the point. After work, carve out time to go to a batting cage to hit some balls or a barcade to play games. Look into any clubs or intramural sports in your area, maybe join a dodgeball team or bar trivia night. Even if you’re so busy that you can’t make time outside of work or have too short of a lunch break, play a game with a coworker while you both eat. At the least, you can get some benefit from playing a game on your phone against other people online while you have lunch.

If you have young children that need your attention, you can indulge in play with them! Playing with your child in games or activities they enjoy gives you the aforementioned playtime benefits plus better bonding with them. It doesn’t mean you always have to play at their level all of the time either. For example, if your kid likes to color, you and your little one can color in your own separate coloring books, you with your adult coloring book and them with their less complex one while you share crayons. If they like to jump rope, jump along with them and see if you can keep up with their energy.

Woman coloring with two boysColoring with your kids can be a great bonding experience while also artistically therapeutic.Photo credit: Canva

There’s another reason why adults need recess that should be reiterated: It’s fun.

Life goes by fast and can sometimes end abruptly, unexpectedly. It’s not to scare anyone, it’s just a fact. So isn’t it best to grab as much fun as you’re able to get when it’s accessible? Based on the data here, fun is far from a waste of time as it appears on the surface. Hope you all have a fun life.

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