Helen Adams Keller was born on June 27, 1880 in Tuscumbia, Alabama. In 1882, she fell ill and was struck blind, deaf and mute. Beginning in 1887, Keller’s teacher, Anne Sullivan, helped her make tremendous progress with her ability to communicate, and Keller went on to college, graduating in 1904. During her lifetime, she received many honors in recognition of her accomplishments.

The only thing worse than being blind is having sight and no vision.

I’m not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.

When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us.

Keep your face to the sun and you will never see the shadows.

Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.

A bend in the road is not the end of the road…Unless you fail to make the turn.

Joy is the holy fire that keeps our purpose warm and our intelligence aglow.

I would rather walk with a friend in the dark, than alone in the light.

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.

People don’t like to think, if one thinks, one must reach conclusions. Conclusions are not always pleasant.

We could never learn to be brave and patient if there were only joy in the world.

Face your deficiencies and acknowledge them; but do not let them master you. Let them teach you patience, sweetness, insight.

A man has been charged by police amid claims he put people’s safety at risk when he drove an aeroplane along a main street to get to the restaurant.
According to reports in Australia, the 37-year-old had just bought the wingless Beechcraft two-seater and was on his way home when he decided to stop for a meal, Mirror reported.
He taxied the light aircraft down the main street in Newman, Western Australia, and then parked it outside a hotel, leaving the engine running.
Police charged him with endangering the life, health and safety of residents because the propeller was still spinning.
In addition, the man does not hold a pilot’s license, and officers said the roads were busy with other vehicles and pedestrians at the time.
 

The Dallas Zoo has sold the naming rights for a recently born giraffe for $50,000 to a bidder who asked to remain nameless, a zoo official said.
No name has yet been selected for the six-foot male calf born on Oct. 26 whose naming rights were sold at an auction at the zoo’s annual fundraiser on Saturday, spokeswoman Laurie Holloway said, Reuters reported.
“There was a lot of interest in choosing a name so the timing was perfect since an auction was already planned,” she said.
The money will be used for giraffe conservation efforts in African countries where the animals roam.
The baby giraffe is the 12th in the Dallas Zoo’s herd, which is among the largest in the United States, Holloway said.
 

A herd of elephants numbering around 13 had been marching through the forest near a series of hamlets when one was killed running into an electric wire set up by poachers to catch wild boar and deer.
The other elephants then surrounded the felled beast trumpeting loudly scaring villagers to flee for safety, Metro reported.
Forest officials in Ramakuppam in the Chittoor district in southern India arrived at the scene and advised people to give it a wide berth.
It is believed around 30 elephants have recently taken a liking to this forest area due to the juicy tomatoes grown on its borders.
 

While the blanket is short, learn to bend.