All Sections & Categories Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:10:50 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/editors-blog/general/snowstorm-outages-2010.html A quick note to say we've had major power outages here in the DC area because of the Snowmaggedon, here this weekend. So, I am stuck in my Lake home with fireplace and kids, but possibly a generator later that can help me get more good news online. See you online soon, I hope! geri Photo from my back porch after the December snowstorm ... General Sat, 06 Feb 2010 17:42:11 +0100 http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/health/general/artificial-pancreas-hope-for-kids.html Scientists in Cambridge have shown that an "artificial pancreas" can be used to regulate blood sugar in children with Type 1 diabetes. A trial found that combining a "real time" sensor measuring glucose levels with a pump that delivers insulin can boost overnight blood sugar control. (Continue reading at BBC) ... General Sat, 06 Feb 2010 17:33:19 +0100 http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/on-this-day/general/events070206.html 86 African American immigrants founded a settlement in present-day Liberia (1820) The founding document of New Zealand, the Treaty of Waitangi, was signed (1840) Baseball star Babe Ruth was born (1895) The international arbitration court at The Hague was created when host country, the Netherlands, ratified a decree by the first peace conference in 1899 (1900) The Saami people of Scandinavia and Finland (Lapps) celebrate their official day, Sami National Day (1992) Reggae musician Bo ... General Sat, 06 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100 http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/business/general/economic-good-news-jan10.html Economists are reacting to the new jobs report saying the fall in the unemployment rate is legitimate good news, while President Obama calls it a "cause for hope." "It was not driven, as it sometimes is, by labor force dropouts," wrote Stephen Stanley, of RBS. "The labor force grew by 360,000 in January while household employment surged by 784,000, more than reversing the big December decline." (Read more economists' opinions on the Jobs report at the Wall Street Journal) ... General Fri, 05 Feb 2010 19:54:05 +0100 http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/business/general/heinz-new-ketchup-packet.html For forty years, the Heinz ketchup packet has been a frustrating annoyance to travelers and diners alike. Hard to open, leaving bits of foil in your mouth, never enough in one packet, and no way to dip those french fries in the sauce. Now that burden will be lifted by a new package design unveiled Thursday that gives ketchup lovers two ways to enjoy their Heinz: either peel back the lid for easy dipping, or tear off the tip to squeeze onto favorite foods. The new package also holds three time ... General Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:58:47 +0100 http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/health/general/volunteerism-can-boost-brain-power.html Five months before Allen Manly retired from his job in June as a high school guidance counselor, he underwent training that could go a long way to keeping his brain – and his skills – sharp. He signed up for hours of orientation to be a health care volunteer. A growing number of researchers believe volunteering may actually be doing Manly a lot of good -- maybe even delaying dementia and prolonging his life. (Continue reading in HealthZone.ca) Photo: This woman started a r ... General Fri, 05 Feb 2010 13:41:12 +0100 http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/civics/general/am-workout-for-school-kids.html After settling in and listening to the morning announcements, the boys in the behavioral class at a Canadian public school don’t hit the books. They hit the gym. With four treadmills and four stationary bikes set up in their classroom, the class of boys works up a sweat for 20 minutes before getting down to business. They can also use the equipment during the day when they need to. The unusual experiment at the Etobicoke elementary school is based on a growing body of research ... General Fri, 05 Feb 2010 12:51:57 +0100 http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/on-this-day/general/events070205.html Finland celebrates every year the birth of its national poet, Johan Ludvig Runeberg on this day (1804) Mexico adopted its current constitution establishing a federal republic with 3 branches of government, executive, legislative, and judicial (1917) Charlie Chaplin released the last ever "silent" movie, Modern Times (1936) Bob Douglas became the first African American elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame (1972) Comic Relief's first Red Nose Day raised £15 million in the UK for ... General Fri, 05 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100 http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/inspired/general/rebuilding-haiti-orphanage.html In Haiti, huge piles of rubble remain virtually untouched. But a surprising sight is tucked away just outside the coastal city of Leogane: Workers are busy constructing two small, wood-frame buildings. The Canadian military and a U.S.-based aid group are working together to rebuild an orphanage. It is one of the first signs of rebuilding in an area that was reduced almost entirely to rubble in the Jan. 12 earthquake. (See photos and read/listen to the story at NPR.org) ... General Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:17:20 +0100 http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/civics/general/us-funds-empower-afghan-women.html Empowering women is critical to improving life in Afghanistan and key to a brighter future there. Last week the Obama administration unveiled a plan to do just that. The Women’s Action Plan for Afghanistan, outlined by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton at the London Conference on Afghanistan on January 28, seeks to increase Afghan women’s security, leadership in the public and private sectors, access to judicial institutions, education and health services, and ability to t ... General Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:52:51 +0100 http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/inspired/religions/scientologists-volunteer-in-haiti.html The Church of Scientology has sent more than one hundred and fifty of its members to assist in relief efforts in Haiti. NBC went to a hospital site where several of the volunteers were helping doctors, to see what they were doing and what they were saying about their religion. "As well as providing medical assistance, the volunteers – wearing yellow T-shirts that read: 'Something CAN be done about it' – have also helped distribute food and water and remove medical supplies f ... Religions Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:28:00 +0100 http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/business/general/new-england-to-be-wind-capital.html New England is primed to ride a tailwind of advancements in wind turbines for both small and large systems, with the help of a few high-profile, fast-growing companies. While Europe is still king when it comes to large-scale turbine deployments (thanks to its wind-friendly feed-in tariffs), a combination of regulatory changes and financial incentives is making this region an attractive market for wind turbines. (Continuer reading in The Journal of New England Technology) ... General Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:14:22 +0100 http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/on-this-day/general/events070204.html Roman Emperor Julian declared equal rights to all religions in the empire (362) Britain formally ceased hostilities with its former colonies, the USA (1783) The French legislature abolished slavery throughout French territories (1794) Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was released (1938) The USO was created to entertain American troops - Al Franken in Germany, right (1941) Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) became independent within British Commonwealth (1948) Wilt Chamberlain acc ... General Thu, 04 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100 http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/family-life/general/dramatic-drop-in-us-child-abuse.html The U.S. appears to be trending towards being a safer place for children, with researchers reporting a striking 26 percent decrease in the incidence of child abuse and neglect between 1993 and 2006. The mammoth study, congressionally mandated and completed by the federal government  documents an unprecedented and dramatic decrease in incidents of serious child abuse, especially sexual abuse. Experts hailed the findings as proof that crackdowns and public awareness campaigns had made head ... General Wed, 03 Feb 2010 20:41:44 +0100 http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/family-life/kids/toddler-gives-prosthetic-to-haiti.html A 3 year-old girl was watching the news on TV in New Mexico when she heard there were children who lost their limbs. She ran to her bedroom closet to fetch her own prosthetic limb -- one that she had outgrown -- and told her mom she wanted to give it to a child in Haiti. ... Great Kids Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:01:44 +0100 http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/civics/general/freddie-mac-launches-holistic-counseling.html Freddie Mac and a network of non-profit organizations announced a nationwide phone campaign to convince discouraged delinquent borrowers to pursue mortgage workouts that can save their homes and steer clear of foreclosure. In addition, they will open walk-in help centers offering "holistic" credit counseling in Chicago, Washington, DC, Phoenix, and California. Holistic counseling addresses a wide range of borrower debt and income issues, not just delinquent mortgages. This will allow people t ... General Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:51:15 +0100 http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/family-life/pets/ice-floe-dog-joins-crew.html A dog rescued from the Baltic Sea after braving a 75-mile journey on an ice floe has joined the crew of the Polish research ship that saved him, the captain said Friday. The Sea Fishing Institute which owns the ship sent a bowl and a squeaking toy, and the scientists on board brought dog food. Numerous calls were received from people offering money to feed the dog or wanting to adopt him. (Continue reading AP story at MSNBC) ... Pets Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:42:02 +0100 http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/family-life/general/get-paid-to-add-solar-to-roof.html Families can earn £900 a year by installing solar panels on their roofs as part of a new Government scheme to pay people to generate their own electricity. Under the deal, which starts in April, households will be paid for electricity fed into the grid from renewable technologies such as solar, wind or energy from waste. The most attractive rate of return will be on solar panels, which for an average sized three bedroom home could earn households £25,000 over 25 years. (Co ... General Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:28:33 +0100 http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/on-this-day/general/events070203.html The Fifteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified, granting voting rights to all citizens regardless of race (1870) Norman Rockwell, the American illustrator, was born (1894) History's first embryo transfer from one woman to another resulted in a live birth at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, thanks to Dr. John Buster and his research team (1984) Mother Teresa was visited in her home for the sick and dying in Calcutta by the Pope who helped feed the patients; she calle ... General Wed, 03 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100 http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/recreation/general/we-are-the-world-recorded-again.html Stars like Barbara Streisand and Celine Dion, and rappers including Kanye West and Snoop Dogg, walked through the same door on Monday to record a new version of the iconic pop hit song "We Are The World", that 25 years ago was used by a group of A-list singers who came together to raise money for the famine in Africa. The latest glittering lineup was called together in the last few weeks, this time to respond to the devastating Haitian earthquake. None of the singers of the original song were ... General Tue, 02 Feb 2010 17:02:28 +0100