Gas Pump Camera Ambushes Couple Whose Singing Lands Them on the Tonight Show

Thu, 09 May 2013 18:54:26 +0100

Would you sing a song for a man speaking from a gas pump? Will did -- and his impromptu performance so impressed the Tonight Show pranksters behind the stunt that he ended up entertaining millions in an NBC studio. In the middle of a suburban gas station, without any accompaniment, he belted out Bon Jovi's Livin' on a Prayer while his wife howled with laughter. Not only that, when asked by the man in the gas pump for a duet, his wife dressed in baggy sweatpants and bandana got out of the c...

New York City Pay Phones Get 21st Century Makeover

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 16:51:46 +0100

You can still see more than 10,000 coin-operated phones around New York City today. What seems a relic of the past in this age of mobile technology, became a vital link in an emergency for those who had no power to charge their devices during Hurricane Sandy. Still, many of the phone booths scattered across the city are rotting in disrepair, so Mayor Michael Bloomberg launched a design contest in December to "re-own the phone". He invited designers to submit ideas that might include solar panels...

Homeless Man Who Returned Ring is Thrilled by Surprise Reunion with Family (WATCH)

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 14:34:16 +0100

Billy Ray Harris, the Missouri homeless man who returned the engagement ring dropped in his donation cup by mistake, now has a part-time job, new friends, and tens of thousands of dollars that were donated by admirers. But, he says the best part is reconnecting with his beloved sisters in Texas. A family reunion was planned for later this year, but the TODAY Show planned a surprise during an interview on Sunday, bringing him into the arms of his family for the first time in 16 years. (WATCH the...

Inspired by Sister's Death, Girl Helps Young Brain Tumor Patients Make Films

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 16:03:57 +0100

Angelight Films is a non-profit production company that gives children with brain and spinal cord tumors the opportunity to express themselves by creating and even starring in their own short film. Inspired by her sister who died of a brain tumor at age 5, Stephanie Angel founded Angelight Films as a creative outlet that helps children heal and recognize their inner light....

Israel Loves Iran: The Facebook Campaign That Launched a Love Avalanche

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 14:57:24 +0100

Barack Obama talked a lot about peace during his recent trip to Israel and Palestinian cities. Meanwhile, social networks in those countries are actually creating it, reaching into a million homes -- and hearts -- in the Middle East. As the drums of war between Israel and Iran grew louder and more menacing last year, Israeli graphic designer Ronny Edry decided to make a poster of himself and his daughter with a bold message: "Iranians ... we [heart] you." He shared it on Facebook and, overnight,...

The Gangsta Gardener of South Central L.A.

Sat, 23 Mar 2013 16:48:59 +0100

A Los Angeles-based fashion designer is starting an urban garden revolution in his neighborhood in South Central Los Angeles. Instead of vacant lots -- the city owns miles and miles of these in LA county -- Ron Finley wants to help residents to plant a million tomato plants. He is co-founder of LA Green Grounds, a company that plants gardens at low-income homes as a part of a recovery system to transform neighborhoods....

Lost Dog Reunited After 2 Years And 700 Miles (WATCH)

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 14:32:43 +0100

When Alma Dominguez’s beloved dog, Leia, went missing from El Paso, Texas, during a rainstorm, Alma and her husband, Alberto, were devastated. The couple searched for their lost dog for more than two years, and had almost given up hope of ever finding her. Then a phone call changed everything. In this clip from the OWN series “Lost and Found," Annmarie Anderson -- a dog rescuer in Denver, Colorado -- recounts the amazing phone call she received from Alma....

Possible Leukemia Cure Major Medical Breakthrough for Patients

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 16:38:48 +0100

A treatment that genetically alters a patient’s own immune cells to fight cancer has, for the first time, produced remissions in adults with an acute leukemia that is usually lethal, researchers are reporting. All the patients went into remission. In one patient who was severely ill, all traces of leukemia vanished in eight days....

Cop Wins Hearts as Photo of His Rainy Day Good Deed Spreads

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 11:39:41 +0100

A North Carolina policeman is winning kudos for stopping on a rainy cold day to pick up a mom who was braving the weather to push her toddler on the sidewalk. Charles Ziglar, of the Winston-Salem police department was photographed picking up the stroller to put it in the trunk, while mother and child prepare to get in the car....

30 Pizzas Delivered to Passengers on Stranded Delta Flight

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 17:21:21 +0100

Bad weather in Atlanta forced a flight to end up on a tarmac for three hours after major delays, but the passengers had a great story to tell with some happy memories thanks to a compassionate Delta flight crew. Thirty pizzas were delivered to the stalled airplane in Knoxville -- both cheese and pepperoni -- to make the wait a little more bearable....

Get Happy: Celebrate the First UN International Day of Happiness

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 01:28:30 +0100

All 193 United Nations member states last year adopted a resolution decreeing March 20 to be the first International Day of Happiness. To celebrate, people all around the world are bringing happiness to others and talking about it on social media networks. The creation of the International Day of Happiness followed the first ever UN conference on Happiness and Wellbeing in July 2012, and its World Happiness Report which called on member states to place a greater focus on the happiness of their c...

Extraordinary Gorilla Reunion With Keeper in the Wild After 5 Years (Top Videos)

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 19:35:24 +0100

In the African jungle, conservationist Damian Aspinall searched for Kwibi, a lowland gorilla he hasn't seen for 5 years. Kwibi grew up with Damian at his Wild Animal Park in England. When he was five, the gorilla was released into the forests of Gabon, West Africa as part of conservation program to re-introduce animals back into the wild. Now Kwibi is 10 years old, much bigger and fiercer. Might the animal attack Damian when they do come face to face?...

Disabled Find Outlet to Create Artwork Worth Thousands

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 17:30:40 +0100

A huge indoor space in Oakland, California serves as a professional art studio for adults with developmental, mental and physical disabilities, and provides an environment for artistic development, gallery exhibition and even representation. Instead of staying at home and sitting in front of the television, adults, like Dan Miller who has autism, can express themselves at the Creative Growth Art Center in a social setting among their peers. An added benefit, he and others are earning money throu...

Vancouver Students Take Their Plastic Eating Bacteria Idea to TED Stage

Sat, 16 Mar 2013 18:17:14 +0100

High School seniors Miranda Wang and Jeanny Yao want to continue pursuing a solution for how to make plastic decompose using natural bacteria already evolving on the planet. The two were finalists for Canada's top student biotechnology award, the 2012 Sanofi BioGENEius Challenge, where their project was judged to have the greatest commercial potential of any project entry, valued at $10 million. They were later invited to the TED 2013 conference to share their ideas. Speaking to a packed a...

UPDATE: Amazing 97-year-old Sprinter Sets World Track Record

Sat, 16 Mar 2013 13:03:47 +0100

Ida Keeling has set a record as America's oldest sprinter. The Bronx athlete started running when she was already a senior, at 67. Her training regimen includes lifting weights, riding a stationary bike, and running the halls of her apartment building at home. "Sometimes, before I run, I feel like maybe I'm too tired," Ida said. But that doesn't stop the 97-year-old from competing. Watch Ida break the record for fastest 100 meter sprint in the 90-years-and-above age group....

9-year-olds Coach Panicked Mom in CPR to Save Her Baby

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 14:00:15 +0100

Susanna Rohm noticed her 12-week-old infant had stopped breathing. Lucky for her, a 9-year-old boy and his friend were out playing in the street. Scared and home alone, the Marietta, Georgia mother couldn't remember how to give CPR. She jumped up and lost her cellphone in the commotion. There wasn't a landline in the house, so she stepped outside screaming for someone to call 911....

Skydiver Walks Away After 8000ft Fall Without a Working Parachute

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 12:51:17 +0100

A seasoned skydiver in Northern California was attempting a complex stunt after jumping from about 8,000 feet when both of his parachutes failed and he went into a three-minute spin, hitting the ground at 30 mph but surviving with minor injuries. In video shot by his other teammate, Craig Stapleton, 51, is seen plummeting to earth in a "3-minute spin". He lucked out by landing parallel to the road in a row of grapes, in freshly plowed dirt, which he said was "very soft."...

College Fan Gets to Play With Billy Joel on Stage, 'Greatest Moment Of My Life'

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 13:38:39 +0100

Vanderbilt University student Michael Pollack got the chance to ask a question at a college-hosted Billy Joel appearance. He told the 'Piano Man' that he had performed "New York State of Mind" with Joel's saxophonist in the past and wondered if he could go onstage and play it with Joel himself. Taken by surprise the celebrity could have easily demured, but he said, "Okay." The impressive performance was recorded on video and Pollack is now making the rounds on national media shows....

Girl Delivering Thousands of Toys to Sick Kids Makes Final Tally After 13 Years

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 15:56:39 +0100

Thirteen years ago, Haley Whatley was a 5-year-old with a heart made for Easter. She started a Bunny Drive to benefit sick patients at the local children's hospital. Every year since then Whatley collected plush bunnies and teddy bears for the kids. This year she broke her own record, collecting 3,767 stuffed animals. This is her last year in Texas and the last year for her Bunny Drive, as she heads off to college in North Carolina in the fall. She exits a "Hometown Hero" having donated 28,772 c...

88-year-old Grandma Dancing Down the Stairs (Top Videos)

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 16:55:47 +0100

Her granddaughter turned up the volume on an old rock and roll favorite as her grandmother was coming out of the house to meet her in the car. The dancing began small, but once this 88-year-old Nana gets grooving, she can't stop. The song is "Runaround Sue". Watch the cellphone video posted on Facebook......

How Letters From Strangers Saved a Teen's Life

Sat, 09 Mar 2013 15:39:31 +0100

After 13-year-old Noah scheduled a suicide for his birthday, his mother asked friends on Facebook to send letters to her son telling him how special he was. She was hoping for at least a couple responses. What happened next is a remarkable testament to both the power of social media and the kindness of strangers. "I know it is hard to believe right now, but life gets better. I promise," Noah read from one letter. He has received thousands of letters from every continent on the planet, includin...

Strangers Give Young Fiancé His Dying Wish: A Disney Honeymoon

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 22:24:52 +0100

Four years ago, Nolan was diagnosed with brain cancer. After many treatments and interventions, doctors say they can do no more for him. Despite his terrible illness, the determined athlete still wants to marry his fiancée and take her on a honeymoon to Disney World. Through the kindness of others and services donated, Nolan and Morgan are looking forward to their wedding on March 9. The 28-year-old may not have overcome his health diagnosis, but he decided to try overcoming his financial dia...

United Airlines Holds Plane So Passenger Can Say Goodbye To Dying Mother

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 15:15:25 +0100

Kerry Drake needed to get to Lubbock, Texas, and fast. His mother was dying, so he booked the next flight from San Francisco. “I knew this itinerary was a risk because the stopover in Houston was only about 40 minutes, and my connecting flight was the last flight to Lubbock that day,” he told journalist Christopher Elliott. “But I needed to get there as soon as possible, so I took the risk.” As it turns out, United flight 667 was delayed leaving San Francisco and Drake was visibly distr...

Chinese Woman Goes From Sweatshop To Becoming Self-Made Billionaire

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 17:34:05 +0100

How did 47-year-old Zhang Xin go from working in a sweatshop to becoming one of the richest women in the world?

She got her start on Wall Street, but missed her homeland and returned to become a real estate mogul, building the futuristic buildings that mark the distinctive skyline of Beijing.

Her Successful Life Without Arms: Inspiring Film Gains Support

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 01:36:27 +0100

Thirty years ago, Jessica Cox was born without arms. Since then, she has accomplished more than most of us with two hands, earning everything from a black belt to a pilot’s license (and a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records). Now, Emmy-winner Nick Spark is creating a documentary that follows her truly incredible accomplishments and is asking for the public's help to capture a crucial part of the story — Jessica’s trip to Ethiopia where she’ll help children with disabilities....

Diner Owner With Down Syndrome Serves Breakfast, Lunch and Hugs

Sat, 02 Mar 2013 19:32:37 +0100

Tim Harris, owner of Tim’s Place, is perhaps the country’s only restaurant owner with Down’s Syndrome, and the joy he gets from serving people good food carries over into his diner’s most famous export: hugs. He even has a hug counter on the wall advertising the World's Friendliest Restaurant and recently boasting, "Over 31,814 Hugs Given." Since Tim was 14 he has wanted to own a restaurant and his parents gave him the money to live his dream - managing a real diner....

Helicopter Blows Deer Trapped On Ice To Safety

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 18:06:41 +0100

Longtime Good News Network viewers will not be overly-amazed by the dramatic helicopter rescue of a deer trapped on thin ice in the middle of a frozen Canadian harbor. Ian Waugh spotted the doe and fawn struggling out on the ice and notified the Department of Natural Resources. He said the doe struggled for hours, trying to stand up on the slippery ice but she kept falling. A few hours later, Waugh spotted a DNR helicopter near the mother and the alarmed fawn ran to shore as the chopper descend...

Tiny Disabled Dog is Big Inspiration for Nursing Home Seniors

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 23:47:04 +0100

A tiny puppy born disabled could not put any weight on her front legs. Not only was she subject to bullying by other puppies in the litter, she was getting bruised by falling on her legs. It was fate that the dog's caretaker decided it would be best to bring her to work -- at the nursing home. The dog named BeeBee became a moving inspiration to the elderly residents there who were going through their own health issues....

Boy, 7, Raises More Than $30,000 for Sick Friend

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 17:14:14 +0100

Never underestimate first-graders. Jonah Pournazarian, 7, is best friends with Dylan Siegel, 6. Jonah has been diagnosed with glycogen storage disease type 1B , a rare liver disorder that doesn’t have a cure. Dylan decided to raise money for research to help his friend. Late last fall, he hatched a plan. His parents wanted to do a typical lemonade stand effort, but he looked at them and said, "I want to write a book.”...

Teen Walking Miles in the Snow to Get a Job Lands Him Another at Twice the Pay

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 15:28:27 +0100

An 18-year-old trekking through the ice and slush Friday in Indianapolis determined to arrive on time for a job interview 7 miles away left quite an impression on a restaurant owner who is not used to seeing such a work ethic in someone so young. When Jhaqueil Reagan asked how far it was to the thrift shop at 10th and Sherman, he was told it was at least six more miles. When the man suggested he take the bus, the youngster just said thank you and kept walking. Later, the restaurant owner, Art B...

Two Minutes of Nothing But Goats Yelling Like Humans (Top Videos)

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 01:01:59 +0100

You can not help but laugh while watching "Nothing but two minutes of goats yelling like humans", the original video montage that went viral last week racking up almost 9 million views on YouTube. Some of these goats sound so much like people that the clips have spawned spin-off videos featuring Taylor Swift and Bon Jovi songs accented by the goats screaming in agreement. See for yourself and share it on Facebook or Twitter using the buttons above......

Boy Scares off Lions With Flashy Solar Invention

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 17:01:38 +0100

A 13-year-old Massai boy in Kenya has invented an ingenious system to scare off the lions that were killing his family's livestock. Living on the edge of Nairobi National Park, Richard Turere first became responsible for herding and safeguarding his family's cattle when he was just nine. After two years he decided it was time to find a way of protecting his family's cows....

Beautiful Wooden Pedestrian Bridge Was Crowdfunded When The City Couldn’t Pay

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 17:11:43 +0100

In Rotterdam, a new bridge connects two parts of the city that were previously cut off by roads with heavy traffic. The bridge is all wood--17,000 individual planks, each of which bears the name of the individual who donated money to help pay for it when the city’s coffers were empty. Reconnecting a part of the city cut off by traffic makes the area walkable again, and may attract shops, restaurants, and small businesses....

High School Player Passes Ball to Mentally Challenged Boy on Other Team

Sat, 23 Feb 2013 18:41:01 +0100

Mitchell Marcus has a developmental disability, but he far surpasses all the other students in his El Paso high school when it comes to his love for basketball. He has served as team manager for the Thunderbirds and all the players and fans love his spirit. On the last game of the regular season, the coach told Mitchell to suit up....

Homeless Man Who Returned Diamond Ring Gets $100,000 In Donations, Plus Call From Sister

Sat, 23 Feb 2013 15:59:11 +0100

A lot of national attention has been showered on Billy Ray Harris, a panhandler in Missouri, after he returned a diamond engagement ring that accidentally dropped into his cup when a woman was pouring in the contents of her change purse. The woman's husband, Bill Krejci, was so grateful for the honest man's efforts to return the ring, and so many friends asked how they could help, that a fundraising page was set up for Billy Ray on Feb. 14. As of this morning, Feb. 23, the Give Forward pag...

Shoe Shiner Donates $200,000 in Tips to Children in Need

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 14:13:10 +0100

Albert Lexie, the longtime shoe shiner, has been giving back to others for years. He is Pittsburgh's hero in disguise. With no fancy clothes and no fancy job, this man is a guardian angel who changes lives one dollar at a time. A shoe shine costs $5, but Lexie's customers have been generous with their tips since he started working at the children's hospital in 1981....

Tiny Fifth Grade Phenom Stars on the High School Varsity Basketball Team

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 13:38:23 +0100

Julian Newman is 11 years old. At 4-foot-5-inches he has become an internet sensation thanks to a viral video of his phenomenal basketball skills. Even though he is only in the fifth grade, he plays for an Orlando, Florida high school varsity team. His speed and agility -- not to mention how close he is to the ground -- makes catching him hard even for opponents who are 6-years older than him....

Fan's Motivational Letter Spurs Team to Super Bowl Win (Top Videos)

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 01:06:05 +0100

Baltimore Ravens fan Matthew Jeffers has inspired head coach John Harbaugh and players like Bernard Pollard with a powerful email sent earlier in the season when the team was mostly losing. Since birth, Matthew, a drama student, has been afflicted with short stature but says that overcoming failure is a choice that everyone can make....

Little Sisters With Big Hearts Use Origami to Fund Water for Africa

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 23:46:32 +0100

In the last 15 months Isabelle and Katherine Adams have made life immeasurably better for villagers they've never met, in lands far away from their own home in Dallas. The young sisters, ages 6 and 9, have raised a remarkable amount, $120,000 in total, for clean-water projects in Ethiopia and India, all through selling origami ornaments they create themselves, and by collecting matching funds for their cause....

Houston Bar Gives 100% of its Profits to Charity. Period.

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 15:28:36 +0100

The Original OKRA Charity Saloon in downtown Houston operates a lot like any other tavern -- booze is purchased and poured, bartenders get paid and take home tips. But, the owners of this establishment give all their profits away. Proceeds from OKRA's are donated to a different Houston-based organization or social cause each month. With every drink purchased, bar patrons vote on which charity is chosen from among four new nominees each month....

CAUGHT ON TAPE: Extraordinary Young Man's Kindness Will Make Your Day

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 15:08:16 +0100

A year ago, the ABC program "What Would You Do" set up scenarios where a young man and a young woman looked like they were stuck with a flat tire. They compared reactions by pedestrians, and the difference it made on bystanders if the one needing help was a woman or man. Then, they switch it up and used a Muslim actor to play the stranded motorist. Hours went by and no one helped the man who was clad in the traditional scullcap of the Islamic faith. But at last, an extraordinary young gentleman...

Hardware Store Recreates Van Gogh's Starry Night With Door Knobs

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 22:58:05 +0100

Looking at a warehouse full of outdated and discontinued door knobs, the folks at Union Hardware in Bethesda, Maryland wondered what they could possible do to put all those products to better use. "We knew that their commercial viability was limited," says David Van-Goghberg who works at the store. "Instead of sending them to the scrap yard, we decided to create something memorable." So, in 2011 the third-generation, family-owned and operated business began a project to bring to life Vincent Va...

Home Solar Leasing Pumped Nearly $1 Billion into California in 2012

Sat, 16 Feb 2013 17:52:01 +0100

The number of homeowners installing solar panels leased from third parties is skyrocketing in the US, particularly in states that initiate incentive programs, like California's “One Million Solar Roofs." This week comes news that third-party-owned solar transactions have pumped more than $938 million into California’s economy in 2012, a record-high annual amount equal to that of all the previous five years combined. “We are seeing the most growth in low and median-income zip codes as comp...

Oregon Siblings Find and Return $13,000, Great Rewards Follow

Sat, 16 Feb 2013 17:01:36 +0100

20-something siblings Katie and Ryan Moi could really use $13,000 right now but they still decided to return the bag of cash they found on the street to its rightful owner. “Obviously, we couldn’t keep it,” Katie, 21, told the Register-Guard. “When I had my laptop stolen, that was the worst feeling. I would not do that to someone else.” Good karma followed, bringing unexpected rewards:...

Homeless Man Returns Diamond Ring Accidentally Dropped Into His Change Cup

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 14:16:06 +0100

A homeless man who hit the jackpot in his change cup—a diamond ring—showed he had a heart of gold by returning it. The woman who accidentally dumped her engagement ring along with all the spare change in her wallet into the cup noticed the mistake long after she had given the pricey item to the Kansas City man, Billy Ray Harris....

Massive Flocks of Starlings Return to the Israeli Sky (Top Videos)

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 00:59:30 +0100

After a long absence of some 20 years, migrant starlings have returned to Israel in huge synchronized flocks, creating beautiful moving 'clouds in the skies. Israeli ornithologists and amateur bird watchers flocked to an open field to once again see the show, a phenomenon called murmuration.

Good Idea Spreads: Window-Washers in Super Hero Garb Wow Kids in Hospital

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 18:08:07 +0100

At children’s hospitals around the country, window washers are dressing up as super heroes, doing their part to help kids feel better. When Superman, Batman or Spiderman are spotted outside their hospital room window, a child's mood can instantly turn happy. It started in Florida but is spreading nationwide....

California Developer Building a Better Haiti

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 17:57:04 +0100

On Jan. 12, Haitians solemnly marked the three-year anniversary of the catastrophic magnitude 7.0 earthquake that decimated their homeland. Today, a few of the tent cities and shacks that housed refugees are gone, but many remain. For the respected San Francisco developer Sherman Balch, the work is just beginning. "We want to give the Haitians employable skills," Balch said. "It comes down to if you want to alleviate poverty, you've got to give them jobs. ... They need to learn a trade."...

Youth Robotics Club Helps Paralyzed Cat

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 15:59:28 +0100

Nine-month-old Flipper the kitten was born with a twisted spine that makes it impossible for him to stand up -- or walk about without dragging himself laboriously. But little Flipper’s life was changed forever by cat-lovers from a high school robotics club in Colorado. The team built a special kitty chariot for the partially paralyzed cat, who is now scampering around the animal shelter with ease -- and made him more adoptable too....

Homeless Pregnant Veteran Gets Help From Local Bikers

Sun, 10 Feb 2013 15:49:41 +0100

A call for help from a homeless veteran turned into an outpouring of support as dozens of leather-wearing bikers stepped up with baby supplies just two weeks before the expected birth. Bakersfield Harley Davidson collected the donated supplies. The Armed Forces Support Riders helped donate and delivered the materials. Those groups all came together to help the 32 year-old veteran; who became homeless just six months after leaving the military....

Postman Delivers Lesson in Happiness

Sat, 09 Feb 2013 13:25:37 +0100

Typically, post office lines breed anger and frustration. But at the head of this queue on the campus of Penn State University in State College, Pa., you'll find nothing but joy. "My mission is to make them have a little bit of levity on the way out and say, 'Hey, it's not so bad after all,'" says Mike Herr. To that end, Mike lives by a simple motto: if you can't say something nice about someone, you're just not looking hard enough....

Woman Who Escaped Marriage at 17 Returns as a Millionaire

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 15:23:56 +0100

In what is a 'rags to riches' story, Chanda Zaveri fled from the pressures of getting married at 17 and returned home 30 years later as a millionaire. Born in a conservative Marwari family, her mother wanted to force her into a marriage that she did not want and a life that she did not choose....

Hatchet-Wielding Hitchhiker Saves Woman From Racist (Video)

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 15:52:46 +0100

Luckily, before he drove into Fresno declaring himself to be Jesus, shouting the n-word, and ramming his car into a random black guy, this nut-job picked up a hitchhiking surfer named Kai. And Kai had a hatchet. When the driver — a six-foot fall, 300 lb. man — jumped out and started beating up a nearby woman, Kai leaped into action and saved her by repeatedly smashing him on the head with the blunt end of said hatchet....

An Inconvenient Truth: More Polar Bears Alive Today Than 40 Years Ago

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 15:07:25 +0100

Author Zac Unger dragged his family to northern Canada in order to write a book about a vanishing species. He wanted to write the quintessential requiem about the magnificent polar bear dying off. What he learned when he got there -- that there are more polar bears alive today than there were 40 years ago -- led him to pen a completely different book. "In 1973, there was a global hunting ban. So once hunting was dramatically reduced, the population exploded," he explained on NPR....

25 Years of Red Nose Day Raises Millions for Charity

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 15:27:21 +0100

Comic Relief stars, past and present, today will mark 25 years of Red Nose Day and celebrate the 50 million lives that have been changed by the money raised. Thanks to the generosity of the British public since 1988 over £600 million has been raised since 1988. That money has been helping to change lives across Africa, the UK and the world’s poorest countries....

EU Set to Ban Animal Testing for Cosmetics Forever

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 15:08:40 +0100

After over 20 years of campaigning, ethical beauty retailer The Body Shop and non-profit organization Cruelty Free International are finally celebrating the end to animal testing for cosmetics in Europe with the anticipated announcement that the import and sale of animal tested cosmetic products and ingredients is to be banned in the EU on March 11, 2013....

War Amputee Flashes New Limbs After Historic Double Arm Transplant

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 15:25:22 +0100

A quadruple-amputee GI from Staten Island proudly showed off his two newly transplanted arms yesterday by using them to push his wheelchair into a press conference — then vowed to drive a car again. “The arms feel great!” said beaming Iraq War vet Brendan Marrocco, as he displayed his new limbs at Johns Hopkins Hospital, where he underwent the extraordinary double transplant Dec. 18. The 26-year-old U.S. soldier who lost all four limbs in a 2009 roadside bomb attack is now celebrated as&n...

Super Bowl: Real Life 'Blind Side' Players are Survivors in Life and On Field

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 15:23:38 +0100

Baltimore Ravens offensive lineman Michael Ohre, who was made famous by the movie "Blind Side", will be facing a player on the opposing team Sunday, who also was blessed in the same way with a happy ending. The two, who aren't brothers by birth, are brothers in survival -- both having been adopted by white families showing what love really is. San Francisco 49er linebacker Patrick Willis (in photo, with his adoptive mom) was Oher's teammate in college and travelled the same difficult road ...

Teen Convinces Gatorade to Remove Additive

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 14:51:47 +0100

A 16-year-old from Mississippi fought one of the largest beverage companies -- and won. The young vegan researched an ingredient in Gatorade to see if it was healthy. Brominated vegetable oil, she learned, had already been banned in Europe and elsewhere after animal studies found it to be dangerous in high doses. Sarah Kavanagh started an online petition that received 200,000 signatures. PepsiCo, the drink's manufacturer relented to the social pressure and announced it would be removing th...

Amazing Pep Talk From Little Kid: Never Give Up! (Top Videos)

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 22:33:34 +0100

We all need a little encouragement every now and then. A little boy who wears a suit and calls himself "Kid President" knows this, and has put together a video you can play each morning as you wake up or share with your friend who needs a kick in the right direction. "It's everybody's duty to give the world a reason to dance." Watch the video below......

Air Force Pilot Takes Boy's Letter "Closer to Heaven" so Daddy Can Read it

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 15:39:19 +0100

"Mac" Gallegos was only 5 when his father, Army Sgt. Justin Gallegos, was killed in Afghanistan in 2009. Not a day goes by that he doesn't think about him. On days like Jan. 24, his father's 31st birthday, he gets a little help to honor his memory. "I wanted to write my dad a letter and get it as close to heaven as possible," said Mac. Mac and his mother Amanda Marr discussed ways to get the letter to heaven but ultimately decided that having someone fly it in a jet airplane would be the best....

Merry Pranksters Buy Pizza Delivery for Cold Street People

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 15:20:18 +0100

A pair called the Serial Pranksters on YouTube decided to turn their mischief-making into doing something good.

"It was so much fun making a prank that also feeds people in need!" wrote Roman Atwood and Dennis Roady on their web page on YouTube.

Cat Born Without Leg Bones Gets Operation Thanks to Facebook Donors

Sun, 27 Jan 2013 18:35:02 +0100

Harvey, a 4-month-old kitten in Scotland born without bones in his front legs, is happy and healthy. But while his rare genetic condition could lead to spinal problems and other health issues later in life, the preventive surgery is expensive. Doctors, however, will now be able to go ahead and insert metal pins into Harvey’s legs thanks to a successful fundraising effort from cat lovers on Facebook....

From Brink of Extinction: Elephant Seals Stage Remarkable Comeback

Sat, 26 Jan 2013 17:44:28 +0100

The northern Pacific Elephant Seal once numbered in the tens of thousands until the 19th century when hunters, killing them for their oil-rich blubber, cut that number to just a few hundred animals. The species was thought to be extinct in 1884 until a remnant population of eight individuals was discovered off Baja California in 1892. In 1922, the Mexican government banned hunting, followed shortly thereafter by the United States government. Since then, the population of northern elephant seals...

Young Girl Hatches Rescue Plan to Save Family from Bankruptcy

Sat, 26 Jan 2013 16:57:11 +0100

Her parents were going bankrupt after her mom became completely disabled and needed full-time nursing home care. Their daughter wasn't told they were going broke, but she knew -- and decided to something. What Shelby did was basically start farming -- at the age of 9. She got a loan from her grandma and bought chickens -- lots of chickens....

Newark Mayor Saves Freezing Dog

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 15:12:10 +0100

New Jersey Mayor Cory Booker has saved a woman from a house fire, shoveled the driveway of a local resident and invited families to stay at his house after Hurricane Sandy when the power was out. Now, the Newark politician has saved a dog who was left out in the frigid temperatures for hours. A television crew for New York’s WABC saw the dog shivering in the cold on the front step of a home in Newark on Thursday night. They stopped back several times to see if the dog had been taken inside, bu...

New Study Suggests Many Apples a Day Keep the Blues at Bay

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 23:44:18 +0100

Eating more fruit and vegetables may make young people calmer, happier and more energetic in their daily life, new research from New Zealand's University of Otago suggests. Department of Psychology researchers investigated the relationship between day-to-day emotions and food consumption. The results showed a strong day-to-day relationship between more positive mood and higher fruit and vegetable consumption, but not other foods....

More Than 140 Nations, US and China, Adopt Treaty to Cut Mercury

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 15:09:28 +0100

Over the past 100 years, mercury concentrations have doubled in the top layer of the world's oceans. That's why more than 140 governments meeting at a United Nations forum in Geneva, including the U.S., China and India, have agreed to a global, legally-binding treaty to address mercury, a notorious heavy metal with significant health and environmental effects. The Minamata Convention on Mercury – named after a city in Japan where serious health damage occurred as a result of mercury pollution ...

Disabled Boy Pulled by Brother in Heartwarming Triathalons (Top Videos)

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 03:45:29 +0100

Sports Illustrated has named Conner and Cayden Long the 2012 SportsKids of the Year for their inspiring triathlon performances. Seven-year-old Cayden is unable to walk or talk on his own, but his nine-year-old brother Conner had an idea that would allow the two to participate in sports together. Conner pulls his brother with amazing determination letting him ride in a raft or cart, as the experience bringing them closer together with every race....

Flash Mob Cheers Unemployment Office in Spain (Top Videos)

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 02:12:13 +0100

A flash mob brought "Smiles returning to the faces" of crowds in an employment office in Madrid, Spain. Musicians planted themselves among the jobless, hiding their instruments, until one lone oboe began to play the opening notes to Here Comes the Sun by the Beatles.

Anonymous and Encouraging Message Posted in University Restroom

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 14:22:59 +0100

A photo of a notebook page taped to a bathroom wall at her university has gone viral because of its encouraging and positive message. The Reddit user, chellylauren, originally posted this introduction along with the message: "In a girls' bathroom stall at my university, girls have written about some of their most horrifying life experiences. This week, somebody replied." The handwritten anonymous page read:...

Waiter Defends Boy with Down Syndrome, Refuses to Serve Table

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 13:18:11 +0100

Two families seated in neighboring booths at a Texas restaurant produced a situation ending with neighborly support for a special needs child. After the waiter took an emotional stand for one of the families, support is flowing in from all over, thanking the waiter and the restaurant called Laurenzo's near Houston....

Company Harvests Tons of Crops, Saving it from Waste to Give it Away

Sun, 20 Jan 2013 17:18:07 +0100

After hearing the shocking figure that up to 40 percent of produce goes to waste in the fields, Christy Porter founded Hidden Harvest an organization that employs the working poor to rescue farmers' leftover produce to feed the hungry. The organization serves those who can’t afford fresh produce, especially seniors, by redistributing surplus fresh fruits and vegetables at free farmers markets....

World's First Biofuel Flight Powered by 100 Percent Plant Oil

Sat, 19 Jan 2013 18:51:12 +0100

A twin-engine, 10-seater airplane taking off from Ottawa International airport two months ago may have looked like any other plane but it was, in fact, making aviation history. After climbing to 30,000 ft (9,000m) over the capital city, the plane touched back down securing its title as the world’s first 100% biofuel flight. This historic flight symbolizes a significant step not only for the aerospace industry, but also towards advancing sustainable sources of renewable energy....

Historic Anti-Terror Victory: US Officially Recognizes Somalia

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 22:30:37 +0100

For the first time since 1991, the United States is officially recognizing the government of Somalia, a country in chaos since the 1990's and overrun by warlords. President Hassan Sheikh was welcomed at the State Department in Washington, DC yesterday for an official ceremony with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, before his afternoon meeting with President Obama at the White House. When the Obama administration first took office in January 2009, al-Shabaab, the al Qaeda-linked terrorist grou...

Nonprofit Campaigns to Make Boston Happier

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 21:15:42 +0100

A suicide-prevention group is generating smiles to the faces of commuters and pedestrians in Boston with their Happier Boston Campaign, which involves social interventions such as singing in elevators and asking everyone in the baseball stadium to give high-fives to everyone nearby. The non-profit, called Samaritans, even brought crates of oranges to distribute to people coming into the subway....

Loyal Dog Attends Mass Every Day at Church of Deceased Owner

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 14:07:30 +0100

A heartbroken dog whose owner died two months ago is missing her so much he is attending services at the Italian church where her funeral was held patiently waiting for her to return. The seven-year-old German Shepherd had been her faithful companion after she adopted him, and would accompany her to church everyday and sit at her feet. "He waits patiently by the side of the altar and just sits there quietly. I didn't have the heart to throw him out," said the parish priest....

Antifreeze Manufacturers Agree to Add Bitter Taste so Animals Won't Lick

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 21:00:39 +0100

Antifreeze and engine coolant manufacturers who sell products in the United States must now add a bitter flavoring agent to prevent animals and children from being poisoned by the sweet-tasting liquid. Although legislation has been previously enacted in 17 states, the Consumer Specialty Products Association (CSPA) and the Humane Society Legislative Fund jointly announced Dec. 13 that the industry would now voluntarily add the bitter taste to all coolant products sold in all 50 states....

Tucson Kindness Project Hangs 1000 Bells Around Newtown, In Solidarity With Shooting Victims

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 16:40:51 +0100

A project that hangs small wind chimes with bells is becoming a healing remedy for grieving communities following tragic mass shootings. An Arizona mom in mourning started "Ben's Bells" after her little boy passed away from illness. She wanted to say thank-you for the many kindnesses that were shown her, passing it forward so other people would remember how kindness heals. A few years later, the project grew, embraced by a shocked Tucson community following the shooting of Congresswoman Gifford...

Incredible Journey for Lost Cat Who Walked 190 Miles Home

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 15:41:51 +0100

The last time Jacob and Bonnie Richter saw their 4-year-old tortoiseshell cat Holly, she bolted out of their motor home at the Daytona International Speedway on Nov. 4, apparently frightened by fireworks. For days, the distraught couple searched for Holly, putting up flyers and alerting rescue agencies before despondently heading home to West Palm Beach. Then, two months later the cat appeared, emaciated and weak, on the lawn of a neighbor just one mile away from her home....

Tears of Joy as Retired Couple Returns to Find New Home

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 16:11:17 +0100

Retired grandparents Jeanne and Burt Metz lost their home when Superstorm Sandy hit Breezy Point, New York. A volunteer organization told the couple that their floors and walls would be rebuilt – but little did the Metz family know that hundreds of people were working to resurrect their entire house....

Spider-Man Window Washers Surprise Kids at Children's Hospital

Sun, 13 Jan 2013 17:40:47 +0100

Dozens of children got a big surprise when window washers dressed as Spider-Man descended on the outside of All Children's Hospital in Florida on Thursday. The workers from Clearwater's High Rise Window Cleaners made several trips from the top of the building to the ground, washing windows and waving at patients....

Janitor Turns in Lost iPad and $13,000, Then Gives Away Reward

Sat, 12 Jan 2013 19:05:52 +0100

A janitor at a Florida airport found an iPad – with $13,000 stuffed in its case – and turned it in. Then, after getting a $60 reward, he gave that away to two people he knows at the airport who are in need. But the honesty and kindness paid off for the father of four, Patrick Morgan, when he was honored in a ceremony by his company, Sunshine Cleaning Systems, and presented with a check for $625.00....

Man With One Tooth and a Lifetime of Giving Receives New Smile for Free

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 16:21:31 +0100

The Brighton Implant Clinic recently began offering free dental treatment to patients who have exceptional circumstances and are unable to afford treatment. Of the dozens treated, David Bryant who works with blind war veterans, is perhaps the most inspiring. Several of his colleagues entered his name into a contest on Facebook that offered to the winner a brand new set of teeth, a treatment that normally costs between $10,000-$24,000 (£6500-£15,000). Inundated with entries from potentia...

Mormons Skip Church for Weeks to Volunteer for Families Flooded by Sandy

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 15:38:41 +0100

Thousands of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints volunteered for weeks following Hurricane Sandy, assisting the devastated families in digging out their flooded homes. A beautiful video was made on November 11th, when thousands of these church members cancelled their Sunday services and arrived by air, bus and train from all across the country to help....

High School Boy Broadcasts Compliments for Students Having a Bad Day

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 15:30:14 +0100

To combat bullying and to simply cheer up students at his high school, Jeremiah Anthony set up a Twitter Account a year and a half ago that posts compliments about kids and teachers. His Twitter feed is called WestHighBros. "We just send compliments to people who we think are feeling bad a certain day."...

After Fighting To Go To School, Young Pakistani Woman Builds Her Own

Sun, 06 Jan 2013 17:57:14 +0100

For three years, while she attended middle school in another part of Karachi, Humaira Bachal's father had no idea what his daughter was doing. Beyond grade five, her mother hid her daughter's schooling and endured beatings when the truth was discovered. Since finishing high school, Humaira, 25, has become a crusader for education going door-to-door asking other fathers to send their daughters to school....

Why a German Pilot Escorted a U.S. Bomber to Safety During World War II

Sun, 06 Jan 2013 01:01:10 +0100

Once in a while, you hear an old war story that restores your faith in humanity. A new book explores the incredible encounter of two WWII pilots in mid-air -- a rookie American on his first bombing mission, piloting a crippled aircraft that was missing an engine and a German flying ace who not only saluted, then spared the rookie, but escorted him out of enemy airspace....

UPDATE: 'Golden Voice' Ted Williams - Once Homeless Now Giving Back

Sat, 05 Jan 2013 17:11:20 +0100

Do you remember the story two years ago about the homeless man with the golden voice who was discovered pan-handling for change on a cold Ohio street? It turns out, he didn't fall back into old habits and end up on the street again as some had worried. Williams now works and helps the homeless and drug-addicted whenever he can. He maintains an apartment and continues recording voice-overs for Kraft Mac and Cheese commercials....

Man Offers His House to Homeless Family for a Year (Watch)

Fri, 04 Jan 2013 16:25:08 +0100

Tony Tolbert, a Harvard-educated lawyer in Los Angeles, decided to move into his mother's home so he could offer his own fully-furnished house to a homeless family of five, and give it to them rent-free for a year. Felicia Duke had been sharing a single room at a shelter with three of her children. But it was for kids only and her older son couldn't join them. So not only was the family homeless and broke, but separated....

iTube Lab App Detects Allergens in Food

Fri, 04 Jan 2013 02:20:33 +0100

Do you have a serious food allergy and want to know if there's any culprits in your cookie? Now there's an app for that. It will take you 20 minutes to get the answer using a new application developed by UCLA researchers for your smartphone. The app comes with a device, called the iTube -- like a test tube -- which allows your phone to scan and test a food item before you eat it. So far, the lightweight device, which attaches to your cell phone, can detect traces of peanuts, almonds, eggs, glu...

A $5 Light For The Developing World With An Ingenious Fuel: Gravity

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 15:31:54 +0100

The GravityLight gets power from the slow lowering of a weight. All it takes is enough elbow grease to hoist the bag, and you can light a room with nothing but a bag of sand. The need is enormous: more than 1 billion people still lack electricity. Two socialpreneurs wanted to find a replacement for the dangerous and dirty kerosene lamp--which is also relatively expensive to run, highly polluting, and comes with multiple health and fire risks....

2012 Named Safest Year Ever for Air Travel

Tue, 01 Jan 2013 20:19:16 +0100

2012 will go into the record books as the safest year ever for airline travelers worldwide. 3 billion passengers flew in 2012 on more than 93,000 commercial flights each day, and yet not a single fatality was recorded in the United States in more than four years. Globally, just one accident was recorded this year for every 5.4 million flights -- an improvement of over 50% from last year....

Pay-It-Forward Chain Lasts 3 Hours at Canadian Coffee Shop

Mon, 31 Dec 2012 21:28:17 +0100

In a show of seasonal goodwill, coffee drinkers in line at a Winnipeg drive-through paid it forward for 228 customers in a row on Friday, according to the staff at Tim Hortons. A customer at the Manitoba coffee shop started the chain by paying for his own order and the order for the car behind him. Inspired by the generosity, drivers paid it backward for the next three hours....

150-Year Celebration of Emancipation Proclamation Jan 1

Sun, 30 Dec 2012 21:41:48 +0100

New Year's Day: Ring the Bells. At 2:00 p.m. churches, colleges/universities, and other organizations will ring their bells to mark the moment 150 years ago when Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, as the nation approached its third year of bloody civil war. The proclamation declared "that all persons held as slaves" within the rebellious states "are, and henceforward shall be free."...

Christmas Paying it Forward is Sweet Coincidence

Sat, 29 Dec 2012 21:37:31 +0100

I was struggling to find the Christmas spirit this year and hoped a short trip to Vermont to meet my son for skiing might help. While at the LaGuardia airport on December 16th, right after I picked up my suitcase, I went out to the bus station in front of the terminal. I saw the M60 bus to take me to go to Penn Station. I immediately jumped on the bus. I was in and paying my due and the bus driver was closing the bus door, when a young black man who was breathless jumped on and gave me my briefc...

The Best Heartwarming Animal Stories of 2012

Fri, 28 Dec 2012 16:17:05 +0100

Some of the most popular stories on the Good News Network in 2012 involved animals. Whether the largest elephant or smallest dog, animals are often ready to reveal hearts of true compassion and they can easily evoke an equally compassionate response in us humans. Enjoy these top stories of the year:...

Teens Come Running to Shovel Snow When Elderly Neighbor was Laboring

Fri, 28 Dec 2012 15:20:58 +0100

Tracy Lynn DelValle of Gardner, Massachusetts posted a story and photo on Facebook proving that (in her words), "Not all kids nowadays are thoughtless." Tracy's neighbor, who is aging in her 60's, was attempting to shovel the snow around her car in the driveway yesterday. "She looked pale, and after each shovelful, she put her head down and rested for a few minutes," wrote Tracy, who was ill, and unable to assist....

Tigers Roar Back in Three Critical Countries

Thu, 27 Dec 2012 18:35:07 +0100

In a field often dominated by news of felled forests and population declines, tigers have delivered a bit of holiday cheer. Wildlife conservationists report populations on the upswing in protected areas of India, Russia and Thailand. Despite dangerously low global numbers, tigers are rebounding in three significant landscapes, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society, fostering hope for these iconic big cats....

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