United Awards Hackers Millions of Miles for Finding Security Risks

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Jul 18, 2015

All Ms. Carroll wanted for her birthday was a cake from the local Oklahoma City Walmart.

But halfway into her trip, she found herself stalled in the middle of the road. The 75-year-old’s motorized wheelchair gave out on her, ruining the only real plan she had for the day.

Or so she thought.

When officers Travis Verneir and Amy Hanson from the Oklahoma City Police Department arrived on the scene, they took her to Walmart in their patrol car and got her the cake. The good deed was posted on Facebook, and, as a result, Ms. Carroll is getting more than just that cake for her birthday.

CHECK Out These Other Police Officers Being Kind

“Police work comes in a lot of different forms. Sometimes it’s about being a servant and helping people to make a difference,” Verneir told KFOR-TV.

People have been leaving cards and gifts for Ms. Carroll at the station, and one wheelchair company has reached out and offered to fix her wheelchair for free.

(WATCH the video below or READ the full story at KFOR-TV)

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Not Seen for 100 Years “Royal Turtles” Crawl Back from Extinction in Asia

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Jul 18, 2015

14 years ago, conservationists were overjoyed to come across three “royal turtle” nests. The 3–5 females and their mates and offspring were believed to be the only ones left in Cambodia.

For 100 years in that country there had been no recorded sightings of the once-common southern river terrapin, but the species’ population is growing again thanks to wildlife officials, a group of Buddhist monks, and former turtle hunters who are now paid to guard the nests they once raided.

Since that day in 2001, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has been working with Cambodia’s Fisheries Administration in a captive breeding program. The partners have been raising the hatchlings to keep them away from predators while they grow, both in the town of Sre Ambel, and outside the country–in Thailand and Singapore–to guard against a catastrophic event or typhoon that could wipe out all the animals.

Buddhist monks have also played a key role in convincing villagers to leave the turtles alone.

“In Cambodian society, Buddhism is a very important part of the culture, and monks are revered and respected,” said Brian Horne, a representative for the WCS. “So when the local monks join in and say, ‘Don’t go out and harm these turtles,’ generally people listen.”

Baby Tortoises Survive on Galapagos Island for First Time in 100 Years

In July, a group of monks led a traditional ceremony in front of 150 people to bless the 21 turtles (scientific name: Batagur affinis) that had been raised in captivity before releasing them into their native habitat in the Sre Ambel River system.

The terrapins, once called “royal turtles” and declared the property of the king, were designated in 2005 as the national reptile of Cambodia to raise awareness of the conservation effort.

As one of the largest herbivores in the river, the species is crucial to the health of the entire ecosystem. So, in 2001, when the nests were discovered, the WCS and wildlife officials began a community based protection program to ensure their survival. Turtle hunters were enlisted and paid to protect the nests, which grew in number to 39. Hundreds of hatchlings were raised in facilities and, finally, this group of 21 was chosen as the most genetically diverse and first to be released since the program started.

(WATCH the WCS video ) — Photos: Wildlife Conservation Society video

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Hospital Hosts “Wedding” for Tiny Cancer Patient and Her Favorite Nurse (WATCH)

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Jul 18, 2015

A 4-year-old leukemia patient got the pretend wedding of her dreams to her favorite male nurse, thanks to the caring staff at Melodies Center for Childhood Cancers at Albany Medical Center in New York.

Matt Hickling and Abby have always had a great connection since the beginning of her diagnosis, reports the girl’s family on their FB community, Amazing Abby.

“I know the people at the Melodies Center… their creativity and thoughtfulness but never expected all of this.”

Abby’s response to the trail of rose pedals, wedding song, and matching ring pops for their fingers… “This is the best day ever!”

Airline Reroutes Mom to Son’s Bedside, Before She Even Knows He’s in Hospital

“We are both in awe from today’s visit and smiling ear to ear.”

(WATCH the adorable video below) – Photo: Amazing Abby on FB

So today I got to help make a 4 year old leukemia patient's "wedding" to her favorite nurse Matt Hickling happen at the Melodies Center for Childhood Cancers at AMC. Thanks to Scott Wright and the team at the Enchanted Garden for donating your time and amazing flowers and to everyone at AMC that helped pull this together in less than 24 hours. You people are amazing. THIS is why we go into nursing.
Posted by Lori Ciafardoni on Thursday, July 16, 2015

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Racist Protesters in Melbourne Shrink in A Sea of People Supporting Diversity

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Jude Alexander

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Jul 18, 2015

Racist protesters were shown the door in Melbourne, Australia, today.

A rally by an anti-Muslim group called Reclaim Australia attracted 50-60 protesters, however their demonstration was surrounded by 4,000 Melbourne residents who came out to oppose the hate faction.

60 further protesters from hardline racist group the United Patriot Front joined the rally several hours later, but they were booed and jeered away from their protest site by jubilant counter-protesters, who chanted, “You’ll always lose in Melbourne,” and later held a victory march in one of Melbourne’s main streets.

Despite numerous scuffles and pepper spray being used by the police, Melbournites feel the protest went well. “Melbourne is well-known as a thriving multicultural city, and we make millions of dollars a year from international tourism,” said one protester. “There’s no way Melbourne people are putting up with fascism on our streets.”

Photo submitted by Jude Alexander

Father Cries Tears of Joy When Son Surprises Him With New Home

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Jul 17, 2015

This proud papa was caught off-guard when his son handed him a key to the house they’d just toured together.

“You’re giving me a key to your new house?” Charles Green asked his son, Michael.

Michael and his girlfriend, Bridgette, spent four months dragging Charles around to all the homes they were supposed to be looking at for themselves.

At the end of the search, in the final house where they each swooned for the big rooms, Michael handed his dad the keys to a new home.

Teen Invites Her 80-year-old Grandfather to Prom (Video)

“Every kid wants to buy his father a house,” Michael said on the video.

“I don’t deserve this,” Charles said through tears.

“You deserve everything, Pop,” Michael replied.

Green plays “Angry Grandpa” in a YouTube series that Michael directs.

(WATCH the video below)

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Once Homeless She’s Now the Boss of Her Own Construction Business

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Jul 17, 2015

April Malloy first turned to construction when she became homeless and responsible for caring for her infant son.

Now, she owns her own contracting company, Construction 1st Class, closing multi-million dollar deals for Times Square hotels and Manhattan nightclubs and restaurants.

Since November, cameras have been following her around New York City to document her work for a new television show.

CHECK OUT More Inspiring Stories About Women Here

The self-made business owner and mother of seven children uses her own story to inspire other women living in shelters. She takes them – and also female veterans and women in recovery – to her job sites to show them what’s possible.

(READ the full story from the Metro) – Photo by Miles Dixon, Metro

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‘Sea Bunnies’ Making Waves in Japan Are The Cutest Things You’ll See Today

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Jul 17, 2015

Photos of fuzzy sea slugs are popping up all over social media in Japan – a nation known for its love of all things “kawaii” – or “cute.”

Found in the cooler waters of the Pacific Ocean, these small, rabbit-like creatures are actually slugs – marine gastropods whose fluffly “coats” and pointy ears have earned them the nickname “sea bunnies.”

Scientist Wants to Name This Cute Octopus Species “Adorabilis”

This Jorunna parva genus of sub-species can grow to 8 inches in length, and their cute “ears” are actually rhinophores, or scent/taste organs that help them detect chemicals in the water and make their way across the ocean floor.

No word yet on whether they can be lured with sea-lettuce, or if their tails twitch when you pet them.

(WATCH the video below or SEE more photos at Bored Panda) – Photo: YouTube

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DiCaprio Donates $15 Mil to Help Save the Planet and Animals On It

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Jul 17, 2015

A longtime environmental activist, Leonardo DiCaprio has already pledged millions to fund organizations focused on protecting wildlife and preserving natural resources.

The 40-year-old Hollywood actor announced this week that he is donating $15 million – his biggest single grant to date – to support 30 different groups, including Amazon Watch, Save the Elephants and the World Wildlife Fund.

“The destruction of our planet continues at a pace we can no longer afford to ignore,” DiCaprio said on his foundation’s website. “I am proud to support these organizations who are working to solve humankind’s greatest challenge.”

Actor Jared Leto Becomes Global Wildlife Ambassador for WWF

DiCaprio has been a vocal advocate for environmental issues throughout his career – his Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation supports conservation projects in more than 40 countries.

Last year, the United Nations named him a UN Messenger of Peace with a special focus on climate change. Speaking at the UN in September, he said, “This disaster has grown beyond the choices that individuals make. This is now about our industries, and governments.”

(WATCH DiCaprio’s UN speech below from The Guardian) – Photo: UN Speech, Guardian

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Cop Goes Undercover in Wheelchair to Make Arrests, Finds Kindness Instead

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Jul 17, 2015

Vancouver law enforcement went looking for bad news and found good news instead.

As part of an undercover operation, police sergeant Mark Horsley grew some facial hair and borrowed an expensive wheelchair, making him an “easy mark” for criminals.

But over the course of five days, instead of strangers snatching money from his open fanny pack, 300 people made contact with him to ask if he had someone to care for him, find out if he needed food, or to offer money.

At one point, a man crouched over him and reached for the fanny pack, making the cop nervous—but all he did was zip it shut and advise Horsley to, “please be more careful with his things.”

(WATCH the video below and READ more at the Ottowa Citizen)

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Hooray! A Diet Cheat Day Can Help You Lose Weight: Here’s How To Own It

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Jul 17, 2015

According to a recent study, indulging in a diet cheat day could actually help boost your metabolism and lose weight. Sounds too good to be true, but it is—and mastering the science is a piece of cake that you can eat, too.

In order to better understand how this phenomenon works—and how to execute it successfully—Good News Network enlisted the help of chemist and author Michael Spitzer to help us break it down.

What Is a Cheat Day, Exactly?

A cheat day is essentially a day where you allow yourself to enjoy french fries on the side and rich walnut brownies for dessert.

Sounds like diet carb-icide, but actually, periodically altering calorie consumption prevents the metabolism from slowing down too much while dieting.

“When we reduce our calories continuously for a long stretch of time, our body naturally begins to slow down our metabolism,” Spitzer explains.

“For weight control, this is an undesirable condition. We want to keep our metabolism at a healthy level for weight management.”

By introducing these foods back into the body, it becomes “surprised” by the temporary short term boost in total calories for the day and prevents the metabolism from downshifting.

How Often Should I Cheat?

The consensus is that once every 7 or 14 days is ideal.

“If you’re trying to lose pounds in the double digits quickly, you may want to stick to every 14 days,” Spitzer advises.

We’ve also been told that two cheat meals per week rather than cheat days is a good alternative.

How Crazy Can I Get With This Cheat Day?

You can definitely enjoy your favorite foods like pizza, oatmeal cookies, a slice of cake, a bagel, or a bowl of ice cream. However, a cheat day is not a license to wipe out the inventory of the nearest All-You-Can-Eat buffet.

Cheating may mean eating a cream cheese bagel for breakfast where normally you may skip any bread product, having a baked potato at lunch where normally you would have steamed broccoli, and having a Dairy Queen Blizzard for a treat after dinner.

“Having 2-3 slices of pizza and a 2-scoop ice cream cone is fine on cheat day,” Spitzer says. “But eating a full extra large deep pan pizza and a full gallon of ice cream by yourself would NOT be acceptable.”

Is There Anything I Should Still Avoid?

There are no real restrictions within common sense and reason.

“The Cheat Day is a way to enjoy your favorite foods and treats that would otherwise sabotage a clean eating weight loss plan,” Spitzer says. “But it should not be a day where you try to cram in 7-14 days’ worth of pies, french fries, and sugary sodas, until you’re ready to explode.”

Remember: Diet, Alone, Is Not Enough for True Fitness

Some people rely solely on diet as a means to control body weight, but, says Spitzer, when a person severely cuts calories to lose weight in the absence of any kind of muscle toning exercise, they face a potential problem with muscle atrophy and a slowing metabolism.

If you’re serious about your health, it’s important to incorporate cardiovascular and weigh training exercises into your weekly regimen.

Michael Spitzer is the author of Fitness at 40, 50, 60 and Beyond. For more information check out his website.

(Photos: CC Susanne Nilsson, Son of Groucho, Shira Gal)

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Homeless Jazz Singer And Her Parrot Are Inseparable Songbirds

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Jul 17, 2015

For a time, homelessness may have kept them from sharing the same nest, but these two songbirds have built a bond that’s totally unbreakable.

In exchange for a few enchanting melodies, a parrot rescue organization offered Wende Harston, a homeless jazz singer, a refuge for Sam, her favorite bird.

Restaurant Invites Only the Homeless for 5 Nights of Dining in Baltimore

The Gabriel Foundation offered Sam a place to rest his pipes—among 1,000 other rescued birds—while Harston stayed in her RV on the streets of Denver, Colorado. The two reunited several times a week to “get out of their respective cages,” and Wende found an audience among the rest of the birds, who liked to sing along.

Don’t worry, though. This story has a happy ending: Wende and Sam have found a place to live and are happily nesting together.

(WATCH the video above from USAToday)

Jew Saved From Nazis Now Helps Christians Flee ISIS to Repay ‘Debt’

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Jul 16, 2015

A 95-year-old Jewish publisher saved from Nazi-occupied Austria as a child is now funding the flight of Syrian Christians who are seeking refuge from ISIS.

Lord George Weidenfeld says he has “a debt to repay” after Christian Quakers and the Plymouth Brethren helped him escape to Britain in 1938.

Last Friday, the Weidenfeld Safe Havens Fund supported the transport of 150 people flown by privately-chartered plane from Syria to Poland. The fund aims to provide 12 to 18 months of paid support for up to 2,000 Christians in Syria and Iraq seeking refuge from the extremist group’s persecution.

His work was inspired by the late Sir Nicholas Winton, who helped save 669 mostly Jewish children from Czechoslovakia at the start of World War II.

(READ more at The Independent) – Photo: YouTube

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Road Paved With Recycled Plastic Would Snap Together Like Legos

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Jul 16, 2015

Plastic litter along roadsides may soon be used to make new roads. A company in the Netherlands has come up with a plan to replace asphalt and concrete with recycled plastic.

The “PlasticRoad” material by KWS Infra promises two benefits for the environment — not only would it reduce plastic waste headed for landfills, it would also cut carbon emissions from the alternative oil-based asphalt.

Teen’s Device to Clear Plastic Garbage from Oceans is Almost Ready

The company says PlasticRoad should last three times as long as conventional road materials and hold up in temperatures as hot as 176 degrees or cold as -40. It would be made in prefabricated sections at a factory, hauled to the construction site and snapped together like Lego blocks.

It would also be easier to repair by simply pulling out a damaged section and replacing it with a new one — just like with building blocks.

The city of Rotterdam, Netherlands, is taking the idea seriously, planning to test it in a “street lab” demonstration sometime within the next three years to see how well the plastic road materials work.

New Green Overpass Will Let Wildlife Cross 6 Lanes of Highway

A professor in India has also proposed building roads from recycled plastic waste, while Dutch innovators have also experimented with other road surfaces, including a bike path embedded with solar cells to generate electricity.

(READ more at NBC News) — Illustration: KWS Infra, Released — Story Tip: s ghent

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After Epic Battle, Real-Life ‘Hobbit House’ is Saved from Demolition

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Jul 16, 2015

A young couple can keep their unique home and continue to live off the shire – er, land – in the rolling Welsh countryside.

Charlie Hague and Megan Williams built their eco-home in Pembrokeshire, Wales, with their own hands, using only natural, local materials. Hague, who is a carpenter and sculptor, said they designed the turf-roofed house to live a self-sufficient lifestyle with their 3-year-old son, Eli.

But because the family failed to apply for planning permission before building, authorities ordered the home to be bull-dozed.

After a 3-year-long legal battle and online campaign, the couple finally won an appeal to keep their home, after meeting special government guidelines for affordable and sustainability living.

Living on the Land, Eco-Friendly Circus Tour Inspired by Tolkien

The nickname “Hobbit House” developed without any official relation to the Tolkien characters, but looks like it could easily belong to a group of halflings from Lord of the Rings.

The couple was able to win approval based on the One Planet Development rules for people in the UK who want to live and work on their own land, while benefiting the local economy and environment. With Hague’s woodworking business, income generated from renewable energy on site, and sales of fruit from the property, they qualified.

“We are delighted. We are very happy and very excited we can carry on doing what we want to achieve living on the land,” Williams told The Guardian.

(TOUR the house below or READ more at The Guardian) – Photo: Charlie and Meg’s Roundhouse, Facebook

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How to Use Your Coffee Break At Work to Meditate

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Deborah Linehan

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Jul 16, 2015

Let’s face it: the pressure to develop a meditation practice to alleviate stress can, ironically, stress you out even more.

Meditating for 30 minutes immediately upon waking just isn’t going to happen for many of us…so why not try meditating at work?

You don’t even have to close your eyes to do it.

Instead of checking Facebook on your coffee break, try one of these techniques during the day and you could literally change your life.

Sitting In Your Cube Meditation

You might be surprised to learn that not all types of meditation require the eyes to be fully closed.

In some forms of practice like Zazen meditation, it is common practice to sit with the eyes about halfway closed. Try doing this for 5 minutes at a time: sit in your office chair with a straight back and your feet flat on the floor and focus your eyes on a fixed spot in front of you—the months-old dirty fingerprint on your wall is likely the best spot.

Now, place your attention on your breath. Notice when sounds, or a sense of discomfort, or activity in the periphery, have hooked your attention and pulled your mind off into a to do list. When this happens, and it invariably will, gently guide your focus back to your breath. Try doing this for 5 minutes at 3 pre-set times during your workday.

Use a timer app on your phone like insighttimer.com to keep track so you don’t have to watch the clock.

Trash Room Next to Service Elevator Meditation

I initially found this room whilst searching for a place to take a private phone call.

Open office plans leave no consideration for the person who wants to be alone, but I found this rarely trafficked area on my office floor to be an oasis for spiritual time in corporate America.

Turns out, the only folks I ever saw when I was using the space to meditate were the Muslim elevator operator who regularly gave me the thumbs up sign, and my mailroom guy who happens to be fully immersed in Japanese Martial Arts. It’s amazing the deep connections you can make with people when you are in the process of taking care of yourself.

This can be a 15-minute guided meditation using audio on your phone. Set your timer app for 15 minutes, straighten your back, close your eyes and focus on your breath. Try a 10 – 15 minute guided meditation or insight talk from great apps like Headspace and Dharma Seed – or podcasts like Radio Headspace, Tara Brach or Dharmapunx NYC. Meditation music is also useful to drown out any background noise and focus you back inward.

Note: this meditation can be alternately be done in the archive room, the supply closet or, with a little bribery to the IT department in the form of home baked cookies, the server room.

Bodhisattva: The Uppermost Stairwell Meditation

Just ride the elevator to the top floor, find the door to the stairs, and walk up as high as you can go. Bring a bottle of water and your cell phone.

If might be hot if you’re in a skyscraper, so opt for a lower floor. Nobody is likely to bother you while you’re in the zone.

Tip: recurring reminders in your calendar help you to remember to take these time-outs.

And if anyone catches you, just tell them you’re increasing your productivity, because meditation will help you do that, too.

Photos CC: Mark Sebastian, honeyab, Dushan Hanuska.

Deborah Linehan is a mindfulness meditation facilitator, personal development coach and humorist living in New York City.

Store Manager Camps in Parking Lot To Serve Meals to Battling Firefighters

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Jul 16, 2015

As wildfires rage in the forests of northern Saskatchewan, one store manager has decided to keep her doors open to feed hungry firefighters, even if it means sleeping in her camper to do it.

As long as local firefighters continue working to save “the most beautiful part of Saskatchewan,” Margaret Floch says she will fight for them, too.

“It’s not just for me, it’s for the entire community,” Floch told CBC News.

Heroic Dog Buries Her Nine Puppies to Save Them from Fire (WATCH)

Her generosity and community spirit have inspired the locals and kept morale up through trying times. Though her store has lost money, she and a handful of her employees have been using food they couldn’t sell to feed hungry firefighters — including an outdoor barbecue for 300 heroes over the weekend.

This past Saturday the #LaRonge Co-op Marketplace was able to host a burger #BBQ for EMS personnel. #skfires pic.twitter.com/uw8c0sHCnb
— Prince Albert Co-op (@PA_Coop) July 13, 2015

The Saskatchewan government‘s Facebook page has shown images of firefighters using the store’s parking lot as a staging area as they set out to battle the fires around the town of La Ronge.

We’re hoping for grey skies in town as light rain is expected in the area for the next few days—meanwhile, Floch’s employees have started restocking their shelves.

(READ more at the CBC) — Photo: Saskatchewan Government, Facebook — Story Tip: Murray Lindsay

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JetBlue Stocks Vending Machines with Free Books for Kids in Need

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Jul 16, 2015

Kids who feel like snacking on some food for thought can simply punch A3 for a serving of Dr. Seuss at free vending machines full of books.

JetBlue airlines has partnered with Random House Children’s Books to help bridge the literacy gap facing children in a low-income neighborhood of Washington D.C. by loading up three vending machines full of storybooks.

Through a rotating selection of books switched up every two weeks–and no limit on the number of titles children are allowed to take– 100,000 books will make it into the hands of kids in Anacostia.

In the last five years JetBlue has donated over $1.25 million worth of books to help kids in need but this is the first time the Soar with Reading program has utilized specially designed vending machines to do it.

The book machines were placed in a church, a grocery store, and a Salvation Army store earlier this month.

Scholastic Donates 1 Million Books for American Kids in Poverty

Other cities are going to receive 100,000 books too. An online poll is letting voters choose which city will get win the next distribution.

Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, New York City and Fort Lauderdale are all vying for the prize by holding regional reading programs and events throughout the summer.

(READ more at WTOP) – Photo: JetBlue

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You Have to Sea it to Believe it: New Superfood Ocean Plant Tastes Like Bacon

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Jul 16, 2015

What grows quickly in tanks, qualifies as a superfood, and is environmentally friendly?

Believe it or not, if you guessed bacon, you are not entirely wrong.

After 15 years of growing the super-seaweed, researchers at Oregon State University have patented a new strain of dulse, red marine algae that looks like translucent red lettuce.

The real kicker is that once it’s cooked, it actually smells and tastes like bacon, too.

Take a Bite Out of Bad Cholesterol: Eat An Avocado Every Day

OSU researchers say their variety can be eaten fresh and is packed with protein, minerals, vitamins and antioxidants – with twice the nutritional value of kale. Other wild strains of dulse, growing along ocean coastlines, are normally used in a dried form for cooking or nutritional supplements.

Several Portland-area chefs are now testing the new dulse in their kitchens, and some predict bacon-flavored seaweed ‘farming’ could become a potential new industry for Oregon. (MBA students at the university are working on a marketing plan for pitching to the food industry soon.)

(WATCH video below from KPTV or READ more from Oregon State) – Photo: Oregon State University

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Nike Partners With Disabled Teen to Create Easy-Entry Shoe

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