Photo Booth Pictures Help Shelter Dogs Find New Homes

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May 14, 2015

We don’t know her name, but this woman’s order is always the same: taco with cheese and hot sauce for lunch, burrito with hot sauce and cheese for dinner.

The other day, the woman, who is disabled, had a special request for five-year employee Ridge Quarles, who works at the Kentucky Qdoba she likes to frequent.

“Sir, if you don’t mind, could you help me eat?” she asked.

Quarles didn’t hesitate for a moment before he began feeding her the meal.

Another customer, Dr. David Jones, was so moved by the young man’s gesture that he filmed it on his phone and shared it around.

American Hero Impressed by Kindness of Irish Strangers

“If everybody in the world would just use the little simple gift that they have to maybe benefit somebody else, think what the world would be like,” he said.

After learning that the video went viral, Quarles, a student at Sullivan University, wrote on Facebook:

“I’m very glad to have had the opportunity to impact lives around me. Go out and help someone today and pay it forward. Happy day everyone!”

It certainly is. (If you’re inspired, why not pass it on to friends with buttons below)

Swiping for Peace: Dating App Brings Israelis, Palestinians Together

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May 13, 2015

Could a dating app create “world peace one swipe at a time?”

It’s an ambitious venture, one that the Verona app hopes to successfully spearhead by connecting Israelis and Palestinians looking for love across cultural boundaries.

The app is named for the city where Shakespeare set “Romeo and Juliet” and works pretty much the same way as the popular Tinder dating app.

Users create dating profiles in which they identify as either an Israeli or Palestinian, and the app finds people nearby from the opposite group. Swipe left if you don’t like the choice, right if you do — then, start chatting.

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“I very much believe that the basis of any relationship is communication,” Verona creator Matthew Nolan told Refinery29. “If these two cultures are forced to be separate in all this conflict, forming relationships between them could be the glue that hopefully ignites a shift in consciousness.”

It’s free to download to Android devices right now, and Nolan, says he’s busy creating a version for iPhones and iPads. While the app has a large number of registered users in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and the West Bank, the biggest concentration of users are in the New York region — where there are sizable Israeli and Palestinian populations.

Nolan says his app is not just for dating, adding that it can help foster friendships and connect people interested in building bridges between Israelis and Palestinians.

In that sense, Verona is very much like the viral Facebook community “Israel Loves Iran” or the “Parents Circle,” Good News Network reported on last month.

(READ more at RT News)

Photo from Verona on Google Play

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It’s Official: Liberia Is Ebola-Free

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May 13, 2015

Liberian women-Happy-UNMIL-Staton Winter

Ebola has finally left Liberia.

The World Health Organization has officially announced that the last case of Ebola has been cleared out of the country.

The last case was cleared more than 42-days ago, the time WHO requires before declaring a country free of Ebola.

Liberia has been keeping a close watch to make sure no more cases crop up, and the five dedicated Ebola labs in the country have continued testing roughly 300 samples per week. Since March 24, all have come up negative.

“It is a tribute to the government and people of Liberia that determination to defeat Ebola never wavered, courage never faltered. Doctors and nurses continued to treat patients, even when supplies of personal protective equipment and training in its safe use were inadequate,” the WHO statement said.

The WHO attributed Liberia’s strong leadership and initiative in educating people about the disease, as well as strong international support, to stopping the outbreak.

(READ more at WHO)

Photos: (top) UNMEER, CC – (homepage) UNMIL-Staton Winter, CC

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Billionaire CEO Treats 6,400 Employees to Vacation in France

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May 13, 2015

It’s always nice to be acknowledged for hard work at the office.

Being rewarded with a company-wide trip to France is even nicer.

In honor of the company’s 20th anniversary, about 6,400 employees of Chinese conglomerate Tiens Group were treated to an all expenses paid vacation by Chief Executive Officer Li Jinyuan.

CEO Who Set Minimum Wage at $70K is Swamped With Business Now

Thomas Deschamps, who is the head of research at the Paris Tourism Office, told the New York Times that he estimates the Tiens Group and the tourists had spent $13.5 million during the trip.

Jinyuan has a net worth of about $5.8 billion.

The vacation ended with a parade on a Nice coastal promenade, featuring the workers -who were all dressed in identical sky blue hats and T-shirts- configuring their bodies into shapes that formed the words: “Tiens’ dream is Nice in the Cote d’Azur.”

This stunt earned them a spot in Guinness world record for being the longest human-made phrase ever visible from the sky.

Now THAT'S a nice boss! #China's Tiens Group CEO takes 6,400 staff on holiday to #France http://t.co/ngMqYqYoQM
— China Australia (@china_australia) May 11, 2015

(READ more at The New York Times)

Photo Credits (top and front page): WilliamMarlow via CC

Man Returns Treasure He Found in Hidden Drawer of Antique Dresser

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May 13, 2015

If you found an actual treasure chest, would you go in search of its rightful owner? That’s what one Texas man did after discovering a drawer full of jewels, diamonds, pearls, and more in a dresser he bought for just $100 from an estate sale managed by Premier Estate Sales.

“When we were loading it onto the truck, it sounded like a metallic waterfall,” Emil Knoddel told NBC affiliate KRPC-TV.

Knoddel, who is an estate sale enthusiast, found gold, rubies, emeralds, pearls, diamonds, silver, medals from the Civil War, and more in the bottom drawer of the dresser.

Knoddel was determined to get the treasure back to its owners, stating that he would “never feel right about it” if he kept the goods. After contacting Premier Estate Sales, he was able to track down the original owners, who were unaware that the treasure existed. He plans to return the booty on Thursday.

(WATCH KPRC-TV’s video above and READ more at KPRC-TV )

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Wealthy Art Mogul Leaves $50,000 Tip For Favorite NYC Waitresses

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May 12, 2015

Money-cc-Loveseat Deals — Photo credit: Loveseat Deals / CC

A pair of waitresses at a New York City steak house have proof that good service pays off.

Billed as the world’s wealthiest Asian-art collector, Robert “King of Ming” Ellsworth, left his two favorite waitresses a plateful of money in his will – a final $50,000 tip, to be exact.

Waiter Gets A Beyond-Generous Tip to Pay for Dental Surgery

Though Ellsworth was a regular customer for decades, the 85-year-old didn’t know the last names of Donohue-Peters and her 28-year-old niece. So in his will, he simply referred to them as “Maureen at Donohue’s” and “Maureen-at-Donohue’s Niece Maureen.”

The money shocked them both.

“I just couldn’t believe it,” Donohue-Peters, 53, told the New York Post. “Ellsworth was more than just a customer.”

(READ more at the New York Post)

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Teens Raise $39K to Build ‘Impossible City’ to Help Homeless

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May 12, 2015

They say it takes a village to raise a child, but in this case, twenty children are hoping to raise a village.

Students in Seattle, Washington, along with 10 adult volunteers, recently came together to raise almost $40,000 to build the “Impossible City.” It’s an “eco-village” backed by the nonprofit Sawhorse Revolution to provide shelter for people living the homeless encampment called Nickelsville.

The money raised through Indiegogo will go towards the erection of personal and secure shelters that will feature composting toilets, a community cook space to prepare meals, and a solar-powered hub to power warm water and lighting at night.

Sawhorse Revolution is building “Impossible City” to give homeless people a brighter future. For instance, they would finally have a secure spot to store their belongings if they need to go to work or to a job interview.

The nonprofit doesn’t plan on stopping. For every $5,350 raised above their $32,000 goal these teens will build another structure to help Seattle’s homeless.

(WATCH the video below from KING-5)

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Cops Decide Heroin Addicts Will Be Helped With Rehab, Not Arrested

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May 12, 2015

People who turn in their drugs to the Gloucester Police Department and ask for help won’t be arrested, they’ll be rehabilitated.

Additionally, the department will start using money seized from drug dealers to provide addicts’ families and pharmacies with Narcan free of charge. The life-saving drug, if administered at the scene, can reverse an overdose.

Chief Leonard Campanello announced over the weekend that any “addict” who walks into their department with drugs and paraphernalia will not be criminally charged.

Sheriffs Pack Patrol Cars With Little Orange Boxes of Sunshine

“We will assign them an ‘angel’ who will be their guide through the process. Not in hours or days, but on the spot,” Campanello told Massachusetts Live. “I’ve never arrested a tobacco addict, nor have I ever seen one turned down for help when they develop lung cancer, whether or not they have insurance. The reasons for the difference in care between a tobacco addict and an opiate addict is stigma and money. Petty reasons to lose a life.”

Campanello, who spent seven years as a plainclothes narcotics detective, has posted the plan on Facebook, asking people to “Like” the post and “create strength in numbers.” Nearly 29,000 have shared the post so far.

So far, he’s gotten support from the Lahey Hospital and Medical Center and Gloucester’s Addison Gilbert Hospital, who have agreed to expedite care for police referrals.

He is currently planning his trip to Washington, D.C., to meet with the state’s two Democratic senators, Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, as well as U.S. Rep. Seth W. Moulton, D-Salem.

Brat Pack Heart Throb Celebrates 25 Years Sober

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May 12, 2015

Rob Lowe is celebrating 25 years sober, and we’re thrilled that he’s made a public announcement about it on Twitter.

To those struggling with addiction, there is true, real hope. 25 years ago today, I found recovery; and a life of promise. #Grateful
— Rob Lowe (@RobLowe) May 10, 2015

A quarter century ago, Lowe, who had his first drink at age five, winningly entered rehab after a series of events leading to a rather low–and public–bottom.

To this day, he maintains that it was the best decision he ever made.

Often, we hear about celebrities who are out all night partying, getting DUI’s, or ducking in and out of rehab. The media loves to descend on celebrities who just can’t “stay on the wagon,” rather than focusing on those who’ve made an honest and successful go at turning their lives around.

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By openly celebrating his long-term recovery, Lowe is an inspiration to alcoholics and addicts everywhere—both those who just can’t imagine life without picking up a drink, and those who have committed to racking up the years one day at a time. Lowe demonstrates that it’s possible, and the rewards are great if you’re ready to do the work.

Lowe is joined by Robert Downey, Jr., Bradley Cooper, Colin Farrell, Edie Falco, and Tim McGraw, who have each logged some serious time and made their long-term sobriety public.

(Share your own success, and theirs, below)

Why Butterflies Are Swarming Thanks to Local Vineyards

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Mystery Clouds on Radar Turn Out to be Monarch Butterflies

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May 12, 2015

Vineyards experimenting with the elimination of pesticides have stumbled upon a pleasant side effect — attracting swarms of butterflies.

Washington state wineries, seeking more organic forms of pest control, have been creating habitats for so-called “good” insects which feed on bugs that harm crops. Researchers have discovered that these “habitat-enriched” vineyards are hosting three times the number of butterfly species and four times more butterflies than conventional vineyards.

The vineyards never intended to attract butterflies, because they don’t actually help protect the grapes at vineyards, as they don’t eat pests. But butterflies thrive in the native shrubs planted to attract the insects that do–and they provide a pleasant visual for people visiting wineries.

“To have butterflies flying around could be part of a tourism drive and an attraction for visitors,” said David James, an associate professor in Washington State University’s Department of Entomology. “In these days of organic production and not wanting pesticides on food, butterflies can be a symbol of that.”

James was among the WSU researchers who discovered the new diversity of butterfly species and populations popping up around the vineyards. Their paper will be published in the June issue of the Journal of Insect Conservation.

Butterfly populations have been declining as more and more farms continue to take over natural habitats, but James says these vineyards have shown that agriculture can live alongside, and even preserve, nature.

Photo by Washington State University

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How This Smartphone Case Charges Batteries Out of Thin Air

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May 12, 2015

How many times a day do you scramble around looking for a power cord and outlet to recharge your mobile phone? A new smartphone case promises to top-off your battery life–out of thin air.

The Harvest phone case grabs the power your phone wastes and puts it back into the battery.

About 90% of your phone’s power is spent pumping out radio waves just trying to keep its wireless connection – even when you’re not using it. The case “harvests” those stray radio waves and converts them into electric power. The Harvest case is able to stretch your battery life by nearly a third.

Nikola Labs’ Will Zell explains in the video below how the phone case is able to turn radio waves into electricity.

Ohio State University came up with the technology and licensed it to Nikola Labs to build and sell. The case, available only for the iPhone initially, is expected to launch later this month on the crowdfunding site Kickstarter. It will cost $99 and be available four months later.

Photo by closari – CC

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Starbucks to Stop Bottling Water in California Due to Drought

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May 12, 2015

For each bottle of Ethos Water sold, a small contribution is funneled to water charities around the world–but those benefits came at the expense of California’s water supply.

Last week, in response to the serious drought conditions and water conservation efforts in California, Starbucks, the company’s owner, announced it was moving the sourcing and manufacturing of Ethos out of state.

“Beginning the first week of May and over the next six months, Starbucks plans to move production to its Pennsylvania supplier, while simultaneously exploring alternatives to transition to a new source and supplier to serve the company’s West Coast distribution,” the company said in a statement.

The Ethos water had been sourced from private springs in the town of Baxter, in the Sierra foothills and bottled it through a Safeway plant in Merced, which will continue its operation.

More beneficial to California is Starbucks’ claim that it decreased its in-store water usage by 26 percent across the state.

“We are committed to our mission to be a globally responsible company and to support the people of the state of California as they face this unprecedented drought,” said John Kelly, Starbucks senior vice president of Global Responsibility and Public Policy.

Since Starbucks acquired Ethos Water in 2005, the company has invested over $12 million in water, sanitation and hygiene education in coffee growing countries in Africa, Indonesia and Latin America.

However, the bottled water industry carries enormous costs in other areas– energy, oil, and the carbon footprint of manufacturing and shipping those bottles.

Stranger On Bus Gives 5-Year-Old Wonderfully Inspiring Note

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May 11, 2015

Kindergarten may be scary for some 5-year-olds, but the kindness of strangers can go miles to calm your fears.

Ella Mitchell told her mom that she was really nervous about starting school – especially learning how to read. A stranger on the bus overheard their conversation and decided to write her an encouraging note. He left it with the mother and it read:

“When you practice letters enough, and the sounds they make, they’ll start to work together and make sense, and then you’ll be reading. When you can read, you’ll know what EVERYTHING says. All the signs, all the names, all the books, writing is EVERYWHERE if you look. Soon you’ll be able to read books, and everything there is to know is in them! You’ll be able to find out whatever you want! It probably won’t be easy, but it won’t be hard forever. It’s going to be so exciting! Good luck!”

Afterward, her mother told King-5 News that even though Ella doesn’t know how to read, she already has memorized the touching and encouraging note.

(WATCH the KING-5 video above, or READ more at Yahoo Parenting)

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Built by Quarterback Tim Tebow, Children’s Hospital in Asia Opens

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May 11, 2015

NFL quarterback Tim Tebow has scored a win for suffering children in the Philippines. His foundation has opened a five-story, 30 bed hospital in Davao City. It has three operating rooms and will specialize in orthopedic surgeries for children.

“I was born in the Philippines while my parents served as missionaries, and I have always had a great love and passion for the Filipino people,” Tebow said in a statement. “It is so exciting to be able to provide healing and care for these incredibly deserving children halfway around the world.”

Tim Tebow Hosts 50 Red Carpet Proms For Special Needs Folks

The Tebow Foundation broke ground on the hospital three years ago. The foundation and CURE International will run the Tebow CURE Hospital with a 54-person staff, serving children with orthopedic conditions such as clubfoot, bowed legs, cleft palate and other congenital abnormalities.

(READ more at ABS-CBN News)

Hospital photo by Tim Tebow Foundation – Tim Tebow photo by sportiqe, CC

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43 CEOs: Climate Debate Is Over, Carbon Cuts Are Good for Business

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May 11, 2015

CEOs from 43 global companies are declaring themselves “ambassadors for climate action” in an open letter to businesses and government leaders around the world.

The CEOs represent a diverse group of companies, from manufacturing and banking to construction and energy, a list that includes Dow Chemical, Volvo and Toshiba.

“The science debate is over – climate change is real and addressable,” the letter reads. Also included is a promise to focus on solutions to climate change while creating new economic opportunities.

Slowly, Asia’s Factories Begin to Turn Green

The letter says the private sector has the power to move the world away from using fossil fuels and to create what they call a “climate-resilient economy.”

The groups hopes to utilize technological innovations to reduce their own companies’ carbon footprints, and plans to consider climate change risks during the decision making process going forward.

(READ more at NBC News)

Photo by otodo, CC

Quarterback Fulfills 4th Grade Promise to Take Girl with Down Syndrome to Prom

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May 11, 2015

When Mary Lapkowicz and Ben Moser were in fourth grade, their teacher, Tracey Spogli, noticed how hard Ben worked to include Mary, who has Down syndrome, in games and activities.

“He watched over her constantly,” Spogli recalled, as the students posed for photos outside Mary’s home on May 8, 2015. “If she was looking like she wasn’t having fun, he would go over and talk to her. He would pull her in to what ever activity they were doing.”

“I thought Mary was sweet and easy to get along with,” Ben told the Patriot-News.

On Friday, the 17-year-old pals attended prom together.

(WATCH the video above or READ the full story, w/ prom photos, from the Patriot-News)

Pig Named Lucky Saved Family’s Life During Fire

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May 11, 2015

We’re coming up on the one-year anniversary of a noble rescue worthy of the movie, Babe.

After an early morning fire broke out at a Mount Carmel, Illinois home, Lucky the pet pig flew into action, screaming, squealing, and slamming into the bedroom door.

Lucky’s alarm saved the lives of Ina Farler and her two grandchildren just before 5am.

“He loves my grandkids to death,” she said of their potbelly pal. “Pigs are loving. They can be very protective.”

(WATCH the video above from WFIE)

10-year-old Saves Classmate From Choking on Chicken

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May 10, 2015

A South Carolina fourth grader is credited with helping save the life of his classmate who was choking on a chicken nugget at lunch.

The 10-year-old said at first he thought his friend was joking, until he realized the boy couldn’t breathe.

(WATCH the video below, or READ the full story at WBTV)

Story tip from carilyn

Parents Doubt They‘re Good Enough, Until They Hear From Kids (WATCH)

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