Religious groups like this Jewish congregation in Evanston, Illinois are looking to build environmentally friendly spaces, like their new ‘green’ synagogue.
AP Video may take a moment to load…
Worship Spaces Go Green- for God
Swine Flu: Sound Advice to Calm the Fear and Keep us Healthy
The word that’s being tossed around with gay abandon in the news, and that seems to be causing so much concern, is PANDEMIC. So let’s get to the question; are we in a swine flu pandemic?
And the answer is definitely not…
In the United States, we have seen less than 100 cases of swine flu sofar, with no deaths and, for the most part, only mild symptoms. There are some indications that large numbers of people may have SOME built in resistance, which would keep the symptoms far milder as the body fights the flu. Giventhat scenario, this strain of swine flu is no different than regularflu in terms of mortality rates.
But, more importantly, the word pandemic doesn’t mean what most people seem to think it means. All a pandemic means is that a new infectious disease is spreading throughout the world. That’s it. Symptoms associated with a given pandemic can be mild… In fact, it is quite possible to have a pandemic that kills very few people.
WHAT TO DO:
- Do not panic.
- Only wear a mask if you want to (it probably won’t do anything because flu is spread via direct contact.
- Do wash your hands with soap and water.
- Don’t rush to the hospital if you get the flu – only if symptoms get bad, like trouble breathing.
- And, finally, know that if you do need help, a hospital can provide the care you need.
(Read more from Baseline of Health Foundation, by Jon Barron)
EDITOR’S NOTE: Jon’s foundation sells health products that he recommends. The Good News Network simply wants you to learn the facts and hear some of the good advice (rather than the scary scenarios offered by the mainstream media. (They can’t help themselves…)
Parking Amnesty Nets $28K and Truckload of Food
Lots of delinquent drivers in Salem, Massachusetts redeemed themselves last month by paying off their overdue parking tickets and donating canned foods to a local food pantry.
The city’s parking amnesty program waived late fees in an attempt to close a midyear budget gap and raised $28,333 while filling at least one truck full of food for St. Joseph Food Pantry.
(Read about the innovative idea in the Salem News)
Photo: Courtesy photo
Arctic Nations Say Will Cut Soot that Helps Thaw Ice
Arctic nations agreed on Wednesday to crack down on soot that is darkening ice around the North Pole and hastening a thaw that they also blamed on global warming.
The eight-member Arctic Council set up a ‘task force’ to examine ways to cut down on soot along with two other short-lived greenhouse gases.
Chihuahua Blown-away by 70-mph Winds Reunited with Owners
Tinker Bell has been reunited with her owners after a 70-mph gust of wind picked up the six-pound Chihuahua and tossed her out of sight. They credit a pet psychic for guiding them to a wooded area nearly a mile from where they last saw their precious 8-month-old pup.
Duke Ellington Band Celebrates by Playing Literally on the ‘A’ Train
In honor of the jazz man’s 110th birthday, the Duke Ellington band was standing on the platform of the 125th Street subway station in Harlem, about to board an A train — and perform — as the train sped toward the other end of the line, in Queens, picking up regular passengers along the way.
A vintage subway car with ceiling fans brought out of retirement for the occasion served as the ‘A Train’ commemorating the famous song, born when Ellington scribbled-out directions to his apartment, for a young composer and arranger named Billy Strayhorn… (the song’s co-composter).
Pixar to Release ‘Up’ Funniest Animated Film Yet (Video)
Catch a sneak peek of Pixar’s latest animated sensation, ‘Up’, about a grouchy old man who tries finally to achieve his most longed-for adventure. He ties thousands of balloons to his house and “Up” he goes. What he didn’t realize was the arrival of a pesky boy scout once again at his doorstep as the building was launched.
Watch the Pixar sneak peek below, or at Clip Syndicate…
Hollywood ‘Hearts’ Tom Hanks (Video)
Movie greats like Steven Spielberg, Ron Howard, and Julia Roberts came out on Monday night to celebrate the career of Tom Hanks, who was honored with the prestigious Chaplin Award by The Film Society of Lincoln Center in New York.
Watch vdeo below, or at Clip Syndicate …
Consumer Confidence Soars in April
Consumer confidence soared in April to its highest level since November, outperforming forecasts and reflecting a growing sense in the public that the economy may have bottomed out and Americans might be prepared to spend more money. The findings released Tuesday offered hope that families could open their wallets after months of austerity.
Play Builds Bridges to Change in the Bedouin desert
The school playground in the Israeli Bedouin desert town of Hura is abuzz with excitement as boys and girls get their first taste of cricket in a place as alien to the sport as any imaginable.
The British charity ‘Cricket For Change’ has come to Hura with the ultimate aim of getting kids to enjoy each others’ company, respect each others’ differences and, hopefully, become good at the sport.
(Read the full story from Reuters)
Food Giants Plan Massive Giveaways
Two of the package food industry’s biggest titans announced massive giveaways last week aimed at combating hunger.
General Mills, through its Hamburger Helper brand, will give up to 3.5 million meals to various food banks. Kellogg Co. is donating an entire day’s cereal production, more than 55 million servings, valued at about $10 million.
Kellogg CEO David MacKay called the gift “unprecedented” in the company’s 103-year history.
Consumers can do their part through Kellogg as well, receiving $5 in coupons for every $5 donation to Feeding America on their new webpage: www.kelloggs.com/feedingamerica.
Beyonce’s ShowYourHelpingHand.com website will soon let consumers enter UPC codes from Hamburger Helper products to trigger a donation to Feeding America.
(Read full article in Advertising Age)
Thanks to hunger advocate Billy Shore (Share Our Strength) for the story tip on Twitter!
Could Algae be Oil’s Next Competitor? (Video)
Scientists in Southern California are trying to design the next oil, and it may be floating in most oceans and ponds. Researchers say algae may be the next alternative to oil. The AP’s John Mone reports several efforts by companies to get this energy source off the ground (ahh, pond).
Video below may take a moment to load, or view at The News Room…
183 Projects Funded for Fish and Wildlife
From the Lower Mississippi River Delta to the North Carolina coast, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will undertake 183 construction projects focused on energy efficiency, habitat restoration and facility improvements at national wildlife refuges across the agency’s Southeast Region, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced yesterday.
The projects, totaling $56.5 million, will create jobs while conserving fish and wildlife resources and treasured landscapes for future generations.
Work will begin in the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge and the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, on two new visitor centers that will include office space for Service employees, eliminating thousands of dollars in annual rental payments.
Growth in Food Stamp Allotment Boosts Economy
Some families saw April food-stamp allotments grow from $176.00 to $200 thanks to the stimulus package. . .
This humble program may deliver the single biggest bang for the stimulus buck, boosting the economy by $1.73 for each dollar spent, according to an analysis last year by Moody’s Economy.com.
And that was just one of the places the money started to flow this month as the vast machinery of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act cranks into gear.
Miracle Baby Survives Cold Night in the Woods
Read this story about a 1 year old baby found alive after spending a night in the woods in Quebec. It’s still pretty cold here. The fact that he survived and was in good condition is, I think, a miracle!
British Student Buys African Orphanage
A student who visited a run-down African orphanage was so moved by the children’s plight that she raised the money to buy it.
Amy Lambert, 24, spent eight weeks volunteering at a Tanzania orphanage last summer, where she cared for 150 boys and girls – many of whom had lost one or both parents to AIDS and HIV.
She found children who were starving, dangerously dehydrated and sleeping in dirty beds. The undergraduate at Bath Spa university raised more than £30,000 in just seven months.
(Continue reading in the UK Telegraph)
To help out or read more, visit www.wearecollecting.co.uk
Damaged Great Barrier Reef Makes ‘Spectacular’ Recovery
Sections of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef have made a “spectacular” recovery from a bleaching event three years ago that devastated the coral, marine scientists say. Abundant corals have reestablished themselves in a single year, and overcome the choking seaweed.
State Honors Teen and his Good Idea, Governor Signs the Bill
A 17-year-old Colorado Springs student involved in search and rescue was honored Friday for his efforts behind a law that allows emergency crews to train for free in state parks, rather than paying prohibitive fees.
Transforming Fear into Hope
Fear is the greatest obstacle we face. It can stop us cold. Perhaps the greatest fear of all is loss of something dear to our hearts: Loss of a friend or family member; loss of our own self-respect or the respect of others; loss of a job, job offer or prized possession. Whatever fear we face, he have the opportunity to step out of our comfort zone, look it squarely in the eye, and back away from the fear in order to move forward.
My greatest fears have always been rejection and ridicule. Yet, I chose a high visible career path as a talk radio host. As any broadcast personality will tell you, rejection from listeners or viewers and ridicule about what we broadcast is common in the industry. However, I determined that my mission of delivering a message about positive living was greater than my fears.
With the socio-economic climate the world faces today, it is critical to check our fears, attitudes and feelings each day. For some, emotional paralysis will be unavoidable, but if we do our best to remain open and optimistic, these attitudes will help us discover new avenues of happiness and new doors to enter into in our journey through life: “Out with the negative, in with the positive!”
If you believe there are possibilities ahead, you are more positive and open. You expect good things to happen and trigger a self-fulfilling prophesy. Research has shown that we get what we expect to get. In other words, people who are able to take change in stride and “roll with the punches” tend to rewrite endings to match their positive expectations. They view the change as an opportunity, not as a threat..
One of the rewards of working through our fears is that they can become our greatest lessons in life. Years ago, I was at a business holiday party, and met a man who set up roundtable meetings for CEO’s of Fortune 500 companies. I asked him if those top executives had anything in common. He said, “Yes, they’re not afraid to make mistakes. They use their mistakes to learn, and to propel them to make the next decision.”
Each step you take rewrites the ending. You may wander off the path occasionally. You may even stumble. That’s the nature of “pathfinding.” The steps you take are based on the choices you make, and the choices you make are based on the values, beliefs and experiences that define who you are.
Take a moment for yourself and contemplate:
• What old attitude can you replace with a new one?
• Which of your strengths can compensate for a weakness?
• What have you done to “rewrite the ending” of a “mistake” you made?
• Remember a challenge you have overcome because of inner strength that guided you.
Find a solution to help put you on a path to personal success:
• What old attitudes, beliefs and behaviors can you discard as unhelpful to your new value system.
• Aks yourself how you can work through a fearful situation in a positive way.
Patricia Raskin, host of the Positive Living radio show, is a nationally recognized, multi-media radio talk show host. award-winning producer, speaker and author. For the past twenty-five years, she has been hosting and producing positive media programs that have aired on Fox, PBS and NPR affiliates and WTKF, 107.3FM. Her “Positive Living™” show is heard and streamed live on News Talk 630 WPRO, the Citadel Broadcasting affiliate in Providence RI on Sundays at NOON-2PMET and on voiceamerica.com on Mondays 2-3PMET/11AM-noonPT. www.patriciaraskin.com
Florida Students are Heroes Halfway Around the World
They tossed pies, served spaghetti and walked miles to raise nickels, dimes and quarters.
It added up to $93,450 — enough to build 11 schools in Kenya.
”Can I just say, oh my gosh,” Marc Kielburger, chief executive director of the Free the Children organization, told the Miami Herald. “I’m speechless.”
Kielburger, who attending a celebration at Piper High School on Thursday, said that when Broward students first started raising money last year, he had hoped for enough to build just one school.
(READ more from NBC – Miami)
Photo courtesy of Sun Star