100 homeless men, women and children, were part of an art workshop presented by the Hearts of Fire Project, a group founded three years ago to change public perceptions of the homeless. In a donated recreational vehicle, the Hearts of Fire Project launched from California two years ago to tour homeless shelters throughout the United States bringing art and music into the lives of the homeless. (full story at Ventura County Star) Visit the Hearts of Fire website here.
Project Stirs Artistic Side of Homeless
Vitamin D May Be Used to Treat Heart Failure
Recent research has shown that Vitamin D may be useful in slowing the progression of heart failure (including the congestive type) by preventing a condition in which the heart muscle cells become too enlarged. Researchers are currently trying to create a Vitamin-D based drug that would treat heart failure.
(Read the full story at ScienceDaily.com) – Featured photo by imelenchon, CC license
New Method Of Managing Risk In Pregnancy Leads To Healthier Newborns and Moms
A NIH study has identified the healthiest method of obstetric care, the one that leads to lower neonatal intensive care unit admission rates, higher uncomplicated vaginal birth rates and ensures that each pregnant woman enters labor at a gestational age that maximizes her chance for vaginal delivery. (Science Daily has a summary)
Mexico City plants lawns on roofs to fight warming
Mexico City, one of the world’s most polluted capitals, is planting rooftop gardens on public buildings as part of a program launched in June to combat global warming. (Reuters has the green story)
Aerial Pesticide Spraying of Urban Areas Suspended
California officials on Thursday abruptly canceled a state program to spray chemicals to combat crop-eating moth in urban areas after months of public uproar over its unclear effects on the environment and human health. (Organic Consumers report)
Cuba’s Urban Farming Program a Stunning Success
“Cuba’s urban farming program has been a stunning, and surprising, success. The farms, many of them on tiny plots now supply much of Cuba’s produce while also providing 350,000 jobs nationwide with relatively high pay and have transformed eating habits in a nation accustomed to a less-than-ideal diet of rice and beans.” (Read the full story from Associated Press)
Tornado oddities: Toilet Paper Unwinds and Rewinds
Have you ever heard the story about the tornado that sent a blade of grass through a window, and a delicate china teacup across the yard without breaking? Here are several more oddities from a recent tornado in Minnesota that will make the hair on your neck stand up… (Associated Press report on WTOP)
Heisman Trophy Winner Learned About Life And Faith From His Father
Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow learned about life and faith in God from his father Bob, who instilled in Tim a sense of duty to help others.
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A Laugh a Day Keeps the Doctor Away
Laughter isn’t just a good feeling; it can also be good medicine. It’s good for our hearts as well as for our souls.
I come from a big, extended family, and laughter and joy and fun were always important parts of the Adler clan. It makes sense — studies show that people tend to laugh thirty times more when they’re in a group. I’m convinced that we can get through anything in life if we can laugh about it, and laugh with one another.
Take Sheila Dolan for example. Her laughter has kept her from death, twice — at least that’s her take on it. “Sheila knows she shouldn’t be here after beating breast cancer and a blood cot on the brain but she’s not about to apologise for her extraordinary good fortune. She doesn’t mope about po-faced and whinge about her ordeal – she cracks jokes, frequently, and with all the pitch-perfect timing of a seasoned stand-up comedian.” (You can read her story in the Worcester News)
Barber Cuts Down Dropout Rates (Video)
A barber in Southern California is trimming more than hair. By encouraging kids to read, he is helping cut down illiteracy and dropout rates. Bill Whitaker reports.
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Florida Encouraging Sea Scallop Population
“This summer, Sarasota County is partnering with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute to plant a future population of local sea scallops hoping to propagate the species, which is declining due to over-fishing and poor water quality. Waterfront property owners with direct bay access will be asked for permission to place cages holding live young scallops under their docks. The county will then monitor the scallops each month to track growth and survival rates.” (www.Bradenton.com)
Ingenuity and a Sports Bra Saved Her Life
A hiker from Colorado had been missing for days in the Bavarian Alps when she came up with a creative way to alert rescuers to her whereabouts. Josh Earl of KKTV reports.
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Clubbing Goes Green
This UK club is dance-powered, with an electrical system fed by the vibrations in the dance floor. It also offers a free cover price to those who prove they arrived via green transportation – biking or walking. (Gizmodo has the story)
How to Build Trust in Your Workplace and Families
Breech of trust happens every day to us as consumers: The dry cleaners lost your favorite pair of slacks, the computer tech never returned your call, your health club changed hours without a warning and the drive through gave you root beer instead of diet coke. We are often unaware of our own breaches of trust and the ripple effect it creates in the morale in our daily workplace or families.
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In our continuing series, “Workplace Wednesday,” we explore workplace issues with Marlene Chisolm, mentor, consultant and coach to businesses and solo-preneurs.
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If you have ever wondered what is missing when morale is low and communication is non-existant, take a look at the trust levels. Without trust there is no communication. Trust is based on information, previous experiences and past history. Here are five trust builders that will boost communication and help restore trust and morale at work or in families.
Local Collective Thwarts Mexico Beach Development
“Local citizens and environmentalists in Balandra, located outside the city of La Paz, have gathered over 18,000 signatures to halt the development of the untouched beach town. Colectivo Balandra, as the group is called, successfully appealed to state officials whom have now designated a total of 5,000 acres of shoreline and sea as Natural Protected Area.”
Thanks to Corbett Kroehler who posted this story on Digg and helped publicize its blog, ECO SPACE Conscious Community – Inspired People Creating Positive Change!
El Salvador Ambassador Saved Thousands From Nazis
“He was El Salvador’s equivalent of Oskar Schindler, a man who was given a chance to do something about the Holocaust – and took it.” Now, six decades later, José Castellanos’s story of helping to save 25,000 Jews by granting bogus nationality certificates during the second world war has been rediscovered.” (Read the full story in The Guardian)
New Book Soul-Discovery: 9 Principles for Revealing Your Sacred Gifts
An intuitive specialist, Joan Marie Whelan helps readers to explore their sacred and authentic selves to discover the soul that exists within us all. Her new book, “Soul-Discovery: 9 Principles for Revealing Your Sacred Gifts,” premieres today as the perfect beach read for this summer. This is motivational reading for men and women who have reached a crossroad in their lives, and who are seeking exciting and innovative ways to acquire prosperity and happiness in life through journeying into their inner soul.
If you’re an avid fan of “The Secret,” then Whelan’s unique exploration of the soul takes you on yet another journey in your life and tells how you can effectively use each moment in your life to benefit you in the greatest and most productive ways.
Duck Numbers Encouraging
Totals from this year’s waterfowl breeding population survey showed that Minnesota’s breeding mallard and blue-winged teal numbers are higher than last year by over 20% and the total duck population has also increased.
“This year’s survey revealed the state’s breeding mallard population to be about 298,000, which is 23 percent above last year and nearly identical to the most recent 10-year average. Additionally, the number of breeding mallards this spring is 34 percent above long-term averages. Blue-winged teal numbers increased 23-percent from last year to 152,000, but remained 32-percent below the long-term average.”
Fawns Saved by C-Section
Although the mother doe couldn’t be saved, a conservation officer knew there was hope for her unborn fawns. He took the inhured mother to a vet where the fawns were successfully delivered by c-section. (CTV has the story and photos)
Apologies to Any Who Received Dozens of Errant Email Notifications
I received some bad news recently when told by several readers that they were getting dozens of — in one case 107 — emails in a span of a couple minutes sent by the new software we’ve installed to manage subscriptions for our new membership site. We are trying to get this crazy bug fixed (Frankenstein in a box), and in the meantime, I am turning off the notifications, which are supposed to send single emails at a point 7 days prior to expiration of a free-trial or a subscription renewal.
I apologize for this hassle and I hope people don’t hold it against the site believing it to be typical of operations. Normally, we HATE spam and do not send anything to members that isn’t necessary or inspired.