A Vietnamese woman, Tran Thi Kham, 40, travelled to Taiwan in 2005 hoping to find her biological father. For seven months while she searched for him, she was working in his own home. Then, the man opened a bag she had left behind and found keepsakes of which only he would know the meaning. (Thanks to Shannon G. for the tip!)
A Black Cat is Good Luck for Family
“A cat’s caterwauling during a pre-dawn house fire may have saved the lives of five family members, a firefighter said. A woman awoke to hear the family’s black cat howling and screeching from the garage, where it spends its nights. She went to investigate her pet’s cries.” (Newsvine)
Progress Being Made on Many Fronts, Says UN Health Agency
Progress in many areas of public health are a cause for optimism said the head of WHO, the UN’s World Health Organization, this week. The past year produced three particularly encouraging trends: an increased investment in health systems; recognition of the reality of climate change by world leaders; and the resurgence of interest in primary health care, including the “record-breaking” effort to slash measle deaths in children.
In Papua New Guinea, Mothers Take Charge
A group of women villagers on a remote island off Papua New Guinea have funded and built their own medical aid station. They decided to do something after government infrastructures like schools, road and clinics had deteriorated or been completely closed due to lack of funds for maintenance. (OneCountry.org)
Simon Cowell to Leave His Millions to Charity
Music mogul SIMON COWELL has vowed to leave the majority of his $200 million fortune to a variety of children’s and animals charities upon his death, writing it into his will. The American Idol judge, 48, plans to donate $180 million (£90 million) to various different causes after he dies – dispelling the ‘Mr. Nasty’ nickname his sharp tongue on TV talent shows has earned him.
Observant Teacher Likely Saves Student’s Life (Video)
A Florida kindergarten teacher is credited with saving a student’s life after she noticed the 5-year-old girl wasn’t making eye contact and walked with a wobble. The teacher suggested the girl see a neurologist and doctors found a tumor.
11-Year-Old’s Idea to Become Law
Florida restaurants usually throw out perfectly good food that 11 year-old Jack Davis figures can feed the hungry and the homeless. To make that happen, he is trying to reverse a Florida law and provide protection for restaurants from being sued if anyone who ate the food became ill or developed food poisoning. It’s called the “Lending a Helping Hand” act. Click to see the Sun Sentinel Report
Waiting Rooms Turn Into Meditating Rooms
Waiting rooms across the country are transforming into MEDITATING rooms as part of one Oregon woman’s national Don’t Wait—Meditate™ campaign. The goal is to help 100,000 people develop the habit of meditation without asking them to commit any extra personal time beyond the time they usually spend waiting.
Kabul’s Old City Gets Major Renovation
To improve living conditions, attract business and reduce the constant threat of disease, Kabul’s Old City has been cleared of rubbish and mud — so much that street levels dropped by nine feet uncovering building foundations submerged for over 60 years.
Johnny Depp Donates $2M to Children’s Hospital
Talk about generous… Johnny Depp paid a secret visit to London’s Great Ormond Street Children’s hospital on Sunday – and donated $2 million of his own money to thank staff for saving his young daughter’s life.
‘Black Billy Elliot’ Pirouettes Past South African Prejudices
His chosen vocation ridiculed by peers and elders alike, a South African teenager remains unwavering in his ambition to become a world-class ballet dancer. One of a small pool of black, male practitioners of an art considered by many to be the domain of whites and the rich, he is doing what he can to popularise ballet in his community.
Something Good Always Comes of Bad
A man I rode with on the elevator recently reminded me that something good always comes of bad. We had just met in the lobby, both of us headed up to make a condolence call at the apartment of a mutual friend. I could tell from the way he pushed the buttons that he had been to their home many times. I had not. I had been friends with George for 45 years but had never been to his apartment — or met his wife and children. His father had just died at 89. I informed this man, making small talk, that even though I lived just down the street it had taken a loss to bring me to George’s home. “Something good always comes of bad,” he offered as the elevator opened, spilling us through George’s open door and into the crowd inside.
An Astronomy Book the Blind Can Appreciate
Telescopes have captured astonishing images of far-away galaxies and other cosmic mysteries.
Now, a new book called Touch the Invisible Sky is helping everyone appreciate those pictures, even people who can’t see.
It uses raised lines and textures to help blind people understand astronomy.
(READ or HEAR the story at National Public Radio)
A River Runs Through CA Valley Again
Legal action has resulted in the revival of a California stream that had been diverted leaving behind little more than sand and rocks. One of the largest river restoration projects in the country has invited back a gentle current of water and in turn the birds, fish and fowl that once thrived here a hundred years ago. (New York Times News Service via Taipei Times)
Monkey Brains In U.S. Make Robot Walk In Japan
New research allows rhesus monkeys in North Carolina – just by thinking – to control robotic arms & legs all the way in Japan. Scientists expect application of this technology to help paralyzed individuals as soon as next year. (Information Week) Thanks to Steve Coombes for sending the link!
Discover the Hidden Plan of Your Life with Numerology: Free Tele-seminar w/ Carol Adrienne Jan 24th
Numerologists believe that each of us is born with a purpose that can be known through studying the name we were given at birth and also our birthdate. From these, they are able to calculate exact ages for major transitions. Join Carol Adrienne and me on Thursday night, January 24 and find out more about this fascinating field. The Great Mentors tele-seminar call will be recorded and available free via phone for serveral weeks as well… (More info about signing up for the program and receiving instant access to the phone numbers on GreatMentoring.com)
Carol Adrienne, Ph.D–an internationally-recognized author and life coach, first discovered this system when she changed her name, following a divorce, in the early 1970’s. Key elements of this relatively simple system can taught in a few minutes, and have lifetime benefits as a tool to help clarify decisions and validate events. In this teleseminar, Carol helps you tune into the meaning of your day of birth. This one simple number is like a giant beacon communicating your unique perspective in life, helping to attract people and events that help you fulfill your purpose. I want to give you an idea of the accuracy of this system sharing some information from the birth chart and forecast prepared by Carol for me. You’ll see for yourself the accuracy of these birth number predictions!
Learn how your day of birth might affect your choice of career and compatibility in relationships. Carol will share how you can analyze your full birthdate to find a key element of your life purpose. She will also show you how to find out what’s in store for you in 2008. Carol welcomes questions from participants about how to use their numbers to best advantage. You may email questions to Geri before the seminar for consideration.
Carol Adrienne, Ph.D., is an internationally-known author and intuitive counselor whose books on numerology, purpose, and change have been translated into over fifteen languages. Adrienne has appeared on Oprah, who praised her book, The Purpose of Your Life: Finding Your Place In The World Using Synchronicity, Intuition, And Uncommon Sense
, as a “must-read.” Other books include Find Your Purpose, Change Your Life; When Life Changes, Or You Wish It Would; The Numerology Kit; and Your Child’s Destiny. She co-authored with James Redfield The Celestine Prophecy: An Experiential Guide and The Tenth Insight: An Experiential Guide. (Tele-Seminar begins promptly at 8:00PM EST (5:00 PM Pacific).Google Commits $25M Toward Global Warming, Poverty, and Disease
Google’s philanthropic arm on Thursday said it is taking aim at global warming, poverty, and pandemics with millions in cash and the Internet giant’s global resources.
They chose five of the world’s ills and crafted core initiatives to best match Google’s strengths.
(READ the AFP story from Google News)
Greenpeace Applauds Apple for New Arsenic and Mercury-Free Laptop
Greenpeace applauded Apple for the release of its new greener MacBook Air laptop, particularly its mercury and arsenic-free design, reports the iPod news blog. It is also the world’s thinnest computer, unveiled, at this week’s Mac Expo in dramatic fashion, by Steve Jobs as he slid it from an envelope. (Video and Story) Thanks to Jim G. for the Greenpeace tip.
UPDATED: Bin Laden’s Son Wants to be Peace Ambassador
Osama bin Laden’s 26-year-old son Omar wears dreadlocks and a biker jacket and tells the AP “there is a better way to defend Islam than militancy: Omar wants to be an “ambassador for peace” between Muslims and the West.” (Today)
Couple Reunited After 60 Years Apart Since the War
“When Anna Kozlov caught sight of the elderly man clambering out of a car in her home village of Borovlyanka in Siberia, she stopped dead in her tracks, convinced her eyes were playing tricks.