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When City Ignores Filthy Transit Station, Politicians Start to Scrub it Themselves Every Week

By
McKinley Corbley
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If you ever feel yourself losing faith in politics, just remember that not all lawmakers are out to get you.

Take Hillary Ronen and Bevan Dufty for example – upon finding out that some public transit stations didn’t have full-time janitors, the two California legislators rolled up their sleeves and got the job done themselves.

The dynamic duo have spent every Wednesday morning for the last two months cleaning up several Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) stops that are notoriously filthy. Ronen, who is a city district supervisor, described the plethora of used needles, trash, and filth at the 16th Street Mission Station as “unacceptable”.

RELATED: Opposing Congressmen Become Besties When Forced on D.C. Road Trip

Dufty, who is a a former supervisor and current member of the BART board, became inspired to get down in the dirt after receiving a number of complaints from transit passengers about the mess. Because there was not a full-time janitor at the station, the station’s stench had become almost unbearable.

When Ronen encouraged the BART board members to join them for the morning cleanups so they could see the mess themselves, no one has yet accepted.

“BART and the City must do better,” she said in a statement. “I am escalating this issue by calling on each of the other eight BART Directors to join Bevan and me in these weekly cleanings, to see for themselves the conditions they have created for our community and to commit to immediate improvements.”

Although her actions didn’t work on the BART members, they did inspire Jane Kim of the city’s Board of Supervisors to say that she would pick up a broom during next week’s cleanup.

LOOK: Young Democrats and Republicans Come Together To Aid Flood Victims

Since Dufty and Ronen began their work in September, however, San Fransisco Chronicle says that BART has assigned a janitor to the stations for eight hours a day, five days a week. The agency has also begun power-washing the station every night.

KQED morning news editor Ted Goldberg remarked on how this inspiring behavior is not out of the ordinary for Dufty: “This is the kind of work Bevan Dufty did as a member of the [San Francisco Board of Supervisors]. I saw him cleaning up trash the morning after a street party in the Castro years ago.”

Additionally, Ronen and Dufty have inspired the public to pitch in as well.

City resident Jonathan Lyens tweeted: “I’d like to join in! People with disabilities depend on a clean and safe system … and this blind guy is ready to be part of the solution.”

Clean Up The Negativity: Click To Share With Your Friends

Parents Now Spend Twice as Much Time With Their Children as 50 Years Ago

By
McKinley Corbley
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There are countless studies that link positive parental relationships to healthily adjusted children. Thankfully, more and more parents are spending time with their children.

A study published by the Journal of Marriage and Family shows that parents in western countries are spending twice as much time with their kids as they did 50 years ago.

The nations surveyed – Italy, the United States, Canada, Germany, Britain, the Netherlands, Denmark, Spain, and Slovenia – all showed remarkable improvement between 1965 and 2012.

In 1965, it is estimated that the average mother spent 54 minutes with her children per day. In 2012, that number jumped to 105 minutes, according to the Economist.

RELATED: Thousands of Indian Doctors Fight Sexism by Delivering Baby Girls For Free

While fathers were shown to spend less time with their kids than mothers, the average amount of minutes that dads spent with their kids went from 16 minutes to 59.

France was the only country surveyed that did not show improvement in mother-child time – although, university-educated French fathers did.

WATCH: You Will Laugh and Cry Over Dad Bringing Newborn to Doctor’s Appointment

Non-university-educated parents also started spending much more time with their offspring, though not as much as their educated counterparts.

Denmark’s educated and non-educated mothers were shown to be the most attentive parents in the study, both of which spent roughly 225 minutes with their kids per day in 2012. Educated and non-educated Denmark dads clocked in at roughly 115 and 80 minutes, respectively.

Click To Share The News With Your Own Parents (Photo by Philippe Put, CC)

Buy Gift of Socks and Get a Free Pair for Yourself –And 15,000 for the Homeless

By
McKinley Corbley
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Say it with a Sock holding Lava Mae socks

Say it with a sock donation

For those living on the street, socks are important—and the number one most requested item of clothing—which is why this company is making it possible for thousands of homeless people to experience the restorative moment of cozy footwear after a fresh shower.

Say It With A Sock is a company started by a husband and wife team who wanted to create a “sock-of-the-month club” and send its members different colored socks every month. When they learned how desirable these would be for the homeless community, they pledged to donate over 15,000 pairs during the upcoming holiday season.

They partnered with the fabulous Lava Mae organization, which has transformed old buses into mobile shower units for the homeless in California. In fact, last week on “Giving Tuesday”, they donated 20% of all proceeds to this nonprofit.

Also in the spirit of Giving Tuesday, Good News Network readers who purchase one of the sock subscriptions, tailored to men, women or children, will get a free pair of socks as an added bonus. Just use the coupon code GNN at sayitwithasock.com, until the end of the year—and be doubly happy that your purchase also supports the Lava Mae’s mission.

The 15,000 pairs of donated socks are durable, thick, and warm for people living on the streets during the winter months—and in a shade of gray that more easily hides dirt.

Founders Daniel Seeff and Lauren Jacks (pictured above) say it’s a win-win for holiday gift giving, with cute socks, a freebie pair for GNN fans, and the satisfaction of knowing you’ve helped provide socks and showers for someone less fortunate in San Francisco or Los Angeles. Remember to enter the GNN coupon code at checkout and you will get an extra pair of socks in the first month.

(WATCH the video below)

Pass Along This Giving Tuesday DEAL: Click To Share With Your Friends

22-Year-Old With Down Syndrome Makes History Competing For Miss USA in State Pageant

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Good News Network
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This 22-year-old has just made history as the first woman with Down syndrome to ever compete in the Miss Minnesota USA pageant.

When Mikayla Holmgren was born six-and-a-half weeks early, her parents were unsure about her future. Her parents told Fox 9: “At that point, we didn’t know what life held for her.”

Miss Minnesota USA will not be Mikayla’s first pageant, but it is certainly important enough to make her future look even brighter.

Mikayla and her parents are both excited that she has been able to showcase her beauty to the world.

Denise Wallace, the Miss Minnesota executive director, said: “Anybody that even spends five minutes with her knows that she is the right person to be the first to represent a community of people that need to see themselves doing something like this.”

Other than competing in pageants, Mikayla has taken gymnastics and danced for her entire life. And, like many people her age, she is enjoying herself while she attends college at Bethel University.

Don’t forget to SHARE this story with your friends…

Watch Film Crew’s Amusing Strategy For Avoiding a Grouchy Sea Lion

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Good News Network
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There’s nothing like the feeling of packing up your belongings and heading home after a long day’s work.

Unfortunately, these guys were about to call it a day when they met an unlikely obstacle blocking their path: an angry sea lion.

The film crew had been shooting on a dock for the BBC Earth’s hit documentary series “Blue Planet II” when the sea critter cornered them on the pier and refused to let them pass.

RELATED: Parrot Places Online Shopping Order by Mimicking Owner

While this may sound like the makings of a bad situation, the results were actually pretty funny.

One of the guys suggested that his fellow crew mate surrender to the sea lion as a means of offering a truce – and while it may not have worked, it sure gave the gang a good laugh over the amusing encounter.

(WATCH the video below)

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When Dad Falls Off Ladder and Breaks Leg, Firefighters Finish Hanging the Christmas Lights

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Good News Network
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Once Thanksgiving is over, it’s officially Christmas season – and instead of going Black Friday shopping, many Americans choose to stay home and get into the holiday spirit.

That’s exactly what Glenn Elvenholl, a husband and father from Colorado, was doing this Friday when something went terribly wrong.

Glenn was hanging up Christmas lights outside his family home when he fell off his ladder, fell onto the ground below, and ended up breaking his leg and dislocating his ankle.

Rescuers with the local fire department quickly arrived on the scene to handle Glenn’s injury and get him to the hospital where he could be properly treated.

Technically, their job should have ended there — but that’s not where they stopped.

A number of firefighters decided to stay behind after the incident and finish hanging up Glenn’s Christmas lights, since he likely wouldn’t be able to get back up on the ladder.

The firefighters said that putting up the lights was “the right thing to do,” especially for the children who were worried about their dad’s injuries.

Their act of kindness definitely encapsulates the holiday spirit! Hopefully, Glenn will be well again soon, and be home to enjoy the holiday season (and the Christmas lights!) with his family.

CLICK the link below to watch the heartwarming video – and don’t forget to SHARE the news with your friends…

First Vending Machine For the Homeless to Launch in the UK

By
McKinley Corbley
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This isn’t just any vending machine – this may be the UK’s first vending machine designed specifically for the homeless.

The machine, which is set to open in Nottingham at the start of December, will be stocked with fresh fruit, sandwiches, clean socks, books, lotion, sanitary towels, toothpaste, and other essentials.

RELATED: Rick Steves Sacrifices Nest Egg to House Dozens of Homeless Women and Kids

UK charity Action Hunger will be working alongside the Friary, a surplus grocery food charity, to hand out 100 specially designed keycards to the city’s priority homeless population. Homeless individuals are only allowed to use the keycards up to three times a day in order to prevent abuse of the machine’s inventory.

Additionally, they will have to check in with the Friary once a week in order to keep using the cards. The chips within the keycard can be deactivated if they are lost or stolen.

WATCH: Friends Convert Tractor Trailer into Six Modern Showers for Florida Homeless 

Depending on the machine’s success, Action Hunger hopes to install several more of the vending machines in Manchester, London, and Birmingham during the coming months, according to the Nottingham Post.

The British news outlet says that the Friary will be providing half of the machine’s inventory alongside Action Hunger.

Hopefully, the machine will have a two-pronged effect: it will provide the homeless with 24 hour resources, and put them in more consistent contact with charities that can help them get back on their feet.

Dish Out The Positivity: Click To Share (Photo by Jack Hughes / Action Hunger)

Rats Are Saving Elephants From Hidden Landmines on Their Migration Routes

By
McKinley Corbley
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Magawa the heroic minesweeping rat - credit PDSA

These tiny bomb detectors are helping to clear the way for their larger animal counterparts to safely migrate the African plains without risking an explosion.

These African giant pouched rats, nicknamed “HeroRats”, have made international headlines for their groundbreaking work in clearing minefields with their noses.

Because they are too small to set off the explosives, the rodents can sniff out the bombs and allow their human counterparts to safely disarm or detonate them.

RELATED: Mozambique Declared Landmine Free, First Nation to Be Completely Cleared

APOPO, the charity that employs the clever critters, has been tasked by the Zimbabwean Ministry of Defense with clearing the deadly landmines inside what is now the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park (GLTP) – the largest conservation area in the world, spanning South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

The mines don’t just pose a threat to endangered wildlife species such as lions, tigers, and elephants – they have also proven risky to the Zimbabwean communities who are cut off from water sources, livestock grazing lands, and cross-border trading routes.

Additionally, clearing the mines could usher in millions of dollars worth of international eco-tourism for Zimbabwe.

MORE: Ex-NASA Engineer to Plant One Billion Trees a Year Using Drones

Christophe Cox, CEO of APOPO, said: “We are proud to be able to help Zimbabwe rid itself of these mines during an incredibly important period in the nation’s history. We saw this approach work in Mozambique, which is now mine-free, and believe we can help accomplish the same in Zimbabwe.”

Mozambique became the first nation to be declared “mine-free” after 22 years of work with the government removed more than 171,000 landmines, and opened up more than 4,200 acres of land (1,700 ha) for safe passage to the local communities.

If you’re worried about how the rats feel about working in such a dangerous field (pardon the pun), have no fear – the NGO has assured that their 300 bomb-sniffers are treated like the heroes they are.

CHECK OUT: Orange is the New Green For Thriving Costa Rican Forests, Thanks to Orange Peels

Over the course of the Belgian charity’s 20-year career, the rats have safely located over 106,000 mines, and they have also proved efficient in sniffing out tuberculosis. According to APOPO, the HeroRats have detected over 12,000 TB-positive patients who were missed by their clinics, and prevented almost 90,000 potential infections of tuberculosis.

You can help support the HeroRats’ mission by “adopting” one of the cute little critters at the APOPO website.

Plant Some Positivity: Click To Share The News With Your Friends (Photo by APOPO)

Shatner Wants Clever Kid’s New Word Added to the Dictionary– All We Have to Do is Use it

By
McKinley Corbley
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Levi Budd has always been fascinated by the English language – and now, he might even have a chance to contribute to it.

The 6-year-old from Victoria is going viral on social media after he made a video describing how he has made up an ingenious new word that he wants to add to the dictionary.

Levi considers himself a fan of palindromes; words that result in the same phrase when spelled backwards, such as racecar, civic, and level. Upon seeing a stop sign while in the car with his parents, however, Levi realized that “stop” spelled backwards resulted in a different word: “pots”.

RELATED: 10-Year-old Boy Invents Device That Will Save Children From Hot Cars

The Canadian youngster asked his parents if there was already a word for such a phenomenon. A few quick internet searches showed that there was not.

The Budd family then created a video describing Levi’s discovery and the invention of his new word to define the occurrence, which he rightfully named after its creator: “levidrome”.

When the video started to gain traction on social media, Oxford Dictionaries received a request for Levi’s word to be added to their dictionary. The request was sent out by none other than the Star Trek captain William Shatner.

MORE: 11-Year-Old Becomes ‘America’s Top Young Scientist’ for Her Sensor Detecting Lead in Water

In addition to adding “levidrome” to their Oxford Word Watch list, they personally responded to Levi’s video with one of their own stating that his word is already close to official recognition.

“Lots of people know your word and know what it means, which means ‘levidrome’ is well on its way into our dictionary,” said the organization in a Twitter video.

All “levidrome” needs to do to make it into the dictionary is for people to use it in general conversation for an extended period of time. So if you want to see “levidrome” added to the books, just make sure that you use it!

(WATCH Oxford’s response video below)

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New Zealand Needs Police Officers– and Their Recruitment Video is Hilariously Compelling

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Good News Network
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If you have ever thought about joining a law enforcement team, the New Zealand police force make a compelling case.

In a wildly entertaining new recruitment video called Freeze!, the nation’s police department use bagpipes, police cats, parkour, and amusing dialogue to entice possible new officers onto the team.

Even the credits have been given a comical touch with the AOS members’ names simply being listed as “Sorry we can’t tell you his or her name” and “none of your concern”.

RELATED VIDEO: Guy Makes Hilarious Commercial to Sell His Girlfriend’s Used Car–and Bidding Soars

While the video filmed reminiscent of how action movies think police life is like, most of the officers end up using their adrenaline to do little things for their community – like helping an old man across the street and dancing with youngsters.

Being a police officer may not be the job for you, but you gotta hand it to them – the recruitment video sure beats looking at online job listings.

(WATCH the video below)

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Holocaust Survivor Indebted to American Troops Donates $1Mil: ‘First they saved us. Then … they welcomed us’

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Good News Network
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An 83-year-old Holocaust survivor is giving back to the American troops who liberated his French city from Nazi occupation decades ago.

Bernard Darty announced yesterday that he would be donating $1 million to organizations helping wounded US veterans, such as the Wounded Warrior Project and the Services for Armed Forces program of the American Red Cross.

The survivor wrote in a Fox News op-ed: “Since World War II, I’ve felt a deep connection to American troops for saving my life – a feeling that resurfaces every year on Veterans Day and throughout the holiday giving season.”

MORE: 95-Year-old Holocaust Survivor Has a Roommate – a 31-Year-old Granddaughter of Nazis

“Even though more than 70 years have passed since my rescue, it’s not too late to give back. That’s a lesson I hope the next generation recognizes, because it’s all too easy to let procrastination give way to inaction. But action is what brings hope to those who need it,” he added.

Darty’s Jewish parents fled from Poland to France in a bid to escape Nazi forces. Unfortunately, his family was captured and sent to concentration camps, where they later perished. 7-year-old Darty, however, survived the roundup by hiding at his aunt’s house.

For the next two years, he says he stayed hidden at other families’ houses on the outskirts of Paris. Finally, liberation arrived in the form of D-Day.

CHECK OUT: Woman Donates Entire Toy Store to Kids in Homeless Shelters

“I vividly remember the arrival of the hundreds of thousands of American troops who landed in Normandy to liberate us in June 1944. They were our saviors, doling out packets of sweets to half-starved, war-weary children who had almost given up hope for freedom.

“The gratitude I feel to these men is beyond words. They freed our country and they saved our lives. Without American troops, my family and I simply would not have existed. I think of that every time I look at our family photos.”

Darty grew up to co-own one of Europe’s largest home appliance operating out of 340 stores across three countries. In the 1990s, he and his wife started off their retirement by buying a second home in Miami, Florida where they enjoy refuge from the Parisian winters.

RELATED: Former Nazi PoW Leaves His $500K Estate to Scottish Town That Showed Him Kindness

Now, years later, he feels spurred to give back to the country that gave him so much.

“First, Americans saved us. Then decades later, they welcomed us,” says Darty.

“That is why I want to help modern American veterans today. They pursue the tradition of the young men who landed on the shores of Normandy in June 1944 and who I will never forget. In giving this donation, I want to thank Americans with all my heart for coming to rescue us in our hour of need.”

Click To Share This Inspiring Story With Your Friends – Photo published by Fox News

This Heartwarming Thanksgiving Mix-up is Turning into a Tradition

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Good News Network
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Because of a mistaken text message,  Jamal has a new holiday tradition—and a new friendship that lasted way beyond the time it took 400,000 retweets to travel across the internet.

Last year, the teen received a text message from a grandmother saying, “Thanksgiving dinner is at my house on November 24th at 3:00pm. Let me know if you’re coming.”

Jamal did come, even though the message was mistakenly sent by Wanda Dench who was trying to invite her own grandson—but gave a warm welcome to the young man, who asked if he could attend, anyway.

Nice Celebrity: Matthew McConaughey Surprises Strangers Handing Out 4,500 Thanksgiving Turkeys on His 48th Birthday

“Of course you can. That’s what grandmas do… feed everyone.”

This year, they continued what they determined would be a tradition in the Mesa, Arizona household—Jamal’s shining presence at every November Thanksgiving feast going forward.

(WATCH the video below or Read more at KPNX 12 News)

Learn How to Spend Time Alone So You Can Unlock Your Creativity

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Good News Network
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Living like a solitary hermit can be unhealthy if you’re doing it for the wrong reasons —but newly-published research shows that not all forms of societal withdrawal are equal.

In fact, the findings published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences by a University of Buffalo psychologist suggest that one form of social withdrawal, referred to as unsociability, has some negative outcomes, but is also linked positively to creativity.

“Motivation matters,” says Julie Bowker, lead author of the study. “We have to understand why someone is withdrawing to understand the associated risks and benefits.”

WATCH: Most Creative Job Application Ever? Student Raps His Way to Fallon Internship

Bowker’s study results are reminiscent of realities that surface in literature, from Thoreau’s retreat to Walden to Thomas Merton’s work as a cloistered monk, but for all the conversation and examples about the benefits of withdrawing into nature or reconnecting to the self, the pursuit has remained, until now, something that hasn’t been well investigated in the psychological literature, according to Bowker.

“When people think about the costs associated with social withdrawal, often times they adopt a developmental perspective,” she says. “During childhood and adolescence, the idea is that if you’re removing yourself too much from your peers, then you’re missing out on positive interactions like receiving social support, developing social skills and other benefits of interacting with your peers.

“This may be why there has been such an emphasis on the negative effects of avoiding and withdrawing from peers.”

RELATED: This Doctor Broke The Law To Engineer a Better Nursing Home, And the Death Rate 

But, in recent years, Bowker says there is growing recognition for the different reasons why youth withdraw from and avoid peers, and that the risk associated with withdrawal depends on the underlying reason or motivation. Her study in particular is the first study of social withdrawal to include a positive outcome

While there are some people who withdraw out of fear or anxiety, there are also some people who withdraw due to non-fearful preferences for solitude. These individuals enjoy spending time alone, reading or working on their computers. They are unsociable. Unlike shyness and avoidance, research consistently shows that unsociability is unrelated to negative outcomes. But, Bowker’s study is the first to link it to a positive outcome: creativity.

“Although unsociable youth spend more time alone than with others, we know that they spend some time with peers. They are not antisocial. They don’t initiate interaction, but also don’t appear to turn down social invitations from peers. Therefore, they may get just enough peer interaction so that when they are alone, they are able to enjoy that solitude. They’re able to think creatively and develop new ideas – like an artist in a studio or the academic in his or her office,” says Bowker.

In the study, shyness and avoidance were related negatively to creativity. Bowker thinks that “shy and avoidant individuals may be unable to use their solitude time happily and productively, maybe because they are distracted by their negative cognitions and fears”.

LOOK: Soon You Can Cross Canada on One of the Longest Pleasure Trails in the World

For the study, 295 participants reported on their different motivations for social withdrawal. Other self-report measures assessed creativity, anxiety sensitivity, depressive symptoms, aggression, and the behavioral approach system (BAS), which regulates approach behaviors and desires, and the behavioral inhibition system (BIS), which regulates avoidant behaviors and desires.

Bowker says there is some overlap in the types of social withdrawal. Someone might be high in shyness, but also have some tendency toward unsociability. But, the results from her study show that when the research controls for all the subtypes, the three types of social withdrawal are related differently to outcomes. Not only was unsociability related positively to creativity, but the study findings also showed other unique associations, such as a positive link between shyness and anxiety sensitivity.

“Over the years, unsociability has been characterized as a relatively benign form of social withdrawal. But, with the new findings linking it to creativity, we think unsociability may be better characterized as a potentially beneficial form of social withdrawal.”

(Source: University of Buffalo)

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‘Miracle’ Preemie Baby the Size of a Soda Can Defies Odds After 5 Months

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When baby Eliora Schneider was born, her family was all but certain they were going to lose her.

Her mom, Robin, went into early labor, and the little girl was born a preemie at just 21 weeks and 6 days.

“We thought this was it, you know. We were going to lose our sweetie,” Robin recalled to KSHB, holding back tears.

But Eliora, who goes by “Ellie,” survived the birth. At the time, she weighed just 14 oz. (barely heavier than a 12-oz. can of Coke) and was only a bit over 10 inches in length.

Ellie spent just two days longer in the womb than the earliest premature baby who has ever survived childbirth, but five months after her miraculous birth, doctors are calling her progress “remarkable.”

Robin, who has a GoFundMe page to help pay for Ellie’s medical costs, says, “The fact that she’s alive and has as few complications as she does is a miracle.”

Click to Watch the video and see Ellie’s inspiring story – and SHARE with your friends…

Friendship Blossoms on Street Corner When Artist Makes Incredible Puppet to Look Like Senior –MUST SEE

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Good News Network
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Doris and Ricky may seem like an unlikely duo, but they have one thing in common: puppets.

After spending years of his life trying to make it in the traditional work force, Ricky Syers finally found his calling a street performer. He wasn’t the only star of his act, however—he embellished the little shows with his handmade marionettes.

One day when he was performing in New York City’s Washington Square Park, local senior Doris Diether became entranced by his performance.

CHECK OUT: When a Preschool Opens Inside a Nursing Home All Heaven Breaks Loose

As a gift for her kindness, Ricky made a puppet of Doris that looks exactly like her life-sized counterpart.

Doris wasn’t just delighted by the marionette – she became another star in Ricky’s street shows.

(WATCH the sweet video below)

Click To Share These Perfect Puppeteers With Your Friends

Video of Girl Running to Hug Her Brother Every Day After School is Sure to Make You Smile

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Good News Network
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Ava and Tariq Jackson may not have gotten along when they were younger – but once Tariq started going to kindergarten, they realized just how much they missed each other.

Now, every day after 5-year-old Tariq gets off the school bus, 3-year-old Ava rushes across the pavement so she can jump into her brother’s arms.

RELATED: 8-Year-old Helps Buy New Wheelchair For His Best Buddy When Insurance Fails

“Every afternoon at 4:04pm when my son gets off the school bus from kindergarten, this happens,” says their mother Verlonda. “They greet each other with hugs, kisses, and walk home arm and arm saying things like, ‘You’re my favorite person.’ ‘Thanks. You’re my favorite person, too.’”

“As a parent that’s the best I can hope for,” she added.

(WATCH the video below)

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Man Living in a Shack is Saved By His ‘Worthless’ Blanket That Spurs $1.5 Million Bidding War

By
McKinley Corbley
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Six years ago, Loren Krytzer was living in a shack and scraping by on $200 disability checks from a car accident in 2007 that cost him his leg and left him out of work when he saw a television segment that would change his life.

The native of Liona Valley, California was watching an episode of “Antique Roadshow” when he saw a rare Navajo blanket that was worth half a million dollars. Krytzer was shocked because he happened to own a Navajo blanket that looked identical to the one on TV.

According to Krytzer, the blanket had been passed down through his family from generation to generation since his great-grandfather got it in the 1800s. After his grandmother passed away, his mother and sister had “pillaged” the entire house and left nothing behind except for the “dirty” blanket.

RELATED: While Fishing, 11-yo Boy Reels in a Purse Lost 25 Years Ago… and Returns it to Owner

Upon seeing the Auctioneers episode, Krytzer took it to several antique organizations only to be turned down. Despite the rejection, the determined amputee took the blanket to John Moran Auctioneers in 2011 – and he found out that he had struck gold.

Moran and his team told Krytzer that “conservatively”, the blanket was worth at least $150,000.

When Krytzer agreed to put up the blanket for auction, he says that he prayed for at least enough money to get a better house. After a 77-second bidding war, a ferocious bidding war pushed the blanket’s closing price to $1.5 million, which remains today as the most expensive item that Moran Auctioneers ever sold.

After taxes and fees, Krytzer was given $1.3 million.

“They had to bring over water and stuff to me and wipe sweat off my head,” Krytzer told CNBC Make It. “I started hyperventilating because I couldn’t believe it. … Everything just went limp and I couldn’t catch my breath.”

MORE: Fire Forces Man To Sell Good Luck Pearl, Turns Out To Be Worth $100Mil

“It was just hard to grasp. I mean, I worked hard my whole life. I was in construction, I never bought anything, I never saved, I always rented. I bought used cars cause that’s all I could afford. I lived paycheck to paycheck my whole life,” he added.

So what does such a thrifty man end up doing with such a large amount of money? He invested in some stocks, bought a house in California, married his long-time girlfriend who had stuck with him through thick and thin, and bought himself a nice car.

To this day, he still credits the dirty old blanket that sat in his closet as the thing that saved his life.

(WATCH the video below)

One man saved his own life by selling a rare $1.5 million blanket he'd thought was worthless from CNBC.

Click To Share The Inspiring Story With Your Friends (Photo by John Moran Auctioneers)

Bee-Friendly Insecticides Closer to Reality After Breakthrough Development

By
McKinley Corbley
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While commonly used pesticides have been shown to hurt bee populations, there may be a new development on the horizon that will simultaneously ensure the protection of honeybees and the crops that they pollinate.

According to a new study that was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal, scientists found that honeybees were able to resist a certain kind of pesticide called tau-fluvalinate.

While the “sodium channels” of bumblebees were targeted and damaged by every other strand of pesticide, they were unaffected by tau-fluvalinate.

LOOK: The Grateful Dead Helps to Save Bees and Butterflies Through Jerry Garcia’s Legacy

This development has inspired hope for the future employment of a “selective pesticide” that will repel dangerous mites and pests, but leave honeybees and other pollinating insects unharmed.

“For the first time, we are showing that unique structural features in bee sodium channels interfere with the binding of tau-fluvalinate to bumble bee sodium channels,” said Professor Ke Dong, an author of the study.

“This opens the possibility of designing new chemicals that target sodium channels of pests but spare bees.”

CHECK OUT: Man Creates Gardens For Unwanted Bees, Grows Free Food in 30 Abandoned Lots

While it may take some time before the pesticide is developed and utilized by farmers, celebrities and businesses are making strides to protect the precious insects in the interim:  cereal brand Honey Nut Cheerios was lauded for planting over 3,300 acres of honeybee habitat last year because “it was time to give back” to the tiny insects that had supported their product for so long.

Additionally, the late Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead has been protecting the pollinators with his rock and roll legacy.

“Jerry was an environmentalist who advocated for the preservation of the rainforests and the coral reefs,” said Manasha Garcia, Jerry’s wife and co-founder of the foundation. “It is a blessing to continue this work in his honor.”

Click To Share The Buzz With Your Friends (Photo by Jennifer Geib / Appalachian State University)

Now You Can Use Snapchat to Learn Sign Language For Free

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Good News Network
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Have you ever been interested in learning the basics of sign language, but you didn’t want to pay for classes? Well, there is already a teacher out there who is waiting to teach you for free.

Chad Krohn of Rochester, New York is using the video sharing app Snapchat so he can teach sign language to the masses.

Because his mother is deaf and his father is an interpreter, American Sign Language (ASL) has always been second nature to Krohn. As he got older, however, he was surprised by how many people were unable to communicate in ASL.

After downloading Snapchat, he assumed that someone would be taking advantage of its unique features to teach language lessons – but no one had thought of it.

RELATED: People Are Posting Stories of Celebrities Being Nice to Them and it is Incredibly Refreshing

“I always envisioned a future where everyone knew sign language and when I hopped on Snapchat, I was waiting and waiting for someone to do what I was doing, but no one took the opportunity to do it,” Krohn told Rochester First.

“I decided if no one is going to do it, then I have to do it,“ he added.

Using his Snapchat channel MeowChickenFish, Krohn orchestrates games, puzzles, jokes, and lessons that teach the basics of ASL.

Krohn says that he plans on bringing his lessons to YouTube in the coming months.

Click To Share The News With Your Friends (Photo by Butupa, CC)

National Park Service is Posting Cute Photos of Animal Families For Thanksgiving

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Good News Network
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Are your drunken family members arguing too much about politics? Do you need a lighter subject matter for dinnertime? Well boy, do we have the solution for you.

 

The National Park Service is posting photos of cute animal families in celebration of Thanksgiving.

 

Honestly, it’s hard to feel stressed when you look at animal families spending quality time together for a human holiday.

 

“Happy Thanksgiving from all our families to yours!” says the National Park Service.

 

“Don’t forget you can skip the stress of #BlackFriday and #OptOutside with us tomorrow.”

 

Happy Thanksgiving! Click to Share The Pawesome Story With Your Friends (Photos by the National Park Servce)

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