Fun Froggy Sink Could Save Kids’ Lives in Places Where Sanitation is Lax

-

Jul 27, 2015

Star Wars fans have created fan art through countless mediums. Rice paddies, however, are definitely a first.

For decades, rice farmers in Inakadate Village in Japan have been creating images using their rice plants, and their latest is a Star Wars tribute featuring the two beloved droids from the films.

By mapping out a design using computer software, they’ve been able to sow various types of rice with different colored leaves into patterns that form the likenesses of C-3P0 and R2-D2. The newest droid, a character set to debut in a film to be released this year, is also represented.

The crop looks normal from the ground, but creates a mural when seen from above.

YouTube user juzji shot the video below from an observation tower above the rice field. If you look closely at the top image, you’ll see cars on the highway above R2’s head, giving you an idea of how big this rice art is.

7-Year-Old Star Wars Fan Asks George Lucas If Jedis Can Marry, Gets Great Answer

The tradition started after road construction through the village in 1981. Archeologists found some of the rice paddies in the path of the road were 2,000 years old which impressed villagers and inspired them to start the rice paddy art projects to celebrate their heritage.

(WATCH the video and READ more at Mental Floss) — Photo: juzji, YouTube

Use The Force, Or Social Media, to Share This Story…

Sweet News From US Beekeepers: Colony Numbers At 20-Year High

By

-

Jul 27, 2015

The number of bee colonies is rebounding across America, nine years after a mysterious hive crisis caused beekeepers to warn of a “Beemageddon”.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports the number of bee colonies has increased from a low of 2.4 million in 2006 to 2.7 million last year– the most since 1994.

The department had been tracking declines in bee populations since the 1980s and by 2006 the crippling phenomenon was dubbed “colony collapse disorder.” No one was sure what was causing it, but beekeepers warned that losing 30% of hives each year would eventually wipe out bee populations across the country.

40% Less Mercury in Fish Shows Success of US Coal Industry Caps

With their livelihoods on the line, beekeepers reacted quickly to the concerns and began trying new management techniques such as splitting healthy hives in two, which allowed more of their hives to avoid large losses in the winter. They also bought new bees to replace the ones they lost.

The situation was so alarming that the government put together a national strategy to protect bees and other pollinators earlier this year after spending $3 million on bee health, instituting pesticide warnings, and setting aside land to help bees and other wild pollinators survive. But it may be beekeeper improvements that have done the most to ensure the future honey bee populations.

After Year of Rehab, Sea Turtle Returns to Ocean Under a Rainbow (WATCH)

The price of honey has gone up, along with fees charged to pollinate the crops of fruit, vegetable and nut growers, but after years of bad news swarming around bees, these economic investments seem to be paying off.

(READ more at the Washington Post) — Photo: orangeaurochs, CC

Share The Buzz, Send This Story To Your Friends And Followers…

Girl Sells $47K in Bracelets to Help Friend With Skin Disease Buy a Pool

By

Sonja Schulken

-

Jul 27, 2015

Bethany Walker wanted nothing more than to take a dip in the pool with her best friend, Anne Marie Cox, this summer.

But a rare blistering skin condition has kept nine-year-old Anne Marie from being able to swim in the public pools.

Anne Marie’s family dreamed of being able to build a saltwater pool in their own backyard for their daughter—one that would be soothing for her skin— but they couldn’t afford it.

12-Yr-Old Generously Uses ‘Make-A-Wish’ For Food Truck To Feed Others

That’s when Bethany stepped in, selling friendship bracelets made from rubber bands in an effort to help the family raise enough money to build the pool.

In just 19 weeks, Bracelets by Bethany raised more than $47,000, enough money for the Cox family to build the saltwater pool, and give their daughter what most kids take for granted – a cool dip on a hot summer day.

“It’s been really neat watching that relationship cultivate with these two little girls who just have a love for one another,” Anne Marie’s mother Kandi Cox told ABC News.

The girls are now happily doing laps together, and, as a result of her efforts, Bethany is in the running for a national scholarship for community service sponsored by J.C. Penney and IZOD.

(WATCH the video below and READ more at ABC News) Photo: Bethany Walker, via Facebook

Be A Pal, Share This Story With Your Best Friends:

I Swerved into His Truck to Avoid a Dog – His Response was Amazing!

Your Blogs

By

Kippy Lanker

-

Jul 27, 2015

Last Monday I was going to PetSmart to buy dog treats. As I pulled into the parking lot, a small dog jumped out of the arms of an old lady. I quickly swerved to avoid the dog– but hit a truck instead. I scraped my car all along one side, against his bumper.

I stopped shaking and got myself under control, got out and left a note on the truck. While in the store, I saw two men going to the truck and reading the note, so I ran out to talk to them. The owner was SO nice.

I apologized profusely and he told me he could push the bumper out by hand, and it looked like I’d only cracked his turn signal light.

“Those run about $25, so if you just want to give me that, we’ll call it good.” I told him I didn’t have any cash on me but could run into the store and buy something and get cash as change.

Cop Goes Undercover in Wheelchair to Make Arrests, Finds Kindness Instead

He agreed, and I thanked him again, telling him how much I appreciated it because I was sure I’d done more damage to my car than that. (Turns out, it was about $3k in damage to mine). He walked over and looked at my car, turned to me and said, “Never mind. I feel really bad. Don’t worry about my light.”

I told him he had nothing to feel bad about – it was all my fault! He refused to take any money for it, no matter what I said.

His kindness turned a stressful, nerve-wracking, embarrassing situation into something remarkably less so. Grateful!

File photo by ex-magician, CC

World’s First Malaria Vaccine Approved – and it Will Be Not-for-Profit

By

-

Jul 26, 2015

mosquito-Aedes_Albopictus-publicdomain — By Aedes Albopictus, public domain

The world’s first malaria vaccine has been given approval by a European medical agency for future use in sub-Saharan Africa, where more than a quarter million children under the age of five die every year from the disease.

European regulators examined phase III clinical trial results involving more than 16,000 young children conducted by research centers in eight African countries (Burkina Faso, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Tanzania).

RTS,S triggers the body’s immune system to defend against the Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasite when it first enters the human host’s bloodstream or liver.

“It’s absolutely an astonishing day,” GlaxoSmithKline’s Vice President for Africa told CNN. “It is the first time anyone ever has been able to make a vaccine against a parasite.”

Scientists ‘Delete’ HIV Virus From Human DNA for the First Time

Perhaps most impressive, GlaxoSmithKline, the pharmaceutical company that worked on this vaccine for 30 years, and received $200 million from the Gates Foundation, is making RTS,S available as a nonprofit drug. It will be offered at a low cost to cover manufacturing costs plus a 5% markup, with all that money going back into further research for a malaria vaccine that could be even more effective. The pharmaceutical company has invested more than $365 million to date and expects to invest a further $200 to $250 million until the vaccine is ready for market.

With this approval from the European Medicines Agency Friday, the vaccine next will be considered by the World Health Organizations, as well as individual countries in sub-Saharan Africa to decide how and if they will use the vaccine, along with current Malaria prevention techniques, like bed nets. 80% of the children involved in the clinical trials were also protected by insecticide treated bed nets.

RTS,S, also known as Mosquirix, was administered to children aged 6 weeks to 17 months in three doses. Over the first 18 months following three doses of RTS,S, malaria cases were reduced by almost half in children aged 5-17 months at the time of first vaccination and by 27% in infants aged 6-12 weeks. At study end, over four years of follow-up in children RTS,S reduced malaria cases by 39%, and by 27% over three years of follow-up in infants. In areas of the highest malaria burden, more than 6,000 clinical malaria cases were prevented over the study period for every 1,000 children vaccinated.

A Legacy of Equality: Americans With Disabilities Act Turns 25

By

-

Jul 26, 2015

Sunday is the 25th anniversary of the ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act, which made the country a lot more accessible than it was in 1990 when President George H.W. Bush signed the legislation.

Wheelchair ramps, now common on businesses, public buildings and street corners in America today, were relatively rare a quarter century ago.

The ADA also gave civil rights protections to people with disabilities to ensure they can fully take part in government, public and community life.

Dolls with Disabilities Designed to Make All Kids Feel Special

The law resulted in a new world of opportunities, including closed captions for the hearing impaired on television, audio descriptions for the blind at movie theaters, wider doors on buildings, and buses with low floors that can reach the sidewalk for easy wheelchair entry.

Robert L. Burgdorf, Jr., a disability rights scholar and advocate, wrote the bill that would become the ADA.

“In a variety of ways,” he wrote in a Washington Post op-ed column, “The ADA has lived up to the hopeful expectations that accompanied its passage.”

Dad Builds “Awesome” Giant Swing so Daughter in Wheelchair Can Play

The ADA helped people with disabilities find and keep jobs, and 25 years later, the U.S. Labor Department is collecting personal stories from grateful workers.

(READ more at Bloomberg) – Photo by Steve A Johnson, CC

How To Be The Architect Of Your Own Fortune and Learn to Be Lucky

By

Nico Rose

-

Jul 25, 2015

The word fortune is derived from the goddess of luck and fate, Fortuna, in Roman mythology. She’s often portrayed as being blindfolded, meaning she is impartial–she doesn’t care about the recipient. Instead, she is an agent of chance and a symbol for the unpredictability of life. She can bestow upon each of us not only good luck and fortune, but also disaster. That is what the ancient Romans believed: luck, whether good or bad, is something that just happens to us. Some people are born under a lucky star, and some are not. We cannot–and should not–interfere.

But, it turns out, this view about the world is mostly incorrect. I am here to convince you that we all can – at least to some extent – be the architects of our own fortune. We can change our stars. We can learn how to be lucky.

Prepare… Be There… Express… Say Yes!

The truth is: I’m a lucky guy. I got to speak at a TEDx conference in Bergen, Norway recently. I wasn’t even invited to speak. I was just a regular guest. One of the speakers cancelled but instead of extending the break, the organizers addressed the audience and said: “OK, we’re going to split up those 18 minutes by 3. If you feel like giving an impromptu five-minute TEDx talk, write your name on a piece of paper and put it on the speaker’s desk during the next break.” So, I put my name on the desk.

Lucky me – my name was drawn from the stack and I gave my first TEDx talk.

There certainly was an element of luck at work. Ten or twelve slips of paper were on the desk. My chances were roughly at 30 percent. But it takes more than being lucky. You have to be there in the first place. You have to buy a ticket and show up. This is straightforward, but nevertheless crucially important. You also have to be brave and optimistic and write your name on that slip of paper and tell the world what you have to offer. And then, when your name is actually pulled from the stack, you have to say, “Yes.” You have to go for it.

How To Keep Regret From Holding You Back

But that is not the whole story. You also have to be prepared. You need to have knowledge. You have to be ready. And there we have four essential building blocks for being the architect of your own fortune: Prepare, be there, express, and say yes!

Prepare

The scientist Louis Pasteur famously said: “Chance favors the prepared mind.” Back in his time, Pasteur was referring to scientific discoveries – but isn’t that just a special case of being lucky? You have to be able to understand what you see when you see something. You have to be able to connect the dots, discover a pattern – and make sense of it. And this ability in turn is based on training, prior knowledge, expertise. Therefore, we tend to get luckier the more we learn and grow.

Be There

Mr. Woody Allen says “80 percent of success in life is showing up.” And I think he’s absolutely right. We have to go places, meet people, we have to be curious. We have to be present, open and mindful. Luck seldom happens to us when we are at home alone. Luck mostly comes to us in the form of other people. Luck favors those that go out and mingle. If you do not apply for the job of your dreams, you are definitely not going to get it. If you do not talk to the beautiful stranger, you won’t “get lucky.” We tend to get luckier the more curious and open we are.

Give Your Ideas Some Legs: Study Finds Walking Improves Creativity

Express

Now let’s look at some science: Richard Wiseman is a British psychology professor who published “The Luck Factor.” He’s got a lot to say on the topic, but for now let’s just look at a sentence from the summary section: “Luck is not a magical ability or a gift from the gods. Instead, it is a state of mind – a way of thinking and behaving.” One thing that he found in his experiments is that lucky people mostly are not really luckier, they just try harder. They display more grit. An important behavioral trait of lucky people is expressing yourself – and let others express themselves. We have to show the world what we have to give. And we have to listen to what others have to say and to give. We tend to get luckier the more we express ourselves.

Say Yes

Finally, we need to say yes! Sir Richard Branson is often quoted saying “If somebody offers you an amazing opportunity but you are not sure you can do it, say yes – then learn how to do it later!” And that, once again, has a lot to do with the TEDx talk in Norway. Five days before the talk, I got a message and was asked if I would be able to come to Bergen. A proper German should have said “Oh, Norway? This Saturday? That’s tough. You know, I have to do the grocery shopping on Saturday, and then there’s soccer on TV… and it’s a really long trip.” But I said yes… We tend to get luckier the more we say yes, instead of no!

I firmly believe this is also the reason why some people are luckier than others. By going out and learning, and talking to people, and saying yes, we enlarge our personal sphere of the adjacent possible. We create an extended space of possibility and make possible what for others is impossible. We get to be the architects of our own fortune. Prepare, be there, express, and say yes!

Nico Rose is a psychologist with a doctoral degree in business administration. Nico has authored articles, appeared in German newspapers, and is a regular keynote speaker at human resource conferences. His latest book is “Lizenz zur Zufriedenheit – Positive Psychologie in der Praxis” (License for Satisfaction: Positive Psychology in Practice). He blogs about Positive Psychology at www.mappalicious.com. – Photo Credits: (top) Flazingo Photos – CC

Share the luck with your friends… below)

Healthy Desserts and Snacks You Can Buy or Make That Won’t Bust Your Diet

By

Lauren Minchen

-

Jul 25, 2015

It’s an age-old question: how can we lose weight while winning the battle against cravings, and feel satisfied at the same time?

My answer is this: in order to keep that weight off sustainably, you have to find healthy and flavorful substitutes for your favorite treats.

That’s why including a healthy swap into each and every day of the week can prevent feelings of deprivation and that dreaded “I’m on a diet” feeling. These swaps should consist of any mix of these 3 things: protein, fiber and/or healthy fats, all of which are important for satiety, craving control, and balanced nutrition. You need them to actually fulfill that craving. Most people look to satisfy their sugar and fat cravings by eating more sugar and fat. And while occasionally indulging in something you want is a healthy thing to do, the pattern of continually cheating with these heavy foods will ultimately just fuel more cravings later.

So, what’s your craving? Crunchy chips? Creamy ice cream? Sweet Bakery Products? What substitutions are healthy that will work for you?

I’ve compiled a list below of your worst cravings along with my favorite healthy food swaps for a nutritious dose of deliciousness. Kiss those cravings goodbye, and kick them out for good! You got this.

Frozen Yogurt

Regular frozen yogurt is typically just a sugary ice cream treat posing as its healthy cousin. But really, it’s full of sugar and additives, with little protein, fiber or other nutrients.

Drizzle 1 Tablespoon melted peanut butter and 1 Tablespoon melted Nutella onto 1 cup chilled, unsweetened, whole milk Greek yogurt (e.g. Fage, Chobani, Siggi’s). This is a protein-rich, creamy swap that also provides healthy calcium, potassium, phosphorus, iron, B vitamins and healthy fat to support strong bones and a healthy cardiovascular system. It’s also lower in sugar because of the unsweetened Greek yogurt while providing just enough sweetness from the Nutella to satisfy cravings.

Microwave Popcorn

Instead of popping a bag into the microwave, choose Skinny Pop, Indiana Popcorn FIT OR Boom Chicka Pop brands, all of which provide fewer calories and chemical ingredients than microwave popcorn varieties. They also boost fiber and polyphenol intake. Air-popped popcorn actually contains high amounts of antioxidants in the form of polyphenols. And at about 35 calories per cup, it’s a lean, filling, crunchy snack! You can even take this a step further and add some fun seasoning: Italian seasoning, cinnamon, turmeric/curcumin, sea salt and cocoa powder (any brand), sriracha or hot sauce.

Sugary Breakfast Yogurts

Greek yogurt is a good source of calcium, potassium, phosphorus, B vitamins and iron. Unsweetened, whole milk (4%) Greek yogurt sweetened with Stevia is a natural sugar alternative to standard sugary yogurt. It is derived from the South American Stevia plant, and it does not raise blood sugar. Add ½ cup berries or 1-2 Tablespoons cocoa powder (any brand is OK here) to add your preferred flavor. This cuts out added sugar grams by using Stevia in place of sugar, and it can also provide more protein—up to twice the amount of protein compared to most yogurts on the shelf.

Pie

This healthy swap cuts out refined flours and sugars, while adding fiber and antioxidants from the fruit and honey. Toss 1 chopped apple or 1 cup berries in 1 Tablespoon liquid Stevia or Manuka honey (add cinnamon to the apples, if desired) and 1 tsp organic butter. Pour onto baking pan and bake at 350 until fruit is soft but still holds it shape. Sprinkle 1/8 cup granola on top and enjoy! Organic butter is also a great source of essential fatty acids that support healthy brain and metabolic function, including Omega 3s.

Soda Pop

Opt for Bai 5 sparkling fruit drinks: naturally sweetened with Stevia instead of sugar and contains natural tea and fruit extracts. It provides a healthy dose of vitamin C and antioxidant-rich polyphenols from the tea extract. Can also be found at Walgreens and some grocery stores. Zevia is also a great alternative, it has zero calories and is sweetened with Stevia.

Cake

Instead of cake, swap all that sugar and white flour for a yogurt-based pudding that increases your Omega 3 intake with flax seed: Stir 2 Tablespoons ground flax into 6 ounces unsweetened Greek yogurt and add 1 Tablespoon melted Nuts ‘n More in Toffee Crunch, Pumpkin Spice or Chocolate Peanut flavors. Additionally, that Greek yogurt will keep you satisfied with healthy protein.

Swedish Fish and Gummy Worms

RAP Protein Gummies have less sugar, fewer calories, 100% of your daily dose of vitamin C and 20 grams of protein per pouch. These are decent swaps for sugar-laden gummies, which provide no protein or vitamins and double-digit sugar numbers. You can find these at some 7 Eleven stores and online.

Cookies

Emmy’s Organic Macaroons, any flavor, or Quest Bar Cookie Dough Protein Bars (available also at Vitamin Shoppe or GNC stores) are great options. Or, make homemade “overnight oats” using 6 ounces unsweetened Greek yogurt + 1/3 cup milk + ¼ cup dry oats. Soak overnight. Top with fresh berries or sprinkling of dark chocolate chips the next day. These options reduce added sugar grams, refined flour, and trans fats, while providing protein, fiber, and sweetness from Stevia and fruit. While the calories from these swaps may be comparable to eating a cookie, you will be left more satiated in the long run, rather than craving more later.

Lauren Minchen is a New York City-based registered dietitian and nutritionist. Visit her at laurenminchen.com. Photos: (top) Billy Wilson Photography; Ciara McDonnell; Susanne Nilsson; Cristina P.M. – CC

BOOKMARK These Great Tips on Your FB or Twitter Timeline… (below)

Falcons Soar Off Endangered List With Irony, From Nests in City Skyscrapers

By

-

Jul 25, 2015

After nearly becoming extinct across North America due to humans’ widespread pesticide use, one species–the fastest on earth–is making a comeback, thanks to human intervention and the tall skyscrapers of our modern landscapes.

While the peregrine falcon can reach speeds over 200 miles per hour in pursuit of prey, the majestic birds couldn’t outrun the man-made hazards of the mid-twentieth century. It wasn’t until the government ban on DDT and protections extended by the new Endangered Species Act in the 1970s, that these birds of prey had a chance of survival.

Peregrines were finally removed from the U.S. endangered species list in 1999, but some states, like Illinois, kept it listed, because the once-native population had fallen to zero.

Ironically, it was the majestic skyscrapers in America’s third largest city, Chicago, that gave the falcons the perfect hunting perch from which to look for pigeons–and the perfect launching pad from which to soar off the endangered species list in Illinois, just this month.

Captive breeding programs have been releasing juvenile falcons back into the wild for years. Some of the animals preferred to stay in the traditional habitat of quiet cliffs near water or field, but many chose the bright lights and big city with its tall building ledges.

When the falcons first began showing up in this city along the Great Lake of Lake Michigan, volunteers began placing nesting platforms atop bridges and other perches to help them thrive.

Dame Saves Orphaned Elephants for 50 Years With Own Milk Recipe

Conservationists in other big cities, especially those located on water, like London, have celebrated the urban success of peregrines.

In mid-1970s there were only 375 nesting pairs of the blue-grey falcons in North America, but today the number of peregrines, a species that mates for life, is up to 1,650 couples in the U.S. and Canada.

(READ more at the Wall Street Journal) Photos by (top) Indiana Dept of Natural Resources; Greg Hume, CC

Two Teachers Praised as Heroes in Lafayette Movie Theater Shooting

By

-

Jul 25, 2015

Two teachers are being recognized as heroes for their response during a tragic shooting inside a Lafayette movie theater July 23.

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal said during a press conference that after the gunman opened fire during the showing of a film, one of the teachers lunged to shield the body of her friend, the teacher who then leapt to pull a fire alarm.

“Her friend literally jumped over her, and in her account actually saved her life,” Jindal said during a press conference. “If she hadn’t … that bullet she believed it would have hit her in the head.”

“Even though she was shot in the leg, she had the presence of mind to pull the fire alarm to help save other lives.”

Karma Comes Back Around for Man who Set Aside Religious Tradition to Help Boy

The two teachers were identified as Ali Martin and Jena Meaux. One was released and the other was still being treated at a hospital yesterday.

The president of the Iberia Association of Educators in the city where the two work, has set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for medical expenses and anything else the two teachers need. The page has already raised $22,000 in one day.

“We will be sure to present them with each donor’s name, as well as the amount donated so that they are aware of the love and support pouring in from across the country,” wrote Cammie Maturin on her campaign page.

(READ the full story in the New Orleans Times-Picayune)

Energetic Shelter Dogs Get Second Chance in Wildlife Conservation Jobs

By

-

Jul 25, 2015

For these pooches, their “wild” lifestyle could actually help save wildlife.

Shelter dogs with high-energy can sometimes be less adoptable than their more docile counterparts, but a program based in Washington, DC, has found a way to save them by putting their unique traits to good use.

By partnering with Working Dogs for Conservation and the International Fund for Animal Welfare, Rescues 2 the Rescue trains high-energy dogs to do scent-related jobs that support conservation work.

“Bucket List Dog” Cuts Ribbon at Shelter Where He Was First Adopted

Trainers say the toy-obsessed, spirited pooches tend to thrive when trained to help locate difficult-to-find wildlife and plants, and can also help identify threats like poisons, and sniff out invasive plant species, which helps preserve wildlife.

Ultimately, Rescues 2 the Rescue hopes this will also improve their “adoptability.”

“I certainly think that animals in shelters have a great deal to give,” Carson Barylak, campaigns officer for IFAW, told the CS Monitor. “I hope we are saving lives, both of dogs and wildlife.”

(READ more at CS Monitor) – Photo: Douglas M. Weston II

Late Football Legend Leaves $1.2 Billion to Improve the Community

By

-

Jul 24, 2015

Roger Wilson Stadium Buffalo Bills CC runneralan2004 — Roger Wilson Stadium Buffalo Bills game – by runneralan2004 (CC license)

Some might consider two NFL Super Bowl championships and a Pro Football Hall of Fame induction to be a great legacy.

Add to it a billion dollar donation for the community to spend over the next 20 years and you’ve got a philanthropic sports masterpiece.

In July, the Ralph C. Wilson Foundation, named for the Buffalo Bills football team’s founder and owner, announced that residents of upstate New York and southeastern Michigan will benefit from a billion-dollar project to fund community growth, childhood development and healthy lifestyles.

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

Over the next two decades, the Foundation will spend $1.2 billion on improvement projects, with $60 million allocated specifically for grants to nonprofits.

“Ralph saw firsthand the impact of his generosity in his lifetime,” his wife, Mary Wilson, said. “Always thinking of others even in his own legacy, his hope with this trust was that the Foundation’s work may make a direct impact in the lifetimes of those who knew him best.”

Wilson grew up and lived in Michigan, but had close ties to his team’s fans in western New York and created his foundation to benefit people in both regions.

Stranger Changes Child’s Life Posting This Photo of The “Sidewalk Scholar”

He founded the Bills in Buffalo, New York, as part of the American Football League in 1959, and owned the team until he passed away early in 2014.

The Bills won the league championship twice and played in four Super Bowls after the AFL merged with the National Football League. Wilson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009.

(READ more from NFL.com) – Photo: runneralan2004, CC

Share This Story With Your Team:

‘Leaked’ Muppets Video Announces Return to Prime Time TV (WATCH)

By

-

Jul 24, 2015

It’s time to light the lights!

The Muppets are making a comeback, thanks to a “top secret video pitch” they made to ABC network executives, according to this entertaining new video trailer.

Fan favorites like Kermit, Miss Piggy and Fozzie will return to prime time in “The Muppets 2015,” a show that will explore the puppets’ personal and professional relationships as they work together backstage to produce a late-night talk show.

‘M’ is for ‘Maria’, Who Will be Missed After Four Decades on Sesame Street

This modern day reboot of the classic show is billed as a more adult, contemporary, documentary-style program, versus the old format of a variety show.

Animal claims he has been doing 'Cross Fit' to get in shape for certain scenes. — Animal claims he has been doing ‘Cross Fit’ to get in shape for certain scenes.

The iconic Jim Henson franchise “The Muppet Show” originally aired on television from 1976-1981. Several feature films were also released.

The new show won’t debut until this fall on ABC, but the ‘secret trailer’ below should tide you over until then.

(WATCH the video below)

Share the News (below)…

NASA Discovers Most Earth-Like Planet Yet In the “Goldilocks Zone”

By

-

Jul 24, 2015

Planet hunters at NASA have found what they’re calling Earth’s “older, bigger cousin,” and believe it’s our strongest lead yet to finding advanced life somewhere else in the universe.

The new planet, Kepler 452b, is about 60% bigger than Earth, and orbits a sun similar to our own every 385 days.

That orbit puts it in what scientists call the “Goldilocks zone” — neither too hot, nor too cold, but just right for life.

And since the planet’s star has been around a billion years longer than ours, there’s been more time for life to take root and evolve.

“It’s awe-inspiring to consider that this planet has spent six billion years in the habitable zone of its star, longer than Earth,” Jon Jenkins of NASA’s Ames Research Center said at the announcement Thursday. “That’s substantial opportunity for life to arise, should all the necessary ingredients and conditions for life exist on this planet.”

Why Does This Astronaut Have Two Dogs On His Official NASA Portrait?

Named after the Kepler spacecraft that spotted it, Kepler 452b is the 4,696th planet the space probe has discovered.

Don’t expect to head to Kepler 452b anytime soon: this new world is 1,400 light years away. The fastest spacecraft ever launched from Earth would take 266 million years to get there.

(WATCH the IGN video and READ more at the New York Times) – Illustration: NASA

Help Your Friends And Followers Discover This Story, Share It…

On His Last Day, Police Officer Gives Out Gift Cards Instead of Tickets

By

-

Jul 24, 2015

Being stopped by a cop can normally induce panic—but a number of lucky people were all smiles when this officer approached them.

As he walked the streets of his 14-year patrol route one final time, Commander Brian Peters, a retiring Minnesota policeman, sought out citizens who could use some extra money for groceries or school supplies and handed them gift cards.

He says the people he stopped were apprehensive – then appreciative – when he gave them $50 gift cards to Target and Cub Foods.

Shaundra Lindsay told KARE-TV she was nervous at first when the officer approached her and her three children at a metro transit stop.

Kansas Policeman Buys Diapers, Shoes for Mom Who Shoplifted for Her Kids

“I got a little scared, but he came to me with some good news,” she said. “I didn’t know what he was coming over here to me for. It was a surprise. He blessed us and I am really happy about that.”

Peters gave out the equivalent of his last paycheck, saying, “The citizens and city have been wonderful to me. I am very blessed, so it feels good to give back.”

He says he will look for other opportunities to serve the community in his new position as manager of the crisis center at Target’s Minnesota headquarters.

(WATCH video below or READ more at KARE) Photo: KARE video – Story tip from S Ghent

MULTIPLY the Good… (Share Below)

12-Yr-Old Generously Uses ‘Make-A-Wish’ For Food Truck To Feed Others

By

-

Jul 24, 2015

Lucas Hobbs absolutely loves food—he’s a 12-year-old, self-professed foodie.

He couldn’t eat much while undergoing treatment for Hodgkin’s lymphoma, but now that he’s feeling better, he decided to express his gratitude by using his “Make-A-Wish” to feed others.

“When I was sick, people brought me food from our church, and it was really nice of them,” Lucas told WCCO-TV.

That’s why he asked for his very own food truck—ChefLucasFood— and the chance to feed a number of different people with it.

His truck stops included a homeless shelter, senior center, church, and the Minneapolis Police Department, which shot some video of the Lucas’s visit.

Lucas, who lives in Eagan, Minnesota, told WCCO News that he was first inspired to start a food truck after watching the movie “Chef,” a movie about a father and son who run a food truck together.

(WATCH the video below or READ more at WCCO News) Photos: ChefLucasFood Facebook

Click to Share the Inspiration (below)…

Strangers Feed Parking Meter for Mom Stuck in Hospital With Baby

By

-

Jul 24, 2015

Ontario Mom Is Thankful For The Kindness Of Strangers; Encourages Us All To Pay It Forward

Fellow moms on social media came to the rescue of a mother stuck in a hospital–and it only took a handful of quarters to save the day.

When Kaylee Goeman’s 6-week-old baby started screaming and she took him to the hospital, the last thing she needed to worry about was paying for parking.

The mother of three couldn’t afford the Canadian hospital’s $15 parking fee, so she paid a parking meter for four hours.

When it became clear they’d be in the hospital far longer, Goeman didn’t want to leave her infant, but worried about getting ticketed or towed. She turned to a local mother’s group on Facebook for help.

Single Mom Rents Billboard to Praise Her Gentleman Son

Over the next several hours, five different women in her hometown of Barrie, Ontario, went to Goeman’s car to feed her meter – while another 100 people wrote in with encouraging words or other offers to help the family.

“Knowing I had all these ladies there for me, to help me with parking, meals, and even hugs made me able to focus just on my son and his needs,” she told Today.

Photo: Facebook – Story Tip: Gina Maria Littlebird

Give Someone the Confidence to Ask for Help– Share Below…

Strawberries and Roses for Strangers Turn This City’s Monday Around (WATCH)

By

-

Jul 23, 2015

When a group of 20-somethings hit the streets of Montreal to hand out roses and strawberries, they asked for only a smile and transformed everyone’s Monday blues—including their own.

The group collectively said they were amazed by how many smiles they conjured this week among the people–we counted 54. Even more amazing was how very simple it was.

Watch Adorable Father-Daughter on a Kindness Spree for Their Birthdays

“All of the people laughed so much that it was contagious. We got to interact with so many random people. Project 30 has grown bigger than all of us,” said group member Andrea Pecatikov.

This was Day 21 of Project 30’s month-long spree of doing 30 things they’ve “always wanted to do.” They are posting a video for each event on their YouTube Channel.

Thomas Brag, the leader of Project 30, says the initiative has always been about inspiring others and getting his team out of their comfort zones.

So far, those daring adventures have included eating insects and meeting with the mayor. Their videos have tallied over 200,000 views.

(WATCH to see everyone’s reaction to the Random Acts of Kindness…)

Get Your Friends to Smile. It’s Simple… (Share below)

Outdoor Cinema for the Homeless Offers Great Escape in Films

By