Gorgeous Jewelry Made From Fruit Sustains South American Women In Fair Trade

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Jul 10, 2015

A lot has happened since the world was introduced to Donald Gould, the homeless man who sat down at a street piano and was so darn good that he became an overnight sensation. (Watch the video here)

Within the past week, he was given a makeover, landed a paying gig at a restaurant, and, finally, on Tuesday reunited with his son, whom he chatted with on Facetime.

“I’m so happy to see you! You’re a good looking young man,” Gould told his son.

From the moment that initial video of his piano playing was spread nationwide, he said he just hoped his son would see it.

For 30 Years Nanny Had “Thorn” in Her Heart for ‘Lost’ Boy, Facebook Reunites Them

Now, Gould is cleaning up his act, and headed into rehab Wednesday. His son, he said, has inspired him to get his life back on track.

Stay tuned to GNN for more updates. (Story Tip: Judy Ritchie)

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World Cup Champs to Be First Women’s Team to Get NYC Ticker Tape Parade

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Jul 10, 2015

It’s been a string of scoring goals and breaking records for these American athletes.

The World Cup-winning U.S. Women’s Soccer Team is set to make history once again today as the first women’s team in any sport honored with a ticker tape parade through New York City’s “Canyon of Heroes.”

On Sunday, in the international finals against Japan, Midfielder Carlie Lloyd became the first World Cup player — man or woman — to score three goals in less than 16 minutes.

17-Year-Old Blind Pole Vaulter Wins Bronze at State Championship

The 5-2 victory also marked the first time that any country has won three Women’s World Cups

Private donations have raised $450,000 for the parade, and the city will pay the rest of the $2 million cost — including the 400 people hired to clean up all that paper dropped along the route.

The campaign to give the women’s team a parade kicked off even before the championship game began in Vancouver, British Columbia, starting with a phone call from an aide to former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg to current Mayor Bill de Blasio. Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer also campaigned for the parade in an open letter to the mayor and New York City’s First Lady, Chirlane McCray chimed in with a tweet saying “The people have spoken.”

The people have spoken & they want a ticker tape parade to celebrate #USWNT! THIS Friday: http://t.co/LxvDvXJc6g pic.twitter.com/Gjp1M0mnQ9
— Chirlane McCray (@Chirlane) July 7, 2015

The name “ticker tape” comes from old stock tickers, which printed out market information on long, paper tapes. It was an easy source of scrap paper to shower on parade participants from windows high above the route inNew York’s Financial District.

Since the tickers have been obsolete for more than 50 years, the Women’s Soccer Team will be showered with paper from shredders and confetti handed out by the city along the mile-and-a-half route to city hall.

The fun kicks off at 11:00 this morning.

(WATCH the ABC News video) — Photos: ABC News

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Coke’s Ramadan Campaign Promotes Tolerance With Label-Free Cans, Stunning Ad

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Jul 10, 2015

The most renowned global beverage company is pushing for a world without labels – by dropping its own.

Coca-Cola is temporarily removing its name from soda cans in the Middle East to encourage people not to judge each other. Instead of their logo, the iconic red and white cans contain the message, “Labels are for cans, not people.”

The centerpiece of the advertising campaign is a film depicting a diverse group of men sitting in the dark, discussing their lives and backgrounds, with only their voices and words as cues to each one’s outer appearance. While still in the dark, the men share their preconceived notions about what the others must look like, only to have those images shattered when they see the group – including a facially-tattooed psychologist and wheelchair-bound adventure athlete – with the lights on.

The campaign runs in the Middle East during Ramadan, the Muslim holiday that ends July 17th, and ties in with Coke’s global “Let’s take an extra second” campaign– with another poignant video– that discourages stereotypes based on looks alone.

The ad team, FP7/DXB and Memac Ogilvy, explained the concept behind the campaign:

“In the Middle East, a region with over 200 nationalities and a larger number of labels dividing people, Coca-Cola has set out to remind us that while it takes just 7 seconds to build prejudices based on someone’s appearance, nationality or culture, it takes just 1 extra second to overcome them.”

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Because the holy weeks of Ramadan call for a focus on charity, in addition to their tolerance campaign, Coca-Cola announced that, instead of advertising on television, it would only post its video ads on social media.

The millions of dollars saved will be used to help develop more than 100 underprivileged villages in Egypt.

(READ more at Egyptian Streets)

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Listen Up: Gene Therapy Brings Hearing to Deaf Mice, Hope for Humans

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Jul 9, 2015

ear CC Simon James — Photo by Simon James, CC

You heard right: two new studies show serious promise in the use of gene therapy to prevent deafness in infants and restore hearing in older people.

The first experiment, conducted in both the U.S. and Switzerland, was carried out by researchers replacing faulty hearing genes in mice and surprising them with loud noises. Their reactions—jumping when they were surprised—demonstrated that their hearing had been restored. Those findings were published in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

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Currently, pharmaceutical company Novartis is experimenting with a new drug containing a gene called Atoh1 that they believe will improve hearing lost through age or disease or listening to too much loud music over a lifetime.

Their experiment focused on a gene that causes hair cells in the inner ear — essential to the sense of hearing — to grow, restoring the ability to hear.

Using gene therapy to treat hereditary hearing loss may still be a long way off, with clinical trials not expected for another ten years, but the Novartis study is more advanced. The Swiss company’s early trial is underway with results expected in 2017.

(READ more at NBC) — Photo: Simon James, CC — Story Tip: carolyn

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Peruvian Sisters Carve Gourds into $800 Works of Art

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Jul 9, 2015

While most of us see a squash or a pumpkin the Canto sisters see an epic story, a great adventure — and ultimately, an $800 work of art worthy of a museum.

Katya and Blanca Canto are masters of the disappearing art of gourd decoration, a longtime Peruvian craft, and are showing off their work this summer at the annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the National Mall in Washington, DC.

The gourd itself serves as a canvas for incredibly detailed art that requires a very skilled hand. By using carving tools and a heated stick to color the designs, intricate details are shaped right on the gourd’s surface. In some cases, the design requires so much detail that one gourd can take up to two months to complete.

The sisters use carving tools to create the images and a heated stick to burn in colors.

Some feature animal sculptures, while others create what the girls call a “world view” — a series of images that tell a story.

In order to tell that story, certain skills must be mastered, and the process can take years to learn

The sisters confirmed that one of their their next objets d’art will depict their adventures in Washington.

Adults Are Using Coloring Books to Combat Stress

(READ more about the sisters from NPR)

Photos: Josh Cogan/Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archive, Smithsonian Institution

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

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Jul 9, 2015

Mary Nelson may be confined to a wheelchair, but she can feel the breeze in her hair now, too–since her father built a roll-on swing set for her.

Mary, who has a type of muscular atrophy and needs the wheelchair and a breathing tube to get around, couldn’t climb into a regular playground swing, and the nearest wheelchair accessible playground was more than 10 miles away.

Her dad, Ryan, who has a background in mechanical engineering, drew up plans for a swing that could hold her and her 450 pound wheelchair. (In the photo, he hasn’t attached the latch yet that will hold the ramp in place.)

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Ryan Nelson won a Fatherly Fund grant from a parenting website, after getting the most votes in Fatherly’s competition last fall. He used the $1,000 to buy a quarter ton of lumber, bolts and other hardware to build the giant swing in a single day.

Mary’s wheelchair can be rolled up the ramp and, with a little push, is gliding back and forth. Siblings and friends can even glide with her.

“This is awesome!” Mary said her first time on the swing.

It’ll be even more awesome when Mr. Nelson finishes the playhouse and slide to complete the playground.

(WATCH the video and READ more at Fatherly) – Photo from Facebook video

LOOK AT WHAT YOU DID! A while back I asked you guys to vote on a project that would enable a buddy of mine to build a wheelchair swing set for his daughter. You voted in force and he won the competition. He used the money to buy the hardware, and yesterday he let me come over and help build the main structure. Check out the video! (If you're interested, the original post was here https://www.facebook.com/SmarterEveryDay/photos/a.280459888654850.82955.216515601715946/851269094907257/)
Posted by Smarter Every Day on Sunday, May 24, 2015

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New Law Protects People Who Break Into Hot Cars to Save Pets

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Jul 9, 2015

It’s now perfectly legal to break into a car in Tennessee — as long as you’re trying to save a pet.

A new state law protects people from being sued if they free an animal from a hot car.

Even though 16 other states have some protections for animals left in parked cars, Tennessee is the first to extend its “Good Samaritan Law” to protect people trying to help animals.

The law in Tennessee was passed after a Georgia man was arrested in that state for breaking a car window to save a dog in distress. The car’s owner later dropped charges against him.

Rescued Bear Cub Goes Absolutely Bananas Upon Her Return to Forest

Hopefully, the law will make people think twice before leaving their pets locked in hot cars while they run errands.

On an 85-degree day, the temperature in a parked car can reach 120 degrees in a half hour — even with the windows cracked.

Michigan State University tracks all the state laws protecting animals left in parked vehicles. Most have penalties for people who leave animals in hot cars, but Tennessee is the first to offer protections for people who come to their rescue.

(WATCH the video below from WATE News) – Photo by emdot, CC

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Strangers Drive for Hours to Attend Party for Rural Boy Without Friends (WATCH)

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Jul 9, 2015

Wayne Eubanks was very confused when he opened the front door and found dozens of packages stacked on the porch.

It was the day of his son’s tenth birthday. The family, which homeschools the boy because of his speech disorder, wasn’t expecting many kids to show up for the party– or gifts piled on the doorstep.

“I called my wife and said, ‘I don’t know what’s going on. There’s 50 or 75 packages at the garage door,’” Wayne told WDBJ News.

Little Boy in Sparkly Fedora Steals Show From Pharrell (WATCH)

As it turned out, those gifts for Camden had poured in from as far away as China and Brazil–and toy company Mattel sent a box full of fun, too.

All Camden wished for was a birthday party with few friends and a water balloon fight, but his mother didn’t want him to be disappointed if no one showed up, so she put an open invitation on Facebook with the family’s address, for anyone who wanted to come.

I know all kids should learn disappointment in life- but sometimes other kids are so cruel. Camden is turning 10 on...
Posted by Camden's 10th Birthday Party- An Open Invitation on Sunday, June 28, 2015

Someone—the Eubanks don’t know who—had posted the invitation to Reddit, and by the day of the party, Facebook post had logged 5,000 ‘Likes’.

Nearly 300 people showed up in rural Troutville, Virginia for the party — many of them strangers who drove for hours just to do something nice for Camden.

Homeless Piano Player Gets a Makeover and Paying Gig

The boy and his friends, old and new, dined on hot dogs and a six-tier birthday cake, and they stayed cool thanks to the local fire department that provided a shower of water over the party.

And Camden got his water balloon fight — with hundreds of people and 2,000 water balloons.

“He was just beside himself,” Camden’s grandmother, Kathryn Sowers said. “He had the best time.”

(WATCH the WDBJ News video) — Photo: Camden’s 10th Birthday Party, Facebook — Story Tip: Jim Kelly

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Pirate Johnny Depp Surprises Patients in Visit to Children’s Hospital (Watch)

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Jul 9, 2015

Johnny Depp—er, we mean, Pirate Captain Jack Sparrow—stole the hearts of many kids receiving treatment in Australia when he showed up dressed as his famous alter ego to surprise patients at Lady Cilentro Children’s Hospital in Brisbane.

The 52-year-old actor and his co-star, Stephen Graham, who plays Scrum, took a break from filming their latest “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie to spend hours chatting with patients in the oncology and neurology wards, taking photos and giving out gold coins.

We should point out the characters did not arrive by pirate ship – they flew in from the Gold Coast by helicopter and landed on the hospital’s rooftop.

Police SWAT Team Dressed as Superheroes Surprise Kids at Hospital

This isn’t Depp’s first surprise visit as Jack Sparrow. He’s shown kindness in many ways, including visiting London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital, where his daughter, Lily-Rose, was treated for kidney failure. He also showed up in character at a London school a year later at the request of a student there.

“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales” is expected to be released in 2017.

(WATCH video below) – Photo: Juiced TV/Children’s Hospital Foundation video

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Former Addict Cuts Homeless People’s Hair and Spreads Joy of Rehab

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Jul 9, 2015

Six days a week, Nasir Sobhani cuts hair in a barber shop. On the seventh day, he hops on his long skateboard, packs up his barber kit, and approaches homeless people in some of Melbourne, Australia’s roughest neighborhoods to ask them if they’d like a free haircut.

When he finds a taker, he’s able to offer just a few moments of normalcy to someone who hasn’t had something as simple as a haircut in a very long time.

“They need actual human contact, some stimulus to help engage them in a form of intimacy with a human being that cares for them,” said Sobhani, a 26-year-old Canadian native now widely known as the “Streets Barber” thanks to a popular YouTube documentary.

At 3 a.m. Australia time, he sat down for a Skype session with Good News Network and showed us around his studio.

The fact that he was once a cocaine and opiate addict, he explains, helps him relate with many of his street “clients” who struggle with addiction and alcoholism, and opens the door for meaningful conversations.

“What I’m doing is my way of giving back. I remember when I used to hate myself and not look in the mirror without crying because I would be so disgusted with who I was,” he said. “I find embedded within a lot of my street clients that they feel so ashamed of how they are.”

Sobhani made it to rehab and, after he got out, his family sat him down and said, “You should do what you love doing: cutting hair.”

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It was a passion he found early on while hiding from his combative older brother in their family’s bathroom.

“I locked my seven-year-old self in there for two hours. I was bored, so I laid some towels down, grabbed my dad’s shaver, and got rid of my peach fuzz mustache,” he explained.

While his customers may not be able to afford tips, they thank him in other ways.

As he searches his shelves for trinkets, Sobhani finds a bracelet, some drawings, and glass heart, given to him by a woman who’s hair he cut recently.

“I want you to have my heart,” is what she told him. But to him, the most rewarding part of all is making a connecting with someone, and, sometimes, planting a seed. He may ask them why they drink, why they use, what it would take for them to stop—but that’s all he can do, since he usually never sees them again.

When his clients do stick around, that’s when his other favorite form of gratitude comes into play.

“To me, the biggest thank you is when someone comes up to me and says, ‘Nas, I’m not letting anyone else cut my hair!’ The client loyalty, like I’m their barber, means the most,” he said.

Above all, he says, his faith is what drives his mission to help others like himself find reason to look in the mirror again.

Rock & Roll Photographer Turns Local Homeless Into “Stars”

“In the Bahai faith, serving the community and helping others is really the way we worship what we believe ” he says. “It’s through acts of service, not sitting in a church or mosque or synagogue or praying to the wall. The faith encourages action.”

Even though nine out of ten people turn him down when he first approaches them, he’ll keep trying, one seventh day at a time.

(WATCH the video below to see more) Photos via Nasir’s Instagram, Copyright Scott Bradshaw —Story Tip from Nicole Hoss

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50% Success in HIV Vaccine Tests Leads to Human Trials

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Jul 9, 2015

A new, experimental HIV vaccine is being tested in humans after it completely prevented the disease in half the monkeys it was given to.

Drug company Johnson & Johnson is now testing the vaccine on 400 healthy human volunteers in the U.S., South Africa, Eastern Africa and Thailand.

The company believes the vaccine will work even better on humans than on animals.

The vaccine works in two steps, similar to an Ebola vaccine the company is also developing.

The first dose given to the monkeys included a weakened cold virus and genetic bits of an animal version of HIV — simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV). Once doctors saw an immune system response, they gave the primates a second shot that contained an SIV protein that triggered the immune system to fight off the virus.

Researchers published their findings in the journal Science.

If the first human trials go well, a wider study will start within the next two years to determine what the exact doses for people should be.

(READ more at the Daily Mail) – Photo by snre, CC license

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The House That Hemp Built: Moldproof, Fireproof and Eco-Friendly

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Jul 8, 2015

These contractors are taking the term “going green” quite literally.

As part of an emerging trend here in the U.S., many buildings are incorporating the use of a hemp-based material to provide insulation.

The brick, which is known as “hempcrete,” is made by mixing the wood-like interior of the Cannabis sativa plant with lime and water to form a block that serves as a flexible, breathable, and fireproof insulation that is impervious to mold and pests.

For decades, because the plant contains trace amounts (.3%) of THC, the chemical found in marijuana, it has not been legal to grow in the US. Though it can be imported from Canada, builders might soon be able to use ‘Made in the USA’ plants, since the farm bill passed last year allowed a few hemp-farming pilot projects to launch.

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So far, 20 states have removed barriers to industrial hemp production.

It could become even more widely applied if Congress passes the Industrial Hemp Farming Act, introduced early this year, which would amend the Controlled Substances Act to exclude industrial hemp from the definition of marijuana. This would allow American farmers in any state to grow the crop.

The New York Times reported that hempcrete has been used as a building material in Europe for decades, where hemp cultivation was never criminalized.

Hemp proponents say they’re just following in the footsteps of the American founding fathers — Thomas Jefferson and George Washington – who both cultivated the sturdy weed themselves in Virginia.

(READ more in The New York Times) – Photo: M. Martin Vincente

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Teacher Collects Cutest Quotes from Kids, Shares with the World

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Jul 8, 2015

Kids say the craziest things—fortunately for us, one second grade teacher decided to make them pretty enough to post on an Instagram account called “Live From Snack Time.”

Enjoy this brief journey into the mind of a child…because seriously, when was the last time you thought like a kid?

A photo posted by Live from Snack Time! (@livefromsnacktime) on Jun 7, 2015 at 11:45am PDT

A photo posted by Live from Snack Time! (@livefromsnacktime) on Jul 2, 2015 at 4:12pm PDT

A photo posted by Live from Snack Time! (@livefromsnacktime) on Jun 6, 2015 at 8:07am PDT

A photo posted by Live from Snack Time! (@livefromsnacktime) on Jun 4, 2015 at 4:40pm PDT

A photo posted by Live from Snack Time! (@livefromsnacktime) on May 30, 2015 at 12:37pm PDT

A photo posted by Live from Snack Time! (@livefromsnacktime) on Jun 5, 2015 at 4:01pm PDT

The teacher has been collecting the quotes for a little over a year and posting them to Instagram since November, and you can send in your own kids’ quotes, too.

(READ more, w/ more images, at TODAY) – Photo (top) by Jose-Manuel-Melendez, CC

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Watercress: The Surprising Health & Diet Benefits You’d Never Guess

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Jul 8, 2015

There are a number of “superfoods” out there, but this one, perhaps the least expensive, most low-calorie, and easiest to prepare, has somehow flown quietly under the radar.

Watercress (and Upland cress!) contains up to twice the vitamin C of an orange, more calcium than milk, high levels of magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, iron, beta-carotene, and vitamins A, B1, B6, K and E.

It also contains high lutein concentrations, which promote eye health and are believed to fight cancer causing free radicals.

How To Make The Supermarket Your Own Natural Pharmacy

In fact, a recent study conducted by Patterson University and published by the CDC found watercress to be the most nutrient dense food one can eat. Plant nutrient levels vary depending on variety, growing conditions and food preparation, but watercress contains high concentrations of phytonutrients, antioxidants and vitamins.

Watercress has a number of popular medicinal applications. Here are just a few examples:

Eczema

Consuming watercress may help prevent eczema from returning or having inflammatory flare ups. The extract of watercress can be used as a disinfectant to wash the area as well—just boil it with water for around 10 minutes to obtain the juice.

Digestive Aid

The mustard oil glycosides, vitamins and bitters in watercress tea foster production of the stomach juices that promote digestion. Plus, it’s only got 10 calories per serving!

Urinary Tract Aid

With its high potassium content, watercress tea assists the kidneys by acting as a diuretic. Thus, the urinary tract is cleansed and bacteria are eliminated. The mustard oil glycosides and the essential oils also help kill bacteria.

Eye Health

Watercress contains high levels of lutein, an essential antioxidant for eye health. A bag of Grower Pete’s Living Organic Watercress contains 85% higher antioxidant density than the USDA reported average value.

Respiratory Aid

Due to its expectorant qualities, watercress is used to help with respiratory difficulties. Watercress contains magnesium, and should help asthmatics as it’s believed that people suffering from asthma have a deficiency.

5 Common Kitchen Items Are the Recipe for Great Skin and Hair

Convinced? . . . Here are five easy ways to prepare it:

In Pesto

Basil is tasty, and using with watercress ups the ante on flavor and nutrition.

Smoothies

watercress smoothie CC tamara smith — Photos by Jules, David Blane, Tamara Smith (CC)

Give your morning juice a nutritional boost by using watercress instead of kale and you’ll get more nutritional value— yes, watercress is more nutrient dense than kale or spinach!

In a Salad

Add watercress to any salad for more nutrition and a peppery ingredient.

As a Side Dish

It’s delicious as a sautéed additive for steaks and game meat to rest upon, and the peppery flavor pairs well.

Soup

There a lot of simple ingredient broths and soups, but none as nutritional as watercress soup.

Renee Cooper is a freelance writer based in Santa Barbara, CA and works for Hollandia Produce, L.P., a leading producer of hydroponically greenhouse grown organic watercress and conventional Upland cress.

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4 Heroes Given Carnegie Medal for Extraordinary Bravery Saving Lives

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Jul 8, 2015

Risking your life to save someone else sounds heroic. We’d all like to think we’d do the same thing, but actually jumping into action is a whole other story. For these four heroes, there was no other choice….and the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission honored them and 14 others with medals commending their bravery and quick thinking.

Pregnant Woman Tows Drowning Men to Safety

At seven months pregnant, Meghan O’Reilly-Green dove in to help rescue a man from drowning off the coast of Hatteras, North Carolina. After hearing two men shouting for help, she grabbed a nearby boogie board, swam out to the men, and helped tow them toward a sandbar, where first responders brought them to safety.

Trucker Rescues Driver from Escaped Prisoner

An observant trucker noticed a driver was in trouble – and wound up rescuing him from a prisoner who had freed himself in the back of a police cruiser.

Clinton D. Blackburn saw an officer struggling as he was pulling off the highway in Bardstown, Kentucky, and came to his rescue. By then, the prisoner had grabbed a gun, and Blackburn bravely fought with him until the officer was able to break free and restrain him. Blackburn also was given the 2014 Goodyear Highway Hero Award.

Off-Duty Cop Steers Wrong-Way Driver to Safety

An off-duty police officer made a daring rescue to help an elderly man driving the wrong way.
Alan Cavener noticed the driver of an SUV heading in the wrong direction on a busy highway in Meridian, Idaho.

He sped ahead, parked his vehicle and climbed over a concrete barrier to run across traffic to reach the man, who was driving less than 5 miles per hour on the 65 mile per hour interstate. Running alongside the car, Cavener reached through the opened window and steered the vehicle to safety.

Brave Young Boys Rush into Burning Home to Rescue Children

Victim Saved from Burning SUV

Truck driver McKenzie McKay Guffey jumped out at the scene of an accident and saved the driver who was trapped inside his burning SUV in Rye, New York

Guffey tried to extinguish the fire, then broke out the passenger side window, pulling the driver to safety before the vehicle became engulfed in flames.

The Carnegie Hero Fund Commission awarded 18 individuals the Carnegie Medal last month for extraordinary civilian heroism. The medal – which includes a financial grant – is given to those who risk their lives to save the lives of others. There have been 38 awards so far in 2015, and 9,775 recipients to date since the award’s inception in 1904.

(READ more at Carnegie Hero Fund Commission)

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36 Golden Retrievers Rescued in Istanbul in ‘Largest’ Overseas Airlift

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Jul 8, 2015

It was puppy love at first sight.

A golden retriever rescued from Istanbul had never let anyone touch his belly before, but he rolled over immediately when he first met his new American family – eager for human touch.

Hero is one of the first of 36 stray ‘goldens’ that have been rescued from the streets of Turkey’s largest city, and flown 5,000 miles to Atlanta, Georgia, for adoption.

The real hero, though, is Adopt a Golden Atlanta, the nonprofit that orchestrated what it calls the largest international dog rescue in history.

After an American living in Turkey contacted the group, a dog round-up was organized and 36 dogs flown to the United States. Adopt A Golden then provided medical care and rehabilitation to get the dogs ready for adoption.

New Study Says Watching Cat Videos is Good For You – Especially at Work

In the weeks following the airlift, Adopt a Golden rescued another 15 dogs in the Turkish city.

“Rescue dogs make the world’s greatest companions. I’m convinced that they know,” Chuck Taylor (pictured above with his wife Lisa and their other rescue dog, one-eyed Jack) told USA Today. “There’s something really special about rescuing a dog.”

(WATCH the video below) Photo: USA Today video – Story Tip: Madison Keiger

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Request: Help Me Tally 48 Good Deeds For My Birthday!

Your Blogs

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Lamanda Gaskins

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Jul 8, 2015

My name is Lamanda and I’ll be turning 48 this year. Instead of presents, I’m asking folks to accomplish a “Pay It Forward” or “Act of Kindness” so I can get 48 deeds accomplished before my birthday on July 19th.

I started this on my Facebook page, but my circle of friends is small. So I’m reaching out to you, the folks of the Good News Network! Can you help me reach my goal? So far, we’ve accomplished 9 acts – that’s 39 to go!

There are only two rules: 1) it must be an honest and selfless act. 2) You have to come back and tell us about it! It can be as simple as shaking a cop or veteran’s hand, or you can buy a meal for someone who needs it. Whatever it is, please tell them what it’s for and who it’s for. The neat thing is, you’ll both win! You’ll feel great about what you’ve done, and the recipient will be the better for whatever you do. Thank you in advance for your upcoming acts! I look forward to us reaching my goal together!

(Let’s help her reach her goal by sharing below!)

Rare White Whale Spotted as Sightings Hit Record High in NZ (WATCH)

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Jul 8, 2015

Thar she blows!

Whale watchers have spotted a rare, white humpback — one of only four in the world — swimming between New Zealand’s two main islands.

In fact, the annual whale survey shows that whale sightings are at a record high, 136, the largest number of humpbacks ever recorded during 12 years of the annual census.

The leader of the whale research team, Nadine Bott, says it’s a sign the New Zealand whale population is “bouncing back.”

Baby Boom Surprise For World’s Most Endangered Orcas

The rare white whale that’s been spotted recently is believed to be “Migaloo,” an aboriginal word meaning “White Fellow.” The whale was first discovered off the Australia’s Gold Coast in 1991 and has returned there almost every year since. It’s the first time he’s been sighted in New Zealand.

Migaloo is thought to have fathered two white calves, and a fourth white humpback was spotted earlier this year in Norway.

Whale watchers also spotted a newborn humpback Tuesday, only the second baby ever reported in New Zealand waters. Bott said the baby was probably less than a week old.

As for the folks doing the “watching,” they are actually whalers and descendents of families forced by New Zealand law to stop the practice. Last century they were harvesting the mammals–now they are helping to save them.

(WATCH the CNN video or READ more at Sky News or NZ Herald) Photo: NZ Dept. of Conservation — Story Tip: Ossie Sharon

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Green Sports Alliance Reduces Waste & Toxic Chemicals in Games Worldwide

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