Nat’l Give Something Away Day: New Delivery Service Helps Move Donations

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Jul 15, 2015

A new form of speed dating has emerged in New York City’s underground tunnels.

A few weeks ago, 28-year-old Thomas Knox set up a folding table, two chairs and a sign that read, “Date While You Wait” on a busy subway platform in Manhattan.

The Brooklyn native says he was just looking for a new, fun way to meet people who want to chat, maybe play a board game, or just forget about their commute for a few minutes while waiting for their train.

Knox says he isn’t necessarily looking for love – but more of a positive social interaction – and says he’s had dozens of interesting speed dates.

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“I just want you to have a conversation. Talk to me, tell me a little bit about yourself, tell me how your day went,” Knox told WCBS-TV. “I feel like I’ve had some really good connections, one on one.”

The location for Knox’s pop-up dating project remains secret until he reveals his choice of subway stop at the last minute on social media.

According to The New York Times, he’s been invited to share his ‘Date While You Wait’ concept in Philadelphia, Atlanta, and the U.K., and plans a tour of New York’s boroughs this fall.

To keep up with Knox’s adventures, check out Date While You Wait on Facebook.

(WATCH the video below from WCBS-TV or READ more from The New York Times) – Photo: Date While You Wait Facebook

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Prince William Makes History by Taking a Job– AND Donating His Full Salary

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Jul 14, 2015

The royal pilot is making history by working as a civilian – and by giving away his earnings to charity.

Prince William started his new job as an East Anglian Air Ambulance pilot on Monday, working four days on, four days off, so he can balance work, family and royal obligations.

The second-in-line to Britain’s throne will donate his post-tax salary – estimated at about £30,155 per year – to a yet undisclosed charity. The prince says his new position as a medical emergency helicopter pilot is a natural progression from his service as a Royal Air Force search-and-rescue pilot.

“I feel doing a job like this really helps me to be grounded and that’s the core of what I’m trying to become,” Prince William told CTV. “I’m trying to be a good guy, to do what I can and trying to be a decent individual.”

According to Kensington Palace, the 33-year-old father of two is the first member of the Royal Family in direct succession to the throne to take a civilian job.

(WATCH video below or READ more at CTV) – Photo: CTV video

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Landmark Iran Nuclear Deal Reached, Built on Permanent Verification

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Jul 14, 2015

After weeks of marathon negotiations and years of diplomacy, Iran and the world’s six major powers announced a deal in Vienna this morning that will prevent Iran from becoming the tenth country to possess a nuclear bomb.

“Today, because America negotiated from a position of strength and principle, we have stopped the spread of nuclear weapons in the Middle East,” said President Obama, who believes that he and his allies got every single one of their bottom-line demands met.

Secretary of State John Kerry, who worked for two years to get the deal he sought, said, “All of us – not just the United States, but France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Russia, China, and the EU – were determined to get this right. And so we have been patient, and I believe our persistence has paid off.”

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The agreement marks the first White House success in dealing with Iran since the 1979 revolution there when hostages were seized at the American Embassy in Tehran.

The deal, which will result in the eventual lifting of many of the economic sanctions against Iran, will allow broad United Nations inspections to monitor, permanently, both declared and suspected nuclear facilities, even after the deal expires.

“Contrary to the assertions of some, this agreement has no sunset. It doesn’t terminate,” said Kerry in a detailed statement. “Some of the provisions are in place for 10 years, others for 15 years, others for 25 years. And certain provisions – including many of the transparency measures and prohibitions on nuclear work – will stay in place permanently.”

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He went on:

“Our quarrel has never been with the Iranian people, and we realize how deeply the nuclear-related sanctions have affected the lives of Iranians. Thanks to the agreement reached today, that will begin to change. In return for the dramatic changes that Iran has accepted for its nuclear program, the international community will be lifting the nuclear-related sanctions on Iran’s economy.

And the relief from sanctions will only start when Tehran has met its key initial nuclear commitments – for example, when it has removed the core from the Arak reactor; when it has dismantled the centrifuges that it has agreed to dismantle; when it has shipped out the enriched uranium that it has agreed to ship out. When these and other commitments are met, the sanctions relief will then begin to be implemented in phases.”

(READ the full report by Robin Wright in the New Yorker or WATCH the Obama speech below)

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Japan’s Abandoned Golf Greens Find New Life As Solar Power Farms

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Jul 14, 2015

Japan’s abandoned and bankrupt golf courses are getting a “Mulligan” — a second chance — as solar power stations.

The Kyocera Corporation announced last week it will turn a former golf course in Kyoto, pictured at left, into the 23-megawatt solar farm shown in the artist’s rendition above.

The new station will generate enough electricity to power 8,100 homes when it goes online sometime in 2017.

Japan experienced a “golf boom” in the 1990s, building more than 2,000 new courses in just a few years; but the fad passed as quickly as it started, causing golf courses to go bankrupt and leaving hundreds of them abandoned across the countryside.

As it turns out, golf courses are the perfect place to build solar farms — the wide-open spaces get plenty of sun, making them prime real estate for the installation of solar panels along former fairways.

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Kyocera also plans to join several other companies in building a second 92-megawatt solar plant on a golf course that was never completed in Kagoshima Prefecture.

Because the U.S. is also home to several golf courses that closed during the 2008 recession, cities in Florida, Utah, Kansas and Minnesota are discussing ideas for turning many of those into solar power stations as well.

(READ more at the Independent) — Photos: Kyocera Corporation, Released

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Jobless Teen Singer Donates $10,000 Competition Prize to Homeless Shelter

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Jul 14, 2015

A singer who slept outside during a talent competition to save on hotel costs was so inspired by the homeless men he befriended that he donated his grand prize winnings to a local shelter.

Christian Hudson, a 19-year-old from Airdrie, ultimately beat out 11 other top finalists to win the $10,000 top prize at the Calgary Stampede Talent Search in Alberta, Canada.

During the competition, Hudson spent the night outdoors in a sleeping bag by a river and made friends with the men he met there.

He decided before he won that he would donate the prize money.

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“It was inspired right from the moment I met these people,” he told the Calgary Herald. “There was this one guy who seemed a totally normal guy and told me about his past. If what he told me about his past was true, then the things that were surrounding him never happened to him he’d be just like me. He’d be a regular guy who could work a regular job.”

In order to participate in the competition, the young man had to quit his job. He currently has no steady income at the moment, but still plans to donate the money to the Calgary Drop-In and Rehab Center, a nearby homeless shelter.

(WATCH video below or READ more at Calgary Herald) – Photo: CTV video

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Bear Cub Climbs In a Raft Longing To Be Rescued in River

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Jul 14, 2015

A river rafting business risked thousands of dollars in fines to help bring a baby bear to safety last week, refusing to ignore her plea for help as she climbed aboard one of their rafts.

The guide in the boat at the time was Danny Allen, aka “Shaggy,” one of USA Raft’s most experienced and worldly guides. He helped the bear onto the boat using a gear rig, then put her on a leash and lead her back to the company’s offices.

“I was pretty shocked,” said Matthew Moses, general manager of USA Raft, told Good News Network. “I haven’t even heard of anything like this in the 26 years I’ve been a river guide, and based on all the attention this is getting worldwide, apparently nobody else has seen anything like it, either.”

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The bear cub’s arrival didn’t come as a complete surprise, though. For three days, a number of USA RAft’s river guides noticed the bear in distress along their nine-mile route from Tennessee to North Carolina. She was clearly becoming hungrier by the day, her mother nowhere in sight.

“We couldn’t bring the bear on a raft with guests in it, that was the first issue,” Moses told us. “But the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission both say that if you see an animal in distress, you leave it alone. You can face hefty fines if you don’t.”

But when the bear swam out to Shaggy’s boat several days ago, he wasn’t going to turn the cub away.

Noli Bear, nicknamed because she was rescued by raft guides on the Nolichucky River in Tennessee, is currently with the Appalachian Bear Rescue, a primarily volunteer organization, being nursed back to health.

Right now, she’s living with five other bear cubs in the “Cub House” and eats more than all of the other bear cubs combined.

“They told us she’s the least finicky eater they’ve ever seen,” Moses said.

He added that he hopes the result is a happy life for Noli and increased awareness for the illegal poaching of bears, a problem that may have been responsible for Noli’s missing mother. The cub will ideally be released back into the wild when she’s grown.

And as for the potential fines—Moses is ready for them.

“If we get fines, we’ll pay fines all day long,” he said. “But we’re not gonna watch a bear die by the side of the river.”

WATCH the video below… To follow Noli’s progress, visit the Appalachian Bear Rescue Facebook. Photos: Dallas Abadie and Appalachian Bear Rescue

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Michael J. Fox Climbs North Dakota Mountain to Fund Parkinson’s Research

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Jul 14, 2015

Hikers climbing North Dakota’s tallest mountain met an unexpected visitor on the trail Sunday.

Actor Michael J. Fox was headed to the top of the peak to help raise money and awareness for Parkinson’s disease.

The appearance came as a surprise for hikers like Roxee Jones, who just happens to teach Parkinson’s wellness classes at the YMCA in Grand Forks and has a father who lives with the disease.

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“It was just an awesome experience – overwhelming that he showed up there,” Jones told the Forum News Service.

Fox posted a photo to Twitter posing with his daughters at the summit of the 3,500 foot White Butte.

Out on the trail in North Dakota with @SamFoxMJFF and Aquinnah and Schuyler. #TourdeFox pic.twitter.com/SgPUq1V9Vx
— Michael J. Fox (@realmikefox) July 12, 2015

The star initially tried to keep it under wraps that he would be joining the Foundation’s Sam Fox—no relation—on the climb, but it’s hard for the “Back to the Future” and “Family Ties” star to slip by unnoticed. After all, he has become the world’s most recognized advocate for Parkinson’s research since being diagnosed with the disease 25 years ago.

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Sam Fox is currently in the middle of a nationwide “Tour de Fox” bike tour for the organization to raise $1 million for Parkinson’s research through donations.

He is also climbing the tallest peak in each of lower 48-states and in the actor’s home province of British Columbia, Canada.

(READ more at the Bismark Tribune) Photo by Roxee Jones

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‘We Are Family DC’ Offers Lifeline for Seniors, Dave Grohl Sends One, Too

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Jul 14, 2015

For over a decade, We Are Family DC has been a powerhouse of volunteering, advocating and educating when it comes to the lives of senior citizens in the Washington, D.C. area.

Each month, the nonprofit’s 1,000 volunteers step up to call hundreds of seniors, assemble and deliver over 600 grocery bags, visit the elderly in their homes, help with cleaning, and send out personalized birthday cards.

Many of the volunteers do indeed become like family to the seniors—and vice versa.

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When Mark Andersen, founder and co-director of the organization, was expecting his first child with wife and co-director, Tulin, the elderly residents of Kelsey Apartments across the street from their home spontaneously organized a baby shower for the couple. Though they live at the poverty line, the seniors were so grateful for his help that they pooled their money to buy them a crib, which the baby slept in for his first four years. They have also become babysitters for the couple’s two children.

Mary McBride at Victory Heights retirement home (We Are Family)

“We have become family in a deep and powerful way,” Andersen said.

Another volunteer became so close with the senior she was visiting—a woman who had no family—that she brought her home to live with her when she found out that when the woman was in danger of having to go to a nursing home.

As a way to literally get their feet through the door, volunteers start the process by delivering free groceries to seniors. From there, relationships are formed, and volunteers become both friends and advocates from the outside helping with a variety of needs, from transportation to communicating with government officials and landlords.

“More than a social service agency, we are an experiment in building a caring, just, and inclusive community,” said Andersen. “The model can surely be replicated in other locales, with a few tweaks.”

If the volunteers can’t personally help seniors with an issue, they will try to find someone who can.

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“Most of these seniors grew up in a segregated DC and have lots of painful memories of that,” Andersen said. “Our work is to help with the healing of the racial and class divides in particular, to build one community where neighbors look out for each other past any differences.”

Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters is also a big fan of the organization. Before their show at RFK stadium on July 4, he hosted a motorcycle rally and ride as a benefit for the group. Even though there were a few “soggy moments” of rain, they still managed to raise $7,500.

“We also got another $200 in donations at the show at RFK Stadium from folks passing by our table,” said Andersen.

Their ultimate goal is for people to recognize that human beings have a responsibility to one another, to personally help make changes in their community.

“We are the solution. We can’t leave it to any one government, church, synagogue, or business. We have to stand with each other,” he said.

“The basic idea is simple, but revolutionary: look out for your neighbor, wherever you are.”

For more on We Are Family DC, visit them on Facebook.

Photos courtesy of We Are Family DC

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New Invention Bears the Brunt of Earthquakes By Using Good Vibrations

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Jul 13, 2015

Older buildings may get a new lease on life thanks to a new invention that lets them shake off the effects of an earthquake.

Much of the worst quake damage and injuries in recent years result from older buildings collapsing—that’s because modern buildings in earthquake zones are designed with devices called dampers or isolation units, which allow the buildings to sway on springs or slide on skids during earthquakes.

It’s impossible to retrofit old buildings with much of that technology, but a new form of protection may be on the way.

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Researchers at the University of Brighton in the UK have come up with a “vibrating barrier” (ViBa) that absorbs the energy from an earthquake and protects older buildings.

The device is a solid weight balanced on a series of springs. The ViBa isn’t attached directly to a building’s walls or skeleton, but buried in the ground and connected to its foundation.

When the ground motion from a quake hits the building, the energy passes through the foundation to the ViBa instead of into the structure itself. The ViBa’s heavy weight moves around on the springs, absorbing up to 80% of the ground motion from the quake.

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One of its inventors, Piefrancesco Cacciola, grew up in Messina, Sicily, which was mostly destroyed by a major quake more than a hundred years ago.

“I always worked in the field of Earthquake Engineering hoping one day such disasters will never happen again,” he told Forbes. “We cannot stop earthquakes but we might control the vibrations of the structures we build.”

Cacciola has co-authored two papers on the ViBa in Proceedings of the Royal Society and in the journal Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering.

–Photo: UCL Mathematical and Physical Sciences, CC

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

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Jul 13, 2015

It is the picture of determination — a little boy studying beneath a streetlight at a makeshift desk on a city sidewalk.

His name is Daniel Cabrera, a 9-year-old who, according to his mother, has always been dedicated to his schoolwork.

Daniel and his two siblings have been living in a shack behind the store where his mother works ever since their house burned down five years ago. The family, who reside in Mandaue City, Philippines, has been getting by on her small wages—less than two dollars a day—since then.

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Now, their luck is changing a bit, thanks to a college student, Joyce Gilos Torrefranca, who posted photos of the inspiring scene on Facebook.

I got inspired by a kid ❤️
Posted by Joyce Gilos Torrefranca on Tuesday, June 23, 2015

The pictures were shared more than 9,000 times, inspiring reporters to go looking for the boy.

People are now donating money and school supplies to Daniel, and a local politician has even given the boy a scholarship to pay for his education through college.

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“I didn’t think that a simple photo can make a huge difference,” Torrefranca wrote on Facebook. “Thank you guys for sharing the photo. With that, we were able to help Daniel in reaching his dreams.”

Daniel said he wants to become a policeman when he grows up, “to help the Philippines” and return the favor for those who have been reaching out to help him.

(READ more at ABS-CBN) – Photo: Joyce Gilos Torrefranca on Facebook

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Coca-Cola Creates Innovative ‘Plastic’ Bottle Made Entirely From Plants

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Jul 13, 2015

The iconic red-labeled beverage giant is turning greener.

Coca-Cola officially unveiled its first plastic bottle made from 100% plant materials last month.

Instead of being manufactured with petroleum products, the eco-friendly bottle is made from sugarcane and the natural leftovers from its processing.

Trademarked as the PlantBottle, the fully recyclable PET plastic bottles are a vast improvement over the 30% plant-based Coke bottles introduced in 2009.

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“Our vision was to maximize game-changing technology, using responsibly sourced plant-based materials to create the globe’s first fully recyclable PET plastic bottle made entirely from renewable materials,” said Coca-Cola Global Research and Development Officer Nancy Quan.

Since 2009, Coca-Cola has distributed more than 35 billion bottles using the current 30% PlantBottle packaging, and has reduced its carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 315,000 metric tons each year. The soda company isn’t saying when it will start actually bottling with the green container, but it said it is partnering with biotechnology firms “to move from lab to commercial scale.”

(READ more at Coca-Cola)

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Healthy Picnic, Here We Come! (Pack Up These Ideas…)

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Jul 13, 2015

A summer picnic is perfect for sun-filled socializing, but finding healthy foods that pack easily and stay fresh isn’t always a piece of cake.

In fact, just leave the cake at home.

Here are some tips and recipes to make your picnic basket meal a winner that won’t pack on the pounds.

Swaps This for That:

Mayonnaise For Mustard

Start making your favorite sandwich with mustard instead of mayonnaise and you’ll trim a lot of calories off your lunch. Just one teaspoon of mayonnaise has 68 calories compared to the same amount of mustard which has a mere 3 calories. That’s a savings of 65 calories. If you are a regular sandwich eater, the difference really adds up.

Lemonade for Unsweetened Iced Green Tea

On sticky summer days, a cold iced drink is the best way to satisfy unquenchable thirst. One serving of lemonade can cost you over 200 calories though, so reach for an unsweetened iced green tea instead. Add a splash of lemon juice for a tart and refreshing way to quench your thirst without packing on the pounds. Two cups of lemonade has 131 calories and 31g car, while two cups unsweetened iced green tea only has 16 calories and 0 carbs.

Guacamole for Salsa

Guacamole is made with avocados, which is rich in vitamins A, C and E, and a natural source of heart healthy fats. However, avocado is still very high in calories. For a skinnier dip, go with salsa instead. A ¼ cup serving of guacamole can end up being as much as 108 calories, compared to salsa that weighs in at a mere 17 calories for the same ¼ cup serving. Another plus: the tomatoes and onions in salsa are high in fiber, which fills you up – not out.

Sports Drinks for Coconut Water

When the weather gets warm, it is important to stay hydrated. For dieters, dehydration can mimic the symptoms of hunger, which can lead to overeating and weight gain. Also, when we sweat our body loses electrolytes that must be replenished for optimal health. For rapid rehydration and for restoring electrolyte balance, coconut water is best – better than water – because it contains 5 essential electrolytes, including the same potassium as a banana.

Not all coconut waters are equal though, ZICO natural coconut water is tops in my opinion because it contains 1 ingredient – 100% coconut water with no added sugar. Plus, every sip is fat-free, gluten-free, lactose-free, dairy-free and cholesterol-free. Delicious on its own, but I also use ZICO as a mixer for light refreshing summer cocktails and mocktails or a base for smoothies.

Recipes:

Potato chips and onion dip is a combination of greasy fried carbohydrates and trans fat. Help your heart and cholesterol levels by switching to whole grain chips or crackers, and take along a nutritious dip such as hummus, salsa, fat-free bean dip, or low-fat yogurt with herbs and spices. Beans have poly- and monounsaturated fats which are beneficial to your health. Plus, these foods add a boost of fiber and protein to your diet.

White Bean Dip

Ingredients

1 15-ounce can cannellini (white kidney beans), rinsed and drained
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 large cloves roasted garlic
1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint
1 tablespoon chopped fresh flat leaf parsley
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel

Directions

Puree first 5 ingredients in processor until almost smooth, then transfer dip to small bowl and let cool in refrigerator until ready to pack.

Yield: 5 servings (1/4 cup each)

Nutrition: 104 calories, 2.6g fat, 13g carbohydrates, 3.9g fiber, 5.2g protein.

Black Bean Dip

Ingredients

1 six-ounce can black beans (pour a little liquid in as well)
1 tsp. fresh lemon juice
1/4 t. onion powder
1/4 t. garlic powder
1/2 t. coriander
dash of paprika
pinch of salt and pepper

Directions

Drain beans, leaving some of the liquid, then rinse in a strainer.
Add beans, reserved liquid, lemon juice, and all remaining ingredients to a food processor or blender.
Process until smooth then taste and adjust seasonings as desired.
Transfer dip to small bowl and let cool in refrigerator until ready to pack.

Serves: 6

Nutrition Content: Per Serving: 116 calories, 20g carbs, 1g fat, 5g fiber, 8g protein, 200mg sodium

Main Course:

What’s a picnic without fried chicken? Licking the grease off of your fingers is surprisingly satisfying. It tastes so good, but unfortunately, one piece can pack on close to 500 calories and 28g of fat. This recipe is a healthier alternative that is sure to please your crispy craving. The nutty coating on this chicken makes it pleasing and mouth-watering. Who needs greasy fried chicken when you have this crusty, crunchy dish?

Crispy Pecan Chicken Fingers

Ingredients

4 four-ounce boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 cup non- fat buttermilk or non- fat plain yogurt
2 cups any plain bran flake cereal
1/3 cup finely chopped pecans
1 teaspoon lemon pepper
¾ teaspoon poultry seasoning
¼ teaspoon salt

Directions

Place a chicken breast between 2 sheets of plastic wrap and flatten with a meat mallet to ½ inch thickness. Repeat with remaining breasts.
Place the chicken in a glass bowl and cover with the buttermilk. Turn the chicken to coat. Cover, and refrigerate for 6 to 24 hours, turning occasionally.
Put the cereal in the food processor and process into coarse crumbs. Alternatively you can put the cereal in a resealable plastic bag and crush with a rolling pin or with your hands. You will have approximately 1 cup of crumbs. Put the crumbs in a shallow dish and add the pecans, lemon pepper, poultry seasoning, and salt. Stir to combine.
Remove the chicken from the buttermilk and shake off excess. Dip the chicken in the cereal mixture, turning to coat both sides well.
Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray and arrange the chicken in a single layer. Coat the tops lightly with cooking spray and bake at 400F for about 25 minutes, or until the chicken is crisp and gold on the outside and is cooked through. Serve hot.

Serves: 4

Nutrition Content: Per Serving: 357 calories, 21g carbohydrate,4g fiber,41g protein,13g total fat,2g sat. Fat, 686mg sodium

On The Side:

You may think this is one of the healthier side dishes at a picnic, considering it is a “salad.” However 1 cup of coleslaw contains 360 calories and 20 grams of fat!

Swapping full fat mayonnaise for Greek yogurt not only saves you tons of calories and artery clogging fat, but Greek yogurt provides you with a whopping 18 grams of protein. Pre-packaged broccoli slaw makes this healthy summer salad extra easy and adds extra flavor and fiber. This tasty side is a wonderfully filling combination of fiber and protein.

Broccoli Slaw

Ingredients

2 bags shredded broccoli Cole slaw (regular Cole slaw mix may be substituted)
2 cups shredded purple cabbage
1 cup diced green onions
1 cup shredded carrots
1 cup non- fat Greek Yogurt
4 tbsp vinegar
4 tsp Splenda no-calorie sweetener
1 tablespoon slivered almonds (optional)

Directions

Combine broccoli slaw, carrots, and raisins in a bowl.
In a small bowl, whisk Greek yogurt, cider vinegar, mustard, and Splenda together.
Empty your mixture into a large container. Put your dressing into a separate container
Store both in your cooler and pour over salad once you get to your picnic.
Sprinkle with slivered almonds and serve.

Serves: 6

Nutrition Content: Per Serving: 60 calories, 7g carbs, 4g fiber, 4g protein, 0g fat, 48mg sodium

Tanya Zuckerbrot, MS RD, is a Registered Dietitian in private practice in Manhattan and founder of the F-Factor Diet. (Photos CC: Michell Zappa, Keith McDuffee, Meal Makeover Moms, Iris, Steven Lilley, Maggie Hoffman)

I Found My Long Lost Identical Twin on YOUTUBE

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Jul 13, 2015

Getting a celebrity to answer your messages is tough, but it helps when you look exactly alike.

When Anaïs Bordier spotted a woman who looked exactly like her in a movie trailer, she knew she had to write the actress.

“Dude, we’re totally twins!” Samantha Futerman wrote back.

They totally turned out to be just that.

Once they started talking, they discovered that not only did they have the same birthday, but they were also born in the same South Korean clinic before being adopted by parents in France and the U.S.

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The two women met in London, had a DNA test and the results confirmed that they are identical twins.

And Samantha, who has appeared in “Memoirs of a Geisha” and “Law and Order,” is adding a directing credit to her resume — she’s creating a documentary, “Twinsters,” about the unlikely reunion with the twin sister who found her.

(WATCH the video and READ more at the Guardian) – Photo: YouTube video

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Taylor Swift’s $50K Donation to Sick Girl Causes GoFundMe to Raise Limits

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Jul 13, 2015

A pop star’s generous gift has inspired a popular crowdfunding site to change its tune when it comes to fundraising limits.

Taylor Swift donated $50,000 earlier this month to a young fan named Naomi who is battling an aggressive form of leukemia. Her family had set up a GoFundMe page to offset medical costs for her treatment.

The website previously only allowed donations up to $15,000, but because of the musician’s generosity the limit was raised to $50,000.

“Taylor Swift’s donation was so generous that it required us to increase the donation limit on the platform,” said Rob Solomon, GoFundMe CEO. “What Ms. Swift has done for Naomi and others can inspire the next generation of giving.”

In fact, Swift has given more money than any other donor in the history of GoFundMe, and her attention to particular campaigns has caused a far reaching ripple effect and more donations.

Coldplay Donates £1 Million to Children’s Charity

In the past, she’s also donated $15,000 to a Texas firefighter who saved his wife and son from a car crash. She’s also known for giving her fans all sorts of surprises.

Photo: Eva Rinaldi Celebrity and Live Music Photographer, CC and Story Tip: Joel Arellano

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New U.S. Plan for Solar Power Will Light Up Low-Income Homes

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Jul 13, 2015

The White House has unveiled a new solar power initiative that promises to expand solar energy to slow-income communities, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and train people for 75,000 new jobs in the solar industry.

Part of the plan includes installing enough solar panels on federally subsidized housing by 2020 to generate 300 megawatts of power. That’s enough electricity to supply roughly 50,000 homes and, at the same time, reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 780,000 tons every year — roughly the same as taking 130,000 cars off the road.

Solar Panels in the Shape of a Heart Will Show Love for the Planet

The ambitious White House program involves state and city governments, dozens of private companies and groups along with federal involvement from the Energy, Agriculture and Housing Departments working together.

Private groups are investing $520 million to help states and cities install solar energy for low and moderate-income housing. Twenty states have also committed to a total of 260 new solar power projects as part of the plan.

Besides low-income neighborhoods, about half of Americans who rent apartments or business space too small to have rooftop solar panels would be eligible for other options to use solar power. These people could buy or lease a portion of a “community shared solar” project — supplying them with solar power generated at a different location.

By Putting Housing First, Utah Reduces Homeless Population by 91%

The plan calls for 75,000 new jobs in the solar industry within the next five years. It would provide job training through Americorps, vocational schools and new programs paid for by the solar industry.

(READ more at NBC News) Photo: OregonDOT, CC —Story tip from Carilyn

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New York’s First Disability Pride Parade Draws 3,000 to Celebrate

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Jul 13, 2015

Nearly 3,000 people gathered in New York yesterday for the city’s first ever Disability Pride parade, celebrating the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The parade began at Madison Square Park and ended in Union Square Park, where a big stage featured performances from disabled musicians, dancers, comedians and stars of TV, stage and screen including hip-arists 4 Wheel City.

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“It was a really beautiful time, I made some new friends and met some old ones. I thought it was a great thing that people with all disabilities could come out, be celebrated and have a day where it’s all about ” said Dustin Jones, advocate and board member of Disabled in Action, a civil rights organization working to end discrimination against disabled New Yorkers in multiple arenas.

“On a regular basis most people with disabilities are over looked and misunderstood from all aspects.”

The parade was made possible by the all-volunteer nonprofit group Disability Pride NYC. Its founder and president is world renowned jazz pianist Mike LeDonne, whose daughter, Mary, was born with a very rare syndrome called Prader-Willi and another condition called hydrocephalus.

In 2012 Mike started the wheels in motion to create a Disability Pride Day, an annual event like any other ethnic parade in the New York City. He worked with the Mayor’s Office of People with Disabilities to establish the event, which will now become a yearly tradition.

Pride parades have also taken place in other U.S. cities like Chicago and Philadelphia.

Photos: Dustin Jones.

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

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Jul 12, 2015

Sarah Robinson has been struggling to provide for her six children since her husband died in 2012. The Kansas woman lost her home and has been living mostly out of their car. Recently, she hit rock bottom when all of their possessions were stolen from the car.

“So I went to Walmart, grabbed clothes, shoes, diapers, wipes, and I just walked out, but they caught me,” Robinson told ABC News.

When Roeland Park police officer Mark Engravalle arrived, he noticed that some of the children with Robinson were barefoot and had dirty feet.

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“He noticed [what she stole] were necessities like diapers, shoes for the kids, some clothing,” said Roeland Park public information officer John Demoss. “He asked her what the situation was, and she broke down crying.”

Feeling moved by their plight, the officer took the children, ages 2-15, shopping for shoes and clothes and bought the family diapers and baby wipes.

ABC reports that since the incident was publicized, there has been an outpouring of support from the community for Robinson and her daughters.

(READ the full story at ABC) – Photo: Roeland Park police department

Getting In Shape For The Summer? Don’t Forget Your Brain

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Jim Hjort

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Jul 12, 2015

When people consider their health, they’re often concerned mostly with their body: exercising it, feeding it properly, and when it breaks down, heading to the doctor to make things right.

Over the last several decades, however, scientists have gathered a great deal of evidence about how our physical health is influenced significantly by what goes on in a part of our body that’s often overlooked in that process: our brain.

In fact, now we know that it’s best to consider our mind and body as a system. One way you can use your mind to positively influence your health is to practice mindfulness meditation.

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What’s Mindfulness?

By now you may have already heard about mindfulness meditation; Time magazine declared the existence of a “Mindful Revolution” in a cover story last year. Unfortunately, its growing popularity has been accompanied by a lot of misinformation about what mindfulness is, and isn’t.

Being mindful involves bringing awareness, curiosity, and acceptance to your experience of life in each moment; it doesn’t mean trying to make your mind go blank or to stop thinking. Mindfulness may sound simple, then—and it is—but it can be difficult to practice because our human brain has the tendency to drift away into mental activities like planning, remembering, problem solving, and fantasizing even when we’d like it to stay put. With practice, however, it becomes easier to turn toward, remain with, and accept your emerging experience of life, whatever it may be. By doing this, you’ll spend more time fully present in your life and reap a number of health benefits.

Wide-Ranging Benefits

Studies shows that mindfulness meditators enjoy reduced emotional reactivity and stress and increased levels of empathy, wellbeing, and positive emotional states.

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Mindfulness meditation practices have been incorporated in a wide variety of mental health applications, to help people suffering from things like anxiety, depression, and substance abuse. Likewise, the physical health benefits of mindfulness practice are many and varied. They include lower blood pressure and levels of the stress hormone cortisol, improved immune system function, and even the physical growth of those parts of the brain associated with concentration. Mindfulness has also been used widely with people who experience chronic pain; meditation has been shown to alleviate physical pain by as much as 50%.

How to Get Started

Mindfulness meditation centers are springing up around the country, and there are also many free online sources of guided meditation. However you don’t need to wait to find one of those to get started; you can start right now with a simple exercise. Allow your eyes to close, and bring your attention to the sensations of your breath, wherever they’re most noticeable to you. Your mind will probably wander away at some point. When this happens, just acknowledge that it has, and gently bring your awareness back to your breath. Then do the same thing again the next time.

If you can practice this way for even five or 10 minutes daily for a week or two, you should start to notice some of the benefits of mindfulness meditation. There’s a good chance you’ll even feel more relaxed after your first session. Give it a try, and see what it’s like to take care of yourself from the inside out. You might just find that taking care of your whole mind-body system compliments your other efforts to leading a healthy and happy life, and unlocks a source of well-being that you may not have known existed.

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Jim Hjort, LCSW, is a licensed psychotherapist and the founder of the Right Life Project, where he helps people overcome roadblocks to self-actualization as a psychotherapist, coach, and mindfulness meditation instructor. You can learn more at RightLifeProject.com and follow Jim on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

Malala Turns 18 Today: She Has Big News for Fans and Syrian Refugee Girls

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