On Monday, Chipotle Mexican Grill became the first major American restaurant chain to swear off the use of genetically engineered ingredients.
Steve Ells, founder and co-chief executive of Chipotle said, “Just because food is served fast doesn’t mean it has to be made with cheap raw ingredients, highly processed with preservatives and fillers and stabilizers and artificial colors and flavors.”
‘In 2013, Chipotle was the first restaurant chain to indicate which items contained genetically modified organisms,” according to the NY Times.
The Food and Drug Administration maintains that GMOs are safe. Most of the country’s corn and soybean crops are genetically modified to be able to resist plant diseases, says a CBS news report about Chipotle’s decision.
Known for his amazing vocals, Boys II Men member Nathan Morris is now lending his voice and celebrity to a great cause.
After hearing about Charles Gladden, a Washington, D.C. man who works in the Senate cafeteria, but has lived on the streets for eight years, he launched a crowd-funding initiative to help him out.
CNN reports that Gladden, who suffers from diabetes, has juggled two jobs, as a janitor and dishwasher, giving most of his $360 a week pay to his children and grandchildren.
Morris set an initial fundraising goal of $10,000, an amount that he’s promised to match with a donation from his Boys II Men House Foundation.
Since the campaign launched on Sunday, he’s already raised $21,000 from strangers who want to give Gladden a new life.
“Even if you are unable to donate anything, just take a minute to let this man’s story rest in your heart,” Nathan wrote on the Go Fund Me site.
(WATCH the video below or READ more at WGHP-TV 8) – Photo by Luis Avilesortiz, CC
The second Nala’s paws touch the floor, she’s off in search of those who need a visit.
The pup has free run of the Lyngblomsten care center in St. Paul, Minnesota, and makes her own schedule in terms of who she’ll see and when.
After a nursing home gave up the five-year-old poodle because she was “whiny,” Doug Dawson scooped her right up and brought her to Lyngblomstem. Here, she is literally considered to be a perfect little Angel, sent from above.
”I was like, where did this little bean come from? She’s here for a purpose,” Dawson, who dispenses medicine at the home, told KARE-TV. “She’ll pick out the person with Alzheimers. She has a way of picking the sick.”
If she needs to get to the second or third floor, someone will push the buttons for her, and off she goes, alone.
Nala may not be a trained therapy dog, but she knows when someone needs extra comfort.
24 hours before the video above was posted, she sought out and stayed with a woman who passed away later that day.
(WATCH the video above or READ the story at KARE-11– NOTE* auto playing page so adjust your speakers)
His mother said he’d do the same thing even if no one were watching, but someone was –– and now the whole world is looking.
Last week, 18-year-old Christian Trouesdale left the Aldi food store where he worked so he could walk home an elderly man named Bob. Christian toted his groceries and held Bob’s hand, while Samantha-Jayne Brady snapped a photo.
Brady posted it on Facebook and wrote that while Bob wasn’t very agile or fast, Christian was patient and kind.
“It was a lovely thing to witness and they seemed to be having a good chit-chat along their way,” she said. “I desperately want this lad to get some kind of recognition from his workplace so if this gave you a little more faith in mankind.”
The social media universe went crazy for the photo. Fans sent messages of support and called for other youth to follow the good-neighbor example. The quarter-million Likes on her Facebook page also spurred Samantha to set up a non-profit elderly grocery service, something she’s always wanted to do.
Christian’s father, Darren, posted a follow-up photo on Facebook as well, and wrote that Christian has since called Bob to make sure he’s ok and to share the news about their viral photo.
“Bob was delighted with his new found fame at his old age. He was saying we should be proud to have a caring son like him. It really made our day and are proud to have him now as a friend,” he wrote.
On Sunday, Christian and his manager showed up at Brady’s home with flowers and wine, thanking her for her help in spreading the love.
Vegas is a lucky horse, but it wasn’t always that way.
After suffering abuse by her previous owner, she had a hard time learning to trust again. When the SPCA of Texas adopted her out to new mom Jordan Henderson, there was a lot of work to do.
Thanks to a ton of tender loving care, Vegas became a well-adjusted horse. She loved giving trail rides, eating Sonic tater tots, and her new boyfriend, Fuego.
“Vegas and Fuego had an instant connection as soon as we turned her out in the pasture with him,” Henderson said. “He is the dominant horse in the pasture, but never ran Vegas around like he does the others. “
They even travel as a couple to get their hooves trimmed and balanced.
“They noticed the first time the farrier stopped by that Vegas became very anxious and talkative when left by herself. The day Vegas was introduced back into the pasture after a 2-and-a-half week period by herself, they were so happy to be reunited that they couldn’t even wait until I got the gate open to be nose-to-nose.”
To boot, Vegas never goes out trail riding without “whinnying something to Fuego,” with a glance back at her lover in the pasture.
Here’s hoping for eternal blue skies as they ride off into the sunset.
A biotech company Friday announced phase III clinical trial results for a drug that was shown to decrease the progress of Multiple Sclerosis, and in some cases led to a “significant improvement” for sufferers.
“This is the first time that a drug has been able to decrease the rate of disease progression in addition to improving a significant proportion of patients with progressive MS,” said Frederic Sedel, CEO of MedDay Pharmaceuticals.
154 patients suffering from primary or secondary progressive Multiple Sclerosis participated in the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
The study demonstrated evidence of the efficacy and safety of MD1003, a highly-concentrated pharmaceutical-grade biotin administered at a dose of 300 mg per day.
MD1003 was designed to address a major area of unmet medical need and was “well tolerated” by patients. The overall incidence of adverse events was similar across the two groups.
A neurology professor, Ayman Tourbah, principal investigator of the study, said, “We are encouraged by the outcomes of this pioneering and stringently designed MS-SPI trial. The fact that no patient in the placebo group met the primary endpoint indicates that the study bar was designed to be very high. The significant proportion of patients showing improvement at twelve months, coupled with the decrease in risk of disease progression demonstrated here, makes MD1003 a potentially important new therapy for patients and clinicians in the field of MS.”
Further analyses is planned, as well as MRI studies which might provide additional data about the mechanism of action. A second Phase III placebo-controlled trial is underway looking at the effect of MD1003 in MS patients with permanent visual loss. Results from that trial are expected later this year and MedDay is likely to file for licensing approval with the relevant drug agencies.
The data was presented for the first time on Friday at the American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting in Washington DC. The detailed data is expected to be published in a peer review journal.
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The brilliant Stephen Hawking told a laughing audience Saturday that he’s finally been asked a question about “something important”. Millions of heartbroken teen fans would agree.
While appearing in the form of a hologram streamed from Cambridge, England, Hawking, 73, was asked to reveal the cosmological effect of Zayn Malik leaving the best-selling boy band, One Direction. Without a beat, Hawking reminded the audience to pay close attention to theoretical physics. Dry those tears because Zayn may, in fact, still be a band member–in a parallel universe.
The celebrated English scientist, whose story of being struck with Lou Gehrig’s disease at age of 21 was immortalized in an Oscar nominated film, The Theory of Everything, was speaking to a group at the Sydney Opera House in Australia.
Zayn Malik left the superstar pop band last month after five years saying, “I’d like to apologize to the fans if I’ve let anyone down, but . . . I want to be a normal 22-year-old who is able to relax and have some private time out of the spotlight.”
This young man literally has his best friend’s back.
For the past three years, Xie Xu, 18, has carried his best friend Zhang Chi, 19, to school every single morning and throughout the day as they travel to classes together. Zhang has muscular dystrophy, a disorder that weakens the muscles over time.
Xie, who is 5’7, has offered his back to Zhang nearly a dozen times daily throughout the school year. The task is entirely a volunteer job, like bringing him all of his meals. But Xie loves it. The partnership extended into their schoolwork, as both of these young men are the top students in their class.
“The story of the two students is so inspiring and touching. They aren’t family, but [Xie] has been doing this for three years. He’s the most beautiful student,” said Guo Chunxi, the vice headmaster of Daxu High School told local media. “He also exerts positive influence on other students, who readily help Zhang. With their assistance, Zhang has never missed out on one single class.”
A 60-year-old homeless woman named Smokie has been sleeping outside in the dirt a few doors down from a man named Elvis Summers.
Most mornings, she stops by Elvis’s Los Angeles apartment and asks if he has any recyclables for her. Through these conversation, they struck up a friendship.
One morning, Elvis saw a news article about a man in Oakland who has been making tiny houses out of discarded material. He was inspired to put off paying a few bills so he could buy the lumber and hardware to make Smokie a brand new shelter. It took him five days to build, and now, for the first time in ten years, Smokie has a place to hang the sign, ‘Home Sweet Home.’
“I had nowhere to really build it, so I just built it in the street outside of my apartment,” he told Good News Network. “The local LAPD cops have been super cool, and have told me they support it–as long as we move it to a different spot every 72 hours.”
He made this nifty time-lapse video showing how he did it. The materials, including two locks on the front door and sturdy wheels for moving it around, cost him about $500.
“I’ve met so many homeless people, good people,” Elvis said in an email. “Since I built Smokie’s, I’ve had several people ask me to make them a tiny home and it’s turned into much more than just the one house I wanted to build.”
Although he runs an online retail store that sells EDM apparel, he decided to launch an ambitious project to fund more shelters. He plans to get lighter and cheaper materials—without sacrificing the strength of the house—for the next round. Rick Sassen, branch manager at supply company Allied Building kindly donated the roof shingles and cedar siding for Smokie’s house, final items Elvis couldn’t afford on his own. Sassen has promised to work out a deal on future building materials for the same cause.
Thus, the spikey-haired do-gooder has launched “Mythpla” (My Tiny House Project LA) with a crowdfunding campaign for those who want to help, on GoFundMe.
“I’d like to offer purpose to these people in need and hire them to build the houses with me. I’ve even set an appointment with LA’s Mayor Eric Garcetti to try and get his help,” said Elvis. “The city owns or controls many otzyvycasino properties which are just sitting collecting dust and could be used, even temporarily, to help save lives.”
Because Summers qualifies for a free phone through the free phone program, he’s given his device to Smokie and helps her keep it charged. She has been using it to contact her family.
“Now if I could just get her to stop using the radio on the phone so much, it wouldn’t always be dead and need charging so often,” he said laughing.
Three male Amur tiger cubs were born at the Columbus Zoo on April 21, weighing just 2.5 lbs. each.
The cubs are being hand reared after the female failed to show maternal care and nurse them. But the cubs are “thriving” in the Animal Health Center’s incubator.
“We are always cautiously optimistic about the survival of fragile newborns,” said President and CEO Tom Stalf. “But the cubs seem to be thriving under the 24-hour care provided by our animal specialists and veterinarians.”
These are the first cubs for ten-year-old female, Irisa, although the Zoo team and the Tiger Species Survival Plan had hoped for years she would reproduce and pass on her valuable genes. This is the third litter sired by eleven-year-old, Foli, since 2012.
With the addition of the three cubs there are currently 10 Amur tigers at the Columbus Zoo including four cubs born in 2013 and their mother, Mara.
Amur tigers, also historically referred to as Siberian tigers, are critically endangered, with fewer than 400 individuals believed to exist in the forests of the Russian Far East.
Currently there are fewer than 150 Amur tigers in 50 certified zoos in North America. These tigers are considered pedigreed since they have a known ancestry and breeding recommendations to maintain genetic diversity are managed by a studbook.
The motto of the United Negro College Fund is: “A mind is a terrible thing to waste, but a wonderful thing to invest in.”
Top celebrities in the entertainment industry got together and did just that, donated more than $500,000 for college scholarships at the 36th annual UNCF An Evening of Stars, which airs Sunday night on BET Networks.
Usher, Toni Braxton, Pharrell Williams and Kevin Hart, were among those donating, along with companies like McDonald’s, Wells Fargo, Buick and Disney.
“We’re here to help alleviate the burden off their shoulders,” Anthony Anderson told the AP. “Students won’t have to worry about their next meal, or pay for next semester or housing. The only thing they have to do is open a book and study.”
Don't miss Anthony Anderson return for the 3rd year as host of the 36th annual " UNCF An Evening of Stars," airing Sunday, April 26 at 10p/9c on BET! Check out this clip:
A Western Australia farming family rescued a baby kangaroo whose mother was killed in a car accident. Since then, the young joey, named Dusty, is finding life on the farm very much to his liking.
“He lives on the back patio,” Ashley Stewart told ABC Rural. “We’ve actually had to go and buy a third dog bed for him to sleep in because he used to pinch one of the beds from the dogs.”
From the instant Mr. Steward brought home the orphan two years ago, the family’s golden retriever and border collie have loved “their kangaroo”.
This pair of 7-year-olds, Kollin Cox and Ryan Branson, are best friends. When one of them lost everything in a fire, the other one asked his mother to help him make a video and post it on Facebook.
Since then, the St. Louis television stations have run news stories about the friendship that helped raise $11,000 to replace toys, beds and clothes for the young boy and his mother Sonya, proving that the destructive blaze was no match for this pair of elementary school BFFs.
(WATCH the video below from Nightly News or READ the story from KTVI-TV) – Photo via GoFundMe page
SHARE the story with links below…Story tip from carilyn
A start-up plans to help solve the world’s climate problems by using drones to plant forests of seedlings.
“We are going to counter industrial scale deforestation using industrial scale reforestation,” says Lauren Fletcher, the founder of BioCarbon Engineering.
The environmental engineer who worked 20 years with NASA wants to use drone technology to plant up to one billion trees a year, without having to plant each one by hand.
Drones will fly two or three meters above the ground and fire out pods containing pre-germinated seeds that are covered in a nutritious hydrogel.
The company’s CEO, who might be called ‘Johnny Apple Drone’, thinks it should be possible to plant up to 36,000 trees a day, and at around 15% of the cost of traditional methods. And they aren’t just looking to create plantations of trees, but full ecosystems.
“Together with tree seeds, we hope to seed in other species including micro-organisms and fungi to improve the soil quality and ensure long-term sustainability of our efforts.”
Gaurang Damani was so tired of the dirt and stench in a Mumbai train station that he regularly wrote letters to the Central Railway to complain. Finally, the company offered the option to Damani and his non-profit organization to adopt the station and clean it up themselves.
The NGO, Karmayogi Pratisthan, gathered nearby residents and volunteers from colleges, elementary schools, garden and sport clubs to transform King’s Circle station. Beginning in late December, the beautification took 4 months.
Now, the walls of the station have been brightly painted with social messages and inspiring murals, countless bags of trash rotting on the premises were replaced with trash bins, walkways and floors were scrubbed, and even flowers and trees were planted.
Women and students who loathed getting on and off at the station now can use it comfortably. New street lamps now make it safer at night and the foul smell has gone away. Sweepers take turns regularly maintaining the appearance and new signage encourages cleanliness.
“The decrease in littering and spitting means that I have made a difference,” Damani told Mid-Day news. “I have invested my own money and there is also money coming through donations. The fact that my NGO has adopted the station (means) people are helping to keep the station clean as well as to beautify it.”
After eleven days of being inexplicably paralyzed from the waist down, a sudden recovery brought Bailey Murrill back on her feet again. The video below shows Bailey surprising her favorite nurse with the miracle.
Bailey rolls down the hallway in a wheelchair toward the nurse, pretending still to be immobile. The nurse reaches out for a hug when all of a sudden, Bailey stands up to meet her embrace.
“Yes!” screams the nurse. “Thank you Lord, yes!”
And Bailey’s mother recorded the whole thing for us to see…
A lot of fancy threads get left behind at the dry cleaners, but they were put to good use this week, after a group of Korean-American dry cleaners donated 2,000 pieces of unclaimed clothing to New York City’s most needy.
80 boxes of coats, suits, shirts and pants were collected by the Korean Dry Cleaners Association of New York. They spent six months gathering the items from launderers across the city as part of their “Clothes of Love” program.
It has become an annual tradition for the group, which has, over the past 30 years, donate tens of thousands of clothing items to homeless shelters across the city through New York’s Department of Homeless Services.
A study of 96,000 children shows that the chances of a child developing autism is the same whether they receive the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine or not.
The study looked at insurance claims for children born between 2001 and 2007. It found 0.7% of unvaccinated children developed Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) while 0.5% of children who were vaccinated did. Dr. Bryan King, program director of the Autism Center at Seattle Children’s Hospital, said the numbers show “the risk of ASD recurrence in families does not differ between vaccinated and unvaccinated children.”
A 1998 study published in the journal Lancet that linked autism to the vaccine has been debunked and withdrawn by the publication. Every study since has shown no link between the two.
The latest study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, and funded by The National institute of Mental Health, looked specifically at a high risk group of children — those who had an older sibling with autism — and still found no link between ASD and the MMR vaccine.
“These findings indicate no harmful association between MMR vaccine receipt and ASD even among children already at higher risk for ASD,” the researchers wrote in their paper.
Happy Birthday wishes, and a collective Mazel Tov, to Barbra Streisand, who turns 73 on Friday.
The rare EGOT winner – someone who has won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony – began her week donning a beret at the “Women In The World” summit where she spoke about the importance of being valued.
Known as an “unconventional” beauty who refused to alter her image for Hollywood, Babs is a hero to many fans. But she simply calls herself an “actress who sings.”
Born Barbara Joan Streisand in Brooklyn in 1942, she got her big break at age 20 in the Broadway show, I Can Get It For You Wholesale, before staring on stage– and screen– in Funny Girl. She is best known as a mega-selling vocalist and for other roles inA Star Is Born and The Way We Were. With the release of Yentl in 1983, Streisand established herself as one of the film industry’s most notable figures by becoming the first woman to write, produce, direct and act in a major film.
Streisand posted on Facebook today that she was taken to a pre-birthday dinner by husband James Brolin and friends where she enjoyed all her “childhood comfort foods” at the Ralph Lauren Polo Bar in New York.
SHARE the Birthday Wishes Below / Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Want another reason to love his Royal Highness the young red-haired Prince of Wales?
Prince Harry unleashed some laughs last week playing a game of wheelchair Australian football with wounded members of the Soldier Recovery Center during his month-long tour with the Australian Army. During his stay, Prince Harry, or Captain Harry Wales, as he’s known in the British Army, worked and lived among the soldiers of the 1st Brigade and other units, but is now headed for retirement, finishing his last tour ‘down under’.
Committed to charitable causes, particularly injured service members, Prince Harry spearheaded the Invictus Games last year, a sporting tournament for wounded veterans from 13 nations. He also is involved in AIDS charities and research, much like his late mother, Princess Diana.
He is fourth in line for the throne, but Prince Harry is first in the hearts of his fellow Afghan veterans.
(WATCH the wheelchair football videos below)
Photo by: CPL Oliver Carter, Australian Defense Force via Facebook
