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Mystery Donor Gives Money To Vandalized Stores In Ferguson, Keeps Town ‘Hopeful’

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Neighbors are helping neighbors in the riot-weary town of Ferguson.

An unidentified man delivered encouraging words last week along with envelopes of cash to businesses cleaning up after the Missouri neighborhood protests left shops vandalized.

“He reached out and he gave me an envelope, and in the envelope, it was two $50 bills,” said one shop owner whose windows were broken. “He said I’m sorry for your losses, and he turned around and he walked out the door.”

Residents have seen other displays of community spirit, like the day dozens of teachers and students cleaned up litter following the demonstrations.

(WATCH the inspiring video or read the story at Huffpost (NOTE: the video starts playing when you land on the webpage)

Elderly Americans Fall in Love With Brazilian Youth Who Practice English Using Retirement Homes

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The CNA language school network launched the heartwarming Speaking Exchange project, which connects young people in Brazil learning English with Americans living in retirement homes who are very happy to have someone new to talk with.

They talk face-to-face using a private digital tool that connects them via video chat.

The seniors in America are thrilled to talk with young people in this win-win project launched in May, 2012, which helps the Brazilian youth improve their English speaking skills.

(WATCH this MUST-SEE video below)

 

12-Year-Old CEO Has Already Made $150,000 With Stylish Bow Tie Company

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Moziah Bridges loved dressing with style, but he couldn’t find bow ties that were cool and fit his 9-year-old fancy. So he asked his grandmother to teach him to sew.

“Mo’s Bows” was born and he used Granny’s whimsical scrap fabric to make and sell bow ties and pocket squares.

”I like to wear bow ties because they make me look good and feel good.”

Today he employs five seamstresses from his home in Memphis, Tenn., and has topped $165,000 in revenue.

Moziah appeared on CNBC recently to talk about how business is going.

(WATCH the videos from TODAY and CNBC)

 

 

 

Australia Scientists Print Cheap Solar Panels Onto Flexible Plastic

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Australian solar power scientists have developed a cheap and fast way to print solar cells onto plastic — plastic that can be used to cover an iPad or tint the windows covering a skyscraper.

Using organic solar ink and a new printer, a consortium of scientists from Australian universities can now print solar collectors onto flexible pages of PET plastic 16 inches long by 12 inches wide.

“It’s very cheap. The way in which it looks and works is quite different to conventional silicon rooftop solar,” said senior research scientist Dr Fiona Scholes. “Connecting our solar panels is as simple as connecting a battery.”

(READ the story and watch video at ABC.net or WATCH the Consortium’s video below)

Photo courtesy of CSIRO 

Humorous Ugly Fruit Campaign Reduces Food Waste in France

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A French grocer has increased its customer base by 24 percent since launching its Inglorious Fruits & Vegetables campaign this summer.

Railing against the food industry for discarding millions of tons of produce every year, Intermarché used humor in its ad campaign to bring in customers to buy the ‘ugly’ produce, which is priced at a 30% discount.

The television, radio, print and poster campaign celebrated the odd shapes of the Grotesque Apple, the Ridiculous Potato, the Hideous Orange, the Failed Lemon, the Disfigured Eggplant, the Ugly Carrot, and the Unfortunate Clementine.

“Now you can eat five a day inglorious fruits and vegetables,” they proclaimed, “in the glorious fight against food waste.”

– WATCH the video below from Intermarché

– READ the story from CTV

– Story tip from B.S.

Photo of the Day – Bridge of Dreams

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For nine years, a dedicated group of Amish neighbors, horsemen, businesses and Ohio politicians raised money and worked to convert a vacated railroad line into a multi-use trail for cyclists, equestrians, hikers and horse-drawn vehicles.

Since 1999, the Bridge of Dreams and the 4.5 mile Mohican Valley Trail have become a tourist destination for visitors through Knox County’s spectacular Mohican River valley.

Photo submitted by Lori Taggart

 

Gates Foundation Pledges Ebola Cash

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The Gates Foundation is committing $50 million to help step up efforts to tackle the deadly virus in the affected countries.

This comes on top of other funds announced by the UK and US governments, as well as the European Union.

(READ more from the BBC)

Photo from Gates Foundation Facebook Page – Story tip from xklm

Manchester Dogs’ Home Raises £1 Million in 24hrs After Arson Attack

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“To the people of Manchester – thank you is not enough. We cannot find the words,” said Lisa Graham, manager for 10 years at the Manchester & Cheshire Dogs’ Home.

Since 1893, the English charity has provided shelter and veterinary care,and found adoptive homes for more than one million dogs. Now it’s people who are stepping up to rescue the animal shelter, after their kennels in Manchester burned to the ground last evening, as a result of arson, killing 53 dogs.

Almost immediately, the staff at Manchester Evening News set up a fundraising page on JustGiving.com to collect donations. In just 24 hours the page has raised more than 1.1 million pounds for the animal sanctuary, with donations pouring in from around the world.

“Thanks to the help of the fire service and police,” approximately 150 dogs were saved, according to the group’s Facebook Page.

Also, Jason Dyer, 41, and his nephew Dean Rostock, 25, ran into the burning building after they heard the animals yelping around seven o’clock, according to the Manchester Evening News. The pair are believed to have saved 20 dogs from the flames.

Numerous local organizations assisted in transporting the surviving dogs to other kennels, and the community has been delivering blankets and food at a central drop-off point (Christchurch on Water st. harpurhey).Manchester-Dogs-Home-logo

Businesses are stepping up too. Green Frame, a business that specializes in refurbishing reclaimed UPVC windows & doors, heard the tragic news and volunteered to donate as many windows as needed.

“We would like to help as much as we can… for the rebuild of Manchester and Cheshire dogs home.”

(READ the full story from The Independent)

Photo credits: Manchester & Cheshire Dogs’ Home on Facebook – Story tip from Amy

Israeli Intelligence Veterans Refuse to Spy on Palestinians

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Dozens of veterans of an elite Israeli military intelligence unit have said they will no longer serve in operations spying against Palestinians.

43 officers and staff, past and present, signed a letter about Unit 8200, which carries out electronic surveillance, saying it values no distinction between Palestinians who are, and are not, involved in violence.

“Information that is collected and stored harms innocent people. This does not allow for people to lead normal lives, and fuels more violence further distancing us from the end of the conflict.”

Their letter is copied below…

(READ more from the BBC)

We, veterans of Unit 8200, reserve soldiers both past and present, declare that we refuse to take part in actions against Palestinians and refuse to continue serving as tools in deepening the military control over the Occupied Territories.

It is commonly thought that the service in military intelligence is free of moral dilemmas and solely contributes to the reduction of violence and harm to innocent people. However, our military service has taught us that intelligence is an integral part of Israel’s military occupation over the territories. The Palestinian population under military rule is completely exposed to espionage and surveillance by Israeli intelligence. While there are severe limitations on the surveillance of Israeli citizens, the Palestinians are not afforded this protection. There’s no distinction between Palestinians who are, and are not, involved in violence. Information that is collected and stored harms innocent people. It is used for political persecution and to create divisions within Palestinian society by recruiting collaborators and driving parts of Palestinian society against itself. In many cases, intelligence prevents defendants from receiving a fair trial in military courts, as the evidence against them is not revealed. Intelligence allows for the continued control over millions of people through thorough and intrusive supervision and invasion of most areas of life. This does not allow for people to lead normal lives, and fuels more violence further distancing us from the end of the conflict.

Millions of Palestinians have been living under Israeli military rule for over 47 years. This regime denies the basic rights and expropriates extensive tracts of land for Jewish settlements subject to separate and different legal systems, jurisdiction and law enforcement. This reality is not an inevitable result of the state’s efforts to protect itself but rather the result of choice. Settlement expansion has nothing to do with national security. The same goes for restrictions on construction and development, economic exploitation of the West Bank, collective punishment of inhabitants of the Gaza Strip, and the actual route of the separation barrier.

In light of all this, we have concluded that as individuals who served in Unit 8200, we must take responsibility for our part in this situation and it is our moral duty to act. We cannot continue to serve this system in good conscience, denying the rights of millions of people. Therefore, those among us who are reservists, refuse to take part in the state’s actions against Palestinians. We call for all soldiers serving in the Intelligence Corps, present and future, along with all the citizens of Israel, to speak out against these injustices and to take action to bring them to an end. We believe that Israel’s future depends on it.

Signed:

Senior Academic Officer Or, First Sergeant Ori, Sergeant Ella, Sergeant ***, Sergeant First Class Amitai, Captain Assaf, Lieutenant Assaf, First Sergeant Ariel, First Sergeant Guy, Sergeant First Class Galia, Lieutenant Gilad, First Sergeant Doron, Captain D, Professional Academic Officer H, First Sergeant T, First Sergeant Tal, Sergeant First Class Yair, First Sergeant Yoav, First Sergeant Yuval, Lieutenant Yonatan, Sergeant First Class Lior, Sergeant Liron, Sergeant Maya, Sergeant Michal, First Sergeant Menahem, First Sergeant Nadav, Sergeant Noa, First Sergeant Sa’ar, First Sergeant Eden, Sergeant Idan, Professional Academic Officer Amir, First Sergeant Amit, Sergeant K, Sergeant Keren, Sergeant First Class Regev, First Sergeant Roi, Sergeant R, First Sergeant Rotem, First Sergeant Shira, Major Shmulik, First Sergeant Schraga, Sergeant Sheri, Senior Academic Officer Tomer

(Letter contents from the Guardian)

Good News for U.S. Bird Species

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An annual report on bird populations in the United States released Tuesday offers hope and good news for a variety of birds in key habitats, including waterfowl, Eastern song birds, wetland species and shore birds.

• Among the 49 coastal species examined, there has been a steady rise in population— 28 percent since 1968—a direct result of the establishment of 160 national coastal wildlife refuges and nearly 600,000 acres of national seashore in 10 states.

• The creation and preservation of large swaths of forests through public-private partnerships in the Appalachian Mountains and the Northwest has helped declining forest-dependent species such as the golden-winged warbler and the oak titmouse.

• Wetlands are one of the habitats to benefit most from conservation. The North American Wetlands Conservation Act has restored an area larger than Tennessee. While wetland loss continues in some regions, the Act has helped protect and restore wetlands through public-private partnerships across the United States, thereby reversing declines in waterfowl populations such as the mallard and blue-winged teal. Total duck populations were up 8 percent over last year, and a whopping 43 percent higher than the long term average since 1955.

The strongest finding in State of the Birds 2014 is simple: conservation works. Ducks fly once again in great numbers up the Mississippi River and across the Chesapeake Bay. California condors are rebounding from just 22 birds to more than 200 today. Bald eagles, brown pelicans, peregrine falcons—all species once headed the way of the passenger pigeon— are now abundant.

Now extinct, the passenger pigeon, once numbering in the billions, is a strong reminder that even species considered common can become extinct without careful attention, as it did in1914.

“The State of the Birds report shows that public-private partnerships are working to successfully strengthen conservation efforts,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “We are forging a new era of conservation by joining non-traditional conservation stakeholders with farmers, ranchers and foresters to do more together than we ever could have separately.”

The State of the Birds 2014 is authored by the U.S. Committee of the North American Bird Conservation Initiative—a 23-member partnership of government agencies and organizations dedicated to advancing bird conservation.

PHOTO by Steve Corey in California (CC license)

Depressed Dad Gets Surprised By Strangers

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Thank-you-for-the-internet-gift-economy-sign-MikeSlemko

Mike Slemko felt like nothing was going his way. His wife had just left him and the internet had been cut off. Because Slemko works in IT, he cannot make money without the internet. He was broke and alone.

Slemko asked an acquaintance, Brice Royer, for help.

Royer had recently dedicated his life (literally) to the “Gift Economy.” He was unemployed and had cancer, yet offered to pay a stranger’s rent for a year. Days earlier Royer was given a van by someone he’d never met, and a place to stay by another. Slemko had been inspired by such generosity and offered to join a team to create a website for that would further facilitate this gift economy.

The concept of a gift economy, or sharing economy, is based on the idea that if you need something you can ask for it. The gratitude, in turn, compels you to pay it forward for someone else.

While Royer and Slemko were talking, Brice asked if Mike was separated. Slemko replied, “Yeah, it just happened yesterday. It was unexpected, she just surprised me and moved out.”

He held back tears as he continued, “I have no money left, it was all put towards helping my wife and step daughter.” Royer asked him what he needed help with. After some hesitation he answered, “When I got up this morning, the internet was turned off…” His ex-wife had left him an unpaid bill of $100

From Victoria, Canada, Royer posted to his new gift economy Facebook group for help. Within 30 minutes, they had raised $105. Then, a stranger called the internet company, himself, and paid the overdue bill, plus more for the next month. Mike was gifted the rest for future payments.

In a Youtube video (see below), Royer made a phone call to Slemko to announce the surprise: “Remember that $128 Internet bill you had? It’s now zero dollars.”

An elated Slemko wrote on Facebook, “Wow. It’s amazing. My son and I are so thankful. I’m confident being a part of the gift economy is why I don’t ever see myself having an anxiety attack ever again, no matter what happens.”

Although Slemko still has debt from his separation, he decided to pay it forward by offering struggling parents caught in the BC teachers strike, a place for their kids to play.

This new community of sincere and kind hearted people continue to make a difference in each others lives. For more information about the gift economy go to: www.gifteconomy.ca

From an article by Emylou Lewis

Artist Transforms Toilet Paper Rolls into Amazing Faces

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toilet-paper-faces-by-JuniorFritzJacquet

French paper artist Junior Fritz Jacquet created this fantastic series of weird masks made from toilet paper rolls. Inspired by the craft of origami, each mask is made from a single paper roll which is folded and squished into an expressive face.

Follow Jacquet’ artwork on Facebook

(READ the story and SEE more photos at Colossal)

Learning From My Nemesis

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thomas welcomer
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bullying-wikimedia-CC-irfe

Have you ever had a nemesis? Someone who was there to remind you that life isn’t fair. Someone who you wished awful things would happen to? I had one. I saw him last night after many, many years.

I was catching up with Joel, an old friend from grade school, and, who walks in but Billy Baumbach. Picture Woody Harrelson only with a much tougher life.

Billy was a great athlete, one of the best our town ever had. Unfortunately using and selling drugs, followed by the inevitable jailtime, made his story a lot different than mine. I have been thinking of this guy for years, wondering how karma had treated him.

I learned over my younger years to despise him. My hate sprung not from any one incident, but from years of torture and humiliation. I was abused by him and others for a variety of reasons, yet too hard-headed to run. I was very naïve about life in general and could not understand why people acted like they do.

You might think that was unfortunate, but in retrospect, I was gifted the opportunity to evolve from humble beginnings to where I am today – only mildly stunted! I know there were some kids scarred for life and never quite recovered, and that is a shame.

It wasn’t EASY, but the biggest reason I overcame it all was through my accepting me as me. I worked on the things I could, and dealt with what I couldn’t by being the clown. No pain can be given if you beat them to the punch. I’m sure growing up would have been much different if my life was without difficulties.

When I was really young, I would ride my bike for hours on end. I was the winner of every race. I would play football in the backyard by myself (how in the heck did I do that and NOT get committed???) I scored the winning touchdown every time. In my mind I was everything I was not. A jock, the big man on campus, anyone but me.

bullying-350px-Pimkie-ccSlowly but surely, I gained enough self-esteem to function as a human being in a cruel world. This not only made me tougher, but it gave me compassion for anyone that may view themselves as less than they are. It seems like good training for this adventure called life.

And life in school was sometimes very, very tough. I can remember times when the depression hit so hard that I could not imagine ever being happy again. I would stay in my room for weeks on end, losing myself in music and dreams. I hated that I was ugly. I hated I wore coke-bottle glasses. I hated no one seemed to care about me. I was a mess. I’m sure there are medications perscribed for this condition today, but back then, I had to persevere using my own devices.

Joel knew Billy and they shook hands and exchanged how-you-beens. I was smiling when Joel asked Billy if he remembered me. He vaguely did. I finally got to admit, to my nemesis, those awful thoughts about him. I asked if he remembered a few of the most significant events in my younger years – hitting a triple off him in Little League. Nope. Didn’t remember. Getting pummeled daily by our school’s basketball team, that he was on. Nope. Any of the torture I endured? Nothing.

I stated that, for many years, he was the only person on earth I truly hated. He laughed it off as I bought him a drink. I realized years ago, he placed no importance on any of the things that were brutal to me. That made it easier to accept, for some reason. I’m sure there’s a deep-rooted psychological manifestation involved…. I just moved on.

I hope to see Billy again and listen to his exciting stories. He has quite a few. I’m happy I finally understand and appreciate the role he had in making me, me.

I’m doing OK.

Originally written at TomsMiscRamblings

Photo credits: (top) Irfe (middle) Pimkie – via CC licenses

China Sees Big Drop in Carbon Emissions

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China cut its carbon emissions by 5 percent in the first half of 2014 – the largest drop in years, said the country’s premier, Li Keqiang. (Xinhua)

Scientists Confirm Victory in Ozone Layer Recovery

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“It’s a victory for diplomacy and for science,” and for the fact that all the nations in the world worked together, said the Nobel Prize chemist who first forecasted the coming ozone depletion in 1974.

A United Nations scientific panel confirmed that our protective ozone layer is healing itself since countries signed on to a treaty in the late 1980s that phased out man-made chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) which caused the problem.

From 2000 to 2013, ozone levels climbed 4 percent in the key mid-northern latitudes, according to NASA scientist Paul A. Newman, who co-chaired the every-four-years ozone assessment by 300 scientists, released by the United Nations.

UN leaders called the effort to get rid of ozone-destroying substances “one of the great success stories of international collective action,” and are hoping that the world can similarly unite in the fight to lessen climate change.

197 nations signed the ozone treaty agreements, making the Montreal Protocols the first to be unanimously adopted by all members of the United Nations.

(READ the AP story from the Dallas Morning News)

Animation / image by UNEP

Abandoned Baby With No Legs Becomes Power Gymnast, Discovers Miracle Sister, too

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Jennifer Bricker was given up at birth after she was born without legs. Fortunately, a pair of loving parents adopted her and taught her there were no limits to what she could achieve.

What the little girl wanted more than anything was to become a gymnast, like her hero, Olympic Gold Medalist Dominique Moceanu. Bricker pursued sports — even baseball and basketball — with unending passion and fearlessness, and eventually became a champion in Illinois power gymnastics.

Already this story is a sensation, but what happens next is nothing short of an incredible miracle.

Bricker discovered her long lost big sister is none other than Dominique Moceanu.

(WATCH the 2012 story from ABC News’s 20/20) – Story tip from Sally Meek

Photo from Jen’s Facebook Page

Sea Lion Steals Huge Catch Out of Fisherman’s Hands

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This theft, however heartbreaking for the fisherman, is our Good Laugh for the week.

Locals in Los Cabos call this sea lion Pancho. It snapped up a huge fish right out of a man’s hand while he posed for pictures.

The YouTube video, now 10 months old, describes it as happening while a crew was filming a show called Chef On The Water for the Mexico Travel Channel. WATCH below…

Long Lost Dr. Seuss Stories Published

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Theodor Geisel — better known as Dr. Seuss — has been charming generations of children and adults since the 1950s. And though Seuss died in 1991, a new collection of his lesser-known work from the 1950s and 60s, called Horton and the Kwuggerbug and More Lost Stories, came out in stores yesterday.

“The four stories in this book came from columns that appeared in Redbook magazine in the 1950s,” Cathy Goldsmith, an associate publishing director at Random House told NPR. “Dr. Seuss actually wrote a piece once a month for Redbook.”

(READ – or Listen – to the story at NPR News)

– Story tip from Mike McGinley

Boy in China Will Walk Again With 3D-Printed Vertebra

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A boy with a tumor on his spine, who could only muster the strength to stand for a few minutes at a time, has been given a new lease on life thanks to a 3D-printed bone for his neck.

In August, surgeons in China successfully implanted an artificial 3D-printed vertebra made of titanium powder into a 12-year-old bone cancer patient. The five-hour surgery at Peking University Third Hospital in Beijing, was a world first.

After spending the previous two months confined to a hospital bed, the boy named Minghao is recovering well.

(READ more from the Business Insider – WATCH video from China TV)

Photo: Liu Zhongjun, director of orthopaedics at Peking University Third Hospital, holding a 3D-printed vertebra – Story tip: Julia Frerichs, LMT

Sports Celebrity Snaps Photo of Random Kindness by Indiana Cop

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NBA basketball player Roy Hibbert witnessed an act of kindness by an Indiana police officer and shared a photo of the event on Instagram.

“Just seen an Indy police officer pull over,” Hibbert described on his Instagram account. “Go into his trunk n give a homeless guy a pair of shiny boots.”

The Indiana Pacers star also created his own good news story last week when he donated $1 million to his alma mater Georgetown University to fund the John Thompson Jr. Intercollegiate Athletics Center, according to the Washington Post.

 – Story tip from Tonya Brown Wright

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