Far from the war zone, Israeli and Palestinian teens arrived at a summer camp in Maine to learn to work together.
For years, the Seeds of Peace camp has promoted peace and dialogue between Arab and Jewish youth.
(WATCH the Making a Difference video from NBC News)
2010 camp photo by Bobbie Gottschalk
RELATED: Seeds of Peace Camp: Sowing Tolerance Among Former Foes (2010)
A quarter of a century ago, Washington DC had a fearsome reputation for crack abuse and rampant gun violence – it was the “murder capital” of the US. But now, once-blighted neighborhoods close to the centre of the capital are thriving.
After Washington had “bottomed out” in 1991, a virtuous cycle began as more affluent young professionals began to opt for the convenience and buzz of living closer to the city centre, often moving to handsome old buildings in areas that once had been considered too dangerous.
Residents old and new recognize that gentrification has meant a safer and more prosperous neighborhood. Homeowners have seen the value of their property rise. New commerce in the neighborhoods with shops and restaurants means people are making money and spending it too, in a prosperity cycle.
(READ the story from the BBC)
A 13-year-old Philadelphia girl is leading her team to the Little League World Series as a star pitcher with a 70-mph fastball.
In the semi-finals Mo’ne Davis threw a three-hitter Sunday to lead the Taney Youth Baseball Association Little League of Philadelphia to an 8-0 victory over a squad from Delaware.
She is an honor student in school and the 17th girl ever to make it to the finals of American Little League baseball.
(WATCH the video below or READ the story from ESPN)
An orphaned elephant that spent half a century in chains is enjoying his freedom after being rescued in India.
Officials at the Wildlife SOS Elephant Conservation and Care Center were afraid Raju would never be able to reconnect with his own species.
“Three of our female elephants Laxmi, Chanchal and Sai Geeta ran up to him – their ears flapping wildly –a sign they were excited and delighted to meet him.
All of them were rescued from a life of suffering and now are known collectively as the Herd of Hope.
The animal charity hopes to raise £20,000 to help care for Raju on World Elephant Day, August 12, and help save more vulnerable animals.
In 2012, World Elephant Day was established to bring attention to the plight of Asian and African elephants. Death by poachers who want their ivory, loss of habitat and mistreatment of animals like Raju while in captivity, all are critical issues that need to be overcome so elephants can thrive.
(READ more about Raju’s rescue from the Telegraph)
Raymond Burse hasn’t held a minimum-wage job since his high school and college years. Yet, the interim president at Kentucky State University decided that he would take a 25 percent salary cut to boost the wages of his school’s lowest-paid employees.
24 school employees, mostly serving as custodial staff, groundskeepers and lower-end clerical workers, will see their pay rise to $10.25 an hour thanks to Mr. Burse.
(READ the story in the Washington Post)
Story tip from Katherine – Campus photo of graduate Whitney M. Young (KSU)
Engineers have developed a prototype tablet display that compensates for an individuals’ vision problems.
The system uses software to alter the light from each individual pixel on the screen, based on the person’s glasses prescription.
The researchers also added a way to enhance the sharpness of the image.
(READ the story from the BBC)
Did you ever have a moment that, when it happened, dramatically altered the course of your life forever? I’m talking about something OTHER than death, health issues, or demonic possession.
I’ve had several. They should inspire you to look at bad luck in your life as possibly being the best thing that could happen.
Tom The Thief –
I don’t know how it all started, but when I was 7 or 8, I began my criminal life. I wasn’t good at it, maybe because I wasn’t making any money, since what I stole from the local grocery store were school supplies that I gave to everyone else. Not a good business model. My “moment” happened when I got caught. No one can say what would have developed if I was going to continue this career path. Would it lead to taking cans of tomato paste, argyle socks, or used cars? I doubt it. I never seem to get away with anything.
The FBI would surely have caught on, jail isn’t as glorious as the rappers would have you believe, and besides, too many “Robin Hood” movies have already been made. Thank goodness for eagle-eyed managers!
Tom The Business Owner –
I had left my dream job when it turned into a nightmare. Having no idea what to do or which direction to go, I took a year or so and looked around.
I had a bicycle accident. It wasn’t the scraped-knees-or-cut-hands kind. I landed on my jaw, breaking it and a few teeth, requiring an ER visit and oral surgery. What they do for the jaw is to wire it shut. Sounds medieval. On Star Trek, they would have used a bone-knitting laser and a hypo spray. Just so you know, a wired jaw means you can’t seriously sell anything! If you can’t sell anything, it’s difficult to keep the business going unless you have a pile of money you wish to see shrink to nothing. I already had the NOTHING, so I was forced to return to my former dream job.
While this sounds like a tragedy, it actually has a happy middle.
Tom The Worker Who Finally Found Success
I returned to my previous position and was immediately successful. I had a good staff and they carried me to a promotion. The job wasn’t located where I wanted. As a matter of fact, it was the LAST place I thought of going – Philadelphia. Huh? I don’t want to go…..
But going to Philly allowed me to experience success in dramatic ways. As an office, we went from 53rd in the company (out of 53 districts) to finish 3rd. It was an amazing ride. Not only did this allow me to make more money than I could have imagined, I traveled more, and felt better about myself professionally. It taught me so much about business and people.
It allowed me to take Mom on a convention, so she could witness her son being given some lucrative awards. To see the pride in her eyes was worth all the hard work.
I was there for three years and it was the best time in my life.
If I didn’t have that accident, I would not have even visited the art museum. (Come to think of it, I STILL haven’t visited the art museum! I have got to add that to the TO-DO-VERY-SOON list…)
Thank goodness for bad roads and riding without hands!
(READ more at Tom’s Misc Ramblings – Here’s his latest blog post)
Stargazers who missed the July 12 supermoon will have another chance to see the bright lunar phenomenon from all around the world tonight, Sunday, August 10, when it will be 12% bigger and 30% brighter than normal.
The supermoon occurs when the moon becomes full on the same days as its perigee, which is the point in the moon’s orbit when it is closest to Earth.
(READ the story from the CNN)
Photo by Jeff Cutler in Cohasset, Massachusetts
Rocker Tom Petty doesn’t know what it really means “to live like a refugee,” but the Sierra Leone Refugee All Stars band does, and they make music to show that even refugees can excel and be joyful.
“We want to make those people who went through horrible things forget about their problems and make them smile and laugh,” band leader Ruben Koroma told Reuters news on a recent gig in Poland.
Watch part of the documentary below, Living Like a Refugee
(READ the recent story from Reuters)
If, like us, you thought the deaf couldn’t appreciate music, much less make music, prepare to be proven wrong.
The amazing deaf percussion band ExtraOrdinary Horizons laid down some serious beats that inspired Singapore indie band Black Forest to write this song.
(WATCH the video below from Our Better World, an initiative of the Singapore International Foundation)
World Lion Day is a global campaign on August 10 to celebrate on the importance of this magnificent beast worldwide. Since the dawn of man the lion has played an integral role in our lives: symbolically, religiously, culturally, and biologically. To keep from losing the big cat to extinction, you can help support those who are conserving the lion’s habitat, 20 percent of which has been lost already.
To stir your love of lions, watch the Sky News video below featuring South African Kevin Richardson, a self-taught animal behaviorist known as the “Lion Whisperer.” He has worked with lions for 16 years and interacted with some of the animals since their birth on his Game Reserve near Johannesburg.
Kevin uses love, understanding and trust to develop personal bonds with them while learning what makes each of them angry, happy, upset, or irritated — just like a mother understands a child. Today they accept him as one of their own.
His book appropriately named, Part of the Pride,
Visit WorldLionDay.com to get involved and stay informed. (Photo by Globovision shared via CC license)
After almost 70 years, the letters written by a World War II sailor made the final leg of a mysterious journey.
On Wednesday they were turned over to 85-year-old Dorothy Bartos Carlberg, the girl for whom the notes were penned.
A woman who lived at Dorothy’s old address had been searching for a month to find the rightful recipient for the fragile papers of affection.
(READ the story from the Chicago Tribune via Stripes)
Story tip from Herve Abrams
Five inspirational dogs have been honored with the American Kennel Club’s 15th annual Awards for Canine Excellence (ACE). The award is presented to those that best exemplify the human-canine bond in each of five categories: Exemplary Companion, Uniformed K-9, Search and Rescue, Service, and Therapy dog. This year’s winners include a brave companion that saved her caretaker from a bear, a heroic K-9 that took a bullet in the line of duty, an international search and rescue traveler, a blind therapy dog bringing comfort to abused children and ACE’s first mixed breed winner, a service dog to a U.S. veteran raising awareness of the profound impact service dogs can have on trauma survivors.
“These five dogs have gone above and beyond, touching the lives of individuals and communities across the country,” said AKC Spokesperson Gina DiNardo.
Each ACE award recipients receive $1,000 to be awarded to a pet-related charity of their choice, a one year pet insurance policy from Pet Partners, Inc. and an engraved sterling silver medallion to be presented at the AKC National Championship in Orlando on December 13.
This year’s ACE winners are:
Patella is certified as a Human Remains Detection K-9 and has assisted countless cases across Colorado. Last year, Patella and her handler Jim Houck responded to an international call, traveling 9,000 miles to the Philippines to lead recovery efforts after the destruction of Typhoon Haiyan. Patella worked a total of 60 days in intense heat and humidity, searching miles of debris that were as deep as 20 feet and providing closure to hundreds of families.
“Boomer,” an Australian Shepherd cared for by Connie Dilts of Smicksburg, Pennsylvania in the Companion Dog category
It was like any other day when Connie Dilts embarked on her usual walk with her two Australian Shepherds, Boomer and Reina, except on this day Boomer would save her life. On a remote road one mile from home, a bear charged at and violently attacked Connie. It wasn’t long until Boomer was upon the bear, keeping him away from Connie and ultimately forcing the bear to flee. To be safe, Boomer chased the bear to ensure it didn’t return. Boomer returned some time later, the only battle scar a scrape on her nose.
“Xander,” a Pug cared for by Rodney and Marcie Beedy of Klamath Falls, Oregon in the Therapy Dog category
Xander the Pug had a tough start to life – he lost both of his eyes following an accident and was put up for adoption soon after. But when the Beedy family met Xander, they saw something special in him and knew he could improve the lives of others. The Beedys’ new dog Xander soon passed his AKC Canine Good Citizen test and became a certified therapy dog, visiting hospitals, nursing homes, schools and abused children. Even without sight, Xander has an extraordinary ability to sense humans in need. His gentle, calm demeanor has provided unmatched comfort for so many.
“Gander,” a mixed-breed dog cared for by Lon Hodge of Vernon Hills, Illinois as Service Dog category
Gander was on doggy death row when a prison training program saved his life. After graduation, Gander received additional training and became a service dog to veteran Lon Hodge, who suffers from PTSD and mobility issues as a result of his time in the service. Lon credits Gander with saving his life, and now the duo spend their time raising awareness of veterans’ issues and the profound impact service dogs can have on trauma survivors. Gander is the first mixed-breed dog to win the ACE.
“Bruno,” a German Shepherd Dog cared for by Officer R.J. Young of the Anaheim Police Department in the Uniformed Service K-9 category
K-9 Officer Bruno spent his career sniffing out narcotics and criminals and protecting his human colleagues. But earlier this year, Bruno’s dedication was put to the test like never before. After locating a suspect who had allegedly opened fire on probation officers, Bruno was shot in the face in the line of duty. The round shattered his jaw, damaged his lung, and lodged itself less than an inch from his heart. Bruno, now retired, continues to heal and live a comfortable life at home with Officer Young and his family.
Even more amazing than David Brenner’s wedding ring being found under a Vail chair lift five years after it slipped off unnoticed, is the incredible way he heard that it had been recovered last week.
No one at the Vail ski resort knew whose gold band it was, so they shared photos of it on social media, saying the inscription read, ‘All my love, Sue’.
A random conversation with a brand new client of David’s led to the discovery that the gold band had been recovered. His client’s wife was also named Sue and as the two were learning about this coincidence, the client saw an incoming text sharing the news report about Vail’s search for a mystery man.
He asked Brenner if he had ever lost a wedding ring.
Thanks to that amazing timing, and the fact that Brenner even mentioned his wife’s name at all, a five year mystery was solved.
(READ the story in the Denver Channel – Turn off Auto Play if you are just reading)
Story tip from Julia Frerichs, LMT
A month ago, Mary Conklin learned that some of the majestic stone pine trees on Greenbriar Avenue — one of the city’s prettiest streets — would have to be removed.
Officials were concerned about the broken sidewalks in the neighborhood, but Conklin researched ways that she could save the trees.
She learned that 200 cities around the country are using or testing a rubber material, made from recycled tires, to replace concrete sidewalks.
In 2000, Santa Monica became one of the first cities to try it. The rubberized panels stretch to accommodate growing tree roots and can be lifted to allow for tree root trimming. The city has since expanded the program.
(READ the full story in the Press Enterprise)
Photo and story by Peter Fischetti – Story tip from Lynn Hildebrand
Local people in Gateshead, England were invited to learn to play harmonicas together for a short film created as a metaphor for health and happiness.
As part of the Happy Healthy Gateshead Project, the project aims to promote Britain’s 5 Steps to Wellbeing by encouraging people in and around the town centre to build wellness into their daily life.
Locals were choreographed running or undertaking some form of activity while playing their new harmonicas with musicians playing the William Tell Overture.
According to National Health System these 5 steps can add 7½ years to your life:
(WATCH the video below)
Since Alyssa McElfresh was seven years old, she has endured surgeries to treat a walnut-sized brain tumor. Now 12, she wants to make the traumatic journey easier for other children going through such medical treatment.
Over the past two years she has hand-delivered hundreds of “Alyssa’s Blessing Bags” to young patients at Naval Medical Center San Diego. She stuffs these gift sacks with toys and activity books to help distract from the medicine and boredom.
(READ the story from the San Diego Union-Tribune)
The Elio may look strange. But take a good look and get used to it, because if reservations are any indication, the oddball vehicle is going to be a fixture on the highway after its expected release in late 2015.
The $6,800 vehicle is technically a motorcycle; it has three wheels and the driver and passenger both sit center-aligned, but it is fully enclosed and has regular car seats with seat belts and airbags. It gets 84 miles per gallon and can go 100 miles per hour.
Elio is convinced that the vehicles, being manufactured in a former GM plant, will eventually win the hearts of Americans like the VW Beetle once did.
(READ the story from Fast Company)
Story Tip from Andrew N.
Raudhatul Jannah was just 4 years old when the catastrophic tsunami roared into the Indonesian town of Aceh and swept her away.
She and her family had been holding onto floating debris, but the girl slipped from her father’s grasp.
On Wednesday, Raudhatul, now 14, was reunited with her family after being raised by a fisherman’s elderly mother.
The girl’s uncle spotted her walking about 60 miles south of Aceh, which was her home for ten years.
(WATCH the videos below, or READ the story, w/ photos, from the Independent)
Story Tip from Mary Tederstrom
Get ready to hear one of the greatest advancements for reducing climate change — one that can be measured not by the emissions removed from a certain number of cars, but by how many power plants are taken offline.
You know those long tube fluorescent lights that are found in virtually every department store, office and school in the world? LED lighting has just taken a giant leap forward with the launch by Philips of a snap-in energy efficient replacement for those energy-sucking fluorescents.
Not only will the Philips InstantFit T8 lamps save about 45 percent — almost HALF — on energy bills compared with traditional fluorescents, the lamps are glass-free and contain no mercury making them infinitely safer and healthier to handle. They turn on instantly with no flicker or buzz and emit virtually no UV light.
With the InstantFit LED T8, installers can replace fluorescent tubes within seconds, cutting out the time and hassle, and much of the cost. Philips says an average supermarket, typically equipped with 1,000 double-tube fixtures, can now switch to LED lighting in less than four days instead of four weeks.
And, because the lamps last longer (a 40,000 hour lifetime), businesses can recoup their investment in just one to three years.
“The savings made are spectacular,” Ramon Silvero, product manager of the lighting department at Gas Natural Fenosa, a Spanish natural gas utility company told Philips.
Philips asserts that, because fluorescent tube lighting is so common, replacement with T-LED lamps globally would result in savings of over 55 billion dollars in energy costs — the equivalent of energy generated by 210 medium sized power plants — quite an impressive figure.
10 packs of the 48 inch lamps are now sold on Amazon.com ($229) and at Home Depot ($237) with 4-packs and singles also available. Phillips also has a help line for consumer or technical support available in the US (800) 555-0050. Check online for international help.
Photo (top) by Martin Nikolaj Bechwith CC license
