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Happy 150th to Yosemite Park!

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By Jeff Krause Photography on Flickr – CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Yosemite at sunrise by Jeff Krause Photography on Flickr – CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

The giant sequoias that tower hundreds of feet into the sky inspire more than a million people to visit Yosemite every year. They also inspired President Abraham Lincoln to sign an unprecedented piece of legislation on June 30, 1864, in the midst of the Civil War. The Yosemite Grant protected these Northern California trees, as well as Yosemite Valley, and paved the way for the first U.S. national park.

“This was the first time in the history of the world that a piece of land had been set aside for all people for preservation,” said Yosemite spokesperson Scott Gediman. “It truly is the beginning of the National Park movement, incredibly significant not only for the park, but for California, for the nation and for the world.”

(WATCH the June 28 video, or READ the story from KFSN Fresno) 

Zack’s Shack: Boy’s Lemonade and Cookies Buy Wheelchairs for World’s Poor

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After a 6-year-old boy saw his school collecting money to buy wheelchairs for a charity that sends them overseas to developing countries, he had the idea that maybe he could buy his own wheelchair for donating. He couldn’t even pronounce the word “philanthropist”, but he became the poster boy definition of one.

Zach Francom’s lemonade and cookie stand is now in its fifth year of charity work and his efforts have to date paid for nearly 250 wheelchairs.

The annual event, staged over a single weekend around spring break in front of his family’s home, has become a Provo, Utah institution.

This past April, Zack sold 350 dozen cookies baked by his mom, Nancy Bird, and 80 quarts of lemonade, earning $5,300 – enough to buy another 37 wheelchairs (basic models now cost $143), which are shipped by LDS Philanthropies to Guatemala, Guam and 53 other countries, where a wheelchair can often cost more than a year’s wages.

His fundraising hub is online at ItFeelsGreatToGive.com and on the Zach’s Shack Facebook page.

(READ more from PEOPLE magazine – and WATCH the video below)

Photo courtesy of LDS Philanthropies

 

Bill Gates Touts Power Of Optimism in Touching Commencement Speech

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In a June commencement address at Stanford University, Bill and Melinda Gates explained the power of optimism, which is at the root of the most important innovations.

Jillian D’Onfro summarized it this way in the Business Insider:

Both Gates shared stories about times when they witnessed heart-breaking circumstances. Bill described visiting an over-crowded tuberculosis hospital in South Africa that felt like “hell with a waiting list.” The people there had MDR-TB — multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis — which has a cure rate of under 50 percent. The hospital was extremely depressing, but Gates didn’t let that reduce his optimism: Instead he left with an even fiercer determination to figure out a solution to this crushing problem. Now, several years later, there’s a new TB drug regime in its third phase of testing that could boost patients’ cure rates to between 80 and 90%.

“Optimism is often dismissed as false hope,” Gates said. “But there is also false hopelessness. That’s the attitude that says we can’t defeat poverty and disease. We absolutely can.”

(READ the article from Business Insider – or WATCH the 24 min. speech below)

Mystery LOVE signs overtake New Orleans’ streets

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LOVE-sign-CBSvideo

In New Orleans, Louisiana, like any city in America, there are thousands of signs.

But one sign, that simply says “Love” is popping up on telephone poles all over the city.

Two men who wish to remain anonymous hoped the signs would help people to become better citizens.

(WATCH the video below by Steve Hartman and CBS News)

Photo from the CBS video

Fog Catchers Pull Water From Air in Chile’s Dry Fields

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Where the cold waters of the Humboldt current meet the dry hot air along northern Chile, a thick fog rises up off the Pacific and is blown inland over the arid coast. On these barren steppes just south of the Atacama desert lies a lush forest where trees suck moisture from the fog.

“A new team from Chile and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is mimicking these natural fog catchers to provide water for drinking and crop irrigation in this parched region.”

(READ the story at NewScientist.com)

Our Life, Your Life, My Life HAS A PURPOSE!

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Eileen DeStefano
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got-purpose-graphic-INSPIKS_Inspirational_Pictures

How long it takes us to figure out what is our purpose depends on our circumstances, our past, and whether or not we GIVE up. As for me, I am not giving up, I am a servant and will always be a servant, helping people in all circumstances is what I’ve done the majority of my life, and THAT seems to be my purpose.

For years I worked and got a paycheck, but one day I lost it all. It wasn’t anything I did or didn’t do. I was in a job I loved, with people I knew. I just became complacent. I thought I was okay. I thought I was taken care of, and I KNEW that nothing was going to change. I was so wrong….

I was blessed to have worked for over 22 years with the same company. Many people don’t have that opportunity. I had the ability to live in many states, meet many diverse people, and raise my family in a variety of cultures. Along the way, the people I worked for, and the many bosses I had throughout the years taught me the necessary skills, not only to help myself, but others. My personal goal in life was to be in a meaningful job helping people. When my position was eliminated, my outlook on life was SHATTERED.

Out of every one this could have happened to, why me?

THIS EVENT GAVE ME SOMETHING I DIDNT HAVE, something that sparked my ego. It gave me a unique perspective on life and family. It paved the road for my next adventure. In the year and a half since my career demise, I have met some amazing people. People I could not have met had I continued working. People that helped me uncover hidden talents and skills. People that continue to make a difference in the lives of others, as they did me.

I started my un-working “career” with the Tennessee Unemployment Office, and came to know a lady working at the unemployment office by the name of Cheryl Wycoff. Due to Cheryl’s demeanor and attitude I had the ability to meet her supervisor, Laura Miller. These two individuals were in my life to help me in my time of definite need. Because of what they do, they help others EVERY DAY.


Although the workers at unemployment offices are aware of the frustrations and anger in the unemployed, they continue to provide excellent customer service. I can tell you firsthand that the workers try to compensate for the issues by using their skills, understanding and knowledge to help those that want help. Laura and Cheryl and are not just leaving people in the system to fend for themselves, they are involved.

We live in a world where we don’t have to personally meet people to get to know them. The internet has opened up the ability to randomly communicate anywhere with anyone. I know, from experience, the frustration of filing for unemployment and searching for a job. Throughout my un-working career, I was able to find small jobs here and there, but ultimately I found the job I so much wanted — and it was all because of the internet.

As an example I want to use the “Johnny, the bagger” story. Mac Anderson puts it this way: “Service is the lifeblood of any organization. Everything flows from it, and is nourished by it. Customer service is not a department, it is an attitude.”

businessman-feet-up-on-desk-relax-stress-MConnors-MorguefileI realize all companies have some individuals “just working” for a paycheck, but in my experience, the employees at the Tennessee Unemployment Office are well trained, happy to help, and knowledgeable in how to deliver the ultimate in the customer experience.

People honestly searching for employment have many resources available. The unemployment officers have tools to share.

But personally, they might benefit from remembering there is a reason for every season, and although it may not appear to be in a person’s best interest, there is always an opportunity to “make a difference” somewhere, somehow, someway for personal satisfaction or the nourishment of someone else.

We are all here at this moment in time to find our destiny on the road through life. I often prayed that I would find another job with meaning, a job I could grow with, a job to fulfill my ambitions, and I FINALLY did.

Eileen DeStefano
Smyrna, TN

Photo credits: INSPIKS Inspirational Pictures (top) Michael Connors (lower)

Lynx and Stray Cat Fall in Love

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lynx-and-house-cat-Russian-zoo

It would not be a one-time visit when a stray Russian cat wandered into the lynx enclosure at the St. Petersburg Zoo in 2008.

Six years later, the two remain inseparable and the feline couple, some say, have become like parent and offspring.

According to local lore, the calico was homeless and found food in the Lynx compound of the Leningrad zoo.

The video below was recorded in 2014 by a zoo visitor from behind glass.

Photos unattributed at EnglishRussia.com

Gift Economy Takes Root in Vancouver – Cars, Cruise and Kayaks Given Away

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Office lottery winners share with new girl

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Brice Royer was diagnosed with a rare type of stomach cancer and began looking for the cause. He decided that if his life were filled with more love and sharing, rather than purchasing and selling, the simplicity might help to heal him.

He researched and found that many “gift economies” were popping up around the world that exist to share everything from housing to food to transportation, but there were none in his location of Vancouver, BC.

So, he wrote a blog post about it and opened a Facebook group and within weeks, 685 people joined from three cities.

Royer wrote: “In the New York Times, I learned about Ikaria Greece, “The island where people forget to die”, one of the highest concentration of centenarians in the world, where people rarely trade and 40% are unemployed. They simply share with each other.”

“One of the group’s most active members is Peter Endisch, a computer programmer turned environmental activist, who decided to give Royer his car — a 2000 minivan which he had planned to sell for $1,500 — after reading Royer’s blog post.”

The gift of the van inspired Royer to make a grand gesture of his own — gifting an ill woman with rent for an entire year.

Since the group launched, a cruise was given away, a kayak, and more.

(READ the story in the Vancouver Sun here, and a follow up, here)

Got Leftovers To Share? In Germany, There’s A Website For That

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leftovers-cc

Europeans throw away 90 million tons of food each year, including produce from supermarkets and breads from bakeries. A new German website aims to connect surplus food with people who want it.

You can find anything except meat on Foodsharing.de and it’s free to anyone who needs it. (Click the British flag in the left corner for the English version)

Some 40 tons of food have been given away since the network launched online 18 months ago. More than 41,000 people have signed up.

(READ more or LISTEN to the report from NPR News)

Photo via CC license

Amy Adams Gives up First Class Seat for Soldier, Sits in Coach Instead

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Amy-Adams-selfie-in-coach-Twitpic-MRERNESTOWENS

Hollywood star Amy Adams tried to keep her kindness quiet, but an ESPN reporter overheard the actress giving up her first class seat to an American soldier, on her way to L.A. from Detroit.

Jemele Hill witnessed the interaction and broke the news on Twitter.


E-Online says Adams was in Michigan the past month filming the superhero film, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

Now it’s “Lois Lane” who is the superhero, for one serviceman, at least.

Ernest Owens boarded the same Delta plane and found his seat in coach, and realized that Adams would be sitting next to him for the flight. The two posed for a selfie that was posted on Twitter during the flight. Watch a video below with his and Hill’s reaction.

Adams’ father was a U.S. Army Serviceman, and she told a reporter she’s “always wanted to do that”.

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Photo credit: Ernest Owens@MRERNESTOWENS on Twitter

Air Pollution Plummets in US Cities

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Anyone living in the U.S. for the past decade may have noticed an encouraging change in air quality.

These NASA satellite images demonstrate the country’s reduction of air pollution, or more specifically, nitrogen dioxide, a pollutant linked to adverse effects on the respiratory system. The images show a marked decline in nitrogen dioxide concentration over much of the eastern U.S. between 2005 and 2011.

NASA calculated that in those six years, Philadelphia experienced a 26 percent decrease in the gas, which is produced primarily during the combustion of gasoline in vehicle engines and coal in power plants.

Declines were also noted in the western U.S, including Denver, Los Angeles and San Francisco

— WATCH a 17 second animation below
— LEARN more from NASA

SHARE the Good News- People Need it, like fresh air!

Hospice Workers Get Forest Ranger Into the Woods One Last Time

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Covered in a blanket and cap, a former forest ranger was wheeled into a Washington park, his final wish to be fulfilled after years of illness.

When he was healthy, Ed had been a forest ranger. He described to a chaplain at the Evergreen Health Hospice how he had lived for the outdoors. After hearing about his longtime desire, compassionate hospice workers made it happen with the help of EMS workers at the local fire department.

Here is the description from their Facebook page, which also posted the photo:

When the Chaplain learned of Ed’s wish, he brought it to the attention of the Hospice team, one of whom suggested getting in touch with a local fire department that might agree to transport Ed for this final visit to the outdoors. Curt contacted the Snohomish County Fire District in Edmonds, whose staff was happy to help.

In March, Curt and the RN Case Manager, Leigh Gardner, accompanied Ed and several members of the Snohomish County Fire District on an outing to Meadowdale Beach Park in Edmonds… The group took Ed up and down the trails, bringing him the scents of the forest by touching the fragrant growth and bringing their hands close to Ed’s face.

”Ed was delighted. So were all the professionals who accompanied him. People sometimes think that working in hospice care is depressing. This story demonstrates the depths of the rewards that caring for the dying can bring.”

“Being a Hospice nurse is an incredible gift and beautiful, compassionate people do this work,” said Misty Thornem who works at Evergreen Hospice. “(This is) a wonderful example of the deep caring that is offered to help people LIVE our their last days.

Panera Cafes Swear Off Artificial Ingredients

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Panera, a US restaurant chain featuring bakery products, sandwiches, and salads, has pledged to remove artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners and preservatives from its food by 2016.

“Panera says it’s about halfway through the removal of artificial ingredients. It’s still looking for ways to removes the artificial colors used in its bakery icings, for instance, and is testing a smoked ham in select markets that doesn’t use artificial preservatives.”

(READ the story from NBC News)

Phil Collins Remembers the Alamo, Donates 200 Rare Artifacts to Texas

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The largest-known private collection of artifacts from the Battle of the Alamo and Texas independence will soon be coming home to San Antonio as a gift to the state thanks to a British rock and roll drummer.

Former Genesis musician, and singer-songwriter Phil Collins has been in love with Texas history and Davey Crockett since he was five years old growing up in a London suburb. He used to recreate the battle with his toy soldiers. For many of the items, the donation means their return to the historical site for the first time since the legendary defeat of Texan forces by Mexican troops under Santa Anna in 1836.

Collins’ Alamo collection includes invaluable artifacts like Jim Bowie’s legendary knife, and one of only four rifles left that were owned by Davy Crockett. Collins has Crockett’s leather shot pouch and two powder horns he allegedly gave a Mexican officer before his death. There are letters from William B. Travis and many other invaluable historic documents that shed insight on early Texas history.

While touring with Genesis in the 1970’s, Collins encountered his first David Crockett autograph–for sale at a store called the Gallery of History. “I didn’t know this stuff was out there, that you could own it,” the rock-n-roll legend said. It had never occurred to him. Later, he received a birthday-present that would change his life: a receipt for a saddle signed by an Alamo defender. From that point forward, the drummer began building his impressive Alamo and Texas Revolution collection.

Alamo-and-beyond-phil-collins-book-coverHis famed collection of rarities is featured in a 384-page book authored by Collins, called The Alamo and Beyond: A Collector’s Journey.

The state of Texas and the Alamo endowment will be expanding the footprint of the site to include a new wing so the entire collection will be displayed together. Collins will pay to ship the 2000, or so, individual items (if you count every musket ball) from his home in Switzerland in October. A fundraiser will be held on September 30 for $5,000 per person to help raise money for a new building.

“For me it is a perfect situation,” Collins told the media. “I never actually thought it would be possible to have it here.”

WATCH the full press conference in the video below. (Story tip from Bill Fithern)

Ikea Raises Hourly Pay for U.S. Retail Workers

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IKEA store

IKEA store

“Ikea’s U.S. division is raising the minimum wage for thousands of its retail workers, pegging it to the cost of living around each store, instead of its competition,” reports the AP.

The 17% average raise, announced by the Swedish furniture company yesterday, will take effect Jan. 1 and increase the average wage to $10.76 an hour, from the previous $9.17.

(READ the AP story via the Detroit Free Press)


Story Tip from Joel Arellano

Photo of the Day – Poster Girl for Sunglasses Day

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elderly-woman-in-funny-sunglasses-cc-Janeen_Hutchins

Elton John has over a thousand pairs, because nothing makes you quite as stylish as a pair of shades. Today is Sunglasses Day.

Although the origin of Sunglasses Day is unknown, the history of sunglasses stretches as far back as 14th century China, where judges used eyewear made of smoke-colored quartz to mask their emotions, according to daysoftheyear.com. Modern sunglasses as we know them today were first marketed by entrepreneur Sam Foster on the Atlantic City Boardwalk.

Sunglasses help to protect your eyes from harmful UV light, so make sure you get sunglasses with UV protection built in.

Photo credit: Janeen Hutchins, with CC license on Flickr

Baltimore’s Water Wheel Keeps On Turning, Pulling In Tons Of Trash

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“Baltimore’s Inner Harbor is a city landmark teeming with tourists, restaurants and — until recently — floating trash.”

John Kellett walked by every day on his way to work and notice the trash floating in the water. He often heard tourists call the harbor disgusting — and it bugged him.

“That’s when he developed his idea: a big water wheel to collect the plastic cups, cigarette butts and Cheetos bags. Kellett approached Baltimore officials about ways to remove the trash — and they listened. The water wheel is now docked in the harbor.”

(LISTEN to or READ the story from NPR News)

Thanks to Dan for the story tip.

Hero Dog Saves Apartment Full of People, Repays Owner for Rescuing Him

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pit-bull-mix-rescues-from-fire-KPIX

He was found near a California dumpster, skinny and alone, just a few months ago.

Oakland resident Julio Cruz was a little nervous to adopt the pit bull-mix stray, but took her in and nursed her back to health.

Today, Cruz and his roommate — and all his neighbors — have “Pekita” to thank for saving their lives at 2:40 in the morning after a large fire had spread through the living area while all were asleep.

(WATCH the video below or READ it at KPIX-5 – Story tip from Jim Kelly)

SHARE the Inspiring Rescue (below)

The Documents Everyone Should Have at Their Fingertips

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There’s more to managing your money than the shoebox filled with crumpled receipts under your bed. Organizing paperwork and keeping track of financial and legal documents is imperative to your financial well-being, according to Patrice C. Washington.

“It is hard to stay on top of your finances if documents are scattered about,” notes Washington, a regular guest on the Steve Harvey Morning Show and author of Real Money Answers for Every Woman. “On top of that, many people don’t know which types of documents they need or even where to start.”

To put your financial house in order, Washington suggests you start by organizing documents into seven key categories. Start with seven file folders and work from this checklist: 

  1. Personal Legal Documents: This folder should contain copies of birth certificates, adoption papers, marriage license, divorce papers, social security card, passport, will, and power of attorney papers. A sub-folder could contain vehicle ownership papers and mortgage or real estate deeds, if applicable.
  2. Tax Statements: Always make sure to keep copies of property tax statements, personal property tax statements and at a minimum, your previous three years’ tax returns.
  3. Financial Accounts: Maintain a running order of your financial accounts with up to date bank/credit union statements, credit/debit card statements, retirement accounts (401k, TSP, IRA, etc.), and investment accounts (stocks, bonds, mutual funds, etc).
  4. Income/ Assets: Tracing the sources of where your money is coming from will assist with creating a realistic budget. Keep recent pay stubs for all sources of income, government benefits (social security, temporary assistance, etc.), alimony income, child support income, professional appraisals of personal property, and rewards accounts.
  5. Financial Obligations: Know where your money is going. List your financial obligations such as mortgage statements, lease, utility bills, car payments, student loans, alimony and/or child support payments, and other debts to know where you stand financially.
  6. Insurance: All statements and bills related to property, rental, auto and life insurance policies should be kept in this folder.
  7. Medical: Keeping all health-related documents together will make it easier to handle any medical emergency. If you are incapacitated, your “in case of emergency” contact should have access to copies of health insurance ID Cards, records of immunizations and/or allergies, list of necessary medications, disabilities documentation, dental records and living will / power of attorney.



Known as the Money Maven of the Steve Harvey Morning Show, Patrice C. Washington is the Founder and CEO of Seek Wisdom Find Wealth, a personal finance training and development firm based in Atlanta, GA. She has been featured on NBC, The Huffington Post, Upscale Magazine, and was recently appointed editor-at-large at BlackEnterprise.com. Patrice is the author of an Amazon #1 Best Seller in Personal Finance, Real Money Answers for Every Woman: How to Win the Money Game With or Without a Man.

Photo by Sal Falko, Flickr, via CC license

Wood Storks Soar Off Endangered List

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In 1984, when the magnificent wood stork species was listed by the US government as endangered, its population was dropping by an alarming 5 percent per year — a pace that would have led to extinction by the year 2000. The past 30 years, however, produced a conservation success story culminating in today’s announcement that the wood stork population is no longer endangered.

The US Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell made the announcement at the Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge, home to the largest wood stork rookery in Georgia.

“The down-listing of the wood stork from endangered to threatened demonstrates how the Endangered Species Act can be an effective tool to protect and recover imperiled wildlife, especially when we work in partnership with states, tribes, conservation groups, private landowners, and other stakeholders to restore vital habitat,” Secretary Jewell said. “From the Cypress swamps of Georgia, to the inland waterways of Florida, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working to rebuild a healthy wetland ecosystem, which, in turn, is helping restore the wood stork’s habitat, double its population since its original listing and keep the bird moving in the right direction toward recovery.”

“Reclassification of the wood stork to threatened status does not diminish protection measures for the bird,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe. “We will continue to work with our partners to fully recover the bird, including with our counterparts in Florida, South Carolina and Georgia, and great organizations like Ducks Unlimited and the Corps of Engineers.”

The Endangered Species Act has been enormously successful in conserving imperiled wildlife, preventing the extinction of more than 99 percent of the species listed as threatened or endangered since 1973. In addition, 27 species have been delisted due to recovery, including the bald eagle, American alligator, and peregrine falcon. Others, such as the whooping crane and the California condor, have been pulled back from the edge of extinction. Meanwhile, 30 species have been down-listed from endangered to threatened. Under the ESA, a species is considered endangered when it is at risk of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range. It is considered threatened when it is at risk of becoming endangered throughout all or a significant portion of its range.

Since 1984, the U.S. breeding population of wood storks has shown substantial improvement in the numbers of nesting pairs as a whole and an expansion of its breeding range.

Since 2004, the three-year averages (2003 to 2012) for nesting pairs ranged from 7,086 to 10,147, all above the 6,000 three-year average identified in the 1997 recovery plan as the threshold to consider reclassifying the species to threatened status. However, the five-year average of 10,000 nesting pairs, identified in the current recovery plan as the threshold for delisting, has not yet been reached.

When the Service originally listed the U.S. breeding population, the wood stork’s range included Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Alabama. Breeding was primarily in Central and South Florida. Historically, the Florida Everglades and the Big Cypress ecosystems supported large breeding colonies. Since listing, its range has expanded north and west, and now includes portions of North Carolina and Mississippi, with significant nesting in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.

The down-listing recognizes the wood stork’s ongoing recovery and the positive impact that collaborative conservation efforts over the last two decades are having on the status of the breeding population. With continued population growth, breeding range expansion and the minimization or removal of threats, the species could approach the biological milestones where it could be considered for delisting.

The Service continues to work with conservation partners such as the Natural Resources Conservation Service through its Wetlands Reserve Program, to protect natural wetlands and manage public lands to continue the recovery of the wood stork. For example, the Wetlands Reserve Program has restored more than 200,000 acres of wetlands in Florida and more than 115,000 acres in Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina.

Photo credit: Steve Corey – CC license

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