New cars and trucks sold in the US in 2012 hit a record for average of miles per gallon – 23.6 – in combined city and highway driving through improvements to engines and transmissions. Carbon dioxide emissions also hit a record low.
6-Year-Old’s Christmas Wish for Prosthetic Arm Comes True, Thanks to Online Donors
When Christopher Kiezek sat on Santa’s knee recently, like a lot of kids, he asked for an Xbox One. But he also asked for a new arm so can play it.
He was born without fingers and his mother says the insurance company won’t pay for a prosthetic device because it wasn’t necessary for the boy’s life.
A family friend known as Uncle Bobby was moved by the story of the boy’s Christmas wish so he set up an online page on Go Fund Me to raise the $25,000 needed.
Thanks to a New York television station sharing the story, the Long Island boy will get the new device — and the Xbox.
(WATCH the video HERE or READ the story from the Dailymail)
Man in Generous Frenzy Pays Off $20,000 in Christmas Gifts for Strangers
A financial planning professional went to Walmart to pick up bikes for a Toys for Tots drive held by his company when he overheard someone at the layaway counter worrying about whether she’d be able to pay off her gifts before Christmas.
Greg Parady got out his credit card and spontaneously started paying for people as they’d walk up to the counter. Eventually, the 40 year-old swiped his card for 76 people, spending $21,000.
He had to use three credit cards and talk on the phone with the banks because they thought so many payments in a row were fraudulent.
(READ the story from TODAY)
Hauntingly Beautiful Flashmob Tribute to Nelson Mandela
Flashmobs always involve the element of surprise. The best ones also inspire. This one in South Africa Saturday melted the hearts of a nation that is mourning the loss of their beloved freedom fighter, Nelson Mandela.
Woolworth’s retail store had planned a performance for December 7 at its Parkview location in Pretoria to support the store’s “Operation Smile” Christmas campaign. The Soweto Gospel Choir planned a rendition of James Brown’s “I Feel Good.” But, after Mandela’s passing, the choir decided on a tribute instead.
2013 Had Lowest Hurricane Count Since 1982
The 2013 Atlantic storm season has proved one of the quietest in decades with the lowest number of hurricanes since 1982 and none of them considered ‘major’, according to insurance broker Willis Re.
An unusually quiet hurricane season is significant for the insurance industry not only because there are fewer pay-outs for damage but also because it drives down reinsurance prices.
(READ the story from Reuters)
Photo credit: Hurricane Isaac – by Captain Kimo, Flickr – CC
In Rare Deal, Israel, Jordan, Palestinians Shake Hands Over Something: Water
The Dead Sea, which faces a rapidly shrinking water level, has been a source of constant quarreling in a water-scarce region plagued by seemingly endless political turmoil.
But, on Monday, in a moment of rarity, Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority signed a historic agreement at the World Bank headquarters in Washington, D.C., aimed at fostering water cooperation and initiating a project to help “save” the body of water.
Operation Gratitude Gives Ford F-150 Keys to Female Sailor (UPDATE)
A monumental milestone passed this week as Operation Gratitude handed over the millionth package to a lucky military service member aboard ship at sea. Hundreds of sailors assembled on deck to receive their boxes filled with goodies, but only one got the special package, loaded with extra gifts donated by businesses back home, as we reported on Tuesday.
WATCH the video from NBC below…
Photos You Didn’t See From Mandela Memorial – Dems and R’s Coming Together
If the contrived controversies of a handshake with the Cuban leader and a presidential selfie blanketed your news coverage of the heartfelt memorial service for Nelson Mandela, maybe these photos will add some needed context (but only if you are open to positive thinking).
Conservative and Liberal leaders spent friendly time together, enjoying each other’s company. George W. Bush even delighted Hillary Clinton and other Liberal leaders with photos of his recent paintings.
These photos by White House photographer Pete Souza allow us to remember that we have more in common than the media would have us believe.
Hat tip to Policy Mic for the idea!
Above: Presidents Obama and Bush settle in for flight to South Africa.
Pictured below: The Bushes and Obamas dine together aboard Airforce One with Ambassador Susan Rice and aids.
George W. Bush Sends Alabama Kicker Encouraging Letter After Loss to Auburn
College football kicker Cade Foster has received a lot of hate messages since missing three field goal attempts in his team’s stunning loss to Auburn, but the Alabama student has a keepsake note from President George W. Bush, who sought to encourage the athlete.
The President, number 43rd to hold the office, told Foster, whose jersey number is also 43, that he will be “a stronger human with time.”
“Life has its setbacks. I know!”
(READ the AP story via Fox News)
Bringing Richard Home… Via Crowd-funded Adoption
Kristen and Duane Watkins say kindness is too small a word to describe what their family experienced the day Brandon Stanton, who was practically a stranger, agreed to help raise the $26,000 they needed to complete their adoption of a boy in Ethiopia.
And if it hadn’t been for the bad traffic that day in New York City, the whole chain of events might never have happened.
(READ the article from CNN.com)
Thanks to Joel Arellano for submitting the link on our Facebook Page!
FDA to Crack Down on Antibiotics in Meat
The Food and Drug Administration is taking steps toward phasing out the use of some antibiotics in animals processed for meat in the US, citing a potential threat to public health.
With the FDA action, using those antibiotics to make animals grow faster is likely to become illegal. Prescriptions would be required to use the drugs for animal illnesses.
The FDA has been debating how to address the issue of antibiotics in meat for several years as consumers clamor for antibiotic-free meat. McDonald’s, among other companies, has moved to limit the drugs in their meat, pushing many animal producers to go along.
(READ the article from the Guardian)
Baseball is Banning Home Plate Collisions Next Year
Home plate collisions, the type of plays that wrecked the career of former All-Star Ray Fosse and injured Detroit Tigers catcher Alex Avila in last October’s playoffs, will be banned starting with the 2014 season.
The runners will be required to slide into home plate rather than charging it while in a full run.
(READ the story in USA Today)
To Be of Service, He Serves Free Tea From His Bus
A sign that read “Free Tea” convinced a pair of college students to climb inside the small school bus painted white.
Thirty-year-old Colorado College graduate Guisepi Spadafora has been serving free tea out of his bus (named Edna Lu) for five and a half years.
He says the project was an accident, but his desire for “genuine interaction” among people caused him to start serving tea.
Throughout the day, guests not only included students, but also alumni, and the college’s facility and staff.
Spadafora says, “People shared stories, jokes, wisdom, and in a moment when there wasn’t more than one guest on board I became a listening ear to a heartbreak story.”
His website, FreeTeaParty.org, boasts 21,621 cups of free tea served as he wanders the West and North West United States.
Thanks to Julia Frerichs, LMT for submitting the link! – Photo from FreeTeaParty, old friend stops by
College Student Tries to Rent Family for Holidays But Finds New One
A California university student has reformed her old ways of crime and drugs after being abused and neglected as a child. She has a perfect average in school, volunteers to teach karate, and is active in a Christian church. But all the improvement in her life didn’t seem to fill the void of not having loving parents.
So Jackie Turner, 26, went on Craigslist asking to rent a family for the holidays, offering $8 an hour in compensation.
The favorable response she received from many families was heart-warming enough, but even more meaningful were the many responses from individuals who, like Turner, endured abuse or got lost in a foster care system without caring parents.
She realized she was not alone, after all, and instead of renting a family, Jackie wants to create a new one.
She hopes to organize her own holiday gathering for all those who answered the ad, says News 10.
(WATCH the video below or READ the story at Huffpost)
Entrepreneur Gives His Air Miles So Others Can Be Home for the Holidays
The entrepreneur and founder of Help A Reporter Out publicity service racks up extra airline miles each year. But two weeks ago, he decided to shed those miles — for people who can’t afford to fly home for the holidays.
He started with a goal to find six worthy individuals, who could apply through his blog to be picked. That number soon became 10, when four people contacted him to donate their own miles. On Wednesday, JetBlue chipped in 10 more flights. Now, Shankman has 25 round-trip tickets to give away.
(READ the story from the Huff Post)
How One Family Was Blessed By “Shop With a Hero”
Michigan’s beloved “Shop with a Hero” program allows police officers and firefighters to volunteer to take children Christmas shopping and pays for the tab.
In Ingham County, 55 children were able to be “shoppers” this year, strolling the aisles of a department store and picking out items totaling $100. With donations from the retailer Meijer, and money donated to the Sheriff’s Office for the program, not only was the child able to shop with a $100 Meijer gift card, each family received a ham, turkey, milk, and other food items, and an extra $25 gift card to the store.
One woman whose daughter participated in the program sent a touching letter to WILX, describing what it meant for her family.
Generous and unexpected donations boosted the benefits this year for families. Some of the children were able to also purchase toys for their parents or siblings, buy winter clothing items, and for one family, $50 worth of gas was pumped for their car.
”With my family, due to recent events, we no longer have any money at all coming into the home, and this was to me, a gift from above. When I called in to verify that we would be there, I had to ask if we might be able to use maybe $15.00 of that $100.00 to pay for gas so we could not only get there, but be able to get home, and let me tell you, I felt bad for asking, but I had to, otherwise she would not have been able to go. The lady told me that they would give me a Meijer gas card, and not to worry, Elizabeth will still be able to get her 100.00 worth of gifts. Needless to say, I cried on the phone to the woman, for the kindness they had bestowed upon us.”
(READ the rest of the letter from WILX.com)
Seal Cuddles With Woman on a Beach
A woman who was touring South Georgia Island was befriended by a seal.
The animal appears to be a young female elephant seal, according to YouTube.
The seal affectionately slides up to her while she’s sitting on the beach, but still wants to get closer.
This unusual encounter was filmed in Gold Harbour on South Georgia Island, in the sub-Antarctic.
One Millionth Care Package by Operation Gratitude Now In Route With Keys to New Truck
Volunteers at Operation Gratitude, the non-profit military and veteran support organization, assembled its milestone One Millionth Care Package to the cheers of thousands of supporters assembled for the celebration Sunday. To heighten the excitement, corporate sponsors donated huge prizes that will be part of the hand-packed delivery. The package, in route overseas, will bring to the lucky recipient the keys to a brand new Ford F-150 truck.
Holiday Travelers Arrive to Find Airline Has Bought Gifts Off Their Wish Lists
Thanks to a team of merry WestJet employees and the power of technology, a group of airline passengers was treated to a Christmas miracle that turned an airport into Santa’s workshop.
In early August, the company sat down and started brainstorming about what ‘giving’ looked like. “We wanted to do something big, exciting and fresh,” they wrote on their blog.
Fast forward three months and, with the help of 175 WestJet volunteers, three airports and Santa himself, they made a seeming miracle happen for more than 250 guests on two Calgary-bound flights.
With the help of technology, the airline learned what the passengers had on their Christmas wishlists.
Once everyone boarded their planes, according to Mashable, the WestJet team also took off — on shopping sprees, that is.
They are also giving away two free airfares to a lucky winner who has tweeted their video.
(WATCH the video below and READ the story in Mashable)
RELATED: Airline Wraps Gifts to Send Through the Baggage Chute for Christmas Eve Travelers
Also: Airline Plays April Fools Joke on Traveling Canadian Families
New Jersey High School Hero Club Making Wishes Come True
A South Jersey high school sophomore Taylor Kane entered this school year with the goal of simply granting wishes.
Kane founded the Lenape High School Hero Club, an organization dedicated to helping people — and he started by helping a student at his own school, a senior who has bone cancer.
But it has spread a lot farther.
“I just feel like it’s so important because it shows students that anyone can be a hero.”
The club from Lenape High School posts updates on wishes and fundraisers on their Facebook page and Twitter account.
(READ the story in South Jersey Sun News)