Prisoners on Rikers Island Deliver Thanksgiving Meals, Pitch In for Storm Victims

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Nov 22, 2012

A group of prisoners at New York City’s Rikers Island jail were let out for a day so they could deliver 700 Thanksgiving meals to the needy.

The men cooked up the hundreds of turkey dinners in a jail kitchen for delivery to two churches, according to an AP report.

That’s not the only example this month of Riker’s prison helping New Yorkers in need. A New York Times story today tells how, after Hurricane Sandy tore through nearby neighborhoods, the island inmates did 6,600 pounds of laundry for people in emergency shelters.

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Cease-fire in Gaza Conflict Announced by Egypt, US

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Nov 21, 2012

BREAKING: The Egyptian government announced that Israel and Palestinian leaders in the Gaza strip have agreed to halt hostilities after eight days of Israeli bombardment of the enclave and hundreds of rocket strikes inside Israel.

Standing alongside Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who engaged in intensive shuttle diplomacy aimed at ending the conflict, Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Amr told a news conference that the cease-fire would begin at 9 p.m. local time (2 p.m. in Washington).

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‘Turkey Fairy’ Strikes Again, Leaving Gifts in Secret

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Nov 21, 2012

Someone called “The Turkey Fairy” has been leaving blankets, hats and gloves at a Cleveland bus stop in the middle of the night.

On Monday morning, the items were discovered with a note that read, “Happy Thanksgiving. Take gloves, hats, blankets, & stay warm. Love, The Turkey Fairy.”

Tuesday, the Turkey Fairy struck again. The anonymous giver is leaving items at the bus shelter along Mayfield Road, across the street from an Urgent Care Center.

Besides the gifts of warm clothes and blankets, the mystery Fairy is bringing cheer and wonder to the employees of the Care Center, some of whom can see the bus stop from their windows.

(WATCH the video below or READ the story in the Fox-8)

Thanks to Burton Johnson for submitting the link!

‘Turkey Fairy’ Strikes Again, Leaving Gifts in Secret

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Nov 21, 2012

Someone called “The Turkey Fairy” has been leaving blankets, hats and gloves at a Cleveland bus stop in the middle of the night.

On Monday morning, the items were discovered with a note that read, “Happy Thanksgiving. Take gloves, hats, blankets, & stay warm. Love, The Turkey Fairy.”

Tuesday, the Turkey Fairy struck again. The anonymous giver is leaving items at the bus shelter along Mayfield Road, across the street from an Urgent Care Center.

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“God Loves Caviar” Film Serves up a Hero in Greece’s Hour of Need

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Nov 21, 2012

Catherine the Great in Greek tycoon film

The Greeks never used to have hero issues. But heroes have been in short supply in the country’s hour of need, which could explain the rush to cinemas to spend time in the company of an 18th-century pirate turned caviar tycoon.

The recent release “O Theos agapaei to haviari” (God Loves Caviar) is the story of Ioannis Varvakis, an Enlightenment-era rapscallion who sided with the Russians in their 1768 war with the Turks, befriended Catherine the Great and built a fortune out of sturgeon eggs – then gave it all away to help his motherland fight the Ottoman empire.

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Myanmar Frees Political Prisoners as Obama Ends Historic Visit

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Nov 21, 2012

Aung San Suu Kyi - CC photo by Htoo Tay Zar

Myanmar set free dozens of political prisoners Monday in an amnesty that coincided with the historic visit of US President Barack Obama.

It was the latest in a string of prisoner releases since the reformist government of President Thein Sein initiated democratic reforms last year.

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Disabled Man’s Hard Life Turned Around by Indian Blanket

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Nov 20, 2012

The rarest type of Navajo blanket emerged from obscurity when it was brought to an auction house for appraisal by a California man whose family handed it down through generations.

After his family casually used it for over a hundred years, the blanket dramatically changed the disabled descendent’s life. He was teetering on bankruptcy when the appraiser shocked him with an assessment of $50,000 for his museum-quality treasure.

But that’s not the end of the story.

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Heartwarming ‘Cash Mob’ Lifts Coffee Kiosk Hit Twice by Robbers

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Nov 20, 2012

Customers in Central Oregon turned out in droves to support a local business down on its luck.

Always serving the community through donations to high school raffles and day care centers, it was time for the locals to show support for the Black Rock Coffee Bar on Pacific Highway in Tigard, which had been robbed at gun point twice in two weeks.

A loyal customer organized the cash mob for Sunday morning. Big tips and donations flowed in, and lots of coffee drinks flowed out.

(READ the story from the Oregonian)

Occupy Sandy Spreads Beyond New York, To Bring Toilets To Storm Damaged Haiti

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Nov 20, 2012

toilets, by Jean Lucho -Ecological Sanitation Project

The damage from Hurricane Sandy might seem like it all happened around New York, but the storm had a long path before it hit the East Coast. Flooding killed at least 54 people in Haiti and left tens of thousands homeless.

A fledgling offshoot of the Occupy Sandy Relief movement, is raising money to provide water filters and compost toilets in Haiti, where human waste has become a huge threat to people’s health.

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New Approach Could Treat MS, Other Autoimmune Diseases

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Nov 20, 2012

Researchers trying to find a way to treat multiple sclerosis think they’ve come up with an approach that could not only help patients with MS, but those with a range of so-called autoimmune diseases, from type-1 diabetes to psoriasis, and perhaps even food allergies.

So far it’s only worked in mice, but it has worked especially well. And while mice are different from humans in many ways, their immune systems are quite similar.

“If this works, it is going to be absolutely fantastic,” said Bill Heetderks at the National Institutes of Health, which helped pay for the research. “Even if it doesn’t work, it’s going to be another step down the road.”

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World Gorilla Population Rises Nine Percent in Two Years

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Nov 20, 2012

The total world population of mountain gorillas has risen to 880, according to census data released last week by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. That’s almost a ten percent increase over its 2010 estimate of 786.

The critically endangered mammals live only in two locations, Uganda’s Bwindi National Park and the Virunga Massif area, with borders that reach into Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda.

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Mobile Kitchen Relocates to Feed Thanksgiving Meal to 1,000 on Long Island Still Without Power

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Nov 19, 2012

Feeding people Mercy Chefs HooplahaVideo

Since November 1, a group called Mercy Chefs, using a retrofitted RV mobile kitchen, has been supplying hot meals to New Yorkers who lost power after Hurricane Sandy.

“Honestly, the need here is so great that I could have 6 kitchens set up and still not be able to feed everyone who deserves a hot meal,” reported Mercy Chefs founder Gary LeBlanc two weeks ago.

Now, at the request of the Freeport mayor, the unit has just relocated to Long Island to feed 1,000 people still housed in Nassau County emergency shelters — just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Gary’s team of volunteers also freely feed any first responders and cleanup volunteers who are diligently working to help neighborhoods recover.

They began yesterday serving hot meals and smiles in the Freeport recreational center with plans to offer a full Thanksgiving meal with all the trimmings on Thursday.

“We asked ourselves, how do we feed these families who have lost everything,” said Rev. Tina Baker of the Refuge Apostolic Church of Christ. “How do we give them the gift of a Thanksgiving meal? And then Mercy Chefs called and offered to come to our community over Thanksgiving week. It’s a gift, It’s a blessing!”

Donations to Mercy Chefs, a Christian non-profit organization, make these meals possible. Consider donating at www.mercychefs.com

(WATCH a video about Gary working in New York, from HooplaHa)

Mobile Kitchen Relocates to Feed Thanksgiving Meal to 1,000 on Long Island Still Without Power

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Nov 19, 2012

Since November 1, a group called Mercy Chefs, using a retrofitted RV mobile kitchen, has been supplying hot meals to New Yorkers who lost power after Hurricane Sandy.

“Honestly, the need here is so great that I could have 6 kitchens set up and still not be able to feed everyone who deserves a hot meal,” reported Mercy Chefs founder Gary LeBlanc two weeks ago.

Now, at the request of the Freeport mayor, the unit has just relocated to Long Island to feed 1,000 people still housed in Nassau County emergency shelters — just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday.

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Portlanders Gather to Remember Iconic Street Performer Who Died

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Nov 19, 2012

Portlanders are remembering a man who for five years played music, did magic tricks and smiled at cars from a sidewalk corner bordering the city’s Hawthorne Bridge.

Rain or shine, and always dressed in a white tuxedo and Mickey Mouse ears, Kirk Reeves could be seen entertaining passers by.

Befitting the memory of the effervescent “Trumpet Man”, a hundred friends and strangers gathered in the cold and rain yesterday under the bridge to pay tribute. Portland’s mayor spoke at the candlelight memorial service, as did Reeves’ roommate and afterward a band played ragtime music.

A group has set up a crowd-funding page to set up a memorial on the corner where Reeves always placed his stool. So far, they have raised $2,900 toward their goal of $5,000.

Kirk Reeves took his own life late last week. Since his death, fans have been leaving flowers, gifts and Mickey Mouse toys on the spot where Reeves performed.

Read updates on a Memorial Facebook page, here, and another Facebook page called, Working Kirk Reeves.

(WATCH the inspiring tribute below from KOIN, or READ the story in the Oregonian)

Pacemaker Powered By Heartbeat, Not Batteries

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Nov 19, 2012

A new device that harnesses energy from a beating heart can produce enough electricity to power a pacemaker, eliminating the need for current battery-operated models, according to US researchers.

The piezoelectric pacemaker could free patients from repeated trips to the hospital every two years to replace batteries.

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Cell Transplant Enables Paralyzed Dogs to Walk; Humans Next?

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Nov 19, 2012

wheelchair-dog-Richard-Allen-Schlossberg

Scientists have reversed paralysis in dogs after injecting them with cells grown from the lining of their nose.

The pets had all suffered spinal injuries which prevented them from using their back legs.

The Cambridge University team is cautiously optimistic the technique could eventually have a role in the treatment of human patients.

(READ the story – and see short video – at the BBC)

Photo by Richard Allen Schlossberg – Thanks to Andrew N. for sending the link!

Chicago Man Wins Lottery Because He Came to Serve in Post-Storm Sandy Cleanup

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Nov 18, 2012

John Turner, who owns a Chicago business specializing in pumping water and cleaning out buildings following disasters, traveled to the East Coast immediately after Hurricane Sandy hit. He and his employees worked first in New York City and then moved on to water damaged areas in New Jersey.

Turner was “shocked by the devastation,” according to the New York Daily News. He even emptied out some flooded homes free of charge after seeing that some families were completely wiped out without any flood insurance to cover their loss.

While unwinding after work on the Jersey Shore he bought some scratch-off lottery tickets. It must have felt like a reward from heaven because his Poker Card turned out to be a $100,000 winner.

“I showed the card to my buddies, and we all couldn’t believe it. We started asking the people around us in the pizzeria, and they all said it was a winner,” Turner said. “I was overjoyed and had tears in my eyes.”

Turner, 38, who is no stranger to New Jersey, was born in Newark. In recent years, his company, National Catastrophe Solutions of Chicago, has brought him back to New Jersey many times to help out with post-storm cleanups, including those from Hurricane Irene and various Nor’easters.

“We are very grateful that John has given his time and skills to help the people dealing with the challenges brought on by Sandy,” said the state’s lottery director. “New Jersey is giving a memorable thank you back to him.”

(WATCH the story below, or READ more from CBS News, NY)

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Thanks to Jess Ica for submitting the story to our Facebook Page!

Chicago Man Wins Lottery Because He Came to Serve in Post-Storm Sandy Cleanup

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Nov 18, 2012

John Turner, who owns a Chicago business specializing in pumping water and cleaning out buildings following disasters, traveled to the East Coast immediately after Hurricane Sandy hit. He and his employees worked first in New York City and then moved on to water damaged areas in New Jersey.

Turner was “shocked by the devastation,” according to the New York Daily News. He even emptied out some flooded homes free of charge after seeing that some families were completely wiped out without any flood insurance to cover their loss.

While unwinding after work on the Jersey Shore he bought some scratch-off lottery tickets. It must have felt like a reward from heaven because his Poker Card turned out to be a $100,000 winner.

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U2’s Bono Salutes Military Heroes in D.C.

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Nov 18, 2012

photo of hero's welcome, via Facebook, WelcomeAHero

Tina Brown, editor in chief of Newsweek, kicked off her first annual Hero Summit last week in Washington to bring together military heroes and exceptional civilians for meaningful dialogues and information-sharing.

One of the exceptional civilians Brown invited to contribute to the evening was U2 frontman and celebrity activist Bono.

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Greek Can-do Mayor Bucks National Trend in Fixing City Finances

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Nov 18, 2012

Greek city Thessaloniki by-Elpidoforos Papanikolopoulolos, CC

70-year old Thessaloniki mayor Yannis Boutaris stands apart from the political mainstream, pulling off reforms that have so far evaded the national government during its three-year-old debt crisis.

In contrast to the rest of Greece, this sea-front city of one million is shrinking debt, cutting business taxes to help firms and paying city employees and contractors on time.

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