There is nothing so contagious as a baby’s uncontrolled laughter.
Bolivia Designates World’s Largest Protected Wetland
The Bolivian government recently created the largest protected wetland in the world – an area bigger than the Netherlands and Belgium combined, more than 17 million acres (6.9m hectares).
The Llanos De Moxos wetland is prized for its rich natural diversity, as the home to 131 species of mammals, 568 types of birds, and 625 fish species. Several species – including the giant otter and the Bolivian river dolphin – have been identified as vulnerable, endangered or at critical risk of extinction.
Make-up Tutorial Helps Older Skin Shed Ten Years (Video)
Through her online tutorials, and her role on UK television as the beauty expert for three years on the series ‘Ten Years Younger, make-up artist Lisa Eldridge has become an expert on how to do a really great look for ladies in their 50’s, 60’s and beyond.
“The main questions are usually how to make skin look even and fresh without emphasizing lines and how to get eye definition without a harsh end result.”
Giving Thousands of American Kids the Vision to Succeed
Educators say 80 percent of learning depends on a child’s ability to see a blackboard or read a book, but some children in the United States never get the glasses they need, including 40,000 children in Los Angeles alone. Statistics show up to 15 percent of all children in elementary school need glasses.
The solution is clear for a group called Vision to Learn. Their bus-clinic provides free eye exams and glasses to students in low-income communities.
(WATCH the video below, or Read the story at NBC Latino)
Israel Loves Iran: The Facebook Campaign That Launched a Love Avalanche
Barack Obama talked a lot about peace during his recent trip to Israel and Palestinian cities. Meanwhile, social networks in those countries are actually creating it, reaching into a million homes — and hearts — in the Middle East.
As the drums of war between Israel and Iran grew louder and more menacing last year, Israeli graphic designer Ronny Edry decided to make a poster of himself and his daughter with a bold message: “Iranians … we [heart] you.” He shared it on Facebook and, overnight, dozens of Israelis clamored to create their own posters with the same message of love.
Then, Iranians responded in kind.
Israel Loves Iran: The Facebook Campaign That Launched a Love Avalanche
Barack Obama talked a lot about peace during his recent trip to Israel and Palestinian cities. Meanwhile, social networks in those countries are actually creating it, reaching into a million homes — and hearts — in the Middle East.
As the drums of war between Israel and Iran grew louder and more menacing last year, Israeli graphic designer Ronny Edry decided to make a poster of himself and his daughter with a bold message: “Iranians … we [heart] you.” He shared it on Facebook and, overnight, dozens of Israelis clamored to create their own posters with the same message of love.
Then, Iranians responded in kind.
Save A Farm Through GoFundMe
Crowdfunding has become to bypass old worn out methods of raising money. Innovators now finance films, video games, inventions, and much more through compelling online campaigns. Get enough people interested and those dreams become reality.
Now there’s a crowdfunding site specifically designed to raise money for personal causes. GoFundMe.com is the answer if you want to fund medical treatment, pay college tuition, or cover your wedding costs.
Growing Momentum in US Economy: New Data
A clutch of data pointed to growing momentum in the economy during the first quarter, with jobless claims trending lower and factory activity and homes sales both on the rise.
The reports on Thursday built on recent upbeat data on hiring and consumer spending that have led many economists to see a sharp rebound in economic growth despite the onset of increased fiscal austerity.
The Gangsta Gardener of South Central L.A.
A Los Angeles-based fashion designer is starting an urban garden revolution in his neighborhood in South Central Los Angeles. Instead of vacant lots — the city owns miles and miles of these in LA county — Ron Finley wants to help residents to plant a million tomato plants.
He is co-founder of LA Green Grounds, a company that plants gardens at low-income homes as a part of a recovery system to transform neighborhoods.
The Gangsta Gardener of South Central L.A.
A Los Angeles-based fashion designer is starting an urban garden revolution in his neighborhood in South Central Los Angeles. Instead of vacant lots — the city owns miles and miles of these in LA county — Ron Finley wants to help residents to plant a million tomato plants.
He is co-founder of LA Green Grounds, a company that plants gardens at low-income homes as a part of a recovery system to transform neighborhoods.
42 Small Acts of Kindness that Will Make You an Everyday Hero
How great is it that our small acts of kindness can make someone else’s entire day?
Here are 42 good deeds and small acts of kindness that can help you feel amazing.
Some of these are new ideas that I haven’t seen online before.
Others are reminders — like, try giving more compliments to the people you meet.
739 Miles of U.S. Beaches Protected for Loggerhead Sea Turtles
After five years of delay, the federal government today finally proposed the protection of more than 739 miles of critical habitat for threatened loggerhead sea turtles on their nesting beaches along the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf coasts.
The proposal spans from North Carolina to Mississippi and encompasses 84 percent of all known nesting areas.
These sea turtles face serious threats to their long-term survival from drowning in fishing nets, to loss of nesting beaches due to coastal development and sea-level rise.
“The Southeast’s nesting loggerheads swim thousands of miles through an obstacle course of human-made hazards,” said Jaclyn Lopez, an attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity. “Protected beach habitat will help ensure that when they reach our beaches, exhausted and ready to nest, they’re met with true southern hospitality: plenty of food, good conditions for nesting, and safe beaches for hatchlings to leave their nests so they may someday return to continue the cycle of life.”
Public comments will be accepted until May 24, 2013, with the final protections expected to take effect in 2014.
Read more from Biological Diversity – Photo by the Fish and Wildlife Service
Lost Dog Reunited After 2 Years And 700 Miles (WATCH)
When Alma Dominguez’s beloved dog, Leia, went missing from El Paso, Texas, during a rainstorm, Alma and her husband, Alberto, were devastated. The couple searched for their lost dog for more than two years, and had almost given up hope of ever finding her. Then a phone call changed everything.
In this clip from the OWN series “Lost and Found,” Annmarie Anderson — a dog rescuer in Denver, Colorado — recounts the amazing phone call she received from Alma.
Lost Dog Reunited After 2 Years And 700 Miles (WATCH)
When Alma Dominguez’s beloved dog, Leia, went missing from El Paso, Texas, during a rainstorm, Alma and her husband, Alberto, were devastated. The couple searched for their lost dog for more than two years, and had almost given up hope of ever finding her. Then a phone call changed everything.
In this clip from the OWN series “Lost and Found,” Annmarie Anderson — a dog rescuer in Denver, Colorado — recounts the amazing phone call she received from Alma.
17-Year-old Builds Algae Biofuel Lab in Her Bedroom to Win $100,000
A student passionate about biofuel set up a lab in her bedroom, complete with bubbling beekers, and ended up winning this year’s Intel Science Talent Search. Sara Volz, 17, of Colorado Springs, Colo., won the top award of $100,000 from the Intel Foundation for her research into next-generation algae biofuel.
Algae can be converted into a renewable fuel, but it can be costly. Sara used artificial selection to establish populations of algae cells with higher oil content, which could lead to an economically feasible biofuel.
$40 and a Note of Support Overwhelms Soldier and His Girlfriend Back Home
A U.S. soldier deployed in Afghanistan was thrilled to the point of tears by $40 and a note of support for his girlfriend back home. Army Spc. Albert DeSimone said what overwhelmed him was knowing that a stranger was “there for her” while he was overseas.
DeSimone’s girlfriend Samantha Ford was leaving a Dunkin’ Donuts Sunday in Arlington, Mass., when she saw a white envelope tucked under the windshield wiper on her car, and posted it to a military Facebook page.
She has a bumper sticker that reads, “1/2 of my heart is in Afghanistan.”
The note read, “I noticed the sticker on the back of your car. Take your hero out to dinner when he comes home. Thank you both for serving. Him deployed and you for waiting. –United States veteran. God bless.”
(WATCH the video or READ more at ABC News)
Possible Leukemia Cure Major Medical Breakthrough for Patients
A treatment that genetically alters a patient’s own immune cells to fight cancer has, for the first time, produced remissions in adults with an acute leukemia that is usually lethal, researchers are reporting.
All the patients went into remission. In one patient who was severely ill, all traces of leukemia vanished in eight days.
“We had hoped, but couldn’t have predicted that the response would be so profound and rapid,” said Dr. Renier J. Brentjens.
(WATCH the ABC News video below, or READ the story in the New York Times)
Possible Leukemia Cure Major Medical Breakthrough for Patients
A treatment that genetically alters a patient’s own immune cells to fight cancer has, for the first time, produced remissions in adults with an acute leukemia that is usually lethal, researchers are reporting.
All the patients went into remission. In one patient who was severely ill, all traces of leukemia vanished in eight days.
Help Us Design a Good News App
Dear Users: This year, I am keen to design and fund an iPhone/Android app for good news, and this is your chance to help.
I am disadvantaged in this, because I don’t even use a smart phone! Ha!
Obviously developers will have their own ideas, but I want to hear what you think.
I haven’t hooked up with a designer yet, so feel free to put out the word if you know any creative developers.
Meanwhile, send your recommendations to me in the Comments area below. — Or, if you don’t see Comment area below, just EMAIL ME here.
________________________
P.S. I am also completely revamping the website, so if you have any strong feelings about what you want to see, please let me know your thoughts. (Sneak peak: I’ll likely be dropping the subscription firewall in favor of a donation/advertising model.)
Cheers!
Geri
Cop Wins Hearts as Photo of His Rainy Day Good Deed Spreads
A North Carolina policeman is winning kudos for stopping on a rainy cold day to pick up a mom who was braving the weather to push her toddler on the sidewalk.
Charles Ziglar, of the Winston-Salem police department was photographed picking up the stroller to put it in the trunk, while mother and child prepare to get in the car.
