Many doctors recommend that patients take a daily dose of aspirin to reduce their risk of heart attack or stroke. Now new research reported in the journal Cancer found that people taking aspirin or ibuprofen regularly were much more likely not to get deadly skin cancers.
But skin cancer is only the beginning of aspirin’s anti-cancer benefits. Three other recent studies, published in the Lancet, found that people who take a daily aspirin have as much as a 46% lower risk of colon, lung and prostate cancer compared with people who rarely or never take aspirin.
Greg Rubar still can’t believe how his bad luck turned into good fortune.
On Saturday, he was working in the Italian cafe where he’s been a waiter for 16 years.
A couple, who are regular customers at the restaurant, gave him a tip he will never forget. They had heard about him losing his car recently and about his difficulties in taking the bus to work.
The pair, who insisted on remaining anonymous, handed him an envelope with $5,000 in cash for a new car.
Greg Rubar still can’t believe how his bad luck turned into good fortune.
On Saturday, he was working in the Italian cafe where he’s been a waiter for 16 years.
A couple, who are regular customers at the restaurant, gave him a tip he will never forget. They had heard about him losing his car recently and about his difficulties in taking the bus to work.
Inspired by a man who traded a red paper clip to get a house on Craig’s List, Brendan Haas hatched a scheme to earn a trip to Disney World. But instead of vacationing himself, the Massachusetts boy gave the all-expenses paid trip to the family of a soldier killed in Afghanistan.
It only took four months of trading, beginning with Brendan offering his toy soldier on a Facebook page his mother helped set up, called A Soldier for a Soldier.
On Memorial Day, the boy pulled the name of 2-year-old Liberty Hope Steele out of a hat. She is the daughter of U.S. Army Lt. Timothy Steele, 25, who was killed last August in Afghanistan. Brendan’s family was delighted that the winning family lived just a couple towns away and drove there to present the prize.
Inspired by a man who traded a red paper clip to get a house on Craig’s List, Brendan Haas hatched a scheme to earn a trip to Disney World. But instead of vacationing himself, the Massachusetts boy gave the all-expenses paid trip to the family of a soldier killed in Afghanistan.
It only took four months of trading, beginning with Brendan offering his toy soldier on a Facebook page his mother helped set up, called A Soldier for a Soldier.
At the White House yesterday, President Obama honored this year’s recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Nation’s highest civilian honor.
“I have to say, just looking around the room, this is a packed house, which is a testament to how cool this group is,” chuckled the President, whose broadest grin came as he bestowed the award upon the shoulders of Bob Dylan.
“Together, these honorees have moved us with their words; they have inspired us with their actions. Some of them are household names; others have labored quietly out of the public eye. Most of them may never fully appreciate the difference they’ve made or the influence that they’ve had, but that’s where our job comes in. It’s our job to help let them know how extraordinary their impact has been on our lives. And so today we present this amazing group with one more accolade for a life well led, and that’s the Presidential Medal of Freedom.”
Here are some highlights of the ceremony: (Watch the inspiring presentation below)
Madeleine Albright
“As the first woman to serve as America’s top diplomat, Madeleine’s courage and toughness helped bring peace to the Balkans and paved the way for progress in some of the most unstable corners of the world. As an immigrant herself — the granddaughter of Holocaust victims who fled her native Czechoslovakia as a child — this is one of my favorite stories: Once, at a naturalization ceremony, an Ethiopian man came up to her and said, ‘Only in America can a refugee meet the Secretary of State.’ And she replied, ‘Only in America can a refugee become the Secretary of State.'”
John Doar
“It was a scorching hot day in 1963, and Mississippi was on the verge of a massacre. The funeral procession for Medgar Evers had just disbanded, and a group of marchers was throwing rocks at a line of equally defiant and heavily-armed policemen. And suddenly, a white man in shirtsleeves, hands raised, walked towards the protestors and talked them into going home peacefully. And that man was John Doar. He was the face of the Justice Department in the South. He was proof that the federal government was listening. And over the years, John escorted James Meredith to the University of Mississippi. He walked alongside the Selma-to-Montgomery March. He laid the groundwork for the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965… And I think it’s fair to say that I might not be here had it not been for his work.”
Bob Dylan
“Bob Dylan started out singing other people’s songs. But, as he says, ‘There came a point where I had to write what I wanted to say, because what I wanted to say, nobody else was writing.’ So born in Hibbing, Minnesota — a town, he says, where ‘you couldn’t be a rebel — it was too cold’. Bob moved to New York at age 19. By the time he was 23, Bob’s voice, with its weight, its unique, gravelly power was redefining not just what music sounded like, but the message it carried and how it made people feel. Today, everybody from Bruce Springsteen to U2 owes Bob a debt of gratitude. There is not a bigger giant in the history of American music. And I have to say that I am a really big fan.” (Dylan continues recording and touring around the world today and has received a Pulitzer Prize Special Citation.)
William Foege
“In the 1960s, more than 2 million people died from smallpox every year. Just over a decade later, that number was zero — 2 million to zero, thanks, in part, to Dr. Bill Foege. As a young medical missionary working in Nigeria, Bill helped develop a vaccination strategy that would later be used to eliminate smallpox from the face of the Earth. And when that war was won, he moved on to other diseases, always trying to figure out what works.”
Gordon Hirabayashi (stood against Japanese internment)
“Gordon Hirabayashi knew what it was like to stand alone. As a student at the University of Washington, Gordon was one of only three Japanese Americans to defy the executive order that forced thousands of families to leave their homes, their jobs, and their civil rights behind and move to internment camps during World War II. He took his case all the way to the Supreme Court, and he lost. And it would be another 40 years before that decision was reversed, giving Asian Americans everywhere a small measure of justice. In Gordon’s words, ‘It takes a crisis to tell us that unless citizens are willing to standup for the [Constitution], it’s not worth the paper it’s written on.’ And this country is better off because of citizens like him who are willing to stand up.”
Jan Karski
“Jan (who is fluent in four languages and possessed of a photographic memory) served as a courier for the Polish resistance during the darkest days of World War II. Before one trip across enemy lines, resistance fighters told him that Jews were being murdered on a massive scale, and smuggled him into the Warsaw Ghetto and a (Nazi) death camp to see for himself. Jan took that information to President Franklin Roosevelt, giving one of the first accounts of the Holocaust and imploring to the world to take action.”
Juliette Gordon Low (Founder of the Girl Scouts)
“Growing up in Georgia in the late 1800s, Juliette was not exactly typical. She flew airplanes. She went swimming. She experimented with electricity for fun. And she recognized early on that in order to keep up with the changing times, women would have to be prepared. So at age 52, after meeting the founder of the Boy Scouts in England, Juliette came home and called her cousin and said, “I’ve got something for the girls of Savannah, and all of America, and all the world. And we’re going to start it tonight!” A century later, almost 60 million Girl Scouts have gained leadership skills and self-confidence through the organization that she founded. And from the very beginning, they have also included girls of different races and faiths and abilities.”
China’s central government plans to spend $27 billion (170 billion yuan) this year to promote energy conservation, emission reductions and renewable energy, the Ministry of Finance said in a statement last week.
The ministry said China plans to promote more use of energy-saving products and low or no-emission power generation such as solar and wind.
The Sierra Club, the nation’s largest environmental organization, last week announced a new partnership with Sungevity, one of the country’s leading residential solar providers, to help families go solar easily and affordably.
The new program will help consumers save money on electricity bills, reduce pollution and support the Sierra Club’s overall environmental mission, all at the same time. Through the partnership, each time someone takes advantage of Sungevity’s “Zero Down” solar roofing program, that person will receive a $750 cash gift card and Sungevity will contribute $750 to the Sierra Club.
The Sierra Club, the nation’s largest environmental organization, last week announced a new partnership with Sungevity, one of the country’s leading residential solar providers, to help families switch to solar easily and affordably.
The new program will help consumers save money on electricity bills, reduce pollution and support the Sierra Club’s overall environmental mission, all at the same time. Through the partnership, each time someone takes advantage of Sungevity’s “Zero Down” solar roofing program, that person will receive a $750 cash gift card and Sungevity will contribute $750 to the Sierra Club.
On May 23, 2009, a small group arrived at the Portland home of Chopper, a big hunk of a dog who spent day after day, year after year, isolated from his family, chained to a tree.
After only a few hours of work by volunteers, Chopper experienced freedom for the first time in six years. Once a sad, sullen dog, Chopper bounded joyfully around his new yard, wagging his tail. The fence also encouraged Chopper’s owner to spend more time with him, changing their relationship forever.
On May 23, 2009, a small group arrived at the Portland home of Chopper, a big hunk of a dog who spent day after day, year after year, isolated from his family, chained to a tree.
After only a few hours of work by volunteers, Chopper experienced freedom for the first time in six years. Once a sad, sullen dog, Chopper bounded joyfully around his new yard, wagging his tail. The fence also encouraged Chopper’s owner to spend more time with him, changing their relationship forever.
Since 9/11, more than 2 million service people have been deployed overseas, separated from the ones they hold most dear. But the strain of long-distance relationships makes the moment they’re finally reunited that much sweeter. A Memorial Day TV special on Nat Geo channel explores the emotional back-stories behind a new YouTube genre and the best surprise soldier homecoming videos.
Premiering tonight, May 28, at 10pm, “Witness: G.I. Homecoming” reveals the emotional stories behind some of the most memorable surprise reunion videos as told by the men and women whose sacrifices made them happen. Weaving together home movies, war zone footage shot by the soldiers themselves and original, first-person accounts, National Geographic Channel tells the story of the families’ journeys up to the moment of their unforgettable reunions. It airs at 10 PM, ET/PT.
An older brother who makes it his mission to attend his sister’s college graduation, a husband who has left behind his wife and four young children, a Navy airman who has the chance to surprise her family in front of a stadium full of Red Sox fans — these are the powerful stories of America’s home front.
Jessica Freedman always felt protective of her younger brother Eric, but when he joined the Marines and was sent to Helmand Province, one of Afghanistan’s most dangerous regions, Jessica knew she could no longer look out for him the way she used to. After seven months of deployment, she found out her brother wouldn’t make it home in time for her college graduation. Jessica was devastated and angry: “I probably shouldn’t repeat exactly what I said, but along the lines of, ‘How can they do that? Don’t they know, not don’t they know who I am, but how can you keep him from my graduation? He’s supposed to be here with me.’” But unbeknownst to Jessica, he would make it in time. Watch as the siblings’ surprising, emotional reunion unfolds in front of Jessica’s classmates, family and friends.
When Sergeant First Class Jed Lewis re-enlisted in the military after 9/11, it took an emotional toll on his entire family, but Sgt. Lewis felt a strong drive to serve his country. Before deploying to Baghdad, he recorded video messages to each of his four children, creating an intimate, visual record of their father in case he didn’t return. While her husband was overseas, Mindy arranged for the kids to Skype with their father on Christmas and kept a cardboard cutout of him at the dinner table — and the homecoming she planned was equally thoughtful. Home video reveals the priceless expressions on the Lewis children’s faces as the touching, middle-of-the-night reunion unfolds.
When the Red Sox contacted airman Bridget Lydon’s ship looking for a volunteer to surprise a family at their Fourth of July home game, she jumped at the chance. Bridget hadn’t seen her tight-knit family in nearly nine months. Cameras capture the shocking Independence Day reunion that brings overwhelming joy to a family and an entire stadium to its feet. (See that video below)
Poignant and dramatic, joyous and tearful, Witness: G.I. Homecoming provides an emotional perspective on the soldier homecoming videos that only those who’ve experienced it can tell.
(WATCH this inspiring clip of family reunion in front of Red Sox Fenway Park crowd)
Since 9/11, more than 2 million service people have been deployed overseas, separated from the ones they hold most dear. But the strain of long-distance relationships makes the moment they’re finally reunited that much sweeter. A Memorial Day TV special on Nat Geo channel explores the emotional back-stories behind a new YouTube genre and the best surprise soldier homecoming videos.
Premiering tonight, May 28, at 10pm, “Witness: G.I. Homecoming” reveals the emotional stories behind some of the most memorable surprise reunion videos as told by the men and women whose sacrifices made them happen. Weaving together home movies, war zone footage shot by the soldiers themselves and original, first-person accounts, National Geographic Channel tells the story of the families’ journeys up to the moment of their unforgettable reunions. It airs at 10 PM, ET/PT.
Georgetown University medical students recently held their yearly religious service, to say thank you to anatomical donors.
Each year, 19,000 medical students in the United States dissect cadavers as part of their introduction to medicine. It is one of the most sensitive rites of becoming a doctor because it is the students’ first encounter with death.
Each year their schools hold some type of memorial service at the end of the year to honor donors.
At the George Washington University medical school, family members spoke, and students sang and performed original dance. The service ended with a release of butterflies.
Just in time for Memorial Day, Tim McGraw is giving away a mortgage-free house to wounded or needy service members for each stop on his upcoming “Brothers of the Sun.” .
Kick-starting his new partnership with Chase, the charity Operation Homefront, and the USO, the country music superstar will perform a special Memorial Day concert for service members at New York City’s Beacon Theatre during Fleet Week.
McGraw has a long history and deep interest in supporting veterans and military families and wanted to find another way to give back to them.
“My sister’s a veteran of the first Gulf War. My uncle was a Vietnam veteran and my grandfather was a World War II veteran,” says McGraw. “Being able to reward the troops for their dedicated work with a new home will be even more rewarding for us. It feels so good to give back to them.”
Additionally, both the charitable arm of the Academy of Country Music, and the North Carolina Furniture Manufacturers have made substantial contributions to support the program throughout the summer.
On June 2 in Tampa, along with Kenny Chesney through August, McGraw will perform for what is anticipated to be the biggest stadium tour in the history of country music.
Since 2002, thousands of volunteers for Operation Homefront have met more than 590,000 needs for military families.
Some real-life heroes at Marvel Comics created a hearing-aid-wearing superhero comic book in honor of hearing impaired little boy who didn’t want to wear his own device any more.
The creation of the new character began when Anthony Smith’s mother wrote to Marvel after her son told her he didn’t want to wear his blue hearing aid to school.
Some real-life heroes at Marvel Comics created a hearing-aid-wearing superhero comic book in honor of hearing impaired little boy who didn’t want to wear his own device any more.
The creation of the new character began when Anthony Smith’s mother wrote to Marvel after her son told her he didn’t want to wear his blue hearing aid to school.
Australia’s Festival of Lights is transforming Sydney’s famous landmarks using wild imagination and cutting edge 3-D projectors beaming images from a distance.
The evening lit “sails” of the iconic Opera House overlooking the harbor suddenly appeared to break out in cracks and holes, and flutter in the wind. As a finale, its surface peels back as if skin, a hand punches through it, and finally a giant woman stretches out across the surface appearing to tip toe across.
Australia’s Festival of Lights is transforming Sydney’s famous landmarks using wild imagination and cutting edge 3-D projectors beaming images from a distance.
The evening lit “sails” of the iconic Opera House overlooking the harbor suddenly appeared to break out in cracks and holes, and flutter in the wind. As a finale, its surface peels back as if skin, a hand punches through it, and finally a giant woman stretches out across the surface appearing to tip toe across.
Many doctors recommend that patients take a daily dose of aspirin to reduce their risk of heart attack or stroke. Now new research reported in the journal Cancer found that people taking aspirin or ibuprofen regularly were much more likely not to get deadly skin cancers.
When Sergeant First Class Jed Lewis re-enlisted in the military after 9/11, it took an emotional toll on his entire family, but Sgt. Lewis felt a strong drive to serve his country. Before deploying to Baghdad, he recorded video messages to each of his four children, creating an intimate, visual record of their father in case he didn’t return. While her husband was overseas, Mindy arranged for the kids to Skype with their father on Christmas and kept a cardboard cutout of him at the dinner table — and the homecoming she planned was equally thoughtful. Home video reveals the priceless expressions on the Lewis children’s faces as the touching, middle-of-the-night reunion unfolds.
