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The Best Cancer Ever

diver against blue sky - Photo by Sun Star

diver against blue sky - Photo by Sun StarMike Stevens is one of the funniest guys I know. In spite of getting wrung through the soul-flattenin’, hand-crankin’ washing machine of cancer treatment — a dozen rounds of chemo, a lobectomy, gamma knife surgery, and two clinical trials — he’s always quick to laugh, crack a joke, or break into an enormous smile.

He regularly speaks, live, before large groups of people. As a cancer superstar, a stage-4 lung cancer patient who’s outlived his prognosis by five years or so, he makes himself available to news media and at fundraisers, most recently the San Diego Breath of Hope, where he raised more money for the Lung Cancer Alliance than anyone else.

“Who thinks that cancer is the best thing that ever happened to you?” Mike often begins his speeches.

The Best Cancer Ever

diver against blue sky - Photo by Sun Star

diver against blue sky - Photo by Sun StarMike Stevens is one of the funniest guys I know. In spite of getting wrung through the soul-flattenin’, hand-crankin’ washing machine of cancer treatment — a dozen rounds of chemo, a lobectomy, gamma knife surgery, and two clinical trials — he’s always quick to laugh, crack a joke, or break into an enormous smile.

He regularly speaks, live, before large groups of people. As a cancer superstar, a stage-4 lung cancer patient who’s outlived his prognosis by five years or so, he makes himself available to news media and at fundraisers, most recently the San Diego Breath of Hope, where he raised more money for the Lung Cancer Alliance than anyone else.

“Who thinks that cancer is the best thing that ever happened to you?” Mike often begins his speeches.

Ford Cuts Global Waste by 100 Million Pounds and Counting

Ford painting plant

Ford painting plantThis week the Ford Motor Company announced impressive results in efforts to cut waste produced in its factories worldwide. Since 2007, the car company has slashed in half its waste that would otherwise ship to landfills in North America and reduced by 44 percent its global waste output — a total of 100 million pounds.

Expanding on the success, Ford plans to further reduce the amount of waste it sends to landfills by 10% per vehicle by the end of the year. If successful, that means the company would generate about 20 pounds of waste per vehicle on a global basis – roughly the weight of one tire.

Ford Cuts Global Waste by 100 Million Pounds and Counting

Ford painting plant

Ford painting plantThis week the Ford Motor Company announced impressive results in efforts to cut waste produced in its factories worldwide. Since 2007, the car company has slashed in half its waste that would otherwise ship to landfills in North America and reduced by 44 percent its global waste output — a total of 100 million pounds.

Expanding on the success, Ford plans to further reduce the amount of waste it sends to landfills by 10% per vehicle by the end of the year. If successful, that means the company would generate about 20 pounds of waste per vehicle on a global basis – roughly the weight of one tire.

Newborn Fawn Found Nestled on Doorstep (Video)

fawn on doorstep-YouTube

fawn on doorstep-YouTubeA California photographer found a baby fawn curled up on a cozy welcome mat at the front door of his mother’s house.

He posted this video on YouTube after calling animal control officers, who told him the fawn was probably regaining its strength after leaving the womb, and to leave the creature alone until its mother came to take it away.

6 Moms We’d Like to Go to Work With on Take Your Daughter to Work Day

Tina Fey, by David Shankbone-GNU

Tina Fey, by David Shankbone-GNU

Today is Take Your Daughter (and Sons) to Work Day, and while we don’t begrudge the right of kids to tail their parents on this special day, we can’t help but feel a little jealous of what some of them get to experience. Moms working in television, business, politics, and even Olympic-level athletic competition undoubtedly have some really cool jobs to drop in on, and we’ve picked several of our favorite working moms that we’d like to spend a day with. Read and imagine what it would be like to go to work with these awesome working moms today.

1. Tina Fey

“30 Rock” already gives us an idea of what it’s like to work with writer and actor Tina Fey, and that’s exactly why we’d most like to visit her on the set, especially on a day when the cast is performing the show LIVE. We imagine that we’d spend the day picking up gems of witty wisdom like, “Work won’t visit you when you’re old. Work won’t drive you to get a mammogram and take you out for soup.” We’d love to go to work with Tina Fey to get a peek at how she brings it all together with her razor-sharp wit, and maybe share a few bacon-flavored Twinkies.

Kari Byron, Ray Sampson-CC2. Kari Byron

As a busy working mom, Kari Byron fully admits that her personal time and the opportunity to paint her nails on a regular basis have really suffered. But we have to believe that finding the time to be a mom to her young daughter Stella Ruby as a female geek icon of “MythBusters” fame  is worth the sacrifice. Byron’s days are full of playful exploration and experiments. She often gets to shoot at things and blow stuff up, something she actually gets paid to do, and we’d love to be there to see her do it in person.

Michelle Obama-CC3. Michelle Obama

We’re just going to lay it out there: we really want to know what it’s like to be a First Lady — but only for a day. We can’t imagine the stress Mrs. Obama is under on a regular basis, but getting a sneak peek sure seems like it would be an eye-opening experience. We’d love to take part in her experience of travel, meeting new people, and having the power and resources to work for the changes she wants to see in the world.

Dana Torres by Bryan Allison-CC

4. Dara Torres

Dara Torres is so inspirational as an athlete and a mom. She broke age barriers wide open, becoming the first U.S. swimmer to compete in four Olympic games, while winning nine Olympic medals and setting three world records. Remarkably, Torres retired in 2000 to start a family, but came back to continue following her dream of being a star athlete. Just three weeks after giving birth to her daughter Tessa, she broke a world record, and then went on to win three silver medals at the Beijing Olympic Games. We are so impressed by Torres’ drive for greatness, and we’d love to spend a day at work with her to find out how she stays motivated.

5. Sheryl Sandberg

Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg Financial Times -CC

Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg is so incredible to us as a woman who is making things work, not just for herself, but for other moms. We’d love to see her in action as she supports the women of Facebook: she has created maternity leave policies and accessible child care for all Facebook offices. She’s also publicly celebrated the fact that she leaves work at 5:30 each day and encourages other working moms to do the same. But perhaps the thing we love most about Sandberg is that she is refreshingly real, admitting that “there’s no such thing as work-life balance.”

Antonia Lofaso Top Chef

6. Antonia Lofaso

Antonia Lofaso became a star chef after her appearance on reality TV show “Top Chef,” but she finds balance by keeping Sundays as a sacred mother-daughter day. We think it would be fun to work as her sous chef for the day, as she did once with daughter Xea during a charity event. It would also be great to get a sneak peek and insider tips from her new cookbook aimed at busy moms.

READ about 4 more exciting moms to go to work with at OnlineMBA.com

(Note, source material has been removed by the source.)

30 Secret Heroes of American History Revealed in New Book

Inez Boissevain-Library of Congress

Inez Boissevain-Library of CongressSecret Heroes: Everyday Americans Who Shaped Our World,” by Paul Martin, is a remarkable collection of stories that spotlight 30 unknown champions, explorers, inventors, and innovators who were forgotten in the pages of American history textbooks.

Instead of George Washington, we learn about the tailor who saved his life…twice.

The overlooked Americans in Secret Heroes all had an impact on their world (and the modern world), says the author, former Executive Editor of National Geographic Traveler. The illuminating stories include:

30 Secret Heroes of American History Revealed in New Book

Inez Boissevain-Library of Congress

Inez Boissevain-Library of CongressSecret Heroes: Everyday Americans Who Shaped Our World,” by Paul Martin, is a remarkable collection of stories that spotlight 30 unknown champions, explorers, inventors, and innovators who were forgotten in the pages of American history textbooks. 

Instead of George Washington, we learn about the tailor who saved his life…twice.

The overlooked Americans in Secret Heroes all had an impact on their world (and the modern world), says the author, former Executive Editor of National Geographic Traveler. The illuminating stories include:

College Grads’ New Company Recycles Coffee Grounds into Gourmet Mushrooms You Can Grow at Home

Mushroom kits from Back to the Roots

Mushroom kits from Back to the RootsWhen two college students in Oakland discovered they could grow mushrooms in used coffee grounds, they started a company to recycle the waste from local cafes.

Each morning the “Back To the Roots” team picks up 8,000 pounds of grounds in the back of a van for processing in their plant. They are on track this year to divert 3.5 million pounds of coffee grounds from landfills.

New Company Recycles Coffee Grounds into Gourmet Mushrooms You Can Grow at Home

Mushroom kits from Back to the Roots

Mushroom kits from Back to the RootsWhen two college students in Oakland discovered they could grow mushrooms in used coffee grounds, they started a company to recycle the waste from local cafes.

Each morning the “Back To the Roots” team picks up 8,000 pounds of grounds in the back of a van for processing in their plant. They are on track this year to divert 3.5 million pounds of coffee grounds from landfills.

Canada to Help Libya Destroy Mustard Gas Stockpiles

Mustard Gas Shells

Mustard Gas ShellsLibya will start destroying its ageing stockpiles of mustard gas within months after Canada’s donation of 4.5 million euros to the global chemical weapons watchdog, the group said Tuesday.

The Canadian donation is the largest in the history of the 15-year-old Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons  which enforces the Chemical Weapons Convention that has been joined by 188 countries.

12-year-old Saves Grandma’s Home From Foreclosure

10-year-old on internet via CBS News

10-year-old on internet via CBS NewsIn Steven’s Point, Wisconsin, a boy cared enough not only about his own grandmother, but the dozens of foster kids she had taken into her home over the years, that he took on the task of saving her house from foreclosure.

“Noah found out about the situation from eavesdropping on a conversation,” reported CBS’s Steve Hartman in February.

Determined to help his grandmother out, and keep her home available for destitute children, he posted a message on a site called Noah’s Dream Catcher Network asking for the $10,000 needed to catch up on her payments:

12-year-old Saves Grandma’s Home From Foreclosure

10-year-old on internet via CBS News

10-year-old on internet via CBS NewsIn Steven’s Point, Wisconsin, a boy cared enough not only about his own grandmother, but the dozens of foster kids she had taken into her home over the years, that he took on the task of saving her house from foreclosure.

“Noah found out about the situation from eavesdropping on a conversation,” reported CBS’s Steve Hartman in February.

Determined to help his grandmother out, and keep her home available for destitute children, he posted a message on a site called Noah’s Dream Catcher Network asking for the $10,000 needed to catch up on her payments:

Burger King Announces Shift to Cage-free Pork and Eggs

Photo by Kakisky, via Morguefile

Photo by Kakisky, via MorguefileBurger King’s baby steps toward more humane treatment for animals in its supply chain took a whopper of a leap forward today when the fast food chain announced that all of its eggs and pork will soon come from non-caged sources.

According to The Humane Society of the United States, Burger King’s new policy will transition to 100 percent cage-free eggs for all U.S. locations within five years, and only purchase pork from suppliers that have documented plans to end their use of gestation crates for breeding pigs.

“Burger King Corp. has demonstrated when it comes to America’s largest fast food chains, it continues to set the standard,” said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of the animal welfare group. “These changes will improve life for countless farm animals and encourage other companies to abide by animal welfare principles up and down their supply chain.”

In the past five years Burger King has leveraged its purchasing power to push for more cruelty-free treatment of animals, already converting 9% of its eggs to cage-free sources and 20% of its pork, according to the Associated Press.

The fast food company has also committed globally, through its Corporate Responsibility statement, to purchase beef from suppliers that source only animals that have been raised in environmentally responsible ways. As a result, none of their beef — or palm oil — comes from known sources involved in the deforestation of tropical rainforests.

In 2007, following discussions with the Humane Society, Burger King became the nation’s first major restaurant chain to begin phasing in cage-free products.

Burger King Corp. operates more than 12,500 locations worldwide.

Photo by Kakisky, via Morguefile

Burger King Announces Shift to Cage-free Pork and Eggs

Photo by Kakisky, via Morguefile

Photo by Kakisky, via MorguefileBurger King’s baby steps toward more humane treatment for animals in its supply chain took a whopper of a leap forward today when the fast food chain announced that all of its eggs and pork will soon come from non-caged sources.

According to The Humane Society of the United States, Burger King’s new policy will transition to 100 percent cage-free eggs for all U.S. locations within five years, and only purchase pork from suppliers that have documented plans to end their use of gestation crates for breeding pigs.

Donations Soar for Inspirational Runner After Her Collapse in London Marathon

Runner Claire Squire, who collapsed in London Marathon

Runner Claire Squire, who collapsed in London MarathonDonations to an “inspirational” runner who collapsed and died during the London Marathon have passed £670,000 on her fundraising website, and are continuing to be sent in.

Claire Squires, a 30-year-old hairdresser, had run the marathon once before and was in apparent good health before she collapsed in the final stretch of the race on Sunday.

Libya Bans Political Parties Based on Religion, Tribalism

libyan-flags-rebels-BRQ-photo-Flickr-cc

Libyan flags photo by BRQ via Flickr-ccLibya, which is braced for its first election since Moamer Gaddafi’s overthrow, is to ban political parties based on religion, tribalism or regionalism, officials said on Wednesday.

The new rules were endorsed late on Tuesday by Libya’s ruling National Transitional Council, said council member Fathi al-Baja.

School Teachers Who Won Mega Millions Lottery, Will Keep Working

Lottery check from MD lottery

Lottery check from MD lotteryThree Maryland winners sharing the record $656 million lottery payoff are remaining anonymous but garnering praise for their intentions to continue teaching school children.

The Mega Millions winners, who call themselves “The Three Amigos,” will each take home almost $35 million after taxes.

“It’s gratifying to know that these individuals, who have given so much to the public through the years, have had this wonderful luck.  It couldn’t have happened to nicer people,” said Maryland Lottery Director Stephen Martino.

The trio of friends — one is a school administrator — told lottery officials they planned to buy new homes, travel to Europe and help their own children pay for college.

Martino said the two teachers couldn’t stand the thought of leaving their schools: “They were so clearly committed to their kids.”

“They both said, ‘I can’t give up my kids.’ “

(Source: TwinCities.com)

School Teachers Who Won Mega Millions Lottery, Will Keep Working

Lottery check from MD lottery

Lottery check from MD lotteryThree Maryland winners sharing the record $656 million lottery payoff are remaining anonymous but garnering praise for their intentions to continue teaching school children.

The Mega Millions winners, who call themselves “The Three Amigos,” will each take home almost $35 million after taxes.

“It’s gratifying to know that these individuals, who have given so much to the public through the years, have had this wonderful luck.  It couldn’t have happened to nicer people,” said Maryland Lottery Director Stephen Martino.

Paralyzed Person Can Use Brain Signals to Control Robot

brainSwiss scientists have demonstrated how a partially paralyzed person can control a robot using brain signals alone.

The team at Switzerland’s Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne says the experiment takes them a step closer to enabling immobile patients to easily interact with their surroundings using a simple head cap to record the brain signals.