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Giving Thanks Helps Reset Your Outlook on Life

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Nov 24, 2011

revering-the-beach

Count your blessings this Thanksgiving. It’s good for you.

While it seems pretty obvious that gratitude is a positive emotion, psychologists for decades rarely delved into the science of giving thanks. But in the last several years they have, learning in many experiments that it is one of humanity’s most powerful emotions. It makes you happier and can change your attitude about life, like an emotional reset button.

Especially in hard times, like these.

What is the brain chemistry behind this and what are the best ways of inducing it?

(READ the AP article in the Mercury News)

Downturn in Major Taliban Attacks Brings Cautious Optimism to Pakistan

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Nov 24, 2011

Kashmir border

“2011 has been another year dominated by bad news for Pakistan. Yet there are grounds for cautious optimism. A downturn in major terror attacks in the second half of the year and an overall decrease in civilian casualties at the hands of terrorists point to better policing and a gradual decline in the potency of militant groups, say officials and experts.”

Dyson Award-winner Makes Water Out of Thin Air for Farmers

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Nov 23, 2011

Farm Irrigation Airdrop wins Dyson Award

An Australian designer from Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne is the winner of the 2011 James Dyson Award for his “Airdrop” – a low-cost, low-maintenance technology for farming in arid areas.

Dyson, an Inventor and entrepreneur who revolutionized the vacuum cleaner, said Edward Linacre’s invention “shows how simple, natural principles such as the condensation of water can be applied to good effect through skilled design and robust engineering.”

The 27-year-old beat a range of designers and innovators to take the £10,000 prize. His university department will also receive a £10,000.

Dyson Award-winner Makes Water Out of Thin Air Helping Farmers

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Nov 23, 2011

Farm Irrigation Airdrop wins Dyson Award

An Australian designer from Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne is the winner of the 2011 James Dyson Award for his “Airdrop” – a low-cost, low-maintenance technology for farming in arid areas.

Dyson, an Inventor and entrepreneur who revolutionized the vacuum cleaner, said Edward Linacre’s invention “shows how simple, natural principles such as the condensation of water can be applied to good effect through skilled design and robust engineering.”

The 27-year-old beat a range of designers and innovators to take the £10,000 prize. His university department will also receive a £10,000.

Mom Makes Thanksgiving Happen for 300 Families

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Nov 23, 2011

Mom blogger raises Thanksgiving funds

A mother-of-three in Maryland had a simple idea: She used her parenting blog Scary Mommy to ask followers to make donations to help a family afford a Thanksgiving feast.

Over 600 respondents pitched it and she raised over $18,000 in supermarket gift cards for those who couldn’t afford food – providing dinner for 378 families.

(SEE the story with photos in the Daily Mail)

Sweet Deal! Couple Finds Love in Black Friday Line

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Nov 23, 2011

Couple met in Black Friday line

A Hurst, Texas couple is getting married after meeting while waiting in a Black Friday line.

Trevor MacDonald and Jesse Pierfelice were looking for a lot of things while sitting in the rain outside of a SuperTarget three years ago. But the one thing they weren’t expecting to find was each other.

She texted him the next day: “Hey, Target Boy”…

(WATCH the video below, or read the article at MSNBC)

iPhone 4S Introduces Amazing Features to Assist the Blind

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Nov 23, 2011

iphone home

Plenty has been written about the new iPhone 4S, but one little known feature is the amazingly thoughtful AssistiveTouch.

Apple has always gone to considerable lengths to make the iPhone usable for people with vision and hearing impairments. If you’re deaf, you can have the LED flash to get your attention when the phone rings. You can create custom vibration patterns for each person who might call you.

But now, you can literally turn the screen off if you’re blind and operate everything — do your e-mail, surf the Web, adjust settings, run apps — by tapping and letting the phone speak what you’re touching.

Starlings Mesmerize Boaters on Ireland’s Shannon River

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Nov 23, 2011

murmuration video

Girls canoeing in Ireland behold an astonishing sight as thousands of starlings swoop and pulse, whooshing through the sky as above Irish waters.

It’s the miracle of “murmuration”.

WATCH the video below…

‘Sweater Penguins’ Released Back to the Sea Oil-free (Video)

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Nov 22, 2011

Penguins released in New Zealand

Remember the little oil-soaked penguins that were aided last month by volunteers who knit them sweaters?

The first group of rescued penguins to be released back into the wild happily waddled their way down the beach of a New Zealand shoreline this week, to the delight of their caretakers and TV cameras.

The 49 Little Blue Penguins were cleaned up following the oil spill from the cargo ship, Rena, grounded off the coast near Tauranga on October 5. Hundreds more are still in rehabilitation.

‘Sweater Penguins’ Released Back to the Sea Oil-free (Video)

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Nov 22, 2011

Penguins released in New Zealand

Remember the little oil-soaked penguins that were aided last month by volunteers who knit them sweaters?

The first group of rescued penguins to be released back into the wild happily waddled their way down the beach of a New Zealand shoreline this week, to the delight of their caretakers and TV cameras.

The 49 Little Blue Penguins were cleaned up following the oil spill from the cargo ship, Rena, grounded off the coast near Tauranga on October 5. Hundreds more are still in rehabilitation.

Village Hero Turns Down a Million Euro, Turns in Gaddafi’s Fleeing Son

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Nov 22, 2011

Libya hero turns in Gaddafi son -Telegraph

A village tribesman was offered one million euros to drive Saif al-Islam Gaddafi to the Libyan border. Instead, he drove the dictator’s brutal son into a trap and now is being feted as a national hero.

“I was offered millions but all the money they had would not buy a pebble of our sand or one drop of our martyrs’ blood.”

Yusef Saleh al-Hotmani, from Berqan deep in the Sahara, said Saif was due to be picked up at the border with Algeria and Niger and from there, driven into exile.

AIDS Deaths, Infections Down 20% From Peak

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Nov 21, 2011

AIDS Hiv medicine in hand

Aids-related deaths are at the lowest level since their 2005 peak, down 21%, according to the UNAids 2011 report.

Additionally, the number of new HIV infections globally declined 21% from the record set in 1997.

“We are on the verge of a significant breakthrough,” said Michel Sidibe, executive director of UNAIDS, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS.

Apparel Exporters to End Child Labor in India

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Nov 21, 2011

mother with baby - USAID photo

After global apparel companies like Gap and Adidas censured the Indian apparel industry for engaging in child labor, the nation’s Apparel Export Promotion Council has decided to adopt a zero tolerance policy and cleanse the supply chain.

The extensive auditing of the supply chain will make garments from India more expensive by 5%, but will ensure that India avoids trade barriers due to its lack of compliance.

Teen Surprises Parents and Brother with Parade for the Soldier’s Homecoming

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Nov 21, 2011

Photo by Ladyheart, via Morguefile

US Marine Matthew Rodgers just wanted to surprise his parents by coming home a little early for Thanksgiving. But a bigger surprise awaited him: His sister threw him a parade.

Matthew’s parents were the only two people in town who hadn’t assembled for the festivities. Police and fire fighters were awaiting word of the lance corporal’s arrival, along with marching band and mayor.

For municipalities, such events can take months to plan. It took the Gaithersburg, MD teenager and her friend fewer than 10 days.

(SEE the full story with photos in the Washington Post)

Photo by Ladyheart, via Morguefile

Kohl’s Department Stores Honored as Green Power Partner of the Year

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Nov 21, 2011

Kohls Green Scene store

Kohl’s Department Stores has won its third Green Power Partner of the Year Award by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy for its extensive efforts at creating Earth-friendly stores and operations that focus on energy efficiency, renewable power, and LEED building standards.

Kohl’s has distinguished itself in 2011 by purchasing 1.4 billion kilowatt-hours of renewable energy, offsetting more than 100 percent of the company’s purchased electricity use. According to EPA, Kohl’s current green power purchase is equivalent to avoiding the carbon dioxide emissions of more than 192,000 passenger vehicles per year, or 122,000 American homes. The company joined EPA’s Green Power Partnership in 2006 and made an initial purchase of more than 80 million kwh of renewable energy credits in 2007.

From Car Washer to Millionaire, Surprising Crooner Wins America’s Got Talent (Video)

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Nov 20, 2011

Landau Eugene Murphy Jr audtions for Americas Got Talent

A year ago he was working in a car wash in Logan, West Virginia, and then he stepped on the audition stage for America’s Got Talent.

Up against thousands of other contenders, Landau Eugene Murphy Jr., with his long dreadlocks and wide toothy smile, looked like a hip hop, reggae or Motown singer — anything but the Sinatra crooner he turned out to be.

Over the course of the show’s five performances he wowed the audience and judges with old standards like Fly Me to the Moon, I’ve Got You Under My Skin and Ain’t That a Kick in the Head.

From Car Washer to Millionaire, Surprising Crooner Wins America’s Got Talent (Video)

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Good News Network

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Nov 20, 2011

Landau Eugene Murphy Jr audtions for Americas Got Talent

A year ago he was working in a car wash in Logan, West Virginia, and then he stepped on the audition stage for America’s Got Talent.

Up against thousands of other contenders, Landau Eugene Murphy Jr., with his long dreadlocks and wide toothy smile, looked like a hip hop, reggae or Motown singer — anything but the Sinatra crooner he turned out to be.

Over the course of the show’s five performances he wowed the audience and judges with old standards like Fly Me to the Moon, I’ve Got You Under My Skin and Ain’t That a Kick in the Head.

World’s Lightest Material Unveiled by US Engineers

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Good News Network

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Nov 20, 2011

lightest material ever invented sits on dandelion

A team of engineers claims to have created the world’s lightest material.

The substance, 100 times lighter than Styrofoam with “extraordinarily high energy absorption” properties, is made out of series of tiny hollow metallic tubes arranged into a criss-crossing diagonal pattern.

Potential uses include next-generation insulation, batteries, sound dampening and shock absorbers.

Ottawa Bus Passengers Sing for Silenced Driver

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Good News Network

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Nov 20, 2011

bus passengers CBC News video

“Passengers on Ottawa buses were breaking into song Friday to show their support for a silenced singing bus driver.

The transit sing-song was organized by passengers who were upset when driver Yves Roy was told earlier this month to stop belting out songs along his route. OC Transpo management told him the singing had provoked about a dozen complaints.

A Facebook campaign was launched, drawing the support of nearly 1,200 people who promised to croon in support of Roy’s singing when they took the bus on Friday.” – CBC News

(READ the story from CBC News)

Floating Webs Can Capture Sun and Wave Power

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Good News Network

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Nov 20, 2011

Solar cells float - by Phil Pauley, designer

“A new concept for marine solar cells could harness energy from both the sun and the waves at the same time.

His design calls for floating dome-shaped solar cells to be linked together in web-like patterns. Wave energy will be captured as the buoyant floats bob up and down in the water, Pauley said. Waves will also act like mirrors to bounce sunlight back on the floating cells and increase solar capture by 20 percent, he estimated.”

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