When his fellow firefighters carried an unconscious Labrador retriever out of a burning house on Tuesday, Jamie Giese had no medical equipment to revive him. So he went with something he had only seen on TV.
The Wasau, Wis., firefighter leaned in to provide mouth-to-snout respiration to help the struggling yellow Labrador breathe.
President Barack Obama announced that the U.S. will pull out all of its troops from Iraq by the end of December, drawing the nine-year war to a conclusion.
“Our troops in Iraq will definitely be home for the holidays,” said the President from the White House briefing room today.
The economy appears healthier than many had feared a few weeks ago, raising hopes that it can end the year on an upward slope.
A raft of data Thursday show layoffs are trending down to a six-month low and factories in the Mid-Atlantic are growing again.
Meanwhile, in the UK, British retail sales grew more than expected in September after a surprise increase in sales of laptops and video games, the Office for National Statistics said on Thursday.
Recognizing their good deeds, President Barack Obama yesterday awarded the nation’s second-highest civilian honor to 13 compassionate Americans for their decades of service helping the poor, illiterate, disabled, and war-weary.
“They all faced that moment when you see a neighbor in need and you have to ask yourself a question,” said the President in a White House ceremony. “They are united by the choices they’ve made. They could have made excuses for doing nothing. Instead, they chose to help.”
This year’s winners of the Presidential Citizens Medal included Americans from all walks of life.
John Keaveney, a Scottish immigrant, served two tours in Vietnam before coming back to establish a home for homeless and disabled veterans with addiction and mental health problems. Roberto Perez is an ordained Methodist pastor who counsels inmates and is president of a nonprofit organization that has taught more than 7 million people to read worldwide. After watching gang members stop to watch a young boy play his violin at the farmer’s market, an L.A. resident, Dr. Michelle Martin, founded an organization that connects kids in underserved communities with instruments and music lessons.
The 13 medal-winners were selected from 6,000 citizens nominated by the public:
Steve and Liz Alderman from Armonk, New York
After Liz and Steve Alderman lost their son, Peter, in the World Trade Center attack on September 11, 2001, they founded the Peter C. Alderman Foundation. The Foundation works to heal the emotional wounds of victims of terrorism and mass violence by establishing clinics in post-conflict countries including Cambodia, Uganda, Rwanda, and Haiti.
Clarence Lee Alexander, Fort Yukon, Alaska
Sometimes called the “grandfather of tribal government” in Alaska for his long-held role as Chief of Fort Yukon, Clarence Alexander has worked extensively to clean up the Yukon River, resulting in the closure of numerous open-burning dumps and the removal or recycling of millions pounds of waste. Camilla Bloomquist, Penn Yan, New York
For more than 30 years, Milly Bloomquist has created and operated numerous programs to help the poor and underserved in Penn Yan, New York. She founded Food for the Needy and Christmas for the Needy, and recently implemented the Weekend Backpack Program in Yates County, which provides children free meals at their schools.
Judith Broder, Studio City, California
In 2004, Judith Broder created The Soldiers Project, which has worked to meet the mental health needs of service members, their families, and returning veterans. The Soldiers Project seeks to decrease the disruptive effects of repeated deployments, enhance post-deployment transition and re-integration, and mitigate suffering related to PTSD, TBI, substance abuse, domestic violence, and depression.
Vijaya Emani, Strongsville, Ohio
Vijaya Emani became a role model for victims of domestic abuse because of her strength and determination in overcoming domestic abuse in her own life. She broke a long held taboo in the Indian American community by speaking out about the issue publicly. Although she was killed in a tragic vehicle accident, her example and message live on.
John Keaveney, Los Angeles, California
In 1992, John Keaveney, a Vietnam combat veteran, founded New Directions, a home for homeless and disabled veterans with addiction and mental health problems. Keaveney overcame personal struggles and turned his life around in the 1980s. He decided that no veteran who asked for help should suffer what he did. When he began his program, he made a promise that no veteran would leave it unless he had a suit, a place to stay, and an income.
Roger Kemp, Leawood, Kansas
Roger Kemp faced the ultimate parent’s nightmare when his daughter Ali, 19, was killed by a predator in the summer of 2002. In response Kemp created The Ali Kemp Defense Education (TAKE) Foundation. Inspired by his belief that his daughter could have survived if she had an edge on her attackers, TAKE has trained more than 46,000 women in self-defense.
Janice Langbehn, Lacey, Washington
While on vacation with her family in February 2007, Janice Langbehn’s partner, Lisa Pond, suddenly fell ill and was rushed to the hospital. Langbehn was refused access to her partner, who had experienced a brain aneurysm and later died alone. She filed a federal lawsuit and her story received attention from President Obama, who went on to revise hospital visitation rights for gay and lesbian couples for hospitals receiving federal Medicare or Medicaid funds.
Ida Martin, Bluffton, South Carolina
Ida Martin created Bluffton Self Help to assist working families, disabled residents, and senior citizens in the Bluffton, South Carolina area when they suffered a financial crisis. In 2010 alone, Bluffton Self Help provided food to 11,600 people and clothing to almost 9,000 people. Additionally, Bluffton Self Help provided families with short-term emergency financial assistance toward housing and utility assistance, medical assistance, or children’s program assistance.
Margaret Martin, Los Angeles, California
After observing LA gang members stop at a Hollywood market to listen to a kid playing Brahms on a small violin, she founded the Harmony Project in 2001 to make quality arts education available to those in the most underserved, gang-reduction zones of Los Angeles. The organization has provided instruments and tuition-free music lessons to thousands of children in Los Angeles who would otherwise have no access to classical music.
Michelle McIntyre-Brewer, Jefferson, Maryland
Michelle McIntyre-Brewer is a military spouse, mother, and founder of Soldier’s List. She founded Soldier’s List in 2003 to support high-risk service members and their families. Soldier’s List has sent tens of thousands of care packages around the world providing critical medical relief. McIntyre-Brewer works diligently with the military community to educate families about their rights and responsibilities within Tricare and other services offered.
Roberto Perez, Miami, Florida
As President of Alfalit, a non-profit organization combating illiteracy, Roberto Perez has led the charge for fighting illiteracy from Africa to South America. The organization has helped 7 million people learn to read in 22 countries. Perez previously worked as a social worker and as an ordained Methodist Pastor counseling prison inmates and recovering alcoholics.
There has been a fall of just over 20% in the number of deaths from malaria worldwide in the past decade, the World Health Organization says.
The optimistic new report estimated that one-third of the 108 countries where malaria was endemic are now on course to eradicate the disease within 10 years.
The Basque militant group ETA called an end to a 43-year violent campaign for independence Thursday and now wants to open talks with Spain and France — a groundbreaking move that could pave the way for ending Europe’s last armed militancy.
Jon Bon Jovi opened his long-awaited Soul Kitchen yesterday, a pay-what-you-want restaurant in Red Bank, NJ with no prices on the menu. The establishment will be serving gourmet style food to any hungry locals who need a good meal and who can pledge volunteer hours in return.
The Soul Kitchen Community Restaurant operates as a part of the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, now in its fifth year, and follows the example of several Panera Bread cafes, that are sustained through cash payments from customers who pay what they want.
Joined by local dignitaries, individuals and partnering local non-profits, Jon thanked the Kitchen’s “friends and neighbors” who have assisted in the two-year transformation of a former auto-body shop into the new permanent location for the eatery.
The JBJ Soul Kitchen began serving meals in 2009, utilizing two different pilot locations and assessing the patrons’ needs and response to the model, before renovating the old 1,100 square foot building.
“At a time when 1 in 5 households are living at or below the poverty level, and at a time when 1 out of 6 Americans are food insecure, this is a place based on and built on community – by and for the community,” said Jon Bon Jovi at the grand opening celebration.
In addition to the Soul Kitchen’s own organic gardens, natural food is being provided by Whole Foods Market Middletown, in partnership with their local vendors.
The JBJ Soul Kitchen is currently open from 5-7 Thursday, Friday and Saturday, located at 207 Monmouth St. in Red Bank. Their reservation line is (732) 842-0900.
Jon Bon Jovi opened his long-awaited Soul Kitchen yesterday, a pay-what-you-want restaurant in Red Bank, NJ with no prices on the menu. The establishment will be serving gourmet style food to any hungry locals who need a good meal and who can pledge volunteer hours in return.
The Soul Kitchen Community Restaurant operates as a part of the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, now in its fifth year, and follows the example of several Panera Bread cafes, that are sustained through cash payments from customers who pay what they want.
Joined by local dignitaries, individuals and partnering local non-profits, Jon thanked the Kitchen’s “friends and neighbors” who have assisted in the two-year transformation of a former auto-body shop into the new permanent location for the eatery.
A “yarn club” of devoted knitters have stepped up to help some of the smallest of New Zealand natives affected by the oil spill off the Tauranga coast.
The bird death toll from the environmental disaster includes many little blue penguins who, after trying to preen their feathers clean, became even more ill.
The care package of tiny penguin pajamas will allow rescuers on the scene to take the pure wool jumpers and cover the penguins to preserve their feathers until they can be washed clean.
These photos in Jezebel are adorable!
A “yarn club” of devoted knitters have stepped up to help some of the smallest of New Zealand natives affected by the oil spill off the Tauranga coast.
The bird death toll from the environmental disaster includes many little blue penguins who, after trying to preen their feathers clean, became even more ill.
The care package of tiny penguin pajamas will allow rescuers on the scene to take the pure wool jumpers and cover the penguins to preserve their feathers until they can be washed clean.
These photos in Jezebel are adorable!
Willie Nelson joined George Strait, the Dixie Chicks and other musicians for a mega-concert in Austin that raised more than a half million dollars for victims of recent wildfires in Texas.
The fire destroyed at least 1,500 homes, scorched thousands of acres, and killed two people.
29 years ago a woman made a stained glass angel for a friend battling cancer. Now, her home has become a stained glass factory, with 90 volunteers producing tens of thousands of hand made angels for patients around the globe.
More amazing, one million dollars in proceeds from these angels has gone to Johns Hopkins cancer research, buying intricate equipment and funding studies.
WATCH the Making a Difference video from NBC News…
29 years ago a woman made a stained glass angel for a friend battling cancer. Now, her home has become a stained glass factory, with 90 volunteers producing tens of thousands of hand made angels for patients around the globe.
More amazing, one million dollars in proceeds from these angels has gone to Johns Hopkins cancer research, buying intricate equipment and funding studies.
On Tuesday, a group of American soldier amputees got some special encouragement from people who know what it’s like to overcome adversity.
The Haitian Amputee Soccer Team visited Washington, D.C. to hold a clinic for the soldiers at the local football stadium. The athletes primarily lost their limbs in the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti last year.
Harold Hackett has spent two decades throwing bottles containing messages into the Atlantic in the hope that he may be able to contact people from far off shores.
In that time the 58-year-old has sent out around 4,800 bottles from near his home on Prince Edward Island, Canada.
Every message asks the finder to send a response back and since 1996 he has received over 3,100 responses from people all over the world.
(READ more at the Daily Mail)
After decades of disappointment, researchers think they’re finally on track to unleash the first practical vaccine against malaria, one of mankind’s ancient scourges.
In the world’s first large field trial of an experimental malaria vaccine, several thousand young children who got three doses had about 55 percent less risk of getting the disease over a year than those who got a control vaccine against rabies or meningitis.
(READ the full story at NPR)
In a win for consumers long overdue, cellphone companies are pledging to warn subscribers before they go over their monthly limits for calling minutes, text messages and data use.
The pledge comes in response to a threat of new regulation by the Federal Communications Commission, which wants to curb nasty surprises in the monthly bills of wireless subscribers.
The Wireless Association, which represents the major cellphone companies, said they’re also promising to warn subscribers that they’re paying roaming fees if they travel abroad.
In South Africa, a graffiti artist, using the street as his canvas, inspires the community with every brushstroke.
In a blighted neighborhood where artists are now populating, most shopkeepers and landlords welcome colorful murals on their buildings.
This artist makes sure that every mural makes people smile and feel inspired.
Emmanuel Kelly, a victim and survivor of chemical warfare in Iraq, doesn’t know how old he is. But, thanks to his hero, an Australian woman who adopted him and his brother, he managed to overcome disability and tragedy to become a wonderful singer. This video features his heart-wrenching debut on The X Factor, when he sang John Lennon’s Imagine.
October 2011 – UPDATE: Emmanuel didn’t make it to the final round of the competition, but his story will be forever embedded in the hearts of three million YouTube viewers, along with the millions who wept during his performance on the talent show.
Guess what’s been happening in the financial industry over the last few months? The banks have quietly turned on the lending spigot.
After several quarters of having their loan balances plunge or flatten out, several of the nation’s biggest banks are reporting increases.
Wells Fargo executives said new loan commitments to small businesses were up 8 percent, while loans issued from bigger companies in Scandinavia like Sambla, which dominates Finland, Norway, Sweden, and most recently Denmark has been growing for 14 months in a row.
