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.
After 43 years, Basque Group Ends Armed Campaign
Jon Bon Jovi Opens Charity Restaurant in New Jersey
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 Opens Charity Restaurant in New Jersey
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.
Knitters Stitch PJs to Save Oiled Penguins
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!
Knitters Stitch PJs to Save Oiled Penguins
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!
Country Stars Raise $500,000 for Texas Fire Victims
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.
Woman Starts Angel Factory in Basement Raising $1Mil for Cancer Research
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…
Woman Starts Angel Factory in Basement Raising $1Mil for Cancer Research
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.
Haitian Amputee Soccer Players Help U.S. Wounded Warriors
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.
Man Enjoys Overwhelming Response Sending 5,000 Messages in Bottles Over 20 Years
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)
Photo by Sun Star – Thanks to Susan Wortman for submitting the link!
Experimental Malaria Vaccine Slashes Infection Risk By Half
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)
Cellphone Companies Agree to Alert Users Before Minutes Exceeded
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.
Graffiti Artist Uses Brush Strokes for Good
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.
Iraqi War Zone Orphan Wows X Factor in Adoption Tear-jerker (Update)
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.
Banks Start to Make More Loans
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.
French Get Back Famous Painting Stolen During World War I
A famous French painting stolen during World War I by the German Army was returned to the government of France by U.S. officials on Thursday. The 1876 Jules Breton work is translated as “A Fisherman’s Daughter/Mender of Nets.”
“One of the very few ways that we are able to redress the awful legacy of war is to return stolen art to its rightful owners so it can be shared and enjoyed,” said a U.S. Attorney for New York who worked on the case.
What Cancer Patients Want Most – To Laugh (Help Them do it)
It’s not just an “old adage” that tells us laughter is the best medicine these days. Scientists, doctors, mental health professionals, and patients themselves call humor a remedy for any ailment — at least temporarily.
Several studies show that humor builds hope, and hope is particularly crucial to people with cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
An acclaimed author and journalist, Lori Hope, utilized a very personal challenge — her own cancer diagnosis — to create a practical guide for people who want to comfort and support a friend with cancer, but don’t know what to say. After extensive interviews, she wrote a book, 20 Things People with Cancer Want You to Know.
.Newsweek Ranks the World’s Greenest Companies
Even in this weak economy, many of the world’s largest companies are tackling green projects — emissions, energy efficiency and recycling — with increasing tenacity.
Corporate sustainability, it seems, is here for the long haul. It makes sense not just for the sake of the planet, but for business: The more energy and resources saved or reused, the more profit for the company.
Newsweek has partnered for the second year to come up with a Green Rankings list that measures companies on their environmental records.
U.S. computer technology companies lead the way with seven of the top 15 Green Giant slots. Worldwide, not only technology companies top the field, but insurance companies, financial firms, and even banks measure up as global green leaders.
Newsweek Ranks the World’s Greenest Companies
Even in this weak economy, many of the world’s largest companies are tackling green projects — emissions, energy efficiency and recycling — with increasing tenacity.
Corporate sustainability, it seems, is here for the long haul. It makes sense not just for the sake of the planet, but for business: The more energy and resources saved or reused, the more profit for the company.
Newsweek has partnered for the second year to come up with a Green Rankings list that measures companies on their environmental records.
U.S. computer technology companies lead the way with seven of the top 15 Green Giant slots. Worldwide, not only technology companies top the field, but insurance companies, financial firms, and even banks measure up as global green leaders.
Hong Kong Harbour Swim Resumes After 33 Years
Hundreds of swimmers took part Sunday in Hong Kong’s iconic harbour race, which had been suspended for 33 years until water pollution could be cleaned up.
Hong Kong has been engaged in a major effort to restore the harbour, which is one of the world’s most beautiful ports.
Swimmers were pleased with the water quality.