Indonesian Example Counters Fears of Radical Religious States in Tunisia/Egypt

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Mar 30, 2011

Indonesian child holds US flags -USAID photo

Many scholars are pessimistic that Tunisia’s Jasmine Revolution and the political transition in Egypt will successfully bring about democracy in these countries, and worry that there is a significant risk of Islamic political groups, some with radical interpretations of shari’a (Islamic principles of jurisprudence), taking on an inordinately influential role during the political transition.

Is there any truth to the argument that Islam is incompatible with democracy? The Indonesian example suggests otherwise.

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Pixar Animates its First Female Hero in ‘Brave’

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Mar 29, 2011

Pixar replaced Disney long ago as the undisputed king of animated filmmaking, but for 15 years Disney remained one-up on the upstart, until now. With its 13th major film in production, Pixar is, at last, turning to a female character to play the sole protagonist. And, like Disney’s Mulan, she will turn out to be an inspiration, despite her sassy ways and nonchalance for the breaking of out-dated rules (which rains turmoil down on her kingdom).

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Pixar Animates its First Female Hero in ‘Brave’

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Mar 29, 2011

Pixar replaced Disney long ago as the undisputed king of animated filmmaking, but for 15 years Disney remained one-up on the upstart, until now. With its 13th major film in production, Pixar is, at last, turning to a female character to play the sole protagonist. And, like Disney’s Mulan, she will turn out to be an inspiration, despite her sassy ways and nonchalance for the breaking of out-dated rules (which rains turmoil down on her kingdom).

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New York Millionaires Offer to Pay Extra Taxes to Offset Budget Cuts

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Mar 29, 2011

Millionaires across New York State are banding together to ask for more taxes.

About 100 wealthy New Yorkers, including actor Mark Ruffalo, say they want to do their part to help the state out of its budget crisis, and they are encouraging Gov. Andrew Cuomo to extend their so-called millionaire’s tax.

The group, New Yorkers for Fiscal Fairness, sent an open letter with about 100 signatures to Cuomo and state legislators Thursday urging them to renew the tax, slated to expire in April, in order to avert budget cuts that would hurt the poor and middle class.

“Many of us New Yorkers are troubled that you’re giving a $5 billion tax cut to 2 percent of New York’s most wealthy, while cutting $9 billion from education and social services for the rest of New Yorkers,” said the NYC celebrity in an online video addressing Cuomo.

(WATCH the video below, and read more at DNA Info)

New York Millionaires Offer to Pay Extra Taxes to Offset Budget Cuts

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Mar 29, 2011

Millionaires across New York State are banding together to ask for more taxes.

About 100 wealthy New Yorkers, including actor Mark Ruffalo, say they want to do their part to help the state out of its budget crisis, and they are encouraging Gov. Andrew Cuomo to extend their so-called millionaire’s tax.

The group, New Yorkers for Fiscal Fairness, sent an open letter with about 100 signatures to Cuomo and state legislators Thursday urging them to renew the tax, slated to expire in April, in order to avert budget cuts that would hurt the poor and middle class.

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India’s Tiger Census Reveals Encouraging Rise

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Mar 29, 2011

The efforts of tiger conservationists and the Indian government appear to be paying off.

Officials received “a very encouraging sign” from a new tiger census published on Monday that estimated the number of wild tigers in India to be 1,706. That’s almost 300 more than the last count of the highly threatened species, tallied in 2006.

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Mississippi Lawmakers Honor Widow of Civil Rights Hero

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Mar 29, 2011

Medgar Evers headstone in Arl. Nat'l Cemetary, Willjay -GNU license

The Mississippi Legislature honored the widow of slain civil rights leader Medgar Evers for her bravery, championing civil rights and race relations even while her family lived under constant threat during their fight for voter registration and economic advancement for blacks.

“Myrlie Evers-Williams saw the Civil Rights Movement as a Christian movement teaching love, liberation and equality for all under the law, and it is appropriate that we acknowledge the contributions and commitment of this nationally known leader,” according to a resolution read Monday by both legislative chambers.

(READ the AP article in Washington Examiner)

Medgar Evers headstone in Arl. Nat’l Cemetary, Willjay -GNU license

Hilton Foundation Pledges $50 Million To Clean Water Initiatives

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Mar 28, 2011

On World Water Day last week, the Conrad Hilton Foundation announced a pledge of $50 million to address the water needs of more than one million people in sub-Saharan Africa and water stressed areas of India and Mexico. The pledge of $50 million over five years will deliver access to sustainable safe water, increase advocacy, and expand knowledge on global water best practices.

14% of the world population — over 900 million people — do not have access to adequate clean water, while 38% lives without basic sanitation.

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Hilton Foundation Pledges $50 Million To Clean Water Initiatives

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Mar 28, 2011

On World Water Day last week, the Conrad Hilton Foundation announced a pledge of $50 million to address the water needs of more than one million people in sub-Saharan Africa and water stressed areas of India and Mexico. The pledge of $50 million over five years will deliver access to sustainable safe water, increase advocacy, and expand knowledge on global water best practices.

14% of the world population — over 900 million people — do not have access to adequate clean water, while 38% lives without basic sanitation.

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Chicago Youth Program Fights Violence With Employment

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Mar 28, 2011

Chicago Ceasefire rally - photo courtesy of website

Even though youth violence rates around the country have been decreasing in recent years, nearly 700 children were hit by gunfire last year in Chicago.

In an effort to reduce the violence, a program called CeaseFire is working to curb gang activity by helping at-risk youth find employment. CeaseFire also patrols the streets of poorer, urban neighborhoods to stop crimes before they happen.

(READ the story – or listen – at NPR.org)

L.A. Mayor Proves Union Bargaining Works, Agreement Would Save City $400 Mil

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Mar 28, 2011

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa agreed with city unions on ways to save $400 million over the next four years to help close budget deficits, calling it a demonstration that collective bargaining can work.

The plan, which must still be ratified, calls for union workers to pay as much as 4 percent of their salary toward retirement health-care coverage. It would also freeze pay increases.

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Troubled War Vets Turn Death Row Dogs Into Uplifting Friends

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Mar 28, 2011

United States veterans struggling with homelessness, alcoholism, or post-traumatic stress and dogs who were on “death row” in shelters because they were considered unadoptable have found comfort in one another.

Both were struggling to find their way in a society that couldn’t find a place for them. But through Operation Heroes And Hounds, they have each other.

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Zoo Goes Solar in Big Green Test

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Mar 27, 2011

Visitors to the Cincinnati Zoo are marveling at the sight: Nearly four acres of solar panels over a vast span of concrete parking lot.

Billed as one of the largest public urban solar displays in the country, the $11 million solar canopy will do more than help control the zoo’s $700,000 annual electric bill when it’s turned on next month.

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California Adds Nearly 100,000 Jobs in February as Hiring Accelerates

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Mar 27, 2011

A hiring surge led by California’s hallmark industries — high tech, movies and tourism — generated nearly 100,000 net new jobs in February and offered the strongest sign yet that the state economy is on the mend.

The 96,500-job jump was the biggest monthly increase since the current record system began in 1990, state officials said. California had added a paltry 700 jobs in January.

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Chicago Teachers Surprise Students with “Thriller” Flash Mob (Video)

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Mar 27, 2011

Teachers at Chicago’s Gary Comer College Prep surprised their students this week performing a flash mob performance to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”.

The South Side school principal James Troupis says his team didn’t come up with the idea—they borrowed the idea from suburban Palatine High School, which staged one last December.

WATCH the video below..

Photographer’s Talent Rescues Abandoned Animals

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Mar 27, 2011

A professional photographer focused her talent on the plight of homeless dogs. Now her photos persuade hundreds of families to fall in love with the animals and adopt them.

She began by simply posting the photos on her Facebook page (like this one).

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Oregon Oyster Farmer Helps Japan Rebuild Shellfish Beds

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Mar 26, 2011

As a teenager, Mark Wiegardt went overseas to learn about the oyster industry in Japan.

Now his own company, the Whiskey Creek Shellfish Hatchery, wants to help that country’s industry recover from the annihilation caused to shoreline oyster beds by the recent tsunami.

“A while back they helped build the whole oyster industry here. Knowing that all those oysters were growing right now are originally from Japan” is reason to give back.

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Baby Dolphin Saved After Dumped in Rice Field by Tsunami

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Mar 26, 2011

A baby dolphin has been rescued in Japan after being dumped in a rice field by a giant tsunami that hit the coast on March 11.

The dolphin was spotted in the flooded field, about a mile from the coast by a pet-shop owner who has been rescuing abandoned animals since the quake-tsunami struck.

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Utah Firms Send Portable Solar Power Units to Japan Households Without Power

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Mar 26, 2011

Two Utah firms have joined up to send solar power units to hard-hit Japan, devices that can provide up to 50 hours of lighting from just collected sunlight.

They’ve already sent 300 units to Japan, and as soon as the solar panel is set under the daylight, the electricity starts flowing.

WATCH the NBC News video below…

Missouri Pork Processor Will Reuse All its Waste to Power the Plant

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Mar 25, 2011

hog waste storage by Jonathen Darwin via Morguefile - CC

Meat eaters should search out Heritage Acres’ all-natural pork products. Not only are their pasture-raised hogs hormone-free and fed only soy, corn and oats with no antibiotics, now its pork processing will become the first in the US to boast a zero-waste operation, fully powered by turning its waste products into biofuel to run the generators.

Russ Kremer, a fifth-generation Missouri hog farmer and leader of a coalition of 52 family farmers known as Heritage Acres Foods, says the plant should be completed in two years. With the new technology, Kremer and his fellow natural farmers will be able to reprocess all the farm’s waste, rather than paying to haul it or dump it, turning it all into bio-diesel fuel to power its entire operation.

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Indonesian Example Counters Fears of Radical Religious States in Tunisia/Egypt

Pixar Animates its First Female Hero in ‘Brave’

Pixar Animates its First Female Hero in ‘Brave’

New York Millionaires Offer to Pay Extra Taxes to Offset Budget Cuts

New York Millionaires Offer to Pay Extra Taxes to Offset Budget Cuts

India’s Tiger Census Reveals Encouraging Rise

Mississippi Lawmakers Honor Widow of Civil Rights Hero

Medgar Evers headstone in Arl. Nat’l Cemetary, Willjay -GNU license

Hilton Foundation Pledges $50 Million To Clean Water Initiatives

Hilton Foundation Pledges $50 Million To Clean Water Initiatives

Chicago Youth Program Fights Violence With Employment

L.A. Mayor Proves Union Bargaining Works, Agreement Would Save City $400 Mil

Troubled War Vets Turn Death Row Dogs Into Uplifting Friends

Zoo Goes Solar in Big Green Test

California Adds Nearly 100,000 Jobs in February as Hiring Accelerates

Chicago Teachers Surprise Students with “Thriller” Flash Mob (Video)

Photographer’s Talent Rescues Abandoned Animals

Oregon Oyster Farmer Helps Japan Rebuild Shellfish Beds

Baby Dolphin Saved After Dumped in Rice Field by Tsunami

Utah Firms Send Portable Solar Power Units to Japan Households Without Power

Missouri Pork Processor Will Reuse All its Waste to Power the Plant