In this video from many months ago, an air traffic controller proposes marriage over Portland, Oregon in a most romantic way, using the intercom from the pilot’s radio. (The good part starts at about 1:15)
The Corporate Pursuit of Happiness
A Stanford marketing professor is teaching her students — and company execs with AOL, Facebook, and Adobe — how to find and export joy.
Offering a happiness class to Graduate School of Business students at one of the country’s leading business schools does sound a bit touchy-feely. Yet, last fall, 80 of these type-A students signed up for Aaker’s graduate-level course called “Designing Happiness” — with another 100 clamoring to get in.
Egypt Proposes Sweeping Changes
An Egyptian panel tasked with amending the country’s constitution recommended Saturday easing restrictions on who can run for president and imposing presidential term limits—two key demands of the protesters.
The eight-member panel also suggested limits on the use of emergency laws—in place in Egypt for 30 years—to a six-month period with the approval of an elected parliament.
Top Ten Highlights of Clean Technology in Mexico
The Mexican government has opened new venues for energy not involved with oil, placing greater importance on the development of renewables. By 2005, the government had already approved 50 renewable energy projects, that were completed by 2007 and supplying 1,400 MW of energy.
They currently sell geothermal power produced in Mexico to Los Angeles and Belize — with a Guatemala deal in the works.
Half of Lotto Sales to Go to Christchurch
Half of all Lotto sales for this coming week will be donated to Christchurch earthquake relief efforts, Internal Affairs Minister Nathan Guy and the New Zealand Lotteries Commission announced today.
“Given that the core purpose of Lotto is to raise money for the community, the Government has agreed to a ‘Special Purpose Lottery’,” said Minister Guy.
Grandson’s Disease Spurs Family to Fund First Rural Diabetes Center to Help Thousands of Families
Often, the most inspiring advances are born out of the need to fill a void.
When long time Parsons residents Jacque and Kelly Rector’s grandson was diagnosed at age two with type 1 diabetes, they discovered that the kind of information and support they sought was unavailable. Realizing the seriousness of the disease, and its pervasiveness both nationally and within the state of Kansas, they became determined to find a way to make lifesaving resources available in their community and make a difference for the citizens of Kansas. Kelly Rector, the former President and CEO of Wichita Southeast Kansas Transit, has always been passionate about community involvement, but suddenly the desire was deeply personal.
Grandson’s Disease Spurs Family to Fund First Rural Diabetes Center to Help Thousands of Families
Often, the most inspiring advances are born out of the need to fill a void.
When long time Parsons residents Jacque and Kelly Rector’s grandson was diagnosed at age two with type 1 diabetes, they discovered that the kind of information and support they sought was unavailable. Realizing the seriousness of the disease, and its pervasiveness both nationally and within the state of Kansas, they became determined to find a way to make lifesaving resources available in their community and make a difference for the citizens of Kansas. Kelly Rector, the former President and CEO of Wichita Southeast Kansas Transit, has always been passionate about community involvement, but suddenly the desire was deeply personal.
Boy Addresses the United Nations at Age 13
It’s not every day that a 13-year-old boy gets a chance to address the United Nations General Assembly. But Felix Finkbeiner is no ordinary teenager.
Finkbeiner had one item on his agenda: taking adults to task for their lack of action on planting trees.
The boy is already the head of his own organization, Plant for the Planet, dedicated to planting millions of trees all around the world.
WATCH the video below, or read the story at CNN…
SunChips Silences Its Earsplitting Bio-Bag
Frito-Lay last year unveiled the first biodegradable snack bag for a major brand, but the effort backfired somewhat and sales dropped when the SunChips bag turned out to be so loud that a Facebook group formed called, “Sorry But I Can’t Hear You Over This SunChips Bag”.
Now the company thinks it has found a solution: a rubbery adhesive sandwiched between the two layers of the bag to create a noise barrier that cuts its sound by 15 decibels.
(READ more in Fast Company)
Christchurch Earthquake: Market Day Strengthens Spirits
Hundreds of New Zealanders turned out to support a market day in Lyttelton, organized by residents to help a community in need.
Free massages, food and chocolate, coffee and music were all offered to local residents in an effort to draw an already tight-knit community closer together.
The resilient community agrees with the local vicar, “We just need to keep supporting each other and rebuilding our beautiful town again with a uniqueness which will make it attractive for people to come and enjoy.”
(READ the story here)
Wisconsin Workers Get Support from Poland’s Solidarity Trade Union
In a full page ad purchased in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, the iconic Polish trade union, Solidarity, expressed heartfelt support for Wisconsin workers who are protesting against their governor’s plan to strip their union of its collective bargaining rights.
Piotr Duda, head of the trade union whose protests in Poland in the early 1980’s helped lead to the downfall of Soviet communism, wrote in the ad:
Motown Legends Take the Stage at White House Event (Video)
The White House celebrated Black History Month Thursday night with a tribute to the legendary Motown Records. Hosted by the President and First Lady, the program — to be aired March 1 on PBS — honors the Motown sound and its fifty year legacy of infusing American culture with soulful pop songs that became instant classics.
This is the eighth in a series of evening celebrations that tells the story of American culture through music. Since 2009, the Obamas have hosted musical tributes to Broadway, the genres of Jazz, Country, Classical, and Latin, along with folk music from the Civil Rights movement — all from the White House.
Motown Legends Take the Stage at White House Event (Video)
The White House celebrated Black History Month Thursday night with a tribute to the legendary Motown Records. Hosted by the President and First Lady, the program — to be aired March 1 on PBS — honors the Motown sound and its fifty year legacy of infusing American culture with soulful pop songs that became instant classics.
This is the eighth in a series of evening celebrations that tells the story of American culture through music. Since 2009, the Obamas have hosted musical tributes to Broadway, the genres of Jazz, Country, Classical, and Latin, along with folk music from the Civil Rights movement — all from the White House.
New Zealand Quake Survivor Marries Fiance Who Helped Save Her
Clutching her groom, she looked like any beaming bride. But Emma Howard’s trip down the aisle Friday almost didn’t happen. Just 72 hours earlier she was trapped under a building that collapsed in the earthquake.
“I said to people, ‘When I was in there I was thinking, I’m meant to be married in three days,'” she said. “And they said to me, ‘You still are.'”
Oscar Buzz: The Top 10 Positive Psychology Films of 2010
Have you seen any good movies lately? If not, try one of these 10 best positive psychology films of 2010.
Whether or not they are snubbed by the actual Academy Awards ceremony, these films merit awards for their specific positive psychology viewpoint and each movie is worthy of your time.
For the second year in a row, I present the positive psychology movie awards for films that best illustrate positive psychological principles:
Oscar Buzz: The Top 10 Positive Psychology Films of 2010
Have you seen any good movies lately? If not, try one of these 10 best positive psychology films of 2010.
Whether or not they are snubbed by the actual Academy Awards ceremony, these films merit awards for their specific positive psychology viewpoint and each movie is worthy of your time.
For the second year in a row, I present the positive psychology movie awards for films that best illustrate positive psychological principles:
The Right to Write: How One Pencil Started a Revolution
Adam Braun was on a fast track toward a lucrative corporate career, but it was a backpacking trip as a teenager in India when he met a little boy begging on the streets, that changed his stars.
Adam asked him, “What do you want most in the world?”
The boy’s reply: “A pencil.”
That moment became the spark for Pencils of Promise, an organization founded by Braun that builds schools in some of the world’s poorest countries—Laos, Nicaragua and Guatemala.
Two years later, 21 schools have been built. Thirty will be up and running by the end of 2011.
(READ and WATCH Adam’s story HERE)
Inspiring Homeless Man Seeks Accidental Donor of Diamond Ring
A homeless man in southeast Michigan says a woman accidentally gave him a gold ring laced with diamonds when she handed him a handful of change, and now he is looking for the owner.
Michael Secaur tells The Oakland Press that he was panhandling at an intersection in Pontiac on Monday when a woman pulled up in a vehicle and handed him some money. He says the ring was among some coins, and that he thinks she “did an oops.”
WATCH the video below… or read the story at MSNBC.
Inspiring Homeless Man Seeks Accidental Donor of Diamond Ring
A homeless man in southeast Michigan says a woman accidentally gave him a gold ring laced with diamonds when she handed him a handful of change, and now he is looking for the owner.
Michael Secaur tells The Oakland Press that he was panhandling at an intersection in Pontiac on Monday when a woman pulled up in a vehicle and handed him some money. He says the ring was among some coins, and that he thinks she “did an oops.”
Coca-Cola Happiness Truck Spreads Cheer
Press a big button on the back of Coca-Cola’s new “Happiness Truck” and out pops a surprise — anything from a frosty Coke to a soccer ball, to a beach chair.
In their new video, the Coke “Happiness Truck” travels to Rio— and gives thirsty pedestrians free sodas along with summer fun… a beach toy, sunglasses and more.