DEAR Uncle Sam,
My mother told me to send thank-you notes promptly. I’ve been remiss.
Just over two years ago, in September 2008, our country faced an economic meltdown… Indeed, all of corporate America’s dominoes were lined up, ready to topple at lightning speed… There was no hiding place. A destructive economic force unlike any seen for generations had been unleashed. Only one counterforce was available, and that was you, Uncle Sam.
Scientists in Scotland have created a new biofuel recipe made from — what else? — whiskey by-products.
Researchers at Edinburgh Napier University have developed the biofuel and filed a patent for the product, which they said could be used to fuel ordinary cars without any special adaptations, using the two main by-products from the whisky production process.
Online social networking and internet marketing sites saved a family whose child has leukemia from financial ruin. So far Aidan Reed, 5, and his family have sold more than 4,500 prints of his crayon and marker drawings of monsters and other creepy characters.
On Sept. 11, 5 year-old Aidan was diagnosed with leukemia. With the family struggling to pay hospital co-pays and deductibles for chemotherapy, a relative stepped forward with the idea of selling Aiden’s artwork on the crafts website, Etsy.
Once word spread across the Web and Facebook, sales climbed into the tens of thousands of dollars —$12 at a time.
To donate, and learn more, visit the AidForAiden blog
(READ more in the Wichita Eagle)
Online social networking and internet marketing sites saved a family whose child has leukemia from financial ruin. So far Aidan Reed, 5, and his family have sold more than 4,500 prints of his crayon and marker drawings of monsters and other creepy characters.
When Rabbi Robert Slosberg was invited to give a talk on Judaism at Unity of Louisville in July as part of the church’s yearlong series on world religions, he found another way to honor his heritage beyond a simple discussion of Judaism.
The 100-year old Unity church was hurting for money, yet had never done a capital campaign before. Slosberg had, and the church accepted his offer to give presentations to members on how to do one. Adath Jeshurun launched the campaign with a $1,000 donation.
An obvious prodigy in action, 3 year-old Jonathan pretends to conduct the 4th movement of Beethoven’s 5th Symphony.
This piece was originally conducted by Herbert von Karajan and the Berliner Philharmoniker, one of Jonathan’s favorite conductors and orchestras. Jonathan’s passion for classical music became apparent when he was only eight months old. Shortly afterward he began conducting in his living room.
A new project to bring healthier food to Disney has given McDonalds the boot and replaced it with a tiny gluten-free vegan cupcake shop called BabyCakes, along with healthy restaurants Pollo Campero and Fresh Apeel.
BabyCakes founder, Erin McKenna said on her blog, “In what couldn’t be a bigger blow, cupcakes have been deemed healthier than a McRib.”
(READ the story at Foodie Buzz)
When a Tempe homeless man found an abandoned backpack at a train station stocked with a laptop and $3,300 in cash, he deliberated about what to do — and decided to turn it in.
Now, over the past few days, Dave has been completely overwhelmed by the donations from strangers nationwide who have sent him checks or dropped off cash.
Dozens of America’s wealthiest taxpayers — including hedge fund legend Michael Steinhardt, super trial lawyer Guy Saperstein, and Ben Cohen of Ben & Jerry’s fame — have appealed to President Obama not to renew the Bush tax cuts for anyone earning more than $1 million a year.
Calling themselves “Patriotic Millionaires for Fiscal Strength,” the 40-plus signers today launched a website and a campaign that they hope will draw support from others who agree that fiscal responsibility should begin with those who can best afford it — as their letter to Obama explains:
“We are writing to urge you to stand firm against those who would put politics ahead of their country.”
(READ more at ABC News)
RELATED: Rich Germans Demand Higher Taxes
Last Thanksgiving, Phillip Black says most of his belongings were thrown away by the police. He has been homeless ever since illness forced him out of work and his home three years ago. He now works during the day but cannot keep all his possessions with him while he is working.
Finding a place to safely leave possessions is one of many challenges homeless people face each day, homeless advocates say. Some cities, including Portland, Ore., St. Petersburg, Fla., New York, San Francisco and Chicago are trying to help people in Black’s situation by offering free storage space to the homeless.
(READ the story in the USA Today)
On the occasion of GM relaunching itself as a public company and harkening back to the federal government bailout two years ago, President Obama said the tough decision to inject cash into the auto industry has led to a major success.
“The American auto industry—an industry that’s been the proud symbol of America’s manufacturing might for a century and that helped to build our middle class—is once again on the rise.”
“What’s more,” continued Obama on Thursday, “American taxpayers are now positioned to recover more (money) than my administration invested in GM.”
A Roseville, Minnesota pooch has once again proven that dogs just may have a sixth sense after all — and this particular breed, an historic penchant for lifesaving.
Murphy, a usually quiet Newfoundland dog would not stop barking on Wednesday morning.
His owner finally let him outside. Murphy then darted straight to the fence and continued barking.
The dog sensed that his 95-year-old neighbor had fallen and was helpless in the cold.
A Roseville, Minnesota pooch has once again proven that dogs just may have a sixth sense after all — and this particular breed, an historic penchant for lifesaving.
Murphy, a usually quiet Newfoundland dog would not stop barking on Wednesday morning.
His owner finally let him outside. Murphy then darted straight to the fence and continued barking.
The dog sensed that his 95-year-old neighbor had fallen and was helpless in the cold.
Here is an inspirational and well-timed story for National Adoption Day, Nov. 20. The subjects in the story happen to be Good News Network readers, Michael and Molly Turner!
When Michael and Molly were first dating, the young couple knew that over time things would change, but there always was one constant — they wanted to adopt.
Neither was a product of the foster care system nor came from an adoptive home. But they considered it a reflection of their Christian values to open their home and their hearts to kids waiting for a mom and dad.
Considered “bombproof,” meaning she will remain calm in nearly any situation, Shadow, a well-trained therapy dog, volunteers at the Anderson Center for Autism in the Hudson Valley north of New York City.
“As soon as I get her working vest out, she jumps up and her little tail starts wagging.” said her owner and handler, Ani Shaker. “She loves the work.”
(READ the story in the NY Times)
A hair stylist and her family was lucky to have been dog-sitting on a night when black smoke filled their home.
Smoke detectors failed while the family slept but the poodle jumped upon the owner and barked, waking her in time to rescue the household from toxic fumes and smoke.
A hair stylist and her family was lucky to have been dog-sitting on a night when black smoke filled their home.
Smoke detectors failed while the family slept but the poodle jumped upon the owner and barked, waking her in time to rescue the household from toxic fumes and smoke.
The Leonard Florence Center for Living in Chelsea, Mass., is part of what’s known as the Green House project, founded by geriatrician Dr. Bill Thomas as an alternative to traditional nursing homes. Each apartment includes a large, centrally located kitchen and dining room designed to be the heart of the home. Residents often take part in meal planning and preparation.
The Center, in a working-class neighborhood on the outskirts of Boston is technically a nursing facility — a place most people hope they can avoid. But for Rhoda Klein, age 79, this five-story urban complex feels like home.
There is some good news ahead of the international Tiger Summit that starts Sunday in Russia, where global leaders will seek to double the number of tigers in the wild by 2022.
The 13 Asian countries where tigers roam in the wild have already agreed in principle to that ambitious goal.
A study this year suggested that protection measures are effective in bringing tigers back.
Over the past 50 years, protection efforts have helped the endangered Amur tiger bounce back in Russia’s Far East. The population was boosted to 430-500 today, making it possible for the tigers to migrate into forests of neighboring China.
(Source: WWF)
A new report from the Environmental Protection Agency found that C02 emissions have decreased while fuel economy has increased every year since 2005, reversing the trend of the previous eight years.
Carbon dioxide emissions dropped by 14 percent per mile over the last six years and gasoline use fell by 16 percent.
(READ story from Reuters)
