A British couple kidnapped off their private yacht by Somali pirates more than a year ago were set free Sunday, ending one of the most drawn-out and dramatic hostage situations since the rash of piracy began off East Africa.
READ the AP story at NPR…
Supermodels have joined forces to create a charity initiative that draws upon the generosity of the international fashion community to raise money for solar lighting installations and health clinics in Africa.
Supermodel Elettra Wiedemann is the co-founder of OneFrickinDay.org, the website where charity is modeled, and high fashion is harnessed.
Cindy Crawford, Iman, Christy Turlington, Naomi Campbell, Heidi Klum, Brooke Shields, Tyra Banks, Elle Macpherson, and others have donated their favorite dresses for a celebrity auction that also features exclusive experiences and hook-ups.
Supermodels have joined forces to create a charity initiative that draws upon the generosity of the international fashion community to raise money for solar lighting installations and health clinics in Africa.
Supermodel Elettra Wiedemann is the co-founder of OneFrickinDay.org, the website where charity is modeled, and high fashion is harnessed.
Cindy Crawford, Iman, Christy Turlington, Naomi Campbell, Heidi Klum, Brooke Shields, Tyra Banks, Elle Macpherson, and others have donated their favorite dresses for a celebrity auction that also features exclusive experiences and hook-ups.
After her brother died in Britain a woman in her 70’s was cleaning out his flat and came across a dusty oriental vase propping up books amid cobwebs on the man’s tall book shelf. One month later when it was put up for auction in London, it sold for a record $69 million (plus fees) and was called “unbelievably rare, with nothing like it outside the Palace Museum in Beijing.”
Even though the intricate porcelain vase was fired in the kilns of a Chinese Emperor around 1740, the family was told the piece was worthless, according to the Sun newspaper, when they took it to an Antiques Roadshow-style show, Going For a Song, 40 years ago.
“If only this had happened 30 years ago,” exclaimed the woman, who had to recover outdoors once the gavel came down and the final price rang in the air.
(READ the family’s story in the the UK Sun)
After her brother died in Britain a woman in her 70’s was cleaning out his flat and came across a dusty oriental vase propping up books amid cobwebs on the man’s tall book shelf. One month later when it was put up for auction in London, it sold for a record $69 million (plus fees) and was called “unbelievably rare, with nothing like it outside the Palace Museum in Beijing.”
With a name like General Electric, it stands to reason GE would want to embrace the electric car.
Thursday the company announced plans to embrace 25,000 of them with a pledge to convert half of its corporate fleet by 2015.
The first mass-market electric cars are expected to go on sale next month, including the Chevy Volt and the Nissan Leaf.
(READ the AP story at WTOP News)
British rock band Coldplay is set to make its long awaited live return with two intimate U.K. gigs that will include an auction of 200 tickets with meet and greet opportunities, all for the benefit of the British homeless charity organization Crisis.
(READ the story from Billboard in Reuters)
A spontaneous pillow fight breaks out in the coach section of a passenger jet. Eventually someone even suggests they all throw their pillows into first class!
See the fun by watching the video below… or at YouTube.
Sir Richard Branson visits Africa often, and recently declared, “It is apparent that a “yes, we can” attitude is spreading across the continent” — particularly among small business people and entrepreneurs.
“Africa’s most valuable assets are its wonderful people, particularly its entrepreneurs.”
Branson’s nonprofit foundation, Virgin Unite, established the Branson School of Entrepreneurship in Johannesburg in 2005 to support and celebrate young South Africans as they launch new ventures, helping them expand their businesses by connecting them with entrepreneurs from SA and around the world.
Sir Richard Branson visits Africa often, and recently declared, “It is apparent that a “yes, we can” attitude is spreading across the continent” — particularly among small business people and entrepreneurs.
“Africa’s most valuable assets are its wonderful people, particularly its entrepreneurs.”
San Francisco’s first medical clinic staffed by volunteers is full of health professionals who’ve failed – at retirement.
The Clinic by the Bay opened Tuesday to serve uninsured residents as the first free clinic in Northern California.
“People who are our age want to work in a field in which we’re comfortable and can contribute,” said a 72-year-old nurse.
You can attend a volunteer orientation on Wednesday, December 1, 2010 from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
(READ the story from the San Francisco Chronicle)
Aung San Suu Kyi, the detained democracy leader who has been under house arrest in Burma since 2003, is set to be released this weekend.
Her term of house arrest ends Saturday and people have already begun to gather, holding her portraits in anticipation near her house and party headquarters, according to news reports and witnesses.
(READ the story at CS Monitor)
A Yorkshire terrier was returned to its owner Wednesday evening after being stolen during a purse snatch in California.
The 6-year-old Yorkie was stolen on Oct. 30 when its 80-year-old owner was out for a walk near her home. She tried to hang onto the dog’s leash, but let it go when one robber claimed to have a gun.
Thus began a journey with many twists and turns that, thankfully, led back home, to an owner who was overwhelmed with happiness.
(READ the story at ABC’s KGO) – The video at ABC is broken.
Photo credit: Jordan Wilson, CC license
The civilians behind the National Kidney Registry website have organized transplants for record numbers of kidney patients over the last three years.
Today, the momentum will continue with the largest kidney chain to date, a swap that is expected to save 28 lives, thanks to strangers paying it forward.
Last spring, the couple behind the project, whose daughter received a deparately needed kidney, took CBS cameras behind the scenes to meet the strangers involved in a 20-kidney link.
WATCH the inspiring video below from Katie Couric…
The civilians behind the National Kidney Registry website have organized transplants for record numbers of kidney patients over the last three years.
Today, the momentum will continue with the largest kidney chain to date, a swap that is expected to save 28 lives, thanks to strangers paying it forward.
Last spring, the couple behind the project, whose daughter received a deparately needed kidney, took CBS cameras behind the scenes to meet the strangers involved in a 20-kidney link.
WATCH the inspiring video below from Katie Couric…
In a fenced off-area behind Cedar Creek Correctional Center, two inmates spend nine hours a day feeding and tending their tiny Oregon spotted frog darts as participants in an endangered species conservation program.
Much to the surprise of research scientists and zookeepers, who are also participating in the program, the two have raised the biggest, healthiest amphibians of all.
(READ the News Tribune story at the Register Guard)
Academy Award winning actor Jeff Bridges came to Washington, D.C. yesterday to roll out a new campaign as national spokesperson for the No Kid Hungry Campaign. “This is the most significant thing I’ve ever done,” he told reporters.
The nationwide effort launched by hunger advocates at Share Our Strength pledges to end childhood hunger in America by 2015.
“Millions of our kids can’t learn in school because they are hungry.” Bridges said. “Public charities, food banks, and church pantries are doing more than ever before, but they can’t keep up with the need.”
Bridges said the campaign is not proposing any new government programs, but they do have a plan to address the gaps where existing federal programs, like the school lunch program or food stamps, can effectively fill in by expanding their access.
Academy Award winning actor Jeff Bridges came to Washington, D.C. yesterday to roll out a new campaign as national spokesperson for the No Kid Hungry Campaign. “This is the most significant thing I’ve ever done,” he told reporters.
The nationwide effort launched by hunger advocates at Share Our Strength pledges to end childhood hunger in America by 2015.
“Millions of our kids can’t learn in school because they are hungry.” Bridges said. “Public charities, food banks, and church pantries are doing more than ever before, but they can’t keep up with the need.”
Bridges said the campaign is not proposing any new government programs, but they do have a plan to address the gaps where existing federal programs, like the school lunch program or food stamps, can effectively fill in by expanding their access.
Thousands of viewers from around the world are expected to log-on to “Tundra Connections” this week, to participate in free, live webcasts from the tundra of Western Hudson Bay, featuring leading experts and wild polar bears via remote video cameras.
Over 30 segments will be broadcast from onboard ‘Buggy One’, a tundra vehicle that has been specially-equipped with high-speed internet, cameras and stabilizers for beaming live clips of polar bears in the wild. During video conferencing from this mobile classroom, participants can ask questions of the experts in real time. Teacher lesson plans are also available for free.
As Buggy One roams a network of established trails within the Manitoba Conservation, cameras mounted on the outside of the Buggy broadcast any bears nearby, and the experts break from their prepared talks to comment on what the viewers are seeing. The audience is often treated to polar bears sparring, mothers with cubs and curious bears who may nuzzle up to a camera.
Thousands of viewers from around the world are expected to log-on to “Tundra Connections” this week, to participate in free, live webcasts from the tundra of Western Hudson Bay, featuring leading experts and wild polar bears via remote video cameras.
Over 30 segments will be broadcast from onboard ‘Buggy One’, a tundra vehicle that has been specially-equipped with high-speed internet, cameras and stabilizers for beaming live clips of polar bears in the wild. During video conferencing from this mobile classroom, participants can ask questions of the experts in real time. Teacher lesson plans are also available for free.
As Buggy One roams a network of established trails within the Manitoba Conservation, cameras mounted on the outside of the Buggy broadcast any bears nearby, and the experts break from their prepared talks to comment on what the viewers are seeing. The audience is often treated to polar bears sparring, mothers with cubs and curious bears who may nuzzle up to a camera.
