A retriever protected 11-year-old Austin from a charging cougar during a bloody, against-all-odds confrontation Saturday in Canada.
“The cougar came (from) about five feet away and made a big jump (at Austin),” Forman said Sunday in an interview.
“Angel jumped in between and took on the cougar.” The dog was injured, but is expected to recover.
(Read more in the Toronto Star)
Also, watch this morning’s Today Show report below, or at MSNBC …
Since 2005, there has not been a single day that good news was not been hunted and published here — until last week.
Far away in the cold, on a holiday with family, during which I normally would be working and adding stories to the website daily, a server issue arose which prevented me from any access to the Good News Network.
I am traveling home today, and with the successful posting of this notice, believe the situation has been resolved… (Or, it will remain a mystery why, every time I tried to access my websites, they were unloadable in a browser.)
Since I’ll be driving a car, I can’t post today. I’ll be back online tomorrow, and please forgive the lapse in good news! (Appreciate it in its absence, all the more.
In Toronto, a young man had dinner and came out for a smoke at about 6:45 p.m. on Friday. He was about to light up his cigarette when he saw flames in an open garage across the street. As he raced over, he called 9-1-1 and then started banging on his neighbor’s door. He had spotted at least three propane tanks in the garage and was terrified they would explode — which they did…
Read the rest of the story at The Toronto Star.com
Those eating lunch at a soup kitchen in Manhattan got a taste of the luxury life, thanks to a gift of caviar from an anonymous donor.
Though the $1,100 value of the caviar could have covered more meals for the needy, it was the experience that was priceless.
An eight-year-old living with her mom in a domestic violence shelter said, “I felt like a princess.”
(Continue reading AP story at CBS)
In the last 20 years, the number of people aged 18 to 24 in college has increased fairly dramatically, especially the number attending two-year colleges.
Click to see an infographic on the rise of higher education in America.
If the sky is clear where you are tonight may we suggest stepping outside and looking up? There will be a fairly rare “blue moon” above.
And, though the moon won’t be blue, the last time we saw an “extra” full moon appearing on New Year’s Eve was in 1990, and it won’t happen again until 2028.
(Continue reading in NPR and National Geographic)
Photo by Luc Viatour, www.lucnix.be
Her generosity in life was legendary: Ruth Lilly, the last surviving great-grandchild of pharmaceutical magnate Eli Lilly, died Wednesday night at 94. … Over the course of her life, Ms. Lilly gave away the bulk of her inheritance, an estimated $800 million.
She gave to a wide variety of causes — colleges, hospitals, the National Easter Seals Society. But it was her unexpected donation of $100-million in 2002 to an obscure, Chicago-based poetry association that revealed something deeply personal: Ms. Lilly was a poet at heart. Not only did she read it, she wrote it, though to little acclaim.
The unusual gift sustains Garrison Keillor’s daily radio poetry readings on The Writer’s Almanac, sponsors a poetry professorship at Indiana University and honors top poets with prestigious annual awards.
(From the The Indianapolis Star via NPR )
America’s only blind marching band is set to ring in 2010 as the first ensemble of its kind to march in the Tournament of Roses’ Parade on New Year’s Day in Pasadena, Calif.
Their journey to the 121st Rose Parade is a marvel even to the Ohio State School for the Blind’s marching band leader Dan Kelly.
(Continue reading in Pasadena Star-News)
Jasper Schuringa, a Dutch passenger on Northwest Flight 253 on Christmas Day, helped prevent the Yemeni bomber from setting off an explosive device on the flight, leaping over seats to subdue the terrorist.
Would you have done the same?
Philip Zimbardo, a professor at Stanford University, thinks there’s a good chance you would have, and as one of the country’s sharpest observers of human behavior in extreme circumstances, he would know.
(Continue reading The Making of a Hero at Newsweek)
Also, watch or read an interview with Jasper on ABC Morning Show…
Poplar Island, once on the verge of disappearing into the Chesapeake Bay, is now a national model for habitat restoration.
Shipping channels in the Baltimore harbor that needed to be dredged provided the material to rebuild the island for wildlife and tourists — the largest such project ever undertaken by the US Corps of Engineers.
Watch the video below, or at MSNBC…
People with prostate cancer have been offered new hope after researchers at University of Pennsylvania discovered a molecule that appears to target the tumours. The researchers found that the “monoclonal” antibody seems to act against the disease in both its early and advanced stages.
Besides attacking the disease directly, it also helps the immune system to identify and destroy cancer cells.
(Continue reading in the Telegraph)
CNN talks to Sir Richard Branson, who manages his philanthropy like one of his businesses. Whether in the realm of disease, global warming, or conflict, his philanthropic foundation Virgin Unites treats risk the same: “Screw it, Let’s Do It.”
Watch the CNN video below, or at the website…
The Social Entrepreneurship blog published its list of the top moments in social entrepreneurship of the decade. Some of the highlights:
Read the rest online…
With the number of homeless pets nearly doubling compared to last year, a nine-year-old boy decided to take action. Thanks to his Central Florida Animal Pantry, the only one of its kind in the state, a lot of pets are no longer in need.
The response has been overwhelming, with pet stores, schools and people in the community all donating food. During a recent week in December Zach Wilson gave away 1,800 pounds of food in bags and cans.
In the future, he wants to open a sanctuary for disabled pets and abandoned animals.
Watch the Making a Difference video below, or at MSNBC…
1000 at-risk kids from the streets of Miami are given an alternative to drugs and gangs, with free musical training in The American Children’s Orchestra for Peace. Like a second family, the orchestra program offers support and friendship along with free musical instruments.
Watch the Making a Difference video below, or at MSNBC…
Jake Shaffer was 11 years old when he asked his parents if, instead of Christmas gifts for him, he could bring 100 bagged lunches to the homeless veterans living under the bridge in his hometown of Houston.
Today, four years later, he expands his mission every Christmas, still giving up his own gifts for the chance to deliver hundreds of gifts and thousands of dollars he has collected for the DeGeorge House for homeless vets on the occasion of their annual holiday dinner.
Watch the Making a Difference video below, or at MSNBC…
The wrapping on Cassy Rivera’s Christmas present was totally non traditional this year: white gauze, layered over a sterile eye patch.
After the bandage came off, the Brooklyn woman blinded two years ago by a rare disease was thrilled by the gift of a lifetime – the sight of her two daughters’ beaming faces.
(Read more, or watch video at NY Daily News)
Despite what may be your immediate impression of 2009, overall it was a great year. Looking back, one can be grateful that the economy has begun to turn around, at least for businesses, real estate and the stock market. Looking ahead, it is easy to be hopeful about 2010. With the New Year upon us, this Top 10 list of Good News is just what we need to kick off a new decade.
Here, then, is my annual countdown of the Top Ten Good News Stories for 2009. Happy Holidays to everyone!
Even more heartening than the 6,000 rare dolphins discovered in South Asia (prior to this, the largest known populations of Irrawaddy dolphins numbered in the low hundreds or less), or the discovery this year of a new population of orangutans in a remote, mountainous corner of Indonesia – perhaps as many as 2,000, or the “spectacular” finding that rare mountain gorilla populations have grown by 13 percent over the last 16 months in the Congo, is the news that humpback whales may soon be graduating from the endangered species list. Despite almost hunting these beautiful creatures to extinction, conservation efforts have led to steady population growth of 4-7 percent annually, to an estimated 19,000 animals, from fewer than 1,400 before the 1960’s ban on whaling. (physorg.com)
Dr. Zamboni’s studies began when his beloved wife developed MS in 1995 at the age of 37. He undertook a massive in-depth review of the literature, and modern imaging techniques such as ultrasound and MRI. His findings led him to believe that Multiple Sclerosis is not an autoimmune issue, but a vascular disease, a radical departure from current thinking. He performed experimental surgery on his wife using a simple catheter / angioplasty / balloon operation, getting blood flowing normally again. Many of her MS symptoms disappeared. She had the surgery three years ago and has not had an attack since. In Italy where the doctor works, 65 patients have since had the MS surgery, and in the two years since the operation, 73 percent of subjects are symptom-free. Get link to read more here.
Child mortality rates have dropped 28% worldwide since 1990, UNICEF reported Friday. Death rates of children aged five and under have even dropped by 60% since 1960. “UNICEF cited “particularly good progress” in reducing child mortality in Laos, Bangladesh, Bolivia and Nepal. These countries are on target to reach the U.N. Millennium Development Goal of reducing the under-five child mortality rate by two-thirds between 1990 and 2015, UNICEF said.” (USA Today)
When a hospital CEO was faced with having to lay-off hundreds of people from their jobs, he walked through the corridors and saw that no one deserved it. When he reported his feelings to the auditorium filled with 6,300 employees, he received thunderous, sustained applause. The staff at Beth Israel Medical Center didn’t want any of the 8,000 workers to get laid off — and were willing to give up their pay and benefits to make sure no one does. The 13 department heads took pay cuts totaling $350,000, doctors donated money, 401-K matching funds were turned down. Now, thanks to the compassionate CEO who wanted to do the right thing—and the employees who agreed with him—most of the cooks, janitors and cashiers’ jobs have been saved. (Boston.com; Follow-up from CBS)
6) 12 Banks Have Repayed $113B in Bailout Money- With InterestTop financial institutions, like Bank of America, J.P. Morgan Chase, Goldman Sachs,Capital One, Citi, Wells Fargo, American Express and Morgan-Stanley, have repaid more than $113 billion of the $199 billion in taxpayer money, loaned to financial institutions last year. TARP, the Troubled Asset Relief Program, was introduced when a financial crisis put the economy at risk of falling into a depression. Now the nation’s four largest banks have paid back their loans — with billions of dollars in interest going to the US treasury — as have several large regional banks.
Staff Sgt. Bartek Bachleda spotted a fuel leak during take-off and possibly saved the lives of more than 300 airline passengers in route to Japan last week. After alerting the aircrew, the ranking pilot made a decision to divert the flight to San Francisco. The captain said they would have never made it to Japan if it wasn’t for the passenger’s insistence that an emergency situation was developing. (Japan Today)
From Oregon to Vermont, states across the country are tallying lower crime rates over the past few years, but even in 2009, amidst economic downturn, cities like Los Angeles, Dallas and New York have seen a dramatic reduction in violent crime. Even Chicago and Detroit are seeing murder rates dropping and property crime decreasing, mystifying sociologists and criminologists. READ more on GNN.
The arrival of a new American president triggered joy and jubilation in a world made weary by warfare, recession and fear. Even for Republicans, whether you agree or disagree with Obama’s policies, the ascendance of the first African-American to the presidency of the United States marked a new era of tolerance and possibility.
After selling a majority stake in his Miami bank, Leonard Abess Jr. took $60 million of the proceeds — $60 million out of his own pocket — and gave it to his tellers, bookkeepers, clerks, everyone on the payroll. All 399 workers on the staff received bonuses, and he even tracked down 72 former employees so they could share in the windfall. For longtime employees, the bonus — based on years of service — amounted to tens of thousands of dollars, and in some cases, more than $100,000. (The Guardian – photo, copyright 2008, Daniel Portnoy)
The passengers of Flight 1549 were soaked and freezing, but they were still alive. With both engines out, a cool-headed pilot maneuvered his crowded jetliner over New York City, avoiding buildings, landing it safely into the frigid Hudson River. All 155 on board were pulled to safety as the plane slowly sank.
Captain “Sully” Sullenberger was surprised by all the accolades that he received, but, he wrote, “I realize how this event had touched people’s lives, how ready they were for good news, how much they wanted to feel hopeful again… We’ve had a worldwide economic downturn, and people are confused, fearful and just so ready for good news. They want to feel reassured that all the things we value, all our ideals, still exist.”
If you are a regular viewer of the Good News Network, you are already assured, every day, that good DOES still exist — even through all the troubles witnessed over the last decade.
Happy New Year and may Good bless!
Despite what may be your immediate impression of 2009, overall it was a great year. Looking back, one can be grateful that the economy has begun to turn around, at least for businesses, real estate and the stock market. Looking ahead, it is easy to be hopeful about 2010. With the New Year upon us, this Top 10 list of Good News is just what we need to kick off a new decade.
Here, then, is my annual countdown of the Top Ten Good News Stories for 2009. Happy Holidays to everyone!
Even more heartening than the 6,000 rare dolphins discovered in South Asia (prior to this, the largest known populations of Irrawaddy dolphins numbered in the low hundreds or less), or the discovery this year of a new population of orangutans in a remote, mountainous corner of Indonesia – perhaps as many as 2,000, or the “spectacular” finding that rare mountain gorilla populations have grown by 13 percent over the last 16 months in the Congo, is the news that humpback whales may soon be graduating from the endangered species list. Despite almost hunting these beautiful creatures to extinction, conservation efforts have led to steady population growth of 4-7 percent annually, to an estimated 19,000 animals, from fewer than 1,400 before the 1960’s ban on whaling. (physorg.com)
Dr. Zamboni’s studies began when his beloved wife developed MS in 1995 at the age of 37. He undertook a massive in-depth review of the literature, and modern imaging techniques such as ultrasound and MRI. His findings led him to believe that Multiple Sclerosis is not an autoimmune issue, but a vascular disease, a radical departure from current thinking. He performed experimental surgery on his wife using a simple catheter / angioplasty / balloon operation, getting blood flowing normally again. Many of her MS symptoms disappeared. She had the surgery three years ago and has not had an attack since. In Italy where the doctor works, 65 patients have since had the MS surgery, and in the two years since the operation, 73 percent of subjects are symptom-free.
Child mortality rates have dropped 28% worldwide since 1990, UNICEF reported Friday. Death rates of children aged five and under have even dropped by 60% since 1960. “UNICEF cited “particularly good progress” in reducing child mortality in Laos, Bangladesh, Bolivia and Nepal. These countries are on target to reach the U.N. Millennium Development Goal of reducing the under-five child mortality rate by two-thirds between 1990 and 2015, UNICEF said.” (USA Today)
When a hospital CEO was faced with having to lay-off hundreds of people from their jobs, he walked through the corridors and saw that no one deserved it. When he reported his feelings to the auditorium filled with 6,300 employees, he received thunderous, sustained applause. The staff at Beth Israel Medical Center didn’t want any of the 8,000 workers to get laid off — and were willing to give up their pay and benefits to make sure no one does. The 13 department heads took pay cuts totaling $350,000, doctors donated money, 401-K matching funds were turned down. Now, most of the cooks, janitors and cashiers have been rescued, thanks to the compassionate CEO who wanted to do the right thing and the workers who agreed with him. (Boston.com; Follow-up from CBS)
6) 12 Banks Have Repayed $113B in Bailout Money- With InterestTop financial institutions, like Bank of America, J.P. Morgan Chase, Goldman Sachs,Capital One, Citi, Wells Fargo, American Express and Morgan-Stanley, have repaid more than $113 billion of the $199 billion in taxpayer money, loaned to financial institutions last year. TARP, the Troubled Asset Relief Program, was introduced when a financial crisis put the economy at risk of falling into a depression. Now the nation’s four largest banks have paid back their loans — with billions of dollars in interest going to the US treasury — as have several large regional banks.
Staff Sgt. Bartek Bachleda spotted a fuel leak during take-off and possibly saved the lives of more than 300 airline passengers in route to Japan last week. After alerting the aircrew, the ranking pilot made a decision to divert the flight to San Francisco. The captain said they would have never made it to Japan if it wasn’t for the passenger’s insistence that an emergency situation was developing. (Japan Today)
From Oregon to Vermont, states across the country are tallying lower crime rates over the past few years, but even in 2009, amidst economic downturn, cities like Los Angeles, Dallas and New York have seen a dramatic reduction in violent crime. Even Chicago and Detroit are seeing murder rates dropping and property crime decreasing, mystifying sociologists and criminologists.
The arrival of a new American president triggered joy and jubilation in a world made weary by warfare, recession and fear. Even for Republicans, whether you agree or disagree with Obama’s policies, the ascendance of the first African-American to the presidency of the United States marked a new era of tolerance and possibility.
After selling a majority stake in his Miami bank, Leonard Abess Jr. took $60 million of the proceeds — $60 million out of his own pocket — and gave it to his tellers, bookkeepers, clerks, everyone on the payroll. All 399 workers on the staff received bonuses, and he even tracked down 72 former employees so they could share in the windfall. For longtime employees, the bonus — based on years of service — amounted to tens of thousands of dollars, and in some cases, more than $100,000. (The Guardian – photo, copyright 2008, Daniel Portnoy)
The passengers of Flight 1549 were soaked and freezing, but they were still alive. With both engines out, a cool-headed pilot maneuvered his crowded jetliner over New York City, avoiding buildings, landing it safely into the frigid Hudson River. All 155 on board were pulled to safety as the plane slowly sank.
Captain “Sully” Sullenberger was surprised by all the accolades that he received, but, he wrote, “I realize how this event had touched people’s lives, how ready they were for good news, how much they wanted to feel hopeful again… We’ve had a worldwide economic downturn, and people are confused, fearful and just so ready for good news. They want to feel reassured that all the things we value, all our ideals, still exist.”
If you are a regular viewer of the Good News Network, you are already assured, every day, that good DOES still exist — even through all the troubles witnessed over the last decade.
Happy New Year and may Good bless!
It’s Christmas morning, and I found this funny Christmas prank in the news that made me laugh out loud!!
Hope this tickles your funny bone! (Yahoo News, Canada)
Geri, Thanks for all your efforts with this great website. Wishing you a fabulous Merry Christmas and a wonder-filled New year with every blessing finding its way to you!
