Elton John and longtime partner David Furnish are interested in trying to adopt a Ukrainian toddler named Lev they met during an AIDS tour of orphanages.
The 14-month old boy had “stolen their hearts.”
Watch the video below, or at Clip Syndicate…
Elton John Wants to Adopt Ukrainian Toddler
This High School Starts at 10 a.m.
How great is late?
“I like it – I feel more rested,” says 16-year-old Tiffany Gerro.
“I feel so much better. It’s awesome, I love it,” adds Grade 11 student Mike Stuckless.
This year, the teens at Toronto’s Eastern Commerce Collegiate Institute are starting classes an hour later than everyone else in the city as part of a pilot project to determine if getting some extra sleep actually improves not just their attendance, but their grades. And so far, so good.
Celebrity Musicians Rally to Make Teen’s Dream Album Before his Death
You might wonder how several big-name musicians came to appear on a recording by a 16 year-old ukulele player from upstate New York. Levon Helm sings, Todd Rundgren plays guitar, and Dr. John, John Sebastian and Kate Pierson of the B-52s make guest appearances.
The album was the dream of Killian Mansfield, who worked to complete it during the past year while battling a rare form of cancer. He died last week after receiving the finished album.
At his memorial service today in West Shokan friends and family will break out their ukes for a sing-along of Big Rock Candy Mt., Killian’s favorite song.
Somewhere Else is a mix of songs — eclectic, uplifting, fun and funky — performed by Killian, with help from singers, musicians and producers from the Woodstock, NY music community rallying to make a kid’s dream come true. Part of the proceeds will go to a cancer foundation which supports and promotes integrative therapies for children with cancer.
(Read more on Wall Street Journal blog)
Definitely check out Killian’s funky, bluesy voice on Kiss, and If I Can Dream. Buy it on Amazon…
US Cracks Down on Mountaintop Coal-mine Permits
The Environmental Protection Agency announced Friday it will put the brakes on 79 pending permits for mountaintop removal coal mines in Appalachia because they likely pose environmental problems in violation of the Clean Water Act.
Also called surface mining, the technique often results in the burying of streams with blasted debris from mountaintops, and high levels of toxic metal runoff into adjacent valleys and community watersheds. EPA’s initial review concluded that all of the projects would likely cause water quality impacts and require additional scrutiny under the Clean Water Act.
Al-Qaida Faces Recruitment Crisis, Anti-terrorism Experts Say
Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaida is under heavy pressure in its strongholds in Pakistan’s remote tribal areas and is finding it difficult to attract recruits or carry out spectacular operations in western countries, according to government and independent experts monitoring the organisation.
Speaking to the Guardian in advance of tomorrow’s eighth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, western counter-terrorism officials and specialists in the Muslim world said the organisation faced a crisis that was severely affecting its ability to find, inspire and train willing fighters. (photo, Pakistani flag)
Global Child Mortality Continues to Drop
UNICEF this week released new figures that show the rate of deaths of children under five years of age continued to decline in 2008.
The data shows a 28 percent decline in the under-five mortality rate since 1990 — from 90 deaths in every 1000 births, down to 65 deaths in 2008.
“Compared to 1990, 10,000 fewer children are dying every day,” said UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman.
Amazing Video Spoof – Berlin TV Tower Takes Off Into Orbit
Video of the Berlin TV tower, one of the most recognisable buildings in Germany, being fired into space during an audacious Nasa “theft”, has become a web hit.
The 1,200ft tower, which bears a striking resemblance to a rocket, engulfs the center of the city with smoke as it rises from the Berlin skyline.
The impressive launch footage was created from a combination of genuine Nasa audio recordings, library images of the tower and the computer trickery of a young animator.
Watch the video below, or read more in the Daily Telegraph…
High School Wrestler Now Carries His Partner After Train Amputates Both Legs
People across the nation have been inspired by the ESPN story of two high school wrestlers. One, after being run over by a train, is a double amputee. They helped each other pursue wrestling careers and overcome towering challenges.
“He was a complete powerhouse,” said Dartanyon, recalling their first drills together. “I never wrestled anyone as strong as him. We pushed each other to our limits, and we didn’t let each other give up.”
Watch the video below, or read the feature story at ESPN…
National Day of Encouragement September 12 Honors Teens Making a Difference
The Encouragement Foundation, sponsor of this year’s National Day of Encouragement, launched its “7 Days Across America” campaign to showcase the impressive actions of today’s youth. The tour, which began September 5 in San Francisco, will conclude in New York City awarding a $5,000 college scholarship on its third annual National Day of Encouragement, September 12.
“‘7 Days Across America’ was created to challenge the negative stereotype of teenagers today,” said Andrew Baker, executive director of the Encouragement Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that raises awareness about the benefits of encouraging others. “The campaign will honor teenagers who are positive influences. We hope their stories of generosity, sacrifice, and compassion will motivate others to become lights of encouragement by getting involved in their own schools and communities.”
The movement will visit 14 U.S. cities in seven days spotlighting stories of young people like Ashlee Smith (10) of Reno, NV, who founded Ashlee’s Toy Closet which collects toys, books and clothes and donates them to children who have lost their homes by fire, natural disaster or economic crisis.
Two other teens making a difference:
- Fernandez-Han (15), of Houston, TX, developed the a system that treats waste, fights greenhouse gases and produces food, fuel and oxygen. “Basically, it turns sunlight, CO2, and just water – it can be waste water or saltwater- turns that into food, fuel, fertilizer and sanitation,” said Javier Fernandez-Han, who hopes his project will one day help developing countries.
- Vinay Trevedi (18), of Philadelphia, honored his grandfather by founding Senior Link, an organization through which young people help residents of senior homes feel more connected to society by teaching them the skills necessary to use computers and the Internet.
The public can vote for the youth that most inspires them on a website where these inspiring stories are posted, at www.7daysacrossamerica.com. Finalists will be flown to New York for the finale, compliments of Southwest Airlines. The young winner will receive a scholarship at the National Day of Encouragement celebration at Town Hall Theater in New York City, which will also honor a team of young filmmakers by premiering their new documentary, “One Drop,” a documentary that illustrates the impact of clean water on the lives of people around the world.
The National Day of Encouragement was created in June, 2007 by a group of students at the National Leadership Forum, an experiential leadership camp for teenagers from around the country, at Harding University in Searcy, AR. It works to remedy the discouragement “epidemic” prevalent in schools and in society, which, according to the teens, can be the root of serious problems, including drugs and alcohol.
The students unanimously agreed that a day set aside to encourage others would be the first step to combating discouragement and making the world a better place. Visit the Encouragement Foundation for more inspiring stories.
(Photo courtesy of Sun Star)
(Note, some source material has been removed by the source.)
Muslim Comic Connects With Audiences Post-9/11
Azhar Usman quit his job as a Chicago attorney to become a stand-up comedian in early 2001 — months before the Sept. 11th attacks. In the years since, his American audiences have gained a better understanding of Muslims like him and what they deal with in airports.
He says the main difference post-9/11 is that now they care about these topics.
Hundreds of Thousands to Participate in National Day of Service Tomorrow
Inspired by the massive outpouring of volunteers helping out in the days and months after the World Trade Center tragedy, Congress and the President have officially declared September 11 a National Day of Service and Remembrance.
Through the website 911DayOfService.org, hundreds of thousands of people — nonprofits, citizens, employers and faith-based groups — have already pledged to do good deeds in honor of those who died in the terrorist attacks eight years ago.
Led by the 9/11 non-profit MyGoodDeed, 9/11 families and others worked for more than seven years to establish September 11 as a National Day of Service and Remembrance and finally secured passage of legislation in April 2009, within the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act. Since that time, MyGoodDeed has organized an unprecedented coalition of organizations that have come together to engage not only Americans, but people from around the world.
Since its inception in 2002, supporters of MyGoodDeed have pledged to perform more than a million acts of service, spanning all 50 states and some 170 countries and territories. Since its August launch, tens of thousands have visited the organization’s website, 911dayofservice.org, pledging good deeds. Thousands have also posted their service plans for 9/11 at the federal government’s volunteer service website, www.serve.gov. Here are some examples:
- In Chicago, Illinois, Tiffany Bohm and her classmates will kick off a semester-long service project to collect 2,974 pairs of shoes, representing each person lost in the 9/11 attacks, to donate to a homeless shelter.
- In Huron, Ohio, Stephen Petrovich will place calls to emergency workers and first responders to thank them for their service.
- In Atlanta, Georgia, Lillie Love and her friends will put together and deliver goody baskets to fire and police stations as a way of paying tribute to the first responders who worked tirelessly on 9/11 and the days and weeks following.
MyGoodDeed was originally co-founded in 2003 by two friends, David Paine and Jay S. Winuk, following the death of Winuk’s brother, 9/11 rescuer Glenn J. Winuk, an attorney, volunteer firefighter and EMT who died in the line of duty during the collapse of the World Trade Center South Tower. Since that time, they have worked to build awareness and support for the idea.
“After seven years of hard work and advocacy by the 9/11 community and many others, we have finally achieved our goal of establishing September 11th as a National Day of Service and Remembrance through broad, bi-partisan support from across the country,” Paine said. “This year, we expect to inspire hundreds of thousands more people to commemorate the day by remembering and rekindling the spirit of unity that swept the nation in the wake of the attacks.”
Added Winuk: “I will always remember 9/11 as the day that I lost my brother Glenn. But I will also remember his sacrifice in service to others. As a volunteer firefighter, he ran into the South Tower to help those in need, instead of running for safety himself. He inspired me to start this campaign, just like so many stories of 9/11 have inspired others to give back to their communities.”
Corporations and community organizations are giving back, and in many cases, actively seeking volunteers who are looking to give back as well.
- In Scottsdale Arizona, the Mayor will proclaim 9/11 as a citywide day of service with four days of activities at the Scottsdale Civic Center Mall from September 10 – 13 and information about how to get involved to help those in need.
- In Harlem, New York, employees of GlaxoSmithKline will educate more than 1,000 elementary school children and their teachers at the Harlem Children’s Zone about prevention of the H1N1 virus.
- In Boston, The Massachusetts Military Heroes Fund and Homes for Our Troops, founded with the support of the families of 9/11 victims, will meet at The Rose Kennedy Greenway in downtown Boston on September 11th for a Care Package Packing Party, and to honor former Senator Edward Kennedy. Organized in part by Christie Coombs, who lost her husband Jeff in the 9/11 attacks, volunteers are needed to write letters to service men and women overseas, pack care packages and collect donations of clothing and other items.
- In Washington DC, there are more than 50 different service events planned. Among them, the Armed Services YMCA will assemble 200 volunteers at RFK Stadium on September 11th to support Operation Kid Comfort by designing photo-transfer quilts for children of deployed service men and women to comfort children during a parent’s deployment.
Remember that even a small gesture – a single good deed for your neighbor – is all it takes to make a difference, so anyone who wants to give back on 9/11 can do so right from home. No deed is too small.
MyGoodDeed has also announced that it will host an online auction for charity to incorporate Fashion Week, featuring donations from top designers including Donna Karan, Tracy Reese, Carmen Marc Valvo, Phillip Lim, Vivenne Tam, Tommy Hilfiger and many others. More information on the auction can be found at www.911dayofservice.org/runway.
You can also read an inspiring AP feature story on the Day of Service at MSNBC.
Newly Fixed Hubble Amazes With Deep Space Photos Again
“Hubble is back in action. Together, NASA and Hubble are opening new vistas on the universe,” astronomer and frequent Hubble user Heidi Hammel said.
The 10 images of galaxies and nebulas — clouds of stellar gas and dust — are sharper than previous photos taken of the same places by Hubble before its fifth and final upgrade. One of those resembles an eerie cosmic butterfly, but is really a stellar nursery or nebula not too far away.
Groups Bring Men Together to Help One Another Leave Troubled Pasts
Men-in-Motion is part of a growing network of groups across the District and Prince George’s County that provides parenting support and therapy to men, many of them ex-offenders, through roundtable discussions.
“The main thing is that we give each other hope,” said Karl Andrews, an outreach worker for the National Center for Children and Families, which sponsors the weekly meetings aimed at providing men with parenting skills.
(Continue reading in the Washington Post)
Photo courtesy of Sun Star
Bobcat Bonds With Fawn After CA Fire Rescue
While thousands of firefighters devoted their time to containing the Jesusita wildfire raging near Santa Barbara, one group of rescue workers worked around the clock to help displaced pets and wildlife, saving as many lives as they could.
Julia Di Sieno helped rescue a bobcat kitten near Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Ranch, where it was dehydrated and near death. She nurtured it back to health along with a rescued fawn who became its foster brother.
Although regulations require that wild animals, especially separate species, never be placed together in shelters, the mayhem of this emergency left no other choice. They were forced to put animals anywhere they could.
They had run out of crates large enough for the fawn, so the kitten was able to run directly up to it. There was “instant bonding.” The fawn, 3 days old, and the bobcat about 3 weeks old, snuggled together under a desk in the Santa Barbara County Dispatch Office for several hours.
(Read more at this Discovery Blog… Support the effort of Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network.
Amsterdam Lets Beer-Bike Ride On
An increasingly popular mode of partying, the Amsterdam Beer-Bike Bar has been cleared by city officials to remain in business, transporting merry-makers through the narrow Dutch streets.
Powered by pedaling beneath the bar stools, the portable pub accommodates between 10-22 beer lovers who sip and chat while a driver steers.
Two accidents within two months prompted the city councillor to launch an investigation in June.
Last week, Reuters reported, “The city has decided to allow the bikes to carry on riding, They will, however, need permits from the various city boroughs, and those permits are likely to come with restrictions on hours of operation and requirements for a sober driver (though non-drinkers already typically steer the bikes).”
Watch the video to see the Beer-Bike Bar in action, even playing its own music…
Amsterdam Lets Beer-Bike Ride On
An increasingly popular mode of partying, the Amsterdam Beer-Bike Bar has been cleared by city officials to remain in business, transporting merry-makers through the narrow Dutch streets.
Powered by pedaling beneath the bar stools, the portable pub accommodates between 10-22 beer lovers who sip and chat while a driver steers.
Two accidents within two months prompted the city councillor to launch an investigation in June.
Last week, Reuters reported, “The city has decided to allow the bikes to carry on riding, They will, however, need permits from the various city boroughs, and those permits are likely to come with restrictions on hours of operation and requirements for a sober driver (though non-drinkers already typically steer the bikes).”
Watch the video to see the Beer-Bike Bar in action, even playing its own music…
POST to FACEBOOK, or other social networking sites, with links below…
Jenny McCarthy Does Good
Good News. Now you can lose weight and help feed the hungry at the same time, with Jenny McCarthy leading the way. Through the Weight Watchers “Lose for Good” campaign, the more pounds Weight Watchers’ clients lose from August 30, through October the more food will be donated to hunger-fighting organizations.
Last year, the Lose for Good campaign donated 1.5 million pounds of food after 4 million pounds were lost.
Watch Jenny in the AP video below, or at YouTube.
Good Idea! Doggies Get the Pool for Final Day of Season
The dog days of summer ended last night with the second annual Pooch Plunge.
The Albert Oakland Pool opened solely for dogs. The event invited owners and their small dogs during the first half and families with larger pooches during the last.
Owners tossed balls and toys to entice dogs into the water and to promote exercise.
(See photos and story at KOMU.com — Watch video at the Missourian)
Good News for Small Business Around the World
More countries than ever are slashing red tape around starting new businesses, according to the World Bank’s Doing Business Report, which tracks how easy or hard it is to start businesses around the world. The report, released yesterday shows that things are lightening up for entrepreneurs.
“Government reforms aimed at making it easier to start a company are up 20 percent this year — with poor countries taking the lead.”
Turtle Thought to be Extinct Spotted in Myanmar
One of the world’s rarest turtle species – the Arakan forest turtle – has been observed for the first time in the wild by scientists according to a new report by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).
Previously known only by museum specimens and a few captive individuals, research scientists discovered five of the light brown spotted turtles in a wildlife sanctuary in Myanmar (Burma) in Southeast Asia. The sanctuary, originally established to protect elephants, contains thick stands of impenetrable bamboo forests and is rarely visited by people.