"Low-cost carrier Flybe is to provide its customers with data showing fuel use, CO2 emissions and the noise patterns of its planes. The firm says this "eco-labelling" plan is the first of its kind and will let people choose which route or aircraft is the least environmentally damaging. (BBC) Andrew shares this from the UK!
Muppets Preach Peace on Mideast Sesame Street
A new Israeli-Arab puppet on the Middle Eastern version of “Sesame Street” is being touted as a new symbol of hope to children. “Rechov Sumsum” in Israel and “Shara’a Simsim” in the Palestinian territories are making their debut with new characters like Mahboub, an Israeli-Arab who speaks both Hebrew and Arabic and Jewish immigrants from Russian and Ethiopia, communities that have faced prejudices in Israeli society.
In addition to the shows, the program’s president plans to distribute puppet-themed educational tools throughout Israel, Gaza and the West Bank.
Spain Stops Construction of Motorway to Save Lynx
"The Spanish Environment Ministry has decided to stop the construction of a 300-kilometre motorway to save the Iberian lynx, the world’s most threatened feline species," of which there are about 100 remaining. (Earth Times)
Polish Man Wakes From 19-Year Coma
“A Polish man has woken up from a 19-year coma to find the Communist party no longer in power and food no longer rationed, Polish TV reports… Doctors gave him only two or three years to live after the accident, but he credits his exteded survival to his wife.” (BBC) Thanks to Andrew for the link!
My Moods in Spring (Photo Poem)
Ah, the perennial bliss of perennials: planted once, but yearly bejeweled…
With the progress of my years — and without much work — the flower gardens I planted when my children were toddlers continue to bless…
Here is a poem I wrote as I watched another year of the Spring Colors in Procession. The waves of color proceeded and faded like my moods, from sunny to blue, to sunny again.
Land in Afghanistan Donated to Mine Victims
Land in Afghanistan that is now free of mines has been donated to the workers who were injured while clearing those deadly weapons from the area, the United Nations said yesterday. The 87 deminers, who were all wounded in the Herat region during mine clearance activities, have since returned to their homes, but most are unemployed and face challenging living conditions.
Prison Sweat Lodge Benefits Native American Inmates
"Prisons around the US are allowing ceremonial saunas for American Indian inmates, just as they offer religious services for prisoners of other faiths. Traditional Indian sweat lodges — which are supposed to cleanse the body, mind, and soul — have a calming influence on inmates and help bring peace." (AP)
40 Years Ago Today The Beatles Changed the World
The Sixties were much more than a time of hippies, music, drugs and free love, the Kennedy era was dawning — and along with it, Vietnam. All these streams converged in the Beatles’ 1967 masterpiece album, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. When the album was released 40 years ago today, it was a major cultural event.
“It was the soundtrack to summer, and winter for that matter,” notes author Barry Miles. “You could not get away from it.” Indeed, young and old alike were entranced…
Whale Pair Head Back to Open Ocean
A mother whale and her baby headed back towards open ocean last night after a rescue operation helped guide their 90-mile return down the Sacramento river to their migration route in the Pacific…
Flushed Diamond Ring Retrieval Called a Miracle
A 98-year-old woman accidentally flushed her $8,000, 1.6-carat diamond wedding ring down the toilet in the middle of the night two months ago, but thanks to the Olympia Public Works Department agreeing to take a look, the ring was found and delivered back to the woman who wrote a letter that motivated them to help. "I believe in miracles," she wrote… (The Olympian)
US Arrests Leading Internet Spammer
"A man nicknamed the "spam king" for allegedly sending out millions of junk e-mails has been arrested in the US"… the first spammer to be prosecuted under federal laws against identity theft. (BBC)
Making the World Safe for Big Cats
Explorer Alan Rabinowitz creates havens for tigers, jaguars, and leopards. (CS Monitor)
Sailor Honored for Boosting Morale
A Florida Naval Reservist, who left his position as an attorney to serve a seven-month tour of duty in Iraq, is being honored for his outstanding mentoring and role modeling while overseas. “Lieutenant Marc J. Soss of Bradenton has been awarded the Sempercomm Award for his efforts to boost the morale of his fellow soldiers while at war. He set up a 300-plus DVD library, held regular poker and horseshoe tournaments, and he never forgot a birthday. The prestigious Award goes to military members who help boost the morale of fellow soldiers serving overseas.”
Soss won the award for his major efforts to boost unit morale while serving in Afghanistan in 2006. Assigned to Camp Clark in Khowst, Afghanistan, Soss was assigned the job of unit morale, welfare and recreation director, something often thought of as the unit’s “movie night director.” Almost despite this idea, his service went well above arranging a movie night once in a while: Soss secured a 300-plus DVD library.
He set up a regular Thursday poker tournament. He made sure birthdays got proper recognition and parties happened for each person. He pulled off delivery of television service several months ahead of schedule so that unit members could watch American television. He put together a unit pool party and barbecue, complete with hotdogs, hamburgers, steaks and soda — a major feat in the mountains of Afghanistan.
Soss pulled together equipment for a 21-person gymnasium, vastly improving on the previous five-person facility. An avid running enthusiast, Soss arranged for secure transportation and lodging for unit members to participate in a marathon nearly an hour away. Soss also created and coordinated two marathons at Camp Clark itself: a Halloween “Boo Run” and a Veteran’s Day Run. To cap off his efforts, he managed a fundraiser for the Landstuhl, Germany, Wounded Warrior day-trip program, which helps American military personnel receiving treatment at the hospital there occasionally get out of the institutional setting to do something fun.
Soss is now back home and has returned to work as an attorney in Tampa. He was honored at a May 10 gala award ceremony for SemperComm winners. Winners are chosen via nomination applications received from all branches of the U.S. military. This year’s awards were presented at the Crystal Gateway Marriott across the river from Washington, D.C. (WWSB ABC-TV intv) Thanks so much to longtime GNN supporter Maureen Ogilvie for submitting the link!
U.S. CO2 Emissions Declined 1.3% in 2006
Preliminary estimates by the U.S. government show carbon dioxide emissions — the number one contributor to global warming — dropping 1.3 percent in 2006, mostly due to a drop in energy demand caused by milder seasons, less driving, and more non-carbon fuel usage. (Energy Blog)
Visiting Battlefields and WWII Memorial Brings Closure to Elderly Vets
The Greatest Generations Foundation, established in 2004, has so far helped more than 100 World War II veterans return to Europe to battle sites that have haunted their dreams. The purpose is to provide psychological peace to many veterans like Stan Tuhoski who, after revisiting Germany, believes he has finally found closure from his wartime nightmare.
Tim Davis, an Australian, founded the program having been inspired by his grandfather who fought alongside U.S. forces in the Pacific…
Infants Have ‘Amazing Capabilities’ That Adults Lack
"Soon after birth, infants are keen and sophisticated generalists, capable of seeing details in the world that are visible to some other animals but invisible to adults, older children and even slightly older infants, such as…" (Live Science)Thanks to Sergio Orozco for the link!
World War II Heros Meet for Last Time (Video)
America’s 1.8 million World War II veterans, now in their 80’s and 90’s, are dying at the rate of 1,500 a day, but 150,000 of them came together with their families in Washington, D.C., to witness the dedication of the WW II Memorial in 2004. Tune in this weekend as PBS airs a beautiful film that follows a group of these vets, from Air Group 16, who have been meeting as friends for 40 years to reminisce about their experiences and remember their fallen comrades. Through stunning archival footage, period music and dramatic first-person accounts, experience their final reunion during this last great gathering of World War II vets. Poignant, verité cinematography captures the bittersweet moments as Air Group 16 celebrates together, for what will be the last time… (Click Read more to see an amazing VIDEO clip)
Lack of Short-Term Memory Doesn’t Stop New Grad
College freshman Andrew Engel was diagnosed in 1995 with a malignant brain tumor, and after treatment was left without any short term memory. His doctors told him to forget about college, yet he never gave up. He made medical history in an experiment that taught how to store memory by reading things four or five times. Now, after studying at the University of Maryland in Baltimore for 12 hours a day, 7 days a week, never missing a class, Andrew is graduating with a 4.0 average. (Listen to NPR interview)
Encouraging Failure as the Currency of Success
As you develop, grow, and do your best there will be setbacks. In fact you’re going to run headlong into the path of something most of us will go to great lengths to avoid: failure. The important thing to remember is that leadership success comes from failure. Sometimes many, many failures.
Tragically some of us avoid failure by avoiding those activities in which we aren’t sure we can succeed, but here’s the truth: if you aren’t failing at least occasionally, you aren’t doing anything of long-term value for yourself or others…