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Guy Hitchhikes for the First Time Only to Get a Ride From Chris Hemsworth in a Helicopter

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An American hitchhiker was given the ride of a lifetime after he took a chance and stuck out his thumb in Australian traffic earlier this week.

Scott Hildebrand, a musician who had just landed in Brisbane from Mexico, had been standing on the side of the road for 15 minutes looking for a ride to Byron when a black van pulled over. The van’s jolly passengers said they would be more than happy to give Hildebrand a ride.

“Chip in for the gas, all right? It’s four grand,” joked one of the passengers.

Little did Hildebrand know was that that passenger happened to be a major movie star who was preparing to bring him along on a helicopter ride.

RELATED: Woman is Shocked When Guy She Just Rescued in the Check-Out Line Turns Out to Be Keith Urban

“All of a sudden we pull up to the helipad. They’re like, ‘Ever flown in a helicopter Scotty?’ and I couldn’t believe it, and that’s when I was like, ‘Who are you guys?’” Hildebrand told an Australian radio show.

As it turns out, the man was Chris Hemsworth: the actor who has starred as Thor in the Marvel movie series. The film star had just finished up filming the Men in Black II remake when he had returned home to Australia and seen Hildebrand on the side of the road.

MORE: When Woman Can’t Afford Her Grocery Bill, She is Stunned When Her Favorite Rapper Picks Up the Tab

True to his word, Hemsworth ushered Hildebrand into the helicopter for a speedy airlift to Byron – and the view was apparently magnificent.

“It was beautiful. We saw whales and dolphins. It was magical,” Hildebrand said.

(WATCH the video below) – Photo by Avmin Air Charter

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Simple Solution Provides the Homeless With Housing and Jobs in One Fell Swoop

By
John Large
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Tackling homelessness may seem like an uphill battle, but this man has come up with a stunningly simple solution for giving jobs and homes to needy people with one idea.

Chris Fenlay is the mastermind behind a revolutionary nonprofit called Shelters to Shutters. The program has a simple premise: many real-estate companies offer discounted (and sometimes free) rent to property managers and staffers who live on their properties and housing complexes.

So as a means of providing income and housing to the homeless, Shelters to Shutters is partnering with private companies and nonprofits by connecting them with people who are living in poverty. By conducting hiring fairs in multiple cities, the nonprofit simultaneously connects the homeless with housing managers and persuades ever more real estate companies to participate in their program.

Despite there being a stigma behind rough sleepers in America, homeless people are potential employees who are actually incredibly reliable. The industry’s usual turnover rate is 50%, but the employees hired through Shelters to Shutters has a retention rate of 87%.

WATCH: Police Officer Shaves Homeless Man’s Beard in Gas Station Parking Lot So He Can Land a Job

“You combine hiring managers with these candidates and it really breaks down so many stigmas and barriers,” Finlay said in an interview with Fast Company. “All of a sudden, the things that we’ve been telling them, they’re like, ‘oh, now I get it.’”

The deal is not-one sided, either—in addition to the companies receiving very loyal workers, the fresh employees receive a 77% discount on their rent; 89% of them have received raises or promotions; and 93% have not reentered homeless aid services.

Anthony Puryear is one of these success stories. He was an Army veteran who—after leaving the military—worked in the hospitality industry for years. Unfortunately, when the cost of living became too high, he found himself without a place to live. Local veteran help group Operation Stand Down then connected Puryear with Shelters to Shutters. He was hired as an assistant service technician and given secured housing. Since then, he’s been promoted to a service tech position where he is in charge of fixing up old apartment units.

MORE: Café That Hires and Feeds the Homeless Has Just Built a Village for Their Rough Sleeping Employees

“I can’t overstate how grateful I am for this opportunity and how determined I am to make the most of it,” he said.

He is just one of over 100 success stories – although Shelters to Shutters is not stopping there. They currently work in 15 cities across the country and they have plans to expand in the near future. One of their new initiatives, which is set to launch in San Franscisco, will debut by hiring 20 new people off of the streets.

Puryear said, “I want as many people as possible to get a chance to benefit from Shelters to Shutters’ services in the way that I have.”

And by the looks of it, he will get to see this happen.

Be Sure And Share This Inspiring News With Your Friends On Social Media – Photo by Shelter to Shutters

“Enthusiasm is the yeast… the sparkle in your eyes, the swing in your gait, the irresistible surge of will and energy to execute your ideas.” – Henry Ford

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Good News Network
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Quote of the Day:  “Enthusiasm is the yeast… the sparkle in your eyes, the swing in your gait, the irresistible surge of will and energy to execute your ideas.” – Henry Ford

Photo: by Steve Hall, CC license

With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quotes page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?

Breakthrough Tech Can Test for All 307 Bacterial Infections Known to Man – Amazing Advance From Only 19

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In a world first, scientists have just developed a groundbreaking new platform that can test for every single kind of human pathogenic bacteria known to man.

According to the recently-published study, researchers developed the platform so that it can simultaneously screen for the bacteria strains, as well as markers for virulence and antibiotic resistance.

The exciting new tool, which is being called the “BacCapSeq” platform, was developed by researchers from the Center for Infection and Immunity (CII) in the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.

“Once approved for clinical use, BacCapSeq will give physicians a powerful tool to quickly and precisely screen for all known pathogenic bacteria, including those that cause sepsis, the third leading cause of death in the United States,” says first author Orchid M. Allicock. “This platform is 1,000 times more sensitive than traditional unbiased testing, at a level comparable to tests that screen one bacterium at a time.”

RELATED: FDA Approves Once-Monthly Preventative Migraine Treatment With No Major Side Effects

Currently, the most common method used to test for sepsis can take as long as three days, and even longer to provide information on antibiotic resistance. While physicians wait for a result, they usually prescribe broad-spectrum antibiotics, a practice that contributes to the growth of antibiotic resistance. BacCapSeq provides results in 70 hours, but the researchers believe that the platform will become faster with advances in computing power.

Each year, antibiotic-resistant infections claim 100,000 lives in the United States, and 700,000 globally, with the highest burden in the developing world, according to World Economic Forum estimates. The direct annual impact of antibiotic resistance in the U.S. is $20 to 35 billion with an additional $35 billion in lost productivity, according to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Without an effective response to limit further growth in antimicrobial resistance, the challenge will continue to increase. The World Bank issued a report in 2017 projecting an impact on the GDP between $1.1 trillion and $3.4 trillion.

BacCapSeq contains 4.2 million genetic probes used to detect the signature DNA of all 307 pathogenic bacteria, as well as biomarkers for antibiotic resistance and virulence. Each probe binds to a corresponding sequence; when a particular bacterium and biomarker is present in a sample, a magnetic process “pulls out” its unique sequences, which can then be used to identify the bacterium and its characteristics. To date, even the most advanced multiplexed polymerase chain reaction systems are only able to screen for up to 19 pathogenic bacteria, and none can assess virulence and antimicrobial resistance.

WATCH: Hundreds of People Are Being Cured of Blindness Every Day With Cheap, Minutes-Long Surgery

In the study, the researchers assess the performance of BacCapSeq in several ways: using nucleic acid from blood spiked with DNA from several different bacteria, blood spiked with bacterial cells, blood culture samples, and blood samples from patients with unexplained sepsis. In each case, the platform performance exceeded traditional methods, sometimes detecting infections that were missed by the alternative method. In one case, the test implicated the bacterium Gardnerella vaginalis, which is only rarely associated with significant disease, as the cause of unexplained sepsis in an individual with HIV/AIDS.

BacCapSeq is a complement to VirCapSeq, a similar test developed at CII that screens for all known human viral infections. Recent published studies have reported on that test’s performance in Tanzania and Uganda. A test for differential diagnosis of fungal infections is in development.

“Microbiological intelligence must be an integral component of precision medicine,” says W. Ian Lipkin, director of CII. “Accurate, early differential diagnosis of infectious diseases and knowledge of drug sensitivity profiles will reduce mortality, morbidity, and health care costs.”

(Source: Columbia Mailman School of Public Health) – Photo of bacteria, public domain

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Stephen King Lets These Kids Make Film Adaption of His Story by Selling the Rights for Just $1

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McKinley Corbley
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Despite his literary career being worth millions of dollars, Stephen King did not hesitate to sell the rights to one of his stories for the meager sum of $1 so that a group of film students could make a movie adaption.

The story rights were bought by film students from the Blaenau Gwent Film Academy in Tredegar, Wales. School officials initially contacted King’s team about making a film adaption of “Stationary Bike”, one of the short stories that was published in his “Just After Sunset” collection.

The short story is about a man who buys a stationary bike as a means of fending off his high cholesterol – but as he exercises, he begins to have strange visions about his body.

King’s team wrote back to the academy and said that they could buy the rights to the story as part of the author’s Dollar Babies program which sells his unadapted stories to students and youngsters for heavily discounted prices.

RELATED: ‘Black Panther’ Star Reveals That Denzel Washington Paid For His Theatre Studies at Oxford

King has spent the last 40 years using the program as a way of boosting the careers of young filmmakers.

“Around 1977 or so, when I started having some popular success, I saw a way to give back a little of the joy the movies had given me,” King explained, according to BBC.

Before he became a famous Hollywood filmmaker, Shawshank Redemption director Frank Darabont once participated in the program by creating an adapted version of “The Woman in the Room” in 1986.

LOOK: Twitter Cracks Up When Dad Accidentally Asks A-List Celebrity to Step Out of His Photo With Matthew Broderick

Now, 16-year-old Alfie Evans and 14-year-old Cerys Cliff will be writing the script for “Stationary Bike.” Once the script is finished, it will be produced by 30 other film students from the academy. After that, they will hopefully be taking the finished product to film festivals.

King’s only other contractual condition for the adaption is that he receive a copy of the movie once it’s finished.

WATCH: Guy Makes Hilarious Commercial to Sell His Girlfriend’s Used Car–and Bidding Soars

“They insist that we send him a copy. That was part of the contract — Stephen always loves to see the work and please send him a DVD when it’s all complete,” academy tutor Kevin Phillips told Mashable.

“The main thing is that it’ll be used to boost the confidence of our young, up-and-coming film-makers to actually say that they’ve worked on a Stephen King film,” he added.

Be Sure And Share This Sweet Story With Your Friends On Social Media – Photo by Blaenau Gwent Film Academy

Totally Green Machine That Uses Biowaste to Generate Clouds for Clean Water Wins $1.75 Million XPrize

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McKinley Corbley
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An ingenious piece of technology has just won a top prize for its ability to provide clean drinking water to millions of people around the world simply by mimicking the way clouds are formed.

The device, which was developed by the Skysource/Skywater Alliance, looks like an ordinary shipping container – but inside of the box, a power system sucks in warm air so that it can mingle with the cold air inside, causing condensation to form. The resulting water droplets are then collected into a water tank that can be dispensed through a tap.

In order to generate the amount of electricity necessary for the system, the technology can be powered by biomass, such as twigs, branches, or dead trees.

This has two benefits – firstly, it helps to clear away and dispose of natural debris which could fuel dangerous wildfires. Secondly, using biomass for fuel creates a nutritious kind of charcoal byproduct called “biochar”. When mixed with soil, it nourishes crops and plants while simultaneously trapping carbon in the ground, rather than allowing it to escape the trees during wildfires, making the entire system a carbon-negative device.

RELATED: 11-Year-Old Becomes ‘America’s Top Young Scientist’ for Her Sensor Detecting Lead in Water

Since some disaster-stricken areas may not have access to biomass, the Skywater device can also be adapted to solar power and wind energy power systems as well.

Skywater was awarded the Water Abundance XPrize, a competition that was first launched at a United Nations conference in 2016 as a means of spurring engineers to harness technology that could provide clean drinking water to millions of people.

The prize had three requirements: any technology entered into the competition had to run on 100% clean energy; it had to extract at least 2,000 liters of water from the atmosphere every day; and that water had to cost less than 2 cents per liter.

LOOK: Depressed by Cable News Playing in Public Everywhere, He Designed Glasses That Black Out Screens

“We do a lot of first principles thinking at XPrize when we start designing these challenges,” XPrize’s chief officer Zenia Tata told Fast Company about their decision to use the water in the atmosphere as their key source for inexpensive drinking water.

“At any given time, [the atmosphere] holds 12 quadrillion gallons–the number 12 with 19 zeros after it – a very, very, big number,” she added. So instead of depending on expensive desalination techniques or costly air-to-water technologies that already exist, the XPrize organizers asked engineers to develop the cheapest method of using the water in the atmosphere to generate enough freshwater for the household needs of all 7 billion people in the world.

Skywater was awarded the $1.75 million prize for their biomass-powered freshwater system. The organization will reportedly be using the prize money to manufacture and distribute the water systems to water-scarce regions of the world in partnership with international relief efforts.

(WATCH the explanation video below) – Photo by Skysource/Skywater Alliance

Precipitating Change from Matt Eppedio on Vimeo.

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“If people knew how hard I worked to get my mastery, it wouldn’t seem so wonderful at all.” – Michelangelo

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Quote of the Day:  “If people knew how hard I worked to get my mastery, it wouldn’t seem so wonderful at all.” – Michelangelo

Photo: by Bhavishya Goel, CC license

With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quotes page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?

US Embassy Apologizes for Accidental Mass-Mailing of Invitation for ‘Cat Pajama-Jam Party’

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McKinley Corbley
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Everybody makes mistakes—even international ambassadors, judging by the contents of an amusing email that was sent out by the US Embassy in Australia last week.

Social media users have been marveling over an email that was sent out by the embassy containing an image of a cat dressed in a Cookie Monster costume holding a plate of pastries. The subject line of the email simply read: “Meeting,” while the image was coupled with an RSVP tab and a caption saying “cat pajama-jam party.”

RELATED: Watch Curious Cat Suddenly Discover That She Has Ears After Striking a Pose in the Mirror

It has not been disclosed how many email addresses were included as recipients, but one thing is for sure—once the internet heard about the rumored party, social media users immediately demanded that the embassy host the promised feline festival.

Even the cat depicted in the emailed photo—an internet-famous feline named Joey—expressed his desire for a pajama party.

Unfortunately, the email was nothing more than a mishap. The embassy’s public affairs counsellor, Gavin Sundwall, recently issued a good-natured apology for the mistake and said that someone had accidentally sent the email after testing out a new kind of email broadcasting platform.

“Sorry to disappoint those of you who were hoping to attend this ‘cat pajama-jam’ party, but such an event falls well outside our area of expertise,” he wrote in an emailed statement two days after the initial invite.

MORE: Watching This Little Girl Read to a Sleepy Cat is the Video to Soothe Your Soul

“It was a training error made by one of our new staff testing out our email newsletter platform.”

According to Sundwall, the embassy will be using “strong new management controls” as a means of avoiding such mistakes in the future.

Though the email was identified as a mistake, that hasn’t stopped social media users from having a bit of fun with the mixup.

Be Sure And Share This Pawesome Tail With Your Friends On Social Media – Photo by My_Furry_Babies Twitter

Amazon is Investing to Make Sure Millions of Tons of Recycling Get Diverted From Landfills

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Good News Network
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Amazon has announced that it will be investing $10 million in Closed Loop Fund to support recycling infrastructure in the United States.

Amazon’s investment will increase the availability of curbside recycling for 3 million homes in communities across the country, making it easier for customers to recycle and further develop end markets for recycled commodities. The investment will divert 1 million tons of recyclable material from landfill into the recycling stream and eliminate the equivalent of 2 million metric tons of CO2 by 2028—equivalent to shutting down a coal-fired power plant for six months.

Roughly half of Americans today lack access to convenient, sufficient curbside recycling at their homes. Closed Loop Fund finances the building of advanced recycling infrastructure and services, bringing this invaluable service to the community while saving taxpayers and municipalities money.

“This investment will help build the local capabilities needed to make it easier for our customers and their communities to recycle and to increase the amount of material recycled across the country,” said Dave Clark, Amazon’s Senior Vice President of Worldwide Operations. “We are investing in Closed Loop Fund’s work because we think everyone should have access to easy, convenient curbside recycling. The more we are all able to recycle, the more we can reduce our collective energy, carbon, and water footprint.”

RELATED: America’s Largest Grocery Store Chain is Saying Goodbye to Single-Use Plastic Bags

Closed Loop Fund invests in sustainable consumer goods, advanced recycling technologies, and the development of the circular economy. It aims over the next 10 years to eliminate more than 16 million tons of greenhouse gas, divert more than 8 million cumulative tons of waste from landfills, improve recycling for more than 18 million households, and save nearly $60 million for American cities.

CEO of Closed Loop Fund Ron Gonen added, “Amazon’s investment in Closed Loop Fund is another example of how recycling is good business in America. Companies are seeing that they can meet consumer demand and reduce costs while supporting a more sustainable future and growing good jobs across the country. We applaud Amazon’s commitment to cut waste, and we hope their leadership drives other brands and retailers to follow suit.”

CHECK OUT: Starbucks is Largest Retailer Yet to Pledge a Phase-Out of Single-Use Plastic Straws

Solving customers’ needs for recycling can create economic benefits in the cities and towns where they live. Increasing the amount of recycled materials available can also lead to a lower cost of goods sold, and lessen the impacts of transportation, as there is no need to ship waste to landfills. Cities also directly benefit through increased cash flow and jobs, as most recycling is done locally.

Amazon’s investment in Closed Loop Fund furthers Amazon’s longstanding commitment to reducing packaging waste through its Frustration-Free Packaging programs, which are designed to produce less waste than traditional packaging. Amazon works directly with thousands of manufacturers to help them redesign their packaging, eliminate waste throughout the supply chain, and ensure products arrive undamaged on customers’ doorsteps. Amazon introduced Frustration-Free Packaging 10 years ago, and it has eliminated more than 244,000 tons of packaging materials to date, avoiding 500 million shipping boxes.

(Source: Amazon)

Clean Up Negativity By Sharing The Good News With Your Friends – Representative photo by Sgt. Belynda Faulkner

Let’s Pay Tribute to the Humble Shoe Shiner Who Used All $200,000 of His Tips to Help Uninsured Children

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Good News Network
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Celebrities and news outlets are paying homage to Albert Lexie: the legendary shoe shiner who donated all of his tips to benefit sick, uninsured children.

The humble philanthropist passed away earlier this week at the age of 76.

From when he first started working at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh in 1981 to when he retired in 2013, he donated $202,000 worth of shoe shining tips to the Free Care Fund, which ensures that every young patient can receive the medical care they need regardless of their families’ ability to pay.

Lexie would wake up every morning at 5:50AM so he could get to the hospital and start shining shoes at 7:25AM. Despite being credited for donating such an impressive sum of money, Lexie only made about $10,000 per year.

RELATED: Couple Who Gambled On Bitcoin in 2012 Donates All of Their Gains to Cancer Research

“I wanted to see the kids get well, to see they got well and got better and things like that. … I made myself happy,” Lexie once told The Post-Gazette for his retirement.

Over the course of his 28-year career, the compassionate senior received a plethora of awards, recognitions, and media attention for his labor of love.

The hospital’s president, Christopher Gessner, noted that Lexie was “a perfect example of how just small, incremental acts of kindness can have a really significant impact over time.”

(WATCH the tribute hospital’s video below) – Photo by UPMC Children’s Hospital

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After Breaking Off Engagement, Bride Lets ‘Some Good Come’ From It by Donating Wedding to Stranger in Need

By
McKinley Corbley
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This bride-to-be has prompted an outpouring of kindness and inspiration after she used her broken engagement as an excuse to help a woman whom she had never met before.

After Kolbie Sanders ended her engagement a week before the date, she had the chance to keep her wedding venue’s reservation for a later time – but the 24-year-old had a better idea: she would give the $3,500 wedding package to any couple who would be willing to get married within the week.

“With my engagement ending, I’ve come to find tremendous peace in knowing that I did the right thing for the both of us,” Sanders wrote on Facebook. “With that being said, now I want to do the right thing by others and let some good come out of this decision.”

Sanders, who is a student from Tyler, Texas, made a social media post asking people to send her nominations for couples who deserved a free wedding.

LOOK: When Beach Wedding is Rained Out, Stranger Runs Up to Bride and Offers Up Her Home Instead

The post was then shared thousands of times, and as more and more people saw her call for action, local businesses and community members volunteered to help out.

A makeup artist, a hair stylist, and a photographer all offered up their services for the big day free of charge. Local bakeries and chefs donated dozens of food and pastries for the reception. Others donated flowers, decorations, and accessories.

After reviewing hundreds of love stories and submissions, Sanders wrote down the names of all of the most worthy nominations and put them into a bowl. She then drew out the name of Haley Hipsher.

WATCH: Minutes After Saying ‘I Do’, Hero Groom Jumps Into the Ocean to Save Drowning Teen

Hipsher was overwhelmed with joy. Due to her grandfather’s recent stage four cancer diagnosis, she had been considered as a candidate so that her beloved, sick family member could see her walk down the aisle.

Amidst the flood of news outlets covering Sanders’s good deeds, she says that she is delighted to grant Hipsher’s wedding wish – but more importantly, she is happy to be so inspired by the flood of compassion and support that has resulted from a simple social media post.

“If there is one thing I’ve taken from this entire experience, it’s this: no matter what, always choose others even when it’s easier to choose yourself,” says Sanders. “This world keeps spinning and becomes a more beautiful place when you take the time to love on your neighbors and put their needs above yours, even if that seems like the harder thing to do.”

Multiply The Good By Sharing The Story To Social Media – Photo by Kolbie Sanders

“Music in the soul can be heard by the universe.” – Lao Tzu

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Good News Network
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Quote of the Day:  “Music in the soul can be heard by the universe.” – Lao Tzu

Photo: by #tom #malavoda, CC license

With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quotes page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?

Political Opponents Stun Voters When They Perform Unexpected Duet in Display of Comradery

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Good News Network
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Two opposing political candidates recently ended one of their debates on an unexpected note: they pulled out their musical instruments for a duet.

Zac Mayo has been campaigning throughout Lamoille County, Vermont as a Republican candidate for a state House seat. Lucy Rogers has been running against him as the Democratic candidate.

Both of the politicians have been attempting to visit each and every one of the 2,000 houses in their county in a bid to win the election – but despite their passionate political race, they also wanted to surprise their voters with a stunning display of civility.

WATCH: Opposing Congressmen Become Besties When Forced on D.C. Road Trip

Following a debate at the local library, Mayo and Rogers asked the moderator if they could have a few extra minutes to do something special for the attendees.

Mayo then pulled out a guitar and Rogers pulled out her cello – and together, they sang an emotional rendition of “Society” by Eddie Vedder.

Voters were so touched by the performance, many said that it had become a “turning point” for them in the election.

(WATCH the tear-jerking video below or our international viewers can watch the footage at the CBS News website) – Photo by Lucy Rogers

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After Becoming Largest European City to Offer Free Public Transit, They’re Enjoying a ‘Revolution’ From Their Buses

By
McKinley Corbley
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It has been one month since Dunkirk became the largest European city to provide free public transportation to the masses – and it has had an amazing impact on the community.

All of the buses in the French city are free for visitors and residents to use. The fleet includes 140 buses, many of which run on green energy sources and have free WiFi.

Since the city of 200,000 adopted the buses, they have become community hotspots for trivia events, social activities, and even celebrity appearances.

Studies have shown that in addition to reducing air pollution within the port city limits, free public transit has increased mobility amongst older and younger residents and increased feelings of freedom.

RELATED: Group of Birds Employed by French Theme Park to Pick Up Trash

“I never used the bus before,” one passenger told The Guardian. “It was too much bother getting tickets or a pass. Now I leave the car at home and take the bus to and from work. It’s so easy.”

The news outlet goes on to say that passenger numbers have increased between 50% to 85%, depending on the route. Passengers have also taken advantage of the public spaces by having more conversations with strangers.

Legislators and scientists hope that – with a little more research to back it up – the initiative’s success may inspire other cities to follow suit.

Drive The Good News To Your Friends By Sharing To Social Media – Representative photo by Charles Dyer, CC

Dad Confronts Bully by Treating Him Like a Son – Now the Homeless Boy Has Money and Friendship

By
McKinley Corbley
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Want to LISTEN to this story? Hear the segment from The Good News Guru (the GNN Founder) on our Friday radio broadcast with Ellen K on KOST-103.5 — Or, READ the story below…
(Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes – or for Androids, on Podbean)

When this father heard that his son was being bullied at school, he took a more compassionate approach to confronting the problem.

At first, Aubrey Fontenot was angry to hear that his 8-year-old son Jordan was being picked on at school by another boy named Tamarion—but instead of fighting fire with fire, he decided to invite the boy out for some one-on-one time together.

With permission from Tamarion’s family, Aubrey picked the boy up in his car and drove him around Houston, Texas. As they sat in the car, Aubrey gently asked Tamarion about why he was fighting with Jordan.

To the father’s surprise, Tamarion said that it was because other kids were bullying him at school for not having clean clothes. A quick phone call to the boy’s mother revealed that the family was homeless and having trouble finding financial stability.

LOOK: Aunt Writes Emotional Note to Stranger Who Opened Her Arms to a Boy She’d Never Met

Without hesitation, Aubrey took Tamarion out shopping for new clothes as if he was buying for his own son. Afterwards, the two spent the rest of their car ride laughing and singing along to the radio.

“We have no clue what these children are going through these days because a lot of us just don’t care,” says Aubrey. “And this is not an uncommon story for a lot of people … so I spent a lot of my day yesterday shopping and teaching this young man about self-respect. Integrity. Morals. Confidence. And other things that consist of going from a troubled youth to a great man.”

Then, Aubrey sat Tamarion down across from his son and asked them to talk things out. Though the two boys initially spent a few minutes awkwardly sitting across from each other, Aubrey eventually got them to “settle things as men” and start a conversation.

RELATED: Stranger Helps Lonely Widower Celebrate After Seeing Flowers and Cake in Shopping Cart

Now, the boys are best friends.

Jordan and Aubrey have been spending their days playing video games with each other at Aubrey’s tattoo shop – they are even planning a sleepover for the near future.

Additionally, Aubrey started a GoFundMe page for Tamarion’s family – and in just a few days, it has raised almost $23,000.

“Things really turned out phenomenal,” says Aubrey, “more than I could ever imagined.”

(WATCH the sweet montage below)

Pass On This Sweet Story Of Compassion To Your Friends On Social Media – Photo by Aubrey Fontenot

Watch Baseball Playoff Winners and Celebrities Play Ping-Pong in Dodger Stadium to Lift Kids From Trafficking

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Good News Network
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LISTEN to this story in our podcast, told by The Good News Guru (the GNN Founder) on Friday’s radio broadcast with Ellen K on KOST-103.5 — Or, READ the story below… (Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes – or for Androids, on Podbean)

At Dodger Stadium recently, Clayton Kershaw was on the mound — not for the baseball fans, but playing ping-pong to serve underprivileged kids around the world.

The Dodger, who pitched brilliantly last week in the crucial fifth game of the playoffs, appeared on that same grass recently, playing his second–favorite sport with some heavy-hitting Hollywood celebrities.

Matthew McConaughey, Bryan Cranston, Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, and Jamie Foxx, among others, came to play ball—grabbing paddles in Kershaw’s 6th annual Ping Pong 4 a Purpose tournament.

The tables were set up around the infield where even Bill Nye the Science Guy was swinging to match last year’s fundraising total of a million bucks for charity.

RELATED: This Movie Star Lives Such a Simple and Happy Life, He’s Giving His $714 Million Net Worth to Charity

Some of the money will benefit The Dream Center in LA with a new playground, and sponsor 20 children to be rescued from trafficking in the Dominican Republic.

McConaughey was presented with an award and a donation to his foundation, Just Keep Livin’, which provides after school programs to help disadvantaged kids all over America.

This year’s PingPong4Purpose included a silent auction of one-of-a-kind sports memorabilia, and an online auction to win the ultimate Dodger fan experience—a one-on-one pitching lesson from the ace himself, Clayton Kershaw. Event organizers delivered the eleven ping pong tables used—and autographed by the stars—to Boys and Girls Clubs all over Los Angeles.

CHECK OUT: Elon Musk Keeps His Promise, Donates $480,000 to Give Every School in Flint a Clean Water System

Since 2001, Kershaw and his wife’s nonprofit Foundation, Kershaw’s Challenge, has given over $6 million to support at-risk kids.

Although Kershaw lost in the semi-finals of ping pong, after trash-talking about being the best, the 3-time Cy Young Award Winner delivered on the pitcher’s mound this week when it counted—but unlike the playoffs, they all went home winners on this night, and so did the kids.

(WATCH the video…)

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Baseball Playoff Winners and Celebrities Play Ping-Pong in Dodger Stadium to Lift Kids From Trafficking (Podcast)

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Good News Network
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The Dodgers took to the field recently, not for the baseball fans, but playing ping-pong with Matthew McConaughey, Ashton Kutcher, Jamie Foxx, and Bryan Cranston to serve underprivileged kids. Hear The Good News Guru serve up all the details (from the October 19, 2018 Ellen K. Morning Show on KOST-103.5 radio in Los Angeles).

WATCH the video and read more on GNN…

“Education is not filling a bucket but lighting a fire.” – William Yeats

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Good News Network
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Quote of the Day:  “Education is not filling a bucket but lighting a fire.” – William B.Yeats

Photo: copyright 2018 GWC

With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quotes page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?

Scientists Growing Rice With Seawater Could Feed ‘Entire Arab World’

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McKinley Corbley
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A successful experiment in the deserts of Dubai may promise to curb hunger around the world.

A team of Chinese scientists has managed to develop a specific strain of rice that grows in saltwater. Not only that, it yields far more rice than the average freshwater-dependent strains.

Back in January, the researchers were invited by representatives of the United Arab Emirates to plant some of the salt-tolerant rice in different patches of the desert where water is too precious to waste on crops that depend on such intense hydration.

After five months of growth, severals strains of the modified rice yielded as much as 7.8 tons of food per hectare. For comparison, the global average stands at 3.3 tons per hectare.

RELATED: New Cow Feed Causes Fewer Farts, Say Swiss Inventors Who Want to Curb Global Warming

The researchers from the Qingdao Saltwater Rice Research and Development Center are continuing the project by launching an experimental 100-hectare saltwater rice farm in 2019 that will evaluate the costs of production and different farming techniques. They hope to then accelerate their rate of production by 2020.

Their longterm goal is to cover up to 10% of the UAE with the saltwater rice paddies – and if the technology proves to be consistently successful in Dubai’s harsh agricultural climate, then the farms could “feed the entire Arab world.”

CHECK OUT: World’s First Pay-What-You-Can Grocery Store! It Saves Food Otherwise Destined for Trash

According to Yuan Longping, the “father of hybrid rice” and leader of the research institute, there are over 386,000 square miles (1 million kilometers) of land in China that is currently going unused due to the high salt content of the soil.

By planting his specially developed saltwater rice on just one-tenth of this land, it would boost the nation’s food production by 20% – which is enough to feed over 200 million people.

Plant Some Positivity Amongst Your Friends By Sharing The Good News To Social Media – Photo by Qingdao Saltwater Rice Research and Development Center

Growing Up Surrounded by Books Could Have Powerful, Lasting Effect on the Mind

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Good News Network
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If you grew up in a household that had its fair share of book shelves, it might say something positive about your personality now that you’re all grown up.

This new study from the Australian National University School of Sociology found that people who grew up in book-filled homes have higher reading, math, and technological skills.

The researchers analyzed data that was taken from surveys between 2011 and 2015. The data featured 160,000 adults (ages 25 to 65) across 31 nations, including the United States, Canada, Australia, Germany, France, Singapore, and Turkey.

All participants were asked how many books there were in their home when they were 16 years old. (One meter of shelving, they were told, holds about 40 books.) They chose from a series of options ranging from “10 or less” to “more than 500.”

CHECK OUT: Man Saves Ancient Books From Dumpster Only to Look Inside Months Later and Find Amazing Inscription

If a household held at least 80 books, then participants went on to display the average rate of literacy and numeracy. The rate of literacy continued to increase in parallel to the amount of books a household contained until the rate ceased to increase from 350 books onwards.

Furthermore, young teenagers who grew up around books were shown to have the same levels of literacy and numeracy as university graduates who had only grown up around a few books.

Literacy was defined as “the ability to read effectively to participate in society and achieve personal goals.” Participants took tests that “captured a range of basic through advanced comprehension skills, from reading brief texts for a single piece of information to synthesizing information from complex texts.”

Numeracy tests measured the “ability to use mathematical concepts in everyday life,” while IT-related tests “assessed the ability to use digital technology to communicate with others, as well as to gather, analyze, and synthesize information.”

LOOK: Woman Accidentally Buys the Same Book She Sold 5 Years Ago and Finds Mother’s Last Words

The results suggest those volumes made a long-term difference. “Growing up with home libraries boosts adult skills in these areas beyond the benefits accrued from parental education, or [one’s] own educational or occupational attainment,” the researchers report.

Not surprisingly, the biggest impact was on reading ability. “The total effects of home library size on literacy are large everywhere,” the researchers report.

The paper was co-authored by Joanna Sikora and published in Social Science Research earlier this month.

(Source: Australian National University)

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