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Watch Crowd Make Amazing Catch When Girl Falls From Ride

By
McKinley Corbley
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There was nothing amusing about this young woman dangling from an amusement park ride on Saturday evening – but the resulting rescue was an inspiring example of humanity.

Visitors of the Six Flags theme park of Lake George, New York were shocked to see a 14-year-old girl hanging from the Sky Ride gondola 25 feet above the ground.

As park goers attracted the attention of emergency personnel and park security, several pedestrians gathered under the girl and started organizing themselves into a makeshift human safety net.

RELATED: Tightrope Walker Scales Ski Wire to Rescue Dangling Man

When Park personnel stopped the ride, one man climbed a nearby tree so he could move the branches out of the girl’s path. Once the way was clear, the climber yelled out for the girl to let go.

And she did, landing safely into the arms of the people below.

After being checked over by emergency medical park personnel, she was airlifted to a local hospital where she was deemed healthy with no serious injuries. One of the rescuers was also reportedly treated for a back injury after catching the 14-year-old.

It’s unclear how the teen got caught in such a dangerous situation, as the ride was later inspected and declared in perfect working order. According to the Washington Post, the chances of sustaining an injury on the slow-moving Sky Ride is about 1 in 16 million.

While the event is still under investigation, however, one thing is clear: this group of random strangers were ready to risk their own health just to help a girl in distress.

(WATCH the video below)

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Boy Becomes the Pied Piper of Patriotism For Thousands of Graves

By
McKinley Corbley
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When this young boy was alarmed to find a red flag – or lack thereof – in his grandfather’s cemetery, he started working tirelessly to fix it.

Preston Sharp was visiting the grave of his grandfather at McDonald’s Cemetery in Redding, California for Veteran’s Day two years ago when he noticed a total absence of flags, markers, or flowers on any of the veteran’s headstones.

Distressed by the neglected memorials, he kept pestering his mother over the cemetery’s lack of love and care.

RELATED: Veterans Find Peace Protecting African Wildlife from Poachers

In the video below, Preston’s mother explained how she lectured him, saying: “If you’re going to complain about something, you’re going to have to do something about it or let it go.’ And he’s like, ‘Well, I’m going to do something about it, Mom.’”

Preston, who was 10 years old at the time, started what would become a movement that was much bigger than just him.

The youth started by picking up odd jobs in the neighborhood so he could buy dozens of small American flags and flowers. When he placed one of each on every grave in McDonald’s Cemetery, he then moved onto the next veteran cemetery. And then the next. And then the next.

MORE: 2,000 Veterans Just Arrived at Standing Rock to Form Human Shield Around Protestors

Preston then started a GoFundMe page to help pay for enough flags and flowers for every veteran cemetery between Redding and Sacramento.

The campaign has raised a little over $30,000 for Preston’s mission – and he’s been joined by hundreds of other volunteers along the way.

To date, Preston has placed over 17,500 flags. No matter if it’s rain or shine, the youth is insistent on honoring the people who fought for his country – and he doesn’t plan on stopping any time soon.

(WATCH the video below)

Click To Share This Inspiring Story With Your Friends (Photo by the Sharp Family)

Youth Melts Internet Hearts, Escorting Fearful Senior Down the Escalator

By
McKinley Corbley
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This photo of a 23-year-old helping a frightened senior down an escalator is restoring people’s faith in humanity.

The image was posted by Paula Piccard at the Holyoke Shopping Mall of Ingleside, Massachusetts, and has since been shared across social media.

Paula was waiting at the top of an escalator when she noticed an apprehensive elderly man standing at the top of the electric staircase.

While others were getting impatient over his hesitance, young Alonzo Johnson asked how he could help the senior.

RELATED: Sweden Opens World’s First Mall for Repaired and Recycled Goods

“The older man was paused at the top of an escalator and a few people started gathering, waiting to get on,” wrote Paula. “It was clear he was feeling unsure and this young man offered the simplest kindness: an out-reached arm and a ‘can I help you on, sir?’”

The older man explained how he once got caught on an escalator, leaving him with an everlasting phobia of the moving stairs. Without hesitating, however, Alonzo said that he would ride with him all the way to the bottom.

Paula then snapped a photo of the heartwarming duo riding the escalator arm-in-arm, and posted it on social media.

HERO: Guy Sacrifices Tesla to Save Unconscious Driver, Elon Musk Offers to Repair It

“In about an hour, the evening news will air and we’ll be reminded of division, race wars, political mud-slinging, shootings and other heartaches,” wrote Paula. “But today, violence, race, age, politics and other social lines were blurred and one person simply helped another. I wanted to hug both of them. Whoever this young man is, YOUR FAMILY RAISED YOU RIGHT! THANK YOU!”

(WATCH the video below)

Click To Share The Sweet Story With Your Friends (Photo by Paula Piccard)

Meet the Singing Cop Who Sounds Just Like Johnny Cash

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Good News Network
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Billy Morgan may look like a regular cop – albeit a tall, dark, and handsome cop – but he’s being hailed as the dopplegänger of America’s favorite country singer: Johnny Cash.

The San Antonio, Texas cop first gained recognition as a lookalike when he covered “Folsom Prison Blues” on the guitar.

Shocked by his resemblance to the original musician, Morgan’s peers complimented him on his uncanny resemblance to Cash.

RELATED: Identical Looking Strangers Seated Together on Plane; In Same Hotel, Too

Since his first comparison to the country singer, Morgan has since done several performances as Cash – and his impersonation is truly striking.

Morgan says that he often played music with a band before becoming a police officer. Now, he says he would like to utilize his musical talent to raise money for charity, while still working on the police force.

(WATCH the video below)

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Homeless Man Gives His Shoes to Diner in Need of Attending Wife’s Birthday

By
McKinley Corbley
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Imagine driving for over an hour to meet your wife at a restaurant for her birthday dinner, only to be turned away at the door for not wearing the proper footwear.

Akbar Badshah, who drove from Bradford to a Manchester restaurant, was especially distressed by the rejection because his fasting for the holy season of Ramadan had prevented him from eating during the day.

As he was panicking outside of the restaurant, he struck up a conversation with a homeless man named John.

RELATED: New Opportunities Come to Homeless Hero Who Found Bomb in the Trash

After chatting for a few minutes about his unfortunate circumstances, Badshah took a chance and asked the homeless man what size shoe he wore.

When they discovered that their sizes matched, Badshah offered to give him £10, along with his own sandals, in exchange for John’s boots.

John turned down the money and happily volunteered to swap shoes with the hungry husband.

According to the BBC, John said he was “just happy to help out another human being”.

MORE: Homeless Man Who Became Hero in Manchester Bombing Rewarded With Housing

Once Badshah enjoyed a wonderful meal with his wife, he exited the restaurant and reunited with John so they could switch shoes once more. Badshah pushed for John to take the money several more times until he finally accepted.

On top of that, a nearby pedestrian overheard the conversation and gave John $75 in recognition of his kindness.

Badshah plans on returning to the restaurant and treating John to a meal as another way to thank him for his generosity.

(WATCH the video below)

Kick Off The Good News: Click To Share – Photo by Akbar Badshah

Once Extinct in Japan, Stork Population Soars to 100 After Gift From Russia

By
McKinley Corbley
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Once wiped out in Japan, this species of stork is slowly – but surely – returning to the skies, thanks to regional conservation biologists.

Officials at the Hyogo Park of the Oriental White Stork in Toyooka, Japan have just announced the release of a recently-raised white stork, making it the 100th white stork living free in the wild today.

Conservationists first announced the 12-year milestone on Monday.

The species in Japan became extinct in 1971, due to the city’s fast economic expansion, but after receiving six chicks from Russia in 1985 the facility began breeding the storks in captivity. In 2005, the conservation center began releasing the storks into the wild.

WATCH: Check Out These 23 Baby Pandas Making Their World Debut

“I couldn’t be happier and hopefully they will continue flying in the skies all over the country and make other people happy too,” Satoshi Yamagishi, chief of the facility, told Japan Today.

By using eyewitness reports and tracking data, the facility is currently keeping a close eye on how the storks are faring in the local wild. However, the great white birds, which have a wing span of up to 7 feet, can reportedly still be found in China and Russia.

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Jail Inmates Rush to Save Fallen Officer, Rather Than Escaping

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McKinley Corbley
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Six inmates are being hailed as heroes after they saved the life of a correctional officer who passed out during a work detail on Monday.

The inmates of Polk County Jail in Georgia were working outside during a particularly humid morning when their security officer, who asked not to identified, collapsed unconscious. At that point, the prisoners could have taken the van and his gun and sped away, but instead they were only concerned with the man’s health.

The inmates rushed over to the fallen officer and found that he wasn’t breathing. The convicts then removed his gun belt and bulletproof vest so they could perform CPR, while one of the inmates used the officer’s phone to dial 911.

RELATED: Give a Prisoner an Abused Dog and WATCH What Happens, Karmic Connection

By the time emergency medical personnel arrived to help, the guard had started breathing again, albeit laboriously. The officer was then taken to the hospital where he has since been recovering from the incident.

Family members of the fallen policeman bought lunch and dessert for the six men as a thank you for their kindness. Additionally, Polk County Sheriff Johnny Moats said that he would be shortening the jail sentences of the six men by about 25%.

WATCH: Inmates Break Out Of Jail To Save Life Of Officer Guarding Them

The inmates, however, believe that it was simply the right thing to do.

“When that happened, in my opinion, it wasn’t about who is in jail and who wasn’t,” Greg Williams told WXIA-TV News.  “It was about a man going down and we had to help him.”

(WATCH the video below from WXIA-11)

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Boys Win Right to Wear Shorts By Wearing Skirts in Heat-Wave Protest

By
McKinley Corbley
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These teenage boys are social activists in the making.

Even though the schoolboys of Exeter’s ISCA Academy were suffering from the summer heat, they still were banned from wearing shorts because of the traditional dress code.

To protest the stuffy school rules, however, 30 male students attended class collectively wearing the tartan skirts issued to the female students.

Though school officials were reportedly quite stumped as to how initially to handle the situation, none of the boys were punished.

RELATED: Cute Russian 5-yr-olds Escape From Kindergarten To Buy A Sports Car

Additionally, the school said that – starting next year – male students would be allowed to wear shorts “as summers are becoming hotter”.

Though the modified dress code won’t go into full effect until 2018 because it “would put undue pressure on some of our families, students will be able to discard their blazers and jumpers.

Students will also be allowed to ditch their ties, undo the first button of their school top, and untuck the shirts if they are feeling overheated.

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A Genius Invention is Saving Thousands of Animals From Drowning in Backyard Pools

By
McKinley Corbley
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This revolutionary device has already saved thousands of animals from a terrible fate.

Though biologist Rich Mason normally works to conserve wildlife around the vast brackish waters of the Chesapeake Bay, he was also concerned about the dozens of frogs perishing in his friend’s backyard pool in every summer.

As a means of offering small animals a safe exit from the pool, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employee created the FrogLog: a flotation ramp that attaches to the edge of pools.

MORE: 10-Year-old Boy Invents Device That Will Save Children From Hot Cars

The floating critter dock is surrounded by a mesh skirt that allows trapped chipmunks, lizards, frogs, and squirrels to easily exit the water. The FrogLog’s key feature is a small ramp that leads to dry land.

Since Mason started marketing the FrogLog, which is anchored by a weighted base outside the pool, dozens of buyers have posted photos of the device’s success at saving their wild backyard friends.

“We have had this in the pool all summer and have had no critters lost. Normally there were 2 or 3 frogs a week, but none this year,” says Amazon buyer Johnny_B. “It helps all kinds of animals.”

RELATED: 12-Year-old Saves Friend’s Leg Using First Aid From ‘Hunger Games’ Book

If you’re worried about larger animals like household pets, have no fear – the Skamper-Ramp is a large easily-accessible ramp for cats and dogs to safely exit the swimming pool.

PETA names several other ways in which you can prevent animals from stumbling into your pools – like making sure to keep your backyard trees trimmed. Young forest critters are notorious for accidentally falling out of tree branches and into pools below.

The animal rights organization also warns that wildlife will often wander onto human property in search of food. In order to ward off possible animal trespassers, keep all of your trashcans secure, and be sure not to give food scraps to your backyard friends.

(WATCH the video below)

Click To Share This Pawesome Story With Your Friends – OR,  (Photo by FrogLog)

Celebs Join Forces to Keep Promise for Chris Cornell

By
McKinley Corbley
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Though the Soundgarden frontman may be gone, his mission is still being carried out by his fellow celebrities.

Chris Cornell committed suicide at the age of 52 in his Detroit hotel room on May 18th – but before his death, he recorded a song called “The Promise” in honor of World Refugee Day.

The song, which was produced for the film “The Promise”, focuses on the trials and suffering of refugees worldwide.

RELATED: Celebs On Social Media Raise Over $1.5M for Somalian Famine

In April, Cornell and his wife Vicky toured Greek refugee camps to raise awareness for the plights of Syrians. Upon seeing the living conditions of the camps, the Cornells resolved to donate all of the song’s proceeds towards programs dedicated to helping children and refugees.

The song was released posthumously on Tuesday, and A-list stars are spreading the message of Cornell’s noble mission.

Christian Bale, Josh Brolin, Cher, George Clooney, Ryan Gosling, Tom Hanks, Oscar Isaac, Elton John, Jennifer Lopez, Serj Tankian, and Pharrell Williams collectively created a video advocating for Cornell’s humanitarian work under the hashtag #KeepThePromise.

WATCH: Documentary Asks Our Favorite Celebrities in Their 90s How They Stay so Lively

The video ends on a personal message from Cornell saying: “I’m Chris Cornell, and I vow to keep the promise to fight for the world’s most vulnerable children.”

“As humans, we have a tremendous capacity to trudge ahead in our lives and not look at the difficult and challenging moments… but I think it’s important,” said Cornell in a statement. “Educating ourselves on the past is the best way to understand the present and avoid future atrocities by understanding and intervening. We must educate and stand as one to combat this fear and violence, and as citizens of the world, work to protect each other’s human rights.”

(WATCH the video below)

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Vancouver to Eliminate Harmful Single-Use Packaging

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Good News Network
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Vancouver is well on its way to becoming the greenest city in the world – and they are now tackling the arduous problem of harmful single-use packaging.

The city launched their Greenest City Action Plan 7 years ago by setting a goal to reduce landfill waste by 50%. Now they are consulting with local businesses on the most strategic replacements for styrofoam containers, plastic bags, and single-use coffee cups. While members of the community will be able to present possible packaging alternatives to the city council this week, overarching bans on single-use products are very plausible for the future.

Styrofoam is a major contributor to the city’s landfills. While the elimination of styrofoam altogether seems like the most obvious action, Vancouver plans on compromising with small business owners so they need not be overburdened financially.

RELATED: Vancouver Bans the Use of Dolphins and Whales in Aquariums

Additionally, over 2.6 million polycoat-type paper coffee cups are dumped into city landfills every week. Assuming the city issues a ban on wasteful single-use coffee cups, businesses will need to utilize compostable or recyclable coffee cups instead.

“[The cups] take up about 22 percent of the volume of our on-street garbage system, and they’re costing us literally millions of dollars to deal with,” said councilwoman Andrea Reimer.

City representatives emphasize, however, that they will be ensuring the best possible methods of elimination for every stakeholder involved. As community proposals are reviewed throughout the summer, a public survey will eventually be made available in September.

MORE: San Francisco Officially Declares Itself a No-Styrofoam Zone

All of these proposals are a part of Vancouver’s 2040 Zero-Waste goal. The plan consists of several ambitious environmental and renewable strategies with the goal of becoming a zero waste community by 2040. A spokesperson for the city’s communication department was happy to report that significant progress has been made already.

“Cities around the world must show continued leadership to meet the urgent challenge of climate change, and the most impactful change we can make is a shift toward 100% of our energy being derived from renewable sources,” says Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson. “The future of Vancouver’s economy and livability will depend on our ability to confront and adapt to climate change. Moving toward 100% renewable energy is another way that Vancouver is working to become the greenest city in the world.”

Click To Share The News With Your Friends (Photo by Vancouver Landfill and Recycling Depot)

After Daughter’s Death, Dad Bikes 2,000 Miles To Hear Her Heartbeat One Last Time

By
McKinley Corbley
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This dad couldn’t contain his emotions when he heard his daughter’s heartbeat for the first time in six months.

That’s because 21-year-old Loumonth Jack Jr. was first diagnosed with a rare heart defect in January, and he was only given ten days to live unless he underwent a heart transplant.

In the very same week, Abbey Connor was found unconscious at the bottom of a hotel pool while on vacation in Cancun, Mexico. Connor was then taken into a Fort Lauderdale hospital where doctors discovered that she had irreparable brain damage.

RELATED: In Twist of Fate, NFL Star’s Organs Go to the Ailing Sports Hero Who Inspired Him

Connor’s organs were harvested and Jack Jr. became the lucky recipient of her heart.

After the successful surgery, Jack Jr. was contacted by Abbey’s father, Bill Connor. He had reached out to several of the patients who had received his daughter’s organs, but none of them had responded – except Jack Jr.

The two stayed in correspondence and agreed to meet in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on Father’s Day so Bill could hear his daughter’s heart one more time.

MORE: Dad Completes the Circle By Walking His Daughter to Last Day of High School

Then, in order to raise awareness for organ donation, Bill biked over 2,000 miles from his home in Madison, Wisconsin, to Baton Rouge.

When the two finally met, they couldn’t contain their emotions. The father and youth shared a one minute hug in silence before Jack Jr. brought out a stethoscope and let Connor listen to his heart.

After a long meaningful silence, Connor said with a tearful smile: “Well, it sounds like it’s working.”

(WATCH the video below)

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Hear Children’s Wisdom When Asked What Makes Them Different

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McKinley Corbley
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This commercial for a children’s television network has a very poignant and charming message: when it comes to see differences, children see differently.

Interviewers sit down with several pairs of children – all of which are more obviously different (at least from an adult’s perspective) from their counterpart.

One child might be in a wheelchair, while the other is not. One child might be black, while the other is white. One child might have Down syndrome, while the other doesn’t.

RELATED VIDEO: Adorable Reaction of Little Girl’s Friends to Her New Pink Prosthetic

When asked about what makes them different, however, the youngsters don’t pick up on the obvious answers. Instead, they say things like “I have bigger toes than him”, or “I like tomato sauce and she doesn’t”, or even just “his house is at the bottom of a hill”.

The commercial, which was filled by the BBC’s CBeebies network, was created to let children know that “everyone is welcome” – no matter how they are different from each other.

(WATCH the video below)

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Miracle Dog Honored for Bringing Owner Out of Coma

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McKinley Corbley
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This pawesome little pup is being hailed as a “miracle dog” after he woke up his owner from a medically induced coma.

This isn’t the first time that the pup has brought Andy Szasz back from the brink of illness, either – the man first adopted Teddy, a 4-year-old schnauzer-poodle mix, from the RSPCA just months before being diagnosed with bowel cancer.

Andy credits his survival of the cancer to his fierce friendship with Teddy.

Then, when Andy came down with a bad bout of pneumonia in December, his labored breathing led him to check into the Intensive Care unite at the Southampton, England hospital. Doctors then put him in a medically induced coma for treatment.

MORE: Abused Shelter Dog a Hero for Finding Naked Girl Shivering in Cold

While doctors were anticipating Andy to wake up one week after treatment, Andy’s wife Estelle brought Teddy in to say hello to his sleeping owner.

After hearing one bark from his furry companion, Andy woke up – three days earlier than expected.

Teddy has since been honored with a special distinction by the UK’s RSPCA.

“I always tell people I rescued Ted and Ted rescued me,” Szasz said in a statement. “We certainly do have a special bond.”

(WATCH the video below)

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Touch Can Actually Relieve Pain For Romantic Partners, Study Says

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Good News Network
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Fathers-to-be, take note: You may be more useful in the labor and delivery room than you realize.

That’s one takeaway from a study released last week that found that when an empathetic partner holds the hand of a woman in pain, their heart and respiratory rates sync and her pain dissipates.

“The more empathic the partner and the stronger the analgesic effect, the higher the synchronization between the two when they are touching,” said lead author Pavel Goldstein, a postdoctoral pain researcher at CU Boulder.

RELATED: Teacher Shows Students How Negative Words Can Make Rice Moldy

The study of 22 couples is the latest in a growing body of research on “interpersonal synchronization,” the phenomenon in which individuals begin to physiologically mirror the people they’re with.

Scientists have long known that people subconsciously sync their footsteps with the person they’re walking with or adjust their posture to mirror a friend’s during conversation. Recent studies also show that when people watch an emotional movie or sing together, their heart rates and respiratory rhythms synchronize. When leaders and followers have a good rapport, their brainwaves fall into a similar pattern. And when romantic couples are simply in each other’s presence, their cardiorespiratory and brainwave patterns sync up, research has shown.

The new study, co-written with University of Haifa Professor Simone Shamay-Tsoory and Assistant Professor Irit Weissman-Fogel, is the first to explore interpersonal synchronization in the context of pain and touch. The authors hope it can inform the discussion as health care providers seek opioid-free pain relief options.

Goldstein came up with the idea after witnessing the birth of his daughter, now 4.

CHECK OUT: Dying Writer Pens Heartfelt Plea For Someone to Marry Her Husband

“My wife was in pain, and all I could think was, ‘What can I do to help her?’ I reached for her hand and it seemed to help,” he recalls. “I wanted to test it out in the lab: Can one really decrease pain with touch, and if so, how?”

Goldstein recruited 22 long-term heterosexual couples, age 23 to 32, and put them through a series of tests aimed at mimicking that delivery-room scenario.

Men were assigned the role of observer; women the pain target. As instruments measured their heart and breathing rates, they: sat together, not touching; sat together holding hands; or sat in separate rooms. Then they repeated all three scenarios as the woman was subjected to a mild heat pain on her forearm for 2 minutes.

As in previous trials, the study showed couples synced physiologically to some degree just sitting together. But when she was subjected to pain and he couldn’t touch her, that synchronization was severed. When he was allowed to hold her hand, their rates fell into sync again and her pain decreased.

MORE: Hospital Grants Dying Patient’s Last Wish For Wine, Cigarette

“It appears that pain totally interrupts this interpersonal synchronization between couples,” Goldstein said. “Touch brings it back.”

Goldstein’s previous research found that the more empathy the man showed for the woman (as measured in other tests), the more her pain subsided during touch. The more physiologically synchronized they were, the less pain she felt.

It’s not clear yet whether decreased pain is causing increased synchronicity, or vice versa.

“It could be that touch is a tool for communicating empathy, resulting in an analgesic, or pain-killing, effect,” said Goldstein.

Further research is necessary to figure out how a partner’s touch eases pain. Goldstein suspects interpersonal synchronization may play a role, possibly by affecting an area of the brain called the anterior cingulate cortex, which is associated with pain perception, empathy, and heart and respiratory function.

The study did not explore whether the same effect would occur with same-sex couples, or what happens when the man is the subject of pain. Goldstein did measure brainwave activity and plans to present those results in a future study.

He hopes the research will help lend scientific credence to the notion that touch can ease pain.

For now, he has some advice for partners in the delivery room: Be ready and available to hold your partner’s hand.

(Source: University of Colorado – Boulder)

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Watch Deaf Boy’s Sweet Reaction to Seeing Minnie Mouse Sign ‘I Love You’

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Good News Network
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The little boy in this video is reportedly very reluctant when it comes to touching anyone – but when his favorite Disney characters start speaking to him in sign language, he couldn’t help but run into their arms.

The youngster, who is hard of hearing, went to Disneyland on a field trip with Olive Crest – a nonprofit dedicated to treating and educating at-risk children.

RELATED: Burglarized, But Still Going to Disneyland Thanks to Police Officers

Upon discovering that he had hearing problems, Minnie Mouse signed “I love you!” and “It’s nice to meet you!”

Though he seems initially surprised by the signs, he quickly recovered and gave Mickie and Minnie big hugs.

It may be the sweetest exchange to ever come out of Disneyland.

(WATCH the video below)

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Teen Raises $15,000 to Send Holocaust Survivor to Israel

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McKinley Corbley
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While some teens might be more focused on enjoying their summer breaks, this California youth did something a little more meaningful: he raised $15,000 so he could send an 89-year-old Holocaust survivor to Israel.

Drew Principe first encountered the Jewish author, Henry Oster, during an assembly at Viewpoint High School in Calabasas, California in which the senior gave a speech about his imprisonment during the Holocaust.

Drawn to Oster’s story, the 17-year-old was most surprised to hear that Oster had never been to Israel.

RELATED: 12-Year-old Saves Friend’s Leg Using First Aid From ‘Hunger Games’ Book

Once the assembly was over, Principe introduced himself to Oster and presented him with a gift – a bracelet inscribed with the Jewish prayer known as The Shema. Principe had bought the trinket when he went to Tel Aviv a few years previously.

According to Oster’s son, Pip Oster, the Jewish senior was surprised at the compassionate gesture.

“Henry was touched and very moved that Drew gave him his Israeli bracelet,” Pip told Good News Network. “I have not met Drew but I know he must be extraordinary person.”

The bracelet led to a blossoming friendship. As the two started going on outings together, Oster talked about how he was deported from his home in Germany by the Nazis just three weeks before he was supposed to celebrate his bar mitzvah. He was moved between several concentration camps – including Auschwitz – before he was liberated at 17 years old.

CHECK OUT: When Senior Loses Memory at Dinner, Cops Sit Down to be Her Dates

Oster was adopted by his uncle in California and started studying to be an optometrist. Since the horrific event, however, Oster has never celebrated his bar mitzvah, nor has he ever visited Israel.

Additionally, he is listed as a deceased Holocaust victim, rather than a survivor, at the Yad Vashem; the Holocaust memorial in Israel.

Principe was so moved by his new friend’s story, he started investigating the Oster family and found that Henry had a surviving cousin in Tel Aviv. Principe then contacted the Yad Vashem about Oster’s story, to which they responded saying that they could conduct an official ceremony to change Oster’s name from a victim to a survivor.

Principe then sent out a letter to friends and families explaining how he wanted to send Oster to Israel. The community collectively raised over $15,000 for plane tickets and travel expenses.

RELATED: Senior Knits 10K Socks For Homeless Using Super Machine

Oster is due to visit the Yad Vashem for the ceremony, meet his last surviving relative, and finally celebrate his bar mitzvah in Tel Aviv.

The Oster family was overwhelmed by the gesture – but they say that if anyone deserves it, it’s Henry.

“My dad … is a wonderful, funny and generous man. His book The Kindness of the Hangman is a true story of Henry’s survival through awful times,” says Pip. “I’m so happy for him & proud to be his kid!”

Click To Share This Sweet Story With Your Friends (Photos by Jennifer Principe and Spungen Family Foundation)

Texas Enshrines “Sandra Bland Act” as Law After Police Encounter

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McKinley Corbley
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Texas lawmakers have just passed the “Sandra Bland Act”: a mental health bill that addresses issues involved with the death of 28-year-old Sandra Bland two years ago.

The bill requires any Texan detainees with mental health or substance issues to immediately be given treatment. It also makes it easier for those with mental health or substance abuse problems to make bond.

Additionally, the legislation will require all Texas police officers to be given de-escalation training; and it will require independent law agencies to investigate police killings.

RELATED: Simple Checklist Leads to 82% Drop in Mental Health Patient Suicides

Though the bill was revised by lawmakers to exclude legislation requiring additional proof of arrest for fineable offenses, the bill is hailed as a step in the right direction.

The provisions concerning more warranted police interference were penned in light of Sandra Bland’s arrest, which occurred during a routine traffic stop when Bland failed to use her turn signal. The police officer’s body camera captured the escalating situation that eventually led to Bland’s arrest. Three days after she was arrested, Bland was found dead in her cell. Her death was then ruled as a suicide.

“The Sandra Bland Act will prevent traffic stops from escalating by ensuring that all law-enforcement officers receive de-escalation training for all situations as part of their basic training and continuing education,” said Democratic state Rep. Granet Coleman of Houston, who wrote and introduced the original Sandra Bland Act.

Since Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed the bill on Thursday, it is projected to go into full effect on September 1st.

Click To Share The News With Your Friends (Photo by Sandra Bland)

Bikers Escort Bullied 10-Year-old Boy to School With Dignity

By
McKinley Corbley
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After being mercilessly bullied and made fun of, Xander Rose was given a day at school that he won’t soon forget.

That’s because he was walked up to the doors of Harbourside Elementary School in Sydney, Nova Scotia on Wednesday morning with an entourage of tough looking, leather-clad bikers.

The bikers had escorted the 4th grader to school after Xander’s mother, Katie Laybolt, had requested assistance from the gang.

CHECK OUT: Bikers Stop to Help Stranded Motorcyclist Only to Find It’s ‘The Boss’

Xander has been the victim of bullying for years, with peers even going so far as to send him death threats. Despite repeated pleas for help from school administration, the intimidation didn’t stop.

She then reached out to children’s advocacy group Defenders of Children, who orchestrated the event with the bikers.

The motorcyclists met in a parking lot before picking Xander up from his house and escorting him to school on the back of one of their bikes. They even gave Xander a leather jacket of his own to symbolize his association with the crew.

As the gang walked the 10-year-old up to the school doors, onlookers applauded the striking scene.

“His family has grown, I wouldn’t even say tenfold, I’d say thousand-fold,” one of the bikers told CTV Atlantic. “My brothers in B.C. are talking about it out there. The message is getting out finally.”

Click To Share This Cool Story With Your Friends – Photo by Kyle Moore

Watch 2 Elephants Come Together in Dramatic Rescue to Save Drowning Calf

By
Good News Network
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These elephant parents weren’t about to let any harm come to their little calf after it tumbled into a wading pool.

The calf, named Hope, was drinking from the pond at the Seoul National Zoo in South Korea when it lost its balance and fell into the water.

WATCH: Dog Hailed as Hero After Bear Starts Chasing Humans

Panicked, the two adult elephants attempted to pull the youngster out with their trunks to no avail.

They then ran into the pool themselves and herded the baby out to more shallow water.

The calf trumpeted a tiny thank you in gratitude for the adult’s dramatic rescue.

(WATCH the video below)

Click To Share This Sweet Story With Your Friends

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