Our lives are woven with the thread of friends and family, forming a tapestry of life –especially if you’ve lived more than 89 years.
Margaret Hubl, who passed away in Nebraska last July quilted her way through life, and at her funeral friends and family could feel the creativity and care with which she lived that life.
Her purpose in quilting was to communicate love to her family. Her memorial service spoke loud and clear.
Draped over the back of the seats in the church, were more than 30 colorful quilts, each exuding the warmth and love of this seamstress, who hand crafted each one as a gift for someone special—often for special occasions, like a wedding day.
“Never did I imagine how many there were,” Hubl’s granddaughter, Christina Tollman, told TODAY. “We covered almost every single pew in that church. I never knew how many she actually made.”
How about a video game in which the goal is stillness and the survival skills are based on growing your own beans?
That’s the essence of a new game launching later this year in celebration of Henry David Thoreau’s 200th birthday. Walden, A Game gives players the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of the world famous philosopher who lived a self-reliant life for one year at Walden Pond, then wrote a beloved 1854 memoir about the experience.
The American author began his adventure by building his own one-room cabin in the summer of 1845, and that’s just what gamers will do, by following along.
Game creators at the University of Southern California’s Game Innovation Lab consulted with Thoreau experts in Massachusetts every step of the way, placing plants and animals as Thoreau would have experienced them.
Players will survive in the woods by finding food and fuel, and making shelter and clothing. At the same time, they are surrounded by the beauty of the woods and the Pond, and can learn about the flora and fauna as Thoreau did. The game follows the loose narrative of Thoreau’s first year in the woods, with each season holding its own challenges for survival and possibilities for inspiration.
As Thoreau set out to “live deliberately,” he found spiritual fulfillment within the harmony of nature’s four seasons.
The game has a subtle narrative arc, in homage to the original text, which is not a quest for the body pitted against the wilderness, but of the mind and soul living in nature over the course of a New England year. At game’s core is a stillness that will calm even the most active ’monkey mind.’
Thoreau’s work should be important to us today for many reasons —from his core environmentalism, to his fundamental questioning of the role of government in society.
“As the 200th anniversary of Thoreau’s birth approaches in July, the opportunity to relive his famous experiment in simple living in the form of an immersive game seems particularly relevant in a world dominated by concerns about our relationship to nature, technology and governments,” writes the game’s creators.
And, what a great way to introduce the book, Walden, to a whole new audience. After all, they may not be the same people who would sit down and read Thoreau’s book.
(WATCH an early release game preview below – and follow developments at waldengame.com)
A global plan to save coral reefs from possible eradication due to climate change, pollution and poor fishing practices, was launched in Bali at the February 2017 World Ocean Summit.
The initiative known as 50 Reefs is the first global plan to save the most biodiverse ecosystem on the planet. It brings together leading scientists and conservationists to develop a list of the 50 most critical coral reefs and target them for protection by catalyzing global action and investment required to prevent their extinction.
A unique philanthropic coalition of innovators in business, technology and government are supporting 50 Reefs, including Bloomberg Philanthropies with The Tiffany & Co. Foundation and The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation.
“When people think of climate change, they often think of extreme heat, severe storms, and raging wildfires. But some of the most disastrous effects of climate change are out of sight – on the ocean floor — and saving the remaining coral reefs is critical,” said Michael R. Bloomberg UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Cities and Climate Change. “Without coral reefs, we could lose up to a quarter of the world’s marine biodiversity and hundreds of millions of the world’s poorest people would lose their primary source of food and livelihoods.”
The 50 Reefs initiative builds on work already done by The Ocean Agency and the Global Change Institute at The University of Queensland, responding to what they call “this perilous moment for coral reefs.”
Their work is the subject of the 2017 Sundance Film Festival Audience Award-winning documentary, “Chasing Coral,” which will be released worldwide on Netflix. Watch the trailer below:
Coral reefs worldwide have been estimated to have a value of $1 trillion, which generates at least $300-400 billion each year in terms of food and livelihoods from tourism, fisheries and medicines, according to recent reports examined by the Smithsonian Institute. The worldwide coral conservation communications campaign aims to preserve the livelihoods and culture of reef-dependent communities all over the world.
Yum! Brands yesterday announced a new expanded parental time-off policy as part of the company’s bid to stay competitive in the corporate market, and invest in its employees.
The expanded parental time-off policy offers birth mothers at its U.S. headquarters in Louisville, Plano, Texas, and Irvine, Calif., 18 weeks of fully paid time away from work. In addition, the policy offers six weeks of fully paid “baby bonding” time away from work to fathers and partners, as well as adoptive and foster parents.
Yum! Brands, which owns KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, says workers can take advantage of the policy effective immediately.
“Engaging and attracting talent is a top priority,” said Tracy Skeans, Chief Transformation and People Officer at Yum! Brands. “This expanded parental time off and baby bonding benefit builds on our strong legacy of investing in our people and culture to fuel great results and continuously providing meaningful ways to help our employees be and contribute their best at work and at home.”
In addition to the expanded parental time-off policy, Yum! Brands recently started offering increased flexibility to corporate employees with half-day Fridays and a minimum of four weeks paid vacation plus two additional bonus weeks in an employee’s 10th, 20th or 30th year of service. The company says it also offers a range of other benefits to support working parents and families including 24/7, 365-day access to a doctor via telephone, financial support for adoption services and infertility treatments, autism support services, daycare facilities and a host of wellness programs.
A young man from Boston recently received a video camera for his birthday and decided to hit the streets to invite a homeless person to lunch to tell their story. The very first man that he met inspired Matthew so much that the youth later surprised him with a bus ticket home—bringing him back into his father’s arms.
Matthew Bilodeau’s debut episode for his YouTube show, “A Bite With…”, features Jason Stevens, a 36 year-old mechanic who decided to go to Los Angeles and follow his dream to work for a prestigious auto parts dealer.
He didn’t get the job, though, and ended up panhandling on L.A. streets
Jason told Matthew about life on the street and recalled the time he had only $7 in his pocket when he ran into another homeless man, and his dog, who looked hungry. Jason gave the man all he had—the seven dollars—sharing with those who had less.
Through listening to his story, Matthew learned that the man has a passion for cars and keeps a sketch pad handy for drawing engine designs. Before leaving for L.A., the East Texas man had worked for Ross Motorsports in Lufkin where they sell parts for recreational vehicles.
Matthew tells Good News Network he was curious to know more about the man whom he described as “kind and intelligent”. He telephoned Ross Motorsports to inquire about Jason.
“I learned that Jason left home and didn’t tell anyone — he was actually a missing person in Texas.” And there were newspaper headlines to prove it.
The former employer reported that Jason had been “a model employee.”
“Jason’s story showed me that you never know the reason why someone might be homeless. In Jason’s case, he truly wanted to make a better life for himself and find a higher paying job working on cars, only to find out that it wasn’t so easy.”
Just a few days later, 20-year-old Matthew, who recently moved from Boston, returned to the streets to find Jason—this time with a big surprise, so much more fulfilling than a free lunch.
With the help of his dad who bought the bus ticket, they presented Jason with the chance to return to his father and possibly his job.
He was so excited, exclaiming, “Dude, I get to go back to work!”
“Sending Jason home has been an unforgettable experience,” Matthew wrote via email. “There’s no better feeling in the world than seeing how happy and excited he was to see his dad and to get back to work.”
Jason made it home on Saturday February 25, and has chatted often with Matthew on Facebook. He plans on applying either at his previous job or at the Yamaha Motor Corporation in Grand Prairie.
“It’s Jason’s dream to go to school at the Universal Technical Institute to one day work on high-end cars such as Ferraris and Lamborghini’s.”
Matthew has spent the past 2 years interacting with and oftentimes making friends with the homeless around him. It wasn’t until he recently got the camera that he decided to document it. He plans to do more such interviews for his YouTube channel.
(WATCH his entertaining video—and the follow-up surprise below)
The Czech First League league game on Sunday may have ended in disaster if it weren’t for one of the team’s quick-thinking strikers saving an opposing player from choking to death.
During the first half of the 0-0 game, Bohemians 1905 goalkeeper Martin Berkovec accidentally ran smack into his teammate Daniel Krch, leaving them both injured.
Berkovec, however, was knocked unconscious and fell on his back.
While referees signaled medical officials onto the field, Slovacko striker Francis Kone didn’t hesitate jumping into action.
Kone climbed on top of Berkovec’s motionless body and pulled the goalie’s tongue out of his mouth. If Kone hadn’t acted so quickly, Berkovec would most likely have choked to death.
While Kone has received nationwide praise for his intervention, Berkovec himself took to Facebook to announce his gratitude after recovering in the hospital..
“I would like to thank Francis Kone for rescue and emergency at today’s game,” the goalkeeper said. “I’m glad for the relief and thanks again!!!”
Mr. Trash Wheel may look a little silly with his googley eyes and gaping mouth, but he has a serious job: keeping trash from entering the Baltimore Harbor.
He’s good at his job too – since his installation in May 2014, this solar-powered trash wheel and his compatriot Professor Trash Wheel have saved over 1 million pounds of trash from entering the Baltimore Harbor.
From his perch on the Jones Falls River, Mr. Trash Wheel rotates based on power drawn from the river’s current. If not enough electricity can be generated from the river alone, the wheel uses solar energy instead.
The trash that is picked up by the wheel is either sorted into groups of recyclable material, or burned to provide electricity for the city. The most common articles of litter gathered by Mr. Trash Wheel is either cigarette butts or plastic chip bags.
Officials say that most of the trash that ends up in the water is simply because of rain runoff washing away garbage overflow within the city.
Mr. Trash Wheel has been so successful – with up to 38,000 pounds of litter gathered per day since he was installed – that Professor Water Wheel was built at Harris Creek Park in Canton in December.
You can follow the two garbage machines via their Twitter or Facebook pages.
This Starline bus tour may go down in history as the best bus ride ever given in history.
Last night during the Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, Jimmy Kimmel let the crowd in on a little secret – they were all about to play a rousing prank on a bus full of tourists who would be unsuspectingly entering the Dolby Theater at any second.
When the tourists entered the theater, their faces looked flabbergasted. All while trying to take as many cell phone pictures of the celebrities as possible, the group was led to the front of the theater.
Kimmel set about introducing some of the newcomers to such celebrities as Ryan Gosling and Nicole Kidman. One couple from Chicago – who said that they were soon engaged to be married – happened to mention that Denzel Washington was their favorite actor.
In honor of the special occasion, Denzel decided to simply marry the couple on the spot.
Thanks to a program that works to build healthier peaceful international relationships, 16 Palestinian children are now able to hear after being given cochlear implants by Israeli doctors.
The Peres Center For Peace coordinated the 16 successful surgeries over the course of the last year at the Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital. Six of the surgeries occurred last month in “marathon style” back-to-back operations.
Though the surgery may be a fairly common operation in more advanced countries, it is not yet as accessible in developing countries.
“This is an amazing project that gives these children the opportunity to step out of their world of silence and live their lives normally and fully,” the project’s leading surgeon Dr. Michal Kaufmann told YNet News.
“These children couldn’t speak prior to the surgery, they were bereft of any supporting environment, uncommunicative. The surgery opened up their world, the ability to communicate and spread their wings… We are happy to have been able to contribute to such a dramatic change in their lives.”
Can You Hear The Love Tonight? Click To Share(Photo by ReSurge International, CC)
The feline fondly dubbed as SWAT Cat has been visiting the Boston Police Department for 3 years – but when she disappeared for a few months, the boys in blue decided to give her a more permanent home.
Department members in the Roxbury neighborhood built an elaborate condo earlier this week for their furry friend to “relax in while visiting the police department.”
SWAT Cat has reportedly since moved into the studio – and she’s loving it.
“Officer Jamie Pietroski, a 15-year veteran of the Boston Police Department, stayed late after work for several nights painstakingly preparing SWAT Cat’s new home,” the department’s website read.
Click To Share The Pawesome Story With Your Friends – Or, (Photo by the Boston Police Department)
The endangered Florida panther is improving its chances of survival every day—with a little help from their government friends.
The estimated number of endangered Florida panthers roaming in their breeding territory south of the Caloosahatchee River has just been updated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). According to the February 2017 report on conservation and recovery efforts, the adult and subadult Florida panther population has seen a 27% increase since 2014—and the numbers do not include kittens still dependent on their mothers.
In the 1970s and 1980s, it was estimated only 20–30 panthers remained in Florida, while today there are 230.
The report emphasizes both the importance and difficulty in obtaining accurate panther population estimates. Currently, Florida scientists are evaluating several methods to refine their ability to estimate the panther population size, including the use of trail cameras and panther road mortality data.
“This latest Florida panther population estimate is good news, an indication that conservation efforts are on track in helping recover this endangered animal,” said Kipp Frohlich, FWC’s Deputy Director for the Division of Habitat and Species Conservation.
Larry Williams, the USFWS’s Florida State Supervisor of Ecological Services, believes the new numbers indicate things are trending in the right direction – due in part, to a strong partnership with the State of Florida.
“Continued recovery will require a long-term concerted effort by many partners committed to finding common sense solutions that balance many different and competing interests, yet are grounded in a shared purpose of conserving the lands that support Florida’s native wildlife and its ranching heritage,” Williams said.
The current numbers, developed jointly by scientists in the two agencies, use annual counts of panthers primarily conducted on public lands. Density of panthers on these areas is then multiplied across the larger area that makes up the primary breeding range in south Florida.
The public is encouraged to report sightings of panthers or their tracks, and send any photos, to My FWC to help with panther research and management in areas like the cattle ranches, forests and farms west of Lake Okeechobee. Biologists are especially interested in pictures of panthers north of the Caloosahatchee River, which runs from Lake Okeechobee to Fort Myers.
Click To Share The News With Your Friends(Photo by Cary Lee, CC)
Almost all of the train stations in India will soon be powered by solar panels.
While announcing the Union Budget for the 2017–2018, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley declared plans to power over 7,000 Indian railway stations with solar energy.
The project has already started implementing the renewable energy system at 300 different stations.
The government also plans on expanding their solar reach beyond the initial goal set by the Solar Mission of the Indian Railways, decreasing further their dependence on fossil fuels.
This initiative is not India’s first campaign for sustainability either; the nation was hailed after implementing the first airport in the world powered entirely by solar energy.
In order to encourage people to adopt, this Hungarian brewery is giving away free crates of personalized beer to anyone who adopts one of seven chosen dogs from the local animal shelter.
The owner of the Mad Scientist brewery, Tamas Szilagyi, is a big fan of the animals at the Noe Animal Sanctuary in Budapest.
According to the Associated Press, the sanctuary has housed thousands of injured and abused animals for over 25 years. Since their special campaign with the brewery began, the two organizations have been praised worldwide.
“We wanted to draw people’s attention, that sanctuary dogs are not worse (than other dogs), they are not waste you throw out,” Szilagyi told the Associated Press.
(WATCH the video below)
Click To Share The Pawesome News –Photo – Global News Video
These two adorable people with Down syndrome have become a couple that defied all odds.
Maryanne and Tommy Pilling have been together for more than two decades, but when they first met, people “doubted they would last”, according to Inside Edition.
Recently, the father-daughter duo became an internet sensation after Kevin posted a video of himself and Bayleigh singing “If You’re Happy and You Know It” using sign language.
The two have other activities they love to do, like reading books, but they reportedly always have fun singing their little tunes together.
(WATCH the video below)
Click To Share The Sweet Story With Your Friends – Photo by Kevin Nadrowski
One of the top North America sandwich restaurant franchises, Quiznos, aims to establish itself as a fast-food category leader in animal welfare practices.
They just announced plans to adopt standards for their supply chain using Global Animal Partnership (GAP) guidelines for the raising and treatment of chickens.
GAP standards are the current industry gold star in chicken welfare policy. They include assessments of animal welfare both on-farm and during transport—how much space and light is given, and other environmental considerations. Quiznos is committed to ensuring that by 2024, 100% of their chicken supply will be GAP certified, with the most ethical standards attainable throughout processing.
“Quiznos has long worked with animal protection organizations like The Humane Society of the United States to address the important matter of animal welfare in our supply chain,” said Susan Lintonsmith, Quiznos CEO.
In 2016, the brand announced plans to phase in the exclusive use of cage-free eggs by 2025.
“Quiznos has been a leader in animal welfare and we believe their commitment will inspire other brands to follow suit in the coming months,” said Joyana Hunt, investor engagement specialist at The Humane Society of the United States.
Click To Share This Tasty Story With Your Friends(Photo by Logos Photography, CC)
When Todd Steinkamp was told that his car wouldn’t make it all the way to a Wisconsin funeral he wanted to attend, he believed it was the beginning of a terrible day—but he hadn’t yet met the man who would turn it around.
The driver was forced to pull his vehicle into the closest auto repair shop after it started making a dreadful grinding sound midway through his route from Iowa.
The mechanic, Glenn Geib, told Todd that his car would not be able to travel the remaining 70-mile distance to the memorial service.
Things looked bleak, but after seeing Todd’s reaction, Glenn offered up his own wheels as a substitute.
“I must have looked pretty stressed-out at this time because Glenn then reached into his pocket, pulled out the keys to HIS own vehicle and said ‘Take my truck. Fill it up with gas, don’t turn on the emergency lights and get going’,” wrote Todd on Facebook.
Not only was the younger man able to make it to his funeral, but his would-be terrible day was totally turned around.
“We sat and talked for a while when I got back as I thanked him and he told me more about himself. The 74 year-old mechanic with a grip of steel turned a terrible day into a good one with a great lesson… ‘just be kind and help if you can’.”
Drive This Story To Your Friends: Click To Share (Photos by Todd Steinkamp)
These boys in blue are doing their duty to protect and serve the community by playing facing off with the city’s youth – facing off over a chess board, that is.
The St. Louis Police Department has partnered with the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis, and St. Louis public schools in order to promote positive relationships within the community.
The St. Louis CHESS Cops – or “Cops Helping Enhance Student Skills” – are a team of nine different police officers who have been certified chess instructors. The group then teaches classes for inner-city youth, which serve to educate them on critical thinking skills, planning, on logic.
The program also comes at a time when relationships between Missouri law enforcement and inner-city communities are strained – especially since the discourse in Ferguson and Florissant a few years previously.
When the CHESS cops held their first kick-off event yesterday at Gateway Middle School, however, the results were magical.
“Our officers are so excited to be a part of this program,” said Lieutenant Perri Johnson of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. “It is critical for law enforcement to establish positive relationships with members of the St. Louis community early on, and this program helps us do just that.”
“Saint Louis CHESS Cops is a program that truly exhibits the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis’s positive involvement in the community and current affairs,” said Tony Rich, CCSCSL Executive Director. “It is a prime example of how chess can teach fundamental lessons, build constructive relationships, and ultimately make a difference in the lives of young people.”
Check On Your Friends: Click To Share(Photos by Austin Fuller, CCSCSL)
One of the resident players is 5-year-old Jasiri the giraffe. His legs may be long, but he can still handle his own out on the field with the senior giraffes of the herd.
Some of the lion cubs enjoy participating in a match or two as well.
Saudi Arabia, the nation ranked as one of the world’s top crude oil exporters, has launched a $50 billion initiative to phase out fossil fuels in favor of renewably energy.
The country plans on harnessing 10 gigawatts of renewable energy by 2023 by constructing several wind and solar plants throughout the nation. Saudi Arabia expects to complete the initiative with 700 gigawatts.
The initiative will not only be economically beneficial for the nation’s residents, but will also help steer Saudi Arabia’s main federal income away from crude oil as well as help the country meet worldwide sustainable energy goals.
“This marks the starting point of a long and sustained program of renewable energy deployment in Saudi Arabia that will not only diversify our power mix but also catalyze economic development,” Khalid Al-Falih, the nation’s energy minister, said in the statement.
Click To Share The Story With Your Friends(Photo by D.H. Parks, CC)
