Dogs Dream About How Much They Love Their Humans, Says Harvard Psychologist

By

-

Oct 24, 2016

Dog owners everywhere are rejoicing over new speculation from a Harvard psychologist saying that dogs dream about their owners when they sleep.

Canines and other mammals have been shown to have similar sleep cycles to humans – a phase of deep slumber followed by REM sleep. During this time, humans typically dream about whatever it is they were focused on during the day.

When cats fall into their period of REM, their dreams usually involve such activities as hunting and chasing mice.

However Dr. Deirdre Barrett, a teacher and Clinical and Evolutionary Psychologist at Harvard Medical School, believes that pooches in particular dream about their human companions.

“Humans dream about the same things they’re interested in by day, though more visually and less logically,” Barrett told People. “There’s no reason to think animals are any different. Since dogs are generally extremely attached to their human owners, it’s likely your dog is dreaming of your face, your smell and of pleasing or annoying you.”

Click To Share This Pawesome Story With Your Friends – Photo by Pup Flix

Hamster With No Hair Gets Hand-Knit Sweater For the Winter

By

McKinley Corbley

-

Oct 24, 2016

Silky the hamster may not have the same furry coat that other critters have, but thanks to a kind animal shelter worker, she will be able to face the oncoming winter with a lovingly knitted tiny sweater.

Since the 1-year-old rodent has been hairless since birth, she has been living at the Oregon Humane Society in Portland, Oregon.

The shelter’s technician, Selene Mejia, saw Silky shivering in her cage one day and decided to crochet a sweater that would fit her little limbs.

The hamster will be available for adoption this week provided the caregiver is ready to care for her special needs.

“Silky is hairless due to a genetic mutation,” said Diana Gabaldon, OHS staffer. “While she isn’t fluffy like a normal hamster, she is just as cuddly and playful as any other hamster. She does need to be kept in a heated environment, especially during the winter, and have a higher protein diet to keep her warm.”

Click To Share This Pawesome Story With Your Friends – Photo by Oregon Humane Society

‘My son is not breathing’: Watch Heroic Cop Save Toddler’s Life

By

McKinley Corbley

-

Oct 24, 2016

When a 911 dispatcher said that a father called the police over his toddler’s lack of breathing, Officer Chase Miller wasn’t about to wait for paramedics to arrive and let a boy’s life hang in the balance.

Miller’s dash cam video shows him pulling into a KFC parking lot in Granbury, Texas where a mother is holding her son Brayden’s limp body in her arms.

The officer gently takes the boy out of her hands, lays him on the ground, and starts performing CPR. Though the mom couldn’t bear to watch, the father staid nearby to take over when Miller had to retrieve a CPR mask from his car.

MORE: School Bus Driver Calmly Rescues 20 Children From Flaming Vehicle

After three suspenseful minutes, the boy started breathing again.

He was later taken to a hospital where he was treated for high fever and seizures which had triggered the episode.

On Tuesday, Miller got to meet the boy he saved and was presented a special award by Granbury Mayor Nin Hulett.

(WATCH the video below)

Click To Share The Inspiring Story With Your Friends

Focusing on the Pleasure of Eating Makes People Choose Smaller Portions

By

McKinley Corbley

-

Oct 23, 2016

The rapid rise in portion sizes has gone hand in hand with rising rates of obesity. To curb super-sizing, governments and public health institutions have advocated portion size limits and health warnings, but they have had limited success, especially because businesses can typically extract higher profits from bigger portions.

But new research has found that people can be encouraged to choose smaller, healthier portions, without compromising on enjoyment. In their article, published in the October 2016 issue of the Journal of Marketing Research, researchers saw people choosing smaller portions of chocolate cake when they are asked to vividly imagine the multisensory pleasure (taste, smell, texture) of similar desserts.

How can focusing on the pleasure of food make people want smaller portions? When it comes to eating, pleasure is inversely related to size. It is at its maximum in the first few bites of the food. Each additional bite becomes then less enjoyable and it is the last bite which determines the overall impression of how much we enjoyed the food. When people choose portions based on value for money, or the fear of being hungry, they end up choosing one of today’s super-sized portions which are just not that enjoyable to eat toward the end.

MORE: How Negative Headlines Can Impact Your Mental and Emotional Health

Pierre Chandon, the L’Oréal Chaired Professor at INSEAD graduate business school and Yann Cornil, Assistant Professor of the School of Business at University of British Columbia, also found that unlike health warnings, this multisensory imagery does not reduce expected eating enjoyment or the willingness to pay for the food. In fact, “focusing on the pleasure of eating, rather than value for money, health, or hunger, makes people happier to pay more for less food,” said Chandon.

Cornil and Chandon conducted five different experiments using different groups such as French schoolchildren, adult Americans and young Parisian women. In the first study, 42 French schoolchildren were asked to imagine – incorporating their five senses – the pleasure of eating familiar desserts and were then asked to choose portions of brownies. They naturally chose portions of brownies that were two sizes smaller than the portions chosen by children in a control condition.

CHECK OUT: After Marrying On Her ‘Deathbed,’ This Bride Made a Miraculous Recovery After Quitting 1 Food

In another experiment, Cornil and Chandon imitated high end restaurants by describing a regular chocolate cake as smelling of “roasted coffee” with “aromas of honey and vanilla” with an “aftertaste of blackberry”. This vivid description made 190 adult Americans choose a smaller portion compared to a control condition where the cake was simply described as “chocolate cake”. The study also had a third condition, in which people were told about the calorie and fat content of each cake portion. This nutrition information also led people to choose a smaller portion, but at a cost: It reduced the amount that people were willing to pay for the cake by about $1 compared to the multisensory condition.

A third study showed that people underestimated how much they will enjoy eating small portions of chocolate brownies. They expected to enjoy small portions less than larger ones, when actually both were enjoyed equally. This mistake was eliminated by multisensory imagery, which made people better forecasters of their own future eating enjoyment.

“Having more descriptive menus or product labels that encourage customers to use their senses can lead to positive outcomes for consumer satisfaction and health, but also for profits,” said Cornil. “This could make for a more sustainable food industry, which struggles to grow in the face of today’s obesity epidemic.”

The study was based on Cornil’s PhD dissertation which was conducted at INSEAD under the mentorship of Chandon who is also the director of the INSEAD Sorbonne University Behavioural Lab. This article has implications for health authorities and a wide range of food providers, from food manufacturers and restaurants to catering companies for schools and hospitals.

(Source: Insead)

Click To Share This Tasty Story With Your Friends – Photo by FoodTravel dot com, CC

Sneaky Raccoon Steals Man’s Phone, Films The Whole Escapade (WATCH)

By

McKinley Corbley

-

Oct 23, 2016

Raccoons are known as nature’s notorious scavengers, but this is the first time we’ve heard of one stealing someone’s mobile phone.

Guy Williams, a 19-year-old student at Bellarmine University in Kentucky spotted one of the masked critters wandering around campus.

Thinking it would be fun to get some close-up footage of the animal, which he named Stanley, Williams set up his phone for the money shots.

As the raccoon cautiously approaches, he can be seen giving the cellular a sniff before nabbing it and taking off – all while filming the entire escapade.

I WAS TRYNNA VIDEO A RACCOON AND IT JUST PICKED UP MY PHONE AND TOOK OFF pic.twitter.com/sFWxdnkxbw
— Guy Williams (@ThatShamuGuy) October 12, 2016

His friend also managed to catch a side-splitting clip of his buddy chasing after the furry thief.

Stanley eventually gave up on the charade and dropped Guy’s phone in the grass, allowing him to publish the video on social media.

@ThatShamuGuy I was so shook... idk what I thought security was gonna do about it???????? pic.twitter.com/6BJZNEwkaf
— Guy Williams (@ThatShamuGuy) October 12, 2016

Click To Share This Furry Film With Your Friends

Brazil Opens Latin America’s First Sanctuary for Abused Circus Elephants

By

McKinley Corbley

-

Oct 23, 2016

This 2,800 acre plot of Brazilian land will be the first elephant sanctuary in all of Latin America.

Located in Chapada dos Guimarães, Mato Grosso, the Global Elephant Sanctuary purchased the land for $1 million so it could host up to 50 rescued circus animals.

Called Elephant Sanctuary Brazil, its first residents are Guida and Maia— both suspected to have been taken from their homeland in Thailand so they could be made to perform in carnival shows.

MORE: Ringling Bros. Parades Elephants for Final Time, Retires Them 2 Years Early

Though the sanctuary won’t be open to visitors, you can keep up with their goings-on via Facebook or the Global Elephant Sanctuary website.

Rescue Your Friends From Negativity: Click To Share – Photo by Global Elephant Sanctuary

Detecting Breast Cancer Might Now Be Easier With Underwater Imaging Tech

By

Good News Network

-

Oct 23, 2016

breast-cancer-cc-nasa-goddard-photo-and-video — A breast cancer tumor, credit NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center.

An international team comprising engineers, mathematicians and doctors has applied a technique used for detecting damage in underwater marine structures to identify cancerous cells in breast cancer histopathology images.

Their multidisciplinary breakthrough, which has the potential to automate the screening of images and improve the detection rate, has been published in leading journal, PLOS ONE.

Breast cancer is the most prevalent form of cancer for women worldwide. Current breast cancer clinical practice and treatment mainly relies on the evaluation of the disease’s prognosis using the Bloom-Richardson grading system. The necessary scoring is based on a pathologist’s visual examination of a tissue biopsy specimen under microscope, but different pathologists may assign different grades to the same specimens.

CHECK OUT: Simple Blood Test Could Detect Cancer Ten Years Before Symptoms Show

However, the advent of digital pathology and fast digital slide scanners has opened the possibility of automating the prognosis by applying image-processing methods. While this undoubtedly represents progress, image-processing methods have struggled to analyse high-grade breast cancer cells as these cells are often clustered together and have vague boundaries, which makes successful detection extremely challenging.

But the new method has seemingly overcome that task, according to Assistant Professor in Civil Engineering at Trinity College Dublin, Bidisha Ghosh. She said: “This unique research group could draw on a broad and deep knowledge base. Experts in numerical methods and image-processing liaised with medical pathologists, who were able to offer expert insight and could tell us precisely what information was of value to them. It is an excellent example of how multidisciplinary research collaborations can address important societal issues.”

Professor Joy John Mammen, Head of Department of Transfusion Medicine & Immunohaematology from the Christian Medical College, Vellore, India, said: “Detection of cancerous nuclei in high-grade breast cancer images is quite challenging and this work may be considered as a first step towards automating the prognosis.”

The proposed technique, previously used for detecting damaged surface areas on underwater marine structures such as bridge piers, off-shore wind turbine platforms and pipe-lines was applied to histopathology images of breast cells. The researchers considered the likelihood of every point in a histopathology image either being near a cell centre or a cell boundary. Using a belief propagation algorithm, the most suitable cell boundaries were then traced out.

MORE: First Ever Quadriplegic Treated With Stem Cells Regains Motor Control in His Upper Body

This technique was developed in conjunction with mathematicians in Madras Christian College, India. Lead author, Dr Maqlin Paramanandam, said: “The potential for this technology is very exciting and we are delighted that this international and inter-disciplinary team has worked so well at tackling a real bottle-neck in automating the diagnosis of breast cancer using histopathology images.”

Dr Michael O’Byrne, who also worked in University College Cork during this project, added: “Coming from a civil engineering background where most of our image-processing tools were designed to assess structural damage, it was nice to discover some cross-over applications and find areas where we could lend our expertise. We all found it particularly rewarding to contribute towards breast cancer research.”

(Source: Trinity College Dublin)

Multiply The Good: Click To Share – Photo by NASA Goddard Photo and Video, CC license

Tiny Therapy Horses Have Big Impact on Hurting Humans

By

McKinley Corbley

-

Oct 22, 2016

These horses may be small, but they’re not afraid to take on their patient’s biggest problems.

They are part of the Mini Therapy Horses nonprofit that introduces adorable, tiny trained ponies to groups and individuals that have undergone trauma. Their partnerships with American law enforcement, and children’s and veteran agencies have facilitated equine meetings with all types of troubled souls in need of comfort.

“After having just one meeting with a miniature therapy horse,” said Victoria Nodiff-Netanel, founder of Mini Therapy Horses, “individuals have been known to speak for the first time in years, smile, and tell their stories of deepest pain and tragedy.”

WATCH: Therapy Wolves Become Guides for Troubled Teens

For the last 8 years, Netanel’s team of volunteers and their equine partners have soothed over 45,000 crisis victims each year. The ponies – Black Pearl, Willow Blue, Liberty Belle, American Valor, Blue Moon, Sweet Louise, and Bluebell – are all experienced, intelligent animals that seem to have an instinctual understanding of human suffering.

Many of their heartbroken human counterparts include burn victims, veterans with PTSD, orphans, rape survivors, or hospital patients.

mini-therapy-horses-cropped-released — Photos by Mini Therapy Horses

When asked what inspired her to start the unusual therapy project, Netanel says she’s always had a passion for equestrian communication.

“I have always loved horses and prior to me becoming a competitive rider and horsewoman, I had stuffed animal horses as a small child,” Victoria told the Good News Network. ”Later in life, when my daughter left home for college, my ‘empty nest’ purchase was a miniature horse named Pearl. I taught Pearl every trick in the book and developed a passion to help others so I wanted us to do it as a team.”

Since this organization is run only on donations, you can go to their website to donate or find out more.

Quit Horsin’ Around: Click To Share This Sweet Story With Your Friends – Photos by Mini Therapy Horses

87-Year-old Rescued After 4 Days in Bathtub Thanks to Concerned Waitress

By

McKinley Corbley

-

Oct 22, 2016

Doreen Mann has been making regular visits into Tomassi’s café for the last ten years – so when she didn’t show up for her regular cup of tea and slice of cake, Sonia Congrave became worried.

As it turned out, Doreen had been taking a bath at her home in Southend when her knees gave out and she became unable to climb out.

For four days, the 87-year old drank cold tap water to stay hydrated and had only a towel to keep herself warm.

Sonia eventually called the Essex Police and asked them to check on the elderly woman’s house to make sure she was okay. The law enforcement officers heard Doreen’s cries for help and were able to pull her out of the tub to safety.

Doreen and Sonia’s close friendship has resulted in the 39-year-old waitress buying her a phone in case she ever finds herself in trouble again.

“I’m just glad she’s okay, I’m glad nothing bad happened,” Sonia says in the video below. “I think it would be nice for us all to take a bit of a time-out to remember our neighbors or remember the lady down the road who you haven’t seen in a few days and just give a knock or a phone call. Just say ‘Hey, are you alright?’”

(WATCH the video below)

Click To Share This Sweet Story With Your Friends

Internet Strangers Use Piano Fragments to Piece Together Song for Dad With Dementia

By

McKinley Corbley

-

Oct 22, 2016

Thanks to the internet community of Reddit, JD Chance will be honoring her father in a simple, but profound way that has the power to break through the fog of his dementia.

JD posted a plea for help on that website when she received a video of her 69-year-old father struggling to remember the notes of a song he had once known by heart.

“Every now and then growing up, Dad would sit down and play his song,” JD told the Good News Network. “I hadn’t heard him play it for a few years until the summer of 2015, which is the last time I’ve seen him (because I go to school 2,000 miles away from home and flights are ridiculous).”

Even though the 26-year-old healthcare student has been playing piano for 18 years, she was only able to piece together the first few bars with the rest of the tune remaining a mystery.

WATCH: Woman Surprises Stepdad With Porsche He Gave Up To Marry Her Mom

She sought help on Reddit, where there are 542 million active users, asking if anyone knew the name of the song so she could learn the rest of it for her dad.

After a few failed attempts, a user named thepmyster labeled the elusive melody as “Little Spring Song” from the Thompson’s Piano Lesson series.

“I posted it to Reddit, HOPING for just a clue. I had two or three different people give me the correct song name within 2 hours,” she recalled in an email. “It was so touching to see all of the positive feedback.”

Coincidentally, the user had only found the name of the song because they had recently discovered the books while cleaning out their attic.

JD says her father’s condition is too weak for a Skype call, but she hopes to record the song for him to watch on video while in a care facility.

(WATCH the video below for the completed song)

Click To Share This Sweet Story With Your Friends

Hundreds of Whimsical Scarecrows Line the Streets of Amazing California Town

By

Good News Network

-

Oct 22, 2016

You may have seen scarecrows erected in farmers’ fields to ward off pests, but if you run into these lifelike sculptures on a dark night in October lurking along the sidewalks in this town, you might think you are in the middle of a horror movie. On the other hand, if you see them on a sunny day you will think this is the cutest village on the California Coast.

I, alas, drove into town on a rainy night last week after suffering a flat tire on a dark stretch of highway 1 by the sea, and was immediately freaked out by the haunting, life-size figures—some covered by protective plastic bags—until street lights in the town center revealed the truth: I had stumbled upon the Cambria Scarecrow Festival, “Where Whimsy Runs Rampant”.

Half way between San Francisco and Los Angeles the eighth annual festival provides a delightful display of the imagination and community spirit hidden in two of the most charming towns along the Central Coast.

More than 540 “scarecrows” are on display this year lining the streets of these neighboring towns—nearby San Simeon joined in the fun a few years after Cambria had founded the month-long festival.

WATCH: Teen Makes Charcoal Portraits of Entire Graduating Class, Unifying Fractured School

Each year, local students, residents, and businesses construct and maintain these fanciful creatures to celebrate local creativity.

This year adds an historical flavor, since the hamlet of Cambria is also celebrating its 150th anniversary.

The 2016 blue ribbon for Best of Show went to Philip Hauser who created Betty Boop, flirting with shoppers outside an Antiques Mall.

Does this creepy scarecrow remind anyone of a Tim Burton movie?

The award for Most Lifelike by a Student artist went to Raely Barbosa, for “Beauty Briann” who is primping herself outside the Diva Day Spa, which funded the project.

Other businesses, like this restaurant, use the festival to peek interest in potential customers…

This flower goddess graces the sidewalk outside a plant nursery…

My favorites, though, were the movie characters— like Edward Scissorhands…

…And, Doc Brown, who made a reappearance this year, after winning previously for ‘Most Lifelike’—and honoring its film franchise by returning ‘Back to the Future’.

This nurse looks a little like Shirley MacClaine…

Famous paintings were also represented, like this brilliant American Gothic depiction.

‘Cecilia’ celebrates in pajamas outside Linn’s Restaurant 2277 Main Street in Cambria.

Ashton Hartley did a terrific job on this Scarecrow, Puff the dragon, sponsored by Ragged Point Inn.

This teacher is more scolding than the actual teachers in this school where their scarecrow gets an A+.

The first thing tourists see coming from Route 1 is a huge display sponsored by radio station KJUG that depicts a 20-foot-tall straw monster scaring various characters (see top photo), each one with its own story—just like the residents of this charming town.

–Photos by Cambria Scarecrows on Facebook and Good News Network

Party On, Garth! Woman and Her Dog Have Best Halloween Costume

By

McKinley Corbley

-

Oct 21, 2016

This hilariously adorable Halloween costume is better than any gun rack gift you could receive for the holidays this year.

Kate Banaszak, a former Miss Delaware contestant from Middleton, Delaware, posted a most excellent photo of her and her Irish Wolfhound posing as Garth and Wayne from cult movie hit Wayne’s World.

MORE: Dad Builds Halloween Costumes Around Wheelchairs as a Nonprofit

This is not Banaszak’s first time going all out for trick-or-treating, but it’s definitely rock and roll.

The resemblance is also uncanny – we might just start calling him Garth Albark.

Party On! Click To Share With Your Friends – Photo by Kate Banaszak

Anonymous Tip Saves Olympic Swimmer From Skin Cancer

By

McKinley Corbley

-

Oct 21, 2016

Shout out to the person that emailed the swim team doctor and told me to get my mole checked out. Good call. Very good call. ????????????????

A photo posted by uoʇɹoɥ ʞɔɐɯ (@mackhorton) on Oct 20, 2016 at 5:09pm PDT

Skin cancer is one of the most common and treatable forms of cancer in the world – but if gone unchecked, it can still be life-threatening.

That’s why Olympic swimmer Mackenzie “Mack” Horton is grateful that he has a guardian angel out there watching over him.

During the 2016 Rio de Janeiro games, someone emailed the swim team doctor and said that the 20-year-old Australian athlete should get a mole on his chest looked at.

The anonymous spectator turned out to be correct in identifying the spot as cancerous.

“Shout out to the person that emailed the swim team doctor and told me to get my mole checked out. Good call. Very good call,” he wrote, while giving the camera a thumbs up.

Horton has since undergone surgery to have the melanoma removed and is doing swimmingly.

Tell Your Friends – Click To Share

6,000 Sex Trafficking Victims Rescued Thanks to Ashton Kutcher’s Organization

By

McKinley Corbley

-

Oct 21, 2016

Ashton Kutcher may be a talented movie and television actor, but he’s also taking worldwide action in a way that not many celebrities do – he’s saving lives.

In 2008, Kutcher started an organization with his ex-wife Demi Moore called Thorn. Thorn’s mission is to eliminate the sex-trafficking and child exploitation over the internet.

Since their debut, the company has identified and rescued over 6,000 trafficking victims and captured 2,000 traffickers.

MORE: News Anchor Secretly Took $1Million Pay Cut to Save Dozens of Jobs

The Thorn Task Force is comprised of 20 tech companies that dedicate time and resources to searching the darker corners of the internet for potential danger and fraud. These brands include such big names as Facebook, Google, Twitter, Yahoo!, Snapchat, and Imgur.

“New innovations will always be adopted for both good and evil purposes,” says Jim Pitkow, Chairman of the Thorn Technical Task Force. “At Thorn, we tip the scales in favor of good by stopping exploitation and protecting our children.”

(WATCH the video below)

Spread The Positive Side Of The Internet – Click To Share

Flexible Bioglass Bandages Will Heal Injuries Like Never Before

By

Joao Freitas

-

Oct 21, 2016

Researchers of the Federal University of Sao Carlos have developed a type of flexible bioglass that is capable of regenerating tissues and speeding up healing processes like never before.

”It cures wounds in the skin, then the glass is absorbed by the body. The new glass reduces the rates of infection and eliminate bacterias” Professor Edgar Zanotto, one of the lead researchers of the project, told G1. “It’s a glass that heals – this material is an absolute breakthrough.”

MORE: Simple Blood Test Could Detect Cancer Ten Years Before Symptoms Show

“This bioactive glass chemical compound are similar to the glass of a regular window, but in different concentration of chemicals and this is what changes the reaction in the body”, explained Marina Souza, another researcher.

The bioglass is applied directly onto the skin, covering the wound. The material is able to absorb blood while regenerating the injuries. Since the glass had good results during animal testing, human trials will begin in 2017.

“The results with burning wounds are really exciting. Plus, we can use in very complex angles of the body and the glass fits like a glove,” says Marina.

Click To Share With Your Friends – Photo by Paul Chiari / EPTV

Manny Pacquiao Has Built 1,000 Homes for Poor Filipinos

By

McKinley Corbley

-

Oct 20, 2016

37-year-old eight-division world champion boxer and current Philippine Senator Manny Pacquiao paid out of pocket for 1,000 homes to be built for the poor in his hometown.

“I’m so happy giving these houses free to my constituents in the Sarangani Province from my own pocket – more than thousand families are the beneficiaries,” he posted on Facebook.

Many of the millions used to finance the housing came from his ‘Fight of the Century’ with Floyd Mayweather on May 2, 2015. Though he lost by two judges scoring it at 116–112 and the other 118–110, he still was handsomely compensated for the highly-anticipated match.

MORE: Clean Water Pours Into Flint as Rapper The Game Sends $1 Million

He has been dubbed the greatest Asian boxer, the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, and the second highest-paid athlete in 2015. While he finishes his six-year term as Senator, he plans on financing still more houses in his childhood hometown.

“I will never forget where I came from. I thank God for allowing me to help other people,” the former Congressman wrote on Twitter.

Don’t Fight: Click To Share This Story With Your Friends

Man Walking 10 Hours For Work Every Day Given Sweet Surprise From Coworkers

By

McKinley Corbley

-

Oct 20, 2016

When the Ruby Tuesday’s where Kevan Finley worked at was shut down, he wasn’t able to find another job in the area – so he continued being a cook at another branch 9 miles away from his home.

Since Kevan didn’t have a car, however, he had to walk 10 hours a day for a round trip 18-mile journey, 6 days a week.

His new co-workers at the restaurant in Mentor, Ohio didn’t find out about his strenuous trek until about three months after he had started working there.

WATCH: Simple Act of Kindness Marks His Third Day on the Job

Kevan supposedly has a sunny, cheerful attitude and never complains about his circumstances, so the staff decided to surprise him with the gift that he deserved.

The workers started driving him home while they were secretly raising money through a Go Fund Me campaign to buy the 30-year-old cook a car. In just 17 days, the restaurant raised over $8,000 for the dedicated man.

Though Kevan has already passed the state exam, he still needs to take the road test to get his license – when he does, however, the first thing he plans on doing is buying a truck with auto insurance and setting aside some money for repairs in the future.

(WATCH the video below)

Drive This Story Over To Your Friends: Click To Share – Photo by Kevan Finley

America Has More Trees Now Than It Had a Century Ago

By

McKinley Corbley

-

Oct 20, 2016

Thanks to conservation efforts and sustainable lumbering practices, America has more trees now than it has had since the 1920s.

In a report released by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, forestry has been on the up and up for some time now.

Areas consumed by wildfires have fallen by 90%. Federal, State and local governments now spend $6.4 billion annually on forest management, including $3.2 billion by the US Forest Service, which alone manages 77 million hectares of national forests and rangelands and employs 32,000 people. Recreational use on national forests and other public and private forest lands has skyrocketed along with new wildlife species since the 1900s.

America accounts for about 8% of the world’s forestry – exceeded only by Canada, Russia, and Brazil – amounting to 33% of its lands covered in 300 million hectares of forest. Most of these trees are centralized on the East Coast even though it was heavily logged in the 1600s.

However, it’s not just the United States that has more greenery than ever before – it’s the whole world.

Sustainability efforts aimed towards fighting global warming have created eco-friendly initiatives around the world – our favorites include a village in India that plants 111 fruit trees whenever a baby girl is born, New York City planting 1 million trees ahead of schedule, and an ex-NASA engineer planting 1 billion trees a year by drone.

Though there is still more conservation work to be done, the rising rates of woodland wilderness definitely offers hope for a greener future.

Don’t Leaf This Story Alone: Click To Share – Photo by Stanley Zimny, CC

Mom is Brought to Tears Over Boy’s Moment of Peace with New Service Dog

By

McKinley Corbley

-

Oct 20, 2016

Shanna Niehaus has a 5-year-old son with high-functioning autism, and – to put it simply – he has a hard time making friends because of it.

Earlier this week, however, he finally found the buddy who he’s never had – and his mom was totally overwhelmed.

4 Paws For Ability is a nonprofit that pairs service dogs with kids with autism. After two years on the waiting list, Niehaus’s son was finally introduced to his new service canine named Tornado.

“This picture captures the face of a mother who saw her child, who she can’t hug, wash, dress, snuggle and touch freely lay on his new service dog of his own free will, with a purposeful unspoken attachment,” Niehaus wrote on Facebook. “This is the face of a mom who has seen her son experience countless failed social interactions on the playground in an attempt to have a friend. Any friend.”

“This is truly magic. Words cannot explain it. Some how because of this – because of Tornado – I know everything will be okay.”

Click To Share This Emotional Story With Your Friends – Photo by 4 Paws For Ability

First Detroit Tiny House Village Lets Tenants Rent, Then Own, These Fabulous Homes

By

McKinley Corbley

-

Oct 20, 2016

There are already tiny house neighborhoods popping up around the United States to house the homeless – but this Detroit initiative will be the first where its residents can rent to own.

The nonprofit organization Cass Community Social Services is building 25 homes for singles and couples, that measure between 250 to 400 square feet. Each $40,000 architectural design is unique to itself – no two finished products look the same.

Each building will be rented for seven years. The rent is based on square footage and no one pays more than a third of their income on rent.

After seven years of renewing leases and participating in a program that includes monthly homeowner classes, financial coaching and volunteering in the neighborhood, they are given the deed for the house and the property—essentially having earned themselves a home.

WATCH: Man Builds Tiny House for Homeless Woman Sleeping in the Dirt

Since Cass built the first house in September, they expect to have six more built by the end of the year. They have already raised $800,000 out of their $1.5 million goal for the project based solely from private donations.

Half of the tenants are expected to be homeless, with the other half comprised of low-income seniors and young adults who have aged out of foster care—and since all the homeowners will be able to decide who moves into the neighborhood in the future, the community’s atmosphere is one of cooperation and support.

Click To Share The Big News With Your Friends – Photo by Cass Community Social Services