Farm Dust Prevents Child Allergies, Could Lead to Asthma Vaccine

By

-

Sep 4, 2015

The secret to an effective allergy and asthma vaccine may be down on the farm, swirling in the dust that farmers kick up while plowing and planting.

Scientists have long known that people who grew up on farms tend to have far fewer issues with allergies and asthma than people who didn’t.

Researchers at Ghent University in Belgium set out to discover why.

Asthma Could Be Cured Within 5 Years With This New Breakthrough

They found that when a person breathes in farm dust, their body produces a protein called A20. The researchers wrote that the protein “makes the mucous membrane inside the respiratory tracts react less severely to allergens such as house dust mite.”

The scientists discovered that if they deactivated the protein in mice, the rodents weren’t able to fight off an allergic or asthmatic reaction.

The researchers also examined 2,000 people who grew up on farms, where exposure to farm dust would have produced A20 in their bodies. Most didn’t suffer from asthma or allergies, but those who did showed deficiencies of the protein.

Mounting Research Shows Deadly Peanut Allergies Are Preventable — And Even Reversible

The scientists say their discoveries will still require years of research, but put them on the “right track” toward isolating the chemical in farm dust the triggers the protein and turning it into a workable vaccine against allergies and asthma.

The study was published in the journal Science.

(READ more at CTV News) — Photo by David Joyce, CC

Farm This Story Out To Your Friends, Share It…

Big Cats Have “Obsession” for Calvin Klein Cologne–Helps Conservationists

By

Terry Turner

-

Sep 4, 2015

Jaguar CC Kali the destroyer — Kali the Destroyer, CC license

The jury’s still out on whether cologne will attract a romantic partner, but this one will lure a jaguar out of the brush so you can take pictures of it.

Biologists studying the big cats in Guatemalan rain forests had trouble photographing the stealthy predators, until they turned to Calvin Klein’s “Obsession for Men.”

Turns out, it’s like catnip, only pricier — $55 for four ounces.

Wild Baby Kangaroo Still Comes Home to Hug His Teddy Bear After Release

Since jaguars are able to smell it a half mile away, the investment pays off. The cats come running and stick around, rubbing up against the rocks and wildlife cameras spritzed with the scent long enough for researchers to get detailed photos of the cats.

Their pictures give Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) biologists a more precise count on the exact number of jaguars living in the 8,100 square mile Maya Biosphere Reserve. Their research also helps spur support for conservation.

The WCS discovered the animals’ obsession with Obsession during an experiment at the Society’s Bronx Zoo in New York. Pat Thomas, the zoo’s general curator, tested 24 fragrances on big cats to see which ones would keep their curiosity the longest.

Largest Ever Lion Airlift to Send 33 Circus Cats to New Home in Africa

Obsession for Men was the clear winner, holding a cheetah’s attention for more than 11 minutes — longer than they take to eat a meal.

There might even be some truth in those ads touting a cologne’s animal attraction —researchers have even gotten rare photos of the mysterious jaguars’ mating rituals.

(READ more at ABC News) — Photo: Kali the destroyer, CC

Give Your Friends A Whiff Of This Story, Share It…

New Goal for German Football Stars: Helping Refugees

By

Terry Turner

-

Sep 4, 2015

Some of the fiercest competition among German football clubs right now is happening off the field.

A number of teams are trying to outdo one another—in the best possible way—by extending kindness and help to refugees.

Germany, along with Iceland, has been the most welcoming of EU nations as the crisis in Syria has led to a flood of exiles seeking safety in Europe.

After Wedding, Instead of Fancy Meal Couple Serves 4000 Syrian Refugees

Eight-time national champion Borussia Dortmund, Germany’s third largest team, invited 220 refugees to one of their games to help take their mind off their misery. The team also launched an initiative to help refugees relocate to Germany.

Cologne has supported refugee projects for years while other teams, including Leverkusen, Hannover, and Hoffenheim, have started programs to collect clothing donations, provide tutoring, and programs to help children adapt to life in Germany.

Last year, teams and fans launched #RefugeesWelcome on social media to showcase German hospitality, waving welcoming banners in stadiums across the country.

Football fans in Germany said #RefugeesWelcome this weekend, RT if you think the UK should step up to the mark. pic.twitter.com/dOZnND9XOc
— #RefugeesWelcome EFL (@RefugeesEFL) September 3, 2015

“People come here thinking it’s all beautiful. You get treated with a lot of respect and there are values,” Syrian refugee Ghaith Al Kalla told the Wall Street Journal. “But living on, it’s just as hard as anywhere.”

European football stars carry a lot of clout and their pleas on behalf of refugees can move fans into action. Teams have been taking advantage of that with powerful videos.

The German national team released one featuring players holding up signs in support of “openness, tolerance, support, respect, and fair play” towards refugees.

Global Outpouring for Refugee Father and Child Selling Pens on Street

Schalke star Gerald Asamoah is featured in another video calling on fans to help refugees.

“We have to stand up,” Asamoah says in the video below, “Otherwise we achieve nothing.”

Later, he and the team dramatically call on the viewers — as they stare into the camera — to stand up alongside them, in support of refugees.

Navajo Lady Delivers Water 75 Miles Every Day to Homes Without Plumbing

Germany has a highly efficient system for getting migrants into shelters, caring for their necessities, and relocating them across the country. The country has taken in 40% of the EU’s 334,080 requests for asylum in the first five months of 2015.

(WATCH the Schalke team video below and READ more at Deutsche Welle) Photo: @RefugeesEFL, Twitter —Story tip, Craig Withers

#standup #standupifyoureroyalblue #standupifyourehuman https://t.co/ZccbsSr3ut
— FC Schalke 04 (@s04_en) September 1, 2015

Kick This Good News Over To Your Friends (click below)….

Healthy Flavored Popcorn: 5 Easy Variations You Can Make in a Pan

By

Maria Rodale

-

Sep 4, 2015

Here’s a delicious riddle for you: what is gluten-free, vegetarian (vegan if you skip the butter), easy to make from scratch, healthy and the perfect accompaniment to melted butter?

POPCORN!

As more and more “harrowing” news surfaces about the perils of microwave popcorn, we want to show you just how easy it is to make your own—no fancy popcorn maker needed. Just get out a deep pan with a lid, follow these simple seasoning suggestions, and make your own. You will never look back.

To Cook:

½ cup organic popcorn
¼ cup organic olive oil or coconut oil

Start with a large, deep pan with a lid. Bigger is always better because popcorn needs room to explode. My kids suspect that a better-quality pan with a thicker bottom is also key.

Place the oil and popcorn in the pan and turn the stove burner to high. Don’t skimp on the oil, because it’s necessary to make the popcorn beautiful and delicious.

Editors Note: Use a little extra oil to be on the safe side. I put the kernels in the measuring cup with the oil to make sure they were coated, then added a little extra. Every single kernel popped and nothing was burnt!

Put the lid on. I repeat, put the lid on. Keep the heat on high.

You should start to hear popping after a minute or two. It will quickly turn into a crescendo of popping, kind of like the grand finale at a fireworks show. At that point, quickly turn the heat down to medium low. (If you’re using an electric stove, you should turn it down even before the crescendo, since electric heat cools off slower than gas heat).

When the popcorn popping starts to slow, turn off the heat. But let the pan sit on the burner and continue to pop. (UNLESS you smell burning. Then, remove it immediately).

Seasonings:

Classic with butter and salt: Melt as much butter as you like—more is always better and appreciated, not less. Melt it in the microwave or on the stove. Add it to the popcorn. Stir. Now, this is important, always put the melted butter on before the salt; that way the salt sticks to the popcorn instead of going to the bottom of the bowl. Salt to taste.

Cheesy: Melt some butter (or use olive oil if you prefer) and toss into your popcorn. Add grated Romano cheese to your desired level of cheesiness

Spicy: Melt some butter and toss it into the popcorn. Sprinkle some cayenne pepper, perhaps a bit of paprika. For added kick, use a smoked salt. If you are unsure of the combination, test it on a small batch and then roll it out to the larger bowl.

Herbal: Add some melted butter or olive oil, and then some fresh chopped herbs like parsley, basil, rosemary and dill. You can also add some Romano cheese or even a bit of truffle oil. Salt and pepper to taste. (If you don’t have fresh herbs, try dried). =

Sweet: For dessert, melt some butter, pour and toss the popcorn in it and then add some sugar or maple sugar. If you prefer your sugar less granular, add it to the butter when it’s melting. Then it becomes caramelized.

MORE: The Perfect Healthy Breakfasts When You’re in a Hurry

Photo by Sarah (Rosenau) Korf, Ervins Strauhmanis, Toshiyuki IMAI, CC

Maria Rodale is the CEO and Chairman of Rodale Inc. She is an activist and a businesswoman who has made promoting the benefits of an organic lifestyle both her personal mission and her business.

Major Milestone For Church Group That’s Built 500 Homes In Haiti

By

McKinley Corbley

-

Sep 4, 2015

Five years is a long time to go without a home.

While many of us have forgotten about the earthquake that devastated Haiti in 2010, one organization has spent half a decade continuously helping hundreds of families to rebuild.

Now, Mission Of Hope is celebrating a huge milestone: they’ve just built their 500th permanent home for families affected by the quake.

The Christian missionary organization, which provides education and hospice care to the people of Haiti, partnered with Hope For Haiti and the Haitian government to build the homes in Leveque. The project, titled Blue To Block, aims to provide not only stable homes, but a strong foundation for mental and spiritual growth.

Church Installs 6 Colorful Micro Homes In First Nashville Village For Homeless

The last ten houses were presented to families during a festive moving-in ceremony with balloons and a celebration to bless their new home.

“Our vision from the first home built has been to provide those who lost their homes with a quality, cost efficient Haitian home that will not only provide a place to live but a place to thrive,” says Mission Of Hope President Brad Johnson.

Each house includes three rooms, a small plot of land for farming, a detached bathroom, two fruit trees, access to education, a church, water, and training in agriculture–each built for a cost of $6,000.

Click Here To Read More Inspiring News About Christians

Since their outreach started in 1998, Mission Of Hope has made other kinds of progress in the community as well: between specially housing 150 hearing-impaired families, educating 6,000 kids in school, and providing over 91,000 individual nutritious meals each day, Leveque has become one of the most advanced permanent settlements in Haiti since the earthquake in 2010.

“Our nutrition program started as a result of our education initiative,” says the Mission Of Hope website. “The children who were not properly nourished were having a hard time concentrating and learning in school. We quickly realized there was a problem – kids were fainting in the classrooms because they were hungry.”

College French Students Make Their Own Storybooks For Poor Kids In Haiti

With a lot of their meals coming from locally-grown farmers, Mission Of Hope has made sure that all of their food is agriculturally sustainable, as well as healthy, for young learners.

If you would like to see how you can help Mission Of Hope’s progress, you can go to their website, MohHaiti.org and either make a donation, volunteer, or become a North American Church Advancement Partner.

Share This Great News With Your Friends… (below)

Watch The Reactions of People Finding Out They Won the Lottery

By

Good News Network

-

Sep 3, 2015

Are you a believer in Law of Attraction?

If so, watch this video and practice feeling the emotion you would have if you won the lottery.

Shock, tears, jumping, hugging… Who knows, you may attract a little luck yourself.

Five Percent of Iceland’s Population Volunteer to Take in Syrian Refugees

By

Terry Turner

-

Sep 3, 2015

Iceland may be cold most of the year, but it’s full of warm hearts.

After the government said it would take in only 50 refugees from Syria, 16,000 Icelanders volunteered to open their homes for more refugees. That’s five percent of the country’s population.

Global Outpouring for Refugee Father and Child Selling Pens on Street

The crisis in Syria has caused a flood of refugees into Europe, including more than a thousand unaccompanied children. Iceland, along with all EU countries, are being called upon to assist with the massive influx.

Not many Icelanders, though, thought their government’s offer was good enough.

In response to the nation’s meager welcoming, author and professor Bryndis Bjorgvinsdottir set up a Facebook page. More than 10,000 people signed up in the first 24 hours, and the volunteers keep coming.

“I’m a single mother with a 6-year-old son,” Hekla Stefansdottir posted to the page. “We can take a child in need. We have clothes, a bed, toys and everything a child needs.”

She even offered to pay for the child’s plane ticket.

The outpouring has been so fast and overwhelming, Iceland’s Welfare Minister, Eyglo Hardardottir, now says the government is rethinking its position and may be willing to accept more Syrian refugees.

(READ more at The Telegraph) — Photos: Ronile, CC; UKEAStw, CC; Óli Gneisti, CC

Show Some Hospitality To Your Friends… (Share it below)

Construction Workers Left a Message in The Sky For Little Girl in Hospital

By

Good News Network

-

Sep 3, 2015

Every day, a two-year-old and her mother look out of the hospital room window to catch a glimpse of the creation scene across the street.

In contrast to the gray medical gear stacked in their room, the view outside is a constant display of cranes and trucks, and people in brightly colored hard hats as construction workers continue to erect a new building.

Vivian Keith and her mom loved to start their mornings by waving at the construction workers, and, of course, the men happily wave back.

Strangers Show Up on Elderly Man’s Roof, Restore More Than Just Shingles

As the building climbed higher and higher, ironworkers Travis Barnes and Greg Combs saw a lot of kids at the Saint Louis, Missouri, children’s hospital watching from the windows, but Vivian was special — waving to the little girl with leukemia became part of their morning routine.

One day, the Keith family looked out the window to see a message from Barnes and Combs to Vivian scrawled on one of the girders.

SEE More Heartwarming Stories from Hospitals

From the creation of a building came a bridge–to Vivian and her family.

(WATCH the KDSK News video) Photo: KDSK video – Story tip from Rae Hunt

Build A Bridge To Your Friends… (Share It below)

Workers Salute a “Brother’s” Funeral With Epic Machine Display

By

Terry Turner

-

Sep 3, 2015

It was a powerful send off for a man who kept the electrical power flowing and the lights on in Peterborough, Ontario.

“Big Ed” Spoelstra was a lineman for the local utility company, going out in all types of weather to repair downed power lines for 20 years. When he passed away last month at age 69, his fellow linemen gave him a hero’s salute.

Strangers Create MACK-nificent Funeral Procession For Boy Who Loved Trucks

Like an arch of swords above the procession of a fallen soldier or a salute of spray from fireboats for a returning ship, Peterborough linemen lined “Big Ed’s” funeral procession route with the arms of their bucket trucks, saluting him as he passed by one last time.

Olive Cedar Photography included several photos of the salute on their Facebook page.

The linemen at Peterborough Utilities paid respect to co-worker and friend this week. RIP Ed Spoelstra.
Posted by Olive Cedar Photography on Friday, August 28, 2015

(READ the story at PTBO Canada) Photo: Olive Cedar Photography — Story tip from Anne Corke

Lift This Story To Your Friends… (Share It)

We Can’t Even Handle This Boy’s Cute Reaction To Becoming A Big Brother (WATCH)

By

Good News Network

-

Sep 3, 2015

The accent, the offer to share his bed, the wonder….it’s almost too much cuteness to handle.

When mom-to-be Sarah Bromby handed her son a set of sonogram photos, the little boy assumed they were photos of him.

Surprise! That’s your big brother.

“He’s in there right now?”

Enjoy his reaction as the truth sinks in…

(WATCH the video below)

Too Cute Not to Share… (click below)

In Tribute to Wayne Dyer, His Movie “The Shift” Is Free Online This Week

By

Terry Turner

-

Sep 3, 2015

Dr. Wayne Dyer’s first feature film is being given away free this week in memory of the man many have called “The Father of Motivation,” who died on August 30.

Dyer, himself, frequently gave away free copies of the 2009 movie “The Shift” as something of a business card to people he’d meet in airports and hotels. The author of Your Erroneous Zones, and more than 40 other books wanted people to see the film to reap what his publisher says are the “benefits of learning to go from Ambition to Meaning in their life.”

6 Quick Ways to Engage Your Endorphins and Lift Your Spirits

Dyer’s longtime publisher, Hay House, is making the film available FREE online for a limited time. It features Dyer, along with Michael DeLuise and Portia de Rossi.

Dyer produced a second film in 2012, “My Greatest Teacher,” which recounts the epiphany he had at his father’s grave site exactly 41 years to the day before he died. That day changed his life and launched his writing and motivational career. The film is also available for free to watch online until September 15.

(WATCH the trailer below and SEE Dr. Wayne Dyer’s film The Shift) – Photo: The Shift

Maybe Your Friends Would Like to See This Movie… Share it (below)

Maine Great-Grandmother Still Driving the Ambulance as EMT Volunteer

By

Sheila Key

-

Sep 3, 2015

As a joke, a fire department in Maine presented its oldest EMT with a walking stick a few years back. She hobbled off the stage, playing it for laughs.

That’s because this 87-year-old volunteer at the Liberty Fire Department could probably run circles around half the seniors in town.

Edna Mitchell has been driving an ambulance for 37 years now, beginning every morning with a 20-minute workout.

At 92, She Feels Young Again, Takes Joy Ride in Fave WWII Fighter Plane (WATCH)

She loves her work and just wants to help people in their time of need.

“I don’t drink, smoke or swear,” she told Bangor Daily News, when asked about her secret to longevity. “I used to say I don’t have any fun, but I do.”

Indeed, she calls volunteering for the fire department her “social life.”

Liberty Fire Chief Bill Gillespie has high praise for the octogenarian.

“People have a sense of relief to know that Edna is there,” Gillespie told Bangor Daily News. “There’s been a lot of times Liberty Ambulance wouldn’t have rolled out the doors if it wasn’t for Edna.”

Mitchell first became interested in medical care during World War II, when, as a high-school freshman, she helped with a first-aid class. At age 50, she left a long career in teaching to earn her Emergency Medical Technician’s certification and has been driving an ambulance ever since.

Mitchell’s license is up for renewal next year, and she figures it may be time to retire.

Unlikely Friendship Between Toddler and WWII Vet Will Melt Your Heart

She is leaving a legacy, though. Two of Mitchell’s granddaughters and one great-granddaughter used to roll out with her on her rounds. Now all three have grown up to be EMTs, as well.

(WATCH the video below from WCSH-TV or READ more from Bangor Daily News) — Photos: WCSH-TV Video

Inspire Your Grandmother… (Share below)

Largest Ever Lion Airlift to Send 33 Circus Cats to New Home in Africa

By

Terry Turner

-

Sep 2, 2015

Thirty-three lions are headed home on “Lion Air” to Africa after being freed from circuses in South America.

Animal Defenders International (ADI) worked with police in Colombia and Peru — where animal acts are now illegal — to shut down ten circuses, freeing the big cats along with bears, monkeys, a puma, and other animals, a total of 90 animals in all.

Finding them a new home was quite a challenge, as many of the lions had never lived in the wild and therefore had not developed critical survival skills. Some have been de-clawed, have broken teeth, and others are old.

Fortunately, the 12,000-acre Emoya Big Cat Sanctuary in South Africa’s Limpopo province is perfect for lions in this condition.

It’s not open to the public and specializes in taking care of big cats who can’t take care of themselves. The sanctuary is already home to eight rescued lions and tigers in large acreage habitats of pristine African bush.

“The climate and environment are perfect for them,” said ADI President Jan Creamer. “When we visited Emoya Big Cat Sanctuary we knew this is a dream come true for ADI and, more importantly, the lions.”

reunite_Kiara_with_cubs ADI — Photos courtesy of ADI

ADI is raising $600,000 to charter a 747 to transport the lions and a veterinary team to South Africa. It promises to be the largest animal airlift of its kind.

The flight isn’t planned to leave until October. In the meantime, the lions are getting medical treatment and other care to heal them from years in captivity and prepare them for the wide open spaces of their new home.

“Seeing these lions go home to where they truly belong will be a testament to the commitment of wildlife officials and the governments in Peru and Colombia,” said Creamer

Pounce On The Chance To Share This With Your Friends…

Cop, Skip, and Jump–WATCH This Officer’s Amazing Double Dutch Skills

By

Terry Turner

-

Sep 2, 2015

Police Corporal Alan Jones said he had never tried Double-Dutch rope jumping, but a double-dare got him to give it a try.

He was a natural, despite being weighed down with full gear and a vest, jumping with the ease of a ten-year-old.

The video of Corporal Jones jumping twin ropes at the church community event in Prince George’s County, Maryland quickly made the rounds on social media.

Watching the video, it’s hard to believe it was his first time.

8 Stories of Cops Being Absolutely Awesome in 2015

Turns out, Corporal Jones skips rope for aerobic training and, as a community policing officer, plays the occasional pickup basketball game with people in the neighborhood.

“I’ve always found that people get a kick out of a police officer if they’re just a little more human,” Officer Jones told WUSA News.

(WATCH the video below from WUSA) – Photo: WUSA video

Pass it On!… (below)

Navajo Lady Delivers Water 75 Miles Every Day to Homes Without Plumbing

By

Terry Turner

-

Sep 2, 2015

The Navajo call Darlene Arviso “the water lady,” because for six years she’s delivered this liquid luxury to families in 250 homes that lack indoor plumbing.

Arviso fills two 55-gallon blue barrels outside each home, driving across 75 miles of bumpy, unpaved roads five days every week to do it.

CHECK Out: Global Outpouring for Refugee Father and Child Selling Pens on Street

When the barrels are topped off, she’ll fill any other containers they have, from recycled pickle buckets to empty soda bottles.

She’s been the only driver for the St. Bonaventure Indian Mission since it started the water deliveries of water pumped from its on-site well in 2009.

The Navajo reservation in western New Mexico has been hit hard by the drought in the American west; years of uranium mining has used up much of the groundwater and roughly 15,000 people have no running water.

MORE: Teen’s Simple Question Saves a Man’s Life, Baby Is Named After Him

“You know what we do?” Georgianna Johnson, one of the people on the route, told NPR News. “‘The water truck’s coming! Get the buckets ready!’ We get all happy. Today’s the day I’m going to take a bath.”

Arviso fills the buckets, twice per month for each family, from a big, yellow tanker truck.

Good news is finally coming to the reservation, after the Christian Mission contacted nonprofit DigDeep, which was able to find clean water 1,800 feet below the surface. In the spring it will begin digging a well, and it hoped to raise enough money to pipe the water to people’s homes.

After a television segment about the lack of water was broadcast on CBS Sunday Morning two weeks ago, more than $661,000 was donated to DigDeep, giving the organization the money they need to begin piping the water into homes.

NICE: Lawyer Bought His Own Fire Truck and is Out Fighting Wildfires

Recently, the website TakePart.com and DigDeep surprised Arviso with 3,000 messages of thanks, honoring her for her commitment to the deliveries. She was surprised, but says she can’t imagine retiring.

“I can’t,” Arviso told the New York Times. “If I’m not here, who’s going to bring these people their water? Right now, I’m all they’ve got.”

(WATCH the video below) — Photos: DigDeep Water video

Let Your Friends Drink In the Goodness, Share It…

This Cat Does Not Give a %#@! That You Installed A Cat Door

By

Good News Network

-

Sep 2, 2015

It’s kind of like when you spend hours building your kid a dream house or a jungle gym, and they just want to sit in the box and pretend it’s a spaceship.

YouTube user Philo Cat put in a ton of time on this cat door, but the feline, named Philo, was not very impressed.

Watch the little guy make his point—in the smug way only a cat can—in the video above.

Photo (homepage) by Infomastern, CC

Share This Story With Your Most Fickle Followers…

Sleep it Off! Afternoon Naps Can Lower Blood Pressure

By

Terry Turner

-

Sep 2, 2015

Stressed out about high blood pressure?

No big deal, just sleep it off.

A new study says afternoon naps can lower blood pressure, reduce the chance of a stroke or heart attack, and decrease the number of drugs people have to take to control hypertension.

The researchers also noticed the longer you snooze, the better the effects are.

Middle-Agers Are Fending Off Dementia With Healthy Living, Says Study

Dr Manolis Kallistratos, a cardiologist at Asklepieion Voula General Hospital in Athens, Greece, led the research team that looked at 200 men and 186 women with arterial hypertension.

The subjects were evaluated based on how many minutes they slept in the middle of the day along with a host of other medical and lifestyle conditions as they relate to high blood pressure.

The results found that patients who took naps had an average blood pressure, over a 24-hour period, that was 5% lower than those who didn’t. That may not sound like much, but the doctors measured less stress on the hearts of patients as a result.

Scientists Find Way to Turn Cancer Back Into Healthy Tissue in Lab

“Midday sleepers had greater dips in blood pressure while sleeping at night which (also) is associated with better health outcomes,” Dr. Kallistratos said.

He presented his study this week at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in London, UK.

(READ more at United Press International) Photo by Michael Nutt, CC

Wake Up And Share This With Your Friends…

Whoah! Swiss Army Airlifts Tons of Water To Rescue 20,000 Cows

By

Sheila Key

-

Sep 2, 2015

They hauled water ‘til the cows came home.

The Swiss Army recently wrapped up a massive month-long effort to airlift tons of water to thirsty cows—some 20,000 of them—grazing high up in the Alps.

The cows, who each require between 25 to 40 gallons of water a day, had been put at risk by a sustained period of extremely hot weather that reduced the alpine pastures’ water levels to critical lows.

Oregon Shelter Delivering Tons of Pet Food to Families Fleeing Wildfires

So, beginning July 20, the army mobilized four Super Puma helicopters and 120 military personnel to scoop water from nearby lakes and deliver it to eight specially constructed reservoirs at various elevations.

cows in mountains CC Zermatt — Photos by Martin Abegglen

It took the soldiers 254 hours of flight time over the course of 31 days to deliver more than 1,800 tons of water to the cows, according to The Local.

By August 19, it was mission accomplished.

Now that September is here, Switzerland’s well-slaked cows will soon be making their way home to valley farms after three or four months of grazing at altitude.

Thousands of cows, we’re sure, will drink to that.

(READ more at The Local)

Give Your Friends Something To Graze On… Share Below

Spice Up Your Yoga Routine With These Highly Helpful Goodies

By

Good News Network

-

Sep 2, 2015

In honor of National Yoga month, we’ve pulled together some hidden gems that will make your experience before, during, and after yoga much more enjoyable. Check out the below for ways to better achieve that zen feeling and keep it going all day long.

Pack Up And Head Out With Namatstayz

If you need to bring a tote and a yoga mat to class via train, bus, or bike, this is handy.

This accessory folds up your yoga mat for compact portability, and keeps your water bottle, keys, and credit cards safe in an attached zipper pocket.

It’s perfect if you want to head to yoga hands—free. Just swing your matt over your shoulder on the subway, the bus, your bike, or on foot. To carry your phone, get one of these new slim wasteband Hip Appeal packs.

Want A Quick Polish Before You Go?

Some people don’t care how they look for yoga class. (Isn’t it enough that I’m shlepping myself out of bed on a weekend to go push my physical limits?) But other women wouldn’t be caught dead without makeup.

If you worry about the heat undoing your made-up face, check out this makeup. It won’t budge—and it will literally take you under 90 seconds to apply.

Susan Posnick has created the lightest, most easy-applying face makeup around. Vitamins A & E nourish the skin and the lightweight mineral foundation keeps your skin silky and reduces the appearance of fake, caked-on makeup. (Check out her products on Amazon)

Slip On Your Strutz

At a recent yoga class, I realized that the reason balancing was painful, and sometimes impossible, for me, was because something was up with my ankles.

As it turns out, people that practice yoga with fallen arches and flat feet often experience sharp pain in standing poses.

Strutz Pro help to align and cushion the feet to help increase elasticity and resiliency, and they can also help you stabilize by rooting down the foundation for that tree pose.

These little arch cushions from lovemystrutz.com help you align properly and take the pressure off during yoga—and you can keep ’em on around the house after yoga, too, because it feels a whole lot better than walking around barefoot.

Apply Hair Warrior

Sweat and heat during hot yoga can take a toll on our hair..

Hair Warrior—designed with warrior 1, 2, and 3 in mind—is a leave-in hair conditioner that adds “hydration and protection” during physical activity.

Apply it prior to yoga and Hair Warrior says it will work with your body heat to “smooth, protect and condition each strand,” while reducing frizziness and adding shine. And, it is cruelty-free, tested only on humans, and solar-manufactured in the USA.

Stretch Out On A Long, Thick Mat From La Vie Boheme

Do you cringe when your instructor goes “Reach forward, forward, forward…” and your hands land on the cold floor?

Good listener that I am, I ignore the little goddess in me that squeaks “No way!” when she realizes every floor may not be squeaky-clean or warm and comfortable.

Best to be armed with this heavy duty—but lightweight—yoga mat.

It’s part of the LVBY Parisian Lace Collection, which offers latex-free mats that are extra thick for added support to the neck, head, knees and elbows–and it’s available on Amazon

Keep The Post Yoga Glow Alive

Oh well, along with my shower goes my post-yoga glow.

Thanks to a couple of new products, The Body Shop, maybe not.

The Vitamin C line aims to help with collagen production, improve skin elasticity and protect against damaging environmental aggressors, while helping bring a rosy, soft, slightly tinted glow to your skin.

They also have a brand new of Oils of Life collection that help “nourish” your skin.

The Revitalizing Cream is made from Black Cumin Seed Oil from Egypt, known for its concentration of antioxidants, Rosehip Seed Oil from Chile can “repair omega 3 and 6”, and Camellia Seed Oil from China is rich in “nutritive oleic acid”. Maybe the outside will feel as good as your inside!

Share Your New Practice With Your Friends… Photo credit (top): Michelle Ploog

Guess Who May Show Up At Tom Hanks-themed School Homecoming?

By

Terry Turner

-

Sep 1, 2015

He saved Private Ryan, cracked the Da Vinci Code, brought a crippled spaceship back from the moon, and spent years on a desert island talking to a volleyball. Now, Tom Hanks may be headed to a tiny school’s homecoming.

The high school in Kerman, California, adopted a Tom Hanks theme for this year’s homecoming. Every class is building a float featuring one of Hanks’ movies. The town is small – about 14,000 people – but homecoming is huge and getting the star of “Big” to show up would make it even bigger.

Robin Williams’ Compassion Lives On Through Son’s Service in Prisons

The kids also launched a viral campaign using the hashtag #TomHanks2KermanHC and mashed up some of Hank’s best lines to encourage him to come.

“There’s no crying in baseball but there will be some crying in Kerman if you don’t show up to homecoming,” said one student, borrowing a line from ‘A League of Their Own.’

“This town isn’t big enough for the two of us–but I’ll leave if you come to Kerman,” another said, using Woody’s line to Buzz Lightyear in ‘Toy Story.’

It worked, and caught the actor’s attention, who replied–surprising everyone on Twitter.

Gear up, Kerman High School for Homecoming! I’m working on something for the Festivites! Hanx
— Tom Hanks (@tomhanks) September 1, 2015

“Oh my gosh, I would be so excited for the kids,” Assistant Principal Margaret Nichols told ABC News. “Just to see their excitement would mean everything.”

Hanks is not saying what he’s planning — whether he’s going to be there or have some other surprise for the students. It’s kind of like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get, at least not until homecoming on October 9th.

SEE More Celebrity Kindness at Good News Network’s Hollywood Page

(WATCH the video below from KFSN) Photo: #TomHanks2KermanHC on Twitter, and Angela George, CC

Share This With Your Bosom Buddies and Band Of Brothers…