The most renown American surgeon was born 160 years ago today on September 22, 1852. A new film documents the work of the medical genius, who also had a secret life that made his story all the more remarkable.
Surgery in the mid-19th Century consisted of crude and hurried amputations conducted in filthy operating rooms, often followed by horrendous infection. We can thank William Stewart Halsted, the pioneering father of American surgery, for bringing America into the era of safe surgery: sterile procedures, surgical gloves, careful handling of tissues, and local anesthesia.
It was Halsted who introduced a scientific approach to medicine. He also pioneered several new operations, including the radical mastectomy for breast cancer.
But one early set of experiments nearly ended his life and career. The brilliant experiments succeeded, but at a terrible price.
The most renown American surgeon was born 160 years ago today on September 22, 1852. A new film documents the work of the medical genius, who also had a secret life that made his story all the more remarkable.
Surgery in the mid-19th Century consisted of crude and hurried amputations conducted in filthy operating rooms, often followed by horrendous infection. We can thank William Stewart Halsted, the pioneering father of American surgery, for bringing America into the era of safe surgery: sterile procedures, surgical gloves, careful handling of tissues, and local anesthesia.
It was Halsted who introduced a scientific approach to medicine. He also pioneered several new operations, including the radical mastectomy for breast cancer.
But one early set of experiments nearly ended his life and career. The brilliant experiments succeeded, but at a terrible price.
Galvanized by anger over the killing of the popular American ambassador here last week, thousands of Libyans marched through this city on Friday, demanding the disarming of the militias that have refused to disband since overthrowing the country’s dictator, Col. Gadaffi.
In a show of mass frustration at the armed groups, protesters seized control of several militia headquarters on Friday night and handed them over to Libya’s national army in what appeared to be a coordinated sweep.
For their extraordinary efforts to help change the world and better the lives of others, 10 everyday people will receive $50,000 and a chance for much more.
This select group of top 10 CNN Heroes of 2012, revealed yesterday, were nominated by CNN’s global audience after being profiled earlier this year on CNN.
They will be honored at “CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute,” a globally broadcast gala that airs live on December 2. At the tribute show, hosted by Anderson Cooper in Los Angeles, one of the top 10 will be named CNN Hero of the Year and receive an additional quarter million dollars to continue their work.
The choice of top Hero will be decided by public voting conducted online through November 28 at CNNHeroes.com.
READ the List of Top Ten 2012 Heroes below, or WATCH the video with introductions here:
Catalina Escobar(photo, top of page)
Catalina Escobar is helping young moms in Colombia, where one in five girls age 15-19 is or has been pregnant. Since 2002, her foundation has provided counseling, education and job training to more than 2,000 teenage mothers.
Pushpa Basnet (photo, below)
Pushpa Basnet was shocked to learn that many children in Nepal have to live in prisons with their parents. In 2005, she started a children’s center that has provided support, such as housing, education and medical care, to more than 140 children of incarcerated parents.
Wanda Butts
Wanda Butts lost her son in a drowning accident six years ago. In his memory, she started the Josh Project, a nonprofit that taught nearly 1,200 children — most of them minorities — how to swim.
Mary Cortani
Mary Cortani is a former Army dog trainer who started Operation Freedoms Paws, a nonprofit that helps war veterans train their own service dogs. Since 2010, she has worked with more than 80 veterans who have invisible wounds such as post-traumatic stress disorder.
Razia Jan
Razia Jan is fighting to educate girls in rural Afghanistan, where terrorists will stop at nothing to keep them from learning. She and her team at the Zabuli Education Center are providing a free education to about 350 girls, many of whom wouldn’t normally have access to school.
Thulani Madondo
Thulani Madondo struggled as a child growing up in the slums of Kliptown, South Africa. Today, his Kliptown Youth Program provides school uniforms, tutoring, meals and activities to 400 children in the community.
Leo McCarthy(photo, below)
In memory of his daughter, who was killed by a drunken driver in 2007, Leo McCarthy started Mariah’s Challenge. The nonprofit gives college scholarships to teenagers who pledge not to drink while they’re underage. Nearly $150,000 in scholarship money has been awarded.
Connie Siskowski
Connie Siskowski is helping young people who have to take care of an ill, disabled or aging family member. Since 2006, her nonprofit has provided assistance to more than 550 young caregivers in Palm Beach County, Florida.
Scott Strode
After beating his addiction to drugs and alcohol, Scott Strode found support through sports. Since 2007, his nonprofit, Phoenix Multisport, has provided free athletic activities and a sober support community to more than 6,000 participants in Colorado.
Malya Villard-Appolon
Malya Villard-Appolon is a rape survivor dedicated to supporting victims of sexual violence in Haiti. In 2004, she co-founded KOFAVIV, an organization that has helped more than 4,000 rape survivors find safety, psychological support and/or legal aid.
This is the sixth year CNN has conducted its annual search for CNN Heroes. In those years, the campaign has profiled more than 180 inspiring individuals on its global television network and websites.
Hernando Guanlao is a sprightly man in his early 60s, with one abiding passion – books.
They’re his pride and joy, which is just as well because they seem to be taking over his house.
Guanlao has set up a 24-hour free lending library outside his home in central Manila, to encourage his local community to read. He even left his job to run the operation.
Readers can take as many books as they want, for as long as they want – even permanently.
Eleven more wealthy American families have joined the Giving Pledge created by Warren Buffett and Bill and Melinda Gates, to commit at least half their wealth to charity.
92 families have vowed to give away half their assets, the pledge organization announced this week.
Among the new commitments are Intel co-founder Gordon Moore, Progressive Insurance Companies Chairman Peter Lewis, and Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, according to NBC.
“We’ve said from the beginning that this is a long-term effort, so it’s exciting to see continued progress over the last two years,” said Bill Gates, co-founder of the Giving Pledge, which was started in 2010.
The 92 pledgers range in age from 28 to 97. They represent 23 states and the District of Columbia, with the largest contingents from California and New York. They give to a wide variety of causes, including education, health, medical research, social services, the environment, and others. The pledgers are at different stages in their philanthropy – some have already given away the majority, while some are just getting started. But they have all committed to give half their wealth, with more than 30 pledging even more in their Giving Pledge letters.
For the full list of pledgers and personal letters by many of these pledgers outlining their commitment to give, visit www.givingpledge.org.
Eleven more wealthy American families have joined the Giving Pledge created by Warren Buffett and Bill and Melinda Gates, to commit at least half their wealth to charity.
92 families have vowed to give away half their assets, the pledge organization announced this week.
Among the new commitments are Intel co-founder Gordon Moore, Progressive Insurance Companies Chairman Peter Lewis, and Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, according to NBC.
A Winnipeg Transit bus driver is being hailed a Good Samaritan after stunned passengers watched him give the shoes off his feet to a man who was walking barefoot on the sidewalk.
The temperature in the Canadian city was between 5-7 Celsius on Tuesday morning (around 40 degrees) when the driver stopped the bus in order to question the man.
When another passenger asked the driver why he did what he did, he replied, “I couldn’t stand seeing someone walking barefoot in this temperature like this,” according to a witness.
A Winnipeg Transit bus driver is being hailed a Good Samaritan after stunned passengers watched him give the shoes off his feet to a man who was walking barefoot on the sidewalk.
The temperature in the Canadian city was between 5-7 Celsius on Tuesday morning (around 40 degrees) when the driver stopped the bus in order to question the man.
When another passenger asked the driver why he did what he did, he replied, “I couldn’t stand seeing someone walking barefoot in this temperature like this,” according to a witness.
Rising from the ruins of war to challenge the world’s cricketing establishment, Afghanistan’s rag-tag team hope to inspire the conflict-ravaged nation with a strong showing at the World Cup in Sri Lanka.
The team’s success against the odds, with many of its players knowing little of peace in their home nation, has drawn legions of Afghan youth to take up the game in recent years, according to captain Nawroz Mangal.
More leading universities are offering free online courses through the fast-growing education platform Coursera.
The new partners include Brown, Columbia, Emory, Vanderbilt, Berklee College of Music, as well as Universities in London, Canada, Hong Kong and Australia.
The new partners boost the number of classes to 200 that are open to anyone with an Internet connection. With “The Science of Gastronomy” offered from Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and “Financial Engineering and Risk Management” from Columbia University, many of the Coursera offerings are pushing the boundaries of what was thought to be possible to teach online.
Whether treating patients with drug-resistant diseases in the slums of Haiti or trying to reverse the hopelessness of the world’s poor, optimism is essential, insists World Bank President Jim Yong Kim.
“For me optimism is a moral choice,” Kim told Reuters on his first trip to Africa, two months into the job as president of the global development lender.
At first glance, Ein Prat, one of the many natural and historic sites hidden in the northern Judean Desert, looks like any other picnic site around the world.
Large wooden tables and long benches are located strategically under shady trees on either side of a bubbling brook. Clusters of friends and family relax and enjoy each other’s company in the natural surroundings.
What sets Ein Prat – or Wadi Kelt, as it is known in Arabic – apart from other parks is that it is one of the few Israeli-run sites that Israelis and Palestinians can access equally, which has made it an oasis for peace.
The park is a few minutes’ drive from the Jewish neighborhoods in Jerusalem’s northern suburbs and it is almost equidistant from the Palestinian city of Ramallah. Those that descend on the park each weekend seem determined not to allow decades of occupation, violence or mistrust to stop them from enjoying its natural delights.
Surprisingly for the region, and unlike other places where Israelis and Palestinians come into close contact, there are no violent confrontations, angry words or accusations at Ein Prat/Wadi Kelt.
And, despite the fact that tension does hang somewhere in the air between the smoky barbecue grills and the intoxicating smell of water pipes, it is hard at first glance to differentiate between Jews, Muslims and Christians as they chit-chat and consume local delectable fare like hummus, pita and kebabs.
True, there is little interaction between the two groups, and there seems to be an unwritten agreement between the Israelis, who speak only Hebrew, and the Palestinians, whose mother tongue is Arabic, to treat each other like ghosts. And while this lack of interaction should not be mistaken for the simple politeness of strangers giving each other some space, it is a step forward.
The fact that Israeli and Palestinian children splash side-by-side in the natural pools and grown-ups seek relief together from the heat by wading through the cool waters suggests a glimmer of hope and the possibility of breaking down the growing barriers between the two peoples.
One of the main attractions of the park is a large natural pool half way up the mountain ravine. It is here – when the people have left the comfort of their separated picnic tables – that Israelis and Palestinians sit face-to-face around the perimeter of the cool, refreshing water.
Among the splashes of water and squeals of delight, members of the two groups eye one another, trying to determine if their so-called enemies are actually human beings or not.
Are we really all that different? In the natural light of this park, it seems not.
Through the stolen glances, there are some coy smiles and kind gestures. There mostly seems to be an acceptance that all are not only looking for some relief from the scorching midday sun, but also from the madness of an on-going conflict that affects our daily lives.
For just a moment, this park seems to be an ideal place for a peace summit. The thought of our respective leaders dipping in the cold water after negotiating each complicated point in this conflict suddenly seems entirely plausible. Perhaps the shock of the freezing water against burning skin and the realization that the land we are fighting over has been here much longer than any of the humans now inhabiting it might actually be enough to convince them that fighting and violence, oppression and occupation, are not the way to preserve this land for future generations.
While the idea of politicians ditching their suits and ties for swimming gear seems less plausible than their coming together at a negotiating table, the reality is that here in Ein Prat/Wadi Kelt ordinary Israelis and Palestinians do have a rare chance to meet. And although years of conflict have made us wary of one another, maybe it is in this desert oasis that those who appreciate the beauty of nature can find a way to make peace.
Photo: AllAboutJerusalem.com
Ruth Eglash is Deputy Managing Editor at The Jerusalem Post in Israel. She was invited to be one of the IARJ’s founding members by the International Center for Journalists and was elected to the association’s steering committee. This article was written for the Common Ground News Service. (Reprinted with permission.)
Michael Young was an extreme right-winger and racist who devoted much of his life to propagating a skewed form of biblical fundamentalism. In the estimation of his stepson, Anthony Perry, he was “a pretty dreadful man”.
When Young died in 2000, shortly after his 100th birthday, Perry was a little embarrassed to receive an inheritance. He gave the bulk of it to his daughter, treated himself to a good suit, and then resolved to have some fun with the remaining £10,000. More than a decade later, he is still doing so.
Larsen Jay is a man who knows the power of flowers and the joy they can bring.
After falling from a ladder, Larsen was confined to a hospital bed and had to endure a long and painful recovery. Fortunately, he received many visitors and cards. The attention and outpouring did wonders for his mood. His hospital room was filled with flowers. The explosion of color and fragrance brightened his day and his hospital confinement.
Sadly, many of the other hospital rooms in Knoxville, Tennessee were entirely bare of flowers. His solution was to go back to his own room, remove the cards from his bouquets and give them away to flower-less rooms on the ward.
The reaction he received from this simple gesture was overwhelming. Thus, Random Acts of Flowers was born.
Two notable women were named 2012 Good News Ambassadors last week during a sunset award ceremony aboard a river cruise on the Potomac in Washington, DC.
With a pristine blue sky overhead Caroline Adams Miller (pictured on the left) and Allison Silberberg (right) accepted their awards during a celebration marking the Good News Network’s 15th anniversary as the #1 online source for positive news.
Caroline Adams Miller was chosen because of her strong voice in the emerging positive psychology field.
“A lot of people don’t understand that many of the things we seek out to improve our well-being – like reading articles about good news – are actually supported by science,” she told the crowd.
“There is a tipping point we need to get over every single day in order to predict emotional flourishing, which is a ratio of at least 3:1 (for every negative you need three positive interactions). It is important that we voluntarily bring positive emotions into our lives every day, so starting with the Good News Network could be the boost that starts a domino effect of happiness every day.”
Caroline is a graduate of Harvard University and, since May 2006, a graduate of the ground-breaking Masters in Applied Positive Psychology program at the University of Pennsylvania. The M.A.P.P. program is the first masters program in the world that offers in-depth study of the science of well-being.
Miller uses positive psychology in her coaching practice and speaks widely on the topic around the world.
“I believe my calling is to spread the science of emotional flourishing, also known as Positive Psychology, to as many people as possible.” she explained. “When we are in a place that is optimistic and contented, the research shows that we predispose ourselves to build relationships with other people, to take in more information about our environment, to pursue our goals with more persistence and zest, and to positively impact others with contagious behaviors.”
Miller has written articles for the Good News Network including “How The Bucket List Film May Change Your Life & Make You Happier”, which is based on her popular book, Creating Your Best Life: The Ultimate Life List Guide. In the book, she used the science of positive psychology to create a comprehensive guide for accomplishing all the goals on your bucket list.
Allison Silberberg is a writer, advocate, public speaker, and photographer who specializes in philanthropy, community action, social justice, and civic engagement.
Currently a Democratic nominee for City Council in Alexandria, Virginia, she was endorsed by EMILY’s List and is notable for advocating on behalf of the most vulnerable as Chair of the city’s Economic Opportunities Commission.
But it is her storytelling that brought her to the attention of the Good News Network. Her wonderful book, Visionaries In Our Midst: Ordinary People who are Changing our World, brings to life the stories of individuals who are making a difference in our country — unsung public heroes who are committed to social change.
“Their stories demonstrate what is possible in the world today,” she said. “I learned a great deal about how each of us can have impact and create a ripple effect of good outcomes for others as we all pay it forward, and I’ve heard from many readers how the book has changed their lives.”
Miller believes that, like the Good News Network, Silberberg’s book is what’s called a “positive intervention,” and by deliberately putting positive stories in your thoughts you are powerfully priming yourself to notice other good news and behave that way yourself.
Congratulations, to the very first Good News Ambassadors. We look forward to honoring more positive people with these admirable qualities in years to come.
Two notable women were named 2012 Good News Ambassadors last week during a sunset award ceremony aboard a Potomac River cruise in Washington, DC.
With a pristine blue sky overhead Caroline Adams Miller (pictured on the left) and Allison Silberberg (right) accepted their awards during a celebration marking the Good News Network’s 15th anniversary as the #1 online source for positive news.
Caroline Adams Miller was chosen because of her strong voice in the emerging positive psychology field.
“A lot of people don’t understand that many of the things we seek out to improve our well-being – like reading articles about good news – are actually supported by science,” she told the crowd.
Mike and Angie Gagnon, their disabled daughter and two young grandkids were thrilled with the renovations and editions on their home provided by 150 businesses in an Extreme Makeover project organized by Cornerstone Seventh Day Adventist Church.
The Vancouver family can now relax a little and stop feeling like they are constantly treading water.
Although it was one of the church’s biggest projects yet — working at least 18 hour days for 10 days straight — “it’s totally worth it,” said Pastor Steven Mirkovich.
This charitable marathon to help a single family is reminiscent of a recent Methodist congregation’s work in Alabama for a single mother who lost her home in a tornado.
The most renown American surgeon was born 160 years ago today on September 22, 1852. A new film documents the work of the medical genius, who also had a secret life that made his story all the more remarkable.
Miller has written articles for the Good News Network including “How The Bucket List Film May Change Your Life & Make You Happier”, which is based on her popular book, 
. In the book, she used the science of positive psychology to create a comprehensive guide for accomplishing all the goals on your bucket list.
“Their stories demonstrate what is possible in the world today,” she said. “I learned a great deal about how each of us can have impact and create a ripple effect of good outcomes for others as we all pay it forward, and I’ve heard from many readers how the book has changed their lives.”
