Coffee Lowers Risk of Prostate Cancer, Harvard Study Says

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Jun 15, 2011

If you love coffee, you will be interested in a new study that says men who are heavy coffee drinkers are at a much lower risk for prostate cancer.

Harvard scientists followed 47,911 men for two decades and asked how much coffee they were drinking. The researchers found that those who consumed six or more cups a day — with or without caffeine — were almost 20 percent less likely to develop prostate cancer than those who drank none.

More important, the heavy coffee drinkers were 60 percent less likely than the nondrinkers to develop a lethal form of the disease.

(READ the story in the New York Times)

“Wonder Dad” Crowned for Father’s Day by Wonder Bread Company

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Jun 14, 2011

Because of his extraordinary contribution to his family of foster kids, Christopher Battle, of Ypsilanti, Michigan, was named “Wonder Dad Hero” by the Wonder bread company, as part of its effort to honor “Everyday Heroes”.

Christopher has devoted his life to helping children and has been a parent to foster kids, some with special needs, for more than 10 years. In addition to providing a caring and nurturing home for his wife and family, he works to instill in his children a commitment to giving back by encouraging them to do one good deed a week for someone they do not know.

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“Wonder Dad” Crowned for Father’s Day by Wonder Bread Company

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Jun 14, 2011

Because of an extraordinary contribution to his family of foster kids, Christopher Battle, of Ypsilanti, Michigan, was named “Wonder Dad Hero” by the Wonder bread company, as part of its effort to honor “Everyday Heroes”.

Christopher has devoted his life to helping children and has been a parent to foster kids, some with special needs, for more than 10 years. In addition to providing a caring and nurturing home for his wife and family, he works to instill in his children a commitment to giving back by encouraging them to do one good deed a week for someone they do not know.

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The World’s Most Polluted Cities Can Recover, Just Like London Did

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Jun 14, 2011

Renowned for its infamous smog and severe pollution for centuries, London today has the cleanest air that it has had since the Middle Ages.

In virtually every developed country, the air is more breathable and the water is more drinkable than they were 40 years ago.

Some of the most polluted places are the megacities of the developing world — Shanghai, New Delhi, and Mexico City — but in the 1930s and 1940s, London was more polluted than any of these cities are today.

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US National Parks to Waive Park Entry Fees on June 21

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Jun 14, 2011

The National Park Service is encouraging visitors to celebrate the start of summer with a free visit to one of America’s 394 national parks! All entrance fees to parks will be waived on June 21 – the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere – the official first day of summer.

With 394 national parks across the country, you could easily explore a new place, perhaps a historical home or landmark.

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Don’t Look Now, but Sub-Saharan Africa is Booming

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Jun 14, 2011

Malawis use technology to predict weather

Since 2003, growth has been skyrocketing in sub-Saharan Africa, fueled mostly by the rise of cellphones. It’s a glorious wave of change, sweeping across a continent that had stagnated for decades.

“Today the rate of return on foreign investment in Africa is higher than in any other developing region.”

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Schindler’s Museum: Krakow Factory Made Famous by “Schindler’s List” is Transformed Into Art Center

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Jun 14, 2011

Oskar Schindler entered history when he saved approximately 1,200 Jews from concentration camps during World War II, as memorably recounted in Steven Spielberg’s 1993 film. He established his own factory in Krakow, where he protected his Jewish employees from deportation by falsifying the employee registers, changing workers’ age, and inventing job descriptions related to the war effort.

Now Schindler’s Poland factory is taking on a new mission becoming a contemporary art museum.

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Contest Lauds World’s Unluckiest Travelers Who are Rescued by Kindness

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Jun 13, 2011

In 2010, a travel insurance company collected unlucky travel stories and crowned the “World’s Unluckiest Traveler” who won a $10,000 dream vacation. This year, Travel Guard is looking for good deeds that turned around some travel nightmares for its new contest, “World’s Unluckiest Traveler: The Rescue”.

Travelers are already posting at the website stories featuring the kindness of strangers, how one kind person salvaged a mishap or saved an entire vacation. The hero of the most inspiring story will win a $10,000 vacation.

Stories submitted during the first two weeks are racking up “Likes” in the contest which ends on Labor Day weekend. Inspiring stories include a Toronto visitor whose wallet was suddenly lost leaving him stranded without transportation, when a woman overheard him on the phone and bought him a bus ticket. “I will never forget what she did for me.”

Another kind stranger saw a woman leave her wallet atop her car at the gas station. On her way to the airport to go to her sister’s wedding, the woman’s wallet contained the boarding pass and all her cash. The Good Samaritan followed her 22 miles until she stopped at the airport to return the wallet.

“Travel mishaps, major or minor, are frustrating for everyone, and we’re inspired by the stories we hear every day about good deeds of other travelers turning things around,” said Carol Mueller, Vice President of Travel Guard North America.

One story tells of a Pennsylvania family packed for a thousand mile journey, excited to visit far away relatives for the holidays. But only 90 minutes into their trip, the van broke down. There was no other option than to return home. The mother called her best friend to come pick them up, which would have been help enough. But the friend and her husband showed up with two cars. One for them to get back home, and one van for the family to take to Kansas. “She thought nothing about the cost to her but only about saving our family’s Christmas vacation.”

Entries will be accepted through Labor Day, September 5. On September 27, World Tourism Day, Travel Guard will announce the ten best stories, as chosen by a panel of travel experts. Throughout the month of October, the public will vote for the ultimate act of kindness. The winning “Hero,” as voted by North America, will be awarded a $10,000 “Hero’s Vacation.” The person who nominated the winning story will win $2,000 in airfare for two anywhere in the U.S.

The contest is open to all legal residents of the United States and Canada. For more information on the contest and a full set of rules and regulations, visit www.TravelGuard.com.

Photo by Sun Star

Contest Lauds World’s Unluckiest Travelers Who are Rescued by Kindness

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Good News Network

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Jun 13, 2011

In 2010, a travel insurance company collected unlucky travel stories and crowned the “World’s Unluckiest Traveler” who won a $10,000 dream vacation. This year, Travel Guard is looking for good deeds that turned around a travel nightmare for its new contest, “World’s Unluckiest Traveler: The Rescue”.

Travelers are already posting at the website stories featuring the kindness of strangers, how one kind person salvaged a mishap or saved an entire vacation. The hero of the most inspiring story will win a $10,000 vacation.

Continue

Handicapped Hero Gets New State-of-the-art Home After Losing Limbs in Army

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Jun 13, 2011

Disabled Army vet given new high tech home

Just two years after losing all four limbs in an explosion in Iraq, Army Specialist Brendan Marrocco was given the keys to a brand new home designed especially with his injuries in mind.

The first quadruple amputee to survive the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan, Marrocco was given the state-of-the-art home in Staten Island, NY on Saturday by the group Building Homes for Heroes.

The maintenance-free, high-tech residence is equipped with an elevator, sensors that operate the lighting and front door, and electronic controls that raise and lower the sink, stove, and kitchen shelves.

“I can finally just try to live my life like everybody else,” said the 24-year old. “I really appreciate this.”

Specialist Marrocco is the first of four severely wounded veterans who will have new homes built by Building Homes for Heroes in 2011. (See photos of Brendan’s home, or donate to help build a home at www.buildinghomesforheroes.org)

(READ the full story from NY Daily News)

Photo courtesy of BuildingHomesforHeroes.org

Pitt and Jolie Donate $500,000 to Tornado Relief

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Jun 13, 2011

Brad Pitt raised in Missouri gives half million The Jolie-Pitt Foundation donated $500,000 on Friday to the Joplin Recovery Fund for rebuilding efforts in the tornado-ravaged Missouri city. The Community Foundation of the Ozarks has raised now one million dollars to support mid- and long-term rebuilding for the residents.

Brad Pitt said in a statement, “With the devastating loss of thirty percent of the city, the Joplin community faces great challenges ahead. Having spent much of my childhood there, I know these people to be hardworking, humble and especially resilient.”

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Caretaker of Stray Cats Wins Charitable Deduction Fight in Court: Helps All Animal Rescue Volunteers

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Jun 12, 2011

A woman who claimed a charitable deduction for taking care of 70 stray cats won her case against the IRS, a victory for animal-rescue volunteers across the U.S. that helped clarify the treatment of unreimbursed expenses for 1.5 million IRS-recognized charities.

The decision paves the way for volunteers of animal-rescue groups like the ASPCA and Humane Society of the U.S. to deduct unreimbursed expenses that further the groups’ missions, such as fostering stray animals.

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Woman’s Leg Saved When NYC Subway Hero Lifts her to Safety

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Jun 12, 2011

In morning rush hour, Carole Markowitz was about to get on the subway when the car door started coming toward her, trapping her leg completely between the train and the platform.

In the narrow space less than six inches wide Carole lost her shoe onto the track and started to panic. She screamed.

That was when she felt arms under her shoulders, lifting her like a rag doll.

A passenger saved her then disappeared into the crowd.

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U.S. Invests in Shadow Internet to Confound Dictators Seeking to Shut Down Networks

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Jun 12, 2011

internet-network-homemade-FabFolk-photo-Keith-Berkoben

The Obama administration is leading a global effort to deploy “shadow” Internet and mobile phone systems that dissidents can use to undermine repressive governments that seek to silence them by censoring or shutting down telecommunications networks.

One prototype, an “Internet in a suitcase,” has been financed with a $2 million State Department grant.

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Return of Optimism for US Housing as Values Rise

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Jun 12, 2011

The housing market in many US cities is performing better than recent national data would suggest, leading some analysts and real estate brokers to express cautious optimism about the prospects for a recovery.

List prices rose in 24 of 26 cities tracked by Altos Research in May, with San Francisco, Washington and San Jose, California, showing the biggest gains. New York and Las Vegas were the only two cities in the index where prices declined.

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For Graduates: Words of Wisdom from College Commencement Speeches

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Jun 12, 2011

Samantha Power warned against multi-tasking with electronic devices: “You’ve got to be all in. This means leaving your technology behind occasionally and listening to a friend without half of your brain being preoccupied “

Steve Ballmer insists that passion is not something only for geniuses: “Finding passion is kind of your job now.”

And, Toni Morrison says the ‘pursuit of happiness’ is not enough: “Personal success devoid of meaningfulness is more than a barren life… It’s looking good instead of doing good.”

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Touch Between Players Brings More Success on Basketball Court, in Life

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Jun 11, 2011

Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade, by Keith Allison-CC Flickr

A touch of the hand, a pat on the back, a hug: These small physical gestures are making a big difference in the NBA Final games.

Two social psychologists from the University of California-Berkeley, both avid basketball players themselves, recently analyzed 90 hours of televised professional play. They looked at every team and every player in the league and concluded the teams that touch the most win the most — and the individual players who touch the most perform the best.

What’s more, the study determined that touch brings success off the court.

People on sidewalks collecting signatures for a petition, for instance, were almost twice as likely to get a person to sign if they touched them on the arm.

(WATCH the full report below from Nightline, or READ part of the story at ABC)

Photo credit: Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade, by Keith Allison on Flickr

Touch Between Players Brings More Success on Basketball Court, in Life

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Jun 11, 2011

A touch of the hand, a pat on the back, a hug: These small physical gestures are making a big difference in the NBA Final games.

Two social psychologists from the University of California-Berkeley, both avid basketball players themselves, recently analyzed 90 hours of televised professional play. They looked at every team and every player in the league and concluded the teams that touch the most win the most — and the individual players who touch the most perform the best.

What’s more, the study determined that touch brings success off the court.

Continue

Best Of Both Worlds: Geothermal Energy That Sucks CO2 From The Atmosphere

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Jun 11, 2011

Work by scientists at the University of Minnesota could result in a new way to capture heat from underground geothermal sources, which lets us generate clean electrical energy for our own uses while simultaneously disposing of some of the CO2 that’s responsible for global warming. Though it sounds implausibly positive, it actually all lines up in terms of science, and best of all, this piece of lateral thinking was achieved in a flash of inspiration during a road trip–the best type of idea.

The two researchers from the Department of Earth Sciences say the discovery was born in a flash of insight.

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Best Of Both Worlds: Geothermal Energy That Sucks CO2 From The Atmosphere

Most Popular

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Good News Network

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Jun 11, 2011

Work by scientists at the University of Minnesota could result in a new way to capture heat from underground geothermal sources, which lets us generate clean electrical energy for our own uses while simultaneously disposing of some of the CO2 that’s responsible for global warming. Though it sounds implausibly positive, it actually all lines up in terms of science, and best of all, this piece of lateral thinking was achieved in a flash of inspiration during a road trip–the best type of idea.

The two researchers from the Department of Earth Sciences say the discovery was born in a flash of insight.

Continue