Hurricane forecasters who predicted another record-breaking year for tropical storms were wildly off the mark as the season is winding down with only one more hurricane expected. A welcome relief for storm-weary coastal residents was the unexpected and speedy development of the El Niño warm water phenomenon in the eastern Pacific, faster than almost anyone had predicted, putting an end to hurricane formation in the Atlantic, said William Gray, a noted forecaster at Colorado State University…
El Niño Tames Hurricane Season, Brings Early End
Amish Parents Forgive Gunman, Befriend his Family
After a man burst into a Pennsylvania schoolhouse Monday and shot five young girls to death, the Amish community that was left to deal with the tragedy expressed a range of emotions, but anger was not one of them.
Rita Rose, a local midwife and friend who worked amid the Amish community, told NBC that the mother of one of the victims, a 13 year-old girl, has already forgiven the gunman.
They all have.
“She holds no ill will toward the shooter. She’s very forgiving. Christ forgave us, and we in turn forgive, and they honestly have forgiven,” she said. “Even last night, there was no anger toward the shooter.”
The night of the shooting a mental health team arrived at a local firehouse where a gathering of 40 Amish neighbors came to find information and answers to questions about dealing with trauma.
The psychologist that arrived that night was surprised that they were not only talking about supporting the families of the victims, they were also discussing ways they could help the family of the killer, a man who lived nearby but who was not Amish.
He told NPR, “They were talking about how to support his family (the shooter, who killed himself had a wife and three children). They were planning to send a contingent over, perhaps bringing over some food. They had already gotten to the place of forgiveness.”
In the LA Times was this account of the Amish and their reactions:
Rather than dwell on the victims, “though this is a close-knit community, where few are strangers,” Amish residents spoke of their concern for the Roberts family; their sorrow that a man could become so unhinged, so alienated…
“I wish someone could have helped him out, poor soul. It’s obvious that something was troubling him.”
An Amish woman who gave her name as Irene also expressed compassion for the gunman. “I am very thankful,” she said, “that I was raised to believe you don’t fight back. You should forgive.”
The shooter’s wife Marie Roberts released a statement Monday night to the media saying: “The man who did this today is not the Charlie that I’ve been married to for almost 10 years. My husband is loving, supportive, thoughtful, all the things you’d always want and more. Our hearts are broken, our lives are shattered, and we grieve for the innocence and lives that were lost today.”
NPR Story on All Things Considered audio archives
LA Times coverage
Video interview with Rita Rose (and story) on MSNBC
Virgin’s Branson Launches Plan to Cut Plane Emissions
The Virgin Group airline chairman and British billionaire Richard Branson has proposed a plan that would cut aviation emissions and greenhouse gases at busy airports by millions of tons of CO2 world-wide. The idea, which was already endorsed by London’s Gatwick Airport, is a system of ‘starting grids’ set up to provide planes with towing from the gates by small tugs before takeoff…
Food Illnesses Dramatically Declined in 10 Years
Thanks to better industry controls and inspections, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Friday that food in general is safer now than at any other time in the last decade, with illness occurring at record-low rates. Improvements in the meat and poultry industry have greatly contributed to the success…
New Orleans is Back
When the New Orleans Saints kicked off against the Atlanta Falcons before a nationwide audience Monday night, the moment signaled more than just the re-opening of the iconic Louisiana Superdome and the largest audience in ESPN history. It was a jumpstart for the city’s critical tourism industry, in which the 2006 fall convention schedule, sporting events and return of the cruise ships are long-awaited highlights.
Monday night’s dome re-opening, including the pre-game concerts by U2 and Green Day and a coin toss by former U.S. President Bush, featured an audience of nearly 70,000, a Saints victory by 20 points, and an estimated $20 million being pumped into the city’s economy…
Teacher Keeps Wealth Secret, Donates $4.3M on Death to Conservancy
Roberta Langtry, an unassuming school teacher in Toronto, hid her riches — gained through shrewd savings and investments in stocks and bonds. But she always gave large donations to those in need. Now, after having made her transition last year at age 89, her donation of $4.3 million to the Nature Conservancy of Canada — the largest ever received by the group — will purchase acreage she held dear, and preserve it for generations of school teachers to come. (Globe and Mail)
US Museum Returns Long Lost Italian Treasures
Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts returned 13 ancient Italian artifacts to their rightful country after seeing evidence that the items had been dug up illegally and smuggled out of Italy. MFA director Malcolm Rogers said he was proud to be "doing the decent thing.” With thanks, Italy will loan other art treasures to Boston. (AP w/ photo at Wash Post)
NY Subway Crime Dips to Lowest Rate in 37 Years
New York subway crime has plummeted more than 37 percent in 2006. That’s on top of the decrease in 2005 of about 5.5 percent. Robberies were down 21 percent in 2006. Grand larcenies declined 46 percent and assaults fell 55 percent, NYPD data showed.
Marriott Hotel Composting 1 Million Pounds Annually in SF
Turning food waste…into wine? In a roundabout way, that is what is happening to the composted food scraps and other items generated at the 1,498-room San Francisco Marriott hotel. The real story here is not the wine but the effort Randy Nelson and the other associates at the San Francisco Marriott have made to divert as much food waste from landfills as possible…
Bus Filters Remove Tons of Soot from San Francisco Air
San Francisco area residents can breathe cleaner air in the years ahead, as the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) nears completion of a historic program to clean up the exhaust from more than 1,700 diesel buses. Through the Clean Diesel Bus Program, the city buses from 13 Bay Area transit districts are being retrofitted with diesel exhaust filters…
Iran and US: Similar Presidents with Common Self-Interest
American Journalist David Ignatius sat down with the presidents of both Iran and the United States last week and found similarity both in the positions the two men occupy now and those they hope to move toward. He concludes the potential for war is there, but also the common ground of their aims and the "bedrock of mutual self-interest." Stephen Coulthart is a recent graduate from the State University of New York in political science. He believes the two leaders, who may at first seem to be polar opposites, actually share similar traits in their rise to power, governing styles and religious conviction. Among these commonalities we may find a way toward peaceful resolution of our differences…
‘Free Hugs’ Campaign Video Sweeps Web
This video, posted on You Tube four days ago, documents a “Free Hugs” campaign staged in a busy pedestrian square in Sydney, Australia.
Juan Mann’s sole mission is to hug strangers to brighten their lives.
Police officials ordered the Free Hugs campaign stopped. Then, a surprising and heartwarming reprise for the “hugs” man.
‘Free Hugs’ Campaign Video Sweeps Web
This video, posted on You Tube four days ago, documents a “Free Hugs” campaign staged in a busy pedestrian square in Sydney. Juan Mann’s sole mission is to hug strangers to brighten their lives.
Police officials ordered the Free Hugs campaign banned. Then, a surprising and heartwarming reprise for the “hugs” man.
(3:39)
Pets Orphaned by Lebanon War Airlifted to U.S.
Some 300 homeless dogs and cats, many left behind by owners who fled Lebanon during the Hezbollah-Israel war, are headed to new sanctuaries in the United States for adoption, thanks to Beirut for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. (photos and video from AP on MSNBC)
De Beers to Help Reduce Poverty for Diamond Miners
Last Friday at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York, Jonathan Oppenheimer, Director of De Beers, and Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete announced a $2 million project to help improve the impoverished lives of so-called "informal" diamond miners in Tanzania, who work in streams and river beds where diamonds occasionally wash up.
Organic Towels, Sheets Made from Bamboo
"Bamboo is the hottest new ingredient in everything from flooring to furniture and dishware."
Even fashion! … Designers are now using the quick-growing plant’s fibers in their fabrics. In fact, "luxurious new fabrics made from the fibers of bamboo, soy, corn, seaweed and even pineapple, are all coming on the market."
Why? Because they are easily renewable and grown without using pesticides. Best of all they’re soft…
Bionic Arm Provides Hope for Iraq War Amputees
Researchers are collaborating — and the U.S. government is funding — an initiative to bring bionic arms to soldiers who return from the Middle East missing their limbs. Already, a Tennessee man is fitted with the experimental arm which is controlled by his thoughts. He thinks, ‘close hand,’ and electrical signals are sent through surgically re-routed nerves to make it happen. The arm is holding up well under real-world testing, but repairs were needed after the man pulled too hard on a lawn mower. (AP at CNN)
Free Yale Courses Offered on Web Videos
Yale University said last week it will offer digital videos of some courses on the Internet for free, along with transcripts in several languages, in an effort to make the elite private school more accessible…
Hospitals Serving Organic Food Bask in Success
Hospitals, including some run by Kaiser Permanente, are serving all-natural, all-organic foods in their cafeterias to satisfy not only their mission to promote health but the appetites of visitors and workers who rave about the fresh fruit smoothies, wild salmon, and homemade pies with antioxidant-rich dried cherries…
Inspiration Point: Stop Thinking You’re Too Old
How often have you heard people under the age of 60 complain they can’t do something or change their habits because they’re too old? I know people in their 30’s who act older than some people who are senior citizens. Take Takao Arayama, a 70 year old Japanese man who didn’t start climbing seriously until he was in his 40s, and who climbed to the top of Mount Everest…
Mr. Arayama apparently beat the previous record holder, another 70 year old Japanese man, Yuichiro Miura, by doing it when he was 3 days older. 175 climbers have died climbing Mount Everest.
After graduating from Hokkaido University many years ago, Miura became a professional skier. He took part in the Italian Kilometer Lanciad in 1964, where he set what was then the world speed record at 172.084 kilometers per hour (106.9 miles per hour). He later skied down Mt. Fuji and in 1970 skied down Mt. Everest from an altitude of 8,000 meters (26,245 feet), the first time anyone had done so successfully. By 1985, he had skied down the slopes of the tallest mountain on each of the seven continents.
Here’s a good quote from Yuichiro:
“No matter how old people are, they can still hold on to their dreams. You have to continue to make an effort to turn your dreams into reality. I learned that if you keep heart and take one small step after another, you can stand on top of the world. I think far too many people give up on their dreams long before they hit their 50’s let alone 70.”
“One of the admirable Japanese traits is persistence. Ask someone who’s from or lived in Japan to tell you what the word gambare means and how important it is to being Japanese. Too often people focus on the negative aspects of other cultures. Every country has it’s fair share of these. Why not focus on emulating the positive aspects of other cultures?”