The Good News Goose

Surprise!

2011-10-27T13:43:00.001-07:00

I'm sure I have lost what little readership I have by now, but I ran across this story and couldn't resist reposting:

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/45034031/ns/today-today_health/

Blood is Thicker than Money

2009-03-26T16:06:00.000-07:00

Omaha, Nebraska, USA

At their wedding last July, Nicole Thomspon and Matthew Arce were as hopeful for the future as any bride and groom. A happy couple in their 20s, the pair planned to live on Arce's salary while Nicole found a new job. They would soon be able to buy a house, settle down, and embark on their life together. Like many Americans, however, Nicole and Matthew were about to face unanticipated and insurmountable financial trouble. By the end of the year, Nicole had only managed to find temp jobs and Matthew had lost his high-paying job and started to work as a Wal-mart cashier instead. The couple began to descend into debt, and hope seemed to be lost.

Just before Christmas, 42 year-old Craig Thomspon offered to let the struggling newlyweds move into his 3-bedroom home with him. They gratefully agreed. Most people would likely have refused the offer; After all, Craig is Nicole's ex-husband.

In 2005, Craig and Nicole were in the snarls of a messy divorce. Battling for custody of their two daughters, now 6 and 7, the Thompsons were bitter and angry towards each other. Living together in the future would have been unimaginable. However, after finally agreeing to joint custody and letting the dust settle, Nicole and Craig found that they could be friends. In fact, they grew close. Craig's mother was even in Nicole and Matthew's wedding. "There are so many families that go through divorce and can never let it go," says Nicole. "I'm thankful, and hopefully our situation can help people rethink things because if they have kids, it's in their best interest to get along."

And get along they do, apparently well enough to diffuse the tension that most ex-spouses would experience if they moved in together. The Thompson daughters, Victoria and Caitlyn, now get to live with both of their parents instead of switching back and forth.

Against all the odds, Matthew Arce has become fast friends with his wife's ex-husband. Craig Thomas describes their relationship by saying "We just clicked." The two of them work on household projects together, build plastic models together, and even hang out on the days when neither of them has to work. It is an unusual family, but it is a happy one. Matthew and Nicole plan to continue living with Craig for at least another five years.

To read more, visit http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/personal/03/26/couple.lives.with.ex/index.html

There is plenty of news right now about the country’s economic troubles and how families are suffering. Advertisements invariably begin with "in these hard times. . ." Strangers comment to each other in grocery store lines about how it's hard just to get by. I hope that, like me, there are others out there with an eye on the good things coming out of this recession. The Thompson/Arce family, for example. Or even the fact that strangers are bothering to talk to each other in grocery store lines at all. With the right attitude, Americans can come out of this difficult period sturdier, more united, and more compassionate. Stay strong, everyone. ~mg

One Family's Tragedy Becomes Another Family's Miracle

2009-03-26T15:13:00.001-07:00

Mentor, Ohio, USA

The McCracken family of Mentor, OH was enjoying a friendly game of baseball in their yard last week when 7 year-old Morgan was accidentally hit with the ball. Her parents, Donald and Connie, put ice on their daughter's head to reduce the goose-egg swelling that immediately followed the injury. Within hours, the swelling was down and Morgan was back to her happy self. She went back to school the next day and aced a spelling test.

Two nights after the accident, like many of us, Donald and Connie saw the tragic news story of Natasha Richardson's sudden death from a seemingly minor head injury. The actress, mother, and wife had suffered a bump on the head, talked and joked about it with no apparent trouble, and, within days, died. The McCrackens were immediately worried for Morgan, who went to bed that night complaining of a headache. They decided to call their daughter's doctor, just to be safe.

"Because of Natasha, we called the pediatrician immediately. And by the time I got off the phone with him, Morgan was sobbing, her head hurt so much," reports Donald. The McCrackens rushed to the emergency room, where Morgan was given a CT scan to determine whether she had a brain injury. The scan confirmed her parents' worst fear: Morgan had an epidural hematoma, just like Natasha Richardson.

Unlike Natasha, however, Morgan made it to the emergency room in time. She was air lifted to a hospital in Cleveland for immediate treatment. "I knew it was bad when she had to get there by helicopter in six minutes, instead of the 30 minutes it would have taken to get to Cleveland in an ambulance," said her father.

Morgan received life-saving surgery that night, and, after five more days in the hospital, she returned home. And this time, she really IS fine. It was a very close call; According to Donald McCracken, "Dr. Cohen told us that if we hadn't brought her in Thursday night, she never would have woken up."

In the wake of Natasha Richardson's heartbreaking story, there is some comfort in knowing that a child's life was saved as a result. And for the McCracken family, it is more than comforting; it is miraculous.

For more on this story, and for tips on recognizing serious head injury symptoms, visit http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/03/26/head.injury.emergency/index.html

The Perfect Win-Win Situation

2009-02-11T09:49:00.000-08:00

Denmark

Mikkel Vestergaard-Frandsen is the third generation of his family to run the Vestergaard-Frandsen company, based in Denmark. The privately owned company's sole business is helping the world's poor and disadvantaged.

While there are several public companies which aid the poor as part or even all of their business, Vestergaard-Frandsen has a unique attitude about the work. Kevin Starace, who is a malaria adviser for the United Nations Foundation, sums it up well: “They think of the end user as a consumer rather than as a patient or a victim.” This outlook is behind many of Vestergaard-Frandsen innovations, such as adding a cell phone pocket to a mosquito net, making insecticidal fabrics in patterns suitable for hanging as curtains, and designing a LifeStraw, which is not only capable of rendering dirty water safe to drink, but is also so beautiful as to be included in museum design collections.

It seems too good to be true, but Vestergaard-Frandsen's work is more than charity; the company has prospered. According to Dr. Ernesto Ruiz-Tiben, who directs a program to rid the world of guinea-worms (microscopic larvae that wreak havoc on the body if ingested), Vestergaard-Frandsen is “very reliable and they have good quality control. . . We’ve bought millions of dollars’ worth of product from them.” Seems like the perfect win-win!

Read more about the company and its products at: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/03/health/research/03prof.html?_r=2&ref=science

One Small Step for Equal Rights

2009-01-29T20:14:00.000-08:00

Washington DC, USA

Lilly Ledbetter may not be a household name, but she stood today in the White House and watched President Obama sign off on an equal-pay law that's named for her.

For 19 years, Ms. Ledbetter worked for Goodyear Tire and Rubber. All the while, she was paid 15%-40% less than her male coworkers. Performing the same job for which Lilly received 3,727$ a month, Goodyear's male employees were paid anywhere from $4,286-$5,236 a month. She never would have known, but for an anonymous letter left in her mailbox containing documentation of the pay discrepancy.

In 1998, Ledbetter filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Co mission. The EEOC and a jury sided with her, and she was awarded 360,000$ in back pay. However, a federal appeals court later threw out her claim on the grounds that it had not been made quickly enough. According to law at the time, such complaints needed to be filed within 180 days of the first discriminatory paycheck. The case escalated over the years until it was brought before the Supreme Court, where Ledbetter was defeated 5-4.

With her legal options exhausted, Ledbetter appealed to Capitol Hill for legislation. Earlier today, 10 years after she filed her claim, she was vindicated; President Obama signed the The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act. Under the new law, employees have until 180 days after their last discriminating paycheck to file a complaint, not their first. Employees like Ledbetter, who discover the discrimination only after they retire, will now have a chance to recoup all of their losses.

As for Lilly Ledbetter, she feels that this battle has been well worth fighting, saying "Goodyear will never have to pay me what it cheated me out of. In fact, I will never see a cent from my case. But with the president's signature today, I have an even richer reward. I know that my daughter and granddaughters ... will have a better deal. That's what makes this fight worth fighting."

For details, visit http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/29/obama.fair.pay/index.html

Thanks to The Bruce Goose for alerting us to this good news!

Endangered Lowland Gorrilla Gives Birth at the National Zoo

2009-01-29T19:47:00.000-08:00

Any time a permanent resident of the National Zoo has a baby, there seems to be an "awwww" heard 'round the world. But when Mandara, a 26 year-old western lowland gorilla, gave birth to a healthy baby earlier this month, there was more than just cuteness to celebrate.

Mandara and her baby, who has not yet been named, are members of a species that has been classified as critically endangered. Fewer than 200,000 of the majestic creatures inhabit the tropical forests of West and Central Africa, where they live under the constant threats of poaching, dwindling habitat, and the Ebola virus.

These first few weeks of the infant gorilla's life are a critical time. Out of concern for the baby's safety, zoo officials have not even gotten close enough to determine its sex. Mandara, however, is taking careful care of her baby. 10 year-old DC resident Max Block told the Washington Post "It's pretty amazing. She's been holding it, tickling it, stroking it on the head. . . . She's a great mom." Max raised $2,500 for a wildlife preservation group at a lemonade stand this summer.

Not only is Mandara's baby a promising new addition to an endangered species, the adorable newborn will provide the National Zoo with an opportunity to educate the public about the growing need for conservation.

Visitors can see the mother and baby, along with the other gorillas, in the Great Ape House between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily.

To read the full article, (and see an adorable picture!) visit http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/11/AR2009011100697.html

Thanks Papa Goose for tipping us off to this story!

Pet's Sixth Sense Saves Infant's Life

2009-01-29T19:42:00.000-08:00

The Goose would like to bring you a special story today, provided to us by author Jean Barto. The following is an excerpt from her latest book, (POD) PET WONDERS:

"With joy and anxiety, we brought Alicia, our preemie, home from the hospital. We were happy to have our baby home, but anxious because her physical condition necessitated a heart monitor.

Now another baby, Mandy, an 80 pound Old English Sheepdog, who had had attention plus until Alicia arrived, was a little put out that she was not allowed near the baby. She was a bright, silly, sometimes stubborn dog, but lovable. She had always been fastidious before, but now she started pooping and peeing all over the house. I guess negative attention was better than no attention at all. After a few days, we allowed Mandy to come close to the baby and even lick her face. That changed everything. Using the rug as outside grass and a chair leg as a private fire hydrant stopped. She must have felt that, finally, she had a place back in the family inner circle.

The baby's room was next to ours, and we kept the doors open in case the heart monitor sounded an alarm. Days went by, and all went well. One night, Chuck felt Mandy scratching and pulling his arm. She was barking and whining to awaken us. Chuck jumped up. Mandy ran into the baby's room, Chuck close behind. The monitor had malfunctioned. The alarm had not sounded. Alicia had gone into cardiac arrest. We grabbed her and immediately started CPR. We brought her back. Thank God and Mandy.

Alicia is now a healthy college student. We will always wonder how Mandy knew something was wrong. Had Alicia made a sound or was Mandy so tuned into her labored breathing that she sensed a change? We'll never know, but will always be extremely grateful to our shaggy friend."

Told by Valerie Rayca
Written by JSB

A special thanks to Ms. Barto for contributing and spreading the good news!

Goose Needs Goslings!

2009-01-06T14:39:00.000-08:00

It's no secret: The Goose is Failing. As much as we admins want to keep the good news in circulation, we're exhausted with the constant research, summarizing, and posting.

Want the Goose to keep running? We need YOU! If you happen across a Good News story, PLEASE send a link (with, if you feel indistrious, a summary) to TheGoodNewsGoose@gmail.com. Keep the Goose up to date, spread cheer, AND see your name in happy little shout-outs at the end of any story you submit!

With hope,
Mother Goose

Talking Parrot is an Unlikely Hero

2008-11-12T12:47:00.000-08:00

Denver, CO, USA

Willie the parrot became an unlikely hero when he alerted his owner, Megan, to a life-threatening emergency. Megan, along with her pet bird, was babysitting for 2 year-old Hannah when the toddler began choking on a fragment of pop tart. Megan was in the bathroom at the time, when she heard "Willie . . . screaming like I'd never heard him scream before and he started flapping his wings. Then he started saying 'mama baby' over and over and over again until I came out and looked at Hannah and Hannah's face was turning blue . . . " The young woman quickly performed the Heimlich maneuver, dislodging the obstacle. Still, she credits her bird with the rescue, saying "If (Willie) wouldn't have warned me, I probably wouldn't have come out of the bathroom in time because she was already turning blue, her lips were blue and everything." Nicely done, Willie!

To read more, visit http://news.aol.com/article/talking-parrot-saves-toddlers-life/243378

Stranger Returns Foreclosed Home to Owner

2008-10-27T11:30:00.000-07:00

Dallas, TX, USA

"People need to help each other and that's all there is to it," explains Marilyn Mock. That's the reason she gives for a random act of kindness that changed the life of Tracy Orr. Orr attended a foreclosure auction in Dallas today, resigned to seeing her own home sold to the highest bidder. As the auction began, she broke down in tears, catching the attention of a generous stranger. At a bid of 30,000$, Mock won the home she had never seen, and promptly promised to allow Orr to move back in. "I'm still in shock," says Tracy Orr.

To read more and see pictures, visit http://news.aol.com/article/foreclosure-angel-saves-womans-home/226863

Surfing Your Way to a Healthy Brain

2008-10-15T13:55:00.000-07:00

A new study suggests that surfing the web has a positive effect on the brain and can help postpone atrophy, increase cell activity, and ward off dangerous accumulations of Alzheimer’s causing deposits. Activities such as reading and puzzles have already been shown to contribute to the brain’s upkeep as the aging process goes on, and a recent study adds the internet to that list. The researchers used functional magnetic resonance imaging scans (which track how strong a cell’s response to stimuli is) to record subtle brain-circuitry changes in the patients while using the internet veruses the changes when they read passages out of books.

All the study participants showed significant brain activity during the book-reading task, specifically in the temporal, parietal and occipital lobes of the brain, which are involved in controlling language, reading, memory and visual abilities. But Internet searches revealed differences between the two groups. While all the participants showed the same activity as during the book-reading, the group of experienced web surfers also registered activity in the frontal, temporal and cingulate areas of the brain, whereas those new to the net did not. This is because, unlike the act of reading, navigating the Internet requires continuous decision making, such as what to click on—thus engaging cognitive circuits in the brain which control decision-making and complex reasoning.

"Our most striking finding was that Internet searching appears to engage a greater extent of neural circuitry that is not activated during reading — but only in those with prior Internet experience," said study leader Gary Small of the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA. That being said, with more time and experience, the group that was new to the Web could eventually reap the same benefits as their peers who had been googling away for years. So next time you’re surfing the web, on the prowl for a juicy new GNG update, pat yourself on the back for giving your mind a workout.

Out of the Holocaust, a Hollywood Love Story

2008-10-13T13:52:00.001-07:00

At just 12 years old, Herman Rosenblat lived a life of hardships. A Jewish boy in Nazi-occupied Poland, his life and his family dissolved around him each day. He was forced to leave his home with his family and live in a ghetto. Soon thereafter, his father fell ill. The doctor they snuck into their dwelling was unable to help; Mr. Rosenblat was dying of typhus. Before he passed, he said something which Herman never forgot: "If you ever get out of this war, don't carry a grudge in your heart and tolerate everybody." It was hard advice to remember in the coming months, when the rest of Herman's family would be sent to labor camps and he would be separated from his mother forever.

In Schlieben, Germany, nine year-old Roma Radziki posed as a Christian with her family to escape persecution. The Radzikis lived near a labor camp; Roma walked passed the chain link fence every day. Once, she caught the eye of a handsome boy on the other side. Asking herself what she could do to help him, Roma threw the boy an apple she was carrying. It was the beginning of a daily ritual that would last until Herman was scheduled to be transferred to a different camp. He told the strange girl he wouldn't be back at the fence the next day. "I won't see you anymore," she said. "Right, right. Don't come around anymore," he replied. Years passed, Herman's camp was liberated, and the two children forgot each other.

Herman eventually moved to New York, where ran a television repair shop. One night a friend offered to set him up on a blind date. Herman was not enthusiastic about meeting a strange girl, especially without knowing what she looked like, but he agreed. The strange girl was Roma.

After dinner, the two of them got to discussing their wartime experiences. Roma told Herman about the handsome boy who used to catch the apples on the other side of the fence, and Herman was astounded. "That was me," he said. He proposed that night. Roma thought he was crazy. But, two months later, she agreed. This summer, the couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

To read the full story, visit http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/personal/10/13/holocaust.love.story.ap/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

Hundreds of Penguins Rescued

2008-10-09T13:09:00.000-07:00

Brazil

Nearly 400 Magellanic penguins are back on the right track this week, after getting lost during migration and wandering 1,550 miles from their destination. The International Fund for Animal Welfare saw that the wayward flock was relocated via a C-130 Hercules aircraft, an ironic mode of transportation for the flightless birds. After the long journey, the warm-weather penguins rested for 24 hours before waddling eagerly into the see off of Brazil's southern coast. It is believed that they first became confused due to shifting temperature patterns in the oceans which are contrary to the animals' hired-wired migration instincts. With luck, though, this wayward flock will go back to life - and migration - as usual.

To read more, visit http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/10/08/rescued.penguins/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

Simple Precaution May Decrease Likelihood of SIDS

2008-10-07T14:44:00.000-07:00

USA

A recent study by Kaiser Permanente indicates that using a fan to circulate air over sleeping babies decreases the likelihood of SIDS, (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) also known as crib death. For the past several decades, doctors and scientists have struggled to discover the cause of SIDS, but thus far have only achieved a list of factors which may help prevent the tragic occurrence. Placing babies to sleep on their backs, and keeping cribs free of excessive blankets, pillows, and stuffed animals are some of the measures that have helped decrease the frequency of SIDS in the US by 56% between 1992 and 2003. Doctors theorize that the addition of a fan may help prevent SIDS by ensuring that the carbon dioxide which babies exhale as they sleep is circulated away from their faces, rather than being re-inhaled. The study indicates that the presence of a fan, in addition to the previously known preventative measures, decreases the overall changes of SIDS by 72%. Doctors stress that all the precautions must be used together to achieve the optimal result, end encourage parents to consult their pediatricians before deciding to use a fan.

2 Year-Old Survives 30 Foot Drop, Caught By Strangers

2008-10-06T18:31:00.000-07:00

Miami, FL, USA

Sherri Pinkerton found herself in a desperate situation at the central Florida Carnival today, when the "Crazy Bus" ride began to move before all the passengers were safely strapped in. With her 2 year-old daughter, Gracie, Pinkerton was lifted 30 feet into the air with nothing to stop her from falling. Holding to the carnival contraption with one hand, she held Grace in the other. As her strength stretched to the limit, in her own words, "There was nothing I could do. . . I couldn't hold both of us. I held onto her for as long as I could." As luck would happen, fair goers gathered beneath mother and child to catch Grace. ""I let go of her and she grabbed my shirt," Pinkerton explained. "So, I had to pry her hands off my shirt and let her fall." Amazingly, Grace was uninjured. Rescuers used a ladder to access Pinkerton and 6 more children inside the ride, all of whom were recovered safely.

An investigation has been launched to determine whether the ride malfunctioned or there was an operator error.

To read more, visit http://news.aol.com/article/toddler-caught-after-drop-from-fair-ride/201641

Act of Courage Saves Florida Woman's Life

2008-10-03T13:27:00.000-07:00

Chris Mosely is being called a hero for saving a woman's life after she jumped off a bridge in Florida. Onlookers say the woman lay her cell phone down on the side of the road and jumped into the water below the Joe McCorquodale bridge on Highway 43. She fell at least 97 feet before hitting the water. Chris Mosely saw the woman fall and was able to follow a trail below the bridge and jumped in the water to save the woman. When asked what inspired his act of bravery, he responded that he was just doing what he "thought was right thing to do."

"You know I didn't think about it. Nothing like that every crossed my mind I just knew that I was at the time was the only one there she was going to get saved and it was going to be up to me," The woman is currently recovering in the hospital but suffered no critical injuries. We obviously all hope that she will also receive the emotional and mental health services to continue her recovery in all aspects.

http://www.wkrg.com/local/article/bridge_rescue_man_saves_womans_life/19614/

California Menus to Show Nutrition Information

2008-10-01T12:13:00.000-07:00

LOS ANGELES, USA

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill Tuesday requiring chain restaurants to put calorie counts on their menus and indoor menu boards, making California the first state to enact such a law in the battle against America's expanding waistline. All restaurants must comply by 2011, and starting in July, restaurants and drive-throughs will have to offer menus that with the nutrition facts for each item.

Schwarzenegger said the legislation was part of the state's push to set a national model for nutrition policy and to fight obesity, which costs the state $28.6 billion in health-care costs, lost productivity and workers' compensation. New York, Seattle and San Francisco have already approved similar legislation and Chicago, Washington and Philadelphia have proposals on the table.

Knowedge!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/30/AR2008093002620.html

Dog Owner Opens Can of Whupass on Shark

2008-09-30T15:01:00.001-07:00

Dogs may be mans' best friend, but 53 year-old Greg LeNoir has proven that a man can be a dog's best friend, too. A carpenter from Florida, Mr. LeNoir may not have had an especially loyal relationship with his dog Jake. At least, not until Friday evening. That's when man and dog went for a swim together off New Smyrna Beach, and became easy pray for a hungry shark. LeNoir barely registered the open-mouthed predator before it snatched Jake, pulling the 28 pound pooch under the surface. After a crazed moment of screaming, LeNoir dove after the shark, furious fists a-flying! ''I clenched my fists and dove straight in with all my strength, like a battering ram,'' LeNoir, told the Miami Herald. "I hit the back of the shark's neck. It was like hitting concrete.'' No doubt stunned by the assault, the shark released Jake, who quickly swam to safety. Amazingly, neither he nor Greg LeNoir were seriously injured during the ordeal.

Read more at http://www.miamiherald.com/news/5min/story/707023.html

19 Hostages Rescued in Desert by Multinational Troop Effort

2008-09-30T12:48:00.000-07:00

CAIRO, Egypt

A group of 19 tourists' safari in the remote Sahara region of Africa took a turn for the horrifyingly cinematic last week, when they were abducted by armed kidnappers and driven off into the barren wilderness. Egyptian and Sudanese troops rescued the European tour group early Monday morning, and the tourists and their Egyptian guides returned safely to Cairo.

The operation, apparently backed by European special forces, ends a 10-day hostage situation that took the 11 Europeans and their eight guides across a barren stretch of the Sahara Desert. They were seized by gunmen on the 19th while on a desert safari in remote southwestern Egypt. It was unclear where their abductors were taking them, or where they would end up... Sudan, followed by Libya? Chad?

Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini suggested Italian and German special forces were involved. He was beaming as he explained that Sudan and Egypt carried out "a highly professional operation" with the "intervention of Italian intelligence and experts from the special forces" from Germany and Italy.

The official said the tourists, who include two Italians in their 70s, were "feeble" but in good condition. Most importantly, MENA reported that none of the captives was hurt in the rescue. Amazing!

The freed captives, who included five Germans, five Italians, a Romanian and eight Egyptian guides and drivers, were brought by a military plane to Cairo on Monday, greeted at the airport by officials who extended their welcome with bouquets of fresh flowers. They were then taken to a military hospital for checkups.

"Our compatriots and the other hostages in Egypt have been freed," Frattini said. "It is the result of international cooperation for which we have to be really grateful to the authorities of other countries that have been working with us."

http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,429475,00.html

Scientists Coax Adult Cells Back to Embryonic State

2008-09-25T13:32:00.000-07:00

Harvard University, USA

Stem cell research has been one of the most promising areas of medical advancement in our generation. Political controversy, however, has strangled funds for research projects, while moral controversy keeps the public decidedly undecided about the potentially life-saving knowledge we stand to gain. The question we are faced with, time and again, is "Is it ever acceptable to use embryonic stem cells for medical research?" Starting now, the answer may not matter.

A team of scientists at Harvard University has developed a method by which adult stem cells can be regressed back to their original embryonic state. With the controversy of harvesting true embryonic cells behind them, scientists may be able to learn by leaps and bounds in the next few years.

"We have removed a major roadblock for translating this into a clinical setting," said Konrad Hochedlinger, a Harvard University stem cell researcher whose research was published online today by the journal Science. "I think it's an important advance."

To read more, visit http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/25/AR2008092502099.html?hpid=moreheadlines

Ping Pong Ball Saves 2 Year-Old's Life

2008-09-24T18:02:00.000-07:00

Sydney. Australia

An Australian surgeon took a daring step in a liver transplant recently; He implanted a ping pong ball in the patient! What sounds like a medical mishap was, instead, an innovative measure taken to save a life. 2 year-old Mackenzie was on the operating table to receive a portion of an adult liver in place of her own. With donors rare, in Australia, surgeon Albert Shun had no back-up options when the transplant organ proved troublesome. The liver's size and shape caused it to rest on Mackenzie's blood vessels, creating potentially fatal pressure. In an almost MacGyver-like fashion, Shun placed a $2 ping pong ball inside hie patient to prevent the liver from obstructing her blood flow. "There shouldn't be any complications." Says Shun. "We are in a unique situation in Australia because we have a low donor rate so we have to be adaptable." While the unorthodox technique came as a shock to Mackenzie's parents, who found out about it after the surgery, they insist are happy to see their daughter alive and well. "She is so normal now," says mother Letice Darswell, "she is a happy kid."

To read more, visit http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,24393387-5006009,00.html

Google Phone Unveiled At Last

2008-09-23T18:02:00.000-07:00

For years, we've been hearing rumors that Google is developing a phone to rival the BlackBerry and the iPhone - music to the ears of anyone who loves Googe or is anti-Mac. Finally, T-Mobile and Google have teamed up to release the G1, a brand new uber-phone unlike anything we've ever seen. Boasting Google's Android operating system, an iPhone-like touch screen, and an expandable keyboard, the G1 combines many features that have consumers excited to try this latest addition to the technology wave. The G1 will become commercially available on October 22, at a cost of about 180$ with a 2-year contract. I know I'm tempted!

Learn more at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=94953519&ft=1&f=1001

Everyone Poops, San Antonio Recycles

2008-09-19T12:34:00.000-07:00

SAN ANTONIO, Texas

This Texan town is taking recycling to a whole new level: turning the city's collective poop into renewable energy. Quite a metamorphosis, from caca to cash.

Ameresco Inc., a Framingham, Massachusetts-based energy services company has offered to buy captured methane gas generated from the San Antonio Water System treatment of "biosolids" (a nice neutral word for human waste sewage) for $250,000. The 140,000 tons of biosolids will yield at least 900,000 cubic feet of natural gas daily for the next 20 years. Representatives for SAWS explain that this amount is "enough gas to fill seven commercial blimps or 1,250 tanker trucks each day."

"We're very pleased that we can capture and sell this gas, which is good for San Antonio's air quality and puts this renewable energy resource to work for San Antonio." Steve Clouse, the water system's chief operating officer.

It will take a year or two for the facilities to be built, but in the meantime SAWS is already using their human garbage for fertilizing lawns and selling methane byproducts to other institutions.

http://cnn.site.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=City+aims+to+make+money+from+poo+power+-+CNN.com&expire=10%2F11%2F2008&urlID=30945514&fb=Y&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2008%2FTECH%2Fscience%2F09%2F11%2Fsewage.energy.ap%2Findex.html&partnerID=211911

Unknown Work of Mozart Discovered in French Library

2008-09-18T16:09:00.000-07:00

Nantes, France

A priceless bit of musical history was discovered in a French museum this week: a sheet of previously unknown music, handwritten by none other than Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

The sheet was donated to the museum in the 19th century by an autograph collector, and was apparently cataloged as part of the library's collection without being recognized for what it is. The International Mozarteum Foundation's head researcher Ulrich Leisinger says there can be no doubt of the document's authenticity. "This is absolutely new," Leisinger said. "We have new music here. . . His handwriting is absolutely clearly identifiable. . . There's no doubt that this is an original piece handwritten by Mozart."

The music itself is described as an early draft, or the start of a piece that was never finished. Leisinger explains "It's a melody sketch, so what's missing is the harmony and the instrumentation, but you can make sense out of it. The tune is complete. It's only one part and not the whole score with eight or twelve parts." Despite its incompleteness, the discovery is considered an important find. And rare, among fewer than a dozen such documents brought to light in the past 50 years.

The document appears to have been written sometime during the last 5 years of Mozart's life.

To read more, visit http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Music/09/18/eu.mozart.discovery.ap/index.html

Vaccinations for Pregnant Moms Means Protecting Babies Too

2008-09-17T13:07:00.000-07:00

Boston, USA

For moms-to-be looking to protect their babies, a study confirms what scientists have assumed for years: flu shots given to pregnant women a month or more before delivery results in the immunization being passed on to the buns in their ovens. Such vaccinations usually remain effective for the first six months of the baby's life. Since newborns are not authorized to receive flu shots during this time period, a mother's vaccination helps bridge the gap: a time when babies are particularly susceptible to get the flu. Centers for Disease Control have been recommending pregnant women get their flu shots since 1997, but the advice tends to go ignored: only about 15% of expectant mothers are vaccinated each year. Specialists are hoping that this concrete proof will inspire more moms to get their flu shots during the high-risk fall months.

"Immunize the mother and you protect the infant," Dr. Mark Steinhoff, a pediatrician with the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. "This might persuade more mothers to say, 'Hey, it really helps me and it really helps the baby,'"

In the test of 340 pregnant women in Bangladesh, the shots cut the risk of flu by 63 percent and the risk of respiratory illness overall by 29 percent. There were six confirmed cases of influenza in the vaccinated group, compared to 16 among the mothers given a different vaccine.
The injections also lowered the likelihood of fever and respiratory illness among the mothers by 36 percent.

http://www.reuters.com/articlePrint?articleId=USN1726328620080917

Genetic Therapy May Prevent Hereditary Blindness

2008-09-16T16:11:00.000-07:00

Paris, France

A condition known as Leber hereditary optic neuropathy robs young adults of their sight by destroying the optic nerve. In Paris, Marisol Corral-Debrinski and her team at the Pierre and Marie Curie university have created a treatment which may be the light at the end of the tunnel for potential sufferers of the disorder.

The experimental treatment involved implanting functional copies of the ND4 gene, which is irregular in Leber patients, into lab rats with the disease. Electric impulses were used to temporarily open the cells' surface pores. Among treated rats, most of the optic nerve cells survived. Untreated rats lost 40% of their optic nerve cells within eight weeks.

Though the current treatment has only been tested in lab rats, the solution to Leber is beginning to come into focus.

To read more, visit http://www.newscientist.com/channel/health/mg19926735.000-hereditary-blindness-therapy-within-sight.html?feedId=online-news_rss20

Assistance Dog Calls 911, Saves Man's Life

2008-09-15T15:02:00.000-07:00

Phoenix, AZ, USA

The frantic sound of a dog whining and barking may not be what Chriss Trott is accustomed to hearing when he answers 911 calls, but it was enough to save the life of Joe Stalnaker on Wednesday when he suffered a seizure.

Stalnaker's home is flagged in the 911 database as having a trained assistance dog who may call for help in an emergency. Buddy, Stalnaker's faithful German shepherd, has been trained since puppyhood to recognize the symptoms of a seizure, get the telephone, and press specially programmed numbers that contact the 911 emergency hotline.

"It's pretty incredible," says Scottsdale police Sgt. Mark Clark "Even the veteran dispatchers — they haven't heard of anything like this."Clark further reports that Mr. Stalnaker spent a couple of days in the hospital, making a full recovery from his seizure thanks to Buddy. Man's best friend, indeed.

To read more, visit http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jeDqeOQlgzwM4VjSCR1TETh6rM4AD936NST82

Thanks going out to Papa Goose for this story!

Junkyards Go Green

2008-09-15T13:38:00.000-07:00

New Hampshire, USA

How green can garbage get? A new campaign in New Hampshire has been inspiring-and requiring-salvage lots to clean up their act. Junkyards are particularly difficult areas to keep in line with environmental law due to the increasing number of regulations regarding the disposal of mechanical leftovers. Cars alone have 13 parts with specific regulations pertaining to their storage.

Both local communities and the Federal government were concerned over water contamination from spilled gas and oil, but the real impetus for change came from within the industry itself: the New Hampshire Auto & Truck Recyclers Association reached out to the Department of Environmental Science in 2003 for advice and help on cleaning up junkyards and staying in compliance. Now over 160 yards across the state of New Hampshire are involved in a nationally recognized and governmentally lauded program called New Hampshire Green Yards.

"We have wonderful compliance from the junkyards as far as this town is concerned," said Dee Voss, manager for the building inspector's office in Plaistow, which has three salvage yards. "They get surprise visits from us almost quarterly and they are quick to act when we ask something of them."

Turning over a new leaf hasn’t been easy. ASAP Auto salvage yard owner Ken Chapman points out the difference between the old days and the new, greener ones:

"Every time you turn around there's a new law," he said. "Junkyards used to pour the used oil on the ground just to keep the dust down, and it was fine."

That is precisely one of the ways in which the Green Yard program supports those they oversee is by helping them to cope with the continually expanding list of disposal regulations. Together they have compiled its Best Management Practices: with recommendations and guidelines along with free training videos and site assessments by state experts.

"Our members all feel positive about the whole thing," Ken reports. "At first some didn't feel that way, but now that they've been through it and have seen how it works, they are finding that it works well for them."

The Green Yard project has even inspired some salvage yards to go above and beyond by taking voluntary precautions. Some are only draining fluids indoors and using water-soluble degreasing solvents. In response, taking such self-starting measures is specially recognized by the state’s official Green Yard Certification, a sort of gold star rating for salvage yards. The recognition comes complete with official flags and magnetic truck door signs which are displayed with pride. It’s great to see another example of green practices sprouting up, even amongst scrap metal and old carburetors.

Child Mortality Rate Down 27% Since 1990

2008-09-14T09:49:00.000-07:00

WORLD

UNICEF reports that child mortality rate, that is, the number of live-birth children who die before the age of five, is down 27% since 1990. The organization noted particular progress in Laos, Bangladesh, Bolivia and Nepal. Factors contributing to the good news include healthier breast feeding practices, measles vaccination, vitamin A supplementation, the use of insecticide-treated nets to prevent malaria, and prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS. While much work remains to be done, particularly ins Sierra Leone, which has the highest child mortality rate in the world, the decrease is viewed as very good news. The latest numbers indicate that the rate continues to decrease, as it has fallen more than 60% since 1960.

To read more, visit http://news.aol.com/article/unicef-child-mortality-down-27-percent/172520?cid=14

New York's Fashion Week Boasts Healthier Models

2008-09-12T13:25:00.000-07:00

NY, USA

Fashion Week in New York: It's all about expression. Top-notch designers from around the world converge to unveil their latest and most exclusive creations in the form of runway fashion shows. The glitterati are in attendance, along with a slew of fashion correspondents who distill new trends from the cutting-edge pieces that glamorous models flaunt down the runway. And, sitting in front of their TV screens or flipping through magazines, young girls all over the globe begin to dream of one day becoming fashion models.

For decades, there has been a public outcry against the stick-thin women who, as they strut down the catwalk, set the standard for fashion and beauty. Young women and the people who love them have lamented the spread of eating disorders and psychological problems that too often accompany a little girl's journey towards professional modeling. With designers supplying their clothing in sizes 0 and 2 (that's "emaciated" and "waifish," for those of you who may be unfamiliar with women's sizes), it has long been impossible for any woman, no matter how beautiful, to realize the dream of modeling during fashion week without sticking to an extreme, and often unhealthy diet.

That's why it is good news indeed that this year, Fashion Week has finally jumped on the ever-expanding bandwagon of putting healthier women in the spotlight. According to Nian Fish, who chairs a fashion designers health initiative, models were up to size 4 (read: "thin") this year, and there wasn't a size 0 in sight. Furthermore, designers turned away from modeling their clothing on prepubescent 13 year-old girls.

"I think a lot of the direction from the designers has been a much healthier approach," said James Aguiar, co-host of Ultra HD's "Full Frontal Fashion." Avril Graham, executive fashion and beauty editor at Harper's Bazaar, agrees: "We're obviously going through a season of a less cookie-cutter look."

To my own (fashion-blind) eyes, this years models still look impossibly thin. But if there has been a step, even a tiny one, away from the skin-and-bones ideal that I've grown up with, I see it as a step in the right direction. Who knows, maybe next year we'll have the pleasure of seeing a nice rack or a juicy booty on New York's high profile stage!

To read more, visit http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/homestyle/09/11/thin.models.fashion.ap/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

Cat Survives 16 Mile Journey Under the Hood of a Running Car

2008-09-11T18:13:00.000-07:00

Irvine, CA

After driving 16 miles from Anaheim to Irvine, CA, an anonymous driver pulled her Honda over when she heard odd noises issuing from under the hood. When she got out of the car, she realized that the loud wailing sounded just like a cat. After popping her hood, the driver was stunned to find an adult black cat who had somehow wedged himself behind her right headlight, beneath the hood. The woman immediately called 911.

When rescue workers arrived, the car's engine was still so hot that they were unable to access the trapped kitty. Eventually, loosening the car's headlight gave way to a crack wide enough for rescuers to tranquilize and, eventually, extract cat.

Miraculously, "Miles," as the cat has now been named, survived the ordeal without a scratch or even a burn. Miles is micro chipped, however thus far his owners have not come forward. He is currently up for adoption in Irvine.

For the full story, visit: http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2008/09/11/dnt.ca.cat.wedged.in.engine.kcal

eHusbandry Matches Mates Across the World

2008-09-10T10:29:00.000-07:00

COLUMBIA, S.C.

Online dating is becoming more and more commonplace in today's cyber-centered world. The latest development brings good news in the heretofore neglected area of animal husbandry! Zookeepers will soon have access to the profiles of 'single' animals all over the world looking for prospective mates. Until know, discussions and descriptions of animals in captivity were exchanged on an individual basis, over the phone or email. By using a Facebook-esque social networking called the Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS), 150 zoos and aquariums around the world will be able to play match maker for animals in captivity. Also known as 'studbooks', the web-based data will be more easily accessible, faster in pairing up matches, and will contain information on the animals looks and personalities-- just like sites geared towards humans. This way, even species more hesitant to breed in captivity (such as the panda or African elephant) can be set up with compatible mates.

"Studbooks are the key to our long-term breeding plans," said John Lehnhardt, animal operations director at Disney's Animal Kingdom in Orlando, Fla. "We want to ensure that these endangered species are here for the future and that's really what the studbooks are all about. What we're trying to do is maintain a savings account in species."

"Big populations out in the wild breed randomly," added Ed Diebold, director of animal collections at Riverbanks Zoo. "In captivity, usually these populations are considerably smaller than wild populations, which is why you can't afford to allow animals to inbreed or breed along closely related lines. That's why you have the studbooks."

For more information and some titillating examples of animal mating habits, check out the original link:
http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,419603,00.html

Swimmers Rescued After 12 Hours at Sea

2008-09-08T15:32:00.000-07:00

Daytona Beach, FL, USA

A day at the beach for 12 year-old Chris Marino and his father Walter turned nightmarish when Chris was caught in an overpowering tide last Saturday night. Walter rushed to his son's rescue, only to be swept far offshore by the same treacherous current. Night fell, and father and son were separated as they struggled to stay afloat among three-foot swells. Rescue workers searched for the two until after 3:00 am to no avail.

However, both swimmers managed to stay afloat and relatively unharmed for the rest of the night. A fishing boat found Walter Marino, still swimming, at around 7:30 the next morning, while the coast guard rescued Chris two hours later, just a mile from where his father had been found. Both were listed as "in good condition" at a local hospital today.

To read more, visit http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,418495,00.html

New Screening Technique Better for Detecting Breast Cancer

2008-09-03T20:24:00.000-07:00

Traditional breast cancer screening consists of monthly self-exams, yearly professional exams, and, for older or high-risk women, mammograms. With recent advances in breast cancer screening and treatment, women have a better chance of surviving the disease than ever before. Scientists and doctors are trying to increase that chance even further, and recently unveiled a new screening technique that may go on to save thousands of lives.

Molecular breast imaging (MBI) is a new technology which was presented this week at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's 2008 Breast Cancer Symposium in Washington, D.C. Unlike mammograms, MBI images the breast using a an injected radiotracter that is able to detect different behaviors between cancerous and healthy cells. In a study presented at the symposium, MBI detected 10 out of 13 cancers among 375 patients. Mammograms detected three. Together, the techniques would have detected 11.

In addition to detecting more cancers, MBI produces fewer false positives than mammograms; 28% of MBI-prompted biopsies proved to be cancerous, compared with only 28% of mammogram prompted biopsies. "Based on the results, MBI has shown great promise as a valuable adjunct to screening mammography in women with dense breasts and who are at an increased risk of developing cancer," said study author Carrie B. Hruska, a research fellow in the department of radiology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

MBI technology is relatively inexpensive and easy to use. The future of the treatment depends upon it's spread across the country, as the screening is not yet widely available.

To read more, visit http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/03/AR2008090303193.html

Restaurant Customer Anonymously Leaves the Tip of a Lifetime

2008-09-02T14:24:00.001-07:00

Algonquin, IL, USA

After working as a waitress at the Montarra Grill in Angonquin for three years, Michelle Secreto probably has the menu memorized. She had two suggestions at the ready for a couple who came to the restaurant last week and requested gluten-free meals; Ms. Secreto recommended two seafood specials.

While not the most ordinary of interactions between customer and waitress to begin with, the anonymous couple turned their visit to the Montarra Grill into an unforgettable experience for Secreto when they left her the tip of a lifetime: 1,000 dollars.

Secreto plans to use the money to send her daughter, 12 year-old Ashley, on a school trip to Washington DC later this year.

To read more, visit http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,414363,00.html

Michigan Balloonist Survives 9,000 Foot Fall

2008-09-01T20:15:00.000-07:00

Anderson, S.C., USA

Chuck Walz is in rough shape; he has a broken leg AND a broken pelvis. But, considering that his hot air balloon deflated at 9,000 feet an plummeted back to Earth with him still in it this week, he's not doing too badly. Apparently, the Michigan native owes his lucky breaks to the fact that his balloon's basket became entangled in tree branches about 10 feet from the ground. Though Walz tumbled out of the basket, his fall was slowed by the collision with the tree. He was concious when rescuers arrived, and has undergone surgery to repair his leg and pelvis. His recovery so far has been promising.

For more information, visit http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,414543,00.html

Indiana Grandpa Loses Glasses, Wins the Lottery

2008-08-28T08:05:00.000-07:00

ROANOKE, Ind.

Using his five children's birthdays as his lucky numbers every time, Bobby Guffey had played his fair share of lottery games since it started in 1989. He had won a few times over the years, but this time was different: Bobby had forgotten his bifocals at home and accidentally entered a 48 instead of a 46.

Turns out, his poor vision paid off: his Hoosier Lotto ticket bore the winning numbers for a $3 million jackpot.

Not to say that Bobby's strategy of playing his children's birthdays was bad luck. Upon discovering his error at home, Bobby went back to the Huntington service station and purchased a new lotto ticket with his usual numbers. The second won him a handy bonus prize of $1,000.

Using his 3,001,000 earnings, Bobby and his wife, Janell, plan to pay off their house, take a cruise to Hawaii, and set up a trust fund for their five children and 10 grandchildren.

"Christmas will be a lot nicer," Jannell reports.

Robotic Suit Helps Paraplegics Stand Tall and Proud

2008-08-27T13:31:00.000-07:00

HAIFA, Israel

After two decades of having to look up to people around him, Radi Kaiof is now looking them straight in the eyes. He’s also standing, walking, and climbing stairs: no small feat for someone paralyzed from the waist down.

Radi, a former Israeli paratrooper who was paralyzed 20 years ago while serving in the military, has been participating in the trials of a new robotic suit called ReWalk. Motorized leg supports aided by crutches function as a sort of electronic exoskeleton, powering the 41-year-old's legs to move forward in stride. Body sensors and a back pack containing a computerized control box and rechargeable batteries allow the wearer to chose a setting with a remote control wrist band -- stand, sit, walk, descend or climb.

"I never dreamed I would walk again. After I was wounded, I forgot what it's like," Radi beams.
"Only when standing up can I feel how tall I really am and speak to people eye to eye, not from below."

ReWalk is the invention of Amit Goffer, founder of Argo Medical Technologies, a small Israeli technology outfit. Goffer’s inspiration to help others comes in part from that fact that he himself is paralyzed, though he cannot use his own invention because he does not have full function of his arms.

"It raises people out of their wheelchair and lets them stand up straight," Goffer said. "It's not just about health, it's also about dignity."

Kate Parkin, director of physical and occupational therapy at NYU Medical Centre, explains that the benefits to standing and walking are great not just for the body, but also for the mind:

"Physically, the body works differently when upright. You can challenge different muscles and allow full expansion of the lung. Psychologically, it lets people live at the upright level and make eye contact."

After our recent post regarding the new control system for quadriplegics, it's great to see even more good news in the arena of health innovations for those living with paralysis.

http://news.aol.com/health/article/robotic-suit-helps-paraplegics-walk/146700

A Rare Happy Ending

2008-08-25T13:42:00.000-07:00

Toronto, Canada

From an alarmingly long list of plane crash stories, the GNG would like to present this one for our favorite reason: It has a happy ending.

Ed Robertson flies his own Cessna 206 floatplane. He's also the lead singer of the Barenaked Ladies. Sunday afternoon, Robertson and three pass angers - reportedly his wife and two friends -took off from Baptiste Lake, Ontario. Shortly thereafter, the aircraft crashed in a wooded area near Bancroft. Ontario Provincial police Sgt. Bruce Quigg reports that none of the plane's occupants were injured.

Robertson's friend Gord Peel has said that the plane stalled, but Robertson was able to set it down gently, netted by trees with its nose resting on the ground. The pilot and passengers, shaken but unhurt, were able to exit through the aircraft's windows.

Barenaked Ladies manager Adam Smith said "Everyone is fine and that is the important thing," . . . That's all the comment we have at this time."

Special thanks to the Gander for this story.

Tongue Technology Gives Paralyzed a Big Hand

2008-08-25T11:39:00.000-07:00

ATLANTA, Georgia

Researchers at Georgia Tech are in the process of turning the tongue into a joystick… but not just for video games, but for computers, household appliances, wheelchairs, and more. The new technology turns the inside of a persons mouth into a virtual computer keyboard, allowing those people paralyzed from the neck down to have unprecedented control over their environment. The tongue presents several advantages over the existing systems: the muscle is flexible, sensitive and tireless. It would benefit a large percentage of those disabled from the neck down due to spinal cord injury because it the tongue is controlled by the brain. There are a few versions of tongue controlled systems out there: one uses a nine-button keypad placed on the roof of the mouth to control electronics. Another uses a virtual keyboard manipulated by an extremely tiny magnet placed on the tip of the tongue and inside each cheek. Software picks up on the tongue’s movements translates them into controls for electronics.

"You could have full control over your environment by just being able to move your tongue," said Maysam Ghovanloo, a Georgia Tech assistant professor who leads the team's research.

Mike Jones, a vice president of research and technology at the Shepherd Center, an Atlanta rehabilitation hospital adds that the new tongue tech has advantages over existing imprecise and expensive technologies:

"This could give you an almost infinite number of switches and options for communication… It's easy, and somebody could learn an entirely different language."

http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/ptech/08/25/tongue.computing.ap/index.html

Man Rescued from Silo Recovering Well

2008-08-23T10:24:00.000-07:00

Town of Oregon, Wisconsin

Wayne Ace noticed a big problem with the materials stored in one of his farm's silos. Silage, a mix of raw chopped materials like field corn, sorghum, grass, or clover, is put into silos to ferment and eventually be used as winter feed for livestock. Wayne noticed that his silage wasn't level, which would have meant wasted space inside the silo and less feed for his animals. Wanye, an experienced farmer, felt he could handle climbing into the 60 foot storage tower to fix the problem. Due to the tower's height and extremely limited access points, Wanye became stuck about halfway up the cylnder. The fumes and fibers from silage can prove toxic when inhaled over an extended period of time. Luckily, Wayne's family noticed what had happened almost immediately and called rescue workers to the scene. The rescue squad safely rappelled down the inside of the silo, and extracted Wanye through an opening no bigger than a foot and a half. He was taken by ambuleance to a local hospital where he has been recovering well. Wayne credits both the EMS and his family for his rescue, pointing out that it might have been much worse had he been stuck for much longer.

"It's my understanding that family members actually discovered the patient. Had they not been as alert and keeping track of what was going on with him, he could have been there for an extended period of time and could have expired," said Capt. Robin Powers of Oregon Fire and EMS.

Dog and Puppies Care for Abandoned Baby Girl

2008-08-22T15:47:00.000-07:00

La Plata, Argentina

Argentinian farmer Fabio Anze awoke to a huge surprise Thursday morning: a baby girl nestled among his dog China's litter. The baby, who was abandoned by her 14 year-old mother, was just hours old when she was found and rushed to the Melchor Romero hospital. Despite having spent the cold winder night outdoors, she was in good condition thanks to the snuggling warmth provided by Anze's dogs. It is unknown whether the baby's mother left her in the dog pen, or if perhaps China discovered the infant in the woods and carried her home to her own puppies. Regardless, she accepted the new addition into her own brood with exceptionally good nature.

To read more, visit http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080822/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_argentina_dog

From Cold to Closed: Card Decks Allow Inmates to Help Solve Crimes

2008-08-21T10:01:00.000-07:00

A group sits together in a tight circle playing a round of gin rummy. One player, examining his hand, notices that one of the face cards looks familiar. And in this deck, they're all face cards. A little girl's picture on the three of diamonds triggers a memory. The card player dials a number and provides a bit of information: a name, a place, a date. Suddenly a kidnapping case left unsolved for years is brought out of the filing cabinets and a family gets the answer they've been searching for for so long. Another crime case goes from cold to closed.

Such is the motivation behind a new program in New York and Florida's county jails which provide inmates with decks of cards featuring information on a murder, a missing person or another unsolved crime. Since inmates, many of whom have spent a good deal of time on the area streets, know information law enforcement agents don't, they can provide helpful new insights. The cards have a hotline listed where anyone with information can call and leave anonymous tips.

The New York program was started by Doug and Mary Lyall, whose daughter Suzanne went missing 10 years ago after getting off her bus at the State University of New York-Albany. Doug and Mary were inspired by a similar program in Florida, where state prisons and county jails are on their third edition of the decks, which have lead to eight arrests and one conviction.
Cindy Bloch, case manager at New York's Criminal Justice Services, was pleased with the results, and optimistic about the future: "Prior to the playing card program being implemented, we had virtually no calls coming from correctional facilities," she said. "We now have 40 or 50 calls per month coming in."

Doug and Mary used funds donated to their foundation, the Center for Hope, to send 7,200 decks of cards to New York's local jails.

"It just started to snowball, and we got momentum, and it took a lot of hard work, lot of phone calls, lot of foot work, but it's been worth it so far because we got it off the ground," Doug recalled.

Even inmates think the cards are a good idea. Patrick Devival, a prisoner in the Rensselaer County Jail, commented that he thinks the program is a very good idea, and he and many his fellow inmates are glad for the chance to try and do some good "even though we're on this side of the fence".

On-the-Job Fatalities at a Historic Low in 2007

2008-08-20T13:32:00.000-07:00

Washington DC, USA

The Bureau of Labor Statistics announced some good news today: On-the-job fatalities dropped 6% in 2007 from 2006, achieving the lowest rate the bureau has seen since it began collecting data in 1992. The current rate is 3.7 fatal injuries out of every 100,000 workers. Says Labor Secretary Elaine Chao, "This is continued evidence that the initiatives and programs to protect workers' safety and health, designed by and implemented in this administration, are indeed working."

To read more, visit http://www.usatoday.com/money/workplace/2008-08-20-worker-deaths_N.htm

Wisconsin Man Rescued After Treading Water for 12 Hours

2008-08-19T17:32:00.000-07:00

Green Bay, WI, USA

Despite being an experienced sailor, 56 year-old James Nelson was caught in a nightmarish situation on Sunday when he was knocked from his 23-foot sailboat into Michigan's Green Bay. A sudden rush of wind knocked the vessel's boom into Nelson's head, sending him flying into the water without his life jacket, which he had laid in the seat next to him. The same wind blew his boat hopelessly out of reach as Nelson drifted far out into the Bay. That night, his wife reported him missing at about the same time the coast guard found his boat, adrift with its motor still running.

For 12 hours, Nelson had been swimming, treading water, and resting frequently in a dead man's float, hoping and praying for rescue. In an interview with Fox, Nelson said that he tried to focus on his family and how he wanted to get home. Meanwhile, the Coast Guard sent seven boats and two helicopters to join a group of recreational boaters in the search for the missing man. At around 3:00 in the morning, one of the helicopters' crew finally spotted Nelson, who was so exhausted that a diver had to be sent to help him hold on as he was lifted out of the water. "When we heard a survivor was spotted in the water, you'd have thought we won the Super Bowl from the cheers," said Chief Mike Weisenbaugh, officer in charge of Coast Guard Station Green Bay.

James Nelson was treated for dehydration at St. Vincent's Hospital, before finally getting home safely.

To read more, visit http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gvu8VYab2kZ8YljiHJcMo8BAX0DwD92LCL9G2

Fay Fades From Florida, Leaves Little Damage, No Casualties

2008-08-19T06:19:00.001-07:00

Florida, USA

Florida residents were all breathing a sigh of relief yesterday, when Tropical Storm Fay proved wet and windy, but far less severe than hurricanes of the past. In fact, Fay's milder gusts never even allowed her to achieve official hurricane status, and her tropical storm title was stripped as she continued up the continent.

Police, government, and state agencies had braced for the storm's arrival by imposing a curfew, closing schools, evacuating at-risk residents, and urging businesses to take the proper precautions to safeguard local buildings against damage. Those businesses that braced for the storm, took the opportunity to puff their chests and shake their fists at storms of the past, with plywood window covers painted with taunts such as "Pop Off Charley" and "Oh Wilma!" Other than minor debris and street flooding, however, there were neither casualties nor damages.

Even in Cuba and the Caribbean, where Fay's path had not yet been slowed by the US landmass, there was good news. A bus toppled by the storm where 30 passengers lives were unknown was met by U.N. peacekeepers who confirmed that 41 passengers had made it out safely.
As the 10.8 million people who fell within Fay's path waved her goodbye, life is back to normal. Evacuation orders have been lifted to the north of Tampa Bay, and state and government offices are scheduled to re-open. As Sally Bishop, Pinellas County emergency management director, put it on this August morning, "I think we're going to all enjoy a nice summer day."

Rodeo Fall Survivor Called "Walking Miracle"

2008-08-18T18:39:00.000-07:00

Farmington, NM, USA

20 year-old Blake Arp wasn't too concerned when he regained consciousness on the ground on July 26th, after being thrown off a bull in the National High School Finals Rodeo. The cowboy has built his life around the rodeo, and even plans to attend Clarendon College in Clarendon, Texas on a full rodeo scholarship. He's spent enough time in rodeos to know that sometimes, you get thrown. His biggest concern as he came to was over the state of his hat.

But Arp's C1 vertebra, known as the "atlast," had been fractured. If the C1 sounds familiar, you could be remembering actor Christopher Reeves, who broke his in 1995. But while Reeves was confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his live, Blake Arp is making a recovery his doctors call miraculous.

As Arp lay on the ground after his fall, he realized that while he could move his legs, he wasn't able to get up. He was transported to the San Juan Regional Medical Center, where his doctors held few hopes for his recovery. According to Arp, “They didn’t know I could walk for a long time. One day, they started to move me from my bed and I saw that they were having trouble and I said ‘I can get up and lay down on the bed.’” He continues, “When I got up and stood up they were like, ‘You can’t walk yet.’ They thought it was a miracle that I was standing up walking.”

Apparently, they thought it was a miracle that he had even survived. Immediately following Blake's accident, “The doctor came in and told me that it was a miracle that I could even breathe,” Arp said. “They said that if I had moved my neck side to side when I was on the ground that it would have cut off my air supply and killed me.”

Instead, Blake will spend the next few months in the euphemistically named “halo” which keeps his head from moving side-to-side, and after that, a neck brace. His full recovering will take about a year. And then, he plans to get right back into the rodeo ring. “Being out a year is worth a lifetime,” Arp said. “I’d rather sacrifice one year than my whole rodeo career.” His scholarship at Clarendon will be waiting for him, when he's ready.

To read more, visit http://www.cedartownstd.com/pages/full_story?article--A-walking-miracle-Arp-recovering-from-rodeo-injury%20=&page_label=home_top_stories_latest&id=182725--A-walking-miracle-Arp-recovering-from-rodeo-injury&widget=push&instance=home_latest_1st_left&open=&

Mom Holds Premie Conjoined Twins for First Time

2008-08-18T18:08:00.000-07:00

Arizona, USA

For Arizona mom Ashley Frank, today was a very special day. This morning marked the first time 20 year-old Ashley was able to hold her newborn babies in her arms-- 4 long days after their birthday. The infants were born conjoined (which occurs about once in every 100,000 births) at just 32 weeks and four days, two months less than a full term pregnancy. Although they had been in good health until recently, the last ultrasound revealed that Ashley had lost almost all her amniotic fluids and was suffering from an enlarged bladder. Doctors decided that the twins-- who were old enough to survive outside the womb-- would be safest if an emergency C-section were performed. Happily, the twins and their mom pulled through the surgery just fine and are doing wonderfully under the care of doctors at Phoenix Children's Hospital. The newborns share only a liver-- making the possibility of separation far easier once they are a little older and stronger. For now, Ashley, proud papa Johnny, as well as new big sisters Manuela and Adianna, are just happy to be together.

For the original link: http://www.kingmandailyminer.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&subsectionID=1&articleID=16997

and an interview with the glowing new mother: http://www.wptz.com/video/17221510/index.html

2 Year-Old Boy Survives Massive Tumor Removal

2008-08-14T17:59:00.000-07:00

Amman, Jordan

2-year old Safa, an Iraqi boy, suffered from a 12-lb Whilm's tumor in his kidney. The cancerous tumors, if treated early, are rarely life threatening. However in little Safa's advanced case, it was "a miracle he was still alive." Half a world away, in Boston, liquor tycoon Ray Tye heard Safa's story and resolved to help him get treatment.

With Tye footing the bills, Safa's family traveled to a hospital in Jordan for a risky surgery that could easily cost the toddler his life. Dr. Iyad Sultan, after examining Safa, proclaimed "The tumor is massive. The liver, kidney, intestines are all squished to the sides. His lungs are very small. It's hard to believe he is able to breathe." But, after a 5-hour long, miraculously successful surgery, Safa is alive and better than ever.

To find out more (both about Safa and Ray Tye's Medical Aid Foundation) visit http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/08/13/iraq.baby/index.html

Fritzl Update: A Surprise Thank-You

2008-08-13T13:14:00.001-07:00

Austria

The famed victims in Austria's Fritzl family have surprised the officers who protected them from paparazzi and public scrutiny in the first few months following their rescue. Apparently unannounced, Elizabeth Fritzl and all six of her children arrived at the police station last week with a gift basket, complete with bottles of wine and hand-made posters and thank-you cards from the children. One of the cards said "During the initial, most difficult period you gave us a lot of strength and security. We will always fondly remember you and hope that our contact won't stop."

The chief of the police station, Karl Gschoepf, called the visit "[a] really nice gesture," continuing, "we were touched."

Faithful Goose readers know that I can never resist publishing good news about the Fritzls, however trivial, considering their past. This latest bit makes me especially happy, because I imagine that they've cleared a certain hurdle in their healing process to be able to give thanks to those who have helped them so far.

For more information, visit http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/08/13/fritzl.police.incest.ap/?iref=mpstoryview

Cloaking Device Within Reach

2008-08-11T13:32:00.000-07:00

USA

If you've ever seen an episode of Star Trek, or if you payed careful attention to The Coneheads, you'll know what a cloaking device is. However, on the off chance that the Goose has any non-nerd readers, a cloaking device is something like an invisibility cloak - a special material that hides solid objects from view.

In the past, scientist have reportedly been able to hide very thin, almost 2-dimensional objects behind special materials designed to bend light in unusual ways. Today, thanks to the development of metamaterials (man-made combinations of metal and ceramic, Teflon or fiber composite) scientists have demonstrated that they can cloak 3D masses as well.

Unlike stealth technology, which makes it harder for radar to detect aircraft by minimizing cross-section, cloaking devices may one day make such objects completely invisible. Since the human eye recognizes 3D objects by the way they bend and scatter light rays, scientists have been developing metamaterials to "bend light around objects so they don't create reflections or shadows."

Find out more at http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,401208,00.html

110 Year Old Cancer Survivor Becomes Daddy to Be!

2008-08-08T14:00:00.000-07:00

New Zealand

Move over Viagra... this is what I call getting a significant second wind. For the past forty years, Henry had shown no interest in sexual relations. That is until recently undergoing successful surgery to remove a cancerous tumor. From the time the tumor was gone, Henry's once lacking libido has done a 180 and he is well on his way to becoming a proud papa. Did we mention that in addition to being a cancer survivor, Henry is over 100 years old? Our re-born Don Juan is a tuatara, an endangered lizard-like creature that descended from dinosaurs found on a few of New Zealand's islands. Henry is the oldest tuatara ever to mate at Southland Museum.

"I had given up on old Henry," said curator Lindsay Hazley. He kept Henry in "solitary confinement" because he would attack females who showed interest in him as a mate. But in the years since veterinarians removed the lump in 2002, his mental health seemed to be improving too: "I say that he had a personality transplant at the same time," Hazley said Thursday. "If I had a tumor underneath my [genitals], when girls were passing by, I'd be a very grumpy boy too."

In March, Henry mated with Mildred, whose age is estimated between 70 and 80, and 11 healthy eggs are developing. Last month, she laid 12 fertile eggs, 11 of which remain healthy. And since tuataras can live well past 200 years old, these two love birds may just be hitting their prime! Hot stuff!

http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/08/06/lizard.reproduces/index.html?iref=newssearch

Thanks to Garrett for alerting the Goose to this lizard love story!

Couple Gets (Re-)Engaged With Google Street View

2008-08-07T07:15:00.000-07:00

The first time Michael asked Leslie to marry him was already a success... she said yes! But his proposal the Google engineer explains 'lacked pizzazz'. The "self-described nerd" he is, Michael Weiss-Malik decided to step up his game. He got the direction he needed using Google's mapping service, specifically the search engine's Street View technology. The feature allows internauts to view street-level panoramas of the areas they search for thanks to vehicle-mounted cameras which rove the covered areas. When Michael found out that the roving cameras were slotted to pass in front of Google's Mountain View headquarters where he works, he saw his chance to ask her before the entire world. Launching a website called MarryMeLeslie.com, Proposal 2.0 was as successful as the beta... and resulted in Acceptance 2.0!

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_10112631?source=most_emailed

Gas Prices' Downward Trend: 20 Days and Counting!

2008-08-06T08:37:00.001-07:00

According to a survey of gas station credit card swipes across the country, gasoline prices have fallen for the 20th consecutive day, resulting in a national average down by 25 cents! The AAA reports that this is an indicator of drivers turning to more environmentally friendly transportation options as well. In related news, yesterday's Washington Post reported that 10% of the police car fleet in Howard County, Maryland is made up of hybrid vehicles. Good for the environment, good for the pocket.

Gas trend details:
http://money.cnn.com/2008/08/06/news/economy/fuel/index.htm?cnn=yes

Howard's Hybrid decision well rewarded: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/03/AR2008080301643.html

Random Acts of Kindness in the DMV

2008-08-06T08:23:00.000-07:00

Good news turned up in the Washington Post's Metro section today! 'Random Acts' is an occasional column for Washingtonian inhabitants to share stories of kindness done to them, by them, or within their line of sight. Each is quite short, so I'll let their authors tell you the story in their own words:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/29/AR2008072902272.html

K-2 Update: Third Climber Survives Unaided Return to Base Camp

2008-08-05T13:30:00.000-07:00

The third survivor of the K2 avalanche, Marco Confortola of Italy, was able to make his way down the rest of the mountain and to the relative safety of base camp. Marco, who was injured and severely frostbitten, accomplished the rest of his decent with neither staggered down help nor oxygen. Once he was down, a Pakistani military rescue helicopter was able to transport him to a hospital for treatment.

For the original story... http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/08/05/asia/k2.php

Harassed Mom Apprehends Assailant

2008-08-04T15:01:00.000-07:00

Boulder, CO

23 year-old Danika Bueno was out for a bycicle ride with her 10 month-old baby when she was assaulted by a man who rode up behind her, grabbed her chest, and rode away. Where many might freeze with shock or call for help, Ms. Bueno took off after the pervert, chasing him on her bike for over a mile while she called 911. "I'm pretty comfortable on a bike," she says, "but I was nervous about getting too close to him." Nevertheless, with her help, police were able to arrest the assailant. He is now being charged with unlawful sexual contact and, because Ms. Bueno's child was with her on the bike, child abuse.

Way to go, Danika! Hopefully word will spread amongst potential sexual predators: Beware, women fight back!

Two Dutch Climbers Rescued after K-2 Avalanche

2008-08-04T07:05:00.001-07:00

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan

A helicopter pilot braved the dangergously thin airspace surrounding the K-2 mountain in Pakistan, and was able to successfully save the lives of two climbers presumed lost after an avalanche Monday. The two frostbitten Dutch climbers were attempting to descend the world’s second-highest mountain along with several other climbers, when the avalanche occurred.
Having spotted Wilco Van Rooijen and Cas Van de Gevel, the helicopter pilot rescued the two climbers and brought them first to K-2’s base camp and then to a military hospital in Skardu, the nearest town. The avalanche struck over 26,250 feet up the mountain, but choppers generally don't fly above 19,700 feet. This risky manueuver was well rewarded with three people safely down from K-2. The search continues for 11 other climbers who were on agruably the world's most dangerous mountain that day.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25995028/

Surfing Now an Unrestricted Olympic Event

2008-08-03T09:41:00.001-07:00

Internet access will be completely unrestricted for reporters during the this summers Olympics in Beijing. While the Communist government of China will continue to tightly regulate and block websites for its citizens, they are in the process of de-blocking all websites for reporter's access. BOCOG is the organizational body responsible for directly running the Beijing Games under the oversight of the IOC, which sets general policy. As the world prepares for the opening ceremony on the 8th of August, officials with the International Olympic Committee and the Chinese organizers BOCOG had been arguing over the Internet restrictions for media, with the latter saying blocked sites would remain so.

"The issue has been solved," vice-president Gunilla Lindberg said. "The IOC Coordination Commission and BOCOG met last night and agreed. Internet use will be just like in any Olympics."

http://www.iht.com/bin/printfriendly.php?id=14934355

First Double Arm Transplant A Success

2008-08-02T05:15:00.000-07:00

The team of doctors and surgeons (of which there were over forty) from the Munich University clinic, as well as a German farmer who had lost both his arms, had great reason to celebrate yesterday. Operating over the course of fifteen hours, the surgeons successfully grafted two new limbs to the man whose arms had been severed just below the shoulder in a farming accident. The doctors are still closely monitoring the patient, but say that his immune system has taken to the transplants 'optimally' and that the entire surgery went 'according to script'. Not only is it very commonplace for the body to reject grafts (which the man's has not), but for the first surgery of its kind to go off without a hitch is particularly laudatory. The team from Munich says that with a nerve rate growth of about a millimeter per day, they hope the patient will be using his new arms on his own in about a year or two.

The original link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/aug/02/germany

Untangling a Knot in the Series of Tubes: A Flaw Internet Security gets Fixed

2008-07-31T19:46:00.000-07:00

Is Dan Kaminski the modern-day Paul Revere? Some think so, after the 29 year old computer security specialist stumbled upon a potentially dangerous flaw in the basic way the internet is set up and called a secret meeting to alert mega programmers before going public. Afraid that hackers might take advantage of the flaw first, Kaminski rode "and spread the alarm, through every Middlesex village and farm." Which, given such modern day amenities as the internet, television, and newspapers, made his trip far faster than Revere's 1775 jaunt.

What Dan discovered was that it would be extremely easy for someone with ill intentions to divert internet users to fake websites that resembled sites they were familiar with, such as their bank's online services. Once surfers were on the fake sites, they would enter their private information where it could be accessed by the wrong hands. By annoucing the flaw, Dan has given the good guys a chance to fix the problem before their clients were taken advantage of. Already a large percentage of domains have been fixed, and others are on their way. With more personal business being conducted over the internet and identity theft a real concern, the fact that this hole can be patched ahead of time and not in the face of a large-scale problem is great news!

"In the hour of darkness and peril and need,
The people will waken and listen to hear
The hurrying hoof-beats of that steed,
And the midnight message of Paul Revere."

http://iht.com/articles/2008/07/30/technology/30flaw.php

Golden Retriever Adopts Tiger Cubs

2008-07-31T13:55:00.000-07:00

Caney, KS

"Some mothers just don't get it," says Tom Harvey, Director of Safari Zoological Park in Caney, Kansas. He's describing a mother tiger who gave birth to three adorable cubs on Sunday. Not long afterwards, she began neglecting them, virtually orphaning the day-old cubs.

Though the Zoo has bottle-fed tiger cubs in the past, natural food is by far the preferred nutrition for the "bottomless pits" of hunger. Fortunately for the cubs, Isabella, a local golden retriever, came to the rescue. Harvey reports that she treats the cubs as if they are her own litter, feeding, cleaning, and protecting them. Having just weened her own puppies, Isabella was in the perfect place, biologically speaking, to adopt the baby tigers.

To read more and to see pictures of this special family of animals, visit http://www.kansas.com/news/story/479300.html

Drug Trial Gives Hope to Alzheimer's Sufferers

2008-07-29T18:34:00.000-07:00

Scientists in the United Kingdom have tested a drug, called Rember, which shows tremendous promise for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

The illness, as many know, causes a slow deterioration of memory and cognitive function. Nicknamed "the long goodbye" by many physicians, Alzheimer's is often the hardest on those close to the patient, who are confronted with the bit-by-bit loss of the person they know and love. However, the patient must also suffer the embarrassment and pain of knowing the effects of the incurable condition, and many fear becoming a burden to their families.

That's why the promise of this new drug is so uplifting. In medical trials among 321 patients, there was an 81% difference in the rate of mental decline between those who took Rember and those who were given a placebo. According to researchers, after a 19-month period, those who took the new drug had no significant decline in mental function.

The Goose has previously reported on research pertaining to excess protein, or plaque, which builds up in the brains of Alzheimer's sufferers, and treatment focused on this plaque. Rember, technically known as methylthioninium chloride, treats instead a protein called Tau, which builds up inside the cells of the brain responsible for memory. This different angle of treatment may be responsible for Rember's apparent success.

Further trials are planned, however Rember may be available as early as 2012.

To read more about this remarkable drug, visit http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7525115.stm

By Banning Toy Toxin, Playtime Safer Across America

2008-07-29T08:18:00.000-07:00

USA

A group of harmful, yet widespread chemicals found in many children’s toys have finally been banned from use after long debate in Congress. The ban is the result of hard-won campaigning on the part of parents and health experts going up against the heretofore unchallenged chemical industry. The act is good news for two reasons: first because it means safer toys and healthier families. Secondly, because the act may represent a shift away from government favoring of industry and towards consumer rights.

The chemicals, known as phthalates, are found in many children’s toys. Phthalates studies show, however, that when ingested into the body over the course of time these chemicals become toxins, damaging the reproductive system especially in males. They are also thought to contribute to cancer of the liver and kidney. The added danger is that if mothers are exposed to phthalates, the toxins can be passed to their infants through breastfeeding. The toxins have been illegal in the European Union since 2007.

The bill is part of a wider reform of the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The legislation also provides for the creation of a new database consumers can use to log complaints or accidents about the goods they use. In addition, new laws will strengthen regulation enforcement and violations of these laws will be met with harsher punishments.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/28/AR2008072802586.html?hpid=topnews

First Virginian Job Training Facility Helps ex-Inmates Stay Out

2008-07-28T04:57:00.000-07:00

For the first time in Virginia, the Fairfax County jail will be teaming up next week with the non-profit SkillSource Group to help released offenders get on the right track, and stay on it, after release. The newly expanded center gives those serving time but who have shown good behavior while serving their sentence the chance to have employment and job training. The opportunity is open to inmates who have demonstrated good behavior while incarcerated and who are currently living in the center's pre-release center. They are given job training, advice on how to find and keep jobs, and other career counseling, including applying for a driver's licence. If employment is found, they may begin working during the last portion of their sentence. Any income earned by inmates is then given back to pay rent and maintain the facilities. When the nearby George Mason University in Fairfax, VA, began following up on what happened to inmates after release, they found 40% were rearrested within the year, citing the added difficulty of finding a job with jail time on their record. After monitoring the released inmates who completed SkillSource's program, they reported far fewer re-releases. The jobs that agree to take on this type of employee also benefits: tax credits for hiring them, insurance/reimbursement for workplace damage if there is a problem. Local officials said the program is geared toward reducing recidivism rates, which in turn means keeping our communities free from crime.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/22/AR2008072203345.html

Small-town Artist Awarded Micro-fund, Gets Sculpture to Beijing Just in Time

2008-07-27T13:18:00.000-07:00

Athletes aren't the only ones competing for a shot at making it to Beijing this August. When 38 year old Kentucky artist Brad White was chosen to have his sculpture "Salixtension" exhibited in the Chinese Biennial art exposition, he knew it was like winning a gold medal. The the curators of the first exposition of its kind were looking for spacial representations of character art... that is to say pieces that evoke the spirit of Chinese character writing. Described as an "elegantly sinuous anthropomorphic" piece, White's was one of just thirty artists chosen world wide for the event. Great news! The problem was, White's piece could also be described as "heavy" and the costs of shipping his large sculpture to China were over $1,000, which the artists simply couldn't afford. Fundraising might have not been fast enough, as Brad had to get Salixtension to Beijing by July 15th! Faced with the prospect of not being able to have his art displayed, he suggested that perhaps a fund could be established so that local artists who were invited to participate in such important exhibitions would be able to, without worrying about the high side-costs.

Happily, the town of Murray, Kentucky came to the aid of their native artist! The Louisville Visual Art Association (LVAA) has created a program of granting micro-loans to deserving artists without any of the long time-delays that other loan programs involve. White is the first loanee to benefit from the LVAA's support of artists and had his money in two hours, was able to ship his piece to China for the show.

"We loaned Brad $1,000, which enabled him to pay the import broker/expeditors in China, who in turn will obtain full release of his work, thereby getting it delivered to the museum in Beijing. The poor guy was trying to figure all of this out for seven days, while his work was held hostage and costing him a daily holding fee," said Shannon Westerman, leader of the LVAA.

The exhibit will be running the entire length of the 2008 Summer Olympics. For more information on Brad White and the LVAA, check out the original link:
http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080629/SCENE05/806290332

Girls Catch the Boys in High School Math

2008-07-26T17:13:00.000-07:00

For the past several decades, it's been common knowledge in America that high school boys were just plain better at math than high school girls. There's been an awful lot of research into the question "Why is it that high school girls aren't good at math?"A new study provides a thoroughly satisfying answer: They are.

Janet Hyde, a researcher from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, lead a study of 7 million standardized math test cores reported by gender. The scores were provided from ten different states, all having administered the same test as a result of the No Child Left Behind Act. The results? Girls are performing equally to boys after all.

So take it from a girl who refused to take Calculus in high school and went on to become a mechanical engineer: There is something for girls in math. And there's something for math in girls, too.

To read more about the study, visit http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/07/24/girls.math.ap/index.html

And in case you've ever felt like high school math was the most boring subject ever, check this out: http://www.maa.org/devlin/LockhartsLament.pdf

Pilots and Passengers Survive Explosive Decompression on Plane

2008-07-25T13:12:00.000-07:00

Manila, Philippines

About an hour into their flight from London to Austrailia, passengers aboard the Quantas airliner heard the sound of an explosion. According to Michael Rahill, one of the passengers, it sounded "like a tire exploding, but more violently." A 2.5-3 yard hole had been ripped in the side of the plane, for reasons yet to be determined. The hole lead directly to the baggage compartment, and some of the cabin was exposed as well. Oxygen masks appeared for the passengers, and the plane began to descend. Amazingly, those on board managed to stay calm. "No one was very hysterical," said passenger Marina Scaffidi, "The plane kept going down not too fast, but it was descending."

The plane diverted to Manila, where the pilots managed to land it safely. There were no injuries among the 345 passengers. They have been put up temporarily in hotels as they wait for other available flights. What could have been a major disaster has instead become an inconvenience.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the explosion, and it's certain that the airline will have some explaining to do in the coming weeks. However, I think it's safe to say that this time they have a decent excuse for losing people's luggage.

To read more and view pictures, visit http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,391024,00.html

Thanks to the Gander for that last one liner ;-)

Corrupt Guatemalan Adoption Program Halted, Stolen Child Reunited with Mother

2008-07-24T16:55:00.000-07:00

Guatemala City, Guatemala

Ana Escobar's baby, Esther, was kidnapped when she was just 6 months old. Ana was locked in a storage closet by armed men who stole her baby. "When I got out, my daughter was gone," she said in an interview.

Guatemalan authorities have long suspected that the country's 100$ million a year adoption program is corrupt, relying on kidnapped children like Esther to populate their baby banks. The system is so efficient that, after China, Guatemala is the most common source for American parents to search for adoptable children. In May, however, thousands of pending adoptions were halted to provide a change for investigation. No irrefutable evidence has been found to prove that kidnapped babies have been supplying the adoption program, until now.

When Ana Escobar heard the news about the adoption stoppage in May, she rushed to the National Adoption Council's office. She hoped to be allowed to see pictures of the children whose cases were being reviewed. Though Esther had been gone for over a year, Ana immediately recognized her in an image of the baby being carried away by an official. More photographs of the same toddler only strengthened Ana's resolve, and she insisted that the little girl was her own.

By that time, Esther had DNA records indicating that her mother was someone other than Ana. However, Ms. Escobar convinced officials to run a final test to confirm. The results proved that Esther was her daughter, as Ana knew they would. Mother and child are now reunited at last, in what is hopefully to be the first in a growing trend of righted wrongs in the Guatemalan adoption system.

To read more about this extraordinary reunion, visit http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,390044,00.html

Make Way for North Atlantic Right Whales

2008-07-24T09:44:00.000-07:00

Nova Scotia

With only 350 North Atlantic right whales left in the world, scientists and mariners alike are working towards finding ways to protect the population from further decline.

Their small numbers mean the whales tend to stick together, within a relatively small geographical area of the sea near Nova Scotia. While it has been illegal to hunt these whales since 1935, until recently their curious nature attracted them to passing ships, which would accidentally strike and kill several the curious 70 ton animals who had surfaced to take a look around.

Luckily, last year the International Maritime Organization adopted a proposal made by Canada's UN ambassadors to designate the Roseway Bay as an "Area to Be Avoided," or ATBA for short. Each year between June and December when the whales return to in Nova Scotia from their summer vacations in the south, ships weighing 300 tons and larger are asked (not forced) to go around the Roseway Bay. Despite its voluntary nature, most ships are obeying, and some shipping companies are enforcing official policies. Going around the whale pods only adds about 8.6 minutes to a 16-hour voyage between Halifax and New York, with negligible additional fuel costs.

Thanks to the willing participation of ships in the night, we really can save the whales!

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/07/10/rightofway/

Sailor Saved from Hurricane Cristobal

2008-07-23T09:13:00.000-07:00

Canada

A Canadian helicopter team was able to airlift a 66 year old Connecticut man to safety about 250 kilometres southeast of Halifax. His boat had capsized in the rough seas caused by tropical storm Cristobal. After activating his emergency locator beacon, a Cormorant helicopter, a Hercules airplane, two coast guard vessels and a frigate were sent to rescue him. A search-and-rescue technician was lowered into the water from the Cormorant and was able to lift the the sailor into the chopper. Both the technician and the sailor are in good condition.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/07/23/cristobal-sailor.html

Fewer Children Affected by Lead-Poisoning

2008-07-23T07:13:00.000-07:00

France

Having been first investigated in the 1980s, lead poisoning is condition brought on by the ingestion of lead-containing materials or inhalling dust that contains traces of lead. Once the lead is in the blood stream it can result in neurological damage and in extreme cases prove fatal. A French scientific journal reported that lead poisioning effected over 85,000 children in 1999, with hundreds of new cases every year. The French National Health Watch Institute and other organizations came together to study the development of the disease and to monitor the lead-poisoning tests being administered to children.

The resulting report is full of good news!

Lead-poisoning tests in recent years have shown a marked diminution of the average quantities of lead found in the tested children. This improvement is probably the result of combined factors: refurnishing of buildings that once had lead-based paint, the phasing out of lead carbonate usage, water treatment facilities lowering the concentrations of metals in municipal water supplies, and factory innovations which result in fewer traces of metal found in food.

To continue this trend, France is now specifically targeting the children of those workers exposed to lead to insure they are tested at a young age and that preventative measures can be taken. Their strategy includes campaigns to increase public awareness of at-risk families, including those living in geographic areas where the risk of exposure is higher. Doctors and scientists are also now working on a lead-poisoning detection test that would detect even smaller amounts of lead in the blood stream. Together these strategies should keep this upward trend going!

the story, for all you francophones:
http://news.doctissimo.fr/saturnisme-vers-un-depistage-plus-systematique_article4056.html

Tobacco Plants Turn Over a New Leaf, Help Fight Cancer

2008-07-22T20:06:00.000-07:00

For as bad a rap as tobacco gets in the health media, recent studies showing it's positive role helping to FIGHT cancer as opposed to causing it may make this a cash crop for good instead of evil. Scientists have used tobacco plants as sort of incubator to grow enough of the tumor-like proteins to trigger a response from the immune system. The proteins were then taken from their tobacco-leaf petri dishes and injected back into the volunteers. Once the cells are back in the patient's system, the body can "recognize it as a potential danger and send out armies of disease-killing cells to seek and destroy tumors harboring it."This inexpensive process resulted in 11 out of 16 volunteers with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma experiencing an essentially side-effect free immune response, successfully supplementing their ongoing chemotherapy treatments.

more info can be found at the original link:http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=cancer-vaccine-tobacco-plants&sc=rss

and if you too were unfamiliar with Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (which about 18,000 Americans are diagnosed with annually), this article explains... and illustrates why a vaccine is such good news!http://www.webmd.com/cancer/non-hodgkins-lymphoma/understanding-non-hodgkins-lymphoma-basics

Gratuitous Happy Story

2008-07-22T17:09:00.000-07:00

I usually try to do more than just copy and paste a link to a great story, but in this case I'm going to make an exception. For one thing, this video speaks for itself, and for another, despite all appearances, I am lazy!

For background information, visit http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25797678/

To skip right to the video, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adYbFQFXG0U

Sandworm's Superpincers Inspire Spaceworthy Synthetics

2008-07-21T13:13:00.001-07:00

What can a tiny bug teach us about space travel? Lots, if you ask Chris Broomell, a molecular biologist from the University of California Santa Barbara.

The sandworm burrows through the sand it lives in using a pair of 'jaws'. While the jaws themselves are made of protein about as strong as a human fingernail, Broomell and his team has discovered that the pincers are fortified with histidine: an amino acid that acts as a sort of superglue. The 'glue' bonds molecules together within the protein, and resulting in a thatched material three times harder and stiffer than current man-made polymers.

By using the make-up of the insect's pincers as a model, scientists and engineers hope to create polymers with organic molecules that can bind to metal ions. Even more good news is that by changing the ratios of materials, they can be made heavier or lighter, tougher or softer, all without producing toxic by products. The result may be the development of more resistant materials for building spacecraft and airplanes, without making them heavier.

For more info and a closeup of the inspirational bug itself, check out:

http://space.newscientist.com/article/dn14365-worm-pincers-may-inspire-better-spacecraft-materials.html?DCMP=ILC-hmts&nsref=news6_head_dn14365

Daring Pilot Rescues Parachutist ith Risky Maneuver

2008-07-20T12:56:00.001-07:00

A former British soldier who has asked not to be named as he was only "doing his job" became a hero this weekend when he left the controls of a small plane he was flying to disentangle a struggling parachutist.

The parachutist was last of a 6-man team of British soldiers to jump from the plane in a parachuting contest in Germany. His chute failed to deploy normally, and the lines became tangled around parts of the aircraft. According to observers, "We saw a body dangling helplessly from the plane as it was coming into land," and "We were watching the plane when I noticed there was a man dangling upside-down. He was completely caught up."

The anonymous pilot left the plane's controls for about 30 seconds to lean out and cut the parachutist free. Once liberated, the parachutist was able to land safely. The plane also landed without further incident.

To read more about this daring rescue, visit http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1036449/Hero-pilot-leaves-plane-fly-cuts-free-parachutist-tangled-landing-gear.html

4 Paws for Ability: A Service Dog Program for Everyone

2008-07-18T18:40:00.000-07:00

Xenia, OH, US

When Karen Shirk was diagnosed with a rare neuromuscular disease which confines her to a wheelchair and requires that she use a respirator, she decided to get a service dog to regain some of her independence. She was dismayed to discover that, over and over again, she was denied the opportunity to do so because she was "too disabled." Eventually, Shirk decided to start from scratch. With the help of a professional trainer, she adopted and trained Ben, a black German Shepherd puppy, to become her service dog. With Ben in her life, she found some hope. According to Karen, "He gave me a reason to get up in the morning. . . I went from existing to living."

Wanting to spread the joy to other individuals deemed too disabled for service dogs, Shirk decided to start 4 Paws for Ability, a service dog program with no limitations. Knowing that many other service dog providers have age limits on who can apply, Shirk reached out particularly to disabled children. She specializes in providing dogs to children with autism. "I knew [autistic children] connected to animals," she says. "I knew that service dogs would be able to help." Over the years, about 70% of Shirk's specially trained dogs are united with autistic children.

Each adoptive family is responsible for raising about 12,000$, and the time it takes to train a dog ranges from nine to 18 months. It seems to be worth it all in the end, however, to bring home a service dog who's been trained for your specific needs. Seeing the children meeting their dogs for the first time is the best part of the program for Shirk, who says "I love to see their faces and know that I was a part of that. It makes me feel good."

To read more, visit http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/07/16/heroes.shirk/index.html

Jay Leno Leads By Example

2008-07-17T18:47:00.000-07:00

Jay Leno is setting an admirable example for the environmentally aware in his home garage, which he uses to service his enormous collection of cars. Being a millionaire car buff could mean a lot of pollution and energy use, but, as Leno says, "No one cares how much energy you use as long as you make it yourself."

A 54-kilowatt solar panel on the garage's roof, supplemented by a wind turbine, generates almost all of the huge garage's energy. Says the comedian, "I'm almost totally off the grid."

Inside the garage, a water-free foaming hand cleaner, reusable aerosol canisters, and a machine that uses a high pressure sand-and-water jet in place of a metal blade contribute to Leno's environmental efforts. "It creates no pollutants in the manufacturing process, so you can safely drain the runoff," he says. The shining stars of the garage are two deep-cleaning systems for parts such as carburetors. Where heavy-duty solvents once did the job, Leno's ultrasonic cleaner now steps up to the plate. Or sometimes, a vat filled with bacteria that eat oil and grease to reproduce. "These organisms are having sex while my parts are being cleaned," he says. "How fabulous is that?" Pretty fabulous, Jay.

To read more, visit http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2008-07-16-leno-cover_N.htm

Thanks again for the Gander for this story!

New Procedure for Kidney Removal Boosts Recovery Time, Leaves No Scar

2008-07-17T13:32:00.000-07:00

Cleveland, OH, US

Brad Kaster, a self-employed optometrist, will be ready to return to work in a little over a week. That's pretty surprising, since the average back-to-work timeline for a kidney donor is 51 days, and Brad donated his kidney to his father last week. His secret? A brand-new kidney removal procedure, which makes the entire operation possible with just one tiny incision.

In the new procedure, doctors remove the donor's kidney through his or her belly button. According to Kaster, the incision point ". . . is so tiny I'm not getting any pain from it. . . I can't even see it." Still, this tiny space is all the surgeons need to remove the donor's kidney. For the 80,000 Americans awaiting kidney transplants, this is very good news.

So far, only 10 donors have undergone the new procedure, but all of them have recovered well, with just a fraction of the pain previously associated with the surgery.

"Will this decrease the disincentive to (kidney) donation? I think the answer is yes," says Dr. Inderbir S. Gill of the Cleveland Clinic. Let's hope so.

To read more, visit
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-07-17-kidney-bellybutton_N.htm

Special thanks to the Gander for bringing this story to our attention!

Argentine Scientists Devlop Tasty, Healthy Burger

2008-07-17T13:11:00.000-07:00

La Plata, Argentina

We Americans have our own love affair with beef, to the tune of 97 lbs consumed by the average individual in 2006. Imagine then the Argentines, who each ate an average of 140 lbs! The tasty diet staple comes with a price, however. Beef's high fat content is a contributing factor to Argentina's high heart disease levels, in addition to other health problems. What's more, healthy alternatives such as soy and fish products - abundant in Argentina - are seldom on the Argentine menu.

In light of all this, scientists at the Center for Research and Development in Food Cryotechnology have spent the past two years in hot pursuit of a new ground beef burger with all the taste and none of the dangers associated with traditional patties. After hundreds of failed attempts, they've finally devised a formula so convincing that it left 40 taste testers hungry for more.

The basic process for developing the new burger was to remove the beef fat from the meat, and replace it with healthier agents such as sunflower oil and fats from seafood. It may not sound appetizing, but according to Alicia Califano, a chemist who helped develop the recipe, "The taste is very similar to a regular hamburger because the oils and fats we've added -- even the seafood oils -- are neutral in taste and smell." She went on to caution, "But if you tried to make a hamburger this lean at home, it would be really hard and dry."

The miracle burgers aren't yet available in stores, as the project's leaders must still negotiate a contract with a mass distributor.

To learn more, visit http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/14/AR2008071401992.html?hpid=topnews

Thanks to Papa Goose for this story!

Kansas Humane Society Celebrates Special Independence Day

2008-07-16T17:46:00.000-07:00

KS, US

The Kansas Humane Society is celebrating July 4th a little late this year, declaring the weekends of the 7th and the 14th to be "Animal Independence Days" and hosting huge adoption events. Being "kitten season," summertime is a traditionally overcrowded time in animal shelters while new pets arrive by the dozens every day, and only a few are adopted.

In an effort to tempt potential pet owners, the Kansas Humane Society has reduced the adoption fees (generally between 45$ and 130$, depending on the pet) to a mere 17.76$. Get it, Independence Day?

The GNG was far from immune to the effects of the event, and this reporter spend a solid 3 hours last Saturday in pursuit of a new furry friend. The good news? Over 40 pets were adopted JUST WHILE I WAS THERE! The cages were emptying out fast as employees and volunteers struggled to meet the demands of hundreds of pet owner hopefuls. It was a great day for the animals, the Humane Society Staff, and the pet owners alike.

Don't tell anyone, but I got the best cat in the joint. Meet Mort, the newest member of the Goose family:

Readin', Writin', 'Rithmatic... All on the Rise in Baltimore!

2008-07-16T17:42:00.000-07:00

Baltimore schools' test scores increased by 'historic' amounts in both reading (11 points) and math (8 points) according to the results of the Maryland School Assessments tests given this year. Fifth, sixth, and seventh graders improved by the largest scores, reversing the usual trend of students lagging behind as they approach middle school.

"There is no way to overemphasize how extraordinary that is," reports city schools chief Andres Alonso (who has been on the job since the beginning of the year), "This just is so incredible."The system is at an all-time high at every grade level in both subjects."

Even more inspiring is the fact that special education students, low-income students and students learning English as a second language had even larger gains than the average.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/education/bal-te.ci.baltimore15jul15,0,2118177.story

Alaska Fishing Boat Rescues 10 from Volcano

2008-07-13T19:17:00.000-07:00

Anchorage, AK, US

After an unpredicted volcano eruption in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska, the fishing vessel Tara Gaila was able to rescue 10 people, including three children. No injuries were reported as a result of the eruption.

The 10 people, residents of the Fort Glenn ranch (approximately 6 miles from the volcano) were able to make a cell phone call for help before losing their connection. The coast guard contacted the crew of the Tara Gaila, which immediately sprang into action.

The volcano erupted shortly before noon on Saturday, for the first time since 1997.

For details about the eruption and the rescue, visit http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=8861354257340046764

Stand Aside, Green Cars

2008-07-12T19:52:00.000-07:00

The Ocean

Cars, of course, are what we all think of when hear something like "polluting vehicles." But anyone who has filled up a motorboat's gas tank can tell you that boats guzzle their fare share of fuel too, even if they aren't the daily commuter vehicle of choice. That's why it's nice too see that among all the efforts to develop environmentally friendly automobiles, someone is making a wave-powered boat.

The Suntory Mermaid II, just such a vessel, completed a 4,350 mile journey from Honolulu, Hawaii, to the Kii Channel off Japan's eastern coast on Friday night. The voyage clocked in at 111 days, a bit slower than the 60 days predicted by the design team, perhaps due to unusually calm seas. The Suntory Mermaid II is powered by a special bow-mounted device which uses energy provided by waves to power flipper-like appendages at the stern. With a dolphin kick from each of the two independent flippers, the craft is propelled forward.

To read more about this remarkable voyage, visit http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/08/science/08wave.html?_r=1&ref=science&oref=slogin

Brother and Sister Hollocaust Survivors Reunited After 66 Years

2008-07-11T12:40:00.000-07:00

The last time Irene Famulak and her little brother Wssewolod Galezkij saw one another was 1942, as he fidgeted while she tried to kiss him goodnight. It may have been long ago, but the memories are painfully acute: it was later that night the Nazis would come into their home in the Ukraine and take the 17 and 7 year old siblings to German labor camps.

Famulak flew to the Ukraine after she was contacted by the American Red Cross Holocaust and War Victims Tracing Center, with news that her one surviving sibling had been located. Galezkij, who had to be taken to the hospital after the emotional shock of learning his sister was alive in the US, was filled with joy as he clutched her on the tarmac after 17 years of searching and over six decades of wondering. "I don't believe anyone has ever known such happiness. Now, I truly believe I can die satisfied."

Linda Klein, the director of the American Red Cross Holocaust and War Victims Tracing Center, reports that the group has reunited 1,500 families since it began work in 1990, and over 50 families this year alone... all for free. They also help families find information about loved ones who died during the Holocaust. She says the searches can be like "looking for a needle in a haystack... When a connection is made, there are just smiles all around."

for the heartwarming photos and more details about Irene and Wssewolod, here is the original link: http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/07/11/holocaust.reunion/index.html

****
If you'd like to help create more happy endings (and more good news!) please feel free to contact the volunteer group which facilitates reunions like this one.

If you have questions about how to volunteer, contact Gabriel Kabik at the.simulacra@gmail.com
Particularly if you are able to translate Polish and other Eastern European languages, contact Jessica Duvall Wodarczyk at 410-624-2092, or mailto:Wodarczyk410-624-2092jduvall@arc-cmc.org

Special thanks to Gabriel Kabik for alerting the GNG to this amazing story.

Memorandum of Understanding to Improve Working Conditions

2008-07-11T09:37:00.000-07:00

The governments of India and Malaysia have come together to fight for workers' rights by composing an official memorandum of understanding (MoU). This document carries significant legislative and psychological power towards helping Indians who are employed in Malaysia by overseeing the regulation of agents and brokers, some of whom extort money from those already struggling for an income. About 130,000 Indian workers are employed in Malaysia, where they are having a positive effect on the Malaysian economy. Both governments hope that this MoU will allow the economic benefits to continue to rise while protecting low-income workers from exploitation.

the original story:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-3215855,prtpage-1.cms

more information on MoUs:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorandum_of_understanding

Pittsburgh Zoo Elephant Gives Birth to Baby Girl

2008-07-10T16:41:00.000-07:00

Pittsburgh, PA, US

25 year old Savannah, longtime resident of the Pittsburgh zoo, gave birth to a 200 pound baby girl yesterday, after a grueling 21.5 month pregnancy.

Zoo officials are mum about the baby right now, declining to even reveal her name or her exact weight (200 lbs was a pre-birth estimate) until tomorrow's press conference. Spokeswoman Tracy Gray did comment "She's doing fine right now."

Taking good care of Baby is extremely important right now, as infant mortality in elephants is very common - about 30%. But, if everything goes smoothly, she may be able to come out into the elephant yard in at little as three days.

To read more and see pictures of Baby, visit http://post-gazette.com/pg/08192/896068-53.stm

Thanks to the Gander today for sending in this story.

Rotavirus Vaccine A Success!

2008-07-10T16:27:00.000-07:00

Rotavirus is a nasty bug which targets many thousands of infants and young children with fever, vomiting, and diarrhea every year. Though not usually fatal, the disease causes about a week of misery for the patients and their parents. Many patients must be hospitalized.

Making its debut last fall, a vaccine against rotavirusappears to be working well. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate a substantial reduction (78.5%) of confirmed cases of the disease this past year, compared with the average of the last 15 seasons.

Rather than being an injection like many childhood vaccinations, the rotavirus vaccine is administered orally. It's said to be tolerated very well.

To read more, visit http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/08/health/research/08prev.html?_r=1&ref=science&oref=slogin

Unlikely Adoption at Artis Zoo

2008-07-09T18:25:00.000-07:00

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands

A red panda living at the Artis zoo in Amsterdam gave birth to cubs last month, only to abandon them. According to zoo spokesman Bart Kret, "She left them there, lying in the cold." Red pandas are an endangered species native to China, Bhutan, Nepal, India, and Burma. In an effort to save the babies, zoo employees kept them in an incubator. But without a mother, the cubs' chances were not good. One of them died last Thursday.

But the other cub has been adopted by an unlikely Mommy; a Dutch house cat. One of the zoo's employees' pet cat gave birth to a littler of kittens not long before the panda cubs were born, and she has graciously allowed the baby panda to sleep, play, and nurse with her own offspring. With luck, the cub will reach adulthood.

Anyone willing to sponsor the baby panda may earn the honor of naming her, according to zoo officials.

For more information, visit http://news.aol.com/story/_a/dutch-house-cat-adopts-red-panda-cub/20080709151909990001

And even if you DON'T want more information, visit that link anyway. There's a picture of a cat nursing a panda!

Cell Transplantation Helpful for Vitiligo Patients

2008-07-08T13:21:00.000-07:00

Stable vitiligo is a skin disorder affecting about 1% of the world's population and is characterized by patches of depigmented skin contrasting against their normal pigmentation. Both because many people incorrectly assume that vitiligo is contagious, and because the patches appear in visible areas such as the face and hands, the psychosocial effects of this disorder can be very significant. The good news is that recent studies counteracted the condition using skin cells taken from normally-pigmented areas of patients' bodies and grafted onto the lighter patches.

Until now, treatment for vitiligo has consisted of ultraviolet (UV) light therapy, which can take a long time and be uncomfortable. Now there is another option, with a great success rate of 73 percent of patients experiencing up to 100% repigmentation after transplantation.

"Melanocyte-keratinocyte cell transplantation is a simple, safe, and effective surgical therapy," Dr. Mulekar, who conducted the studies, reports. "Patients with segmental and focal vitiligo can experience a prolonged disease-free period, which may extend through the rest of their lives."

for more info, check out the link:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/10/041019084015.htm

One Small Step: 15 Year Old Girl Walks for First Time

2008-07-08T07:16:00.000-07:00

At birth, Jingle Luis' feet were severely malformed: an extreme case of clubbed feet, hers were upside down and twisted backwards. Walking was impossible without complete reliance on crutches. Because Jingle also suffers from mild spina bifida (a life-shortening spinal cord defect) doctors in the Philippines had found her unqualified for corrective braces or surgery as a child. When a staff physician from the Montefiore Medical Center in New York traveled to the Philippines for a Christian Mission, however, she was discovered and the Bronx hospital agreed to perform the surgery for free! By inserting pins into her feet and slowly turning them, Jingle's doctors were able to correct her condition.

Slipping on a pair of pink and white sneakers (the first shoes she'd ever worn) Jingle then took several steps all on her own. While she'll have to wear support braces for about a year in order for her bones to reset, she is expected to make a full recovery. Move over Jordan... if Jingle doesn't deserve a sneaker sponsorship, nobody does!

For the original story and photos of smiling Jingle, check out this link:

http://news.aol.com/health/story/_a/girl-with-twisted-feet-takes-first-steps/20080703092009990001

Happy Monday! Gas is Falling and the Dollar is Rising

2008-07-07T09:20:00.000-07:00

It looks like even the US economy came back to work refreshed after the long holiday weekend.

The price of oil fell by up to 5$ per barrel, bringing the price to about $141 (after a record high of $145.29 a barrel last week). In response, investors in the stock market got the confidence boost they needed, rising by 0.63% and strengthening the US dollar.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2008/07/good-morning--3.html
http://www.latimes.com/business/nationworld/wire/ats-ap_business13jul07,1,1065115.story
http://www.nbc13.com/vtm/news/local/article/crude_oil_closes_at_new_record_high_price_per_barrel/25960/

The Big Guys Make Way for Ducklings

2008-07-04T06:48:00.000-07:00

The gradual rise in gray whale populations (good news!) is having a positive effect on other recovering species in the adjacent areas of Puget Sound (more good news!), going so far as to keeping wildlife off the already 60-species-long Endangered Species list (great news!).

Firstly, the UC Davis SeaDoc Society happily reports the growing numbers of gray whales near Sandy Point on Whidbey Island, about 30 miles north of Seattle. As the San Juan Islander explains, "Gray whales suction-feed, sieving out ghost shrimp and other small sea animals from the sea floor. As they eat, the whales create giant pits and stir up clouds of invertebrates, which settle back to the bottom and flourish in the altered landscape left after the whales have passed." That means that the more whales nuzzling around in the bottom of the ocean, the more food there is for birds who dine on what gets brought up. That's a win-win, baby!

Researchers observed sea ducks (surf scoters and white-winged scoters) sticking close by gray whales and diving under the water in their wake. This is important because it's the first time the symbiotic relationship between cetaceans and birds that feed on the sea bottom has been officially documented.

SeaDoc Society Director Joe Gaydos summed up this good news quite well:
“Usually we are trying to deal with endangered species eating other endangered species, so this evidence that the recovery of one species could benefit the recovery of other is a welcome breath of fresh air.”

The SeaDoc Society, "working to ensure the health of marine wildlife and their ecosystems through science and education":
www.seadocsociety.org

for the original story:
http://www.sanjuanislander.com/groups/seadoc/gray-whale.shtml

for lyrics to the song Fish & Bird by Tom Waits, a slightly more romantic, slightly less realistic take on a similar situation:
http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Fish-Bird-lyrics-Tom-Waits/C07140AFAD07BE4E48256BBC0027375F

Update: Colombian Hostages Free

2008-07-03T14:53:00.000-07:00

BOGOTA, Colombia

The freeing of the 15 hostages of the Colombian rebel group FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) has been confirmed. Reunited with their families, the former hostages are all reported to be elated and surprisingly healthy.

The rescue operation, first reported to have been something like a careful negotiation, is now revealed to have been a daring deception! Military rescue personal disguised as FARC members managed to convince the captives' guards that they were transporting the hostages in a helicopter. No one, even the hostages, suspected a rescue mission until they were well on their way to safety. Then the real rebels were overpowered and the hostages were told "We're the national army. . . You're free."

Famed hostage Ingrid Betancourt described the reunion with her family as "Nirvana, paradise — that must be very similar to what I feel at this moment. . . It was because of them that I kept up my will to get out of that jungle."

For the full story, visit http://news.aol.com/story/_a/freed-hostage-reunited-with-children/20080702152709990002

"Urban Trails" Get Moving

2008-07-03T12:54:00.000-07:00

MICHIGAN

The West Michigan Trails and Greenway Coalition is taking significant steps in order to increase the number of sidewalks, which they refer to as 'urbain trails' in their area. The community has expressed a desire for more sidewalks in order to allow for easier and more extensive circulation for those people in wheelchairs, as well as for the general public to get out of their cars and get walking! The grant's sponsors have been happily surprisd with just how universally supportive the community is. If the Federal Government approves this 'rails to trails' funding, then the residents of West Michigan will gain $50 million dollars to put towards their goal of decreasing people's dependency on cars, clearly a public benefit in this time of increased concern over enviromental issues and Michigan's suffering economy. The Disability Advocates of Kent County also report that they have been very impressed by the reaction of the community in favor of making the town more accessible for handicapped citizens.

http://blog.mlive.com/grpress/2008/07/grant_sought_for_urban_trails.html

New Silver Dollar First US Coin with Braille

2008-07-03T12:41:00.000-07:00

Dallas, TX, US

In the spring of next year, a special new silver dollar will be available. The coin is to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Louis Braille's birthday. Braille, of course, is the inventor of the tactile alphabet used by the blind.

The coin will feature Braille's portrait beneath the word "Liberty" on one side, with a picture of a schoolboy reading Braille with a crane perched on his arm on the other. Also, above the boy, will be the Braille character for "Braille," making this coin the first of its kind. While all US coins are recognizable to the blind by their size and texture, none yet have actual Braille characters printed on them.

"This is going to put Braille in front of people in a very dramatic way," said Chris Danielson, a spokesman for the National Federation of the Blind. NFB Executive Director Mark Riccobono said "It really expresses the hopes, the dreams and the independent spirit."

To read more, visit http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/07/02/braille.coin.ap/index.html

Puppy Mill Refugees on Their Way to Safe Homes

2008-07-03T12:39:00.000-07:00

FLORIDA

Over 100 dogs rescued from a puppy mill in Tennessee, where they were found living in abominable conditions, were successfully transported to a Humane Society Facility in southern Florida. Over 1000 people then lined up in order to adopt these puppies and give them a new chance at a happy life.

the Update:

http://www.local10.com/family/16767513/detail.html

the original story:

http://www.local10.com/news/16744036/detail.html

Angel at the Post Office

2008-07-03T12:33:00.000-07:00

Tuscon, AZ, US

If you're a big fan of the "Best of Craigslist," you may already know this story. It's not a brand new bit of news. In fact, I read it months before the GNG was created. However, I remembered this story this morning and felt compelled to pass it along. From the Best of Craigslist, by an anonymous poster in Tuscon, AZ:

"This is one of the kindest things I've ever experienced. I have no way to know who sent it, but there is a kind soul working in the dead letter office of the US postal service. Our 14 year old dog, Abbey, died last month. The day after she died, my 4 year old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could so she dictated these words:

Dear God, Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick. I hope you will play with her. She likes to play with balls and to swim. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her you will know that she is my dog. I really miss her.
Love, Meredith.

We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had.

Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, 'To Meredith' in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, 'When a Pet Dies.' Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:

Dear Meredith,
Abbey arrived safely in heaven. Having the picture was a big help. I recognized Abbey right away. Abbey isn't sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don't need our bodies in heaven, I don't have any pockets to keep your picture in, so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by. Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you. I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much. By the way, I am wherever there is love.

Love, God"

For a picture of Meredith and Abbey, visit the original post at http://www.craigslist.org/about/best/tus/487665904.html

Hostages Rescued, Colombia Reports

2008-07-02T13:12:00.000-07:00

Bogota, Columbia

15 hostages of Colombian rebel groups have reportedly been rescued by the Colombian military. Among the rescued are three Americans, former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, and eleven Colombian soldiers and police officers. Some of them have been held captive for years. Juan Manuel Santos, the Colombian Defense Minister, says no one was hurt during the rescue operation. Instead, soldiers captured some of the rebels guarding the hostages and convinced them to talk their comrades into freeing the captives.

Residing in Paris, Bentacourt's son Lorenzo Delloye-Betancourt says his mother's release after six years, "if true, the most beautiful news of [his] life."

Read the full story at http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,375481,00.html

Public Saftey Increasing in Formerly War-torn Kosovo

2008-07-02T11:22:00.000-07:00

KOSOVO, BALKANS

The Independent Republic of Kosovo, where for centuries opposing ethnic clans have been waging war against one another, was commended for its improvements in public saftey in a recent report issued by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

The Chief of OSCE in Kosovo, Tim Guildmann, reports that "the general opinion regarding the work and responsibility of the security public organs is very good."

Kosovo borders Albania to the west, Central Serbia to the north and east, the Republic of Macedonia to the south, and Montenegro to the northwest. While violent unrest was still a major problem as recently as 2004, Kosovo issued its own declaration of independence from Serbia on 17 February 2008. This weekend as we in the States are celebrating our own independence, it's nice to know that other war-fatigued countries are also feeling the positive effects of peace, liberty, and justice for all.

The original link:
http://www.newkosovareport.com/200807021010/Society/OSCE-Kosovo-public-safety-improving.html

To see just how important this improvement is, a look at where they're coming from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unrest_in_Kosovo