Surprise!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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