Argentine Scientists Devlop Tasty, Healthy Burger

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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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

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