News that made me smile
This forum should be self explanatory.
Oh and... not just "me" but "you" too! 
Happy Stinky Valentine
A man in Minnesota created a heart-shaped valentine that was a half-mile wide made out of cow manure. Since it can only be seen from overhead the stinkiness is probably a better signal of its presence. I find it to be a very sweet stinky sign of affection. 
Facebook fundraiser keeps student in college
Facebook fundraiser keeps student in college
A North Carolina student facing a deadline to make a $5,100 tuition payment or leave school received the full amount in less than a day -- thanks to an online campaign led by a campus minister.
Cab driver donating kidney to his rider
A man who often took his fare to her dialysis treatment put his name on her donor list--and turned out he was a match!
" 'This has put a whole new kind of lift in my boots. I never knew what it felt like to give somebody life, and that’s what I’m doing,’' Chappell said.
Van Loenen said Chappell never asked for any compensation. She still can’t quite believe his level of commitment.
'I’ve never known anybody so enthusiastic to get a body part removed,' Van Loenen said."
Green Peas
Letter in the Globe Magazine today:
"Years ago, I asked our son what he wanted to be when he grew up. “A green pea,” came his reply. Puzzled, I wondered what that was exactly. “Oh, they live in Boston and do stuff,” he said. Such as? In all seriousness, he answered, “Well, they go out on the ocean and save whales and blow up tuna boats and things like that.” Greenpeace? “Yeah, green peas. That’s what I want to be.”
Barbara Farrell / Holyoke"
Not in the news, but...
... my mother used to provide daycare for a neighbor kid (back in the 80's)and one day she asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up. "A prostitute," he said, much to my mother's shock. Of course, she asked him why he would say such a thing, and he said, "Well, I see them a lot on TV and they always seem so happy."
(I suspect the kid watched a lot of "Night Court".)
Globe series on efforts to save people's jobs/benefits
The Boston Globe is running a series on things people are doing at companies to try to save other people their jobs or benefits. Today's story was about Ronald Lappin, an employer, who is paying out $5 million dollars to restore the retirements benefits of his workers who lost money in the Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme. Link opens on that story but you can page forward to others in the series.
Justice Department rationale for secrecy
The Justice Department told a federal judge yesterday that it needs to keep documents like former VP Cheney's testimony to the FBI in the Valerie Plame case secret because "future presidents and vice presidents may not cooperate with criminal investigations if they know what they say could become available to their political opponents and late-night comics who would ridicule them."
Thanks goodness someone is hard at work keeping our public officials from becoming targets of ridicule. 'Cause I'd have to say they definitely need some help in that area.
Town intervenes on behalf of bakers
A story about a small town in New Hampshire writing on behalf of the French couple who runs the small bakery in town to get their visas extended.
They replaced lawnmowers with goats : )
"Goats are a lot cuter to watch than lawn mowers."
Hmm... Anytime I've ever merely glanced a goat it is followed by a succession of tiny poo pellets dropping to the ground. "Cute" isn't the word I'd use.
Dance at the train station in Amsterdam
This is one of those organized public events that are getting staged by variousimprov groups in public spaces. I really loved this one.
The very scared gardener
A friend sent me this link to a Christopher Walken skit on SNL--which I think is useful, cause we all have to feel comfortable around our plants--especially as we head into gardening season. And hey, you know, the eyes are the windows....
Positive Stories coming out of the Economic Downturn
I posted one of these in another forum--but there were more in the paper today so I thought it might make more sense to group them all together here.
This story is about people donating part of their salaries in order to keep colleagues from getting laid off: Colleagues pitch in to ease pain.
As those corporate lunches dissappear, business people are losing weight: Waist reduction.
This one was especially hopeful--about the logging industry becoming more "green" in their approach to forestry in the face of rising unemployment: Loggers adapt to changing industry amid recession.
Here's the older story: Economic collapse puts graduates on unforseen paths.
And this is a download of a clip from the PBS News Hour that talked about similar changes during the Great Depression: Interniew with Robert McElvaine. (If that doesn't work go here and click on the download of "Silver Lining.")
Increase in Neighborhood Connections
As this story says, the evidence is only anecdotal, but it seems as if the economic downturn is leading to an increase in helping one's neighbors and working together for the good of the neighborhood.
"Historically, economic hard times can be tough on civic engagement, as when involvement dropped during the Great Depression. But experts say that doesn't take into account new social technologies, a burst of political involvement among youths, and a president who has inspired many. Experts are waiting to see whether President Obama's call for service will be felt locally, as it has on such national programs as AmeriCorps.
"Almost anyone in America can think in terms of 'This could happen to me.' It evokes a kind of empathy that is leading people to reassess what they value, what they care about and what they believe in," said John Bridgeland, national chairman of the National Conference on Citizenship."
Oh and the article mentions a website I hadn't heard of before:
Neighborhood finds communityRight whales in Cape Cod bay
Over 70 Right Whales have been spotted "frolicking" off the coast of Massachusetts. This is an unprecedented number and hopefully is a sign of an increase in the overall population.
Holistic psychiatrist wins lawsuit
| After a Two-Year Battle, Holistic Psychiatrist’s Stunning Win over Local Board of Physicians |
Setting a new precedent—the first decision of its kind in the state’s history—the Maryland Board of Physicians has completely dismissed the case against Alice W. Lee-Bloem, MD, a holistic psychiatrist. Dr. Lee-Bloem practices orthomolecular psychiatry and energy medicine. Click the link above in blue to read about the whole ordeal on the AAHF page. |
AAHF page
Vicious cycle with medications and alternatives
I just read one description she gives on her site about what holistic psychiatry is. Was reading the account of a patient on phenobarbitol--and thinking about the way in which medication itself becomes a chronic condition. And of course when the patient builds up a physical tolerance the dosage must be increased and increased until it pushes the limits of toxcity at which point another drug regimen must begin.
Was also reminded of hearing about the link between schizophrenia and celiac disease.
medications and alternatives
The field of medicine itself has come so far from its roots. The father of medicine was a naturopath - "Let food be your medicine"!
This country's healthcare has been subverted by corporate interests, whose main concern is to make a profit. One might argue that they have to keep their patients healthy in order to do so, but I counter that all these drug companies need to do is create a new drug for the next ailment that comes along. It's a viscious downward cycle. They need sick patients to make money. If you want to get morbid I'm sure there are multiple ways to make money even off of a patient's death.
Individuals need to take preventitive health measures into their own hands first and foremost to avoid unnecessary medications. Secondly to realize that life and health really aren't as difficult as the doctors and marketers selling you health and/or junk food are telling you.
Eat your fruits and veggies, get plenty of sunshine, rest, fresh air and exercise. Keep it simple, not processed.
re: AAHF page
Tomato throwing contest
Need to blow off steam about the bail out?
Hologram Baseball Cards
Topps baseball cards now come with one 3-D animated card:
"Each pack of Topps' 2009 Series 1 baseball cards includes one that the Topps 3D Live Website (www.toppstown.com) recognizes through your computer's webcam. A 3D animation of the player then appears to spring up from his card, in your computer's Web browser. You can then pitch, hit, or catch a ball, using your keyboard. The more accurate your pitch, for example (Dice-K is on one of the 30 or so cards available for Topps 3D Live), the higher your score."
I just think that is so cool!
And Yugioh and Magic and D&D cards can't be far behind--imagine little mini dragon battles on your desk!
Iowa current events in politics
Crazy that politics can make me smile, but when I got this news it was crazy how good I felt for just sending email.
Sierra Club
Today Alliant Energy, parent company of Interstate Power & Light, announced it was canceling plans to build a massive coal-fired power plant in Marshalltown. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources received more than 700 requests from people like you to extend the 30-day comment period and to require more than two hearing sites. DNR responded to this overwhelming outcry by extending the comment period to 90 days and adding five hearing sites. Facing the prospect of a long and drawn out comment period while the federal government is moving forward on carbon dioxide regulation pushed the project over the edge and onto the scrap heap of abandoned coal plant proposals.
Iowa CCI News....
Victory - HSB 186 passes out of committee!
Because of your efforts to contact key state legislators, we are getting things done and moving critical legislation forward. Yesterday afternoon, we helped pass HSB 168 out of the House Environmental Protection committee. It's an important bill that would require all counties to hold public hearings on all proposed factory farms that are large enough to require a construction permit (for hogs, that's 2,500 head in total confinement at any one time). It passed out of committee by a vote of 11-10.
Thanks for taking action! This victory happened because of your efforts to swing Representative Elesha Gayman to vote for the bill. She has been supportive, but was getting pressure to vote against it. Your calls and emails leading up to the vote helped convince her to vote in favor of it. Now HSB 168 is eligible for debate by the full House.
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains."
New Year - New Life
Great story about people banding together on a plane to help a woman give birth.
eerily like...
"Black Man Given Nation's Worst Job"
McCain Secures Al Qaeda Endorsement
I'm sure he's very patriotic, but his connection to bin Laden is open to question.
Yes, this is a stupid metric, but what's good for the goose...
The Ponz, *ayyyyyy*
"For the state dinner Monday night in honor of Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi (and Columbus Day), the wine served with the first course was a Ponzi."
Speaking in Parseltongue
very useful for snake charming...
A little knowledge...
Chess boxing
What're they doing?? The first rule of Chess Club is you DO NOT talk about Chess Club!
Losing because you didn't notice your opponent coming for your king... priceless. Keeping your senses about this kind of stuff would take some skill and training... you'd havta be some sort of ninja...
Look out Pat Robertson...
Not news, but...
...some of them are pretty funny. The Dr. Seuss Parody Page
In honor of Father's Day
Excerpts from "Laws Concerning Food and Drink; Household Principles; Lamentations of the Father" by Ian Frazier
Laws When at Table: "Eat your food only; do not eat that which is not food; neither seize the table between your jaws, nor use the raiment of the table to wipe your lips. I say again to you, do not touch it, but leave it as it is.... Sit just as I have told you, and do not lean to one side or the other, nor slide down until you are nearly slid away. Heed me; for if you sit like that, your hair will go into the syrup. And now behold, even as I have said, it has come to pass."
Various Other Laws: "Leave the cat alone, for what has the cat done, that you should so afflict it with tape? And hum not that humming in your nose as I read, nor stand between the light and the book. Indeed, you will drive me to madness. Nor forget what I said about the tape."
Valedictorian
Story about a girl in Boston who is her class Valedictorian--after years shuffling from family memeber to family member in Africa, then in the US facing discrimination from classmates, homelessness, life in shelters, etc.
Exceptional Students
Wisdom from the mouth of babes:
“Even though I have a very high IQ, I don’t consider myself genius-smart,” he told Curry. “There’s 6.5 billion people on this earth, and every one is smart in his or her own way.”
... and ... wisdom, from the mouth of babes:
“Well, I know that what I’ve done is special and I think about it,” she said. “But sometimes I forget, because I’m used to it and I don’t think about it all the time. Actually, sometimes it takes other people to remind me a little bit.”
Rethinking the benefits of global warming...
Great tits cope well with warming
"The finding is surprising ... but the rules still work"
Professor Marcel Visser
This forwarded email is worth the read ... it made me smile!
My favorite kind of jokes!!!!
Murray Hill, Inc. for Congress
Murray Hill, Inc. is the first corporate person running for office after the recent Supreme Court finding that Corporations are persons with first amendment rights to free speech (aka unlimited corporate spending):
"Until now,” Murray Hill Inc. said in a statement, “corporate interests had to rely on campaign contributions and influence peddling to achieve their goals in Washington. But thanks to an enlightened Supreme Court, now we can eliminate the middle-man and run for office ourselves.”
This CBS New Video asks important follow-up questions for the corporate platform, like "when does corporate life begin?"
Perhaps unknown to Murray Hill, Inc. but a piece of cosmic serendiptity is that a famous NY Drag King shares the same name.