Elmhurst College recycles fallen tree to teach history

"A 160-year-old American elm — once the oldest tree on the Elmhurst College campus — was so damaged in a storm a year ago that it had to be taken down. Now, the remains of the once majestic tree, will be used to teach the history of the college."
Read more about this historic tree here.

Plants draw bats by harnessing sound

"Some flowering plants draw helpful pollinating bats to their blooms by harnessing sound, scientists have found. A peculiar leaf on a Cuban rain forest vine produces an echo signature easily identified by the bats, according to a paper in the journal Science."

Read more here.

Reaching Out to the 'Least' -Devotions from the Road of Life

"And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." Matthew 25: 40, King James Version

In these days of economic problems, the words of Jesus ring ever more true. No matter where we look, there are "the least of these my brethren" needing our help. For one California school teacher, this premise shines as a guiding light.
Learn how one person reaches out here.

Nashville flooding survivors aided by World Vision’s collaborative long-term disaster response

"Nearly 15 months after severe thunderstorms flooded much of Tennessee, World Vision continues to pledge its long-term support to area survivors. This week, World Vision is partnering with volunteers from Renton Christian Center in Washington to host the organization’s first domestic disaster ‘service project trip.’ Nearly two dozen volunteers will participate in the organization’s latest long-term response effort in collaboration with World Vision’s domestic disaster response team, local partners, donors and corporations."

Learn more here.

Working to Make a Dream Come True

"Virginia Weiseth-Miller teaches elementary school in northern California. She’s experienced her share of trials over the years, including the loss of nearly everything she owned. As she rebuilt her life, she became aware of others in similar circumstances and wanted to do something to help. With the assistance of her son, Jamison Miller, she has come up with a website to help people with something to give connect with those who need it. That website is Egiva.com."

Read more about her dream here. 

A new kind of St. Louis company: predator, not prey

"Latch on early to a growing market. Relentlessly drive down costs. Research and innovate. Take large but calculated risks. Wait for your competition to weaken, then gobble them up.

Over 25 years, that formula took Express Scripts from a five-person startup in 1986 to a company with $45 billion in revenue and 14,000 employees."

Read more of this success story here.

The Cancer You Can Beat Today

"Colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, but it takes 30 years or longer to develop, as polyps grow on your colon wall and slowly morph into tumors. It's only during the last few years of that period that it's lethal and capable of spreading."
Read more about the actions you can take here.

We need safe access to those affected by famine in Somalia, says World Vision

"As the UN declares famine in two regions of Somalia, and warns of others to follow, World Vision is calling on the international community to scale up efforts to seek assurances from the various armed groups regarding safe humanitarian access so it can increase support to the South Central region where millions of children are in urgent need of food and assistance."

Read more here.

12 tips for better meetings

"Those awful meetings that drag on forever and accomplish nothing cost businesses time, money and productivity. Here are 12 ideas to help keep meetings on track and worthwhile."
Check out this handy dozen here.

We Have to Do the Right Thing - See You Sept. 24th

"It is time to reverse our nation’s ethical free fall. And on September 24, we’ll get started in a big way."

Click here for more on Doing the Right Thing.

NASA spacecraft is orbiting massive asteroid

"NASA's Dawn spacecraft was captured into orbit around the massive asteroid Vesta after a 1.7 billion-mile journey and is preparing to begin a study of a surface that may date to the earliest era of the solar system, the space agency said Monday."

Learn more here.

World Vision Thanks Hilton HHonors for supporting National Youth Empowerment Summit with Gala on Friday

"Nearly 130 teens in World Vision’s Youth Empowerment Program (YEP) from across the nation visited their Congressional representatives this week, in culmination of a 20-week training program focused on equipping and empowering youth to identify and address the most difficult social issues within their communities. A valued World Vision partner, Hilton HHonors sponsored the week’s Dinner Gala on Friday night at the Capital Hilton, a celebration featuring music, awards, and inspirational speakers."

Read more here.

Experts defend bashed potato: They say tuber's bad reputation is overstated, linked to frying

"Potatoes have taken a mashing lately, being blamed over other foods for people's long-term weight gain and possibly being limited in favor of other vegetables for school lunches."

Click here for more on the story.

National Ice Cream Month: Get your licks at these local places

"National Ice Cream Month sounds like a made-up holiday, and it was -- by President Reagan. One can only imagine the political pressure he faced from underage voters in 1984 when he proclaimed July the time to celebrate vanilla and rocky road."

Read more here.

Digging Up the Biblical World: Gath, Gaza, and Goliath

"Jugs, broken pieces of pottery, and the remains of an old building. Find out how these point to the trustworthiness of the Bible."

Click here for more.

EGIVA accepted to Kickstarter.com for fundraising

Free ministry website EGIVA.com received a boost with acceptance to Kickstarter.com, a fundraising website. Anyone can make a contribution to EGIVA's goal over the next 40 days to help expand the ministry.

Read more here.

Kids learn about their neighborhood through photography

"Nine summer campers braved the heat and humidity to walk through their Hyde Park neighborhood Wednesday morning taking pictures of themselves and the crumbling buildings that dominate their world."

Read the story and see the photos here.

Good Form: A knee-saving exercise for the hamstrings

"Here's a terrific way to train your hamstrings (the muscles in the back of your thighs) and buttocks without overworking the fronts of your thighs. It's excellent for people who have sensitive knees and cannot perform squats or lunges."


Click here to read more.

Real-life 'horse-whisperer' works his magic in moving documentary 'Buck'

"Bow-legged and stiff, Buck Brannaman ambles about with a faint gracelessness that suggests someone who is more comfortable on his horse than he is on his own two crooked spindles."

Read more here.

Children voice hopes for future of South Sudan

"As South Sudan prepares to become the world’s newest country this Saturday, July 9, hopes are high among its children that problems of the past can be put behind them. World Vision surveyed children across three of South Sudan’s ten states to find out which issues matter most to them as independence approaches."

Click here to learn more. 

Kraft slips cauliflower into mac & cheese, stirs debate

"It looks like Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, and Kraft says it tastes just like the original. But a new ingredient is lurking in this version of the American family dinner staple -- cauliflower.

Don't tell the kids!"

Click here for more on how companies are trying to hide more veggies in food.

Save the Children Urges Immediate Support for East Africa’s Hunger Crisis

"Save the Children has made an urgent call to donors to provide life-saving help to thousands of children in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia whose lives are at risk due to severe food shortages. The UN has called this East Africa’s worst drought in 60 years."

 Click here to learn how you can help.

Sandals are infinitely stylish ... really

"Most of the time, when the makers of an object claim that it can do seven things, most buyers will use it for only one. However, they will incessantly remind you of its many functions."

Check out the options here.

Safe and secure housing should be no. 1 priority in Asia-Pacific, says Habitat for Humanity

"Cyclones, earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding and the other adverse affects of a changing climate are becoming more common and are affecting more people across the Asia-Pacific region as populations grow.  Without better designed, better made housing, the affects will be ever more deadly, says a top leader of Habitat for Humanity International, the global non-governmental organization specializing in meeting the housing needs of the poor."

Read more here.

Just Do It: A Word of Wisdom for Graduates of All Ages

"If I had to compare myself to a musical protagonist -- what? You mean that’s not something you think about too? -- I would probably choose Don Quixote. At times I like to think of myself as a never-say-die warrior. My life motto could be 'dream the impossible dream.' And, as I get older, I’m realizing I’ve encountered my fair share of imaginary giants."

Just click here for more.

Compassion Awarded Charity Navigator's Highest Rating for 10th Consecutive Year

"Compassion International, the world's largest Christian child development and sponsorship organization, is one of only a handful of charities across the United States that has been awarded Charity Navigator’s highest rating for responsible financial management—four-stars—for the past ten consecutive years.  Evaluating more than 5,500 charities each year, Charity Navigator is the largest independent evaluator of charities in the nation."

Read more about this milestone here.