Good News From Mary March 31, 2009

Doctor who lost arm to cancer now helps others

Having to undergo radiation treatments five days a week can take its toll on a patient, but having a doctor who is a cancer survivor himself can make it easier.

Dr. Hejal Patel lost his right arm to bone cancer at the age of 13, but the experience turned into a motivating force: He became an award-winning medical student at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and is now a radiation oncologist helping others try to overcome the same obstacles he faced 20 years ago.

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Fat-producing gene may be clue to obesity

U.S. researchers have found a gene responsible for turning a plate of pasta into fat, offering new clues about how the body metabolizes carbohydrates and how they contribute to obesity.

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Sara Moulton's Homemade Lasagna and Tips on Staying Fresh

In the current economic climate everyone is looking for ways to save money. But the average family of four can throw away up to $500 a year of fresh fruit and vegetables.

Chef Sara Moulton comes to the rescue with easy tips on the best ways to store food in your freezer and refrigerator.

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The return of Home Economics

The series "Depression Cooking with Clara" has become something of an Internet sensation, as Americans pinch pennies at home.

In the videos, 93-year-old Clara Cannucciari demonstrates how to make meager meals she enjoyed as a child. One family favorite is "Poorman's Meal," consisting of fried potatoes, onions and cut-up hot dogs -- "one of the meals we always asked for as kids," said Chris Cannucciari, her grandson who works with her on the show. Videos are posted on YouTube.

It's a sign of the times when survival tales from the Great Depression resonate strongly with Americans.

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Ultra-orthodox Jews give Amish walking tour

The city's ultra-Orthodox Jews took the Pennsylvania Amish on a walking tour of their world Tuesday, saying their communities are naturally drawn to each other with a commitment to simpler lifestyles.

"It's reinforcing to the Amish community to see us Jews living the way the Bible says Jews are supposed to live, and have lived since the time of Moses and Abraham," said Yisroel Ber Kaplan, program director for the Chassidic Discovery Center in Brooklyn.

"The Amish are also living their lives as the Bible speaks to them."

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Good News for March 31 (posted by Mary Beth)

Healthy Fast Food: Guide to Making the Healthiest Fast Food Choices

"America has been called a 'fast food nation' and for good reason. Everyday, one out of four Americans eats fast food. If you are eating out, fast food restaurants are often the cheapest option, but unfortunately, not usually the healthiest one. Eating just one fast food meal can pack enough calories, sodium and fat for an entire day, but the quick-and-cheap temptation can be hard to resist.

As an informed customer, you can make healthier choices and still enjoy the convenience of fast food restaurants."

Click here for more on making healthy choices when heading for fast food.


Review of PBS Documentary 'Jerusalem: Center of the World'

"PBS documentary Jerusalem: Center of the World—which airs Wednesday, April 1—isn't a pilgrimage-on-film, but it's not a bad place to start.

The title is partly inspired by medieval European maps in which Africa, Asia, and Europe are shaped like three petals attached to the center, Jerusalem. Inside the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, a 'compass' marks the center of the world. This film shows that the city is, rather than the geographic center of the world, a focal point of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism—which together account for more than half of the world's population."

Click here for more on the documentary.


World Vision urges Afghanistan donor conference countries to shift future response from military focus to development priorities

"As Afghanistan donor countries meet in The Hague today, aid group World Vision is calling for a new approach that would strengthen development and reduce the militarization of aid in the war-torn country.

'We commend the Obama administration for focusing on the critical human needs in Afghanistan, but call for greater efforts to bring balance to the military-heavy NATO response,' said Rory Anderson, World Vision’s deputy director for advocacy and government relations."

Click here to read World Vision's recommendations regarding Afghanistan.


Rare Gettysburg Address copy to go on display

"Two hundred years after Abraham Lincoln's birth, one of only five known handwritten copies of his most famous speech will visit Chicago for a limited run, starting Wednesday.

A two-page copy of the Gettysburg Address, hand-copied by the 16th president in the months after his landmark Nov. 19, 1863 speech, will be the centerpiece of the Lincoln Treasures exhibition at the Chicago History Museum."

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Recipes for Health: Bruschetta With White Bean Puree

"This recipe will give you enough white bean puree for plenty of leftovers. The savory, hummus-like mixture also makes a great high-protein, high-fiber dip."

Click here for this healthy yet delicious recipe.

Tuesday, March 31, 2009 Good News Now Stories

Don't fret about Conficker: Here's what to do (AP)

"The Conficker worm, a nasty computer infection that has poisoned millions of PCs, will start ramping up its efforts Wednesday to use those machines for cybercrimes. It's unclear whether everyday PC users will even notice, but this is as good an excuse as any to make sure your computer is clean."

Click here to learn more.


5 Ways to Avoid an Audit

"If you think you have to be caught stowing away cash in an offshore bank account to trigger an audit, think again. One tiny error on your tax return can have the IRS knocking on your door.

There’s good reason to be meticulous this year: According to the most recent data, in 2007 the IRS audited approximately 1.4 million returns, a 7% increase from 2006 and the highest number on record since 1998. And this year, it's unlikely that number will fall, says Mark Luscombe, a principal analyst at CCH Tax and Accounting."

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Genetic Basis For Migration In Monarch Butterflies Uncovered

"Scientists studying Eastern North American monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) have uncovered a suite of genes that may be involved in driving the butterflies to migrate towards Mexico for the winter. Their research describes 40 genes that are linked to the butterflies' compulsion to orientate themselves by an internal 'sun compass' and begin the 4000km journey southwards."

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Audio Bibles Make the Final Four

"Rev. Billy Graham once said, 'One coach will impact more young people in a year than the average person does in a lifetime. So who's coaching the coaches?'"

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Shot of the Day for March 30, 2009

First Cherry Trees at Asbury

By Flickr Member Z170727 - Liz KB

Good News for March 30 (posted by Mary Beth)

In the Face of Injustice: Making Sense of Life's Inequities

"'Why me?' is the great existential question of all time. When the 'subway of life' dumps its refuse in our lap, we shake our head in wonder. .."

Click here for insight into injustice.


It's Never Too Late! Sharing the hope we have with aging family members

"I met my wife's grandfather when he was 89 years old. Whenever we visited her grandparents or attended family gatherings in Minnesota, our favorite topic was our childhood memories—even though we were 60 years apart in age.

I guess my childhood in a small village in the Philippines was similar to the way things were for him when he was growing up. We especially enjoyed sharing our fishing stories. Grandpa loved hearing about how I caught mudfish in the rice paddies with my bare hands."

Read more about reaching out to others by clicking here.


21 reasons to smile

"Ruth Kaiser can always find something to smile about. What others see as mundane, 'The Smile Captain' sees as art. Kaiser is a California artist who embraces social media, spreading the word about the Spontaneous Smiley Project around the world using Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr.

Armed with a camera and an infectious positive attitude, Kaiser, 50, acts like a giddy teenager when she talks about effortlessly finding smiles in places you'd never expect -- on a water faucet, in an onion or on the side of a cheese grater."

Click here to share some smiles (and can't you always use one?)!



Plan floated to add life to jazz site

"For more than a year, people have come to the Dew Drop Jazz and Social Hall in Mandeville to listen to jazz performances in the same rustic cabin where Louis Armstrong once serenaded audiences at Saturday night dances.

The 114-year-old venue, partially refurbished and reopened with help from volunteers and the Mandeville city government, has been limited to just a handful of concerts annually because of its age and lack of amenities. It can hold only about 100 people."

For more on the plans to make the music available to more listeners, click here.

Good News From Mary March 30, 2009

Take Your Masks Off: The Value of Authenticity

If you’re in a hurry, you may not worry about leaving the house wearing a stained shirt or mismatched socks, without brushing your hair or putting on makeup. But what if other people could see beyond your physical appearance and look at your insecurities, pride, shame, or malicious thoughts?

Those are the kinds of things our society urges you to cover up. After a while, you create masks to hide your true thoughts and feelings and present an image you hope will prove your worth. The longer you wear your masks, the more comfortable they feel. But you can’t enjoy healthy relationships unless you remove the masks and show others who you really are.

Here’s how you can take off the masks you present to the world and be authentic:

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Out of the Dark Tunnel and into the Sunshine

This morning, on my way to the office, I conducted an impromptu inspection of my little world in Southern California. Despite all the threatening headlines and doom-filled stories of the day, everything was going on just as it has for a very long time.

I didn't see fewer cars on the freeway and there was not a single For Sale sign in my neighborhood. Schools were bustling with kids and teachers, restaurants were backed up for seating and the sun was shining.

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2 Men Catch Toddler After 40-Foot Fall

Two men were hailed as heroes Monday after they caught a toddler who fell 40 feet from a third-floor window in Lawrence.

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Super-chemo targets cancer spreading to liver

Bill Darker grinned as he headed into the operating room for a dramatic experiment: A super-high dose of chemotherapy dripped directly into his cancer-ridden liver, 10 times more than patients normally can tolerate.

Not to fear. Working through small puncture holes, doctors sealed off Darker’s liver and washed most of the toxic medication from his blood so it didn’t poison the rest of his body.

It’s a rigorous effort to fight a notorious killer, cancer that has spread to the liver from elsewhere in the body and left patients with few options and little time.

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Cholesterol Drug Lowers Blood Clot Risk

Statin drugs, which are taken to lower cholesterol and prevent heart disease, also can cut the risk of developing dangerous blood clots that can lodge in the legs or lungs, a major study suggests.

The results provide a new reason for many people with normal cholesterol to consider taking these medicines, sold as Crestor, Lipitor, Zocor and in generic form, doctors say.

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Monday, March 30,2009 Good News Now Stories

How do you know if your child is ready for kindergarten?

"Is he ready? Will she succeed? Should I hold him back? Should I send her this fall?

When it comes to kindergarten, there are a number of questions and concerns parents might have.

According to the Ohio Department of Education, kindergarten students must be 5 years old either by Aug. 1 or Sept. 30, depending on their school district, to attend kindergarten. The compulsory school age in Ohio is 6. But kindergarten readiness is not simply a matter of chronological age."

Click here to read more.


Eat Your Weeds (but Get to Know Them First)

"EVERY gardener longs for the first intimation of spring. For some, the signal is the fleet of robins in the yard, the seed packets jamming the mailbox or the postcards and fliers sent by various flower shows. Not for me. I’m very particular about what constitutes proof that I’ve survived the winter and will soon be grubbing in the dirt and eating from the garden again.

For me, it’s the weeds. They’re the first things to appear when the ground is still heaved up and crunchy with frost. These tiny seedlings, self-sown from last summer’s plants, miraculously beginning a new generation, pull me through every year."

Click here to read more.


The First Place That I Can Well Remember...

"On March 30, 1820, Anna Sewell was born in Norfolk, England. A fall at the age of 14 made her very lame and for the rest of her life she could not stand or walk for any length of time. Anna Sewell was what is called an autodidact, meaning that she was responsible for the most part for her own education, although her mother was an author of children’s books and Anne helped her with editing."

Click here to read more.