Good News from Mary March 2, 2009

40-Day 'Love Dare' Launches Marriage Movement

-Paula and John Thomas had been married 24 years when they separated.

She wanted forgiveness and peace for both of them. He wanted a divorce.

"Our marriage was in shambles and my husband believed that even God couldn't put our marriage back together," Paula said. "Yet, after a six-month separation, the Lord put a halt to our divorce proceedings."

That was five years ago. Today, the Thomases help couples in crisis realize God's plan for their marriage.

Click here to read the rest of this story.

Is it finally time to use the dreaded D-word?

A Depression doesn't have to be Great — bread lines, rampant unemployment, a wipeout in the stock market. The economy can sink into a milder depression, the kind spelled with a lowercase "d."

And it may be happening now.

Click here to read the rest of this story.

Going gray? Scientists uncover the root cause

Attention parents: It's not your kids that are making you go gray. Your hair is simply building up too much hydrogen peroxide.

Click here to read the rest of this story.

ReKindled: Amazon's Second-Generation Electronic Reader The Kindle is the electronic book reader first brought to market by Amazon in December of 2007. It was so successful (or Amazon so dramatically underestimated demand) that it sold out during the holiday periods of both 2007 and 2008.

Now, only 14 months after its introduction, Amazon has rolled out the Kindle 2. Even before this new and very much improved version, the pundits were speculating that the Kindle could do for digital books what Apple's iPod has done for digital music.

Click here to read the rest of this story.

New spin on vinyl: Bundled MP3s

Like many music retailers, Nathaniel Bernier was getting squeezed. His store, Wild Rufus Records, in the seaside town of Camden, Maine, was selling fewer CDs. It was suffering as a result of the music industry's broader woes - CD sales nationwide were down a steep 17.5% last year. To make matters worse, the local Wal-Mart (WMT, Fortune 500) was beefing up its music section and drawing customers away.

Click here to read the rest of this story.

Monday, March 2, 2009 Good News Stories

From Tons of Manure, a Growth Industry

"IN almost-spring, as itchy gardeners drag out grow lights and seed-starting flats, it seems a fitting moment to trace the germ of a new and very green gardening idea. It first took root beside a reeking, unspeakable lagoon in the northwest corner of Connecticut and is blossoming sweetly nationwide. Kindly summon a gardener’s tolerance for earthy subject matter as this gritty tale unfolds:"

Click to read more about this.


Avoiding the Top Ten Mistakes Taxpayers Make

"Knowing the pitfalls of many is often the best step to ensure that you do not fall prey to otherwise might be an easy to make common mistake. By staying away from these most often repeated mistakes you will avoid much of the pain which will otherwise will be created. The most frequently committed mistakes are:"

Click here to read more.


Report: Lead levels in kids drop

"In a stunning improvement in children's health, far fewer kids have high lead levels than 20 years ago, new government research reports - a testament to aggressive efforts to get lead out of paint, water and soil.

Click here to read more.


12 Ways to Thrive in This Economy

"The economy is down the tubes and things are looking bleak. The mood in the U.S. hasn't seemed this gloomy since the early 1980s. Three of my friends have been laid off recently, and several more fear for their jobs. Just yesterday my wife learned that her workplace will see layoffs, and she's worried.

Lately, conversations seem to revolve around three themes: controlling career, managing money, and selling stuff. People are getting serious about financial responsibility — but is it too late? I don't think so. Here are some effective ways to deal with each of these concerns."

Click here to read more.


Researchers find new gene responsible for ALS

"A group of scientists funded by the ALS Association have discovered a new gene responsible for cases of familial, or inherited ALS, known as Lou Gehrig's disease. "

Click here to read more about the research.

Shot of the Day for March 1, 2009

By Flickr Member Photographybyleah

Good News for March 1 (posted by Mary Beth)

Oh, behave! Embarrassing body quirks, solved

"You do right by your body, and in return you expect it to behave — but as the years go by, it can start to rebel and embarrass you on a regular basis. From excess gas to skin tags, these minor physical betrayals don't threaten your health, but they can present major challenges to your self-esteem and body image and make you feel older than you are. Fortunately, there are quick, easy solutions to these grating annoyances."

Click here for tips to overcome your body's quirks.


U2: A megaband that shows no signs of letting up

"Onstage at the Earl's Court Exhibition Center here was a glittery dress rehearsal for the annual Brit Awards, Britain's equivalent of the Grammys. Although U2 was not among the nominees, it had the opening slot for the Feb. 19 show: a live performance of the hard-riffing 'Get On Your Boots' from its new album, 'No Line on the Horizon' (Interscope). U2 had blasted the same song earlier in the month at the Grammy Awards."

Click here to read more about this enduring band.

Click here to view a clip of U2 performing 'Get On Your Boots' on the roof of the BBC Tower.


New library hailed as Mattapan's future

"Ten-year-old Kayla Maloney broke out in a wide smile as she ran her small fingers along the bindings of books stacked in the young adults section of the new Mattapan library. The fifth-grader, a voracious reader who says she often falls asleep with a book on her pillow, stopped every few steps to pull out a novel and look at the cover."

You'll find more on the story here.


Bone House to rise from ashes

"The structure – fashioned out of bones, scrap lumber, old signs and bottle caps – was a Huntsville, TX landmark. Then it burned to the ground. But owner Dan Phillips, above, says he will rebuild."

See before and after photos here.

Read the story here.

Read the back story here.


Barbie turns 50, but dolls forever young in eyes of U.S. girls

"Young girls peer into the glossy eyes of their plastic dolls and see reflections of themselves. In turn, those dolls offer a window into American culture—whether it's Tiny Tears or Bratz or the most iconic doll of all, Barbie."

Join the celebration by clicking here.

Sunday, March 1, 2009 Good News Stories (Margaret)

Frugal Gardening

"It's easy to get carried away planting a garden. Even after you've bought all the necessary tools and supplies, there are always more plants to covet and new gadgets to try. But that doesn't mean your garden has to turn into a sink hole for your money. Some of the best gardening tips don't cost a cent and some will help you save money for years. Here are 10 no-pain ways to save money and resources while gardening and still have the garden of your dreams."

Click here to read 10 ways to save.


Doodling May Boost Memory

"The next time you're stuck on hold or zoning out during a dull meeting, you might want to reach for a pen and doodle -- and not just to ease your boredom.

Doodling might help you remember snippets of key information that's mentioned in those conversations, a new study shows."

Click here to read more about this study.


5 Ways to Slim Down in 2009

"You’re two months into the New Year and you still haven’t started that resolution to eat healthy, exercise more and lose weight."

Click here to read more.

Good News for February 28, 2009 (posted by Mary Beth)

Small waterfall -- Big beauty


Recent rains have strengthened creeks and streams in our area. This little waterfall is just a few feet wide, but it is an evidence of God's touch and is a big beauty along a back road. - Photo by Mary Beth Magee (all rights reserved)


Sharing the Joy of Worship - a Devotion

"One of the hardest parts of relocating is (for me, at least) finding a new church home. Whenever I am out of fellowship, I feel hungry. My soul misses the nourishment of sharing worship and companionship with other believers. No matter how many wonderful inspirational books I read or gospel albums I listen to, nothing replaces the joy of being with others who share my faith."

Click here to read the rest of the devotion.


Broadcaster Paul Harvey dead at 90

"Broadcasting legend Paul Harvey has died at age 90. ABC Radio Networks spokesman Louis Adams said Harvey died today in a Phoenix hospital, near his winter home, surrounded by family members."

The rest of the story awaits you here.


I confess: I don't like these bands ...

"We all have those moments when talk turns to seminal artists. 'Hey, what do you think of Bruce Springsteen's new one?' or 'I don't know, man. I kind of like Joni Mitchell's 'Blue' better than 'Court and Spark.' '

How mortifying, then, when you have to confess: I don't like those icons. You know you're supposed to - judging from the mouths gaping in disbelief - but you simply don't."

Get the lowdown on how the music critics of the Boston Globe really feel here.


She turns cameras on American hunger

"An office party goes on without her, across town in an affluent world vastly different from the one where Mariana Chilton now finds herself. Her husband's tried calling. Twice.

And still she sits in dress slacks and stocking feet, gray suede shoes tossed aside, on the drab carpet of a row house in the Philadelphia projects, playing with someone else's children while her own three kids wait for Mom to come home."

Read more about Mariana Chilton's quest here.

Shot of the Day for February 27, 2009

At the Gallery (Copenhagen)

By Flickr Member @rild