Crazy Human Stunts

There's no real reason to post this other than the entertainment factor. Kind of weird to me but to each his own right?

U.S. troops pulling back; are Iraqis ready? - CNN News

Toothpick Folk Art

So many people have so very many interpretations when it comes to art. This folk art is really neat. The man in this story has literally been building this piece throughout his entire life. Creativity never ceases to amaze us!

Another Crazy Tragedy

How does this stuff happen?

Presidential Pardon

President Obama writes a young girl a pardon for missing her last day of school. Very nice. I wish those were a bit more accessible.

CNN News Story

I was curious if this method should be brought to the United States to fight our ailments also. Perhaps we could reduce West Nile related illnesses with such a deterrent.

Soldier Surprises Daughter

Thought I'd share a recent CNN report about a soldier returning home after a year and surprising his daughter at school. This was a touching story. I just wanted to take a moment and express gratitude to all of our service men and women for their sacrifice. We would not have the freedom we have today without them. God bless them all.

Faith and the Economy - CNN Video

In these desperate times of financial crisis, everyone is feeling the effects. Communities of faith struggle just as hard to keep their doors open as do other Americans.

Man is Reunited with Long Lost Treasure

Enjoy this inspirational tale of a young man who reunites a Veteran with a long lost treasure.

"So we got together - the community - and we got it done." - CNN

Give some thought to the following story. A community sees a need, reacts, and betters itself because it does what is needed. A proactive community working together becomes powerfully united. The responsibility to handle the need was that of the state, but individuals in the community felt called to join together and make a change that would positively effect all. State bureaucrats were not able to react to the need because they, in a sense, were removed from the issue. The need was felt by the immediate community and resolved by them. This is their story.

(CNN) -- Their livelihood was being threatened, and they were tired of waiting for government help, so business owners and residents on Hawaii's Kauai island pulled together and completed a $4 million repair job to a state park -- for free.

Polihale State Park has been closed since severe flooding destroyed an access road to the park and damaged facilities in December.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources had estimated that the damage would cost $4 million to fix, money the agency doesn't have, according to a news release from department Chairwoman Laura Thielen.

"It would not have been open this summer, and it probably wouldn't be open next summer," said Bruce Pleas, a local surfer who helped organize the volunteers. "They said it would probably take two years. And with the way they are cutting funds, we felt like they'd never get the money to fix it."

And if the repairs weren't made, some business owners faced the possibility of having to shut down.

Ivan Slack, co-owner of Napali Kayak, said his company relies solely on revenue from kayak tours and needs the state park to be open to operate. The company jumped in and donated resources because it knew that without the repairs, Napali Kayak would be in financial trouble.

"If the park is not open, it would be extreme for us, to say the least," he said. "Bankruptcy would be imminent. How many years can you be expected to continue operating, owning 15-passenger vans, $2 million in insurance and a staff? For us, it was crucial, and our survival was dependent on it. That park is the key to the sheer survival of the business."

So Slack, other business owners and residents made the decision not to sit on their hands and wait for state money that many expected would never come. Instead, they pulled together machinery and manpower and hit the ground running March 23.

And after only eight days, all of the repairs were done, Pleas said. It was a shockingly quick fix to a problem that may have taken much longer if they waited for state money to funnel in.

"We can wait around for the state or federal government to make this move, or we can go out and do our part," Slack said. "Just like everyone's sitting around waiting for a stimulus check, we were waiting for this but decided we couldn't wait anymore."

Thielen has been waiting, too. She wants the legislature to approve her Recreation Renaissance project, a $240 million booster shot to help fix parks across the state. Without it, at least five state parks may be forced to close, and there would be no emergency repair money to fix Polihale State Park.

"We shouldn't have to do this, but when it gets to a state level, it just gets so bureaucratic, something that took us eight days would have taken them years," said Troy Martin of Martin Steel, who donated machinery and steel for the repairs. "So we got together -- the community -- and we got it done.

The park is a fixture on the west side of the island and a favorite spot for many in the area, but it's also a hub for tourists.

"Tourism is our lifeblood. It's what pays all of our bills," Slack said. "The money that pours in comes from tourism is really an important factor for everyone here in Hawaii, and it's such an important time to encourage tourism."

And it's an important time to keep jobs, which were threatened if the park had to remain closed. In February, Kauai's unemployment rate was at 9.1 percent, up from 2.8 percent during the same time in 2008, according to Hawaii's Department of Labor.

"I think it's crucial to say the doors are open, everyone is ready," Slack said. "So when one of the most important parks in Hawaii is closed, it really changes things."

Now, because of their hard work, volunteers hope they'll be ready to send that positive message -- right in time for the tourist season.

Slack said he likes to have business up and running by April 15, and the season gets busy around May 1.

The business owners and residents are hopeful that their generous contributions in time and resources mean the park should officially open soon. Pleas says they have only to get the new bridge certified and do minor cleanup.

"A lot of people are quietly sitting by, waiting for it to open," Slack said. "This really this is one of the nicest parks in the state and in all of Hawaii, in the entire state parks department. Now, hopefully, those people get their wish."

Random Acts of Kindness

CNN posted a story about two women who for thirty-one days have gone out of their way to anonymously show kindness to others. The message is sweet. They desire to brighten someone's day. And at the same time, they hope that their kindness catches on.

Songs are still composed about showing kindness to strangers. And many organizations are dedicated to helping the less fortunate on a daily basis. What are you as an individual doing to make a difference? How have actions that you've taken positively effected the surrounding community? Just a thought to ponder. In these current times many are struggling with various issues. Perhaps you can show kindness to others and be blessed in return.

House Passes Bill to Limit Executive Compensation - As Seen on CNN.com

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The House of Representatives voted Wednesday to give the Treasury Department the power to ban future "unreasonable and excessive" compensation at companies receiving federal bailout money.

The Pay for Performance Act of 2009, which passed by a vote of 247-171, would empower Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner to define what constitutes reasonable compensation, as well as to ban bonuses not based on performance standards. Geithner's guidelines would apply to companies receiving assistance from the government's Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP.

Democrats provided heavy support for the bill, with only eight from that party voting against the measure. Republicans, who are in the minority in the House, were mostly opposed, with only 10 crossing party lines to support it.

Visit CNN at www.cnn.com.

Cop Keeps NFL Player From a Dying In-Law

You know, things like this really make me wonder if hearts are as important as heads in specific circumstances. The answer is of course yes. What a difficult situation to be involved in, losing a loved one. It is never easy. Grace is called for in life on a daily basis. That includes showing it as well as receiving it. How much more would have been gained from showing that rather than making a traumatic experience multiply a true hardship? Much more.

Motivational speaker Lyndy Phillips from Amarillo, Texas says in his seminars,"When you meet someone, that person leaves you feeling either better or bitter." How true that is. Even in a brief instance you have the opportunity to enrich someone's life and to show them your character. If you are authentic and treat others as you expect to be treated, people can be transformed if only for a moment by seeing the good and positive aspects shown from one human life to another. If however you mistreat a person, they go away from you feeling angry, hurt, or worse.

Let us keep in mind that when we see someone, we are not sure what they are going through in their personal life. It could be dire pain or extreme joy. Approach people with a smile and offer them kind words and see about making a positive impact on someone.

Is Adapting To Technology Necessary?

How many of us rely on technology now days to accomplish many of our daily tasks? Most of us do. We use technology to send and receive emails, pay our bills online, to get our prescriptions refilled, to cook our food, to surf the web while we sit in a café, and even to adjust the thermostats in our homes. We are living in the days now, that the original Star Trek television series fantasized about decades ago. Computer technology, medical advancements, and communication devices are modern day versions of what you saw the crews of the USS Enterprise utilizing moment by moment. Granted we are not zipping around the galaxy in a cloaked starship yet, but technological advances are becoming more and more vital to our daily operations and survival. We are very dependent on technology.

A report from CNN today stated that part of the reason for John McCain’s loss to President Obama was a lack of understanding and acceptance for the use of technology by the GOP. Senator McCain’s daughter, Meghan, had much to say about this since she was involved with her father during his campaign.

"The Obama administration understands that my generation spends most of its day on a laptop or a BlackBerry, and that using the Web is an easy way to communicate their ideas to their constituents," she said. "Until the Republican Party joins the twenty-first century and learns how to use the Internet, its members will keep getting older and the youth of America will just keep logging on to the other side."

The point of showing a portion of this article was not to get into the debate of democratic and republican policies, but rather to show the importance of our adaptive abilities to change the way that we are communicating with others, if what we are doing is no longer effective. The best intentions in the world can be misconstrued and falter if no one is aware that they exist and if they are not relayed in ways that are understood by others.

Ask any marketing professional what importance they place on their clients to properly communicate to a target audience, who they are and what they stand for, and they will tell you it is absolutely critical. If a company does not let people know that they are there and ready to serve, they might as well lock their doors for good and find some other way to occupy their time. It is very important to strategically use the technology that is available to communicate with others. This is true for everyone that seeks to be in the business of developing relationships.

CNN went on to state, ‘Several Republicans appear to have gotten the message. According to TweetCongress.org, more Republicans are now on the popular social networking site Twitter than are Democrats. And the recent election for the Republican Party Chairman heavily revolved around who was best positioned to modernize the party's use of technology.’

It’s always necessary to be useful and relevant in what we are doing and how we communicate with others.

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