Where’s Ilya? Help a Manatee
Ilya is play hide and seek with the Fish and Wildlife Service. They’re pretty sure they’ve found Ilya in New York – Now to try to bring him back to warm waters!
We humans have a responsibility to all forms of life on our planet. Saving Ilya is as important to us as it is to Ilya – It makes us earn our “human” stripes.
Rescue attempt planned for wandering manatee
Ilya, a curious manatee from Key West, is lost in New York. Biologists plan on trying to get him back to Florida — if an upcoming storm doesn’t kill him.
BY ROBERT SAMUELS
Call him a bohemian behemoth.
There he was, a warm-water loving South Florida manatee, some 1,300 miles from home, in the New York Harbor.
“It’s Ilya,” said Charles Underwood, a spokesman for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Finding Ilya, who was tagged by Fish and Wildlife and given his name a decade ago, has been biologists’ quest for months. The intrepid manatee from Key West, distinctive by the scarring on his side and the chunk of tail missing, was never much of a wanderer.
Then in September, a woman in Maryland reported she had been scared by some odd creature while taking sailing lessons. She took a picture; it turned out to be Ilya. A group of locals in Massachusetts were wowed by a sea cow a few days later. They even tossed him sandwiches. Again, it was Ilya.
Then there have been the sightings around New York City suburbs.
But for the past two weeks, no one has reported seeing a manatee, or any creature matching Ilya’s description.
Then, success. On Thursday, Underwood said the Jacksonville office of the Fish and Wildlife Service received a report of a manatee loitering around a private property in the harbor. They begged the local marine biologists to keep him there as long as they could.
How to get a manatee to stay in one place?
Staff hopes he’s as gluttonous as he is curious. They are tossing him heads of lettuce and carrots.
[Source & whole story: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami-dade/story/1285206.html]
October 16, 2009
Tags: biologists, Fish and Wildlife Service, Ilya, Key West, manatee, New York, wandering manatee Posted in: Motivation 
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Green Spaces Promote a Healthier You
It’s Time to Go Green!
Researchers conclude that the “closer you live to nature, the healthier you’re likier to be.”
Take time to connect with nature each day, each week. Take those you love with you for a walk, run, or bike ride in the park. It’s good for you, it’s good for them.
[read the whole article here: http://www.ajc.com/health/content/shared-auto/healthnews/agng/631957.html]
THURSDAY, Oct. 15 (HealthDay News) — The closer you live to nature, the healthier you’re likely to be.
For instance, people who live within 1 kilometer of a park or wooded area experience less anxiety and depression, Dutch researchers report.
The findings put concrete numbers on a concept that many health experts had assumed to be true.
“It’s nice to see that it shows that, that the closer humans are to the natural environment, that seems to have a healthy influence,” said Dr. David Rakel, director of integrative medicine and assistant professor of family medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.
One previous study had noted fewer health inequalities between rich and poor people in areas with lots of green space, and other studies have echoed these health benefits. But much of this research had relied on people’s perceptions of their physical and mental health.
This new objective look at the matter involved scouring medical records of 345,143 people in Holland, assessing health status for 24 conditions, including cardiovascular, respiratory and neurological diseases. This information was then correlated with how much green space was located within 1 kilometer and 3 kilometers of a person’s postal code.
People living in more urban environments had a higher prevalence of 15 of the 24 conditions, with the relationship strongest for anxiety disorder and depression.
In areas with only 10 percent of green space, about 2.6 percent of people experienced anxiety disorders, compared to 1.8 percent of people in areas with 90 percent green space. The disparity was evident for depression as well — 3.2 percent of people living in more urbanized areas had depression versus 2.4 percent of those in more rural areas.
October 16, 2009
Tags: anxiety, depression, green spaces, health, love, nature Posted in: Motivation No Comments
Need a Job – 5 Tips
It is Important to Work!
Work provides security, it allows us to enjoy the finer things of life, and it provides us with a sense of dignity and self respect. Everyone who wants to work should be able to work.
Not working, BTW, is a recent phenomenon, we humans were designed to work – it is important for us and our brothers and sisters.
Peter Cohen writing for Daily Finance on finding a job during difficult enconomic times offers these five tips:
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- Know yourself.
- Understand how others perceive your strengths and weaknesses.
- Pick a career goal that plays to your likes and strengths.
- Network like crazy.
- If all else fails, start your own business or go to grad school.
You can read the whole story here: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/10/13/five-tips-for-young-job-seekers-during-a-recession/
October 15, 2009
Tags: business, career, dignity, grad school, network, respect, strengths, tips, work Posted in: Motivation No Comments
Child Proof Your Child for Halloween
It’s Up to Us to Keep Our Children Safe on Halloween
Using a bit of common sense can make halloween trick or treating a nice night of child fantasy and enjoyment – WITH PARENTAL GUIDANCE.
Here are several tips to keep your child safe and happy on halloween:
[Read the rest here: http://www.examiner.com/x-25530-SF-Dental-Health-Examiner~y2009m10d14-Halloween-dental-health-and-safety-tips
This Halloween when your children go out Trick-or-Treating, there are a few tips on which you can do to ensure that your children’s health and safety is maintained . This safety may also include a concern for your children’s dental health.
The first recommendation for your children’s health and safety at Halloween, is the pre Trick-or-Treat lecture. This is a clear and very basic warning that should be provided to your Trick-or Treaters before venturing out, or eating their goodies. The very wee folks will remain at your side at all times during their experience hopefully. The lecture recommended however, is for the children in your family who will venture out on their own . Therefore, these are the minors in your family that may need a few good guidelines prior to their expedition.
The first guideline for all young Trick-or-Treaters is to be careful about the houses in which you choose to pursue for your Halloween goodies. If a house is not well lit, do not go there. The porch light should be on, to ensure the best visibility when approaching a house for Halloween. Some elderly, ill, or parents of the very young may choose to leave their porch lights off if they do not wish to host Trick-or-Treaters. Therefore, if a house is not well lighted just go on to the next house.
October 15, 2009
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Dr. Weil’s 12 Herbal Tips to Knock Out the flu
It Flu Season
The good news is that we can prepare ourselves mentally and emotionally to handle the flu.
Research is clear – Optimists are healthier. If the flu hits, think of it this way, your immune system is being made stronger. While it builds itself up, here are 6 of Dr. Weil’s herbal tips to put an end to the flu. You can read the rest on Dr. Weil’s homepage: http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART00675/12-Cold-Weather-Remedies.html
12 Cold-Weather Remedies
The 12 cold-weather herbal remedies recommended here should help you stay well, or at least help cut the duration of most winter health challenges. There are remedies for sore throats, chapped lips and even chest congestion in this list.
- Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus): Antiviral and immunity-enhancer. If you tend to get every bug that goes around during the winter, you can build up your resistance to disease by taking this Chinese tonic herb on a daily basis. It’s safe to take indefinitely.
- Garlic (Allium sativum): Antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer and cardiovascular tonic par excellence. The best home remedy for colds is to eat two cloves of raw garlic at the onset of symptoms. Chop or crush the cloves to release the allicin (a sulfur compound with strong antibiotic effects) and put them on a sandwich or swallow them in apple sauce. Don’t chew and the garlic won’t stay on your breath.
- Mullein (Verbascum thapsus): Expectorant, antitussive. Tincture of mullein relieves chest congestion and dry, bronchial coughs. Mullein oil can be used to treat ear infections.
- Calendula (Calendula officinalis): Soothing. Calendula lotions and salves, made from the bright orange flowers of this popular ornamental plant, are gentle and effective remedies for chapped skin and chapped lips. Apply as needed.
- Tiger Balm: This Chinese herbal remedy, based on camphor and menthol, is great for easing bronchial congestion. The camphor and menthol have a warming action that brings more blood to the area. Just rub Tiger Balm on the chest and cover with a warm towel.
- Vitamin C: Vitamin C functions as a powerful antioxidant that has a role in the repair and regeneration of tissues. It may also support healthy immune function.
October 15, 2009
Tags: congestion, flu, flu season, garlic, herbal, optimist, remedies, research, sore throat, vitamin c, well Posted in: Motivation No Comments
Today’s Hero
Today’s Hero – Sensed Something Wrong – Acted
That’s What Real Heroes Do – They Recognize & React.
A teacher and principal sensed something wrong when a fellow teacher failed to show for work – they checked the teacher’s home. The home was filled with carbon monoxide – They acted – The teacher, his wife, and children were saved! A SHOUT OUT TO THE PRINCIPAL AND TEACHER WHO ARE TODAY’S HEROES.
Read the story here [Source: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-mi-monoxiderescue-mi,0,434853.story]
KINGSLEY, Mich. – A northern Michigan teacher and his wife are recovering from carbon monoxide poisoning after they and their two young sons were rescued by the high school principal and a fellow teacher.
Kingsley High School teacher Matt Schelich and principal Matt Nausadis say they sensed something was wrong Monday morning when co-worker Bruce Graves didn’t show up for work.
Schelich and Nausadis reached the Graves’ home about 8:30 a.m. and saw both cars in the driveway. Schelich entered the house and noticed a haze and a foul odor. He and Nausadis removed the couple and their children to the back yard.The carbon monoxide had leaked from a faulty furnace.
Bruce and Aerin Graves’ conditions were upgraded to fair on Tuesday. Their 6-year-old and 3-year-old sons were discharged Tuesday.
October 15, 2009
Tags: carbon monoxide, faulty furnace, hero, principal, rescue, shout out, teacher Posted in: Motivation No Comments
Dr. Oz’s 25 Tips for Good Health
Good Health is Our Legacy – Believe it!
10 of Dr. Oz’s 25 healthy guidelines –
Read the entire story & get all 25 tips here: http://health.msn.com/fitness/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100246392
1. ROTF, LMAO
2. Don’t skip breakfast
3. Hit the sack
4. Admire your work
5. Don’t pamper your bad back
6. Taste the colors
7. Brushing is not enough
8. Take a deep belly breath
9. Join a yoga clas
10. Don’t be an island
October 14, 2009
Tags: back, breakfast, brush, Dr. Oz, good health, healthy, laugh, legacy, sleep, teeth Posted in: Motivation No Comments
Praying is Healthy
Prayer is Good for Us
According to Psychology Today, practicing your faith has amazing benefits.
Here is a snipit from their story [read the rest here]
Religion is a source of hope and optimismResearch in psychology indicates that positive attitudes are good for our health. For example, people who are optimistic about their chances of recovery from major diseases tend to better adhere to medical treatment plans, be less bothered by disease symptoms, and have better recovery rates. For many people, religion is a major source of hope and optimism.
October 14, 2009
Tags: diseases, faith, hope, optimism, prayer, psychology, recovery, religion Posted in: Motivation No Comments
Dogs Think of Him as a Hero
How Do You Rescue 10,000 Dogs? One Dog at a Time
Randy Grim of St. Louis, MO, is our hero today. Here’s a guy who will go anywhere to rescue abandoned dogs, fix them up, and get them into homes.
We need more Randy Grims in our lives – Yet, it is TERRIFIC to have ONE RANDY GRIM
It takes a special kind of guy to embrace the ruined bodies and wrecked psyches of urban street dogs — silent scavengers that live a horrid half-life of fear, pain and deprivation.Randy Grim is that guy.
In 15 years, he has rescued, rehabilitated and re-homed 10,000 of St. Louis’ dumped or feral dogs, most of which have endured unspeakable cruelties. Grim also has developed world-renowned expertise in street dogs, and formed a respected non-profit —Stray Rescue of St. Louis — with a remarkable cadre of 200 volunteers who provide foster care to injured, untrusting, unhealthy, often maimed dogs for the months required until the tide turns and the animals are ready for adoption.
Grim, who for years was regarded as the oddball kook who prowled bad neighborhoods to save mangy throw-aways, has forced a city to recalibrate its notions of compassion and an animal’s worth, and to open its collective heart to mongrels that have one eye, or a missing leg, or some quirks.
Read the rest here: http://www.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/pets/2009-10-13-pet-talk-randy-grim_N.htm
October 14, 2009
Tags: compassion, dog, hero, rescue, St. Louis, stray rescue Posted in: Motivation No Comments
Happiness is Possible – NOW!
Happiness is possible, NOW.
It’s a choice and a path. Here are two quick tips to be happy RIGHT NOW:
1. Really use your imagination and picture this moment as the happiest moment of your life – what would it look like?
2. Recall a wonderful moment in all its richness of one of your happiest experiences. Relive it to the fullest.
HOW DO YOU FEEL NOW? WHAT PHYSICAL CHANGES OCCURED DURING THESE TWO EXERCISES?
Here’s what someone else had to say:
“Happiness is composed of two main components: 1) a cognitive component, which is how you think about your life, how satisfied you are with your life, and whether or not you feel like you’re progressing toward your life goals, and 2) an affective experience, which is how often you experience positive and negative emotions.
What can give us a real long-term boost in our happiness level is how we think and how we behave. About 40 percent of our experiences of happiness or positive emotions such as joy, interest, love, serenity, amusement, awe, grace, and pride are actually under our conscious control. We can choose to have these experiences in the moment or at least help create them to push out the negative emotions by simply how we think about situations or our life. The goal is not to eliminate negative emotions — that would be simply living in denial — but to increase mild positive emotions, which can impact your personal growth and outlook on life over time.
Researchers found that we all need at least three positive emotions for every negative one we experience.
”
Read more: http://www.momlogic.com/2009/10/dont_worry_be_happy.php#ixzz0TrIyKjOB
October 13, 2009
Tags: amusement, awe, create, experience, grace, happiness, imagination, joy, life, picture, positive emotions, possible, pride, richness Posted in: Motivation No Comments
