Consumer Spending Picks Up as Americans' Incomes Rise
Consumer spending in the US increased in July by the largest margin in five months, after personal incomes climbed 0.3 percent, the Commerce Department said today.
Inspiring
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North Korean Orchestra Visits Paris for First European Concert Ever
In a warming of ties between North and South Korea, a North Korean orchestra arrived in Paris today for a rare performance with a South Korean conductor. A joint-performance Wednesday with a French Philharmonic Orchestra will be the first concert by a North Korean orchestra in Europe.
Cuba Legalizes Purchase and Sale Of Private Property
Cuba announced Thursday it is allowing the purchase and sale of real estate for the first time since the early days of the revolution, the most important reform yet in a series of free-market changes ushered in by President Raul Castro. The change follows the legalization in October of the purchase and sale of cars.
This is Why You Should Never Judge Too Quickly
A series of funny TV ads produced by Ameriquest clearly demonstrate why it is not a good idea to judge our fellow human beings too quickly. Situations are often not what they seem. Humor makes the point so very well in these clever ads.
Microsoft Pledges to Become Carbon Neutral by July 1
Weeks after coming under fire for using excessive energy for cloud computing, Microsoft announced it will become carbon neutral across all of its operations starting July 1.
Veterans Volunteer for One More Mission, a Hurricane Sandy Response Team
Armed simply with chainsaws, a corps of military veterans has arrived on the Jersey Shore to help Sandy-stricken residents trapped by a maze of downed trees and debris.
Hero Grandmother Helping Chicago Kids to Get 'Off the Block'
In one of Chicago's most dangerous neighborhoods, one grandmother has opened her door and invited gang members to come inside. She hoped that by providing them with support and a place to go, she would ensure that her own daughter and other kids would be safe and able to focus on their future instead of gangs.
Chicago Youth Program Fights Violence With Employment
Nearly 700 children were hit by gunfire last year in Chicago. In an effort to reduce the violence, a program called CeaseFire is working to curb gang activity by helping at-risk youth find employment. CeaseFire also patrols the streets of poorer, urban neighborhoods to stop crimes before they happen.
Vacant Storefront Becomes Home To Post-It Tribute Notes
The windows of an empty storefront on one corner of Harvard Square are covered with colorful Post-it Note tributes, personal messages about those who inspire us most, from fourth-grade teachers to Tim Tebow to Aunt Lindsay. It all started with one, simple little message: "Who Inspires You?"
City Tries to Curb Panhandling With Puppies and Stipends
When it comes to tackling San Francisco's entrenched panhandling problem, City Hall has tried just about everything. But it's never tried puppies - until now. Starting Aug. 1, the city - in a program believed to be the first of its kind in the country - will exchange a small stipend for fostering problematic puppies, readying them for adoption
Detroit: The Next Silicon Valley?
Tech job openings rose 82% in Detroit, with companies like Google and Ford hiring engineers in droves. And, college grads in Detroit say they are set on an immediate career path upon graduation.
Suburbs Encourage Artists to Dress Up Vacant Buildings
More suburban downtowns are burdened with empty storefronts, but a growing number of Chicago area communities are encouraging artists to dress up the vacant buildings' windows with art under glass.
Many US Cities Still Thriving Despite the Economy
Newsweek rated American cities on their job creation, sustainability, livability and transportation-infrastructure, to cull a list of the nation's top performing metropolises. And, the 10 cities topping the list represent diverse areas of the country.
Bicycle Transports Mini Library to Brazil's Homeless
Created one year ago by a 61-year-old librarian who became homeless, a large red tricycle that carries a small library through the city of São Paulo, Brazil encourages reading among people who live on the streets and cannot otherwise access libraries typically requiring ID and proof of residency.
Contest Produces 5 Outside-The-Box Ideas To Change U.S. Cities
The Mayor's Challenge is a contest run by Bloomberg Philanthropies to find the best ideas bubbling out of our cities--from data mining to turning foreclosed houses into urban farms. New York City mayor Mike Bloomberg is funding the best ideas of local governments using the competition that will result in the winner taking home $5 million and four runners-up getting $1 million each.
New York City Pay Phones Get 21st Century Makeover
You can still see more than 10,000 coin-operated phones around New York City today. What seems a relic of the past in this age of mobile technology, became a vital link in an emergency for those who had no power to charge their devices during Hurricane Sandy. Mayor Michael Bloomberg launched a design contest to reinvent the lowly payphone and bring it into the 21st Century.
US Senate Defeats Big Banks; Limits Debit Card 'Swipe Fees'
The US Senate defeated an attempt by big banks to derail financial reform scheduled to take effect next month that will bring some overdue common sense to the debit card fees banks are allowed to charge merchants.
Family Empowers 16,000 Women With Microfinance
Very poor women in Peru are improving the lives of their families, thanks to business smarts, determination and a small business micro loan from Finca Peru, the family-run social enterprise that helps educate its 16,000 local micro-borrowers in savvy business growth.
Orchestra Plays Hero to 4th Grade Student
Aidan Milligan's home will be alive with the sound of music once again. The Philadelphia Orchestra has stepped in to offer a replacement trombone to a 9-year-old with Down syndrome, whose instrument was taken from the curb outside his house Thursday morning.
French Resistance Hero Raymond Aubrac Hailed Upon his Death at 97
France is celebrating the life of Raymond Aubrac, one of its last great heroes of the resistance, whose bravery and exploits with his wife Lucie against the Gestapo became the stuff of legend and film. Aubrac died at age 97 in a military hospital in Paris on Tuesday.
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Happiness is a mindset, a conscious choice we make every day