Ordinary people doing extraordinary things
- Thread starter Raising Heel
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My office must be really dusty today.
Hawaiian Hokule'a canoe makes it round the world
A traditional Polynesian voyaging canoe has returned to Honolulu in Hawaii, completing the first-ever round-the-world trip by such a vessel. The boat, the Hokule'a, took three years to journey around the globe.
Its crew navigated without modern instruments, using only the stars, wind and ocean swells as guides. They aimed to use the same techniques that brought the first Polynesian settlers to Hawaii hundreds of years ago.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-40316930
A traditional Polynesian voyaging canoe has returned to Honolulu in Hawaii, completing the first-ever round-the-world trip by such a vessel. The boat, the Hokule'a, took three years to journey around the globe.
Its crew navigated without modern instruments, using only the stars, wind and ocean swells as guides. They aimed to use the same techniques that brought the first Polynesian settlers to Hawaii hundreds of years ago.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-40316930
Walter Zielke Ruesch, also known as “Zoohky,” made a name for himself in the West End of Winnipeg by being a helpful and kind individual. He was known to fix things that had been broken and thrown away, such as bicycles, stereos, and toys. Once fixed, he would donate the items to families that needed them.
http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-zoohky-mural
http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-zoohky-mural
This doctor has overcome some incredible odds to help unborn children facing the same challenges.
As she operates on fetuses with spina bifida, this surgeon guards a secret: She has the condition, too
Mary Austin, a pediatric surgeon at Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital, counsels expectant parents on the risks and benefits of an in utero surgery that can treat spina bifida—and she usually doesn't mention that she has the condition herself.
She wants them to focus on the research data and their personal circumstances rather than making assumptions about how their baby will fare, based on her energetic persona and hard-charging career as a pediatric surgeon.
As she operates on fetuses with spina bifida, this surgeon guards a secret: She has the condition, too
Mary Austin, a pediatric surgeon at Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital, counsels expectant parents on the risks and benefits of an in utero surgery that can treat spina bifida—and she usually doesn't mention that she has the condition herself.
She wants them to focus on the research data and their personal circumstances rather than making assumptions about how their baby will fare, based on her energetic persona and hard-charging career as a pediatric surgeon.
An incredible story of tradition, duty, family, and sacrifice. This hotel is 1,300 years old.
Hōshi is a ryokan (a Japanese traditional inn) located in Komatsu, Japan, and it holds the distinction of being the 2nd oldest hotel in the world, and "the oldest still running family business in the world" (per Wikipedia). Built in 718 AD, the ryokan has been operated by the same family for 46 consecutive generations. Count them. 46 generations.
Hōshi is a ryokan (a Japanese traditional inn) located in Komatsu, Japan, and it holds the distinction of being the 2nd oldest hotel in the world, and "the oldest still running family business in the world" (per Wikipedia). Built in 718 AD, the ryokan has been operated by the same family for 46 consecutive generations. Count them. 46 generations.
How to Achieve the Extraordinary (Even If You're Ordinary)
https://www.explore-mag.com/How-to-Achieve-the-Extraordinary-Even-If-Youre-Ordinary
https://www.explore-mag.com/How-to-Achieve-the-Extraordinary-Even-If-Youre-Ordinary
In 1992, three Canadians, inspired by their country's 125th birthday celebration, thought up a crazy plan. What if they could connect all of Canada's hiking trails, footpaths, rail trails, and boardwalks and into one giant mega-trail that snaked from coast to coast?
Canada's "Great Trail" is Finally Connected
Canada's "Great Trail" is Finally Connected
At the very end, the dad saying, "Don't bump him. Don't bump him." lol
This is a pretty great list of people who don't suck.
2017 HAS BEEN A DOOZY. Monsoon rains submerged portions of India, Bangladesh, and Nepal, affecting millions. Two earthquakes shook Mexico. A series of hurricanes pummeled Texas and the Caribbean, threatening lives and razing some islands down to their foundations. Wildfires sprinted across the American West, reducing entire neighborhoods to rubble, choking the sky with smoke, and smearing the landscape a hellish orange.
Amid the apocalyptic-seeming destruction ... good people stepped up everywhere. We salute everyone who was a good neighbor in a year that dealt one grim blow after another. This is by no means a comprehensive list, but here are some disaster heroes that stood out to us this year for their creativity, compassion, and character.
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/2017-disaster-heroics-best-human-kindness-bravery
2017 HAS BEEN A DOOZY. Monsoon rains submerged portions of India, Bangladesh, and Nepal, affecting millions. Two earthquakes shook Mexico. A series of hurricanes pummeled Texas and the Caribbean, threatening lives and razing some islands down to their foundations. Wildfires sprinted across the American West, reducing entire neighborhoods to rubble, choking the sky with smoke, and smearing the landscape a hellish orange.
Amid the apocalyptic-seeming destruction ... good people stepped up everywhere. We salute everyone who was a good neighbor in a year that dealt one grim blow after another. This is by no means a comprehensive list, but here are some disaster heroes that stood out to us this year for their creativity, compassion, and character.
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/2017-disaster-heroics-best-human-kindness-bravery
When Christian Moullec saw that lesser white-fronted geese were struggling with their migration from Germany to Sweden in 1995, he took to the skies to help them. Today, weather permitting, he soars with birds on an almost daily basis.
A meteorologist by trade, the 58-year-old Frenchman didn't start out as a pilot. But inspired by an Austrian zoologist known as "the man who walked with geese," Moullec adapted a two-seater ultralight aircraft to fly alongside the vulnerable species to guide them on a safer migration route. Now, from March through October, he takes tourists up to fly with birds.
https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/01/bird-man-flying-france-microlight-spd/
ETA: Not sure if the video below is displaying properly but you can watch it at the link above. It's spellbinding IMO.
A meteorologist by trade, the 58-year-old Frenchman didn't start out as a pilot. But inspired by an Austrian zoologist known as "the man who walked with geese," Moullec adapted a two-seater ultralight aircraft to fly alongside the vulnerable species to guide them on a safer migration route. Now, from March through October, he takes tourists up to fly with birds.
https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/01/bird-man-flying-france-microlight-spd/
ETA: Not sure if the video below is displaying properly but you can watch it at the link above. It's spellbinding IMO.
Semis line up on interstate in Detroit to help save suicidal man
http://www.kxan.com/news/national-n...-detroit-to-help-save-suicidal-man/1137838654
http://www.kxan.com/news/national-n...-detroit-to-help-save-suicidal-man/1137838654
The Australian [James Harrison] has an extremely rare blood type, packed with disease-fighting antibodies that can form an injection known as "anti-D." When administered to a pregnant woman, the injection helps fight rhesus disease (in which the woman's blood attacks the unborn baby's blood and can result in brain damage or death).
James discovered his blood was a magic elixir when he was a young boy and started donating it, once a week, which he did for 60 years in a row. He just gave his last donation at the age of 81. (Australian law says a person's blood donations must stop at 81 years old.)
Incredibly, every dose of anti-D ever made in Australia has come from James's blood. Given the fact that more than 17 percent of Australian women are at risk for rhesus disease, the Australian Red Cross Blood Service calculates that Harrison has saved the lives of 2.4 million babies.
https://www.inc.com/scott-mautz/thi...ng-for-60-years-heres-what-you-can-learn.html
James discovered his blood was a magic elixir when he was a young boy and started donating it, once a week, which he did for 60 years in a row. He just gave his last donation at the age of 81. (Australian law says a person's blood donations must stop at 81 years old.)
Incredibly, every dose of anti-D ever made in Australia has come from James's blood. Given the fact that more than 17 percent of Australian women are at risk for rhesus disease, the Australian Red Cross Blood Service calculates that Harrison has saved the lives of 2.4 million babies.
https://www.inc.com/scott-mautz/thi...ng-for-60-years-heres-what-you-can-learn.html
Dumont Public Schools earlier this year received a $1 million check from the estate of beloved instructor Genevieve Via Cava.
Via Cava, who worked with students with learning disabilities for 45 years in the district, left the massive donation to fund scholarships for special education students to seek post-secondary education....
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-brief...million-donation-for-scholarships-for-special
Via Cava, who worked with students with learning disabilities for 45 years in the district, left the massive donation to fund scholarships for special education students to seek post-secondary education....
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-brief...million-donation-for-scholarships-for-special
Just read this and was going to post about it. Pretty good story.
Raising Men Lawn Care Service is the union of an ordinary yard maintenance service and the commitment to establish an inspiring program to keep our youth (girls & boys) on a positive path while learning and understanding their value in society. RMLS provides free lawn care to our elders, those who are disabled, single mothers and our veterans, who do not have the time, resources and/or money to manicure their yards.
https://weareraisingmen.com/
Did you guys read where he is doing this in all 50 American states . . he's in Minnesota today, will be flying to Alaska on Friday, and then on to Hawaii on Sunday. He's completed 47 of the 50 states and began all of this on May 17th.
Pretty cool huh ? . . . see the world and help a few folks out.
Kudos to Mr. Rodney Smith Jr.
96 Minutes Of CPR Saves Minnesota Man
A 54-year-old Goodhue man is alive and well thanks to the heroic efforts of a team of first responders who who performed CPR on his lifeless body for more than an hour and a half.
(This story is seven years old but remarkable nonetheless.)
A 54-year-old Goodhue man is alive and well thanks to the heroic efforts of a team of first responders who who performed CPR on his lifeless body for more than an hour and a half.
(This story is seven years old but remarkable nonetheless.)
Not sure this counts as "ordinary people," but it is pretty cool.
Woman sets 180+ mph bicycle speed record
Woman sets 180+ mph bicycle speed record
Pro athletes aren't "ordinary" but this story is definitely extraordinary...
https://sports.yahoo.com/amazing-st...wins-nfc-defensive-player-week-153737971.html
https://sports.yahoo.com/amazing-st...wins-nfc-defensive-player-week-153737971.html
Betsy Humiston is an ovarian cancer survivor who is sewing hundreds of dresses for little girls in Africa -- one for each day she was sick.
https://healthnewshub.org/health-news-hub/people/spreading-hope-world-one-dress-time/
https://healthnewshub.org/health-news-hub/people/spreading-hope-world-one-dress-time/
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