Happy Monday, folks! I hope you all had a relaxing weekend, and are geared up for a terrific week! We spent some time this weekend with family up in New England, and the fall foliage reminded me of just how lucky we are to live in such a beautiful world!
Today we hop all over the world for our stories. So grab that cup of coffee, and sit down right quick to share some news!
Salt water is not just for the sea anymore!
We spoke last week of advanced electric cars that can practically drive themselves. Now a car has been unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, that uses state-of-the-art salt water membrane technology to power its engine. This type of car has been approved for use on European roads, and the technology is also being researched for marine use. Hopefully all vehicles in the future will use this type of green technology.
Salt-Water Powered Car Gets Approval In Europe – Yes It’s Real by Arjun Walia on Conscious Evolution
The US takes a slide to 12th in international economic freedom index.
In 2000, the US ranked 2nd in the Cato and Frasier Institutes’ index, which measures 5 broad indices of freedom within the economy. The major slide seems to have occurred, due to legal and legislative trends that move property out of private areas, and into the hands of big business, using eminent domain to remove private rights. This is an interesting look at what constitutes economic freedom around the world.
US Slips to 12th in Economic Freedom by Mike Flynn on Brietbart
Let there be light!
Larry Hester was diagnosed with a degenerative eye disease over 30 years ago, which robbed him of his sight. He recently received a new bionic eye implant, developed in conjunction with researchers at Duke University Medical, which uses a small camera in special glasses that is tied into his brain. This technology, which has been implanted into 7 subjects, allowed him to see light for the first time in 33 years. While it does not yet restore full vision, it allows the recipient to see contrasts, which enhances the ability to safely navigate their environment. Hester’s wife was thrilled when, as they were watching a football game, he could see her well enough to tough her face. What a wonderful thing!
Duke Medicine First Bionic Eye Recipient on Duke Medicine.
World aid floods in for the rebuilding of Gaza.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas reached out to world governments, asking them to help rebuild Gaza, after it’s devastating conflict with Israel. Now 50 different countries have pledged immediate aid to assist with the reconstruction. While the 5.4 Billion in pledges exceeded the request, Borge Brende, foreign minister of Norway, who chairs the group of donors to the Palestinian Authority, stressed, “We must find a radically new way of dealing with the old Gaza equation.”
A whole lot better than paint by number!
Europe’s Space Agency plans to land a robot, released from the Rosetta probe, onto comet Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko on November 12, 2014. This is exciting news, and could revolutionize the science of detecting and researching exact details of space objects. Last week they also released data that will allow those with 3D printers to create their own dimensional replicas of the ice comet.
Files to ‘print your own’ Rosetta comet by Jonathan Amos of BBC News Tech
Grasping at straws gives the gift of clean water.
LifeStraw is a pretty neat invention. It is a straw that filters water, for a single user, for over a year. It can be used out in the wild, to safely drink from ponds and streams. I used one while hiking in Yosemite, after an uphill trek emptied my water bottle. Now LifeStraw has put clean water for children in Kenya at the top of their list, in their Follow the Liters program. For every LifeStraw purchased, they will donate a community water filtration system to schools and communities in an area plagued by water borne illness. They have already begun with 300 systems and have committed to 1,600. They hope their contributions, will not only help people to avoid illnesses like Malaria and Typhoid, but will help kids stay in school because they are healthier.
That’s the news for today! I hope you all have a joy filled week and you come back tomorrow for more news.
Be Well. Be Joy. Be Love!
Alex