HEALTHCARE: AI App That Quickly Appeals Denials

Wednesday, August 13, 2025

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/big-insurance-uses-ai-to-quickly-deny-claims-physican-fights-back-with-ai-app-that-quickly-appeals/?utm_source=newsletter.goodnewsnetwork.org&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=your-5-min-dose-of-good-news-ducks-take-over-town-center&_bhlid=9ae55e2f638cb4ac2fda40c6fc7c6f7bac698b74

Big Insurance Uses AI to Quickly Deny Claims, One Man Fights Back with AI App That Quickly Appeals
By Andy Corbley – Aug 5, 2025 

*** begin quote ***

The idea that American health insurance companies are using AI to analyze and adjudicate claims for approval or denial sounds terrifying, but one North Carolinian is using AI to fight back.

When Raleigh resident Neal Shah had a claim denied for his wife’s chemotherapy drugs, he thought it was rare, that he was the only one, that it was just bad luck.

Litigating his case on phone calls that lasted for hours changed the husband and father, and he set about creating a sophisticated app that uses artificial intelligence to compare claims denial forms against health insurance contracts, before automatically drafting an appeal letter.

*** and ***

they’ve built Counterforce to the point where it boasts a 70% success rate in appealing claims.

*** end quote ***

https://www.counterforcehealth.org/

# – # – # – # – # 

I like the “fight fire with fire” approach.

Completely free?  Astonishing. Wish I had a claim to arbitrate!

(Surprised that Big Insurance hasn’t bought them out or engaged in “lawfare” against them.)

To me, “health” and “healthcare” is not just about “the care you get or don’t get for your health”, but also all the “systems” adjacent to it.

Wonder if this will inspire other efforts to enlist AI against other “insurance” abuses (i.e., raising premiums; denial of coverage; use alf drones and AI against ordinary folks; credit card appeals)?

One could apply the concept to all sorts of adversarial interactions like “eminent domain”, intrusive Gooferment actions like regulations, or “cash confiscations”.

What a great time to be a programmer with today’s opportunities.

How about AI to lobby politicians and bureaucrats to “do the right thing”?

Any other uses?  Leave a comment.

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ENCOURAGING: Bicycle Refurbishers Pedal Good to the World for 26 years

Tuesday, May 6, 2025

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/chicago-bicycle-refurbishers-pedal-good-to-the-world-for-26-years-with-150000-bikes-saved-from-landfills/?utm_campaign=newsletters&utm_medium=weekly_mailout&utm_source=29-04-2025

Chicago Bicycle Refurbishers Pedal Good to the World for 26 Years With 150,000 Bikes Saved from Landfills
By Andy Corbley – Apr 24, 2025 

*** begin quote ***

Working Bikes, located at 2434 S. Western Ave in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood, has seen an awful lot of bikes pass through its doors; pulling them from landfills, picking them up off the curbside, or accepting them from community members. Over 150,000 have been repaired since the registered 501(c)3 got its wheels turning in 1999.

12% of all the bikes they restored are sold in the Working Bikes storefront. 15% meanwhile are donated right back to the people of Chicago through local program partners that will ensure they arrive in the hands of people in need of transportation.

The whole operation is volunteer-supported: anyone can come in and fix a bike or learn how. A few dedicated employees ensure that salable models are in excellent condition, or boast unique designs and features.

*** end quote ***

I love the international economic chain that they have created.  Micro-loans to buyers and training local talent  — here and overseas  — in repair and maintenance.

That’s America in action!

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HEROIC: Child Born with Heart Outside Chest … …

Sunday, May 4, 2025

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/child-born-with-heart-outside-chest-becomes-solitary-survivor-thanks-to-surgical-procedure-invented-for-her/?utm_campaign=newsletters&utm_medium=weekly_mailout&utm_source=01-05-2025

Child Born with Heart Outside Chest Becomes Solitary Survivor Thanks to Surgical Procedure Invented for Her
By Andy Corbley – Apr 28, 2025

*** begin quote ***

Their patient was Vanellope Wilkins, the solitary survivor known to British medicine of ectopia cordis, a condition where a fetus develops with its heart outside its body.

Over a period of 9 hours, the team which included visiting surgeons from London would form a protective cage around Vanellope’s heart by reforming her ribs, and though her team included some of the best pediatric surgeons in the country, the procedure had never been done before, and was invented specifically for Vanellope’s case.

*** end quote ***

Team of 50 are all heroes in my book.  Saving a life, creating a unique approach, and following thru for 7 years is heroic in my book.

Compared to all the abortions performed for “convenience” makes this effort a statement about the value of human life.

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HEROIC: Philly cop saves child from a potentially deadly fall while he’s acrophobic

Wednesday, April 23, 2025

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/philadelphia-police-officer-sets-aside-fear-of-heights-to-rescue-child-from-a-roof/?utm_campaign=newsletters&utm_medium=weekly_mailout&utm_source=20-04-2025

Philadelphia Police Officer Sets Aside Fear of Heights to Rescue Child from a Roof
By Andy Corbley – Apr 16, 2025

*** begin quote ***

It takes bravery to be a police officer, but for someone with a fear of heights, it’s probably safe to assume most of the work will be done with feet on solid ground.

For one acrophobic Philadelphia officer however, preventing disaster meant going above and beyond the call of duty, literally.

Officer Eric Robbins was on patrol December 10th, among the two-storey houses on N. 64th Street, when he got a call from neighbors saying someone’s child was out and walking on the pitched-roof of a nearby house.

*** end quote ***

That takes courage.  Any adult can quickly realize what a fall from such a height can mean.  For someone already afraid of heights to push thru and save a baby is imho heroic.

I know how quickly babies can get into trouble even when you’re sitting watching them.  Never mind doing a chore or cooking at your phone.  The baby was probably down for a nap, woke up, and silently decide to explore out an open window with no child guard.

Well all’s well that ends well.

Thanks to a fast cop with no fear.  

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ENCOURAGING: Demonstration project shows improved yields, diversified crops, and boosted incomes

Friday, March 14, 2025

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/degraded-lands-transformed-into-productive-farms-with-science-we-can-create-wonders/

Degraded Lands Transformed into Productive Farms: With Science, We Can Create Wonders
By Andy Corbley – Mar 3, 202

*** begin quote ***

In a degraded and semi-arid farming area in India, simple science-driven changes to the landscape have colored the horizon, and a village’s fortunes, with green.

In the Latur district in the central western state of Maharashtra, 40 years of erratic rainfall, groundwater depletion, soil erosion, and crop failures have impoverished the local people.

In the village of Matephal, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) launched a project in 2023 that aimed at addressing these challenges through integrated landscape management and climate-smart farming practices.

*** and ***

“This ICRISAT project improved yields, diversified crops, and boosted incomes. It also spared women from walking over a kilometer for drinking water, now available in the village for people and animals,” said Mr. Govind Hinge of Matephal village.

*** end quote ***

Pretty amazing results.  Went from “dirt poor” with no water to abundant water and good soil.  

Unfortunately, the author doesn’t itemize the capital investment that went into creating this miracle.  While obviously significant, far beyond what a poor village could afford, one wonders what the ROI would be?  For example, the 30 tons of fish harvested might be a source of capital.  A 13 foot rise in the water table might be economically exploitable.  The extra acreage that become productive might be a source of capital to be used.

I wonder if the world’s engineering schools could be an educational resource?  Imagine instead of funding football teams with expansive coaches, Universities could complete for whose intervention produces the most results.  Funny?  No fill the stadium with two equally sized plots and see which produced the best tomatoes.  Yeah, now that is exciting. 

Listen to the 4 minute video and see if you’re not as impressed as I am. 

Interesting to me is that this intervention made a permanent positive change in peoples’ lives.

# – # – # – # – # 

Note: I learned that a hectare (symbol: ha) is a unit of area that is accepted in the International System of Units (SI). It is primarily used to measure land area. One hectare is equal to 10,000 square meters and is equivalent to approximately 2.471 acres.

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CRYPTO: It may have been fraud, but savers did NOT diversify

Sunday, November 17, 2024

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/life-savings-of-an-entire-small-town-recovered-from-the-depths-of-a-cryto-scam-by-fbi/

Life Savings of an Entire Small Town Recovered from the Depths of Cryto-Scam, Thanks to FBI
By Andy Corbley – Nov 7, 2024

*** begin quote ***

A Wichita courtroom rang out with sobs and cheers when over two dozen people learned that their life savings had been recovered after being lost by a local bank.

Over $8 million in children’s university funds, retirement accounts, funds for eldercare, and bequeathments to children and grandchildren were returned after the FBI located and seized a cryptocurrency wallet linked to an account in the Cayman Islands.

The bank’s founder Shan Hanes, claims he had unintentionally lost it all by investing in a sophisticated cryptocurrency scam, though he ultimately lost his defense and received 24 years in prison for defrauding depositors and investors.

In August, Heartland Tri-State Bank was put into receivership by federal regulators after being drained of cash. The FDIC paid out $47 million to everyday depositors and other investors, but the rural, community-owned bank had 30 shareholders who had carefully planned long-term accounts that were not insured.

*** end quote ***

While I am happy that the insured depositors were made whole, they should have diversified their deposits.

One lady had 250k$ in one IRA account.  That far exceeds the risk she should be taking.  Four partial roll over accounts of 50k$ each would have mitigated her losses.  She was lucky to get it back.  Yeah, it makes for more paperwork, but look at the alternative,

There are accounts available with private insurance up to ¼ million last time I looked.

In short, having large sums of money requires you to take a modicum of care.

Don’t trust anyone.  (Even me!)  Verify!  Lawyers and accountants may seem expensive, but are cheap in the long run.

YMMV but I know what I do and preach.  

—30—

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GUNS: Guns, even pellet guns, are always deemed to be loaded … … PERIOD!

Sunday, September 22, 2024

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/boy-given-1pt-chance-of-survival-walks-5k-for-hospital-that-saved-him-after-air-rifle-shot-to-head/

Boy Given 1% Chance of Survival Walks 5k for Hospital That Saved Him–After Air Rifle Shot to the Head as Baby
By Good News Network – Sep 8, 202

*** begin quote ***

Harry Studley was just 18-months-old when a 24-year-old neighbor was cleaning his air rifle in 2016 and aimed it at the crying toddler, saying he thought it was unloaded. The pellet lodged in Harry’s brain causing a displaced skull fracture, as well as swelling and bleeding on the brain.

Harry was given a one percent chance of survival, but pulled through. He was left with serious conditions, though, and still suffers epilepsy, partial blindness, weakness, and some cognitive issues.

*** end quote ***

Why, in Heaven’s name, would you ever aim a gun at a toddler  —  FOR ANY REASON?

The fact that this occurred in the “gun control” UK is astonishing.

First rule of gun safety is that they are ALWAYS to be pointed in a safe direction.  Second, they are always treated as if they are loaded and ready to fire.

Growing up, (mostly) boys brought guns to school as part of a shooting team.  Guess in the name of “gun control”, now children don’t learn about these tools and the safety rules.

Argh!

—30—

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ENCOURAGING: 4-year-old Girl Uses Alexa to summon help

Friday, September 20, 2024

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/quick-thinking-4-year-old-girl-uses-alexa-to-call-for-help-as-mom-suffers-epileptic-seizure/

Quick-thinking 4-year-old Girl Uses Alexa to Call for Help as Mom Suffers Epileptic Seizure
By Andy Corbley – Sep 5, 2024 

*** begin quote ***

When Lyla Leathem saw her mom collapse into an epileptic seizure, she remained calm and knew just what to do.

She knew she was supposed to call her great-grandmother—but her mom Leah’s phone was locked. The four-year-old ran upstairs and asked Amazon Alexa to make the call instead.

Mother Leah Bigg had fallen unwell at her home in Somerset on August 25th. Family members had previously shown Lyla how to use Alexa for phone calls as her mom often suffers from seizures at night which can be life-threatening. But they had no idea the youngster had listened—until she was called into action.

*** end quote ***

Sharp that a four year old could take action; most wouldn’t have the capability of finding an alternative.

One can question the living arrangements that made this necessary, but that doesn’t detract from a resourceful child’s action in a crisis.

—30—

 

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GOLD: Pot of Gold found; testament to its eternal value

Saturday, August 24, 2024

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/archaeologists-find-literal-pot-of-gold-but-its-not-in-ireland/

Archaeologists Find Literal Pot of Gold, but it’s Not in Ireland
By Andy Corbley – Aug 8, 202

*** begin quote ***

It’s one of the best things an archaeologist can hope to find: a hoard of gold coins. One was dug up recently in a terracotta pot, meaning that, if one sustains the pun, they found a pot of gold.

They didn’t find it at the end of a rainbow, however, but it was at the ‘end’ of something—Asia—as the Ancient Greeks would have considered it.

Excavations among the ruins of Notion, an ancient city-state in modern-day Turkey, turned up the foundations of a house dating to the Achaemenid Persian Empire buried under another house built from the Hellenistic Period, or about 180 years later.

“The coins were buried in a corner of the older building,” Dr. Christopher Ratté, lead archaeologist on the project, told the New York Times. “We weren’t actually looking for a pot of gold.”

The coins are known as darics, which stems from the name of the Emperor Darius I, or from ‘dari-‘ the root word for gold in the Persian language. Dating to the 5th century BCE, it was a time of great upheaval as Greek city-states fought against each other, against Persia, and sometimes on behalf of Persia against other Greeks, when mercenary soldiers made up key components of many major armies in Asia Minor.

The running hypothesis as to the coins’ provenance is that they were buried with the full intention of recovering them later. They probably represented savings, as each daric would be around one month’s pay. However, the fact that they were never dug up from their little hole in the corner of the house suggests the worst.

*** end quote ***

For a number of reasons, I loved this story.  Sad for the original owner who never was able to retrieve his stash.  Wondering about any reward for the discoverers.  Curious how much they are worth.

Mine aren’t buried, but could be if need arises. 

There is something practical about having stashes and caches in turbulent times.

As usual, the politicians and bureaucrats of the Gooferment want everything they can steal so stash and cache are two prudent strategies for dealing with the modern day equivalent of pirates.

Argh!

—30—

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INTERESTING: New use for K9 — reverse tracking

Sunday, August 4, 2024

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/after-rescuing-non-verbal-child-k9-officer-follows-the-boys-scent-in-reserve-to-find-his-home/

K9 Officer Rescues Lost Non-Verbal Child by Following the Boy’s Scent in Reverse to Find His Home
By Andy Corbley –  Jul 25, 202

*** begin quote ***

In North Carolina, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office received a call that a child was wandering alone on the road on July 7th.

Dispatching an officer to the Waxhaw Indian Trail Road, the child was located and secured, but being autistic and non-verbal, the officer had no idea where the boy had wandered away from.

Being that the responder was a K-9 Unit, and was working alongside his trusty 1-year-old bloodhound Remi, Deputy B. Belk utilized the dog’s incredible sense of smell to “reverse” the normal scent tracking process to find the boy’s home.

“Normally, [scent dogs] track from where a person left to try to find where that person is currently. This time we were doing it reverse,” said Lieutenant Public Information Officer James Maye to CNN.

*** and ***

Lieutenet Maye explained the technique of reverse tracking would now be implemented in the training curriculum for K-9 officers.

*** end quote ***

Excellent work.

I can almost hear the dog’s thoughts now  — “Yeah, I smell the scent and the person is right over there now.  What exactly do you want me to find?  Him?  He’s over there.”

I don’t know how they communicated to the dog they wanted him to back track.

As a fellow with a six year old, I can COMPLETELY understand how a child can “disappear” in a heartbeat.  Just recently I had mine “disappear” into the basement.  Argh!  

I can recommend Angel Sense tracking device as a service to make sure you know where the child is.

https://www.angelsense.com/

—30—

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ECONOMICS: Despite “carbon credits”, imagine how liberty would work

Sunday, June 9, 2024

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/new-tool-to-mitigate-algal-blooms-is-making-breakthrough-results-in-utah-scientists-say/

New Tool to Mitigate Algae Blooms Shows Breakthrough Results in Utah, Scientists Say
By Andy Corbley – May 31, 2024 

*** begin quote ***

The restoration process was undertaken by the Utah Waterbodies Restoration Program, which in turn was carried out in partnership with Brigham City, Utah, at no cost to the city because of the 12,913 tonnes of carbon credits that were sold to fund the clean-up of Mantua Reservoir.

*** end quote ***

Well, imagine if the Mantua Reservoir was privately owned.  An entrepreneur would look at it as an untapped resource.  Not hard to imagine the reservoir owner investing in clean up to sell fishing and boating licenses.  As well as all the other economic activity that would “spring up” like bait shops, fast food, boat sales, boat storage, and things we can’t even imagine.

So instead of “worshiping at the false god of climate change” and Gooferment bureaucrats preventing economic activity, let’s unleash the creativity for a truly free market economy.

Argh!

—30—

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HEROIC: A highway engineer risks his life to save two other souls

Monday, January 15, 2024

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/quick-thinking-hero-saves-trapped-woman-and-toddler-from-sinking-car-by-lashing-it-to-bridge/?utm_campaign=newsletters&utm_medium=weekly_mailout&utm_source=08-01-2024

Quick-Thinking Hero Saves Trapped Woman and Toddler From Sinking Car by Lashing it to Bridge
By Good News Network – Jan 6, 2024 

*** begin quote ***

A hero dad saved a woman and her three-year-old daughter after he saw their car being swept away in a flooded river.

Liam Stych leapt into action fighting a raging torrent after hearing the woman screaming “Help me, help me, please save my baby!”

A video shows the woman’s car being dragged under a footbridge as floods surged through Birmingham, England on Tuesday following Storm Henk.

*** and ***

The highway engineer then sprinted back to his work van and grabbed a set of 3.5 ton ratchet straps.

“Once the baby was safe I ran to get the straps and climbed back to the car and smashed the back passenger window.”

*** end quote ***

Wow, I know that took a set of stones that the average Joe Sixpack doesn’t have.  I’d like to think we all could do it, but would we.  And, even if willing, would we be capable of it.  After all who has the tools at hand to tie a car to a bridge?

Hope the fellow wins the lotto. He earned it.

—30—

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INSPIRATIONAL: Usign “e-waste” to revive an electric scooter

Friday, September 8, 2023

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/man-used-80-discarded-vape-batteries-to-power-an-electric-scooter-proving-the-importance-of-e-waste/?utm_campaign=newsletters&utm_medium=weekly_mailout&utm_source=05-09-2023

Man Used 80 Discarded Vape Batteries to Power an Electric Scooter Proving the Importance of E-Waste

By Good News Network – Sep 2, 2023 

*** begin quote ***

A clever graduate has used 80 discarded vape batteries to power his e-scooter—and to make a point about waste.

The 23-year-old Brit says disposable vape devices are marketed as expendable, but still have plenty of power—and people need to know that.

It didn’t cost any money to pick up 80 discarded vape batteries and he wired the lithium-ion batteries to a scooter purchased on eBay for $37 (£30).

*** end quote ***

Wow.  Now there’s an “injineer”.  

I’m more impressed with scooters when I see them in use.  While I’m too old and heavy for one, and they really are only for “fair weather”, there is a lesson for “youngsters” who can’t drive yet that there are alternatives to “shank’s mare” aka walking.

It also demonstrates the value of “lateral thinking”.  

Wish I was young again, there seems like there are MORE opportunities for youths to succeed in unconventional 9-5 wage slave jobs.

—30—

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INSPIRATIONAL: 8th Grader Walks himself into a college scholarship

Sunday, June 11, 2023

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/after-8th-grader-walked-to-graduation-a-missouri-university-and-nfl-star-team-up-to-give-him-a-ride-to-college/?utm_campaign=newsletters&utm_medium=weekly_mailout&utm_source=07-06-2023

After 8th Grader Walked to Graduation, an NFL Star and University Team Up to Give Him a Ride to College
By Andy Corbley – Jun 5, 2023 

*** begin quote ***

A Missouri middle schooler was so determined to make it to his graduation, he ended up walking 6 miles.

Losing out on an opportunity for a ride there, 8th-grader Xavier Jones asked his friend and brother to walk along with him, remembering something a mentor at Yeatman Middle School had told him.

“‘If I want it, I got to go get it,’” Jones told Fox News, remembering the advice. Together, the young men walked over 10,000 steps and two-and-a-half hours through St. Louis to arrive at the school.

*** and ***

“She said, ‘You got a full ride,’ and I said [to Xavier], ‘Do you know what that means,’ and he said, ‘They’re going to give me a ride to school?’” Seals said. “I was like, ‘No, you’re getting a ride to college. He said, ‘Wait a minute, I don’t have to pay for college. Then it started hitting him.”

*** and ***

Miami Dolphins NFL player Terron Armstead, who grew up in a similar part of town to Xavier, had bought his family a minivan, and an electric bike to ensure transportation options are no longer a problem.

*** end quote ***

An impressive young MAN! We hear a lot of bad things that “juvenile delinquents” do, but not enough stories like this one.

Very impressive actions by the college president and the NFL player.

I’m sure KARMA will reward them.

—30—

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INSPIRATIONAL: The York groundsel is “De-Extinct-ed”

Friday, June 9, 2023

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/flower-that-grew-only-in-york-brought-back-from-extinction-after-30-years-first-ever-british-de-extinction/?utm_campaign=newsletters&utm_medium=weekly_mailout&utm_source=01-06-2023

Flower That Grew Only in York Brought Back From Extinction After 30 Years—First Ever British De-Extinction

By Andy Corbley – May 30, 2023 

*** begin quote ***

English media is gushing over the news of the first “de-extinction event” that saw a yellow wildflower unique to northeast England brought back to life.

Extinct since 1991, the York groundsel managed to carry on thanks to a handful of seed that was shed from three potted specimens on a windowsill at the University of York.

Stored at the Millennium Seed Bank in the Kew Gardens, botanists at Natural England organized a resurrection for the York groundsel after they received word the seeds were reaching the end of their lifespan.

*** end quote ***

Like aborted children, about whom I wonder who was the one who was to cure cancer.  So to, an extinct species of flower could hold the unknown key to an unknown mystery.

Probably not, but who wants to bet against the possibility?

Not me.

—30—

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INSPIRATIONAL: The law of Karma?

Tuesday, February 21, 2023

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/5-year-old-who-emptied-piggybank-for-earthquake-relief-now-wins-48mil-lottery-jackpot-at-18/?utm_campaign=newsletters&utm_medium=weekly_mailout&utm_source=10-02-2023

5-Year-old Who Emptied Piggybank for Earthquake Relief Now Wins $48Mil Lottery Jackpot at 18
By Andy Corbley – Feb 8, 2023 

*** begin quote ***

A delightful story from northern Ontario saw a 5-year-old girl’s good Karma wait 13 years to reward her.

Juliette Lamour won the state’s second-largest lottery jackpot in history, CAD$48 million, on her first-ever try. Local news from her home city of Sault Saint Marie revealed a touching side of the story—that at 5 years old Lamour made a very big act of charity, and the suggestion that her generosity has been rewarded is impossible to resist making.

It was 2010 and the island nation of Haiti had just been ravaged by an earthquake. Aid organizations from across the world rushed to help the people of the obliterated country stabilize and recover.

At the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds hockey team ice rink a branch of the Canadian Red Cross had set up a table to help raise money for Haiti, and Juliette and her sister Sophie were determined to help.

They upturned their big pink sharing piggy bank that day, out of which came $61.38.

*** end quote ***

We deal with a lotta “laws” in our lifetimes.  I differentiate between man-made “laws” that I call diktats and the natural “laws” of the universe like gravity.

Here we have an example of a “weak” natural law, the Law of Karma.  The wheel goes around and what you send out come around.  Sometimes if you send out “bad”, it comes around to bite you in the butt.  But, like this example, it comes back around a bestows a 782013.685239 * 61.38 reward.  

“Cast Your Bread Upon the Waters “meaningtto do something kind or good without expecting anything in return.  If you cast your bread upon the waters, you do good deeds for others without expecting anything in return.

Here is a reminder.

—30—

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INSPIRATIONAL: Man Finally Meets Family That Hid Him During Nazi Holocaust

Thursday, February 16, 2023

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/man-finally-meets-family-that-hid-him-during-nazi-holocaust-80-years-ago-and-visits-the-house/?utm_campaign=newsletters&utm_medium=weekly_mailout&utm_source=10-02-2023

Man Finally Meets Family That Hid Him During Nazi Holocaust 80 Years Ago–And Visits the House
By Andy Corbley – Feb 7, 202

*** begin quote ***

An elderly Belgian man was able to meet the descendants of a neighbor who saved him from the Holocaust after his perseverant son and a helpful geneticist managed to track down his grandchildren.

The meeting was organized in the same house where a 5-year-old David Rossler was hidden along with his mother. Now 85, Rossler had a chance to thank the grandchildren for what their grandfather, Georges Bourlet, had done.

Mr. Bourlet lived in Auderghem, Brussels with his four adolescent children, Paul, Jacques, Anne-Marie, and Christiane. Together they gave shelter to Rossler and his mother towards the end of the war in 1944 after Rossler’s uncle and grandfather had already been seized and sent to Auschwitz.

*** and ***

“In Jewish tradition, there is a saying that ‘he who saves one life saves all of humanity’ – Georges Bourlet saved humanity nine times over We are submitting our testimony to Yad Vashem in hopes that he will be recognized for his heroism and granted the title of ‘Righteous Among the Nations,’” said Lionel, referencing the Israeli civilian honor for those who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust.

*** end quote ***

I’m not sure I’d have the courage to hide Jews from the Nazis.  Not only did Georges Bourlet risk his own life but also that of his family to do a brave thing.  He knew the risks and did it.  That’s “stones”.  

We don’t know how many took the same gamble and were killed for it.

As I said, I’m not sure I could handle a big challenge like that.  May all my temptations be small enough for my limited abilities. 

—30—

 

    

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POLITICAL: Yet another case for no death penalty and punishing police misconduct

Sunday, January 8, 2023

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/new-evidence-unearthed-by-podcasters-frees-2-men-wrongfully-imprisoned-for-25-years/?utm_campaign=newsletters&utm_medium=weekly_mailout&utm_source=02-01-2023

New Evidence Unearthed by Podcasters Frees 2 Men Wrongfully Imprisoned for 25 Years
By Andy Corbley – Dec 29, 2022 

*** begin quote ***

Two men wrongfully-imprisoned for more than two decades were able to spend Christmas with their families after a podcast and non-profit advanced evidence of their innocence.

Darrell Lee Clark and Cain Joshua Storey were just teenagers when they stood trial for a murder of their 15-year-old friend he died of gunshot wounds at a party in 1996.

Clack had all the charges against him dropped after a motion for a new trial was field on his behalf by attorneys from the Georgia Innocence Project. He was released Thursday along with Storey.

*** and ***

The details go like this. At a party, 15-year-old Brian Bowling shot himself in a game of Russian Roulette with a gun allegedly provided by Storey. Manslaughter was to be the original charge, but Bowling’s distraught family urged for the charge to be stiffened to murder, and charged Clark who had a corroborating alibi of his absence from the whole situation, in a conspiracy to murder.

The Proof podcast hosts interviewed the party hostess, who admitted that the police had coerced her into making false statements regarding Clark and Storey’s testimony. The second witness was a hearing-impaired man, and Simpson and Davis got him on record as not being able to separate the Bowling murder details with a very similar case from ten years later in 1976.

*** end quote ***

The “death penalty” eliminates any chance of rectifying an injustice.

The police coerced a false statement; they should be punished severely.

Qualified immunity is a joke.  I’m sure all involved are enjoying their pensions. 

Argh!

—30—

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INSPIRATIONAL: Amazing how the ecology adapts to change; it’s not all doom ‘n’ gloom

Friday, December 16, 2022

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/once-devastated-pacific-reefs-see-amazing-rebirth-recovering-with-shocking-speed/?utm_campaign=newsletters&utm_medium=weekly_mailout&utm_source=09-12-2022

Once Devastated Pacific Reefs See Amazing Rebirth, Recovering With ‘Shocking Speed’
By Andy Corbley – Dec 7, 2022

*** begin quote ***

“The corals that were resistant to the phenomenal 2015-16 El Niño provided the reefs’ resilience,” wrote Sala. “The Southern Line Islands lie in one of the hottest hot spots of warming in the Pacific Ocean, so the corals apparently have adapted to heat.”

*** end quote ***

Remember when “everyone” was in “the sky is falling” mode about the reefs and oceans.

It’s like the Creator put in a a feedback loop called “adaption” into “his/her” “Creation”.

Guess that the Earth will survive for another bullion years regardless of what us puny humans do!

—30—

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INSPIRATIONAL: Give Umbrellas to people caught in the rain?

Wednesday, April 27, 2022

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/watch-the-moment-a-guy-jumps-out-of-his-car-to-give-umbrella-to-couple-stuck-in-d-c-downpour/?utm_campaign=newsletters&utm_medium=weekly_mailout&utm_source=25-04-2022

Watch the Moment a Guy Jumps Out of His Car to Give Umbrella to Couple Stuck in D.C. Downpour
By Good News Network-Apr 23, 2022

*** begin quote ***

Recently, a random act of kindness in the Nation’s Capital inspired a driver to share the video of a Good Samaritan.

Thousands were inspired by the moment that happened on April 14th, after it was shared on Reddit.

It may look like the woman, who was being drenched on the sidewalk, began holding the umbrella over a covered baby stroller, but upon closer inspection, you can see it was someone in a wheelchair holding a newspaper to cover their head.

Not only did the driver go out of his way, the woman used the umbrella to shelter the person in the wheelchair instead of herself.

*** end quote ***

I never really thought about this but I must have some old umbrellas to hand out.

How about you?

—30—

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TECHNOLOGY: Automating a beehive?

Saturday, April 9, 2022

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/beewise-hives-save-colonies-from-colony-collapse/?utm_campaign=newsletters&utm_medium=weekly_mailout&utm_source=05-04-2022

Company’s Innovative Smart Beehive Gets $80 Million in Funding to Save Bees From Any Hazard

*** begin quote ***

The traditional hive most commonly used in the world today (the Langstroth box) was designed by humans about 150 years ago. Most people are so used to them they mistakenly confuse them with bees’ natural habitat.

By completely redesigning the beehive, a company called Beewise was able to address many of the inefficiencies of the box and significantly improve bees’ well-being and life longevity.

*** end quote ***

I found this fascinating.

And, an example of replacing a 150 year old solution with an improved one.

400$/month? Too rich for my backyard.

Maybe a GoFundMe could put one in a park as a way of “helping”?

—30—

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