Best Stuff – Page 3

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In Chile music saves children from poverty & the sanity of two young women

Life was not easy for Melody and Georgina. In their small towns and Georgina’s crowded, one room house there was little room for laughter, serenity, dreams. But music changed that for these young women. Melody says, “Necesitaba una palabra para decir que extrañaba algo que nunca había tenido.” (“I needed a word to express that I missed something that I had never known.”)

Filmmaker Marialy Rivas tells their story of escape from the drudgery of poverty through a 15 minute documentary. Be advised — you might want some tissues before it’s over! read more

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2 Dutch ladies in their 70s take their first flight – delightful!

I put off watching this video … because … 10 minutes! But I’m glad I made time for it, this is such a treasure. An & Ria’s 1st flight – at age 70! How they prepare for the big event is delightful and how much they enjoy the voyage from the Netherlands to Barcelona in a private jet … Well, it has to be seen to be enjoyed.

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French woman thinks Richard Gere is homeless & gives him leftover pizza

The Guardian reports on this truly funny story:

When a bunch of people emerged from subway tunnels and told this lady’s husband to stop filming his wife and surroundings with his little camera, the couple understood that something strange was going on. Two days later the French tourist learned what, when she spotted her photo in a newspaper! The homeless man to whom she had given her left-over pizza was actually actor Richard Gere, who was preparing for an upcoming movie role by walking around the streets of Manhattan in character as a homeless man, rummaging through garbage cans for scraps of food. read more

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Being caring is not noble, it’s essential.

Please, let’s never forget how important it is to care for people more vulnerable than ourselves. Recently I told about Narayanan Krishnan who walked away from a good job to devote his life to caring for India’s homeless (I love this story). And here’s another one, right here in the US!

Dr. Jim Withers started off dressing like a homeless man to gain the trust of homeless people living on the streets of Pittsburgh in order to give them free medical treatment. His guide was a formerly homeless man who told him, “Don’t dress like a doctor and don’t act like a jerk.” The pair once told clients the medicines in their backpacks were samples from pharmaceutical companies, but since he became a hero to the street community, Dr. Withers doesn’t need to pretend any more. read more

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Possession of Wisdom – from Saint Tiruvalluvar’s Tirukural

Chapter 43: Possession of Wisdom
A chapter from South Indian saint Tiruvalluvar’s Tirukural, ‘Holy Couplets.’

Kural 421
Wisdom is a weapon that can ward off destruction.
It is an inner fortress that no enemy can assail.
Kural 422
Wisdom will harness the mind, diverting it
from wrong and directing it toward right.
Kural 423
Whatever is heard from whomever’s lips,
wisdom will rightly discern its true meaning.
Kural 424
Wisdom speaks well, conveying each meaning clearly,
and listens for the subtlest sense in others’ speech.
Kural 425
The wise befriend the wise and keep that friendship constant,
not opening and closing it like the petaled lotus.
Kural 426
It is wisdom to live in the world
in the way that the world lives.
Kural 427
Those who know, know what will happen next.
Such things are unknown to the unknowing.
Kural 428
It is folly not to fear what ought to be feared.
So the wise dread what should be dreaded.
Kural 429
Fearsome sufferings shall never happen
to knowing ones who guard against future happenings.
Kural 430
Those who possess wisdom possess everything.
Whatever others possess, without wisdom they have nothing. read more

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Try UCLA’s free guided meditations

The UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center has free guided meditations you can download from iTunes or play on your computer.

A Business Insider article on how to sleep better and why you should, points out, “Studies show that mindfulness meditation lowers stress and promotes psychological well-being.” As a newly minted practitioner, I’m learning that even a five minute meditation session is a good investment for my attention and energy levels, and my outlook.

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Untrained 9 yo Dutch girl sings like an angel

The mature, angelic voice and astonishing range of a young Dutch girl has captured hearts and souls, including my own. The purity of 9 year old Amira Willighagen’s untrained operatic voice has brought me to tears, twice now. When asked by one Holland’s Got Talent judge how she had been taught to sing, confusion appeared instantly on the little girl’s face. You can just see Amira asking herself, “How does a person get taught to sing?” – she learned by watching videos with her brother. read more

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Alone is an illusion – always act with compassion

We may feel sometimes that we are trudging through life alone, but this is just an illusion visited upon us by the yetzer hara to make us forget that we are united on Planet Earth as one people. In actuality, we affect each other in so many more ways than we may think and certainly, in many more ways than we can know.

This brilliant under-5-minute video shows how our small acts of kindness are part of the human chain that binds us together and ripples out to multiply the good in each – and in all – of us. read more

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Thanksgiving 2014 in Newark – interact and giving FAQ

Here’s more information on giving to and interacting with Newark’s homeless and hungry for Make Thanksgiving 2014 for the Hungry & Homeless! Pictures on this page are from 2012 Break Bread With You Thanksgiving Celebration. Photographer: Kimi Wei

DONATIONS

Reach out to Luís 201-357-7341, Ivan 201-688-0036 or Kimi 862-203-8814 for donation instructions, to schedule a donation drop-off, or to learn about roasting a turkey at your home.

Drop-off Locations

We have drop-off locations in Essex, Passaic and Bergen Counties for food, clothing, shoes and other items at: read more

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Make Thanksgiving 2014 for the Hungry & Homeless!

How about you? This year, will you help make Thanksgiving wonderful for the many who don’t have the wherewithal to do it themselves? We are talking about those without a home … or lacking family to share the holiday cheer.

There are plenty of opportunities to roast turkeys and bake pies in the days leading up to the holiday and to share food and love on Thanksgiving Day with community members in need of TLC and cheerful company. We are also collecting money, gift cards and clothing! If you have an event to share or questions about how and what to donate, reach out to me on Facebook or Twitter. read more

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Buffalo Soldier Luís Lopez Wei at 3 Centuries of Black Soldiers

3 Centuries Black Soldiers Trenton Barracks 2014

In the middle row, far left is our own Luís Ariel Lopez Wei. Luís is a historical re-enactor with the 6th United States Colored Troops and portrayed a Buffalo Soldier at the Three Centuries of African American Soldiers Black History Celebration this weekend (22-23 February 2014) at the Trenton Barracks in New Jersey’s state capital.

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Mother-son wedding dance that’ll blow your socks off

Mother and son roll out on the floor for a wedding dance that turns into a routine that could give Broadway a run for its money. If you watch just one thing today, pick this.

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MotoX battery life, care & unlimited plans from $5

The MotoX is an awesome phone. I’m using and loving it on Republic Wireless’ $25/month unlimited talk, messaging & 3GB plan. You can get unlimited talk & messaging with a $5 wifi only plan too or pay $40 on the unlimited 4G phone network. No contract required for any plan and the MotoX sells for $300 (or get a Defy for $100).