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World News With a Happy Spin

Not all news is bad. Link brings you the cheerier side of news.

"Tomorrow is our permanent address ... the globe has contracted ... into a single large village..."

Marshall McLuhan


Monday
08Feb2010

Relentless Karma and What to Do About It 

By Jonathan Parker, Ph.D.

Karma is a word that has a lot of charge for some people. I know a person who is adamant he doesn't believe in karma. He says he's looked into it for years and has figured out that it is all an illusion. It seems to me that he would like to deny its existence and just wish it away with a new label. I have known others who got upset at hearing the word karma in a spiritual conversation because that word is not in the Bible. Never mind that; there are many words not mentioned in the Bible like oxygen for instance, but they are sure glad it is in the air they breathe.

Karma is not a word anyone needs to fear, but it is a word that is helpful to understand. The word karma is derived from the Sanskrit KRI, "To Do." The word also means the effects of thoughts, words and actions, and it also means the effects of our past actions which were the causes. Another way of looking at karma is that karma is energy in motion. The Bible does say we reap what we sow and since that is an aspect of karma, I think it is fair to say that karma is in the Bible in principle if not in name. All of our thoughts, feelings and actions create and set in motion energy patterns which create effects. I think that is really just an observation not a religious issue. The form and direction of what has been set in motion continues until another force changes the motion or the energy dissipates. That is karma in a nutshell.

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Monday
01Feb2010

Fair Trade Fundamentals

By Catherine Jones

You’re buying coffee. One label says this roasted mountain-fresh Colombian coffee is ideal for all coffee makers. But is it ideal for the coffee bean’s maker, the farmer? Your choice is empowering. When you choose fair trade, you get more than coffee; you get the opportunity to enrich someone’s life.

What Is Fair Trade?

Fair trade is an international alternative trading system designed to empower disadvantaged farmers, artisans, and labourers. The movement began 50 years ago when international aid organizations worked to help farmers and labourers in Africa break free from oppressive trading practices. These inequitable trading practices still exist today.

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Thursday
28Jan2010

My Dog - My Hero

By Phyllis Coletta

It's a pretty weighty time, what with crushing economic crises and the weird weather situation. I understand about global terrorism, believe me and there's one horror after the other happening daily on this planet, not to mention the hate and fear mongering that goes with another day in politics. So maybe it's not a good time to talk about dogs but the immense popularity of books like Marley and Me and the recent Merle's Door lead me to believe that people do, in fact, want to take a closer look at a species that spends a lot of time smelling things.

Not to diminish Buddha but my dog Chopper appears to be his incarnation. There is nothing in this creature's head and he's always happy. Chopper is a black lab, a breed notorious for its distinct deficit of brains, but what he seemingly lacks in smarts he overcompensates for in loyalty and an innate sense of pure joy. Here is a dog who loves being a dog. This is a being delighted to be in his own skin and, as I mentioned, without much intellectual baggage. I watch him in awe; he's my role model. I want to be like Chopper, empty headed and filled with a happy spirit.

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Friday
22Jan2010

How Can We Prevent the Next Big Haiti Earthquake?

By Glenford Robinson

How can we truly prevent earthquake disasters from happening in Haiti again? We know that earthquakes will be coming again in the future. In fact, Port-Au-Prince sits on the exact location of tectonic plate and fault formation under the Earth where seismic activities occur on a regular basis causing catastrophic earthquakes, none as big as January 12, 2010, nonetheless have occurred throughout history--1860, 1770, 1761, 1751, 1684, 1673, and 1618, (United States Geological Survey (USGS)).

Haiti needs proper building codes to withstand the next devastating earthquakes. This is a must, and the international community has to step in to do all it can to assist Haiti in this regard. The international community should see to it that all future buildings in Port-Au-Prince-- the epicenter of earthquakes in Haiti--be built using established building codes that will enable buildings and homes to withstand the powerful shakes of future earthquakes. We as the international community cannot allow such tragedy to happen again in Haiti.

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Thursday
21Jan2010

Pet Ownership is Good For Your Health

By Samantha Markham

The companionship afforded by our pets is widely recognized, but, recently, research has been carried out to confirm the therapeutic advantages of sharing your life with an animal. In fact, benefits of pet ownership include increased physical and mental well-being. In turn, it is believed that people who have pets are typically happier and are likely to live longer than their non-pet owning counterparts are.

The Problem of Pet Allergies

Obviously, this does not extend to those with allergies or phobias. If you are scared of, or allergic to, your animal then, clearly, it is unlikely to have a positive effect on either physical or mental wellbeing.

However, pet allergies can be overcome if you still wish to welcome a pet into your life. For example, many people can find a pet that does not cause an allergic reaction, such as fish, lizards or snakes. On the other hand, there is the option of allergy shots, which can reduce the reaction caused by pet hair, feathers and fur, but this should always be discussed with a medical professional.

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Wednesday
20Jan2010

Good News For People Who Hate to Exercise

By Cheryl Jones-Reardon

The recent article in TIME magazine entitled "The Myth About Exercise" stirred up a lot of confusion and controversy for both fitness professionals and those trying to achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

To sum it up, recent research has found that exercise does not promote weight loss. In fact, it may be making it harder to lose weight. Some people eat more because exercise makes them hungry while others eat more to reward themselves for a good workout.

Here's the problem. We used to be hunters and gatherers covering several miles every day to forage for food. We're wired to move. I can promise you, early humans were not thinking about the need to exercise. And they didn't have fast food restaurants on every block!

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Monday
18Jan2010

Good News About Aging - Your Brain Doesn't Have to Shrink

By Kieron McFadden

It has long been an "everybody knows" that as we age, our brains shrink. That we are all doomed to a future of remorselessly shrinking brains has been one of those ghastly but apparently inevitable "facts of life" that we have all had to live with and can do nothing about.

Well, the good news is it turns out not to be necessarily true, after all. We really need to be wary of these "everybody knows" operations because almost all the "everybody knows" that float around are bad news. "Everybody" apparently hardly ever knows anything that might give us a reason to be cheerful or optimistic. Actually I think the truth of the matter is that at this time "everybody" knows diddly squat. Our so-called information age actually for the most part comprises an awful lot of noise designed to ensure the masses don't really know much of anything.

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Friday
15Jan2010

Use the SarcMark and your irresistibly playful sense of irony will finally be appreciated

Introducing the SarcMark, brainchild of a company in Michigan. Recognizing what millions of texters have long understood, that words on a screen or page can be misinterpreted without the benefit of facial expression and tone of voice, the SarcMark inventors have given us a way to cue our readers that what we say isn't exactly what we mean. Your masterpieces of irony will never be misinterpreted, as Jonathan Swift's Modest Proposal was by readers who thought he was actually proposing cannibalism! Ewww!

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Thursday
14Jan2010

Feeling Down? Wanna Feel Better ASAP? Five Ways to Feel Good Fast.

By Barbara Zagata

Being my own boss, I can't afford to come into work feeling funky! I know I need to make decisions from that feel goodspace if I want my future to stay bright and joyous and secure!

But let's face it, life is challenging! Even if you aren't going through a major transition which seems to happen more and more frequently in this fast moving century, there are plenty of circumstances and people who can bring you down. No one is invincible, but successful people have learned to have a little arsenal of feel good strategies they use to uplevel. Here are a few of my favorites:

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Thursday
14Jan2010

Good News on Peripheral Neuropathy - Prevention and Treatment

By Roger Guzman, M.D.

Peripheral neuropathy, it's causes and diagnosis have been covered so the question now is how do we take care of it? There have been advances in the treatment of diabetes but still approximately 60 to 70% of those with type 1 or type 2 diabetes will develop nerve damage. Prevention is the key to avoid this nerve damage. When the blood sugar is carefully under control, the nerve cells are bound to behave.

How do we prevent this condition other than keeping the blood sugar under control? Maintaining the blood sugar level within limits with insulin and diabetes medications can keep the nerve cells away from harm. In addition, a balanced diet that is rich in fiber along with exercise will help. A regular consultation with the doctor and a diabetes check-up every three months is advisable.

How is peripheral neuropathy treated? Although the nerves that have died cannot be restored, the right treatment will help ease the pain. The burning pain can be treated by the doctor with capsacin which is a topical ointment. If there is shooting pain or pins and needles, the doctor may prescribe antidepressants.

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Wednesday
13Jan2010

LINK Magazine—Moving to the "Good Side" of the News.

News tends to be disturbing at times, difficult to read for some, thrilling and horrifying at the same time. Most of the reported news is "bad" or from the "dark side" of reporting. We don't mean bad reporting—just reporting on "bad" news.

With the new year, 2010, LINK Magazine is moving away from pure reporting of all news. If we can't find a positive spin on the news — a rescue, a good samaritan, survivors, a breakthrough, an invention, a life-saving technique, a positive entertainment experience, or justice served — then we will not report on it.

Our mission—to bring you only the news that inspires: of heroes and justice, not criminals and crimes; of hopeful health breakthroughs, not horrifying statistics; of positive environmental news (for a change); of technology that improves our world, not viruses that destroy your computer. If it's from the "cheerier" side of the news, we'll carry it here.

Our New Sections

• Good World News

• Good US News

• Good Canadian News

• Good Health

• Good Entertainment

• Justice News (Criminals brought to justice)

• Good Envirnomental News

• Good Technology Breakthroughs and News

• Good Business News

• Special Section on Good Samaritans and Heroes

Please see our new navigation on the top of our page, and visit regularly for the latest stories in these categories. Better yet, subscribe now, from our "delivered to your inbox" ezine services. Subscription by email is free. See the right column.

To our regular readers—over half a million since 1997—we hope you enjoy our new mission. We felt its time had come.

To our new readers, please enjoy! There is good news out there. It may take longer to find, but we'll report it.

If you have a tip or "good news story" — news oriented — please send us a tip or story idea at our editors email address>>

Wednesday
13Jan2010

Good Movie News: Review "It's Complicated"

My 0-10 rating: 7

Genre: Comedy

Director: Nancy Meyers

Screenplay: Nancy Meyers

Starring: Meryl Streep, Steve Martin, Alec Baldwin, John Krasinski, Lake Bell, Zoe Kazan, Mary Kay Place, Nora Dunn, Bruce Altman, Rita Wilson

Time: 1 hr., 58 min.

Rating: R (some drug content, sexuality)

A subtly, quietly moving comedy-romance, "It's Complicated" interests you, but after awhile you wonder why. Then you realize why: Meryl Streep and her intrinsic, immortal screen appeal. And if you're a baby boomer, you know why at a much deeper level.

View Trailer:

Click to read more ...

Monday
11Jan2010

Top-Selling Video Games of 2009

By Graeme Renwall

Now that another year has come to a close, it's time to create a million and one best-of-the-best lists for the previous year. Even with a worldwide recession, gaming was stronger than ever. Here's a rundown of the top-selling video games for the year 2009:

1. Wii Fit.

This exercise game was not only the best-selling console game in 2009, but it's also become the second best-selling, non-bundled console video game in the history of the world. Wii Fit has received mostly positive reviews. One of the main criticisms of the game is that it doesn't provide its players with a serious workout. Then again, it could be argued that those who want that probably wouldn't be playing a lot of video games anyway.

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Friday
08Jan2010

"Tablet" PCs unveiled at CES 2010 in Las Vegas: Apple iSlate still to appear  

Tablet PCs or "slates" are sharing the buzz with 3D TV at this year's Consumer Electronics Show, now running in Las Vegas. Microsoft, Motorola, Lenovo and Dell all unveiled prototypes with Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity and a range of display sizes from 5 inches to nearly 12 inches. All of the tablet devices are somewhere between a phone and a laptop in terms of portability and functionality.

Lenovo's IdeaPad U1

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Thursday
07Jan2010

Child Safety on the Internet - Practical Guidelines For Parents

By Jeff Wilson

Internet dangers are very real. In recent years, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has noticed a steep increase in the number of Internet crimes being perpetrated against children. In fact, the number of child pornographers and online predators has increased significantly over the past five years. Because the Internet has become the newest playground for children, it has also become a convenient place for predators to look for victims. Children are the easiest targets because the Internet provides kids with an easy way to communicate with strangers outside the realm of adult supervision.

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Monday
04Jan2010

5 Sure-Fire Tips for Buying a New Computer

By John Lenaghan

So you're thinking of buying a new computer...

Where do you start? There are so many brands and models of computers available, and it can all be a little overwhelming when you start to look around.

How do you decide what type of computer you need? And perhaps more importantly, how do you decide what the best value is?

I have sold computers professionally for almost 20 years, and there are certain "tricks of the trade" that most computer stores and salespeople use. Knowing these secrets can make your decision easier and will help you buy the right computer for your needs.

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Tuesday
29Dec2009

Flight 253, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, The New TSA Travel Rules, And What They Mean to You

In the last few days, we have learned a considerable amount about the alleged attack on Northwest Airlines flight 253 by the now infamous Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab. What was initially believed to be little more than a lengthy visit to the airplane lavatory has now been revealed to be a major threat to the airline security and questionable screening tactics. As a result of the apparent security gaps, the TSA immediately announced severe changes to our in-flight experience.

Click to read more ...

Thursday
24Dec2009

Happy Holidays and Seasons Greetings!

Dear Loyal Readers,

Wishing you the best over the holidays. Wishing you peace and prosperity!

The Editorial Team at LINK Magazine

Sunday
20Dec2009

How to Win Over Hollywood: a $300 YouTube Video Results in $30M Hollywood Deal

After nearly 4 million views, and a lot of buzz, this isn't exactly news, but in case you haven't seen the YouTube video short that netted its created a mega Hollywood deal, watch it here:



Created by Fede Alvarez, Uruguayan filmaker, for a paltry $300 (plus volunteer cast and talent) this four minute video featured robots attacking Montevideo City, Uruguay.

 

Called Ataque de Panico!--Panic Attack!--the video became a phenomenon and resulted in the development deal. The development deal was offered long before the video hit the 2 million views mark, and well below the record set by Susan Boyle's famous YouTube debut.

Friday
11Dec2009

Cut the cable and watch TV for free on your computer

the TV you want—movies, favourite shows, music, even games if you want them—for just the cost of your Internet service.

All you need is a dedicated computer, a television and a wireless mouse.

Once you've connected your Mac Mini (or other computer) to your television, you can download, for free, any number of online services such as Boxee and Hulu, and access Joost through your browser for free streaming movies. With these you can watch hundreds of the regular network TV shows you're paying for now, as well as a whole range of web-based programming.

Click to read more ...