Boy born with no ears/speech “Wows” judges at American Idol — It seemed like Ramiro Garcia would be forced to learn sign language to communicate after being born with no ears. Doctors told his parents he would probably be deaf and dumb, but successful surgery allowed him to unlock the singer within, and he wowed the judges on American Idol tonight. His rousing version of Amazing Grace won universal praise from the judges, who had no hesitation sending him through at the Houston, Texas edition of the show

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Petty Officer 2nd Class Leon Doniphan, a food service specialist aboard Cutter Alert in Astoria, Ore., poses for a photo in front of a Large Navigation Buoy on the Columbia River in Astoria. Doniphan swam to the aid of a young girl who was nearly swept underneath the buoy in September 2011. His actions most likely saved her life.

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The morning of August 23rd, 2010 started as a beautiful summer day.  Terry’s mom, Terry, and Terry’s little sister Alayna were in Ohio visiting family and were only twenty minutes into their six hour drive back to their home in West Virginia when they collided head-on with another vehicle at fifty-five miles-per-hour.
 
After surgeries on Terry’s spleen, spine, and abdomen, Terry was in the ICU room of Toledo’s Children’s Hospital for over a week before he was told that he was now paralyzed from the waist down.   Terry went through shock …

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His first book, “Standup Friend with Me” (Grove press, 1962) won the Lamont Award. It has been through numerous printings. He wrote the narration for the documentary film, “To Be Alive” which played at Johnson’s Wax Pavilion at the New York World’s Fair and won an Academy award. He received a Guggenheim Fellowship. His poems have appeared in many of the leading and underground magazines, as well as in numerous anthologies and textbooks. He has given poetry readings in hundreds of colleges around the country.Once in front of a fireplace in Carlsbad, California, his face glowing from the fire, happy like a small boy’s on Christmas, he told me, “I won’t mind when I die; I’ve been given so much. I have lived such a full life.”

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We had to let Bling Bling, a member of our family that we love more than we can express, die this week because of a brain tumor. She was only 7. It was sudden and unexpected, but she passed surrounded by our love and she knew we all were there. Although paralyzed, she was able to raise her head when we came into her hospital room. She kissed our hands. She tracked each of our voices with her eyes, a slight motion of her head toward each voice as we told her we loved her and said goodbye.

We miss her so much. Get your bed, Bling Bling, get your bed and rest in peace forever in our hearts. We Love You.

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Close your eyes.  Now imagine someone who has touched your life so deeply that you know in your heart your world would never be the same without that person.  Think of someone who has enriched your life, brought peace to your heart, and understanding to your soul.  For me, this story is about admiration for that person, my Grandmother, Lola Jane.  I am so thankful to have the opportunity to honor her and share this with others.
My grandmother has always been my guardian angel, a precious gift that protects, teaches, …

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Abby Vara spent her childhood in Ottawa, Ontario and on her eighth birthday, Abby vividly remembers the evening when a friend close to her father approached with some dreadful news. Upon observing a recent vacation photo, they had noticed it was apparent that Mr. Vara’s face was pulled to one side, showing signs of a stroke. With much puzzled speculation, the family rushed Abby’s father to the hospital where he spent the rest of that evening. It was his first time in a hospital as a patient instead of a doctor.

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Steve Jobs, the Apple co-founder who resigned from the company in the mid-1980s and returned a decade later to make Apple one of the most successful technology companies in the world,  died on Oct 5, 2011. His accomplishments liken him to Thomas Edison and others as one of History’s greatest inventors/innovators. He lacked a college degree, began by sleeping on the floors of his friends homes, and rose to a pinnacle of success seldom achieved by anyone. He is a Winner Against the Odds.
In the following Video he shares with all …

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When asked why non-animal lovers should care about these things, Beckley says, “I can’t even register why anyone can’t care. If people can do such intentional harm to an animal, they can’t protect their own interests or call for help, why are we surprised when they do such harm to human beings?”

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Carolyn Chambers is an Oregon native and graduate of the University of Oregon. She is currently the Chairman and CEO of the Oregon based company, Chambers Communications Corporation, a business that she built from the ground up. The corporation currently consists of three television broadcast stations, a television, movie, and video production company, an internet cable system, and an internet service provider.

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