Anything is Possible!

A young woman from Canterbury, England set out to sail across the English channel this week. What makes her story so amazing is that Hilary Lister is a quadripeligic. Her solo voyage is the longest sailing record in history by a quadriplegic taking her 6 hours and 13 minutes. The mechanism used to power the sailboat is similar to one on her wheelchair with two straws connected to switches that control the sails and steer the boat with the use of her breath.

Hilary is using her voyage across the channel to raise money for sailing opportunities for others with disabilities. She is also hoping to encourage people to rethink their views about the disabled.
“We do not need wrapping up in cotton wool and can go out and do silly or dangerous things if that’s what we want to do.” She says.

With her first journey completed Hilary now hopes to sail around Britain next year.

Japan Executives do Good

Ashai.com has a groovy article about Japanese executives helping out charities. The article points out that in Japan “philanthropy is still below the levels in the United States and Europe” but that is starting to change.

Corporate talent is helping out NGOs and charities with talent and money. Japanese NGOs generally rely on membership fees and a few projects that generate revenue, so philanthropy is needed.

New Stem Cell Discovery From Skin Cell

Researchers have found a way to essentially reprogram adult skin and bone cells so they will revert to an embryonic stem cell. This new discovery may lessen the debate surrounding stem cell research since stem cells are currently generated from discarded fetuses.

Scientist hope to use stem cells to create specially made transplants; other benefits also come from stem cell research.

Thanks Lucasz!

North Korea May Drop Nuke Program

North Korea is reported to be willing to stop its nuclear program. Nukes are no funThey will continue to make use of nuclear reactors, although the Bush administration is demanding they stop that too.

International talks have been more successful than previously thought and are moving along rather amiably. The North Koreans and Americans have been using diplomatic channels to create a good atmosphere for the upcoming talks.

Blastoff for Hunter

Acclaimed writer and journalist Hunter S. Thompson was remembered by his friends and loved ones this month with a ceremonial firing of a cannon containing his ashes. The ashes were sent off from a 150ft tower topped by a red fist with two thumbs – the symbol of Thompson’s free-wheeling, first-person gonzo journalism, and were accompanied by explosive fireworks. Hunters wife Anita commented that Thompson always enjoyed explosions. These included many that he himself let off (firing guns at his secluded Colorado ranch, igniting smoke-bombs in the lavatory of his local pubactor, and lets not forget the final explosion which took his life in February).

Johnny Depp, who portrayed Hunter in the film ‘Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas’, donated the cannon for the ceremony and friends in attendance were instructed to remember him afterwards with the clink of ice in whiskey.

This is one of the coolest conclusions to a life that I have ever witnessed and certainly puts a positive spin on the end of exsistance for such a literary marvel. Talk about going out with a BANG!!