Dominique Mosbergen2013-05-25T15:26:51-04:00Dominique Mosbergenhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/author/index.php?author=dominique-mosbergenCopyright 2008, HuffingtonPost.com, Inc.HuffingtonPost Blogger Feed for Dominique MosbergenGood old fashioned elbow grease.India-Pakistan Coke Ad, 'Small World Machines,' Will Bring Tears To Your Eyes (VIDEO)tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//2013-05-20T13:05:43-04:002013-05-20T13:09:49-04:00Dominique Mosbergenhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/dominique-mosbergen/India and Pakistan share a rocky, schismatic relationship that is tenuous even in the best of times. Despite this turbulent historical backdrop, a moving YouTube video created by Coca-Cola shows citizens of both nations challenging the strained status quo as they openly and joyously try to bridge the chasm between them.
According to the caption that accompanied this happy clip, Coca-Cola sought to "create a simple moment of connection" between India and Pakistan by setting up two machines -- one in each country -- that would allow people on either side to see and interact with one another.
Said to have taken place in March this year, the video shows the machines at work. Users are given instructions to say hello to one another, to dance together and to share in the experience of tracing a heart or a peace sign on an interactive screen.
Admittedly, it's hard to ignore the video's promotionalgimmicks: Coke cans are dispensed whenever someone fulfills an instruction, for example. Nevertheless, the warm smiles and frank willingness of the people in the video -- people usually divided by armed barriers and political enmity -- to connect with each other will touch your heart.
"[Tensions between the two countries' people exist] mainly because there's no communication -- they're near us but we have no access to them," says a voice at the beginning of the clip. "And it's sad, because together I think we could do wonders."
Watch the video above and tell us what you think in the comments below. ]]>Community Saves Homeless Man's Dog (PHOTO)tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//2013-05-15T17:26:51-04:002013-05-16T22:06:27-04:00Dominique Mosbergenhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/dominique-mosbergen/
Last month, Charles Gilliam had been living on the streets of Los Angeles when his companion Big, an 11-year-old mixed retriever/terrier, fell sick. According to Life with Dogs, Big became "lethargic" and had stopped eating.
(Charles Gilliam with his dog, Big. Photo credit: Cause4Paws)
Gilliam is said to have then visited a veterinarian, who told him that his dog had a "large inoperable tumor" and that Big should be euthanized.
Refusing to give up but resigned to the worst, Gilliam returned to the streets with Big, and began asking people if they would donate money to help save his pet.
Fortuitously for Gilliam, model and animal rights activist Jasmine Dustin saw the pair.
"On Saturday morning I met this homeless man…who was sitting on the side of the street not begging for money but asking to help save his dog," Dustin wrote on her Facebook page on April 30. "Instead of collecting money he was handing out the vet's card. Charles lives on the street with nothing but his companion Big. His dog is very sick and needs surgery ASAP."
Soon, Dustin, along with rescue group group Cause4Paws, had helped raise hundreds of dollars. Big was taken to the Pet Care Veterinary Center Chesterfield Square in Los Angeles.
Incredibly, Gilliam learned that the original prognosis had been wrong and that while Big was indeed sick, he was not on the brink of death.
“The ultrasound showed that Big had no tumors,” said Alex Tiraki, supervisor at the veterinary center, according to Life with Dogs. “[But] Big does have stones in his urinary tract and has arthritis.”
Tiraki added that Big should be put on a special diet and prescribed medication for his ailments -- a need that has since been generously filled thanks to the money raised by Dustin.
In another awesome twist, Dustin says that Gilliam and Big are now off the streets.
"Charles has a place to live in South Los Angeles," Dustin told The Huffington Post on Wednesday. "He found a place on his own, which is wonderful."
Dustin added that Gilliam is now planning on paying the goodwill forward and that she and Gilliam will soon be visiting Skid Row, an area in Los Angeles notorious for high levels of homelessness, to "find other Charles' and Bigs to help."
"From what I've seen he's got a huge heart and lives to help animals," she said.
For more information or if you want to help Charles Gilliam and Big, visit the Cause4Paws website or contact Pet Care Veterinary Center Chesterfield Square at (323) 294-4030.]]>Janie, The Dog With A Broken Back, Is Proof That Miracles Can Happen (VIDEO, PHOTOS)tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//2013-05-15T12:35:13-04:002013-05-15T12:35:29-04:00Dominique Mosbergenhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/dominique-mosbergen/
Janie, a 2-year-old terrier mix, was brought to a shelter in the Los Angeles area in mid-April. She had been run over by a car after being abandoned by her owner.
A scared and severely injured Janie, seen in the days after she was brought to the shelter. A tire mark was visible on her back from when she had been run over. (Photo credit: Annie Hart)
According to Annie Hart, executive director of the Bill Foundation, a Beverly Hills-based rescue organization that rehabilitates and finds homes for dogs taken from the streets and from shelters, Janie's back -- and spirit -- had been broken by the trauma she had endured.
"In so much pain, and in a strange place, she was too scared to let anyone touch her. She quickly was labeled aggressive and it was highly unlikely -- less than a 10 percent chance -- that she would get out of the shelter alive," Hart told The Huffington Post.
Against the odds, Janie was given a chance at a happy life, thanks to the dedication of the shelter's employees, as well as several concerned animal welfare workers, like Hart and animal rescue group Hope for Paws founder Eldad Hagar, who had heard about Janie's plight and refused to give up on her.
Donations began pouring in from dozens of people all over the world who had responded to Hart's plea for financial assistance on the Bill Foundation Facebook page. Soon, Janie was brought to Los Angeles' Animal Specialty Emergency Center to undergo surgery for her broken back.
"Luckily for Janie, the fracture is of the seventh lumbar vertebra, which can be fixed with surgery. Had it been much higher, she would have been paralyzed for life," said Hart, adding that the procedure had still been challenging, as the pup had been "so fearful of the world" that she often wouldn't allow the medical team to get close to her.
Fortunately, the surgery was a great success. The pooch, however, wasn't out of the woods just yet.
"The first time I went to see Janie after her surgery, she was painfully scared and acting aggressively. I sat with her for quite some time, but I couldn't get near her. Even her doctors were having a difficult time medicating her and checking her vitals," said Hart. "A few days later, with her medical team's approval, I asked Eldad [Hagar] to visit her with me and see if he could get through to her."
Known for his ability to connect with even the most desperateand aggressive of canines, Hagar was able to calm Janie's fears, eventually getting the once-petrified pooch to sit contentedly on his lap. (Watch the moving process in the video above. Warning: Tearjerker alert.)
"Honestly, before I saw what he was able to do, I was gravely concerned that Janie was going to be a very difficult, aggressive dog forever. However, Eldad had a profound ability to connect with Janie and help put her at ease," said Hart of the pup's miraculous turnaround. "Each step he helped her make was more beautiful and tender than the last and something I think all humans can learn from. Time, compassion and patience can go a long way to heal the deepest of wounds."
Just weeks after her surgery, Janie has transformed into a happy, healthy dog. She's currently living with a foster family and is waiting to find a forever home. (Scroll down to watch a more recent video of Janie.)
"I became a part of dog rescue because I firmly believe in the power of second chances, and being a part of Janie's story reinforces this tenfold," said Hart. "Moments like this help fuel my soul to keep rescuing and sharing stories like Janie's, with the hope that just one person will see it and be moved by it. Maybe when they see a frightened dog in the shelter they will think twice and give them the second chance they so richly deserve."
]]>'Century Chest' Time Capsule Opened In Oklahoma After 100 Years (VIDEO)tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//2013-04-24T16:23:39-04:002013-04-26T11:23:35-04:00Dominique Mosbergenhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/dominique-mosbergen/
According to Fox 25 News, the aptly-named "Century Chest" has been sitting, entombed under 12 inches of concrete, in the basement of Oklahoma City's First Lutheran Church for the past 100 years.
The vintage copper chest was painstakingly buried by the church's Ladies Aide Society in 1913, the Oklahoman reports. It was finally unveiled to the public on Monday after being removed from the ground. It reportedly took a construction company a whopping 11 hours to unearth the container.
When the "Century Chest" was cracked open, the crowd that had gathered oohed and aahed as a collection of incredibly well-preserved artifacts was pulled from the time capsule, the Oklahoma Gazette reports. Among the vintage goodies were an April 22, 1913 issue of The Daily Oklahoman, a map, a number of Native American artifacts, a pair of women's shoes, a pen used by President William McKinley to sign the 1900 Free Homes Act for Oklahoma, and a phonograph record featuring voices of people from that era.
“This is more than we could have hoped for,” Oklahoma History Center research director Chad Williams told the Oklahoman of the incredible collection. “I was expecting some things to be damaged, but everything looks in excellent condition.”
A book of family pictures and poems apparently belonging to Virginia Sohlberg, who, according to the Oklahoma Gazette, had been the mastermind behind the "Century Chest" project, was also discovered. Sohlberg's great-granddaughter, Virginia Eason Weinmann, said that she'd been "waiting her whole life to read what her forefathers wrote," Fox 25 News reports.
“When I was 50 I'd say I wonder if I'll live that long...then at 60, I'd wonder if I'll live that long...so I'm happy I've made it," she said, adding that her late great-grandmother and the women of the Ladies Aide Society who had organized the chest and its contents were likely "turning cartwheels" after the day's success.
All the artifacts from the "Century Chest" will be preserved by the Oklahoma History Center and will be publicly exhibited later this year.
For more on the "Century Chest," watch this Oklahoman video of the time capsule's unveiling:
]]>Jeff Bauman, Boston Marathon Hero, Gives Birthday Present To Fellow Bombing Victim Sydney Corcoran (PHOTO)tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//2013-04-24T14:28:01-04:002013-04-24T16:37:56-04:00Dominique Mosbergenhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/dominique-mosbergen/Jeff Bauman, the Boston Marathon victim who reportedly helped authorities identify one of the suspects in the attack, has been dubbed a "hero" yet again -- this time, for bringing comfort to a fellow bombing victim.
"It was another day of momentum and healing as the incredible Jeff Bauman visited today and gave Sydney a birthday gift -- what a sweetheart! Very emotional and awesome experience for all involved," wrote Sydney's family on the fundraising page set up for the teen and her mother, Celeste.
Sydney and her mom are now recovering from their injuries at Boston Medical Center and have both been showing "progress," according to their fundraising website.
"He is in great spirits, wheeling himself around," said a Tuesday post on Bauman's fundraising page.
As the moving photo of Bauman's birthday visit to Sydney goes viral on social media sites, netizens have been flocking to Twitter to praise the 27-year-old for his grace and bravery:
Jeff Bauman is a true inspiration. His strength is what makes Boston Strong!
To find out more or how you can help, visit the fundraising pages of Jeff Bauman and the Corcorans.]]>Double Amputee Marine Brings Words Of Hope To Boston Marathon Bombing Survivors (VIDEO)tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//2013-04-22T17:44:02-04:002013-04-23T13:40:20-04:00Dominique Mosbergenhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/dominique-mosbergen/shared a powerful, inspiring message of hope.
"There are so many opportunities that are going to come your way," the unnamed Marine, who uses prosthetic limbs and is said to be a paralympian, told Celeste Corcoran and her 17-year-old daughter, Sydney, as they lay recovering together at Boston Medical Center. "This isn't the end, this is the beginning."
Celeste, 47, had been standing with Sydney at the marathon finish line last week when one of two bombs exploded, severely wounding both of them. Celeste's legs were amputated below the knee, and Sydney suffered near-fatal shrapnel wounds.
“I can’t do anything right now,” Celeste told the Marine from her hospital bed on Sunday, her legs still heavily bandaged.
“Right now, yes. But I’m telling you right now you are going to be more independent,” he replied.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the visit from the injured Marine and his words of encouragement brought comfort to the resilient mother-daughter duo. “They had a good day today,” Sydney's uncle, Tim Corcoran, told the newspaper. “Celeste was encouraged.”
A video of the visit (above), captured by Celeste's cousin Alyssa Carter, was uploaded to YouTube on Sunday. In it, a tearful Celeste can be seen visibly cheering up, drying her eyes and even telling a joke that makes the room light up with laughter.
"Thank you for sharing this," YouTube user Barbara Vinal wrote after watching the moving clip. "A positive moment in the face of adversity. Many prayers for their continued healing. God bless those Marines."
If you want to learn more about Celeste and Sydney Corcoran's injuries or to find out how you can help, visit the pair's fundraising page.
(Hat tip, Reddit)]]>Leo Fonseca, Boston Marathon Hero, Whisked Girlfriend To Safety Moments After Blasts (PHOTO)tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//2013-04-22T14:58:28-04:002013-04-22T16:27:05-04:00Dominique Mosbergenhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/dominique-mosbergen/whisked his injured girlfriend to safety moments after two blasts exploded near the finish line of the Boston Marathon:
The powerful photo -- uploaded April 15 by Flickr user Aaron Tang, who says he'd been watching the marathon from his office window when the two blasts ripped through the crowds below -- shows 41-year-old Leo Fonseca carrying his girlfriend, 25-year-old Kaitlynn Cates, away from the site of the first blast.
The couple, who live in Boston and have reportedly been dating for 10 months, had been watching friends finish the race when the explosion knocked them to the ground.
"We were behind the Canadian flag in front of Lens Crafters about 50 feet from the finish line," wrote Cates in a statement last week, according to ABC affiliate WCVB.com. "We had seen our first set of friends run through the finish line and were waiting for the second set. All of a sudden the first bomb went off and we got swept off our feet onto the ground."
Concerned that another explosion was coming and wanting to use his body as a shield, Fonseca is said to have flung himself over his injured girlfriend.
“Leo tried to hook his body around me. He literally straddled me and said ‘Stay down, stay down’ because I was trying to get up and he didn’t know if there was going to be another bomb," said Cates in her statement.
Moments later, a second explosion could be heard in the distance. Cates then began screaming, "Get me out of here!"
Scooping her into his arms, Fonseca ran to his car, which was parked a block away. A pair of strangers reportedly helped to get Cates bundled into the vehicle, before Fonseca quickly sped off, driving the wrong way to get Cates to Massachusetts General Hospital.
Cates said that Fonseca acted so quickly that she was the first person to the hospital.
"I don't know if I would have made it if I would have had to wait for the emergency workers," Cates told the Boston Globe last Wednesday of Fonseca's action. "He was an absolute hero."
For more on this story, watch this ABC News video about Cates and Fonseca:
]]>Volunteer Firefighters In West, Texas, Risk Lives To Battle Blaze After Fertilizer Plant Explosiontag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//2013-04-18T15:19:04-04:002013-04-18T15:19:06-04:00Dominique Mosbergenhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/dominique-mosbergen/risked their lives on Wednesday, battling the roaring flames at a Texas fertilizer plant both before and after a devastating explosion razed the building to the ground.
According to the Associated Press, a team of volunteer firefighters had arrived at the West, Texas, plant on Wednesday night after a fire was reported. Quickly realizing the potential danger because of the plant's substantial cache of chemicals, the firefighters worked quickly to evacuate the area.
Twenty minutes later, an explosion ripped through the plant.
What is believed to have been a terrible industrial accident, the blast not only leveled the plant, but it destroyed dozens of homes and businesses in the vicinity. As many as 15 people are feared dead, and more than 160 have been injured.
Local businessman and volunteer firefighter Marty Marak's home was utterly demolished, and his dog was killed by the blast, according to CNN. But despite his own personal losses and the risk of more danger, Marak -- together with many other volunteer firefighters and emergency medical personnel -- rushed to the site of the explosion to help battle the terrifying blaze. There were concerns that if the fires continued to rage that they would trigger yet another blast.
"I'm begging him to come home, to let me come and get him…but he said he can't. He's going to stay with his guys," Marak's wife, Cheryl, told CNN of the conversation she had with her husband late on Wednesday night.
Thanks to the courageous efforts of Marak and other volunteers, the fires were largely under control by 11 p.m.
Tragically, the heroism of the first responders may have come at an awful cost: According to Dallas Morning News, three to four volunteer firefighters remain missing as of Thursday morning.
"This has been a long and tragic week in the emergency services community in the United States. We witnessed the tragedy of the Boston bombings on Monday afternoon and the heroism of the firefighters, police officers, and everyday citizens who rushed toward the blast scene to help those who had been injured. In many cases, they did this with the knowledge that secondary blasts were a possibility and placed their lives in danger to help others," wrote Mike Snyder, a volunteer firefighter, in a blog post for the Guardian on Thursday.
"The same spirit is active in the town of West, Texas where the volunteer fire department answered a call for a fire at the West Fertilizer Co on Wednesday. People who normally work as auto mechanics or barbers or teachers or lawyers or myriad jobs drop what they are doing to respond to an emergency and serve their community," Snyder continued.]]>Children In Iraq 'Mourn With Boston' (PHOTOS)tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//2013-04-17T18:41:28-04:002013-04-18T10:56:55-04:00Dominique Mosbergenhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/dominique-mosbergen/two young boys in Iraq expressing their solidarity with the people of Boston has gone viral this week.
Posted online Tuesday by Facebook group "America Loves Iraq", the photo is said to have been taken by Muslim Peacemaker Teams (MPT), an international organization of peace activists working in Iraq. Kevin Gosztola, of progressive news blogging site Firedoglake, was one of the first to surface the image online.
The two boys in the photo "understand far too well what it is like in the immediate aftermath of a terror attack," Gosztola wrote. "The boys not only stand in solidarity with the victims of the Boston explosions, but they also empathize because this is what they’ve experienced. Part of this message is being shared with Americans because they want them to know they understand the pain Americans are going through."
At least 33 people were killed and more than 160 were injured after a "wave of bombings" struck the Iraqi cities of Baghdad, Fallujah and Kirkuk on the same day as the Boston Marathon tragedy.
"We are all citizens of the world, and our pain can bring us together," Gosztola concluded, after pointing out just how much we all can learn from the compassion and grace shown by the children in the picture.
"Dear our brothers and sisters in Boston, sorry for what happened to you. Violence is killing our children wherever it happens -- Redha & Omar, Children of Iraq, April 16, 2013," said the caption that accompanied this photograph.
“This is work,” he told reporters earlier this week, explaining how he was coping with the stress, as well as the volume of critically injured patients. “When this happens, we just go to work.”
Over the last few days, netizens have taken to Twitter to praise Fagenholz.
Dr. Peter J. Fagenholz, you sir are a hero, as well. He has operated since 8 AM, stayed to treat Boston Marathon victims. Still going.
Fagenholz isn't the only medical professional lauded for his courageous efforts Monday.
According to ABC News, off-duty trauma surgeon David King, who participated in the marathon and was resting when the explosions occurred, immediately rushed to Massachusetts General to help conduct surgeries on blast victims. Dubbed a "hero doctor," King compared the injuries he saw Monday to those he saw in war zones in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Dr. George Velmahos, chief of trauma service at Massachusetts General, said survivors of the blast escaped further harm because of the efficient and indomitable efforts of doctors like King and Fagenholz, as well as the first responders, medics and Good Samaritans who helped the victims immediately after the blast.
Here's Dr. Peter Fagenholz talking to reporters earlier this week:
]]>Someone Puts Stuff On Their Rabbit; The Internet Swoons (PHOTOS)tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//2013-04-17T09:55:13-04:002013-04-22T12:41:46-04:00Dominique Mosbergenhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/dominique-mosbergen/
Imitating the trailblazing, ultrameme-spawning, pancake-wearing bunny who came before him, this latest floppy-eared Twittebrity, known to the world as Vinnie, has been very busy modeling a diverse array of headgear. To wit:
"The pancake is on its rabbit and all is right in the world," wrote Redditor 'slowest_hour,' as this adorable pic went viral on the social news site this week.
I just remember petting Vinnie and then setting [a] red pen on his head...and being so pleasantly surprised he sat there with it on his head for a good 10 seconds until he moved. I took a few more photos with my phone and showed my husband and a few friends, and they cracked up. I posted the pen photo on Facebook, and a friend of mine said, “This should be a tumblr blog.” Thanks to him, stuffonmyrabbit.tumblr.com was born.
Note: This post has been updated with additional information about Vinnie the rabbit's new official Twitter account. It has also been updated with images from the bunny's official Tumblr.]]>'Random Acts Of Pizza' Boston: Reddit, Restaurant Join Forces To Bring Food To Marathon Survivorstag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//2013-04-16T16:50:18-04:002013-04-17T11:54:20-04:00Dominique Mosbergenhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/dominique-mosbergen/took to Reddit on Monday afternoon to see what she could do to lend a hand.
"I just wanted to show some small support so I offered to buy pizza for people who were housing stranded runners," Kosearas, a 23-year-old IT administrator who lives in Huntington Beach, Calif., told The Huffington Post of her decision to post a message on the subreddit "Random Acts of Pizza."
But while Kosearas was expecting to get a few requests for food from people in the Boston area, she said she never could have anticipated the massive outpouring of support she got from the Reddit community, many of whom offered help of their own.
"It was amazing. Within 45 minutes, hundreds of people -- people from all across the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, Barbados -- had started commenting and offering to send pizza," she said. "It made sense to [expand the effort] so I decided to start coordinating delivery to shelters and hospitals, fire departments, police departments, anywhere people were grouping."
Though Kosearas admits that she was initially overwhelmed by the response and "had no idea where to even start," she quickly jumped into action. With the help of a small group of other Redditors, none of whom live in Boston, delivery locations were determined and Anytime Pizza, a pizza shop located in Cambridge, Mass., was contacted.
"I'm not from Boston, I've never been to Boston. But I do know terrorism and this tragedy kinda hit home a little bit," said Brian Lapsley, a 26-year-old computer programmer from Oklahoma City, Okla., who worked with Kosearas to organize the pizza delivery. "I had the ability to help, and this seemed like a pretty easy way to help people quickly."
Lapsley, who says he remembers the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City, was the Reddit coordinator who first contacted Perry Silveira, the co-owner of Anytime Pizza.
Silveira, Lapsley insists, was the "real hero" of the pizza effort.
(Story continues below)
Liz Kosearas, left, posted a message on the subreddit "Random Acts of Pizza" and offered to help people housing stranded runners. Perry Silveira, in cap, the co-owner of Anytime Pizza in Cambridge, Mass., worked to send donated pizzas to places in the Boston area.
On Monday afternoon, Silveira had just stepped into his pizza parlor when he heard about the explosions.
"I turned on the news and I was like, 'Oh my God.' I couldn't believe it," he told HuffPost. "On the TV, I saw people trying to help, people collapsing and I was getting teary-eyed. You know that young boy who died? He doesn't live too far from me. I drive by there every day. It's something you just can't believe."
When Lapsley called and told him about what the Reddit community was trying to do, Silveira admits that he was initially skeptical. He had never heard of Reddit and was shocked to hear that so many people were donating pizzas to strangers who lived so many miles away.
However, It didn't take long for Silveira to jump on board with the pizza effort.
"I called my partner and said, I don't care what it costs, we just want people to eat," he said. "So we're just going to cook all day, and send the food out to hospitals, fire departments, police departments, shelters."
Silveira and his staff of 12 worked tirelessly through the night. As donations from at least 100 people came pouring in, they churned out and delivered hundreds of pizzas, salads, drinks and anything else they could whip up.
It was only at 5:30 a.m., when all their supplies had been exhausted, did Silveira and his team stop to rest.
On Tuesday, Silveira's team is continuing to deliver pizzas to the hospitals, fire departments and other locations that they may have missed yesterday.
"Whether we get donations or not, we're gonna continue," Silveira said.
"Perry [Silveira] is just a wonderful man," Kosearas said. "He worked all night long and was so happy to do it. I have no idea how to organize and I was way over my head, as everything snowballed so fast. Without Perry, everything would've fallen apart."
Lapsley, who said Silveira had even offered to match or even double some of the donations coming in, added that the coming together of the Reddit community and Silveira's efforts had brought a sense of hope and inspiration to an otherwise horrific event.
"This gives you faith in humanity," Lapsley said. "It's been really inspiring."]]>Madonna Accuses Malawi President Of 'Lies' As War Of Words Escalatestag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//2013-04-11T15:24:19-04:002013-04-11T15:24:48-04:00Dominique Mosbergenhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/dominique-mosbergen/Madonna is striking back at the leadership of the African nation, accusing them of spreading "lies" and "ridiculous allegations" about her.
According to earlier reports, the Malawi government released a scalding critique of Madge this week. The "Material Girl" was accused of demanding VIP treatment during her recent visit to the impoverished country.
"Granted, Madonna is a famed international musician. But that does not impose an injunction of obligation on any government under whose territory Madonna finds herself, including Malawi, to give her state treatment. Such treatment, even if she deserved it, is discretionary not obligatory," said a Wednesday statement released by President Joyce Banda's office, according to the AP.
"Kindness, as far as its ordinary meaning is concerned, is free and anonymous. If it can't be free and silent, it is not kindness; it is something else. Blackmail is the closest it becomes," the statement said.
Later on Wednesday, Madge did not mince her words in responding to these accusations.
"I’m saddened that Malawi’s President...has chosen to release lies about what we’ve accomplished, my intentions, how I personally conducted myself while visiting Malawi and other untruths," she said in a statement. "I have no intentions of being distracted by these ridiculous allegations."
Madonna, who has adopted two children from the southern African country, runs several humanitarian projects there. The mom of four has reportedly spent more than $11 million of her own money on these projects, which has reportedly included the recent establishment of 10 community schools.
“I was very happy to visit with the children of Malawi earlier this month and to see with my own eyes the ten new primary schools in Kasungu province that Raising Malawi and buildOn completed this past year," Madonna said in the statement, referring to the recent weeklong trip to Malawi that she took with her kids.
"These schools are now educating more than 4,800 children with girls attending in equal numbers. These children who were formerly learning outside on the ground, in unsafe buildings or not at all, now get to attend classes on a daily basis. My children and I were overjoyed to visit these schools and see what amazing progress has been made," she continued.
Banda had previously questioned the validity of this school-building initiative.
"Where are the 10 schools she has built? She is just building school blocks at already existing schools. In some cases she just renovated an already existing block. This is an insult to the people of Malawi. She can't be lying to the world at our expense," Banda said.
Madge and those involved in her charity claim that the Malawi leadership is lashing out because Banda's sister, Anjimile Mtila-Oponyo, was fired as the CEO for Madonna's charity, Raising Malawi. Banda, in turn, has dismissed these claims.
It remains to be seen whether the mounting tension between Madonna and Banda will hinder the singer's humanitarian efforts there. Still, the artist insists that she is committed to Malawi for the long run.
"I came to Malawi seven years ago with honorable intentions. I returned earlier this month to view the new schools we built. I did not ever ask or demand special treatment at the airport or elsewhere during my visit," Madonna said in the statement. "I will not be distracted or discouraged by other people’s political agendas. I made a promise to the children of Malawi and I am keeping that promise.”]]>Gorilla Photobombs Kids At Australia Zoo (PHOTO)tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//2013-04-10T19:21:22-04:002013-04-11T10:36:08-04:00Dominique Mosbergenhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/dominique-mosbergen/gorilla decided to join them in a family photo.
"It would appear that this gorilla is simply bananas for bananas! Motaba the gorilla was sent into a frenzy at the Werribee Open Range Zoo…after she spotted two young visitors with her favorite snack," said the caption that accompanied this Rex USA photograph.
This, of course, isn't the first time that animals have thrilled us with their photobombing skills. From cats to sloths, there have been plenty of creatures that have induced laughs and smiles thanks to their unexpected photo cameos.
What do you think? Is Motaba the latest photobombing queen of the animal kingdom or is this a brilliant use of Photoshop? Tell us below!]]>Winter Vinecki, 14, Becomes Youngest Person To Complete Marathon On Antarctica (PHOTOS)tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//2013-04-10T11:59:18-04:002013-04-10T14:25:34-04:00Dominique Mosbergenhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/dominique-mosbergen/Winter Vinecki became the youngest person to complete a marathon on the world's most formidable continent when she crossed the finish line of the Antarctica Marathon on March 30.
With a time of 4 hours, 49 minutes, 45 seconds, 14-year-old Vinecki traversed challenging, icy terrain and hills in 22-degree weather to clinch an impressive third place in the women's race, according to Runner's World.
"It was the toughest marathon I've done so far," the teen told The Huffington Post. "[But] it was an extraordinary experience."
Winter Vinecki crossing the finish line of the Antarctica Marathon. (Courtesy: Team Winter)
Vinecki was quick to point out that there are even more daunting races yet to come. Her goal this year is to become the youngest person to complete marathons on every continent. Having already tackled a race in Oregon, in Kenya and now, Antarctica, the teen dynamo has four to go.
The challenging Inca Trail Marathon in Peru's Machu Picchu -- dubbed the world's toughest marathon -- is next on Vinecki's list. That takes place in June.
Winter Vinecki and her mom, Dawn, in Antarctica. (Courtesy: Team Winter)
The teen is no stranger to daunting challenges, however. She's been competing in marathons and triathlons since she was 5.
When Vinecki was 9, she was given the devastating news that her father, Michael, had prostate cancer. He died 10 months later.
Inspired by her father and surprised by the absence of a visible prostate cancer awareness movement, Vinecki and her mother, Dawn, decided to start the non-profit foundation Team Winter.
"I'm amazed by her," Vinecki's mom told the HuffPost. "She's chosen such a tough path. ... [S]he's driven by her dad's memory. She's passionate about racing and racing for her dad."
Vinecki, who won the Annika Inspiration Award in 2011, leads a demanding life. In addition to training and competing in marathons, triathlons and other racing competitions, the teen currently lives away from her family and trains in Park City, Utah, for the 2018 Winter Olympics with the aerial skiing Olympic development team. She frequently travels around the country as a motivational speaker, giving talks in both schools and corporations.
Somehow, Vinecki also manages to maintain a rigorous academic life. She's a star student at Stanford University’s prestigious online high school, and she hopes to attend a top U.S. college in the future.
"It's a lot of work," Vinecki admitted, speaking to the HuffPost from the airport early Wednesday morning as she prepared to take a flight to Pasadena, Calif, where she has a speaking engagement at a middle school. "It's hard to keep up with my school work and my training. It's really tough but it's well worth it."
Vinecki returned from Antarctica on Sunday. Wasting no time, she heads to Las Vegas this weekend to compete in both a triathlon and a half-marathon.
"She's completely self-motivated," said her mother. "I honestly don't know how she does it. She's amazing."
Vinecki may be the youngest person to have completed a full marathon on Antarctica, but Runner's World points out she isn't the first young competitor to tackle the continent's grueling terrain. In February, 9-year-old Nikolas Toocheck completed Antarctica's White Continent Marathon with his dad. However, due to bad weather, the competitors were "forced to stop after 18 miles to board a plane to Chile" to complete the race.
