The tractor lifted by 2 girls to save their dad
Credit: KSN.com video

As noted at KSN.com this Wednesday, April 10, 2013, Smith‘s daughters, Hannah, 16, and Haylee, 14, saw their dad being pinned down by the 1949 tractor, with its steering wheel on top of his chest. No one else around to help them so the two girls did not think twice to help their dad.

“I reached for the shifter, but my boot had a lot of mud on it and my foot slipped off the clutch, and it just walked that tractor straight over backwards on top of me,” Jeff Smith told the paper, whose daughters were walking their dogs when the incident happened, adding that all he can do was to cry for help.

“Which was scary because it was on my chest. Every time I called out for help, it was kinda like a constrictor. Every time I yelled out, I lost some of that, I could only get some of that back.” Smith added. His daughter tried to dig him out, but could not get him out. They had no choice but to lift the heavy truck.

“It’s amazing. You hear about this kind of stuff. This adrenaline rush, being able to pick cars up and slide people out. You never realize it’s really there until you actually witness it. I was very amazed and very grateful they were able to do that.” Jeff explained further.

Kevin Villanueva on graduation attire, sitting beside
his parents’ graves
Image Credit: Kevin Villanueva Facebook

“Akala nyu kayo lang ang may picture kasama parents nyu ha pero ma pa this is for the both of you i hope that you are proud of me.” Kevin Villanueva wrote, attaching a photo of himself in graduation gown and cap, sitting beside his parent’s graves, smiling in front of the camera, while holding his graduation flowers.

(So you thought you’re the only ones who have a graduation photo with your parents But mom, dad, this is for both of you. I hope that you are proud of me.)

Last Tuesday, the said photo was posted on the official Facebook page of Fhejhe Pasalgon, who wrote that background of the photo is what makes it very touching. The original photo has now nearly 6,500 Shares and 601 Likes, while the same photo on Pasalgon‘s page has now 16,325 Shares and has 237, 363 Likes.

“I just want to express my love to my parents, but I did not expect the reactions from people. They really make me very happy.” Villanueva was quoted telling to GMA News in their report today, Thursday, April 4, adding that his aunts, Maria Teresa C. Jalbuena and Jacqueline V. Calumba helped him finished college.

Kevin told the report that his mother committed suicide in 2002 when he was 10, noting that she suffers from a nervous break down every time she forgot to drink her medicine; while his father passed away when he was a college freshman. He said that his friends were also a big help.

“It’s hard to think that my parents are gone. But then, all I did was I did not think of it as a burden but as an inspiration for me to finish my studies,” Villanueva added, whose graduation photo received tons of wonderful comments on Facebook and served as inspiration to students.

“If there are problems, convert it as your inspiration to reach your goals in life. Determination, perseverance, and inspiration are things we should have to be a successful person. One person has a choice to go the bad way or good way. But my choice is to do the good way, which is why I am getting this kind of love.” Villanueva said on his message to students.

Bugaboo Cameleon3 stroller
Image Credit: Bugaboo.com

As noted in the official website of US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the handles of the recalled strollers can break and detach posing a fall hazard. Bugaboo said they already received 16 customer complaints pertaining to the issue, but no children have been injured

For easier identification, Bugaboo Cameleon3 strollers have aluminum and plastic frames with rubberized wheels, a removable bassinet or seat, an under-the-seat storage bag, a sun canopy, and a removable “U”-shaped carry handle, which is used to transport the bassinet or seat separately from the chassis.

According to the company, the affected serial numbers are from 190101115300001 to 190105124800215, which are printed on a horizontal bar under the seat of the stroller. Consumers are being strongly advised to immediately remove the carry handle from the stroller’s bassinet or seat and ask for free replacement.

Nevertheless, consumers can still continue to use the seat or bassinet when attached to the chassis, while they are still waiting for he replacement handle. However, the seat or bassinet of the said strollers should not be used separately from the chassis.

These Bugaboo Cameleon3 strollers were sold at Buy Buy Baby, Toys R Us and other baby product stores nationwide, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, and at Bugaboo.com as well as other online retailers from September 2012 to March 2013; and cost between $889 and $1,600.

“We sincerely apologize to our customers for this inconvenience. Bugaboo is determined to continue working in cooperation with our customers and safety authorities to improve our products, materials, and testing methodologies.” A statement reads at Bugaboo.com.

For more information about this Bugaboo stroller recall, contact Bugaboo Americas at (800) 460-2922, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or send an e-mail to serviceus@bugaboo.com or visit Bugaboo.com.

George King, Baby born 15 pounds, 7 ounces
Image Credit: BBC News video

According to the report, baby George was transferred to St Michael’s Hospital in Bristol right after he was born and was given a 10% chance of survival after he went without oxygen for five minutes. Nevertheless, doctors told George‘s parents that he is now in a good health condition.

“When his head came out that’s when they realized how big he was. And then his shoulders got stuck, and that’s when everything kicked off, really. There were about 20 doctors in the room. That’s when it got really scary.” Jade Packer told the report, noting that she was in labor for around 16 hours before she gave birth.

“He (George) didn’t fit into any of his newborn clothes. He’s gone straight into 3-6 month clothes.” Ms. Packer added, noting that she and Ryan are just happy to have brought home their baby; despite they were really shocked after learning George‘s size.

As noted at Bristol Post on Tuesday, George King was born on February 11 at the Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, and now weighs 16 pounds, 9 ounces. He is 2 feet and 2 inches long, and is wearing baby clothes fit for a six-month-old. There was no clear explanation on he become a 15 pounds, 7 ounces born baby.

“It was a massive shock for everyone – no one had any idea he would be this big. During the pregnancy I was just getting bigger and bigger. It makes it even more special to have him home now after all he has been through.” The 21-year old mother told the paper, with George considered as the second-heaviest baby born in UK.

Baby left with a note inside a car
Image Credit: Polly Gillespie Facebook

“My mum’s in doing the shopping, call her if I need anything.” The handwritten note reads, as seen from the window of the parked car, along with the phone number of the mother. The photo was believed to have first appeared in the Facebook page of a certain Ben last Sunday, March 24, 2013.

“Julie and another lady waited by the car while someone got the mother back. Majorly stupid error in judgement by a tired new mum. The different views of different cultures were interesting to watch too.” Ben allegedly wrote, which was quoted in the Facebook page of local radio personality Polly Gillespie.

Apparently, the incident was also reported at The New Zealand Herald this Monday, which said that a man and his wife were the first ones to see the poor baby alone inside the car and left with a note. The couple and other passers-by who saw the condition did not leave until the mother returned.

“We waited there for a little bit, wondering if the mum was just going to be two seconds and come back. And my wife said, ‘I’m not going in without someone being here with the baby’.” The man told the New Zealand report. A passer-by decided to call the phone of the mother and told her to go back to her car.

“As parents ourselves we know it is hard to get a baby to sleep, and once you start moving them they can wake up…we thought it was just a silly decision by a tired mother.” The unidentified man added, noting that the baby looked healthy and appeared to be being taken care of, except for that incident.

A police spokesman told NZ Herald that it is illegal in New Zealand for a parent or guardian to leave a child below 14 years old alone for unreasonable conditions and time; and that those who will be proven guilty in doing so will pay a fine of up to $2,000.

The names of the mother and baby were not revealed, and no charges were filed against the mom, as of this writing. However, the Facebook page where the photo was attached has now nearly 1,450 comments. Most of them were angry at the mother, calling her irresponsible for leaving her baby alone, despite with a note.

Tracy Lewis, the mom who was fired from her job
for selling Girl Scout cookies at work
Image Credit: MyFoxDC.com video

According to MyFoxDC.com this Tuesday, March 19, 2013, Tracy Lewis told them that she has been selling Girl Scout cookies at work for three years at the Eagle’s Nest convenience store inside American University in Washington D.C., and her boss informed her last February 18 that she was fired from her job.

As noted in the report, Bon Appetit claimed in their termination letter to Ms Lewis that she was “operating a personal cash business selling Girl Scout cookies over the counter which violates company policy” and has committed “gross misconduct by soliciting.”

“I had the cookies on a cart, and I would never ask anyone to buy them. But, if they wanted to buy some, I would sell them. It’s a volunteer position. I was just trying to help my daughter raise money for trips and stuff like that.” Lewis told MyFoxDC.com in an interview, referring to her 12-year old Girl Scout daughter.

“They didn’t give me any warning. It’s crazy because I can’t profit for selling the cookies,” Lewis added, who also has a son in college and has been working for Bon Appetit inside the American University campus for 12 years, and a total of 28 years working in various food services inside the school campus.

“Girl scout cookie sales are a girl-led, entrepreneurial program. We want the girls to be taking the lead,” Girl Scouts Council of the Nation‘s Capitol COO Colleen Cibula was quoted in a statement, adding that what happened is a lesson to all the parents who want to sell Girl Scout cookies on their jobs.

On the other hand, some parents and Girl Scout troopers said they believe that Tracy Lewis has not done anything wrong, and that no parent should be fired for selling Girl Scout cookies at work since it is a charitable act and they will not make money out of it.

“Dad overhears nervous gay teenage son talking about his coming out plan…writes his son best note ever.” A statement reads on the Facebook post of FCKH8.com, an organization active on aiming to spread love and respect to the LGBT community through gay-positive T-shirts, videos, and activist campaigns.

The letter, which was addressed to a certain Nate, is notably short but full of love and sincerity from his father, whose name was not revealed. The Facebook post has nearly 5,400 comments, with most of them finding it as a heartwarming message of showing unconditional love of a father to his son.

“I overheard your phone conversation with Mike last night about your plans to come out to me.” The only thing I need you to plan is to bring home OJ and bread after class. We are out, like you now. I’ve known you were gay since you were six, I’ve loved you since you were born.” The dad wrote on his letter to his gay son.

“You can imagine how happy we are that this father and son’s story is really touching people so deeply. We hope it sets a good example for fathers to love their kids the way they were born.” FCKH8.com organizer Luke Montgomery told Mashable in their post this Saturday, March 16.

“The fact that it has been shared by so many sadly means this kind of acceptance is both too rare and deeply craved by LGBT people who are so used to being rejected by families.” Montgomery added, with the loving father ending the letter with the post mark, “PS. Your mom and I think you and Mike make a cute couple.”

Dad’s letter to his gay son
Image Credit: FCKH8.com Facebook

Lisa Godbold and Maurice Griffin, talking to CNN
Image Credit: CNN video

According to a report at CNN today, Saturday, March 16, 2013, Lisa and her late husband adopted Maurice Griffin from an orphanage near their home in Sacramento during the 80s. He lived with the family for around four years until he turned 13, and had wonderful with them and their two sons, Gideon and Spencer.

“We were best friends. We’d run around, we did mischievous things and fun things. It was a good time.” Griffin told CNN. He is now a muscled and sports-minded man and wearing a mohawk hair. The legal adoption was around two months closer that time, when the unexpected happened.

As noted in the report, Griffin unintentionally told a social worker that his foster parents are spanking him. Nevertheless, he emphasized that he is not complaining of being spanked, and that he likes to be disciplined like a real son. This is when foster officials removed Maurice from the family.

“You can’t spank foster children. Maurice very much wanted that. We wanted him to feel like the rest of our kids. And there was a difference of opinion with some of the (child welfare) supervisors.” Godbold was quoted as saying, whose husband passed away in 1998 and later remarried and changed her last name.

Maurice Griffin said that he later lived in different foster families, and that he and Lisa have been searching for each other for years, but failed. It was not until 6 years ago that they started communicating with each other after they found themselves through social media.

And after years of effort in fighting for the right to adopt Griffin, Ms. Godbold finally won. Judge Richard Monroy, during a proceeding in San Diego Juvenile Court this Friday, approved the legal adoption of Lisa to Maurice.

NY apartment where baby fell 8 stories, with her mom
Image Credit: Pix11 video

As noted in the report, bystanders were shocked when they saw the woman and the baby on the street. The woman was later known to be a 45-year-old mother, who was holding her baby, when they fell on the ground. The mother was pronounced dead, and the 10-month baby is now being treated in a local hospital.

“I heard like a small scream, like a yell, and I noticed something falling from the sky. The baby bounced off her chest onto the floor, face down and was crying. My mother tried to pick up the baby, but there was already a detective there, and it was his responsibility after that.” Steven Dominguez, who witnessed the incident, told the report.

“Yeah, I wish I never witnessed that. But I wish I nobody ever has to witness that. It’s disturbing, and horrible.” Dominguez added. ABC News reported that the mother was identified as Cynthia Wachenheim and the baby was her son named Keston.

“I came home, they were arguing. I actually stopped to listen, and I heard screaming and the baby was crying. He just kept saying why wouldn’t you pick up the phone, why would you put that stress on me?” Another witness named Christian Johnson told Pix11, adding that he heard the man 3 hours before the incident.

As of this writing, local police are still conducting a thorough investigation. Nevertheless, Pix11 noted that a source from the law enforcement told them that the mother was alone when she jumped out from the window with her son. Baby Keston had injuries but is now recovering in the hospital.

Kraft Mac and Cheese dye removal petition ad
Image Credit: 100DaysofRealFood.com/FoodBabe.com

The petition titled “Kraft: Stop Using Dangerous Food Dyes in Our Mac & Cheese,” which has now over 126,000 signatures, claimed that the yellow dyes in the said product have no nutritional value, and are harmful additives and dangerous to the health of adults and young children as well.

“Kraft Macaroni and Cheese in the US contains the artificial food dyes Yellow 5 and Yellow 6. These unnecessary – yet potentially harmful – dyes are not in Kraft Macaroni & Cheese in other countries, including the UK, because they were removed due to consumer outcry.” A statement reads at Change.org.

“Kraft reformulated their product for the UK, but not for their fellow American citizens. That’s why we are petitioning Kraft to remove all dangerous artificial food dyes from their line of macaroni and cheese.” The Kraft dye removal online petition added, noting that a warning label should also be required outside US.

Lisa Leake from 100DaysofRealFood.com and Vani Hari from FoodBabe.com, who both live at Charlotte, North Carolina, said that they jointly tested both the UK and US versions of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, noting that they found no difference in color or taste between the two products.

In addition, the two mom bloggers emphasized that Yellow 5 and Yellow 6 are contaminated with known carcinogens, which are known to be an agent directly involved in causing cancer. The dyes also allegedly can cause an increase in hyperactivity in children and may affect the children’s ability to learn.

“The safety and quality of our products is our highest priority and we take consumer concerns very seriously. We carefully follow the laws and regulations in the countries where our products are sold,” Kraft spokesperson Lynne Galia was quoted in an email to ABCNews.com.

“So in the U.S., we only use colors that are approved and deemed safe for food use by the Food and Drug Administration.” Galia added, noting that there at least 14 other Mac & Cheese products that have no added colors and with natural food colors.

Apparently, Yellow 5 and Yellow 6 are among the food additives approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), stating that “Today, food and color additives are more strictly studied, regulated and monitored than at any other time in history.”

US FDA food ingredients table
Image Credit: FDA.gov