By: Jared Denson
FYGD Contributor

100th Birthday Celebration – Skydiving!

What did you do for your last birthday? I’m no adrenaline junkie, so last year I was completely content with a lazy day lounging around the pool, sipping on an ice-cold beverage and going out to my favorite restaurant, The Melting Pot, with my family and friends. Welcome Fred Mack, a 100 year-old WWII engineer from Newton Square, PA. On Sunday, March 20th, this thrill-seeking senior citizen, with clearance from his cardiologist, traveled to Free Fall Adventures in Williamstown, NJ to undertake what is believed to be the Guinness World Record for the oldest person ever to sky dive.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t think you will ever catch me in free-fall at 13,000 feet at my young age, let alone on my 100th birthday; if you do, you can probably bet it would be my last!

“I’ve been waiting to do this for 5 years” Mack said. His cardiologist, Dr. Elliot Gerber, cleared Mack to skydive 5 years ago for his 95th birthday. On his 100th, his friends and family watched from the ground as he completed an impeccable landing in an open field.

“I cleared him last time, this time they didn’t ask for me to sign off,” Dr. Gerber joked. “Fred has been my patient for 20 years and he is in great shape. He is an amazing man.”

Fred is an amazing man. The former airplane engineer helped design the P-40 plane used in WWII and was a competitive skier until he was in his 90’s! Fred’s contributions to our country and his live-first, die-last spirit are what reinforced to me that life should be about celebration.

After the trip, Fred was asked how he felt; he simply replied, “I’m still alive”. Fred has outlived his two wives while several members of his family lived past 90. Good genes you say? Probably so. But it is his joy, in particular, that I believe has helped him to live such a long and prosperous life. The pure happiness and love of life Fred has is something we should all strive for at any age.

You can watch Fred fulfilling his dream below!

Source: CBS Philly

And, remember…Feed Your Good Dog, so your good dog always wins!

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I guess you’d call me an independent, since I’ve never identified myself with one party or another in politics. I always decide my vote by taking as careful a look as I can at the actual candidates and issues themselves, no matter what the party label. ~Jackie Robinson

Source: Brainy Quotes

And, remember…Feed Your Good Dog, so your good dog always wins!
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We all want to help the people of Japan, but some of us may not know how. Here’s an article by Jessica Dickler, staff writer for CNNMoney.com from March 12, 2011 with good information on how to help and some suggestions on where to give.

Japan earthquake: How you can help

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — After the fifth largest earthquake in history struck Japan, many Americans have been eager to help — but donations can be tricky, particularly in the earliest phase of the recovery effort.

Despite the massive destruction seen in Tokyo and the surrounding area, “at this stage it’s very difficult to say the extent of the need,” said Andrea Koppel, a spokeswoman from the American Red Cross.

Daniel Borochoff, president of the American Institute of Philanthropy, advises those ready to make donations to “wait and see how the situation develops and step forward when clear charitable needs arise.”

An immediate response is not necessarily best, he says. “It’s ok to get assessments on the situation and then send contributions.”

Impact Your World – CNN

For those who intend to help victims of Friday’s 8.9-magnitude quake, experts advise following these guidelines in the days ahead:

Who to give to

Patrick Rooney, executive director of the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, recommends giving to reputable aid organizations, like the Red Cross and Save the Children, because those organizations already have a presence in the impacted area and their response will likely be faster and more efficient than other organizations that are not on the ground.

“They have the experience and infrastructure necessary to provide help,” he said.

The Japanese Red Cross has already deployed 900 rescue workers to the affected region today and the American Red Cross has emergency responders on standby, Koppel added.

What to give

“Give money, not food, water and clothes,” Rooney advised. “There’s a much higher shipping cost for supplies and it’s easier for disaster organizations to get cash and use it as they need to.”

In addition, it can be difficult to determine what supplies will be most needed, particularly in the early stages of a recovery effort, and in the case of Japan, there are many supplies already on hand.

Currently, a Red Cross warehouse in Malaysia is fully stocked with enough relief supplies to aid 5,000 families, according to Koppel.

What to avoid

Unfortunately, an influx of websites that are not legitimate often crop up in the wake of natural disasters, soliciting for charitable donations to aid victims.

“I guarantee websites pop up in the next 24 hours that are likely to be fraudulent,” Rooney said. Read more . . .

And, remember…Feed Your Good Dog, so your good dog always wins!
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You’ve done it before and you can do it now. See the positive possibilities. Redirect the substantial energy of your frustration and turn it into positive, effective, unstoppable determination. ~Ralph Marsden

And, remember…Feed Your Good Dog, so your good dog always wins!
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Here’s a motivator to get out this weekend and take a walk! At Webshots.com, people share their walks from all over the world. Not only do the beautiful images delight, but the shared photos also give us a glimpse of activities and events that are taking place in other parts of the world.

Webshots.com invites you to share your walk at their blog….

Photo walks, a popular activity among photo-sharing communities, let us all be a part of something no matter where we are in the world. By taking a walk this weekend and sharing the pictures with us, you’re contributing to a global mural of life.

Please tag your photos with Weekend Photo Walk 167 and then post your links in the comment section. Your entries won’t be judged—this is just for the fun of it!

And, remember…Feed Your Good Dog, so your good dog always wins!
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Yesterday, March 8, 2011, marked the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day, and Women for Women International celebrated with its 2011 Join Me on the Bridge Event! Following is a video of participants on the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City, and a link to a Google Map to show locations of events worldwide.

Tens of thousands of people came together on bridges all over the world — from the Millennium Bridge in London, the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City, the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, to the Grand Barriere Bridge joining Rwanda and Congo — to show their support for women’s causes and celebrate women’s achievements.

Close to 14,000 people checked into the March 8, 2011, Join Me on the Bridge – Brooklyn Bridge Event in New York City for International Women’s Day.

Click on the map to be redirected to to an interactive Google Map to view Join Me on the Bridge 2011 locations all over the world. At this page you also have the opportunity to support a cause you care about by donating to any of incredible organizations listed there that work to improve the lives of women worldwide

.

And, remember…Feed Your Good Dog, so your good dog always wins!
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Tomorrow, Tuesday, March 8th, is the 100th Anniversary of International Women’s Day. The following quote on women reminds us to see the “glass half full” as women are inclined to do.

Whatever women do they must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good. Luckily, this is not difficult. ~Charlotte Whitton

Source: The Quote Garden

And, remember…Feed Your Good Dog, so your good dog always wins!
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@ResponsibilityProject.com Here’s a quirky animated short film about people falling down while onlookers from an office building enjoy a little workplace humor at their expense. Fans of stylish, animated shorts should enjoy the distinct visuals and laugh at the funny accidents on display here. Of course, it’s not so funny when a shaky little old man is in danger of breaking his hip, but the scenario ends up presenting a small surprise that makes you feel like going out and doing good deeds near you.

And, remember…Feed Your Good Dog, so your good dog always wins!
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It is well to be prepared for life as it is, but it is better to be prepared to make life better than it is. ~Sargent Shriver, Founder and First Director of the Peace Corps

The Peace Corps celebrates its 50th year. On March 1, 1961, President Kennedy “issued Executive Order 10924 establishing the Peace Corps as a new agency within the Department of State. The same day, he sent a message to Congress asking for permanent funding for the agency, which would send trained American men and women to foreign nations to assist in development efforts. The Peace Corps captured the imagination of the U.S. public, and during the week following its creation, thousands of letters poured into Washington from young Americans hoping to volunteer.”

Source: BrainyQuote and peacebuttons.info

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It’s all about choices….the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shares with us how we can make good choices that lead to a happy heart.

There is no time like now to get started! TGIFYGDF!

A healthy diet and lifestyle are the best weapons you have to fight heart disease. Many people make it harder than it is. It is important to remember that it is the overall pattern of the choices you make that counts. As you make daily food choices, read nutrition labels and base your eating pattern on these recommendations:

• Choose lean meats and poultry without skin and prepare them without added saturated and trans fat.
• Select fat-free, 1% fat, and low-fat dairy products.
• Cut back on foods containing partially hydrogenated vegetable oils to reduce trans fat in your diet.
• Cut back on foods high in dietary cholesterol. Aim to eat less than 300 mg of cholesterol each day.
• Cut back on beverages and foods with added sugars.
• Select and purchase foods lower in salt/sodium.
• If you drink alcohol, drink in moderation. That means no more than one drink per day if you’re a woman and two drinks per day if you’re a man.
• Keep an eye on your portion sizes.

See CDC’s Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity Web site for more tips on nutrition.

Physical activity in your daily life is an important step to preventing heart disease. You can take a few simple steps at home, at work, and at play to increase the amount of physical activity in your life. See CDC’s physical activity Web site for tips and more information.

And, remember…Feed Your Good Dog, so your good dog always wins!
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