Tribute to Motivational Author Wayne Dyer (1940 — 2015

A self-help guru whose advice helped millions has passed on to his “next adventure.” That’s the way Dr. Wayne Dyer looked at death, merely as a transition to something new.

His long time publisher, Hay House, announced the news on Facebook, saying in part, “Wayne has left his body, passing away through the night…  Our hearts are broken, but we smile to think of how much our scurvy elephant will enjoy the other side.”

Americans Spent 8 Billion Hours Volunteering in 2010

Americans Spent 8 Billion Hours Volunteering in 2010

American Volunteers increased the number of hours they contributed to their communities last year, whether tutoring and mentoring students, fundraising, job training or assisting during natural disasters.

More than 60 million Americans volunteered 8.1 billion hours of their services in 2010 in work valued at nearly $173 billion, according to a new report.

The Aussies Are Coming!” Overseas Firefighters Arrive in WA

The Aussies Are Coming!” Overseas Firefighters Arrive in WA

Seventy Australian and New Zealand firefighters arrived in the United States last week, ready to go wherever wildfires were burning, reports the Associated Press.

Grateful Firefighters in Washington state welcomed the reinforcements from Down Under, as they battled the largest wildfire in the state’s history.

Tropical storm weakens, but leaves 20 dead in Caribbean

                                  Tropical storm weakens, but leaves 20 dead in Caribbea

               A boat sits in shallow water as Tropical Storm Erika passes through New Town, Dominica, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2015. Erika was expected to move near Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands on Thursday and be near or just north of the Dominican Republic on Friday as it heads toward Florida early next week, possibly as a hurricane

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — Tropical Storm Erika was losing its punch as it drenched Haiti and the Dominican Republic early Saturday, but it left devastation in its path, killing at least 20 people and leaving another 31 missing on the small eastern Caribbean island of Dominica, authorities said.

Obama’s Fun Side: 18 Great Photos From the White House

Obama’s Fun Side: 18 Great Photos From the White House

Since Barack Obama moved to the White House, he has tried to confront the enormous challenges facing America with a super-serious — some say, professorial — tone. But that doesn’t mean he isn’t finding fun, playing practical jokes, and celebrating the seasons with family and special guests.

Here are 18 moments from the lighter side of the Obama presidency. Tell us which ones are your favorites:

Alaska Natives Throw Potlatch Celebration for Deploying Troops

Alaska Natives Throw Potlatch Celebration for Deploying Troops

Native-American Alaskans hosted a traditional potlatch on Tuesday for about 400 soldiers and officers getting ready to deploy to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Donations of moose meat and fish came from throughout the area. Although food was a highlight, the troops also enjoyed traditional songs and dances.

The food is awesome. It just keeps coming,” said Staff Sgt. Jose Perez, 27, of the 6th Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment. “I think it is outstanding to see this type of culture.”

CEO Helps 3 Moms See Hero Sons Honored in Paris, Lends His Jet

CEO Helps 3 Moms See Hero Sons Honored in Paris, Lends His Jet

Three American heroes were scheduled to receive the Legion of Honor, France’s highest award, last Monday. Their moms were invited to the ceremony, but had no way to get to Paris on time.

When a corporate pilot heard about the women’s plight, he called his boss and asked to borrow the company plane.

The heroes, Spencer Stone, Alek Skarlatos, and Anthony Sadler, along with two other men, took down a heavily armed gunman on a high-speed train in France on August 21.

Pilot Doug Perrill called Tim Boyle, CEO of Columbia Sportswear, to see if they could give the mothers a lift.

Canadians Can Now Use Frequent Flyer Miles To Pay For College

If you happen to live in Canada, you can take a year off to travel the world before college and use those frequent flyer miles to pay your tuition.

Thanks to a team effort by Air Canada’s frequent flyer program, Aeroplan, and HigherEdPoints, miles can now be converted into education dollars.

Science Discovers Sweetgrass is Natural Mosquito Repellant, Native Americans Knew All Along

1. Mother Nature often knows best–and when it comes to repelling mosquitoes, sweetgrass is one of its secret weapons.
2. This is no surprise to Native Americans, who have long used the fragrant plant to ward off insects. But now science is finally catching up.
3. In a recent study, researchers with the U.S. Department of Agriculture identified the two compounds in sweetgrass that mosquitoes don’t like: coumarin and phytol.

Thousands Volunteer To Become Firefighters In Washington State

When leaders in Washington state asked for volunteers to help fight wildfires, they weren’t expecting this .After the call went out on Friday, more than 3,000 people signed up—in the first day.