Former 'Lost Boy' Lomong chosen to carry U.S. flag

Eight years ago, Lopez Lomong didn't even have a country. Now he'll be carrying the flag for his adopted nation, leading the U.S. Olympic team at opening ceremonies Friday night.

Lomong, one of the Lost Boys of Sudan, won a vote of team captains Wednesday to earn the honor of leading America's contingent into the 90,000-seat Bird's Nest Stadium.

The 1,500-meter track runner will be the flagbearer only 13 months after becoming a U.S. citizen.

"It's more than a dream," Lomong said in an interview with The Associated Press moments after he got the news. "I keep saying, I'm not sure if this is true or not true. I'm making the team and now I'm the first guy coming to the stadium and the whole world will be watching me carry the flag. There are no words to describe it."

He was born in Sudan, separated from his parents at the point of a gun at age 6, and with the help of friends, he escaped confinement and made it to a refugee camp in Kenya. In 2001, he was brought to America as part of a program to relocate lost children from war-torn Sudan.

More of this wonderful story at ESPN

Getting dream wedding dresses at bargain price

The fairytale weddings that many couples have yearned for are starting to come back down to earth -- leveled by everyday problems like house payments and rising gas and food bills.

The wedding industry has long been considered one of most recession-proof. Most brides, grooms and their parents see the "big day" as a once-in-a-lifetime event not to be skimped on.

Check out these money saving tips from CNN

10 Fireworks Effects to Watch For

I had no idea there were so many different types of effects and I definitely didn’t know they had names. To me, their names are, “The Ones That Do That Shooty Thing,” “The Ones That Scream” and “The Ones That Kind of Sparkle Out”. Very technical. If you’re like me, here’s a mini-lesson for you – try to spot them at whatever fireworks display you attend this weekend. I don’t usually do pictures with the Quick 10, but thought this post kind of warranted them.

From Mental Floss

Happy thoughts may dampen cravings for a Smoke

Want to quit smoking? Next time the urge to light up strikes, think of snow-capped peaks instead of the fleeting pleasure of a white cigarette. That's the conclusion of a new brain study which shows that thinking happy thoughts could help dampen cravings.

Mauricio Delgado, a cognitive neuroscientist at Rutgers University in Newark, New Jersey, and his colleague Elizabeth Phelps of New York University measured the brain activity of 15 volunteers as they played a simple game.

More at NewScientist

Also - Working Out May Help Prevent Addiction - From CNN

Americans' Charitable Giving Hits a Record

Americans gave a record amount to charity in 2007, topping $300 billion for the first time, despite mounting economic worries.

Still, there are indications that slowing growth is taking a toll on giving. The 3.9% increase in donations last year was far less than spikes of roughly 10% and 13% in 2004 and 2005, respectively. In addition, researchers revised 2006's giving increase downward to a meager 0.4% from 4.2%.

Americans donated $306.39 billion last year, according to the closely watched annual report from the Giving USA Foundation, a nonprofit educational organization in Glenview, Ill. After adjusting for inflation, donations rose only 1% from the roughly $295 billion donated in 2006.

The report culls data from the Internal Revenue Service and Bureau of Economic Analysis, among other sources. The findings are preliminary estimates and subject to revision.

More at the Wall Street Journal

It's Offical - The Critics are going CRAZY over Wall-E

The site Rotten Tomatoes sets up its ratings on how many critics nationwide like or dislike a film. If it gets a 60 it gets a ripe tomato, and that's a good thing, because less than 60 gets you a rotten tomato. As of the time I'm posting to this blog, Wall-E has a 97, one of the highest ratings any film has ever gotten. And just wait till you read some of the reviews. Remember, this is a PIXAR film, that is fine and safe for the whole family.

The Reviews at ROTTEN TOMATOES

Scientists find childbirth wonder drug that can 'cure' shyness

It can turn anything from job interviews to the most routine of family gatherings into a sweat-inducing ordeal.

But a 'love drug' produced naturally by the body during sex and childbirth could offer hope to the millions of people blighted by shyness, scientists have said.

Investigators believe oxytocin - a natural hormone that assists childbirth and helps mothers bond with newborn babies - could become a wonder drug for overcoming shyness.

More from This Is London

Conservatives really are nicer people, latest research shows

There is plenty of data that shows that Right-wingers are happier, more generous to charities, less likely to commit suicide - and even hug their children more than those on the Left.

Those surveyed were asked: 'Is it your obligation to care for a seriously injured/ill spouse or parent, or should you give care only if you really want to?' Of those describing themselves as 'conservative', 71 per cent said it was. Only 46 per cent of those on the Left agreed.

To the question: 'Do you get happiness by putting someone else's happiness ahead of your own?', 55 per cent of those who said they were 'very conservative' said Yes, compared with 20 per cent of those who were 'very liberal'.

More from the Mail Online

We have reached another Milestone - BECAUSE OF YOU!

This blog and its sister blog DAYS OF CAUTION has now reached a total of over 25,000 hits earlier today, with over 800 hits yesterday alone. We only got started in Feb. of this year, so while this is small potatoes compared to other sites, it still seems to be pretty good for us. Keep coming back, spread the blog with your friends, and I'll let you know when we reach our next big goal of 100,000. Thanks so much, it happened because of YOU!

KID CAN DO IT ALL ON ONE LEG - Baseball, football, soccer -- nothing slows him down

Adam Bender slips a chest protector over his Astros jersey, buckles a shinguard to his right leg, positions a mask atop his head, grabs his catcher's mitt and hops out of the dugout.

Adam has his game face on. Or at least what passes as a game face for an 8-year-old. His eyes are serious. His freckled nose is crinkled with determination.

Adam is amazing to watch. He takes his position behind the plate, resting on his right knee.

When a runner rounds third looking to score, Adam jumps up and holds his ground.

He suffered a mild concussion on one collision and missed a practice or two. But he recovered and was ready for action in the next game. At one point this season he led the rookie league in put-outs at home.

At bat, his athletic skill and balance allow him to take a full swing, and he usually makes contact. He hops to first base as quickly as he can. If he's safe, he uses crutches to run the bases. When he gets thrown out, he hops dejectedly back to the dugout.

He's a competitor, and not just in baseball.

Adam, who lost his left leg to cancer when he was 1, has played soccer for a couple of years. He uses crutches, and is a whirlwind on the field in Centenary United Methodist's "I Am Third" league.

More with Video at Kentucky.com

Meet the Mini Pigs !!!

Chris Murray needed 9 years and 24 generations to develop a breeding programme that resulted in the minitature pigs you’ll see.The smallest pigs the farmer created are the ones below, that are no bigger than your standard tea cup. The pennywell miniature pig is a variant of a rare breed of pig from New Zealand and make excellent pets.

More from Fuzz-time, with some super cute pics!

50 Habits of "Naturally Thin" People

Small Changes, Big Weight Loss

This is not a diet -- or a rigorous exercise program. (Nobody can stick to those for long.) Instead, it's a simple way to make weight loss a natural part of the life you already live. And guess what? It's fun! You don't have to give up the foods you love or join a gym. It's about balancing calories in tiny ways that add up to big benefits. You just adopt some tricks naturally lean people do. Pick the ones you like, stick with them, and you'll slim down and tone up -- for good!

See the 50 at Reader's Digest

U.S. troop deaths in May near lowest level of war

This May has been one of the least violent months of the Iraq war. The relative calm follows a cease-fire agreement by Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and his militia in the face of steady pressure from U.S. and Iraqi forces.

Overall, militant attacks in Iraq have dropped to levels not seen since spring 2004, U.S. military spokesman Rear Adm. Patrick Driscoll said this week. Attacks are down 70% since President Bush ordered a U.S. troop increase, or "surge," early last year.

"We're seeing progress because we're getting more capability out of the Iraqi security forces," said Lt. Gen. Lloyd Austin III, the number two U.S. commander in Iraq.

More from USA Today

10 Tips to Make Your Car Last Longer

Getting from point A to point B by car costs a certain amount of dough, and thanks to recent record-high gas prices it takes more of your hard-earned money than ever before. But while you can’t always control ownership costs such as fuel, repairs and insurance rates, one thing you do have power over is making your car last longer and maintaining its value. Here you have a choice: Either spend money on a new car every few years or keep your current car running great and looking sharp. If you decide to go the latter route, follow these 10 tips to help keep your ride rolling.

Find out how to stretch the life of your car at MSN Autos

Friends Quit Smoking? You Probably Will Too

The urge to smoke is contagious, but quitting apparently is, too. A team of researchers who showed that obesity can spread person-to-person has found a similar pattern with smoking cessation: A smoker is more likely to kick the habit if a spouse, friend, co-worker or sibling did.

What's more, smokers tend to quit in groups and those who don't stop puffing increasingly find themselves pushed to the edge of their social circles, the researchers found.

''Your smoking behavior depends upon not just the smoking behavior of the people you know, but also the people who they know'' and so on, said Dr. Nicholas Christakis, a medical sociologist at Harvard Medical School and lead author of the new report.

The findings back up previous studies showing that peer influence plays a key role in people's decision to stop lighting up and provide evidence that the ''buddy system'' used by smoking cessation, weight loss and alcoholism programs to change addictive behavior works.

More from HappyNews.com and AP

Gov. Arnold: Let homeschooling continue

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and other officials have told an appeals court there's no need to dig into state constitutional issues regarding homeschooling since state laws already provide for that choice for parents.

"The governor's brief supports the right of California parents to teach their children at home," stated the governor's press secretary, Aaron McLear. "It explains how the California Education Code already provides for homeschooling and urges the court to recognize and affirm this important right."

Way to go Arnie!
More fro WorldNetDaily

Foreclosures mean opportunity for Habitat charity

The foreclosure crisis that has forced thousands of families from their homes has given something good to the nation's best-known housing charity: Cheap properties for sale in communities around the country.

Some Habitat for Humanity chapters have seized buying opportunities in neighborhoods affected by the mortgage meltdown, snapping up scores of empty lots and unoccupied homes — some for as little as half price.

"The down real estate market is a wonderful opportunity for all Habitats," said Gage Yager, executive director of Trinity Habitat for Humanity in Fort Worth, Texas. "As prices drop, we have the opportunity to acquire at prices that just weren't available a few years ago."

More from AP

20 Timeless Money Rules

Need some good advice about money? Don't we all. Here are 20 of the smartest things I've seen in a while, and it makes for a good read too. Remember though, money is just a tool in life, not something to fall in love with.

More from Yahoo Finance

6 Hobbies That Can Make You Money

Looking for extra cash to keep your household afloat in this storm-tossed economy? Maybe it's time to turn your hobby into a business.

Whether you wade in part-time or dive in full-time, there are several advantages to launching your hobby as a business. For starters, you already enjoy it. You also have the knowledge base and skill set upon which to build, and may have a network of fellow enthusiasts to help get you started.

It's likely that you also have a sense for pricing and market dynamics surrounding your hobby.

More from Yahoo Finance

Best Scenic Drives in the U.S.

It's hard to resist the lure of the open road when summer rolls around — and with our editors' favorite scenic drives across the United States, you'll know exactly where to point your car this year. We've listed our favorites from west to east — including everything from the obvious Highway 1 in California to the less-obvious — but brilliantly named — Going-to-the-Sun Road in Montana. We've picked routes for their history (U.S. Route 1 in New England and Million Dollar Highway in Colorado); for their natural scenery (Blue Ridge Parkway, Red Rock Scenic Byway, Highway 12); for their romantic appeal (routes through Sonoma and Napa); and for their remote wild beauty (Hana and Seward highways). Best of all, most of these routes make for splendid drives all year long, so you can get out and explore their bounty whenever the mood strikes. So rev your engines ... and hit the road.
More from Yahoo Travel