To many, Google Glass seems like an unnecessary, very expensive, odd-looking smartphone accessory. To Aleksandra Blaszczuk, Google's connected glasses are none of those things.

A 26-year-old quadriplegic, Blaszczuk needs assistance with bathing, eating and countless other activities, but the new gadget has allowed her to do things on her own that she didn't think would be possible again.

Before a car accident a year and a half ago, Blaszczuk used her smartphone just like most 20-somethings. She took photos and immediately shared them; she used a maps app to get around in New York City; she quickly Googled things to keep up with conversation. But when she became paralyzed from the chest down, her life changed.

]"Lots of people with disabilities don't have an opportunity to share their stories. I couldn't take pictures before -- I would have to ask someone to do that for me," Blaszczuk told ABC News. "With Glass, there is a whole new sense of self expression – I've been taking pictures and taking video."

She is able to tilt her head back to wake the glasses' small screen and then simply use her voice to control them. "O.K., Glass, take a picture," she can say to snap a photo, and then she can share it to her Google Plus profile – all with just voice commands. Beyond just taking photos and videos, Blaszczuk has been using the glasses, which pair with a phone for Internet connectivity, to make phone calls, get directions and search Google.

Four football players from William Paterson University went shopping at a general store in Wayne, N.J., on Sunday afternoon. After spending several minutes trying to locate the store clerk, two of the players who needed sunglasses and batteries were captured on store security cameras leaving money at the register.

Buddy’s Small Lots store manager, Marci Lederman, was taken by their honesty.

“They picked up a few items, and they left cash on the counter and waved to the cameras,” Lederman told Yahoo News. “Who does that?”

Thomas James, Kell’E Gallimore, Jelani Bruce and Anthony Biondi do that.

The NCAA Division-III Pioneers haven’t had a winning season in nearly 20 years, but life’s rewards are sometimes sweeter than those earned on a football field.

“It doesn’t surprise me that they did what they did,” said Jerry Flora, the Pioneers’ head coach. “That’s the kind of kids we try and recruit in here so we can obviously deal with a lot less headaches if you know what I mean.”

[...]

“They could have ransacked the store. They could have really done anything,” Lederman said. “They were perfect gentlemen. They were looking to see if anyone was here. They looked in the back to make sure no one was lying on the floor dead.”

While most beach resorts up and down the Eastern Seaboard are snapping up the sand chairs and rolling in the ice cream shop awnings after Labor Day, Bethany Beach is doing something different.

They put out new signs: “Welcome Wounded Warriors!” “Thank You For Our Freedom!” “Welcome Military Families — Our Heroes.”

Small businesses donated gift baskets, kept the kayaks out, lined up 14 fishing boats, got the horses saddled up and the Jet Skis ready, and opened their homes.

This week, 25 wounded veterans and their families are being treated like celebrities in this town. They wear VIF (Very Important Family) dog tags that get them free ice cream cones, lunches, golf games, spa treatments, and “thank you for your service” hat tips and handshakes.

GoPro: Fireman Saves Kitten - YouTube

"Remember little Rachel on the left? The emaciated puppy rescued by Officer Kelly Steinhorn from a locked dark room in the basement of a vacant house in Baltimore City last week? She's already been adopted from the Maryland SPCA by fellow Police Officer Bryan Kunkle, who has renamed her Camden! Here she is, smiling with her new BFF, Officer Steinhorn's rescued Pittie, Pretzel. Two lucky pooches granted second chances at fabulous lives, free from abuse. Congrats on your new addition, Officer Kunkle and thank you again Officer Steinhorn for stepping up and rescuing her. What a heartwarming happy ending!"

Roy Horn Tiger Attack - YouTube

Only four years ago, there was growing concern from certain commentators that U.S. businesses had lost their edge on the world stage. At that time, only three of the world’s 10 largest companies (by total market capitalization) were based in the U.S. Many of the top-10 names were made up of hybrid firms; run by their governments but with the free market twist of ownership availability through stock exchanges. Now, the innovation and leadership inherent in private enterprise has made a strong comeback. Since 2009, the 10 largest state-controlled firms in the world have lost 60%, or $2.2 trillion, of their value. Today, U.S.-based companies make up nine of the 10 largest firms in the world. Additionally, despite having only approximately 4.5% of the world’s total population, the U.S. is home to more than half of the 50 largest corporations in the world.
(Source: The Economist)

“A government shutdown is off the table. We’re not going to do it.”
— Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell when asked if another government shutdown was possible in January or February when the current budget deal expires.

Would-be thief gets a taste of small town justice - YouTube