The famous, infamous, and (not-so-) ordinary people in the news

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Honduran Man Ravaged by Polio Spends his Life Building a Helicopter from Parts

This story was of particular interest to me, as my own family is from Honduras. 

This is the story of Agustin, who is physically disabled from polio, yet has spent 50 years building a surprisingly advanced helicopter out of re-bar, bicycle parts and wood. His dream to take flight  inspired filmakers to capture his spirit, attitude, and perspective in the film, "Everything is Incredible"  about determination and the purpose of life goals.

The filmakers have also launched a campaign to raise funds to help Agustin with living expenses by purchasing the helicopter and his home. 

Everything is Incredible from Tyler Bastian on Vimeo.

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A Fashionista’s India Dream: Indrani Changes the Fate of Forgotten Girls

Model and photographer Indrani spent her childhood in a 300-room palace in India. She turned that ancestral home into a school—and is fighting to give girls a better future. 

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Ethiopian Boy’s Journey Becomes an Interactive Comic

More and more, the comic and cartoon art form is being used to explore non-fiction subjects: serious stuff, like stories in news.

“Stowaway” is  an e-comic , which tells the story of an Ethiopian boy named Fanuel who makes a harrowing 12,000-mile journey to the United States with both the help of samaritans and the hindrance of traffickers.

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"I Was Meant To Be A Composer"

From the wonderful Letters of Note: "In 1919, at which point he was just 9-years-old, Samuel Barber wrote this letter to his mother and left it on his desk for her to find. She did, and a year later Barber began to compose his first opera, “The Rose Tree.”

Samuel Barber went on to become one of the most celebrated American composers of the 20th century, writing orchestral, opera, choral and piano music, and was awarded two Pulitzer Prizes. 

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