Today Google announced a new policy that will likely become one of the largest anti-piracy functions they’ve ever gone through. Piracy is alive and well online for any number of reasons and currently most if not all piracy websites are thriving by showing substantial advertisements through Google Adsense and other advertising systems. These advertisements are literally the only reason these websites can stay alive and now Google is going to be doing everything they can to put a stop to that.

Starting today Google Adsense will no longer be allowing their advertisements to be displayed on any website that provides pirated material or any website that links to such a website. This is a huge step in the right direction and the US Government is very happy to hear that Google is taking such a step forward. Google is not the only company making this step either, multiple other advertising agencies have agreed to do the same thanks to Google’s support. By cutting off advertising revenue Google and others are hopeful that they’ll eventually be able to put a stop to piracy websites or at least make it much harder for them to operate. This is great news because it should definitely lead to a significant reduction in piracy and that is great news for everyone.

In an effort to familiarize his North Carolina classmates with wheelchair basketball, a 12-year-old boy was working to raise funds for the event when he was robbed of his fund-raising cash.

Nolan Turner was born with spina bifida and had recently gotten involved with the sport which changed his life. His classmates had repeatedly asked about it and Nolan decided to see if he could raise enough money to stage a game locally so they could witness it firsthand.

With his mother, Amy Moore, watching over him from indoors due to her allergies that day, Nolan sat out front of his Cary, N.C. home on March 22 collecting donations. A stranger approached and made idle conversation before snatching the cash jar and making off into the woods with about $250.

Nolan screamed but the man got away. His mother didn’t even realize what had happened until she saw Nolan yelling and then putting his head down on his table. When she went outside, he told her he’d been robbed. Police located the jar with about $100 in change still inside but the cash gone. They continue to search for the man.

Nolan’s goal was to raise $1000 to host a wheelchair basketball event at his Briarwood Elementary School conducted by Bridge II Sports, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping adults and children with challenges be able to play individual and team sports.

Just after the theft, another man approached Nolan and learning of the theft, gave him $60. Since then, as the outside world learned of what happened to Nolan, the support, both emotional and financial, has been overwhelming. His fundraising efforts have now surpassed $25,000. One cruel act has elicited thousands of kind ones.

Turner couldn’t be happier. His classmates will be able to see a wheelchair basketball game close up and personal. Bridges II Sports will host a full-day event at Nolan’s school where the kids can even try the sport out themselves. The extra money will be used to help fund Camp Carefree events. Camp Carefree is a one-week summer camp program for kids with various health problems, which Nolan has attended in the past.

Why is wheelchair basketball so important to Nolan? His mother explains that as they were eating pizza after his very first game, Nolan commented that playing made him feel like a normal person. He’s always been the oddity and this is a place where he can compete and feel good.

Undaunted by his experience, Nolan will next attempt fundraising for track and field wheelchairs which can cost $5000 each. He told his mother he was going to become the Martin Luther King, Jr. of the disabled. Way to go, Nolan.

Pastor's Prayers Answered; Son's Guitar Returned

Just last week a small church in the town of Greenwood Indiana was broken into; in the process the thieves stole dozens of musical instruments including one that had special sentimental value to many members of the church. That particular instrument belong to the pastor’s son who died in a car crash 4 months ago so it is not surprising that they felt so bad after the guitar was stolen.

Fortunately today the thieves apparently heard to story and felt bad about what had been done. Upon arriving at the church Pastor Schmidt found the guitar abandoned in the alley way right next to the church. Pastor Schmidt says it is nothing other than a miracle from good hearted people who have apparently made some poor decisions in their lives.

Obviously the thieves were not captured in the process but Schmidt says he is grateful that they decided to return the guitar with so much sentimental value to them. The search for the thieves is still on going but for the time being Pastor Schmidt and the entire congregation are happy that his son’s guitar has been returned.

It isn’t every day that groups of thieves hear heartwarming stories like the one from Pastor Schmidt but he claims that his prayers must have been a major influence. Whatever the reason he his simply glad to finally have back a piece of his son’s memory as it is one of the last things he has to remind him of his late son’s life.