Don Deane

Ever been told to “grin and bear it” during a rough time? According to a new study by researchers at the University of Kansas, that advice might be more than just an old cliché. In fact, the study says, smiling might just be good for your heart.

Although details are sketchy at the moment, several news outlets are reporting that a gunman has shot multiple people near the Empire State Building in Manhattan this morning.

We’re not sure why there’s been a recent spate of small children perilously dangling from great heights, but it’s a good thing that heroic people always seem to be on hand to save them. In China, a four-year-old girl became stuck in the rails of a second story balcony and hung there precariously until emergency services arrived.

If there’s one thing we’ve always taken for granted regarding the Olympics, it’s that gold medals are actually made out of gold. So imagine our surprise when we learned that this year’s first place medals are mostly silver.

A Chicago Cubs fan named Greg wanted to give his girlfriend a marriage proposal that she’d never forget. So he popped the question via the video scoreboard during a game on Monday night at Wrigley Field. There was just one problem — she wasn’t in her seat at the time.

Walt Disney World bills itself as “the happiest place on earth,” but it was anything but for several dozen people who became ill after visiting a nature tour in June.

As one-half of the legendary team also starring Misty May-Treanor, Kerri Walsh-Jennings is instantly recognizable as one of the greatest beach volleyball players in the world. Together, they’re defending Olympic champions who won gold medals in both the 2004 and 2008 games, and they’re looking to repeat their success for a third time in London this year.

While soccer isn’t nearly as popular here as it is in other parts of the world, it seems to get its due in the US during the Olympics, at least. And when the women’s national soccer team won gold after a hotly-contested battle against Brazil at the 2008 Games in Beijing, its members became superstars.

Last night, two dogs got married in what the Guinness Book of World Records said was the world’s most expensive pet wedding at more than $150,000. It’s good to see that, in the midst of a recession, people are spending their money wisely.

A loving family recently fulfilled a deceased relative’s last wish by eating at a local restaurant and lavishing the waitress with a massive $500 tip. Fortunately for us, they captured the touching moment on video.