MSNBC.com's happiest stories of 2006

One of the most popular new features on MSNBC.com is Wonderful World. In this section you will find uplifting, happy stories and videos from the U.S. and abroad — tales of rescues and heroism; cute stories about kids and animals; and heartwarming acts of generosity that demonstrate the best of the human spirit.

But which ones are — drum roll, please — the Happiest of the Year? Well, the tally is in, and here are the Top Ten Happiest Stories of 2006, as measured by the numbers of times site users clicked on them.

Full disclosure: Since this feature only started in July, the title should strictly read "The Happiest Stories of the Last Six Months of 2006." But who's arguing when you're dealing with something so good? In fact, we're so sure that you'll want to read more of these positive postings that we've included ten more of our personal favorites.

A very happy holiday season to you from the editors of Wonderful World!

THE TOP 10 HAPPY NEWS STORIES OF 2006

The envelope, please:

1: Frugal woman dies at 100, donates $35.6M
Florida native's fortune goes to local diabetes and cancer research

2: Homeless man finds best reward is honesty
Community rallies around man, gives him $4,000 for returning $21,000 bond

3: Hero catches tot as she falls from high window
Plucky immigrant honored for quick-thinking act that saved toddler

4: World’s tallest man saves dolphins in China
Herdsman, 7' 9", uses long arms to pull plastic from creatures' stomachs

5: Awesome auto does 1,000,000 miles, retires
Super Saab still has mostly original equipment; has new home in museum

6: School sweethearts reunite, marry after 47 years
Internet helps connect couple who had split up in the ninth grade

7: Ex-Marine, wife win $200 million Powerball
Odds of winning were 140 million-to-1; couple bought tickets in Iowa

8: Generous slot machine gives away piles of cash
Newspaper: Glitch turns one-armed bandit into one-way money machine

9: Speeder stops to help trooper chasing him
Officer crashes in car chase reaching 120 miles per hour; no citation issued

10: Honest guy gets $10K he found — 10 years later
Patience pays off for upright worker who found cash in university library

EDITORS' PICK: FAVORITE HAPPY NEWS STORIES

1. Bartender gets $10,000 tip on $26 tab

2. Alaskans get $1,107 check — just for living there
3. Injured bird gets feather implants — and flies
4. Flood victims get help from Amish families
5. NYC's oldest bartender still going strong at 90
6. Woman finds 1.3-carat diamond in a state park
7. Cheese workers cheer $208 million lottery win
8. Escaped Tennessee parrot turns up safe in NY
9. Girl, 7, helps save giant lobster from cookpot
10. Quick-thinking youths prevent DUI tragedy

MORE FROM 2006 YEAR IN REVIEW

2006 Year in Review Section Front

The Year of the Sneer Slide show: Final Curtain Calls 2006 See most clicked stories of 2006 — and vote Will 2007 be a happy year for travelers? Joe Scarborough: '07 political predictions Why did they do it? The year in crime Year in Video: The wild and the wacky See Year in Pictures (and cast your vote)   The wackiest video: 'Oddball' plays of '06 Take our 50-question 2006 news quiz 2006 Year in Review Section Front   Add 2006 Year in Review headlines to your news reader: