Positive Press Daily

nbcnews: Kindergartner helps save dad’s life by knowing his...

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:01:02 -0500

Kindergartner helps save dad’s life by knowing his ABCs

(Photo: NBC New York)

A New Jersey kindergartner was able to help save his father’s life on Monday thanks to some quick thinking and a firm grasp of his ABCs.

Read the complete story.

DiCaprio’s wildlife charity auction brings in $38.8...

Mon, 20 May 2013 06:00:52 -0500

DiCaprio’s wildlife charity auction brings in $38.8 million

Actor Leonardo DiCaprio and Christie’s auction house raised $38.8 million through a charity art auction and donations, Christie’s said on Tuesday, with proceeds to benefit environmental and conservation causes.

The 33 works in The 11th Hour Auction organized by the star of the new film “The Great Gatsby” sold for $31.74 million on Monday evening and set 13 records for artists including Carol Bove, Joe Bradley, Mark Grotjahn, Raymond Pettibon and Mark Ryden among others.

A $5 million matching donation for three of the lots and additional gifts from donors brought the overall total to $38.8 million for The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, according to Christie’s.

“All I can say is thank you, thank you, thank you,” DiCaprio told the audience at the end of the auction.

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fastcompany: The Takeaway: Don’t let critics destroy a great...

Mon, 20 May 2013 03:00:54 -0500

fastcompany:

The Takeaway: Don’t let critics destroy a great idea.

The three women behind the THINX, a fashionable underwear line designed for a person’s menstrual cycle, wanted to launch an untested idea in a field dominated by corporate giants like Hanes, Fruit of the Loom, and Victoria’s Secret.

After a few years of perseverance and research, THINX products are beginning to hit store shelves, and early sales have already eclipsed this year’s projections.

Here’s the scoop.

zooborns: Musk Ox Baby Welcomed at Calgary Zoo With shaggy fur...

Sun, 19 May 2013 21:00:58 -0500

zooborns:

Musk Ox Baby Welcomed at Calgary Zoo

With shaggy fur and chunky legs, a baby Musk Ox is taking center stage at the Calgary Zoo. The calf was born on April 23 to mom Shyia and dad Tlayopi. Though Musk Ox calves are big babies, they have a lot of growing to do before reaching their adult weight of 500 to 800 pounds.

See more photos of the big, adorable baby on ZooBorns!

SA voted top ‘dream destination’ South Africa has...

Sun, 19 May 2013 18:01:07 -0500

SA voted top ‘dream destination’

South Africa has been voted the top destination by members of the world’s largest travel and lifestyle social network, Where Are You Now? (WAYN), in the site’s recent “dream destination competition”.

The country beat Brazil, India, Dubai, Fiji, Turkey and Indonesia with 15 300 votes from members around the world.

A total 78,000 votes were counted for all seven of the destinations. The nominated countries and cities were selected through market research and tracking user engagement on WAYN.

“All seven countries and cities nominated were extremely worthy contenders and dream destinations in their own right,” WAYN co-founder and chief risk officer, Jeremy Touze, said in a statement last week.

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Duck, Owl Photos Show The Most Adorable Friendship Ever The...

Sun, 19 May 2013 15:01:50 -0500

Duck, Owl Photos Show The Most Adorable Friendship Ever

The best friend bond is something that can last a lifetime, and for these two winged pals, it looks like they’ll be buds for years to come.

Chop-suey, a baby white-crested runner duck, and Larch, a baby long-eared owl, met at the Kirkleatham Owl Center in northern England earlier this month. The two have since become inseparable, sleeping and cuddling with each other.

A spokesperson for the center said the pair will eventually need to be separated due to “differing needs as they develop,” Zooborns reported. But for now, the cuteness can continue.

While they may be adorable, make sure to keep baby ducks outside as they don’t make for good pets. The average duck poops once every 15 minutes and the CDC recommends washing your hands after coming into contact with them as they “often” carry Salmonella.

Take a look at some more photos and a video of the pair here.

mothernaturenetwork: Warp speed, Scotty? Star Trek’s FTL drive...

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:00:51 -0500

mothernaturenetwork:

Warp speed, Scotty? Star Trek’s FTL drive may actually work

NASA scientists are taking the first steps to prove it’s possible to traverse vast distances faster than the speed of light.

Son Surprises His Mom With A House For Mother’s Day Read...

Sun, 19 May 2013 09:00:35 -0500

Son Surprises His Mom With A House For Mother’s Day

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Team SA wins World Surfing Games The South African surfing team...

Sun, 19 May 2013 06:00:32 -0500

Team SA wins World Surfing Games

The South African surfing team celebrated a superb double at the 2013 Reef ISA World Surfing Games in Panama on the weekend when they were crowned the ISA World Team Champions and captain Shaun Joubert clinched the ISA men’s world champion title.

Team SA fought a see-saw battle for the most prestigious team title in world surfing, leading the standings on days five and six before slumping to fourth place going into the final day. Joubert’s outstanding victory, however, saw them overtake perennial rivals and defending champions Australia, emerging surfing powerhouse Peru and Brazil, who earned silver, bronze and copper medals respectively.

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'Love has won out over hate': France becomes 14th country to allow gay marriage

Sun, 19 May 2013 03:00:36 -0500

'Love has won out over hate': France becomes 14th country to allow gay marriage

The Sunday Times, in partnership with PRAESA (The Project for...

Sat, 18 May 2013 21:01:02 -0500

The Sunday Times, in partnership with PRAESA (The Project for the Study of Alternative Education in South Africa), launched the new Sunday Times Nal’ibali Storybook yesterday.

Attended by the Western Cape Minister of Education, Donald Grant, the event celebrated ten new children’s stories commissioned by the Sunday Times and written by South African authors.

The illustrated stories will be printed in all our official languages, starting with English and followed with isiZulu and isiXhosa later this year. The storybooks are aimed at young children from Grade R to Grade 6 with the first 200,000 copies donated to schools, reading clubs, libraries and other NGO reading initiatives around the country.

The Sunday Times has already produced two such storybooks and distributed 2 million copies of these to schoolchildren nationwide. Having received a generous donation from Mrs Coralie Rutherford this year, Times Media has been able to commission a new book and incorporate it as part of a joint literacy initiative with PRAESA. The initiative, Nal’ibali, is a national reading-for-enjoyment campaign that supports bilingual literacy development and encourages parents and children to engage with each other through reading.

“We have been fortunate to work with a number of talented South African authors and illustrators in putting together this magical collection of stories. A treasured storybook can be just the thing to spark a love of reading in children and this is precisely our intention – to skill children to become readers for life,” comments Patti McDonald, publisher of Times Media Education’s supplements.

“Books and stories deepen our thinking and understanding by stretching our imagination while encouraging creative problem-solving. To have stories that our children can relate to in their home languages is an invaluable asset that we need to keep growing in our country,” comments Dr Carole Bloch, Director of PRAESA.

The Storybook launch, held at the Dalubuhle Primary School in Franschhoek, as part of the Franschhoek Literary Festival, was attended by the school’s pupils. It included a reading by Chris van Wyk of his contribution Mr Hare meets Mr Mandela in English and in isiXhosa by volunteer librarian Ms Siphokazi Mangwane.

neurosciencestuff: Reversing Paralysis with a Restorative...

Sat, 18 May 2013 18:01:00 -0500

neurosciencestuff:

Reversing Paralysis with a Restorative Gel

Some parts of the body, like the liver, can regenerate themselves after damage. But others, such as our nervous system, are considered either irreparable or slow to recover, leaving thousands with a lifetime of pain, limited mobility, or even paralysis.

Now a team of Tel Aviv University researchers, including Dr. Shimon Rochkind of TAU’s Sackler Faculty of Medicine and Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center and Prof. Zvi Nevo of TAU’s Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, has invented a method for repairing damaged peripheral nerves. Through a biodegradable implant in combination with a newly-developed Guiding Regeneration Gel (GRG) that increases nerve growth and healing, the functionality of a torn or damaged nerve could ultimately be restored.

This innovative project is now gaining international recognition. Its initial successes were reported recently at several renowned scientific congresses, including the World Federation of Neurological Societies and the European Neurological Society. And the therapy, already tested in animal models, is only a few years away from clinical use, says Dr. Rochkind.

Like healing in the womb

A nerve is like an electrical cable. When severed or otherwise damaged, power can no longer be transferred and the cable loses its functionality. Similarly, a damaged nerve loses the ability to transfer signals for movement and feeling through the nervous system.

But Dr. Rochkind and Prof. Nevo found a way to breach the gap. In their method, two severed ends of a damaged nerve are reconnected by implanting a soft, biodegradable tube, which serves as a bridge to help the nerve ends connect. The innovative gel which lines the inside of the tube nurtures nerve fibers’ growth, encouraging the nerve to reconnect the severed ends through the tube, even in cases with massive nerve damage, Dr. Rochkind says.

The key lies in the composition of the gel, the researchers say, which has three main components: anti-oxidants, which exhibit high anti-inflammatory activities; synthetic laminin peptides, which act as a railway or track for the nerve fibers to grow along; and hyaluronic acid, commonly found in the human fetus, which serves as a buffer against drying, a major danger for most implants. These components allow the nerve to heal the way a fetus does in the womb — quickly and smoothly.

Keeping cells safe for transplant

The implant has already been tested in animal models, and the gel by itself can be used as a stand-alone product, acting as an aid to cell therapy. GRG is not only able to preserve cells, it can support their survival while being used for therapy and transplantation, says Dr. Rochkind. When grown in the gel, cells show excellent development, as well as intensive fiber growth. This could have implications for the treatment of diseases such as Parkinson’s, for which researchers are actively exploring cell therapy as a potential solution.

Coldplay are to receive the best British act award at this...

Sat, 18 May 2013 15:01:40 -0500

Coldplay are to receive the best British act award at this year’s Nordoff Robbins O2 Silver Clef Awards.

The Grammy award-winning group gained worldwide fame with their first top 10 track, Yellow, in 2000.

Since then they have sold more than 60 million records, had five number one albums and won several awards including eight Brit awards and seven Grammys.

Frontman Chris Martin said receiving the Silver Clef prize meant a “huge amount” to the band.

“Nordoff Robbins is an organisation that lies very close to our hearts,” he said.

“They provide life-changing music therapy for thousands of people each year and we’re humbled to collect this award in their honour.”

The band will receive their prize at a London ceremony on 28 June.

Read more.

mothernaturenetwork: Meet Piper, the one-eyed bulldog with a...

Sat, 18 May 2013 12:00:55 -0500

mothernaturenetwork:

Meet Piper, the one-eyed bulldog with a passion for painting

This English bulldog was once known for her grumpy disposition, but these days she’s famous for her paintings, which benefit the dog rescue she once called home.

Myanmar says President to make official US...

Sat, 18 May 2013 09:00:44 -0500

Myanmar says President to make official US visit

Myanmar’s reformist President Thein Sein will visit the White House next week, the first such trip by a Myanmar head of state in almost 47 years and a sign of warming ties.

Myanmar state television announced the U.S. visit Monday, saying it comes at the invitation of President Barack Obama. It gave no exact date, but congressional staffers in Washington who were briefed on the upcoming trip said Thein Sein would meet Obama May 20.

The last Myanmar leader to visit the White House was the late dictator Ne Win in 1966.

Read more.

Backstreet Boys to go on 20th anniversary tour The members of...

Sat, 18 May 2013 06:00:38 -0500

Backstreet Boys to go on 20th anniversary tour

The members of the Backstreet Boys will be celebrating their 20th anniversary with a summer tour that gets under way in Chicago on Aug. 2 and continues through early September. It’s hard to believe these guys have been around long enough to go on an anniversary tour. But the truth is, “Quit Playing Games (with My Heart)” was on the radio charts way back in 1996.

Tour support will be provided by pop singer Jesse McCartney and DJ Pauly D of “Jersey Shore” fame. Go here for a complete list of tour dates. Tickets go on sale Friday.

The tour coincides with the boy band celebrating two decades in music. The guys recently received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and previewed a new album. There’s also a documentary in the works about the band.

Scotland declared a Fair Trade Nation Scotland has become one...

Sat, 18 May 2013 03:00:39 -0500

Scotland declared a Fair Trade Nation

Scotland has become one of the world’s first Fair Trade Nations, International Development Minister Humza Yousaf announced today.

The news comes on the first day of Fairtrade Fortnight 2013 and follows a nationwide campaign led by the Scottish Fair Trade Forum that has seen the people of Scotland rally behind Fair Trade principles.

The accolade means people, government, businesses, public bodies and community organisations across Scotland have come together to meet stringent criteria designed to promote Fair Trade.

Read more.

Teenagers on their way to prom stop their limo to aid crash victims

Fri, 17 May 2013 21:00:45 -0500

Teenagers on their way to prom stop their limo to aid crash victims:

A limousine filled with students headed to prom night at Western High in Davie, Fla., stopped for a detour Saturday, after a Honda van veered into a concrete wall and flipped in front of the limo. The van’s seven passengers had trouble getting out — until the limo’s driver and the students came to their aid.

The Honda Odyssey van went out of control and began swerving, Danny Izzi, who was at the wheel of the stretch Cadillac Escalade, tells The Sun Sentinel. After hitting the concrete barrier on Interstate 595 west of Fort Lauderdale, the van flipped onto its side and ground to a stop.

“I almost hit them,” Izzi says. “I had to slam on my brakes, but with 20 kids in there it’s really [difficult] to put the brakes on.”

…

Gordon Institute of Business Science number one African business...

Fri, 17 May 2013 18:01:01 -0500

Gordon Institute of Business Science number one African business school

The annual UK Financial Times Executive Education rankings, a global benchmark for providers of executive education has once again ranked the University of Pretoria’s Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) as the top South African and African business school for 2013.

Business schools are asked for details of a number of top clients, who are then invited to complete an online survey about the school that nominated them. For GIBS, top clients comprising not only leading SA corporates but top multinationals operating in the rest of Africa and abroad participated in the survey.

Professor Nick Binedell, dean of GIBS, said, “We are pleased to have again been ranked in line with prestigious business schools across the world. This year it is encouraging to see another South African school ranking in the world’s top fifty; we congratulate Stellenbosch Business School on this achievement.”

Read more.

Australian coach goes in to bat for India’s poor Many...

Fri, 17 May 2013 15:01:38 -0500

Australian coach goes in to bat for India’s poor

Many young men in India and Australia share a common dream - to play cricket for their country, but for cricketers in India’s poor rural communities that dream is often out of reach.

In one small community in one of India’s poorest states, however, Australian Bruce Adams is doing all he can to make sure everyone gets a shot at the big time.

Six years ago, Bruce Adams was coaching students in the north Indian state of Rajasthan, when a friend suggested another place that could really use his help.

Now he stands on the boundary of the Indira Gandhi stadium in the rural Indian district of Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh.

It’s here he’s built one of India’s biggest not-for-profit cricket academies.

Read more.