Today’s Good News

Today’s Good News

Have you noticed that we usually debate only the bad things in life.

Well, for a change, I thought I’d introduce this thread where anyone can put down current news that they think is good (can be political but not nasty, please, e.g. not Mr Bush catching a cold please!). We can debate the Good News and then move on when someone else posts some more happiness!

So I’ll start with this gem, which will brings tears of joy to many, I am sure.

Chocolate is Good for you

Yes – it’s official
Dark chocolate may be healthier

It’s good for a cough and it’s good for your heart.

Farc now has 15 less hostages and 2 less rebels due to a <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7486552.stm">beautiful rescue operation</a>.

French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt and 14 other hostages have been freed after rebels holding them were tricked into handing them over.

Colombian soldiers - apparently posing as members of a non-government organisation - flew them to freedom in a helicopter.

FARC

The Republican/Nationalist Party will be evicted from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Eviction:

Poland rejects U.S. missile shield offer
..................
WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland spurned as insufficient on Friday a U.S. offer to boost its air defenses in return for basing anti-missile interceptors on its soil but said it remained open to talks with Washington.

The decision by Poland, a staunch NATO ally, is a setback for the Bush administration drive to counter perceived threats from what Washington calls "rogue states," particularly Iran.
..................
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSWAR00706220080704

I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

The view that Iran threatens the US is akin to the view that Venezuela is likely to bring us down.

And, from another source,

Today, Polish politicians feel burned by the Bush administration, largely because Warsaw's staunch military support for the U.S. war in Iraq failed to win substantial contracts for Polish companies in Iraq's reconstruction, as many here had expected.
http://news.aol.com/story/_a/poles-learn-bitter-lesson-helping-us-in/n20080704112009990008

The Czechs have already gotten the main thing they wanted, US visa waivers, which they should have gotten anyway, but which in any case the Poles haven't gotten.

From Damn Interesting, The Pit of Life and Death! Extremophiles pitch in...

For those who treasure their time alone, meditating in the most private of rooms, here is some Good News on the bottom line in comfort.

The singing toilet from Japan

Mind you, the commentator of the video seems a little concerned about Greenhouse gases. But that Japanese cuisine.

But if you decide to buy one, Gentlemen should beware of the automated tampon extractor.

Originally posted by string:

But if you decide to buy one, Gentlemen should beware of the automated tampon extractor.

Now you tell me!

I thought it was a reaction to Viagra!

Originally posted by jax:

The Czechs have already gotten the main thing they wanted, US visa waivers, which they should have gotten anyway, but which in any case the Poles haven't gotten.

Rice and Schwarzenberg sign it off in Prague. Assuming it manages to pass through parliament, always a challenge, we have a radar (if no missiles). Assuming it doesn't we'll have a government crisis, which would be interesting shortly before the Czech Republic takes over the EU presidency.

(Not really belonging in the good news thread, but you started it...)

The wish to have children is strong, so strong that it can be described as a need. It is even something that extends to the wish for a brother or sister. So the story reported here will give hope to many who still look forward to completing their family.

Man becomes miracle dad 25 years after cancer

Good News for those with diabetes

Diabetes limb loss 'could be cut'

discovery by scientists may help reduce the risk of people with diabetes losing a limb.

Circulatory complications can lead to leg ulcers and gangrene so severe that limb amputation is the only answer.

Work by the University of Bristol has pinpointed a protein in cells which could be responsible. It is hoped it could lead to drug treatment to reduce the number of Britons who lose a limb to diabetes from the current 100 each week.

Diabetes, if not properly treated, can lead to a restricted blood supply to the tissues and a reduced capacity to recover from injury due to the body's inability to grow new blood vessels to speed the healing process.

This can leave limbs, in particular the legs and feet, vulnerable to ulcers and gangrene.

The Bristol team, whose work on mice is featured online in Circulation Research, focused on a protein receptor called p75NTR.

It is not found in the cells that line healthy blood vessels which are able to heal rapidly from injury.

However, diabetes causes these cells to start producing p75NTR and this appears to undermine the ability to grow the new blood vessels necessary to drive the healing process.

Receptor gene

The Bristol team were able to confirm this by showing that, if the receptor gene was put into healthy blood vessel cells, they became dysfunctional.

Equally, they showed that injecting the gene into healthy muscle and then restricting blood supply caused impaired healing following injury identical to that seen in diabetes.

Finally, the researchers inhibited the p75NTR receptor in diabetic mice before restricting the blood supply to one of their limbs.

Inhibition enabled the limb to recover from the restricted blood flow well.

The receptor appears to depress the cell's normal signalling mechanisms that are necessary to stimulate the growth of new blood vessels.

Professor Peter Weissberg, of the British Heart Foundation which part-funded the study, said the finding was highly significant.

"This vital finding may pave the way for the development of a drug to knock out the molecule - or its effects.

"Such a treatment would have enormously beneficial effects on one of the most devastating and life-threatening complications of diabetes."

Dr Iain Frame, of the charity Diabetes UK, warned against drawing firm conclusions from animal experiments. But he added: "If this research is proven in humans, a treatment could be developed to remove the p75NTR protein from which many people with diabetes could benefit."

Diabetics are 15 times more likely to need a lower limb amputation than those without the disease.

About seven out of 10 people having an amputation will die within five years as a result of possible complications and their condition, figures suggest.

Good news for Jaybro, who has every self-inflicted disease in the books.

Now for the Good News that we have all been waiting for; or at least all of me has.

New Bournemouth owners revealed

AFC Bournemouth have announced that marketing group Sport-6 have become the new owners of the club.

The directors of the Merseyside-based company - Paul Baker and Alastair Saverimutto - will join the board, with the latter as chief executive.

Jeff Mostyn will remain chairman of the football club, along with vice-chairman Steve Sly.

Sport-6 say they will invest a seven-figure sum into the Cherries, and are fully behind manager Kevin Bond.

The club have had their transfer embargo relaxed and can now sign players not under contract and bring in players on loan.

Congratulations accepted; all is now right with the World.

Calm has been restored to the outer-solar system"

This should makemake you laugh!

Good News for us Old Fogies.

[/url=http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080717193029.htm]Alzheimer%27s Drug Reverses Cognitive Decline Over 12 Month Period In Early Human Testing[/url]

........... the first drug for Alzheimer's disease that demonstrated continued improvement in patients over a 12 month period. Other approved drugs do not have this effect.

Higher gas prices leads to fewer traffic deaths.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080722/ap_on_re_us/gas_declining_deaths

Originally posted by string:

Alzheimer's Drug Reverses Cognitive Decline Over 12 Month Period In Early Human Testing

I knew that but forgot.

Originally posted by aefields:

Higher gas prices leads to fewer traffic deaths.

Hence, a tax holiday would lead to more deaths.

Drug for deadly prostate cancer

Scientists are hailing a new drug to treat aggressive prostate cancer as potentially the most significant advance in the field for 70 years.

Abiraterone could potentially treat up to 80% of patients with a deadly form of the disease resistant to currently available chemotherapy, they say.

'morning.

It's not so much who got it back, but the fact that these things happen sometimes.

Now where did I leave my Bentley.......

Cameron reunited with stolen bike

"You never want to see anyone have their bike nicked - not even a Tory."

"In March, he (Cameron) was forced to apologise after the Daily Mirror photographed him on his bike ignoring red lights and going the wrong way up a one-way street."

That's just the sort of thing that could turn an election here. I the UK!

A very promising development indeed.

Make a note of this one - it could save your marbles:

Alzheimer's drug 'halts' decline

........... the drug, known as Rember, in 321 patients showed an 81% difference in rate of mental decline compared with those not taking the treatment.

It is worth checking out the link.

Originally posted by string:

It is worth checking out the link.

What link?

Originally posted by Jaybro:

Originally posted by string:

It is worth checking out the link.

What link?

He jests at scars that never felt a wound

Originally posted by tt92:

Originally posted by Jaybro:

Originally posted by string:

It is worth checking out the link.

What link?

He jests at scars that never felt a wound

Jaybro as Romeo? - This is a new concept indeed.

Romeo who?

I read even more good news in the Observer on Sunday. Apparently because of the price of fuel there are more people car sharing to work, more children walking to school, more people buying smaller lower emmission cars and even more people are using public transport. . what else other than higher prices could start to bring about such good habits as these?. And if the good news on lower house prices continues then maybe even school teachers and nurses will be able to afford to buy their own house.
I like this

Originally posted by Jaybro:

Romeo who?

Montague.jpg

Originally posted by tt92:

Originally posted by Jaybro:

Romeo who?

Montague.jpg

Would that be the Alfa Montague? Honestly, it doesn't look like one.
(honesty from an aussie? i don't think so)

I just wish we all got on that would be nice .

I guess this next piece could be called "good news"
http://formerobamasupporters.com/2008/07/26/obama-the-messiah-the-best-satire-ever/
It has to be the best clip I've seen in a while Even if it was Fox News that came up with it.

I like it IF ONLY i cannot wait if it turned out to be true might wash a few mugs of some faces YIPPPPEEEEEEEEE

Ultimate fluffiness.

I have a new Granddaughter, name of Darcy, a little Dutch Girl.

Originally posted by string:

Ultimate fluffiness.

I have a new Granddaughter, name of Darcy, a little Dutch Girl.

Goodness, I have a new grandson, Miles, born ten days ago.

Miles & Darcy! Sounds nice, eh?

Originally posted by string:

I have a new Granddaughter, name of Darcy, a little Dutch Girl.

Originally posted by Jaybro:

Goodness, I have a new grandson, Miles, born ten days ago.

Congrats to both of you. I'm sure you'll both make fine Grandfathers.

Originally posted by string:

Ultimate fluffiness.

I have a new Granddaughter, name of Darcy, a little Dutch Girl.

Huh !!! oh my Congratulations but i only thought you was a young guy in his late 20s /oh gosh now i am getting confused .
(its the tablets i hallucinate with them and see double (sowry)
but hey CONGRATS AGAIN i love children i want my son to have one i know i will make a good nanny

Originally posted by Cocoa_butter:

.... i only thought you was a young guy in his late 20s ....

How kind ... but how wrong! I am flattered, especially by a young lady like yourself. I put it down to my infantile behaviour, but not my looks.

However, to business!

This Georgia has the feeling of doom about it, we are all hoping it will stop. There was a touching gesture in the Olympics today when Georgian and Russian athletes share emotional embrace

.... after the shooting medal ceremony, they hugged and kissed and smiled for the cameras in a moment of pure symbolism.

Maybe the Georgian and Politicians should take the hint and stop shooting, then kiss and make up.

A young man by the name of Steffen Poopjes (wat een naam!) had a lucky escape the other day:

Mountain tumbler lucky to be alive

Presumably this is Steffen Poepjes.

i am not young i am a middle aged spreaded woman but i will take the compliment

Nils Olav, Colonel-in-Chief of the Norwegian Army has been honoured with a knighthood, so hurha for him...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7562773.stm

The doughty Scots are foiling yet another American attempt at subversion:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/south_of_scotland/7564004.stm

Becoming acquainted with the joys of good gumbo should follow.

Crayfish and crabs are of the same Order. Seems appropriate.

Originally posted by Jaybro:

Crayfish

Crayfish ??????? How dare you??? You are from the South. You know quite well they are called Crawfish . Yankees.....

http://music.yahoo.com/read/news/61646204
I guess this could be good news for Phil Collins wife ???

I can see it all now. Big multinational moves in, unleashes clever publicity blitz, woos government, gets all kinds of subsidies.

That said, the technology is proven, the resources are enormous, and any government looking beyond the next election could make history.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/science/hotrock-industry-stakes-a-claim/2008/08/19/1218911717520.html

Still waiting.
Still waiting.
Still waiting.
Nope there aint no such thing as good *#@!*% news!

Let me tell you something. You're in a hell, and you're gonna die in a hell, just like the rest of 'em!..T.B.

Now thats reality.

egh !!!

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/track_field/news?slug=ap-ath-mens1500&prov=ap&type=lgns
Good for Bahrain. Their 1st ever Gold in the Olympics.

Not exactly good news but good news that didn't go quite right.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvTJxMPzJlo&NR=1

While this isn't classic good news, I just had to post it to thank my British friends once again for being able to see beyond carefully constructed "reality".

"GOD bless you, dear old Pip, old chap, GOD bless you." Dickens, "Great Expectations" (for Pip, substitute 'Brits')
...............
MI5 report challenges views on terrorism in Britain
Exclusive: Sophisticated analysis says there is no single pathway to violent extremism
...............
MI5 has concluded that there is no easy way to identify those who become involved in terrorism in Britain, according to a classified internal research document on radicalisation seen by the Guardian.

The sophisticated analysis, based on hundreds of case studies by the security service, says there is no single pathway to violent extremism.
...............
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/aug/20/uksecurity.terrorism1
...............

No, John, Obama isn't a stealth Muslim.