🌞 13 Million Cases of Malaria Prevented

Daily Upsider - Saturday, May 4th, 2024

 

Saturday, May 4th, 2024

Good Morning! 🌞 

Did you know that the liver has an extraordinary ability to regenerate itself? As little as 25% of a liver can regenerate back to its full size. This capability is unique among human organs and critical for survival. With that being said, it’s still important to be nice to your liver 😉 

Today’s Upside

World News

13 Million Cases of Malaria Prevented

For years, aid workers have understood that while billions of dollars flow into African aid foundations, a relatively small investment in insecticide-treated mosquito nets could rival the impact of a decade’s worth of malaria drug research.

Indeed, the investment in nets has surpassed expectations: a single program, which distributed 54 million nets across 16 countries over three years, is estimated to have saved 24,600 lives and prevented 13 million cases of malaria.

This initiative, known as the New Nets Project, is a collaboration funded by Unitaid, the Global Fund, and the Innovative Vector Control Consortium. It focuses on distributing new types of mosquito nets treated with advanced insecticides like chlorfenapyr and pyroproxyfen, which have shown greater effectiveness than the standard treatments.

Mosquito populations, much like bacteria with antibiotics, can develop resistance to the insecticides used in traditional nets. While these nets continue to act as physical barriers, they degrade quickly due to their delicate material.

From 2019 to 2022, the New Nets Project facilitated the distribution of 38.4 million mosquito nets throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Further, in partnership with the office of the President of the United States, an additional distribution increased this number to 56 million nets in Nigeria and other countries.

In regions experiencing insecticide resistance, these new nets have been shown to increase malaria control effectiveness by 20 to 50%. The use of these nets, compared to standard ones, has potentially saved health systems $28.9 million by reducing malaria cases and deaths.

It is always great to see smart, well organized efforts making a real difference!

World News

Child Saves Family from Burning Home

Courtesy Laura-Lee Patterson

During a break from school, Olivia was having a playdate with a friend while her mother, Laura-Lee Patterson, looked after her younger siblings at home. Hearing Olivia's urgent cries, Laura-Lee woke up from a doze and realized the seriousness of the situation.

Following Olivia's lead, the family evacuated the house, with neighbors gathering outside to offer support. Laura-Lee recalls the surreal feeling of confusion and shock as they fled the burning home, with the gravity of the situation sinking in only after they were safe.

The aftermath was a mix of relief and sadness. Olivia was upset about losing her belongings, and the family faced challenges in coping with the trauma. Adjusting to temporary accommodations and comforting their children became the new focus, with Laura-Lee noting the lasting impact on Olivia's typically cheerful demeanor.

As they navigate the aftermath of the fire, the Patterson family is grateful for the support from friends, firefighters, and the community, acknowledging that the kindness they've received means more than any material possession.

Entertainment

'Crazy Rich Asians' Musical in the Works

Director Jon M. Chu, known for his work on the 2018 film "Crazy Rich Asians," is bringing the beloved romantic comedy to Broadway as a musical. Backed by Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures and the book’s author Kevin Kwan, the project marks Chu's debut on the Broadway stage.

Chu, who has a track record of adapting stage productions into successful films, is currently involved in Universal's adaptation of "Wicked" and previously directed "In the Heights" by Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Described as a comedic exploration of the clash between young love and old wealth, "Crazy Rich Asians" follows the story of Rachel, a Chinese American professor, who discovers the extravagant world of her boyfriend Nick's family in Singapore.

The 2019 film adaptation, starring Constance Wu, Henry Golding, and Michelle Yeoh, enjoyed box office success, grossing $239 million worldwide. A sequel based on the subsequent novel has been in development for five years.

"Crazy Rich Asians" joins the ranks of other film-to-stage adaptations like "La La Land" and "The Devil Wears Prada." Broadway is currently hosting productions of "Back to the Future," "The Notebook," and "Water for Elephants," showcasing the enduring appeal of bringing cinematic stories to live theater.

Sports

KTM Junior Supercross

In its 25th season, the KTM Junior Supercross, proudly supported by Wells Fargo, continues its mission of nurturing the next generation of Supercross stars.

This year, they've gone green with electric KTM SX-E 5 bikes, complemented by a solar-powered semi-truck. The event started on January 6, 2024, and round 10 is set to take place today at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado.

Every racer is geared up with complimentary helmets and full racing attire for their safety while racing on the track.

The next leg of the competition will be a championship event, which will be held at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah, on May 11th.

May the Fourth Be With You

Star Wars Day, celebrated on May 4th, gained traction within the Star Wars community starting in 2011. The date's selection was cleverly based on the pun "May The Fourth be with You," playing off the iconic phrase from the franchise. Over time, this celebration has become deeply ingrained in fan culture, even spawning a secondary date on May 5th, dubbed "Revenge of The Fifth," in reference to the Sith Lords depicted in Episode III – Revenge Of The Sith.

In honor of Star Wars Day, here are a few intriguing facts about the franchise. May the Fourth Be With You!

  • Many of the buildings constructed to be used in shots Tatooine are still standing in Tunisia. In fact, some of them are used by locals.

  • Commemorative Star Wars coins became legal tender on the Pacific island of Niue in 2011.

  • It took as many as 10 puppeteers using both hands to operate Jabba the Hutt.

  • The trash in the Death Star garbage compactor scene was REAL. Apparently, the smell was so bad that Mark Hamill burst a blood vessel from trying to hold his breath, and the camera angle had to be adjusted for the rest of the scene so as not to show his injury. As for Peter Mayhew’s yak-hair Chewbacca suit? It reeked for the rest of production.

  • The voice of Yoda is done by Frank Oz, who also happens to voice Miss Piggy from The Muppets.

  • The alien race of ET: The Extra-Terrestrial makes an appearance in Episode 1: The Phantom Menace- officially connecting the worlds of Lucas and Spielberg sci-fi.

  • Yoda from the prequels was almost a real-life monkey in a green mask carrying a cane, however a monkey expert on set threw a spanner in the works. One of the crew who worked with apes in 2001: A Space Odyssey quickly pointed out, Look, the monkey’s just going to pull off the mask over and over again. It’s never going to work. The team soon enlisted Muppet master-crafter Jim Henson, who suggested casting Frank Oz (formerly the voice of Miss Piggy) to bring Yoda to life.

Mind Stretchers

⁉️ 

Here’s another rebus puzzle for you!

Answers to yesterday’s Mind Stretchers:
Mother, or Mom, or whatever you call your maternal relative.

Chris Hostetler got the correct answer first!

Be the first to send us the correct answer for today’s mind stretcher for a shout-out with the answer tomorrow. Just send us the answer and your name to [email protected] or reply to the email.

From the Community

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