Positive News Online

Validation

noreply@blogger.com (Positive News Online) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:09:00 +0000

"Validation" is a fable about the magic of free parking. Starring TJ Thyne & Vicki Davis. Writer/Director/Composer - Kurt Kuenne. Winner - Best Narrative Short, Cleveland Int'l Film Festival, Winner - Jury Award, Gen Art Chicago Film Festival, Winner - Audience Award, Hawaii Int'l Film Festival, Winner - Best Short Comedy, Breckenridge Festival of Film, Winner - Crystal Heart Award, Best Short Film & Audience Award, Heartland Film Festival, Winner - Christopher & Dana Reeve Audience Award, Williamstown Film Festival, Winner - Best Comedy, Dam Short Film Festival, Winner - Best Short Film, Sedona Int'l Film Festival.

Watch the source video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cbk980jV7Ao&noredirect=1

Philippines cuts interest rates to boost economy

noreply@blogger.com (Positive News Online) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:02:00 +0000

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The Philippines' central bank says it has cut interest rates by a quarter percentage point to boost the economy while the inflation outlook is benign and the world economy is tipping toward a further slowdown.

Central bank Gov. Amando Tetangco said the bank's Monetary Board decided on the rate cuts Thursday.

They are the first since 2009 and follow similar moves by other emerging markets to ease monetary policy.

The interest rate paid by the central bank to lenders for overnight deposits has been cut to 4.25 percent, and the rate borrowers pay for overnight borrowing from the central bank to 6.25 percent.

Tetangco says average annual inflation is forecast to fall within the lower half of a 3 percent to 5 percent range up to 2013.

(Re-posted from Yahoo News, AP)

Aussie ultra-marathon man finishes pole-to-pole run

noreply@blogger.com (Positive News Online) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 08:55:00 +0000

Australian ultra-marathon man Pat Farmer on Thursday completed an epic run from the North Pole to the South Pole in a feat of endurance he said would take its toll on his body for as long as he lived.

The 48-year-old former politician set off from the North Pole on April 2 last year with the emotional Farmer finally planting a Red Cross flag 21,000 kilometres (13,000 miles) later at the world's most southerly point.

His run was dedicated to highlighting and raising money for Red Cross water and sanitation projects and he said the thought of people worse off than himself kept him going through periods of extreme hardship.

"I've endured a lot on this run, but the people of Africa and East Timor and South America who have no clean water or have been victims of flood, earthquake, fire and famine do it very tough too," he said from Antarctica.

The run from the world's most northerly tip to its southernmost took in 14 countries and conditions from freezing ice wastes to mountains and sweltering tropics.

He said he endured snow blizzards, became lost in the blazing deserts of Peru, dodged polar bears, snakes, crocodiles, armed bandits and rogue militias, and narrowly avoided being wiped out by an out-of-control truck.

Running an incredible average of 80 kilometres (50 miles) every day, with no days off, he suffered dehydration, stress injuries and pushed through what he said was unimaginable pain to raise around AUS$100,000 (US$105,000).

"This run will take a toll on my body for as long as I live," said the father-of-two.

"But every step, every frustration, and every moment when I've considered, but rejected the thought of lying down and not running another kilometre, has been worth it.

"Running long distances is my gift, my way of making a difference."

Farmer has put himself through the pain barrier many times before, holding seven world records, including the fastest run around Australia -- 15,000 kilometres (9,000 miles) in 191 days.

The ultra-marathon athlete has twice crossed Australia's desert centre on foot and also raced across the United States, finishing fourth despite 50 days of running with a fractured leg.

"Pat Farmer is an inspiration to all humanity," Australian Red Cross chief executive Robert Tickner said, praising his "amazing feat of physical courage and endurance".

(Re-posted from Yahoo News, AFP)