Think Forward.

13th All Africa Games: Athletics, the show goes on for the 4th day

Aziz Daouda, 6 mon.
1 min read.
The party continued at the University of Accra stadium with an enthusiastic crowd and overjoyed athletes. The performances were once again outstanding. The cheers were a little lively when it came to the athletes from Ghana, but the public knew how to appreciate the performance and did not fail to encourage the athletes of other nationalities as well. In the afternoon of the third athletics days, the Nigerian Olympic and multiple World medallist Ese Brume won the high-quality but windy long jump at this 13th All-Africa Games leaping to 6m92 with a registered of +3.9. Marthe Koala of Burkina Faso finished second with 6m81 w (3.3), also 6m68 with a wind of only 2.0, ahead of other Nigerians Prestina Ochonogor 6m67w (3.2) and Ruth Osoro 6m62w (2.4) / 661 (1.9). Morocco’s young new comer Saad Hinti improved the national 400m hurdles record with 48.82 to win over Victor Ntweng of Botswana: 49.38. Kenya’s Janeth Chepngetich in a slow 33:37.00 certainly due to the high level of humidity and heat, defeated Wede Kefale of Ethiopia: 33:38.37 in the 10,000m final. Egypt’s Mostafa Elgamel won the gold in hammer with an excellent 73m65. Nigeria’s Obiageri Amaechi in the women’s discus droped the gold with 58.93. only 4 participants took part in the pole vault event won by Medhi Amar Rouana of Algeria in 5m30. Benin’s Odile Ahouanwanou in the heptathlon was first with 5616 points. Fresh triple jump World Indoor medalist Yasser Triki of Algeria leaped to 8m09 (W:1.6) in the long jump qualification. At the end of the session Zambia clocked 3:04.16 which is a New National record, being the fastest in the 4x400m heats.

Mistakes People Make When Bitten by Snakes & Correct Actions to Take

Anas Bedraoui, 6 mon.
1 min read.
When bitten by a snake, people often react instinctively, which can lead to actions that are more harmful than helpful. Here are some common mistakes to avoid: - Trying to Suck Out the Venom: This method is ineffective and can introduce bacteria to the wound or further harm the victim. - Applying a Tourniquet: This can restrict blood flow entirely, potentially leading to tissue damage or necrosis. - Using Ice or Cold Compresses: Applying ice can cause tissue damage and doesn't prevent venom spread. - Cutting the Bite Area: Cutting into the bite site can increase the risk of infection and cause more damage. - Attempting to Capture or Kill the Snake: This could lead to additional bites or delay medical treatment. A description or photo from a safe distance is sufficient for identification. - Drinking Alcohol or Caffeine: These substances can accelerate the heart rate, spreading the venom more quickly through the body. - Eating or Drinking: If there's a risk of swelling in the throat or shock, consuming food or beverages could complicate the situation. If bitten by a snake, the best immediate actions are to remain as calm as possible to keep your heart rate down, which slows the spread of venom. Ensure that the affected area is kept still and positioned lower than the heart to reduce venom movement through the bloodstream. Remove any jewelry or tight clothing around the bite area before swelling starts. Call for emergency medical help right away or have someone else do so. While waiting for help, stay as immobile and calm as possible to minimize venom spread. Do not attempt to capture the snake but try to remember its color and shape to help medical professionals provide the appropriate treatment. Importantly, do not apply ice, cut the wound, try to suck out the venom, or use a tourniquet, as these actions can cause more harm.

All African Games: A third magnificent day of athletics

Aziz Daouda, 6 mon.
1 min read.
The stadium of the University of Accra in Ghana, which is hosting the athletics events, was the setting for a memorable evening of athletics at the All-African Games. The fantastic crowd, who spared no effort to encourage the athletes, and the perfect organisation by officials from the Ghana Athletics Federation, assisted by delegates from the Confederation of African Athletics, certainly played a decisive role in the success of this third day of athletics events. The weather was also kind, the heat dropped a little and the humidity level was more bearable. World record holders not only won their events but also achieved World leading marks. Beatrice Chepkoech in steeple chase with 9:15.61 established a new World List ahead of Olympic winner Peruth Chemutai from Uganda 9:16.07 and Ethiopian Lomi Muleta 9:26.63. Nigerian Tobi Amusan clocked also a World List in 100 m hurdles with 12.89 despite a -2.1wind and she also was part of winning Nigerian 4x100 m with 43.05. More World leads in 400 m by Mary Moraa 50.57 over Esther Joseph from Nigeria 51.61 and Sita Sibiri 51.74, a new National Record for Burkina Faso. Nigeria men 4x100 m team with a magnificient 38.41, a new World List beat Ghana 38.43 and Liberia 38.73. World Budapest champion and recently indoor champion Hugues Fabrice Zango won triple with 16.97 (+0.5). In women javelin Jo-Ane Van Dyk from South Africa was first with 60m80. Nigerian Chidi Okezie won the 400 m with strong finish in personal best 45.06 beating Muzala Samokunga from Zambia 45.37 and Senegal´s Cheikh Tidiane Diouf 45.49. Kenyans dominated the men 800 m final as Aron Cheminingwa won in 1:45.72 ahead of Alex Ngeno 1:45.73, bronze for Tumo Nkape from Botswana 1:46.04. Close finish in the 20 km walk, Ethiopian Misganaw Wakuma 1:28:05 beat Kenyan favorite Samuel Gathimba 1h28:06.

What is the most expensive liquid on Earth?

Anas Bedraoui, 6 mon.
Imagine a liquid so precious that just a small droplet could be worth more than a diamond. This isn’t a scene from a science fiction story; it’s reality, and the liquid is scorpion venom. Scorpion venom is potentially the most expensive liquid on Earth, with prices soaring to millions of dollars for just one gallon. But what makes it so incredibly valuable? Scorpions, those small, often feared creatures, carry in their tails a venom used for defense and hunting. Extracting this venom is a meticulous and often hazardous task. Specialists must carefully ‘milk’ the scorpions, a process that involves stimulating the scorpions to release their venom, which is then collected drop by drop. This labor-intensive method, combined with the venom’s scarcity, drives its high cost. But the price tag is not just due to the danger and difficulty of extraction. The real treasure of scorpion venom lies in its composition and potential to revolutionize medicine. Scorpion venom is a cocktail of numerous compounds, including peptides and proteins, each with specific effects. For instance, chlorotoxin, found in the venom of the deathstalker scorpion (Leiurus quinquestriatus), shows promise in targeting cancer cells, making it a beacon of hope for new cancer treatments. Another component, called scorpine, has been studied for its antimicrobial properties and its potential to combat malaria. Researchers are intrigued by how these compounds can lead to breakthroughs in drug development. Imagine a new kind of painkiller derived from scorpion venom that could offer relief without the side effects of current medications, or innovative treatments capable of combating autoimmune diseases and even halting the spread of cancer. These are not just hopeful speculations but real possibilities being explored in labs around the world. The process of transforming venom into medicine is complex and involves identifying and isolating the active components, understanding their mechanisms of action, and then synthesizing them in forms suitable for medical use. Despite the challenges, the potential health benefits drive scientists and pharmaceutical companies to invest in this research. This intricate dance of danger, rarity, and medical promise makes scorpion venom more than just an expensive liquid; it’s a symbol of the incredible potential hidden in nature, awaiting discovery. In a world where answers to some of our biggest health challenges might be found in the most unexpected places, scorpion venom stands as a testament to the wonders of the natural world and human ingenuity’s boundless curiosity.

13th Accra African Games, Athletics at a top level ...

Aziz Daouda, 6 mon.
1 min read.
Under strict and competent supervision of the Confederation of African Athletics, which appointed a large team of technicians and top referees, the athletics competitions continued for the second day (19 march 2024) at the All-African Games in a crazy atmosphere with a packed stadium at the University of Accra. The atmosphere was truly extraordinary, which pushed the athletes to even higher levels of performance, auguring an exceptional African participation in the next Olympic Games, even though we are only at the beginning of the season. Fresh World Indoor champion Tsige Duguma of Ethiopia highlighted the second day of athletics competitions by winning the 800m in a world lead of 1:57.73. It is also her Personal Best. WL/PB. Uganda’s 2019 World champion Halimah Nakaayi finished second (1:58.59) and Vivian Chebet of Kenya third (2:00.27). Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme confirmed his domination in the first round and semi finale and topped the 100m in 10.14 (-0.8) ahead of Usheoritse Isekiri of Nigeria (10.23) and Namibia’s Gilbert Hainuca (10.29). As expected, Gina Bass of Gambia won the women’s sprint in 11.36 (-1.3). Nigeria’s Chukwuebuka Enekwechi won the shot put with 21.06 over Egypt’s Mostafa Hassan (20.70). Nibret Melak of Ethiopia topped the 10,000m (29:45.37), Senegal’s Louis Francois Mendy the 110m hurdles in 13.61 (-1.1) ahead of Algeria’s Amine Bouanani 13.69. Rose Yeboah of Ghana won the women high jump with an excellent 190. South Africa’s Mirè Reinstorf topped the pole vault with a high-level performance of4m35 which is a new Games Record. Ruth Usoro comes from Nigeria to win the gold in the triple jump with with 13.80 (1.1). In this second day of competition, two titles went to Algeria by Zahra Tatar in the women’s hammer with 69m65 a new Games Record, and by Dhiae Boudoumi in the decathlon with 6943 points. Nigeria (Emmanuel Ifeanyi Ojeli, Patience George, Sikiru Adeyemi, Omolara Ogunmakinju) dominated the mixed 4x400m relay in an early world lead of 3:13.26 ahead of Botswana (3:13.99 NR) and Kenya (3:18.03). Nigeria sets here a new African record. Kenya’s 800m World champion Mary Moraa showed the fastest 400m semifinal time of 51.55. Muzala Samukonga of Zambia was the best man (45.51) and Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan topped the 100m hurdles heats in 13.03 (-1.8). To close the session we had fast men’s 4x100m times were achieved in heats by Ghana (38.67), Nigeria (38.70) and Liberia (38.86), Liberia’s women were also the fastest (43.73).

Athletics puts the 13th All African Games in orbit...

Aziz Daouda, 6 mon.
1 min read.
Athletics got off to a flying start at the 13th All-Africa Games, and the Games took on a whole new dimension as the level of athletics in Africa is so much higher than in other sports. There will certainly be plenty of Olympic medallists among the participants in Paris next summer. Despite the hot and humid weather in Accra at this time of year, the quality of the track and the perfect organisation of the competitions enabled promising performances to be achieved in almost all the events from the very first day of the qualifiers, with many Games records, continental records and even more national records. First day results: It start with an ethiopian win in the women 5.000m: U20 Medina Eisa won women 5000 m in 15:04.32 (third best ever time at Games) over teammates Birtukan Molla 15:05.32 PB and Melknat Wudu 15:07.04. Fourth best Kenyan steeple WR holder Beatrice Chepkoech 15:13.71. In men steeple Samuel Firewu also from Ethiopia won the gold with a time of 8:24.30 ahead of Kenyans Amos Serem 8:25.77 and Simon Kiprop 8:26.19. South African Victor Hogan dominated in discus with 62.56. From prelims to note fastest 100 m men semifinal 10.15 (-0.1) by Cameroon´s Emmanuel Eseme. In women 100 m semfinal Gina Bass from Gambia 11.35 (-0.8). 400 m first round had Cheikh Tidiane Diouf from Senegal as fastest with 45.64. Eritrean Fithawi Zaid clocked in 800 m prelims national record 1:45.90. Senegal´s Louis Francois Mendy topped 110 m hurdles first round with 13.54 (-1.2). In women 400 m heats fastest Esther Joseph from Nigeria 51.81 with World champion over 800 m Mary Moraa winning her heat 52.18. World Indoor champion Tsige Duguma was the fastest in women 800 m opening round 2:02.08.

Digital: The perfect undying art

Tariq Daouda, 6 mon.
Great paintings deteriorate, great statues erode, fall and break, great literature is forgotten and it's subtleties lost as languages for ever evolve and disappear. But now we have a new kind of art. A type of art that in theory cannot die, it transcends space and time and can remain pristine for ever and ever. That is digital art. Digital art is pure information. Therefore it can be copied for ever and ever, exactly reproduced for later generations. Digital art cannot erode, cannot break, it is immortal. Thus is the power of bits, so simple zeros and ones and yet so awesome. Through modern AI and Large Language Models we can now store the subtleties of languages in an abstract vectorial space, also pure information, that can be copied ad infinitum without loss of information. Let's think about the future, a future so deep that we can barely see it's horizon. In that future, with that technology we can resurrect languages. However the languages resurrected will be the ones we speak today. We have a technology that allows us to store reliably and copy indefinitely that technology is called the *Blockchain*. The most reliable and resilient ledger we have today. We have almost everything we need to preserve what we cherish. Let's think of a deep future.

Beyond Good and Evil

EL MONO MAS GRANDE, 6 mon.
He smelled it before he could see it. A beast so ugly it only vaguely resembled a man. Hairy, disproportionate, caked with dirt and angry. In everything following it's emotions. In everything following it's passion. Never as second thought. The beast was strong physically and yet so weak. In it's eyes, the ape saw fear. A fear so deep it drowns worlds. A deep seated anxiety shaking the roots of being. -"Confusion", said the biggest ape. -"That one knows not good'", answered the crow. Wisest among the birds. -"Take me to the second one", said the biggest ape. Now before him stood the most beautiful man. He was perfect in every way, perfect in proportions, perfect in intellect, perfect in movement. He was surrounded by beauty. Around him beauty blossomed. Everything was made perfect by his hands, and yet it decays. Around him everything was dying. Oh so slowly, but oh so certainly. At his feet, blood. -"That one knows good", said the crow. -"Take me to the third one", said the biggest ape. There sat a man, eyes closed with a faint smile on his lips. As hard as he looked, the ape couldn't make up the limits of his body. His body was translucent light, filled with every changing colors. In him he saw the beast, in him he saw the most perfect man. And all the intermediary steps. There he sits for ever, and ever. Eternal. -"That one knows no good nor evil", said the crow. -"Yes" Thus spake Apathustra.