Pretoria – A Pretoria toddler is fighting for her life in hospital after she was accidentally shot in the stomach.
Beeld reported that the 4-year-old girl had been injured when the girl’s grandfather wanted to take something out of the cupboard and his gun fell down from the top.
The gun discharged by accident and the little girl was hit in the stomach.
For more details go to http://www.news24.com
Sex is one of our biggest preoccupations – causing thrills, heartache and downright confusion. But until recently, exactly what happens in the brain during sex was something of a mystery to scientists. Now, however, American researchers have uncovered what goes on in a woman’s head during an orgasm.
The scientists from Rutgers University, New Jersey, used scans to monitor women’s brains during orgasm and found that different brain parts are activated when various parts of the body are aroused. They found that up to 30 different parts of the brain are activated, including those responsible for emotion, touch, joy, satisfaction and memory.
The scientists found that two minutes before orgasm the brain’s reward centres become active. These are the areas usually activated when eating food and drink.
Immediately before they reached the peak, other areas of the brain became affected such as the sensory cortex, which receives “touch” messages from parts of the body. The final part of the brain to be activated is the hypothalamus, the “control” part which regulates temperature, hunger, thirst and tiredness.
The scientists also discovered that sexual arousal numbs the female nervous system to such an extent that a woman doesn’t feel as much pain – only pleasure.
The team now hopes to map what happens in a man’s brain during orgasm.
But what else is happening inside our heads when we slip between the sheets? Here we ask the experts to reveal how sex alters our brain.
Why love hurts
A key hormone released during sex is oxytocin, also known as the “cuddle hormone”. This lowers our defences and makes us trust people more, says Dr Arun Ghosh, a GP specialising in sexual health at the Spire Liverpool Hospital.
It’s also the key to bonding, as it increases levels of empathy. Women produce more of this hormone, although it’s not clear why, and this means they are more likely to let their guard down and fall in love with a man after sex.
However, the problem is that the body can’t distinguish whether the person we’re with is a casual fling or marriage material – oxytocin is released either way. So while it might help you bond with the love of your life, it’s also the reason you may feel so miserable when a short-term relationship ends.
Men, on the other hand, instead of getting a surge of bonding hormone receive a surge of simple pleasure. “The problem is that when a man has an orgasm, the main hormone released is dopamine – the pleasure hormone. And this surge can be addictive,” says Ghosh.
That’s why so many more men tend to suffer from sex addiction.
Staving off dementia
Many of us are all too aware that our brain cells decline with age.
The good news, however, is that having regular sex may help us grow new brain cells, according to scientists from Princeton University in the US.
And the more sex you have, the more cells you can grow, it seems. Animal studies, published in the journal PLoS ONE, suggest that sex stimulates the growth of brain cells in the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for memory and learning.
Factors such as stress and depression have been shown to shrink the hippocampus, yet exercise and sex counteract this effect.
Furthermore, sex could actually be protecting our brain cells against decline. “There is some evidence that older people who are sexually active are less likely to have dementia and this could be for a variety of complex reasons,” says Ghosh.
Sex causes increased blood flow to the brain, which improves oxygen levels. “MRI scans have shown that during orgasm the neurons in the brain are more active and use more oxygen,” explains Barry Komisaruk, professor of psychology at Rutgers University and a leading authority on sex and neuroscience.
“It appears that the more active the neurons, the more oxygen they withdraw from the blood – so more oxygenated blood is supplied to the region, delivering a fresh supply of nutrients.”
But as well as boosting brain cells, sex could also sharpen a woman’s mind, says Ghosh. That’s due to a surge in sex hormones, particularly testosterone, which can help improve concentration and reaction times.
Smooching means better sex
The lips are packed with nerve endings – 100 times more than the fingertips. As a result, kissing kick-starts multiple mechanisms in the brain, releasing chemicals that lower stress and boost mood, says Ghosh. “You’ll have much better sex if you kiss before intercourse,” he says.
It increases levels of the pleasure hormones and will make you a lot more receptive to what happens later. “That’s why loving sex can be more satisfying than a quickie – and that endorphin hit from dopamine is especially important for women.”
A natural painkiller
Orgasm (rather than sex) can block pain signals, says Komisaruk.
In fact, he says, it can raise the pain threshold so much that the equivalent effect in morphine is three times the usual pain-relieving dose.
Mind power
A lot of sexual health research focuses on what’s happening physically. But experts say that for many people – especially women – the mind plays a key role in achieving orgasm.
While male brains tend to focus on the physical stimulation involved in sexual contact, the key to female arousal seems to be deep relaxation and a lack of anxiety.
The scans show that, during sex, the parts of the female brain responsible for processing fear, anxiety and emotion start to relax more and more, reaching a peak at orgasm, when the female brain’s anxiety and emotion are effectively closed down.
The ultimate happy pill
“There is a known circuit in the brain that’s involved in feeling happy,” explains Paul Thompson, professor of neurology at the University of California, Los Angeles, and an expert in brain imaging.
‘This is called the limbic region, which is deep in the brain, and it’s more active when we’re rewarded. The same system is activated by sex, drugs, gambling – basically anything we enjoy.
“There’s more blood flow to the head, more neurons firing, more brain activity.
“Much of this deep brain circuit runs on the hormone dopamine. Anything pleasurable tends to cause these brain cells to exude more of it and this makes them fire faster.
“Without doubt, sex has not only physical but psychological and social benefits, too,” says Ghosh. “The endorphins released during sex can really help treat depression and clear the mind.
“One is serotonin, also called the happy hormone, which creates a sense of bliss. People often say that sex is the last thing they feel like doing when they’re depressed, but do try it if you can.
“And don’t worry if you get emotional afterwards – it’s very common to end up crying after sex. This is caused by a combination of endorphins being released and heightened emotions.”
Better sleep
If you’re struggling to nod off, it’s better to have sex than take a sleeping pill, says Ghosh. “In fact, it’s more beneficial to have sex in the evening rather than the morning because the body wants to be relaxed afterwards, not get up and go to work.
“By having sex at the end of the day you’ll reap more of the stress-relieving benefits.
For a man, a powerful orgasm is the equivalent of having on average a 2-3mg shot of diazepam (or Valium).
“That’s why so many men nod off afterwards – there really is a biological reason for this,” Ghosh says. – Daily Mail
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Sex is one of our biggest preoccupations – causing thrills, heartache and downright confusion. But until recently, exactly what happens in the brain during sex was something of a mystery to scientists. Now, however, American researchers have uncovered what goes on in a woman’s head during an orgasm.
The scientists from Rutgers University, New Jersey, used scans to monitor women’s brains during orgasm and found that different brain parts are activated when various parts of the body are aroused. They found that up to 30 different parts of the brain are activated, including those responsible for emotion, touch, joy, satisfaction and memory.
The scientists found that two minutes before orgasm the brain’s reward centres become active. These are the areas usually activated when eating food and drink.
Immediately before they reached the peak, other areas of the brain became affected such as the sensory cortex, which receives “touch” messages from parts of the body. The final part of the brain to be activated is the hypothalamus, the “control” part which regulates temperature, hunger, thirst and tiredness.
The scientists also discovered that sexual arousal numbs the female nervous system to such an extent that a woman doesn’t feel as much pain – only pleasure.
The team now hopes to map what happens in a man’s brain during orgasm.
But what else is happening inside our heads when we slip between the sheets? Here we ask the experts to reveal how sex alters our brain.
Why love hurts
A key hormone released during sex is oxytocin, also known as the “cuddle hormone”. This lowers our defences and makes us trust people more, says Dr Arun Ghosh, a GP specialising in sexual health at the Spire Liverpool Hospital.
It’s also the key to bonding, as it increases levels of empathy. Women produce more of this hormone, although it’s not clear why, and this means they are more likely to let their guard down and fall in love with a man after sex.
However, the problem is that the body can’t distinguish whether the person we’re with is a casual fling or marriage material – oxytocin is released either way. So while it might help you bond with the love of your life, it’s also the reason you may feel so miserable when a short-term relationship ends.
Men, on the other hand, instead of getting a surge of bonding hormone receive a surge of simple pleasure. “The problem is that when a man has an orgasm, the main hormone released is dopamine – the pleasure hormone. And this surge can be addictive,” says Ghosh.
That’s why so many more men tend to suffer from sex addiction.
Staving off dementia
Many of us are all too aware that our brain cells decline with age.
The good news, however, is that having regular sex may help us grow new brain cells, according to scientists from Princeton University in the US.
And the more sex you have, the more cells you can grow, it seems. Animal studies, published in the journal PLoS ONE, suggest that sex stimulates the growth of brain cells in the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for memory and learning.
Factors such as stress and depression have been shown to shrink the hippocampus, yet exercise and sex counteract this effect.
Furthermore, sex could actually be protecting our brain cells against decline. “There is some evidence that older people who are sexually active are less likely to have dementia and this could be for a variety of complex reasons,” says Ghosh.
Sex causes increased blood flow to the brain, which improves oxygen levels. “MRI scans have shown that during orgasm the neurons in the brain are more active and use more oxygen,” explains Barry Komisaruk, professor of psychology at Rutgers University and a leading authority on sex and neuroscience.
“It appears that the more active the neurons, the more oxygen they withdraw from the blood – so more oxygenated blood is supplied to the region, delivering a fresh supply of nutrients.”
But as well as boosting brain cells, sex could also sharpen a woman’s mind, says Ghosh. That’s due to a surge in sex hormones, particularly testosterone, which can help improve concentration and reaction times.
Smooching means better sex
The lips are packed with nerve endings – 100 times more than the fingertips. As a result, kissing kick-starts multiple mechanisms in the brain, releasing chemicals that lower stress and boost mood, says Ghosh. “You’ll have much better sex if you kiss before intercourse,” he says.
It increases levels of the pleasure hormones and will make you a lot more receptive to what happens later. “That’s why loving sex can be more satisfying than a quickie – and that endorphin hit from dopamine is especially important for women.”
A natural painkiller
Orgasm (rather than sex) can block pain signals, says Komisaruk.
In fact, he says, it can raise the pain threshold so much that the equivalent effect in morphine is three times the usual pain-relieving dose.
Mind power
A lot of sexual health research focuses on what’s happening physically. But experts say that for many people – especially women – the mind plays a key role in achieving orgasm.
While male brains tend to focus on the physical stimulation involved in sexual contact, the key to female arousal seems to be deep relaxation and a lack of anxiety.
The scans show that, during sex, the parts of the female brain responsible for processing fear, anxiety and emotion start to relax more and more, reaching a peak at orgasm, when the female brain’s anxiety and emotion are effectively closed down.
The ultimate happy pill
“There is a known circuit in the brain that’s involved in feeling happy,” explains Paul Thompson, professor of neurology at the University of California, Los Angeles, and an expert in brain imaging.
‘This is called the limbic region, which is deep in the brain, and it’s more active when we’re rewarded. The same system is activated by sex, drugs, gambling – basically anything we enjoy.
“There’s more blood flow to the head, more neurons firing, more brain activity.
“Much of this deep brain circuit runs on the hormone dopamine. Anything pleasurable tends to cause these brain cells to exude more of it and this makes them fire faster.
“Without doubt, sex has not only physical but psychological and social benefits, too,” says Ghosh. “The endorphins released during sex can really help treat depression and clear the mind.
“One is serotonin, also called the happy hormone, which creates a sense of bliss. People often say that sex is the last thing they feel like doing when they’re depressed, but do try it if you can.
“And don’t worry if you get emotional afterwards – it’s very common to end up crying after sex. This is caused by a combination of endorphins being released and heightened emotions.”
Better sleep
If you’re struggling to nod off, it’s better to have sex than take a sleeping pill, says Ghosh. “In fact, it’s more beneficial to have sex in the evening rather than the morning because the body wants to be relaxed afterwards, not get up and go to work.
“By having sex at the end of the day you’ll reap more of the stress-relieving benefits.
For a man, a powerful orgasm is the equivalent of having on average a 2-3mg shot of diazepam (or Valium).
“That’s why so many men nod off afterwards – there really is a biological reason for this,” Ghosh says. – Daily Mail
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Pic:Cape Argus
A Cape Town woman who was raped in front of her young son says she is shocked at the “lenient” sentence handed down to her assailant.
The Fish Hoek woman, whose identity is being protected, said she was “absolutely disgusted” that serial sex offender Jan Johannes Schietekat had been ordered to serve 15 years in prison.
The 62-year-old was convicted in July last year of sexually assaulting and raping the woman – in full view of her two-year-old autistic son – on the Bloubergstrand beachfront nearly four years ago.
“I’m totally freaking out. It’s absolutely disgusting,” the woman, now 30, told the Cape Argus.
For more details go to http://www.iol.co.za
Pic:The Star
If Nelson Mandela knew what was happening in SA, his heart would bleed, Anglican Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu said at the University of the Free State’s global leadership summit on Wednesday
He said even though there were many outstanding South Africans who could go anywhere in the world and make a success of themselves but chose to remain in SA to better the country, there were still problems plaguing society.
“It’s unacceptable that there are people who still go to bed hungry. It’s unacceptable that our children should still be studying under trees.
For more details go to http://www.iol.co.za/news/
WILY: United manager Alex Ferguson
Were it not for Dimitar Berbatov’s majestic skills, fans might have had doubts about whether they were watching England’s most successful club.
Berbatov, perhaps playing one of his last games in the club’s colours after reportedly stating his intention to leave, didn’t look fazed by supporters’ pleas not to leave United.
The Bulgarian relished his playmaker role in midfield, just behind strikers Frederico Macheda and Javier Hernandez, and continuously pumped in deadly passes behind the hosts’ rearguard.
The Red Devils, as expected, enjoyed possession and created the best chances in the opening quarter of the game.
For more details go to http://www.sowetanlive.co.za/
NO RUNAWAY SUCCESS : Bafana skipper Steven Pienaar.Photo: Veli Nhlapo
The coach said on Tuesday that the decision would be made before the team takes on Brazil in Sao Paulo that night.
Will the new coach retain the old captain, Steven Pienaar?
Igesund sparked the debate over the Bafana captaincy last week at a breakfast talk when he said there were a number of competent players who could fill the role, pointing to Morgan Gould, who was in the audience, as one of them.
But on Tuesday the Bafana coach diplomatically came out with the assertion that “at this moment, Steven Pienaar is the Bafana captain”.
For more details go to http://www.sowetanlive.co.za
Photo: LULAMILE FENI
Madikizela-Mandela and her daughter Zindzi arrived with Malema and suspended youth leaders Sandiso Magaqa and Floyd Shivambu to officially open a block of rooms at the Mzontsha Child Care Centre at Ngqeleni as part of celebrating former president Nelson Mandela’s birthday.
The home was donated by the Mandela family.
Madikizela-Mandela’s endorsement of Malema comes hot on the heels of her refusal to attend a Mandela Lecture delivered by President Jacob Zuma in Limpopo. In a letter she lambasted the ANC for “hurting” the Mandela family.
For more details go to http://www.sowetanlive.co.za
BY Obakeng Maje
The North West Provincial Government has joined all South Africans and the international community in wishing former President Nelson Mandela a happy 94th birthday, and in celebrating his life and legacy.
Speaking at the International Mandela day celebration held at Dinokana Stadium on Wednesday, Acting Premier, MEC for Education and Training Louisa Mabe wished Madiba a happy birthday citing that the province is happy to be hosting an event that is honouring the world icon.
“Our former President, Nelson Mandela is very special to all of us, he dedicated most of his life to the democracy that we are enjoying today.
“As the first President of a democratic South Africa, we will always thank him for promoting peace and stability in the entire South Africa,” she said.
Thousands of people throughout the North West province came in large numbers to join Ministers, MEC’s, Mayors, MPL’s, in celebrating the Madiba’s birthday.
Thabiso Mere, 22, from Dinokana village thanked government for choosing her village to host the national Mandela day event.
“I really see how Madiba has touched the lives of so many people and thanks our government for hosting this event here.
Happy Birthday to Madiba, he means a lot to all of us,” she said.
In honour of Madiba, people have been urged to spend 67 minutes of their time helping others especially the poor.
Acting Premier Mabe joined Arts and Culture Minister Paul Mashatile to hand over a four bed roomed house to the family of Bertha Badirwang who lives in Kgalagatsang village.
They were also accompanied by the Deputy Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities, Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu and Health Minister Aaron Motswaledi.
Deputy Minister for Arts and Culture, Joe Phaahla, North West MEC’s for Public Works, Roads and Transport, Raymond Elisha and MEC for Economic Affairs, Conservation and Tourism, Motlalepula Rosho led a team of volunteers that dedicated 67 minutes of their time painting Maramage Primary School.
Minister Paul Mashatile called on South Africans to make every day a Mandela Day by continuing to helping others especially those that are poor or less fortunate.
He said South Africans must stand together to fight the challenges of poverty.
“We must together join hands in expanding job opportunities for the unemployed youth. Let us all strive to become agents of a caring society,” he said.
Speakers from various political parties led by the Chief Whip of the Majority Party in the National Assembly, Mathole Motshekga also paid tributes to Madiba.
BY Obakeng Maje
The North West Provincial Government has joined all South Africans and the international community in wishing former President Nelson Mandela a happy 94th birthday, and in celebrating his life and legacy.
Speaking at the International Mandela day celebration held at Dinokana Stadium on Wednesday, Acting Premier, MEC for Education and Training Louisa Mabe wished Madiba a happy birthday citing that the province is happy to be hosting an event that is honouring the world icon.
“Our former President, Nelson Mandela is very special to all of us, he dedicated most of his life to the democracy that we are enjoying today.
“As the first President of a democratic South Africa, we will always thank him for promoting peace and stability in the entire South Africa,” she said.
Thousands of people throughout the North West province came in large numbers to join Ministers, MEC’s, Mayors, MPL’s, in celebrating the Madiba’s birthday.
Thabiso Mere, 22, from Dinokana village thanked government for choosing her village to host the national Mandela day event.
“I really see how Madiba has touched the lives of so many people and thanks our government for hosting this event here.
Happy Birthday to Madiba, he means a lot to all of us,” she said.
In honour of Madiba, people have been urged to spend 67 minutes of their time helping others especially the poor.
Acting Premier Mabe joined Arts and Culture Minister Paul Mashatile to hand over a four bed roomed house to the family of Bertha Badirwang who lives in Kgalagatsang village.
They were also accompanied by the Deputy Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities, Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu and Health Minister Aaron Motswaledi.
Deputy Minister for Arts and Culture, Joe Phaahla, North West MEC’s for Public Works, Roads and Transport, Raymond Elisha and MEC for Economic Affairs, Conservation and Tourism, Motlalepula Rosho led a team of volunteers that dedicated 67 minutes of their time painting Maramage Primary School.
Minister Paul Mashatile called on South Africans to make every day a Mandela Day by continuing to helping others especially those that are poor or less fortunate.
He said South Africans must stand together to fight the challenges of poverty.
“We must together join hands in expanding job opportunities for the unemployed youth. Let us all strive to become agents of a caring society,” he said.
Speakers from various political parties led by the Chief Whip of the Majority Party in the National Assembly, Mathole Motshekga also paid tributes to Madiba.
The Guardian 