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The Buzz: Positive Thinking

-- Gifts and Dec, 9/25/2002 9:02:00 AM

Takalani Sesame, a South African co-production with Sesame Workshop, revealed the newest addition to its cuddly cast last week, a fluffy and very huggable muppet, Kami, who just happens to be an HIV positive orphan. Kami, whose name means 'acceptance' in Sotho, one of South Africa's 11 official languages, was introduced to the educational TV show to help de-stigmatize the disease in a country where one in nine people are infected by HIV/AIDS. South African Minister of Education, Dr. Kader Asmal, said in his address during the launch at Groote Schuur hospital in Cape Town, "We can't continue to have HIV positive children isolated, demonized and victimized." Brett Anderson, a local HIV activist living with AIDS, expressed disappointment that there are as yet no plans for Kami to appear on the U.S. Sesame Street show. "She would be such a great ambassador for South Africa and people living with HIV," he said. Kami will make her debut on South Africa TV Sept. 30. (Reporting by Lauren Beukes, Cape Town, South Africa)

Talk about pivotal sales, these updated bongo boards, the Pivit, hit the sidewalks this month. Pivits are boards with a single wheel in the middle that allow riders to rock and roll to the max as well as practice tricks, footings and techniques for all board sports. Unlike its wooden bongo board predecessor, Pivit's fiberglass integrated board/rock system makes it rugged, as well as relatively easy to carry. With modern graphics and an optional LED timer, other Pivit features include a bumper-style stabilizer.

Speaking of rockin’ and rolling...TRU's flagship store in Times Square was really jumping yesterday in honor of the 20th anniversary of Hasbro’s Trivial Pursuit. The Village People really struck a nostalgic 'chord' with the celebrants. Even former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who is better known for his sedate demeanor, was doing the YMCA thing. Hizzoner quipped that it was good to see the press again as he really missed those conferences, which he noted were often "trivial pursuits" in their own right. Female role model and soccer hero Mia Hamm was also there for the festivities. Oh, and the 'sock puppet,' too — remember him? Well, that was the point of this event: to remember the who, what, when and where, in this case the last 20 years’ worth. John Chandler, Hasbro’s senior VP of games said the anniversary edition puts "the last 20 years of life in a box."

This week's minutiae: 70 million Trivial Pursuit games have been sold worldwide since its launch.

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