A Broader Scope For Your Studies

Dark, cold days, expensive alcohol and an unfamiliar language haven’t frightened Devon-born student Cai Weaver away from Finland. In fact he has not looked back since embarking on a Masters degree in one of Finland’s largest cities and at one of its most renowned universities, and his Finnish is coming along nicely too. “Quite frankly, I didn’t want any more debt,” says Weaver, 24, who is studying international relations at the University of Tampere. English-taught postgraduate study in Finland is free for all EU nationals.

His student loans already amount to around £30,000 from his undergraduate days at Aberystwyth University. Weaver has saved money for living expenses from his job last summer and has a paid internship with an EU organisation in Finland as part of his studies.

While a weak pound makes some things expensive, accommodation and travel are cheap and he’s living on about half the €600 a month the university estimated he’d need.

Later in his course, which like many continental European Masters lasts two years, he’ll complete an internship with a Russian university. “It’s not just about the money though. I thought that an international education would look far better on the CV and teach me more about life than continuing education in the UK.”

Weaver looked at universities in Greece, the Netherlands and Germany before choosing Finland, where his aunt and uncle live. Tampere, which is hosting eight UK postgraduates and has around five applicants for every international place, also offers students such as Weaver free Finnish lessons and an effective support network.

Weaver is blazing a trail that many UK postgraduates will be likely to follow, given the whopping debt they will carry from their undergraduate years. Postgraduate education elsewhere in Europe is heavily subsidised and often costs a fraction of UK prices – and it’s increasingly being taught in English.

While few UK postgraduates have yet to choose continental Europe, they should, says David Hibler, Erasmus programme manager at the British Council. “Large multinational employers expect people to have a career that moves between different countries. Studying abroad allows you to develop a cultural awareness and independence you might otherwise not achieve. It adds another dimension to your CV.”

So thought UK postgraduate Ed Forrest, founder of Educate for Life, which runs an innovative school called Hunar Ghar in rural Rajasthan, India. He’s studying for a two-year Masters in international co-operation in education and training at Paris Sorbonne University and, unusually for an English speaker, he’s chosen a course taught entirely in French. “It feels lovely to be studying and not racking up £5,000- worth of debt. But learning is more than just doing a related course – the best way is to put myself in a learner’s position again. This means I can better relate to children as learners at Hunar Ghar. Language-wise, it’s hard but it’s getting easier.” Each year will cost him just under €500, including a social security payment.

While universities on the Continent may lack the cachet of the UK system, whose institutions regularly rank among the best in the world, what they offer in perspective and value for money is looking more and more appealing. Germany, for instance, which offers free or low-cost Masters programmes, is the most supportive for international students, according to a British Council survey.

As with many European programmes, most German Masters courses last two years. This appealed to Manchester University graduate Ellie Rea, from Edinburgh, who is studying for an MSc in neuroscience at Charité University Hospital, Berlin. She wanted broader laboratory experience than UK courses provided. “I started looking in the UK, but was disappointed by the small scope of programmes on offer. Most involve a single year working on one project. I was thrilled to find a course that suited me [in Berlin].” Unlike some of her peers, she speaks some German. “But half my coursemates seem to be getting on with little or no language.”

EU postgraduates in many German states need pay only enrolment fees each semester. Rea pays €500 a year in total, which entitles her to heavily discounted travel. As with the UK, postgraduate admission isn’t centralised, but the German Academic Exchange Service (www.daad.de) gives a comprehensive overview and details of courses.

Were it not for the low fees or the grant he received from DAAD, postgraduate Andy Murphy says he would probably never have studied beyond his first degree in linguistics.

He receives €750 a month to study for a Masters in linguistics at Humboldt University of Berlin and, unlike most international students, he studies in German. “Do be prepared to be left to your own devices at German universities, although the academic standard is undoubtedly high... It can be quite easy to get lost: you are expected just to know information or find it out for yourself.”

Any would-be postgraduates daunted by the prospect of tackling another language could consider Sweden, which offers hundreds of English-taught Masters, all free, and where many locals speak fluent English. International applicants for Masters in Sweden are up 24 per cent on 2011 and around 800 people from the UK have applied so far this year.

Many hope to go to Lund University, where there has been a 30 per cent increase in UK applicants for Masters courses. The university is a strong research institution in a city popular with students. International candidates comprise half its postgraduate cohort. Applications are open twice a year, once in winter, and again from March to 15 April. See www.studyinsweden.se for more details and scholarships.

In France, too, where state universities charge a modest €245 for Masters programmes, candidates must apply during March and April, or earlier if they can. Paris draws the most international applicants, but they also look at France’s other large cities, such as Lyon and Bordeaux. A specialised Parisian international university, Sciences Po, is attracting a large share of UK applicants. See www.campusfrance.org to find out more about French higher education and the applications process.

Negotiating the often labyrinthine structure of university hierarchies in other European countries is best done via official government sites.

Many provide comprehensive information, including details on a number of scholarships for international postgraduates. The EU’s Erasmus Mundus (eacea.ec.europa.eu) programme, which funds postgraduate study at European universities, has started awarding scholarships for EU nationals only in the past two years – and just 33 UK students received an award last year. “UK numbers have room to grow,” says Hibler.

While British students aren’t known for an international perspective, costs may force them to adopt one, some educationalists believe. “I don’t think I would have been able to continue on to postgraduate study had I stayed in the UK, largely due to financial reasons,” admits Murphy.

http://www.independent.co.uk/student/postgraduate/postgraduate-study/a-broader-scope-for-your-studies-7573267.html 

Helping Students Overcome Their Fear Of The Unknown

I have been teaching for 19 years and, like most teachers, have learned more from my experiences in the classroom than by any other means. As a new teacher, though, I had fewer resources to lean on. When I started my teaching career at a dropout prevention school, I drew on my experience of teaching swimming lessons during my summers in high school. I quickly learned that the students at this school weren’t at risk of dropping out because they hated school; they were at risk because of their fear of school. Like the group of swimmers I had taught years before, it wasn’t that they didn’t like the water; it’s that they were scared of it.

Below are some practices I learned from teaching swimming lessons that I have found useful when teaching at-risk students (and students who are just intimidated by math).

1. Let students be the experts.

To deal with young swimmers’ fear of water, for the first few days, I spent the one-hour lesson sitting with the 4- and 5-year-olds in the baby pool. We splashed, we played, but mostly, we talked. We talked about what they did the night before, what they had for dinner, what toys they liked and all sorts of stuff that interested them. Sometimes I would share what I knew about the topic, but for the most part, I listened and let them teach me about what they liked. They were the experts, and I was the student.

Throughout the process, I encouraged them to get their faces wet, blow bubbles and hold their breath under water, skills that would help them become better swimmers. I never required them to do something they were not ready to do. And no matter how they did, I smiled at them when they left and let them know I looked forward to seeing them the next day.

This is the approach I took into the classroom when I first started teaching. Learning math and swimming might be completely different skills, but they often involve conquering similar fears. By building relationships and trust, I was able to alleviate some of those anxieties. Not forcing students to do what they are not ready for and working with them at the place they are makes them better math students in the long run.

2. Before diving in, give them a tour of the deep end.

After a few days, the lesson moved to the regular pool. For some, the transition was quick, while others stayed in the baby pool much longer. I would introduce the swimmers to the regular pool by giving them a ring-buoy ride around the pool and even into the deep end for the ones who wanted.

All the while, we talked, but now the conversation was more about learning to swim and a little bit about the things they liked. These chats let them know that I had listened to them and cared enough to remember what they had said. During the ride, there were no surprises and nothing forced. The same method works in the classroom. You can deepen students’ trust by introducing them to what they are going to be doing in the future and what will be expected of them.

3. Support them until they’re ready to let go.

The next goal of the swimming lessons was teaching my students to kick, pull, put their faces in the water and float on their backs. Floating on their backs was hard, but I would hold them up until they got settled and then gradually let them float on their own.

Once they had the basics, they moved up to a new swimming group with new instructors. They learned new strokes and improved their techniques. And nothing felt better than having former students find me at the pool to show me what they had learned or telling me at a swim meet that they just swam a personal best.

In the classroom, I scaffold the lesson so the students have that support to begin with. Then I gradually take it away. With their trust and my encouragement, they are able to learn the basics.

Students will move on to new teachers and new levels, but the relationships you build and the fundamentals you teach will stay with them forever. When working with at-risk students, I’ve always said that they know how to fail; we need to teach them how to be successful. Such an approach has led to former students’ contacting me, years later, to say that they enjoyed my class and that they are doing well.

Original source here.

Students' Emails Wrongly Shared In Administrative Error

A government quango has apologised after thousands of students' email addresses were sent to other customers. Student Finance England accidentally released the emails of about 8,000 students in what it said was an "administrative error".

The firm said it had been in touch with all the students involved. Student Finance England is part of the Student Loans Company, a government-owned organisation set up to provide grants and loans to UK students.

On Monday, the firm sent out an email to about 8,000 students who are due to start university courses this autumn, reminding them to fill in grant application forms. But the email included the email addresses of all those on the distribution list.

One student affected contacted the BBC News website and said: "This is such a disgusting error in the security of students' data. They can't get away with it." In a statement, the firm said: "We are sorry that a number of student email addresses have been included in an email which has been sent to other customers.

"The information was sent in error and only included email addresses, no other personal student data was shared. "We have contacted all customers affected to let them know about this issue.

"The integrity and security of student accounts and the protection of personal information is vital to us, and we apologise to all of the students involved." In 2009, the Student Loans Company came under fire after thousands of students did not receive their loans in time.


Read article at the original source here.

Budget: £100m university research pledge for UK

Chancellor George Osborne has announced a £100m fund to boost university research in the UK through private sector involvement.
The government was committing the cash for "investment in major new university research facilities", he said in his Budget speech.

Few details have been released, but the funding is intended to attract outside investment for universities.

Universities and campaign groups say it will help offset cuts to the sector.

The Department for Business Innovation and Skills said the funds would go to "large capital projects" which bring in "significant private investment", for example joint research facilities. A spokeswoman said details would be announced soon.

Read details here.

Postgraduate Degrees: Pursue Your Passion, As Well As Your Ambition

Against a backdrop of falling applications, fewer degree programmes on offer and funding cuts to arts organisations, it would be easy for aspiring humanities students to toss aside the poetry in search of something more vocational. Yet there are many benefits to investing time, and inevitably money, in a humanities course such as history, English literature, media studies or art. Graduates can expect to leave with valuable professional skills, as well as a broad education.


"The humanities provide a rich source of personal development, informing and expanding the mind, enhancing its powers of thought and understanding and giving the individual a perceptive, educated insight into the human condition," says Professor A C Grayling, who is master of the New College of the Humanities in London. "This gives great advantages in practical ways, not least in respect of careers."

Those practical advantages are clear to prospective employers, says Carl Gilleard, chief executive of the Association of Graduate Recruiters. "Humanities degrees are worthwhile as they help students develop critical thinking skills, which are valued by employers," he explains. Studying something you enjoy isn't a death knell for your prospects, either. "There is still something to be said for students studying a subject that they find fascinating and informative in-depth," he says.

Matthew Green would agree. A third-year music student at Cardiff University, his priority was getting a place on a good course at a good university, doing something he enjoyed. "The career path didn't really come into it. But I think humanities subjects give you flexibility through a wide range of skills such as research, teamwork and management, which are useful in a range of jobs."

That was certainly the experience of Jesse Quinones. The London Metropolitan University graduate completed a BA in theatre studies and an MA in audio-visual production before setting up an independent production company. "There are a lot of ways that you can apply a humanities degree to everyday life," says Quinones. "You learn to communicate, to write efficiently, to think outside of the box – all skills that will benefit you."

However, while Quinones went on to work in a field related to his programme of study, humanities graduates also enjoy a certain degree of flexibility in terms of where they go on to work that graduates from other disciplines might not share, suggests Professor Martin Kayman, head of the Cardiff School of English, Communication and Philosophy at Cardiff University. "Humanities courses have long been regarded as a valuable preparation for a wide range of professions and occupations, and remain so in comparison with courses in subject areas that are directly tied to particular professions, which can be more vulnerable to the fluctuations of the job market," he says.

Working in an unrelated field doesn't mean your humanities degree wasn't worthwhile, argues Professor David Morley, a trained zoologist who is now the director of the writing programme at the University of Warwick, which offers a degree in English literature and creative writing. "Ambition in creativity can take many forms in the world," he says. "The reality is most students of creative writing do not go on to become writers, just as most students of, say, biology, physics or mathematics do not become research leaders in their fields. That does not mean those graduates are not flourishing or fulfilled."

In Morley's view there's no such thing as an unrelated field. "The world is not about 'fields', it is far more complex. Everything connects to everything else." He says creative writing students gain commercial acumen in learning about business, publishing and building communities and audiences. People on the writing programme are encouraged to move across disciplines and expand their understanding, developing what Morley calls a "worldly-wise profile" of qualifications.

Looking beyond the confines of their course is an idea all humanities students can embrace to add value to their degrees, suggests Gilleard. "Many graduate jobs do not require a specific degree, so it is important that students also focus on developing work skills through extra-curricular activities. When employers are recruiting people today, it's not just a good degree that they are looking for, it is also the breadth of experience and transferable skills that candidates are able to bring to the role."

Ollie Todd, a history graduate from the University of York now studying for the graduate diploma in law, believes choosing their preferred subject and getting involved outside the lecture hall will also help students enjoy their studies. "You get more than a degree from university. It's about engaging with university life, doing extra-curricular stuff. Don't put yourself on a course that you feel you should do. I know people who have done that and they've switched courses... It becomes a lot more expensive. If you're on the right course you'll get more out of it."

It is also possible to find humanities courses with professional skills built in, so students can study the subject they love with an additional vocational boost. New College of Humanities graduates are offered a professional skills programme, while language students at the University of Surrey can opt for Bachelors degrees in French, Spanish or German that include a year working abroad, rather than studying in an overseas institution. "A degree with a professional focus is definitely a benefit," says senior placement tutor Marga Menéndez-López. "Students who have never worked before mature over the course of a placement. It's going to make them attractive to employers."

However, while this is ideal for some students, it doesn't follow that courses without a programmed professional element should be overlooked. "We're well aware that creative disciplines such as art, media and design are often dismissed by some commentators as soft options or, at worst, a waste of time," says Michael Upton, academic leader at the Sir John Cass Department of Art, Media and Design at London Metropolitan University. He points out that the creative industries account for 10 per cent of the UK's exports and that, in the future, the industry will need trained practitioners who "understand the global, social and ethical context, and the responsibilities that go with that". He adds: "More generally, creative people are needed in all sorts of organisations to stimulate innovation and growth in the economy or become entrepreneurs."

Stephen Isherwood, head of graduate recruitment at Ernst & Young, agrees. "We find that many humanities graduates have inquisitive, problem-solving minds and their people skills make them very successful in our organisation," he explains. "It's important to us that our graduates have been taught how to think, not what to think."

It's perhaps this last quality – the focus on nurturing an enquiring mind, whether that mind goes on to write a Nobel prize-winning novel or work in an investment bank – that gives humanities courses their continuing relevance. Humanities degrees can give students an education that prepares them for careers as diverse as law, politics, media or financial services and beyond, says Grayling, with the bonus, defiantly unfashionable in the current climate, of "being deeply enriching for individuals". Graduates are adaptable, retrainable and ready for new developments, he says, because they are "equipped with the one great skill that meets every eventuality: the ability to think".

Original source here.

iPhone 5 screen: 4.6-inch Retina Display developed to fight the Galaxy S3?

Apple’s always been resolute on the topic of the iPhone’s screen: they developed the most perfect, optimum-sized display for a phone ever, and everyone else is just plain wrong. Perhaps not any more, if rumours from the far east are to be believed. Will the iPhone 5 have to ramp up its display size to stave off the competition?

According to the Maeil Business Newspaper of South Korea, Apple is now placing orders with various suppliers for components that fit around a 4.6-inch display. Although Apple’s screen manufacturing partners Samsung and LG are keeping quiet, it’s not the first time word on a larger iPhone 5 has surfaced.

The Samsung Galaxy S3 is set for launch in either April or May, and that’s likely to have a Super AMOLED screen somewhere around the 4.6 or 4.8-inch mark. It’s going to be a big rival to the iPhone 5 in more ways than one, and may force Apple’s hand in terms of display size for the first time.

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Usher Says The World Deserves to Hear Him Collaborating with Adele

Usher has a confession to make. He really loves Adele, even if she's threatening his position as an album-sales record holder.

"If I have to confess, I have to confess that I have told a few people not to go and buy Adele's album because I don't want her to go and break my record," he joked to Capital FM in the U.K. The 21 singer's record-setting album has come close to beating the record held by his own album Confessions for most albums sold in one year.

"No, actually, I love her. Unfortunately, she's the closest to breaking my record for the last 10 years. So now, guys, don't go and buy that album right now."

But if he can't beat her, he'll join her. He hinted in the same interview that he would love the chance to collaborate with the broken-hearted songstress. "I think the world deserves an Usher and Adele record," he said. "That's what I think."

Nokia drops another 1000 employees

To say it's been a rough year for Nokia would be a huge understatement. And things are only going to get worse before they get better. Case in point: the company just finalized an agreement to cut up to another 1,000 jobs, all at its plant in Salo, Finland.

The cuts will not happen all at once, instead positions will be phased out over the course of the year, with most layoffs coming before the end of June. For those in Western Europe it's another batch of manufacturing jobs heading to Asia, for Nokia it's simply part of a restructuring plan designed to help it stop the bleeding.

The staff that remains will focus on installing software that caters to European customers. After several quarters of bad news and then a complete shift in smartphone platform it only makes sense that Nokia would find itself in dire straights. Still, in a country where unemployment hovers at around eight percent, we're sure no amount of national pride will make people feel better about losing more jobs.

96% Play Games In The House, 53% In Bed

The magic of mobile games is that they can be played anywhere, but it turns out that quite a lot of us are more than happy to play them when not on the move, according to a new survey from mobile entertainment portal MocoSpace.

Taking in responses from some 15,000 U.S. consumers, the company found that 96 percent of them said that they play mobile games at home at least once a day, and among those, 53 percent said they played them in bed — with more than 52 percent playing for over one hour per day and 32 percent playing for more than three hours per day.

The findings reinforce data out released earlier this week on mobile gaming from mobile content company Miniclip, which found that 44 percent of people surveyed for the report said that they mostly played mobile games at home. And MocoSpace notes, too, that EA Mobile has also found that mobile games are played at home 47 percent of the time.

But before you go thinking that this is a sign that mobile gaming isn’t so mobile after all, it turns out that MocoSpace’s survey revealed a number of other locations that received similarly high responses: 83 percent said they played mobile games while waiting for an appointment and 72 percent while commuting.

A lot also seem to play them when they should be doing something else: work and “out with friends” both picked up 64 percent of mobile game play; and 46 percent said they played while in class. Some 10 percent of respondents said they played at work for over an hour every day.

While bed was the most popular location for playing a mobile game at home, 41 percent said living room.

And in keeping with the runaway success of Draw Something, social games scored as the most popular in mobile, with 62 percent opting for these over action, puzzle or gambling games.

Read more

Microsoft And TiVo Drop Their Patent Lawsuits Against Each Other

Microsoft is dropping its patent lawsuit against set-top box maker TiVo, in which Microsoft had complained of not only copyright infringement, but had also threatened a ban on importing TiVo’s hardware and software into U.S. And TiVo has agreed to drop its suit against Microsoft, as well.

For background, following TiVo’s win of $100 million from Echostar/DISH, it went after AT&T and Verizon, alleging their services illegally used its “time-warping” technology in their DVRs. However, because AT&T’s U-Verse television service is powered by Microsoft’s Mediaroom, the Redmond-based company stepped in to countersue in 2010, claiming TiVo was infringing on a patent Microsoft owned, including, specifically:

a system that displays programmable information and a secure method for buying and delivering video programs.

When that suit alone didn’t have enough punch to it, Microsoft Added to it in January 2011, with a second complaint (and more patents) that could have led to a ban on TiVo’s ability to import into the U.S.

Microsoft had filed suits in both Washington and with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) on the matter. The judge was scheduled to release his findings in the ITC case next month. Maybe neither side liked what he was going to say, and decided to figure things out themselves. Imagine that.

On Thursday, both sides agreed to drop their lawsuits. A patent stalemate, perhaps. In regulatory claims, TiVo said it didn’t grant patent rights to Microsoft and agreed to drop its claims. Microsoft then did the same.

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Korean Visitors promise to promote Gandhara civilisation in Korea

PAKISTAN (PESHAWAR) A South Korean delegation is visiting the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to see the remains of the ancient Gandhara civilisation at the invitation of provincial government.

The delegation members had a safe and secure tour of the area and promised that they would convince their compatriots to promote sightseeing and pilgrimage to the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan, as they were satisfied with arrangements made for their security.

Pilgrim Lee Won Jong, who is part of the delegation, told reporters that Korean tourists and pilgrims would love to visit places in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which was at the heart of the ancient Gandhara civilisation once they returned home and apprised them of the untroubled, successful visit and great hospitality.

He expressed his willingness that he would share details of his visit with Korea`s chief monk, who wanted to develop archaeological sites and monuments of Gandhara civilisation.

“We will convince our countrymen to come here as this place is our real home. In the next visit, we would like to hold a special session of prayers here,” he said.

The archaeology and museums directorate`s Tourism Corporation of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had invited Koreans to the province so that they could see archeological places and security situation in the province and persuade their countrymen on return to visit them.

Besides Mr Jong, archaeology professor Min Hee Sik, chief executive officer of Win Win private tourism company Park Johg Yung and general manager Kwak Moon Duck firm were also part of the delegation.

Gandhara Crafts and Culture Association, a nongovernmental organisation headed by Korean woman Ester Park, has facilitated the visit.

Director of the archaeology and museums directorate Dr Shah Nazar Khan informed visitors about archaeological sites and monuments in the province.

Ester Park, who is a Korean married to a Pakistani, introduced the delegation to the minister and other officials and said security was the major concern for foreign tourists wanting to visit Pakistan.

“Everyone (in Korea) wants to come here but they are only scared due to security situation,” he said, adding that delegation was so far satisfied with security arrangements.

Along with Korean visitors, provincial archaeology minister Aqil Shah later told a news conference in the museum and said despite facing security challenges, his government was trying hard to woo foreign tourists, especially those from Buddhist countries, to the province, which was a holy place for Buddhists for being at the heart of Gandhara civilisation.

“We want Koreans to come and see the situation here themselves. We have put in place proper arrangements for their security,” he said.

The minister said he would lead a delegation to South Korea next month to promote tourism in the province.

He said during the visit, the provincial government and South Korean government would soon sign a Memorandum of Understanding for preservation and protection of Buddha heritage and Gandhara civilisation.

Mr Shah said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was in control of more archeological sites and monuments after the decentralisation of the tourism ministry in line with the 18th Constitutional Amendment. He, however, said more control meant more responsibility but hastened to add that the provincial government was capable enough to effectively and efficiently meet the responsibility.The minister said the archaeology department would try to secure all artifacts excavated in the province from provinces and countries.

Curator of Peshawar Museum Professor Nidaullah Sehrai told Dawn that Mr Sik, who visited Peshawar around 12 years ago, found after research that Mara Nanda, a pilgrim, who went to China and Korea and spread Buddhism in Korea, was actually from Chota Lahore (Swabi district) not Central Asia as was generally believed.

“For Buddhists from China, Japan, Nepal and especially Korea, this is a holy place,” he said recalling how buses loaded with tourists would stop at Peshawar Museum more than a decade ago during peaceful days.

He said publicity of Gandhara sites and monuments in Buddhist countries could help revive tourism industry in the conflict-hit province.

Visitors later went to Takht Bhai to see archeological sites, which are on the list of Unesco World Heritage Site.

Source:travel-culture

Madonna Goes Wild in 'Girls Gone Wild' Music Video21

Looking back on the majority of her career, it's safe to say Madonna's never been shy. Given the erotic black-and-white imagery found in her racy, new "Girls Gone Wild" video, it's probable that won't be changing anytime soon. The "Material Girl" singer debuted the full clip on March 20, only eleven days after she first teased it. And don't let the lack of color fool you—this music number is vibrant in its own unique way.

The video showcases an incredibly young-looking Madonna whose surrounded by a montage (or should we say mantage) of extremely gorgeous looking guys, all dressed in as little clothing as possible. Add into that some necessary hip grinding coupled with a phenomenal dance routine, and the song's got all the makings to be the next Billboard chart-topper. Though it really shouldn't be surprising—it is Madonna after all. And clearly, she's only getting better with age.

Source: hollywood

Panasonic Eluga Power UK release set for April

Following the recent unveiling of the Eluga, Panasonic is back on the smartphone scene outing the Panasonic Eluga Power at Mobile World Congress

Panasonic have announced that their Panasonic Eluga Power will be landing in Japan on 29 March while the handset will be getting a European release date of April.

Featuring a bevy of high-end innards the Eluga Power will land as the Japanese manufacturer’s new flagship handset with a dual-core processor and ultra fast charging times seeing the device live up to its ‘Power’ billing.

“The Eluga power is a real landmark for us as it redefines everything a modern smartphone should be,” said Toshiya Matsumura, General Manager, Head of Mobile Communications, Panasonic System Communications Europe. “For too long, smartphones have either compromised on looks to embrace new features or dropped functionality in the pursuit of the perfect form.  The Eluga power marks a true turning point – delivering both high performance and high-end style.”

Panasonic Eluga Power Specs

Landing on the larger side of the smartphone bracket, the Eluga Power is to touch down sporting a 5-inch 1280 x 720p HD LCD display with a 1.5GHz Qualcomm S4 dual-core processor providing the grunt for the device that lines up just 9.6mm thick and 133g in weight.

Able to reach a 50 per cent charge following just 30 minutes connected to the mains, the Power’s 1800mAh battery is complemented on the entertainment front by an 8-megapixel rear-mounted camera with 1080p Full HD video recording capabilities and 8GB of internal storage.

Like a number of MWC 2012 unveiled handsets, the Eluga Power will land running Google’s latest Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich OS with NFC technology and a water and dustproof coating also included.

Panasonic Eluga Power Release Date
    
Panasonic had originally planned on releasing the Eluga into Europe in March but according to new information via the Verge it appears as though we'll have to wait until April to get our hands on this 'lifeproof' smartphone.

Source: t3.com

Ten worst Internet laws of 2012?

aws targeting disruptive business models like Uber.com, Airbnb.com, and TrueCar.com top the latest list of worst legislative proposals.

The latest list of the 10 worst proposed Internet laws is out, and topping it are efforts by state legislators to derail disruptive business models such as Airbnb.com and Uber.com.

NetChoice, a Washington, D.C., coalition that includes Facebook, eBay, VeriSign, and Yahoo as members, today plans to release its updated "iAWFUL" list of misguided, nutty, or simply counterproductive laws. On NetChoice's worst-of-the-worst list:

• Uber.com, an online and mobile-device service for finding a car service, has been curbed by city taxi commissions who cite "hack" laws to preserve their monopolies.
• Airbnb.com, an online service that allows you to rent your home for short periods of time, faces challenges from regulators in Iowa, who want Airbnb to be regulated as a travel service. New York lawmakers moved to impose hotel regulations on individual homeowners using Airbnb.
• Users of TrueCar.com have bought over half a million cars from local dealer partners who received pricing inquiries from fully-informed consumers ready to explore a no-haggle deal. And dealers were glad to pay TrueCar only when they actually made a sale. But state auto regulators suspect that's just too good to be true, and that legacy consumer protection laws might actually prohibit this kind of online innovation.

Other iAWFUL finalists: a proposal from Sen. Al Franken, a Minnesota Democrat, who wants to slap more regulations on mobile devices; a lobbying effort to tax digital downloads; the White House's privacy bill of rights that would curb "the behavioral advertising that pays for much of the Internet's free content."

Not making the list is the Stop Online Piracy Act or its Senate equivalent, called the Protect IP Act.
That may be because the bills were yanked from House and Senate calendars after January's historic online protest--which included Wikipedia going dark for a day, alerts appearing on the home page of Google.com and Amazon.com, and so on.
But the legislation's supporters have vowed not to give up the fight. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat, has called Protect IP an "extremely important" piece of legislation and said he wants to move forward. And Protect IP's author, Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy, a Vermont Democrat, said in January that he still hopes "to send a bill to the president's desk this year."

Source: CNET.com

Lily Safra's Jewels to be Auctioned for Charity

A rich collection of jewels belonging to billionaire socialite and philanthropist Lily Safra will be auctioned off for charity, auction house Christie's said Tuesday.

Christie's said in a statement that 20 charitable institutions will benefit from the sale of the collection, which is made up of 70 pieces.


The items are expected to fetch more than $20 million (15 million euros) when they are sold May 14 in Geneva.

Brazil-born Safra, who has Monaco citizenship, was married for the fourth time to billionaire Jewish-Lebanese banker Edmond Safra in 1976. He died in a fire at his Monte-Carlo penthouse in 1999.

The widowed Safra created a philanthropic foundation that supports hundreds of charities in 40 countries.

Forbes estimated her wealth at $1.2 billion as of March this year.

My Neighbor Totoro (1988)

My Neighbor Totoro is a 1988 Japanese animated fantasy film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki and produced by Studio Ghibli. The film follows the two young daughters of a professor and their interactions with friendly wood spirits in postwar rural Japan. The film won the Animage Anime Grand Prix prize and the Mainichi Film Award for Best Film in 1988.

The film was released on VHS and laserdisc in the United States by Tokuma Japan Communications' US subsidiary in 1993 with the title My Friend Totoro.

In 1988, Streamline Pictures produced an exclusive dub for use on transpacific flights by Japan Airlines and its Oneworld partners. Troma Films, under their 50th St. Films banner, distributed the dub of the film co-produced by Jerry Beck. It was released on VHS and DVD by Fox Video. Troma's and Fox's rights to this version expired in 2004. The film was re-released by Disney on March 7, 2006.[1] It features a new dub cast. This DVD release is the first version of the film in the United States to include both Japanese and English language tracks, as Fox did not have the rights to the Japanese audio track for their version.

Workers Die at Factories Used by Tommy Hilfiger

More than a year after 29 people were trapped in a fire at a garment factory in Bangladesh used by well-known American clothing brands, an ABC News investigation found the retailers right back in business at the factory. And labor groups say dangerous conditions such as locked gates and shoddy wiring persist in a country where nearly 500 workers have died in garment factory fires over the past five years.

In advance of the ABC News report, the company that produces the Tommy Hilfiger line announced it would be the first company whose clothes were being made during the deadly blaze to demand changes -- committing to spend more than $1 million to enforce a set of safety reforms demanded by labor rights groups. Among them, an independent fire inspector and reports about safety conditions that are made public.

"I think raising the bar is necessary," Hilfiger told ABC News. "And that is what we're doing -- raising the bar."

ABC News first approached Hilfiger with questions about safety conditions in February after his company, PVH, had been identified by labor groups as one of the companies least receptive to their efforts to improve working conditions in Bangladesh.

"Just in recent weeks, three workers were killed at two separate factories producing clothing for Tommy Hilfiger," said Scott Nova, executive director of the Worker Rights Consortium, one of several labor groups that has been pushing for higher safety standards in Bangladesh. "They say they're trying to improve conditions. They say they care about the rights of workers. They say they're committed to preventing fires and other tragedies in places like Bangladesh. But when it comes to putting their money where their mouth is, they don't do it."

Headline Feb 22,2012 / Farewell Einstein, Sir!!

Part 3

FAREWELL EINSTEIN, SIR!!

Respectful Dedication M J Akber-India , Nobel Laureate Dr. Abdul Salam-Pakistan, Ferrari/Fiat Chairman Luca Cordero di Montezemolo

None of these clocks is right and none is wrong: time kept by clocks is simply relative, not absolute ... hence "relativity".Therefore the logical consequences of relativity caused upheavels in science and were instrumental in the concept of spacetime, the theory of black holes and the thinking behind the big bang. Relativity also remains to this day, our best explanation of gravity. And all this Einstein could take credit for.

There were, however, other consequences of his theory, in the realm of quantum mechanics, that he was reluctant to accept. Simply put, relativity suggests that sub-atomic particles will behave unpredictably, that they can 'decide' whether to behave like a particle or a 'wave' and, worse, that they may be able to communicate with each other in some fashion faster than the speed of light. Einstein hated all this and spent the last decades of his life arguing against this concept.

Since Einstein's death, though, scientific experimentation has largely borne out even the wilder theories of quantum mechanics. But it now appears that sub-atomic particles may even pass messages to each other faster than the speed of light. On this, apparently, Einstein was wrong! Haha! But let me end this Great Research from !WOW! on a laughing note.

Princeton University received a late morning call with a request for the address and directions to Einstein's house. The University being under directions, refused to provide the info!! And to this the caller said: "Oh dear!! This is terribly embarrassing. This is Prof Einstein. I've forgotten where I live!"

Good night and God bless!
SAM Daily Times - The Voice of the Voiceless.

Altitude Sickness

Altitude sickness is something that millions of people suffer from at various times in their lives, there are dozens of specialized drugs on the market that claim to work against altitude sickness but a research paper released today shows that the best medication may have been hiding in plain sight all along. Ibuprofen has been available for a very long time as a fairly standard painkiller and now it looks like it may just be the best altitude sickness treatment as well.

The study shows that treating altitude sickness via traditional medications is effective but not nearly as effective as standard ibuprofen. The medical industry is now planning a follow up study to this one, although at this point the results truly are quick promising. The availability and price of ibuprofen means that millions of people will be able to quickly and easily get access to the altitude sickness prevention they need. This is great news simply because it is something that has not been available in the past, plus the study shows that ibuprofen is actually much more effective than the more expensive and less common altitude sickness drugs.

Researchers say that this is a very surprising outcome, but overall they’re happy to see the results. People around the world should be feeling a bit better next time they’re at high altitude thanks to the positive effects of ibuprofen on altitude sickness. Next time you need to deal with altitude sickness, ibuprofen might be worth considering.

Discrimination is taught by parents

For young children, being taught prejudiced ideas trumps positive experiences when it comes to attitudes toward other groups of people, a new study finds.

First-graders who are told by an adult that another group of kids is "mean" evaluate that group negatively even if they have a positive interaction with the supposedly mean kids. By fifth grade, however, children rely more on their own experiences with the "mean" kids to make judgments.

The findings could have implications for how schools teach about diversity and prejudice.

"Our work suggests that older children are going to be more influenced by their own experiences, so it's not enough for us to lecture to them about equality and diversity-related issues," study researcher Sonia Kang, a psychologist at the University of Toronto, said in a statement. "We need to help create situations and environments that foster positive experiences among children from all backgrounds."

9/11 Search And Rescue Dog, Gets Stem Cell

For the last decade, Red -- a black Labrador from Annapolis, Md. -- has been helping people as a search and rescue dog. Her missions have included Hurricane Katrina, the La Plata tornadoes and the Pentagon after 9/11, WUSA9 reports.

Now, people are returning the favor by helping this canine hero get back on to her feet.

"The search and rescue dogs at the Pentagon are credited with finding 70 percent of the human remains," said Heather Roche, Red's owner and handler. "That helped a whole lot of those families actually get closure."

Less than two years old at the time, Red is now one of the last 9/11 search and rescue dogs still alive, WUSA9 reports.

Stricken with severe arthritis, she was often in severe pain and has limited mobility, reports Fox News.

But on Monday, Red underwent stem cell regenerative therapy, offered free of charge by MediVet America -- the company that developed the in-clinic stem cell technology.

"This is a small something that we can give back as a way of saying thanks," said Dr. John Herrity, the veterinarian overseeing Red's surgery.

Source: Huffingtonpost.com