Reasons for disliking 'Prey And Predator Day' At High School

Dubbed "Prey and Predator Day" , an event was scheduled this week in Crookston High School Minnesota.  As the name suggests, the festivity encouraged students to disguise in hunting camouglages and wear animal prints. Hunting apparels were worn by boys and girls draped the animal print. The concept provoked local people. They found it a disgusting idea for a festival.

After the unpleasant stir caused by the event's name idea among the residents of Minnesota, the name was changed to just “Camo Day” According to Principal Lon Jorgensen, the school’s students did not realize the name’s underlying connotations, adding, “hunting in this area is pretty popular.”

A resident Noyes described the decision as “absurd” and “appalling,” telling the Grand Forks Herald, “Really, in this day and age, you think it's OK to have the mentality of the men as predators and the women as pretty prey?”

Such festivites seem to be in vogue. As quite recently In June, Stuyvesant High School students in New York participated in “Slutty Wednesday” -- albeit not as part of any school-sponsored themed dress-up day. Rather, students of the elite New York City public school were protesting its new dress code, which -- among other things -- banned the exposure of midriffs, visible underwear, shoulders and lower backs.

QUT becming popular for bumping into old school friends

Let's take a sneak peek into the lives of Australian students at Queenland University of Technology. When Sheoni Stainwall and Elysia Roebig "met" each other at uni this year, it wasn't for the first time.

The two QUT students had been best friends back in pre-school at Narangba State School but then lost touch with one another for 12 years after Sheoni changed schools in year one.

Natural leaders, they both went on to become school captains at their high schools (Narangba Valley and Dakabin) and then both joined QUT's student ambassador team after they started degrees at the university's Caboolture campus.

"Our paths crossed again at a student ambassador training session back in March," Sheoni said.

"We couldn't believe we were back in a classroom together again after all that time - it's a very small world."

According to the head of QUT's Caboolture campus, Robert Craig, the campus is becoming a popular option for local high school students and bumping into old friends is becoming more common.

On Thursday, September 27, the campus will host a "Discover QUT" day for anyone interested in finding out more about local courses.

"We are seeing a growing number of local students deciding to study closer to home and they are realising the advantages the Caboolture campus offers," Mr Craig said.

"Students can get the same qualification offered at our city campuses, with the benefits of studying close to home.This means less time and money is spent on transport and the smaller class sizes at Caboolture allow students greater access to QUT staff."

Elysia said the friendly atmosphere at the Caboolture campus had definitely appealed to her when she decided to enrol in her education degree.

"The smaller campus makes it a lot less overwhelming, especially for students at the start of their uni experience," she said. Sheoni also said the campus size was a key factor in her decision to study nursing at Caboolture. "The lecturers all know you by your name which is a great motivator to do your best as you know it will be recognised," she said.

QUT's three-year nursing degree is growing in popularity locally, with the university set to open up extra places at the Caboolture campus in 2013.

Nursing is offered at both the Kelvin Grove and Caboolture campuses, and last year's top nursing graduate came from Caboolture campus.

QUT Caboolture will host a "Discover QUT" day on Thursday, September 27, from 10am to 2pm, for anyone interested in visiting the campus and finding out more about local courses in business, creative industries, education and nursing.

Tennessee Middle Schools Eliminate Graded Homework, Extra Credit

In an effort to improve scores on the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program, Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools are scrapping extra credit and graded homework for middle schoolers, WSMV reports.

Administrators are hopeful these measures will allow for better confirmation that students have actually mastered the material they are being taught. Under the new system, students will also have the opportunity to retake tests if they do not perform up to par the first time around.

"We are allowing students who may not do well on an assessment to have an opportunity for more practice, to have more intervention with teachers to go back and say, 'I learned something different from the first time to the second time. My mastery level is higher,'" Amy Downey of Metro Schools told WSMV.

Although extra credit is now a thing of the past, grades will also not be reduced for behavioral issues. Meanwhile, homework is intended solely for practice and will not have any effect on a student’s grades.

WSMV reports some parents have expressed concerns about accountability, though the district maintains that if anything, the new system promotes more work, not less, because if a student does not comprehend the material, he or she will have to work harder until they understand.

JFK Middle School Principal Sam Braden says the changes represent a way to ensure students are fully prepared for TCAPs and for the future, adding that so far teachers and students have been offering positive feedback.

According to the Tennessee Department of Education, performance on the 2012 TCAP improved significantly in school districts across the state. Nearly all of Tennessee’s 136 districts saw proficiency levels increase, and two-thirds improved in every subject of the TCAP Achievement tests administered to students in grades 3-8.

In Maryland, Gaithersburg Elementary School scrapped homework entirely in favor of suggested reading time after the school’s staff determined the majority of homework assignments were worksheets that did not relate to what students were studying in the classroom.

At Connecticut’s High School in the Community, students assign themselves their own homework, learn at their own pace and take tests only when they’re ready. The turnaround school reportedly adopted this new method in an effort to end the factory “assembly line” of high school education.

Original source here

University of London signs up to free online learning revolution

University of London has become the first English institution to sign up to Coursera, the US-based 'massive open online course' pioneer. Andrew Bollington tells Andrew Marszal why.

A student in Mauritius sitting an exam set by the University of London might not sound especially remarkable these days.

But it certainly was in 1865, when the citizens of the Indian Ocean island became the first to host a University of London examination outside of London and, by extension, the world's first degree-level distance learners.

This type of timezone-defying qualification has come along way since such humble beginnings. But it is about to become a great deal more ubiquitous following the news that the University of London is the first English institution to sign up to Coursera, the US-based 'massive open online course' (Mooc) pioneer.

Coursera offers completely free online courses taught by academic staff from such august institutions as Stanford, Princeton and the closer-to-home University of Edinburgh. Anyone can join, and those who finished the courses gain a certificate, though not an accredited degree.

It currently boasts 1.3 million students – just six months after its launch.

"We have been providing access to high-quality distance education for 150 years," says Andrew Bollington, Chief Operating Officer of the University of London International Programme. "Coursera has a similar mission, outlook and set of ideas, transposed into the 21st century."

University of London will initially offer five short courses, lasting no longer than five weeks each, in topics ranging from 'Why We Need Psychology' to 'Creative Programming for Digital Media and Mobile App Development'.

Each is derived from existing undergraduate and postgraduate courses being taught at the University of London's 12 colleges. For instance, the 'Malicious Software and its Underground Economy' programme draws upon a Masters in Information Security being taught at Royal Holloway.

"We see one as a step into the other," says Bollington. "Lots of people will go in very speculatively, with no serious intention of completing the course – that’s because it’s completely free. But it opens possibilities to hook people in and engage them.

"Hopefully the result will be that students gain a lifelong learning experience."

Handling enormous numbers of students from such disparate locations is an enormous challenge, but some of Coursera's innovations – particularly its marking system – drew University of London's interest.

"Multiple choice is easy to mark online, but there’s nothing quite like an essay to promote in-depth learning," says Bollington. "Coursera have done some very interesting things with student formative assessment – things such as peer assessment."

The system in question first gives students two essays that have already been marked by a member of staff, and asks them to remark these following the same criteria. Students are given feedback on their efforts, and then asked to mark further essays by their peers which haven’t already been assessed.

Multiple students will mark each essay, with Coursera then aggregating these marks and stripping out the outliers.

Even with this type of innovation, the free model is not seen as sustainable by some observers, with Jessica Moore observing that "... everyone but the students seems to be out of pocket – which is a refreshing change, if arguably an unsustainable one".

However Bollington insists that free courses will remain the core model, and the basis on which the University of London has agreed to participate in the Coursera platform – even if a premium paid-for service for which students can opt in does become available in the future.

And with all the hype schemes such as Coursera and the comparable Harvard and MIT-based edX are generating, one question has to be asked – could Coursera's model be the future of distance learning?

"We’re just trying a few things out at this stage."

Original source here

Old school friends discover each other at QUT

When Sheoni Stainwall and Elysia Roebig "met" each other at uni this year, it wasn't for the first time.

The two QUT students had been best friends back in pre-school at Narangba State School but then lost touch with one another for 12 years after Sheoni changed schools in year one.

Natural leaders, they both went on to become school captains at their high schools (Narangba Valley and Dakabin) and then both joined QUT's student ambassador team after they started degrees at the university's Caboolture campus. "Our paths crossed again at a student ambassador training session back in March," Sheoni said. "We couldn't believe we were back in a classroom together again after all that time - it's a very small world."

According to the head of QUT's Caboolture campus, Robert Craig, the campus is becoming a popular option for local high school students and bumping into old friends is becoming more common. On Thursday, September 27, the campus will host a "Discover QUT" day for anyone interested in finding out more about local courses. "We are seeing a growing number of local students deciding to study closer to home and they are realising the advantages the Caboolture campus offers," Mr Craig said.

"Students can get the same qualification offered at our city campuses, with the benefits of studying close to home.This means less time and money is spent on transport and the smaller class sizes at Caboolture allow students greater access to QUT staff." Elysia said the friendly atmosphere at the Caboolture campus had definitely appealed to her when she decided to enrol in her education degree.

"The smaller campus makes it a lot less overwhelming, especially for students at the start of their uni experience," she said. Sheoni also said the campus size was a key factor in her decision to study nursing at Caboolture. "The lecturers all know you by your name which is a great motivator to do your best as you know it will be recognised," she said.

QUT's three-year nursing degree is growing in popularity locally, with the university set to open up extra places at the Caboolture campus in 2013.

Nursing is offered at both the Kelvin Grove and Caboolture campuses, and last year's top nursing graduate came from Caboolture campus.

QUT Caboolture will host a "Discover QUT" day on Thursday, September 27, from 10am to 2pm, for anyone interested in visiting the campus and finding out more about local courses in business, creative industries, education and nursing.

Queensland University of Technology

Brisbane, Australia

Alumni weekend in Oxford

This weekend was Alumni Weekend in Oxford! You can enjoy the films of lots of interesting talks, which will soon be available online on the website.

The annual Oxford University Alumni Weekend aims to showcase the Collegiate University as a whole, giving prominence to a range of current research and its application to real world situations, as well as recognising the achievements of Oxford men and women. This series also includes podcasts from other alumni events including study days and the Oxford European Reunion. Past themes include "A Global Oxford" (2008), "Equal Citizenship" (2009) and "Shared Treasures" (2010).

Envy (2004)

Envy is a 2004 comedy film directed by Barry Levinson. It stars Ben Stiller and Jack Black.

Synopsis: Tim Dingman (Ben Stiller) and Nick Vanderpark (Jack Black) are best friends, neighbors and co-workers at 3M. Nick is constantly coming up with crazy ideas to get rich quick, and when he invents Vapoorize, a spray that instantly removes dog feces, he actually succeeds. As Nick's wealth continues to grow, so does Tim's envy, as he had initially scoffed at the idea and squandered an opportunity to invest and become mega-rich himself. Nick is blissfully unaware of Tim's jealousy, and his generosity only serves to make Tim more envious of him. Meanwhile Nick's wife Natalie (Amy Poehler) decides to run for state senate but is continually plagued by questions about her husband's product.

After Tim's wife Debbie (Rachel Weisz) and children temporarily leave and he is fired from 3M, Tim's jealousy reaches new levels. In a bar he meets J-Man (Christopher Walken), a bizarre drifter, who lends a sympathetic ear and offers advice. After a drunken night out, Tim believes that he accidentally kills Nick's beloved horse, Corkey, and buries the horse in his abandoned swimming pool.

Nick offers a $50,000 reward for the return of his horse. J-Man and Tim concoct a plan whereby J-Man would discover the horse and claim the reward, splitting the proceeds. However a series of unfortunate events, including the sequestering of Tim's family in J-Man's mountain cabin, leads to the horse's carcass being lost in a rain storm.

Nick reveals to Tim that he is going to Rome for the debut of Vapoorize there, and gives Tim the opportunity to join him in a 50:50 partnership, which he accepts. J-Man finds out that Tim is now rich, and, feeling betrayed, tries to blackmail him. After confessing to his wife, now enjoying her rich lifestyle, Tim agrees to pay J-Man; however J-Man ups his demands and asks to be Tim's partner. Tim accidentally shoots him in the back with an arrow and J-Man, believing that Tim has tried to kill him, backs down in fear.

Tim eventually confesses all to Nick who forgives him for his jealousy and agrees to continue with the partnership; however at a press conference for Debbie's electoral campaign (where she promises to withdraw her candidacy if it is proven Vapoorize is harmful to the environment in any way), Corkey's body is seen floating down the nearby river, and the animal's post-mortem discovers that the horse was not killed by the arrow as previously thought but actually poisoned by a by-product of Vapoorize, used by Tim to treat his garden after Corkey came to eat the apples off of his tree. The veterinarian informs the pair that she is obliged to inform the Environmental Protection Agency, and Vapoorize is immediately pulled from the market. Nick and Tim almost lose all their wealth and glory-until Tim comes up with an invention of his own: Pocket Flan, inspired by Nick and his family's love for the dessert. J-Man is shown in the audience of Tim and Nick's infomercial for Pocket Flan, apparently reconciled.

Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

From the Flying Start author of Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour, a powerful novel about hope in the face of heartbreak. Taylor Edwards’ family might not be the closest-knit—everyone is a little too busy and overscheduled—but for the most part, they get along just fine. Then Taylor’s dad gets devastating news, and her parents decide that the family will spend one last summer all together at their old lake house in the Pocono Mountains.

Crammed into a place much smaller and more rustic than they are used to, they begin to get to know each other again. And Taylor discovers that the people she thought she had left behind haven’t actually gone anywhere. Her former best friend is still around, as is her first boyfriend…and he’s much cuter at seventeen than he was at twelve.

As the summer progresses and the Edwards become more of a family, they’re more aware than ever that they’re battling a ticking clock. Sometimes, though, there is just enough time to get a second chance—with family, with friends, and with love.

Unique online application launched in Berlin

For many people who depend totally on wheelchairs to get around, wheelchair accessible places are imperative for shopping, dining, and any other business. If there is a choice of two hardware stores, for example, and one can only be entered by going up a few steps and into a door that must be hand opened, while the other offers a ramp and automatic opening door, then the decision of which one to patronize is obvious for those in a wheelchair. In some areas of the world, such as Germany, where those who are mobility impaired had little offered to them other than delivery services or access to special taxis, a little APP known as Wheelmap.org has given them more freedom of choice.

Wheelmap.org is a god send for people who are wheelchair bound. Rather than living on the fringe of society, people with limited mobility can now check their cell phones or computers to see several places such as restaurants, cafes, and other stores that welcome wheelchair, walker, crutches, or cane users.

With the iphone APP, anyone can contribute and rate a location. Locations are tagged either red, yellow, or green. Green is totally accessible, red is not. Yellow is for those with some, or limited, accessibility for those with impaired mobility. A grey tag means the place has not yet been rated.

For some, this Wheelmap.org APP has opened up a whole new world, and allowed them to explore other areas in the country now that they can see which places can accommodate them. They can join in with others in their society trying out new places to eat or shop.

It's one thing to be physically disabled and quite another to have an additional society handicap, which is often what it feels like for many. In addition to viewing the tagged locations and adding new tags to a newly rated place, a logged in user can also leave comments for others to read.

Use of this APP may provide even more benefits than those already in place. Business owners who find themselves competing with handicapped friendly businesses may soon find by adding ramps and automatic doors, the additional cost will be more than recovered by the additional business.

Although many places have guidebooks for handicapped and wheelchair accessible places, guidebooks can be out of date, and it's difficult to constantly update them. The advantage of the APP is that it can allow users to constantly update and record changes, keeping everything current for those who use it. The APP has already started to spread in use beyond Germany, and the hope is it will be in place worldwide soon, to allow wheelchair users everywhere a chance to be part of society. Wheelmap.org APP is definitely a unique way to keep those in wheelchairs and who have mobility issues in touch with places accessible to them.

Lindsay Lohan arrested in New York City

Just days after calling out fellow former child star Amanda Bynes for her legal woes, Lindsay Lohan has been arrested ... again!

The 26-year-old "Liz and Dick" star's latest brush with the law took place early Wednesday morning in New York City, a spokesperson for the NYPD confirms to omg!. She was driving a 2010 Porsche Cayenne SUV down an alley between the Maritime and Dream hotels in Midtown Manhattan when she allegedly struck a pedestrian. Lindsay, who was accompanied by two males, exited her car to speak with the 34-year-old male victim, then she got back in the vehicle, parked, and went inside the Dream.

When Lindsay emerged from the club at 2:25 a.m., police placed her under arrest, charging her with leaving the scene of an accident while causing an injury. She was issued a desk appearance ticket for a future unspecified date.

The police spokesperson noted that drugs and alcohol were not factors in Lindsay's arrest. As for the person who was hit, he complained of a knee injury and was taken to Bellevue Hospital. He was later released.

Lindsay's publicist, Steve Honig, declined to comment on the incident.

Just a few days ago – on Sunday night – Lindsay took to Twitter to weigh in on Amanda Bynes' saga. "Why did I get put in jail and a nickelodeon star has had NO punishment(s) so far?" Lindsay complained. It was an odd comment from someone who has had a tremendous amount of legal trouble herself, including two DUIs, probation violations, and a theft conviction. Bynes has yet to be convicted of any crime.

Also earlier this week, Lindsay’s mother Dina’s interview with Dr. Phil McGraw hit the airwaves. The 50-year-old mother of four’s behavior during the chat was bizarre, especially when she gave Dr. Phil the finger. Also of note, when McGraw asked Dina about Lindsay's long list of police run-ins, Dina said that if Lindsay were living in New York, instead of Los Angeles, “five of them would be obsolete.”

Considering that last night's incident took place in the Big Apple, geography seems to have nothing to do with it.

(Source: OMG Yahoo)

Microsoft's Window into the future

Microsoft was making tablet computers long before Apple unveiled its iPad. But the paving-slab sized machines were so howlingly terrible that Microsoft rarely mentions its youthful dabbling in the world of touchscreens.

Even the computing giant’s most avid fans are a touch nervous about the fact that the new Windows 8, due next month, is built for iPad-style touch computing.

There has been tutting. ‘The icons are too big! There’s no Start button!’ The new operating system is meant to work on both tablets and PCs, and is built for both touch control and mice, with two views, one traditional, one built of big coloured slates that look like a Fisher Price version of iPad.

On a proper, old-style PC set-up, with a mouse, it’s a bit puzzling – like normal Windows, just a bit more complicated. But the stars of Windows 8 could be the forthcoming hybrid machines, such as the Dell XPS Duo 12 (right), which converts from laptop to tablet and back again – a bit like an iPad for grown-ups. Sony, HP, Lenovo and others all have their own versions that click, snap, slide and pop from one form to another – with some quick-change merchants able to transform in less than three seconds.

It’s difficult to say whether these things are hilariously awful or brilliant (the manufacturers are being very coy about price) – but having had a go, the combination of typing and prodding and swiping on screen is far more precise than either iPad (for typing) or those awful little thumb-pads you get on most laptops.

Can Microsoft really do ‘fun’ though? With big, bright-coloured buttons that look like table settings, the new ‘Modern’ interface is pretty amiable and it’s certainly fast. But it’ll live or die by the strength of its new app store (which will be overseen by Microsoft so it isn’t full of viruses and barely translated Korean games, like Android’s).

Either way, the world isn’t going to end. Windows 8 works. It’s fast. It’s reliable. It’s just boring enough to remind you that, yes, this is made by Microsoft – but has enough ‘fun’ built in that you’re going to see some very odd machines in PC retailers this winter...

New Microsoft London studio will focus on Windows 8 tablets

Late last week Microsoft announced a new UK, London based studio. The new studio will be focusing on entertainment titles for Windows 8 touch based devices like the Microsoft Surface. Former production director or Rare, Lee Schuneman will head up the operation. The new studio is, as yet, unnamed and will join the UK-based Microsoft stable of Rare, Lionhead and Soho Productions.

Initially workers at the new studio will be based at Microsoft Studios’ Great Pulteney Street. Microsoft is currently recruiting for members of staff and expects the new studio to commence operations in November. The company is still on the lookout for a creative director, incubation director, studio release manager and product manager.

Mr Schuneman said he was “hugely excited by this new venture,” and he stated that “Adding a fourth UK-based studio to the incredible roster of talent already in place not only increases our in-region studio presence, but will allow Microsoft Studios to explore the many creative and business opportunities that developing new games and entertainment experiences on Windows 8 tablet devices and platforms will afford.” Schuneman’s previous work includes Xbox 360 titles such as Kinect Sports, Viva Pinata and Fable: The Journey.

Innovative new software titles for tablets such as Microsoft’s own Surface will play an incredibly important role in the battle between the OS platforms. According to Eurogamer, Microsoft says that “the notion of ‘Entertainment as a Service’ was sufficiently different to warrant setting up its own studio rather than attempting it with its current outfits”. So the company will be bolstering the amount and quality of software available in the Windows Store and Windows Phone Store. Populating the new software stores with quality offerings is a large task that definitely needs to be done for the Windows 8 tablet (and phone) market to take off.

Apple sells 2 million new phones, sets early order record

(Reuters) - Demand for Apple Inc's new iPhone 5 has exceeded initial supply as the company booked 2 million orders in one day and pushed the delivery date for some preorders to next month.

Apple said that it would deliver most preordered phones as planned, the first day of delivery, but many would not be available until October.

It is not unusual for Apple products to sell out the first day. Last October, the company booked 1 million orders for the previous iPhone, the 4S, in the first 24 hours. That beat Apple's previous one-day record of 600,000 sales for the iPhone 4.

Shares of Apple were up 1 percent at $698.50 in early trading on Monday.

The latest strong preorders could mean a strong holiday quarter for Apple. The iPhone is the marquee device for the company and accounts for half of its revenue.

Canaccord Genuity technology analyst Michael Walkley said he now expected Apple to ship 9 million to 10 million iPhone 5s from Friday to September 29, the last day of fiscal 2012.

The new phone, which will appear in stores on Friday for walk-in purchases, has a larger, 4-inch screen and is slimmer and far lighter than the previous model. The iPhone 5 supports the faster 4G network and also comes with a number of software updates, including Apple's new in-house maps feature.

Apple began taking orders for the iPhone 5 at midnight Pacific time on Friday (0700 GMT Saturday). Shipping dates for the smartphone slipped by a week within an hour of the start of preorders.

On Monday morning, Apple's U.S. store, at www.apple.com, showed preorders placed at that time would take two to three weeks to ship.

AT&T SETS SALES RECORD

AT&T, the No. 2 U.S. mobile service provider, said demand over the weekend had made the iPhone 5 the fastest-selling iPhone the company has ever offered.

AT&T did not disclose how many iPhones it had sold, but said the iPhone 5 was still available for preorder and would go on sale September 21 at AT&T retail stores.

The phone's other carriers, Verizon Communications Inc and Sprint Nextel Corp, also showed similar delays in shipping the phone.

European carriers also reported brisk sales. France Telecom's Orange said bookings for the new phone "have been very strong, breaking the records of what we saw for the iPhone 4 or 4S." But the carrier said it could deliver preorders on time.

Apple previously said it would start shipping the iPhone 5 by September 21 in the United States and most of the major European markets, such as France, Germany and the UK. The phone goes on sale on September 28 in 22 other countries.

Analysts have forecast that Apple will have sold more than 30 million iPhones, including older models, by the end of September.

Apple-Samsung Lawsuit Update: Lawyers Make Closing Arguments In Trial Over Tech-Design Patents

Yesterday evening Apple and Samsung's lawyers made their closing arguments in what may prove to be a landmark judicial case for the world of tech design. While Apple used the opportunity to highlight internal documents which suggest that Samsung purposefully copied its patented designs, Samsung attempted to make the broader argument that a victory for Apple would be a blow against future innovation in the world of consumer electronics.

In his closing argument, Apple's attorney Harold McElhinny revisited some of the most damning evidence against Samsung that had been submitted during the trial, focusing on physical documents over expert witness testimony.

McElhinny highlighted a number of internal Samsung documents, which demonstrate that the South Korea company looked to Apple for design inspiration at the very least. One document in particular, shows the iPhone and a Samsung Galaxy smartphone side-by-side with accompanying ideas for how to make the company's smartphone more like Apple's, and also referenced both sides' testimony, arguing that Samsung's choice of witnesses showed a lack of respect for the judicial process. 

Samsung took a drastically different tactic in their closing argument, making the case that a victory for Apple will mean a loss for gadget consumers. Samsung attorney Charles Verhoeven's statement, while relevant and powerful, suggests that he may believe that Apple's evidence against his client overwhelming.

Verhoven argued that Apple is trying to use this lawsuit to take out its biggest competitor in the smartphone market.

The statement captures the basic dispute between Apple and Samsung. While Apple claims that its design have been cloned and copied, Samsung argues that they are simply trying to keep up with the competition.

Verhoven also took aim at some of Apple's expert witnesses, specifically those that claimed that the two companies' smartphones have become difficult to tell apart. It's a shell game. Apple counsel is trying to mislead Samsung. There's no malintent, there's no copying. If you put it in context instead of matching from different divisions, or using documents that aren't even accused...the copying claims fail.

In Apple's rebuttal, attorney Bill Lee refuted Verhoven's argument, claiming that he was misrepresenting Apple's intentions, also said, Nobody has told Samsung to get out of the marketplace. Nobody is trying to get them to stop selling smartphones, All we're saying is make your own designs. Make your own phones. Compete on your own innovations.

With the closing arguments finished the outcome of this trial now lies in the jury's hands. Before the arguments were made yesterday, each juror received a 109-page instruction manual outlining the legal grounds and relevant laws pertaining to this case. Judge Lucy Koh then read the document allowed to the jury, which took over two hours.

The jury's deliberations will begin tomorrow as they work their way through over 20 pages of questions from Samsung and Apple that entail the verdict document.

2012 BMW M5 Review

BMW M5, a much enhanced version of the 5-Series, is a superb sedan. Its lethal combination of muscular V10 with remarkable chassis enables it to challenge many sports cars in performance. It surely is fun to drive and hard to resist.


2012 BMW M5 review


Styling


Even after quite a long time since 5-series first hit the market, its styling has been a part of the controversy associated with some of the BMW’s models. There are many good and bad opinions about its styling, yet all are agreed to its outstanding road presence. M5 has even harder looks as it has an arched bonnet in front and large air vents which look prominent. At the back there are two pairs of chrome-plated exhaust pipes while the width of the rear track has also been increased. These changes in fact, have given the M5 more combative and a super-sedan like look.


Comfort


M5 has a smooth and comfortable ride on highways but on uneven and bumpy roads it does get a bit jerky. This happens mainly due to its large 19-inch wheels and a bit rigid M sports suspension. These large tyres are also cause of an obvious noise on road specifically at speeds. Same is the case with the engine which keep playing its soundtrack throughout the journey but that is rather pleasant. The wind noise is kept to its minimum level though. There are number of steering and wheeling adjustments available to help drivers attain the best possible driving positions. What lacks is the user-friendliness of some of the controls.


Quality + Reliability


As expected from all BMW models to have stunning cabins, M5’s cabin is also class-leading. Its dashboard layout, utilizing rotary dials and iDrive controller, has taken clues from 5-Series having a striking trim. With good ergonomics everything, made of supreme quality, is positioned with perfect fit-and-finish. Yet we still feel the iDrive needs to be easier to operate. BMW models have always been appreciated for their quality and reliability, and M5 seems to carry on this image well.


Handling


If you are pleased with the handling of 5-Seriess then adding to your delight is this much enhanced version in the form of BMW M5. It not only has the remarkable chassis of the 5-Series, but is also well versed with amazing grip levels. Not only this BMW M5 is not short of anything be it steering feedback, body control and brakes it has all of them to their highest level of perfection making itself a sheer pleasure to drive. Use of latest technologies including M Dynamic mode and variable M differential lock as a great contribution in handling optimization and maintaining the composure while on turning.


Performance


M5 is powered by the key engine of BMW, the 5.0-litre V10 which produces 507bhp and 520 Nm. It is mated with the seven-speed SMG with close ratios. Yet, this SMG gearbox gets a bit jerky in different modes and should be worked upon for even better performance. Nevertheless, it enables M5 from standstill to 8250 rpm, swiftly reaching 100 km/h in just 4.7 seconds. Though the engine is free from rev, yet a hard mid-range punch wipes out any chance to reach close to the rev-limit.


Equipment


There is no doubt that the equipments offers are not only sufficient but excellent as well. Including 19-inch M alloy wheels, head-up display, cruise control, high-beam assist, xenon headlights, adaptive headlights, Park Distance Control (PDC), automatic climate control, M leather steering wheel with SMG paddles, M seats, glass roof, BMW navigation system with color monitor and iDrive controller, and of course Hi-Fi system. While to ensure passengers safety front, side and head airbags and Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), along with anti-lock braking system and traction control are present in the system.


Running Costs


Fuel consumption is quite high as expected from a V10 which is at 6.8 km/litre. Considering the fact that with its high reliability BMW has long service intervals and requires less maintenance, the high costs associated with these services become a bit acceptable. Insurance for luxury and sports car are always high and so it will be for M5. The depreciation is going to be low for M5 due to its popularity and good reputation of reliability.


Value For Money


Comparing the high price tag of M5 with its core contender Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG we expect the later to cost more. Not to mention that both are going to be expensive yet, M5 supersedes its rivals due to its breathtakingly remarkable handling, not only this it’s muscular 5.0-litre V10 has no reason to shy from Mercedes’s magnificent 6.2-litre engine. So for us M5 offers competitive value for money.


Roominess


M5 is equally spacious for the front as well as the rear passengers, providing plenty of head-and-leg room following the tradition of 5-Series. The only problem any one can face will be the fifth passenger, not in the case if that is a child, who will have limited legroom due to the transmission tunnel. The boot of the car is also sufficiently spacious with storage capacity of 520 litres.With the CO2 emissions of 344 g/km M5 seems least concerned about the environment. Not only this, it is thirsty enough to drink 1.48 litres of petrol per 10 km. All of these for a car with high desirability and drivability are not good signs at all, what do you think?

iPhone 5 not just a phone; it's a stimulus too

WASHINGTON —

Apple’s iPhone 5 is one of the biggest product launches ever in the sector, and may also deliver a well-timed stimulus to the U.S. economy ahead of the presidential election. Apple is expected to sell as many as 10 million of the devices in just the first days of the launch starting Sept 21, and upwards of 50 million in the fourth quarter, including a big chunk in the United States.

But with the U.S. economy having expanded at a tepid 1.7% pace in the second quarter, the stimulus will be well-timed. Paul Krugman, a Princeton University economist who blogs for The New York Times, said the stimulus effect underlines how the U.S. economy is dependent on consumer spending.

Even before the iPhone 5, Apple cited a study showing it has created or supported more than 500,000 U.S. jobs, including 47,000 at Apple alone and 200,000 in the so-called “app economy. Apple’s launch comes amid a spate of new product releases expected to woo U.S. consumers in the pre-holiday season.

Along with phone launches, Microsoft is producing its own Surface tablet computer, Google has introduced a tablet and smartphone and Amazon has upgraded its Kindle Fire tablets. And Apple is expected to launch a mini iPad in the coming weeks to cement its position in the tablet market.

All this has the potential to boost share prices, consumer spending and the so-called supply chain involving component makers. Apple’s record stock price surge has helped push the Nasdaq stock exchange to its highest level since 2000, after the dotcom collapse.

Apple may ship between 48 million and 53 million iPhones in the fourth quarter and “up to 266 million” in 2013.

A 2011 study by Dedrick with researchers Kenneth Kraemer and Greg Linden concluded that 58% of the iPhone cost went to Apple profits, with materials representing some 22% and labor costs in China just 1.8%.

Even with the stimulus, most economists say the iPhone and other devices probably won’t make a difference in the November election..

Late show gives Real Madrid home win over Man. City

Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring
the last-minute winner against Manchester City. Photograph: Pierre-Philippe Marcou/AFP/Getty Images

Real Madrid scored two goal in the last four minutes to come back from 2-1 down and seal a dramatic 3- 2 win at home to Manchester City in the first game of their Champions League group phase.

Things had looked bleak for Madrid when they went 2-1 behind to a Koralov free kick five minutes from the end, but the home side's greater attacking convictions saw them snatch late goals from Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Following his complaints at his side's defeat in Seville at the weekend, Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho made changes to his starting squad. Rafael Varene replaced Sergio Ramos in defense in a move that can probably be seen as a adjustment, while Michael Essien made his debut in a three man central midfield, with Mesut Ozil also dropped.

Although that may have seen a defensive move, the fact is that Madrid controlled the first half against the Premier League champions.

Manchester City keeper Joe Hart had to be attentive to make two good saves from Cristiano Ronaldo as City relinquished possession and defending deep with Madrid moving the ball at will.

City were defending deep and limiting Madrid to shots from distance, but visiting coach Roberto Mancini was clearly unhappy with the display as he replaced the ineffective Samir Nasri with Alexandr Kolarov just after the half hour.

Madrid dominated the first half and were still on top when the second kicked off. Mourinho replaced Essien with Ozil midway through the half in a clearly attacking move, but it was City who took the lead when Edin Dzeko, who had just replaced David Silva, finished off a fine break started by Toure Yaya.

Mourinho reacted by replacing Gonzalo Higuain and Sami Khedira with Karim Benzema and Luka Modric, just before Toure fired into the side netting.

Marcelo leveled for Madrid with 15 minutes remaining with a right foot shot which deflected off Javi Garcia to leave Hart with no chance.

Manchester City retook the lead with a Kolarov free kick which evaded everyone and went in at the far post with just five minute remaining, but Benzema leveled two minutes later with jis first goal since May.

He set up Ronaldo a minute later but Hart again responded with a fine save, but Ronaldo scored a winning goal for Madrid in the last minute with a shot that dipped horribly to leave Hart clutching shadows.

Unsurprisingly this time, he did celebrate his goal.

-  XINHUA

Chicago teachers vote to end strike

Striking Chicago teachers and their supporters attend a rally at Union Park
on Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012, in Chicago.

The Chicago Teachers Union voted Tuesday to end the city's first teachers' strike in 25 years, returning students to the classroom on Wednesday, according to local media.

Chicago Teachers Union's House of Delegates decided to end the teachers' strike Tuesday afternoon and return more than 350,000 students to the classroom Wednesday, Chicago Tribune reported.

"We said we couldn't solve all the problems and it was time to suspend the strike. The issue is, we cannot get a perfect contract. There's no such thing as a contract that will make all of us happy," Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis said at a news conference after the vote.

The voice vote was taken after as many as 800 delegates convened at a union meeting hall to debate a tentative contract. Union leaders had already signed off on the agreement with Chicago Public Schools (CPS).

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel praised the deal at Walter Payton College Preparatory High School, saying he believes a longer school day and year would help Chicago public school students get the education they deserve.

"This settlement is an honest compromise, it means returning our schools to their primary purpose, the education of our children. It means a new day and a direction for the Chicago Public Schools. In past negotiations, taxpayers paid more but our children got less. This time our taxpayers are paying less and our kids are getting more," Emanuel told reporters.

Teacher compensation, job security and performance evaluations were most contested in the new contract, which offers teachers an average 17.6-percent pay raise over the next four years, as well as retaining other salary bumps for experience and pursuing a graduate degree.

However, the offer also includes tougher job evaluations where teachers are rated, in part, on how well their students performed on standardized tests, and for the first time, a re-hire pool for teachers who have been laid off because the district closed their schools.

The contract will be submitted to a vote by the full membership of more than 25,000 teachers over the next few weeks.

- XINHUA

Asian millionaires outnumber those in US

Two Chinese men walk past a sign promoting
a Millionaires Fair. 

The wealth map of the world has changed for the first time with Asia outpacing North America in the number of people with $1 million or more in easily investable assets.

The number of the so-called high net worth individuals, those with investable assets of at least $1 million, excluding property and collectable items, hit 3.37 million last year compared with North America's 3.35 million, according to an annual survey by Royal Bank of Canada and consulting firm Capgemini.

High-growth economies in the region are seeing an increasing number of entrepreneurs who get much of their wealth from owning businesses in a variety of industries, including IT, automobiles, healthcare, and manufacturing.

Asia has already overtaken Europe in the same category. Singapore and Hong Kong are competing for top spot as the center of offshore wealth, leaving behind Switzerland and Luxembourg which face tighter European regulation on bank secrecy. Singapore had recently benefited from winning over wealthy mainland Chinese clients keen to use book investments. The survey indicates the benefits offered by Singapore “slightly outweigh those of Hong Kong”, although Hong Kong was “taking steps to bridge any gaps”.

However, growth in 2011 was capped by global economic challenges. Asia’s richest people were not unaffected by the global recession, with the number of ultra-high net worth individuals with investable assets of at least $30 million in Asia-Pacific shrinking 3.9% to 21,700, the report showed. Their wealth dropped 5.2%.

“Asia-Pacific will likely continue to face challenges such as high inflation and global factors such as the weak economy in Europe,” Jean Lassignardie, corporate vice-president at Capgemini, said in a statement. “However, the diverse nature of Asia-Pacific exports and economies means the outlook for the region as a whole remains strong.”  In June the World Bank forecast economic growth in developing East Asia and the Pacific will slow to 7.6% this year from 8.3% in 2011, while the US is expected to expand 2.1% and the euro area will contract 0.3%.

Amazon to close fashion website endless.com

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Amazon.com Inc is closing its fashion website endless.com as the world's largest Internet retailer focuses on a new, upgraded apparel and accessories section of its main website.

On September 27, endless.com will become part of Amazon.com/Fashion, according to a statement on the front page of endless.com on Tuesday.

Endless.com was launched in 2007, specializing mainly in women's shoes and handbags.

Starting next week, endless.com said customers will be able to buy shoes, handbags, jewelry and watches from more brands from Amazon's main website, along with apparel.

The switch is part of a big push by Amazon this year to expand further into fashion and apparel, one of the fastest-growing retail categories online. EBay Inc, Amazon's main rival, has done well with its fashion offerings in recent years.

"We are shifting our Endless business to Amazon in order to focus on the Amazon Fashion experience," an Amazon spokesman said on Tuesday.

Zappos and Shopbop, two other fashion websites owned by Amazon, are staying.

"Between Amazon, Shopbop and Zappos, our customers have easy access to an assortment of quality brands and a variety of shopping experiences for any fashion need," the spokesman added.

Amazon also has a successful flash sales website called MYHABIT with a significant focus on fashion items.

(Reporting by Alistair Barr; Editing by Leslie Adler)

U.S. Western Wildfires Report Says Region Should Expect Bigger Burns More Often

(Reuters) - A warming trend has contributed to a sharp rise in the number and size of wildfires on forest lands in the U.S. West, where big burns are likely to become the norm, according to a report released on Tuesday by a climate research group.

The average annual number of fires that cover more than 1,000 acres (405 hectares) has nearly quadrupled in Arizona and Idaho and doubled in California, Colorado and six other Western states since 1970, the study by Climate Central showed.

The report, which analyzed 42 years of records about fires on U.S. Forest Service lands in 11 Western states, linked rising spring and summer temperatures in the region to a fire season that begins earlier, ends later and sparks larger, more frequent blazes.

Those include so-called megafires, or blazes that raze upward of 10,000 acres (4,050 hectares). Those fires erupted at a rate seven times greater each year in the past decade in the western United States than in an average year in the 1970s, according to the report.

The 2012 fire season in the West has claimed several lives, torched hundreds of homes and forced the evacuation of thousands of residents. Record blazes have also been recorded in New Mexico and Oregon.

Conditions contributing to the increase often include fire suppression practices that fostered forests packed with fuel, early melting of mountain snows and fire seasons in the West that now last 10 weeks longer than in the 1970s, the report said.


NEW PHENOMENON

Richard Wiles, director of research for Climate Central - a nonprofit scientific research organization that reports on climate change - said the data showed massive wildfires greater than 100,000 acres (40,500 hectares) do not appear in records before the late 1980s.


"It may be a relatively new phenomenon for national forests," he said.

This map, created using data from a NASA satellite, shows particulate matter released by the wildfires
throughout the United States. Reddish-brown areas have the highest levels of particulates