His ministry undertakes a powerful automobile industry:Mian Manzoor Wattoo

Federal Minister for Industries Mian Manzoor Wattoo has said that his ministry shall undertake a complete review of the automobile industry and shall also reassess the facilities and protections extended to the automobile sector. He was talking to The News here on Saturday.Wattoo said he had been receiving various complaints from the general public regarding lax quality controls in locally produced vehicles and also industry related objections from various stakeholders, including dealers and local industry vendors. “I assure you that this will not be a cosmetic exercise but a meaningful exercise,” he said.

Source:www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=184267

Two certificate courses in automobile industry: by Micro Small & Medium Enterprises Development Institute

The Micro Small & Medium Enterprises Development Institute will launch two certificate courses in automobile technology on July 1, complying with the government directive to develop skill development courses. According to S Sivagnanam, director of the institute, despite the economic slowdown, the number of automobiles in the city was increasing and there were not enough trained service personnel to cater to the demand. "Every street has several unauthorised service centres with personnel who have had no training and to whom no proper skill has been imparted. Customers spend their money on bad servicing," he said. The certificate and advanced certificate courses in automobile technology will run for three months from 10am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday. They fees for the courses are Rs 7,000 and 8,000, respectively. Candidates applying for the certificate course should have passed Class VIII, while those wishing to take the advanced certificate course should have studied in the ITI. There is a fee concession for women, SC/ST candidates and those with disabilities. At least 50% of students will be placed in various industries. Students will also be encouraged to start their own enterprises. The institute is likely to launch training programmes and seminars through VSAT by mid-July and an e-learning programme to enable distance learning on October 2. From July, the institute will start online and direct counselling on credit and export.

Source:timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Chennai/Certificate-courses-in-automobile-technology-will-help-develop-skills/articleshow/4694268.cms

Japan Industrial out put rises

Japan's industrial output rose in May for the third straight month, with manufacturers making further progress clearing stock and revving up production as stimulus measures began to bear fruit, the government said Monday. Industrial production rose 5.9% on month in May, according to preliminary data from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, matching the revised 5.9% climb in April -- the sharpest in over half a century. The rise in output was led by the automobile, electronics and iron and steel sectors, but almost all sectors saw increases, fueling expectations for a strong rebound in manufacturing in the April-June quarter. Production fell only in the pulp, paper and textile sectors. While the rise fell short of the 6.9% increase expected on average by economists surveyed by Dow Jones and the Nikkei, economists said the data confirmed the view that inventory adjustments are winding down, exports have bottomed out and that government stimulus measures are having some effect. "Government stimulus measures in Japan -- with purchase incentives for environmentally friendly cars, for example -- and stimulus packages overseas in countries like China and Germany are helping to support production," said Kyohei Morita, chief Japan economist at Barclays Capital. Last month, Japan enacted a record Y13.93 trillion extra budget funding fresh stimulus measures including subsidies for eco-friendly autos and electronics, as well as unemployment aid to curb the fall in household spending as the country's jobless rate continues to climb. A 24.8% rise in transport equipment and a 10.5% increase in electronic components and devices led the overall rise in industrial output, according to the METI data. That came as shipments rose for the third straight month, increasing 4.5%, the sharpest jump since September 1992, compared with a revised 3.0% rise in April. "Shipments, particularly of consumer durables, remained very strong, as policy has started to support the economy, especially in the auto sector," said UBS Securities' economist Takuji Aida.

For further details visit at:online.wsj.com/article/SB124623594008466663.html

NTPC sign an agreement with RIL to purchase gas at market price

State-run power company NTPC Ltd is willing to buy gas from the Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) at $4.2 per million British thermal units, but with exceptions, a top official said here Tuesday. R S Sharma, chairman and managing director of NTPC, formerly National Power Thermal Corp, told reporters here that the company might sign an agreement with RIL to purchase gas at the market price, but not for the plants under dispute in court. "We are open to buying gas from RIL without prejudice to our (court) cases over Kawas and Gandhar projects," Sharma said. The companies are in a legal battle over a gas supply agreement reached in 2005 according to which RIL was to supply gas to NTPC's Kawas and Gandhar projects in Gujarat at a lower price. The power utility is planning to buy 2.67 million standard cubic metres of gas per day from RIL for its gas-based power projects, which have a combined power generating capacity of about 4,000 MW, he added.

Source:economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News-By-Industry/NTPC-willing-to-buy-gas-from-Reliance-Industries/articleshow/4692492.cms

Noida may shift shop for power supply problems

The state government might have already declared both Noida and Greater Noida as "no power-cut zones,'' but Noida's power situation continues to remain grim. With daily power cuts averaging between four to six hours in most sectors, the small manufacturing units mostly located in the industrial area in phase-I are now mulling to pull out of the state. According to the Noida Entrepreneur Association, almost hundred small units which had set shop on rented premises have relocated to other states like Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal. According to industry sources, the situation has become unmanageable this summer. "The past week has been disastrous. Earlier, there used to be power-cuts but it had a definite time period. Hence, we were prepared for it. However, this year power supply has been erratic. It has been difficult managing a schedule. The bigger and medium-level enterprises have managed to continue production through power produced from generators but the smaller enterprises have had to face losses,'' said an association member. According to the president of the association, Rakesh Katiyal, while the cost of a unit came to Rs 4.10 per unit without using the generator, the cost of producing the same unit has been more than double at Rs 9 per unit. "We need continuous power supply. But, the Uttar Pradesh State Electricity Board (UPSEB) has not been able to ensure us even that minimum supply,'' he said.

For further details visit at:timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Delhi/Noida-industries-may-shift-shop/articleshow/4713197.cms

College is about getting an education, not a degree:FRED ABRAHAM

As part of orientation, new students are coming to campus to look around, get information and schedule classes for the fall semester. I have always enjoyed this time of year. It's nice to see new faces eager to come to school. I'm a little disenchanted, though, with what I see from too many students. Where education is concerned, I realize I am a disappearing dinosaur, but I think the reason to go to college is to get an education. But, increasingly, I see students coming to college to get a degree. They have been told a college degree is the key to success, both personal and financial, in later life. Certainly, studies show those with a college education earn substantially more over the course of their lifetimes than those without. The inference drawn is that the college degree explains the difference. Not so. It's the college education that explains the difference. A college degree represents a certification an individual has studied a variety of fields and attained some acceptable level of mastery of those subjects. It is the education the degree represents that is important, not the degree itself. With the exception of a few applied disciplines on our campus, professors regularly hear students ask, "If I major in your subject, what kind of job will I get after graduation?" In economics we have even created an impressive brochure that shows a list of occupations represented by our past graduates. Nonetheless, I frequently find myself telling students, "Don't worry so much about employment. Get a good education and you will get a good job." Too often I see a discouraging "just-get-by" attitude on the part of students. It indicates all they want is to accumulate enough credits to get the degree and move on. A degree should not represent a collection of credits. Rather, it symbolizes an accumulation of knowledge. Some politicians have as a goal that when students graduate from high school they have already earned a year's worth of college credit. I know there are some students in high school who are capable of taking college courses. In fact, I occasionally have high school students in my freshman economics class and they do well. They are the exception rather than the rule. Given that a third of my college freshman do not learn enough to get a C-minus in my class, I doubt the average high school student could.

For further details visit at:www.wcfcourier.com/articles/2009/06/28/columnists/guest_column/11444110.txt

Details about upcoming health events

CAMP HILL

• Infant/Child CPR, Community Center at Giant Food Store, 3301 Trindle Road, Camp Hill. 7-9 p.m. July 1. $35 person; $50 couple with shared materials. 221-6255 to register.
• Gluten Intolerance Group of North America Conference Review, Community Center at Giant Food Store, 3301 Trindle Road, Camp Hill. 6:30 p.m. July 30. Gluten-free samples and snacks available. Register by July 23 by calling 520-9817.
CARLISLE
• Childbirth Education Classes, The Live Well Center at Carlisle Regional Medical Center, 3 Alexandra Court, Carlisle. 6-8 p.m. Mondays July 6-27. $50 per couple delivering at Carlisle; $75 per couple delivering elsewhere. 960-3408 to register.
• Tobacco Cessation Program, The Live Well Center at Carlisle Regional Medical Center, 3 Alexandra Court, Carlisle. noon-1 p.m., 3-4 p.m., or 5-6 p.m. Mondays July 6-Aug. 24. Free. 960-4387 to register.
• Mom & Baby Group (5-9 months), Women's Center at Carlisle Regional Medical Center, 361 Alexander Spring Road, Carlisle. Free. 10:30 a.m.-noon July 7 and 21.
• Mom & Baby Group (newborn to 5 months), Women's Center at Carlisle Regional Medical Center, 361 Alexander Spring Road, Carlisle. Free. 1-2:30 p.m. July 7 and 21.

For further details visit at:www.pennlive.com/bodyandmind/index.ssf/2009/06/upcoming_health_events_3.html

Treat the railway Employees with utmost care:Kuldeep Chaturvedi,South Western Railway general manager .

South Western Railway general manager Kuldeep Chaturvedi on Saturday advized doctors of railway hospitals to treat the railway employees with utmost care. He was speaking after inaugurating the Continuous Medical Education (CME)-2009 programme, organized for the doctors and para-medical staff of Railway Central Hospital here. He said programmes like CME will help the medical fraternity hone their professional skills by interacting with specialists in different fields. CME has undergone enormous changes in the recent years in terms of theoretical base and methodologies used in it, he said, adding doctors can exchange their ideas, usage of technology in medical field and better their knowledge and skills in such programmes. SWR chief medical director Dr K Kondaiah said such programmes will help doctors develop their knowledge, skills and professional relationships to serve better.

Source:timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Hubli/Medical-education-programme-held/articleshow/4713275.cms

New education policy introduce a uniform syllabus.

The new education policy envisages seven percent of GDP spending on education besides introducing a uniform syllabus to remove disparities. “The new education policy focuses on universalisation of education on scientific grounds,” Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mehmood-ul-Hassan told APP in an exclusive interview. “The draft of new education policy is with cabinet which is expected approve it soon,” he added. Out of 170 million population, 68 million persons were under the age of 14 years, he said, and out of these 68 million only 33 million children were enrolled in schools, having only 1.356 million teachers. “We have to make policies and strategies to ensure that all our children are enrolled in schools for a better future,” he said, adding that the government would have to double the strength of teachers for this purpose. He said according to the new education policy, computer education would be made compulsory from class sixth; four subjects would be taught till class IV and six subjects would be taught till class VIII. He said the new education policy would focus on religious education and cleared that Islamiat would not be excluded from the curriculum. The VC said the new policy draft contained a complete chapter about teachers’ education and only those people would be inducted as teachers who had four-year bachelor degrees. He said the AIOU in collaboration with 14 universities was preparing four-year teachers training programme, adding that teachers would be provided handsome salaries to attract talented people towards this sector.

Source:www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009%5C06%5C29%5Cstory_29-6-2009_pg11_7

More money spend for education:National Knowledge Commission (NKC) chairman Sam Pitroda

In the first of a five-part series on the likely defining themes of the Union budget, National Knowledge Commission (NKC) chairman Sam Pitroda shares his views on education. The commission, an advisory body to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, completes its term in March. Redefining objectives: A government school in Faridabad. Pitroda says the education system in India has to be changed from spoon-feeding to instilling inquisitiveness in students and encouraging them to ask questions. Rajkumar / MintThe Planning Commission has allocated $67 billion (Rs3.25 trillion) for education in the 11th Plan (2007-2012). So I think this budget will reflect that allocation. Compared with the allocation in the 10th Plan, it’s a significant increase. A substantial amount of financial resources will be allocated to education, but in a country of this size, the government also needs to spend money on roads, energy and other sectors. There is never enough for education. The key challenge is how to use the available resources to really do things we need to do. Also, education is not just constructing buildings; it’s about content, quality and people. So our limitation at this point may not be just money. We need to focus on new processes and innovation. I do not agree with the criticism that the government is emphasizing higher education at the cost of school education. Higher education gets a lot of publicity but there is emphasis on the Right to Education Bill (which guarantees education to all children in the age group of 6-14 years). This government has paid attention to all three major segments of education: school, vocational and higher education. A lot of money is being spent on vocational education, since industry needs trained people. That’s where job creation is going to matter. Then comes higher education to create more teachers, scientists, research, innovation among other things.

For further details visit at:http://www.livemint.com/2009/06/28223947/Education-requires-innovation.html?h=B

STEVE REICH

It took Steve Reich some time to appreciate that the near riot provoked by a performance of his work Four Organs at Carnegie Hall in 1973 was, on balance, good for his career. Michael Tilson Thomas, conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, had programmed the work for a Sunday afternoon subscription concert, which guaranteed attendance by "the most conservative audience of old ladies and romantic music lovers", Reich recalls. It soon dawned on the crowd that this apparently unchanging music really wasn't going to change. "It's very complicated to play," Reich explains. "The players have to count to stick together. Even though it was amplified, Michael had to scream 'one, two, three, four' at us because there was so much noise from the audience. There was some clapping, but mostly people were stamping on the floor and booing."The New Yorker music writer Alex Ross has described it as "the last great musical scandal of the 20th century". Reich says: "With hindsight, I realised Michael had been totally provocative and had set me up like a pair of loaded dice. I was as white as a sheet, and all he kept saying was 'this is history'. But he was right, and of course it's been played since and people seem to like it. Time makes things that were once outrageous, if not into standard warhorses, then at least standard parts of the repertoire."Reich has been composing for more than 40 years. In that time, he has seen the music he is most closely associated with - generally if restrictively defined as minimalism - seemingly emerge from nowhere to become one of the dominant musical forms of the age. From his early work with tape loops in the mid-1960s, his music has embraced classical and non-western traditions, popular culture, history, sacred texts and, more recently, video. This year, he won a Pulitzer prize for a new work, Double Sextet, and his latest piece, 2x5, premieres next week at the Manchester International Music festival on the same bill as Kraftwerk.

For further details visit at:www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2009/jun/27/steve-reich-life-in-music

150 Years In Prison-DOJ

Prosecutors asked a federal judge on Friday to sentence convicted Ponzi scheme operator Bernard Madoff to a prison term in which he will spend the rest of his life behind bars. In a court document filed Friday, prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney's office in Manhattan asked U.S. District Judge Denny Chin to sentence Madoff to the statutory maximum of 150 years in prison, saying the scope, nature and duration of Madoff's decades-long fraud make him "exceptionally deserving of the maximum punishment allowed by law." In the alternative, he should be sentenced to "a term of years that both would assure that Madoff will remain in prison for life," prosecutors said. "These criminal acts caused billions of dollars of losses to investors, drove many individuals and charitable organizations to economic collapse or near collapse, and visited especially significant non-economic, emotional damage on many of Madoff's victims," said Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marc Litt and Lisa A. Baroni. Sentencing is set for Monday. Earlier this week, Ira Sorkin, Madoff's lawyer, asked that Madoff be sentenced to as little as 12 years in prison, citing the 71-year-old's life expectancy of about 13 years. "A prison term of 12 years - just short of an effective life sentence - will sufficiently address the goals of deterrence, protecting the public and promoting respect for the law without being 'greater than necessary' to achieve them," Sorkin said. In the alternative, Sorkin asked that his client be sentenced to 15 years to 20 years in prison. Sorkin declined comment late Friday. In their submission Friday, prosecutors rejected the idea of a 12-year sentence for Madoff. The guidelines range for a typical securities fraud case involving losses of less than $20 million is 11 years to 14 years in prison.

For further details visit at:online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20090626-716716.html

King of Pop deserved better A step in the right direction

Sadly it was the last of these that became the singer's most consistent connection to the outside world for large parts of his solo career, not least in the lead-up to his death.In recent weeks there had been speculation about whether the singer would be physically or mentally capable of performing the 50 shows to which he was committed at London's O2 Arena. We were only weeks away from Jackson either proving the doubters wrong and revamping his dwindling career, or from seeing him fall flat on his reconstructed face. It's true that eccentricity ran hand in hand with Jackson's fame. The more eccentric the behaviour, the more readily the media arrived at his door, or under his hotel balcony, or on the steps of a courtroom, hoping for another salivating sliver of Wacko Jacko-ness. Living with a monkey, inviting children to watch movies in your bed and changing the structure and complexion of your face are not crimes, necessarily, but they did Jackson no favours in terms of allowing him to enjoy his fame in public other than as some kind of freak. Raising millions for charity and other gestures are among his more noble contributions to society, but interspersed with landmark concerts, songs and charitable deeds was a trail of questionable activity, dubious business dealings and a catalogue of health problems almost as long as his list of albums. Jackson charmed world leaders, broke sales records and caused worldwide disbelief at some of his actions. His King of Pop crown may have slipped, but there were those who believed his forthcoming concerts would fix it. Now we will never know.

For further details visit at:www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25697094-601,00.html

china brings 246,000 job opportunities in this year.

According to statistics from the 2nd China International Service Outsourcing Cooperation Conference, in the first five months of this year the number of newly-established outsourcing enterprises in China stood at 1,057, bringing 246,000 job opportunities and generating a lucrative profit of 3.52 billion US dollars, a 13.2 percent increase year-on-year. The contract amount stood at 2.3 billion US dollars, with international outsourcing services taking 82.4 percent, a yearly increase of 45 percent China's outsourcing industry rebounded despite the unfavorable global trade situation. In spite of the unfavorable economic situation, China's outsourcing services ushered into an opportunity of rapid development.Outsourcing is a subcontracting a process, such as product or manufacturing, to a third-party company. Experts say the global downturn urges entrepreneurs to improve productivity and efficiency as well as lower production costs. China, a country with lower human resources costs, will doubtlessly get more outsourcing business. Meanwhile, many enterprises greatly cut down research-and-development expenditure, hoping to further explore Chinese and even the international markets by outsourcing non-essential business to overseas enterprises. Such moves are conducive to the cooperation and service upgrade between Chinese enterprises and their counterparts, and bring opportunity for China to develop high-end businesses. As one Japanese entrepreneur noted, outsourcing extra business to China has become the top choice for many multinationals.

For further details visit at:english.people.com.cn/90001/90776/90884/6686495.html

TTA offers job opportunities for ex-Harvey World Travel staff

The Travel Trust Association (TTA) and TTA Worldchoice are offering ex-Harvey World Travel staff the chance to set up in business. The two consortia, owned by TTA Group, have offered to visit and discuss options with the ex-managers and staff, many of whom lost their jobs in the failed business. The last 12 branches, which were closed by June 16, were the last of a network of 57 retail outlets which went into administration on June 5. A total of 29 branches were bought from the administrators, but the rest were forced to close, with the loss of 155 jobs. TTA, which runs its business on a trust fund model, is keen to recruit new entrants, while TTA Worldchoice runs an affiliate scheme, which enables people to set up as homeworkers. TTA operations director Gary Lewis said: "TTA is a starting point for new entrants into the business. We can hold individual meeting or go out and see the agents. "If they have been running their own branch of HWT and they have a client base they can keep 100% commissions." Call Matt Skilton at TTA on 01483 ... or email matt.skilton@traveltrust.co.uk. Travel Counsellors has already contacted the administrators to set up recruitment roadshows in Exeter on June 18, and in Norwich on June 25.

Source:www.travelweekly.co.uk/Articles/2009/06/25/31285/tta-offers-job-opportunities-for-ex-hwt-staff.html

More money must be invested in education: Dr.Sam Nujoma

Founding Father of the Namibian Nation Dr Sam Nujoma last Thursday said if Namibia wants to become a highly developed country, more money must be invested in education. Speaking at the 5th anniversary of Team Namibia and the launch of the second Team Namibia directory at a local hotel in the capital, Nujoma stressed that education is very important and that oncentration on maths and science over the next 15 years would help eliminate poverty. With his firm belief in agriculture, Nujoma said more must be done to obtain grazing on farms.“We must do more on debushing in order to create space for grazing. Farmers can raise zdditional cattle and small stock for slaughtering to enable the country to export to SADC and the outside world. Agriculture is the backbone of any country and its economy,” he said. He suggested to Team Namibia and its member companies to each set aside at least N$20 000 per annum to be utilised towards education.“We must change our attitude. It is just a question to know what we have and to concentrate on how to explore it,” the latest holder of a degree in geology from the University of Namibia said. Mentioning the many possibilities and opportunities, Dr Nujoma said the Benguela Current and the Atlantic Ocean are full of highly prized fish species such as alfonsino and orange roughy that need to be explored and harvested. Also, the founding president said the country is blessed with high-grade uranium deposits and it can be utilised in the processing of the generation of electricity in a desalinating plant where seawater can be purified and used to green the desert. He said the support of Team Namibia and its members will have a direct impact on the Namibian economy, translating into the safeguarding of Namibian jobs and increasing job opportunities for Namibians. Nujoma further went on to say that Team Namibia, of whom he is the patron, ensures that “naturally Namibian products” become consumers’ first choice when purchase decisions are made.

For further details visit at:www.newera.com.na/article.php?articleid=5144

Many people starts business in multilevel marketing

Earning additional money has become a necessity for most people in these tough financial times. Gone are the days when persons could feel comfortable with a single source of income - for some people, a nine-to-five job has almost become an endangered species. As people look for ways to supplement or replace their salaries, one business opportunity has risen to the forefront as a viable option. Network marketing, also called multi-level marketing (MLM), is now being seriously considered by many people as a route to starting their own business. According to Wikipedia.com, network marketing is a selling strategy that compensates promoters of direct selling companies for product sales they personally generate, and for the sales of others they introduced to the company. By using referrals and word-of-mouth promotion, independent business owners receive compensation for the volume of sales they and their down-line team can generate.

For further details visit at: www.jamaicaobserver.com/magazines/Business/html/20090625T030000-0500_154160_OBS_IS_NETWORK_MARKETING_A_GOOD_BUSINESS_OPPORTUNITY_.asp

Gujarat Educational Innovations Commission gets functional head

With the appointment of noted educationist Dr Kireet Joshi as its first executive chairperson, the recently set up Gujarat Educational Innovations Commission (GEIC) is expected to embark on its mission of bringing a revolution in the education system in Gujarat. Joshi is now an education adviser to chief minister Narendra Modi. Principal secretary (education) Hasmukh Adhia on Wednesday confirmed the appointment of Joshi. "The state government made his appointment 15 days ago and now GEIC is functional. It will be the apex body for education in the state. It will conceive innovations in the field of education system that will be based on Indian philosophy of education," Adhia said. GEIC has the powers to bring in changes in the education system right from the primary level to higher education stage in the state. It has 13 members, including chief minister as ex-officio chairperson and the state education minister as ex-officio vice-chairperson.The secretaries to departments like education, primary education, finance, and director of Gujarat Council of Educational Research and Training, chairperson of Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board, and the vice-chancellor of one state university will be the ex-officio members of the commission. Besides, four full-time members will be appointed in the GEIC.

For further details visit at:www.dnaindia.com/india/report_geic-gets-functional-head_1268313

school districts like dallas:Ruling of supreme court

Let's look at this Supreme Court ruling from Monday that tells school districts like Dallas' that they must pay for all special education students' private schooling if the districts don't provide an adequate public alternative. The case is worth looking at for no other reason than Chief Justice John Roberts and fellow conservative Justices Anthony Kennedy and Samuel Alito formed a majority with three left-of-center members of the court: John Paul Stevens, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer. It isn't everyday that you see that kind of alliance on a major case. Nor do you see the left-of-center David Souter bolt to join with, migosh, Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas in the dissent. How can you ignore a case with that kind of lineup? My gut tells me the court made the right decision, although this could cost districts a boatload of money. And that worries me, especially given how tight finances are in this economy.

For further details visit at:educationfrontblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/06/special-ed-students-the-suprem.html

Suspense over 90% SSC quota continues, HighCourt ruling on MondayEven as the SSC results are scheduled to be announced today, the fate of the governme

Even as the SSC results are scheduled to be announced today, the fate of the government’s 90:10 quota remains undecided. Students from all Std X boards, their parents, schools and even state education minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, the brain behind the government’s decision to reserve 90% of junior college seats for state board students, will have to wait until Monday when the high court has said it will take a final decision on the controversial policy. On Wednesday, the state argued that its 90:10 quota was “reasonable and fair’’ given that students from the SSC and other boards form two unequal groups and hence ought to be treated differently. A liberal evaluation system by the ICSE and non-state boards meant that a majority of the seats in premier institutions was cornered by students from other boards, the state contended. But as a matter of right, these junior colleges were primarily meant for SSC board students who should be given priority, said Anil Bhattalwar, joint secretary, school education, in his affidavit. This time around, the state came prepared. Petitioners against the government resolution had to contend with two detailed affidavits filed by the state’s education department and chairman of the state board of secondary and higher secondary education, and will reply to them on Monday. There is no stay on admissions, which begin today. However, no admissions will be finalised until June 29 when the matter will be heard by the court.

Source:timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Mumbai/Suspense-over-90-SSC-quota-continues-HC-ruling-on-Monday/articleshow/4699388.cms

Changes in Wndows 7

One of Microsoft's key driving points lately has been sustainability; designing products that will have little to no long-term impact on the planet. This shift is evident with a close examination of beta and release candidate versions of the forthcoming Windows 7. There are many changes to how hardware components interact with the overall PC, as well as underlying modifications to how the entire OS works. These advances contribute to Windows 7's pep and speedy boot time, and they definitely contribute to the improved battery life as well. "With over a billion PCs deployed on the planet, any changes we make in the operating system can have big effects on the globe," notes Francois Ajenstat, director of environmental sustainability at Microsoft. The company realizes that energy waste and other environmental concerns have become issues for customers, and Redmond wants to do its part to help out. Ajenstat noted that the efforts to improve the efficiency of the operating system began with Vista. "We added over 30 new power-management features in Vista," Ajenstat pointed out. "The most important: We put power management on by default. That has a tremendous impact on energy consumption." That's a step in the right direction, for sure. But there's more to reducing wasted power than just putting a PC to sleep, just as there's more to saving money than spending less. With Windows 7, Microsoft will introduce or update a variety of features for both end users and IT professionals—changes the company has developed through work with hardware and software partners. Jason Leznek, group product manager for Windows 7, claims Microsoft spent a good deal of time "working with the ecosystem to better understand what causes problems with power management. We also have richer telemetry that can help us determine what is causing machines not to go to sleep

for further details visit at:www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2349134,00.asp

My worst moment in sports:Allison Stokke

Allison StokkeAt the age of 12 our family moved from Topeka out to Western Kansas. At the time, I didn’t realize we were going the wrong direction, but when the truck carrying our stuff kept having flat tires, that should have been an omen. My parents didn’t heed it, but as soon as high school ended, I made certain to rectify that mistake! In any event, we ended up in the country – truly in the middle of nowhere. We took a bus to a podunk school – one of those that had K-12 in attached buildings. The only positive about the place was that we had fairly good sports facilities. Many league and regional events were held at either our gym or our football/track field. It is only because of that fact that this story exists.I was in junior high and a league track meet was scheduled that afternoon at our school. During lunch, the coach/Spanish teacher/lunch room monitor came up to me and said he wanted me to participate in the pole vault.... HUH? Keep in mind that I wasn't even on the track team and I had never touched a pole or even a vault. I knew he was out of his mind and I couldn’t comprehend why I was being asked to do it.Anyway, you don't just "participate" in the pole vault. You participate in the 100 yard dash... maybe. You participate in the long jump... maybe, but you don't "participate" in the pole vault! Anyone can throw a discus or jump a hurdle, but you have to know how to vault a pole.Nevertheless, our junior high had easily the best vaulter in the league – even better than anyone in the high school. So, my coach sent him outside with me to practice before the opposing teams started showing up. The first attempt was a disaster. On my second try, I actually cleared the starting height of eight feet, except I forgot to let go of the pole and knocked the bar off......."Good enough" said my "teammate". “Good enough?” Are you joking me? Again, I thought he was just as nuts as the coach, but when you are 13, you just do what you’re told – unlike today’s kids who (for better or worse) challenge everything. If only I could turn back the clock!

For further details visit at:uponfurtherreview.kansascity.com/?q=node/1177

Special effects added in new "Transformers"

What else were you expecting from "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen''? If your answer includes a coherent story, decent acting and direction conducted with anything more subtle than a sledgehammer … this is a Michael Bay film, after all … then keep looking. But if you like special effects launched at you with relentless, mind-numbing intensity at the expense of all else, this is the film for you.As was the first, which was an international blockbuster. There's no reason to think the sequel won't be, as well.Having survived the original, Shia LaBeouf is back as Sam Witwicky, now off to college, preparing for a long-distance relationship with his girlfriend, Mikaela (Megan Fox), of whom a Decepticon says, "You're hot, but you ain't too bright,'' which sizes things up pretty nicely.The Autobots have teamed up with humans to ferret out the last of the Decepticons on Earth … you're either into this kind of thing or you're not, so adjust your capacity for sentences like that accordingly. Optimus Prime (voice of Peter Cullen) remains the Autobot leader, but neither he nor his fellow Transformers are trusted by the White House, here personified by liaison Galloway (John Benjamin Hickey, sporting Donald Rumsfeld glasses), though Barack Obama is mentioned by name at least.

For further details visit at:www.dailyrecord.com/article/20090623/ENT05/90623050/1005/NEWS01/Special-effects-trump-plot-in-new--Transformers-

Join the police force - Invitation to American Sikhs

The Yuba City Police Department has given a confirmation to the SALDEF (Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund) to join the police forces. They have issued the confirmation saying they have always respected the Sikh identity and would continue to do so in the future. According to current Yuba City Police Chief Robert D. Landon, "Our policy has not changed and we continue to respect the customs of the Sikh faith" Earlier on January 23, 2007, Richard Doscher, former Yuba City Police Chief had written to SALDEF, ”We have no policy which precludes an employee of the Sikh faith from wearing a turban or beard (or possession of a kirpan) during their employment with us.” SALDEF has expressed its gratefulness to the Yuba City Police Department and Chief Landon for providing equal job opportunities for Sikh Americans willing to join as law enforcement officers. It also hopes other Police departments will also adopt a similar policy. Meanwhile, Richmond, CA Police Department has also welcomed Sikh Americans to join the police forces. Richmond Police Department’s Chief Chris Magnus confirmed that, “The Richmond Police Department welcomes applications from members of the Sikh community for the position of police officer as well as other jobs within the Police Department. We recognize and take pride in serving a diverse community which we are aware includes a significant number of Sikhs. “Our department continually looks for applicants who represent the diversity of the community and we appreciate the value they bring to our agency. Any employee who is of the Sikh faith would not be prohibited from wearing a turban or having a beard. We encourage anyone who would like information about employment opportunities with the Richmond Police Department to contact us."

Source : www.emgonline.co.uk/news.php?news=5845

PC School math

EVEN AS the Pueblo City Schools Board of Education has launched a search for a new superintendent, it’s good to see the district and District 70 talking about ways of sharing services and saving money.PCS Superintendent John Covington is resigning to take the helm at the Kansas City, Mo., district. The board has appointed an interim, Kathy West.However, even as the city board knew of Dr. Covington’s impending departure, they and top staffers met with their counterparts in District 70 recently to discuss areas where they might share services. District 70 Superintendent Dan Lere proposed several ideas where he said the two systems could share and save.Among those was the concept that certain administrators could be shared by both systems. To get the creative juices moving, he suggested, “We could look at the possibility of creating a joint administrative team to lead the two school districts, and that team could work on the combining of services.”

For further details visit at : www.chieftain.com/articles/2009/06/23/editorial/doc4a40524e1721f228352114.txt

WE7 : Education and Awareness of Legal Music

The Government's Digital Britain report has proposed a complex andprobably impractical deterrent for people accessing pirated music online butonline music jukebox We7 (http://www.we7.com)has/ found that two in three(64%) consumers are only listening to and sharing music illegally onlinebecause they do not know how to do so legally. We7 wants to help consumers enjoy music across the web without fear ofpenalties and fines and to help teach music fans about legal streaming andsharing has introduced a fun competition called Me7 - the 7 songs that defineMe!. 7 steps to winning:
1) Build a Playlist of seven songs at http://www.we7/.
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2) Describe track by track why the playlist defines your life in music
3) Enter your playlist into the competition from 24th June
4) Share, Share Share - use twitter, emails, social networks and sharethe link to your playlist and have it played as many times as you can by asmany people to stand a chance of winning
5) Do this for one whole week and see if you've won
6) The winner for a weekly prize will be the person whose playlist isplayed the most in the week
7) The competition will produce four winners and the winner of the GrandPrize will be the one who out of the four who had the highest play count inany one week

For further details visit at : www.merinews.com/catFull.jsp?articleID=15773701

Grow By Degrees earned higher education as vital to economy

Local and state business leaders and college presidents unveiled a new campaign Monday to boost both the number of people attending public college and the number of degrees earned by college students. More of both will mean economic and jobs growth for the state, according to the campaign. The Grow By Degrees initiative, shepherded by the 15-year-old Virginia Business Higher Education Council, was launched Monday in Norfolk, Roanoke and Richmond. W. Heywold Fralin, council chairman and chief executive officer of Medical Facilities of America, said the campaign grew out of business leaders' concerns about financial support for the state's public colleges and universities, the rising cost of education and the need for educated employees in a wide range of fields. The campaign links higher education to strong economic growth and more businesses in Virginia's communities.Fralin said Virginia has championed funding building campaigns on the state's public college and university campuses, but what continues to be missing is any similar consensus about operational funding for higher education.State financial support for public higher education has plummeted in the past decade, from $10,675 per in-state student to $6,586, a 40 percent decrease, Fralin said. He and other supporters of the initiate want the General Assembly to create a rainy day fund to help offset tuition increases and to pass legislation establishing a long-term funding plan and formulas linked to a reliable stream of money, similar to the public K-12 system's Standards of Quality.

For further details visit at : www.dailypress.com/news/dp-local_collegedegreepush_0622jun23,0,6844811.story

Education Scenario in India

THE SUBJECT of education in India has long been an issue handled by each state. However, with the introduction of the New Education Policy (NEP) in 1987, Central Government intervention has increased, and, with the initiation of liberalization in 1991, the private sector has also been taking major initiatives. Though regarded as a major instrument for improving the socio-economic conditions of the people, education is not well-linked with poverty eradication objectives. A few major initiatives have, however, been taken from time-to-time, to integrate poverty issues with education. Some of these initiatives are:Massive expansion of educational facilities including the setting-up of educational institutions in rural and remote areas with emphasis on regional language/mother tongue as the medium of instruction to eradicate rural-urban disparity in the access to education; Hostels for poor students belonging especially to scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and backward classes, and residential schools for the poor tribals; Mid-day meals, merit-cum-means scholarships, and book-loan programmes for poor school children so that education does not come at the cost of livelihood; Vocationalisation of education at all levels to provide skills to the poorer sections; Non-formal methodology of education (including schemes like ‘Earn While you Learn’, ‘Action Research Project’ on universal primary education, and UNICEF-assisted projects) that permit students to learn a course of their interest through a method most suited to them, at their place and over a period which is convenient to them; Distant education and use of mass media; Adult education;

For further details visit at : www.merinews.com/catFull.jsp?articleID=15773604

PFI : Program organized to promote education

Muslim toppers of Uttar Kannada district were felicitated in a program organized to promote education, by Popular Front of India (PFI). The 'School Chalo Program' was held at Sirsi in the meeting hall of Tameer Co-operative Bank, Sirsi. The program was the last sequel of the a month-long campaign organized to create awareness regarding education, under which an educational survey of Muslim families of Uttar Kannada district was held during which the importance of education was explained to the villagers. The valedictory function of the 'School Chalo Program' by Popular Front of India' was presided over by the district president of the front, Mr. Ashfaque Sayed, on Monday morning at 10:30am. On this occasion, the chairman of Urban Co-operative Society Sirsi was present as the chief guest of the function. Speaking on the occasion, retired DFO, Mr. Rahmathullah Quazi, said that children should be trained to be a good human being at an early age, so that they should emerge as an important asset for the country, otherwise it would be impossible for the parents to modify them later.

For further details visit at : www.sahilonline.org/english/news.php?catID=coastalnews&nid=5706&viewed=0

Supreme Court ruled special education funding

In a decision that could help disabled students get needed services and cost school districts millions of dollars, the Supreme Court ruled yesterday that parents of special-education students may seek government reimbursement for private school tuition, even if they have never received special-education services in public school.The case before the court involved a struggling Oregon high school student, identified in court documents only as T.A., whose parents removed him from public school in the Forest Grove district in his junior year, and enrolled him in a $5,200-a-month residential school.While most of the nation’s 6 million special-education students attend public school, as T.A. did for many years, thousands of families with disabled children, convinced the public schools lack appropriate placements, avoid public schools altogether. Instead, they enroll their children in expensive private schools for students with emotional or learning disabilities, then seek reimbursement.Nationally, about 90,000 special-education students are in private schools, most of them referred by their public schools.In 2007-2008, the New York City schools, which filed a friend-of-court brief supporting Forest Grove, paid $89 million in private-school tuition for disabled students whose parents had placed them there, up from $53 million two years earlier.In 2007-2008, the city received 4,368 requests for reimbursement from parents who enrolled their children in private school; of those, more than half had not received services in public school

For further details visit at : www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2009/06/23/ruling_extends_special_education_funding/

Steps on board : For a thrilling career

The Merchant Navy is a non-combatant commercial fleet, which deals with transporting cargo and occasionally, passengers, by sea. Its fleet comprises passenger vessels, cargo liners, tankers, carriers, as well as other special types of vehicles. A career in this field is full of adventure and long voyages to exotic places. Above all this, the excellent pay and promising promotional opportunities make the career lucrative and exciting in spite of all the hard work life and long absence from family and home. The Merchant Navy is composed of vessels (ships), which carry cargo, oil or passengers. These ships may belong to Indian or foreign shipping companies. In the Merchant Navy, major tasks are performed in three basic areas of a ship - the deck, engine and service department. There are thus, many career options that are available for any youngster who dreams of joining the merchant navy. Deck officers include the captain, chief officer, second officer, third officer and other junior officers. The engine department consists of the chief engineer, radio officer, electrical officer and junior engineers. The service department manages the kitchen, laundry, medical supplies, etc. Jobs are available with shipping companies in India and other countries.

For further details visit at : www.dnaindia.com/academy/report_step-on-board-for-a-thrilling-career_1267295

S.C. State Career Center : delivered jobs in tough times

In spite of a suffering economy that looks dismal for recent graduates, there is a glimmer of hope with the South Carolina State University Career Center. The interim director of the center, Joseph Thomas, says, “I am proud of our students and I am also proud of our staff. We are working hard within the career center to turn the corner of excellence.”This “corner of excellence” has been evidenced in the internships, co-ops, scholarships and full-time job opportunities that students have obtained by working with the career center. According to Thomas, the U.S. Customs Service has 1,000 available jobs. Last month, 10 students signed contracts in part because of the educators’ day recruitment fair held on campus on on April 2.Most recently, five S.C. State University students received internships with Bi-Lo Corp. According to Thomas, “Bi-Lo had eight internship positions for the summer and S.C. State students received five of those eight, and we are very proud of that.”In spite of a tough economy, “the career center will continue to prepare students for the world of work,” Thomas says. This preparation has not only resulted in the recent Bi-Lo internship recipients, but has also resulted in a number of other opportunities for S.C. State students.On April 27, four students were recommended for second interviews in Charlotte, N.C., with the Charlotte Housing Authority. In April, student Montina Myers finished her internship with the Tyra Banks Show in New York. Student Kirsten Pratt received the $1,000 Geico Achievement Award in May.Pratt was also one of two recipients for the Dwight D. Eisenhower Transportation Scholarship. Mustafa Salaam received the scholarship in the category of mechanical engineering. Recent graduate Sade Morris-Hinton has begun working full time with Geico.

For further details visit at : www.thetandd.com/articles/2009/06/22/business/doc4a3c25be07360155280906.txt

Helps available for begin or change careers and get back to work

Even in a recession with double the unemployment rate of a year ago, many Lakeshore-area employers are seeking candidates.A review Friday of the Job Center of Wisconsin Web site revealed more than 11,000 openings statewide and nearly 100 in Manitowoc County.From emergency room nurse to bakery helper to quality systems specialist to welder to cook to physical therapist, employment opportunities exist in the Lakeshore area.This doesn't mean every out-of-work person will be able to jump right back into a dream job.Resources are available from a variety of Manitowoc County organizations to help individuals assess what additional abilities they may need — or perhaps resume or interviewing skills — to rejoin the ranks of the employed.For example, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. each Monday at the Manitowoc Job Center, 3733 Dewey St., Sandie Murray leads "Dislocated Worker Information" sessions."Give yourself time to grieve," the program manager for Great Lakes Training and Development Corporation, told 18 men and women gathered in a Job Center classroom last Monday."I'd like to stay in the I-43 corridor but not have to commute as far as Milwaukee," said Bruce Arneman of Mishicot who was laid off from his job as a computer programmer at Thomas Industries in Sheboygan.

For further details visit at : www.htrnews.com/article/20090621/MAN0101/906210361/1984

Jop opening for sports info asst director

Sports Information Student Assistant Assist Director and Assistant Director of Sports Information with the promotion of the University’s 15 NCAA Division II men’s and women’s sports.

Responsibilities : Maintaining statistics and assisting in media management at athletic events. General office work including filing, collating, stuffing envelopes, answering phones, faxing and copying. Availability includes some weekends and week nights.
Requirements : Candidates should have basic statistical knowledge of several sports (basketball, lacrosse, football, soccer, field hockey, volleyball and baseball/softball). Sound organizational and communication skills and passion for C.W. Post athletics are a must.

What the Candidate Will Receive: The opportunity to work closely with C.W. Post’s 15 men’s and women’s athletic teams. Improving writing and desktop publishing skills with InDesign CS2, Microsoft Word and Adobe Photoshop CS2, as well as statistical skills through The Automated Scorebook. Serving as media liaison to news outlets (Newsday, News12, WLNY, Associated Press) and WCWP, C.W. Post’s campus radio station.

Sarah Ralls, Director of Sports Information

C.W. Post Campus, Long Island University

720 Northern Blvd., Field House 202

Brookville, N.Y. 11548Fax: 516.299.2844

Email: sarah.ralls@liu.edu

For further details visit at : www.cwpostpioneers.com/sports/2007/6/28/jobopportunities_3327.aspx

C.W Post Department of Athletics - Job opportunities

The C.W. Post Department of Athletics is a member of the NCAA Division II, and any job postings within the department can be found

Job Opportunities
Athletic Operations Internships

Athletic Operations Internship Program
Intern - Football Operations Intern - Men's Soccer Operations Intern - Women's Soccer Operations Intern - Women's Basketball Operations

For additional information, please contact:
Matt Guercio Coordinator of Gameday Operations and Special Events

Athletics DepartmentC.W. Post Campus, Long Island University
720 Northern Blvd.Brookville, N.Y. 11548

Tel: 516.299.3361Fax: 516.299.3155

Email: matthew.guercio@liu.edu

Source : www.cwpostpioneers.com/sports/2007/6/28/jobopportunities_3327.aspx

job opportunities for youth : India to ink pact with Denmark

India would shortly sign an agreement with Denmark on social security and labour that would open up employment opportunities for skilled and semi-skilled youths, Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi on Sunday said. Negotiations with Denmark had been completed and once the agreement was signed, it would help young Indians aspiring for jobs, he said inaugurating a 'skill upgradation and pre-departure Orientation Programme for potential emigrants from Kerala' here. Ravi regretted that while the government was taking several measures for the benefit of people going abroad, there were complaints of misuse of "visit visas". He said the government had initiated steps to prevent women being taken overseas for domestic work using visit visas. The Centre along with the state governments would take stringent action against those misusing visit visa, the minister warned. Ravi urged job seekers to be careful not to fall prey to fake advertisements. Job aspirants should get in touch with 'helpline' at his ministry or NORKA office in Kerala to know the genuineness of such advertisements, he said. The ministry was taking steps with Russian authorities for repatriation of 60 Indian students, who were victims of such a scam and were held up in that country, Ravi said. The orientation programme, aimed at upgrading skills of 1,000 workers in Kerala, is organised by a consortium of organisations including KITCO, NORKA-ROOTS and ASSOCHAM.

Source : economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News-By-Industry/Jobs/India-to-ink-pact-with-Denmark-on-job-opportunities-for-youth-/articleshow/4684522.cms

SIFE India competitions began today with 6 teams

The first leg of the SIFE India competitions began today with 6 teams competing with each other to decide which amongst them will represent their region in the SIFE India National Competition. Following a tough competition with other SIFE Teams within Delhi, Amity University and Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies emerged as winners at Delhi Regional Competition of SIFE India. Both the teams will compete with 13 teams from other regions for the coveted position of SIFE India National Champion on 3rd July 2009, at Mumbai. The national event is one of the 40 SIFE National Competitions being held across the globe this year. The Winner SIFE Team of the SIFE India National Competition, will advance to the 2009 SIFE World Cup in Berlin, Germany from 4-6 October. "SIFE India through its educational outreach programs enables students of India to put to use what they have learnt inside the classroom with communities around them thereby spreading the spirit of Entrepreneurship and Free Enterprise. What these students do today will enable India achieve developed Nation status sooner,” said Keshav R Murugesh, Chairman, SIFE India and CEO of Syntel Inc., a leading global IT and KPO player.

For further details visit at : www.financialexpress.com/news/amity-university-shaheed-sukhdev-college-of-business-studies-emerge-winners-at-sife-india-competition/479747/

The Winning Teacher and $500 For the Winning School:

Schuylkill County’s VISION has a new incentive for local teachers to teach students about the county — an honorary title of Schuylkill County Teacher of the Year and a $1,000 prize. “That’s $500 for the winning teacher and $500 for the winning school,” Joanne M. Parulis, executive director of Schuylkill County’s VISION, said at a press conference at her Pottsville office Wednesday afternoon. It is the first time such a variety of organizations in Schuylkill County have come together to present an honorary title, according to Parulis and Evelyn Wassel, supervisor of professional development at Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29. “We’re looking for the teacher who goes above and beyond to teach students about Schuylkill County,” said Parulis, who came up with the concept, an initiative that is part of VISION’s Schuylkill Community Education Project. “The goal is to bridge the gap between business and education, and to educate all residents of our community about our businesses, quality of life, accomplishments and heritage,” Parulis said. The contest is open to the more than 2,200 pre-K through 12th-grade teachers in the public and parochial schools in Schuylkill County. There are about 25,000 students in the county, according to Parulis and Wassel. To be eligible to enter, Parulis said local teachers must develop and put into practice lesson plans focusing on the county. These plans could address the county’s agriculture and natural environment, people, economic development, energy, history, products made in the county or arts and culture. “We teach about all these other things that happen across the country but forget about our own backyard,” said Lori Kane, executive director of the Schuylkill Chamber Foundation. Wassel said she heard some schools were using books written by novelists Conrad Richter and John O’Hara. The lesson plans can be for either the 2008-09 or 2009-10 school year. Entries can be sent to Wassel via e-mail at wasse@iu29.org by Sept. 14.

For further details visit as : www.republicanherald.com/articles/2009/06/20/news/local_news/pr_republican.20090620.a.pg3.pr20vision_s1.2607353_loc.txt

Proposed in Mental Health Education :

She has watched her parents struggle for years to find services for her 12-year-old brother who has autism. So when her Grade 10 class sat down to brainstorm what issue was in the most pressing need of greater awareness, Chelsey was first to speak. She pitched the idea of having Queen's Park officially declare a provincial mental health education day. "I see it all around me at school and at home," said Henderson, 16. "There are all kinds of students who are feeling stressed." The brainstorming session was part of a project in her civics class at Waterdown District Secondary School. The idea for it came from MPP Ted McMeekin (Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale and Minister of Government and Consumer Services) who approached the school with the project that would teach students about governments and the inner workings of politics. Students put forward several ideas but a class-wide vote decided mental health was the most important issue. Teacher Nathan Tiddridge agreed with the students' decision. "It's an issue that's really been coming to the forefront lately and that deserves attention," said Tiddridge, adding he knows several students who are dealing with mental health problems. "It's becoming easier to talk about." Chelsey was pleased but not surprised her idea was so well received. "It doesn't get recognized the way it should so declaring a day would put it out there so people would learn about it." Hamilton Mountain MPP Sophia Aggelonitis has agreed to present a private member's bill in the fall to officially designate mental health education day.

Source : www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/586564

More education and training : OHS

In the words of employer Rosanne Galea, sound occupational health and safety practices depend heavily on education and training, not enforcement. Ms Galea, employers’ representative on the Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA) board, and the managing director of private training organisation Future Focus Ltd., said that money spent on enforcement could be better spent elsewhere. “Enforcement should only be used as a last resort and in cases where employers and employees continue to flout the law.” Ms Galea said that while adopting health and safety practices can be expensive, there needs to be more awareness of the advantages of investing in OHS practices. Research has shown that investing in safety and health leads to better company performance. Asked how employees react to new health and safety requirements, Ms Galea said employers naturally get different reactions from their people.“We cannot allow anyone to flout the law. The repercussions could be too big, for both employees and their employers. One employer said he gives his drivers safety shoes, but the minute they go in the truck to start their deliveries they change into normal shoes. “He finds it hard to monitor and control such abuse. Employees must play their part, because it is in their interest too that accidents are prevented.” She said employers provide support for employees interested in personal development, including training on health and safety. Training costs can be covered by grant schemes that are being made available to employers. Health promotion at work benefits not only workers, but also the employer, with potential reductions in sickness-related costs and improved productivity, said Ms Galea, adding that directly or indirectly, employers should provide employees incentives based on their performance.

Source : www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=89836

Scholarship Amounts is Increased CISD Education Foundation:

Recipients of Conroe Independent School District Education Foundation student scholarships will receive more next year. However, they will have to wait until after college graduation for more than half of their funds. The CISD Education Foundation board voted unanimously April 16 to increase student scholarships by $1,000 for a total of $9,000 per student. But $5,000 of that will not be awarded until the student returns to CISD to teach, foundation president Nelda Blair told the CISD board Tuesday. “We made the changes specifically in an effort to retain scholarship winners as CISD teachers,” Blair said Friday. Some students already do return to CISD to teach, “but not enough,” she said. “The whole idea is not just to send kids to school, but to grow our own teachers,” Blair said. Of the $9,000 scholarship, the foundation will award the student $1,000 per year for four years of study. Once a student signs on as a teacher with CISD, he or she will receive $2,500 as a first-year sign-on bonus, followed by another $2,500 for a second year with the district. “The thought being when they come back, they might have several offers, but this may make that difference,” Blair said. Teacher scholarships of $500 to be used within a year remained the same. One college even approached the foundation about forming a partnership to match funds for the teacher scholarships, Blair said, adding she could not disclose the name of the college since the idea had not been approved by its board. Since then, the foundation has distributed letters to other colleges offering to partner for teacher scholarship funds. The CISD Education Foundation formed in 2001 as a 501(c)3 to provide scholarships to graduating seniors who wish to pursue a degree in education. In April, six high school seniors and 19 CISD teachers received scholarships. Application forms for CISD Education Foundation scholarships are delivered to lead counselors at each CISD high school at the beginning of the calendar year. Applications are due Feb. 28. ounselors screen and select 10 students as candidates. A committee appointed by the foundation reviews the applications and chooses recipients.

Source :www.hcnonline.com/articles/2009/06/20/conroe_courier/news/cisd0620.txt

Happy hour card:it's always happy hour with this card.

O.C. entrepreneur provides link between penny pinching partyers and businesses. Nick Crane couldn't have picked a better time to start his new business, HappyHourCard in Fountain Valley. During a recession, consumers want to save money and businesses want customers. HappyHourCard links the two. HappyHourCard is an entertainment membership concept that provides discounts at more than 150 Orange County restaurants, bars, nightclubs and movie theaters. It's like those entertainment books without the printing costs. Crane calls it "a socially acceptable alternative to coupons." He's making a veiled reference to entertainment books often sold through fundraisers by nonprofit groups in different cities. These books have been around for decades and have coupons for shopping, home furnishings and car care in addition to entertainment venues. HappyHourCard concentrates on bars, restaurants, nightclubs and movie theaters.

For further details visit at:www.ocregister.com/articles/happyhourcard-crane-offers-2467805-company-entertainment