Friday, July 1, 2011

Hoya says Ricoh to buy its Pentax camera business (Reuters)

TOKYO (Reuters) ? Japanese optical glassmaker Hoya said on Friday it would sell its Pentax camera business to copier and printer maker Ricoh in a deal that will go through on October 1.

Hoya did not disclose how much Ricoh would pay for the business, but the Nikkei business daily said earlier it would be about 10 billion yen ($124 million). ($1 = 80.530 Japanese Yen)

(Reporting by Isabel Reynolds; Editing by Chris Gallagher)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/personaltech/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110701/bs_nm/us_ricoh_hoya_sale

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Buying Real Estate In South Africa May Be A Dream Come True For Many

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Source: http://www.hamstoo.com/Art/417758/408/Buying-Real-Estate-In-South-Africa-May-Be-A-Dream-Come-True-For-Many.html

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HTC Salsa and ChaCha now available on O2 UK

HTC Salsa and ChaCha

British network O2 is now offering HTC's new Facebook phones, the ChaCha and Salsa, on-contract and on Pay & Go. The ChaCha can be yours for £209.99 with a PAYG SIM, or for free on contract a number of 18 and 24-month contracts. Free contracts start at £21.50 for 24 months, or £26.50 for 18 months. If you go for a cheaper contract, you'll pay £60 up-front for your ChaCha.

The Salsa will set you back a little more. On Pay & Go, it'll cost you £299.99, and on-contract subsidized prices are a bit higher too. On a 24-month contract, £27 per month will be enough to get you a free Salsa, while the cheapest 18-month contract with a free phone costs £37 per month. Cheaper contracts are available, and you'll pay up to £105 for the phone if you choose one of these.

Hit the source links to view the complete list of O2 tariffs for each phone.

Source: HTC Salsa on O2, HTC ChaCha on O2


Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/mHh4eCwCCMo/htc-salsa-and-chacha-now-available-o2-uk

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Thursday, June 30, 2011

So Many Textbooks, So Little Time ? Nelta Choutari

So Many Textbooks, So Little Time:
Selection of English Curricula in the Public Nepali School System

Kent Grosh, ?Fulbright Teaching Assistant *

?

Though we are discussing English education, let us imagine for a moment we are with a primary school teacher teaching math at Grade 4.? The students are presented with this problem:

figure of a math problem

The basic approach to solving this problem, the one we would assume that the class 4 teacher would present, might be similar to this:

But perhaps some of the students are still having trouble understanding this problem.? They might not understand the formula, or perhaps they never learned their multiplication tables well and can?t remember what 6 times 8 is.? We would expect that the teacher goes through each step until every student understands how to get the answer.

But imagine that the school, in response to poor student performance in math, decided that teaching advanced math would help the students learn more.? The fourth grade math teacher is provided with an advanced math textbook, perhaps a calculus textbook, and asked to teach it to their students in order to help them improve faster.? In that case, the the solution to Problem 0.1 that the primary level teacher would present might end up looking like this:

Someone with a background in math would recognize that this approach is just as correct, mathematically, as the first solution, but it is not nearly as appropriate to the audience.? What good would teaching calculus to students in class four do, even if the math is right and we get the right answer?? Would the teacher expect this to improve the students performance, or would this perhaps confuse them even further, and distract them from the fundamentals that prevented them from understanding the question to begin with?? If the students have trouble with this simple problem, teaching them to solve it with calculus would likely result in hopelessly confused students who do not understand how to find the answer at all.

This scenario may sound absurd, but it is unfortunately more or less the approach that many public schools have taken to improving student?s English.? Most public schools, whether English medium or not, teach two English periods per day.? One period often uses the government text, but the other uses a supplemental text, examples of which are Headway English, New Nepali Reader, Lotus English, or Harmony.? Private schools, whose students are generally ahead of their public school peers in English, use similar texts, and the understanding among those who choose and write the textbooks seem to be that using similar curricula and materials to that of the private schools will create similar results.? Thus, the texts at use at least half the time in public schools are frequently much more advanced than the corresponding government text.? There seems to be a general consensus among public schools that the more advanced the material presented, the more students will learn.

Unfortunately, creating unrealistic expectations for students does not improve the quality of their education. There are a variety of reasons that factor into the gap between the performance of students in private schools and those in public schools, but attempting to correct poor English by increasing the difficulty of the textbook is analogous to correcting poor math performance in class four? by teaching them calculus. Frequently, these textbooks are so advanced that the majority of the material are too far above the level of the students? understanding for anything useful to be learned.? Rather than improving their English, the students gain nothing from the material presented, wasting the time that should be spent on creating a good, foundational understanding of English basics and fundamentals.

This is a writing sample I received from one of my class six students.? I present this not for criticism but simply for the purpose of comparison:

Ones upon a time there live in tiger and deer.? one day tiger was very hungry tigers look his lift side deer is going to drink and tiger eat that Deer.

In my experience, this sample is representative of a standard class six ability in English, and while it isn?t bad it is also clear there are still errors in basic grammar and spelling that need to be addressed; it seems that the simple past tense is not understood by the students, nor is punctuation.? By comparison, here is a sample from the textbook being taught in this class, this unit featuring a poem:

I saw a boy with eager eyes,/? Open a book upon a stall,/ And read, as he?d devour it all;
Which when the stall man did espy,/??? Soon to the boy I heard him call,
?You, Sir, you never buy a book,/ Therefore in one you shall not look.?
The boy pass slowly on, and with a sigh,/ He wished he had never been taught to read,
That of the old churl?s books he should/ have no need.

? ? ? ? ? ? ~Mary Lamb, in Foning and Panlook, Headway English Book 6, pg. 123

Imagine the student who wrote the first writing sample reading this poem.? Look at some of the words used, such as stall, devour, espy, churl.? Not only are these words advanced and infrequently used in conversational English, but in the case of espy and churl the student might never encounter these words again until a Ph.D. program.? So what is being taught here, aside from obscure vocabulary?? There is no basic grammar construction being focused on, in fact much of the grammar is incorrect due to the flexible grammatical rules of poetry.? As a teacher, there is no lesson to teach here, little to be practiced or taught that students will find useful, and nothing to engage them.? There is little option for the teacher but to simply translate the poem into Nepali and have the students memorize the required vocabulary for the exam, all of which they are?will likely?to forget afterward; it is unlikely they will encounter, or they will have opportunity to use, any of these words again anytime soon.

Unfortunately, this example is representative of many, if not most, of the supplemental texts at use in public school classrooms.? Not only does this approach to learning actually result in students learning much less than they would with a simpler textbook, but there are a number of other more subtle, but equally damaging consequences.? As most Nepali teachers will be able to tell you, Nepali students frequently find speaking English extremely difficult.? It is not unusual to come across class ten students who, having studied English for six or seven years and who can read and even write proficiently, find it difficult to have a simple conversation in English.? In part, this is a result of the student never having learned fundamentals properly.? While their vocabulary is impressive, students are often never properly taught the basic grammar necessary for simple speech.? Speaking in another language is difficult, even terrifying, for a language learner, and without confidence in simple structures and grammar students will never have confidence in speaking.? When will class six students ever use espy or churl in a sentence when they need to communicate something?? And why should they, when simple past tense and correct punctuation are still a struggle for them?

But perhaps the most unfortunate result of these texts is that it removes the potential for fun from the classroom.? Students do not and cannot enjoy learning material that they cannot understand, and when the text being taught is incomprehensible to them, how will they be able to take any interest in it, even if the story or passage has good content?? Overly difficult material eliminates the possibility of games, activities, or creativity that engages the students, resulting in boring, dry lessons and a rote-learning approach in order to do well on the examinations.? A good teacher will always be able to engage students with material that they already understand, but even a good teacher will struggle to make the incredibly advanced textbooks presented in the public school classroom interesting or fun.? A good teacher can always make simple material challenging to the students by incorporating creative activities, more difficult vocabulary, or language production like writing and speaking, which are things teachers should be doing anyway.? But it is much, much harder for a good teacher to make anything useful of the difficult and irrelevant content provided as textbooks in the public school classroom.

It is true that public school students are often behind their private school peers, but there are many positive aspects to public school English education, not the least of which are fantastic government textbooks for class six, seven, and eight.? If public school are serious about increasing the quality of education that their students receive, work needs to be put into making sure that students have a solid foundation in the fundamentals, especially at the lower secondary level.? Only then will they be ready for more advanced materials.? Without that, attempting to increase student?s English with the use of textbooks above their level is like teaching calculus to class four students who have trouble finding the area of a rectangle.

????-

*?From the Author: My name is Kent Grosh, and I have been teaching here in Nepal in a public school for about nine months.? It has been a wonderful experience; the students are enthusiastic and hard working, the teaching staff is dedicated and friendly, and there are many positive and encouraging things happening in the Nepali public school system that are often overlooked while lamenting the challenges at hand.? However, in this article I?ve chosen to highlight one common approach in public school English educational curricula that I believe is in need of change, with the hope this article might inspire some teachers and school administrators to assess their schools textbooks and ask whether they are appropriate to the abilities of their students.? ????

Source: http://neltachoutari.wordpress.com/2011/07/01/so-many-textbooks-so-little-time/

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breast cancer What is the doctor missing? | Breast Cancer

breast cancer What is the doctor missing?

Posted by admin on June 27th, 2011

These are useful and collceted by Breast Cancer!

breast cancer What is the doctor missing?Hi I have been fighting breast cancer since 1993 when I had a lumpectomy since then it came back I had a radical bilateral masectomy in 2004 since then it has spread to my kidney and other areas, I even went through two more lumpectomys because they
still missed some cells. and I have under gone chemo and radiation
almost constant since december 2004. What do you think the
doctors are missing? and why has it spread so bad. PS I am stage
4 cancer survivor.

-K H Z
Wow, 1993? That?s sixteen years?
Sorry, I have no idea but all I want to say is that is a really good thing that God keep you alive for a long time, best of luck. God bless you.(:

-Jessica
Keep fighting. I belive in you. :D

Share your answer? Leave your own answer in the comments! Breast Cancer Care Blog ? Breast Cancer Treatment Information and Pictures.

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Source: http://www.gobreastcancer.info/archives/breast-cancer-what-is-the-doctor-missing.html

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Significance Of A Small Business Accounting Staff Member

Enterprise Accountant

Enterprise accountants are a crucial component to any small enterprise. But it is just as critical to discover an excellent business account since just having one isn?t enough. An accountant is no longer just a number cruncher. They are monetary advisers and planners as nicely and they can point you in the proper direction to correctly manage and maximize your company?s income. They document specifically where the company?s money goes and they are up to date on present tax laws and can help a business save money where it may be losing cash with out an accountant. Because accountants are in charge of company finances it is critically essential that you locate an accountant with integrity, that is honest, and that can be trusted.

Certified Public Accountants

To turn out to be a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) an accountant have to pass certain qualifications. CPA?s call for a specific level of schooling as well as experience. They also need to pass rigorous testing to prove their competence. In addition they ought to continue their education so that they are informed on all the newest tax laws. Mainly because of these items a CPA is a considerably additional knowledgeable and informed accountant. When beginning out tiny companies generally want a CPA to make certain that they aren?t losing income where they shouldn?t be and to maintain their finances in incredibly very good order. There are many laws that a CPA will know about that a general accountant just won?t know since they haven?t had the schooling. CPA?s are much more expensive, but if you hire 1 that is trustworthy your accountant will tell you when you are paying them too significantly for services that could be handled by a general accountant.

What Does an Accountant Handle?

Accountants do a selection of tasks for modest businesses. They ought to be involved in the start off up method of any new organization. They can assist with preparing, negotiating leases, and setting up book-keeping systems. As soon as a company is up and running an accountant prepares tax returns, annual info returns, quarterly critiques, and can supply monetary suggestions. An accountant will set up efficient and organized book-keeping systems to make certain that any information required can be located quickly. An accountant can take care of business taxes as well as helping with personal tax planning. A lot of the time personal taxes are intertwined with small business taxes and having an accountant will assist to manage cash more effectively. Accountants also give a small business an opportunity to network and receive referrals that it would not otherwise receive. Accounts have a lot of diverse clients and they can let those clients know when helpful opportunities arise. They might bring in new clients to an enterprise they work for, or they could be able to facilitate new business partnerships that a business wouldn?t get without them.

Accountants are extremely valuable in the organization planet. If you are a tiny organization you will need a business accountant or a small business consultant to make sure that you aren?t wasting funds when you could be saving it. An organization accountant knows tax laws and can make certain that you pay what is essential and do not pay what you shouldn?t be paying. The value of having a small enterprise accountant can not be overstated. They are important to financial planning for a little small business and handling business taxes, which are governed by complex rules. An enterprise accountant can make or break a small business, especially if it?s just beginning out. You require to make positive that you have an accountant that is knowledgeable and that you can trust.

Compensation analyses are of great interest to me. I have many years of expertise in pay level statistics. Find of my writings at: How Much Do Accountants Make or at How Much Do Pediatricians Make

Source: http://squeezingthelinkjuice.com/significance-of-a-small-business-accounting-staff-member/

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Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Controversial Chuck Berry statue approved in St Louis (omg!)

ST. LOUIS (Reuters) - An eight-foot statue of rock and roll pioneer Chuck Berry was approved on Monday over the opposition of some local residents including one who said the Hall of Fame singer/songwriter should not be honored because he is a "felon and not a friend of women."

The University City council, which has jurisdiction over the spot where the statue is to be installed, rejected a last-minute petition drive by opponents, who gathered 100 signatures in a bid to block or delay the statue.

The leader of the opposition, Elsie Glickert, an 86-year-old former city council member, said the city had ignored procedure in allowing the statue to be built on a new public bikeway that intersects the Delmar Loop, a strip of restaurants, shops and clubs that includes Blueberry Hill, where Berry has played over 160 shows in past 15 years.

The owner of the club, Joe Edwards, helped raise over $100,000 in private funding for the statue, which depicts a young Berry wailing away on his guitar. The plaza where the statue is going be installed will also feature illuminated walls with laser-engraved musical notes of "Johnny B. Goode," Berry's signature 1957 hit. Concrete strips in the sidewalk will be etched with the lyrics of Berry songs.

Edwards said the statue would be installed later this week and dedicated at a July 29 ceremony that will feature an appearance by the 84-year-old Berry.

Glickert said at a well-attended council meeting that the statue should not be placed on public property because of Berry's past convictions. She said the statue was the result of "our previous dysfunction city management" and should be delayed for a full legal review.

Others in the audience supported the statue, including Edwards, who praised Berry as St. Louis's "most famous musical native son, who through his music changed race relations and culture around the world."

Berry's early career has been credited with shaping the music of the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan. He was recognized by the U.S. government with the Kennedy Center Award in 2000 and is a charter member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

No formal vote was taken, but a majority of the members spoke in favor of the installation. Mayor Shelley Welsch said it would be an "appropriate, positive" addition to the strip.

Glickert and her supporters opposed the statue because of Berry's 1962 conviction for violating the Mann Act, accused of transporting a woman across state lines for immoral purposes.

"This man is a felon and not a friend of women. It is a misuse of tax dollars to honor him on public property," Glickert said.

At a show in Texas in 1959, Berry met a young Native American woman who came to work at his St. Louis club, was fired and then arrested on a prostitution charge.

That led to the conviction and he spent three years in prison, where he penned several hits while incarcerated including "No Particular Place to Go."

Berry had more trouble in 1979 when he was convicted of tax evasion. He had been convicted of armed robbery as a teenager.

Berry performs to sold out shows at Blueberry Hill every month. He collapsed during a show in Chicago on New Year's Day but recovered in time to play his next show in St. Louis.

(Editing by Peter Bohan)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/entertainment/*http%3A//us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/external/omg_rss/rss_omg_en/http___omg_yahoo_com_news66003/42025765/*http%3A//omg.yahoo.com/news/controversial-chuck-berry-statue-approved-in-st-louis/66003

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