India Develops $35 "laptop"

India has come up with the world's cheapest "laptop," a touch-screen computing device that costs $35. India's Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal unveiled the low-cost computing device that is designed for students, saying his department had started talks with global manufacturers to start mass production.

"We have reached a (developmental) stage that today, the motherboard, its chip, the processing, connectivity, all of them cumulatively cost around $35, including memory, display, everything," he told a news conference.

To see the laptop in action select the "Read More" link below:

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Nuns Give Kids and Moms a Second Chance

Sister Teresa works with children who, for much of their early lives, only saw their moms a couple of hours a week during visiting hours - at jail.

"I was just moved to think a child was ripped apart from their mom," Teresa said. "The more I talked to the mothers I realized the mothers just needed a chance."

"Hour Children" meets moms in some of the toughest jails in New York. They offer women a fresh start.

On one block in Queens, Fitzgerald, or "Sister Tesa" as she's called - provides free housing and daycare, and thrift stores where former inmates can work and shop.
Next door to the store, there's computer training and job placement.

One of the main goals is making sure the women don't end up back behind bars. In New York state, more than 30 percent of female ex-convicts get arrested again. But the rate for Hour Children's is only 4 percent.







This posting was excerpted from this article, I encourage you to read the entire story:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/10/01/eveningnews/main6919890.shtml?tag=cbsnewsLeadStoriesArea

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Face to Faith Comes to Bay Area

Over 70 teachers from 25 public and private schools around the Bay Area joined Tony Blair, Founder and Patron of the Tony Blair Faith Foundation US, at the launch of the Face to Faith program in San Francisco yesterday. They engaged in a live video-conference with Tony Blair and two Face to Faith schools; Brighton High School, a public school in Utah and Edmund Rice College in Melbourne, Australia.

The Tony Blair Faith Foundation US’ Face to Faith global schools program enables high school students to become true global citizens, dedicated to peace-building and harmonious co-existence. Face to Faith connects students aged 11-16 from different schools in 15 countries across the world via video-conferencing and a secure website. The program aims to break down stereotypes and broaden horizons by engaging students of different cultures, religions and beliefs in discussing global issues from different perspectives. In the United States, schools in Utah, California, New York, Washington and Georgia are already active members of the global program.

Read Full Article

Visit the Tony Blair Face to Faith Foundation
http://www.tonyblairfaithfoundation.org/pages/schools

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Prom Dress Recycling

Times are tough and, in many families, money is tight. But no matter what the state of the economy is, girls want a beautiful gown for the prom. There are programs throughout the country that allow folks to donate their used formal wear, jewelry, and shoes so that everyone can go to their prom.

Watch  antother video
http://cnettv.cnet.com/recycling-prom-dresses/9742-1_53-50023313.html

Website - donate my dress:
http://www.donatemydress.org/

Another Website:
http://princessproject.org/

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Khan Academy

One of the most amazing educational resources on the Internet. Over 1800 free online videos and thousands of practice problems all produced by one man -- Salman Khan: Teacher to the World

The Khan Academy is a not-for-profit organization with the mission of providing a high quality education to anyone, anywhere.

Sal has videos on YouTube covering everything from basic arithmetic and algebra to differential equations, physics, chemistry, biology and finance which have been recorded by Sal at his home.

The Academy also has an "exercises" section which allows you to solve problems online, find out if you answered correctly and get hints if needed. After you have correctly answered 10 problems you are prompted to move to the next level.

Sal received his MBA from Harvard Business School where he was president of the student body. He also holds a Masters in electrical engineering and computer science, a BS in electrical engineering and computer science, and a BS in mathematics from MIT where he was president of the the Class of 1998. While at MIT, Sal was the recipient of the Eloranta Fellowship which he used to develop web-based math software for children with ADHD.

Tell all the Math teachers you know about this resource.

Khan Academy website
http://www.khanacademy.org/

Khan Academy Exercises
http://www.khanacademy.org/exercisedashboard

Google Awards Khan Academy $2 million prize
http://edudemic.com/2010/09/google-awards-2-million-prize-to-khan-academy/

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Good Sports Always Recycle

The Giants are in the World Series, sports miracles abound!!

The next time you attend a sporting event take a look at how the garbage is handled and consider getting involved to promote recycling.  After the crowds abandon their seats, it’s unbelievable to see how much waste has accumulated over a few hours.

Here is a success story we can all use as a model. For the past 17 years, the Good Sports Always Recycle™ program has not only encouraged University of Tennessee fans to recycle their plastic bottles and cups at every UT athletic home game, but also sparked competition among Tennessee schools.

Each year, the top 10 schools win $500 to improve their recycling program, a plaque, and a trip to a University of Tennessee football game. At the game, representatives from the winning schools will participate in a one-of-a-kind tailgate party with numerous special guests and will be honored on the field during the game.

Since the start of the program, 160 schools have been recognized for their recycling and environmental programs, and previous winners’ programs represent every aspect of recycling – from everyday paper and plastics to computer parts and cell phones.During that time they have achieved quite a recycling feat — 8 million plastic cups!

If Tennessee can do it - so can you. Visit their website to learn about the program. Talk to the other "soccer moms and dads" and mobilize your community. Who knows, maybe your school will be recognized and you can all go to a Giants game.

Read entire article:
http://www.blounttoday.com/news/2010/sep/06/good-sports-always-recycle-program-educates-challe/

GSAR website: http://www.eastman.com/GSAR/Pages/Home.aspx

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Shamans and Horses Work Magic on Autistic Boy

Rupert Isaacson decided to take his five-year-old  autistic son on a three-week trek across Mongolia on horseback, his wife thought he’d gone crazy.  Rowan was autistic: incontinent, uncommunicative and given to fearsome bouts of nerve-shredding screeching, even at home.

Rupert had noticed that Rowan responded positively to a neighbor's horse, he also had learned about Shaman from Mongolia who were  reported to have strong healing power. He combined the 2 experiences and went to Mongolia in 2007.

“Three months ago he had no maths, now he’s exactly where he should be,” Isaacson says. “He’s started drawing. He’s doing chores to save up for a baby chick. We went away to Mongolia with a kid who was subject to neurological fits, who was incontinent and completely cut off from his peers. He is still autistic, but he’s no longer suffering from these major dysfunctions which were impairing his quality of life – and ours.”

Rowan is seven now. He is educated at New Trails, a special centre set up by his parents near Austin, Texas, with the money from their publishing advance. At the New Trails centre, autistic children are given time to spend with horses, rabbits and goats. One of the problems with the endless round of behavioural and occupational therapy Rowan had in his early years was his rigidity, Isaccson says; at New Trails the children can interact with the animals at their own pace.

Rowan's adventure was filmed and made into a documentary:
Over the Hills and Far Away, a documentary filmed during the journey.
View Trailer here - http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2898395673/

Read an in-depth story here:
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/article5779851.ece

Rupert wrote a book about the experience - The Horse Boy - available at amazon

The Horse Boy Foundation - http://www.horseboyfoundation.org/

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