Author: Serkadis

  • Will Google Pull Out Of India, Australia And Other Countries Over Internet Censorship?

    After posting about Google’s bold and certainly laudable decision to stop censoring content in China, someone reminded me that it was just a week or so ago that we were writing about how Google was cooperating with the Indian gov’t to block “objectionable content.” It’s worth noting that China, as it has said in the past, is defending its censorship policy by claiming that it is necessary to protect people from objectionable content like pornography, fraud and rumors. So, if that’s the case, is Google planning to stop censoring in India, too? Or what about Australia, which announced plans to censor the internet (yet again) last month?

    Rebecca MacKinnon is asking basically the same question over at The Guardian, pointing to questionable internet laws that can stifle freedom of expression online in Italy, France and the UK (if the Digital Economy Bill passes). This isn’t to knock Google — as it was a bold move to call an end to censoring results in China — but it does make you wonder where the principles begin and end. Considering the similarities of what’s happening in China to that story about India just last week, it seems that Google might want to clarify when it does and when it does not work with governments to block certain sites.

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  • Give Yourself a Facelift at Home with the iSurgeon iPhone App

    image0012 Give Yourself a Facelift at Home with the iSurgeon iPhone AppWow if you thought iPhone/iPod Touch Apps couldn’t get any more ridiculous this latest one takes the cake. iSurgeon is a beauty app that just doesn’t let you see how you will look with a new hair color – no no. This one lets you see how you will look post plastic surgery!  Created by surgeon Dr. Michael Salzhauer – iSurgeon features two modes: Game Mode and Advanced Surgery Mode.  Game mode lets you play doctor on patients and you are provided with hints to give your patients the desired results. Advanced mode is probably the one everyone will want to use as you can take images of yourself and alter them to show how you would look with a smaller nose, no double chin, etc… iSurgeon will retail $0.99 for the lite version and $1.99 for the pro version. It’s like having your own version of Nip/Tuck at home without the pain.

    image0031 Give Yourself a Facelift at Home with the iSurgeon iPhone Appimage002 Give Yourself a Facelift at Home with the iSurgeon iPhone App


     Give Yourself a Facelift at Home with the iSurgeon iPhone App


  • Chinese Gold Production Explodes To Record Levels As Surging Prices Ramp Supply

    Chinese gold production for 2009 is expected to hit an all-time high of 310 tons once full statistics are released, according to the World Gold Association.

    CCTV: The world gold association predicts that global gold production in 2009 exceeded 2500 tons… 3-and-a-half percent higher than 2008. This is the first rise in world gold production in 9 years. China’s 310 tons represent an output jump of over 10 percent year-on-year. However experts stress that maintaining such robust growth in production does not necessarily mean more negative impact on the environment.

    Song Xin, Deouty GM of China National Gold Group, said, “We aim to be the world’s No.1 producer not only in production volume, but also in environmental protection. We give high priority to protecting environment in production. We put 5 percent of annual investment in building energy-saving and recycling facilities.”

    The pie charts below, from Goldsheet, show just how quickly China went from being a tiny meaningless gold producer to the world’s fastest growing and largest.

    From 0.5% (not even shown) of world production in 1990…

    Gold Chart

    To 6.2% in 1995…

    Gold Chart

    Then 10.9% by 2007…

    Gold Chart

    And 12.2% by 2008.

    Gold Chart

    Join the conversation about this story »

    See Also:

  • Renault F1 Teams Up with OMP Racing

    The Renault F1 Team has signed a three-year technical partnership with OMP Racing, Italy-based motorsport equipment supplier. As part of the agreement, OMP Racing will provide safety equipment for the team’s cars, together with technical equipment and clothing for the drivers and mechanics. Maybe the most important contribution will be brought by OMP’s new weight-saving seatbelts. At the other end of the scale we find the last item mentioned on the official list, underwear for the team’s drivers… (read more)

  • Magic Wand Destroys H1N1 — and More!

    78326AFrom the folks at Hammacher Schlemmer comes this extraordinary device:

    Tests performed by an independent antimicrobial testing laboratory showed the wand destroyed 99.98% of the H1N1 virus after a five-second exposure when held 3/4″ above the contaminated surface. Also capable of killing MRSA, mold, and dust mites, the UV-C light penetrates viral and bacterial membranes and destroys their DNA, rendering the microorganisms incapable of reproduction and survival.

    It’s worth noting that this thing became available just as the number of flu cases began to plummet.

    Do we have this magic wand to thank?

  • Detroit 2010: Transportation Secretary LaHood ponders another round of cash-for-clunkers

    Filed under: , , ,

    Cash-for-Clunkers was among the more watched auto-related story lines of 2009. With the industry hurting, the government provided cash vouchers of between $3,500 and $4,500 to anyone who turned in a vehicle that was eight (or more) years-old and with between two and 10 miles-per-gallon worse fuel economy numbers than the new car or truck with which it was replaced. The program went from fledgling idea to a done deal in a matter of a few months, showing that the U.S. government is capable of move quickly when it really wants to, albeit with the help of a big fat $3 billion check.

    The feat was reportedly so impressive to Department of Transportation Ray LaHood that he openly wondered whether the program should be reincarnated for 2010. Motor Trend reports that LaHood told reporters at the Detroit Auto Show that Clunkers was “the most wildly successful program ever, selling 800,000 cars in less than 30 days.” It sounds like LaHood was really impressed with how C4C panned out, but will the program and its multi-billion dollar price tag resurface in 2010? LaHood says the DOT won’t be begging for any spending money, and he insists that any decisions will need to be made by Congress in the year ahead.

    Motor Trend
    says that despite LaHood’s hands-off approach to Clunkers, there are persistent rumors that C4C could resurface in the second quarter of 2010 with perhaps less bountiful tax incentives and a less exorbitant price tag. We have no idea if C4C has any chance of making a cameo in 2010, though we’re thinking that the consistent uptick in sales after Clunkers expired shows that the industry is beginning to improve without additional government intervention. Why spend money propping up an industry that seems to be doing a swell job of helping itself? Let us know what you think by heading over to the Comments and giving us your two-cents.

    [Source: Motor Trend | Image: Justin Sullivan/Getty]

    Detroit 2010: Transportation Secretary LaHood ponders another round of cash-for-clunkers originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Jan 2010 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Report: Asian automakers closing in on 50% share of U.S. auto sales

    Filed under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

    While it may come as no surprise that Asian car companies are constantly gaining market share in the U.S. market, the actual numbers are quite amazing. Ten years ago, companies like Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Hyundai and the rest accounted for a little more than one-quarter of total light-vehicle sales in the States. By 2005, that figure stood at 36.6 percent. By 2007? 41.9 percent. In 2009, Asian automakers sold a full 47.9 percent of the cars and light trucks we Americans bought.

    These numbers come from the latest report by Ward’s Auto. Perhaps predictably, that same dispatch tells us that American automakers were hurt the most by those Asian gains. General Motors, Ford and Chrysler were once part of an American auto industry that accounted for nearly 70 percent of sales in 1999. The Detroit Three had just a 44.8 percent market share a decade later. The European automakers have also gained a bit in the U.S. over the past decade. Still, they only account for 7.3 percent of the market right now.

    If the Japanese and Korean manufacturers post gains for 2010 that are similar to the 2009 increases, they will pass the 50 percent mark for the first time in history. Individually, companies like Toyota have fared the best, nearly doubling their slice of the American pie, going from 8.7 to 17 percent since 1999. While Ford shared the biggest gain last year compared to 2008, they were also one of the decade’s biggest losers, dropping 8.3 percent. Maybe last year’s gain is a sign of recovery for the domestic automakers, but the troubles at GM and Chrysler don’t bode well for the group. Check out the full breakdown by clicking the Ward’s source link below.

    [Source: Ward’s Automotive]

    Report: Asian automakers closing in on 50% share of U.S. auto sales originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Jan 2010 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Hyundai-Kia stamps out own steel plant… celebrates with awesomely bad video?

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    Hyundai Steel – Click above to view video after the jump

    Most of the big automaker players have gotten out of the steel-making business, but according to Automotive News, the HyundaiKia Automotive Group is just getting into it. More to the point, Hyundai and Kia have bought into a $5 billion steel mill operated by sister chaebol company Hyundai Steel. The mill’s aim is to “boost synergy effects among affiliates by creating a circular production and recycling link between steel manufacturing, steel processing and car making.”

    With an in-house operation, the two companies can be more assured of getting the quality and quantity of high-tensile steel that they need to build their cars at more stable prices. Hyundai’s stake in the plant is 12.6 percent, Kia’s is 21.4 percent, and between them, they’ll use 50 different types of steel from among the 225 types manufactured at the environmentally friendly plant. The other steels will reportedly be used for ships and electronics.

    The first blast furnace was lit last week and will be able to provide four million tons of steel annually. The second furnace is expected to be finished early next year, and will provide the same amount again. Even so, Hyundai said it will need steel from other sources.

    Remember when the word “Hyundai” meant “Excel,” and not “juggernaut?” While you ponder that thought, be sure to click on the jump to watch an amazing so-bad-it’s-good promotional video from the folks at Hyundai Steel.

    [Sources: Automotive News – sub req’d; Hyundai Steel]

    Continue reading Hyundai-Kia stamps out own steel plant… celebrates with awesomely bad video?

    Hyundai-Kia stamps out own steel plant… celebrates with awesomely bad video? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Jan 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Puppy Saved By Mouth-To-Mouth [VIDEO]

    Firefighters in Houston say a Chihuahua pup was saved by mouth-to-mouth resusciation after being rescued from a burning apartment complex earlier this week.

    Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy


  • Adapted Physical Education

    HPER P398
    Adapted Physical Education
    Course Introduction

    Welcome to your service learning experience focusing on the community of disability and physical activity. The purpose of this class is three-fold: (1) to understand the legal requirements as designated by Public Law 108-446, (2) to understand the unique characteristics of disability and how it can affect teaching, and (3) to learn as you participate in your service learning experience, the unique attributes of families and individuals with disabilities as it pertains to their challenges, their development, and their daily life. The course philosophy is, “We must become the change we want to see in the world”…..Mahatma Gandhi

    For you to change the way we teach students with disabilities in physical education, you must change the way you see disability. As you participate in class and your service learning experience, I will ask you to talk about ability versus disability. Your reflections will document not only your experience but also how the experience has heightened your learning and understanding of course concepts including the concept of disability.

    The true engagement of service learning also comes from reciprocity of an experience. Depending upon where you have your experience, I will ask that you learn from the families and the participants themselves. Expectations include weekly contact with the families and participants which will assist you in understand their child’s or personal needs through the experience. This communication, or what we will call reciprocity of learning, is essential to your experience. Families who have children with disabilities have very unique needs and experiences as a result of disability. What you can learn from them will enhance your teaching of their child. Individuals with disabilities also experience the world differently that you and I. Their desire for physical activity may also be significantly different than yours so your understanding and appreciation of such will be vital to your experience.

    Concluding your service learning experience is your clinic report. This report acts to summarize your reflections and reveal your professional expertise for the next service learning student. You will be asked to write in your report specific, achievable physical education goals and objectives (i.e., IEP), behavior management strategies, and future assessment items for the following semester. This information is shared with families and participants for their use or knowledge regarding their child or self.

    I hope that you look forward to your experience both in and out of the classroom. If fully realized, the experience will shape you as a person and as a teacher.
    Dr. Stanton-Nichols

    HPER 398: Adapted Physical Education
    Spring 2010

    Instructor: Katie Stanton-Nichols, Ph.D.

    Introduction:
    The purpose of this course is to provide the student with an understanding of disability as it pertains to teaching individuals with disabilities in the physical education environment. Course information will extend to federal legislation, assessment, placement, and teaching styles used with students with disabilities. Additionally, students will be engaging in a service learning program that will enhance their understanding of unique disability characteristics, assist in understanding teaching modifications, and assist in providing a quality physical activity program for the local disability community.

    Course Objectives related to IUPUI’s Principles of Undergraduate Learning:

    • Integration and Application of Knowledge
    • (IAK)
    • Knowledge and applied understanding of the unique physical, social and learning characteristics associated with the various disabilities.
    • Knowledge and applied understanding of referral, assessment and placement process for possible special education programming.
    • Knowledge and applied understanding of family perspectives concerning ability and disability.
    • Knowledge and applied understanding of the physical educator’s role in the team process to educating students with disabilities.
    • Understanding of the decision making process regarding placement as related to individuals with disabilities.
    • Critical Thinking (CT) Ability to conceptualize disability
    • Ability to distinguish between social construction of disability and personal perception of disability
    • Ethics (E) Understanding of the challenges related to teaching individuals with disabilities
    • Development of personal philosophy regarding individuals with disabilities
    • Writing (W) Ability to write in an expressive, concise and communicative manner
    • Technology (T) Ability to use the computer effectively and efficiently (e.g., word processing and reference)

    Required Text:
    Auxter, D., Pyfer, J., Zittel, L. Roth, K. & Huettig, C. (2008) (11th Ed). Principles and methods of adapted physical education. McGraw Hill.

    COURSE THEMES

    There will be four major themes discussed in this course: (1) legal mandates related to special education and adapted physical education, (2) teaching modifications, (3) behavior management, and (4) disability characteristics and modifications. Each will be discussed in some detail, however, please note that certain details will not be covered due to time constraints.

    1) Legal Mandates in Special Education and Adapted Physical Education:
    We will begin the course discussing legal mandates. Adapted physical education is by law, a service that all students with disabilities must receive. The laws are very specific and require you to understand how students qualify for services. We will discuss, in detail, specific laws that outline adapted physical education services and responsibilities of teachers. The expectation is that you will carry this knowledge throughout the semester understanding how it relates to other course content.

    2) Teaching Styles and modifications:
    While many of you may think the main purpose of this course is to discuss how to teach students with disabilities, you may also find that working with students with disabilities is quite simple and practical. Teaching modifications are often a result of several factors and often, generalizing about how to modify gives the teacher the wrong impression. We will discuss particular “must do’s” with certain disabilities, practice management styles, and observe equipment modifications. You will not become experts but you will gain experience and confidence in your abilities.

    3) Positive Behavior Management:
    Teaching requires management; simply sharing information with students doesn’t always help students learn and planning activities that are fun doesn’t ensure student’s attention to the task. There are specific management styles often used to help students with disabilities stay focused in order to learn. There will review these styles and during your clinical experience, you will have plenty of time to practice.

    4) Disability Characteristics:
    The federal law defined specific disability categories that can receive special education services. During the course, we will discuss how the law views disability as well as how specific categories may be affected by participation in physical education. Discussion of these characteristics will be discussed towards the later part of the course.

    COURSE REQUIREMENTS

    Research Assignment 50 points
    To help prepare you for your clinical experience, you will be required to search the web and literature to find out “as much as you can” regarding your client’s disability. Minimum you are required to search two web sites and two research/topic articles, summarize the information, reference your citations, and submit to the professor. Summary must be typed and no less than two pages. Submission can be in paper or electronic forms.

    Barrier Free Paper 60 points
    You will be required to spend 4 hours in a wheelchair or otherwise disabled during a day. The purpose of this assignment is to broaden your experience in a wheelchair/disabled, the barriers faced, the physical constraints of the campus and the modifications you had to make during your day. After spending your 4 hours in the chair, you will be required to write a summary of the events that took place during your “adventure” (2 page minimum-12 pt. font, standard margins).

    APE Service Learning Experience 140 points
    You are required to attend a pre-arranged practicum sight for a total of 14 hours. Each session is worth a total of 10 points and you will be graded on your performance during these sessions. These practicum settings are crucial to your learning experience and cannot be dismissed.

    Clinical Portfolio 150 points
    You will be asked to put together a portfolio related to your clinic experience. Because each of you will participate in a different setting, the requirements for this assignment will differ. See Appendix C for further details.

    Disposition Assessment 100 points
    You will be assessed on how you evolve as a teacher during this course. This assessment will be reviewed with you during the first week of class and assessed throughout the course.

    Exams 225 points
    There will be three exams given throughout the semester. If you have 97% or above in the class, you will not be required to take the last exam. The exams will be a combination of multiple choice, short-answer and essay and will be elaborated upon when necessary. FAILURE TO TAKE THE LAST EXAM WITHOUT THE APPROPRIATE PERCENTAGE EXEMPTION WILL RESULT IN A FAILING GRADE.

    Assignment Point Value Principles of UGL
    Research Assignment 50 T, W, IAK
    Barrier Free Assignment 60 CT, IAK,W,E
    Clinic Attendance 140 IAK
    Disposition Assessment 100 E, CT, IAK
    Clinic Portfolio 150 CT, IAK, W, E
    Examinations 225 IAK, CT, W, E
    Total Points 725

    Grades
    Your grades will be calculated by dividing the number of points you have earned on each assignment by the total number of points possible (%). Final grades will be based upon the following percentages:

    100-98= A+ 89-87= B+ 79-77= C+ 69-66= D+
    97-94= A 86-83= B 76-73= C 65-62= D
    93-90= A- 82-80= B- 72-70= C- 61-60= D-

    COURSE POLICIES

    Clinic:
    Your attendance requirement that will affect your grade is your attendance at your clinical. If you miss a clinical experience, 10 points will be deducted from your grade. If you are late and do not call either Dr. Stanton or one of the program assistants, 5 points will be deducted from your attendance grade. YOU CANNOT MAKE UP UNEXCUSED CLINIC ABSENCES. The only reasonable excuses to miss clinical experiences are illness, REAL family emergencies, or other such circumstances. Additionally, your clinic grade will be deducted by 5 points each time you come to clinic unprepared (e.g., no lesson plan, incomplete lesson plan, improperly dressed, missing forms, etc.)

    Class:
    Class attendance is not required but obviously highly recommended. I will not give unscheduled tests or quizzes but the schedule will most definitely change. PLEASE NOTE, FREQUENT ANNOUNCEMENTS REGARDING SCHEDULE CHANGES ARE MADE IN CLASS AND ARE NOT ALWAYS POSTED ON ONCOURSE….IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO FIND OUT THE CHANGES.

    Exams:
    Missed exams cannot be made up unless circumstances allow (as decided by the professor). If you have an already schedule conflict on an exam day, you must schedule to take the exam before the date on the syllabus. If you do not qualify to miss the last exam and fail to take it, you will fail the class.

    Assignments:
    All assignments are due on the date and time listed on the syllabi or per changes as announced by the professor. You must turn in all assignments in class at the beginning of class. Late assignments are not accepted unless PREVIOUSLY arranged by the professor student.

    Unacceptable Behavior:
    In clinic:
    Clinic is a professional experience and must be treated as such. Dress, preparedness, and behavior are of the utmost importance. Therefore, you will be graded on all aspects of your behavior at clinic. Specific requirements will be identified during clinic training.

    In class:
    Certain behaviors in class make it hard to teach. Continual talking to classmates and joking, cell phones ringing, and sleeping are certainly distracting and somewhat intolerable. Perhaps the most annoying behaviors are attempts to plagiarize or cheat on an assignment. I would much prefer they not occur. Any incident of cheating will be dealt with according to University policy and will be reported.

    At schools:
    One’s behavior at schools will always be representative of IUPUI and the department. You must regard your behavior at the schools the same as defined in clinic training including dress, preparedness, and general professionalism.

    TENTATIVE TEACHING SCHEDULE-THIS SCHEDULE MAY CHANGE

    Dates Topic Readings and Assignments PUL’s
    Week One
    1/13-1/15 Intro/Class Orientation
    Explanation of course requirements
    Definition of Adapted Physical Education
    Federal Legislation Ch. IAK, CT, E

    Week Two
    1/20-1/22 Placement Options/Assessment
    Least Restrictive Environment
    Inclusion Ch. CT

    Week Three
    1/27-1/29 Individualization (concept of..)
    Identification of learner needs
    Activity Modifications
    Teaching Modifications Ch. IAK, CT

    Week Four
    2/3-2/5 Exam Review
    Exam #1

    Week Five
    2/10-2/12 Positive Behavior Management
    Discussion of Clinics
    Managing students in LRE continuum Ch.
    Research assignment due IAK

    Week Six
    2/17-2/19 Cognitive Disabilities Ch.
    Web based readings IAK, E

    Week Seven
    2/24-2/26 Social Emotional Disabilities Ch.
    Web based readings IAK, E

    Week Eight
    3/3-3/5 Exam Review
    Exam #2

    Week Nine
    3/10-3/12 SPRING BREAK

    Week Ten
    3/17-3/19 Sensory Disabilities
    Orientation and Mobility Barrier Free Assignment Due
    Ch. IAK, CT, E

    Week Eleven
    3/24-3/26 Orthopedic impairments
    Ch. CT

    Week Twelve
    3/31-4/2 Orthopedic impairments Ch.

    Week Thirteen
    4/7-4/9 Neuromuscular Disabilities IAK, CT, E

    Week Fourteen
    4/14-4/16 TBA
    4/16-Clinic Portfolio Due

    Week Fifteen
    4/21-4/23

    Week Sixteen
    4/28-4/30 Exam review

    Final Exam May 5th, 10:30-12:30pm

    Clinic, Settings, Dates and Times

    Ability Fitness Clinic
    Tuesday 5:15-7:00pm
    National Institute of Fitness and Sport Motor Activity Clinic
    Saturday 8:45-10:45 am
    Natatorium Gymnasium
    Clinic Training 2/17

    School of PETM Conference Room

    • Introduction
    • Review of Policies and Procedures
    • Review of clinic manual and assignments
    • Review of client information
    • Tour of NIFS Clinic Training 2/21

    School of Physical Education -HP Lab

    • Introduction
    • Review of Policies and Procedures
    • Review of clinic manual and assignments
    • Review of client information

    Clinic Participation:
    Clinic participation is a vital aspect of this course. Working with your clients will provide you will a better understanding of course principles and certainly help your confidence in programming for those with disabilities. While you may have reservations about the time required outside of class or your ability, please rest assured that you will be adequately prepared and will definitely learn along the way. Training sessions are designed to provide you with more detailed information. You will not meet your clients until the following week. The remaining dates you will work with your client directly.

    Motor Activity Clinic:
    The IUPUI Motor Activity Clinic (MAC) serves families and children with disabilities in Indianapolis and surrounding community areas. Housed in the Department of Physical Education at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, the clinic offers physical activity and aquatic instruction for children, ages three through 15 with various types of disabilities. 
Since 1997, nearly 450 children with disabilities have participated in the clinic, which continues to be a fundamental source for families who want additional physical activity opportunities for their children. The clinic, while focused on children, also serves to educate families and future professionals in the area of disability and activity. The clinic does not provide free therapy from licensed therapists. Instead, our volunteers are primarily comprised of students who are seeking degrees in physical education, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and related areas. By participating, students and volunteers receive invaluable experience working with children and are truly the heart and soul of the program. 
 Children learn through a variety of experiences, practice, and continual challenge. The clinic strives to provide activities that meet the needs of individual participants.

    Ability Fitness Clinic:
    The Ability Fitness clinic is an exercise program designed to meet the needs of adults with disabilities. Participants will receive a individualized assessment and exercise prescription designed specifically by participating students. The program strives to increase the function and independence of those participating as well as helping students learn best practices in exercise modification for individuals with disabilities.

    Appendix A
    Designing your Portfolio
    Your portfolio is due April by 5:00pm (NO EXCEPTIONS)

    Submission and format:
    At the end of the your semester, you will submit your portfolio for grading. Have your portfolio well organized. This is a reflection of you, your professionalism, and your personality. You may submit your portfolio in paper or disk form, however, I will need you to send me a copy via email or give a copy to me on disk. IF you are capable of developing your portfolio as a website, I would strongly suggest you do.

    Clinic Portfolio Introduction:
    Your clinic portfolio is designed to be a reflection tool that documents your learning as you engaged in your clinic experience. The report will be used to grade your experience. As such, I will consider the quality of your reflection, the degree to which you genuinely engaged in your experience, and your ability to write about the experience for public dissemination. This is your opportunity to display your talents and proficiencies and demonstrate your knowledge and skills. The question that should be asked is, “What am I trying to tell the reader about myself?” All portfolios must include:
    A brief yet interesting biographical sketch; not a lengthy resume or page-filling paper of yourself. A short essay that tells the reader about yourself and your professional goals. This should include why you chose physical education as your field, what kind of teacher you plan to be, and how you plan to incorporate diverse teaching approaches in your classroom.

    Responses to the following questions:

    • Previous to this experience, how many opportunities had you had to work with students with disabilities in a physical education/activity setting?
    • What was your perception of people with disabilities prior to this experience?
    • Have any of the above changed since taking part in your service learning experience? If so, how? If not, why?
    • Given the limitations of a semester, what other experiences or opportunities would you like to have had that would increase your understanding of disability?
    • If you could chose one thing about this class that you want more of or less of, what would it be and why?
    • As you move towards your professional career, what are your plans to appropriate implement IDEA and FAPE into your teaching practice?

    A short essay about your teaching philosophy, how you teach and how your teaching has changed since having this experience. Avoid any lengthy discourse but clarify how or if your approach to teaching may change as a result of this experience (be speculative and consider that you may have a variety of teaching situations)

    **Further details regarding content will be shared with you towards the conclusion of your experience.

    Appendix B
    IEP Report Format
    Name of Student: ___________________________________

    Present Level of Motor Performance:

    Student’s needs, preferences, interests in physical education/activity:

    Annual Goals (3):

    Short-term Objective(s)
    Assessment
    Criteria Modifications Needed to achieve goals

    Appendix C
    Research Assignment

    Why you are doing this assignment:
    The purpose of this assignment is to prepare you for your clinical setting. You will be assigned a student or client to work with during the semester and to help you prepare yourself, you will be required to search the web for information about a particular disability. This is a low stakes writing assignment that asks you to integrate you knowledge of technology and critical thinking skills.

    Directions:
    1) Information regarding your client’s disability will be provided during clinic training
    2) Search at least five web sites to find information about the disability, teaching modifications, and other potential useful information
    3) Summarize (including the web site addresses) and attach your Word document containing the information below to the instructor (kstanton {at} iupui(.)edu)
    4) 2 page minimum

    Point Allocation:

    o Web/Articles reviewed 5 points
    o Must include copies of articles
    o Summary of information 45 points
    ➢ Characteristics of disability
    ➢ Recommendations for teaching
    ➢ Recommendations for interaction
    ➢ Other information

    Critical Thinking Skills:
    • Reading actively
    • Carefully exploring the internet for information
    • Evaluating information
    • Synthesizing information

    Requisite Skills:

    • Email account
    • Computer skills (P200)
    • Ability to move around the internet

    Appendix D
    Barrier Free Assignment

    Why you are doing this assignment:
    We will spend a considerable amount of item discussing disability in terms of physical activity and education. However, sensing disability requires feeling what it means to access the world while disabled. While this assignment certainly won’t emulate living with a disability, the assignment may give you a sense of what others experience on a day to day basis. This is a high stakes writing assignment that will require in depth analysis of your experiences. I would like these experiences to be detailed but be sure to make them yours. This assignment will require active participation, active listening, and a synthesis of your experiences.

    Technical Expectations:

    • 2 page minimum, typed, 12-point font, standard margins (R/L, top/bottom)
    • APA formatting
    • Page # bottom center
    • 4 hours in a wheelchair, blind-folded, or otherwise impaired
    • activity participation in at least 2 different settings

    Requisite skills:
    • Ability to use computer
    • Critical thinking and integration of knowledge skills
    • Knowledge of APA formatting
    • Ability to create your own experience

    Required Content Points:

    • Fundamentals of your experience
    • Where you went in your 4 hours
    • Why you chose your locations
    • Barriers faced in your journey
    • Differences compared to your typical mode of travel
    • Other pertinent information

    25 points

    • General impressions of your experience
    • Improvements you would suggest to enable accessibility
    • How your experiences made you think about physical activity modifications
    • Suggested social, environmental, or educational improvements
    • based upon your experience
    • Other general or more specific information

    35 points

  • AMD’s latest mainstream graphics chips could snatch market share from Nvidia

    amd radeonNvidia is very late with its graphics chip, code-named Fermi. Meanwhile, Advanced Micro Devices launched its latest graphics chip in September. Today, AMD launched a new graphics card with a version of that new chip for under $100.

    That means that the pendulum is swinging back toward AMD, which stands to gain market share in the ever-fluid graphics chip war. The newest ATI Radeon HD 5670 has support for the Microsoft DirectX 11 included in Windows 7 and it features the ATI Eyefinity technology, which can power three displays from one graphics card. Nvidia talked about Fermi in October, and it showed a working version at the Consumer Electronics Show last week. But it has made no announcement about when it will ship its first chip.

    Sunnyvale, Calif.-based AMD has now beaten Nvidia for two product generations. It will be interesting to see how the market share figures change. Of course, AMD still has to worry about graphics that integrated into chip sets. Intel dominates that business. But these low-end Radeon chips mean that ATI’s strategy is working. Rather than design huge chips with a lot of non-graphics processing power, as Nvidia is doing, ATI is opting for streamlined designs. It’s easier to take these streamlined chips and make multiple product lines out of them, allowing AMD to quickly proliferate a new design from the high-end to the low-end of its product family.


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  • Moldover’s limited edition Mojo MIDI controller for serious musicians with seriously deep pockets (video)

    When 21st century renaissance man Moldover couldn’t find the controller with, and we quote: “”the intuitive tactile response” that he needed to supply the blips and buzzes that are his stock and trade as a performing musician, he built his own. And he’ll sell you one — for about $1,800 bucks. Mojo is a 12-inch by 18-inch (give or take) mahogany box with all the touch strips, arcade console buttons, knobs, faders, and toggle switches you need to rock the house party, club, or where ever it is that you move bodies (the morgue maybe? Sorry, that was a bad joke). This is a USB MIDI device, and as such there are no drivers to install — but the dude does kindly supply an Ableton Live MIDI map. Oh, and the faceplate is scratch-resistant anodized aluminum. What — you’re still reading this? You’d better hurry up and order, only twenty will be made. Ships in March. Video after the break.

    Continue reading Moldover’s limited edition Mojo MIDI controller for serious musicians with seriously deep pockets (video)

    Moldover’s limited edition Mojo MIDI controller for serious musicians with seriously deep pockets (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jan 2010 11:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Kodak files patent lawsuits against Apple and RIM

    Apparently Kodak’s attorneys were having a little courtroom separation anxiety — just a week after settling that long-running patent case with Samsung, they’ve filed three separate actions against Apple and RIM based. Two of the cases are based on the same patent at issue in the Samsung litigation: the first is an International Trade Commission complaint alleging that iPhones and BlackBerrys infringe the Kodak patent on previewing images, while the other is filed solely against Apple in the Western District of New York and also includes a patent on processing images at different resolutions. Apple’s also the sole focus of the third case, which alleges infringement of several patents on computer programs calling to other programs — sounds obvious, but Kodak’s already enforced them against Sun in a 2004 case. Kodak says all it’s after is fair license terms, and that it’s not trying to push anything off the market — the man with the gun always sounds so reasonable, doesn’t he?

    Kodak files patent lawsuits against Apple and RIM originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jan 2010 10:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Boeing Awards AH-64D Apache Block III Work to Science Engineering Services in Huntsville

    The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has selected Science Engineering Services Inc. (SES) to perform disassembly, inspection and repair on AH-64D Apache helicopters in preparation for their upgrade to the Block III configuration.

    The program will create approximately 70 new positions for aviation and avionics mechanics, structural installers, and aviation quality inspectors within SES.

    “Boeing is pleased to welcome Science and Engineering Services to the Apache Block III program,” said Al Winn, Boeing vice president, Apache Programs.

    “The capabilities of the SES organization will enhance our efforts as Boeing continues to produce Apaches for the U.S. Army and international customers.”

    “As a supplier team member working on the Apache program, SES will add to the scope of aviation work being performed for Boeing in North Alabama and provide additional aerospace employment opportunities in the region,” said Tony Jones, Boeing vice president and Huntsville site executive.

    SES will receive U.S. Army Apache helicopters at the SES West Aviation and Integration Facility in Huntsville, where the aircraft will be disassembled, inspected and repaired as necessary.

    SES will then ship the components and airframes to Boeing in Mesa, Ariz., for integration into the newest model Apache helicopter, the AH-64D Apache Block III.

    “This decision by The Boeing Company will positively affect the Tennessee Valley over the course of the next several years,” said E.J. Sinclair, CEO of SES.

    “We look forward to being an integral part of the Boeing Apache Block III team and working on the greatest attack helicopter in the world. This work continues to build Huntsville’s reputation as a Rotary Wing Center of Excellence for the Army.”

    About Boeing Defense, Space & Security

    A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is one of the world’s largest defense, space and security businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world’s largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft.

    Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is a $32 billion business unit with 70,000 employees worldwide.

    MEDIA CONTACT:Carole Thompson, 480-891-2119
    Boeing Rotorcraft Communications
    [email protected]

    Patricia Soloveichik, 256-461-2803
    Boeing Huntsville
    [email protected]


  • 5 Sweet and Savory Primal Shakes

    primal shakes1 5 Sweet and Savory Primal ShakesSome days, a fork and spoon can feel like a bit of a hassle. Okay, not really, but the temptation to simply drink our food is one we give into now and then when convenience is a priority. A Primal shake is a good way to mix things up, treat yourself to a healthy snack in the afternoon or add a little extra something to an evening meal. Some shakes, even without the addition of dairy or added sugar, can even satisfy a hankering for dessert.

    When you’re making a shake, it’s tempting to throw anything that looks good into the blender, stick a straw in it and suck it down. But be careful; what started as a healthy snack or meal-replacement can quickly turn into a huge glass of carbs and sugar.

    In the following recipes we avoid this pitfall by limiting sweeteners and starting our shakes with a solid base of healthy fats, ideally, 50-70% of the total calories. Coconut milk, nut butters and avocado are a good starting point, and you don’t have to choose just one. Coconut milk and nut butters are practically decadent together and coconut milk with avocado is a soothing combination worth trying. The avocado loses all its savory inclinations and blends into a shake with a slightly sweet flavor and incredibly creamy texture.  An occasional spoonful of seeds will add fat too, as will a drizzle of coconut or olive oil, or an egg if you’re so inclined. Which leads us to the next layer in our shakes: protein.

    Generally speaking, you’ll want to shoot for 10-30 grams or so of protein. Again, nut butters are great for this, and a scoop of whey protein can boost the protein content of any shake. Once you have your fat and protein in place, the last thing to consider is keeping the carbs in check.

    Try not to total more than 25 g per shake; the lower the better. Though, of course the precise carb count will depend on your particular goals. Berries work well here. They’re carb/antioxidant ratio is tough to beat and they’re high in flavor, so a mere 1/2 cup is usually plenty.

    Even if you concoct the perfect ratio of fat, protein, and carbs, it’s all for naught if the shake doesn’t taste good. If you throw ingredients into a blender in clean-out-the-fridge mode you might end up with some questionable flavors and colors. Then again, you might stumble onto some combinations that are pure genius. We already mentioned the avocado/coconut combination we stumbled upon. We’re equally fond of the refreshing combination of blueberries and kale, and a savory shake made with tomato and cucumber. We’ve provided recipes for these shakes and a few more to get you started, but experimenting is the best way to come up with your own favorite. For example, the last two recipes are delicious as-is but are low in fat, so you might want to either add some fat or create them as a complement to a fatty Primal meal.

    Tell us what you think in the comment board. Share your thoughts on your personal favorite Primal Shake concoctions. Grok on!

    Coconut Avocado

    CoconutAvocado Ingredients 5 Sweet and Savory Primal Shakes

    • 1/2 avocado
    • 1/4 cup coconut milk
    • 1 scoop whey protein
    • 2-4 tablespoons water (optional, if needed for texture)
    • 1/2 – 1 cup ice

    FitDay says:

    Calories: 461
    Fat: 36.2 g
    Carbs: 17.2 g
    Protein: 26.9 g

    Chocolate Almond

    ChocAlmond ingredients 5 Sweet and Savory Primal Shakes

    • 3 tablespoons almond butter
    • 1/4 cup coconut milk
    • 2 teaspoons cocoa powder
    • 1/2 – 1 cup ice
    • 2-4 tablespoons water (or other liquid)

    FitDay says:

    Calories: 519
    Fat: 43.7 g
    Carbs: 16.5 g
    Protein: 26.0 g

    Spicy Tomato

    SpicyTomato Ingredients 5 Sweet and Savory Primal Shakes

    • 1/2 cup chopped tomato
    • 1/4 cup chopped cucumber
    • 1/2 avocado
    • 1/3 cup frozen spinach or a small handful raw spinach
    • 1 teaspoon hot sauce or black pepper, or to taste
    • squeeze of lemon
    • 1/2 cup ice

    FitDay says:

    Calories: 148
    Fat: 10.9 g
    Carbs: 13.2 g
    Protein: 3.1 g

    Berry-based shakes tend to be higher in carbs and lower in fat, which is why we prefer drinking them right before or after a meal that is high in fat and protein, like eggs or steak. You can, however, up the fat content in either of these shakes by adding half an avocado, a spoonful of coconut milk or oil,  nut butter, or yogurt if you eat dairy.

    Vanilla Berry

    VanillaBerry Ingredients 5 Sweet and Savory Primal Shakes

    • 1/3 cup frozen berries
    • 1/4 cup coconut water
    • 1 scoop whey protein
    • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
    • sprinkle of cinnamon or fresh mint

    FitDay says:

    Calories: 177
    Fat: 0.9 g
    Carbs: 26.5 g
    Protein: 17.9 g

    Blueberry Kale

    BlueberryKale Ingredients 5 Sweet and Savory Primal Shakes

    • 1/2 cup frozen blueberries
    • 1/4 cup coconut water
    • 1 stalk kale, chopped (stem removed). Kale is easiest to blend if you either boil it for 1-2 minutes or put it in the freezer for 30 minutes or so.
    • 1 scoop whey protein

    FitDay says:

    Calories: 166
    Fat: 1.8 g
    Carbs: 22.8 g
    Protein: 19.9 g

    primal shakes1 5 Sweet and Savory Primal Shakes

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    Related posts:

    1. Sweet and Salty Primal Trail Mix
    2. Primal Energy Bar Redux: Making a Better Bar
    3. Primal Pies: Fill ‘er Up

  • Are European Leaders All Freaking Out At Once Because They Saw The Same December Economic Data?

    carla-nicholas-sarkozy.jpg

    Three makes a trend right?

    • Angela Merkel almost dared traders to go short the euro, telling a newspaper that Greece would threaten to buckle the currency.
    • ECB chief Jean-Claude Trichet said today that interest rates will remain super-cheap.
    • Nicolas Sarkozy said this past weekend that he wanted the government to take a more active role in currency manipulation (i.e. make the euro cheaper).

    Gee, what gives? Maybe they all saw ugly December numbers — like the production data out of Germany — showing a return to recession. They’re freaked out about jobs going to low-cost United States.

    Either that, or it’s just a total coinicidence that the three most influential players in the EU are all talking about this right now.

    Your pick.

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  • Haiti Telethon, Hosted By George Clooney, Jan. 22 On MTV & VH1

    George Clooney is joining the list of stars — including Brad and Angie, Lance Armstrong, and Wyclef Jean — using their international starpower to help Haiti after a devastating earthquake rocked the impoverished nation on Tuesday.


    George will be hosting a telethon for Haiti that is set to air on MTV and VH1 Jan. 22, the Up In The Air actor The Hollywood Reporter’s Roger Friedman Thursday. According to Friedman’s scoop, George has been in touch with celebrity pals — including Sting — who have agreed to participate in the fundraising event.

    Nearly 500,000 Haitians are feared dead after the earthquake that struck just outside Port-au-Prince.


  • Despite Growth, Apple Slips a Spot in U.S. Computer Sales Rankings

    Two separate studies have been released ranking sales of computers in the U.S., and both agree that Apple has fallen one place compared to results from the same quarter last year. In both studies, one of which comes from research firm IDC and one of which comes from Gartner, Apple placed fourth in Q4 2008 results, and had dropped to fifth during the Q4 2009 period.

    IDC found that Mac sales in the U.S. had climbed by 31 percent compared to last year, but that despite that strong growth, sales hadn’t kept up with increases in the industry at large. Cheap Windows machines helped create a banner year for the PC side of things. Gartner came up with slightly less impressive numbers for Apple during the quarter, with a growth rate of 23 percent.

    That’s quite a difference, and represents a 40,000 machine gap between the figures found by the two companies. It’s a large enough gap to affect whether Apple falls under or above the average gain among all companies listed in the rankings. By comparison, PC makers HP and Toshiba had incredibly strong years, growing sales by 45 percent and 71 percent respectively.

    In a quote from Computerworld, Gartner analyst Mikako Kitagawa explains what Apple’s doing wrong to miss out on the promising industry numbers, and its a tune we’ve all heard before:

    The U.S. market last quarter continued to be very price driven. If a company is not in the low-priced market, it’s absolutely difficult for it to increase market share. And Apple did not do as well as others in share because of its prices.

    Netbooks and cheap laptops are flying off the shelves, in other words. That being the case, the growth numbers might not mean as much to Apple as they might otherwise. If companies like Toshiba and HP are making their gains on the backs of underpowered machines of questionable build quality, and ones that might also have lower profit margins than Apple’s line, then it might not be growth that Cupertino is interested in. I maintain that we’ve yet to see the fallout of selling so many cheap machines so quickly. Wait a couple years till they start showing significant failure rates, then we’ll see how long-term growth is affected.

    The general recovery of the PC industry is good news for Apple, though, even if it didn’t reap as many of the direct benefits as some of its rivals. The bottom line is that people are once again willing to spend money on consumer electronics, and computing devices specifically. The climate is a much better one in which to introduce a tablet than it has been in recent memory.

  • WooThemes Expands To ExpressionEngine; More Themes Coming

    woothemes_logo_final

    WooThemes, a maker of premium themes for WordPress, is moving its focus from just WordPres to other platforms with todays launch of ExpressionEngine themes.

    With support for ExpressionEngine blogs, WooThemes is currently launching two paid themes, Coffee Break and Fresh News, and one free theme, Bueno. All three are compatible with ExpressionEngine 2.0, as well.

    According to WooThemes Co-Founder, Adii Pienaar, the company is working over the next few months to port all of their most popular WordPress themes over to ExpressionEngine.

    The Standard Package (Single Site License) costs US$90, while the Developer Package (Multi-site License) is priced at US$180 for the themes, much like the WordPress theme pricing.

    In addition to the new ExpressionEngine themes, WooThemes also has Drupal, Joomla and Textpattern themes in various stages of development right now.

    Screen shot 2010-01-13 at 7.26.11 PM

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  • Literacy Intern: Creating Reading Opportunities for the Blind & Print Disabled

    Bookshare (www.bookshare.org) is a project of Benetech, a non-profit technology company that looks for ways in which technology can benefit humanity. Bookshare is one of its biggest projects — and is currently the largest digital library of accessible books for people who are blind or have other print disabilities. But the collection is far from complete. Our members have a deep passion for reading. Given that less than 5% of the world’s books are available in accessible formats, the need for Bookshare is great. Through an amazing virtual system our community of volunteers helps bridge the gap, book by book.

    This exciting internship involves a combination of crucial tasks with Bookshare’s Collection Development department which is responsible for growing our online library of accessible books for people with print disabilities. Responsibilities include:

    • Running quality checks on books that have been scanned and submitted to the collection
    • Proofreading high priority scanned books for the collection
    • Assisting with the creation of a proofreading manual for partner organizations
    • Running inventory checks on books ordered for processing

    We are looking for people with the following qualities:

    • Attention to detail
    • Excellent written communication skills
    • Ability to work independently
    • A passion for reading, and an interest in working with a non-profit at the intersection of books, technology and disability service