Category: News

With Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) siding again with the Republicans, the Senate for the second time just failed to agree to start debate on Sen. Chris Dodd’s (D-Conn.) financial regulatory reform proposal. The vote, which is going through final processing right now, was 57 to 41, with 60 needed to break a Republican filibuster and proceed to formal consideration of the bill.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) plans to continue holding these cloture votes every day in an attempt to show Republican obstinacy in the face of popular and necessary reforms.

Sure, the timing on this Photoshop Contest gallery is a liiiiiiittle awkward. But hey, the show must go on! Here are some other ways El Jobso could retaliate for that whole iPhone thing. More »

Staying at the Hilton for his first-year wedding anniversary, Brian and his wife had to suffer through two different groups of fellow guests prank-calling his room, excessive noise, and a non-working air-conditioner. They did give him one free night for his troubles, but that didn’t make his experience any less unpleasant. Here’s the letter he just shot off to the CEO of Hilton Hotels and other top-ranking executives to express his dissatisfaction. It got him his entire stay refunded, a voucher for two-nights stay at any Hilton, and, holiest of holies, an apology from the manager.

Dear Mr. Nassetta,

I recently stayed at the Hilton for my first wedding anniversary. My wife and I travel as often as possible, and we usually enjoy staying in the Hilton family of hotels, including Doubletree, Hilton, and Hilton Garden Inn. We choose your hotels because we enjoy nice amenities and quality service.

During this particular stay (April 2010), we had a very unpleasant experience. A very large group of high school music students were checking in right behind us. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but I sure did later that evening when they were wrestling in their rooms until about 2am, and running up and down the corridor. My wife travels with ear protection to help her sleep at night, so I figured that she may enjoy some rest. That notion went out the window as soon as the prank phone calls started. Evidently, some of the more clever high school students decided to call my room repeatedly, indicating that they were Hilton “room service” and that they were confirming my order of 15 pizzas. I know – why didn’t I think of such a clever ruse at the tender age of 15? Needless to say, the volume of the bedside phone is rivaled only by a select few jet engines and/or mythological banshees. My wife was not pleased.

On top of the tremendous noise being made by the students, the air conditioning unit in the room wasn’t functioning properly, blowing warm air instead of cold, which made resting very difficult.

That was just the first night of a three night stay.

I work in an industry in which I have customers, and not everything is within my control. So I do understand that the story above may leave you thinking “It’s not OUR fault that some rowdy high-school kids caused a commotion”. I would tend to agree with that sentiment. However, being the type of consumer that values my hard earned dollars, I called down to the front desk (or so I thought) to ask for some assistance with the air conditioning and the noise.

To my dismay, the call was sent to another “front desk” (the location of which I am still unsure) who asked me what the problem was. I explained, after which the attendant asked “You wanted the HILTON front desk, didn’t you?” My first question is, who in God’s name SHOULD I be calling when I press the Hilton front desk button on my insanely loud
in-room phone?

I was apparently transferred from that point to the actual Hilton front desk, where I was again asked to tell my tale of unpleasantness. The front desk “manager” said that she would send someone up to “check” on the noise level. She also said that she would send up a maintenance technician to investigate the air conditioner. “No thank you!”, I said, realizing the pain I would suffer if I had to ask my wife to dress so we could exit the room for a few minutes while the technician determined the cause of the problem. “I would like to wait until morning for the maintenance crew to inspect the air conditioner, but I would be happy if the noise level could be reduced”.

That call was made at approximately 12am. The noise level had not subsided by 2am or so. I’m not really sure because I’m fairly certain I passed out from exhaustion.
The following morning my wife and I left our room rather early, hoping to get a jump on our day. We returned to our room around noon, and noticed that the air conditioner had not been fixed, and that housekeeping hadn’t been by. I called down to the front desk, and I spoke to the day manager, who was much more polite than the night manager. She said that she would have maintenance up to the room immediately and that housekeeping gets a late start due to an 11 am checkout time. Understandable I suppose. So I decided that it would be in my best interest to leave the room for awhile and return later. We returned about 2.5 hours later to find the exact same situation, only the room was now hotter.

I called the front desk again and spoke the manager, who indicated that she would reduce my charge by one night’s stay (which after the whole ordeal, I am thankful for), and would get maintenance to check again. I asked if it would be possible to move to a similar room that may be available. The manager indicated that if the air conditioner couldn’t be fixed, then she would try to reserve another room for me.
The air conditioner was fixed that evening. I thought all was well and that we’d enjoy a peaceful night’s rest. Wrong.

Another group of teens had checked into the hotel, and were just returning from Medieval Nights as my wife and I returned from dinner. The same situation as the night before ensued, only this time, the phone calls consisted mainly of heavy breathing.
Again, I called the front desk (wiser this time, asking to speak with the “Hilton” front desk). The night manager (who was entirely unpleasant and unhelpful) indicated to me that there was nothing she could do, and that I should just hang in there because this particular group would be checking out the next day.

Mr. Nassetta, I would be a liar if I said that money was not important to me. However, when I plan a trip, even a short one such as this, I fully intend on spending money for the hotel that I book. In return for that money, I expect a certain level of service, which is why I chose the Hilton and not Motel 6.

I am incredibly disappointed with the level of service that the staff at the Myrtle Beach Hilton provided. I am appalled that I was not immediately moved to a different floor, or a room that was not adjacent to a group of high-schoolers. This hotel has 16 stories. I’m certain that they did not occupy every floor. I am flabbergasted that I was booked on the same floor as a very large group of teenagers, considering that the staff at the Hilton must have known that this group was going to be present.

The next time I book a hotel room, it will not be with any chain that falls under the Hilton family umbrella.

Sincerely,

Brian

And this is the second email we got from Brian, telling us his EECB worked:

I just received a phone call (post-EECB) from the hotel manager at the Hilton I stayed at. He is making sure that the charges for my stay are reversed, and he is sending me a voucher for a two night stay at any Hilton hotel.

All of that is fantastic, and I certainly won’t complain about it. What really sealed the deal for me is that the hotel manager apologized. I realize that the situations caused by other guests are not caused by the Hilton or it’s staff members, but I felt like I was fighting an uphill battle against a staff (particularly the late shift staff) who did not care about my situation. I am thankful for the apology and the reimbursement, but the apology over the phone means more than a cold, callous voucher alone ever would have. Kudos to Hilton for making this right.

Once again, the all-mighty power of the Executive Email Carpet Bomb reigns supreme. To learn how to make and send one, check out “How To Launch An Executive Email Carpet Bomb.”

Student Turning 90

Jim Olster will spend the morning of his 90^th birthday like he spends every other Wednesday. He’ll pull on his workout pants and a T-shirt, grab his cane and head to his Harper College fitness class. The longtime Arlington Heights resident is in his 13^th year with Harper’s Healthy Living Exercise Program, a course offered through the College’s Continuing Education Department and designed to build up and maintain core muscles and keep members – who range in age from 40-somethings to Olster’s 89 – physically fit. The three-times-a-week class has Olster doing regular stretches, maneuvers and cardio workouts, and he scoffs at the idea that age is a reason to stop moving. “Being older is not a good excuse,” he says. “Sure, it’d be easy to stay home, but my family believes this is good for me, and so do I. I enjoy it.” His 8 a.m. Harper class will ring in Olster’s ninth decade with cake, coffee and a congratulatory birthday visit from College President Dr. Ken Ender on Wednesday, April 28 – but the students will be put through their fitness paces first. “I said, ‘You’re here to work out,’” Instructor Vickie Scott says, “So we have to get a little class in.” Impressed by Olster’s milestone birthday, she scanned the roster and discovered that 16 of the roughly 50 students in Harper’s Healthy Living Exercise Program are 80 or older. Olster is the eldest – “I could call everyone ‘Junior,’” he jokes – and says he’s also among the students who’ve stuck with it the longest. “He’s very young at heart,” Scott says. “He and the others are making a decision to stay healthy and stay active, and they do it on a regular basis. They’re my inspiration.” The class includes warm-ups that incorporate hand weights, stretches and leg work; students also use Harper’s Fitness Center for cardio workouts. Olster, who favors the stationary bike, walks with a cane but doesn’t exercise with it. In lieu of the class’ traditional floor exercises, he sits in a special folding chair – a classmate had it embroidered with his name – for stretches and weights. A retired production executive for Time Inc. magazine publishing company, Olster has seven children, 12 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Harper’s Healthy Living Exercise Program meets three times a week, with 6:45 a.m., 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. options. The class stresses movement and fitness, so that participants can, as they progress through life, continue to do the things they’ve always done. “Being active is good for your cognition, your memory, and everything,” Scott says. For more, call 847.925.6300 or visit www.harpercollege.edu/ce.

Media Note: Olster’s classmates and instructor will celebrate his 90^th birthday around 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 28, in Harper’s Building M. For a specific location or interview requests, contact Erin Brooks, Media Relations Specialist, 847.925.6159, [email protected].

Fulbright Award

Harper College International Student Coordinator Jill Izumikawa will spend two weeks in Korea this summer – representing Harper and the United States higher education system as the recipient of a Fulbright grant for International Education Administrators. Izumikawa, one of only four recipients nationally, will visit colleges and meet with Korean university officials and government organizations in the capital city of Seoul and in outlying cities. She says the trip is a perfect opportunity to tout Harper as the College embarks on a new era under the leadership of a new President, and looks forward to gaining a new perspective on the country that many Harper students call home. Nearly 40 of the international students enrolled at Harper for the fall semester were from Korea. “I get to know all our students as individuals, but I yearn to know their culture on a deeper level,” she says. “This experience will be the final link I need. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance to forge powerful relationships and see Korea’s higher education system firsthand. That in turn can be a catalyst for discussion, understanding and perhaps even campus programming and curriculum on Harper’s campus.” The daughter of a military family, Izumikawa grew up in England and, as a college student, studied in Mexico, sealing her love for international education. She worked for 15 years at the University of West Florida – managing the growing international student population, launching an annual “Celebration of Cultures” and helping establish the college’s English as a Second Language center. Her Fulbright application included a five-page personal statement, a two-page statement from Harper and three recommendations. Those materials were reviewed by the Council on International and Exchange Scholars in Washington, D.C., the Fulbright Korean-American Educational Foundation in Korea and, finally, the 12-member Presidentially appointed J. William Fulbright Scholarship Board. “It was such a good opportunity, and I never even imagined it would truly be mine,” Izumikawa says. She’ll leave for Korea on June 12. Harper has had a steady number of international students from Korea – a reflection of the northwest suburbs’ demographics. Most of the College’s international students live with family in the district while studying at Harper.

Media Note: For interviews with or pictures of Jill Izumikawa, contact Erin Brooks, Media Relations Specialist, 847.925.6159, [email protected]. Photos of her trip, and a video interview regarding her experience, will be available to reporters upon her return.

Harper Fashion

Dozens of garments – including funky wearable art pieces that take fashion to the extreme – will hit the runway at Harper College’s 2010 Fashion Show, a showcase of looks by award-winning Harper fashion design students. This year’s edition of the annual professional-caliber show is themed “Refined Chaos,” and highlights the fabric manipulations, like draping and gathering, that make garments stand out on the runway. Showtimes are 1:15 p.m., 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Friday, May 7 in the Wojcik Conference Center on the main campus, 1200 W. Algonquin Road in Palatine. Tickets are $20 for general admission. VIP passes are $40. They are available for the 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. shows and include special seating and a 7 p.m. reception featuring hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction, a gift bag and a cash bar. Proceeds from this year’s show will benefit a new fashion student scholarship in honor of Neil Tufano, a longtime fixture in Harper’s fashion department who played an integral role in the annual show. He died last year after a battle with cancer. Donations to the Tufano scholarship fund also are welcome at the show.

Media Note: Photos of some of this year’s most unique fashions can be viewed and downloaded via Harper’s Flickr feed: http://bit.ly/bipf7S. Contact Erin Brooks, Media Relations Specialist, 847.925.6159, [email protected], for more or for interviews with student designers.

Redefined Chaos Photo Opportunities:

Show Set-Up, Noon to 10 p.m. Thursday, May 6. Harper students and professional lighting/sound crews will turn the Wojcik Conference Center into a fashion house.

Dress Rehearsal, 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, May 6.

Behind the Scenes, Noon to 3 p.m. and 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, May 7. A backstage look at working the runway: is it like it appears on television? Female photographers/reporters only.

Refined Chaos, afternoon show, 1:15 p.m. Friday, May 7.

Refined Chaos, early evening show, 6 p.m. Friday, May 7.

VIP Reception, 7 p.m. Friday, May 7.

Refined Chaos, evening show, 8 p.m. Friday, May 7.

Zumba for All

Harper College will offer a free, open-to-the-community Zumba course at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 4 in the Building M Gymnasium on the main campus, 1200 W. Algonquin Road in Palatine. The class, offered through the College’s “Wellness Lives Here” yearlong wellness program, is part of a continued effort to promote a healthier campus and community. Zumba is a dance fitness program that fuses Latin and other international music with easy-to-follow moves for an energetic alternative to the usual cardio workout. The routine incorporates cardio moves and muscle toning and strengthening. Created in the 1990s, the classes – recognized by leading fitness educators but intended to make exercise fun – now are offered throughout the world, and the popularity is continuing to grow. Harper’s hour-long edition is the latest in its line of wellness programs, all of which are open to the community and free. Participants are encouraged to register to participate in Zumba. To reserve a spot, email [email protected].

Press Contact: Erin Brooks, Media Relations Specialist, 847.925.6159, [email protected].

Harper Hospital

Upstairs in Harper College’s Avanté Center, a series of rooms has been transformed into a hospital wing – complete with stocked patient rooms, a nurse’s station, a call light system, a birthing room and nursery, and a supply room where students can pull their own meds for ailing patients. It’s real-life experience with a college-campus twist: the patients are talking mannequins that can be posed and programmed to simulate a variety of ailments, and students’ medical techniques can be watched by professors and videotaped through one-way mirrors for critique later. The new simulation hospital – one of the first of its kind in the state – offers hands-on, team practice for students in Harper’s healthcare programs by mirroring the workings of a real healthcare facility. Nursing students will be able to consult with cardiac technology students regarding particular patients, refer a “patient” to ultrasound students or work with peers in the dietary technician program. “Students are going to walk into a space that looks exactly like a hospital, and they’ll do things exactly as they would have to do in a real hospital, because we want them to make real decisions and we want them to have to solve real problems,” Simulation Coordinator Barbara Gawron says. “We’ve recreated a healthcare reality in a controlled, safe environment. They can practice and they can make mistakes, and they can learn in an atmosphere that teaches them so much more than traditional formats.” Harper’s simulation hospital will be formally unveiled at an event on Wednesday, May 5; the public will be able to tour it at a fall open house. The revamped area will include a computerized system for charting medical records, iPod Touches that will be used as clinical reference tools, and a computerized medical administration system. The area also will allow faculty to set up simulations that mimic national and world healthcare issues; the simulation hospital could, for instance, become a mock triage wing for H1N1 cases. Harper nursing students already have been using mannequins and other simulation technology, but Gawron says the fully-stocked simulation hospital will step the experience up a notch. Students will be exposed immediately to a hospital format and be able to practice the skills they’re learning day to day in an environment that replicates reality.

Media note: Students will use the virtual hospital for a simulation exercise from 8 a.m. to noon Thursday, May 6. Reporters and photographers are welcome to attend. Healthcare students and faculty also are available for interviews. For details of the simulation, or to book an interview, contact Erin Brooks, Media Relations Specialist, 847.925.6159, [email protected].

Unemployed Volunteer Program

Good things happen when people volunteer. They gain confidence. They gain skills. They feel needed, and they realize their potential for doing good work. All of that can spill over into job interviews, giving volunteers a clear job-hunting advantage in a competitive market. That’s the reasoning behind Catch 22, a new Harper College program that places unemployed Northwest suburban residents in volunteer positions – allowing them to build their resume, boost their confidence and get a foot in the door of a potentially new career. “When you’re unemployed, a lot of people don’t want to hire you,” says Nancy Wajler, Adult Learning Special Assistant. “This new program is helping those who are out of work gain valuable experience, explore new passions and strengths, and show potential employers they can be valuable in the workplace. It can really increase their marketability.” The program kicks off this month on a pilot basis, with volunteers working in various departments on Harper’s campus. “Harper is a city within a city, with numerous opportunities for volunteers to expand their skills in various areas,” Wajler says. The goal is to eventually take the program on the road, placing volunteers in businesses across the suburbs. The potential volunteer pool already comprises about 400 local residents with a variety of skills and employment histories. All are members of Harper’s Career Stimulus program, launched last year to provide post-layoff help to local workers. The process used to link Catch 22 volunteers with internships will mirror the process of hiring a full-time employee. Applicants will meet with a Harper career coach to review their resume, undergo a background check, and be interviewed by their potential supervisor before a decision is made. Volunteers will work for 30- or 60-day periods, or be assigned to complete a specific project. “It’s really a great situation for everyone involved,” Wajler says. “This will provide invaluable experience for the volunteer, but it also will provide supervisors with additional help, at no extra cost.” Catch 22 participants must be Career Stimulus members – annual memberships can be purchased for $85 – and have completed Harper’s NetWorthing seminars on making networking worthwhile. The next Career Stimulus meeting is from 9:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Friday, April 30 at the Wojcik Conference Center on Harper’s main campus, 1200 W. Algonquin Road. Each monthly meeting includes networking opportunities and breakout sessions on things like acing interviews and building resumes. For more on Catch 22, contact Mahreen Mehdi at 847.925.6000, ext. 2388, or [email protected]. For more on Career Stimulus, visit www.harpercollege.edu.

Media Note: Catch 22 participants are available for interviews about the program. To arrange interviews with them or with Harper officials regarding the Catch 22 program, contact Erin Brooks, Media Relations Specialist, 847.925.6159, [email protected].

Career Programs, Up Close

With an eye on training students for the jobs of the future, Harper College in 2008 renovated space in its Avanté Center and created a Nanotechnology degree program – the first of its kind offered by an Illinois two-year college. This fall, Harper will launch an Alternative Energy Certificate, giving students in the Electronics Engineering Technology program an environmentally focused option that can lead to new careers in a go-green world. Faculty and students involved with both programs will showcase their facilities and their technology at an Open Labs night scheduled for 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 13 in Rooms Y105 (Electronics Engineering Technology) and Y124 (Nanotechnology), Building Y in the Avanté Center. The event is open to the public, and will allow prospective students and others to talk with Harper’s nanotechnology and electronics engineering technology faculty and get an up-close look at the equipment – like a wind turbine used for the Alternative Energy Certificate program – that’s involved. Current electronics students also will be presenting their year-end mechatronics projects, and students in both programs will demo classroom technology. “These are two examples of career programs that are solidly future-focused,” says Sally Griffith, Assistant Vice President for Career Programs. “They stress the skills students will need in tomorrow’s world.” Illinois is one of the leading research and development areas in nanotechnology, and local companies already have approached Harper students looking for interns and employees. Jobs in green industries, like alternative energy, also are on the rise. As part of the Open Labs event, Harper’s growing Graphic Arts program also will be showcased. Classrooms, digital and traditional presses, and other technology will be on display. For more on Graphic Arts, Nanotechnology or Electronics Engineering Technology, visit www.harpercollege.edu.

Press Contact: Erin Brooks, Media Relations Specialist, 847.925.6159, [email protected].

Photo Opportunities

Event: Birthday Party for 90-Year-Old Fitness Student

Time: 8:30 on Wednesday, April 28

Location: Building M Gymnasium

Event: Free Community Zumba Class

Time: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 4

Location: Harper Gymnasium, Building M

Media Note: The class is open to all. To reserve a seat, email [email protected].

Event: Simulation Hospital Open House

Time: 3:30 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 5

Location: Avanté Center (Call to confirm specific rooms and best photo times)

Event: Traffic Stop Simulations for Law Enforcement students. Students will participate in stops simulating various incidents that police encounter, including an armed driver and a DUI.

Time: 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 5

Location: Parking Lot 7, adjacent to Building G.

Event: High School Graphic Arts Competition. A panel of professionals and Harper faculty will judge submissions from local high school students. Students will be able to tour Harper facilities.

Time: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, May 13

Location: Room Y128, Building Y, Avanté Center

Event: Open Labs event showcasing Nanotechnology, Electronics Engineering Technology and Graphic Arts facilities.

Time: 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 13

Location: Avanté Center (Call to confirm specific rooms and best photo times)

Asked by the NYT how he’d feel if someone lost a prototype Android phone in a bar, Google’s Andy Rubin reveals the stark difference between Google and Apple—among other topics, like Flash for Android 2.2. [Bits] More »

Why, hello there, little HTC Android phone with a nice, fat keyboard. We’ve been waiting for one of you guys for quite some time now. That’s right, it’s a new (and probably) Android device going through the FCC (the buttons give it away, right?), and it has a keyboard that looks pretty much like what we’ve come to know and love on the Windows Mobile Touch Pro 2. Even better is that the one tested sports AT&T’s 3G bands of 850 and 1900MHz. And, boy howdy, it’d sure be nice to have Android on this form factor without having to hack it on top of Windows Mobile. C’mon, AT&T. Do us right with this guy. We’ve got a few more pictures after the break. [FCC via PhoneDog]

read more

2011 Audi R8 Spyder – Tony Stark

To celebrate the brand placement of the R8 Spyder in Iron Man 2, Audi is launching a social media competition called “The Tony Stark Innovation Challenge.” Starting tomorrow, consumers can submit two-minute videos that showcase their ideas of better living through the use of technology.

All participants are required to use Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and other social media networks to rate, comment, and discuss their ideas.

Click here for prices on the 2010 Audi R8.

“Achieving progress through technology is the message behind Iron Man 2, and this idea is fundamental to Audi,” said Scott Keogh, Chief Marketing Officer, Audi of America. “The partnership in Iron Man 2 celebrates our shared focus on innovation, and this contest allows anyone with a great idea to not just express it, but potentially make a true difference within their industry.”

If your idea is chosen by Audi as the winner, you will receive $15,000 in funding to develop your concept, a four-day trip for two to California including airfare, hotel and meals, transportation in the 2011 Audi A8, tour of Audi’s Design Center in Santa Monica, a guided tour of ICON aircraft facilities and a day at Audi Sports Car Experience to drive the Audi R8 on a racetrack. You also get a spa treatments, tailored cocktail attire, and grooming like Stark style and your experience documented on audiusa.com.

Check out http:www.tonystarkinnovationchallenge.com. for more details.

Refresher: Power for the Audi R8 Sypder 5.2 FSI quattro comes from a 5.2L FSI direct-injected V10 making 525-hp and a maximum torque of 391 lb-ft. Mated a 6-speed manual (with an available 6-speed R tronic automatic), 0 to 62 mph in 4.1 seconds with a top speed of 194 mph. Fuel-economy comes in at an estimated 16 mpg when mated to manual transmission and 17 mpg when mated to an automatic.

2010 Audi R8 Spyder:

Press Release:

Audi announces “The Tony Stark Innovation Challenge”

– Contest calls for ideas for “living better through technology”
– Winner receives $15,000 to help fund their idea and a tech-lovers’ adventure
– Social media program to support the Audi Iron Man 2 integration

HERNDON, Va., Apr 27, 2010 – In celebration of the April 26 world premiere of Iron Man 2 in Los Angeles, Audi of America, Inc. announced that it is launching a social media competition called “The Tony Stark Innovation Challenge” in support of its prominent presence in the film. Beginning April 28, consumers can submit two-minute videos that showcase their ideas for better living through the use of technology. They then must rally members of their Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and other social media networks to rate, comment, and discuss their ideas. Full contest information is available at www.tonystarkinnovationchallenge.com.

“The Tony Stark Innovation Challenge” mirrors Tony Stark’s desire to take Stark Industries in a new direction, using his vast intellect and resources to eradicate problems through technology. Submissions will be judged by Audi on their ability to:

• Make the world a better place by solving a problem or improving an existing solution
• Articulate and demonstrate expertise of the “better living through technology” philosophy
• Have a scalability and adoptability to potentially change the way we live
• Showcase innovation, adventures, and intelligence worthy of Audi and Tony Stark
• Have cache in the social media channels by means of ratings and viral component

The winner will receive:
• $15,000 in funding to develop their concept
• Their experience documented and featured on www.audiusa.com
• A four-day trip for two to California including airfare, hotel and meals
• Transportation in the latest innovation from Audi, the 2011 A8
• Spa treatments, tailored cocktail attire, and grooming to perfect their Stark style
• A tour of Audi Design Center in Santa Monica
• A guided tour of the ICON aircraft facilities including air and water testing of their new A5 aircraft
• A day at the Audi Sports Car Experience to drive Tony Stark’s favorite car, the Audi R8 on a racetrack

Audi will also be lending its support to the film through activities including a month-long late night TV and national cable campaign and an online presence on Fandango.com and Movies.com. The brand is also unveilng an all-new Audi Iron Man ad that will run in cinemas in the month leading up to the film release. Additionally, Audi is sponsoring the re-launch of Marvel.com that will include a digital comic book featuring the R8 Spyder.

Tony Stark will be seen throughout Iron Man 2 in his Audi R8 Spyder, the new soft top convertible version of the R8 super car which was featured in the first Iron Man. In addition to the R8 Spyder, the A8 sedan will also be showcased in the film.

The video submission and public voting period starts April 28, 2010 and ends June 9, 2010. Approved submissions will be posted to the site within 48 hours. Users can rate one video per day, for the length of the contest participation period on a scale from one to five. Final ratings will be calculated toward the final score of each entry and used to determine the grand prize winner. Finalists will be selected shortly after the submissions end. Clearance, notifications and interviews will take place between June 10, 2010 and June 27, 2010, and the winner will be announced on June 28, 2010. Prizes will be redeemed in August 2010. Submissions are only accepted in English and from U.S. residents 18 and over.

– By: Kap Shah

by Jen Harper

Has “green” jumped the shark if even pugs are on board? They’re always late adopters. For Puglet’s next trick, he will push climate-change legislation forward.

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Like what you see? Sign up to receive The Grist List, our email roundup of pun-usual green news just like this, sent out every Friday.

Related Links:

14 buildings compete to be the Biggest Loser (of energy waste)

DIY cheap, green burial with dryer lint

Whales bring up the rear in the fight against oceanic acidification

»  T-Mobile is dropping overage charges on its 5GB data plan and will instead slow down data speeds of users who pass the limit. [Fierce Wireless]

»  Only one in 50 mobile ad requests to AdMob came from Google (NSDQ: GOOG) Nexus Ones, AdMob says. Motorola’s Droid saw 16 times as many ads. [VentureBeat]

»  RadioShack reported higher-than-expected quarterly profit, driven by a 49 percent jump in wireless product sales. [Reuters]

»  MSNBC Digital launches interactive mobile site optimized for smartphones. [Release]

A prank involving some sort of smoke bomb recently sent four employees of a Maryland McDonald’s to the hospital and has authorities on the hunt for suspects.

According to police, around 8 p.m. on Friday night someone left a plastic bottle on one of the tables inside the McD’s. Inside the bottle was what is being referred to as a “chemical reaction bomb” that released smoke and toxic fumes into the building.

Four employees were treated at a local hospital for nausea and sore throat pain.

The fire dept, county hazmat and health departments have since deemed the McDonald’s safe. e also came to investigate.

No arrests have been made yet. If anyone has information regarding the incident, please contact the Maryland State Fire Marshall’s office in Elkton at 410 996 2793.

Toxic Fumes In Fast Food Restaurant [WMAR.com]

“And scene!” the teacher says as she finishes scribbling a note.

The two students stop their scene and stare at the floor in front of them, waiting for their notes. They know that their scene wasn’t good. It was a frustrating scene to perform. They know they made lots of mistakes, although they wouldn’t be able to name them if asked.

“Well, there were a lot of problems in that scene,” the teacher begins. “You two weren’t on the same page. Steve, you kept trying to make the scene about your ESP powers. It’s ironic since you weren’t listening. And Carol, you kept talking about your problems at the office. Those people aren’t in the scene, why are you talking about them?”

The notes continue for some time as the teacher lists several more mistakes. You can hear the disappointment and frustration in her voice. These are all notes she has given before. The two students feel awful, almost ashamed, and the rest of the class shifts awkwardly in their seats. The only happy thought among them is that it’s not them who are getting dressed down.

Finally the teacher asks them to try again. She gets a new suggestion of a location and has the same two students improvise a scene. This time they aren’t making the same mistakes, but that is because they don’t seem to be making any decisions at all. They are in their head, the scene is stilted, their play overly cautious.

“And scene!” The teacher stops it again and gives them even more notes.

Negative Notes

I would think that most improvisors can relate to this scenario. We have all been in classes or workshops where the teacher has taken the time to point out the flaws in our scenework. It doesn’t feel great when it’s happening. Sometimes, we feel like we have learned something from it, sometimes it’s just a negative memory. I certainly have my share of these kinds of memories, both as a student and a teacher.

The last time I was in Del’s class was one of those nights. He stopped every scene I was in. Over and over he told me that I wasn’t agreeing with my scene partner. It was a tough night. At the time, I didn’t quite know what he was getting at. I thought I was agreeing. I certainly wasn’t arguing. I think now that I understand what he was trying to tell me. I think I have pulled a positive nugget from that negative experience to help me. But honestly, I’m still not sure that I got his point.

So, is this the best way learn? When we make a mistake, is it best to have that mistake compounded by harsh notes from a disappointed teacher? I’m not sure to be honest. The negative feelings associated with that note can go a long way to carving it into our brain and into shaping our future choices. Like a child not wanting to get burned, our gut tells us to avoid doing the thing that got such a negative response in the past. We typically want the approval of those who are giving us notes, so if the negative note is correct, perhaps it can help guide us to avoid similar mistakes in the future. However, there’s something about it that just doesn’t feel right to me.

Positive Notes

One alternative comes to mind immediately. We might want to dwell on positive notes instead. When a student does something well, the teacher should offer generous praise for that specific good choice that the student made. This probably does not happen enough in improv classes. I’m guessing that the majority of notes that I’ve given over the years have been negative ones. My hunch is that specific positive notes are probably more effective than negative ones.

I’m not talking about empty flattery, that is no help and it may actually hurt the student. Some teachers cover their students with blankets of praise. But it does not help to tell students that they are “good” and “funny” without telling them what precisely they are doing so well. What choices did they make that were right and why? Tell them that, and you will help them.

Better Negative Notes

So should we give up on negative notes? I don’t think so. Negative notes serve a purpose. If a scene is bad, and if the note giver understands why the scene is bad, he or she should give that note. But why does it have to make everyone feel so bad? Perhaps there is a better way to give a note.

It starts with priming the students for negative notes. Explain to them that you want them to play as if no one is giving them notes. You want them to make whatever choice occurs to them in the moment. You want them to play from their gut and react to what is going on and to silence that inner critic while they perform.

Next, tell them that they will make mistakes, lots and lots of mistakes. That it’s ok to make mistakes. It gives us an opportunity to learn. And that if they can leave a class with one or two very specific notes about things they actually can change or work on, they should feel happy and optimistic, not depressed.

Then you have to change how you actually give the note. When you spot a mistake, be upbeat about it. Be excited that you have an opportunity to give them a constructive note. When possible, give them a proactive alternative to their choice. Don’t just tell them to not ask questions, tell them to make statements that establish information instead. Mostly, it’s about tone though. Turn mistakes into opportunities. Be upbeat when you give them a note and be specific. And most of all, don’t keep them up on stage for a long time while you are giving them the note. Be brief, and then ask them to try again or sit down.

More Practice, Less Notes

What if students keep making the same mistake over and over? Find or create some exercises which specifically target that problem and use that exercise until they no longer make that mistake (this might be something you spend only part of your time on, spread over several classes). Treat it as a fun drill, and work on it until it becomes second nature. Giving a student a note over and over again is not the most effective way to learn something. Instead, they need to practice the right way to do something.

By the way, I was listening to Improvised New York today. They were interviewing Armando Diaz from the Magnet Theater and he put it this way:

It doesn’t do you any good if I give you a long lecture on shooting a basket; you shoot a basket; you miss; and then I give you another lecture on it.

We’re not sure what type of games TiVo thinks they are trying to play here, but the company has finally gotten around to getting their AN0100 802.11n wireless adapter to retail, and they’ve decided it best to charge more than just about any other wireless device of this kind on the market. That’s right, the TiVo Wireless N Network Adapter can be yours for a shocking $89.99. yeah, you get better range and throughput than you would on the Wireless G model, but, man, that price has us seriously considering the costs of just running an ethernet cable across the house.

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For the first time since December 2006, both the Case-Shiller 10-city housing index, and the 20-city housing index, show year-over year growth.  That’s good news . . . but don’t pull out the Veuve Cliquot just yet.  There’s a lot of variation in those numbers.  More than half the cities in the 20-city index still show year-over-year declines; it’s just that a bunch of the other cities showed big bounces, particularly in California. 

Of course, California was one of the bubbliest states, so that’s great news . . . but Las Vegas was still free-fallin’ for most of 2009.  Overall, aside from the “dead cat bounce” in California, and my own city with its government expansion in full flower, the downside news is worse than the upside.

And there’s still the big open question of what happens as the government withdraws its support from the housing market.  The expiration of the tax cut has triggered something of a frenzy in DC–we made an offer on a house at above the ask, only to be beaten by a still-higher all-cash offer.  When that abates, along with the seasonal spring boost, the cities that have improved may look more sluggish, and the cities that were still falling may find it harder to turn things around. 

A little further down the road, eventually the government is going to have to stop using the FHA as the backstop for bad idea house purchases.  We easily qualified for a conservative conventional mortgage, but there’s a lot of ultra-low downpayment stuff still out there, and I was shocked at the amount that my allegedly stodgy credit union was allegedly willing to lend me–extremely unhealthy multiples of my income, even with a good downpayment.  The fear is that the housing market can’t recover without the government continuing to heavily subsidize a whole lot of low-downpayment loans; there’s too little home equity out there, and even less in the way of savings.

So take all these figures with a grain of salt.  But even well-salted, it’s better than a continued decline.

Join the conversation about this story »

It may not be the perfect mobile device, but the Gorillapod Magnetic from Joby may be the perfect accessory for budding photographers. Joby has produced the Gorillapod flexible tripods for some time, and the magnetic feet on the new model can be used in a variety of ways to hold cameras just about anywhere.

The special tripod legs can be bent at nearly unlimited angles, allowing for getting the camera at just the right angle. The magnetic feet mean the Gorillapod Magnetic can even be placed sideways on metal objects, allowing the camera to be propped up even without a table or other flat surface. $24.95.

Who says you can’t get rich having fun? Or at least enabling others to have fun?

Google has acquired Israeli startup LabPixies in a deal said to be worth up to $25 million. LabPixies is best known for their multi-platform games, including the iPhone OS hit, “Flood-It!” They’re also pretty well known in tech circles for having churned out a boatload of other titles for iGoogle gadgets, Hi5, Facebook and other social networks and platforms. And now they’re owned by Google, so I kinda have this feeling they’ll be focusing a little more on the iGoogle and Android stuff and a little less on, oh Idon’tknow, iPhone titles?

Look for a major push in casual gaming on Android devices over the coming months. I hope.

For more on the story, check out Breon’s post over on DroidDog.

Via: TechCrunch

Blockx 3D Pro! Falling blocks game in 3D, classic with a completely new twist. The ultimate 3D brain teaser! Customizable pit, 3 block sets, Customizable controls, Autosave & load, Global high score, Landscape mode support. There is no affiliation with The Tetris Company, LLC, Tetris Holding and Tetris trademark.

Price: UK£0.75

AndroidTapp.com Android Game Review:

Pros & Cons:

Pros

• Think Tetris to the third dimension!
• Fun, challenging and addictive game

Cons

• Initially can be difficult to control piece movement and rotation, but this be tweaked in the Options menu

Features:

Blockx 3D Pro Android Game is like Tetris to the third dimension. Forget everything you know about 2D style of play and image playing from an aerial bird’s eye view and the goal is to position and fill the pit in layers racking up as many points as possible. You’ll know the layers are correctly filled as the colored blocks will match. Move the blocks with either the phone’s trackball/trackpad, designated keys for physical keyboards, or tweak the settings to allow touch screen gesture movements. Then see how your high score ranks online. Brought to you by Hyperbees Ltd., the folks behind Speedx 3D, as an entry in Google’s second Android developer Challenge.

Video Review: Blockx 3D Pro

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2yB87sYv24

Fun Factor & Addictive:

The game is fun, as challenging as traditional Tetris with the added complexity of 3D and addictive.

How to Play/Control Blockx 3D:

Move

Blocks can be moved in horizontal and vertical axis. Depending on configuration, move scan be executed through gestures or touch activated hot spots, also hardware input devices can be used to perform moves. Moves with physical keyboard can be done with J, I, K, L letters.

Rotate

Blocks can be freely rotated along X, Y and axis, rotation can be performed clockwise or counter clockwise. Generally the touch screen is used to rotate blocks. Flick up/down for X axis rotation, flick left/right for Y axis rotation, and gesture in circular motions for clockwise or counter clockwise rotation.

Drop

Blocks can be “fast dropped”  into pit by pressing the trackball/trackpad button.

Accelerometer, Vibration & Sound:

The game has vibration and accompanying futuristic sound effects when you drop blocks and game board quakes; simple yet detailed touch.

State Rep. Elizabeth H. Esty is frustrated.

The rookie Democratic legislator, who attended Harvard College and Yale Law School, says the moderates are not being heard on a wide variety of legislation.

Hartford Courant columnist Rick Green has the details at http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/courant-columnists/hc-green_moderates_voters_0427.artapr27,0,5424484.column

2010 MG ZERO Concept Car Pictures

The MG ZERO concept car has been unveiled to the world’s media as one of the stars of the Beijing Automotive Show, now one of the world’s most important automotive events.

The MG ZERO Concept car has been developed by MG Global Design team, led by British MG Design Director Anthony (Tony) Williams-Kenny, based in Birmingham.

At around 4m in length, the MG ZERO concept previews the design direction of the brand and demonstrates how MG can expand into this high- volume sector of the market.

MG ZERO reflects the latest trends in the market for vehicle size, styling and technology and is designed to show how MG will offer products that will appeal to a wide audience across the global market.

MG Zero also demonstrates the design and engineering capabilities of SAIC by showcasing a number of innovative features.

The bold interior has clean and simple lines with high contrast flashes of accent colour. It uses the latest technology touch screens to allow occupants to interact with the world around them and features a striking ‘floating console` design around the driver.

The high-tech materials are draw inspiration from ultra high-performance sports equipment and there is highly innovative use of interior lighting features to create real emotion in the cabin. The bold red-coloured illumination adds a touch of drama.

Commenting on the exterior style, Design Director Tony Williams said ” This concept shows a bold, individual soul. The bonnet is formed around the famous octagonal badge, the graphics flow into striking lamps and the large lower grille completes the confident, sporty character.

The body-side has a strong shoulder, a dynamic scalloped feature in the doors and flared arches to give a wide stance and strong road presence. The feature lines have been designed to give a strong relationship to the wheel arch demonstrating the fun nature of the cars dynamics.”

MG ZERO also explores the integration of the latest communications technology in the vehicle and in addition to the interior systems, it features a fun communications system on the exterior of the rear!

Source

Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) could return to the fold and back the energy and climate change bill he abruptly walked away from on Friday evening, reports trade publication The Energy Daily.

Yesterday’s meeting between Senators John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) and Senator Graham was not fruitful. Senators Kerry and Graham are starting to get use to the idea of having to Shepard the climate change legislation alone, a Senate staffer tells us.

Concretely this means passing the bill will (in an optimistic scenario) take a lot longer as Kerry and Lieberman will have to single-handedly convince Republicans to support a bill they’ve  largely opposed from the start. This was a lot easier to do with Graham backing the bill. “Without Graham we don’t have any Republicans,” a staffer with the Senate’s Energy and Natural Resources Committee tells us. The reality though is that  even with Graham onboard the legislation, while benefiting from the support of key industry and environmental groups, was still short of 60 votes.

We’ve emailed and called the offices of Senators Kerry and Lieberman to ask if any other meetings were planned in the coming days. We will post back with updates.

The Energy and Natural Resources Committee official says that Congress has a full plate (Wall Street reform, immigration reform, climate change and energy…) and Majority Leader Harry Reid knows he’s got to make choices. If he puts immigration ahead of climate change, chances are that the climate change bill won’t be debated before Congress’s summer recess. It will also be a lot more difficult to pass any climate change legislation the closer we get to the mid-term elections.