text: Job Discussion Forums :: View topic - 48, MA and experienced Get TEFL Certified & Start Your Adventure Today! Job Discussion Forums"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!" FAQ Search Memberlist Usergroups Register Profile Log in to check your private messages Log in 48, MA and experienced Goto page Previous 1, 2 Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Hong Kong View previous topic :: View next topic Author Message ozmanJoined: 12 Jun 2004Posts: 133Location: HONG KONG Posted: Wed May 23, 2012 1:51 am Post subject: Wael Wadi wrote: If a Cantonese 8 year old were to go to Germany or UK, he would have to learn the host country's language to attend school. Absolutely! But an 8 year old Chinese child arriving in UK, Australia etc. would first be put into an ILC - intensive language centre - for a few months - all funded by the government - then they would be enrolled in a school and taught English or German etc. as a 2nd language, with lots of support from ESL professionals. The Australian, German and UK governments in particular spend a huge amount of money on teaching migrants, refugees etc. the language. Not so here. There is ongoing support at primary, secondary and tertiary level for students as well as adults. The English speaking 8 year old, enrolling in a local HK school is thrown in and expected to cope with the same curriculum as the locals. As someone else here pointed out, local kids have been learning their characters since kindergarten. Back to top Wael WadiJoined: 31 Dec 2010Posts: 19Location: Endaurnose Posted: Wed May 23, 2012 2:01 pm Post subject: PGCE and Tuen Po Did a little bit of digging and I am 3 months short of a PGCE. Looks like I'll have one in my grubby little hands by Dec2012 from an Australian uni. Means I might start on 19 of the civil servant scale. Been looking at the Norwegian school. It's in the NT in a city near an MRT station. Lutheran focus, small and compact. Looks adequate. Mandarin as a 2nd language is an option. I speak Mandarin (I studied it and lived in TW for 5 years), so I do know a little about what my child would be in for. My son already is fluent (to varying degrees of proficiency) in three languages and I'd like him to pick up Mandarin and/or a Latin language eventually. Thanx for the input. Research continues... ww Back to top From Korea to China.Joined: 09 Jan 2013Posts: 8 Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2013 6:01 am Post subject: I'm also looking to move my teaching career to Hong Kong. I have a graduate degree and a (120 hour) online TEFL certificate. I've been here in Korea for twelve years. I've had enough of it and I'm ready to move on. I've a question. In Korea I rarely put my full twelve years of teaching on my resume. Why? Because Korea is obsessed with paper work and documentation. For every school you ever worked at they want written references, proof of employment, plus this, that and the other. And the rules constantly change so you have to go back to jobs you were at ten years ago and ask for paperwork. (Who are you again?) Then you have to go back a year later for the same document, but this time in a sealed and signed envelope. Then this rule changes, and that rule changes. It's exasperating, so I usually just put the last five years on my resume. 'How long have you been in Korea?' Five year, I say. Can I expect such bureaucratic headaches when transferring from Korea to Hong Kong. What documents will a potential school require from my previous employers in Korea? Also, my references are all in Korean (hangeul). Will I need them translated into Chinese and signed by a lawyer? Back to top Joshua2006Joined: 04 Jan 2010Posts: 342 Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2013 7:59 am Post subject: From Korea to China. wrote: Can I expect such bureaucratic headaches when transferring from Korea to Hong Kong. What documents will a potential school require from my previous employers in Korea? Also, my references are all in Korean (hangeul). Will I need them translated into Chinese and signed by a lawyer? Every year of age relevant experience you have on your CV - backed up with stamped English translations - counts for another point on the payscale. References. In English. Paperwork? AND SOME..... Back to top sistercreamJoined: 18 Dec 2010Posts: 497Location: Pearl River Delta Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2013 10:31 am Post subject: I've had one employer (my current one) here in HK check references. Pre-written references are generally given short shrift; if an employer is going to check, they will contact your referee directly using the contact details you provide in your c.v. For Immigration Department to issue an employment visa, you'll need at least some of your former employers to have provided letters simply detailing the dates and job description of your employment with them (in English or Chinese; Korean would require a certified translation). @ Joshua - if you think HK requires lots of paperwork, you have lived a sheltered life thus far ... you should try applying for an employment visa or recognition of foreign professional qualifications in places like Taiwan, Macau, the USA, Australia, Germany, the UK, Guangdong Province ... I can't speak for Korea, but compared with other places I've been, the procedures here are well streamlined (and no bribery required to get things done promptly!) Back to top Display posts from previous: All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Hong Kong All times are GMTGoto page Previous 1, 2 Page 2 of 2 Jump to: Select a forum Where to Begin----------------General DiscussionNewbie ForumCurrent Events ForumTechnology ForumOnline Teaching Forum Africa Forums----------------General Africa Forum Asia Forums----------------CambodiaChina (Job-related Posts Only)China (Off-Topic)Hong KongIndiaIndonesiaJapanMalaysiaPhilippinesSingaporeTaiwanThailandGeneral Asia ForumVietnam Caribbean Forums----------------General Caribbean Forum Europe Forums----------------Czech RepublicFranceGermanyGreeceItalyMacedonia and the BalkansPolandRomaniaRussia & C.I.S.SpainTurkeyUkraineUnited KingdomGeneral Europe Forum Latin America Forums----------------ArgentinaBrazilChileColombiaCosta RicaMexicoMexico (off-topic)PeruGeneral Latin America Forum The Middle East Forums----------------BahrainEgyptIsraelKuwaitOmanQatarSaudi ArabiaUnited Arab EmiratesGeneral Middle East Forum North America Forums----------------General North America Forum Oceania----------------Australia/New Zealand You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot vote in polls in this forum This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling. Contact Dave's ESL Cafe Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved. Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group Teaching Jobs in China


text:
Free standard shipping for all orders - regular shipments.
Find your store using the store locator and contact us for a personal appointment, in complete safety.
Registered office Via P. Gobetti 7/9
Campi Bisenzio (FI) 50013 - Italy
VAT No. 01580850970
Share Capital € 1.000.000 fully paid-up
Company registration number FI - 431485
Sign up for the newsletter to discover all the latest news and promotions.
Exclusive bijoux that perfectly finishes off any look.These day-to-night bracelets will add that special detail for any occasion.
Provide your account email address to receive an email to reset your password.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
It's the first day back to work after the Christmas break and you're probably not feeling your best. Luckily, we've got the perfect remedy for New Year sluggishness. Who better to give you a boost than Kanye, Liam G or MIA? Here are 30 motivational anthems to kick start your 2019 and help you conquer the world.
30. Snow Patrol – 'Run'
Gary Lightbody apparently wrote 'Run' after going on a massive bender and falling down some stairs. "The words 'Light up, light up' gave this sense of a beacon. There had to be a light at the end of a tunnel," he said.
29. Franz Ferdinand – 'Do You Want To?'
Follow Franz's lead and go where you've never let yourself before! Well, at least switch your usual lunch for an edgier meal deal tomorrow.
28. The Jam – 'Going Underground'
If any song's going to make you politically motivated ahead of the forthcoming election, it's this anti-Conservative rant from The Jam. "You choose your leaders and place your trust/As their lies wash you down and their promises rust," Paul Weller sings. Let that be a lesson.
27. Doves – 'There Goes The Fear'
Two important things to know about 'There Goes The Fear'. 1. It's imperative you dance like your dad to the jangly bits that sound like the Grange Hill theme tune. 2. Make the most of the track's passive motivational skills by letting the lyric "You turn around and life's passed you by" give you the fear factor.
26. La Roux – 'In For The Kill'
Do what La Roux says (go in for the kill, do it for the thrill, etc. etc.) on her sassy electropop debut and you're sure to tackle whatever naysayers might come your way with aplomb.
25. House Of Pain – 'Jump Around'
Two parts aggressively energetic, one part hilarious ("I never eat a pig 'cause a pig is a cop"), 'Jump Around' has featured in at least two action movies, 'Daredevil' and 'Rush Hour', so is certified motivation music.
24. Justice Vs Simian – 'We Are Your Friends'
Combine forceful synth stabs with stirring lyrics – "We are your friends/ You'll never be alone again" – and you have a track so powerful it'll defeat even Hollyoaks Omnibus laziness.
23. Friendly Fires – 'Jump In The Pool'
Something about this synthy, bubbly, giddy tune turns tedious jogs through rundown towns into excited dashes through vibrant metropolises. It's the ultimate 'pretending to be in a movie' exercise song.
22. Arcade Fire – 'Ready to Start'
What better way to begin the day than with double-drum-kit, full-throttle Arcade Fire. Just make sure you pick the "Now I'm ready to start/My mind is open wide" lyrics as your mantra rather than the "Businessmen drink my blood" bits. That would be weird.
21. Be Your Own Pet – 'Adventure'
Containing the word 'adventuring' 8 times and the word 'adventurer' 10 times, if Be Your Own Pet haven't convinced you to head off on at least a mini-break by the time you finish listening to 'Adventure' you're a stone-hearted individual.
20. Missy Elliott – 'Get Ur Freak On'
Question: Wouldn't life be 100% better if you lived everyday like you were Missy Elliot? Answer: Yes. Make sure you "Getcha getcha getcha getcha getcha freak on" and today will be a glorious day.
19. The Strokes – 'You Only Live Once'
Surely The Strokes have missed a trick by not re-releasing this classic now YOLO's a thing? Anyway, aside for the obvious hedonistic title, this track has the kind of good vibes that make positive memories scroll through your mind like a 'Big Brother Best Bits' video montage.
18. Nas – 'The World Is Yours'
Don't be fooled by the laid-back beat, this is a song about winning at life. Its title was taken from 'Scarface' in which Tony Montana makes the phrase his mantra.
17. Primal Scream – 'Higher Than The Sun'
Let's slow down the tempo a little because even lazy Sunday mornings can be motivational. The mix of hazy melodies and lyrics like "I believe you get what you give" is potent.
16. Drake – 'Started At The Bottom'
If Drake started at the bottom and got his whole team here so can you. He used to work all night, drive home through traffic, be hungry, live at his momma's house and argue with her monthly but now nothing's poppin' off without him.
15. MIA – 'Born Free'
Okay, so this video has that weird ginger genocide storyline but let's ignore that. The lesson to learn here is "Yeah I don't wanna live for tomorrow/ I push my life today".
14. Florence + The Machine – 'Dog Days Are Over'
This is probably one to listen to in the secrecy of your bedroom if you don't want to ruin your street cred. It's a bit, well, 'X Factor final' now (cheers Simon Cowell). Still, listening to 'Dog Days Are Over' puts an uplifting summer glow on dull, grey days.
13. Kanye West – 'I Am A God'
If Kanye's breathless 'I Am A God' doesn't make you want to get up on your feet, not much will. It's time to get stacking millions till you're chilling with Jesus and remember, never ever accept sloppy service when it comes to croissant.
12. Kelis – 'Bossy'
Life lesson to take from 'Bossy'? Stop being nice to everyone. Remember: "You don't have to love me/ You don't even have to like me/ But you will respect me". Now, dominate the office.
11. Nirvana – 'Smells Like Teen Spirit'
That riff, that anti-establishment attitude: whether you're doing a 20 minute crosstrainer sesh or powering through your tax returns, try your hardest to channel 'Teen Spirit' in moments of stress.
10. Fatboy Slim – 'Right Here, Right Now'
The musical equivalent to your mum standing at the bottom of the stairs shouting "No, not in five minutes! Do your homework NOW".
9. The Vines – 'Get Free'
If you're trying to psych yourself into getting out of a mundane job/relationship/town this is the song to scream.
8. Daft Punk – 'Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger'
Do we really need to explain why we chose this? No track is more hype than 'Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger'.
7. Public Enemy – 'Fight The Power'
Spike Lee commissioned 'Fight The Power' for his movie 'Do The Right Thing'. "I wanted it to be defiant, I wanted it to be angry, I wanted it to be very rhythmic," he told TIME magazine – and that's why it's the perfect motivator.
6. Dizzee Rascal – 'Fix Up, Look Sharp'
Originally used to slew Asher D in a rap battle, you can now use 'Fix Up, Look Sharp' to convince yourself that sweatpants are never office appropriate. Even on casual Friday.
5. The White Stripes – 'Seven Nation Army'
Egyptian journalist Mono Elthahawy says of 'Seven Nation Army': "Every time I hear the opening lines it just takes me to Egypt, where people – I've never seen anything like it. Literally, nothing can hold them back." If it's good enough for the Arab Spring it's good enough for you.
4. Beyonce – 'Run The World'
We imagine that when Beyonce faces the mirror each morning she looks herself in the eye and thinks "Who run the world? BEYONCE". You should do the same.
3. The Gossip – 'Standing In The Way Of Control'
Beth Ditto wrote Standing In The Way Of Control as a response to a US Amendment which would have outlawed same-sex marriage in the country. Explaining the ruling made her friends feel "helpless and cheated," she said: "I wrote the chorus to try and encourage people not to give up."
2. Kanye West – 'Stronger'
A stone cold motivational anthem, guaranteed to put you in the zone. When it comes to getting yourself in gear, look no further than the king of overconfidence.
1. Oasis – 'Live Forever'
Put this on, yell the lyrics at the top of your voice and pretend it's 2am on Friday night, you've got your arms round your mates and anything is possible.


text:
Like many music journalists, I've reviewed a wide range of genres, including Christian artists. I reviewed hot gospel groups that got me up moving to their beat, soul singers who thrilled me with their vocal talents, and grungy screamer bands that I had to admire for playing rough metal venues. Some of the messages were in-your-face and radical. Others were just new takes on traditional themes and didn't do much musically or spiritually.
However, when Chicago-based band, Untitled, send me their new CD, Wake Up!, I sat up and took notice. This band is monster size with little ego. Nine members strong currently, the band is ethnically (African-American, Latino, and European-American) and musically diverse and draws from soul, funk, Latin, rock, and reggae. They are strong instrumentally, bringing technically skilled musicians (guitar, bass, drums, percussion, and trumpet) into the mix. But it is over this beautiful musical base that two MC s present their slice-of-life raps about problems that face this country, with three singers offering backup vocals. It's an unusual mix of sounds and genres and it works!
In Wake Up!, Untitled presents eight of the band members sans current trumpet player. It also includes seven guest musicians (keys, drums, violin, sax, and trumpet), a guest poet, and a guest rapper. The result is a dynamic sound that is not only consciousness-raising, but also spiritual. Yet, they don't hammer their spiritual point so much that you shut down about it. The social and spiritual problems they talk about are concerns politicians and social commentators have been discussing–crime, rape, AIDS in Africa, starvation amid obesity, poverty, drugs, etc. The problems are told in story form about real people, but the solutions are spiritual.
The band even protests their right to do music their way in "Right 2 Live." It's a condemnation of the media, especially television, that labels music and seems to want to restrict what this band is trying to do. It is clear from this one song that the band has had problems with mainstream media recognizing their sound and what they are about. The lyrics in this song, by the way, are swapped back and forth between three MC s in English and Spanish.
The use of a chorus is a great tool Untitled applies to several songs. "Popular Opinion" uses a female chorus to start out a treatise on inner beauty delivered by the MC s. In "Open Your Eyes," "Freedom Fire," and "Change" the female voices draw in listeners to the hard message the MC brings. Male choruses are used in "Right 2 Live," "Breakfree," and "Eternity."
There is a delightful jazz rendering at the end of "Eternity." It's a pleasant break to the heaviness of the rap that precedes it.
Untitled has been able to take a time-worn message and breathed new life into it. The band presents a spiritual message in inventive, new ways to a new generation. This album crosses a number of genres and audiences, whether you come for the music or the message. Look for more to come from this band.


text:
Canastota boys basketball pulls away in third quarter to beat Herkimer
HERKIMER - Canastota's boys basketball team opened up a five-point lead at halftime and continued to extend it throughout the second half in a 53-36 victory over Herkimer Wednesday.
The Raiders struggled early in the first half with Herkimer's tough match-up zone but still led 20-14 at halftime. Canastota quickly got its offense on track in the third quarter. Jon Halsey and Elijah Motley began to penetrate the zone while steals Motley and Matt Russitano resulted in six fast-break points. The visitors stretched the lead to 11 at the end of the third quarter and a pair of 3-pointers by Anthony Sicilia in the fourth quarter put the game away. Halsey and Zack Babcock worked the clock on offense for the Raiders to prevent any potential Magicians' comeback.
Sicilia made five 3-pointers and scored 19 points to lead the Raiders.
Canastota: Zack Babcock 6, Jonathan Halsey 9, Elijah Motley 4, Steve Olden 4, Matt Russitano 8, Anthony Sicilia 19, Joe Vaccaro 2.
Herkimer: Mike Dobek 1, Joe McKinney 2, Mitchell Scherer 5, Adam Kirkpatrick 7, Malik Briggs 3, Demetrius Brown 2, Adrian Viscomi 15, Dan Graziadei 1.


text:
- Font:
- +
- -
Want to know more about this week's guests and topics?
Try clicking on some of these links:
Laura Bush, First Lady of the United States | Bio | The First Lady's Web site
Amb. Said Jawad, Afghanistan's Ambassador to the United States | Bio | The Embassy of Afghanistan
Ted Turner, Author of "Call Me Ted" | More information about "Call Me Ted" | Bio
Afghanistan: The CIA's World Factbook | The Web site of President Hamid Karzai
Ted Turner: More information about Ted Turner
Tom Brokaw


text:
- News
- Business
- Sports
- Entertainment
- Lifestyle
- Health
- Travel
- Technology
Rideau Hall released the following message shortly after the birth of the first child of Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge:
From the Governor General of Canada on the Birth of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's Baby Son
Governor General of Canada
OTTAWA — My wife, Sharon, and I would like to extend our warmest congratulations to Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the occasion of the birth of their son.
Sharon and I have five wonderful daughters and ten delightful grandchildren and know well the elation that a new arrival brings to a young family. We know that this happy event brings great joy not only to Their Royal Highnesses, but to the entire nation as well.
May the years to come with this child be filled with love and pride for all members of the Royal Family.
David Johnston
Canadians can write wishes to The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the Governor General's website www.gg.ca.


text:
KIEL, Germany — Five NATO mine-hunting ships set off Tuesday on a deployment in the Baltic Sea, part of the alliance's efforts to strengthen its presence in Europe's ex-communist east as members there worry about Russia's intentions in Ukraine.
The ships — a minesweeper and a support ship from Norway and one mine-hunter each from the Netherlands, Belgium and Estonia — left the German port of Kiel for an exercise that will continue under Norwegian command until the end of May. Germany will then take command of the deployment.
The ships will visit several Baltic ports and also participate in previously scheduled operations to dispose of ordinance from the two world wars.
Commodore Arian Minderhoud, the NATO Allied Maritime Command's deputy chief of staff for operations, said the exercise "is part of the whole package of ... actions to show NATO's resolve, to show NATO's preparedness."
NATO said last week it was strengthening its military footprint along its eastern border.
During a visit Tuesday to the Czech capital, Prague, Canada's foreign minister stressed his country's support for NATO's eastern members. "We will stand with you in the face of aggression," John Baird said after meeting his Czech counterpart.
Last week, Canada announced it would contribute six CF-18 jet fighters to a NATO air-policing mission to be based in Poland. Baird said in Prague: "we will be making other announcements of specific projects in the coming days."


text:
Royal wedding an excuse to party in Australia
Royal wedding fever will fill the living rooms of many Australian homes this weekend as Prince Harry ties the knot with American actress Meghan Markle.
More than three-quarters of Australians watched at least part of the nuptials of Harry's older brother William and Catherine Middleton at Westminster Abbey in 2011, according to a Roy Morgan poll.
And it looks like history will be repeated on Saturday night when TV networks beam live coverage of Harry's wedding from Windsor Castle into Australian homes.
Emily Regidor, from Greystanes in Sydney's west, is planning an English-themed viewing party with her girlfriends including crowns, a spread of scones, cake and royal wedding drinking games with wine in teacups.
The 24-year-old said the fact that former Suits star Markle is becoming a royal is just as interesting as Harry's progression from the "party person" of the family.
"I grew up with Harry being the rebel so I was always going to be interested in who he ended up marrying, and it worked out that I was interested in her too," Ms Regidor told AAP.
"We've seen her on our TV screens and all that and now we've seen her real life transition into this other role."
In Sydney's north, Jane Massam is hosting a party with Pimm's, cucumber sandwiches and Yorkshire puddings for her English husband, friends and children - including her eight-year-old son Harry, who was named after the prince.
The 42-year-old spent eight years living her Australian "rite of passage" in London and feels an affinity with the younger royals after watching them mature and start families of their own.
"I think there's a lot of affection for the monarchy, it's just a nice event, a nice celebration to sit and watch," she said.
"It's more of an entertainment thing and it's a little bit out of the ordinary as well.
"Meghan Markle is not that ordinary but she's a commoner and when she gets married, she becomes a royal, so there's something a bit magical about that."
The Nine and Seven Networks' breakfast teams will broadcast from London every day this week while SBS and the ABC will cover the wedding live on Saturday night.
The commercial networks and Foxtel have flooded pre-wedding programming with documentaries, films, interviews and behind-the-scenes footage of Meghan and Harry.
The wedding has also put Australian Monarchist League members in party mode, with events planned in capital cities this weekend.
"When people observe an event such as this, they see the unification effect that this produces, that it's a positive thing," spokeswoman Rachel Bailes said.
"A lot of people in England will care greatly about this event for patriotic reasons but this is an event that celebrates the Commonwealth, that family of nations, and that family of constitutional monarchies."
Ms Bailes said Harry has duties to Australia as a prince but is a "resounding, apolitical type of role model" and not a symbol of the republic debate.
But Michael Cooney, national director of the Australian Republic Movement, is playing down the level of interest in the latest royal wedding.
"It is a very sentimental occasion for some people or admirers of Harry's mother Diana, a guilty pleasure for some, and for others it's all a bit English and a bit remote," he said.
"It's a big occasion in England and lots of people will enjoy being part of the audience but I don't think anyone really believes it's a big occasion for Australia."
Australian Associated Press


text:
A Dubai man whose fiancée kept her charms hidden under a niqab opted for a quick divorce after his first glimpse beneath the veil revealed she was cross-eyed and sported a beard.
According to Gulf News, the unnamed "ambassador" never saw his intended's face on the few times they met, but was convinced all was well since the bride's mother had shown his mum pictures of his wife-to-be.
In fact, the snaps were of the bride's sister, and when the marriage contract was signed and the groom asked his new wife for a kiss, the terrible truth was revealed. The man immediately cancelled the wedding bash and filed a suit alleging "he was tricked by his parents-in-law and incurred emotional and moral damage".
The subsequent Sharia court hearing annulled the marriage, but rejected the plaintiff's claim for 500,000 dirhams (£85k) which he said he'd spent on clothes, jewellery and gifts.
The court also referred the woman to a specialist when her temporary other half demanded she be examined for "hormonal deficiencies". The expert reported she didn't in fact have any such problem. ®


text:
WASHINGTON - Even before Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton unveiled her new health-care plan, Republicans attacked it as socialized medicine. They neglected to mention, however, that her plan bears a striking resemblance to changes that were proposed in 1974 - by the late President Richard M. Nixon.
"It was an extremely extensive plan, as I remember, that would have given universal coverage" for health care, recalled Rudolph Penner, a former director of the Congressional Budget Office and economic official in the Ford administration.
Nixon introduced his Comprehensive Health Insurance Act on Feb. 6, 1974, days after he used what would be his final State of the Union address to call for universal access to health insurance.
"I shall propose a sweeping new program that will assure comprehensive health-insurance protection to millions of Americans who cannot now obtain it or afford it, with vastly improved protection against catastrophic illnesses," he told America.
Nixon said his plan would build on existing employer-sponsored insurance plans and would provide government subsidies to the self-employed and small businesses to ensure universal access to health insurance. He said it wouldn't create a new federal bureaucracy.
The Nixon plan won support from a Time magazine editorial on Feb. 18, 1974, which noted that "more and more Americans have been insisting that national health insurance is an idea whose tune (sic) has come."
Fast-forward 33 years to the American Health Choices Plan, which Clinton outlined Sept. 17, and to similar plans by Democratic rivals Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois and former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina.
A CBS News poll earlier this year found that 64 percent of Americans support federally guaranteed health insurance for all citizens. Clinton's plan, like Nixon's, calls for building on the existing private-sector health-care system and using government subsidies and tax credits to get all Americans under an umbrella of health coverage. Like Nixon, Clinton said her plan "is not government-run. There will be no new bureaucracy."
Nixon's plan didn't require all Americans to purchase health insurance, as Clinton's does, something that's known in health-care parlance as an individual mandate. Clinton's rival Edwards also favors government-mandated purchases of health care. Obama would mandate only that all children be insured.
Like today's Democrats, however, Nixon sought help for small businesses and sole proprietors to pay for affordable health insurance.
Health care is among the top domestic issues in the 2008 presidential campaign in both parties. Three decades after the failed Nixon plan, the same drivers of debate are at play.
A growing number of Americans - 47 million - are uninsured. Medical costs continue to outpace inflation, albeit not nearly as fast as they did in Nixon's day. And Americans then and now fear that a single serious health problem can bankrupt a family.
If the next president decides to push for health-care restructuring, it will be the fifth such effort since World War II, when the practice of getting health-care coverage through employers began. (This grew out of wartime wage freezes; businesses tried to offset wage controls by giving workers greater benefits.)
The national health plans proposed by Presidents Harry Truman, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton also failed. Every time, the criticism was the same: They amounted to socialized medicine. The public support for health-care restructuring that built up during the campaigns waned as soon as the revisions began. That's because there hadn't been any upfront discussion of the difficult tradeoffs involved, said Robert Blendon, a health-care historian at the Harvard University School of Public Health.
At Stake?
An existential threat to our democracy. A global pandemic. An unprecedented economic crisis. Our journalism has never been more needed.
Can you pitch in today and help us make our Fall Campaign goal of $80,000 by November 2nd?
Please select a donation method:
In Nixon's case, there also was a timing problem.
"We had a few distractions then," joked Ray Price, who as Nixon's chief speechwriter crafted the State of the Union address and other speeches on health care.
Nixon's health plan followed his pivotal support for creating health maintenance organizations. But the effort was sidetracked by the widening congressional investigation into the Watergate break-in and cover-up, which eventually forced his resignation.
"The wagons were not only circling, but they were heavily arming and out for blood. It was very difficult to get anything through at that point," Price recalled.
Nixon first proposed national health insurance as a conservative California congressman in 1947. He grew up poor and lost two brothers to tuberculosis, which marked him for life. He frequently pointed to the cure for tuberculosis as a medical marvel that underscored the need for a public-private partnership on health care.
"It was something personal for him," Price said of Nixon's health-care push.
Despite the heated politics of Watergate, national health-care legislation was proceeding in Congress thanks to a compromise brokered by a young Democratic senator from Massachusetts, Edward Kennedy, a Nixon nemesis.
But then, according to a 1974 political almanac published by Congressional Quarterly, the AFL-CIO and the United Auto Workers lobbied successfully to kill the plan. Unions hoped to get a better deal after the next elections.
The rest was, as they say, history.
Nixon resigned that Aug. 8. Four days later his successor, Gerald Ford, addressed Congress and sought a bipartisan effort to pass national health-care insurance. But the economy soured, Ford sought to rein in government spending and national health care languished.
"Today, I think there's national consensus that everybody should have health insurance. That consensus wasn't there then," said David Matthews, who served as President Ford's health secretary from 1975 to 1977. "There is more of a consensus that everybody should have it, but the real uncertainty is still about who should play what role."
In his 1992 book, "Seize the Moment," Nixon repeated his support for national health insurance, sounding remarkably like today's leading Democrats:
"We need to work out a system that includes a greater emphasis on preventive care, sufficient public funding for health insurance for those who cannot afford it in the private sector, competition among healthcare providers and health insurance providers to keep down the costs of both, and decoupling the cost of healthcare from the cost of adding workers to the payroll," he wrote.
Details of the 2008 presidential candidates' health-care proposals: http://www.health08.org/sidebyside.cfm
© McClatchy Newspapers 2007


text:
Ulster American Folk Park
The Ulster American Folk Park tells the story of emigration from Ulster to America in the 18th and 19th centuries. Here you will find fully furnished Old and New World buildings with costumed demonstrators going about their everyday tasks. A Ship and Dockside gallery links the two areas and includes a full size replica of an emigrant ship. "Emigrants" is an indoor exhibition which details the background to the emigration experience.
Venue Type:
Museum, Ship or maritime heritage site
Mon-Sat 1030-1630 Museum closes 1800
Sun & public holidays 1100-1700 Museum closes 1830
Mon-Fri 1030-1530 Museum closes 1700
Closed weekends from October- March, and also from Christmas to New Year's Day
Adults £4.50
Concession (children 5-16, senior citizens, disabled persons) £2.50
Family Ticket £11.00
Adult Groups, 5Op reduction on the full rate for groups with 20 or more full paying adults (adults £4.00, concession £2.50).
Youth Groups, £2.50 per member. One leader free per ten members, additional leaders £4.00.
Children under five Free of Charge
School visits: price on application
- Museums Association
- International Council of Museums
Additional info
Specialist Library dealing with Emigration history.
The museum's collection consists of original and replica Ulster and American dwelling houses and shops with original furniture and fittings from the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries. There is a substantial social history collection of domestic, craft and agricultural objects in storage and on display in the exhibit buildings and permanent exhibition, including a small textile collection of Ulster and American patchwork and various miscellaneous costume and linen items.
The Centre for Migration Studies hosts an Irish Emigration Database, which is a computerised collection of primary source documents relating to emigration to North America in the 18th and 19th centuries. It includes emigrant letters, shipping advertisements, passenger lists, emigrant diaries and family papers.
Collection details
Agriculture, Architecture, Archives, Costume and Textiles, Land Transport, Maritime, Medicine, Personalities, Social History
Key artists and exhibits
- Mellon House is an original dwelling on its original site, and the birthplace of the founder of the Mellon Bank in Pittsburgh;
- Ancestral Irish home of John Joseph Hughes, Roman Catholic Bishop of New York;
- The original home in Ireland of Robert and Hugh Campbell who later settled in St Louis,Missouri;
- Castletown National School;
- Tullyallen Masshouse;
- Fulton House, an early 18th century emigrant dwelling from Lancaster county Pennsylvania, the home of Donegal emigrant Samuel Fulton;
- Mid 19th century West Pennsylvania Log House;
- Collection of 19th century original Ulster shop fronts and fittings including a Post Office, Printshop, Chemist, Ropemaker, Pub, and Saddler;
- Emigrants Exhibition; two centuries of emigration from Ulster to America;
- The ancestral home of President Woodrow Wilson, an 'outreach exhibit' at Dergalt, seventeen miles from the UAFP and one mile from Strabane.
Ulster American Folk Park
Mellon Road
Co. Tyrone
Northern Ireland
General enquiries
Centre for Migration Studies
General information
Group Bookings
Centre for Migration Studies
Residential Centre/Restaurant
All Departments
Residential Centre/Restaurant
- About
- | Collections
- | Map


text:
Popularity:#208 of 303 Public Schools in Miami#383 of 577 Public Schools in Miami-Dade County#3,285 of 4,699 Public Schools in Florida#75,128 in Public Schools
View Address and Phone Number for Jorge Mas Canosa Middle School, a Public School, at Southwest 144th Street, Miami FL.
View map of Jorge Mas Canosa Middle School, and get driving directions from your location.
Find 6 Public Schools within 2.8 miles of Jorge Mas Canosa Middle School.
Find 2 external resources related to Jorge Mas Canosa Middle School.
The Jorge Mas Canosa Middle School, located in Miami, FL, is a publicly funded school district that educates children in Miami-Dade County. Public Schools offer K-12 education at elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools located in Miami-Dade County. The Public School system follows Florida state public education policies, accepting all children living within the district boundaries for a tuition-free education.You may contact Public Schools for questions about:
Find Miami Public School Enrollment and Educational Attainment (Age 25+). Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2017 ACS 5-Year Estimates.
|Miami-Dade County
|Nursery & Preschool Enrollment
|4,372 (57.4%)
|24,315 (53.7%)
|Kindergarten Enrollment
|4,029 (83.5%)
|26,771 (83.0%)
|Elementary School Enrollment (Grades 1-4)
|13,870 (85.9%)
|103,881 (85.9%)
|Elementary School Enrollment (Grades 5-8)
|13,380 (88.4%)
|105,945 (87.2%)
|High School Enrollment (Grades 9-12)
|14,964 (89.7%)
|114,604 (88.1%)
|Miami-Dade County
|Less than 9th Grade Education
|47,180 (14.4%)
|194,934 (10.2%)
|9-12th Grade (No Diploma)
|32,943 (10.0%)
|167,399 (8.8%)
|High School Graduate (Including Equivalency)
|97,595 (29.8%)
|537,439 (28.2%)


text:
Page 1
|Save page Remove page
|1 of 215
small (250x250 max)
medium (500x500 max)
Large (1000x1000 max)
Extra Large
large ( > 500x500)
Full Resolution
All (PDF)
This page
THE STUDY OF THE ASPERGILLUS NIDULANS METABOLOME IN THE POST-GENOMIC ERA by James Sanchez A Dissertation Presented to the FACULTY OF THE USC GRADUATE SCHOOL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES) August 2011 Copyright 2011 James Sanchez
Object Description
|The study of the Aspergillus nidulans metabolome in the post-genomic era
|Sanchez, James F.
|Author email
|Doctor of Philosophy
|Document type
|Degree program
|Pharmaceutical Sciences
|School of Pharmacy
|Date defended/completed
|Date submitted
|Date approved
|Restricted until
|Date published
|Advisor (committee chair)
|Wang, Clay C. C.
|Advisor (committee member)
Shen, Wei-Chiang
Roberts, Richard W.
|Filamentous fungi have long been recognized to be a rich source of bioactive secondary metabolites. The genomic sequencing of several species of Aspergillus, however, has revealed that the number of secondary metabolite genes indicated in the genome far exceeds the number of products that have already been obtained in the laboratory, suggesting that many more metabolites await discovery. The challenge is to develop methods to uncover these hidden natural products. The work herein describes the discovery of several metabolites not previously observed from Aspergillus nidulans and the study of their biosynthesis in a post-genomic context. First, a group of polyketide-nonribosomal peptides known as the emericellamides were identified by using state-of-the-art detection techniques. Through efficient gene deletion analysis, a biosynthesis was proposed. Next, the same gene deletion technology was used to delete a gene involved in modulating chromatin architecture, with the idea that previously inaccessible sections of the genome would be available to the transcriptional machinery. Indeed, two groups of related compounds, monodictyphenone/emodins and F9775 A/B, were revealed. The polyketides F9775 A and B were also generated when the culture conditions were altered, indicating that the problem of unlocking a secondary metabolite can have multiple solutions. Gene deletions showed that a cluster of three genes were responsible for the formation of F9775 A/B, implying that other genes for these complex molecules exist elsewhere in the genome. Finally, the two major prenylated xanthones of A. nidulans, shamixanthone and emericellin, were previously identified, but two more were discovered, and genome-based deletion analysis uncovered much information about the four compounds' biosynthesis. Unprecedented, the genes for these metabolites were proven to be located in at least three distinct loci in the genome. Moreover, the two responsible prenyltransferase genes belong to a family known as fungal indole prenyltransferases, when the data here suggests that these enzymes in general may also catalyze the prenylation of polyketides. Overall, the results suggest that, contrary to the current paradigm, fungal secondary metabolite genes may not be wholly clustered in some instances, accenting the utility of genomics combined with rapid, powerful methods of targeting these dispersed genes.
|Aspergillus nidulans; secondary metabolites; genetic deletion analysis; F9775; xanthones; prenylations
|Part of collection
|University of Southern California dissertations and theses
|Publisher (of the original version)
|University of Southern California
|Place of publication (of the original version)
|Los Angeles, California
|Publisher (of the digital version)
|University of Southern California. Libraries
|Electronically uploaded by the author
|Legacy record ID
|Contributing entity
|University of Southern California
|Sanchez, James F.
|Physical access
|The author retains rights to his/her dissertation, thesis or other graduate work according to U.S. copyright law. Electronic access is being provided by the USC Libraries in agreement with the author, as the original true and official version of the work, but does not grant the reader permission to use the work if the desired use is covered by copyright. It is the author, as rights holder, who must provide use permission if such use is covered by copyright. The original signature page accompanying the original submission of the work to the USC Libraries is retained by the USC Libraries and a copy of it may be obtained by authorized requesters contacting the repository e-mail address given.
|Repository name
|University of Southern California Digital Library
|Repository address
|USC Digital Library, University of Southern California, University Park Campus MC 7002, 106 University Village, Los Angeles, California 90089-7002, USA
|Repository email
|Archival file
|Page 1
|Contributing entity
|University of Southern California
|Repository email
|Full text
|THE STUDY OF THE ASPERGILLUS NIDULANS METABOLOME IN THE POST-GENOMIC ERA by James Sanchez A Dissertation Presented to the FACULTY OF THE USC GRADUATE SCHOOL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES) August 2011 Copyright 2011 James Sanchez


text:
This site uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience. To continue and to comply with the new e-Privacy directive, we need your consent to set the cookies. Learn more.
Afficher en Grille Liste
1 Item
Evo Shell
Ultra-thin and lightweight, Evo Shell offers 2m/6.6ft protection, drop after drop.
Afficher en Grille Liste
1 Item


text:
Reviewed By Aaron S (LENEXA, KS) Reviewed for a 2010 Honda Accord —3/11/2015 6:31 AM
The auto shop tried to charge me $300 to replace the mirror that my wife broke backing into concrete column in a parking garage. This mirror took me less than 15 minutes to install from start to finish. Thanks for the great product, fast shipping and great price.


text:
OAKLAND, Calif. - Kobe Bryant had 34 points and 10 rebounds, Canadian Steve Nash finished with 12 points and nine assists in his first game in almost two months, and the Los Angeles Lakers rallied from 14 points down in the fourth quarter to beat the Golden State Warriors 118-115 in overtime on Saturday night.
Metta World Peace and Nash each made a go-ahead three-pointer in the final minutes of regulation before the Warriors came back. World Peace scored 20 points, and Nash converted a step-back shot for the final points in overtime to lift Los Angeles to its fourth straight victory.
Jarrett Jack scored 29 points and David Lee had 20 points and 11 rebounds in a disappointing collapse for Golden State, which had won 11 of 14 games to get off to its best start in 20 years. As so often has happened in this one-sided California rivalry, the Lakers took over when it mattered most.
The 38-year-old Nash, from Victoria, missed the previous 24 games because of a small fracture in his lower left leg. He was injured in the second game of the season, the former Phoenix star's first with the Lakers.
Los Angeles' rejuvenated point guard showed no signs of rust in the crucial moments.
Nash's three-pointer gave the Lakers a 103-102 lead with a little less than 2 minutes left in regulation. Festus Ezeli answered with an alley-oop from Jack to put the Warriors back ahead, only to watch Bryant swish a pull-up jumper from 20 feet on the other end.
After Lee's jumper gave Golden State the lead again, World Peace made a corner three to put Los Angeles ahead 108-106 with 24.1 seconds remaining. Jack followed with a tying, step-back shot, and the Lakers took over with 14.9 seconds left before Bryant missed a jumper over two defenders at the buzzer.
Bryant made three quick jumpers in overtime, including a fadeaway that left him pumping his fist near the Warriors bench, to put Los Angeles ahead by four. He has scored at least 30 points in eight straight games.
After Curry's three-pointer trimmed the Lakers' lead to one, Nash's step-back shot in the paint over Curry extended Los Angeles' cushion again. Curry missed a potential tying three-pointer before Los Angeles grabbed the rebound — and the game.
The Lakers had handed Golden State its most lopsided-loss of the season on Nov. 9, a 101-77 rout in Los Angeles. In the past two months, the Lakers had continued to slide while the Warriors had become surprising winners.
The matchup Saturday marked the first time the Warriors faced the Lakers with a better record through at least 25 games since April 23, 1994.
Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni said before the game that Nash's return could be a fresh start for the franchise, especially with more difficult matchups looming, including a showdown against the New York Knicks (19-7) on Christmas. He said the lineup with Nash is what he had envisioned when the Lakers called him in November to replace Mike Brown, who was fired after a 1-4 start to his second season.
With Nash anchoring D'Antoni's fast-paced system, the Lakers still had no problem settling in offensively.
They scored 15 points off 10 turnovers in the opening quarter to take a 31-27 lead. Dwight Howard was in foul trouble throughout, and the centre's absence hurt Los Angeles on the other end, with the Warriors moving in and around the paint almost unchallenged.
At one point, Jack juked Nash and every other defender Los Angeles threw his way. He scored 15 points in the second quarter, sparking a 14-0 run that helped put Golden State ahead 61-53 at halftime.
The up-and-down pace had everybody winded. Curry had to ask coach Mark Jackson to come out for a moment in the third quarter as Golden State played its fourth game in five nights. After a brief rest, Curry keyed another surge to give the Warriors an 88-74 lead early in the fourth quarter.
Bryant practically willed the Lakers back by himself as he has done so often in his illustrious career. He finished an alley-oop from Nash on the next play with two hands, sliced Golden State's lead to 90-88 when he dunked after a give-and-go bounce pass from Howard midway through the fourth, and tied the game at 95 with a three-pointer in the face of Harrison Barnes minutes later to set up the frantic finish.
NOTES: Darius Morris started at shooting guard for the Lakers ahead of World Peace. D'Antoni said he likes World Peace's energy off the bench, but he will still make some starts depending on the matchup. ... The Lakers have swept the Warriors in three of the last four seasons, including all four during the 2011-12 campaign. They have two more games against each other this season. ... Carl Landry's put-back layup at the halftime buzzer was waved off after officials reviewed television replays.


text:
Last week, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review columnist Dejan Kovacevic discovered that the Pirates were opening their fall instructional league with three days of players being "put through drills by a group of former Navy SEALS." It was the idea of assistant general manager Kyle Stark, who told Kovacevic he wanted "to give our guys a unique training experience to reinforce various lessons we stress all the time pertaining to leadership, team building and mental toughness." Because that's a priority for an organization whose big leaguers can't run the bases: making sure its prospects can dive into a sand pile. But Stark, who has no military background and little baseball experience, genuinely believes in all this, according to a June 28 email that has since been forwarded to Kovacevic by someone within the organization.
But more on that in a moment. First, let's get to exactly what sort of Navy SEALS training the Pirates' prospects would be doing, according to what Kovacevic wrote today:
• Wake up at 5 a.m.
• Organize room/locker
• Pushups and sit-ups
• Serpentine on the grass
• Crab walk
• Running along the beach with a telephone-type pole, carried by five or six players
• Pushing a truck tire through the outfield for 90 feet, then flipping it
• Being sprayed by a hose
• Diving into a sand pile
All with a drill sergeant barking orders throughout.
Now for Stark's email, which was sent to minor-league managers and coaches and contained the subject line "SECOND HALF—OUR WHAT." Kovacevic published the whole thing in all its batshit glory here, but this is a sampling:
1. Dream like a Hippie - PASSION - Elite people have big dreams, are driven by those dreams, and believe that they can achieve them.
2. Prepare like a Boy Scout - RELENTLESS - Elite people have extreme work ethic, train exhaustively to get better, and prepare fully so they can be their best when their best is needed.
3. Trust like a Hell's Angel [sic] - OWNERSHIP - Elite people trust their preparation, own their strengths and weaknesses, know what they do best and build conviction around it, and compete with reckless abandon.
The biggest impact we can have in the second half is developing more Hell's Angels [sic]. We are really good at working before games. We excel at developing Boy Scouts. However, men play in the Big Leagues and that requires the reckless abandon of a Hell's Angel [sic]. This is a mentality that is developed. It is a harder mentality to develop with less control, more gray area, and less science. However, it is the separation between good coaches and great ones, good development systems and great ones, and good organizations and great ones. Training guys to unleash what they've got is an art and needs to be our WHAT in the second half.
Stark concluded his email by quoting from the battle cry of Native American war leader Crazy Horse: "HOKA HEY—it's a great day to die!!!" Which turned out to be the real WHAT of the Pirates' second half. Again.
Kovacevic: Pirates clueless about winning [Tribune-Review]
Kovacevic: Pirates aim to be … Hells Angels? [Tribune Review]
Full text of Kyle Stark email [Tribune-Review]


text:
For Immediate Release
Patricia Kiernan Johnson;
Discovery Grants to identify, support and help advance the
work of female opera composers
Applications Now Available at
New York, NY—
OPERA America
, the national service organization for opera, is pleased to announce the launch of a new program:
Opera Grants for Female Composers
, made possible through the generosity of The Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.
OPERA America has awarded nearly $13 million over 25 years to Professional Company Members in support of new American operas. Fewer than 5% of the organization's grants supporting repertoire development have been awarded to works by female composers. Opera Grants for Female Composers will provide support for the development of new operas by women, both directly to individual composers and to opera companies, advancing the important objective to increase diversity across the field.
Opera Grants for Female Composers is a two-year project, with a different focus each year. In the first year,
Discovery Grants
of up to $15,000 each will identify, support and help develop the work of female composers writing for the operatic medium, raising their visibility and promoting awareness of their compositions to the field. In addition to financial assistance, grant recipients will be introduced to leaders in the field through a feature in
Opera America
Magazine, and at future New Works Forum meetings and annual conferences. Supported works will be considered for presentation as part of the New Works Forum in January 2015 and
New Works Samplers
at future annual conferences.
The second year of the the Opera Grants for Female Composers program will focus on
Commissioning Grants
. These awards will help support the commissioning and production of works by talented women composing on the stages of OPERA America Profesional Company Members. Details for this segment of the program will be announced in 2014.
"OPERA America is uniquely positioned as the field's convener and connector to advance the careers of the most talented creative artists," declared Marc A. Scorca, president/CEO of OPERA America. "Opera Grants for Female Composers enables us to identify and support the development of new works by emerging and established female composers. By helping to increase the quality and quantity of works by female composers, we will both broaden and deepen the existing opera repertoire with exciting new works."
Applications for Discovery Grants are available now at
and must be submitted by
February 10, 2014
. Applicants must be female composers and a United States citizen or permanent resident. Membership in OPERA America is not required for this grant.
Full Opera Grants for Female Composers guidelines are available online at
For more information about OPERA America and its services,
OPERA America leads and serves the entire opera community, supporting the creation, presentation and enjoyment of opera.
Artistic services help opera companies and creative and performing artists to improve the quality of productions and increase the creation and presentation of North American works.
Information, technical, and administrative services to opera companies reflect the need for strengthened leadership among staff, trustees and volunteers.
Education, audience development and community services are designed to enhance all forms of opera appreciation.
Founded in 1970, OPERA America's worldwide membership network includes nearly 200 Company Members, 300 Associate and Business Members, 2,000 Individual Members and more than 16,000 subscribers to the association's electronic news service. In 2005, OPERA America relocated from Washington, D.C. to New York as the first step in creating the first-ever National Opera Center. With a wide range of artistic and administrative services in a purpose-built facility, the Opera Center is dedicated to increasing the level of excellence, creativity and effectiveness across the field.
OPERA America's long tradition of supporting and nurturing the creation and development of new works led to the formation of
The Opera Fund
, a growing endowment which allows OPERA America to make a direct impact on the ongoing creation and presentation of new opera and music-theater works. Since its inception, OPERA America has made grants of nearly $11 million to assist companies with the expenses associated with the creation and development of new works.


text:
The Canon Powershot SD990 IS is in a higher price bracket than many of the other recently-released Elph models and there's a reason for that. Beautifully designed and easy to use, this camera is not only capable of producing great images it's also packed with a boatload of manual features that give the photographer nearly as much control as a DSLR (with some concessions made to pocket-sizing, of course). In short, this camera is designed to fill a market hole: it's meant for those of us who love hands-on control, even in our snapshots, but don't always want or need to lug around a huge camera kit. And it does the job admirably.
The SD990 IS touts a 14.7 megapixel sensor with a 1/1.7" size the same sensor used in the larger model Canon G10. In fact, those who are interested in the G10 for its performance may do well to take a look at the SD990 IS. It doesn't have all the same features (the hot shoe and the wide angle lens are missing), but it offers a lot of the same modes, including Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Program, AF Servo (tracking focus on moving objects), and even a Manual mode (including manual focus, which is more of a manual fine focus-adjustment, but still a bonus). This is the first digital Elph to feature such a full set of controls yet the sleek body could still fit in your coat pocket.
Design: Impressively Slick
The camera itself is impressive right out of the box. It's thicker than the other Elphs, but also feels more solid; the body is contoured and easy to grip, and is available in both silver and black. There was a limited edition red body as well, made to commemorate the 100 millionth Powershot camera, but something tells me that one will be a bit harder to get your hands on. Whatever color you choose, you should love the looks; it's compact and comfortable, with a huge, bright LCD and common-sense button layout.
Speaking of the buttons, operation of the SD990 IS is slick and easy; this camera offers largely the same set-up as other recent Elph models, with a rotating selector wheel and a four-way controller. An excellent addition to the back side is the optical viewfinder, which is coupled with the camera's Quick Mode: cameras operate faster and have less lag time when the LCD is off, so setting the camera to Quick Mode turns off the LCD. You then use the viewfinder to take quicker shots than were possible otherwise ideal for fast-moving situations. Face Detection focus continues to operate while in this mode.
The SD990 IS features Canon's DIGIC IV processor, with an impressive lack of image noise and ultra-fast operation. ISO 3200 is offered as one of the scene modes, and manages to pull usable shots even in very dark conditions. In addition, this camera has most of the typical scene modes we've come to know and love in other Canons, from Snow to Color Swap to Indoors.
Performance: Quick and High Quality
Performance in any mode is responsive, with quick snapping and amazingly low lag time, even with the LCD on. The LCD itself has barely a lag, and auto focus hones in on the subject every time. The AF Servo is something that camera manufacturers should have thought to add to pocket cameras years ago: the ability to press the focus button halfway and track a subject as it moves across your screen is something everyone can appreciate, not just users of DSLRs, and its addition to this camera adds a huge amount of versatility.
I could go on and on about the features, but the final point is this: the SD990 IS stands out among other pocket cameras, including the other Elph models, thanks to the large amount of control it gives the photographer. I didn't know anything about this camera when I took it out of the package, and every button push revealed more features I wasn't expecting to have. This camera literally rivals much larger prosumer-style models that are meant to be a bridge between DSLRs and pocket cameras, and as such it's the perfect solution for those of us who love hands-on control but love portability just as much.
Cons? I suppose there could be more of a zoom the 3.7x optical that's offered isn't much, although at least the focus is clear and bright and there's no lag to speak of, even when focusing at full zoom. But honestly, finding cons in this camera was the most difficult part of reviewing it. Shooting is an absolute pleasure; capture time is fast, photos are bright and detailed, and image quality is off the charts.
The bottom line is this: if you're not too interested in Manual mode, Aperture/ Shutter Priority, or any of the other hands-on features offered by this camera, then you can save a bit of cash by purchasing one of the other recently-released Elph models. I've handled a few of them, and in terms of image quality and performance, they're all brilliant performers, and they cost less than the SD990 IS, for obvious reasons. But if you love the idea of full creative control, even in your pocket-sized shooter, buy this camera. You won't be able to put it down.


text:
CCAP's Helme discusses U.S., China plans on emissions
After addressing the United Nations on climate change this week, has President Obama successfully added momentum to the international climate negotiations ahead of the Copenhagen meeting? During today's OnPoint, Ned Helme, president of the Center for Clean Air Policy, gives his take on this week's U.N. special session on climate change. He discusses Obama's speech and talks about China's changing role in the negotiations.


text:
Kenneth Alan Jonsson dies at 79; co-founder of cancer center at UCLA
Kenneth Alan Jonsson, an entrepreneur and philanthropist who co-founded the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center at UCLA, died March 15 at his home in Pacific Palisades.
He had been in declining health for several months after a hospital stay in December, his family said. He was 79.
Jonsson, the son of Texas Instruments co-founder John Erik Jonsson, and his late wife, Diana, were longtime supporters of cancer research.
In 1975, the Jonssons donated $1 million to UCLA for a new cancer research center to be named for the family. The couple had made cancer research one of their major causes in the 1960s, and they contributed millions more to UCLA as the decades passed.
Known as Ken, Jonsson served on the Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation's board of directors for 43 years, including several years as board president in the 1970s, and was a trustee of the UCLA Foundation.
Elsewhere, he served as a trustee at Harvey Mudd College, where he and his wife established an endowment for a math professorship, and was a member of the President's Circle of the National Academy of Sciences.
Born Jan. 5, 1931, in New Jersey, Jonsson studied mechanical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
After graduating in 1952, he went to work for Texas Instruments as a production manager in Dallas. When he became Western regional sales manager for the electronics manufacturer, he moved his family to California.
In 1955, he started his own firm, Jonsson Communications Corp., which operated radio stations, cable TV outlets and magazines in California and Nevada.
Jonsson and his wife started the Kenneth Jonsson Family Foundation to support medical research and higher education.
Jonsson's wife of 53 years died in 2006.
He is survived by three sons, Erik of Portland, Ore., Mark of El Macero, Calif., and Mike of Sacramento; a daughter, Anne of Rolling Hills Estates; a brother, Philip of Little Rock, Ark.; a sister, Margaret J. Rogers of Dallas; and eight grandchildren.


text:
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T500 Review
Buy Direct From Manufacturer
When the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T500 was announced in the build-up to the Photokina trade show a few months ago, Sony's press materials for the camera implied something bold: although it doesn't look the part, the T500 may be the closest thing to a combination camcorder-digicam currently on the market.
Hyped at least as much for its ability to capture HD video with stereo sound as its still image making, could the touch screen equipped, 10.1 megapixel T500 be the combination device – capable of grabbing great video and stunning still images – that we've been waiting for?
Building on the foundation laid by Sony's long line of touch screen Cyber-shot T models, the T500 brings more advanced shooting features, 720p video recording, HDMI connectivity, and a more svelte and serious appearance to Sony's popular pocket cams.
Ostensibly more performance focused than some of its T series forerunners (Sony claims the camera is targeted to "innovation enthusiasts"), the T500 features a 10.1 megapixel, 1/2.3-inch SuperHAD CCD sensor coupled with a 5x, 33-165mm Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar zoom lens. The T500's touch panel is a wide-format (16:9 aspect ratio) 3.5 inch variant with 230,000 dots resolution.
Other key features include a face detection system capable of locking onto up to eight faces, Sony's advanced in-camera slide show tools that allow the addition of sophisticated shot-to-shot transitions and the incorporation of background music, and HDMI connectivity (via an included dock) for easily getting playback to an HDTV.
Shooting modes are more pared down on the T500 than on its flagship siblings, with a handful of basic auto-exposure options rounding out the list:
- Auto: The T500's basic point-and-shoot mode, with Face Detection control, Scene Recognition, and red-eye reduction.
- Program: Point-and-shoot operation with expanded user input – access to sensitivity, white balance, flash options, color modes, and IS.
- Scene: The T500 groups its nine scene presets – including sports, twilight, and portrait options – in their own separate menu.
- Movie: The T500 can capture video clips with stereo audio at up to 1280×720/30 fps; zooming during movie recording is enabled.
The T500's playback mode has several advanced features. But the list of retouch options here is also trimmed down compared to many Sonys, eliminating many of the "fun" features (filters, Happy Face Retouch, etc.) in favor of a succinct but very useful and businesslike range of in-camera edits that includes crop, rotate, and red-eye reduction tools.
The T500 retains the advanced slideshow functions seen in other high-end Sony models, allowing users to add background music and tinker with shot-to-shot transitions all on the camera itself. Throw the T500's HDMI output into the mix and you have the ability to easily compile a slideshow of your recent images and play it back for friends and family. How much a function like this ever gets used is an open question, but Sony's implementation is definitely nice enough to make it worth some exploration.
Video Capture
The fact that the T500 features a large switch dedicated to changing the camera over from still image capture to video shooting might be your first clue that this isn't your typical digicam with video capability tacked on. Using their experience designing camcorders as a jumping-off point, Sony appears to have thrown a lot of weight behind the T500's high-def video recording capability.
As noted, the T500 offers HD video capture at up to 1280×720 (720p) at 30 fps. Unlike most digital still cameras, movie audio is captured in stereo via the T500's front-mounted stereo microphone. From this capture, the T500 generates MPEG-4 video files utilizing the AVC/H.264 codec, which combines small file sizes with support for high-quality video and stereo audio. In fact, the only hitch seems to be that 720p clips are, for whatever reason, limited to ten minutes per file.
That minor annoyance aside, though, the T500 is versatile enough in the movie capture department to stand in for your camcorder in a pinch. A quick sample video shows the T500 in action; note, especially, the almost complete lack of zoom noise.
Note: The video clip in the player above is a lower-resolution version of the original file. The unaltered original file can be downloaded for viewing here.
If video performance may be the best currently available from an ultracompact still camera, we did have some playback issues. Not all supposedly compatible players wanted to fully support the camera's MP4 video format, and even after updating our codecs, some machines we tested our sample videos on still exhibited stuttering and choppy playback.
But assuming your hardware and software issues are sorted, the T500 delivers an exceptionally good video capture performance for a digital still camera.
For a detailed listing of specifications and features, please refer to the specifications table found at the bottom of the review.
Styling and Build Quality
Carrying the innovation theme into its design, the T500 is a small camera that's unlike any other ultracompact we've looked at in several ways – not just because it uses a touch interface to replace a host of physical buttons.
The T500's unusual functionality starts with its two-stage sliding lens, which allows the camera's picture-taking hardware to "disappear" when the cover is closed and provides a symmetrical look that suggests a lot of work on the part of the T500 design team.
Turning the camera over, you'll find a sight common to Sony T models: no buttons. Other than a smattering of top-mounted physical controls, all user interaction with the T500 is handled through its 3.5 inch touch-responsive LCD.
Likewise, Sony has excised almost all of the T500's ports as well. Instead, the camera docks – via a single proprietary connector – to an included base station, providing HDMI, USB, and composite A/V connections. From the camera side it's an elegant solution, reducing the clutter of ports that plague many small cameras. If you were hoping for direct mini USB connectivity or the like, though, you may be disappointed by the need to tote around the awkwardly shaped docking station.
In terms of the camera's construction, I wish that the T500's high-end design ethos translated to class-leading build quality as well, but having just handled Sony's very well made flagship T700, I have to say that this wasn't entirely the case. The T700 gets the brushed metal treatment all over, but beyond the lens cover you'll find an equally mix of metal and unappealing, high-gloss plastic on the T500. Overall, construction is nice and tight, but it's the details that really let the T500 down: the around-the-shutter-release zoom toggle lever and movie/still switch look like titanium, but have a light-weight, floppy feel that exposes their construction as chromed plastic.
In the same vein, I'm wondering how the T500's battery door/memory card cover has possibly survived more than a handful of cycles. Even by the typical standard set forth for such things – companies seem to invariably cheap out on battery doors and port covers for whatever reason – this one is terribly flimsy and feels extremely vulnerable when opened.
In fairness, none of these build quality gripes would likely prevent a would-be T500 buyer from purchasing the camera. But given the T500's substantial retail price and high-end market positioning, as well as Sony's reputation for putting together premium gadgets, it seems more than fair to expect a device built from appropriately high-end materials.
Ergonomics and Interface
If you've held other touch-screen Sonys, you probably already know what to expect ergonomically from the T500. I have always found Sony's T models horrendously uncomfortable to shoot with for any amount of time (there seems to be nowhere to satisfactorily plant my thumb!), but opinions on this topic around our office are mixed. As a general rule, if you have larger hands, you'll probably find the camera uncomfortable as well, but for just grabbing a few quick snaps at a time, even so this may not be an issue. Still, probably best to go handle one in person before putting down money on a T500 if you're at all in doubt.
The same goes for the interface: if you've never used a camera with a touch interface, a Sony interface, or both, it's probably best to know what you're getting into before several hundred dollars on a T500. Physically, my thick fingers seem to make getting clean, single presses impossible on Sony's panels; hence, I find the included stylus, which clips onto the wrist strap, improves the camera's usability greatly. Those with slim fingers, however, seem to have little difficulty managing the screen without resorting to the pointer.
Having now personally reviewed at least four generations of Sony Cyber-shot models, it's more than a bit disappointing to me that I could almost copy and paste my first impressions of Sony's menu system into this review and call it a day. There have been improvements by degrees in making the Cyber-shot T menu structure more coherent, but even so I find the redundancy and the seemingly illogical grouping of parameters a constant frustration with these cameras. Again, your level of tolerance for or ire toward the T500's menus will likely be directly proportional to how much time you spend there: if you're a snapshot grabber who rarely tweaks settings, you might not give it a second thought. But if you're a power user, the constant menu run-around will get old in a hurry.
Basically, I love what Sony's done in redefining minimalism in the exterior appearance of its cameras. What I'm still wishing for is that they'd apply this same incisive design sense to the flow of their menus.
Sony opted for an exceptionally high-res 920,000 dot LCD on the T700, but the T500 gets a lower-spec 3.5 inch touch-responsive display (with only 230,000 dots resolution).
It's a nice, color-accurate screen that, in truth, performs about as well as the T700's in shooting mode (as this camera's sister model didn't effectively take advantage of its screen's full resolution in shooting and post-shot review). The screen gains up automatically in low light, and features an option for manually modifying brightness as well.
As expected for an ultracompact, there is no optical viewfinder.
Timings and Shutter Lag
Sony has built a reputation on packing lots of speed – DSLR rivaling speed – into small cameras, setting a high standard for the T500's performance.
Shutter Lag (press-to-capture, pre-focused)
|Time (seconds)
|Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T500
|Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T700
|Canon PowerShot A2000 IS
|Canon PowerShot A1000 IS
|Fujifilm FinePix F60fd
AF Acquisition (press-to-capture, no pre-focus)
|Time (seconds)
|Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T700
|Canon PowerShot A2000 IS
|Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T500
|Fujifilm FinePix F60fd
|Canon PowerShot A1000 IS
Lock focus with the T500 by half-pressing the shutter release and you're in command of one of the fastest cameras made. Like the flagship T700, this thing simply flies from press to capture.
Focusing speed, though, felt a little slow at times, and our studio test confirmed that while the T500 would have been considered a blazing fast point-and-shoot two model cycles ago, it's merely middle of the pack now. Few will complain about an 0.4 press to capture time under ideal conditions, though the camera runs closer to a second at best in poor light and will never get below about 0.6 unless you disable auto-macro shooting. Overall, it's a quick camera, though it doesn't quite live up to the T700's stunning focus numbers.
Continuous Shooting
|Fujifilm FinePix F60fd
|2.5 fps
|Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T700
|1.6 fps
|Canon PowerShot A2000 IS
|1.6 fps
|Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T500
|1.4 fps
|Canon PowerShot A1000 IS
|1.4 fps
Note: Continuous shooting framerates are based on the camera's fastest full-resolution JPEG continuous shooting mode, using the fastest media type available (300x CF, SDHC, etc.), as tested in our studio. "Frames" notes the number of captures recorded per burst before the camera stops/slows to clear the buffer.
The T500 does an admirable job in our continuous shooting test as well. Although it's slower than the T700 off the line, it does have the distinct advantage of being able to shoot seemingly until the card is full at this speed when using a SanDisk Extreme III card.
Auto Focus
The T500 boasts the typical array of auto focus modes – auto multi-area and center point options – as well as an automatic center-area mode and four approximate distance options (which attempt to lock focus first near the specified distance: 1 meter, 3 meters, 7 meters, or infinity). There's a related face detection system as well, which automatically overrides the focus area setting when it's enabled and faces are picked up in the frame.
Although it doesn't quite match the T700 step for step in a footrace, the T500's auto focus speed and, more so, its consistency are easy to appreciate. As with the T700, however, I did find this camera to simply give up when trying to focus on occasion. While the camera rarely missed focus, the T500 would sometimes simply fail to lock at all, preventing the shutter from firing. There seemed to be little rhyme and reason to the pattern, which seemed to happen on average as often as one out of twenty times. This annoying oddity aside, though, the T500's performance was rock-solid reliable.
Lens and Zoom
The T500 wears a 5x (33-165mm) Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar optic with a maximum aperture range of f/3.5-4.4. It's a different zoom than the one used on the T700, but it incorporates the same internally contained design: the lens has no protruding parts, with all movement of the zoom performed inside the body of the camera itself. Such designs are ingenious for pocket cameras, as there's no lens barrel to damage. Conversely, lenses of this type tend to show the adverse effects of the design compromises involved – mostly in the form of soft images.
In use, the T500's unique optical design makes zooming smooth and nearly silent – which, in turn, allows zoom to be used while shooting video as well. The shutter-release surrounding zoom toggle switch is nicely sized and easy to grab. Overall, if the use of an internally contained lens will no doubt cause optical purists to fret, there's nothing inherent in this lens design that makes the T500 unpleasant to shoot with. Just the opposite, in fact.
In typical Sony fashion, the T500 features a pair of macro modes. The first, a sort of "auto-macro" setting, attempts to lock focus first in a close-up range that extends to about 6 inches from the lens. Performance is fairly typical of most ultracompact macro modes with this option selecting, though the T500 does seem to have a nasty propensity for settling on a focus point behind your subject in this mode.
For better-than-average macro performance, there's also the camera's close focus setting. Zoom is locked at full wide-angle when this option, which allows focusing down to around a quarter of an inch, is selected.
For extreme close-ups, the T500 offers some truly exceptional performance for an ultracompact in this dedicated macro mode.
Performance from the T500's tiny built-in flash is average for this class: nothing to write home about, but not terrible either. The biggest flaw is undoubtedly a distinct lack of power, with an advertised range around 11 feet and a lot of ISO boost needed to get there. With the camera locked in at base sensitivity, a few feet of fill is all you're likely to get.
Flash exposure in our test shooting was generally accurate and relatively pleasing as well. Stay close to your subject, make sure you don't cover the strobe lamp, and you'll generally get good – if a little bit flat – results. Like other recent Sony models, the T500 give you the option to boost or cut flash power. The three-step (low, normal, high) system is less precise than a true flash exposure compensation control, but useful for controlling wash-out in close shots just the same.
It doesn't have the power to light up a dark room, but with the right combination of settings the T500's flash unit makes an admirable complement to the camera's excellent macro capabilities for filling in details in close-ups.
Image Stabilization
Even in ultracompacts, optical image stabilization is almost a must these days, and the T500 fulfills this requirement with its SteadyShot optical stabilization system. Based on our performance evaluation, the system works as well as any on the market, with effective stabilization in my experience down to shutter speeds around 1/10.
Settings for the stabilization system are straightforward. By default, the camera's stabilization system is set to continuous operation. You can save some battery power by switching the system its shoot-only setting, where stabilization is only active when the shutter release is pressed. For tripod use, SteadyShot can also be disabled completely.
It's a good thing the T500 has a nicely designed battery charger (the type in which the plug folds into the body for easy transport), as that power-hungry screen and small battery mean you'll be spending a lot of time charging this camera's tiny lithium-ion battery pack. We went through several cycles of the battery in testing this Cyber-shot, and never succeeded in clearing 200 frames without a recharge. With average playback-mode use factored in, expect actual numbers closer to 150 shots per charge – and even lower if you shoot lots of video. In short, plan on buying a couple of spare batteries for your T500 if you want to get in a full shooting day without recharging.
Sony's T models have never been known for their image quality. At the same time, there's no reason to assume that the T500 shouldn't be a perfectly capable snapshot maker – and indeed, that proves to generally be the case with a few caveats.
Keep the ISOs low, watch out for blown highlights and red-channel issues and there's little else to stand in the way of getting clean, crisp images from this Cyber-shot.
Exposure, Processing, and Color
Sony just can't quite seem to score an unqualified winner with the exposure control system on their T cameras, and sadly, the T500 exhibited the same sorts of "all over the map" exposure issues that we ran up against with the T700. While it was prone to slight overexposure and clipped highlights (as many digicams area), the T500 would also underexpose seemingly at random. The optional on-screen histogram proves to be a shot saver with this camera, allowing you to get a visual handle on possible missed exposures before you pull the trigger.
A thoroughgoing lack of sunshine during our weeks with the T500 makes it slightly harder to judge the camera's color reproduction proclivities. Based on our studio tests, the T500 appears to be similar to the last few Cyber-shots we've looked at in this regard: generally neutral and accurate, with a few strong saturation bumps and slightly hard contrast. The T500 provides the usual color modes as well, allowing basic tailoring of the camera's image look.
Sharp-eyed observers have probably already noticed that pure reds in the above tests appear to be close to clipping in the Normal and Vivid shots. As with its T700 sibling, the T500 has a tough time with reds.
Switching over to the Neutral preset actually helps somewhat, and seems to smooth out the camera's harsh default transitions into shadow areas as well.
White Balance
Automatic white balance performance is about as expected, with the T500 struggling to produce natural looking pictures under incandescent light.
Auto White Balance, 3200K incandescent light
More time shooting indoors for this review than is usually the case also called my attention to the camera's difficulties under fluorescent light, and the occasional inconsistency of its presets in managing indoor shooting situations. Concerns weren't really shot-ruining, but we did see some funny colors more than once shooting under incandescent light with the appropriate preset.
Lens Faults
One of the T700's greatest weaknesses was its lens, showing some troubling blue fringe in high-contrast shooting situations. Hence, I was on alert for signs of chromatic aberration this time around. What I found is that while the T500 still runs up against the occasional issue in this regard, performance on the whole seems slightly better with this variant of Sony's internally contained zoom lens.
100% crop
The shot above shows the T500 at its worst, and while it's certainly intrusive at view sizes approaching 100 percent, it also doesn't invade the frame the way the T700's fringe issues did and, moreover, is primarily limited to shooting at full wide-angle.
The T500's glass shows just a hint of characteristic barrel distortion at wide-angle. More pronounced is the amount of pincushioning at the other end of the zoom range.
Sensitivity and Noise
The T500 provides a basic selection of sensitivity options, including a dedicated High Sensitivity scene mode for shooting in low light, as well as an auto ISO option and user-set manual sensitivity from ISO 80 to 3200.
ISO 80, 100% crop
ISO 100, 100% crop
ISO 200, 100% crop
ISO 400, 100% crop
ISO 800, 100% crop
ISO 1600, 100% crop
ISO 3200, 100% crop
Picky shooters will note some softness and flecks from the lowest ISOs at 100 percent, but for most uses ISO 80, 100, and 200 are functionally identical and quite clean. Noise comes on in earnest at ISO 400, though it's still well controlled, and even ISO 800 is about par for the course in this class.
The T500's performance falls off sharply at ISO 1600. Even more so than in the recently reviewed T700, aggressive noise reduction – the kind that earned Sony's small cameras a reputation for performing poorly at higher ISOs – is back in force with this model. A combination of extreme detail softening, blobby solid areas, and the almost complete loss of color information in the top two sensitivity settings makes ISO 1600 unadvisable and ISO 3200 essentially unusable for all but the very tiniest prints.
Additional Sample Images
When Sony announced that it was building a small camera with huge video capability for power users, we were interested to find out exactly what the finished product would be like. While the T models have always been snappy performers, it's always been the feeling around here that they were better suited to casual shooters. But although the T500 does offer a more refined high-performance experience than its forerunners in some respects – and its 720p video capability is really excellent – what you're getting here is really the same basic package that the novice-friendly T700 offers up. Maybe we'd define the needs of those "innovation enthusiasts" to whom this camera is allegedly marketed differently than the folks at Sony, but without improved noise performance and a better optic, I can't see a lot of dedicated "techies" getting on board with the T500. A few model cycles back, the touch screen would have been appeal enough to lure this crowd, but with lots of players joining that game of late, the T500's ace in hole doesn't play as strongly as it once did.
The bottom line on the T500 is that it's a solid camera, with quick performance and a high fun factor. Its size is hard to beat, and its movies look great and even sound alright to boot. Even considering its high price point, the T500 delivers an awful lot – probably more that's useful, on balance, than the T700, unless storing lots of images on your camera is your thing. It's certainly not the camera it could have been with a better (probably retractable-design) lens, a more powerful battery, and some manual exposure controls, but respecting its limitations and shortcomings, the T500 works reasonably well as a total package as it is.
- Slim, stylish form factor
- Best video capture around in a digicam
- Easy-to-use full auto camera
- Speedy performance
- Noise, loss of color render highest ISOs useless
- AF flakes out on ocassion
- Some cheap looking plastics used in construction
- Needs a more powerful battery
|10.1 megapixel, 1/2.3″ Super HAD CCD
|5x (33-165mm) Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar, f/3.5-4.4
|3.5″, 230K-dot touch sensitive hybrid TFT LCD
|Shutter Speed
|1-1/1000 seconds
|Shooting Modes
|Auto, Easy Auto, Program, Scene, Movie
|Scene Presets
High Sensitivity, Twilight, Twilight Portrait, Soft Snap, Landscape, Beach, Snow, Fireworks, Hi-speed Shutter, Smile Shutter, Gourmet, Auto Adjustment, Underwater
|White Balance Settings
|Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Fluorescent 1, Fluorescent 2, Fluorescent 3, Incandescent, Flash, Underwater
|Metering Modes
|Multi, Center, Spot
|Focus Modes
|Multi AF, Center AF, Spot AF, Flexible Spot AF, Focus Presets, Macro
|Drive Modes
|Normal, Burst, Self Timer
|Flash Modes
|Auto, Forced On, Slow Synchro, Forced Off
|Self Timer Settings
|10 seconds, 2 seconds, Off
|Memory Formats
|Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick Pro Duo
|Internal Memory
|File Formats
|Max. Image Size
|Max. Video Size
|1280×720, 30 fps
|Zoom During Video
|Rechargeable lithium-ion
|USB 2.0, AV output (includes HDMI output), DC input
|Additional Features
|Face Detection, Smile Shutter, Bionz processor, touch screen interface, HD Slide Show with music, Optical SteadyShot


text:
Rooms Reborn will inspire you to create the home of your dreams.
No matter what those dreams are!
Whether it's providing you with ideas and inspiration to help you design and decorate your own home, doing the work for you to create your dream home, or providing you with hands-on training so that you can do it yourself—either for fun or profit—we can help!
Visit each of our four service areas below for more information.
Interior Decorating
Rooms Reborn can provide you with everything from ideas and suggestions to products and services that will help you to design and decorate your own home in a style that makes you happy.
Interior Redesign Services
Whether it's rearranging things you already own or bringing in a few new things to enhance your home, Rooms Reborn can handle any project from start to finish.
Real Estate Staging
If you're looking to sell your home or your home is already on the market, Rooms Reborn can help you to sell quickly and for top dollar. We turn browsers into buyers!
Education and Career Training
If you would like to begin a business in a design-related field, add additional services to your current business or if you're simply interested in learning how to decorate and stage for your own pleasure, Rooms Reborn offers courses to suit your needs.


text:
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Massage, humor therapy and relaxation don't seem to make life much easier for children with cancer who go through stressful bone marrow transplants, disappointed researchers said Monday.
Earlier studies, while not clear-cut, had suggested alternative treatment might benefit some adult cancer survivors. Doing yoga, for instance, helped women sleep better and have more energy after breast cancer treatment. (See Reuters Health story of May 21, 2010)
"We believed that we had a therapy that was helpful," said psychologist Sean Phipps, of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, who led the government- and foundation-funded study.
But, he said, even state-of-the-art alternative treatment didn't trump standard supportive care, which includes drugs for nausea and pain as well as psychosocial support for both child and parent.
Phipps said stem cell transplants, from the bone marrow or blood, are some of the toughest treatments for children with cancer. He said they often experience pain, have restricted diets, and are kept largely isolated due to a high risk of infections. "It's not a picnic," he said.
To test whether alternative treatment could take the edge off the stress, Phipps and colleagues randomly assigned 178 children to one of three groups. One group received only standard care; another also had massages and humor therapy; in the third group, parents also got massages and were taught how to be more relaxed around their kids.
Using a common measure of quality of life in patients undergoing aggressive treatments, the researchers then tested how the kids fared in each group.
"We failed to demonstrate that our interventions changed those outcomes," said Phipps. One possible explanation is that standard care was already doing a good job of helping the children, he added, stressing that more research is needed.
Dr. K. Scott Baker, who directs the Survivorship Program at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, said he was surprised by the new findings, which are published in the journal Cancer.
While they don't jibe with work in adults, he said in an e-mail to Reuters Health, "this study had a very rigorous study design. Many times what we perceive to be true, or of benefit, is not always the case."
"There are things that they can do to make them feel better," Phipps said. "You don't have to sit back and be passive."
SOURCE: link.reuters.com/fyr76m Cancer, online July 12, 2010.
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.


text:
Phillies, righty Cruz decide to part ways
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- The Phillies and right-hander Juan Cruz mutually rescinded their agreement to a Minor League contract Wednesday.
He became a free agent immediately.
Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said Wednesday morning at Carpenter Complex that Cruz felt his chances to make the bullpen had diminished upon the Phillies signing right-hander Chad Durbin. Cruz never signed his contract and never showed in camp yesterday, which was the official report date. He clearly didn't want to be in camp, so the Phillies cut him loose.
"We kind of all got together and talked about it and decided to part ways," Amaro said. "He will not be in camp, and he'll be able to sign with whomever he wants to, and maybe [they will] give him a better opportunity. We decided we would grant that for him out of respect for a guy that has been in the big leagues for nine years. We just didn't think it was right for either party."
The Phillies now have 59 players in big league camp: 30 pitchers, six catchers, 12 infielders and 11 outfielders.


text:
Cathedral Catholic's Roslyn Kackman is one with the water
The alarm sounds at 4 a.m. Roslyn Kackman splashes water on her face to help her wake up, and then the Cathedral Catholic High junior heads off to swim practice to make a splash of her own.
Dawn workouts are part of two-a-day practices that occur twice weekly during the high school season. It may be dark when Kackman leaves her Ramona home, but her outlook stays bright.
"I've always had a special connection with the water," Kackman said. "I've always felt calm and collected (in the pool). If I've had a bad day, when I came to swim practice, my problems go away, and I feel like one with the water. It feels amazing. I love swimming so much."
Kackman ranks this season as the only returning girls two-time defending champion from last year's San Diego Section finals, owning Division II titles in the 200-yard freestyle and the 100 butterfly. Also, with her leading the way, the Dons are looking to claim their fifth straight team title, which would tie the record set by Torrey Pines (1998-2002).
"Ros is so much fun," senior teammate Jenna Harris said. "I think she's the most competitive one all of us. She'll go, 'OK, guys, we've got to win.' It's also very motivating to see her go so fast. It makes me want to go harder in practice to keep up with her.''
Kackman started setting the pace in her freshman year when she broke the school record in the 100 fly.
"Ros sets a great example because she just doesn't like to lose," Cathedral coach Jeff Owen said. "That's one thing we've been very impressed with."
Kackman derives even extra drive this year with the Olympic Trials as a target. She hopes to qualify in the 200 free following the completion of the high school season.
"That motivates me every day," said Kackman, who has been a competitive swimmer for six years. "I work my hardest to get closer to that goal."
Kackman moved within range of the qualifying standard (2:03.19) last summer when she recorded her first junior national qualifying time and then improved in the meet finals at Stanford University (2:05:49).
"My favorite (event) would have to be the 200 free, and last year, I just started getting used to it," Kackman said. "You can't go out too fast or too slow. You have to be just right.''
The butterfly also rates high, including when she broke the school mark.
"I didn't know what the record was," Kackman said. "When Mr. Owen came up to me and said you broke the record, and I said, 'Oh, really?'"
Kackman further improved the record with her win in last year's section finals (57.00) to go with a victory in the 200 free (1:51.92). To top off last year, she was also named a Scholastic All-American by USA Swimming.
"I've always been competitive with school or swimming, even little games with my friends," Kackman said. "I think that swim has helped with that. It's made me more dedicated to my high school work. I never give up in anything. Swimming has made me that way.''
Right from when she wakes up.