Become BullyWise – Bullying Tips and News

In a lighthearted video posted Tuesday on his official YouTube channel, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie jokes that he’s finished with town hall meetings, in part, because he’s sick of the vice presidential questions.

The tongue-in-cheek video opens with two of his aides discussing the governor’s outreach strategy, and they agree to put Christie through more rounds of town hall meetings with constituents. But unbeknownst to them, Christie is standing near the door, listening. When he hears the plan, he shakes his head and his face grimaces.

“More town halls? Are those guy kidding me? Easy for them to say. They never even show up at the town halls,” Christie says into the camera. “I can’t take one more question about flooding. I don’t want any more questions about being vice president. And these kids, these kids with all these questions. I can’t take it anymore. So no, they’re going to have to come up with something other than town halls. They have got to come up with some better ideas than that. I could maybe come up with something even bigger than that. I’ll come up with something.”

Christie tries everything he can, but his plans are constantly thwarted by Newark Mayor Cory A. Booker, a Democrat.

The comedy video ends with Booker talking to Mitt Romney on the phone about joining the Republican presidential ticket. Christie walks into the room and grabs the phone from Booker.

“I got this,” he says.

Watch the full video.

More popular Yahoo! News stories:

• Romney campaign ad touts steel mill boosted by Bain investment

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• Rob Portman defends Romney over Bain attacks

Want more of our best political stories? Visit The Ticket or connect with us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or add us on Tumblr. Handy with a camera? Join our Election 2012 Flickr group to submit your photos of the campaign in action.

Article source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/chris-christie-jokes-don-t-want-more-questions-013813278.html

Hunter Moore said he would set fire to the Voice‘s office if I wrote this. Actually, the 26-year-old’s exact words were, “Honestly, I will be fucking furious, and I will burn down fucking The Village Voice headquarters if you fucking write anything saying I have an FBI investigation.”

Some background: Hunter Moore is a self-made Internet villain. For more than a year, the Sacramento native published nude cell-phone photos of 18- to 30-year-olds, usually against their will, on his blog Is Anyone Up. Some of the people posted were publicly notable: pop-punk bassists, an Ultimate Frisbee champ, an American Idol finalist, the founder of Dream Water, Twilight star Kiowa Gordon. The majority of them were not: a Taco Bell employee from Orlando; a wheelchair-bound St. Louis community-college student; a high school English teacher in Hamilton City, California. What made these online betrayals even more vindictive was that they appeared alongside the unwitting model’s full name, social-media profile, and city of residence—private citizens in vulnerably explicit positions, just a Google search away from friends, enemies, parents, employers.

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Just as troubling was that publishing these nudes was a legal act. Is Anyone Up branded itself as a “revenge porn” site, encouraging angry exes to send, anonymously, their former partners’ nudes. Many people did. So the breasts, penises, and asses on Hunter Moore’s site were, the story went, supplied by avenging cuckolds, embittered former friends, and other people with scores to settle. Because this content came from third-party users, Moore wasn’t legally held responsible, thanks to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996, the same powerful shield that prevents Facebook (or the Voice, for that matter) from being sued for what users post.

Is Anyone Up quickly became a lurker’s paradise, a life-ruiner, and a public-shame catalog. As the site’s popularity spiked, Hunter Moore became a cult of personality, the anti–Mark Zuckerberg, a polarizing figure the BBC called “the Net’s most hated man.” He received countless death threats, cease-and-desist letters, and a Facebook ban. Last summer, a San Francisco woman he’d posted stabbed him in the shoulder. Infinitely quotable and ruthlessly unapologetic, Moore also drew an army of online supporters, kids who called him a devious genius, professed their love for him, and wanted to have sex with him, which he made a sport of publicly. Anderson Cooper tapped Moore as a guest, a Nightline crew came to his house, and I wrote a cover profile about him for this newspaper.

But along the way, as more unsuspecting subjects ended up on Is Anyone Up, more of them claimed that they’d been hacked—that someone had actually gained access to their e-mail accounts and stolen their images, which had not, in fact, been previously sent to people who later submitted them for publication after relationships soured.

Naturally, this excuse sounded flimsy, if not preposterous. “Everybody can claim they’re getting hacked,” Moore told me in April. “That’s the easiest way to fucking get out of it—’Oh, I fucking shoved my finger in my asshole, and I sent it to this dude who looked hella cute and had a face tattoo on Twitter. And I’m gonna say I got hacked.’ Let’s be real, you’re a fucking whore, and you just met the dude, and you thought he was cute.”

That conversation happened the same day as a stunning development: Moore suddenly sold his domain to an anti-bullying site, bullyville.com, and effectively shut down Is Anyone Up on April 19. “I’m fucking sick of looking at little kids naked, and I’m sick of my fucking site. I’m sick of fucking people calling me a ‘faggot’ and telling me to kill myself,” he told me. “I’m tired of fucking looking out the window and thinking somebody’s going to fucking come through and murder me in my sleep.” He insisted that his decision to shutter Is Anyone Up had nothing to do with law-enforcement pressure. “Fuck no, I would fucking literally murder somebody right now if I had a fucking gun and [that person] wanted to make those allegations.”

The Voice has learned that the FBI’s Los Angeles Internet Crime division has been actively investigating Hunter Moore and Is Anyone Up for months, according to four people who say they’ve been interviewed by the FBI about his now-shuttered site. The case’s focus, according to those familiar with the investigation, was Moore’s possible connection to a hacker who has repeatedly broken into the inboxes of countless victims, rifled through their attachments, and submitted the accompanying nudes to Is Anyone Up. (A Los Angeles FBI spokesperson would not confirm or deny such an investigation.)

“The FBI has been in contact with me,” Moore admitted during the same conversation in which he threatened to burn down the Voice. “I have nothing to hide.”

Bullyville.com is a month-old property run by former Marine James McGibney, another controversial website owner whose flagship property, cheaterville.com, asks for people to expose unfaithful scalawags. He also relies on the Communications Decency Act of 1996′s protections to run cheaterville.com. “Under no circumstances are any photos, posts, anything that was previously on Is Anyone Up servers ever allowed to be made into a public domain again,” he explained about his company’s purchase of Moore’s domain. “We could do this, and then maybe Hunter starts up another website two months from now and puts all this stuff back up, and we made sure that couldn’t happen.”

Article source: http://www.villagevoice.com/2012-05-16/news/hacker-is-anyone-up-hunter-moore-fbi/

CUPERTINO, Calif., May 15, 2011 — /PRNewswire/ – Trend Micro Inc. (TYO: 4704;TSE: 4704) today announced the winners of the company’s third annual “What’s Your Story?” international video contest that empowers youth to be leaders in educating others about being safe online.

For the first time ever, the $10,000 grand prize goes to a team of public high school students who, for months, persistently championed their school, South Grand Prairie High, to establish a video club. The result: A thoughtful video, entitled “Choices,” that chronicles the decisions made by one young man while using his cell phone. 

“When we decided to enter this contest, we thought about what it means to be safe and responsible online. We realized it all comes down to the decisions we make. We hope people will think about all the decisions they face when they use a cell phone.  Sometimes a small decision can have a big impact. If you make good choices, you’ll be ok,” said Trung Hyunh, student filmmaker and member of the SGP Video Club, South Grand Prairie High School, Grand Prairie, TX.

The 2012 contest received entries from both individuals and schools across the U.S. and Canada for the new categories of:

• Take action against bullying: How would you help a friend being bullied online?
• Keep a good rep online: What’s the right way to share?
• Be cell smart: How can someone new to cell phones use it wisely?

Sponsored and supported by Trend Micro Internet Safety for Kids Families and a number of participating organizations, “What’s Your Story?” was created to empower kids, parents, teachers and schools around the world to make the Internet a safe and secure place for today’s youth. The contest’s unique quality is that it requires young people to become educated about being safe online, then empowers them as educators to impart advice to their peers through their videos.  

To view all the winners of the 2012 “What’s Your Story?” contest, visit: http://whatsyourstory.trendmicro.com

Runners up: Individuals

• Take Action Against Bullying: “Be The Difference,” by Drew Hollering and;  ”Rhymes for These Online Times,” by Therese DeSouza
• Keep a Good Online Rep: “I Love Sharing,” by Khalil Jamal and Silvia Koshkarian.
• Be Cell Smart: “Simple as That,” by Carissa Lee, Carina Lee, and Chris Shen.

Runners up: Schools

• Take Action Against Bullying: “No Name Calling,” by Lauren Rauffer Tori Remondelli from Point Pleasant Borough High School, Point Pleasant, NJ.
• Keep a Good Online Rep: “You Can’t Rewind What’s Online,” by Samantha Oliveras, Jazmine Santiago, and Natalia Diaz from Herbert H. Lehman High School, Bronx, NY.
• Be Cell Smart: “Cell Scare,” by Harry Kim from Herbert H. Lehman High School, Bronx, NY.

“We saw a lot of engagement from schools and young people again in our third year of this contest, but after speaking to some of the contestants, something had changed in their attitudes toward Internet safety issues,” said Lynette Owens, director and founder of Trend Micro Internet Safety for Kids Families. “I was inspired to hear that many of them were tired of all the fear and negativity surrounding kids on the Internet, from bullying to sexting to making mistakes which kids do. They wanted to create positive stories about what happens when you make good choices.  I think they’re making them all the time. We just need to look.” 

Once again, Trend Micro Internet Safety for Kids Families teamed with some of the world’s leading organizations that either provide access to kids online or advocate for their safety. All share Trend Micro’s vision and commitment toward Internet safety. The judging panel for 2012 included representatives from:

Common Sense Media

• ConnectSafely
• NEW – Cyberbullying Research Center
• Facebook
• The Identity Theft Resource Center
• NEW – Office of the Privacy Commissioner – Ontario
• NEW – Twitter
• NEW – The Wireless Foundation
• NEW – Yahoo! Safely

Finalists were selected based on a combination of views and ratings. Winners were chosen by the judging panel based on creativity, appropriateness and effectiveness. The grand prize winner receives $10,000 and the runners-up receive $1,000 each.

About Trend Micro Internet Safety for Kids Families:

Founded in 2008, the mission of Trend Micro’s Internet Safety for Kids Families is to enable and empower kids, parents, teachers, and schools around the world to make the Internet a safe and secure place for today’s youth. ISKF does this through a worldwide employee volunteer program, grants and donations to eligible organizations, strategic partnerships with organizations working to protect youth, educational programs, and a robust series of online tips and solutions for parents, educators, and youth. For ISKF’s free Internet safety tips, tools and advice, visit: www.trendmicro.com/internetsafety.

About Trend Micro

Trend Micro Incorporated (TSE: 4704), a global cloud security leader, creates a world safe for exchanging digital information with its Internet content security and threat management solutions for businesses and consumers.  A pioneer in server security with over 20 years’ experience, we deliver top-ranked client, server and cloud-based security that fits our customers’ and partners’ needs, stops new threats faster, and protects data in physical, virtualized and cloud environments. Powered by the Trend Micro™ Smart Protection Network™ cloud security infrastructure, our industry-leading cloud-computing security technology, products and services stop threats where they emerge, on the Internet, and are supported by 1,000+ threat intelligence experts around the globe. 

Additional information about Trend Micro Incorporated and the products and services are available at Trend Micro.com This Trend Micro news release and other announcements are available at http://trendmicro.mediaroom.com/  and as part of an RSS feed at www.trendmicro.com/rss   Or follow our news on Twitter at @TrendMicro.

SOURCE Trend Micro Incorporated

Article source: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/05/15/4490962/staying-positive-online-youths.html

LONDON, May 14, 2012 — /PRNewswire/ – Mobiflock, the mobile safety and security company, has made its parental control service available for mobile network operators, handset manufacturers and other service providers to incorporate into their product suites to enable the protection of children online.

Mobile network operators and other Internet service providers are increasingly coming under pressure to empower parents to protect their children online. Some early methods have been problematic and clearly indicate that Mobiflock’s application — which puts the control firmly in the hands of the parents, and gives them maximum flexibility over how they protect their children — is the best way forward.

All too often parental control services are rudimentary on-off switches. What’s more, network-based services allow parents to control what comes into their own home, but as soon as their child moves onto a mobile Internet connection or another Wi-Fi access point, they are unprotected again.

In addition, when it comes to mobile devices, accessing adult and other inappropriate content is only one of parents’ concerns. Unprotected smartphones and tablets leave kids open to other threats, including: the creation and sharing of inappropriate or illegal content, including sexting; bullying; sexual grooming via direct communication; the time spent online; Internet-enabled applications; and easily racking up large bills through in-app purchases, subscription services and m-commerce.

“Around the world, there is a growing tide of sentiment around the protection of children from harm on the Internet,” said Patrick Lawson, Mobiflock founder and CEO. “How parents, service providers, regulators and governments do this is going to have a far-reaching impact on the evolution of the Internet, the free flow of information around the world, and civil liberties for years to come.

“We believe that ultimate responsibility must rest with parents and that they must be able to choose what level of protection is appropriate for their children. This will change as the child gets older and parents should aim to raise savvy young adults who can deal with online threats themselves. As an industry, however, we need to provide the tools to do this to both parents and children.”

Mobiflock works via a small app downloaded onto the child’s smartphone or tablet. The parent then monitors the device use, sets security levels and receives alerts via an online dashboard.

The Mobiflock platform is fully skinnable in a service provider’s branding, can be integrated with operator billing systems, offers multiple language support, is network-agnostic and includes dedicated service provider dashboards and reports.

Additional info:

• 87% of children don’t have security settings installed on their smartphones
• a third of 14-15 year olds (and 21% of children overall) have accessed inappropriate websites via their mobile phones
• 27% of children have received unwanted calls or messages on their phones
• 18% of children have had to tell adults about unwanted calls or messages to their mobile phone, peaking at 25% of 12 year olds
• 36% of children keep their mobile phone switched on at all times
• 32% of children keep their phones switched on at night-time
• 18% of children keep their phone on at school
• 47% of children always carry their mobile phones with them wherever they go

Source: Carphone Warehouse/YouGov 2012

About Mobiflock

Mobiflock, http://www.mobiflock.com, based in London and Cape Town, was founded in 2011 by a team of mobile experts who wanted to make the mobile world a safer, more secure and more manageable place for businesses, children and individuals. Its services include Mobiflock My Child, a parental control service for smartphones and tablets, and Mobiflock My Life, a free smartphone management and location service. Coming soon are Mobiflock My Business, enabling companies to safely manage mobile devices in the workplace, and a set of application programming interfaces (APIs) that will allow other developers to benefit from Mobiflock’s safety and security services.

The team cut their mobile teeth at Clickatell, the Silicon Valley-based global mobile messaging company, and is well-versed in building and supporting high-transaction global mobile platforms and providing services to the telecoms industry. Mobiflock was named one of GigaOM’s top 10 mobile startups to watch in 2011, took first place in Jason Calacanis’ This Week in Startups show and was a finalist in the 2011 Tech4Africa Samsung IGNITE competition.

For more information please contact:

Vanessa Clark vanessa.clark@mobiflock.com +44 20 3026 9452

This press release was issued through eReleases(R).  For more information, visit eReleases Press Release Distribution at http://www.ereleases.com.

SOURCE Mobiflock

Article source: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/05/14/4487965/mobiflock-parental-control-service.html

Recommended reading, available online:

“Hearing loss linked to 3-fold risk of falling.” American Association for the Advancement of Science, Feb. 27, 2012.

“Hearing loss a hidden — and correctable — problem for seniors” by Anita Creamer. Sacramento Bee, April 16, 2012.

Evelyn Glennie’s Hearing essay, 1993. Glennie is a 47-year old Scottish virtuoso percussionist, the first full-time solo percussionist in 20th-century western society. She has been profoundly deaf since age 12. 

“Geriatrician-managed program reduces falls and fractures,” by Jim 

Kling (Medscape Medical News, May 9, 2012).  

“A hearing aid that cuts out all the clatter.” John Tierney, New York Times, 

October 23, 2011. 

xxxxx 

Discussion: 

There is general agreement that nearly two-thirds of Americans age 70+ have hearing loss, and about half of all people age 75+ have some age-related hearing loss! Hearing loss affects 4 of every 5 people age 80+.  

Hearing loss becomes more common with age, affecting 18% of adults 45-64 years old and 30% of adults age 65-74 as well. With the aging of baby boomers, the numbers will increase. 

There are professional discussions on the Internet about what ‘it’ is and ‘how to’ cope. I want to focus here on several less-publicized aspects of senior citizens’ hearing loss —dizziness, balance, tripping and falling.  

Presbycusis is a progressive hearing impairment accompanying aging, typically affecting sensitivity to higher frequencies. Within the deaf culture movement, the terms deaf and hard of hearing are preferred. Medicare, ADA, HUD, and I refer to hearing impairment. Gradual hearing loss is the most common chronic condition of old age after high blood pressure (hypertension) and arthritis. It can begin in early adulthood but usually does not interfere with ability to understand conversation until much later. Although genetically variable, it is a concomitant of aging, distinct from hearing losses caused by noise or disease.  

Otosclerosis is a hardening of the stapes (or stirrup) in the middle ear, causing conductive hearing loss. Neither of these two types of change is considered a disease by the people who define disease, which is perhaps one non-reason for Medicare’s failure to cover hearing amplification.  

As we grow older, many of the hair cells of the inner ear disappear or wither, causing words to sound mumbled. In most cases there is an increasing loss of sensitivity to high-pitched sounds. Severity of hearing loss tends to be greater for men than for women, although men’s voices are easier to hear. There is difficulty hearing in groups and in noisy areas. And there may be ringing in one or both ears — tinnitus. 

The main contributors to age-related hearing loss are repeated exposure to loud noises, smoking, some medical conditions (e.g. hypertension) and medications (e.g. some antibiotics and diuretics, likewise Viagra and Cialis), and its tendency to run in families. Sedatives significantly increase the risk of falling. Cardiovascular medications can contribute to falls. Commentators have speculated that radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh‘s hearing loss was at least in part caused by his admitted addiction to narcotic pain killers. Some medications cause irreversible damage to the ear. Some medications may reversibly affect hearing; they include some diuretics, aspirin, NSAIDs, and certain antibiotics. 

Despite its prevalence among older adults, hearing loss remains largely untreated. Only 14% of seniors who need hearing devices actually have them. Severe hearing loss later in life may accompany an older adult’s risk of dementia.  

So why do such a small number of hearing-impaired older adults – only one of every seven – actually use hearing aids? The technology can overwhelm some older people. Experts contend that some seniors are too proud to acknowledge need for amplification and some too vain to wear hearing aids. 

Having had one’s hearing tested by an audiologist and having received a clearance from a physician (usually an otolaryngologist) for dispensing of a hearing aid, we confront the third major reason that older adults do not purchase hearing aids—the considerable cost. They are not covered by Medicare.  

xxxx 

Fear of falling? Focus on balance… reads the senior center announcement of a new Feldenkrais awareness-through-movement class, a $30. series. Hearing loss and tripping and falling are often connected. Dizziness and hypertension too. People who can not hear well are unlikely to be aware of their overall environment, making tripping and falling more likely. A recent study suggests that hearing loss can upset fragile seniors’ sense of balance, tripling their chances of falling. 

Attention: city fathers, HUD magnates, developers, advocates, and low-income senior citizens. When one’s annual rent recertification is computed, costs associated with purchasing and maintaiing hearing aids may or may not be acceptable as health-related medical expenses. The projects in which they rent should be planned and built with concern for elders’ needs as they relate to dizziness, maintenance of balance, propensity for falls, and less-than-normal hearing… railings on both sides of corridors on all floors, smoke and fire alarms that can be heard and seen from every nook and cranny, flooring that is not slick or slippery, more than one elevator. Lights and heat should be maintained in community rooms.  

The fact of life is that Medicare does not cover hearing aids. Diagnostic evaluations are covered if they are ordered by a physician for the purpose of assisting the physician in developing a treatment plan. Most private U.S. health care providers do not provide coverage for hearing aids, so all costs are usually borne by the recipient. For low-income, hearing-impaired, powerless senior citizens, the cost of batteries is also a consideration. For others, the cost of hearing aids is a tax-deductible medical expense. 

The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) Information Clearinghouse, at nidcdinfo@icfi.com , has “identified … organizations as resources for financial assistance and information.”  

xxxxx 

Review:  

1. True or false? Hearing loss affects 4 of every 5 people age 80+.  

2. Why is hearing loss considered one of the “hidden impairments of old age?” 

3. T or F? With the aging of baby boomers, the incidence of hearing loss can be expected to decrease. 

4. Does hearing impairment differ from deafness? 

5. T or F? Hearing loss remains largely untreated.  

6. #___ % of senior citizens who need hearing devices actually have them. 

7. T or False? Hearing loss can be a cause of a senior’s loss of sense of balance.  

8. Gradual hearing loss is the most common chronic condition of old age after  

hypertension and __________, according to the American Association on Hearing Loss. 

9. T or F? Research suggests severe hearing loss late in life goes hand in hand with an older adult’s risk of dementia. 

10. T or F? According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Viagra and Cialis have been found to cause temporary or permanent hearing loss.  

11. One of several reasons that older adults who have been tested and who acknowledge that they cannot hear nevertheless hesitate to buy hearing aids is ____________. 

12. “Your hearing is not going to get better—it’s only going to get worse” is a 

[check one] bromide, cliché, platitude, truism, all of these, none of these. 

13. Age-related hearing loss is called __________. 

1. T or F? Presbycusis usually occurs in both ears.

15. T or F? Medicare pays/reimburses for some but not all hearing aids._ 

16. In what way(s) does an otolaryngologist differ from an audiologist? ____ 

17. T or F? Age-related hearing loss is progressive, which means it slowly improves.  

18. Hearing-impaired persons usually find [select one:] men’s voices easier to hear than women’s, OR women’s voices easier to hear than men’s. ____ 19. The following are 3 of factors that can contribute to age-related hearing loss: family history, smoking, and _____________________.  

20. T or F? Age-related hearing loss tends not to run in families.  

Answers are within this column and will also appear in next week’s column. 

xxxxx 

NEWS 

Large majorities of older Americans experience significant gaps in their primary care, according to the national survey, “How Does It Feel? The Older Adult Health Care Experience,” released April 24, 2012 by the John A. Hartford Foundation. The poll of Americans age 65+ assessed whether, in the past 12 months, patients received important medical services to support healthy aging, including: 

• an annual medication review,
• a falls risk assessment and history,
• depression screening,
• referral to community-based health resources, and
• discussion of their ability to perform routine daily tasks and activities without help.

This type of low-cost, low-tech geriatric care can manage and lower patients’ risk of a number of preventable health problems that erode quality of life, increase health care costs, cause disability, and even kill. Only 7% of older adults surveyed received all recommended services, critical elements of a standard geriatric assessment. Fifty-two percent reported receiving none or only one, and a large majority (76%) received fewer than half. Take this list to your next visit. 

xxxxx 

MARK YOUR CALENDAR: Be sure to confirm. Readers are welcome to share by email news of future events and deadlines that may interest boomers, seniors and elders. Daytime, free, and Bay Area events preferred. pen136@dslextreme.com.  

Wednesdays, until and including May 16. 1:30-2:30 P.M. Fear of falling? Focus on balance in new Feldenkrais awareness through movement class series. $20. for the series. Albany Senior Center, 1247 Marin Ave. Rosie Rosenthal, instructor. 510-525-3867.  

Friday, May 11. 8:30 A.M. – 2:30 P.M. The African American Caregiving and Wellness Forum V: The End of Alzheimer’s Starts With Me. West Oakland senior Center, 1724 Adeline Street. Registration required by April 27. 1-800-272-3900.  

Sunday, May 13. 12-4:30 P.M., 1:30 – 2:45 P.M. Hertz Concert Hall. Concert and Commencement Ceremony. Sponsor: Department of Music. Concert featuring award winners in the performing arts. Open to all audiences. Event Contact: concerts@berkeley.edu, 510-642-4864. 

Monday, May 14. 12:30 – 1:30 PM. Albany YMCA/Albany Library Brown Bag Lunch Speaker’s Forum: SFMOMA’s Peter Samis, associate curator of interpretation, discusses the topic: EXPERIENCING THE WORLD OF MODERN ART THROUGH NEW TECHNOLOGIES. The forum is co-sponsored by the Albany YMCA and the Albany Library, 1237 Marin Av. Contact: Ronnie Davis, 510-526-3720 x16 

Monday, May 14. 7:00 P.M. Identity Theft Program. Barbara Jue, a Legal Shield associate, will offer information and advice on how to prevent identity theft and how to cope should it happen. She will also talk about children and computer use and cyber bullying. QA follows. Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave. Free. 510-524-3043. 

Tuesday, May 15. 6 – 8 P.M. Free Legal Workshop: Alternatives to Foreclosure. Steven Mehlman, a local attorney, will offer an informational session to explain the pros and cons of each financial decision to help you make the right choice for your 

situation. Sponsored by the Contra Costa County Bar Association. El Cerrito Library, 6510 Stockton Avenue. 510-526-7512. 

Wednesday, May 16. 1:30 P.M. Berkeley Commission on Aging. South Berkeley Senior Center, 2939 Ellis Street. 510-981-5178 Check the community calendar to confirm. 

Wednesday, May 16. 7-8 P.M. Evening Book Group. Women of the Silk by Gail Tsukiyama. Albany Library, 1247 Marin Av. Moderated by Rosalie Gonzales. 510-526-3720.  

Saturday and Sunday, May 19 and 20. 10 A.M. – 4 P.M. Friends of the Albany Library BOOK SALE. 1247 Marin Ave. For information, email friendsalbany@yahoo.com or phone 510-526-3720. Please do not bring donations during the two weeks prior to the sale. 

Monday May 21. 7 P.M. Kensington Library Book Club: Color of the Sea by John Hamamura. Each meeting starts with a poem selected and read by a member with a brief discussion following the reading. New members are always welcome. Free. 61 Arlington Av. 510-524-3043. 

Tuesday, May 22. 3 – 4 P.M. Central Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge St. Tea and Cookies at the Library. A free monthly book club for people who want to share the books they have read. 510-981-6100. 

Wednesday, May 23. 12:00 noon – 1:00 PM One-on-One Computer Tutoring: Reservation Required. Albany Library, 1247 Marin Av. Sign up at Reference Desk. 510-526-3720.  

Wednesday, May 23. 1:30 P.M. Gray Panthers. North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst. 510-981-5190. 

Wednesday, May 23. 1:30 – 2:30 PM Great Books Discussion Group: Alexis de Tocqueville’s Democracy in America. Group meets on the fourth Wednesday of the month. Rosalie Gonzales facilitates the discussion. Come to one meeting, or all meetings. Books are available at the Library. Contact: Ronnie Davis(510) 526-3720 x16 

Sunday, May 27. 130-4:30 P.M. Book Into Film: Betty Smith’s A Tree Grows in Brooklyn at Central Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge. Read the book at home. Watch the movie together. Discuss the book, film and adaptation as a group. Registration required- call 510-981-6236 to sign up. 

Wednesday, May 30. 12 Noon-1 P.M. Playreaders at Central Berkeley Public Library.  

2090 Kittredge. Meets weekly to read aloud from great plays, changing parts frequently. Intended for adult participants. 510-981-6100. 

Saturday, June 2. 10 A.M. – 4 P.M. Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge St. Semi-annual Book Sale. Books sold for 50 cents each. 510-524-8378 or berkeleylibraryfriends.org. 

Monday, June 4. 6:30 P.M. “Castoffs” – Knitting Group. Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave. An evening of knitting, show and tell, and yarn exchange. All levels are welcome and help will be provided. Free. 510-524-3043. 

Wednesday, June 6. 12 Noon-1 P.M. Playreaders at Central Berkeley Public Library.  

2090 Kittredge. Meets weekly to read aloud from great plays, changing parts frequently. Intended for adult participants. 510-981-6100. 

Wednesday, June 6. 6-8 P.M. Lawyer in the Library. Albany Library, 1247 Marin Av. Free 15 minute consultation with an attorney who will clarify your situation, advise you of your options, get you started with a solution, and make a referral when needed. Sign up in person at the Reference desk or call 510-526-3720 ext. 5 during library hours. 

Also August 1, Sept. 5, Oct. 3, Nov. 7 and Dec. 5.  

Sunday, June 10. 2 P.M. Blue Suede Jews. Central Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge. Local rock historian Richie Unterberger presents lecture/footage of Jewish musicians in the golden age of rock roll, including Bob Dylan, Carole King and many more. 510-981-6100.  

Wednesday, June 13. 12 Noon-1 P.M. Playreaders at Central Berkeley Public Library.  

2090 Kittredge. Meets weekly to read aloud from great plays, changing parts frequently. Intended for adult participants. 510-981-6100. 

Thursday, June 14. 8:45 P.M. Cafe Literario. West Berkeley Public Library, 1125 University Av. Facilitated Spanish language book discussion. June title: Margarita, Está Linda la Mar by Sergio Ramirez. 510-981-6270. 

Saturday, June 16. 5 P.M. Claremont branch, Berkeley Public library, 2940 Benvenue Av. Melanie O’Reilly will perform original music inspired by Joyce’s writings. 510-981-6280. 

Monday, June 18. 7 P.M. Art historian Michael Stehr will discuss Gian Lorenz Bernini, the Michelangelo of the Baroque. He will also present a slide show. Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Avenue. Free. 510-524-3043. 

Wednesday, June 20. 12 Noon-1 P.M. Playreaders at Central Berkeley Public Library.  

2090 Kittredge. Meets weekly to read aloud from great plays, changing parts frequently. Intended for adult participants. 510-981-6100. 

Monday June 25. 7 P.M. Kensington Library Book Club: The Chosen by Chaim Potok. 61 Arlington Av. Free. 510-524-3043. 

Tuesday, June 26. 3-4 P.M. Tea and Cookies. Central Berkeley Public Library. 2090 Kittredge. A book club for people who want to share the books they have read. 510-981-6100.  

Wednesday, June 27. 12 Noon-1 P.M. Playreaders at Central Berkeley Public Library.  

2090 Kittredge. Meets weekly to read aloud from great plays, changing parts frequently. Intended for adult participants. 510-981-6100. 

Wednesday, June 27. 1:30-2:30P.M. Great Books discussion group. July’s People by Nadine Gordimer. Rosalie Gonzales, group facilitator. Albany Library, 1247 Marin Av. 510-526-3720.  

Sunday, July 8. 1 – 4:30 P.M. The 2012 Berkeley Rent Board Convention will be held in the main meeting room of the downtown, central Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge, corner of Shattuck. A slate of candidates for the November 2012 election will be chosen. Contact: www.berkeleyrentboard.org 510-981-6100. 

Wednesday, July 11 6-8 P.M. Lawyer in the Library. Albany Library, 1247 Marin Av. Free 15 minute consultation with an attorney who will clarify your situation, advise you of your options, get you started with a solution, and make a referral when needed. Sign up in person at the Reference desk or call 510-526-3720 ext. 5 during library hours. 

Also August 1, Sept. 5, Oct. 3, Nov. 7 and Dec. 5.  

Wednesday, August 1. 6-8 P.M. Lawyer in the Library. Albany Library, 1247 Marin Av. Free 15 minute consultation with an attorney who will clarify your situation, advise you of your options, get you started with a solution, and make a referral when needed. Sign up in person at the Reference desk or call 510-526-3720 ext. 5 during library hours. 

Also Sept. 5, Oct. 3, Nov. 7 and Dec. 5.  

Wednesday, August 22. 1:30-2:30P.M. Great Books discussion group. Selections from The Bhagavad Gita. Rosalie Gonzales, group facilitator. Albany Library, 1247 Marin Av. 510-526-3720.  

Wednesday, Sept. 5. 6-8 P.M. Lawyer in the Library. Albany Library, 1247 Marin Av. Free 15 minute consultation with an attorney who will clarify your situation, advise you of your options, get you started with a solution, and make a referral when needed. Sign up in person at the Reference desk or call 510-526-3720 ext. 5 during library hours. 

Also Oct. 3, Nov. 7 and Dec. 5.  

Wednesday, Sept. 26. 1:30-2:30P.M. Great Books discussion group. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. Rosalie Gonzales, group facilitator. Albany Library, 1247 Marin Av. 510-526-3720.  

Wednesday, Oct. 3. 6-8 P.M. Lawyer in the Library. Albany Library, 1247 Marin Av. Free 15 minute consultation with an attorney who will clarify your situation, advise you of your options, get you started with a solution, and make a referral when needed. Sign up in person at the Reference desk or call 510-526-3720 ext. 5 during library hours. 

Also Nov. 7 and Dec. 5.  

Wednesday, October 24. 1:30-2:30P.M. Great Books discussion group. Troth, by Gregor von Rezzon. Rosalie Gonzales, group facilitator. Albany Library, 1247 Marin Av. 510-526-3720.  

Wednesday, Nov 7. July 11 6-8 P.M. Lawyer in the Library. Albany Library, 1247 Marin Av. Free 15 minute consultation with an attorney who will clarify your situation, advise you of your options, get you started with a solution, and make a referral when needed. Sign up in person at the Reference desk or call 510-526-3720 ext. 5 during library hours. Also Dec. 5.  

Wednesday, November 28. 1:30-2:30P.M. Great Books discussion group. Sunday Morning, by Wallace Stevens. Rosalie Gonzales, group facilitator. Albany Library, 1247 Marin Av. 510-526-3720.  

Wednesday, Dec. 5. 6-8 P.M. Lawyer in the Library. Albany Library, 1247 Marin Av. Free 15 minute consultation with an attorney who will clarify your situation, advise you of your options, get you started with a solution, and make a referral when needed. Sign up in person at the Reference desk or call 510-526-3720 ext. 5 during library hours. 

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Article source: http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/issue/2012-05-11/article/39710?headline=SENIOR-POWER-Gerontology-101-Now-Hear-This--By-Helen-Rippier-Wheeler

What’s eating filmmaker Tony Kaye? In “Detachment,” his first feature film since 1998′s “American History X,” the director rails at everything: the public school system, bullying, bad parenting, apathy, corruption and oh these kids today!

Kaye employs various film stocks, extreme close-ups, subliminal images and complex sound effects to put you inside the heads of his protagonists. You feel their boiling rage and frustration and disappointment. The movie has an undeniable visceral power. It is also a loud, grating wallow in dime-store despair, a cheap and hollow button-puncher.

Written by Carl Lund, the film centers on Henry (Adrien Brody), who drifts through his life like a ghost. Henry is a substitute teacher, an ideal profession for someone wary of emotional connections. He wanders in and out of the lives of his high school students, visits his ailing grandfather (Louis Zorich) at a nursing home and lives alone in a small, drab apartment.

At work, Henry tries – and mostly fails – to impact the lives of his rude, violent pupils. He commiserates with his fellow faculty members (including James Caan, Lucy Liu, Marcia Gay Harden and Christina Hendricks), who are frustrated by society’s grand indifference to their plight (not a single person shows up for the school’s parent-teacher night). The slim plot consists of Henry’s decision to save a young prostitute (newcomer Sami Gayle) from the mean streets, much like Robert De Niro did with Jodie Foster in “Taxi Driver.”

But Henry’s emotional alienation gets in the way just when the girl needs him the most. Every scene in “Detachment” is pitched at the same shrieking volume, and Kaye’s relentlessly nihilistic outlook is exhausting. This is the sort of shallow, empty-headed movie that passes off tragedy and ugliness as substance. There is a suicide in the film that is so overwrought and manipulative, it comes off as ridiculous: The scene makes you laugh.

Kaye is an exceptional maker of documentaries – his epic-length “Lake of Fire,” about the abortion debate, is a sensational, gripping movie – but he’s a terrible, histrionic storyteller. “Detachment” conclusively proves that Edward Norton was right when he pulled rank on Kaye and took “American History X” away from him, recutting it in the editing room himself.

Left to his own devices in “Detachment,” Kaye thrusts his camera into the actors’ faces while encouraging them to overact, doing them no favors. “Breaking Bad’s” Bryan Cranston shows up in one scene and radiates so much demonic evil with just a simple look, you wish the movie followed him instead of returning to its hysterical high school shenanigans. No luck.

For all the time spent in classrooms, “Detachment” is ultimately an attack on bad parenting and the corrosive, far-reaching damage it wreaks on society. But Kaye’s delivery is so shrill it drowns out his message. You agree with what he’s saying, but you also want to tell him to shut up.

DETACHMENT

1 star

Cast: Adrien Brody, Sami Gayle, Marcia Gay Harden, Christina Hendricks, Lucy Liu, Blythe Danner, James Caan, Louis Zorich, Tim Blake Nelson, William Petersen, Bryan Cranston.

Director: Tony Kaye.

Screenwriter: Carl Lund.

Producers: Bingo Gubelmann, Benji Kohn, Carl Lund.

A Tribeca Film release. Running time: 97 minutes.

Not rated: Vulgar language, nudity, sexual situations, violence, adult themes, rampant overacting.

Article source: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/05/11/4482817/hard-to-get-attached-to-detachment.html

PALO ALTO, Calif., May 10, 2012 — /PRNewswire/ — Today, Skype has launched the Connected Classroom Sweepstakes, offering schools throughout the world the chance to win a once in a lifetime Skype video call with well-known celebrities Steve Harvey, James Patterson, Dylan and Cole Sprouse, Jackie Collins and Tinsel Korey*. This sweepstakes, which lives on the Skype in the classroom Facebook page, encourages more teachers to experience the value of video calling within the classroom by giving their students an exciting opportunity to meet a celebrity face-to-face via Skype on Wednesday, June 6.

“Through Skype video calling, we are able to bring the experience of speaking to well-known actors, comedians and authors who want to give back by sharing their story with students,” said Andy Schmidt, head of social good of the Skype Division at Microsoft. “At Skype we believe that shared learning experiences greatly enhance education. This sweepstakes aims to help more teachers understand the value of video calling within the classroom and it further demonstrates Skype’s belief that amazing learning experiences should be available to everyone.”

To be eligible to enter, K-12 students (three to 18 years of age), teachers or educators must be new or existing members of Skype in the classroom, a free online community that helps over 28,000 registered teachers use Skype to enrich experiences for students. 

Here’s how teachers can enter on Facebook:

• ‘Like’ Skype in the classroom’s Facebook page
• Sign up for Skype in the classroom (if you are not already a registered member)
• Describe in 150 words or less the ways they currently use or would use Skype in their classroom

Teachers may submit entries starting today on the Skype in the classroom Facebook page until Thursday, May 24 at 11:59 P.M. EDT, when five winners will be selected at random. Winners will be chosen and notified on Tuesday, May 29 at 2:00 P.M. EDT via email and will be announced publicly on Wednesday, May 30 at 9:00 A.M. EDT. The winning celebrity calls will take place on Wednesday, June 6 between 10 A.M. and 1 P.M. EDT or at the discretion of the celebrity.

With more than 28,000 registered teachers and counting, in over 190 countries, Skype in the classroom has enabled hundreds of thousands of students around the world to take part in valuable shared learning experiences. Skype offers an immediate way to help students discover new cultures, languages and ideas, all without leaving the classroom.

For more information on the Connected Classrooms Sweepstakes, please visit http://education.skype.com or the Skype in the classroom Facebook page.

*The celebrities were provided by 86400 movement and OpenEduTalk.

About Skype:

Skype is communications software whose purpose is to break down barriers to communication. With an Internet-connected device, families, friends and colleagues can get together for free with messaging, voice and video. At low cost, they can also call landlines or mobiles virtually anywhere in the world. Skype has recently introduced group video, allowing groups of more than two people to do things together whenever they’re apart. Founded in 2003 and based in Luxembourg, Skype is a division of Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT). Skype can be downloaded onto computers, mobile phones and other connected devices for free at www.skype.com.

About 86400 Movement:

The 86400 movement created and oversees a free speakers bureau that supports teachers and students in school districts throughout the world by providing free top-notch lectures by a renowned and diverse group of scholars, celebrities and content specialist on a variety of topics. The bureau has partnered with Skype to utilize Skype’s technology to improve the use of technology as a teaching tool as well as to connect speakers with schools via Skype. The 86400 Movement mission is to bring people together to use their gift of 86400 seconds to make a positive difference in the world. The movement strives to awaken the social consciousness of individuals thereby encouraging volunteerism and social action in the areas of education and health wellness.  86400movement.com

About OpenEduTalk:

OpenEduTalk.com offers a platform for authors, actors, athletes, speakers, business leaders and entrepreneurs to talk to students directly in their classrooms, worldwide about relevant issues in real time, live via Skype. Topics range from bullying to leadership. Our philosophy, “Talk to A Child, Change A Life.” The company was launched in 2011 and created by author and entrepreneur, Jeff Rivera and Jane Ubell-Meyer, author, speaker and entrepreneur.

Contacts:

Skype Andrew Schmidt Andrew.Schmidt@skype.net

Kaplow for Skype Jennifer Myers skypeSG@kaplowpr.com (212) 221-1713

SOURCE Skype

Article source: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/05/10/4481235/skypes-new-connected-classroom.html

The Harvey Milk Foundation celebrates the third annual Harvey Milk Day in Sacramento, Calif. and joins together with the California Legislative LGBT Caucus and Equality California (EQCA) to host a breakthrough conversation on the implementation and benefits of Senate Bill (SB) 48.

This is an important event that families, educators, students, policy leaders and civil rights advocates should attend. Given the importance of the conversation, and the special holiday to celebrate one of our LGBT heroes, this event is free to the public with RSVP: http://harveymilkday.eventbrite.com/

Substance and celebration:

The Fair, Accurate, Inclusive, and Respectful (FAIR) Education Act (SB 48), authored by Senator Mark Leno and signed into law by Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. in 2011, requires public schools to teach LGBT history. While the act went into effect on January 1, 2012, it has yet to be implemented into California’s public school curriculum standards. A panelist of policy, education and civil rights leaders celebrate the California holiday for slain politician, Harvey Milk, by addressing bullying and discrimination in schools. Solutions to mitigate these growing issues could develop as more students have access to factual information about social movements, current events and history of LGBT people.

In 2009, the California State Legislature passed, and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed, SB 572 designating every May 22 as “Harvey Milk Day.” SB 572 was authored by Senator Mark Leno.

Location and time:

The California Museum
1020 O Street
Sacramento, CA 95814

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

6 – 7 PM

Featuring:

• Stuart Milk, nephew of Harvey Milk
• Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez
• Senator Mark Leno, author of SB 48
• Anne Kronenberg, Harvey’s campaign manager
• Laurie Hasencamp, Equality California Interim Executive Director
• Dori Moorehead, The California Museum Executive Director
• Office of State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson
• Professor Lawrence C. Levine, University of the Pacific – McGeorge School of Law
• Stampp Corbin, publisher of LGBT Weekly (moderator)

Harvey Milk Day 2012 sponsors: Chevron, Comcast Spotlight, VSP Vision Care, The California Museum, Hot Italian, California Biotechnology Foundation, Lucas Public Affairs, Platinum Advisors, Cathy Schwamberger Diana Kienle and the Dewey Square Group.

The Harvey Milk Foundation, established in 2010 as a non-profit charitable organization, promotes Harvey Milk’s legacy through education and outreach around the world. Harvey Milk (1930-1978) was the one of the first openly gay elected official in the United States when he was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977. He was assassinated in San Francisco’s City Hall in November 1978. The Foundation is led and founded by Harvey’s nephew, Stuart Milk, and Anne Kronenberg, Harvey’s campaign manager and political aide. To learn more, please visit: www.MilkFoundation.org

Article source: http://www.sacramentopress.com/headline/67668/Harvey_Milk_Foundation_host_Harvey_Milk_Day_with_landmark_conversation_on_law_requiring_LGBT_histor

NEW YORK, May 10, 2012 — /PRNewswire/ – Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education and media company, today announced the winners of the 2012 READ 180® and System 44® Outstanding Educator Awards. The 6th annual “Outstanding Educator” award is presented to four teachers who have helped struggling students turn their lives around and change the trajectory of their progress in school by learning to read in READ 180 or System 44 classrooms. This year’s winners have gone above and beyond to ensure struggling students become life long readers and succeed across all subject areas.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100907/SCHOLASTICLOGO )

“At Scholastic we believe strongly in the important role that teachers play in the life of a child, and we see how hard they work to improve student achievement and meet high expectations,” said Margery Mayer, President, Scholastic Education, a division of Scholastic (NASDAQ: SCHL). “This year’s Outstanding Educators are an excellent example of how teachers are the catalyst to student success — especially for kids who have fallen behind and face the daunting challenge of striving to succeed without adequate reading skills.”

The Outstanding Educator Award winners were chosen by a Scholastic selection committee that reviews hundreds of nominations. Each nomination includes documentation of reading growth as well as statements about the educator by a nominating colleague, and a student, detailing the impact the educator has had on his or her life.

READ 180 is a comprehensive system of curriculum, instruction, assessment, and professional development that helps schools raise reading achievement for struggling readers in grades 4–12 and prepare them for college and career. System 44 is a breakthrough foundational reading and phonics intervention technology program for the most challenged students in grades 3–12+.

The 2012 READ 180 Outstanding Educators are:

High School Janelle MacLean –Alonso High School, Tampa FL

It’s telling that, even after Janelle MacLean’s READ 180 students completed the program and moved on to regular language arts classes, they came back wanting more of the program. Many of the students in her ninth-grade class last year entered reading two to four years below grade level. Within a year, many of them made multiple years worth of gains in their reading ability. But when some of her former students told her they wished they could be in her class again, Ms. MacLean created “Club 180,” an after school program for tenth graders who still wanted to be part of the READ 180 environment. Of the 48 past READ 180 students she invited, 40 formerly reluctant readers returned! The students who voluntarily joined the READ 180 extension class, continued to improve their reading skills under Ms. MacLean’s guidance and support. The tenth grade students, many of whom entered ninth grade never having read a book, now mentor current READ 180 students.

“If it wasn’t for Ms. MacLean then I still wouldn’t know what I wanted to do in life,” one of her former ninth grade students wrote. “She has motivated me to graduate from high school, go to college, and start a life people have dreamed of.”

Middle School Karen Settles – Oscar Smith Middle School, Chesapeake, VA

With five years experience teaching READ 180, Ms. Settles’ passion is helping struggling, students to catch up. A mentor for her colleagues, she is motivated to help every student who walks through her classroom door. She has set the bar high for her fellow teachers. In all, an incredible 80 percent of her students gained at least one year’s growth in reading by March, helping them catch up with their peers. In addition to READ 180, Ms. Settles sponsors a mentoring program for girls called DIVAS (Determined Involved Volunteering Aspiring Students). Through DIVAS, she counsels eighth grade girls on issues such as manners, fitness, overall wellness, study skills, bullying, and how to deal with negative influences in their lives.

“I am privileged to work daily with students who are delayed and failed readers, have learning disabilities, are labeled Special Ed, are English Language Learners, or who may not have passed the Virginia Standards of Learning assessments,” she said. “To some this may be a challenge, but with the assistance of the READ 180 program, it is a dream career.”

Elementary School Maria Richard – North Street Elementary School, New Iberia, LA

During her 13 years teaching, Ms. Richard has taught students with a wide range of disabilities, including teaching students with autism for the last two years. Within just a few weeks with her fourth through sixth grade students this year, they had improved in their grades and attendance – and just as importantly for these vulnerable children, had greater confidence and self-esteem. This is all part of her “plan to change the world,” she says. “My students now have a chance to overcome their adversities and rise above to bigger and brighter futures.”

First introduced to the READ 180 program in 2002 as a high school teacher, Ms. Richard knew the impact READ 180 could have on at-risk students and, in fact, one of her students, Jose Garcia, was honored as a READ 180 All-Star in 2004.  Legally blind, Jose had never been enrolled in school in his native Mexico and arrived in the U.S. at age 10 far behind his peers.  With the help of Ms. Richard’s instruction and the READ 180 program, Jose ended the school year with a full two years growth in reading level. Jose’s success and that of her other high school students caused Ms. Richards to campaign to get READ 180 for the elementary students she teaches now.

“READ 180 has changed the lives of every student that has walked through my door. It has given them the ability to achieve, and participate in their other classes with their peers without embarrassment,” she wrote.

The 2012 System 44 Outstanding Educator is:

Amy Morinville – Floyd Light Middle School, Portland OR

Amy Morinville is relentless in her determination to see that her struggling students succeed. A System 44 teacher for three years at a school populated by many students from low-income families, Ms. Morinville holds one-on-one feedback sessions with each student to talk about his or her progress and encourages her students to celebrate even small gains in their reading abilities. In her class, students get a sense of accomplishment and control over their learning. At the end of each semester, she holds a Celebration Night, where students come with their families to be recognized for their accomplishments. She serves dinner and gives awards for growth in Lexile-levels, number of books read, and for students who have “graduated” out of System 44. For students who have experienced mostly failure in the past, seeing evidence of their success motivates them to work even harder toward their goals. Many of her students improved multiple grade levels in their reading skills, accelerating so fast that they were able to move out of System 44 and into the school’s READ 180 program.

“Apathy, lack of confidence, and a pattern of failure are some of the issues my students face. Nearly all the students find success in System 44 because of high expectations for academics and behavior,” Ms. Morinville said. “Turning a life around is a long process, and a task I’m happy to be involved in.”

Learn more about READ 180 and System 44.

For more information about Scholastic, visit our media room at http://mediaroom.scholastic.com.

SOURCE Scholastic Inc.

Article source: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/05/10/4480733/read-180-and-system-44-outstanding.html

ATLANTA, May 9, 2012 — ATLANTA, May 9, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ – In an egregious example of academic bullying, renowned neurosurgeon and director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital Dr. Ben Carson has been publicly chastised for his views on evolution and called anti-scientific because he has doubts about Darwin’s theory, according to Discovery Institute.  Dr. Carson is the object of an organized bullying campaign by some Emory University faculty and students seeking to discredit him for his critical views on Darwinian evolution.

Discovery Institute has launched a petition campaign to gather support for Dr. Carson.  The petition is available at www.evolutionnews.org.

Carson was invited to deliver the commencement address at Emory University next Monday, May 14th. In response, four Emory Professors –Arri Eisen, Jaap De Roode, Nicole Gerardo, and Ilya Nemenman – have organized a petition that seeks to distort Dr. Carson’s position on the moral implications of Darwinian materialism and question his grasp of the science behind evolution. Emory hasn’t withdrawn the invitation and the letter’s signatories don’t demand that. Rather, they are “chilling” the environment to make it uncomfortable for anyone like Dr. Carson to speak out.

According to the Discovery Institute, this is an attempt by Darwinian bullies to create an environment where dissent from Darwin is not allowed.

The academic bullying that Emory’s faculty has visited on Dr. Carson is not an isolated episode. Scientists who ask tough questions about evolutionary theory are routinely intimidated and silenced by advocates of Darwinian orthodoxy.

Journalists and courts of law have documented a variety of other, far more disturbing cases of bullying for Darwin, at academic institutions including Jet Propulsion Laboratory at CalTech, the University of Kentucky, Iowa State University, the Smithsonian Institution, and elsewhere.

Many other scientists who would speak out, voicing their doubts about Darwin, fear to do so because of the consequences for their future career prospects.

Discovery Institute has launched a petition campaign to gather support for Dr. Carson.  The petition is available at: www.evolutionnews.org. The petition states in part:

Emory University must take this opportunity to recommit itself to the freedom of scholars to follow the scientific and other evidence wherever it leads. Scholarship is a search for the truth, with no holds barred.

That is why Emory must reconfirm its warm welcome of this great man. Emory officials should quickly offer a statement emphasizing that they recognize the right of Dr. Carson to hold and express his views, and that the university community continues to be pleased and honored to welcome Dr. Ben Carson to speak at Commencement on May 14.

SOURCE Discovery Institute

Article source: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/05/09/4479094/petition-launched-in-support-of.html