Latest trial of the One Laptop Per Child running in India; Uruguay orders 100,000 machines

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Latest trial of the One Laptop Per Child running in India; Uruguay orders 100,000 machines

Thursday, November 8, 2007

India is the latest of the countries where the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) experiment has started. Children from the village of Khairat were given the opportunity to learn how to use the XO laptop. During the last year XO was distributed to children from Arahuay in Peru, Ban Samkha in Thailand, Cardal in Uruguay and Galadima in Nigeria. The OLPC team are, in their reports on the startup of the trials, delighted with how the laptop has improved access to information and ability to carry out educational activities. Thailand’s The Nation has praised the project, describing the children as “enthusiastic” and keen to attend school with their laptops.

Recent good news for the project sees Uruguay having ordered 100,000 of the machines which are to be given to children aged six to twelve. Should all go according to plan a further 300,000 machines will be purchased by 2009 to give one to every child in the country. As the first to order, Uruguay chose the OLPC XO laptop over its rival from Intel, the Classmate PC. In parallel with the delivery of the laptops network connectivity will be provided to schools involved in the project.

The remainder of this article is based on Carla G. Munroy’s Khairat Chronicle, which is available from the OLPC Wiki. Additional sources are listed at the end.

Contents

  • 1 India team
  • 2 Khairat
    • 2.1 The town school
  • 3 The workplace
  • 4 Marathi
  • 5 The teacher
  • 6 Older children, teenagers, and villagers
  • 7 The students
  • 8 Teacher session
  • 9 Parents’ meetings
  • 10 Grounding the server
  • 11 Every child at school
  • 12 Sources
  • 13 External links

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Data Cabling System Faq’s}

Submitted by: Mike Belletty

Robust supporting infrastructure for the data system is imperative for any company. In case some questions are troubling you regarding the data cabling installation, this set of Frequently Asked Questions would help.

If you are setting up or moving an office, you will need an efficient and reliable data cabling company for laying down the right supporting infrastructure for the data system. Appropriate data cable installation is essential for proper functioning of your office. Answers to some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) regarding the data cable installation would invariably help you.

Q. How much money I will have to shell out for getting a cabling system installed?

A. Generally, you’ll need to spend something between 25 and 120 per point, if installing a 100 point cabling network. This cost includes patch panels, outlets, cables, tray work and installation man hours (depending on installation complexity and cable/connector grade selected) but not the active hardware such as switches or routers, etc.

Q. How will I know that the installer is right for the job or not?

A. Make sure that the installer is certified for installing major manufacturers’ cabling systems. Established manufacturers’ cable systems come with proper warantee. Such authorised installers offer active data installations.

Q. Is it essential for the network cabling installer to have an expertise and experience in this field?

A. Of course it is essential. Though some electricians and telephone engineers possess required knowledge in network cabling but they are very few, hence it is best to go for professional installers. Ask probing questions and discuss the cabling performance or network speeds and cross talk, attenuation and return loss with them. Get details as to what kind of tester they use, the frequency range it scans at, its compliance with Cat5e or Cat6, the supplier of their cables and components and whether they would support the installation and come with warranty.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2h6mcfuAs0[/youtube]

Q. What kind of cable and connectors should be there in my cabling network?

A. Cables and connectors of at least Category 5E standard should be used. Higher standards such as Cat6 and Cat6a are also available.

Q. What is a Cat5e cable?

A. Cat5e is an enhanced version of Cat5 with specifications for far end crosstalk and offers the usable bandwidth of 100 MHz. 10BASE-T, 100 BASE-T and 1000BASE-T networks can be used with this cable.

Q. What is a Cat6 cable?

A. Cat6 comes with more stringent specifications for crosstalk and system noise. 500 MHz of usable bandwidth is offered by this cable. 10BASE-T, 100 BASE-T, 1000BASE-T & 10000BASE-T networks are compatible with Cat6a.

Q. What should I go for Category 5e or Category 6?

A. The faster the data cable, the better it is. However, the decision depends on the requirements of your business. 5E category cable is generally ideal for most business needs. If properly installed, the system will provide a throughput of 100Mbps, and in some cases 1000Mbps, backed by manufacturer’s warranties. Correctly installed category 6, backed by warranty, will guarantee 1000Mbps.

Q. Are Cat6 cables compatible with Cat5e applications?

A. Yes. Cat6 is equipped with backward compatibility, i.e, it is compatible with all previous standard applications and thus with Cat5 & Cat5e applications.

Q. Can desktop computers and the telephones be supported on the data cabling Active Data Installations install?

A. They can be supported. Modern data cables have been designed with latest technology and work with low frequency voice circuit’s right up to Gigabit networks.

Q. What do Mbps and Gbps exactly mean?

These units are used to measure data transfer rates.

Mbps = Megabits per Second.

Gbps = Gigabits per Second.

Q. What does MHz stand for?

MHz stands for Megahertz and refers to the frequency at which the cable transmits data.

Q. Should I use Low Smoke Zero Halogen (LSOH) cable?

A. Yes, especially the air conditioned buildings. LSOH is a compound used for making the sheath of a cable which prevents the emission of toxic halogen gases, in case of a fire within the building. ADI’s project managers will graph out the right cabling solution.

In case you have any other query, then you can contact the cable network installation company directly. If you are moving or setting up your office in any part of the UK and want to get in contact with the company, you can go online.

About the Author: The author of this article is associated with Cat5 Cabling Jobs, a leading name for installing data cabling system in the UK.Website:

cat5cablingjobs.co.uk/

Source:

isnare.com

Permanent Link:

isnare.com/?aid=860371&ca=Computers+and+Technology}

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New Jersey real estate investor charged with $2 million theft

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New Jersey real estate investor charged with $2 million theft

Friday, March 20, 2009

The owner of a New Jersey real estate investment firm has been charged with using $2 million of his company’s money for construction at his home and other projects not related to work.

Gary Klein, owner of the Asbury Park-based REI Group Inc., surrendered himself to police after a Monmouth County grand jury indicted him on one count of theft by deception charges.

The charges were the result of a three-year investigation into his practices. Klein, 45, of Colts Neck Township, faces up to 10 years in state prison if convicted. Klein was released Friday after posting $75,000 bail.

Klein attracted clients by telling them he would invest their money in projects that would result in returns of 12 and 85 percent. Prosecutors said the actions mirrored those of a Ponzi scheme.

Robert Weir, Klein’s attorney, said the operation was not a Ponzi scheme, but legitimate business investments that went bad as the economy declined. Weir also said Klein hired a receiver to try and return the investors’ money once the investments started to go sour.

“It’s a shame that a business that experienced a turn in the real estate market is now being treated as a criminal problem. That was not Mr. Klein’s intent,” Weir said to The Star-Ledger.

Weir said the investments were used for building rehabilitation projects in Asbury Park and the construction of Florida condominium complexes, but authorities said Klein used the money to repay earlier investors who were cashing out, as well to help build his own home.

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Fire engulfs 140 buildings in Itoigawa, Japan

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Fire engulfs 140 buildings in Itoigawa, Japan

Saturday, December 24, 2016

A fire on Thursday engulfed at least 140 buildings in Itoigawa, Japan. The inferno injured, by varying reports, at least eight people.

The coastal town in the northern prefecture of Niigata’s many traditional wooden buildings burned easily, fanned by winds of 56kph (35mph). Narrow streets hampered firefighters. “Sparks of fire flew around,” one local resident recounted to Japanese public broadcaster NHK. “That’s why far away buildings unexpectedly caught fire and it became large-scale. I’ve never seen something like this before.”

The national Fire and Disaster Management Agency said the fire started at a Chinese restaurant. The restaurant’s owner yesterday told police he left a stove on and stepped outside. Police said the man told them “I feel deeply sorry for what I’ve done,” and said he went home, returning to find a pot aflame.

Hundreds of residents were evacuated, with 40,000 square metres (about ten acres) of city burning. The fire broke out at around 10:30am local time in a shopping area near the city’s primary train station. It was brought under control by around 8:30pm. Firefighters were assisted by Self-Defence Forces troops brought in at the request of Niigata Governor Ryuichi Yoneyama.

“We will do our utmost effort in supporting those affected”, Yoneyama said yesterday as he inspected the disaster scene. Firefighters remained wary yesterday that ongoing high winds could reignite the charred ruins. Local authorities have begun consulting residents on assistance.

Emperor Akihito paused during his 83rd birthday celebrations to offer condolences. “Many people had to be evacuated in the cold weather. I hope their health will not suffer,” he said from his Tokyo palace.

We will do our utmost effort in supporting those affected

Two women in their 40s suffered minor injuries, one via smoke inhalation and one by falling and hitting her head. At least five firefighters also sustained minor injuries. The fire was Japan’s worst non-natural blaze for twenty years. Smoke rose about 300m (roughly a thousand feet) as rescuers worked to contain it. Seventeen fire trucks responded.

Itoigawa is home to around 44,500 people. It faces the Sea of Japan. The mixed neighbourhood features both homes and shops. One local official said it is suspected the timing of the fire led to many residents being out of harm’s way.

Posted: July 18th, 2018 by

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Interview with Vicky Dhillon, City Council candidate for Wards 9 & 10 in Brampton, Canada

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Interview with Vicky Dhillon, City Council candidate for Wards 9 & 10 in Brampton, Canada

Thursday, October 26, 2006

The upcoming 2006 Brampton municipal election, to be held November 13, features an array of candidates looking to represent their wards in city council or the council of the Peel Region.

Wikinews contributor Nick Moreau contacted many of the candidates, including Vicky Dhillon, asking them to answer common questions sent in an email. This ward’s incumbent is Garnett Manning; also challenging Manning is Stella Ambler, Mandeep Dhaliwal, Daljit Gill, and Nalem Malik.

Posted: July 18th, 2018 by

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Barack Obama presents rescue plan after GM declaration of bankruptcy

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Barack Obama presents rescue plan after GM declaration of bankruptcy

Monday, June 1, 2009

In a televised speech from the White House at 16:00 UTC today, President of the United States Barack Obama presented a reorganization plan following the 12:00 UTC announcement by General Motors that it had filed for bankruptcy and Chapter 11 protection from its creditors, the largest bankruptcy of a U.S. manufacturing company.

Describing the problem with the company as one that had been “decades in the making,” Obama explained the rationale behind his proposed reorganization plan for General Motors. He stated that his intent was not to “perpetuat[e] the bad business decisions of the past,” and that loaning General Motors money, when debt was its problem, would have been doing exactly that. His plan, he stated, was for the United States government, in conjunction with the governments of Canada and Ontario (which he thanked for their roles alongside the government of Germany which he thanked for its role in selling a corporate stake in GM Europe), to become shareholders in General Motors. The United States government would hold a 60% stake. The government will give GM a capital infusion of US$30 billion in addition to the funds it has already received.

Of the government ownership he stated that he refused “to let General Motors and Chrysler become wards of the state”, and described the bankruptcy of Chrysler, and the bankruptcy of General Motors that he envisioned as being “quick, surgical, bankruptcies”. He pointed to the bankruptcy of Chrysler as an example of what he envision for General Motors, but stated that General Motors was a “more complex company” than Chrysler.

Responding to challenges voiced by political opponents, before the speech, that the federal government would actively participate in the affairs of the restructured company, he stated that he had “no interest” in running GM, and that the federal government would “refrain from exercising its rights” as a corporate shareholder for the most part. In particular, he stated that the federal government would not exercise its rights as a shareholder to dictate “what new type of car to make.” He stated that he expected the restructured GM to make “high quality, safe, and fuel-efficient cars of tomorrow,” and several times described what he anticipated as “better” and “fuel-efficient” cars, after a streamlining of GM’s brands.

He said to the general public that “I will not pretend that the hard times are over.” He described the financial hardship that some — shareholders, communities based around GM plants, GM dealers, and others — would undergo as a “sacrifice for the next generation” on their parts, so that their children could live in “an America that still makes things,” concluding that one day the United States might return to a time when the maxim (a widely-repeated mis-quotation of what Charles Erwin Wilson once testified before the U.S. Senate when nominated for the position of Secretary of Defense) would once more be true that “what is good for General Motors is good for the United States of America.”

Posted: July 18th, 2018 by

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Web browser Firefox increases market share in Europe

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Web browser Firefox increases market share in Europe

Thursday, July 19, 2007

Firefox share by continent %
1. Oceania 28.9%
2. Europe 27.8%
3. North America 18.7%
4. South America 15.5%
5. Africa 14.7%
6. Asia 14.3%
source:XiTiMonitor

The French web survey provider XiTiMonitor reports that in their study conducted from Monday, July 2 to Sunday, July 8, 2007 on 95,827 websites, web browser Mozilla Firefox reached a 27.8% share in Europe, compared to 21.1% during the same period last year.

Firefox has its biggest market share in Slovenia and Finland where it amounts to 47.9% and 45.4%, respectively, while only 14.6% of people from the Netherlands and 15.2% of surfers in Denmark used Firefox in this survey. The share rose most in Ireland: from 24.9% to 38.6% (i.e. +13.7 points).

Microsoft’s web browser Internet Explorer remains the most used browser in Europe with a market share of 66.5%. Opera and Safari have a 3.5% and 1.7% share respectively, with other browsers at less than 1%.

Oceania remains the region with the highest usage of the freely licensed and open source software browser Firefox, with 28.9%. The continent with the strongest relative increase in market share is South America, where there is a 30% increase compared to last March. Numbers from the U.S.-based company Net Applications Inc. last month showed a fall in Firefox’s share from 15.42% in April to 14.54%.

Posted: July 18th, 2018 by

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Proposal for Buffalo, N.Y. hotel reportedly dead: parcels for sale “by owner”

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Proposal for Buffalo, N.Y. hotel reportedly dead: parcels for sale “by owner”
Buffalo, N.Y. Hotel Proposal Controversy
Recent Developments
  • “120 year-old documents threaten development on site of Buffalo, N.Y. hotel proposal” — Wikinews, November 21, 2006
  • “Proposal for Buffalo, N.Y. hotel reportedly dead: parcels for sale “by owner”” — Wikinews, November 16, 2006
  • “Contract to buy properties on site of Buffalo, N.Y. hotel proposal extended” — Wikinews, October 2, 2006
  • “Court date “as needed” for lawsuit against Buffalo, N.Y. hotel proposal” — Wikinews, August 14, 2006
  • “Preliminary hearing for lawsuit against Buffalo, N.Y. hotel proposal rescheduled” — Wikinews, July 26, 2006
  • “Elmwood Village Hotel proposal in Buffalo, N.Y. withdrawn” — Wikinews, July 13, 2006
  • “Preliminary hearing against Buffalo, N.Y. hotel proposal delayed” — Wikinews, June 2, 2006
Original Story
  • “Hotel development proposal could displace Buffalo, NY business owners” — Wikinews, February 17, 2006

Thursday, November 16, 2006

Buffalo, New York —A proposed hotel that was supposed to be built at the corner of Elmwood and Forest Avenues in Buffalo, New York is apparently off the table. The former proposal was going to be called The Elmwood Village Hotel and would have consisted of 72 rooms and cost between $7 to $10 million American dollars to build.

Today several unknown individuals were seen removing a sign that was dedicated to the “Elmwood Village Gateway,” which signifies the beginning of the Elmwood Village at the formerly proposed project’s location.

Nearly an hour later the men replaced the sign with a different and unexpected sign: “For Sale: 5 commercial parcels and 1 carriage house, By: Owner.” Those 5 “parcels” are 1109-1121 Elmwood and 999 Forest Avenue, which is located in an illegal alley, according to the City of Buffalo, behind the 5 other properties on Elmwood. Hans Mobius owns all properties named in the sale.

Sam Savarino, CEO of Savarino Companies never owned the properties and has repeatadly told Wikinews in exclusive interviews that he still had a “contract to buy the properties” and on October 2, 2006 told Wikinews in an exclusive interview that he “extended” the “agreement to purchase the property[s] and will have it under contract for what we hope is a sufficient period of time.”

“He [Mobius] is undoubtedly concerned because he has lost some tenants and is a bit impatient. I think he has properly portrayed the situation,” said Savarino in an exclusive interview with Wikinews.

Savarino also says that there may be “legal issues” to work out now, before anything else can move forward, regarding the proposal.

“There are some legal complexities that must be sorted out before anything can happen there,” added Savarino.

The welcome sign was; however, not removed entirely. The sign was placed, facing the same direction of north, on the side of the Forest Plaza Art Gallery, a new art gallery located on the corner of Forest and Elmwood.

Nancy Pollina, owner of Don Apparel which was located at 1109 Elmwood, but closed on October 14, 2006 considers this a possible “victory” in regards to the lawsuit filed against the hotel to stop it from being built, alleging that several laws were broken, including not performing an Environmental Impact Study before the proposal was approved by the city, during its approval and the proposal was “rushed.” Patricia Morris, who operates Don Apparel with Pollina, Angeline Genovese and Evelyn Bencinich, owners of residences on Granger Place which abut the rear of the proposed site, Nina Freudenheim, a resident of nearby Penhurst Park, and Sandra Girage, the owner of a two-family residence on Forest Avenue less than a hundred feet from the proposed hotel’s sole entrance and exit driveway, were also plaintiffs in the lawsuit. They filed the suit with a lawyer representing them, Arthur J. Giacalone, on April 25, 2006 in New York State Supreme Court, but the case has never gone to a courtroom.

Giacalone believes that a press release issued in July regarding the project was nothing but a statement to “save face,” but that the placement of the for sale sign might be a way of convincing Savarino to speed up the sale of the properties.

“I thought all along that Savarino’s July press release might be no more than an effort to save face. But we have no way of knowing. Similarly, Mobius might have put the for-sale sign up in an attempt to pressure Savarino into closing the deal. There’s no way to tell,” said Giacalone in an exclusive interview with Wikinews.

In regards to the lawsuit, Giacalone thinks it may now be in “limbo.”

“The lawsuit still sits in limbo,” added Giacalone.

Posted: July 18th, 2018 by

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Cocktail Jargon

By Cord Ziggler

The world of cocktails, like any other specialized field, can be confusing with a host of terminology that has to be understood before you can make your way through the pages of recipe books that are out there waiting to be mastered. Here is some of the terminology explained to guide you through your cocktail making experience so you can talk like a pro.

Box – Method of quick mixing whereby a drink is poured in and out of a shaker.

Chaser – A mixer that is consumed immediately after a straight shot of liquor to create a different taste

Dash – A small amount of liquid – a couple of drops around the size of a teaspoon – added into the mixture

Frappe – A refreshing type of cocktail that are made in a blender with a small amount of ice, something similar to a slushy.

Fix – A sour-type drink made with ice in a large goblet.

Floating – The act of drizzling a small amount of liquor over the top of a mixed drink before serving it.

Frozen Drink – A cocktail created in a blender filled with ice. The beverage is blended until the drink is thick and cold.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Shd3jHalUIw[/youtube]

Garnish – The finishing touch that can be added to a cocktail to add decoration and added taste. The most common garnishes include cherries, pickles, olives, lemon and lime slices or wedges; the selection of options is endless.

Grog – A rum-based beverage with water, fruit juice and sugar, commonly served in a large mug.

Highball – Any spirit served with ice and soda water in a medium to tall glass (often a highball glass)

Jigger – The device used to measure alcohol, sometimes referred to a shot. Standard jiggers hold a measure of 1.5 liquid ounces, though the sizes can vary.

Lowball – A short drink made of spirits served with ice, water or soda in a small glass

Mixers – Non-alcoholic beverages used as a flavoring agent for mixed drinks. Popular mixers include colas, lemon-lime flavored soft drinks, ginger ale, tonic water, club soda, and fruit juices such as grapefruit, orange, pineapple, and tomato.

Mist – Liquor served over a glass filled with crushed ice, often a way of serving liqueur as an after dinner drink.

Neat – The very simplest cocktail possible, arguably not a cocktail. Simply a measured shot of liquor served without ice.

Nightcap – A wine or liquor taken before bedtime.

On The Rocks – A wine or liquor our over ice cubes.

Pick-Me-Up – A drink designed to relieve the effects of overindulgence in alcohol.

Pony – A short shot, just 1 fluid ounce, smaller than a jigger.

Proof – An indication of a spirit’s alcohol content. The proof number is twice as high as the pure alcohol content of the spirit.

Sling – A tall drink made with brandy, whiskey or gin, with lemon juice, sugar and soda water. Can be served either hot or cold.

Splash – A larger dash more along the lines of a tablespoonful

Shake – The most obvious term in the mixologists dictionary. Shake refers to using a cocktail shaker to shake the cocktail mixture with ice. If you don’t have a shaker then you can use a sealable jar.

Strain – Located at the top of a cocktail shaker, the strainer is used to strain the liquid so that the ice, pith and pips don’t get into the mix. Again if you don’t have the proper equipment then a tea strainer will do the job.

Stir – The alternative to shaking. The difference between stirring and shaking is a controversial one as James Bond will testify to. Some cocktail recipes demand that the drink must be stirred rather than shaken. Stirring is recommended for simple blends such as the classic martini, where silky texture is required.

Toddy – A sweetened drink of liquor and hot water, often with spices and served in a tall glass.

Tot – A small amount of liquor.

Virgin – A non-alcoholic cocktail.

About the Author: Cocktail Zen provides cocktail recipes and vodka drinks to any one with a web connection.

Source: isnare.com

Permanent Link: isnare.com/?aid=690154&ca=Food+and+Drinks

Posted: July 18th, 2018 by

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Category:April 24, 2005

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Category:April 24, 2005
? April 23, 2005
April 25, 2005 ?
April 24

Pages in category “April 24, 2005”

Posted: July 18th, 2018 by

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