Tonight on BBC 1 at Midnight (great time for pupils to watch... NOT!) the best TV show in the world is back. Forget grumpy Alan Sugar and his UK version.
The Apprentice with Donald Trump is the original and best show! We're finally getting to see Season Four after a lengthy gap of two years.
So what makes Trump's version so good?
Well it is actually pretty educational and of course it is entertaining. The characters on the show make some of the craziest decisions known to man!
I normally don't get excited about TV but this is my favourite show of recent years. Some of the reasons for people getting fired are incredible! Remember Brian who was going to sort everyone out in the Board Room?
TRUMP: "Who should I fire, Brian?"
BRIAN: "You should fire me me."
TRUMP:"I should fire you?"
BRIAN: "Yes, Mr Trump."
TRUMP:"Okay Brian, you're fired. That was the quickest Board Room ever!"
TV gold!
Monday, 26 October 2009
Friday, 23 October 2009
Nokia take on Apple
TWhen you have been No. 1 in any industry, the only was is down. This happened to Nokia, the Finnish mobile phone giant.
Nokia makes beautiful phones, but they needed to offer extra funtcions to keep up with Apple. To create a smartphone!
The iPhone has become the gold standard by which all other mobiles are measured.
Nokia has lost substantial ground in the North American cell phone market.
Apple, according to Nokia, has gotten a free ride since the iPhone launched—a very fast ride. Apple commands 22% of the smartphone market in the US, and globally, it holds 12% of the market, more than doubling its share from last year.
Meanwhile, despite its best efforts, Nokia has steadily lost ground. It holds 40% of the market, down from 43% last year, according to IDC. And in the competitive North American market, Nokia is barely holding its own with just 3%.
Nokia is now ringing the changes to create a range of smartphones able to match Apple's iPhone. But will it have it's rival's 'cool' factor?
Source: Fortune
Nokia makes beautiful phones, but they needed to offer extra funtcions to keep up with Apple. To create a smartphone!
The iPhone has become the gold standard by which all other mobiles are measured.
Nokia has lost substantial ground in the North American cell phone market.
Apple, according to Nokia, has gotten a free ride since the iPhone launched—a very fast ride. Apple commands 22% of the smartphone market in the US, and globally, it holds 12% of the market, more than doubling its share from last year.
Meanwhile, despite its best efforts, Nokia has steadily lost ground. It holds 40% of the market, down from 43% last year, according to IDC. And in the competitive North American market, Nokia is barely holding its own with just 3%.
Nokia is now ringing the changes to create a range of smartphones able to match Apple's iPhone. But will it have it's rival's 'cool' factor?
Source: Fortune
Question Time and Free Speech
I normally do not wade into politics, but tonight on Question Time the leader of a rather nasty party appeared. I do not wish to even name the person, who is an MEP(!) but it is important that in our modern and democratic society that everyone has a right to be heard.
What I would point out is that any sensible person would distance themselves from the ideals of such a party based on hate and division. The MEP's party stands for subject matter that is distasteful in the extreme.
I have often wondered when we as a people, as a species (ONE species I hasten to add!) are going to mature and grow up? We often say this to students and we are so proud when we see the maturing and self-realisation of what life is about among the young! When they realise they can have fun and excitement learning and celebrating diversity. Life is such a short experience that we should make the best of it and try and help people, not hinder them.
Imagine if the world all worked together in peace? How incredible would that be? Would it be like the world of Star Trek? Where we could explore the universe? Or would it be a world were we didn't have to spend money on weapons and armies and instead devote ourselves to feeding the hungry, helping the poor and curing disease?
Well we can live in hope. And hopefully the great job that educators around the world do to sharpen young inquiring minds will make a difference to the future.
What I would point out is that any sensible person would distance themselves from the ideals of such a party based on hate and division. The MEP's party stands for subject matter that is distasteful in the extreme.
I have often wondered when we as a people, as a species (ONE species I hasten to add!) are going to mature and grow up? We often say this to students and we are so proud when we see the maturing and self-realisation of what life is about among the young! When they realise they can have fun and excitement learning and celebrating diversity. Life is such a short experience that we should make the best of it and try and help people, not hinder them.
Imagine if the world all worked together in peace? How incredible would that be? Would it be like the world of Star Trek? Where we could explore the universe? Or would it be a world were we didn't have to spend money on weapons and armies and instead devote ourselves to feeding the hungry, helping the poor and curing disease?
Well we can live in hope. And hopefully the great job that educators around the world do to sharpen young inquiring minds will make a difference to the future.
Curriculum for Excellence - Scratch Programming
This week I attended a CPD course on Scratch Programming which is a fun way to introduce pupils to programming - a topic many students dread!
The excellent course was run by Frank Frame, the Advisor for Computing, and it was very hands on. We got to create some programs from scratch (no pun intended) as well as following the excellent resources.
Scratch is obviously going to fit in well with the aims of Curriculum for Excellence. An interesting piece of news was that apparently the uptake for Computing courses in Higher and Further Education is not as high as it once was, and there are many concerns about this. Scratch is one such reaction to this, by trying to remove the 'nerdy' or 'geeky' image of Computing and trying to make it more interesting to pupils.
I have found this pretty interesting since Business subject degrees (in all their many forms such as Economics, Marketing, Accounting, Management, Human Resources, Operations, Logistics etc) are among the highest uptake in Higher and Further Education Institutions. Yet the experiences of pupils in schools differ from school to school. If Business is so popular at University and College then surely with our new Curriculum for Excellence there should be MORE Business courses available for pupils from 3-18 rather than less? I am sure this was at the forefront of the inclusion of Business outcomes and experiences in the Social Subjects document.
Business subjects offer students the chance to learn hard and soft skills which are vital in the workplace. Indeed, Business subjects are uniquely positioned to help pupils gain insight into industry which is after all where we hope our young people will eventually end up and contributing to society as a whole!
The excellent course was run by Frank Frame, the Advisor for Computing, and it was very hands on. We got to create some programs from scratch (no pun intended) as well as following the excellent resources.
Scratch is obviously going to fit in well with the aims of Curriculum for Excellence. An interesting piece of news was that apparently the uptake for Computing courses in Higher and Further Education is not as high as it once was, and there are many concerns about this. Scratch is one such reaction to this, by trying to remove the 'nerdy' or 'geeky' image of Computing and trying to make it more interesting to pupils.
I have found this pretty interesting since Business subject degrees (in all their many forms such as Economics, Marketing, Accounting, Management, Human Resources, Operations, Logistics etc) are among the highest uptake in Higher and Further Education Institutions. Yet the experiences of pupils in schools differ from school to school. If Business is so popular at University and College then surely with our new Curriculum for Excellence there should be MORE Business courses available for pupils from 3-18 rather than less? I am sure this was at the forefront of the inclusion of Business outcomes and experiences in the Social Subjects document.
Business subjects offer students the chance to learn hard and soft skills which are vital in the workplace. Indeed, Business subjects are uniquely positioned to help pupils gain insight into industry which is after all where we hope our young people will eventually end up and contributing to society as a whole!
Wednesday, 21 October 2009
In the News...
CHINESE ELECTRIC CAR
Chinese firm BYD says that its new E6 electric car due out before the end of the year will do 250 miles (400km) on a single charge.
This is a very big number. The Tesla electric sports car does almost as much, but has little room for anything else in the car but the battery.
The E6 is roomy with space for five passengers and a good-sized boot. The battery tucks under the back seat.
It needs 7-8 hours with a domestic plug to charge the car but BYD - it stands for Build Your Dreams - says a specially developed fast charging point with a lead the diameter of a fire hose will fill up the car in just one hour. You can get half a charge in only 10 minutes.
If these claims are accurate and if BYD can persuade either the Chinese government or a Chinese city to install a network of the fast chargers, then this large hatchback could be the vehicle that makes the breakthrough for electric cars.
VW TO BUY 50% OF PORSCHE
Europe's largest carmaker, Volkswagen, has said it is to buy 49.9% of sports car maker Porsche by the end of 2009 for about 3.9bn euros (£3.54bn;$5.8bn).
In August VW and Porsche agreed the details by which VW will merge with its German compatriot by 2011.
VW had initially been set to buy a 42% stake in Porsche by the end of this year for 3.3bn euros.
The deal will end months of acrimony between the two firms, and would end Porsche's failed efforts to buy VW.
APPLE PROFITS UP
Apple has shrugged off the recession with profits surging on demand for its iPhones, laptops and desktop computers.
The technology giant made a net profit of $1.67bn (£1bn) in the three months to 26 September, up 47% on a year earlier. Sales rose 25% to $9.87bn.
Computer sales grew 17%, and iPhone sales climbed 7%, though there was an 8% drop in the number of iPods sold.
The results come ahead of rival Microsoft launching its new Windows 7 operating system later this week.
Shares in California-based Apple closed at $189.86 on the Nasdaq index, but rose to above $200 in extended trading on the results, which were well ahead of what analysts had forecast.
Source: BBC News
Chinese firm BYD says that its new E6 electric car due out before the end of the year will do 250 miles (400km) on a single charge.
This is a very big number. The Tesla electric sports car does almost as much, but has little room for anything else in the car but the battery.
The E6 is roomy with space for five passengers and a good-sized boot. The battery tucks under the back seat.
It needs 7-8 hours with a domestic plug to charge the car but BYD - it stands for Build Your Dreams - says a specially developed fast charging point with a lead the diameter of a fire hose will fill up the car in just one hour. You can get half a charge in only 10 minutes.
If these claims are accurate and if BYD can persuade either the Chinese government or a Chinese city to install a network of the fast chargers, then this large hatchback could be the vehicle that makes the breakthrough for electric cars.
VW TO BUY 50% OF PORSCHE
Europe's largest carmaker, Volkswagen, has said it is to buy 49.9% of sports car maker Porsche by the end of 2009 for about 3.9bn euros (£3.54bn;$5.8bn).
In August VW and Porsche agreed the details by which VW will merge with its German compatriot by 2011.
VW had initially been set to buy a 42% stake in Porsche by the end of this year for 3.3bn euros.
The deal will end months of acrimony between the two firms, and would end Porsche's failed efforts to buy VW.
APPLE PROFITS UP
Apple has shrugged off the recession with profits surging on demand for its iPhones, laptops and desktop computers.
The technology giant made a net profit of $1.67bn (£1bn) in the three months to 26 September, up 47% on a year earlier. Sales rose 25% to $9.87bn.
Computer sales grew 17%, and iPhone sales climbed 7%, though there was an 8% drop in the number of iPods sold.
The results come ahead of rival Microsoft launching its new Windows 7 operating system later this week.
Shares in California-based Apple closed at $189.86 on the Nasdaq index, but rose to above $200 in extended trading on the results, which were well ahead of what analysts had forecast.
Source: BBC News
V for Victory! 80s TV Nostalgia!
Childhood in the 1980s was so different to that of the modern schoolkids of the new millennium. Not only did we not have mobile phones, but all we had was the very basic Atari video game console and having to live with the very real threat of thermonuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union.
However, there were some iconic TV moments that affected kids all over the world. I have already mentioned in a previous post the brilliance of Carl Sagan's Cosmos, but another TV event that was just simply earth shattering was a 1983 sci-fi mini series called V.
V was the story of the arrival of 50 alien motherships over the major cities of Earth. The Visitors, as the aliens became known, looked like us and promised to cure disease in return for some much needed gases to help their own world.
But as everyone knows what made this sci-fi programme that little bit different was the real intentions of the aliens and the obvious parallels with the Nazis in the 1930s. The Visitors were not benign. They rounded up scientists and people who did not cooperate to either put them to work or make them disappear just like Hitler and Stalin did.
There was one true ace card that V had that would be hard to replicate now. The shock factor of their true appearance! The Visitors did not look like us at all. Instead they were reptiles and they fed on mice, hamsters, guinea pigs, rats... you name it. Indeed the two scenes ("Mousey, Mousey... and Steven and Diana's feast) with food were replicated on many playgrounds. Also the Visitors were not here for gases, but for our water and to stockpile humans for food!
The heroic resistance fought against the Visitors and while Mike Donovan - a TV cameraman come action hero was a poor man's Han Solo - the real star of the show was the alien's chief science officer, the afore mentioned Diana. Diana became the breakout character of the show and its sequel and subsequent series. She was cool, efficient and rather nasty! But she was easily the most popular character in the show.
Which leads me to the new reimagining by US TV. The new V is being premiered on November the 3rd but rather than the 1930s parallels it will be more relevant to the post-9/11 world. But in this new series the leader of the Visitors is called Anna. It seems Diana has been left alone, which is good in one sense (because who else could play Diana other than Jane Badler?) and bad because she was such a fun character.
There is a very poignant scene in V at the end of the very first episode. Kids are spray painting a poster of the Visitors but it is just like graffiti. An old Holocaust survivor, Abraham, shouts at them and tells them to "do it right!" Abraham sprays the titular 'V' on the poster and in a truly uplifting moment tells them: "V. For victory!"
However, there were some iconic TV moments that affected kids all over the world. I have already mentioned in a previous post the brilliance of Carl Sagan's Cosmos, but another TV event that was just simply earth shattering was a 1983 sci-fi mini series called V.
V was the story of the arrival of 50 alien motherships over the major cities of Earth. The Visitors, as the aliens became known, looked like us and promised to cure disease in return for some much needed gases to help their own world.
But as everyone knows what made this sci-fi programme that little bit different was the real intentions of the aliens and the obvious parallels with the Nazis in the 1930s. The Visitors were not benign. They rounded up scientists and people who did not cooperate to either put them to work or make them disappear just like Hitler and Stalin did.
There was one true ace card that V had that would be hard to replicate now. The shock factor of their true appearance! The Visitors did not look like us at all. Instead they were reptiles and they fed on mice, hamsters, guinea pigs, rats... you name it. Indeed the two scenes ("Mousey, Mousey... and Steven and Diana's feast) with food were replicated on many playgrounds. Also the Visitors were not here for gases, but for our water and to stockpile humans for food!
The heroic resistance fought against the Visitors and while Mike Donovan - a TV cameraman come action hero was a poor man's Han Solo - the real star of the show was the alien's chief science officer, the afore mentioned Diana. Diana became the breakout character of the show and its sequel and subsequent series. She was cool, efficient and rather nasty! But she was easily the most popular character in the show.
Which leads me to the new reimagining by US TV. The new V is being premiered on November the 3rd but rather than the 1930s parallels it will be more relevant to the post-9/11 world. But in this new series the leader of the Visitors is called Anna. It seems Diana has been left alone, which is good in one sense (because who else could play Diana other than Jane Badler?) and bad because she was such a fun character.
There is a very poignant scene in V at the end of the very first episode. Kids are spray painting a poster of the Visitors but it is just like graffiti. An old Holocaust survivor, Abraham, shouts at them and tells them to "do it right!" Abraham sprays the titular 'V' on the poster and in a truly uplifting moment tells them: "V. For victory!"
Saturday, 10 October 2009
Higher Administration Study Guide
Pupils in Higher Administration this year have been set the task of creating an e-book on the Theory elements of the course.
We were inspired by the Higher Still Revision Notes created by pupils some years ago. I have been wanting to do it for quite some time, but this year we have 6 periods and I think we can donate 1 a week to this revision task.
I also think changing the order of the course is working. Moving Spreadsheet and Database skills up to the start of the course and moving Word Processing back is a good move. Plus doing ITFM first and leaving Administrative Services until now is also a good idea.
So the Higher Administration eBook Team are already underway creating the ITFM element of their ebook. Everything must be original and this will include images, diagrams and photographs. A big challenge, but worthwhile all the same.
We were inspired by the Higher Still Revision Notes created by pupils some years ago. I have been wanting to do it for quite some time, but this year we have 6 periods and I think we can donate 1 a week to this revision task.
I also think changing the order of the course is working. Moving Spreadsheet and Database skills up to the start of the course and moving Word Processing back is a good move. Plus doing ITFM first and leaving Administrative Services until now is also a good idea.
So the Higher Administration eBook Team are already underway creating the ITFM element of their ebook. Everything must be original and this will include images, diagrams and photographs. A big challenge, but worthwhile all the same.
Thursday, 8 October 2009
James Cameron's Avatar
With Hamilton Grammar School working on our greenscreen it is quite appropriate that the next step in motion picture evolution is being pioneered at the same time by legendary Oscar winning director James Cameron. His movie Avatar is shot in 3-D and almost everything is computer generated.
The heroes of the movie, the Na'vi are ten foot tall blue aliens who are not cartoons but an ever better generation of CGI from Gollum.
The film is about the human colonisation and exploitation of a small planet called Pandora. And the planet is so hostile that humans use clones of the Na'vi to roam the planet... the avatars of the title. The avatars are created but have a human mind implanted into it. For the hero of the movie, Jake Sully - a crippled war veteran - it offers him a new life.
Using CGI and greenscren technology really fires the imagination, so hopefully we can come up with some great projects of our own!
For more information about this movie go to:
http://www2.avatarmovie.com/
The heroes of the movie, the Na'vi are ten foot tall blue aliens who are not cartoons but an ever better generation of CGI from Gollum.
The film is about the human colonisation and exploitation of a small planet called Pandora. And the planet is so hostile that humans use clones of the Na'vi to roam the planet... the avatars of the title. The avatars are created but have a human mind implanted into it. For the hero of the movie, Jake Sully - a crippled war veteran - it offers him a new life.
Using CGI and greenscren technology really fires the imagination, so hopefully we can come up with some great projects of our own!
For more information about this movie go to:
http://www2.avatarmovie.com/
Monday, 5 October 2009
Divided States of America?
It seems that not everyone is being nice to each other during this time of recession. In the United States the 50 States are all competing hard against each other for new businesses to locate in their state and also the good old tourist dollar.
One state in particular, Indiana, seems to be poaching more than its fair share of custom! Indiana is relying on negative advertising, slagging off some other States and an aggressive sales visit task force to nearby states such as Ohio and Michigan.
Read more here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8273664.stm
Tourism is in the Service Sector, the Tertiary Sector. As Developed nations become less industrialised services such as Tourism, Retail and Banking are becoming more and more important. We have also witnessed this in Dubai with their attempts to move away from their oil rich past and present. They are preparing for an oil-lite future!
One state in particular, Indiana, seems to be poaching more than its fair share of custom! Indiana is relying on negative advertising, slagging off some other States and an aggressive sales visit task force to nearby states such as Ohio and Michigan.
Read more here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8273664.stm
Tourism is in the Service Sector, the Tertiary Sector. As Developed nations become less industrialised services such as Tourism, Retail and Banking are becoming more and more important. We have also witnessed this in Dubai with their attempts to move away from their oil rich past and present. They are preparing for an oil-lite future!
Saturday, 3 October 2009
Michael Palin - A Salute!
Who is my favourite Travel writer/presenter? Some go for the comedians such as Billy Connolly, Paul Merton or Griff Rhys Jones; others for the flamboyant Italian Francesco Da Mosta, while QI egghead Stephen Fry is gaining more fans by the minute with his very interesting series America and his Last Chance to See programmes.
But... "I didn't want to be a Business Teacher. Oh no. I wanted to be ... a LUMBERJACK!"
No I haven't lost it. Michael Palin is not only one sixth of Monty Python, but he is the most genial and interesting travel guide anyone could have. Palin roughs it whether in the burning Sahara or the high peaks of the Himalayas. He converses with the locals with skill few can match. He genuinely likes people and can laugh with people of different ethnicities and religions, as well as learn from them and also teach them bits of our own culture. I think part of Michael Palin's wanderlust has rubbed off on me as I have a lot of places that I want to visit. Many are not very touristy and some are downright dangerous!
There was a scene on the Volta Ferry in Ghana when an incredible amount of people spilled off a tiny boat (resembling the Western Ferry) and cars and trucks went past in a puff of black smoke. Mr Bowen commented: "It's like a Michael Palin travelogue!" Too true!
From his original Jules Verne Around the World in 80 Days, to his Pole to Pole adventure and then to my personal favourite Full Circle, where he circumnavigated the Pacific Rim, Michael Palin gets you excited about travel.
Travel broadens the mind and perhaps that's why I am so interested in what happens in other cities, countries and cultures. I love looking at what is similar and different among peoples and nations. Diversity is what makes life worthwhile. How boring it would be if we were all the same!
My experience in Ghana means that South America is the only continent I have not yet travelled to, but I aim to go sometime within the next 2 years. Brazil and Peru are high up my list. Brazil even more so with Rio de Janeiro being announced as the host city for the Olympics in 2016!
To any students past or present reading this I would encourage you to travel the world either before or after university as it is something I do regret. But hey, I have plenty of interesting places to visit before I retire!
But... "I didn't want to be a Business Teacher. Oh no. I wanted to be ... a LUMBERJACK!"
No I haven't lost it. Michael Palin is not only one sixth of Monty Python, but he is the most genial and interesting travel guide anyone could have. Palin roughs it whether in the burning Sahara or the high peaks of the Himalayas. He converses with the locals with skill few can match. He genuinely likes people and can laugh with people of different ethnicities and religions, as well as learn from them and also teach them bits of our own culture. I think part of Michael Palin's wanderlust has rubbed off on me as I have a lot of places that I want to visit. Many are not very touristy and some are downright dangerous!
There was a scene on the Volta Ferry in Ghana when an incredible amount of people spilled off a tiny boat (resembling the Western Ferry) and cars and trucks went past in a puff of black smoke. Mr Bowen commented: "It's like a Michael Palin travelogue!" Too true!
From his original Jules Verne Around the World in 80 Days, to his Pole to Pole adventure and then to my personal favourite Full Circle, where he circumnavigated the Pacific Rim, Michael Palin gets you excited about travel.
Travel broadens the mind and perhaps that's why I am so interested in what happens in other cities, countries and cultures. I love looking at what is similar and different among peoples and nations. Diversity is what makes life worthwhile. How boring it would be if we were all the same!
My experience in Ghana means that South America is the only continent I have not yet travelled to, but I aim to go sometime within the next 2 years. Brazil and Peru are high up my list. Brazil even more so with Rio de Janeiro being announced as the host city for the Olympics in 2016!
To any students past or present reading this I would encourage you to travel the world either before or after university as it is something I do regret. But hey, I have plenty of interesting places to visit before I retire!
Rio is the winner!
Yesterday it was announced that the 2016 Olympics will be going to South America for the very first time.
I read that Rio had bid before in 1936, 2004 and 2012, and failed on all three previous occassions. I did predict Rio to win for many reasons, but I do feel that for the Olympics to be truly international every part of the world deserves a turn. So South America this time and perhaps somewhere in Africa in 2020?
What will the Olympics bring to Rio and to Brazil?
Not only will there be an upsurge in Tourism, it will lead to better infrastructure within the city and the region. Also the sports stadia that will be built for the games will be a lasting legacy for the young people of Brazil to aspire to perform in.
The economic cost is great but a good games actually makes money... or does it? That is something I want my students to investigate as you do read contrary reports.
The one good thing for Brazil is that Rio is now a focal point again for the world... starting now and for the next seven or so years. Mind you they do have the small matter of the FIFA World Cup to worry about in 2014! So interesting times ahead for Brazil.
I read that Rio had bid before in 1936, 2004 and 2012, and failed on all three previous occassions. I did predict Rio to win for many reasons, but I do feel that for the Olympics to be truly international every part of the world deserves a turn. So South America this time and perhaps somewhere in Africa in 2020?
What will the Olympics bring to Rio and to Brazil?
Not only will there be an upsurge in Tourism, it will lead to better infrastructure within the city and the region. Also the sports stadia that will be built for the games will be a lasting legacy for the young people of Brazil to aspire to perform in.
The economic cost is great but a good games actually makes money... or does it? That is something I want my students to investigate as you do read contrary reports.
The one good thing for Brazil is that Rio is now a focal point again for the world... starting now and for the next seven or so years. Mind you they do have the small matter of the FIFA World Cup to worry about in 2014! So interesting times ahead for Brazil.
Friday, 2 October 2009
G20
The leaders of the Group of 20, or G20, of the world's most powerful countries met in the US city of Pittsburgh, to discuss how to tackle the economic crisis which threatens the world!
On the BBC website there are details of each of the countries problems and responses to the crisis.
Argentina
Australia
Brazil
Canada
China
France
Germany
India
Indonesia
Italy
Japan
Mexico
Russia
Saudi Arabia
South Africa
South Korea
Turkey
United Kingdom
United States
European Union
Linked to the business and economic problems faced by these nations, it is also important to recognise that many of the current Governments in these countries will face elections, which may end up with the existing leaders ousted and replaced with new Presidents or Premiers... assuming they are democracies!
Angela Merkel recently held onto power in Germany. But will Gordon Brown be able to win over the voters when the General Election occurs in the UK in 2009-2010?
Higher Administration: Workflow and ICT
One question that seems to be giving candidates a problem is the one about the impact ICT has on workflow in an organisation.
Workflow is the way information is recived, processed and delivered by an organisation.
Input, Process and Output
INPUT
email can be used to recieve information from customers instantly. This can also come from internal or external sources.
Data capture forms can also be used to collect information from external sources.
Online registration/order forms can collect information from customers, such as orders, quantity, products bought and the customer's contact/delivery details
PROCESS
Spreadsheets, Word Processing and Databses packages are used to process information.
Spreadsheets can be used to calculate and create charts;
Word Processing can be used to create letters, memos and reports;
Databases can be used to create customer and/or employee records.
OUTPUT
For effective and efficient communication, transmission and presentation of information, PowerPoint, the Internet, e-Diaries can be used.
Workflow is the way information is recived, processed and delivered by an organisation.
Input, Process and Output
INPUT
email can be used to recieve information from customers instantly. This can also come from internal or external sources.
Data capture forms can also be used to collect information from external sources.
Online registration/order forms can collect information from customers, such as orders, quantity, products bought and the customer's contact/delivery details
PROCESS
Spreadsheets, Word Processing and Databses packages are used to process information.
Spreadsheets can be used to calculate and create charts;
Word Processing can be used to create letters, memos and reports;
Databases can be used to create customer and/or employee records.
OUTPUT
For effective and efficient communication, transmission and presentation of information, PowerPoint, the Internet, e-Diaries can be used.
Olympics 2016 City to be announced
Today the host city for the 2016 Olympics is due to be announced.
The candidate cities are:
Chicago, USA
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Madrid, Spain
Tokyo, Japan
Each city has its own unique benefits and disadvantages.
CHICAGO - the hometown of President Obama and a great location on the shores of Lake Michigan. However the USA have held the Olympics a few times before and it may be that someone else deserves a turn. The favourite with the bookies and a city I have visited and was very impressed with. But I have a feeling it won't be The Windy City's turn.
RIO DE JANEIRO - the most 'friendly' South American City which could lead to a massive party if successful. Already has tourism doing well, but there are issues over construction, national debt, and crime rates in this most famous Latin American metropolis. South America has never hosted the Olympics, yet they have hosted several FIFA World Cups, so perhaps they are overdue one. My personal tip for the Olympics 2016.
MADRID - the Spanish capital, and Europe's highest capital city. Madrid is a fine city but could it outdo their bitter rivals Barcelona - the 1992 host city? Possibly not. Europe has held the Olympics the most of any continent and with London hosting in 2012 I doubt the Spaniards will get the nod.
TOKYO - hosts of the 1964 Olympics, and the dark horse in this race. The infrastructure of Tokyo and the whole cultural experience would be incredible. But Beijing hosted in 2008 and perhaps going back to Asia too soon counts against such a fabulous and modern city.
Which one do you think you would like to see becoming the host city for 2016?
Please vote in the poll and leave comments here why you voted!
In the News...
INTERNET ADS BEAT TV!
Online advertising spending in the UK has overtaken television expenditure for the first time, a report has said.
Online spending grew 4.6% to £1.752bn in the first half of 2009, while TV spending shrank 16.1% to £1.639bn.
Overall advertising fell 16% compared with the same period in 2008, said the study by the Internet Advertising Bureau and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
E-mail campaigns, classified adverts, display ads and search marketing are all classed as online advertising.
JAPAN UNEMPLOYMENT DOWN
Japan's jobless rate unexpectedly fell to 5.5% in August from July's record high of 5.7%, official figures showed.
But the number of people unemployed hit a six-year high of 3.61 million in August, a figure which was up 32.7% on the same month of 2008.
Official figures also showed that household spending rose 2.6% in August from a year earlier.
The markets will also be focusing on unemployment figures from the US, which are due out later on Friday.
Analysts had been expecting the Japanese jobless rate to rise again in August.
UK HOUSE PRICES BACK TO 2008?
UK house prices have now recovered to the same level as a year ago, according to the latest Nationwide figures.
The average price of a home last month rose by 0.9% to £161,816, almost identical to September 2008.
The building society said house prices had now risen for the fifth month in a row.
However, the nation's homeowners continued to pay off more of their mortgages between April and June, according to the Bank of England.
A further £7bn was added to people's equity in the country's housing stock, as homeowners accelerated the repayment of their home loans, or put down bigger deposits when taking out a new mortgage.
EU INVESTIGATES AIRLINE MONOPOLIES
The European Commission's competition authorities have raised concerns about the transatlantic plans of British Airways, American Airlines and Iberia.
The Oneworld alliance members want to operate as a joint business on flights between the EU and North America.
If they are to go ahead they will also need approval from US regulators.
The Commission has sent its Statement of Objections to the airlines, and they now have the chance to respond before a competition decision is reached.
The Commission confirmed that it was still looking into similar plans for co-operation by Star Alliance members Lufthansa, Continental, United and Air Canada and between Skyteam members Air France/KLM and Delta/Northwest.
Source: BBC News
Online advertising spending in the UK has overtaken television expenditure for the first time, a report has said.
Online spending grew 4.6% to £1.752bn in the first half of 2009, while TV spending shrank 16.1% to £1.639bn.
Overall advertising fell 16% compared with the same period in 2008, said the study by the Internet Advertising Bureau and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
E-mail campaigns, classified adverts, display ads and search marketing are all classed as online advertising.
JAPAN UNEMPLOYMENT DOWN
Japan's jobless rate unexpectedly fell to 5.5% in August from July's record high of 5.7%, official figures showed.
But the number of people unemployed hit a six-year high of 3.61 million in August, a figure which was up 32.7% on the same month of 2008.
Official figures also showed that household spending rose 2.6% in August from a year earlier.
The markets will also be focusing on unemployment figures from the US, which are due out later on Friday.
Analysts had been expecting the Japanese jobless rate to rise again in August.
UK HOUSE PRICES BACK TO 2008?
UK house prices have now recovered to the same level as a year ago, according to the latest Nationwide figures.
The average price of a home last month rose by 0.9% to £161,816, almost identical to September 2008.
The building society said house prices had now risen for the fifth month in a row.
However, the nation's homeowners continued to pay off more of their mortgages between April and June, according to the Bank of England.
A further £7bn was added to people's equity in the country's housing stock, as homeowners accelerated the repayment of their home loans, or put down bigger deposits when taking out a new mortgage.
EU INVESTIGATES AIRLINE MONOPOLIES
The European Commission's competition authorities have raised concerns about the transatlantic plans of British Airways, American Airlines and Iberia.
The Oneworld alliance members want to operate as a joint business on flights between the EU and North America.
If they are to go ahead they will also need approval from US regulators.
The Commission has sent its Statement of Objections to the airlines, and they now have the chance to respond before a competition decision is reached.
The Commission confirmed that it was still looking into similar plans for co-operation by Star Alliance members Lufthansa, Continental, United and Air Canada and between Skyteam members Air France/KLM and Delta/Northwest.
Source: BBC News
Friday, 25 September 2009
Asian Tiger Economies
The boom in Asian markets over the last 15 years or so is hopefully an inspiration for the economies of Africa and Latin America.
India is also beginning to take off in quite dramatic fashion, following to some extent the rapid boom in China.
However, historically the 'Tiger' Economies refers to Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Singapore.
Hong Kong was the model that has been duplicated by the rest. It is interesting to note that in Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia, Britain governed them before independence. The trade links and contacts utilised by the UK is probably the main reason for this and not some old Imperialist propaganda! It is also important to recognise the large Chinese populations in these nations or the influence China has had on their indigenous culture.
The reasons for the growth of these nations have been many. It is often reckoned that:
They have specialised in either Financial Investment or Information Technology.
South Korea is the world's largest shipbuilder and from the ashes of the Korean War they have created global multinationals such as Samsung, Hyundai and Daewoo, all permanent rivals of their more illustrious Japanese counterparts.
What are the future implications for the EU? Or for the USA? Or even Japan, who for so long has been the Asian economic superpower, but after the 90s and deflation, Japan may find it hard to regain its omnipotence.
These traditional Asian Tigers along with the likes of Thailand, rely heavily on exports. With the world currently in recession, fewer goods are being shipped abroad to the Western consumers who buy these goods due to their technical brilliance, and more often than not, their low price.
Many of the Tigers relied on Tourism also, but again more and more people are staying at home (incidentally, this factor is reported as having boosted our own Halfords company in the UK as more people bought camping equipment and bikes rather than jetsetting off across the globe), but where does it leave the Tiger economies?
It will be fascinating to watch African and Latin American nations who do not have vast natural resources trying to emulate the Asian Tigers. Whereas the other developing nations who do have vast natural resources may opt for the route that the likes of Dubai are going down by using their current wealth to prepare for the days when the oil runs out.
If we are to summarise the emergence of the Tigers it really is down to their committment to low cost and good quality.
India is also beginning to take off in quite dramatic fashion, following to some extent the rapid boom in China.
However, historically the 'Tiger' Economies refers to Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Singapore.
Hong Kong was the model that has been duplicated by the rest. It is interesting to note that in Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia, Britain governed them before independence. The trade links and contacts utilised by the UK is probably the main reason for this and not some old Imperialist propaganda! It is also important to recognise the large Chinese populations in these nations or the influence China has had on their indigenous culture.
The reasons for the growth of these nations have been many. It is often reckoned that:
- low Government spending has also encouraged high investment from overseas
- an emphasis on creating skilled workers in place of a reliance on natural resources
- excellent labour relations between employees and owners
- having a 'can-do' philosophy
- focusing on emerging markets and technologies
- adopting Japanese Production Methods
They have specialised in either Financial Investment or Information Technology.
South Korea is the world's largest shipbuilder and from the ashes of the Korean War they have created global multinationals such as Samsung, Hyundai and Daewoo, all permanent rivals of their more illustrious Japanese counterparts.
What are the future implications for the EU? Or for the USA? Or even Japan, who for so long has been the Asian economic superpower, but after the 90s and deflation, Japan may find it hard to regain its omnipotence.
These traditional Asian Tigers along with the likes of Thailand, rely heavily on exports. With the world currently in recession, fewer goods are being shipped abroad to the Western consumers who buy these goods due to their technical brilliance, and more often than not, their low price.
Many of the Tigers relied on Tourism also, but again more and more people are staying at home (incidentally, this factor is reported as having boosted our own Halfords company in the UK as more people bought camping equipment and bikes rather than jetsetting off across the globe), but where does it leave the Tiger economies?
It will be fascinating to watch African and Latin American nations who do not have vast natural resources trying to emulate the Asian Tigers. Whereas the other developing nations who do have vast natural resources may opt for the route that the likes of Dubai are going down by using their current wealth to prepare for the days when the oil runs out.
If we are to summarise the emergence of the Tigers it really is down to their committment to low cost and good quality.
Johnnie Walker in Kilmarnock - Diageo and Stakeholders
Read this article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/8248348.stm
Identify
Interest
Influence
Conflict of Stakeholders
DEFINE STAKEHOLDERS
Stakeholders are a group of individuals with a key interest in a business or organisation.
INTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS
Owners/Shareholders
Johnnie Walker Managers in Kilmarnock
Johnnie Walker Employees in Kilmarnock
EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS
Kilmarnock Residents
East Ayrshire Council
SNP - The Scottish Government
The UK Government
Banks
Johnnie Walker Customers
POTENTIAL EXAM QUESTIONS
Describe how 5 different stakeholders of Diageo could influence the
organisation.
Stakeholders are groups of people with a key interest in an organisation.
At Diageo's Johnnie Walker plant in Kilmarnock internal stakeholders would be:
Managers
Employees
Shareholders/Owners
Managers can influence the organisation by making important decisions on the running of the firm for example what products to manufacture.
Employees can affect the quality of a product or service by how hard they work to produce the finished article.
Shareholder/Owners can change many things in the firm, for example they can buy more shares or vote at the AGM to replace the Board of Directors if results are not to their liking.
External Stakeholders would be:
Customers
Local Community
Government
Banks
Suppliers
Customers can influence Diageo by deciding whether or not to purchase the product or service.
Local Community - in this case the Kilmarnock residents may decide to petition the organisation to make a change to their policies (eg their environmental policies), or in this specific case to keep jobs in Kilmarnock.
Government (in this example it could be Scottish Government, the UK Government or even East Ayrshire Council) can change or alter legislation which can affect production of a product or the working conditions of the employees (health & safety laws for example).
Banks can influence a firm by approving a much needed loan to keep a firm afloat in times of recession
Suppliers to Diageo can affect the firm quite drastically. They can alter the price of raw materials which in turn will affect Diageo's profit margin.
Identify
Interest
Influence
Conflict of Stakeholders
DEFINE STAKEHOLDERS
Stakeholders are a group of individuals with a key interest in a business or organisation.
INTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS
Owners/Shareholders
Johnnie Walker Managers in Kilmarnock
Johnnie Walker Employees in Kilmarnock
EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS
Kilmarnock Residents
East Ayrshire Council
SNP - The Scottish Government
The UK Government
Banks
Johnnie Walker Customers
POTENTIAL EXAM QUESTIONS
Describe how 5 different stakeholders of Diageo could influence the
organisation.
Stakeholders are groups of people with a key interest in an organisation.
At Diageo's Johnnie Walker plant in Kilmarnock internal stakeholders would be:
Managers
Employees
Shareholders/Owners
Managers can influence the organisation by making important decisions on the running of the firm for example what products to manufacture.
Employees can affect the quality of a product or service by how hard they work to produce the finished article.
Shareholder/Owners can change many things in the firm, for example they can buy more shares or vote at the AGM to replace the Board of Directors if results are not to their liking.
External Stakeholders would be:
Customers
Local Community
Government
Banks
Suppliers
Customers can influence Diageo by deciding whether or not to purchase the product or service.
Local Community - in this case the Kilmarnock residents may decide to petition the organisation to make a change to their policies (eg their environmental policies), or in this specific case to keep jobs in Kilmarnock.
Government (in this example it could be Scottish Government, the UK Government or even East Ayrshire Council) can change or alter legislation which can affect production of a product or the working conditions of the employees (health & safety laws for example).
Banks can influence a firm by approving a much needed loan to keep a firm afloat in times of recession
Suppliers to Diageo can affect the firm quite drastically. They can alter the price of raw materials which in turn will affect Diageo's profit margin.
Wednesday, 23 September 2009
Cooperative Learning and Curriculum for Excellence
Some years ago I benefited greatly from a 3 day inservice delivered by Canadians Norm and Cath Green to the staff of Jordanhill School.
The 3 day inservice was all about cooperative learning, which was seen as another learning and teaching aid along with AiFL. It is now clear to me that Jordanhill were ahead of the game in that they knew such concepts (along with Critical Skills) were the foundations for Curriculum for Excellence.
Cooperative learning is not just collaborative learning or groupwork - this was a salient point from the outset.
There are 5 key elements to cooperative learning:
Face to Face Interaction - group memebers promote each other's success, social skills improved and needed
Positive Interdependence - the group's performance depends on everyone. Groups will sink or swim together!
Group Processing - group reflects on how they are and have worked as a team
Interpersonal Skills - social skills taught and developed such as: leadership, trust, decision-making, communication, managing conflict
Individual and Group Accountability - to avoid social loafers group sizes are kept small and everyone has a clearly defined role in the task (ie researcher, reader, designer, project leader etc)
Group Forming
When it comes to presenting their findings, using a little bit of randomness like drawing names ensures they all have to be aware they can be asked to perform!
When forming groups mixed ability is normally the best.
Cooperative Learning Tools that I use:
Appointments - pupils have an appointments card which they have to fill with other pupils names. In doing so they are creating a whole list of teams they can be asked to form. i.e. 10am partners work together one week, then 2pm the next. Helps breakout of friendship groups.
Jigsaw - pupils are divided into home groups where they are then sub-divided into expert groups. The expert groups go and meet up to learn part of a topic and then later return to their home groups to teach the rest of the home group the topic. eg Home group is told topic is HRM. The expert groups are: Recruitment, Training, and Legislation. So the Home group splits and sends members to each of the 3 subtopics. So member A learns about Training along with the other experts from other home groups, and then returns later to teach his/her own home group Training.
T-Chart - a piece of paper that is divided into a T. It is useful to organise information such as advantages and disadvantages etc.
Benefits of cooperative learning
less academic pupils learn skills from the more academic pupils
increases self-esteem among pupils
develops social skills
increases knowledge retention
develops oral communication
Further Reading
Here is an excellent video on You Tube with some tips for cooperative learning:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LWE2HF1v1Y
More You Tube information on Cooperative Learning
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxHJEmiDCKY&feature=related
Please share you ideas and opinions with me here on the blog.
The 3 day inservice was all about cooperative learning, which was seen as another learning and teaching aid along with AiFL. It is now clear to me that Jordanhill were ahead of the game in that they knew such concepts (along with Critical Skills) were the foundations for Curriculum for Excellence.
Cooperative learning is not just collaborative learning or groupwork - this was a salient point from the outset.
There are 5 key elements to cooperative learning:
Face to Face Interaction - group memebers promote each other's success, social skills improved and needed
Positive Interdependence - the group's performance depends on everyone. Groups will sink or swim together!
Group Processing - group reflects on how they are and have worked as a team
Interpersonal Skills - social skills taught and developed such as: leadership, trust, decision-making, communication, managing conflict
Individual and Group Accountability - to avoid social loafers group sizes are kept small and everyone has a clearly defined role in the task (ie researcher, reader, designer, project leader etc)
Group Forming
When it comes to presenting their findings, using a little bit of randomness like drawing names ensures they all have to be aware they can be asked to perform!
When forming groups mixed ability is normally the best.
Cooperative Learning Tools that I use:
Appointments - pupils have an appointments card which they have to fill with other pupils names. In doing so they are creating a whole list of teams they can be asked to form. i.e. 10am partners work together one week, then 2pm the next. Helps breakout of friendship groups.
Jigsaw - pupils are divided into home groups where they are then sub-divided into expert groups. The expert groups go and meet up to learn part of a topic and then later return to their home groups to teach the rest of the home group the topic. eg Home group is told topic is HRM. The expert groups are: Recruitment, Training, and Legislation. So the Home group splits and sends members to each of the 3 subtopics. So member A learns about Training along with the other experts from other home groups, and then returns later to teach his/her own home group Training.
T-Chart - a piece of paper that is divided into a T. It is useful to organise information such as advantages and disadvantages etc.
Benefits of cooperative learning
less academic pupils learn skills from the more academic pupils
increases self-esteem among pupils
develops social skills
increases knowledge retention
develops oral communication
Further Reading
Here is an excellent video on You Tube with some tips for cooperative learning:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LWE2HF1v1Y
More You Tube information on Cooperative Learning
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxHJEmiDCKY&feature=related
Please share you ideas and opinions with me here on the blog.
Friday, 18 September 2009
Famous Products - 3M Post-it Note
The Post-it note came about by a bit of chance and being aimed at the wrong target market!
In 1968, the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company (3M) developed a sticky, re-usable adhesive. A scientist called Spencer Silver was the inventor and he tried to gain recognition and support for the product within 3M.
Six years later, with success eluding Silver, a co-worker called Art Fry ised the sticky adhesive as a hymnbook bookmark! Fry - who was not the inventor but was certainly an innovator - developed the product and helped lead the commercialization process. After an unsuccessful launch in 1977 due to poor customer trials, a better trial resulted in a full product launch within 12 months to North America and Europe.
The Post-it then became a must have for every office stationery supply!
Think of such a simple idea and product and how it has totally transformed the way we operate in our daily lives.
Students no longer highlight their textbooks; they use post-its to mark important sections, meaning they get more money back when they sell on their pricey textbooks.
Office staff can disseminate work to colleagues via a handy post-it on top of a circular or memo.
The list is endless and another example of a great product that found it's market by serendipity.
Sears Tower (1973-2009)
It is now called the Willis Tower, but I reckon it will revert back to its original and more famous name of the Sears Tower in Chicago, Illinois.
At 1450 feet it is the tallest building in the USA and in July 2007 I even visited this amazing feat of engineering myself! This was a picture I took on what was a glorious summer day that then turned into a thunder and lightening storm!
The tower was the brainchild of Sears and Roebuck who in the 1960s were the world's largest retailers. The idea to house many of their employees under such an impressive roof was implemented and from 1973 until 1998 the Sears Tower was the world's tallest building, eclipsed by the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The CN Tower in Toronto is taller but different categories place the CN Tower as the largest freestanding structure in the Americas.
I am fascinated by such skyscrapers as not only are they an amazing feat of construction and engineering but they represent man's ambition to be faster, longer, taller in all such weird manner of feats!
I am lucky enough to have stood on the skydeck of the Sears Tower (as it was called then) and also the Petronas Towers. I'll have some work to do to visit both the Tapei 101 and the Burj Dubai before new buildings in Shanghai and Chicago outstrip the current number 1 and 2 tallest buildings!
International Business News
DUBAI METRO OPENS!
In Dubai, the long awaited Dubai Metro opened some seven days ago and so far over 323,000 people have used the new transport system.
However there are still another 10 of 20 stations to be finalised and opened for commuters. How will it impact on Dubai? That remains to be seen as Dubai attempts to become the Las Vegas for the 21st Century or indeed the Entertainment Capital of the World (outside the United States at least!)
GLASGOW RAIL LINK AXED
Scottish ministers have been accused of being "anti-Glasgow" over the decision to axe the Glasgow Airport Rail Link amid concerns about spending cuts.
The city council said the move was "a dagger in the heart" of the west of Scotland economy.
Ministers highlighted significant investment in the city's transport, health and housing.
Up to £182m had been earmarked for improving the line between Glasgow and Paisley, with £47m already spent.
RECORD SALES FOR IKEA
Swedish furniture giant Ikea enjoyed record sales of 21.5bn euros ($30bn; £19.1bn), despite slowing growth.
Ikea said sales for the year to 31 August rose by 1.4%, down from 7% growth in the previous year.
"It has been a challenging year in which we have had to adapt to changed market conditions," said Ikea's new chief executive Mikael Ohlsson.
His predecessor slashed 5,000 jobs to cope with the drop in demand due to the financial crisis.
The company said it had opened 15 new stores worldwide since last September.
AIRLINE RAISES BILLIONS!
AMR, the parent of American Airlines, has raised $2.9bn (£1.8bn) of new financing to help it through the global downturn in air travel.
The group said $1bn of the total came from advanced sales of frequent flyer miles to Citigroup bank.
A further $1.6bn came from a sale and leaseback arrangement with General Electric's aviation division for planes it had already ordered.
The airline also said it would add capacity at key US airports.
Shares in AMR jumped 18% on the back of the news.
AFRICA ONLINE
A new high-speed undersea cable connecting East Africa with the rest of the world is poised to go live. The launch of the government-backed East African Marine System (Teams) comes as providers face a backlash over slow connection speeds and high prices.
Internet providers have increased speeds and lowered costs since the Seacom cable went live in August.
But users say services still remain too expensive for most ordinary Kenyans.
Senior government official Bitange Ndemo said there was evidence that some internet service providers (ISPs) were "fleecing the public".
Almost two months after the first high-speed cable made landfall, the highest residential internet speed offered by Kenya's largest ISP remains capped at one megabit per second (Mbps).
That speed is available only at night and at weekends, for an annual cost of $1,440 (£860). The average Kenyan annual wage is about $800, the UN estimates.
In Dubai, the long awaited Dubai Metro opened some seven days ago and so far over 323,000 people have used the new transport system.
However there are still another 10 of 20 stations to be finalised and opened for commuters. How will it impact on Dubai? That remains to be seen as Dubai attempts to become the Las Vegas for the 21st Century or indeed the Entertainment Capital of the World (outside the United States at least!)
GLASGOW RAIL LINK AXED
Scottish ministers have been accused of being "anti-Glasgow" over the decision to axe the Glasgow Airport Rail Link amid concerns about spending cuts.
The city council said the move was "a dagger in the heart" of the west of Scotland economy.
Ministers highlighted significant investment in the city's transport, health and housing.
Up to £182m had been earmarked for improving the line between Glasgow and Paisley, with £47m already spent.
RECORD SALES FOR IKEA
Swedish furniture giant Ikea enjoyed record sales of 21.5bn euros ($30bn; £19.1bn), despite slowing growth.
Ikea said sales for the year to 31 August rose by 1.4%, down from 7% growth in the previous year.
"It has been a challenging year in which we have had to adapt to changed market conditions," said Ikea's new chief executive Mikael Ohlsson.
His predecessor slashed 5,000 jobs to cope with the drop in demand due to the financial crisis.
The company said it had opened 15 new stores worldwide since last September.
AIRLINE RAISES BILLIONS!
AMR, the parent of American Airlines, has raised $2.9bn (£1.8bn) of new financing to help it through the global downturn in air travel.
The group said $1bn of the total came from advanced sales of frequent flyer miles to Citigroup bank.
A further $1.6bn came from a sale and leaseback arrangement with General Electric's aviation division for planes it had already ordered.
The airline also said it would add capacity at key US airports.
Shares in AMR jumped 18% on the back of the news.
AFRICA ONLINE
A new high-speed undersea cable connecting East Africa with the rest of the world is poised to go live. The launch of the government-backed East African Marine System (Teams) comes as providers face a backlash over slow connection speeds and high prices.
Internet providers have increased speeds and lowered costs since the Seacom cable went live in August.
But users say services still remain too expensive for most ordinary Kenyans.
Senior government official Bitange Ndemo said there was evidence that some internet service providers (ISPs) were "fleecing the public".
Almost two months after the first high-speed cable made landfall, the highest residential internet speed offered by Kenya's largest ISP remains capped at one megabit per second (Mbps).
That speed is available only at night and at weekends, for an annual cost of $1,440 (£860). The average Kenyan annual wage is about $800, the UN estimates.
End of the i-Pod?
The new Sony A-Series Walkman is being launched and is quite clearly the thinnest personal music player yet. How will this affect the market leader, Apple's i-Pod?
The Japanese corporation famous for the original personal music player seems to be finally hitting back at the mp3 players and i-pods that have killed firstly their tape deck walkman and then the CD diskman.
For more information read these articles:
Keith Floyd
As a keen traveller myself, I was saddened to hear of the passing of the flamboyant Bon Vivant, Keith Floyd.
Keith Floyd was famous for his excellent cookery programmes - long before Gordon Ramsay and Jamie Oliver I might add - but also for his wit and love of travel.
Along with Michael Palin and Francesco Da Mosto, Floyd was my favourite Travel Show host. He would cook in some of the oddest or most familiar places! For example one moment he'd be cooking near the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, or then cooking meat in the middle of a Spanish desert for Iberian cowboys.
A remarkable man, who will be much missed for his knowledge and enthusiasm.
Sunday, 13 September 2009
Carl Sagan and Cosmos
I am often asked by the pupils and students in class about events or people that inspired me. Sometimes I struggle to think on my feet as I do not wish to give a glib answer! For example, in the world of sport, I have always been fascinated by the effect football managers have. Brian Clough, Jock Stein and Alex Ferguson and the 3 men I would say stand out from the crowd. In Business, Donald Trump has always been someone I thought is incredible because he knows the importance of good PR. In many ways he is like a politician. And being an avid movie fan, I have always been inspired by the likes of George Lucas, Steven Spielberg and James Cameron (I can't wait to see Avatar!).
However, one remarkable person from my childhood is not from the world of sport, movies, or business. That man is Carl Sagan.
Carl Sagan was a scientist who, when I was very young, made an epic TV show called Cosmos. Now that may not seem to amazing, but back in the early 1980s special effects and the power of imagination was limited to programmes like Star Trek, Doctor Who, Twilight Zone, and the underrated The Outer Limits.
Cosmos was a serious attempt at mainstream science. Now we have David Attenborough and his fantastic natural world programmes, but apart from The Sky at Night (which I still watch!!!), and Open University programmes science was absent from TV.
Carl Sagan took us on a voyage of discovery. He showed us the insides of great stars, speculated about life on other planets, enlightened us about the plight of scientists from history, educated me and others on what a Googol was and it's big, BIG brother, the Googolplex!
We saw comets, asteroids, planetary rings, supernovas, Red Giants and White Dwarfs, pulsars, quasars, black holes, galaxies, and even speculation on multi-universies... basically the meaning of life, the universe and everything, as Douglas Adams would say. (42, by the way.)
The one episode I recall stronger than the rest was the Italian kid on his scooter who sets off for a journey around town and the countryside while his brother waits on a park bench. But the scooter kid travels at the speed of light. He wizzes around the beautiful scenery, while his brother waits. When his trip was over he goes to the bench to meet his brother... who is an old man! Time stood still for the speed of light traveller, but not for the brother waiting.
Mind blowing stuff when you are 7 or 8 years old. In fact it is still mind blowing.
I bought the book some years ago but only this summer, when I returned from Ghana, did I find that Cosmos was available on DVD at long, long last. I made the purchase and spent a lot of my free time in the holidays recapturing my youth and expanding my mind once again.
Truly inspiring stuff. So Carl Sagan is one of the real heroes of my life. He was also an early pioneer of conservationism, and an ardent critic of the wastefulness of the Cold War. Billions of dollars and roubles were spent on creating death and destruction instead of building tools for peace.
I would like to think that in the next Great Library at Alexandria there will be a copy of Cosmos (book or DVD?) safely stored forever for future generations to travel in the 'starship of the imagination' and be blown across space and time in that dandelion.
African Friends
Our visitors from Ghana, Robert Forsson and Emmnuel Boateng have enjoyed themselves so far in Scotland. The weather hasn't been too bad to them! Our VIPs have spent a lot of time in Hamilton Grammar and have seen many lessons in different subjects. Not yet, however in my own class! That is something we aim to rectify very soon.
The partnership, the friendship that has grown between the two communities is special. I hope that it has a lasting legacy and again as I have mentioned previously, the opportunity of young Ghanian and young Scottish minds to have their experiences broadened by a trip to another world... well that is Curriculum for Excellence!
I look forward to going back to Donkorkrom and visiting the Orphanage, as well as actually teaching at DASHS. It would be a privilege and another fantastic experience.
The partnership, the friendship that has grown between the two communities is special. I hope that it has a lasting legacy and again as I have mentioned previously, the opportunity of young Ghanian and young Scottish minds to have their experiences broadened by a trip to another world... well that is Curriculum for Excellence!
I look forward to going back to Donkorkrom and visiting the Orphanage, as well as actually teaching at DASHS. It would be a privilege and another fantastic experience.
Thursday, 3 September 2009
CEIS Conference at Radisson SAS Hotel
Hamilton Grammar School were invited by Kirsty Blair (Determined to Succeed) and Claire Fraser (the Social Enterprise Academy) to showcase our good practice in terms of Social Enterprise initiatives. Our school is particulary fortunate to have Frozoz - the Smoothie Maker, and the Eco Group/Ghana Project.
My role was a small one, the marketing of Carbon Offset certificates to local companies who sponsored acres of Ghanian Mango farm.
Our pupils were Jamie Hendry, Rebecca Irvine (of Frozoz) and two former pupils, Stuart Bence (Eco Group), and Fraser Porteous (Young Enterprise). They manned the stand well and were excited to hear the Key Speaker, Kevin Lynch of Rebuild Resources Inc, who as well as co-authoring Mission Inc, he helps chronic addicts and alcoholics become clean through a programme of work and recovery.
We were priviledged and honoured to be invited. It was a worthwhile day for our pupils and we gained some interesting contacts which we aim to develop further.
My role was a small one, the marketing of Carbon Offset certificates to local companies who sponsored acres of Ghanian Mango farm.
Our pupils were Jamie Hendry, Rebecca Irvine (of Frozoz) and two former pupils, Stuart Bence (Eco Group), and Fraser Porteous (Young Enterprise). They manned the stand well and were excited to hear the Key Speaker, Kevin Lynch of Rebuild Resources Inc, who as well as co-authoring Mission Inc, he helps chronic addicts and alcoholics become clean through a programme of work and recovery.
We were priviledged and honoured to be invited. It was a worthwhile day for our pupils and we gained some interesting contacts which we aim to develop further.
Wednesday, 2 September 2009
Ghana July 2009 - My Real Life African Adventure
What started out as a small action point in a rather large working document created and edited by pupils of Mr Dyer's Eco Group ended up with myself, Mr Dyer and Mr Bowen flying over the incredible red-brown of the Sahara desert to arrive in Accra, the capital city of Ghana.
We were met by one of Kwahu Province Ministers, Alex, who on the first night took us to a rather swanky hotel in Accra. So upmarket was this hotel that we decided against using our mosquito nets and indeed using DEET.
The next day we travelled on some concrete roads (built as part of the 50th anniversary of Ghanian independence) and some red road (though the word road is a misnomer). Red road is like the waltzers. Up and down you go with a few rockings from side to side.
Our destination was the mountain village of Abetifi. The climate was cool and rather appealing to the milky white Scots in our party. There we met Emmanuel, who was acting Moderator of the Church of Ghana, no mean feat!
During our stay in Abetifi we visited the large Mango Farm, the one that is the template for the smaller farm in Donkorkrom. We even got to see the £15,000 tractor, bought by donations raised by Mr Dyer's church and our school, Hamilton Grammar. The tractor cuts down the manual work and increases production!
The mangos were planted for two reasons. To help offset in a small way the carbon pollution created by organisations in Scotland, and secondly to offer a regular income to the local people.
From Abetifi off we went to catch the Ferry to Donkorkrom, over the world's biggest man made lake, Lake Volta! The scene we witnessed was one of the most memorable I have ever been a part of. Indeed Mr Bowen commented that it looked like something just out of a Michael Palin travelogue. Perhaps, but at least Michael Palin had a professional film crew with him!
The ferry was packed full of people, some in African garb and others wearing discarded Western clothes. People carrying goods on their head were commonplace, and quite a few merchants were selling some rather odd looking fish!
The ferry looked like the Western Ferry one takes to cross over from Gourock to Dunoon, a journey I have taken a few times, and one Mrs Munro (another member of our group) had taken a zillion times! Indeed she wondered whether our ferry was Clydebuilt.
After the ferry we had more red road to avoid being travel sick on, before we reached the beautiful rural area of Donkorkrom.
Our mission in Donkorkrom was a big one.
My role was to help in the school (Donkorkrom Agric Senior High School - DASHS for short), Mr Bowen and Mr Dyer were writing a partnership agreement between DASHS and Hamilton Grammar, while trainee doctor Kim Dyer (Mr Dyer's daughter) was leading the charge to the Spartanburg Orphanage, the beneficiaries of the majority of our fundraising.
The orphans usually had one parent alive, but they had been abandoned. There were House Mothers who looked after them, and an incredible man called Papa Anaba who ferried the kids to and from school and just about did everything for them. Oh and he could also seem to sort any vehicle problems with a little bit of TLC!
The orphans represented the side of Africa which is common on our TV screens. They were the emotional heart of our visit. The long term dream of Mr Dyer is to see the kids in the orphanage go to Nursery (which they do) then on to Primary, Middle School and then DASHS.
At DASHS we met Mr Robert Forsson, the Headmaster of the school. Some of us were also lucky enough to stay at the Headmaster's residence, where we were looked after very well, as we had in Abetifi.
We also met Victor 'Obama', the Head Boy. He was quite a character and indeed was DASHS's version of our own Stuart Bence!
We also were introduced to Chris and Tammi Martin, American Peace Corps Volunteers who were just a year into their own adventure. Chris is a Professor of Woodwork at Iowa State University, and Tammi is teaching ICT in DASHS. You can read their African Odyssey here: http://www.chrismartinfurniture.blogspot.com/
We also met the Chief of Donkorkrom and indeed the Afram Plains. It was an unusual ceremony because the Chief did not speak, but one of his sub-chiefs did. We were made very welcome and they were very happy with our mission.
At DASHS, we installed laptops donated by a college and thanks to Elorm aka Sunshine, we got the internet connection up and running. Pupils did a little PowerPoint (all kids love PowerPoint!) and also we did some Podcasting!
I also created a blog for Hamilton Grammar and DASHS to hopefully continue the partnership.
Papa Anaba took us to the Donkorkrom Mango Farm and we took some Thank You photographs for our kind sponsors.
There was also a football match between DASHS and the village. Mr Bowen and myself went on for a small part of the game, but the boys were fitter, stronger, faster. Mr Bowen played for about 30 minutes, but I am afraid to report I only went on for the last 5. I do have dodgy knees, but even so if Mr Bowen could pass the ball square in the 6 yard box I would have been celebrating my first goal outwith the British Isles!
The orphanage is not a sad place. Indeed the kids are well looked after and they have a ball. It is great to see a place were kids who are in need of love and attention receiving just that. It also hit home to me that perhaps many of our own pupils in Hamilton and in Scotland do not always received the emotional support that young people need. In that regards, I was very fortunate to have such a loving and compassionate Mum and Dad.
As a Teacher, I think being compassionate is a major part of the job. Yes we do have to be firm and fair, but we also must have empathy. Children are vulnerable and need on occassion someone to stick up for them, be kind to them, and make them laugh. That is the part of the job many people do not realise I feel. Teachers are people, we are not robots programmed to "EDUCATE!" like some Pedagological (is that a word?!) Dalek!
Kumasi is the second largest city in Ghana and we were treated to an incredible day and night there. Kumasi is more typically African (even though I know that there is no real Africa at all... Africa is so huge and so wildly different and diverse!) than the more Westernised Accra.
Kumasi was home to some beautiful wood carvings, where we had to haggle with the sculptors like something out of the Apprentice! I can safely say that I purchased two Lions, a giraffe, and an elephant for a few quid! Even though we would like to pay more, we risked creating jealousy and perhaps a bit of trouble for the vendors who were lucky to receive our Cedis (the Ghanian currency).
In Kumasi we visited the Palace of the Big, BIG Chief. Our guide reminded me of Frankie Howerd and his jokes and routine were quite superb. I have been to Verseille, the Louvre, Grand Canyon and a few other places in between with cracking Tour Guides, but our dear friend in Kumasi is the hands down champ.
The weather in Ghana was rather wet, which suited me because the heat could really have ruined a good sleep every night. Another plus is that Ghana is the same time zone as the UK!
The food consisted mainly of rice and free range chicken, though we did eat some meat. There were some little sausage things that I have to admit I really liked. The heat killed our appetites though, and I am not always one for a breakfast, lunch and dinner back home. In fact I rarely ever eat lunch, dating back to my uni days in the 1990s. Though since I have returned from Ghana I have been attending our school canteen for some health grub!
Ghanians do like their customs and meetings! It is required when visiting somewhere new to declare your intentions individually! And you give presents when you arrive and receive gifts when you leave! Poor old Santa must sweat when heading for West Africa!
Another interesting highlight was the historic visit of President Barack Obama to Ghana, his first visit to Sub-Saharan Africa. It was a controversial visit in that he rebuked the land of his ancestors (Kenya) to visit Ghana. Our Peace Corps friends Chris and Tammi were invited along with the other US Volunteers to wave Obama off at Accra airport. President John F. Kennedy formed the Peace Corps in 1961, and Ghana was the first destination of the Volunteers. Perhaps there was symbolism in Obama selecting Ghana?
Obama-mania was widespread. His speech was probably like Neil Armstrong landing on the moon. Every man, woman and child were glued to the TV set. Obama was rather straight forward in his speech and it was by no means a whitewash. He spoke freely of the corruption and civil fighting that had and was occurring in several African Nations. It was a brave, if well needed speech.
Obama also visited Cape Coast, which was a port and final call for many West Africans before they were shipped off as slaves to the New World. I would love to return to visit the museum and have time to reflect on the enormity of what happened to innocent people. In a way it must be similar in some aspects for Black people of West African descent to go to places like Cape Coast as it would be for Jewish Europeans to visit Auschwitz or Dachau.
An interesting fact was learned just after our visit. In Athletics, most of the world's top sprinters can trace their ancestory to West Africa due to their physical strength and bulky physiques. However, East Africa, with more slender frames and more mountainous regions are built for distance running! So no wonder Sir Chris Hoy took up cycling.
This incredible story is not yet over. In less than a week we will welcome Emmanuel and Robert Forsson to sunny Scotland and show them what life is like for us here.
And there is a development that Hamilton and Donkorkrom may end up as Twin Towns. If this did happen, then what an incredible legacy for Sinclair Dyer and Kim Dyer.
Kim is a medical student and she needed some extra experience. Sinclair wasn't sure what to do, but a Ghanian who had received some help from a relative for Mr Dyer told him to take Kim to Ghana. Against perhaps his better judgement he did. It seemed at first a strange and perhaps trouble-laden trip... but all the fears any father would have taking his little girl out to a strange new world was proven to be unfounded. The Ghanians treated Sinclair and Kim like their own.
And do you know what? They treated everyone of us like their own. They are a hard act to follow, that is for sure!
We were met by one of Kwahu Province Ministers, Alex, who on the first night took us to a rather swanky hotel in Accra. So upmarket was this hotel that we decided against using our mosquito nets and indeed using DEET.
The next day we travelled on some concrete roads (built as part of the 50th anniversary of Ghanian independence) and some red road (though the word road is a misnomer). Red road is like the waltzers. Up and down you go with a few rockings from side to side.
Our destination was the mountain village of Abetifi. The climate was cool and rather appealing to the milky white Scots in our party. There we met Emmanuel, who was acting Moderator of the Church of Ghana, no mean feat!
During our stay in Abetifi we visited the large Mango Farm, the one that is the template for the smaller farm in Donkorkrom. We even got to see the £15,000 tractor, bought by donations raised by Mr Dyer's church and our school, Hamilton Grammar. The tractor cuts down the manual work and increases production!
The mangos were planted for two reasons. To help offset in a small way the carbon pollution created by organisations in Scotland, and secondly to offer a regular income to the local people.
From Abetifi off we went to catch the Ferry to Donkorkrom, over the world's biggest man made lake, Lake Volta! The scene we witnessed was one of the most memorable I have ever been a part of. Indeed Mr Bowen commented that it looked like something just out of a Michael Palin travelogue. Perhaps, but at least Michael Palin had a professional film crew with him!
The ferry was packed full of people, some in African garb and others wearing discarded Western clothes. People carrying goods on their head were commonplace, and quite a few merchants were selling some rather odd looking fish!
The ferry looked like the Western Ferry one takes to cross over from Gourock to Dunoon, a journey I have taken a few times, and one Mrs Munro (another member of our group) had taken a zillion times! Indeed she wondered whether our ferry was Clydebuilt.
After the ferry we had more red road to avoid being travel sick on, before we reached the beautiful rural area of Donkorkrom.
Our mission in Donkorkrom was a big one.
My role was to help in the school (Donkorkrom Agric Senior High School - DASHS for short), Mr Bowen and Mr Dyer were writing a partnership agreement between DASHS and Hamilton Grammar, while trainee doctor Kim Dyer (Mr Dyer's daughter) was leading the charge to the Spartanburg Orphanage, the beneficiaries of the majority of our fundraising.
The orphans usually had one parent alive, but they had been abandoned. There were House Mothers who looked after them, and an incredible man called Papa Anaba who ferried the kids to and from school and just about did everything for them. Oh and he could also seem to sort any vehicle problems with a little bit of TLC!
The orphans represented the side of Africa which is common on our TV screens. They were the emotional heart of our visit. The long term dream of Mr Dyer is to see the kids in the orphanage go to Nursery (which they do) then on to Primary, Middle School and then DASHS.
At DASHS we met Mr Robert Forsson, the Headmaster of the school. Some of us were also lucky enough to stay at the Headmaster's residence, where we were looked after very well, as we had in Abetifi.
We also met Victor 'Obama', the Head Boy. He was quite a character and indeed was DASHS's version of our own Stuart Bence!
We also were introduced to Chris and Tammi Martin, American Peace Corps Volunteers who were just a year into their own adventure. Chris is a Professor of Woodwork at Iowa State University, and Tammi is teaching ICT in DASHS. You can read their African Odyssey here: http://www.chrismartinfurniture.blogspot.com/
We also met the Chief of Donkorkrom and indeed the Afram Plains. It was an unusual ceremony because the Chief did not speak, but one of his sub-chiefs did. We were made very welcome and they were very happy with our mission.
At DASHS, we installed laptops donated by a college and thanks to Elorm aka Sunshine, we got the internet connection up and running. Pupils did a little PowerPoint (all kids love PowerPoint!) and also we did some Podcasting!
I also created a blog for Hamilton Grammar and DASHS to hopefully continue the partnership.
Papa Anaba took us to the Donkorkrom Mango Farm and we took some Thank You photographs for our kind sponsors.
There was also a football match between DASHS and the village. Mr Bowen and myself went on for a small part of the game, but the boys were fitter, stronger, faster. Mr Bowen played for about 30 minutes, but I am afraid to report I only went on for the last 5. I do have dodgy knees, but even so if Mr Bowen could pass the ball square in the 6 yard box I would have been celebrating my first goal outwith the British Isles!
The orphanage is not a sad place. Indeed the kids are well looked after and they have a ball. It is great to see a place were kids who are in need of love and attention receiving just that. It also hit home to me that perhaps many of our own pupils in Hamilton and in Scotland do not always received the emotional support that young people need. In that regards, I was very fortunate to have such a loving and compassionate Mum and Dad.
As a Teacher, I think being compassionate is a major part of the job. Yes we do have to be firm and fair, but we also must have empathy. Children are vulnerable and need on occassion someone to stick up for them, be kind to them, and make them laugh. That is the part of the job many people do not realise I feel. Teachers are people, we are not robots programmed to "EDUCATE!" like some Pedagological (is that a word?!) Dalek!
Kumasi is the second largest city in Ghana and we were treated to an incredible day and night there. Kumasi is more typically African (even though I know that there is no real Africa at all... Africa is so huge and so wildly different and diverse!) than the more Westernised Accra.
Kumasi was home to some beautiful wood carvings, where we had to haggle with the sculptors like something out of the Apprentice! I can safely say that I purchased two Lions, a giraffe, and an elephant for a few quid! Even though we would like to pay more, we risked creating jealousy and perhaps a bit of trouble for the vendors who were lucky to receive our Cedis (the Ghanian currency).
In Kumasi we visited the Palace of the Big, BIG Chief. Our guide reminded me of Frankie Howerd and his jokes and routine were quite superb. I have been to Verseille, the Louvre, Grand Canyon and a few other places in between with cracking Tour Guides, but our dear friend in Kumasi is the hands down champ.
The weather in Ghana was rather wet, which suited me because the heat could really have ruined a good sleep every night. Another plus is that Ghana is the same time zone as the UK!
The food consisted mainly of rice and free range chicken, though we did eat some meat. There were some little sausage things that I have to admit I really liked. The heat killed our appetites though, and I am not always one for a breakfast, lunch and dinner back home. In fact I rarely ever eat lunch, dating back to my uni days in the 1990s. Though since I have returned from Ghana I have been attending our school canteen for some health grub!
Ghanians do like their customs and meetings! It is required when visiting somewhere new to declare your intentions individually! And you give presents when you arrive and receive gifts when you leave! Poor old Santa must sweat when heading for West Africa!
Another interesting highlight was the historic visit of President Barack Obama to Ghana, his first visit to Sub-Saharan Africa. It was a controversial visit in that he rebuked the land of his ancestors (Kenya) to visit Ghana. Our Peace Corps friends Chris and Tammi were invited along with the other US Volunteers to wave Obama off at Accra airport. President John F. Kennedy formed the Peace Corps in 1961, and Ghana was the first destination of the Volunteers. Perhaps there was symbolism in Obama selecting Ghana?
Obama-mania was widespread. His speech was probably like Neil Armstrong landing on the moon. Every man, woman and child were glued to the TV set. Obama was rather straight forward in his speech and it was by no means a whitewash. He spoke freely of the corruption and civil fighting that had and was occurring in several African Nations. It was a brave, if well needed speech.
Obama also visited Cape Coast, which was a port and final call for many West Africans before they were shipped off as slaves to the New World. I would love to return to visit the museum and have time to reflect on the enormity of what happened to innocent people. In a way it must be similar in some aspects for Black people of West African descent to go to places like Cape Coast as it would be for Jewish Europeans to visit Auschwitz or Dachau.
An interesting fact was learned just after our visit. In Athletics, most of the world's top sprinters can trace their ancestory to West Africa due to their physical strength and bulky physiques. However, East Africa, with more slender frames and more mountainous regions are built for distance running! So no wonder Sir Chris Hoy took up cycling.
This incredible story is not yet over. In less than a week we will welcome Emmanuel and Robert Forsson to sunny Scotland and show them what life is like for us here.
And there is a development that Hamilton and Donkorkrom may end up as Twin Towns. If this did happen, then what an incredible legacy for Sinclair Dyer and Kim Dyer.
Kim is a medical student and she needed some extra experience. Sinclair wasn't sure what to do, but a Ghanian who had received some help from a relative for Mr Dyer told him to take Kim to Ghana. Against perhaps his better judgement he did. It seemed at first a strange and perhaps trouble-laden trip... but all the fears any father would have taking his little girl out to a strange new world was proven to be unfounded. The Ghanians treated Sinclair and Kim like their own.
And do you know what? They treated everyone of us like their own. They are a hard act to follow, that is for sure!
Monday, 31 August 2009
Donkorkrom, Afram Plains, Ghana
Here are some pics of my adventures in Ghana. Here is some pics from Donkorkrom Agric Senior High School (DASHS)
Saturday, 4 July 2009
Real Life African Adventure!
Well here we are on the eve of our visit to Donkorkrom, Afram Plains, Ghana! Hamilton Grammar Staff are off to visit our colleagues in Africa!
All the medications have been taken or packed... mosquito net purchased and DEET also (industrial strength).
Now all to do is to get ourselves to Accra and then meet up with our companions who will take us up north into the Volta region.
I aim to upload some videos and put them on YouTube and TeacherTube while we are out there, and also to create some podcasts by the local students.
Perhaps next year I can create my own African Adventure entry for our S1 competition for Ghana!
We will also get to visit the Mango plantation which many people have sponsored. And we may even get to see the Tractor which is being bought with the money raised by Mr Dyer, the Eco Group, and the school.
I will be thinking a lot about what we can do to embed this experience into our curriculum, particularly for Technologies and Social Subjects relating to Business and Computing.
If I have the opportunity I will post blog updates from Ghana also... not that anyone will be reading as you will all be off on your holidays to Cyprus, Magaluf, Mexico, Penang or somewhere exotic.
All the medications have been taken or packed... mosquito net purchased and DEET also (industrial strength).
Now all to do is to get ourselves to Accra and then meet up with our companions who will take us up north into the Volta region.
I aim to upload some videos and put them on YouTube and TeacherTube while we are out there, and also to create some podcasts by the local students.
Perhaps next year I can create my own African Adventure entry for our S1 competition for Ghana!
We will also get to visit the Mango plantation which many people have sponsored. And we may even get to see the Tractor which is being bought with the money raised by Mr Dyer, the Eco Group, and the school.
I will be thinking a lot about what we can do to embed this experience into our curriculum, particularly for Technologies and Social Subjects relating to Business and Computing.
If I have the opportunity I will post blog updates from Ghana also... not that anyone will be reading as you will all be off on your holidays to Cyprus, Magaluf, Mexico, Penang or somewhere exotic.
Friday, 19 June 2009
Billionaire Surrenders!
DALLAS -- Texas billionaire R. Allen Stanford, chairman of the troubled Stanford Financial Group, surrendered to FBI agents in Virginia Thursday afternoon, his attorney said.
Law enforcement officials said Stanford is in custody after surrendering in Stafford, Virginia. Authorities plan to unseal an indictment charging Stanford on Friday, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the case.
Source: Associated Press
Stanford first came to prominence when he sponsored English Cricket's Super Series match where players received a million dollars per man for winning and nothing for losing.
It seems more and more of businesses that fall into financial trouble will have huge effects and implications for sport. Sport, finance and business are nto happy bedfellows. Some of the Corinthian spirit of sport has been lost. Money is more important than achievement.
How do you feel about this?
Law enforcement officials said Stanford is in custody after surrendering in Stafford, Virginia. Authorities plan to unseal an indictment charging Stanford on Friday, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the case.
Source: Associated Press
Stanford first came to prominence when he sponsored English Cricket's Super Series match where players received a million dollars per man for winning and nothing for losing.
It seems more and more of businesses that fall into financial trouble will have huge effects and implications for sport. Sport, finance and business are nto happy bedfellows. Some of the Corinthian spirit of sport has been lost. Money is more important than achievement.
How do you feel about this?
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