February, 2010
12
Feb 10
Jamie Oliver´s Food Revolution
Chef Jamie Oliver
British chef Jamie Oliver is one of the most recognised celebrity-chef faces on one side of the world, and he is about to conquer the other side. Starting out with a TV show called The Naked Chef, his motto was to enjoy food in its simple, raw, naked form, without over processing it. Years later, utilising his fame and popularity in the UK, he started the initiative called Jamie´s School Dinners, where he set out to overhaul the food that school children were eating. His efforts to improve the nutritional education of young people saw the British government invest a staggering $1 billion to help tackle the childhood obesity epedemic and get the country nutritionally back on track.
Jamie has now taken his campaign to the USA, where he is launching Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution, that is set to air on Friday March 26, on the ABC network. Here, Jamie outlines his idea behind the initiative:
“The time is right for people to rediscover the sense of pride, satisfaction and fun you can get from cooking for the people you love…I want to prove that turning around the epidemic of obesity and bad health doesn’t have to be boring or dull in the slightest.” (Source Jamie Oliver).
Jamie won the TED $100,000 award in December of 2009 for his efforts to thwart the global obesity epidemic. TED is a non-profit organization devoted to “Ideas Worth Spreading”, that began 25 years ago in California. Jamie plans to use this money to help his cause.
While he has a lot of support out there, he will definitely have his work cut out for him. The first step is to change the way that people think about food, which could prove very challenging when the USA mentality is for fast, cheap, easy and BIG.
If you are interested in food and nutrition, check out some courses you can study in the UK here.
11
Feb 10
Online Language Learning
With the advancement of faster internet connections and the growth of social networks, schools have introduced a wide range of internet-based language learning programs. They are great for people who are interested in learning a new language, but cannot make it to class. These programs work because they allow students to interact in real time with instructors in other countries, gain access to their lesson plans wherever they are in the world, and communicate with virtual pen pals.
One downside is that it is always hard to work on your own. To help with motivation, online language programs have introduced crossword puzzles, interactive videos and other games to reward users for making progress.
Online language learning is not restricted to just computers either. Applications for smartphones, like the iPhone, are now being created to help users learn wherever they are. Students can review vocabulary or look up words while they are on the bus or waiting at the doctor’s office.
Here are some examples of courses in different parts of the world:
Preliminary Spoken and Written English Course – Australia
French Course – Chile
Russian Course – Brazil
German as a Foreign Language Course – Germany
Do not worry about the location. Since they are online, you can take them wherever you want in the world.
10
Feb 10
Some Oscar Nominees Studied Hard
Maggie Gyllenhaal – Best Supporting Actress Nominee for Crazy Heart
Gyllenhaal was born in New York City, but grew up in Los Angeles. In 1995, she graduated high school and moved back to New York where she attended Columbia University. There, she studied English and graduated in 1999 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Her education at Columbia also gave her theater experience in addition to her literature focus. She then studied briefly at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts.
Penelope Cruz – Best Supporting Actress Nominee for Nine
Cruz was born in Madrid, Spain. As a child, she continuously performed plays for her family. This paved the way to studying classical ballet for nine years at Spain’s National Conservatory. After, she continued her training under a series of prominent dancers in both Spain and New York. At 15 she found her true calling when she was selected out of more than 300 other girls at a talent agency audition, which was her first step towards a career on the big screen.
James Cameron – Best Directing Nominee for Avatar
James Cameron is originally from Canada, but grew up in California. He attended Fullerton College, a popular community college, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy (of all things) in 1973. It seems as though it must have been a good choice, because he then started in the movie industry doing special affects. Since then, Cameron has done quite well for himself as one of the most successful directors of all time with hit films like Terminator, True Lies, Titanic, and now Avatar.
Looking forward to seeing them in action at the Oscars on March 7, 2010.
9
Feb 10
Haitian Students in U.S. Could Receive Emergency Grants
Haitian international students enrolled at colleges and universities in the United States could get emergency grants if they’re facing financial difficulties as a result of the recent earthquake in Haiti.
The Institute of International Education (IIE) announced that it will be offering grants of up to $2,000 to undergraduate and graduate students from Haiti.
The IIE, a nonprofit advocacy organization located in New York, tracks international students in the U.S. and they say more than 850 are from Haiti.
The colleges and universities have to nominate eligible students. The grants are specifically for Haitian citizens on student visas and not for American citizens or permanent residents. The organization says that the total number of grants has not been determined because it will depend on available funds.
Many people and organizations are really pulling together to help Haiti recover from the devastating disaster. It is good to see that the IIE has recognized the trouble that some international students from Haiti are in.
8
Feb 10
Course of the Week – Bachelor of Lion Taming?
Everyone experiences a moment in their life where they want to “run away with the circus”. Usually, this desire fades away with age. We grow up, have families, and have to deal with our own children. But do we really have to lose this childhood dream?
The Universidad Mesoamericana in Puebla, Mexico does not think so. They are now offering a Bachelor of Contemporary Drama and Circus Techniques*. Students will learn what it takes to become part of the performance of a traditional circus as well as more modern versions, like Cirque de Soleil.
Julio Revolledo Cárdenas, director of the program, says it is the first of its kind in Latin America. Becoming a clown, swinging around as a trapeze artist, and juggling chainsaws are all possibilities with this course.
*No Running Away Required
5
Feb 10
More Students Due to Recession in the UK
The BBC is reporting that the recession may be behind a rise in university students in the UK. In 2009 for example, 31,896 people in Scotland applied to institutions, which is a 5.4% increase from 2008. Additionally, about 15% more Scots over the age of 25 are applying for university. England and Wales have similar numbers to Scotland. The UK as a whole is seeing an increase in over 8% of university applications. Universities Scotland, a university umbrella group, says that during recessions, people become more aware of options like higher education.
Many people looking for jobs appear to be rethinking their careers and opting for a university education. The job market is so saturated in some places that in order to find work, people are looking towards degrees to be noticed. Unfortunately, institutions may have to turn some people away because of limited space, which means that university acceptance rates will be going down, making programs more competitive.
Reference |
4
Feb 10
Stanford University Supports Amended Google Book Search Agreement
Source: Future Perfect Publishing
Stanford University has recently stepped up its agreement with Google to now have its entire library available for digital scanning, as part of the Google book search agreement. Google sees this agreement as the opportunity to create new options for reading entire books online, and making many hard to find and out of print titles accessable. For libraries and universities, it means that students and researchers will be able to access their entire collections online, making it easy to access books, and compensating both authors and publishers at the same time.
Provost John Etchemendy signed the agreement for Stanford University. About it, he said:
“This agreement is consistent with Stanford’s mission of sharing and disseminating knowledge, and allows us to expand our participation by sharing more works from our library. We support the efforts to make books more broadly available to the American public and to all of higher education.” (Reference Stanford News)
When Google first announced their plans to make books available online 3 years ago, the Authors Guild, the Association of American Publishers and a handful of authors and publishers filed a class action lawsuit against Google Books. Google is currently still sorting out legal issues associated with the digitalization of books, but after amending parts of the agreement, they seem well on the way to making this venture their next big thing. And with book resources such as the library of Stanford University onboard, it looks like it´s going to be a winner for everyone.
3
Feb 10
Michelle Obama – 3rd First Lady to Hold a Postgraduate Degree
The First Lady of the United States is not a position of leisure. Great accomplishments have been achieved by various women in this job. Elenor Roosevelt founded the UN Association of the United States in 1943. Betty Ford started the Betty Ford Center, an alcohol and drug treatment facility, in 1982. Hillary Clinton pushed the Clinton Health care plan and later became a United States senator in 2000. All of these women might have been behind great men, but none of them were outshone. Currently, Michelle Obama is trying to establish herself as the First Lady. What will she accomplish? To get a better idea, let´s take a look at her background.
Michelle, who was then Michelle LaVaughn Robinson, attended Princeton University, following her brother who graduated in 1983. Her thesis was entitled, “Princeton Educated Blacks and the Black Community.” In it, she recalls being shocked that college students drove BMWs when she didn´t even know any parents who drove BMWs. Michelle graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a minor in African American studies in 1985. After Princeton, Michelle continued at Harvard Law School where she earned her Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree in 1988. This makes her the 3rd First Lady with a postgraduate degree, following Hillary Rodham Clinton and Laura Bush.
She then went on to start a successful career in law in Chicago, where she would later meet her future husband and president of the United States, Barack Obama.
So what will Michelle accomplish as First Lady? There is no doubt that she is an intelligent, educated, successful women and she will definitely leave her mark on the Whitehouse.
2
Feb 10
LOST University-Get Your Diploma!!
With the infamous series LOST entering its 6th season in February, devoted and eccentric fans of this TV phenomenon around the world are beyond excited to re-enter the LOST world for the final time with hopes of enlightenment: PLEASE J.J. ABRAMS, GIVE US ANSWERS!!!!
The LOST series is notorious for its mysterious tone and profound topics. For those of you who have been confused and lost now for 5 years there is a solution. The LOST geniuses have truly outdone themselves with the creation of LOST UNIVERSITY, an online university dedicated to addressing the topics presented in LOST. The curriculum is taught via digital video by actual experts in fields such as physics, philosophy and hieroglyphics. PHI 101: I´m Lost, Therefore I Am is an example of a course offered by LU. Just like any other university, students are provided with required reading lists, homework, exams and even a diploma upon completion.
Now some of you non-fans might think this is just silly, but it might interest you to know that LOST references many famous works of literature, historical thinkers and popular icons such as Jesus Christ, Stephen King, The Wizard of OZ, Jules Verne, David Hume, Tom Sawyer, John Locke, Wrinkle in Time and Of Mice and Men to name a few.
Interested in philosophy course where you can learn about he meaning of existance? Click here.
The two hour (and final!) season premiere of LOST aires in the U.S. today, February 2nd at 9pm.
The Lost Supper
1
Feb 10
Course of the Week – Clint Eastwood: The Last of the Classic Filmmakers
Have you seen Invictus yet? What about Gran Torino? Million Dollar Baby? Changeling? (We could go on…)
Turning eighty years-old in May with 70 films as an actor and 30 as a director, Clint Eastwood has been working in Hollywood for the better half of a century. His films are of a certain genre, movies that speak of the human condition and the passing of time. He continues to work from both sides of the camera, and doesn´t look like slowing down any time soon. If anything, he is producing arguably the best work of his career.
AAMNBA (Asociación Amigos del Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes) a school in Buenos Aires, Argentina has a summer course called Clint Eastwood: The Last of the Classic Filmmakers. If you have not seen any of the movies mentioned above, or you have and you feel like watching them again, this will definitely “make your day”.
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