Information Galaxy

VLN Partners Says It’s Time to Rethink Cyber Learning

2014-04-11T15:55:00.002+01:00

John McDonalds

As an innovator in cyber education, VLN Partners knows how important technology is in education enhancement. However, some administrators, educators, and parents fear that cyber learning is too focused on devices, rather than the curriculum itself.

VLN explains that a good cyber program connects offline and online learning and leads to a complete education experience for students. It also suggests that a worthwhile program offers more than just virtual work, and allows for real interaction between students and educators.

What are virtual schools?

Virtual academies and many cyber schools are for public districts. While schools may partner with private companies to devise programs, school boards, education agencies, or public school districts oftentimes govern these lessons.

This approach allows children to learn in various ways, study remotely, and meet rigorous state standards. These schools are like their brick-and-mortar counterparts in a variety of ways. This includes accountability requirements, as well as educational services.

-Teachers oversee and assist students in their learning. They ensure that children meet academic progress requirements and are held accountable for the work they complete.

-Students are required to take state exams.

-Attendance is taken, and children must meet predetermined standards.

-Schools must abide by goals and mandates set by federal and state regulation.

In addition, lessons must follow a certain curriculum to ensure that children are kept up to date. However, VLN Partners believes that these providers should work hand in hand with districts to create a curriculum that matches the home district’s plans. This helps to keep virtual students on the same page as their brick-and-mortar peers.

What do virtual school teachers do?

Some parents or educators may overlook the opportunities in virtual learning because they believe programs are more focused on technology than on students. The combination of online and offline learning actually works to create a holistic learning experience for students. In truth, this approach is built upon interaction, education, and a well-rounded educational experience.

While virtual students may not see their teachers in person on a regular basis, they remain in contact with them each school day. In a quality school, teachers are certified and highly qualified. From a remote location, they are responsible for managing student education, addressing individual needs, and tracking student progress. They also:

-Offer guidance, support, and instruction to students.

-Track attendance, as well as progress.

-Assess student work, such as tests, homework, and projects.

-Communicate daily with students.

What do virtual school parents need to know?

VLN Partners believes that parents or guardians should play a key role in a child’s education. In virtual schools, parents should remain actively involved and work closely with their child’s teachers. VLN explains that parents should also:

-Keep track of their child’s academic progress.

-Participate in a student’s daily education.

-Work alongside children and help them through lessons.

-Stay in contact with educators to discuss their child’s achievements, challenges, or progress.

For students to succeed, VLN Partners explains that collaboration is absolutely crucial. A high-quality virtual school will offer a variety of opportunities for parents, teachers, and children to work together to enhance a student’s learning experience.

Ericsson unveils 2014 app award

2013-11-06T14:51:00.001+00:00

on November 06, 2013 /

By Emma Elebeke

Leading provider of telecommunications equipment and services, Ericsson has announced entry for an application award tagged The Ericsson Application Awards.

The award, which is in the fifth consecutive year since inception allows students and small- and medium-sized enterprises from anywhere in the world to submit Android and iOS apps for screening.

This competition is expected to give developers, start-ups and anyone who has an idea for a great app, the opportunity to gain a foothold in the app industry, while also earning recognition and making contacts within the telecom industry.

According to the company, there will be two categories for this contest – one for students, and one for small- and medium-sized enterprises with fewer than 100 employees.

The theme of the 2014 competition is Apps for Working Life, in support of Ericsson’s vision of a Networked Society in which – through a combination of mobility, broadband, the cloud, applications and services – anything and everything is connected.

The company said it is tinkering on how can apps help people in their daily working life both now and in the future and how do people can contribute to making the next generation of working life a context where people can better innovate, collaborate and balance life outside work.

The winner of the student category in 2013 was Portugal’s GreenSpark, which offered a solution based on energy efficiency with a truly global reach.

The UK’s TboxApps was the winner in the company category. Their solution was based on usage patterns in order to get access to instant messages and quickly get help.

For this year, the first prize is EUR 25,000, while second prize is EUR 10,000, and special recognition for innovation supporting Technology for Good. The third to 10th prize will get diplomas and honorary mentions.

In all, 192 teams took part in the 2013 competition, compared with 143 in 2012 from 52 countries.

100 yrs after: ‘Titanic’ ship will sail again in new movie

2013-10-22T11:33:00.000+01:00

on October 21, 2013 /

SYDNEY (AFP) – Australian mining tycoon, dinosaur park enthusiast and political force Clive Palmer Monday pegged out a new role for himself — a deckchair cameo in a movie he plans about the Titanic.

Palmer has made waves with his bid to build Titanic II — a replica of the doomed luxury liner which sank more than a century ago — which is scheduled to make its first Atlantic crossing in 2016.

“Due to worldwide interest in @titanic_ii I’ve registered ‘Palmer Pictures’. Will look at making a movie about its maiden voyage #titanic,” he tweeted.

“@titanic_ii The ship where dreams come true,” he added later.

Palmer, who has won a seat in the Australian parliament pending an ongoing recount after the success of his Palmer United Party in September elections, told the AAP news agency that the movie would be filmed aboard his liner.

“It will be a love story,” he said.

“We have a lot of actors from Hollywood, China and Europe who want to star in roles.”

Palmer said his version of the Titanic would be “a lot better” than James Cameron’s 1997 global hit starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet.

“I could be in a deckchair having a drink,” he added of his dream to make a cameo appearance.

Global interest in Titanic II has prompted Palmer’s latest film move, he said.

“My father George had Palmer Pictures originally back in the 1920s and he made two silent films in Australia,” he said in a statement, adding that there were also plans for a documentary on the ship’s maiden voyage.

“The script is still being worked on and of course we would be seeking major Hollywood stars and production people to be involved in the movie project,” he said.

Palmer’s Titanic II will feature modern modifications but try to remain as true as possible to the original, which went down after hitting an iceberg in 1912. He has said construction will begin next March in China.

The original Titanic, which was built in Belfast, sank on its first trip from Southampton in England to New York, killing more than 1,500 passengers and crew.

Palmer, a larger-than-life character who made a fortune in mining, is also a real estate developer and tourism resort operator who is planning to build “the world’s biggest” park of giant robotic dinosaurs at his Coolum Resort on Australia’s Sunshine Coast.

Astronomers Discover Asteroid Heading to the Earth

2013-10-21T12:07:00.004+01:00

Science and Technology

An asteroid that could hit Earth with the power of 2,500 nuclear bombs flew close to the planet on September 16.

Last night, Ukrainian astronomers said there is a chance it could come even closer and strike our planet on August 26, 2032.

Nasa has attempted to calm nerves by issuing a 'a reality check', which highlights that the probability of an Earth impact is only one in 63,000.

That means astronomers are 99.9984 per cent certain that it will miss Earth's orbit. Crimean Astrophysical Observatory found the massive asteroid, called 2013 TV135, last weekend and the international scientific community has already rated it as one of the two most dangerous asteroids ever recorded.

The asteroid is initially estimated to be about 1,300 feet (400 meters) in size and its orbit carries it as far out as about three quarters of the distance to Jupiter's orbit and as close to the sun as Earth's orbit.

Massive: The asteroid would strike with 2,500megatons of explosive force, enough to create damage within a 100,000 square-mile radius. (Blast location for illustrative purposes only)

As of October 14, asteroid 2013 TV135 is one of 10,332 near-Earth objects that have been discovered. Scientists have given it a danger rating of 1 out of 10 on the Torino Scale. Only one other asteroid has been given a rating of 1.

The risk for all others has been judged 0, negligible. The effects of an impact would be catastrophic, especially if it struck a populated area. If 2013 TV135 were to collide with Earth, it is estimated to impact with 2,500 megatons of explosive power.

The standard U.S. Minute Man II missiles carries a nuclear warhead with an explosive power of a little over 1 megaton. But Nasa said that with only a week of observations for an orbital period that spans almost four years, its future orbital path is 'still quite uncertain.'

The space agency expects the object to be easily observable in the coming months, and will be using the Minor Planet Centre in Cambridge, Massachusetts to improve calculations.

The asteroid was discovered by astronomers at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory and later confirmed by scientists as observatories in Spain, Italy and Siberia, Russia

It said the most likely result will be a dramatic reduction, or complete elimination, of any risk of Earth impact.

"To put it another way, that puts the current probability of no impact in 2032 at about 99.998 per cent," said Don Yeomans, manager of Nasa’s Near-Earth Object Programme Office at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.

"This is a relatively new discovery. With more observations, I fully expect we will be able to significantly reduce, or rule out entirely, any impact probability for the foreseeable future."

The asteroid is much smaller than the interplanetary object that hit Earth and killed off the dinosaurs 65million years ago. Currently, 2007 VK184 is believed to have the best chance of striking Earth.

The 420-foot-wide object is said to have a 1 in 2700 chance of making contact with the planet in 2048. It is the only other asteroid to have a 1 rating on the Torino Scale.

Lonely, Young Planet Floating Alone Without Purpose

2013-10-14T11:59:00.002+01:00

12 October, 2013
Science and Technology

We all need a sense of purpose in our lives, a sense of direction -- a north star. That's why it's with a heavy heart that we report that scientists have found a lonely, directionless planet that has no star.

Astronomers using the Pan-STARRS 1 wide-field survey telescope on Haleakala, Maui, have discovered a very young free-floating planet named PSO J318.5-22.

Located approximately 80 light-years away in the constellation Capricornus, PSO J318.5-22 has a mass only six times that of Jupiter. It belongs to a collection of young stars called the Beta Pictoris moving group that formed about 12 million years ago.

In fact, the eponymous star of the group, Beta Pictoris, has a young gas-giant planet in orbit around it. PSO J318.5-22 is even lower in mass than the Beta Pictoris planet and probably formed in a different fashion.

The exoplanet is one of the lowest-mass free-floating objects known, perhaps the very lowest. But its most unique aspect is its similar mass, color, and energy output to directly imaged planets.

PSO J318.5-22 is extremely cold and faint, about 100 billion times fainter in optical light than Venus. Most of its energy is emitted at infrared wavelengths.

"Planets found by direct imaging are incredibly hard to study, since they are right next to their much brighter host stars. PSO J318.5-22 is not orbiting a star so it will be much easier for us to study. It is going to provide a wonderful view into the inner workings of gas-giant planets like Jupiter shortly after their birth," said Dr Niall Deacon of the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy in Germany, co-author of the paper accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal Letters.

PSO J318.5-22 was discovered during a search for the failed stars known as brown dwarfs. Due to their relatively cool temperatures, brown dwarfs are very faint and have very red colors.

To circumvent these difficulties, the astronomers have been mining the data from the Pan-STARRS 1 (PS1) telescope. PS1 is scanning the sky every night with a camera sensitive enough to detect the faint heat signatures of brown dwarfs.

"We often describe looking for rare celestial objects as akin to searching for a needle in a haystack. So we decided to search the biggest haystack that exists in astronomy, the dataset from PS1," said co-author Dr Eugene Magnier of the Institute for Astronomy at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

The scientists followed up the PS1 discovery with multiple telescopes on the summit of Mauna Kea on the island of Hawaii. Infrared spectra taken with the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility and the Gemini North Telescope showed that PSO J318.5-22 was not a brown dwarf, based on signatures in its infrared light that are best explained by it being young and low-mass.

'We have never before seen an object free-floating in space that that looks like this. It has all the characteristics of young planets found around other stars, but it is drifting out there all alone. I had often wondered if such solitary objects exist, and now we know they do," said lead author Dr Michael Liu, also from the Institute for Astronomy at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

CRITIQUE ON NIGERIA'S ANTI CORRUPTION STRATEGY (2013- 2017)

2013-10-10T13:56:00.000+01:00

Although Nigeria has sufficient anti-corruption and bribery laws, implementation of such laws has over the years been the major problem in the avowed fight against graft. There is a renewed demand for compliance of anti-corruption laws already in place in Nigeria, given that there are adequate legal frameworks spelling out offences and sanctions with regards to corruption. There are existing gaps in the legal framework in relation to the role of anti-corruption agencies and public/private sector in perpetrating and/or curbing corruption.

The array of structures, institutions and laws (EFCC, ICPC, PCC, CCB) already in place in Nigeria seems to be grossly in-effective, with most of them suffering from serious corruption deficit. The setting up of these structures and institutions seems to be highly faulty and as such cannot fight the very scourge which they are built on (Corruption)

Any Anti corruption strategy must look at the doctrine of separation of powers, which looks at oppressive and arbitrary rule when all functions of government are exercised by a single person or institution, Corruption does not involve just people in government, but also to people in both private and public positions.

In the Nigerian context though corruption is prevalent in the public sector, there is the renewed need for the private sector and other sector’s of the economy to be beamed with the corruption search light. This will give a better appraisal of the endemic system of corruption. And in tackling the corruption in the Private sector, Nigeria planned strategy against corruption must conform to the provisions of articles 12, 21, 22 and 39 of UNCAC which deals directly with the private sector.

There is also the need to add to the cause of corruption, Sociological factors, which underlines Multi-ethnic societies which may be more likely to fall prey to corruption as a result of failure to manage ethnic conflict in a way that is fair to everyone.

Broadly, in order to nip corruption in the bud, there must be renewed emphasis on transparency, integrity, and accountability in all private and public transaction. The Achanism Model named after Achan in the Bible can be a good standard for checking the excesses of corrupt persons. Achan in the scripture was avaricious (Joshua 7). He was caught and his entire family was severely dealt with. His children, who might have expected to inherit the proceeds of his illegal act, were not allowed to do so. Simply, the law should be enforced to its fullest without fear or favour.

Transformation in form of education of the public is a necessary factor in social transformation. There is need for formation and reformation, orientation and re-orientation of the minds and heart of Nigerians, for them to see that corruption is the enemy of development.

Another addition to the checks of corruption should also be the Improvement of Socio-political and Economic Life. This is another weapon against corruption in Nigeria. The multiplying effects of this improvement will reduce the tendency of public servants to demand and take bribes and get involved in other corrupt practices.

In reducing institutional vulnerabilities based on organisation assessments/corruption risk assessments, agencies like the Technical Unit on Governance and Anti-Corruption Reforms (TUGAR) and other non-state actors must take principal roles in the fight against corruption looking at their roles in the anti-corruption fight over the years in Nigeria

Risk management can help poor people overcome crises and get ahead

2013-10-10T10:55:00.002+01:00

Aid workers and policymakers should shift from being crisis fighters to proactive risk managers, says World Banki

Residents watch from their homes as floodwaters run down a street in Santo Domingo, capital of the Dominican Republic. Photograph: AP

Drought, pandemic, tsunami, violent crime, financial meltdown – the world is full of risks, and the poor are often most vulnerable to their effects. Instead of simply responding to crises, aid workers and policymakers should anticipate and help to guard against such rare and potentially devastating events, according to the World Bank's world development report 2014, published this week.

"We're advocating a sea change in the way risk is managed," the World Bank president, Jim Yong Kim, says. "Our new approach calls for individuals and institutions to shift from being 'crisis fighters' to proactive and systematic risk managers."

After the world suffered major crises in 2008, including shocks to the global financial system and spikes in the prices of food and fuel, the concept of risk management has gained prominence in international development. The links between risk, livelihoods and poverty are all too clear, the World Bank report says.

"Mounting evidence shows that adverse shocks – above all, health and weather shocks and economic crises – play a major role in pushing households below the poverty line and keeping them there," the report says.

But forward-thinking interventions can help offset the costs of future shocks. Bangladesh offers a good example, says Norman Loayza, the report's director.

"In 1970, a large typhoon caused 300,000 deaths [in Bangladesh]. In 2007, a typhoon of the same characteristics and strength caused only 4,000 deaths," Loayza says in a video statement. "The reason for the change was that the country [had] built a number of shelters. It went from having only 12 shelters in 1970 to having 2,500 in 2007 … It also had a system of warning the population and a system of forecasting these events."

But risk management isn't just about mitigating the effects of crises; it can also help people get ahead. Farmers in Ghana and India who had access to rainfall insurance were more likely to invest in fertiliser, seeds, and other farming inputs, the report said, instead of sitting on their money to guard against potential future shocks.

The concept of risk management isn't new, says Tom Mitchell, head of the climate and environment programme at the Overseas Development Institute, but given the extreme events of the recent past, "it's probably more important than ever".

Several recent studies have predicted that extreme events will become more common, Mitchell says. If we fail to anticipate and plan for those events, then we could risk giving up many of the development gains made over the past few decades.

In a time of government austerity, thinking about risk management can also help limited aid money have a greater impact. In most cases, as the World Bank report shows, the price of preventive interventions is much smaller than the long-term costs of handling a full-blown crisis. Moreover, the effects of risk-management interventions may pay off for years to come.

"We've not really done a lot to think about the long-term durability of some our development investments," says Mitchell. "If risk management helps us to do that, then all the better."

But risk management is only as effective as our ability to anticipate the extreme events that may strike in the years ahead. To some extent, uncertainty is inherent to the process.

"The risks that we'll face in 10 years' time will probably look very different to the risks we faced 10 years ago," says Mitchell. "Development progress is really dependent on our understanding those differences."

United youngster Januzaj not ready to pick country

2013-10-08T14:54:00.002+01:00

By PA
Updated Tuesday, 8th October 2013

Manchester United youngster Adnan Januzaj has told Belgium coach Marc Wilmots he is not ready to decide where his international future lies.

The 18-year-old's complicated background means he is eligible for Belgium, Albania or Turkey, whilst he would also be available for England once he has fulfilled FIFA's eligibility requirements.

As the country of his birth, Belgium would appear to be an obvious choice, particularly as they are on the brink of automatic World Cup qualification.

However, speaking ahead of his side's games against Croatia and Wales, Wilmots confirmed Januzaj does not want to choose at present.

"Manchester United told me that Januzaj has not made a decision to play for a national team yet, not for any country," Wilmots told reporters.

"We gave a clear signal [that we want him to play for Belgium] and now it's up to him. I will respect his choice."

It is thought Januzaj wants to establish a senior club career for himself before making a final decision.

Far stronger than it appears from his slender frame, Januzaj is capable of operating in any advanced position immediately behind a central striker, with the feeling he could develop into a top-class number 10.

He has made a good start, scoring twice on his first United Premier League start at Sunderland on Saturday.

That match-winning contribution alone should focus minds at Old Trafford about Januzaj's contract, which expires in the summer.

The True Size Of AFRICA: China, India, US & Most Of Europe Put TOGETHER

2013-10-08T13:07:00.002+01:00

Features

A picture graphic shows the shear enormity of the African continent by

showing how many other countries fit inside it. It covers the same

surface as 13 countries - including the United States, China, UK and

India - and the whole of Eastern Europe.

In total, Africa is more than 30million sq km. But this graphic illustrates that

its size is not shown accurately on a standard Mercator map, where countries

in the centre appear smaller than they are.

The story continues below

World’s population will rise to 9.7bn in 2050

2013-10-02T16:36:00.003+01:00

on October 02, 2013

PARIS (AFP) –The world’s population will rise to 9.7 billion in 2050 from the current level of 7.1 billion and India will overtake China as the world’s most populous nation, as Nigeria’s population will outstrip that of the United State a French study said Wednesday.

A bi-annual report by the French Institute of Demographic Studies (Ined) projected there would be 10 to 11 billion people on the planet by the end of the century.

The projections ran parallel to forecasts by the United Nations, the World Bank and other prominent national institutes.

A UN study in June said the global population would swell to 9.6 billion in 2050 and the number of people aged 60 and above would catapult from 841 million now to two billion in 2050 and nearly three billion in 2100.

Ined said Africa would be home to a quarter of the world’s population in 2050 with 2.5 billion people, more than double the current level of 1.1 billion.

Gilles Pison, the author of the report, said the prevailing fertility rate in Africa was around 4.8 children per woman — far higher than the global average of 2.5.

The Americas will breach the one-billion mark in 2050 with 1.2 billion inhabitants against 958 million at present.

And Asia’s population will increase from 4.3 billion to 5.2 billion in 2050, Ined forecast.

The world’s most populous nations are currently China with 1.3 billion people; followed by India (1.2 billion); the United States (316.2 million); Indonesia (248.5 million) and Brazil (195.5 million).

But in 2050, India will take pole position with 1.6 billion people with China in second place at 1.3 billion.

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, will outstrip the United States with a population of 444 million against a projected 400 million Americans in the middle of the century.

11 Hidden Microsoft Windows Secrets and Tricks

2013-10-02T15:19:00.001+01:00

Information Technology

Have you ever wondered how to pin a file folder to your Windows taskbar? Or, how to access the secret "Send To" menu? There are a few hidden Windows tips, tricks and keyboard shortcuts that will make your workflow smoother and quicker, without a whole lot of effort on your part.

Click on the images to enlarge them or view in Gallery mode

1. Select and Focus Taskbar Applications: To select and focus applications in the taskbar, hold down the Windows key, press T, and use the arrow keys or type T repeatedly. This lets you scroll through the pinned applications without ever touching your mouse.

2. Copy, Paste or Undo a File Move: Most people know that the key commands Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V and Ctrl+Z are handy for copying, pasting and deleting text, but did you know that you can use these commands for files as well?

3. Tile Windows: With Windows 7 came Aero Snap, or the ability to maximize a window by dragging it to the side of the screen. But what if you want to easily tile your windows? Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), select the applications you wish to tile (Ctrl+Click), right click, and select Tile Horizontally or Tile Vertically.

4. Open an Application

To start an application that is pinned to the taskbar, hold the Windows key and press the number that corresponds with its location (Win+number from one to nine).

5. Manage Your Applications

To open a new window of the same application (for example, to open a new Chrome window or a second Desktop folder), hold the Shift key, the Window key and then a number from one to nine. If you want to page through the open windows, press Control, Window, and a number, from one to nine.

6. Pin Any Item to the Taskbar

By default, Windows 7 only lets you pin applications to the taskbar. But if you want to pin a different item like a file or folder, follow these easy steps.
Drag and drop the file onto your desktop (If the item is in the Favorites folder, follow these extra steps)
Right click > New > Shortcut
Type in: explorer "C:shortcutsFavorites - ShortcutName.lnk"
Name the shortcut

The Shortcut will now appear as a folder, which you can right click to pin to the taskbar

7. Open a Command Prompt: To access the open a command option, hold down the Shift key and right-click a folder. This tip only works for Windows 7 or Vista. To do this on Windows XP, you must use a registry hack.

8. Access the Secret "Send To" Menu: Did you know that there is a secret "Send To" menu that you can access with the Shift key? Hold down Shift, right-click the folder and select the "Send To" menu. This lets you access a whole new set of file locations, so you can quickly re-locate a folder without the hassle.

9. Modify the Default "Send To" Menu: If you want to change the options that appear in your default "Send To menu," type "shell:sendto" into the location bar of a folder. You can then drag and drop new folder locations to the Send To folder.

10. Open Any File or Webpage: The Run Command is an easy way to open any file, application or website. Use the Win+R keyboard shortcut to open the Run dialog box. From here, type in the name of any application and hit Enter. You can also enter a URL directly into this field to open up any webpage.

11. Create a Zip Folder: A zip folder is the quickest way to transport a large selection of files. To create a zip folder, right click a regular file folder and select the "Send To" option. The "Compressed (zipped) Folder" option will compress your folder and make it easier to upload the files in one fell swoop.

Obama Congratulates Jonathan, Nigerians At 53

2013-10-02T14:29:00.001+01:00

Foreign

The U.S. President, Barack Obama, has congratulated President Goodluck Jonathan and the people of Nigeria as the nation celebrates 53rd anniversary it Independence Day on Oct.1.

“A warm friendship connects the Nigerian and American people, reflecting our shared values of democracy, economic growth, security, and respect for human rights and the rule of law.

“Our partnership is strong because of our people, as the proverb tells us, if you want to go quickly go alone. If you want to go far go together,’’Obama in a statement, issued by Secretary of State, John Kerry said on Monday.

He added that in the coming years, the U.S. would be looking forward to going further with Nigeria as the country expands education, jobs and opportunity for its people.

“On the 53rd anniversary of your independence, I wish all Nigerians a safe and prosperous future,” Kerry quoted the U.S. president as saying.

Meanwhile, in the historic city, New York, Nigerians and friends of Nigeria from around the world are gearing up to celebrate the anniversary of Nigeria’s Independence.

The celebration is scheduled from Oct.3 to 5 with activities ranging from party for young Nigerians and their friends, to a cultural night where the youth would demonstrate appreciation of their Nigerian heritage.

Also there would be an Independence Day Parade/Carnival and Festival.

People from all walks of life are expected at the celebration to showcase the glory of Nigeria.

The theme for this year’s celebration is “Nigeria, Time for change’’.

Nigeria’s Independence Day celebration in New York started in 1991.

The celebration is usually the largest of its kind by any African nation in the U.S. (NAN)

2013-10-02T12:27:00.004+01:00

Supatra Sasuphan, who may be known as “monkey face” or “wolf girl” is the worlds’ hairiest girl, but has not let anything get her down in life.

The young schoolgirl is faced wit ha rare genetic disease which only 50 people in the world currently have.

Rather than let it bring her down or ruin her life, Supatra is happy with her life and how she is currently the record holder for the worlds’ hairiest girl. She is also very happy with how things are going and is expected to do well at school.

Supatra Sasuphan (World’s Hairiest Girl At Age 12)

A teacher has said she works very hard at school and even has ambitions to be a doctor, so that she can look after the sick and her family.

Supartra insists her condition is “who she is” and is happy with how she is. Her family consider her a “normal little girl”.

Happy Supatra joining in at school

Supatra is just one of fifty people with the rare disease, Ambras Syndrome which is caused by a faulty chromosome. Before this rare genetic disease was found it use to be branded as “the werewolf”.

She has thick hair growing over her eyes, nose, eyes and arms and has undergone multiple types of surgery to try and treat it but nothing has worked to even stop the hair from growing.

She has been asked by people before “what sin have you done to deserve this” she explains what it is and ends with “this is who I am”

Locals pray for her and hope that one day she will be cured, but to this day no cure has been found, not even to stop the hair growth so if shaved off, it will always grow back.

Jose Mourinho Applauds Mikel Obi's Performance

2013-09-24T16:55:00.005+01:00

23 September, 2013

Football

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has applauded John Obi Mikel's performance in their ' 2-0 victory over Fulham last Saturday at Stamford Bridge.

Mourinho who watched Mikel break his 261-game goal drought that had lasted since his first spell in charge said the Nigerian international gave his side the needed balance.

“Good for him, good for us. I think it is good for his confidence. And I think people enjoyed seeing John (Obi Mikel) score a goal.'

“The goal was a shot in a set-piece, in a corner, a rebound, the finishing was good and he was in the position, but the important thing for me is he played a good game, he gave balance and stability.

"He kept very good control of the game, so I am happy with the way John is playing,” Mourinho concluded.

BlackBerry: On The road to extinction?

2013-09-24T16:43:00.003+01:00

23 September, 2013

Business and Economy

The struggle for relevance and market share among mobile platform providers continues. Samsung and Apple are holding on to major market share and Techno is also making a stealthy incursion into the market as well.

What has not changed is the fact that the customer is still king and the consumption habits are the determinants for mobile service and its add-on apps provision. The magic of constant innovation, advertising and persistence in this regard is what has continued to keep these companies alive.

Ontario, Canada-based former mobile phone giant, Blackberry Limited, formerly known as Research in Motion, has announced that accessing Blackberry Messenger would no longer be tied to the ownership of a Blackberry phone. The news is one of the most significant in the industry thus far this year.

Until recently, before the decline in the revenue of Blackberry Limited, Blackberry had a tight grip on the market and the sales and popularity in Nigeria was premised on the novelty that came with its being first to provide instant messaging. For once, it was a freedom of sorts from the cost that came with paying N10 for text messages within same network and N15 across networks before the recent change in price to N4.

That users can now ‘port’ to BBM using their Android phones running on Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly Bean and/or Apple phone running on iOS 6 and 7 means BBM has now become an independent messaging template.

This recent stint by Blackberry is a posture that says it is succumbing to the reality of how things have remarkably changed in the industry. It is a sincere fight for survival, similar to that of an Olympian swimmer in brackish water swamp. What, however, we cannot take away from BlackBerry is its pioneering role in the field of mobile instant communication. Blackberry Limited, owners of the Blackberry brand, had redefined mobile telephony and social media use.

News of the availability of BBM for other users first caught public attention last May; and after a long wait of five months, it’s finally available. Starting on Saturday 21st September, Android users can now download the application from the Google Play Store and iPhone users get to download same a day after. This would allow for chats on two of its main rival platforms — Android and iPhone. Shut out from this are Windows phone produced by Microsoft.

BBM, as on Blackberry phones, allows users to chat, share files in audio and photo forms, keep conversation on in a group of up to 30 other users, broadcast messages to all users on one’s BB contact list, post status updates and read those of others, change display pictures at will and every user has an eight-character unique Personal Identification Number. These are the exact features it will be availing users who download same.

All features of a good chat platform are also activated with this new offering of BBM — knowledge that the message has been delivered, read and is being replied or not by the receiver are available. BBM is popular and it is perhaps responsible for why, before the release date, app stores were loaded with several fakes.

The first Blackberry device — an email pager — was available in the market in 1999. BBM was introduced in 2006, and by 2012, BB had sold 200 million phones, with its current figure of users placed at about 80 million. Six years down the line, a lot has changed. BBM now has to compete with several other substitutes for it — Whatsapp, Facebook chat, Google Chat, Viber chat and a number of other chat platforms.

Mobile network providers have been the major loser in terms of revenues from SMS. BB Limited is the latest hit. Whatsapp, BBM’s arch rival, claims a figure of about 200 million users currently, a far one from BBM’s.

Google is rumoured to be interested in acquiring Whatsapp, especially since it ranks as the second most downloaded app on Google Play. As BBM continues to struggle for a market share, this move may be a potent one in an attempt for a comeback. What is not clear is how this would affect the sales of Blackberry phones.

To maintain growth, the company will be offering hardware and software solutions to other firms. For those concerned about privacy, it is only expected that the use of a PIN, which BBM offers, would appeal, as against Whatsapp and others which are activated using mostly a mobile phone number.

Blackberry phones also have the all-touch screen device and physical keyboard model, which appeals to a section of the market. The Z and Q series phones are attempts to adapt sleek features that other smart phones are known for. The complaint has been about the quick draining of the battery and the dependence on extra battery or constant power source for BB users. For the African market, the flat monthly data tariff of the phone would still make it appealing.

Thoston Heins, Blackberry’s Chief Executive, in saying “We will make BBM available as the premiere multi-platform IM solution all around the globe,” is anchoring this on the belief that consumers would either prefer BBM to Whatsapp et al; or desire to add it to their collection of apps. The reality is that instant messaging is no longer novel for Android and iPhone users.

The download figure in the coming days would tell if this move by the smart phone company was a smart one. The industry would have to wait and see if several contacts would be transferred from BB phones to Android and iphones using the Bluetooth setting.

If things go south, it may mean that the only place where Blackberry phones would remain popular is the technology museum. Already, 40 per cent of the company’s staff are expected to be dismissed before 2014. If this move falters, then may be the figure would be higher than this and would mean that BB is on a slow path to extinction.

SHIPWRECK: Attempt To Pull The Costa Concordia Underway

2013-09-16T12:16:00.000+01:00

16 September, 2013

Local

One of the largest and most daunting salvage operations ever undertaken is under way with an attempt to pull the shipwrecked Costa Concordia.

The operation was delayed for three hours because of an overnight storm, but began at 09:00 local time.

Righting the ship is expected to take up to 12 hours.

Engineers have never tried to lift such a huge ship so close to land. Thirty-two people died when it hit rocks.

The bodies of two of the dead, a passenger and a crew member, have never been recovered and may be found during the operation.

The Italian Civil Protection Authority said the sea and weather conditions had mostly been right for the attempt.

Scientists Come Very Close To Anti-HIV Vaccine

2013-09-13T13:26:00.004+01:00

12 September, 2013
Health

Scientists form Oregon Health and Science University developed a vaccine that may be able to fight HIV.

Their new study suggests that a vaccine for the monkey equivalent of HIV appears to eradicate the virus.

Research published in the journal Nature has shown that vaccinated monkeys can eradicate equivalent of HIV infection, which is called Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV) and is 100 times more deadly then HIV, from their bodies.

Infected monkeys usually die within two years but in nine of the 16 inoculated monkey the virus did not take hold thanks to the vaccine.

Rhesus macaque monkeys were firstly vaccinated and then exposed them to SIV. The researchers found that at first the infection began to establish and spread, but then the monkeys' bodies started to respond, searching out and destroying all signs of the virus. The nine monkey that successfully responded to the vaccine were still clear of infection between one-and-a-half and three years later.

The researchers now want to use a similar approach to test a vaccine for HIV in humans.

Prof Louis Picker, from the Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute at Oregon Health and Science University, said:

"It's always tough to claim eradication - there could always be a cell which we didn't analyse that has the virus in it. But for the most part, with very stringent criteria... there was no virus left in the body of these monkeys."

P-Square Sworn In as Honorary Calgarians in Canada

2013-09-08T00:47:00.000+01:00

6 September, 2013
Arts and Entertainment

Nigeria's multiple award-winning duo, top singing twins Peter and Paul Okoye, P-Square, is currently on tour in Canada and the United States.

On September 5, 2013, the pop star twins were sworn in as honorary Calgarians, given their own official white cowboy hats.

The ceremony is a symbol of the city of Calgary. This tradition is alive for over 50 years. Many foreign celebrities and VIPs who visited Calagary have been 'white hatted' during the years.

Rafael Nadal Beats Tommy Robredo In US Open

2013-09-06T11:46:00.002+01:00

5 September, 2013

Foreign

Rafael Nadal Thrashed powered into the US Open semi-finals in New York.

The 2010 champion, seeded second, won 6-0 6-2 6-2 on Arthur Ashe Stadium against the man who had knocked out Roger Federer in the previous round.

Nadal, 27, goes on to face Richard Gasquet in the semi-finals after the Frenchman earlier beat David Ferrer in five sets.

"I think I played great the first set - it's my first set so far this year at 100%," said Nadal, who returned from a serious knee injury in February.

"I did all the things that you expect to do good in the first set, in my opinion. I am very happy with the way that I moved myself on court, very happy with the way I hit my forehand and my backhand especially.

"So in general it was my best match of the tournament, so that's great news."

Breathtaking Photos of Planet Earth

2013-09-06T11:31:00.001+01:00

5 September, 2013
Features

Look at the beauty of our planet Earth, as seen from space. It looks beautiful, like a magical land…

Scroll for and check out all the images below. Use this minute to relax and get inspired for new things in your life.

Can you Bend like Her- Informationgalaxy

2013-09-04T12:38:00.004+01:00

2 September, 2013
Foreign

27-year old russian beauty, Julia Günthel aka Zlata is the world's bendiest woman. The former gymnast, who is 5ft 8in, is so flexible she can cram herself into a 50cm squared box.

Zlata can contort herself into the most extreme poses imaginable - and has broken numerous world records for her flexibility. If she wants to touch her toes she can actually do so by twisting her legs up to her head.

"Let's Tax The Sun" - Informationgalaxy

2013-09-04T12:32:00.002+01:00

2 September, 2013

Foreign

A new tax on solar power introduced in early July by the Spanish government has been described as "ludicrous" in two leading international publications.

US business and finance magazine Forbes pulled no punches in an article titled, "Out of ideas and in debt, Spain sets sights on taxing the sun".

It pointed out that Spain "is one of the top countries in the world with respect to installed photovoltaic (PV) solar energy capacity."

But the author took an incredulous tone and noted: "Spain is now attempting to scale back the use of solar panels – the use of which they have encouraged and subsidized over the last decade – by imposing a tax on those who use the panels."

She added: "You get the feeling that government officials were out of ideas, stared up at the sky one day and thought, 'I’ve got it! We’ll tax the sun!'"

Australia's Business Spectator published a story on the same subject on Wednesday under the headline, "Spain's solar stupidity".

It said: "Imposed by decree, the reform aims to raise money for tackling a €26 billion debt to power producers which the state has built up over the years in regulating energy costs and prices."

The article quoted Industry Minister Jose Manuel Soria who introduced the law as saying, "I support 'autoconsumo' [independent power generation by households]... but the power system has infrastructure, grids that the rest of us Spaniards who are in the system have to pay for. And we pay for it through our electricity bill."

Both articles also quoted Teresa Ribera, who served as secretary of state for the environment under the former Socialist administration.

She responded to Soria's statement, saying: "It's like asking cyclists to pay a levy to keep open the petrol stations they don't use."

Now a senior adviser to the Paris-based Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI), Ribera said the law was "illogical in terms of energy efficiency and costs" and "a serious invitation by the government for citizens to become anti-system."

Business Spectator interviewed people who plan to ignore the new law, including Sergio Pomar, chief executive of energy-efficient installation firm INEL.

He said: "If I spend €600 to install solar panels and get fined €6 million let the judge decide."

Private individuals who fail to hook their solar panels up to the national grid to be metered and taxed could face fines of up to €30 million ($40 million) under the new law.

Forbes magazine wrote: "It seems ludicrous."

Whale Found On Alpha Beach In Lagos (PHOTO)

2013-08-29T12:45:00.000+01:00

28 August, 2013

A Whale has been found in Lagos after it washed up on Alpha Beach.

It would be recalled that the Lagos State Government has already warned that their will be an ocean surge and residents leaving close to the beach should vacate the area for now.

While some residents took to the Lagos State Government's advice, others did not rather they stayed back ignoring the danger involved.

Namibian Dillish wins Big Brother The Chase! (http://adf.ly/?id=4953828)

2013-08-25T21:34:00.000+01:00

on August 25, 2013 /

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After expressing her desires to be the first woman to win the Big Brother grand prize since Zambia’s Cherise did so seven seasons ago, Dillish has done it for all of Africa’s women!

The gorgeous Namibian started her Chase race as the proverbial underdog and was labeled everything from lazy to a pampered princess. As the Chase rolled on however, Dillish quickly emerged as a very strong contender for the Chase title and won her fellow Housemates and Africa over, with her quirky, accented alter ego, aptly titled Princess Dillish.

Dillish hugs Cleo in happy tears…

The Namibian made sure to stay away from trouble and coasted through the Chase by taking her place behind the scenes. While her fellow Housemates got themselves into hot water, fighting and gossiping their way to what they hoped was the top of the mountain, Dillish remained grounded and maintained cordial relations with her fellow Housemates.

The only time the Namibian got herself in a spot of trouble was when she and her good friend, Nigeria’s Melvin, had a disagreement after she told her fellow Housemates about a relationship he was involved in, which was less than stellar. Dillish and Cleo proved to all and sundry that women are indeed a force of nature. The two hotties pipped their male counterparts, Elikem and Melvin to the Top 2 while, as well as their close friend Beverly.

Before the big news was delivered, Pebbles the fish surprised all and sundry with one last speech. “On behalf of myself and the other fish, I would like to congratulate you on your amazing feat. You are the specialest ladies in Africa,” Pebbles said.

However, one thing is clear! Tonight is Dillish’s night and oh whata moment it was! As soon as the Namibian was announced the winner of the Chase, the Namibian broke down in a heap of tears at the realisation that she has a cool USD 300 000 sitting in her bank account. Yes Africa. She came, she saw and she conquered. In heels even!

- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/08/dillish-wins-big-brother-the-chase/#sthash.9lKFe71z.dpu

First Barca Goal Thrills Neymar

2013-08-25T19:36:00.003+01:00

24 August, 2013

Football

Barcelona star Neymar was delighted to have netted his first goal for the club after coming off the bench to equalise against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup.

The Brazilian was once again consigned to starting among the substitutes, but he found the net almost immediately after entering the fray on the hour mark.

The 21-year-old headed home a cross from compatriot Dani Alves to cancel out former Barcelona forward David Villa’s opener at Estadio Vicente Calderon, and he spoke of his delight at opening his account for the Blaugrana.

“I’m thrilled to have scored my first goal,” Neymar told AS. “I’m happy, because I came on and was able to help the team in a difficult situation.

“Atletico are a strong side, and they showed that again in this match. It’s a good result and now we have to do the job at home.”