Race to the Top on Steroids

EDUCATION: Race to the Top on Steroids

After 10 years, it’s time to revisit former President George W. Bush’s signature domestic policy achievement, No Child Left Behind. President Obama on Tuesday asked for a rewrite of the revolutionary standards-based law. He wants to set a high bar for states and school districts and give local governments more flexibility for achieving those goals.
There’s just one problem. Obama is modeling his education proposal after the current Race to the Top grant program, which is unpopular with Republicans on Capitol Hill. “Race to the Top should be the approach we follow this year as we replace No Child Left Behind with a law that is more flexible and focused on what’s best for our kids,” Obama said in his State of the Union address, according to the written version of his speech.
Yet GOP lawmakers in charge of this year’s spending bills are looking to eliminate funding for the Education Department’s competitive grant program, which rewards extra money to states that demonstrate innovative ways to boost student achievement. Republicans and other critics of Race to the Top say the government isn’t clear about how it doles out the money and that it is is too dictatorial about the award criteria.
Nonetheless, no one disputes that No Child Left Behind needs some attention. At the very least, lawmakers need to tinker with the fast-approaching 2014 deadline when all states must demonstrate 100 percent proficiency in K-12 education standards. Without any change, school districts across the country will face punitive measures in a few years.
House Education and the Workforce Committee Chairman John Kline, R-Minn., has said he wants to tackle No Child Left Behind in pieces, preferring to steer clear of a massive, unwieldy rewrite of the law. “My goal is to pull back federal involvement in the day-to-day operation of our classrooms so the innovation and accountability being driven by states and local schools has a chance to succeed, and I hope we can find agreement in Washington to allow that to happen,” Kline said on Tuesday.
Obama is sensitive to critiques about an overbearing federal government, but the administration is unlikely to relax its achievement criteria for the sake of giving more power to states. Still, Obama made sure to state that education reform isn’t “just a top-down mandate, but the work of local teachers and principals, school boards, and communities.” 

Alize Cornet see Through Top

AUSTRALIAN Open referees will double as fashion police to stamp out skimpy outfits after Alize Cornet caused a stir with a see-through top at the Hopman Cup.

Open officials have threatened fines of up to $2000 for any player caught flouting its strict dress code.

The 18-year-old wore a short skirt and revealing, see-through top during a doubles match at the tournament in Perth.

One of game's great players, Margaret Court, condemned her attire last night, saying it pushed the boundaries of what was acceptable.

And Open officials said they would review the rising star's outfits ahead of the tournament from January 19 to February 1.

Court, Australia's greatest female player, said: "I just don't think the tennis court is the place to be everything clingy and showing everything," she said.

The three-time Wimbledon champion and winner of 62 Grand Slam events, said fashion had gone overboard.

"Women don't need to expose themselves so much," she said.

"You're good at something, you do it well, you can look so nice without needing to reveal everything.

"If they think everybody's looking at their body and they've got see-through and no bra (outfits), it would have to affect your game."

Australian Open referee Wayne McKewen said player's outfits would be scrutinised in Melbourne.

"They should be dressed in what we say is tennis attire," he said.

US champion Serena Williams, who played against Samantha Stosur in the women's singles at the Sydney International tournament yesterday, is another player renowned for her daring tennis wear.

News From: www.news.com.au

Top 10 renewable energy innovators

Top 10 small-scale renewable energy innovators

From high-rise plant factories to solar rubbish dumps, here is the pick of small companies at the World Future Energy conference

Abu Dhabi hosting the World Future Energy conference is like Dracula running a meeting of blood coagulant specialists. Never mind that the emirate has vast oil and gas reserves and is throwing up scandalously inefficient buildings by the score, it really wants to make the world believe that the future will be renewable power.

Money is no object here; not only did Abu Dhabi spend big undisclosed amounts in its campaign to house the proposed International Renewable Energy Agency, the emirate is pumping billions of dollars into Masdar City, billed as the world's first carbon-neutral city. Masdar is also paying for the giant London array offshore windfarm in the Thames estuary and many other clean-tech developments in Europe, Egypt and the US.

Now it has now hooked up with the Massachusetts Institute for Technology (MIT) to attract the world's top scientists and dozens of blue-chip multinationals to roll out the next generation of renewables.

The energy conference is heavily skewed to solar, as you might expect in this region, but its lifeblood is the small-scale entrepreneurs, inventors and technologists who have come to Abu Dhabi hoping to attract cash and become mainstream in 20 years' time.

Here are my top 10 (mostly) small-scale innovating companies on view in Abu Dhabi this week, in no particular rank or order:

1. Jet-stream power

Skymill Energy is a small US/Indian company trying to harness the limitless high-altitude jet-stream winds that blow at over 200mph at over 30,000ft. Others have tried with tethered kites but Skymill think they have cracked the problem by using a remote rotary-lift aerial vehicle, like a helicopter, which is attached to a generator on the ground. The prize is fabulous: vast renewable energy, no pollution, straightforward technology and available materials. Skymill say it could produce power cheaper than coal and are backed by Boeing, former Nasa scientists and Indian technologists. Pilot trials begin in India next year.

2. Plant factories

Korean company Semi-Materials wants to grow vast quantities of food indoors in what could be high-rise factories. The technology needs no soil but uses nutrients and water with LED lighting linked to solar PV power. These minutely controlled environments, it says, would be ideally suited to high-value crops and avoid bacteria, bad weather and viruses. One plant factory is now working, others are planned.

3. Desert soils

Humus Analysis is a small French firm that has grown out of a government research institute. It makes compost from waste products from the oil industry, as well as municipal wastes and claims to be able to build soils which are good enough to grow grass and trees in a year, and edible crops in two years. If employed widely, says the company, it would enable energy profligate Arab states to reduce water use – and therefore energy – significantly. First trials are taking place in Abu Dhabi this year.

4. Micro geothermal

Ritesh Arya is an Indian hydro-geologist who in 2001 found groundwater at over 11,000ft in the Himalayas, the highest that it has ever been discovered. He is backed by three Nordic research groups as well as giant Norwegian oil company Statoil, and is finding geo-thermal resources in places where no-one thought it could be. Thousands of Himalayan communities could benefit from the source of renewable energy.

5. Solar rubbish dumps

African Renewable Energies is a small London–based firm that aims to help poor communities in developing countries earn money and generate electricity from innumerable rubbish tips around African cities. The idea is to cover landfill sites with thinfilm solar phovololtaic cells printed on to the flexible membranes used to cap landfills. Money would be earned from the UN's clean development mechanism and the electricity should last for decades. Trials now taking place in Italy, the US and Nairobi.

6. Waste houses

2G, an emirates company, takes waste palm tree fronds and leaves, mixes in plastics and produces immensely strong floorboards, gates, walls, cladding, roof tiles, decking and other building materials. The raw material is plentiful and free, and the end product is cheaper than wood or plastic. One factory is already built, others expected soon.

7. Air sandwich

New Japanese technology that uses multiple layers of high performance plastic film with air trapped between them to save up to 40% of energy being lost through glass doors or windows. Cheaper and more efficient than most glass double-glazing and good for retrofits.

8. Desert oases

Hitachi is developing small-scale desalination plants that pump brackish water using PV electricity and then cleans it up using reverse osmosis technology. The result is clean water for humans and animals in remote places which would not normally be served by large scale desalination plants. A 40ft container-sized plant can provide enough clean water for 100 people or a waterhole in the desert. Already being used in conservation areas in Abu Dhabi to help oryx and other animals survive.

9. Algae power

Algaeventure is a small US company that has found a cheap way to efficiently separate liquids and solids, bypassing expensive, power-hungry, centrifugal machines. This, they believe, is the key to developing algae as a major source of both food and power in the next 30 years. The company expects algae technology to race ahead in the next 10 years.

10. Solar fridges

Freecold is a small French company specialising in PV-powered solar refrigerators, ideal for off-grid villages, health centres or even remote bars wanting to make ice. It does not need batteries or converters and uses advanced insulation to keep temperatures cool for 75 hours or more.

• John Vidal's travel and accommodation were paid for by the Zayed Future Energy prize.

News From: www.guardian.co.uk

Curtis Stone Replaces Host Top Chef Masters

Curtis Stone Replaces Kelly Choi As Host of Top Chef Masters

Apparently that whole Toby Young thing didn’t sour Top Chef’s producers on accents, because according to a press release, they’ve hired Celebrity Apprentice also-ran Curtis “The Quiet Terminator” Stone to replace poor Kelly Choi as host of the third season of Top Chef Masters. (When you can’t find a Simon Cowell–esque Brit, a sexy, surfing Aussie will do!) Actually, Stone, a Marco Pierre White acolyte, is no stranger to American audiences, having appeared on Iron Chef, The Biggest Loser, and of course the Take Home Chef — and he’ll also be a judge on NBC’s upcoming series America’s Next Great Restaurant, alongside Bobby Flay and Chiptole’s Steve Ells (see the recently released trailer below). Sure, he seems like the Aussie Rocco DiSpirito, right down to the hair gel (Rocco’s Dinner Party, by the way, premieres later this year), but Kelly Choi’s behind him: She tweets, “This guy can cook, you're gonna love him ... cheers, mate!”

Airbus orders top Boeing sales as Virgin America buys 30 jets

• Last year Airbus took orders for 644 aircraft worth $84bn
• Boeing won orders worth $70bn for 625 planes in 2010

Virgin America helped Airbus pip Boeing at the post to retain its crown as the world's largest commercial plane-maker.

Airbus trailed its arch-rival Boeing in number of orders for most of 2010 but moved ahead after a flurry of sales at the end of the year. At the end of December, Virgin America, Richard Branson's upstart US airline, ordered 30 of the updated version of Airbus's A320 model. Airbus has promised the A320 with the new engine option will cut fuel consumption and carbon emissions by 15% compared with the existing models, figures disputed by Boeing and some analysts. The $5.1bn (£3.2bn) contract was the first firm order for the updated aeroplanes.

The Virgin deal capped a year when Airbus took orders for 644 aeroplanes worth $84bn at list price. Boeing won 625 gross orders with a list price of $70bn. It was held back by delays to its 787 Dreamliner.

Both Airbus and Boeing are recovering strongly from an industry recession that saw combined demand for their planes fall by more than two-thirds in 2009. While there were still dozens of plane cancellations in 2010, and both firms have struggled with delays, Airbus secured more than twice the number of aeroplane orders in 2010 that it had anticipated.

Tom Enders, chief executive, said: "2010 has been better than we expected. We will look at 2011 more optimistically. Growth, especially in aviation, is back, and this is largely due to emerging markets. Asia, the Middle East, that's certainly been the focus."

Last week Airbus announced a $16bn deal with India's IndiGo for 180 aeroplanes, the largest single order for aircraft in commercial aviation history. The order includes 30 of Airbus's original A320 single-aisle jets and 150 with Airbus's new engine-option A320s.

Airbus delivered more planes than its US rival for the eighth consecutive year. Its total of 510 deliveries, up from 498 in 2009, topped the 500 mark for the first time at Airbus. Last year the company sold its 10,000th plane in its 40-year history. Boeing deliveries fell by 4% to 462 aeroplanes from 481.

John Leahy, Airbus sales chief, said: "These figures show the economy is improving. We have dodged the bullet on a double-dip recession. Aviation is growing again because of Asia, low-cost carriers and emerging markets. The only negative on the horizon is the fuel price."

Bears Seahawks NFC Championship Game

Bears Top Seahawks 35-24: Chicago Reaches NFC Championship Game

CHICAGO — Football's oldest rivalry has a grand new prize: a spot in the Super Bowl.

Maybe even with an anniversary reprise of the "Super Bowl Shuffle" if the Chicago Bears can get past the Green Bay Packers.

"It's a big deal. We have a lot of history with them," Bears star linebacker Brian Urlacher said after a 35-24 victory over Seattle set up an NFC championship game matchup with Green Bay. "We don't like them, they don't like us."

Jay Cutler ran for two touchdowns and threw for two as Chicago (12-5) pounded the Seahawks from the outset. The Bears' built a 28-0 lead, but it was against the first division winner with a losing record, making it difficult to measure how good they are. The NFL will find out next week against the Packers (12-6), who have beaten third-seeded Philadelphia and top-seeded Atlanta on the road this month.

The last time Chicago won the NFL title, Walter Payton, Jim McMahon and Mike Singletary did the "Super Bowl Shuffle" all over their opponents. That was 25 years ago, and to compare these Bears with the wild bunch that won Chicago's only Super Bowl 25 years ago is a stretch.

But next Sunday's matchup is fitting if only for the history: It will be the biggest game in Chicago's 90-year series with the Packers. They will play for the 182nd time next Sunday, but it's their first meeting for the NFC title.

"Now that we have beaten the Seahawks, it just doesn't get any better, as I see it, than for the NFC championship coming down to the Packers coming down on our turf this time," Bears coach Lovie Smith said. "The Packers and Bears to finish it up."

Cutler made it possible as much as anybody. And he did it with nimble feet as well as precise throws, running for 6- and 9-yard TDs.

"It was fun," he said with a smile. "That first one was called. Second one was kind of improv."

There was nothing improvisational about the way the Bears' defense shut down an offense that scored 41 points against New Orleans last week, but that gained only 111 through three periods at Soldier Field, where Seattle managed a 23-20 victory in October. The Seahawks' points all came with the outcome decided.

"Now we're back, playing together, hopefully peaking at the right time," Urlacher said.

Cutler, in his first postseason game, showed none of the wild swings that often have marked his five-year career. His shifty moves on a 6-yard run made it 21-0, essentially turning everyone's attention to next weekend.

"We're both familiar with each other, so nothing's going to be new," Cutler said. "We have our hands full."

Not much was expected of the Bears when the season began, but they've improved mightily since falling to 4-3 heading into their bye week. They clinched a playoff berth with two games remaining, grabbing their first NFC North championship since 2006 – when they lost to Indianapolis in the Super Bowl.

Unlike Atlanta and Pittsburgh on Saturday, they showed no rust from having a bye in dominating Seattle. Then again, the Seahawks showed none of the surging emotions or big-play abilities they sprung on the Saints at home. It was merely a one-week reprieve, and they went even flatter after tight end John Carlson was carted off with a head injury in the first quarter following a nasty spill; Carlson landed on the side of his helmet and his shoulder, but had movement in his extremities.

Seattle lost cornerback Marcus Trufant to a head injury in the third quarter when he collided with Kellen Davis' knee while trying to make a tackle. Trufant also was carted off, but he also had feeling in his extremities.

Coach Pete Carroll said both players were hospitalized and were expected to stay overnight for observation. He said "all indications are that they are OK."

Chicago put away the game with touchdowns on three of its first four possessions, by which time Urlacher, Julius Peppers and the rest of the defense had taken charge.

Greg Olsen, showing impressive speed for a tight end, streaked past safety Lawyer Milloy for a 58-yard TD reception on Chicago's third offensive play. Chester Taylor added a 1-yard TD run and Cutler's 6-yarder built an insurmountable lead.

Cutler liked using his feet so much he added a 9-yard sprint in the third quarter to make it 28-0. He even threw in a 21-yard scramble in the fourth quarter and finished with a career-best 43 yards rushing, 9 more than the Seahawks.

"Jay's a very athletic quarterback," Seahawks linebacker Will Herring said. "So we have to account for that. He really hurt us with his feet."

Olindo Mare's 30-yard field goal got the first points for Seattle, which will get mixed reviews in Carroll's first season as coach. The Seahawks went 7-9, hardly what they had in mind when they hired Carroll away from Southern Cal. Still, they won the weak NFC West, and they eliminated the defending Super Bowl champions in the wild-card round.

"It took a long time for them to ... fight and compete and do the things we want them to do," Carroll said. "I would have loved to have got this game today that so many people didn't think we could. I see where we're going and I'm proud of that."

But the prospect of a .500 team playing for a berth in the Super Bowl is gone, even though Matt Hasselbeck threw for three fourth-quarter touchdowns.

So bring on the Packers, who lost to the Bears 33-14 at Wrigley Field on Dec. 14, 1941 in their only previous playoff meeting.

Green Bay beat Chicago 10-3 in the season finale to clinch a playoff spot earlier this month. The Packers haven't been to the Super Bowl since the 1997 season, when they lost to Denver.

Notes: Cutler is the second QB in league history to have two TDs rushing and two passing in a postseason game. Otto Graham did it for Cleveland in 1954 and '55. ... Cutler was 15 for 28 for 274 yards and was sacked three times. Hasselbeck finished 26 for 46 for 258 and was sacked twice. ... Record-setting punt returner Devin Hester had one 26-yard runback, but otherwise had little impact for Chicago.

Miss Delaware Martell makes it into top 12 finalists

Miss Delaware Kayla Martell participates n the "Show Us Yours Shoes" Parade during the Miss America competition in Las Vegas

Before that, she became only the second Miss Delaware to make it into the top 15 during the first cut.

Martell made the first cut thanks to people voting in the ³America¹s Choice² category through texts, Facebook and YouTube.

"I am so proud of Kayla," her mother, Rhonda Martell, said in a text message sent to The News Journal from Las Vegas. "She was prepared in all phases of competition and is ready to represent Delaware well."

There has never been a Miss USA or Miss America from the First State.

"I¹m praying she makes the swimsuit cut as this is her least favorite part -- parading around in a swimsuit,” Rhonda Martell said before the swimsuit competition.

Kayla was among the top contestants who received the most attention before and during the pageant, as press from around the world were interested in speaking with the 69th Miss Delaware.

“Representing the Diamond State, with our diamonds and our tax-free shopping, a girl just can’t lose,” Martell said while greeting TV viewers tonight.

The 22-year-old Milford native is bald because of alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease that caused her to lose her hair at 10. After she lost her hair, she thought she would have to give up her dream to compete as Miss America.

But her parents convinced her that anything was possible and she went on to enter the Miss Delaware pageant five times, competing three times without wigs, two with them.

“You can’t be defined and shouldn’t be defined by your hair,” she said before she left for Vegas.

In recent months, she has raised awareness about the work of the National Alopecia Areata Foundation, a group that represents her pageant platform. Her efforts made her one of eight finalists for a Quality of Life Award, with three scholarships given to contestants for their community service. The top scholarship is $6,000.

Because of her baldness she wore blonde wigs provided by Mario Rispoli, her hairdresser at Salon Rispoli. He said it’s been great to have someone as talented, lovely and poised as Martell represent the First State.

Her talent was a modern ballet en pointe to Michael Jackson’s “The Way You Make Me Feel,” one of her favorite songs.

Before leaving for the pageant a former Miss America told her that the pageant is won before you get there. Miss America meant the girl who goes out feeling confident and comfortable will walk away with the crown.

Martell said she did her most to attain that outlook before she flew from Philadelphia Jan. 6.

“Just getting to go and compete is a dream come true,” she said.

New Miss America Winner 2011

Miss America 2011: Top Picks for New Miss America Winner

The Miss America 2011 competition ends tonight! After a heated preliminary competition, a new Miss America for 2011 will be crowned tonight, with coverage beginning at 9 p.m. on ABC. So who’s going to be Miss America 2011? Hard to crown a new winner right now, as the competition so far has been tight.

Miss Oklahoma has been impressive so far, capturing the Lifestyle and Fitness competition, otherwise known as the swimsuit contest. Meanwhile, Miss Nebraska proved to be a skillful piano player, for which she won the talent portion. Other top challengers for Miss America 2011 include Miss North Carolina, Miss Alabama and Miss Rhode Island.

Earlier in the day, the Miss America 2011 contestants took part in a parade through Las Vegas showing off fashions inspired by their home states. This is the 90th year of the Miss America competition.

Top 50 Most Popular Women on the Web 2010

50 Most Popular Women on the Web: Lady Gaga tops COED’s list; Justin Bieber above Miley Cyrus, Paris Hilton

Singer-fashion iconoclast Lady Gaga (real name: Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta) is the top-placer in COED magazine’s list of 50 most popular women on the Web.
That is not surprising, but singer-actress Miley Cyrus (No.8) and actress-wannabe-singer Paris Hilton (No.9) could be slighted, as male pop-singer and every-girl’s-crush Justin Bieber has placed higher than them at number seven.
At number two is singer/songwriter/rapper Ke$ha (real name: Kesha Rose Sebert). The iconic Madonna (birth name: Louise Veronica Ciccone), age 52, remains significant in current pop culture at number three.
COED’s list was made possible through information and statistics from Google search-engine results.
The COED Top 50 list of Most Popular Women on the Web:

#50: Eva Longoria

#49: Scarlett Johansson

#48 Carmen Electra

$47: Tina Fey

#46: Adriana Lima

#45 Lily Allen

#44 Sarah Jessica Parker

#43 Kelly Clarkson

#42 Carrie Underwood

#41 Amy Winehouse

#40 Vanessa Hudgens

#39 Katy Price

#38 Ashley Tisdale

#37 Hilary Duff

#36 Marilyn Monroe

#35 Heidi Montag

#34 Demi Moore

#33 Jennifer Aniston

#32 Hillary Clinton

#31 Ciara

#30 Kristen Stewart

#29 Betty White

#28 Pamela Anderson

#27 Fergie

#26 Jessica Alba

#25 Christina Aguilera

#24 Sandra Bullock

#23 Kim Kardashian

#22 Katy Perry

#21 Michelle Obama

#20 Lindsay Lohan

#19 Jessica Simpson

#18 Sarah Palin

#17 Mariah Carey

#16 Jennifer Lopez

#15 Megan Cox

#14 Oprah Winfrey

#13 Angelina Jolie

#12 Taylor Swift

#11 Shakira

#10 Avril Lavigne

#9 Paris Hilton

#8 Miley Cyrus

#7 Justin Bieber

#6 Britney Spears

#5 Rihanna

#4 Beyonce

#3 Madonna

#2 Ke$ha

#1 Lady Gaga Click Here Visit This Blog Top 50 Most Popular Women on the Web 2010