Friday, September 25, 2009

Three Plants that Give You Better Indoor Air

Three Plants that Give You Better Indoor Air



Kamal Meattle used three just three indoor plant species to increase oxygen, filter air, and boost general health at a a New Delhi business park. You too can use them to freshen your indoor space.

Meattle's presentation at the TED 2009 conferencedetails a large-scale success, using thousands of plants for hundreds of workers. In any living or working space, though, the three plants—Areca palm, Mother-in-law's Tongue, and a "Money Plant"—can be used to convert carbon dioxide into oxygen, remove organic compounds, and generally filter and freshen the ambient air. A single person looks to need a minimum of 11 total plants, and certain climates with less sunlight could require a bit of hydroponic growing, but Meattle swears by the health, productivity, and atmosphere benefits. Check out the detailed slides from his TED talk:

Got your own plant combinations for better working or living air? Give up your greenery tricks in the comments.


Thursday, September 24, 2009

NCES Releases High School Dropout and Completion Rates in the United States: 2007

NCES Releases High School Dropout and Completion Rates in the United States: 2007

Some 73 percent of high school freshman nationwide graduated on time with their peers, but this four-year graduation rate in 2006 varied widely across states--from a low of 55.9 percent to a high of 87.5 percent, according to "High School Dropout and Completion Rates in the United States: 2007." The report, released by the National Center for Education Statistics at the Institute of Education Sciences, builds upon a series of NCES reports on high school dropout and completion rates that began in 1988. It includes national and regional population estimates for the percentage of students who dropped out of high school between 2006 and 2007, the percentage of young people who were dropouts in 2007, and the percentage of young people who were not in high school and had some form of high school credential in 2007.

Annual data from 1972-2007 reveals trends by race, gender, income and other characteristics. It also includes state from national level estimates for public school students for the end of the 2005-06 school year showing estimates of how many beginning freshmen in the 2002-03 school year had graduated with their class in 2006, and how many students had dropped out between 2004-05 and 2005-06.

Other key findings include:

* Among reporting states, fourteen states had freshman graduation rates of 80 percent or higher, and 10 states had rates below 70 percent. Twenty-three states had higher AFGRs in 2005-06 compare with 2004-05, and 23 had lower rates.

* Students living in low-income families were approximately ten times more likely to drop out of high school between 2006 and 2007 than were students living in high-income families. (emphasis added)

* One-year dropout rates have declined since 1972 among all racial/ethnic groups, although the decreases happened at different times over this 35-year period for these groups.

* About 3.3 million 16- through 24-year-olds were not enrolled in high school and had not earned a high school diploma or alternative credential, as of October 2007.

* The percentage of young White and Hispanic females who completed high school by earning a diploma or GED was higher than their male counterparts. Specifically, 94.6 percent of White females and 77.6 percent of Hispanic females had completed high school in 2007, compared with 92.4 percent of White males and 68.1 percent of Hispanic males. Overall, 89 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds nationwide have completed high school.

To view the full report please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2009064

----------------------------------------------------------------------
To obtain hard copy of many IES products as well as hard copy and
electronic versions of hundreds of other U.S. Department of Education
products please visit http://www.edpubs.org or call 1-877-433-7827 (877-4-EDPUBS).
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Build African Research Capacity!

"There are more African scientists and engineers in the USA than in the entire continent."

Ainalem Tebeje, IDRC Brain Drain and Capacity Building in Africa, 2005

Build African ResearchCapacity! is an international network of young scientists supporting the advancement of basic biomedical science in Africa and its developing diaspora. Biomedical science is a powerful tool for solving health challenges that cause significant morbidity and mortality in developing African regions. Moreover, innovations in medicine and diagnostics originating from biomedical science discovery can increase competitiveness in the modern global economy. The expansion of basic biomedical research capacity, therefore, is vital for Africa's development in multiple respects.


Thanks to Carmelle T. Norice for sharing this worthwhile initiative.

How to Turn Two Minutes into a Lifetime Connection

How to Turn Two Minutes into a Lifetime Connection
Don't let opportunity walk on by.

How to Turn Two Minutes into a Lifetime Connection

by KEITHFERRAZZI on AUGUST 25, 2009

stopwatch

I'm just preparing my impromptu remarks.
- Winston Churchill

Let's say you want to meet Jack Welch. Chances are that you're not going to get the chance to launch the relationship over a leisurely dinner. If you're lucky, you'll get a couple of minutes, awaiting the elevator or between sessions at a conference. So how to optimize those two minutes and give yourself a chance at a follow up?

The challenge in such circumstances, as it is in every conversation, is to try to transcend the trivialities of polite chitchat. You need to find a point of common ground that is deeper and richer than what can be discovered in a serendipitous encounter.

There's only one way to connect with someone new that quickly: Do your homework.  Here's what you need to find out before you're ready for face-time:

  1. What's important to them. Their hobbies, challenges, goals—inside their business and out. Pull together everything you can – with most people, you'll easily have a page just from Googling. The goal is to understand what this person is like as a human being, what he or she feels strongly about, and what his or her proudest achievements are.
  2. What's going on in their business.  Did the person have a good or bad quarter? Do they have a new product? Trust me, all people naturally care, generally above and beyond anything else, about what it is they do. If you are informed enough to step comfortably into their world and talk knowledgeably, their appreciation will be tangible.

Armed with knowledge about a person's passions, needs, or interests, as well as a good dose of care, you can do more than connect; you'll have an opportunity to bond and impress.


Google Sync: Now with push Gmail support

Google Sync: Now with push Gmail support

Tuesday, September 22, 2009 8:00 AM

Earlier this year, we launched Google Sync which allows you to synchronize your Gmail Contacts and Google Calendar with your iPhone, Windows Mobile, and S60 devices. Today, we're adding Gmail support to Google Sync for iPhone, iPod Touch and Windows Mobile devices.

Using Google Sync, you can now get your Gmail messages pushed directly to your phone. Having an over-the-air, always-on connection means that your inbox is up to date, no matter where you are or what you're doing. Sync works with your phone's native email application so there's no additional software needed. Only interested in syncing your Gmail, but not your Calendar? Google Sync allows you to sync just your Contacts, Calendar, or Gmail, or any combination of the three.


To try Google Sync, visit m.google.com/sync from your computer. If you're already using Google Sync, learn how to enable Gmail sync. Since push Gmail has been a popular request on our Product Ideas page and Help Forum, we look forward to hearing your feedback, so drop us a line and let us know how it's working or what you'd like to see next.


Tuesday, September 22, 2009

3 Tips for Better Networking

3 Tips for Better Networking
The word "networking" makes many people shudder. Yet, when looking for a job, networking is crucial. Here are three tips to improve the way you network:
  1. Don't be self-promoting. It's possible to sell yourself without sounding like a salesman. Instead of singing your own praises, talk about your accomplishments. Results speak for themselves.
  2. Don't be afraid to ask, and be ready to give.Networking is a transaction. If you need something — the name of a colleague or an introduction — don't hesitate to ask. Offer help in return; it may not be long before the tables are turned.
  3. Always say thank you. Whether someone gave you 5 minutes or 5 hours of their time, exercise good manners. Send an interesting article or event notice along with your thank you note.
Today's Management Tip was adapted from "6 Networking Mistakes and How to Avoid Them" by Gill Corkindale.

Copyright © 2009 Harvard Business Publishing. All rights reserved.



How to Be a Great Team Player

Exploring Group Dynamics:
How to Be a Great Team Player

As American congressman Sam Rayburn reportedly said, "You cannot be a leader and ask other people to follow you unless you know how to follow, too." Mastering the basics of good teamwork can help you be more effective in either role.

The Port Social Media Solutions

Disseminating Research Online

Disseminating Research Online
Strategies for your research

This toolkit provides broad tips and practical suggestions for communicating academic research using the internet. It draws on best practice for web strategies from the information and commercial worlds, especially selected to help the successful electronic dissemination of your research.

Netbook Contest

Netbook Contest - Samsung Go
Electronics > Electronics - Shop By Brand > Samsung > Samsung Go Netbooks : Samsung N310-13GMB GO Netbook Intel Atom N270 1.60GHz, 10.1'' WSVGA, 1GB, 160GB HDD, 802.11 b/g, Bluetooth, Webcam, Windows XP Home (Mint Blue)
http://www.buy.com/specialty_store_6c/samsung-go-netbooks/67458.html

Monday, September 21, 2009

Decoding Leadership

Decoding Leadership

5:55 PM Tuesday September 15, 2009
by Norm Smallwood

The world doesn't need another leadership theory. On Amazon, there are 480,881 books today that have to do with leaders as the topic. If you ask 30 leadership development experts to define leadership, you get 31 different answers. No wonder we're confused.

Copyright © 2009 Harvard Business Publishing. All rights reserved.

Cause Announcement from MARTIN LUTHER KING JR NATIONAL MEMORIAL PROJECT

Cause Announcement from MARTIN LUTHER KING JR NATIONAL MEMORIAL PROJECT

Message from Harry E. Johnson, Sr

I write to you with an urgent matter at hand and am requesting you please respond by September 21st. In September, 2008 the Washington, DC Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation applied for a building permit from the National Park Service. As of today, we have NOT received the building permit. This means that without a permit, we cannot move forward with the project to build Dr. King’s memorial on the National Mall.
We must let our government officials know that we will not back down until we are rightfully given the National Park Service’s permission to begin construction of the memorial.
Friend, I ask that you take just a minute and submit a "call to action" letter to President Barack Obama, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. It is imperative that we let these three key players know about the situation and urge them do everything within their power to secure our building permit.
Please take the "call to action" and send the letters right now. If you can, forward this email to as many friends as you know and encourage them to sign these important "call to actions." We need as much support as we can get!
Sincerely,

Harry E. Johnson, Sr
President & CEO
Causes Privacy Policy | Causes Address: PO Box 492, Berkeley, CA 94708 United States 


Proposed MLK Memorial Site


Mission and Vision Statement of the Memorial Project

Mission Statement
To commemorate the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by leading a collaborative funding, design, and construction process in the creation of a memorial to honor his national and international contributions to world peace through non-violent social change.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Viigo - Smartphone Application

Download Viigo Now
http://www.viigo.com/home

Viigo™ is revolutionizing the way people access information on their smartphones. Every day, Viigo addicts around the world rely on Viigo as their gateway to a vast array of useful, up-to-the-minute content and services, wherever they are and whenever they need it. In one simple, fully customizable application, Viigo delivers news, weather, flight schedules and status, real-time sports scores, stock quotes and market data, entertainment, hotel and restaurant reviews, blogs, and much more.

Founded in 2004, Viigo Inc. is a privately held company with its corporate headquarters in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. To download Viigo onto your device, go to www.getviigo.com from your mobile browser.

Anthony Robbins Companies: My strategy for learning is pretty simple.

Anthony Robbins Companies: My strategy for learning is pretty simple.

Robbins Research International


I've put up another video but if you missed the first one see it here:

I'm sharing these videos with you this week because lately I've been consulting with business owners and the question I get asked the most is "how can we stay ahead of the trends when everything is changing so rapidly?"

Well, in the midst of this constant change around us, one of the most important skills to develop is rapid learning. It seems like every day there's a new technology to master; today it's Twitter, tomorrow, who knows.

The one thing that will set you apart from everyone else is your ability to connect the known to the unknown. It is actually really simple.
To fully understand this concept and how it can help you compress decades into days, watch the following clip: Strategies Are The Secret To Learning

As always, stay strong and live with passion!
- Tony

P.S. Look for one more tool tomorrow . . .
Strategies Are The Secret To Learning


Wealth Mastery
Life Mastery
Date with Destiny
TonyRobbins.com
Robbins Research International™
137208
Copyright 2009

| www.TonyRobbins.com | See Tony Robbins LIVE In-Person | See Tony Robbins Coming to a City Near You |
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9888 Carroll Centre Road, Suite 100 San Diego, CA, 92126, USA

10 Ways to Leave the World a Little Better



10 Ways to Leave the World a Little Better

10 Ways to Leave the World a Little Better Regardless of your religious beliefs, and even in the absence of any spiritual connection or association, each one us has the responsibility of leaving this world in a little better condition than how we found it. This is because we are all a part of the human condition.


posted by Megan, selected from Intent.com

Color your gadgets with Colorware


Color your gadgets with Colorware

by ANITA Z on SEPTEMBER 19, 2009 · 2 COMMENTS
ColorwareColor, color everywhere.  Gadgets come in all kinds of eye-popping hues, but what if you can’t find the colors you like.  To get real personalized color for your favorite gadgets you can call on Colorware to do the job.  With a wide selection of colors and color combinations you design what your device looks like.  Corporate customers can add logos.  Among the devices you can get coated in their high-gloss, scratch resistant polymer based coating are phones, laptops, mp3 players, gaming consoles, and even HDTVs! Colorware offers several options for a cost.  Buy a new device directly from them in your selected color, send in your device to get coated, or my personal favorite, buy the painted parts individually.

Turn Vista into Windows 7 for free

Turn Vista into Windows 7 for free
In this How to video, Tom Merritt shows you some tips on how to get Windows 7 features in Vista for free.
Play video
Play video

The Green Show: Energy efficient browsing

The Green Show: Energy efficient browsing
On the Green Show this week, the EPA is cracking down on giant TVs, find out which browser leads to longer battery life on a laptop, and we take time out for viewer feedback.

Saturday, September 19, 2009

HOW TO: Stay Organized With Google Calendar

Posted: 18 Sep 2009 08:01 AM PDT

HOW TO: Stay Organized With Google Calendar
calendar imageThis post originally appeared on the American Express OPEN Forum, where Mashable regularly contributes articles about leveraging social media and technology in small business.
There’s no doubt that organization improves your efficiency and business prospects. If you’re disorganized, you’re bound to lose paperwork, miss appointments, and just waste time; that’s why having a smart calendar program is essential. Consistently adding your appointments and events lessens the burden on you to remember everything you need to accomplish in the day.
What program should you use though? While picking the right calendar boils down to personal preference and comfort, Google Calendar (GCal for short) should be strongly considered. Features such as Quick Add make it very easy to update with appointments, while its reminder features, its task bar, and its calendar shareability make it unique to any other product on the market.
Here are some key pieces of advice to organizing with a Google Calendar:

Friday, September 18, 2009

The Top 5 Networking Mistakes

The Top 5 Networking Mistakes


The Top 5 Networking Mistakes
© 2009 BNET All rights reserved


How to Get a Government Job


The feds are about the only ones hiring these days. But the competition is getting tougher, and the hiring process is very regimented. Here's how to navigate the process and snag a job.
© 2009 CBS Interactive, Inc. All rights reserved.

When to Write a Cover Letter


When to Write a Cover Letter
A cover letter is only helpful if it gets a hiring manager to look at your résumé — and many hiring managers don't bother to read them at all. Who can blame them? Most cover letters are a boring recap of a person's résumé or a form letter that doesn't relate to the company or position. Don't bother writing a cover letter unless you have something new to say. Skip "Dear Sir/Madam" and take the extra time to find the name of the hiring manager. Instead of repeating what is already in your résumé, talk briefly and specifically about how your skills and experience relate to the job you are applying for.
Harvard Business Review Blog
Today's Management Tip was adapted from "The Best Cover Letter I Ever Received" by David Silverman.


Copyright © 2009 Harvard Business Publishing. All rights reserved.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

10 Resume Do's and Don'ts

10 Resume Do's and Don'ts

Your resume is the first point of contact between you and a potential employer. This is often the only opportunity they will have to get to know you and your skill set. The reality is: you don't have a lot of time to impress the reader as they spend about 10 seconds looking at each resume. So not only do you have to make a great first impression, you have to do it fast.

Posted via email from rmalbrough's posterous

5 Easy Steps to Stay Safe (and Private!) on Facebook

5 Easy Steps to Stay Safe (and Private!) on Facebook

Posted: 16 Sep 2009 09:05 AM PDT

When the President of the United States warns school children to watch what they say and do on Facebook, you know that we've got a problem...and it's not one limited to the U.S.'s borders, either. People everywhere are mindlessly over-sharing on the world's largest social network, without a second thought as to who's reading their posts or what effect it could have on them further down the road. For example, did you know that 30% of today's employers are using Facebook to vet potential employeesprior to hiring? In today's tough economy, the question of whether to post those embarrassing party pics could now cost you a paycheck in addition to a reputation. (Keep that in mind when tagging your friends' photos, too, won't you?)

But what can be done? It's not like you can just quit Facebook, right? No - and you don't have to either. You just need to take a few precautions.


Unbeknownst to most mainstream Facebook users, the social network actually offers a slew of privacy controls and security features which can help you batten down the hatches, so to speak. If used properly, you'll never have to worry about whether you should friend the boss and your mom. You can friend anyone you want while comfortable in the knowledge that not everyone gets to see everything you post.

The problem in implementing these privacy options is that they're just too confusing for most non-tech savvy people to handle. And often, folks don't want to bother to take the time to learn. To simplify the process, we're offering five easy steps you can take today to help make your Facebook experience safer, more secure, and more private.

Posted via email from rmalbrough's posterous

Try Informational Interviewing

Try Informational Interviewing
In an informational interview, you talk to people you know or who have been referred to you to elicit leads and information about an industry, career path or employer. But before you hit the informational interviewing trail, you need to do your homework. Follow these 10 tips to prepare.
Click to continue

Top 10 Social Sites for Finding a Job

Top 10 Social Sites for Finding a Job

References that Help You Seal the Deal


If you are like most people in the midst of a job search, you probably haven’t given your references much thought. You’ve likely spent more time on your resume, cover letter and networking activities. But references can have a significant impact on the final hiring decision. You need to be ready at a moment’s notice to provide potential employers with at least three solid references.

7 Secrets to Getting Your Next Job Using Social Media

7 Secrets to Getting Your Next Job Using Social Media

http://mashable.com/2009/01/05/job-search-secrets/

4 Tips for a Résumé that Survives Scrutiny


4 Tips for a Résumé that Survives Scrutiny


5 Ways Your Alma Mater Can Help You Find a Job





Learn how your alma mater can be an excellent resource for your job search.

Resume tips

Resume tips
http://www.dailywritingtips.com/resume-writing-tips/

Six Tips for Following Up on Your Resume

Six Tips for Following Up on Your Resume

Russell Malbrough Headline Animator