Yo, Adrian!

<br /><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Main Blurb</b></div><div class="MsoNormal">While Rebecca Soni was racing the semifinal of the 200 breaststroke tonight, commentator Dan Hicks mentioned that the world record at that time was held by Canadian swimmer Annamay Pierse, who broke that record during “the suit era.” </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Here is my brief explanation about what “the suit era” entails:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Right before the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Speedo released a new polyurethane-based swimsuit for its competitors called the LZR Racer. It was a skin-tight suit – so tight that it took swimmers more time than usual to shimmy the suit all the way up (it was seamless). The polyurethane was “designed to help buoyancy and support certain muscles,” which allowed swimmers to swim faster longer. (<a href="http://technology.inquirer.net/2276/swimming-%E2%80%98super-suit%E2%80%99-era-refuses-to-go-quietly">http://technology.inquirer.net/2276/swimming-%E2%80%98super-suit%E2%80%99-era-refuses-to-go-quietly</a>for those who are curious)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Swimmers took to this like bees to honey, and instead of wearing the normal swimwear for competitors, they ordered suits that went down to the ankles and up to their necks and even on their sleeves! And that was just the men! (Full body suits were first introduced in the 2000 Olympics.)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">These suits improved performance, just like advertised. The problem was, it was almost <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">too</i> good. And as swimmers turned to Speedo for their swimwear, competitors like Jaked and Arena produced their own polyurethane-based swimsuits. And as more swimsuits went on the market, more records fell. As a matter of fact, in the suit era over 200 world records were broken!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The world record breaking had gotten out of control by the time no-name swimmers in Rome (who were subsequently never heard from again) were breaking world records in the world championships in 2009. As a matter of fact, the suits became part of a rivalry between Serbia’s Milorad Cavic and Michael Phelps. Cavic was wearing the X-Glide, a “next generation” all-polyurethane suit made by Arena. Phelps stuck with his old reliable LZR Racer from Speedo, not willing to part with his longtime sponsor. Cavic had said earlier in the week that people would say Cavic beat Phelps “because of the suit.” He even offered to buy one of the new suits for Phelps to wear in the 100 meter butterfly final. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Well, Phelps ended up winning that final with the old suit, and gave a yell as he tugged his LZR Racer. Clearly it was about more than just “the suit.” (If you haven’t seen that race from 2009, go onto YouTube and watch it. It was fabulous!)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">But not all swimmers, coaches, viewers, and judges believed that. After those world championships, FINA banned full-body swimsuits (having banned suits that went on and past the neck and past the shoulders back in March of that year), declaring that male swimmers will have suits from the waist to the knee, and women swimmers from the shoulders to the knee. They also declared that suits must be made of “textiles,” meaning the rubberized polyurethane was now banned. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The ban took effect January 1, 2010, meaning any world records broken after that mark would be remarkable, because the faster suits were not in play. People said that there wouldn’t be a world record broken for ten years after the “suit era.” </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Well, in 2011 two world records fell (Sun Yang in the 1500 m freestyle and Ryan Lochte in the 200 IM), and already in London five more have fallen. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">So hopefully you’ll more easily understand what Dan and Rowdy are talking about if they ever make reference to “the suit era.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>End of lesson.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mini Blurbs</b></div><div class="MsoNormal">The best part of male gymnast Kohei Uchimura? His anime-style hair. I was rooting for him to win soley because of his hair. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The Netherlands has a long history of great names, but I saw one today that is added to my “greatest names” book: swimmer <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranomi_Kromowidjojo" title="Ranomi Kromowidjojo"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Ranomi Kromowidjojo</span></a>. Kro-mo-wid-jo-jo. Even with the five-syllable name, she doesn’t beat my Greatest Name of All Time: male swimmer Pieter van den Hoogenband. Just say it out loud. You can’t help but smile.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">There were some great finishes today, but nothing beats the one one-hundredth second finish between American Nathan Adrian and Australia’s James Magnussen. Pretty much all of Australia fell into a state of despair with that touch by Adrian. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Congrats to Great Britain for their two gold medals today in rowing and cycling!The rings on Tower Bridge turned gold in honor of the wins. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Watching the American women’s volleyball and water polo matches were pretty thrilling today. The volleyball team beat China in a sweep, but the Chinese made them play six match points before Megan Hodge finally sealed the deal. She was on fire the final two sets. In water polo Spain had the early lead, but the Americans came back and seemingly took over with minutes left and a 9-6 lead. Well, Spain came back and the Americans were forced into a draw, 9-9. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Losing on purpose like the badminton team? Anyone remember “Suck for Luck”? (The thought last NFL season that teams were purposely tanking games so they’d be #1 in the NFL draft and get Andrew Luck.) Things like this happen way more often than we think.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Tonight’s roundup: cycling, gymnastics, swimming, water polo, volleyball, beach volleyball, rowing, diving, baseball. (Baseball? Oh – I did catch some of the Tigers-Red Sox game tonight. There is more going on than just the Olympics, silly.)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Tomorrow I’m just going to stick with Mini Blurbs unless something big happens. I have meetings all day tomorrow and a party in the evening, so my Olympics attention will be a little less than normal. Bear with me!</div>

Yo, Adrian!

The Main Blurb While Rebecca Soni was racing the semifinal of the 200 breaststroke tonight, commentator Dan Hicks mentioned that the world r...

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WAHHABISM IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA - Part 3

<br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFy6WH3YDXMFFIrmErdlp04tx_wi5jVQjGWCoraa8RxbCzO4mJr_7qgdAgJC3s21E9xT-kpWKCehuIaMmWYyKJt-6WO5wzQb5YO4ky11QJBrolbbf-iq2f71Tt-6i9Hr1bQPCmvQkBll08/s1600/120430222321_3daystrip01sarajevo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFy6WH3YDXMFFIrmErdlp04tx_wi5jVQjGWCoraa8RxbCzO4mJr_7qgdAgJC3s21E9xT-kpWKCehuIaMmWYyKJt-6WO5wzQb5YO4ky11QJBrolbbf-iq2f71Tt-6i9Hr1bQPCmvQkBll08/s320/120430222321_3daystrip01sarajevo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">WAHHABISM AT THE DOORSTEPS OF EUROPE</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">CURRENT SITUATION OF WAHHABISM IN BIH</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span></span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: ES-AR; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By Juan Carlos Antúnez</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">BIH in the 1990s was in a unique situation: it had the political and mobilizing structures in place for the creation of an Islamic state. Nevertheless, it lacked the cultural framework around which to mobilize social support, nor did it have a context in which to develop a strong Islamic social movement. Islam was used more in a nationalist context rather than as a pervasive issue that could transform society. At the moment, despite its efforts, the Wahhabi movement does not have many supporters in BIH. The general population appears to be afraid of their fundamentalist approach towards religion. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The BOSNIAN Muslims have been among the most secularised Muslim populations in the world.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The largely secular and European attitude among the <b>Bosniaks</b> has caused friction with foreign Islamic extremists. In the past, Islamic radical groups have been financed through the donations of Arabic countries and by non-governmental organizations that were headquartered in BIH. These NGOs have been present in the Balkans since the 1990s, many evolving from the conflicts in BOSNIA and KOSOVO. Since then, these organizations have developed support structures that have proven to be easily exploited by terrorist and extremist groups. As a consequence of a number of worldwide terrorist attacks, the situation dramatically changed with police starting to raid a number of Arab charities. The arrests of suspected terrorists alerted local and international attention to the birth of a different interpretation of Islam in BIH. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="color: blue;">TIME FACTOR</span> </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Radical networks have been looking for other financial sources to support their activities and are careful to avoid police and intelligence agencies. An important consideration that guides the groups is time. They do not attach the same imperative to their objectives that Western nations might. The spreading of their radical ideas transcends a time-linked end state. If they perceive that the situation is not good to achieve their goals, they may move to isolated areas where they can practice their version of Islam, waiting for the right moment to proceed with their ‘mission’: that is to establish BIH as a homogenous Islamic country, based exclusively on the principles of the Sharia. This is the concept of Hijra or emigration that radical groups associate with a kind of spiritual retirement outside a ‘corrupted society’ or Yahilia, the ‘dark’ period before Islam. Some BOSNIAN Muslim radicals have lost their respect for the leaders of the official Islamic Community. These Salafis consider the local Islamic Community as ignorant, lacking initiative, indifferent and transgressing Islamic norms. This is the likely attitude of some radical groups in BIH currently.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">ORDINARY BELIEVERS ARE VERY OFTEN STAUNCH OPPONENTS OF SALAFIS</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">BIH local authorities and the Official Islamic Community attempt to counter Salafi influence. Additionally ordinary believers are very often staunch opponents of Salafis, and this might be the insurmountable obstacle for Salafism in BIH. That accounts for the old generation of BIH, but young might be easily lured into extremism, especially when the economic situation in BIH deteriorates further.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">It is possible that the Wahhabi movement does not have many supporters in BIH because the general population is afraid of their fundamentalist approach towards religion. They want to maintain the traditional local and moderate version of Islam.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The measures that have been taken by the local and international authorities to raid a number of Arab charities, to block their bank accounts, to search for suspicious financial operations and to close some of these organizations, have been successful and, consequently, these organizations have to find alternative financial sources to support their activities. Nevertheless NGOs in BOSNIA are thriving and provide a backbone for various dubious radical organizations as well as organized crime syndicates. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">BIH Wahhabi movement is currently comprised of two main streams:</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">- a Salafi / Wahhabi stream loyal to the BIH Islamic Community;</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">- a Salafi / Wahhabi stream outside the control of the BIH Islamic Community. This stream can also be divided into two main groups: Missionary and Jihadi.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">a) <b>‘Wahhabi’ stream ‘loyal’ to the BIH Islamic community</b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Nezim Halilović, high-ranking official of the B-H Islamic Community, has been considered to be the main Salafi / Wahhabi leader in BIH.Despite this, he is totally opposed to those Salafis / Wahhabis that want to split from the Islamic Community. According to Halilović, they are undermining the unity of Muslims. Halilović is likely the leader of those Salafis who want to distance themselves from the more radical elements and gather around the official Islamic Community. Some local scholar refuses that Halilović is a Salafi or a Wahhabi follower and labelled him only as an ultra conservative and nationalistic traditional BOSNIAN believer.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Former AIO members, (see: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Active_Islamic_Youth">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Active_Islamic_Youth</a>)close to SAFF magazine, (see: <a href="http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/country,,USDOS,,BIH,,4681081f16,0.html">http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/country,,USDOS,,BIH,,4681081f16,0.html</a>)as Semir Imamović, defend that is possible to cooperate with the Islamic community if it will benefit Islam and Muslims. This circle has also defended the need for dialogue between islamic scholars and religious leaders of other faiths and confessions, and confessions, and for religious tolerance since both are firmly rooted in the Koran and the Sunnah of Allah́s Prophet. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Samir Avdić, member of SAFF circle, has stated that he would cooperate with SIPA (State Investigation and Protection Agency) in denouncing terrorist. Semir Imamović, has recommended that Bosnian Salafists should be advised on how to be civil to other people, and how to show respect for the opinions of others. SAFF has published the fatwas issued by important scholars, the European Council for Fatwas and Research (ECFR), as well as a part of the study by Abdul Karim Zaidan which he presented at the session of the Rabita (Muslim World League) Fiqh (Jurisprudence) Council in which he sets forth the arguments about when permission can be granted to engage politically, to vote, and take part in elections.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b>‘Wahhabi’ stream ‘outside’ the BIH Islamic community</b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The Salafi / Wahhabi community outside the control of the BIH Islamic Community can also be divided in two main groups: Missionary and Jihadi.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">BOSNIAN NGO’S, THE QUINTESSENCE FOR COVERT FUNDAMENTALIST ACTIVITIES AND OC (ORGANIZED CRIME) SYNDICATES<span>  </span></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Muhamed Porča, the Imam of the <b>‘Al-Tawhid’ Mosque in Vienna</b>, who has repeatedly stated his opposition towards the BIH Islamic Community, is considered to be the spiritual leader of the <b>BOSNIAN Salafi / Wahhabi movement in AUSTRIA</b>, and a middle-man between some Middle Eastern NGO’s and Salafis / Wahhabis in BIH. Members of the official BIH Islamic Community have condemned Porča’s and other radical leaders’ idea to set up a parallel Islamic Community in BIH. Porča can be considered as the leader of BOSNIAN Missionary Salafism / Wahhabism without any relationship with the BIH Islamic Community. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">After his studies in SAUDI ARABIA, Porča arrived in Austria in 1993 to serve as an imam. From the moment he was denied a job at Sarajevo's Faculty of Islamic Studies on his return to BIH, Porča started implementing the idea of creating an Islamic community parallel to the official one lead by Reis Mustafa Efendi Ćerić. Porča has not succeeded in this but he has managed to strengthen the Wahhabi movement especially among the BOSNIAN Diaspora to an unprecedented extent. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">AUSTRIA, MAIN BASE FOR WAHHABISM IN EUROPE?</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Taking into account that the largest BOSNIAN Diaspora resides in AUSTRIA and GERMANY, such influence could have a profound impact for EUROPE.</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">This outcome took time to achieve, but, owing above all to the inertness of the BIH Islamic Community, Porča and the like-minded Adnan Buzar and Senad Podojak had ample time. The Islamic Community of <b>Bosniaks</b> in AUSTRIA, as well as the Islamic Community of Muslims in AUSTRIA, have unequivocally disassociated themselves from the Wahhabi movement, whose members - they believe - are doing unprecedented damage to all Muslims in AUSTRIA. Despite such denouncements, <b>Vienna</b> still is the main base for Wahhabi missionaries.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> See: <a href="https://occidentallibertas.wordpress.com/2011/11/16/the-vienna-connection/">https://occidentallibertas.wordpress.com/2011/11/16/the-vienna-connection/</a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">‘The Diaspora has been neglected and ... there was no reaction to developments among their members. Most of the divergence among BOSNIAN Muslims was originated in the EU. Many individuals and in some cases ‘džemats’ refer to <b>Vienna</b>and at the same time their links with BOSNIAN scholars are becoming increasingly tenuous. As a result relations with the Muslim community have become so strained that Muslim have drawn arms against Muslims, and some have even come to an untimely end. There is no answer as to how all this will end because it is not yet clear if the current state of affairs will have any impact on BIH. Many young men who started practicing Islam feel lost and are at the mercy of those who sow confusion. They often complain that BOSNIAN Salafis have become relaxed about their work because they have not issued tekfir against the Reis and other scholars’.</span></span></div>

WAHHABISM IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA - Part 3

WAHHABISM AT THE DOORSTEPS OF EUROPE CURRENT SITUATION OF WAHHABISM IN BIH   By Juan Carlos Antúnez BIH in the 1990s was in a unique situat...

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Product Engineering Manager (NPI | Optics | Image processing | Motion control) (# 108321)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="WordSection1"><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Position:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> Product Engineering Manager<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Location:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> Milpitas, CA<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Duration:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> Full time<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Job Description:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">The Global Service Support Organization (GSS) team headquartered in Milpitas, CA is our service organization that consists of Service Sales and Marketing, Spares Supply Chain management, Field Operations, Product Training, and Technical Support.  The GSS organization partners with our field teams and customers in all business sectors to maintain the high performance and productivity of our products through a flexible portfolio of services. Our comprehensive services include: proactive management of tools to identify and improve performance; expertise in optics, image processing and motion control with worldwide service engineers, 24/7 technical support teams and knowledge management systems; and an extensive parts network to ensure worldwide availability of parts.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">New Product Introduction Manager will be responsible for leading and managing a team of NPI engineers. Serves as the central technical resource / interface with design engineering, manufacturing, technical support, quality, marketing and field as the product(s) move through the Product Life Cycle. Will be fully integrated and working directly with aforementioned teams to incorporate value added serviceability, reliability and service business practice improvements into product design.  Works to optimize serviceability, reduce cost-of-service through all stages of the PLC, and improve short and long term product service revenue performance. Involvement lasts throughout all stages of a product’s lifecycle to ensure system level product performance is continuously tracked and meets established specification. Drives continuous improvement of system hardware, diagnostics and software, tooling, technical documentation, knowledge management, and training.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Basic Qualification:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Bachelor's Level Degree with at least 7 years of experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">OR<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Master's Level Degree with at least 6 years of experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">OR<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Doctorate (Academic) with at least 5 years of experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Kindly send your resume to <a href="mailto:raju.balaji@kla-tencor.com">raju.balaji@kla-tencor.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></div></div></div>

Product Engineering Manager (NPI | Optics | Image processing | Motion control) (# 108321)

Position: Product Engineering Manager Location: Milpitas, CA Duration: Full time Job Description: The Global Service Support Organization...

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Sometimes A Cigar

<br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;">What are we not</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">            </span>getting?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Is the universe murmuring in <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">            </span>abstruse symbols<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">signifying we should do this or<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">            </span>that?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">But maybe there are no<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">            </span>symbols.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Maybe stars, the flights of geese,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">            </span>serendipities, and wonders<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">are absolutely simple and infinitely <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">            </span>mysterious<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">both at once, reality announcing <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">soto voce</i>,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">            </span>“Here I Am<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;">                        </span>I Am<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;">                        </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">   </span>I Am.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>

Sometimes A Cigar

What are we not             getting? Is the universe murmuring in             abstruse symbols signifying we should do this or             t...

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Anthony Salcito at #pilUS - VP of Microsoft

<br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/115916382183421477315/BloggerPictures?authkey=Gv1sRgCNPCp6bK0YDF6gE#5771757795791748114'><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-tl11e-4vbpuZ2g2eISiQLNM9bFz506IApaOOTxlns_XiW525yQUnIfIsEuqrPTIWR54V_rrKCwPmusKrJXHDN5Mkg8ty9kXhMygEwj6LSgkO_eFSLedi6qnlb3OJIeG_uvDAOIorpTH5/s288/0.jpg" style="margin:5px" width="267"></a></center><br />These are my live notes of this presentation at Microsoft Partners in Learning Innovative Educators Forum. Please pardon the lack of links and the occasional typo. My notes are in parenthesis, other notes should be attributed as a paraphrase or notes taken from Anthony Salcito's talk.<br /><br />The released the manufacturers version of Windows 8 today - so it is "birthed" and born today. <br /><br />Anthony Salcito, www.microsofteducationblog.com<br />tonysa@microsoft.com<br />Presenting on "Leading a LEARNING Revolution!"<br /><br />He's going to demonstrate things with us. He says that very often there are many teachers who don't know many of the cool tools and technologies that Microsoft has to offer. (True - IE. I think PhotoSynth is a great app for iOS devices, for example.)<br /><br />We should be focused on helping students expect more from their future.<br />He grew up in the Bronx without an expectation of what his future could be. He didn't understand what potential exists - when he got into high school he was playing with his computers in the mid and late 80's while his friends were joining gangs and lifting weights. His sister is a teacher in Bronx who keeps him grounded about "the real stuff that goes on in the classroom." <br /><br />He wants to help kids who often don't see a bright future see a bigger opportunity. <br /><br />He thought the US was further along in the US but he's seeing the same thing happening around the world. He sees a global community of educators emerging and he wants Microsoft connect and feature the global community of change happening in education.<br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/115916382183421477315/BloggerPictures?authkey=Gv1sRgCNPCp6bK0YDF6gE#5771757832896440786'><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgohtT12n31p9Gy6afoLVjkUR2sSVY-9QOFzDSE6r1uTNwhI2cPjIAsB7uI5vNTOhWchacZHkG2Opwe19F8U_Bv5sk6u8ALESpLZ7ZnN03EPcBvun0frU93QTOFYzCLPOQ1QgvxoQc8oDKG/s288/1.jpg" style="margin:5px" width="267"></a></center><br />"heroes changing the world." We're on the precipice of something big happening. We're going to be the ones challenge the school to drive a different model.<br /><br /><b>We are moving from the HOW to 2<br />Important elements:</b><br />#1 What are we teaching? What are we focusing upon? What do we teach and test? <br />Kids want and need to be relevant - it makes kids have meaning.<br />In many ways, technology is a lens for how we've changed. Technology and testing are still at odds b/c the presence of technology hasn't been factored into how we assess and evaluate students.<br /><br />#2 Why? <br />Why are we in education? Why am I learning and what I'm learning.<br /><br />**We can start by looking back**<br />The key lens of the old classroom and the old industrial age.<br />We have a different work environment today - the world of work is fundamentally different. Critical element we have to drive.<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/115916382183421477315/BloggerPictures?authkey=Gv1sRgCNPCp6bK0YDF6gE#5771757867496024226'><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj93JrXI7c1p7kncIqHo27LGrIMs8oCApwLvOGf5tSYcHluIHGib3oxZjjTk-biASpTj7OFTXc9z-5Br-bhg1yHHjm61XmHZLX7MCDjNfTFZbyWd8vvX_e46JzHtjU50Cj_RP1Tb-7MyqIL/s288/2.jpg" style="margin:5px" width="267"></a></center><br />What matters is not as much how a classroom looks but what we are DOING In those classrooms. The HOW is part of it, but we should know that "the classroom should serve a purpose to drive a learning path."<br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/115916382183421477315/BloggerPictures?authkey=Gv1sRgCNPCp6bK0YDF6gE#5771757881480248738'><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ1214Xe73MqV2coHABXy3lDIQMwsuBc1CY6eubuGPbGtwSbeALttGcIjkMO6KY8NSbPQi9vZHn5XMN_OWgQE-WlX0gB3xcP9w3v8C0V2Q7A3XNYjxMMpfIJ3NasIZJPN6xAyXIztixQPF/s288/3.jpg" style="margin:5px" width="267"></a></center><br />Asks us how we feel about this. Many teachers feel tense because "I don't want to be left behind." The reality is that this statement should be cause for applause. Teachers 100 years a go probably would have thought this was great. Students are learning everywhere as technology becomes ubiquitous, particularly in places like the US. In many ways, we try to compete with that as opposed to embracing the fact that this is powerful. We must build on the reality that exists outside the classroom.<br /><br />Embrace this reality first and find ways to encourage connecting outside the classroom. We can extend content delivery online. This is a journey we have to be on.<br /><br />(NOTE: I'd like to point out that Anthony Salcito has gutts b/c he's talking about transformative devices and mention devices from other companies - he has a slide of the iphone.)<br /><br />He talks about what we should be piloting is not iPads or laptops but we should have the real pilot be about what we're trying to do and not the device.<br /><br />(NOTE: I agree beause some who are doing iPads are making it about iPad but not change in pedagogy and how it is being USED. Otherwise you just get a thinner bookbag and thinner wallet.)<br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/115916382183421477315/BloggerPictures?authkey=Gv1sRgCNPCp6bK0YDF6gE#5771757893875240978'><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4DYqQ4KjqE6YIJ9jzsGqYcUDYIyEdvztNu9kK97QITHwXfsP3P9O_KkfTrgEsL1lMCTgObARkPuARFd2iGycMYO8J6JZxk-fKUDdOSQrkZKaOAeiGTJn_8cOVPc8MJyfc6kxYiiB0yQhc/s288/4.jpg" style="margin:5px" width="267"></a></center><br />Mouse Mischief - they are using things like this in India.<br />He's using term "individualized learning path."<br />Each student has their own QR code to answer questions. Small laptop - they hold u a qr code to answer the questions. (Not sure how this works.) Doesn't "look" innovative but in some parts of the world there is a place to start.<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/115916382183421477315/BloggerPictures?authkey=Gv1sRgCNPCp6bK0YDF6gE#5771757904521022306'><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivoKKAoDPS99ZzQaUlyMeuJgNsMO6JlAZ44Ut5_H-6LGQGMbiGFdigL9gX-6EcW5pGC005QZkEjqBzt6jEkE25eXTQ_f1ekWEwSaCaVtCRmqfHGKj1ApuUo7CDMngXbWATB8kkUJrV4U-o/s288/5.jpg" style="margin:5px" width="267"></a></center><br />Showing a bathroom - school in Turkey focusing on water conservation and want water to be conserved. They think water is coming from aquarium so they rush to wash their hands so the fish won't run out of water. (It isn't really coming from aquarium but keeps it top of mind. This is a creative example of helping kids keep water top of mind in the bathroom.)<br /><br />He's talking about Kinect cameras to create immersive experiences. He says they can make cool stuff but what we have to focus on is making cool stuff work for you. <br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/115916382183421477315/BloggerPictures?authkey=Gv1sRgCNPCp6bK0YDF6gE#5771757915777613234'><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ZejRv3RS9_5eNrucPszw-mrgvyn5L7gxzWcrJ5Pjaa2twq8jjcd005ZpLwR2Fc7gB5xiVPqei-EvbvdaBeDO9DT_hitYHt5fuq62vexkikDJL8hnnOiBe4Y2yaKzjsPfjtcn2Za0dkFZ/s288/6.jpg" style="margin:5px" width="267"></a></center><br />Innovative teaching, personalization, doing more with less, employability, urgency to drive change.<br /><br />We need holistic transformation through personalization. How do you create tools, methodologies and connections to help students recognize their own learning path. References Jane McGonigal about creating "moments of wow."<br /><br />In the world of technology you don't have an emotional response, but we need that sort of thing in education.<br /><br /><b>Similarities between games and education.</b><br />What we teach and what we measure are critical. The assessment model we face today -- get a grade and it yields a response. <br /><br />"Game over" is a motivation not a failure. When students play a game it creates a path of mastery.<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/115916382183421477315/BloggerPictures?authkey=Gv1sRgCNPCp6bK0YDF6gE#5771757926524980514'><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisXwncjsj3wLgKfY6ePpk9XoMVFSobXab03wpbEIk4hGoT41OYubT_Ts1zqgu78TB_yVmEMJhXGijHZ7fcNor1dRXSnwtAby-5FZyo21q0azdJcm7mDq8Mmk5nkPAUz1jgZD-eQWhli0M8/s288/7.jpg" style="margin:5px" width="267"></a></center><br />Developing and connecting skills.<br />ATC21S is a big initiative<br />A partnership with Intel, Microsoft, Cisco. UNESCO, OECD and world bank.<br />Assessment of teachers<br /><br />Ways of assessing:<br />Ways of Thinking: Creativity and innovation, critical thinking, problem-solving, decision-making<br /><br />Ways of Working<br />Tools for Working<br />Ways of Living in the World<br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/115916382183421477315/BloggerPictures?authkey=Gv1sRgCNPCp6bK0YDF6gE#5771757940571124722'><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNcYAuHhWHuKMBiOfEkBDjsJYnLivmO2hyphenhyphen8doEdmEW2XUUTpVMpJzlvDUAKtYkW8JCgrZqpqwKp3UfPWheBxDQ9I05_hHPFYXxvpdYdDBUfIeWB4xzu29xrdWdQl7XVNZ6Oz4CZRAAbrSR/s288/8.jpg" style="margin:5px" width="267"></a></center><br /><a target="_blank" href="http://www.atc21s.org">www.atc21s.org</a><br />There are competency based examples from their website. These tools will be used to help prepare kids overseas for the PISA test (not used in the US.)<br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/115916382183421477315/BloggerPictures?authkey=Gv1sRgCNPCp6bK0YDF6gE#5771757955869030530'><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUqIbWaF2QYQehmmIPkyw8Mwki-bS4xsxWAQcGC2AewZKbeFGVYKpXVypZ3lnkL5sJdnLSwR9geXEIQ2c2D10Ft6K75ytIPzJ2KGLYDt0kZVwn5ADDDB8xkg0AiqCbP-wP9chqRLPpD8J0/s288/9.jpg" style="margin:5px" width="267"></a></center><br />They are demonstrating the laughing clowns initiative.<br />This is a simple example. They are both looking at a machine and figuring out what happens and they have a chat. You are comparing how the machines are different using the chat to figure out what is the same or different. Using principles of behavior about how things work.<br /><br />These curriculum models are free for kids to use on the website. You can have partners. Should look at and investigate.<br /><br />(This is the flattening of the classroom.)<br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/115916382183421477315/BloggerPictures?authkey=Gv1sRgCNPCp6bK0YDF6gE#5771757966483877202'><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-xDPyWf3zryRegcgjL0VPsNAkq-tuhy5frgoU8Fu9OhL8xUNjoE6n0WOvWG31AtnvFByNBg5uLEUb33xDdeBaUe7alN2KEZ43jAqRFN7kxuIMDJmUwb_S1NP32Kxu3zM-jIxTyMq1ndGH/s288/10.jpg" style="margin:5px" width="267"></a></center><br />Not everyone knows that Office 365 is free for your students, teachers, and staff free to use. Includes Microsoft Professional Plus 2010, Exchange Online, Lync Online, Sharepoint Online -- all of these are free for schools. Many don't realize this.<br /><br />Lync will become part of the "stack" in education. No add with enterprise quality for us to use and roll out in schools. Partners will be building around these tools going forward.<br /><br />Windows 8 Demo<br />Goal is a "no compromise" environment - not patched - everything works together seamlessly. It is less about form factors but more about creating an immersive environment for learning. <br /><br />He's running the Consumer Preview:<br />Start screen - very different.<br /><br />PERSONALIZATION<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/115916382183421477315/BloggerPictures?authkey=Gv1sRgCNPCp6bK0YDF6gE#5771757981834136226'><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkk747kOgFAj3MeQ9n00TQhvz-MfEDjPTRX2pqKuSrDjeBXXEEPuDowknwcSW20LA9BgzVX3xKsU5VOMdRlQyl5SZN3_mHS-sZoNCLPf8kGcyRWw3wn4qz9D5sN3xMN52ZN-XkoCpuygEC/s288/11.jpg" style="margin:5px" width="267"></a></center><br />All keyboard and mouse shortcuts you're used to are still there.<br />Quick navigation for apps.<br />Apps run in hibernation mode so don't drain CPU time.<br />Design is personal and unique to the user.<br />The people hub brings your people and experiences<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/115916382183421477315/BloggerPictures?authkey=Gv1sRgCNPCp6bK0YDF6gE#5771757996771785954'><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPML136rKRx0ZhT7iRblh1EneC4YQzFKSXwspmiD8SDj_EMAyYMz8GN4trBfgM5pAe7_Mz8OVWk2tPxxDHE1BOzul0AG-WDq2Hgkn6EJu-6eK1fNDa8ToCt0kvZnEm3PRHNn0U9IZWiU7a/s288/12.jpg" style="margin:5px" width="267"></a></center><br />The peoplehub integrates with Twitter, Facebook, linked in that is aggregated and put together.<br />Many people share computers. Windows 8 understands that others can log in. There are picture passwords in here so you have a standard way of moving around a picture to log in instead of a full password (this is very cool.)<br /><br />It runs in a separate memory space when someone else logs on. <br />USB to go with USB sticks - kids can take the environment home on a USB and log on a home computer using that account.<br />This is a family safety account.<br />It looks entirely different for users.<br /><br />The ability to search across applications is a neat feature of Windows 8.<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/115916382183421477315/BloggerPictures?authkey=Gv1sRgCNPCp6bK0YDF6gE#5771758009613700530'><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjENo7vTWPXvxj12MaJKO-Fnav-UvtSoisj47aPXdRgq5JoYuveiCxfTvdQ4yDk-93WUA4vEzsgzpHBbJRRvbGpl3L8VmSWYd5VIYU3NJ1-5ST1mEe9fwsC_MN4xKwMUbtIrZcXm2Ip-1dm/s288/13.jpg" style="margin:5px" width="267"></a></center><br />You can search across all things -- this will search everything (of note, it searched the Kindle app, OneNote, and sources of information as well as maps) -- now this is cool. I love the Kindle integration with this!! <br />There is a news.<br />3rd party publishers can write to core of operating system to create these experiences -so Kindle app is integrated with the OS for the computer. (I love this!!)<br /><br />The wikipedia info looks like a magazine.<br />It has semantic zoom out for a navigation hub.<br />I also note one note and evernote integration with searching and apps.<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/115916382183421477315/BloggerPictures?authkey=Gv1sRgCNPCp6bK0YDF6gE#5771758022649586834'><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH53Q0pd1pLYlWMp3KXmkIZpqbiqYuLrHM9NlMYGeydixq3cr2CyCdCDl16It3ewICsPqGcMj89ixv8bThT3oSyWyx0Vtpphx4B2IAgC85sSbfUh5Ld61zQWHK44VZxEP6v2LeNHSNm5Fe/s288/14.jpg" style="margin:5px" width="267"></a></center><br />(NOTE TO SELF: I'm going to be putting Windows 8 on my computer. This is different but FAR superior to what I've seen. Wow. I've not been excited about an OS like this since Win 95.)<br />Semantic zoom is very interesting. The kids will like links with xbox live.<br /><br />Talking about Microsoft Office<br />* Outlook - You can use outlook as a front end for Office 365 deployment.<br />Can have a conversation view in outlook. Can do in line replies in messages. <br />Calendar integrates remotely now and with publishing with calendars remotely, etc.) One NOte is integrated across the office experience.<br /><br />You can share notes for the meeting. Share notes.<br />Will link to this notebook. Streamline how people work.<br />(I like the ability to launch a notebook in anything, powerpoint, word, etc. and use it as a simultaneous editor.)<br /><br />Demonstrating dragging into the notebook.Whatever you're in - it makes alink in the notebook to what you were looking at when you took the note - what you were looking at. No longer have to keep track of what you were looking at when you made a note. This is called link notes.<br /><br />Kids can easily put sources of pics into their notebook <br /><br />(NOTE: course there are licensing issues here with how easy this is)<br /><br />Translation options are part of the environment as well.<br />Release preview of office - there is a one Note versin - One NOte MX <br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/115916382183421477315/BloggerPictures?authkey=Gv1sRgCNPCp6bK0YDF6gE#5771758032064531442'><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrqaUYpHT4PskkrCtNl5rMAw_FVsIqil8I6vf7RiQibqSM1dj46cffrC_j7dG03ccTyysCX9Qxcz5JGkI0Rbpn01Xt9Q0YfRTHHgBwArpVaGglusscHsk0sy63anSX3nVlny-xcp2TMuF1/s288/15.jpg" style="margin:5px" width="267"></a></center><br />The US is built for using a stylus, mouse, keyboard, or even control with your thumb if you're holding the device. That type of interface is standard as part of the OS.<br /><br />He has stylus controls. It can recognize "ink" and type it in. Different keyboards are simple to put it on the keyboard. Easy to add language packs inside Windows.<br /><br />Can swap to a keyboard that lets you use your thumbs on the left and the right.<br />Microsoft Word has changed a bit.<br />Want to make it easier to navigate and present documents.<br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/115916382183421477315/BloggerPictures?authkey=Gv1sRgCNPCp6bK0YDF6gE#5771758051250788722'><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXYQXwpnDaZTdLtpAZZwXsh7d22q1JtAePTUqVxaEygaopIOA1W7coUQy4nhJc9Py19hHEGH6XInP3JgtSDtHIhzwShJxRwLsTmdBdnKxsM6_WslqTyrM1389GHmxe8kkB8kvnfgfUIXqS/s288/16.jpg" style="margin:5px" width="267"></a></center><br />Text reflow around pictures is DRAMATICALLY improved. (The whole room applauded!!)<br />Linked notes are associated with documents. (NOTE: This means that you can have conversations around having parts of a doc.)<br /><br />Import a PDF and give it all the properties in word. Everything is there in the PDF.<br />Edit the PDF and don't have to worry about moving documents.<br /><br />Saving is in the cloud. Skydrive is everywhere. (NOTE: I've learned that I should install the Skydrive app on my Win 7 computer so that it works like Google Drive or Dropbox.)<br /><br />EXCEL<br />Showing us how to extract first names out of first names.<br />Excel stars recognizing a pattern of typing and retyping. (Now, this is a HUGE time saver. HUGE HUGE. If you work with data, the new excel is going to take you a lot of time.)<br /><br />They made charts a lot easier. <br />Smart editing inside<br />Excel will recommend chats for you and give you a preview of the kind of charts available with this data. (This is a time saver as well.)<br /><br />POWERPOINT<br />Coolest thing in Powerpoint he says -- there is a rich presenter mode - see the next slide coming up.<br /><br />LINC<br />They use it daily - it looks like a live chat, etc. If you have Office 365deployed then linc is there for everyone. You can search based on the skill. He searched the directory for the names of those who have a certain skill. He an instantly click on someone's name, start a video chat, and share a whiteboard from within any app.<br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/115916382183421477315/BloggerPictures?authkey=Gv1sRgCNPCp6bK0YDF6gE#5771758066194934370'><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYfiS2NZcR34Pt70j_uLAUV9xFWfGxcTZJ68b5MoQ89zMRWcraJXzuuGtJukX2rVaUHDNVouikaBWUNzhPsWvXqSrSmBKWT2FL7dPekNc-_CXDmHA-F1zDQ_SSvqS3eQpKntfLv4wiE6lN/s288/17.jpg" style="margin:5px" width="267"></a></center><br />Could do a quick poll of people as well.<br />All of this training is on the Partner's in Learning Network - you can join and get training on all of these features for Office 365 for free. Students can use these tools too.<br /><br />IWB in classroom - <br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/115916382183421477315/BloggerPictures?authkey=Gv1sRgCNPCp6bK0YDF6gE#5771758077498365762'><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEign96Q6Nkh9PXeJxSafN08mYWdHwQMXBy3BgdLSRriogn9jK5bqtGt1oWACbVVh6xz_UpdlBCor3xyMhj52qboVyMBgUVLVieY1wJ_yG1jLz7pGlZl7bXoj2AQAl6-2O0AYz49moA9shQC/s288/18.jpg" style="margin:5px" width="267"></a></center><br />Can have 2 screens but all apps and start buttons can be on both screens so you can launch apps from the IWB even though it is a second screen.<br />(The CPU usage looks much lower when he launches task manager.)<br /><br />(NOTES: MY take on this.<br />I've now played with Windows 8 at Microsoft over the last 2 days and seen this demo. YES< this is very different from what you're used to. But all I can say is "it is about time." We NEED different. This is much more like we work with MANY features that teachers will love, use and have been begging for. It is going to require that many of us get up to date on this. In the last few years, I've been very unimpressed with changes -- I have to say that I AM very impressed with what this will let us do at school but I have work to do. If you're in PD, you're not going to be able to implement this in the next few weeks, it is going to take time, but many of you are going to want to be prepared to be implementing Office 365 this time next year.)<br /><br /><br />This was an EXCELLENT presentation.<br />

Anthony Salcito at #pilUS - VP of Microsoft

These are my live notes of this presentation at Microsoft Partners in Learning Innovative Educators Forum. Please pardon the lack of links a...

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Live Blogging Dr. Kari Stubbs from BrainPop #pilUS presentations

Today at the Microsoft Partners in Learning Innovative Teacher awards, we are having professional development and inspiration. These are my notes taken quickly and I'm sharing them with you - forgive my lack of links and perhaps some typos.<br /><br />Dr. Kari Stubbs - BrainPop<br />Some teachers are trying to navigate change in a wilderness full of obstacles. <br /><br />(NOTE: I really wish every speaker would put their Twitter handle on their opening slides.)<br /><br />Describes BrainPop as a "loved and trusted collection of resources across the curriculum. BrainPop Jr. and BrainPOP esl, and Brain Pop Spanish are all there. 185K in BrainPop educators community now. BrainPOP GameUP now launched - charge to provide education games to teachers FOR FREE so check that out.<br /><br />They have mobile apps from BrainPOP so ready to support Bring Your Own Device environments.<br />In next few months have opportunity for teachers to create their own BrainPop quizzes.<br /><br />(In the "Oprah" moment - each teacher here got a subscription as part of being selected to be here! Cool, hope the judges got it too. ;-)<br /><br />Game Up. Play. Seriously. - They are partnering with "best of game" creators to work with teachers to play their games. Best of breed games paired with brainpop content and lesson plans, etc.<br /><br />They did a study with Joan Ganz Cooney Center - 500 teachers - their teacher attitudes around use of games. 18% using games daily. 70% of teachers thought it increased motivation and student engagement. 60% said they believed in power of games to personalize instruction.<br /><br />They are showing a video of my friend Lisa Parisi - 4th grade teacher in New York using BrainPop.<br />(NOTE: LISA PARISI rocks- she has a new book about blogging with Brian Crosby. She's an amazing, no excuses educator!)<br /><br />Lisa says that kids come with "lack of fear" with technology which is great. She says "games can show me a little window into their thinking." <br /><br />Now we're seeing some games that are free: Guts and Bolts - that is a new game. It is a twist on Frankenstein - to build "Tim" Moby has to understand all of the systems of the body. Looks like a good game for those studying the body.<br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/115916382183421477315/BloggerPictures?authkey=Gv1sRgCNPCp6bK0YDF6gE#5771739433749757186'><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrYL1bGiZSd5l94A-tQEkJ9dJHt7b1ig5fBQeDX9f8qXs612vt_uSpHli4lDw1t3puADh4GTTrc__nR9UNec9I1noqGS1obMU58fb99MJWQElAPYGk34z48LdcvxWcJuc75RnHA4AQsymw/s288/0.jpg" style="margin:5px" width="267"></a></center><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad<br />

Live Blogging Dr. Kari Stubbs from BrainPop #pilUS presentations

Today at the Microsoft Partners in Learning Innovative Teacher awards, we are having professional development and inspiration. These are my ...

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Today's archidose #603

Here are photos of a couple projects in Groningen, Netherlands, shot by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kenlee2010/">Ken Lee</a>.<br /><br />Duisenberg Pavilion at the University of Groningen, designed by <a href="http://www.pvanb.nl/">pvanb architecten</a> (2010):<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kenlee2010/7668255034/" title="Duisenberg Pavilion, University of Groningen, The Netherlands by Ken Lee 2010, on Flickr"><img alt="Duisenberg Pavilion, University of Groningen, The Netherlands" height="640" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8144/7668255034_0586ebdeec_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br />Transferium (bus stop) in Hoogkerk, designed by <a href="http://www.lyvr.nl/">lyvr</a> (lysbeth de vries - 2010):<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kenlee2010/7668255548/" title="Transferium, busstop, Hoogkerk, Groningen, The Netherlands by Ken Lee 2010, on Flickr"><img alt="Transferium, busstop, Hoogkerk, Groningen, The Netherlands" height="360" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8157/7668255548_9247eb6390_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kenlee2010/7668255772/" title="Transferium, busstop, Hoogkerk, Groningen, The Netherlands by Ken Lee 2010, on Flickr"><img alt="Transferium, busstop, Hoogkerk, Groningen, The Netherlands" height="360" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8286/7668255772_e51267baee_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kenlee2010/7668256060/" title="Transferium, busstop, Hoogkerk, Groningen, The Netherlands by Ken Lee 2010, on Flickr"><img alt="Transferium, busstop, Hoogkerk, Groningen, The Netherlands" height="480" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8166/7668256060_9ef2fd76bf_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kenlee2010/7668255324/" title="Transferium, busstop, Hoogkerk, Groningen, The Netherlands by Ken Lee 2010, on Flickr"><img alt="Transferium, busstop, Hoogkerk, Groningen, The Netherlands" height="480" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8022/7668255324_768effc51a_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br />To contribute your Flickr images for consideration, just:<br /><blockquote>:: Join and add photos to the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/archi-dose/">archidose pool</a>, and/or<br />:: Tag your photos <span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/archidose/">archidose</a></span></blockquote>

Today's archidose #603

Here are photos of a couple projects in Groningen, Netherlands, shot by Ken Lee . Duisenberg Pavilion at the University of Groningen, design...

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Reference and Instruction Librarian - Fairfield University Library

<strong>Reference and Instruction Librarian - </strong><span style="color: #48286d;"><strong>Fairfield University Library</strong></span> (Two-Year Appointment). Academic library invites applications from creative, flexible, self-motivated librarians with strong public services commitment and a vision and enthusiasm for the future of electronic technologies to join collegial team. The successful candidate will be hired at the Librarian I level. This position is a two-year appointment. The position may include some evening and weekend hours. RESPONSIBILITIES: Plays a key role in the library instruction program. Creates and maintains web-based and print instructional resources. Provides reference services. Participates in the Library Liaison program. REQUIREMENTS: MLS from ALA accredited program. Recent experience or course work in reference. Evidence of potential in teaching. Must be self-directed, well organized, and able to meet deadlines and multiple demands. Demonstrated ability to communicate, both orally and in writing, to a variety of audiences. Inventive approach to the development of new services; commitment to responsive and innovative service is essential. Highly Desirable: Teaching experience using active learning techniques; demonstrated competence in using web-based tools and software in the creative design and delivery of instruction are highly desirable. Science background; demonstrated technological competencies; second Master’s degree. CAMPUS AND LIBRARY:<br />Fairfield University is a comprehensive Jesuit institution that prepares students for leadership and service in a constantly changing world. Founded in 1942 after the purchase of the adjoining estates of Jennings and Lashar off North Benson Road in Fairfield, the University has grown from an initial class of 303 undergraduate male students admitted to the College of Arts and Sciences in 1947 into a coeducational university of more than 5,000 undergraduate, graduate, and continuing studies students enrolled in six distinct schools. Along the way, the University has awarded more than 45,000 degrees since 1951, and has developed a reputation for educational excellence both regionally and nationally. DiMenna-Nyselius Library has over 600,000 volumes in a state-of-the-art building. TO APPLY: Submit letter of application, resume, and telephone numbers/e-mail addresses of three references to JoAnn Garrity, Administrative assistant, DiMenna-Nyselius Library, 1073 North Benson Road, Fairfield University, Fairfield, CT 06824-5195, or directed electronically to <a _fcksavedurl="mailto:librarian@ fairfield.edu" href="mailto:librarian@%20fairfield.edu">librarian@ fairfield.edu</a>. Preference given to applications received by <span style="color: red;">August 24, 2012</span>. Fairfield University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

Reference and Instruction Librarian - Fairfield University Library

Reference and Instruction Librarian - Fairfield University Library (Two-Year Appointment). Academic library invites applications from crea...

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one room challenge reveal... times 20

It's like Christmas morning! Only I don't remember having this good a tan at Christmas time. Today is reveal day for the <a href="http://mycraftyhomelife.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">One Room Challenge</a> ladies. These ladies have been busting their arses for the past six weeks and I would imagine they are all passed out at this point in a state of exhaustion and delirium.<br /><br />The One Room Challenge is the brain child of my lovely <a href="http://mycraftyhomelife.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Linda</a> and its about as addictive as just about anything on Bravo. Make sure to head over to 1, 10 or all 20 of these sites to see the wonderful results. This is great pinning action people.<br /><br />Enjoy!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF5NJ01LGIjtrG5-tksie8nRhLvUQVj266pxxwjXv3mbHor-JZD38nmpQjBjidq5OoLinNxQO6Vt6ftUnhCSY1DLPAWlJHF6C6ZeUZx2zCT6DeO5xb5bMaw_rBAF_3jrF2zTlLOtrZsv_f/s1600/One+Room+banner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF5NJ01LGIjtrG5-tksie8nRhLvUQVj266pxxwjXv3mbHor-JZD38nmpQjBjidq5OoLinNxQO6Vt6ftUnhCSY1DLPAWlJHF6C6ZeUZx2zCT6DeO5xb5bMaw_rBAF_3jrF2zTlLOtrZsv_f/s320/One+Room+banner.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />

one room challenge reveal... times 20

It's like Christmas morning! Only I don't remember having this good a tan at Christmas time. Today is reveal day for the One Room Ch...

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The last of Microsoft PIL, Johannesburg’s webinars on assessing 21st Century skills takes place from 6pm-6:30pm tonight (1 August)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGmNet5acmD7LQwPzLg21ZJk6HnfLEhwwoDRYXsSDzL1MkgNQVdcX7HxkJsNurkuLZ2qWO0s9BgXLnEtcZCsoyF_lGIbQI1BvyCpcCs5q2j0wbbXzQRhbDPAgDVdf8rawfH5UHnF8Rick/s1600-h/image%25255B10%25255D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="105" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaVuW8vXr6nAvJCEMiloBNyjBS-lNZlTl9wl0Sfubpn1idQ4HTPe9NYMJ_5Yy4f9ATh3zLdFgVMcR64Xu270h5eetVFtoovdnVRHczFVj1C78bm5_CrELHsl-shCDGdR3ywAMqGzw6F_U/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Over the last two weeks Microsoft Partners in Learning in Johannesburg has been holding weekly webinars on Wednesday evenings on assessing 21st Century skills and using the LEAP21 materials. These are held on Wednesdays from 6pm – 6:30 pm. Please use the following URL to join but if you are joining the Lync webinar platformfor the first time you’ll be asked to download an add-on for Lync and that might take a while (give yourselves 40 mins to be safe!) Here is the link:  <a href="https://join.microsoft.com/meet/v-angels/Q6Z25RJQ">https://join.microsoft.com/meet/v-angels/Q6Z25RJQ.</a></span></div><br /><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What is LEAP21?</b></span></div><br /><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tonight sees the last of these webinars. It is on “<i>Use of ICT -Enhancing your projects using ideas from LEAP21</i>”  LEAP21 is based on the way ITL Research studies measures innovative teaching practices. LEAP21 asks teachers and school leaders to analyse and 'score' learning activities to see how deeply they integrate 21st century skills, collaborate in designing new learning activities that provide deeper 21st century skills development, examine the impact of these learning activities on students' work, and use ICT as part of the process.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Discussion Forum for this series</b></span><br /><br /><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you would like to obtain the PowerPoints for the last two webinars on assessing ‘<i>Collaboration</i>’ and assessing  ‘<i>Knowledge-building</i>’ please look for the Discussion Forum on the Partners in Learning Network. (You will need to join this network if you haven’t already done so – its free and well worth it!) <a href="http://www.pil-network.com/auth/signin?returnUrl=%2fDiscussion%2fccc93868-82a8-4c32-98a3-a8afb555a34b">Join here</a></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><br /><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Previous two webinars and relating documents</b></span></div><b><br /></b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">1. You’ll find the PowerPoint for the first discussion on <i>Assessing Collaboration </i>in the above-mentioned Discussion Forum. The webinar wasn’t recorded but may be recorded privately later (I’ll keep you posted if this happens)</span><br /><br /><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">2. You’ll find the recording for the last webinar on <i>Assessing Knowledge-Building </i>as well as the PowerPoint used in the presentation in the Discussion Forum.</span></div></div>

Microsoft The last of Microsoft PIL, Johannesburg’s webinars on assessing 21st Century skills takes place from 6pm-6:30pm tonight (1 August)

Over the last two weeks Microsoft Partners in Learning in Johannesburg has been holding weekly webinars on Wednesday evenings on assessing 2...

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Smiling and Dancing in the Face of Pressure

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QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style><![endif]--> <br /><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Main Blurb</b></div><div class="MsoNormal">The floor routine in gymnastics: It seems to be a bane for the men, but a joy for the women. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Think about it: When you watch the men do a floor routine, they look like a robot when they are not leaping in the air. When they land and move around the floor, their legs are as straight as tree trunks. “Dance” to male gymnasts is a four letter word that should never be uttered. There is no music in men’s gymnastics. The goal is to do as many tumbling passes as possible in the allotted time and get off that thing.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">On the other hand, music is heard throughout the arena when the women are performing. It can almost be annoying when you’re trying to watch another apparatus because someone else is dancing their floor routine to some weird little piece of music. But they shimmy, they shake, they…smile! They almost seem to be enjoying themselves – for some of them, they actually <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">are</i> enjoying themselves!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Normally when I am watching someone’s floor routine, it is fun to watch them tumble around. I had made note that I rarely saw anyone royally mess up a floor routine. They know those tumbling passes like the back of their hand, because it’s all set to song. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Tonight had been no different. I watched many floor routines (since I watched the online feed which provided more routines than NBC’s evening coverage did), and they were all fun. British gymnast Beth Tweddle even danced her routine to Wing’s “Live and Let Die.”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">As those fun routines were being performed, Russia and the United States were fiercely building up the points on the other three apparati. The lead for the US was slim going in to the final apparatus for the two of them: the floor routine.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I have seen the US do those same floor routines (with the same songs) many times. I watched the Visa Championships. I watched the Team Trials. And I watched on Sunday. There were a couple of flubs on Sunday, which surprised me. Sometimes the pressure can get in your head. On Sunday, it was in the US women’s head. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">And today, it was in the Russian women’s head.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The Russian women went first, and I was absolutely shocked to see them make so many huge mistakes on the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">floor routine</i> with so much on the line. They missed parts of their tumbling combination. They didn’t jump high enough and landed on their knees. And with each mistake, the opportunity for the US women to win gold got bigger and bigger. The tears flowed, and I sat in shock. Was their music off? Were they smiling? I had never seen such huge mistakes in the floor routine – and at the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Olympics</i>, no less!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">So now it was time for the American women. And they didn’t disappoint. The three routines done by Gabby Douglas, Jordyn Wieber, and Aly Raisman were spot-on. They were exactly what they needed to secure the gold medal. And they didn’t let the pressure of Olympic gold get in their head. I actually clapped when Wieber finished her routine!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Congrats, ladies of the gymnastics squad. You took the pressure and dominated. And while everyone else will be putting Michael Phelps on their front pages, I am making you my Main Blurb.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mini Blurbs</b></div><div class="MsoNormal">Speaking of women’s gymnastics, I rewound my DVR three times to watch McKayla Maroney’s vault. There is such a thing as a perfect vault, and I had just watched it. I hope she can do that in the individual event finals and get the gold. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Shannon Miller was the color analyst for the online coverage. She was a lot of fun to listen to!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The medals ceremony music is the theme from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Chariots of Fire</i>. I don’t think any Olympic athlete will like that song ever again. It’s been playing over and over and over and over and over and over…</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">He Kexin from China is a holdover from the 2008 gold medal gymnastics squad. But now she actually looks like she’s old enough to compete! (In 2008 she looked about 10 years old.)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Oh – Michael Phelps has 19 Olympic medals. If he were to wear all of them around his neck, I don’t think he’d be able to raise his head up! It was fun to see Happy Laughing Michael again. Even after he got outtouched by Chad le Clos in the 200 butterfly, he was talking to le Clos and telling him what to do on the podium and around the photo ops. Then both of them were swimming in the 4x200 relay about 40 minutes later!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Five small gymnasts had a hard time fitting on the medal podium in the arena. Four large male swimmers had room on either side of them on the medal podium in the pool arena. Maybe the podiums got switched by accident?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I heard the phrase “Sculling Sloth” today, which apparently is the name of Niger sculler Djibo Issaka Hamadou, who only took up the sport three months ago and somehow qualified. He finished 1 ½ minutes behind the rest of his heat. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Mad props to Allison Schmitt for winning gold in the 200 freestyle. With all the promotions going towards Missy Franklin, I’d forgotten she was the favorite in the event! She cruised; Missy missed a medal. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Do the rowers ever have the finals? It seems like all I’ve [been forced to] watch has been a heat for this, a heat for that, a heat for something else…</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I added a new sport today: women’s field hockey. They play on what has been called “Smurf turf” (yes it’s blue) like Boise State’s football field! It’s pretty much floor hockey with shorter sticks and they’re forced to wear skorts. Really? It still looked like fun.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Tonights roundup: field hockey, whitewater canoe, gymnastics, men’s volleyball, men’s beach volleyball, rowing, swimming, men’s water polo, diving.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">One more thing about the gymnasts (sorry, they made my morning): They were rooting for each other and supporting each other like no other. That was quality teamwork.</div>

Smiling and Dancing in the Face of Pressure

The Main Blurb The floor routine in gymnastics: It seems to be a bane for the men, but a joy for the women. Think about it: When you watch ...

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Alan November - Live Blog from #pilUS

I'm taking notes from Alan November's keynote conversation. He asked 3 questions and facilitated our conversation. This is a live blog post, so please forgive the lack of links and perhaps typos.<br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/115916382183421477315/BloggerPictures?authkey=Gv1sRgCNPCp6bK0YDF6gE#5771381254591380978'><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBANruF00YOpv9LSygZ2hCBQrTyPmjwkaDKfNRpQR3HFE-teGdNCBJ2Ozf1uxlFGjqhztOlWAELt3MrN3NO85tIuLHCbq0nu7bWUWFgmVZoLUP_g7zjZ6RMjQfVhDHBSswcucfUsM-ztKl/s288/0.jpg" style="margin:5px" width="267"></a></center><br />Alan November 1985 - he was one of the first Krista McCauliff Educator (sp?) . He got call that he was one of first 5 Krista McCauliff educators and he said "I don't want to go into space" and hung up on them. They called back and said they wanted him to go around the country.<br /><br />3 limitations on programming back then on programming<br />Processing speed<br />Amount of ram<br />Memory in hard drive<br />(fourth now would be bandwidth)<br /><br />They told him they didn't focus on physical limitations - they told him they imagined that their limitations were infinite and then set to work in the "ideal" environment and then when done playing in the ideal environment of infinity then we look back at what we had to do. "if we started with our limits, we would go out of business because we wouldn't be pushing the envelope." He says this changed his thinking.<br /><br />He says that workshops in schools and that now we start with our limitations. He goes and works everywhere and in many places he goes, when he comes back 6 months later and there is change. In the US, 6 months later, inevitably nothing happened. He says we can conjecture about why the US has amazing individuals and creative people but there is no systemic change in the culture of teaching and learning. These systemic changes are happening in Australia and Shanghai. Our capacity in the US to adopt the changes that have happened may not do you justice. Many of you are going to be frustrated about sharing with colleagues and see changes that are systemic.<br /><br />**What were your limits you designed when you put your project in place?<br />If there were no limits what would your project look like? Is your project already designed to be as good as it could possibility be or would you push it forward.<br /><br />**Asked the question how many of us will have others adopt to use and do another project? How many of us will join with others to do the project? How many will adopt others?<br /><br />(NOTE: This is so important to flattening the classroom. The grassroots movement of teachers to connect is vital.)<br /><br />Question: Tell me about your project because I want to adopt it. Explain your reality of what you do. <br /><br />(NOTE: We should be sharing projects but also INVITING each other to join together. YES! This is what we talk about in Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds)<br /><br />He talks to schools about how some teachers are innovative and those who aren't. Some have the same things, computers and even support staff -- but the answer about schools that are really innovative and the answer is always "the principal." He says that Principals are role models, they take risks and they don't mind and know how to support risk taking teachers. It is important to support those not taking risks as well - they know how to support both.<br /><br />Because of this, take your principal out to lunch to share your story when you go back to your colleagues. How do you go back to a school where you are the ambassador and the innovation leader? How can you do that without securing the support of your principal?<br /><br />Can anyone make the case that your project has increased test scores? Quite a few raised their hands. <br /><br />Talk about getting reporters. He says the fact that teachers are so humble and haven't been to business school to sell what they are doing - that is their biggest problem.<br /><br />(I agree with this - I'm a business school grad and it has directly impacted personal branding in my life. There are times to share and you can do it without being egotistical.)<br /><br />Stephen Anderson says "what does innovation look like so how do they know what is innovative. They think if a teacher is standing in front of a smartboard when they walk by that the person is being innovative and the important thing is for teachers and kids show admin what innovation looks like."<br /><br />Latest strategy from Alan November -- he asks to have breakfast with students first. Before looking at anything. Want to have breakfast with kids with the principal with him/ her. Your job is to watch me interact with your kids. He starts giving them problems to solve on the web. In front of the principal, he'll say - can you think of a time you did really well and go an "A." They'll always say, "yes." Then, he'll say - show me right now how you did the search because he said he used the web for all of his sources. <br /><br />Then, he says "what is wrong with these results." He points out "there aren't any sources from Iran" when a child searches the Iranian hostage crisis and only uses US sources. The child doesn't know how to search for iranian sources. The child can't get any Iranian sources- had to show the child how to do it. <br /><br />Did anyone teach you about country codes. So he has them google a top level domain and the country codes -- "root zone database.' Every second grader should know the country codes - root zone database. Iran is "ir" and say site:ir then he types in the information. so he searched site:ir "American hostage crisis" and he was able to see different perspectives. He doesn't care which child he's talking to, the principal is stunned because principals have a misdirected assumption that kids understand technology. The fastest way for a principal to understand there is a problem is to show them what their kids have done. He pulls a "trump card" - you need the right information at the right time.<br /><br />This isn't about technology, it is about information. You've been labeling this wrong. He asks the principal "Do you want your students to get the right information at the right time across the curriculum?" Then, principals don't know what to do. The real issue is changing the design - make sure you get 3 Iranian sources but the teachers don't do that. <br /><br />He has never met a student in the US who knows how to use the Internet well. Every kid says "I know what I'm doing." <br /><br />(NOTE: I agree with this, even my students get lazy about this. It requires constant encouragement and reinforcement from all teachers. This is one of the best speeches I've heard Alan November give b/c this is a great point here.)<br /><br />The local conclusion - he suggests to every district to get rid of "technology planning committee" and instead call it "learning design committee." There should be "learning design facilitators." The child HAD the technology, the kid had the wrong assignment.<br /><br />Last question was going to be: "The first 5 days of school" activity. He asked the introduction about that teacher who inspired her, "did that happen on the first day of school." Go to vimeo -- first day of school. <br /><br />It is about the first day of school. They made a series on vimeo called "the first 5 days of school" - 1st5days - look for it in Vimeo. He asks teachers about the first 5 days of school and what happens the first 5 days. Have you ever had a faculty meeting on designing the first 5 days of school. Never had any staff development on "the first 5 days of school."<br /><br />What will you do the first 5 days of school to SET YOUR STUDENTS ON FIRE??????<br /><br />This is a vital question. Think about the first day of your favorite class. It was very hands on based. This is a nice video series about doing something intentional.<br /><br />"You get caught by a song by the beginning notes."<br /><br />(NOTE: The first few days of school are VITAL. you need to energize and excite students AT THE BEGINNING.) <br /><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad<br />

Alan November - Live Blog from #pilUS

I'm taking notes from Alan November's keynote conversation. He asked 3 questions and facilitated our conversation. This is a live bl...

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