Pinellas County Schools : BROOKSVILLE – As district officials grilled Ryan Wilson on the exchange of text messages with a student, nature, technical trainer in a secondary school teacher and former coach of the athletic director told him that he can use the technology at work.
“I was told to communicate with a cell phone,” Wilson said officials in the last month.
Wilson had been cleared of allegations that he had had an improper relationship with a girl, but temporary inspector Sonia Jackson scolded him for, among other things, the continuation of what it described as “inappropriate text messaging and extensive.”
There are no clear rules governing the use of text messages in Hernando County or State staff handbook or code of conduct and professional ethics. Educators are left to the application of the guidelines and limited, and board member of one school, it was the meaning of “common” to text messages.
“It’s a gray area,” said Joe Vitalo, President of the Teachers Syndicate Hernando classroom.
Now that just about every student has a cell phone, and teachers who also serve as coaches or other extracurricular activities would find text messaging to be a convenient way to send your practice to quickly cancel or reschedule a rehearsal, Vitalo said.
Teachers and trainers are concerned, with the attention brought by the Wilson case, should not be text messages to all students.
“However, it was a gift from heaven,” said Vitalo.
School Board members Jackson say that the time has come to clarify the text when an occasion like this, what kind of content is outside the border.
Jackson said she could imagine a policy that would allow only text to communicate information to logistics. Otherwise, teachers may find themselves in embarrassing situations – or at least the appearance of one, she said.
“I think with a policy in place, it does make staff think twice.”
• • •
Many of the teachers have texted her way to the types of headlines that make parents and educators cringe.
In 2008, accused in the northern port of a high school teacher in an attempt to seduce a girl via text messages. The girl told police she and Teacher, have routinely exchanged letters until they turned sexual.
In the last month, was sentenced a former Pinellas County middle school teacher for five years probation for sending sexually explicit texts to a student in eighth grade last year.
And Eric Riggins, a former track coach in school suspension in the monitoring of Hernando High, and I learned last month that he will likely lose their teaching certificate, in part, to send sexual texts to a female student.
Still, I found some Florida counties have policies that express provision. Includes Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties.
“We warn the teacher about this type of communication, but we also know it would be useful for the teacher, who is director of the division or coach,” said Linda Cobbe said a spokeswoman for Hillsborough schools. He added: “It’s just a matter where we must be vigilant.”
Springstead High principal Susan Duval said it was the same message to the staff at the beginning of each academic year.
“Stories of the types of text messages, I think, serve a very useful type of purpose,” said Duval, “but when it gets to the realm of the personal, as the need for teacher professional be extremely careful.”
Central High School Athletic Director Jeff Spivey said he supports limited use of SMS for the logistics, but added that coaches should be text messages and the same phone for a parent, too.
“It’s certainly a good use of technology,” said Spivey.
Amid major Clifford that the grants, but is still cautious.
EdLine tools such as e-mail available for messages to students and their families, “said Clifford. Perhaps school administrators can be assigned a cell phone to be used by workers when they have a formal letter to our logistics, he said.
“But the children who have access to employee personal cell phones,” and said: “It is a recipe for disaster.”
• • •
At least parts of the few schools in the country has gone intolerance.
In 2008, officials of the schools in Lamar County, Miss., agreed to a policy forbidding teachers and students of the existence of any text message conversations or social networking friendships. At the bottom of the story of the Internet reporting this development on the CBS News Web site, and the reader to that publication:
Here are the texts that guided my students this year:
Do not forget student leaders and lunch with the principal day.
Yes, you may verify the presence of the camera today. Comes from the see me.
Contest at 6 PM in the theater Scott.
Yes, I will help you deliver the slide show to your brother’s funeral.
School board member Diane Bonfield Hernando says it is ready to go on the road to Lamar County, Miss. She said she hoped the issue would make it a written policy on the agenda of a workshop later this year.
“I do not think it’s appropriate to get in touch with students in all mobile phones through,” said Bonfield. “It is for the protection of everyone.”
To punish teachers for the actions of some teachers who may have violated the policy anyway, “said Vitalo, and the President of the local teachers union. Wilson case is a reminder that this means that teachers need to be careful and reporting provisions of unwanted charges against them, he said.
“But it should not prohibit us from communicating with the players and students,” said Vitalo.
Board member Sandra Nicholson said the previous cases show that not all teachers can be trusted with governance.
“If they do not have common sense, it must be in writing,” said Nicholson.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Ides of March
The Ides of March was a festive day dedicated to the god Mars and a military parade was usually held. In modern times, the term Ides of March is best known as the date that Julius Caesar was assassinated in 709 AUC or 44 B.C. In William Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar, Caesar is warned to “beware the Ides of March.
Or civilian-military Ides of March in Turkey
Prosecutors arresting prosecutors. Dozens of active and retired military officers rounded up. Angry generals. Accusatory politicians. Breathless exclamations lamenting an “attack on democracy,” or the threat of “Shariah law.” And that was just the past few days.
If Turks have a hard time tracking the skirmishing amid the military, the judiciary and the government, outsiders and the newly initiated will find the intricacies of Turkish politics all but mind-numbing. So let’s take it slowly.
Much of the political hyperventilation of recent days turns on the “Balyoz” (Sledgehammer) Operation, an alleged military coup plot dating to 2003 that has been shaking the country for the last five weeks.
The plot was initially revealed Jan. 20 by the feisty daily Taraf, a young newspaper that has persistently focused on critiquing the Turkish military. The alleged plot to remove the Justice and Development Party, or AKP, from power by destabilizing the country included raising tension between Turkey and Greece in the Aegean Sea by having a Turkish fighter plane shot down, bombing two significant mosques in Istanbul during prayer time and staging an organized assault on a military museum by agents dressed as extremists.
Was this seriously considered once upon a time? Or were some disgruntled and powerless officers simply having a scenario jam session that no one should take seriously? In a nutshell, this is the debate that has ensued around many Turkish tables, coffeehouse backgammon games and student teahouses in recent weeks. Source
Or civilian-military Ides of March in Turkey
Prosecutors arresting prosecutors. Dozens of active and retired military officers rounded up. Angry generals. Accusatory politicians. Breathless exclamations lamenting an “attack on democracy,” or the threat of “Shariah law.” And that was just the past few days.
If Turks have a hard time tracking the skirmishing amid the military, the judiciary and the government, outsiders and the newly initiated will find the intricacies of Turkish politics all but mind-numbing. So let’s take it slowly.
Much of the political hyperventilation of recent days turns on the “Balyoz” (Sledgehammer) Operation, an alleged military coup plot dating to 2003 that has been shaking the country for the last five weeks.
The plot was initially revealed Jan. 20 by the feisty daily Taraf, a young newspaper that has persistently focused on critiquing the Turkish military. The alleged plot to remove the Justice and Development Party, or AKP, from power by destabilizing the country included raising tension between Turkey and Greece in the Aegean Sea by having a Turkish fighter plane shot down, bombing two significant mosques in Istanbul during prayer time and staging an organized assault on a military museum by agents dressed as extremists.
Was this seriously considered once upon a time? Or were some disgruntled and powerless officers simply having a scenario jam session that no one should take seriously? In a nutshell, this is the debate that has ensued around many Turkish tables, coffeehouse backgammon games and student teahouses in recent weeks. Source
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First day of spring 2010
Today is March 1 - the first day of spring. At last! The cold winter is over, weather is changing for the better. When writing these words, I'm hiding myself from the bright beams of sun. It's already so warm outside (usually it's not).
Spring's coming!
We are making plans for future, we are waiting for the best! So, let's enjoy this beautiful season, because it will help a lot to become or, for someone, to remain an optimist, as it is the nature's awakening.
Try to notice all the beauty of it and those who can't enjoy good weather right now, don't be upset - it's only the beginning!
I wish you all to have spring in your souls, warmth and light in your hearts, besides - lots and lots of happiness and love!
Spring's coming!
We are making plans for future, we are waiting for the best! So, let's enjoy this beautiful season, because it will help a lot to become or, for someone, to remain an optimist, as it is the nature's awakening.
Try to notice all the beauty of it and those who can't enjoy good weather right now, don't be upset - it's only the beginning!
I wish you all to have spring in your souls, warmth and light in your hearts, besides - lots and lots of happiness and love!
Prudential Agrees to Buy A.I.G
Prudential of Britain said Monday that it had agreed to buy American International Group’s life insurance business in Asia in a deal valued at $35.5 billion.
The sale of American International Assurance, which is based in Hong Kong and is commonly known as A.I.A., would lead to the biggest repayment yet toward the more than $180 billion that the U.S. government has invested in A.I.G. as part of a huge series of bailouts. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York, which holds preferred shares in A.I.A., would receive the first $16 billion in proceeds from a sale.
With a takeover of A.I.A., Prudential would become the indisputable leader in Asia. Prudential said the combined group would be the leading life insurer in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines and the leading foreign life insurance business in China and India.
A 162-year-old company — which is not related to Prudential Financial in the United States — the British Prudential already draws a large part of its revenue from Asia, with more than 11 million policyholders in 13 markets.
“We are combining the two strongest international life insurers in Asia,” Tidjane Thiam, chief executive of Prudential, said in a conference call Monday to announce the deal.
Acquiring A.I.A. accelerates a strategy outlined by Mr. Thiam to increase the firm’s revenue in Asia sharply. The region is considered one of the fastest-growing markets for life insurance, thanks to a culture of saving and increasing affluence in many countries.
“Transformational is an overused word,” Mr. Thiam said, “but this deal is transformational.” He noted that in 2008, 44 percent of new profit for Prudential came from Asia; if A.I.A. and Prudential had combined in 2009, the figure would have been 60 percent. That geography, he said, promises “sustainable growth for years to come.”
Prudential said that the new company would assume the name Prudential, have headquarters and be incorporated in Britain and be traded on the London Stock Exchange with American Depository Receipts traded on the New York Stock Exchange.
That said, the A.I.A. brand is not set to disappear. “We like good brands and we tend not to kill them unnecessarily,” Mr. Thiam said. “A.I.A. is a strong brand.”
Once the deal is complete, the company said, it intends “in due course” to seek a dual primary-listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
“This transaction offers the opportunity to bring together two leading companies, positioning the combined group to capture the future growth opportunity in Asia,” Prudential said.
Under the terms of the deal, Prudential would pay about $25 billion in cash and about $10.5 billion in a combination of stock, preferred shares and convertible preferred shares. The company said it would obtain the cash for the deal through a $20 billion rights issue and $5 billion in senior debt.
The rights issue must be approved by shareholders, and the deal faces other regulatory approvals. Prudential said it anticipated that the rights issue would take place in May and that the transaction would close in the third quarter.
Several analysts downgraded Prudential shares on Monday.
“It’s going to be enormously dilutive,” ING analyst Kevin Ryan told Reuters, speaking of the rights issue. “No one knows exactly what A.I.A. contains or how profitable it is, or how it overlaps with Pru’s existing businesses.”
Prudential first approached A.I.G. last year, but it was rebuffed because its offer was too low, according to people briefed on the matter.
A.I.A., founded in 1919 and one of A.I.G.’s oldest divisions, is widely considered one of the top businesses within A.I.G. The division has about 20 million policyholders throughout Asia, served by 23,000 employees and 300,000 agents. It has customers in Australia, Brunei, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Macao, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.
According to Prudential, A.I.A. had an operating profit of $1.438 billion after tax in the financial year ending Nov. 30, 2009, based on unaudited figures.
The sale of American International Assurance, which is based in Hong Kong and is commonly known as A.I.A., would lead to the biggest repayment yet toward the more than $180 billion that the U.S. government has invested in A.I.G. as part of a huge series of bailouts. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York, which holds preferred shares in A.I.A., would receive the first $16 billion in proceeds from a sale.
With a takeover of A.I.A., Prudential would become the indisputable leader in Asia. Prudential said the combined group would be the leading life insurer in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines and the leading foreign life insurance business in China and India.
A 162-year-old company — which is not related to Prudential Financial in the United States — the British Prudential already draws a large part of its revenue from Asia, with more than 11 million policyholders in 13 markets.
“We are combining the two strongest international life insurers in Asia,” Tidjane Thiam, chief executive of Prudential, said in a conference call Monday to announce the deal.
Acquiring A.I.A. accelerates a strategy outlined by Mr. Thiam to increase the firm’s revenue in Asia sharply. The region is considered one of the fastest-growing markets for life insurance, thanks to a culture of saving and increasing affluence in many countries.
“Transformational is an overused word,” Mr. Thiam said, “but this deal is transformational.” He noted that in 2008, 44 percent of new profit for Prudential came from Asia; if A.I.A. and Prudential had combined in 2009, the figure would have been 60 percent. That geography, he said, promises “sustainable growth for years to come.”
Prudential said that the new company would assume the name Prudential, have headquarters and be incorporated in Britain and be traded on the London Stock Exchange with American Depository Receipts traded on the New York Stock Exchange.
That said, the A.I.A. brand is not set to disappear. “We like good brands and we tend not to kill them unnecessarily,” Mr. Thiam said. “A.I.A. is a strong brand.”
Once the deal is complete, the company said, it intends “in due course” to seek a dual primary-listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
“This transaction offers the opportunity to bring together two leading companies, positioning the combined group to capture the future growth opportunity in Asia,” Prudential said.
Under the terms of the deal, Prudential would pay about $25 billion in cash and about $10.5 billion in a combination of stock, preferred shares and convertible preferred shares. The company said it would obtain the cash for the deal through a $20 billion rights issue and $5 billion in senior debt.
The rights issue must be approved by shareholders, and the deal faces other regulatory approvals. Prudential said it anticipated that the rights issue would take place in May and that the transaction would close in the third quarter.
Several analysts downgraded Prudential shares on Monday.
“It’s going to be enormously dilutive,” ING analyst Kevin Ryan told Reuters, speaking of the rights issue. “No one knows exactly what A.I.A. contains or how profitable it is, or how it overlaps with Pru’s existing businesses.”
Prudential first approached A.I.G. last year, but it was rebuffed because its offer was too low, according to people briefed on the matter.
A.I.A., founded in 1919 and one of A.I.G.’s oldest divisions, is widely considered one of the top businesses within A.I.G. The division has about 20 million policyholders throughout Asia, served by 23,000 employees and 300,000 agents. It has customers in Australia, Brunei, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Macao, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.
According to Prudential, A.I.A. had an operating profit of $1.438 billion after tax in the financial year ending Nov. 30, 2009, based on unaudited figures.
Spencer Tunick Australia
Spencer Tunick Australia – Spencer Tunick, the man known for taking photographs of naked people, has lost his clothes.
Tunick arrived in Australia from Hawaii last night ahead of next week’s Sydney Opera House installation, but his luggage has gone missing.
Tunick says he’s devastated by the airline bungle.
“I am truly the emperor with no clothes,” Tunick said.
“I am so depressed.”
Tunick says he’s concerned that his camera equipment won’t turn up in time for the March 1 installation, and he will now have to spend his time sourcing speciality camera equipment.
“As an artist, it’s going to cost more than they could ever repay me to locate my equipment and my clothes,” he said.
“Just a lot more work when I should be concentrating on the installation. I’m hoping Qantas and Hawaiian Airlines will find my f****in’ luggage.
“Obviously, I just want to be contacted by someone higher up to say they’re searching for it.”
Spencer Tunick Australia
Tunick arrived in Australia from Hawaii last night ahead of next week’s Sydney Opera House installation, but his luggage has gone missing.
Tunick says he’s devastated by the airline bungle.
“I am truly the emperor with no clothes,” Tunick said.
“I am so depressed.”
Tunick says he’s concerned that his camera equipment won’t turn up in time for the March 1 installation, and he will now have to spend his time sourcing speciality camera equipment.
“As an artist, it’s going to cost more than they could ever repay me to locate my equipment and my clothes,” he said.
“Just a lot more work when I should be concentrating on the installation. I’m hoping Qantas and Hawaiian Airlines will find my f****in’ luggage.
“Obviously, I just want to be contacted by someone higher up to say they’re searching for it.”
Spencer Tunick Australia
Sex Offender Arrested in Chelsea King Case
registered California sex offender has been arrested in connection with the disappearance of a 17-year-old girl who vanished last week and is still missing. Police arrested John Albert Gardner III in connection with the disappearance of Chelsea King.
Police said physical evidence led them to arrest Gardner three days after the teen vanished.
King, of Poway, disappeared from Rancho Bernardo Community Park on Thursday, Feb. 25. Volunteers are continuing to search the park area and nearby Lake Hodges. The focus of the search for King has been focused on the park area.
Gardner (left) was arrested on a city street in Escondido on Sunday. Investigators said he was being questioned about the King disappearance, but he is also a suspect in the Dec. 27 disappearance of a jogger in the same park. He is also a suspect, police said, in the disappearance of 14-year-old Amber Dubois who vanished while walking to Escondido High School in 2009.
As of late Sunday, no charges had been filed against Gardner.
"This investigation is ongoing and specific criminal charges are still being determined," Sheriff Bill Gore told reporters.
Brent and Kelly, Chelsea's parents, reported her missing after she failed to return from a jog in the park. Her car was found in the park parking lot. Her cell phone was found inside the car, police reports said.
Police said physical evidence led them to arrest Gardner three days after the teen vanished.
King, of Poway, disappeared from Rancho Bernardo Community Park on Thursday, Feb. 25. Volunteers are continuing to search the park area and nearby Lake Hodges. The focus of the search for King has been focused on the park area.
Gardner (left) was arrested on a city street in Escondido on Sunday. Investigators said he was being questioned about the King disappearance, but he is also a suspect in the Dec. 27 disappearance of a jogger in the same park. He is also a suspect, police said, in the disappearance of 14-year-old Amber Dubois who vanished while walking to Escondido High School in 2009.
As of late Sunday, no charges had been filed against Gardner.
"This investigation is ongoing and specific criminal charges are still being determined," Sheriff Bill Gore told reporters.
Brent and Kelly, Chelsea's parents, reported her missing after she failed to return from a jog in the park. Her car was found in the park parking lot. Her cell phone was found inside the car, police reports said.
