| Costs in Chinese factories rising, cheaper markets eyed
The higher costs mean Western consumers are bound to face steeper prices for iPods, TVs, tank tops and many other imported products made by small Chinese subcontractors. "Americans continue to want to buy at lower prices," said Kevin Burke, president and CEO of the American Apparel and Footwear Association. "They are used to going to the store during Christmas and getting something cheaper than a year ago." That's no longer a sure thing. For instance, American toy makers, who rely heavily on Chinese factories, expect prices to increase 5 to 10 percent for the 2008 holiday season, largely because of rising manufacturing costs. Costs in China are climbing nationwide, but the greatest pain is being felt in the south, where about 14,000 Hong Kong-run factories could close in the next few months, said Polly Ko of the Economic and Trade Office in Guangdong, which neighbors Hong Kong.
Teen cyclist hit by bus had big dreams
Austin Miller's family gathered around a computer to watch one of the early works of the budding 15 year old filmmaker. "He wrote it, shot it, directed it, did all the editing," said his mother, Stephanie Miller. "He was unbelievably creative." But the family watched the short film with damp eyes. Austin Miller was killed Monday afternoon as he rode his bike home from school at the Arts and Communication Magnet Academy. The teen was hit by a TriMet bus that was pulling into a stop at on Farmington just west of Murray. .
CREATIVE CLASSROOMS
Set up four years ago, the school is up to class VI but will extend to class XII next year and will follow both the ICSE Board and the International Baccalaureate system.
The classrooms are colourful, their walls decorated with paintings done by students. The objective is to create fun and rewarding learning experiences that would last the children the rest of their learning lives, points out Vael Principal R. Meenakshi. The classrooms do not have more than 20 students each and the stress is more on practical stuff, less on theory. So, the children learn what a cold sensation is in a rather pleasurable way: by visiting an ice cream parlour. A lesson in personal hygiene is given in a beauty parlour and another on fitness in a gym. There are special days like the creepy crawly day, when children learn about insects and a noodle doodle day when they help teachers to make noodles and colour them.
Wis. College to Give Bikes to Freshmen
(AP) RIPON, Wis. - A tiny liberal arts college here hopes it has found an answer to a nagging shortage of campus parking: a bicycle giveaway. If incoming freshmen promise not to bring a car to campus for a full year, Ripon College will give them a Trek 820 mountain bike, a helmet and a lock _ a $400 value. "We're a residential college with a beautiful, historic campus in the middle of a small town," said President David Joyce, an avid cyclist. "Paving it over was not an option I was willing to consider." He hopes the 1,000-student campus' "Velorution Program" will protect it from building more parking lots. "We obviously live in a car culture. That's not about to change," Joyce said. "But if a significant number of students learn that a car isn't a necessity at this stage of their lives, that's good enough for me." Last fall, for the first time in Ripon College history, the number of parking permit applications exceeded the 400 permits available, Joyce said.
February 2008
But given the regime's track record, Iran's possible involvement with the cell is worth exploring further. Indeed, this story is worth investigating further--as are the possible ties between Iran and Hezbollah on the one hand, and al Qaeda's 9/11 hijackers on the other. As I wrote in my latest piece, the 9/11 Commission found that Iran and Hezbollah may have facilitated travel for a majority of the 9/11 hijackers in a manner very similar to this Bahraini al Qaeda cell. The Commission called for further investigation into the matter, but we are still waiting. If any such investigation is ever begun, the story of this Bahraini cell should also be looked into. The pattern of behavior is very similar. Posted by Thomas Joscelyn at 05:42 PM | Permalink | E-mail the author | E-mail article .
Helmet hoopla alive on slopes; Protective headgear remains optional ...
The debate over whether ski helmets are necessary and should be mandatory remains a hot issue in the dead of winter on area ski slopes. On any given day, skiers can put themselves in harm's way, but that doesn't mean they all wear protective equipment. Erica Stewart has been skiing since she was four years old and not once has she worn a helmet. "I don't do anything crazy enough to need one," said Stewart, 25, during a recent ski day at Snow Valley, near Barrie. "I'm a conservative skier, which means I go slow." While she doesn't wear a helmet, Stewart said they are a good idea and admitted she probably should wear one. Matt Sgro, also 25, just purchased a helmet. He wanted to hit the snow park at Snow Valley to try some jumps and tricks on the pipes.
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