Adam Clare

Work to Live, Don’t Live to Work

Workers are now leaning towards wanting more leisure time and freedom from work than more money. I really like this new attitude, because I don’t understand the appeal of being more and more stressed out from work.

“Given their choice of unconventional benefits, 33 percent of employees would select a more flexible work schedule.

Twenty-two percent would choose additional family benefits, including parental leaves and personal days, over job training (13 percent) or supplemental insurance (16 percent).

“People are more interested in having a well-balanced life,” Buchenroth said”

Randomly Generated Education

A handheld deceived used by a teacher can encourage better learning by randomly generating names to call on in class. The device was created to try to get teachers to call on girls as much as boys so all can learn equally, but an additional benefit is that it helps to keep kids focused.

Maybe it’s the fear of randomly being called upon to answer questions that keep kids focused, or perhaps the success lies in making everyone feel included.

“When teachers use a handheld computer that randomly selects which student to call on, even shy or reluctant pupils will be included in class discussions–and students pay more attention as a result, the researcher found.”

Kenya to Supply Free AIDS Drug

The president of Kenya has announced that anti-retroviral drugs will now be provided to people with no fees. This is a fantastic way to help fight AIDS, and it’s great that Kenya is continuing its fight against HIV/AIDS since they already have had so much success in the last decade.

“Mwihaki Kimura Muraguri, HIV/Aids programme manager with the African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF) Kenya welcomed the decision as “a critical step”.

“We look forward to seeing reduced costs for treatment support such as lab tests, whose costs are still prohibitive,” he said.”

Municipal Democracy in Action

City Idol is a campaign being run in Toronto that encourages civic participation. Contestants are competing for the chance to run for city council with the backing of the volunteers (and perhaps the other contestants) from City Idol. This idea is run by concerned citizens with no funding from the city.

Everyone is encouraged to come out and vote for the contestants.

City Idol is trying to make democracy fun and engaging!

Disclaimer: I’m running for City Idol, so please come vote for me on June 1 at the Kathedral

Robot Students

Unhealthy students that are confined to a hospital will soon be able to still attend class. Bad news for the kids in one way and good in another. They still have to do their homework and the students can stay in contact with their friends.

Using a robot in the hospital room and another robot in the classroom a student can participate in class. A great use for robots!

“Achim is using a pair of robots–one, called “Mr. Spike,” at his bedside, and its mate, “Mrs. Candy,” in the classroom–to keep up with his schoolwork and his friends for the months he will be bedridden at Blythedale Children’s Hospital in Valhalla, N.Y., just north of New York City.

The robot in the classroom, which displays a live picture of Achim, provides what its inventors call “telepresence”: It gives the boy an actual presence in the classroom, recognized by teachers and classmates. It can move from class to class on its four-wheeled base, and it could even stop at the lockers for a between-periods chat.”