Storms, Storms and other Poopy Things!

Teaching Overseas
There’s more to teaching overseas than paying off those student loans
Vue Weekly

Immediately following four years of university, few people are psyched for the prospect of getting a real career, settling into a mortgage and paying off those sizeable student loans. It’s pretty easy to understand the desire for adventure: the spirit of adventure is encouraged in institutions of higher learning, and unfettered from the routine of classes many people want to, to quote a friend of mine, “do something crazy and exciting.”


It seems that everyone knows at least someone who has taught English overseas, but not many people are clear on what actually goes on over there, and there are a lot of misconceptions for would-be teachers about the reality overseas.

It should be obvious that every country has a different system—what with them being autonomous and all—but a lot of people incorrectly assume they’re all the same. The qualifications that you’ll need depend on the country you wish to teach in.

If you want to teach in China, Indonesia or in many Arabic countries, you only need to have been born in a country that speaks English. If you want to teach in some other countries, including Japan or South Korea, you will need a degree; however, it doesn’t really matter what the degree is in. Surprisingly, you don’t need any real training in teaching English as a Second Language (ESL), unless you want to go to places like Hong Kong or Prague. You will need some kind of certification to get a higher-up position in any country, though. Read More...


The Shit's About to Hit the Fan!!!!!

Kevin's VLog#8


Massive blizzard could last up to 36 hours
CTV News
Eastern Canada is seeing the first traces of a storm that could bring up to 50 centimetres of snow before Saturday night, just days after the region recovered from a serious winter wallop.

Environment Canada has issued storm warnings for much of Ontario, Quebec, calling for massive snowfalls across the region and freezing rain in some locations.

The storm system pounded the United States on Friday, slamming unlikely southern places like Texas and Alabama, and spawning tornadoes in Florida before up the Eastern Seaboard and into Ontario. Snowfall began in southern Ontario on Friday afternoon, with the system expected to build to a crescendo Saturday afternoon, when the majority of the precipitation is expected.

The storm could last for up to 36 hours, say forecasters. More...


Ottawa's winter, by the numbers
Ottawa Citizen
First snowfall: Nov. 20
Number of days since first snow: 108
Number of days with snow: 83
Number of days without snow: 25
Number of days with snow cover: 108
Number of events with 10 or more centimetres: 10

Average number of 10-plus-centimetre events: 4
Average March snowfall: 39.8 centimetres
March snowfall to date: 47 centimetres
Number of teaching days in March if there are no more snow days: 13 secondary, 12 elementary
Number of school snow days to date: 5
Average number of snow days annually: 3
City snow-removal equipment: 700 plows and trucks
Snow removal budget 2008: $65 million
Snow removal budget 2007: $62 million; overspent by $5.2 million
Amount of salt used: 220,000-plus tonnes
Average amount of salt used: 150,000 tonnes
Amount of snow moved: 2.4 million cubic metres
Latest recorded snowfall in Ottawa: June 27, 1950
Latest measurable snowfall: May 25, 1961, 2.3 cm
Latest and heaviest snowfall: May 10, 1963, 15 cm
Number of days to spring: 15 (including today)
Original...


Japanese whalers clash with activists in Antarctic
Mainichi
TOKYO (AP) -- Anti-whaling activists threw rotten butter and bottles containing an unidentified liquid at a Japanese whaling vessel in the Antarctic Friday, and the Japanese Coast Guard responded by throwing sound-emitting "warning balls" back at the activists.

A leading protester claimed he was shot at but was saved from injury by his bulletproof vest. Japanese authorities denied firing any gun shots.

The high seas clash is the latest incident involving the anti-whaling Sea Shepherd group and a fleet of Japanese whalers now in Antarctic waters on their annual hunt.

In this photo released by The Institute of Cetacean Research, anti-whaling activists aboard the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society ship throw glass bottles purportedly containing butyric acid and other substances towards the Japanese whaling factory ship Nisshin-Maru in Antarctic waters on Friday. (AP Photo/The Institute of Cetacean Research, HO)
Read the rest of this story....



Love Grows 'Ugly' for U.S.-Korean Couple
series of plush toys inspired by love letters between an American man and a Korean woman has become a huge hit with sales of more than 100 million units. The toys are called Ugly Dolls and are the creation of illustrator David Horvath, 36, and his wife Kim Sun-min, 30.
With their iconic big heads and short legs, Ugly Dolls became famous after Hollywood celebrities including Robin Williams, Christina Aguilera, Ashlee Simpson and Paris Hilton said on TV they would give them as gifts to family and friends.

The dolls were also used as props in the film "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium" starring Dustin Hoffman and featured on NBC's "Today Show." U.S. newspapers and magazines have interviewed Horvath and Kim.

The dolls are a product of their love. The couple met at Parsons School of Design in 1997, but Kim returned home to Korea upon graduation in 2001. They kept in touch and their relationship flowered by mail. Horvath, meanwhile, worked on his dream of creating toys better than Barbie or Power Rangers. He created some characters and contacted several toy companies, but found no success.
Read more...


Nova Expanding Into University Education?
Let's Japan
Strange but true, g.education announced plans to open a Nova school on the campus of Aichi Gakuin University in April.

According to the Mainichi Shimbun, the opening of a private business on a university campus is almost unheard of. The article notes that the president of g.communication, Masaki Inayoshi, is a graduate of Aichi Gakuin and apparently this connection was used to help set up a Nova school with the university in order to boost the English ability on campus. The new Nova school will use the current 9-level curriculum and offer lessons at a discount to university staff and students.

Comment: Nothing says "excellence in education" like doing business with an old and broken brand that ripped off, abused, and deceived its customers. How is this a good thing for a university? More importantly, what does this say about the the campus's Faculty of Letters? Original