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Interview With Lawrence Goldstone, Author Of The Anatomy of Deception
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The Fruit Hunters: A Story of Nature, Obsession, Commerce, and Adventure
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Interview With Joseph Boyden, Author of Through Black Spruce
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Interview with Nino Ricci, Governor-General Award-Winning Author
Moving to college means that students have a new found freedom. As students finally living on your own, you are now in charge of your bed time, meals and sex life.
Although I’m sure you all appreciate not having to leave the door open when you have someone of the opposite sex over, you may still want to get some questions answered by your parents. There are some things about sex that are obvious and then there are somethings that aren’t.
Oh boy oh boy- you almost feel sorry for the silly gal.
The guy in your chem lab finally asked you out and you couldn’t be happier…until you arrive. When Mr Wonderful from across the lab turns into Mr Awful from across the table there’s no way you can handle anything but drinks.
Instead of ordering more drinks to get you through your meal try one of these exit plans from Cosmopolitan before he asks for a good night kiss.
Picking a roommate is never easy… especially if they steal rent money. Huh? Check it out:
If I consider all of the jobs I’ve had, I’ve heard them all”
“That’s not my job.”
“Yeah, no problem.” (If you don’t mean it.)
“Don’t tell anyone I said this, but … ”
“I haven’t had a raise in four years.”
“It’s not my fault.”
“To be honest with you … ”
“Whom did you vote for?”
“I got so trashed last night … ”
“I just didn’t have enough time for that.”
“. . . or else.”
Read more.
CHAPPAQUA, N.Y., Oct. 25 /PRNewswire/ — Every teenager wants to win the dating game. Why should the job game be any different? Teens and the Job Game: Prepare Today-Win it Tomorrow, by former Merrill Lynch Vice President Beverly Slomka, offers teenagers a fresh, new way to think about how to land- and keep-that perfect job.
Teens and the Job Game includes interview tips, sample resumes and cover letters, but it’s much more than a how-to book. Slomka asks readers to consider the whole self-including dress, attitude, self-image, and people skills-in making the transition from school to work. What do employers expect, and how can teens meet those expectations?
When it comes to career planning, the book encourages readers to set realistic goals and to think about the true meaning of success. Is it about making a lot of money, or is there more to it than that? And once you get the dream job, how do you score a perfect ten as an employee? Teens and the Job Game explains how to prepare for the first day of a new job and discusses appropriate workplace behavior, how to handle constructive criticism, corporate ethics, and more. Stories taken from the author’s years of experience in the corporate world provide real-life examples.
Full of concrete suggestions and thought-provoking questions, Teens and the Job Game can be used as a career-planning workbook for individuals or groups. Write-in sections at the end of each chapter reinforce the various topics.
Teens and the Job Game will be released simultaneously in three formats: paperback, hardcover, and e-book, and will be available nationally. For more information, please visit www.teensandthejobgame.com.
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., May 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — When it comes to prom night, parents’ greatest fear for their teens is safety in a motor vehicle — outranking concerns over sexual activity, alcohol consumption and drug use, according to a new Harris Interactive survey commissioned by DaimlerChrysler. Nearly two-thirds (63%) of parents indicated a driving related concern as their top worry for their teens on prom night, including drinking and driving (32%), car crashes (23%) and reckless driving (8%).
Overall, teen driving safety continues to be a top concern for parents of teenagers. Compared to other health or safety risks, such as pregnancy, suicide, drug or alcohol abuse, nearly half (43%) of parents of teens ages 15-18 point to driving safety issues as their primary worry — referencing driving safely and motor vehicle crashes.
Motor vehicle crashes are the No. 1 killer of teens. More than 450,000 teen passengers and drivers were injured and more than 5,500 died as a result of vehicle crashes in 2005. In fact, one third of all 16-year-old licensed drivers were involved in a motor vehicle crash in 2005.
“Prom and graduation nights should be times teens remember for the rest of their lives, yet these celebratory times also combine some of the deadliest factors for motor vehicle crashes: driving late at night, driving with multiple passengers and drinking and driving,” said Eric Ridenour, Chief Operating Officer — Chrysler Group and father of two teenagers. “All of these activities increase a teen’s crash risk. And when you’re looking at multiple risk factors in combination with each other, the chance of getting into a crash increases exponentially.”
To help keep teens safe during prom and graduation season, DaimlerChrysler offers the following safety tips for parents:
-- Take your teen out of the driver's seat and consider alternate
transportation (public transportation, taxi or limo) for the evening.
-- Require your teen and all passengers to always buckle up.
-- Limit the number of passengers with whom your teen drives.
-- Remind teens to take extra care when driving at night.
-- Insist that your teen obey all the rules of the road, including never
speeding.
-- Remember that the legal drinking age is 21. Insist that your teen
never drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or ride in a car
with friends who are under the influence.
Research shows that 50 percent of fatalities that occur with a teen at the wheel happen after dark, even though most teen driving occurs during daylight hours.
Teen drivers, ages 16 and 17, driving with even one teen passenger are 50 percent more likely to be involved in a crash than when driving alone. With two teen passengers in the vehicle, the risk more than doubles. With three or more teen passengers, it’s nearly four times more likely that teens will be involved in a crash than if they were driving alone.
According to the DaimlerChrysler survey conducted by Harris Interactive, parents also expressed concern over teens’ lack of experience with driving. Sixty-four percent (64%) believe that the most common risk factor for teens as it relates to car crashes is the fact that they simply do not have enough experience behind the wheel.
Chrysler Group’s Road Ready Teens (www.roadreadyteens.org) program offers tips and tools for parents to help ease teens into driving, including a free guide that outlines how to set and enforce driving rules at home. Based on research and principles advocated by the nation’s top safety organizations, the program’s tips and tools help teens gain the necessary driving experience and maturity behind the wheel before tackling high-risk driving situations.
The research behind the Road Ready Teens guidelines has been shown to reduce crash risk by nearly one-third. Many of the recommendations that underpin Road Ready Teens have been applied to graduated driver licensing (GDL) laws enacted in most states. However, no state law includes the entire slate of guidelines, which includes a zero tolerance policy for alcohol and drug use, mandatory seat belt use for teens and their passengers, and requires teens to obey all of the rules of the road, including never speeding. States with the strongest GDL laws have seen reductions of teen crashes of up to 25 to 35 percent.
As part of an innovative online public education effort to reach teens with critical messages about driving safety, DaimlerChrysler has released a new online video game, StreetWise Version 2.0. The game uses the latest advances in Internet gaming and graphics to allow teens to experience high- risk situations in an entertaining, safe, virtual environment. In the game, teens learn critical lessons about the consequences of making high-risk decisions while behind the wheel.
Road Ready Teens provides teens with safe driving resources in a method that is most likely to attract their attention. Survey results from the study conducted by Harris Interactive indicated that educational materials geared toward driving safety are most likely to catch teens’ attention if presented in the form of a DVD/video (63%) or a more interactive medium like a Web site (61%) or a video/computer game (54%).
“We want to be able to reach teens where they are already,” said Ridenour. “In developing StreetWise Version 2.0, we have created an interactive method to deliver critical safe driving messages to teens through the Web in a fun and innovative way.”
To raise awareness of safe driving among teens during prom and graduation season, DaimlerChrysler is sponsoring an online sweepstakes featuring StreetWise Version 2.0. Teens will be able to play StreetWise Version 2.0 and enter to win prizes. The sweepstakes will run from May 3 through June 14, 2007 at www.roadreadysweeps.com.
Road Ready Teens materials, including StreetWise Version 2.0, a Parent’s Guide and other resources, are available at no cost on the program’s Web site at www.roadreadyteens.org.
NEW YORK, April 24 /PRNewswire/ — Teens(1) today feel a lot of pressure to look good at prom and admit appearance, especially with their skin, will affect whether or not they have a good time. About half of teens said the appearance of their skin will affect their experience at the prom (56 percent) and having beautiful, clear skin is important to how they look on prom night (52 percent).
In terms of looking good, having beautiful, clear skin (52 percent) is just as important to teens as having the perfect dress/tuxedo (55 percent), having the perfect hairstyle/cut (51 percent), and being in shape (50 percent). Over half (56 percent) of teens believe the appearance of their skin will affect their experience at prom. About a third (36 percent) say that they would consider skipping the prom entirely if they had severe acne that day.
“Acne is a seriously big deal with the potential for devastating effects on emotions and functioning. We need to hear teens, understand their pain, and respond with solutions that work well,” says Dr. Rick Fried, MD, Ph.D., internationally recognized dermatologist/clinical psychologist and author of “Healing Adult Acne: Your Guide to Clear Skin and Self-Confidence.”
Teens felt so strongly about attending prom with beautiful, clear skin that over half (56 percent) said they’d be wiling to give up watching TV or talking on the telephone/cell phone for a week to obtain “prom-ready” skin (defined as skin that is beautiful and clear and free from acne). In addition, survey results indicate that the appearance of skin also plays a role on the selection of a potential prom date. About two-thirds (66 percent) of teens would not go with someone with severe acne, while only 55 percent would not go with someone who is overweight and only 17 percent would not go with someone who was not popular.
Doctors say there is no need for teens to feel helpless if they are suffering from breakouts. There are simple and effective ways to manage acne. Teens should speak to their doctor to learn how to properly manage their skin. Visit www.takechargeofyouracne.com for more information on how to take charge of your skin today for “prom-ready” skin.
About the Survey
This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of Galderma Laboratories, L.P., makers of the Differin® line of acne-treatment products, between February 20 and 26, 2007 among 1,009 teens (aged 13 through 18) who are in grades 7 to 12 and have a prom or spring dance at their school. Figures for age, sex, race/ethnicity, parent’s education, region, urbanicity, and household income were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents’ propensity to be online.
With a pure probability sample of 1,009, one could say with a ninety-five percent probability that the overall results would have a sampling error of +/- 5 percentage points. Sampling error for data based on sub-samples would be higher and would vary. However, that does not take other sources of error into account. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no theoretical sampling error can be calculated.
About Galderma Laboratories, L.P.
Created in 1981 as a joint venture between Nestle and L’Oreal, Galderma Laboratories is the number one dermatology company in the world according to recent IMS D-Class survey. With a worldwide presence in 65 countries Galderma has over 1,000 sales representatives dedicated to dermatology. Galderma is a fully integrated specialty pharmaceutical company with a global sales and marketing structure and worldwide product development capability. Galderma provides innovative therapeutic skincare solutions to meet the needs of dermatology patients and physicians. The company is committed to improving the health of skin with an extensive line of products that treat a range of skincare conditions including: acne, rosacea, fungal nail infections, psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, hyper-pigmentation disorders, non-melanoma skin cancer and photo-damage.
With a new research facility in Sophia Antipolis, France Galderma has one of the largest research facilities dedicated to dermatology. Galderma is also poised to continue making significant impact on dermatology treatments with the introduction of exciting technology and products on the horizon. For more information see www.galdermaUSA.com.
ANN ARBOR, Mich., March 23 /PRNewswire/ — Facebook. YouTube. Wikipedia. Flickr. They’re the user-created stuff of Web 2.0 — also known as social computing — that have changed the way people interact with computers and each other.
Developing a formal understanding of the underlying dynamics at play and the critical technology choices has required a patchwork of academic courses at a select few institutions.
Now the University of Michigan School of Information (SI) offers students the nation’s first graduate-degree specialization in social computing through the Master of Science in Information.
SI faculty have been leaders in inventing and analyzing many of the underlying techniques that have powered the rise of social computing, including recommender systems, reputation systems, prediction markets, social network analysis, online communities, and computer-supported cooperative work.
The specialization is one of nine the School offers — six of which are newly launched — that prepare students for careers in long-established and newly emerging fields.
“Our specializations give students more choice and more flexibility than ever before,” says Judy Lawson, director of academic and career services. “They also respond to the needs of organizations in hot fields like social computing. Employers want graduates with a deep understanding of how to manage information and at the same time make it easily accessible to users. SI is staying ahead of the curve.”
In addition to Social Computing, the School offers specializations in:
– Incentive-Centered Design — Teaches the art of designing systems or institutions to align individual incentives with overall organizational goals. It draws deeply from economics, psychology, and sociology, with computer science as a unifying thread.
– Community Informatics — Prepares students for positions as public interest information professionals and technical leaders for nonprofit organizations, government agencies, community development agencies, and entrepreneurial social ventures.
– Information Analysis and Retrieval — Teaches how information is stored in computer systems, how it is searched and analyzed, and how humans access it.
– Preservation of Information — Identifies preservation challenges and standards-based preservation practices and responds to the urgent need for expertise in preservation, digital curation, and Web archiving.
– Information Policy — Prepares students to analyze and design information policy at both the organizational and general public policy level.
– Library and Information Services — Prepares students for all aspects of librarianship. Students may also choose a track for careers in K-12 school media.
– Archives and Records Management — Teaches concepts and techniques to manage historical materials as well as methods that can be applied in information systems design to support integrity, authenticity, access, and long-term preservation of records.
– Human-Computer Interaction — Educates the professional who designs and develops technologies that fit the organization and work practices, the work to be done, and the capabilities of the user.
The multidisciplinary School of Information has a rich history of innovative teaching and path-breaking research. The School also offers dual master’s degrees in business, law, medicine, nursing, public policy, and social work, and a Ph.D. in information.
Details about the School are available at si.umich.edu/go or by calling (734) 763-2285.
NEW YORK, Feb. 6 /PRNewswire/ — CondeNet today announces the launch of Flip (http://www.flip.com), a new site for teen girls. Flip.com provides teens with an innovative way to express themselves and connect with each other online. More than just another social network, Flip offers its users powerful but easy-to-use interactive tools, inspiration from experts and editors to spark their imagination, and a stage on which to showcase their talents.
At the heart of Flip are Flipbooks — customizable, multimedia scrapbooks/zines/journals that Flip members make and share. Users can upload their own photos, songs, and videos as well as choose from a large collection of stickers, wallpaper, animations, and music provided on the site. Flip members can draw, write, add a sound track, rotate and size elements, add pages, and even choose page transitions. The result is a more powerful and personal way for girls to express themselves than anything else currently online.
“Flip combines social networking with online scrapbooking, and it’s clearly an addictive mix,” said Jamie Pallot, Editorial Director, CondeNet. “The results so far are amazing — girls have made beautiful, funny, moving Flipbooks about everything from Barack Obama to their favorite indie rock bands. The level of creativity and ingenuity we’re seeing is really impressive.”
While the majority of the Flip experience is created by its users, CondeNet has developed four channels that reflect key areas of teen girls’ lives and interests. These are: My Life; Entertainment; Style; and The World. Each section highlights editorial content, members, Flipbooks, and clubs specific to that category. Another special section of Flip, titled Projects & Contests, gives members ideas, inspiration, and incentives to create Flipbooks and offers the chance to be recognized for their work.
Flip is free to members, with a focused group of advertisers participating as sponsors. Like those involved in the creation of Flip, these sponsors are interested in forging a deeper connection and conversation with teen girls. While there will be no advertising content within or around Flipbooks themselves, each sponsor is offering a range of assets related to their brands (i.e., graphics, logos, photography) in Flip Media, so girls can use them as further fodder for Flipbook creation.
“The site was created to meet the needs of both teen girls and marketers, without compromising the product for either,” said Sarah Chubb, President, CondeNet. “Our advertising approach allows teens to connect with marketers in a very natural way, where the ads are truly a desirable part of the content of the site.”
Advertisers currently partnering with Flip include Clean & Clear®, Nike, Nordstrom, PacSun, and Vera Wang Princess. In addition to the editorial project ideas that CondeNet will frequently post in the Projects & Contests section, special featured contests will also be sponsored by site advertisers.
The Technology Behind Flip
To provide a unique experience for users, Flip uses some of the most current technologies available to create and manipulate content online. The site was built on Java/J2EE, Flash, and OpenSource Technologies/Frameworks. In addition, the site uses advanced Flash technologies such as Flex to enhance the interactive experience and bring the “feel” of scrapbook pages to life.
Safety and Security for Teens Using Flip Safety is a top priority for Flip. The site is taking a number of approaches to safety, including:
-- Clear Messaging: Internet safety tips for users, Community Rules, and a Note to Parents and Guardians will be accessible from all site pages. -- Security Features: Email verification is required for registration, and Flip does not ask for or require detailed personal information. Flip also uses sophisticated scanning technology to help identify potentially inappropriate images, videos, and text. -- Moderation: A Community Manager and staff of moderators are responsible for overseeing the content on Flip as well as for determining moderation policies, procedures, and best practices.
In addition, Flip has partnered with WiredSafety.org, the largest online safety, education, and help group in the world, and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, to provide tools and resources for members so they can have a safer experience online.
About Flip
Flip, a new site for teen girls from CondeNet, provides girls with an innovative way to be creative, express themselves, and connect with each other online. The heart of Flip is the Flipbook — customizable, multimedia scrapbooks/zines/journals that girls make and share. Users can upload their own photos, songs, and videos as well as choose from a large collection of stickers, wallpaper, animations, and music that Flip provides them. Through the use of a set of interactive tools, Flipbooks can be designed however members choose. They can draw, write, add a sound track, rotate and size elements, add pages, choose page transitions, and more. In addition to making Flipbooks, girls can also create profiles; start and join clubs; send and receive messages; share and comment on each other’s stuff; and chat on message boards. Find Flip on the Web at http://www.flip.com.
