XIAM007 - Making Unique Observations in a Very Cluttered World: 02/21/11

Monday, 21 February 2011

Spanish Nun Kicked Out Of Convent For Using Facebook Too Much -

Facebook gets people in trouble all the time. From ending relationships to derailing careers, the most popular social network in the world is a place where using caution is paramount.
But for one Spanish nun, not even her good deeds were enough to keep her from getting kicked out of her convent because of Facebook.
María Jesús Galán, known as "Sor Internet" or "Sister Internet", told a Spanish newspaper she was asked to leave her convent because she was on Facebook too much.
The 54-year-old Dominican nun spent 34 years at the convent and spearheaded the effort to modernize its archives. She painstakingly transferred the ancient texts to computer and won a local government award in 2008 for her work, The Telegraph in London reported.
Galán said that jealousy from a few of the nuns came to pass and that, in the end, they won, Spain's El País reported on its website. But she told the paper that she didn't want to elaborate further. "Everything has already happened and its not worth it to dwell on the injury," she said in Spanish.

Read more: http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/lifestyle/2011/02/21/sister-internet-maria-jesus-galan-kicked-convent-using-facebook/#ixzz1EdwkAOQK

Michigan orders Detroit Public Schools to make huge cuts - close half of schools - swelling class sizes to 60 students -

State education officials have ordered Robert Bobb to immediately implement a financial restructuring plan that balances the district's books by closing half of its schools, swelling high school class sizes to 60 students and consolidating operations.

This week, Bobb, the district's emergency financial manager, said he is meeting with Detroit city officials and will set up a meeting with Wayne County Regional Educational Service Agency to discuss consolidation opportunities in areas such as finance, public safety, transportation and other areas.

Bobb also is preparing a list of recommended school closures and Friday said layoff discussions are under way and would be announced closer to April, when notices would be issued. "We are moving forward with the plan," he said "Right now my focus is on my transition plan and the DEP (deficit elimination plan)."

Bobb's last day with DPS is June 30. After that, the state plans to install another financial manager who must continue to implement Bobb's plan, according to a Feb. 8 letter from Mike Flanagan, the state superintendent of public instruction.

In the letter, Flanagan said the Michigan Department of Education gave preliminary approval to Bobb's plan to bring the 74,000-student district out of its financial emergency. As a condition of approval, Flanagan said Bobb cannot declare the district in bankruptcy during the remainder of his contract.

Bobb, appointed emergency financial manager in March 2009, filed his deficit elimination plan with the state in January, saying it would wipe out the district's $327 million deficit by 2014. On Feb. 9, he told state lawmakers the plan is the only way DPS "can cut its way out" of its legacy deficit.

At the same time, Bobb said he doesn't believe the proposal is viable because it would drive more students away, exacerbating the district's financial emergency. But on Friday, Bobb confirmed he is working to implement the plan that will shrink the district to 72 schools for a projected 58,570 students in 2014.

"I believe the district can work its way out of these challenges," Bobb said. "It will take some time. I am firm believer we have to continue to make the deep cuts, and they are going to be painful. In the long run, the district will be stronger. There can be no retreat."

Bobb said he continues to work on an alternative plan — one similar to a General Motors-style restructuring — but has yet to release details or announce a sponsor for such a bill.

"Whatever comes out of the transition plan and whatever my new thinking is will be a part of that," he said.

From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20110221/SCHOOLS/102210355/Michigan-orders-DPS-to-make-huge-cuts#ixzz1EdvrhStQ

Florida Mom Forces Son to Wear Sign Announcing "GPA 1.22 ... honk if I need education." -

A Tampa mother is defending her decision to stick her teenage son on a street corner with a sign that says, among other things, "GPA 1.22 ... honk if I need education."
Ronda Holder says she and the boy's father have tried everything to get their 15-year-old to shape up academically. They've offered help, asked to see homework, grounded, lectured him and confiscated his cell phone. James Mond III's indifference at a school meeting last week was the final straw. The next day, Holder made the sign and made her son wear it for nearly four hours.
Experts criticized the move as humiliating and ineffective, and someone reported Holder to the Department of Children and Families.
Holder insists she's fighting for her child's education.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/02/21/florida-mom-forces-son-wear-sign-announcing-122-gpa/#ixzz1EbqxuZUD

Egyptian Man Names Daughter "Facebook" -

So you thought people in this country named their children oddly, with names like "Apple", "Rumer" and "Mathew" with one "T," but one man inEgypt may have topped them all.

Inspired by the roleFacebook played in the recent protests and ultimate overthrow of Egypt's president, the twenty-something year-old man felt a need express his thanks, and and did-so by naming his newborn girl "Facebook."

TechMeme translates the snippet from Al-Ahram (one of the most popular newspapers in Egypt):

A young man in his twenties wanted to express his gratitude about the victories the youth of 25th of January have achieved and chose to express it in the form of naming his firstborn girl “Facebook” Jamal Ibrahim (his name.) The girl’s family, friends, and neighbors in the Ibrahimya region gathered around the new born to express their continuing support for the revolution that started on Facebook. “Facebook” received many gifts from the youth who were overjoyed by her arrival and the new name. A name [Facebook] that shocked the entire world.