| Student's death at NYOS School investigated
For the first time, state agencies are speaking about the investigation into a little boy's fatal injury at school. Friends and family are preparing to lay 7-year-old Tevin Park-Flowers to rest, more than a week after a teacher found him suspended from a bathroom hook at NYOS Charter School.Police were first on scene when the teacher found Tevin in cardiac arrest, but the investigation extends beyond the Austin Police Department."Anytime there's a concern with a possibility of abuse or neglect at school... CPS conducts that investigation," said Chris Van Deusen, spokesperson for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, the parent agency of CPS.Like police, CPS is interviewing students, staff, and parents."We operate completely on the civil side of the law, and it's really about making sure children are safe," said Van Deusen.It will likely take more than two months for CPS to complete its report, which will be sent to NYOS and state education authorities, including the Texas Education Agency.
Heat Pumps 'Go With The Flow' To Boost Output
ScienceDaily (Jan. 29, 2008) Air-source heat pumps typically deliver 1 1/2 to three times more heating energy to a home than the electric energy they consume. This is possible because heat pumps move heat rather than convert it from a fuel (as combustion heating systems do). National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) researchers are working to improve the performance of these energy superstars even further by providing engineers with computer-based tools for optimizing heat exchanger designs. .
Freon leak prompts evacuation of Bell Helicopter plant
Hundreds of Bell Helicopter employees evacuated the engineering building in Hurst on Monday after an air-conditioning system component sprung a freon leak. About 500 pounds of R-22 refrigerant, an odorless, colorless and nontoxic gas, was released. Bell spokesman Mike Cox said the evacuation was orderly and no employees were injured. -- Bob Cox Internet traffic restored on two cut undersea cables CAIRO, Egypt -- Traffic has returned to normal on two undersea Internet cables in the Mediterranean Sea and Persian Gulf, cable owner FLAG Telecom said Monday. The cables were cut last month, causing disruptions across the Middle East and parts of Asia. But the fate of a third cut cable, off Alexandria, Egypt, was still unknown. -- The Associated Press Continental employees to receive $158 million in profit sharing HOUSTON -- Continental Airlines said Monday it will pay a record $158 million in profit sharing Thursday to employees, based on the carrier's 2007 results.
The Michael
My sister was playing Dr. Mario on the gameboy and I was playing with a laser pointer. I had forgotten how much fun it was to play with the laser pointer, because I played with it for quite a while. Things I did with the laser pointer: I spun around in the computer chair with the laser in hand making squiggles on the wall. Lifted the window shade to see how far I could shine the laser outside. Shined the laser on the gravel at the bottom of the fish aquarium. The fish actually tried to eat the red dot! Made cool laser light shows by shining the laser on different shiny surfaces. If you need something to do tonight find a laser pointer. .
Edison Offers Resolutions for an Energy Efficient 2008
OSEMEAD, Calif. Southern California Edison (SCE) wishes its customers a peaceful New Year with these 10 ideas to make their homes more energy efficient throughout the year. Conservation is always in season, said Gene Rodrigues, SCEs director of energy efficiency. Were the nations leading utility for energy efficiency because our customers do such a great job of conserving energy with the many programs and services we offer. We hope that everyone, no matter where they live, can use these ideas for a greener New Year. SCEs TOP 10 RESOLUTIONS FOR AN ENERGY-EFFICIENT 2008 1. Light up your life: Pledge to switch out at least one regular incandescent bulb for a CFL at www.sce.com/cfl. CFLs now come in a variety of light qualities and shapes.
'Social business' the next big idea
Muhammad Yunus won the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize for popularizing microcredit, loans as small as $5 that help people -- almost all women -- start businesses and escape poverty.
Now, Yunus, whose Grameen Bank has lent more than $6 billion to nearly 8 million people in his native Bangladesh alone, is putting forward a new idea: "social business." In his new book, "The End of Poverty," he argues that instead of measuring financial profits, social businesses would measure success by their positive social impact and, ultimately, help wipe out poverty.
In an interview with the Tribune, Yunus put forward his ideas. An edited transcript follows.
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