SALT LAKE CITY – When winter comes to Utah and atmospheric conditions trap a soup of pollutants close to the ground, doctors say it turns every resident in the Salt Lake basin into the equivalent of a cigarette smoker.
For days or weeks at a time, an inversion layer in which high pressure systems can trap a roughly 1,300-foot-thick layer of cold air — and the pollutants that build up inside it — settles over the basin, leaving some people coughing and wheezing.
"There's no safe level of particulate matter you can breathe," said Salt Lake City anesthesiologist Cris Cowley, who is among a number of Utah doctors raising the alarm over some of the nation's worst wintertime air.
The doctors and a lobby group of Utah mothers are blaming a company that mines nearly a mile deep in the largest open pit in the world for contributing one-third of Salt Lake County's pollution. The rest is from tailpipe and other emissions.
They have filed a lawsuit against Kennecott Utah Copper, accusing it of violating the U.S. Clean Air Act. The company operates with the consent of state regulators who enforce the federal law.
The company is the No. 1 industrial air polluter along Utah's heavily populated 120-mile Wasatch Front and operates heavy trucks and power and smelter plants. It says the claims are "without merit."
Kennecott cites the blessing of Utah regulators for expanded operations and new controls that hold emissions steady.
Utah's chief air regulator, however, acknowledged Kennecott is technically violating a 1994 plan adopted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that limited the company to hauling 150 million tons of ore a year out of the Bingham Canyon Mine.
Utah has twice allowed the company to exceed that limit, most recently to 260 million tons, as the company moves to expand a mine in the mountains west of Salt Lake City. In each case, Utah sought EPA's consent, but the EPA didn't take any action.
The lawsuit could force EPA's hand, said Bryce Bird, director of the Utah Division of Air Quality.
Bird said the old limit would defeat changes Kennecott made to curb dust and emissions since 1994.
The EPA rules that set production instead of emissions limits puts many companies in a similarly "awkward position" and undermines confidence in Utah's air pollution permits, Bird said.
Kennecott disputes the doctors' figure and says it contributes about 16 percent of Salt Lake County's overall emissions.
An examination by The Associated Press of emissions figures provided by Kennecott to state regulators shows the company's share of pollutants ranges from 65 percent of Salt Lake County's sulfur dioxide emissions to 18 percent of its particulates.
Particulates are tiny flecks of dust that doctors say can attract heavy metals. The particulates are ingested through the nose and lungs and can become lodged in brain tissue. They are especially damaging to the development of children.
Medical research has found that the first few minutes of exposure to air pollution does the most damage, with many people's bodies able to react and fight off longer bouts of exposure, the doctors said.
Yet exposure to dust, soot and gaseous chemicals constricts vessels and send blood pressure soaring, making some people's hearts flutter and spiking emergency hospital visits while putting fetuses in the womb at risk, the doctors say.
"Rio Tinto is making our blood vessels act as if they were seven years older," said Dr. Claron Alldredge, an opthamologist at LDS Hospital. "One year after returning to Utah after practicing elsewhere, I began to have high blood pressure myself."

Kennecott is a subsidiary of the international mining conglomerate Rio Tinto, which posts billions of dollars of profit a year and can afford to clean up its act, said Cherise Udell, founder of Utah Moms for Clean Air.

"This is not an attempt to shut down their mine," she said.

Kennecott said its takes improving air quality seriously, and Bird noted that while Kennecott is Salt Lake County's largest industrial source of air pollution, it has accomplished the largest reductions through better emissions controls.

"Kennecott has and continues to operate within the parameters of its air permits and is consistently in compliance with U.S. EPA and Utah Division of Air Quality regulations, which are based on strict standards for protecting human health," the company said.

The doctors are members of Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment, which joined Udell's group in the lawsuit filed at Salt Lake City's federal court last week by lawyers for WildEarth Guardians of Santa Fe, N.M.

TOKYO – Japan's response to the nuclear crisis that followed the March 11 tsunami was confused and riddled with problems, including an erroneous assumption an emergency cooling system was working and a delay in disclosing dangerous radiation leaks, a report revealed Monday.
The disturbing picture of harried and bumbling workers and government officials scrambling to respond to the problems at Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant was depicted in the report detailing a government investigation.
The 507-page interim report, compiled by interviewing more than 400 people, including utility workers and government officials, found authorities had grossly underestimated tsunami risks, assuming the highest wave would be 6 meters (20 feet). The tsunami hit at more than double those levels.
The report criticized the use of the term "soteigai," meaning "outside our imagination," which it said implied authorities were shirking responsibility for what had happened. It said by labeling the events as beyond what could have been expected, officials had invited public distrust.
"This accident has taught us an important lesson on how we must be ready for soteigai," it said.
The report, set to be finished by mid-2012, found workers at Tokyo Electric Power Co., the utility that ran Fukushima Dai-ichi, were untrained to handle emergencies like the power shutdown that struck when the tsunami destroyed backup generators — setting off the world's worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl.
There was no clear manual to follow, and the workers failed to communicate, not only with the government but also among themselves, it said.
Finding alternative ways to bring sorely needed water to the reactors was delayed for hours because of the mishandling of an emergency cooling system, the report said. Workers assumed the system was working, despite several warning signs it had failed and was sending the nuclear core into meltdown.
The report acknowledged that even if the system had kicked in properly, the tsunami damage may have been so great that meltdowns would have happened anyway.
But a better response might have reduced the core damage, radiation leaks and the hydrogen explosions that followed at two reactors and sent plumes of radiation into the air, according to the report.
Sadder still was how the government dallied in relaying information to the public, such as using evasive language to avoid admitting serious meltdowns at the reactors, the report said.
The government also delayed disclosure of radiation data in the area, unnecessarily exposing entire towns to radiation when they could have evacuated, the report found.
The government recommended changes so utilities will respond properly to serious accidents.
It recommended separating the nuclear regulators from the unit that promotes atomic energy, echoing frequent criticism since the disaster.
Japan's nuclear regulators were in the same ministry that promotes the industry, but they will be moved to the environment ministry next year to ensure more independence.
The report acknowledged people were still living in fear of radiation spewed into the air and water, as well as radiation in the food they eat. Thousands have been forced to evacuate and have suffered monetary damage from radiation contamination, it said.
"The nuclear disaster is far from over," the report said.
The earthquake and tsunami left 20,000 people dead or missing.

___

Follow Yuri Kageyama on Twitter at http://twitter.com/yurikageyama

NASA spacecraft are beaming home some festive photographic treats, just in time for the holidays.

One shot, taken by NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), captures a star-forming nebula that resembles a Christmas wreath. If you squint a little, the nebula's red dust cloud could be a bow, and the bluish-white stars look like silver bells.

The nebula is called Barnard 3, and it's found in the Perseus constellation. The star in the center of the red cloud, known as HD 278942, is so bright that it's lighting up most of the surrounding clouds. The red cloud is probably composed of dust that's cooler and more metallic than the material in surrounding regions, researchers said.

The different colors in the WISE image represent different wavelengths of infrared light. Blue and blue-green represent wavelengths of 3.4 and 4.6 microns, both of which come chiefly from stars. Green and red denote light from 12 and 22 microns, respectively, which are mostly emitted by dust, researchers said. [See the space Christmas photos]

WISE launched in December 2009 on a mission to survey the sky in infrared light. The telescope shut down in February of this year, after taking about 1.8 million images of cosmic objects and discovering more than 33,000 new asteroids. Researchers are still sifting through the huge amounts of data WISE collected during its observational life.

NASA's Saturn-studying Cassini probe has also delivered a photographic holiday package. Two newly released Cassini images show three of Saturn's frigid moons hanging in space like gaudy cosmic ornaments, girded by the massive planet's magnificent rings.

The natural-color photos depict Titan, Saturn's largest satellite. In each of them, a second, icy moon — Dione in one case, Tethys in the other — is visible in the distance behind the haze-enshrouded Titan.

While Earth's northern hemisphere is just now shifting into winter, it's currently northern spring in the Saturn system and will remain so for several years. Northern summer is due to arrive in 2017, and Cassini should be around to see the seasons change. NASA has extended the mission of the spacecraft, which launched in 1997 and arrived at Saturn in 2004, through 2017.

"As another year traveling this magnificent sector of our solar system draws to a close, all of us on Cassini wish all of you a very happy and peaceful holiday season," Carolyn Porco, Cassini imaging team lead at the Space Science Institute in Boulder, Colo., said in a statement.

Follow SPACE.com for the latest in space science and exploration news on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.


Space Christmas: Festive Photos of Cosmic Beauty The Rings and Moons of Saturn Amazing Photos: Titan, Saturn's Largest Moon

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Kurt Busch has a new ride.
Busch, who became one of NASCAR's most polarizing figures this past season, will return to the Sprint Cup series in 2012 to drive the No. 51 car for Phoenix Racing and owner James Finch.
Busch told The Associated Press that the deal was finalized late Wednesday night over a few cold Miller Lites in an establishment located "in the shadows of Charlotte Motor Speedway."
"This is a fantastic opportunity to have fun at the cup level and bring this Phoenix Racing team up from where it is," Busch said. "I'm really looking forward to it. I really think this is going to be a lot of fun."
Busch isn't used to working with smaller teams.
He previously drove Fords for Jack Roush and Dodges for Penske, will be behind the wheel of a Chevrolet for Finch, who has been a race team owner since 1990.
Busch parted ways with Penske Racing following a tumultuous season in 2011 in which he clashed with two reporters in Richmond and then was fined $50,000 by NASCAR for profanities directed at ESPN's Jerry Punch and using a hand gesture at the season's final race Nov. 20 in Homestead, Fla.
He said he's looking forward to getting back to his roots in some ways, saying this will be a lot like his days on the Southwest Tour.
"This is a small group of guys with a lot of big hearts," Busch said. "They have to because they know they have to face the big programs. This is going to be an opportunity to have a lot of fun with James Finch, who's great. And they have the Hendrick equipment which helps, too."
A.J. Allmendinger has taken over for Busch in the No. 22 Dodge at Penske.
Busch has won 24 Sprint Cup races, as well as the 2010 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.
Finch is hoping Busch will bring more wins to his team, saying in a release that "all we want to do is win."
"With Kurt we have a shot every week," Finch said. "He's a past champion and he's proven he can win everywhere. Our sponsors are looking forward to Kurt representing their brands. We have excellent equipment and a hard-working group of guys who want that trophy at the end of every race. Kurt's the guy who can deliver it to them."
Finch's No. 51 car finished 30th in points last year with Landon Cassill driving.
Finch's only Sprint Cup victory came in the April 2009 race at Talladega Superspeedway when he employed Brad Keselowski as his driver.
"It's going to be old-school racing, where we show up, race hard and go for the win," Busch said in his release. "And if we don't win, we'll go back to the shop, work hard and do it all over again next week. That's the way we all started racing, and it's great to get back to that."
In the past, Finch has criticized Busch's behavior.
"He needs to simmer down a while," Finch once told ESPN. "There are a lot of people that don't like Kurt. He's never done anything to me personally. He just needs to look in the mirror and see what the problem is."

Now they'll get to work together.

"This is chance to look at life and have fun with it," Busch said.

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Petronas is in talks with several global oil majors including Shell (RDSa.L) and Exxon Mobil (XOM.N) to develop petrochemical plants within its $20 billion refinery complex in southern Malaysia, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter said.

Malaysia's national oil company is also talking to Japanese firms Itochu Corp (8001.T) and Mitsubishi Corp (8058.T) as well as to Dow Chemical Co (DOW.N) -- the largest U.S. chemical maker -- as it seeks to tap surging Asian demand and diversify its earnings, the sources told Reuters.

Petronas (PETR.UL) is expected to make a decision on the partnerships by mid-2012, which signals it is quickly moving beyond the feasibility stage of the project.

"Petronas is getting a lot of interest for the joint venture undertakings," said one source who declined to be identified as the talks are ongoing.

"They have moved to the basic engineering and design stage and after this the tendering process for building the complex will start," the source added.

Petronas, Shell and Mitsubishi officials in Malaysia declined to comment. Itochu, Dow Chemical and Exxon Mobil were not immediately available to comment.

Petronas first unveiled the Refinery and Petrochemicals Integrated Development (RAPID) project in May and has said the complex will be commissioned by end-2016, which both sources said was on track.

The $20 billion complex is to be built in southern Johor state which borders Singapore -- the largest oil trading hub in Asia.

The project is key to Petronas' plan to join the likes of India's Reliance Industries (RELI.NS) in grabbing a larger share in the $395 billion global market for specialty chemicals -- high value raw materials used in products from diapers to higher performance tires and LCD televisions.

"In terms of markets for petrochemicals coming from RAPID, Petronas is aiming for Myanmar, Bangladesh and parts of the subcontinent," said a second source.

"The potential is there as these are huge markets or in the case of Myanmar, just opening up."

RAPID REACH

The RAPID project will include a 300,000 barrel-per-day refinery that produces naphtha, gasoline, jet fuel, diesel and fuel oil. The first source said the crude feedstock would come mostly from Petronas' equity projects in Sudan, Chad and eventually Venezuela instead of Malaysia's own higher quality and expensive crude, domestic production of which is slowing.

The crude feedstock from Petronas equity projects will also be channeled into the petrochemicals and polymer complex, including a 3 million ton-per-year (tpy) naphtha cracker and petrochemical derivatives facility focusing on synthetic rubber.

"Over 1 million tons will be for ethylene and propylene and the rest for high grade specialty chemicals," said the first source.

"Synthetic rubber is a big thing. Nearly 90 percent of a tire is made of synthetic rubber because natural rubber production is declining in Asia, so there is an opportunity for Petronas," the source added.

STRUGGLE OR SURVIVE

The RAPID project gives Petronas' downstream operations a better chance of staying afloat in times of economic downturns and poor margins as it allows Malaysia's only Fortune 500 company to tap into its global feedstock sources, analysts say.


"From a Petronas perspective, there is vertical integration opportunity," said Andrew Wong, lead analyst covering Petronas at Standard & Poor's in Singapore.


"I think the expectation for a recovery in the petrochemical sector in 2011 did not quite happen due to the external factors and there is concern whether the project will come on-stream at a good point in time of the global economic cycle," he added.


Industry players have said Malaysia and Petronas' ramp-up of oil infrastructure in the southernmost tip of the country will create a "Greater Singapore" trading hub that allows the region to keep up with competitors like China.


Petronas is counting on interest from Japanese firms which are looking to relocate their plants or re-invest outside their home base after the March tsunami and earthquake triggered uncertainty over future energy supply, the second source said.


"The interest has particularly been strong from the usual Japanese players in the petrochemical market. This project has started at the right time," the source added.


(Editing by Himani Sarkar)

LOS ANGELES – Apple co-founder Steve Jobs is receiving a posthumous Grammy for his technological innovations in the arts.
Jobs is among a dozen people, music groups or companies receiving honorary awards Feb. 11, the day before the Grammys. He died of cancer in October.
The Grammys are honoring Jobs with one of the group's Trustees Awards, citing the late Apple boss' advancements that "transformed the way we consume music, TV, movies, and books."
Grammy organizers called him a "creative visionary" for Apple Inc. innovations that include the iPod, iPhone and iPad.
Others receiving honorary awards the day before the Grammys include Diana Ross, the Allman Brothers, Glen Campbell, Antonio Carlos Jobim, George Jones, the Memphis Horns and recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder.
___
Online:
http://www.grammy.com

LOS ANGELES – Melanie Amaro has "The X Factor."
The powerful 19-year-old vocalist from Sunrise, Fla., won the Fox talent competition Thursday over soulful 30-year-old singer Josh Krajcik of Wooster, Ohio.
Amaro, who was mentored by judge Simon Cowell and was at one point eliminated then reinstated to the contest, was awarded the grand prize: a $5 million recording contract and a starring role in a Pepsi commercial.
"Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God," Amaro repeated after host Steve Jones announced her as the champion.
Despite continued prodding from Jones, an overly emotional Amaro couldn't quite formulate words when she was revealed to have captured the most viewer votes, and she struggled through tears to reprise Beyonce's "Listen," the soaring ballad that Amaro crooned at her audition and on Wednesday's final performance round.
"I want to say, `America, thank you for giving this girl an opportunity,'" said Cowell.
Krajcik, the struggling single father who delivered a stripped down rendition of "At Last" for his final routine, seemed content with his status as "X Factor" runner-up to Amaro, who was born in the British Virgin Islands.
"Melanie deserves it," Krajcik said. "She has a wonderful voice. I had such an incredible experience here. I got to be myself, sing what I want to sing, and I couldn't be happier."
Chris Rene, the recovering 28-year-old singer-rapper from Santa Cruz, Calif., came in third place.
Before the winner was unveiled, the three finalists crooned classic Christmas tunes, and Justin Bieber, Stevie Wonder, Leona Lewis, Pitbull, Ne-Yo and 50 Cent performed various songs with former contestants. Amaro and Krajcik also dueted on David Bowie's "Heroes."
Unlike "American Idol," the contest was open to both solo singers and groups, and had a lower minimum age of 12 and no upper age limit.
The judges also served as mentors. Cowell represented female vocalists, including Amaro; L.A. Reid headed male singers, including Rene; Nicole Scherzinger was in charge of over-30 singers, including Krajcik; and Paula Abdul helmed the groups.
Despite consistent viewership, "The X Factor" has failed to achieve popularity similar to "Idol," which Cowell left last year to import "The X Factor" from the U.K. to the U.S. Fox announced last month that "X Factor" would return for a second season next fall.
___
Fox is owned by News Corp.
___
AP Entertainment Writer Derrik J. Lang can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/derrikjlang.
___

Online:

http://www.thexfactorusa.com

Sony Ericsson had already announced they’ll be bringing the latest version of Android to their 2011 range of Xperia phones, but hadn’t gone as far to say when this would happen. Today though, they’ve published a post on their official blog giving a basic schedule for the rollout.

The upgrade to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich will be a split into two stages. Beginning in late March and continuing into early April, the Xperia Arc, the Xperia Neo V and the Xperia Ray will be the first devices to receive the new software. Then in late April the Xperia Arc, Xperia Play, Xperia Neo, Xperia Active and Live with Walkman phones will all be added to the list. They’ll also be joined by Sony Ericsson’s pint-sized Xperia Mini and Mini Pro devices too.

As with most software upgrades, not all phones will get the update at the same time, hence the slightly vague windows of release. Users will be alerted to the availability of Ice Cream Sandwich by a notification, and it’ll be delivered either over-the-air or via PC management software.

Last week the company put out an alpha build of Ice Cream Sandwich for developers to test, and included a video of Android 4.0 in action on their range-topping Xperia Arc S smartphone. It’s great to see a manufacturer embrace an Android software upgrade in this way, and it’s proof Google’s “handset unity” program is working this time around.

В



This article was originally posted on Digital Trends





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UN News Service

23 November 2011 – The United Nations envoy for children and armed conflict today secured a commitment from top officials in Somalia’s transitional Government to start a process to end the recruitment and use of children in the country’s armed forces. 

Radhika Coomaraswamy, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, secured the commitment from the President and the Prime Minister during her visit to Mogadishu, the capital, where she also spoke with children who had escaped from the ranks the Al-Shabaab insurgency, which is fighting against the Transitional Federal Government (TFG). 

“Completion of an action plan will ensure that the TFG is child-free,” said Ms. Coomaraswamy. It would also “allow the United Nations to remove the Government from the ‘list of shame’ of parties that commit grave violations against children.” 

During the meeting with Ms. Coomaraswamy, President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali and Defence Minister Hussein Arab Essa recommitted the TFG to the signing and implementation of a Security Council-mandated plan to end the recruitment and use of children in its forces, and pledged to immediately nominate military and civilian focal points within the Government to work with the UN to achieve that goal. 

Ms. Coomaraswamy visited a camp in Mogadishu where Al Shabaab defectors and those who had surrendered are being held. Among them are 37 former child soldiers. She met with a 16-year-old boy who escaped after being trained as a suicide bomber and was injured in battle. 

The boy’s case “highlights the fact that children associated with Al Shabaab are victims,” she said. “They must be transferred rapidly to civilian child protection actors, and be separated as soon as possible from adult Al Shabaab ex-combatants in order to begin the transition back to civilian life.” 

The UN supports programmes for the reintegration of children associated with armed forces and groups. Such programmes promote rehabilitation of children through counselling, back-to-school initiatives and skills-based training, including family reunification. 

In a meeting with Ms. Coomaraswamy, General Fred Mugisha, the commander of the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia (AMISOM), reiterated the force’s commitment to protecting civilians, and children in particular, during military operations. 

He pledged to continue to provide maximum support for efforts to identify and separate children from the TFG forces, including through the appointment of a child protection advisor in AMISOM. 

Ms. Coomaraswamy urged all UN partners to work closely with the TFG, AMISOM, and donors to step up efforts to prevent the recruitment of children, and the release and reintegration of those formerly associated with armed forces and groups. 

“With Mogadishu more secure following the withdrawal of Al Shabaab, the onus is on the international community to assist the Government’s efforts towards stability,” said Ms. Coomaraswamy. 

Both the TFG and Al Shabaab are listed in the Secretary-General’s annual report on children and armed conflict as recruiters and users of child soldiers. Listed parties must sign and implement action plans to end the grave violation or face the possibility of Security Council sanctions. 

The Security Council in June expanded the criteria for offences that can lead to sanctions in Somalia to include grave violations against children.

 

HREA - www.hrea.org

 

Human Rights Education Associates (HREA) is an international non-governmental organisation that supports human rights learning; the training of activists and professionals; the development of educational materials and programming; and community-building through on-line technologies.

Run for Positive Lives

The 1^st Run for HIV and AIDS in the Philippines

“Getting to Zero”

The Philippine NGO Support Program (PHANSuP) in collaboration with the Lifeguide Portal - an informational website for people living with HIV operated by Pinoy Plus, Babae Plus and Positive Action Foundation is undertaking the first ever Run for Positive Lives this coming December 10, 2011.

Yesterday, I have learned that we need to submit our proposal very very soon. Our proposal defense will be last week of November. That means I only have less than a month to finish my Chapters 1, 2 and 3! (Oh my!) I felt a sudden adrenaline rush because I have not yet done anything as of now aside from the thesis title. (By the way my thesis title is “Preparedness of Philippine Open Universities in Offering PhD in Communication Education.)

But yesterday, I was too lazy. (Justification: I am working very hard since Wednesday, including weekends and even beyond office hours. I think I deserve that break. Haha!) I did not dwell into that sudden adrenaline rush, instead, I what I did is I conditioned my mind that I will start doing it now and will finish Chapter 1 in 3 days. Good luck to me!

Thanks to the 3 links that my dear friend Adette sent to me. It surely helped me. Aside from the contents of the link, it also helped me condition my mind and started opening Microsoft Word, typed my thesis title, and continued.

Oh well, at this point, I realized that I am pushing myself very hard. Considering a unique topic is hard already, but considering a sample that includes the whole Philippines might be torturing myself very much. So I decided to limit it. I added “Polytechnic University of the” to the title. Now, it’s “Preparedness of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines- Open University in Offering PhD in Communication Education”.

That sounds a little relief. Reviewing my accomplishments tonight, I am finished writing my objectives/ problems after reading some RRL. Introduction and Background is drafted. I found a good theory and scribbled my framework. Significance and definition is outlined. I guess that makes my Chapter 1 around 35% complete already.

Note: Hayaan nyo na ako sa ilusyon ko please, this motivates me. Haha! Writing during Undas, right after going back from the Cemetery. Haha!

***Gees! Creative writing through a blog after academic writing is a good therapy. :)

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*** I do not know how will this look like.I did this while in transit. Jeepney ride from Trece to Indang. Thanks to my Blackberry for the notes. :) 

 

While working for this video for World Health Organization, I have come to realize a lot of things. Things that I think I won't be able to think of if I did not engage my self here. 

One great realization is that, health systems are important for a nation to grow and prosper. I am not disregarding other social systems. I am also part of the others. But when we talk about health in general, will there be peace and order if the population is unhealthy? Will there be good governance for an unhealthy nation? Health may not be as equally important as other institutions for others. But for me, it should be allocated with as equal priority as education. (I am not saying this because I am part of both fields). 

I am in the field of communication. with this project, I realized the great power that communication plays in any field. True enough, communication, both as an art and a science collaborates with various disciplines. 

There was a line that is said by Dr. Margaret Chan (WHO Director General), "... policies make the difference." Yes, indeed. Even if you conduct all programs and projects with sustainability, you can never get an assurance of its long term impact. But, when we talk of policies that are properly implemented, then, we can be more assured of its sustainable impact. And how are you going to be part of any policy making body? Be part of the government. And that made me think.

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Today, I finally decided to fToday, I finally decided to formally start my hiking adventure towards that mountain called Graduation. Whoo! The first day of the 6-7 month trekking is not that easy!

What I did today: First I submitted my final paper in Research II. I know that what I need to submit is supposed to be the same paper that I need to submit for proposal defense. But due to limited time and resources, I was not able to finish my real paper. So there, I submitted an old research paper that I did in the past and edited it.

What I intend to research is actually about Communication Education. Inspired by my profession right now and flamed by the recently conducted Young Communicators’ Congress, I really wanted to study Communication Education as a major program offering in PhD. of course.

Going back to what I have found out today, I now confirmed to Dr. Gapasin, our Chairperson in Master in Communication (PUP-OU) and hopefully my thesis adviser, if we really passed the comprehensive exams. Well, she did not confirm, but she told us that we can now start writing our paper and submit the proposals ASAP. I think, as I interpret it, it is more than a confirmation. (haha!)

So, there it goes. I started to search about communication education over the internet. And I tell you, it is not easy… never easy… I am becoming a little hopeless, but Dean Angie helped me (so kind of Mama Angie as always). I found this exciting online communication journal (http://ijoc.org/). The first thing that she said to me is that “The idea of offering online PhD courses might be questioned itself” sad.

I need to explore a lot more of things through the Review of related Literature. One thing that inspires me in doing this is the idea that this is exciting (nyahahaha!) and maybe one of the first to research in this topic. Another thing is that what is happening to me is actually a “premonition” of something. Hahaha!

Researching over the net for an hour I found that UP is offering PhD Communication Online. Whoo. I think that saved me a little. :)

Here are the things that I need to work on (sort of like these):

            CHED Memo on PhD in Communication

            CHED Guidelines in MA in Communication

            CHED Memo in Online PhD

            Local studies/ literatures on Communication Education

            Distance Education both local and foreign

 

So help me God reach the apex of mountain on time. :)

 

ormally start my final trekking a

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I do not want this to be very long. 

Who is better: Xyerell Manabat (ABS- CBN's 100 days to Heaven) or Jillan Ward (GMA's Daldalita)? 

It depends. But when we talk about acting, its Xyrell simply because she acts. Again, she ACTS. 

 

lol! :)