Gamers have been advocating the positive effects of video games for years, but today the industry received a considerably more powerful backer: the President of the United States.
Today President Obama announced the launch of the National STEM Video Game Challenge, which aims to motivate children in science, technology, engineering, and math departments with the use of video games. The challenge is being held by the Joan Ganz Cooney Center and E-Line Media, with the help of the ESA, Microsoft, and AMD.
"Our success as a nation depends on strengthening America’s role as the world’s engine of discovery and innovation," said President Obama. "I applaud partners in the National STEM Video Game Challenge for lending their resources, expertise, and their enthusiasm to the task of strengthening America’s leadership in the 21st century by improving education in science, technology, engineering and math."
There are two competitions in this year's challenge: A Youth Prize, which tasks middle school students with designing their own video game; and a Developer Prize, which challenges game developers to create educational games for young children. The National STEM Video Game Challenge runs until January 5.
Saturday, 18 September 2010
Tuesday, 14 September 2010
School Suspends Boy for Bloodshot Eyes
TROPHY CLUB, Texas - Administrators at Byron Nelson High School in Trophy Club suspended a 16-year-old boy on Tuesday because his eyes were bloodshot and they thought he might have been smoking marijuana. The teen said he was not high. Instead his eyes were red because he had been grieving the loss of his murdered father. Kyler Robertson’s father was stabbed to death on Sunday. His mother honored his wishes and let him go to school on Tuesday to be with his friends. “I am sure he had a lot on his mind going to school. I had asked him not to go to school,” said Cristy Fritz.
Before returning to class Kyler had to go to the office to get a tardy slip. That’s when school employees accused him of being high because he had red and watery eyes. Fritz said she got a call from administrators who told her Kyler would be suspended for three days. “I was pleading with her to understand the severity of the situation, his emotional well being. How could they do this to him at this time? What are the alternatives?” she said.
District spokeswoman Lesley Weaver would not discuss the case with FOX 4, but said when administrators suspect a student is under the influence, a school nurse will observe symptoms like their behavior, odor and their eyes. The district does not actually test students, though. That’s left to the parents. Fritz said she was told by the assistant principal that she could have Kyler tested for drugs within two hours and if it was negative he could return to school. She did just that.
Kyler was allowed to return to class after he showed school administrators a copy of his negative test results. The teen’s mom still wants an apology from administrators and she wants the district to remove the suspension from his permanent record. She is in the process of appealing it. “We had other things to do this week than worry about a three day window for an appeal, a two hour window for a drug test and my son’s reputation and high school career,” she said.
Published : Thursday, 09 Sep 2010, 9:32 PM CDT
Sophia Reza FOX 4 News
Adapted for Web by Tracy DeLatte, myFOXdfw.com
Cut and Pasted by Me.
{via}
Before returning to class Kyler had to go to the office to get a tardy slip. That’s when school employees accused him of being high because he had red and watery eyes. Fritz said she got a call from administrators who told her Kyler would be suspended for three days. “I was pleading with her to understand the severity of the situation, his emotional well being. How could they do this to him at this time? What are the alternatives?” she said.
District spokeswoman Lesley Weaver would not discuss the case with FOX 4, but said when administrators suspect a student is under the influence, a school nurse will observe symptoms like their behavior, odor and their eyes. The district does not actually test students, though. That’s left to the parents. Fritz said she was told by the assistant principal that she could have Kyler tested for drugs within two hours and if it was negative he could return to school. She did just that.
Kyler was allowed to return to class after he showed school administrators a copy of his negative test results. The teen’s mom still wants an apology from administrators and she wants the district to remove the suspension from his permanent record. She is in the process of appealing it. “We had other things to do this week than worry about a three day window for an appeal, a two hour window for a drug test and my son’s reputation and high school career,” she said.
Published : Thursday, 09 Sep 2010, 9:32 PM CDT
Sophia Reza FOX 4 News
Adapted for Web by Tracy DeLatte, myFOXdfw.com
Cut and Pasted by Me.
{via}
Saturday, 11 September 2010
Friday, 10 September 2010
My Little Overreaction Of The Week
The Hasbro FurReal pony is basically a $US270 stuffed animal that wiggles its ears and neighs. Unfortunately for one little boy or girl, it’s apparently the sort of toy that gets blown up by confused bomb squads.
Apparently the folks at Waterbridge Elementary School in Orange County dealt with quite a bit of panic after an abandoned FurReal pony was discovered in a cul-de-sac near the school. The school was placed under lockdown, the authorities were called, and the bomb squad arrived to remove the potential threat—by blowing it up.
Yep. They blew it up. Blew the shit out of it. Because we all know that insidious terrorists love putting bombs into stuffed toys.
And cops love blowing harmless shit up.
Sunday, 5 September 2010
Saturday, 4 September 2010
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