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I don’t know if this is supposed to make the rest of us feel like complete imbeciles or what, but India has just come out with a $35.00 laptop. I’m calling Apple stat!

This dream project is a Linux-based touch screen device that looks to be iPad inspired without the hefty price tag. The student project turned government innovation first emerged with a composition bill of $47.00, an incredible drop from the One Laptop per Child program’s $99.00 computer system.

At first the laptop was developed for the Indian government by research teams at the Indian Institute of Technology and the Indian Institute of Science. Now that the product is garnering so much publicity, it is already in talks with global manufacturers to begin mass production.

Once the Indian government finds a manufacturer for their product business is expected to skyrocket. The new design is just one of the latest low-cost manufacturing deals India has to offer the world. In the past few years the Indian government has released a compact Nano car for just under $3,000 U.S., a $16.00 water purifier, and a $2,000 open-heart surgery.

The most mind-blowing characteristic of the newly unveiled computer is that not only will it be profitable for investors, but it is making computer access more readily available to millions all across the globe. Falling hardware costs and intelligent design templates make such a cheap price tag a plausible idea.

The laptop doesn’t have a hard disk. Instead it uses a memory much like cell phones. The tablet design cuts hardware costs and the use of open source software adds to the savings.

The basic touch screen technology is designed with students in mind.

The project is part of an ambitious education technology initiative instated by the Indian government. They hope it brings Internet connectivity to 25,000 colleges and 504 universities so that study materials will be more accessible. The current prototype carries Web browsers, a PDF reader and video conferencing capability, along with room to add more components. It even includes a solar-powered energy saving option that is available at additional cost.

As of right now, 8,500 schools have been linked in, and nearly 500 online courses and video-based lectures have been uploaded for use on portals like YouTube. The ultimate hope is to have the product in classrooms by 2011 when the price could drop to a staggering $20. The subsequent goal is for the laptops to sell for no more than $10 each.

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I recently saw Toy Story 3. The movie is a huge success, grossing $167.6 million in its first week alone. I loved the first two growing up, and really wanted to see how it all would end. I went with my boyfriend who has an affinity for every Pixar movie. When we got to the movie theater, he asked the girl selling tickets if a lot of people like us (meaning 20-something college students) went to see the movie unaccompanied by children. She said, “Tons. I actually want to see it, too.”

It seems this is a growing trend with what used to be just kids’ movies. With the rise of Pixar and Dreamworks cartoon films, a larger adult audience has been drawn in as well. I find myself loving the Pixar movies I watch with my younger cousins as much as they do. These movies have storylines and elements kids and adults can relate to.

Take Dreamworks’ Shrek. There are plenty of adult jokes and allusions that kids aren’t old enough to understand. Kids seem to find the visual elements funnier than the actual commentary most times. Pixar’s movies also always seem to have more adult themes. Finding Nemo revolves around a parent’s love for his child, Ratatouille is about blazing your own trail in life, The Incredibles deals with a mid-life crisis and a wife’s suspicions of her husband’s affair, and Wall-E focuses on what impact we are having on the Earth and our environment – and those are only a few.

UP had me crying within the first 15 minutes. The visual montage that begins the story can hit home to so many. Childhood sweethearts Ellie and Carl are first united due to their love of adventure. The montage follows them as they get married and go through life together. They build their dream home, deal with their inability to have children and pursue their dream of travel. However, life gets in the way with bills and their savings constantly dry up. When they’re much older, Carl finally decides to surprise Ellie with their dream. But Ellie falls ill and passes away leaving Carl alone.

Although children may be able to pick up on what is happening (they build a nursery and no baby shows up; Ellie is there and then she isn’t), they haven’t had the life experience to truly relate which is why the stories are so endearing to adults. Adults comprehend loss, longing and working toward a dream. The storylines have these real-life issues but are light-hearted enough to be enjoyable.

If you still think kids movies are just for kids, think again. In my opinion, they are some of the most enjoyable movies out there. What makes it even better is that everyone can enjoy them. My whole family always gathers to watch one on our family vacations. So go out, rent one of these films and get in touch with your inner child. Your outer adult will thank you for it.

Ashley Thill, Finding Nemo, Pixar Dreamworks, Ratatouille, Shrek, The Incredibles, Toy Story 3, UP, Wall-E Hide

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I became a Gleek this summer. It hit me just within the past month. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Gleeks, it’s the name given to fans of FOX’s hit show, Glee. The show focuses around a group of talented high school misfits who just want to fit in and go about doing so by participating in the school’s glee club. I was hooked from the first episode I watched. I had the entire first season finished within a matter of days. Not only is the show funny, touching and entertaining, I can also relate. I was a member of my high school’s show choir all four years, so some of the situations on the show are close to home for me.

Although show choirs are a big deal in the Midwest (where I’m from), their popularity hasn’t spread far beyond. But Glee seems to be changing the way people view the arts and the show choir. Art organizations and summer camps are springing up with their own Glee-centric programs.

Many kids unfamiliar with show choir and musical theater seem to be catching the bug because of the television show. One high school in Washington instated a choir class focused on the show choir elements of dance, acting and singing after many students approached the choir teacher and asked him why a class like that wasn’t available.

A poll conducted by the National Association for Musical Education showed that 43% of choir instructors believed Glee has had an impact on students’ interest in their programs. At a school in Kettering, Ohio (the state where Glee takes place), some of the students who auditioned for show choir were finally persuaded to do so because of the program.

One student, Caitlin Dybvad, told the Dayton Daily News: “I was about half and half whether I would try out. ‘Glee’ convinced me. I wanted to try and be like them and what they are doing.” Choir directors who had show choirs before Glee don’t claim to see a huge difference in those auditioning for their groups, but they do see a trend of show choirs cropping up at schools that previously didn’t have them.

In a world where tight school budgets often lead to arts programs being the first to go, it seems that Glee may be just the thing to bring some interest to dying music programs. The show also may break stereotypes about who joins choir. In the show, four of the school’s football players join even though they endure ridicule from their teammates. More students may be influenced by the show’s messages.

Only time will tell what kind of impact Glee will have. It’s just in its infancy with one season, but has already caused a huge sensation. I think it’s already succeeded, however if it gets a few more kids to get involved that wouldn’t have before. That’s what the show is truly all about; creating a place for students to belong.

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Would a rose by any other name smell as sweet? The process of finding the ideal baby name is one that parents often take very seriously over the course of a pregnancy. Should it reflect a loved one passed, have religious or cultural significance, or be unique? With celebrity baby names like Apple, Diva Thin Muffin, and Pilot Inspektor floating around, it seems there’s no limit to how extreme a baby’s name can be. Yet for every wacky name we hear of, thousands more are being denied as official. Can limitations really be set on what you name your child?

In some nations, there are laws in place that stipulate names must be approved by certain parties before going on a birth certificate. In Finland, if you wish your child to be baptized, the name must be approved by a minister. If you want your child to be added into the national census, the name must be presented before a committee which will then deem the name acceptable or not. The Finnish laws consist of different factors from having no more than three first names, being gender-specific, no sibling can retain the same first name, and it must not be a curse word or derogatory term.

Particular countries set laws in order to preserve traditional names. In France, saint names are commonly used and encouraged in order to protect historical and religious figures from Marie (Mary) to Jean-Baptiste (John the Baptist). Heritage plays a predominant role in the naming process and it’s common to be named after parents or grandparents.

The 1982 naming law put in place in Sweden has allowed for names like Lego and Google to be approved while Superman, Metallica and even Elvis were denied. Parents have fought tooth-and-nail to try to uniquely name their children like the case of the Swedish family striving to call their baby son Q and New Zealand parents requesting the moniker 4 Real.

On a personal level, while I don’t think that off-the-wall baby names should be condemned, it’s important to consider the impact a name can have on a child. While wanting to represent your favorite movie character from Superman (referring to Kal-El, Nicolas Cage’s son) or controversial regime leaders (referring to a child named Adolf Hitler Campbell in Easton, PA.), please consider the long-term impact such a name could generate for the child in their daily lives.

So would a rose by any other name smell as sweet? Yes, of course. No name, despite how commonplace or outrageous, can alter one’s personality. Undoubtedly, little Apple, Diva Thin Muffin and even Adolf Hitler Campbell will grow up to be exceptional adults through the love and guidance of their parents. Though, if Apple was named Anna, Diva Thin Muffin was named Dina, and Adolf Hitler was named Andrew Henry, do you think it would make their lives easier? Only time will tell when these little tots can tell us how their name affected their lives.

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My elementary and middle school experience often differs from those of my friends because I went to Catholic school from kindergarten to eighth grade. People always ask if we had to wear uniforms and pray all the time, but the truth is my grade school days were similar to those of public school kids. We had recess, went on field trips, and learned all the usual curriculum (although we did have religion class and go to church weekly). There were the crushes on classmates, “boyfriends and girlfriends,” and we played boys chase girls.

But what I consider my “typical” experience may not be so typical anymore. Many schools in recent years have turned to same gender classes — all boys and girls from each grade level split into their own gender-specific classes. This approach has been met with mixed reaction.

Some feel it’s good to separate children by gender. Boys and girls learn differently, especially in subjects like math, science and reading, so teaching catered to gender may help them learn better. There also is a lack of distraction from the opposite sex allowing children to be themselves without worrying about how they will be perceived. Yet others argue this type of separation isn’t really helping our children. Children all have different learning styles, despite being male or female, and if they are split, they are missing out on developing key social skills by interacting with members of the opposite sex.

A number of schools have conducted their own trial runs of these kinds of classrooms in my home state of Wisconsin. One such trial is being conducted in Janesville, about an hour from Madison. The Academy at Marshall Middle School was set-up as a trial of this kind of learning two years ago. It’s a voluntary program, parents choose whether they want their children to participate. The students take core curriculum like math, science, reading and social studies apart but come together for art, music and gym classes as well as lunch.

The program began with just sixth and eighth graders, but a seventh grade program was added after one year. Teachers and students see an improvement and say they’d never go back.

One eighth-grade boy said, “The teaching is way different…so it appeals to us more than girls. I think it has improved my school work a lot.” An eight-grade girl had similar comments, “We’re more relaxed when we’re just with other girls. I’m doing a lot better in my school work since I started this.”

Teachers at the school also concur saying they can plan and teach more effectively with a target audience.

I believe education is important, and children have a right to great schools and teachers who help them succeed. If single gender classrooms work, I think it’s good for students. But I would hate to see more sexism and separatism come from these changes. Only time will tell what sort of impact these classrooms will have on students.

Ashley Thill, Catholic school, education, gender, gender-specific classes Hide

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Oh how I love diet and exercise routines that promise slimming effects without any actual physical activity.

With the latest Cool Shapes contouring shorts, the old freezing your butt off saying actually comes to life.

The FreezeAwayFat contour shape shorts, try saying that five times fast, claims that by using their new product line of pocketed biker shorts you can slim your legs and thighs by freezing away fat cells. No I’m not making this up! Say bye, bye to pesky cellulite patches, and hello to toned hips and butt muscles.

The concept behind the strategically designed spandex workout wear revolves around research proving that cooling unwanted fat can make it disappear. Just like magic. You don’t actually put your shorts in the freezer or anything crazy like that. Each pair holds a unique pocket for freezer packs similar to the ones used in school lunches. The gel inserts when placed on problem areas like thighs, tummy, and gluts activate calories and contour.

The FreezeAwayFat scientists claim that brown fat cells, know as “good fat” (I didn’t know fat cells were segregated) react to cold by joining together and becoming more active, i.e. burning calories. The white fat cells, the fat that we all hate that causes cellulite and becomes loose and gangly, just plain dies when targeted by the cool packs.

In a press release, the company states that the shorts are an “innovative garment that uses the science of cooling fat to contour and diminish problem areas in the comfort of your own home”. They also claim that “wearing these [decently priced] $99.95 shorts for 30 minutes a day will cause your white fat cells to wither and be eliminated.”

According to The New York Times, the freeze away frenzy apparently began when doctors started offering fat-reducing treatments with a cooling device that aims to kill white fat cells called Zeltiq. The Zeltiq system uses a process known as cryolipolysis. It applies a suction applicator to draw the fat and skin in the area being treated between cooling plates. The fatty tissue is held there for approximately an hour. This lowers the temperature to the point where fat cells solidify. You can find a doctor who offers the system online.

As for the shorts, they have yet to be approved by the FDA but the company stands by their product declaring: Science has the answer, Cool Shapes has the solution.

I’m just waiting to see how long it will take until someone gets frostbite because they decided to wear one of these things for three days straight.

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What lasted over 85 days, threatened as many as 400 species, continues to ravage delicate ecosystems and will likely take over a decade to clean up? If you have turned on a television or read a newspaper since April, you would know that it’s one of the largest oil spills in history with millions of gallons of oil spewed to date. A massive explosion triggered by methane gas igniting on the 9-year-old semi-submersible mobile offshore drilling unit, the Deepwater Horizon, on April 20, 2010, killed 11 rig workers on site and injured 17 others. It’s a global tragedy now surpassing the gravity of the Exxon spill in 1989 and on par with the 1979 Ixtoc oil spill in total volume released. Maybe now it’s time to look critically at the alternative energy sources which pose no damaging risks to preserve what’s left of our future.

The lack of response and solution to the BP oil spill has certainly left a bad taste in terms of reliability and measures to protect safety that should have been implemented or executed much better. Why does it take a catastrophe for companies to re-examine policies and procedures that should have been solid and dependable in the first place? Instead, our ecology faces frightening realities such as oxygen depletion, petroleum toxicity, thousands upon thousands of wildlife at risk, and ultimately a complete shift in Earth’s natural order. Other factors such as fishery, tourism and local businesses are being gravely affected and will continue to be for quite some time.

It is not a secret that oil is a sought-after commodity. We rely upon it for daily use and consumption, especially as North American citizens. It has spurned wars and international debates. What if there was an alternative so the bloodshed and detriment could be seized or at least, reduced? We need to go first to the primary source of consumption, our vehicles. By increasing fuel economy standards from the low 20s mpg to mid 30s mpg, we will be making a drastic difference by saving over 1.2 billion barrels of oil annually. Hybrid-electric vehicles and utilizing natural sources of energy such as cellulosic ethanol produced from the fiber of plants like switchgrass could reduce emissions by up to 94% compared to gasoline. Cellulosic gasoline is already in production and is believed to potentially replace 133 million barrels of oil by 2030. By tapping into technologies we already have and expanding on them, we can save a great deal of money and more importantly, our planet.

Other renewable energy sources such as solar power, wind power and geothermal energy can equally be explored and expanded to make oil drilling and its hazards a thing of the past. Once we have invested the initial funding into these projects, the return on our investment will be greater on an economical and ecological level, as well as on the overall lifespan of our planet and its inhabitants!

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As a kid I begged my parents for a tree house. All I got was a swing set and a hammock.

Terreform ONE (Open Network Ecology) is a nonprofit New York-based design group that promotes green design in cities. Terreform ONE is a unique community bringing together students, scientists, architects and artists in hopes of collaborating to explore the fascinating world of eco-friendly design and landscape. The group develops innovative solutions and technologies for local sustainability in energy, transportation, infrastructure, buildings, waste treatment, food, water and media spaces.

One of Terreform ONE’s latest habitat innovations is the adorably named Fab Tree Hab. Leading the way as we progress into fields of more ecologically-sustainable living, the new back-to-basics eco-home is the ultimate tree house with a pretty generous price tag.

The home involves arboreal farming and production. It is composed with 100% living nutrients. The creators have proposed a method to grow homes from native trees. A living structure is grafted into shape with manufacture Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) reusable scaffolds.

The methodology newly introduced to building during the creation of the Fab Hab has been known by many gardeners as pleaching. Pleaching is a system of intertwining tree branches to form archways and screens. The pleaching system helps architects and constructors build walls and other dwelling-like spaces.

The cottage-like residences are shaped and formatted digitally, then through seasonal adjustments, natural composting provides structure for the new home’s foundation.

All dwellings will be enabled and can be fully integrated into an ecological community. They are intended to replace the outdated design solutions at Habitat for Humanity.

Although this may all sound fine and dandy, the Fab Tree Hab is an experiment in time. Working costs and required aptitude over the lifetime of the home include pest management with organic pesticides and upkeep of the natural water treatment system. Plenty of technical expression and innovation is still needed for certain components of the project. Primary concerns lie in the bio-plastic windows that allow growth of the structure and the organization of flows across the walls to assure that the interior of the abode remains dry and pest-free. That’s a lot to think about!

Everything considered, the elapsed time to reach livability is greater than that of a traditional sense, but arguably so should be the health and longevity of the home and family. More so than anything else, the production of this home can be attained at a minimal price, requiring only some time to complete its structure.

The realization of these homes will begin as an experiment. And as envisioned hopefully thereafter, the concept of rejuvenation will take on a new architectural form, a diversity of interdependency between nature and humans.

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One thing about college life I took for granted was having my own room. My mom, who shared a room through her whole childhood, college and then marriage, tells me I had it good for 18 years. For the past three years, I’ve shared a bedroom with a roommate. But soon, my roommates and I are going to be moving into a new apartment where we’ll have our own rooms. I’ve been dreaming about creating my own space, and my new room is just the place.

The downside to all of this is I’m still on a college-student budget. My parents always find ways to help me out, but they’re thrifty too. As move-out gets closer, I’m also closer to achieving my dream room. If you’re getting your own room like me or looking to spruce your space with the same budget limitations, here are some tips I’ve picked up along the way:

• Find inspiration. Before I even got started, I looked at magazines, online articles and blogs for inspiration on color and design. (I really love Lovelyundergrad.com for design ideas.) This gives a starting point to decide what you like and how to go forward.
• Brainstorm. After you have ideas, start thinking of ways you can get the same aesthetic without breaking the bank. Maybe you can make something more cheaply than buying it or another retailer has something that looks designer but costs less.
• Garage sales and Craigslist. I’m currently looking for some furniture so my mom has been helping me scope out garage sales and search for people in the area selling on Craigslist. And used furniture doesn’t mean it’s bad. I found a nightstand and dresser in good condition for $50!
• Be your own handyman. I thankfully have a dad who is great at all things maintenance. I have him enlisted to paint any furniture I find, and he’s also making me a headboard. If you don’t have a “handyman,” many sites offer step-by-step instructions on how to make almost anything. I actually found directions for the headboard at the Better Homes and Gardens Web site.
• Revamp what you have. Sometimes, the things you already have just need a change here or there to fit in with your new room. The desk I have now was a color I didn’t like so I asked my dad (of course) to spray paint it so it fit with the other furniture. Also, I really don’t want to waste money on new artwork. So, I’m taking photos I already have and using Photoshop to change them up so they’re like my own little works of art.

Just because you’re on a budget, doesn’t mean you can’t have a space you love. There are many ways to keep it inexpensive. It also feels so much better when you’ve contributed to the space. I know I’m going to love that my room was my creation from the beginning idea to colors to furniture.

Ashley Thill, Better Homes and Gardens, budget, college, decorate, design Hide

You can’t win them all, and sometimes you just have to lose big. Diesel’s newest ad campaign is collecting some interesting press for its fresh marketing strategy.

The “Be Stupid” campaign fashions a male model being straddled by three pairs of women’s legs, a female model flashing a security camera in a NYC alleyway (a hint of nipple is visible from the side), and another features a bikini-clad brunette model in what looks like a grassland with a lion behind her. The model is shown strategically taking a picture of her crotch while pulling her bathing suit bottoms out for a peak.

The series of ads read: “Smart may have the brains but stupid has the balls.” That’s just what we need — another attempt at glorifying idiocy to be added to the bunch.

I’m not even sure how I’m supposed to take that. And what does any of this have to do with clothing?

It’s not the smartest or most clever campaign out there, but they already knew that. Anomaly, the creator of the venture, actually ended up winning the Grand Prix, one of the most renowned awards at Cannes’ Lion’s International Advertising Festival. Unfortunately, he didn’t seem to make too many friends in Britain.

The British Advertising Standards Authority has decided to ban the ads that were just being applauded weeks earlier.

The “Be Stupid” campaign was tagged by ad watchdogs as being lewd and antisocial. The antisocial part made me giggle a bit. I thought nudity brought people together — I guess not.

But this is not the first time Diesel has tried to push the bar. A few years ago in celebration of their 30th anniversary, the company used compiled video footage known as the Viral Factory in their online promotions project. The campaign uses cheesy 80’s porn clips along with animation and music.

As for “Be Stupid,” it was decided that the images portrayed “socially challenging” actions that might be attractive to younger consumers and might encourage behavior that was antisocial or irresponsible. Although the ban has not quite made it to the States, the ads have been prohibited from running on public posters.

Perhaps it is the simple case of British conservatism versus French glorification of all things tantalizing. Regardless, in the world of fashion ad space all press is good press. Meaning, ban and all, this controversial campaign has proven to be anything but its slogan. Maybe Diesel’s smarter than we’re giving them credit for?

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