By Gwendolyn Ng my paper Wednesday, Jun 27, 2012

Sexuality education in schools is being updated and, from next year, primary, secondary and junior college students will be taught how to navigate social-networking platforms safely in order to help them avoid sexual predators, the Ministry of Education (MOE) said yesterday.

"Teenagers today are quite different from those two or three decades ago, because of the kinds of influences that they are subjected to, (as well as) the accessibility of information," said Ms Grace Ng, MOE's Guidance Branch deputy director.

The impact of social media should not be underestimated, said Ms Ng at a press conference on the upcoming "refreshed" sexuality education programme for students from primary to junior college levels.

For instance, students will be taught about the boundaries when it comes to engaging in relationships on social-networking sites.

This will be done by engaging students in discussions, using case studies garnered from newspapers or fictional scenarios.

The new curriculum will be rolled out in stages from next year, starting with upper primary and lower secondary students. The new programmes will be available to all levels, including junior college students, by 2014.

Following feedback from students, curriculum content on skills in handling relationships with a person of the opposite sex will also be beefed up.

There will be a core of at least 10 specially selected teachers in each school to teach sexuality education. These teachers must be comfortable teaching the subject and be able to build rapport with students.

They should also practise mainstream values, as described by MOE, said Ms Ng.

The rest is here:
Sexuality education to promote online safety

Mikayla Morris, front right, works out next to Pat Grothoff while classmate Kendra Sanches, front row left, and Nancy Wilbers keep up with the instructor. Some students in summer school at Jefferson City High School have spent their physical education class time in the pool at the Knowles YMCA in water aerobics class. Photo by Julie Smith.

Photo by Julie Smith

Gabriela Chaidez laughs as she backs into Kayla Smith while exercising in the water at the YMCA. Students got to mix with several older women in the regular YMCA class, some who have been in the class since before the girls were born.

A swirl of arms and bobbing shoulders keeps the waves moving in the Knowles YMCA swimming pool as rock n roll oldies keep time for water aerobics.

The constant motion and low-impact workout have been a benefit to not only mature women in the YMCA class but also, during the past four weeks, for 10 young women from Jefferson City High Schools summer school.

The first-year class of nutrition and wellness has highlighted the importance of low-sugar diets and the value of regular exercise.

See the article here:
Students earn credit, learn greater lesson in water aerobics class

Thai suspects confess to Australians killing

The Seattle Times - Wednesday 27th June, 2012

Two Thai men suspected of killing a 60-year-old Australian tourist on the resort island of Phuket admitted to the crime Tuesday, saying they meant only to slash her pocketbook strap and never meant ...

The Nation - Wednesday 27th June, 2012

June 27, 2012 4:24 pm Thai children's emotional quotient (EQ) scores have been falling, dropping from 186.42 in 2002 and 179.58 in 2007 to 169.72, according to the 2011 surveys by the Public ...

The Nation - Wednesday 27th June, 2012

June 27, 2012 2:25 pm An Army spokesman Wednesday denied that Deputy Army Commander-in-Chief Gen Dapong Ratanasuwan had plotted a coup against the Pheu Thai government. Deputy Army spokesman Col ...

SINA - Wednesday 27th June, 2012

BANGKOK, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul attended an anti-piracy conference in Dubai scheduled on June 27-28, the ministry said Wednesday. The event is hosted by the ...

The China Post - Wednesday 27th June, 2012

Link:
Decision on US airbase disappoints Thai experts

Thai suspects confess to Australians killing

The Seattle Times - Wednesday 27th June, 2012

Two Thai men suspected of killing a 60-year-old Australian tourist on the resort island of Phuket admitted to the crime Tuesday, saying they meant only to slash her pocketbook strap and never meant ...

The Nation - Wednesday 27th June, 2012

June 27, 2012 4:24 pm Thai children's emotional quotient (EQ) scores have been falling, dropping from 186.42 in 2002 and 179.58 in 2007 to 169.72, according to the 2011 surveys by the Public ...

The Nation - Wednesday 27th June, 2012

June 27, 2012 2:25 pm An Army spokesman Wednesday denied that Deputy Army Commander-in-Chief Gen Dapong Ratanasuwan had plotted a coup against the Pheu Thai government. Deputy Army spokesman Col ...

SINA - Wednesday 27th June, 2012

BANGKOK, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul attended an anti-piracy conference in Dubai scheduled on June 27-28, the ministry said Wednesday. The event is hosted by the ...

The China Post - Wednesday 27th June, 2012

Read more:
AirAsia to move all Thai operations to Bangkoks second-largest airport

Thai suspects confess to Australians killing

The Seattle Times - Wednesday 27th June, 2012

Two Thai men suspected of killing a 60-year-old Australian tourist on the resort island of Phuket admitted to the crime Tuesday, saying they meant only to slash her pocketbook strap and never meant ...

The Nation - Wednesday 27th June, 2012

June 27, 2012 4:24 pm Thai children's emotional quotient (EQ) scores have been falling, dropping from 186.42 in 2002 and 179.58 in 2007 to 169.72, according to the 2011 surveys by the Public ...

The Nation - Wednesday 27th June, 2012

June 27, 2012 2:25 pm An Army spokesman Wednesday denied that Deputy Army Commander-in-Chief Gen Dapong Ratanasuwan had plotted a coup against the Pheu Thai government. Deputy Army spokesman Col ...

SINA - Wednesday 27th June, 2012

BANGKOK, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul attended an anti-piracy conference in Dubai scheduled on June 27-28, the ministry said Wednesday. The event is hosted by the ...

The China Post - Wednesday 27th June, 2012

Excerpt from:
Thai suspects confess to killing Australian tourist in botched robbery on resort island

Thai suspects confess to Australians killing

The Seattle Times - Wednesday 27th June, 2012

Two Thai men suspected of killing a 60-year-old Australian tourist on the resort island of Phuket admitted to the crime Tuesday, saying they meant only to slash her pocketbook strap and never meant ...

The Nation - Wednesday 27th June, 2012

June 27, 2012 4:24 pm Thai children's emotional quotient (EQ) scores have been falling, dropping from 186.42 in 2002 and 179.58 in 2007 to 169.72, according to the 2011 surveys by the Public ...

The Nation - Wednesday 27th June, 2012

June 27, 2012 2:25 pm An Army spokesman Wednesday denied that Deputy Army Commander-in-Chief Gen Dapong Ratanasuwan had plotted a coup against the Pheu Thai government. Deputy Army spokesman Col ...

SINA - Wednesday 27th June, 2012

BANGKOK, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul attended an anti-piracy conference in Dubai scheduled on June 27-28, the ministry said Wednesday. The event is hosted by the ...

The China Post - Wednesday 27th June, 2012

Read more here:
Thai mob hurls abuse at Perth womans killers

There are many wonderful yoga class opportunities in town and many qualified teachers to pick from. We're very fortunate to be living in a community so focused on health and healing here on the coast. But that's why we live here, yes?

Did you know, there's a terrific "yoga find" way back in the Valley at St. Peter's Church, 700 Oddstad Blvd., off Linda Mar?

For anyone new to yoga or a bit shy about their abilities and want to get their feet wet, Donation Yoga is the perfect choice. For some, gym classes may be too physically challenging and fast paced, or it might be daunting to navigate a private yoga studio's many choices if you don't know which style or teacher would be a good fit.

Stress is definitely the plague of the 21st century. At Donation Yoga, the goal is to provide a safe and nurturing space where anyone can acquire tools to deal with life's stresses. Here you'll learn how to breathe correctly to relax, slow down, and let go. It's been scientifically proven that Yoga activates the relaxation response and kicks in natural anti-depression hormones to the brain. It can be quite effective for back pain as well. Evidence based studies also show that regular yoga practice will make one more cheerful and less anxious. This is a wonderful inexpensive and non-invasive way to foster health and well being into our lives. How much better can it get?

Meet the two Yoga Instructors

Susan Grace Macaulay

Donation Yoga was born in September 2010 when Susan Grace was looking for a new teaching venue. The small studio where she taught had closed and she was looking for an opportunity to serve the Pacifica community. While taking her widowed mother to a donation based yoga class in San Francisco, she came up with the idea there might be a place for a program like this in Pacifica.

Susan will be speaking at the annual Institute of Consciousness Research Conference in Canada this August 4-5th on the healing benefits of Yoga and how it relates to the 12 Step Program. She was the first guest speaker in the 12-month series of health and healing discussion groups at Florey's Book Company in Pacifica on the third Wednesday of the month. She kicked off the series, twenty-five people attended her presentation and loved it. She is a natural speaker/presenter.

Donation Yoga co-founder Carol Dunnewas born in Ireland and moved to San Francisco with her family when she was a teenager. She and her family have resided in Pacifica for the past 28 years and she's practiced yoga for the past 15 years.

Carol initially started using yoga to ease her aching bones as a result of many accidents over the course of her life. Yoga helped strengthen her body and alleviate her pain. Using yoga also had a calming effect and aided Carol to move away from her over-analytical brain. Carol is counseling clients at a detox center in the San Francisco Bay Area and reports yoga has helped to increase her creativity and intuition. She's able to be more effective in her career as a result. Yoga has also helped her to make wiser decisions giving her a better life!

Originally posted here:
Donation Yoga -- The best-kept secret in Pacifica

Bandar Seri Begawan - Members of the public are invited to participate in what could be the largest mass aerobics workout to be held at night for two hours in conjunction with Brunei's largest and most popular consumer event - Consumer Fair 10 (CF10).

This was revealed at a press conference by Gob Kiat Chun or better known as Wu Chun, a local born international superstar and Managing Director of Fitness Zone, which has teamed up with Sunlit Advertising Sdn Bhd, organiser of the Consumer Fair yesterday.

Wu Chun said the event, dubbed as 'Saturday Night Fever', will be held on June 30 and will incorporate Zumba fitness, Bodyjam dance and body combat.

He said the event is free of charge and aimed at "encouraging the local community to be healthier while having fun".

Registration is now open at all Fitness Zone branches. The event is sponsored by Nestle Fitness.

Sherly Tan, Marketing Manager of Sunlit Advertising, said the mass aerobics workout is in line with the theme of the Consumer Fair, which focuses on "promoting a healthy lifestyle."

She added that this collaboration means that Consumer Fair visitors will be offered a wide choice of fun and healthy lifestyle activities courtesy of Fitness Zone over the five days of the fair such as a free health check-up and free diet consultations.

Fitness Zone will also be holding a lucky draw, whereby visitors stand the chance to win two Royal Skies tickets to London, England for the Olympics 2012, she said.

The extensive grounds of the BRIDEX Hall in Jerudong, the venue for the CF10, means that Fitness Zone can hold activities such as cycling, rowing and boot camp challenges which offer attractive prizes.

There will also be basketball challenges such as 1-on-1 Challenge, Make-the-Shot Challenge and a Slam Dunk Competition which also offer prizes.

Go here to see the original:
'Saturday Night Fever' Aerobics Workout At CF10

Responding to a lawsuit filed by The Bee and the Los Angeles Times, a judge ruled today that the names of police officers involved in last November's pepper spray incident at UC Davis must be made public.

The order by Alameda Superior Court Judge Evelio Grillo reverses an earlier decision by the judge to allow release of a report into the incident with the names of the officers redacted.

The Federated University Police Officers Association -- the union representing campus police officers -- has been fighting disclosure of the officers' names, arguing that state law prohibits it and that revealing their identities could expose them to harrassment.

But Grillo concluded that the report was separate from any internal affairs investigation into the actions of police officers and is subject to release in full under the California Public Records Act.

"As police officers paid by the public and authorized by the public to excercise authority over individual members of the public, the FUPOA cannot reasonably expect that information about the actions of police officers will be shielded from public scrutiny other than as provided by statute," the judge wrote.

The newspapers sued after University of California officials denied requests under the public records act for the officers' names.

"We're glad the court agrees this information should be available to the public," Joyce Terhaar, The Bee's executive editor, said today. "We continue to believe one of the most important things we do is to hold public officials and other powerful people accountable for their actions.

"That's why we joined this legal effort, to hold everyone accountable for their part in the pepper spraying."

The pepper spraying occurred during a campus protest last fall over tuition hikes and budget cuts, and prompted widespread outcry. Several investigations into the incident were launched, including an independent review overseen by former state Supreme Court Justice Cruz Reynoso.

The Reynoso report became the focus of legal wrangling after the police union went to court to oppose the release of officers' names. Grillo eventually allowed it to be released with only the names of two officers -- Lt. John Pike and then-Chief Annette Spicuzza -- included.

More here:
Sacto 911: UC must reveal names of officers in pepper spray incident, judge rules

(AP) MUMBAI, India - For the last week, the laughter around Sheetal Talao pond in suburban Mumbai has taken on a muzzled quality.

On June 18, Mumbai's high court told police to do something about the laughter that erupted beneath Vinayak Shirsat's windows each morning, causing his family "mental agony, pain and public nuisance," according to the Press Trust of India.

Since then, members of the Sheetal Jogging Association -- who have been coming to the pond for three years for laughter yoga, devotional singing and light exercise -- have been trying to contain their mirth.

"Nobody's laughing now," said member Badruddin Khan.

Watch: Laughter Yoga

Sheetal Talao is, in truth, not a nice pond. The water is low and scuzzy with trash. But it's the only open space in a neighborhood of winding lanes in the northern suburbs of India's densely packed financial capital.

The single spot of constant shade -- a small gazebo -- is right in front of Shirsat's apartment, a three-story pink building with black bars on all the windows. Nearby are two curved benches, rising from a small plot of red mud and weeds, that the club uses for meditation and laughter.

"Only this much space we've got. Where can we go?" said Prabhakar Naidu, 45, who said that since he started laughing he's been able to walk up stairs without getting winded.

Before the police and courts got involved, a dozen club members would gather around 7 a.m. to sing bhajans -- devotional songs -- and clap for seven minutes. Then they laughed out loud for two minutes.

They would hold their ear lobes, tilt their heads back, and stretch their faces wide into smiles. "Ooh ooh, ha ha," went the chant. Then they would sweep their arms to their toes and reach for the sky, opening their mouths wide to say, "Ha ha ha!"

Read the original here:
India court tells laughing yoga group to zip it