IT'S GRADUATION TIME ONCE AGAIN

The month of March marks the end of another school year which means it's graduation time once again.  The time when graduates will have to wear mortarboards and their togas / graduation gowns . Pre elementary and Senior students will have their chances to receive the expensive piece of paper every student is longing for. Of course who wouldn't be happy to have a Diploma which serves as their token and key to success in life. Parents of the graduands will be delighted and proud of their child's accomplishment. Graduates will have to face another journey in their life. Pre-elementary students will become elementaries, graduating  elementaries will become high school, high school seniors will become college students and college seniors will either continue to their masteral degree or will be lining up in job markets submitting their resumes.
For most high school seniors, graduation marks the end of their best years in life but as Alexander Graham Bell once said when a door closes another door opens ; Sometimes we stare so long at a door that is closing that we see too late the one that is open. Memories are indeed everlasting. Graduation is a start of something new in life.  It is the transition from one stage of a student's life to another.

THINGS ASSOCIATED WITH GRADUATION

Baccalaureate Service / mass - Usually done in any school with religious affiliations. It is a thanksgiving celebration for the graduating students for dedicating their lives to learning and wisdom . It has been believed to originate from Oxford University. The Baccalaureate Service / Mass is held  prior to Graduation. 



Graduation gown or Toga - the traditional clothing used by a graduating student.

Class ring - also known as grad ring. worn by the graduates to commemorate their graduation.

Valedictorian - the graduating student with the highest scholastic standing.

Valedictory address - is a speech dedicated to fellow graduates by the Valedictorian.

Diploma - a certificate that testifies that a student or the recipient has finished a particular course of study.

Mortarboard or the Square Academic cap worn by graduands. The tassle is usually flipped from right to the left upon receiving the diploma  indicating that the student has already graduated.    


The Graduation music -  The most popular music played during graduation rites is the "Pomp and Circumstance March I which is composed by Sir Edward Elgar. Another popular graduation music is the Verdi Triumphal grand march which is composed by Giuseppe Verdi.


 CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL GRADUATES OF BATCH 2010 - 2011!!!!

MASSIVE QUAKES AND TSUNAMI HITS JAPAN

                                                            (photos from bbc.co.uk)
  
March 11, 2011, Friday, an 8-9 magnitude earthquake hits Japan at 2:46pm (local time). It is said that it is the most powerful earthquake to hit Japan in at least 100 years. The horrific earthquake triggered a devastating tsunami. Reports says that the huge deadly wave was measured at 23 feet tall (7 meters). There were countless injuries and undetermined number of deaths and hundreds were missing.. Tsunami warnings were also in effect in part of the Philippines, Guam, Taiwan, Russia, Indonesia, Peru, Hawaii, Marcus Islands and Marianas Islands. According to Reuters, Geneva Red Cross warned that the wave could be higher than those in the Pacific Islands. In the Philippines, people living near the coastal areas were asked to evacuate the area. As of the time of writing this article, some of the areas given tsunami warnings have already experienced first waves.
There were 30 recorded aftershocks in Japan with a 7.1 magnitude as the highest.
Kyodo news agency reported that Japanese Government had already dispatched a total of 8,000 troops to assist in recovery and they also asked for U.S. military assistance.
Videos of the tsunami were shown on different television stations showing sea vessels and cars and debris rode off the high waves and slammed on structures.
Firefighters battled over a large fire at Cosmo Oil Refinery in Ichihara City, Chiba Prefecture. It was burning out of control with over 30 meters of high flames.
Japan shut several nuclear power reactors including those operated by Tokyo Power Electric Company, Tohoku Electric Power Company, and Japan Atomic Power Company causing millions of homes without electricity.
USGS said that this quake was the 5th strongest in history since 1900.

sources: www.digitaltrend.com
                 www.bbc.com.uk
                 www.cnn.com
                 www.eturbonews.com
                www.yahoo.com
                www.bloomberg.com 

IMPROVING YOUR HOME 'S ENERGY EFFICIENCY AT HOME WITH INSULATION ; A GUEST POST BY SAMANTHA HARRIS

                                                          image from http://www.ekii.co.uk

Recently, I received an e-mail message from Ms. Samantha Harris asking me if she could have a guest post on my blog. Of course without a doubt, I reply with a yes since I've been reading other bloggers post, I already know that Ms. Harris' articles are worth reading. Yesterday, Samantha sent me an e-mail again with her article attached. Here is the article by Ms. Samantha Harris;

Improving Your Home’s Energy Efficiency with Insulation

There are many ways to save on energy around the house – you can purchase Energy Star appliances, switch to compact fluorescent bulbs, or undergo a home energy audit to account for your expenditures.    However, it’s worth knowing before you begin that the largest chunk of your electricity bill almost invariably goes to heating and cooling your home.  The EPA estimates that anywhere between 43 and 60 percent of the electricity used by buildings goes toward powering the HVAC (heating, ventilating, air conditioning) system.  One way to make sure that your system is not working harder than it has to is to check your insulation.

This is especially applicable if your home is a little older.  The U.S. Department of Energy reports that only 20% of homes built before 1980 contain the correct insulation in the ceilings, walls, floors, crawl spaces, and attic.  But be careful while checking the condition of your insulation, since many homes built prior to 1980 feature insulation or other construction materials that contain asbestos.  This thread-like mineral is extremely dangerous when inhaled, and can cause lung conditions such as lung scarring, asbestosis, and mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the chest or abdomen.  Mesothelioma symptoms may take between 20 and 50 years to appear after asbestos exposure, and are many times confused with less serious conditions until the cancer has spread beyond the capability of treatment.

The good news is that mesothelioma is almost completely avoidable.  As long as asbestos remains bound up in construction or other fireproofing materials, it is relatively harmless, so as long as your insulation is sufficient and in good condition, it does not need to be removed.  However, if it appears to be damaged, fraying, or significantly worn, you may need to consult a licensed abatement specialist who will have the proper protective gear for working with asbestos.  Since 1989, however, insulation now makes use of alternative materials for fire and soundproofing, including fiberglass, rock wool, and cellulose.

The attic is of crucial importance when it comes to properly insulating a home, since the conditioned air can easily escape through holes or cracks.  The Department of Energy sets the standard for attic insulation at between R-30 and R-60.  The R-value of the insulation refers to a measure of thermal resistance, with higher numbers providing more.  The right number within that range for your how depends on climate, building design, and budget, among other factors, though R-30 should serve as a lower limit for all areas of the U.S.

In addition to indoor cavity insulation, newer homes can also be insulated from the outside with insulative sheathing to prevent heat from being lost through the wood frame of the house.  Structural insulated panels, which provide both support and insulation, are becoming popular building materials as well.  Other steps should be taken to augment the insulation, such as sealing any cracks or gaps and replacing leaky or ill-fitting windows.  But be sure to keep your health and safety in mind – asbestos can be found in many different construction materials including caulk and weatherstripping, and mesothelioma symptoms are no joke.  If you have any doubts about the safety of your insulation or your ability to properly renovate it or install it, do not hesitate to call a professional contractor.