alberton: Loving the video of one of the Shoreditch Grand Prix teams' (MESOMOCO) training: http://tinyurl.com/5d476j :)

alberton: Walking in villa torlonia, a park near where i went to uni. Regeneration has changed it so much.

alberton: In Rome for week 2 of my break. Great to be in my playground - hadn't been back for nearly a year. Beautiful as always. Despite the heat.

An attempt by city officials to calm the nerves of residents in the area around the weekend's massive propane blast backfired on Wednesday, after angry homeowners called them 'smug' and screamed at them over their assurances there weren't any health concerns due to asbestos.

The press conference was held near Ancaster Road, one of the recently reopened streets in the area, where men in white-suited hazmat gear spent the day behind signs that warned "DANGER ASBESTOS " in big letters.

That heightened an already tense atmosphere, as expert after expert stepped forward to admit that while the substance was detected in places like the nearby playground and community centre - where recently returned kids were playing 24 hours before - there was no imminent danger to those who lived there.

It was a conclusion that didn't sit well with residents who came to watch the experts present their evidence.

"Today we wake up and see that most of this area is taped off again and we see people in full white suits walking around just a few feet away from us," noted resident James Durling. "They need a white suit but we don't. What's going to happen long term here? If we stay here, are we going to get sick 10, 15, 20 years from (now)? No one's giving us those answers."

"I have a house with broken windows, I have every reason to believe that is full of asbestos, and I challenge any one of you to tell me otherwise," another screamed.

"And I have lungs every reason to believe full of asbestos, and given myself and my neighbors were running from the streets, and running from the goddamn lies, and I challenge any one of you to tell me I won't get cancer in the next 15 or 25 years and just a coincidence ... The nerve of you people to act so goddamn smug! You screwed up big time!"

Associate Medical Officer of Health Dr. Barbara Yaffe tried to reassure residents there was no danger. "If it were my child, I would not be worried," she proclaimed. "I would not be worried because we know that the level of exposure would be exceedingly low ... It's not of concern."

Shouts of 'but you don't live here!' followed, as experts again tried to calm the increasing fury.

"The monitoring done so far simply shows that there is no airborne asbestos now and, in fact, no airborne asbestos even when personal samples were performed on a worker actively cleaning up this residue or debris," Dr. Don Pinchen tried to outline.

But that assurance also fell on deaf ears.

At one point, a local ratepayer's group spokesman confronted Councillor Maria Augimeri, who represents the area, asking her why she called her own meeting instead of attending theirs, scheduled for Thursday night. (see bottom of page for meeting details)

Her response was startling, referencing the death of Bob Leek, a firefighter who perished during Sunday's efforts to deal with the crisis.

"If people have problems of a partisan nature they should not use a death of a firefighter or anything associated with the disaster to deal with it!" she screamed. "So shut up!"

The man shot back, "You're trying to split the community."

Augimeri had spent two days flying in from Italy and explained her outburst by saying she was jetlagged and exhausted. "I haven't slept for two and a half days, and I've been traveling to try to get back here, okay," she pleads.

See unedited video of the confrontation here.

The City has set up a special hotline for anyone worried about asbestos exposure. Call (416) 338-7600 if you have any questions. It will remain open until 9pm Wednesday and be back up again Thursday morning.

The sudden death of a popular business-owner has only added to the collective sense of grief and frustration.

Fifty-one-year-old Patricia Loconte, a well known proprietor of a store in the area and something of a neighbourhood fixture, died suddenly of a heart attack after returning to her previously evacuated home.

Her stunned family says she was perfectly healthy and strong but was traumatized by the explosions.

Meanwhile, the probe into the disaster is continuing, as the Fire Marshal picks through the rubble of the ruined propane facility on nearby Murray Road. Bryan Fischer tells CityNews's Pam Seatle it's already been a difficult investigation because there's so much widespread destruction.

Asked if there's a chance we may never know the actual cause, Fischer responds "absolutely, absolutely. But at this point it's too soon to say."

Part of the confrontation between Maria Augimeri and residents was sparked by the fact that she called a 'Public Information Meeting' that directly conflicts with the one the area Ratepayers Association has called on the same day and time.
RATEPAYER MEETING

Thursday 7pm at St. Norbet Church Hall - called by the Ancaster Ratepayers Association

TORONTO — A propane depot employee believed to have died in Sunday's massive explosions that sent thousands fleeing a Toronto neighbourhood was an international student from India who was "the heart and soul" of the people close to him, people who knew him said Thursday.

Parminder Saini, 24, has been missing since the explosion at Sunrise Propane, where he worked part-time, and friends and his family in Bhatinda, India are fearing the worst.

A body was recovered from the blast site and taken to the coroner's office for autopsy, but officials have yet to identify it.

"He was a very nice person... smiling all the time ... making other people laugh," Manpreet Sidhu wrote in an email, adding she was too upset to speak on the phone. "(He was) very down to earth. He loved his family and he was a very dedicated guy."

Sidhu met Saini at Sheridan College in Brampton, Ont., just west of Toronto, where they both went to school. Sidhu said they came from the same city in India and had become good friends since Saini arrived in Canada in December 2007.

Saini had completed his undergraduate degree in India and came to Canada to further his studies, she said.

Several hours after Sunday's explosion, a spokesman for Surnise said company officials "prayed" Saini would be found unharmed.

On Monday, a body was found in the ruins.

Veteran firefighter Bob Leek, whose funeral was to be held Friday, died at the scene after being found without vital signs. The coroner's office said Thursday that Leek's autopsy was complete but the cause of death wasn't being released at the request of his family.

Although Saini didn't like Canada at first he began to enjoy living in Brampton and "was looking forward to settling his life here," said Sidhu, who added she began to worry about her friend, nicknamed Rocky, when he didn't show up for a final exam Monday.

Janine Gliener, acting director of marketing and communication, confirmed Saini was enrolled at Sheridan College as an international student.

Saini began the quality assurance manufacturing and management post-graduate certificate program in January, Gliener said.

Saini's job at Sunrise was not affiliated with Sheridan, Gliener said.

"It would have been something that we were not involved with him obtaining," she said.

Amar Singh Bullar, the chief editor of Hamdard Weekly, a Punjabi newspaper in Mississauga, Ont., contacted Saini's family in Bhatinda and said Saini had spoken with his older brother, Bikramjit, only an hour before the blast.

"They were laughing about Parminder's hair," Bullar said. "Because before he had long hair and he had just cut it."

Saini's parents and brother don't have passports, Bullar said, so they are unable to come to Toronto to assist with the investigation.

Bullar also said that Saini, who entered the country with a 15-month student visa, had never been to the doctor or dentist in Canada. As a result, Saini's family are worried that authorities won't be able to identify the body found at the blast site.

A Facebook profile in Saini's name says he was the creator of an online group for Punjabi students

alberton: Went horse riding along the coast line. Beautifully relaxing.

Posteo rápido para contar que esta semana estoy participando como docente del curso virtual "Empoderamiento digital y trabajo con jóvenes" para nicaragüenses organizado por la Fundación Desafíos y apoyado por Relajur y SinergiaNet.

Estoy a cargo del módulo de ciberactivismo.

Pego el primer párrafo de la presentación del curso:

El curso busca aportar elementos para una reflexión crítica acerca de los nuevos espacios que se generan con el desarrollo de las TICs e Internet, así como conocer experiencias en las cuales se trabaja en la perspectiva de propiciar el empoderamiento digital de personas, grupos, organizaciones y redes.


¡Agradezco mucho la invitación de Daniel Espíndola!


pd: No estoy posteando seguido porque estoy en medio de cosas que no se terminan de definir como para contarlas.

alberton: Great. I've sun burnt my feet.

alberton: and i've been told grand prix fundraising pages are now live. Url should be sent out to those registered soon: everyclick.com/unltd

alberton: Early start. Espresso and the papers. then off to the beach.

alberton: Landed. 37 degrees.

I promised to post this information, especially for those who’ve been asking to join a session I’m facilitating:

Since inception, NYSC InfoTech Corps - whose main focus is creating Information and Communications Technology (ICT) awareness among under served communities with a special focus on secondary schools in Lagos State - has carried out various ICT awareness programs in form of trainings and seminars.

As part of annual activities, and in commemoration of the International Youth Day, NYSC InfoTech Corps in conjunction with Paradigm Initiative Nigeria will be holding a one-day seminar with the theme: “Information and Communications Technology in Nigeria: Optimization Strategies for National Development”. A keynote speech will be delivered by ‘Gbenga Sesan, Nigeria’s first IT Youth Ambassador and currently the African representative on the United Nation’s eLeaders Committee.

The event is expected to bring together industry experts and trainers to brainstorm on current ICT trends as well bring to the fore, the various activities of this noble group. The event will feature representatives from Microsoft, Nigeria Internet Group, TTCmobile, Nigeria Computer Society, Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria, Korea Internet Volunteers, Nigerian Professionals’ Network, etc. The seminar will also have representatives of the Lagos State Ministry of Education, Youth Corps members, students and other youths.

Please see event details below:
Date: Saturday, August 16, 2008
Venue: Center for Information Technology and Systems, University of Lagos, Akoka
Time: 10am to 1pm (ICT Seminar); 2pm to 5pm (International Youth Day Networking Session)

NB:
If you’re in the following cities on the listed dates, there could be other opportunities:
August 17-20: Abuja [Register for event]
August 21-22: Ile-Ife
August 23: Ibadan
August 23-24: Ogbomoso
August 29: Ado-Ekiti

Fo more details, please contact Ugo: ugo.nwosu[at]ajegunle.org

Listen to this podcast (computer-generated voice)

alberton: 10 day holiday begins. Gatwick bound. Italy awaits.

I headed off in the morning to the Australian Science and Math School, hosted at Flinders University. The school is only a few years old, and is built with an open concept -- no classrooms, but instead a number of large spaces with desks and chairs that reconfigured in many different ways to foster teamwork and collaboration. We had a large group - about 50 teachers and school leaders, and had a really interesting day -- when I showed the "Are you listening?" video, a whole bunch of students gathered upstairs in the area overlooking where I was speaking to watch - I think they were really curious that so many teachers were learning about their way of using technology!

After a fantastic dinner by the water with a group of curriculum developers, I headed to sleep -- because I had to catch a 6:40am flight to Canberra!

I made it to the nation's capital early in the morning, and it was freezing! 0 degrees but it warmed up as the sun rose... I had a few hours to fit the gym and have lunch before heading to Canberra University -- the group in Canberra decided to have an evening workshop (4-9pm) with dinner. Although everyone had a full day of work before showing up, we still had a lot of active participation, and after wrapping up at 9 and getting back to the hotel around 10, it was time for sleep for another 6:45am flight back to Sydney for the last workshop of the trip!

Arriving in Sydney in the morning, with my 32kg on-the-dot bag faithfully appearing on the carousel, I headed off to Parramatta right on time, and arrived 3 minutes before the workshop was to begin! We had the biggest crowd of any session -- around 60 people, and so a lot of the interactive sections took a lot longer than usual, but they had great ideas and a large group of schools approached me after and wants to deeply engage their entire district with TIGed, which is exciting! After wrapping up and chatting with a bunch of the attendees, I was off to one of my favourite hotels in the world -- the Westin Sydney, to relax, enjoy their great gym, and have dinner with Jenny, who had the whole series of workshops organized, to debrief on the experience (yum, Tasmanian lamb!). After that, I met up with Jarra and Nick, and headed to Micky's for dessert (Banana Pancakes and Ice Cream!) to catch up and for me to celebrate the completion of 10 sessions in 11 days in 5 cities!

I'm writing this now on the flight to Vancouver -- I managed to get right to sleep after lunch on the 10am flight, which will hopefully mean I can work through the North American day and head to sleep at a proper time tonight. Saturday, we head to Quebec City for the World Youth Congress to meet TIG members from all over the world. I've also agreed to head to Brisbane on the 19th to speak at the Queenland Government's e-learning summit, and after that, I'll be ready to just settle down at home and enjoy the rest of the summer in Toronto :)

alberton: Stampeding through emails and to-do list before heading off on holiday (!!!)