Zuckerberg : Kids under 13 should be allowed on Facebook

Facebook's founder sees the social networking site as a tool with educational potential. That of course means getting kids Facebooking at an early age.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg may be a college drop-out, but the billionaire 27-year-old is passionate about education reform. That's why he took time out of his busy schedule to discuss the heated topic (and why he thinks young people can benefit from social networking sites) at a recent summit on innovation in education.

Last year Zuckerberg pledged $100 million to the school system in Newark, New Jersey. At the NewSchools Venture Fund's Summit in Burlingame, Calif. earlier this week, Zuckerberg told interviewer (and venture capitalist) John Doerr that improving education and making the Internet more open are two of his favorite dinnertime topics.

Dressed in his signature T-shirt and jeans, Zuckerberg was uncharacteristically unguarded about his private life during the conversation, which lasted about an hour. He referred to his girlfriend of seven years, medical student Priscilla Chan, several times throughout the interview. He also shared anecdotes from his own education and upbringing, gave advice to other entrepreneurs and talked about why he wants kids under 13 to be on Facebook.

"Education is clearly the biggest thing that will drive how the economy improves over the long term," Zuckerberg said. "We spend a lot of time talking about this."

It's no surprise that Zuckerberg thinks the field of education--along with shopping, health, finance and other industries--will become much more social in the coming years.

"In the future, software and technology will enable people to learn a lot from their fellow students," he said. For example, students could see each other studying online in the hopes it would encourage more of them to study for tests.

Zuckerberg said he wants younger kids to be allowed on social networking sites like Facebook. Currently, the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) mandates that websites that collect information about users (like Facebook does) aren't allowed to sign on anyone under the age of 13. But Zuckerberg is determined to change this.

"That will be a fight we take on at some point," he said. "My philosophy is that for education you need to start at a really, really young age."

But just how would Facebook's social features be used by younger children?

"Because of the restrictions we haven't even begun this learning process," Zuckerberg said. "If they're lifted then we'd start to learn what works. We'd take a lot of precautions to make sure that they [younger kids] are safe."

Here are a few other opinions and anecdotes Zuckerberg shared at the recent summit:

- Every year Zuckerberg sets a personal challenge for himself. His latest one is learning Chinese (he works with a tutor and regularly holds discussions with Mandarin-speaking employees at Facebook).

- The young CEO gets upset when the media focuses on him instead of the entire Facebook management team. He says he spends 25% of his time recruiting both inside and outside Facebook and never hires someone he wouldn't want to work for himself.

- Zuckerberg started coding in sixth grade, after he got his first computer. His first program? A virtual pet-like game starring Yoda (the goal was to keep Yoda alive).

- The best part of going to Harvard was the other students. According to Zuckerberg: "If I had the chance to go back to Harvard and finish, I just think of how many more awesome people I would meet."

source : CNNMoney

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Manchester United 4-2 Blackpool

Manchester United saw Blackpool relegated on a frenetic final day of the Premier League. Ian Holloway's men had looked safe at one point, even leading the champions 2-1 at Old Trafford, but three second half goals were enough for the hosts to cruise to victory and send the Seasiders back to the Championship.

Goals from Ji-sung Park, Anderson, an own goal from Charlie Evatt and a Michael Owen strike late on sealed Blackpool’s fate, after a Charlie Adam free-kick and Gary Taylor-Fletcher goal had given Blackpool the lead.

Much was made before the match of what line-up Sir Alex Ferguson would pick for the final game of the season with the Champions League final looming, but he took no mercy in naming a near-full strength team.

The match got off to almost a perfect start for Blackpool, who stole possession before the ball was spread wide to Charlie Adam, who got to the by-line before cutting the ball back to Keith Southern 12 yards out, only for the midfielder to place the shot well wide.

That was within the first 30 seconds, and Manchester United almost made them pay two minutes later as right-back Rafael Da Silva chested down a looping ball on the edge of the box before hitting a venomous volley which was well stopped by Matt Gilks.

The Tangerines were certainly set in their ways of playing attacking, expansive football, hitting United again on the counter in the sixth minute. This time Adam drove in a shot/cross that would surely have gone in had Gary Taylor-Fletcher got a touch on the ball.

The match was going at 100-miles-per-minute in the opening stages, this time the league’s joint-leading scorer Dimitar Berbatov coming close to opening the scoring.

He exquisitely controlled a lofted pass from Darren Fletcher before turning his marker, but the ball got caught under his feet, before he placed a shot that Gilks dealt with well again.

A well-worked free-kick in the 19th minute almost led to an opportunity for Blackpool, but Berbatov was on hand at the back-post to clear, before playing a pivotal role at the other end of the pitch two minutes later.

A long-ball was well-controlled by the Bulgarian on his chest, before he played a through pass looking for the on-rushing Ji-sung Park. The South Korean wasn’t favourite to get to the ball, but Charlie Evatt somehow managed to lose out despite getting himself between his opponent and the ball.

The ball was heading to Gilks, but the United midfielder got there first to clip the ball over the ‘keeper and perhaps consign Blackpool to relegation.

Nearly 10 minutes later and Adam was literally trying to do it all himself, taking a pot shot at goal from just inside the United half that was never in danger of finding the net.
Blackpool were then lucky to avoid giving away a penalty, as Charlie Adam brought down Park in the area without getting any touch on the ball.

Sir Alex Ferguson had described his free-kicks and corners as “worth £10 million alone”, and in the 40th minute, Adam showed his true class, equalising from a free-kick.

Nemanja Vidic, who received the Premier League Player of the Season award before the match brought down Taylor-Fletcher on the edge of the box, and Adam swept his effort low and into the right corner, in off the post.

Edwin van der Sar could perhaps be disappointed with his effort, as he was wrong-footed, believing Adam would curl an effort over the wall.

It was the first time an opposition player had scored a goal in the first half at Old Trafford since Joe Cole for Chelsea over a year ago and it looked to be a vital one at the break. It could not have been tighter in the relegation zone, with the Seasiders sitting in 17th place by the virtue of one solitary goal.

Three minutes into the second half Adam was almost at it again. Vidic again brought a player down on the edge of the box, this time DJ Campbell, but Adam’s effort was a stinging drive straight at Van der Sar, who tipped the ball over.

And in the 56th minute, the unthinkable happened. Blackpool took the lead at Old Trafford, against the champions.

David Vaughan picked up the loose ball in midfield before making a charge at goal, evading a tackle from Anderson before finding Jason Puncheon wide on the right. The winger fed Vaughan on the overlap, and his cross was clipped in off the post by Taylor-Fletcher.

The goal was met with raucous celebrations from the players, and chants of “We are staying up!” from the fans. Those chants were silenced six minutes later, as Anderson curled a wonderful finish past Gilks after good work from Park on the left.

And Manchester United almost took the lead two minutes later, but for a magnificent save from Gilks, flying across the goal to get his hand in the way of a Berbatov header. Scholes then hit a rocket of a shot that was blocked tremendously by Evatt.

It was extremely tense as the minutes ticked away, and with 17 minutes left on the clock, substitute Chris Smalling’s cross was turned into his own net by Charlie Evatt.

It was a sickening moment for the defender who has played in every match this season for Blackpool, but it had been coming for United.

Evatt almost made up for it five minutes later, stealing space in the box to poke a finish at goal, only for Van der Sar to foil him after rushing out to narrow the angle.

But in the 81st minute, Blackpool were effectively relegated as Anderson sent through substitute Michael Owen, who timed his run to perfection to beat the offside trap before slotting past Gilks.

The striker had said on his Twitter account previously that he felt he had “one more big goal” to score this season, but this wasn’t quite as important as he may have wanted, with Manchester United already on course for victory.

In the 88th minute Blackpool almost got a goal back but Brett Ormerod, fresh from the bench slotted his finish just wide of Van der Sar’s post.

In the 92nd minute, Berbatov had his best chance of the match to seal the Golden Boot Award, but smashed his shot over with only Gilks to beat.

Ultimately it did not make a difference, as Blackpool didn’t have enough time to respond, and despite thrilling many neutrals throughout the season they were were consigned to defeat, and a swift return to the Championship.

Read more info : Goal

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Oscar De La Hoya enters rehab

Oscar De La Hoya has entered a California rehab facility to address his 'flaws,' he says.

Oscar De La Hoya has entered rehab to knock out a substance abuse problem.

TMZ reports that the boxing champ has been seeking treatment in a California-area facility for the past few weeks.

"Like everyone, I have my flaws, and I do not want to be one of those people that is afraid to admit and address those flaws," the 10-time world champion tells the site. "Throughout my career and my life, I have always met all challenges head-on, and this is no different. I am confident that with the support of my family and friends, I will become a stronger, healthier person."

Wherever Oscar De La Hoya is staying, he has access to his Twitter account. Over the past week, he has been posting inspirational messages that hinted at his road to recovery.

"Today I healed my pain so I can heal yours tomorrow," he wrote on May 19. 

"Live today like you lived yesterday...Alive!"

The next day, he continued his introspective thinking.

"Take a deep breathe and let out all that anger that makes you hate. it really is going to be o.k.," he wrote. "Stop finding excuses not to live. life is controlled by what you make of it and not of what it makes of you."

But perhaps Oscar De La Hoya needs to focus a bit more on his rehab. On May 19, he also re-tweeted a message from a fan who wrote that Tres Generaciones -- a company for which De La Hoya is the amabassador -- is the best tequila.

Read more info : Daily News

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Iceland volcano

Iceland has closed its main international airport and cancelled domestic flights after its most active volcano, Grimsvotn, began erupting.

A plume of smoke has risen 20km (12 miles) into the sky from the volcano.

But Iceland's Meteorological Office says the eruption should not cause widespread disruption to air traffic.

Last year, ash clouds from another Icelandic volcano, Eyjafjallajokul, led to the closure of a large section of European airspace.

Governments feared that ash particles could cause aircraft engines to fail, and the closure caused chaos to air travellers.

Different ash

Hjordis Gudmundsdottir, a spokeswoman for the Isavia civil aviation authority said: "We have closed the area until we know better what effect the ash will have."

The authority said Keflavik airport, the country's main hub, would remain shut for the rest of Sunday.

But officials say the eruption is unlikely to have the same impact as Eyjafjallajokul in 2010.

University of Iceland geophysicist Magnus Tumi Gudmundsson said this was Grimsvotn's largest eruption for 100 years, "much bigger and more intensive than Eyjafjallajokull".

He added: "There is a very large area in south-east Iceland where there is almost total darkness and heavy fall of ash. But it is not spreading nearly as much. The winds are not as strong as they were in Eyjafjallajokull."

He said this ash was coarser than last year's eruption, falling to the ground more quickly instead of floating long distances.

Europe's air traffic control organisation said on Sunday: "There is currently no impact on European or trans-Atlantic flights and the situation is expected to remain so for the next 24 hours.

"Aircraft operators are constantly being kept informed of the evolving situation."

However, weather officials warned that ash could reach northern Scotland by Tuesday and parts of Britain, France and Spain by Thursday or Friday if the eruption continues at the same rate, according to Reuters.

In Scotland, a meeting of the government's resilience committee chaired by Transport Secretary Keith Brown is currently being held to discuss the possible impact.

Threat to engines

Grimsvotn lies under the the largest glacier in Europe, Vatnajokull in south-east Iceland.

When it last erupted in 2004, transatlantic flights had to be re-routed south of Iceland, but no airports were closed.

Last year's outpouring of ash from Eyjafjallajokull led to the largest closure of European airspace since World War II.

About 10 million travellers were affected and some questioned whether the shutdown was an over-reaction.

However, a scientific study published last month said the safety concerns had been well founded.

Researchers from the University of Copenhagen and the University of Iceland said ash particles from the early part of the Eyjafjallajokull eruption were especially abrasive, posing a possible threat to aircraft engines.

Read more info : BBC

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£ 1 million bonus for Roberto Mancini's

 

Manchester City's £ 1 million bonus for Roberto Mancini's hand Qualification for the Champions League.

Italy imbalance leads to The Land of the elite European club competition for the first time promised.

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has been awarded a £1 million bonus for guiding the club to the Champions League.

City secured their place in Europe's elite competition for the first time with a 1-0 win over Tottenham last Tuesday and will now finish no lower than fourth in the Premier League. Victory over Stoke tonight will see Mancini's side leapfrog Arsenal into third place with one game left to play.

Sheikh Mansour, the club's Abu Dhabi owner, made a top-four finish the minimum requirement at the start of the season and has spent more than £350m on signing players since buying the club in August 2009.

Roberto Mancini was offered the incentive of an additional £1m bonus on top of his £3m-a-year salary if he could steer City to the Champions League and he is now set to cash in, while the Italian will be in line for a further bonus after guiding the club to their first trophy in 35 years with the FA Cup final triumph over Stoke City on Saturday.

Roberto Mancini, 46, took over at the City of Manchester Stadium in December 2009 following the sacking of Mark Hughes, and led the club to a fifth-placed finish last season before finding himself under pressure after a poor run of results earlier this season.

But he now has the backing of the billionaire owners and chief executive Garry Cook – who will back him in the summer to pursue targets who can help the club challenge on all fronts in the next campaign.

“If you have not won anything for a long time and you don't buy good players you can't win. It is impossible,” Mancini said at the weekend.

“You can have the best manager in the world, a magician on the bench, but if you don't buy then all the clubs who have bought good players are going to win.

“Tottenham played in the Champions League until the quarter-final and in the Premier League they are outside the top four.

“It is difficult if you don't have a big squad so you can change six or seven players for every game. We lost many points between February and March.

“We played every three days in the Europa League, Barclays League, the FA Cup. We weren't used to doing this.”

Source : Goal

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