Paris, 3 April 2006


EFITA newsletter / 254 / European Federation for Information Technology in Agriculture, Food and the Environment


25 000 subscribers only (Next)
Hi Guy, don't feel downhearted... better to have 25000 people who actually read and appreciate what you put together than 45000 recipients who are good at pushing the DEL key.
Contact: Peter NUTHALL
Email: nuthallp(a)lincoln.ac.nz

Answer: Maybe all 25000 are pushing the DEL key too!
Contact: Guy WAKSMAN
Email: waksman(a)acta-informatique.fr


Point of view (in Fr-English): ICT and anxiety
We publish the data base of agrochemicals marketed in France on CD-ROM. To protect this base named PhytActa (around 3000 buyers last year), we ask our clients to call us or to send us an email with an "installation code" that is computed when installing PhytActa. Then we give to our clients a key that authorises them to use the data base. It is incredible to observe how our clients are anxious or at least unsecured when installing the programme. Me too, I feel anxious when installing a new application. ICT still is synonym of anxiety.
Contact: Guy WAKSMAN
Email: waksman(a)acta-informatique.fr


16th International Agritech Exhibition
9 – 11 May - Tel Aviv, Israel
An international convention on "Agriculture Under Limited Water Conditions" chaired by Prof. Avigad Vonshak, Director, The Institutes for Desert Research will be held during the exhibition.
See: http://www.agritech.org.il/
Contact: Giorgio AMANTE
E.mail :giorgio.amante(a)tin.it


Information systems in sustainable agriculture, agro-environment and food technology
20 - 23 September 2006 – VOLOS – Greece
The dead line for the abstracts' submission is 20th of April 2006.
See: http://haicta2006.users.uth.gr
Contact: Prof. Stergios TZORTZIOS
Email: haicta2006(a)uth.gr


IMARK launches new e-learning module to help managers in international development address the challenges of the new information environment
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is pleased to announce on behalf of the Information Management Resource Kit (IMARK) Steering Group, the release of the English version of the latest IMARK e-learning module "Investing in Information for Development". The module addresses the needs of managers and decision-makers for new awareness and skills related to development and implementation of strategies, policies, structures, and procedures for effective management of information. “Information management has evolved rapidly in recent years, in relation to the powerful but complex digital technologies that are now available. This latest module considers the impact of technology on the information environment, and on the decisions that managers in development organizations have to take”, explains Anton Mangstl, Director of FAO's Library and Documentation Systems Division.
The module was developed by FAO, with support from the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) and the German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ). A series of lessons and resources is provided to assist managers in developing an information strategy, and in implementing new structures and procedures for effective information management and exchange. The module includes a series of lesson plans, learner notes and presentations which can be adapted by trainers developing their own curricula for face-to-face seminars and courses.
This, and all IMARK modules, are available at no-cost either through the IMARK website www.imarkgroup.org or on CD-ROM upon request. Learners are encouraged to register and select a course.
IMARK now has over 30 partners and collaborating institutions since its inception in 2001, and its activities are coordinated through a Steering Group whose members are: the Association for Progressive Communications (APC), FAO, the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF), Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), the Centre de coopération internationale en recherche agronomique pour le développement (Cirad), the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Charlotte A. MASIELLO-RIOME
Email: Charlotte.Masiello(a)fao.org


High-speed internet for all is now a Commission priority
A wide range of EU policy instruments and funds are now being activated to boost the spread of broadband internet to poorer regions.
See: http://www.euractiv.com/Article?tcmuri=tcm:29-153580-16&type=News
Contact: Rene VICAIRE
Email: rene.vicaire(a)recherche.gouv.fr


Q.: What's big, green, fuzzy, has four legs, and will kill you if it falls out of tree and lands on your head?
R.: A pool table.


Would she use my golf clubs?

Scene:  A husband and wife are sitting in bed reading when the wife looks over at her husband and asks:

WIFE: "What would you do if I died? Would you get married again?"
HUSBAND: "Definitely not!"

WIFE: "Why not? Don't you like being married?"
HUSBAND: "Of course I do."

WIFE: "Then why wouldn't you remarry?"
HUSBAND: "Okay, okay, I'd get married again."

WIFE: "You would?" (with a hurt look)
HUSBAND: (makes audible groan)

WIFE: "Would you live in our house?"
HUSBAND: "Sure. It's a great house."

WIFE: "Would you sleep with her in our bed?"
HUSBAND: "Where else would we sleep?"

WIFE: "Would you let her drive my car?"
HUSBAND: "Probably, sure it is almost new."

WIFE: "Would you replace my pictures with hers?"
HUSBAND: "That would seem like the proper thing to do."

WIFE: "Would she use my golf clubs?"
HUSBAND: "No ... she's left-handed."

WIFE: -- silence --
HUSBAND: "..... Shit."
Contact: Mick Harkin
Email: harkin(a)iol.ie


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