Paris, 11 December 2006


EFITA newsletter / 287 / European Federation for Information Technology in Agriculture, Food and the Environment


Seminar about agricultural data dictionaries, interoperability and traceability (in French only)
20 December – PARIS – French ministry of Agriculture
We already registered 140 participants. We are waiting for around 200 people interested in information standardisation and exchange.
See: http://www.acta-informatique.fr?d=6561
Contact: Guy WAKSMAN
E-mail: waksman(a)acta-informatique.fr


EFITA 2007 “Environmental and rural sustainability through ICT

> I did not send my summaries. I hope that Caroline will forgive me! (GW)

>The plans for this years conference are very exciting with a range of papers and poster sessions, short and long, and demonstrations of software both commercial and research based. As well as the stimulation of the conference itself delegates will be welcomed with a civic reception, offered the opportunity to sample Scotland’s national drink and banqueted at the famous Sterling Castle.
If you have something to say about the way that ICT can be, is, or should be used to support the farm business, protect the environment or support rural communities then send in your abstract now. The deadline for abstracts, 30th November, is fast approaching. For more information and instructions to authors go to the conference web-site at: efitaglasgow.org"
Contact: Caroline PARKER
E-mail: c.g.parker(a)gcal.ac.uk


5th New Ag International Conference & Exhibition
21-23 March 2007 – BUDAPEST - Hungary
, 2007 will be ending December 31^st, 2006! To benefit from the discount About 20 papers will be given by outstanding speakers: they will cover the developments of the markets and the technologies for irrigation, greenhouses and specialty plant nutrition in a number of Central and East European countries and beyond. Speakers from Academic and Industry circles from Hungary, Ukraine, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Canada, USA, Israel and the UK have already been confirmed. The final conference programme will be announced early 2007. At the same time, the booking of exhibition stands continues with exhibitors from more than 10 countries having already registered.
See: http://www.newaginternational.com/conference/conference.html


Vacancies at eris@
eris@ is seeking to recruit an IT Project Assistant for a period of one year to help with ongoing European projects work carried out at its Brussels office. Applicants will preferably have an interest in Information Society and Regional Development issues, as well as a working knowledge of the European Institutions.
- Applicants will preferable have a post-graduate qualification in a relevant discipline (i.e. informatics engineering).
- Mother tongue competence in a mainstream European language and competence in spoken and written English (additional European languages will be desirable)
- Some prior experience of web-based information services.
- An ability to exercise initiative and to work without direct day-to-day supervision.
- Proficiency and competence in application of ICT skills.
See: http://www.ianis.net/index.php?page=erisainfos&sub=erisadetail&iderisainfo=34
Contact: Ester TORRES
E-mail:ester.torres(a)erisa.be


THE YEAR 1906

This will boggle your mind, I know it did mine!
The year is 1906.
One hundred years ago.
What a difference a century makes!
Here are some of the U.S. statistics for the Year 1906:
- The average life expectancy in the U.S. was 47 years.
- Only 14 percent of the homes in the U.S. had a bathtub.
- Only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone.
- A three-minute call from Denver to New York City cost eleven dollars.
- There were only 8,000 cars in the U.S., and only 144 miles of paved roads.
- The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.
- Alabama, Mississippi, Iowa, and Tennessee were each more heavily populated than California.
- With a mere 1.4 million people, California was only the 21st most populous state in the Union.
- The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower!
- The average wage in the U.S. was 22 cents per hour.
- The average U.S. worker made between $200 and $400 per year
- A competent accountant could expect to earn $2000 per year, a dentist $2,500 per year, a veterinarian between $1,500 and $4,000 per year, and a mechanical engineer about $5,000 per year.?
- More than 95 percent of all births in the US took place at HOME.
- Ninety percent of all U.S. doctors had NO COLLEGE EDUCATION!
- Instead, they attended so-called medical schools, many of which were condemned in the press AND the government as "substandard."
- Sugar cost four cents a pound.
- Eggs were fourteen cents a dozen.
- Coffee was fifteen cents a pound.
- Most women only washed their hair once a month, and used borax or egg yolks for shampoo.
- Canada passed a law that prohibited poor people from entering into their country for any reason.
- Five leading causes of death in the U.S. were:
1. Pneumonia and influenza
2. Tuberculosis
3. Diarrhoea
4. Heart disease
5. Stroke
- The American flag had 45 stars.
- Arizona, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Hawaii, and Alaska hadn't been admitted to the Union yet.
- The population of Las Vegas, Nevada, was only 30!!!!
- Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and ice tea hadn't been invented yet.
- There was no Mother's Day or Father's Day.
- Two out of every 10 U.S. adults couldn't read or write.
- Only 6 percent of all Americans had graduated from high school.
- Marijuana, heroin, and morphine were all available over the counter at the local corner drugstores. Back then pharmacists said, "Heroin clears the complexion, gives buoyancy to the mind, regulates the stomach and bowels, and is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health." (Shocking? DUH! )
- Eighteen percent of households in the U.S. had at least one full-time servant or domestic help.
- There were about 230 reported murders in the ENTIRE U.S.A.!
- Now I forwarded this from someone else without typing it myself, and sent it to you and others all over the United States, possibly the world, in a matter of seconds!
- Try to imagine what it may be like in another 100 years...
Contact: I. KITRON
Email: kitron1(a)terra.com.br


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