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NEW YORK – Children are ready to try e-books, with some thinking that a bigger selection of electronic texts would make reading for fun even more fun, according to a new study. But a solid majority of parents aren't planning to join the digital revolution.

The 2010 Kids and Family Reading Report, released Wednesday and commissioned by Scholastic Inc., offers a mixed portrait of e-books and families. Around six out of 10 of those between ages 9 and 17 say they're interested in reading on an electronic device such as the Kindle or the iPad. Around one out of three from the same age group say they'd read more "for fun" if more books were available on a digital reader.

Among the books that can't be downloaded: the "Harry Potter" series, published in the U.S. by Scholastic. J.K. Rowling has said she prefers her work to be read on paper.

The e-market has grown rapidly since 2007 and the launch of Amazon.com's Kindle device, from less than 1 percent of overall sales to between 5 to 10 percent, publishers say. But the new report is also the latest to show substantial resistance. Just 6 percent of parents surveyed have an electronic reading device, while 76 percent say they have no plans to buy one. Sixteen percent plan to have one within the following year.

In a recent Harris Poll of adults, 80 percent said they were not likely to get an e-reader.

"I'm not surprised to know that. I think we're still at the beginning of e-books," said Scholastic Book Club president Judy Newman, adding that the expense of digital devices was a likely problem for potential e-book fans.

The 2010 report shows, as other studies have, a decline in reading for fun as children grow older. More than half read for fun between ages 6 and 8, but the percentage drops to around 25 percent by ages 15 through 17 and just 20 percent for boys in that age group. Newman sees technology as both a problem and possible solution.

"We know that around age 8 they (children) start to lose interest in reading," Newman says. "Obviously, digital media is competing for kids' attention. It's very important that we as publishers make sure we're engaging kids in reading for fun. There's an opportunity to use technology to engage kids. ... We can have great content presented in a digital way."

The Kids and Family report was compiled by the Harrison Group, a marketing and research consulting firm. The survey was conducted in the spring of 2010, with 1,045 children and 1,045 parents interviewed. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.2 percentage points.

LONDON – Three people have been jailed for carrying out a scam to steal from more than 100 Japanese tourists in central London, police said on Tuesday.

The gang targeted tourists at attractions such as the British Museum and the Oxford Street shopping area.

One, a woman, would pose as a tourist and ask a genuine visitor for directions or to take a photo for her. Other gang members would then approach and pretend to be police officers and demand details of the tourists' identity and credit cards.

The woman would comply and encourage the genuine tourists to do so as well. The group would then take the cards and withdraw cash or make expensive purchases.

Detectives said the group was responsible for more than 70 offences while the Japanese Embassy said it had received more than 100 reports of such thefts or attempted thefts carried out against Japanese nationals.

At Blackfriars Crown Court, Carmen Banyai, 27, was jailed for 18 months, Stefan Balint, 31, for two years and Cosmin Negrea, 23, for 15 months after they pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal.

"Since targeting this criminal network, offences of this kind have dramatically decreased in the area and I hope this will reassure tourists visiting London," said Detective Constable David Ross.

I know it has been topic of much conversation…. Immigration!!
I’ve heard many people argue that “Poles are everywhere these days!!”

I for one cant stand discrimination of any type and get real pissed off when folks come out with crap like that!!
WeLL, I thought I had to share this short video with you all… it is not an easy watch though!!

This seams to be a completely unprovoked attack by three guys on one….

I will warn you again….. this is brutal!!

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