KCET is donorsupported community television

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabiao said on Monday there was "lightat the end of the tunnel" but called for strong and effectivestimulus plans. China has already pledged 4 trillion yuan ($584 billion) overthe next two years to help boost domestic demand, and Wen, on avisit to England, told the Financial Times that more might beneeded. ID:nL246557 "The path to recovery for the world economy is likely to bethrough China," Ushio added. NipponYusen (9101.T), Japan's biggest shipping firm, climbed 4 percentto 464 yen Mitsubishi UFJ sagged 1.9 percent to 476 yen.

Shinsei Bank (8303.T) lost 5 percent to 115 yen after theYomiuri Shimbun daily reported that Shinsei Bank would cut itsforecast for the year to March from a profit to a loss of severaltens of billions of yen, setting the stage for a capital boostand shift in strategy Shinsei is due to report earnings after the close. Trade was active on the Tokyo exchange's first section, with902 million shares changing hands, compared with last week'smorning average of 861 million Declining stocks outpaced advancing ones, 780 to 772. ($16.847 yuan)(Editing by Brent Kininmont) Stocks Asian Markets China Japan. The Jim Henson Company and KCET/Los Angeles Announce 10 New SID THE SCIENCEKID Episodes That Will Delight Young Viewers Starting February 9 on PBSKIDS(R)Acclaimed Science-Based Preschool Series Sparks Curiosity and Wonder with TwoNew Science Themes And Introduces a New Friend for Sid!HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Feb. 2 /PRNewswire/ Grab your magnifying glass, yourchart and your bug jar!Young scientists, their parents and caregivers canget ready for 10 all-new episodes of the acclaimed preschool series, SID THESCIENCE KID, which encourages viewers to explore and ask questions about theworld around them.Starting Monday, February 9, 10 new episodes will premiereover a two-week period, with each week introducing a new scientific theme, onthe popular PBS KIDS preschool destination, an educational, hosted two-hourmorning television block.(Please check local listings.)An interactive siteat extends the series' fun and learning.The week of February 9 will premiere five episodes that provide a basicintroduction to physical science and engineering featuring simple machines,like levers, wheels and pulleys.The five episodes debuting the week ofFebruary 16 will explore backyard science, giving kids a chance to take acloser look at the nature all around them, including dogs, birds, bugs, leavesand nests.This week will also introduce Sid's newest friend, Philbert, a dogSid's Grandma adopts who will help Sid investigate animal communication.Like all of the characters in SID THE SCIENCE KID, Philbert was brought tolife using the groundbreaking Henson Digital Puppetry Studio, which allowsperformers to puppeteer and voice digital characters in real-time, creating anunprecedented level of spontaneity and warmth.For Philbert, an actual dogperformed on a motion capture stage to record the body movements whilePhilbert's face and barking was puppeteered in real time by a Hensonperformer.The two images were then simultaneously composited together tocreate a single integrated character.(To learn more about the Henson DigitalPuppetry Studio, visit ).Developed to inspire a lifelong curiosity and love for learning in youngchildren, SID THE SCIENCE KID appeals to children's instinctive quest tofigure things out, using a relatable multi-cultural cast, humor and music askey teaching tools.Sid, the show's energetic and inquisitive preschool star, starts each episodewith a new question and embarks on a fun-filled day of finding answers as heencourages preschoolers to think about how to find answers to their ownquestions.Joining Sid are a colorful supporting cast, including his friendsGabriela, May and Gerald; his teacher Susie; Grandma; Mom (aka Alice); Zeke,Sid's baby brother; and Dad (aka Mort).Synopses:WEEK OF FEBRUARY 9:SIMPLE MACHINES"The Broken Wheel" When a wheel falls off Sid's favorite toy truck, he tapes it back on.But nowthe wheel won't spin, and Sid wonders how exactly wheels work.At school, Sidexplores how wheels are simple machines that help move all kinds of thingslike cars, trains, tricycles and even toy trucks!"My Slide" Sid wonders how he can lift up his big, heavy stuffed animal dinosaur onto hisbed.Sid and his friends explore how inclined planes are simple machines thatmake it much easier to push up heavy things...including big stuffed animaldinosaurs!"Sid's Amazing Invention" Sid believes that he has discovered a new invention to put toys away!Sidlearns his invention is actually a simple machine called a lever, which is notonly useful for launching toys, but can also help lift up really heavy things."The Treehouse" Sid wonders how he can lift his heavy box of toys way up to his treehouse. After investigating at school, Sid discovers that a pulley is the perfectsimple machine to help lift heavy things up to high places, like a treehouse!"Climb, Ignatz, Climb" Sid pretends that his stuffed animal panda is going on an adventure to the topof the playground slide.Sid and his friends make a plan and use simplemachines like wheels, inclined planes, levers and pulleys to get the panda allthe way to the top of the slide!WEEK OF FEBRUARY 16:BACKYARD SCIENCE"Hello Doggie" When Sid hears dogs barking in his neighborhood, he wonders if they're talkingto him.At school, Sid discovers that animals do communicate in lots ofdifferent ways, like using body language, making sounds, and barking!"Home Tweet Home" Sid wonders why there aren't any birds living in the birdhouse he built withhis Dad.Sid and his friends discover that lots of animals build and live intheir own homes, like beehives, anthills, and bird nests! "The Dirt on Dirt" In an Earth Day-themed episode, Sid wants to know what makes dirt so dirty. At school, Sid and his friends discover that dirt is really important to theEarth because it helps things grow, and it's also filled with tiny rocks,pieces of leaves and even living things like bugs and worms! "Don't Forget the Leaves" Everybody thinks flowers are special, but Sid wants to know:what makesleaves specialSid and his friends investigate and discover that leaves arefood for animals, they provide shade, and they help make nutrients so flowersand trees can grow! "The Bug Club" It's a special day at school, it's Bug Club Day!Sid and his friends usetheir magnifying glasses and discover ants, rolie polies, and caterpillarsaround the playground.Major funding for SID THE SCIENCE KID is provided by First 5 California, TheBoeing Company, The Rose Hills Foundation, The Arthur Vining Davis Foundationsand PBS.SID THE SCIENCE KID is a co-production of The Jim Henson Company and KCET/LosAngeles for PBS KIDS.Brian Henson, Lisa Henson and Halle Stanford of The JimHenson Company, along with Bradley Zweig, serve as executive producers.JoyceCampbell is executive producer for KCET.Mary Mazur is executive in charge ofproduction for KCET.The Jim Henson Company is handling all ancillary use ofthe property including licensing, video and merchandising.The Web site atpbskids /sid is being produced by KCET New Media, which has partnered withmultimedia design studio FableVision.Executive producer of the Web site isKCET's Jackie Kain.About The Jim Henson CompanyThe Jim Henson Company has remained an established leader in familyentertainment for over 50 years and is recognized worldwide as an innovator inpuppetry, animatronics and digital animation.Best known as creators of theworld famous Muppets (the rights to which are now owned by The Walt DisneyCompany), Henson is the recipient of over 50 Emmy Awards and nine GrammyAwards.Credits include the Saturn Award-winning "Farscape" and the features"MirrorMask," "Five Children and It," "Good Boy!" and the recently releaseddirect to DVD "Unstable Fables," which features "3 Pigs and a Baby," "Tortoisevs.

Hare" and "The Goldilocks and the Three Bears Show."With additionallocations in New York and London, The Jim Henson Company is headquartered inLos Angeles on the historic Charlie Chaplin lot, complete with soundstage andpostproduction facilities.Independently owned and operated by the five adultchildren of founder Jim Henson, the Company is also home to Jim Henson'sCreature Shop(TM), a pre-eminent character-building and visual effects groupwith international film, television and advertising clients, as well as HensonRecording Studios, one of the music industry's top recording facilities knownfor its world-class blend of state of the art and vintage equipment.TheCompany is currently completing production on 40 episodes of SID THE SCIENCEKID, a science readiness animated series for preschoolers that debuted on PBSKIDS in September 2008, and recently premiered the preschool live-actionpuppet series "Pajanimals" on PBS KIDS Sprout.The Company's HensonAlternative brand continues to produce "Puppet Up! - Uncensored," a livepuppet improvisational show that has played to sold out crowds around theworld and runs monthly at the Avalon Hollywood.The Company has alsoannounced the creation of Jim Henson Designs, a merchandise collectioninspired by Jim Henson's earliest sketches, and The Jim Henson Company: Discoveries, an acquisitions banner that celebrates outstanding third partyproduced independent film, television and video productions from around theglobe embodying the Company's enduring legacy. KCETKCET, the West Coast flagship station of PBS, is public television forSouthern and Central California.KCET is watched by four million viewers amonth in 11 counties, the largest broadcast reach of any public televisionstation in the United States.National PBS series produced from the station'sHollywood studios include four-time NAACP Award winner TAVIS SMILEY and thePeabody Award-winning A PLACE OF OUR OWN and its Spanish-language companionLOS NINOS EN SU CASA, a series for caregivers of young children.SID THESCIENCE KID, a new series co-produced for PBS KIDS by KCET and The Jim HensonCompany, premiered in 2008.Other KCET productions for PBS have included SCHOOL:THE STORY OF AMERICANPUBLIC EDUCATION, narrated by Academy Award(R) winner Meryl Streep; AMERICANFAMILY, the first primetime drama to feature an all-Hispanic cast; THE FIRSTYEAR, a documentary about five beginning teachers in the Los Angeles publicschool system; STORYTIME, a series aimed at getting young children interestedin stories and books; and PUZZLE PLACE, a single comedy/drama storylinefeaturing a multiethnic cast of puppets who helped children learn aboutsharing, decision making, and other daily encounters in a child's life.Throughout its more than 40-year history, KCET has won hundreds of majorawards for its local and regional news and public affairs programming, itsnational drama and documentary productions, its quality educational family andchildren's programs, its outreach and community services, and its Web site,kcet .KCET is donor-supported community television.More than half ofthe funds raised to support KCET's operating budget come from individualsupport.For additional information about KCET productions, Web-exclusivecontent, programming schedules and community events, please visit PBS KIDS and PBS KIDS GO!PBS KIDS, for preschoolers, and PBS KIDS GO!, for early elementary schoolkids, offer all children - from every walk of life - the opportunity toexplore new ideas and new worlds through television, online and outreachprograms.With positive character role models and content designed to nurturea child's total well-being, PBS's online and community resources - includingPBS KIDS online (pbskids ), PBS KIDS GO! online (pbskidsgo ), PBSParents (pbsparents ), PBS Teachers (pbsteachers ), PBS KIDS RaisingReaders and literacy events across the country - leverage the full spectrum ofmedia, technology and community to build knowledge, critical thinking,imagination and curiosity.Empowering children for success in school and inlife, only PBS KIDS and PBS KIDS GO! have earned the unanimous endorsement ofparents, children, industry leaders and teachers.PBS is a nonprofit mediaenterprise owned and operated by the nation's 356 public television stations,serving more than 115 million people on-air and online each month.About First 5 CaliforniaFirst 5 California, also known as the California Children and FamiliesCommission, was established after voters passed Proposition 10 in November1998, adding a 50 cents-per-pack tax on cigarettes to fund education, health,childcare and other programs for expectant parents and children ages 0 to 5. First 5 California's vision is that all children 0 to 5 in California enterschool ready to achieve their greatest potential.For more information,please visit The Boeing CompanyThe Boeing Company is the world's leading aerospace company and the largestmanufacturer of commercial jetliners and military aircraft.With customers inmore than 90 countries, Boeing is committed to being a leading globalcorporate citizen around the globe.For Boeing, this means partnering withcommunities in 26 states in the U.S. and 16 countries and four regionsinternationally to drive strong, positive change in the world.It's whatmakes Boeing a good citizensharing what the company knows and who Boeing isto convene, collaborate and lead in building vibrant communities and makingthe world better for everyone.In the area of education, Boeing aligns andleverages its resources to support systemic and continuous improvement inschool systems, concentrating on teacher effectiveness in literacy, math andscience, and on school leadership.In particular, the company is fullycommitted to making sure all students show up in kindergarten ready to learn. That's why the company is increasing its focus on supporting early learningprograms because it believes that children need the foundation of qualityearly learning experiences before they enter school. SOURCEThe Jim Henson CompanyAnn Schwarz, , or Barbara Roy, , both ofNina Stern Public Relations, 1-818-990-9242, for The Jim Henson Company. TOKYO, Feb 3 (Reuters) - The yen fell against the dollar andthe euro on Tuesday after the Bank of Japan said it would startbuying shares held by Japanese banks, stirring hopes for a risein share prices and an easing of risk aversion.

Currencies Global Markets Japan The dollar hit its intraday highs against the yen after theannouncement and is now 0.4 percent higher on the day at 89.82yen JPY The euro rose 0.5 percent to 115.54 yen EURJPYR. "When taken alone, this is positive for shares and is likelyto lead to an easing of risk aversion. It is a factor that ispositive for stocks and negative for the yen," said Tomoko Fujii,head of economics and strategy Japan for Bank of America inTokyo. (Reporting by Masayuki Kitano) Currencies Global Markets Japan. ) After examining the seasons of the National League's top Cy Young candidates, one should have no qualms about granting the prestigious accolade to St.