Closing the Gap through Modern Technology

In an age where survival of the smartest is more of a reality than survival of the fittest, it is no wonder why various governments and private sectors are investing millions on modern communication technologies in hopes to close the intellectual gap.
One such project bringing modern communication technology into the rural homes of children across the globe is Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Professor Nicholas Negroponte’s One Laptop per Child (OLPC) project.

Negroponte who is leading the non-profit OLPC group plans to produce millions of “green machines”, $100 foldable lime-green laptops, and distribute them to children in various developing nations. The laptops will not be sold commercially, but will be sold in bulk to governments and then issued to children by schools on a basis of one laptop per child. Nations already interested in the project are China, India, Brazil, Argentina, Egypt, Nigeria and Thailand.

The laptop can be used as a conventional computer, an electronic book, a handheld game, and can even function as a TV. The computers are expected to be simpler than most consumer laptops; but will have the capability of doing almost everything a regular consumer laptop does, with the exception of being able to store massive amounts of data. It will only come with one gigabyte of memory. The green machines will come encased in strong rubber covers, making them durable for rough and tough situations. It will use a 500 megahertz processor with flash memory, instead of the conventional computer hard drive that has delicate movable parts. The computer will have four USB ports for peripheral devices, an adapter cable doubling as a carrying strap, and a wind-up crank to recharge the batteries. A minute’s worth of winding is estimated to equal enough power for 40 minutes of use. The machines will also have basic LED displays that consume only one-tenth of the power compared to conventional LCD laptops. The green machines will run on free software, like the Linux operating system and be able to share a net connection through “mesh networking”.

Negroponte’s ambitious OLPC project can help narrow the divide between core nations and all the others. With more projects such as this, focusing on closing the intellectual gap between the rich and the poor, the world’s unfair intellectual playing field may be leveled off to give children in developing countries a fair chance at the game of life.

Kramer is a Racist? Say it Isn't So...

Apparently...I'm Not the Only One...

In an older blog, I was blabbering about how I would schedule in time to watch a movie on TV that I already have on DVD, or rush to the radio to listen to one of my favorite songs when I already have the CD album. I concluded that I do that because I want to take advantage of it. It’s being provided to me so I want to use it if I can.

I was talking to my sister about the same issue (not really important enough to call it an issue really, but bare with me) and she does the same damn thing. But her reasoning is different. She would rather watch a movie on the tube or listen to a song on the radio because she feels like she's doing it with someone, as if there are millions of others watching and listening with her. It comforts her she says. And I thought I was a butt. What a loser! Haha, JK sis. (She can really kick my ass)

So you do have a heart...

I am delightfully surprised to find out that Rupert Murdoch
DOES HAVE A HEART. Money and ratings don't seem to be the only thing Murdoch and his minions think about.

FOX was scheduled to air a two-night special to introduce O.J. Simpson’s new book—If I Did It. The book allegedly details how he would have committed the two murders of ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman if he had the chance to murder them. (Yeah right, IF he had the chance?)

First comes first—WHAT THE HELL WAS SIMPSON THINKING? Secondly—WHAT THE HELL WERE THE MEDIA EXECS THINKING?

How can they be so cold-hearted to relive such a terrible event? Do they not have hearts? Do they not have feelings? Do they not have consciences?

The good news—Murdoch does have a heart. The intense uproar from communities and (I'm seriously hoping) a conscience has led him to pull the plug on the FOX TV special and the book publishing. Good work Murdoch. You’re sleezy, but I guess not that sleezy. BRAVA!

SEX-AAAAAAAY!

That's the Spirit

Comedian Sacha Baron Cohen makes an unlikely fan—Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev.

The film Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan pokes fun of Nazarbayev’s country, making it look like a nation full of racist, sexist, violent, impoverished gypsies.

Cohen plays a Kazakh reporter chosen by the Kazakh government to travel to America and make a documentary in hopes to bring home Western enlightenment. Through his travels, he engages in homosexual acts, gets hammered with sexist frat guys, shares racist remarks with cowboys and has a vicious wrestling match butt-bare-naked with his assistant over the picture of his new love, Pamela Anderson.

But does Cohen’s depiction of Kazakhstan and its people ring in any anger from Nazarbayev?

--------------- Not one bit. -----------

The movie has created an uproar in other countries. Officials banned the movie in Russia, fearing it may offend some ethnic groups. But Nazarbayev has yet to say anything negative about the movie that mocks his country.

It is unclear if Nazarbayev has seen the movie, but he sure does know a lot about it. He says that Cohen has never set foot on Kazakhstan soil and that Cohen actually filmed the movie in impoverished parts of Romania. He also said that the Kazakh gypsies seen in the movie are actually impoverished gypsies from that part of the world.

Nazarbayev laughs at Cohen’s character and the movie Borat. He says he would very much like to speak to him. I’m guessing it is to tell him “thank you” for the ridicule. Like Nazarbayev said, “any publicity is good publicity.”

That’s the spirit Nazarbayev, look at the bright side chum-p!

One-Sided News

Al Jazeera's new English channel was launched last week. Many Americans did not get the feed.

Oh wait a minute...nevermind, this just in--major U.S. cable and satellite providers aren't providing Al Jazeera English to Americans at all. Should have known. This just backs up the notion that Americans are not getting the REAL news (especially foreign news).

Real news = EVERYONE'S PERSPECTIVE (not just our biased ones)

Click here to read more.

Not getting the point of purchasing DVDs and CDs

All weekend I was sooooo (a ridiculous amount, really, almost pathetic-like) excited about watching Elf on the tube. Mind you though, I HAVE THE DVD!

So what makes watching a movie on a TV channel, listening to a song on a radio station, or watching a movie in a theater versus renting it more appealing?

I always wondered this. I’ll hurry home just to catch a movie that I already have on DVD. I’ll move the antennae of the radio to make the sound of a song just right, when all I really have to do is load up the actually CD.

I get the appeal of going to the theater to watch a movie instead of just renting it though. The experience at the theater, with the surround sound action and the gigantic screens lets you really get into the whole movie experience. It’s a whole lot better than watching it on my dinky TV, that’s for sure.

I think it’s pretty stupid that I get out of my way to hear or view something that I already have. We buy DVDs and CDs for convenience, so we can watch it wherever and whenever we want to. Obviously I’m not getting that. =P

I think I do what I do because of a sense of wanting to get the most out of it. I’ll watch and/or listen to movies and/or songs on TV or on the radio because it’s being provided to me; I feel as if I should take advantage of that. If I don’t watch Elf tonight (watching it now by the way) I’d feel cheated somehow. Stupid I know. It’s just one of the millions of idiosyncrasies that makes me feel like a butt every now and then.

And now, I’m going back to paying my full attention to Elf. Will Ferrell ROCKS!!!

The Blogger says "Whew"

Pretty soon bloggers won’t have to worry about those pesky libel lawsuits. The City University of New York’s new Graduate School of Journalism is being awarded a $50,000 grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to make an online “rule book” to educate bloggers on legal risks to blogging. The guide will have the top 10 rules and guidelines all bloggers should know, rules touching on topics from libel to copyright issues.

Journalism Director at CUNY’s Baruch College Geanne Rosenberg will be heading the project, while brain of the popular blog BuzzMachine Jeff Jarvis is lending a hand.

Jarvis blogs that this could not have come at a more opportune time. There have been a slew of lawsuits against bloggers. The Media Law Research Center has comprised a list of lawsuits reported.

This comes as a relief and a dose of fresh air to many. Although some bloggers are professional writers, the majority of bloggers found on the web are amateur, citizen writers who do not know the legal hassles they can get in when posting a message with a copyrighted image, or a hateful message about another person. CUNY’s online guide will be a great contribution in keeping the integrity of journalism and our right to free speech.

Mukhtar Mai

I was getting my daily fix of news on the BBC when I came across a name and a story that brought tears to my eyes, and at the end, made me proud of a sister thousands of miles away.

Her name is Mukhtar Mai and this is her story.

Mai was a 30-year old divorcee when it happened. Dragged into a hut and gang-raped by four men was her “punishment”. The savages took their turns with her and afterwards paraded her around naked in front of powerless onlookers, all this because her 12-year old brother Shakoor was seen in the company of a Mastoi woman. The influential Mastoi tribe claimed that Shakoor’s actions brought disgrace and shame to the Mastoi clan and Mai’s rape would avenge their “honor”.

Cases of sexual assault and violence on women are common in Pakistan. Every year hundreds are raped and murdered with no repercussions for justice. Mai’s case, however, is different. In this story, the woman fought back.

Although she feared for her life, Mai was courageous enough to speak out. She did not keep silent and eventually her case was heard and tried. In August 2002, six men were sentenced to death. Four of them were convicted of rape and two were convicted of aiding rape.

Mai’s case has many twists and turns however. After the conviction, an appeals court reversed the trial court’s verdict. But tenacity and strength has led Mai to take her case all the way up to the highest judicial forum, Pakistan’s Supreme Court. An ultimate verdict is still pending.

Mai is a hero because she faced the exacerbating odds against her. She did not give up. She took her strength and forced the world to hear her story. She makes me proud to call myself a woman.

Side note: Mai is now an international women's rights activist. In 2005, Mai was named Glamour’s “Woman of the Year”. She has also built a school in her village with the government money awarded to her as compensation, and currently has a blog on the BBC (excerpts of her blog in English).

Santa Clause Makes Fun of Canadians

The wholesome Tim Allen (“wholesome” excluding the past cocaine addiction) plays jolly Saint Nick in the family comedy The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause and makes a mockery out of Canadians in the process.

The North Pole is once again kicking Santa’s (Allen) butt. Elves are tugging at him from every direction. Jack Frost (Martin Short) is trying to steal his gig as the face of Christmas; and pregnant Mrs. Clause (Elizabeth Mitchell) is close to calling it quits.

In efforts to keep the hormonal Mrs. Clause happy and out of his hair, Santa has a brilliant idea to bring his in-laws to the North Pole to keep the wife busy. But the dilemma of keeping the North Pole a secret presents itself. How will he do it???


Let’s just pretend ALL of the ELVES are CANADIANS!!! EH!!!

Santa ends up drugging the in-laws with sleeping dust (compliments of the Sand Man), flying them to the North Pole and deceiving them to believe that they are actually in Canada and Canadians are actually little people.

Throughout the whole ploy, the Elves are being tasked to act human, have a slight wardrobe change and say “eh” after every sentence. The town looks almost exactly the same, which would bring a visitor to think “damn these short Canadians sure do love Christmas.”

I’m not Canadian, but damn, even I got offended! The movie simply enforced the notion that Americans really don’t think much of Canadians. If the in-laws can easily be fooled to thinking that little people with pointed ears, sparkling cheeks and surprisingly youthful looks can be Canadian simply because they said “eh” at the end of every sentence, what does that say about American attitudes towards other people and cultures? Is there merely one thing, like how Canadians say “eh”, that can categorize us Americans??? Hmmm…I wonder.

My MCOM 72 teacher tasked the class to find an international website. I wanted to find one based in Laos, the country in which my parents are from. Before I get to the most credible looking website I found, here’s some background.

Laos, also known as the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country surrounded by Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia. It is a peripheral nation, having a GDP of 12,130 (according to the CIA World Factbook). It is the poorest country in Southeast Asia.

Like other peripheral countries lacking adequate resources and infrastructure to boost their economies, Laos is trying to make a name for itself in the tourism market. The Lao National Tourism Administration launched their Ecotourism Laos website in 2005 in hopes to attract travelers to their culturally rich country.

Ecotourism entails traveling to foreign countries to experience their local cultures, wildlife and adventures without disrupting the cultural heritage. The website focuses on just that.

Ecotourism Laos is as thorough as they come, providing various attractions, travel information, travel services and ecotourism resources. A photo gallery gives a sneak peak of all the cultural richness Laos has intact and a nifty “DO’s and DONT’s” section prepares you for a Lao adventure.

I was only able to find Lao-based websites promoting tourism, which makes their lack of infrastructure even more evident. Apparently, they do not have great means for technology. But that is what makes it interesting. Even one of the poorest nations in the world has a website. Technology seems to be in the grasp of everyone and is slowly homogenizing the world.


Side note: If you are someone who is interested in experiencing rich culture and wildlife, consider a trip to Laos. It is a great place, beautiful and vibrant. It is one of the world’s forgotten gems.

MY BAD...question answered

Someone is reading!!! But I made a boo-boo. Below is a comment made to my last blog.

I'd just like to notify you that VFXY is a photoblog syndication service, meaning that we take the best of many different photoblogs on the web and combine them into one tool for easy, useful viewing. On a side note the image you have on your photoblog was actually ripped from my own photoblog: http://nexx.spyral-productions.com. I would appreciate a nice credit ;-) Best.

Thanks for the clarification redcameron. Sorry for the mix up. Great picture. =) Link to redcameron for some awesome pictures people!

Photoblogs

This MCOM blog started just as a class assignment. It's 40% of the grade so YEAH I was going to do it. Week after week, however, I've been finding really nifty articles and facts to blog about, and I must say...I am starting to like this blogging thing. It’s liberating. I am enjoying the opportunity to blog my thoughts and opinions and to actually “publish” it.

This afternoon I was surfing the web and found a photoblog. I didn’t know there was such a thing. It is called VFXY Photos and it’s a photoblog syndication community. I don’t know what that means but it has spectacular pictures. It sounds like a blogging community for photographers. Apparently, you can track the world’s most popular blogs on there. It doesn’t have DOOCE I’ve noticed, but then again DOOCE isn’t a photoblog.

If you would like to see some amazing pictures, click here. Happy viewing!

What Makes a Story News?

A man is charged for the genital mutilation of his two-year-old daughter. Khalid Adem, an Ethiopian immigrant, is sentenced to 10 years in prison for cutting off his daughter’s clitoris in 2001. According to the BBC News, the state of Georgia found him guilty of aggravated battery and cruelty to children.

Removing a female’s clitoris to preserve a girl’s honor has been a long standing tradition performed by numerous African nations. So why is it considered a “newsworthy” story here for us Americans? The conviction of Adem is the very first of its kind here in the United States.

Americans are a selfish bunch. We only wish to hear or read news that will affect us. We need to be captured by a sexy headline; otherwise, we bypass the story quickly. Each story must have some newsworthy value. Timeliness, proximity, prominence, human interest, impact, conflict and weirdness are all aspects that make a story newsworthy.

We would not have cared much for the story of the poor child having her clitoris, or her “womanhood”, removed by her father’s scissors if it was not an event that occurred here in the U.S. The story has proximity.

This story also has impact. As mentioned above, Adem’s conviction for the genital mutilation of his daughter is the first such case in the United States. Although a few are directly affected by the particular event, the conviction of Adem may produce hesitation for other parents nationwide to commit genital mutilation on their children.

There is also an unusual aspect to the story. Genital mutilation is common in places such as Africa, but not common here in the U.S. Therefore, this story is unusual; and the weird is always newsworthy.

Journalists and editors must always take into account newsworthy values in their stories. Otherwise, knowing us selfish Americans, if it doesn’t have anything to do with us, we just don’t care.

Punished for the Past

The Mercury News article "Age, time can't erase her past as a Nazi guard" brings up an interesting question--Is being punished for a past life fair?

Eighty-four year old local woman, Elfriede Rinkel, is being deported from the U.S. because of the recent unveiling of a life-long secret.

Rinkel, widow of a German Jew and a long-time contributor to various Jewish charities, was a Nazi guard at the Ravensbruck concentration camp in Germany from 1944 to 1945. Although many decades have passed with Rinkel living a peaceful life and being of no harm to anyone, U.S. law requires her to be tried in court and deported for her participation in Nazi atrocities. Rinkel, at the budding age of 18, opted to be a Nazi guard in the all-women’s concentration camp because it paid better than working in the factories. She says she never harmed any prisoners during her year-long employment.

However minor her participation was in Nazi atrocities, should she still be tried and deported? Or should she be pardoned since she has lived most of her life as a good American citizen?

I am torn. I am not a Jew. I do not have a direct link to the Holocaust. I do not have any life-long repercussions from the Holocaust. Therefore, a pardon from me would not be of any significance. But I do feel great sympathy for Rinkel. She lived the majority of her life here in America. She is of no harm to anyone. But she is still being sent back to a past that she was trying so hard to forget. It is truly sad.

I do recognize the justice in the law, however. The Holocaust was so horrible that there needs to be punishment. We need to punish those who participated in such a grave, incredibly inhumane event; or else, it may happen again. Like I said earlier…I am torn.