For decades, W. Mark Felt was known only by a code name: “Deep Throat”. There was much speculation about who this mysterious person was. He changed the course of American history:
One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) began as an educational effort and not really a technological effort. OLPC wants to foster learning and provide educational opportunities for children of developing nation. The educational project may find itself as a means of ending a war effort.
More and more government leaders are recognizing that the unconventional war in Afghanistan is not winnable, for either side. It is not a geo-political war. It is a religious war. And the role of the OLPC project is that, hopefully, education can overcome violence:
“…If we can invest in our youth, with ICT (information and communications technology) and with a quality education, it will make a huge difference in the future of Afghanistan.
I think it will help us to stop them from joining groups like the Taliban.
How can it be that hundreds of people are so easily brainwashed to blow themselves up? It’s because of a lack of education.”
link: How the OLPC can help beat Taliban in Afghanistan
History has shown that education can help defuse hatred. Victory in this conflict is not claiming some geographic territory or a change in governments. Victory is the end of violence and building understanding. Admiral Mike Mullen, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, recently stated this conclusion: “We cannot kill our way to victory“. We can put a laptop in the hands of every child in Afghanistan and show those children that we are not evil. A little laptop may do what bullets and bombs cannot.
Catherine Forsythe
Most people reading these words will remember when journalism was a scared trust. The main objective of reporters was to be the objective first witnesses of history. The criteria were defined clearly. It was to tell the story: who, where, how, when and why. News services prided themselves on having the story first and having the story right.
The times have changed and the whole concept of reporting has changed.
Now the reporters will speculate. There will be words that give away the theme. Key words to attend to are:
This is not reporting the news. It is guessing what the news might be. The reporter, instead of being an objective witness, is interjecting himself / herself into the story. The reporter becomes part of the story. The paid speculation is entertainment - entertainment presented in the facade of the news.
Often, the news forecasting is biased. It has a ‘not-so-hidden’ agenda. This is abundantly obvious as political news dominates. It used to be that opinion was limited to the editorial pages. Regrettably, editorial prerogative has been blurred and confused with the news. And that type of news reporting is a grave disservice to the public - we the people deserve better.
Catherine Forsythe
Newspaper reports are the first witnesses of history. Google is bring that history online:
“A new initiative to bring old newspapers that pre-date the digital age to the web has been launched by the search giant Google.
The company has partnered with around 100 newspapers to digitize them and make scanned copies available online.”
link: Old newspapers get online launch
This is an ambitious initiative on Google’s part. It brings an enormous amount of information online. One can’t help but think that Google is helping to document a fading medium. As the newspaper industry is trying to adjust to the competition of the internet - and the loss of advertising revenue, Google may be preserving editions of newspapers that may not survive the transition into internet news.
Catherine Forsythe
“Nothing is impossible“, said Michael Phelps. He was talking about his record setting eight Olympic gold medals at the Beijing Olympics. However, that statement could apply to the long road to Beijing. And that road was marked by a diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (A.D.H.D.):
This stands as a clear recollection for Michael Phelps’ mother:
“…She will never forget one teacher’s comment: “This woman says to me, “Your son will never be able to focus on anything.’”
link: Phelps’s Mother Recalls Helping Her Son Find Gold-Medal Focus
Perhaps that teacher was watching on this Saturday evening when Michael Phelps set an Olympic record and set standards for future Olympic athletes. Kudos to Michael Phelps and eight gold medals performances in Beijing - and congratulations, Mrs. Phelps, for not listening to that teacher.
Catherine Forsythe
It’s not easy being a Lakers fan. Watching as the usual couple of hundred of basketball fans gathered for Game Five, it seems tortuous for Lakers fans, even when their team won: 103 - 98. The Lakers fans endured:
So Game Six will be played on Tuesday, June 17. This is a game that will be played in Boston. The Celtics will be hoping to close the series and celebrate the championship on their home court. The Lakers fans are hoping for a win in Game Six and extending to a Game Seven. A Game Seven would be an instant classic. And Lakers fans know that a Game Seven Laker win would be historic. No NBA team has recovered from a 3-1 finals deficit.
Catherine Forsythe
