Joe Levi presents Greener Living through Technology

I think everyone here will agree with me, Google Maps is just cool! You can browse all around the globe looking at things. Tall things, deep things, grand things, and scary things… Like a little area in China… [ Google Map ]

At first glance it’s just another part of the world complete with snow tipped mountains, rivers, valleys, and lakes. Right? Until you zoom out and realize it’s a rectangular chunk that doesn’t look anything like the terrain around it… and it’s right next to what looks like a military base.

Taking a look zoomed out toward Kashmir (on the border of Pakistan, India, and China) you’ll notice something strange: another part of the world that (other than color and scale) looks just like that odd rectangle in China… Hmm… Why would China have a HUGE scale model of a territory-disputed chunk of land in such a remote and (apparently) military setting?

Their explanation? It’s all about figuring out how to beat sand storms that plague Bejing. If that’s the case, it’s (most likely) the world’s largest scale model.

Then again, what if they’re performing tactical training for an upcoming invasion?

In any event, call Mulder, this is a good one!

What is the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) Initiative?

Just like it sounds, the OLPC initiative aims at supplying one laptop per child. The laptop’s concept has been to supply children around the world with low power, battery, plug-in, or hand-crank, Linux-based laptop. The aim is to be able to sell these for under $100 each.

Nigeria?!

Does it seem like a bad idea that the country that hosts the infamous Nigerian Email Scam (I still get a few of these every month) is now getting a million laptops?

Sure, it’s “for the children” and we should do anything blindly as long as it’s “for the children.” Even still, it worries me that Nigeria is so eager to get a million more computers inside its borders.

What do you think? Leave your opinion…

Back in highshool I grew to like a group called 2Nu. They had a song called “This is Ponderous” which got attention all over the air-waves. It prompted me to buy their album where I discovered many interesting and pleasant songs. Three of my favorites weren’t so much songs as stories set to music: “Frank’s Chair,” “Her Name,” and “Two Outta Three.”

They’re at it again

Not willing to let well enough alone, the guys of 2Nu have been recording some more. Of particular interest is A Father’s Day: http://2nu2.com/audio/2NU2-A_Fathers_Day.mp3

Online

They’re online, too! [ www.2Nu2.com ] Not only that, but, according to Darbus, they’re in touch with their listeners!
Good work, guys!