Comments for blogmosaic

Comment on Knowledge Mosaic Employees To Bring Power, Opportunity To Nepalese Children by Leo Whitman

Leo Whitman — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 10:17:40 +0000

This proposal has been making its rounds in kathmandu:

Nepal National Internet Education Network

So this is how I see it happening:

1. We set up a technology school in a building with work space to repair computers.

2. We get companies and corporations to donate their old computers whenever they buy new ones.

3. We train students how to repair computers, giving the students valuable job training while repairing and upgrading the donated computers.

4. All the computers after they are repaired and upgraded are donated to the Education Department for distribution to the schools.

5. Throughout Nepal we set up classrooms with simple internet setups: computer, television, satellite uplink/downlink (where necessary), internet connection (where available), small camera and microphone, power supply (including alternative energy sources – wind, solar, water generated) and battery backup.

6. These internet classrooms are connected via internet (where available) and satellite uplink/downlink (where necessary) to a central Communications Teaching Broadcast Centre in Kathmandu, where there are television studio classrooms.

7. Using technology, we create the Nepal National Internet Education Network

8. Right now many school districts are lacking enough teachers or lacking qualified teachers to teach many subjects.

9. This way, all students in Nepal (especially in rural areas) will receive an education from qualified teachers in Kathmandu, with two-way interactive communication; and no student will be left behind in their education because of where they live. All students will receive an adequate education.

10. We have the technology, this is not so hard to do and not very expensive. Money from Education budgets, NGOs, donated computers, support from Nepal Telecom, Ncell and other ISPs, one time up-front costs for some equiptment, donated computers, building space for technology repair school and building space for the central Communications Teaching Broadcast Centre.

That’s it.

Comment on Tsunami Aftermath: “The Town that Disappeared” Was Once the Town I Called Home by Chris Hitt

Chris Hitt — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 15:27:05 +0000

Hi Beth,

Thanks for writing. It’s nice that people are finding the blog post.

I really have been in shock for the last five days or so. It is tragic enough to think that many people I knew lost their lives; but to think the town simply doesn’t exist anymore is beyond all comprehension.

I appreciate hearing from you.

Chris

Comment on Tsunami Aftermath: “The Town that Disappeared” Was Once the Town I Called Home by Chris Hitt

Chris Hitt — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 15:25:47 +0000

Hi Summerson,

Thanks for writing. It’s nice that people are finding the blog post. Did you teach at the high school or at the junior high? If the latter, I knew your predecessor Tony very well (he was in Shizugawa from 91 to 94).

Interested to hear how you’re going about fundraising. It’s not really my area, though I do a little PR and marketing for the company I work for.

Best,

Chris

Comment on Tsunami Aftermath: “The Town that Disappeared” Was Once the Town I Called Home by Beth Woods

Beth Woods — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 22:14:26 +0000

Thank you for sharing your experiences as a JET teacher in Minamisanriku. You must be absolutely heartbroken. It’s totally unbelievable what’s happened over there. I’ve been glued to the TV for days. (My connection to Japan is similar to yours: I studied abroad in Japan for a semester in 1997 and then returned in 1999-2000 to teach English, too, though not through JET. I spent my time in the Tokyo area, and have confirmed that my host family and friends are safe there.)

I feel like jumping on the next plane to go help out, so I can’t imagine how you feel, being that this disaster hits so much closer to home for you than it does me. I wish there was more we could do.

Comment on Tsunami Aftermath: “The Town that Disappeared” Was Once the Town I Called Home by Summerson Carr

Summerson Carr — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 18:03:24 +0000

Chris,

Thank you for this story. I too was a teacher in the same town for two years (94-95) and probably lived in the very same little house. I am working on fundraising here in Chicago–please do not hesitate to get in touch if you would like to coordinate. Hope you are weathering through this very tragic news.

Summerson

Comment on NAFCU Calls KM Dodd-Frank Tracker “Pretty Slick” by Anthony Demangone

Anthony Demangone — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 14:03:17 +0000

Wow, I didn’t know that I’d be quoted. If I knew that, I wouldn’t have written that sentence. I would have written that the tracker is very, very slick! Good work guys. Any product that organizes the immense amount of information flowing out of Dodd-Frank gets my vote.

Comment on Lessig Follows the Money Trail by Margaret

Margaret — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 23:29:36 +0000

Lessig is actually trying to effect a very radical change. Perhaps it’s true that his solution is not promising, but that’s not because it wouldn’t work. It’s because there’s so much momentum (power) against it.

Comment on Barbie and the Bratz by Olivia

Olivia — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 01:09:29 +0000

No offence meant- I personally have loved Barbie and still do; these dolls are more like youth icons to be followed (?!) instead of being played with..
The proportions are so unrealistic that that could kill if adopted in real times..