"and return people's lives to normal as fast as we can."

Which is when, 30 years from now? A friend of mine from Texas says there's still oil on the beaches in her hometown from a spill decades ago.

Looks like she's a fellow Toledoan (which is why I left). Move over Jamie Farr and Katie Holmes, Crystal Bowersox is our new hometown hero!

Asil Shaar and Nour Alarda, Nablus, West Bank, Palestine

When Asil Shaar and Nour Alarda observed the struggles of sight-impaired neighbors attempting to navigate the hills and war-torn streets of their hometown, Nablus, and find their way around the refugee camp where they lived, they decided to do something about it. They created an obstacle-detecting cane for the blind.

The process wasn’t easy, especially considering how difficult it was to obtain electronic parts such as sensors and circuits in the West Bank. The determined pair made multiple trips to Ramallah, about 45 minutes away and through two military checkpoints, to find the materials they needed to complete the task.

Though previous “laser canes” existed, these models were flawed in that they were unable to detect uneven surfaces or holes in the ground. In contrast, the girls’ design incorporates two infrared sensors into a pine walking stick, one front-facing and one down-facing, to detect both obstacles and drop-offs.

Heh, it's not often that I see something genuinely positive come out of my hometown. Usually, news from around here has something to do with tornadoes or religious bigotry.

So, yeah, I'm pretty happy to see something like this hit the web as hard as it has.

Hey that's my hometown again, second time this week
I usually cycle by one crossing further than this place. There are even busier times and places than this crossing. This is near the station which is why there is so much public transport coming by.

w00t, this is my hometown, Utrecht, The Netherlands
That's indeed is a lot of fail. The Oudegracht water used to be quite dirty, but it has been cleaned up recently. There are a lot of bicycles in the canal though:





Canal boating with terrible Dutch music:

Wait a minute... People keep going back to porn because it "isn't working"? It doesn't "actually satisfy"? Ahh yes, as opposed to intimate sex with a loving partner, which you engage in one time and then you're completely satisfied and set for the rest of your life. ...Oh wait, she didn't intend to imply that? I don't think that porn viewing and a healthy mutually respectful and loving relationship with an actual human being are by any means mutually exclusive.

I hit puberty just as dialup internet was becoming available in my hometown. My family were early adopters and got internet service pretty much as soon as it was available. As you might imagine, I grew up with rather free and easy access to internet porn, and I browsed for quite a lot of it. However, I think that in examining my own experience as objectively as possible, I believe that I was able to self-police or direct my exposure away from the sorts of porn that I would agree are potentially damaging; for example violence, rape, or demeaning behavior (although definitions of each of those vary a lot). But in any case, I think that the reason that I was able to achieve this self-direction was though good parenting. If these things concern you, talk to your kids about it, and explain why. Provide them with the framework they need, and you'll probably be surprised at how well they react.


And just for one more anecdote, I thought I'd contribute a story that exposes just how much of a nerd I am. When I was a sophomore in High School, I was into math. I was taking trigonometry with mostly seniors and a few juniors. I had a complex graphing calculator, a Texas Instruments TI-85, with a roughly 2.5 inch by 3.5 inch screen. On the internet, you could download programs that would overwrite the basic "operating system" of the calculator, and allow you to load programs that people coded up in assembly language compatible with the machine's Z80 processor.

One such program was an image viewer. The calculator normally just had a 2-color liquid crystal screen; each pixel was either ON (black) or OFF (white). This viewer program allowed the screen to be treated as grayscale by adjusting the contrast/brightness values sent to individual pixels, as opposed the the screen as a whole as per usual.

What did I do with this program? I loaded it up with porn, of course. All softcore nudes, mostly Pamela Anderson as I recall. So, with the correct button presses to get into the assembly loader, I had a very low-resolution porn image browser. Being a sophomore, I thought that I could gain some "street cred" with the upperclassmen by showing off my porn. And, as you can probably guess, they immediately turned me in to the teacher just because it would be fun to watch me squirm. Fortunately, my teacher was very cool about it. He said: "I don't want to see it, I don't want to know about it, and if I ever hear anything about it again in the future, I'll be highly displeased". That was enough to get me to delete the program from the calculator.

The segment about porn on (the oh-so ubiquitous) cellphones brought that episode to mind.

Thanks for this very long response! I think this was my favorite line: Take away everything someone has to live for, and he'll find a cause to die for.

I will remember that line, because I think you are absolutely right.



Thanks.

In reply to this comment by kagenin:
>> ^Avokineok:
I live in The Netherlands. Everytime I'm on Videosift, I get a sense of how bad it must be to be an American.
I see some great entertaiment with all the late night shows, but I feel bad for all of you who have to live in a country that has so many people taking everything said at Fox "News" ("Gossip" might be more appropriate) so seriously..
It seriously makes me said and makes me believe Amerika is not the land of opportunities; it's a land where people with a lot of money tell other people what think.


Who do you think were those first pilgrims from Europe were? Puritans - People who wanted nothing more than to lecture others on the poor choices they made. (If you've ever been to a good Renaissance Faire, they're the street actors wearing almost all black, and almost always carrying their bibles with them. Hang around one long enough and you'll want to tell them to go take a long walk off a short pier too, if they're in good character. That's basically how they made everyone else living at the time feel. Look at modern day puritanicals such as Pat Robertson.) The ones who colonized America had enough money to sail half-way around the world, which isn't terribly cheap.

Paying for the sins of our forefathers is something every culture does. Just look at television and video games. Here in the States, you can put some pretty violent imagery on TV and maybe even some drug use in your video games, but holy hell if you show a nipple, or touch on ANYTHING of a sexual nature. Releasing a game in the three major English speaking markets (US, UK, and AU) means subjecting your content to three different review boards, with differing notions about what is good and decent for the consumers of their country. Sex, violence, drug use - the disparity between opinions on what is acceptable for only adults to see, even among countries with common language, can mean what get's a Teen rating by the US's ESRB can get an "Adult Only" in the UK, and even be banned outright unless edited for an Australian market.

Despite all this, I remain hopeful because of the fact that those like ol' Noun-Verb-9/11 Rudy are in the minority. The fact that he's so focused on using terms like "Islamic terrorist," or "islamist" displays a blunt ignorance, and could be interpreted as flat out racism. Let's remember that he put the NYC Emergency Command Center, setup after a failed World Trade Center fertilizer bombing in the 90's, was picked by Rudy to be put in the World Trade Center, a place that had recently been the target of a terrorist attack (by attackers who were brought to justice within the same judicial system that handles our parking tickets - we didn't need the post-9/11 military tribunals then, and we don't really need them now, despite certain anti-American Right-Wingers who lack requisite faith in the system they serve). It's like he refuses to learn from history or something, and unfortunately it's not an uncommon condition among modern conservative talking heads here in the states.

The fact that our president didn't use words like "islamist" or "islamic terrorist" or any permutation thereof is because he understands that the greater threat to our nation is a foreign policy that takes away everything from poor young brown-skinned people living in the cradle of civilization and gives them nowhere to turn to but bombed out countries, crumbling infrastructure, and eager suicide bomber recruiters. Take away everything someone has to live for, and he'll find a cause to die for. Dealing with the symptoms is one thing. End the root cause, and then you have the potential for peace.

Take the issue with rampant piracy around the waters of Somalia. Sure, everyone's talking about the latest tanker to be overtaken, but how many stories have delved into the root cause? The polluted waters that have killed off all the fish in the region? The fish who fed the people on the land? The fish that drove the local economy? All dead. The Indonesian Tsunami caused a tidal wave of wretched filth to wash up ashore, tainting the land and water supplies, causing pestilential illnesses. If you're a poor Somali 20-something with your family boat, and you can't make an honest living with it, what are you going to do? Grab some weapons, recruit a crew of close friends in the same situation you're in, and take your chances on the shipping lanes within striking distance... yeah, that would seem like something someone EXTREMELY desperate would do. It's happening right now. The Somali Government can't do jack, they can barely govern an area the size of my rural hometown. Sure we can bust out the snipers when someone important gets kidnapped, and we can applaud the heroes who put their lives on the life to ensure the safety of others. But that won't stop the next motley crew of fishermen with nowhere else to turn but terrorizing the high seas.

I've only spent about 4 days total in the Netherlands. What I saw was beautiful. Amsterdam was breathtaking, both figuratively and literally - man, those canals can really wreak in the summer . I hope to visit again soon. Didn't get to check out much of the television, but what brief moments I was allowed rest in front of a TV on that trip was pretty cool. A lot of stuff just wouldn't get past the FCC here without some serious fines being levied for sexual content, and that's a damn shame...

But, like I said, I'm still hopeful. Wow, that was long If you made it this far, thanks for reading.

>> ^Avokineok:
I live in The Netherlands. Everytime I'm on Videosift, I get a sense of how bad it must be to be an American.
I see some great entertaiment with all the late night shows, but I feel bad for all of you who have to live in a country that has so many people taking everything said at Fox "News" ("Gossip" might be more appropriate) so seriously..
It seriously makes me said and makes me believe Amerika is not the land of opportunities; it's a land where people with a lot of money tell other people what think.


Who do you think were those first pilgrims from Europe were? Puritans - People who wanted nothing more than to lecture others on the poor choices they made. (If you've ever been to a good Renaissance Faire, they're the street actors wearing almost all black, and almost always carrying their bibles with them. Hang around one long enough and you'll want to tell them to go take a long walk off a short pier too, if they're in good character. That's basically how they made everyone else living at the time feel. Look at modern day puritanicals such as Pat Robertson.) The ones who colonized America had enough money to sail half-way around the world, which isn't terribly cheap.

Paying for the sins of our forefathers is something every culture does. Just look at television and video games. Here in the States, you can put some pretty violent imagery on TV and maybe even some drug use in your video games, but holy hell if you show a nipple, or touch on ANYTHING of a sexual nature. Releasing a game in the three major English speaking markets (US, UK, and AU) means subjecting your content to three different review boards, with differing notions about what is good and decent for the consumers of their country. Sex, violence, drug use - the disparity between opinions on what is acceptable for only adults to see, even among countries with common language, can mean what get's a Teen rating by the US's ESRB can get an "Adult Only" in the UK, and even be banned outright unless edited for an Australian market.

Despite all this, I remain hopeful because of the fact that those like ol' Noun-Verb-9/11 Rudy are in the minority. The fact that he's so focused on using terms like "Islamic terrorist," or "islamist" displays a blunt ignorance, and could be interpreted as flat out racism. Let's remember that he put the NYC Emergency Command Center, setup after a failed World Trade Center fertilizer bombing in the 90's, was picked by Rudy to be put in the World Trade Center, a place that had recently been the target of a terrorist attack (by attackers who were brought to justice within the same judicial system that handles our parking tickets - we didn't need the post-9/11 military tribunals then, and we don't really need them now, despite certain anti-American Right-Wingers who lack requisite faith in the system they serve). It's like he refuses to learn from history or something, and unfortunately it's not an uncommon condition among modern conservative talking heads here in the states.

The fact that our president didn't use words like "islamist" or "islamic terrorist" or any permutation thereof is because he understands that the greater threat to our nation is a foreign policy that takes away everything from poor young brown-skinned people living in the cradle of civilization and gives them nowhere to turn to but bombed out countries, crumbling infrastructure, and eager suicide bomber recruiters. Take away everything someone has to live for, and he'll find a cause to die for. Dealing with the symptoms is one thing. End the root cause, and then you have the potential for peace.

Take the issue with rampant piracy around the waters of Somalia. Sure, everyone's talking about the latest tanker to be overtaken, but how many stories have delved into the root cause? The polluted waters that have killed off all the fish in the region? The fish who fed the people on the land? The fish that drove the local economy? All dead. The Indonesian Tsunami caused a tidal wave of wretched filth to wash up ashore, tainting the land and water supplies, causing pestilential illnesses. If you're a poor Somali 20-something with your family boat, and you can't make an honest living with it, what are you going to do? Grab some weapons, recruit a crew of close friends in the same situation you're in, and take your chances on the shipping lanes within striking distance... yeah, that would seem like something someone EXTREMELY desperate would do. It's happening right now. The Somali Government can't do jack, they can barely govern an area the size of my rural hometown. Sure we can bust out the snipers when someone important gets kidnapped, and we can applaud the heroes who put their lives on the life to ensure the safety of others. But that won't stop the next motley crew of fishermen with nowhere else to turn but terrorizing the high seas.

I've only spent about 4 days total in the Netherlands. What I saw was beautiful. Amsterdam was breathtaking, both figuratively and literally - man, those canals can really wreak in the summer . I hope to visit again soon. Didn't get to check out much of the television, but what brief moments I was allowed rest in front of a TV on that trip was pretty cool. A lot of stuff just wouldn't get past the FCC here without some serious fines being levied for sexual content, and that's a damn shame...

But, like I said, I'm still hopeful. Wow, that was long If you made it this far, thanks for reading.

Enoch - bravo!

Most of my teachers through school were textbook folk, who never once made me question or challenge anything. I had one teacher in high school who inspired me, but turns out I annoyed the hell out of him, and he doesn't like to talk to me anymore (I see him around my small hometown when I go back for visits). I don't know what that means.

I was usually resented by my teachers because A) I was on several sports teams (unlike anyone else in my classes) B) My father was a politician who was vocal about his views (anyone from a small town knows what small town politics are like) and C) I had friends among the jocks, the nerds, and the 'bad crowd', which drove teachers and school administrators crazy. Most teachers tend not to like students they can't pigeonhole.

My parents always took a deep interest in my education (IMHO the MOST important factor in childhood education), and my parents supplemented my education with what they thought was lacking (typically with current events, camping/hunting skills, and a morality that one doesn't find in the public system). My mom almost sent me to a renowned all-boys school, but I protested vehemently (no offense to anyone here, but I didn't like those uniformed snobby pricks).

University can be fun, but in my field I find that folks are either completely unquestioningly dependent and loyal to a political party ideology (party volunteers and/or staffers), great at studying dates and names but without an eye for political strategy (bureaucrats), unaffiliated whackos (hard-core feminists, anarchists, etc.), or dumbass fratboy rich-kids who only got in because daddy was alumni and made a generous contribution. Of course, not everyone fits into these categories, but far too many do.

We need more teachers like Enoch. The robots might as well go work in a factory somewhere.

Filmed in my hometown!!

Born in my hometown. Nice!

Tacoma....best hometown in the world. in the world craig!

Now everybody wants to know the truth about a brother named quik
I come from the school of the sly, wicked and the slick
A lotta people already know excatly where it's at
Cause it's the home of the jackers and the crack
(compton) yeah, that's the name of the hometown
I'm goin down in the town where my name is all around
The suckers just be havin a fit, and that's a pity
But i ain't doin nothin but (claimin my city)
See, my lyrics i'm doublin up and provin to suckers that i can throw
I'm passin a natural ten or four or six or eight before i go
Yes, i'm definitely freestylin, all the while still profilin
Never a trickster, dj quikster steals the show
So now that's how i'm livin
I do as i please, you see
A younger brother that's up on reality
Cause everybody knows you have to be stompin
If you're born and raised in compton


Now compton is the place where the homeboys chill, you see
But then i found that it wasn't no place for me
Cause way back in the day somebody musta wanted me to quit
Because they broke in my house and cold stole my shit
They musta thought that i was gonna play the punk role
Just because my equipment got stole
But i ain't goin out like no sucker-ass clown
They found they couldn't keep a dope nigga down
So here's some bass in your face, muthafucka silly sucker-
Ass clocker, now you're duckin, cause you can't stop a brother
Like the quiksta, because i'm true to the game
You're lame, and things ain't gonn' never be the same
Cause a nigga like the quik is takin over
I really don't think i should have to explain
It, oh yeah, i'm a dog, but my name ain't rover
And i'm the kinda nigga that's feelin no pain
Sometimes i have to wear a bullet-proof vest
Because i got the 'cpt' sign written across my chest
A funky dope brother never ceases to impress
My name is dj quik, so you can fuck the rest
I'm comin like this, and i'm comin directly
Cause suckers get dain-bramaged if i'm doin damage quite effectively
Rhymin is a battlezone, and suckers have no win
Cause i'm a veteran from the c-o-m-p-t-o-n
Kick it

>> ^Hex:
A brief history of this "singer"
She lives in Iceland, considers herself a fantastic artist. Learned music in some school in india I think. Always complaining that local radio stations never play her songs.
She is basicly a laughing stock in Iceland.
And her husband shoots all her videos.


Moved to England two years ago. A man in their hometown(Sandgerði) offered to buy their house and told them never to come back. True story.