Peter Morey AP Photograph by Lawrence Morgan

Today is Nelson Mandela's Birthday (July 18, 2012)

South Africans offer work on Mandela's Birthday for a good public cause

USA Today Photograph by Lawrence Morgan

Volunteers bring new shoes to schoolchildren in Soweto.

USA Photograph by Lawrence Morgan

A fence is newly painted by volunteers at Batsogile Primary School in Soweto.

Mandela Day asks that volunteers give their time to good causes for 67 minutes - which are the amount of time for each year of Nelson Mandel's life in politics.

A poster for the event

Poster for Nelson Mandela Day in Africa by Lawrence Morgan

Stories from the world press

Click on the following, with story and pictures:

http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Divided-South-Africa-honors-Mandela-s-birthday-3715343.php

Very few people have accomplished what Nelson Mandela has accomplished, although there is a long way to go.

Here are some other articles in the world press today about Mandela's achievements:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-18884590

http://www.news.com.au/world/schoolkids-sing-happy-birthday-to-mandela/story-fndir2ev-1226429510001?from=public_rss

http://allafrica.com/stories/201207170096.html

A video of a few of the day's events

http://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/mandela/2012/07/18/south-africans-honour-mandela-video

Here are some blogs from the South African press

http://www.news24.com/MyNews24/Its-a-Sad-and-Racist-South-Africa-20120718

http://www.news24.com/Columnists/ClemSunter/Madiba-and-Alex-Two-inclusive-leaders-20120718

http://voices.news24.com/zama-nkosi/2012/07/the-rainbow-hypothesis/

Background on Mandela's life

Here is some background on Mandela's life:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/mandela/boy/

As a revolutionary:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/mandela/revolution/

As a prisoner:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/mandela/prison/

As a husband:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/mandela/husband/

Interviews with colleagues:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/mandela/interviews/

Here are greetings from South Korea

Turkey EurasiaNet.org photograph by Lawrence Morgan

Turkish village uses bird whistle language to communicate over long distances

Ever since I visited Turkey years ago, I have always felt a special fondness for its people and culture. So this article is fascinating to me, and you might find it fascinating as well.

Click on the following:

http://www.eurasianet.org/node/65658/?cid=oth_partner_site-atlantic

As it says in the article and video by Alexander Christie-Miller, for generations the people of this village have communicated with other Turkish villages using a unique form of whistled communication called "kus dili," or "bird language" in Turkish.

In fact, they just had a festival, which I wish I could have attended.

I wonder how many other villages in the world have special languages first created years ago to speak to one another.

That is why it is important to keep all known languages of the Amazon, or, for example, the islands of Andaman & Nicobar, part of India, whose tribes are little used to the western world. There have been recent articles, including one in the Journal-World, in which Insitutes have tried to keep languages of small tribes from disappearing. Each language that disappears takes away a special view of life.

And what new languages have been created, outside of the cell phone, in these ancient communities?

It would also be very interesting if children or young people of towns or villages created a new language of their own today. Many children do this already, but it isn't remembered or developed for communication in later life.

AdRemPress photograph by Lawrence Morgan

Yahoo says that 450,000 or more Yahoo and other email sites were compromised

Sunday evening I put up a blog on a major breach of accounts and passwords with Yahoo.

Click on the following:

http://techcrunch.com/2012/07/12/yahoo-confirms-apologizes-for-the-email-hack-says-still-fixing-plus-check-if-you-were-impacted-non-yahoo-accounts-apply/

and

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-57471178-83/yahoos-password-leak-what-you-need-to-know-faq/

As well as the following:

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/12/yahoo-breach-extends-beyond-yahoo-to-gmail-hotmail-aol-users/

Be sure to read the comments on the last article.

Today, July 17th, the BBC has a further important article:

http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-18866347

In addition, ithe BBC revealed today (July 17) that one million user IDs had been stolen from the Android forum, and graphics hardware maker Nvidia said 400,000 passwords had been stolen from its forums.

It is my feeling that, if more hackings occur in the future, people will be much less willing to buy things via the internet than now. What seems to be happening is that once a major security breach is repaired (and that information is let out onto the internet), another security breach takes place. People are not going to stand for this, especially as bank cards and social security numbers are stolen and placed on line.

In many ways, we are behind many of these hackings. The following article makes it very clear, from the New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/25/opinion/stuxnet-will-come-back-to-haunt-us.html

But the good thing is, if there is a good thing at all, that more people will eventually buy their goods locally - and that's especially welcome because many of the large Internet companies pay no tax in many states. We have to have that tax to pay for the local things we need - teachers, firefighters, all the many things that make a community what it is, prepare young people well for adulthood, and allow people to be safely in their homes and neighborhoods.

I use the Internet a lot - but the internet is a two-edged sword, and I will talk about that further at a later date.

Right now, check your passwords and change them!

Marco Tempest photograph by Lawrence Morgan

In many ways, all forms of art are a deception - but they can put us into worlds and spaces we otherwise could never access

"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic" - Arthur C. Clarke

If you haven't yet listened to a TED lecture, please listen to the one below and see what you think. All art, in one form or another, is a deception - just like the beautiful music that Luther Fuller played (http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2012/jul/06/grand-pianist-12-year-old-plays-through-blindness), despite the fact that he was blind. But it is a deception in a most positive way.

Cllck on the link below:

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20120706-the-ipod-magician

I will eventually be using TED talks as a supplement to digital learning (discussed in an earlier blog), in a much deeper discussion of child and adult-centered education. But right now, enjoy this TED talk and enjoy the amazing things that Marco Tempest can do.

And if Luther Fuller can play the piano so well, you can do something special too!

Newsday photograph by Lawrence Morgan

You may be off the internet Monday morning!

Here is a Newsday (New York) article from July 8, 2012, with simple solutions to the virus problem:

http://newyork.newsday.com/business/dns-changer-malware-you-re-running-out-of-time-to-check-for-it-1.3825752

And here are two more articles, as well, from c/net:

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-57467580-263/how-to-detect-and-fix-a-machine-infected-with-dnschanger/?google_editors_picks=true

The article below is a very good article if you want to understand the details behind this virus:

http://download.cnet.com/8301-2007_4-57467164-12/what-the-dnschanger-malware-is-and-why-you-should-care-faq/?tag=postrtcol;FD.posts

Use the above sources to make sure you are not infected.

Business Insider picture by Lawrence Morgan

Google's glasses transmit real-time coverage as jumpers wearing glasses land on convention center roof

I will have much to say about Google's glasses in the future. But right now, there is a video (below) that I want other people to see and react to.

This is a video taken yesterday (June 28, 2012 from the Google tech conference here in San Francisco. Four jumpers leaped from a blimp wearing google glasses, and made their way down through the skies to the roof of the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco. They then used bicycles to go across the roof, went down the outside of the building to the third floor, and finally made their way inside, up to the stage.

Google glasses by Lawrence Morgan

The google glasses which they wore transmitted the entire event live as they were carrying it out.

It was an incredible event, really the first of its kind. You have to see it for yourself. Click on the link below:

http://techcrunch.com/2012/06/28/how-google-pulled-off-their-live-video-skydiving-with-glasses-demo/

The week before, Google made a preparatory video to see if things would go properly (although no one knew for sure, until the event actually took place Thursday):

http://www.baycitizen.org/blogs/pulse-of-the-bay/watch-google-demos-futuristic-glasses/?utm_source=Newsletters&utm_campaign=034cd6d481-June_28_Daily_Newsletter&utm_medium=email&mc_cid=034cd6d481&mc_eid=cbf3c826d5

The google glasses, which transmit audio and video information real-time while the jump takes place, may or may not play an important role in our future. I will write more about that later.

Meanwhile, enjoy this incredible event!

The Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco by Lawrence Morgan

BBC photograph by Lawrence Morgan

The Olympic torch, as it makes its way through the United Kingdom

I have posted many pictures on this site, because this is a very special event, the Olympics. It involves countries from all over the world. But perhaps, most importantly of all, it shows the people and places of the United Kingdom in incredible detail.

This is like a whole course of geography on Great Britain.

There are a lot of links here, but there are also a lot of pictures to look at, and I want to share those with others who have or haven't been thereI

This is a chance to get to know all of the United Kingdom in a very special way. Click on each link to see the full photographs for that day.

Here is day 1, Land's End to Plymouth:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-18128213

Here is day 2, Plymouth to Exeter:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18136269

Here is day 3, Exeter to Taunton:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18142367

Here is day 4, Taunton to Bristol:

BBC Photograph by Lawrence Morgan

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18156184

Here is day 5, Bristol to Cheltenham:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18171003

Here is day 6, Gloucester to Worcester:

BBC Photograph by Lawrence Morgan

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18189354

Here is day 7, Worcester to Cardiff:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18202449

Here is day 8, Cardiff to Swansea:

Dr Who Star Matt Smith starts this part of the journey.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-18217784

Here is day 9. Swansea to Aberystwyth:

Including the castle from Monty Phython and the Holy Grail.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-18225123

Here is day 10, Aberystwyth to Bangor:

At the end of today's journey, final torchbearer bass-baritone Bryn Terfel uses it for the celebration in the evening.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-18233399

Here is day 11, Beaumaris to Chester:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-18247448

Here is day 12, Chester to Stoke-on-Trent:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-18261047

Here is Day 13, Stoke-on-Trent to Bolton

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-18277785

Here is Day 14, Bolton to Liverpool

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-18281519

Here is Day 15, Liverpool to Belfast

BBC Photograph by Lawrence Morgan

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18307678

Here is Day 16, Belfast to Portrush

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-18313502

Here is Day 17, Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge to Derry Londonderry

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-18324392

Here is Day 18, Derry Londonderry to Newry

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18331224

Here is Day 19, Dublin to Belfast

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18338065

Here is Day 20, Newcastle to Stranraer:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18351713

Here is Day 21, Stranraer to Glasgow

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18378621

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-18277785

Here is Day 22, Glasgow to Inverness:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18378621

Here is Day 23, Kirkwall to Lerwick:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18385709

Here is Day 24, Stornoway to Aberdeen:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18392431

Here is Day 25, Aberdeen to Dundee

BBC Photograph by Lawrence Morgan

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18407344

Here is Day 26, St Andrews to Edinburgh

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18438716

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18420480

Here is Day 27, Edinburg to Ainwick

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18438716

Here is Day 28, Ainwick to Newcastle upon Tyne

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18455217

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18466223

Here is Day 29, Gateshead to Durham

BBC Photograph by Lawrence Morgan

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18469989

Here is Day 30, Durham to Middlesbrough

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18476680

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18482866

Here is Day 31, Middlesbrough to Hull

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18490719

Here is Day 32, Hull to York

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18503873

Here is Day 33, York to Carlisle:

BBC Photograph by Lawrence Morgan

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18519517

Here is day 34, Dumfries to Bowness-on-Windermere

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18531335

Here is day 35, Kendal to Blackpool

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18547747

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18560366

Here is day 36, Lytham St Anne's to Manchester

Alice Kelly recently cycled 150 miles to raise funds for a trip to The Gambia (in Africa).

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18562295

by Lawrence Morgan

Larry and Barbara Richardson, from Mulvane, Kansas, have had a great time while they have been in San Francisco!

He's the Kansan who built the miniature Golden Gate Bridge in Mulvane, Kansas.

When people learned of his accomplishments - it took 11 years to complete after his return from Vietnam - they sent in money voluntarily so that he and his wife could come to San Francisco for the first time in their lives.

They were given a hotel room free of charge, they had a free flight, free food, a trip around the Bay among many other things -- it's been amazing. People have taken to the miniature Golden Gate Bridge once they have learned of it. I featured his work on my blog during the Golden Gate Bridge's Anniversary on May 27, 2012.

http://www2.ljworld.com/weblogs/kansas-150th-birthday-is-almost-over/2012/may/27/today-may-27-is-the-golden-gate-bridges-/

I talked with them on the phone Wednesday evening, before they went back on Thursday. While they were at the bridge, they were given three pints of the paint used for the Golden Gate Bridge, so that they could apply it to their bridge when they got back. They said they had had a wonderful time while they were here.

Meanwhile, here are two articles by C.W. Nevius in today's San Francisco Chronicle.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/06/05/BAGI1OSITN.DTL

http://blog.sfgate.com/cwnevius/2012/06/05/kansas-couple-finally-sees-the-golden-gate/

Plus, they have already been on television in the Bay Area.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/object/article?f=/c/a/2012/06/05/BAGI1OSITN.DTL&object=%2Fg%2Fav%2Fiframes%2F2012%2F06%2F05%2Fcbslocal7363340.ifr

I thought I should also include a few paragraphs about Mulvane, Kansas, for those who don't know where it is. It's a small town, located on the county line between Sumner and Sedgwick counties, five miles west of the corner of Sumner, Sedgwick, Butler and Cowley counties.

Originally, it was founded in 1879. Its original Certificate of Incorporation was filed as "The Mulvane Town Company." People selected the name Mulvane because Joab Mulvane, of Topeka, Kansas, had been inspirational in founding and developing the city. As the city website indicates, Mulvane is the "City of the Valley," and during the first years it was the railroad that was Mulvane's main source of revenue.

It has a historical museum, a library, schools through High School, and a Cowley County Community College Satellite - very impressive for a small town, but also typical of a lot of small Kansas towns, which is not true in many other states.

The library has a wonderful web page:

http://mulvane.mykansaslibrary.org/

And here it is:

by Lawrence Morgan

Thanks to all the people who made this possible, including Jon Handiery, owner of the Handiery Union Square Hotel in San Francisco, C.W. Nevius of the San Francisco Chronicle, and all the wonderful guest contributors.

If the Richardsons or residents of Mulvane want to send pictures to be included in a future blog, please let me know so I can include them!

I would hope that we could see the city of Mulvane and the miniature Golden Gate Bridge in its new colors soon, and also photographed in all the seasons of the year.

by Lawrence Morgan

The Queen's Jubilee Pageant - Part 2

Day 4 - Tuesday

Tuesday is the final day of the Queen's Jubilee concert. The Queen attends services at St. Paul's Cathedral in London. All the choir kids are getting ready:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-18323557

Following that, she appears on the balcony and enjoys a flypast.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18333746

What do the French think of all this?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18329050

Finally, she gives her farewell address to the nation, and the four days of the Diamond Jubilee are over!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18333998

Last of all, you have to see this high-definition picture of London which the BBC just put up this afternoon:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18295433

Day 3 - Monday

This special concert took place today at 1:30 our time. Shirley Bassey, Alfie Boe, Jools Holland, Jessie J., JLS, Elton John, Tom Jones, Lang Lang, Annie Lennox, Madness, Paul McCartney, Cliff Richard and Ed Sheeran, were all in this concert. And the Queen was there!

Here are some of the performers being interviewed before the concert today:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-18324078

And Sir Cliff Richard who was there for all sixty years:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18320722

They've done an incredible job with the stage. Here's an interview with Keith Lockhart, who will be conducting, as well as a photograph of the stage.

http://www.boston.com/names/2012/06/01/keith-lockhart-conduct-monday-queen-diamond-jubilee-concert-london/EI6qnSqOE6fbWdveuP4PFN/story.html

And here are pictures of the concert:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-18324096:

After the concert, beacons were lit around the world. These beacons were lit In most of the Commonwealth countries, and in other countries too, like the United States. The Queen lit the National Beacon at 20:30 British Summer Time, directly following the concert.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18327402

The beacons come from British history: These beacons constitute 1900 years of history.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/jun/04/jubilee-beacon-hadrian?intcmp=239

Look at the interactive map with beacons from throughout the world::

http://www.diamondjubileebeacons.co.uk/static_html/interactive_map_171898.html

Day 2 - Sunday

Here is a detailed background on Day 2 of the four day Jubilee pageant.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18313886

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18313883

The Queen's Barge makes its way along the River Thames:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-18313984

Whether or not you've been to London, England, you will enjoy these pictures.

Despite the weather, people thronged by the thousands to the River Thames to watch the pageant and flotilla.

The Thames River Barrier was lowered so that the river would flow slower.

by Lawrence Morgan

The Thames River Barrier has been described as the eighth wonder of the world. It is one of the largest movable flood barriers in the world. It has ten steel gates that can be raised into position across the Thames River. When raised, the main gates stand as high as a five-story building and as wide as the opening of Tower Bridge. Each main gate weights 3,300 tons. You should see this if you are in London in the future.

To return to the events of Day 2, 20,000 people were expected to be on the floats of the flotilla, which travelled at 4 knots (4.6 miles) an hour. There were also lunches (such as the "Big Lunch" in London) and parties throughout Great Britain and the Commonwealth.

Of special interest is the Queen's barge, which was designed to show what the highly decorated royal barges were like in the 17th and 18th centuries.

The man-powered boats, led by the Queen's row barge "Gloriana," were the first to pass the finish line.

Pictures were pouring in from around the world, including Dubai, Canada, China, France, Australia, Germany, Tuvalu and New Zealand.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-18307845

and of course from the UK:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/18306929

with Jubilee related stories:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18313069

This is a very good essay with many sides of the British character:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18237280

By the way, I sent a picture into the BBC from the Journal-World's article on the Queen's Jubilee in Lawrence yesterday. If other people took pictures of the Lawrence event, or parties, they should also send them to the BBC at yourpics@bbc.co.uk

There are pictures from Craig Patterson and Staci Garman of the Jubilee Diamond event in Lawrence below.

To me, it's an incredible event when a town like Lawrence, Kansas, can have its own Jubilee celebration!

And here is an article, of which there are many, from Canada:

http://www.montrealgazette.com/life/royal-wedding-anniversary/Queen+Diamond+Jubilee+Elizabeth+still+Canada+support/6717972/story.html

Here is another excellent article from Perth, Australia:

http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/national/stage-is-set-for-her-crowning-achievement/story-e6frg15u-1226381923133

And here is the celebration in Grenada:

http://www.diamondjubileegrenada.com/Image-Gallery.html

This shows that the British Commonwealth still is liked tremendously in many parts of the world, including British-speaking Africa and the Caribbean..

The first part of my blog is at:

http://www2.ljworld.com/weblogs/kansas-150th-birthday-is-almost-over/2012/jun/2/the-queens-60th-jubilee/

It is full of useful information and photographs! Share it with your kids!

Now, here is the Lawrence event!

Here are some great pictures of the Lawrence Diamond Jubilee event, taken by Craig Patterson and Staci Garman.

Here are Craig's pictures:

by Lawrence Morgan

by Lawrence Morgan

by Lawrence Morgan

by Lawrence Morgan

by Lawrence Morgan

by Lawrence Morgan

by Lawrence Morgan

by Lawrence Morgan

and here are Staci's pictures:

by Lawrence Morgan

by Lawrence Morgan

by Lawrence Morgan

by Lawrence Morgan

by Lawrence Morgan

by Lawrence Morgan

by Lawrence Morgan

by Lawrence Morgan

by Lawrence Morgan

The 60th Jubilee Concert - Around the World

Whether or not you are a fan of the royalty of Great Britain, this is a special weekend for both British and non-British fans from around the world. There is much to experience every day.

From street parties to horse racing (the English really love horse racing), today's Derby was the big event:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18298743

Here are pictures from Saturday, June 2, 2012, Day 1:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18308797

Two years of preparations took place for this year's Jubilee:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18302524

If you have or haven't been to London, this is a great chance just to enjoy the scenery. It is also an incredibly great pageant, which only the British can put on.

The music for the pageant has been put together by ten composers, all inspired by Handel's Water Music. By the way, according to the BBC, Tutankhamen's trumpet (from the time of the ancient Egyptians) is the oldest royal instrument.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9724000/9724619.stm

And here is a history of royal pageantry in London.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-18107913

Some of the following footage is shown for the first time:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18305355

And here is the changing face of the Queen over the years:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18208434

I am very impressed that Lawrence has joined the 60th Jubilee with its own set of events. No matter what it is that you like that is British, whether it is the wonderful TV comedies (Faulty Towers, Dad's Army), the cars (there will be a display in Lawrence), Shakespeare, or the trails for hiking throughout Great Britain, this is your weekend.

Please share your pictures of Lawrence during today's festival, and also your thoughts and pictures if you have made trips to Great Britain, things that you are currently studying about Britain, or if you are British--let us know what you like best about your country.

I must admit that I like many things about Great Britain very much, especially the people.

For students and people who do not know the national anthem of Great Britain, please see the following:

This would be a great project for students to write about over the summer - some aspect of British history.

I will be updating this blog throughout the next four days of the Jubilee.

I would also like to hear from students and residents of other countries, as well. As time permits, in the future I will also do a blog on other cultures and countries.

Please write in your comments, pictures and good experiences.