January 27, 2007

The Promise of Education in Africa

I’m in the process of filling out an application to attend TED Global this June in Tanzania. For those of you who aren’t familiar with TED it’s an annual conference that brings together cutting-edge thinkers in the arts, business, science and social activism. I’d be thrilled and honored to be able to attend. Below is a list of some of the previous blog entries I’ve written about opportunities related to education in Africa. I’m looking forward to writing more soon as we prepare to launch Education Revolution later this year.

Within a generation we’ll have an opportunity to bring a world-class education to Africa and other developing nations. That opportunity has never existed within the entirety of humanity until now. And I count my blessings every day that I live in age where we can help to make that happen.

Some of my writings on Africa and Education

What if a mobile phone could make your life better?
My Goal? To Bring TED to You
More Reasons for Being
Five Things That Make It Easy To Get Up In the Morning
The “Tepping” Point Here at Home
The “Tepping” Point and The End of Poverty

January 24, 2007

2007 State of the Union Address Audio

Audible.com is offering President George W. Bush’s 2007 State of the Union Address for free on digital download courtesy of C-SPAN:

2007 State of the Union Address

They’re also offering for free Sen. Jim Webb’s Democrats’ Response to the State of the Union Address on download:

2007 Democrats’ Response to the State of the Union Address

Thanks Audible!

January 24, 2007

LearnOutLoud featured on iTunes

Popped over to iTunes today and was pleasantly surprised to see LearnOutLoud featured on the homepage of the iTunes Podcast Directory. People are really digging The Philosophy Podcast and the Great Speeches in History Podcast (among others). We’re well over 30,000 subscribers so thanks to all of you and kudos to David and Seth here for the incredibly hard work they are putting in to make these great content available.

In the words of that great philosopher Borat “I likes!”

January 22, 2007

The Mirage of DRM is Evaporating…

My prediction = At least one major music label will decide to go DRM-free by the end of the year. They are almost don’t have a choice here unless they are willing to turn their entire business over to Apple going forward.

Record labels rethink digital rights management at Midem

January 12, 2007

Martin Luther King, Jr. Audio & Video

When people ask me “Why audiobooks?” there are a few common responses that I’ll give. It’s a great alternative or supplement to reading. You can listen while you’re driving or at the gym. Sometimes it’s easier to remember what you hear than what you read. But there’s one another one that’s really powerful:

Some listening experiences just can’t be duplicated in print.

Probably the best example I can give of this is listening to A Knock at Midnight, an outstanding collection of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s sermons. I mean I guess you could read these but I doubt that it would move you the way listening to King himself preach would. When I flip this on my iPod (something I find myself increasingly doing) I almost immediately get goosebumps. I’m not sure quite what it is about King’s preaching that does that to me.

As most of you here in the United States know, Monday is Martin Luther King Day. For many people it’s just another freebie holiday that they probably won’t think twice about. And that’s a shame. Because it’s an awesome opportunity to learn more about an amazing man who has done so much in the struggle for justice and equality here in the U.S. and around the world.

We put the finishing touches on MLK Out Loud, an attempt on our part to bring together all of the audio and video content from or about King that we could find. There is a ton of great stuff linked from the page including biographies, documentaries, collections of sermons and of course King’s stirring “I Have a Dream” speech. We’ve tried to find as many free audio and video resources as we could too knowing that there are a lot of teachers who would love to use them to relay the power of King’s message to their classes.

I wanted to say a special thank you to American Rhetoric which hosts several of King’s speeches for free. If you have a minute, drop Michael Eidenmuller who runs the site a quick line and tell him thanks.

In the “I Have a Dream” speech King talks about a faith that he has. In his words:

With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

It’s a faith we need more of in this day and age when King’s message of brotherhood is as relevant as it has ever been.

Take some time this long holiday weekend to listen to one of his King’s speeches or order one of his audio books. It’s a great way to celebrate his legacy and a powerful way to learn more about the man who has touched so many lives.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone.

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