My response to Dan Brown's Open letter to educators

First of all watch the original video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-P2PGGeTOA4
My response: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYqAKkxSu_w

Abundance of information on the Internet. Is it supposed to be like this?

After reading Lisa’s blog post “Open Culture: Burke, Paine and Jaron Lanier” I started thinking about the abundance of information available online. Since the Internet is open to everyone, it is almost impossible to regulate the information out there. Everyone can post online anything even without being a reliable source. And for us, the normal consumers it is very hard to differentiate what site is useful and what is just nonsense. When I go to Google or any other browser and try to find some information thousands of sites come up. Which ones are the ones I am looking for? I do not have time to go through all the recommended sites so I pick the ones on the first page. So is there still the idea of sharing information with everyone possible? Is it worth to write a blog or have your own web site when only few people will actually get to read it?  

I agree with Lanier that at the beginning of the internet the idea of sharing ideas between people was a great one, something revolutionary. But since then the Internet mutated into something nearly uncontrollable. It can be used for good and for bad. I believe the internet should be open to everyone with some restrictions. Educative sites should be available to everyone. But sharing music and other copyright file without giving the credit to the author needs to be controlled. Everyone wants to get things for free if it is possible, but if we keep doing it, nobody will want to post online anything anymore. And that is the whole point of the Internet, isn’t?

Another 200 words story

“Dad please, stop yelling! Calm down!” I was trying desperately to cover my ears. Tears were streaming down my face. I didn’t know what to do. There was no hope. I just wanted to run away and not come back. But I couldn’t do it to my mom. She had enough problems already and me running away wouldn’t help her. Dad was shaking all over and I couldn’t stand to glance at him. I ran to my room, closed the door and then collapsed on the bed. Between sobs I unwillingly sank into my memories.

As I stood outside the hospital room, my mind was racing down different paths of thought. “Did it really happen? “ I was constantly asking myself. I was motionless, unaware of my surroundings, utterly numb and disbelieving. It was shortly before Christmas, when my dad accidently felt from the stairs and I knew we won’t be together as a family on the Christmas day. Doctors told us he has a brain damage and he will have to learn everything again. I couldn’t understand what they meant, but I knew our life irrevocably changed.

200 words story: Farmer's trouble

He was standing in the middle of the field alone and not able to speak. Bright light was shining into his eyes making it harder to see his enemy. The farmer has worked hard his whole life and now this creature should destroy all of it? No, he could not let that happen. His shotgun was hanging from his shoulder and he was ready to use it.

Every morning he found one of his sheep dead, lying on the ground soaked with blood. He swore he would stop it.

The wolf was coming closer and closer baring his fangs. It was not an ordinary wolf. This one was huge; he has never seen such a thing.

The farmer backed one step. But then he regained his power and directed the gun at the wolf. Neither of them moved. Then he heard howling in the distance and he knew he needs to act quickly.

The wolf was faster though and jumped on the farmer, cutting his claws deep in the farmer’s skin. Wolf’s fangs were inches from his face. The only thing he could think of was his family. He pulled out his knife and cut the wolf’s throat.