What's Woody Doing Now

World-Renowned Violinist Itzhak Perlman Sits in With The Roots Tonight! - Show Guests - Late Night with Jimmy Fallon

One of the world's preeminent violin virtuosos, Itzhak Perlman, is sitting in with The Roots tonight. This is an unprecedented type of appearance for the master musician - and we can tell you, it's really really great. Not only is he amazing at what he does, but he's really charming and funny, too! He is also here to advocate for Rotary International's initiative to eradicate polio, a great cause which you can learn more about here. He joins in on one of our weekly Friday traditions - tune in tonight to see what we mean!

via www.latenightwithjimmyfallon.com

Rotary is almost there. They have eradicated 99 percent of the polio cases in the world. Only four countries (PAIN - Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, and Nigeria) are responsible most of the cases.

Way to go Jimmy!

Skeptic in the War Against Polio Is Persuaded by Bill Gates - NYTimes.com

Two weeks ago, at the end of an interview about whether polio really can be eradicated, Bill Gates muttered aloud to an aide escorting the interviewer: “I’ve got to get my D. A. Henderson response down better.”

By that he meant that as long as he was committing his fortune and prestige to the battle against polio — as he did that day in an announcement at the former Manhattan home of Franklin D. Roosevelt — he would need a stronger riposte to journalists quoting Dr. Henderson’s powerful arguments that the virus is just too elusive to subdue.

In a world of quotable medical experts, why does it matter what one particular expert thinks? Because, for better or worse, the mantle has been wrapped around the venerable 82-year-old Donald A. Henderson that he is “The Man Who Wiped Out Smallpox.”

(In truth, the smallpox fight — the only successful one so far against a human illness — had many generals. One is Dr. William H. Foege, 74, a former director of the Centers for Disease Control who is now a senior adviser to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and who fervently believes that polio can be eradicated. But over the years, Dr. Henderson has patiently explained his doubts, in persuasive detail, to many medical journalists calling him with questions about any disease eradication effort.)

via www.nytimes.com

Rotary WILL DO IT!

Are eBooks in the very near future of Congo?

According to UNESCO statistics, more than half the 6th grade students in six sub-Saharan African countries attend school in a classroom without a single book. Only 40% of schools in Kenya have any kind of school library… and their definition of a library is extremely broad.  Yet access to a 500-book library seems to be roughly equivalent to three years of schooling.  Students in our program have an average of 85 books each that they carry with them and share with parents and friends. This number grows daily, and in the next few weeks, we’ll announce how our program participants will have access to even more books.  Also, thanks to the aggressive promotional work going on with e-readers everywhere, they will continually have access to hundreds of new books.

via blog.worldreader.org

I think eBooks via the Kindle could work well in Congo. eBooks would solve the availability and distribution problem. Electricity for recharging would a problematic but a charged Kindle last 30 days.

Congo Helping Hands is working on project to pilot eBooks in Kananga.

Anyone Buying a Verizon iPhone?

It's 3am, February 3!  Have you placed your order?  I am just curious. 

Sorry, I am not buying one.  And, I am not up at 3am either!