Iranian Cleric Uses Blog to Reach Out to Citizens

Reuters presented a story today that suggests the power of the simple blog: Iranian cleric and government official Mohammad Ali Abthai uses his blog to speak openly with fellow citizens regarding the Iran's current political dynamic:

Abtahi, 45, a mid-ranking cleric who last year quit his post as vice-president, says he learns more chatting with young people on the Internet than he does in any government report.
"A lot of them criticize the (political) system and sometimes I tell them they are right. I talk to them very freely," he said in an interview at his spartan office in affluent north Tehran.

Free, Cheap, and Wonderful: Photo Story 3

It's not often that Microsoft creates a free piece of software that really shines and has few strings attached. Their new Photo Story 3 is not only free, but is pretty darn easy to use. Best of all, you can quickly take digital photos and create a Ken Burn's style documentary effect such that you begin or end on a key region of a particular image. This can be used to add drama or to focus attention on important information and features in an image, making Photo Story 3 of potential use for educators.