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Afghanistan

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

Afghanistan’s First Co-ed Skateboarding School [VIDEO]

by Jill Pantozzi | 6:00 pm, November 22nd, 2012

Skateistan was created by Australian skateboarder Oliver Percovich a few years ago after children on the streets of Kabul, Afghanistan saw him using his board. And with that, skateboarding hit Afghanistan. But it didn’t end there. “Skateistan’s development aid programs work with growing numbers of marginalized youth through skateboarding, and provide them with new opportunities in cross-cultural interaction, education, and personal empowerment programs,” explains their website. “In Kabul, Skateistan’s participants come from all of Afghanistan’s diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds, and include 40% female students, hundreds of streetworking children, and youth with disabilities. In our skatepark and classrooms they develop skills in skateboarding, leadership, civic responsibility, multimedia, and creative arts, exploring topics such as environmental health, culture/traditions, natural resources, and peace.”

Take a look at this short video they put together then watch this short film for more information.

(Upworthy via Kate Kotler)

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Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

Welcome to Afghanistan’s Women-Only Internet Café!

by Jamie Frevele | 1:59 pm, March 12th, 2012

Not known for having the freedoms that most of us enjoy, Afghan women are often “supervised” by men, whether they are brothers, husbands, fathers, or other relatives. However, the group Young Afghan Women for Change have rallied to create a brock-and-mortar hangout for women who want to freely surf the internet. The Sahar Gul Internet Café opened in Afghanistan’s capitol last week, providing one more place where women can do their web thing without worrying about being watched or harassed by men.

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We Have Done the Impossible and That Makes Us Mighty

The First All-Female U.S. Navy Construction Team Breaks Building Records in Afghanistan

by Jamie Frevele | 11:46 am, January 24th, 2012

It was an ordinary task that was taken on by an extraordinary group — in Helmand province in Afghanistan, a project to build four 20-by-30-foot barracks in the mountains was handed over to the U.S. Navy’s construction forces, the Seabees. Not an unusual request. However, for the first time ever, the Seabees team tasked with building the barracks consisted of all women. Not only did they complete the project, but they completed it way ahead of scheduled, breaking Navy records. Not too shabby, ladies!

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Things We Saw Today

Things We Saw Today: The Rock is Having a Blast at Splash Mountain

by Alanna Bennett | 5:28 pm, June 25th, 2011

We choose to believe this is real and not Photoshopped. Do not ruin this for us. (At Buzzfeed)

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We Have Done the Impossible and That Makes Us Mighty

Robots Helping the Troops in Afghanistan Are Almost Completely Autonomous

by Jamie Frevele | 10:55 am, April 5th, 2011

It’s no secret that unmanned robots are a big part of fighting wars. But what’s interesting about them is how little they rely on humans to tell them what to do. The machine above is called an X-47B and not only does it fly on its own, but it can land and take off from aircraft carriers with little to no human guidance. It also carries bombs, but that is where the humans come in — while it flies on its own, the bombs are only released when an actual person gives it the cue to do so.

So, is the next step a human-like fighter, like the T-1000? Probably not. Many of these robots exist only to be shot and detect other bombs (and be blown up before a soldier does). But the idea of some of these robots progressing towards being programmed to detonate on their own? … You know they’re thinking about it, and that’s the tiniest bit creepy. Think about how many times a day your computer takes too long to load … or crashes.

Video of Fareed Zakaria discussing this on his CNN show Fareed Zakaria GPS is after the jump.

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