Realistic goals in Iraq

It is a shame that our government leaders appear to be quite ignorant of our own country's political legacy.

We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge or gallantry would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution is designed only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for any other.

--John Adams

Nightmarish political realities in Baghdad are prompting American officials to curb their vision for democracy in Iraq. Instead, the officials now say they are willing to settle for a government that functions and can bring security.

--Story on CNN.com

Videoconference in the classroom

The Potter's School uses videoconferencing in its classrooms: "Internet videoconferencing technology has made it possible for students to take live on-line courses from their homes."

This can probably be done with inexpensive equipment and services --

• A reasonably new PC
• A fairly large screen (or TV)
• A web cam
  
• A USB speakerphone
• QNext or Skype

Apparently the current version of Skype has videoconferencing built in.