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Phonetic Clues Hint Language Is Africa-Born (NYT)

A researcher analyzing the sounds in languages spoken around the world has detected an ancient signal that points to southern Africa as the place where modern human language originated.

It Takes a Network: The new frontline of modern warfare

This is a great piece written by retired U.S. Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal. It is a bold approach that I think should be considered more by our senior leaders and decision makers. Worth reading and fluid writing.

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From the outset of my command in Afghanistan, two or three times each week, accompanied by a few aides and often my Afghan counterparts, I would leave the International Security Assistance Force headquarters in Kabul and travel across Afghanistan — from critical cities like Kandahar to the most remote outposts in violent border regions. Ideally, we left early, traveling light and small, normally using a combination of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, to meet with Afghans and their leaders and to connect with our troops on the ground: Brits and Marines rolling back the enemy in Helmand, Afghan National Army troops training in Mazar-e-Sharif, French Foreign Legionnaires patrolling in Kapisa.

Mobile Telecoms in Africa: Digital revolution

SUB-SAHARAN Africa has long been deprived of the cornucopia of media enjoyed in richer places. It was not until China began to export $50 black-and-white televisions to Africa about a decade ago that broadcasting took off outside the main cities. That new, much bigger market has led to big changes. Asif Sheikh of A24, an online-news channel in Nairobi, says Kenyan broadcasters have gone from showing almost exclusively Western-made programmes in 2005 to 80% African ones now. Local content is booming in other media too: talk radio, music videos and televangelism have all proved lucrative. But for all types of content, everyone agrees that the next big business opportunity is in mobile devices.

The Downtown Renaissance Extends Its Reach « The Transport Politic

via thetransportpolitic.com

In terms of residential growth, U.S. downtowns are coming back, even in the face of continued sprawl and trouble elsewhere in center cities.

Social Networks Also Empower Enemies of Freedom. – Newsweek

via newsweek.com

This was one of the the major points brought up by Secretary Clinton in her speech on internet freedom in January 2010.

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Social networks might promote democracy, but they also empower the enemies of freedom.

America’s Meanest Airlines

via travel.yahoo.com

List includes: Meanest Major Carrier, Meanest Regional Carrier, Most Complained About Airline, Most Likely to be Unsafe, Most Likely to Overcharge for Bags, Most Likely to Bump You, Most Likely to be Late, and Most Likely to Mishandle Your Bag

Muslims in France: On a mat and a prayer | The Economist

via economist.com

A new debate reflects strains over the place of Islam in France

North Korea Gets English Boost

via rfa.org

North Korea may face Western sanctions over its illicit nuclear weapons program, but nothing seems to stand in the way of efforts to boost the English language in the reclusive state.

What is clear is that Pyongyang is drawing more foreigners to teach English, and that the English level of North Korean students appears to be improving.

Google Partners With The New York Times for Daily Trivia Game

via mashable.com

A Google A Day, announced Monday on Google’s blog, is a puzzle that asks crossword-style questions in a way that defies a simple Google search