Refugee Game: Play Against All Odds

"Rather than chasing ghosts or fighting aliens, Against All Odds guides the gamer through the experience of being a refugee.

The game was designed by workers in the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)." -Gamers get taste of refugee life, BBC article

Its amazes me what people can come up with as technology is integrated into society, or as society catches up with tech. This game, as the article mentions, is aimed at a younger crowd that often has skewed views of refugees. While I am not sure if the generalities made within the game are the best, the essence of this objective is honorable. Any way that we can broaden our culture's acceptance and understanding of people and struggles outside of our direct experience is valuable in my eyes.

However, the game does have some objectionable content for this core audience. I would use this at a high school level, due to some violence but quality derivatives, as a constructive teaching tool.

Check out the game here: http://www.playagainstallodds.com/

God Goes Web 2.0

"GodTube.com, a video-sharing site with Christian content, drew more than 4 million unique visitors during October." -Monterey Herald article

It's like Youtube for God, with an astonishing amount of web content and traffic for a new site. Complete with advertising and social networking. I can't help but find irony in the name GodTube. This site, while a great platform for Christianity, makes me wonder if technology will hinder or help religion. Christmas has already been consumed with secular commercialism, is the religion as a whole a commercial commodity in present day society?

Back in the little town I grew up in our church changed pastors and with that came a new look and feel to the good ole word. Power point sermons, photo slide shows accompany worship and choir, and the church website has been revamped and updated. With a majority of our congregation applicable for senior discounts and up to 5 generations of families this was less than favorably received.

Change is hardly ever received well by a faith rooted in tradition and history, but is this for the better or worse? I can see it being used in great ways to target younger generations, but while it alienates their parents and grandparents?

Personally, I find comfort in the church service I grew up with, old hymns and dorky reenactments of Christmas and Easter put on by church members. But as a tech/web 2.0 junkie I find promise in a compromise of both, I hope that web 2.0 doesn’t cannibalize some of my favorite things about church.