Tech Podcast: Bradley Manning and WikiLeaks

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As WikiLeaks’ founder Julian Assange continues his fight against extradition from Britain to Sweden, attention has now turned to man accused of giving WikiLeaks all of that classified information in the first place, Bradley Manning. This week, Manning was charged with 22 counts, including “aiding the enemy,” which is punishable by death. Prosecutors, however, said, they would not seek the death penalty in the case. For some, Manning is a pariah. For others, he is a hero. In this week’s podcast, we’ll hear from former CIA officer turned anti-war campaigner Raymond McGovern. Also, you’ll hear about One Day on Earth, a group that is doing all it can to ensure that videos shot in Libya during the recent crisis make it to the outside world.

On the lighter side, we’ll also discuss whether it might be time to tell students to put pen and paper down during exams, and let them use computers. Then, Cyrus Farivar takes us on a tour of the CeBit Trade Show in Hannover, Germany. Be sure to check out Spectrum, Cyrus’ weekly technology podcast for Deutsche Welle.

And finally, you’ll hear about some robot language teachers that are being used in South Korean schools.

For those who want more on old-time radio guru Gerry Wells, listener Ben Wolfram suggests you check out The Secret Life of Machines. And, for those who want to follow Dave Guezuraga’s trip by 400cc dirt bike through South East Asia, and then from Amsterdam to Magadan, Russia, you should really swing by his blog. Fun stuff, and he’s inspired me to keep making more episodes for him to listen to!

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(Photo: mar is sea Y)