Foovay’s Cauldron

William Kamkwamba

I have a particular peeve with our cultures cult of celebrity. Ask anyone their heros or role models and they’ll probably tell you all about some pop singer, actor or actress.

I am not saying that none of these people are admirable – many of them have chosen to use their fame and fortunes to support good causes and to help the less fortunate in one way or another. But that isn’t what makes the headlines. What makes the headlines is who they are sleeping with, or their substance addictions or mental illnesses, or how many babies they can adopt and the latest photos showing cellulite on their thighs (*gasp*).

Myself, I think there are other people we could do better to admire. This young man is one.

If you Google him, you’ll find his blog, a Wikipedia entry, and TED. You know I love anything TED. From just another little boy in a village in Malawi, with his own ingenuity and the work of his own hands, William Kamkwamba brought electricity with all its possibilities – electric light, radio, Internet – to his family and his village.

Now THAT is the kind of person I admire.

And yes, I am building a SquidWho lens for him here

My plans are to devote the day to Internet stuff, from catching up around Tagfoot to building some actual websites on some neglected domains and updating others. So far, so good – but you know how easily distracted I am.

TTYL

Summer