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T A B L E__T A L K

Is there a future for Unix in a market increasingly dominated by Microsoft? Discuss Unix past, present and future in Table Talk's Digital Culture area

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R E C E N T L Y

Mutiny on the Net
By Andrew Leonard
Music pirates cross swords with the recording industry
(03/20/98)

Let's Get This Straight
By Scott Rosenberg
As Slate goes, so goes ... Slate
(03/19/98)

The bleeding edge
By Jenn Shreve
When it comes to creative Web marketing, tampon manufacturers lead the way
(03/18/98)

eMate never had a chance
By Dylan Tweney
Why did Apple consign a kooky little portable computer to an early death?
(03/17/98)

Let's Get This Straight
By Scott Rosenberg
R.I.P., Word -- but don't get out your handkerchiefs for "content"
(03/16/98)

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BROWSE THE
21ST ARCHIVES

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_____________BY CHARLIE VARON AND JIM ROSENAU
"In Texas, state school board President Jack Christie is pushing a proposal to junk textbooks and outfit 4 million students with portable computers complete with Internet access and a CD-ROM drive."
-- Newsweek, March 9, 1998

In this Challenge, we invite you to reveal to us the future of technology in education. Entries should be in the form of a letter to parents from a school official. Explain why you have chosen to introduce a new, perhaps controversial, high-tech program at the school. The letter should include -- at a minimum -- a description of the technology and claims for what it will achieve. You might also reveal the type of school and explain how you hope to pay for these marvels. Limit: 125 words.

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E X A M P L E

Dear Concerned Parents of Goosewood School:

In the focus group last month, you told us you feel remote from your child's learning experience. We listened.

Beginning next fall, we'll offer live Web access to your child's classroom. For as little as 7.3 cents per minute, you can watch the school day unfold, from morning circle time all the way through 3 p.m. logoff. The instant feedback feature lets you send your child an online hug, purchase curricular enhancements and talk back to teachers you feel are inept. Sign up now as a charter subscriber and we'll throw in free access to lunch and recess.

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R U L E S

Send your submissions via e-mail only to salon21st@salonmagazine.com. Please include your full name and an accurate e-mail address so we can contact you if you're a winner. By submitting your entry you give Salon permission to publish it. Deadline for entries is March 30, 1998. The winning response this round will receive a signed copy of Salon technology writer Andrew Leonard's book, "Bots: The Origin of New Species."

In two weeks we'll publish a winner and some selected entries -- then start over a couple weeks after that with a whole new challenge.

SALON | March 23, 1998

Charlie Varon is a humorist and playwright. His works include "Ralph Nader Is Missing" and "Rush Limbaugh in Night School." Jim Rosenau is executive editor at Books That Work, a home and garden software publisher in Palo Alto, Calif. Jim and Charlie are also co-founders of the citizen group Californians for Earthquake Prevention and partners in Mockingbird Productions, which offers a full line of comic services.