Media May Turn Over a News Leaf
Science, technology and media professionals are gathering in Pasadena on Thursday to address their concerns about how communications technologies will affect the news media and the public.
Caltech’s fourth annual Media & Science Symposium will focus on the 21st century--the multimedia age and how it impacts the “increasingly complex social, economic and educational environment.”
A panel of those in the know, including Times science writer Robert Lee Hotz, will talk about how news and information gathering may change in the age of technology.
The event will be held at Ramo Auditorium on the Caltech campus. For more information, call (818) 395-3227 or check out the Caltech 1997 Media & Science Symposium Web site at https://www.caltech.edu/~media/media97.html
Cyberspace
* Saturday marks the start of the rematch of the heated chess competition between Garry Kasparov and Deep Blue, IBM’s chess-playing computer that took one game from Kasparov last year before losing the match. At https://www.chess.ibm.com, you’ll get profiles of the opponents, a look at last year’s contest, and essays and info about the rematch.
* The Kentucky Derby also is Saturday, so trot on over to the Kentucky Derby Museum (https://www.derbymuseum.org). You’ll find Derby history, Derby party ideas and Derby trivia. The horses will be racing at Churchill Downs, but you can get a simulcast at https://www.kentuckyderby, where there also is race news and a Churchill Downs timeline. The Derby Glass site (https://www.derbyglass.com) will tell you everything you need to know about Derby memorabilia. The less racing-oriented can head to https://www.kdf.org for information about Louisville’s Derby Festival--an annual community celebration that was started in 1956.
* If you’ve been meaning to get informed about the British general elections, which are Thursday, head to https://www.itnelection.co.uk. You’ll find discussions of key issues, important campaign moments (from this and past years) and a virtual tour of British television station ITN’s election studio and newsroom.
* The Oklahoma City bombing trial has its own Web site (https://www.okcitytrial.com) with official court transcripts (as they become available), dockets and documents for you to read or download.
* The LA Culture Net (https://www.lacn.org), a project spearheaded by the Getty Information Institute that aims to link cultural and community organizations all across Los Angeles, last week launched “Faces of Los Angeles,” a collaboration of 10 local museums and educational institutions. The project provides access to a rich collection of material illustrating the places, monuments, events and history of Southern California.
* Earth Day may be over, but it’s not out of mind. The Environmental Protection Agency last week launched a site called Recycle City (https://www.epa.gov/recyclecity) that uses games, activities and fun facts to teach kids all about recycling.
* Servenet (https://www.servenet.org) has information for and about volunteers, including resources for those needing or interested in becoming a volunteer, discussion boards, news groups, a calendar of volunteer events and job listings.
* For all things Cuban in Los Angeles, head to https://www.CubaFestLA.com. The Presencia Cubana (Cuban Presence) invites you to explore and support local Cuban food, dance music, literature, theater, film and art.
* The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has announced a new Web site packed with U.S. climate information at https://www.cdc.noaa.gov/USclimate/
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