I know it's not the same as pure Java, but I found that trying to build an Android App was a practical way of learning Java. I had an app I wanted to make, and having that as the goal kept me going through all the boring parts of learning a new language.
This is a big story because the death sentence sends a message to the world that foreign journalists risk their life just for reporting the news in Egypt. It suggests that Egypt is heading towards a closed, non-democratic future and could pose a significant risk to other countries.
This piece is from an Aussie news site, so obviously it will highlight that the journo was Australian. But the bigger story is that - despite the revolution - Egypt is still a long way from being open and free.
Also as an aside, it also sends a big message to the business world: "Don't invest in Egypt - it's not safe for foreigners."
Egypt is a beautiful country with great people. I hope they can overcome this.
a low bandwidth version of a video learning website (such as kahn academy) would be very valuable.
a poor education system is a big problem in most developing countries. unfortunately this problem is difficult to address with an education alternative (eg. kahn acdmy) due to lack of quality internet infrustructure.
Hacker News seems to be a community of people who are good at solving problems. This is a big problem that needs solving. Over 200 people missing, all with families who are going through a terrible time. I think the HN response to this is a very positive thing.