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Wishing you and yours a happy and safe Christmas!

Wikipedia is an online resource used by many, but some parents and educators may be unaware of some of the information contained on the website that is frequently accessed by students.

For quite some time, a particular entry on Wikipedia has caused concern for many.  Virgin Killer, an album released in the 70s by the Scorpions, has been controversial since it was released decades ago.  Why?  The cover of the album depicts an image of a nude child.

The United Kingdom based organization, Internet Watch Foundation,  is a valuable organization whose mission is to minimize the availability of illegal content online, including child sexual abuse images.

IWF reports the album cover had  a “potentially illegal indecent image of a child under 18, but hosted outside the UK” has placed the website address on it's blacklist.  They have posted an official statement on their website.

For more in-depth information regarding Wikipedia, visit my Wikipedia Warning for Parents.

For those of us who know Tina Meier,  the verdict in the Lori Drew cyberbullying case was much anticipated and frankly, long overdue.

As an online safety educator particularly passionate about the issues of electronic bullying, I am hopeful this ruling may pave the way for other hurtful and harmful cyberbullying acts.  Although Drew was not convicted on felonies, she was found guilty on several misdemeanor counts.  This ruling will hopefully deter others from bullying others electronically.

My thoughts and prayers are with Tina and her family.

In case you are unfamiliar with the sad and tragic story of Megan Meier, please visit the many other posts on this website.

The Internet is a wonderful resource, but it also has a very dark side. 

Last week, Abraham Biggs, a 19-year-old college student, announced to people in an online chat room, he was going to take his own life by swallowing pills, live.  According to reports, some onlookers believed he was just joking while others actually egged him on.  Some did try to talk him out of it, according to various reports.

But hours later, it became apparent Mr. Biggs was no longer moving and some people who were watching finally notified authorities.  Once his location was pinpointed, police arrived on the scene and found Biggs, deceased.

Adina's Deck, an International Film Festival Award Winning Film,  is releasing two new episodes in the continuing story of fictional detective Adina and her friends.  The sequels, about 30 minutes each, are informative and fun ways for children to learn about the serious issues of  electronic bullying and other online concerns children may face online.  Both new episodes also include interviews with online safety advocates and funny "bloopers."

A live screening of  "The Case of the Online Crush" and "The Case of the Plagiarized Paper" will be held in El Cerrito, California, on November 16th, 2008.  Admission is free but space is limited. The actors and directors will be holding a question and answer session after the screening.   Plenty of food will be available and autographs will also be available after the event.

Debbie Heimowitz and Jason Azicri are the talented writers, producers and directors of the three-part series.  Read how this important project got started and some behind-the-scene photographs in an earlier Internet Safety Educator interview.

For more information, visit Adina's Deck and order your copy today for home use, clubs and organizations or for school.