When the tests are
done by accomplished scientists by proven methods, in addition
to the fact that all work is highly documented, I think it's
fair to say that their results are very conclusive and valid.
Scientists have many methods to find out how old things really
are. The
Sept '01 issue of National Geography explains it concisely:
From young organic
items to the oldest rocks on earth, scientists have discovered
scores of ways to test things. Multiple methods can be dated
by measuring effects of radiation via thermoluminescence,
by carbon dating food remnants or by dating sediment layer
in which an artifact was found.
In addition it describes
the major forms (or categories) of testing age as isotopic,
radiation, and other.
Editor's
Notes: Lately we've been receiving a lot letters pertaining
more personally to LCW than with Lao issues. Apparently a lot
of you are very interested in LCW, our goals and what we've
done with the site lately. Your interest in and appreciation
for LCW is positively noted.
A long
time ago, Laoconnection was sort of more like a personal webpage
then a formal one that you see today. However in spite of the
greater formality we still try to maintain a small community
feeling.
When the creator of LCW first
started his resources were low. He used a 486 IBM computer
along with what little software he could find (or whatever he
could get for free off the internet). But one thing always remained
strong: The desire to see a high quality and highly informative
website devoted entirely to Lao culture. Why? So that Lao people
and culture could be well represented on the internet and to
give people a resource to learn more about us.
At first
he used Netscape Composer because it came free with Navigator,
however he still had to use html editors to correct and fine
tune the html code. For graphics we had very basic programs.
If some of you can remember LCW three years back, you'll remember
that there weren't many graphics. It wasn't until much later
we acquired more comprehensive graphics software that LCW began
to bloom visually. Nowadays we use programs like Dreamweaver
and Photoshop. Though it is important to note that SIMPLY we
used whichever software that helped to get the job done - suffice
it to say in all the webmaster used so many different programs I can't
rememeber them all.
For html
programming related stuff, initially there was heavy reliance on other reference
websites to learn html, javascript, cgi, Flash and so fourth
(many of the useful links are included in the LCW Links section).
I'm proud to say that everyone at LCW has been pretty much self-taught when it comes
to creating LCW and its features. I encourage everyone to make
a Lao website to give our people a strong presence on the web.
And may be along the way, just like LCW, you may find others
who are willing to contribute to the site.
Just
think: If the LCW Webmaster, who started with no budget and
barebones/rudimentary software, then you can
do it too. When he first started he didn't know much about web designing
at all (from content production to graphic design to programming
codes). But over time he learnt all those areas - AND look at
LCW today!
Who know's,
may be in time your website will grow into something bigger
and better than what you originally thought possible.
Hope everyone
enjoys Laoconnection.com and will help to contribute to make
it better and stronger so that everyone can benefit for years
to come.
