About Jeff Hou

Tim Bell stands in front of a crowd of squirming elementary students. He sticks five candles into a cake, lights three and declares it fit for a 21st birthday. Even an audience that can barely spell the word "computer" knows that 21 candles belong on the cake. But Bell, an associate professor of computer science and software engineering at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, is not talking about simple arithmetic. On this particular Saturday morning, he is at Butler University to explain binary code and other scientific computer concepts to kids during a one-hour presentation.

I ndianapolis has won many accolades. In recent years, it has been praised for its greenways, Downtown development, community sports opportunities and relatively low home prices. And now, it is being recognized as one of the nation's best places for children. Last year, America's Promise, an alliance founded by retired Gen. Colin Powell to benefit the nation's youth, named Indianapolis one of the