In jest, I like to say Google is like the Magic 8-Ball of my youth.

All one has to do is type in a question, and magically a list of answers appear.

With the Magic 8-Ball, however, you had to shake it up after asking a question. The answer would then appear, and it was always generic.

For those of you who have no idea what I am talking about, the Magic 8-Ball resembles the black-and-white eight ball from the game of pool.

Inside the over-sized toy is a white plastic die that floats in a blue liquid.

Each of the die’s many faces holds non-specific answers that can be read through a window on the ball’s bottom.

It would be appropriate to say the accuracy of these answers from the Magic 8-Ball rivals the truthfulness of those from a Ouija board.

If you do not know what the Ouija board is, Google it.

The power of this search engine is amazing. I use it daily at work and benefit greatly from its educational proponents. Unfortunately, not everyone has access to a computer in their homes, and for those without access, Google may be nothing more than a set of Encyclopedias wasting away in a library.

However, things are a changing in Vicksburg for our young people.

This week, the Vicksburg Warren County School District issued Chromebooks to students in all the district high schools and River City Early College.

I had the opportunity to go and take pictures of the distribution at Vicksburg High School on Wednesday.

It was amazing to see the stacks and stacks of computers just waiting to get into the hands of our young people. I was excited to think about what these kids could learn and discover even if it is outside the realm of their class and homework.

More than just a resource for teaching, these Chromebooks can act as a catalyst for young people’s curiosity and inquisitiveness, and in “my book” that’s good.

I cannot remember the first time I tried to Google the answer to something, but when I did, in a second or two, the answer was in front of me. There have been numerous occasions when these answers wed me to ask more questions.

You get my point, and now fortunately all high school students in the VWSD have the opportunity to further expand their knowledge base and challenge their intellect.

And whether or not some of these young people already had computers at home, I sensed the excitement in the air as these kids received a brand new shiny red Chromebook.

There are 20 possible answers inside the Magic 8-Ball, and only time will tell if one of those universal replies will answer the question, “Will Vicksburg reap benefits from supplying the school district’s students with Chromebooks?”

I am hoping for “Without a doubt!”