Written by We are all agreed that your theory is crazy. The question which divides us is whether it is crazy enough to have a chance of being correct. My own feeling is that it is not crazy enough.
Niels Bohr
Monthly archives for February, 2011
Access to the internet in developing countries, the Vodafone way
Michael Gorman at Engadget (http://www.engadget.com/editor/michael-gorman) reports that Vodafone has launched “[...] the Webbox, [that] will bring the internet to anyone with a TV and access to 2.5G or EDGE networks. The Webbox is essentially a QWERTY keyboard — with the data hardware from a phone stuffed inside — that connects to a TV through basic RCA cables and allows for a relatively speedy internet experience by compressing data by around 90 percent. It’s dead simple to set up, as you simply plug in the RCA’s and switch on the device — an Opera Mini browser pops up on screen and allows users to start surfing the world wide web immediately. An app store, some games, and a text editor are baked into the portal, and the ability to send email and SMS messages is included is well. Vodafone is selling the device — which comes with a 2GB SD card and 100MB of data — in South Africa for 749 Rand ($102), with other markets and a two year contract plan to be added later this year. Check out the Webbox, and all its elegant simplicity, in the video after the break. [...]” (full article at http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/16/vodafone-announces-webbox-gives-internet-access-to-the-developi/).
I think that even if under lucrative perspective (because Vodafone is looking for profit not charity) could be a way for developing to have access to the web and hence start or accelerate a path towards knowledge and diffused culture.
What makes me think is that this countries, maybe don’t have access to primary life savings things (hospitals, medicines, food, water,… ) or economy boosters (roads, trains,…) but have full coverage for mobile phones.
It’s quite sad to think that before surviving someone thinks of a cell phone, even if it is cheap…
This post as a comment also at http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/16/vodafone-announces-webbox-gives-internet-access-to-the-developi/
Machinery reliability Law
The reliability of machinery is inversely proportional to the number and significance of any persons watching it.
Watson
IE9 upgrade blocker
Microsoft has released (find it here http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=a6169467-b793-4d17-837d-01776bf2bea4&pf=true) a download called Internet Explorer 9 blocker Toolkit aimed at blocking IE9 being downloaded.
Microsoft says “[...] To help our customers become more secure and up-to-date, Microsoft will distribute Windows Internet Explorer 9 as an important update through Automatic Updates for Windows Vista SP2 for x64 and x86, Windows Server 2008 SP2 for x64 and x86, Windows 7 x86 RTM and higher and Windows Server 2008 R2 RTM and higher for x64. This Blocker Toolkit is intended for organizations that would like to block automatic delivery of Internet Explorer 9 to machines in environments where Automatic Updates is enabled. The Blocker Toolkit will not expire.[...] ”
Thanks to Martin at ghacks.net for his post (full article at http://www.ghacks.net/2011/02/14/download-ie9-blocker-toolkit-to-prevent-automatic-internet-explorer-9-distribution/)
Children and parents, 40 years and a different approach
I came through this cartoon from Cagle cartoons (http://www.caglecartoons.com/images/preview/%7Be4e28807-361d-44b2-8681-b42f76405d24%7D.gif) through Geeks are sexy (full article at http://www.geeksaresexy.net/2011/02/12/bad-grades-1960-vs-2010-cartoon)
This is very important for me because reminds me a s a father of how big is the shift that occurred in dealing with children from my times (I’m 39 so not so long ago) and now.
I think that the good stands between the two situations, because yelling every time at children is not educating them, but also is not educational to protect them when they are wrong.
Today living in a hurry and focusing on work and career and materialism doesn’t help in educating children and make easier to yell at those who, with their actions and judgments, oblige the parents to assume their responsibilities.
Which is the best way to behave as parents? For me is “the old one”, leaving some flexibility in order not to frustrate children. But transmitting to our children some respect for rules and education.
This post as a comment also at http://www.geeksaresexy.net/2011/02/12/bad-grades-1960-vs-2010-cartoon
Days
Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday
Anonymous
Points of view
To You I’m an atheist; to God, I’m the Loyal Opposition.
Woody Allen
Some free resources from Open Culture
Open culture published some free cultural resources worth a read:
- 100 great posters of film noir (http://www.openculture.com/2011/02/100_greatest_posters_of_film_noir.htm)
- MIT free iPhone app (http://www.openculture.com/2011/02/mit_opencourseware_launches_iphone_app.html)
- The first Werner Herzog 3D film: the cave of forgotten dreams (http://www.openculture.com/2011/02/cave_of_forgotten_dreams.html)
- Fully flared, the skateboarding film by Spike Jonze, Ty Evans and Cory Weincheque (http://www.openculture.com/2011/02/fully_flared.htmll)
- IBM centennial film by Errol Morris (http://www.openculture.com/2011/01/errol_morris_ibm.html)
- The state of wikipedia animated (http://www.openculture.com/2011/01/the_state_of_wikipedia_animated.htm)
- Henry Jun Wah Lee Yosemite winter films (http://www.openculture.com/2011/01/winter_in_yosemite_national_park.html)
Enjoy
Income tax
The hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax.
Albert Einstein
Earth’s weight
The earth is like a tiny grain of sand, only much, much heavier.
Anonymous
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