Archive for
August 24th, 2006


Stories

Broadband for All!!! 

a small portrait of this author Rosario Lizana · 13:54

Chilean bloggers are concerned about the opportunities that broadband can bring to our development. Alex Lagos (ES) , writes on his blog:

One week ago, La Nación published an article about broadband in Chile. The real thing is that we have been hearing about this issue for a while and I’m still surprised by the ISPs that operate in Chile. It is a fact that they don’t follow through with what they promote in advertisements. They give connections of 128 kb, while “broadband” and the international standard is that these connections range between 1.5 to 2.0 Mbits. They also slow velocity depending on traffic (it is a way of trying to control traffic on a network of computers to optimize and guarantee the function… but could be used to limit the amount of traffic from one point to other).”

Regarding the issue, bloggers have been posting their various personal troubles about the connection, the velocity and the issue of companies misrepresenting the technical realities of broadband. Some examples include Yukei (ES), Huasonic(ES) and FawerWayer (ES).

Luis Ramirez (ES) , posts an interview by a newspaper, but also adds more details about the broadband issue. He describes it as social broadband, and analyses the possibilities and implication for the communication enterprises and government. One point of view is that the government takes a more enterprising roll again in regulating broadband access from private companies to the citizens, as he explains:

Considering the pace of technological evolution, is seems to make more sense if the government signs contracts with private enterprises that are the best internet suppliers, instead of making big investments in a specific technology that in two or three years can become obsolete, like the evolution of internet access from modem, to Wi-Fi and now WiMax”

About this issue, Atina Chile (ES) , today begins a mobilization to ask the government for low priced broadband for all. They have made a manifesto:

Because the moment is now.
Because broadband is not a technical problem, is a social one.
Because it is synonymous with opportunities and development.
Chile can make a headway.
It can be a big- league player on the global stage.
Chile has the talent to create value to through its raw materials, but also to by making itself a global hub for technology, services, and the creating of industrial culture.

They also explain their plan. The idea is to meet at the Ciudadania Park, just in front the government house, called “La Moneda” this Saturday and in a peaceful manifestation, read the manifesto.

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Russian-Language Blogs: Miscellanea (1) 

a small portrait of this author Veronica Khokhlova · 13:41

On August 19, LJ user sapojnik (39 years old, Moscow) wrote this (RUS) about the 15th anniversary of the 1991 August Putsch:

The Day of Victory Over the CPSU

It's necessary to have a clear understanding of what happened in August 1991. It wasn't the “collapse of the [Soviet] Union,” or the “farce with the shaking [Gennadiy Yanayev],” or the “victory of the CIA's allies.” What really happened on August 21 is the [CPSU] LOST CONTROL OVER THE COUNTRY. This is what happened.

As they began to feel that the power was slipping out of their hands, the most active and “stubborn” segment of the party nomenclature tried to forcefully restore the status quo. They thought they'd [shoot] and scare, and the people would run for cover, and then everyone would obediently set out to “build socialism” again.

But you see, the people didn't run for cover.

And instead of a takeover, the communists lost power completely.

THEN, by the way, it was obvious to everyone.

So basically, August 21 is the day of our victory over the CPSU. The victory over a party that didn't shy away from marking down its eternal rule even in the Constitution!

How I love this holiday…

The conversation following this post stretches out for the 1,088 comments - and, though it's hard to know for sure, there seems to be as many bloggers who agree with sapojnik as those who don't.

(more…)

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Brunei Times's take on blogging in Brunei 

a small portrait of this author Maurina H · 11:28

- The Brunei Times (22nd August, 2006)

Some very lucky bloggers got a mention in the new English newspaper, The Brunei Times, in an article written by Amirul Azuan. The few blogs mentioned came from a myriad of genres ranging from the serious to the more trivial.

The more important thing is that the newspaper is sending an important message, in the words of a friend: “the Times (correctly) considers local bloggers to be friendly allies in their competition with the BB.”

The BB, or the Borneo Bulletin, which until recently has been the sole English newspaper in Brunei, has, in the past voiced out open contempt towards the Bruneian blogging scene.

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China: Censors vs. video, culture, innovation, humor, pretty much the entire Chinese blogsphere 

a small portrait of this author John Kennedy · 11:21

Late last month a seemingly important stage was reached in the maturation process of China's blogsphere with the launch of Bullog.cn, a new website bringing together—a substantial and pertinent alternative to Sina.com's celebrity blogs—the leading liberal and intelligent bloggers around. Earlier this week it was shut down pending the site's registration with the relevant authorities.

Around the same time, China's State Administration for Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) announced a new set of regulations aimed at strictly controlling video posted online which, if observed, will effectively cripple the latest trend in the Chinese blogsphere, the creation and posting of video spoofs of cultural, historical and social images. The decision seems to have pitted SARFT against the masses, and most of the big blogging names around—many of which could be found on Bullog as well as having wicked senses of humor—have posted on SARFT this week.

(more…)

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Flood in Burkina Faso, Nigeria withdraws from Bakassi 

a small portrait of this author David Ajao · 10:37
lingua → zht

Flooding in Burkina Faso

From Burkina Faso, Under the Acacias has aGorom-Gorom Flooding Update - 23 August

Things are happening quite quickly, now thankfully. Because of the delay in being able to collect the money, our distribution has been put back to Friday. But this will work well, as we are co-ordinating with Christian Aid and others who are doing similar distributions on Monday and today, Wednesday, to ensure that everyone in need is covered.

Members of my home church, Glenwood Church, have made a very generous contribution to the work, and Samaritan's Purse and Food for the Hungry are also supporting us in our efforts.

Cameroon enters

Scribbles from the Den shares some photos about Nigeria's withdrawal from Bakassi peninsula (now under Cameroonian sovereignty) - Bakassi: The Nigerian Withdrawal Begins

A Nigerian soldier lowers the Nigerian flag while two Cameroonian soldiers hoist the country's flag, signifing the transfer of authority of the Bakassi Peninsula to the Cameroonian government in Archibong.

Nigeria leaves

George Ngwane says: Africa’s Development Problematique (The case of NEPAD)

In July 2001, during the Organisation of African Union summit in Lusaka, Zambia, the New African Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) was born. Five years later and given the importance of this new economic paradigm to Africans, it is necessary to revisit and restate some of the predicaments that NEPAD inadvertently put on its way.

First, the ideological problem. NEPAD was not necessary. The Lagos Plan of Action (LPA) that was adopted in the extraordinary OAU – summit in 1980 was a promissory note for which Africa’s economic development was to be improved between 1980 and 2000.

Home of the mandinmories addresses Gambian politicians: Stop it already…

Albert Einstein once said “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”. Think about this quote for a second and ask yourself, does the series of letters exchanged between UDP/NRP alliance and NADD bring them any closer to forming a viable and united front against the APRC? Instead what it has generated into is a oneupmanship between the two alliance leaders. One concludes his missive with the line: in the service of the truth and the other uses: in the service of the nation. No kidding. What is this in the service line all about. Sincerely will do just fine, but what do I know. This is a contest in letters between a sociologist and a barrister and little people like me will not understand. But if I read one more time another one of those lines, I swear I will puke.

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