jongos's Comments

Appfrica : On Love and Hate for 160 characters

Tue, 3 Aug 2010 09:11:19 +0000

Thanks for the comment Ben. Yes, there's a great summary of the Fellows program right here - http://appfrica.net/blog/2010/01/31/about-the-app...

Appfrica : Great African Singularities

Mon, 7 Jun 2010 14:57:27 +0000

You seem to be arguing a different point than the article entirely. First, the fact that Google, Oracle, Yahoo and anyone else not in Africa is used to illustrate the fact that Africa is being left behind, without much in the way of any of these companies noticing or suffering for it. Do I care that they left Africa off the map? Only in the sense that it should serve as motivation from the people who are capable to do the things that will change that story.

Appfrica : Great African Singularities

Mon, 7 Jun 2010 14:53:34 +0000

I get the plight, I live in Uganda. I'm a black-American. I'm pretty close to the issue on both sides and yet it's not my nature to blame other people for my own short-comings. Sure people may antagonize you, but I believe as humans we should expect as much from each other as we'd expect from ourselves. I respect where you're coming from because it's far more complicated than that, but that's where we'll continue to differ. So you're damn straight it's individualistic, however I don't think it's 'self-aggrandizing' at all. It's about speaking of and doing the things that are the hard call. Is that wrong? Do you really want to live in a world where everyone settles for 'what they've got' and never reaches for what they don't? I don't.

Appfrica : Great African Singularities

Sat, 5 Jun 2010 15:46:20 +0000

Ruth, of course they do. That's why I mentioned each of those offices outright in the article.

Appfrica : Google Buys Dubai's World Islands, Launches Google Earth-2

Thu, 1 Apr 2010 07:55:08 +0000

Not at all. I live in Africa. ;-)

Appfrica : Alternative Models for OLPC?

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:48:28 +0000

Marieme, I agree with you. I don't see anything written here as slagging anyone. But also I don't see how constructive critique is ever an unwarranted thing. The people I respect most are people who challenge me. Secondly, it goes without saying I agree with you on all your other points here.

Appfrica : Alternative Models for OLPC?

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 06:04:42 +0000

@Matin You're telling this to someone who has already executed many ideas in Africa, that many people have slagged off, and yet the wheel does turn. That's because no idea is infallible and I think it's smarter to at least hear out the skeptics. You don't have to listen, and a little dissent shouldn't sway your path, unless you find some points you agree with.

Appfrica : Alternative Models for OLPC?

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 05:56:56 +0000

1. I don't disagree here, but I do think they should be aiming for the palm, not the lap. 2. This is one of the few big gripes I've got with them, but it's definitely a big one. Even if it was only having a local company install the keyboards, there should be some element of the product that is done locally.

Appfrica : On Lessons from Appfrica

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 05:50:32 +0000

I am still very much interested in Thrust all though I haven't heard much from the guys lately.

Appfrica : A Global Passport for Innovators

Wed, 3 Mar 2010 08:41:51 +0000

@Josef That's certainly important and something we discussed yesterday. The on-the-ground oversight and quality control is of course what most NGOs have a problem finding. A number of local people will say they can do things because in a market with no jobs and little opportunity, what would you expect them to do. They may have the best intentions, but unless the involved NGOs can actually depend on someone to make sure things happen or offer some sort of reconciliation when things don't, they will continue hiring people from the US and Europe.

Appfrica : Ron Nixon on Following Disappearing Aid Money

Sat, 13 Feb 2010 01:05:57 +0000

@marco Sorry just got this but I'll put you in touch with Ron!

TechMasai : The TechMasai Brand Is No Longer Optimistic, We List Reasons Why. You Have To Read This!

Wed, 6 Jan 2010 15:46:26 +0000

The secret to success (in my opinion) is to work hard at what you love no matter who pays attention. Things don't happen overnight. But respectfully, it's off-putting to your readers, if you're constantly reminding them of your own frustrations. You've got a lot of support, stay motivated and keep producing quality content. Many of the NextWebs, the TechCrunches and ReadWriteWebs of the world started out as bloggers just like you. If your audience isn't online, then find other ways to reach them. The internet is only a platform to deliver a message, so if your message is what's important to you, maybe you might explore some other ways of reaching your target audience.

TechMasai : A Nigerian Dude Tried To Blow Up A US Plane, This Is Bad News For Everyone

Fri, 1 Jan 2010 17:40:13 +0000

Believe me, there's no better way to see the overly critical reaction to this than from right here in the U.S. This blog flat out calls for the bombing and occupation of North and East Africa - http://www.veteranstoday.com/modules.php?name=New... This is definitely a huge blow to 'Brand Africa' but we all now have to work that much harder to change perceptions about the continent and the reality.

TechMasai : African Content Providers Don't Have Access To The African Web Surfers, Because These Guys Have A Ha

Fri, 1 Jan 2010 17:29:12 +0000

Munashe, my response to this has always been "good". My stance is that the West will only dominate cyber space as long as they have people active, talented, and innovative enough to do so. To upset that balance, we have push ourselves to be better than (or at least as good as the rest). It's not necessarily a problem, it's a challenge, and people like you, myself and others need to be doing everything in our power to rise above that challenge.

Appfrica : Population of the Dead

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 15:59:25 +0000

Thanks for the tip, Adam. I'll fix that on the print and Flickr page.

Appfrica : So You Want to Start a Country?

Sat, 19 Dec 2009 08:14:56 +0000

You make a good case, ten year mutli-entry as we want to encourage tourism!

Appfrica : In Search of... African Sci-Fi Novels

Sat, 19 Dec 2009 04:08:56 +0000

Lol, thanks for posting Mike and sorry I got your name wrong. Are any of your works, especially the out of print one's, available digitally?

Appfrica : Population of the Dead

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:16:58 +0000

the answer is always: 41

Appfrica : Population of the Dead

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:12:14 +0000

Nothing in this post says anything about giving anyone money or that poverty is caused by overpopulation, nor does it imply that that giving anyone anything is a solution. If you re-read carefully you'll see that what I said is that poverty is compounded by overpopulation. If a family of three can't get by on their earnings, how can that same family get by on the same earnings if they have two more kids? Also, the more people who are born at all, the more people who are 'born into poverty'. This assumes that worldwide, people living in poverty outnumber the rich, which they do. All that means is that as the worlds population increases, so does the population of the poor but not necessarily the population of the 'rich'. Especially, if they are having more children. This is not a pragmatic argument, it's just basic math. I'm not sure I follow your logic, as I agree with you and didn't imply otherwise.

Gosdot : Feedburner: A Service Yahoo Should Own

Wed, 9 Dec 2009 20:22:23 +0000

I suppose that's relative, indeed. Looks like a cool service, if I could export from Feedburner I'd actually give it a try.