Month June 2007

Our unfriendly electoral system

The US electoral system is unfriendly, and deliberately so, to third party attempts to get ballot status for presidential candidates. Such candidates face a bewildering thicket of regulations and rules that vary widely from state to state. Why is it…

No-affluence, no poverty

The Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement of Sri Lanka has since 1958 been advocating a “no poverty, no affluence society.” This has been the foundation of its economic philosophy. It turns out there’s one small problem: no one quite knows what it…

“Bolivarian Computers”

Venezuela has announced production of low-priced Linux computers that will made jointly by the government and a Chinese firm. Prices will be 40% less than comparable Windows computers. This could really kickstart Linux in Latin America.

O’Hare airport has excellent wifi

I recently transited through O’Hare. The wifi there is amazing. Big banners announce it, and list the SSID “concourse” to use. This is a smart idea as it protects people from rogue ad hoc networks. Also, the wifi is everywhere.…