WhiteAfrican – Page 105 – Where Africa and Technology Collide!

Page 105 of 109

Skype Goes for $2.6 Billion to Ebay

September 12, 2005 / HASH / 2 Comments

Wow, that’s a lot of money. You start throwing around numbers like $2.6 billion and people will take notice.

I use Skype, it’s a great way to keep in touch with my family around the world. It’s free, except for that internet connection that I already pay for, so why not use it? Not only does it allow me to talk to my family, but I can send them an attachment through Skype at the same time – things like pictures or small movie files. The team at Skype put together an incredible product and I’m glad they’re going to get paid for their efforts.

The big question is how this works into Ebay’s overall strategy. I admit to “not getting it” on this one, but I’m sure someone can enlighten me on how purchasing a communications company fits into being an e-commerce giant. Is eBay trying to reinvent itself? The quote below from eBay president Meg Whitman did nothing to clear up my question:

“Communications is at the heart of e-commerce and community,” said Meg Whitman, eBay’s president and chief executive. “By combining the two leading ecommerce franchises, eBay and PayPal, with the leader in Internet voice communications, we will create an extraordinarily powerful environment for business on the net.” (NY Times)

I guess only time will tell, but I for one am interested in understanding the underlying reasons for this move. Plus, I want to make sure Skype works just as well (or better) for me in the future. eBay doesn’t exactly have a stellar record of taking over companies and giving good service. PayPal, though useful, has had it’s fair share of blunders and is staggeringly disappointing in the customer service department.

Real?

September 10, 2005 / HASH / 133 Comments

You decide… (click for larger image)

You got it right – it’s fake, but whoever did the photoshop job on it really deserves some praise. Here’s the link to the full story: Fake Shark Attack.

MaxiMog: The Worlds Most Incredible Exploratory Vehicle

September 8, 2005 / HASH / 5 Comments

I’ve been following the MaxiMog for at least a year now. It’s an incredible piece of machinery, designed modularly so that you can traverse or recon whatever type of terrain you need access to. The MaxiMog is built on a Mercedes Benz Unimog chassis. Everything else seems to be completely customized – take a look at the cockpit-like front seat to see what I mean.

Why was it built?
The MaxiMogâ„¢ vehicle and trailer was built because itâ€™s owner plans to drive around the world to remote and hard to get to places doing both photography and scientific exploration. Contrary to what many people believe, most of our planet is still relatively unexplored. After a year of research, he determined that a custom vehicle would have to be built to meet his requirements. The MaxiMogâ„¢ is the first pass at that solution and is a work in progress.

As if the main vehicle isn’t enough, the MaxiMog has a trailer with full living quarters, which are expandable and include many tech gadgets and an incredible sleeping area:

Lastly, just in case you get to a point where this monster can’t quite get you, don’t worry. You have full access to a BMW R1200GS multi-purpose motorcycle, a jet boat for marine applications, and a Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) for reconnaisance.

MaxiMog Accessories - Motorcycle Jetboat UAV

If you would like to know more about this extraordinary vehicle, I would strongly suggest going to the MaxiMog website – also take a look at the MaxiMog FAQ.

White African Web Browser-Share

September 6, 2005 / HASH / Comments Off

I took a look at the statistics for the web browsers used to visit WhiteAfrican.com. I have to say that I am VERY pleased with my readers for using Firefox as their browser of choice. If you’re not using it, and still using Internet Explorer, please visit the Firefox website to download the browser and give it a whirl. I’d also like to point you to one of my past posts on the topic for reference: “Firefox – Or, how I kicked IE to the curb“.

Go or Send – There is no other choice

September 4, 2005 / HASH / Comments Off

If you’re an American, you can help.

You have 2 choices:
1. Go – Get out there and volunteer your time. This could be in your own home town helping the different organizations gather supplies and donations. This could mean getting on a plane or into your car and driving down to help.

2. Send – Donate your hard earned money to those in much greater need than you.

I strongly believe that the church needs to, and can, make a huge difference. These are the times when Christians must stand up and be at the forefront of the effort to help people fix their lives. With that in mind, I’ll plug a couple faith-based organizations that I support: PCA’s Mission to the World and World Vision. You can donate directly to them at MTW and World Vision Katrina Donations.

For a list of places to donate go to this exhaustive list.

Laws & Morality – You only need the one if you don’t have the other

September 4, 2005 / HASH / 1 Comment

Much as everyone else in America, I’ve been thinking a lot about hurricane Katrina and the destruction it has caused in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. During a discussion I had with an old Tanzanian-American friend, our conversation touched on the topic of lawlessness, the reason’s we need to have laws, and why law enforcement is a necessary part of our society.

Law & Morality - You only need one if you don't have the other The first question you have to ask, is why do we have laws? Laws were created to enforce a certain code of morality and ethics upon a society. If everyone had high morals and acted upon those, then there would be no need for laws. It’s a classic case of the 10% rule – 10% of the population ruins it for everyone else. We need those laws to protect us from those who have no ethics or morals, they give us a legal right to punish them for infractions upon society.

In the course of our conversation, I stated that I am no great fan of some of our laws and law enforcement officials. Why is this? This is because I already have a personal code of ethics and morality that is based on the biblical standards that I was raised on. I don’t need a law, or a cop, to keep me from looting, raping or killing – I wouldn’t do those even if there was no law enforcement around.

This isn’t to say that I am better than everyone else, or that I am somehow above the law. I have the temptation to break the laws, just as everyone else does. However, there are certain principals that you have to live your life by, even if they mean that they cost you your life in the end.

The reason that we employ sheriff’s, policemen and security is because there are people out there that have no moral compass. We pay people to take the burden off of us “good” citizens, so that we don’t have to chase the bad guys down and apprehend them.

Back to New Orleans. The roving gangs, the looting, the raping and killing – all of these are just a sign of the decline of morals within a society. The thin veneer of civilized society, no matter the color or income level, vanishes in the storm. People’s true colors shine through as they are faced with the option to do whatever they want to do, no one is telling them “no”.

Though some would like to throw their nose up at New Orleans as a “corrupt” and “moral-less” city, it begs us to ask a question: How far removed are you personally from those actions yourself? Do you have a moral compass that keeps you within the bounds of normal society even without laws or law enforcement to force you?