Slashdot Mirror


WiFi Lifeline For Nepal's Farmers

bahree writes "BBC is running a pretty interesting story on how yak farmers in the mountains of Nepal, where there are no phones or other means of communication, are using wireless Internet technology to keep in touch with their families, buy/sell livestock and exchange vetinerary tips."

10 of 175 comments (clear)

  1. no phones or other means of communication,... by ForestGrump · · Score: 5, Funny

    Not even smoke signals anymore?
    Damnit! this "environmentally friendly" movement has gone too far!

    -Grump

    --
    Is it true that more people vote for the winner of American Idol, than vote for the president? -Ali G.
    1. Re:no phones or other means of communication,... by whereiswaldo · · Score: 3, Funny

      This caused riots in Nepal, although ment as a compliment to cultural similarities between the two countries, Nepali population, mistook this as a big brother attitude, and rioted for quite a few days.

      Fucking morons. Who riots over something some actress says. Sheesh!

  2. Yak... by Samah · · Score: 4, Funny

    I wonder if they use IRC over their wireless so they can have a good "yak"...

    --
    Homonyms are fun!
    You're driving your car, but they're riding their bikes there.
  3. New hacker activity... by konichiwa · · Score: 3, Funny

    ...yak driving?

    --
    Never argue with an idiot, he'll just lower you to his level and beat you with experience.
  4. Wi-Fi Wish by sofakingon · · Score: 1, Funny
    I guess Stinky Wistle-teats finally answered their Yaksmas wishes!

    Obligatory Ren and Stimpy reference

  5. Line of sight by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Well I guess being that high getting line of sight is not a problem.

  6. Yaks? by 10101001011 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Must use GNU! Anyway, I'm happy that WiFi is being so widely adopted however why do I get the feeling someone is doing this because they can? There is no phone and yet there is supposedly a stable source of power? Possible, yes, likely, no. ANd there people are supposed to be able to buy a computer.... heck, if memory serves me correctly, the Nepalese dollar is worse than Canada's...

  7. I don't wanna be the one... by grcumb · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... But somebody's going to have to explain to them that http://yakse.cx/ is *not* a veterinary resource.

    --
    Crumb's Corollary: Never bring a knife to a bun fight.
  8. War herding anyone...? by eathan13 · · Score: 2, Funny


    I can almost picture a neighboring yak herder perched just over the ridge, with an antenna made from a Pringles can, stealing bandwidth...

  9. Re:Amazing... by finker · · Score: 2, Funny

    Nice try, but I think you missed the point. There isn't the slightest semblance of patriotism in what I said at all (I'll get to that later). I was merely stating that when a country in the middle of nowhere has WiFi and rural areas that are hardly a couple hundred miles from a huge city don't have basic DSL, there is a problem. Oh, and I'm Canadian, here's an idea: foot -> mouth. Try it.

    Clown.