Re:Linux gaining momentum in South Africa
on
Open Source Africa
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· Score: 1
About 18 months or so ago, I was involved in a project to help recondition old 386/486/P1 machines to run Linux and ship them out to the developing world. Ultimately, we folded because our main contact had to leave Britain and we couldn't carry on without his local knowledge. It's nice to see that what I always felt was a good idea (Linux for the developing world) has occured to other people too. I'd definitely be up for having another go at a project like this. Anyone know of any projects already running that could do with some help? If not, anyone up for starting one?
I get really tired of hearing about strings, SUSY and M-theory. It's just so completely unscientific. Science is supposed to be about deducing the laws of Nature by being a really, really good experimentalist, noticing that some tiny effect in your experiment doesn't obey standard theory, and then having the courage of your convictions to say that your experiment is right and that standard theory is wrong. These ultra-theoretic stringy studies have produced nothing useful in any area of Physics (lots of lovely Mathematics though) and in terms of the quality of the Science they represent, they're right up there with pre-Renaissance alchemy and witchcraft. In some ways, String/M Theory is the ultimate 90s Science - it represents the triumph of marketing and spin-doctoring over achievement and utility.
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About 18 months or so ago, I was involved in a project to help recondition old 386/486/P1 machines to run Linux and ship them out to the developing world. Ultimately, we folded because our main contact had to leave Britain and we couldn't carry on without his local knowledge. It's nice to see that what I always felt was a good idea (Linux for the developing world) has occured to other people too. I'd definitely be up for having another go at a project like this. Anyone know of any projects already running that could do with some help? If not, anyone up for starting one?
I get really tired of hearing about strings, SUSY and M-theory. It's just so completely unscientific. Science is supposed to be about deducing the laws of Nature by being a really, really good experimentalist, noticing that some tiny effect in your experiment doesn't obey standard theory, and then having the courage of your convictions to say that your experiment is right and that standard theory is wrong. These ultra-theoretic stringy studies have produced nothing useful in any area of Physics (lots of lovely Mathematics though) and in terms of the quality of the Science they represent, they're right up there with pre-Renaissance alchemy and witchcraft. In some ways, String/M Theory is the ultimate 90s Science - it represents the triumph of marketing and spin-doctoring over achievement and utility.