Comments for Kids' Doc in Jos http://www.ecwaevangel.org/blog Dr. Mike Blyth, pediatrician at Evangel Hospital in Jos, Nigeria Tue, 19 Aug 2008 21:53:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 Comment on In the background by Mike http://www.ecwaevangel.org/blog/in-the-background_237/#comment-26786 Mike Thu, 19 Jun 2008 23:31:59 +0000 http://www.ecwaevangel.org/blog/in-the-background_237/#comment-26786 I have never heard of Twitter being used here, and I've never even used it myself. For that matter, I'm not sure I understand the whole point myself ... in any case, cell phones are extremely popular but few people have access to internet, and even fewer have frequent access, so phone-to-phone communication is by far the most useful form of communication. I should experiment with Twitter, I suppose, to get a better sense of its potential. The idea of using it in an emergency is intriguing, but doesn't it depend on internet access, the very first thing likely to be lost in an emergency, at least here? I have never heard of Twitter being used here, and I’ve never even used it myself. For that matter, I’m not sure I understand the whole point myself … in any case, cell phones are extremely popular but few people have access to internet, and even fewer have frequent access, so phone-to-phone communication is by far the most useful form of communication.

I should experiment with Twitter, I suppose, to get a better sense of its potential. The idea of using it in an emergency is intriguing, but doesn’t it depend on internet access, the very first thing likely to be lost in an emergency, at least here?

]]> Comment on In the background by Jonathan Blundell http://www.ecwaevangel.org/blog/in-the-background_237/#comment-26631 Jonathan Blundell Mon, 09 Jun 2008 13:29:50 +0000 http://www.ecwaevangel.org/blog/in-the-background_237/#comment-26631 Mike - I'm curious as to how services like Twitter are playing a role (if any) in Nigeria. I know cell phones are prevalent - but I can't recall if people were using txt messaging much for the brief time when I was there in 2006. I know I was, in sending messages back and forth the entire two weeks to keep people posted on what was going on - but don't recall if many others were. I wonder if using a service similar to Twitter could help improve communications during emergencies or just day to day operations. Or, would the increased "transparency" become a security risk? Mike -
I’m curious as to how services like Twitter are playing a role (if any) in Nigeria. I know cell phones are prevalent - but I can’t recall if people were using txt messaging much for the brief time when I was there in 2006.
I know I was, in sending messages back and forth the entire two weeks to keep people posted on what was going on - but don’t recall if many others were.
I wonder if using a service similar to Twitter could help improve communications during emergencies or just day to day operations.
Or, would the increased “transparency” become a security risk?

]]> Comment on Bandwidth Bane by Mike http://www.ecwaevangel.org/blog/bandwidth-bane_236/#comment-26292 Mike Thu, 15 May 2008 22:12:52 +0000 http://www.ecwaevangel.org/blog/bandwidth-bane_236/#comment-26292 Yes, we're using Squid, which by its report saves us about 10% of HTTP traffic. I'm looking into ways to charge users according to their internet use (MB), with one interesting package being PaperCut, which lets you print pre-pay cards for users, and bills them by time or bytes. Yes, I'm planning on being at the IT consultation in October ... hope to get some good ideas there! Yes, we’re using Squid, which by its report saves us about 10% of HTTP traffic. I’m looking into ways to charge users according to their internet use (MB), with one interesting package being PaperCut, which lets you print pre-pay cards for users, and bills them by time or bytes.

Yes, I’m planning on being at the IT consultation in October … hope to get some good ideas there!

]]> Comment on Bandwidth Bane by Michael Hunt http://www.ecwaevangel.org/blog/bandwidth-bane_236/#comment-26240 Michael Hunt Mon, 12 May 2008 23:45:15 +0000 http://www.ecwaevangel.org/blog/bandwidth-bane_236/#comment-26240 Are you running a proxy server to cache some of the traffic? (I suspect you are but sometimes the obvious can get looked over). Also do you know about the SIM II consultation happening in October? Are you running a proxy server to cache some of the traffic? (I suspect you are but sometimes the obvious can get looked over).

Also do you know about the SIM II consultation happening in October?

]]> Comment on Bandwidth Bane by Mike http://www.ecwaevangel.org/blog/bandwidth-bane_236/#comment-26228 Mike Mon, 12 May 2008 16:38:00 +0000 http://www.ecwaevangel.org/blog/bandwidth-bane_236/#comment-26228 The value of the dollar has fallen 11% against the Nigerian naira over the past year, and even in naira prices have risen markedly, so yes, support is being stretched thinner. But I suspect that many of our supporters are being hit just as hard with the slump in the American economy. The value of the dollar has fallen 11% against the Nigerian naira over the past year, and even in naira prices have risen markedly, so yes, support is being stretched thinner. But I suspect that many of our supporters are being hit just as hard with the slump in the American economy.

]]> Comment on Bandwidth Bane by Jonathan Blundell http://www.ecwaevangel.org/blog/bandwidth-bane_236/#comment-26227 Jonathan Blundell Mon, 12 May 2008 14:11:25 +0000 http://www.ecwaevangel.org/blog/bandwidth-bane_236/#comment-26227 man i can't imagine the frustration. i read recently that missionaries around the world are struggling financially as well as the dollar continues to drop in value - so their support has to be stretched thinner and thinner. is that a huge issue in nigeria now as well or has the dollar remained fairly neutral? man i can’t imagine the frustration.
i read recently that missionaries around the world are struggling financially as well as the dollar continues to drop in value - so their support has to be stretched thinner and thinner.
is that a huge issue in nigeria now as well or has the dollar remained fairly neutral?

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