Posted by jonvon on September 23, 2002 at 13:13:56:
i thought this was interesting... its about some people who got together to make a wireless network connected to the internet via satellite using solar power. and, uh, bicycle power too. one laptop was powered by a stationary bike.
this is some pretty geeky stuff. i'd recommend just skimming over most of it, just enough to get a general idea. then read the "lessons learned" at the end.
i thought it was pretty interesting how they related slow email networks (and slow servers in general) to wasted power and the resulting extra pollution. its one thing when you are connected to the grid and have no idea what it takes to provide power is about, but another when you are hooking up all kinds of devices together like automobile lighters and whatnot to get power. or when you are pedaling a bike in order to check your email. i wonder how much coal we have to dig out of the ground just to check our email every day. suddenly it all feels closer to the ground.
also interesting how when given a chance to use free software (like the open source mozilla browser) with free hands on support available right there many people who would gladly spout off anti capitalist views would complain about not being able to use the software they were used to.