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Botswana launches first satellite BOTSAT-1 aboard SpaceX Falcon 9

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Re: Botswana launches first satellite BOTSAT-1 aboard SpaceX Falcon 9

#151

Post by vodou »

Ray20 wrote: post #147
scrappyjoe wrote: post #104

So many strong opinions here from commenters who aren’t actually from Botswana. Let me tell you how we actually feel about it here. We think it’s awesome! The establishment of a university of science and technology in Botswana has been a long hard road, and many mistakes have been made along the way. But the fact that Botswana now has the local skill to deploy a satellite and make use of the data it provides to infor…

>Let me tell you how we actually feel about it here. Can we have the opinion not from some privileged elites, but of the oppressed majority, who are literally starving to involuntarily under threat of execution finance all this support projects for this disgusting government?

Botswana is a democracy with a higher democracy index (7.63) than some European countries. Even close to USA (7.85). [1]

[1] https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/democracy-index-eiu

Re: Botswana launches first satellite BOTSAT-1 aboard SpaceX Falcon 9

#152

Post by elric »

mbreese wrote: post #141
esskay wrote: post #129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is a bit baffling how the US is so far behind on basically everything when it comes to money, banking and payments. I'm not sure many American's even realise how god awful their setup is.

I think of it as second mover advantage. The US basically has the first system that worked. And in terms of the expectations of the 1960s, it works really well. But, because it works “good enough” there is very little incentive to make it work better… or to the level of “better” in 21st century terms. And because we’ve lived with this system for so long, all of the fees and charges have largely been internalized, so…

The first system that worked? I have no idea what you're talking about. Whatever system US banks have, they weren't first, and it barely works. I mean Credit Cards are mostly an American invention, sure. But you've been lagging behind on chip&pin and contactleas payments for decades. Even something as simple as a secure bank transfer is a chore over there. I remember asking an American for their account number so I could pay them, years ago, and they assumed I would use it to rob them. Primitive nonsense.

Your banks are robbing you, and no one seems to care.

Re: Botswana launches first satellite BOTSAT-1 aboard SpaceX Falcon 9

#153

Post by elric »

sofixa wrote: post #146
leokennis wrote: post #139

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As a counterpoint, there are nearly 4,000 banks operating in the Eurozone. In 2017 a scheme was mandated by the European Central Bank for Instant Payments (actual funds moved between banks within 20 seconds) which currently most banks support, all banks can receive and which by October this year all banks must be able to send out. It is possible in the US. But somehow it's not happening.

Don't forget that Instant Payments are free.

Terms and conditions apply there.

Re: Botswana launches first satellite BOTSAT-1 aboard SpaceX Falcon 9

#154

Post by alistairSH »

clarionbell wrote: post #144
sokols wrote: post #135

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Congratulations on the successful launch! > .. I’d listen to the Voice of America.. I grew up listening to VoA as a kid as well, I was born in a then not so developed part of the Balkans. Sometimes I have the feeling that the ordinary Americans don't have a clue about the impact VoA had in the countries like ours.

Those in government right now certainly don't, or they don't care.

Where "those in government" is "Trump, Musk, and their minions", yep.

The actual bureaucrats are mostly pissed off.

Re: Botswana launches first satellite BOTSAT-1 aboard SpaceX Falcon 9

#155

Post by alistairSH »

yieldcrv wrote: post #94
pc86 wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Sorry to go meta here, but this is just rude, both to OP and to other readers. ... You're essentially using the edit feature to end the conversation and ensure you have the final word. I've noticed this more and more, especially on more controversial topics (which this is certainly not). Adam makes a statement, Betty responds. Adam responds, and Betty edits her initial response and conversation ends, likely because…

It’s because hackernews rate limits users just because someone else downvoted you So you actually can’t finish the conversation when it has the utility to finish it

Really? The rate limit must be pretty generous, because I've never hit it, and I've had a few comments downvoted heavily.

Re: Botswana launches first satellite BOTSAT-1 aboard SpaceX Falcon 9

#156

Post by pc86 »

yieldcrv wrote: post #94
pc86 wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Sorry to go meta here, but this is just rude, both to OP and to other readers. ... You're essentially using the edit feature to end the conversation and ensure you have the final word. I've noticed this more and more, especially on more controversial topics (which this is certainly not). Adam makes a statement, Betty responds. Adam responds, and Betty edits her initial response and conversation ends, likely because…

It’s because hackernews rate limits users just because someone else downvoted you So you actually can’t finish the conversation when it has the utility to finish it

Users get rate limited because their account is new, or as you alluded to, they're not productively adding to the conversation (as evidenced by vote ratio at least).

It seems like the system working as designed, to be honest.

Re: Botswana launches first satellite BOTSAT-1 aboard SpaceX Falcon 9

#157

Post by Ray20 »

varjag wrote: post #148
Ray20 wrote: post #147

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Let me tell you how we actually feel about it here. Can we have the opinion not from some privileged elites, but of the oppressed majority, who are literally starving to involuntarily under threat of execution finance all this support projects for this disgusting government?

When USSR launched the world's first satellite into space, the enthusiasm was universal. Even among its peasants who at the time were paperless indentured servants.

>Even among its peasants

No, it wasn't. This is Soviet propaganda, that existed only because people who expressed different opinions were killed. As far as I understand, the situation in Botswana is much better when it comes to expressing one's opinion. So I am interested in what they think about this issue.

Re: Botswana launches first satellite BOTSAT-1 aboard SpaceX Falcon 9

#158

Post by Ray20 »

elric wrote: post #150
Ray20 wrote: post #147

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Let me tell you how we actually feel about it here. Can we have the opinion not from some privileged elites, but of the oppressed majority, who are literally starving to involuntarily under threat of execution finance all this support projects for this disgusting government?

Can we maybe not shit on this parade? The number of non-disgusting governments world in space-capable nations currently sits at zero. It doesn't detract from this achievement, and people are right to celebrate it.

>The number of non-disgusting governments world in space-capable nations currently sits at zero.

You are now trivializing institutionalized mass oppression. We're talking about a country where HALF THE POPULATION IS STARVING RIGHT NOW.

Re: Botswana launches first satellite BOTSAT-1 aboard SpaceX Falcon 9

#159

Post by api »

scrappyjoe wrote: post #104

So many strong opinions here from commenters who aren’t actually from Botswana. Let me tell you how we actually feel about it here. We think it’s awesome! The establishment of a university of science and technology in Botswana has been a long hard road, and many mistakes have been made along the way. But the fact that Botswana now has the local skill to deploy a satellite and make use of the data it provides to infor…

Do you see signs of Africa undergoing the developmental transformation we’ve seen in past decades in places like China and Vietnam? I’ve been expecting it for a while.

Re: Botswana launches first satellite BOTSAT-1 aboard SpaceX Falcon 9

#160

Post by heraldgeezer »

sureglymop wrote: post #109
heraldgeezer wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I really liked Peter Santellos video on Appalachia. Really beautiful landscape and small towns. There was affluent housing there too and pretty sure they would have cell service? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEyPgwIPkHo5If6xyrkr-... But Appalachia are not launching satellites. They DO have a space telescope! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Bank_Telescope Very nice video also showing nice landscapes and…

But why does it tire you that Botswana created a satellite, whatever other struggles they may have aside? What's your connection to Botswana?

You misunderstand. It's not specific to Botswana. Just that type of country.
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