PlumpyNut

The shiny 500-calorie foil sachet is a household name in hungry countries and almost unknown in well-fed ones.

Technology at its best, Plumpy'Nut was developed by Nutriset to rehabilitate famine victims. The goo looks like tan mashed potatoes and tastes like sweetened peanut butter.

Plumpy'Nut is made of peanut paste, dry milk, and vegetable fat. Reviews from aid groups seem to hail it as a miracle food: not only is nutritious and pleasantly edible, it doesn't contain water and is therefore resistant to bacterial contamination. The only problem is that kids with peanut allergies can't eat it.

Worldchanging explains the benefits of Plumpy'Nut as opposed to more traditional milk-based water formulas used in hunger camps.

The Romance of Mosquito Nets

Mosquito nets tug on that childlike part of our imagination that wants to build forts out of cushions.

The western world may have eradicated malaria, but going to bed is much more fun when you can look forward to cuddling up inside a sheer cloud of mosquito netting.

The aim of bed netting is to prevent nocturnal moquito bites and therefore mosquito-bourne diseases like malaria, encephalitis, dengue, or yellow fever. These diseases are much more widespread than AIDS, but they get much less press. Globally, the World Health Organization estimates that 300 to 500 million people are diagnosed with malaria annually, causing 1.1 to 2.7 million deaths.


Netting can feel smothering if you're not used to it. Some of it is hard core, soaked in DDT or similar chemicals, so it may skeeve you out if it touches your skin. If you're tall, cut a big swath to leave yourself stretching room. Netting should never touch your skin at night anyway because then mosquitos will be able to land on you and/or bite you. That would defeat the whole purpose.

Mosquito netting is also fabulous because it keeps out other critters. Specifically, I mean snakes. In chilly climates, many a warning tale addresses waking up with snakes on or under beds. Netting tucked into the mattress or draped in piles on the floor can thwart slithery visitors seeking warmth in the cold night.

The Vlogging Revolution

By now, you've heard of blogs -- a rather unfortunate sounding word. Well, this year you've got another, equally clumsy sounding word to wrap your head around: vlogs.

A vlog is a video blog. [Those of you who still don't fully understand the ramifications of "blogging" will now feel like you're back in math class, when you didn't quite get the right answer for x, and therefore missed (x - 2) too.]

Just as TV and the newspaper work in harmony (well, maybe more like direct competition) to give you news, so vlogs and blogs bring complementary types of information to your online table. Newspapers are continuing to replace boring ol' print with splashy color photos in an attempt to catch customers attention because TV is winning the game. We wonder if blogs and vlogs run that same race. A vlog is a blog in which writing is replaced by video clips, and it is the next revolution in personal media being dispersed over the internet.

Rent Your Own Satellite

Cable modem not working in the middle of the rainforest? Get your own satellite connection anywhere in Africa! Simply buy the dish and rent out a signal from space. The satellite that has a 'footprint' in most of central and southern Africa is named Eutelsat WA3.

You can get an idea of the cost of 3 seperate VSAT access plans through Eutel, one of the major players in Africa. (And the next time you complain about access costs, remember these prices!)

Fees for Satellite Internet services from Eutel:

(1) Name of service: IP 512
Price: $530/month
Authorized protocols: FTP, HTTP, POP3/SMTP, IMAPDNS on UDP
Possible IP addresses: Up to 29 (8 public)
Volume limitation: 2 GB/ month
Downstream: 512 kbps
Downstream CIR for VoIP service: 20 kbps
Upstream: 128 kbps
Upstream CIR for VoIP service: 5 kbps
Recommended number of PC's: 1-5

(2) Name of service: IP 768
Price: $730/month
Authorized protocols: FTP, HTTP, POP3/SMTP, IMAPDNS on UDP
Possible IP addresses: Up to 28 (16 public)
Volume limitation: unlimited
Downstream: 768 kbps
Downstream CIR for VoIP service: 30 kbps
Upstream: 192 kbps
Upstream CIR for VoIP service: 7,55 kbps
Recommended number of PC's: 1-10

(3) Name of service: IP 1024
Prices: $995
Authorized protocols FTP, HTTP, POP3/SMTP, IMAPDNS on UDP
Possible IP addresses: Up to 28 (16 public)
Volume limitation: unlimited
Downstream: 1024 kbps
Downstream CIR for VoIP service: 40 kbps
Upstream: 256 kbps
Upstream CIR for VoIP service: 20 kbps
Recommended number of PC's: 1-15

Hardware Costs for Dishes
Complete Linkstar VSAT system 1.2m
Africa, Middle East, Asia $2450

Complete Linkstar VSAT system 1.8m
Africa, Middle East, Asia $3500-$3710 (depending on configuration)

Additional Ground Equpiment
Linkstar VSAT terminal DVB, Channel Master antenna, New Japan Radio

Diesel's Greasy History

On diesel engines, history, and new inventions...

For outback travel, a diesel will serve you better due to greater power and better fuel economy for long hauls. Also, the lack of electrical mechanisms in diesel engines makes them more reliable because they are simpler, require less service, and contain fewer specialized parts (like spark plugs, for example). Semi-trucks use diesel because gasoline burns more quickly and thus costs more. Diesel is not the most economical, however, for around-town driving.

Interesting fact about diesels: they can run on about damn near anything that has the right viscosity. Rudolph Diesel, aptly enough, invented the diesel engine. It was revolutionary because it was a pressure-ignited engine that needed no spark to burn fuel. The first ones were run on peanut oil, and demonstrated that revolutionary idea at the World's Fair. Mr. Diesel, in fact, envisioned an engine that was designed to utilize whatever fuel was locally available, and could allow farmers to grow their own fuel.

With this invention you start the vehicle with diesel gasoline, warm up the corn oil tank, and then switch over to corn oil. When you're done running the engine, run the diesel tank for a minute or two before you shut it off to clear out the corn oil. Rinse, repeat and start over. You can use corn oil from many places, but many people get theirs for free from local restaurants, especially Chinese and fast food establishments. The exhaust, predictably, smells like egg rolls and French fries. Yum. Just what I want to smell like all day long.

Ebola & Marburg Virus Hunters

These are the pictures of the Marburg (left) and Ebola (right) virus, those faceless little beasts that cause ambiguous pains and aches as they get down to business. Each virus hijacks the internal cell machinery, replicating at a terrifying pace until the cell wall ruptures and release the next generation of viral bodies into the bloodstream.

Imagine this happening millions of times every couple of minutes. The symptoms sometimes progress to uncontrollable vomiting of blood and the expulsion of bloody stool. In more horrific cases the nervous system is affected which induces thrashing, an effective method of distribution for the virus-laden blood to infect new hosts. But most vicitims just fade away in a relatively short period of time and with almost no chance of recovery.

Now the BBC reports in this article that, "The first vaccine to protect monkeys against Ebola and Marburg viruses has been developed by scientists from Canada, the United States and France. The study could advance research into finding treatments for use in humans." Angola is continuing to fight the outbreak of Marburg, while cases of Ebola have been reported in Congo.

Scientists adapted another type of virus to carry proteins from the Ebola and Marburg viruses. This modified virus was injected into Macaque monkeys who were later exposed to the disease-causing pathogens. Just a single injection completely protected the monkeys and the initial data is so encouraging, say the researchers, that the technique could be used against other emerging viruses and may even lead to a trial vaccine being developed for humans.

Some in the West would argue that this is not our problem since only a relatively small number of people have died from the virus (120 Congolese deaths in 2003). Shelving the obvious moral arguments, a critic needs to understand that if a mutation were to occur and the virus adapted itself to a maintain a longer incubation period (i.e. not killing its hosts so damn quickly), and with the advent of modern transportation (i.e. international travel); the virus will come find them.

Choosing a Prosumer Camera: a Humorous Odyssey

Your most important piece of equipment for filming is a camcorder. Well, maybe it's a close second to your eye, but let's not get all 'film-studentish' yet. This article is strictly a bare-bones regurgitation of information that has been gleaned from the web and from pestering 'film types' with queries about bizarrely termed details like lux ratings and zebra stripes. (If you are a professional filmmaker, you just stopped reading in disgust/shock and have moved on.)

For those of you who stayed, lets give you a layman's breakdown of the current stock of camcorders on the market today, their viability in the face of overwhelming odds, and the stuff you need to go with 'em. I'll try to be short and sweet, but it's hard not to blather on and on about specs until someone smacks me across the head with a rolled up newspaper to shut up. Click here for full article.

Shot in the Arm

I got my shots yesterday -- ouch ouch! I had almost forgotten about the tetanus aches and pains. Thank goodness you only need it every ten years.

Meningitis

My doctor advised me to get the Menomune meningitis vaccine instead of the Menactra dose. This is because Menactra, although longer lasting than Menomune, interacts with both tetanus and hepatitis vaccines and shouldn't be given at the same time as either. The primary side effect of this interaction is a severe headache and flu-like symptoms. Since I needed all three of those shots on the same day, I went with Menomune, which only lasts about 3 years instead of 10. Both of these shots are only for meningococcal bacteria Groups A, C, Y, and W-135, which cause 50% of infections. Neither guards against Group B or viral meningitis -- so if you develop symptoms, find a doctor even if you've been vaccinated.

Hepatitis A and B

You'll need to plan six months in advance for your Hepatitis shots if you are traveling in an at-risk country. Hep A is a series of 2 shots, preferably 6-18 months apart, and costs about US $60 a dosage. Hep B is a series of 3 shots within a 6 month period and costs US $60 per dose. If you live in the US, it's easy to find a state clinic if your doctor does not provide the vaccines.

Other Vaccines

When you travel abroad, remember to check travel advisories and health warnings before you go. You may need a Polio booster or a Yellow Fever vaccine in addition to those listed above. An oral Typhoid vaccine is less painful than a needle -- you just drink three doses over three days. This vaccine is a live culture, so make sure to keep it refrigerated to maintain its effectiveness -- no shopping trips on the way home from the pharmacy! (There was a blackout the second night of my typhoid series. My fridge got too warm, so I had to start the course all over. Needless to say, the insurance company was not sympathetic, and I had to pay for the second one.)

Don't Forget the Yellow Card

Make sure you get a yellow WHO immunization certification card. I have mine paper-clipped into my passport so I won't lose it. Some border crossings, especially in southern Africa, do check it to make sure your vaccinations are up to date before you enter.

NTSC, PAL, and SeCAM Film Formats

The world is made up of people who see things from different points of view. When industries choose to support one of those points of view, it becomes survival of the fittest. As we have seen again and again, the best idea is not necessarily the most successful idea (at least in monetary terms). The more one gets to know different cultures in different parts of the world, the more these proprietary ideals become glaringly obvious. Have you ever asked yourself, "Why in the sam hill are things like that?" Well here at Looking Glass Land, we asked that very question about the technology formats of PAL, NTSC, and SeCAM. Click here for full article.

Why Africa Could Use a Little Broadband

This intriguing article discusses the merits of broadband access in a developing region of the world such as Africa.

"Despite some growth and developments on the African broadband "scene", the market remains at very early stages in its development, and its reach is limited to a minimal target market. In a region such as Africa, where for many, access to basic amenities - such as healthcare - is limited, how great is the need for high-speed Internet access? It is easy to view broadband Internet access as a something of luxury, something that enables users to play games, download music, or watch film clips. How, then can it can be a priority for any developing region?

"Broadband may be considered a luxury to many African governments whose citizens still lack access to basic amenities such as clean drinking water" says Avita Dodoo, Project Officer for Internet Policy at ITU "However, failure to deploy such technologies may deny these countries an opportunity to participate fully in the knowledge economy of the 21st century.

"For a region such as Africa, broadband should not be viewed as a luxury, therefore, but as a necessity in an increasingly information-based society. Providing broadband access opens up a new door to a knowledge-based economy, which in turn will promote the region's social and economic development. Broadband can be harnessed to improve a number of key initiatives:

"Community Access: In rural or developing areas, broadband can be utilized in order to "leapfrog" the need for traditional fixed line infrastructure and provide access to voice, data and Internet services in regions which previously did not have access to fixed line services. The ITU's Telecommunication Development sector is in the process of implementing 3 pilot projects to determine the performance of WLANs for providing community access in rural areas of Uganda as well as Bulgaria and Yemen. With the help of broadband technology, rural and developing areas may be able to bypass the need altogether to install the older copper lines which are more common in the developed world.


"Community Telecentres: Crucially, in a region where PC penetration levels are among the lowest in the world, community telecentres play a key role in allowing small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) who would otherwise not be able to afford it access to ICT tools. SMEs, along with cyber cafes are likely to be the biggest users in Africa of broadband and providing broadband access to telecentres would enable SMEs to benefit from it, and enhance their ability to compete in today's global marketplace.

"Cyber Cafes: Cyber cafes currently account for the majority of broadband users in Africa, and fill a vital market niche. As numbers of dial up subscribers in Africa are reaching a plateau- in terms of those who can actually afford a connection- cyber cafes allow those who cannot afford a fixed line connection to access the Internet. As cyber cafes increase, so too will the demand for broadband access and bandwidth capacity.

"E-health: The power of broadband will vitally enhance e-health initiatives such as...

"Telemedicine - providing medical services and healthcare remotely. In a number of African countries, telemedicine is making a real impact on the availability of health care and health care information. Broadband technology enables rural doctors to send complex x-rays to experts in major cities for diagnoses who then in turn send back their advice.

"E-learning: Utilizing broadband can help e-learning initiatives such as the AVU (African Virtual University), a distance learning project which offers tertiary level training options to students living in the most remote and isolated communities in sub-saharan Africa. Broadband will help to expand interactivity between students and professors, using two-way video and audio streaming to help students in Zimbabwe query a professor in Canada, for example, whilst students in Rwanda or Kenya offer comments."

Wireless Microphone Systems Abroad

Wireless microphone systems can be a traveling filmmaker's nightmare. We stumbled upon a crucial piece of advice from Shure Microphones: don't take them outside the US without researching your destination's laws first.

Wireless systems are often illegal or mandate the purchase of a license. It all depends on the local government's regulation of UHF versus VHF radio frequencies. To give you a taste of the severity of penalty, using an unregistered wireless mic in England can set you back $75,000. That's a small house... or an enviable car.

It's not just your money at stake, either. Because wireless mics can interfere with military broadcasts in many Middle Eastern countries, you can spend up to 5 years in prison if you use yours incorrectly there. (Shudder.)

Bottom line: check legalities of systems before leaving. Buy a license if needed, or rent a system when you arrive... worst case scenario, be prepared to trip over those wires.

South African DSL Rates

Excerpts of an article discussing the only supplier (Telkom) of broadband service to South Africa and a quick breakdown of costs per month of their various services.

"HomeDSL192 This is the latest product to be launched and aimed at the user who would like an always-available connection at a reasonable speed at a fixed monthly rate. With ADSL there is never a dial-up cost component. It means that you know exactly what your monthly expenditure on the Internet is, even if your kids spend lot of time on the Internet. It is modestly priced at R329 per month. The download speed is 192 kbps and upload is 64 kbps.

HomeDSL384 This product is double the speed of HomeDSL192 and offers the same advantage. It is more suited for the person who requires a faster up-and-download speed. HomeDSL384 offers a download at 384 kbps and an upload at 128 kbps. The cost is R449 per month.

HomeDSL512 This product is for the person who needs even more speed. It offers downloads at 512 kbps and uploads at 286 kbps. The cost is R599

For business, Telkom offers BusinessDSL512 at a cost of R699.
Telkom Internet powered by ADSL is a Telkom ISP product. It is available in three different packages to suit various requirements users may have. Each ISP has its own offering. The three ISP packages are Telkom Internet Powered by ADSL standard (2GB), advanced (3GB) and premium (4GB unshaped).

If one requires a fast down and upload speed, but only a limited amount of monthly throughput is needed, the Home DSL 512 with Telkom Internet powered by ADSL standard is the choice. This package would cost R599 for the access and R199 for the ISP package. It will offer upload at 256 kbps and download at 512 kbps with a monthly data throughput of 2 gigabyte.

If the requirement is a larger volume but speed is not of the essence, HomeDSL384 or HomeDSL192 would be the answer with Telkom Internet powered by ADSL Advanced. If HomeDSL384 is used, this will supply upload at 128 kbps and download at 384 kbps with a monthly throughput of 3GByte. The cost is R449 for the HomeDSL384 and R249 for the ISP packages.

The Home DSL 192 package costs only R329 per month and R249 for the ISP package.”

Air Insurance: Global Health Care Advice

We are researching international health insurance, and I picked up an interesting (and somewhat unsettling) bit of trivia. If you are traveling in a developing nation, you should find an insurance company that charters its own airplanes. Turns out one of the only significant medical costs abroad in he third world is if you have an emergency and need to be air-lifted out. Air evacuations can be costly, apparently, and if your insurance company doesn't have its own planes, it can take a long time for them to find one to use.