MyBlogLog goofs! Confines Problogger Contest to US bloggers!

As I woke this morning, I read an interesting blog post from MyBlogLog in which they have announced that they are running a Problogger contest. Part of the announcement reads

A few weeks ago we sat in our office and brainstormed on ways we could give our members a hand in their blogging efforts. We knocked all sorts of ideas around, the new blog-themed email signature being one of the ones that we chose, but our favorite idea was holding a contest that would 1-benefit everyone who participated and 2-give out a barrel-full of problogger-themed goodness.

::Robyn climbs up on her soapbox:: So, without further ado, I give you THE MYBLOGLOG PROBLOGGER CONTEST!

As expected, I was very excited with this news.But my excitement was short lived because a look at the rules of the contest indicates that

THE FOLLOWING CONTEST IS INTENDED FOR PLAY IN THE FIFTY UNITED STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (COLLECTIVELY, THE "ELIGIBILITY ZONE") ONLY AND SHALL ONLY BE CONSTRUED AND EVALUATED ACCORDING TO UNITED STATES LAW. DO NOT ENTER THIS CONTEST IF YOU ARE NOT LOCATED IN, AND A LEGAL RESIDENT OF, THE ELIGIBILITY ZONE.

Did they really knock all sorts of ideas around? I do not think so! By limiting the eligibility zone to the US like this, MyBlogLog (MBL) has made a very serious mistake. They should have realized that the blogosphere is a zone in which we have folks from all over the world. Confining this Problogger Contest to US residents will not go down well with residents of other countries. MyBlogLog is, in essence, sending out a message that MBL rates US based bloggers more highly compared to bloggers based in other countries. Other blog social networking sites will capitalize on these segregative tactics from MBL. MBL should have borrowed a leaf from BlogCatalog who run their own all inclusive blogger competition a few months ago. Ironically, that competition was won by an India based blogger, Narendra.

New Low Cost Solar Computer in Uganda

Balancing Act reports that a UK firm, Inveneo Inc has launched a low cost solar/battery powered computer onto the Ugandan market. After searching for Inveneo on Google, I have discovered that these people have a great vision--Connecting villages around the world. (In some circles, someone would have said turn to your neighbour and say it is a good vision)

Inveneo points out that over 2 billion people in the developing world live in rural and remote communities that lack basic access to information and communication technologies--telephony, computing, Internet access. In response to this need, Inveneo, a non-profit social enterprise, creates and sells highly affordable and sustainable ICTs that are specifically designed for organizations--governments,NGOs,private enterprises--that serve rural communities with vital services that include education, health care,economic development,relief and telecentres. This is great stuff! You can visit their site and make a paypal donation. Theirs is indeed a great cause. You will actually see more posts on the activities of Inveneo Inc on this blog in the near future. Today, we will just talk about the low cost solar computer which they have launched in Uganda. Balancing Act reports that

the computers at Ush1.6 million (US$941) a piece are mainly targeting the rural areas that have no or limited access to conventional electricity. With five hours of good sunlight a day, the computer will offer unlimited service to the user.

I am of the view that US$941 is still on a higher side even though Alintuma Nsambu, the Uganda state minister for ICT, says that this computer will be affordable because it will be tax-free. Most people in the rural areas cannot afford paying this amount. It is, therefore, my wish to see other people joining hands with Inveneo Inc by making donations in form of money and expertise in order to develop mass production techniques. The increased volumes will bring down the prices as suggested by Inveneo's chief executive officer, Mark Summer.

Let me wind up this posting, by inviting Inveneo Inc to Malawi. We also have villages which need to be connected to other villages around the world. We will receive you with both hands! Even the President, Dr. Bingu wa Mutharika, will be happy to have you around :).