Americans pride themselves on being the best, that's a fact. From McDonalds, to Coke, to Microsoft, to Hollywood, we have the best of everything. Don't we? Especially in computer technology, Dell, HP/Compaq, Macintosh, we stand tall. Is that right? Is that a fact?
I got back from Belize a few weeks ago. They don't even have paved roads in most parts of that country. At one time ruled by the Brits and Queen Elizabeth, they now have a horrible monarchy that devours every dollar that comes into that feeble little plot of land in Central America called a country. Yes, South of Mexico, by Honduras, Guatemala, and Salvador. Dangerous!
In the little town of San Pedro on Ambergris Caye, where golf carts were the main form of transportation, the dust and dirt roads defined a meeger existance and made Tiajuana look rich. Every morning after a cold shower I lubed up my body with bug repellent and sunblock 45 in a heated, 100% humidity based cliamte, to fend off the oncoming assult from Malaria infested mosquitos, among other things.
Althought the resorts were sites to behold, and the crystal clear waters offered exotic underwater advertures second to none in the world, any excursion outside of that arena proposed nothing too appealing. I felt so disconnected.
So after a day of snorkling, a day by the resort pool, and a day of fishing, I decided to brave the dusty dirt roads with my rented golf cart. Central American humidity and dust do not go together as I immediately felt the grit build up on my teeth. Yet this simple, bold venture led me to find a diamond in the rough, a techie's dream.
As I turned the corner onto Pothole Dirt Drive, feeling somewhat protected from the blistering sun by the excessive soot buildup on my sweaty bug sprayed skin, a beautiful sign lifted my spirits and brought hope for the next 5 days of my vacation. Around the corner loomed high in black letters on a pink wall of a worn down 2-story building, "Internet Caf?." I was saved.
And saved was I, as I opened the double glass doorway into a frigid room lined with leather chairs and cubicles filled with Dell 19" Flat Panel Monitors. Had I died and gone to heaven? My curiosity excellerated as I began to ask question after question about the technology, how they get it and "Bandwidth." It's always all about the bandwidth. They were getting Full Duplex T1 plus speeds with a Satellite backup plan held together by a gas powered generator for when the Belizian government refused them power. Awesome.
So I began to drive my golfcart around the town with a new eager excitement for this fabulous oasis. I found HP filled joints, IBM Laptop establishments, Dell labs, and even a a cool place using voice over IP that offered free cocktails with every half hour purchase. I logged in, read the US news online, checked my e-mail, had a couple drinks and even called home. My total bill for over an hour on the Internet and a 20 minute phone call was only $9.00. Incredible.
How could they do it?
Well, I am not really sure, but I researched a little and found that many so called third world countries have the infrastructure in place to provide such services. Not only do they have the infrastructure, but the infrastructure in newer and more sophisticated then lots of the US has to offer. Think about it, the cabling system integrated in most of our cities has existed for several years and with modered tech advancements, new systems have the ability to produce more for less.
This concept of the US being the best is true, I sure wouldn't want to live anywhere else, but it is easily understandable that we also have to keep up with the times. We have to "tool up," so to say. Look at what's happening to GM right now. I can see this happening in multiple industries if we don't move forward, stay current and let go of the pretentious attitude that we are untouchable.
The third world is looking more and more like second.
Greg Richburg a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer and the owner of Netricks, Inc. a network consulting, web design and hosting company in California. As well, Greg runs a web based distributorship for Ujena swimwear and clothing. Please visit my shop girl sexy swimwear and my shop girl sexy swimwear for details.
All past articles written by Greg Richburg are available at my shop girl sexy swimwear.
limo prices to midway Crystal Lake west of Randal .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareOn June 16, 1972, a security guard at the Watergate... Read More
The trade deficit with Canada is now 50 Billion per... Read More
Many folks who are pro-NASA and Pro-Space Colonies say that... Read More
Einstein when ask how did he believe WWIII would be... Read More
The use of religion is well-documented as a social engineering... Read More
Economy is called the dismal science because it pretends to... Read More
Former Governor of Alaska, Jay Hammond, died at age 83,... Read More
ACCREDITATION: - Scholastic regimentation from the post WWII period has... Read More
Lecture given at the Netherlands Economic Institute (NEI) on 18/4/2001Human... Read More
We can all see the issues involved in the cloning... Read More
The predominant discussion in the Indianapolis media over the proposed... Read More
In his bid for the presidency, John Kerry pronounced a... Read More
Let's make one thing clear: This Dan Nelson Automotive fiasco... Read More
MUD ? Much Unnecessary DisclosureThe Federal Trade Commission recently asserted... Read More
As we watch fewer Americans voting it is no wonder... Read More
Recently I met a man in a coffee shop, a... Read More
Non-lethal Goo Concepts have been tossed around by many war... Read More
I hear it all the time; you can't say that.... Read More
In an age of terrorism, guerilla and total warfare the... Read More
You, the reader, should be aware of my affluence of... Read More
A quick look back at NAFTA; how did we do?Stabilizing... Read More
It appears we are having a terrible situation with the... Read More
The United States is losing its industrial capacity quite rapidly.... Read More
We know that the International Terrorists like the idea of... Read More
Most citizens agree that we need the Federal Trade Commission... Read More
taxi o'hare Auburn ..You, the reader, should be aware of my affluence of... Read More
Clint Eastwood recently plunged into the murky political pond with... Read More
Predicting the future is a tricky business. There have been... Read More
Reform Social Security has been talked of Capital Hill for... Read More
Wealth Distribution is often discussed at length in periodicals such... Read More
A coffee shop conversation about a Great Country in Historic... Read More
ACCREDITATION: - Scholastic regimentation from the post WWII period has... Read More
Businesses advertising alcohol either in TV or non-broadcast format need... Read More
I have witnessed a new era of security in the... Read More
I read an interesting article in foreign Affairs magazine last... Read More
Tulipmania - this is the name coined for the first... Read More
Many people do not understand politics very well. They often... Read More
All government regulators or diplomat who are in high risk... Read More
In what the Americans love to describe as the war... Read More
In order to build a stronger, more self-sufficient America, America... Read More
Legislation was introduced into Congress this week that would establish... Read More
A visitor to Moscow would be immediately struck by the... Read More
Dust from Deserts and Particulate ControlThe greatest contributor to particulate... Read More
Rush is right! The government's stepped up bid to regulate... Read More
There is something egregiously wrong about a government that will... Read More
As global warming continues to escalate the concerns of today's... Read More
Political strategists, branding gurus and image consultants could learn a... Read More
From the National Association of Realtors' Virtual Office Website policy,... Read More
This is a thought on the study of Home and... Read More
The first reaction of economies in transition is a sharp... Read More
Political |