Paul Jacobson - Latest Comments in Eric Edelstein says “no comment(s)”

Re: Eric Edelstein says “no comment(s)”

Paul — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 00:31:01 -0000

I have my own skewed take on the government's policies about telecoms and see two things at work here = greed and perhaps myopia. There is a lot of money to be made through Telkom so why open everything up? It isn't like the legal infrastructure isn't in place already for a potent communications industry (we have constitutionally guaranteed independence of ICASA and the legal framework for not just multiple telecoms providers but also competition across industries for media services). What we lack is leadership with a real social consciousness and backbone.

The irony is that many of these jokers were educated in the former Soviet Union and have political affiliations with socialist organisations. I think their ideology shifted to selfish capitalism when they stepped into office.

Re: Eric Edelstein says “no comment(s)”

Paul — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 00:31:01 -0000

Re: Eric Edelstein says “no comment(s)”

Vincent Maher — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 20:41:41 -0000

@Max LOL re the tequila chirp, I wonder where you heard that from :-)

The SA govt used the Malaysian Convergence Bill as a starting point for the EC Act and I wonder if modelling something in SA after the Malaysian Technology Corridor might not work too. I remember at some point being told that moving a tech business there earned you the first ten years tax free, plus the immigration process was fast-tracked and the govt had agencies that helped you network in KL once you were there.

Of course SARS might not be that keen on this plan but its worth some thought and I'm pretty sure people in govt have already thought this through a few times already.

Re: Eric Edelstein says “no comment(s)”

Vincent Maher — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 20:41:41 -0000

Re: Eric Edelstein says “no comment(s)”

Max Kaizen — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 19:21:31 -0000

@Vincent indeed deserved .. and more to come I know , I've heard tales of the legend of the Maher mind. Apparently, a tequila or two may also be missing on your recipe for innovation (your brainfuel of choice or so the story has it ;-)

In due seriousness though we do need to get involved in the policy-making process or at least actively guiding the strategy for long term sustainability in SA. The government with its pack of parasitic parastatals is unlikely to shape reality in the form of those kind of reforms without pressure and a practical plan. It's worth taking a look at Alec Erwin's planned infrastructure policy for the next 3years. As a practical framework to begin discussions, particularly as regard the telecomms development which affects the growth of our sector in particular.

It's altogether far too late at night to be thinking about getting into the thick mucky complexities of tax and the instantly inflammatory ZA banking sector and creating incentives for risk. But certainly glad we're starting to have some worthwhile conversation.

Re: Eric Edelstein says “no comment(s)”

Max Kaizen — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 19:21:31 -0000

Re: Eric Edelstein says “no comment(s)”

Vincent Maher — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 18:52:36 -0000

I think we should all lay this to rest - as I said to Eric when he announced his plans, I wish him well and there is no such thing as too much competition in the market.

The broader debate about innovation needs to be looked into seriously. My feeling is that the government is not creating the right climate for innovation, from taxes to infrastructure costs and until that happens innovation will be sporadic rather than systematic in the country. What we need is tax breaks for small businesses, cheaper broadband, cheaper hardware, funding for globally competitive salaries and we need the crime rate to reach a level where people can live here and not feel worried all the time.

Thanks for the kind words Max.

Re: Eric Edelstein says “no comment(s)”

Vincent Maher — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 18:52:36 -0000

Re: Eric Edelstein says “no comment(s)”

Nic — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 18:27:16 -0000

hash: well said. and I agree, this is a massively interesting topic that should not just stop here. It needs to be taken seriously and further. I think that we are tentatively approaching things right now in SA, but I feel great things coming and building on great things that have happened and are happening here right now.

Re: Eric Edelstein says “no comment(s)”

Nic — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 18:27:16 -0000

Re: Eric Edelstein says “no comment(s)”

Max Kaizen — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 18:26:08 -0000

oops typo market was meant

Re: Eric Edelstein says “no comment(s)”

Max Kaizen — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 18:26:08 -0000

oops typo market was meant

Re: Eric Edelstein says “no comment(s)”

Paul — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 18:24:46 -0000

Nic: just trying to keep up with you!

Hash: let her rip!

Ok, I am really going to bed now ...

Re: Eric Edelstein says “no comment(s)”

Paul — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 18:24:46 -0000

Nic: just trying to keep up with you!

Hash: let her rip!

Ok, I am really going to bed now ...

Re: Eric Edelstein says “no comment(s)”

Max Kaizen — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 18:24:37 -0000

holymoses!! WTFlaminghell is going on?!
LOLs a lot .. wow.. everyone is working L8 tonight.
@Paul - so wild I do the scheduled backups & before I know it Eric has put up 3 new posts and a directory - he's a content-machine, it's scary!! just like going to bath & coming back to find a comment-party on wiredgecko .. I think he's one for daily backups.. changing the schedule NOW

For the rest i think perhaps a little tootle over to the "third blog aggregator project" page may be worthwhile as an aside : possibly, maybe or perhaps Eric was taking a little bit of the mickey out of the market's & providing a bit of the jester's perspective (just a thought). Could be why pacman is making an appearance? We honestly can't take ourselves so seriously in all of this. Strewth, maybe I'm wrong & Eric is trying to take over the world, haven't spotted a white cat hopping on his lap yet, but I'll let y'all know the moment I do!

PS. a raving fan of Amatomu o'Maher-marvel - fark bru you have some skills

Re: Eric Edelstein says “no comment(s)”

Max Kaizen — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 18:24:37 -0000

Re: Eric Edelstein says “no comment(s)”

hash — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 18:19:11 -0000

What I think is most interesting about this is how I hear people saying, "do something original" and "what's happening overseas". That kind of stuff. Yet, these same people aren't coming up with any new groundbreaking ideas of their own.

I believe something like Scribd could come straight out of SA. There's a great deal of talent in the SA region of the continent. The reasons why it wasn't made there is what I think Eric talks about - and he's right to an extent. However, this isn't a zero-sum game, there can be local "copies" of great ideas that are useful and make money.

However, when something good does get created especially for this market it seems there are a lot of critics. Sure, Zoopy and Muti might not be completely new and different, but they still serve a purpose.

Let's see some great kick-ass SA sites that go international (Eric, bring out your best). Let's also support the ones that are there. In this I need to eat my own dogfood and start using an African video-hosting site for African Signals.

Damn, the more I think about this, the more I think there's about 10 blog posts worth of content stored up in the ideas in this blog post and discussion alone.

Re: Eric Edelstein says “no comment(s)”

hash — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 18:19:11 -0000

Re: Eric Edelstein says “no comment(s)”

Nic — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 18:15:31 -0000

ja, thats the one!!!!!!! :) along those lines!! thanks paul, glad you following me here.

Re: Eric Edelstein says “no comment(s)”

Nic — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 18:15:31 -0000

ja, thats the one!!!!!!! :) along those lines!! thanks paul, glad you following me here.

Re: Eric Edelstein says “no comment(s)”

Paul — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 18:11:15 -0000

Nic, I think the quote is more along the lines of "its not what's inside that matters, its what I do" or something like that - inspiring, goose pimple inspiring scene from Batman Begins ...

Re: Eric Edelstein says “no comment(s)”

Paul — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 18:11:15 -0000

Nic, I think the quote is more along the lines of "its not what's inside that matters, its what I do" or something like that - inspiring, goose pimple inspiring scene from Batman Begins ...

Re: Eric Edelstein says “no comment(s)”

Nic — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 18:08:01 -0000

It's not what a man says but what a man does has defines him.

Re: Eric Edelstein says “no comment(s)”

Nic — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 18:08:01 -0000

It's not what a man says but what a man does has defines him.

Re: Eric Edelstein says “no comment(s)”

Paul — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 18:05:49 -0000

My hat ... a virtual flame war on my humble blog ...

Eric: Thanks! It is still past my bedtime so I am going to wrap up here soon.

Nic: Locally produced and focussed innovation is cool too. I don't agree that everything should be BIG and GLOBAL and SOLD FOR A GAZILLION BUCKS (although that is nice too) to be considered a success. At the same time we are so connected in a sense that well produced local initiatives will attract global attention (look at Afrigator's recognition overseas) and lead to it becoming BIG and GLOBAL and SOLD FOR A GAZILLION BUCKS.