some feedback to further improve skunkworks?
Hello all, Progressive establishments step back and stock take their past activities to improve where they did not do so well and drop what was not so good. Would it be a good idea for everyone to post their *constructive* views on how skunkworks could better serve this community? Entirely my views.. regards, alex
We could start with an active Blog (blog.my.co.ke last updated July 21st, 2009 good review of windows 7) with the most constructive thread of the day posted on the blog from this mailing list. With other ideas from the great SKUNKS it will be the greatest Tech references for all ICT in kenya (i use various solutions from my skunkslist archive) in terms of software review, latest technology announcements, who is who in IT in kenya (aki's proposal - sharing an idea) just to pick some threads that were good in my opinion Ubuntu username and password - Skunks provided ways to retrieve a linux box password Who R the Leading Payroll Solution Providers - Skunks provided the list of various alternatives Nation classified portal - Skunks could reviews this and suggest better ways/compete A beautifully designed site - Skunk reviewed and contributed very well On Sat, Sep 26, 2009 at 11:20 AM, Gakuru Alex <alexgakuru.lists@gmail.com>wrote:
Hello all,
Progressive establishments step back and stock take their past activities to improve where they did not do so well and drop what was not so good. Would it be a good idea for everyone to post their *constructive* views on how skunkworks could better serve this community? Entirely my views..
regards,
alex _______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks Other services @ http://my.co.ke Other lists ------------- Announce: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks-announce Science: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/science kazi: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/admin/kazi/general
@ steve , I totally agree, but there are a few realities faced. 1. Not everybodys view is relevant 2. Some skunks are not techies and their views mainly consist of questions 3. How do you block the spammers...those advertising services some not even relevant. 4. The frequency of posts...as you can see the skunks blog last post was on july Way forward.... 1. A dedicated team of editors / bloggers each with a niche in i.e security, design, programming 2. The dedicated editors need to have good access to the internet and must post at least once a day 3. Both the language used and context must be relevant and based on rules specified by the chief editor (must be there to ensure consistency and set guidelines the must be conformed to) 4. A good example is techcrunch...the variations in topics, frequency and relevance of the post are likely to ensure that most people prefer it as an authority on issues of technology in Kenya. 5. Again borrowing from techcrunch...the site reviews every upcoming tech startups in Europe and the US as well as existing tech companies on a daily basis. If facebook or twitter is down they are usually the first to know. I believe we can learn a lot on how they operate. Theres a lot that the blog can do in terms of monetization but thats another post. _____________________________ Go to Website <http://sites.google.com/site/usbdiskintegritychecker/>
i am ready to pay a small membership t all boil down to cash .newbees can have a month free kwanza On 9/26/09, Jacob Ayienda <jacobayienda@gmail.com> wrote:
@ steve , I totally agree, but there are a few realities faced.
1. Not everybodys view is relevant 2. Some skunks are not techies and their views mainly consist of questions 3. How do you block the spammers...those advertising services some not even relevant. 4. The frequency of posts...as you can see the skunks blog last post was on july
Way forward....
1. A dedicated team of editors / bloggers each with a niche in i.e security, design, programming 2. The dedicated editors need to have good access to the internet and must post at least once a day 3. Both the language used and context must be relevant and based on rules specified by the chief editor (must be there to ensure consistency and set guidelines the must be conformed to) 4. A good example is techcrunch...the variations in topics, frequency and relevance of the post are likely to ensure that most people prefer it as an authority on issues of technology in Kenya. 5. Again borrowing from techcrunch...the site reviews every upcoming tech startups in Europe and the US as well as existing tech companies on a daily basis. If facebook or twitter is down they are usually the first to know. I believe we can learn a lot on how they operate.
Theres a lot that the blog can do in terms of monetization but thats another post.
_____________________________
Go to Website <http://sites.google.com/site/usbdiskintegritychecker/> _______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks Other services @ http://my.co.ke Other lists ------------- Announce: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks-announce Science: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/science kazi: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/admin/kazi/general
Am not a techie, and think a loyalty scheme that acts like that of ubuntu forums or /. is good and helps one to know who to trust and who to lenga. Thank you.
@ christiano , ubuntu forums is very similar to a mailing list like this only that every post is on a website. Such sites are mainly useful in problem solving and give too much leeway to eveyone's opinion giving opportunities for manipulation such is the case here in SKWs. What steve if suggesting makes more sense. What appears on the blog must be objective and relevant even if it has been borrowed from the SKWs list and it is very difficult for just anyone to influence the content of the blog.
The issue of making people pay a membership fee will not go down well with many of us. If it means me paying then I'm sorry I don't think I would take part. On Sun, Sep 27, 2009 at 9:17 AM, Jacob Ayienda <jacobayienda@gmail.com>wrote:
@ christiano , ubuntu forums is very similar to a mailing list like this only that every post is on a website. Such sites are mainly useful in problem solving and give too much leeway to eveyone's opinion giving opportunities for manipulation such is the case here in SKWs.
What steve if suggesting makes more sense. What appears on the blog must be objective and relevant even if it has been borrowed from the SKWs list and it is very difficult for just anyone to influence the content of the blog. _______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks Other services @ http://my.co.ke Other lists ------------- Announce: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks-announce Science: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/science kazi: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/admin/kazi/general
me neither 2009/9/28 Jacob Odada <jacob.odada@gmail.com>
The issue of making people pay a membership fee will not go down well with many of us. If it means me paying then I'm sorry I don't think I would take part.
On Sun, Sep 27, 2009 at 9:17 AM, Jacob Ayienda <jacobayienda@gmail.com>wrote:
@ christiano , ubuntu forums is very similar to a mailing list like this only that every post is on a website. Such sites are mainly useful in problem solving and give too much leeway to eveyone's opinion giving opportunities for manipulation such is the case here in SKWs.
What steve if suggesting makes more sense. What appears on the blog must be objective and relevant even if it has been borrowed from the SKWs list and it is very difficult for just anyone to influence the content of the blog. _______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks Other services @ http://my.co.ke Other lists ------------- Announce: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks-announce Science: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/science kazi: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/admin/kazi/general
_______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks Other services @ http://my.co.ke Other lists ------------- Announce: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks-announce Science: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/science kazi: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/admin/kazi/general
-- שִׁמְעוֹן
My thoughts: *The blog* The blog of course isn't very up to date :). Someone/people can take active blogging on it - Suggestions by Jacob on structuring the blog need some forward movement maybe ? I did a good number of the posts/meeting recaps at the onset - it requires some consistency and time. *Ideas* Regarding fees/money - this can be rather emotive - my thoughts are that the community was formed to link up people in the community, do projects. It would be great to have several millionaires (forming companies) as a result of the community in place and the networking, but the community's focus should not be on fees/money. Some interesting recaps from the past :) http://blog.my.co.ke/?p=14 <http://blog.my.co.ke/?p=14>http://blog.my.co.ke/?p=67 Aki had a thread last week on a website on ideas which I think would be a useful resource for us. more view anyone? -- Josiah Mugambi Stephen Leacock<http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/s/stephen_leacock.html> - "I detest life-insurance agents: they always argue that I shall some day die, which is not so." On Mon, Sep 28, 2009 at 2:48 PM, Simon Mbuthia <simon.mbuthia@gmail.com>wrote:
me neither
2009/9/28 Jacob Odada <jacob.odada@gmail.com>
The issue of making people pay a membership fee will not go down well with many of us. If it means me paying then I'm sorry I don't think I would take part.
On Sun, Sep 27, 2009 at 9:17 AM, Jacob Ayienda <jacobayienda@gmail.com>wrote:
@ christiano , ubuntu forums is very similar to a mailing list like this only that every post is on a website. Such sites are mainly useful in problem solving and give too much leeway to eveyone's opinion giving opportunities for manipulation such is the case here in SKWs.
What steve if suggesting makes more sense. What appears on the blog must be objective and relevant even if it has been borrowed from the SKWs list and it is very difficult for just anyone to influence the content of the blog. _______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks Other services @ http://my.co.ke Other lists ------------- Announce: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks-announce Science: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/science kazi: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/admin/kazi/general
_______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks Other services @ http://my.co.ke Other lists ------------- Announce: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks-announce Science: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/science kazi: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/admin/kazi/general
-- שִׁמְעוֹן
_______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks Other services @ http://my.co.ke Other lists ------------- Announce: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks-announce Science: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/science kazi: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/admin/kazi/general
the blog can make money but not immediately with really good planning. Advertising ---------------- this can be both direct banner ads to mentions but of course this would depend on the amount of traffic driven to the site. Consultancy ------------------ If you are an authority on issues...then most people both proffesionals or not are likely to consider it for advice I totally disagree charging membership fees...its tempting but no Kenyan will ever pay for such a service...and the point here is to maximise traffic to the site. The other issue is the content. As much as the SKWs forum focuses on FOSS or Linux this are topics that should just be left to the forum...reason being if one intends to get a wide audience then the focus should be limited to topics understood by the majority. I think thats enough talk. Time for a Plan of Action... Step 1 ---------- Identifying the Chief Editor ... roles are to:- draft guidelines for post, ensure consistency and relevance in post, remove / ban posts that do not comply Step 2 --------- Get volunteer bloggers for various key topics ... roles are to:- each blogger will post at least once a day on the subject matter they are most comfortable with and must conform to the set guidelines and the post must either be fact or if fiction must be specified as such Step 3 ---------- The blog needs to be redesigned to meet the new conditions. As it currently is the font design appears to be smaller and the colours darker Step 4 ----------- ive run out of ideas somebody else can continue from here..... _____________________________ Go to Website <http://sites.google.com/site/usbdiskintegritychecker/>
We could have skunkers who are not regular bloggers to contribute articles once in a while; for example, i think Wash would have a few things to say about DTMF, aki would not miss a few things to say about e-commerce. Each skunk here has a unique skill-set and thus a unique perspective. That way, there is variety. Variety is good. Different points of view on the same issue are also good. On Tue, Sep 29, 2009 at 11:30 AM, Jacob Ayienda <jacobayienda@gmail.com>wrote:
the blog can make money but not immediately with really good planning.
Advertising ---------------- this can be both direct banner ads to mentions but of course this would depend on the amount of traffic driven to the site.
Consultancy ------------------ If you are an authority on issues...then most people both proffesionals or not are likely to consider it for advice
I totally disagree charging membership fees...its tempting but no Kenyan will ever pay for such a service...and the point here is to maximise traffic to the site.
The other issue is the content. As much as the SKWs forum focuses on FOSS or Linux this are topics that should just be left to the forum...reason being if one intends to get a wide audience then the focus should be limited to topics understood by the majority.
I think thats enough talk. Time for a Plan of Action...
Step 1 ---------- Identifying the Chief Editor ... roles are to:- draft guidelines for post, ensure consistency and relevance in post, remove / ban posts that do not comply
Step 2 --------- Get volunteer bloggers for various key topics ... roles are to:- each blogger will post at least once a day on the subject matter they are most comfortable with and must conform to the set guidelines and the post must either be fact or if fiction must be specified as such
Step 3 ---------- The blog needs to be redesigned to meet the new conditions. As it currently is the font design appears to be smaller and the colours darker
Step 4 ----------- ive run out of ideas somebody else can continue from here.....
_____________________________
Go to Website <http://sites.google.com/site/usbdiskintegritychecker/> _______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks Other services @ http://my.co.ke Other lists ------------- Announce: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks-announce Science: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/science kazi: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/admin/kazi/general
let the nominations begin........... On Tue, Sep 29, 2009 at 1:05 PM, Peter Karunyu <pkarunyu@gmail.com> wrote:
We could have skunkers who are not regular bloggers to contribute articles once in a while; for example, i think Wash would have a few things to say about DTMF, aki would not miss a few things to say about e-commerce. Each skunk here has a unique skill-set and thus a unique perspective.
That way, there is variety. Variety is good. Different points of view on the same issue are also good.
On Tue, Sep 29, 2009 at 11:30 AM, Jacob Ayienda <jacobayienda@gmail.com>wrote:
the blog can make money but not immediately with really good planning.
Advertising ---------------- this can be both direct banner ads to mentions but of course this would depend on the amount of traffic driven to the site.
Consultancy ------------------ If you are an authority on issues...then most people both proffesionals or not are likely to consider it for advice
I totally disagree charging membership fees...its tempting but no Kenyan will ever pay for such a service...and the point here is to maximise traffic to the site.
The other issue is the content. As much as the SKWs forum focuses on FOSS or Linux this are topics that should just be left to the forum...reason being if one intends to get a wide audience then the focus should be limited to topics understood by the majority.
I think thats enough talk. Time for a Plan of Action...
Step 1 ---------- Identifying the Chief Editor ... roles are to:- draft guidelines for post, ensure consistency and relevance in post, remove / ban posts that do not comply
Step 2 --------- Get volunteer bloggers for various key topics ... roles are to:- each blogger will post at least once a day on the subject matter they are most comfortable with and must conform to the set guidelines and the post must either be fact or if fiction must be specified as such
Step 3 ---------- The blog needs to be redesigned to meet the new conditions. As it currently is the font design appears to be smaller and the colours darker
Step 4 ----------- ive run out of ideas somebody else can continue from here.....
_____________________________
Go to Website <http://sites.google.com/site/usbdiskintegritychecker/> _______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks Other services @ http://my.co.ke Other lists ------------- Announce: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks-announce Science: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/science kazi: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/admin/kazi/general
_______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks Other services @ http://my.co.ke Other lists ------------- Announce: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks-announce Science: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/science kazi: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/admin/kazi/general
From another thread, Ndungi said:
A more practical approach to tap the sub-saharan potential would be to create incentives for developers from third world countries to contribute their modifications/hacks/bug fixes back to the community at the `eureka` moment. Seeing that the incentive is obviously financial (or the prospect thereof) , the question is whether it can be met for the African developer. Or do we just leave it to those among us who have plenty of time on their hands ?
What would make any of these ideas work? IMHO, none of them pass the incentive-test. They depend too much on goodwill, they depend on undefined/unproven monetization strategies, they are gut-level responses that need much much more refining. Sorry to appear too negative, but I'd hate to see skunk-ke go down a wild-goose chase (especially if others have been down a similar path, with unpleasant results). I honestly don't know/have the answers to these questions either. But I think it's always better to stay still and contemplate some more rather than head down a path that has a *high probability* of failure (given similar other attempts elsewhere). I vaguely recall someone this list lament the lack of action on skunks-ke (I forget his name but I think he works with/for Zuku). I think the biggest reason is that there appears to be little or no incentive for most ppl to get behind the ideas. The ideas are great but the incentives within those ideas appear not to have been considered much. Perhaps that's where skunks-ke should focus their energies? Not on new ideas but on refining existing ideas and properly "incentivizing" them? "just my thots" (to borrow aki's flame-suppressing sign-off) saidi On Tue, Sep 29, 2009 at 2:26 PM, Steve <sikileng@gmail.com> wrote:
let the nominations begin...........
On Tue, Sep 29, 2009 at 1:05 PM, Peter Karunyu <pkarunyu@gmail.com> wrote:
We could have skunkers who are not regular bloggers to contribute articles once in a while; for example, i think Wash would have a few things to say about DTMF, aki would not miss a few things to say about e-commerce. Each skunk here has a unique skill-set and thus a unique perspective.
That way, there is variety. Variety is good. Different points of view on the same issue are also good.
On Tue, Sep 29, 2009 at 11:30 AM, Jacob Ayienda <jacobayienda@gmail.com>wrote:
the blog can make money but not immediately with really good planning.
Advertising ---------------- this can be both direct banner ads to mentions but of course this would depend on the amount of traffic driven to the site.
Consultancy ------------------ If you are an authority on issues...then most people both proffesionals or not are likely to consider it for advice
I totally disagree charging membership fees...its tempting but no Kenyan will ever pay for such a service...and the point here is to maximise traffic to the site.
The other issue is the content. As much as the SKWs forum focuses on FOSS or Linux this are topics that should just be left to the forum...reason being if one intends to get a wide audience then the focus should be limited to topics understood by the majority.
I think thats enough talk. Time for a Plan of Action...
Step 1 ---------- Identifying the Chief Editor ... roles are to:- draft guidelines for post, ensure consistency and relevance in post, remove / ban posts that do not comply
Step 2 --------- Get volunteer bloggers for various key topics ... roles are to:- each blogger will post at least once a day on the subject matter they are most comfortable with and must conform to the set guidelines and the post must either be fact or if fiction must be specified as such
Step 3 ---------- The blog needs to be redesigned to meet the new conditions. As it currently is the font design appears to be smaller and the colours darker
Step 4 ----------- ive run out of ideas somebody else can continue from here.....
_____________________________
Go to Website <http://sites.google.com/site/usbdiskintegritychecker/> _______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks Other services @ http://my.co.ke Other lists ------------- Announce: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks-announce Science: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/science kazi: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/admin/kazi/general
_______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks Other services @ http://my.co.ke Other lists ------------- Announce: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks-announce Science: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/science kazi: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/admin/kazi/general
_______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks Other services @ http://my.co.ke Other lists ------------- Announce: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks-announce Science: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/science kazi: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/admin/kazi/general
After reading the various views I think we have the right people in the list to steer this the right way. I like what Jacob Ayienda, Peter Karunyu said. Let's move to action... O~) --- On Tue, 9/29/09, saidimu apale <saidimu@gmail.com> wrote: From: saidimu apale <saidimu@gmail.com> Subject: Re: [Skunkworks] some feedback to further improve skunkworks? To: "Skunkworks Forum" <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> Date: Tuesday, September 29, 2009, 9:45 PM
From another thread, Ndungi said:
A more practical approach to tap the sub-saharan potential would be to create incentives for developers from third world countries to contribute their modifications/hacks/bug fixes back to the community at the `eureka` moment. Seeing that the incentive is obviously financial (or the prospect thereof) , the question is whether it can be met for the African developer. Or do we just leave it to those among us who have plenty of time on their hands ? What would make any of these ideas work? IMHO, none of them pass the incentive-test. They depend too much on goodwill, they depend on undefined/unproven monetization strategies, they are gut-level responses that need much much more refining. Sorry to appear too negative, but I'd hate to see skunk-ke go down a wild-goose chase (especially if others have been down a similar path, with unpleasant results). I honestly don't know/have the answers to these questions either. But I think it's always better to stay still and contemplate some more rather than head down a path that has a *high probability* of failure (given similar other attempts elsewhere). I vaguely recall someone this list lament the lack of action on skunks-ke (I forget his name but I think he works with/for Zuku). I think the biggest reason is that there appears to be little or no incentive for most ppl to get behind the ideas. The ideas are great but the incentives within those ideas appear not to have been considered much. Perhaps that's where skunks-ke should focus their energies? Not on new ideas but on refining existing ideas and properly "incentivizing" them? "just my thots" (to borrow aki's flame-suppressing sign-off) saidi On Tue, Sep 29, 2009 at 2:26 PM, Steve <sikileng@gmail.com> wrote: let the nominations begin........... On Tue, Sep 29, 2009 at 1:05 PM, Peter Karunyu <pkarunyu@gmail.com> wrote: We could have skunkers who are not regular bloggers to contribute articles once in a while; for example, i think Wash would have a few things to say about DTMF, aki would not miss a few things to say about e-commerce. Each skunk here has a unique skill-set and thus a unique perspective. That way, there is variety. Variety is good. Different points of view on the same issue are also good. On Tue, Sep 29, 2009 at 11:30 AM, Jacob Ayienda <jacobayienda@gmail.com> wrote: the blog can make money but not immediately with really good planning. Advertising ---------------- this can be both direct banner ads to mentions but of course this would depend on the amount of traffic driven to the site. Consultancy ------------------ If you are an authority on issues...then most people both proffesionals or not are likely to consider it for advice I totally disagree charging membership fees...its tempting but no Kenyan will ever pay for such a service...and the point here is to maximise traffic to the site. The other issue is the content. As much as the SKWs forum focuses on FOSS or Linux this are topics that should just be left to the forum...reason being if one intends to get a wide audience then the focus should be limited to topics understood by the majority. I think thats enough talk. Time for a Plan of Action... Step 1 ---------- Identifying the Chief Editor ... roles are to:- draft guidelines for post, ensure consistency and relevance in post, remove / ban posts that do not comply Step 2 --------- Get volunteer bloggers for various key topics ... roles are to:- each blogger will post at least once a day on the subject matter they are most comfortable with and must conform to the set guidelines and the post must either be fact or if fiction must be specified as such Step 3 ---------- The blog needs to be redesigned to meet the new conditions. As it currently is the font design appears to be smaller and the colours darker Step 4 ----------- ive run out of ideas somebody else can continue from here..... _____________________________ Go to Website <http://sites.google.com/site/usbdiskintegritychecker/> _______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks Other services @ http://my.co.ke Other lists ------------- Announce: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks-announce Science: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/science kazi: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/admin/kazi/general _______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks Other services @ http://my.co.ke Other lists ------------- Announce: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks-announce Science: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/science kazi: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/admin/kazi/general _______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks Other services @ http://my.co.ke Other lists ------------- Announce: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks-announce Science: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/science kazi: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/admin/kazi/general -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks Other services @ http://my.co.ke Other lists ------------- Announce: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks-announce Science: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/science kazi: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/admin/kazi/general
Looks like somebody's already having ideas about the same idea...got this from a recent post ---I am just finishing on my tech-blog and it will include reviews of products, software, websites among other tech articles. It will also include tech news around Africa. If anyone has written a nice review of their products, software or website, please email them to me offlist for publishing at http://since97.com (Google PR3). You know that will also help in your traffic ranking if you are sending a review about a website. If you have ICT articles for and about Africa I will also publish them and give you a by-line. Thanks in advance, lets do this.------ Checked out the site and it doesn't look like work in progress... more of a hurriedly set up site. There'll probably be several of such sites by the end of the month and I wouldn't be surprised if we got accused of stealing 'other peoples' ideas. So how do we proceed? ...................................... Go to Website <http://sites.google.com/site/usbdiskintegritychecker/>
@saidi i totally agree with u, there are sooo many ideas that some time feel like people come up with them in the morning while taking a shower n post in the forum and ask phares to set a meeting to start on them...:) but its time we looked at some of the existing projects proposed and build on them..... my thots On Tue, Sep 29, 2009 at 9:45 PM, saidimu apale <saidimu@gmail.com> wrote:
From another thread, Ndungi said:
A more practical approach to tap the sub-saharan potential would be to create incentives for developers from third world countries to contribute their modifications/hacks/bug fixes back to the community at the `eureka` moment. Seeing that the incentive is obviously financial (or the prospect thereof) , the question is whether it can be met for the African developer. Or do we just leave it to those among us who have plenty of time on their hands ?
What would make any of these ideas work? IMHO, none of them pass the incentive-test. They depend too much on goodwill, they depend on undefined/unproven monetization strategies, they are gut-level responses that need much much more refining. Sorry to appear too negative, but I'd hate to see skunk-ke go down a wild-goose chase (especially if others have been down a similar path, with unpleasant results).
I honestly don't know/have the answers to these questions either. But I think it's always better to stay still and contemplate some more rather than head down a path that has a *high probability* of failure (given similar other attempts elsewhere).
I vaguely recall someone this list lament the lack of action on skunks-ke (I forget his name but I think he works with/for Zuku). I think the biggest reason is that there appears to be little or no incentive for most ppl to get behind the ideas. The ideas are great but the incentives within those ideas appear not to have been considered much.
Perhaps that's where skunks-ke should focus their energies? Not on new ideas but on refining existing ideas and properly "incentivizing" them?
"just my thots" (to borrow aki's flame-suppressing sign-off)
saidi
On Tue, Sep 29, 2009 at 2:26 PM, Steve <sikileng@gmail.com> wrote:
let the nominations begin...........
On Tue, Sep 29, 2009 at 1:05 PM, Peter Karunyu <pkarunyu@gmail.com>wrote:
We could have skunkers who are not regular bloggers to contribute articles once in a while; for example, i think Wash would have a few things to say about DTMF, aki would not miss a few things to say about e-commerce. Each skunk here has a unique skill-set and thus a unique perspective.
That way, there is variety. Variety is good. Different points of view on the same issue are also good.
On Tue, Sep 29, 2009 at 11:30 AM, Jacob Ayienda <jacobayienda@gmail.com>wrote:
the blog can make money but not immediately with really good planning.
Advertising ---------------- this can be both direct banner ads to mentions but of course this would depend on the amount of traffic driven to the site.
Consultancy ------------------ If you are an authority on issues...then most people both proffesionals or not are likely to consider it for advice
I totally disagree charging membership fees...its tempting but no Kenyan will ever pay for such a service...and the point here is to maximise traffic to the site.
The other issue is the content. As much as the SKWs forum focuses on FOSS or Linux this are topics that should just be left to the forum...reason being if one intends to get a wide audience then the focus should be limited to topics understood by the majority.
I think thats enough talk. Time for a Plan of Action...
Step 1 ---------- Identifying the Chief Editor ... roles are to:- draft guidelines for post, ensure consistency and relevance in post, remove / ban posts that do not comply
Step 2 --------- Get volunteer bloggers for various key topics ... roles are to:- each blogger will post at least once a day on the subject matter they are most comfortable with and must conform to the set guidelines and the post must either be fact or if fiction must be specified as such
Step 3 ---------- The blog needs to be redesigned to meet the new conditions. As it currently is the font design appears to be smaller and the colours darker
Step 4 ----------- ive run out of ideas somebody else can continue from here.....
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-- To ensure perfect aim, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target.
This is a rather long post, but Alex specifically asked me to post my thoughts, so here goes... (there's also a lot of history thrown in ) **** Overview **** Skunkworks is (hopefully) the Kenyan techie community (and interested people) Tech here is not restricted to ICT. When getting guys together, we hoped to bring as many technology enthusiasts as possible. Maybe after sometime, and depending on numbers, special groups could be formed (biotech, ICT etc). There's already the security guys who have their own community/discussions/projects going on. The idea was to get people talking with each other, and hopefully as a result, some community driven projects could materialize. Community is vibrant alright, and it looks like projects are taking off, due to contacts being made within the community. **** The Community **** The mailing list has been largely useful. The introduction of moderation was probably overdue, but aims at improving quality of conversation. It is being (officially) moderated by Phares for now (should be 2-3 more people doing so soon). The Bulletin Board (forum) - The plan is to have the BB service contain non tech stuff (aka off topic stuff). It is managed by Tyrus The blog is (unfortunately) currently out of date :( but has had event recaps, and generally useful information. Several suggestions have been made which can be used to improve it. Events - Periodic Tuesday meetups have been taking place (thanks to Phares and his tireless efforts). We've had a few barcamps (3 so far), as well as had active participation in event such as Alex's 'ICT@Innovation'. It is VERY taxing to organize a barcamp (though lots of fun) hence the 'limited' number. **** Projects **** It is good to see a few taking off - like the traffic one led by Stephen. Aki's project (projectskenya.info) will also be very useful. There's server space available for skunkworks projects. I know administration of this has not been all that. But the server as well as bandwidth, co-location was 'changiwad' for such projects, and it would be a real shame to see it underutilized. Administration will need to improve for this. *Way forward:* I guess this is the bit that Alex was most most interested in. :). The main focus now I think should be getting as many projects out as possible. * It would be great to see several projects to frutition - The Traffic project is one that has tangible benefits to all (I personally loathe jam). * Skunkworks is community driven - more active participation from more people. The model envisaged at the onset called for active participation from a sizeable proportion of techies. * Al Kags had some useful critique (A separate thread under 'Potential Learnings' - Some projects and business skills maybe can be useful. There are guys on the list with such skills I think. * Improve the blog. == Hopefully Mich, Kiania, Riyaz, Eric, Laban (Have I left anyone out?) can get to chip in on this discussion- now that they've also been part of Skunkworks from the onset. Would a Tuesday meeting to discuss these issues be helpful? -- Josiah Mugambi Samuel Goldwyn<http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/s/samuel_goldwyn.html> - "I'm willing to admit that I may not always be right, but I am never wrong."
participants (12)
-
christiano kwena -
Gakuru Alex -
I. Ati -
Jacob Ayienda -
Jacob Odada -
Josiah Mugambi -
matere lusitche -
Peter Karunyu -
saidimu apale -
Simon Mbuthia -
Steve -
wesley kirinya