Alan says, "Fanny Jacobson is the first speaker this morning" 
finger grins. 
Alan thinks we're all grinning -- 
finger . o O ( yeah fanny! ) 
fingers 
bree smiles 
Rakosha waves frantically to fanny ... 
Martin has connected. 
Alan says, "Fanny is beginning to speak; she just flew in from South Africa last night" 
Martin works busily on getting the other screen happening. 
Alan says, "Talking about Net access in South africa - thanks Martin" 
finger smiles. 
Alan says, "SA online since '89" 
Alan says, "1984 fiber optic cable connection was established -" 
Rakosha . o O ( boo ) 
Alan says, "Talking at this point about the various connectivities of SA - history -" 
finger has disconnected. 
Alan watches Karen adjust the microphone! 
finger has connected. 
Monakee laugh 
finger oops 
Alan says, "Two major providers - INternet Africa and Internet Solution" 
Canis_Lupus has @joined you. 
Alan says, "about $15 Aus. a month" 
Rakosha snuggles up to Canis_Lupus happily. 
Alan asks, "There and available but who gets to use the toys?" 
Canis_Lupus nuzzkeles Rakos[Cha. 
Canis_Lupus . o O ( oopses! ) 
Alan says, "Given top-down, no experimental time - etc." 
Canis_Lupus nuzzles Rakosha 
Alan says, "This is being publicly displayed --" 
Alan smiles. 
Canis_Lupus nods to Alan. 
Rakosha smiles at Canis_Lupus. 
Alan laughs. 
Monakee waves at Cybermind audience 
Alan says, "Problems with majority access to the Net" 
Canis_Lupus waves to everyone here. 
Canis_Lupus waves to bree. 
Canis_Lupus waves to everyone here. 
Alan says, "Majority of people whose schooling was disrupted by the civil disruptions etc. --" 
Canis_Lupus winks slyly to bree. 
Lister has @joined you. 
finger flattens out into a largish 32 cent postage stamp and floats away. 
Alan says, "New SA reworking edu. policy but parity still far from implementation" 
Canis_Lupus nods to bree. 
Alan says, "Language _is_ an issue - majority who have access are Eng speaking w/ small strong contingent of Afrikaans" 
A largish 32 cent postage stamp floats into the room and fattens up into finger. 
Alan says, "There are 11 official languages in SA" 
Alan says, "A lot of these aren't on the Net - they're regional for the most part" 
Alan says, "Important issue the abject status of African languages " 
Alan says, "No programs available in any of the official African languages in SA" 
Alan says, "Legacy of nonelectrification of rural areas in SA - current energy policy linked to corridors of rural development --" 
zone has entered Conference Room. 
Martin says, "Realaudio will be off for a while I switch machines." 
Alan says, "Science and Technology White Paper has just been published this week - has to bbe rewritten because no consideration of the rapid expansion of information technology -" 
zone waves 
Alan says, "We're in the midst of a paper by Fanny Jacobson on South African access and access history" 
Jonah feels like a spectator 
zone smiles 
Jonah's eyes are popping out 
Alan thinks it's a more formal paper - there will be discussion - this is being projected 
zone feels like a spectre 
Alan says, "Telephone charges are really costly" 
finger goes home. 
Jonah wonders if somehow the MOO could be used to encourage participatory engagement 
Alan says, "Calls are metered per unit - charge per length of time -" 
Alan says, "Jonah, I think so, but we're all quiet here as well at the moment --" 
Rakosha smiles at Jonah. 
Alan says, "You might listen on Real Audio - it's being set up" 
Jonah smiles at rakosha! 
Alan says, "Most effect work happening in SA ona grassroots level --" 
zone doesn't have audio capability...absorbs thru alternate senses... 
Alan says, "Rural connectivity - the most exciting and effective projects happening at the moment -" 
Martin swears at recalicitrant technology. 
Alan laughs. 
Rakosha grins at Martin. 
Monakee is not good at mult-tasking, so will listen 
Jonah, despite the kind words and encouragement of his virtual companions, still thinks that we're engaging in residual forms of conferencing. 
Alan says, "Yes, Jonah, but it's getting better than it used to be -" 
Rakosha grins at Alan. 
bree grins 
Canis_Lupus grins. 
Jonah says, "in what ways is it better? asks Jonah, grinning." 
Martin asks, "Saved you a ticket?" 
Rakosha laughs. 
Alan says, "With the projection, the expanded capacities of the MOO, etc." 
Monakee giggles 
zone smirks...absorbing grey areas of meaning...wishing she could hear shuffling of papers and breathing... 
Jonah says, "true, i didn't have to fly in, but i guess the whole talking head model bothers me...." 
Monakee wishes e has a laptop, so e can go to conference AND MOO 
bree grins at Monakee 
Jonah says, "i just came from a 'technology in education' conference which encouraged workshops and experiential presentations, and everybody just talked talked talked." 
Lister grins at Monakee. 
Lister goes home. 
Alan says, "Technical difficulties came up for a m"We've got to get offline because the next speaker is showing things up on the screen - so hold on until the speaker after this -" 
Alan says, "Sorry about this -" 
Alan says, "bye" 
Alan has disconnected.