So, an *endowment* for continuing funding of the Iridium project. That makes
a lot of sense. There are many - billions of - people out there that could
be helped by local commerce (so as to get clean water, decent food, etc.),
so that their lives would be better while they live them, even if the lives
do not extend beyond 100 years.
esther dyson
At 04:03 pm 03/26/2000 -0800, d.brin wrote:
>
>
>A minor matter of courtesy. I had asked that the entire cc: list NOT be
used till an actual discussion list could be established on a voluntary
sign-up basis. Well, too late.
>
>In any event, Arthur Clarke asked to opt out of the discussion. So please
drop "<blenheim@sri.lanka.net>" from future cc: replies.
>
>The rebuttals of "Iridium-II" by Nathan and Mike do seem rather
devastating. They have been passed on to some related discussion groups for
followup. Alas, some good-sounding ideas need reality-checks. The good
news is that the internet lets us form ad-hoc groups to ferret out failure
modes with great rapidity.*
>
>My one answer to Nathan & Mike re Iridium is this: the chief problem as I
see it isn't political. It is the 2-5 year lifespan of the satellites
themselves, meaning there must be a continuing source of capital and
continuing relationship with Motorola et.al. in order for the scheme to
work. Who's going to buy into such headaches? Philanthropy once is one
thing... a hemhorrage that goes on and on... well, that's something else.
>
>
>
>Ah, well. Remember, I'm still collecting ideas for my catalog of nifty
projects that don't fit the investment horizons of govts or corps, but that
might suit the posterity-driven needs of the New Philanthropy. (I'm
keynoting on that subject in May.) Let me know if any occur to you. I've
got a good list of tasty endeavors already.
>
>With cordial regards.
>
>David Brin
>
>
>*(See this depicted in my 1989 novel "Earth".)
>
Esther Dyson Always make new mistakes!
chairman, EDventure Holdings
chairman, Internet Corp. for Assigned Names & Numbers
edyson@edventure.com
1 (212) 924-8800 -- 1 (212) 924-0240 fax
104 Fifth Avenue (between 15th and 16th Streets; 20th floor)
New York, NY 10011 USA
http://www.edventure.com http://www.icann.org
PC Forum: 12 to 15 March 2000, Scottsdale (Phoenix), Arizona
Book: "Release 2.1: A design for living in the digital age"
High-Tech Forum in Europe: October 2000 - Barcelona
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