Dreißig Kiwi Web-ballons

Google is launching balloons into near space to provide internet access to buildings below on the ground. About 30 of the superpressure balloons are being launched from New Zealand from where they will drift around the world on a controlled path. Attached equipment will offer 3G-like speeds to 50 testers in the country. Access will be intermittent, but in time the firm hopes to build a big enough fleet to offer reliable links to people living in remote areas. I think a better use for these would be to help people get around extensive Internet censorship should they be unfortunate enough to live under the rule of oppressive tyrants. Speaking of incompetent government, Detroit will immediately stop debt payments, city financial manager Kevyn Orr has announced, as he set out a proposal to creditors that would see them take a drastic cut on the money they are owed. The money will instead be used to keep the city operating, and US$1.25 billion will be reinvested in public services over the next decade, Orr said. Creditors were asked to accept 10 cents on the dollar of what they are due. This is not good enough. I would never accept that big a cut, but then again, I'm not one of the parties that the city owes money. Mr Orr, who is black, should instead be careful not to give the people of Detroit one more reason to call him the N-word. But I hope his plans can keep Detroit from having to file for bankruptcy in the short term.