<article>
	<id>http://www.semanticweb.org/ontologies/ConversationInstances.owl#article10_03_15_2333218</id>
	<title>Ushahidi Crowd-Sources Crisis Response</title>
	<author>kdawson</author>
	<datestamp>1268662140000</datestamp>
	<htmltext>We mentioned late last year how open source software called Ushahidi &mdash; which means 'testimony' in Swahili &mdash; developed for election monitoring in Kenya was being <a href="//politics.slashdot.org/story/09/08/19/2246233/Open-Source-Tech-Used-To-Monitor-Afghan-Election?art\_pos=1">used to similar effect in Afghanistan</a>. Now reader <a href="http://peacecorpsonline.org/" rel="nofollow">Peace Corps Online</a> adds a report from the NY Times that Ushahidi's is now <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/14/weekinreview/14giridharadas.html">becoming a hero of the Haitian and Chilean earthquakes</a>. <i>"Ushahidi is used to gather distributed data via SMS, email, or web and visualize it on a map or timeline. The program was developed after violence erupted during Kenya's disputed election in 2007. Ory Okolloh, a prominent Kenyan lawyer and blogger, had gone back to Kenya to vote and observe the election. After receiving threats about her work, she returned to South Africa where she posted her idea of an Internet mapping tool to allow people to report anonymously on violence and other misdeeds. Volunteers built the Ushahidi Web platform over a long weekend, and the site began plotting on a map, using the locations given by informants, user-generated cellphone reports of riots, stranded refugees, rapes, and deaths. When the Haitian earthquake struck, <a href="http://haiti.ushahidi.com/">Ushahidi went into action receiving thousands of messages reporting trapped victims</a>; the same happened following the <a href="http://chile.ushahidi.com/">Chile earthquake</a>. The Washington Post also used Ushahidi during the recent blizzards to build a site to <a href="http://snowmageddoncleanup.com/">map road blockages and the location of available snowplows and blowers</a>. 'Ushahidi suggests a new paradigm in humanitarian work,' writes Anand Giridharadas. 'The old paradigm was one-to-many: foreign journalists and aid workers jet in, report on a calamity, and dispense aid with whatever data they have. The new paradigm is many-to-many-to-many: victims supply on-the-ground data; a self-organizing mob of global volunteers translates text messages and helps to orchestrate relief; then journalists and aid workers use the data to target the response.'"</i></htmltext>
<tokenext>We mentioned late last year how open source software called Ushahidi    which means 'testimony ' in Swahili    developed for election monitoring in Kenya was being used to similar effect in Afghanistan .
Now reader Peace Corps Online adds a report from the NY Times that Ushahidi 's is now becoming a hero of the Haitian and Chilean earthquakes .
" Ushahidi is used to gather distributed data via SMS , email , or web and visualize it on a map or timeline .
The program was developed after violence erupted during Kenya 's disputed election in 2007 .
Ory Okolloh , a prominent Kenyan lawyer and blogger , had gone back to Kenya to vote and observe the election .
After receiving threats about her work , she returned to South Africa where she posted her idea of an Internet mapping tool to allow people to report anonymously on violence and other misdeeds .
Volunteers built the Ushahidi Web platform over a long weekend , and the site began plotting on a map , using the locations given by informants , user-generated cellphone reports of riots , stranded refugees , rapes , and deaths .
When the Haitian earthquake struck , Ushahidi went into action receiving thousands of messages reporting trapped victims ; the same happened following the Chile earthquake .
The Washington Post also used Ushahidi during the recent blizzards to build a site to map road blockages and the location of available snowplows and blowers .
'Ushahidi suggests a new paradigm in humanitarian work, ' writes Anand Giridharadas .
'The old paradigm was one-to-many : foreign journalists and aid workers jet in , report on a calamity , and dispense aid with whatever data they have .
The new paradigm is many-to-many-to-many : victims supply on-the-ground data ; a self-organizing mob of global volunteers translates text messages and helps to orchestrate relief ; then journalists and aid workers use the data to target the response .
' "</tokentext>
<sentencetext>We mentioned late last year how open source software called Ushahidi — which means 'testimony' in Swahili — developed for election monitoring in Kenya was being used to similar effect in Afghanistan.
Now reader Peace Corps Online adds a report from the NY Times that Ushahidi's is now becoming a hero of the Haitian and Chilean earthquakes.
"Ushahidi is used to gather distributed data via SMS, email, or web and visualize it on a map or timeline.
The program was developed after violence erupted during Kenya's disputed election in 2007.
Ory Okolloh, a prominent Kenyan lawyer and blogger, had gone back to Kenya to vote and observe the election.
After receiving threats about her work, she returned to South Africa where she posted her idea of an Internet mapping tool to allow people to report anonymously on violence and other misdeeds.
Volunteers built the Ushahidi Web platform over a long weekend, and the site began plotting on a map, using the locations given by informants, user-generated cellphone reports of riots, stranded refugees, rapes, and deaths.
When the Haitian earthquake struck, Ushahidi went into action receiving thousands of messages reporting trapped victims; the same happened following the Chile earthquake.
The Washington Post also used Ushahidi during the recent blizzards to build a site to map road blockages and the location of available snowplows and blowers.
'Ushahidi suggests a new paradigm in humanitarian work,' writes Anand Giridharadas.
'The old paradigm was one-to-many: foreign journalists and aid workers jet in, report on a calamity, and dispense aid with whatever data they have.
The new paradigm is many-to-many-to-many: victims supply on-the-ground data; a self-organizing mob of global volunteers translates text messages and helps to orchestrate relief; then journalists and aid workers use the data to target the response.
'"</sentencetext>
</article>
<comment>
	<id>http://www.semanticweb.org/ontologies/ConversationInstances.owl#comment10_03_15_2333218.31491022</id>
	<title>Frosty pissy!</title>
	<author>FunkyRider</author>
	<datestamp>1268665800000</datestamp>
	<modclass>None</modclass>
	<modscore>-1</modscore>
	<htmltext>Woohooooooo!~Ushahidi ?</htmltext>
<tokenext>Woohooooooo ! ~ Ushahidi ?</tokentext>
<sentencetext>Woohooooooo!~Ushahidi ?</sentencetext>
</comment>
<comment>
	<id>http://www.semanticweb.org/ontologies/ConversationInstances.owl#comment10_03_15_2333218.31496854</id>
	<title>Re:I'm skeptical</title>
	<author>2obvious4u</author>
	<datestamp>1268758800000</datestamp>
	<modclass>None</modclass>
	<modscore>1</modscore>
	<htmltext>That doesn't sound like a<nobr> <wbr></nobr>/b/tards type attack.  They normally target assholes.  I could see them posting 1000's of rapes at Tom Cruises house or something, but I really don't think they would pick on Haiti.  Now New Orleans that might be a different story.  When you have a 300lb person complaining they are starving and haven't eaten in 2 hours since the storm, that is a more appropriate target.<nobr> <wbr></nobr>/b/tards are malicious in a good way.  Kinda like Denis Leary in Demolition Man.</htmltext>
<tokenext>That does n't sound like a /b/tards type attack .
They normally target assholes .
I could see them posting 1000 's of rapes at Tom Cruises house or something , but I really do n't think they would pick on Haiti .
Now New Orleans that might be a different story .
When you have a 300lb person complaining they are starving and have n't eaten in 2 hours since the storm , that is a more appropriate target .
/b/tards are malicious in a good way .
Kinda like Denis Leary in Demolition Man .</tokentext>
<sentencetext>That doesn't sound like a /b/tards type attack.
They normally target assholes.
I could see them posting 1000's of rapes at Tom Cruises house or something, but I really don't think they would pick on Haiti.
Now New Orleans that might be a different story.
When you have a 300lb person complaining they are starving and haven't eaten in 2 hours since the storm, that is a more appropriate target.
/b/tards are malicious in a good way.
Kinda like Denis Leary in Demolition Man.</sentencetext>
	<parent>http://www.semanticweb.org/ontologies/ConversationInstances.owl#comment10_03_15_2333218.31491504</parent>
</comment>
<comment>
	<id>http://www.semanticweb.org/ontologies/ConversationInstances.owl#comment10_03_15_2333218.31491054</id>
	<title>Refreshing</title>
	<author>Anonymous</author>
	<datestamp>1268666100000</datestamp>
	<modclass>Insightful</modclass>
	<modscore>3</modscore>
	<htmltext><p>Thanks for this. Ive been getting sick of hearing about high profile lawsuits over patents and arguing over why this programming language or that database paradigm. This actually helps humanity, this is meaningful.</p></htmltext>
<tokenext>Thanks for this .
Ive been getting sick of hearing about high profile lawsuits over patents and arguing over why this programming language or that database paradigm .
This actually helps humanity , this is meaningful .</tokentext>
<sentencetext>Thanks for this.
Ive been getting sick of hearing about high profile lawsuits over patents and arguing over why this programming language or that database paradigm.
This actually helps humanity, this is meaningful.</sentencetext>
</comment>
<comment>
	<id>http://www.semanticweb.org/ontologies/ConversationInstances.owl#comment10_03_15_2333218.31493442</id>
	<title>Evangelist....</title>
	<author>Anonymous</author>
	<datestamp>1268741820000</datestamp>
	<modclass>None</modclass>
	<modscore>0</modscore>
	<htmltext><p>Maybe some of you are a bit dumb, but the controversial connotations in some localities of this term are pretty obvious.</p><p>Sometimes US companies get all bogged down with the language that seems to be common currency in the US (I cringed in horror durin the infamous Bush speech going in a "crussade").</p><p>Advocate is culturaly neutral and appropraite for a company with global reach.</p></htmltext>
<tokenext>Maybe some of you are a bit dumb , but the controversial connotations in some localities of this term are pretty obvious.Sometimes US companies get all bogged down with the language that seems to be common currency in the US ( I cringed in horror durin the infamous Bush speech going in a " crussade " ) .Advocate is culturaly neutral and appropraite for a company with global reach .</tokentext>
<sentencetext>Maybe some of you are a bit dumb, but the controversial connotations in some localities of this term are pretty obvious.Sometimes US companies get all bogged down with the language that seems to be common currency in the US (I cringed in horror durin the infamous Bush speech going in a "crussade").Advocate is culturaly neutral and appropraite for a company with global reach.</sentencetext>
</comment>
<comment>
	<id>http://www.semanticweb.org/ontologies/ConversationInstances.owl#comment10_03_15_2333218.31491184</id>
	<title>I love this idea...</title>
	<author>Anonymous</author>
	<datestamp>1268667120000</datestamp>
	<modclass>None</modclass>
	<modscore>0</modscore>
	<htmltext>and I hate being "that guy", but is this system open to abuse -- for example, post natural disaster when people are sending messages like "HELP! DOOR HAS BEEN BLOWN OFF AT " -- couldn't naughty people potentially use this system to find the vulnerable among us?</htmltext>
<tokenext>and I hate being " that guy " , but is this system open to abuse -- for example , post natural disaster when people are sending messages like " HELP !
DOOR HAS BEEN BLOWN OFF AT " -- could n't naughty people potentially use this system to find the vulnerable among us ?</tokentext>
<sentencetext>and I hate being "that guy", but is this system open to abuse -- for example, post natural disaster when people are sending messages like "HELP!
DOOR HAS BEEN BLOWN OFF AT " -- couldn't naughty people potentially use this system to find the vulnerable among us?</sentencetext>
</comment>
<comment>
	<id>http://www.semanticweb.org/ontologies/ConversationInstances.owl#comment10_03_15_2333218.31493030</id>
	<title>Re:I love this idea...</title>
	<author>Hognoxious</author>
	<datestamp>1268735400000</datestamp>
	<modclass>None</modclass>
	<modscore>1</modscore>
	<htmltext><blockquote><div><p> people are sending messages like "HELP! DOOR HAS BEEN BLOWN OFF AT "</p></div></blockquote><p>I'm Michael Caine, you <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8g\_GeQR8fJo" title="youtube.com" rel="nofollow">insensitive bloody clod!!!!!</a> [youtube.com]</p></div>
	</htmltext>
<tokenext>people are sending messages like " HELP !
DOOR HAS BEEN BLOWN OFF AT " I 'm Michael Caine , you insensitive bloody clod ! ! ! ! !
[ youtube.com ]</tokentext>
<sentencetext> people are sending messages like "HELP!
DOOR HAS BEEN BLOWN OFF AT "I'm Michael Caine, you insensitive bloody clod!!!!!
[youtube.com]
	</sentencetext>
	<parent>http://www.semanticweb.org/ontologies/ConversationInstances.owl#comment10_03_15_2333218.31491184</parent>
</comment>
<comment>
	<id>http://www.semanticweb.org/ontologies/ConversationInstances.owl#comment10_03_15_2333218.31491922</id>
	<title>Re:I'm skeptical</title>
	<author>Jeff-reyy</author>
	<datestamp>1268674020000</datestamp>
	<modclass>None</modclass>
	<modscore>1</modscore>
	<htmltext>This is also explains the current state of America's democracy.</htmltext>
<tokenext>This is also explains the current state of America 's democracy .</tokentext>
<sentencetext>This is also explains the current state of America's democracy.</sentencetext>
	<parent>http://www.semanticweb.org/ontologies/ConversationInstances.owl#comment10_03_15_2333218.31491504</parent>
</comment>
<comment>
	<id>http://www.semanticweb.org/ontologies/ConversationInstances.owl#comment10_03_15_2333218.31491588</id>
	<title>Useful</title>
	<author>LingNoi</author>
	<datestamp>1268670660000</datestamp>
	<modclass>Funny</modclass>
	<modscore>3</modscore>
	<htmltext><p>I can see this being quite useful when the inevitable zombie / robot invasions happen.</p></htmltext>
<tokenext>I can see this being quite useful when the inevitable zombie / robot invasions happen .</tokentext>
<sentencetext>I can see this being quite useful when the inevitable zombie / robot invasions happen.</sentencetext>
</comment>
<comment>
	<id>http://www.semanticweb.org/ontologies/ConversationInstances.owl#comment10_03_15_2333218.31495694</id>
	<title>Re:I'm skeptical</title>
	<author>GameboyRMH</author>
	<datestamp>1268754720000</datestamp>
	<modclass>None</modclass>
	<modscore>1</modscore>
	<htmltext><p>There are no lulz to be had in messing with an emergency management system. Now if Twilight fangirls set up an instance to help them stalk Robert Pattison (sp?) it would be a different story.</p><p>You should be worried about good ol' fashioned outlaws abusing the system - pay no attention to the looting, look at all the FIRE over there! Oh and rape over here! Oh and other looting all over the place!</p><p>Obviously some kind of reputation + confirmation system should be used to help deal with this.</p></htmltext>
<tokenext>There are no lulz to be had in messing with an emergency management system .
Now if Twilight fangirls set up an instance to help them stalk Robert Pattison ( sp ?
) it would be a different story.You should be worried about good ol ' fashioned outlaws abusing the system - pay no attention to the looting , look at all the FIRE over there !
Oh and rape over here !
Oh and other looting all over the place ! Obviously some kind of reputation + confirmation system should be used to help deal with this .</tokentext>
<sentencetext>There are no lulz to be had in messing with an emergency management system.
Now if Twilight fangirls set up an instance to help them stalk Robert Pattison (sp?
) it would be a different story.You should be worried about good ol' fashioned outlaws abusing the system - pay no attention to the looting, look at all the FIRE over there!
Oh and rape over here!
Oh and other looting all over the place!Obviously some kind of reputation + confirmation system should be used to help deal with this.</sentencetext>
	<parent>http://www.semanticweb.org/ontologies/ConversationInstances.owl#comment10_03_15_2333218.31491504</parent>
</comment>
<comment>
	<id>http://www.semanticweb.org/ontologies/ConversationInstances.owl#comment10_03_15_2333218.31492262</id>
	<title>add some meta-data and make it powerful</title>
	<author>ThinkOfaNumber</author>
	<datestamp>1268678940000</datestamp>
	<modclass>None</modclass>
	<modscore>1</modscore>
	<htmltext><p>This is a really interesting concept.  Not only from the demanding perspective (eg earthquake, blizzard) but think of the planning possibilities.</p><p>If you add some metadata about the input (eg. a snow blocked road would be a requirement for clearance, and a snow plough would be a method of clearing) and a higher level system could start to organise resources accordingly, with or without human intervention.</p><p>Of course, a "humanitarian crisis" would have human involvement anyway, but think about traffic for example.  Cars could send their current speed and location to a network that redistributed traffic in peak hour.  This is more than just traffic avoidance, it's highway load balancing...</p><p>There are doubtless many more opportunities!</p></htmltext>
<tokenext>This is a really interesting concept .
Not only from the demanding perspective ( eg earthquake , blizzard ) but think of the planning possibilities.If you add some metadata about the input ( eg .
a snow blocked road would be a requirement for clearance , and a snow plough would be a method of clearing ) and a higher level system could start to organise resources accordingly , with or without human intervention.Of course , a " humanitarian crisis " would have human involvement anyway , but think about traffic for example .
Cars could send their current speed and location to a network that redistributed traffic in peak hour .
This is more than just traffic avoidance , it 's highway load balancing...There are doubtless many more opportunities !</tokentext>
<sentencetext>This is a really interesting concept.
Not only from the demanding perspective (eg earthquake, blizzard) but think of the planning possibilities.If you add some metadata about the input (eg.
a snow blocked road would be a requirement for clearance, and a snow plough would be a method of clearing) and a higher level system could start to organise resources accordingly, with or without human intervention.Of course, a "humanitarian crisis" would have human involvement anyway, but think about traffic for example.
Cars could send their current speed and location to a network that redistributed traffic in peak hour.
This is more than just traffic avoidance, it's highway load balancing...There are doubtless many more opportunities!</sentencetext>
</comment>
<comment>
	<id>http://www.semanticweb.org/ontologies/ConversationInstances.owl#comment10_03_15_2333218.31491086</id>
	<title>mmmmm</title>
	<author>edson at lies.cl</author>
	<datestamp>1268666340000</datestamp>
	<modclass>None</modclass>
	<modscore>0</modscore>
	<htmltext><p>a very useful software, but mobile downtime or zero internet access makes it (i think) low accurate</p><p>(chile's earthquake link is wrong)</p></htmltext>
<tokenext>a very useful software , but mobile downtime or zero internet access makes it ( i think ) low accurate ( chile 's earthquake link is wrong )</tokentext>
<sentencetext>a very useful software, but mobile downtime or zero internet access makes it (i think) low accurate(chile's earthquake link is wrong)</sentencetext>
</comment>
<comment>
	<id>http://www.semanticweb.org/ontologies/ConversationInstances.owl#comment10_03_15_2333218.31491590</id>
	<title>Re:Sounds like a great tool</title>
	<author>Anonymous</author>
	<datestamp>1268670660000</datestamp>
	<modclass>Offtopic</modclass>
	<modscore>0</modscore>
	<htmltext><p>Do you have no soul at all? Or is this supposed to be sarcasm?</p></htmltext>
<tokenext>Do you have no soul at all ?
Or is this supposed to be sarcasm ?</tokentext>
<sentencetext>Do you have no soul at all?
Or is this supposed to be sarcasm?</sentencetext>
	<parent>http://www.semanticweb.org/ontologies/ConversationInstances.owl#comment10_03_15_2333218.31491048</parent>
</comment>
<comment>
	<id>http://www.semanticweb.org/ontologies/ConversationInstances.owl#comment10_03_15_2333218.31495732</id>
	<title>What is really cool about this software...</title>
	<author>vikingpower</author>
	<datestamp>1268754840000</datestamp>
	<modclass>None</modclass>
	<modscore>1</modscore>
	<htmltext>...is that is was born in Africa, under dire circumstances regarding connectivity and developer skills. A look at the PHP code, however, would never make you suspect this.

   RESPECT.</htmltext>
<tokenext>...is that is was born in Africa , under dire circumstances regarding connectivity and developer skills .
A look at the PHP code , however , would never make you suspect this .
RESPECT .</tokentext>
<sentencetext>...is that is was born in Africa, under dire circumstances regarding connectivity and developer skills.
A look at the PHP code, however, would never make you suspect this.
RESPECT.</sentencetext>
</comment>
<comment>
	<id>http://www.semanticweb.org/ontologies/ConversationInstances.owl#comment10_03_15_2333218.31491192</id>
	<title>Lots of data, sure, but not reliable data</title>
	<author>Anonymous</author>
	<datestamp>1268667180000</datestamp>
	<modclass>None</modclass>
	<modscore>0</modscore>
	<htmltext><p>Sure, an anonymous system like this can get you lots of statistical data, but it's not verifiable data.  In a scenario where there is emotional or ideological conflict, like an election, it would be trivial to abuse the system to corrupt the data, at the very least.  It's also open to abuse by individual pranksters.</p></htmltext>
<tokenext>Sure , an anonymous system like this can get you lots of statistical data , but it 's not verifiable data .
In a scenario where there is emotional or ideological conflict , like an election , it would be trivial to abuse the system to corrupt the data , at the very least .
It 's also open to abuse by individual pranksters .</tokentext>
<sentencetext>Sure, an anonymous system like this can get you lots of statistical data, but it's not verifiable data.
In a scenario where there is emotional or ideological conflict, like an election, it would be trivial to abuse the system to corrupt the data, at the very least.
It's also open to abuse by individual pranksters.</sentencetext>
</comment>
<comment>
	<id>http://www.semanticweb.org/ontologies/ConversationInstances.owl#comment10_03_15_2333218.31491112</id>
	<title>What a cool way to block ObamaCare(tm)</title>
	<author>Anonymous</author>
	<datestamp>1268666520000</datestamp>
	<modclass>Funny</modclass>
	<modscore>2</modscore>
	<htmltext>'Our goal is to create the simplest way of aggregating information from the public for use in crisis response.' Sweet, I'll send this link to some of my tea party buddies.</htmltext>
<tokenext>'Our goal is to create the simplest way of aggregating information from the public for use in crisis response .
' Sweet , I 'll send this link to some of my tea party buddies .</tokentext>
<sentencetext>'Our goal is to create the simplest way of aggregating information from the public for use in crisis response.
' Sweet, I'll send this link to some of my tea party buddies.</sentencetext>
</comment>
<comment>
	<id>http://www.semanticweb.org/ontologies/ConversationInstances.owl#comment10_03_15_2333218.31492162</id>
	<title>Ushahidi was centrally involved</title>
	<author>Anonymous</author>
	<datestamp>1268677560000</datestamp>
	<modclass>Interestin</modclass>
	<modscore>4</modscore>
	<htmltext><p>I head the digital department at a nonprofit at the heart of the Haiti earthquake relief effort.  The moment the earthquake hit I remembered reading about Ushahidi last year on the African tech blog  <a href="whiteafrican.com" title="slashdot.org">White African</a> [slashdot.org] written by Erik Hersman, one of the co-founders of the crisis-mapping tool.  At the time I thought it might be an interesting way to source stories from our many staff on the ground in Africa, South America, and other places where internet coverage might be sparse but where cell coverage was robust.  Spoke to them once, but didn't follow up on it further at the time.</p><p>
The moment the news came out about Port-au-Prince, I called Erik up to ask if they could set up an instance to help coordinate first responders and disaster relief; he and they were, and even had a team of Creole-speaking volunteers to handle incoming reports and translate back and forth from English.  Watching reports pop up on the map from people who were texting SOS'es from inside collapsed buildings, the hair stood up on the back of my neck because I was seeing something altogether new, different, and important.
</p><p>
Then reports started appearing from friends and relatives abroad, looking for loved ones who had been staying in the Hotel Montana and other major hotels for foreigners, or from expat Haitians desperate for news of their families back home.  5 days out from the event I participated on conference calls with the US State Department, Whitehouse, Red Cross, USAID, and UN Logistics Cluster and realized Ushahidi had the best actionable intelligence, bar none, and that all the other agencies had gravitated toward using it accordingly.  They shared stories of the US Marines stationed on the USS Bataan anchored off Port-au-Prince begging the Pentagon for more satellite bandwidth so they could load the graphics properly, because they were scrambling missions to dig out people trapped in the rubble.
</p><p>
10 days out the folks at Ushahidi got hold of the owner of Haiti's cellular provider, Digicel, and he gave them the ability to push SMS back out to Haitian subscribers with official, verified locations where people could get medical attention, food, water, shelter, etc.  It was incredible.
</p><p>
It's not often you witness something game-changing in action, but this was such a moment, and the tool was saving lives.</p></htmltext>
<tokenext>I head the digital department at a nonprofit at the heart of the Haiti earthquake relief effort .
The moment the earthquake hit I remembered reading about Ushahidi last year on the African tech blog White African [ slashdot.org ] written by Erik Hersman , one of the co-founders of the crisis-mapping tool .
At the time I thought it might be an interesting way to source stories from our many staff on the ground in Africa , South America , and other places where internet coverage might be sparse but where cell coverage was robust .
Spoke to them once , but did n't follow up on it further at the time .
The moment the news came out about Port-au-Prince , I called Erik up to ask if they could set up an instance to help coordinate first responders and disaster relief ; he and they were , and even had a team of Creole-speaking volunteers to handle incoming reports and translate back and forth from English .
Watching reports pop up on the map from people who were texting SOS'es from inside collapsed buildings , the hair stood up on the back of my neck because I was seeing something altogether new , different , and important .
Then reports started appearing from friends and relatives abroad , looking for loved ones who had been staying in the Hotel Montana and other major hotels for foreigners , or from expat Haitians desperate for news of their families back home .
5 days out from the event I participated on conference calls with the US State Department , Whitehouse , Red Cross , USAID , and UN Logistics Cluster and realized Ushahidi had the best actionable intelligence , bar none , and that all the other agencies had gravitated toward using it accordingly .
They shared stories of the US Marines stationed on the USS Bataan anchored off Port-au-Prince begging the Pentagon for more satellite bandwidth so they could load the graphics properly , because they were scrambling missions to dig out people trapped in the rubble .
10 days out the folks at Ushahidi got hold of the owner of Haiti 's cellular provider , Digicel , and he gave them the ability to push SMS back out to Haitian subscribers with official , verified locations where people could get medical attention , food , water , shelter , etc .
It was incredible .
It 's not often you witness something game-changing in action , but this was such a moment , and the tool was saving lives .</tokentext>
<sentencetext>I head the digital department at a nonprofit at the heart of the Haiti earthquake relief effort.
The moment the earthquake hit I remembered reading about Ushahidi last year on the African tech blog  White African [slashdot.org] written by Erik Hersman, one of the co-founders of the crisis-mapping tool.
At the time I thought it might be an interesting way to source stories from our many staff on the ground in Africa, South America, and other places where internet coverage might be sparse but where cell coverage was robust.
Spoke to them once, but didn't follow up on it further at the time.
The moment the news came out about Port-au-Prince, I called Erik up to ask if they could set up an instance to help coordinate first responders and disaster relief; he and they were, and even had a team of Creole-speaking volunteers to handle incoming reports and translate back and forth from English.
Watching reports pop up on the map from people who were texting SOS'es from inside collapsed buildings, the hair stood up on the back of my neck because I was seeing something altogether new, different, and important.
Then reports started appearing from friends and relatives abroad, looking for loved ones who had been staying in the Hotel Montana and other major hotels for foreigners, or from expat Haitians desperate for news of their families back home.
5 days out from the event I participated on conference calls with the US State Department, Whitehouse, Red Cross, USAID, and UN Logistics Cluster and realized Ushahidi had the best actionable intelligence, bar none, and that all the other agencies had gravitated toward using it accordingly.
They shared stories of the US Marines stationed on the USS Bataan anchored off Port-au-Prince begging the Pentagon for more satellite bandwidth so they could load the graphics properly, because they were scrambling missions to dig out people trapped in the rubble.
10 days out the folks at Ushahidi got hold of the owner of Haiti's cellular provider, Digicel, and he gave them the ability to push SMS back out to Haitian subscribers with official, verified locations where people could get medical attention, food, water, shelter, etc.
It was incredible.
It's not often you witness something game-changing in action, but this was such a moment, and the tool was saving lives.</sentencetext>
</comment>
<comment>
	<id>http://www.semanticweb.org/ontologies/ConversationInstances.owl#comment10_03_15_2333218.31493964</id>
	<title>Thanks for publishing this story</title>
	<author>Anonymous</author>
	<datestamp>1268747460000</datestamp>
	<modclass>None</modclass>
	<modscore>0</modscore>
	<htmltext><p>It's important for information on resources like Ushahidi to be publicized.</p></htmltext>
<tokenext>It 's important for information on resources like Ushahidi to be publicized .</tokentext>
<sentencetext>It's important for information on resources like Ushahidi to be publicized.</sentencetext>
</comment>
<comment>
	<id>http://www.semanticweb.org/ontologies/ConversationInstances.owl#comment10_03_15_2333218.31491562</id>
	<title>Example post:</title>
	<author>Anonymous</author>
	<datestamp>1268670480000</datestamp>
	<modclass>None</modclass>
	<modscore>0</modscore>
	<htmltext><p>(rickroll)</p></htmltext>
<tokenext>( rickroll )</tokentext>
<sentencetext>(rickroll)</sentencetext>
</comment>
<comment>
	<id>http://www.semanticweb.org/ontologies/ConversationInstances.owl#comment10_03_15_2333218.31494872</id>
	<title>also check out sahana</title>
	<author>Anonymous</author>
	<datestamp>1268751720000</datestamp>
	<modclass>None</modclass>
	<modscore>0</modscore>
	<htmltext><p>Sahana is another fine bit of kit.</p><blockquote><div><p>"Sahana is a Free and Open Source Disaster Management system. It is a web based collaboration tool that addresses the common coordination problems during a disaster from finding missing people, managing aid, managing volunteers, tracking camps effectively between Government groups, the civil society (NGOs) and the victims themselves."</p></div></blockquote><p><a href="http://www.sahanafoundation.org/" title="sahanafoundation.org" rel="nofollow">http://www.sahanafoundation.org/</a> [sahanafoundation.org]</p><p>volunteer coders welcome!</p></div>
	</htmltext>
<tokenext>Sahana is another fine bit of kit .
" Sahana is a Free and Open Source Disaster Management system .
It is a web based collaboration tool that addresses the common coordination problems during a disaster from finding missing people , managing aid , managing volunteers , tracking camps effectively between Government groups , the civil society ( NGOs ) and the victims themselves .
" http : //www.sahanafoundation.org/ [ sahanafoundation.org ] volunteer coders welcome !</tokentext>
<sentencetext>Sahana is another fine bit of kit.
"Sahana is a Free and Open Source Disaster Management system.
It is a web based collaboration tool that addresses the common coordination problems during a disaster from finding missing people, managing aid, managing volunteers, tracking camps effectively between Government groups, the civil society (NGOs) and the victims themselves.
"http://www.sahanafoundation.org/ [sahanafoundation.org]volunteer coders welcome!
	</sentencetext>
</comment>
<comment>
	<id>http://www.semanticweb.org/ontologies/ConversationInstances.owl#comment10_03_15_2333218.31493006</id>
	<title>Why /b/tards?</title>
	<author>denzacar</author>
	<datestamp>1268735100000</datestamp>
	<modclass>None</modclass>
	<modscore>1</modscore>
	<htmltext><p>Legitimate criminals and psychos will LOVE this.</p><p>"OMG! There is looting and raping and pillaging and war and famine and AIDS and cats raining from the sky OVER THERE! Quick, everyone, run to help and block police and news channels with calls - while we rob this bank over here. Then, we will create another "alert" for our getaway."</p><p>Just imagine if Joker had access to this.</p></htmltext>
<tokenext>Legitimate criminals and psychos will LOVE this. " OMG !
There is looting and raping and pillaging and war and famine and AIDS and cats raining from the sky OVER THERE !
Quick , everyone , run to help and block police and news channels with calls - while we rob this bank over here .
Then , we will create another " alert " for our getaway .
" Just imagine if Joker had access to this .</tokentext>
<sentencetext>Legitimate criminals and psychos will LOVE this."OMG!
There is looting and raping and pillaging and war and famine and AIDS and cats raining from the sky OVER THERE!
Quick, everyone, run to help and block police and news channels with calls - while we rob this bank over here.
Then, we will create another "alert" for our getaway.
"Just imagine if Joker had access to this.</sentencetext>
	<parent>http://www.semanticweb.org/ontologies/ConversationInstances.owl#comment10_03_15_2333218.31491504</parent>
</comment>
<comment>
	<id>http://www.semanticweb.org/ontologies/ConversationInstances.owl#comment10_03_15_2333218.31491144</id>
	<title>The Hive Mind Is Your Friend.</title>
	<author>Securityemo</author>
	<datestamp>1268666760000</datestamp>
	<modclass>Interestin</modclass>
	<modscore>2</modscore>
	<htmltext>The only reason I can see for a digital ID, is something like this wired into our governmental bureaucracy. The Swedish gov. is trying to bootstrap such a system, and people seems to be liking it, generally. In fact, my ID card has a digital ID chip - it doesn't do anything at the moment, though.</htmltext>
<tokenext>The only reason I can see for a digital ID , is something like this wired into our governmental bureaucracy .
The Swedish gov .
is trying to bootstrap such a system , and people seems to be liking it , generally .
In fact , my ID card has a digital ID chip - it does n't do anything at the moment , though .</tokentext>
<sentencetext>The only reason I can see for a digital ID, is something like this wired into our governmental bureaucracy.
The Swedish gov.
is trying to bootstrap such a system, and people seems to be liking it, generally.
In fact, my ID card has a digital ID chip - it doesn't do anything at the moment, though.</sentencetext>
</comment>
<comment>
	<id>http://www.semanticweb.org/ontologies/ConversationInstances.owl#comment10_03_15_2333218.31491120</id>
	<title>Free software !</title>
	<author>MagicFab</author>
	<datestamp>1268666580000</datestamp>
	<modclass>None</modclass>
	<modscore>1</modscore>
	<htmltext><p>/me likes :<br>"The beta version platform is now available as an open source application that others can download for free,..."</p><p>We just need to cheat in the annoying form at:<br><a href="http://download.ushahidi.com/" title="ushahidi.com">http://download.ushahidi.com/</a> [ushahidi.com]</p></htmltext>
<tokenext>/me likes : " The beta version platform is now available as an open source application that others can download for free,... " We just need to cheat in the annoying form at : http : //download.ushahidi.com/ [ ushahidi.com ]</tokentext>
<sentencetext>/me likes :"The beta version platform is now available as an open source application that others can download for free,..."We just need to cheat in the annoying form at:http://download.ushahidi.com/ [ushahidi.com]</sentencetext>
</comment>
<comment>
	<id>http://www.semanticweb.org/ontologies/ConversationInstances.owl#comment10_03_15_2333218.31491200</id>
	<title>Open source</title>
	<author>Anonymous</author>
	<datestamp>1268667180000</datestamp>
	<modclass>Troll</modclass>
	<modscore>-1</modscore>
	<htmltext>An open source zealot shot up the Pentagon. Who knows what these fanatics will do next?!?!?!</htmltext>
<tokenext>An open source zealot shot up the Pentagon .
Who knows what these fanatics will do next ? ! ? ! ?
!</tokentext>
<sentencetext>An open source zealot shot up the Pentagon.
Who knows what these fanatics will do next?!?!?
!</sentencetext>
</comment>
<comment>
	<id>http://www.semanticweb.org/ontologies/ConversationInstances.owl#comment10_03_15_2333218.31491418</id>
	<title>I am in business</title>
	<author>bogaboga</author>
	<datestamp>1268668920000</datestamp>
	<modclass>None</modclass>
	<modscore>1</modscore>
	<htmltext><p>I could use it to sell real estate on the cheap!</p></htmltext>
<tokenext>I could use it to sell real estate on the cheap !</tokentext>
<sentencetext>I could use it to sell real estate on the cheap!</sentencetext>
</comment>
<comment>
	<id>http://www.semanticweb.org/ontologies/ConversationInstances.owl#comment10_03_15_2333218.31494334</id>
	<title>Re:I'm skeptical</title>
	<author>Anonymous</author>
	<datestamp>1268749440000</datestamp>
	<modclass>None</modclass>
	<modscore>0</modscore>
	<htmltext><p>Or even if that does not happen, people are biased. They'll very easily rate their own family's situation with an excessive rating, just to get help earlier. You can't expect objectivity from the people themselves...</p><p>In order to get objective information, rather than just a flood of semi-garbage, you'd need to let authenticated impartial people confirm individual reports, or demand photographs or videos attached to each report. This should be very essential for helping those most in need first. Also, if we're thinking about missions such as Haiti with a lot of seperate groups working, I guess it would be important to display who amongst authenticated users is taking care of what incident...</p></htmltext>
<tokenext>Or even if that does not happen , people are biased .
They 'll very easily rate their own family 's situation with an excessive rating , just to get help earlier .
You ca n't expect objectivity from the people themselves...In order to get objective information , rather than just a flood of semi-garbage , you 'd need to let authenticated impartial people confirm individual reports , or demand photographs or videos attached to each report .
This should be very essential for helping those most in need first .
Also , if we 're thinking about missions such as Haiti with a lot of seperate groups working , I guess it would be important to display who amongst authenticated users is taking care of what incident.. .</tokentext>
<sentencetext>Or even if that does not happen, people are biased.
They'll very easily rate their own family's situation with an excessive rating, just to get help earlier.
You can't expect objectivity from the people themselves...In order to get objective information, rather than just a flood of semi-garbage, you'd need to let authenticated impartial people confirm individual reports, or demand photographs or videos attached to each report.
This should be very essential for helping those most in need first.
Also, if we're thinking about missions such as Haiti with a lot of seperate groups working, I guess it would be important to display who amongst authenticated users is taking care of what incident...</sentencetext>
	<parent>http://www.semanticweb.org/ontologies/ConversationInstances.owl#comment10_03_15_2333218.31491504</parent>
</comment>
<comment>
	<id>http://www.semanticweb.org/ontologies/ConversationInstances.owl#comment10_03_15_2333218.31492192</id>
	<title>Re:I'm skeptical</title>
	<author>Anonymous</author>
	<datestamp>1268678040000</datestamp>
	<modclass>Informativ</modclass>
	<modscore>2</modscore>
	<htmltext><p><div class="quote"><p>Open platforms are built on a trust model that can be easily broken by a small* group of motivated individuals.<br>So just wait until<nobr> <wbr></nobr>/b/tards decide to get their lulz by spamming the site with misinformation.<br>Suddenly rape is everywhere and the database is polluted.</p><p>*for the internet</p></div><p>Lessons learned from previous deployments have led to work on this: http://swift.ushahidi.com/ - a filter and verification system. It's still in its very early stages though.</p></div>
	</htmltext>
<tokenext>Open platforms are built on a trust model that can be easily broken by a small * group of motivated individuals.So just wait until /b/tards decide to get their lulz by spamming the site with misinformation.Suddenly rape is everywhere and the database is polluted .
* for the internetLessons learned from previous deployments have led to work on this : http : //swift.ushahidi.com/ - a filter and verification system .
It 's still in its very early stages though .</tokentext>
<sentencetext>Open platforms are built on a trust model that can be easily broken by a small* group of motivated individuals.So just wait until /b/tards decide to get their lulz by spamming the site with misinformation.Suddenly rape is everywhere and the database is polluted.
*for the internetLessons learned from previous deployments have led to work on this: http://swift.ushahidi.com/ - a filter and verification system.
It's still in its very early stages though.
	</sentencetext>
	<parent>http://www.semanticweb.org/ontologies/ConversationInstances.owl#comment10_03_15_2333218.31491504</parent>
</comment>
<comment>
	<id>http://www.semanticweb.org/ontologies/ConversationInstances.owl#comment10_03_15_2333218.31491504</id>
	<title>I'm skeptical</title>
	<author>Anonymous</author>
	<datestamp>1268669700000</datestamp>
	<modclass>Insightful</modclass>
	<modscore>3</modscore>
	<htmltext><p>Open platforms are built on a trust model that can be easily broken by a small* group of motivated individuals.<br>So just wait until<nobr> <wbr></nobr>/b/tards decide to get their lulz by spamming the site with misinformation.<br>Suddenly rape is everywhere and the database is polluted.</p><p>*for the internet</p></htmltext>
<tokenext>Open platforms are built on a trust model that can be easily broken by a small * group of motivated individuals.So just wait until /b/tards decide to get their lulz by spamming the site with misinformation.Suddenly rape is everywhere and the database is polluted .
* for the internet</tokentext>
<sentencetext>Open platforms are built on a trust model that can be easily broken by a small* group of motivated individuals.So just wait until /b/tards decide to get their lulz by spamming the site with misinformation.Suddenly rape is everywhere and the database is polluted.
*for the internet</sentencetext>
</comment>
<comment>
	<id>http://www.semanticweb.org/ontologies/ConversationInstances.owl#comment10_03_15_2333218.31493530</id>
	<title>Ushahidi also means "martyrdom"</title>
	<author>Theatetus</author>
	<datestamp>1268742720000</datestamp>
	<modclass>None</modclass>
	<modscore>1</modscore>
	<htmltext>Just as a warning.</htmltext>
<tokenext>Just as a warning .</tokentext>
<sentencetext>Just as a warning.</sentencetext>
</comment>
<comment>
	<id>http://www.semanticweb.org/ontologies/ConversationInstances.owl#comment10_03_15_2333218.31493624</id>
	<title>I saw it coming</title>
	<author>Anonymous</author>
	<datestamp>1268743920000</datestamp>
	<modclass>None</modclass>
	<modscore>0</modscore>
	<htmltext><p>I am with Linus on this one<br>Linus is right<br>The man makes sense<br>He is absolutely correct on this one</p></htmltext>
<tokenext>I am with Linus on this oneLinus is rightThe man makes senseHe is absolutely correct on this one</tokentext>
<sentencetext>I am with Linus on this oneLinus is rightThe man makes senseHe is absolutely correct on this one</sentencetext>
</comment>
<comment>
	<id>http://www.semanticweb.org/ontologies/ConversationInstances.owl#comment10_03_15_2333218.31493222</id>
	<title>crowd sourced traffic data apps</title>
	<author>dyshexic</author>
	<datestamp>1268738280000</datestamp>
	<modclass>None</modclass>
	<modscore>1</modscore>
	<htmltext>crowd source traffic data seems an obvious use


anybody interested in writing iphone/android/s60 apps that give you a press to send SMS "big red button" to inform of being stuck in traffic?


it would have significant advantages over existing fixed point traffic data and would link very usefully into OSM map based tools.


Could someone cross-post this idea into the OSM talk space and/or on cloud made?


(that someone might be me)</htmltext>
<tokenext>crowd source traffic data seems an obvious use anybody interested in writing iphone/android/s60 apps that give you a press to send SMS " big red button " to inform of being stuck in traffic ?
it would have significant advantages over existing fixed point traffic data and would link very usefully into OSM map based tools .
Could someone cross-post this idea into the OSM talk space and/or on cloud made ?
( that someone might be me )</tokentext>
<sentencetext>crowd source traffic data seems an obvious use


anybody interested in writing iphone/android/s60 apps that give you a press to send SMS "big red button" to inform of being stuck in traffic?
it would have significant advantages over existing fixed point traffic data and would link very usefully into OSM map based tools.
Could someone cross-post this idea into the OSM talk space and/or on cloud made?
(that someone might be me)</sentencetext>
</comment>
<comment>
	<id>http://www.semanticweb.org/ontologies/ConversationInstances.owl#comment10_03_15_2333218.31491488</id>
	<title>Re:I love this idea...</title>
	<author>nacturation</author>
	<datestamp>1268669520000</datestamp>
	<modclass>Funny</modclass>
	<modscore>2</modscore>
	<htmltext><p><div class="quote"><p>and I hate being "that guy", but is this system open to abuse -- for example, post natural disaster when people are sending messages like "HELP! DOOR HAS BEEN BLOWN OFF AT " --</p> </div><p>... goatse.cx?</p></div>
	</htmltext>
<tokenext>and I hate being " that guy " , but is this system open to abuse -- for example , post natural disaster when people are sending messages like " HELP !
DOOR HAS BEEN BLOWN OFF AT " -- ... goatse.cx ?</tokentext>
<sentencetext>and I hate being "that guy", but is this system open to abuse -- for example, post natural disaster when people are sending messages like "HELP!
DOOR HAS BEEN BLOWN OFF AT " -- ... goatse.cx?
	</sentencetext>
	<parent>http://www.semanticweb.org/ontologies/ConversationInstances.owl#comment10_03_15_2333218.31491184</parent>
</comment>
<comment>
	<id>http://www.semanticweb.org/ontologies/ConversationInstances.owl#comment10_03_15_2333218.31492438</id>
	<title>Hmm...</title>
	<author>MICHICAUST</author>
	<datestamp>1268681820000</datestamp>
	<modclass>None</modclass>
	<modscore>1</modscore>
	<htmltext>If this is "becoming a hero of the Haitian and Chilean earthquakes" - is this good or bad for the people affected by these quakes?!?</htmltext>
<tokenext>If this is " becoming a hero of the Haitian and Chilean earthquakes " - is this good or bad for the people affected by these quakes ? !
?</tokentext>
<sentencetext>If this is "becoming a hero of the Haitian and Chilean earthquakes" - is this good or bad for the people affected by these quakes?!
?</sentencetext>
</comment>
<comment>
	<id>http://www.semanticweb.org/ontologies/ConversationInstances.owl#comment10_03_15_2333218.31491048</id>
	<title>Sounds like a great tool</title>
	<author>Anonymous</author>
	<datestamp>1268666040000</datestamp>
	<modclass>Funny</modclass>
	<modscore>3</modscore>
	<htmltext><p>How can we monetize it?</p></htmltext>
<tokenext>How can we monetize it ?</tokentext>
<sentencetext>How can we monetize it?</sentencetext>
</comment>
<comment>
	<id>http://www.semanticweb.org/ontologies/ConversationInstances.owl#comment10_03_15_2333218.31491140</id>
	<title>Given enough eyeballs, all crises are shallow.</title>
	<author>Tumbleweed</author>
	<datestamp>1268666760000</datestamp>
	<modclass>None</modclass>
	<modscore>1</modscore>
	<htmltext><p>Rainbow's End coming to fruition. Well, the beginning of it, anyway. No more psuedomimiviruses sneaking past!</p><p>Hmm...I gotta go; I'm having a serious craving for some honeyed nougat all of a sudden. Ya gotta believe me!</p></htmltext>
<tokenext>Rainbow 's End coming to fruition .
Well , the beginning of it , anyway .
No more psuedomimiviruses sneaking past ! Hmm...I got ta go ; I 'm having a serious craving for some honeyed nougat all of a sudden .
Ya got ta believe me !</tokentext>
<sentencetext>Rainbow's End coming to fruition.
Well, the beginning of it, anyway.
No more psuedomimiviruses sneaking past!Hmm...I gotta go; I'm having a serious craving for some honeyed nougat all of a sudden.
Ya gotta believe me!</sentencetext>
</comment>
<comment>
	<id>http://www.semanticweb.org/ontologies/ConversationInstances.owl#comment10_03_15_2333218.31493852</id>
	<title>Re:I love this idea...</title>
	<author>necro81</author>
	<datestamp>1268746740000</datestamp>
	<modclass>None</modclass>
	<modscore>1</modscore>
	<htmltext>Yes, it can be abused, but so can just about any crowdsourced technology.  Wikipedia is prone to abuse, but <i>on the whole</i> is a tremendously valuable and accurate tool.<br> <br>

This is not meant to be used in the same way that a 911 system gets used, where one person reports something at a location and expects a directed response to that incident.  In cases of natural or civil disasters, it is very difficult and not particularly equitable to distribute resources to combat individual problems.  Instead, this would be a tool to help determine where to direct broad aid: what section of the city is facing the worst problems, where should the next food depot be established, where should you direct a police brigade to quell violence?  As the tools get better and the availability of resources improves, you can start targeting the smaller targets.</htmltext>
<tokenext>Yes , it can be abused , but so can just about any crowdsourced technology .
Wikipedia is prone to abuse , but on the whole is a tremendously valuable and accurate tool .
This is not meant to be used in the same way that a 911 system gets used , where one person reports something at a location and expects a directed response to that incident .
In cases of natural or civil disasters , it is very difficult and not particularly equitable to distribute resources to combat individual problems .
Instead , this would be a tool to help determine where to direct broad aid : what section of the city is facing the worst problems , where should the next food depot be established , where should you direct a police brigade to quell violence ?
As the tools get better and the availability of resources improves , you can start targeting the smaller targets .</tokentext>
<sentencetext>Yes, it can be abused, but so can just about any crowdsourced technology.
Wikipedia is prone to abuse, but on the whole is a tremendously valuable and accurate tool.
This is not meant to be used in the same way that a 911 system gets used, where one person reports something at a location and expects a directed response to that incident.
In cases of natural or civil disasters, it is very difficult and not particularly equitable to distribute resources to combat individual problems.
Instead, this would be a tool to help determine where to direct broad aid: what section of the city is facing the worst problems, where should the next food depot be established, where should you direct a police brigade to quell violence?
As the tools get better and the availability of resources improves, you can start targeting the smaller targets.</sentencetext>
	<parent>http://www.semanticweb.org/ontologies/ConversationInstances.owl#comment10_03_15_2333218.31491184</parent>
</comment>
<comment>
	<id>http://www.semanticweb.org/ontologies/ConversationInstances.owl#comment10_03_15_2333218.31496694</id>
	<title>Re:Sounds like a great tool</title>
	<author>2obvious4u</author>
	<datestamp>1268758320000</datestamp>
	<modclass>Interestin</modclass>
	<modscore>2</modscore>
	<htmltext>What is wrong with monetizing it?  There is money to be made all along the path of a disaster.  Someone still has to transport disaster relief and pay for disaster supplies.  Then someone has to rebuild the businesses behind the disaster.  There are lots of places to make money while also helping those in need.  You may not make huge profit margins like you can selling people worthless crap they want; but you can make a good money helping people using economies of scale.  So you make $0.10 a head on 2 million needy people, you also provided them goods and services they needed.  Its not like you caused the disaster to make a profit, but you found a way to make a living helping those in need.</htmltext>
<tokenext>What is wrong with monetizing it ?
There is money to be made all along the path of a disaster .
Someone still has to transport disaster relief and pay for disaster supplies .
Then someone has to rebuild the businesses behind the disaster .
There are lots of places to make money while also helping those in need .
You may not make huge profit margins like you can selling people worthless crap they want ; but you can make a good money helping people using economies of scale .
So you make $ 0.10 a head on 2 million needy people , you also provided them goods and services they needed .
Its not like you caused the disaster to make a profit , but you found a way to make a living helping those in need .</tokentext>
<sentencetext>What is wrong with monetizing it?
There is money to be made all along the path of a disaster.
Someone still has to transport disaster relief and pay for disaster supplies.
Then someone has to rebuild the businesses behind the disaster.
There are lots of places to make money while also helping those in need.
You may not make huge profit margins like you can selling people worthless crap they want; but you can make a good money helping people using economies of scale.
So you make $0.10 a head on 2 million needy people, you also provided them goods and services they needed.
Its not like you caused the disaster to make a profit, but you found a way to make a living helping those in need.</sentencetext>
	<parent>http://www.semanticweb.org/ontologies/ConversationInstances.owl#comment10_03_15_2333218.31491048</parent>
</comment>
<comment>
	<id>http://www.semanticweb.org/ontologies/ConversationInstances.owl#comment10_03_15_2333218.31491242</id>
	<title>Fake.</title>
	<author>Anonymous</author>
	<datestamp>1268667480000</datestamp>
	<modclass>Flamebait</modclass>
	<modscore>-1</modscore>
	<htmltext><p>You expect me to believe that niggers know how to use a computer?  These people are still struggling with the basics of survival.</p></htmltext>
<tokenext>You expect me to believe that niggers know how to use a computer ?
These people are still struggling with the basics of survival .</tokentext>
<sentencetext>You expect me to believe that niggers know how to use a computer?
These people are still struggling with the basics of survival.</sentencetext>
</comment>
<comment>
	<id>http://www.semanticweb.org/ontologies/ConversationInstances.owl#comment10_03_15_2333218.31492022</id>
	<title>communication lines down</title>
	<author>POds</author>
	<datestamp>1268675280000</datestamp>
	<modclass>None</modclass>
	<modscore>1</modscore>
	<htmltext><p>What happens when communication lines are down? I assume they just fall back to first principles?</p></htmltext>
<tokenext>What happens when communication lines are down ?
I assume they just fall back to first principles ?</tokentext>
<sentencetext>What happens when communication lines are down?
I assume they just fall back to first principles?</sentencetext>
</comment>
<comment>
	<id>http://www.semanticweb.org/ontologies/ConversationInstances.owl#comment10_03_15_2333218.31492072</id>
	<title>It never takes them long to adapt..</title>
	<author>Anonymous</author>
	<datestamp>1268675760000</datestamp>
	<modclass>Funny</modclass>
	<modscore>2</modscore>
	<htmltext><p>I can see the map now...</p><p>o - Help, emergency, need water here</p><p>o - Coke! The drink that refreshes. Just $1 a can!</p><p>o - Looting at this location!</p><p>o - Grubb, cheap security services!</p></htmltext>
<tokenext>I can see the map now...o - Help , emergency , need water hereo - Coke !
The drink that refreshes .
Just $ 1 a can ! o - Looting at this location ! o - Grubb , cheap security services !</tokentext>
<sentencetext>I can see the map now...o - Help, emergency, need water hereo - Coke!
The drink that refreshes.
Just $1 a can!o - Looting at this location!o - Grubb, cheap security services!</sentencetext>
</comment>
<comment>
	<id>http://www.semanticweb.org/ontologies/ConversationInstances.owl#comment10_03_15_2333218.31491126</id>
	<title>APRS</title>
	<author>Anonymous</author>
	<datestamp>1268666640000</datestamp>
	<modclass>Interestin</modclass>
	<modscore>2</modscore>
	<htmltext><p>This is exactly what APRS does in the ham radio community since a good 20 years, and it does not need any special infrastructure. And yes, it can ALSO use the internet</p></htmltext>
<tokenext>This is exactly what APRS does in the ham radio community since a good 20 years , and it does not need any special infrastructure .
And yes , it can ALSO use the internet</tokentext>
<sentencetext>This is exactly what APRS does in the ham radio community since a good 20 years, and it does not need any special infrastructure.
And yes, it can ALSO use the internet</sentencetext>
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