UNSPECIAL No 620 – July-August / Juillet-Août 2003

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Dear Sirs,

In your May issue there was an interesting article on cultural heritage by Seble Demeke. Whilst in general agreement with what is written I think it is necessary to correct her statement about Bill Gates and the internet. The www, which is the common connection to the internet was developed at CERN 10 years ago. It is an open-ended system (i.e. the software is free), It was nothing to do with Mr B. Gates, if it had been I’m sure we would now be paying a lot more for it by now. I am not aware either that he has developed any original search engines, although he has tried to force people to use the Internet using his exclusive software within the Windows system.

Yours sincerely,

Richard James

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Dear Sirs,

I have enjoyed your articles in the June UN Special. Thank you. You are so perfectly right. — Of course it is not money “that makes staff go the extra mile” .. c’est tellement toutes les autres petites choses....
— “Frustration with the PMDS” ... of course yes. When some people do their best and then are told that uniformity with the all PMDS in the unit is required. Alors à quoi ça sert un PMDS ?

“an interersted UN Special reader”