Recent items
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12:24
Interview with Haitian activist Rea Dol
» Black Looks Rea Dol is grassroots community organiser and founder of SOPUDEP school in Port-au-Prince. Shortly after the earthquake they had to abandon the school which was being used as a shelter due to the stench of dead bodies and sturtural damage which made the building unsafe. For the school to continue it will [...]
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12:07
Chi Mentality
» Delusions of Grandeur soundtrak: deadbeats :: you never know
- D called me last night (during the superbowl… do these people not understand the do not disturb… i’ll explain later..). i couldn’t bear to pick up the phone and he left a voicemail. i haven’t heard it yet; i don’t know if i’m going to listen to it. he texted me about two days after my birthday asking when it was again. usually, he’s better than this, always getting an annual birthday card from him. i know i still have to talk to him, but i don’t even know how to start.
- so last monday was my birthday. i’m 30. i feel different, but the same. i don’t know. they had a surprise party for me last saturday (which got snowed out), which then turned into sunday, where the people you know who really care will really show up. we had a grand ole time; i never laughed so hard in all my 30 years (lol!). Y didn’t show, called a day later (during Lost; how. many. times. do i have to say it? don’t call. text. email me during my show! geez! i only ask for small things…).
- i don’t know if it’s because of the snow systems that have passed through within the past two weeks, but i’ve been thinking about what really happened between Y and i. i’ll admit error on my part; i felt like our friendship was slipping away, wanting to be closer and i mistook caring for desire (or maybe the other way around). unfortunately there is no star trek: voyager harry kim reset button (i mean, watch a couple of episodes; they reset that character every episode! no growth whatsoever!); things can’t be the same way they used to be. in the end, Y is caring, but to a point; sometimes he asks questions that really don’t need to be asked, when sometimes all you need is a helping hand or a shoulder to cry on. we cannot be the friends that i thought we could (should) be.
- 1. i came up with that conclusion when T told me that i expect too much out of my friends (read: i expect too much out of him). so i have learned not to expect so much out of him anymore. when he didn’t show up last sunday, i wasn’t surprised. i also have some other conclusions to that, but i’m not sharing.
2. jam was totally that friend that i could cry on, but i think i did expect too much from him. too much that he couldn’t give. eh, my barometer is off.- i think jan and i were eating lunch one time last week when we observed a woman, eating lunch alone, reading a book. did you ever eat lunch like that, when you were a kid? she asked. i actually used to eat lunch in the bathroom, then run to the library, where i would study, read, whatever in solitude. i was that nervous, that shy. i guess people find it a bit shocking, weird, funny. i don’t seem to be that kind of person that would have ever needed to do that, jan expressed to me later in lab. i shrugged. that’s life. so how does it really feel like to be 30? she asked. it had been a couple of days. i don’t know, i focused on writing on tubes that i would aliquot deoxyribonucleotide triphosphate into. the past four years have been a growing experience for me; i know what i want and what i don’t want. are you happy? she stopped her work for a moment. i knew where this question was coming from. i have this quirk: i’m never satisfied with the results. be it data, the end of books, the end of events, the completion of degrees. ok, maybe satisfied is not the right word. there is a sense of completion… or not. i’m always moving on, quickly: what’s next, let’s go. i got it from my father, who instead of congratulating our perfect scores or As, always reminded us not to lax on our studies so that we wouldn’t get that next A. this had resulted in a pretty good career (if i would say so myself), but it’s hard for me to look back and appreciate it. sometimes it’s good just to move on, to what’s next, what’s better, but you have to be able to appreciate where you came from. now that i think about it, my parents barely do that themselves. and they came from alot. when is the time to do that though?
peace.
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10:43 MARGIN OF SAFETY EXPLAINED
» Kenyantykoon's Blog If you have read any books by any value investor or a blog written by a person more inclined towards fundamental investing, you may have heard this phrase “margin of safety”. So I decided to write up a post on this very important concept in fundamental investing. What is margin of safety? Since it is Benjamin Graham [...]
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9:32
my idiot boyfriend and his retarded friends
» make mine a double espresso... He had been quiet for a whole day (that's a lot) considering we talk... Whenever we can get on facebook. i got worried, he wasn't replying my texts, then today i see a message from him. He got drunk and fell fron God know's where... And fractured BOTH his ankles. Both of them. The fuck???
He's friends were there but were all to drunk to stop the shit from happening. I am sooo mad. It could have been so much worse! What if... Shit. I wish i was home, atleast if i was there i would have stopped it. His ass wouldn't be that drunk to begin with.
stupid fucks.
The sun was definately doing crack today.
Statement of the week: I'M NOT A WHORE, I JUST REALLY LIKE TO DO IT.
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6:36
You Need It - We Got It
» tHiNkEr'S rOoM Nakumatt are not kidding when they say "You need it? We got it".
Was taking the lovely wife shopping and was amazed to find this offered for sale on the shelves
Just what on earth are those?
© M for tHiNkEr'S rOoM, 2010. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us
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4:40
Something To Live For
» Cock And Bull A friend sent me an SMS on my phone asking what I would die for. At first I thought the answer would be easy but an hour later, I still hadn’t replied and so she called to ask. I didn’t have an answer to what I would die for. The reason is because in the time that I had thought about it, the question had seemed trickier than I would have imagined.
When I thought about the things that one should die for, my mind went back 2 years ago to the time when we had our last presidential elections. The results of the election were disputed and as a result, violence broke out and many innocent people lost their lives and property. In that group of people who lost their lives were a posse that went out into the front line in the name of the politician who they supported and hence believed had won the election. In other words, they were willing to give up their lives for the cause of the politician. And they died.
When I thought about it, I realized none of the politicians from the two parties in contention was willing to give their lives for their cause. Neither was to be seen anywhere near areas where the asphalt was burning with tires. And when they appeared in public to give statements – and sometimes pour more fuel into the fire – they were very well protected by professional body guards hired for that job.
Were the politicians willing to die for their cause? No! In fact the irony is that in any battle, it is the ones who have the least to gain that are always putting their lives on the line. The ones who have the most to gain are never willing to die.
Conventional romantic wisdom tells us that the ultimate test of love is when one is willing to die for the apple of their eye. If a boy loves a girl so much and even dies for her, common sense tells me that she will grieve for some time and then put the sorrow away to make room for love with someone else. I also suspect that when the girl is 90 years old, she will most probably consider the boy who lived with her all this time to be a hero. Wouldn’t it make more sense to find something to live for instead?
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3:57
Expanding Boundaries
» Cock And Bull One of the most challenging conversations that I ever had was with a friend called Tom. He brought up the conversation by wondering why our fathers didn’t buy land in the City Centre when it was readily available many years ago. At the end of the conversation, Tom warned that 20 years from now, our children will be questioning about the same thing about their parents – us. After that conversation, one of the things that became very clear to me is that in 20 years’ time, that which will be of great value might not necessarily seem important today, and is most probably readily available; just as land in the City Centre was much cheaper and abundant to our fathers when they were young. The challenge is to identify what is readily available to us today that will be of great value 20 years from now.
Each time I think about it, I always conclude that that ‘thing’ that will be of great value in 20 years is consciousness. For the purpose of this article I will look at consciousness in terms of the scope that is defined by the boundaries of our mind. As we know, these boundaries are defined and marked as we develop in life. Up till our 20s, the boundaries are defined by our parents and teachers and relatives and friends. But then when we come out of the school and into the world of careers and jobs, the boundaries expand because we realize that it is mandatory in order for us to cope in our new found reality of financial responsibility. When we get married and start families in our 30s, the boundaries expand some more as we learn how to take on even more responsibilities in the world. By the time we are getting into our 40s, we more or less have found a handle on life and tend to settle into a routine that works very comfortably with us and those around us. And there lies the danger, for many people decide to settles into their mental boundaries for good.
What happens when a person settles into a fixed consciousness for good? Well, they remain in the same state of affairs year in and year out. And I am sure that you know of people who just settle into life and every day looks like another. In most cases, they hold the same job for years, maintain a predictable daily routine, go to the same social venues, maintain the same circle of friends and generally like their boats not to be rocked. If any of the parameters of such a person’s life changes, it appears as if their whole world has collapsed.
But is settling into a comfortable lifestyle so bad? No, it isn’t. But you see, there is a better way. What is that better way? The better way is for a person to take it upon themselves to expand the boundaries in their minds. How? Through ‘personal development’ initiatives. Such as sports and fitness, reading books, learning new skills, developing hobbies and so forth. Of course the benefits of such an approach to life include a healthy and happy lifestyle and even financial gains. For such a person, no day is like any other since the mental boundaries are always shifting and their consciousness is very dynamic.
If you compare the person who ’settled’ into their mental boundaries and the person who made a conscious effort to expand their mental boundaries, what will be the change in 20 years? I will tell you that if the difference were to be measured in acres of land, the first guy might have a quarter acre where he has his small comfortable house, and the second person will have hundreds of acres spread across various parts of the globe. And in 20 years time, what will the children say? The children of the first person will be wondering what their father did while other men developed themselves, and the children of the second will be increasing on what their father continues to build on.
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1:15
One to watch…
» Media Madness Her name is Shiro. Her debut on Kenyan radio was on Homeboyz Radio. This mama is just fresh underrated talent, I first heard her on Homeboyz Radio’s Ignition she was funny as hell! She was also co-hosting The after party live a show that has grown tremendously cause of her wit and randomness, she really [...]
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0:30
How to Apply Criticism and Not Lose Your Mind by Merrilee Faber
» Storymoja How to Apply Criticism and Not Lose Your Mind by Merrilee Faber So you’ve sent your story out to impartial and honest readers for feedback. The results come flooding in, and suddenly you are overwhelmed with pages of conflicting advice, comments, praise and condemnation, often all in the same critique. How do you deal with this? [...]
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16:10
Sustainable fishing is the way forward
» Paza Sauti The population of Lake Victoria’s most famous produce – the Nile perch – is dwindling and conservationists have started making shocking projections for future stocks.
They say the population of the Nile perch has declined from 1.2 million tonnes at the turn of the century to a mere 331,000 tonnes last year. The figures could plunge further if remedial action is not taken immediately.
Up to 22 million people from the region depend on the lake for fish. The industry directly supports two million people, providing them with much needed incomes to sustain their households.
That the population of the Nile perch is thinning is therefore bad news to many. But it must also be understood that the fishermen face difficult but important choices between conserving the resource – so there will be fish to catch in the future – and earning a decent living.
That is why the duty of conservation must not be left to them. It is encouraging the governments of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania through the East African Community’s Council of Ministers, have now launched Sh129.6m campaign to help conservation efforts.
Partner states
The ‘Operation Save the Nile Perch’ drive must not be in vain. It must not follow the familiar script of poor locals whose need for economic development is fought by affluent outside conservationists.
Residents of the three partner states rely on the fishing industry for subsistence. And their economic future will be improved more by preserving the ecosystem and promoting better fishing methods than by unsustainably exhausting what is currently available for export.
Conservation efforts must be supported by all stakeholders with partner states being encouraged to implement the proposed ‘harmonised action plan’ to help end illegal fishing on Lake Victoria and help restore the ecological balance.
Now it is up to the Council of Ministers to create regulations that will make the fishing industry successful. It is time to get rid of systems that have failed and replace them with better alternatives that will protect the marine ecosystem, allow fish stocks to rebuild, and increase revenues.
This will allow fishermen to make profit and also ensure future generations will enjoy the delicacy. It is upon the Ministry of Fisheries to ensure fish catchment sites are not only protected but also nurtured and sustainably exploited.
EA Standard
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12:49
The Beautiful Game and understanding the offside rule
» Diary of a gay Kenyan Last Sunday George and I got invited by our Nigerian neighbour Theo to watch the televised final of the African Cup of Nations final at his house. I was rooting for Ghana because I like the way their kit showed off their well-toned physiques and the contrast of the white on the ebony was just pure gay heaven. George came along for the football (I’m also a fan of sorts) while Theo was cheering on Egypt because he was still holding a grudge following the semi-final defeat his countrymen suffrered at the hands of the Ghanaians.
So we drank me brodah Theo’s booze (lots of it, remember I don’t have to get up and go anywhere these days) and gorged ourselves on among other delights boiled quail eggs (from that lady doctor over in Lavington). I need to get off my fat ass and make better use of my membership at Parklands Sports Club to get back in shape like the hottie I aspire to be. Incidentally Theo’s mid-thirties, handsome in an African Forrest-Gump sort of way, athletic and a scientist who lives alone with two cats in a beautiful bungalow. Just the kind of guy you shouldn’t introduce to your boyfriend because you should keep him all to yourself, lol. There are some things about Theo that scream iko matata hapo mbele (trouble lies ahead). It was the first time we’ve been to his place, we normally meet while taking walks in the evening and just wave. We both assumed that Theo was straight but after an hour in his house I set my gay-o-meter to alert mode.
Here’s the evidence that set those alarm bells ringing:
- Straight alpha-male ( Theo) in lush dreadlocks invites two male neighbours who live together and are obviously a couple (in love) to his house to watch a game of football. Unfair home advantage springs to mind.
- Straight man then sprawls on the floor of immaculate home drinking lots of lovely alcohol, moisturised footballer-legs wide apart (slut) wearing only a tiny pair of mauve Ralph Lauren shorts (displaying what looks like a yummy overstuffed wrap-sandwich), fingers lazily stroking away silky navel pubes while flaunting naked tight six-pack abs (who does he think he is, Tyrese? Why‘s he gonna act like that?)
- Straight man’s pumped man titties on show are just crying out to be tweaked as he lies on that super-soft luxurious sheepskin made from at least three innocent Molo lambs (poser).
- Straight man arranges napkins on rustic teak coffee table in the rose fold.
I was thinking wishing, is this guy not gay because from what I could see he was Interpol’s description of hot Nigerian man-stealer called Theo ( a love-god’s name to boot, tsk..tsk) but I might have been offside.
I kept a beady eye on Theo whenever he rolled side to side on the rug as he stretched a pedicured foot playfully catching George’s calf with a ’free-kick’ (surely a bookable offence) every time the ref blew the whistle…..like he himself wanted to blow something else....puhleeze!!
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Henrietta Lacks: Stolen cells
» Black Looks I never heard of Henrietta Lacks until a few days ago. But I have heard of the Tuskeegee Experiment in which 399 Black men were used as clinical samples for studying the late stages of syphilis. The men who were poor sharecroppers from Alabama, where never told they had syphilis and [...]
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5:11
Impala Claim Floodlit Trophy
» Rugby in Kenya Impala Claim Floodlit Trophy
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2:00
4-0 series win, but the real work awaits
» Kenya Cricket After starting the year off in the worst possible way with the outright loss to Scotland in the Intercontinental Cup, Kenya have bounced back in the best possible way with a convincing 4-0 win in the 20-20 tri-series with Scotland and Uganda. Given that as little as two months ago, victory in any 20-20 game looked remote indeed as Kenya hosted and lost to Uganda 3-0, the emphatic nature of the series win has got to have boosted confidence ahead of this week’s World Cup Qualifiers in the UAE.
In Kenya’s first match, Maurice Ouma won the toss and elected to field. Uganda started belligerently scoring 30 off the first 10 overs before Nehemiah Odhiambo struck and from then on, Kenya looked in control of the match. Wickets fell at regular intervals with four of the Kenyan bowlers each picking up a brace as Uganda set a target of 123/9 off their overs. Though Nehemiah Odhiambo, newly promoted to opening the bowling in the absence of Odoyo and Ongondo took the book-end wickets, it was the spin department, especially Hiren Varaiya (4-1-9-2) who really impressed.
Kenya’s run chase was lead by a new opening pair of Steve Tikolo and David Obuya and it was an experiment that proved a resounding success every time. The pair put on 66 for the first wicket (Obuya for 24), and Tikolo went on to set a new Personal Best as he marched to 63 off just 44 deliveries to bring Kenya within touching distance of victory. Maurice Ouma (2*) and Alex Obanda (31*), himself hitting a PB of his own did the rest and the 3-0 series loss in December was part way towards being avenged.
Kenya’s second match should have seen stiffer competition in the form of Scotland, but the visitors were clearly unable to reproduce their form from the Intercontinental Cup as Kenya first restricted them to 109/9 – again with the spinners doing the damage: Shem Obado impressing in his first International graded match with figures of 4-0-10-2 while jimmy Kamande picked up 3/28.
Again Tikolo (46 off 28) and David Obuya (60 off 48) opened and again, it proved to be a masterstroke from Eldine Baptise as the pair raced Kenya to a 10 wicket win inside 13 overs. If you include Obado’s figures on debut, it was Personal Bests for four of Kenya’s players.
Kenya’s third match saw them bat first for the first and only time in the tournament and with Tikolo rested, Obanda moved up the order to join David Obuya (18) as opener. It proved to be a position he enjoyed as he made a new Personal Best of 43 off 24 to set up the rest of the line up for a big total. Maurice Ouma (39) and Collins Obuya (79* off 45) duly added their names to the list of Personal record breakers as Kenya went on to set a daunting 186 – easily the biggest total of the tournament.
Credit to Uganda who stuck to their guns in the run chase and for a while looked as though they might cause an unlikely upset. Another Kenyan debutante for the series, Nelson Odhiambo proved the difference in the bowling however as he ripped through the middle of the Ugandan innings to take 4/25 including the wicket of the dangerous looking Roger Mukasa (66). Tony suji chipped in with 2/25 and Jimmy Kamande executed two brilliant run outs to ensure Kenya finished victors by 14 runs.
Kenya’s second match against Scotland was very similar in result to their first, but it was yet another personal best and astonishing bowling performance from Nehemiah Odhiambo who took 5/25 as Kenya bowled out their visitors for 123. It is only the second time a player has taken 5 wickets in a full 20-20 international and a huge achievement for the player on whose shoulders the main bowling responsibility for Kenya now rests. Nelson Odhiambo also picked up 2 wickets while suicidal run outs accounted for the rest.
Again it was the Tikolo-Obuya show in reply and the two raced neck-a-neck to their 50s. Obuya (65* off 47) won that race by just one ball, but then continued to set yet another Personal Best at this level while Tikolo’s 56* off 42 was also a new personal record as again Kenya ran out winners by 10 wickets, this time with five and a half overs to spare. Note that the matches vs. Uganda were graded Twenty20 by the ICC whereas the matches vs. Scotland were graded T20Is.
All in all, the series was a great achievement for Kenya in the warm ups to the WC Qualifiers, but it is that fact that should remain as a stark reminder that the real work is yet to be done. Kenya play Scotland again today in a final warm up in Abu Dhabi, and on this form, should win again, but it will all count for naught if they do not get through to the final two in the qualifying tournament. If the players can continue to produce Personal Bests at this rate though, that should be a distinct possibility.Become a fan of Kenya Cricket.com on facebook: [www.facebook.com]
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15:01
The Man and His Goat Contest Winner is…
» Storymoja Well, you have spoken, dear readers and fellow writers. So here, I am very pleased to announce the results of The Man and His Goat Writing Contest: The Second Runner-up is Paul Kariuki with Samuel Kinyanjui, Sammy to his friends. The First Runner-up is Peter Nena with The Goat from Hell. And the winner of The Man and his [...]
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13:35
Is it high time they introduce in schools a subject called Internet?
» All about Africa and specifically Kenya It is just a a few days after the Mobile Web East Africa Conference and one of the things which was highly discussed as you might have read on my earlier post is the issue of the local content. Going through the blogs today and I came across tech mtaa with the blog post titled [...]
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Seun on Fela
» Black Looks After intensive pressure from members of the National Assembly, the media, trade unions, political activists and the Nigerian people, President Yar’Adua has agreed to hand over the Presidency to his deputy, Goodluck Jonathan. I think Fela would have loved this – the beginnings of “people power” in Nigeria – here Seun talks [...]
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12:20
OtterBox Commuter, ftw!
» Kikuyumoja's realm I know I’ve already mentioned this on my Posterous blog earlier today, but the truth is: I’ve never been so excited about a gadget/ an accessory since maybe when I unpacked my Leatherman Wave some years ago.
I was looking for a decent cover for my Nokia E72 as the leather pouch it comes shipped with isn’t that great. It opens to the side and is very tight, so you’d have to push the phone inside (with some force) and pull it out (with even more force). Not that smart.
Another reason – and explanation why I went for a cover instead of another pouch/sheath – is that the E72 is rather thin, maybe too thin for a phone. It lacks a rubber back, like the one on the E63 for instance. So any potential cover would have to ensure that the phone gets a better grip on the back side.
I then checked the market and bought a cheap (3€) silicone cover. The one that came delivered wasn’t good at all – the silicone was too stubborn and didn’t even cover all the edges (as pictured above). Such a cheap quality. I threw it away after taking these pictures.
So I kept on looking and stumbled upon this OtterBox Commuter Case. There are almost only positive reviews on the cover online, the people behind OtterBox seem to be innovative and responsive to customer input (they are on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc.) – and such a cover costs around 29 €.
Now, I can probably get two used Nokia 1208 phones for the price of such a cover, and it took me some time to think about this investment. Why should I invest 29 € on a cover that will only add weight to my phone? And it’s a lot of money for “just a cover”…
I am so glad I just bought it in the end. The cover instantly worked for me – it’s such a pleasure to handle the phone now (almost as thick as an E63 now, yay! :-). The OtterBox Commuter really is the BEST phone cover I’ve ever bought for a phone so far, makes so much sense on this particular Nokia phone and I am sure I’ll also never again waste any money on cheaper alternatives that just won’t work.
It also came shipped with a screen protector (sticker), a little card and a cleaning cloth which will help you apply the sticker onto the display. Amazing. I am yet to see something like that (the card) on other – also professional – screen protectors. Sooo… yes, I can only highly recommend the OtterBox Commuter Case to other E72 users.
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11:00
Mwakwere Dismissed, Bring Back Michuki
» You Missed This 
Mwakwere's loss of his parliamentary seat via petition could be a blessing in disguise for Kenya. Now Kibaki can bring back Michuki to head the Transport ministry and restore sanity.
At least the popular demand to have Michuki back at transport has less political fallout than the heat at education. But again, Kibaki is one ruler immune to public wishes, or is he?
But the petition's success has once again exposed the rot that was ECK. But again they both rigged and so the whole lot should be illegitimate. This election petition thing needs to be urgently addressed since almost 1000 days after polls is no justice at all.
Which leaves you asking weather losers should be made to pay back what they earned while on the job. Democracy must be so expensive.Kumekucha
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1:38
Progress In Bytes
» Cock And Bull I couldn’t wait to get to the office this morning. The reason is because I was excited to see if my downloads completed overnight. Among others, I am downloading Season 5 of “Entourage”, the complete works of George Michael, Celine Dion, Dido, and James Last, and my favorite – a whole 95 episodes of “The Muppet Show”. When I look at the statistics on my computer, I have downloaded 10 GB or data and uploaded 5 GB of data. Part of the excitement is because until a few days ago, Safaricom would sell 1 GB of downloaded data for KShs. 2,500. Now, for KShs. 1,000 you have unlimited internet access for 7 days. In just 2 days, I have downloaded data worth over KShs. 25,000!
For me, the proliferation of the Internet and the mobile phone are among the top indicators of just how much things can change in a few years. Slightly over 10 years ago, we would leave a 1 MB download to run overnight for 2 reasons; One, because it would take hours, and Two, because it was only at night when there would be a good chance that the download would complete successfully without timing out. It could take up to a week of daily attempts to successfully download a 1 MB software using a computer modem over the Kenya Posts and Telecommunications Corporation’s telephone line. Of course back then having a land line was a great achievement.
In 1990, I met a girl who had a key like none I had ever seen before. When I enquired what the key was used for, she said, “It is for my family’s home computer.” At that time, I had never seen a computer, and I couldn’t believe that anyone might have one at home. And from her description, I imagined that a computer had to look like a TV, but my deduction led me to conclude that it required an ignition key to turn on, just like a car!
In 1999, I was ecstatic at buying my first computer – a Pentium 1 with 4.3 GB hard disk. I remember the Dixon my Tech savvy friend telling me, “The hard disk in this computer has so much space that even your children will never fill it with data!” Given that the largest storage medium I had at my disposal was the 1.44 MB floppy disk, that was easy to believe. Now, I don’t have children yet and have already filled hard disks with hundreds of GB worth of data.
From how we know it today, how different will the world be in 20 years?
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0:50
I Bet You Can
» Cock And Bull The other day, I made a bet with a total stranger who didn’t believe that it is possible for anyone to swim 50 lengths of the swimming pool without stopping. And it all started when I mentioned that I like swimming. That is when she asked how many lengths I can make in a pool. And so I said 50 because that was the number that I had done earlier in the day. She called me a liar, and that is when we shook hands on the bet for KShs. 1,000.
But neither would I have thought that swimming for a long distance was possible had I not lived in Mombasa about 2 years ago. In fact, I would have summed it in the same way that my friend did in an email, “When I go into the pool I’m so anxious to make this lap… and that lap… up to there, then I have chlorine in my eyes and in my mouth and after a few minutes I want to get out .” In the 6 months that I stayed at the coastal town, I would swim out into the open sea each day that I went to the beach. I would swim for as far as my courage and strength would allow me to. In the process, I learnt that the secret to swimming for long or far is to be relaxed; and especially if you are swimming in salty water, and against the waves.
Now, what is the number 1 secret to being relaxed? Breathe!
If you breathe effectively as you swim, it can become as effortless as walking, and with a little practice with your stroke you can easily do 50 or more lengths. It is possible to do this because it requires very little effort from your side to float or for your body to move through water. Why? Because of the buoying properties of water. Now imagine, if you were to walk up and down the length of a pool, how much effort would you require to do 50 lengths? Now imagine once again, if you were to walk up and down the length of a pool while holding your breathe, how many lengths would you be able to make? The only reason why many people only manage to blindly churn across the pool for a few meters and come up dazed is because they do it while holding their breathe. For anyone who thinks that swimming is hard work, learning how to breathe while in water totally changes everything!
If you can breathe effectively as you swim – or as you do anything else for that matter – then it becomes as effortless as walking.
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Wellington Rugby 7's Update : Kenya 17 Australia 26
» Rugby in Kenya Wellington Rugby 7's Update : Kenya 17 Australia 26 -
Wellington Rugby 7's Update : Kenya 12 Samoa 14
» Rugby in Kenya Wellington Rugby 7's Update : Kenya 12 Samoa 14 -
Wellington Rugby 7s Update: Kenya 12 Samoa 14
» Rugby in Kenya Wellington Rugby 7s Update: Kenya 12 Samoa 14
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Death of a language & invasions of the mind
» Black Looks Boa Sr, the last speaker of Bo’, “one of the ten Great Andamanese languages has died”. The death of Boa Sr and the language she spoke is the end of 65,000 years of linguistic heritage and culture. It is estimated that a language dies every two weeks and by 2100 90% of languages of the [...]
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9:21
Mobile Web East Africa: Day Two
» bankelele Mobile Web East Africa: Day Two
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8:57
Recent blog finds
» Kenyan Pundit EDIT: broken links fixed
Have come up across some gems recently that I need to share (and yes I should get back to blogging myself, I know, I know).
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Wellington Rugby 7's Update: Day 1 Wrap Up
» Rugby in Kenya Wellington Rugby 7's Update: Day 1 Wrap Up
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8:33
Kenya thrushes US in the Wellington IRB match
» A Nairobian's Perspective ! The wait is now over as the second leg of the IRB World 7s series and the first 7s tournament of 2010, the New Zealand International 7s in Wellington, starts today. The Kenyan team has already secured a ticket to the quarter finals of the game after thrushing the United States 24-7 this morning with Lavin Asego scoring two trials, Collins Injera and Innocent Simiyu scoring one try each.
Kenya is expected to play England later in the day.The New Zealand International 7s is rated as one of the best in the IRB World 7s Series.Rugby fans around the world will be cheering for their teams today and will be ecstatic to see their sides make it to the Cup quarter-finals, even going on to win the tournament tomorrow evening.
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7:19
Soweto Gospel Choir, Akon & Keri Hilson bring some African touch to Football
» Kenyanpoet
A combination of good sounds and great video to bring you a song that will become almost an African Anthem during the World Cup in SA next year.
I might sound like a hater but I felt that AKon was giving the whole song a thugish, whoreish, smack that A$$ effect to it removing the patriotism in the lyrics. ( I guess I have heard too many of his "listen to the edited version" music) and he is starting to sound like Beyonce - Like the music they'd play in a torture chamber.
The video is however very well done, great images showing that Africa is full of colour, art, life and rhythm. I also loved the scene where all these football icons hit a ball which turns to paint splattering their image on a wall- quite creative. It would have been great, had he Akon worn some Agbada(something African) at some point coz after all, he still an African. - He still had the rapper look.
But all in all, I hope it makes your weekend.
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2010 Summer Literary Seminars; Unified Literary Contest - Essay and Poetry call for Entries
» Kenyanpoet Summer Literary Seminars is announcing its annual unified (Montreal, Lithuania and Kenya) literary contest, held this year in affiliation with Fence Magazine. The Judges this year will be, Mary Gaitskill judging the fiction, and Mary Jo Bang judging the poetry.
Contest winners in the categories of fiction and poetry will have their work published in Fence, as well as the participating literary journals in Canada, Lithuania and Kenya. Additionally, they will have the choice of attending (airfare, tuition, and housing included) any one of the SLS-2010 programs – in Montreal, Quebec (June 13 - 27); Vilnius, Lithuania (August 1 - 14); or Nairobi-Lamu, Kenya (December).
Second-place winners will receive a full tuition waiver for the program of their choice, and third-place winners will receive a 50% tuition discount.
A number of select contest participants, based on the overall strength of their work, will be offered tuition scholarships, as well, applicable to the SLS-2010 programs.
Contest Deadline: February 28, 2010.
Poetry Judge: Mary Jo Bang is professor of English and director of the Creative Writing Program at Washington University.
Fiction Judge: Mary Gaitskill is an author of essays, short stories and novels
The complete guidelines for the 2010 contest are as follows:
One short story or novel excerpt, maximum 25 pages per entry.
No more than three poems per entry.
Only previously unpublished work can be submitted.
Entries can be submitted electronically, to: SLS Fiction Poetry Contest: sls.contest@gmail.com
A $15 US reading fee must accompany each entry. Multiple entries are permissible, as long as they are accompanied by separate reading fees.
Fees can paid paid online, via Paypal, or by cheque.
Log on to the SLS website for more details
(I have gotten intouch with the SLS team on payment modes as Paypal is not practicle in Kenya,will post solutions if found)
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Wellington Rugby 7's Update: Kenya 10 England 24
» Rugby in Kenya Wellington Rugby 7's Update: Kenya 10 England 24
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3:17
Changes at Nakumatt
» KA-INVESTOR The last two years have been tough for Nakumatt. First came the Thika road demolition, then the downtown fire tragedy and the wetland encronchment claim on westlands Nakumatt Ukay. All these have cost the supermarket chain quite a fortune. Its major recent expansions have been into Kampala and Rwanda, where they seem to be doing well.
In the wake of news that Nakumatt CEO, Mr. Atul Shah, was named one of the top 50 emerging market business leaders by Financial Times, it has emerged that its top management has been resigning over the recent months. Including their media friendly COO, Thiagarajan Ramamurthy.
Probably all this is linked to the incoming new investor, who is set to take up 30% shareholding in the firm at a cost of about US$25 million. The other main shareholders being Mr, Shah - the CEO and Hotnet Ltd – associated with Harun Mwau [Assistant Minister for Transport]. Like many other, Nakumatt’s bid to list on the NSE has taken a back sit until further notice.
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WebHosting to Become Cheap in Kenya
» A Nairobian's Perspective ! Reading yesterdays Business News on how Kenyan Authorities are bent on forcing the internet service providers to reduce their charges and make increased bandwidth affordable for many, certain made many of us hopeful.I have friend's who are running their own home businesses, selling items and garments that i feel should be marketed online but in sub Sahara internet access and domain hosting (i.e hosting of websites) is beyond the reach of many individuals.Furthermore, many people lack basic knowledge on web hosting. Well i have found the site web hosting geeks featuring webhosting review to be quite informative.
More and more Kenyans and by extension Africans need to join the World Wide Web wagon to market themselves, their produce, ideas...items etc.This can only be possible if affordable bandwidth and hosting opportunities are created in order to make Africa competitive in Electronic Commerce.E-Commerce is not complex as some may tend to think, one needs to be interested and well informed in order to make use of it. With reduced prices and Government intervention in the curtailing of oligopolistic practices by the major internet service providers ,perhaps many more shall take up on e-commerce. Yes you too can have your own website!
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1:38
Rewind!!!! Separate at Birth
» Media Madness This is Taylor Murathe HBR Taylor He hosts Radical rock Joe, Danny, in a yellow mess he calls a sweater Danny is the best radio producer in town! He works for Capital and Blackstar! He used to host the ER with akina styles back in the day…don’t they look alike??
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1:29
On the path to mainstream media…
» Media Madness So today I’ve woken up to some serious ass bashing via email. Being told I need to be mainstream like Pulse and Zuqka. LOL!Let me try and be mainstream and post a story that is ’sensible’ enough to make it in the papers. Marcus buys a new car Former Classic 105 radio presenter Marcus Kwikiriza has bought [...]
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1:29
On the path to mainstream media…
» Media Madness So today I’ve woken up to some serious ass bashing via email. Being told I need to be mainstream like Pulse and Zuqka. LOL!Let me try and be mainstream and post a story that is ’sensible’ enough to make it in the papers. Marcus buys a new car Former Classic 105 radio presenter Marcus Kwikiriza has bought [...] -
1:20
Drum this month!
» Media Madness Read about how Carol Radull met her hubby Mike and check out the lovely pics from their beach wedding. Also Gaetano shares his valentine plans with Drum aaand check out Drum’s interview with Jeremy Ndirangu – Kenya’s rep in the big brother house last year. For those who read True Love, the cover story is about Belinda [...]
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1:15
Tina leaving Capital
» Media Madness Sources tell us Tina – who co-hosts the Fuse with Italia is leaving Capital very soon to pursue other interests. We wish Tina all the best. Rae BFF, when do you leave?
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1:15
Tina leaving Capital
» Media Madness Sources tell us Tina – who co-hosts the Fuse with Italia is leaving Capital very soon to pursue other interests. We wish Tina all the best. Rae BFF, when do you leave?
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Wellington Rugby 7's Update : Kenya 24 USA 7
» Rugby in Kenya Wellington Rugby 7's Update : Kenya 24 USA 7
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20:00
Ten Conclusions from Mobile Web East Africa Conference
» All about Africa and specifically Kenya 1. The importance and the unique needs for the local content was analyzed, discussed, dissected and the consensus is , people are willing to pay for the relevant local web content and the idea that people don’t want to pay for local web content is nonsense. Before you get excited remember people pay for [...]
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Wellington Rugby 7's Update : Kenya 15 Tonga 7
» Rugby in Kenya Wellington Rugby 7's Update : Kenya 15 Tonga 7
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Big Car, Small Dick
» Diary of a gay Kenyan Tuesday afternoon I was standing in a queue at the bank. There was a man ahead of me at the counter getting serviced served, he was being quite loud so much that everyone could hear his business.
So there he was, standing in dusty shoes and wearing a mismatched suit which are sure signs of the Kenyan billionare, wobbly belly swaying over cantilevered trouser-belt which is the third sign of Nairobi's obscenely wealthy. I was wondering how much money you'd have to get paid to sleep with someone like that (zillions at least) or how much alcohol do you have to imbibe before you can do it with the lights on. Meanwhile his short, chubby but surprisingly athletic fingers (It's not the size of the finger that matters, but the size of the ring. Lol, big fat lie!) were banging away to the annoying crescendo of the note counting machine as he transacted small fortunes across multiple accounts, setting up standing orders, getting bankers' cheques and just for good measure he also drew a few hundred thousand 'to pay the workers, haha ha ha'. I even saw him slide the cashier a couple thou, for lunch. The people in the jittering lunchtime queue were far from impressed. BTW, my bank offers me teas and coffees while I'm waiting but nowhere to powder my nose, where is the sense in that?
After 'beached-whale trucking mini-waterfall-cascading-down-the-crack-of-bum (lovely sweat, mmmm)' waddled out of Barclays the young woman behind me muttered: 'These sad men who want people to notice them - it's all about the size of the cock!'
Just be yourself, you are somebody and the world belongs to you too. Glenn Jones
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Raila’s Popularity in Central: Fact or Fiction?
» You Missed This Why is the proposed PM’s working trip to Central province creating an uproar? Why is the DPM suddenly eager to meet councillors from Central and parts of Rift Valley in an all-expenses-paid trip to Thika?
The ground in most parts of the country has moved. Old order politicians are slowly being edged out.
We saw it happen in Rift Valley in 2007, and it is now officially happening in Central Province. Up to four million votes, and upwards of 50 parliamentary seats, will be up for grabs in former PNU strongholds. The Central Kenya voter is already making his/her surprise choice known.
The amazing political goings on in Central Province have even been vindicated by the latest Synovate (Steadman) opinion poll. In their report released just last month, Synovate places the PM at 17% against DPM’s 15% in Central Province in terms of preferred presidential candidates. Even as political focus moves from Mau Water Tower in Rift Valley where a plot to paint the PM as an aggressor aborted, an interesting battle is shaping up in Central especially since it emerged the PM has identified the vote rich Muranga District as a launch pad for action oriented development and political forays into Central Province.
No one individual can currently be said to have total political grip on any province when it comes to elections. The most apparent of all is Central Province which is surprisingly emerging as the province that will make or break the next president of Kenya.
To add insult to injury, the DPM continues to hang on by a thread to an imaginary front run of the Central Province political leadership; a thread mostly held out by the likes of Simon Mbugua and Jamleck Kamau. Meanwhile, no scientific evidence has ever been tabled that the DPM is the automatic political leader of Central Province and neither are there any guarantees that Central Kenya will fall for the usual ethnic driven and short sighted politics.
In the meantime, the prime minister appears to be overwhelmed to accommodate tens of Central Province grassrooters, professionals and business leaders who are itching to pay courtesy calls and place invitations to visit them back home. Some of them believe he is the only leader who cares to resolve problems affecting the common man. The grapevine has it the PM has convinced influential Agikuyu elders and is now working on building a corruption free team of pointmen that includes individuals like Peter Kenneth and John Githongo. An endorsement is also expected from Nobel Laureate Prof. Wangari Maathai.
Interestingly, a petty cold war is being fought at Treasury Building where both the PM and one his DPM’s share the same office block. When Central Kenya delegations are visiting the PM in droves, one cannot help imagine a situation where these delegations from the DPM’s supposed stronghold meet with the DPM in the lifts, which then passes the KANU Chairman’s office to be ushered into PM’s conference room higher up. The same thing repeats itself on their way out. Boy! If only we could move the entire Treasury to some other place!
The latest development paints a remarkable turnaround of fortunes for the Prime Minister who in 2007 only managed a paltry 1.9% of the presidential vote against the incumbent’s 97%. During the same polls the Vice President managed a face-saving 0.7%.
Clearly, the Overton window has shifted and voter will no longer be used like sufurias that are only remembered when hunger sets in.
Although many had predicted the demise of certain causes following the 2007 disputed polls, most Kenyans appear to be ready to vote without regard to ethnic origins or ethnic alliances.Kumekucha
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Cricket Kenya CEO position advertisment
» Kenya Cricket Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 st1:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;}CRICKET KENYA
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Kenya is one of the top two Associate Members on the ODI Championship Table and in 2009 qualified for its fifth successive ICC Cricket World Cup. Nowhere was Kenya’s ability and potential made more apparent than in the 2003 Cricket World Cup when Kenya defeated Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh on their way to the semi-finals of that tournament.
Cricket Kenya (CK) seeks to appoint on a fixed term basis, an experienced, dynamic and energetic individual as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead and manage its activities up to and beyond the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup.
The successful candidate will report to the CK Board and will implement and spearhead the overall vision and strategic direction of CK’s cricket and commercial operations. The position carries an attractive salary package with benefits commensurate with experience.
The CEO will be a non-executive member of the Board and will, on a day to day basis, be responsible to, and work closely with, the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Hon Treasurer of the CK Board (“the office bearers”).
The CEO would be responsible for delivering in the following key duties:
- Overall responsibility for the day to day administration and financial activities of CK in conjunction with the office bearers and other members of staff
- Effective corporate governance and compliance with statutory requirements
- Strategic Planning, managing, implementation and regular overviews of business planning and long term strategies
- Development planning and youth and women’s programmes
- Financial performance, management and accountability including preparation of Annual Reports, Budgets and Funding Reports.
- Administration and arrangements of CK AGM, Board and Council Meetings.
- Responsibility for developing CK’s organisation, overseeing performance and conduct of all CK staff and regular preparation of all staff appraisals.
- Overseeing all marketing, fund-raising, communication and promotional activities and identifying sponsorship and other funding activities.
- Management of assets and facilities, activities and events
- National Team affairs
- Management of relations with the International Cricket Council (ICC), African Cricket Association (ACA) and other related sporting bodies
- Industrial relations, taxation and employee affairs
- Promotion of CK’s profile with ICC, sponsors, media and all key stakeholders
The CEO should have the following skills and competencies:
- Sound knowledge of information and computer technology
- Tertiary qualification, preferably degree level or equivalent.
- Minimum of 5 years in a senior Management level position preferably with financial and commercial experience
- Be an analytical and creative manager with strong leadership skills who works well under pressure
- Experience in sport, particularly cricket administration, would be advantageous
- Excellent business acumen, interpersonal and project management skills
Applications should include a covering letter and a detailed resume together with the names and contact details of three referees. The covering letter should address how your experience and skills meet the main duties above. Applications should also provide an indication of when the applicant would be available to commence but this would not preclude anyone with the right credentials from being considered. Further details may be requested by CK at a later date. Applications, by email only, should be received by close of business on Friday 19th February 2010 to:
Samir Inamdar Barbara Kokonya
Chairman Administration Manager
Cricket Kenya Cricket Kenya
inamdar@africaonline.co.ke barbara.kokonya@cricketkenya.co.ke
PLEASE NOTE: Only short listed candidates will be contacted and if you have not been contacted by Friday 26th February, please be advised that your application was not successful.
Become a fan of Kenya Cricket.com on facebook: [www.facebook.com]
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4:52
4 TIPS FOR VALUE INVESTORS
» Kenyantykoon's Blog For reasons that are out of my control, i have not been able to post as regularly as i was last year but i am intent on reverting to my regularity very soon. It has been a long time since i linked to any article that i found too helpful for an finance reader interesting in [...]
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My take on the 15's Squad Selection
» Rugby in Kenya My take on the 15's Squad Selection -
Early Morning for Rugby Fans
» Rugby in Kenya Early Morning for Rugby Fans
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3:17
One week later…
» Media Madness It’s been a week since Pete Sinclair promised changes on the X Fm playlist. Has it changed??? Err nope – still the same old tracks