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23:04 Iraq
» Kenyanentrepreneur.com About two months ago, I met a Kenyan who’d spent 16 months in Iraq as a Sergeant. She described the place as a “terrorist haven”. I’m not sure if she’s going back. I didn’t ask, but next time I see her, I will ask. She was the third Kenyan I’d met [...] -
22:41
[nt]
» Kenyanentrepreneur.com
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19:27
eat fairly well for under $8 on the upper west side
» Learning to play 
For those of you who like me are always looking for a good place to eat for cheap in this wonderful but slightly pricey neighbourhood I found a place called club 71 that a pretty good deal for the price. I got the food you see in the picture for $6.95 plus tax. (side bar: this is the first picture im posting taken with my new Dash. It was at night so the lights not very good).
Here is a picture of the place:
Its at 2061 Broadway, New York, NY in case your ever in the area and hungry
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15:02
All the king’s phones…
» Me, Life & Everything Rendezvous: 2302hrs Prolixity: Long but picturesque Mood: Geeky, yet again Whereabouts: Home Echelon: X Track: Not gon’ cry - Mary J Blige, Reflections - A Retrospective. The previous post inspired me to write a second one about the phones i have owned in my brief acquaintance with the two mobile networks in this our fair country. I should hope that this [...]
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14:18
why amend?
» REBECCA WANJIKU'S BLOG Am sure people are expecting a “convoluted” reason as to why the AG decided amend KCA (98) instead of coming up with a brand new Act.
Well, don’t wait for a “huge” explanation, its simple- the AG just thought it was easier to amend instead of coming up with a new Act that may be changed or be altered by insertion of new issues including typing errors.
At least that is what we were told at the stakeholders meeting.
For George Kegoro, ICJ-K head, the present bill is terribly confusing for lawyers and parliamentarians. Kegoro felt that it would have been procedurally easier in terms of practice to bring a brand new statute (through an original Act).
He added that the government can be accused of lack of good faith in this case because it could have been done better.
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13:43
Hot Ghetto Mess
» Black Looks I’ve been mulling this one over. The new show on BET (Black Entertainment Television) called Hot Ghetto Mess has been in the news lately with its debut of July 25, 2007 quickly approaching. I’ve been sent links about the show and implored by AskThisBlackWoman readers to write something about it… but I had [...]
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13:20
Scandal Bigger Than Anglo Leasing
» You Missed This For legal reasons I cannot say very much about this scandal that has been dubbed bigger than Anglo Leasing. But I will be able to do so very soon. The plot in question is a huge chunk hived off the world famous Masai Mara game reserve. If you are in a position to, just check details of the plot Talek 155.
Even a Google search on Telek 155 yields this link to a story that appeared in one of the dailies.
Several very prominent people in the current administration have been named as beneficiaries of this controversial allocation. This is probably the reason why no action has been taken over the petition lodged almost a year ago (see article for details).
Read more about Telek 155 -
President Kibaki's Secret Election—Winning Strategy
» You Missed This archive
I hope all you good folks know who Mutahi Ngunyi is. It is very important that you know because he is at the center of an election campaign winning strategy that has been carefully implemented even before the chaotic referendum of 2005 that is designed to see the ailing sickly President Kibaki back in power for another 5 years term.
Mutahi Ngunyi is that guy in specs who used to make cutting edge analysis in the run up to the 2002 general elections, mostly on KTN TV. He has admitted himself that during those elections he also did some consultancy work for the Kibaki team (which he says in one column that was published in the Daily Nation, candidate Kibaki at that time did not appreciate and arrogantly wondered whether he (Ngunyi) knew what he was talking about.)
In the early years of the Kibaki administration Mutahi Ngunyi's column in the Sunday Nation had become a must-read, especially because of his biting, but well-researched...
Read more
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12:42
Things are elephant
» Mentalacrobatics Assistant Director of Meteorological department Peter Ambenje said some areas will experience a decrease in temperatures which will drop as low as five degrees Celsius at night.
Ambenje said the cold spell would run from this month to August this year.
The Kenya Meteorological Department in its monthly report states;
The Highlands East of the Rift Valley (Nyeri, Muranga, Kiambu, Embu, Meru) and Nairobi area (Dagoretti, Wilson, Eastleigh) are expected to experience cool and cloudy conditions with occasional light rains / drizzle. A few days are expected to be characterized by persistent cloud cover (overcast skies) for long hours leading to extremely cold and chilly conditions with maximum (daytime) temperatures falling below 20°C and minimum (nighttime) temperatures falling below 10°C.
Bollocks to this, I’m off to England.
Any KBWers, bloggers, TEDsters, Skunkers, anyone at all, in my old stomping grounds of Maaaaanchesysta, Lahan’dan (innit),and Awwwwxfod who wouldn’t mind a good discussion over a couple of pineapple juices this week drop me a line.
© Mentalacrobatics for Mentalacrobatics, 2007. | Permalink | 5 comments
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Why This Luo Thing Hurts Me So…
» You Missed This archive
Today's posts are all dedicated to the closest friend I ever had, the late Ger Nyanjom, whose life was brutally cut short before he could achieve his dreams. The man who shot him at point blank range in a Nairobi office and stole nothing in 2005 has never been arrested to this day. Circumstances point to the fact that my friend "G" as he was fondly known to those who were close to him, lost his life because he was a Luo (sorry, I can't give details).
Thank you "G" for being there for me when I was down and out. I will not rest until all the Luo propaganda, that has caused so much anguish to this community and which was partly to blame for your death, is reversed and all Kenyans reach a place where they understand and appreciate the Luo community as precious Kenyans whose contribution to our beloved motherland has always been downplayed and undermined. I dream that one day soon, a popular Luo president will be elected in Kenya and the electorate will not even notice that he is a Luo…
I was born in Kisumu and yet strangely enough my parents were not residents of this beautiful Luo Nyanza lakeside city. They were in fact traveling and Kumekucha just couldn't wait to get into this world—if only I knew the nature of this world then, I would not have been in such a hurry.
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How Jaramogi Odinga Denied Kenya A Leadership Free Of Tribalism
» You Missed This archive
Jaramogi Oginga Odinga in a moment of jealous rage denied Kenya the perfect non-tribal beginning she deserved and at the same time took away the presidency from his own Luo community and handed it over to another Kenyan community.
The spiritual implications of this action make it difficult for the community to win back the presidency that was there's in the first place but was given away and more so the man's son Raila, (who is as different from his father as light is to day). Something you give away to frustrate your own is not easy to get back.
This is what happened…
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Kibaki Holds On To Solicited Award At Function
» You Missed This Guest column
archive
I watched in amusement early this month when an excited President Kibaki refused to hand over the UNPSA award to his Aide de Camp prior to addressing members of his cabinet at State House. It was a sight to behold because this was a special ceremony that required the attendance of all ministers, their assistant ministers, permanent secretaries and other senior government officials.
Read full story...
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Ravaging Africa
» Black Looks “Ravaging Africa” is a truly exceptional 4 part radio documentary series on Africa. The series interviewed 26 activists from 16 countries during the WSF in Nairobi in January. The ravaging of Africa has been enriching Europe and North America for more than 500 years. First, European empires imposed slavery and colonialism on the [...]
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8:54
US and Britain : rake in more than Sh270 million each year from Kenyans in visa application fees.
» My Africa Today Nairobi
Two of the world’s richest nations - the US and Britain - together rake in more than Sh270 million each year from Kenyans in visa application fees.And not all people who pay the money end up travelling; many are turned away- without a visa or refund.
And they will have to pay the application fee again if they reapply.
The press attaché at the US embassy in Nairobi, Ms Jeniffer Barnes, confirms that the mission interviews about 24,000 Kenyans every year for all types of non-immigrant visas, most of them for visitors and tourists. About 4,000 applicants are interviewed annually for immigrant and diversity (Green Card) visas.
Ms Barnes says the mandatory $100 (Sh7,200) visa fee “covers the cost of processing visa applications” while an extra $20 (Sh1,440) is a reciprocity fee for a visitor’s visa.
This means that the 28,000 Kenyans who annually apply for US visas pay more than Sh200 million to the US government.
This is a conservative figure because some types of visa attract higher charges.
At the British high commission, press officer Stella Ondimu says the mission does not have records of how many Kenyans apply for visas to travel to the UK every year.
But figures released two years ago showed that the consular section interviewed between 45 and 60 people every working day. If the higher figure were applicable today, this would translate to more than 15,000 applicants each year, paying a non-refundable fee of Sh4,700 each. This would translate to about Sh70 million annually.
Both the British and the American visa fee totals are worked out on a much lower scale than actually collected because the calculations do not take into account that some visa types attract much higher fees.
According to Ms Barnes, the processing fee “is charged because Kenya charges US citizens to issue a tourist visa. Kenya charges US citizens $50 (Sh3,600) for a single-entry, three-month visitor’s visa. Our fee is for a visitor’s visa, which normally is multiple-entry and 12 months in validity.”
The application fee is a requirement of the US law, she adds.
On if the US could consider lowering the fees and if unsuccessful applicants could get a refund, the official says there is no provision in the US law allowing refunds.
The US Congress, she explains, would have to authorise the embassy to refund application fees in case a visa was denied.
Ms Ondimu stresses that “the charges levied are for processing the papers, and whether or not one gets the visa, work has been done.
“Visa fees are set by the government department responsible for visa issuing services overseas. Fees are charged to assist with the costs of processing an application and are fixed globally… the fee is the same regardless of the nationality of the applicant or the country in which he or she applies.”
All people seeking entry into the UK, she points out, must show that they meet the relevant provisions of the UK immigration rules.
But she says the mission does not keep statistics of how many Kenyans enter the UK annually.
On reports that applicants, including senior government officials, are sometimes harassed, Ms Ondimu explains: “Understanding the demands on Kenya government officials and other VIPs, we currently accommodate them with special processing procedures designed to ensure that their visa applications are processed expeditiously.
“Government officials and other VIPs usually use their contacts within the embassy to help facilitate this process.”
On complaints over the treatment of applicants, Ms Barnes denies that consular officials harass or delay the applications of Kenyans seeking to travel to the US.Relevant Links
“A primary goal of the consular section of the US embassy is to provide fast and courteous service to all visa applicants,” she says. “Our customer service survey indicates that we achieve this goal.”
Reminded about the incident in June in which 77 people were arrested but later released without charges being preferred against them, she says they were seized after being found to have engaged in fraud to have their visa applications processed.
“Without going into details, the type of activity engaged in by these individuals was illegal under both the US and the Kenyan laws,” she says.
The arrested people were initially accused of being members of a ring of fraudulent visa applicants.
The frustrations are not peculiar to Kenyans wishing to travel to the US and Britain. But there are other foreign missions whose visa application charges are moderate and in which reports of harassment or other complaints are minimal.
China, for example, which in recent years has proved a popular destination for Kenyans, charges a relatively modest fee - Sh2,500 for the double-entry visa and Sh3,800 for the multiple one.
An official of the embassy’s public affairs department says that although there has not been cases of rejection of applications from Kenyans, a refund of the fee would be guaranteed.
Government-sponsored students are exempted from the visa application fee, the official says, adding that the exemption is part of the two countries’ development cooperation.
But self-sponsored students are expected to pay a token Sh2,200 if they show proof that they agree on the fees charged by the institutions they are going to.
The charge is even lower in the case of Japan for the various categories of visa. And money is not paid upfront, but until the visa is processed when one is asked to pay it on collection, says an embassy official, Ms Oba Kozue.
A single-entry visa, the official adds, costs only Sh2,050, while a multiple one goes for Sh4,100.
She says that the charges are uniform for all categories of visitors, including students, except people on transit who are required to pay only Sh500.
The South African high commission charges no fee to Kenyans wishing to travel there for whatever reason. The country has of late become a preferred destination for Kenyan businesspeople and those seeking medical treatment and further education.
A good turn deserves another, so the old adage goes, and since Kenyan missions treat those wishing to visit the country with decorum, it may only be expected that other countries will reciprocate, says an official at the Nyayo House offices of the immigration department.
There have been many complaints about the US and Britain in particular mistreating visa applicants or denying them entry for no good reason.
For instance, Livestock and Fisheries minister Joseph Munyao early this year came face to face with the grim reality of the frustrations many Kenyans undergo in pursuit of a visa to the US. The VIP treatment he expected was not there, and he was forced to join a long queue of people waiting to have their fingerprints taken and to be searched.Relevant Links
After 30 minutes on the queue, the minister stormed out in a huff.
A public affairs officer at the embassy, Mr Robert Charles Kerr, says that apart from government officials travelling to the US on official business, visa applicants, including Cabinet ministers, are not exempted from the rigid visa security requirements.
Mr Kerr stresses that for security reasons, all visitors to the US embassies around the world, including American citizens, must pass through the security checks.
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8:35
Everything they dont want you know about Credit Cards: Part One
» Bizmambo PART ONE
DEFINITIONS
First some terms, along with the meanings they have in the industry:
Cardholder - an individual to whom a credit card is issued. Typically, this individual is also responsible for payment of all charges made to that card. Corporate cards are an exception to this rule.
Card Issuer - an institution that issues credit cards to cardholders. This institution is also responsible for billing the cardholder for charges. Often abbreviated to "Issuer".
Card Accepter - an individual, organization, or corporation that accepts credit cards as payment for merchandise or services. Often abbreviated "Accepter" or "merchant".
Acquirer - an organization that collects (acquires) credit authorization requests from Card Accepters and provides guarantees of payment. Normally, this will be by agreement with the Issuer of the card in question.
Many issuers are also acquirers. Some issuers allow other acquirers to provide authorizations for them, under pre-agreed conditions. Other issuers provide all their own authorizations.
TYPES OF CARDS
The industry typically divides up cards by the business of the issuer. So there are bank cards (VISA, Master Card, Discover), Petroleum Cards (SUN Oil, Exxon, etc.), and Travel and Entertainment (T&E) cards (American Express, Diners' Club, Carte Blanche). Other cards are typically lumped together as "Private Label" cards. That would include department store cards, telephone cards, and the like. Most private label cards are only accepted by the issuer. People are starting to divide the telephone cards into a separate class, but it hasn't received widespread acceptance. (This is just a matter of terminology, and doesn't affect anything important.)
Cards are also divided by how they are billed. Thus there are credit cards (VISA, MC, Discover, most department store cards), charge cards (American Express, AT&T, many petroleum cards) and debit cards. Credit cards invoke a loan of money by the issuer to the cardholder under pre-arranged terms and conditions. Charge cards are simply a payment convenience, and their total balance is due when billed. When a debit card is used, the amount is taken directly from the cardholder's account with the issuer. Terminology is loose - often people use "credit card" to encompass credit cards and charge cards.
A recent phenomenon is third-party debit cards. These cards are issued by an organization with which the cardholder has no account relationship. Instead, the cardholder provides the card issuer with the information necessary to debit the cardholder's checking account directly through an Automated Clearing House (ACH), the same way a check would be cleared. This is sort of like direct deposit of paychecks, in reverse. ACHs love third-party debit cards. Banks hate them.
Another recent addition is affinity cards. These cards are valid credit cards from their issuer, but carry the logo of a third party, and the third party benefits from their use. There is an incredible variety of affinity cards, ranging from airlines to colleges to professional sports teams.
HOW THEY MAKE MONEY
Issuers of credit cards make money from cardholder fees and from interest paid on outstanding balances. Not all issuers charge fees. Even those that do, make most of their money on the interest. They really LIKE people who pay the minimum each month.
Issuers of charge cards make money from cardholder fees. Some charge cards actually run at a loss for the company, particularly those that are free. The primary purpose of such cards is to stimulate business.
Issuers of debit cards may make money on transaction fees. Not all debit card transactions have fees. Most debit cards exist to stimulate business for the bank and to offload tellers and back-room departments.
To date, third-party debit cards exist solely to stimulate business. Providers of such cards make no direct money from their use.
Acquirers make money from transaction charges and discount fees. Unlike the charges and fees mentioned above, these fees are paid by the accepter, not (directly) by the cardholder. (Technically, it is not legal for the merchants to pass these charges directly to the consumer. Some petroleum stations have gotten away with giving a discount for cash, and it has survived court challenges so far.) Transaction charges are typically in pennies per transaction, and are sensitive to the type of communication used for the authorization. Discount fees are a percentage of the purchase price and are sensitive to volume and compliance to rules. One way to encourage merchants to follow certain
procedures or to upgrade to new equipment is to offer a lower discount fee.
Until fairly recently, the only motivation for accepters was to expand their business by accepting cards. Reduction of fraud was enough reason for many merchants to pay authorization fees, but in many cases, it isn't worth the cost. (That is, it is cheaper to pay the fraud than to prevent it.) Recently, electronic settlement has provided merchants with an added benefit by reducing float on charged purchases. Merchants can now get their accounts credited much faster than before, which helps cash flow.
Companies that issue charge cards are real keen on float reduction. The sooner they can bill you, the sooner they get their money. Credit card companies are also interested in float reduction, since the sooner they bill, the sooner they can start charging interest. Debit cards typically involve little or no float.
Affinity cards usually pay a percentage of purchases to the affinity organization. Although it may seem obvious to take this money from the discount fee, this doesn't work since the issuer is not always the
acquirer. The money for this usually comes from the interest paid on outstanding balances. Essentially, the bank is giving a share of its profits to an organization in turn for the organization promoting use
of its credit card. The affinity organization is free to use its cut any way it wishes. An airline will typically put it into the frequent flyer program (and credit miles to your account). A college may put the money into the general fund or into a scholarship fund. Lord only knows what a sports team does with the money!
THE PLAYERS AND THEIR ROLES
American Express (AMEX) is a charge card issuer and acquirer. (Their other businesses are not important to this discussion.) All AMEX purchases are authorized by AMEX. They make most of their money from the discount fees, which is why they have the highest discount fee in the industry. That's one reason why AMEX isn't accepted in as many places as VISA and MC, and a reason why many merchants will prefer another card to an AMEX card. The control AMEX has over authorization allows
them to provide what they consider to be better cardholder ("cardmember" to them) services.
VISA is a non-profit corporation (SURPRISE!) that is best described as a purchasing and marketing coalition of its member banks. VISA issues no credit cards itself - all VISA cards are issued by member banks. VISA does not set terms and conditions for its member banks - the banks can do pretty much as they please in signing cardholders. All VISA charges are ultimately approved by the card issuer, regardless of where the purchase was made. Many smaller banks share their account databases with larger banks, third parties, or VISA itself, so that the bank doesn't have to provide authorization facilities itself.
Master Card (MC) is very much like VISA. There are some differences that are important to those in the industry, but from the consumers standpoint they operate pretty much the same.
Discover cards are issued by a bank owned by Sears. All Discover purchases are authorized by Sears.
Most petroleum cards, if they are even authorized, are authorized by the petroleum company itself. There are exceptions. Fraud on petroleum cards is so low that the main reason for authorization is to
achieve the float reduction of electronic settlement.
THE BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS
Card acceptors generally sign up with a local acquirer for authorization and settlement of all credit cards. This acquirer may or may not be a card issuer, but certainly will not have issued all the cards that the merchant can accept. The accepter does not generally call one place for VISA and a different place for MC, for example. At one time, this was necessary, but more and more acquirers are connected to all networks and are offering a broader range of services.
Acquirers generally are connected to many issuers, and pay transaction charges and discount fees to those issuers for authorizations. Thus, the acquirer is actually making money on the difference between fees paid and fees billed. Most acquirers gather together transactions from many accepters, allowing them to get volume discounts on fees. Since the accepters individually have lower volume and are not eligible for those discounts, there is a markup that the acquirer can get away with. Acquirers also, of course, provide the convenience of a single contact.
Most large banks are issuers and acquirers. Things get real interesting when it's time to settle up. Some small banks are only issuers. There are third parties that are only acquirers.
In future episodes, I'll explain how standards help all this chaos work together, and give details about how the authorization process happens.
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8:30
Minding your PISS iN Queues
» Me I LOve NAirobi REgardless - MILONARE Minding your Peepee In Serious Sufferation iN Queues
Another collabo with Guest Blogger
The other day at Tamasha I witnessed an interesting scenario at the kwa watoto. An Aegeus look-a-like galloped into the loos and resorted to peeing profusely amidst a series of chortles, giggles and neighs. His potty training was still intact as he had his trousers down at the ankles (like the young ones do), his colorless thong - worn the wrong way round - clearly visible below his Fundi Frank tank-top. At a certain point, in true dog-to-tree fashion, he raised a left leg and proceeded to sprinkle away unabashedly. It got me thinking about the so called short-call.
Call it what you may: susuing, weeweeing, taking a tinkle in glee, kunyora, sweet release, walking willy wanker, water-gun wars, mkojo mkuu etc – the point is, this is an activity not without its wees woes.
Act I, Scene I - To Pee or not To Pee
That must have been the question William Shakes-his-spear asked himself over and over on shaking his spear having done the deed. His thoughts were on the hassles and hustles:
Arriving at the loo, Inexes discovers a long queue. The urge is urgent and the need of needy proportions. Soon he begins to tiptoe in true ballerina fashion, left pirouette, right pirouette. A series of Masai- and Samburu-like jumps are unleashed with jaw being jutted outwards and upwards with each landing and being recoiled for the next leap. He still has time to take a few snapshots of his belly in the urinal mirror mid-air. “C’mon guys,c’mon!!! Maliza chap chap!!!” Damn, a slight leak and the front of his trouser is irrigated by a few ammonia droplets.
Act I, Scene II- Me I Love Narrow-pee Regardless
“At least let the starter be okay today!!” JM whispers and mutters under his breath, his furrowed brow revealing the inner tension and fear occasioned by previous encounters in crowded loos. He arrives at the urinal simultaneously with three other characters. He thinks of words of encouragement like those he normally hears when Pee-N Speaks.Within milliseconds of the preliminaries the comrades are gushing away in frenzied unison. Unfortunately JM’s NCC fire-station truck has empty pipes and pumps. He squeezes little josh amidst persistent tugs and tweaking to the left and right. Still nothing!!! The comrades are beginning to wonder why he is there… a few self-inflicted, well placed slaps to lil josh and the rivulet begins accompanied by posterior gASSy sighs of relief.
Act I, Scene III – Pablo Pee-Castle
Now, Dooaz Michael-angle-loo loved doodling and sketching in the loo. So he starts the work of art top-down given that pressure is decreasing at an increasing rate. The concentration is intense and the mood somber. Working on the Moaner Pisser is serious stuff. Initial arches are drawn against the dry urinal wall with strokes that are firm and manly. Drat! Running out of paint… The paintbrush is shaken in unison with the natty dreads as the artist withdraws his weapon and retreats from the studio. The incomplete work of art is desecrated and overwritten by the next occupant, Kirima, who unleashes floods of mineral water bottled at source from the slopes of Mt Kirima.
Act I, Scene IV – Pee-bo Bryson ft Peepee and Susu Winans
Having finished the extrication the establishment is treated to a rendition of “a whole new world” (with Archer singing both voices of the duet) marking the relief from release …indescribable feeling... Previous drops at the front of the trouser have since dried. Sadly, placing mshale-junior (MJ) to bed also has it risks. Clamping MJ between the index and middle finger, Archer delivers a series of shakes, shivers and quivers to empty the buffers. Thereafter, the clamp pressure is increased and squeegee-like motions applied forward and backward to ensure no hidden manyunyus and marasharashas remain. Comfortable in the thought that he is safe, MJ is laid to rest and Archer saunters away. "Drat!" There is a cold wet feeling at the tip and evidence of the deed is apparent from the frontal, wet trouser stain.
Act II, Scene I – The Pied Piper of Peepee
Aegeus was always a shy one totally afraid of the loo. The urinal was never his friend. He hated when there were queues. He’d fidget and shuffle in his feet. Other patrons would wonder what his problem was. To him Walking Willy Wonka was a private ceremony just like Wanking Willy Wonka. He always blushed. Overcome by guilt that his behavior was always deemed inappropriate causing undue sufferation durin urination like flatulation during copulation.
Act II, Scene II - Crouching Tiger Hidden Peepee
For starters, he handled his zipper like a delta force tactic. It was secret ammunition to be retrieved under tight surveillance. Like a witness-protection witness in a court of law. Rapid and swiftly. His body so close to the urinal that he was near mounting the porcelain receptacle( after all it had been a while). The nozzle of the small rifle aptly wrapped by foreskin, aptly wrapped by the left hand.
All the while Aegeus looking backward to see if any outsiders have visually infiltrated his peeing ground. Satisfied that his villi in his villa is safe he releases the sphincters.
Act II, Scene III - Pee Free or Die Free
Sometimes overwhelmed by the social bug. The Aegeus sheds his inhibitions and begins to syphon the python proudly. Unzips with one motion. Whips it out in one swing. And spray paints the urinal, like a garden hose to a garden. He breaks all the Urinal Rules of engagement. Makes eye contact with other hoses and waves them hello! Then makes eye contact with the unamused gardener and asks “whassup?!” With a wide crooked smile… and when he finishes shakes his hips in a Shakira-like fashion, and his piece like a bic refusing to write. He swings back his hose into his loin cloth like a belly dancer…and saunters off.
Act II, Scene IV - Hurry Peepee and the Order of the Bladder
It’s a cold day. Needs to pee urgently. Its now or never! The Aegeus shyly rushes to the urinal. Clenching back and front sphincters. Finds a queue. Can’t even stand straight, beads of sweat dripping. Finally he’s next on the urinal. Trembling to find the buttons of his corduroy pants, cursing why he loves buttoned trousers. Struggles to pull the elastic of his too tight ngothas, it’s a tag of war between thumb and elastic. Incoming cold finger causes peepee to retract further inwardly. Peepee don’t like cold. Aegeus can’t find said peepee. He discovers a wrinkle and gently pinches it with his nails, lifting it gently outward and forward…. pulls… pulls only to realise it’s the bean sac and not the bean stalk. Finally the time is here. The mind is willing but the body is unable. There is silence as colleagues behind are wondering what’s the delay. A shy Peepee? He waits for the order of the Bladder. Wait for it…and finally a drop drops…then a floodgate is released. According to Bernoulli’s principle: reduced diameter of the pipe = increased velocity and pressure. The recoil pushes him backwards, as he steps on PeeFlani’s toes, causing Bansusu to burst out laughing….
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7:40
Weekend???
» My Life is...Mochalicious! Off the hinges….I am still recovering. Wacha, I will be back kesho with details. Farmgal, thanks for the invite. It was fun…..we should do it again. Aegeus, Archer and Udi……global meet-up? It was nice to vibe over the wire! Kwanza, who is blogging about the Nai meet-up? Wacheni ujinga, ebu tell us internationals how it went. Off to recoup’ Mocha!’s TunePick: [...]
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examining the KCA bill
» REBECCA WANJIKU'S BLOG faced with growing criticism, the ministry of information and communication is meeting stakeholders at Safaripark hotel to get their views on the proposed bill.
here are some highlights of the bill....
One, as drafted the Bill seeks to converge all sectors of communication (broadcasting, telecommunications and information technologies/internet) under one regulatory body i.e. the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) and thus, purportedly, streamline the licensing procedures and management of frequency spectrum, through numerous fundamental amendments to an existing principal Act and other incidental laws.
At a glance, this style of law making is clumsy, without precedent in Kenya and indeed the whole Commonwealth. It is the form of law making process that will most likely convolute issues and end up with bad law. Would it not have been tidier to come up with a new law that retains all the required provisions and repeals the existing law?
Since the principal Act, the Kenya Communications Act, 1998, is merely a skeletal legislation that only establishes the CCK, provides for licensing and regulation of telecommunications services, radio communications and postal Services, it is difficult to comprehend the wisdom of using it as the building block towards a law that will incorporate all aspects of broadcasting and information technology.
Again whether having a converged regulatory regime is the most ideal situation or having separate regulatory frameworks for the various communication sectors is to be preferred is a big question and one not easy to resolve without elaborate and structured consultations with all stakeholders and consumers of information – i.e. the general population.
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5:44
direct access to multimedia content (N95)
» Kikuyumoja's realm I am yet to figure out how to actually improve the different services provided by my new Nokia N95, and since I am a bit short in time these days, I try to limit my current N95 activities to small issues - discovering new stuff one by one.
What I eventually managed to run as a service is the streaming of video podcast. This service is just sweet as it enables me to download videocasts through a WLAN (@ home & @ work) or GPRS/UMTS (3G) directly from the phone.
==> Whereas an iPod Video still requires some syncing with iTunes + the pysical connection to a host computer (dito the Zen Vision:M I had used for some time), the N95 directly accesses the net. This way, all you need is network coverage and some memory space on your phone (I just ordered a 2 GB microSD card).
My next task will be to figure out how to make screenshots from the phone…
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THE CHILDREN OF THE REAL LESOTHO (by Pavo Real)
» Black Looks The children far from urban Maseru, the children of the real Lesotho, (A country of mountains, anchored in the sky with the stones of Africa, a land of beauty, death and love, Of corn and useless flowers, cattle and Aloe, Of wild skies and serene earth, And women stooped to sweep the dirt and weep, Without tears or fear that will [...]
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My Eulogy!
» Kenya Imagine Caleb Otieno on how his much has not amounted to much. He would rather, however, write his own eulogy, than have them tell lies about a life he never lived.
"I wasn't a model student (how could I be? With my Dad's ugly face and the ungraceful ness' of my drunken mother, no way I could've been a model anything.)"
Read the rest here. -
Smoking ban more than welcome
» Kenya Imagine Dan Teng'o on the smoking ban in Nairobi, Mombasa and Nakuru.
"Life is short. And smoking shortens it even further, by a decade, according to a report released by the World Health Organisation in 2004 after a 50-year study.
The Nakuru, Mombasa and Nairobi councils are on the right path. Other councils should follow their lead and ban smoking in public places. It will keep our environment clean and save lives ."
Read more here.