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22:47 A Small Memory…
» kaasa Enclosure: [download]
(Music again!) Hello! As sworn, this week has been tight for me. I went into work at 6am Monday, and today (Tuesday) I was there before 5:30am. But I have been leaving at 5pm on the dot as usual, just because my brain is completely fried after all those hours of work. Mr. Belgium, surprisingly, has made [...]
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19:52
Creative Juices
» White African What gets you thinking creatively?
I’ve been thinking a lot about the need to have more time spent away from the normal timesinks that define our working lives. Getting more dead time. Daydreaming time. Doodling time.
My main ways:
1. DaydreamingI had 10 hours of driving time on Friday. That’s the perfect environment for me to get some thinking done, I’m unable to escape to the digital tethers of mobile phone or computer, and reading a book isn’t possible. Therefore I think, and seemingly unrelated patterns start to become apparent from different projects, people and initiatives that I’m involved in.
This fits in with an article I read on Fast Company recently, “Hard Work’s Overrated, Maybe Detrimental“.
“By most measures, we spend about a third of our time daydreaming, yet our brain is unusually active during these seemingly idle moments. Left to its own devices, our brain activates several areas associated with complex problem solving, which researchers had previously assumed were dormant during daydreams. Moreover, it appears to be the only time these areas work in unison.”
Honestly, I don’t do this daydreaming stuff enough, I need to do it more. My goal is to untether myself from my iPhone and books more often. Some of my best ideas last year came from an airplane flight where I forgot my book and my iPhone was dead, leaving me with 5 hours an pen and a notebook…
2. DoodlingI used to draw a lot, but about 7-8 years ago I just kind of stopped. I’m determined to get started again, even if it is just doodling spaceships in a notebook.
Closely related to doodling is finding crazy, yet professional and cool, images that inspire me to strange thoughts. Case in point…
Good blogs to follow for occasional posts with reams of these types of images are InstantShift or Smashing Magazine.
How about you?I’m very interested in hearing how others get their creative juices flowing. At some point we all have to shake up the norm, the status quo, in our lives or work. Is there a way that you do this purposefully?
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17:21
It, Depression
» Words Much Like Poetry In those quiet moments it comes to me,
creeps up to me from an unknown place
my innermost thoughts my mind it seeks to mime
my cherished reverie without hap to replace
in desperation I wallow in phantasms,
reaching I grasp for an unextended vine,
sucked back within by this murky chasm
all I hope for now is salvation divine
there are no more dreamless sleeps
words fail to give me avowal
my grip on reality slips
it is only a game played to a foul
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17:17
Action at the coast
» Kenya Cricket There has been plenty of action at the coast recently, mostly centred around Mombasa Jafferys who have hosted a number of junior and community events.
In a warm up to the upcoming Junior Tournament on 31st October, Abbasali Mawji (40*), Kazimali Jaffer (2-0-11-4) and Siddiq Samani (2-0-8-3) combined to give their side a crunching 30 run win in a 10 over match.
In a community match the following day, Arman Warriors edged out Imamia Electrocutors by just 7 runs in a tightly fought 20-20 match.
Arman Warriors batted first scoring 118/8 in their 20 overs with Aliasger Abdalla (26), Mazhar Kassamali (16)and Husayn Virjee (15*) the main contributors. Pick of the bowling for the electrocutors was Mujahid Janmohammed who took 3/11 off his 4 overs while Kumayl Virjee took 2/10.
In reply Mohammed Fazel (35) and Mohammed Merali (28) had the Electrocutors looking good until some quick wickets and tight bowling stifled the run rate leaving them 7 runs short. Pick of the Warriors bowling was Miqdad Walji (2/16) with Husein Allidina, Fazle Kassamali, Shamil Khalfan and Mujtaba Janmohammed picking up a wicket each.Become a fan of Kenya Cricket.com on facebook: [www.facebook.com] -
RVSC and Spinknit win in Crown Berger 20-20 matches
» Kenya Cricket RVSC defeated Khalsa XI and Spinknit accounted for PBH Royal Cubs in the weekend games in the RVCA Crown Berger 20-20 tournament over the weekend.
In Game 5, Khalsa XI won the toss and elected to field with their top order all getting decent starts. Gunnaskekaran (37) and Nilesh Mehta (16) set the early tempo with Kulveer Ruprai (37*) and V.P. Singh (28) looking to consolidate. RVSC stuck to their guns however and the removal of Singh and Khalsa's efforts to up the run rate resulted in a spurt of wickets to see them close on 142/5 after their 20 overs. Pick of the bowling for RVSC was Rahul ? (2/25)
the RVSC reply was lead from the beginning by the in-form Luke Nightingale who steered his side to victory with an unbeaten 73. Chris Sterling contributed 23, but Khalsa will rue the 20 extra's that was third highest scorer as RVSC got home with 6 wickets and 2.4 overs in hand.
Game 6 saw spinknit bat first after winning the toss and setting an impressive 170/7 in their allotted overs. Minesh Bhatt retired after scoring 60 and a late flourish from Jatin Patel (31) did the damage. Jaymin Patel picked up 3/36 for the Cubs with Raj Patel and Ravi Patel taking one each.
PBH in reply had little answer to the spinknit bowlers with all who were used taking wickets. Indravadan Patel (2/6), Ahmed ? (2/7) and D.K ?? (2/10) the main destroyers. In the end a comfortable win for spinknit as the PBH Royal Cubs innings folded for just 68.Become a fan of Kenya Cricket.com on facebook: [www.facebook.com]
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16:00
Progressive or New Activist Draft Constitution?
» You Missed This 
A look at the proposed new draft constitution leaves you wondering whether you are listening to an NGO seminar presentation. While the draft captures the heart of most of the salient issues like devolution and judicial overhaul, the finer prints smacks of activism devoid of any trace of tunnel vision to anchor national foundation and values.
The return of two chambers may appear to rewinding the clock to 1960s but at least it is an honest reflection to help us retrace our steps towards disabusing the godfathers of impunity like Jomo and his STUDENTS who patented Kenya for themselves. The senate will ensure no region feels marginalized by either default or design as we re-invent ourselves into a modern state.
Hopefully the provincial governments will comprehensively tackle the regional militias presently roaming and BEHEADING fellow Kenyans. At least the regional authorities will be knowledgeable and armed with experience to stop the murderers at their doorsteps.
Perhaps the most progressive suggestion in the draft constitution is the provision of dual citizenship. Kenya has been blind to her Diaspora despite their enormous contribution to the economy. This development is a step towards disabusing the old guards of their primitive nostalgia and contempt towards modernism. The ball will squarely fall on the Diaspora’s court to walk their lofty talk should the dual citizenship proposal pass muster.
Saving ourselves
But predictably, the draft does not fail to inject a bitter taste onto the lips with its academic legislation on gender. While NGOs win donors with their gender campaigns, legislating that no gender should occupy two-thirds of the seats in the National Assembly turns the whole theme of equity on its own head.
On the whole the so-called committee of experts has correctly diagnosed our collective ailment. Their prescription may not be the best but at least it will keep us alive to either accept reality and reform or revert to our destructive pettiness that will only see us perish collectively.
It is incumbent upon us to rise to the occasion and save ourselves from stewing in our won blood, shall we?Kumekucha
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12:00
The UnaAfrican African
» Kenya Imagine What is African? What isn't? What defines who we are? Our identity? From our archives is an article by Stephen Wanyama on why he finds little identity with Africa. The comments that follow are a lively debate.
Read here . -
Ngog shows Gerrard he is a good student
» Kenya Imagine -
Gifts for Mama
» Kenya Imagine This woman's daughters' misfortunes know no bounds. Sandra Mushi is back on our pages with a story about a woman who's daughters come back home, first with gifts, and then to stay. And they are not alone.
More.
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9:52
Ukurasa- Simple Reading; The new Social Medium for book lovers
» Kenyanpoet Virn Instruments company, a firm run by Kahenya Kamunyu whom I first met during the first ever Bar Camp in Kenya a year ago has embarked on a unique project dubbed Ukurasa (page in kiswahili)
Ukurasa is a social media site for books that is geared towards the exchange of books through either sale or sharing as well as place where would be writers can get to write books online through their personal account and get their book published and sold on the same platform. One can also buy or borrow books they see with the Ukurasa community and see the collection points which have been enabled through Google Maps.
Ukurasa whose slogan is 'Simple Reading' will help those like me who find it a task going to a book library/bookshop to borrow/buy a book. All one needs is an account with any social network(it currently working with Twitter accounts but soon to incorporate Facebook, Myspace and Gmail),an Mpesa/Zap enabled phone and a reading appetite.
Those who will be attending 'The Breakaway' on Saturday 14th Nov at the Kenya National Museum will have a chance to hear about it from Kahenya who is also one of the speakers. (Sadly, I won't be there)
But Hey! Finally I can make some money from those books that I don't mind getting rid of and hopefully get any of James Baldwin's books for a lower rate or someone who's willing to lend me their copy.
Log on and test the site. It will be fully up next week.
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Rhythm & Spoken, 13th Nov '09 Feat Kevin Samuel Mbugua
» Kenyanpoet This Friday 13 November at Dass restaurant, Westlands, Project Heshima presents...
A music and poetry open mic night with special guest Kevin Samuel Mbugua on his guitar. A Berkley Graduate Kevin is a singer and songwriter and his song Elsewhere has for the past month been a popular listeners choice on the Sunday Neosoul Lounge with Chao Mwatela.
Poets line up includes, the illustrious Eudiah Kamonjo and Mstari wa Nne's Leon Kiptum and David Inkwa among others. Sign up will remain open throughout.
Starts: 8:30pm
Performances: 9pm
Neosoul afterparty with DJ Eduardo
Entry Ksh.200
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6:28
While I Was Away – Quick Hits
» KA-INVESTOR While I was away, on a rather ‘short-lived’ sabbatical, several things took place that I would have wish to discuss here, but couldn’t or wouldn’t. Here are some quick links to Kenyan business headlines I found interesting:
Hope I would get time to do a full post soon.- Kenya clans in the Great Rift started 'rearm for 2012 poll'
- KenGen’s PIBO result unraveled Kenya’s inequality
- Safaricom barred retail investors from bond offer
- Jinchuan terminated purchase of Tiomin Kenya - Kwale and contributed largely to a massive US$ 31.5 million loss in Tionim’s Q3 results
- NSE’s automated system collapsed soon after launch [we never learn]
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6:10
Surely…KUWA SERIOUS!!
» Media Madness Word is, Adopt – A- broken light MD Esther Passaris is working day and night in between admiring herself in a mirror to release a newspaper in December. The name of the paper….ESTHER!!! Ha! Goodness Vanity at it’s best…roll your eyes over at her site!
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3:34
PREFERRED STOCKS MAY NOT BE BETTER AFTER ALL
» Kenyantykoon's Blog Some time back I did a post about preferred stocks where I concentrated on the advantages that they had for conservative investors. A small run-through is that; 1- In the unfortunate event of liquidation or in profit sharing preferred stock holders are paid before common stock holders. 2- The cumulative nature that preferred stock dividends have in that [...]
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3:19
Breaking News :Football - Telkom Kenya wants in too !
» SportsKenya Telkom Kenya has today added to the list of Kenyan corporates who are finally waking up to the reality of sports sponsorship. In a gesture towards CECAFA which was previously enjoying sponsorship from GTV ( Gateway Services)- which has since wound up, this is a major boost in confidence to the local and regional football fraternity.
Beating the deadline for hosting the tournament, Kenya almost dithered with the chance but thanks to some inspiration from the CECAFA Secretariat led by one Nicholas Musonye. The tournament will run in Nairobi and Mumias from November 28th to December 13th 2009. With KFF or KPL (or whoever runs football locally, I seem to get lost all the time) almost grounding our chances in the continental championships, let's hope the regional cup can be ours for the taking. Better watch out though for Rwanda and Tanzania...
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2:45
SPOTTED!
» Media Madness Kajura Mongolo on Harambee Avenue, in the company of a smashing hot white mama
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2:39
My brother from a Vietnamese mother
» Our Man in America Enclosure: [download]
Five years ago if you'd have told me that I'd be sitting at a bar on a Friday night, drinking and sharing stories with a Vietnamese, I would have told you to get the F out of may face.
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1:35
Baby Websites
» A Nairobian's Perspective ! 
Having a new born baby in the house creates tremendous joy to the parent(s). The trend when i was growing up was for parents to take the baby to the Studio or call in an experienced photographer to come in and take photos of the baby. But much has changed nowadays with the advent of the video and digital cameras we are now all experts in photography and take many photos with pride and admiration at our new borns.
However technology is making things go up a notch higher. A new parent cannot afford to miss on setting up a baby website for the newborn and share the link with friends.To do with much ease without necessarily having to be an I.T expert i recommend the site:
Baby Home Pages.Net .Thesite gives you the most safe, private, and easy way to create a customized website of your favorite child (or children) AND AT NO COST ,ABSOLUTELY FREE to you.What i perhaps love about it is the privacy issue since the internet has funny characters whom you would not want to mess arround with your family.
Baby Homes.Net website makes it very easy for its users to create personalized websites for their new born.The pictures serve as an online secure and timeless archive that can be referred to by specific users. Well, most modern day Parents never had a website but that does not mean that your kids have to miss out on that. You can still use Picasa or Flickr but a personalized baby site just adds the extra touch.Click on the banner or the link provided herein to visit the site.
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0:59
Fresh Freddy!! Aka Paddy Mwangi
» Media Madness He started his media career on Shikamoo!! Which used to air on Nation TV now NTV…maaan!! That was the show I must have been like 12 years old when it used to air but I couldn’t miss an episode EVER! I even used to insist I be driven to the Village Market for their events…but to be [...]
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Al Kags' Living Memories Book Launch, Dramatized Performances and Halfway between Nairobi and Dundori.
» Kenyanpoet On Wednesday 11th November 2009 at the Louis Leakey Hall at the Nairobi Museum, Story Moja in collaboration with with Kenya Museum Society will be launching Living Memories; Kenya's Untold Stories, a book by Al Kags with an on-stage rendition
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Living Memories is a testimonial project in which Al Kags spoke to people over 65 years of age and simply recorded the story of their lives during the Emergency days - it is the stories of ordinary people surviving extraordinary times and how they have shaped who we are.
There will also be a rendition from Muthoni Garland's 2nd book, Halfway between Nairobi and Dundori...
Gate fees: Kshs. 400
About Al Kags
Alex Kagwe (born on August, 13 1980), who changed his name to Al Kags, is a prominent writer and poet in Kenya. He is the founder of the Al Kags Trust for Poetry. He is also the creator and publisher of the Quarterly Colour Series of Poetry, which started September 2006 and is read by over 175,000 people around the world. Al Kags is also a leading entrepreneur in ICT and media circles.
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