The journey has been somewhat rough, lots of battles, lots of emotional scars...the occasional paucity of accomplishments.Indeed, this is not the first loss I have sustained in my life, certainly not the most painful: a brother or two, a father, the list continues..
But those losses are not the subject of this posting; those losses I had nothing to do with and were beyond my control. Believe it or not, this is about a female acquaintance I had been seeing on and off for the last two years or thereabouts.I never once considered myself susceptible to this kind of feeling about the opposite sex.Maybe this was because I had developed a 'numbing' of emotions; a protective shield that developed as a result of a considerable amount of loss and rejection.This 'shield' continued to separate me from normal human interactions and relationships to the point that it stifled any meaningful associations with even those who seemed genuine and weren't out to hurt my feelings or take advantage of me in any way.My own emotions created the very problem they were designed to protect me from.Quite predictably, this appeared as callousness and lack of empathy to the other party and ultimately - and quite predictably- handed the relationship a death-knell.
But where do we go from here?Should I ruminate on what is already lost and try to salvage it in a last-ditch effort?Can it ever be the same again?Could this be a precursor of an even bigger problem in my life?I don't have an answer to all this but I surely do believe this feeling will resolve itself if I take one day at a time.As the old saying goes, time is the best healer of wounds.
Thursday, 29 December 2011
Monday, 24 October 2011
Operation Linda Nchi..A worthy cause?
"..Our nation is at war against a far-reaching network of hatred and violence..."
These were the sentiments echoed by newly elected U.S. President Barack Obama during his inaugural address on January 20, 2009.More than two years later, and thousands of kilometers away, Kenya is at war supposedly with the same "far-reaching" network, otherwise known as Al-Shabaab, in the horn of Africa region.
Provoked to conflict by repeated incursions by the militia inside our country, Kenyan military forces have taken it upon themselves to rid our country of this ragtag militia -even push further into the heartland of Somalia with an aim to putting a decisive end to the menace.Dubbed Operation Linda Nchi, the military offensive aims to secure our country's borders by pushing the Al-Shabaab insurgents as far back as possible.And while it may be true that the guerrillas -and their sympathizers- have taken advantage of and abused our hospitality and deserve to be banished from existence, have we taken time to consider the ramifications of such an intensive military operation, both within and without our beloved country?
For one, reprisal attacks are bound to follow and the ability and capacity of our nation's security apparatus to prevent, investigate and forestall such attacks is highly in doubt.Secondly, just what is the long term strategy for this war? Do we intend to maintain a presence there until we can safely hand over to the Transitional Federal Government troops or are we going to pull out once the initial offensive is over?Lastly, are we able to maintain the heightened state of security within our borders to actually ensure that sympathetic elements to the Al-Shabaab are rooted out and REMAIN outside our country?
Whatever the long-term plan, as citizens, we must remain united even during such times of uncertainty and risk.We also should remain vigilant, reporting any suspicious activities to the relevant authorities.
These were the sentiments echoed by newly elected U.S. President Barack Obama during his inaugural address on January 20, 2009.More than two years later, and thousands of kilometers away, Kenya is at war supposedly with the same "far-reaching" network, otherwise known as Al-Shabaab, in the horn of Africa region.
Provoked to conflict by repeated incursions by the militia inside our country, Kenyan military forces have taken it upon themselves to rid our country of this ragtag militia -even push further into the heartland of Somalia with an aim to putting a decisive end to the menace.Dubbed Operation Linda Nchi, the military offensive aims to secure our country's borders by pushing the Al-Shabaab insurgents as far back as possible.And while it may be true that the guerrillas -and their sympathizers- have taken advantage of and abused our hospitality and deserve to be banished from existence, have we taken time to consider the ramifications of such an intensive military operation, both within and without our beloved country?
For one, reprisal attacks are bound to follow and the ability and capacity of our nation's security apparatus to prevent, investigate and forestall such attacks is highly in doubt.Secondly, just what is the long term strategy for this war? Do we intend to maintain a presence there until we can safely hand over to the Transitional Federal Government troops or are we going to pull out once the initial offensive is over?Lastly, are we able to maintain the heightened state of security within our borders to actually ensure that sympathetic elements to the Al-Shabaab are rooted out and REMAIN outside our country?
Whatever the long-term plan, as citizens, we must remain united even during such times of uncertainty and risk.We also should remain vigilant, reporting any suspicious activities to the relevant authorities.
Tuesday, 18 October 2011
My arduous journey to work
I miss the good old days when i could ride in a matatu to college or work and get to the office spiritually and mentally undefiled and full of vigor to start my day. Clearly, today, despite the high fares, this is too much to ask for! In the quest for the biggest listernership, radio stations have resorted to all manner of salacious discourse whereby in response to a certain 'Topic of discussion', audiences call in and air all manner of obscenities, display their dirty linen in public; supposedly hoping to find solicit advice either from the radio talk show hosts or otherwise. Whether actual or choreographed, these conversations leave very little to the imagination.
I dare to ask, where have we gone wrong as a society? Could it be because we have supplanted God as our moral reference point? Some of us now claim to be 'liberated' and 'freed' but that is really a bankrupt attempt to define reality without reference to our creator. Social engineering has gone as far as attacking heterosexuality as the basis of our human identity. Strong heterosexual marriage creates a wholesome environment to raise the next generation. In lieu of this, we wake up to a toxic bath of lesbianism, homosexuality, obscenity and promiscuity designed to corrode and distort our morals and sexuality. The effect of all this is that it undermines marriage and family.
What can we do about this? For a start, we need to let the broadcasters and advertisers know that we will boycott their products and shows if they continue to engage in this socially destructive practices. We also need to to realize that the only way we can win this war against moral depravity is by turning to God and using his word to counter the offensive by the forces of darkness
I dare to ask, where have we gone wrong as a society? Could it be because we have supplanted God as our moral reference point? Some of us now claim to be 'liberated' and 'freed' but that is really a bankrupt attempt to define reality without reference to our creator. Social engineering has gone as far as attacking heterosexuality as the basis of our human identity. Strong heterosexual marriage creates a wholesome environment to raise the next generation. In lieu of this, we wake up to a toxic bath of lesbianism, homosexuality, obscenity and promiscuity designed to corrode and distort our morals and sexuality. The effect of all this is that it undermines marriage and family.
What can we do about this? For a start, we need to let the broadcasters and advertisers know that we will boycott their products and shows if they continue to engage in this socially destructive practices. We also need to to realize that the only way we can win this war against moral depravity is by turning to God and using his word to counter the offensive by the forces of darkness
Wednesday, 24 August 2011
A journey back (or forward) in time..Can it be Possible?
Imagine this: You travel back in time to prevent your conception; in the most extreme example, eliminate your grandmother when she's a little tot, preventing your parents' birth; or simply, prevent your folks from ever getting together, or in today's parlance, 'hooking up' - quite effectively assuring that you do not exist in the first place to travel back in time! Sounds like science fiction doesn't it? Somewhere deep in my thoughts, i am attracted to the possibility of returning to my past; perhaps if i had the opportunity, i would correct the 'wrongs', make things 'right' - what i would consider right in my opinion.
I hurriedly jump into the spacecraft or time machine.Then, i punch in the year of my desired existence; the period in history that began to define my entry into this earth; the period i set out to straighten.After fastening my seat belt, the capsule begins to rattle violently as the journey begins. We will be cruising at speeds close to the speed of light; speeds that, if not handled carefully, can lead to utter annihilation. No, not the speeds that i am used to in a matatu every morning as i make my way to work, this contraption accelerates to speeds that slow down the entire aging process as you may know it.
My journey through the wormhole is now possibly close to completion. I can't help but feel nervous as i await that moment when i will finally feel like i have control over events in my life. I'm also suffering some indecision; what method will i use to achieve the desired effect on my life (and those of my estranged siblings)? What will be the effect of my actions? Will this have a more fortunate conclusion? Can i really play God? My brief journey finally comes to a rough and bumpy conclusion as the capsule grinds to a determinate halt. I make my way out of the vehicle and begin my journey on the streets of the newly independent capital of Kenya, Nairobi. Wow! My eyes are awe struck by the cleanliness of Nairobi city, not to mention the small number of people walking on Nairobi's streets.Without any hesitation, however, the denizens stare back, mouth agape, at me; perhaps wondering where i do my shopping. However, determined not to be side tracked into activities outside of my intended mission, i slowly make my way to the prestigious Harambee avenue, guided by stories told to me by my mother about my Dad's office at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where he served as a senior assistant secretary.
I begin to feel an adrenaline rush inspired by thoughts about what might transpire once i knock on the door to his office. What did he look like? Will he recognize me? What will be his reaction when i tell him that i am his son whom he will abandon a couple of years into the future? Will my narrations about the challenges we faced as a family, challenges i faced as an adolescent and eventually a young man cause him to reevaluate his actions? Will he even care? Why did he leave? What happened to him after he left the family?
Sadly, i begin to realize that this is just another of my emotional lows; just another episode of me feeling helpless, abandoned, off course....another episode when i feel like the ground beneath me is about to shift exposing me to the cold, brutal side of this world. It is doubtful that there can ever be a time machine that makes it possible for one to travel back in time much less correct the wrongs made in the past. Even so, i believe all that happens in the past should serve as a vivid reminder to those who are alive today not to repeat the mistakes of their forebearers.At least, in theory, this should guarantee a better future for our descendants.In my case, this probably means that i should never abandon the children i sire, come rain or shine. I sigh. A good beginning, they say, is half the journey....If so, in this unforgiving world, where does one place all the innocent children, borne out of illicit relationships; children who experienced violent and abusive childhoods; children who faced apathy and neglect? Is there any retribution for those who hurt them? Will there be any restitution for them? Like all other unanswered questions, i leave it to God; the omniscient and omnipresent being who has all the answers. Maybe one day, just maybe, he will answer my questions!
Monday, 8 August 2011
Journals of an amateur plane spotter
It was a cold Sunday afternoon. Not what one would expect; quite atypical of an afternoon in August. The climate surely seems to be different from what it was when i was little.Anyway, to warm things up a bit, i decided to visit the famous Uhuru gardens, a stones throw away from my neighborhood. I needed to generate some heat; get my blood flowing faster, even get adrenalin rushing through my capillaries, like hot oil flowing through an engine lubricating each of its parts and components as it goes.
Armed with my Sony 50x optical zoom camcorder, i arrived at the scene hoping to catch some videos of aircraft approaching Wilson airport to land. It was Sunday afternoon so i was quite lucky; most approaches to the airfield happen between noon and 6pm as tourists return to Nairobi from their adventures from, among other places, Maasai Mara game reserve. I must admit: My first shots were a little "amateurish"; a little shaky. After looking at the clips, i noticed that i had applied too much zoom.With time however, my clips stabilized as i began to gain some confidence with the little piece of equipment. I decided to move a little closer to the scene of action...closer to the runway where i could observe the 'birds' at a closer distance.
The feeling was breathtaking! The loud noise from the engines; the sound of flaps being deployed; the landing gear preparing to meet the tarmac beneath; the strong gusts of wind; the unexpected company of a female enthusiast ; it all created an adrenalin rush comparable to no other.
I need to expand my hobby; discover new frontiers.There is so much out there waiting to get on my camera. I must not be limited to plane spotting. The more adventure in this hobby, the better.
Armed with my Sony 50x optical zoom camcorder, i arrived at the scene hoping to catch some videos of aircraft approaching Wilson airport to land. It was Sunday afternoon so i was quite lucky; most approaches to the airfield happen between noon and 6pm as tourists return to Nairobi from their adventures from, among other places, Maasai Mara game reserve. I must admit: My first shots were a little "amateurish"; a little shaky. After looking at the clips, i noticed that i had applied too much zoom.With time however, my clips stabilized as i began to gain some confidence with the little piece of equipment. I decided to move a little closer to the scene of action...closer to the runway where i could observe the 'birds' at a closer distance.
The feeling was breathtaking! The loud noise from the engines; the sound of flaps being deployed; the landing gear preparing to meet the tarmac beneath; the strong gusts of wind; the unexpected company of a female enthusiast ; it all created an adrenalin rush comparable to no other.
I need to expand my hobby; discover new frontiers.There is so much out there waiting to get on my camera. I must not be limited to plane spotting. The more adventure in this hobby, the better.
Thursday, 28 July 2011
Do we have Statesmen or mere Office Seekers?
Today, what was on the front page of the daily papers was nothing unusual; nothing to be surprised about; i submit, it was sad but it should not have taken us by surprise. The headline on today's Standard newspaper: "Hunger crisis: thousands face starvation." Contrast that with what the Nairobi star displayed on its prominent page: "You won't get a cent from us, MP's tell K.R.A."
This certainly got people talking; they called in to the most popular radio breakfast shows to air their disgust. Kenyans' seemed to be aghast, once again, at the depths that our leadership had sunk to for allowing their fellow human beings to wallow in poverty and hunger while they were busy bargaining for increments in salary; even trying to negotiate their way out of paying taxes. Their argument...it is illegal and unconstitutional for K.R.A to demand additional taxes when transitional clauses in the constitution "preserves the current parliament, with all its privileges, as a whole."
They certainly do not seem to be bothered by what is happening to their constituents in Turkana and its surrounding areas.Drought and famine has tightened its choke-hold on many in these arid parts of the country. But even as this happened, we take a moment to thank those in the private sector and members of the civil society prescient and prudent enough to launch a rapid response initiative to feed the 3.5 million or so starving Kenyans. Christened Kenyans for Kenya, the funds drive aims to raise 500million shillings in four weeks.
But why should our members of parliament be bothered? Why should we, the ordinary Kenyans, act as if we are surprised every time our MP's take actions that are not only self-centered but also expedient? Isn't that their character? In the words of scripture, can a poisonous tree bear good fruit?
We have seen them come together on more than one occasion only in the interest of passing bills that increase their salaries; we have seen them differ and dissent on every other issue that touches on the very fabric and interests of the ordinary mwananchi. This begs the question: Are our so-called leaders statesmen or mere office seekers? Statesmanship conveys a quality of leadership that progressively brings people together and of eldership, a spirit of caring for the others and for the whole. Have the members of the tenth parliament displayed such a spirit?; do they really care for their fellow countrymen?Should we refer to them statesmen or mere politicians?
I think the tenth parliament has fallen dismally short of any such respect in mention and is very well defined by the words of James Freeman Clarke, "A politician thinks about the next election-the statesman thinks about the next generation."
Our dear politicians, shame on you!
This certainly got people talking; they called in to the most popular radio breakfast shows to air their disgust. Kenyans' seemed to be aghast, once again, at the depths that our leadership had sunk to for allowing their fellow human beings to wallow in poverty and hunger while they were busy bargaining for increments in salary; even trying to negotiate their way out of paying taxes. Their argument...it is illegal and unconstitutional for K.R.A to demand additional taxes when transitional clauses in the constitution "preserves the current parliament, with all its privileges, as a whole."
They certainly do not seem to be bothered by what is happening to their constituents in Turkana and its surrounding areas.Drought and famine has tightened its choke-hold on many in these arid parts of the country. But even as this happened, we take a moment to thank those in the private sector and members of the civil society prescient and prudent enough to launch a rapid response initiative to feed the 3.5 million or so starving Kenyans. Christened Kenyans for Kenya, the funds drive aims to raise 500million shillings in four weeks.
But why should our members of parliament be bothered? Why should we, the ordinary Kenyans, act as if we are surprised every time our MP's take actions that are not only self-centered but also expedient? Isn't that their character? In the words of scripture, can a poisonous tree bear good fruit?
We have seen them come together on more than one occasion only in the interest of passing bills that increase their salaries; we have seen them differ and dissent on every other issue that touches on the very fabric and interests of the ordinary mwananchi. This begs the question: Are our so-called leaders statesmen or mere office seekers? Statesmanship conveys a quality of leadership that progressively brings people together and of eldership, a spirit of caring for the others and for the whole. Have the members of the tenth parliament displayed such a spirit?; do they really care for their fellow countrymen?Should we refer to them statesmen or mere politicians?
I think the tenth parliament has fallen dismally short of any such respect in mention and is very well defined by the words of James Freeman Clarke, "A politician thinks about the next election-the statesman thinks about the next generation."
Our dear politicians, shame on you!
Monday, 11 July 2011
Beware the city's deadliest sins...
Sometime last week, i received a somewhat hilarious email titled "beware the city's deadliest sins"; apparently a mention of the 'petty offences' you had better keep away from lest you find yourself huddled at the back of a City council vehicle headed towards the cell. Besides being plain outrageous, this list of 'ten commandments' simply does not make any positive contribution to how we go about our business in the city.
Beware the city's deadliest sins (and thier criticisms)
1.Buying from hawkers
(Take to your heels right behind the hawkers once you spot the city askaris.Kindly don't leave any of your wares behind.Always carry a shuka with you)
2.Sitting on a flower pot in the CBD
(The flowers in the city are quite susceptible to any noxious fumes emanating from us humans.By the way, the flower pots are so much nicer and welcoming to our 'gluts')
3.Spitting on any footpath or blowing the nose aimlessly other than into a suitable cloth or tissue
(Who defines what a 'suitable' cloth is? If i use today's daily, will the askaris pounce on me?)
4.Taking or alighting from a matatu in a non-designated area
(Matatus only ply in non-designated areas; i guess this implies no taking or alighting from matatus)
5.Crossing the road while you are on the phone
(There's a reason why the chicken crossed the road)
6.Making any kind of noise on the streets
(I'm sorry all you Margaret Wanjiru wannabe's; you'll have to find another place to proclaim "The Glory is here!!")
7.Playing any game, riding or driving or propelling a footpath
(We are sometimes forced to play games when pacing up and down in search of affordable public transport.)
8.Graffiti
9.Owner of a burning building should pay for fire fighting services whether the owner requested for attendance or not
(I suppose it would be quite entertaining to stand and watch as your building and all the worldly possessions it contains are razed to the ground by the blitz.And by the way, why do we pay all these taxes? We should join our honourable members of parliament!!)
10.Loitering
(Careful...we'll all be fitted with GPS and Track 'em so that your loitering habits can be analyzed)
11.Having your car with a 'For Sale' sign and have not paid the council is also punishable
(The proceeds from this activity will help pay someone's alimony!!)
I'm sure you get the picture.These by-laws seem to have been drafted somewhere in the back of a club by people in different stages of inebriation.
Beware the city's deadliest sins (and thier criticisms)
1.Buying from hawkers
(Take to your heels right behind the hawkers once you spot the city askaris.Kindly don't leave any of your wares behind.Always carry a shuka with you)
2.Sitting on a flower pot in the CBD
(The flowers in the city are quite susceptible to any noxious fumes emanating from us humans.By the way, the flower pots are so much nicer and welcoming to our 'gluts')
3.Spitting on any footpath or blowing the nose aimlessly other than into a suitable cloth or tissue
(Who defines what a 'suitable' cloth is? If i use today's daily, will the askaris pounce on me?)
4.Taking or alighting from a matatu in a non-designated area
(Matatus only ply in non-designated areas; i guess this implies no taking or alighting from matatus)
5.Crossing the road while you are on the phone
(There's a reason why the chicken crossed the road)
6.Making any kind of noise on the streets
(I'm sorry all you Margaret Wanjiru wannabe's; you'll have to find another place to proclaim "The Glory is here!!")
7.Playing any game, riding or driving or propelling a footpath
(We are sometimes forced to play games when pacing up and down in search of affordable public transport.)
8.Graffiti
9.Owner of a burning building should pay for fire fighting services whether the owner requested for attendance or not
(I suppose it would be quite entertaining to stand and watch as your building and all the worldly possessions it contains are razed to the ground by the blitz.And by the way, why do we pay all these taxes? We should join our honourable members of parliament!!)
10.Loitering
(Careful...we'll all be fitted with GPS and Track 'em so that your loitering habits can be analyzed)
11.Having your car with a 'For Sale' sign and have not paid the council is also punishable
(The proceeds from this activity will help pay someone's alimony!!)
I'm sure you get the picture.These by-laws seem to have been drafted somewhere in the back of a club by people in different stages of inebriation.
Tuesday, 21 June 2011
RIP Hooray! - RIP for Traffic Avoidance
Its a cold, wet, Monday morning and as usual, i'm stuck in chronic traffic on my way to the office.A good number of passengers in the matatu are wearing headphones, listening to their favorite music, i presume, or maybe listening to the mundane, salacious morning talk that has become the core of the majority of today's radio breakfast programs.I consider myself lucky to have boarded a quiet vehicle so that i may meditate and focus on the day ahead and the tasks that await me .
Anyway, as i seat there gazing away at the traffic, something quite bizarre crosses my mind.I am quite curious as to what would happen if all the traffic in cyberspace would come to such a disastrous halt.What if the devices that route internet traffic would transmit data periodically, leading to a backlog (and very dissatisfied customers)?What would happen to the voice calls routed on the internet? The latency would be quite unbearable; i can imagine having to wait more than ten seconds at a time to receive a response from the other end. Fortunately, i exhale, routing protocols on the internet know how to reroute critical and time-sensitive traffic to reliable, shorter paths leading to reliable and efficient internet services.Features such as WRED (Weighted Random Early Detection) and RED have been used for many years to accomplish this.
Can the same - or similar - principles be applied to electronic systems to control traffic on our roads? Not without an insane amount of research and complexity in implementation and operationalization.What if we had early traffic warning detection systems that monitored the incoming and outgoing traffic (on a road) and warned us about traffic buildup accordingly. Through an on-board screen mounted on the dashboard of a car, the system would then advise us on the best route to follow and the problem areas to avoid. Through the use of satellite and GPS (Global Positioning System), it would be possible for a driver to avoid 'problem areas' such as Thika or Langata roads.No pun Intended.
Of course there would have to be a concomitant upgrade of the underlying infrastructure i.e. roads.For example, there have been numerous upgrades to the core infrastructure of the internet to support the phenomenal and sudden growth of computers and devices connecting to it.The routing protocols that run the internet also have 'bare minimums' without which they cannot perform.Maybe one day, an ingenious young (wo)man will invent a RIP version for avoiding traffic (RIP Hooray!); this version will not be limited to a hop count of 16!
This is definately food for thought.
I am awakened from my daydream by a makanga shouting mwisho wa gari, and i take that as my cue to disembark from the ramshackle vehicle.Its time to face the day ahead.
Anyway, as i seat there gazing away at the traffic, something quite bizarre crosses my mind.I am quite curious as to what would happen if all the traffic in cyberspace would come to such a disastrous halt.What if the devices that route internet traffic would transmit data periodically, leading to a backlog (and very dissatisfied customers)?What would happen to the voice calls routed on the internet? The latency would be quite unbearable; i can imagine having to wait more than ten seconds at a time to receive a response from the other end. Fortunately, i exhale, routing protocols on the internet know how to reroute critical and time-sensitive traffic to reliable, shorter paths leading to reliable and efficient internet services.Features such as WRED (Weighted Random Early Detection) and RED have been used for many years to accomplish this.
Can the same - or similar - principles be applied to electronic systems to control traffic on our roads? Not without an insane amount of research and complexity in implementation and operationalization.What if we had early traffic warning detection systems that monitored the incoming and outgoing traffic (on a road) and warned us about traffic buildup accordingly. Through an on-board screen mounted on the dashboard of a car, the system would then advise us on the best route to follow and the problem areas to avoid. Through the use of satellite and GPS (Global Positioning System), it would be possible for a driver to avoid 'problem areas' such as Thika or Langata roads.No pun Intended.
Of course there would have to be a concomitant upgrade of the underlying infrastructure i.e. roads.For example, there have been numerous upgrades to the core infrastructure of the internet to support the phenomenal and sudden growth of computers and devices connecting to it.The routing protocols that run the internet also have 'bare minimums' without which they cannot perform.Maybe one day, an ingenious young (wo)man will invent a RIP version for avoiding traffic (RIP Hooray!); this version will not be limited to a hop count of 16!
This is definately food for thought.
I am awakened from my daydream by a makanga shouting mwisho wa gari, and i take that as my cue to disembark from the ramshackle vehicle.Its time to face the day ahead.
Tuesday, 3 May 2011
Chronicles of my significant other
Yes, indeed i have dared to step into the unknown; into a zone where many a man has ventured only to disappear into oblivion.I dreamed and obsessed about her for a long time.I longed for that moment when i would be able to bring her back to my apartment and begin an intimate relationship with her.I hoped that beyond her physical appearance, i would be captivated by her unbounded knowledge which i have for so long craved.
This weekend, it all came together as the object i took a fancy to many years ago came home with me.I wasn't disappointed.She captivated me with her facts and trivia all weekend long.I couldn't sleep a wink as i marveled at the meticulous craftsmanship that goes into the manufacture of a Rolls Royce vehicle; the day-to-day activities of the official White House photographer; the conquest of the medieval towns of Ai and Jericho by biblical Joshua and finally, the innermost workings of the U.S State Department.
Indeed, she does have so much more to offer and my explorations of her will not stop there.I intend to know her intimately owing to my insatiable thirst for knowledge.
Dstv, welcome home.Give me all you've got!
This weekend, it all came together as the object i took a fancy to many years ago came home with me.I wasn't disappointed.She captivated me with her facts and trivia all weekend long.I couldn't sleep a wink as i marveled at the meticulous craftsmanship that goes into the manufacture of a Rolls Royce vehicle; the day-to-day activities of the official White House photographer; the conquest of the medieval towns of Ai and Jericho by biblical Joshua and finally, the innermost workings of the U.S State Department.
Indeed, she does have so much more to offer and my explorations of her will not stop there.I intend to know her intimately owing to my insatiable thirst for knowledge.
Dstv, welcome home.Give me all you've got!
Thursday, 21 April 2011
Are you innovative? A fortune awaits you
Its a wet, windy afternoon and i'm seated at a park somewhere inside the central business district impatiently waiting for communication about a business deal from a colleague. As i watch hordes of people - as diverse and numerous as the insects that inhabit the earth - going about their business, i can't help but imagine the torrent of electronic messages, email or otherwise, that traverse the world's communication systems and infrastructure and how, as a double-edged sword, this invention has both been instructive and destructive.
Consider some of the statistics:An April 2010 estimate by Radicati Group put the total number of email messages sent daily at 294 billion! This means that, on average, 2.8 million emails were sent every second in 2010 and 90 trillion that same year. But here's the punch line: 90% of these messages were spam and viruses!
The number of text messages sent daily is just as gargantuan with some sources claiming that 4.1 billion text messages are sent every day in the U.S.
In Kenya, the numbers may not be as large, considering the smaller number of subscribers and mobile networks providing the text messaging service.There is, however, little doubt about the content of the bulk of text messages sent everyday and there needs to be developed an electronic way to curb the illegitimate use of this service. Personally, i have experienced a lot of 'bullying' via text messages, an occurrence that many a Kenyan will corroborate.I have always wondered how some third parties end up sending me messages about a promotion or party that i have no interest in whatsoever. I have tried to use a block list feature in vain because the originators of the text messages change their numbers about as often as i blink my eyes!
That much-anticipated text from my colleague finally made its way out of the queue into my inbox amid a sea of promotional and fraudulent text messages. As i stroll out of the park to my next engagement, i can't help but imagine how much more efficient, safe and private our methods of communication would be, devoid of the 90% or thereabouts of illegitimate content. We have to find an ingenious way to tackle this problem. We need to. Like an immigration official meticulously scanning the passports and belongings of thousands upon thousands of individuals aspiring to enter a country's borders, we need an electronic solution that combs through the multitude of SMS messages (and Emails) and weeds out the 'interlopers'. The current solutions have only scratched the surface.
Who will be the next Gates or Zuckerbug? A fortune awaits the innovator who can solve this conundrum once and for all
Consider some of the statistics:An April 2010 estimate by Radicati Group put the total number of email messages sent daily at 294 billion! This means that, on average, 2.8 million emails were sent every second in 2010 and 90 trillion that same year. But here's the punch line: 90% of these messages were spam and viruses!
The number of text messages sent daily is just as gargantuan with some sources claiming that 4.1 billion text messages are sent every day in the U.S.
In Kenya, the numbers may not be as large, considering the smaller number of subscribers and mobile networks providing the text messaging service.There is, however, little doubt about the content of the bulk of text messages sent everyday and there needs to be developed an electronic way to curb the illegitimate use of this service. Personally, i have experienced a lot of 'bullying' via text messages, an occurrence that many a Kenyan will corroborate.I have always wondered how some third parties end up sending me messages about a promotion or party that i have no interest in whatsoever. I have tried to use a block list feature in vain because the originators of the text messages change their numbers about as often as i blink my eyes!
That much-anticipated text from my colleague finally made its way out of the queue into my inbox amid a sea of promotional and fraudulent text messages. As i stroll out of the park to my next engagement, i can't help but imagine how much more efficient, safe and private our methods of communication would be, devoid of the 90% or thereabouts of illegitimate content. We have to find an ingenious way to tackle this problem. We need to. Like an immigration official meticulously scanning the passports and belongings of thousands upon thousands of individuals aspiring to enter a country's borders, we need an electronic solution that combs through the multitude of SMS messages (and Emails) and weeds out the 'interlopers'. The current solutions have only scratched the surface.
Who will be the next Gates or Zuckerbug? A fortune awaits the innovator who can solve this conundrum once and for all
Wednesday, 13 April 2011
What ever happened to the innocuous conversations in matatus?
Initially, i used to see this phenomenon every day on my way to work.Its enthusiasts were mainly college students, presumably, on their way to class.Lately, this meme has crossed over to the working-class, dressed in neatly-pressed suits, well-fitted ties and ladies in skirt-suits and stockings.Thanks to the proliferation of MP3 players and FM Radio-enabled mobile phones this spectacle has extended to the office!
Today, as i await my daily ride to work in a ramshackle public transport vehicle, i can see a handful of them already 'plugged in' at the matatu terminus. With the chronic traffic jams that have become the norm of travel in Nairobi, no one can blame these earthlings for their peculiar behavior.In an increasingly solitary society, attempting to strike up a conversation -in an attempt to make the long, arduous rides to (or from) work more bearable- may be construed by some as a come on or even as an intrusion into 'me space'. So, we turn ourselves 'off' to the world around us and plug in those headphones or earphones. But, have we ever stopped one moment to consider the effects of this gadget on our health, relationships with others e.t.c. Do the benefits outweigh the risks?
Firstly, ear buds attach directly to the ears, decreasing the distance between the ear drum and the actual music.People are causing damage to their ears by listening to music at the same volume as if they were listening to headphones or from a stereo speaker.The closer the ear bud is to your inner ear, the more power you get, so the volume of music heard with headphones is much different from the volume of music heard using ear buds.
Furthermore, much research has shown a recent growing trend of noise-induced hearing loss, especially among young teens, due to exposure to loud volumes for long periods of time. They have lost the ability to hear higher frequencies, which can cause difficulty in following conversations when there is ambient noise.I am definitely a victim of noise-induced hearing loss much of which must have happened in high school during my daily commute to and from home.Majority of the matatus that plied the #23 route were known as 'mobile discotheques' for their obnoxiously loud music.We have God to thank that this no longer goes on for we would be wearing hearing aids by now
Secondly, besides the issue of loud music and the inherent risks it poses to the human ear, another issue of concern is the safety of the person wearing the headphones. One can walk around oblivious to the goings-on around them and this is dangerous. It is important for one to be appraised of their surroundings because only then can they know how to react, and react with speed, to a situation that arises and demands their urgent attention.
On the flip side, there are a handful of benefits brought about by digital music players such the as ability to listen to some inspirational music while jogging early in the morning, listen to a daily devotional or even help one prepare for an exam!
In the end, its not a debate about the technology but rather its use by those who adopt it. As long as the technology is used in a way that is mindful and respectful of other human beings (and self), there is a lot to reap from it.
Today, as i await my daily ride to work in a ramshackle public transport vehicle, i can see a handful of them already 'plugged in' at the matatu terminus. With the chronic traffic jams that have become the norm of travel in Nairobi, no one can blame these earthlings for their peculiar behavior.In an increasingly solitary society, attempting to strike up a conversation -in an attempt to make the long, arduous rides to (or from) work more bearable- may be construed by some as a come on or even as an intrusion into 'me space'. So, we turn ourselves 'off' to the world around us and plug in those headphones or earphones. But, have we ever stopped one moment to consider the effects of this gadget on our health, relationships with others e.t.c. Do the benefits outweigh the risks?
Firstly, ear buds attach directly to the ears, decreasing the distance between the ear drum and the actual music.People are causing damage to their ears by listening to music at the same volume as if they were listening to headphones or from a stereo speaker.The closer the ear bud is to your inner ear, the more power you get, so the volume of music heard with headphones is much different from the volume of music heard using ear buds.
Furthermore, much research has shown a recent growing trend of noise-induced hearing loss, especially among young teens, due to exposure to loud volumes for long periods of time. They have lost the ability to hear higher frequencies, which can cause difficulty in following conversations when there is ambient noise.I am definitely a victim of noise-induced hearing loss much of which must have happened in high school during my daily commute to and from home.Majority of the matatus that plied the #23 route were known as 'mobile discotheques' for their obnoxiously loud music.We have God to thank that this no longer goes on for we would be wearing hearing aids by now
Secondly, besides the issue of loud music and the inherent risks it poses to the human ear, another issue of concern is the safety of the person wearing the headphones. One can walk around oblivious to the goings-on around them and this is dangerous. It is important for one to be appraised of their surroundings because only then can they know how to react, and react with speed, to a situation that arises and demands their urgent attention.
On the flip side, there are a handful of benefits brought about by digital music players such the as ability to listen to some inspirational music while jogging early in the morning, listen to a daily devotional or even help one prepare for an exam!
In the end, its not a debate about the technology but rather its use by those who adopt it. As long as the technology is used in a way that is mindful and respectful of other human beings (and self), there is a lot to reap from it.
Friday, 1 April 2011
The abysmal hole in my heart i wish i could fill
It has been more than 30 years but i still find myself thinking about it...about him, everyday. It has become a vicious cycle: Swear to myself (falsely) that it's about time to leave the past where it belongs; experience flashbacks; begin to search for as much information as i can about him.Then, back to square one.
I have to get rid of this awful recollection about my father.Seriously. While i no longer harbor any feelings of hatred for him or his actions (Thanks to a lot of bible study and prayer), i must find a way of living my life without blaming my actions or my circumstances on someone else. It is time to raise that anchor and set sail!
I feel like an airline pilot flying through the clouds with a dysfunctional OBS; it's virtually impossible to find your way.Perhaps it would have been more tolerable if the hole in my heart was caused by an estranged lover.Perhaps.
In President Obama's 2009 father's day message, he recollected how growing up without a father left a hole in his heart. He went ahead to implore fathers everywhere - and the kids when they're older - to be involved in the lives of their own children. He spoke at length about how his father, Barack Obama Sr. , left home early. The future president was only 2 at the time and saw his dad only once more, at age 10, a short visit that still left a lasting imprint. "I had a heroic mom and wonderful grandparents who helped raise me and my sister, and it's because of them that i'm able to stand here today," he told a throng of youngsters and leaders of community organizations."But despite their extraordinary love and attention, that doesn't mean i didn't feel my father's absence. That's something that leaves a hole in a child's heart that no government can fill."
In candid terms, Obama said he promised himself he would not repeat his own father's mistakes. "Just because your father wasn't there for you, that's not an excuse for you to be absent also. Its all the more reason for you to be present," he told the young men in his audience."You have an obligation to break the cycle, and to learn from those mistakes, and to rise up where your own fathers fell short and to do better than what they did with your own children," Obama said. "That's what I've tried to do in my life."
I agree that indeed, it will be a challenge to rise up where my dad fell short.I wasn't top of my class in high school; I didn't graduate from an Ivy League college; I don't have a plum job and, i am yet to own a car. Maybe that isn't what it takes to be a great father.If it was, my dad would have been the greatest father in this world. In the end, maybe its not about being perfect; it's not about always succeeding; it's about always trying. And that's something everybody can do. It's about showing up and sticking with it.
Today, i collected admission forms for standard 1 class in 2012 just to encourage a positive thought about having a wife and raising a family. I won't be enrolling a son next year but, God willing, my future son will be joining standard one with a father who's job will have begun at conception rather than ended immediately after it.
I have to get rid of this awful recollection about my father.Seriously. While i no longer harbor any feelings of hatred for him or his actions (Thanks to a lot of bible study and prayer), i must find a way of living my life without blaming my actions or my circumstances on someone else. It is time to raise that anchor and set sail!
I feel like an airline pilot flying through the clouds with a dysfunctional OBS; it's virtually impossible to find your way.Perhaps it would have been more tolerable if the hole in my heart was caused by an estranged lover.Perhaps.
In President Obama's 2009 father's day message, he recollected how growing up without a father left a hole in his heart. He went ahead to implore fathers everywhere - and the kids when they're older - to be involved in the lives of their own children. He spoke at length about how his father, Barack Obama Sr. , left home early. The future president was only 2 at the time and saw his dad only once more, at age 10, a short visit that still left a lasting imprint. "I had a heroic mom and wonderful grandparents who helped raise me and my sister, and it's because of them that i'm able to stand here today," he told a throng of youngsters and leaders of community organizations."But despite their extraordinary love and attention, that doesn't mean i didn't feel my father's absence. That's something that leaves a hole in a child's heart that no government can fill."
In candid terms, Obama said he promised himself he would not repeat his own father's mistakes. "Just because your father wasn't there for you, that's not an excuse for you to be absent also. Its all the more reason for you to be present," he told the young men in his audience."You have an obligation to break the cycle, and to learn from those mistakes, and to rise up where your own fathers fell short and to do better than what they did with your own children," Obama said. "That's what I've tried to do in my life."
I agree that indeed, it will be a challenge to rise up where my dad fell short.I wasn't top of my class in high school; I didn't graduate from an Ivy League college; I don't have a plum job and, i am yet to own a car. Maybe that isn't what it takes to be a great father.If it was, my dad would have been the greatest father in this world. In the end, maybe its not about being perfect; it's not about always succeeding; it's about always trying. And that's something everybody can do. It's about showing up and sticking with it.
Today, i collected admission forms for standard 1 class in 2012 just to encourage a positive thought about having a wife and raising a family. I won't be enrolling a son next year but, God willing, my future son will be joining standard one with a father who's job will have begun at conception rather than ended immediately after it.
Friday, 18 March 2011
Hosted E-mail services or In-house?
As more and more companies move to the cloud, ostensibly to offset expenditure on Information Technology, i decided to do some research about whether this move to the cloud, particularly with reference to E-mail hosting, is really a cost cutting move and more importantly, a sound financial business decision taking into consideration the inherent risks in today's interconnected world.
For the purposes of comparison, only the most feature-rich, reliable and common E-mail applications were researched and compared.This is because in today's competitive business environment, employees require all the tools they can have to enable them to be more productive, versatile and location-independent.
I set out to establish the most feature-rich hosted services and how much they cost the organization that uses them.
GO DADDY
They currently have three hosted email plans (Personal, Deluxe and Unlimited).My research focused on their unlimited plan, which targets small to medium enterprises.The prices range from Ksh 2880 per annum for the one-year package to Ksh 12,000 for the five-year package. This deal also comes with unlimited storage, ten email addresses and mobile access (IPhone, Blackberry and Android). Email access is via POP3 or IMAP
They even offer desktop notification (handy if you don't wish to keep refreshing your browser to view new messages) and Anti-virus and Anti-Spam protection.
RACKSPACE EMAIL
They offer Email services at Ksh 12800 per annum and this includes 10GB (Gigabytes) of storage per user, 250MB of SharePoint storage, 24x7x365 support, easy migration, ad-free (great), POP or IMAP access, access via handheld devices. Access to archived Email at an additional Ksh 200 per mailbox
NB:It must be noted here that POP access is, by today's standards, archaic.
Google Apps for Business
I like this one. Email, IM, voice and video chat. Each user gets 25GB of email and IM storage. Handheld device access for Android, Iphone and Blackberry.Powerful Spam filter.One thing that gives them the edge is that they have been in the business for quite a while now and as such, have built the capacity to offer such services.I have to say that for anyone who decides to go Google, there's a much wider variety to choose from.They have a full Google suite for small businesses that includes Email, Calendering, Docs, Cloud connect, Sites etc. -More than enough for a small business that's not willing to spend on fully-fledged IT infrastructure.
Exchange Hosting (Intermedia)
Their service includes 24x7 Microsoft Exchange support, 99% uptime SLA (important), Free migration to the service, free antivirus and Anti-spam.
Many of the basic Email features don't differ much from service provider to service provider so its more a question of how much one is willing to spend. Now, i did a comparison of the hosted services (above) to purchasing an in-house Email solution.
Microsoft Exchange:
-Standard Edition: Ksh 56,000
-Enterprise Edition: Ksh 320,000
It does not stop there. There's a complicated licensing model that usually requires some explanation from sales employees but for brevity, i will summarize it as thus:
-US$67 for each license to access the mailbox (regardless of the email application program used to access the mailbox)
-US$35 for each enterprise version of the license
-Microsoft Outlook licensing charges
I prefer not to delve too much into the specifics of the differences between the Standard and Enterprise versions of the product but generally speaking, the enterprise version can support more hardware and user mailboxes. One major benefit of this option is that use of the product is unlimited and can be used until support for the product is no longer available (In Microsoft terminology, this is usually ten years). The use of Microsoft Outlook also brings in various features that are worth noting such as advanced calendering, social network connectors, mailbox size determined by the administrator, offline access and many more.
We have had a ten-thousand-foot view of the financial implications of both in-house email services and hosted email services. To keep this blog short, i decided to list the merits and demerits of both and leave the decision making to you, the reader.
Hosted Services
-Good if you don't want to lose sleep over backups and data recovery
-Good if you don't have a budget (or have a small one) for IT infrastructure and employees
-Access is mainly affected by link outages
-Quite flexible in terms of access but rigid in terms of customization
In-house Services
-Can be cheaper in the long run
-Confidentiality and security is handled by you, which should be a good thing.
-Customizable to suit your needs
For the purposes of comparison, only the most feature-rich, reliable and common E-mail applications were researched and compared.This is because in today's competitive business environment, employees require all the tools they can have to enable them to be more productive, versatile and location-independent.
I set out to establish the most feature-rich hosted services and how much they cost the organization that uses them.
GO DADDY
They currently have three hosted email plans (Personal, Deluxe and Unlimited).My research focused on their unlimited plan, which targets small to medium enterprises.The prices range from Ksh 2880 per annum for the one-year package to Ksh 12,000 for the five-year package. This deal also comes with unlimited storage, ten email addresses and mobile access (IPhone, Blackberry and Android). Email access is via POP3 or IMAP
They even offer desktop notification (handy if you don't wish to keep refreshing your browser to view new messages) and Anti-virus and Anti-Spam protection.
RACKSPACE EMAIL
They offer Email services at Ksh 12800 per annum and this includes 10GB (Gigabytes) of storage per user, 250MB of SharePoint storage, 24x7x365 support, easy migration, ad-free (great), POP or IMAP access, access via handheld devices. Access to archived Email at an additional Ksh 200 per mailbox
NB:It must be noted here that POP access is, by today's standards, archaic.
Google Apps for Business
I like this one. Email, IM, voice and video chat. Each user gets 25GB of email and IM storage. Handheld device access for Android, Iphone and Blackberry.Powerful Spam filter.One thing that gives them the edge is that they have been in the business for quite a while now and as such, have built the capacity to offer such services.I have to say that for anyone who decides to go Google, there's a much wider variety to choose from.They have a full Google suite for small businesses that includes Email, Calendering, Docs, Cloud connect, Sites etc. -More than enough for a small business that's not willing to spend on fully-fledged IT infrastructure.
Exchange Hosting (Intermedia)
Their service includes 24x7 Microsoft Exchange support, 99% uptime SLA (important), Free migration to the service, free antivirus and Anti-spam.
Many of the basic Email features don't differ much from service provider to service provider so its more a question of how much one is willing to spend. Now, i did a comparison of the hosted services (above) to purchasing an in-house Email solution.
Microsoft Exchange:
-Standard Edition: Ksh 56,000
-Enterprise Edition: Ksh 320,000
It does not stop there. There's a complicated licensing model that usually requires some explanation from sales employees but for brevity, i will summarize it as thus:
-US$67 for each license to access the mailbox (regardless of the email application program used to access the mailbox)
-US$35 for each enterprise version of the license
-Microsoft Outlook licensing charges
I prefer not to delve too much into the specifics of the differences between the Standard and Enterprise versions of the product but generally speaking, the enterprise version can support more hardware and user mailboxes. One major benefit of this option is that use of the product is unlimited and can be used until support for the product is no longer available (In Microsoft terminology, this is usually ten years). The use of Microsoft Outlook also brings in various features that are worth noting such as advanced calendering, social network connectors, mailbox size determined by the administrator, offline access and many more.
We have had a ten-thousand-foot view of the financial implications of both in-house email services and hosted email services. To keep this blog short, i decided to list the merits and demerits of both and leave the decision making to you, the reader.
Hosted Services
-Good if you don't want to lose sleep over backups and data recovery
-Good if you don't have a budget (or have a small one) for IT infrastructure and employees
-Access is mainly affected by link outages
-Quite flexible in terms of access but rigid in terms of customization
In-house Services
-Can be cheaper in the long run
-Confidentiality and security is handled by you, which should be a good thing.
-Customizable to suit your needs
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