llegar a ti....

Yes We Did It- Obama's Presidential Speech

2008-11-04T23:40:00.000-08:00

If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.

It's the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen; by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the very first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different; that their voice could be that difference.

It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled -- Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of Red States and Blue States: we are, and always will be, the United States of America.

It's the answer that led those who have been told for so long by so many to be cynical, and fearful, and doubtful of what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day.

It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America.

I just received a very gracious call from Senator McCain. He fought long and hard in this campaign, and he's fought even longer and harder for the country he loves. He has endured sacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to imagine, and we are better off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless leader. I congratulate him and Governor Palin for all they have achieved, and I look forward to working with them to renew this nation's promise in the months ahead.

I want to thank my partner in this journey, a man who campaigned from his heart and spoke for the men and women he grew up with on the streets of Scranton and rode with on that train home to Delaware, the Vice President-elect of the United States, Joe Biden.

I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last sixteen years, the rock of our family and the love of my life, our nation's next First Lady, Michelle Obama. Sasha and Malia, I love you both so much, and you have earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the White House. And while she's no longer with us, I know my grandmother is watching, along with the family that made me who I am. I miss them tonight, and know that my debt to them is beyond measure.

To my campaign manager David Plouffe, my chief strategist David Axelrod, and the best campaign team ever assembled in the history of politics -- you made this happen, and I am forever grateful for what you've sacrificed to get it done.

But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to -- it belongs to you.

I was never the likeliest candidate for this office. We didn't start with much money or many endorsements. Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington -- it began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston.

It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give five dollars and ten dollars and twenty dollars to this cause. It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation's apathy; who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep; from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on the doors of perfect strangers; from the millions of Americans who volunteered, and organized, and proved that more than two centuries later, a government of the people, by the people and for the people has not perished from this Earth. This is your victory.

I know you didn't do this just to win an election and I know you didn't do it for me. You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime -- two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century. Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us. There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after their children fall asleep and wonder how they'll make the mortgage, or pay their doctor's bills, or save enough for college. There is new energy to harness and new jobs to be created; new schools to build and threats to meet and alliances to repair.

The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America -- I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you -- we as a people will get there.

There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won't agree with every decision or policy I make as President, and we know that government can't solve every problem. But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And above all, I will ask you join in the work of remaking this nation the only way it's been done in America for two-hundred and twenty-one years -- block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.

What began twenty-one months ago in the depths of winter must not end on this autumn night. This victory alone is not the change we seek -- it is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It cannot happen without you.

So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other. Let us remember that if this financial crisis taught us anything, it's that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers -- in this country, we rise or fall as one nation; as one people.

Let us resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long. Let us remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House -- a party founded on the values of self-reliance, individual liberty, and national unity. Those are values we all share, and while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress. As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, "We are not enemies, but friends…though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection." And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn -- I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your President too.

And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of our world -- our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand. To those who would tear this world down -- we will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security -- we support you. And to all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright --tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from our the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity, and unyielding hope.

For that is the true genius of America -- that America can change. Our union can be perfected. And what we have already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.

This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one that's on my mind tonight is about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She's a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for one thing -- Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old.

She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldn't vote for two reasons -- because she was a woman and because of the color of her skin.

And tonight, I think about all that she's seen throughout her century in America -- the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can't, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes we can.

At a time when women's voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes we can.

When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs and a new sense of common purpose. Yes we can.

When the bombs fell on our harbor and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved. Yes we can.

She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that "We Shall Overcome." Yes we can.

A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination. And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change. Yes we can.

America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do. So tonight, let us ask ourselves -- if our children should live to see the next century; if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made?

This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment. This is our time -- to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American Dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth -- that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people:

Yes We Can. Thank you, God bless you, and may God Bless the United States of America.

................The photo and speech was got from the Chicago Tribune...........

A Kenyan Town With Its Eyes on the Election

2008-11-04T10:31:00.000-08:00

KISUMU, Kenya – This town is primed to celebrate – but it’s also braced for trouble.

Kisumu is the epicenter of Kenya’s Obamaland. It’s the area where Senator Barack Obama’s father was born. By Friday morning, people were already squeezed around TVs and in bars and holding up radios, listening to the news broadcasts about the American election, which had yet to even start.

“It’s D-Day,’’ blared the headline of Tuesday’s Kenya Times.
People wore Obama pins. And Obama T-shirts. And they bought Obama clocks, with the candidate’s smiling face on them.

There was even some mock voting in Kisumu, a relatively big city along the muggy, green, hippo-infested shores of Lake Victoria. Kenyans here went for Senator Obama by about 98 percent.

But the police were taking no chances. Last time this many Kenyans were riveted by an election — their own — in December 2007, riots exploded after the opposition candidate lost and Kenya’s incumbent president won. Widespread allegations of vote rigging sent young men into the streets by the tens of thousands, to loot, burn and kill. Much ofKisumu was ravaged.

On Tuesday, riot squads patrolled the town with plastic shields and tear gas. Most people seemed cheerful. But a few young men yelled out, “No Obama, no peace!’’ a threatening mantra similar to one shouted out last year when the violence was raging and a hotly-contested election nearly brought this once-peaceful nation to its knees.

.....................The story is adopted from the New York Times..............................

Photo: http://assets.nydailynews.com/img/2008/01/13/alg_obama-school.jpg

New York Times Endorses Barack Obama

2008-10-27T10:13:00.000-07:00

Hyperbole is the currency of presidential campaigns, but this year the nation’s future truly hangs in the balance.

The United States is battered and drifting after eight years of President Bush’s failed leadership. He is saddling his successor with two wars, a scarred global image and a government systematically stripped of its ability to protect and help its citizens — whether they are fleeing a hurricane’s floodwaters, searching for affordable health care or struggling to hold on to their homes, jobs, savings and pensions in the midst of a financial crisis that was foretold and preventable.

As tough as the times are, the selection of a new president is easy. After nearly two years of a grueling and ugly campaign, Senator Barack Obama of Illinois has proved that he is the right choice to be the 44th president of the United States.

Mr. Obama has met challenge after challenge, growing as a leader and putting real flesh on his early promises of hope and change. He has shown a cool head and sound judgment. We believe he has the will and the ability to forge the broad political consensus that is essential to finding solutions to this nation’s problems.

In the same time, Senator John McCain of Arizona has retreated farther and farther to the fringe of American politics, running a campaign on partisan division, class warfare and even hints of racism. His policies and worldview are mired in the past. His choice of a running mate so evidently unfit for the office was a final act of opportunism and bad judgment that eclipsed the accomplishments of 26 years in Congress.

Given the particularly ugly nature of Mr. McCain’s campaign, the urge to choose on the basis of raw emotion is strong. But there is a greater value in looking closely at the facts of life in America today and at the prescriptions the candidates offer. The differences are profound.

Mr. McCain offers more of the Republican every-man-for-himself ideology, now lying in shards on Wall Street and in Americans’ bank accounts. Mr. Obama has another vision of government’s role and responsibilities.

In his convention speech in Denver, Mr. Obama said, “Government cannot solve all our problems, but what it should do is that which we cannot do for ourselves: protect us from harm and provide every child a decent education; keep our water clean and our toys safe; invest in new schools and new roads and new science and technology.”

Since the financial crisis, he has correctly identified the abject failure of government regulation that has brought the markets to the brink of collapse.

The Economy

The American financial system is the victim of decades of Republican deregulatory and anti-tax policies. Those ideas have been proved wrong at an unfathomable price, but Mr. McCain — a self-proclaimed “foot soldier in the Reagan revolution” — is still a believer.

Mr. Obama sees that far-reaching reforms will be needed to protect Americans and American business.

Mr. McCain talks about reform a lot, but his vision is pinched. His answer to any economic question is to eliminate pork-barrel spending — about $18 billion in a $3 trillion budget — cut taxes and wait for unfettered markets to solve the problem.

Mr. Obama is clear that the nation’s tax structure must be changed to make it fairer. That means the well-off Americans who have benefited disproportionately from Mr. Bush’s tax cuts will have to pay some more. Working Americans, who have seen their standard of living fall and their children’s options narrow, will benefit. Mr. Obama wants to raise the minimum wage and tie it to inflation, restore a climate in which workers are able to organize unions if they wish and expand educational opportunities.

Mr. McCain, who once opposed President Bush’s tax cuts for the wealthy as fiscally irresponsible, now wants to make them permanent. And while he talks about keeping taxes low for everyone, his proposed cuts would overwhelmingly benefit the top 1 percent of Americans while digging the country into a deeper fiscal hole.

The American military — its people and equipment — is dangerously overstretched. Mr. Bush has neglected the necessary war in Afghanistan, which now threatens to spiral into defeat. The unnecessary and staggeringly costly war in Iraq must be ended as quickly and responsibly as possible.

While Iraq’s leaders insist on a swift drawdown of American troops and a deadline for the end of the occupation, Mr. McCain is still talking about some ill-defined “victory.” As a result, he has offered no real plan for extracting American troops and limiting any further damage to Iraq and its neighbors.

Mr. Obama was an early and thoughtful opponent of the war in Iraq, and he has presented a military and diplomatic plan for withdrawing American forces. Mr. Obama also has correctly warned that until the Pentagon starts pulling troops out of Iraq, there will not be enough troops to defeat the Taliban and Al Qaeda in Afghanistan.

Mr. McCain, like Mr. Bush, has only belatedly focused on Afghanistan’s dangerous unraveling and the threat that neighboring Pakistan may quickly follow.

Mr. Obama would have a learning curve on foreign affairs, but he has already showed sounder judgment than his opponent on these critical issues. His choice of Senator Joseph Biden — who has deep foreign-policy expertise — as his running mate is another sign of that sound judgment. Mr. McCain’s long interest in foreign policy and the many dangers this country now faces make his choice of Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska more irresponsible.

Both presidential candidates talk about strengthening alliances in Europe and Asia, including NATO, and strongly support Israel. Both candidates talk about repairing America’s image in the world. But it seems clear to us that Mr. Obama is far more likely to do that — and not just because the first black president would present a new American face to the world.

Mr. Obama wants to reform the United Nations, while Mr. McCain wants to create a new entity, the League of Democracies — a move that would incite even fiercer anti-American furies around the world.

Unfortunately, Mr. McCain, like Mr. Bush, sees the world as divided into friends (like Georgia) and adversaries (like Russia). He proposed kicking Russia out of the Group of 8 industrialized nations even before the invasion of Georgia. We have no sympathy for Moscow’s bullying, but we also have no desire to replay the cold war. The United States must find a way to constrain the Russians’ worst impulses, while preserving the ability to work with them on arms control and other vital initiatives.

Both candidates talk tough on terrorism, and neither has ruled out military action to end Iran’s nuclear weapons program. But Mr. Obama has called for a serious effort to try to wean Tehran from its nuclear ambitions with more credible diplomatic overtures and tougher sanctions. Mr. McCain’s willingness to joke about bombing Iran was frightening.

The Constitution and the Rule of Law

Under Mr. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the justice system and the separation of powers have come under relentless attack. Mr. Bush chose to exploit the tragedy of Sept. 11, 2001, the moment in which he looked like the president of a unified nation, to try to place himself above the law.

Mr. Bush has arrogated the power to imprison men without charges and browbeat Congress into granting an unfettered authority to spy on Americans. He has created untold numbers of “black” programs, including secret prisons and outsourced torture. The president has issued hundreds, if not thousands, of secret orders. We fear it will take years of forensic research to discover how many basic rights have been violated.

Both candidates have renounced torture and are committed to closing the prison camp in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.

But Mr. Obama has gone beyond that, promising to identify and correct Mr. Bush’s attacks on the democratic system. Mr. McCain has been silent on the subject.

WARSAW — Poles were jolted last week by the sudden discovery that they were not immune to the financial crisis contagion rippling across the globe. The plunging stock market here and the drastic weakening of the Polish currency proved, as in so many corners of the fast-growing developing world, how wrong they were.

The next president will have the chance to appoint one or more justices to a Supreme Court that is on the brink of being dominated by a radical right wing. Mr. Obama may appoint less liberal judges than some of his followers might like, but Mr. McCain is certain to pick rigid ideologues. He has said he would never appoint a judge who believes in women’s reproductive rights.

The Candidates

It will be an enormous challenge just to get the nation back to where it was before Mr. Bush, to begin to mend its image in the world and to restore its self-confidence and its self-respect. Doing all of that, and leading America forward, will require strength of will, character and intellect, sober judgment and a cool, steady hand.

Mr. Obama has those qualities in abundance. Watching him being tested in the campaign has long since erased the reservations that led us to endorse Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton in the Democratic primaries. He has drawn in legions of new voters with powerful messages of hope and possibility and calls for shared sacrifice and social responsibility.

Mr. McCain, whom we chose as the best Republican nominee in the primaries, has spent the last coins of his reputation for principle and sound judgment to placate the limitless demands and narrow vision of the far-right wing. His righteous fury at being driven out of the 2000 primaries on a racist tide aimed at his adopted daughter has been replaced by a zealous embrace of those same win-at-all-costs tactics and tacticians.

He surrendered his standing as an independent thinker in his rush to embrace Mr. Bush’s misbegotten tax policies and to abandon his leadership position on climate change and immigration reform.

Mr. McCain could have seized the high ground on energy and the environment. Earlier in his career, he offered the first plausible bill to control America’s emissions of greenhouse gases. Now his positions are a caricature of that record: think Ms. Palin leading chants of “drill, baby, drill.”

Mr. Obama has endorsed some offshore drilling, but as part of a comprehensive strategy including big investments in new, clean technologies.

Mr. Obama has withstood some of the toughest campaign attacks ever mounted against a candidate. He’s been called un-American and accused of hiding a secret Islamic faith. The Republicans have linked him to domestic terrorists and questioned his wife’s love of her country. Ms. Palin has also questioned millions of Americans’ patriotism, calling Republican-leaning states “pro-America.”

This politics of fear, division and character assassination helped Mr. Bush drive Mr. McCain from the 2000 Republican primaries and defeat Senator John Kerry in 2004. It has been the dominant theme of his failed presidency.

The nation’s problems are simply too grave to be reduced to slashing “robo-calls” and negative ads. This country needs sensible leadership, compassionate leadership, honest leadership and strong leadership. Barack Obama has shown that he has all of those qualities.

.................This article is adopted from The New York Times..............

No matter what!!!...

2008-08-29T02:52:00.000-07:00

“To Chairman Dean and my great friend Dick Durbin, and to all my fellow citizens of this great nation, with profound gratitude and great humility, I accept your nomination for presidency of the United States.”

Barack Obama is running for the Presidency of the United States of America, no matter what!!! Listening to his inspiring speech, i felt more close to Barack when he showed the importance of his routes.

With his neck all high, slowing turning it left and right with gentility, Kenya was among the first mentions in the Senators speech.

“Four years ago, I stood before you and told you my story, of the brief union between a young man from Kenya and a young woman from Kansas who weren't well-off or well-known, but shared a belief that in America their son could achieve whatever he put his mind to.”...

I only have a humble request to Obama if he would next time change his end speech

From....

Thank you. God bless you. And God bless the United States of America...

To....

Thank you. God bless you. And God bless the United States of America and the world!!

China Vs West-China Wins

2008-08-27T08:12:00.000-07:00

And so the Olympic Games came and got kicked as quick to London on top of a typical double decker red bus by David Beckham as the press.

China’s inadequate commitment in the troubled areas of Darfur and Tibet was the pre-Olympic match that had China and the West wrestle.

New York Times, Time Magazine, BBC, and thousands of others didn’t profile as much for us, a prospective Olympic double gold medallist hero Usain Bolt or Michael Phelps, the now greatest Swimmer of all time. Some even say, Michael is the greatest ever Olympiad. That’s for the Jamaicans to judge otherwise i risk being partial.

Not even did our very own African media contingent know that Kirsty Coventry, the Zimbabwean would for some days save Robert Mugabe from a left to right hitting by his hungry watchdogs , flying home three silvers and a gold for a country whose inflation rate can no longer be written in figures but rather sentences.

The opening ceremony at the “birds nest” would for the two-week event blindfold almost every single journalist. They all went on a gracious treatment on how the opening was spectacular, how fireworks lit the entire Beijing, how Li Ning, a former Olympic gymnast for China flew around the birds nest, how the world has never seen anything like this before, how not a single mess was witnessed and so on.

Apart from dotted barely unconfirmed reports of abuse of human rights, everything went as planned for China .Even the most courageous of media houses for once forgot about China’s human rights records and concentrated on the games.

As long as Michael Phelps wore a gold medal a day at the water cube, all cameras were stuck at the pool because that’s what the world at that time wanted to know especially Americans, China’s hardest critics.

George Bush for your information smiled as much when Kobe Bryant and LeBron James stepped on court for a China Vs USA. While the US team didn’t grace the court as frequent as Bush would have wished, Michael Phelps gave the now unpopular republican a smile in his presidential suit by plucking medal after medal.

Somehow, he too forgot about China’s rights record. At least for the days China hosted him
China granted the world free access to a country most, prior to the games would rather know it through the media. People were scared of the worlds’ largest country.

The BBC, my most preferred source of information came short of my expectation.
The constant pre-Olympics criticism was heavy enough to convince me of two-week media battering of China.

I was keen and followed every step both on TV and radio.

BBC radio, rather than deploying the very best of investigative reporters, swarmed China with what i can term ‘tourists’-minus sports journalists.

One particular day, a BBC reporter set out for a region thousands of miles away from Beijing. All i heard was him interacting with Chinese on board and those he talked to sounded so amazed of travelling with a white person. It takes a while for these people to set their eyes on foreigners.

Some exploited the reporter by using the 24hour journey to perfect their English.

At the end of the journey, we listeners were not told as to how China has been going wrong in the furthest prior to inaccessible areas. It was more like a travel story to me than anything closer to drawing a picture of hardcore human rights abuse in China.

Credit to them though, they tried.

But to be fair, China was and is smart. Terrorist attack in the far west Chinese territory of Xinjiang Province, 2,500 miles from Beijing was cleaned even before a single footage would be recorded.

That time, 16 policemen were killed and because of the mere giant nature of China, that, i suppose to western media was not news and was buried as soon as it occurred. It was the second attack on China in less than a week.

As the world anticipated a wave of protests in China during the Olympics, not even the hardcore Tibetan supporters who preceding the games distracted the Olympic touch on its tour around the world, stepped a foot during the two weeks.

By today, trust me; most of them are still recovering from the outstanding show China show-cased the world. Do they even remember where their anti-Chinese placards are?

China designated three parks in the outlying parts of Beijing to be used for public protests during the Olympic Games though not a single one took place. Reports coming out said, close to people were denied to protest though they applied to do so.

The media had a shot and did not fully exploit it. Nobody can expect the freedom China gave to prevail now that the Olympics are over.

It’s back to the drawing board.

Most journalists used to enter the country as tourists to unearth human rights abuse and i am sorry many more will go back to China as tourists.

Alcohol now 70% more expensive in Botswana

2008-08-11T04:32:00.001-07:00

Not long a go, the Botswana government brought to the table regulations restricting liquor trading hours and operations of night clubs in the country.

For liquor, the Minister of Trade and Industry, Neo Moroka took a shortcut: "It is a national problem," he said after gathering views from all over the country in which he had gone to consult.

Night clubs are to acquire licence to operate in specified hours. For alcohol, a proposed 70% increase in price and reduced trading hours looks more certain to go through evident with a commitment of several members of the Botswana assembly.

As expected, the loving out going Batswana were stung so bad.

According to the revised regulations, bars would now be open at 2.00 to 10.00 pm Monday to Thursdays. On Friday and Saturdays, bars will open 12.000 until 11.00 pm. Prior to these changes, they would close at midnight during the weekends.

Unlike the previous proposed regulations, which suggested that liquor outlets should not open on Sundays, this time, they will, but like the rest of the days, the hours are limited,(3.00 -10.00 pm.) That means just a seven-hour breathe-taking struggle for ease by both customers and bar owners.

Liquor restaurants will open at 2.00 pm and close at 10.00 pm from Monday to Thursday. 12:000-11-00pm on Friday and Saturdays.

If the above is a huge bite to take, night clubs, well, had not just huge bites but mauls.Night clubs will be open from 7.00 pm and close at midnight. For an 18 year old Batswana, five hours of dancing cannot be even closer to acceptance.

Despite an extended two hours to the above on Friday and Saturdays, (7.00pm-2.00am) revellers have to whipe out their sweat for four hours without alcohol as trading hours for liquors end at 10pm in the clubs.

Shooting pool and snooker are also prohibited in bars.

Botswana, having the highest prevalence of HIV/AIDS infections in the world, alcohol and night clubs are more often blamed for engineering the continuos spread of the disease even as government in recent years has gone explicit in its attempt to deal with the disease.

HIV/AIDS messages on major roads,bill boards and Sign posts, Buildings, shopping malls, taxis among others are evident.

While Moroka’s regulations cannot be pushed under the carpet, it does not fully address certain situations.What could be the way forward for the affected parties. Human beings are quick at adapting.Close one door and many others open.

Batswana may resort to having house parties where of course the presence of liquor is not debatable. Here, hour restrictions will not be an issue. Government in the paper did not cover for such incidences.

There is a high possibility of Batswana creating "bars and night clubs" in garages and seating rooms which government will completely have no say. Does it mean such places do not contribute to the spread of HIV/AIDS?

The prescribed hours at clubs in itself is a big risk. “A drink-before-it's-too-late” policy will crop in.Careless drinking most likely will set in to beat the fast moving daily deadlines which obviously has dangerous strings attached. Pregnancies, Road accidents among others wil still remain high if not worse.

Chances are high that with the high prices imposed on alcohol and limited opening hours of liquor stores, some may resort to drugs that are much cheaper.

The Botswana government currently is facing a huddle in tracking down inflow of drugs into the country especially in the Zimbabwe-South African border points.

A host of cars in recent times have been tracked down with drugs worth millions of pulas.
Unemployment may well be realised since liquor companies have to cut costs of production the fact that sales in the market are already limited. This obviously will have an effect on a Batswana who for example is HIV/AID positive, less educated and and has got no access to the country’s gold mines.

Neo Moroka might be using his jurisdiction in claiming, It is the duty of the government in making sure it takes care of the interests of the nation, but to the those affected, some interests are worth left to individuals to judge for themselves.

Rapid changes have been evident in Botswana since Ian Khama took over presidency, little less than five months from Festus Mogae.

Khama, son to Botswana’s renowned first leader Seretse Khama empahasised four D’s during his inauguration address. Displine made it to the list. The others were Democracy, Development and Dignity. These policies thus may not come as a surprise.

He is a reserved talker. Even those close to him in the ruling party have complained that it is difficult to know what he is thinking and what his next move would be.

For these, Batswana should be braced for an uncertain future in regards to what regulations will be followed.

Political Propaganda: Good for Democrats?

2008-03-31T08:04:00.000-07:00

Barack Obama and Hillary Rhodman Clinton are fighting, Oh! Are they?

History dominated the start of the ongoing democratic primary campaigns.

Obama to become the first black president and Hillary, the first woman president should either of them gather sufficient delegates and finally take charge of the White House in the November elections.

It has progressed with much intensity. While the Hillary camp expected to have a run-over Barack Obama, the opposite is rather prevailed so far.

First, the two democrats share spoils. Then Barack Obama, the vibrant speech maker and senator of Illinois, breaks off, winning twelve states in a row.

The Clinton Camp is alarmed.

Any strategy that would halt a run-away Obama was necessary to bring back some life into the Clinton camp.

Done.

They had to be tougher when challenging Obama.

“The man in love with the microphone,” Machinists Union president Tom Buffenbarger started the war.

“He lifts his nose and turns up his ear so he can hear the roar of his adoring crowds. Unlike some, we in the machinists union have seen this act before. He’s damn proud of his performance. But I’m not. All he proved is like Janus, the two faced Roman god… He danced to the tune dictated by billionaires,” Buffenbarger continued.

Clinton then self- declared herself, the candidate who can take up a 3am call.

To this, Obama mildly reacted.

"The question is not about who will be picking up the phone. The question is what kind of judgment will you exercise when you answer the phone."

Obama is an excellent speaker and the Clintons couldn’t stand that fact.

On one of Barack Obama speeches in which a phrase ran close to Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, Hillary Rodham Clinton accused presidential rival Barack Obama of political plagiarism, when she ridiculed him as the candidate of “change you can Xerox.”

Obama toned the accusations down emphasizing, “What we shouldn’t be spending time doing is tearing each other down. We should be spending time lifting the country up.”

Attacks aside: Is this healthy for the party?

While both sides point fingers at each other for fueling the attacks, the Clintons surely would take the much responsibilities of these outcomes.

Remember the Clintons first devised any means possible to halt Obama’s run of 12 straight victories which has in a way helped resurrect their camp.

Many political heads have had concerns with these accusations and counter-accusation, saying its bad for the party as it’s bound to create divisionism come November.

Politics though is never clean. Candidates will do whatever it takes to take charge.

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean has already admonished Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama to stop attacking one another because it's “demoralizing the party's base and damaging its chances of winning back the White House in November.”

US house speaker, Nancy Pelosi is also concerned.

She has urged both leading Democratic presidential candidates to cease their bickering, warning that the “escalating rhetoric could hurt the party's chances in November.”

Campaigns anywhere in the world are characterized by questions and answers.

The more vibrant and realistic the answers are, the better. Clintons have attacked Obama on several occasions “forcefully but indirectly” demanding answers from the Illinois Senator’s camp.

In politics, when it comes tough, it goes back tough. That’s exactly what is happening in the Democratic race. Nobody can blame Obama for the return assails.

When you get shut by your opponent, you send a cold chill to your followers who are always at your feet for anything that comes out of your mouth.

My university; Makerere University, recently held its biggest political activity of the year. One candidate had just about everything. The party ticket-name-Hall-beauty but the guy was just so mild in everything he did and that cost him big. He lost eventually.

The democratic primaries are going to drag on for as long as either candidate can sustain.

Attacks will not fade.

These candidates have preached just about every reform Americans wanted to hear. The ground now looks more and more level, that personal attacks could provide the only avenue to change things.

The Democratic Party has a reasonable fan base to gain the White House. All that needs to be done is uniting the fans of both sides to rally behind the eventual winner.

I don’t sustain these attacks but in politics, you cannot avoid certain things.

Hillary Clinton, a, "Commander In-Chief?"

2008-03-11T09:24:00.000-07:00

Hillary Clinton Took Ohio and Texas: Two states she worked so hard to win.Two states she knew was a must win.Two states her campaign relied.Yes Hillary Clinton claims her campaign is back.

The New York senator didnt win on a golden plate though.She put up a fight that i considered unfair but usual on a tough political seen.Attacks on Obama.

The prior quiet, mild lady has finally changed strategy. She's now this tough, hard talking.

Her toughness aside, there is one contegious area she has repeatedly tried to burry Barack Obama especially this week:That Obama is not ready to be Commander In-Chief"

Am a close follower of Barack, down east of Africa. My vote will not count in anyway but with internet, am on the same platform in spreading the good news about the senator as a folk in Illinois.

Now, "Commander In-Chief" here is a rather lengthy but important analysis of how what Hillary has been pausing as the real Commander In-Chief. Is this lady the real "Commandaer In Chief" she claims to be?Ben Smith writing for Politics.com hard it all summerised.

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When your entire campaign is based upon a claim of experience, it is important that you have evidence to support that claim. Hillary Clinton’s argument that she has passed “the Commander- in-Chief test” is simply not supported by her record.

There is no doubt that Hillary Clinton played an important domestic policy role when she was First Lady. It is well known, for example, that she led the failed effort to pass universal health insurance. There is no reason to believe, however, that she was a key player in foreign policy at any time during the Clinton Administration. She did not sit in on National Security Council meetings. She did not have a security clearance. She did not attend meetings in the Situation Room. She did not manage any part of the national security bureaucracy, nor did she have her own national security staff. She did not do any heavy-lifting with foreign governments, whether they were friendly or not. She never managed a foreign policy crisis, and there is no evidence to suggest that she participated in the decision-making that occurred in connection with any such crisis. As far as the record shows, Senator Clinton never answered the phone either to make a decision on any pressing national security issue – not at 3 AM or at any other time of day.

When asked to describe her experience, Senator Clinton has cited a handful of international incidents where she says she played a central role. But any fair-minded and objective judge of these claims – i.e., by someone not affiliated with the Clinton campaign – would conclude that Senator Clinton’s claims of foreign policy experience are exaggerated.

Northern Ireland:

Senator Clinton has said, “I helped to bring peace to Northern Ireland.” It is a gross overstatement of the facts for her to claim even partial credit for bringing peace to Northern Ireland. She did travel to Northern Ireland, it is true. First Ladies often travel to places that are a focus of U.S. foreign policy. But at no time did she play any role in the critical negotiations that ultimately produced the peace. As the Associated Press recently reported, “[S]he was not directly involved in negotiating the Good Friday peace accord.” With regard to her main claim that she helped bring women together, she did participate in a meeting with women, but, according to those who know best, she did not play a pivotal role. The person in charge of the negotiations, former Senator George Mitchell, said that “[The First Lady] was one of many people who participated in encouraging women to get involved, not the only one.”

News of Senator Clinton’s claims has raised eyebrows across the ocean. Her reference to an important meeting at the Belfast town hall was debunked. Her only appearance at the Belfast City Hall was to see Christmas lights turned on. She also attended a 50-minute meeting which, according to the Belfast Daily Telegraph’s report at the time, “[was] a little bit stilted, a little prepared at times." Brian Feeney, an Irish author and former politician, sums it up: “The road to peace was carefully documented, and she wasn’t on it.”

Bosnia:

Senator Clinton has pointed to a March 1996 trip to Bosnia as proof that her foreign travel involved a life-risking mission into a war zone. She has described dodging sniper fire. While she did travel to Bosnia in March 1996, the visit was not a high-stakes mission to a war zone. On March 26, 1996, the New York Times reported that “Hillary Rodham Clinton charmed American troops at a U.S.O. show here, but it didn’t hurt that the singer Sheryl Crow and the comedian Sinbad were also on the stage.”

Kosovo:

Senator Clinton has said, “I negotiated open borders to let fleeing refugees into safety from Kosovo.” It is true that, as First Lady, she traveled to Macedonia and visited a Kosovar refugee camp. It is also true that she met with government officials while she was there. First Ladies frequently meet with government officials. Her claim to have “negotiated open borders to let fleeing refugees into safety from Kosovo,” however, is not true. Her trip to Macedonia took place on May 14, 1999. The borders were opened the day before, on May 13, 1999.

The negotiations that led to the opening of the borders were accomplished by the people who ordinarily conduct negotiations with foreign governments – U.S. diplomats. President Clinton’s top envoy to the Balkans, former Ambassador Robert Gelbard, said, “I cannot recall any involvement by Senator Clinton in this issue.” Ivo Daalder worked on the Clinton Administration’s National Security Council and wrote a definitive history of the Kosovo conflict. He recalls that “she had absolutely no role in the dirty work of negotiations.”

Rwanda:

Last year, former President Clinton asserted that his wife pressed him to intervene with U.S. troops to stop the Rwandan genocide. When asked about this assertion, Hillary Clinton said it was true. There is no evidence, however, to suggest that this ever happened. Even those individuals who were advocating a much more robust U.S. effort to stop the genocide did not argue for the use of U.S. troops. No one recalls hearing that Hillary Clinton had any interest in this course of action. Based on a fair and thorough review of National Security Council deliberations during those tragic months, there is no evidence to suggest that U.S. military intervention was ever discussed. Prudence Bushnell, the Assistant Secretary of State with responsibility for Africa, has recalled that there was no consideration of U.S. military intervention.

At no time prior to her campaign for the presidency did Senator Clinton ever make the claim that she supported intervening militarily to stop the Rwandan genocide. It is noteworthy that she failed to mention this anecdote – urging President Clinton to intervene militarily in Rwanda – in her memoirs. President Clinton makes no mention of such a conversation with his wife in his memoirs. And Madeline Albright, who was Ambassador to the United Nations at the time, makes no mention of any such event in her memoirs.

Hillary Clinton did visit Rwanda in March 1998 and, during that visit, her husband apologized for America’s failure to do more to prevent the genocide.

China:

Senator Clinton also points to a speech that she delivered in Beijing in 1995 as proof of her ability to answer a 3 AM crisis phone call. It is strange that Senator Clinton would base her own foreign policy experience on a speech that she gave over a decade ago, since she so frequently belittles Barack Obama’s speeches opposing the Iraq War six years ago. Let there be no doubt: she gave a good speech in Beijing, and she stood up for women’s rights. But Senator Obama’s opposition to the War in Iraq in 2002 is relevant to the question of whether he, as Commander-in-Chief, will make wise judgments about the use of military force. Senator Clinton’s speech in Beijing is not.

Senator Obama’s speech opposing the war in Iraq shows independence and courage as well as good judgment. In the speech that Senator Clinton says does not qualify him to be Commander in Chief, Obama criticized what he called “a rash war . . . a war based not on reason, but on passion, not on principle, but on politics.” In that speech, he said prophetically: “[E]ven a successful war against Iraq will require a US occupation of undetermined length, at undetermined cost, with undetermined consequences.” He predicted that a U.S. invasion of Iraq would “fan the flames of the Middle East,” and “strengthen the recruitment arm of al Qaeda.” He urged the United States first to “finish the fight with Bin Laden and al Qaeda.”

If the U.S. government had followed Barack Obama’s advice in 2002, we would have avoided one of the greatest foreign policy catastrophes in our nation’s history. Some of the most “experienced” men in national security affairs – Vice President Cheney and Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and others – led this nation into that catastrophe. That lesson should teach us something about the value of judgment over experience. Longevity in Washington, D.C. does not guarantee either wisdom of judgment.

Conclusion:

The Clinton campaign’s argument is nothing more than mere assertion, dramatized in a scary television commercial with a telephone ringing in the middle of the night. There is no support for or substance in the claim that Senator Clinton has passed “the Commander-in-Chief test.” That claim – as the TV ad – consists of nothing more than making the assertion, repeating it frequently to the voters and hoping that they will believe it.

On the most critical foreign policy judgment of our generation – the War in Iraq – Senator Clinton voted in support of a resolution entitled “The Joint Resolution to Authorize the Use of U.S. Military Force Against Iraq.” As she cast that vote, she said: “This is probably the hardest decision I have ever had to make -- any vote that may lead to war should be hard -- but I cast it with conviction.” In this campaign, Senator Clinton has argued – remarkably – that she wasn’t actually voting for war, she was voting for diplomacy. That claim is no more credible than her other claims of foreign policy experience. The real tragedy is that we are still living with the terrible consequences of her misjudgment. The Bush Administration continues to cite that resolution as its authorization – like a blank check – to fight on with no end in sight.

Barack Obama has a very simple case. On the most important commander in chief test of our generation, he got it right, and Senator Clinton got it wrong. In truth, Senator Obama has much more foreign policy experience than either Bill Clinton or Ronald Reagan had when they were elected. Senator Obama has worked to confront 21st century challenges like proliferation and genocide on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He possesses the personal attributes of a great leader – an even temperament, an open-minded approach to even the most challenging problems, a willingness to listen to all views, clarity of vision, the ability to inspire, conviction and courage.

And Barack Obama does not use false charges and exaggerated claims to play politics with national security.

D-DAY IN OHIO AND TEXAS

2008-03-04T04:25:00.000-08:00

It’s D-day in Ohio and Texas.

Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are locked up.

No one knows who has a clear upper hand.

After sweeping 11 straight victories, Barack Obama is facing the toughest challenge this primaries have offered after the much expected Clinton Hampshire victory.

All is not scary though. Two weeks back, Hillary Clinton had more than massive support according to electoral polls.

Today, that gap has virtually dissolved leaving confusion in what people speculate to be the best ever run to a USA presidential election.

Polls on voting on voting days in Ohio and Texas give Clinton modest lead.

According to a Reuters/C-SPAN/Houston Chronicle poll released on Tuesday, “Hillary Clinton gained ground on rival Barack Obama to take a slim lead in Texas and pull even in Ohio before their crucial Democratic presidential showdowns.

Clinton needs victories in both big-state battles to keep her candidacy alive and halt Obama's string of 11 consecutive victories in the race to choose the Democratic nominee in November's presidential election.

But what makes Obama stand aside?

My love for the Illinois senator spans from his African Heritage. Honestly, could Obama have been a blood “African-American,” i don’t think I would have gathered this much support for him.

Like a typical African, policies preached by candidates normally don’t stand such a candidate chance to win and I may be forgiven for falling short of looking out for critical reforms Americans are yearning for.

Change is human especially after a drastic spell.

Americans too have been preached to, convinced or even intellectually bribed but somehow, the change much expected has not come to effect.

Obama provides that platform. Change not just in a sense for it but a historical one.

Hillary Clinton has a clean political background thanks to her husband and former US president, Bill Clinton.

Whatever her plans are, a section of Americans look at her as a log ready just turn the already rotting tree trunk.

George Bush Jnr. Promised reforms and instead blew it out of proportions. Today his head is hidden in a complex USA political blanket.

Change other than reforms is what Americans are ready to gamble on.

Is the change existent?

The people are willing to change. The people are the power. The power of change thus lies in the hands of not Obama but the American people.

Barack Obama has been endorsed to bring that change in 11 straight primaries under the democratic ticket. I consider the Senator to be a representative of the people not relying too much on his credentials to bring about that change.

American politics has been in a rather predictable path. I can describe the post Bush error as a “recovery period.” Bush Sr. didn’t impress as much as Bill Clinton did. Bush certainly hasn’t impressed.

While it’s close to call, Obama’s tool during the campaign is backed by just one word. Change.

Looking critically at this years candidates, policies read out in majority states have some degree of resemblance. Obama’s reforms do not stretch far from Clintons but because the people have chosen change…so be it.

While the polls show the New York senator taking a 47 percent to 44 percent lead on Obama in Texas, reversing Obama's 3-point edge earlier, the race in Ohio deadlocked at 44 percent in the polling by Zogby International; it’s up to the Americans not polls to change statistics.

CHANGE:We Can Believe In.

2008-02-20T08:51:00.000-08:00

Iowa, Maine, Colorado, North Dakota, Kansas, Idaho, Alaska, Minneota, Washington, South Carolina, Delaware, Alabama, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, Utah, Louisiana, Virginia, Maryland, Wisconsin and now Hawaii have all signed up for change.

Change in no more than my “neighbour” from Kogelo near the shores of lake Victoria in Kenya.

Barack Obama is who am talking about.

As the Democrats and Republicans continue the scramble for delegates in the USA presidential primaries, the Illinois Senator is defying odds. From the very first primary, let alone his first intent for presidency, Senator Rhodman Hillary Clinton has been the over all favourite.

Just two months into the journey, Obama has changed hearts. His unrivaled oratory a side, policies enshrined in his camp have gained a marvelous following. Voters who prior to the campaigns were pro-Hillary are gradually shifting camps to the African American. These mainly were women and the elderly.

In the overall race for the nomination as of 20th February, Obama is leading with 1,336 delegates, including separately chosen party and elected officials known as superdelegates. Clinton has 1,251.

Obama’s ability in fundraising continues to shrive, one area all pundits fronted Hillary Clinton to over step. As of 20th February, the two stand neck-on-neck with Obama outwitting Clinton on cash spent, a total of $85,176,289 to Clintons’ 80,353,785. A testimony that so far is evident in the awake of Obama’s 10th straight win.

The Clinton camp now is resorting to the dirty drive in a bid to change the already bending public opinion towards Barack Obama. The latest being her accusation of the Illinois senator of plagiarism.

Her aides went as far as accusing Obama of plagiarism for delivering a speech that included words that had first been uttered by Deval Patrick, the Massachusetts governor and a friend of Obama. However Clinton herself has borrowed Obama's lines, which to my opinion will not create any impact in as far as, the scratch for delegates is concerned.

Hillary Clintons TV ads have also not spared Obama, directly attacking Obama.One unsuccessfully ran in Wisconsin, a state Obama out rightly won. Here is Hillary’s war on Obama:

Barack Obama still won’t agree to debate in Wisconsin. And now he’s hiding
behind false attack ads.Maybe he doesn’t want to explain why his health care
plan leaves out 15 million people and Hillary’s covers everyone. Or why he
voted
to pass billions in Bush giveaways to the oil companies, but Hillary
didn’t. Or
why he said he might raise the retirement age and cut benefits
for Social
Security. But Hillary won’t.Why won’t Barack Obama debate these
differences?
Wisconsin deserves better. She still lost in Wisconsin.

According to Associated Press reports, Clinton claims: "It's about picking a president who relies not just on words, but on work, hard work, to get America back to work," Clinton said at a labor rally. "Someone who's not just in the speeches business."

The Republican front-runner, John McCain certainly is beginning to sense who he is most likely to meet during the elections inaugurating yet another Hillary-like attacks on the Senator.

After McCain’s wins in both Wisconsin and Hawaii, he threw tough lines for Barack Obama in a bid to remind Americans he is the right man for the seat.

"I will do everything in my power to make sure the American people are not deceived by an eloquent but empty call for change," he said from Ohio in his victory speech.

And my neighbour gracefully shot back:

"John McCain is a genuine American hero but when he embraces George Bush's failed economic policies, when he says he will send troops into a 100-years war, he represents the failed policies of yesterday."

Obama, in all these still stands strong.

In regards to Clintons attack on Obama, me-we-his followers responded and have a feel on what was going on in New York Times website.

….if Sen. Clinton is having a difficult time beating someone with ‘no’
experience and a ‘thin’ resume, how is she going to beat someone with 50 years
of
experience as well as armed services experience?

…Their policies are essentially the same. Their experience is
essentially the same.But this incident lays bare the difference between Obama
and Hillary.Obama is a leader. Hillary is a politician.

To end in his own words….. My first job is to say thank you to those who voted me. Those who didn't, I'm going to get your vote next time.

All photoshttp://www.flickr.com/photos/barackobamadotcom/page

VALENTINES DAY? DOES IT MATTER?

2008-02-08T00:42:00.000-08:00

I resorted to Lip Balm....

2008-01-24T02:34:00.000-08:00

Just a few weeks past, soroti is no longer making world headlines.

The heat that finally has be-falled town is a sharp contrast to what it was a month a go when the district surrendered its sovereignty to floods.

Hundreds died, thousands displaced, diseases broke out, crops perished, humanitarian assistance increased acutely, transport paralyzed, bridges brought down….

During my time there, it seemed the floods were a predicament of what was a smell away.

The high temperatures were back, way beyond thermometers’ reach. Adjusting to this condition presents a distinct challenge which drove me into making a contravercial finale decision.

Among others, I ad to stay In doors for most times, move under umbrellas, or simply walking at shadows of anything. While these would be sustained, my lips wouldn’t even with the application of the above measures.

I applied lip bum. My lips had started cracking. Not just cracking but steadily doing so. Worse still my stay was still premature. I had some days to burn in this now semi-arid town. This period is the beginning of the dry season.

Well this might raise a few questions but without a doubt I needed a solution as first as I could have one. And this honestly worked.

Look, I wouldn’t eat anything with a drop of salt. My lips were denying me Coffee because they wouldn’t get in contact with the slightest of heat. I like oranges and these too could not find direction towards my mouth.

It was too much. I was starving!!

At home, i had three cousins who all were ladies. I didn’t use their lip bums for starters because I hate to thought of sharing one…yaaaak!! I don’t mean they are in anyway untidy. They are smart. You know campusers? Don’t you? So I bought one.

Applying was where I encountered some blocks. On first trial, I blew it all. My lips started glowing. I wouldn’t dare move a step outside the room.

Immediately, I had it rubbed with my handkerchief and washed. At one point, the thought of asking a professional application from one of the cousins came in but I thought it would look weird.

I gave it another conscious shot. This time, I was impressed. Rubbed my lips a little with my thumb and I was good to go.

While this was a short term solution to the unbearable upcountry heat, some how even back in Kampala with a rather mild weather, the act has remained.

At University, I have very detailed friends who notice the slightest of changes in me. They even noticed the fading mosquito bites goose pimples which looked invisible with human eye. They thought the little time I was away, I added some weight. Imagine they noticed I had lost my body complexion a little due to the heat? These guys just can’t fail to notice anything unfamiliar with me.

Surprisingly, they didn’t notice changes on my lips.

Anyway I think it would be too much for them the fact that I apply so little that some times I fail to notice it one the mirror. I do apply just once. That’s when am leaving my house. Carrying the lip bum around has not come across my mind yet.

This though has nothing to do with gender equality. Or any of these crazy acts gripping Africa today. You know them…don’t you? I was just desperate for a solution. And I found one.

"Unveiling the unknown"

2008-01-15T23:58:00.000-08:00

The only difference between western and African winter periods is that, the African one remains as an attraction in the skies.

Absolute sparkling white clouds graced the skies: Absolute heat polished the ground an effect so evident with the dry nature of the vegetation.

This is Awasi Village. My home village. Located approximately 360km off Kampala city and Godly commanded “let there be Awasi Village, in Soroti eastern Uganda, it had taken me 12 months to knit a journey to here.

Fresh memories of me still dominated the dusty paths so much narrowed with the over grown brown coach grass.

Seated comfortably 2ft high on my cushioned mountain bike, the brown grass scenery and scattered tress rising above them, habouring sweet sounds of birds made my academic break stunning.

Yes, I was in the village.

As I approached home, mixed with birds sounds was music peeling through the tall grass.

Granary:Agranary adjacent to the kitchen.They are used

to store food materials in readiness for the dry season when agriculture

is a miracle.

Liberalization of radio in Uganda, 1993 has witnessed a massive increase of privately owned stations which with comfort has benefitted Soroti not forgetting Awasi.

The noise that competed with the birds was a local radio station, Delta Fm I came to know on settling down.

Greeting protocol in this village is always followed.

Ladies not so young came, kneeled and greeted me. Honestly I was uncomfortable with the whole issue of kneeling. However, I wouldn’t gather the courage to tell them they shouldn’t have knelt because they would have never understood why.

There are lots of women emancipation programs in the country but these women do not know anything closer to that. So I didn’t wanna look like that old fashioned Englishman who thinks he has reached University and can now start delegating suggestion orders.

The extreme old ladies just came with mats, laid them next to me, sat immaculately and then softly extended there greetings to me. So respectful I must emphasize. The tone of their voices? Tells a lot.

A top of one of the many grassthatched houses

at home in the village.They are strong and reasobaly full proof. (above)
We engaged ourselves into massive conversations. The journey, school, which part of the city I stay, who and who did I see at the city, “miraculous” presence of lots of cars in the city, transport fairs among others were asked.

I asked, they answered: They asked, I answered. That was the format of the conversation.

Kids love playing. In Awasi, there is no difference. Typical dot com kids. As part of a game, they were told to hound chicken. I smiled. Not because chicken was on the menu (I love chicken) but because a close friend of mine has a name if directly translated to English means chicken.

They ran around with piercing but humorous noise. They would fall, rise up, slide, feeding my eye with some minutes of bizarre.

Everyone in this village knows me. I mean in and out. I lived here for a mixture of the first quarter of my life. My characters thus aren’t strange most of them.

Quiet. Soft spoken. Disciplined. Smiley. Are key characters in me that they never forget no matter the length I spend out of this lovely African village.

The grandies especially, claimed, I talk like my mom did, resemble her and all sorts of comparisons grandies normally make.

The above is the kitchen.

The conversation went on and on. Simultaneously, I brushed my lips with my tongue as the heat took its toll on me. My prayers were answered though; my lips didn’t crack.

For the only the second time in my life, my watch looked liked it was forwarding itself. The first “times”: Each time am down for an exam.

Birds were not crying out loud. The cocks started crowing, sending out routine cries of ‘bed time’ to those below their superiority. The sun was now embracing. Everything was going to bed. My time too had been already squeezed.

A lot of things make this village special. The sunset is probably unrivalled any where. The beauty of traditional granaries, the specious huts, the people.

One unique character that moved me was the family natural architectural design of the buildings. Every family I came by hard this unique setting in which the a permanent house was always surrounded circularly by specious huts.

Asking a cousin as to a reason to this dominant style, he told me; “The middle house grass thatched or permanent is always occupied by the family head who is normally the father.”

The sunset in this village is a beauty that you have the previllage of watching every evening.It stretches for most of the evenings.
According to my 78 year old father,

such a setting showed “a mans’ responsibility in taking careful of the family.”

Also, as the father ages, the siblings “especially boys are supposed to protect their father.” Therefore it was for cordon purpose.

My village has changed. Not just for the one year I have been absent but throughout the time my eyes have progressively matured.

Left: The sun gradually goes down a beauty that costs us zero dollars to watch.

Am adventurous and soon Awasi once more will be history. The world today is very much a village and its unfortunate, very soon I would be leaving not only Awasi village but Uganda for a country only me and God for now knows.

One dream

2008-01-04T00:23:00.000-08:00

Happy New year Blogville. In summery, it has been a busy holiday period. Christmas was good. May be the best ever...Lots of things happened which qualify it.

Like my previous post, i have seized making resolutions. Ok not completely but not that many.I have only one this year.....

I got a dream on 27th-12-2007 and that dream has to come true.So guys, pray your hearts out for me...Am already on my knees...!! Unfortunately,luckily its the only resolution i have.

Blessed 2008!!

2007 Resolutions: Assesment time is now

2007-12-14T09:10:00.000-08:00

A friend told me, new year resolutions work towards building ones future intents.That is yet to go down my approval.

Last year..Sorry. Early this year..meaning January, like any other ambitious brother, i put forward resolutions which were meant to turn my life around.In deed they were to turn my life around.

Without a node: think big and you will get big.Thats the theory i took on.

My ambitions were diversified into: Economical, spiritual, educational and social.

Written down in BOLD RED, i meant every word that went down my diary on a changing and hopeful 1st January 2007.

I vowed to disown a reluctant part of me just to make sure nothing gets a cross.

11 months later, have these been logged? Am i as great as planed? Whats the percentage of achieved and failed? I know it may not be the best time to ask about New Years Resolution the fact that the biggest birthday celebration of the year is just days away.

Do you take time to look for that piece of paper or flip back your diary's pages to January checking out what you achieved and what you didn't?

You must have probably washed it in a laundry on realizing matters weren't as merry as they seemed on paper.

Asses yourself. With the new year a peep away, have you made constructive this year. There are those who though still give lame excuses..."the year is not done yet."

Excuses and nothing but excuses kills our resolutions.

Resolving to start or stop doing a certain activity has no value unless you have the proper motivation for stopping or starting that activity. Without the proper motivation, you will be proudly pretending.

According About.com, "If you are not serious enough about making a resolution to spend some time thinking about them, then you are unlikely to be serious enough keeping them."

Taking time to meditate and seriously think of whats good for you is worth making the bet. A pen or pencil and paper do not change one. Writing is one thing. Following them is another.

It's mind set.

The simple rule is that – don’t expect too much from yourself. Its more reasonable to lay down few resolutions to avoid being pressured.

Heading gender, effective new year resolutions for women according to New Years is more about creating an ambiance of fun and enjoyment at home with kids and husband.

Since women are the main motivators of the family and shoulder day to day responsibility of the house, its time to prepare for new family budgets and cut down on family's useless excessive expenditure.

Sadly Christmas won't let them think that direction now.

For men resolutions allows them to have a rethink on their lives and helps them to get back on their track through careful planning.

Setting a goal without formulating a plan is merely wishful thinking. Heading towards the new year, a food for thought could make 2008 a closer one.

Create Your Plan Immediately.
Commit your resolution and plan to writing someplace, such as a notebook or journal.

Think "Year Round," Not Just New Year's.
Nothing big gets accomplished in one day. Resolutions are set in one day, but accomplished with a hundred tiny steps that happen throughout the year. New Year's resolutions should be nothing more than a starting point. You must develop a ritual or habit for revisiting your plan.

Remain Flexible.
Expect that your plan can and will change. Life has a funny way of throwing unexpected things at us, and flexibility is required to complete anything but the simplest goal. Sometimes the goal itself will even change.

There you have it: Remember, New Years' resolutions are promises:

Happy New Year and a Merry Xmas.

A DOG INHERITS $12M!!

2007-12-05T04:42:00.000-08:00

A dog in my little village is as good as barking at night especially when my neighbuours’ barks. In New York, a dog is as good as $12m.

“New York’s “Queen of Mean” (Helmsley) has left her pet dog in the lap of luxury with a $12 million inheritance – more than she bequeathed her human descendants after her death.”

Helmsley was mean to the extent that her two grandchildren got nothing.

You may all have to excuse my temper should I at any moment over react. First observation; that’s madness.

People have made abnormal fortunes and I have no right questioning how they spend them. Typical of the western world, they give money to charities which fairly are in a better shape than one would for example, think of an African country.

A dog, cannot cook, shop, do laundry, strike a business deal, withdraw money, drive, and etcetera.

So, $12m madly rich? What is this dog going do with the inheritance? By the way the beloved fluffy white Maltese bitch is called; Trouble.

Besides injecting such annoying inheritance figures, she ordered the dog to be buried next to her on occurrence that it died.

“I direct that when my dog, Trouble, dies, her remains shall be buried next to my remains in the Helmsley Mausoleum,” she wrote in her will, the Times reports.

Her addiction for Trouble was so stretched that Helmsley even shared her double king-size bed with Trouble, and lots of kisses.

Zamfira Sfara, a former housekeeper says, “Helmsley would lick the dog tongue to tongue, "It was unnatural. It was unhealthy."

Griiiiiiiiiiiiiiissssssssh!! I cannot imagine dipping my mouth into Harambe’s unmatched teeth and floppy tongue. Harambe is my village night-watcher.

Sometimes I wish the Helmsley types were my village citizens, they would have got tired of lashes.

Loyalty to customary guidelines is mandate and such nonsense surely would have been dealt with not by courts of laws but a little injection of lashes.

Trouble had a five star Hotel chef. One who made sure the bitch ate in time and of course with up to date dishes.

While that position looked ridiculous especially when doing it for a dog, the Chef had something to smile about, bagging $100.000 after the boss’ death.

Trouble is facing trouble. Death threats have been roaming all over the dogs’ life and prompting a secret transfer aboard a jet and now on guard for 24/7.

Whatever is going on in the west? ; I just cannot tell. Thank God our African dogs know their duties.

Bark at the sight of a strange face, bite of necessary. Patiently lay head down beneath the table waiting for bones. Sniff every little rat when we go hunting. And most importantly help me chase after chicken when someone like Pamela-Jaybabe-Gerald stops for a rare visit.

I love this Song

2007-11-28T09:36:00.000-08:00

Pamela and Jaybabe. Two very decent bloggers. This is for you

Blacks Representing.

2007-11-09T03:40:00.001-08:00

Squeezing time to have something down has been like time bomb. However just to keep the page going, this is something you might wanna know.

The richest Blacks in the world.Oprah Winfrey leads the fray with $1.5billion and had been the world's only black billionaire for three straight years.

In America, Oprah Winfrey is the 235th richest American and also ranked 32nd as the most generous giving an estimated $250 millions.

The list is not in order but the names below make up the richest blacks.

1.Oprah Winfrey

2.Bob Johnson

3.Patrice Motsepe

4.Cyrl Ramaphosa.

5.Magic Johnson.

6.Michael Jordan

7.Tiger Woods

8.Reggie Fowler.

9.Michael Jackson.

Nigeria`s Sani Abacha and DRC’s Mobutu Sese Sseko are rumored to have made the list though their assets could not be verified.

JAMAICA MOURNS LUCKY DUBE

2007-10-26T04:59:00.000-07:00

The murder last week of South African reggae singer Lucky Dube has saddened and shocked many Jamaicans who had come to know and appreciate his music and its message of peace and goodwill.

Indeed, it is ironic that someone who sought, through his art, to promote the ideal of a world without violent conflict was cut down in such a brutal and callous manner.

Lucky Dube, news reports tell us, was shot dead by carjackers last Thursday night in front of his son and daughter, aged 15 and 16 respectively, when he dropped them off at their uncle's home in Rosettenville, a suburb in southern Johannesburg.News of his murder has triggered outrage in the entertainment industry, and particularly in countries where Mr Dube performed, including Jamaica.

This week's Sunday Observer reported the expressions of a number of people in the local music industry, most of whom spoke highly of the quality of his music and the fact that he drew inspiration from our very own Peter Tosh, who himself was murdered by gunmen at his home in Barbican, St Andrew in September 1987.

At that time, people the world over expressed shock and outrage at Peter Tosh's murder, which stained Jamaica's image and highlighted our nagging problem of crime. Much the same has now happened to South Africa, as the international media have focused their attention on what some have termed the "ever-worsening" crime situation gripping that African nation.

Indeed, President Thabo Mbeki's Government has come under fresh attacks from critics who accuse the administration of failing to fulfil its promise to bring crime under control. Even the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), a traditionally strong ally of the ruling African National Congress (ANC), is reported to have said that it was appalled and outraged at Lucky Dube's murder and called on the Government for solutions to crime.

It's no easy task, as South Africa, with its population of 47.9 million people, has just under 20,000 murders per year, according to statistics from the South African Police Service. That's just over 50 murders a day - a frightening prospect for any investor and enough to make business owners and law-abiding South Africans concerned.

That scenario is one to which we in Jamaica can relate, as we struggle with our own very high crime rate and the disincentive that it presents to potential investors.

But societies that wish to improve their standard of living cannot yield to the few mindless barbarians who are intent on sowing mayhem at will. For giving in to thugs would open the floodgates for lawlessness and the ultimate breakdown of society.We are not here suggesting that President Mbeki should become a despot like his neighbour, President Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe, and start cracking skulls.

Mr Mbeki, even as he confronts his own problem of an approval rating slump, needs to help shape the kind of South Africa that will be safe for its people and their guests; the kind of South Africa that will produce more citizens of the ilk of Mr Lucky Dube who, though born poor, did not end up living a life of crime.

The same can easily be said of the Jamaican Government who, while still fresh in office, needs to move quickly to address the grave social and economic problems we face in this country.

Story adopted from Jamaica observer.http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/

Questions !!

2007-10-05T11:05:00.000-07:00

I have decided to keep it short and simple this time.

Has the UN failed in Darfur?
Has USA and Britain failed in Iraq?
Has South Africa got through the apartheid period?
Has Nigeria lost its status as Africa’s most populous nation to South Africa?
Has homosexuality become a religion?

Is Africa Ready for the United States of Africa? USA II -Reloaded.
Is Nelson Mandela’s statue in London of any relevance to Africa?
Is climate change catching up with Africa as well?

By the way Ethiopia just entered the new millennium (year 2000).
By the way Julius Nyerere, Tanzania’s former president was the first African graduate in Europe.
By the way he was also Africa’s first president to hand over power voluntarily.
By the way Osama Bin Laden is still alive.

Describe these guys in less than five words:

(Daniel Arap Moi: Yoweri Kaguta Museveni: Muarmer Gadhafi: Saddam Hussein (RIP) Mobutu Sese Sseko )

"Am fine"- An African Disease.

2007-09-21T09:39:00.000-07:00

First iam an African. A proud one for that fact.

Bu the issue here is: what is it with Africans that everything is always "fine."

An African will hardly tell you: "Am doing bad", 'am not fine', 'am sick', 'am broke', 'am depressed'... when asked "how are you."

Just one experience.

I went to see a patient in one of the clinics around Kampala City center. Arrogantly, though with a point I asked:

"How are you?" From my first step, I knew this guy was not closer to fine, but I still found that word come out of me. May be its an Africa thing.

And amazingly he answers: "An fine."

For Christ sake!! with his body sucking nothing but four bottles of water under drip? Pills scattered all over the place? and a breathe so squeezed that you would think that he won't breathe in the next second or so?

And he's telling me "he is fine?"

It’s from then that I asked "how is the sickness now."

"I have a burning headache, soar throat, and absolute weakness, weak limbs and no appetite at all."

The question then is, why did he in the first case tell me he was 'fine' yet by the look on his face, surviving the next one hour was worth a toss? He survived for days anyway. Thank God.

Some times I think its an African way life. Or is it happening in your neighbourhood? Whats your take on this.

And why are we always straight to wrong answers. May that be a cultural background where openness is not so prominent?

Africans generally to my personal notice are not as free as their Western counter parts. This happens almost every where.

One tells you he is fine this minute, the next second, he`s asking you for financial backing.Why is it so?

And by the way haven`t you ever fallen trap of this blind answer? The floor is yours.

And here is Mugabe`s latest!!!

2007-09-03T08:26:00.000-07:00

Let people speak their hearts out.Curse till their curses seize to work.Robert Mugabe`s life is at risk and therefore needs the best protection anyone one can think of.

By the way, i here the Car below is the very latest in the Mercedez class and its rumoured to be the only one in the entire African continent and one of the very few in the world.

Below is Robert Mugabe`s until of late old mercedez Benz. Look at them closely and take a bet where the guy lives.

Now you have seen them. Zimbabwe`s inflation rate is skyrocketing to almost 5000%.What conclusions do you have.

And by the way this is how he drives his economy.Compared to the above two, may be the real Mugabe can now be seen...

Photos from thezimbabwetimes.com

A boss or authority seeker.

2007-08-28T04:56:00.000-07:00

Working ethics still eludes many Africans.

Owning an office is a paradise of unmeasured authority.

I reported to this media house as early as 9:30am expecting to pick my internship form I dropped a week earlier.

My now former supervisor looked too busy to which I bowed him ‘all the time’ he looked to have been chasing.

10:30am, my patience ran out. I had other issues at face but my report was as much important. A pivotal reach in my media career.

Randomly, he raised his slim neck above his office 2005 Dell Desktop which had me behind, looking at what I didn’t know.

I held on. Deep inside my boiling patience, I knew I was wrongly located in Kiko’s office.

Meanwhile the clouds by the look through the window, to which my back faced didn’t favour my movements should Kiko discharge me.

The cold piercing cold wind sneaking through the window potholes made my location more annoying.

…….Am Julian Marshal, with News Hour on the BBC…cried a two battery black radio that had the only sign of life in this guys’ office.

It was 11:00am.

For the past 150 minutes, 3600seconds, seated on this very uncomfortable plastic blue chair ,Kiko’s intentions were still unknown to me.

My every reminder to Kiko was smartly and calmly answered with ‘wait a little’.

He was the boss. I was the servant. I had to keep a very low profile. Confront an Africa and I promise you, getting served might be history.

Kiko moved out of his seat at will leaving me ‘keep’ his US $200 worth dusty office.

The temptation to walk out of his office was acutely revoked with ‘I need this internship report like Benny Hinns’ love for white neck-less suite.’

Noon came and passed. Kiko was still reluctant in bailing me out. ‘May be he needed my company since for all the hours I had been there, I looked to have been the only client,’ I thought to myself.

What dug the hell out of me was his insistant askings: ‘You have come here for your report?’

Yes, you are the boss. I do agree but how do you treat your clients especially where you hold supremacy?

No Company, Mall, Office, operates without a target audience. Target population dictate how your company is run and surely deserve wholesome attention.

Kiko treated me like didn’t offer any decipherable service to this media house.

P.S: There was this part Kiko was to give an assessment of me in the internship report .It Read: Does the intern have any outstanding weaknesses or shortcomings?... And this is what he wrote: None in the period he has been here…

Kiko forgot through out the intern I gave him a hell of trouble when it came to donning on a tie and this intestinal like trousers (gentle trousers). I love jeans. Thank you Kiko.

Grandees for Cigarettes:Sex for..........?

2007-08-22T09:43:00.000-07:00

Am optimistic most of us, if not all of us want to leave a happy life. The only unfortunate thing is that we cannot prevent the feared side: Sucking side.

What makes you happy?

Young, medium and old both differ when happiness is presented. What makes one happy will most likely make the other puke.

Sex, parents, music, food, school, traveling, idols, religion, cars, money, jobs, cloths, Alcohol, boyfriend-girlfriends hold a percentage in our daily lives.

For the young in the region of indolence, money and sex are most likely to take a junk divide of their happiness.

A recent research in the US for example shows that money, sex and relationships (friends) were toping the list in terms of teenage happiness.

On the low side, i think teenagers fear school. I have had the opportunity to pass through this route and can gleefully testify that teenagers fear school.

The “going back to school mood” is awful. In Africa, schools not until of late have been ‘small’ military schools.

That would completely water down moods of innocent but naughty kids who nothing except a cane can correct there steady unbalanced growth.

Today, that myth of using the rode to correct heads has or is gradually disappearing.

Back to happiness, parents worldwide hardly have time to relax especially ones with kids to take care of.

They tend to spend most of their time nurturing kids who unless followed up closely can easily fall prey of the uncensored world of today.

Outside kids, unlike their western counter parts, African parents spend a batch of time thinking of how to sustain their families in an approach that will not show their failed efforts.

In getting the family moving, inflexible work is essential. Time at work place increases due to the pressure to deliver and also sustain the family. As a result, parents hardly have time for their children or themselves.

The last time I saw a full bright faced parent is when they are off visiting their parents or village relatives. Grandees are probably made happier when grand children visit. And may be there most favorite songs in the days and for a typical African grandee: a cigarette.

Not finding a cigarette stuck between the cracking pale lips would probably find them sleeping. Outside that, God knows-may be in the grave.

Am happy not because of a specific liking but a series. Let me tell you the authors’ side: Basic friendship, family and traveling makes me happy. Money, own apartment, girl friend, are secondary.

The question is: What makes you happy? Money, sex, movies, family, friends, mom, dad, profession, breaking relationships, gossiping…what?

Mystery North.!

2007-08-14T08:05:00.000-07:00

I almost come from the northern part of the country. Call it Northeast.

North: the direction which goes towards the part of the Earth above the equator, opposite to the south, or the part of an area or country which is in this direction: according to Cambridge Dictionary.

Am not here to redefine terms but, askingly curious of why North looks like some sort of curse.

North is always tagged with confusion. Bad or good, normally it stands out.

Africa, the all green, beautiful but troublesome continent famously described as the Dark Continent has a big share of this bad north taste.

Generally the biggest area covering North Africa is a desert and you can only be madly smart in your upper chambers to praise a desert.

No water, poor transport, heavy winds, the heat is unbearable, no rain…etc.

Then stop by in northern Nigeria. The Northern States of Nigeria have experienced just almost every clash deadly enough for you to think of.

In 2001, while Africa was to be beaming having to host the Miss World pageant (its first), clashes in Northern city of Kaduna lead to loss of more than 200 people.

Two years earlier, 2,000 people had died in religious clashes in Northern Nigeria.

Uganda has had for more than 21 years the bitterness of having north some where attached to its map.

The LRA war has seen thousands go down the grave and about 2.8 million more in IDP camps.

International bodies (UN, FAO, WHO, AU…) have spoken out against this war.

There have been two peace talks in attempts to bring peace but Northern Uganda (one still going today in Juba) still is entangled in war.

In Sudan, the Northern Arab government of Bashir have and are still not closer to making the commonly black South breath. As a result, the Darfur region of Sudan which has attracted world eye still has a way to go.

Close to 400.000 people are believed to have died as a result of the northern governments` reluctance in witnessing peace in Darfur going as far as sponsoring militias in the region.

Northern Kenya and Tanzania have for long been suffering hard cracking drought leading to a significant number of deaths.

North Korea today stands at the hills of world attention because of its attempt to develop nuclear power.

The US and Britain, twin brothers in world affairs have threatened the Pyong Yong government to broker any agreements but have hit walls so far.

Northern Ireland not until this year has had a tight-lipped relationship for decades.

North America where the famous United States of America lies today is at the helm of conflicting relationships with a host of countries world wide.

Arab countries especially have no business with a country so proud of any invention which is American.

Then my question rises; what really is made of the north? And the Bible or the Q`ran, what do they talk about north? Has God cursed the north some where in the word?

East, South, West are directions as well. North I tend to think has something more to just being a direction.

Eddie makes one Year!!!

2007-08-02T07:47:00.000-07:00

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Oh! Yes!!, today is my birthday. One year old into blogging.

It was on this day 14:37pm, August 2006 that I luckily got to know what blogging was all about.

Lazily browsing through my usual sites, my luck suddenly ran full. A faint voice I recall cut across my trimmed ears.

“Ivan, why don’t you open a blog?” someone I came to realize was countryboy1 softly asked.

For a minute, I wondered what a blog was. In rare need of something new I kept my ears wide alert.

Surely I needed a break from match-finder.com, perfect-match.com, Nationmedia.com, monitor.co.ug, bbc.co.uk, sendfreesms.com…etc…etc.

“By the way a blog is very good because you can be storing your stories,” he fervently explained to Ivan without a clue there was an intruding ear.

Oh! Yes, was my inside reaction, not ready to show Countryboy1 my very inquisitive face.

He was seated on my left.

Within a shake of a foot, I was on blogger.com. Loftily blinking, I managed to see his home page.

His icy smile amidst a black and white photo with a cap, top right of his countryboy1 blog made me even more probing.

I didn’t know he was to be my best blogger. I also didn’t know he was the famous Banjo writer. I didn’t know he was a charming a little soft spoken, humble and stubborn fellow.

I didn’t know he was to advice and encourage me with time. I didn’t know he was called Dennis D Muhumuza.

Countryboy1 am so proud of you. Am so envious of how good a writer you are.

In a few minutes, I had a blog with virtually no idea of where next.

First, it was Free speech for the world, then, calmly talking, Even…it went this far, from him.

Hehe!! Finally I settled for the now famed FREE SPEECH FREE WORLD. At least my mentor says so. I may not care much what comes afterwards.

But with the help of my mentor Countryboy1, he was able to introduce me to blogger in-depth.

Now he cheekily tells me.

“Eddie, you are among the most famous bloggers. I like your style.” Countryboy1, I don’t take that the simple way. Thank you.

One year down the river, as I started exploring blogger, I came across bloggers I can rightly call Veterans in the business.

Instead of cutting my pan cake and popping a coke in celebrations, these guys need recognition.

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Countryboy1:

I need not repeat myself. The guy holds the no.1 spot. Countryboy1 I chose the following posts for my blogger anniversary:

>For the Love blogging.

>To Mr. Robert Kabushenga.

Baz:

You have to be patient reading this dudes blog. You rush, I promise you, chances are high you won’t get what he actually meant. Baz I liked these. Meet two of my best from you.

>Oh, you mad cos I`m stylin on you?

>(How to Start And Enjoy A Bar Fight (or did someone say Uptowner?)

Mataachi

>solving problems a man's way

>KIM +10

Scotchbiscuites:

>Idling at 4:18am

>Dancing on The Ceiling!

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Uganda’s matatus ahead of CHOGM:

2007-07-30T11:47:00.000-07:00

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Kampala is the dirtiest East African City as things stand. And that’s official. Yes, I stand to be prosecuted on that.

Roads are being turned upside down without a hint of when they will ever be completed.

We all know that they are being prepared for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in November but what we actually keep wondering is whether these roads will meet the required or rather the anticipated readiness they were supposed to have.

What kills my thought are the billboards running across the city in the likes of Ragga Dee, Gaetano, Maggie Kigozi, Dorcus Inzikuru and of all people Rio Ferdinand; “Am ready for CHOGM”…..

What nonsense!!!!!

And for Ferdinand: for Christ sake they guy came to Uganda on a sporting mission not to be turned into a CHOGM advert face. Does he actually know his face is being miss used here?

While the roads are messy, certainly the rides also ought to have not just a touch but serious makeover.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I took a matatu on Friday to downtown Kampala and was deep down my throat breathless at what conditions these matatus are.

Looks scary:The above is part of my shoes

Being an African in the making, I was hard to be convinced to find my out of this taxi. Rather than standing under a dump and drizzling Kampala weather, I settled for a ride that made me think I had a duty show others.

Its carpet must have got rotten two to three years ago. Accompanied with an old roof, leaking so badly, the sides and roof rusty for dead.

At first I thought it will not last the journey. Actually it did. Perfectly at the same time.Next to my seat:the side board!!

Nasser Ntege Ssebbagalla Promised us Buses. In did we saw the buses. In fact three were brought around to feed our eyes in the name of road testing. More than one year down the road, where are there double decked buses.

Perhaps the Mayor owes me an explanation.

These taxis are exploiting us yet they are in such poor conditions to serve even beggars.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As we head for the EA federation, the Nairobi matatu version is way…. Way… way… ahead of us.

True, they posses some really poor conditioned matatus. But step in that’s when you realize that actually they are up-to-date. Ok. Some distance at least.

Just some how hi-techs: Flat screens, DVDs, Home theatres, Seat belts, convenient seat spacing,……….and I think some air conditioning...Klara,can you help me out here…

However, they can mean to be too intimidating and also thieves. In fact Kenya is ready for CHOGM, not Uganda. Gosh!!:You guys can`t imagine.I was to use

this as my hand rest.

Who has contacts with FDC we advocate the change of venue to Nairobi.

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Already Tagged!!

2007-07-24T10:45:00.000-07:00

THE RULES;

1. We have to post these Rules before we give you the facts.

2. Players start with 8 random facts/habits about themselves.

3. People who are tagged need t write their own blog and their 8 things and post these.

4. At the end of your blogspot, you need to choose8 people to get tagged and list their names(Be afraid,be very afraid!!!!!!!!!)

5. Don`t forget to leave them a commenttelling them they have been tagged, and to read your blog.

You are already tagged.

This Term is used to describe human indexing of material on the Web, which in theory makes content more intuitively found and shared.

Tagging systems are also known sometimes as "folksonomies"--a combination of "folk" and "taxonomy"--as well as "shared bookmarking."

Have i been tagged before? Should i have really asked that question? No, i don’t think i deserve to have asked that question.

Its a common thing on the Internet and may be, i could use this time to attract you in into tagging me.

"Top 8 Countdown about me then…."

1. Am absolutely a very soft-spoken dude who you will to struggle to get a word out of his quiet, well neat mouth. I have my teeth intact only with a little ‘bump’ closer to uyu jama of Kleptomaniax. What’s his name? Collo kama DEP

2. Am not good at outings. I mean heading to shake that stuff at Ange or F2..etc. But i do crazy dancing in my room. Volume to heaven and there, i will boogie till sweat surrenders.

3. If a Smirnoff or Tusker fan, then its advisable you don’t tag me at any blink because i will kick yah a**. I don’t drink, so better figure out what kind of dude iam.

4. Reconciliation to the fullest is my hardest test. On being hurt, i take ages to heal the wounds in my me.

5. I love eating. Seriously, i love eating a lot. Don’t figure out my figure cause am a slim tall choky fellow. A combination of Pilao with roasted pork certainly will stress any fork.

6. If you are in love with Afros, Dead or dreadlocks, then probably we are going to get on for quite a distance. On top of that i never like standing out of the crowd dress-wise.

7. This is for the ladies, I feel uncomfortable being over tight-marked by you. Yes, we are in love lakini it doesn`t mean I have to be followed by CCTV Cameras wherever i put by smelly feet. LOL how can that happen.

8. Now, for you who has been following this tag manifesto; it takes a hell of a Kenyatta coin for me to get used to people. You really have to be too bagging, annoying in a good sense, funny and full of ma-storos to get my throat pressing pronunciations.

May be i could have continued but i think the above truly define Eddie; the Blogger..I certainly have to tag some good culprits on blogger...

The following are automatically tagged:(Unyc, Cheri, Countryboy1, Klara, Carlo, The 27th Comrade, Bomseh)...Injury time inclusion.... Lady,Majonzi

Mobile Phones Making Us Stupid

2007-07-17T19:59:00.000-07:00

Here's a trend that has been years in the making. Since the advent of speed dial on land lines, people have been training themselves that memory is unimportant, placing every phone number you could need at the touch of a button.

Now science has proven it: Phones, computers, and PDAs are making us dumb.

The stats: A quarter of UK residents (these studies always come out of Britain) don't know their home phone number.Only one-third know the birthdays of their immediate family. Half use one password, exclusively, presumably because they just can't remember any more.

The problem is pretty simple at heart: The less you use your memory, the study says, the worse it gets. The study indicates, shockingly, that people in their 50s and 60s have generally better memory than people in their 30s.

Why? The older group was tasked with committing more to memory when they were younger, "training" their brains appropriately.

Our gadgets make it simple to offload our memory to electronic devices. That's a good thing when it comes to keeping track of the 1000 people in your address book (each with multiple phone numbers and email addresses), but maybe we're taking it too far?

The good news is that you can exercise your brain without memorizing numbers by rote.

Games like Brain Age and Sudoku and other mental stimulation can do just as good a job at keeping your memory sharp (and possibly even ward off ailments like Alzheimer's), the experts say.

Courtesy Yahoo

Human Resource Managers;Employ someone for good reasons!!

2007-07-06T09:57:00.001-07:00

I have a debate, which turns out to be a problem. That problem relates to our survival. The problem is very sensitive only to African countries, the problem is very mainstream, the problem is conservative and that problem is criteria for employment.

What criteria should be used to employ. Simple as it may look, some Human Resource Managers have been fired for employing unskilled inexperienced, unknowledgeable and very incompetent workers.

Some of the relevant aspects to consider of course will evolve around, tribe, colour, ethnicity, region, political affiliation, academic qualification, level of experience, religious affiliation among others.

Majonzi a few days back talked of work dates. This in anyway is not directly related to my area of interest, which is dressing, but indirectly, they are all norms that have lived since time colonial.

I believe and do agree with you that dressing is very vital in recruiting workers, however I feel this criteria is a little exaggerated.

Why on earth would I employ the smartest dude who on assuming work will drop my profits in just the first one week?

The economies we have today are so demanding that companies project well ahead of time the estimation or even the exact profit to be reached in years!!! Profit is the sure way to survive in the market.

Could you figure out a reason as to why Non Governmental Organizations -NGO`s are dorminant in remote areas today?

Then my question interrupts; “are you still going to employ Mr. Smart who does not have the vigor, aggression and capability to steer forth your company?

In Africa, employment is all about having hold of money by the end of the day. Take care of your siblings. Buy food. Clear rent and wait for tomorrow’s chapter.

Few care less of what the company wants to achieve. When the company is not operating at a loss, that’s good security enough to have one retain his/her position. Head for M.A and more money flows down the bone marrows of the ATM.

Companies should head for the intellect mind, the ability, the aggressiveness, wide experience level rather than giving dressing a junk weight which breeds regrets in the end.

Human Resource Managers have to explore the diverse cultural contexts in which our societies are run. Decency ought to be looked at not only in the African context but rather a wider, changing and more complex world we are integrated into.
Human Resource Mangers just have to employ their skills in cropping decent rather than indecently exposed workers.

On so many occasion have companies got rid of very talented workers who only need a one evening tea chat to make them decent just because smartness is what they their recruiters think don’t meet standards.

Interpersonal interaction then comes forth. They need to acutely realize talented fellows by a simple smell. Then go an extra centimeter in engaging some face-to-face interaction that might go a mile or two in changing ones dressing codes to reasonable levels.

Interviews don’t stop at asking questions with a panel of stuff members. It’s not about Knowing someone’s face, nor does it include asking some irrelevant questions that a talented prospect has a higher chance of failing.

Think of loosing Sudhir Ruparelia, Michael Ezra, and Chris Kirubi, Nicholus Biwott, Raila Odinga, Uhurru Kenyatta (among the richest in Uganda and Kenya respectively divided) just because they failed to answer correctly which alliance over threw Napoleon after the battle of Waterloo.

Office attires should be a compromise between the employer and the employee because both parties are set to gain from each other.

I fact the employer gains extra because what ever profits that will accrue as a result of hard work from the workers, their pay is not going to change unless the company thinks they deserve appreciation.

Employers have got to seriously think of the objective of their company before anything else. Unless the company is non-profit oriented, then I don’t have a problem.

Who thought just a few years ago, a lady seen in a trouser would be called all assorts of names. Today? Even Honorable members of our societies head for their official duties in pants.

We have to set our priorities right. Yes dressing is an issue, though we should not make it look like its one of the set goals for the company.

Last question; isn’t someone dressed in a clean fitting blue jean with a white shirt decent enough to attend to customers and in turn make breathtaking profits?

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THE TELEGRAGH.CO.UK: 05th-072007.

We Africans might have adopted the English language; however, its no longer shocking that even the so-called mighty Newspapers in the world make mistakes…

I was reading the Guardian Newspaper online and bumped into a scoop; the paper reported this;

It is understood a fee of just uner £20 million has been agreed after talks were held between United officials, Tevez's owner, businessman Kia Joorabchian, as well as representatives from his former Brazilian club Corinthians…………

Do sanctions really apply to Africa?

2007-06-29T06:51:00.000-07:00

Lately, I have come to think of something beyond it s bare face.

Sanctions.

An invention of the West, its credibility in solving African problems is where my doubts seek redress.

^{Derivation of its strength is normally economical where the resistant country is burred from trading with the other countries in the international community. The aim here is to bring down such a country onto its knees.}

^{Minus contempt for the English word, its application in Africa especially is questionable. A question then pops; does Africa really need sanctions of any nature? Uganda, Zimbabwe, Libya, South Africa, Sudan have had a taste of this theory.}

In no capacity can any African country be a threat to the USA like the much claim of North Korea, Iran, Iraq, and Syria. Which ever problems African countries face are internal and local based.

Africa is a characteristic of civil wars, poverty, diseases, poor infrastructures, poor nutritional additives, Hunger, illiteracy, dictatorships, gender inequality, what else? Oh! Corruption.

Folks, partially forget those short comings; does the cause for sanctions make the situation any better?

Zimbabwe and Sudan are currently inhaling the dictionary word. The stretch the two have faced sanctions from the Western economies especially American and her better half Britain, has inflation rates got any better in Zimbabwe?

Has Robert Mugabe’s economy exhibited any symptoms of recovery? Now those who make the economy; the citizens; has the infant mortality and death even had a hi-cup? When WFP runs out of food supply, then create an economy of that resemblance on your face.

Ok, Robert Mugabe, the architect of Zimbabwe’s artistic impression; could he have ever run short of food, money, power, medical care, shelter, imposing authority or anything close to distress? The aging Pan-Africanist looks healthier every other day.

Mugabe wishes;He is not affected

by economic sanctions slapped

on Zimbabwe.

(photo from the BBC)

Now that’s what Bush and the former British Prime Minister Tony Blair detests hearing. I wonder how Gordon Brown will fair with the US.

And how about Sudan; Southern Sudan to circumvent speculation. The USA figures here once more. Just last month, Bush’s administration saw it wise to pull more strings on Sudan’s economy blocking Sudan’s economy for yet another year.

The US only forgot that Sudan is not Southern Sudan. Sudan is economically at ease, peaceful, in no need of WFP trucks unless they are headed south, Diseases, tribal cutthroats, they are Bashir’s precious citizens who do not subscribe to UN erected IDP camps, in fact they have nothing to do with "South Sudan" apart from oil which is every one’s envy; of course US inclusive.

Southern Sudan is not apart of Sudan. The Darfur situation gets worse each day and Bashir who supposedly the sanctions are supposed to hurt is some where comfortable in Khartoum with a cigar tacked in his mouth probably.

A Southern Sudanese mean while needs a half a drop of water. Even the drop is contaminated in away that Bashir would fall ill with jus a look, leave alone drinking. An under dose of any medicine just to have hope for tomorrow. Toddlers, young, medium, and worse of all old women are raped my insurgencies.

These leaders are not bothered that they respond to such politically driven pressures at their own pace and will. Only just has Bashir dictated an amount of 25000 peace keeping troops of the UN and AU to be moved into Darfur.

The Western world has got to learn that African leaders have lived seeing people suffer. Supposingly humiliating the likes of Bashir and Mugabe with sanctions is a waste of time. The calibers live in their luxurious palaces while all the dirty sanction effects are eating up an average Sudanese or Zimbabwean.

In face Morgan Shangirai, Mugabe’s political rival is a political threat than the so called US pressure, sanctions inclusive.

Devising alternative ways to deal with African issues certainly is needed. Sanctions just deepen the wounds of citizens in such countries. It’s not the political heads who are affected. Sanctions are too mainstream.

The measures should be directly able to affect the political players. Otherwise sanctions just escalate more hardships, not for the decision maker but to citizens of a given country. Certainly Bush has advisers intelligent enough to think out African issues without much of a problem.

Sanctions just do not work in the African situation. May be Asia and Europe.

Finally ,Thiery Henry realises it time to leave!

2007-06-23T05:45:00.000-07:00

Am not close to supporting Arsenal but am even closer sympathizing with them at these turbulent mourning times.

“Goal gangster”, Theiry Henry finally has hit the last nail in England. No more rumours, No more debates. No more biting nails. No more vroom voom! He is joining not only Samuel Eto’o, Lionel Messi but the king as well Ronaldo de Assís Moreira or better known as Ronaldinho Gaúcho.

The question is; what took Thierry that long to realize that Arsenal didn’t much his abilities. Oh! Thank God he finally got to realize, though late. Thanks dude!

Thiery and Wenger
Where the journay starte
(Photo from bbc online)

At 29, his football career literally is one year left. Signing an extension at Arsenal would have surely been a gamble especially with David Dein and the continuous rotten speculation surrounding Arsene Wengers job in London.

Well if you are still a doubting gooner, this is what your legend is telling you.

"Arsene has been part of my life for as long as I can remember,”

"Unfortunately and understandably he has said that at this moment he will not commit to the club past the expiration of his current deal which finishes at the end of the coming season.

"I respect his decision and his honesty but I will be 31 at the end of next season and I cannot take the chance to be there without Arsene Wenger and David Dein.
"This is solely my decision, no-one has forced me to do anything and I will represent myself in this transaction. I feel it is something I just had to do."

Barca here I come..
(Photo from bbc online)
Just in case the word transaction doesn’t convince you enough, then let me give you its meaning briefly. “Transaction is an agreement or movement carried out between separate entities often involving the exchange of items of value, such as information, goods, services and money. Henry’s involved money.

Have I convinced you now? If not, never mind, I will still endeavor to go on as long us Thiery Henry is not going to score an injury time winner over Man United.

I think Henry realized that Arsenals Kids were no longer producing beautiful football, giving it as one of the reasons for the departure.

"Barcelona are a wonderful club steeped in tradition and play beautiful football. I'm sure I will be very happy there," I wish you would have added, “excellently happy there”, but it’s ok.

"But I will miss the Arsenal fans dearly; they have supported me through thick and thin.

"They will always be in my heart, as will all the fans who make the game here so special. I will always have a special bond with Arsenal Football Club."

Ssebo, say anything as long as you are not going to kick a thing for them. Do you have an idea of the pain you caused when you hit the last nail on United last season at a time we were trying to stop the boring Chelsea soccer? Ok, now that you on the way to Barca, I forgive you. Now continue telling these fans of yours what they should have expected some years ago.

"I still must pass a medical on Monday but yes, I have chosen Barcelona," the 29-year-old striker told me on a phone booth.

Read it carefully, he said, “I must pass a medical”. Virtually, it’s a done deal. Those doctors know how worth their cheques will read as long as drug free comes first. I don’t think he takes drugs but when his music idols are the likes of Snoop Dogg, Dr Dre, its worth being worried.

Let me take this occasion as well to pronounce the downfall of Arsenal. Jose Mourihno my co-loud mouth will do the needful after me.

For starters; Now the signs are that Wenger, the genius who took Arsenal to a higher plane, will fly the nest next summer — if not before.

No Dein, no Henry and soon no Wenger. Arsenal as we know it, is dying a painful death.
Barca was last night celebrating victory after a two-year chase for Henry, who will form a devastating strike force with Ronaldinho, Lionel Messi and Samuel Eto’o.

Secondly, which professional player is left at Arsenal? Ok, pass me a pencil I try the “try and error” game here.

Gilberto Silva? He’s also plus 30 and clubs are already on his back. Oooh! Who else? I don’t know whether Cesc Fabrigas can chip in. But he’s too young and though maturing, has a raw temper.

Now who else? No I think these two are the remaining but endangered professionals as well.

But on a serious note, it’s a big loss to the premiership. That is even small; England. Apart from the recent import of stars by Mourihno, the guy has been at the top of games from the time he got into England.

If you have a poor memory, then I guess you can easily remember that Henry is Arsenals all time great not withstanding their highest ever goal scorer. Ian Wright should be a happy man because the guy was almost making his record look an easy get and by-pass.

Now that the brother has gone, I guess no more troubles from United in terms of threat and occasionally chipping in pains. There’s though one concern and may be that’s the reason he didn’t tell us why he was leaving. Ruud Van Nistelrooy was the top scorer in Spain. Jealousy! Now he’s gone to torment the Dutch Swamee.

Ok, let not add pains on the already rusting Emirates guns. Let me keep my devil pot in the bag. After all, as the great Theiry Henry leaves, two young prospects jet in; Anderson Luís de Abreu Oliveira and Luís Carlos Almeida da Cunha better known as Nani.

"Goodbye Arsenal"

Happy 2007/2008 season Arsenal!!!

Could you try another Job Please!!

2007-06-19T07:47:00.000-07:00

He was smart. Black suits, black shoes, black tie, black hair, dark complexion.

“Men in Black” would be the easier description.

He sat for long, relaxed that you would think he was misplaced in coats. Normally men in extreme coats never intend to look bored.

Meanwhile, my heart was beating some where close to ?>?>?>Entebbe. Covering the women commonwealth delegate visit to Mildmay was all I was there. It turned out to be my first time there as well.

Where you expected a contingent of not only African women Ministers but the western counterparts straight away self explained itself of this smart guy’s presence.

3:23pm, I and my crew descended our corolla special hire ride. Thank God Mildmay brushes shoulders with Entebbe highway. Cameras on our backs, a slight check at the gate with an approximation of five security personnel prescribed two visitors cards (V79 for my colleague and V86 for me) for us that apparently was to define our legality in the premise. It was to be continuously interrupted.

A neat green trimmed compound with a fresh breath of carbondioxide-free air was not a bad welcome all the same. Round two of private guards mean looking with radio-calls again asked us repeated questions. We were neat enough for them.

With our chests beaming with the visitor cards that were to legalize our presence, there was still unsure ness about our existence. By this time, I was asking myself some good questions these guys ought to have answered.

“Now look at these fools, how taunt they think we have come to blow up this place? Do we look Osama duplicates? We have f**kin’ visitors cards; are your eyes deem?” I didn’t have the opportunity to fire them. I had my Krishna matchbox in one the bags though. All the same, my editor wanted nothing short of story.

One local guard then employed himself to lead us to some one we truly claimed to have called us to cover the story. She happened to be the PRO not PRA as they might have thought as we insisted on telling them we had been called by the PRO.

Our presence struck the guard down his nerve that if was in his position, I would hang my balls. The lady gave each of us a round of hot hugs; the ones you hug then give it a break; look at each others face; then give an even tighter round two. He walked away with loose steps.

She then threw for us almost immediately more immunity with Mildmay Press Cards. I now kept thinking, even an AVG anti-virus would clean our presence in this quiet, beautiful yet for that day stubborn Health Center.

While I thought we were prodigal sons ready to cover the story, here comes the man in black. Remember him?

We had sat just in front of him chatting away close to half an hour waiting for the buzz. In fact UBC TV had a rare opportunity of having our brief subscription as we flattered watching Suruma struggle with the Budget.

Hilariously, a man of his smartness suddenly starts breathing down between our shoulders with questions I rightly categorize as garbage. Look, the guy had seen the tags on our chest, reciting, ‘visitor’ and the other ‘Press’!!

“Which media house do you come from?

“Great Lakes Media Limited”, my equivalent volunteered.

The pain didn’t stay that short. “And do you have identifications; I mean your identity cards?” he went on irritating us.

Who the hell is this guy? “For eddiez tempers sake, can’t you see a Mildmay Press Card simultaneously with a visitors cared?” I murmured down by lungs in caps. My only new years resolution has from January been to keep down my tempers wherever the situation.

I was close to give it up for this chap. While I was burning inwards, my outward look would even convince Angelina Jolie.

“We have”, Kasiki, my counterpart again volunteered. Kasiki flashed his. “And yours?”

“I don’t have” I recklessly answered. Thank God the guy didn’t look more than those three words, though his eyes looked more inquiry.

Well, I was only to be told the bored looking fellow is actually a CID agent. The poor guy was at work! The trade is unexciting that i sympathized with him.

How could some one take such an occupation? If we happened not to have featured, this CID bro would have probably returned with an even drier lip.

He though bored me all the same. However, the questions are; are you working at your place of interest or it’s just a matter of survival? Given an opportunity to work in your dream profession, would you rather give up your current job you’re earning big but with gloominess?

What influences you when hunting for jobs?

This CID guy could be just one of the thousands or perhaps million more misplaced job occupants out there.

(Based on a true story)

A lady looks at her outfit 20 times in one hour when reading

2007-06-13T04:52:00.000-07:00

It was one of those places I didn’t ever dream of visiting. The surrounding so dull yet blessed with the ‘highest mind concentration rate’. Hardly anything moves around unnoticed; a library is what am talking about.

When did you last visit a public Library? And where do you anyway feel complete peace of mind when having to read. Are you comfortable in your 4 by 4, 6 by 6 bed? Or a library where life is virtually non-existent.

Where is your highest understanding rate? Who would you prefer to pull a seat next to your thighs or face? Do you have any idea of what beefs up your concentration?

I didn’t imagine a library is where I was. My file tacked on my side; I had just joined academicians. My profile has always been tagged; anti-Library!

The 5 seconds I spent rotating my eye balls next to dark door locating a seat was enough advertise my aging dreadlocks. For an extra second, I realized, "for real am lost. I think I don’t belong here".

I headed east wards pulling back and forth a plastic but comfortable blue seat where I finally my short-lived "celebrity status" drowned.

Am a very private and shy guy and having to cut my height by half was just the point I very much dreaded to be. Yes, I was now just 3ft.

Smartly placing the file right in front of me, I took a simple descending breath.

Looked around trying to identify anything familiar. For Eddie’s sake I didn’t want to think of noticing a lifeless piece of paper instructing me, "silence is needed at all times in the Library".

Normally I like whispering to my neighbours for a pen, pencil, rubber, ruler, full-scup or any other of those cheap academic utensils, (call them equipments if you really know them) that have failed to be a part luxurious looking pockets..

Right opposite my shy face was a cute brown bird. Yes, a quarter of meter skirt, fried with a fading pink empty hind top. She was not to give me space to read the next 3 hours.

My project had started. Do those in Libraries really much up to the stillness that characterizes their atmosphere?

I came up with some conclusions though.

Ladies

A lady will scroll through her phone 15 times in one hour.

A lady depending on her beauty moves out about 5 times to receive a call.

A lady will look at the roof approximately 8 times in an hour

A lady cannot fail to look at the next entrant.

A lady will go on to write something down each time her eyes met accidentally with hers.

A lady will look at her outfit 20 times in just one hour.

A lady will look at her shoes and toes inclusive after every 7 ½ minutes.

A lady will look into her bag 5 times in an hour.

Ladies, hardcore ones, flash out mirrors at least twice in one hour.

A lady will concentrate on her books for only 2 ¼ minutes before being distracted.

A lady reads for not more than 2 ½ hours. She will have retired.

A lady uses her handkerchief 3 times in 1 hour for wiping her face.

Guys.

They look at their phones on an average of only twice in one hour.

Close their eyes on an average of every 10 minutes.

They look towards a direction of a lady 29 times in one hour.

They concentrate without distraction for an approximation of 7 minutes.

5 out of 10 will look at every entrant.

A guy reads for not more than 3 1/5 hours.

Other observations

Those who seat next to a wall better concentrate

A guy seated in between ladies will always pretend to concentrate.

Someone seated next to the entrance has the least concentration since.

Well, prove be wrong guys. Get to that library and dare me. Remember, its one of those places I visit in terms of years.

Personally, I cannot understand without piercing noise running across every direction. At most am reading with ear pieces on with probably a Jaci Velasquez or even better a soul inspiring Hill song.

With my annotations, I don’t think a library will convince me any time soon to be a regular attendant. For your information, that was some Library some where on Lumumba Avenue.

2007-05-25T12:23:00.000-07:00

Living life in the diaspora is living on the string esepcially when getting your way there was suspect.

Europe is destination richness for African imigrants!!

Have i got it right? Absolutely correct!!

For the ever scarce African job market; Not scary any more,education is essential but the end product is not exciting anyway.

Streetology- some people call it, is a short course that embraces moving a cross streets in search of Jobs on graduating.

You never want to enroll for that course. Unlike any other course, streetology drains your continuosly thinning pockets, shoes loosing their original image, hankerchiefs never given their rights to happily lay in our pockets,..........

Even with this seemingly shameful living, greener pastures in Europe are fast becoming deserts.Ask me why.

Deportation is not working forEurope in relation to the issue of illigal migrants.Rigorous anti-illigal migrant police patrol is not helping either. Africans are becoming wiser by the day in the white land.

The European Union has brought up new changes to deal with the issue of illigal migrants, a few days after the new French president Nicolas Sarkozy underlined his intention to cruck down these "squatters."

Employing an illigal imigrant will lead to denial of public contracts to those(employers) found in the act.

Violation of the above would land the employer into jail and the imigrant of course flown back home with costs met by the EU.

These new policies are among the very stringent measures being born to deny the African an opportunity of having a fairly decent life in Europe and a "luxurious" life back home.

Well, do these European countries have the jobs? Yes without a hell of a doubt.

Is there money in Europe? Yes of course.

Where will the over 700.000 illigal migrant jobs head?. Yes, the French are complaining of lack of jobs.My wonder is; would even 100.000 of them get brushes to clean toilets? Or will an approximation of the same graduands get brooms to sweep Paris streets!

Investers claim to have a course for taking the a Africans life a foot a head however research has sown that money from illigal migration in Europe back t Africa is worth over $ 200b per anum! way a head of what investors come down here to claim.

European nations claim to have visions for Africa which i totally do not agree with.They just want words coming off their mouths fair."Every State leader is sweat-talking the African continent, why not me?".

I guess many think thatwise.

Living an African life is living a life of having bread and wine at the end of the day.Fellow comrades in hiding, i know you may not have the courage to visit a cafe for fear of being man-handled, but am behind your cause.

Make that money and we build Castles back home.The EU is just a joker.They are a bunch of fat-bellied humans who have no-near experience in what true African life is meant to be.

As you wrap yourself in the deep and inching cold tunnel somewhere in England,keep consoling yourselves as being the home coming Bourgeoisies.

Jacob Zuma now a pastor!!

2007-05-15T07:15:00.000-07:00

Jacob Zuma is a pastor!

They say when you escape a wrath that almost was certain of derailing your career forever and in one way or the other manage to maneuver your way out,God becomes the most sought of.

Born on 12 April 1942 in Inkandla, KwaZulu-Natal Province, Zuma, over claimed to be the 3rd in line of becoming South Africa`s president from post aparthaid era, has seen every bump in as far as the politicians career and life is a mention.

Last week he become a man of God no long since being acquitted of charges of rape. He was declared a priest by Bishop Ben Mthethwa.

Zuma's rape trial and his views on same sex marriages is certainly a controversy and " a disgrace to the nation and God".

His shocking career doesn’t end that short. He has also faced corruption charges literally peeping into a life that has been in and out of the court room.

While the Bible and Christianity calls for reconciliation and forgiveness, you have to think it would have taken a little while before Zuma would be entrusted with pastorwood.

And this raises the question of what distance religion should oblige to in order not to mis inform the shepereds.

Independently thinking, Mr Zuma would have first publicly asked for some sort of forgiveness before he could take up the so called honoury portfolio.

It was Ntuzuma's Full Gospel Community Church that his rich political CV was yet again fattened with a heavier and controversial one; pastorwood.

In an apparent swipe at President Thabo Mbeki, pastor Qiniso Shabalala said, "We want a leader who sees poverty and walks and lives among poverty-stricken people in Nkandla, rather than a person who learns about poverty through the Internet," was what News24, South African daily reported.

Zuma was later walked to the podium, where a prayer was dedicated to him.

Bishop Ben Mthethwa then put a cleric's collar on Zuma and declared him a priest.

Zuma thanked them and said independent churches had been born during the difficult time of apartheid oppression.

This of course has not escaped a lot of people’s lips, mine inclusive. Concerned citizens all over the world have raised their sides but do you have to say?

And by the way who cares? Politics is diverse and on will do anything to convince his/her supporters that no one is closer to position.

In Uganda, some Ugandans in the eastern part of the country ate fresh rats to protest president Musevenis intent to stand for the just concluded third term.

It doesn`t stop there. Janet Museveni shortly after declared herself fit for a parliamentary race with well religiuosly constructed words in the shape of" am running for a seat in parliament because God has me to her to serve."

Unlike Zuma, i virtually have no grounds to critic these lady`s career.However when religion is brought in and on top of being a first lady to some one people refer to as a dictator, it becomes an eyebrow raiser.

So would you get surprised that Jacobs best friend is now a Bible? Am a christian and i cannot hide my mood.

That is some news but will he live to do pastorwood at same time balancing what his country desires from his abundantly green Political career just in case he is entrusted to seat on Mbeki`s s current seat of presidency?

Now that you are literaly closer to God, a vision hopefuly is not far away.Pastor Zuma, testimonies of your "to be miraculous work awaits my curiosity.

Loosing pants and $65m as compensation?

2007-05-04T06:17:00.000-07:00

This world is full of jokers i didn`t think would actually be breathing.

Can you imagine a judge sueing his dry cleaners for $65 million? Crazy, isn`t it?

Roy Pearson a judge a washington D.C administrater sued his neighbourhood cleaner for misplacing his pants and asking a total of $65,462,500.

Apparently, working on each pant cost $10.50!!

Pearson reportedly says he deserves the money for litigation costs, for “mental suffering, inconvenience and discomfort,” for the value of his time spent on the lawsuit, and for a replacement suit, according to court papers.

Okay, you probably figured that. But get this: He's a judge, too -- an administrative law judge for the District of Columbia.

Chris Manning, attorney for Custom Cleaners, told the DCist that the case was, “possibly the most amazing example of frivolous and ridiculous litigation.”

Then that comes back to you.Madness and a short and probably a fading brain is Roys problem.

May be its early for me to throw my words without knowing what others thinking..Here are some comments from the Wall Street Journal online.

"Perhaps he is just a poor innocent victim:He lost his shirt in his divorce, and then these cleaners took his pants!.Nah. He’s just a piece of human garbage who got a job as a judge. Happens every day in America. Why?Because real people get real jobs."

"This is the type of crap that makes non-lawyers hate lawyers"

"$65 million for a lost pair of pants? A new business is born. Clothes insurance to protect against mind numbingly frivolous law suits like this one. Give me a @#$! break. I guess the counter suit will be a dandy. I mean if losing a pair of pants is worth $65 million in damages as per claims of the plaintiff, then how much would the emotional pain and suffering suffered by the defendants be worth? At least $250 million per pant leg and an additional $500,000 if the pants had a zipper (and $250,000 if they were button ons) in them, is my guess. That would send a message. I mean the cost of zipper alloys have been on the rise. :rolls eyes in disgust:"

So now you heard it.Whats your say?

Who should be exiled:Besigye or M7

2007-04-18T05:59:00.000-07:00

Tear Gas!

Doesn’t it sound easy to pronounce? It’s just after all a two-word sentence.

But how much does that word weigh In relation to Uganda? Tons and tons in weight. It used to be known by only Makerere University students; today though, it has stretched to the streets of Kampala.

Oh! By the way even Mukono! DP bears me witness.

Since the famous return of Mr. Owl. Sorry, I meant Rtd Col Dr President Kiiza Besigye, tear gas has been an extra punch on every Ugandans` menu.

What is wrong with our Ugandan laws? Besigye was charged for treason. Am I right there? Yes Iam. At least I have followed that with keen interest.

This gentleman was taken to Luzira prison on his way back from western Uganda.

He found himself in Luzira prison Cells. How bad.

Together with him were 22 ribs the government claims are his. In fact Besigye being the body, one expected him to have more say on the shadow PRA assumption. He was released but a surgery was done to make sure the 22 other ribs remained in the cells.

So who was more of a PRA suspect! Literally you thought that Besigye would be the last to get out of Luzira but he was the first to do so anyway. The rest remained in for fear of disappearance should they be granted bail.

Now this is interesting. Hadn’t Besigye showed them that he could get out of Uganda in a more clinical manner when is dashed for his self-imposed exile?

Forget that anyway, The 22 were charged with murder I hear! Their boss had earlier been acquitted of rape charges.

The above sums up Uganda today.

Mabira!

3 people 6ft down by now. May their souls rest in eternal peace. 2 hournarable MPs spent some of their nights of this year in Prison cells.

Racial segregation has also become an issue. I thought racism only existed in the bustling streets of Moscow, London, New York and the likes…Think thrice, the topic has even been discussed in the Ugandan parliament.

6 Ugandans in India are feared dead as a revenge for the stoning to death of Devang Rawal rumored by our very own rumour monger; The Red Pepper.

Mehta by the way fled the country.

Eeeh! Something new has hit the streets by the way. You remember the black mamba? To hell with what people said about that journalistic skill by the monitor Newspaper, a more simpler and reserved one has hit the street.

Stick Mamba!

Surprised? They came from, of all places behind CPS. Each pretty able bodied men kanyamas if I can locally break it down for you was armed with a stick to disperse another Besigye result saga.

The police was quick to deny them.

Quarreling was also at high. Besigye again had a one-on-one with Police commissioner Godfrey Bangirana.

It got this far!

“What law are you talking about? Have you forgotten that I wrote that constitution?” Besigye shouted.

Well well well. Some people own the law. They surely do! They did make it for Ugandans but seemed not be obliged to follow them.

So my question is, why do Ugandans complain when His Excellency M7 breaks the laws he himself brought into existance.He even suggested they should be called “the constitution of Uganda”. Isn’t it ridiculous?

Conclusion.

Uganda with Besigye is medically unhealthy.Eithet M7 leaves or his former bush Dr Besigye escapes otherwise we “innocent Ugandans” are not at any one point going to survive inhaling teargas.

Gaddafi

2007-04-05T23:19:00.000-07:00

"Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi has told a mass prayer meeting for Muslims in Niger that Jesus was not really nailed to the cross but that another man who resembled him was crucified in his place."

That is according to the various sources.Isn`t this causing shocking waves already?

Guys i have a new project. www.theivorypost.com. It was my initiative with the Xposer.

Hope you guys will enjoy.

Is the media coverage objective in Iraq.?

2007-03-05T01:23:00.000-08:00

Life in Iraq is a throw-away .It bores for me to remind you of what you already know .This does not take a way the fact that you need to know irrespective of how many times you get to hear it.People have died and still dying, the press too never stop unveiling the bad that continues to shade out of Iraq.
The coverage of the worlds leading presses has though been negative in general terms.Since the US-BRITISH led invasion, after the Twin Tower bombing, Iraq has been a bleeding ground for media houses world wide.
I was listening recently to a BBC live talk show " world have your say" getting the worlds` view on the way news is being dug out of Iraq.At the end of a tough debate, no one virtually had a pin-point stand on whether the press is doing its best in reporting objectively.
On personal basis however,logging onto one of the worlds` reknown media elephants especially BBC,CNN,ABC among others,chances are that something on "death" in Iraq never misses the lead.And this spreads to what in this case I can call minority NewsPapers world wide since most of them attribute their news to the above mentioned papers.
While the USA released and "still" releasing billions in sums trying to reconstruct a country they so badly grounded, each day that passes leaves a lot of questions being asked.A friend of mine took his joke so far saying "the billions meant for reconstruction went on shipping oil back to the USA oil reserves".
In one of my lectures, I remember being told…."when it bleeds it sells" and that’s how I view what at the moment is happening in Iraq.Media Houses will continue to cover the negative as long as Iraqis continue killing themselves in great numbers.Reconstruction of Saddam Husseins heaven is in place but because the Iraqi need an Iraq-free US, they are going to hang on till may be each and every one of them is laid to rest.I get a feeling that Iraqis just do not want to see any constructive phenomenon engineered by the USA government.Uganda would fair better than the US.!!
East African Affair.
An African is an African…….Strong and Courageous as usual. Uganda has been contributing a good number in terms of those heading for Greener pastures in Iraq. Shockingly many come back even healthier having earned thousands of US dollars.To be exact, 1000 US bob Western Unions itself back home.We are certainly digging out something in this US led war.
This, am optimistic is going far.In recent weeks the similarities between the two countries drew even closer in terms of internally displaced persons.Its estimated that currently about 1.8 million Iraqis have been displaced since the US invasion, a number that matches our very own here.
Kenyans though have had the bitter side of the cake.Since the kidnapping of three of their truck drivers and two engineers who worked for an Egyptian owned phone company it has not been an exciting destination for Muzei Kenyatta's grandsons and daughters.
Speaking for Africa in particular, Iraq is never going to stop oozing out the currrently easy to see side.Talk about bombing, kidnapping, and a host of others, these are what the media outlets in Africa can afford to have in their news because its the very Hard news hitting headlines in the major media houses i mentioned earlier.
If we cannot afford to send reporters to cover what is happening in the Somalia conflict,Darfur region and instead depend on international wires such as the AP,Reuters,BBC,RFI, then how can a simple Paper like The Daily Monitor,Daily Nation,KBC,ITV send a team of reporters to cover the good side of Iraq?
It will take years for a revolution in news coverage in Iraq to acquire the better side of things.But as of now, we need to explicitly see for ourselves the failures of the so called super powers.USA Moreso.

...and the best actor is..........

2007-02-26T08:19:00.000-08:00

Uganda finally is getting a new face. Or has it already acquired one? I still don`t think so but with the look of things, plates are turning around.

How quick do you know Uganda? Let me guess.

*The LRA,

*Corruption,

*Poverty,

*Potholes,

*High birth rates( of around 8 kids per babe;to be precise, one of the highest in the world).....

and the list goes counting.
Today though "THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND" is the new face this country has taken up.A movie acted by Forest Whitaker in portrayal of former dictator Idi Amin painted Holywood when he won the best actor category at the Oscars.

At least now the world knows Uganda.I have not got the chance of being embarrased in the form of miss identity.Friends of mine who have moved to the West have on one or two occasions been slapped in the face with questions such as;

_White : Ooh! where could you have come from?
_Ugandan : I come from Uganda?
_White : Ooh! Uganda.....where where is that? Is it some where in South America?
Ugandan : No no no no no no..its in Africa!

White : In SouthAfrica?

and the enlightment process goes on and on. Some have been lucky though.Instead of having to explain where one is from,...its safer to say "i come from Africa;Nairobi to be precise"..

This is no joke,Nairobi is definately a prepapred cake for identity.You won`t go wrong.

Winning the movie has come at such a time that Uganda is undergoing rehabilitation for the CommonWealth Heads Of Government Meeting due late this year.

If you are Ugandan, then this is what Whitaker had for you after receiving the award...

"I want to thank the people of Uganda who helped this film have a spirit."

.......Kenyan gangs need tablets....

2007-02-06T09:46:00.000-08:00

I love East Africa,Kenya,Uganda and Tanzania.Very much. It`s deep down my soul.The attractions that it has surpuses any on the African Continent.

One thing though is digging this love with fear.Uganda and Tanzania automatically are relegated when Gang Crime is mentioned.

Kenya, one of the best countris in the world in the terms of tourism is finally being dogged with serious crime that i read with tears in Newspapers.

The Munguki "cult" i may call it, is just the "new" hit squad pouring in a wave of phobia among Kenyans and their admirers.While Gangs used to man the Nairobi city, they have expanded their areas of influence beyond the city borders.

The Munguki gang has been terrorizing Nairobi and its surburbs making people leave in fear; pay protection levy for both businesses and personal houses from being raided by the gangs.

Hardly any business is run in the Nairobi slums of Githurai,Kibera,Mathare and others without the approval of this shadow looking but real Terrorist.

Life is hell,its never a good sign to see the sun roll down cause that is a start of another trauma.Nights are characterised with no sleep but fear.Hearing the cocks crow is a blessing for a lot of Kenyans in this areas.

Those who do not comply with their demands have either been found in cold blood or have suddenly disappeared.Its never safe in Kenya entirely.

Speaking to Sunday Nation, Hannah Murigi Macharia who has had a test of Mathare for 49 years had this to say.

"There are three Governments in Kenya.There is the Kibaki government.There is the local government.Ther is the Munguki government.The Kibaki and Local governments do no exist here.We are under the Munguki government to which we pay taxes"

Sunday evening was yet another shamely day in the Nairobi surburbs. Prof Job Bwayo, a University of Nairobi medicine lecturer, is just the latest of the victimes.He was shot in the head.

In Mombasa, armed robbers stole Sh35 million from Habib Bank Ltd in mid-January. On January 27, two American citizens were shot dead during a carjacking incident on the Nairobi-Naivasha highway about 15km from the city.

The gangsters had carjacked two other motorists before they attacked the Americans. East and Central Africa Director of Care International Mr Geoffrey Chege is also among victims of the recent wave of murders in the country.

The beauty of Kenya remains but the ugly side of it makes it safe moving with an AK-47 in your pockets.The country, one of the most peaceful in Africa since independence suddenly has a real war of crime internally.

The LRA is killing openly in Northern Uganda but silently, the lives lost in Gang crimes in Kenya behind the curtains some how is rivalling Joseph Kony`s.

Election time is coming.Kenyans better wake up.You cannot get employed and die the next day.Put your safety first for jobs are every where.You can cross borders.

Let security be manifesto number one from every hopefull candidate.Otherwise if you need jobs at the expense of your lives,then i wonder who will carry on the formerly working but dead bodies now.

Kenya is surely becoming an ugly destination.Infact it is already Ugly.

....Gorilla or the Bible.....

2007-02-06T04:30:00.000-08:00

The creation story is one hell of an assumption that has I believe brain washed Africans to totality. First, the white man came with a Bible telling the black skin that God created the world….Gen 1:1…``In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”…

Now I hear the origin of man is not far from two animals surprisingly found next to you East Africans, A chimpanzee and a Gorilla roaming the jungles Ugandan, DR Congo and Rwanda forests.

We have taken in almost everything a white man has said and this is just one that I thought you people could have an idea.

Where do to you place your origin…To the Bible or to A gorilla or Chimpazee?

..............Serena Williams is back.............

2007-01-26T22:30:00.000-08:00

Am still amazed up to this very last point and i will still remain amazed.Serena Williams has won yet another Grand slam In Melbourne Australia.

She had been fighting with a knee injury missing all Womens tennis tournaments for close to three years the last coming in 2005.This time around she managed to come back with little hopes from everyone apart from me,Venus and her Mom.

"It was an awesome win because I had so many critics, so many people talking bad and saying negative things and saying I wasn't fit," said Williams.

I remember the in little less than two years when she and her elder sister Venus Williams dorminated the world of tennis.She outclassed the top seed sexy 19 yr old Russian Maria Shara Sharapova in two straight sets- 6-1 6-2 that lasted just one hour and two minutes.

It was Williams' 8th Grand Slam singles title and the easiest she has won

On the same note becoming the second ever women in womens tennis to win the Australian Open while unseeded. Chris O'neill in 1978 was the last lady to do that.

The 25 year old will now move up to number 14 in world ranking from number 81 she held before the tournament, a remarkable achievement that comes once in a blue sun.

Williams began the year by stating that she has no doubt she will be number one again.Just in January, her statement is holdng some water.

On her journey to the finals she beat fifth seeded Nadia Petrova of Russia in the third round 1-6, 7-5, 6-3, she then defeated the eleventh-seeded Jelena Jankovic of Serbia 6-3, 6-2 in the fourth round,

Serena then went on to grind sixteenth seeded Shahar Pe'er in the quarterfinals 3-6, 6-2, 8-6 and tenth seeded Nicole Vaidisova 7-6, 6-4 in the semifinals before Rolling over world no 1 Maria.

A side from Tennis, Serena is very much Known for her unusual fahion on and off the court. Every African American is never short of entertainment and Serena is no exception.

In 2002, Williams played Miss Wiggins in the season 3 episode "Crouching Mother, Hidden Father" of My Wife and Kids. In 2005, Serena guest starred in an episode of the twelfth season of ER. She also guest starred on an episode of Law and Order; Special Victim Unit.

Could she be back?...Only me, staunch fan of her knows better. She is back to Business!!!

Photos: courtesy of http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/photo_galleries/4217773.stm

.........Asha-Rose Migiro...............

2007-01-16T07:23:00.000-08:00

East Africa has never been so lucky when it comes to the Global issues.However, her time came and yet again because it was by surprise, a lot of East Africans have still missed the information.

In less than a month since the UN got its new secretary General in the names of Ban Ki- Moon, an African yet again features among the top two UN top dogs.

........United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon has chosen Tanzanian Foreign Minister Asha-Rose Migiro as his deputy, fulfilling a pledge to name a woman to the post...........read ABC online..

Migiro was just appointed a few months after being appointed as Tanzanias foreign minister...Excited with the news was Tanzanian president Jakaya Kikwete.

"Dr Migiro will be made available immediately to take up her new post," he said.

The former secretary general Koffi Annan created the assistant secretary general after coming into office approximately a decade ago.

Dr Migiro will be only the third person to hold the job after Louise Frechette of Canada and Mark Malloch Brown, a Briton.

But could she use her position to put East Africa on the world map? Its a sad scenario to always appear on the bad side of the toss of a coin...

Take an example,...LRA leader Joseph Kony kills hundreds,......Terrorist bomb kenyan city of mombasa......HIV AIDS death toll in East Africa on a rise and all the other dirty marks......

Women are certainly going up the ladders with Uganda having her first Female presidential contestant.It has to happen yet in the other East Africa countries.She was called Miria Kalule Obote, the wife of the (late) first Prime Minister of Uganda and a twice president of Uganda.

Wangari Maathai a women i refer to as being among the most hard working in East africa......planting thousands and thousands of trees.And a good politician as well.She wasthe Nobel peace prize winner 2004.

And the women keep rizing......But hopes do we have in Asha, the new UN DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL?

2007-01-02T06:09:00.000-08:00

November 30th was to be a good day to welcome the new year which was just steps away but unfortunately it didn`t.

Like ususal i wake up at 0500hrs in the morning, say a little paryer then set my dirty ears to a tuned radio..I wake up with the BBC.

To my shock, Saddam Hussein was executed..I thought i had missheard; staright away, i tuned to RADIO FRANCE INTERNATIONAL.....the same story.

It was really sad the fact that i was still mourning the departure of Africas Ambassador to the world, the Ghanian Koffi Annan...whom i would look at sometime to come..

This brings a platform to best raise this issue.Death sentence.It is such a horrible act that i just do not see justice in killing a fellow human being.Jesus was killed because he had a purpose for us....if you are christaian anyway....

When you are hurt, it doesn`t matter; with or without that persons`, presence you are going to be hurt.Killing others because of horrific pasts just doesn`t serve satifaction.

Let me ask,......some one has murdered quite a number of souls...they are never going to find their way back to this world,....though you kill the victim, still the human won`t find way back in your heart....

Now wouldn`t it be fair to pass a judgement in the form of....."To the accused, you have been found guilty of a thousand charges,including,..rape,murder,theft,terrorism.....So i sentenced you to 400 years in maxmimum tight secuerity prison...

For sure, unless you are Abraham, you are never going to leave that long and so it is a sentence to death indirectly.....

...used to think my years increased on jan 1st...

2006-12-24T01:41:00.000-08:00

At the years peak,.....its a monotony but widely accepted,"MERRY XMASS.

I just have little to say to you all for being with me in this blogging room for the entire year...

Wa Kenya,

Hapa Uganda,

Uko Tz,

Na wablogs zote...

Its simple....Merry Xmass and a blessed happy new year....

::@@Please go with thiz message...........

****I used to think my years increased each time its Jan first****

...........unfortunately i gat to realise my birthday is actually five milez away....sorry, five months away.....

23rd----05........198...........

ONCE MORE,MERRY XMASS!!!

........boarder forex........

2006-12-10T00:37:00.000-08:00

"Money changers". If you have moved across the Kenya-Ugandan boarder, then you must have come across these "moving forex bearues.

Stepping out of the Gateway bus destined for Nairobi at Busia boader, always looked normal just like any other trip i ever took.

This time around though, i almost got ripped up by these guys.Clocking 7 pm, the day should have been bad for most of them as each wanted very much to have a change of my little Ugandan shs to Kenyan.

Throwing my hands downwards my pocket, a fellow almost did me that favour as his hand even got into my pocket so acutely.I sensed danger.

My arms almost got uprooted as others pulled them apart.I lost all the gats and decided to bounce these fellows.However i could not just cross to Kenya with my Ug shs.

Entering a forex inNairobi i feared could raise suspicion amaong sme unscrapulous fellows who may want to own the little i had.....I worked my way anyway and got the much needed services..

But my question is, could this guys be station in some sort of room so that their services are monitored.Some of these guys are robbers!!...

Thank God i left safely!!

.....when the unexpected happened..............

2006-12-03T01:03:00.000-08:00

Travelling is one of my majors in life ,save for my career in Journalism.I don`t just travel but i love encountering new features.....

This time around,i made my way to the village after some hell of a time.The last time i was there,being little, nothing was really there at the time to change my now dynamic thoughts.

While in Cities, the traditional behaviour and way of living is virtually fading out;Or let me just conlude that it has faded out,I got shocked when i bent my back on one of the traditional stools given to me.

A lady who used to carry me when i was a todller comes and kneels down to greet me..as a welcome knot..I was shocked but pretended to have been so confortable.I could not tell her to get up coz i was sure i would be goin against somethin they always like refering to as our ancestors.....

Ladies fit to be my grandies kneelin for me?.....Is it because of my well trimmed beareds?....atleast not .That left me wondering whether this respect thing should really be taken that far but all the same that gave me a real whimp to think of as i made my way back home....

I even fear going back because such kind of "respect"....am a simple human who sees such with reservations ....i really hated the whole thing...i was reduced to the point of a little kid...I wonder whether this is right....Bloggers what do you think...

.......is USA and Britain fooling us.........

2006-11-19T08:24:00.000-08:00

I rarely go political but allow me get into this for the sake of the world and my good punnel of judges on blog land. United States of America and her, i don`know whether its right for me to flatter in the kind of; her lady Britain have all of a sudden realised that its crucial to include of all countries Syria and Iran in dialogues in a bid to bring peace to Iraq. #Remember, it all started on the search for weaponsof Mass destruction which sorrily did not exist. #Then came a projected dealine of around two years and the US and British army is out of Iraq. #They also dreamt that holding elections in Iraq would bring eternal peace. #Even changes in the constitution was backed by the US and ofcourse the better half-Britain. Now it seemes nothing is workin in as far as the call for democracy is concerned.Thus they have gone to Iran and Iraq. But remember, Iran is being accused by the US and Brittain of posessing weapons of mass destruction..... On the other leg,Syria is accused of supporting islamist nations.... Surely what is USA and Britain upto......

........Riot..........

2006-11-12T04:24:00.000-08:00

Guys,

i have read about it, i can freely spell it,its even easier to mention the words; its really easy:

But hold on a second;this is Poliz teargas.

As Makerere University lectureres went on strike,like ususal it was always going to be our

responsibility as students to go full swing in support.However it blew off the line.

I cried until no tears would come no more; when i tried to rinse my face,it was like

putting mathylated spirit on a wound.

Ictchy water was sprayed on us but we held on tight;At the end 45 students were taken to

Ugandas maximum prizon:Luzira Prizons.But thank God, being a senior at the University,

they could not have my hands handcaffed.

But its still tense and as a journalist, i still have a lot to cover, meaning i won`t be checking

in so often but hopin you guys are goin to stay by me.Always dropby cause i will be dropping by too.

........how times change!!......

2006-11-03T05:56:00.000-08:00

Young and innocent, a cat’s face best describe my childhood Look. As a fly comes by, I raise my hand with anticipation of having it go deep down my throat.

When hunger dare presented itself, I hit it hard with a scoup of sand that without a cost advertised itself in my front, I never cried like the process is with thiz normal kids you know; cry for what!! Truly I was young. Everything was edible and I guess it’s the reason I never stopped knocking in more weight.

Days never rewind. Growth never excuses Yesterday. You either miss today or you loose it your entire life. It’s a simple theory that has brought me into the earlys of my third decade.
A lot in comparison has changed. Old waver buses in Nairobi are shading off behind Citi Hopas; Double -decker London-like buses hit Kampala streets, the only difference being their white color. The all-colorful and I mean all colorful matatus daring what law is inplace; from koinange street to Thika, may soon find themselves in the Recycle Bins.

Blue-side striped and of course naughty Taxis in Kampala will be only second to Sebaggala`s flashy Buses.
Gone are the days of spending weeks to Nairobi by train. By the time you reached Nairobi outskirts, your ear drums for moments seize to function; it would need a Kilimanjaro water to open it up.

In the days, how cheap it would be for cheeky fellas like thieves to read your schedule. It’s a Friday!! With no ATMS and VISA cards, if you wanted to "happen" over the weekend, Friday was your ATM Card.

Missing that deadline meant seating home. Of course with the Wooden Radios, more so limited to SWM, only KBC or UBC would keep you company.
Even then, you can imagine!! Moi had just ascended power and so all you heard on KBC was Muzeeis smooth, authoritative but controversial voice then. Down town Kampala, a certain dictator in Iddi Amin was all over every nerve of a Ugandan. So, all you heard from UBC was civil officers being sacked and others being reinstated. Ever heard of announcement on KBC?...Well that is how the Conqueror of the British empire as he claimed to be ordered exercised authority.

Seat down, look into the slow moving blue clouds and think of Nairobi without Tacos, Capital fm, Easy fm, Metro fm, Carnivore, Hot Genge Muziki in the likes of Jua Cali and Nonini., Nasinzias of this world…, If you love God, a banana-like voice in Esther Wahome, Los Angeles bad boy Nairobi- version in CMB Prezzo… ……………
In the streets of Kampala, I would not imagine an hour without Hot 100, Sanyu FM, capital fm, Steers, Blue Africa, Mateos and all the best of the happenin places………..
Now we are in a golden era of Technology where you own a bank in your wallet. No more are the days where it’s either A FRIDAY deadline for a bank cue or you waited for a Monday!!...In case you thought in terms of Saturday and Sunday, then an Easter Monday strikes, Banks closed, problems dragged on!! Till Tuesday!. Now, it’s weird, any time, any where, any place, it’s your consent, the money is yours, the Bank is yours!!.……….

I love to enter a contract with every new day; however it saddens knowing that one day, I will be leaving this world behind me….If God truly exists, am praying that he organizes another version of world earth in the form of world earth-Heaven….with that assurance, I cannot wait to go to heaven….

.....Here was my weekend!!.....

2006-10-29T21:38:00.000-08:00

At one point i thought there was no more in him but he has gathered my thoughts to the pit.He looks the guy i used to see, admire and i still do.he is the gospel reggae star, Papa-san.

He performed over the weekend in Kampala in a show that kept hearts yearnin` for rest of the night as he never looked like letting his fans rest for moment.

He jumped from side to side and i tell you;sinner or no sinner, this was a show without religiuos quarantine.

Glad in a white truck, nothing better than seeing the sensational small still but much improved gospel ace do his thing.

Ooh!! Kampala was all ablaze,Papa San a side;we heard our very own Grammy awards Ugandan Verson in Pearl Of Africa Music awards.Kisima in the Kenyan Look!!

Just a hint.
#Artist of the year-----------Bobi Wine
#Song of the year------------Fire Anthem by the EastAfrican Bashmen crew.
#Best Male Artiste kenya----Nameless(he beat Prezzo,Wyre,and RedSan in the process)
#Best Group kenya----------Necessary Noise(beating,Longombas,deux Vulture and Kleptomaniacs.
#Best Male Artiste TZ-------Bushoke
#Best Group Tz--------------TMK Wanaume
Best female artiste kenya----Nazizi(beating Amani,Wahu,Esther Wahome)
#Best raggae artiste---------Peter Miles.
#Best Hip Hope Single-------Lyrical G

And the list went on.....But am asking myself thiz question;best female artiste kenya,i thought though that Amani was good enough for it but Nazizi came along.By the way does Nazizi poses a single of her own seperate from collabos or groups?

Now you can guess how my weekend flew!!.It was a blast!!

.......And thiz iz Nairobi.........!!

2006-10-23T04:13:00.000-07:00

Now thiz is the beauty of Nairobi.I cannot tell what you think but surelly in my tour

i had to start with Nayi..

Kenyatta Interenational Conference Center,Serena Hotel Kenya,Nation Media HeadQuarters,I &M building,Nakumatt as you see above, are a simple pick with hundreds of rising sky scrappers if i can borrow that term.

The sweetside of it all,the hungout spots.Lots and lots and lots.From Pavement,Florida 2000,New Florida,Zanze bar,and still continue countin!

What do you have to say.....Am catching my next flight to Windhoek Zambia aboard PC Airways..but not until i hear what you people have to tell me about Nairobi...

Its abeauty,...isn`t it?...what do you have to say?

....i almost quit blogging......

2006-10-21T09:25:00.000-07:00

I almost gave up blogging.I lost my entire archieve in a rather reckless manner.

It was then that i realised am addicted to blogging.

The thought of starting from scratch was the most painful time i have had in along while.

I feared i was going to loose all the beauties of blogging.

Though stressin,i found my fingers on the KeyBoard in attempt to creat a new one.

Atleast i now have a reason to visit a cafe again.

I remain wonderin whether the rest of you colleagues of mine are too addicted.

I do think i have gone beyond the normal doze.

But i hope thiz one is goin to be a bang because the courage to start it over was extreme.

For sure i need consolation,coz am down to soil now.

In all, i welcome all yah to my second blog....yeah!! it is my second but shadow blog.!

Sounds weird, isn`t it?