Feeds
8982 items (0 unread) in 56 feeds
Welcome to Mashada Blogs! Read all your favourite blogs in one place.
«
Expand/Collapse
-
-
19:18
From: AfriGadget
Read This Entry & More At AfriGadget
An all-in-one cooker, energy generator and fridge could soon be improving quality of life in developing countries, thanks to an international project launched this week.
According to a press release by Paul Riley, SCORE Project Director, the £2m Stove for Cooking, Refrigeration and Electricity (SCORE) project aims to work with rural communities in Africa and Asia, where access to power is limited, to develop a versatile domestic appliance powered by biomass that will significantly improve health and welfare.
The SCORE device, which is still in the concept stage and is shown in the picture below, will work through the conversion of biomass to sound energy for heating and cooling.
This technology is far more efficient and less polluting than burning wood in an open fire, currently the primary cooking method of two billion people around the world. Dr Pullen(Research team leader) adds:
“Using this technology while ensuring that the device is relatively low-cost and can be produced using local materials and labour is one of the great challenges of this project. Thermoacoustic systems have always been expensive and high-tech - a great deal of the first stage of this project will be taken up with translating the technology into something that can easily be mass produced.”
The SCORE project website can be found here
( via Timbuktu Chronicles )
-
16:26
From: KenyanMusings
Read This Entry & More At KenyanMusings
I read this article with shock, horror and disgust. I have no clue who is responsible for running any club in Nairobi, but I know my clubs. I love to dance, to listen to good music and have a drink in a place where there are not too many tois staggering about, sweating profusely and all that ish, unless its in the open. Yes, I am a Galileo Buff.....yes, no shame in it, I love that place.... I will say this...bullshit, sour grapes. To see it trahsed like that left me 'wtf!' First off, to classify Galileo in the same category as Tacos and Zeep is pure rubbish. Obviously someone in Galielo ate someone's goat. Sour grapes have never been sourer!! There is such a thing as doing some research. They are nowhere near the same league!!! I doubt very much clubs like Galileo had pulsers (posers) in mind when they started off. Its not a secret that Big Ted is doing a fabulous job of running the place. Is he the entertainment manager? Not sure but I always thought so. Its not even a secret that many many corporate, including media events continue to held there for a reason. LOL, eti Attitude? What is it? If you cannot afford the drinks or the entrance fee, is all easy, go where you can. Its your money, its your idea of fun!!!! That story of 'can't pay entrance' is all fine if you want to go to Rezorus for a dose of sweat fumes and errant teenagers. Thats what entrance fee saves you from. Some people are just looking to unwind, in a nice place with a nice crowd. If you find 'crude galoots who man the door and make Pulsers feel most unwelcome'....Pulsers...hehehhee,then you probably need to re-evaluate clubbing as drinking 1 tusker and sneaking in some Kenya Cane. There are only so many ways of saying 'obohos' are not allowed in some places. There are people for whom Galileo works and in all fairness, there are those for whom it does not. It just depends on what you are looking for. Over fanciful ambience? LOL, nip into Club Afrique next door, thats where all the Kikuyu Cowboys will be. And yes, CA is also a cool joint. For some. Obviously, people have a hard time understanding that clubs cater for very different demographics. So while the argument on competition is valid(there are loads of other clubs in the same league that do a fabulous job) these clubs have existed next to each other from the get go but there are people who will walk into Galileo and those who will walk into Afrique. There is a reason people go to clubs like Galileo, Mercury, Liquid, Bar Code, Mwenda's (which in my opinion are the coolest hang outs) and yes, they are clubs like any other with a life cycle.....
The club business is that dynamic, so no one expects those places to be the coolest places till fade but while it lasts, there are people who are fine with it just as it is. Either way, i guess even all publicity is good publicity. Hehhe, you would think I get paid to prattle on behalf of Galileo. Feh! someone should swing me a free drink on that note. Happy weekend kila mtu. I know where I'm going this weekend to kamata pints
-
15:02
From: Kenyan Pundit
Read This Entry & More At Kenyan Pundit
Apparently KDN is offering free wi-fi in Nairobi (think it’s a promotion for their Butterfly product). It’s supposed to last through the end of the month. If you have a wi-fi enabled laptop, PDA etc. just search for the essid butterfly and connect. They are supposed to have around [...]
-
11:04
From: dkFactor
Read This Entry & More At dkFactor
 Africa is truly a continent of insoluble contradictions. Zimbabwe's largest mobile operator, Econet has introduced 3G (Third Generation) cellular service to the capital - Harare. So far there are only 2 other countries offering the service on the continent, South Africa and Mauritius. Full trials of the 3G network start next month (June) and will allow customers to watch video on their cell phones.
In other news, Zimbabwe is projected to have a 6000 percent inflation by the end of 2008. It looks like Mugabe cannot and will not stop the tide of capitalism. Econet, founded by Strive Masiyiwa is also planning a launch in Auckland, New Zealand.
3g network, capitalism, econet, mugabe, strive masiyiwa, zimbabwe
-
10:28
From: Kenya Imagine
Read This Entry & More At Kenya Imagine
Thursday evening in Nairobi, it is four o'clock and Violet Nishimisi is contemplating her boring life as a manager in a paper office in Westlands when six men rob the Barclays Bank branch on Waiyaki Way. From her vantage point on an upper level looking down at the scene below, she shares her experience. More here.
-
10:06
From: assidous
Read This Entry & More At assidous
Archbishop Desmond Tutu the Nobel Laureate has again condemned Mugabe’s acts of violence against his people and the Opposition led my Tsvangirai. Speaking while in Hawaii with students aboard a cruise vessel, he said it was sad that South Africa had failed to talk against Mugabe’s excessive violence and gross abuse of human rights. A human rights crusader in his own right, Tutu the icon of conscience in South Africa said that he believed that Zimbabweans felt let down by African leaders’ failure to castigate Mugabe about his excesses. Already, the silence from the Mbeki government as well as the AU is being felt as an impediment to ridding Zimbabwe off Mugabe. There is no doubt that Mugabe is a great freedom fighter and he also helped ANC in fighting apartheid. But his buffoonery should be accorded the seriousness it deserves and ANC shouldn’t fear to tell him to his face that what he is doing is wrong. They should make him accommodate the opposition. But then again, South Africa still has the Land Problem that has degenerated into chaos in Zimbabwe. When you add the twin issues of Land and support to ANC in the 80’s, then South Africa’s silence sort of (I repeat, sort of), makes sense! And Tutu will be at it again to the silent chagrin of the ANC and South African Freedom Heroes.
Notable absence to Tutu’s beef is Mugabe’s burlesque retorts to anyone who speaks against him. The man may still harbors respect for Tutu.
In another surprise, Zimbabwe has narrowly been voted in as the chair to the UN Environment Commision
-
8:06
From: Kenya Imagine
Read This Entry & More At Kenya Imagine
Richard Mbuthia returns with a Friday special, a look at workplace affairs and their effect on morale at the office. Harmless fun or the road to the destruction of the workplace? Most offices are awash in romance and rumours of romance today. Most employees around the world have either observed or been in a romantic relationship at their workplace. The most talked about of all such relationships are those between the bosses and lesser-ranked staff. More here.
-
6:58
From: Kenya Imagine
Read This Entry & More At Kenya Imagine
Peter Ndiangui writes on Nigerian led plans for a continental financial services organisation which would replace the World Bank's International Finance Corporation. The IFC has been accused of a high-handed and often reckless attitude towards Africa best captured in the manner of its handling of the recent Rift Valley Railway deal. Even as the nations of Africa seek to extricate themselves from the IFC's grasp, it is important that any new organisation is differentiated from the ADB, and also that it eschew replacing the tyranny of Washington with an irresponsible slavery to political interests on the continent.
More here.........
-
6:40
From: White African
Read This Entry & More At White African
If you’re a budding Ansel Adams and would like to make some money off of your better photographs, there are a number of options to help you sell your photos. These sites will sell your photos (and sometimes vector art) and share the revenue with you. Don’t think that you can submit just any old image though, most of these services have editors to make sure the quality stays high.
These are also great websites for designers to know about (as I’m sure most already do), since you can find more interesting images to use than you will find at the normal stock photography sites.
iStockPhoto
 One of the more established sites, iStockPhoto has been around long enough to have a really solid inventory of images. They have a section for movies, Flash, vector files and normal photos. If you’re looking for something eclectic, you can probably find something here.
Lucky Oliver
 One of the newcomers to the show, Lucky Oliver is both original and high quality. I’ve had a chane to meet one of the founders, and his vision for Lucky Oliver is something that will make designers and photographers happy - keep an eye on these guys. I use them regularly, and highly recommend becoming a part of their community as either a designer or photographer.
Shutterstock
 Shutterstock gives you vector and normal images, just like the other two listed. How it’s different, is that you pay on a monthly or yearly subscription, not on a per image basis. They seem to have a good selection and if you need a lot of images, this might be a good service for you.
Spy Media
SpyMedia is a place where you can take advantage of being in a good, or lucky, situation. Say you’re out at a show, a sporting event or catch something newsworthy with your camera - well, now you can sell that image directly to news outlets. Members can place “bounties” on getting a certain type of picture, or a picture of a certain person. Fulfiling that bounty allows you to get paid. A similar service to this is Citizen Image.
[UPDATE: Here is another great micro-stock photo review, an article on why micro-stock photography is displacing traditional photography business models, and a blog post from a professionals perspective.]
  
-
6:28
From: My part of the world.......
Read This Entry & More At My part of the world.......
I was reading this article in the Standard and I must say that two things came to mind. First of all is that running an entertainment establishment in Nairobi and having it suceed is a herculean task. Many have tried and many have failed. Of course if you read the article you can see that alot of people get the formula wrong on step one and don't go very far. I don't know many of those bars esp the ones in the city centre but I do remember some other joint. Does anyone here remember Ghetto Pub? It used to be in the building that is behind what is now Pavements? That joint started really well and had snagged some good clientele until the young folk raided it. Not to look down on the under 25 crowd, but we all know that most of them even if they move in droves have very little discretionary income. So most of them will go drink at the locals and go to joint have only one or two beers while hogging tables and bar stools in the pub. The older clientele were not having it and the place went bottoms up (pun intended) really fast! Second thing is that Kenyans are very classist. Does anyone here remember a joint in hurlingham that was called Zig Zag (the classic two dance floors in one pub)? I remember for the first few months that joint had no airconditioning, it was like an oven of sorts. Anyway the joint started really well until touts and other shady characters started showing up causing trouble and robbing the regulars, it was given a wide berth and that was the end of it. Most Kenyans believe it or not do like to hang out with people of the same class as them, so when the people who are "with it" start going to a joint, it becomes the place to be. They have the place to themselves for a while until the word trickles down to the masses, when this happens the masses invade and the "with it" crowd decide they are tired of hanging out with the commoners and scuttle off to their next joint. Their old hang out eventually dies out and the cycle is repeated again and again. Of course we all do know how many clubs in Kenya have collapsed due to the management getting too big for their britches. Case in point mentioned in the article is K2. I remember how sometime before I left and it was really popular, unless you knew the bouncers or looked like you had money the bouncers would treat you like crap. Of course what happened is that people decided they would be going to Choices across the road and the article confirms what I have been hearing. By the way has anyone ever noticed how Kenyans have an oathological dislike for cover charges? Unless it is a large one time event ie super soul, the crowd tends to steer towards to where there is no cover charge. But on the bright side for what we don't pay for entrance we make up for in drinks bought. Anyway this is just making me remember how much fun I used to have fun in the Kenyan nightlife and how crappy things are here. Go out and have a pint for me people! This has been weighing on my mind and I had to share it. There is this girl I see everyday at work and frankly her situation worries me. You see this girl has an un-natural growth. No-one talks about it in front of her but I see people peeking through the corners of their eyes, some whispering when she walks past them, others staring at her when they think she isn't looking, it gets even worse when she is walking; it's all eyes on her then. The good thing is that she isn't in pain at all and can live a regular life, Thank God for small wonders. Since the growth has bene part of her life from her teens I think she too doesn't notice the attention; but still I find it amazing that a girl so short can have an ass that big. Now I shall leave you with a snippet from one of my all time fave Liverpool fan sites where a list of the top 10 most hated players was posted. GK: Jussi Jaaskelainen (Bolton Wanderers)True to form, Jaaskelainen continued his fine moaning form this year, whinging about every decision on the pitch and even having digs at Rafa Benitez in the press for questioning Bolton’s style of play. A hypocrite as well- moaned at the referee for allowing Reina to time waste in this season’s game at Anfield when the scruffy Finn was doing it right from the off before Steven Gerrard opened the scoring. Looks like a tramp as well.
RB: Gary Neville (Manchester United)It had to be didn’t it? Nobody else ran everybody’s favourite Mancunian close enough to make it into the XI. Neville was his usual loathsome self during the campaign and moaned like a bitch in the press about United’s measly two European Cup wins before the AC Milan game and vowed that they’d “put it right.”
CB: Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United)Not just content with being the most overrated footballer on the planet, Ferdinand is also staking his claim to be the biggest gobshite on the planet. The epitomy of the typical modern day footballer and in general, a brain-dead ignorant ****.
CB: Alan Stubbs (Everton)Everybody’s favourite parrot-faced **** cemented his place in the XI with his usual bitter jibes around the time of the derby- all the usual stuff about how every Liverpool fan comes from Oslo and moaned like a bitch when Benitez made the “small club” remark despite taking numerous pot shots against ourselves down the years. He’s shit as well.
LB: Ashley Cole (Chelsea)“Cashley” as he has now been dubbed firmly established himself as a female genitalia this year when he shit on Arsenal (his boyhood club) for the sake of 5k to join Chelsea at the start of the season. Despite rumours being unconfirmed about the extra 5k being used to buy a few more mobile phones, Cole still proved himself to be **** with a horrible tacky Footballer’s Wives weddings and seems to think he’s God’s gift to the left-back position when, like most of his England colleagues, he’s an overrated ****.
RW: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)After making himself one of the most twattable figures at the last World Cup, the boy “made England look shite” carried on his form into the Premiership this year making himself look like a bigger female genitalia than he ever has before. Horrible little scumbag and the fact that somebody like him has such a talent proves that God likes a laugh.
CM: Michael Brown (Fulham)A surprise choice given he edged out Fat Frank into this team, Brown couldn’t go ignored largely for being a shithouse for 9 months with some shocking challenges. Not content with having the footballing ability of a bag of shite, Brown was determined to make the headlines through a series of shithouse challenges throughout the year, culminating in the cowardly head butt on Xabi Alonso. In short, a female genitalia.
CM: Francesc Fabregas (Arsenal)Has stolen Paul Scholes’ title of being the shithouse that is largely ignored by fans and the media, but young Fabregas demonstrated a twatness throughout 06/07 that belies his tender years. Always whining to the ref and leaving his foot in in tackles as well as being an antagonistic female genitalia, Fabregas’ crowning glory of the season came when he spat his dummy out after Blackburn played for a 0-0 draw at the Emirates. Well boo hoo.
LW: Mikel Arteta (Everton)Some would argue that Arteta isn’t that much of a **** but really, that’s like saying that Stalin “wasn’t such a bad person.” The “only Spaniard we know” demonstrated his bitter credentials with a jibe of how he’s never met a Scouse Liverpool fan, despite the builder working on his house proving the contrary by wearing his shirt to work every day. The tight arse even had a cheek to argue over the bill, allegedly. Proved himself to be a **** with some snidy challenges in the derby as well.
CF: Andy Johnson (Everton)“Honest AJ” makes this XI on the basis that he’s a loathsome little turd. A Norwich fan in my work despises him as much as me and says that “AJ” has been diving for penalties for years in the lower leagues but is only getting coverage for it now. Came out with the following statement “I want to score so why would I dive?” Errrmmm… because you take the penalties you helmet. Actually physically looks like a penis as well. Draw a little dot on top of his head and you’ll see what I mean.
CF: Thierry Henry (Arsenal)The surprise choice over the consistently twattish Didier Drogba but Henry’s twatness shone through this year. Following on from his whinge after the Champions League final last year, Henry continued his twattable form with the invention of that annoying dancing celebration with Emmanuel Ade-can’tscore. Went down in my estimation as well for shushing the Kop on Truth Day and had another moan when Arsenal got knocked out of Europe. Something about PSV having only two chances in both games. *rubs thumb and finger together* Well this is the world’s smallest violin playing just for Thierry Henry.
Manager: Slur Alex Ferguson (Manchester United)A classic return to form for English football’s Premier pisshead. Came out with the usual unsavoury remarks this season about opponents and even claimed that Liverpool fans were wishing him good luck. Maybe wishing him good luck in the Betty Ford Clinic perhaps… Seems to have gone camp all of a sudden- celebrates every goal with a gay little mince that wouldn’t have looked out of place in a Carry On film.
So there you have it- the Premiership Tw**table XI. Roll on to next season where players will have a chance to show their credentials and earn a spot in next year’s XI.Nice Weekend People!
-
5:56
From: KenyanMusings
Read This Entry & More At KenyanMusings
I read this article with shock, horror and disgust. I have no clue who is responsible for running any club in Nairobi, but I know my clubs. I love to dance, to listen to good music and have a drink in a place where there are not too many tois staggering about, sweating profusely and all that ish, unless its in the open. Yes, I am a Galileo Buff.....yes, no shame in it, I love that place.... I will say this...bullshit, sour grapes. To see it trahsed like that left me 'wtf!' First off, to classify Galileo in the same category as Tacos and Zeep is pure rubbish. Obviously someone in Galielo ate someone's goat. Sour grapes have never been sourer!! There is such a thing as doing some research. They are nowhere near the same league!!! I doubt very much clubs like Galileo had pulsers (posers) in mind when they started off. Its not a secret that Big Ted is doing a fabulous job of running the place. Is he the entertainment manager? Not sure but I always thought so. Its not even a secret that many many corporate, including media events continue to held there for a reason. LOL, eti Attitude? What is it? If you cannot afford the drinks or the entrance fee, is all easy, go where you can. Its your money, its your idea of fun!!!! That story of 'can't pay entrance' is all fine if you want to go to Rezorus for a dose of sweat fumes and errant teenagers. Thats what entrance fee saves you from. Some people are just looking to unwind, in a nice place with a nice crowd. If you find 'crude galoots who man the door and make Pulsers feel most unwelcome'....Pulsers...hehehhee,then you probably need to re-evaluate clubbing as drinking 1 tusker and sneaking in some Kenya Cane. There are only so many ways of saying 'obohos' are not allowed in some places. There are people for whom Galileo works and in all fairness, there are those for whom it does not. It just depends on what you are looking for. Over fanciful ambience? LOL, nip into Club Afrique next door, thats where all the Kikuyu Cowboys will be. And yes, CA is also a cool joint. For some. Obviously, people have a hard time understanding that clubs cater for very different demographics. So while the argument on competition is valid(there are loads of other clubs in the same league that do a fabulous job) these clubs have existed next to each other from the get go but there are people who will walk into Galileo and those who will walk into Afrique. There is a reason people go to clubs like Galileo, Mercury, Liquid, Bar Code, Mwenda's (which in my opinion are the coolest hang outs) and yes, they are clubs like any other with a life cycle.....
The club business is that dynamic, so no one expects those places to be the coolest places till fade but while it lasts, there are people who are fine with it just as it is. Either way, i guess even all publicity is good publicity. Hehhe, you would think I get paid to prattle on behalf of Galileo. Feh! someone should swing me a free drink on that note. Happy weekend kila mtu. I know where I'm going this weekend to kamata pints...to one of the most bogus clubs.
-
5:29
From: Kikuyumoja's realm
Read This Entry & More At Kikuyumoja's realm
I have just taken a 3hrs ride by train only to realize that no one is around. The ladies at the administration office are on holiday - both of them. Well, what a coincidence.
Which gives me some time to read and comment on a few articles. You know there’s this G8 summit taking place on June 6-8 2007 in Heiligendamm, which is Germany’s oldest seaside resort.
I read an interesting comment in Germany’s (left-wing) daily “die tageszeitung” this morning about the summit - heck, there are so many stories on this G8 event alone, and while it remains interesting to ask whether the leaders of 8 economic powers should meet and discuss various topics of interest, the actual debate seems to be on how the State actually excludes it’s citizens, and how democratic rights are waived for dubious security reasons.
This isn’t about a meeting of economic powers anymore, but about democracy and how we are supposed to do something for others if we can’t even demonstrate against such an event. The quality of a democracy clearly shows during such events.
This whole event is one big ******* lie to me.
-
4:59
From: Kenya Imagine
Read This Entry & More At Kenya Imagine
Recent articles here on Kenya Imagine and across the internet have fulminated against the conduct of the Kenyan media citing a deterioration in journalistic standards. Kamale T looks over a present where the Media is self-governing and dismisses calls by the Media Owners Association for 'independence' from the government. Where next for Kenya's media, is the traditional mainstream media really the people's representative? More here...
-
4:09
From: REBECCA WANJIKU'S BLOG
Read This Entry & More At REBECCA WANJIKU'S BLOG
It was going to be the debate of the year, it was eagerly waited for, and at last Kenyan politicians were expected to address issues. “I was going to be extremely impressed if they turned up. It would have been the debate of the year,” said Michuki Mwangi. Probably Michuki’s argument epitomizes the feeling of over 80 people who gathered for the debate. It was going to be a good day. It has been argued that some of the expected guests may not have been aware of the ICT issues expected to be discussed. Whilst this may be true, the leaders- Balala, Raila, Ruto, Kalonzo, Mudavadi, Nyagah, and Umar were sent a background note outlining the state of ICT in the country. There was every indication that they would turn up, Ruto and Mudavadi even claimed to be on the way. At the end of it, the wait was too long and we had to proceed with the program. The function was facilitated by Eng. James Rege and Muriuki Mureithi and all networks within KICTANet were represented. Joseph Mucheru, Kanja Waruru, Edith Adera and Brian Logwe took turns leading the debate and the participation was equally good. Though the live stream was hampered by poor PA system, people managed to tune in. it was a first step towards creating local content. Next time KDN and Intersat Africa will provide video streaming.
-
3:33
From: Mentalacrobatics
Read This Entry & More At Mentalacrobatics
You know how you always end up doing the same thing over and over again? It doesn’t have to be like that. Check this out:
I have eaten at Blanco’s, the food there is (in the words of a friend) “bloody good and out of this world.” You order Matumbo at a fancy restaurant and it comes looking so classy you just have to smile. If you do not trust my culinary opinions (perhaps because I nearly started an international diplomatic crisis over chevra) check out what the professionals are saying [PDF of Review of Blanco’s by Daily Nation’s food critic Gastro d’nom].
I’ve heard good things about Sauti as well although I have never heard the pleasure of hearing them do their thing.
I won’t be able to make this particular evening, I have a date with history but you go ahead and let me know how it was 
© Mentalacrobatics for Mentalacrobatics, 2007. |
Permalink |
5 comments
Add to del.icio.us
Search blogs linking this post with Technorati
Want more on these topics ? Browse the archive of posts filed under Kenya, Music, What's on.
-
0:25
From: Me, Life & Everything
Read This Entry & More At Me, Life & Everything
time: 0825hrs
length: cheki
mood:
stars: tuta-mia
at: waSk
level: ahsu
track: banjuka - d.n.a.
Sasa wadhii kuwashoo ati akili nguya saa zingine huenda holiday kaa network ya Safcom, apa kuna mchongoano ya kikwetu niliangushiwa na beste yangu kwa e-mail nikaona niishare nyina ii Furahiday. Apo kwa ninino hebu muangushe ingine mna-know..au sio?
MANZE KUNA MAJAMAA WALINICHALLENGE KUNICHONGOA…NIKASAY LET’S GET [...]
Read the complete article at
|
|
