Feeds
8076 items (0 unread) in 54 feeds
Welcome to Mashada Blogs! Read all your favourite blogs in one place.
«
Expand/Collapse
-
21:36
From: Kikuyumoja's realm
Read This Entry & More At Kikuyumoja's realm
Did you know you can include an image of the album covers of your (ripped) music cds within the ID3 tag of an mp3 file?
It started two years ago, when I was given this 30GB mp3 player - only to quickly realize that around 3/4 of all my mp3 files did not have proper ID3 tags and thus only appeared under the “unknown artist” category on my mp3 player. This of course depends on the player, and while some are capable of reading this basic information from the file name, others rely on the ID3 tag of each music file to identify the artist, album name, title, track and so on.
I’ve been using Mp3tag, a small program to automatically edit metadata (~rename filenames, ID3 tags, etc.) - and just realized that they also offer the integration of album covers via Amazon.com. Nice!
Maybe I am a bit old-fashioned - but which player & music software are YOU using to listen to your music collection on your computer?
That is, I dont like iTunes and even Winamp has started to suck. These progs take ages to load and sometimes even mess up my mp3 collection. I’ve been using foobar2000 for some time now and am quite happy with it. A fast & slim player that instantly loads on this WinXP machine. Oh, and it also scrobbles my tracks to last.fm, so what else could I ask for? Album art isn’t shown on foobar2000, ok, but beautifully displays on my mobile phone’s player.
Reason for mentioning this: I like it how the mp3 format has so many options for saving meta data. I wish the same usabililty, with which ID3 tags are supported by various players & displays, could also be used for implementing metadata into image files. There’s this utility I tested the other day which writes tags right into an image file (*.jpeg, *.gif, etc.), but it wasn’t that stable (there’s a much more stable build available now). Pandorado also seems to be an interesting alternative I’ll still have to test.
There are (at least) 3 completely different approaches for storing image metadata:
- Using a Database. This is what Picasa (and others) do. The problem with this approach is that only the database program is aware of the context between metadata and images. Thus, metadata can get lost when files are copied or transfered.
- Using ADS (”Alternate Data Streams”): This is a feature of the Windows NTFS file system. ADS data is stored in hidden files which are attached to the visible image file - as long as this file stays on the NTFS file system. ADS data will get lost when, for example, you copy the file to a CD-ROM or a memory stick or when you transfer it over the Internet. You typically access ADS data by the Windows Explorer “File Properties/File Info” option.
- Using IPTC and EXIF: Metadata conforming to one of these open standards can be stored within the image file itself. If such a file is copied or moved to another location, the metadata stays with the image; there are no redundancy problems which typically arise with database or ADS storage.
These 3 approaches are not compatible with each other. (src)
I wonder why this approach to implement metadata via IPTC isn’t pushed any further? I mean, even iPods only store any metadata within an extra file and not within the music or image files. Metadata needs to be stored within a file - and not in an extra file. Imagine an online photo management site like flickr which automatically sets up titles and descriptions based on metadata directly from an image file. Hmmm….so who’s already using this?
-
15:11
From: Kenyanentrepreneur.com
Read This Entry & More At Kenyanentrepreneur.com
I don’t want to talk about Koffi Annan’s trip because nothing will come of it and what more evidence is there of this than the words of Kibaki and Raila right after their press conference.
From Kibaki: “As the duly elected president, etc, etc……(these guys are not going to negotiate with Raila).
From Raila: “Mr Odinga said the [...]
-
14:36
From: You Missed This
Read This Entry & More At You Missed This
 The 7-7 police curfew in Nakuru is the beginning of the end. The army are out on duty with predictable results - more bloodshed. It started with Kibaki's ILLEGAL swearing in on December 30, 2007. Seeing no enough blood, Kibaki pressed the blood button yesterday with his 'as your duly elected and sworn in President' remark. Bad faith and insensitivity comes in all shades and shapes, don't they? To match the mayhem, the death merchants are out roaming the Kenyan streets with their sharpened machetes ready to severe the next head. As Kibaki confines himself to the comfort of State House lawns, Kenya continues to bleed profusely thanks to Kibaki-Michuki-Martha-Wanjui troika. This Kikuyu elite have squarely pitted the house of Mumbi against Kenya. Kibaki has latently allowed merchants of death to met 'REVENGE' as a show of hollow might with eyes on show of power. But no drainage will be big enough to contain the resulting national haemorrhage. Kenya is crying for leadership to replace the present rulership. Meanwhile Kibaki's apologists may cheaply thumb their chests in brinkmanship oblivious of the fact that the GUILLOTINE monster consumes both the targets and perpetrators. True Mungiki are agents of death and destruction through terror in Central and Nairobi. But I can assure you they will meet their match in the villages. With the police force not spared the national ethnic tensions it is just a matter of time before all militia acquire guns in sufficient numbers to finish the job. There is no monopoly of militia or vigilantes. Fighting fire with fire is cheap philosophy. Listening to one Mungiki tweet Dennis Kariuki boasting to a Reuters reporter that "we have vowed that for every Kikuyu killed in Eldoret, we shall kill two Kalenjins who are living in Nakuru," is the beginning of the end. Well, Nakuru is not called the hot bed of Kenyan politics for nothing. For the records Nakuru has its ANCESTRAL OWNERS and the Kalenjins will not leave without a bloody fight. Last straw The Armageddon is here. At least most surviving Kenyans have HOMES to turn to once evicted from their HOUSES. What of those whose version of homes and houses is blurred? They have the most to lose and the present belligerence is not doing them any good. Speak of amputating a limb to stop haemorrhage! The truth is Kibaki's stealing of the election was the last straw that broke Kenya's back. That single selfish act snapped the long-standing tribal tensions. The genesis lies in land disputes and we all know who the beneficiaries are. The camel came, CONQUERED (in fact emasculated) and now want to dominate the natives politically. Transforming the economic to political might is unacceptable unless the rest of Kenyans silently resign to the stereotypical tag of LAZY and JEALOUS (of dishonesty and deception of course). The HELL-FOR-LEATHER Kenyan 'entrepreneurs' may Shed all shades of crocodile tears whining about lost economic opportunity. But to majority of other Kenyans that is the collateral to pay in quest of JUSTICE. You can indulge is all the brutal niceties to delay justice but you cannot succeed in 1000 years to deny the same, NEVER. It is and will never be business as usual till an equilibrium (equity) is realized.
-
14:03
From: Black Looks
Read This Entry & More At Black Looks
Lesotho — Anti-Chinese Resentment Flares:
UN Integrated Regional Information Networks
24 January 2008
Posted to the web 24 January 2008
Maseru
For 14 years, Mathabo Mabekhla was one of Lesotho’s most successful entrepreneurs. Her ladies’ clothing boutique sold dresses, blouses and slacks imported from neighbouring South Africa, and boasted a client base that included cabinet ministers and [...]
-
10:31
From: Black Looks
Read This Entry & More At Black Looks
Palestinians stand at the forefront, in the front lines of peoples’ insistence everywhere that their rights, well-being and fundamental values as human beings be respected by governments. And they do so (and I write this as an Israeli with great sorrow and shame) against one of the world’s strongest and most ruthless military powers - [...]
-
10:21
From: Eyes on Kenya
Read This Entry & More At Eyes on Kenya
One small hand shake for two guys, one moving moment for a nation.
It was a big gesture, but by now nothing more is achieved. Raila Odinga has ruled out taking a new post of prime minister in President Kibaki’s Government. Odinga said the only three acceptable options would be Kibaki’s resignation, a vote re-run, or power-sharing leading to constitutional reform then a new election. The ODM leader said he was offended by Kibaki’s comments afterwards that he was Kenya’s “duly-elected” president. “Those remarks were unfortunate, calling himself duly-elected and sworn-in president. That is the bone of contention. We want negotiations with integrity,” he said. (Nation)
Every step towards peace is a right step, but the question is not Kibaki or Odinga or Kibaki and Odinga. The question is whether they agree on a constituion reform to limit the missuse of power.
Power sharing
Not even willing to share their umbrellas: Museveni and Gaddafi
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and his Libya counterpart Muammar Gaddafi have proposed that President Kibaki and ODM leader Raila Odinga should share power. Two experts of power sharing have spoken: Gaddafi is in his 39th year of non-power sharing, while Museveni only achieved 21 years. Both are known for their love for democratic elections. Opposition politicians from Lybia are sharing their place on the Amnesty International report, while Uganda’s oppostion leader Dr Besigye shares the court bench for treason (more on this in the last Part of our article Eyes on the International Community concerning elections in Africa)
Violence in Nakuru
The killing continues and spread towards Nakuru, where houses have been torched. Kenya Army soldiers have been called out to beef up security in Nakuru town after rival militia blocked key roads and destroyed property in fresh escalation of violence.
Screaming and wailing rent the air at Kisima and Kaptembwa Estates in the western part of Nakuru Town all night on Thursday as armed gangs torched houses.
There are reports about the use of army forces and Mungiki involvment.
Kenneth Marende, social injustice and a fair salary
R. from the African woman blog quoted freshly elected parliamentary speaker Kenneth Marende, decried the income inequality that saw one man taking home a paltry 5000 Ksh every month (71.5 US dollars), while another took home 1,000,000 Ksh (over 14,000 US dollars) saying this inequality must be corrected if stability is to be achieved. In the same interview just a little later he defended the exorbitant pay that our legislators receive, a minimum of 800,000 Ksh (approximately 11,500 US dollars) on the basis that the house was constituted of a good number of professionals who earned hefty salaries in their previous jobs and that their hefty salaries freed them to concentrate on house business.
We just published our second last part of the article Eyes on the International Community concerning elections in Africa, about Congo. The last part about Uganda will be posted soon.
-
8:48
From: You Missed This
Read This Entry & More At You Missed This
Are The Revenge Attacks Escalating? News from Nakuru is scanty and difficult to come by but Kumekucha can confirm that there are some serious clashes going on in the town at the heart of the Rift Valley and the largest security operation since the aborted 1982 coup has now been deployed involving the Kenya Army. I have been unable to reach our man on the ground but from the information gathered so far, it appears that a revenge attack by mainly members of the Kikuyu tribe, against Luos and Kalenjins living in the Cosmopolitan Nakuru town is what triggered off the whole incident. Some reports indicate that members of the Kalenjin and Luo re-grouped too quickly (like they were expecting the attack) and chased after the attackers who had burnt houses as well as killed people. Some eyewitnesses claim that policemen stopped them and assured them that they would arrest the whole lot on their own. However this looked unlikely as the policemen were vastly outnumbered by the attackers. It is not clear at what point the Kenya Army arrived, but it is common knowledge that the Army are mostly trained to kill and fight gun battles rather than to quell riots, which suggests that the security situation in the town must be extremely serious. It is instructive to note that the clashes in most of the Rift Valley has brought a vast majority of the refugees to Nakuru town and many of the Kikuyu victims who have lost everything have been holed up in the town. This development is significant because although we have seen clashes in the major city of Nairobi, so far they have been limited to slum areas like Kibera, Mathare and Huruma. In Nakuru we have witnessed for the first time clashes coming into town and involving the middle class. This is certainly very bad news for Kenya and illustrates the fact that despite the optimism from many quarters yesterday when Kibaki and Raila shook hands in front of the press, nobody is addressing the core issues and therefore we need to brace ourselves for the worst. Actually it is becoming increasingly clear by the day that nothing short of Mwai Kibaki’s resignation from the stolen presidency will restore peace in the Rift valley. Read more about Nakuru violence.
-
8:19
From: Eyes on Kenya
Read This Entry & More At Eyes on Kenya
Part 3 of the article takes a closer look at “success” of the 2005 elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
The 2006 “democratic” elections in the DRC were celebrated by the international community as a great success. There was little choice, it had to be a success, because it prooved that you can perform free and fair elections in a country torn apart by a civil war. The UN peacekeeping force (MONUC), which includes 17,000 troops at a cost of roughly $1 billion a year, was the world’s largest and most expensive peacekeeping operation.
The election itself was supported with $460 million by the International Community.
The German army, which is only allowed to operate in foreign territory since the 1990s celebrated their biggest image success back home by offering security during the election in the capitol Kinshasa. The peacekeeping mission was used to quiet down critiques on German military missions, missions which have since then increased in number and intensity.
There is a question of success in the literal meaning of the word. The Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) led by Étienne Tshisekedi wa Mulumba boycotted the election after they had claimed that their members and supporters were not given a fair opportunity to register for the vote. Étienne Tshisekedi a former Prime minister, who had been a political prisoner under Mobutu and Laurent Kabila had gained popularity enough to challenge Kabila and Bemba. He was also the only candidate with a serious chance, not having been involved in the civil war. The UDPS defined as their main goal- a non-violent change to democratic rule, a goal which they knew had minimal chances of success in this election. Even Catholic leaders in Congo called for a boycott.
The people of Congo therefore had a chance to democratically elect their warlord.
Monitors expressed concern about the election process, including ones from the Carter Center. MONUC reported that on August 3, on the third day of “chaotic poll-counting, a suspicious fire at a major Kinshasa election center deepened concerns over the transparency of the results.” According to MONUC, while the election itself may have met requirements, “the process of collecting results from 50,000 polling stations had become chaotic.”
On August 5, thousands in eastern DRC were fleeing clashes between the DRC army and forces affiliated with General Laurent Nkunda. According to the The Independent, Nkunda, who is “widely believed to be in third place in the race for the DRC’s presidency,” stated that he will respect the results, but along with over 30 other candidates, expressed “determination to resist results which are perceived to be unfair.”
After celebrating their success, the International Community withdraw their election troops and with it the international attention. Bemba fled into exile. The daily mass killings and rapes in Eastern Congo have continued, but have vanished from the headlines of international media. Since the election was termed a success there seems to be little interest in following up the aftermath and consequences.
Part 3 will deal with the elections in Uganda and will summarize conclusions.
Read also Part 1 and Part 2.
-
7:14
From: You Missed This
Read This Entry & More At You Missed This
 Kenya, Sleepy giant, You've been resting awhile. Now I see the thunder, And the lightning, In yor smile. Now I see the storm clouds, In yor waking eyes: The thunder, The wonder, And the new surprise. Your every step reveals, The new stride, In your thighs. These are the very eloquent words of the master poet, Langston Hughes.(But I have changed his original Africa to read Kenya) The words there-in hold true to us today. With the fall of every word the walls in the room reverberate and the din rises to fever-pitch crescendo. Kenya, we've been somnolent and sleepy for far too long. We've been reluctant to rise above our lot. We've been known as non-starters and non-proactive. The world has always seen Kenya as a country replete with problems: all manner of ills and inefficiency to boot! Political turbulence; ethnic clashes; economic instabilities; famine and drought - and a host many more! Kenyans, it's time to kick all these out and turn over a new leaf. Let's put the red herrings aside and pursue matters of import. Matters that will help us rise out of the miry bog of complacency and compromise. We've the potential to change our 'countenance' in the public eye nationally and internationally. We've just to set the records straight and do what we must: institute mechanisms to put things in proper perspective. We don't have to swallow notions and ideas pushed down our throats about the incapacities in our dear, beloved country. There's still a chink in the wall. Where there's a will there's a way. We must endeavour to rise above our condemning environment and embrace the dawning of a new day. Kenya, this is our time. Climb up that mountain. GO FOR IT!!
-
7:07
From: bankelele
Read This Entry & More At bankelele
(Non political) : For a month, we have concentrated on the losers - Kenya’s image, banks, truth, profits, employees, tourism sector, insurers, economy; so it's a good time to look at some 'winners' today – people, concepts, companies who proved themselves and who may make some money from the post-election turmoil. - Mobile phone companies - Safaricom and Celtel were a vital link throughout the country. Airtime was worth more than money at times. - Language schools: Why? Cause you never know when it will be an advantage to multi-lingual in our multi-tribal Kenya again. - NGO’s: Are back in business in a big way. - Dick Morris: He never had a chance to participate in the election, but his ilk i.e. dirty tricks campaign managers were at work and in full force such that many professionals who ran clean, issue-oriented campaigns rarely had a chance in this election. - Gated community housing projects. - Uchumi Supermarkets: Won a lot of points for being open and doing business even when urban clashes were at outide their doors. Investors can expect no dividends until 2011, but the company may get a better reception if they approach investors with another rights issue thsi year. - Kenyans online: From blogs, to online initiatives ( reporting violence, airtime/voucher transfer) thousands turned online to vent, tell their stories, get news, correct their country's image and restore sanity - after a media blackout and/or fatigue from the political bickering and violent images that ran on TV all day. Can you name any other winners?
-
5:50
From: What An African Woman Thinks
Read This Entry & More At What An African Woman Thinks
Early this week, there was an article in the Business Daily to the effect that Nakuru town was eager to market itself as the "destination of choice" for those fleeing for their lives from the North Rift, especially those who had the potential to invest in the economy there. And, by all indications, there are a good number of potential investors among the displaced people who have taken refuge in Nakuru. Some according to the Business Daily article had already began to make enquiries about the possibility of purchasing property. Now, it too seems to have succumbed to violence as angry youth seek to carry out revenge killings on account of "their people" being killed in Eldoret. I know there's been a steady influx of displaced people into Nakuru and that therefore the residents of Nakuru are seeing and hearing firsthand accounts of the horrors that are taking place in the North Rift. But, revenge is so not the answer, else soon we'll all be blind and then what future for all of us? And, to cliche on, two wrongs never made a right. I hope the authorities in Nakure are diligent enough to take firm control of the situation before it deteriorates further, taking into custody anyone who is found to have participated in the planning or execution of this violence and charging them accordingly. This madness must stop. Please stop the madness. It seems as though every time we take a tiny step forward, we stumble and fall. I've been saying for some time now that we're in this for the longhaul. I'm only now beginning to grasp just how long the longhaul might be. **UPDATE (21.45pm GMT +3) Rival mobs representing both sides of the political divide are now holding Nakuru hostage. In fact, as the story is shaping up, the violence is about a violent clash of two rival groups.Are Mungiki partly responsible for what has happened? I read them in the subtext.Hopefully the army is able to isolate the perpertrators of the violence, whoever they might be and wherever they might be and clamp down on them forcefully before they wreak any more havoc. It's my window, but I don't own the view.
-
5:36
From: Rants, Raves & Reviews
Read This Entry & More At Rants, Raves & Reviews
Simpler than it seems... at first. - PROTECTION of lives & property. Shoot to kill any thieves/muggers/looters. Of course, my assumption is that the police are part of the crooks' networks. Kenyan police are known to be behind many robberies.
- Allow peaceful demonstrations. This will allow for the venting of anger while directing police efforts to (1) above. Savings from police overtime, tear gas purchases, etc... Of course, kibz' hardliners would rather the police kill innocents than preserve Kenyans' properties.
- TAX breaks/reduction. Sure the government will "lose" income but the economic boost will be enormous. This is a time to suspend or eliminate many punitive taxes on agricultural products & inputs. Unfortunately, the corruption networks are getting stronger. Mumias has PUBLICLY complained about the non-action by police on smuggled sugar.
- PR campaigns. Yes, these are needed to boost tourism. The campaign has to include new markets like China & Russia. Tourism remains a key driver of our economy. The ancillary industries/sectors e.g. agriculture, transport, etc that need tourism will start growing. This is an expensive process & might take 6-12 months before the benefits kick in.
- Expand private/public partnerships. Fire political appointees like george muhoho at the KAA. We need PRIVATE SECTOR initiatives that have a positive ROE. KQ has been begging for a larger airport but the idiots at KAA proposed an expansion (2008-2011) to cater for 4mn passengers. KQ expects 4mn passengers on its own by 2011. We need a larger pipeline from Mombasa -Kampala. We can't control the Ugandans but let's extend it to Kisumu. There will be a steep learning curve but there is little choice. I expect the ROE requirements for private investors might raise prices BUT the efficiencies will negate these cost increases over the mid-term.
- Reduce barriers to business. The License Raj needs to be eliminated. Hong Kong & Singapore have a one-stop shop. The idiocy of standing in line to pay taxes is STUPID. The same with (insert city/town/county) license fees. Spending hours in line to pay for services. I am glad KPLC has finally expanded their pay points to include Posta. Now we need to pay these ONLINE.
- Reduce government expenditure. kibz has planned for 34 ministers. That means 34 Mercedes cars or Range Rovers or BMWs. Then there are asst ministers who do little. Add ex-officio members. And their staff. And chase cars. And perks. Sigh... I should have stood for office...
- Rebuild/build infrastructure. PPP are the way to go. A new highway to Uganda would immediately boost our exports. A decent road to Namanga would allow Kenyan manufacturers dominate the region. A new highway to S.Sudan would allow Kenyans a foothold NOW before others get in. I believe the future of Kenyan exports lies in Africa not Europe.
These are simple prescriptions but they can help cement Kenya's future in an increasingly tough world.
-
4:19
From: Black Looks
Read This Entry & More At Black Looks
Holocaust in Gaza - Breaking the walls
“Those responsible for such cowardly action are guilty of serious war crimes and should be prosecuted and punished for their crimes,” Dugard said.
When U.S. government offices are closed, and the media is not paying attention, during special holidays-in this case Dr. Martin Luther King’s Birthday-Israel often takes full advantage [...]
-
0:53
From: What An African Woman Thinks
Read This Entry & More At What An African Woman Thinks
They shook hands. It was stiff and it was formal but it was progress. There’s a poignant(albeit fuzzy) photo in the Daily Nation of wananchi throwing up their hands in jubilation as Kibaki and Raila shook hands yesterday. If only these two gentlemen could see that they’re carrying the weight of all our hopes and dreams as a nation on their shoulders. Sigh. Now the hard work begins. So, despite Mutahi Ngunyi’s misgivings, maybe Kofi Annan did have a stick hidden away in his briefcase after all. I wonder what it might be. I can’t wait for the day when someone will write a book about what transpired at all these closed-door meetings and all the documents used in all these secret negotiations will be declassified. Speaking of Mutahi Ngunyi’s analysis, I just remembered something else I heard him say the other day that was very interesting. He said the best constitutions are crafted in times of crisis and that in essence, a constitution is a ceasefire document that emerges out of a crisis. Now that’s food for thought. This is the biggest crisis Kenya has ever been through. Perhaps its silver lining will be that it will yield a top rate new constitution. I wasn’t sold on a government of national unity in the beginning but I’m starting to warm up to the idea. Clearly, the current crisis derives from the deep-seated fear, from people at the grassroots on both sides of the political divide, of being consigned to the Outside, doomed to peer longingly In as others feast on the perks of being at the centre of power. The problems will remain until the people feel included. If indeed this process results in a government of national unity, which I now am actually beginning to hope it will, its most important task will be to deliver the constitution that the people want, complete with the right structures and systems to guard the people’s will from the selfish, manipulative few. We must rid ourselves once and for all of this winner-takes-all-system and create an inclusive, representative system where power is distributed rather than concentrated. ************* In other news, while being interviewed by Julie Gichuru yesterday, the new speaker of the house, Kenneth Marende, decried the income inequality that saw one man taking home a paltry 5000 Ksh every month (71.5 US dollars), while another took home 1,000,000 Ksh (over 14,000 US dollars) saying this inequality must be corrected if stability is to be achieved. A little while later, he was asked about the exorbitant pay that our legislators receive, a minimum of 800,000 Ksh (Circa 11,500 US dollars) and he defended it on the basis that the house was constituted of a good number of professionals who earned hefty salaries in their previous jobs and that their hefty salaries freed them to concentrate on house business. Those two statements are incongruous, if you ask me. Surely what’s good for the legislator goose is good for the corporate gander? ************** Finally, links to two HRW (Human Rights Watch) articles on Kenya: [hrw.org][hrw.org]It's my window, but I don't own the view.
-
0:24
From: Black Looks
Read This Entry & More At Black Looks
Annie has been in Martinique as part of her comparative literature degree and though we have been in touch regularly this is the first post she has sent. I miss her writings but she is keeping a diary and hopefully she will find the time and space to share some of her experiences in [...]
Read the complete article at
|
|
. 
