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15:06
From: White African
Read This Entry & More At White African
I’m sitting in on the “Online Extremism - And the Muslims Who Fight It” panel at SXSW. It’s both interesting and relevant to anyone within the web space in Africa. If you don’t think so, check out the map below:
[reference and more stats from USIP]
When I talk about “Africa”, I tend to paint with a broad brush. After all, what I’m really doing is generalizing, and mashing together, 54 separate nations - as ridiculous as that sounds. However, that’s not really true either. I tend to talk about “Africa” as sub-Saharan Africa, and gloss over nations like Tunisia, Egypt and Libya. In reality, when I (or any of us) talk about mobile phones, blogs, social networks and the web in general I should be including the whole continent.
Okay, so today the session is discussing how to deal with Muslim extremism on the web. Mohammed Suleiman Khan discusses some of the difficulties that they’ve had with their Muslim blog network Hadithuna.
“It’s not the websites. Those are static. The real action is in the chat rooms.”
- Frank Cilluffo Dir. Homeland Security Policy Institute
It’s an interesting talk, primarily because it’s an issue that affects everyone, no matter if you’re in Kenya, South Africa or Egypt. What are the repercussions if you operate a website that starts to attract “fringe” elements (be they Muslim or otherwise)? What policies should you have in place so that you’re not caught napping?
Another uncomfortable question arises when you start thinking about “fringe” groups is whether they’re on the fringe for political reasons, and whether or not that is actually bad? For instance, would you consider a minority group in Zimbabwe fringe because they want to oust Mugabe? The government might call them radicals, but who else would?
“It’s tough to monitor text and pictures, I wouldn’t even know where to begin with video.” Khan, in response to a lady from Seesmic asking what they need to be doing to be ready to handle this type of extremism on a dynamic platform. “I would suggest you harness the other users of the service.”
Lastly, there seems to be a few areas where the Muslims in Africa are further ahead than the rest of the continent. Tunisia has one of the largest blogging groups in Africa (I think somewhere around 28,000). North African countries tend to have greater bandwidth and therefore more apt to use social networks, and tools like YouTube and blog platforms. Across the Muslim communities there is widespread use of forums and chat rooms. What can we learn from them and apply to sub-Saharan Africa?
 
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12:57
From: Kikuyumoja's realm
Read This Entry & More At Kikuyumoja's realm
We had an interested reader over @ Afrigadget.com writing in the other day, who’s based in Juba, Sudan, and was inquiring about low cost, low tech, low maintenance recycling concepts for *plastic* bottles (PET). At best, I am afraid, we could only tell him about recycling companies already active in East Africa (especially Kenya) and direct him to the CD3WD, compiled by Alex Weir.
Now, when I moved back to Germany last year, some readers asked me to blog about what this place is all about. While I think a generalization isn’t possible, some interesting details or even local *peculiarities* may become visible while reading between the lines - or just by going shopping. In fact, I’ve just come home from the weekly food-organizing-tour at our local supermarket here and was reminded of this special PET-deposit system I’d like to tell you about. Call it bridge blogging, if you will:
From what I’ve read on Wikipedia, some Scandinavian countries are said to have started this deposit system in the first place, with Germany introducing it during the early 1980s as well. What I am talking about is a “container deposit legislation”, or Einwegpfand as we call it in German.
aluminium cans, glass and PET bottles - did you know that these alu cans consist of two different aluminium qualities? recycling them downcycles them to the lower quality….
Here in Germany, this only used to apply to glass bottles and special high-density plastic bottles that could be cleaned and reused. Some two-three years ago, they’ve changed this legalisation to apply to a much bigger range of bottles. Even simple (= thin) PET bottles and - most importantly - cans made of aluminium are now subject to a deposit. So while shopping for my favourite beer brand aka the cheapest available beer in Germany (0,29 EUR / 0,5l :-), I do pay an extra charge of 0,25 EUR which I am then refunded while returning the empty bottle/can using this machine:
A reverse vending machine, made by the Norwegian company TOMRA. Such machines are installed in most supermarkets in Germany these days… (more)
The interesting part about this system is that most Germans are in fact good at collecting and sorting *waste* and then returning the containers to any supermarket. And while some ppl still claim the lack of decent data on this, the system obviously works. It’s also lots of fun putting these empty bottles in the slot where they are then analyzed (a barcode scanner checks for the UPC code), sorted (alu & plastics) and imediately crushed and compacted.
According to McDonough/Braungart, there’s “no such thing as waste” in an ideal world, but these systems just help to preserve the environment a bit and provide raw material for further recycling - but not upcycling! Still, better than nothing.
Now let’s hope that someone at NEMA will come up with a proposal (Kilonzo, you hear me? :-) to introduce a deposit on batteries in Kenya. 2 bob on each battery sold could maybe be enough incentive to make ppl fetch their old batteries from the taka taka pile on their shamba and return them. There may not be a 100% closing-the-loop concept on batteries or other nasty products so far, but it would at least help preserving the environment. All it takes is the right political framerwork.
Me thinks: IF you can’t change ppl and their behaviour, give them the right products and/or a financial incentive to contribute to this process. Same applies to public toilets btw but that’s another story.
Why? Because it took this legalisation for ppl to return their plastic bottles and aluminium bottles which in the past were only collected, burnt and deposited on a landfill. Many customers of course were upset at this extra work, but then - due to their assiduous German nature :-) - just accepted it and turned it into a success.
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12:27
From: White African
Read This Entry & More At White African
Currently I’m sitting in the “The Suxorz: The Worst Ten Social Media Ad Campaigns of 2007″ panel at SXSW. The panel is full of interesting, and well-known, characters in the ad/media space.
This panel of bloggers and marketers will dissect ten terrible ad campaigns that abused the ideals of people-powered media, then award The Suxorz Trophy to the worst.
(more…)
 
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10:43
From: Walk of Kings:
Read This Entry & More At Walk of Kings:
16So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. 19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
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9:55
From: Marian's Blog
Read This Entry & More At Marian's Blog
Be sure to check today's radio show, Black Politics with Chris Owens. Starts 11AM U.S. Eastern time Saturdays. Executive Producers are Logan Nakyanzi Pollard and Stephen Davis. Chris composed the show's music. The show's produced in New York City. Listen...
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6:45
From: Kikuyumoja's realm
Read This Entry & More At Kikuyumoja's realm
What’s eyeOS?
EyeOS is virtual desktop / operating system accessible through a browser. Or as they describe it on their website:
eyeOS is a new kind of Operating System, where everything resides on a web browser. With eyeOS, you will have your desktop, applications and files always with you, from your home, your college, your office or your neightboor’s house. Just open a web browser, connect to your eyeOS System and access your personal desktop and all your stuff just like you left it last time.
YouTube directvideo link
So I’ve downloaded their latest release and installed it on my webspace. Note: I am still on 1&1 (1und1.de / 1and1.com) due to historic reasons (urgently need to switch to a cheaper host though - any recommendations that really work & are reliable? Uptime on 1&1 has been great in the past but they are just crazy about mySQL dbs and other extras. Automatization / user admin panel is still very nice on their system so any other cheaper service would need to offer a good admin panel as well. thx!) and eyeOS requires php 5 in order to run. 1&1 offers both php 4 and 5, but 4 is the default setting. In order to use php 5 on your 1&1 server, you’ll need to rename all files from .php to .php5 and likewise all links / references / calls to other php files within the install.php & index.php. Did that and it just works fine:
You can test it for yourself on eyeOS.info and I recommend to set your browser to fullscreen view (F11?) in order to fully enjoy the desktop.
So WHY is this interesting?
- It’s a personal, virtual desktop offering some basic progs like word (based on the tinyMCE editor as in WordPress) or a spreadsheet program, but also games, a calculator, etc - basically, everyting that will be developed for it - so there sure is much more to come.
- There are moments when you are on a very restricted computer which doesnt provide much flexibility except for an inet connection. Sure you could use Google Documents or even PortableApps on a USB flash disk (I’ve introduced PortableApps at our office because ppl wanted to use Firefox instead of MSIE 6!!.0 without running into trouble with the IT dept.), but maybe there’s no USB port available and/or you don’t have a Google account?
- It comes with an FTP client. The ftp port 21 is closed @ my place of work, so the only way to use ftp is by using a) an unsecured wifi connection (ftp is plain text anyways) or b) using such a remote ftp client.
- It is platform independent! Access your eyeOS desktop via WinOS, MacOS, LinuxOS - any browser with JavaScript will do! Doesnt work via the Symbian S60 V3 browser (based on the Safari core) and OperaMini though.
- You may want to access all your data in a customizable environment without worrying about carrying USB flash memory around.
- Would this work on a server and low-cost terminals connected that just have a browser? => @ University - could be an interesting idea for local networks, if not already realized (haven’t combed through their wiki actually, these are just my impressions so far).
- There’s no additional software needed! No need for special client software except for a working browser.
Imho, eyeOS is a very interesting alternative to….to what? To a virtual machine in the network via VMWARE or a remote VNC connection? Maybe. I think it rather indicates that the future is all about “being connected” = networked computers and that data will then be stored on a main server somewhere, accessible from anywhere in the world. Storing devices such as CDs, DVDs, USB flash disk are the best indicator to see how everything quickly changes from long-time archives to fast-and-forget memory. Following this line of thinking, the question of illegal downloades could one day just be solved as all multimedia files could remain on a central repository and usage (you dont need to physically”posses” data on your hard drive - you just want to use it, right?) would be paid for. Sure there would be ways to crack or bypass that but that’s just another question.
As for now, as broadband / fast inet connection isn’t available everywhere in the world, I tend to regard this only from a local area network perspective. Has this already been implemented at a local university? => Skunkworks Kenya / Kenyatta University?
I like eyeOS because it doesn’t require much to work. It’s simple, it’s efficient, it wins.
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4:27
From: You Missed This
Read This Entry & More At You Missed This
Why nobody wants to be in the oppositionI first read the words that I have reproduced here below when I was a student at Starehe Boys' Centre – Nairobi. During my student years, these words gave me the drive to do my best even when failure looked me in the face. They got me into a grave problem once, when I started working, – I was fired! I lost a job that was my lifeline at the time. The day before I was fired, I had handwritten them and glued (so crude of me!) the sheet of paper on the Notice Board for my colleagues to read and get inspired. Little did I know that the Manager would consider the words an insult to the company and his person. He tore the paper and bounded menacingly to his office with the shreds in his hands. He sent someone to call me. Having witnessed the unfolding 'melodrama' I knew I would be in for it. How right my premonition was! I was summarily dismissed and only a vague explanation warranting the action was forthcoming. I later pieced the pieces of the jigsaw and came to know the why and wherefore of the unwarranted dismissal. He had thought my aim was to kindle the ire of the workers against him – what with poor pay, unconducive working environment and a lack of transparency. But my aim was far from that. Anyway, situations like these hone and shape us, don't they? Sample the piece… STRUGGLE IS THE PURPOSE OF LIFEYou want the good things in life. You want more money, power and status in the office. You want to drive around town in a spanking new car. And you want to invite your many friends to your sprawling house to meet your beautiful wife and charming children. Also you want a healthy body, a quicker wit and a more sparkling personality. Well, you can have all these and many more if you are willing to pay the price. These things are expensive, very expensive. And for most people, too expensive. They demand more than wealth or talent. They demand courage. The courage to work hard even when you feel underpaid and unrecognized. The guts to keep working hard. Essentially life demands struggle. Everyday has to be a day of struggle. Once one can accept this stark truth as something positive, one can start to get ahead. Struggle allows us to refine our talents. It is the intense heat that burns the dross. It is the alchemy that turns one into pure gold. There is no magic in the real world. In fantasy, wonderful things happen of their own accord. But this is not the way the real world works. The universal law is simple: YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW. If you are tired, it is not due to struggle. Struggle does not tire: it uplifts and rejuvenates: it brings about the best in the human spirit. If you feel that life is hard, you have not faced your toughest adversity: Your own negative thinking. Struggle means pushing ahead no matter what. It means investing your hopes and energies even in a cause that seems hopeless. Struggle is a mark of heroism, and the difference between winners and losers. Life is for the living. It is a struggle, challenge, change, disaster and triumph. Forget your multiple fortunes. If you can forge a win of iron by fighting through the thick of misfortune then the world is your oyster. There is no easy way to reap what you think you deserve. You have to fight for it all the way. At this moment you are where you deserve to be. If you are surrounded by abundance, it is because you have the heart of a lion. If you are surrounded by scarcity, it is because you've not dared to challenge yourself to rise against adversity. Struggle is the meaning of life. If you want more from your life, ask what you have done to deserve more. Don't sit around lost in daydreams: ONLY ACTION WILL REDEEM YOU. From now on, think your way into a dynamic and confident state of mind and being. Strive to be that little bit better in everything you do in everyday struggle! Crawl up that mountain! Go for it!
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1:49
From: You Missed This
Read This Entry & More At You Missed This
Plus trouble brewing over ODM deputy premier appointment? One would have thought that the best strategy for any politician in the 10th parliament who does not get a cabinet position, would be to position themselves in the opposition in readiness for the next general elections which many people believe will be held in 2 years time. After all going by what has happened in the past, the government always manages to get unpopular sooner or later presenting a “through pass” to any carefully positioned opposition candidate to easily get re-elected into the august house.  But alas, Kenyan politics always has its’ bizarre twists. It is now becoming clearly evident that hardly anybody in the 10th parliament wants to be in the opposition. Virtually all PNU affiliate parties are saying that they are included in the grand coalition and are therefore in government. The same with ODM affiliate parties. And what complicates matters further is that both PNU and ODM are working very hard behind scenes to ensure that they have a parliamentary majority in the house (just in case). What that means is that contrary to what we are being told, there will hardly be any opposition in the 10th parliament unless something changes drastically. The “opposition” task it seems will be left to the press and the rising power of blogs like Kumekucha but that is hardly the same thing as having a strong opposition in the house. Forget about the back bench because when all the numbers are in government a back bencher in say ODM or even PNU is of no consequence. Those who understand Kenyan politics well are fully aware of the reason why there is this mad scramble for government as if there were no political tomorrow. Read more
Read the complete article at
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