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• February 04, 2009
• 17:19

  TED 2009 Reframe: Tim Berners-Lee

   » ‎ Afromusing

  Tags:  Innovation  

  

  Tim Berners-Lee is simply one of the fathers of the www(world wide web). He is credited with inventing it, and he currently heads W3C

  His talk at TED today looks at the history of putting data on the web. It is still difficult to explain what the internet is, and just how difficult it was to put together back then. It turned out to be a much bigger thing than he thought.

  Data drives our lives now. Linked data drives it even more. The more things you have to connect together, the more powerful. Need an example? Wikipedia => Dbpedia

  DBpedia is a community effort to extract structured information from Wikipedia and to make this information available on the Web. DBpedia allows you to ask sophisticated queries against Wikipedia, and to link other data sets on the Web to Wikipedia data.

  Tim’s suggestion: Do not hug your data, provide raw data before the pretty website. Funny, I hugged the internet this a.m in his name! (on twitter)

  *my battery is almost out, please hop on over to Ethanz for more TED2009 coverage. Thanks!!
  http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog

  Updated on March 13th 2009 - The 20th anniversary of the www creation. TED.com posted his talk… watch below or on TED.com.

• 16:59

  The Kenya “THEY” Have…..

   » ‎ Kenyanentrepreneur.com

  Tags:  Kenyan PoliticsBusiness  

  Can someone please tell me who the fuck is giving zombie Kibaki public relations advise??? Ten million people are starving and the government decides to use your money to pay for a conference to talk about the Kenya you want. No. Excuse me.  To talk about the Kenya they have and the one you’ll never get. They [...]

• 16:45

  Quick Hits: Feb 5

   » ‎ Kenyan Pundit

  Tags:  Kenya  

  - For those who took pictures with the ubiquitous Obama cutout, notice his hands were white?

  - Interesting NYTimes look at Google’s venture into internet infrastructure in Kenya/Africa.

  - Google local search for Nairobi launched.

  - Macharia Gaitho’s op-ed on the Molo tragedy is a MUST read. Money quote: Whether super-rich or dirt-poor, Kenyans will forever be in scramble to get something for nothing…

• 13:55

  TED 2009: Wired For War

   » ‎ Afromusing

  Tags:  Amer. Pol.  

  

  From pwsinger.com
  “Dr. Singer is considered one of the world’s leading experts on changes in 21st century warfare. He has written for the full range of major media and journals, including the Boston Globe, L.A. Times, New York Times, Washington Post, Foreign Affairs, Current History, Survival, International Security, Parameters, Weltpolitik, and the World Policy Journal.”

  Dr.Peter Warren Singer studies and writes about war. He was recently on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart, to talk about his new book ‘Wired for War’ If he cranked TDS’s geekometer to 11, It is quite likely that the geekometer here at TED will break.

  If Moore’s law holds true, robots will become even more powerful than they are today. There is a revolution in the instruments of war. They affect not only the how, but the who of fighting wars. It changes the experience and identity of the warrior. You have to think of other countries working on robotics. What does this mean about the state of education, science and tech in America. As sw has gone open source, so has warfare. The components can be sourced from around the world. Bad guys can also make drones just like Hobbyists (like GeekDad) do.
  2 trends
  -Reinforcement of power of individuals against govt.
  - Al-Qaeda 2.0 and a shift in tactics of terrorist organizations that might use robotics in their attacks. ‘You do not have to convince a robot that they will get 72 virgins for their sacrifice’

  The future of war will also be a youtube war. The war will be recorded, most of the footage gathered by drones. This is typically termed as ‘war porn’. It will affect the public’s experience of war. When war becomes like an espn sportscenter version, it loses its humanity. Drone pilots also have high PTSD levels because of the difficulty in separating the experience of killing people, then having to continue with real life, go home and have a normal evening with the family.

  What is the message we are sending by using machines? But when you ask people in places like Lebanon, the perspective is that use of drones is cowardly, not willing to fight mano a mano.

  There are now wrinkles in the rules of war. What happens when drones misfire? How do you prosecute a robot for war crimes? Is it just a product recall issue? (as pointed out by a scientist PW singer interviewed).
  The challenge: Are we going to face the reality of dealing with 21st century war? or are we going to be in denial because it all sounds too sci-fi. Is it the machines or is it us who are wired for war?

• 13:26

  TED 2009 - Reboot: Juan Enriquez

   » ‎ Afromusing

  Tags:  Business  

  

  Juan has a research and investment firm called Biotechonomy, which invests in new genomics firms.
  From TED
  “Juan Enriquez thinks and writes about the profound changes that genomics and other life sciences will cause in business, technology, politics and society”

  Juan gives an update on lifesciences advances that have lead to tissue regrowth, molars, ears and even bladders to replace catheter bags.
  He mentions advances in robotics such as Boston Dynamic’s Big Dog robot. (check you tube for a video of Big Dog’s amazing capabilities. It can carry loads, and self corrects if it is destablized e.g by kicking it - hard)

  He touches on evolution and thinks we will advance into Homo Evolutis that takes all the trends in lifesciences, robotics and evolution into something quite…well futuristic.

• 13:01

  The Pain of Success: Vetting Your Email and Facebook

   » ‎ Kenya Imagine

  Tags:  email  

  A few weeks ago the New York Times wrote a new chapter in its personnel handbook. It warned its reporters against putting personal information on their myspace or facebook profiles. It asked its reporters not to display their political affiliation, afterall journalists are supposed to be unbiased. Are they?
  Well, we know that we all have our biases. And sometimes it is hard to draw a distinction between what you write and what you believe in.
  More. 

• 12:12

  The United States Of Gaddafi

   » ‎ You Missed This
  why the King of Kings must lay off the pipe
  I think it’s about time we ban the reading of fairy tale story books in Africa. These books are becoming problematic. Do you know why all women dream of a white wedding, the type with flowing white wedding gowns and horse driven chariots? The answer is simple; they read ‘Cinderella’ as little girls. They spend years yearning the kiss from prince charming because of ‘Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs’. I’m yet to figure out what type of books Colonel Muammar Gaddafi read in his early years in Libya but clearly his dream of a United States of Africa must emanate from a spectacular fairy tale.
  
  The ‘King of Kings’ is apparently disappointed by the reception of his vision by African presidents at the AU meeting. I hear he was banging his head on the table in defeat. Now, I’m neither a medical doctor nor a psychiatrist but I advice him to continue banging his head until he wakes up from that nightmare. Who really wants to share a country with the Santomeans? No offense to the proud people of São Tomé and Príncipe.
  
  Well, I must admit that the grandeur of the concept is indeed intoxicating. A unifying currency may encourage African business; but how do you incorporate the Zimbabwean dollar? An African military force may mean peace; but what of Kony and his friends in the thickets of Uganda? An African passport, now that’s a great idea; but how do we trust Nigerians with that document? One president; if its Kibaki, will the rest of Africa stand the rants and antics of the first lady of Africa? And how do we move on if Raila is not appointed prime minister of Africa? Now, outside of being tourist attractions, what do the bush men of the Kalahari bring to the table? And what if Kivuitu chairs the Election Commission of Africa? Ultimately, the biggest obstacle will be determining where to locate the African Central Bank; that alone will ignite warfare across the continent.
  
  I’m not sure what the King of Kings expected from a room full of Musevenis and Mugabes but his passionate call for unity appears genuine even though the fine print in his plan makes him the first president of Africa. Remember this chap is president for life in Libya. How exactly will he enhance democracy? Didn’t he get into power via a coup? And how about his hobby of shooting airplanes from the skies of Scotland? Look, I know people reform but honestly do we want a one-time-terrorist as the African president? Gaddafi may be a man of refurbished character but he must forget ruling Africa from Tripoli. Extending Libyan tentacles (Laico Grand Regency) all over Africa is not enough.
  
  This is what I say. A unified Africa is a great idea touted by the wrong person and at the wrong time. If Gaddafi really sees a possibility here, he should invest his money in unifying communities within each country first. He must come to Kenya to preach unity between the Luo and Kikuyu. He must then visit Sudan and scold his fellow Arabs for shabbily treating the black Dafuris.
  
  Charity begins at home.

• 8:50

  First Lady named in Parliament

   » ‎ Kenya Imagine

  Tags:  George Saitoti  

  The Kenyan First Lady seems set to remain on the national headlines for a while yet. 
  After her searing criticism of Internal Security boss George Saitoti, and the statement from State House the next day expressing confidence in Saitoti, the First Lady is reported by SukumaKenya to have been mentioned in parliament over maize allocations.
  Check.

• 5:00

  I want me a BarackBerry

   » ‎ Rants, Raves & Reviews

  Tags:  Rave  

  It turns out that Obama does not use a BlackBerry but a BarackBerry...
  
  The BlackBerry can't hold a candle to the Sectera Edge - not your father's Palm Treo - that BHO uses!
  
  I wonder if one of the games on the Sectera is 'Nuke'em Iran?
  
  Anyway, I want one... am I asking too much?
  
  BTW, the Business Daily Africa claims BHO uses a BlackBerry but we know better!
• 4:30

  Is South Africa really part of Sub-Saharan Africa?

   » ‎ Rants, Raves & Reviews

  Tags:  Rave  

  Gautrain is a world-class train system being built in S.Africa. Amazing.
  
  In the meantime, the Kenyan government is hosting a 'Kenya We Want' conference. What bullshit. A little common sense would be much cheaper!
  
  My Solutions:
  
  kibaki should fire ALL his corrupt & inept ministers (incl saitoti, kimunya, etc) & a huge chunk of our problems would be solved.
  
  kibaki should reveal WHY the libyans (among other groups) are being favoured. And STOP the favouritism & nepotism.
  
  Kenyans want to know if the libyans contributed funds towards kibaki's re-election campaign in exchange for sweetheart deals. No more sweetheart deals.
  
  If the GoK privatised KPC among other government institutions, then we would not need silly conferences.
  
  Raila should drop his opposition to PRIVATE investments. This is not the communist Soviet republic. We need COMPETITION.
  
  All MPs & ministers should pay taxes on their entire salaries & perks! And their pay should be linked to performance!
  
  Common sense is not so common. Or is the conference simply another way to siphon government funds & provide PR?

• 4:19

  Poem: Digital Hearts

   » ‎ Kenyanpoet
  There was a time when a mouth, eyes, ears, a touch
  Were the essentials in a conversation
  Humans were more in touch with one another and with nature
  Watching, listening and touching
  A sight of migrating birds meant an approaching storm,
  change in seasons or looming danger.
  The tree’s whispers of cool sounds soothed our minds into peace
  The crackling fall of a branch and singing of birds’ music,
  Made love to our souls deepening our bond with what is real.
  
  Now instead of facing each other, we face book
  Our voices have become keys that we punch on keyboards,
  Our smiles and emotions have become smileys and icons,
  Our hearts no longer constantly antagonize our lips to say “I love you”
  For we simply short text our messages from our hearts and minds
  long enuf 2 min wat we r sayin but shot enuf not 2 excd 160 charctrs
  we no longer pour our hearts out in persuasive soothing flow of words and smitten voices
  Our fingers have subjected the feelings that the lips, eyes and face could never fill in a book
  To cold machines making us similar to robots with the only difference being
  We sit behind actual robots.
  
  We are baring our lives, captured moments and souls to the digital world
  Strangers whom we would never invite in to our homes
  Now see the bottom of our beds the insides of our loos and beneath our garments
  To fantasize, masturbate and stalk our digitized selves
  
  Like the spider web that entangles a fly to its demise,
  We have gotten ourselves caught up in the world web.
  Yet in this connected world of digital bits and bytes,
  We lost our heart bits and bought into gadgets to substitute our five senses
  
  I ask you,
  Are we connecting with each other or with technology?
  Because we lost our human touch somewhere in the zeros and ones of this digital age.
  
  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  N.W
  Kenyanpoet@gmail.com
  All rights Reserved©
  Feb 09
• 2:00

  An African reality TV show in Kenya, Africa’s World Best Reality TV talent

   » ‎ Kenyanpoet
  Kenya has been selected as the country where a new African reality TV show will be hosted and Nairobi will be the city.
  
  The international show called Africa’s World Best (AWB) reality TV talent show is the first of its kind to bring together 60 Africans from Africa, Europe and USA into one house competing for one title with the biggest prize in the history of African TV to be won. The show will involve talents such as singing, acting, performing arts, Comedy, poetry, script writing, dressmaking, jewellery making, sculpturing, dancing and other unique talents.
  
  AWB reality TV Talent Show is a show by Africans for Africans. It is a way of empowering Africans, appreciating African talent and believing in the African youth and children.
  Apart from being an international entertainment and media company, AWB has created a non-profit entrepreneurial foundation called ‘AWB Together’. This is a foundation that will encourage social enterprise through partnering with various organisations. The foundation will assist youth entrepreneurs and establish creational and educational centres for children and youth of Africa.
  The winner of Africa’s World Best will receive the following:
  
  * A cash prize of USD $100,000
  * A brand new car
  * An opportunity to perform at African Union(AU) conference in front of all
  African Heads of States, dignitaries
  * Trips to Europe and America to promote Africa in a positive way;
  * The status of being an Africa’s World Best and the Ambassador for our
  Humanitarian and Educational projects in Africa.
  Go here to register

• 1:55

  Who Advises President Kibaki On Siasa?

   » ‎ You Missed This
  Who advices president Kibaki on political issues?
  
  I know many people (like political analyst Mutahi Ngunyi) have asked this question many times. But seriously who is it? What is the name of the twit?
  
  I suspect that the head-strong president who has a reputation for surrounding himself with many advisors whose advice he never takes is making decisions here against the better judgement of his aides. But I could be wrong.
  
  -------------------------00000000000
  Kumekucha titbits: Did you know that corporate team building programmes have been known to turn around previously loss-making companies the world over?============================
  
  But honestly what is going on? I mean the man (President Kibaki) keeps dead quiet when he is supossed to speak and show leadership while giving direction... But then now he speaks when it would have been much better to keep quiet. What was that confidence-in-professor Saitoti statement all about? Please tell me somebody because I haven’t the slightest clue.
  
  What the President should have done was to keep quiet and if for some reason he is scared of Prof George Saitoti, he should have used his cell phone and called the man to reassure him that all was well. However by opening his mouth he has send the following clear and unclear messages to Kenyans;
  
  1) There is no unity or united front in his immediate family. Can a man who can’t run his own immediate family run the nation?
  
  2) Why rush to defend George “Goldenberg” Saitoti? Is the President scared of Saitoti? Certainly he has proved that he supports the corrupt and has full confidence in their corrupt way of doing things..
  
  -------------------------00000000000
  Kumekucha titbits: With so many fires happening in Kenya these days, have you lost data recently to a disaster? Or perhaps a raid? Raid recovery in Kenya will help you recover your data.
  ============================
  
  3) So what was the President telling us about the first lady? That there is a power struggle between him and her as to whose word is final? Or that there is something wrong with her mentally that he cannot control?
  
  4) The President issues very very few statements personally. So the message he was sending forth yesterday was that what he had to say about Prof Saitoti was very very important. Excuse me!!! Really?
  
  5) Usually in politics you do stuff to cause an impact and change things. So what has the president's recorded statement done? What has it changed? Kenyans still know that the succession intrigues are raging and that the preferred choice is obviously Uhuru. If anything the statement has told Kenyans that the President is worried and certainly not in full control. Just as they had feared.
  
  Obviously the president has his own ideas about leadership and how to go about being CEO of The Republic of Kenya Limited, but my humble opinion is that they are not from any known management book. And so far these principals have sunk the country to its' lowest ebb ever. I hate to admit this but if Moi (who never saw the inside of a university, let alone lecturing in one as some people did) was still president today Kenya would be much better off and many of our fellow citizens would still be alive.

• 1:17

  Kenya Fire tragedy - Deathly Picture

   » ‎ The Benin Epilogue Part I: Africa-Ready for Business
  View the latest picture of the Nakuru fire tragedy. CLICK HERE