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• February 07, 2009
• 20:24

  Frankfurt 101 and the mouse

   » ‎ Kikuyumoja's realm

  Tags:  FFM  

  Bought this mouse for the netbook today - an A4tech X6-60MD in black - which has this retractable USB cord and comes with a somehow smarter “GLASER” diode/sensor which is said to also work on a glass table (most optical mice don’t).

  
  X6-60MD mouse compared to the wireless desktop mouse

  Attaching the mouse to the netbook actually adds a lot of convience to the system - the keyboard and tiny (yet brilliant) screen, however, aren’t that comfortable to work on. The keyboard on this 8,9″ netbook has the same size as the one on 7″ netbooks - next step would have been a 10,2″ netbook though which again adds another 0,3 kg. So this combination will have to do fo the moment. Connecting the netbook to a UMTS phone is a matter of seconds, so it really is a perfect NETbook - even on the road.

  I’ve btw stayed with WinXP on this netbook (instead of EasyPeasy 1.0 or eeeUbuntu Standard) because of the special function keys that just work perfectly well with WinXP. Resizing the screen resolution to a compressed 1024×768 (instead of the normal 1024×600) is a matter of one key press. This may of course also be possible with a tuned Ubuntu, but again: not as easy as with XP and I just don’t have the time these days to figure it out. Besides, some of my fav. apps only work with XP and not under (the Windows emulator) Wine.

  Sooo….blogging from the netbook (I am currently writing this post on the eee 901) is ok, but due to the keyboard not as convenient as it should be. You’ll quickly end up using 3-4 fingers only. :-(

  

  Someone from Asia also needs to explain to me one day why there’s so much plastic involved in the packaging of such gadgets. A simple cardboard box would have done as well! At least this one could be opened easily and didnt require the scissors. Stupid.

  Another thing to note about A4tech products is that their drivers are much better than the Logitech software package which bricked my desktop system the other day.

  Oh, and it’s really amazing how long the battery lasts on this netbook. @E-Nyce: the wear-out level is down to 93% on this used battery/netbook, which is still ok I think.

  Once my 15,4″ notebook (= desktop PC with an external 22″ monitor and external keyboard/mouse) retires (hopefully not too soon), I’ll probably go for a 12,2″ or 13″ notebook from either HP, IBM or Samsung and also make sure that it has a bright enough screen (= not as pale as the one on my 15,4″ notebook).

  AOB:

  

  Took this snapshot earlier this week right here in Frankfurt am Main because it reminded me of Taipeh 101.

  I am now officially registered as a resident of Frankfurt/M. It may not be the best city to live in, but it has Germany’s biggest airport and is located in the middle of Germany which means I can reach Hamburg or Bremen (in the North) and Munich or Freiburg (in the South) in 3-4h only. Strategically convenient.

• 14:26

  USI NI BORE

   » ‎ Paza Sauti
  This might seem a bit of a diversion from the main themes tackled on this site but somehow things might eventually tie in at the end. I attended a music concert by a group of young Kenyan musicians at the Goethe-Insitut. The concert was to mark the end of the 24 Nairobi exhibition.
  
  The group is “JUST A BAND” the title of the concert “Muziki wa Kenya” this was a strange title because their music is mainly electronic music. Not many Kenyans play let alone listen to electronic music. The concert opened with an interesting rendition of the Kenyan National Anthem with electric guitars and drums and that caught the attention of most of us. I havn’t heard the national anthem played like that before.
  
  .
  The music of Just a Band is mentally stimulating, the sort of music that you listen to with headphones so that you can catch all the words and when there are no words you just want to listen to the instrumentation it is good that Kenyans are starting to write music like this, it is good that Kenyan musicians are getting creative enough to be intelligent. When I walked in to the auditorium and saw three computers sitting next to the microphones I knew I was in for something different and when the three bespectacled introverts who obviously cannot dance walked onto the stage and started punching on the computer keyboards and good music came out, I was converted, there is something like “Kenyan electronic music”.
  
  There is one song that sums everything up for me.. The title “Usini Bore” transated “don’t bore me” The song is inspired (as the artist said) by the cost of an onion. He spoke of how the cost of living in Kenya has gone up, how food prices have sky rocketed how policy makers don’t seem to be doing their job and are constantly reacting to crisis and only when it is highlighted in the media. He seems to ask himself (this is my own interpretation) how real is all of this? Sure, you can blame some of it on the global financial crisis but most are just not real not genuine. Is some of this caused by some politicians playing the cards with some middle men who can open and close the taps of supply as they wish (we have seen this with the fuel shortage) is someone playing around with the supply for a quick buck? Then there are the other scandals: maize, Triton and the list goes on.
  
  It seems like something is up… some scheme…someone or some people are always up to something and when they are exposed explanations that are given are a cover up for something else…and it is to those politicians that he is saying “USI NI BORE”
  
  If you would like to know more about the band visit [kwani.org] you can also view some of their music videos on youtube
  

• 11:51

  :::Africa Equity Strategy:::

   » ‎ RIBA CAPITAL
  :::Africa Equity Strategy:::

• 10:27

  Mshairi’s week of love: 1

   » ‎ Mshairi

  Tags:  poetry  

  Wishes

  WERE your heart a flower
  In a desolate wasteland
  It would bloom
  Beautiful and untamed
  To give me joy
  And infinite bliss

  WERE your spirit a star
  Shimmering
  In the dark of night
  I would make it
  My shining bright
  Guiding light
  When my way was lost

  WERE your soul a book
  I could tenderly hold and
  Carefully read
  Your dreams
  I would discover
  Make them alive

  WERE your soul a book
  I could lovingly read
  Your wishes I would
  Learn
  To make them true

• 6:54

  People Power Sneaks In Unexpectedly Through The Back Door

   » ‎ You Missed This
  About a week ago, I told you good folks to keep your eyes on two guys, Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto. You can read that post HERE.
  
  Well, most of you must know by now that Uhuru has just filed a case that has far-reaching implications to have his name removed from a report by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights that names him as one of the financiers of the post election violence. You can read the full story HERE. Even more interesting is the lawyer representing him in the case. His name is Desterio Oyatsi. This is the man who not only got Nicholas Biwott off the hook but also won him some eye-popping damages. I am told that he is a very smart lawyer indeed. Well we'll see. Mainly because the situation has changed and continues to change dramatically in the country as far as politics go. You will know what I am talking about when you finish reading this post.
  
  But before I say what I want to say today, I want you to add one more name on our list of people to watch so that we can tell the direction of where things are headed. Kindly add the name of this gynecologist doctor called Bonny Khalwale who is the MP for Ikolomani. Please watch this man carefully over the next few weeks and months without removing Uhuru and Ruto from your radar. Read a profile on Khalwale by one of the daily newspapers.
  
  This thing hit me when I went to this small up-country shopping centre this week and found a huge crowd outside this cyber that had a TV. Kenyans were watching the proceedings in parlaiment keenly. Actually no analyst yet (to the best of my knowledge) has captured the dramatic change in the dynamiocs of Kenyan politics that has been brought about by the move to air live broadcasts of parliamentary proceedings both on TV and radio.
  
  Let me give you a very simple recent example. The bill currently being discussed in parliament towards the establishment of a local tribunal to try post-election violence suspects has witnessed a strange twist. At the beginning it looked like it was going to sail through. Then suddenly substantial stiff opposition to it emerged. So much so that we can say it is already dead in the water. Yesterday parliament could not even raise a quorum to conclude important discussions on the bill. You know the big culprit? It was TV and her close cousin, radio. There is no doubt that MPs are playing to the gallery (as they should because their true bosses are the electorate). One man (previously unknown) who has made a very big name for himself, thanks mainly to these live broadcasts of parliamentary proceedings is the gynecologist I mentioned earlier, Bonny "Oh I told the Prime Minister. Noooo! Kimunya must go" Khalwale.
  
  The political dynamics, my fellow Kenyans have changed and the have changed in a big way. Before, once elected MPs would go to the August house to cut their own deals to the highest bidder and only report back to their constituents when general elections were around the corner. That era has now clearly ended.
  
  And this is why I told a friend yesterday that although Uhuru has filed this case, there is only one problem. And that is the increasingly powerful (previously powerless) court of public opinion. Folks there are very exciting times ahead.
  
  We'll discuss this in more detail after the weekend.Kumekucha

• 6:28

  LA Times on the late Father Kaiser

   » ‎ Kenyan Pundit

  Tags:  Kenya  

  While the absurdity of a former dictator (Moi) and two corrupt incompetents (Raila & Kibaki) helping us figure out the “Kenya We Want” in an expensive conference sinks in, lets take a moment to remind ourselves just how bad things were during the Moi years (hat tip DW!).

  EDIT: Part 3 of the series is here.

• 4:25

  Rwanda, DRC and Nkunda

   » ‎ Black Looks
  Friends of Congo provide some context into complex situation between the Congo and Rwanda and the arrest of Laurent Nkunda. Is Laurent Nkunda’s arrest a positive development? We have reasons to doubt that Laurent Nkunda has been arrested. Rwandan Maj. Jill Rutaremara said that Nkunda was in Rwanda but “not in jail.” If Nkunda has [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Rwanda, DRC and Nkunda", url: "http://www.blacklooks.org/2009/02/2642.html" });

• 2:22

  Missing the TED Party

   » ‎ bankelele

  Tags:  TED2009  

  The ongoing TED Conference in California makes me thing back to the remember TED Global that was held in Arusha, Tanzania in 2007. From the opening talk by Euvin Naidoo President to the last talk President Jakaya Kiwkete this TED conference was a unique event; it was a magical event full of euphoric, optimistic and inspiring moments. Links, networks and friendship were formed and the path was set out to open a new chapter for Africa, through business & investment, with diseases & poverty largely eradicated. Sadly in 2009 not much has change in the continent and even some of the shining economic models then like Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, have had politics overshadow and handicap their economic ambitions.
  
  Housekeeping
  
  New tools
  - Heard about Twitter in Arusha, but only signed up last month. It’s a bigger world than blogging, and fills in a lot of the gaps e.g. found something unique, but too small to post, or you just want to share in a second via mobile phone? Twitter’s the answer!
  - Never has much interest in photography as a blog tool, but got a camera now, so fellow shutterbugs - Hash, Mental, Afromusing, Mweshi - your influence has rubbed off, and I’ll be throwing in random photos of travel and daily work events here are a few
  
  
  forest near Kericho
  
  
  I found the Ark
  
  
  would you steal these hotel sandals?
  
  Getting some love
  - Bankelele is listed as one of the 100 best blogs to learn about Africa - not sure how selection was made, but there are some interesting reads on that list 87 Bankelele. Banking and business are at the forefront of this blog written by a Nairobi banker.
  - The best way to learn about blogs in other parts of Africa or the non western (US, Europe) world is through Global Voices. They have a post that mentions the top ranked blogs in Africa with Bankelele (ranks 18) from Kenya who writes about baking banking, finance and investment in Kenya and Bongo Celebrity (ranks 20)
  - The Business Daily ( a Kenyan financial newspaper) had a feature on blogging with topics like Blog post revolution hits corporate Kenya, Blogs command attention of corporate world, Blogs emerge as avenues for making money, Companies use online platform to monitor views from the public, Fibre optic cable to pave way for corporate blogging, Mounting lawsuits could sound death knell for social sites and What is likely to compete with the mainstream media which noted Some are born out of events like bankelele.com Bankelele, started in 2004 after the blogger attended a “very riotous AGM.” And he describes his blog as “ It’s my diary of financial events —and as a banker and investor. I use it to keep track of pertinent events.
  
  Anyway, I hope to link up with some friends from TED and collaborate on projects in the future and that the Business Daily leads to more corporate blogging opportunities and ideas in this part of Africa.