Mashada Blogs » March 12, 2009

Rants, Raves & Reviews: Taxes to go up - Kenya

2009-03-12T15:05:00-04:00

Whereas uhuru kenyatta claims that the government will not increase local or foreign debt to bridge the deficit. Also he claims no increase in taxes.
Yeah, right.
Taxes were raised on alcoholic drinks in late 2008. Add extra fees that the municipalities keep on dreaming up. Add interest payments on the sale of government bills & bonds...
And all this adds up as a tax. Indirect but a tax!
How can uhuru keep a straight face when MPs & ministers pay (almost) zero taxes on their income?
uhuru defended the grand coalition government as something 'we' chose. Who is we? I am NOT included in that 'we'. A bunch of thieving & greedy bastards chose to create 42 member cabinet is NOT 'we'.
And GoK ministers get at least 2 high-end gas guzzler (including uhuru) as well as 'chase cars'. And they drive at high speeds which is fuel inefficient!!!
The official car of the PM of Japan (MUCH, MUCH larger economy) is a regular Toyota Century or Lexus LS600hl.
I wonder what the Finance Minister of India ( 1.1bn people & MUCH larger economy) get as his official car... I betcha it is not even close to uhuru's gas-guzzling cars!
Singapore's prez has a 2001 Lexus LS430 & 1999 Mercedes Benz s320L. Dare I even compare Singapore's Per Capita Income with Kenya's?
And the PM of Singapore usually travels in a MB S280. No gas-guzzling Hummer!!!

tHiNkEr'S rOoM: The Nigerian And I Part II

2009-03-12T09:09:42-04:00

I responded heartily to the first message

Dear Rita, Do not give a second’s thought to my moral ethics. And my personal life is not being disturbed at all. With regards to privacy dear Rita, rest assured that I will treat your correspondence with the trust it deserves.

I’m happy to hear that you are a serious minded person! What a coincidence! Why so am I!

I’m sorry to hear about Gary and his passing away after that brief illness. It’s too bad the two of you were not able to do your bit to multiply and fill the earth.

I’m even sorrier about the cancer. It would seem the decks are stacked against you indeed! Which cancer is it? I had a cousin who had cancer of the rectum. I know, it smelt fishy to us too!

And on top of all this you have a stroke too! Goodness me! Is there anything that you don’t have? Housemaid’s Knee perhaps! When it rains it pours, doesn’t it?

I’m very pleased that you have chosen me to help you reduce the money to manageable levels. I too have several charities that I support, and the biggest one is called Numero Uno. Numero Uno needs funds to buy food, clothing, cultlery and crockery and general upkeep. I have been supporting this charity for a while and it has been rough going.

Blessed indeed is the hand that giveth. I assure you that you will get what’s coming to you after all the giving you are doing.

I’m glad you will not share the funds with you husband’s relatives who are not Christians. After all, Jesus told the people to cast the first sheep. Or was it stone?

Your difficult decision is one I appreciate, and i am happy that you are not taking phone calls because I have lost my voice.

I would very much love to help you dispose of those funds. Believe me.

With Christians like you – what more do we need?

Please let me know how I can send you my details.

Regards

Herr Andarweah

In Excess: Should I…

2009-03-12T05:24:07-04:00

….. Give up? Maybe I should hold on for alittle longer… Damn, this ain’t easy!!!!

Kenyanpoet: Classical Evenings club @ Numetro Westgate Feat Wynton House of Music, 12th March'09

2009-03-12T02:38:00-04:00

Nu Metro Classical evenings Club invites you to its monthly club meeting as they host the Wynton House of Music.

When: 12th March, 09
Time:7pm - 9pm
Where: Nu-metro media store, Westgate Mall - Westlands

Event sponsored by Safaricom and 'The art of music'

KA-INVESTOR: Gates Back at the Top on Forbes Rich-List

2009-03-12T02:23:00-04:00

Forbes magazine has released its annual list of the world's richest people, most of who have been hit really hard by the global financial crisis. Total net worth of the 2009 list is US$.2.4 trillion - down from US$.4.4 trillion in 2008. Total world billionaires reduced to 793 from 1,125 in 2008, as more billionaires fell off the list with the crisis. The average net worth per billionaire on the list dropped 23% to US$.3 billion from 3.9 billion dollars in 2008.

According to Forbes, the top 10 richest people in the world and their net worth are as follows:
Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 st1:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} table.MsoTableGrid {mso-style-name:"Table Grid"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-border-insideh:.5pt solid windowtext; mso-border-insidev:.5pt solid windowtext; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;}

Name	Company	Net worth US$’billions’	Change in Net worth compared to 2008
William Gates III	Microsoft	40	-31%
Warren Buffet	Berkshire Hathaway	37	-40%
Carlos Slim	Telecom	35	-35%
Larry Ellison	Oracle	22.5	-10%
Ingvar Kamrad	Ikea	22	-29%
Karl Albrecht	Aldi	21.5	-20%
Mukesh Ambani	Petrochemicals	19.5	-55%
Lakshmi Mittal	Steel	19.3	-57%
Theo Albrecht	Aldi, Trader Joe's	19.3	-16%
Amencia Ortega	Zara	18.3	-9%

Billionaires by region:

Region	Billionaires	Net worth US$.’Billions’
US	359	1,100
Europe	196	655
Asia-Pacific	130	357
MidEast/Africa	58	156
Latin America	50	175

Changes in the world billionaires list: 44 new billionaires joined the list (including a Mexican drug lord), 656 dropped out of the list and 52 didn’t change in position.

Memories, Sentiments, Rants and Raves: Ramblings

2009-03-12T01:43:00-04:00

First off couple of things, i love living alone, the quietness, the choice to watch and listen to what i want, dress how i want or not, the freedom of being me. Being single allows me to be spontaneous, double freedom. Most of my days are predictable since they start off with a list of things that need to be done by end of business with minor deviations on weekends which are now full of bridal showers, weddings, dowry proceedings, baby showers et al.
Last weekend was no different, was an usher at a wedding then evening party and home to bed, only difference is that i have been having a few issues with my health. As is norm i had waited until it was unbearable before i went to see the doc after which we agreed, ok, more like he informed me that i would have to undergo some procedure but he wasn't sure when but would let me know when space came up.
Sunday afternoon, needing to get my mind of things i called H to hang out at our local joint for some meat and maybe a drink. As usual we caught up on life, drama, friends, work and family. At some point, i told him about the issues that i had which was followed by, had i told anyone in my family about it. To me, it was my problem and mine to find a solution plus i didn't want the pity and worrying that would come from my family. I got a lecture and was duly informed that our friendship was on probation. As soon as i got home in a semi-happy state, my doc calls me to let me know that he had an opening the next day in the afternoon and to abstain from food and if really hungry take clear liquids only.
I sleep as well as i can then get to work the next morning, go through the motions, mail my boss informing him that i will be away then at half one head to the hospital after calling H to inform him of the change in plans as well as a few things to do in case anything goes wrong.Then protocol begins BP, weight, temp,last meal, bla bla bla. Shortly am taken to the changing room, ugly green gown,switch off phone, jab then i have to wait.In that moment,knowing that i would be unconscious for at least two hours, a lot is going on. Questions of what if i don't get up, did H really save my folks number seeing that he was my ICE(In case of Emergency) contact and i hadn't told anyone in my family, i check for medical cover, wish i had someone to sit with me among other things.
Shortly am taken to the theater, lights, jab, counting, darkness then 2.5 hrs later from the clock on the wall.Am awake, i can hear people talking and see a nurse but cant move. I will my toes to wriggle and try to scratch an itch but i cant move, this must be how it feels to be paralyzed.Am scared,worried and relieved. Half an hour later i can move and the first thing i do is to switch on my phone and call H to announce that am alive.
I feel weak, high, dizzy, thirsty, hungry, relieved, i want to go home, confused, sad.I am dropped at home, put to bed then they leave. At that point all i want is someone to sit with me not talk just sit. I call home, order some food and milk, all is well so far. The next day is spent in bed flipping through channels, texting people who are busy at work, my internet connection wont work, tired i give up and sleep only to wake up and it was noon.Very very long day.
I must admit that i love being independent and to think that i can handle anything which is almost true but in the last two weeks i have learnt that nothing can take the place of another person. I have wished and longed that i had someone there with me, confide in, tell me it will be okay. The worst is over. While am thankful for H and my family, it just ain't the same.

Kenyanentrepreneur.com: GOK Running Out of Money

2009-03-12T01:33:54-04:00

Finally, the Nation has a story out on a topic we have been discussing here for a while and that topic was about how this grand coalition illusion government was going to end up bankrupting the country. Hello? I’ve been saying this here for months. It was clear very early on that there was going to [...]