Though I’m not so sure I’m under less pressure nowadays as a social entrepreneur in the tech space…the pressure to keep up and stay informed is intense.

In my experience parenting has made me better at work…how so?

• a lot more focused…no time to dilly-dally if you are managing a household with two kids under three;
• much better at seeing the bigger picture…kids give you perspective;
• better at multi-tasking (I’m mum, nurse, story-teller, cook, psychologist, arbitrator, negotiater, fixer of bubus, Teletubbies watcher, decider, etc.);
• better at decision making (is this worth going to the ER to or not?),
• and much much better at trusting my intuition (there is no playbook for parenting, 99% is trusting your gut).

What about you KP readers, has parenting made you better at work?

- Is it just me, or is gender-based sexual violence now a requisite part of political violence (not just war) in Africa?

- Cave-dwelling blogger hasn’t spent money in 9 years.   Um. OK.

- What entrepreneurs can learn from activists.   Occasionally we can be practical

- If you want to make something happen, I really believe in speaking it.  Over and over again.  No matter how long it takes to get there. Not just to yourself but to others.   It makes it real, it forces you to develop a practical game plan and you become accountable.

- The word no won’t kill you.  Learn to ask for what you want or go for what you want (women especially).

- On the flip said, learn to say no when it comes to things you don’t want.

- Lately I get asked about my work/family life balance or how I juggle.   I don’t balance and I don’t juggle.  Everything has to work around my family or it’s not happening.

- When you have children, remember that they are an addition to the family that is you and your partner – without this center the family is nothing…do not make your lives revolve around your kids.

- On the light side.  No kiddie CDs in my car.   Ever. 

- If you don’t give back to your community/to society…it’s all meaningless.

Anyway, on to the links:

- African Venture Capital Fellows: Program aimed at promoting venture capital in Africa by educating and training future venture capitalists and leaders of high-growth and early stage companies based in Africa. Initial target countries – South Africa and Nigeria.

- Stanford’s E-corner: free videos and podcasts of leading Silicon Valley thought leaders.

- What Google should do in Africa – support Open Spectrum

- Twitter for newbies.

I’m definitely seeing this a lot with my friends / peers - you do give up luxuries and there are frustrations but you get to the opportunity to re-center, rest, and even have time to pursue things you are passionate about.

- New blogs I’ve discovered/I like:
Musings of an Alien
The Gay Kenyan

- For the mamas, especially new mamas (who Google everything tehehe), this is a great resource.

The blog had been hacked by spammers.

Thank you everyone who pointed out the errors.

It’s sort of like blogging in the early days. When it was simple and you didn’t have to over think it and worry about making your blog pretty etc.

If all goes well, I’ll be in Geneva next week for the meeting to assess the status of the coalition government. The principles have refused to attend so it will be interesting to see how things pan out.

Stay tuned for updates.

Sigh.

My installation is based on the ‘Post Election Violence’, verbal and physical. In some form of way, ‘Like or dislike” all of us in this nation were involved either as VICTIMS or PERPETRATORS.
I want all of you to be a part of this installation, as we all have, been a part together in the making of the ‘Post Election Violence’. All I ask of you, is to share your experience. Whether in writing, drawing, a photo… Anything…It doesn’t matter whether you want to indicate your name or particulars, the importance of what you want to share, is up to you.

All materials that you send will be dealt with the up-most confidentiality and respect.
* Email me your experience on kilolodesigns@gmail.com
* If you have a photo/drawing, either scan and send on email or on the following Postal Address- P.O. Box 38932-00623, Nairobi, Kenya
* Submit all material by 28th of October 2008.
I take this opportunity to thank you all in advance for your support and being a part of this nation’s Mourning, Grieving, Forgiveness, Cohesion and Healing. Close to the date of the exhibition, you will all receive my personal invite.

All published work will be remunerated @ $500. Deadline Friday 31st October 2008. More details here.

The seven-day camp, organised by Tactical Technology Collective helps advocates to make the best use of information, communication and digital technologies to achieve their objectives. The first-ever international camp on info activism will feature 120 participants, picked through a competitive selection process, and who will not only learn but also share skills and techniques to aid in the process of advocacy. Workshops, group discussions, interactive sessions and live demos, which to a large extent will evolve from participants’ proposals, are all part of the one-week programme. Info-Activism is a compelling approach to launch campaigns and bring issues to light. The camp presents a great opportunity for rights advocates to enhance their skills.”

EDIT: Link has been fixed, apologies.

- Remember the milk: online to do list mgmt.

- Lifehacker’s best of the best.

- Get catalogue of free online college courses.