THE EYE OPENER

What Does Your Phone Say About You?

2015-06-30T13:28:00.001-07:00

We live in an age when our phones are increasingly becoming extensions of ourselves. Now don’t freak out. We’re not full-blown cyborgs (yet). But the next time you’re in a crowded area, do us a favor: Count how many people around you are on their phones, talking, texting, reading, photographing, or shaving (android users only). It’s an epidemic, people!

But rather than fight it, you might as well accept that resistance is futile.

Smartphones are here to stay, and whether we like it or not, we have become the pawns in a holy war being waged by the major mobile companies intent on world domination. The question then becomes: What kind of pawn are you? Are you assertive and forward thinking? Are you a lifelong follower bent on turning a new leaf? Are you a closet Luddite who just wants to be accepted? Let us weigh in. You will soon find out. We eat with them beside us, some of us sleep with them in our beds, others even feel naked when they leave the house without theirs,

It's not just an accessory — your cell phone sends major messages about who you are!

It wasn’t that long ago that placing your phone on a dinner table or answering a call in the middle of a real-life conversation was considered a complete no-no. But such is the popularity of mobile devices these days, things have changed.

Now, it’s okay to stare at your smartphone. And pulling your phone out at a party isn’t seen as antisocial, especially if you’re about to take a selfie.

However, while you don’t need to worry quite so much about phone etiquette, research suggests that by simply looking at the type of device you own people can tell a lot about you. It can apparently indicate your personality, your habits and even your career prospects.

So what does your smartphone say about you? a few key facts reveal it all.

For starters there is a new kid on the block as we love to call it. This is the Infinix brand, If you own this gadget then you probably know that this is a quality gadget for people who love new classy things. You are probably one of those people who like getting quality for their money. The phone is quite affordable compared to other phones with the same quality, you are probably one of those people who enjoy quality and trendy gadgets and you still able to be comfortable with your finances.

If you’ve got an Android device then you’ll be comfortable with all things techie. Perhaps a bit of a visionary, you’re not afraid to try new things. You scoff at those who only use their phones for archaic things like “making phone calls” and “text messaging". Finally, your obsession with technology, computers and maths has paid off. You’ve been given the keys to an exclusive club of ambitious young visionaries whose propensity for calculus and all things techie might actually get you laid.

Got a BlackBerry? You’re likely to be well organized, efficient and a hard-working professional. You want to be taken seriously by your peers. You think iPhone users are overgrown children who would rather spend their time throwing birds across a landscape and giving their friends double chins than doing actual work. You were probably part of a fraternity in college, spent most of your time doing key stands and urinating off balconies, and want to make up for lost time. Now that your dad's got you a swell job as a banker, the dozen or so emails you send out a day make you feel like a real live adult, even though the real reason you love your blackberry is its utter facilitation of the late-night booty call. Just remember: She likes you for your money.haha!

Have an iPhone in your pocket? You’re probably creative, impulsive and on top of the latest trends.And generally you are one of those people who think that there is no better brand of phones yet.

Are you a Samsung fan? You’re supposedly 70% more likely to be interested in yoga for exercise than running. Funny as it may sound but its actually right,

LG users are typically gamers who can be found on their X-Box when they’re not on their phone. This phone has typically the best games that will attract all the gamers that I know out there.

Like your dance music? You’ve probably got a Motorola. If you have a liking for house music like myself then you know exactly what Iam taking about. This is a party monster specifically for loud music lovers.

The findings may be a load of nonsense, but it’s definitely a bit of fun. Take a look at the smartphones your friends and family own and make up your own mind. And of course this is not exhaustive.

Friend Zoned Signs!

2013-08-21T03:43:00.000-07:00

Its all over the internet, social media and everyone won’t stop talking about it. Friend zone is a guy’s nightmare and no guy wants to end up in that scary zone with a woman he’s very much into.
The only thing worse than landing in the friend zone however, is landing there when you didn’t see it coming.
The signs are pretty obvious though but just in case her love has blinded your sight, these are the signs that you are on your way to the dreaded friend zone or worse that you are already there.

1. She tries to hook you up- a woman who wants a man will not try to hook him up with other women. An average woman is naturally jealous to see what is hers or should be hers go off to someone else. So when she constantly tries to hook you up with other women, forget it, she’s friend zoning you.

2. She prefers when you hangout in the company of others- anytime you suggest that you both hangout, she calls other friends to come join you just so she’s not alone with you.
If a woman is into you, she would like alone moments. You know just to have that special time with you. But when she constantly asks the whole crew to hangout with you both? Forget it. Friendzone is calling.

3. She tries to find excuses- when you try to finally get her alone she takes her time to respond. And when she finally does she says “er…uhm…friday night? Er…that’s a long time…I’d get back to you”. When a woman wants to see you, she doesn’t need to think about it before she says yes. She’d look forward to the next time and would have been praying silently that you ask before you do such that when you ask, her answer is a quick yes. If it takes time or she asks to call you regarding it and she never even calls? Dude you are getting friend zoned.
`
4. She laughs at your compliments- and looks away, then quickly begins a conversation to steer the conversation in another direction. And you sit there thinking she’s probably just shy? When a woman likes you and wants to be with you, when she hears a compliment, no matter how shy she might be, she’d want that moment to linger. You know, there’d be the eye holding moment, the pause and all that romantic movie things going on.
But when she doesn’t care less, she’d just wave it aside,laugh and discuss something random. Like the weather or something.

5. Talks about other guys- if she has turned you to one of her girlfriends by running to you with her man issues? Don’t even think it, she’s totally friendzoned you and you should be running for your dear life!

SOME SHITTY BEHAVIOUR YOU NEED TO AVOID WHILE CHATTING

2013-07-29T09:24:00.000-07:00

This is just but a tip of the iceberg of what am talking about,

ME: Hi

You: Hi

Me: How was your day?

You: It was k

Me: Mine was awesome

You: Silence……

If I remember my English classes well, for an effective conversation to run smoothly it’s apparent that both parties participate. Regardless of how shitty or grisly your day was, ignoring the person on the other end is really so unfathomable and totally disgusting.

Take for instance if you were really in high spirits and wanted to deliver some good news to the other person. But the moment you start the conversation, you are met with lots of ‘K’ and some really short answers that just totally turn you away. If you ask me if it was a job you were being offered there is no chance for you getting it. Not a whisker. As I recall my chemistry classes well K was a symbol for a chemical called Potassium . Whatever it does in conversations these days I have no freaking idea. Let’s just say we have really evolved. We are in a crazy generation as my parents would say.

It’s usually cool not to drag your mood into a conversation. Better still you can always excuse yourself for not being in the mood at that time. The other person is only human and will surely understand. It’s so silly ruining the other person’s day or mood with your stupid attitude. It’s like a teacher or lecturer arguing with the wife in the morning and coming to vent leftovers of the anger on the innocent students. Everybody becomes pissed. The message home is to keep some of your problems to yourself and not ruin other people’s moods. Besides we all got our problems.

If I text you at 7pm there is no reason why you should text back two hours later and to make matters worse in a one word. The least you can do is include your apology and at least give any fake reason. You kept me waiting on the other end remember, and there is no reason why you should act like a boss with the don’t care attitude. Some people go take a shower, iron, talk to a neighbor, feed a pet, rush to town before remembering to reply back. The mood is already gone. Actually the best way to deal with it is to excuse yourself and let the other person know that you won’t be able to text back fast enough.

Finally, chatting, texting, having a conversation is a two way thing. Save for when you are giving a speech that’s when you become the bigger boss. Don’t ignore the other person because it wouldn’t be fun if you are the one being ignored. Its not like a doctor patient conversation or teacher to student affair where by the other person gets to ask the question and you get to answer. Further, it’s not an interview. It’s for both parties to participate and not make it look like a one sided affair. If I ask you how your day was its only prudent that you tell me how it was and ask me how mine was. You don’t answer and expect me to tell you how mine was. HAVE A SPLENDID CONVERSATIONAL TIME, WONT YOU?

That Chewing Gum You Like So Much

2013-07-25T09:05:00.001-07:00

I love gum myself for starters. Its one thing that really takes care of your mouths freshness like all the time. But as they say everything good has some of its side effects. As you chew your gum please take a closer look at some of its side effects.

Originally, chewing gum was made from tree sap but today's commercial brands are loaded with harmful ingredients and chemicals.

The modern day chewing gums are made of four major ingredients including synthetic rubber, plastic, sugar, and coloring (dye). Modern day gums are produced from synthetic polymers such as styrene-butadiene rubbers and polyvinyl acetate. The final product is composed of 60% sugar, 20% corn syrup, and only 20% actual gum material.

If you're chewing gum you are chewing rubber and plastic. Chewing gum is known as a harmless cultural tradition but it contains many properties that may be hazardous to our health.

Today's chewing gums and bubble gums are predominantly sugar by volume. Seventy to eighty percent of most gums on the market today are sheer vehicles for sugar, the number one drug on the planet. Just as cigarettes are a conveyor for the addictive drug "nicotine", so is gum for sugar.

There is great danger in chewing gum due to numerous toxic and poisonous chemicals used as ingredients. There are several common ingredients in gum that are harmful to human health.

Brief History of the Origin of Modern Gum

The first recorded history of mixing a gum with sugar can be traced to the Arab sugar traders who mixed the sugar with acacia, known as "gum Arabic."

In 1850, modern commercial chewing gum originated in Bangor, Maine.

In 1859, Thomas Adams of New York used "chicle," the dried latex material of the sapodilla tree in Central America, to make chewing gum. Adams received a patent in 1871 for "chicle gum."

In 1885, William J. White of Cleveland, Ohio further refined and improved gum by adding corn syrup and flavoring the gum with peppermint, making it very successful.

In 1893, William Wrigley invented Juicy Fruit and Spearmint gums, greatly improving chewing gum.

In 1900, Frank Fleer of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania placed a hard shell on gum and called in Chiclets. In 1906 Fleer would also go on to invent Bubble Gum and an employee of the Frank H. Fleer Company, Walter Diemer, invented the pink colored Double Bubble, bubble gum.

Aspartame

Aspartame, a known carcinogen, is a neurotoxin. It converts into formaldehyde when exposed to heat above eighty-six degrees Fahrenheit. This means that aspartame converts into formaldehyde when inside the human body.

Aspartame is absorbed by the buccal mucosa of the mouth, gums, and the tongue-making it even more dangerous than if injected intravenously. By passing the spinal cord and the blood-brain barrier when absorbed in the mouth, the aspartame goes directly into the brain. The smallest amount of aspartame can be very dangerous and damaging.

When aspartame is ingested into the digestive tract, it breaks down into numerous other poisons. Most Americans are unaware that the candy, gum, and soft drinks that they consume, contain aspartame.

Saccharin

Saccharin is another known carcinogen. Government studies have linked the use of saccharin to bladder cancer since 1971, which led to forcing manufacturers to place warnings on any product that contained saccharin. Unfortunately, in 2000, the government decided that the link to cancer was less of a concern to humans than to rats, so the label warning requirement was repealed.

Regardless of the legislation, saccharin should also be avoided at all costs.

High Fructose Corn Syrup

High fructose corn syrup is prominent in highly processed foods and is a toxic food ingredient. The commercial food industry promotes the use of high fructose corn syrup because it is cheap to produce.

It can be found in everything soda, bread, candy, gum, commercial fruit juices, and even meat. Introduced into the American food supply as a cheap alternative to sugar, high fructose corn syrup is a booming business.

It has become increasing more difficult to find a processed food product without high fructose corn syrup. After carbonated water, it is the leading ingredient in soda beverages. It has been found that drinking soda may increase Type 2 diabetes and is also responsible for tooth decay.

High fructose corn syrup is also found in most chocolate drinks, condiments, ice cream, bakery goods, yogurt, and cereal.

High fructose corn syrup masquerades under the name of crystalline fructose in flavored waters and energy drinks.

The human body does not metabolize high fructose corn syrup. In fact, it disables the body's ability to recognize when its full and instead, increases a person's appetite. By digesting high fructose corn syrup, you are increasing your risk for metabolic syndrome, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. It increases your risk of developing a serious disease and it not recommended.

When fructose is consumed, the uric acid in the bloodstream rises and blocks insulin. Insulin regulates how the both will use and store sugar for energy. If uric acid levels are high, serious health risks may develop over time including high blood pressure, obesity, and elevated blood cholesterol levels.

Other Sweeteners

Gums will also contain other sugars denoted with the suffix "-ose" and/or "-ol". These harmful sugars include gluc(ose), sucr(ose), dextr(ose), fruct(ose), mannit(ol), sorbit(ol), malit(ol), and xylit(ol). All of these sugars are suspect. Your '-ose' ending sugars are derived from fruits and your '-ol' ending sugars are derived from grains or even wood.

Next to real fructose, Xylitol would be the safest or least harmful to use.

Color Lake Dyes

The various 'color lake' dyes such as blue lake, green lake, red lake, and yellow lake are all derived from petroleum and are known to be dangerous due to its carcinogenic properties. Normally used for textile dying, lake dyes are industrial agents.

Petroleum is derived from rocks or stones. Even though rocks are not typically considered a food product, they become one when you use petroleum to make gum. Believe it or not, the federal government actually defines chewing gum as food.

Gum is made from synthetic rubber and plastic and therefore cannot be assimilated by the human body nor do they provide essential nutrients. Therefore this food product cannot repair the body, promote growth of the body, or maintain the human body. Therefore, gum should not be considered a food product.

Also, the artificial sweeteners used in most commercial gums are 200-300 times sweeter than regular sugar. The petroleum-based lake dyes are derived from rocks and should not be considered food. The body cannot digest gum and even if it could, gum does not provide any essential nutrients that the body can benefit from. It does not repair, nourish, or sustain the human body.

BHT (Butylated hydroxytoluene)

The chemical BHT is used as a preservative in gum. It is also found in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, rubber, petroleum fluid, jet fuel, and embalming fluid. In some cases, gum will contain two embalming fluids, aspartame and BHT.

Habitual Chewing

Due to the constant chewing and grinding of the teeth, chewing gum destroys the teeth. Some people believe that chewing gum strengthens your teeth but this is certainly not the case. Some brands may provide less harmful products with minimal sugar, but all of them are harmful to the teeth.

Chewing gum promotes the desire to continuously eat. Gum causes the body to produce digestive juices (hydrochloric acid) in preparation of eating solid food, which can lead to digestive problems.

Contrary to popular belief, you cannot whiten teeth by chewing gum. All those brands that purport to whiten teeth while chewing gum are simply exploiting people with stained teeth whose teeth most likely became stained from drinking soda pop, drinking coffee, and/or smoking cigarettes.

CHEW YOUR GUM SPARINGLY!
tags The Kenyan Kid Medical blog

Good or Evil?

2013-07-18T12:05:00.002-07:00

Sometimes when I am really tired and has nothing else to do, I always sit down and try to think about endless problems affecting our country and other parts of the world.But Kenya is where I always focus because am a complete patriot. I always wonder how life would look like without all these influential people around us. Would that be a good thing or a complete disaster? I don’t know either but I think there is always a way.Well,sit back and wait to hear what I think.

Just take for instance the incitement brought upon by these so called influential minds in the name of politicians.yeah, they always have an upper hand in things to do with the law. For instance whenever they do wrong you will never hear that they have spend a day in custody. They only stay there for a few minutes or so and this I bet to think is always for formality. Am reminded to believe that the case would be far much different for you and me.Thats what I mean by having an upper hand far much better than you and me.The question is do we really understand all this?

These incitements bring about a lot of despicable and unfathomable misfortunes to the ordinary you and me.you will kill your own brother just because some one with an upper hand has ordered you to do so.Do you really come to think about the consequences there after.You will lose so much while that so called Mr. know it all does not even suffer a scratch.If you ask me he does not really care.After all he is among the high and mighty.While you will be busy counting your many irreversible losses,the guy will be locked up in a leafy five star hotel somewhere whiling away time,never even thinking about you even for only a fraction of a second.What will be in his/her insensible mind will be how many millions are currently tripling into an offshore account somewhere.How he is going to secure that lucrative contract that he has so much been waiting for so long.

You only have to look or rather reminisce at what happens in our countries during and after elections to begin and understand at least what am talking about.People are busily bailing for each others blood simply because of a candidate they really support.So much that they end up even killing their own families and even their closest friends.People that really mean a lot to them.What a shame that we bring upon ourselves?

While doing all this you might begin to think about any good thing that the so called candidate you are fighting so much for does for you.He never brings any food to your am sorry to say ever demanding table or at least he never will.To make matters worse he doesn’t even know you,not even your face..This guy does not even know how tiny your house looks like let alone the rough side of life you are gong through.Your children are ever sent home for fees but your so called candidate is never available during such times,the time that at least you might need him the most. I don’t think he supplies your account with a monthly allowance if you really have one.In simple English he doesn’t know how you live your life and he will never want to know.He never understands the harshness of walking to work for a few coins per day like you do because he would never really understand why. He would never understand why your house has no electricity, a master bedroom, internet, a home theater, Jacuzzi, gym, fridge and so on because that is what he sees every other day.

I think now you understand what am saying or at least you are trying to, which is a really good sign. tags
dailyblog The Kenyan kid

When Will This Ever Become History?

2012-05-22T03:19:00.000-07:00

The other day I was traveling to my rural home alone. There were a few projects I was accomplishing knowing too well that that would earn me a good name in the village. That was not the only reason I was doing that though. I think I am also among the many people who spent many days without visiting their homes for various reasons. Some fear the many people they will meet and the only thing they ask is to buy them drinks. Of course, by doing that severally you will earn yourself a title of a mayor, a councilor or even a governor. Not that these people will ever vote for you if you ever vied for such a position. In fact nobody will ever try to recognize you in the ballot. I know of a friend of mine who tried that and he swore to me that he will never fall a victim to such fellows again. They are only your friends in the drinking dens.

Well, that’s not the point I wanted to make. I was cuddled up on the back seat with at least four other guys on a seat that was supposed to carry a maximum of three guys. I cannot remember how many people were in the 14 seater matatu but all I know is that it was a very good number. I almost suffocated but the rest were very comfortable. I think they enjoyed being that way. The air was really awful with a lot of noise that I never imagined would exist in such a place. I thought that maybe we would pass a police roadblock and the driver or rather his counterpart would at least be held responsible for their inhumane actions but I was about to be shocked later on.

With the vehicle speeding and being driven dangerously I could say very little since I knew that nobody would ever listen to me as they were really enjoying the nasty ride and in fact some were cheering the driver on. I wished time would fly so I could get off the vehicle. Luckily we reached the roadblock and I thought I could breathe a sigh of relief. Luckily I was seated next to the window and I therefore could have a better view of what was happening outside. I thought this was the time for the driver and his friend to pay. The guy in blue surely came around and pretended to be checking the insurance on the vehicle.He also pretended to check inside and to my amazement he smiled at the conductor. Then as the vehicle was heading away he was handed I think a one hundred note in a very smart way that nobody with an extra eye could notice. The vehicle sped off. I just wondered all the way home. If these were the things still happening on our roads then we will never get tired of listening to news about accidents on our roads.

I later came to learn that this was a routine. Well, I decided to prepare my self for such scenes on my next visits and never to stay too long in the city so I would never be shocked the way I was on that day. But I really hope that this will not go on for another long time without something being done about it..just hoping against hope

The Story of an Accident;Doing it alone

2012-05-18T08:22:00.000-07:00

Dear Sir,

I am writing in response to your request for additional information in block number 3 of the accident reporting form, I put, “trying to so the job alone” as the cause of my accident. You said in your letter that I should explain more fully, and I trust that the following details will be sufficient.

I am a brick layer by trade. On the day of the accident, I was working alone on the roof of a new six storey building. When I completed my work, I discovered that I had about 500 pounds of brick leftover. Rather than carry the bricks down by hand, I decided to lower them down in a barrel using a pulley which, fortunately, was attached to the side of the building at the sixth floor.

Securing the rope at ground level, I went up to the roof, swung the barrel out and loaded the brick into it. Then I went back to the ground and untied the rope, holding it tight to ensure a slow descent of the 500 pounds of bricks. You will note, in the block number 11 of the accident reporting form that I weigh 135 pounds. Due to my surprise of being jerked off the ground so suddenly, I lost presence of mind and forgot to let go of the rope. Needless to say, I proceeded at a rather rapid rate up the side of the building.

In the vicinity of the 3^rd floor, I met the barrel coming down. This explains the fractured skull and collarbone. Slowing on slightly, I continued my rapid ascent, not stopping until the fingers of my right hand were two knuckles deep into the pulley. Fortunately, by this time, I had regained my presence of mind and was able to hold tightly to the rope in spite of my pain. At approximately the same time, however, the barrel of bricks hit the ground, and the bottom broke out of the barrel. Devoid of weight of the bricks, the barrel now weighed approximately fifty pounds.

I refer you again to my weight in the accident reporting form, block number 11. As you might imagine, I began a rapid descent down the side the side of the building. In the vicinity of the 3^rd floor, I met the barrel coming up. This accounted for the two fractured ankles and the lacerations on my legs and lower body. The encounter with the barrel slowed me enough to lessen my injuries. When I fell into the pile of bricks, and fortunately, only three vertebrae were cracked. I am sorry to report, however, that as I lay there on the bricks in pain, unable to stand, and watching the empty barrel six storey’s above me…I again lost presence of my mind, and let go off the rope!

Laughter Deficiency Syndrome (LDS)

2012-05-09T02:32:00.000-07:00

Well the question you are asking yourself is maybe what this is. Have you ever laughed so silly that you thought you would die? Or have you ever experienced the feeling one gets when you are tickled, maybe you can remember your days when you were a kid. I had the experience when I was a kid. My grandpa used to tickle us and we would laugh until we lost our breath.

Pathological laughter can apparently cause your muscles to weaken to the extent that you can fall down and hurt yourself. It may also lead to a lesion or induce a heart attack. Apparently people with this disorder can laugh themselves to death. Do you believe this? I did not believe either until I did my research.

Take for instance your time by checking out this funniest joke in the world; two hunters were out in the woods when one of them collapsed. He didn’t seem to be breathing and his eyes were glazing. The other hunter pulled out his cell phone and called emergency services. He then gasps to the operator, ‘My friend is dead! What can I do?’ The operator in a calm, soothing voice replies. ‘Take it easy, I can help. First let’s make sure that he is dead.’ There is a silence and then a short is heard. Back on the phone, the other hunter says, ‘Okay, now what?’

You don’t have to tell me whether you laughed, but if you really did, then you are in really good company.

The funniest joke in the world also refers to a Monty Python video about a joke that is so funny that everybody who hears it dies literally of laughter. Eventually, the military began to use the joke as their secret weapon the details I don’t know. I laughed while watching that video but the comments posted on that video made me laugh louder.

It’s very clear that many people suffer from this disorder all over the world. After watching this video, I was curious to find out whether there are recorded cases of people who have died from laughter. Strangely, according to Wikipedia, there are a number of cases as I came to find out. The earliest one was the Greek philosopher Chrysippus, about three centuries before Christ, who died guffawing after giving wine to his donkey and watching it try to eat figs. More than a thousand years later on, king Martin of Aragon died from a combination of indigestion and uncontrollable laughter. Also ten years ago a Thai ice cream salesman died while laughing in his sleep. Just this year an insurance salesman Charles Baltimore died laughing while trying to sell to a famous accordion player…………Laugh sanely on this day!

The Curse Of Africa

2012-04-21T23:33:00.000-07:00

I like traveling a lot and I was lucky to travel to the democratic republic of Congo. I also happened to go alone. To say the truth this country has been mentioned in a lot of civil strife over the years.it has never been a stable nation thanks to warlords trying to control its numerous resources. You will be surprised to find out that their motto is justice and peace. But one would innocently ask why is there fighting in this country. It is also one of the richest countries in terms of resources with gold taking the lions share. The national GDP was estimated to be about $13.125billion per capita in 2010.But ironically there are so many poor people in that country than you can imagine, with no or very little social amenities. The question to ask is why?

The answer is really simple, impunity and insecurity. Of course we can’t leave out corruption. Many African countries are busily using all their limited resources fighting off a group of militias who are fighting for only God knows what. We simply do not understand the right channels to go through so as to solve a crisis. I think we need to learn a few tips from our European counterparts. We believe that only violence will give us justice. Almost if not all the countries in Africa have experienced some form of violence, some even leading to loss off lives of so many innocent people a good example would be the Rwandan genocide that claimed almost a million innocent lives. Our nearest neighbors, Somalia have been fighting for almost 20 years.

The incumbent presidents or rather leaders have had a great role to play in all this. Why would a person want to remain in power for the rest of his life while they claim to be exercising democracy? Some have even changed the constitutions in order to fit their mean ambitions at the expense of their citizens. People really like to see change but while we continue to support this people I don’t see it coming any time soon. All the disguise elections eventually lead to violence. I think people in Ivory Coast. Kenya, Egypt, Libya and Zimbabwe will definitely agree with me, at least if you are really a visionary person. The bloody coups like the one which saw our foreign affairs minister trapped in a hotel for a few days during an official visit to that country really make us less competitive with the rest of other countries of the world.

While we are busy concentrating our so limited resources in reverting all these, our economies continue to sour, That’s when our children never go to school, that’s when farmers don’t plant. The outcome is always devastating. We become poorer and poorer while our western counterparts continue to prosper. They even laugh at us if you may ask me.They will even pretend to support us but in the end they reap the benefits, after all we are just the the third world.

But there is hope, so much hope; we only need to start thinking right. Think of the consequences of all this rather than the benefits. Let’s concentrate on building our countries for many years to come. It’s never really too late to begin. Talk to your friends about this and I can assure you that when we really begin to understand that fighting for an individual in the name of a supporter is foolishness. I hope you will begin to think straight after reading this. `

What Would You Do in Such a Situation?

2012-04-21T18:12:00.003-07:00

Imagine you are late for an interview. In this case I mean really late. You only have like a few minutes before the deadline. Your life depends madly on this job. At home you are the first born and everyone is banking on your job for survival. You meet a man who has badly been injured and there is no one to be of any assistance, just you. You are also on foot! Saving this man would be the best thing to do, but on the other hand it would mean you will never get that job, in that company to be precise. So what would you do? Would you walk away and have time for the interview or would you help the man in need. Well in depends on you. Just think about this for a second.

It’s on 1^stApril. Well you all know this day, but not all of you. Let me try and remind you for you who might have forgotten. Its day of the fools, I mean not you but for lying. Sounds funny don’t you think. Well that’s not the point am trying to bring home. You are late from work and you really want to surprise your girlfriend back home. You even bought her a nice gift. Reaching home, you walk into your bedroom and there you find her naked in bed with your best friend. On the floor is a used condom. On seeing you they shout, “APRIL FOOLS DAY!’ What would you do? Well I don’t want to know, at least not for now

Sister Blessing Akinyi, the church gossip and self –appointed arbiter of the church’s morals kept sticking her nose in the other members’ private lives. Church members were unappreciative of her activities, but feared her enough to maintain their silence. She made a mistake,however,when she accused Elder Mwokovu wa Jehovah,of being an alcoholic after she saw his pickup truck parked in front of Mama Pima ‘s Yokozuna bar and restaurant in Muthurwa one afternoon.She said its obvious that anyone seeing his pickup truck would know what he was doing. Elder Njuguna, a man of few words, stared at her for a moment and just walked away. He didn’t explain, defend, or deny; he said nothing. Later that evening, Elder Mwokovu Njuguna quietly parked his pickup truck in front of Sister Akinyi’s house and left it there till day break. Question is if you are Sister Blessing Akinyi, what will you do?

You are a member of the police, in this case the secret service, the CIA or even the anti terrorist unit. You have sworn under oath to protect your country at all costs. Nothing should come first before your country, not even your own family breaking your oath would guarantee you being charged with treason and we all know that is not the best experience you would want. Now it happens that on this day you are seated with your expectant wife at home chatting over so many niceties. You don’t even want to think about your work at such a great time. Suddenly your sweet wife begins to bleed, a sign that the baby is coming, At least you are going to become a dad again. Have in mind that her last delivery she had to be operated. At this time there is no one at home. Suddenly as you are busy putting her in the car your phone rings from work. A terrorist has been spotted near your area and you are required immediately to help in his arrest. Well, would you leave your wife in that condition or would you respond to the call of duty.Don't also forget that you are not able to call for help or an ambulance at least not today; it had to be that way. Do you have the answer to this one? I hope so.

WhatA Shame?...Lol!

2012-04-21T17:46:00.004-07:00

While the woman tied up the row boat with an expertly women hemp rope, the man could only stare ahead, dumbstruck. As they walked into the house she said casually, “It’s not much, but I call it home. Sit down please, would you like to have a drink?”.”No, thank you” he said, still dazed. “Can’t take any more coconut juice”…..”Its not coconut juice”, the woman said. “I have a still”, “How about a pinacolada?”

Trying to hide his continued amazement, the man accepted and they sat down on her couch to talk. After they had exchanged their stories, the woman announced, “I am going to slip into something comfortable, would you like to take a shower and shave, there is a razor upstairs in the cabinet in the bathroom. No longer questioning anything, the man went into the bathroom. There in the cabinet was a razor made from a bone handle. Two shells honed to a hollow ground edge were fastened onto its end inside of a swivel mechanism. “This woman is amazing”, he mused.”What next”.

When he returned, she greeted him wearing nothing but vines strategically positioned and smelled faintly of perfume. She beckoned for him to sit down next to her. “Tell me, she began suggestively, slithering closer to him. “We have been out for a very long time, we have been lonely. There is something am sure you really feel like doing right now. Something you have been longing for all this months. You know”, she stared in his eyes.

He could not believe what he was seeing, “You mean?” he replied…”I can check my email from here?”

How Many Kenyas Do We Have?

2012-04-17T02:42:00.000-07:00

A few months ago I visited the coastal city of Kenya, Mombasa to be precise, though I had time to visit Malindi.The city is really beautiful and has a lot of eye catching tourist attraction sites. The sandy beaches are a major tourist attraction site. That’s also where I spent most of my time. There were different people from all walks of life. The people there were also so much welcoming .The beautiful sunshine was so serene at least chasing away the cold that is usually in Nairobi. Now that was a complete sign of one nation. A nation with a lot of peace.

Then recently I heard that a group of people from that region were claiming that they do not belong to Kenya. Now, where do they really belong? Their ID cards are all saying they are from Kenya. And why should they begin to claim that right now when we are just about to go to the polls. I think its just being selfish. Maybe these people are being controlled by a few influential gentlemen although they don’t deserve that tag. I hope that is not the case.

Ever since I was born I have never been told that Kenya was divided into two countries, at least I don’t remember. I have always known our country to be a one peaceful nation that has always been an envy of so many nations. Maybe you also grew up with that in mind. These claims really piss me off; knowing that they also grew up grew up with that too. Every region in Kenya needs another. Because we all depend on one another for so much that I can’t even imagine someone talking about secession.

What about if every other region starts having the same thoughts? The luos begin to say that they want to be a country, the kalenjin the same and so on. What would become of the country that our fore fathers fought so hard to gain its independence? What would be the future of our children? I think we both love peace and we know the consequences of insecurity, I think we have been there before. So these brothers of ours I think they need to sober up and begin thinking straight. Let there be a solution to their claims by the relevant authorities so that we end this weighty matter. I think then we will be doing a lot of justice to our beloved country. Have a Kenyan mind,wont you?

A School Affair

2012-04-15T00:12:00.000-07:00

The telephone rang. A hesitant hand quickly picked up the receiver and a deep voice boomed. “Martin on the line, how can I help you?” A rather hefty voice on the other end of the line quickly and angrily replied, “Listen Martin, I need my money by tomorrow”. And he quickly hung up on the deputy head teacher.

He managed a cold sweat. Martin was forced to remember all the debts he had at once. And he had several. It seemed that this Mr. William had somehow remembered his own and on such a time when the month was not in its best time of any one having money on him. He owe him 10000 bucks.He knew he had to find a way of paying up the debt because the man he was dealing with was not the type to mess up with. He painfully racked his brain for a solution but nothing came up. His worried long face seemed to be sharing his agonies save for his receding hairline. He was still in the middle of this situation when he thought he heard a commotion in class 8.Thats when he decided he wanted to relieve his stress on the culprits who were somehow messing up with his private problems.

Apparently a fight had broken up between John, the naughty student with rather silly ideas and Mike the school sanitary prefect. John had refused to sweep the classroom and when confronted by the authority he had turned physical. Mike did not want to lose his ego and so he responded vehemently. Other students were feasting hungrily on the free movie on offer. The guys were sprawled on the floor, each one trying to get the better of his opponent. Blows rented the air. There was a lot of clapping and cheering. And that’s when Mr. Martin entered.

Everything went silent. All the pupils silently went back to their sitting places save for the two masters on the floor. The teacher’s angry face spoke volumes of how far he would go on correcting the situation. Even if it meant beating them up all by himself. He asked what had led to the fight but nobody was willing to give the answer. Of course nobody was willing to do that. Everybody understood perfectly what sharing a dose of the teacher’s angry temper is felt like. So the silence persisted. The two fighting masters were still on the floor, their heads down. The silence persisted. His rather blood shot eyes swept the classroom as if hoping to get the solution from its dirty walls.

“It seems like nobody is going to give me the answer. Well you are all on punishment. You will go to the farm for the whole week. Meanwhile you two idiots on the floor run to my office now”. He said in his deep voice. Nobody moved for a second. Then the sanitary prefect slowly and shamelessly moved out under the watchful eye of the teacher. John did not move for even an inch. The teacher angrily looked at him with the hatred that a man of God hates Satan. He still did not move. The tension was now rising in the small classroom. Then the unexpected happened.

With a clean sweep of his feet, he knocked down the deputy who was caught off guard and quickly stormed outside hot on his heels. The deputy was knocked down head first. Blood was dripping down his sharp forehead. He was confused for a second. When he regained his senses he felt his forehead and when he felt blood he immediately ordered the whole classroom to pursue the escapee. They all did with him also in pursuit. But John was never caught, at least not on that day. The deputy had many problems already and this one only piled up to the list of his stresses. But he somehow had to deal with both.

This Thing We Call Ethnicity

2012-04-12T21:27:00.000-07:00

I am a very sensitive person. My sensitivity reaches its peak whenever I hear a confrontation involving kids, or rather when they cry. I was busily munching my hum bugger in my house when I suddenly heard a kid crying outside. I mean within the confines of the estate I called home. My curiosity could not give me even just a second. So I decided to go and check what could be the matter with this kid, having rarely heard a cry in the ever quiet estate.

The kid was crying so hysterically that I felt a lot of pity for him. Besides him was a beautiful lady who I took for being a mother. Another kid with bushy hair was also standing nearby and seemed to be mocking the other one. I mistook them for being siblings or very close friends and the lady to be their mother. I just assumed she was trying to solve the problem her sons were having, so I just went back to my house and continued with the activity I had been doing earlier, munching you know what. Apparently what I had assumed earlier was not the case as I later came to find out. I was completely wrong.

The kid that was crying belonged to another race while the other one was also from a different one. Apparently the one crying hard hit the other ones ball so hard that it had gotten a puncture. You will have to blame the spiky thorns on the fence for this one. It was just a simple mistake if you asked me.So the kid called his sweet mother for intervention, in this case I mean the other kid who was the owner of the ball. His mother could not even think twice. She gave the poor kid a resounding slap that almost ripped his ears off. She went farther to warn him that he never wanted to see his dirty face near his son again because they were very different. Surely this was just a kid and he never understood what ethnicity meant. Simply because he was from a different region did not qualify him to be treated that way, at least not from a mother who had gone to school.

I couldn’t sleep that night, peacefully I mean. I could not expect such a thing to be happening in this century where everybody is quite literate. These are stories that one would only wish to experience in a dream, not even in a movie. But it was happening. This world would be so peaceful when we stopped looking down upon other people simply because they do not belong to our race or ethnic background. Knowing someone to be of equal value to you would solve so much of this vice. Serving a person without bothering to know where he comes from would surely be the greatest achievement we could have.

You will all agree with me now that ethnicity is a bad disease. A curse that needs to be reversed. Because it denies us so much. Those with a bit of experience know what I am talking about. Eliminating this thing really begins with you. Stop despising other people for no reason. And that would be the real change that the world has so much been looking for.

Oily Dreams?

2012-04-12T05:01:00.000-07:00

The other day I was watching the news on my plasma TV when I saw the happy face of the minister for energy holding in his hands a bottle containing a sample of oil. I could not verify but my belief is that it was the much coveted black gold. We all know how coveted this thing is.It brings about a lot of many transformations in the country. Every one knows at least how much we can reap from the much branded commodity.

A few years ago nobody would have believed that our country would ever get such a lucrative mineral, at least not me.I always used to hear about this black gold from my grandpa who is far much knowledgeable than a few guys my age combined. Only the likes of the Middle East countries such as Saudi Arabia, Iraq, I wonder if it’s in the Middle East were known to be perennial power houses in the lucrative business. Our African counterparts such as Sudan, Nigeria and Libya are also known to be the major power houses when it comes to matters oil. One would surely term such a discovery as a great blessing. I think so too, but for how long will it continue to be a blessing?

One would call it a blessing in disguise. Yet another would call it a calamity in waiting. Come to think of it for a second where the Kenyan oil was discovered. For those who might still be in the dark, I hope there is no one though, it was in Turkana.Ngamia one to be exact. This should be an irony don’t you think. Well, for me it is.Turkana is a semi arid land in Kenya that has been neglected for so long.A place where water never exists. It is an area where you never here about electricity. There are so many poor people if you ask me.Their source of livelihood is their livestock. It’s a place where you will never find a good road. Not that they don’t need these things but is there anyone to do these things for them, will it be their members of parliament, maybe not. So I should think that the discovery of oil in their land is a blessing for them, at least it should be.Turkana

I heard that the people in Turkana received the news of the discovery with mixed reactions. Some said it was a good thing. Others thought otherwise. Of course this was expected in a land where illiteracy prevails. Some argued that the discovery was awesome but they argued that have they also discovered water? To them water is far much better than having the oil, I have to agree with them on this at least for now.

I believe that the discovery of the commodity would do a lot of good to these people and also for the whole country. Let’s hope it will open up the region with electricity, water and education. There will be a lot of investment in the region and the economy will grow. But will this really happen with the land where it was discovered already in controversy? I heard that the land was sold to the exploration company by certain influential individuals in the government and some businessmen.

In as much as the discovery is a good thing, we also have to look at the consequences when this valuable resource is not well managed. So much can be gained from it.The national GDP would swell and that would be used to finance other projects. Leaving this commodity to a group of scrupulous, hungry men would result to no benefits. There could even be war against ourselves. And when this happens nothing profitable would come out of it, at least not for our country. It would go into different pockets and this would be the curse I was talking about earlier.

I think we have many examples to draw our references from.Many countries with oil have been faced with so many strife’s as every one wants to control resulting to war. Take for instance Nigeria which has a lot of oil but due to mismanagement the country is ever in civil war with warlords wanting to control the mining. We all know what happened in Iraq and Sudan I don’t need to remind you. I can’t also forget Libya.

With all those references and examples I hope we will not be caught in such a situation. Let the resource be a blessing and not a curse. Let’s use it to benefit our country and grow our fragile economy which is in dire need of this mineral. Let our brothers and sisters in Turkana have something to smile about a few years from now rather than wish they had never been born in that region. This will be the greatest thing for all of us. Have a rational mind and maintain peace, wont you?

What Is Really In A Surname?

2012-04-12T03:56:00.000-07:00

The other day my friend Mike and I travel led to Kiambu for a business trip. We were actually doing business for our company. Mike had a Mwangi for a surname while I had a Wasike for mine. The journey was great of course courtesy to my powerful range rover sports car. Don’t mistake me for thumbing my chest so hard on this one because it is the truth.

We arrived at a small town I am sorry I can’t remember its name and I didn’t want to remember it either. The town was very busy with people speaking a language I had not the slightest idea of a single word. In simple terms I didn’t understand. My friend Mike was a native of the language and was very fluent. I had begged him several times to teach me but he had remained adamant.But I think he will do that one day.

We decided to have our lunch at a popular eating joint before proceeding with the business. I think if you have ever been in such situation before you would easily understand that business flows well on a full stomach. My friend was greeted in his native language; he seemed to be a celebrity in this area. The same guy greeted me in the same language and when I seemed not to understand, Mike explained the reason which you already know. The guy then proceeded to ask for my name and when I told him I was Frank, he asked for the other I mean the surname dismissing frank as not being a good name. He shook his head and his attitude changed suddenly.

We asked for our food and Mike’s came first. When I asked why my food was being delayed nobody could give me an answer. I just kept wondering. It came after such a long time when mike was half way through with his. I didn’t complain though, at least my mother taught me this one.

Later on a group of his friends joined him and struck a heated conversation, in the language that I never understood. My friend tried his best to tell them to talk in a language I could understand but I don’t think they bought his pleas. And when they did this later on I tried to contribute but I was vividly ignored. So I just sat there foolishly busy perusing my phone until they left. We later footed the bill and left. I kept asking myself why people were so insensitive. My friend could also not understand why. I promised myself to never set foot in that town again. To this day I still cannot understand what is so much in a surname.Well, do you?