A Nairobian's Perspective !

Baby Websites

noreply@blogger.com (collins Mbalo) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:35:00 +0000

Having a new born baby in the house creates tremendous joy to the parent(s). The trend when i was growing up was for parents to take the baby to the Studio or call in an experienced photographer to come in and take photos of the baby. But much has changed nowadays with the advent of the video and digital cameras we are now all experts in photography and take many photos with pride and admiration at our new borns.

However technology is making things go up a notch higher. A new parent cannot afford to miss on setting up a baby website for the newborn and share the link with friends.To do with much ease without necessarily having to be an I.T expert i recommend the site:Baby Home Pages.Net .Thesite gives you the most safe, private, and easy way to create a customized website of your favorite child (or children) AND AT NO COST ,ABSOLUTELY FREE to you.What i perhaps love about it is the privacy issue since the internet has funny characters whom you would not want to mess arround with your family.

Baby Homes.Net website makes it very easy for its users to create personalized websites for their new born.The pictures serve as an online secure and timeless archive that can be referred to by specific users. Well, most modern day Parents never had a website but that does not mean that your kids have to miss out on that. You can still use Picasa or Flickr but a personalized baby site just adds the extra touch.Click on the banner or the link provided herein to visit the site.

Google Adsense Now Paying in Kenyan Shillings

noreply@blogger.com (collins Mbalo) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:44:00 +0000

Kenyan bloggers and website owners are now pleased to note that they can receive their Google Adsense earnings in Kenyan Shillings. This was not the case previously and many website owners had dificulty banking the foreign currency(Dollar or Euros) cheques with their local banks, Further ,payment would be delayed for upto 21 working days from the date of receipt with Banks charging commisions on the cheques.

So are you a web publisher, sign up to Google Adsense and customize your earnings to Kenyan Shillings or any other local currency that would be most appropriate to your situation.Yes it is very much possible to earn money online if you have good content and commitment(the two C's) .

ICC Prosecutor Louis Moreno Ocampo's Visit to Kenya

noreply@blogger.com (collins Mbalo) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:53:00 +0000

The International Criminal Courts Chief Prosecutor Louis Moreno Ocampo has arrived n Kenya apparently to address the prosecution of the perpetrators of Kenya's 2007/2008 post election violence that left more than a thousand Kenyans dead.

(Photo Courtesy of AP)
Mr. Moreno Ocampo arrived at the Jomo Kenyatta International airport at 7:30 A.M and thereafter proceeded for a meeting with the two principals of the coalition Government His Excellency the President Hon.Mwai Kibaki and the Right Honorable Prime Minister Raila Odinga. Mr Louis Moreno Ocampo will be in the Country on a 3 day visit.His visit and agenda thereto may put to rest various rumours as to what Ocampo may or will do in the course of his tour.

This blog will keep you updated......

Friends With Benefits/Hooking Up Defined

noreply@blogger.com (collins Mbalo) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 06:54:00 +0000

If you are a parent leaving in this day and age with teenagers in the house or pre- teens, there are certain terms that you cannot avoid knowing the definitions, lest you are viewed redundant and your child ends up in a mess and yu are left wondering where were you?
Must know words for present day parents include:

Friends With Benefit(FWB):

1.The site Urban Dictionary has a variety of definitions as to the present use of the term friends with benefit, among them include:

A relationship where a man and a woman enjoy having sex with one another, but do not see each other as potential relationship material. Friends with benefits usually never works successfully with ex-boyfriends/girlfriends or anyone else you might have feelings for. The benefits are not exclusive, buyer beware!(most voted upon use)
Friends with benefits can do things couples can do except without being labeled as a BOYFRIEND and a GIRLFRIEND, when you ask if they want to be friends with benefits with you, you both have to agree on what those BENEFITS are, and it doesn't have to contain sex. If you both agree on sex, then it's also considered as friends with benefits.

Example:Guy: Want to be friends with benefits?Girl: Sure, but what are the benefits?Guy: Hugging, kissing, holding hands.Girl: No sex?Guy: NopeGirl: Okay sure then.

2. ABOUT.COM defines it this way:

An agreement between two people who are both friends and physically attracted to one another to have a sexual relationship. Neither party is considered committed to the other, and both can start dating someone else at any time with prior warning. A friends with benefits arrangement is not considered dating, a relationship or even casual dating by most people who use the term.

How popular is this new phenomena: Psychology Today Blog discusses a survey done by researchers at Wayne State University in Detroit and Michigan State in East Lansing.The report which involved interviewing 125 undergraduates (65 women, 60 men) found out that Sixty percent of those interviewed i.e.40 men &35 women said they'd been involved in an FWB relationship, and about one-third were in one when surveyed.

Suffice to say with the digital divide having been narrowed by the internet and local Tv and Radio stations featuring talk on Friends With Benefits , i wouldn't be surprised if teenagers and young adults in local schools ,colleges and universities in Kenya engaging in the vice; In fact the trend has been described as "a cultural signature of today's college and post college experience"

However certain Dangers accompany the trend ,including:

1. Inherent danger of Sexually Transmitted Disesaes(STD)associated with casual sex ,Unwanted Pregnancies, Abortion...etc.
2.Fatal Attractions /Murder etc
3.Emotional Instability, Guilty Consciences
4.The Vice encourages ,dishonesty,selfishness and me first attitudes.

Without doubt the above list is not exhaustive the Physical, Psychological ,Spiritual and moral dangers associated with this practice far outweigh any temporary pleasures that such un inhibited sexual relationship may bring.It is therefore important that parents take the lead in safeguarding their youths from engaging in practices that will hinder the development of the youth into successful and respectable members of society.

(For more information see this NewYork Times Article:Friends With Benefits ,and Stress Too )

American Meb Keflezighi Defeats Kenyans in the New York Marathon 2009

noreply@blogger.com (collins Mbalo) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 07:36:00 +0000

American Athlete Meb Keflezighi yesterday stunned the world by winning the 2009 New York Marathon at a time of 2 hours 9 minutes and15 seconds.Meb Keflezighi beat seasoned Kenyan marathoner Robert Cheruiyot by 41 seconds.Interestingly this is a first American win of the Marathon since 1982 and just indicates why this is great news for the American continent. The Eritrean born Meb Keflezighi was last year number two in the NY marathon and it seems he has definately upped his game.

On the other hand Kenyans back home are little pleased as this is their niche of play and the lack of a win was somehow disappointing. The women race however went to competitive African athlete Derartu Tulu of Ethiopia .

It seems Kenyan athletes will now have to brace themselves for stiff competition from Americans and not just Ethiopians and Eritreans since a number of the Americans finished in the top 10 bracket.But Kudos to Robert Cheruiyot there's always a next time as illustrated in Meb's story

Kelele African Bloggers Conference 2009 Postponed

noreply@blogger.com (collins Mbalo) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 07:14:00 +0000

When i first heard of Kelele: An annual African Bloggers conference i was very excited, optimistic and pessimistic in the same vein.Why? For one ,i was pleased that such a noble initiative that would result in the promotion of African Content by African Bloggers and lead to better communication,co-operation and networking of African Bloggers was being launched. On the other hand, i was certain that the initiative would hardly be a success if local corporates i.e. African Companies,NGO' s and Governments did not step in to fund the initiative.True to it, there was not sufficient local donors and the organizers were depending on international sponsors who due to the Global Economic crunch are cash strained to support ' non- fundamental/essential ' projects at the moment. So for the second time the KELELE AFRICAN BLOGGERS CONFERENCE had to be postponed.

The regret at the site partly reads:

"The inaugural African Bloggers Conference dubbed ‘Kelele’ (Swahili for Noise) has been postponed to mid 2010....we would like to apologize for this the 2nd postponement of the African Bloggers Conference—KELELE—which was due to take place from 29th October to 1st November 2009 in Nairobi, Kenya. There are two main reasons that have made this postponement necessary.

Firstly, the African Bloggers Conference is an initiative of several African bloggers and as the organizers, we required significant financial support to underwrite the event. Although many sponsors had initially expressed interest in being a part of this great undertaking, due to the prevailing global economic climate they did not come through as we had anticipated.
Secondly, it has been challenging to secure a truly pan African programme for the conference in the time we had available. .. If we had held the conference in the next two weeks it would have been an East African bloggers conference which we felt would betray our key aims.

To this end we took the difficult decision over the weekend to postpone Kelele again to the new year to give us sufficient time to secure all the necessary partnerships and resources while at the same time increasing the level of participation from across the continent".

That news definately has disheartened many bloggers in the continent but in the same vein encouraged them to more actively engage the community around them to see the importance of supporting such initiatives that can result in much good for the African Blogosphere.

PeopleStrings Social Website Review

noreply@blogger.com (collins Mbalo) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:10:00 +0000

With each passing day new websites are being created and new websites are being discovered.A fellow blogger referred me to this new Social-media website that is set to rival Myspace.Com and Facebook.Com: Peoplestring.com .What perhaps will make this site marketable and like-able is that the owners are willing to share revenue from advertisements on a 70:30 ratio basis.Furthermore users earn when they check their email,refer new users, chat with others, and surf the net.

You can just imagine what would happen if sites such as Myspace or Facebook shared their revenue with subscribers...many people would be immensely rich.I believe the concept is worth a try.Without doubt PeopleString.com website is set to revolutionize the online social network industry.

The free membership subscription package has the following benefits:
* Email with 2 GB storage
* Self-destructing email (you can delete emails even after you've already sent them)
* Send video emails
* Web IM: AOL, Yahoo, GoogleTalk & MSN
* Cash back shopping
* Share in all revenue
* Get paid once a month

Whereas the paid subscription Entrepreneur package consists of the following benefits:
* Email with unlimited storage
* Business domain with 20 email accounts
* Unlimited video email
* Universal email tracking
* Web hosting for 5 URLS
* SEO
*Payment fortnightly.
* Bonus commissions, revenue shares, and leads.

For more details on the service you can visit the PeopleString Website.

Nairobi Marathon (Standard Chartered) 2009 -Running Tips

noreply@blogger.com (collins Mbalo) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 06:20:00 +0000

The stage is all set for one of the greatest annual races on Earth: the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon 2009 set to take place on 25 October, 2009 .Today happens to be the last day to register to participate.The Nairobi Marathon race now in its seventh year began in 2003 and has proved to be the launching pad for an international career for many local athletes .The race has quickly taken its place as one of the Worlds favorite marathon race due to Kenya's reputation as a leading athletic sports nation especially in the long distance races. The race attracts many international sports personalities and is particularly grueling at an altitude of 5,000 feet above sea level .

What perhaps makes this race great is that the money raised from the marathon is always used or philanthropic and charitable purposes including aiding the under privileged in society in need of eye care that is in-affordable or inaccessible to them. For more information on the Nairobi marathon please visit the website at www.nairobimarathon.com.

Marathon Running Tips:
For effective marathon tips on how to run effectively i recommend the following websites:

Runners world: This is for newbie tips especially if this is your first marathon to run.
Foothealthcare.com: The site contains top 10 tips for running your best marathon.
Running. about.com: Another leading resource on running featuring tips on half marathon, first marathon, training schedules, distance running etc

Of course the tips recommended by the above sites must also be coupled with expert advice from your physician or personal trainer to prevent fatalities or complications that accrue due to strenuous exercise.If you are a participant all the best .

For supplements ,bariatric bars, diet shakes , kay naturals meal replacement bars please visit: Kays Natural Protein Chips site.

Webhosting Geeks Website Review

noreply@blogger.com (collins Mbalo) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 11:21:00 +0000

Web hosting Geeks.Com is another useful web hosting review portal that assists internet entrepreneurs and marketers determine which web hosting solutions or sites to utilize when hosting their sites online!The site ranks the best web site hosting providers out there and ensures that the list is constantly updated.

One can browse the different web hosting sites according to their charges and reputation. If you are thinking of a new web host.it would be prudent to do a background check on the service providers credentials and reviews at webhostinggeeks.com .This will enable you make an informed decision to your own advantage.The site also contains a blog section that deals with various other issues with respect to website hosting and service providers with readers providing comments and opinions on the various issues. It is a site worth a visit!

"Sexting" Gaining Popularity Among Kenyan Youths !

noreply@blogger.com (collins Mbalo) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:19:00 +0000

It is now readily in the public domain that young boys and girls/teenagers are engaging in sex at an early age than traditionally was. Worse is that most are engaging in unprotected casual sex with multiple partners .This has been the subject of media commentaries this week with talks of supplying Kids with condoms in Kenyan schools being fronted by so called"experts" as a necessary precaution. That issue in itself is a moral minefield with divergent views. However unknown to many parents a new culture is slowly driving the youths to this 'uncanny' behavior and inordinate interest in sex;" sexting !".

Sexting has been defined as "the act of sending sexually explicit messages[content] or photos electronically, primarily between cell/mobile phones" according to Wikipedia..Sexting or Sex texting involves sending or receiving text messages with sexual content often in the form of nude photos, stripping of clothes,sex videos etc.Sexting has become increasingly popular in the West where it is believed that atleast one in every five youths has engaged in the habit.The age group particularly affected being from age 11 to 24 years. It is viewed as normal albeit cool to send nude photos to ones girlfriend or boyfriend as a sign of affection.The results can be extremely disastrous as was exhibited in the case of 18 year old American High School student Jessica Logan who committed suicide after her "sextexts" were posted on the internet(see the News item) probably by a jilted lover or jealous friend. Unfortunately most parents are unaware of this development and insist on buying the latest phone models with immense capabilities only to discover that technology wrongly used is corroding societal values with disastrous effects.In any case it is death dealing. Certain States in the USA, Canada and Australia have enacted legislation to curb the practice.

In Kenya sexting is rife , a casual talk with one youth indeed revealed that primary school students as low as in standard four(nine year old's) were frequenting pornographic sites and exchanging sexually explicit photos over their mobile phones. It is not doubt that the intimacy behind sex has been reduced to casual physical affair. Sexting is habit that needs drastic action to be curbed. As for parents make sure you know what your child is up to and discuss this issues openly lest yours becomes the next fatal victim of sexual predators.

MTV Mama Awards 2009 Winners !

noreply@blogger.com (collins Mbalo) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:22:00 +0000

This blog has received a number of hits from people desiring to know the outcome of the African MTV 2009 Music Awards and seeing that my earlier post has received good rankings on Google i do not want to disappoint my fans .The MTV 2009 MAMA Awards winners and nominees as announced on Saturday 10 October 2009 at the Moi International Sports Center by category are:

Best Male

2 Face (Nigeria)

Nameless(Kenya)        Winner
HHP (South Africa)
D'Banj(Nigeria)
Da L.E.S (South Africa)

Best New Act

M.I (Nigeria)   Winner

A.Y (Tanzania)
STL (Kenya)
Bigiano (Nigeria)
Rhythmic Elements (South Africa)

Best Hip Hop

M.I (Nigeria)      Winner

A.Y (Tanzania)
Zulu Boy (South Africa)
Jay-Z (USA)
Kanye West (USA)

Best Female

Kel (Nigeria)
Amani (Kenya) :    Winner
Lira (South Africa)
Zamajobe (South Africa)
Lizha James (Mozambique)

Best Performer

P-Square (Nigeria)
D'Banj (Nigeria)
Samini (Ghana)     Winner

Nameless (Kenya)
Blu*3(Uganda)

Best RnB

2 Face (Nigeria)    Winner

Darey Art Alade (Nigeria)
Loyiso (South Africa)
Beyonce (USA)
Akon (USA)

Best Group

P-Square (Nigeria) Winner

Blu*3(Uganda)
Gang of Instrumentals (South Africa)
Mo Hits Allstars (Nigeria)
Gal Level (Namibia)

Artist of the year

2 Face (Nigeria)
Dbanj (Nigeria)    Winner

Lira (South Africa)
HHP (South Africa)
Nameless(Kenya)

Best Alternative

Green Day(USA)
Coldplay(UK)
Cassette(South Africa)
Zebra&Giraffe(South Africa)    Winner

Aking(South Africa)

Best Video

2Face-Enter The Place (Nigeria)
XOD-I Want You Back (Uganda)
HHP-Mpitse (South Africa)      Winner

Da L.E.S-We on Fire (South Africa)
Wahu Feat Bobi Wine-Little Things You Do (Kenya)

Legend Award

Lucky Dube(South Africa) Winner

My Video Award

Patricke-Stevie Moungondo (Congo Brazzaville) Winner

Listeners Choice Award

Nameless (Kenya) Winner

Heres a Flickr slideshow stream for MAMA Awards Photos(Courtesy of MTV)

TO VIEW PHOTOS PLEASE VISIT THE GALLERY AT THE OFFICIAL MAMA WEBSITE

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Notehall.Com

noreply@blogger.com (collins Mbalo) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 08:46:00 +0000

The internet continues to morph each day as it comes; NOTEHALL.COM is an internet site where college student classmates can exchange and or trade lecture notes.The site aims to be the ultimate student resource information retrieval portal while at the same time enabling college students to get paid for lecture notes that they have uploaded online. While the idea is ingenuous ,the likelihood that the site will encourage laziness, class abstention, cheating etc is quite high.

The site has currently been in use at the University of Arizona, Arizona State, and University of Kansas since August 2009 and has over 13,000 active users and over 5,500 documents available for sale. Many students have been able to make money on the site selling their lecture notes and study guides indicating its popularity amongst the youth.

The site also intends to encourage student interaction thereby making the internet an academic friendly portal.However such interaction if not effectively monitored may just yield the opposite results especially seeing the frailty and inexperience of the young students who are the target market.Without doubt NOTEHALL.COM will revolutionize the way students make use of the internet. I know for a fact that many of my colleagues during campus often surfed the internet in order to get free class notes on various subjects often with little relevant results.Hence the idea may just work.The question however that remains .is the venture academically ethical? This being a matter of personal principle may just receive varied reactions.

The site was founded by Sean Conway & Justin Miller .The two were recently featured in ABC budding entrepreneurs show SHARK TANK on 6th October, 2009.(For the clip click on the LINK)

Green Card Lottery Application Period 2009

noreply@blogger.com (collins Mbalo) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 07:37:00 +0000

The USA immigrant Visa Green Card Lottery(DV-2011) Application Period for year 2009 officially begins today noon 2 October, 2009 at 12.00 p.m, Eastern Daylight Time(EDT) Greenwich Meridian Time(GMT-4) and will run until 30 November, 2009. The online Green card application form ,digital photo a specifications nd application process instructions are available at the following website: http://www.travel.state.gov/pdf/DV-2011instructions.pdf ,Please note that ,this is the link for the official USA government website .The application process is free ,costs totally nothing so dont spend a dime applying with all those third party websites claiming to be official Government Agencies.This is if you know how to read and follow instructions ,otherwise the agencies can do that for you at a cost and that wont guarantee you that you will win the Green Card Diversity Visa Lottery .

The Green Card Lottery Application website is : http://www.dvlottery.state.gov/ the website will be live from the fore-mentioned time, today noon.

This information is shared free of charge at no cost.
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Devastating Earthquake /Tsunami Hits American Samoa

noreply@blogger.com (collins Mbalo) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 08:48:00 +0000

A devasatating Earthquake estimated at 7.9/8.0 Ritcher scale hit the American Samoa & Samoa island region leaving in its wake massive destruction and a Tsunami on its tail early today morning 30 September, 2009(about 9 hours ago). I wish to hereby share some of the photos of the aftermath on the American Samoa islands -Pago Pago that i have gathered on twitpic.The death toll at the moment according to Associated press is at 63 with the figure steadily rising as rescue efforts are underway.

We certainly live in perilous times with forces of nature exhibiting their full potential with destructive consequencies .This being all the more reason to stay awake to the sign of the times!

Youth For Human Rights International Global Campaign

noreply@blogger.com (collins Mbalo) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 09:56:00 +0000

Youth For Human Rights International(YHRI) is a global youth organization seeking to educate young people everywhere on their human human rights as enshrined in the United Nations 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights through grassroots campaigns.The organization operates several chapters and youth clubs worldwide. The Term 'human rights' is pretty vague for many youths , and actually only a few who probably have had some legal training ,do know the range and depth of rights that the term encompasses. Hence it is especially essential that youths in Africa acquaint themselves with the activities of the Youth for Human Rights International in order to guard and protect their most basic human rights from abuse from any quarters.

The YHRI campaign "What Human Rights Are" has received quite an impressive global response.Another particularly successful campaign orchestrated by YHRI was the audio visual tool UNITED which featured a five minute music video which according to their website

won a number of awards for its portrayal of how human rights and cooperative action can curb violent confrontation and intolerance. UNITED,inspired the production of a series of 30 public service announcements (PSAs), each depicting one of the articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Harnessing modern audio-visual technology to articulate every right the .UDHR grants brought praise from educators, media industry executives and human rights advocates. The first three PSAs have already aired to more than 130 million people in over 60 countries.

After viewing the ad on CNN recently i decided to visit the YHRI website @ http://www.youthforhumanrights.org/ and was pleasantly surprised at their activities seeing that the group is little known in Kenya .For more information ,you can actually sign up and volunteer and or initiate a local chapter down at their site.I however believe their $40 Dollar Registration fee actually cuts of the vast majority of poor youths from developing Countries especially in Asia and Africa from being truly part of such a global phenomena

TPF 2009 : Alpha Rwirangira Brings Down The House

noreply@blogger.com (collins Mbalo) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 06:33:00 +0000

Last nights show in the much famed East African Reality Tv Show Tusker Project Fame 2009 was real exhilarating ;the contestants in the musical academy were each performing their own original composition and perhaps for the first time the show uncovered a real African Reggae superstar who is destined for success while still in the house!

Alpha Rwirangira of Rwanda sang a swahili/rwandese song that encouraged africans never again to have a repeat of the 1994 Rwanda Genocide! The song entitled "tusikubali " left the attendants at the show and by extension all listeners completely entertained and received a standing ovation from the judges, teachers and audience.It was a masterpiece , a marvelous song that should have the UN and other international organizations poaching for it to be used in campaigning against social apathy, hatred,ethnicity, gender violence, wars, genocide and other social atrocities that continue to encumber the African continent.

Alpha Rwirangira is star of his won right , deserves this post and positive recommendation! On the other hand Kenyan songstress Patricia Wangechi Kihoro threw wood by choosing a genre of songs.i.e neosoul that has too many western greats that it requires exceptional talent to cut a niche for oneself. Her song had too much of Erykah Badu and India Arie influences and was lacklustre in performance leaving the Judges marginally impressed. On the otherhand the Ugandan Ladies Maureen and Leah definately had songs with international appeal and strong African tones that can readily cut for them a niche in the international music market in a similar manner as has Angelique KidjoSuzzana Owiyo... etc

(UPDATE)ALPHA EMERGES WINNER OF TUSKER PROJECT FAME 2009 KUDOS ! CONGRATS

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Australian East Coast Skyline Colored Red

noreply@blogger.com (collins Mbalo) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 10:03:00 +0000

Australian Skylines were yesterday colored glowing orange/red due to massive dust storms leading to closure of many public places and commuter services. Many peered to look at the Armageddon like skyline in much astonishment. The reality though is that the Australian skyline was that color due to human pollution. The Guardian online has an interesting article to which i will highlight some excerpts i.e:

Storms of red dust have produced a glowing orange sky over much of Australia's east coast as the country experiences freak weather conditions.

The Sydney Opera House turned orange, flights at Sydney and Brisbane airports were delayed, building sites shut down, workers choked and emergency departments were flooded with calls in the worst dust storm to hit Australia in 70 years.

On Sydney harbour, the thick red air cut visibility to less than 100 metres and shrouded the city's iconic bridge in a ghostly hue. One commuter, forced to catch the bus to the city because ferries were cancelled, took the opportunity to photograph the Armageddon-like scene.

That must have been simply amazing! Its time we we woke up and started taking responsibility for our action otherwise time is not on mankind's side and this is true the World over!

USA Green Card Dv-2011 Diversity VISA Application Period 2009

noreply@blogger.com (collins Mbalo) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 05:49:00 +0000

The USA Diversity Visa Program Lottery Dv-2011 program popularly known as the Green Card application period is set to begin on October 2 until November 30, 2009.Its unfortunate that many people who desire to get a Green Card to go to America hardly know that the application is free at the official website and often use agencies that claim to be oficial Government websites which is hardly the truth. The official page for the E-Dv is http://www.dvlottery.state.gov/ . and will be available as from the 2nd October, 2009. However to find out about the green card program, photo specifications, instructions... etc you can visit http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1322.html#6

Dont pay anyone to fill in the forms , if you have the photos you can do it all by yourself by closely following the instructions.The application is submitted online through the internet, paper applications are no longer applicable.The Green Card Visa results for successful applicants are normally announced between May and July of the following year thereafter they are required to meet some minimum conditions and apply for their Visa,s within a specified period.

The only take is that America is no longer the land of milk and honey especially with the global crunch and inflation rate. In fact if you are not a citizen and are there on a green card life may just be twice as hard yet millions apply each year for the free green card!

Kenya Loosing its Elephants to Drought !

noreply@blogger.com (collins Mbalo) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:08:00 +0000

While Kenyan Politicians continue to argue/discuss on the Mau forest settlement issue Kenya is steadily loosing its elephant population to the drought that has hit the Country ! The National Geographic News website is carrying an article on the rapidly rising number of elephant deaths being experienced locally.It is reported that at least 38 dead elephants have been found in the area around the Laikipia highlands and Samburu National Reserve since January 2009.And its not only the elephants that are dying but Kenya's famed wild animals such as Lions, Giraffes, Wildebeests,crocodiles, Zebra's etc.

Our divinely given natural heritage is fast depleting . This being largely attributable to human degradation of the environment.Much of the blame can be apportioned to illegal and uncontrolled logging of trees ,settlement in forests and industrial pollution that has resulted in global warming.Yet even well informed individuals and authorities continue to trivialize the matter and or take their sweet time on the issue as if nature will wait for us to make a decision.

The truth is nature has a harsh way of disciplining those who infringe on its laws such as gravity, if you step out of tall building without a chute the possibility of you surviving is myopic same goes to messing with the environment. God created it for us to conserve and take care of it and not to destroy it. The bible is pretty clear on the issue showing that Our Creator has set a specific time-'an appointed time' to respond to those"ruining the earth"(Revelation 11: 18)and mind us it will not be eviction but ruination on the part of those infringing Gods requirements no matter the social status, colour, background, race or creed! The time to take responsibility for our actions individually and collectively is now!

Abbot Medical Optics Video Contest !

noreply@blogger.com (collins Mbalo) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 11:46:00 +0000

Abbot Medical Optics, a leading optical firm engaged in the development of the widest range of proven refractive technologies for treatment of myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, presbyopia, cataract, spherical aberration and corneal is running a video contest@ iLASIK Video Contest .

For an opportunity to win a grand prize of 5,000 Dollars or an HDTV package worth $ 2,500 contestants are required to:

1.Submit A Video
Users make and submit a video in one of the following categories:
• “My contacts are getting in the way of my good time”
• “My favorite sport or activity would be so much cooler with better vision”
• “You should see life after the iLASIK® Procedure”
2.Urge their Friends To Vote on their video.

The aim of the contest is to get people to talk about the benefits that can be derived from LASIK procedures and how this can lead to improved vision and eyesight !This is especially important since many people are loosing sight due to cataracts (especially adults above the age of 50) and yet there is sufficient technology and treatment out there for the same. Abbot Medical Optics is a leading ophthalmic firm with a global presence and seeks to take on this challenge of educating the masses on quality ophthalmic treatment.Get to the site: YouGottaSeeThisNow.Com for more details on the contest!

Big Brother 4 Revolution Female Housemates

noreply@blogger.com (collins Mbalo) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:42:00 +0000

Well a wall separates the female contestants from the male housemates in the current edition of season 4 Big Brother Africa 2009.So who are the female contestants in the house in 2009?

First we have 27 year old Edna From Angola:

Two: Elizabeth from Dar es Salaam Tanzania

Three:Business Student Emma from Angola :

Four : Ogaland Nigeria is represented by two female contestants (i)Law Student Geraldine from , theres something about her that makes her look like Edna : and (ii) 23 year old Nkenna :

Next comes Jennifer from Mozambique:

From Mugabeland(Zimbabwe)is the attractive Kristal:

South Africa is represented by the 22 year old Music loving female housemate Liz :

Zambia has three female contestants in BBA Revolution (IV) - model Maggie :AND Palamo AND Renee described as entertainment at its absolute best:

Malawi is represented by Mzamo who describes herself as" Open Minded"

( all photos courtesy of Mnet Africa's BBA Website)

The contest begins.
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Dealing with Bedbug Infestation

noreply@blogger.com (collins Mbalo) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 06:58:00 +0000

Ahadi Trust -a Kenyan NGO has been valiant in its efforts to eradicate Jiggers and to treat Jigger infested victims in various parts of the Country with a measure of success . The thing is Jiggers are openly manifest and whether one has it or not, its not very easy to hide problem!However there is another problem that many Kenyans have and few are yet to admit and or talk about it- Bedbugs. The worst thing about bedbugs is that if a bed is infested and you as a visitor sleep on it, those mites /bugs are going to feast on you with dire consequences whereas the owner will not even notice them. That being the dilemna its necessary that if you have a bedbug problem you read this free online resource: how to get rid of bedbugs. The information from the website may just save you an embarrassment.

Okiya Omtatah Okoiti Responds to Standard Newspaper Article via BidiiAfrika Website

noreply@blogger.com (collins Mbalo) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 10:19:00 +0000

Just had to republish this interesting reply to a newspaper article about human rights activist Okiya Omtatah Okoiti appearing in today's Standard Newspaper:

Monday, September 14, 2009

Mr. Benson Riungu,
Editor,
Crazy Monday,
The Standard,
P. O. Box 30080,
Nairobi - Kenya.
crazymonday@standardmedia.co.ke

Dear Mr Riungu:

Thanks for your most interesting article ever that you have published about me to date. which appeared on Page 7 of the Crazy Monday magazine insert in your esteemed publication today (Monday, September 14, 2009), under the heading "Omtatah's activism is all about himself". The article is published online at:
http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/mag/InsidePage.php?id=1144023879&cid=349&

Much as I appreciate that no perception is immaculate, I find it extremely helpful when such a mirror or any reflective material, however poor it may be, is held before me, by a hand I don't control, to give me a reality check. Knowing how others perceive me and, most importantly, what I am doing, is of paramount importance to me as that is the main way I get to know whether or not I am communicating.

Nevertheless, your article would have done much better had it not relied on information that is more than a year old, a did a little bit more research to answer the provincial questions you pose. Also it would have been richer and served a higher cause had it transcended my person to engage my ideological activism in favour of a developmental state, in opposition to the neo-liberal model contained in Kenya Vision 2030 which both our Legislature and the Executive are keen to implement.

It is a gross failure on your all important part as both the conscience and the mirror of society to limit yourselves to discussing personalities and not the burning issues consuming the polity. We are at that point when the media must surface the burning socio-political and economic issues in the Kenyan polity. If you don’t help the Kenyan Street surface issues affecting ordinary Kenyans, our politics will inevitably remain personality driven, where we discuss self-seeking and visionless individuals, at the expense of the mind-boggling challenges we face as a country, and the good policies we need to solve them.

Hence, invoking your Newspaper's edifying motto, For Fairness and Justice, and without asking for too much since it really is not beyond you to grant my prayers, I would appreciate if your esteemed publication would go the extra mile to grant me an interview where I can explain the political ideology that drives me. The wind in my sail is the common good, not self-serving interests as your writer misrepresented me.

The method behind what you perceive to be my madness ("an enraged bull in a china shop", as you write), is that I am totally opposed to Kenya Vision 2030 which is nothing more than a glossy and grand scheme to recolonise us, by forcing us to sell our strategic assets to foreigners.

With the sell of those public assets, including the profitable National Bank of Kenya, the Kenya Ports Authority, the futuristic telecommunications industry, and other strategic assets, unregulated and uncontrollable market forces pursuing abnormal profits, and not political ideology in the service of the common good, will drive public policies and programmes to the detriment of Kenyans.

If Kenya Vision 2030 is not stopped NOW!, it will become a nightmare in which we will be no better than the man who sold all his land to another so that the new owner could build a palace in which he (the original owner) will be employed as a cleaner.

Finally, a humble request: is it possible to get an A1 size complimentary copy of that cartoon of me? I wish to put it in a picture frame and proudly hang it on my wall.

Kindest regards,

Okiya Omtatah Okoiti

9/11(September 11 2001)Memorial Quotes & Sayings

noreply@blogger.com (collins Mbalo) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:32:00 +0000

America seems to be in a rush today to get the most memorable quotes in relation to the Al qaeda engineered Terrorist attack on the Twin Towers that occurred on 11TH September, 2001.Various websites have cropped up claiming to be the official website for 9/11 memorial victims and survivors alike. Out of a tragedy has come a unity of purpose and ideas but the question still lingers...is there a lesson to be learned!

For myself watching the second plane ram into the World Trade Center caused jitters to my feet, for two days my attention was juxta fixed to CNN watching the rescue work at ground zero. The world as i knew it changed. On the 8 Anniversary of the 911 memorial my take on the issue would be in deed i find it very unnecessary for the USA to issue travel advisories indicating places such as Kenya as terrorist hot zones when in reality America that day became one of the unsafest territories on Earth.

For the victims and families continue to entertain the resurrection hope as enshrined in the Bible book of Acts 24 :15 "and I have hope toward God, which hope these [men] themselves also entertain, that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous" Now thats a memorable and meaningful quote for other 911 quotes there is this Wordpress blog quotes aggregator

Kenya's Police Commisioner Major General Ali Takes A Bow!

noreply@blogger.com (collins Mbalo) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 13:20:00 +0000

The president of Kenya yesterday demoted the Police Commissioner Major General
Mohammed Ali Hussein from being the Police Commissioner to being the Postmaster General . As one local radio commentator quipped from shooting thugs to sorting(pronounced in luo sooting-pun intended) mail. The move left many dumbfounded and the former Police Commissioner shocked.A journey that saw him come from the Military, to the Police and now to the Post Master General at least retaining the P letter but seeming like a declining curve...so what next?...