September 2005

According to a BBC Immigration database, complied with data from a report on immigration published by the Institute for Public Policy Research, Kenya is 8th on the list of countries of birth of British residents born abroad. Some figures:
In 1991: 112,441 British residents were born in Kenya (0.20% of the total population)
In 2001: 129,356 British residents were born in Kenya (0.23% of the total population)
A 15.04% increase

7.5% of people living in Britain were born abroad. From what the right-wing press write you’d think the number was around 40%.

Like me I know you all stay up at night wondering what it would sound like if Bill Gates decided to do all his press conferences in rap. Well wait no more, listen to the self styled “Pimp of the Software Game” (Bill Gates) bust a rhyme to release Windows. [Audio file 2.6 MB].

Sample lyrics:

“This Microsoft Office is no longer for a nerd. My Outlook Excels me to my
PowerPoint, Word!”

Hehehehe! ati “powerpoint, WORD!” Hmmm maybe am too easily amused
From NERDS - A musical comedy about Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, following their rise from garage inventors to billionaire titans. By The Famous Last Nerds.

Arrrgh!

Ayoha al-motsaeb, al satheg, al-fahesh, al-makhodo’a!

OK! I feel much better now, thanks …

I’ve been book tagged!
(Apologies to Kipepeo who tagged me over a month ago.)

Number of books that you own?

Hundreds. A quick count in this room reveals 181 books. That doesn’t include a number that have been borrowed and an even larger number that have been borrowed permanently. I tend to find at least one of my books at friends’ houses when I visit. And this 181 is a drop in the ocean compared to number back in Kenya.

Last book you bought?

Addicted by Zane

Five books that mean a lot to you?

Wow this is a tough one. I will twist the question slightly and mention five books I would recommend!

In Our Lifetime, biography of Walter and Albertina Sisulu by Elinor Sisulu
A very well written, well researched, brilliantly presented biography on two of Africa’s greatest.

The 48 Laws of Power, by Robert Greene, Joost Elffers
I can not believe I only found out about this book this year thanks to Helen. Read it!

The Complete Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Indeed.

Schott’s Original Miscellany by Ben Schott
For those of us who are addicted to little bits of interesting information.

The Authoritative Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson
Calvin and Hobbes is too much! Just too too funny. I am embarrassed to admit I don’t actually own a copy of any C&H books myself. I discovered them at a family friend’s house and for a whole week I did not even notice that they did not own a TV or have internet access.

Last book(s) you’ve read?
Light reading on a train trip:
Split Second by David Baldacci.

You can always count on sub-editors of Kenyan newspapers to put a smile on your face. Check out this gem from The DN:

Mombasa High School won the girls’ basketball title beating Kamukunji of Nairobi 63-33 in a tough match at Mary Hill School.

Umm excuse me they won 63-33. AT BASKETBALL. In other words, they almost scored double the number of points their opponents did. Tough match ghitu ghani?!!

Meanwhile over in Rachuonyo District:

Two men pretending to be pregnant women were arrested and bhang recovered from them … the protruding bellies turned out to be consignments of bhang and not bundles of joy.

The Kenyan Electoral Commission presents :

-v-

On ballot papers near you, Monday the 21st of November 2005.

Just as I was about to praise our MPs on the launch of a
parliamentary website that would hold profiles on each of our MPs as well as information on the work of parliament, they shut down the website because some of the information was too “sensitive” and MPs felt “ambushed and embarrassed” over the information it held. So what was this sensitive information?
Age, marital status, religion, career history, education and hobbies.
For crying out loud!

Guess which company got the first multi-million dollar contracts for reconstruction after Hurricane Katrina? Halliburton. Yes THAT Halliburton.
You have to wonder if GWB and his crew are completely detached or just don’t give a ….