My relationship with books goes back a long way. I've always been in a hurry to get things done, I was clamouring to feed myself when I was 6 months old and my introduction to books came shortly after. During my teenage years, like everything else, my reading went into overdrive and at that time books trumphed engaging with people everytime! Other things have come and gone in my life, but the books have remained a permanent fixture.
The importance of the ability to read cannot be overstated. Reading nourishes the grey matter in a similar vein to what a well balanced diet does for the body. If one knows how to read, there's no limit to what one can do. Reading allows one to self educate and provides exposure to concepts that can be life changing. Reading fires the imagination and provides a springboard for launching, what may seem like to some, the improbable dream.
About 21 years ago, a friend gave me a book* for my birthday that set me on the road to becoming an information security specialist. After reading the book, I decided that I wanted to pursue a career in computing and thus began a journey that culminated, 16 years later, in me obtaining a Masters in Information Security.
Sly, I owe you big time.
* sadly the title of the book eludes me, but the genre was science fiction
Wednesday, 4 April 2007
Tuesday, 3 April 2007
The first REAL day of Spring
March 21st was the first official day of spring, but it took awhile for the weather to catch up. Last Tuesday, the weather was finally in sync with the season so I went for a walk along the river Thames and took some photos along the way.
Monday, 2 April 2007
M-PESA, a world first
Africa is known as the cradle of civilization although what's going on in certain parts of the continent, today, is uncivilised at best and downright savagery at worst. Anyway, I digress.
Safaricom (Kenya) in conjunction with Vodafone (UK) has rolled out M-PESA, a mobile payment solution that allows mobile phone users to send and receive money via their mobile handset, at a fraction of the cost of traditional money transfers.
M-PESA's ultimate target market is the Kenyan Diaspora who remit a significant amount of money to the folks back home. One of the more impressive statistics is that approximately 1 in 4 Kenyans has a mobile phone and the expectation is that the number of mobile subscribers will continue its rapid upward trajectory. Using M-PESA does not require one to have a bank account which is a big plus. Another is the fact that one can transfer money to a relative who maybe on a different network (read Celtel).
First Kenya, next the world!!
****UPDATE****
You can read more here
Safaricom (Kenya) in conjunction with Vodafone (UK) has rolled out M-PESA, a mobile payment solution that allows mobile phone users to send and receive money via their mobile handset, at a fraction of the cost of traditional money transfers.
M-PESA's ultimate target market is the Kenyan Diaspora who remit a significant amount of money to the folks back home. One of the more impressive statistics is that approximately 1 in 4 Kenyans has a mobile phone and the expectation is that the number of mobile subscribers will continue its rapid upward trajectory. Using M-PESA does not require one to have a bank account which is a big plus. Another is the fact that one can transfer money to a relative who maybe on a different network (read Celtel).
First Kenya, next the world!!
****UPDATE****
You can read more here
Pachyderms
I've carried a torch for elephants since I watched Dumbo a few decades ago. I dispensed with the cartoons and got pretty close to the real deal when I joined a honeymoon safari (the newly weds were extremely accomodating) and we stayed at TreeTops.
It was at TreeTops that Elizabeth Regina aka QEII learnt she had become queen on the death of her father, King George VI.
TreeTops employs a salt lick to entice the animals out into the open and during our stay, we were fortunate to see a menagerie congregate at the watering hole, from the comfort and warmth of the observation lounges. I felt a certain closeness to these magnificent creatures as I observed them enjoying their nocturnal treat. Guests are warned not to use flash photography as one elephant took great exception to a flash going off and charged the building. Needless to say, the building sustained significant structural damage so in order to thwart further charges, the staff laid down plus dinner plate sized pebble stones (apparently, elephants don't like the sensation underfoot) around the outside of the building.
Elephants live in a matriarchal society ie there's a Queen Bee and everybody defers to her. On any expedition, she will lead the way, the calves will be in the middle and an adult will bring up the rear. The site of elephant herds radially converging on the watering hole, in a procession of single files is a sight to behold (this is hearsay, as I haven't borne witness to this, however I can visualise as well as, if not better than, the next person).
Their renowned intelligence is another plus in my book, and like me, they NEVER forget.
It was at TreeTops that Elizabeth Regina aka QEII learnt she had become queen on the death of her father, King George VI.
TreeTops employs a salt lick to entice the animals out into the open and during our stay, we were fortunate to see a menagerie congregate at the watering hole, from the comfort and warmth of the observation lounges. I felt a certain closeness to these magnificent creatures as I observed them enjoying their nocturnal treat. Guests are warned not to use flash photography as one elephant took great exception to a flash going off and charged the building. Needless to say, the building sustained significant structural damage so in order to thwart further charges, the staff laid down plus dinner plate sized pebble stones (apparently, elephants don't like the sensation underfoot) around the outside of the building.
Elephants live in a matriarchal society ie there's a Queen Bee and everybody defers to her. On any expedition, she will lead the way, the calves will be in the middle and an adult will bring up the rear. The site of elephant herds radially converging on the watering hole, in a procession of single files is a sight to behold (this is hearsay, as I haven't borne witness to this, however I can visualise as well as, if not better than, the next person).
Their renowned intelligence is another plus in my book, and like me, they NEVER forget.
Fattist!!
There's an American store that has opened up a branch in London and I went along yesterday to see what the fuss is all about.
First off, let me say to management, I am here to shop not to dance so how about some proper lighting please - it was akin to shopping in the gloom!! However, the real shocker for me was the size of the clothing on display. There was nada beyond US size 8 which translates to UK size 12. I was aghast so I went up to ask one of the sales associates (or whatever they are called) about this and she produced a sizing chart which showed that they cater for a UK size 16, but as she pointed out, not in that store. The experience left me distinctly uneasy so I went to Selfridges and consoled myself with two boxes of Jelly Belly (the crème de la crème of jelly beans).
First off, let me say to management, I am here to shop not to dance so how about some proper lighting please - it was akin to shopping in the gloom!! However, the real shocker for me was the size of the clothing on display. There was nada beyond US size 8 which translates to UK size 12. I was aghast so I went up to ask one of the sales associates (or whatever they are called) about this and she produced a sizing chart which showed that they cater for a UK size 16, but as she pointed out, not in that store. The experience left me distinctly uneasy so I went to Selfridges and consoled myself with two boxes of Jelly Belly (the crème de la crème of jelly beans).
Mmm
Second choice Steve finally found his cojones to drop Lampard, which in turn allowed StevieMe to morph into the swashbuckling player that we so often see in a Liverpool shirt. On Saturday, we finally got one over the Arsenal, and then some! Robokop isn't a bad player after all - he scored a hat trick with right foot, left foot and his head - how's that for variety?! Salomon Kalou is coming into his own and even agent provacateur is settling down now that he's become a regular fixture in the Chelski side. The team from further up the M62 are still doing the business so we are in for an exciting conclusion to the title race. Ostensibly, TTFFUTM*, could win 3 trophies this season and Chelski, 4. However, as we will be winning the European Cup, make that 2 and 3 respectively.
Well, what can I say, I choose the wrong Williams as Serena won in Miami - don't you think they should just give her the official ranking of number 1?! I hereby predict that Williams will do the tennis Grand Slam this year. El Pirata lost out to Novak Djokovic who went on to become the youngest winner of the Miami Masters. The Kid seems to have injured himself so we hope he makes a quick recovery as his country needs him for the Davis Cup tie against the Netherlands. It would appear that Guillermo Canas has the Swiss Maestro's number has he has now beaten him in successive tournaments.
It looks as if Brian Charles Lara won't be riding off into the Caribbean sunset on the back of a Windies World Cup triumph after all. Sri Lanka are getting better with every game and in Lasith Malinga, they have a human WMD (wicket mass destroyer). It looks to me as if he chucks the ball because of his arm action, but the people in the know are ok with it. Australia continue to sweep all before them, but I don't believe they will go on to win the trophy. It is criminal that the ICC priced out the locals in the Caribbean, hence the reason why the grounds are sparsely populated with spectators. They've stopped the tournament from being even more colourful - I just hope FIFA doesn't make the same mistake in South Africa in 2010.
The British government produced co-ordinates to prove that the 15 Royal Navy personnel were in Iraqi waters when they were captured, but then again they claimed that Sadaam Hussein could launch his WMD in 45 minutes!! Remember the special effects show Colin Powell conjured up for the General Assembly in early 2003!! We have John gun-ho Bolton suggesting that Britain should go into Iran with their guns blazing to free their personnel. Funny that, especially, as Britain doesn't know where they are being held. The fact that this man was appointed US ambassador to the UN serves to illustrate the contempt with which the White House administration holds the UN. Mr Bolton once said that it wouldn't make much difference if the UN Secretariat lost 10 floors.
Mugabe is still doing his bellicose, belligerent thing - it's time for him to do the octagenarian thing.
A la semaine prochaine.
* TTFFUTM - the team from further up the M62
Well, what can I say, I choose the wrong Williams as Serena won in Miami - don't you think they should just give her the official ranking of number 1?! I hereby predict that Williams will do the tennis Grand Slam this year. El Pirata lost out to Novak Djokovic who went on to become the youngest winner of the Miami Masters. The Kid seems to have injured himself so we hope he makes a quick recovery as his country needs him for the Davis Cup tie against the Netherlands. It would appear that Guillermo Canas has the Swiss Maestro's number has he has now beaten him in successive tournaments.
It looks as if Brian Charles Lara won't be riding off into the Caribbean sunset on the back of a Windies World Cup triumph after all. Sri Lanka are getting better with every game and in Lasith Malinga, they have a human WMD (wicket mass destroyer). It looks to me as if he chucks the ball because of his arm action, but the people in the know are ok with it. Australia continue to sweep all before them, but I don't believe they will go on to win the trophy. It is criminal that the ICC priced out the locals in the Caribbean, hence the reason why the grounds are sparsely populated with spectators. They've stopped the tournament from being even more colourful - I just hope FIFA doesn't make the same mistake in South Africa in 2010.
The British government produced co-ordinates to prove that the 15 Royal Navy personnel were in Iraqi waters when they were captured, but then again they claimed that Sadaam Hussein could launch his WMD in 45 minutes!! Remember the special effects show Colin Powell conjured up for the General Assembly in early 2003!! We have John gun-ho Bolton suggesting that Britain should go into Iran with their guns blazing to free their personnel. Funny that, especially, as Britain doesn't know where they are being held. The fact that this man was appointed US ambassador to the UN serves to illustrate the contempt with which the White House administration holds the UN. Mr Bolton once said that it wouldn't make much difference if the UN Secretariat lost 10 floors.
Mugabe is still doing his bellicose, belligerent thing - it's time for him to do the octagenarian thing.
A la semaine prochaine.
* TTFFUTM - the team from further up the M62
From resistance to acceptance
The company of the men I keep is getting younger by the week. Two weekends ago, it was an eight year old and last weekend, it was, a soon to be, seven month old.
Babies are extremely critical and their selection procedure may seem arbitrary, BUT, there's a method to their madness. I went from the photo on the left (I was holding him) to the one on the right (I was behind the camera) within 60 days. How, by simply wearing him down. Within the stated time frame, I saw him 3 times. The first time, he was VERY upset when I held him, 3 weeks later, he had mellowed somewhat and I was allowed to get up, close and personal with him and this past Saturday, I was admitted to his inner circle. He would BEAM at me every few minutes, and when he wasn't beaming he was chortling with delight and most importantly, he wouldn't let anyone else hold him not even his mother (of course, when I couldn't give him what he wanted, what he really, really wanted, he opted to spend some quality time with his mother). This time, he was upset when I had to leave.
He's off on holiday for a while so I wonder if, when I see him next, I will still be regarded with such undiluted affection.
My endorphin count has a very high reading.
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