Peer Impact

Peer Impact is conducting the final beta test and are inviting a select group of online fans to participate.

"Peer Impact is a new online digital content distribution network that will provide legal, peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing services for its members. Its technology offers Peer Impact members a secure online space to purchase and share music and in the near future, other digital content as well. At the same time, Peer Impact strives to ensure that content owners and proprietary rights holders alike, such as record labels, musical artists and publishers, are paid appropriately for all music shared on the Peer Impact network. "

Learn more

Schiavo's "imminent" death

Reinsertion of Schiavo Feeding Tube Denied : "A federal appeals court refused early Wednesday to order the reinsertion of Terri Schiavo's feeding tube, denying the latest emergency request by the severely brain-damaged woman's parents to keep her alive.
A panel of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals said in a 2-1 ruling that the parents 'failed to demonstrate a substantial case on the merits of any of their claims.'

'There is no denying the absolute tragedy that has befallen Mrs. Schiavo,' the ruling said. 'We all have our own family, our own loved ones, and our own children. However, we are called upon to make a collective, objective decision concerning a question of law.' "

The Real Story Behind the Food Crisis in Zambia

The Real Story Behind the Food Crisis in Zambia MWANANYANDA MBIKUSITA LEWANIKA / Synthesis/Regeneration n.32, 19sep03

Hello Boys!

Hello Boys! Fancy some Swaziland honey? 
Click picture to enlarge

Nevers Mumba For President of Zambia

I have joined the Nevers Mumba For President of Zambia campaign.

Renewing hope, creating vision, restoring national pride is the theme of the campaign.

In my opinion he is what just what the doctor ordered for a sick and frail country like our Zambia. If you wish to join the campaign register here.

e-Scrabble gets Cease and Desist Order from Hasbro

I just joined a e-scrabble last night. I wanted to check the progress of my game only to find that e-Scrabble received Cease and Desist Order from Hasbro.

What a bummer!

Thoughts on Flickr and Yahoo (by Jeremy Zawodny)

I'm a registered member of Flickr and have yet to figure out what to do with it. It is not lack of interest or understanding, merely lack of time.

After learning about Yahoo's interest in Flickr I need to read Thoughts on Flickr and Yahoo (by Jeremy Zawodny).

I get it now, it's web services made simple!

Gmail Going Live April 1st

According to dozens of Google-watchers, Google's ad-driven email system, Gmail is slated to move from beta to live-status on Friday April 1st, one year after it was introduced to a limited number of testers. On its first day, many thought Gmail was an April Fool's joke.

Aural Sex

The 30 hottest things you can say to a naked woman. There a number of lines I have used, wish to use and hope to use. Romance is such a wondreful thing. This is as good as it gets in loveland.

RSS Delivered via SMS

FeedBeep is new service that notifies users of new RSS headlines (based on keywords) via SMS (text message). The beta is now open to anyone (in the U.S. or Belgium) who can access text messages on their phone or mobile device. Registration is free and takes only a few seconds. Feedbeep has more details.

Google Gets a Taste of It's Own Autolink Medicine

Mark Pilgrim of DiveIntoMark.org has written a Firefox extention called Butler that dramatically alters the pages on many Google services. Features include:
* removes ads on most Google pages
* fixes fonts on most Google pages
...
This is cleary an attack on Google's widely condemed AutoLink feature that allows users to change links on your pages to those chosen by Google.

Duct Tape is my life

According to 3M this year’s most important fashion statement is a wallet made from duct tape. The Duct Tape Workshop provides few simple steps for making your own wallet. I'll give it a go one day.

A Search for Life after Deportation

A Search for Life after Deportation is a sad and intriguing experience of a 62yr old American woman whose move to Zambia turned into a nightmare.

In memory of Ramjet

A friend's family pet died a few days ago. My friend who is such a caring family man and considered the pet as part of his family felt distressed, naturally. I have posted the letter he sent to me as a fitting memorial to the greatly missed pet.

My Dear Mates,

It's almost 11 days ago when I recieved the shocking
email of Ramjets' sudden demise from my wife, dear
Jane.
The news truly left me completely at a loss of words!
Here was a friend who had passed away without even the
chance of saying bye or worse still, no picture taken
with him or of him that might help as a memorial of
his charming and pleasant character.

You see, Ramjet died after a 'hit and ran' episode and
the culprit lacked the heart to even rush him to
emergency hospital. I had planned to have a great time
with him as soon as I break after the 1st semester.

I had no one to turn to, no one to relate to who would
understand the depth of my sorrow. I really missed
home then, little Tizhyo and his sister Tapiwa would
have surely been of great help in a time like this.

Lately, I have made friends with Martin, a classmate
and a refugee from the DRC (Zaire), who I help with
his english proficiency. I turned to him to help share
my grief - all I needed was for someone to listen to
me.

I went through some of my fond moments with Ramjet and
how I will miss him so. He was quite helpful as he sat
and patiently listened to my lamentations.
After I felt quite 'downloaded' of my grief, I kept
quiet for a moment.
My friend, Martin, asked me what Ramjet was to me - a
relative, friend, or what? I told him he was more than
a friend, he was any man's best friend!
He asked me Ramjet's occupation - was he a student or
pupil, worker or businessman?
I told him, 'Ramjet was a fine "

What Lies Ahead

A friend recommended this book to me. This what she had to say just to convince me to read it;

---------------------------------------------------------------------

To My Dearest Sam

Find enclosed, a few pages of "stuff" that I hope will help you find yourself emotionally and mentally.

It is written for women, but I believe you can equally relate to the advice and situations as a man. I read the book myself, two years ago, as I tried to make sense of my miserable marriage. I wanted to get out but didn't know how as I could not imagine living without my husband. I loved him.

These pages gave me strength to make the decision to move on emotionally, and put behind me a person I did not need in my life.

I have just enclosed things I thought are relevant to your situation. I' am acting purely out interest as a friend. Hopefully one day soon, you'll be able to break down those walls, and allow happiness to come into your life.

When I identified my husband as being a sociopath, I said "amen". He had to go. It happens to women, it happens to men too.

I know, it's not easy, but it is possible to move on, to trust and love love again. After all, no man is an island.

Remember;
"A TRUE FRIEND IS ONE WHO WALKS IN WHEN THE REST OF THE WORLD WALKS OUT"

I care- honest

Good luck my friend

Yours
Name withheld for privacy reasons.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My friend passed away a few years ago. Her words are so clear now.

Absolute Power Corrupts

Peggy Noonan sums it very well

What's Left? Shame

The Wapo's attempt at potraying Dubya as a messiah is questionable.

No one has questioned the fact the middle east has been turned upside down.

The shame, indeed the shame, lies in the way the whole thing has been accomplished.

Think about it, anyone can make money either by working tirelessly or by robbing a bank. It's still the same money, only your conscious will assure you of wether you are entitled to it.

Probably the WaPo people should prick their conscious just so they can justify worshipping a dubious hero, no pun intended.

Bubble Boobs

Imagine inflating your boobs by chewing gum? Well, the BBC says Chewing gum can 'enhance breasts'.

Now I know that big boobs are just a huge bubble....gum. My only concern is that bubbles have a habit if bursting. More boobs, please!

Fiona Apple's Nest

Apple, err Itunes is whipping up a lot of apple (Fiona) cream. Why is that
Songs from Fiona Apple's latest album which are widely available on the internet and are being played on the radio, but much to the chagrin of fans, the album can't be bought for love or money.


Down load the mp3 (I)tunes here

Rock's Oldest Joke

Rock's Oldest Joke: Yelling 'Freebird!' In a Crowded Theater. WSJ.com elaborates:

"It's a Request, a Rebuke,
A Cry From the Heart,
A Tribute to Skynyrd"

Zim Barb We ( US)

Here is my attempt to poke fun at the mainstrain media (MSM). We all know Zimbabwe is a disgrace. Mugabe is not fit to be a leader of any country.

My only beef is that while the rest of the white population of world cry foul, the black population does not cry wolf. The reason is simple. Politicians inflict pain on their own populace be it white or black.

White politicians condemning black people is a historical fact that is still being sanctioned by white people.

Black politicians causing grief for white populace is an unpardonable sin. I hate to think that we are missing a very vital element here. It does not matter wether Dubya tortures Iraqis, or Tony Blair imposes poverty on immigrants in his country, or Mugabe evicts white farmers, and on and on and on..

The common denominator is that people are being abused and mistreated. White or black we all feel the pain.

It all boils down to getting rid of bad leaders. The choice is yours, you have the vote.

Ah, Zimbabweans have no choice. Does any of us have a choice?

Read the sad story of a leader gone mad.

And there are plenty of them roaming the planet. God help us all.

Schiavo- Love Hurts

Here is an extra ordinary story of how love can be so conflicting.

God bless Schiavo.

Brawling Democracy

When Somali parliamentarians on Thursday voted against President Abdullahi Yusuf's call for peacekeepers from bordering states lawmakers came to blows in the parliament, currently based in the Kenyan capital Nairobi.

Television footage showed several MPs throwing metal chairs at each other, beating each other with walking sticks and others drenched in blood after being struck on the head.

Get Gmail!

I have a few Gmail accounts available for anyone interested. Just send me an email.

Wolfowitz nomination a shock for Europe

FT.com expresses alarm at President George W. Bush's decision on Wednesday to nominate Paul Wolfowitz as the next president of the World Bank marks the second shock this month to Europeans who thought Mr Bush would present a kinder, gentler face to the world in his second term.

Did Black Death boost HIV immunity in Europe?.

Experts argue over whether smallpox or plague should take the credit.

Google Code

Google Code Google's place for Open Source software launched.

Lil' Kim facing jail

It is not looking good for Lil Kim.

"Rapper LIL' KIM is expected to be sentenced to jail time after being convicted of perjury yesterday (March 17) in NEW YORK.

The charges stemmed from her connection with a shoot out between her entourage and associates of a rival hip-hop artist outside New York radio station Hot 97 in 2001. Prosecutors alleged that the singer lied to them during their investigation and during grand jury testimony.

Yesterday the singer beat the obstruction of justice charge, but was found guilty on three counts of perjury and one conspiracy charge.

She faces up to five years behind bars for each count"

People more dependant on Internet for news

The Gwennitt Daily online reports thatPeople more dependant on Internet for news

18 percent of adults reportedly relied on Internet for their political news instead of a mere three percent in 1996. The television news reports also grew from 72 percent earlier to 78 percent. Unfortunately for numerous print magazines and newspapers, the growth of Internet is having quite an impact on their business models. The research study confirmed the decline of newspapers from 60 percent in 1996 to 39 percent last year.

People more dependant on Internet for news

People more dependant on Internet for news

Woman Paid Invisible 'Mermaids' Airfare

Do you believe this story:

"Businesswoman Magrate Mapfumo said she paid $5,000 to fly the invisible mermaids to Harare on the advice of musician Edna Chizema, who is on trial for theft by false pretenses, the state-owned Herald newspaper reported Thursday.

Zimbabwe's Shona people believe mermaids are fearsome enchantresses capable of wreaking vengeance on wrongdoers. "

The Onion | Neverland Ranch Investigators Discover Corpse Of Real Michael Jackson

The Onion unveils the Real Michael Jackson: "Coroners have officially pronounced Michael Jackson dead. From what we can tell, he died between 18 and 20 years ago,' forensic investigator Tim Holbrooke said. 'We are not certain, at this time, who-or what-has been standing trial in that Santa Maria courthouse"

Google's Homage to Mac OS X Vanishes

Update from PC Magazine about Googles' disappearing OS X:

"Within a day of its public debut, a Google Labs project that emulates some of the graphical elements of the Mac OS X operating system is nowhere to be found.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the Web page for the project, called Google X, was unavailable. Visits to the Google X URL returned a note that the requested URL was not found on the server. ADVERTISEMENT "

Yahoo! 360

More about Yahoo! 360

This could be interesting.

The UK has the best advertisements.

True to this....

To Blog Or Not To Blog

"What is it (the author? the subject matter? the writing method?) that makes blogging a writing-inhibitor for one author and a writing-catalyst for another?"

rodcorp attempts to make sense of it all:

Jericho Handed Over to Palestinian Control

Associated Press/AP Online reports:

" Israeli troops handed this quiet West Bank town to Palestinian security control Wednesday, dismantling a checkpoint and easing travel restrictions in what was seen as a message to ordinary Palestinians that an informal truce is starting to pay off. "

Is the Tech Market Bubbling Under?

I have been wondering for a while why UK Investors are Nervous of Dotcom Sector:

"Recent events such as the flotation of internet search engine Google have been reviving interest in tech stocks across the Atlantic, although many experts say investor confidence is picking up at a slower rate at home.

Hilary Cook of Barclays Stockbrokers says: 'I think we have already seen a tech boom in the US - the Nasdaq has have a very good run - but the problem is we (in the UK) don't have many quoted tech companies any more.

'We haven't had the basic technology stocks, the Intels, the Apple or Microsoft, to really benefit from the return to favour.'
She says the only thing on the UK market at a technological level was pharmaceutical companies, with accountancy software group Sage the only technology stock in the Footsie.

Hilary adds: 'The environment is massively more favourable but only if the companies want to come to the market. It's not that fashionable to go for quotes again. It's a lot easier just to find a private equity backer, of which there's no shortage. "

What An Appetite

The case of Peter Bryan who pleaded guilty to two charges of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, caused widespread criticism of the mental health services after it was revealed that he had been released from a secure hospital where he was placed after he beat a woman to death.

He had developed an urge to eat human flesh!.

Sentencing him to two life sentences, Judge told Bryan he would never be released because he was too dangerous. How so sad!

Articles African Institute for equal rights on the global market

Hannilie Zulu has something interesting to say about false accounting, "Where Do They Get Their STATISTICS? "

Blogging Beyond the Men's Club

this interesting article has some serious flaws.

"Since anyone can write a Weblog, why is the blogosphere dominated by white males?"

No, no, white men have a club, clique culture. That's just way they have been trained or educated. Condenming people for who they are is, in my opinion, wrong. Blogging is about self-expression be it from woman, man and whatever colour you are.

It is no secret that white males dominate, I would not lose sleep over it. Shit stinks in whatever colour. Trying to change the "white Male psyche" is giving to much credit to people who do not deserve it!

Blogging Beyond the Men's Club

this interesting article has some serious flaws.

"Since anyone can write a Weblog, why is the blogosphere dominated by white males?"

No, no, white men have a club, clique culture. That's just way they have been trained or educated. Condenming people for who they are is, in my opinion, wrong. Blogging is about self-expression be it from woman, man and whatever colour you are.

It is no secret that white males dominate, I would not lose sleep over it. Shit stinks in whatever colour. Trying to change the "white Male psyche" is giving to much credit to people who do not deserve it!

How tunes get stuck in your head

Chaka Khan's hit song "aint nobody loves me better" has been ringing in my head ever since it hit the airwaves in the 80's. I have been to numerous discos and parties since then, and whenever this track is played, it still attracts hordes of young and aged disco dancers to behave like they are in love. Frankly, i still like the tune. I have never figured out why out of all the good music that is released daily, with impunity, this Chaka love song still stirs my mood.

The BBC highlights How tunes get stuck in your head. It sounds plausible.

Come on all together now, " Aint nobody...."!

Why Google isn't what it used to be

Matt McAlister has a problem with Google. In his attempt to explain
Why Google isn't what it used to be, he effectively exposes his weakness.

Quote:
"The AutoLink debate seems more like the catalyst for venting frustration in a perception shift than a real complaint about the technology. Google was once the enabler of open market conversations, a doorway to a future where innovators could circumvent the establishment on the way toward improving the world we live in. But there's something about this new feature that changes all that.

Product launches such as Orkut, Gmail, Image Ads, and Google News all stripped away the once-thick varnish of credibility and trust that Google commanded amongst the digerati. They bought closed software tools companies like Blogger and Picasa. And then Google went public. The true intentions of the company's founders became obvious to everyone. They want to be rich! How rude!"

Okay, power corrupts, and the folks at googleplex are not immune to that. The whole Internet game is fuelled by new ideas and not sour grapes. In human terms we all reach an optimum level and then we allow others to carry on. It is like a relay, make the most of your window of opportunity and pass it on.

I think we are now getting a lot of cry babies who wish they could have done better. Get over it, and try something else!

If Google is wrong on this one, it will be only a matter of time before the crash-land just like anyone else before them. Let IT be a force for good!

Bill gates game

Start.com is a new innovative web service that I can't quite figure out what it is all about. In my limited Internet experience, I think, it is just a bookmark website. Like bookmarking favourites in windows internet explorer.

Only one thing wrong with it, it only supports windows explorer, cool tool though. Let's see how Bill Gates moves from here. After I lost thousands of bookmarks when I was compelled to reformat my hard-drive, I've always cursed Windows. This is quite interesting, Billy wants his goat back.

Google is not going to take this lying back, Game on!

Letter to the FEC

Re: Upcoming FEC Notice of Proposed Rulemaking governing political activity on the internet

million yen for having a baby

Associated Press/AP Online says:
"How about getting paid 1 million yen for having a baby? To combat a shrinking population, a small town in northern Japan has decided to give a cash award worth about $9,600 to each female resident who has a third child, an official said Friday. "

million yen for having a baby

Associated Press/AP Online says:
"How about getting paid 1 million yen for having a baby? To combat a shrinking population, a small town in northern Japan has decided to give a cash award worth about $9,600 to each female resident who has a third child, an official said Friday. "

Extreme Bunny Makeover

 Flash cartoon about the hip new look for Bugs Bunny. Warning -- contains lots of harsh language, mostly bleeped out.

"That's all folks!"

Inappropriate Jokes or racial Jibes

I read a story about Five police officers and four dispatchers being suspended for sending computer messages after a nightclub caught fire joking about the blaze and quoting a line from the song "Disco Inferno" - "burn baby burn."

Associated Press/AP Online adds:

"Dispatcher Ashlye Bauerle wrote, 'You hear that Midtown is on fire!! The roof of a club . . . That's funny! Gives a whole new meaning to the roof, the roof is on fire,' the documents said.......

......The club has a mostly black clientele, and there were suggestions after the fire that the messages revealed racial bias in the department."

Really?

HIV/AIDS and Women's Rights

New Straits Times reports:

"More than 50 per cent of the 3,052 respondents to a
survey carried out by the Malaysia AIDS Council (MAC) believe that women
with HIV/AIDS should not marry and have children.
The respondents were women and teenagers, and 55.3 per cent of them
felt that this should be the case, while 44.6 per cent felt otherwise.
The survey was carried out last December in the Klang Valley, Johor,
Kelantan and Penang.
Most of the respondents were struggling to answer the questions and
this reflected women's lack of understanding about those with HIV/ AIDS
and their rights, Universiti Putra Malaysia Nutrition and Health Sciences "

HIV COUNSELLING

The Irish Times Lifelines article says:

"Voluntary HIV counselling and testing has been accepted practice for more than 10 years. However, uptake has been poor, even among those at high risk, resulting in late diagnosis. Doctors writing in the latest edition of the British Medical Journal feel that HIV testing should be more widely accepted. Just as those at risk of cancer do not receive voluntary counselling and testing before having a chest X-ray, they argue that suspected HIV sufferers should not have to undergo pre-test counselling. The current criteria, they say, may be contributing to late diagnoses and a resultant spread of infection. "

Public Version of Saddam Capture Fiction

A former U.S. Marine who participated in capturing ousted Iraqi President Saddam Hussein said the public version of his capture was fabricated.

British companies fuel corruption in Africa

In the commentary on Bribery and disruption, the Guardian Newspaper blames British companies for fuelling corruption in Africa.

The fact that the British government is a laggard on corruption issues captures exactly why it has so far to go in addressing Britain's responsibility for corruption in Africa.

A National Consumption Tax

Is it better to pay taxes when you make money or when you spend it? That's the fundamental question underlying talk about a 'consumption tax.'
Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan raised the issue this week in testimony before the President's Advisory Panel on Tax Reform.

How Would It Change Things? :

Slaves? What Slaves?

Niger gets the award for the worst "cover your ass" attempt of the year.So they announce they're sponsoring an event where thousands of slaves will be given their freedom. Then they turn around and cancel the event. The reason? Slavery doesn't exist in Niger. Slaves? What slaves? We were joking!

Wicked Wish

What's the world coming to, this wicked_wish post is causing a stir in the blogosphere.

This post is not for everyone. If you're uncomfortable with hearty leftist political opinions, you might want to skip it.

I do not agree with much of it, but the readers' comments are intriguing.

Large and In Charge

The study in Journal of the American Medical Association reveals Data That Suggest Obesity Is Rampant in NFL :

"The former defensive tackle John Jurkovic said he's seen plenty of evidence that players have gotten not just bigger but sometimes fatter, 'big as houses' in recent years because of league pressure to intimidate opponents and win."

The Glamorous Web

Founder of Adaptive Path Jesse James Garrett has a cool feature on
a new approach to web applications:

"If anything about current interaction design can be called "glamorous," it's creating Web applications. After all, when was the last time you heard someone rave about the interaction design of a product that wasn't on the Web? (Okay, besides the iPod.) All the cool, innovative new projects are online."

Google Suggests and Google Maps are two examples of a new approach to web applications that Adaptive Path have been calling Ajax. The name is shorthand for Asynchronous JavaScript + XML, and it represents a fundamental shift in what’s possible on the Web.

Rock on!

The Rise of Dr. Rice

WEB EXCLUSIVE: "NEWSWEEK's Michael Hirsh will discuss Condoleezza Rice's forceful capture of the foreign policy spotlight during a Live Talk on Wednesday, March 9, at noon ET"

What Bush Got Right

People are asking themselves a question: "Could he possibly have been right?"
Here is an interesting MSNBC article and here is a quote:

"If Bush is to be credited for the benefits of his policies, he must also take responsibility for their costs. Over the past three years, his administration has racked up enormous costs, many of which could easily have been lowered or avoided altogether. The pointless snubbing of allies, the brusque manner in which it went to war in Iraq, the undermanned occupation and the stubborn insistence (until last summer) on pursuing policies that were fueling both an insurgency and anti-Americanism in Iraq�all have taken their toll in thousands of American and Iraqi lives and almost $300 billion."

Black boys separate classes plan

Black boys may have to be separated from classmates to help improve school performance, the head of the Commission for Racial Equality has suggested.

Trevor Phillips has lots of bad ideas, I think this is another one. The following comment highlights the folly of such an idea;

Let me get this straight - the Commission for Racial Equality is suggesting what amounts to racial apartheid in Britain? It just confirms my view that the Commission is a very dangerous organisation which has done more to damage race relations in this country than any other.
Steve, Birmingham, England

Private tutions should be encouraged. Esteem amongst boys should be boosted through self effort and motivation.

Oceana Club

Living in a place where rugby rules can be a curse atimes. What I hate most is outsiders taking over over the local pub, though briefly.

You know the feeling when you are simply bored and wish to while away hours at the local pub or cafe and see familliar faces just so you can feel part of a community. Whenever there is a game at this stadium of consipicous monstrosity, it takes about half hour to get a drink!

In my quest for quick relief, not the kind you dirty people are thinking of, I decided to venture out beyond my backyard. I went to a club out of area. I'm no clubbing person, I'm too old. This review on London Oceana Club in Kingston Upon Thames does not spare feeling:

"Once upon a time bored Home Counties teenagers got tired of hanging around the local parade of shops, asking passers-by to buy them Diamond White from the offy and smoking poppy seed spliffs. 'But what else is there?' they cried, desperate for some kind of after-hours entertainment. Which is where Options came in.
Options, in Kingston, was the scene of many a teenage puke and snog for a surprisingly disproportionate amount of Londoners. Renowned for letting anyone in � big groups of lads, chavvy teenage girls, crusties selling acid, even grammar school kids � it soon attracted the attention of the local cop-shop, who wisely left well alone, not wanting the hassle.
But recently, Options was reborn as the 2,500 capacity Oceana, a �6million project boasting two dance floors, five bars, poor security and a serious problem with violence. Kingston's worthies have even formed an opposition group, campaigning to get its license revoked by citing the regular trouble that spills out in the small hours when cheap beer combined with bad music and no discernable public transport system leads to ugly scenes in Kingston town centre.
Worse, one woman was recently raped at gunpoint after accepting a lift following a night at the club.
And I use the word 'club' advisedly, because Oceana is about as far from what most of us would consider a nightclub as possible. In truth, it's a huge student pub with terrible music, overdressed suburbanites and dance floors like cattle markets.
There are many who look for nothing more from their evening out than a Bacardi Breezer flavoured snog and a bottle in the face, and good luck to 'em. But if clubbing has really gone full circle � from cheesy local discos to an exciting and creative counterculture and now back to the mainstream age"

Imagine this, you need a driver's licence or passport to get in. This is human rights violation! I can't be bothered to to argue this sort of people. I give up clubbing, again.

My Dearest Condi

Do not fret. The ex-Canadian foreign minister in an attempt to spit at you has revealed his inadequacy.

Lloyd Axworthy is small fry in international politics. This self anointed messiah of the poor in Canada has no idea of poverty that is rampant in his own backyard.

Canada is a beautiful country, no doubt. I'll make an effort to visit it one day. I'm still upset about not being admitted to McGills University some donkey's years ago because, wait for this, my Cambridge University A-levels were not good enough. Anyway, that's another story.

I think Lloyd is out of order to try and humility the most powerful woman in the world. Whatever folly the US comes up with, at least, they are brave enough to face up to their actions. Wimps are very quick to condemn brave people, it makes them (wimps)feel worthwhile.

Wrong or right, I'd rather deal with a straightforward person rather than a jumped up do-gooder who lives in an ivory tower built on poor people's backs. What cheek!

Do not bother with Lloyd, let him enjoy his retirement paid for by hard working immigrants. In the end truth prevails.

Best Rgds

Lex

Is there anything Google Can't Do?

Google has introduced it's tool,Searching for weather, by web or phone.

While this only works in the US, I think the UK can do with such a useful internet utility. I'm not not going to discuss the UK weather for now, we all know what it is like.

Korn Born Again

Brian "Head" Welch, him of the band called Korn has seen the light. Hallelujah! Korn announced Welch's resignation last month after 13 years with the band.

In his own words:

"Welch said he had become increasingly depressed and drug-addicted in recent years, but that religion helped him quit.
He said he plans to release more music without the band.
'My songs are God saying things to me, him talking to people. He's going to use me to heal people and people are going to be drawn to it, just watch, they will be,' he said. "

This bring to my mind a story about an old school friend who is now a gospel evangelist.

Way to go girl!

Martha Stewart Made the Most of Prison Time.

Anything is Possible

Fred Wilson's excellent post .. technology has made it possible .. Anything Is Possible.

Finding God on your iPod

"Godcasting" is gaining users and listeners:

"Godcasting is the latest advancement in online religion, in which preachers convert their sermons to audio to be heard on portable digital audio devices.
Using iPods or any portable MP3 player, "podcasting" lets people download audio programs that can be listened to whenever they like. It's a form of audio syndication that musicians, businessmen, tech talk show hosts and political commentators like Al Franken have already adopted."

Free Internet Television

TVexe.com is offering free software that enables anyone with broadband Internet connection to watch live worldwide television channels on a PC, free of charge. I have not tried it yet, I think I'll give it a shot soon.

Battle of the Forecourt

MOTORISTS all over the country in the UK are hoping to soon be driving away in an 05-registered car. With the launch of the new registration plate this week, the car-buying season is underway.

Here is a piece on how to get the best finance dealfor your new car.

Pimp my Burger

I like the Pimp My Ride MTV show by Xzibit. Burger King Germany produced a full-length parody of Pimp My Ride, right down to the before/after camera swipes, the theme song, and "4-inch buns." I enjoyed the Pimp my Burger video.

Racist Game of Gladiators

This article from The Independent News states that prison officers at a young offenders institute thought it was funny to lock up conflicting inmates in the same cell, and watch the sparks fly:

"Guards at the young offenders institution thought it was a 'joke' and a 'laugh' to lock up conflicting inmates in a sport they nicknamed Coliseum or Gladiator, an inquiry in London was told. Unsuitable detainees would be pitted together while officers bet on the results. On this occasion the game went 'dramatically wrong' and the psychopath Robert Stewart repeatedly battered Zahid Mubarek, 19, with a table leg."

These people have no shame at all.

Doomsday Scenario For Africans

In its report, "AIDS in Africa," UNAIDS estimated more than 80 million Africans may die from AIDS by 2025. The three scenarios include a best-case situation, a middle-case and a doomsday scenario. They all warn that the worst of the epidemic's impact is still to come.

"There is no single policy prescription that will change the outcome of the epidemic," the report stated. "The death toll will continue to rise no matter what is done."

In otherwords, as Africans we are doomed beyond redemption.I'm just wondering wether this is a polite way of telling Africans not to expect help from UNAIDS and their ilk.

The following part is very disturbing as far as I'm concerned, it places the whole blame on African's behaviour:

"If by 2025, millions of African people are still becoming infected with HIV each year, these scenarios suggest that it will not be because there was no choice,' the report said. 'It will be because, collectively, there was insufficient political will to change behavior at all levels, from the institution, to the community, to the individual, and halt the forces driving the AIDS epidemic in Africa."
According to the report, for Africans to survive they should refrain from sex. Is sex the only way one gets infected? I'll keep a stockpile condoms to last me into 2025 just to see how these scientist and experts got their sums wrong!

And, of course, we do not yet know where this AIDS virus came from. Any ideas wise guys at UNAIDS?

Breast For Sale

Tawny Peeks was Accused of Assault with a Breast . ( Well this was the Famous Breast: )

Blogger Honeymoon Ends

CNET has an important piece warning of the The coming crackdown on blogging. It describes how the Federal Election Commission is beginning the perilous process of extending a controversial 2002 campaign finance law to the Internet.

Meanwhile, here is a post on blogger crackdown in other countries:

"This is the down side of the recent media focus on blogging; the repressive theocrats and dictators of the world also read our media. They perceive a threat to their control of information, and they’re reacting the way these atavistic monsters always do—by attempting to crush the threat at its source.

But this time, they’re going to fail."

accessTunes

accessTunes 1.0 released. accessTunes lets you access your iTunes Library from any computer, anywhere in the world.

Will we ever sleep?

Crisis for the Godless

Atheism as a theoretical position is in decline worldwide,writes the World Tribune.com

A philosopher says; "Atheism, which people have tried to for hundreds of years as 'the ways of reason and science,' is proving to be mere irrationality and ignorance."

McGrath relates in Christianity Today: "With time (atheism) turned out to have just as many frauds, psychopaths, and careerists as religion does. ... With Stalin and Madalyn Murray O'Hair, atheism seems to have ended up mimicking the vices of the Spanish Inquisition and the worst televangelists, respectively."

Peeking Into Google

Urs Hoelzle, Google vice president of operations and vice president of engineering, offered a rare behind-the-scenes tour of Google's architecture on Wednesday. Hoelzle spoke here at EclipseCon 2005, a conference on the open source, extensible platform for software tools.

Racists, Bullies and Abusers

I sat through a BBC undercover documentary last about how staff of a company which runs a detention centre and the in-country escorting contract abuse detainees.

The film showed asylum seekers being assaulted, racially abused and sexually humiliated by guards. Some people are saying that government policy is fuelling human rights abuses and miscarriages of justice.

The guards were enjoying and boasting about torturing other people. Is it in their nature?

KYLIE - AGENT PROVOCATEUR ADVERT

Kylie Minogue's sexy cinema advert has been posted online.

The advert ends with Kylie facing the camera and asking male viewers to prove that the undies are the most erotic, by attempting to stand up.

The advert was made for www.agentprovocateur.com.

Bubba the Leviathon Lobster Dies at Zoo

The Associated Press/AP Online reports:

"He dodged lobster pots for decades, endured a trip from the coast of Massachusetts to Pittsburgh and survived about a week in a fish market. But a trip to the zoo proved to be too much for a 22-pound lobster named Bubba.

The leviathan of a lobster died Wednesday afternoon at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium about a day after he was moved from Wholey's Market, said zoo spokeswoman Rachel Capp and Bob Wholey, owner of the fish market.

'They're very finicky. It could have been a change in the water. You have no idea,' said Wholey. "

Driving in Zambia

The Europecar travel guide websites provides Useful Driving Tips for people visiting Zambia.

Local driving habits can be erratic and road rules are not always strictly observed - so be vigilant on the road

Driving procedures are similar to most countries. Inorder to avoid roadrage or mishaps with other drivers, this observation about Zambian drivers is a must read.

How to Sell Your Book, CD, or DVD on Amazon

Kevin Kelly, him of the Cool Tools, provides 8 easy steps of how to get your book, CD, or DVD listed on the long tail of Amazon:

1 Get an ISBN (for a book), or a UPC (for a CD or DVD). For one book it costs $125, for one CD, $55, for one DVD, $89.
2 Get a bar code based on the ISBN or UPC. Costs $10, or may be included in UPC.
3 Sign up with Amazon, $30 per year.
4 Duplicate your stuff; include the bar code on the outside.
5 Ship two copies to Amazon
6 Send cover scan
7 Track sales
8 Resgister it (optional)

The full details, with how-to tips and links to recommended sources, is expanded here.

Medical Care on the Brink

Tight Standards and Simple Equipment, Not Massive Grants, Could Bring Improved Health in Africa, Journal of the National Medical Association (JNMA) Study Says.

Dr. Eddie L. Hoover and his team reported from their many visits to Africa by the American Medical Team for Africa in the paper "Medical Care on the Brink: The Need for Re-Engineering Healthcare Services in Sub-Saharan Africa." The team found that since communications, transportation and monitoring of hospital and clinical conditions are so poor, western aid agencies and corporations need to rethink how they provide grants and medical technology to the continent.

"The days of just sending $10 million are over,' says Hoover, a cardiothoracic surgeon in Buffalo, NY. 'These facilities need education in sanitation, medical record-keeping, and the basic equipment to test urine and blood for disease. Aid providers and host countries need to impose standards, as well. You can't deal with HIV when local doctors don't have the ability to even measure blood sugar."

Engineers devise invisibility shield

news @ nature.com reports:

"The idea of a cloak of invisibility that hides objects from view has long been confined to the more improbable reaches of science fiction. But electronic engineers have now come up with a way to make one."

Enterprise Blogging

It was only a matter of time before blogging was embedded in business. The WSJ.com gives a more detailed insight into how this trend has come about:

"The blog as business tool has arrived.

Some eight million Americans now publish blogs and 32 million people read them, according to the Pew Internet & American Life Project. What began as a form of public diary-keeping has become an important supplement to a business's online strategy: Blogs can connect with consumers on a personal level -- and keep them visiting a company's Web site regularly."

Lobbying For Bubba The Lobster

This interesting story of a 22-pound leviathan of a lobster called Bubba has one group called People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and another group calling itself People For Eating Tasty Animals vying it's plight.

The owner Bob Wholey gave the lobster to the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium and philosophically said:
"I don't think you could eat something that big. ... What range of emotions does a lobster have? Greed? Lust? Love? I'm just going to give him to the zoo and hope he lives another 100 years,' Wholey said.
'If you sat down and ate this thing, wouldn't that be a bit shellfish?"

Is Happy Birthday Really Copyrighted?"

Yes! According to Unhappy Birthday. here is an interesting article on the story of "happy birthday to you".

Sexes Think Differently

Scientists are saying this:
"Harvard University president Lawrence Summers has suffered acrimonious condemnation, and may have jeopardized his job, for suggesting that the underrepresentation of women in engineering and some scientific fields may be due in part to inherent differences in the intellectual abilities of the sexes.
But Summers could be right. "

Naturally, he has just proven an obvious point, women are bound to disagree. Talk about a self fulfulling prophecy!

Google or Yahoo

I love google's simplicity and easy access, that's why I spend loads of time using google services.

I have been checking my web visitor stats and, lately, yahoo appears to deliver a lot more than google is managing. My first thought is that more optimisation is required. Then again, if I'm getting so much from Yahoo, should I worry myself with optimising webpages just to please the the googlebot?

The UnGoogle (Yes, Yahoo!) unfolds the details.

There is something about Google that I like, sure. This is just mind boggling; One year later, Yahoo! Search gains on rival Google

Brain Drain: Calls for Compensation

This Brain Drain: Calls for Compensation initiative, though well intended is a damn idea.

Professionals from Africa flee because they are fed up with living on subsistence. I migrated from Zambia and established a near normal standard of living in the UK. I know what I'm talking about.

I want to help my country, sure. But I do not want to starve to death while feeding the politicians' greed. If you want my services,please, pay me accordingly.

I do a lot of voluntary work which does not seem to impress these shallow minded do-gooders.

Sure, we need help. We are not going to get help by holding the British government at ransom. If there is anything I know about the British is that they do not take well to threats or blackmail.

Africans, well zambians, should look after themselves. It is that simple. The Zambian government should learn to use Zambian people at home or abroad.

Feel free to contact me if you require my services!

Pussy In Boots

This was the front page image on WaPo. I don't think that anyone, anywhere, could ask for better imagery. It's the boots that won it!

How Odeo Happened

I just managed to catch up with this article from The New York Times published on 25 february. I think this is going to be huge.

Quote:
"The primarily amateur Internet audio medium known as podcasting will take a small, hopeful step on Friday toward becoming the commercial Web's next big thing.

That step is planned by Odeo, a five-person start-up that is based in a walk-up apartment in this city's Mission District and was co-founded by a Google alumnus. The company plans to introduce a Web-based system that is aimed at making a business of podcasting - the process of creating, finding, organizing and listening to digital audio files that range from living-room ramblings to BBC newscasts."

Honey, I shrunk the dollar

I live on paychecks from the US. If there is anything that peeves me about the Bush government is how they have allowed the dollar to shrink. It is even more frustrating because I cannot even vote in the US!

By George, "Why is the euro worth so much more now, honey?" SPIEGEL ONLINE EXPLAINS..

Living in Europe and working for an American paymaster is becoming increasingly unattractive.

Oral Sex Epidemic

Oprah addresses the Alarming sexual behavior among children:
"Times have changed: children as young as twelve are having oral sex."

The Fickle Economy

Los Angeles Times reporter Peter G. Gosselin delves into an American paradox:

" Why so many families report being financially less secure even as the nation has grown more prosperous. The answer lies in a quarter-century-long shift of economic risks from the broad shoulders of business and government to the backs of working families. Safety nets that once protected Americans from economic turbulence - safeguards like unemployment compensation and employer loyalty - have eroded or vanished. Familes are more vulnerable to sudden shifts in the economy than any time since the Great Depression. The result is a daunting 'New Deal' for many working Americans - one that compels them to cope, largely on their own, with financial forces far beyond their control."

Mess O' Potamia

The Carpetbagger's Report on Blessed are the warmongers talks about one Republican lawmaker who seems anxious to start another – this time, with nukes.

Horror of horrors, this speech was delivered in a church!

Am I the only one to notice that the religious fanatics rule the world?

Sex Tourism

Here is the US Intelligence report shitlist. This is a long list of human rights violations that the Bush's US government hopes to correct.

Being Zambian, naturally, this statement was poignant;

"State promotion of tourism drives the predatory interests that promote sex tourism and sexual exploitation of underage girls for prostitution"

The Visit Zambia 2005 campaign is in danger of turning Zambia into a hub for sexual predators, if not so already.

Street Life -

The Fortune sez Apple's stores have become zeitgeist beehives

"Whereas the older generation still thinks it strange to own a Mac, the younger generation may consider Apple a core brand for their digital lifestyle,"

The digital lifestyle, for now is hotter. And it will always be way cooler.