I’m devastated! Completely in mourning! Not MJ. I so wanted that concert to happen, because from it, there would have been great video collection of his hits with some live performances to boot. I was a fan throughout MJ. Even when the world turned against him, I remained faithful. And hopeful for a comeback! The loss, no, the absolute death of that hope is completely saddening.
Even sadder is that MJ died unhappy. Saddened by all the negativity the world threw at him. Perhaps even a little depressed. How cruel the world must have felt to this man. Who never knew the life we all mostly lead. Paris Hilton has had a semblance of a “normal” life. MJ just never did. And to be a toddler and then an icon is a huge leap that is bound to cause out of touch with reality issues. Which MJ definitely suffered from. But we the world, who took his life and turned him into an icon before he was old enough to date, denied him a chance to ever hang out at a mall, go out to a bar with a friend, take a girl out for a date… the things that define us. The moments where we mark passages from childhood to adulthood. The transitions that help us understand growth has happened. For MJ it was one whirlwind of the sameness. Stardom. From toddler to forever. And then one day, the media woke up and realized they had the power to destroy. They tried it on an icon like MJ. I hope they are proud of their success. We as a society watched them, some of us cheering them on, others in protest. But MJ took it all in. Wondered why we had loved him so much and then hated him without any warning. And he had no real life experiences in between that to shield him from that blow. Cruel. That’s what we were to MJ.
So in his death, as the same media sings his praises, words they haven’t said of this man in years. His reality. His super stardom. His great contribution to the arts. All being highlighted in his death. I want to take this opportunity to remind everyone of this one thing; that the only time anyone ever needs your kindness is while they are living. And while it’s an awesome gesture to give it to someone’s memory, our real duty is to the living. Let’s try a little kindness, a little constructive criticism, a little corrective nudging, and completely turn away from the death blows we’ve learnt to cheer on from roof tops. Somewhere in this blog is a post titled “The Pontius Pilate syndrome.” Read it if you choose to. These are issues close to my heart.
And on that note, I don’t know who that pastor is; or is he a reverend? But the guy going around Kenya, where there were clashes getting people to confess and pray for forgiveness, I want to throw my full support behind what this man has achieved, what he is trying to accomplish and his method. I thank him for his initiative and I hope that many many many Kenyans will find peace and a new hope in their country from this man’s efforts. When I say a prayer tonight, I will remember to pray for this man to be successful in bringing people face to face with the truth of who they became, if only for a moment, and at the same time providing them with a means to make peace with it, forgive and start to heal.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
What's the real cost of mismanagement?
What are the overall consequences of mismanagement? Often times, the obvious will be stated. But what REALLY are the consequences of mismanagement? I don’t mean outright crazy madness, where the managers are looting. That isn’t mismanagement. It’s embezzlement. I mean where you sit back and watch something you’re in charge of deteriorate to where there’s nothing left of it. Either you’re too dumb to see it’s happening and stop it, or are too busy with other things and have neglected your responsibilities to this point. Whatever the reason, I’m concerned with that kind of attitude. Where the person in charge is around when everything falls apart, and does nothing to stop it. And this situation considered only where no uncontrollable or extenuating circumstances exist.
Of former schools
Let me give an example of the things I’m talking about. I was very fortunate to have attended 3 of some of the best schools there were in my days for primary, secondary and post secondary education. Here’s my point. With all I know about each and every one of these schools, there’s not a single one of them I would wish for my children to attend in the current day. Forget that they were the schools to be in when I was in them. Forget that the longest application lines and processes existed with admittance rates at below 20% for how coveted these institutions were while I was in them. To say that, and for anyone to compare them with what they are now, is to cause everyone around to wonder if maybe I’m making things up.
Primary
2 out of 3 of the alma maters have started some kind of revival processes, thanks to the web and its far reaching arms. The 3rd one hasn’t probably won’t but it’s a far cry from what it used to be. It’s crazy, of all good management I ever saw, all factors considered, was my primary school headmaster. In retrospect. I was too young to understand how his attitude and habits were the overall glue that held all together in that environment. I guess we were fortunate in that for me and my siblings, we all finished our education while he was the HNIC. Fast forward to today. One of my classmates who started a family much earlier than most now has children in this very environment. And the only thing he has to say is just how bad everything is. He says we couldn’t understand it. We have no way to imagine things could be that bad. I’m always the one who asks, why? What happened, what catastrophe changed things? The catastrophe? Change in management. A leader who cannot make the correct calls on budget; including cuts and priorities. A leader who is incapable of identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the current institution and taking the steps needed to bolster the foundations.
Post Secondary
My post secondary education was in a prestigious environment, not to us who were in it, but to those who had formulated ideas and attitudes about it. We paid a lot, true. But the heart and soul of that institution had nothing to do with money. It had to do with cohesive functionality. We ranked 1st all the time for the international course we were all part of, to the point that we were audited severally because they thought we had to be cheating. What African school could have so many smart kids lumped in one area? Well, we had instructors who understood the curriculum and the deliverables. Who communicated that very clearly to the students and who allowed push back so that we could ask questions over and over again until we were clear. Never once were we judged, or considered too “spoilt” to have valid opinions. This environment created creativity and fierce loyalty to our brand. And this loyalty translated to so much pride that we were all out there striving to uphold our name.
As luck would have it, this institution would have a history that would come to haunt it. While I was in it, it was run by catholic fathers. Turns out, the catholic fathers had been given the institution to run by a then wealthier different denomination that had more than it could handle. It appears that the ‘operate this school’ contract was “run this” no details attached. So one day, the other denomination is now running broke (shock!) and recalls its property. It’s a violent upheaval. But now they are running the institution. What they did different, I’m never going to know. But the results have been shocking, to say the least. I keep wondering how they possibly could be in the situation they’re in. What they needed to have changed to get there so quickly. Some things are so solid, so stable; you imagine it has to take some time to bring them down. No, not these people. They must have some kind of special talent. Because they have brought down a giant in record time. This is a future case study on how not to manage, for sure.
Family Traditions
Here’s my beef with all this. Primary school, I went to a very nice school. But not the first in my extended family. My father’s side of the family has a rare story for their times. My grandfather was a doctor, my grandmother a teacher. So my father and his siblings got the rare opportunity to not only live in Nairobi but also to attend the best schools. While my father didn’t attend the specific school that I did, his younger brother did. And it played out that our entire slew of cousins from that side went there as well. We wanted to keep this tradition if we could. Now, we’re definitely not considering it. I wonder if I can communicate this sense of loss.
It reminds me of the time when my brother had to go to high school. The conversation had mainly centered on private day school until my mother had an epiphany of sorts and shoved that idea. Here was the problem, there were no boarding schools in Nairobi that we could take him to and feel safe with that decision. This is why the private day school had been the original idea. Now, for my father’s frustration point. My father was an old boy’s member, a group that was trying to revive the school he had gone to. When he was there, he was one of the African students, though by then, they had a few, but not about half the population. In actual fact, he attended the school when it had the title starting with “Duke of … “ Now, imagine his frustration with the fact that my brother has qualified to get into this school, but none of us will hear of it, because we have heard they treat their form ones terribly, and worse when they have small bodies. By then, one or two had died while being rabbalized. In addition, there was nothing but rumors of gay rape happening in these boarding schools. My brother ended up in Gilgil in one of the forces controlled schools. It turned out to have been a blessing because it is a great school he went to. But there! Because of headmasters who refused to reign in bullying and other shenanigans, my father lost what he really wanted. A chance to have an alma mater relationship with his only son. Can I communicate the extent of loss?
Rare opportunity
I should mention that my mother also was amongst the lucky few from their times. Hers was a more stumbled into lucky situation as compared to my father. For starters, proximity. My mother hails from one of the districts that are now about to be absorbed into Nairobi because they have become merely outskirts and suburbs. To put it in perspective, it was a 30 minutes drive to my mum’s shags and we went there on a whim on Sunday evenings often. But her parents were not wealthy nor educated. However, she happens to be the ultimate last born. She was the last born of the youngest of 3 wives children. And fortunately for her, her oldest brother from her mother was educated, done with school, married and flourishing. I should mention that whenever my parents have told us the story of “walking to school without shoes.” Both have lied every time. Very rare circumstance for children of my generation. Anyway, my mother was smart as daylight too. So she ended up in one of Nairobi’s greatest schools for her time. And I ended up there as well. And while I was there, my mother decried the deterioration in prestige of a still then very highly regarded school. Now she just wonders if anything could ever be done to save it. As a student in a school where my mother had been, it felt very good. I was one of two. The other girl, an old family friend, just happened to be my mom’s friend from high school’s daughter. It was quite something. And I had hoped that maybe I could share the same with a possible future daughter. Given the condition of that school currently, woe unto me!
Frustration
So here’s where I am at with all this. I’m frustrated. Maybe even a little upset. I’m just feeling victimized by the actions of those who were put in charge of these institutions. I’d like to write them a letter. It would be polite, but I would like to draw for them a picture that captures just how much more they have robbed people of. I’m sure that they see the decay, the failures of their mismanagement. The evidence is obvious. What I don’t think they know is the far reaching implications. They may not be aware of the “error that keeps on giving” situation they have left behind. To look outside of personal self, these are now huge institutions, filled with potential that at the very least will have a lull in their histories, assuming all ends well and these will be revived to their past glories. Which means that tons of money has to go into bringing back what was the norm into these places. Money that could have been used to take these institutions to the next level! Stalled development, the inheritance they’ve left us all with.
What about the pride with which we regarded our alma maters? We now say we were there and everyone rumbles into, “oh the place has deteriorated” speech because they remember what it meant when we were there. What about that? And what about for those like me, who had hoped to continue a tradition of taking their children to these institutions? As they are currently, it would be an irresponsible decision on any parent’s part. What about that?
Hope - Maybe
All is not lost for me. The kids are yet to be manufactured. The dough has not been kneaded yet, let alone placed in the oven. I could still get lucky and find that by the time I have kids and they’re ready for school, the miracles needed have come through, and these institutions have been revived. Sigh! One can dream, anyway.
Of former schools
Let me give an example of the things I’m talking about. I was very fortunate to have attended 3 of some of the best schools there were in my days for primary, secondary and post secondary education. Here’s my point. With all I know about each and every one of these schools, there’s not a single one of them I would wish for my children to attend in the current day. Forget that they were the schools to be in when I was in them. Forget that the longest application lines and processes existed with admittance rates at below 20% for how coveted these institutions were while I was in them. To say that, and for anyone to compare them with what they are now, is to cause everyone around to wonder if maybe I’m making things up.
Primary
2 out of 3 of the alma maters have started some kind of revival processes, thanks to the web and its far reaching arms. The 3rd one hasn’t probably won’t but it’s a far cry from what it used to be. It’s crazy, of all good management I ever saw, all factors considered, was my primary school headmaster. In retrospect. I was too young to understand how his attitude and habits were the overall glue that held all together in that environment. I guess we were fortunate in that for me and my siblings, we all finished our education while he was the HNIC. Fast forward to today. One of my classmates who started a family much earlier than most now has children in this very environment. And the only thing he has to say is just how bad everything is. He says we couldn’t understand it. We have no way to imagine things could be that bad. I’m always the one who asks, why? What happened, what catastrophe changed things? The catastrophe? Change in management. A leader who cannot make the correct calls on budget; including cuts and priorities. A leader who is incapable of identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the current institution and taking the steps needed to bolster the foundations.
Post Secondary
My post secondary education was in a prestigious environment, not to us who were in it, but to those who had formulated ideas and attitudes about it. We paid a lot, true. But the heart and soul of that institution had nothing to do with money. It had to do with cohesive functionality. We ranked 1st all the time for the international course we were all part of, to the point that we were audited severally because they thought we had to be cheating. What African school could have so many smart kids lumped in one area? Well, we had instructors who understood the curriculum and the deliverables. Who communicated that very clearly to the students and who allowed push back so that we could ask questions over and over again until we were clear. Never once were we judged, or considered too “spoilt” to have valid opinions. This environment created creativity and fierce loyalty to our brand. And this loyalty translated to so much pride that we were all out there striving to uphold our name.
As luck would have it, this institution would have a history that would come to haunt it. While I was in it, it was run by catholic fathers. Turns out, the catholic fathers had been given the institution to run by a then wealthier different denomination that had more than it could handle. It appears that the ‘operate this school’ contract was “run this” no details attached. So one day, the other denomination is now running broke (shock!) and recalls its property. It’s a violent upheaval. But now they are running the institution. What they did different, I’m never going to know. But the results have been shocking, to say the least. I keep wondering how they possibly could be in the situation they’re in. What they needed to have changed to get there so quickly. Some things are so solid, so stable; you imagine it has to take some time to bring them down. No, not these people. They must have some kind of special talent. Because they have brought down a giant in record time. This is a future case study on how not to manage, for sure.
Family Traditions
Here’s my beef with all this. Primary school, I went to a very nice school. But not the first in my extended family. My father’s side of the family has a rare story for their times. My grandfather was a doctor, my grandmother a teacher. So my father and his siblings got the rare opportunity to not only live in Nairobi but also to attend the best schools. While my father didn’t attend the specific school that I did, his younger brother did. And it played out that our entire slew of cousins from that side went there as well. We wanted to keep this tradition if we could. Now, we’re definitely not considering it. I wonder if I can communicate this sense of loss.
It reminds me of the time when my brother had to go to high school. The conversation had mainly centered on private day school until my mother had an epiphany of sorts and shoved that idea. Here was the problem, there were no boarding schools in Nairobi that we could take him to and feel safe with that decision. This is why the private day school had been the original idea. Now, for my father’s frustration point. My father was an old boy’s member, a group that was trying to revive the school he had gone to. When he was there, he was one of the African students, though by then, they had a few, but not about half the population. In actual fact, he attended the school when it had the title starting with “Duke of … “ Now, imagine his frustration with the fact that my brother has qualified to get into this school, but none of us will hear of it, because we have heard they treat their form ones terribly, and worse when they have small bodies. By then, one or two had died while being rabbalized. In addition, there was nothing but rumors of gay rape happening in these boarding schools. My brother ended up in Gilgil in one of the forces controlled schools. It turned out to have been a blessing because it is a great school he went to. But there! Because of headmasters who refused to reign in bullying and other shenanigans, my father lost what he really wanted. A chance to have an alma mater relationship with his only son. Can I communicate the extent of loss?
Rare opportunity
I should mention that my mother also was amongst the lucky few from their times. Hers was a more stumbled into lucky situation as compared to my father. For starters, proximity. My mother hails from one of the districts that are now about to be absorbed into Nairobi because they have become merely outskirts and suburbs. To put it in perspective, it was a 30 minutes drive to my mum’s shags and we went there on a whim on Sunday evenings often. But her parents were not wealthy nor educated. However, she happens to be the ultimate last born. She was the last born of the youngest of 3 wives children. And fortunately for her, her oldest brother from her mother was educated, done with school, married and flourishing. I should mention that whenever my parents have told us the story of “walking to school without shoes.” Both have lied every time. Very rare circumstance for children of my generation. Anyway, my mother was smart as daylight too. So she ended up in one of Nairobi’s greatest schools for her time. And I ended up there as well. And while I was there, my mother decried the deterioration in prestige of a still then very highly regarded school. Now she just wonders if anything could ever be done to save it. As a student in a school where my mother had been, it felt very good. I was one of two. The other girl, an old family friend, just happened to be my mom’s friend from high school’s daughter. It was quite something. And I had hoped that maybe I could share the same with a possible future daughter. Given the condition of that school currently, woe unto me!
Frustration
So here’s where I am at with all this. I’m frustrated. Maybe even a little upset. I’m just feeling victimized by the actions of those who were put in charge of these institutions. I’d like to write them a letter. It would be polite, but I would like to draw for them a picture that captures just how much more they have robbed people of. I’m sure that they see the decay, the failures of their mismanagement. The evidence is obvious. What I don’t think they know is the far reaching implications. They may not be aware of the “error that keeps on giving” situation they have left behind. To look outside of personal self, these are now huge institutions, filled with potential that at the very least will have a lull in their histories, assuming all ends well and these will be revived to their past glories. Which means that tons of money has to go into bringing back what was the norm into these places. Money that could have been used to take these institutions to the next level! Stalled development, the inheritance they’ve left us all with.
What about the pride with which we regarded our alma maters? We now say we were there and everyone rumbles into, “oh the place has deteriorated” speech because they remember what it meant when we were there. What about that? And what about for those like me, who had hoped to continue a tradition of taking their children to these institutions? As they are currently, it would be an irresponsible decision on any parent’s part. What about that?
Hope - Maybe
All is not lost for me. The kids are yet to be manufactured. The dough has not been kneaded yet, let alone placed in the oven. I could still get lucky and find that by the time I have kids and they’re ready for school, the miracles needed have come through, and these institutions have been revived. Sigh! One can dream, anyway.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Little bit of this, little bit of ...
This year started with some challenges. A good friend survived a brain aneurism. That’s the good news. The bad, we don’t know the extent of the damage. Why, we had all just moved states and where she is at is far away. Our connection to her is, (read was) a boyfriend, who has decided to take all control and cut us off. Why? We didn’t respect her privacy, he says. How did we do that? We shared the news with only very good friends. Point to this? We’re all struggling to find out. Meanwhile, a reunion over the weekend almost brought us to our knees over the issue. The sheer frustration of not being able to reach a friend in her time of need, because someone blocks your access and the worry that accompanies that, it can be very confusing. Plus, I know if she woke up, she’d kick him hard in the nuts for the very behavior. So I feel that he’s abusing her, because he can, because she is ill and unable to protect herself. I have genuine fury over all of this. I just came to the full realization that it was eating at me more than I was accepting over the weekend. Prayer. Prayer. Over all things we have little control over. Still, I can’t help enjoying a mental picture of bumping into him and kicking him – hard!
This swine flu thing is ridiculous. I’m grateful this news breaks after my 3 bouts with flu in the past 5 months. Otherwise, I’d have died from imagining I had the damn thing. Swine flu? How scary is anyone who coughs around you right now?
Raila! After I had just praised his behind for beginning to show maturity. I should have known better. Now he wants fresh elections? In the same country that does not have an electoral board? Are these people seriously this callous? This careless? This insane, this stupid? Are they really this incompetent? Is it truly possible to utter such crap, such potentially dangerous crap and sleep well at night? Soon that country will be an extension of Somalia. Anarchy will rule the day. But quote me later on this. The tides are shifting. Change is coming. Where victory will belong to the upright. And what you hear are the winds of change. And many wolves in sheep clothing will be very exposed. Many of whom just sit back and point fingers from what seems to be far away places from politics. Shake up, shake down, shift and change.
I need some knowledge on something. Not advice, not opinion. Knowledge. If I just knew something so I could decide on something else. Inexperience is killing me here. Being 50 will sure be welcome on matters such as these. And everytime I bring it up to people, they start either blaming my attitude, expectations or habits. Which is all fine if they feel that way. Point is, it’s who I am and that probably won’t be changing anytime soon. All I want to know is, what do you know about this? All I keep getting is, I feel, I feel, I feel. I don’t really care about your feelings on this one. Not rudely, just really. What are the facts? It’s strange how these two questions are not different to most people. I’m sitting on absolute knowledge that I’m about to make a mistake. But I’ll make it with the best knowledge that I have at this time.
Them Mavericks are doing ok! Lebron? Whoa! Duane Wade? Him too. Kobe, not surprising, but damn!
Today, I really feel the distance between me and my mum. I'd like to hug her.
This swine flu thing is ridiculous. I’m grateful this news breaks after my 3 bouts with flu in the past 5 months. Otherwise, I’d have died from imagining I had the damn thing. Swine flu? How scary is anyone who coughs around you right now?
Raila! After I had just praised his behind for beginning to show maturity. I should have known better. Now he wants fresh elections? In the same country that does not have an electoral board? Are these people seriously this callous? This careless? This insane, this stupid? Are they really this incompetent? Is it truly possible to utter such crap, such potentially dangerous crap and sleep well at night? Soon that country will be an extension of Somalia. Anarchy will rule the day. But quote me later on this. The tides are shifting. Change is coming. Where victory will belong to the upright. And what you hear are the winds of change. And many wolves in sheep clothing will be very exposed. Many of whom just sit back and point fingers from what seems to be far away places from politics. Shake up, shake down, shift and change.
I need some knowledge on something. Not advice, not opinion. Knowledge. If I just knew something so I could decide on something else. Inexperience is killing me here. Being 50 will sure be welcome on matters such as these. And everytime I bring it up to people, they start either blaming my attitude, expectations or habits. Which is all fine if they feel that way. Point is, it’s who I am and that probably won’t be changing anytime soon. All I want to know is, what do you know about this? All I keep getting is, I feel, I feel, I feel. I don’t really care about your feelings on this one. Not rudely, just really. What are the facts? It’s strange how these two questions are not different to most people. I’m sitting on absolute knowledge that I’m about to make a mistake. But I’ll make it with the best knowledge that I have at this time.
Them Mavericks are doing ok! Lebron? Whoa! Duane Wade? Him too. Kobe, not surprising, but damn!
Today, I really feel the distance between me and my mum. I'd like to hug her.
Friday, April 24, 2009
On my mind...
Liberia’s president, Sirleaf, was such a breath of fresh air on Jon Stewart’s, the daily show. In came in a president, but over and above that, that African mother figure. That woman who wants to nurture, love and advice you. Not the structured, zombie leader types that dominate the west. A real person. Someone, you could just sit with and listen to her regale her past. And in the midst of all that, intelligence. What a breath of fresh air.
There are two gangs operating in Kenya right now. One is the Mungiki, well known and being sought after by authorities. But what about Kibera residents who have become the executors of law as they deem fit? Law they have no knowledge of, just tidbits of information here and there. How is it possible that these people can cause billions in dollars to a railway company, and a few days later, start planting grass on the very space that had tracks? They have decided they know better than the authorities who are handling Migingo issues. No, they know force. They have that information that the railway line is a bloodline to Uganda. Unfortunately, that’s all they know. Reminds me that I’ve heard before, the most dangerous man is he who knows little but thinks he knows much. Ergo, Kibera residents. Didn’t they recently injure law enforcement because they were disconnecting illegally connected power lines? They shall live for free? C’mon now! These are thugs and hooligans and somebody needs to stop them dead in their tracks. The sooner the better. We don’t need a second set of under informed nuisances ‘governing’ Kenya.
I’m not going to shy away from pointing out that what they’re portraying is the rule of law as they were taught by their inciters in January 2007. It will never be the same again. Short of intensive psychological intervention, we have birthed the likes of M13, who like many of these gangs that are now killing upto over 4000 a month along the Texas/Mexican borders, started with noble reasons. Just as did the Somali pirates. Law has got to be enforced at the law courts and through the appropriate bodies. Anything outside that, every creator of it, has learnt, over time, that they can birth it, but they can’t control it. The solution? Stop it dead in its tracks! The Mungiki, whose onset was as a result of the Molo clashes where kikuyus were being killed with the noble and effective purpose of curbing the executions. However, some greedy upto no good person took advantage, recruited thugs and set up a thug structure. Now they make easy money, have a false sense of power and are simply pushing to see how far they can go. If they can maintain this easy living, they will. And that’s the people at the top. Again, stop them dead in their tracks. I call for this in full awareness that these are everyday people, our brothers, cousins, uncles and friends. Always start with a short, precise amnesty period that’s fully loaded with educational forums for the laws they break. And then shut them down, with no mercy. It is always, always, an issue of national security. Ask the Mexican government and the US/Texas authorities.
Martha Karua, her resignation. Good move. Poorly handled. Unless she targets the majority of Kenyans who enjoy sensationalism, she pretty much worked hard on alienating those who respect maturity. She shouldn’t have resigned when the president was away; it indicates underhandedness and an inability to resolve issues. A childishness of sorts. As were her reasons; not convincingly about principles, but more about ego. Still, she was within her rights and I think she can achieve more from her current platform as long as she avoids the bickering. Something I fear she might become a part of. She might be trying too hard and I hope a true, honest and worthwhile advisor will intervene. Martha is smart and purposed. She needs to trust her abilities and not succumb to the dumb, illiterate shenanigans that are Kenyan politics.
As for Parliament and its stalemate, if I thought even slightly that there was a majority of intelligence in the Kenyan parliament, or an appetite for truth amongst Kenyans, I might delve into that some. But I don’t. I have understood hopelessness, and what it feels like by attempting to understand the masses within Kenya. The deafening persistence to point fingers, take the easy way out, take advantage of things, and the absolute lack of integrity, from all circles, from homes to offices to government is actually quite shocking once anyone tries to understand it. What’s most confusing is the intelligence level of the perpetrators (basically the entire population). It’s not low, which might explain it otherwise. So, I will say nothing in that regard. But as usual will send a prayer request to God for Kenya and its people. “May the good Lord have mercy on us all, the country, it leadership and its followers. May he open our eyes so that we may see. May he give us the strength to face our demons, our mistakes and our truths. May we learn what our roles are and find the strength to be just that. And may His grace shine upon us all and keep us from disintegrating as we seek our purpose and our places in society.”
There are two gangs operating in Kenya right now. One is the Mungiki, well known and being sought after by authorities. But what about Kibera residents who have become the executors of law as they deem fit? Law they have no knowledge of, just tidbits of information here and there. How is it possible that these people can cause billions in dollars to a railway company, and a few days later, start planting grass on the very space that had tracks? They have decided they know better than the authorities who are handling Migingo issues. No, they know force. They have that information that the railway line is a bloodline to Uganda. Unfortunately, that’s all they know. Reminds me that I’ve heard before, the most dangerous man is he who knows little but thinks he knows much. Ergo, Kibera residents. Didn’t they recently injure law enforcement because they were disconnecting illegally connected power lines? They shall live for free? C’mon now! These are thugs and hooligans and somebody needs to stop them dead in their tracks. The sooner the better. We don’t need a second set of under informed nuisances ‘governing’ Kenya.
I’m not going to shy away from pointing out that what they’re portraying is the rule of law as they were taught by their inciters in January 2007. It will never be the same again. Short of intensive psychological intervention, we have birthed the likes of M13, who like many of these gangs that are now killing upto over 4000 a month along the Texas/Mexican borders, started with noble reasons. Just as did the Somali pirates. Law has got to be enforced at the law courts and through the appropriate bodies. Anything outside that, every creator of it, has learnt, over time, that they can birth it, but they can’t control it. The solution? Stop it dead in its tracks! The Mungiki, whose onset was as a result of the Molo clashes where kikuyus were being killed with the noble and effective purpose of curbing the executions. However, some greedy upto no good person took advantage, recruited thugs and set up a thug structure. Now they make easy money, have a false sense of power and are simply pushing to see how far they can go. If they can maintain this easy living, they will. And that’s the people at the top. Again, stop them dead in their tracks. I call for this in full awareness that these are everyday people, our brothers, cousins, uncles and friends. Always start with a short, precise amnesty period that’s fully loaded with educational forums for the laws they break. And then shut them down, with no mercy. It is always, always, an issue of national security. Ask the Mexican government and the US/Texas authorities.
Martha Karua, her resignation. Good move. Poorly handled. Unless she targets the majority of Kenyans who enjoy sensationalism, she pretty much worked hard on alienating those who respect maturity. She shouldn’t have resigned when the president was away; it indicates underhandedness and an inability to resolve issues. A childishness of sorts. As were her reasons; not convincingly about principles, but more about ego. Still, she was within her rights and I think she can achieve more from her current platform as long as she avoids the bickering. Something I fear she might become a part of. She might be trying too hard and I hope a true, honest and worthwhile advisor will intervene. Martha is smart and purposed. She needs to trust her abilities and not succumb to the dumb, illiterate shenanigans that are Kenyan politics.
As for Parliament and its stalemate, if I thought even slightly that there was a majority of intelligence in the Kenyan parliament, or an appetite for truth amongst Kenyans, I might delve into that some. But I don’t. I have understood hopelessness, and what it feels like by attempting to understand the masses within Kenya. The deafening persistence to point fingers, take the easy way out, take advantage of things, and the absolute lack of integrity, from all circles, from homes to offices to government is actually quite shocking once anyone tries to understand it. What’s most confusing is the intelligence level of the perpetrators (basically the entire population). It’s not low, which might explain it otherwise. So, I will say nothing in that regard. But as usual will send a prayer request to God for Kenya and its people. “May the good Lord have mercy on us all, the country, it leadership and its followers. May he open our eyes so that we may see. May he give us the strength to face our demons, our mistakes and our truths. May we learn what our roles are and find the strength to be just that. And may His grace shine upon us all and keep us from disintegrating as we seek our purpose and our places in society.”
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Kodak Gallery - enforcing minimum annual purchases
So I received this from Kodak gallery:
The Gallery's Terms of Service* have been modified.
Because you currently do not meet the minimum purchase requirement established by our new storage policy, your stored photos will be deleted from your Gallery account if you do not act soon.
Here is your current status:
Current photo storage: 2.77 GB
Purchase requirement: $19.99
Amount you have spent: $0.00
Amount you need to spend: $19.99
Deletion date: 05/16/2009
In order to continue to store photos at the Gallery, members with photo storage of more than 2 gigabytes (GB) or less must make annual minimum purchases totaling at least $19.99.
Once you've met the $19.99 purchase requirement, prior to 05/16/2009, your photos will be safely stored for one year from the date of that qualifying purchase. Thereafter, just make annual Gallery purchases totaling at least $19.99 to preserve your stored photos.**
We look forward to continuing our relationship with you.
The KODAK Gallery
I say this to kodak gallery, Soyanora! Good bye, kwaheri. It's been real!
Picasa, here I come! And were that to fail, I'd prefer to store the pics in an external hard drive. Ala, kodak?!
Malaters.
The Gallery's Terms of Service* have been modified.
Because you currently do not meet the minimum purchase requirement established by our new storage policy, your stored photos will be deleted from your Gallery account if you do not act soon.
Here is your current status:
Current photo storage: 2.77 GB
Purchase requirement: $19.99
Amount you have spent: $0.00
Amount you need to spend: $19.99
Deletion date: 05/16/2009
In order to continue to store photos at the Gallery, members with photo storage of more than 2 gigabytes (GB) or less must make annual minimum purchases totaling at least $19.99.
Once you've met the $19.99 purchase requirement, prior to 05/16/2009, your photos will be safely stored for one year from the date of that qualifying purchase. Thereafter, just make annual Gallery purchases totaling at least $19.99 to preserve your stored photos.**
We look forward to continuing our relationship with you.
The KODAK Gallery
I say this to kodak gallery, Soyanora! Good bye, kwaheri. It's been real!
Picasa, here I come! And were that to fail, I'd prefer to store the pics in an external hard drive. Ala, kodak?!
Malaters.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
conflicker C - Especially if you have Windows XP...
I ran into several issues with my home PC several a couple of weeks ago and was completely alarmed. The error I was receiving mostly indicated that the system could not locate any Operating system. And I was like "what???" I tried to recover the last known functioning setup during reboot and there was none known. I continued struggling with the machine until finally, it started windows. That was all it did. It moved at snail pace and any attempt to start ie (Internet explorer) was a bust!
After several attempts and an ulcer, I finally decided to run disk scan just in case my files had gone everywhere and were just hampering the system. Of course that wouldn't run either. Well, I went in. Into system32 files and started working the hard core way. I run chkdsk and of course that crashed the machine, again. You'd think it would get better with time.
The good news is that when I finally booted the machine after I got out of the freeze, the system on its own accord decided to run a chkdsk. And everything was corrupt. 2 hours into the system deleting and fixing and whatever else it did, windows XP started. And yes, I could open my documents. And internet explorer worked. But at snail pace. My huge relief was that I would at least have the chance to save my documents in an external drive (yes, even years later, it still takes this to get me saving my information in easily movable objects). the because I have an alternative machine to use, I abandoned his particular machine.
Bt I missed my machine. This is my home IBM that I kill with excesses that would crash most other laptops as I experiment with geekery. So today, I went a searching. And lo and behold! the conflicker C virus. I haven't tried to go into Microsoft.com but I will. I'll also check to make sure that I received my windows update. Somehow I know all this will not be true. I have the damn virus!
So I hoped that some geek had bothered to fix it. And posted the hows. And here is the link (thanks Rhaomi and all those who provided insightful information. Microsoft has set this up if you think you've been affected. You might need to get to it through http://safety.live.com because this trojan knows Microsoft and does not allow you to get to their websites. It is also controlling your google search results when you inquire about it from an infected machine. And it routes all your update requests back to your machine so you never get any. It also blocks your access to regedit and hides your files. Crazy, crazy, crazy! No wonder Microsoft is offering some 250K for anyone who will lead them to its originator. Good luck folks, good luck.
if you think you may be infected, act quickly before April Fool's day (Russian time, it's likely the trojan originates in Russia). That's their debut day. Don't know what they intend to do but they can pretty much do anything. They can write code and pass it through all infected machines, most likely through P2P networks.
I usually resist geek like posts and conversations but this one was necessary for anyone running Windows XP. If I can save my baby without having to reinstall windows XP, I'll post an update here some other time.
Hoping you're not infected yet. And wishing you a least stressful fix if you are.
After several attempts and an ulcer, I finally decided to run disk scan just in case my files had gone everywhere and were just hampering the system. Of course that wouldn't run either. Well, I went in. Into system32 files and started working the hard core way. I run chkdsk and of course that crashed the machine, again. You'd think it would get better with time.
The good news is that when I finally booted the machine after I got out of the freeze, the system on its own accord decided to run a chkdsk. And everything was corrupt. 2 hours into the system deleting and fixing and whatever else it did, windows XP started. And yes, I could open my documents. And internet explorer worked. But at snail pace. My huge relief was that I would at least have the chance to save my documents in an external drive (yes, even years later, it still takes this to get me saving my information in easily movable objects). the because I have an alternative machine to use, I abandoned his particular machine.
Bt I missed my machine. This is my home IBM that I kill with excesses that would crash most other laptops as I experiment with geekery. So today, I went a searching. And lo and behold! the conflicker C virus. I haven't tried to go into Microsoft.com but I will. I'll also check to make sure that I received my windows update. Somehow I know all this will not be true. I have the damn virus!
So I hoped that some geek had bothered to fix it. And posted the hows. And here is the link (thanks Rhaomi and all those who provided insightful information. Microsoft has set this up if you think you've been affected. You might need to get to it through http://safety.live.com because this trojan knows Microsoft and does not allow you to get to their websites. It is also controlling your google search results when you inquire about it from an infected machine. And it routes all your update requests back to your machine so you never get any. It also blocks your access to regedit and hides your files. Crazy, crazy, crazy! No wonder Microsoft is offering some 250K for anyone who will lead them to its originator. Good luck folks, good luck.
if you think you may be infected, act quickly before April Fool's day (Russian time, it's likely the trojan originates in Russia). That's their debut day. Don't know what they intend to do but they can pretty much do anything. They can write code and pass it through all infected machines, most likely through P2P networks.
I usually resist geek like posts and conversations but this one was necessary for anyone running Windows XP. If I can save my baby without having to reinstall windows XP, I'll post an update here some other time.
Hoping you're not infected yet. And wishing you a least stressful fix if you are.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Of Attitudes, scapegoats and Bonuses
AIG. What a story!! And is $165M, a mere 1% of the $170B that has been handed over to AIG worth all this noise? Is it the bonuses or just the exhaustive frustration that has taken over and is now leaking out in bits and pieces. Is this uproar healthy? Does it affect everything else? IS AIG actually real? And does anyone understand the reality of an AIG collapse? I'm discussing markets worldwide, to include Hng Kong and all of Europe. Does anyone know or recall the case study that was banks lending inappropriately. It comes with a very familar face. Donald Trump. Yes. Him. When economic classes teach about lending gone wrong, his billions of loans that forced the banks to service him to keep him afloat because his collapse would have meant their collapse is the subject matter. Irony to no end that this is the man at the head of the table in apprentice! only in America!
Anyway, for anyone who knows the Donald Trump story, that is the same situation happening with AIG. just that AIG is Trump multiplied by 1 and then many many zeroes. (Try putting in 170B in your calculator). So AIG has to stay afloat. For a while anyway. Until China figures out how to take the reins and shift the world economy to Asia as the fulcrum point. They are the only ones left with the power at this moment.
So the bonuses; part arrogance. Part habit. You get away with so much, you get used to it. And then you don't notice the wrong things as wrong anymore. Part, vaguely, necessity, at least implied. When wall street rocked, these people got used to bonuses as part of their income. So everyone who works deserves fair compensation. But inflated egos here, think that that compensation is still fair despite the mess we find ourselves in, thanks to their hard work. It would truly have been cheaper to pay them to stay at home over the past decade. The dictionary expresses clearly that a bonus is an additional compensation based on performance or earnings. At that juncture, AIG cannot explain their bonuses. Simple solution, new compensation contracts. Wages commiserate with the rest of the sectors. No bonuses. (and it would be nice if you hung your heads in shame).
Scapegoats? Edward Libby, AIG chair and CEO! What a day he had on Wednesday. And this for a man who took over a rotted to death AIG! And we wonder why worthwhile folks wont take up these challenges and help the situation. geithner? He should thank God that Barack has deflected that apathy onto himself. Cos this is a crowd of angry people who are looking for anything to kill, regardless of its guilt.
Irony in Kenya is this. To hear Raila completely disagree with the crazy demands for new elections. And his reasoning is so sound! I rarely find myself agreeing with this man, but I did here. And I was one person completely sure this coalition government would do nothing. But despite the madness of the masses ( Kenyans are their own worst enemies), this coalition is still one of the most functional governments I've ever seen. A government capable of averting a crisis when schools have no funds, deal with agriculture issues, specify and estimate the masses of people who are likely to face hunger in the next few months based on rainfall, still look into future developments such as the fibre optics cable and the highway to Ethiopia... I for one stand corrected. Don't get me wrong, this coalition government is too massive and the issues they have are many. However, I will give the devil his due. I wouldn;t have dared expect 20% of that from them.
The bickering cabinet ministers? Fire them immediately. Any good manager does not need an explanation from me for this assertion. However, I'll give it. A cabinet that is provided a forum to discuss issues, but chooses not to use it, instead beds our semi-illiterate and next to worthless media that cannot wait to sensationalize everything; but offers no pertinent education to issues; that cabinet minister has to go. the individual is too dumb to understand his role. His job is not understood, and the consequences of his actions are not clear to him. he must go. A cabinet position for a country is a 24 hour job as long as the member is in public. And there are respectful, meaningful and constructive ways to disagree while maintaining respectability for the outfit for which you work!
And the visa ban from the US! This might surprise you. I'm of the opinion that no one should be fired, EVER, based on this stupid act. It s tantamount to colonialism. There is nothing even remotely worth looking into here. It would be colossally stupid to hand over the power to determine which people serve our cabinets to another country based on visa bans. So anyone who antagonized them be it for the sake of good, could easily be eliminated. I say this often. The only opinion that has to matter in Kenya, is that of Kenyans alone. period. I hope one day everyone can understand that. So that they can develop intelligent opinions and self worth and better fellowship.
I can always go on. But I'll stop here, for now.
Anyway, for anyone who knows the Donald Trump story, that is the same situation happening with AIG. just that AIG is Trump multiplied by 1 and then many many zeroes. (Try putting in 170B in your calculator). So AIG has to stay afloat. For a while anyway. Until China figures out how to take the reins and shift the world economy to Asia as the fulcrum point. They are the only ones left with the power at this moment.
So the bonuses; part arrogance. Part habit. You get away with so much, you get used to it. And then you don't notice the wrong things as wrong anymore. Part, vaguely, necessity, at least implied. When wall street rocked, these people got used to bonuses as part of their income. So everyone who works deserves fair compensation. But inflated egos here, think that that compensation is still fair despite the mess we find ourselves in, thanks to their hard work. It would truly have been cheaper to pay them to stay at home over the past decade. The dictionary expresses clearly that a bonus is an additional compensation based on performance or earnings. At that juncture, AIG cannot explain their bonuses. Simple solution, new compensation contracts. Wages commiserate with the rest of the sectors. No bonuses. (and it would be nice if you hung your heads in shame).
Scapegoats? Edward Libby, AIG chair and CEO! What a day he had on Wednesday. And this for a man who took over a rotted to death AIG! And we wonder why worthwhile folks wont take up these challenges and help the situation. geithner? He should thank God that Barack has deflected that apathy onto himself. Cos this is a crowd of angry people who are looking for anything to kill, regardless of its guilt.
Irony in Kenya is this. To hear Raila completely disagree with the crazy demands for new elections. And his reasoning is so sound! I rarely find myself agreeing with this man, but I did here. And I was one person completely sure this coalition government would do nothing. But despite the madness of the masses ( Kenyans are their own worst enemies), this coalition is still one of the most functional governments I've ever seen. A government capable of averting a crisis when schools have no funds, deal with agriculture issues, specify and estimate the masses of people who are likely to face hunger in the next few months based on rainfall, still look into future developments such as the fibre optics cable and the highway to Ethiopia... I for one stand corrected. Don't get me wrong, this coalition government is too massive and the issues they have are many. However, I will give the devil his due. I wouldn;t have dared expect 20% of that from them.
The bickering cabinet ministers? Fire them immediately. Any good manager does not need an explanation from me for this assertion. However, I'll give it. A cabinet that is provided a forum to discuss issues, but chooses not to use it, instead beds our semi-illiterate and next to worthless media that cannot wait to sensationalize everything; but offers no pertinent education to issues; that cabinet minister has to go. the individual is too dumb to understand his role. His job is not understood, and the consequences of his actions are not clear to him. he must go. A cabinet position for a country is a 24 hour job as long as the member is in public. And there are respectful, meaningful and constructive ways to disagree while maintaining respectability for the outfit for which you work!
And the visa ban from the US! This might surprise you. I'm of the opinion that no one should be fired, EVER, based on this stupid act. It s tantamount to colonialism. There is nothing even remotely worth looking into here. It would be colossally stupid to hand over the power to determine which people serve our cabinets to another country based on visa bans. So anyone who antagonized them be it for the sake of good, could easily be eliminated. I say this often. The only opinion that has to matter in Kenya, is that of Kenyans alone. period. I hope one day everyone can understand that. So that they can develop intelligent opinions and self worth and better fellowship.
I can always go on. But I'll stop here, for now.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Kenya deficiency - Good leadership or followership?
Both, I'm sure. But the latter worse than the former.
I know many would like to hit me over the head with a rungu right about now. What? have I been sleeping? Don't I See how terrible the leadership is? Selfish, shortsighted, corrupt... endless list?
Sure, I'd respond. I see it. It's only too clear! What's even clearer, is the same amongst all walks of life within the confines of Kenya. What's worse in this case is how little anyone sees how similar they are to their leaders. And manifest in that those who are not leaders of Kenya have learnt to point fingers always; without ever thinking that it might be their fault. The latter, a very common occurrence.
Let me put out a phrase I use often in this blog, at least I did when I used to write this blog. Cause and effect. Action and consequence. Never is there going to be an action that has no consequence. Having said this, when was the last time Kenyans in general were quietly sitting, analyzing and letting the government work without throwing out 30 something threats? That, my people, is an action. So ask yourselves, what has it borne?
While the leaders suck,(they really do),everyone else is not innocent. All of us! Corrupt individuals. Blaming the leaders because someone required you to pay a bribe so that you could get your passport. really? what is he supposed to do? you know the laws. Just say no! And if the next person does the same, and you all in line make it clear that it will be a bribe free experience, I'm betting the person behind the counter gets to work. In your possession is a camera phone. Advise them calmly, that there bribe seeking face will be out in the media as soon as you're out that door unless they remember that you're a citizen and you're there to claim your rights. And then wait calmly for a reaction. That's the extent of violence and threats you ever need to get to. And not merely a threat. If the need arises, keep that promise. Let's see the faces of shame. Twice that happens, no further bribe seekers. For a good to sell, there has to be demand for it. The same goes for bribes. It needs both takers and givers to be a successful marketplace.
What about the "fire this person" "resign" chants that have taken over. No one cares about due process. And for that matter, no one cares about corrective procedures. where do your politicians come from, God and the Angels selection? These people are human. Unless they can make honest mistakes and have an opportunity to learn from them without fear of losing their jobs, they're going to form alliances and platforms to rob you of the power to harm them. That's how they see it. And that's what it is. The eventual outcome is either rogues or people who aren't qualified for other jobs who would ever take this kind of thankless jobs, and worse a combination of both. There are human errors, process errors and they are not the same as corruption. And a difference needs to be highlighted, made clear and explained to all Kenyans. Stop with the chanting! if people don't err, they don't learn. And if people aren't allowed to err, they start to lie. You can turn a really good person into that by not allowing them the space to be human. We're effectively ruining our leadership or at the very least making it worse.
In a nutshell, the error on the ground is that Kenyans have no idea what their roles are. To be a citizen is not to be convictor of people for crimes you barely understand. To be a watchdog over your MP and his behaviour is not to become the uninformed critic of all he/she does while offering no helpful solutions. It is in part to be a good follower. To find ways to communicate what you see is lacking within your constituency and develop plans to fight the issue. The point is to form alliances with the MP. Give them a fighting chance. Guide them towards the real needs of the people. And become apart of developing solutions. Even you have to work towards making your surroundings better. Nothing comes for free. And the solution to the MPs always wanting more free stuff for themselves is not you getting free stuff for yourself. It is everyone getting apportioned what's gainfully theirs. When you understand the previous two sentences, you understand it all.
A simple test is to evaluate what kind of employee you are. You might be the manager who fires all who you deem as threats to yourself. In which case then you are exactly like the Kenyan leadership. Why would anyone ever let go of valuable resources just because they're insecure? At that point, you have no value to your organization and are in fact a liability. Your personal fears impact your environment negatively. Maybe now you understand your MPs a little better.
And the list goes on. And the rot continues to multiply. As your children watch you bribe cops and learn something. As they hear you speak ill of other tribes. break the cycle. Just say no. Just say no!
Note: Initially wrote this on 2/13/09 and left it as a draft. I just reread it, didn't change anything and decided to post it.
I know many would like to hit me over the head with a rungu right about now. What? have I been sleeping? Don't I See how terrible the leadership is? Selfish, shortsighted, corrupt... endless list?
Sure, I'd respond. I see it. It's only too clear! What's even clearer, is the same amongst all walks of life within the confines of Kenya. What's worse in this case is how little anyone sees how similar they are to their leaders. And manifest in that those who are not leaders of Kenya have learnt to point fingers always; without ever thinking that it might be their fault. The latter, a very common occurrence.
Let me put out a phrase I use often in this blog, at least I did when I used to write this blog. Cause and effect. Action and consequence. Never is there going to be an action that has no consequence. Having said this, when was the last time Kenyans in general were quietly sitting, analyzing and letting the government work without throwing out 30 something threats? That, my people, is an action. So ask yourselves, what has it borne?
While the leaders suck,(they really do),everyone else is not innocent. All of us! Corrupt individuals. Blaming the leaders because someone required you to pay a bribe so that you could get your passport. really? what is he supposed to do? you know the laws. Just say no! And if the next person does the same, and you all in line make it clear that it will be a bribe free experience, I'm betting the person behind the counter gets to work. In your possession is a camera phone. Advise them calmly, that there bribe seeking face will be out in the media as soon as you're out that door unless they remember that you're a citizen and you're there to claim your rights. And then wait calmly for a reaction. That's the extent of violence and threats you ever need to get to. And not merely a threat. If the need arises, keep that promise. Let's see the faces of shame. Twice that happens, no further bribe seekers. For a good to sell, there has to be demand for it. The same goes for bribes. It needs both takers and givers to be a successful marketplace.
What about the "fire this person" "resign" chants that have taken over. No one cares about due process. And for that matter, no one cares about corrective procedures. where do your politicians come from, God and the Angels selection? These people are human. Unless they can make honest mistakes and have an opportunity to learn from them without fear of losing their jobs, they're going to form alliances and platforms to rob you of the power to harm them. That's how they see it. And that's what it is. The eventual outcome is either rogues or people who aren't qualified for other jobs who would ever take this kind of thankless jobs, and worse a combination of both. There are human errors, process errors and they are not the same as corruption. And a difference needs to be highlighted, made clear and explained to all Kenyans. Stop with the chanting! if people don't err, they don't learn. And if people aren't allowed to err, they start to lie. You can turn a really good person into that by not allowing them the space to be human. We're effectively ruining our leadership or at the very least making it worse.
In a nutshell, the error on the ground is that Kenyans have no idea what their roles are. To be a citizen is not to be convictor of people for crimes you barely understand. To be a watchdog over your MP and his behaviour is not to become the uninformed critic of all he/she does while offering no helpful solutions. It is in part to be a good follower. To find ways to communicate what you see is lacking within your constituency and develop plans to fight the issue. The point is to form alliances with the MP. Give them a fighting chance. Guide them towards the real needs of the people. And become apart of developing solutions. Even you have to work towards making your surroundings better. Nothing comes for free. And the solution to the MPs always wanting more free stuff for themselves is not you getting free stuff for yourself. It is everyone getting apportioned what's gainfully theirs. When you understand the previous two sentences, you understand it all.
A simple test is to evaluate what kind of employee you are. You might be the manager who fires all who you deem as threats to yourself. In which case then you are exactly like the Kenyan leadership. Why would anyone ever let go of valuable resources just because they're insecure? At that point, you have no value to your organization and are in fact a liability. Your personal fears impact your environment negatively. Maybe now you understand your MPs a little better.
And the list goes on. And the rot continues to multiply. As your children watch you bribe cops and learn something. As they hear you speak ill of other tribes. break the cycle. Just say no. Just say no!
Note: Initially wrote this on 2/13/09 and left it as a draft. I just reread it, didn't change anything and decided to post it.
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