Alfajiri Kenya

FIXING THE US ECONOMY: SYMPTOMS VS DISEASE

2011-09-14T19:49:00.000-04:00

Little has not already been said about what is needed to fix the US economy. The Right is advocating for federal debt reduction, loosening up of regulations and the lowering of all sorts of taxes. The left is going with mainstream economic theory like using government spending to stimulate the economy, and some unusual (for democrats) ideas like targeted tax incentives that will hopefully lead to

How to be ‘Super Rich’ according to Russell Simmons

2011-01-18T00:07:00.000-05:00

In his most recent book, Russell Simmons (Hip Hop mogul for the uninitiated) doles out practical advice on how to be rich. Because the man is worth at least a quarter billion, he has earned the right to be listened to. There is also something about Russell that is impatient and looks to get to the point and get on with it. In almost all the interviews I’ve seen him give he does not get into

Gbagbo Won’t Go but It Is Not Too Bad.

2011-01-05T21:57:00.000-05:00

I wish I could be proved wrong on this one but I have seen this movie before. The longer Gbagbo stays in place the more likely it is that he will not relinquish power. As it is, all the players are by nature ‘law and order’ folks that would hate see ugly scenes played out all over Abidjan. That is the transformation that happens when one attains power. Even former rebel leaders are instantly

Why Do Low Income Earners Vote Republican?

2010-10-17T23:11:00.000-04:00

After a long absence, a quick quip. Ever wondered why some low income earners vote Republican? which is against their own economic interests? I have always wondered how Republicans have been able to pull that off for decades. Why would someone in the 15% percent income tax bracket vote for a party that insists on tax cuts for the top brackets, that is opposed to financial reforms or any real or

KENYA: Did you know?

2010-04-11T01:52:00.000-04:00

Did you know that...... Both Nairobi and Mombasa are among the fastest growing cities in the world? Kenya is tied for 6th in the world for highest brain drain? Kenyans in the diaspora remit more money home per year than donor aid combined? Kenya is ranked 27th among countries most dependent on Agriculture? Kenya is ranked 8th for fastest increase in value of stocks traded between 2001 and

Nice Job Kenya Police........But!

2010-03-30T22:55:00.000-04:00

I recently read a story on Nation that went like this. Banker drives home from work, is ambushed by three gangsters outside his house, wife hears the commotion and calls the police. Shockingly the police jump into action and track down the car to a nearby shopping center. The police proceed to spray the suspected car with bullets and the gangsters are so overwhelmed by the gunfire that they

Zuma Grows His Family Budget

2010-03-17T23:27:00.000-04:00

In case you haven't heard, Jacob Zuma the president of South Africa has three wives and about 20 children. Yes, according to Bloomberg.com he "has fathered about 20 children". He is now also currently engaged. The news however is that the president's family budget has doubled due to Zuma's rather large family which is apparently still completely dependent on him. So South Africans will now spend

Corruption Drives Trabalism Drives Corruption

2010-02-13T23:49:00.000-05:00

Once again the Kenyan government is embroiled in a major corruption scandal. This time is different. There are two scandals running concurrently instead of the usual one-at-a-time. The players are seemingly 'bigger' this time around too. The first is the Free Primary School Education Fund case of the missing 'funds'. It is as simple as it gets here. No complexity,intrigues, or major kickbacks.

HAITI: Some Uncomfortable questions for the developing world.

2010-01-31T00:15:00.002-05:00

As Haitians and the rest of the world mourn the great loss of life and suffering, some uncomfortable questions need to be asked. The intention here is not to criticize or grand- stand in the aftermath of such a tragedy. Rather, it is an attempt to spark discussion and hopefully aid in the disaster preparedness of other nations of the ‘developing’ world. First is what happened to the Haitian

Little Things Your Bank Does to Rip You Off

2010-01-26T22:53:00.000-05:00

I just found out that something I always suspected my bank practices is actually true. I always thought it was interesting that whenever my checking account balance was low, there seemed to be an uptick in activity. So I found out that I am not crazy. Banks do actually have software programs designed to process debit card payments in a way that depletes your balance the quickest. Here is how it

Laptop Crash

2010-01-16T00:02:00.001-05:00

My now-vintage Toshiba laptop crashed last week. I have discovered its now almost impossible to live without internet. No wonder the US govt now considers it a necessity just like utilities. No longer a luxury. The said laptop is now resuscitated for which I am grateful. I expect to be furiously blogging in the coming days and expect no less from my two readers. I take care of my readers! My

2009-12-10T22:41:00.000-05:00

Upcoming Posts: The modern automobile. A truly unimpressive machine. Why Foreign Aid Has Been Bad for Africa

What is your 'America age?'

2009-12-10T22:36:00.000-05:00

I have to say this popped into my head after reading Okongo's Policy blog about the African immigrant experience. The day you land in America you are reborn in a sense. A new clock starts ticking.So I thought about one of the first three questions fellow Africans ask of one another during the initial introduction. You already know where I'm going with this one. "How long have you been in the US?

Taxoplasma: An alzheimer's-linked parasite that causes rats to be attracted to cats?

2009-11-14T21:23:00.000-05:00

Toxoplasma gondii is the most mind-blowing parasite that I have ever read or heard about. I was driving home when I heard this story on WBUR radio Boston and it really blew my mind. It sounds like an April Fools' science fiction joke. If this doesn't disturb you, you are disturbed.(Just kidding). So here is the story as presented by WBUR Boston. The 'toxo' parasite I referenced above has a two

Executive Pay: What they didn't teach you in school

2009-10-30T12:38:00.000-04:00

It seems like everyone is talking about excessive executive pay nowadays. Obama is talking about it. Germany's Angela Merkel is reviewing plans to possibly put a cap on executive pay for all of Europe. From the millions that AIG was planning to pay out this year to the hundreds of millions Goldman is actually going to pay. The sums are mind boggling not just for size but more so the for their

The Mugabe disaster is worse than you think.

2009-09-29T23:27:00.000-04:00

What has happened to once-proud Zimbabwe is the stuff of movies. Horror movies. Outbreaks of cholera, biting hunger and severe oppression. Inflation? Currently at 20 million percent according to CNN. Alternatively, you can take the much more conservative official figure of 11.2 million percent. Disputed elections and loss of life on the continent is no longer news so I will not dwell on that.

Health Care Tip for Obama

2009-09-19T22:37:00.000-04:00

Its easy to get tired of all the coverage of the health care debate. There are no good alternatives for escaping the media coverage of the debate. Not many people would trade their cable news for actual reading of the thousands of pages floating around Congress. Like it or not it is much easier to remember politicians' sound bites than it is to remember the complex details of the debate. This is

Could Kenya have been the ‘The Garden of Eden?’

2009-09-09T00:53:00.002-04:00