http://Seanamo.tigblog.org/ What's on the minds of young leaders from around the globe? en-us http://Seanamo.tigblog.org/post/440297
Unfortunately, we can’t just turn it off when people tell us to “stop worrying.” Because it’s easier said than done, we’ve devised four steps to help you stop worrying -- whether it’s getting to work on time, finding an apartment or dealing with the threat of a terrorist attack.
step 1
Nail down precisely what worries you
We often have only a vague idea of the issue that is occupying our thoughts, tying us up in knots and causing us to lose sleep. This is especially true for chronic worriers. However, a lack of understanding about what is really worrisome compounds the problem. So, your first step to stop worrying should be to reduce the issue to its fundamentals and then to write it down in a sentence or two. It is the difference between looking at a daunting 500 page novel, replete with details that may not contribute to your understanding of the book, and reading a short, coherent summary of the main themes.

So, stop worrying about some nebulous issue in the back of your mind and bring it to the forefront of your thoughts. A general worry about the future can be overwhelming, but scaling it down to a specific concern about school, where you’re going to be living in six months or the actions of a girl in your life can help put your worries into perspective. This is true whether you’re worried about one thing or a handful of things.
step 2
Break the concern into manageable parts
Virtually every concern can be divided into constituent parts. This step should be done whenever possible, as doing so provides a means for finding a way to tackle the worry and at least bring you some peace for the time being.

Let’s say you’re worried that your bad credit will prevent you from buying a home. Now, stop worrying for a moment so that you can think rationally enough to break your concerns down a bit. First off, do you actually know what your credit score is? And have you tried to get a home loan with that credit score? If not, you don’t have much to worry about -- yet. If yes, order a report of your credit score online and take a look at what can and what can not be fixed. These things are just parts of your wider problem, and taking a look from this angle can set in motion the senses of relief and calm that will help you stop worrying.

Determine what can be done right now
Depending on the worry, there may be nothing to be done about it this instant. Whether there are things to be done or not, at least you’ll have a plan. If that plan is to do nothing, because there’s nothing to be done, it should certainly help you get to sleep on a given night. Otherwise, making a list of actions that can be undertaken to assuage the worry is a good idea -- the very act of making this list sets the process underway, as it’s something that can be done right now to help you stop worrying.

Let’s take that terrorist attack as an example. An experienced worrier can think: ”What if there’s an attack this week?”; “What about my family?”; and “Who will take care of my dog?” These are valid concerns, of course, but what exactly can you do about it in the moment? Join Homeland Security? Not at midnight you won’t. You can, however, sit down and make a preparation list that includes things you’ll need in the event of an emergency (water, canned food, dog food, a first aid kit, and the like).
step 4
Take action
This last step is the most effective way to stop worrying: take action. Do something about your worry. Having nailed down your worry, broken it down and established what can be done, you have nothing left to do but to do it. Taking action may mean doing nothing but stopping the constant worry if there’s nothing to be done about it.

You can start to attack your credit score one issue at a time. You can head out and go shopping for that emergency kit -- even if it’s 2 a.m., the odds are decent that you can find an open Wal-Mart. You can search the internet at any hour for available apartments in your price range or in your area, write down which ones look good and make a plan to contact them in the morning.

In short, nothing -- nothing -- can help you stop worrying like action. After all, what’s the alternative but to stew in your own worry?]]> Mon, 28 Jul 2008 07:20:00 EDT http://Seanamo.tigblog.org/post/440297 -1.25 36.8 -1.25 36.8 http://Seanamo.tigblog.org/post/440289
'The man who marries a beautiful woman, and the farmer who grows corn by the roadside have the same problem' - Ethiopia .

'A short man is not a boy' - Nigeria

'No matter how hot your anger is, it cannot cook yam' - Nigeria.

'It requires a lot of carefulness to kill the fly that perches on the scrotum' - Ghana.

'If the throat can grant passage to a knife, the anus should wonder how to expel it' - Seychelles.

'The frown on the face of the goat will stop it from being taken to the market' - Nigeria.

'An old lady feels uneasy when dry bones are mentioned in a proverb' -Ghana.

'The same sun that melts the wax, hardens the clay' - Niger .

'If you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there' - Uganda

'There's no virgin in a maternity ward' - Cameroon .

'A child can play with its mother's breasts, but not its father's testicles' - Guinea .

]]> Mon, 28 Jul 2008 07:16:00 EDT http://Seanamo.tigblog.org/post/440289 -1.25 36.8 -1.25 36.8 http://Seanamo.tigblog.org/post/440273
Once you know that you lost your wallet, don't immediately jump to the conclusion that it's been stolen. Try contacting businesses that you've frequented or friends who you've visited, and retrace your steps to find out when your wallet last left your pocket. You should also be aware that most banks and credit card companies will put a temporary hold (usually up to 48 hours) on your cards and accounts, so there's no need to cancel everything until your wallet is truly gone for good. If you are able to recover your lost wallet, check to make sure that all of the correct contents are there. This will save you a lot of headaches and hassles.

Here's how to recover from a lost wallet in case you do indeed suffer from an absent piece of your identity.
Talk to the police
Considering everything else that the police have to deal with, it might seem like an afterthought to contact them to report your lost wallet. In fact, when you know that your wallet is gone, this is the very first thing you should do. The police may not be able to find it, but a police report will help you later on if any insurance or liability issues arise.

For the purposes of the police report, you'll need to provide as many details as possible for where you believe it was lost, when and how. In addition, you will need to create a full description of everything in your wallet. If you already did this when you first noticed it was missing, this will make the process of filing a police report run a lot smoother.
Contact your bank
We mentioned that a police report about your lost wallet will help your cause when it comes to liability issues later on, and this is most true when dealing with your bank. Unlike credit card companies, banks will hold you responsible for losses incurred from debit card withdrawals and purchases. Your contact with the bank and an accompanying police report will likely drop that liability down to a maximum loss of $50. A temporary hold on your account can also alleviate losses until you have a police report about your lost wallet in hand.

The bank will also have you closing all of your accounts, since debit cards are usually linked to several accounts. Any balances that you have will need to be transferred into new accounts and the checks that you were using will need to be destroyed. As far as checks go, it's also vital that your bank contacts companies that provide check verification, because you don't want any checks to be accepted from your closed accounts. Once your new accounts are created, you can replace the old checks with new ones and also receive a new debit card and PIN.

Phone your credit card company
While it's true that credit card companies will pick up the tab for fraudulent charges if your card is lost or stolen, that doesn't mean that they will do so without a hitch. As a cardholder, it's up to you to dispute any charges that aren't yours and wait for a resolution. Sometimes these charges will stay on your balance while an investigation is ongoing, so the sooner you report your card as lost or stolen, the better. Don't wait until your next statement to look at your monthly charges. Check online or speak with your credit card representative to determine if any of your recent charges are fraudulent; this will enable an investigation to begin immediately.

Once you have acknowledged that your credit card is lost or stolen, you will receive a brand new card number and expiry date. While this will protect you from any new fraudulent charges that could come about from the old number, a new credit card number can also serve as an inconvenience. This is because it's your responsibility to contact those merchants who exercise pre-authorized billing on your card and charge you at regular intervals.
Get an updated credit report
The activity that goes on through your bank accounts and credit cards is regularly reported back to the credit bureau through three major credit reporting companies: Equifax, TransUnion and Experian. When your wallet is stolen, it's not just the fraudulent charges and account activities that can be troublesome, you're also at risk for identity theft, as someone with all of your personal information could apply for a new credit card or attempt to open a bank account in your name.

To lessen the chances of identity theft, make sure to contact all three of the credit reporting companies and have a fraud alert integrated with your credit report. What this means is that a new bank account, loan application or purchase that requires a credit check will be flagged and the credit agencies will need to contact you for verification. Once you've spoken to the fraud department at each of these agencies, you can also order a complimentary copy of your credit report for review to ensure that everything is as it should be.
Replace missing cards and keys
All financial bothers aside, one of the most troublesome aspects of a missing or lost wallet is the replacement of important cards. Your driver's license or government-issued identification is the best way to identify who you are. If you think that you can get pulled over for speeding and tell the officer that you have no license because your wallet was stolen, think again. Think of any other cards you may need to replace, such as your Social Security Card, and then take the appropriate steps through government-issuing channels to have them replaced.

Cards aren't the only things that might need to be replaced. If you normally carry your keys in your wallet, you will need to get those replaced and also take on the additional step of having all of the appropriate locks changed. You might feel glad to have new keys, but if you haven't changed your home locks, you won't be the only one who has access to you plasma TV and stereo.
new wallet wonders
Losing your wallet is a painful inconvenience, a supreme waste of time and an altogether lousy experience. If your wallet does get lost, there is reassurance to be found by taking additional safety precautions with your next wallet. Consider a cardholder that will keep your important cards together and away from your wallet. Other measures like keeping important account numbers in a safe place for emergency situations and checking your pockets regularly for your wallet are also proactive ideas. While you don't want to lose your wallet, the very least you can do is be prepared if it does happen to tumble by the wayside.]]> Mon, 28 Jul 2008 06:18:00 EDT http://Seanamo.tigblog.org/post/440273 -1.25 36.8 -1.25 36.8 http://Seanamo.tigblog.org/post/440271 My weakness is that I care too much
And my scars remind me that the past is real
I tear my heart open just to feel

Drunk and I'm feeling down
And I just wanna be alone
I'm pissed cause you came around
Why don't you just go home
Cause you channel all your pain
And I can't help you fix yourself
You're making me insane
All I can say is

[Chorus:]
I tear my heart open, I sew myself shut
My weakness is that I care too much
And our scars remind us that the past is real
I tear my heart open just to feel

I tried to help you once
Against my own advice
I saw you going down
But you never realized
That you're drowning in the water
So I offered you my hand
Compassions in my nature
Tonight is our last stand

[Chorus]

I'm drunk and I'm feeling down
And I just wanna be alone
You shouldn't ever come around
Why don't you just go home?
Cause you're drowning in the water
And I tried to grab your hand
And I left my heart open
But you didn't understand
But you didn't understand
Go fix yourself

I can't help you fix yourself
But at least I can say I tried
I'm sorry but I gotta move on with my own life
I can't help you fix yourself
But at least I can say I tried
I'm sorry but I gotta move on with my own life

[Chorus x2]
]]> Mon, 28 Jul 2008 06:00:00 EDT http://Seanamo.tigblog.org/post/440271 -1.25 36.8 -1.25 36.8 http://Seanamo.tigblog.org/post/440263
Sip the vodka, don't gulp.
There are 10 commandments, not 12.
There are 12 disciples, not 10.
Jesus was consecrated, not constipated.
Jacob wagered his donkey, he did not bet his a**.
We do not refer to Jesus Christ as the late J.C.
The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are not referred to as Daddy, Junior, and Spook.
David slew Goliath, he did not kick the **** out of him.
When David was hit by a rock and knocked off his donkey, don't say he was stoned off his a**.
We do not refer to the cross as the big T!
When Jesus broke the bread at the Last Supper he said, "Take this and eat it, for it is my body", he did not say ,"Eat me."
The Virgin Mary is not referred to as the "Mary with the cherry."
The recommended grace before a meal is not:"Rub-A-dub-dub, thanks for the grub, yeah God."
Next Sunday there will be a taffy pulling contest at St Peter's, not a Peter pulling contest at St. Taffy's. ]]> Mon, 28 Jul 2008 05:40:00 EDT http://Seanamo.tigblog.org/post/440263 -1.25 36.8 -1.25 36.8 http://Seanamo.tigblog.org/post/440261 I listen and admire your wisdom.
We are one when we are together,
You and I will always be friends.

When you are angry,
I am there to sooth your aggression.
When you are sad,
I am there to cheer you up.

We understand each others thoughts,
Words with us aren?t needed.
We have a trust that is very rare,
You and I will always be friends.

What we enjoy doing together comes natural,
We accept life and move ahead.
I am your shadow and you mine,
We are inseparable if only in mind.]]> Mon, 28 Jul 2008 05:33:00 EDT http://Seanamo.tigblog.org/post/440261 -1.25 36.8 -1.25 36.8 http://Seanamo.tigblog.org/post/416375
It came a day after the Group of Eight major industrial democracies set a goal of halving heat-trapping emissions that contribute to global warming by 2050.
The U.S.-led, 17-member group issued a final statement on the sidelines of the Group of Eight summit in northern Japan.

"We support a shared vision for long-term cooperative action, including a long-term global goal for emission reductions, that assures growth, prosperity, and other aspects of sustainable development," the expanded group said.

But the developing nations invited to the gathering were not ready to go as far as supporting the 50 percent reduction by 2050.
Jim Connaughton, chairman of President Bush's Council of Environmental Quality, said that "several" of the emerging economies were willing to support the target, but not enough to allow that language to be put in the declaration. He did not say which nations.

The White House did not speak of a setback; the fact that the group met as one and vowed to work together to reduce emissions "will give us greater confidence and commitments as we go to next year," said Connaughton.
The expanded group included China and India. They were invited to sit at the table with the Group of Eight: the U.S., Japan, Britain, Germany, France, Canada, Italy and Russia.
The statement on Wednesday also pledged to support a U.N.-led effort to conclude a new global warming pact by the end of next year.
Environmentalists, however, deplored the statement as meaningless without any targets.

"This whole initiative has been a wild goose chase and hasn't brought anything constructive to the U.N. talks," said Antonio Hill, of the aid group Oxfam International, an advocacy group that works on climate change and other causes.
Developing nations such as China and India have criticized the G-8's position statement for failing to state clearly what wealthy nations' commitments are, and that opposition was reflected in the lack of a longterm target in Wednesday's communique among the broader group.
Bush has pushed the so-called Major Economies Meeting to gather the countries most responsible for the greenhouse gases being emitted today.
Critics have attacked the grouping for excluding nations, such as small-island states, who will suffer most from the effects of global warming, such as rising sea levels.

In its own statement, the G-8 did not specify a base year for its proposed 50 percent cut, and the actual emissions reductions and the effect on the environment could vary hugely depending on what is eventually decided. Reductions from 2005 levels, for instance, would be far less than from 1990 levels, as in the Kyoto Protocol on global warming.

Still, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said it was essential to set a long-term goal for global greenhouse emissions by 2050. He said the world cannot afford to wait until 2009, when nations are planning to try to conclude a new global warming treaty to succeed the Kyoto Protocol when its first phase expires in 2012.

The United States has never ratified the Kyoto treaty, with Bush complaining that it puts too much of a burden on the U.S. and other developed countries to reduce emissions while developing giants such as China and India are given a freer rein to pollute even as they vigorously compete with America around the world.

Bush will leave office next January, and both major candidates to succeed him have said they are willing to go further in cutting back American emissions.

The G-8 statement solidified a pledge made at the last summit in Germany a year ago to seriously consider such a long-term target.

But the move fell far short of demands by some developing countries and environmentalists pushing for deeper cuts by 2050 and a firm signal from wealthy countries on what they are willing to do on the much tougher midterm goal of cutting emissions by 2020.

"To be meaningful and credible, a long-term goal must have a base year, it must be underpinned by ambitious midterm targets and actions," said Marthinus van Schalkwyk, South African Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism. "As it is expressed in the G-8 statement, the long-term goal is an empty slogan."]]> Wed, 09 Jul 2008 02:25:00 EDT http://Seanamo.tigblog.org/post/416375 -1.25 36.8 -1.25 36.8 http://Seanamo.tigblog.org/post/415903 Hiring managers don't want to hear a lot of things during an interview – confessions of a violent past, a cell phone ring, a toilet flush. Yet job seekers have committed these interview gaffes and worse, according to CareerBuilder.com's annual survey of the worst interview mistakes.

Odd behavior isn't the only way to ruin your chances of landing a job. When hiring managers were asked to name the most common and damaging interview mistakes a candidate can make, 51 percent listed dressing inappropriately. Forty-nine percent cited badmouthing a former boss as the worst offense, while 48 percent said appearing disinterested. Arrogance (44 percent), insufficient answers (30 percent) and not asking good questions (29 percent) were also top answers.

To ensure your interview is smooth and error-free, follow these five tips.

Do some research: When you walk into a job interview, knowledge of the company's history, goals and current activity proves to the interviewer that you are not only prepared for the interview, but also that you want to be a part of the organization.

Don't lie: If the conversation drifts to a topic you're not knowledgeable about, admit you don't know the answer and then explain how you would go about finding a solution. Displaying your problem-solving skills is better than babbling about something you don't understand.

Keep it professional: Although interviewers often try to create a comfortable setting to ease the job seeker's nerves, business decorum shouldn't disappear. Avoid offering personal details that can be controversial or have no relevance to the position, such as political and religious beliefs or stories about a recent break-up.

Know what to expect: Expect to hear staple interview questions: "What's your biggest weakness?" "Why do you want to work here?" "Tell me about yourself." "Why did you leave your last job?" These open-ended questions are harder to answer than they sound, so think about your responses before the interview.

Put on a happy face: The interview is not the time to air your grievances about being wronged by a past boss. How you speak about a previous employer gives the hiring manager an idea of how you'll speak about him or her once you've moved on.

Unfortunately, many job seekers are not only ignoring these tips, they're making mistakes that leave unforgettable impressions for all the wrong reasons. Here are 10 real-life examples from this year's survey:


* Candidate answered cell phone and asked the interviewer to leave her own office because it was a "private" conversation.


* Applicant told the interviewer he wouldn't be able to stay with the job long because he thought he might get an inheritance if his uncle died and his uncle wasn't "looking too good."


* The job seeker asked the interviewer for a ride home after the interview.


* The applicant smelled his armpits on the way to the interview room.


* Candidate said she could not provide a writing sample because all of her writing had been for the CIA and it was "classified."


* Candidate told the interviewer he was fired for beating up his last boss.


* When the applicant was offered food before the interview, he declined saying he didn't want to line his stomach with grease before going out drinking.


* An applicant said she was a "people person" not a "numbers person" – in her interview for an accounting position.


* During a phone interview the candidate flushed the toilet while talking to hiring manager.


* The applicant took out a hair brush and brushed her hair.




]]> Tue, 08 Jul 2008 08:09:00 EDT http://Seanamo.tigblog.org/post/415903 -1.25 36.8 -1.25 36.8 http://Seanamo.tigblog.org/post/395417
A lot more people belong in that latter group than you might have guessed. Fifteen percent of workers admit to arriving late at least once a week, according to a recent CareerBuilder.com survey.

Why are so many of us running late?

You might be surprised that the snooze button is not the primary culprit of tardiness. Thirty-two percent of workers attribute their late arrivals to traffic gridlock. Seventeen percent claim a lack of sleep is the reason, and 7 percent have trouble arriving on time because they need to get their children ready for school or day care. Other issues, like forgetting something at home or not feeling well, are also popular.

Fortunately for late arrivers, 43 percent of hiring managers won't count tardiness against you as long as you meet deadlines and turn in good work. Of course, some managers feel differently and will hand you a pink slip if you're late several times within a year.

Use your imagination

More than 27 percent of hiring managers say they are skeptical of employees' excuses for showing up late. It turns out their doubt is warranted: 24 percent of all employees decide to make up a fake excuse rather than tell the truth.

What does this mean to you?

If you're sitting in a traffic jam watching the minutes tick away and you've decided honesty isn't the best policy for you, think of a believable and acceptable reason you're walking in late. After all, if you were a hiring manager who heard any of these 10 real-life excuses for being late, you'd be suspicious, too.

1. While rowing across the river to work, I got lost in the fog.

2. Someone stole all my daffodils.

3. I had to go audition for American Idol.

4. My ex-husband stole my car so I couldn't drive to work.

5. My route to work was shut down by a presidential motorcade.

6. I have transient amnesia and couldn't remember my job.

7. I was indicted for securities fraud this morning.

8. The line was too long at Starbucks.

9. I was trying to get my gun back from the police.

10. I didn't have money for gas because all of the pawnshops were closed.

Be a crowd-pleaser

When it comes to punctuality, your best bet is to take cues from your company's culture. If everyone is diligently working when you drag yourself through the door each morning, then you probably stand out. However, if everyone filters in at their own pace between 8:45 and 9:15, then an occasional late arrival will probably go unnoticed.

Habitual lateness, on the other hand, will help neither your career prospects nor your workplace relationships. For one thing, your boss and co-workers are relying on you to be at work when you're scheduled to arrive; you don't want to disappoint them. Also, just because nobody confronts you about your tardiness, that doesn't mean no one's watching the clock and forming an opinion about you or your work ethic. These judgments can damage you when it comes to performance reviews and promotions. Don't let a few extra minutes of sleep cost you your reputation – or worse, your job.
]]> Tue, 24 Jun 2008 07:16:00 EDT http://Seanamo.tigblog.org/post/395417 -1.25 36.8 -1.25 36.8 http://Seanamo.tigblog.org/post/395323
UNITED NATIONS - Outraged at the turmoil in Zimbabwe, the U.N. Security Council declared that a fair presidential vote is impossible because of the "campaign of violence" waged by President Robert Mugabe's government.

The 15-nation council Monday unanimously said it "condemns the campaign of violence against the political opposition ahead of the second round of presidential elections," which has resulted in the killing of scores of opposition activists and other Zimbabweans.

The move came after opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai withdrew from the vote — reportedly fearing for his safety — and police raided his Harare headquarters, hustling away dozens of his supporters.

Tsvangirai was fleeing soldiers when he took refuge at the Dutch Embassy in Harare, Senegal's president said, offering some of the first details on the latest twist in the southern African's country's political crisis.

Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade made the comment in a statement released late Monday about his attempts to mediate in the Zimbabwean crisis.

Tsvangirai said he planned to leave the embassy Tuesday or Wednesday after receiving assurances from the regime that he will not be harmed.

Recent bloodshed widely blamed on supporters of Mugabe has killed dozens of opposition activists and other Zimbabweans.

The non-binding presidential statement was the council's first formal action on Zimbabwe's political and humanitarian crises. Council members also agreed that the violence and restrictions on opposition activists imposed by the Mugabe government "have made it impossible for a free and fair election to take place" on Friday.

The 84-year-old Mugabe and United Nations Zimbabwean Ambassador Boniface Chidyausiku pledged to press ahead with Friday's vote, despite the international criticism and the lack of opposition.

Tsvangirai said the election was rigged and his supporters face too much violence for him to keep running. He won the first round of voting on March 29, but lacked an outright majority against Mugabe.

"There has been too much violence, too much intimidation," U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon told a brief news conference, and a runoff "would only deepen divisions within the country and produce a result that cannot be credible."

Ban said he was working with South Africa and the African Union to find a solution. Dumisani Kumalo, South Africa's ambassador to the U.N., told reporters that it should be left up to the Zimbabweans to decide whether to delay Friday's voting or to revert to the earlier result and consider Tsvangirai the interim president.

Most of the council's negotiations were conducted privately. Members met openly for less than a half-hour to get an update on what is happening from U.N. Undersecretary-General for Political Affairs B. Lynn Pascoe.

He said ample evidence shows Mugabe's government is waging a "widespread campaign of retaliation and threat" and spreading "fear, hostility and attacks" against its opponents.

Mugabe's government is no longer capable of holding a legitimate election, Pascoe told the council, and Mugabe's plan to push ahead with a runoff Friday "would only increase divisions and produce discredited results."

Already, tens of thousands of Zimbabweans have been uprooted from their homes and 85 people have died in election violence, human rights groups say. Tsvangirai has repeatedly been detained by police and contended with warnings of a state-sponsored assassination plot. His top deputy was arrested on treason charges that carry the death penalty.

The U.S., Britain, France and other Western powers tried but failed to include language asserting that Tsvangirai should be considered the legitimate president, until another fair election can be held.

They faced opposition mainly from South Africa and China, Zimbabwe's biggest trading partners, and from Russia, which had previously opposed discussions on Zimbabwe. The all-day discussions on the various drafts extended into the evening.

]]> Tue, 24 Jun 2008 05:35:00 EDT http://Seanamo.tigblog.org/post/395323 -1.25 36.8 -1.25 36.8 http://Seanamo.tigblog.org/post/395283
She's probably hanging in there, hoping that some kind of feelings will develop for you, but it's not working.

Look, when a woman says, "I only like you as a friend," or "I've been hurt so I want to take this slow," or "I like you so much, I don't want to lose you as a friend," or any of the million variations of these things, it USUALLY means that you're not doing the things it takes to create ATTRACTION.

She doesn't FEEL IT for you. And if she doesn't FEEL IT, then there ARE NO shortcuts, my man.

Stop being such a "nice" guy and start doing the things you're learning from me to spark some CHEMISTRY!]]> Tue, 24 Jun 2008 03:16:00 EDT http://Seanamo.tigblog.org/post/395283 -1.25 36.8 -1.25 36.8 http://Seanamo.tigblog.org/post/395281
Then call her up and say, "What are you doing RIGHT NOW? I think you should come over and hang out with me."

Call on a Saturday or Sunday around noon.

If she comes over, immediately LEAVE after she arrives.

Go have a cup of tea, do some window shopping and DON'T cling to her, look at her too much or act like you are feeling attracted to her. Lean back. Tease her a lot. Tell her how she's screwing up her chances with you, etc.

Finally, once you get back to your place, proceed with The Kiss Test, and you'll be fine from there.

You need to relax. And don't get so hung up on this one girl.

We guys always want the one we can't have... and it's a problem. Stay on track improving yourself, meeting other women, etc. That's the way.]]> Tue, 24 Jun 2008 03:10:00 EDT http://Seanamo.tigblog.org/post/395281 -1.25 36.8 -1.25 36.8 http://Seanamo.tigblog.org/post/389945
The reports that over 100,000 people in Baringo District are now depending on wild fruits and tubers for their survival, due to famine, are particularly worrying.

The situation is also bad in other arid and semi-arid districts of Samburu, Turkana, Marakwet and West Pokot, whose residents depend on cattle due to harsh climatic conditions not favourable for farming.

People in these areas normally receive little rainfall between March and April, but this year, the region has experienced a prolonged drought.

As a matter of fact, however, failure by the Government to come up with a practical and workable rational food policy in Asals is to blame for the frequent food shortages.

The truth of the matter is that Kenya has many experts in agriculture, but these experts have failed to come up with long-term solutions to food shortages.

It is because of this that when serious famine strikes, the Government runs to the international community for support.

But when will we utilise the resources we have to contain the situation so that the international community can also to run to us for help?

Our country has diverse climatic conditions. Some areas receive plenty of rainfall almost all the year round, while other areas get little or no rainfall.

A country like Egypt has climatic conditions that are worse than ours, and yet it has turned many of its areas into giant food producers through investment in irrigation.

Irrigation schemes have proved that they can transform the lives of many Kenyans in areas such as Sigor Wei Wei scheme in West Pokot District.

Having been started in 1987, following an agreement between the Kenya Government and Italian development cooperation, the project has made a significant contribution to employment and income generation in the area.

The project benefits are also being shared with the pastoral communities bordering the area, who have access to crop residue that caters for their livestock.

The lives of the Pokots in the project area have been transformed with crop harvest of twice a year.

A thriving and rapidly expanding market has developed at Sigor. Before the start of the project, the population of the area was roughly 40,000, but now the population stands at 200,000.

For the sustainability of the project, the community has also played a key role in the conservation of the environment and especially the water catchment areas.

This project has demonstrated to the Government that more investments need to be directed to irrigated agriculture.

This is the only way to eradicate the frequent food shortages.

Replication of the Sigor project has been carried out by Kerio Valley Development Authority (KVDA) in the Arror Irrigation Scheme in Marakwet District.

Many people in Turkana and other areas have depended on relief food for a long time since there have been no meaningful harvests due to the poor rainfall in the area.

Surely, Kenya’s population of 34 million people is still small. We can afford to do without relief if the right policies are formulated and implemented.

Kenyans in the Asal areas need irrigation schemes, if the serious food shortage that has continued to hit them has to be solved once and for all.]]> Mon, 16 Jun 2008 05:35:00 EDT http://Seanamo.tigblog.org/post/389945 -1.25 36.8 -1.25 36.8 http://Seanamo.tigblog.org/post/389933 Publication Date: 6/16/2008

ALMOST 1,000 OF THE WORLD’S leading experts in infectious diseases and vaccines convened in Reykjavik, Iceland, last week to tackle a leading killer of children and adults worldwide — pneumococcal disease.

They came from the front lines of field clinics, hospitals and research laboratories in more than 80 countries — including Kenya — to mobilise around the common goal of saving of lives through widespread vaccination against this deadly, but preventable, disease.

Most people have never heard of pneumococcal disease. They are often shocked to learn that it kills 1.6 million people every year — more than half of whom are children under five years of age — and that this puts it at par with well-recognised killers like tuberculosis and malaria.

A major cause of pneumonia, meningitis, sepsis and other life-threatening ailments, it all too often strikes those who are young, poor and least equipped to fight it.

In Kenya alone, more than 20,000 children die each year from the disease, and up to 5,000 more are debilitated by it.

An effective vaccine for children is available to safely and effectively prevent pneumococcal infections, and expanded protection vaccines are coming in the next two years.

These vaccines represent the collective efforts of thousands of researchers, including those in Kenya and other African nations. Estimates show that in Kenya alone, current and future vaccines could potentially prevent 50 to 80 per cent of pneumococcal deaths.

Kenya has shown leadership by making the decision to include pneumococcal vaccines in the expanded primary immunisation (Kepi) programme, and with the support of the GAVI Alliance, implementation will begin in the near future.

In doing so, our Government has demonstrated a commitment to protecting our children and set an example for other countries in Africa and across the globe to follow.

Innovative financing mechanisms, such as the GAVI Alliance and the Advance Market Commitment, are making sure that these vaccines are affordable and available to all the children who need them — not just those living in countries that can afford them.

Groups such as the Pneumococcal Awareness Council of Experts (Pace) are working to educate policy-makers about the benefits of — and opportunities for — prevention.

Working together, we can save millions of lives. We have the vaccines, the technology, the financing mechanisms and the demand to prevent this disease.

It is time for the governments of developing nations to follow Kenya’s example, take advantage of these innovations, and bring them to the people who need them most.

The price of action will be measured in shillings. The price of inaction will be measured by the number of children who lose their lives to a preventable disease.

Dr Were is the national chairman, Kenya Paediatric Association.
]]> Mon, 16 Jun 2008 04:37:00 EDT http://Seanamo.tigblog.org/post/389933 -1.25 36.8 -1.25 36.8 http://Seanamo.tigblog.org/post/389921
As the dust settles on the Budget debate, it is time to examine the fine print of the Government’s finance plan.

One of the key items of last week’s Budget was the allocation of Sh500 million for youth development. Like last year when a substantial sum of funds was allocated to the youth, there is clear understanding that this group requires specific interventions to address their plight.

Notably, the Government has set up the Youth Enterprise Fund to provide seed money to support young people to venture into business.

Underlying this is the acknowledgement that young people remain a disempowered lot that operates at the periphery of the economy. They suffer due to rampant unemployment and lack of access to funds and opportunities for gainful engagement.

But is funding the surest alternative out of disempowerment? After two years of experimenting with youth funds, there is little to show for it. The allocation is minimal and the mode of disbursement faulty.

Not only do youth groups formed to source for the money receive meagre allocations, whatever they get, except for few cases, has not been wisely spent. Seldom do we see the fund put into strategic investment.

Most of the fund has just ended going down the drain. At any rate, we have not heard of investment clinics rolled out to sensitise youth and equip them with the right skills and attitudes on investment.

Whereas the youth fund is a noble idea, it is time the Government used a holistic approach to tackling issues affecting the young people.

One of their grouses is exclusion in governance and decision-making. With octogenarians dominating top political positions and Government appointments, the youth are left to watch things helplessly at the fringes.

This spawns disillusionment, which in turn, leads to criminal tendencies. Not surprising, it’s the youth who took part quite viciously in the violence that rocked the country in the first two months of the year.

The point is that tokenism won’t end the youth crisis. A more strategic and forward-looking approach must be adopted.
]]> Mon, 16 Jun 2008 04:00:00 EDT http://Seanamo.tigblog.org/post/389921 -1.25 36.8 -1.25 36.8 http://Seanamo.tigblog.org/post/389905 Publication Date: 6/16/2008

The spiralling prices of basic food commodities fuelled by inflation, the post-election crisis and high production costs are forcing Kenyans to cut down on their meals every day.

A survey by the Nation discovered that prices of essential foodstuffs had risen by more than 50 per cent in the past six months.

As a result, more and more Kenyans are now resorting to the kadogo (small size) economy, where one buys tiny quantities of essential products as the need arises.

Among the goods whose cost has risen dramatically since January are maize flour, rice, bread, milk and sugar.

Reduce cost

By the weekend, major retailers were yet to reduce the cost of these products although Finance minister Amos Kimunya reduced taxes charged on them in Thursday’s Budget speech.

It is now feared that malnutrition might be on the rise as most Kenyans struggle to put a meal on the table.

Though the Budget was praised for the initiatives taken to cushion the poor against spiralling prices, it left out fuel, which has contributed to the rising cost of production.

Although oil prices are largely determined by global trends, a large proportion of the pump prices in Kenya are attributed to taxes.

Ms Lucy Wangai, an information officer in Nyeri, is one of those who have been pushed to the kadogo economy.

With a salary of about Sh40,000 a month and a family to feed, Ms Wangai is finding it difficult to fill her usual monthly shopping basket, comprising cooking oil, sugar, bread, rice, maize and wheat flour, and detergents, among other items whose costs have skyrocketed.

“One has no option. You have to eat even when the cost is on the increase. We are actually leading a hand-to-mouth kind of a life,” she adds.

Ms Wangai, who used to spend Sh5,000 on the monthly household budget, now has to spend double the amount.

To adjust with the hard times, consumers have removed items considered ‘luxuries’ from their monthly shopping list, to accommodate the costly essential products.

Days before the budget speech, the Nation traversed the country looking at how Kenyans of all social classes are coping with high inflation that has, for the first time in many years, gone past single digits and now stands at about 26 per cent.

Woeful story

Everywhere, it is the same woeful story. Kenyans, especially those of the middle and lower income groups, have been hard hit by rising prices.

The poor have been hardest hit, unable to meet many of their basic needs such as food, shelter and medical, as prices rises to stratospheric levels and wages stagnate.

Will the new measures announced by the Finance minister help?

Many of the most vulnerable do not think so.

What many are quick to note is that while the prices of alcohol and cigarettes went up almost immediately after Mr Kimunya finished reading his budget speech, they are yet to see lower prices for bread, maize flour, wheat flour, maize, beans and other foodstuffs, whose taxes were removed.

And there are no signs that the crippling transport costs occasioned by high oil prices, that also affect the cost of production across the economy, will ease any time soon.

Agriculture minister William Ruto attributes part of the problem to poor policies in the agricultural sector.

Though policies advocate affordable and quality seeds, prices still remain high.

Kenya Seed Company, the leading seed producer controlling 75 per cent of the market has in the past also been accused of producing poor quality seeds.

]]> Mon, 16 Jun 2008 03:30:00 EDT http://Seanamo.tigblog.org/post/389905 -1.25 36.8 -1.25 36.8 http://Seanamo.tigblog.org/post/383503
First, Senator Obama has made history as the first African-American ever to win nomination to vie for the presidency of the world’s sole super-power.

Secondly, he can be regarded as a son of Africa who has made it good in the world. Thirdly, he is a son of Kenya, for he traces his roots in this country, his father having hailed from the present-day Siaya District.

This is why most Kenyans celebrated when Mr Obama won the nomination after a bruising battle against Hillary Clinton. They believe that with this win, their ‘‘son’’ will implement Africa-friendly policies that could uplift the continent from poverty.

In the US itself, especially among African-Americans, his nomination is also a landmark in a country where it took a long struggle for ‘‘people of colour’’ to have the right to vote.

But all this celebration could be premature, for although the senator epitomises the American dream, he still has to continuously look over his shoulders in the run-up to the November elections. It must be remembered that his presidency is not a done deal yet.

After the epic win, his major challenge will be to unite the Democrats and win over Mrs Clinton’s supporters, for they may decide to stay home, or to vote for the Republican nominee, Senator John McCain.

Obama, despite his impressive show, still has to grapple with red-neck Democrats and diehard racists who may not be enthusiastic about his candidature. Indeed, he is lucky, so far, that nobody has openly dwelt on the sensitive issue of race, although it is very much alive in the background

The major battle, though, will be a generational one, in which Obama, 46, will have to convince Americans that he is better than McCain, a 71-year-old who earned his reputation as a former Vietnam prisoner of war.

Though he looks promising, and with unmatched oratorical skills, Obama has to grapple with the issue of experience, especially on foreign policy. To his credit, though, all through the campaign, he has opposed the unpopular war in Iraq.

Strong lobby groups

But what is there for Africa in the American elections? Ever since the exit of Bill Clinton – seen as the most Africa-friendly president so far – global issues such as the war on terror have ensured those affecting Africa are pushed to the back-burner.

With a new administration in Washington in January, the core issues for Africa will be the rising global food and fuel prices, subsidies to farmers which distort trade, barriers that affect Africa’s exports to the West, and the war against HIV/Aids.

Many Kenyans hope that should Obama win the presidential race in November, he will address himself to all, or some, of these issues. But will he overcome the strong lobby groups that control American foreign policy and that have very little time for Africa?

Questions aside, to win, Obama will definitely need all the support he can get from Hillary Clinton. But its is not clear whether the bitter rivals will be magnanimous enough to work together and unify the party.

Some Democrats are urging Obama to settle for Hillary as his running mate, given that the two have managed to get out of their homes people who have never voted before.

It is tempting to go by the argument of both Obama and Clinton that the drawn-out primaries season, instead of being a waste of valuable time, has invigorated the party, drawing record turnouts and attracting new voters to the party.

The card is now in the hands of American voters. Kenyans, and Africans in general, can only pray that Obama’s ‘‘Change’’ agenda will sell.

]]> Thu, 05 Jun 2008 05:02:00 EDT http://Seanamo.tigblog.org/post/383503 -1.25 36.8 -1.25 36.8 http://Seanamo.tigblog.org/post/383455 Publication Date: 6/5/2008

Twelve foreign missions want those involved in electoral malpractices in last year’s General Election punished.

They said this through Canadian high commissioner to Kenya and Uganda Ross Hynes.

The envoys said those who were involved in post-election violence should also not be spared.

Speaking on the sidelines of a press conference where the missions called for free and fair by-elections on June 11, Mr Hynes said: “There should be no impunity for serious offences.

“The Cabinet has taken a decision to create a process to examine the issue, including identifying minor and major offences.”

No penalty

However, the envoy said that there should be no penalty for people “who simply went out to exercise their democratic right through freedom of association”.

Meanwhile, the United States ambassador, Michael Ranneberger Wednesday said amnesty for youths arrested during the post-election violence should be determined in accordance with the law.

Selective application of the rule of law could develop into potential areas of division in the grand coalition government, he said.

Mr Ranneberger said during a meeting with Lands minister, James Orengo, that the future of diplomatic relations between America and Kenya depended on the negotiated stability of the grand coalition government.

He said all issues stipulated in the National Accord and Reconciliation Act, such as constitutional review, land reforms and electoral review and reforms must remain the basis for progress.

Elsewhere, the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) has backed prosecution of people accused of committing crimes during post-poll chaos.

If those arrested are granted amnesty, the local chapter of ICJ warned, it would be a violation of international conventions on human rights.

“The position is that there should be no amnesty for gross human rights violations.

"It will fall flat as it flies in the face of known international norms and the Rome statute establishing the International Criminal Court that Kenya has ratified,” ICJ chairman Wilfred Nderitu said.

Be released

In an apparent reference to demands by Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Agriculture minister William Ruto that youths in custody should be released and officials who stole elections arrested, the ICJ chairman likened it to politicising the matter.

Mr Nderitu went on: “While electoral injustices must be addressed, it’s a fallacy to suggest that prosecuting those who may have been guilty of electoral irregularities is the panacea for the brutal killing.”

In a related development, a lobby group Wednesday took issue with calls to offer blanket amnesty to youths arrested following post-election violence.

Release Political Prisoners executive coordinator, Stephen Musau said blanket amnesty would only augment the culture of impunity, adding, there should be investigations on a case-by-case basis.

Mr Musau said: “We are perturbed by the varied positions that have been taken by politicians on matters that ought to have been forthright if democracy, good governance and respect for human rights were to take their course...”

Reported by Lucas Barasa, Kenneth Ogosia, Fred Mukinda and Mike Mwaniki
]]> Thu, 05 Jun 2008 03:36:00 EDT http://Seanamo.tigblog.org/post/383455 -1.25 36.8 -1.25 36.8 http://Seanamo.tigblog.org/post/383449 St Paul, Minnesota.

Tonight Minnesota, after 54 hard-fought contests, our primary season has finally come to an
end.
Sixteen months have passed since we first stood together on the steps of the Old State Capitol in
Springfield, Illinois.
Thousands of miles have been travelled. Millions of voices have been heard.
And because of what you said - because you decided that change must come to Washington;
because you believed that this year must be different than all the rest; because you chose to listen
not to your doubts or your fears but to your greatest hopes and highest aspirations, tonight we
mark the end of one historic journey with the beginning of another - a journey that will bring a
new and better day to America.
Because of you, tonight, I can stand before you and say that I will be the Democratic nominee for
president of the United States of America.
I want to thank all those in Montana and South Dakota who stood up for change today. I want to
thank every American who stood with us over the course of this campaign - through the good
days and the bad; from the snows of Cedar Rapids to the sunshine of Sioux Falls.
And tonight I also want to thank the men and woman who took this journey with me as fellow
candidates for president.
At this defining moment for our nation, we should be proud that our party put forth one of the
most talented, qualified field of individuals ever to run for office.
I have not just competed with them as rivals, I have learned from them as friends, as public
servants, as patriots who love America and are willing to work tirelessly to make this country
better.
They are leaders of this party, and leaders that America will turn to for years to come.
And that is particularly true for the candidate who has travelled further on this journey than
anyone else.
Senator Hillary Clinton has made history in this campaign not just because she's a woman who
has done what no woman has done before, but because she is a leader who inspires millions of
Americans with her strength, her courage, and her commitment to the causes that brought us here
tonight.
I congratulate here on her victory in South Dakota and I congratulate her on the race she has run
throughout this contest.
We've certainly had our differences over the last 16 months.
But as someone who's shared a stage with her many times, I can tell you that what gets Hillary
Clinton up in the morning - even in the face of tough odds - is exactly what sent her and Bill
Clinton to sign up for their first campaign in Texas all those years ago; what sent her to work at
the Children's Defense Fund and made her fight for health care as First Lady; what led her to the
United States Senate and fuelled her barrier-breaking campaign for the presidency - an
unyielding desire to improve the lives of ordinary Americans, no matter how difficult the fight
may be.
And you can rest assured that when we finally win the battle for universal health care in this
country, and we will win that fight, she will be central to that victory.
When we transform our energy policy and lift our children out of poverty, it will be because she
worked to help make it happen.
Our party and our country are better off because of her, and I am a better candidate for having
had the honour to compete with Hillary Rodham Clinton.
There are those who say that this primary has somehow left us weaker and more divided.
Well I say that because of this primary, there are millions of Americans who have cast their
ballot for the very first time.
There are Independents and Republicans who understand that this election isn't just about a
change of party in Washington, it's about the need to change Washington.
There are young people, and African-Americans, and Latinos, and women of all ages who have
voted in numbers that have broken records and inspired a nation.
All of you chose to support a candidate you believe in deeply.
But at the end of the day, we aren't the reason you came out and waited in lines that stretched
block after block to make your voice heard.
You didn't do that because of me or Senator Clinton or anyone else.
You did it because you know in your hearts that at this moment - a moment that will define a
generation - we cannot afford to keep doing what we've been doing.
We owe our children a better future. We owe our country a better future.
And for all those who dream of that future tonight, I say - let us begin the work together.
Let us unite in common effort to chart a new course for America.
In just a few short months, the Republican Party will arrive in St Paul with a very different
agenda.
They will come here to nominate John McCain, a man who has served this country heroically.
I honour, we honour, the service of John McCain, and I respect his many accomplishments, even
if he chooses to deny mine.
My differences with him are not personal; they are with the policies he has proposed in this
campaign.
Because while John McCain can legitimately tout moments of independence from his party in
the past, such independence has not been the hallmark of his presidential campaign.
It's not change when John McCain decided to stand with George Bush 95% of the time, as he did
in the Senate last year.
It's not change when he offers four more years of Bush economic policies that have failed to
create well-paying jobs, or insure our workers, or help Americans afford the skyrocketing cost of
college - policies that have lowered the real incomes of the average American family, widened
the gap between Wall Street and Main Street, and left our children with a mountain of debt.
It's not change when he promises to continue a policy in Iraq that asks everything of our brave
men and women in uniform and nothing of Iraqi politicians - a policy where all we look for are
reasons to stay in Iraq, while we spend billions of dollars a month on a war that isn't making the
American people any safer.
So I'll say this - there are many words to describe John McCain's attempt to pass off his embrace
of George Bush's policies as bipartisan and new.
But change is not one of them.
Because change is a foreign policy that doesn't begin and end with a war that should've never
been authorized and never been waged.
I won't stand here and pretend that there are many good options left in Iraq, but what's not an
option is leaving our troops in that country for the next hundred years - especially at a time when
our military is overstretched, our nation is isolated, and nearly every other threat to America is
being ignored.
We must be as careful getting out of Iraq as we were careless getting in - but start leaving we
must.
It's time for Iraqis to take responsibility for their future.
It's time to rebuild our military and give our veterans the care they need and the benefits they
deserve when they come home.
It's time to refocus our efforts on al-Qaeda's leadership and Afghanistan, and rally the world
against the common threats of the 21st century - terrorism and nuclear weapons; climate change
and poverty; genocide and disease.
That's what change is.
Change is realising that meeting today's threats requires not just our firepower, but the power of
our diplomacy - tough, direct diplomacy where the president of the United States isn't afraid to
let any petty dictator know where America stands and what we stand for.
We must once again have the courage and conviction to lead the free world.
That is the legacy of Roosevelt, and Truman, and Kennedy.
That's what the American people demand.
That's what change is.
Change is building an economy that rewards not just wealth, but the work and workers who
created it.
It's understanding that the struggles facing working families can't be solved by spending billions
of dollars on more tax breaks for big corporations and wealthy CEOs, but by giving a middle-
class tax break to those who need it, and investing in our crumbling infrastructure, and
transforming how we use energy, and improving our schools, and renewing our commitment to
science and innovation.
It is understanding that fiscal responsibility and shared prosperity can go hand-in-hand, as they
did when Bill Clinton was president.
John McCain has spent a lot of time talking about trips to Iraq in the last few weeks, but maybe
if he spent some time taking trips to the cities and towns that have been hardest hit by this
economy - cities in Michigan, and Ohio, and right here in Minnesota - he'd understand the kind
of change that people are looking for.
Maybe if he went to Iowa and met the student who works the night shift after a full day of class
and still can't pay the medical bills for a sister who's ill, he'd understand that she can't afford four
more years of a health care plan that only takes care of the healthy and wealthy.
She needs us to pass health care right now, a plan that guarantees insurance to every American
who wants it and brings down premiums for every family who needs it.
That's the change we need.
Maybe if John McCain went to Pennsylvania and met the man who lost his job but can't even
afford the gas to drive around and look for a new one, he'd understand that we can't afford four
more years of our addiction to oil from dictators.
That man needs us to pass an energy policy that works with automakers to raise fuel standards,
and makes corporations pay for their pollution, and oil companies invest their record profits in a
clean energy future - an energy policy that will create millions of new jobs that pay well and
can't be outsourced.
That's the change we need.
And maybe if he spent some time in the schools of South Carolina or St Paul, Minnesota, or
where he spoke tonight in New Orleans, Louisiana, he'd understand that we can't afford to leave
the money behind for No Child Left Behind; that we owe it to our children to invest in early
childhood education and recruit an army of new teachers and give them better pay and more
support and finally decide that in this global economy, the chance to get a college education
should not be a privilege for the wealthy few, but the birthright of every American.
That's the change we need in America.
That's why I'm running for president.
The other side will come here in September and offer a very different set of policies and
positions, and that is a good thing, that is a debate I look forward to.
It is a debate the American people deserve on the issues that will help determine the future of this
country and the future of its children.
But what you don't deserve is another election that's governed by fear, and innuendo, and
division.
What you won't hear from this campaign or this party is the kind of politics that uses religion as a
wedge, and patriotism as a bludgeon - that sees our opponents not as competitors to challenge,
but enemies to demonize.
Because we may call ourselves Democrats and Republicans, but we are Americans first.
We are always Americans first.
Despite what the good Senator from Arizona said tonight, I have seen people of differing views
and opinions find common cause many times during my two decades in public life, and I have
brought many together myself.
I've walked arm-in-arm with community leaders on the South Side of Chicago and watched
tensions fade as black, white, and Latino fought together for good jobs and good schools.
I've sat across the table from law enforcement officials and civil rights advocates to reform a
criminal justice system that sent 13 innocent people to death row.
I've worked with friends in the other party to provide more children with health insurance and
more working families with a tax break; to curb the spread of nuclear weapons and ensure that
the American people know where their tax dollars are being spent; and to reduce the influence of
lobbyists who have all too often set the agenda in Washington.
In our country, I have found that this cooperation happens not because we agree on everything,
but because behind all the false labels and false divisions and categories that define us; beyond
all the petty bickering and point-scoring in Washington, Americans are a decent, generous,
compassionate people, united by common challenges and common hopes.
And every so often, there are moments which call on that fundamental goodness to make this
country great again.
So it was for that band of patriots who declared in a Philadelphia hall the formation of a more
perfect union; and for all those who gave on the fields of Gettysburg and Antietam their last full
measure of devotion to save that same union.
So it was for the Greatest Generation that conquered fear itself, and liberated a continent from
tyranny, and made this country home to untold opportunity and prosperity.
So it was for the workers who stood out on the picket lines; the women who shattered glass
ceilings; the children who braved a Selma bridge for freedom's cause.
So it has been for every generation that faced down the greatest challenges and the most
improbable odds to leave their children a world that's better, and kinder, and more just.
And so it must be for us.
America, this is our moment. This is our time.
Our time to turn the page on the policies of the past. Our time to bring new energy and new ideas
to the challenges we face. Our time to offer a new direction for this country that we love.
The journey will be difficult. The road will be long.
I face this challenge with profound humility, and knowledge of my own limitations.
But I also face it with limitless faith in the capacity of the American people.
Because if we are willing to work for it, and fight for it, and believe in it, then I am absolutely
certain that generations from now, we will be able to look back and tell our children that this was
the moment when we began to provide care for the sick and good jobs to the jobless; this was the
moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal; this was the
moment when we ended a war and secured our nation and restored our image as the last, best
hope on Earth.
This was the moment - this was the time - when we came together to remake this great nation so
that it may always reflect our very best selves, and our highest ideals.
Thank you, Minnesota, God Bless you, and may God Bless the United States of America. ]]> Thu, 05 Jun 2008 03:17:00 EDT http://Seanamo.tigblog.org/post/383449 -1.25 36.8 -1.25 36.8 http://Seanamo.tigblog.org/post/383445 Publication Date: 6/5/2008

President Kibaki has called for increased private investment to accelerate the country’s economic development.

Addressing the eighth Leon H. Sullivan Summit in Arusha, Tanzania Wednesday, President Kibaki encouraged African-Americans and other Africans in the diaspora to exploit the various investment opportunities available in Kenya and the East African region as a whole.

“The African diaspora has become an important link to the development of the continent. We are already witnessing their contribution through remittances, transfer of technology and investments,” President Kibaki said.

The President said his Government has put in place various measures to create a conducive environment for investment in various sectors of the economy.

Noting that this year’s summit is being held against the background of escalating fuel and food prices, President Kibaki said its theme “Tourism and infrastructure development” is apt as Africa struggles to attract new investors.

In Kenya, President Kibaki said, the Government has made tourism one of the key pillars of Vision 2030, the country’s blueprint for growth and shared prosperity in the 21st century.

“The sector earned Kenya over $1 billion in 2007 and contributes immensely towards employment creation and the involvement of local communities in environmental conservation.”

He said his Government is sinking a huge amount of resources to upgrade the road network in national parks and game reserves.

He invited investors to build new hotels and lodges to accommodate the rapidly increasing tourist numbers.

The President expressed hope that by working together with the Leon Sullivan Foundation and other stakeholders, the Government will succeed in cultivating interest in investing in infrastructure.

He said that numerous opportunities existed in Kenya for investment in building new roads through concessioning, adding that this was critical for the integration of the region’s economies.

President Kibaki said Kenya recognised the ICT sector’s potential to contribute to growth.

The Head of State said the reforms his Government was implementing in this sector have rapidly expanded mobile telephone use.

Turning to the construction industry in the region, President Kibaki said that demand for building materials, especially cement, has increased tremendously, saying the East African Community is pursuing reforms aimed at securing greater participation of the private sector in the region’s economies.

Saying there were many other opportunities for investment in agro-processing and packaging of tea, coffee, nuts and edible oils, the President also invited investors to help in the development of low-cost housing.

On education, President Kibaki observed that there was need for African and American institutions to share experiences and best practices.]]> Thu, 05 Jun 2008 03:01:00 EDT http://Seanamo.tigblog.org/post/383445 -1.25 36.8 -1.25 36.8 http://Seanamo.tigblog.org/post/380547 * Do not open any files attached to an email from an unknown, suspicious or untrustworthy source.

* Do not open any files attached to an email unless you know what it is, even if it appears to come from a dear friend or someone you know. Some viruses can replicate themselves and spread through email. Better be safe than sorry and confirm that they really sent it.

* Do not open any files attached to an email if the subject line is questionable or unexpected. If the need to do so is there always save the file to your hard drive before doing so.

* Delete chain emails and junk email. Do not forward or reply to any to them. These types of email are considered spam, which is unsolicited, intrusive mail that clogs up the network.

* Do not download any files from strangers.

* Exercise caution when downloading files from the Internet. Ensure that the source is a legitimate and reputable one. Verify that an anti-virus program checks the files on the download site. If you're uncertain, don't download the file at all or download the file to a floppy and test it with your own anti-virus software.

* Update your anti-virus software regularly. Over 500 viruses are discovered each month, so you'll want to be protected. These updates should be at the least the products virus signature files.

* Back up your files on a regular basis. If a virus destroys your files, at least you can replace them with your back-up copy. You should store your backup copy in a separate location from your work files, one that is preferably not on your computer.

* When in doubt, always err on the side of caution and do not open, download, or execute any files or email attachments. Not executing is the more important of these caveats.]]> Sat, 31 May 2008 05:58:00 EDT http://Seanamo.tigblog.org/post/380547 -1.25 36.8 -1.25 36.8 http://Seanamo.tigblog.org/post/379373
Regardless, there are occasions that demand one’s entrance into this market: A society writer slams you or your wife, union demands are throwing a wrench into production, or impending tax legislation threatens to cost you millions. When the time comes, you should know how to approach the journalists, politicians, union leaders, public detractors, judges, and any other influence-wielding gatekeepers whose assistance you might need.

Getting that influence swayed in your direction requires an understanding of the psychological makeup behind each personality. Since money alone won’t always suffice, you should begin by identifying how your approach ought to be tailored toward their particular type; toward spotting and exploiting their individual Achilles heel.
Journalists and gossip columnists
There isn’t a gossip columnist alive who doesn’t crave a good story or something to talk about. The very nature of gossiping about the private lives of others suggests an individual with a low integrity threshold. Add to it the fact that most of these columnists already enjoy a give-and-take relationship with the people they write about; they provide ostensibly "free" -- or at least, "hands-free" -- press for names in the news. Their fellow journalists are not too different, each craving to break a major story in order to step front and center into the public eye.

To buy a journalist's influence, consider offering your own influence to help bolster their wider profile. Promises of a speaking tour or even a book deal (a collection of columns, perhaps?) might be sufficiently intriguing to sway your case or, since many journalists dream of being novelists, you could use your own influence to set them up with the right editor at a publishing house.

Plan B: Numerous people work above the writers of newspapers and magazines, both in print and online. These people may better understand your situation -- perhaps in exchange for their own favors -- and can see to it that the writer in question is either openly demoted or starts to receive assignments meant for younger or inexperienced writers.
Politicians
Congressional representatives, governors, mayors, city council members, and those in virtually every political position are all vulnerable to sway. Few, if any, politicians sustain their do-gooder mentality for long before they become jaded. Some don’t have such a mentality to begin with, but simply crave the power and influence associated with political posts. This "appreciation" for their own power is one of human nature’s Achilles heels -- a typical downfall for any disgraced politician.

In this case, money really does talk. You can fund a politician’s pet project or make campaign contributions, since politicians cannot keep their jobs without special-interest money. Yet you may see more success in securing their influence if you can make promises, post-politics, for them to serve either on prestigious corporate boards or as high-priced, do-nothing “consultants.”

Plan B: In the event that your efforts fail or even backfire, you can consider blackmail, but you may be better off by making known your intentions to support the politician's opponent in the next election. In addition, this will demonstrate the measures you can take to ensure his term is considered deeply ineffective -- by constituents and fellow politicians alike.
Union leaders
In the U.S., the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) guarantees all employees the legal right to form a union, and the same act declares it unfair labor practice on your part to prevent them from doing so. Unions can do you a tremendous amount of damage to you in a wide variety of ways.

However, union leaders typically come out of the workforce itself and can be vulnerable to -- or perhaps even accustomed to -- bribery, whether it be straight cash, vacations or other gifts. A raise or a promotion, however, is likely to raise red flags.

Plan B: If that doesn’t work, recall that union leaders are appointed from within. Therefore, if your efforts with one leader fail, take a page from the CIA’s playbook and work quietly to promote a candidate or leadership more favorable to your interests.
Public detractors
Public detractors, such as environmental activists, are bound to create problems for you, particularly if your business plans encroach on natural reserves or natural habitats. As you may already have experienced, these are typically highly principled or at least highly devoted types for whom offers of money do little.

However, they do understand sacrifice. So consider offering something else that would be in their interests, but that won't get in the way of yours. For example, offer to create an ecological or environmental endowment, either in their name or the name of their organization. The mentality you want to instill in them is this: “Either I can fight for A and potentially lose, or I can sacrifice A for B; isn’t it worthwhile to gain B even at the cost of losing A?”

Plan B: Go after their credibility. Because public detractors shout the loudest and claim so much righteousness, the best way to undercut their power to hurt you is to undermine their credibility as defenders of the public good. A good private investigator can dig up just about anything you need in this regard.
Judges
The U.S. Constitution dictates that Supreme Court justices, court of appeals judges and district court judges are nominated by the President and confirmed by the United States Senate. They enjoy lifetime tenure.

However, lower court judges and State judges are often elected officials; they must campaign for their job, and thus operate no differently than politicians do, making campaign contributions an essential tool to buy influence. All too often, U.S. voters are far more concerned with other elected officials to pay attention to the judicial races, so numerous such races are bought every election year. The results of an American Bar Association poll show that most Americans believe in the justice system despite not understanding many of its inner workings.
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Plan B: If buying an election fails and you need to influence a sitting judge, keep in mind that the huge majority of (but not all) States require judges to have experience as attorneys. And keep in mind that, while some judges may enjoy serving smaller, municipal courts, most have the higher courts in mind. If you have the influence to get a judge appointed to a higher bench, dangle that carrot accordingly, albeit with caution.
Gatekeepers
The men and women who determine access into country clubs or private schools are well aware of their power and influence. Their judgments decide which children enjoy the best education and which businessmen enjoy the networking opportunities afforded by the most exclusive country clubs.

They’re no strangers to efforts at bribery. Yet, while money may indeed buy you the necessary influence, you have no idea what kind of bribery offers you’re competing against. Without that knowledge, you’re best avoiding basic pecuniary bribery. Rather, for people who enjoy a position of power such as these, in order to get yourself or your children in the door, you should consider what’s in it for him. What can he gain? Depending on the situation, perhaps the offer of a relatively lucrative or prestigious job -- either within your company or through one of your contacts -- will see your "bribe" outdo the competition.

Plan B: Keepers of the gate are never lords of the manor. Your second-best chance is to go over their heads.
influential purchases
Virtually every single person in a position of power is for sale, from the government to the halls of justice to the ministry to media establishments, and more. The question often comes down to what it is you’re offering and how you package your offer. ]]> Thu, 29 May 2008 06:00:00 EDT http://Seanamo.tigblog.org/post/379373 -1.25 36.8 -1.25 36.8 http://Seanamo.tigblog.org/post/379359
Unfortunately, the condom suffers from at least one massive PR problem: namely, that the condom always looks like a great idea after the fact. However, before and during the act when it matters the most, not so much.

In an effort to give their profile a boost, we took a look at five things you didn’t know about condoms.
1- Condoms have appeared in cave paintings
In Johnny Come Lately: A Short History of the Condom, author Jeannette Parisot claims the appearance of condoms in cave paintings are estimated to be 15,000 years old. Although Parisot notes that the condom is being used during sexual intercourse, that doesn't signify the condition for which the man was wearing the condom. This is another matter altogether, since the man in the cave painting could have been brandishing the condom for one of three reasons: some sort of ritual, as protection against pregnancy or as protection against an STD.

All three are reasonable possibilities. There is no cause to think that the clever minds behind cave paintings hadn't also discovered some connection between the sexual act and one of any number of outcomes, including pregnancy or a stretch of days featuring extremely painful urination.
2- Condoms used to be available only by prescription
Condoms have come a long way toward both general acceptance and availability. An 1824 text, described as state-of-the-art, offers a condom-making recipe with no fewer than a dozen extremely time-consuming steps involved in making condoms from sheep's "intestina caeca." With so much time required, it is little surprise that early condoms were considered reusable.

In the U.S., there was a time that condoms were available only by prescription, but doctors held up a double standard -- they would prescribe them to men so that husbands could protect themselves against getting STDs from prostitutes, but they wouldn’t prescribe them to women so they could prevent themselves from getting pregnant or for any other reason.
3- The oldest rubber condoms date back to 1855
Discovered during excavations of Dudley Castle in West Midlands, England, these condom fragments were made from the guts of animals and it is believed they were distributed to slow the spread of venereal diseases (now known as STDs) during the English Civil Wars.

Distributing rubber condoms to soldiers to slow or prevent STDs has not always been common practice. In the U.S., during World War I, condoms were discouraged by the American Social Hygiene Association, which felt that if you were foolish enough to have sex, you deserved the STD you got. One of the chief proponents was the Assistant Secretary of the Navy at the time, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. No surprise that many of those vets brought STDs home.

By World War II, the outlook was decidedly more reasonable and American GIs heading overseas were led by films encouraging them: "Don't forget -- put it on before you put it in."
4- Condoms have been sold in vending machines since 1928
The condom available in vending machines celebrates its 80th anniversary in 2008, courtesy of the company who manufactured the first brand-name condom, Germany-based, Fromm’s. Their product, Fromm’s Act, not only appeared in vending machines first, they also had a presumably unauthorized Mickey Mouse as their pitch-man.

Putting condoms in machines has, at times, proven controversial, especially in the U.S. when they appeared in high schools. The concern was that this kind of availability would promote sex -- i.e., you weren’t thinking about having it until you saw the condom. This has often been the stance of conservative or religious groups who pitch abstinence.
5- Invisible condoms may be next
For all those folks forced to use leather, silk, velvet or rubber as thick as an inner tube, the invisible condom could only be a pipe dream. In this case, "invisible" actually means a gel that hardens according to increased temperatures.

Clinical trials on the invisible condom have been carried out by Quebec’s Laval University, in conjunction with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Centre Hospitalier de l'Universite Laval.

It is one of a number of products being developed which falls into the category of a female condom, some of which have received government approval. The Invisible Condom, however, is still awaiting approval. ]]> Thu, 29 May 2008 05:55:00 EDT http://Seanamo.tigblog.org/post/379359 -1.25 36.8 -1.25 36.8 http://Seanamo.tigblog.org/post/378823
While the majority of our nation’s leaders have served in the military, which makes sense since the titles “President” and “Commander in Chief” are synonymous, some notable presidents have not served in uniform. This list includes: John Adams, John Quincy Adams, William H. Taft, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Bill Clinton, among others. Given the fact that some of our greatest leaders didn’t serve our nation in the military, should it be a prerequisite to the presidency?

]]> Wed, 28 May 2008 05:11:00 EDT http://Seanamo.tigblog.org/post/378823 -1.25 36.8 -1.25 36.8 http://Seanamo.tigblog.org/post/378817 Now, that’s all very well -- thank goodness our days are no longer spent staring at Bartleby’s “dead-wall” -- but while corporate policy may have changed, human nature has not. This means that what your desk says about you will serve as the basis for what others will think about you.
You see, your desk is where your boss hovers over your shoulder, where clients will wait for your return and where your peers will judge you as they leave the office for lunch. As the rookie in the office, you may want to carefully consider what your desk says about you, but that’s not to say that the oldest veteran is free to express his inner salsa dancer. The calculated management of your workspace and the careful consideration of what your desk says about you are imperative if you seek to impress.
We've compiled some suggestions to help you make sure that what your desk says about you is positive.

Family photographs
Photographs of family and friends are perhaps the most common desktop embellishments. These are also the items that your scruples will least let you compromise to further your career -- and rightly so. What your desk says about you when pictures are present can market you at work as aptly as a great resume or your best sales pitch. A wedding photo or a tasteful snapshot of you with your girlfriend or wife on vacation last summer proves to those around you that you are capable of managing complex relationships over long periods of time. Similarly, a portrait of your kid -- or even a niece, nephew or godchild -- projects you as well rooted. Displaying the fact that you have responsibilities outside of work that rely on your gainful employment reminds your boss that such people are the least likely to risk jumping ship down the line.
Problems occur, however, when you oversell your private life. Too many photos on your desk, for example, will make it seem like you would rather be at home than working. Stick to one or two to make sure that what your desk says about you remains positive. And if your girlfriend or wife is smokin’ hottie, definitely leave the beach photos at home; nothing is more detrimental to a career than incurring the jealousy of those around you.

Sports paraphernalia
From coffee mugs to calendars and from newspaper clippings to screensavers, sports merchandise is seemingly at home on your desk. Yet advertising such allegiances to your coworkers may be the most dangerous game of all. There is a relatively simple rule for sports fans to follow: it's good to support the hometown team and it's bad to support any other team. Sure, anecdotes about “back home” are sometimes great icebreakers, but never during playoffs. Do you think anyone sitting in a New England office right now is talking up the new guy who drinks his coffee from a commemorative Giants mug?

For those of you who work in the same city as your favorite team, advertising that fact can be a real career-booster. Your desk attire will lead to discussions of games with your boss and to commiserating or celebrating a result with your coworkers, all of which will foster friendly perceptions of you. Anybody’s desk can have the local team’s stationary on it -- only a pariah’s will have the rival’s.

Reading materials
Whether or not you can read at your desk (at lunch or otherwise) is really up to the climate and policy of your office. If it’s frowned upon, don’t do it and if your organization is flexible in this respect, you still need to exercise strategy. This means that you should choose newspapers over tabloids. It’s prudent to keep up with current affairs at work, but you should avoid any suggestion that you are dumbing down your day. Never leave the latest Dan Brown lying around for extended periods of time, as you don’t want to give the impression that you don’t have enough work to do or that you’re slacking on your responsibilities. Also, we recommend that you cough up five bucks a month for a subscription to a publication that’s specific to your industry -- it’s money well-spent. Even if you don’t read it, give it some desk time and you’ll creat an impression of independence and initiative.

Cleanliness
A working desk can and will get cluttered. While people do like to see you busy, at the end of the day -- and especially when you are on vacation -- leave it clean, leave it ordered and leave it stocked. An air of organization and resourcefulness will make you your boss’s go-to guy when he comes unstuck: It’s better that he knows that you have a stack of blank CD-Rs on your desk than him heading five minutes down the hall to the supply room. At the same time, don’t be too anal. Obsessive cleaning, overreacting to an invasion of your workspace or punctilious neatness will not foster an impression that you could manage an emergency. Your desk is a working environment and you should treat it as such.

more than words
Your desk talks about you when you’re away, it boasts about you while you’re at it and it markets you everyday at work. As with any sale, you must cater to your audience. Don’t alienate or offend; add value and outstrip your competitors with the items on your desk.]]> Wed, 28 May 2008 04:40:00 EDT http://Seanamo.tigblog.org/post/378817 -1.25 36.8 -1.25 36.8