Just Ranting Nothing Much

Patience is a virtue that my personality tends to lack quite acutely. My patience last all of two seconds. If you have ever been in line ahead of me and hesitated or balked when it came to your turn, or had your credit card rejected while at the grocery store and you were in line ahead of Magaidi, it is possible Magaidi said something about the shape of your head. Besides this, I have no ‘poker face’. When I’m thinking happy thoughts i’m probably smiling. I could not bluff you or whoever you’re sitting close to right now. When I’m making completely irrational and illogical conclusions about how that massive head can be so empty when you whip out your check book for a $2 purchase, i’m probably biting my lower lip to stop me from saying ‘nice things’ about you and yours. In the short period it has taken me so far to write this, someone has called me once, and I ignored it. They called right back again. How bright. Since I ignored your initial call, i’ll pick up if you call twice. Only babygirl and close family get express call pickup from me all the time. Those other schmucks can wait, or i’ll call you back. I don’t like spending much time talking on the phone, especially not that gossipy chit chat to ‘pass time’. A telemarketer called me on my cell phone to offer lower rates on my long distance home phone service

Call came through at approximately 08:31:02 Zulu.

Call answered at approximately 08:31:07 Zulu

Call terminated at approximately 08:31:09 Zulu

I have more missed calls than anyone I know. As of this day, I have lifetime calls of 168:51:42 on my phone which I have had for close to 10 months now. This means I spend on average approximately 17 hours on the phone each month. I don’t know if this is too much based on the average cell phone usage in the United States, what I do know is that I spend way less time on the phone than baby girl. That and an assurance from this study that my cell phone habits will not skew my reproductive capabilities. I received a no-holds-barred invitation to be in on a phone conversation between babygirl and her close friends after err..uh voicing unfavorable opinions on spending too much time on the phone. We estimate she spends 30 hours each month. Now that will be quite interesting.

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A New Low for US Media

The US media’s perverted obsession with Paris Hilton lends credence to widespread criticism in the blogosphere of the mainstream media’s objectivity or in this case, the lack of objectivity. For one, how are we supposed to take NBC news seriously when reports are surfacing that they offered Ms Hilton one million dollars to appear on their ‘Today Show’? It doesn’t matter whether it’s true or not. If anything, we should learn from Jeff Koinange’s recent exploits in Nigeria that there are no ‘free’ interviews . Additionally and curiously, CNN, which eventually won out in this obscene media frenzy to first interview the socialite, has continuously and vehemently denied ever paying for any interviews. It doesn’t matter if they did or not or if they still do, or if they give the appearance that they don’t ! In the true sense, the media frenzy over a skinny wealthy white girl sent to jail, being news in and of itself has to make you think; Is this world so devoid of news and valid material worth coverage that our media houses are slopping all over themselves to interview this individual? One positive I will take from this though is how it highlights the maverick role the blogosphere plays in news coverage. If you want real news, the so-called report from the trenches, my friend, you will definitely not get it from ABC, Fox or CNN News. You will find it in the blogs. What has effectively happened here is that the mainstream media has created a frenzy and then fed into it to satisfy its incestuous drive to generate advertising fees from bloodthirsty corporate sponsors. Saddest part of this whole issue is that someone will win an ‘Emmy’ for this. Just you wait!

De-Linking Tragedies and Politics: A Media Story

Just skimming through the Nation’s editorial when I came accross this piece by Macharia Gaitho:

    While we mourn the tragic death of so many legislators, Government officials and other leaders in the Marsabit plane crash yesterday, let us recall, once again, that this new-found obsession with flying is taking a terrible toll.

    We failed to learn a single lesson from the Busia plane crash in the early days of the Narc Government.

    Yes, in this day and age, aeroplanes provide a fast, convenient and relatively safe mode of travel. But a plane crash, however rare, provides so many casualties, and thus it remains unwise for too many people from the same institution, or the same family, to travel in the same craft.

    There is another thing. The road travel of yore allowed our leaders to mix with and greet their subjects at numerous stops along the way.

    Today they fly over our heads.

This piece, to me shows a very disturbing trend within the Kenyan media that continues to put them at odds with the government for one. Politicizing everything! Inasmuch as we continue to advocate for Freedom of Press, our press should also take the opportunity to make sure that they in return exercise some level of responsible journalism. We are all Kenyans, one nation, one people. Of late tragedies have befallen us with alarming regularity and this is a valid point of concenrn.

What I don’t understand about this piece though is what Gaitho’s intent was in publishing it in his opinion column. Was it to educate us that air travel is unsafe? Was it to mourn the tragic deaths of the people on the plane? Was it to inform us that our leaders now fly rather than drive? Was it to let families know that they shouldn’t travel together on planes? I hold Mr Gaitho’s writing in high regard, the fact that he is an excellent journalist goes without saying but this particular piece I’d expect to find in the gutter press rather than the Nation. Politicizing a tragedy, which by the way came in the process of seeking peace, is in itself a despicable act. In addition, Mr Gaitho tries somehow to make a connection between the Busia plane crash and this. Sometimes tragedies happen. You can blame the government for not planning about the drought they’d been warned about, not providing services to its wananchi, but you cannot blame the government for this tragedy, atleast not until we find out the facts of the investigation.

Options

One thing that draws me to someone is ambition. I like driven people who excel in whatever field they are in be it music, IT, journalism, if you’re driven I like you (and no..not in that way). And doubly if you excel in more than one. This drive in people is as a result of certain motivation. Whatever your motivation is - money, the joy of results, jealousy, whatever it is, it drives you. The reason I talk about motivation vis a vis drive, is because I was listening to a certain lady friend talk about life to another of my friends. She has a great education, a lawyer by training and has had the great fortune handed to her by her benevolent parents and family. In the continuing conversation,one lady mentioned that she is driven by a passion to earn money (in obscene amounts I may add), another vehemently disagreed:

“Money can’t be your motivation“, she contends., “find your passion and money will find you”.

“No no no way”, the other interjected,“your drive should be to live a good life so that others benefit from you, help others and you will be helped” she says as she holds the milk jar ready to feed the child.

I know this is like the infamous egg and chicken argument. What if your passion doesn’t necessarily involve making money? Like watching ducks or something? And we all need money to live this good life? I don’t care what your motivation is. If it’s money - it buys you options. You can either build a house for your mother or go skiing. Actually I agreed with the first lady, not because she wants to make money but really, money buys you options. Options..thats what its all about. It’s the option help others.

AOB – Got some wicked! Tracks from Msanii – Thanks man.

AOAOB – Since I’ve been slacking in posting, The Magaidi family will grow some, I have some new talent to share with you all.

MOB (More Other Business): Will be posting some music mixes now that I finally got around to figuring out how to podcast. My favorites ofcourse. Coming very soon!

The Kenyan Git-Mo

Magaidi
Our Country Kenya is conveniently located on the Eastern seaboard of Africa. Mombasa, our coastal city is endowed with riches money can’t buy, a historical background comparable to the best and a string of islands whose beauty appeals to celebrities worldwide as popular destination areas. We have it all at the coast, including some Islands conveniently offshore such as Watamu and Lamu. I propose we build our Git-Mo there. Cessation of these two Islands, have the government freeze Kamlesh Pattni’s account and use those funds to build a prison akin Guantanamo bay, maximum security, twenty-five, yes twenty-five hour lockdown. We need one, since corrupt entities in government conveniently cry out for the blanket rule of law, “innocent until proven guilty” to provide for their freedom as they conveniently await their cronies to set up inquiries to investigate them for 14! years! The Kenyan Git-Mo should be in such state that it makes Kamiti look like a carribean Island. Known terrorists should request transfers to the real git-mo when informed that they might end up there. I want Murungi to be ringing the bell there and talking about “going slow” in his corner, I need Saitoti to have the corner cell, I’ve even gone as far as volunteering Moody Awori - a champion for prison facilities improvement - for and ‘all expenses paid’ vacation there. Kenya Git-Mo, by virtue of being off the defined Kenyan borders, will not be under jurisdiction of the Kenyan courts. Let Murungaru ponder over the ’scandal that never was’ while enjoying excellent cuisine on offer there. I am sick of people talking about ‘recommendations’ and ‘investigations’. We know these people are corrupt, they’re on tape. You’d have to be unbelievably challenged if your idea of innocence pertains to these characters. Let Kenya Git-Mo be their remand before being ‘extradited’ upon completion of the “inquiry” or “investigation”. Time served here will be deducted from the time you get after conviction. We need a Kenyan Git-Mo. That’s my rant!

Now off to LA!

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