April 2009 - skunkworks - Skunkworks Site

Google outage
by Denis G. Wahome 20 Apr '09

20 Apr '09

Does not appear to be SP related http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-10221616-2.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=… R D

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Re: [Skunkworks] traffic congestion: solutions to hepa traffic make it real
by Barrack Otieno 20 Apr '09

20 Apr '09

Wesley money is not a problem where developement is concerned. From the threads i can see that there is a real need. Furthermore lots of cars are being imported with GIS systems that cease to function once they land and the public would appreciate such a solution. I suggest that we meet on the side during the next skunkworks forum to escalate the issue, i am willing to volunteer my expertise in project maanagement at no cost :). Gakuru you should also be there to highlight the element of public private partnerships which you are good at, this project can be real sooner than we imagine. Any Skunk to finance? (Skunk mogul) On Tue, Apr 7, 2009 at 5:04 PM, Peter Karunyu <pkarunyu(a)gmail.com> wrote: > I think what wesley is describing is the "traffic ripple effect" Tom Cruise > mentioned in MI3 (at the party when the movie has started :-) The gist of > the theory being that the behavior of a traffic cop at the Nyayo roundabout > on Msa rd will have a ripple effect all the way to the westlands roundabout. > How true that is, I don't really know. > > Thinking out of the box here, do we really need to see video or pictures of > traffic jam? I am thinking, what a motorist needs to know more is "how fast > is traffic moving", this implies speed of vehicles past a given check point. > This then invalidates the need for cameras AND the KShs. 40k per month. > > If this be true, the question becomes; how can we measure the speed at > which vehicles are moving past the nyayo stadium roundabout? A low figure > indicates heavy jam etc. Can we stick a GPRS/GSM capable motion detector > under the fly over? Would it work? > > > On Tue, Apr 7, 2009 at 12:59 PM, jude mwenda <judemwenda(a)gmail.com> wrote: > >> Exactly Wesley, i stummbled upon this some time back >> http://www.njstateatlas.com/traffic/ >> >> Challenge is providing geo-information to Mobile phone users... >> considering the fact that majority of people in Kenya do not have phones >> with GPS functionality. A question that was raised at wherecampafrica was >> how do you provide geo info to people with such phones, considering their >> location. Phares talked about cell tower triangulation.. This is dependent >> on mobile phone companies, is there a way other than this. Any ideas? >> >> >> >> 2009/4/7 Christopher Kiagiri <ck(a)google.com> >> >> >>> I live in South C and as long as I leave home *after* 8:15 a.m. I >>> usually get to the office in Westlands within 45 minutes. >>> >>> However, if you have to get to work by 8:00 a.m. then you'd better be on >>> the road before 6:30 a.m. as Wesley says. :) >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> On Tue, Apr 7, 2009 at 2:37 AM, wesley kiriinya <kiriinya2000(a)yahoo.com>wrote: >>> >>>> This reminds me of something I said back in Uni during lunch time with >>>> two of my friends (yes, it important for you to know the setting 8~)). Once >>>> one hears there is traffic on Uhuru Highway what else would you like to >>>> know? I believe Uhuru highway is the bottle neck of Nairobi. >>>> >>>> Take a case: South C: >>>> Vehicles in Mombasa Rd can't join Uhuru highway fast enough so a long >>>> jam till Zain results. Motorists detour through South C and thus there is >>>> jam between South C and West where all Mombasa Rd and South C ppl are trying >>>> to escape. They finally meet Langata Rd and guess where Langata Rd. goes ... >>>> >>>> *By the way it is faster to walk from South C to CBD than to take a >>>> vehicle*. Walking will take about 40 minutes max while driving will >>>> take about 1 hour, unless one leaves at about 6.30am. >>>> >>>> o_O? >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> --- On *Tue, 4/7/09, Josiah Mugambi <jmugambi(a)gmail.com>* wrote: >>>> >>>> >>>> From: Josiah Mugambi <jmugambi(a)gmail.com> >>>> Subject: Re: [Skunkworks] traffic congestion: solutions to hepa traffic >>>> To: "Skunkworks forum" <skunkworks(a)lists.my.co.ke> >>>> Date: Tuesday, April 7, 2009, 12:04 PM >>>> >>>> >>>> i'm thinking more in the lines of doing a traffic density google maps >>>> mashup. Problem is that the best source of such data would be telcos - >>>> assuming that majority of guys stuck in jam have phones. >>>> But honestly I would pay to get a near realtime map of where traffic is >>>> in nairobi on my phone so that i can choose the best route to go. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> On Tue, Apr 7, 2009 at 11:58 AM, Phares Kariuki <pkariuki(a)gmail.com<http://us.mc347.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=pkariuki@gmail.com> >>>> > wrote: >>>> >>>>> I was involved in scoping for such a project, problem is budjet. You >>>>> need a 1mbps link between cameras, and service providers charge 40,000 KES >>>>> monthly per 1mb link, local loop. They have an advertising deal with the >>>>> Radio Stations, hence they are not charged. Further to this, the CCN was not >>>>> of too much use getting approval from, along with suspicious building >>>>> managers. That's where I left the situation at, as of Nov 2008, don't know >>>>> if progress has been made though.... >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On 4/7/09, wesley kiriinya <kiriinya2000(a)yahoo.com<http://us.mc347.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=kiriinya2000@yahoo.com>> >>>>> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>> I believe we can develop somthing like this. Problem is funding. If >>>>>> we had an organized transport/Nairobi development/... ministry or whoever is >>>>>> in charge then funding will not be an issue. After all such a project >>>>>> benefits everyone. >>>>>> >>>>>> With the city wired up with fibre optic, the live cameras would give >>>>>> good video feed. >>>>>> >>>>>> O_O >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> --- On *Tue, 4/7/09, Josiah Mugambi <jmugambi(a)gmail.com<http://us.mc347.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=jmugambi@gmail.com> >>>>>> >* wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> From: Josiah Mugambi <jmugambi(a)gmail.com<http://us.mc347.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=jmugambi@gmail.com> >>>>>> > >>>>>> Subject: [Skunkworks] traffic congestion: solutions to hepa traffic >>>>>> To: "Skunkworks forum" <skunkworks(a)lists.my.co.ke<http://us.mc347.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> >>>>>> > >>>>>> Date: Tuesday, April 7, 2009, 10:12 AM >>>>>> >>>>>> What would it take to come up with this? >>>>>> >>>>>> http://www.btis.in >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> Josiah Mugambi >>>>>> +254 738 504418 >>>>>> >>>>>> http://blog.josiahmugambi.com >>>>>> >>>>>> SK Classifeds... Visit stockskenya.co.ke for more info. >>>>>> >>>>>> -----Inline Attachment Follows----- >>>>>> >>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>> Skunkworks mailing list >>>>>> Skunkworks(a)lists.my.co.ke<http://us.mc347.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> >>>>>> http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks >>>>>> Other services @ http://my.co.ke >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>> Skunkworks mailing list >>>>>> Skunkworks(a)lists.my.co.ke<http://us.mc347.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> >>>>>> http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks >>>>>> Other services @ http://my.co.ke >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> With Regards, >>>>> >>>>> Phares Kariuki >>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> Skunkworks mailing list >>>>> Skunkworks(a)lists.my.co.ke<http://us.mc347.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> >>>>> http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks >>>>> Other services @ http://my.co.ke >>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> Josiah Mugambi >>>> +254 738 504418 >>>> >>>> http://blog.josiahmugambi.com >>>> >>>> SK Classifeds... Visit stockskenya.co.ke for more info. >>>> >>>> -----Inline Attachment Follows----- >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Skunkworks mailing list >>>> Skunkworks(a)lists.my.co.ke<http://us.mc347.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> >>>> http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks >>>> Other services @ http://my.co.ke >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Skunkworks mailing list >>>> Skunkworks(a)lists.my.co.ke >>>> http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks >>>> Other services @ http://my.co.ke >>>> >>>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Skunkworks mailing list >>> Skunkworks(a)lists.my.co.ke >>> http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks >>> Other services @ http://my.co.ke >>> >>> >> >> >> -- >> Regards >> >> Jude Mwenda >> >> >> "Was ist mein Leben, wenn ich nicht mehr nützlich für andere." >> Johann Wolfgang von Goethe >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Skunkworks mailing list >> Skunkworks(a)lists.my.co.ke >> http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks >> Other services @ http://my.co.ke >> >> > > _______________________________________________ > Skunkworks mailing list > Skunkworks(a)lists.my.co.ke > http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks > Other services @ http://my.co.ke > > -- Barrack O. Otieno ISSEN CONSULTING Tel: +254721325277 +254726544442 +254733206359 www.issenconsult.com http://projectdiscovery.or.ke To give up the task of reforming society is to give up ones responsibility as a free man. Alan Paton, South Africa

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ati Standard Group owns Car Track?
by Gichingiri Kuria 20 Apr '09

20 Apr '09

Check this out: http://www.journalism.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2210&… "However, KTN’s failure to declare its own interest in the industry has since drawn criticism. Its parent company, Standard Group, owns the only other player in the business, Car Track." Does this add a twist to the Track it story? -- Gichingiri Kuria _________________________________________ www.gichingiri.com / www.sokoletu.co.ke / www.website.co.ke / www.buyanzi.com

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Google errors on serach and gmail access
by Mbugua Njihia 20 Apr '09

20 Apr '09

This sucketh!

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Revealing Security Holes vrs "The Rogue Tracker" type of stories
by wesley kiriinya 20 Apr '09

20 Apr '09

I believe that the ICT bill makes it illegal for someone to reveal security holes in IT systems. However doesn't investigative journalism stories like the recent "The Rogue Tracker" reveal 'security holes'? So what makes that legal? If one was to discover a security hole in a system, then one can do their own investigative journalism then reveal everything about the security hole. I believe the tracking system is an IT system. And it seems a security hole was revealed. It's like saying half of the companies that claim to have installed a particular firewall might not really have the firewall installed. Revealing security holes might be a necessary evil. Just like how some people might have lived with the false security about their cars, some people might be living with false security about their personal info in IT systems. Just the other day someone posted that s/he had bought something which was wrapped by paper containing security authentication credentials from a bank. Another post showed the lack of experience of a local bank's website programmers that allowed anyone to get the password of one of the subjects in their database system. Now all the funky possible stuff is left to the hacker's imagination who might be sitting in the middle of Migingo, sorry, Mijinjo. o_O?

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Re: [Skunkworks] ati Standard Group owns Car Track?
by wesley kiriinya 20 Apr '09

20 Apr '09

No issue really. If the stuff about Track IT are lies then Track IT should have an easy time taking Standard to court. Customers of Car Track (or any other tracking company) are on alert and I bet many of them have checked whether their cars are OK. o_o --- On Fri, 4/17/09, Gichingiri Kuria <gmail(a)gichingiri.com> wrote: From: Gichingiri Kuria <gmail(a)gichingiri.com> Subject: [Skunkworks] ati Standard Group owns Car Track? To: "Skunkworks forum" <skunkworks(a)lists.my.co.ke> Date: Friday, April 17, 2009, 9:35 PM Check this out: http://www.journalism.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2210&… "However, KTN’s failure to declare its own interest in the industry has since drawn criticism. Its parent company, Standard Group, owns the only other player in the business, Car Track." Does this add a twist to the Track it story? -- Gichingiri Kuria _________________________________________ www.gichingiri.com / www.sokoletu.co.ke / www.website.co.ke / www.buyanzi.com -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks(a)lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks Other services @ http://my.co.ke Other lists ------------- Skunkworks announce: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks-announce Science - http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/science kazi - http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/admin/kazi/general

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data warehouse
by bob＠kenic.or.ke 20 Apr '09

20 Apr '09

Gurus, Just soucing for your input. When developing a data wherehouse proposal, what would you be keen on, Or what what whould be considered best elements of a data ware house. Comments are welcome. Bob. "Open source for open minds" -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.

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Weird Facebook error via Safcom
by Peter Karunyu 19 Apr '09

19 Apr '09

Hey skunks, Anyone know what the gibberish below means? I was trying FB and kept getting it on Firefox and opera, I cleared my cache and cookies, still got the same thing. Whats that "ochwash%40yahoo.co.in" doing in there? --------------------------------- Bad Request Your browser sent a request that this server could not understand. Size of a request header field exceeds server limit. Cookie: datr=1237142736-c55217c52046280bd0df8fe6306765f71080fe6f8f45437652a1d; login_x=a%3A2%3A%7Bs%3A5%3A%22email%22%3Bs%3A19%3A%22ochwash%40yahoo.co.in%22%3Bs%3A19%3A%22remember_me_default%22%3Bb%3A0%3B%7D; datr=1239880275-0f84a81d4a3e28b72a3662e3566ef2c0f41432e64e21da8273147; s_vsn_facebookpoc_1=6837838336463; login_x=a%3A2%3A%7Bs%3A5%3A%22email%22%3Bs%3A19%3A%22ochwash%40yahoo.co.in%22%3Bs%3A19%3A%22remember_me_default%22%3Bb%3A0%3B%7D; datr=1237142736-c55217c52046280bd0df8fe6306765f71080fe6f8f45437652a1d; nectar=1238432064-af9ebe2d8e80af616ee6933eb3c580628b7667bb0c7a2d2f5312a; datr=1238432064-4633a3cedadfa6e000ec742562e6d20552e676acd1dd24efa3b80; Akatest=A; login_x=a%3A2%3A%7Bs%3A5%3A%22email%22%3Bs%3A19%3A%22ochwash%40yahoo.co.in%22%3Bs%3A19%3A%22remember_me_default%22%3Bb%3A0%3B%7D; nectar=1238517327-ebbe2f29c2b5934880b9600a014719b6b45f4cd6f62491ad42310; datr=1238517327-32e9e64951e45a493bb44e1a5a4ed2b0e2d1262a855fd9eedb042; Akatest=A; login_x=a%3A2%3A%7Bs%3A5%3A%22email%22%3Bs%3A19%3A%22ochwash%40yahoo.co.in%22%3Bs%3A19%3A%22remember_me_default%22%3Bb%3A0%3B%7D; nectar=1238519238-991922143c601c8488b119252148fd6d2ffabea73459fd67b51d1; datr=1238519238-50fb325399a75759f5379e286c4a1519ad348671fe213b5d192e4; Akatest=A; nectar=1238526455-3b38a5de503d3dfa4f91ad93ab85ffda13acb7dfe85933cf179e3; datr=1238526455-21772378722de2f7f563880012677ab5d2666c9a4850d59042b6c; Akatest=A;

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is python ready for the enterprise
by ukuta ken 19 Apr '09

19 Apr '09

situation ------------- ukuta is a java crusader, but lately has had an uncanny attraction to python. dilemma ----------- java has been all but the enterprise rave in kenya with every new entrant declaring secure web services, robust enterprise apps and etc i am developing for openbravo (java) and openerp(python) and have to make a scary but firm choice. both projects are quite resource intensive and since i have only 2 brains (left/right which are never in agreement) and have to sleep at least 6 hours, time is an issue. i have to drop one of the projects....these are not commercial projects but r & d projects. those with genuine experience with both programming languages... please help...what do you see as the future of python? does python have a chance in the african enterprise environment which is largely driven by brand, ,ie microsoft, Oracle, etc? conclusion ---------------- ?

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Access Kenya.... Google?
by Edwin Kaduki 19 Apr '09

19 Apr '09

I'm wondering whether anybody else here has been having issues accessing gmail/ google on an access kenya connection. I've been having situations where I can access other sites like yahoo etc but not google or gmail! These downtimes go for like a few minutes.. Strange.....

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