June 2009 - skunkworks - Skunkworks Site

Coup in Kenyan Prisons?
by Daudi Were 24 Jun '09

24 Jun '09

Has the Kenyan Prison Service been taken over by the Ministry of Lands? Have a look at the screen shot -- Pamoja e:daudi.were@gmail.com <e%3Adaudi.were(a)gmail.com> skype: d.were

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Outlook 2010
by jude mwenda 24 Jun '09

24 Jun '09

this is interesting http://fixoutlook.org/ i also like the use of twitter API.. -- Regards Jude Mwenda "Was ist mein Leben, wenn ich nicht mehr nützlich für andere." Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

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Outlook will not open any attachment
by Thomas Odol | Amalvin Limited 24 Jun '09

24 Jun '09

Hi Guys, Does anyone know what the problem could be? Regards, Thomas.

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Pidgin and Yahoo
by Arthur Buliva 24 Jun '09

24 Jun '09

For some reason, my Pidgin refused to connect to Yahoo! If you are having the same issue, read this for the work-around for your problem http://www.celticwolf.com/useful-information/faqs/26-pidgin-yahoo Rgds, Arthur

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Fault in $afcom's billing system? Bug?
by wesley kiriinya 24 Jun '09

24 Jun '09

I've noticed a hitch when using my mobile to surf thru $afcom's network. It seems like after making the internet connection, the phone call billing system is also activated. So if lets say I have 200 units and calling rate is 10units/minute and surfing is 8units per MB then I surf for > 20 minutes, I would have some credit so long as I've not downloaded 25MB, But the issue is if I try to make a call or send a text I get a message that I'm out of credit. But alas! I can see that I have credit! I usually disconnect the net connection and make the call and this time the $afcom system will tell that I do have credit. My thoughts are that the phone billing system is activated once the net connection goes thru and it assumes that a phone call is active as I surf. But it seems there is a separate surfing billing system which synchronizes with the phone billing when I disconnect. I was told that the channel for surfing and phone calls is same so both cannot happen at the same time, probably this might link with the issue. Anyway as long as the credit synchro is happening, I'm not complainin. O_O

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Re: [Skunkworks] An audit of tech related initiatives in kenya
by wesley kiriinya 24 Jun '09

24 Jun '09

That's all great and I believe this is usually presented to the Finance minister (or respective government bodies) a few months before budget is read out. I watched the chairman (I think) of BIDCO talking about the process in an interview in TV. My conclusions are that it can be done if whoever is making the proposals understands the effects the propasals will have on the country and can convince the gvmnt bodies. I think such ideas are to be forwarded by a recognized body of people/professionals in the industry. I've 'ranted' atleast twice about skunkworks members having such a body. Skunkworks coz I dont think there is a better grouping of techies in this country (and region). 8~) --- On Wed, 6/24/09, aki <aki275(a)googlemail.com> wrote: From: aki <aki275(a)googlemail.com> Subject: [Skunkworks] An audit of tech related initiatives in kenya To: "Skunkworks forum" <skunkworks(a)lists.my.co.ke> Date: Wednesday, June 24, 2009, 11:08 AM Time to put our tech sector progress on paper and see where we have reached and where we are heading. 1) my initiative is to call on govt to remove all taxes in ICT sector for a 15 year period ( to fast pace time lost ). For internet services and internet access, VAT should be scrapped to lower costs to end users and to create cheaper access to services. For areas that do not have infrastructure or have poor facilities, the govt should allow tax breaks to businesses who are willing to setup there. CCK should also have a licensing scheme to aid community and closed networks achieve infrastucture with minimum expense. Products that assist develop such networks should be exempt from all taxes. my take, corrections welcome. Please add your contribution too and lets see if we can passionately get this going with the help of everyone. Rgds. -----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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MEDIA CENTRES
by James Muendo 24 Jun '09

24 Jun '09

Hi all, Am looking for media centre(s) desktops.Please send me your quotes or places where I could get them apart from Ebrahims.I think they are a bit over priced over there. Regards; -- James M. Muendo Timsoft Technologies & Solutions Ltd. P.O Box 28016 - 00200, Nairobi. Mobile: +254725567508 skype:tim.rick http://rickdeesadvantage.blogspot.com/

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Re: [Skunkworks] OT : back from a trip and disappointed
by wesley kiriinya 24 Jun '09

24 Jun '09

No bashing from me because you are very right. As much as Nairobi is one of the greatest cities in Africa, it's currently a joke compared to it's potential. A simple example is that Nairobi has TERRIBLE slums which are the largest in Africa and I think the largest and probably the worst in the world (I'm told Brazil has the largest though but Kenya is most likely ranking at top 3). It's shocking to have about 3 huge slums with a total population of about 800K people who live as families in small shacks made from soil, no toilet, no bathrooms, no kitchen, no water, no security. I think politics in Nairobi and generally Kenya has too much influence in economic growth and the general welfare of society. Politicians, their families and relatives seem to call the shots on almost all basic issues, which would not have been bad if they we making the right decisions for the entire country. The fear is that by the time the change comes, other countries could have taken up the opportunities. I heard Tanzania's port is handling a lot of traffic that used to be handled at Mombasa port. Other eastern Africa countries will have fibre access, if Kenya doesn't put it's act together, then business might shift to the other countries including Kenyans setting up businesses there instead of Kenya. 8~( --- On Tue, 6/23/09, aki <aki275(a)googlemail.com> wrote: From: aki <aki275(a)googlemail.com> Subject: [Skunkworks] OT : back from a trip and disappointed To: "Skunkworks forum" <skunkworks(a)lists.my.co.ke> Date: Tuesday, June 23, 2009, 8:50 PM I'm sharing my opinion on tech sector, so any bashing welcome. :-) I spent sometime in joburg. it was one city I wanted to know more about, and I did. arrived back and disappointed with our progress in tech sector. Eg, I could buy an HDMI cable in a smaller but well laid out city called bloomfontein than I can in nairobi. Policy makers and planners travel all the time to conferences etc. have they ever questioned themselves on how things should be? An eg : BMW have an assembly plant in SA, while we have a GM plant that mostly deals with buses! Our tech sector is more like a inward internal operation than a global one. My impression is that of disappointment, our tech sector is very weak and has a bleak outlook besides things like micro solutions and short term stay alive injections of many solutions. We are missing a very vital link to the rest of the world. Something is wrong with our approach, method of doing things and a large portion of something holding us back. Or whatever serious proposals are most likely collecting dust. This is a disturbing trend. We are trying to become a global player. Someone please tell me how we are achieving this? A simple techie view.... -----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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ICANN 35 - Sydney: Conficker Summary and Review
by Vincent Ngundi 24 Jun '09

24 Jun '09

Dear Skunks, You can find a summary & review of the Conficker Worm by ICANN¹s David Piscitello at http://syd.icann.org/files/meetings/sydney2009/presentation-alac-piscitello- 23jun09-en.pdf. Very informative reading! It brings out how the DNS community can collaborate to contain global Internet security threats. Regards, -Vincent -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.

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OT : back from a trip and disappointed
by aki 23 Jun '09

23 Jun '09

I'm sharing my opinion on tech sector, so any bashing welcome. :-) I spent sometime in joburg. it was one city I wanted to know more about, and I did. arrived back and disappointed with our progress in tech sector. Eg, I could buy an HDMI cable in a smaller but well laid out city called bloomfontein than I can in nairobi. Policy makers and planners travel all the time to conferences etc. have they ever questioned themselves on how things should be? An eg : BMW have an assembly plant in SA, while we have a GM plant that mostly deals with buses! Our tech sector is more like a inward internal operation than a global one. My impression is that of disappointment, our tech sector is very weak and has a bleak outlook besides things like micro solutions and short term stay alive injections of many solutions. We are missing a very vital link to the rest of the world. Something is wrong with our approach, method of doing things and a large portion of something holding us back. Or whatever serious proposals are most likely collecting dust. This is a disturbing trend. We are trying to become a global player. Someone please tell me how we are achieving this? A simple techie view....

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