December 2010 - skunkworks - Skunkworks Site

KCPE registration going to be purely online?!?
by m mugo 30 Dec '10

30 Dec '10

What was the guy that made this decision smoking? ...and this is going to be done by the pupils and their parents on their own. We simply haven't gotten to that stage. Most parts of this country don't have power, let alone internet coverage. And internet literacy is less than 10%. I foresee a nightmare for KNEC on this one. For those with business acumen, you might view this as an opportunity

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Re: [Skunkworks] KCPE 2010 Results Nightmare - Why? Simple 'ABC' of systems
by m mugo 30 Dec '10

30 Dec '10

@ Shadrack, I agree 100% The systems analysts and developers that come up with the KCPE/KCSE websites and SMS systems simply do not do enough in terms of analysis and design. They come up with a system, test it with a few requests and demo it to KNEC who are very excited at this 'New' technology and adopt it immediately; lack of knowledge or good enough techies on their side. They could be using a very high-end server and assume that it shall handle requests adequately. They could even have put some kind of load-balancing software on the systems but is this enough? We simply need to do better in terms of high availability services. Services like Google and Facebook have hundreds of millions of users yet they rarely ever break down. What Kenyans trying to access the systems are doing albeit unknowingly, is simple Denial of Service (DoS) where servers are flooded with so many requests at a go such that they simply break down. On Thu, Dec 30, 2010 at 9:30 AM, Calvin Omari <calvinebarongo(a)gmail.com>wrote: > Systems development does not encampass coding though it is an integral part > of system/software development there is a reason why simulation and > modelling is tought to software developers i strongly concur with Mwaniki as > this thing have already been done and it will not be new to borrow or to do > software reuse > Regards and Happy technical year 2011 > > > On Wed, Dec 29, 2010 at 5:43 PM, <sospeter(a)elimu.co.ke> wrote: > >> I get your theory, but wouldn't the solution mean that you'll have to >> display a tweeter like message when the server is overloaded(the birds >> carrying a whale)? >> >> In such a case the user may not come back ever right? Like I gave up on >> tweeter when that happened twice. >> >> Regards. >> >> > Hi Skunks, >> > Have been following the thread on the frustrations faced by KCPE >> > candidates and >> > parents when trying to access the results online and via SMS. >> > This is not unique to KNEC, it happens all the time to ATM bridge >> systems, >> > Online transactions processing, SMS Based systems especially of late the >> > MPESA. >> > >> > So what is the problem? >> > >> > Very simple, designers and developers of these systems do not >> understand, >> > are >> > not aware or choose to ignore the Queue Theory principles!! >> > >> > I will use a very simple example to illustrate the point. >> > Imaging a queue in the bank waiting to be served by one cashier. If the >> > policy >> > of the bank is that a customer must be served within 10 mins, then the >> > logical >> > thing to do is to know when to turn away a customer who if they join the >> > queue, >> > will not be served within 10 mins. This is better than have all >> thousands >> > of >> > customers not served within 10 mins as per policy.......and will not >> kill >> > the >> > cashier!! >> > >> > In short, it is time developers started taking queuing theory seriously >> > when >> > developing these kinds of systems. >> > >> > Shad >> > >> > >> > >> > _______________________________________________ >> > Skunkworks mailing list >> > Skunkworks(a)lists.my.co.ke >> > http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks >> > ------------ >> > Skunkworks Rules >> > http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=94 >> > ------------ >> > 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 >> ------------ >> Skunkworks Rules >> http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=94 >> ------------ >> Other services @ http://my.co.ke >> > > > > -- > Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate, > but that we are powerful beyond measure. > It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us. > > Calvin Omari Systems Developer/Designer > http://www.facebook.com/barongo > > _______________________________________________ > Skunkworks mailing list > Skunkworks(a)lists.my.co.ke > http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks > ------------ > Skunkworks Rules > http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=94 > ------------ > Other services @ http://my.co.ke >

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OT : Meru National Park
by aki 30 Dec '10

30 Dec '10

This I've never been to so its pretty much in the pipeline because from what I've read, its a park definately worth the 350kms (one-way) trip. Anyone been here recently and could share the directions from Meru Town to the Park? Any pointers? Rgds.

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Windows 7 Vs XP 32 Bit
by Watchman 30 Dec '10

30 Dec '10

So, After a lengthy chat with a friend who is quite proficient in Windows technology and terminology, he convinced me to shift the Home PC's ( Yes. I know. I am ashamed ) to windows 7 32Bit from XP. Another "Expert" who just happens to be my cousin working for a MS Disti in UG claims the benefits are not so WOOP! and it won't really help my parents more with their emailing etc. than in XP. Is this true? I am ignorant in Windows technologies. I've checked a number of online comparisons and each is partial. What say the Skunks? -- ...and I shall shed my light over dark evil. For the dark things cannot stand the light.

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OT : Hells Gate National Park, Naivasha
by aki 30 Dec '10

30 Dec '10

Its a day trip and within easy reach by a normal saloon car. The roads in the park are well maintained and clearly marked. How to Get There : Turn of into the South Lake Road. About a Km from the Simba Lodge, there's a clear sign to the left " Elsa Gate ". Buy a map at the gate, the layout of the Park is quite simple. What to do once in the park : - There are number of campsites, if one is planning an overnight stay - Fishers tower is for the rock climbers - There are a number of picnic sites - Obisidian Caves - Central Tower is also a attraction with a picnic site I headed up to the view-point via the Olkaria Power Station 2. You will exit the off-raod and join the tarmac to the power station area. Those Geothermals will be hissing along the way like jet engines, amazing how much effort is going in to tap into this resource. To get to the view point is fairly easy, just follow the sign posts. As you ascend up the hills, you will reach a sign marked as "Private Road". At this point, take the dirt road on your right that goes up the hill. The drive up is again well worth it. In the background, you can see the mega drill that's works pretty hard. There is a nice small banda with a fireplace at the top, so enjoy the entire view of Lake Naivasha and part of the rift, chillout and enjoy. BTW, I saw no naughty Baboons up this point so its pretty isolated and serene. Rgds.

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login password
by Robert Kuria 30 Dec '10

30 Dec '10

Hi Good people, I have a HP6730s, that i cant login on both user AND admin account "account has been disabled" is there a way around this? -- Regards, Robert.

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Re: [Skunkworks] KCPE 2010 Results
by sospeter＠elimu.co.ke 30 Dec '10

30 Dec '10

We no longer consider web access as a cost but a need. Ask any parent what they'd prefer. To get the results via the web/SMS or to go physically to the school and hope that the head teacher is not on holiday and was able to post the official results on the school notice board. See? We at Elimu would be thrilled if all schools that have websites are able to post their results there to convenience the parents. That is our aim. But the problem is that i doubt they have received the results yet. It may take days for the schools to receive their results. Regards. > It may not be cheaper to access on web either as there is cost for > bandwidth unless using your employer resources. > > Sent from my BlackBerryï¿½ smartphone from Zain Kenya > > -----Original Message----- > From: Collins Areba <arebacollins(a)gmail.com> > Sender: skunkworks-bounces(a)lists.my.co.ke > Date: Tue, 28 Dec 2010 14:15:28 > To: Skunkworks Mailing List<skunkworks(a)lists.my.co.ke> > Reply-To: Skunkworks Mailing List <skunkworks(a)lists.my.co.ke> > Subject: Re: [Skunkworks] KCPE 2010 Results > > _______________________________________________ > Skunkworks mailing list > Skunkworks(a)lists.my.co.ke > http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks > ------------ > Skunkworks Rules > http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=94 > ------------ > 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 > ------------ > Skunkworks Rules > http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=94 > ------------ > Other services @ http://my.co.ke >

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Registration of Consultants (As an individual)
by David Mugo 30 Dec '10

30 Dec '10

Guys, Just a quick one, would anyone know what are the procedures of registration as an official consultant (to take care of tax issues and legality) as an individual as opposed to being a company. Also, please let me know what the tax implications are for any services rendered. -- ------------- David Mugo, ICT & E-Commerce Consultant, http://majibu.com Twitter: @raidarmax

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Re: [Skunkworks] Skunkworks Digest, Vol 10, Issue 323
by lordmwesh 30 Dec '10

30 Dec '10

Hi, We are seeking to purchase PLC machines and setup Computer Integrated Manufacturing (with the following: machine control, material movement, advanced process control, process specification management, schedule management, and factor services) Anybody familiar with this technologies? Where do I purchase the PLCs, e.t.c Kind regards Mwendwa Kivuva Business Development Transworld Computer Channels -- ______________________ twitter.com/lordmwesh transworldAfrica.com <http://transworldafrica.com/> | Fluent in computing kenya.or.ke | The Kenya we know

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Multi-disciplinary approach required to spur innovation in Africa - http://bit.ly/fvdjLd
by Mbugua Njihia 30 Dec '10

30 Dec '10

As we get into 2011, I believe that the next round of tech innovations will grow out of multi disciplinary engagements with ties to learning institutions. Local universities have been falling all over themselves recreating courses and syllabus to address market demand for emerging technologies, but they need to go further - http://bit.ly/fvdjLd

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