- skunkworks - Skunkworks Site

Question: Which insurance companies do you use?
by Daudi Were 05 Feb '10

05 Feb '10

Good morning Skunks. Which insurance companies are ya'll using to insure your computer equipment? And which policies? Any recommendations? Thanks D -- Pamoja e:daudi.were@gmail.com <e%3Adaudi.were(a)gmail.com> skype: d.were

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iPad 3G might be a possibility
by Brian Munyao Longwe 05 Feb '10

05 Feb '10

It might be possible to shave down a conventional sim-card into a micro-sim? http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/02/micro-sims-can-probably-be-fashioned-fro… Brian

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Meeting Announcement -- Update; Topics to be covered; Tangaza, Nokia SMS Find and AOB!
by Phares Kariuki 05 Feb '10

05 Feb '10

Hi, an update on the Skunkworks meeting on Tuesday. The panel will be comprised of the following: *Jonathan Ledlie* is a Senior Researcher in Networked Systems at Nokia. His interests include experimental large-scale distributed and mobile systems and ICTD. He has a PhD in Computer Science from Harvard University and is currently based at the Cambridge (US) Nokia Research Center. *Jay Chen* is a fourth year Systems and Networking Computer Science PhD candidate at New York University. His research areas include AI, with a focus on Natural Language Processing, and ICTD. *Brian Omwenga* is a Research Engineer currently working at Nokia Research currently based in Nairobi. His interests include Large Scale Open Systems analysis and design, strategy and ICTD. He is a science master in Technology and Policy from the Engineering Systems at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. *Billy Odero* is a Research Engineer at Nokia Research Currently based in Nairobi working on the development of mobile systems for emerging markets. *The projects*: [1] Tangaza - An audio based social networking service on mobile phones [2] NokiaSMSFind - An intelligent sms based search service -- With Regards, Phares Kariuki | T: +254 734 810 802 | E: pkariuki(a)gmail.com | Twitter: kaboro | Skype: kariukiphares |

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Is this a typo ?
by [ Brainiac ] 05 Feb '10

05 Feb '10

The article http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Company%20Industry/-/539550/854476/-/vie… The statement: Both Telkom Kenya and Kenya Data Networks, who have been contracted to convey international connectivity from TEAMs and Seacom respectively, have said that they are battling increased instances of fibre vandalism on their networks, costing them Sh1.5 billion in repairs over the last year along the Mombasa-Nairobi route. The Question: 1.5 Billion? for repairs alone? Thats like 4.1095890411 Million a day. Is maintenance of the fiber that expensive? -- Posted on 100% recycled electrons

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Arduino platform
by Brian Munyao Longwe 05 Feb '10

05 Feb '10

Anyone out there used the Arduino platform http://www.arduino.cc/ ? Seen some interesting smartphone OS that guys have cobbled together based on this http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/02/pyxis-os-demo-video-sports-high-producti… Regards, Brian -- Brian Munyao Longwe e-mail: blongwe(a)gmail.com cell: + 254 722 518 744 blog : http://zinjlog.blogspot.com meta-blog: http://mashilingi.blogspot.com

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Sony DSL T90 MKM Camera
by tonniemacharia＠gmail.com 04 Feb '10

04 Feb '10

Hi Folks, Does any one know where l can find a screen for this camera model Sony DSL T90 MKM? Mine cracked

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Kenyan wannabe hacker caught up in Google row
by Steve Muchai 04 Feb '10

04 Feb '10

Interesting: http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/-/539444/854958/-/t2ckws/-/index.html I'm sure he's a skunk. Can the wannabe hacker please stand up? BR, S -- Sent from my socks®

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Skunkworks B(usiness) Execution List
by Murigi Muraya 04 Feb '10

04 Feb '10

Am sure we will have 100K to buy a simple Server by mid March 2010. Since the current Skunkworks list is filled with the 'eat for free' Kenyan mentality, a new Skunkworks (B)usiness Execution list should only include tech (interested) people with business cents to commit to increase the likelihood of high quality Tech Business Development discussions. It should focus issues such as Project Management and Team Building pieces such as: http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/001320.html Cultivate Teams, Not Ideas<http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/001320.html> January 25, 2010 How much is a good idea worth? According to Derek Sivers, not much<http://sivers.org/multiply>: It's so funny when I hear people being so protective of ideas. (People who want me to sign an NDA to tell me the simplest idea.) To me, *ideas are worth nothing unless executed*. They are just a multiplier. Execution is worth millions. To make a business, you need to multiply the two. The most brilliant idea, with no execution, is worth $20. The most brilliant idea takes great execution to be worth $20,000,000. That's why I don't want to hear people's ideas. I'm not interested until I see their execution. I was reminded of Mr. Sivers article when this email<http://groups.google.com/group/barcampla/browse_thread/thread/4b4091eaf6fb6…>made the rounds earlier this month: I feel that this story is important to tell you because Kickstarter.com copied us. I tried for 4 years to get people to take Fundable seriously, traveling across the country, even giving a presentation to FBFund, Facebook's fund to stimulate development of new apps. It was a series of rejections for 4 years. I really felt that I presented myself professionally in every business situation and I dressed appropriately and practiced my presentations. That was not enough. The idiots wanted us to show them charts with massive profits and widespread public acceptance so that they didn't have to take any risks. All it took was 5 super-connected people at Kickstarter (especially Andy Baio) to take a concept we worked hard to refine, tweak it with Amazon Payments, and then take credit. You could say that that's capitalism, but I still think you should acknowledge people that you take inspiration from. I do. I owe the concept of Fundable to many things, including living in cooperative student housing and studying Political Science at Michigan. Rational choice theory, tragedy of the commons, and collective action are a few political science concepts that are relevant to Fundable. Yes, Fundable had some technical and customer service problems. That's because we had no money to revise it. I had plans to scrap the entire CMS and start from scratch with a new design. We were just so burned out that motivation was hard to come by. What was the point if we weren't making enough money to live on after 4 years? The disconnect between idea and execution here is so vast it's hard to understand why the author himself can't see it. I wouldn't call ideas *worthless*, per se, but it's clear that ideas alone are a hollow sort of currency. Success is rarely determined by the quality of your ideas. But it *is* frequently determined by the quality of your execution. So instead of worrying about whether the Next Big Idea you're all working on is sufficiently brilliant, *worry about how well you're executing.* The criticism that all you need is "super-connected people" to be successful was also leveled at Stack Overflow. In an email to me last year, Andy Baio -- ironically, the very person being cited in the email -- said: I very much enjoyed the Hacker News conversation about cloning the site in a weekend <http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/001284.html>. My favorite comments were from the people that believe Stack Overflow is only successful because of the Cult of Atwood & Spolsky. Amazing. I don't care how internet famous you are; *nobody* gets a pass on execution. Sure, you may have a few more eyeballs at the beginning, but if you don't build something useful, the world will eventually just shrug its collective shoulders and move along to more useful things. One of my all time favorite software quotes is from Wil Shipley<http://daringfireball.net/2007/08/c4_1_in_a_nut>: This is all your app is: a collection of tiny details. *In software development, execution is staying on top of all the tiny details that make up your app.* If you're not constantly obsessing over every aspect of your application, relentlessly polishing and improving every little part of it -- no matter how trivial -- you're not executing. At least, not well. And unless you work alone, which is a rarity these days, your ability to stay on top of the collection of tiny details that makes up your app will hinge entirely on whether or not you can build a great team. They are the building block of any successful endeavor. This talk by Ed Catmull<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_Catmull>is almost exclusively focused on how Pixar learned, through trial and error, to build teams that can *execute*. [image: Ed Catmull talk at Stanford]<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2h2lvhzMDc> It's a fascinating talk, full of some great insights, and you should watch the whole thing <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2h2lvhzMDc>. In it, Mr. Catmull amplifies Mr. Sivers' sentiment: If you give a good idea to a mediocre group, they'll screw it up. *If you give a mediocre idea to a good group, they'll fix it.* Or they'll throw it away and come up with something else. Execution isn't merely a multiplier. It's far more powerful. How your team executes has the power to transform your idea from gold into lead, or from lead into gold. That's why, when building Stack Overflow, I was so fortunate to not only work with Joel Spolsky<http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/001101.html>, but also to cherry-pick two of the best developers I had ever worked with in my previous jobs and drag them along with me. Kicking and screaming if necessary. If I had to point to *the one thing that made our project successful*, it was not the idea behind it, our internet fame, the tools we chose, or the funding we had (precious little, for the record). It was our team. The value of my advice is debatable. But you would do well to heed the advice of Mr. Sivers and Mr. Catmull. If you want to be successful, stop worrying about the great ideas, and concentrate on cultivating great teams. [advertisement] JIRA 4<http://www.atlassian.com/software/jira/?s_kwcid=codinghorror&utm_source=cod…>- Simplify issue tracking for everyone involved. Get started<http://www.atlassian.com/software/jira/?s_kwcid=codinghorror&utm_source=cod…>from $10 for 10 users. Posted by Jeff Atwood

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Re: [Skunkworks] Kenyan wannabe hacker caught up in Google row
by Peter Osotsi 04 Feb '10

04 Feb '10

Brian, Can they engage me in my free time, it seems my hacking skills have improved considerably in the last couple of months, instead of offending, they could do with my token knowledge ... <?my thoughts> Peter ~~~~~~~ Re: [Skunkworks] Kenyan wannabe hacker caught up in Google row Friends, Friends, Please don't be too quick to dismiss such a story. I have personally worked with both our local law enforcement and "white guys/men in black" on similar cases in the past. Actually you would be surprised at the amount of attempted/successful hacking, online fraud, read "cybercrime" that goes on within our borders. Let us not live in denial. Brian Don't wait for success; hunt it down like there's no tomorrow.

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Re: [Skunkworks] Kenyan wannabe hacker caught up in Google row
by Peter Osotsi 04 Feb '10

04 Feb '10

Brian, Can they engage me in my free time, it seems my hacking skills have improved considerably in the last couple of months, instead of offending, they could do with my token knowledge ... <?my thoughts> Peter ~~~~~~~ Re: [Skunkworks] Kenyan wannabe hacker caught up in Google row Friends, Friends, Please don't be too quick to dismiss such a story. I have personally worked with both our local law enforcement and "white guys/men in black" on similar cases in the past. Actually you would be surprised at the amount of attempted/successful hacking, online fraud, read "cybercrime" that goes on within our borders. Let us not live in denial. Brian Don't wait for success; hunt it down like there's no tomorrow.

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Hackers steal millions in Carbon Credits
by Brian Munyao Longwe 04 Feb '10

04 Feb '10

Interesting read: http://bit.ly/cOTGyK Amazing how the simple, social engineering approach allowed these guys to gain over $4 milllion

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Skunkworks Meeting Announcement, Nokia Research, Networked Systems, Tuesday 9th February 2010
by Phares Kariuki 04 Feb '10

04 Feb '10

There will be a Skunkworks meeting on Tuesday 9th February 2010. The speaker will be Johnathan Ledlie of Nokia Research http://research.nokia.com/people/jonathan_ledlie/index.html and will cover Networked Systems and anything else that may be of interest to the Skunkworks community. Meeting starts at 6.00 pm. Teleposta Tower's 4th Floor. Multimedia University. Thanks. -- With Regards, Phares Kariuki | T: +254 734 810 802 | E: pkariuki(a)gmail.com | Twitter: kaboro | Skype: kariukiphares |

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ANNOUNCEMENT: ESET discontinues ESET NOD32 Antivirus 2.7
by Alvin Jason Ochieng 04 Feb '10

04 Feb '10

FROM ESET.............................FYI ESET has decided to discontinue the obsolete version 2.7 of ESET NOD32 Antivirus. We recommend all users of this version to take advantage of the free upgrade to the current ESET NOD32 Antivirus 4, which offers significantly improved protection. ESET NOD32 Antivirus 4 supports the following platforms: Microsoft Windows 7 / Vista / XP / 2000 Microsoft Windows NT4.0 SP6 (works only with V4.2 with limited functionality) Summary of key dates: February 1, 2010 - Version 2.7 product is removed from ESET web sites, including product pages and e-Store February 1, 2012 - Signature updates for 2.7 products are stopped - Installation packages are removed from ESET web sites - Technical support is no longer provided If you have any further queries please do not hesitate to contact us at partners(a)eset.co.ke ESET Partner Team ALVIN

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ID Card printing software
by Simon Mbuthia 04 Feb '10

04 Feb '10

Hey guys, I'm looking for a FOSS application that can be used to print employee/visitor identity cards. Could there be someone on the list who would know of an application that's preferably compatible with Datacard's Preface ID software? Me. -- Be kind to your dentist - he has fillings too...

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Storing Data Tapes Offsite
by James Kagwe 04 Feb '10

04 Feb '10

Morning, Is anyone aware of an organization that can offer a service for storing data tapes offsite for those companies which cannot make local arrangements. regards, James -- ï¿½ï¿½à¡±ï¿½

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If you are wondering if your next electricity bill will also double as the current one, wonder no more.
by [ Brainiac ] 04 Feb '10

04 Feb '10

easy, from now on, just calculate your next month bill using the following formula. Bn = BcX2 Check this out. http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Company%20Industry/-/539550/855076/-/t40… The government has signed off a new energy policy that allows power producers to pass on to consumers all losses arising from their foreign currency-denominated transactions in a move that promises to add impetus to the recent escalation in electricity bills countrywide. The new billing formula ticked off by the energy sector regulator in July last year plugs every electricity consumer’s costs to the turbulent world of currency markets where the shilling has ceded a lot of ground in the past 24 months. Under the deal, electricity generating companies have a set exchange rate and are allowed to pass on to consumers any losses arising from a weakening of the Kenya shilling beyond the point. -- Posted on 100% recycled electrons

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Re: [Skunkworks] Kenya.com
by Rahim Kara 04 Feb '10

04 Feb '10

I don;t know if it's been mentioned here before but.. OUR COUNTRY'S URL IS A SAFARI SITE FOR TANZANIA!!! That's all for the venting. :D

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www.yesiamablogger.com
by pithon kamau 04 Feb '10

04 Feb '10

For the Latest News, Technology Updates, Web Design Resources, Entertainment , Humor and Fun Stories, Discussions, Transport, Life Teachings, Finance and Investment Articles, Jobs, Advertisements, and many other Interesting Features ... Please Visit WWW.YESIAMABLOGGER.COM <http://www.yesiamablogger.com/> -- Pithon K. Kamau Mobile: 0723 588705 / 0737 686562 Tel: +254 20 2039220 Website: www.heartbitsolutions.com / www.yesiamablogger.com / www.pithonkamau.com Website Design, Domain Registration, Website Hosting, Corporate Email Solutions, Website Maintainance, Website Marketing, Logo Design and Branding, Bulk SMS Solutions, Computer Hardware and Maintainance, Network Design and Set Up............. "Love Your Neighbour as You Love Yourself"

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Office 2007
by Mr. Lawi 03 Feb '10

03 Feb '10

Where can i get office 2007, with ms office project, clean deal. Quote cost here...

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E1 Lines(Zain,Safaricom or Telkom)
by Jared Koyier 03 Feb '10

03 Feb '10

Hi People How do E1s from these three providers compare in terms of Cost and Reliability? If anyone has a sales person for Zain pls pass. Cheers

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Nairobi City Council-Flyers Permit Cost
by wesley kirinya 03 Feb '10

03 Feb '10

Hey ppl, Anyone know how much the Nairobi City Council charges to give a permit to hand out flyers? 8~)

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Mobile applications developers nokia forum invite
by maina martin 03 Feb '10

03 Feb '10

Hi all, ONLY mobile applications developers interested in the below invite should kindly confirm with Alex Gakuru, their attendance. kindly send your names and mobile application. gakuru(a)gmail.com Excuse the shortness in notice - I only got this events details a short while ago. *DETAILS OF THE INVITE AS BELOW* *NOKIA CONVERSATIONS 2* Nokia has created an opportunity for innovators in emerging markets to bring mobile solutions that are locally relevant, profitable meant to improve lives, through a one million (USD) venture challenge. Nokia has the pleasure to invite you to Nokia Conversations 2 with Nokia Head of Solutions, East & Southern Africa, Ms. Agatha Gikunda who will expound on what this opportunity means to local developers and how they can be part of the Venture Challenge. The PS for Information, Dr. Bitange Ndemo, will be in attendance. *Date: 4th February 2010 Venue: Stanley Hotel, Huxley room Time: 11.00 am* We look forward to having these Conversations with you. Dorothy Ooko, Communications Manager for East and Southern Africa. RSVP: emily(a)blueprint.co.ke

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Attn: Windows XP Gurus
by Simon Mbuthia 03 Feb '10

03 Feb '10

Hi guys, I have this PC which has a number of critical applications running on it. However, I get messages similar to the one attached whenever I log on. I have done like everything imaginable, from running chkdsk [which fixed a ton of errors], repairing the Windows installation [twice actually], reinstalling the crashing applications and even giving up on it all. That's why I have decided to turn to the list for any tips that could possible be of help. I don't want to do a fresh install because it'll complicate things due to some reasons that I don't want to go into the pains of explaining. Thanks, Me. -- Be kind to your dentist - he has fillings too...

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Safaricom acquires Fiber from KPLC
by David Kiania | Asentric Consulting Ltd 03 Feb '10

03 Feb '10

Interesting story ----------------- KPLC hires out third cable Written By:KNA , Posted: Tue, Feb 02, 2010 The Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) has leased out three of its 18 extra fibre optic network capacity on the Nairobi- Mombasa power transmission line to some telecommunication companies. The multimillion shillings deal entered between Safaricom, Wananchi Group and Jamii Limited is aimed at enhancing KPLC's revenue earnings. In this partnership Safaricom ended up with a 20 year lease of one pair of fibre amounting to Shs 288 million while Jamii Telecommunications Limited and Wananchi Group each got a five year renewable lease of one pair of the fibre at a cost of Shs 27 million per year. Speaking during the signing of the deal at a Nairobi hotel, KPLC's Managing Director Joseph Njoroge said after the leasing of the three pairs of fiber to the three companies, there still exists 15 more for the same. He disclosed that the company had invested in a Shs 1.9 billion system Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system which entailed installation of fibre optic cables on its major transmission lines. "This system is used for effective and efficient management of operations of KPLC's power transmission and distribution grid," he said. He explained that the company had decided to lease the 18 pairs considering that it only required six pairs of fibre in the network for its day to day operations in terms of data and speech communication. KPLC was granted a network facility provider- Tier 2 license by the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) last year. The license gave the company authority to construct, install and operate electronic communication systems, which may be leased to licensed telecommunications operators. The lease offers contained in the tender floated last year were in two categories; one for 15 years described as indefeasible Right of use (IRU) for which safaricom made a counter offer of 20 years, and which required a bidder to pay upfront; and the second one was a five year lease payable bi-annually and renewable after the five year period. In respect of the IRU, the rent of the fibre on the Nairobi-Mombasa route was Shs 2432 (32 dollars) per pair per kilometer per month which translates to Shs 288 million (3,840,000 dollars) for a period of 20 years. For the five year lease, the rent per pair per kilometer was set at Shs 4560 or Shs 27 million per year. -- [Asentric Consulting Ltd] If a man has in himself the soul of a slave will he not become one no matter what his birth .... -Richest Man in Babylon

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iHub Discussion --- What was decided?
by nyarotho kennedy 03 Feb '10

03 Feb '10

Hi everyone, hope y'al okay. i was unable to attend the meetup jana but would really like to know the key points and deliberations made on the above....is there a wiki on this? pinging Phares (i know i still owe you a tag holder:) and Erik.....or anyone who has woken up. BR, Nyarotho -- People should know when they are conquered.

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