2012 - THE END

There is one rumour that is on many minds. It's none other than the predictions about "The End of our World in 2012". I don't know to what extent this is true. I read the book of Nostradamus, in which he predicted so many things that are going to happen in future. So many incidents have happened as he predicted, for example World Trade Center demolition in 2001 which is given in his book as a painting. He predicted that the World War 3 will be the end of this world, in which India is going to conquer every thing. In addition to this, the predictions based on Mayan Calendar says that 2012 is the end of our world.

Click on images for more information

Note : This post is fully based on the Nostradamus book and the articles that i have seen so far in net. I too don't have any idea about these predictions. So In Ritch's World is not responsible for any thing.

2012 - Is it the End of our World?

Antivirus Blogging

Our computer is prone to so many viruses, trojans etc,. Many of us are not aware of this thing. Viruses will get passed through internet and through some sources. In order to protect our computer from all the viruses we have to use some antivirus software to get rid off viruses. Here i am gong to suggest one site which gives Computer Virus Protection from all the viruses. Cyberdefender.com is the one that i am talking about, they are providing so much guidance and so many applications to get rid off viruses, spywares and so on. They also include the reviews of some other sites, in order to get know about them very openly. We can easily sign up with them through online form and we can download the software easily for trial purpose.

Does Racism play a major role?

Don't get surprised because of the post title. The issue that we are going to discuss here is Racism in name of color difference among the people. Our body color is the natural one, I don't know why people fight based on color differences. What's the need for it? I am not interested to point out the country names here. By reading this post itself each and every one will realize the main thing inside this post. Even animals are not seeing these kind of differences between them, then why should we?

>>>>>>> We are far more better than you

We should learn from you <<<<<<<

Do we have sixth sense?

I think these things are happening because of our sixth sense. Is it?

I'm Black, I'm White, I'm Brown - So what?

Kindly pen down your views about racism and also try to share the information regarding this, about the things that you have experienced so far in your life time (as far as racism is concerned)..

Police Gear

LA Police Gear was founded by Los Angeles police officers. It is really helpful to people in getting stuffs like gears, shirts, T-shirts, foot wears, bags, cargo, eye gears, boots, flash lights, Armour, etc,. It provides good customer service to everyone. The orders can be placed through fax services, telephone services, etc,. It provides some cool offers like free shipping, free gifts and the products from this site also is really nice and it's of good quality. One of the popular stuffs provided by LA police gear is tactical gear, it contains really some awesome items for every one. Simply by using the credit card number they will easily ship the products to us within a correct time. So if you want to be like a police men/women, I recommend this service to you all.

Women - Is it possible to live independently in this world?

IS IT POSSIBLE?

In this modernized world every thing has been changed, mainly the life style. At the same time here no one worrying about the past things and just living their life as per their desire, it is correct only nothing wrong in that. Each and every one is having full rights to live the life as per their interests and so on. But the thing is how far this society allows them to live like that. The answer is No. Leave about the men, let us discuss about Women. Is it possible for a women to live independently in this world, without the support of others? Even though if she tries to live, my question is will this society allow her to live peacefully. Here too the answer is No.

MALENA

Last week only I watched this movie. Here I am going to relate this movie to this post. In this movie they showed the kind of problems that a women will face if she lives independently in this world. This movie really attracted me a lot, especially the screen play. I felt like 12 years old boy while i watched this movie. If you people get free time try to watch this movie and then comment in this post.

Domestic Seafood Recipe

Seafoods are really a nice one for all of us to keep our body in a healthy condition. If they are tasty means then it would be even more better for us to eat. Seafoods are having so much power to cure some diseases in our body. I like to eat Seafood dishes like Fish fry, Prawn fry, Fish curry and so on. At the same i like to make some dishes of my own after some time with the help of some one. For all the lovers of Seafood dishes all over the world one competition is going to held at New Orleans from August 2-3. It is called Fifth Annual Great American Seafood Cook off. The sole purpose of this competition is to select the best seafood chef who makes some delicious Seafood dishes during the competition. During the two days of competition many events are planned, at the same time so many chefs are participating in this competition to make some delicious dishes in order to win the title of King of American Seafood 2008. So there will be so many dishes will be available there in the competition center and totally it will be a very unforgettable day for all the Seafood lovers. Just go for it and have fun.

Kenya losing the fight against HIV after all, experts warn

(Post courtesy of Daily Nation newspaper Thursday July 31, 2008)
Prime Minister Raila Odinga receives preliminary results of the Kenya Aids Indicator Survey 2007 from Public Health and Sanitation minister Beth Mugo in Nairobi. Photo/HEZRON NJOROGE

In Summary

* A three per cent rise in prevalence rates came as a shock because Kenyans were of the opinion that Aids pandemic had been contained.

* 2007 KAIS study show prevalence rates in the national population at 8 per cent, an almost four point increase.

* Government has been discussing and agonising on the authenticity of the results and how to make them public.

* KAIS findings raise some pertinent questions about what is really going in the HIV and Aids field.

The new Aids statistics released Tuesday by the Government are bound to disappoint Kenyans who in the last few years have been made to believe that the virus was on the retreat.

A three per cent rise in prevalence rates announcement came as a shock because Kenyans were of the opinion that Aids control agencies had finally found a formula to contain the pandemic.

In the last three years Kenya has come in for special praise from global Aids agencies for managing to bring down prevalence rates from a high of 10 per cent in the 1990s to about 7 per cent in 2003 and 5.1 per cent last year.

But now according to the 2007 Kenya Aids Indicator Survey (KAIS) released on Tuesday prevalence rates in the national population stands at 8 per cent, indicating an almost four point increase.

Controversy over Aids statistics is not new and can be traced back six years ago with the launch of the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey – 2003 which indicated that HIV prevalence rates was 6.7 per cent.

Unreliable measurement

Before then, the National Aids Control Council and other Aids organisations were working on the assumption that the HIV prevalence rates were at 10 + per cent. It was then explained that the 10+ figure was wrong and arrived at through the use unreliable measurement tools – use of prenatal clinics as sentinel sites.

Consequently, the Kenya Demographic and Health Surveys (KDHS) data, indicating a 6.7 prevalence rate was adopted as the correct position then. Realizing the unreliability of the earlier figures the UN also revised its figures for some 15 countries including Kenya downwards.

Now the KAIS study used similar assessment tools to the KDHS 2003 survey and came out with similar trends and more believable figures. If the new figures are correct, then NACC and other government officials will be hard put to explain whether they deliberately misled Kenyans that the country was winning the war against the virus or the other factors at play.

Faced with this predicament, it was understood that Tuesday’s launch was not without acrimony, with some government officials refusing to be part of the process.

It is well understood that for close to a month, since the completion of the KAIS study, the Government has been discussing and agonising on the authenticity of the results and how to make them public.

The Board of the National AIDS Control Council had expressed reservations about the study, which was funded by the United States government to a tune of US$ 6 million.

When the results were first released by the team of researchers, the board is understood to have asked one of its senior epidemiologist – expert in the causes, spread, and control of diseases — to scrutinize the study and see if it was scientifically arrived at.

The scientist returned a clean bill of health about the findings. External scientists who had participated in the study are understood to have applied pressure on the government to have the report released.

At this point, this matter was referred to the Cabinet and other senior government officials for direction. After several meetings and discussions, it was agreed that National Aids Control Council and National Aids and STD Control Programme, come up with a logical answer for the public, explaining away the new 7.8 per cent prevalence rate.

School Fires: Arson or Accident?

What is happening in Kenyan secondary schools? Can someone please stand out of the whole damn mess and speak out.

Of late there have been incidents of fires breaking out (!) in our schools leaving tidy messes in their wake. Just last week a fire broke out at Nanyuki Boys’ and destroyed property worth a tidy sum. And two days ago, another fire “attacked” another high school (Upper Hill High School), destroyed property and left at least one student dead.

This recent spate of “mysterious fires” reminds me of two separate “school fires” that led to the loss of so much property and nipped many lives in the bud.

I am talking about the Kyanguli and Bombolulu fires. Remember them?

On 26th March, 2001 at least 59 male students died at Kyanguli Secondary School (in Machakos) when a fire swept through the dormitory they were in. Arson was raised as a possible cause of the fire.

Three years before the Kyanguli fire, in 1998, at least 25 female students died in Bombolulu, near Mombasa, when their dormitory caught fire while they were locked inside. A commission of inquiry was set up to investigate the Bombolulu fire and its only findings were that the fire was caused by an electric fault. Nothing concrete.

These are just some of the most horrendous fire tragedies that have ever hit our schools. But it seems school heads (and the Ministry of Education) will take a very long time to learn that a stitch in time saves nine.

Most of these schools do not have warning systems that would help to deal with fires before the worst comes to the worst. Neither do they have fire fighting equipment (nor the expertise among the students on how to handle “fire” situations).

Most of the Boarding secondary schools have sub-standard dormitory dynamics. I mean: i)the wiring system is ovyo kabisa; ii) the dorms ‘carry’ so many students than they ought to; ii) they have very small windows (and fewer too); iv) some students bring incendiary materials into the dormitories but the schools have not put in place the necessary mechanisms of making sure students don’t get their hands on such material.

But, know what, some other schools take the issue of “fire” very seriously. They have in place mechanisms of preventing incidences of fire from ever occurring. They are also very particular about the psychological health of their students. You rarely hear of riots or fires in these schools and institutions.

Seriously, this situation has to be taken care of before history repeats itself and we are left lamenting and pointing fingers (in the wrong direction!). I would hate to hear “The cause of the fire has still not been established” while at the same time counting bodies and calculating the losses incurred after a conflagration.

The Cry Fizzles

“I’d rather die than resign,”
The man snorted sarcastically;
His shifty eyes roving hither and thither,
His heart racing, lips dry…

In the bottle,
The “resign now” pressure,
Squirmed, squeaked, and…
Pop! Went the cork.

Oh, the cloud, the dust,
The gas, the venom,
The bottle’s mighty wave,
The bank broke (the dam burst!)

In the avalanche ,
Amos “I’ll not resign”,
Swallowed, sucked in he was,
Gulp, gulp… shy of a drown.

His heart yelled “Help!”
His mouth co-operated not,
“I resign,” are the words we heard;
The bubble had broken.

These Guys, Politicians, are taking us for a Ride

…But they always have, haven’t they?!...

(Please note that it is not POLITICIANS but POLTICIANS to prove how convoluted the whole thing is!)


These past few days have been inundated with scream after scream urging (nay, “commanding” President Kibaki to sack Finance Minister Amos Kimunya). The same people who have been screaming (the loudest!), have been trying to asphyxiate the said finance minister so that he will only have enough time to gasp “I resign!” before he is dragged to oblivion.

When asked to resign he said that he’d rather die than resign. It is clear that huyu Msee) has been promised protection against any ‘unfavourable occurrence’. Otherwise, how would you explain his being blasé about the whole shooting match.

Ironically, despite previous belief, it emerged yesterday that the Prime Minister (Raila Amolo Odinga) did sanction the selling of the Grand Regency Hotel to the said Libyans. This was “broken” by Bwana Amos Kimunya.

When the scandal came to the knowledge of the public, all of us remember that the PM set up a commission to look into the matter. (to look into himself and others of his kind?). But, then, so many politicians have been so loud (condemning this act of misdemeanor by Mr. Amos and co.). I just hope that they are doing it with a clear conscience regarding the whole matter.

I want to believe that what the politicians are doing (including President Kibaki and his profound silence on the matter) is different from what we were doing when we were children.

Those were days when getting a chwani (fifty cents) or a bob to buy ourselves sweets was somewhat hard. So the only “easy” sweet thing to get in the house was sugar.

I would wait until my mother had left the house and then I’d head straight for the cupboard, take out the sugar jar, dip my fingers in it and start savouring the wondrous sweetness of the Mumias product.

But when I heard footsteps coming towards the door I would return the jar at lightning speed, wipe my mouth and pretend to be arranging furniture. When the door opened and there stood mum, I would smile ‘professionally’, and ask her how her day had been.

If she made as if to move towards the cupboard, there and then my confidence would fizzle out for fear that my little “expedition” would be found out.

“Sijakula sukari, sure mum,” I would start, with the most desperate look on my face.

Mum would look at me and ask, sarcastically, “Nani amesema umekual sukari. Wewe na wewe!” but the conversation would take a different course if I had not rubbed my mouth well enough and there were still some crystals of sugar on my upper lip.

Well, I hope that the politicians are not condemning corruption and corrupt dealings while their hands are in the sugar jar. But, sadly, most of them have sugar crystals on their upper lips!


Let’s see what this circumstantial comedy avails on the stage for the matinee show.
Warning: Don’t laugh before the end of the show. You just might be surprised.
But, what I have always maintained is: He who laughs last, laughs loudest (and longest).

Our Politicians are Clowns; Paying lip service (but their hearts are very far from the matter at hand!)

Brother Amos preaching to no one

Ode to the Charade: Zimbabwe

A sham, bloody deception,
The bounding, white army chanted.

Undemocratic, unparalleled injustice,
The tardy (nay, tacky), black army chorused.

Unrivalled travesty, perfect ambiguity,
The International Community whimpered.

But the black man stood, ‘unstung’, unmoved,
The virulent words falling on ‘barren’ ears.

“Keep your noises to yourselves,”
He advised the white and black alike.

The bandying of coloured words ensued,
All parties pulling the frayed reins.

Just before the snap of the frayed joints,
The black man cleared his throat:

“If you deem yourselves clean enough,
Be the first one to throw the stone!”

The white and black armies exchanged glances,
And voluntarily retreated to their hovels.

An Open Letter to President Jakaya Kikwete, Chairman of the AU

I hope this finds you well, Sir. I must say, you have taken up a responsibility that is overly daunting and heavy. Having all African countries under your arm and constant watch is no mean feat.

As you, and I, know only too well, Africa is a continent that is dogged and bedeviled by all manner of ills that you can and could mention:

Bloodshed (and blood letting); wars and rumours of wars; extensive “rape” of human rights; the world’s top-class dictators; lack of democracy; elaborate election rigging schemes (otherwise known as “stealing of elections” and “doctoring of election results”); disregard for human lives even by the bodies that have been charged with the mandate to protect them (e.g. the police).

These, I wish to believe, are but some of the stories that you have to contend with everyday (the running of your country, Tanzania, notwithstanding).

Sir, let me direct your attention to one present problem that is sticking out like a sore thumb. This is none other than the Zimbabwe (and Mugabe) issue.

Zimbabwe is a country that is going through harrowing problems. Its people are suffering and dying. People are banned even from speaking out their minds and freedom of expression has been curtailed.

These are people who cannot, in normal circumstances, share what they are going through in their country with the rest of the world. Only the very courageous (who put their lives on the line) usually do so.

These people are going without the basic necessities of life: food, shelter and clothing. Unemployment is very high in Zimbabwe. The spiralling inflation has driven the prices of commodities to sheer “mad” levels.

In this background, how can the common person in Zimbabwe, (someone without a job), be expected to meet their bills? Most jobs, too, just pay a pittance. So the situation is plain impossible for virtually everyone. Mr. Kikwete, this is just too much for these people.

Thousands, nay, millions of Zimbabweans have fled their country to seek for ‘economic release and relief’ elsewhere, especially farther down in South Africa. But recent developments in South Africa, which many people have called xenophobic attacks, have forced these ‘economic refugees’ to go back to the fire they thought they had bidden farewell to: Zimbabwe, the home of their tyrannical leader, Robert Mugabe.

Mugabe is a man who is ready to do anything just to remain in power. His pronouncements two days ago just revolted me. He said something to the effect that Zimbabwe is a country that was liberated by the gun and it won’t just slip through the fingers of ‘Zimbabweans' by the result of a mere ballot. He says he is ready to engage in war to remain in power.

Some weeks ago, his wife told the Movement for Democratic Change leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, that he should not dream of taking over as president while Mugabe was still alive. She reiterated that that would only happen when Mugabe dies and not in any other circumstance.

Mr. Jakaya Kikwete, these are things that should not be allowed to happen. In fact these are some of the things that the AU, and African leaders as a whole, should stand up against. This state of affairs should not be allowed to continue.

Questions

But why is there no African leader (except for few) telling Mugabe to his face that what he is doing is WRONG?

Why is the AU not baring its fangs at such dire times for the people of Zimbabwe to be saved from their almost imminent, tumultuous demise?

Or

Are African presidents silent because they see a part of themselves in Robert Mugabe? (And that talking up against him, and what he is doing, would be a case of cutting the nose to spite the face?).

Mr. Kikwete, Zimbabweans go to the polls later this month for a run-off of the presidential elections. And Mr. Mugabe is not ready to leave office if he loses these elections. And Morgan Tsvangirai is being given a hard time, holding a campaign rally for him has been made increasingly difficult.

There have also emerged claims that Mugabe is using the army to forge his cause: winning the elections even if it involves breaking a few bones.

Against this background, Mr. Kikwete, I present my plea to you: Zimbabweans are looking up to you, other African leaders and the international community to come to their rescue and save them from the rush decisions and mad actions of their no-white-nonsense leader: Robert Mugabe.

Though this is a tall order, it is the right course to take. Mind you, Zimbabwe is greater than their tyrant of a leader, Mugabe. It is time for change. The people’s voices should be heeded and respected.

With that, I rest my case.

Yours truly,

Ritch.

Confusion?...

This Stupid thing called XENOPHOBIA!!

This is the picture of an African Immigrant in South Africa being burned alive as South Africa Police watch and have a GOOD time! Look at the policeman at the centre (isn't that a smile?)
God save our continent...

Manchester Hoyee!

In Ritch’s World is opening its Doors to You

Some people have asked me to give them the opportunity to be contributors to this blog. Well, here is the opportunity you have been waiting for. I take this opportunity, too, to invite all other like-minded people to be my co-authors here at this blog.

What is this blog all about?
This blog is about the social, political, emotional and financial issues people in East Africa and in Kenya (in particular) are faced with each passing day.

P.S. No pornography or other such related content is, or will be, entertained in this blog. Content that aims at fuelling tribalism, racial segregation, discord and such-like social ills is not encouraged here.

Air your thoughts; “Voice” your voice for the whole world to hear through In Ritch’s World

Send me an email expressing your interest in being part of In Ritch’s World at (undaunted_2006 at yahoo dot com)

Tribalism is a State of Mind

I lost my uncle last week so I had to travel for the burial (which took place on Wednesday, 7th May). Being the first born of my uncle’s elder brother it behooved me to attend, however far I was.

My uncle lived at Ongata Rongai and he was a former production manager at Bomas of Kenya.

I arrived a day before the burial and found the burial committee praying in the main house. The leader of the prayers was a luo woman. After the prayers she encouraged the children of the deceased to know that they are not alone or should not consider themselves as out and lost; But that they had a shoulder to cry on.

It was a time charged with so much emotion. After the luo woman, there stood another luo woman and thereafter a luhya man, each saying things of utter import during that trying time for the family.

As I sat listening and thinking, I was mesmerised by the beauty of it all (the pain of losing my uncle notwithstanding!). Never before had I thought that I would ever see Kikuyus and Luos working towards a common goal, hand in hand and peacefully.

Some of these luos and luhyas worked under my uncle at Bomas. They heaped praise upon praise on my deceased uncle saying how good he’d been blah…blah…blah..

When the committee was through with its business, most people went outside. I was left in the main house talking to my cousins. In mid-conversation, a bespectacled old man (in his sixties) came to where I was and extended his stiff hand. I took it and responded to his greeting.

He sat down next to me and asked whether I was the cousin who lived in (…!…). I answered in the affirmative.

He told me that his first name was George (and a luo from Nyanza). He added that he had travelled all the way from Nyanza to attend the burial of his friend, my uncle.

He told me the far that he and my uncle had come. I was mesmerised at how fondly he described their friendship. Throughout the talk, I did not detect any trace of hypocrisy in George.

On Wednesday we travelled to Kikuyu country (a certain part of Murang’a) for the burial.

The Catechist who led the burial ceremony was a luhya. He simply amazed me when he decided to use both Kikuyu and Kiswahili in the leading of the service. His Kikuyu is so good that he could pass for a Kikuyu who was born in Luhyaland!

On the bus to Nairobi, after the burial, my mind was abuzz.

Does the “cure” to tribalism and tribal hatred lie in pulling down the stereotypes that we have of others? (The thought that screams out loud saying that this is what I think you are and nothing, whatsoever, can change me to think otherwise! )

Honestly, the present state of affairs is not the kind of environment I would like my children to grow up in. But what can I (we) do?

I am confused…

Kibaki the Marionette

Give This Over and Done With