ICT rankings

From todays nation:
Kenya is not ranked among the top 10 African countries in information communication and technology (ICT).

According to data gathered by the World Economic Forum and other economic organisations, the country ranks 12th behind its East African neighbours, Ugandan and Tanzania.
Tunisia heads the list followed by South Africa, Mauritius, Botswana and Ghana. Sixth is Egypt, followed closely by Morocco, Namibia, Uganda and Tanzania.

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Quite fascinating that Kenya is behind Uganda and Tanzania, which i think is due to past unnecessary regulations that ended up with Telkom K being a monopoly that didn't offer much service.

However I suspect those stats are going to be changing very soon in Kenya's favour. The country is more or less prepping up for a major ICT boom. Within the region, Kenya's ICT skills base is considered among the best (despite the ranking). I just hope that this ICT boom, will not be concentrated in the major urban centres but spread across the country. If a broader ICT base is created in the country, we could be topping that list.

away from The Alpha Quadrant (home)

Almost glad to be away from the cold of Nairobi and in the heat of Europe... I don't intend to be here though @ winter.. :) .. I may need to start learning dutch fast.. though everyone i've met (so far) seems to speak english as well and french.

Faith - Invisible to the Visible

Hebrews 11:1,3
Faith involves seeing/having visible out of invisible
God's work of creation: God spoke out His imagination into being

vs 6
Without Faith it is impossible to please God.
Faith in God, you must be *sure* that He Exists!

Faith transcends belief

Romans 14:23
Anything not of Faith is sin

Rahab is in the hall of faith because she acted in faith. Shielding total strangers; whom she'd only heard about.

Moses went out of his comfort zone, leaving royalty and doing what he needed to do.
He grew up with the oppressor (who has lots of clout) but left those that were oppressing, siding with the oppressed;

Sometimes in the life of Faith, a follower of Christ must be 'Downloadly mobile' and live counter culturally.

Most of the members of the Hall of Faith reflect this.

Faith without works is dead. All the members of the hall of faith had their faith evidenced by their action.

Happy Birthday Nakeel

Enjoy the age (while it lasts)...

Superman Returns

To be honest, I didn't know when to expect when I went to watch this at Prestige Plaza.

Found it to be excellent! Lots of action, romance ;) and humour.... Maybe even better than X3... but then ... they are kinda different movies..

Since Lex Luthor wasn't exactly captured... Perhaps they might spin off a new movie...

Now what I simply can't wait for is Pirates....

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Scangroup IPO II

from the prospectus:

Gross Proceeds of the Offer: KES 721,050,000

for 12 Months ending Dec 2005  (150 000 000 shares)
EPS 0.96
NAV 1.58
DPS 0.23
Offer Price to Book Value (NAV)  6.61 Times
Implied historic PE based on EPS  10.88 Times
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for 12 Months ending Dec 2006/ (159 000 000 shares)

Forecast EPS 1.05
Forecast DPS 0.79

Implied future PE based on forecast EPS and Offer Price - 9.95 Times
Implied future Dividend Yield based on forecast DPS and Offer Price - 7.56%

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Allocation of 69,000,000 shares on Offer:

A - Employees of Scangroup and Scangroup Subsideries - 3,450,000 Shares - 5%
B - Corporate Investors - 31,050,000 - 45%
C - Individual Members of Public - 34,5000,000 - 50%

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Dividend policy of approx 75 % of companies annual after tax profit

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Trading

29th August 2006

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I think i should get me some of these - if only for speculative purposes.
Company has been on an upward growth curve, net profits are projected to increase again.
Business is not capital intensive

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Scangroup IPO

I just got hold of the prospectus and i'm now looking through it..

Hopefully: HFCK and Sameer go out and Scangroup Comes in.

More on what i think about the IPO later (after i read).

Details of the IPO.

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FOSS: Software CD's delayed by Posta

I've been told that some 300 CD's of Ubuntu Linux have been detained by Posta. They were donated to LPA-Kenya, the Linux Professionals Association by the Shuttleworth Foundation. I don't understand these guys, considering that this software is totally free, (free source, free download, free postage even!). So even if duty is to be paid.... the maths is elementary.

I expect my personal consignment any time now and hope that they don't act funny. The last time I did this, the consignment was posted to me and I had no issues collecting it. A friend of mine however was asked to pay duty of about 2000+ and of course he told them to keep the CD's.
I already have a download of the CD's I'm expecting; it's just that the CD covers are soo coool...

Ubuntu Linux - version 6.06 is rated top ahead of Suse Linux and Fedora for the Desktop.

I believe the Free and Open Source Software is the way to go for Africa, and indeed the world as regards to IT based systems and applications.

sudoku

My latest craze... (like a good number of people)... is sudoku... Just an interesting way of harassing people.

Check out www.strictlysudoku.com.... get ranked!

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Italia, My 1st and 2nd XI of the world cup

Zidane must have simply forgotten where the ball was.. Perhaps it was in an alternate reality :)

Based on their performance throughout the tournament (except the USA game) Italy deserved to win the Cup. France did really well, especially in the final. Henry didn't score as i expected.. but the italian defence was superb.

My starting XI (2nd XI) of the World Cup:

1 - Ricardo (Buffon) - Portugal (Italy)

2 - Zambrotta ( Miguel) - Italy (Portugal)

3 - Grosso (Lahm) - Italy (Germany)

4 - Thuram (Mensa) - France (Ghana)

5 - Cannavaro (Toure) - Italy (Ivory Coast)

6 - Gattuso (Viera) - Italy (France)

7 - Ribery (Schweinsteiger) - France (Germany)

8 - Zidane (Pirlo) - France (Italy)

9 - Henry (Podolski) - France (Germany)

10 - Klose (Toni) - Germany (Italy)

11 - Ronaldo (Kaka)  - Portugal (Brazil)

Now enough blogging about soccer... I take a soccer blogging break till August !

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Italy vs France

This is about the hardest to call..

Based on each teams road to the final, on paper, Italy look like they could win it. They also have the advantage of having a days rest.

However, this is Zidane's last World Cup game, his last International Game, and what better way to end one's carrier than to be in the final of the world's greatest tournament, and better still to win it.

Italy probably are the fitter side. You just need to look at the Semi Final with Germany, and also their amazing defence.

France's last two games are reminiscent of Euro 2000: france beating portugal - deciding goal was a Zidane penalty in both cases, Trezeguet being a substitute (looks like he'll be coming on for the final as a substitute) - he scored the winning goal in Euro 2000... , with wiltord providing the assist (then i was anti-France especially after the Portugal elimination).. De ja vu...

Thierry Henry has this penchant of scoring goals against Italians (champions league)... I suspect he'll be on the score sheet this time round. Thuram, Viera and Trezeguet play for Juventus, and Henry, Zidane have played for Juventus before. All these players know each other inside out.

Both defences are extremely good (france though have the temperament of Barthez to watch out for)

this is a hard one to call... but i think i'll go for an Italy win in extra time.

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Italy vs France

This is about the hardest to call..

Based on each teams road to the final, on paper, Italy look like they could win it. They also have the advantage of having a days rest.

However, this is Zidane's last World Cup game, his last International Game, and what better way to end one's carrier than to be in the final of the world's greatest tournament, and better still to win it.

Italy probably are the fitter side. You just need to look at the Semi Final with Germany, and also their amazing defence.

France's last two games are reminiscent of Euro 2000: france beating portugal - deciding goal was a Zidane penalty in both cases, Trezeguet being a substitute (looks like he'll be coming on for the final as a substitute) - he scored the winning goal in Euro 2000... , with wiltord providing the assist (then i was anti-France especially after the Portugal elimination).. De ja vu...

Thierry Henry has this penchant of scoring goals against Italians (champions league)... I suspect he'll be on the score sheet this time round. Thuram, Viera and Trezeguet play for Juventus, and Henry, Zidane have played for Juventus before. All these players know each other inside out.

Both defences are extremely good (france though have the temperament of Barthez to watch out for)

this is a hard one to call... but i think i'll go for an Italy win in extra time.

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France vs Portugal II

this game was rather boring to be honest. If only I was sleepy like the previous Semi.

I suspect both teams were playing below their potential, until the last 15 or so minutes, due to perhaps fatigue and at the same time wanting to conserve energy.

But 100% correct predictions for the SEMIS for me.. :)

I suspect Italy will win this World Cup, but you never know. Zidane could just decide to make his last international game something to remember.

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France vs Portugal

yesterday:

I slept through most of the Germany vs Italy game....

I think i must have been kinda tired.. or was it just a boring game until extra time ? :) .. called it quits at 90 minutes only to hear that I missed the goals... anyway 100% win predictions correct so far...(out of 1 :) )

now todays game is kinda tricky to predict...

If Brazil couldn't break down that french defence, and portugal have had issues infront of goal.. I wonder if Portugal can actually hack this one...

Portugal has allegedly ronaldo & figo doubtful - well i think they are 100% fit..

Zidane will be key to france as always.. and henry simply has to stay onside for 20% of the time.. :) ... Abidal has really impressed at left back... as has gallas in the centre... in essence, the french are hitting form..

Portugal's main worry should be their apparent lack of potency infront of goal....
Hopefully this should end if they are to gain some form of vengeance against the french (remember zidane's extra time 'golden penalty' - i've never felt more 'gutted' after a soccer game)..

I suspect france will have the upper hand... and this could be a one goal game ( much as i want portugal to lift the trophy)

france win 1-0 in regulation time.

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Germany vs Italy

On paper, it is not my idea of an interesting match.

However, Germany with Klinsmann as Coach have rediscovered how to play exciting and attacking soccer. I doubt they'll play this way against the Italians, who are quite content to sit back and hit on the break. Considering that the only goal that they've let in so far in the final was an own goal, they'll be a tough nut to crack. Ukraine rattled their crossbar in the quarters, so there's a chance that they could concede.

I don't think that Germany's defence was really tested by Argentina, who were content to sit back and defend a one goal lead, and to my great disappointed opted not to play Messi.

If Italy score first, the game will be set up quite nicely.

I think this is a one goal game, and could go to extra time & penalties if no goals are scored.

I think either team could win this. Germany have gained a lot of confidence since conceding two goals against Costa Rica, but the last time these two met (March this year), Germany lost 4-1 with almost the same squad. Let's see if things have changed.

Prediction: Italy WIN 2-1 in full time

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