tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11776284269066730112024-02-02T19:56:06.437-05:00i-bee-talksEverything and Anything Worth Writing About.
"Hipchirchir - the cool Kipchirchir"kipchirchirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15426893037463237138noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1177628426906673011.post-2130022019480098362009-04-24T14:17:00.002-04:002009-04-24T14:22:28.206-04:00Thirsty?Got water? This picture makes me thirsty, very thirsty. Squirrels at Craig Park in Tarpon Springs, Fla. know how to get up to the last drop of water ...<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Rz90oEozHD77XuCD-dgVMwntaJD3G8OcY2g7KitvCHC-oSB_96O5wpWfejVXmFleEm3T_35yQzMzhVpYgt3HHbG7XSbhImuSLOCg-TyDXzrfvOBJ8M12xVhNgV-d5W5VC5YqKus19pY/s1600-h/thirsty.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 269px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Rz90oEozHD77XuCD-dgVMwntaJD3G8OcY2g7KitvCHC-oSB_96O5wpWfejVXmFleEm3T_35yQzMzhVpYgt3HHbG7XSbhImuSLOCg-TyDXzrfvOBJ8M12xVhNgV-d5W5VC5YqKus19pY/s400/thirsty.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328324789562212530" border="0" /></a><br />Picture courtesy of Damaske, Jim / St. Petersburg Times via Zuma Press via MSNBC.comkipchirchirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15426893037463237138noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1177628426906673011.post-51947014658053539942009-04-04T16:25:00.003-04:002009-04-04T16:35:48.603-04:00Rotterdam(n) marathon -April 05 2009<div style="text-align: center;">Duncan Kibet ... technologically savvy Kenyan runner.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Why do you need two iPhones brother?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><object width="467" height="350"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=3994811&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=00ADEF&fullscreen=1"><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=3994811&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=00ADEF&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="467" height="350"></embed></object><br /><a href="http://vimeo.com/3994811">Duncan Kibet, a cool Kenyan</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1039473">Dennis Kaspori</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Want to see why Kenyan's don't just race to race? Looks like all Kenyan's train with the same attitude? Training, all the time, sick or not ...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(100, 95, 94); font-family: verdana; font-size: 10px; white-space: pre-wrap; "><object width="400" height="230"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=3978661&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1"><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=3978661&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="230"></embed></object><br /><a href="http://vimeo.com/3978661">Duncan Kibet, persconferentie Rotterdam Marathon</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1039473">Dennis Kaspori</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(100, 95, 94); font-family: verdana; font-size: 10px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(100, 95, 94); font-family: verdana; font-size: 10px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>kipchirchirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15426893037463237138noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1177628426906673011.post-21825635275203737342009-03-11T13:27:00.003-04:002009-03-11T13:33:45.463-04:00This is how we do business back in motherland<div><br /></div>"If someone asks you 'Are you selling your blouse? Sell it!'"<div><br /><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhlrlA_sBYbVFTvYT73zyfL-pinCNeyNKul_VvU0jkfIyviaQsBAADVL9SXUd_T58jIB-ilJIIjuu4m1lyausxh6lwvgFXXccnvNcp9RD2UHrfn0Z3UiPsush-2STfUFXIF8msBa_AdLY/s400/_45554774_strawberrybabybike.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311983863683203970" /></div><div><br /></div><div>I would totally buy straberries from this businesslady ...</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7934763.stm">http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7934763.stm</a><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>kipchirchirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15426893037463237138noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1177628426906673011.post-48600629779046385682009-03-03T15:29:00.005-05:002009-03-03T15:40:51.735-05:00Ciudad Juarez gets Police Surge!Things to know about Ciudad Juarez<br /><br />- Labeled Mexico's most violent city<br />- 250 people killed in February alone in drug related cases<br /><br />Read <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1158779/Thousands-Mexican-soldiers-pour-countrys-violent-city-crackdown-drug-gangs.html">the story here</a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNhS42aq-DJT1y2UxBEk5GzJ2BF8NWek0ndRSvrjyxofB4H1w879YNlio771j9GJ1QpxuoxudXuFgO2OJXJzf56D9FQtdAj6-ZUfJ9TMHxkY5Om6CHOBY4zfXuVjVP1O83SndoJ3gIfaU/s1600-h/warzone2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNhS42aq-DJT1y2UxBEk5GzJ2BF8NWek0ndRSvrjyxofB4H1w879YNlio771j9GJ1QpxuoxudXuFgO2OJXJzf56D9FQtdAj6-ZUfJ9TMHxkY5Om6CHOBY4zfXuVjVP1O83SndoJ3gIfaU/s400/warzone2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309063166688742130" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">The Policia Federal arrived by air and road</span><br /><br /></div>- 2,500 federal police sent there a while back haven't been able to curtail drug-related crimes<br />- 2,000 (of ~5000) troops sent to help bring back peace (was there any before?)<br />- I was stuck here a year ago after my visa got canceled ...<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOjL8kAx9oW4K7vxU1BjxJTd6LlCrJ3AW-naAaXbUdHjVagZ7jOuOoy6d-JA9hdObtx5b_AvAJNlRSKiNeQERlbCTk8oH6qJRehhkY_tpGYK8Btu1od9ZF5Pjx98uTDBHc_PRq1JdQUBw/s1600-h/warzone.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOjL8kAx9oW4K7vxU1BjxJTd6LlCrJ3AW-naAaXbUdHjVagZ7jOuOoy6d-JA9hdObtx5b_AvAJNlRSKiNeQERlbCTk8oH6qJRehhkY_tpGYK8Btu1od9ZF5Pjx98uTDBHc_PRq1JdQUBw/s400/warzone.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309063106901838834" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Policia Federal seen here checking their guns.</span><br /><br /><br /></div>kipchirchirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15426893037463237138noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1177628426906673011.post-69104880432620616892009-02-16T02:20:00.002-05:002009-02-16T02:22:51.081-05:00Wow!I dont know how much you care about cycling and doping ... but who went far out of the line in <a href="http://www.examiner.com/x-3266-Womens-Cycling-Examiner%7Ey2009m2d14-Paging-Dr-Armstrong-Dr-Lance-Armstrong">this press conference</a>?<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/j7fV-48DT3E&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/j7fV-48DT3E&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>kipchirchirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15426893037463237138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1177628426906673011.post-76236743171586597892009-02-05T04:56:00.001-05:002009-02-05T04:59:45.704-05:00Ali G vs Kobe<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; white-space: pre; "><div><br /></div><div>Do you know know how the tools you use work? </div><div><br /></div><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/OXjCPPjH4mo&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/OXjCPPjH4mo&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>kipchirchirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15426893037463237138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1177628426906673011.post-66243248663417152572008-11-30T11:46:00.003-05:002008-11-30T11:51:53.187-05:00Imekuwa KitamboSikumbuki mara ya mwisho nikiandika chochote kwa hii lugha. Nafikiri ilikuwa katika mtihani wa fasihi ya KCSE. Lahaula! Nimesahau vitu kama minyambuliko wa vitenzi, mithali na kadhalika. Ninashuku kama ninaweza kufunza mtu yoyote kuhusu kiswahili. Nifanyeje? Labda nitaanza kuandika hapa saa zingine kwa lugha halafu tuone itaendeleaje? Labda hata siku nyingine hivi karibuni, nitaandika hapa kuhusu "Jifunze kiswahili". Au sio?kipchirchirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15426893037463237138noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1177628426906673011.post-49154443909106070962008-11-17T16:51:00.002-05:002008-11-17T16:52:13.271-05:00It's Our Turn to Eat<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9KOnzTqbzXiUHFhLuw8OE0yYytSM6zHNX2JFkUIrwLFkCHFusfqS4tHMW78YZZK55aVXaJNMFnei0H_bKlkz3lQePMuVIsU9t2nFwi_ks39WS_AkMwSxIvspRZ53vLDD3KLjLdsCFuu4/s1600-h/tukulejpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 305px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9KOnzTqbzXiUHFhLuw8OE0yYytSM6zHNX2JFkUIrwLFkCHFusfqS4tHMW78YZZK55aVXaJNMFnei0H_bKlkz3lQePMuVIsU9t2nFwi_ks39WS_AkMwSxIvspRZ53vLDD3KLjLdsCFuu4/s400/tukulejpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269747601985759698" /></a>kipchirchirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15426893037463237138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1177628426906673011.post-49427333238740420452008-10-12T11:17:00.003-04:002008-10-12T11:36:11.289-04:00Kenyan elephants are 'smart'<div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTL1wKNrGWVM3lnlItESRyAyg7Sz_uCqKvXjx6ys2ixrN6e_yyIlPc7KqyQyL07E83snoLv87d1-TO4I1ojUtNb-2EGXkvWSIVNG2ilpLUupd7NAl7sgPhLtuhcV7qN78lQUGmHWb5_44/s1600-h/kimanijpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTL1wKNrGWVM3lnlItESRyAyg7Sz_uCqKvXjx6ys2ixrN6e_yyIlPc7KqyQyL07E83snoLv87d1-TO4I1ojUtNb-2EGXkvWSIVNG2ilpLUupd7NAl7sgPhLtuhcV7qN78lQUGmHWb5_44/s400/kimanijpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256291331878105682" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Kimani the elepahant. Can you see his collar? It carries a SIM card.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I a country that largely depends on subsistence farming, it is devastating when your crops are destroyed, especially if the very crops take a year to mature. In regions bordering the game parks, elephants are known to wait till harvest time before they come and 'eat' the entire harvest in 'one seating'. <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27131386/">Kenya is currently trying a new piece of technology where they insert a 'warning card' in elephant's collars such that it alerts the rangers when the elephants have gone near a geofence monitored by GPS</a>. Read the story for yourself.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Apparently, you can track the elephants by GoogleEarth. I am going to try and do that sometime.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>kipchirchirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15426893037463237138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1177628426906673011.post-25010377088657816152008-10-07T08:37:00.002-04:002008-10-07T08:46:45.753-04:00Anti Obama book launch in Kenya? How about NO!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb6OTaRupl7zjiAfKaxoidmqva2nRl1AtbIgFpW4qwGI1U7-ICvCeeHz_RVw0ugjSbQo4JLum0rgVCj8K-UbZUzRk0w3rhJEpi4iO9hK2805OOYobmAu4a4r7TlD_t-d1gk4Sq2Xki780/s1600-h/smear.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254392331452729330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb6OTaRupl7zjiAfKaxoidmqva2nRl1AtbIgFpW4qwGI1U7-ICvCeeHz_RVw0ugjSbQo4JLum0rgVCj8K-UbZUzRk0w3rhJEpi4iO9hK2805OOYobmAu4a4r7TlD_t-d1gk4Sq2Xki780/s400/smear.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify">Next time you think about launching an anti-obama book, think twice about it. Dont try to do it in a country where every single living thing, including plants and microscopic organisms love him. Yea, let me just tell you that if Obama really wants to be president and lets assume he doesnt win in the US, the Kenyan president might be willing to step aside and let him lead Kenya and all Kenyans will be receptive of that. Dont quote me on anything.<br /></div><div align="justify">Who does this guy think he is? Trying to donate $1000 to Obama's brother? Does he have any idea how the justice system is in Kenya? Hopefuly his balls dont get squeezed at the famous Nyayo house like they did to detainees in the early '80's. I have a feeling that wasnt a good experience.</div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7656546.stm">http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7656546.stm</a></div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article4897758.ece">http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article4897758.ece</a></div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,433701,00.html">http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,433701,00.html</a></div>kipchirchirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15426893037463237138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1177628426906673011.post-91505839824744467022008-10-06T22:41:00.004-04:002008-10-06T23:10:09.836-04:00Goat Condoms - Only in Kenya<div style="text-align: justify;">Yup, only if we could control the people population like the <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7648860.stm">Maasai control their bucks from impregnating the female goats, we wouldnt have an overpopulation problem</a>. You see, there is a contraceptive that is made from cow skin and then slid down to the shoulder area of a male goat. This device is called an <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">olor</span>.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-RTzuUPRmxd0lLKoEds8lkU1S4K2T-9zOTaVJETkxhenwGIlqus3mJoO0Z8SS426WH54ivv6w_EXC7nYg-xVWKA5o1MRPO72S_jPkHB2QVyxRrWsELIe0KBrQxKftdVjWfZwCvHctrPg/s1600-h/olorjpg"></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBLZVT9_rNMW-4JYkhfNTP68Iu9JWZg853ypxfQDzN2rhoZSDIF6GOE8Ehs41Nd_oRbLR3KzQd2mO4fl8PPE6xdnIkyfZmpNnwbb7pnNR2e4FCWdPPnsxqxC14Y8GqNT2whJPIPaup4G4/s400/olor-2jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254239808076099186" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">You hadnt heard of the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">olor</span> before, had you? Now you have. The thing is, you have to kill a cow, then cut off a small piece of hide so you can tie it around a buck to prevent it from ummm ... humping female goats. Yea, it only makes sense to those who need to do it. But seriously, think about the desert ... dry, no vegetation, no water. Ok? Got the picture. Now think of a cow and a goat. Which is better suited to survive such harsh conditions? Wouldnt it make sense to sacrifice one cow to save many female goats from unwanted pregnancies? Man! Those maasai people are smart. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-RTzuUPRmxd0lLKoEds8lkU1S4K2T-9zOTaVJETkxhenwGIlqus3mJoO0Z8SS426WH54ivv6w_EXC7nYg-xVWKA5o1MRPO72S_jPkHB2QVyxRrWsELIe0KBrQxKftdVjWfZwCvHctrPg/s400/olorjpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254239807224678818" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Its only a matter of time, though, before the bucks figure out a way around this. You feel me?</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The other option is to separate the males from females. But that requires fencing and more boys to heard the separated goats. You would also need money to buy fencing requirements. Well, if you are a maasai, money is probably not the most important thing to you. Your wealth is judged by how many cows and goats you have. So, why would you need money when you can make the best of what you own?</div><div><br /></div><div>I am Kenyan and I approve this technology. It has worked for the maasai goats, it should work for everyone else!</div><div><br /></div>kipchirchirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15426893037463237138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1177628426906673011.post-20586346736943871032008-10-05T21:15:00.004-04:002008-10-05T22:06:36.395-04:00Michael Phelps' Parade of Gold.<div><a href="http://www.governor.maryland.gov/pressreleases/080909.asp">There was a parade yesterday in Towson, MD to honor the olympians from the area</a>. It was hyped more as a parade to honor Michael Phelps than all the olympians. Of course we all know that if the medal tally was ranked by gold, Phelps would have been right there on 9th place with Italy. I say, he should buy his own country, be the president, the people, the athletes, the bank (he's got the $$$), the husband, the father, the thief, the good samaritan ... his mom will be the mother of the country and the country will need a first lady.</div><div><div><br /></div><div>Here are some pictures for you.</div></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZjmz7S6sH-CdgiE-Y2ym-gHykQ2IDjmWpp6zszgPt8LfZ4VpikjiXyGnIuHkNYzbjv6ywZW8EmfuPsLt3LAlCad65s_r47NsAGCKx9CBwp1yaWDUUkv0zDk2K_PNkzsDB_SvovGYUnWY/s1600-h/IMG_4907.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZjmz7S6sH-CdgiE-Y2ym-gHykQ2IDjmWpp6zszgPt8LfZ4VpikjiXyGnIuHkNYzbjv6ywZW8EmfuPsLt3LAlCad65s_r47NsAGCKx9CBwp1yaWDUUkv0zDk2K_PNkzsDB_SvovGYUnWY/s400/IMG_4907.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253849526565255586" /></a><br /><div>Congressman John Sarbanes' office helped get me out of Mexico. So I got to yell out "Congressman Sarbanes, You are Awesome! Thank you!" I was wondering when that was going to happen, but at least I got it out of the way and in public!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wDU2lMeSLEv9AQuybpiT7Zn3ZeyZMv_LrGeVmwVbAyOkzH85bq-5ekDuBYCYcxA-ekqiKwnTFTdc6nwbt1IbZuJmJ2a-YGWieRku0dfsGXquatuLNQHxRTePHoNk8M1ZAo7d-j9Xd40/s1600-h/IMG_5015.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wDU2lMeSLEv9AQuybpiT7Zn3ZeyZMv_LrGeVmwVbAyOkzH85bq-5ekDuBYCYcxA-ekqiKwnTFTdc6nwbt1IbZuJmJ2a-YGWieRku0dfsGXquatuLNQHxRTePHoNk8M1ZAo7d-j9Xd40/s400/IMG_5015.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253849533884470098" /></a>I asked Jessica Long why she wasnt wearing her medals. I didnt hear her response, but she responded.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP5co9nzI6wuyy0kTHIlNGk3r0JJfE9zmLveeieBGeoXXW7uWBTBKzILA6_lV-cQJnQEUlavXGIwGqGOZKntC-vp34iJtUO8XhtdwMT1o4BjBw89yuVLM2erV_G1t-myz9nvgB8CXHxTk/s1600-h/IMG_5036.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP5co9nzI6wuyy0kTHIlNGk3r0JJfE9zmLveeieBGeoXXW7uWBTBKzILA6_lV-cQJnQEUlavXGIwGqGOZKntC-vp34iJtUO8XhtdwMT1o4BjBw89yuVLM2erV_G1t-myz9nvgB8CXHxTk/s400/IMG_5036.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253849542592300210" /></a><br /></div><div>Katie Hoff. She was just chillin' ... </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3ix8jeedsmdNDufyKypA8pz9rbWXve3tXjQWjfoMrzp3rjTIvlGykeTxP41vgv1fj0Gm5vOVRb6CKxvsBpRkKpEwISAlshZHQ7LHb5BLbSEfSocooYiWIyt2-2-ZVgrPROZ6HKzSdiA/s1600-h/IMG_5041.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3ix8jeedsmdNDufyKypA8pz9rbWXve3tXjQWjfoMrzp3rjTIvlGykeTxP41vgv1fj0Gm5vOVRb6CKxvsBpRkKpEwISAlshZHQ7LHb5BLbSEfSocooYiWIyt2-2-ZVgrPROZ6HKzSdiA/s400/IMG_5041.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253849541010179810" /></a>I dont remember what I yelled out here, but I definitely yelled out something nice.</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggHy9kToE3JUp4k3wOiDeKkKUsypbiP9wA9IlxoYe6qZhRUDErOu5SNQ_AsfS7g6h46WTWh4NSqx59AAJnZkeBUAViCPbx_9iZ4I0G9_z1fU7yIE4h7zPQPUZ3ZVxQURCeDxLY-BufdgM/s400/IMG_5000.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253849522032678178" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; " /></span>Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley and Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon were also in attendance.</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixsm1vvfgXmFpxuLQKEvfrzFAGCccuaK6RwggD56S_lLxNMqH-68IAVLS2o88RGqNrFDwVIzX7SsKSTInWn_nmt4LXMdpZpqt-kYwqdUmlopSTIX0iieEV9bidM-brvwW98tvE-LjVhIA/s1600-h/IMG_5070.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixsm1vvfgXmFpxuLQKEvfrzFAGCccuaK6RwggD56S_lLxNMqH-68IAVLS2o88RGqNrFDwVIzX7SsKSTInWn_nmt4LXMdpZpqt-kYwqdUmlopSTIX0iieEV9bidM-brvwW98tvE-LjVhIA/s400/IMG_5070.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253851057226547010" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; " /></a>Debbie and Hilary Phelps were signing autographs ...</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ur6JLHSHqJ4rsc3U0nzEL7qT_ENOaWdQ-rQzGMPUSYGQMDzdF_WpV9IKj-NuwZm224LSMvM5XlYTPeglVaLdCRABJpxQDPBXxg_rJ0PyWTUaXVbTU2auIgadDMjn_2gS4O45u8ksXyE/s1600-h/IMG_5136.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ur6JLHSHqJ4rsc3U0nzEL7qT_ENOaWdQ-rQzGMPUSYGQMDzdF_WpV9IKj-NuwZm224LSMvM5XlYTPeglVaLdCRABJpxQDPBXxg_rJ0PyWTUaXVbTU2auIgadDMjn_2gS4O45u8ksXyE/s400/IMG_5136.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253851067110350578" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; " /></a><br /></div><div>but Michael Phelps wasnt.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjByuVqhALRmCqaEJJc-LeuszYbCwA-yNSAEZt67FgLWuduOXdpk5zby1n0Cm_gIYCkFjZ9BSV4h97_kjX5g4pPOrpqVhNgDp36AkFN8niioJNZDU2Teuz1lmS_EyBcgvRz2pXmPdQ0ip8/s1600-h/IMG_5153.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjByuVqhALRmCqaEJJc-LeuszYbCwA-yNSAEZt67FgLWuduOXdpk5zby1n0Cm_gIYCkFjZ9BSV4h97_kjX5g4pPOrpqVhNgDp36AkFN8niioJNZDU2Teuz1lmS_EyBcgvRz2pXmPdQ0ip8/s400/IMG_5153.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253851070563989522" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; " /></a><br /></div><div>Michael Phelps had more security and more throngs of people following than the gorvenor and the mayor.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmqq0HnuHyJRx8Ep4771n9EzwhNps6oRh2F3EAYIu7p867ohNcdubrweevjTX5576frJtMu7klJhGDryuEvtEtoH6A_Fpru2cJJvtXxQjbZokkTjr-Ko3jjzlyzJSxJ-qRdDC4pB_v1_c/s1600-h/IMG_5180.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmqq0HnuHyJRx8Ep4771n9EzwhNps6oRh2F3EAYIu7p867ohNcdubrweevjTX5576frJtMu7klJhGDryuEvtEtoH6A_Fpru2cJJvtXxQjbZokkTjr-Ko3jjzlyzJSxJ-qRdDC4pB_v1_c/s400/IMG_5180.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253851074720613202" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; " /></a></div><div>"Michael Phillips" again.</div><div><br /></div><div>He was wearing the same outfit that he wore in this commercial ...</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; white-space: pre; "><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/DGFHiF3QyDo&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/DGFHiF3QyDo&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></span><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> ... and this one <br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; white-space: pre; "><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/44B8-8g0kNE&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/44B8-8g0kNE&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></span><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div></div>kipchirchirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15426893037463237138noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1177628426906673011.post-45360361516563954472008-10-05T06:59:00.004-04:002008-10-05T08:47:08.025-04:00So, a bear walks into a sandwitch shop ...<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 12px; font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; white-space: pre; font-family:Arial;font-size:11px;"><script src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/js/2.0/video/evp/module.js?loc=dom&vid=/video/offbeat/2008/10/03/vo.canada.bear.ap" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript>Embedded video from <a href="http://www.cnn.com/video">CNN Video</a></noscript></span><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /></span></span>kipchirchirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15426893037463237138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1177628426906673011.post-5625319374067124362008-10-04T10:54:00.006-04:002008-10-04T11:29:56.234-04:00Conflict of Interests - Doctors, Patients and Money<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">A while back, </span></span></span></span><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/08/us/08conflict.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">NYTimes carried a story of a widely controversial practice involving some physicians</span></span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"> at the </span></span></span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Harvard</span></span></span></span></st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></span></span><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Medical</span></span></span></span></st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></span></span><st1:placetype st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">School</span></span></span></span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">. </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span><a href="http://www.massgeneral.org/pediatricpsych/staff/biederman.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Dr. Joseph Biederman</span></span></span></span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">, </span></span></span></span><a href="http://www.massgeneral.org/pediatricpsych/staff/wilens.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Dr. Timothy E. Wilens</span></span></span></span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"> and </span></span></span></span><a href="http://www.massgeneral.org/pediatricpsych/staff/spencer.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Dr. Thomas Spencer</span></span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"> had been caught red handed after receiving more than $1 million in consulting fees from drug makers without disclosing them to their employer. </span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Today, the same congressman leading the inquiry into such behaviors, senator</span></span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"> Charles E. Grassley</span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">, </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">just uncovered another shady deal. </span></span></span></span><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/04/health/policy/04drug.html?ref=health"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">One of the nations’ top psychiatrist Dr. Charles B. Nemeroff</span></span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"> of Emory University </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">failed to report that he earned more than $2.8 million from drug companies despite having signed papers and repeatedly vowing to the University authorities that he wouldn’t take anything more that $10, 000. From reading the article, it appears that Dr. Nemeroff had an electronic altercation with one of the deans at the school and it seems to me that he didn’t care much about what the dean had to say. </span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">These articles appear in big time news agencies because they involve the big fish in the water. I wonder how many other such controversies are going on and not being caught by the mainstream networks because they involve the small fish in the ocean. </span></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Researchers funded by the </span></span></span></span><a href="http://www.nih.gov/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">National Institutes of Health (NIH)</span></span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"> grants, </span></span></span></span><a href="http://grants.nih.gov/grants/compliance/42_CFR_50_Subpart_F.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">are required to reveal any outside sources of incomes</span></span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">. The NIH strictly prohibits such dealings that could bring about conflicts of interest and usually relies on respective schools for oversight. Most schools (like mine) usually have their researchers sign paperwork promising that they will refrain from conflict of interest acts. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">I am sure these same doctors signed paperwork promising that they wouldn’t write favorable reviews about devices made by the same drug companies giving them hundreds of thousands of dollars in consultation fees. They must have also promised (on several occasions during their career development) that they wouldn’t vouch for unapproved drugs to be used to treat the patients they should be standing up for. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">In reality, no one is really keeping an eye on any of these researchers. The schools usually expect their employees to follow a certain code of conduct and schools seldom check to verify voluntary disclosures when it comes to outside earnings. With current tight budgets and almost no grants being awarded by the government these days, drug companies are capitalizing on such with their bottomless resources. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">In the wake of these findings of the Grassley-led inquiry, </span></span></span></span><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/25/health/policy/25drug.html?ref=health"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">some drug companies including Eli Lily & Company and Merck & Company have announced that they will be publicly disclosing fees paid to physicians</span></span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">. Some states already have such requirements and it also seems that in the near future, it may be a federal requirement.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>kipchirchirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15426893037463237138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1177628426906673011.post-56049262314849571122008-09-17T18:01:00.007-04:002008-09-17T23:04:28.321-04:00Swimming Lessons<div style="text-align: justify;">I have a <a href="http://www.kenyatriathlon.com/">HUGE goal</a> that I have set for myself. To attain this goal, I have set myself a "list of things to do". The list inludes a) run a marathon next in 2009 b) learn how to swim c) do a triathlon in 2009. <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Running a marathon has been in my plans for a long time now. But as I always say, I want to run one when I know I am ready. I was so close this year before I ended up with a back injury that I cant pin point the cause. I had reached a point where I was doing some 90-100 miles per week with my long runs exceeding 2hrs 15mins (I ran a 2hrs 45min long run once and felt like a horse doing it) and really good strength workouts.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I also had so much school work which had me loggin in a string of 100hr weeks! I have since settled to a normal 60hr week (haah!). My synthesis (or should I say my drugs?) had me running crazy. All that time and all that research but nothing has really changed much albeit I foresee some great things sometime in the near future.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Anyway, back to that GOAL. I started swimming lessons today. When I called the swim instructor last week, our conversation started like this:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Me</span>: "Hi, my name is Kip and I am calling to find out about swimming lessons."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Instructor</span>: "Bla bla bla bla ... What's your child's name?"</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">How dare she say I have a child?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I had been taught a little, by my friend Alyssa, about swimming. I basically dont know how to breath right while swimming. And yes, I taught myself how to float! But what will floating do for me without breathing? Alyssa steered me towards the right direction on how to breath while in water but I was still having trouble and my pool closed. So, I thought it would be a good idea to pay someone with a pool and who does instruct for a living. My instructor's name is Annie. She is one of the trainers at the <a href="http://www.mbrook.com/">Michael Phelps Swimming Pool a.k.a Meadowbrook Aquatic Center</a>. (Yes, Michael Phelps train(s/ed) here and (I believe) owns the place).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ms. Annie is phenomenal. After introducing herself to me, she said "We are going to do Bob ..."I didnt know how to respond to that although I later learnt that its a jargon she uses while instructing. She had me learning all those breathing techniques within 45 mins (totally worth the $50/hr I am paying) and even had me doing back strokes. I have never floated on my back. Yea, I am putting my back into it (all pun intended).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Triathloning also involves biking, just in case you dont know. My friend Elf a.k.a Ryan McGrath lend me one of his bikes so I can use it for training (are my friends AWESOME or what?). I have been bking to school (45mins out, 45mins back) and have gone out several times on weekends for longer rides (1.5hrs +). I grew up biking a lot, so that was easy to pick up on. I know I need some instructions on this but I am not worried. I'll worry later when my tail gets smashed by big boys.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">One other exciting recent development came last Monday. I was out jogging (no, I wastn running) when Joe, of <a href="http://www.mtwashingtonbikes.com/home.aspx">Joe's Bike Shop</a> here in Baltimore, MD came up to me. He was biking from somewhere. After saying hello and all that, he said "So when are you going to come in so I can hook you up with a bike?" My response came in between my breaths as I mumbled "Saturday!" I cannot wait for this day. He helped me get Elf's bike into good road shape (Elf's bike is a $3000 bike!) a while back. After I asked him if I could be a good cyclist, he basically said that if I had a better bike, I would perform better. Who knows what's in store for me?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you read this far, I am sure you are a fan of mine. I am a fan of you too!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div> </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>kipchirchirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15426893037463237138noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1177628426906673011.post-61875137590053031852008-09-17T18:01:00.004-04:002008-09-17T18:06:43.558-04:00If You Were a Boss ...I got an email from a friend today that I thought was interesting. The email seems to have originated from some Bill Collins (State President, NJ <a href="http://www.nareb.com/">NAREB</a>). I copied and pasted the email. Here it is.<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">If You were The Boss... which team would you hire?</span></span></span></span></b></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">With </span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">America</span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> facing historic debt, multiple war fronts, stumbling health care, a weakened dollar, all-time high prison population, skyrocketing Federal spending, mortgage crises, bank foreclosures, etc. etc., this is an unusually critical election year.</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Let's look at the educational background of the candidates and see what they bring to the job:</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><b><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1221677756_0"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Obama</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">:</span></span></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Occidental</span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">College</span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> - Two years.</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Columbia</span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">University</span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> - </span>B.A. </span><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1221677756_1" style="background-image: none; background-repeat: repeat; background-attachment: scroll; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: transparent; border-bottom-width: medium; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom- background-position: 0% 0%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">political science</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> with a specialization in </span><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1221677756_2" style="background-image: none; background-repeat: repeat; background-attachment: scroll; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: transparent; border-bottom-width: medium; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom- background-position: 0% 0%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">international relations</span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Harvard - </span></span><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1221677756_3" style="background-image: none; background-repeat: repeat; background-attachment: scroll; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: transparent; border-bottom-width: medium; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom- background-position: 0% 0%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Juris Doctor</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> (J.D.) </span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Magna Cum Laude</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><b><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">& </span></span><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1221677756_4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Biden</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">:</span></span></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">University</span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> of </span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Delaware</span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> - B.A. in history and B.A. in </span></span><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1221677756_5" style="background-image: none; background-repeat: repeat; background-attachment: scroll; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: transparent; border-bottom-width: medium; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom- background-position: 0% 0%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">political science</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">.</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Syracuse</span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">University</span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">College</span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> of Law - Juris Doctor (J.D.)</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">vs.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><b><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">McCain:</span></span></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">United States</span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Naval</span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Academy</span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> - Class rank</span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">894</span></span></span></span></b></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">out of 899 (meaning that, like </span></span><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1221677756_6" style="background-image: none; background-repeat: repeat; background-attachment: scroll; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: transparent; border-bottom-width: medium; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom- background-position: 0% 0%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">George Bush</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">, McCain was at the bottom of his class)</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span><b><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Palin</span></span></span></span></b><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">:</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Hawaii</span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Pacific</span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">University</span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> - 1 semester</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">North</span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Idaho</span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">College</span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> - 2 semesters - </span></span><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1221677756_7" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 102, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dashed; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">general study</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">University</span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> of </span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Idaho</span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> - 2 semesters - journalism</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Matanuska-Susitna</span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">College</span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> - 1 semester</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">University</span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> of </span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Idaho</span></span></span></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> - 3 semesters - B.A. in journalism</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=" ;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /></span></span><span class="EC_ececececapple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Now, which team are you going to hire to lead the most influential nation in the world?</span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=";font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-family:Verdana;"><br /></span></div>kipchirchirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15426893037463237138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1177628426906673011.post-44778906823990149992008-09-07T22:48:00.004-04:002008-09-07T22:57:11.355-04:00Pamela Jelimo (I read: Marry Me, do you?)<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pamela_Jelimo">Pamela Jelimo</a>, the new 800m sensation from Kenya and the first to win the Golden League Jackpot from Kenya has also run the fastest time any woman has run since 1989 (see the youtube clip below). This girl is FAST!<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/vwDuJSX-OgI&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/vwDuJSX-OgI&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />I think Kham (my favorite cartoonist) read my mind well this time round.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqNsTgm4j2jNqOP0Zb7aLP4B589Qjjc8wM1d4bjXkGhaCqyz0XzM-pKOxBZCij5I8HthaBGGySS-1ikBcNdcj4XoIAz9ahsOwM0vMgVCh0X72t77U31OydG0JS1_wdV6Xo83L5rQ_PzoY/s1600-h/cart080908_01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqNsTgm4j2jNqOP0Zb7aLP4B589Qjjc8wM1d4bjXkGhaCqyz0XzM-pKOxBZCij5I8HthaBGGySS-1ikBcNdcj4XoIAz9ahsOwM0vMgVCh0X72t77U31OydG0JS1_wdV6Xo83L5rQ_PzoY/s400/cart080908_01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243478760904498850" border="0" /></a>kipchirchirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15426893037463237138noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1177628426906673011.post-60379630724363686992008-07-18T09:09:00.002-04:002008-07-18T09:14:45.919-04:00IdeasI have many things that I want to write about on this blog but I always dont have time to. Surprisingly, I often finish my days feeling like a waste of space. I never seem to accomplish anything albeit I am always doing something ...<br /><br />Here are some things that I will post something about, some day:<br /><br />- Tribes and Tribalism<br />- Witchcraft<br />- Science and Graduate School Life<br />- African-ism<br />- Places I would like to visit<br />- Chemistry and Drugs<br />- e.t.ckipchirchirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15426893037463237138noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1177628426906673011.post-37809375573808907832008-05-19T22:28:00.002-04:002008-05-19T22:38:31.361-04:00It sucks to be a foreign national in America!<div style="text-align: justify;">Like you didnt know that already!!!<br /><br />Reports are emerging that foreigners who are in detention are <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=roofie">roofied </a>before being deported to their home countries! Despicable acts!!! How on earth do you call yourself a nation that respects human rights, preaching it to everyone and yet have such inhumane acts going on in your own back yard? Shame on you America.<br /><br />The article below is an investigation by The Washinton Post. Enlighten yourself ...<br /></div><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/nation/specials/immigration/cwc_d4p1.html"><br />http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/nation/specials/immigration/cwc_d4p1.html</a>kipchirchirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15426893037463237138noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1177628426906673011.post-59061958509768227262008-05-19T21:37:00.003-04:002008-05-19T21:57:15.516-04:00Is it Summer Yet?!?!??<div style="text-align: justify;">I have a very low tolerance for cold weather and chilly environments. I dislike being cold for many many reasons. I dislike having to wear hooded sweatshirts and sweatpants in my apartment, I dislike having to wear too much clothing on my runs, I dislike having a runny nose, I dislike the way my heat goes only up to 72 degrees ... I can go on and on and on. Sometimes, I wish I could take my school or my lab somewhere warm. But then again, I am not a fan of all warm places.<br /><br />Take Miami, Florida, for instance. I can only visit such a place for short periods of time. I spent my college years' spring breaks in Coral Cables by University of Miami ... the only interesting thing I remember from that place is all the palm trees. Nothing pleased me as such and I have no desire too go there. I did not even like the famous South Beach ... it was the first place a woman over 50, that wasnt from the Maasai tribe or Turkana tribe topless.<br /><br />I hear good things about California, though. Plenty of opportunities for people like me, warm weather, all the surfing etc etc. I would love to go to Mammoth Lakes ... or somewhere quiet. I am not a fan of all the action scenes. I just want a quiet place, a place that would feel like home. A place like the Adirondacks up in New York. A place with some authentic unadulterated, serene natural environment. I know there are better places than those, but those are the only places I have heard of or been to that I did like and wanted to camp out for a while.<br /><br />I hope it gets warm soon, I cant take this 60-degree and below weathers anymore!<br /></div>kipchirchirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15426893037463237138noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1177628426906673011.post-29954558995396828622008-05-03T07:45:00.002-04:002008-12-11T14:36:45.413-05:00A seal rapes a penguin<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG9SX_b8Hf8QssC669WeGGaNsz4W9RbjBP_U1z3xuN1Ouj0RjiP9l-8zWF13ptxapNUDbmtZ31Zdhn_9w8pXGE63mpO2RetL60flvly3LS6t57Gzw0giGG4Mizbp1SFlk1Rbad77BMP5s/s1600-h/_44620484_seal_debruyn_466.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG9SX_b8Hf8QssC669WeGGaNsz4W9RbjBP_U1z3xuN1Ouj0RjiP9l-8zWF13ptxapNUDbmtZ31Zdhn_9w8pXGE63mpO2RetL60flvly3LS6t57Gzw0giGG4Mizbp1SFlk1Rbad77BMP5s/s400/_44620484_seal_debruyn_466.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196119765899004178" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">No, not a Navy Seal but a 100kg (~220lbs) fur seal tried to have sex with a 15kg (~33lbs) king penguin. Absolutely bizarre. For 45 minutes, the seal <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7379554.stm">"alternated between resting on the penguin, and thrusting its pelvis, trying to insert itself, unsuccessfully."</a> Apparently, it seems the seal was young and inexperienced. There is a possibility it had been rejected elsewhere ... so the only option it had was ... a penguin!<br /><br /></div>kipchirchirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15426893037463237138noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1177628426906673011.post-11514736030236695602008-05-01T21:20:00.003-04:002008-12-11T14:36:45.564-05:00Lesbians are fighting to keep their name!<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7376919.stm">People from the third largest Greek island, Lesbos, are suing to stop the homosexual community from using the word "lesbian" to describe their women</a>. I agree with them. Imagine if Kenya metamorphosed and acquired a new definition, such that I wouldnt be able to go anywhere and say "Hey, I am Kenyan" without someone saying "Are you kenyan? or Are you Kenyan." How on earth would I respond to that? But why did it take the Lesbians more than 2, 000 years to respond? They cant say they didnt see it coming.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtC5ddiV7-bbL7jo9eqYO9TA5QM6WBt4b4U7aErpSixmbJu0YfscLcpB9SZIqsS-SUKj0APM9ogCwDDiteM64aqLddPN5QBY3NgARg_xBImmz73GvzFjnfcD4d3FSY8Q75g_F_DoQcwkI/s1600-h/lesbos.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtC5ddiV7-bbL7jo9eqYO9TA5QM6WBt4b4U7aErpSixmbJu0YfscLcpB9SZIqsS-SUKj0APM9ogCwDDiteM64aqLddPN5QBY3NgARg_xBImmz73GvzFjnfcD4d3FSY8Q75g_F_DoQcwkI/s400/lesbos.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195588448379717890" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div>kipchirchirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15426893037463237138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1177628426906673011.post-88292462781457613612008-05-01T15:03:00.003-04:002008-05-01T15:31:07.064-04:00Memristors<div style="text-align: justify;">Say your goodbyes to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamic_random_access_memory">DRAMs (dynamic random access memory)</a> as <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/01/technology/01chip.html?ref=science">HP has reported on unveiling a new piece of technology that may soon replace it</a>. The ability of memristors to hold much more information in a tinier space than DRAMs is good news to those trying to make even smaller computers. The memristor idea was invented in 1971 by Leon Chua, I hope he gets his dues from this.<br /></div>kipchirchirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15426893037463237138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1177628426906673011.post-58819760055446243622008-04-30T13:52:00.002-04:002008-04-30T14:12:38.850-04:00$17, 000 a month job ... in Kenya!<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7375140.stm">Winning a seat in Kenyan parliament usually guarantees a rags-to-riches type of story. In a country where the general population survives on less than $1 a day, politicians are hiking up their salaries and approving everything without a say from the common <span style="font-style: italic;">mwananchi</span>. They earn some $17, 000 per month!!! To make matters worse, they are tapping the money allocated for resettling the displaced people (after recent turmoil) to pay themselves! My goodness.</a><br /></div>kipchirchirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15426893037463237138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1177628426906673011.post-37030936780758366882008-04-30T03:45:00.002-04:002008-04-30T03:48:27.404-04:00My new HeroThis girl falls in a race, gets spiked in the head (and is all bloody) ... gets up and runs a gutsy race. Very few can do this. Much props to her.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/wp/?page_id=256">http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/wp/?page_id=256</a>kipchirchirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15426893037463237138noreply@blogger.com0