Ok, so David Cook is Idol ‘08

So I was wrong. Am woman enough to admit it. Either way both Cook and Archuleta are in good place now.

David is American Idol ‘08

There’s at least one thing we are sure of by now- the winner of America Idol Season 7 is David. But David who? Am sitting at the edge of my chair as I wait for the start of the duel between the two Davids. I want to think that David Cook might win, but at this rate I am afraid to commit myself to anything. This is going to be tight. David Cook is more talented, vasertile and creative and is not afraid to to places where others fear; the young David Archuleta on the other hand sings beautifully and is very charismatic. Plus girls and women…mothers especially love him (I think that women secretly wish they had him for a son instead of the little brats they have at home. I personally want to pinch his cute cheeks and put a crayon between his fingers and teach him how to draw). If people vote basing on talent, David Cook will be the next American Idol. If we vote basing on likeability then David Archuleta will be the next American Idol. At this point in the game, it is more of a popularity contest than a talent show, so my guess is that David Archuleta will be the next American Idol. I will be humble enough to admit it if America proves me wrong. Mercifully, it is only one day before we are put out of our agony.

So Flavor Flav picked Thing2

For starters, please don’t judge me for watching Flavor Flav or even VH1 for that matter! Anyhow, since I have been a housewife for the last 5 months (until last week), what’s a woman to do (gotta catch a break from Oprah). Anyhow, that’s how I ended up following the dang show! For starters, I couldn’t beleive why a man in his 40’s (maybe 80’s) would look for love among a bunch of classless, totally undignified and verbally obscene girls. And why would any of those classless girls want a guy like Flavor Flav..with the most attrocius sense of style in the entire world (in Uganda he would be called ‘L’-for lousy, local and any other L words you can think of). Anyhow, disappointingly, I kinda followed each of the characters and from the beginning and felt that Thing2 was the one-eyed man among the blind…definately not the prettiest, but the most genuine and probably the only one who was not there for TV.  During the mock weddings with Flav, her act was so real, it was like a real wedding…you could tell that she was talking from the bottom of her heart (except for mispronouncing his name).  When he eliminated her, I kinda thought he was making a mistake and we would soon be seeing Flavor of Love 4 (That would make me throw up).  It was sad the way she left crying ‘Why? Why Flav?’ Well Seasonz was still in and up until the trip to France, she had proved to be the only one with some maturity and class…untill it came out (and she didn’t deny) that she was there for the drama (dang!!). Of course, Flav had to eliminate her…and it was so ugly, just to think that he had Black and Sinceer to pick from. Sinceer has some mean streak, I don’t think she is capable of loving anyone. She is like this spiteful neighbor who is always stirring up trouble. And Black; something just does not add up about her. You can imagine the relief when Flav brought back Thing2. That was probably the best part of the entire show. And I loved the fact that she refused to give him a night cap the night before elimination (we all know a night cap means illicit sex with a man who might throw you out the next day and am a conservative who believe in NO SEX BEFORE MARRIAGE). She took a risk there, but she earned my respect and made up for everything she lacks in teeth (and real hair?). If he had eliminated her on that basis, then I’d have concluded that he is an old loser with no sense of judgement. Anyhow, it was a romantic ending as Flav picked Thing2. Now the question is whether they will last as a couple. I have officially closed out VH1. The channel is sick. Besides a Flavor of Love 4 would be too much (what we would call Kawawa in Uganda). Just one piece of advice for Thing 2: Gal, lose that wig or whatever it is…and a little visit to the dentist might be a little helpful.

I hate my new job!!!

It’s 7am and I am getting ready to go to work. It will be my second day at work. Yesterday I barely made it to the end of the day. As I am finding out the hard way, it is easier to be a journalist in your own country than in some place far away from home, where no one is willing to cut you some slack. So as I wait for my major media break, I decided to take a job at a major fast food line. Oh how I would like to put the name of the company here, but it might not be wise. Anyhow, from journalist and media educator to fast food worker?
I guess I got fooled by the tittle of my job: Assistant Manager…nice!!! What I did not know that the Assistant manager does everything that all the other people do at the restaurant. I spent the entire day on my feet, with only a 30 minute break…a chair never looked my attractive than the one I found during my lunch break. By the time I got off work at 4:30, my feet were sore, I was sick of the Blush Shirt that I had had to tuck in the whole day  (It was reaching down to my knees). I was tired of smiling all day to drive-through customers even when I was yawning from exhaustion. I was tired of the “good job!”s coming from the Managers…because I got the feeling they could see the disgust on my face and were just trying to motivate me.  I was tired. tired tired!! By the time I got home, I was swearing that I was not going back. Now I am already dressed up and ready to go.  Let’s see what the new day brings!! On a brighter note though, I learned how to make Iced coffee. Hhhmmm!

Idol’s Paula Abdul should go!

As this 7th season of American Idol comes to an end, with the 2 Davids facing it off next week (no suprises there), I can’t help but hope that it is the last show with Paula Abdul as a judge. She can still be a part of the show in the future…but only as part of the audience. I have not followed previous seasons of American Idol closely like I did this season and all this time, I have been waiting for Paula to make a sensible comment on the contestants’ perfomances. I am still waiting. She always seems to depend on what Randy Jackson has to say to make her comment. When she opens her mouth, all that comes out are meaningless outpouring of words like “you…you..you are who you are!” “This is you” “I love you. Just keep being you!” She panctuates this with a few drops of tears (Gosh she even crys more than Oprah) and standing up to dance during contestant’s perfomances. How the heck does this help the contestants get closer to a record deal?

Paula has embarrased AI several times, appearing to be drunk  (or high?) on TV shows and notably a few weeks ago criticizing Jason Castro’s performance of his second song before he had even sang it (Am still convinced that the judges’ comments are either scripted or something!).

No hard feelings, but it’s really time up for Paula. Except for her beautiful face, she really does not add much to the show. Randy is genuine and mature in his judgement. Simon..well he is a British guy with a British accent! Oh well I’ll just say it- he is cute (except for that silly part in his hair…gosh it looks like a cat that just fell in the sewer), and nicely arrogant (if there is such a thing) and has a killer smile. Even though he is painfully crude in his judgement, he makes the show. 90% (exaggeration??) of AI viewers/  audience love him and wait for his comments…and the colorful language with which they are delivered and the contestants all die for his approval.  One would hope that Paula would be a middle point between the two. But no, she just makes one cringe. I always wonder what Simon would say if he had to judge Paula’s comments! She should stick to what she does better. Singing and dancing like there is no tomorrow.

 

Obama is not black!!!

Why is everyone going around claiming that Obama is black? Black people want him to be black  (perhaps in the hope that he can relate to them and represent their needs and perhaps even play ‘pay back time’ with them) and for some reason or another white people too seem more comfortable beleiving that he is black ( can’t figure out a reason why)! Could it be because as humans, we have a penchant for controversy? The presidential race would have less controversy or intrigue if Obama was perceived as the zebra he is… black and white. The issue of race should not even be popping up during this race, because Obama is a balance between black and white. If we chose to refer to Obama as a black presidential candidate, we might as well refer to him as a white presidential candidate.

Some people may “so what if he is not black?” So race should not be an issue in this campaign. So white folks should have no fear that if or when Obama becomes president ( and I doubt he will) he will be shooting for black supremacy and playing pay back to white folks for injustices that black America has gone through- he has allegiance to both races. And lastly and more important to me, so people should not support him basing on his skin color. That is a very shallow and immature basis for choosing a leader. African Americans should be able to recognize and support him for what he represents rather than his skin color.

Computeraised kids

I am watching Oprah right now (..isn’t every female?) Nate Bertkus is talking about hitech gadgets in the home. The Burke-Contes family has a hi-tech ’smart house’ in Seattle. Everything is computerized. The childrens watches are ‘keys’ to the house. Basically they wave their watches at the wall and bang..the door opens. The grocery list, sleep and shopping list is all computerized. The system makes the shopping list and even recommends stuff that the family might need. Apart from the fact that ‘Cleopatra’ the talking computer is hotter than Posh Spice and might pause a threat to wife, I am amazed at what technology has come to. Some really nice stuff. Makes life alot more convenient and if I had extra money to spare, I would probably pimp my house abit. I am also a little apprehensive about what this is going to do to children. If children come home and are welcomed by a ‘Cleopatra’, take instructions from this computer and basically are being parented by computers, what is going to happen to them? Isn’t this taking it a little too far? When do these parents ever get to play Mom and Dad? Do these children ever get a hug or kiss from their parents or have any meaningful conversation with their parents?  Will these children ever be able to relate to their parents or real people in the real world? Will they ever learn to ‘use their heads’ to make responsible decisions? Is ‘Cleopatra’ equiped to answer their questions about boys, sex, respect and all the things people need to know to make the right choices for their lives?<p>Already kids in America are being parented by MTV, the internet and a zillion other crazy TV programs as parents get more and more busy with their careers. Computerizing the entire house is not going to make things any better. No wonder kids in this country are so messed up, lossed and lacking in self esteem and identity! 

How to cheer up your sulking wife

It may be an anniversary forgotten, a promise broken, or voice raised; the men in our lives have a way of pouring cold water on our moods. Personally, something as simple as a voice being raised at me just dampens my mood and puts me in quiet mode, sometimes lasting the entire day. Like many men will say a quick sorry and expect life to go on as usual. For me and for many women, that is simply not enough. Often times, men do not realize that it is the little things that can lift a woman’s mood and make her feel loved and cared for. Guys are likely to make sexual advances at their women, hoping that it will cheer them up. That works for men, not for women! When a woman is low emotionally, sex is the last thing on her mind! Guys here are some 10 things you can do to cheer up your woman, when she is low, for whatever reason…More

Speech by H.E. MR JOHN AGYEKUM KUFUOR of Ghana

ON BEHALF OF AFRICA
25 November 2007

Thank you, chief and President, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, our host president; Secretary General, the Rt Hon. Don Mackinnon; colleague Heads of Governments; your excellences, foreign ministers; distinguished ladies and gentlemen. It is a privilege and honour for me to present on behalf of Africa at the end of the Kampala CHOGM, which all of us accept as one of the most successful CHOGMS ever held.

In the past one week, we have all been touched buy the warmth of Uganda’s welcome and most generous hospitality. It is this welcoming environment, and the facilities placed at our disposal that have enabled us to reach some major decisions which emphasise the strength of our association and also provide it with a future that will be meaningful to our peoples.

On behalf of Africa therefore, I wish to say a big thank you to you, our host and brother African leader, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda. We will leave Uganda with fond memories that will last for many years to come. The Commonwealth Secretariat, under the leadership of the outgoing Secretary General Don McKinnon, our good friend, has once again lived up to high standards of efficiency and commitment that we have come to expect. I want therefore to thank Don for the eight years in which he dedicated himself and the wealth of his experience to the service of the Commonwealth. His visionary leadership and dedication have moved the association closer to realising those high ideals which define our membership. We wish him God’s fate and good luck in his future endeavours. We expect that in whatever capacity he will find himself, he will be a faithful and true friend of the Commonwealth

We welcome the election of Ambassador Kamalesh Sharma, the new Secretary General of the Commonwealth. He is bringing to his new duties, his wide experience in international affairs and will no doubt provide visionary leadership that will deepen and expand the horizons of the Commonwealth Association. In carrying out his duties, he can count on the support of Africa

This is no time to go over all the decisions that we have arrived at during this session. The theme which our hosts selected for this meeting, transforming Commonwealth societies to achieve political, economic and human development, was most appropriate and was in keeping with the challenges which face the majority of our members. It is therefore the expectation of Africa that our association will strengthen its capacity to work together to transform our various societies, and that the more developed members will do all that is possible to assist the weaker and vulnerable members, especially the small island states, to ensure their survival, stability and prosperity

Climate change has been identified as perhaps the biggest challenge that faces all of us, rich and poor alike. Increasingly, its impact is becoming difficult to ignore as it manifests itself in our daily lives across the world. Discussions on climate change have therefore assumed a new sense of urgency. It is our hope and expectation that we will continue to work together with greater commitment towards ensuring that the forthcoming Bali meeting will adopt the necessary strategies that will save our global environment from further destruction.

Let me conclude by welcoming the interactions that we have had with our civil societies and with the youth. There cannot be a Commonwealth without our people and their welfare must therefore take priority of place in our current and future endeavours.
Once again, on behalf of Africa, I wish to thank my brother and host, as well as the government and the people of Uganda for their wonderful hospitality. We have been impressed with the great strides Uganda has made in their political, economic and social transformation and we wish the government and people, greater success in the future.

Uganda has indeed made Africa proud- (Applause). I wish all our colleagues, a safe journey back to their respective capitals and we look forward to reassembling in the city of Port of Spain in Trinidad and Tobago in the year 2009. Thank you

Blogging steam!!

A one Tumwijuke just reminded me of my blogging steam having run out. It does run out sometimes doesn’t it? To be honest, for a young blogger like yours truly, I feel like one needs alot of discipline to do this. Its like keeping a journal and writing in it every night before you go to bed. What happens when you are too sleepy…you use toothpicks to keep your eyelids open??? Ha ha ha. Tum, you were spot-on. My steam did run out abit, but thanks for the awakening. Guess it didn’t help that the best University East and Central of Africa has not had electricity and internet for what…a month!! How embarassing. (Still proud to be a Makererean, nevertheless). Anyhow, now that we have paid the 600m/= we owed UTL and MTN (or at least some of it) and we have back our internet connection, I might just be hanging here a little more.