Friday, October 17, 2008

Understanding the financial crisis



Chirag's blog has a funny and sobering explanation of the crisis which does not need an MBA to understand:

"A lot of people have been asking me what this whole "economy in crisis" situation really is. How can banks in the world's most prosperous countries run out of money? Is it because the houses were overvalued? Is it because the people aren't saving? Or is it because of a variety of reasons like health-costs, unemployment, inflation, gas prices, or political instability? On the surface, it would seem prudent to say that it is a deadly combination of all of the above that's causing the financial crisis. We hear statistics being quoted on the news constantly that inflation rose, unemployment rose, new-home sales fell, auto-sales fell, and stock prices crashed. As I see it, these are the effects of the financial crisis not the causes. The causes are far too murky and boring in details for the average person to identify and enumerate. Luckily for you, I have all the time in the world and I love talking in metaphors instead of confusing finance terms when explaining something, so here it goes..."

For the whole article, go to Chirag's blog

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Kenya's only gothique boutique

We dropped in on twin sisters Toni and Tonia Matundura, at their shop in Westlands, Nairobi. It turned out to be a gothic clothes shop - the only one in Kenya. The twins had been bridesmaids at our wedding in 2005 - just across the road in Consolata Shrine - but not in these outfits.

The red-eye in the picture rather complements the gothic image; I decided to leave it in. (Sorry, girls, I hope you don't mind!)

I promised them a commercial plug. The shop is on the second floor of The Mall in Westlands, and is, literally, the only place to go if you are in Kenya and you want gothic attire. The prices are very reasonable too, and you'll receive a far from chilling welcome!

Wednesday, October 01, 2008

Echoes of Dune


Do any of you Dune fans get a frisson of recognition as Somalis, warlike desert people, carry out a daring raid to capture high-tech weaponry, in the process threatening the balance of power? A little too much water around, I'll admit, but even so...!