Latest News
MAY 2006 - PART ONE
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Meet the man who created the internet
Tim Berners-Lee was knighted in the UK for his invention
The web should remain neutral and resist attempts to fragment it into different services, web inventor Sir Tim Berners-Lee has said. Recent attempts in the US to try to charge for different levels of online access web were not "part of the internet model," he said in Edinburgh. He warned that if the US decided to go ahead with a two-tier internet, the network would enter "a dark period". Sir Tim was speaking at the start of a conference on the future of the web. "What's very important from my point of view is that there is one web," he said. "Anyone that tries to chop it into two will find that their piece looks very boring."
An equal net
The British scientist developed the web in 1989 as an academic tool to allow scientists to share data. Since then it has exploded into every area of life. However, as it has grown, there have been increasingly diverse opinions on how it should evolve. The World Wide Web Consortium, of which Sir Tim is the director, believes in an open model. This is based on the concept of network neutrality, where everyone has the same level of access to the web and that all data moving around the web is treated equally. This view is backed by companies like Microsoft and Google, who have called for legislation to be introduced to guarantee net neutrality. The first steps towards this were taken last week when members of the US House of Representatives introduced a net neutrality bill.
Pay model
But telecoms companies in the US do not agree. They would like to implement a two-tier system, where data from companies or institutions that can pay are given priority over those that cannot. This has particularly become an issue with the transmission of TV shows over the internet, with some broadband providers wanting to charge content providers to carry the data. The internet community believes this threatens the open model of the internet as broadband providers will become gatekeepers to the web's content. Providers that can pay will be able to get a commercial advantage over those that cannot. There is a fear that institutions like universities and charities would also suffer. The web community is also worried that any charges would be passed on to the consumer.
Optimism
Sir Tim said this was "not the internet model".
The "right" model, as exists at the moment, was that any content provider could
pay for a connection to the internet and could then put any content on to the
web with no discrimination. Speaking to reporters in Edinburgh at the WWW2006
conference, he argued this was where the great benefit of the internet lay. "You
get this tremendous serendipity where I can search the internet and come across
a site that I did not set out to look for," he said. A two-tier system would
mean that people would only have full access to those portions of the internet
that they paid for and that some companies would be given priority over others.
But Sir Tim was optimistic that the internet would resist attempts to fragment.
"I think it is one and will remain as one," he said. The WWW2006 conference will
run until Friday at the International Conference Centre in Edinburgh.
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Made history when he became the first single man in the UK
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Ian Mucklejohn made history |
 The children |
Ian Mucklejohn made history when he became the first single man in the UK to have his own children without a female partner. But he knew one day they would have to meet their mother. Five years ago bachelor Ian Mucklejohn, a 58-year-old millionaire businessman, decided that what was missing in his life was children. He could have found a woman just to have a baby with, but didn't think that would have been ethical or morally justifiable. Also, if the relationship broke up, the mother would get custody. So with the help of the internet he found an American egg donor, had her eggs fertilised with his sperm in California and paid a surrogate to carry the babies - something he would not have been able to do legally in the UK.
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The donor |
 The carrier |
One-parent family
The total cost topped £50,000 and the result was triplets - Piers, Lars and Ian. Six weeks after their birth, Mr Mucklejohn flew to the US to collect them and bring them home. Five years on his self-created family is happy and healthy. Despite being very close to his own mother, he does not believe his sons are missing out because the concept of "mother" plays no part in their daily existence. "I am the anchor in their lives," he says. "That's not to say having a mother isn't a great thing, but as long as I am doing my best by them I don't think they are missing out. I knew I could combine both genders, and do constantly with the boys. I give them lots of cuddles and then play football in the garden with them. "My children are the product of a single-parent family, like many of their friends and lots of people in today's society." But the possibility that they might want to know more about their mother in the future played a large part in Mr Mucklejohn's decision to take them to the US recently to see how and where they were created, and meet their biological mother Melissa Valdovinos and surrogate mother Tina Price. "I don't know if the children will ever need their mother," he says. "I don't think they will because she has never been a part of their daily lives, but I think it is important to keep a good relationship with Melissa - also Tina - so in the fullness of time they can find them and talk to them if they want.For Melissa, their biological mother, the extraordinary moment she met her three sons for the first time was a positive experience, but no more than that. "I felt attached to them but not in the respect that I feel they belong to me," she says. "I don't see myself as their mummy because I'm not doing the job of a mother. I realise they are Ian's responsibility - not mine." Melissa's own mother walked out on her when she was just two. She does not feel that she suffered as a result, which could explain her ability to remain detached. It was more emotional for surrogate mother Tina, who cried when she saw the boys. "I still feel connected even though I don't know them," she says. "My heart felt full just watching them play and watching them with their Dad. It felt nice to have been part of it and seeing that they are a family."
Life complete
Their reactions proved to Mr Mucklejohn that he had picked the right women for the job. "For Melissa there was a satisfaction with what she had done and for Tina it was a bit more emotional," he says. "But I had a sense when I chose them both that they were doing it for the right reasons and there would be no difficulties on their side when the babies were born." And for the boys? They are still too young to fully understand the role both women played in their creation and behaved like typical five years olds, more interested in playing than meeting the women. "They never really asked before and they have shown no more interest in either of their mothers since they met them," says Mr Mucklejohn. He is aware that his decision about how to create a family is not understood by everyone. But he published a book And Then There Were Three to set the record straight. Since then the response has been mostly positive, especially from people unable to have children themselves. "I have seen the unhappiness childlessness brings and this country makes it too hard to overcome that," he says. "But it can be done."
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Ride of terror
Terrified thrill-seekers were stranded upside down, 25m in the air after a fairground ride ground to a halt. One woman was taken to hospital after losing consciousness. She was one of 17 people stranded on the 'Evolution' ride for six minutes at the Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach in Norfolk, UK.. Several others complained of headaches and dizziness after being rescued on Sunday. The 40-seater ride is made up of ten caged enclosures on a circular spinning base which is propelled through the air and then turns upside down. It is thought that it automatically locked itself in position when there was a sudden cut in power to the park. Passenger Chris Spragg, 27, of Letchworth, Hertfordshire, said: 'It started normally and then it stopped at the top. We thought it was going to be up there for a second but it never moved. It felt like three years. We were petrified.' Staff brought down the ride using manual controls. Pleasure Beach boss Albert Jones said: 'No-one was in danger.' Officials are investigating.
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Forwarding the message home
A cheeky protester butts in to a summit meeting — and has Tony Blair and other leaders cracking up with laughter. The Greenpeace girl wore just a decorated bikini and knee-high boots when she ran in front of the traditional group photograph at yesterday’s EU-Latin America conference in Vienna. Mr Blair looked on as she was ushered away by a security guard. The girl was later identified as Evangelina Carrozo, from Argentina, who was objecting to the construction of two wood pulp plants in neighbouring Uruguay. Clearly she hoped someone could get to the bottom of her problem.
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Curious to each other
We just loved this cute hippos who seemed as curious about the outside world as the children were about theirs. The youngster reach out to touch the glass as African hippos Funani, left, and Jazi swim at San Diego Zoo in the US.
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From a street boy in London to a preacher
He is referred by many as "Man of God". This is because the man calls himself so. He knows that it only God who has made him what he is today. Pastor Joseph Njuguna Chege, of Victory Revival Christian Centre, Nottingham Branch has come from far. From streets of London to become a preacher. From a drug addict to become a preacher. Many who knew him when he was hanging around the Upton Park Tube Station in 1995 would not recall the street boy today. Someone who had terrorised London shops by shoplifting.
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BEFORE AS A DRUG ADDICT
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NOW AS A PREACHER WITH HIS WIFE
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He is the Senior Pastor of VRCC NOTTINGHAM in YWCA COMMUNITY CENTRE “Under the dynamic leadership of the founder of VRCC ministries Bishop John Gichiri. Pastor Joseph Njuguna resides nearby with his wife, Minister Sophie Njuguna She is a covenant woman! Pastor Joseph Njuguna was born in 1976 in Nairobi Kenya. As a young man, he came to the recognition that God had a particular purpose for his life after a 4 and a half year‘s of heroin addiction that nearly killed him Pastor Joseph Njuguna is clean of heroin, methadone and other class ‘A‘ drugs, in fact drugs of any kind.
“I was in the last weeks of losing my life, I had lost contact with my family, I lost more than 8 friends most dead of heroin over dose, I couldn’t walk anywhere without people pointing, looking, watching me.”
I was living in the street’s and homeless shelters. My whole life, from getting up to going to sleep, was about finding a way to supply my heroin for the day.” Police said I was one of the most prolific offenders in workshop because I had carried out so many burglaries, shoplifting, and theft. Looking back he describes how even store detectives recognised his face.
“I couldn’t walk down the town centre. The cameras used to watch me. I saw the security guards at the doors speaking into their walkie-talkies ‘he’s coming down the street… watch out. My life got that desperate I knew I had to do something. I tried killing my self but God had a particular purpose for my life that I didn’t die I took heroin overdose 3 times in one instant I was 96% dead they used electric shocks to save my life I always say “I met the love of God before I met the God of love”
Because it was the love of God that was keeping me from dying. Pastor Joseph Njuguna has come from far, well known in the UK as “Man of God”. He accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour and Lord in 1999.God helped me through my withdrawal symptoms God changed me from the inside out a complete change for a man who used to steal from his own family, at the age 23, he invited God into his life. After five years, Of taking what wasn’t his he’s now keen to give something back he answered the "call" of God as an Evangelist declaring the Gospel of Jesus Christ, demonstrating His word with signs and wonders following in the same streets that he use to shoplift many gave there lives to the Lord Jesus including security guards. He moved from London the end of 2002 into the city of Oxford trough Gods plans.
He continued preaching in the streets of Oxford God directed him to VRCC Oxford Ministries where he served the Pastor REV: Francis Maina with great joy as his Pastor he stayed faithful. In 11/12/2005 Pastor Joseph and his wife minister Sophie were officially sent of into the ministry by the founder of VRCC Ministries Bishop John Gichiri accompanied by his Pastor Rev: Francis Maina and all the Pastors of VRCC Ministries. To pastor in the city of Nottingham, VRCC Nottingham, YWCA COMMUNITY CENTRE, 22 COLVILLE STREET, NG1 4HQ. Very early in his ministry, the "fathers" of the church recognized the spirit of excellence on his life and knew that he would be an outstanding leader and was destined for success. “Your faith will soar as you hear the life changing preaching of this dynamic vessel of God. - MORE
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Nyama choma season is back
The popular Nyama choma season is back. The British calls it Barbecue while the Kenyans calls it Nyama choma. This signifies the beginning of the summer season where everyone want to go for an outing. Many have families have planned this season to go back to their home country. To start the ball rolling was Mr.& Mrs. Duncan Ngari (far right) who invited family and friends to join him for nyama choma at his residence in Chigwell, Essex, UK on Sunday 7th May, 2006. The family had done their homework as they slaughtered a goat in accordance with Kikuyu tradition where you would find mutura, ngerima, mahu, mara etc. all done to perfection. It was all smiles as family and friends shared the choma. The occasion was a good social gathering as invited guests came from far and wide with one message - "here comes the summer."
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Any good Samaritan still remaining
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Zero grazing
Somewhere in India a rolling business is coming up
New Delhi's government has a rat-catching department that has not caught a single rodent in more than a decade… The Rat Surveillance Department employs 97 rat catchers, who each earns about 3,500 rupees (US$83) a month. But there are no records of any rodents having been caught in the past 10 years.
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5 metres by 3 metres goes for £,300,000 (KShs. 35m)
They measure about 5m by 3m, have no running water or electricity and have been described as 'glorified sheds'. But three beach huts have been put up for sale with a combined guide price of almost £300,000. The properties on Mudeford Sandbank, in Dorset, are the last three owned by the council and have a guide price of £80,000 each, plus VAT. Owners will also have to pay a £1,784 licence fee each year. The huts have stunning sea views, but toilets and bathrooms are in a block nearby, with standpipes for water. Huts on the beach have fetched as much as £160,000 in the past. Two of the three for sale are single rooms. The third is bigger, with two rooms – about 3m by 3m and 2m by 3m. Estate agent Richard Godsell said: 'I know it's only a glorified shed but it's a fantastic location. Many people rent them out and get a good return.'
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Endangered animals
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Polar bears are among 16,119 species of animal, bird, fish and plant threatened with extinction. Their plight has been revealed in the Red List of Threatened Species. Just 22,000 polar bears remain and experts fear they could vanish within 25 years, thanks to climate change and pollution. |
 Compiled by the World Conservation Union, the list also featured the Yangtze river dolphin, of which just 30 remain. The Finless porpoise - pictured here - is also struggling for survival. |
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Kenyan property consultant in London tour
Mr. David Kuria of Pinnacle Projects Ltd. in Nairobi arrived in London Tuesday 25th April, 2006 for a five business tour in London. He wanted to meet Kenyan in UK in order to sell his housing projects in Nairobi. He had contacted Mr. Seed before to arrange meetings for him. Due to his short stay it was only possible to make one meeting in London on Sunday 30th April, 2006. The meeting took place at Duke of Five, 350 Katherine Road, London E7. At the well attended meeting Mr. Kuria explained to the Kenyans about the property market in Kenya. He explained that the Kenyan housing market is quite different from the UK market where you can only be able to buy a property off the plan. "Unlike the UK where you can buy a house after completion, you cannot get a house to buy in Nairobi after completion. People buy them off the plan. The properties I am selling in South C and Bellevue will go up by more than half a million Kenya shillings after completion." Mr. Kuria explained.
MORE FACTS ABOUT THE HOUSES
FLATS: 3-bedroom and self contained servant quarter inside the house - four high - going for KShs. 4 million - 30 per cent deposit payable within 8 months
MAISONETTES: 4-bedrooms - Self contained servant quarter separate from the main house and you can rent it for approx. KShs. 6,000 to 7,000 or you can stay in it while on holiday. Master en suite, ground, first floor and top for study room. going for KShs. 6.5 million
If interested you can view the plans with Mr. Seed at misterseed@yahoo.co.uk or 07951220695
Due to water shortages in Nairobi the constructors are sinking water boreholes to supplement water shortage
Mr. Kuria who is making all the arrangements for mortgages in Kenya explained that due to the large number of cheating cases in Kenya on the property sector he has arranged a clear cut system where you have to have reputable lawyer to work in hand with his company's lawyer to set up your mortgage. He has a set of three lawyers whom he use to transact the property business. He has several big properties under construction in Nairobi like Kenya Commercial Simba Villas in Embassi, Nairobi consisting of Executive Maisonettes and Flats going for KSh. 3.4 million for flats and KShs. 4.2 million for Maisonettes. He has come to the UK to promote two new projects coming up in South C and Bellevue Estates in Nairobi. 300 Maisonette in a 15 acre in Bellevue on Mombasa Road next to the old American Embassy going for KShs. 6.5 million and 400 flats on a 10 acre land on South C going for KShs. 4 million. He explained that you need 30 per cent deposit payable within 8 months before the completion of the house as the construction which is expected to start in July 2006 is expected to take 8 months.
28 people signed in for the project with a large number going for Maisonettes, others going for the flats while a few went for some Cape Villas at Lavington area going for KShs. 16 million. in a quarter an acre plot. It amazing to note the buying power in Kenya for the Cape Villas in Lovington area going for KShs. 16 million. Out of 18 Villas only 3 were available and the construction is starting in June 2006. Mr. Kuria is coming back to UK in June - now for the final set up. He will come for the final demonstration and signing up. He will come up with a property agent to sign up the final agreements with the interested parties. He will be meeting Kenyans in three places - in London, Oxford and Northampton and the venues will be posted on this website as an advert for Pinnacle Projects Ltd. is coming up in this site soon. You can be able to track down the progress by contact Mr. Kuria at akuria@pinnacleprojectsltd.com or Mr. Seed on 07951220695 or misterseed@yahoo.co.uk You can see more about Pinnacle Projects Ltd on http://www.pinnacleprojectsltd.com/
Mr. David Kuria (centre) the managing director of Pinnacle Project Management and Project Finance Management company explaining to Mr. Manji Wairia (right) about some new project coming up in South C and Belle Ville area in Nairobi as Mr. Charles Karanja (left) looks on.
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Kenyans shines at the London Marathon
 With wins in Rotterdam, Berlin and Chicago, Felix Limo makes an impressive start to his London debut |
 Kenyan Martin Lel, the defending champion, shows signs of winning again as he takes turns in driving the pace |
 Lel and Limo break with three miles to go and only a tense sprint finish separates the countrymen at the end |
Kenyans shines at the London Marathon on Sunday 23rd April 2006 as they took four positions out of ten. Felix Limo outsprinted fellow Kenyan and 2005 champion Martin Lel in the last 200 metres to win the men's race in the London Marathon on Sunday. The two runners, who pulled away from their main rivals in the last three miles, were locked together until Limo stepped up the pace in The Mall. The 25-year-old's winning time was two hours six minutes 39 seconds. South Africa's Hendrick Ramaala finished in third while the legendary Haile Gebrselassie was ninth. "I had to use my brain to win that race," said Limo. "I felt good although the conditions were not great. But when the conditions are not perfect, you have to use your brain as well as your legs."
 Katie Austin and Gordon Fryer pause on Tower Bridge to get married before continuing on towards the Docklands |
 Some competitors opt for minimal running attire as they attempt to complete the course and entertain the crowds |
 A team of charity runners dress in a very unorthodox outfit so as not to be missed by the spectators and cameras |
Limo, running for the first time in London after recording wins in Rotterdam, Berlin and Chicago, came home two seconds ahead of Lel, with Ramaala 14 seconds adrift in third place. Lel said: "I had a really good race. I'm not disappointed with second as that sort of thing is part of the race." The leading men's contenders, including four-times world 10,000m champion Gebrselassie, remained tightly bunched on a cool, wet morning until the 30km mark when Kenyan Evans Rutto accelerated to the front. Rutto was unable to shake off the pack and the next break came at 38km when Kenyan Rogers Rop and Lel moved away. Ramaala responded before Limo and Lel made their final move. Ramaala said: "With not long to race I wanted to push on, but I felt a slight twinge in my hamstring." Marathon debutant Peter Riley was the first Briton home, in 12th place. Riley said: "It was a new experience for me - I've only ever been over 10k three times before. "I was surprised by the early pace as I've never run so slow before. I began to feel some muscle pain at about 18 miles but I had loads of energy."
Men's London Marathon:
1. Felix Limo (Kenya) 2 hours 6 minutes 39 seconds
2. Martin Lel (Kenya) 2:06:41
3. Hendrick Ramaala (South Africa) 2:06:55
4. Khalid Khannouchi (United States) 2:07:04
5. Stefano Baldini (Italy) 2:07:22
6. Rogers Rop (Kenya) 2:07:34
7. Hicham Chatt (Morocco) 2:07:59
8. Jaouad Gharib (Morocco) 2:08:45
9. Haile Gebrselassie (Ethiopia) 2:09:05
10. Evans Rutto (Kenya) 2:09:35
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