Frankie Warren

Nneka recently played a concert in Kampala. Unfortunately, I...

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 06:38:00 -0800

Nneka recently played a concert in Kampala. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to make it, but the buzz after the concert compelled me to check her out. Her strong, soulful voice is worth a listen.

Foundation 16 // Kevin Systrom (by kevinrose) Kevin Rose’s...

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:35:21 -0800

Foundation 16 // Kevin Systrom (by kevinrose)

Kevin Rose’s interview series Foundation is really inspiring for aspiring entrepreneurs. This interview with Kevin Systrom, Co-Founder of Instagram, a photo sharing service for iOS, shows how a small team of engineers can have a huge impact. In Instagram’s case that’s 15 million users with less than 10 full-time employees within a year. For further reading check out this great piece by Gizmodo - Inside Instagram: How Slowing Its Roll Put the Little Startup in the Fast Lane.

"Unfortunately, the banana varieties grown in Uganda are low in essential micronutrients,..."

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 23:06:07 -0800

“Unfortunately, the banana varieties grown in Uganda are low in essential micronutrients, particularly Vitamin A and Iron. To increase these levels, Dale and his team in Australia are collaborating closely with Ugandan scientists at that country’s National Agricultural Research Organization. The NARO team, led by Dr. Wilberforce Tushemereirwe, has made important contributions – developing research protocols, conducting field trials, and planning distribution of new, more nutritious banana varieties to Ugandan farmers. The NARO team’s involvement is a great example of young African scientists playing a major role as full partners in using state-of-the-art science for development of new products important to agriculture and health in their own country.”

- Bill Gates on Building Better Bananas

T-Shirts, Tuxes and Rap Without Frills

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 02:25:22 -0800

T-Shirts, Tuxes and Rap Without Frills:

I think I missed one hell of a concert.

Dad's Coming to Town

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:56:00 -0800

For the next week I will be entertaining my first visitor from home, my father. I’m excited. Though I have been having an absolute blast living in Kampala, spats of home sickness are inevitable. Sometimes you just want a cheeseburger. Sharing my new home with my dad will help him understand and I’ll take comfort in knowing that at least one person back home has seen my life in Africa.

Initially, we talked about meeting in Tanzania. We thought it would be fun to see the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. After some reflection, I suggested that he come to see Uganda. There is a tremendous amount to do here. In fact, Lonely Planet recently gave Uganda its stamp of approval. Here is our itinerary for the week:

Sunday: Visit Ggaba Port to buy fish from local fisherman for lunch.

Monday-Tuesday: Lake Bunyonyi, one of the deepest lakes in Africa.

Wednesday: Trekking with mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Friday: Game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

My brother is a rock star. Brian Warren of Weatherbox -...

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 23:32:45 -0800

My brother is a rock star.

Brian Warren of Weatherbox - “Anchors Away” - A Trolley Show (by trolleyshow)

Hiking to Sipi Falls, Uganda

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 03:37:49 -0800

Hiking to Sipi Falls, Uganda

2012

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 00:56:00 -0800

The first half of my Princeton in Africa Fellowship simply flew by. I’d like to think I have made the most of my time here in Kampala, Uganda thus far. I made brilliant new friends, traveled throughout the country and worked on inspiring infrastructure projects. For the holidays, I spent around three weeks back in the States. This gave me the opportunity to reflect on the first half of my fellowship and set new goals for myself in 2012. I’d like to share three of these with you:

Write Consistently

I’ve always had a mixed relationship with blogging. I pick up steam for a few weeks and then feel life pulling me in a hundred different directions. I don’t always feel the incentive to write when I could put in an extra hour of work, read a book or relax with good friends. However, writing is important. Currently I’m reading Team of Rivals, a biography of Abraham Lincoln and his cabinet. One of the things I’ve found absolutely fascinating is the amount of primary resources Doris Kearns Goodwin had at her disposal to paint an accurate picture of President Lincoln for her readers. People wrote daily letters to loved ones. Politicians gave five hour speeches, arguing their positions on different issues.

In 2012, everyone, not just presidents, has the opportunity to share their thoughts with the world through the internet. In the future, I’d like to be able to click the Africa tag of my blog and be able to remember exactly how I was feeling at any given moment during my fellowship. I want to be able to share my life with my kids one day, or anyone else who cares enough to read. I’d be missing a huge opportunity if I didn’t write.

Get Fit

The most stereotypical new year’s resolution of them all… However, it’s a perfect storm for me. They gym I go to in Kampala is relatively expensive by African standards, but luckily I’m able to afford it. I have plenty of time on my hands and a good group of friends that will join me whenever I want.

Most importantly, I have a goal. The first week of my March I’ll be trekking to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro with about ten other Princeton in Africa Fellows. I’m super excited, but pretty anxious as well. Getting in shape will help me maximize my chance of making it up to the top.

Be Present

My life is pretty extraordinary at the moment. I need to keep that in perspective. I’ve always been goal oriented, playing life as a game of chess: weighing out multiple alternatives and trying to think several moves in advance to achieve my goals. I’ve found myself already thinking about what I’m going to do once my fellowship ends in July. I scour the web for job postings and have done a lot of reflection about my career lately. It seems by July another life changing decision must be made.

However, spending too much time thinking about the future will cause me to miss out on the present. Africa is too beautiful, has too much potential, to let it slip away.

Drake + Dubstep Does it get any better?

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 03:47:00 -0800

Drake + Dubstep

Does it get any better?

My younger brother played this in the car on the way to Big Bear...

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 16:06:09 -0800

My younger brother played this in the car on the way to Big Bear for a family ski trip. It was my anthem on the slopes today. I crushed a few double black diamonds that I wouldn’t have tried otherwise.

You might know the Crookers from their Day ‘N’ Nite remix.

Gay and Vilified in Uganda

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 15:33:00 -0800

Gay and Vilified in Uganda:

Homosexuality is illegal in Uganda. That is very difficult for many of my American friends to comprehend. This op-ed shines light on the human rights issue and highlights the role that American evangelical Christians have played in institutionalizing homophobia. Furthermore, it addresses many of the misconceptions held by many Ugandans.

American foreign policy has forced some Ugandans to reconsider the issue, but much more can be done to raise awareness, both in the United States and Uganda. Please feel free to share this article.

Ice Prince feat Brymo - Oleku Another Igbo/English monster.

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 10:02:51 -0800

Ice Prince feat Brymo - Oleku

Another Igbo/English monster.

Watch this. And then read this. This really puts The Daily Show...

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 08:24:03 -0800

Watch this.

And then read this.

This really puts The Daily Show in a different light for me. I always knew this was the case, but it feels different reading about what goes on behind the scenes. Jon Stewart often skewers Fox News for blurring the lines between their opinion and news segments. While it’s true his show is on Comedy Central, I think many viewers, myself included, often blur the line between entertainment and news while watching The Daily Show.

This can be a great thing. As much as Stewart & Co. hide behind the veil of Comedy Central to make their content palatable, they do raise awareness about very important, but dry/overlooked, issues (only they can make make campaign finance interesting). However it can be difficult to know when they are prioritizing entertainment over public awareness.

I needed this reality check.

"Today, the White House announced administrative and private sector actions that will help..."

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 07:31:48 -0800

“Today, the White House announced administrative and private sector actions that will help entrepreneurs grow their businesses and create jobs by increasing their access to capital and resources.”

- We Can’t Wait: Obama Administration Announces $2 Billion in Resources to Support Job-Creating Startups

10 steps to better blogging

Sun, 04 Dec 2011 23:31:47 -0800

10 steps to better blogging:

Here are Dan Frommer’s ten steps to better blogging. There is a lot of great advice that I will try to incorporate going forward, starting with:

Write the site that you want to read.

Anders Trentemøller is one of my favorite musicians. He’s...

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 05:15:17 -0800

Anders Trentemøller is one of my favorite musicians. He’s a super talented DJ and often plays instruments during live sets. Here is an hour set he did for a Danish radio station P3. Let me know if this is your cup of tea in the comments. Enjoy!

PLAYLIST :

Factory Floor : ‘Lying’
The Raveonettes : ‘Oh Stranger’
A Place To Bury Strangers : ‘To Fix The Gash In Your Head’
Factory Floor : ‘A wooden Box’
White Hills: ‘Paradise’
Sun O))) & Pansonic : ‘Che’
Moon Duo : ‘Motorcycle, I Love You’
New Drug Queens : ‘Pink Moutaintops’
Peaches: ‘Search & Destroy’
Suicide : ‘Touch Me’ (Trentemøller re-edit mix)
The Cure : ‘Faith’
Low : ‘Candy Girl’

Video

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 23:22:00 -0800

"Maybe Christmas”, he thought, “doesn’t come from a store.” “Maybe..."

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 01:05:06 -0800

““Maybe Christmas”, he thought, “doesn’t come from a store.”
“Maybe Christmas… perhaps… means a little bit more!””

- How the Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr. Seuss

(via Long Lines Form as Egyptians Vote in Historic Election)

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 00:09:00 -0800

(via Long Lines Form as Egyptians Vote in Historic Election)

Continuing on the “cultural differences” theme from...

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 23:58:00 -0800

Continuing on the “cultural differences” theme from yesterday, here is a photo of a tasty Ugandan snack: fried grasshoppers. A colleague of mine bought this tin for UGX 5,000, or just under $2.00. This is relatively expensive for a snack in Uganda. I couldn’t turn down her offer.

The grasshoppers are caught using large spotlights that attract the insects into a bin from which they can’t escape. They are seasonal, lasting only a few weeks, several times a year. Right now grasshoppers are in season, so these large traps light up many areas of Kampala.

Once captured, the grasshoppers’ legs are removed, their bodies fried and seasoned. It ends up just tasting like crispy curry. The most unsettling part of the experience was the grasshopper eyes looking back at me before I popped one in my mouth. Other than that, delish.

Note: BlackBerry cameras are pretty terrible. I dropped my real camera and broke the lens. Hopefully I’ll get that sorted out by the end of the year and start posting some better photos.