“Why does reading the newspaper actually decrease your knowledge of the world?”
~ From The Black Swan by Nassim Nicholas Taleb
Two
Her and her posted interesting discussions on blogging on politics in Uganda, the essence being where they have gone and why there are not more of them. An interesting addition to the debate comes from Siena Anstis, who asks ‘Can citizen journalism change Uganda?’ Your opinion will be good addition to the discussion, so go blurf!
It’s kwanjula time for blogs caught in my blurf web:
The Spotlight is a blog/webzine on Northern Uganda,
DWanyama’s The Other View,
and several expat blogs – Living in Uganda, Leadership Education Uganda and Talitha and Cassia in Uganda.
Three
Updating yesterday’s post …
Comedy Coma Night (otherwise known as Laughter for Loonies and Theatre for the Thoughtless) that is at the National Theatre in Kampala is not funny. Don’t go. If you insist on going, make sure you are stoned enough not to care about the “yars, yars my Mercedes, my trip to London, my Ralph Lauren, my high flying job, my high flying girlfriend yars” crowd of Kampala’s yuppies, the frivolous rantings of the ‘stand up comedians’ and the stupid stereotyping of Uganda’s women, ethnic groups and politicians.
Four
The entrance of The Independent into Uganda’s media spectrum was exciting(ish). The idea of a new ‘uncensored’ voice appealed to me and I’m slightly partial to Andrew Mwenda because he has extremely kissable lips (no, I haven’t tested the theory). However after more than six months of spending 3,000 shillings every fortnight – now every week – on The Independent, I’m beginning to change my mind somewhat.
There are lots of things I could spend 3,000 shillings on. A bag of tomatoes, three large heads of cauliflower, six small pineapples, a litre of petrol and then some, a taxi ride to Entebbe, a used book at The Bookend, lunch and a soda at Mama Mmere’s, three daily newspapers, flowers for my mom … the list is endless. For 3,000 shillings, I would like my experience of The Independent to last more than a few hours. I would like to take it home, read it in the bath, have long loud discussions about some of the issues raised in it with my friend Tim and pick it up in the week to refer to it during my work and play.
However for 3,000 shillings I get only two or three hours of marginal reading pleasure and often it is on topics that I think have been beaten to a pulp. I’m seriously wondering if Andrew Mwenda’s lips are reason enough for me to spend on The Independent.
Five
Speaking of spending, I always approach the weekend with trepidation because I have nothing to do. You know the saying ‘an idle mind is the devil’s workshop’? Well my idle mind must be his lair.
I’ve been asking around for suggestions of pocket-friendly ways to spend my weekend and was given a list of five recommendations:
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Volunteer. There are many organizations looking for weekend volunteers. They range from orphanages and women’s shelters to school libraries and conferences.
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Visit the Uganda Museum.
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Take your children, the neighbor’s children, your nieces and nephews on a factory tour. Factories like Bata, Mukwano and Uganda Dairy Corporation have child-friendly tours on offer.
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Visit an art gallery, you never know what budding Picaso you will find.
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Organize a cook out. Uganda is blessed with great weather (not right now, actually) and a day outside the house is an enjoyable way to spend the weekend. Take your small barbecue to the Botanical Gardens and you and 10 friends can have a day of food and fun.
Me, I can’t be bothered. I plan to be depressed this weekend. See you on the other side.
