Tuesday 14 May 2013

A bikini is an outfit where 90% of a woman's body is exposed.
The amazing fact is that men are so decent, they only look at the 10% that isn't

Good Morning, afternoon, evening and night readers.  

It’s been SEVEN months since my last post. Wow. Seven months. Feels like yesterday I was cranking up my fingers. How've ya’ll been? I hope your all good, as good as Ive been for and sooo mucho has happened. First of all, I'm grateful for the 5000 reads my blog has had. 5432 to be exact, from all over the world. From the United States to Portugal, Russia to Mexico, Canada to Kenya.   I am humbled, very humbled, that you take the time to read my words, experience my stories with me. You are my inspiration. I will continue as much as I possibly can. Check out your flag among the below

Now, I had planned an awesome comeback to the blogosphere. Neon lights, Fanfare, Models in skimpy outfits, spotlights, the full works.  But this is a more modest enterprise.  Though dedicating a blog to one day’s activities is rather cocky, this might be an exception. Be the judge.

Then I almost don’t know where to start. Almost.

So this is a Post of many firsts. First post this year 2013.  First post dedicated to one day. First post to be written from home. First post wearing only... never mind. Its a post of many firsts, but most things are as they've always been. 

So Tuesday 14 may 2013. 

Started the day with repairs in the house. ##NewInfo. Moved to a new neighborhood. Before getting to Ngara, just next to Pioneer College, at the Ngara Civil Housing Scheme. I know people, hehe. Amazing place, cool peeps. And here are the pictures…

Then went to Upper Hill, at NHIF, for a meeting. At the security gate, I got so scanned that I felt X-rayed.  First the guard scanners who violate you by running their hands over you. Then the machine scanner that detects every tiny piece of metal. Really dude? It’s a ring. Not gonna blow up anything. Then finally the meeting. Will divulge details as soon as I can. So after that, went to the British council to rent those awesome and perfect British films. After getting double scanned by huge scary G4S guys. Same thing with the machine. Only to find out they no longer have a library. It was closed down three years ago. And down goes the drain chances of getting those rare awesome British films. Even heard the sound of a toilet flushing in my head. Then back to town to harambee Avenue and walked straight into...

THE OCCUPY PARLIAMENT PROTEST. 

My first reaction. If that was a party, PROJECT X would not be in the discussion. First, cops everywhere with fingers on the trigger. Then the blood. I walked past a guy with two buckets of blood. I do not want to know what that’s about. Then the beaten up protestors. Or so I thought. Met these protestors locked in at the police station. Sounded very high. Or drunk. Or both. Yea, definitely both. Also bumped into Actor Mugambi Nthiga. Asked what was up. Reply? "You know, occupying Parliament" Check out the Youtube link Videos below

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHfnnetwUD4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nT8LudClrZ8

 Turns out, they were from slaughtering pigs. Yupp, Pigs. The gist of the protest. MP’s + Pigs = Mpigs. The whole Linturi thang of maintaining MP’s insanely bloated salaries. So the protestors used insanely bloated pigs to drive the point home.  And here are the pics…

DISCLAIMER:: Some of the pics are.... Just Wrong.

 

The Inventor of tear gas, a certain Dr. Robert W. Wood, was a genius. That Shit is Strooooong!!!! Along Harambee avenue, all you could see were people crying and sneezing, hours after the teargas disappeared into the air. For some reason, Tear gas does not affect police officers as much as normal people. Except for this guy. . .

To the MPIG's, food for thought...

 Spent the later afternoon practising for a certain new project. Details will also be revealed soon. 

Then to Allianse Franciase for the 22nd European Film Festival> Watched a swiss Comedy Titled "Late Bloomers", a story of an elderly Grandmothers quest to start a lingerie Boutique in a conservative village. It was genuinely funny with several laugh aloud moments. Will be there today too, From the 5.30 showing of "Easy Money". See you there. Visit the below link for more information

 http://www.filmkenya.co.ke/

http://www.afkenya.or.ke/spip.php?rubrique86

Yours Back-With-A-Bang

Dean.

Cancer Awareness

Hey people! How yall doing??? Hope youve been good and doing what you do best, wether its studying, dancing, singing, directing, acting, serial killing... maybe not on that last one, hehe. . .. Its been a couple of weeks since I posted. Im doing good since my Last post, 

October is cancer awareness month and keeping that in mind, most of my activities Ive been Involed in are awareness oriented. Ive been rehearsing for a Cancer awareness play for the last two weeks with Dove arts and well show it to you guys next weekend at yet to be released locations but around Nairobi. Keep posted to my facebook wall for more updates.

MY dear Mother has also been busy with cancer themes in mind. She is one of the main event organisers for a cancer walk and screening taking place this weekend on saturday and sunday at Queen of Apostoles Ruaraka. Ive taken the liberty to dedicate this post to her event. And this is most likely the last time pink is going to appear on this blog. Read on.  . .

 

 

Cancer Walk Day - On 27th Oct 2012

Cancer Screening Day - On 28th Oct 2012

Cancer Screening Day - On 28th Oct 2012

The Cancer Walk and the Screening Event is a day that will be packed with lots of activities for a noble cause. On 27th October 2012, we shall conduct a Cancer Awareness Walk from the Queens of Apostles Church compound and along the Superhighway. The Walk shall start 7.00am to 11.00am. Members from the Young Professionals and the Youth of the church and members of the community are expected to participate in the walk. This shall raise funds towards eradicating the menace as well as looking forward to open a Counseling centre along the Super Highway. Interested sponsors who would like to participate in this noble cause are cordially invited.

On the following day the 28th October2012, we shall now have the Screening day. We have invited about 30 Medical Practitioners volunteering from hospitals in Nairobi who will be conducting the exercise, as well as cancer survivors in the locality who will show case their survival tactics. This is based on the fact that we want to make it bigger and better to include the following activities but not limited to:

1. Cancer and other diseases testing
2. Paps Smear
3. Screening and Counseling of Breast Cancer and Prostate
4. Blood Pressure
5. Diabetes Testing
6. Body Mass Index, (BMI)
7. Dental and Eye conditions
8. HIV/AIDS testing and counseling
9. Health and Nutrition talks on management of terminal and lifestyle diseases
10. Blood donation exercises among others

 

How to Assist Through Sponsorship

There are three categories of Sponsorship

Platinum
Gold
Silver

Platinum Category

Platinum class sponsors will have status as main official sponsors of the Cancer Walk. In addition to being the main official sponsors of the event, the following will be added:

• The sponsor will be mentioned at the opening, during the event and at the close of the event.
• The main sponsor will get to display his banner and even set up a tent to showcase his products and services in form of promotional material (i.e. flyers, leaflets, brochures, booklets)
• The main sponsor will also get a chance to give a 15 minute speech
• The main sponsor will also get a chance to put up 3 own banners in the venue.

Gold Category

In this category the sponsor will enjoy the following benefits:

• Get mentioned at the opening and closing of the event.
• Get to put up 2 own banners and also get the opportunity to set up a tent to show case their products
• Get a chance to give a 10 minute speech.

Silver Category

In this category the sponsor will enjoy the following:

• Get mentioned at the beginning and the closing of the event
• Get to set up one banner at the event
• Set up a tent to show case their products and distribute their promotional literature ie flyers ,brochures etc

Comparison table

Action	Platinum	Gold	Silver
Status: Main Official Sponsor	Yes	No	No
Speech	Yes(15 mins)	Yes(10 mins)	No
Main Banner	Yes	No	No
Own Banner	Yes (3 Banners)	Yes (2 banners)	Yes (1 Banner)
Tent & promotional material	Yes	Yes	Yes

Sponsorship Table

Category	Sponsorship (in Ksh)
	Max	Min
Platinum	500,000	250,000
Gold	250,000	100,000
Silver	100,000	20,000

The main sponsor owns the right to direct the sponsorship to certain areas of the event. A detailed cost balance of the event will be sent on request. In order to secure the placement in this event, the deadline of 2 weeks ahead of the event should be strictly respected.

Your great co-operation in partnering with us on using making strides Against Cancer will be highly appreciated.

Sponsors.

Contact Us

Tumaini House 3rd floor suite 309
P.O. Box 906-00618
Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: +254 700 299 380
email: info@cackenya.org

References from.

 www.cackenya.org

Yours, In Health,

 Dean.

Film Review: Nairobi Half Life

Good Morning, afternoon, evening and Night, dear readers. How've you been? I hope ya'll been as I have. Good. Started classes and working on some projects, both in Acting and Writing.


 Today were focusing on a mombasa image as the starter pic. One of the most beautiful towns I have had the pleasure of visiting. To those coast peeps trying to protest, ati "Pwani si Kenya", don't you dare take mombasa, malindi, Diani, hell, all of it away from us. KDF just beat the Al-shabaab, let them come home and rest. Mombasa is very special to kenyans. A holidaying spot, second largest city and all... Its also one of the town's "Jack Zollo" "travelled to" in his "career" as a criminal. If you haven't read "My life In crime" so... no! I aint saying sorry for that. You shoud've read the biggest kenyan bestseller, besides the bible. Word.












 Last post, I'd mentioned that I was a fan of Nairobi Half Life, without and before watching it. So I decided
to make a plan, on a sunday afternoon, with dear mother, at westgate, to watch it. It was ... ... more on this later.... Then I happened to hear of the Kenya buzz competion on writing "Nairobi Half Life: Film review". I religiously wrote my own and its on the kenya buzz website, awaiting acceptance and I wait for that e-mail informing me of winning the competition. The  Reward is 1)the winning review to be printed onto the Star Newspaper and 2) 15,000 dol.... kenya shillings (almost got you there, hehe). Here is the link to the competition page,  /kenyabuzz.com/ but for the meantime, here is my review... Quote unquote.

 

Nairobi Half Life Review

Nairobi half life (2012) is an action flick commandeered by David 'Tosh' Gitonga, penned by Serah mwihaki, A collaboration of Ginger Ink Films and One fine day Films. A present day story of Mwas (Joseph Wairimu), an aspiring actor from 'mashambani' who dreams of becoming a spartan in the performers world. He's told that 'He's good' by an actor from a travelling theatre troupe, but his Achilles heel is "Ako ocha". He decides to travel to Nairobi, to put down roots in the acting world. His pursuit of his dreams coincidentally lands him in trouble, in the Central Police Station cages, where he meets Oti (Maina Olwenya), a cocky criminal cooling his heels in the cells. They strike a surprising partnership and once released, combine brains and brawn with the other gang members, Mose, Waf and Kyalo, to eke out a living in the criminal underworld. The story is chronological and set in the Kenyan Highlands, Nairobi city and suburban slums and estates in a community slightly above the poverty line.

 What hit me was the rawness of this film. The use of indigenous languages and dialects, Swahili, Kikuyu and Sheng' is exemplary. The director and cast give a bare knuckled tale of the Kenyan criminal underworld; the experiences, dreams and realities of its Inhabitants are not held back. Neither is the swearing and use of profane language when the need arises, always rising to the occasion; whether to avoid being under cut during "business" deals or friendly banter with the local corrupt officers. 

 Images of cramped 10" by 10" rooms shared by six people and those of closed corridors where commercial sex workers advertise and "sell" their wares, gay scenes to grand theft auto in the leafy suburbs make the story unique. The film scores are a combination of underground hiphop by Ukoo Flani "Halisi", Rap by P-unit "hodi hodi", Afro-electro-pop by Just a band "Hahe" and Original scores by Xavier von Treyer. "Live and die in eastleigh" is also played. "Hahe" by Just a band was the best placed of all, as they steal tyres from cars in the dead of night. The song plays, "Tuko works Mzeiya" as the cinema hall erupted in applause. Hmm, who knows, we may have more gangsters in Nairobi than we originally thought.
 
 

 











The use of locations and personalities familiar to the Kenyan and Nairobi population gives the film an authentic feel, a story told on the same streets and buildings we walk by daily. Settings like Sarova Stanley, Machakos bus station, Kenya Cinema, Pension towers, The Hilton Nairobi, Kenya National Theatre, Phoenix players theatre and the countless fries cafes in the Central business District. In addition Known actors such as Nini Wacera, Eddi Kimani, Ojiambo Ainea, Nancy Wanjiku, Gilbert Lukalia, Kenneth Gichoya considerably increase the familiarity.


The were three disappointing aspects of the film. The extras, over emphasization on poverty and the scenes in motion. The extra's were very plastic in their acting, as if they held their breath every time the camera focused in their direction. I very much doubt that they were actors, and am sure there are very many natural career extras in Kenya who would gladly show up for filming. Too much of anything is a bad thing, too much poverty is even worse. A few scenes of the highlife would have been highly appreciated, Tosh Gitonga. Moving scenes were poorly done, in no constant direction, haphazard.

The message of redemption, hope, is very strong throughout the film, only eclipsed by a feel good syndrome. Countless jokes are cracked during the film, from Mwas falling through the roof to making fun of Mose who aspires to "sing like kidum". The movie is uplifting and proves that in the midst of all the poverty and misery, a few laughs are possible.

 

 Personally, I loved the film, from the opening score to the credits. The directing was well done, Script was awesome the acting was superb ,especially Oti, who I suspect might be a gangster, night shift of course and Nini who might have had her phone stolen a couple of times too many. The editing was good, mirrored by the setting. Camera work was spectacular, especially the zooming in and out of crowds. Choreography of the fighting scene was we'll done, believable. Montage scenes were well executed. The message was very strong, and answers several important questions. So one question still stands...

"Have we really chosen to be who we are?"Written By: Dean Gichukie.












Below is one of my favourite images of a Nairobi Sunset. Glad I could share it with you. Courtesy of "Mutua Matheka photography"

Adios Amigos, 

Dean.