Sunday 23 August 2009

The Terrific Twins: Karijo Twins


EDNA &EVALIN KARIJO


So finally I get to write about my sisters. I’m hoping that it will help me avoid questions that include: How is it growing up with twin sisters? Isn’t it interesting? Are Twins are weird? Do they think alike? So does that mean I’m also likely to have twins?
The last borns in our family of five children are the twins Edna and Evalin. In public circles they go by all sorts of other names. The most common is the terrific twins which was the name they used in KTNs Can you Dance Competition. It is still the name they use on their KU Fm Sunday Catholic programme. The twins are multitalented they act and have been members of the Kenyatta University Travelling Theater, they dance under various stage names including Karijo Twins. They read news on the Universities radio station KU fm. They play piano in Kenyatta University Catholic Chaplaincy and the list goes on and on and on.
Of course I should be proud as big brother but also that comes with the name tag “brother wa twins” or “the twins brother”.
So disadvantages of growing up with twins include you will never win an argument because you will always be outnumbered. I learned that early and always chose the path of diplomacy and compromise my younger brother took a bit more time and when we were kids the twins were specialists in driving him up the wall.
Advantages include when you need family to run to when in trouble you get it in double dose which is good. It was especially useful for me when I decided to resume my studies back at the University. The twins handled everything I needed from administration including registration, fees statements etc. If it wasn’t for them I would be lost in the new look Kenyatta University which is very much unlike the one I left five years ago and even different from the KU I oriented the twins into. It is more beautiful and larger than life…well it is Professor Olive’s Kenyatta.
Other questions about the twins are more easily answered by the science of twins rather than by looking at my younger siblings.
Finally if you ask me being a brother to the two is great and I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.
THE SCIENCE OF TWINS
Monozygotic twins, frequently referred to as identical twins. Genetically speaking, the children of MZ twins are half-siblings rather than cousins that means if or when my twin sisters do get kids those children will be more like brothers and sisters than cousins.
It is estimated that there are around 10 million monozygotic twins and triplets in the world which means that twins are 0.16% of the world populations.
The likelihood of a single fertilisation resulting in MZ twins appears to be a random event, not a hereditary trait, and is uniformly distributed in all populations around the world although people such as the Yoruba of Nigeria have shown to have high affinity for it.
Hopefully that last point should put to rest anyone who wants to be with me as a potential twin making machine … you can pick any other specimen among men it is a random event.
The number of epigenetic differences between MZ twins increases with age. Fifty-year-old twins had over three times the epigenetic difference of three-year-old twins. Twins who had spent their lives apart (such as those adopted by two different sets of parents at birth) had the greatest difference.
That should answer questions like can I tell them apart? Yeah of course I’ve known them for 20 + years so I should be able to tell them apart. However sometimes I pick up their pictures and I have to look at it twice before telling who is who. The twins also have different reactions to situations but somehow their different responses seem to strengthen them emotionally, psychologically as a pair. I however have to warn you if you have something confidential to say to them make sure you are speaking to the right twin whether it is on phone or face to face they have been a nightmare to many teachers and …unlucky boys.
However, certain characteristics become more alike as twins age, such as IQ and personality. This phenomenon illustrates the influence of genetics in many aspects of human characteristics and behaviour. The twins recently attended the World Youth Day in Sidney Australia as part of a group called MAGis which brings together people from all over the world in Cultural and social experiment meant to lead them towards growth, discovery and more openness to the world.
One of the experiments had the participants draw pictures. The twins sitted on opposite ends of the table and with no restrictions on theme or color painted almost identical pictures using the same colors and with a similar theme. (I promise to upload these pictures as soon as I have the permission)
But the explanation above on IQ and personality can explain this phenomenon. My kid sisters have grown up in the same schools and all their exposures have been the same so more of similar events like the above are bound to occur. However it is interesting to note that for them it did not seem weird or strange that they painted the same picture.
Do they do things differently? Yeah, always … they are two people even in their choice of study and career Edna is a B.Com student majoring in Marketing while Evalin is a Environmental Health student they are both in their third year of study. While Edna stayed in Nairobi for her attachment with one of the government agencies on export Evalin was out in Makueni with AMREF in their water projects.
I could write ten pages about them but for today I hope that reduces everybody’s curiosity on the terrific twins.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Evalin-Karijo/1313727801

http://www.facebook.com/people/Edna-Karijo/1347662776

http://www.ktnkenya.tv/dance/?page_id=29

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twin#Dizygotic_twins

Kenyan Queens of the Track: 12th IAAF Berlin Championships

FANTASTIC KENYAN QUEENS OF THE TRACK

Vivian Cheruiyot, Sylvia Jebiwott Kibet and Iness Chepkesis Chenonge


After watching the photo finish of the women's 5000 meters where Vivian Cheruiyot and Sylvia Kibet floored Meseret Defar it is clear to my mind that the beautiful Kenyan girls now rule the long distance track events. It all began on the second day of the championships when Linet Maasai ended the Kenyan 10 year drought to win gold in the 10,000 meters final.

After a slow tactical race Cheruiyot the 2007 silver medallist outkicked Sylvia Kibet and Defar to claim gold in 14:57:97 Kibet went past dejected Defar to take silver in 14:58:33.
Kibet and Cheruiyot incidentally attended the same high school Sing’ore Girls’ Secondary School - a school that has produced among others world 800m champion Janeth Jepkosgei .

SCHOOL MATES NOW CHAMPIONS


Sylvia Kibet has come a long way inspired by older sister Hilda Kibet and fantastic road running cousin Lorna Kiplagat she started an international career at age 15 winning Africa youth 3000m gold medal while still in primary school. She has overcome many challenges staying away from races to complete her O-levels, get married to Erastus and to be a mother to Britney Jepkosgei , and to juggle a career with the Kenya police.
While many people have missed the brilliant athlete in the distance mistakenly classing her in the events that started her career the 1500 and 3000m races in which she holds the national best times. She should have been someone to watch when she finished fourth behind Melkamu, Defar and Vivian and again in the Beijing Olympics behind the Ethiopian champions. But in 2009 everyone will surely stand up and take notice of the wonderful 25 year old.

20 YEAR OLD INSPIRES OTHER ATHLETES TO WIN
Linet Chepkwemoi Masai of Kenya celebrates winning the gold medal in the women's 10,000 Metres Final during day one of the 12th IAAF World Athletics Championships at the Olympic Stadium on August 15, 2009 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
12th IAAF World Athletics Championships - Day One

Vivian Cheruiyot credits Linet Masai with the inspiration that led her to the most dramatic 50 metres of a long distance event in these championships. The perennial threat to the Ethiopian crew Vivian finally floored them as she puts it “We prayed for this gold medal and God gave it to us. On my last 100m I was pushing so hard, pushing, pushing”. Masai and Vivian share an agent.

Her inspiration Linet Chepkwemoi Masai is only 20 and the second part of the Masai trilogy of athletes. Her brother Moses Ndiema has also bagged bronze in these championships and he also credits his sister for the inspiration.
Masai who started out as junior world cross country champion in Mombasa 2007 struggled to change over to track. After missing out on the medal brackets to the Ethiopians in many meets she finally made it to become world champion and inspiration for other champions as she says "I can't believe it. I'm so grateful for the win. I didn't give up."

Track and Field: 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics

LINET ENDS THE FANTASTIC ETHIOPIANS 10 YEAR RULE
Track and Field: 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics


ELEGANT LEGS LINET TAKES IT AWAY
12th IAAF World Athletics Championships - Day One

Another wonderful lady from the Mount Elgon region of Kenya is Milka Chemos Chweiya who won bronze in the womens steeplechase.

12th IAAF World Athletics Championships - Day Three

Aug 17 2009

BERLIN - AUGUST 17: (L-R) Yuliya Zarudneva of Russia receives the silver medal, Marta Dominguez of Spain the gold medal and Milcah Chemos Cheywa of Kenya the bronze medal during the medal ceremony for the women's 3000 Metres Steeplechase Final during day three of the 12th IAAF World Athletics Championships at the Olympic Stadium on August 17, 2009 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Content © 2009 Getty Images . All rights reserved.


These ladies embody what Sylvia Kibet says of Kenyan champions of how they have to overcome trials to become champions "You come from the bush, or you come from the forest. Then you train, and you become a champion."

Meanwhile this year saw Kenyas fantastic duo of Pamela Jelimo Olympic champion and Janeth Jepkosgei world champion over the distance faced with new challenges the two ladies have won all 800 metres titles on offer for the last three years but in Berlin the 20 year old golden girl Pamela Jelimo after winning her heats pulled out of the semi final after too much strain on her injuries. Jepkosgei who first urged Jelimo to join the 800 meters competition was left on her own to take on Africa’s Champion South African Caster Semenya. Caster had tripped Janeth in the heats but beat her fair and square in the final.

12th IAAF World Athletics Championships - Day Six THE CHAMPIONS

However the poor south African teenager still has to be subjected to a gender test. One wonders if Usain Bolt or any other male champion would be subjected to gender test had they looked a bit female. Let Caster keep her six pack. However in Kenya Jelimo-mania is being put to test but many of her fans still adore the 20 year old runner.
Anyway many Kenyans are looking for the return of the sensational Kapsabet Express “Jelimo” and to watch her and the more mature, dependable and experienced eldoret express “Jepkosgei” take on new kid on the block Caster.

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - SEPTEMBER 05: Pamela Jelimo of Kenya celebrates after winning the Golden League $1 Million Jackpot in the Women's 800m during the IAAF Golden League meeting at the Memorial Van Damme Stadium on September 5, 2008 in Brussels, Belgium. (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images)
IAAF Golden League - Brussels
JELIMO STILL ROCKS

The Kenyan men have also been doing their bit. They finished 1-2 in the marathon earlier in the day Abel Kirui and Emmanuel Kipchirchir taking the honors and Mwafrika Robert Cheruiyot falling out of the medal brackets. The double 1-2 finish gave Kenya four golds and 10 overall. Ezekiel Kemboi won his first steeplechase gold followed by Richard Matelong after great team effort with Kipsiele Koech who set the pace and Brimin Kipruto. They however have an uphill task as Joshua Kivuva and Alfred Kirwa Yego take on ex-Kenyan Yusuf Saad Kamel.



http://www.life.com/image/90010168
http://www.picapp.com/search.aspx?term=janeth+jepkosgei&frompage=canvas
http://www.iaaf.org/news/athletes/newsid=45785.html
http://www.letsrun.com/2009/womens5kfinal0822.php
http://berlin.iaaf.org/news/kind=112/newsid=53940.html

Monday 10 August 2009

Work at Home - the best website ever

I'm planning to use my start up business Kenya Freelancers outsourcing to build the largest network of work at home professionals in Kenya. In the quest for this I have been online so many times to look for helpful tips and I always found them at Work at home the spac

So today I'm too lazy to write anything for you except I'd like to recommend anyone to go to their website above to look for jobs, to lounge and chat or to read helpful articles like the one below that I copied in it's entirety.

10 Suggestions To Kill Work At Home Distractions
Written by: S McIntyre

Working at home and being there for your children is a luxury. Who wouldn't want to be in my shoes? The downside, there are many challenges and distractions.

As a business owner, I can be more flexible than your telecommuter who has a virtual boss hundreds of miles away, but sometimes that flexibility is more of a disadvantage than an advantage.

Here are 10 suggestions to put an end to these work at home distractions.

1. Phone
Let your voice mail pick up your phone calls. If you're not expecting an important call, turn down the volume so you can't hear who's leaving a message.

2. Television and Radio
Television and radio are the worse offenders of background noise. Some music can influence your mood and put you in a non-working frame of mind.

3. Email, Instant Messaging, Social Network Sites
Don't keep your email programs, instant messaging, or social network sites minimized or opened. Enough said.

4. Children
They are one of the many reasons we choose to work at home, but they are pure distraction. Babysitters, daycares, play dates are all good options, but they may not be viable options all the time. Scheduling is very important. Set aside block times for work and for your children. Work doesn't have to be 8 hour days.

5. Food
Stock your pantry and fridge with fruits and veggies for quick and easy healthy lunches and snacks. Avoid drinking alcohol. Always have water at your desk as dehydration causes fatigue, headaches, irritability and more.

6. Procrastination
We avoid it because it difficult to do or we don't enjoy doing it. You have two choices:

A. Perform the task at your peak performance time when you're really alert and work focused or

B. Completely scrap the task if it's not important. Don't hang on to the task or save it for another day.

7. Weather
I find it harder to work when it's sunny and warm. I know I'm not alone. Know when to stop and don't overwork. Distraction is not always a negative thing.

8. Work Attire
Many people have admitted to wearing their pajamas while working at home. Is it productive? I don't think so. Get up, shower, get dressed, eat breakfast and start your day. These things get you moving and your blood circulating and it puts your mind in a work focused mode.

9. Work Schedule
I know when I oversleep I'm more tired and unmotivated throughout the day. Getting up early for me is the best. We're all different in what works well. Find the time when you're the most energetic and do your difficult tasks at that time.

10. Housework
There's nothing wrong with a messy house; a dirty one is a different story. If you keep your house clean and neat then clean up is a snap. Laundry, dishwashing and other chores can be done in between your breaks. It's all about utilizing your time in the most efficient way.

Working at home really requires a lot of self-discipline, careful planning and knowing what works for you. If you can do all that, then work at home distractions can be kept to a minimum or at the very least, none at all.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

S McIntyre is the founder of WorkAtHomeSpace.com a free work at home resource focusing on work at home companies, daily telecommuting job leads, articles, business resources, networking forum and other work at home related topics.

She also co-owns WorkAtHomeBusinessOptions.com, a comprehensive direct selling and telecommuting work at home business resource that includes business tips, exclusive business articles, direct sales and telecommute company listings, home living and much more.

Source: Work At Home Space Articles