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Jan Holbo

April 20, 2010
13:00
Spam, Spam, Spam ....
from » ‎ Jan Holbo

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I just noticed that I have neglected to look through my spam folder on GMail. 545 messages marked as spam by Gmail in month. That is close to 20 spam mails a day! I know that I may have part in receiving them myself but still....

In the past I have pruned the spam folder from time to time, just checking that no important messages went lost in there and deleted the rest but today I think I will go through mayb 100 mails or so and unsubscribe them if possible. Maybe that will leave me with a smaller spam folder in a months time? I hope so but am not holding my breath! Read Full Post
March 22, 2010
15:39
Yer Hotel - a web based hotel builder/manager game.
from » ‎ Jan Holbo

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A funny little web based game: Yer Hotel: You manage a hotel and through visits make money to upgrade and build bigger hotel(s).

This is my hotel in Yer Hotel : Kaddu hotel, Torquay, United Kingdom Read Full Post
November 27, 2009
16:21
Amazing Love!
from » ‎ Jan Holbo

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"Blessed be your name
In the land that is plentiful
Where the streams of abundance flow
Blessed be your name

Blessed be your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed be your name"

Amazingly how we can be in both of these places at the same time. Even though life is hard and we struggle through our lives, both the daily worldly domain as well as the spiritual domain, every moment we decide to spend in the presence of God as his child, there is an abundant stream of love flowing from his throne!
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June 11, 2009
17:35
Down-sizing?
from » ‎ Jan Holbo

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I know that we are in a recession and a lot of companies are downsizing, cost cutting and adjusting their product portfolio. But perhaps this is a step too far, British Airways? ;-)

Photo taken June 11th, 2009 on the Jinja-Kampala Highway in Mabira Forest, Uganda Read Full Post
May 13, 2009
9:34
Human Sacrifice is on the rise
from » ‎ Jan Holbo

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Human sacrifice is on an alarming increase. Children are abducted and killed because of the lust or want for money, success and fame.

We as parents try our best to protect our children. We do not entrust them to anybody without making sure (as well as we can) that they will not harm them.

We take precautions that we normally would not have allowed. Girls get their ears pierced before they are 9 weeks old. Boys get circumcised as babies. Why? To make them unsuitable for ritual rites and sacrifices.

But God wants us and our children to be free. HIS Son was sacrificed so that the only sacrifice we have to bring is to give Him our hearts and our will.

In the name of Jesus Christ, I bless each and everyone of our children. I call upon the power of God to save our children.

If You have lost a loved one, a child, a sibling to human sacrifice - please understand and know that children are innocent in the eyes of The Lord. So even if someon Read Full Post
April 30, 2009
13:19
A better world?
from » ‎ Jan Holbo

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"We are a Nation of Thieves and Lying is the Common Language"

- I heard this quote not long ago. And it is true, sad to say. For some contries it is more true and more prevalent than others but basically it is true for any and all nations that I know of.

You might say, that your in your nation, thieving and lying is only done in small an insignificant ways. In "The Parable of the Talents" (Matt 25:14-30) it says in verses 21 and 23 "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'". So if you are stealing and lying in small things, wouldn't you be the unfaithful servant?

The only way this world can be changed into a more trustworthy place, where justice is the order of the day rather than chaos and unjustice, is if we, You and I, start with ourselves. That is, if I start to make a change in the way I am, I can change my l Read Full Post
February 06, 2009
15:29
Public Transport - Kampala Style! Part Three
from » ‎ Jan Holbo

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Public Transport – Kampala Style! Part Three

This is the third part of a three part series I am writing on Public Transport in Kampala, Uganda.

In parts one and two we have covered Taxis and Bodo-Bodas. In this third and final part we will cover Cabs and Special hires.

Cabs
Generally there are two cab companies in Kampala; Yellow Cab and Blu-Cruise (or Blue Cab) (going to and from Entebbe is also the Airport Taxis). Both operate in much the same way. They have a meter that will calculate the cost of the fare. However you can arrange for a fixed fare before you set out o Read Full Post
February 05, 2009
8:41
Public Transport – Kampala Style! Part Two
from » ‎ Jan Holbo

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This is the second part of a three part series I am writing on Public Transport in Kampala, Uganda.

In part one I talked about Taxis. In this part we will cover Boda-Bodas.
Originally a Boda-Boda was a bicycle operating between borders across the often wide no-mans-land at the African border crossings. They ferried passengers and their belongings from one border post to the other; border-to-border hence boda boda.

Now a days they operate all over the city of Kampala going anywhere and everywhere in the city. The original bicycle Bodas are still here but have been joined by small motorcycles. As they can weave their way through traffic they are often the fastest way from A to B. This comes at a price though. Generally it is more expensive to go by boda. It is also more dangerous.

They also carry all sorts of goods. Anything that can fit on a boda will be Read Full Post
February 04, 2009
15:47
Public Transport - Kampala Style! Part One
from » ‎ Jan Holbo

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This is the first part of a three part series I am writing on Public Transport in Kampala, Uganda.

When you want to move around Kampala but do not have your own vehicle, you can choose between a few options.

Strictly speaking there is no real Public Transport, because it is all private initiative. Neither the government, the district or Kampala City Council operates or contracts private companies to offer public transport.

The mainstay of "Publicly Available Transport" comprises of Taxis and Boda-Bodas.

Taxis (known in Kenya as Matatus)
are usually Toyota Hiaces fitted and registered to carry 14 passengers. This is achieved by 4 rows of bench seats with 3 fixed seats at the back row and 2 fixed and one foldable seat in the 3 other rows. In addition to this there are seats in the front of the vehicle - next to the driver. But often they will try to fit 2-3 more persons in the taxi - more if there is kids. In addition to up to 18-19 passen Read Full Post
January 22, 2009
15:57
Global Warming ?!?
from » ‎ Jan Holbo

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Although we are currently in the dry season and probably will be for the next 2-4 weeks it acually rained yesterday(Wednesday, Januarey 21st) all over Kampala. We have had a few days in the last couple of weeks with more or less persistent drizzles but this was "real" rain.

I did not have my camera with me - only my mobile which is far from new. I took a couple of pictures but the built-in camera is not among the best on this phone (a QTEC 9100). It is only a 1.3 MPixel camera and the optics are not really top-class. So apologies for the qualities of the pictures.

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January 21, 2009
15:29
Prosperity in Africa?
from » ‎ Jan Holbo

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Just a quick thought: how do we turn the African economy/society round so that it is more balanced? There is a very small group of people who have everything they need - or rather- they have plentyfold of what they need - and yet it seems that most of them try to gather even more.

Then there is the vast majority who have almost nothing. Here in Uganda nature is so fertile that everybody can get something to eat everyday. It may not be enough not to feel hungry and you might have to struggle to get it but it is generally there. But apart from that some really have nothing.

Parents cannot afford sending their children to school. Even though the public primary schools are free the children are needed as a workforce. And that is if the children have parents. Many children have lost one or both of their parents to Malaria, HIV/AIDS, TB and war. So the oldest child(ren) may need to work in order to get food for his/her siblings.

There is virtually no middle c Read Full Post
15:05
In God's Hands
from » ‎ Jan Holbo

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I have been living in Kampala, Uganda with my wife and two of our children for almost 6 months. This is my first time living abroad and it has certainly been an interesting experience for me.

Most expatriots living here are working for either a European or American company or they are working for UN organisations or 1st world aid organisations. That is, they are well paid and well taken care of. They usually live in the nicer parts of town with big houses or apartments on large, lucious, green compunds with plenty of staff.

Some expatriot groups are more liked and reverred but in general they are looked upon as being wealthy. The 'white man' - the 'Muzungu' (or 'Mzungu') are generally better liked than the Asians and Arabs. This seems to be rooted in history. Idi Amin ousted the Asians during his time as president because he thought they were a 'disease' (reference needed).

But we as an expatriot family differ in most ways from other expatriots. First o Read Full Post