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Archive for April 21st, 2010

Premature ejaculation could be passed to men genetically, scientists say

Posted by Administrator on April 21, 2010

Problems with premature ejaculation could all be inherited: Scientists have found a genetic abnormality can affect levels of the chemical in the brain

It can leave men feeling like a failure in the bedroom and wreck even the strongest marriages.

But new research suggests premature ejaculation could be an inherited problem.

Scientists from Finland and Sweden have found men who cannot last long during sex are more likely to have a genetic abnormality that affects levels of a chemical in the brain.

They discovered these men carried a defect in a gene that controls the release of dopamine, a ‘neurotransmitter’ that plays a crucial role in everything from movement and attention span to the brain’s perception of pleasure and reward.

Now they believe drugs that boost dopamine levels in the brain could be a new way of treating a condition that affects one in four men in the UK.

As far back as the 1970s, researchers noted that dopamine-based drugs used to treat Parkinson’s disease had an aphrodisiac affect on some patients.

But until now, most experts agreed premature ejaculation was probably linked with psychological issues.

One popular theory is men become conditioned to ejaculate quickly by early sexual behaviour where they do not want to get caught in the act.

Another is that a strict upbringing can leave some men struggling to relax during sex.
Studies show men affected by the problem last an average of just 1.8 minutes during sex, compared with 7.3 minutes in those not affected.

Treatments usually involve relaxation techniques, although doctors do sometimes prescribe anti-depressants to control men’s anxiety.

Scientists have also been developing ‘numbing’ sprays that can make men last longer.

The latest study, published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, suggests the problem may be passed down through the generations.

Experts studied almost 1,300 men aged between 18 and 45 and quizzed each one on how long they were usually able to last during sex.

They also took saliva samples to test for defects in a dopamine transporter gene, called DAT1.

The results showed that men with a slightly different form of the gene were much more likely to suffer with premature ejaculation.

In a report on their findings scientists said: ‘Previous research suggests a partly hereditary background to premature ejaculation.

‘But the results of this study indicate that drugs directly affecting dopamine levels may be candidates for treatment.’

The Daily Mail-UK

Posted in World News | Comments Off

Kenyan Embassy Takes Swipe at Tea Party Movement With Own Tea Party in Washington, DC

Posted by Administrator on April 21, 2010

By ANTONY KARANJA in DALLAS, TEXAS

The Kenyan Government is having some fun of its own at the expense of Sarah Palin’s Tea Party Movement with an event at the US Capitol in Washington, DC on Tuesday, April 27.

Kenya’s deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta will be attending the event dubbed “Real Tea Party” which is aimed at promoting Kenya as the world’s premier tea exporter.

A Kenyan Embassy representative confirmed to jambonewspot.com about the impending event and referred the website editor to Chlopak Leonard Schechter and Associates (CLS), a corporate communications and public affairs firm based in Washington, DC which is organizing the event in conjunction with the Kenyan Government. CLS also has the governments of Spain, Mexico, Peru and Portugal as clients.

In what seems like an apparent swipe at the Tea Party Movement rallies being held in the US mainly by conservatives, the invite sent out to the public reads “Find Out What a Real Tea Party is All About.” and “Capitol Hill is finally having a tea party that actually serves tea!”

Further the invites read, “The Government of Kenya, the world’s #1 tea exporter, cordially invites you to a proper Kenyan Tea Party on Capitol Hill (one without a political agenda). Please join Kenyan Deputy Prime Minister, the Honorable Uhuru Kenyatta, at Kenya’s tea tasting event, complete with food pairings and tea leaf readings.“

The “Real Tea Party” event is in apparent contrast to the rowdy tea parties that have been held all over the country in fierce opposition to US President Barack Obama’s policies and who apparently still believe that the US President is a citizen of Kenya.

On April 15 which is Tax day in the US, some protesters from the Tea Party Movement held signs reading “A village in Kenya is missing its idiot” and “Go back to Kenya”

Here is one of the invites

Posted in Diaspora News | 2 Comments »

Dads, your little girls long to be your friends

Posted by Administrator on April 21, 2010

By JOYCE NJERI KIMANI

When I was growing up, every weekend a tall, dark man would come home and invariably pick up my older sister, sit her on his lap and ask her who had been naughty that week.

She would dutifully report what we had done and the man would take out his belt and whack our backsides as punishment for wrongs we had done.

Later, at night, he would go to my mum’s room and the next day, he would go away, only to return the following weekend to punish and correct us.

I always wondered who this strange man was, until one day I mustered the courage to ask my older sister, who informed me that he was my father.

I first laughed at the idea. Then I realised that it was he who paid my fees, gave mum money to buy me new clothes and also helped her build the house we lived in.

There was always a distance between us. I feared and at the same time admired this man. I wanted to be his friend, share my secrets with him, tell him that I loved him and to be there when he needed me.

I wished he would be there to tell me he was proud of me when I passed my exams. I recall a day he promised me a gift if I did well in my end-of-term exams. I came top of my class, but instead of congratulating me, he gave me a beating, ostensibly for slacking off and performing below par.

I wished he would just say a simple “Thank you” when I made him his favourite meal. Honestly, it would have made my day.

Instead, he took two bites and said he was full. I longed for my graduation, hoping it would be the first time he would ever whisper to me the four magic words: “I’m proud of you”. But my graduation came and went, and I never heard him say those words.

I told him about my boyfriend, but all he did was express surprise that I even had one. Then he kicked me out of the room and told me he never wanted to hear anything like that from me again, adding that men were out to ruin my life.

Listening to Luther Vandross’ track, Back When I Was a Child, always brought tears to my eyes. I longed to have the dad that the musician sang about and play a song that would never end with him.

So I kept my distance, but loved him, nevertheless. I adored him for his hard work, I respected him for his courage, I feared him for his seriousness and honoured him for taking care of me.

I’m not alone. Millions of girls in African societies have only a “father”, not a “dad”. A man who provides, corrects, disciplines and whose only communication is the cane. Most of them have never experienced the fatherly love they long for.

Many of my friends suffer from low self-esteem, insecurity, pain and betrayal and most would want a place to hide.

And many girls my age feel they don’t fit in, or that they have no friends. They would like a place to hide from their troubles and feel they have someone who loves them.

More importantly, they would want someone who would be there when they feel as if their world is crumbling, when they feel they just can’t make it or take it anymore. It would be wonderful for them to have a dad who shows that he really cares.

Despite everything, I love my dad. Love is said to overlook all faults in a person. Love keeps no records of wrongs done. Love is patient and I wait patiently for the day we will become best friends.

Love is like a butterfly; if you chase it, it will run away, but, if you sit and wait patiently, it will come and sit on your shoulder. I choose to wait.
Meanwhile, he will forever remain my dear, distant dad.

Source -Daily Nation

Posted in Analysis and Opinion | Comments Off

Mum, dad, I think I’m in love!

Posted by Administrator on April 21, 2010

Teenagehood is a stage marked by physical and emotional turmoil, which parents should learn to handle tactfully. Photos/PHOTOS.COM

By MILLICENT OJIAMBO
Many parents watch theit children reach teenagehood with apprehension. Suddenly, the child develops a zest for life, resists parental control, begins dressing like certain TV idols, hangs out with certain crowds, talks — and sometimes even walks — in a certain manner, and worst of all, develops an interest in members the opposite sex.

Teenagehood comes with many physical and psychological changes as the child makes a transition from childhood to adulthood, and experiences hitherto unfelt emotions. He/she suffers a serious identity crisis and emotional instability as he/she tries to resolve his/her inner turmoil.

This is the stage where infatuation or puppy love manifests itself. Because the child experiences a strong desire to love and to be loved, he/she is vulnerable and cannot resist temptation when a prince charming or beautiful damsel comes along.

Many parents’ first reaction to puppy love is to forbid their child from getting near his/her object of affection or interacting freely with the opposite sex.

The teenager’s confession of love only earns him/her a tongue lashing, and sometimes even disciplinary measures. The parent(s) offers no guidance or explanation as to why it is not advisable get involved in serious romance at that stage.

In school, the teachers are no better. They humiliate the child by reading his/or her love messages out loud to his colleagues, and thereafter punishing the child, believing that this acts as a deterrent.

But what are the psychological effects of such treatment?

Puppy love is a part of growing up, and if their parents or guardians do not handle a teenager properly, he/she is likely to be scarred for life. When adults demonize or make fun of their child’s romantic feelings, they hurt the child and destroy his/her self worth.

Confused

The child becomes confused because, on the one hand are these strong emotions which he/she feels unable to control, while on the other are adults vilifying him/her for having romantic feelings.

If this emotional conflict is not resolved, the child is likely to grow into a maladjusted adult incapable of forming lasting and satisfying relationships with the opposite sex.

It is unrealistic to expect a teenager to switch off his or her romantic feelings because his/her parents forbid it. So most teenagers end up turning to those they find more understanding.

But often, these are their peers, who are equally clueless. If the object of affection reciprocates, the result is a clandestine relationship, which might end well or tragically, depending on how principled the child is, and how desperate he/she is for love.

Girls are especially vulnerable at this stage. It is a widely believed that boys give love to get sex while girls give sex to get love. Thus a smooth-talking boy can easily convince a girl to have sex with him if she is not receiving the love and attention she needs at home.

Many parents have no idea what their teenage daughters are up to until they are suddenly confronted with the harsh reality of a pregnancy and a broken heart.

Parents need to understand their teens’ romantic feelings and offer proper guidance.

The child needs to be taught to differentiate between puppy love and the real thing, how to behave around members of the opposite sex, the prudence of group dating as opposed to romantic dates for two, the advantages of abstinence over sexual activity at that age, suitable places to go to, activities they can involve themselves in, what they can drink, the movies they can see, etc.

With proper parental guidance, a teenager will learn how to maintain his/her self respect with the opposite sex and is likely to make a smooth transition from childhood to adulthood.

However, many parents do not know how to do this tactfully. They order the child around, demanding that he/she open up to them, only for them to ridicule the youngster, show intolerance and make snap judgements.

It is not surprising, therefore, that many adolescents prefer to keep their romantic feelings secret.

Understanding

Some confide in other grown-ups they perceive as more understanding. So don’t be surprised if your child confides in her best friend’s mother and not you.

When this happens, you demand that she open up to you because deep down you are scared, hurt, and disappointed because she has chosen a stranger over you.

You worry that you might be losing her so you desperately try to hold on in the only way you know – by controlling her. But teenagers don’t welcome domineering parents, and chances are that she won’t open up to you. In fact, you are likely to alienate her even further.

The only way to get your child to open up to you is to cultivate friendship with the them, and this can only be achieved through patience and understanding. A child will only open up if he/she feels understood.

Many parent-teenager conflicts are caused by internal emotional turmoil in the child, which the parent refuses to acknowledge.

Some parents claim that they never underwent any emotional turmoil during adolescence.

What they fail to acknowledge is that many of them got married at an age in their early teens, when they were just discovering themselves, so they had no opportunity to truly experience adolescence.

But things have changed, and children cannot simply switch from childhood to married life. Besides, the law makes it illegal for them to marry until they are 18. But while adulthood has been postponed, romantic feelings still set in with teenagehood.

So if you are a parent of a teenager, talk to your child today without judging or interrogating them, perhaps even bringing up your experiences as a teenager.

You will find that as you reach out to your child, he/she will reciprocate. Don’t don’t ignore the child because you cannot understand him/her. Be a parent and a friend. Later, you’ll thank yourself for it.

living@nation.co.ke

Posted in Analysis and Opinion | Comments Off

Finally, I found a church that took me in just the way I am

Posted by Administrator on April 21, 2010

By Asunta Wagura

Two questions that I almost always have to answer are whether I’m saved, and which church I go to. While I have no problem answering these questions, my concern is, are these the only prerequisites for spiritual satisfaction? I believe it requires more.

When I tested HIV-positive and was given a six months to live, my hopes of the church coming to my rescue were crushed by the man of God.

“She deserves no pity,” he thundered. “It’s written that the wages of sin is death, and that’s it.”

When I didn’t die like everyone had prophesied, I decided to give church another try. But this time I had a different reason.

“Where I go after I die is immaterial,” I reasoned. “All I need is a well-attended funeral, which will be presided by a pastor. Or is that not the tradition whether you were a saint or not?”

But my plan unravelled. I made the mistake of confiding in one of the women ushers at the church where I worshipped because she seemed friendly, very “saved”, understanding and motherly: I told her I was HIV-infected. Unknown to me, she told the pastor.

The following Sunday, when it was time for announcements, the pastor said he had an announcement to make. Normally, someone else did this before giving the floor to the man of God to minister.

“My church, which I founded under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, will not be used by the devil,” the pastor said. “My church will not accommodate the works of the devil.”

Then he called me by name to go in front, but not anywhere near the altar.

“What you see here is nothing but the work of the devil, which I will destroy today, right before your eyes,” he said, as my son, Peter, stood miserably beside me.

The pastor then ordered us out of the church and told us never ever to come anywhere near it. We walked home to our four cold walls, which seemed an eternity away. With that, I vowed it was over between God and me, and between the church and me.

That cruel public rejection reminded me how terrible it was to be infected with this virus, which made even the church, usually a place of solace, reject me.

“I’ll also reject the church, the hypocritical churchgoers and anything to do with God,” I swore.

And that’s how, for more than eight years, I sought solace in the only friend who couldn’t reject me – liquor.

It was only later that I felt that what I needed to do was get a “quiet” church. I would attend quietly and say nothing about my HIV status. I didn’t want any drama.

I felt I couldn’t continue going down the liquor road. At least I needed God, if not the churchgoers. I needed to restore my relationship with God.

I found a church, but I made sure I sat at the back. But it wasn’t long before the church recognised me and wanted to involve me in more than just coming and listening. But the prosperity gospel was too much for me.

The pastor here kept reminding us how we would be punished if we didn’t give generously. His emphasis was on “paying premiums” for the afterlife, not how to tackle my daily challenges. And that’s why I quit going to church again.

I took quite some time and “tried” a few churches before settling for the one I currently attend. I think my church-hopping days are over.

My pastor talks about how one can live here, how to cope with stress and face today’s challenges. He gives me life skills, which I call weekly refuelling.

It’s not really a church since we don’t even have a building, but I feel very much at home here. People accept me the way I am, not because of who I am.

It’s amazing that I look forward to Sundays. Previously, I would drag myself to church. It was religiosity, not a relationship.

The other Sunday I was thinking that if the pastor started charging an entry fee, I’d book my ticket in advance. I’ve found the crucial missing chunk, something that fulfils my life immeasurably.

And, while I’m waiting for the “Big One”, my pastor teaches how I should relate with God, and have His kingdom right here right now because, virus or no virus, the heavenly bliss must start here with the girl in the mirror.

asuntawagura@hotmail.com

Published in the Daily Nation

Posted in Features | 1 Comment »

Immigration Legislation Gains Traction

Posted by Administrator on April 21, 2010

By Laura Meckler

WASHINGTON—The effort to pass comprehensive immigration legislation gained some traction Tuesday, as congressional leaders discussed a path to passing the bill this year and President Barack Obama wooed Republican Sen. Scott Brown to support it.

Conventional wisdom has been that the issue is too volatile for action in an election year, and that other matters would take priority. But immigration advocacy groups have been pressing hard for action.

At a Capitol Hill meeting Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid told House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that he was committed to bringing the legislation to the floor this year, according to one Democratic leadership aide. The aide said that Ms. Pelosi committed to bringing the bill to the floor if it passed the Senate.

A second leadership aide familiar with the meeting said Ms. Pelosi spoke about the importance of the legislation and agreed to try to advance the measure.

Sens. Chuck Schumer (D, N.Y.) and Lindsey Graham (R, S.C.) have released a blueprint for legislation that includes a path to citizenship for those here illegally. The blueprint also calls for a guest worker program and for controls aimed at stopping the flow of future illegal immigrants.

But Mr. Graham has said he doesn’t want to introduce it without at least one more Republican co-sponsor. At an Oval Office meeting last month, Mr. Obama promised to help find another.

He appeared to be making good on his promise on Tuesday, when he called Sen. Brown from Air Force One Tuesday to pitch the legislation.

Sen. Brown said in an interview Tuesday that the president was giving him a heads up that immigration was coming “down the pike” in about a month, and he should give it some serious thought. That’s a quicker timetable than most have expected, but it may have been the president’s way to trying to convey momentum for the issue.

“I told him I have an open mind,” Mr. Brown said. “I will read anything.”

He later added that he wasn’t committing to support the measure. “When I said I have an open mind, it means I have an open mind to read the bill,” Mr. Brown said. “That doesn’t mean that I will vote for granting amnesty to anyone. But I want to be respectful to the president and to any member who brings me a proposal.”

The White House reiterated the president’s support for the measure. “We’re obviously in consultation with both Republicans and Democrats to find a bipartisan solution to what is a very large problem, and one that we think will be addressed very soon,” spokesman Bill Burton said.

Democratic commitment to advancing an immigration bill this year was in doubt, given the number of others issues on the agenda. Those include passing new regulations for the financial services industry and nominating a Supreme Court justice.

Meantime, a one-time backer of an immigration-law overhaul continued to distance himself from it. Sen. John McCain, facing a tough Republican primary in Arizona, cosponsored an immigration measure in 2007. On Tuesday, he suggested that Senate Republicans should block the Schumer-Graham bill until U.S. borders are secure, according to an account in The Hill, a publication that covers Capitol Hill.

“I believe that we can convince our Republican colleagues that we have to secure the border first,” Mr. McCain said during an appearance on KFYI radio in Arizona, according to The Hill. “There’s no point of having immigration reform unless you can have the borders secure first.”

This week, Mr. McCain and Sen. Jon Kyl (R., Ariz.) proposed a 10-point plan for boosting border security.

McCain spokeswoman Brooke Buchanan noted in an interview that while running for president, Sen. McCain repeatedly said the borders must be secured before other changes are enacted.

Write to Laura Meckler at laura.meckler@wsj.com

-Wall Street Journal

Posted in Immigration | Comments Off

Kenya moves to resolve visa row with the UAE

Posted by Administrator on April 21, 2010

NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 21 – President Mwai Kibaki has now ordered Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetangula to travel to Dubai and resolve the visa row between the two countries should the mission in Abu Dhabi not sort it out by Friday.

Mr Wetangula assured the country on Wednesday that he was in constant communication with United Arab Emirates officials and was working to have the new requirement for Kenyan visa applicants traveling there to possess degrees scrapped.

The Minister who spent hours in a meeting with the President earlier in the day said that in the last two days he had secured the issuance of pending work permits for Kenyans and renewal of those that had expired.

“I want to give an assurance that Kenyans who work in Dubai are under no threat of losing their jobs. Our mission in Abu Dhabi has been following the matter very successfully,” he said.

The new requirement is a retaliatory move by the United Arab Emirates after Kenyan authorities arrested and deported four of its citizens on suspicion of being terrorists. There were reports that some of the suspects arrested were from a royal family in the UAE.

“I don’t want to call this a crisis as it has been referred. It is an incident borne out of another incident which we have overcome by now and we want to move on into the future,” Mr Wetangula said.

It is estimated that over 36,000 Kenyans work in Dubai in the hospitality and construction industries. Thousands others frequent the free port city on business trips. Since the introduction of the new rules dozens of business people have been denied visas to travel there.

Many Kenyans pass through the country while heading to other parts of the world.

The Minister confirmed that in the last two weeks two ministers and dozens of Members of Parliament had also been denied visas.

The business people especially in the textile industry have complained that they are losing millions of shillings in the crisis.

“For the business people who travel regularly I can only give you an assurance that the matter is in the hands of government and our counterparts across the Red Sea are fully committed to a very sound relationship between us.”

-Capital FM

Posted in Kenya | Comments Off

Ruto Moved in Cabinet Shuffle

Posted by Administrator on April 21, 2010

Agriculture minister William Ruto has been moved to the Higher Education docket in a Cabinet reshuffle on Wednesday.

President Kibaki named Dr Sally Kosgei as the new Agriculture minister after consultations with Prime Minister Raila Odinga, said a statement from the President’s office.

Trade minister Amos Kimunya will serve, in an acting capacity, as Transport minister.

Belgut MP Charles Keter, a Ruto ally, was dropped from the Cabinet altogether in his capacity as Energy assistant minister.

“These appointments and changes take effect immediately,” said the statement.

In other changes, Kaloleni MP Samuel Kazungu Kambi was named as the assistant minister in the Ministry of Medical Services while Wilfred Moriasi Ombui (North Mugirango ) will now serve the government as the assistant minister, Ministry of State for National Heritage and Culture, Office of the Vice President.

Kipkelion MP Kiprono Magerer Langat moves to the Energy Ministry as MP assistant minster.

The changes will come as a blow to Mr Ruto, who has been spearheading the No campaign against the draft constitution.

The Eldoret North MP is leading a group of No proponents, largely drawn from the Rift Valley, who are opposed to what they say are contentious issues in the draft, namely: Land, Devolution and Executive.

Particularly galling for him will be the fact that Dr Kosgei, who has gone against the grain in the Rift Valley in supporting the proposed law, is the one to gain from the perceived Ruto’s demotion.

The Agriculture Ministry is one of the key portfolios in government not least because agriculture is Kenya’s economic mainstay and the largest foreign exchange earner. Mr Ruto was also in control of 29 parasatals in the Ministry, one of the largest in the 40 Kenya ministries.

Mr Ruto was non-committal when asked if he considered the transfer as a demotion.

“Whatever it is,” he said.

Mr Ruto has also been at odds with the Prime Minister Raila Odinga and his party- the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM)- over a host of issues among them the Mau Forest evictions and the government’s handling of the post election violence suspects.

He has accused the PM of mismanaging the evictions saying that it was inhumane to uproot people from their homes and “dump them on the roadside”. Incidentally, Mr Odinga is expected in the Mau Thursday for another round of tree planting at Songi Kaboyet in Eastern Mau starting from 10 a.m.