Arresting Development

The End

Jeff — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 04:17:17 +0000

Dear Friends (of Friends),

A few weeks ago I decided to end Morning Links on its two-year anniversary, and that day is today. While compiling ML is still enjoyable, I’ve come to believe the effort I put into them is taking away from my creative energy to do something more, uh, remunerative. There’s also the slightly bizarre fact ML has been America-based for 70 percent of its existence, meaning I’m close to being The New Times’ top international reader. That’s an honor I’m happy to relinquish.

The good news is that I still plan to spend an inordinate amount of time each day reading and sharing internet content. You can follow me on Twitter or on Google Reader, from which much of ML came in the first place. I am on but have yet to use Google+; nonetheless some of you are already in a Rwanda circle and that may become a way I share more Rwanda-specific stuff, so feel free to add me. All of this and more can be found at my personal site as well.

I’ve also bumped up all of the podcasts to the front page for your easier listening pleasure.
It’s been fun putting these together for the past two years; just below you’ll find the last edition compiled just as the others have been, with any profundity being entirely coincidental.

Enjoy,

Jeff

Morning Links – Ended

Jeff — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 04:06:02 +0000

The Rwandan government has sold its 25 percent stake in MTN Rwanda. (New Times)
Rwandans remember Steve Jobs as best they can. (New Times)
Mototaxis are technically not allowed to operate after 10 pm, overtake cars, or drive on the left. (New Times)
A second Nakumatt, just like Singapore. (New Times)
A wait service innovation from Uganda. (We Love Failure)
Wherein a development economist has a brief moment of transcendental angst while regressing war deaths in Stata. (Chris Blattman)
A year in the hands of Somali pirates with names like Buggas, Son Of A Liar, Red Butt, Red Teeth, and Big Mouth. (NYT)
That Apple user is acting like his dad just died. (Onion)
Five famous hidden song meanings that are total BS. (Cracked)

And finally, a somewhat less productive way of spending two years:

–
Arresting Development

Podcast VIII – Rwanda Trading Company

Jeff — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 09:47:54 +0000

James Dargan of Rwanda Trading Company talks with host Jeff Holmes about the coffee business in Rwanda. Jeff Holmes also mistakenly registers the podcast date as March 12 when it was in fact April 12, perhaps because he is dull of mind.

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Podcast VII – Off to School

Jeff — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 09:25:55 +0000

A classroom of fourth graders at an international school in Kigali chats with host Jeff Holmes. He also does the News in Sixty.

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Podcast VI – Brands

Jeff — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 09:20:08 +0000

Host Jeff Holmes talks about how Kigali has changed the way he thinks about brands. He also does the News in Sixty.

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Podcast V – Kora

Jeff — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 09:15:25 +0000

Host Jeff Holmes talks with Amy Walker, founder of Kora, a socially-minded fashion business. She discusses the joys and trials of doing business in Rwanda, why house parties might be more profitable than selling to Saks, and why she decided a for-profit structure was the way to go.

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Podcast IV – One Acre Fund

Jeff — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 09:10:51 +0000

Eric Pohlman of One Acre Fund talks about the NGO and its goal of helping the poorest farmers in Kenya and Rwanda. I also do the News in Sixty by my lonesome.

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Podcast III – The Price of Wine

Jeff — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 09:05:08 +0000

Today I go solo and talk about the costing and pricing of the wine business I run in Kigali. Hez joins me for the News in Sixty.

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Podcast II – Volunteering and Interning

Jeff — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 09:04:24 +0000

Journalist Hez Holland joins host Jeff Holmes once again to talk about the dynamics of volunteering and interning in a place like Rwanda, and shares his ideas on how those interested can make the most of the opportunity. We also do the “News in Sixty,” which today lasted 4’53″.

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Podcast I – Motohaggling

Jeff — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 09:03:22 +0000

For today’s podcast journalist Hez Holland taks with host Jeff Holmes about motohaggling, a specific and common form of negotiation here in Kigali. We also bring you to Kigali speed with the “News in Sixty,” which today lasted 5’46”.

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