March 16, 2006
Phew no flu! - time to make a killing
Here's a sure-fire investment tip. Come to Addis and buy every chicken you can get your hands on.
Prices have dropped as low as 8 birr a bird over the past weeks, amid all the worries over avian flu. Today, however, government scientists announced that initial tests on dead birds from a farm in southern Ethiopia had not detected the dreaded H5N1 virus.
The news is sure to filter out on to the street soon and prices are sure to rise. Chickens cost as much as 35 birr before the scare. Anyone who buys low and sells high could be talking about a 438% 338% return on their initial investment. It's a better bet than Google.
UPDATE: News of the negative test clearly hadn't got through to the UN's security people who were still on high alert yesterday afternoon (see pic).
Posted by aheavens at March 16, 2006 4:45 PM
Comments
The fasting season of Lent may have added a little to the drop in price, but it has been a long time since I heard chicken at 8 Birr. The smart buyer should stock his backyard now with chickens for Fasika festivities.
Posted by: weblogethiopia at March 17, 2006 4:07 AM
Errr, the fall in price for chickens could also be lent? So, no worries, you got about 40 more days (56days Ethiopian Orthodox lent minus 16 already behind us) to set up a highly profitable chicken racket.
Posted by: Dina at March 17, 2006 5:07 AM
Fishy..
Your return on investment is defined as the amount gained divided by the initial investment, expressed usually as a percentage. Thus, in this case, your hypothetical chicken entrepreneur would feather his nest with a 338% return (27/8*100).
The closing price of Google March 16 2006? You guessed it, 338..
Posted by: wonderchops at March 17, 2006 6:27 AM
Thanks for all the cultural and arithmetical corrections. I should really give up on this snide commentary and stick to what I know best which is .. err
I can't believe I missed the "feather your nest" line. And the Google thing is just scarey
Posted by: andrew at March 17, 2006 9:41 AM
Out of the subject but just curious.
As a man from UK we expect you to be carzy about football. You seem not to be moved about the football in Ethiopia. Is the standard or are you not interested in football at all. No comments from yesterday's match (19-03-2006)?
Tazabeo
Posted by: Tazabeo at March 20, 2006 1:18 PM
What ever I write it is for your consumption...
your blog and the comments you screen have one thing in common..they come from the same people who wish to continue their great life. You guys are crazy
The country future is at its higest moment of turn..take a part help to lead the country to the right direction..promote freedom and human rights. stop sounding stupid and dull.
Frank
Posted by: Frank at March 20, 2006 11:12 PM
Hey Andrew,
Thanks for doin' the math. i better go get me some chiken.
Posted by: Ibrahima at March 21, 2006 5:31 AM
Mr Heaven, in the interest of equal time, how about your input on the final report from EUOM as it relates to the PM's earlier response. Was it as detailed as you expected and why did it take so long?
Posted by: Z Tawek at March 21, 2006 8:53 AM
http://allafrica.com/stories/200603200132.html
Posted by: tobian at March 21, 2006 12:59 PM
"Mr." Heavens
Z Tawek's and Frank's points are good; though we all know by now that you prefer the sand-pit to the verbal battle field for the sake of a quiet life rearing chickens (at 388% return "what poor farmer?")and hanging out at Memo... I'm sure when (if) the wind changes you'll be out there in a flash. Can picture your autobi in 20 years: "I had always been a concerned observer of the political situation in my adopted home of 2 [?] years. The exhilarating pace of change in Ethiopia was tangible- The Prime Minister [whichever, depending on how the wind blows]requested my presence; hunching his braod shoulders he took me aside to confide in me, asking me for advice..." Blurb blab... So someone else has carved himself a nice little bit of fame on good old Ethiopia's back. Small fish...big pond - UK, big fish... little pond - Ethiopia. Cute.
Don't care if you publish this comment, it's mostly for you.
Posted by: Dina at March 22, 2006 6:07 AM
Dina,
Minew? Your blog says, " CoffeeChilliSun: Impressions and thoughts from an Oxygen-starved mind". Less on the Chilli, more on the coffee and sun, please. Sister, take a break, step out, and ere bedemb, bedddeeeeeemb tenafeshi?!? InToTo would be nice. If that's too far, i'm sure some hills around Gulele will do.
I don't get some 'angry' Ethiopians who post on this blog. Some actually have a point to make in response to his ideas. But others ..gud'ko new. Are you seriously getting upset at the thoght of what he ... wait ... maight become? Ere begzer? I wonder what you'd have said of young Richard Pankhurst.
Eh. Tiyaqe. Why is "Mr." in quotes? Saynegren did he have a sex change?
p.s. I like the stuff at "CoffeeChilliSun".
Posted by: tobian at March 22, 2006 3:02 PM