Ben Kariuki

Why do we shout in anger? - Paulo Coelho

2012-01-09T22:03:00.000-08:00

A master asked his disciples:
‘Why do we shout in anger? Why do people shout at each other when they are upset?’

the disciples thought for a while, and one of them said
‘Because we lose our calm, we shout for that.’
‘But, why to shout when the other person is just next to you? ‘Isn’t it possible to speak to him or her with a soft voice? Why do you shout at a person when you’re angry?’
The disciples gave him some other answers but none satisfied the master.

Finally he explained:
‘When two people are angry at each other, their hearts distance a lot. To cover that distance they must shout to be able to hear each other. The angrier they are, the stronger they will have to shout to hear each other through that great distance.’

Then the master asked:
‘What happens when two people fall in love? They don’t shout at each other but talk softly, why? Because their hearts are very close. The distance between them is very small…’

And he concluded:
‘When they love each other even more, what happens?
‘They do not speak, only whisper and they get even closer to each other in their love.

‘Finally they even need not whisper, they only look at each other and that’s all. That is how close two people are when they love each other.’

Safety first!

2011-09-20T07:47:00.000-07:00

Security Alert

A police officer wrote this! Please read coz may save your life!Sometimes the little things we do, can make the biggest difference! In daylight hours, refresh yourself of these things to do in an emergency situation...This is for you & for you to share with your wife,your children & everyone you know.It never hurts to be careful in this crazy world we live in.

1. Tip from Tae Kwon Do:The elbow is the strongest point on your body.If you are close enough to use it, do!

2. Learned this from a tourist guide.If a robber asks for your wallet or purse,DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM.Toss it away from you....Chances are that he is more interested in your wallet or purse than you & he will go for the wallet/purse.RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!

3. If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car,kick out the back tail lights and stick your arm out the hole & start waving like crazy.The driver won't see you, but everybody else will.This has saved lives.

4. Women have a tendency to get into their carsafter shopping, eating, working, etc., & just sit (doing their cheque book, or making a list,etc.(DON'T DO THIS!)The predator may be watching you, & this is the perfect opportunity for him to get in on the passenger side, put a gun to your head,and tell you where to go.AS SOON AS YOU GET INTO YOUR CAR,LOCK THE DOORS AND LEAVE.... If someone is in the car with a gun to your headDO NOT DRIVE OFF,Repeat:DO NOT DRIVE OFF!Instead run the engine and speed into anything, wrecking the car.Your Air Bag will save you.If the person is in the back seat they will get the worst of it.As soon as the car crashes bail out and run.It is better than having your body found in a remote location.

5. A few notes about getting into your car in a parking lot or parking garage:A.) Be Aware: look around you, look into your car,at the passenger side floor, and in the back seatB.) If you are parked next to a big van,enter your car from the passenger door.Most serial killers attack their female victimsby pulling them into their vans while the women are attempting to get into their cars.C.) Look at the car parked on the driver's side of your vehicle,& on the passenger side.... if a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into the mall, or work & get a guard/policeman to walk you back out.IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY.(And better paranoid than dead.)

6. ALWAYS take the elevator instead of the stairs.Stairwells are horrible places to be alone,& the perfect crime spot.This is especially true at NIGHT!

7. If the predator has a gun & you are not under his control,ALWAYS RUN!The predator will only hit you (a running target) 4 in 100 times, & even then, it most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ.RUN, preferably in a zig -zag pattern!

8.women are always trying to be sympathetic:STOP!!It may get you raped, or killed.Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good-looking,well educated man, who ALWAYS played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women.He walked with a cane, or a limp, & often asked 'for help' into his vehicle or with his vehicle,which is when he abducted his next victim.

9. Another Safety Point:Someone just told me that her friend heard a crying baby on her porch the night before last & she called the police because it was late & she thought it was weird... The police told her'Whatever you do, DO NOT open the door..'The lady then said that it sounded like the baby had crawled near a window & she was worried that it would crawl to the street & get run over.The policeman said, 'We already have a unit on the way, whatever you do, DO NOT open the door.'He told her that they think a serial killer has a baby's cry recorded & uses it to coax women out of their homes, thinking that someone dropped off a baby. He said they have not verified it,but have had several calls by women saying that they hear baby's cries outside their doors when they're home alone at night.

10. Water Scam!If you wake up in the middle of the night to hear all your taps outside running,or what you think is a burst pipe,DO NOT GO OUT TO INVESTIGATE! These people turn on all your outside taps full bore so that you will go out to investigate & then they attack.Stay alert, keep safe, and look out for your neighbours!

Why the West wants the fall of Gaddafi.

2011-09-06T21:20:00.000-07:00

Why the West wants the fall of Gaddafi? An analysis in defense of the Libyan.

Africans should think about the real reasons why western countries are waging war on Libya, writes Jean-Paul Pougala, in an analysis that traces the country’s role in shaping the African Union and the development of the continent.

It was Gaddafi’s Libya that offered all of Africa its first revolution in modern times – connecting the entire continent by telephone, television, radio broadcasting and several other technological applications such as telemedicine and distance teaching. And thanks to the WMAX radio bridge, a low cost connection was made available across the continent, including in rural areas.

It began in 1992, when 45 African nations established RASCOM (Regional African Satellite Communication Organization) so that Africa would have its own satellite and slash communication costs in the continent. This was a time when phone calls to and from Africa were the most expensive in the world because of the annual US$500 million fee pocketed by Europe for the use of its satellites like Intelsat for phone conversations, including those within the same country.

An African satellite only cost a onetime payment of US$400 million and the continent no longer had to pay a US$500 million annual lease. Which banker wouldn’t finance such a project? But the problem remained – how can slaves, seeking to free themselves from their master’s exploitation ask the master’s help to achieve that freedom? Not surprisingly, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the USA, Europe only made vague promises for 14 years. Gaddafi put an end to these futile pleas to the western ‘benefactors’ with their exorbitant interest rates. The Libyan guide put US$300 million on the table; the African Development Bank added US$50 million more and the West African Development Bank a further US$27 million – and that’s how Africa got its first communications satellite on 26 December 2007.

China and Russia followed suit and shared their technology and helped launch satellites for South Africa, Nigeria, Angola, Algeria and a second African satellite was launched in July 2010. The first totally indigenously built satellite and manufactured on African soil, in Algeria, is set for 2020. This satellite is aimed at competing with the best in the world, but at ten times less the cost, a real challenge.

This is how a symbolic gesture of a mere US$300 million changed the life of an entire continent. Gaddafi’s Libya cost the West, not just depriving it of US$500 million per year but the billions of dollars in debt and interest that the initial loan would generate for years to come and in an exponential manner, thereby helping maintain an occult system in order to plunder the continent.

AFRICAN MONETARY FUND, AFRICAN CENTRAL BANK, AFRICAN INVESTMENT BANK

The US$30 billion frozen by Mr Obama belong to the Libyan Central Bank and had been earmarked as the Libyan contribution to three key projects which would add the finishing touches to the African federation – the African Investment Bank in Syrte, Libya, the establishment in 2011 of the African Monetary Fund to be based in Yaounde with a US$42 billion capital fund and the Abuja-based African Central Bank in Nigeria which when it starts printing African money will ring the death knell for the CFA franc through which Paris has been able to maintain its hold on some African countries for the last fifty years. It is easy to understand the French wrath against Gaddafi.

The African Monetary Fund is expected to totally supplant the African activities of the International Monetary Fund which, with only US$25 billion, was able to bring an entire continent to its knees and make it swallow questionable privatisation like forcing African countries to move from public to private monopolies. No surprise then that on 16-17December 2010, the Africans unanimously rejected attempts by Western countries to join the African Monetary Fund, saying it was open only to African nations.

It is increasingly obvious that after Libya, the western coalition will go after Algeria, because apart from its huge energy resources, the country has cash reserves of around a 150 billion. This is what lures the countries that are bombing Libya and they all have one thing in common – they are practically bankrupt. The USA alone, has a staggering debt of $US14,000 billion, France, Great Britain and Italy each have a US$2,000 billion public deficit compared to less than US$400 billion in public debt for 46 African countries combined.

Inciting spurious wars in Africa in the hope that this will revitalise their economies which are sinking ever more into the doldrums will ultimately hasten the western decline which actually began in 1884 during the notorious Berlin Conference. As the American economist Adam Smith predicted in 1865 when he publicly backed Abraham Lincoln for the abolition of slavery, ‘the economy of any country which relies on the slavery of blacks is destined to descend into hell the day those countries awaken’.

REGIONAL UNITY AS AN OBSTABLE TO THE CREATION OF A UNITED STATES OF AFRICA

To destabilise and destroy the African union which was veering dangerously (for the West) towards a United States of Africa under the guiding hand of Gaddafi, the European Union first tried, unsuccessfully, to create the Union for the Mediterranean (UPM). North Africa somehow had to be cut off from the rest of Africa, using the old tired racist clichés of the 18th and 19th centuries ,which claimed that Africans of Arab origin were more evolved and civilised than the rest of the continent. This failed because Gaddafi refused to buy into it. He soon understood what game was being played when only a handful of African countries were invited to join the Mediterranean grouping without informing the African Union but inviting all 27 members of the European Union.

Without the driving force behind the African Federation, the UPM failed even before it began, still-born with Sarkozy as president and Mubarak as vice president. The French foreign minister, Alain Juppe is now attempting to re-launch the idea, banking no doubt on the fall of Gaddafi. What African leaders fail to understand is that as long as the European Union continues to finance the African Union, the status quo will remain, because no real independence. This is why the European Union has encouraged and financed regional groupings in Africa.

It is obvious that the West African Economic Community (ECOWAS), which has an embassy in Brussels and depends for the bulk of its funding on the European Union, is a vociferous opponent to the African federation. That’s why Lincoln fought in the US war of secession because the moment a group of countries come together in a regional political organisation, it weakens the main group. That is what Europe wanted and the Africans have never understood the game plan, creating a plethora of regional groupings, COMESA, UDEAC, SADC, and the Great Maghreb which never saw the light of day thanks to Gaddafi who understood what was happening.

GADDAFI, THE AFRICAN WHO CLEANSED THE CONTINENT FROM THE HUMILIATION OF APARTHEID

For most Africans, Gaddafi is a generous man, a humanist, known for his unselfish support for the struggle against the racist regime in South Africa. If he had been an egotist, he wouldn’t have risked the wrath of the West to help the ANC both militarily and financially in the fight against apartheid. This was why Mandela, soon after his release from 27 years in jail, decided to break the UN embargo and travel to Libya on 23 October 1997. For five long years, no plane could touch down in Libya because of the embargo. One needed to take a plane to the Tunisian city of Jerba and continue by road for five hours to reach Ben Gardane, cross the border and continue on a desert road for three hours before reaching Tripoli. The other solution was to go through Malta, and take a night ferry on ill-maintained boats to the Libyan coast. A hellish journey for a whole people, simply to punish one man.

Mandela didn’t mince his words when the former US president Bill Clinton said the visit was an ‘unwelcome’ one – ‘No country can claim to be the policeman of the world and no state can dictate to another what it should do’. He added – ‘Those that yesterday were friends of our enemies have the gall today to tell me not to visit my brother Gaddafi, they are advising us to be ungrateful and forget our friends of the past.’

Indeed, the West still considered the South African racists to be their brothers who needed to be protected. That’s why the members of the ANC, including Nelson Mandela, were considered to be dangerous terrorists. It was only on 2 July 2008, that the US Congress finally voted a law to remove the name of Nelson Mandela and his ANC comrades from their black list, not because they realised how stupid that list was but because they wanted to mark Mandela’s 90th birthday. If the West was truly sorry for its past support for Mandela’s enemies and really sincere when they name streets and places after him, how can they continue to wage war against someone who helped Mandela and his people to be victorious, Gaddafi?

ARE THOSE WHO WANT TO EXPORT DEMOCRACY THEMSELVES DEMOCRATS?

And what if Gaddafi’s Libya were more democratic than the USA, France, Britain and other countries waging war to export democracy to Libya? On 19 March 2003, President George Bush began bombing Iraq under the pretext of bringing democracy. On 19 March 2011, exactly eight years later to the day, it was the French president’s turn to rain down bombs over Libya, once again claiming it was to bring democracy. Nobel peace prize-winner and US President Obama says unleashing cruise missiles from submarines is to oust the dictator and introduce democracy.

The question that anyone with even minimum intelligence cannot help asking is the following: Are countries like France, England, the USA, Italy, Norway, Denmark, Poland who defend their right to bomb Libya on the strength of their self proclaimed democratic status really democratic? If yes, are they more democratic than Gaddafi’s Libya? The answer in fact is a resounding NO, for the plain and simple reason that democracy doesn’t exist. This isn’t a personal opinion, but a quote from someone whose native town Geneva, hosts the bulk of UN institutions. The quote is from Jean Jacques Rousseau, born in Geneva in 1712 and who writes in chapter four of the third book of the famous ‘Social Contract’ that ‘there never was a true democracy and there never will be.’

Rousseau sets out the following four conditions for a country to be labelled a democracy and according to these Gaddafi’s Libya is far more democratic than the USA, France and the others claiming to export democracy:

1. The State: The bigger a country, the less democratic it can be. According to Rousseau, the state has to be extremely small so that people can come together and know each other. Before asking people to vote, one must ensure that everybody knows everyone else, otherwise voting will be an act without any democratic basis, a simulacrum of democracy to elect a dictator.

The Libyan state is based on a system of tribal allegiances, which by definition group people together in small entities. The democratic spirit is much more present in a tribe, a village than in a big country, simply because people know each other, share a common life rhythm which involves a kind of self-regulation or even self-censorship in that the reactions and counter reactions of other members impacts on the group.

From this perspective, it would appear that Libya fits Rousseau’s conditions better than the USA, France and Great Britain, all highly urbanised societies where most neighbours don’t even say hello to each other and therefore don’t know each other even if they have lived side by side for twenty years. These countries leapfrogged leaped into the next stage – ‘the vote’ – which has been cleverly sanctified to obfuscate the fact that voting on the future of the country is useless if the voter doesn’t know the other citizens. This has been pushed to ridiculous limits with voting rights being given to people living abroad. Communicating with and amongst each other is a precondition for any democratic debate before an election.

2. Simplicity in customs and behavioural patterns are also essential if one is to avoid spending the bulk of the time debating legal and judicial procedures in order to deal with the multitude of conflicts of interest inevitable in a large and complex society. Western countries define themselves as civilised nations with a more complex social structure whereas Libya is described as a primitive country with a simple set of customs. This aspect too indicates that Libya responds better to Rousseau’s democratic criteria than all those trying to give lessons in democracy. Conflicts in complex societies are most often won by those with more power, which is why the rich manage to avoid prison because they can afford to hire top lawyers and instead arrange for state repression to be directed against someone one who stole a banana in a supermarket rather than a financial criminal who ruined a bank. In the city of New York for example where 75 per cent of the population is white, 80 per cent of management posts are occupied by whites who make up only 20 per cent of incarcerated people.

3. Equality in status and wealth: A look at the Forbes 2010 list shows who the richest people in each of the countries currently bombing Libya are and the difference between them and those who earn the lowest salaries in those nations; a similar exercise on Libya will reveal that in terms of wealth distribution, Libya has much more to teach than those fighting it now, and not the contrary. So here too, using Rousseau’s criteria, Libya is more democratic than the nations pompously pretending to bring democracy. In the USA, 5 per cent of the population owns 60 per cent of the national wealth, making it the most unequal and unbalanced society in the world.

4. No luxuries: according to Rousseau there can’t be any luxury if there is to be democracy. Luxury, he says, makes wealth a necessity which then becomes a virtue in itself, it, and not the welfare of the people becomes the goal to be reached at all cost, ‘Luxury corrupts both the rich and the poor, the one through possession and the other through envy; it makes the nation soft and prey to vanity; it distances people from the State and enslaves them, making them a slave to opinion.’

Is there more luxury in France than in Libya? The reports on employees committing suicide because of stressful working conditions even in public or semi-public companies, all in the name of maximising profit for a minority and keeping them in luxury, happen in the West, not in Libya.

The American sociologist C. Wright Mills wrote in 1956 that American democracy was a ‘dictatorship of the elite’. According to Mills, the USA is not a democracy because it is money that talks during elections and not the people. The results of each election are the expression of the voice of money and not the voice of the people. After Bush senior and Bush junior, they are already talking about a younger Bush for the 2012 Republican primaries. Moreover, as Max Weber pointed out, since political power is dependent on the bureaucracy, the US has 43 million bureaucrats and military personnel who effectively rule the country but without being elected and are not accountable to the people for their actions. One person (a rich one) is elected, but the real power lies with the caste of the wealthy who then get nominated to be ambassadors, generals, etc.

How many people in these self-proclaimed democracies know that Peru’s constitution prohibits an outgoing president from seeking a second consecutive mandate? How many know that in Guatemala, not only can an outgoing president not seek re-election to the same post, no one from that person’s family can aspire to the top job either? Or that Rwanda is the only country in the world that has 56 per cent female parliamentarians? How many people know that in the 2007 CIA index, four of the world’s best-governed countries are African? That the top prize goes to Equatorial Guinea whose public debt represents only 1.14 per cent of GDP?

Rousseau maintains that civil wars, revolts and rebellions are the ingredients of the beginning of democracy. Because democracy is not an end, but a permanent process of the reaffirmation of the natural rights of human beings which in countries all over the world (without exception) are trampled upon by a handful of men and women who have hijacked the power of the people to perpetuate their supremacy. There are here and there groups of people who have usurped the term ‘democracy’ – instead of it being an ideal towards which one strives it has become a label to be appropriated or a slogan which is used by people who can shout louder than others. If a country is calm, like France or the USA, that is to say without any rebellions, it only means, from Rousseau’s perspective, that the dictatorial system is sufficiently repressive to pre-empt any revolt.

It wouldn’t be a bad thing if the Libyans revolted. What is bad is to affirm that people stoically accept a system that represses them all over the world without reacting. And Rousseau concludes: ‘Malo periculosam libertatem quam quietum servitium – translation – If gods were people, they would govern themselves democratically. Such a perfect government is not applicable to human beings.’ To claim that one is killing Libyans for their own good is a hoax.

WHAT LESSONS FOR AFRICA?

After 500 years of a profoundly unequal relationship with the West, it is clear that we don’t have the same criteria of what is good and bad. We have deeply divergent interests. How can one not deplore the ‘yes’ votes from three sub-Saharan countries (Nigeria, South Africa and Gabon) for resolution 1973 that inaugurated the latest form of colonisation baptised ‘the protection of peoples’, which legitimises the racist theories that have informed Europeans since the 18th century and according to which North Africa has nothing to do with sub-Saharan Africa, that North Africa is more evolved, cultivated and civilised than the rest of Africa?

It is as if Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Algeria were not part of Africa, Even the United Nations seems to ignore the role of the African Union in the affairs of member states. The aim is to isolate sub Saharan African countries to better isolate and control them. Indeed, Algeria (US$16 billion) and Libya (US$10 billion ) together contribute 62 per cent of the US$42 billion which constitute the capital of the African Monetary Fund (AMF). The biggest and most populous country in sub Saharan Africa, Nigeria, followed by South Africa are far behind with only 3 billion dollars each.

It is disconcerting to say the least that for the first time in the history of the United Nations, war has been declared against a people without having explored the slightest possibility of a peaceful solution to the crisis. Does Africa really belong anymore to this organisation? Nigeria and South Africa are prepared to vote ‘Yes’ to everything the West asks because they naively believe the vague promises of a permanent seat at the Security Council with similar veto rights. They both forget that France has no power to offer anything. If it did, Mitterand would have long done the needful for Helmut Kohl’s Germany.

A reform of the United Nations is not on the agenda. The only way to make a point is to use the Chinese method – all 50 African nations should quit the United Nations and only return if their longstanding demand is finally met, a seat for the entire African federation or nothing. This non-violent method is the only weapon of justice available to the poor and weak that we are. We should simply quit the United Nations because this organisation, by its very structure and hierarchy, is at the service of the most powerful.

We should leave the United Nations to register our rejection of a worldview based on the annihilation of those who are weaker. They are free to continue as before but at least we will not be party to it and say we agree when we were never asked for our opinion. And even when we expressed our point of view, like we did on Saturday 19 March in Nouakchott, when we opposed the military action, our opinion was simply ignored and the bombs started falling on the African people.

Today’s events are reminiscent of what happened with China in the past. Today, one recognises the Ouattara government, the rebel government in Libya, like one did at the end of the Second World War with China. The so-called international community chose Taiwan to be the sole representative of the Chinese people instead of Mao’s China. It took 26 years when on 25 October 1971, for the UN to pass resolution 2758 which all Africans should read to put an end to human folly. China was admitted and on its terms – it refused to be a member if it didn’t have a veto right. When the demand was met and the resolution tabled, it still took a year for the Chinese foreign minister to respond in writing to the UN Secretary General on 29 September 1972, a letter which didn’t say yes or thank you but spelt out guarantees required for China’s dignity to be respected.

What does Africa hope to achieve from the United Nations without playing hard ball? We saw how in Cote d’Ivoire a UN bureaucrat considers himself to be above the constitution of the country. We entered this organisation by agreeing to be slaves and to believe that we will be invited to dine at the same table and eat from plates we ourselves washed is not just credulous, it is stupid.

When the African Union endorsed Ouattara’s victory and glossed over contrary reports from its own electoral observers simply to please our former masters, how can we expect to be respected? When South African president Zuma declares that Ouattara hasn’t won the elections and then says the exact opposite during a trip to Paris, one is entitled to question the credibility of these leaders who claim to represent and speak on behalf of a billion Africans.

Africa’s strength and real freedom will only come if it can take properly thought out actions and assume the consequences. Dignity and respect come with a price tag. Are we prepared to pay it? Otherwise, our place is in the kitchen and in the toilets in order to make others comfortable.

Jean-Paul Pougala is a Cameroonian writer. Translated from the French by Sputnik Kilambi.

5 bad relationship habits to dump

2011-05-14T11:46:00.000-07:00

So here it is. I looked around, found one of the best relationship counselors, and this is what he had to say about some of the habbits that you should avoud in your relationship.
You heard!

5 bad relationship habits.
By Bob Strauss

OK, so you used to be married, and now you're not. You may be out there happily dating, but are the habits from your wedded days dogging you? Consider the fact that when you’re married, you have the luxury of a long, indefinite “’til death do us part” future in which to settle into a comfortable routine or slowly work through issues with your spouse. On a date, though, everything happens in accelerated time, with equally accelerated consequences. An indelicate remark on your first rendezvous may forever put the kibosh on a second. In fact, there are five key behaviors left over from your married days that can wreak havoc on your current romantic forays. We asked Marty Friedman, author of Straight Talk for Men About Marriage, to discuss how to recognize — and get rid of — these bad habits so your love life can prosper.

Bad Habit #1: Never ending your arguments.
One of the dubious perks of being married, Friedman says, is being able to “stomp out of the room, cool yourself down, and bring up the issue again a few days or weeks later — or let it fester forever.” While having a knock-down, drag-out argument with someone you’ve just started dating isn’t exactly a good sign, you don’t want to fall into the trap of thinking, “If I ignore the problem, it’ll just go away.” That just won’t cut it when you’re dating.
Tactic to try: The challenge now, says Friedman, “is to hang in there and keep the lines of communication open.” You want to work through the issue, not allow it to linger.

Bad Habit #2: Letting yourself go.
When two people are married for a long time, they stop trying to impress each other — thus fueling the market for dumpy sweatshirts, socks with sandals, and New York Yankees baseball caps. This may be fine for a lazy evening at home, but it’s a sure-fire date repellent, according to Friedman. “It’s easy to say, ‘I just want someone who likes me for who I am,’ but truthfully, the way humans operate is to feel more comfortable with and attracted to someone who cares enough about appearance to look presentable.”
Tactic to try: Simply put, make an effort. There is such a thing as dressing up, and it’s worth trying when wooing someone.

Bad Habit #3: Under-communicating your needs.
Most married couples have the ability to read each other’s minds: to intuit, from an imperceptibly cocked eyebrow or a slightly fluttery tone of voice, that now may not be the best time to admit to spending junior’s college fund on a 72-inch plasma TV. Unless your date is a professional poker player, don’t expect her to interpret your tics and grimaces as a request for a nice glass of iced tea.
Tactic to try: “You need to state your needs and feelings out loud, in a responsible way,” Friedman says. “The good news is, by speaking up you can help shape how your new partner treats you.”

Bad Habit #4: Sniping instead of talking.
The only time you’re allowed to treat constant bickering as a form of affection is when you’re both at least 75 and celebrating your golden wedding anniversary.
Tactic to try: Instead of criticizing your new partner, Friedman says, you should make an effort to “request what you need in a specific, caring way. For example: instead of shouting ‘You’re always late for everything,’ you can say gently, ‘This Saturday night, it would really mean a lot to me if you showed up on time or even a few minutes early.’”

Bad Habit #5: Not saying “thank you.”
Common courtesy is one of the first casualties of an unsuccessful marriage — and even thriving couples can occasionally say things to each other that would make Emily Post blanch.
Tactic to try: “You should start your new relationship on a solid foundation of gratitude and appreciation, right from the beginning,” Friedman says. “Be thankful for the little things... even the fact that this person is spending the evening with you.” And while you’re at it, go ahead — say it out loud.

The proposal

2011-03-19T12:24:00.000-07:00

Hey lovely people! This year seems like a set-aside-kind of an year for most of us. I am rallying in the front line counting my blessings and thanking God for every one of them.
Just a week ago I proposed the the love of my life. The girl I love to bits. The one girl I would still choose in a thousand lifetimes! And the best part is that she said yes. Without missing her words, without a stutter, without blinking! So folks, guess what, am gonna get married to my best friend, my confidant. She inspires me, fires me up and arouses the best in me. Not that you care about this stuff, but it is important to me. And this is my Blog anyway! So deal with it.

Oh, may be after my excitement cools down, may be, just maybe, I will come back to me and give you what I do best. For now, the best you can do is wish us the best, pray for us and celebrate with us!

Why Sex is good for you.

2011-03-16T12:54:00.000-07:00

Paulo Coelho’s book titled “Eleven Minutes” suggests that the “act of coming together” just takes about 2-3 minutes, while the remaining 9 minutes are no more than an attempt to reach the “crescendo” when a hormonal discharge provides ecstasy like none other!

Scientists have often debated that sex is extremely beneficial for our health, but the lack of sex in good measures can have negative effects. On the other hand, too much sex can also be harmful; if you indulge in sex for more than 3 times a week, you are exposing yourself to the risk of a weaker immune system as well as vulnerability to infections…

1. The balance of your mental and emotional health is definitely influenced by sex. While abstinence often leads to anxiety or paranoia and even depression…having sex can cure cases of light depressions. After having exercised sex, the brain releases endorphins that decrease stress and induce a wonderful state of euphoria.

2. For all you women, having regular sex means freedom from expensive salon treatments. An excellent beauty treatment, having sex actually doubles the level of estrogen in women and makes their hair shine with brilliance while making their skin supple and softer.

3. And if you want to live longer, then look no further than your own bedroom. According to a research carried out at Queens University in Belfast, Ireland, having regular sex increases the lifespan in humans. It was found that out of the people of the same age and health, those who had more frequent orgasms faced 50% less death rate than who people who didn’t have frequent orgasms.

4. Sex is an excellent deep-cleansing treatment as well. Since sex is a strenuous but enjoyable exercise, when you have sex the pores of your skin are cleansed leaving a brighter and glowing skin as well as decreasing the risk of developing dermatitis.

5. An inexpensive and pleasurable exercise, sex can make you lose weight. When you have sex after a candlelight romantic dinner, not only do you burn all the fat and carbohydrates you consumed, but you also stay healthy at no extra cost! Consider this: A single session of passionate, mind-blowing sex (even regular sex) can burn about 200 calories. This is equivalent to running for 15 minutes on a treadmill!

6. Ladies, if you like you man to have bulging biceps then have sex more often. Sex is a great way to strengthen muscles. Imagine the effort made by your man through those difficult pushes and flexions! Of course, it all depends on the stunts in your bed…but it’s definitely better than running for miles on miles.

7. The more active your sex life, the more attractive and irresistible you become for the opposite sex. Really! An active sex life means that your body gets into the habit of releasing more pheromones, chemicals that attract all those gorgeous, luscious women! No wonder Casanova was so popular!

8. Sex can sharpen your senses; especially enhance your sense of smell. After sex, prolactin is released that activates the stem cells in the brain to form new neurons in the olfactory bulb. This helps to improve your sense of smell.

9. A pain reliever, sex is TEN times more effective than painkillers such as Valium. Just before orgasm, the hormone oxytocin’s level rises almost 5 times, leading to release of large amount of endorphins. Endorphins are natural painkillers and relieve you of pain, minor headaches, and migraines without any after effects. Next time your lady has a headache, treat her with a vigorous session of lovemaking rather than a Valium.

10. The act of Kissing stimulates salivation, which helps clean food particles stuck between the teeth and lowers the acidity level in your mouth. This is the primary cause of tooth decay. So kiss all you want, after all it’s a great excuse!

So my dear friends, sex is not just good for the mind, the body, but the wallet as well!

Commitment: What you will have to give up.

2011-01-14T22:20:00.000-08:00

Commitment, I am informed, is the mark of the mature, stable man. Sure, we may be allowed to throw one or two sidelong glances at its more absurd excesses (and here am thinking of mandatory pillow shopping), but any wholesale aversion to the idea is generally seen as oafish and juvenile.

Like any major choice, however, the decision to commit yourself to an exclusive relationship contains some very real trade-offs.

No.10 Your female friends.

One of my male friends recently got into a verbal tussle with his girlfriend over how often he texts his female friends. There’s no doubt that changes and issues do occur in your friendships when you get a girlfriend -- especially female friendships. You won’t be able to spend as much time with or text the girls like you used to, because those friendships tend to get nudged down a few rungs of the ladder. Why? Your girlfriend is in the No. 1 spot now. Any other women have to understand that she gets most of you, and they have to be satisfied with scraps.

No.9 Your weekends

Free time you’d notch up and enjoy with a beer used to be completely yours, but now that you’re in a serious relationship, it’s highly likely that quality time with your broad will be squeezing into the time you get to your disposal. After all, with both of you working during the week, there’s not much chance to spend time together. That’s why the prestigious weekend is often filled with relationship quality time.

No.8 Your casual fun

Flirting is the first thing to die when it comes to casual fun and relationships. In fact, those two concepts often get along as badly as Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield in a boxing ring. When you’re in a serious relationship, there are boundaries for interaction with other women. Flirting has to be contained, otherwise it could explode into something inappropriate. As for casual fun with your partner, a full-fledged, committed relationship calls to mind things like responsibilities, obligations and routine. It’s very easy to lose the fun in the process.

No.7 Your self-indulgences

You used to be able to do whatever you pleased. If that included excessive smoking, drinking and staying out till dawn, there was nobody you had to answer to. But now when you stumble back home after a raucous night with the boys, you’re likely to find your girlfriend standing at the door with “Where the hell were you?” kinds of questions. If you’re committed to your girlfriend, you have to realize that you can’t be partying excessively the way you would as a single. It might sound hectic, but being in a serious setup means you have to account for your actions. So if you want wild time with the boys, you’ll probably have to run it past her and schedule it in.

No.6 Your exit

When things were less serious with your woman, it was much easier to find the exits than it is now. If things went pear-shaped fast, you could evacuate the building without much fuss because you weren’t too tied to each other yet. But now with all the emotional bindings, it makes clean breakups a bit more difficult.

No.5 Your financial independence

Often relationships don’t end only with emotional ties; they can also incorporate financial ones. It’s common to lapse into a “What’s mine is yours, what’s yours is mine” line of thinking when you’re in a serious affair. Basically, if you’re committed, then you share each other’s financial situations. A good portion of your hard-earned cash is likely to head in your girlfriend’s direction. This is especially the case if she’s a gold digger, which means less of your money goes to your own interests.

No.4 Your options

They say a man is as faithful as his options. It’s not necessarily true that you’ll stay loyal to your girlfriend only until you meet someone better, but let’s be honest: It’s a boost to the ego to know that you still have pulling power, even if you don’t intend to use it. But with an exclusive relationship, you’re much more limited to this one relationship. Even window-shopping can prove boring. What’s the point of looking when you know it can’t go anywhere?

No.3 Your own plans

It’s not selfish to want to safeguard your future plans and have your own dreams. In fact, it’s necessary to have those, even when you’re in a relationship. But once things become more serious with your girl, there is no room for secret gambits; you’ll have to include her in all your ideas for the future.

No.2 Your space

Every king needs a castle, but if you bring a queen into the situation, then things can become complicated. Often commitment is closely linked to cohabitation, which can drastically reduce your privacy. Soon you’ll find feminine products in the bathroom cabinets, the arrival of kitchen utensils that you can’t even name and her votes counting more in castle decisions. Yep, it might feel like she’s making a play for your throne.

No.1 Your identity

When you first got together, you and your partner shared interests, values and some hobbies. The similarities thankfully ended there. But now it seems you’re merging identities. Though it can be a good feeling to be in sync with your partner on various levels (but stick to your own closets unless you want to become Brangelina), it can also mean losing your individualism. Say no to the relationship clones.

Every woman is worth a lot!

2010-12-09T07:37:00.001-08:00

In a brief conversation, a man asked a woman he was pursuing the question:

'What kind of man are you looking for?'

She sat quietly for a moment before looking him in the eye & asking, ‘Do you really want to know?'

Reluctantly, he said, 'Yes.

She began to expound, ‘As a woman in this day & age, I am in a position to ask a man what can you do for me that I can't do for myself?
I pay my own bills. I take care of my household without the help of any man... or woman for that matter. I am in the position to ask, 'What can you bring to the table?'

The man looked at her. Clearly he thought that she was referring to money.

She quickly corrected his thought & stated, ‘I am not referring to money. I need something more. I need a man who is striving for excellence in every aspect of life.

He sat back in his chair, folded his arms, & asked her to explain.

She said,

'I need someone who is striving for excellence mentally because I need conversation & mental stimulation. I don't need a simple-minded man.

I need someone who is striving for excellence spiritually because I don't need to be unequally yoked...believers mixed with unbelievers is a recipe for disaster.

I need a man who is striving for excellence financially because I don't need a financial burden.

I need someone who is sensitive enough to understand what I go through as a woman, but strong enough to keep me grounded.

I need someone who has integrity in dealing with relationships. Lies and game-playing are not my idea of a strong man.

I need a man who is family-oriented. One who can be the leader, priest and provider to the lives entrusted to him by God.

I need someone whom I can respect... In order to be submissive, I must respect him. I cannot be submissive to a man who isn't taking care of his business. I have no problem being submissive...he just has to be worthy.

And by the way, I am not looking for him...He will find me.

He will recognize himself in me.

He may not be able to explain the connection, but he will always be drawn to me.
God made woman to be a help-mate for man. I can't help a man if he can't help himself.

When she finished her spill, she looked at him.

He sat there with a puzzled look on his face. He said, 'You are asking a lot.

She replied, "I'm worth a lot".

TIPS FOR LIFE- Albert Einstein

2010-12-02T09:06:00.000-08:00

10 Amazing Life Lessons You Can Learn From Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein has long been considered a genius by the masses. He was a theoretical physicist, philosopher, author, and is perhaps the most influential scientists to ever live.

Einstein has made great contributions to the scientific world, including the theory of relativity, the founding of relativistic cosmology, the prediction of the deflection of light by gravity, the quantum theory of atomic motion in solids, the zero-point energy concept, and the quantum theory of a monatomic gas which predicted Bose–Einstein condensation, to name a few of his scientific contributions.

Einstein received the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics “for his services to Theoretical Physics, and especially for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect.”

He’s published more than 300 scientific works and over 150 non-scientific works. Einstein is considered the father of modern physics and is probably the most successful scientist there ever was.

1. Follow Your Curiosity

“I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.”

What piques your curiosity? I am curious as to what causes one person to succeed while another person fails; this is why I’ve spent years studying success. What are you most curious about? The pursuit of your curiosity is the secret to your success.

2. Perseverance is Priceless

“It's not that I'm so smart; it's just that I stay with problems longer.”

Through perseverance the turtle reached the ark. Are you willing to persevere until you get to your intended destination? They say the entire value of the postage stamp consist in its ability to stick to something until it gets there. Be like the postage stamp; finish the race that you’ve started!

3. Focus on the Present

“Any man who can drive safely while kissing a pretty girl is simply not giving the kiss the attention it deserves.”

My father always says you cannot ride two horses at the same time. I like to say, you can do anything, but not everything. Learn to be present where you are; give your all to whatever you’re currently doing.

Focused energy is power, and it’s the difference between success and failure.

4. The Imagination is Powerful

“Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life's coming attractions. Imagination is more important than knowledge.”

Are you using your imagination daily? Einstein said the imagination is more important than knowledge! Your imagination pre-plays your future. Einstein went on to say, “The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge, but imagination.” Are you exercising your “imagination muscles” daily, don’t let something as powerful as your imagination lie dormant.

5. Make Mistakes

“A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.”

Never be afraid of making a mistake. A mistake is not a failure. Mistakes can make you better, smarter and faster, if you utilize them properly. Discover the power of making mistakes. I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again, if you want to succeed, triple the amount of mistakes that you make.

6. Live in the Moment

“I never think of the future - it comes soon enough.”

The only way to properly address your future is to be as present as possible “in the present.”

You cannot “presently” change yesterday or tomorrow, so it’s of supreme importance that you dedicate all of your efforts to “right now.” It’s the only time that matters, it’s the only time there is.

7. Create Value

“Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value."

Don’t waste your time trying to be successful, spend your time creating value. If you’re valuable, then you will attract success.

Discover the talents and gifts that you possess, learn how to offer those talents and gifts in a way that most benefits others.

Labor to be valuable and success will chase you down.

8. Don’t Expect Different Results

“Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

You can’t keep doing the same thing every day and expect different results. In other words, you can’t keep doing the same workout routine and expect to look differently. In order for your life to change, you must change, to the degree that you change your actions and your thinking is to the degree that your life will change.

9. Knowledge Comes From Experience

“Information is not knowledge. The only source of knowledge is experience.”

Knowledge comes from experience. You can discuss a task, but discussion will only give you a philosophical understanding of it; you must experience the task first hand to “know it.” What’s the lesson? Get experience! Don’t spend your time hiding behind speculative information, go out there and do it, and you will have gained priceless knowledge.

10. Learn the Rules and Then Play Better

“You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else.”

To put it all in simple terms, there are two things that you must do. The first thing you must do is to learn the rules of the game that you’re playing. It doesn’t sound exciting, but it’s vital. Secondly, you must commit to play the game better than anyone else. If you can do these two things, success will be yours!

Mental Disposition

2010-10-30T02:22:00.000-07:00

Now, its been quite sometime, but fail you I will never. So here I am again. This time round after massive studying, focusing and meditating, am confounded by a few topics that I pray that every Kenya, African and global citizen, basically everyone, will take time to contemplate and see how we are fairing in trying to make the globe a better place. For those who believe in the Mayan theory, well there may be no future generations to talk about as 21/12/2012 is scaringly near! Terrifying huh?
Anyway, I have been thinking for sometime about the role of religion in African setting. And the more I drive my quest into the topic, the more am convinced that this (Religion) is nothing more that some form of escapism from the harsh reality of life in this planet. It is amazing how many people who consider them selves religious, even some leaders in circle of religious matters, barely know the God they claim to worship. They have very little knowledge if any, in the word of that same God they claim to worship. People know their spouse better than they do God. People sacrifice more time and resources to their families and relatives more than they do God. So how well do they know God?
The people that do know their God shall be great and do exploits. Show me a 'christian' who is doing any thing out of the ordinary. Show me a church of Christians focusing on humanitarian issues more that finances and I will show people who know their God.

This is something that will require your input on what religion means to you. And I will tell you what it means to me. And from there, we will learn of the great mysteries that lie within us for a much more fulfilling life.

So hit my blog..

Nuggets you may find useful.

2010-04-01T21:43:00.000-07:00

In the month of March 2010, I did publish daily lessons for us all to consider and maybe put them to meaningful use. Well, I am sure that they are timeless pieces of wisdom that everyone of us can practice for increased profitability and satisfaction. So I have decided to compile them here, just for you, my reader.

1: You are on your own.

2: Do not trust anyone. And it helps to suspect yourself too.

3: People care about you. But don't bank on that. You are not first in their priorities.

4:Believe in yourself. Don't flatter yourself though, there is always someone who is a notch higher.

5: Nothing is what it seems like. There is always an explanation for anything. Yes, anything.

6: Ignorance breeds ignorance. Never ignore, or leave anything to chance.

7: Ever heard the saying 'Always follow your heart'? True, but that's not to substitute your head. Follow your heart and use your head.

8: Never compromise, unless your life depends on it. Every compromise is like a surrender. It simply invites new demands.

9: Whatever anyone can do, everyone else can do. There is no secret knowledge. No one knows anything that can't be found on a shelve in a public library.

10: Things you do not value will never add any value to your life. If you have no use for something, get rid of it completely, otherwise it will just blur you vision.

11: In this life, everyone matters. Talk with the crowds without loosing your virtue, and walk with kings without loosing the common touch.

12: Time is the most critical, yet a weird resource. It weighs most on those who have it least. So do what you must now, or procrastinate at your own peril!

13: Most of the times we waste a lot of time chasing things that we could have caught by just standing still. Take time to evaluate your goals and strategies.

14: Remember that the most beautiful things in this world are the most useless. Peacocks and lilies for example. You need a stronger basis than appearance.

15: Whatever it is that you do, do it with your best effort, even for the simplest tasks. Otherwise no one will ever give you the important tasks.

16: A good face is a powerful letter of recommendation. So wipe off that frown and wear a smile. And its cheap too.

17: Make sure that you know exactly where you are heading in life. You may as well be already there, or more likely, on the wrong road.

18: Maturity has a lot to do with the experiences you have gone through and what they have taught you. It however has nothing to do with the number of birthdays you have celebrated.

19: Never use permanent solutions to fix temporary problems, and never confuse urgency with importance.

20: In a negotiation, the most you can ever get is what you ask for. Be sure to offer what you have and charge whatever you like. State your price, because if you don't you have yourself to blame.

21:Always have courage to do what you must. No one can ever do what you do better than you do. And one man with courage makes a majority.

22: Never throw mud at people. You may miss the mark; but you must have dirty hands.

23: Failure is sometimes God's own tool for carving some of the finest outlines in the character of His children. So be afraid, but not of failure.

24: Always be diplomatic. This means that you be polite enough to let other people have your way.

25: If you blame other people for your failures, be careful enough to credit them for your successes.

26: Fate chooses your relations. You choose your friends. Do it wisely.

27: Experience is the worst of teachers, don't be fooled. She gives her exams before the lesson. Its like life offering you a comb when you are already bald. So please, get it right the first time!

28: There are two types of failures; the ones who think they have never failed, and the ones who actually failed. I'd rather you fail, for only then do you have a chance to get up!

29: You can never run in the Olympics until you learn how to tie your laces. First things first. Don't be caught up in the details.

30: The last lesson is that your first duty as a human being is to subdue fear. Then, and only then can you do the 29 lessons. Thanks people! Its been my pleasure bringing this to you!

Unfinished Business

2010-02-18T07:11:00.000-08:00

This is an extract from my book, Unfinished Business, set to be published soon. So look out for your copy.

"..Jeff could not comprehend at any level whatsoever, what spell she had cast over him. And Stacie was acting so calm, that he felt almost offended. She had openly and firmly told him that she had finally met a young freshman, and that she was convinced that he was the love of her life. Until that day Jeff had always held a firm though shaky belief that someday she would come around, see that he was the perfect gentleman, and although she never had that kind of attraction towards him, he believed no better man existed.
After spending that night with him in naked sincerity, Jeff needed no more conviction that she was his, and he was hers, and that they belonged together. They had not made love, but Jeff was more than lucky to have had a kiss and eight short hours of physical contact, thus emotions had crowded his head; the little spurs of self preservation. The news of how she had been developing feelings for some other guy caught him off guard, like a whiff or perfume.To hear her say those words stunt all his sense of possibility. It led him to some serious thoughts.
This life can be pretty intimidating at times. It sometimes presents opportunities so seductive, with such a feeling of divinity, and the best we can do is just watch them; watch them get away and never come back. I mean, how do you explain those angelic glaces and stares of a person of the opposite sex, seated across the table, not a chance of knowing their name, or anything else for that matter, except for the color of their eyes, and if keen the color of their clothes?
Jeff could only imagine she and him, standing, a thousand words at a time.
They had started off two years before that, in their freshman year.
The moment Jeff saw her in a hurried gasp, she was very busy trying to join up queues for finalization of her registration. He had been instantly attracted to her sober face, full burst, composed stature, a perfect figure and a smile with heavenly grace.That moment had however lasted only a few seconds, three precisely. Jeff, having seen bigger and better, did not consider that a once-off happening, and was reluctant to admit he was, quite literary, swept off his feet."

A Lesson from Alexander the Great.

2010-01-14T00:53:00.001-08:00

The great Greek King, Alexander, after conquering many kingdoms was returning home. On the way home, he fell ill and was bedridden for months. With death close, Alexander realized how his conquests, his great army, his sharp sword and all his wealth were of no use.
He called his generals and said, "I will depart from this world soon, but I have three wishes." With tears flowing down their cheeks, the generals agreed to abide by heir king's wishes.
"My first desire is that", said Alexander, "my physicians alone must carry my coffin. Secondly, when my coffin is being carried to the grave,the path leading to the grave yard must be strewn with gold, silver and precious stones which I have collected in my treasury. My third and last wish is that both my hands should be kept dangling out of the coffin."
The people who had gathered there wondered at the kings strange wishes, but no one dared to question. Alexander's favorite general kissed his hands and pressed them to his heart. "O king, we assure you that your wishes will all be fulfilled. But tell us, why do you make such strange wishes?"
Alexander took a deep breath, and said, "I would like the world to know of the three lessons I have just learnt. I want my physicians to carry my coffin because people should realize that no doctor can really cure anybody. They are powerless and can not save a person from the clutches of death. So let not people take life for granted.
The second wish of strewing gold, sand other riches on the way to the graveyard is to tell people that not even a fraction of gold can be taken by me. Let people realize that it is a sheer waste of time to chase wealth.
And about my third wish of having my hands dangling out of the coffin, I want people to know that I can empty handed into this world and empty handed I go out of this world."
Alexander's last words were, "Bury my body, do not build any monument, keep my hands outside, so that the world knows the person who won the world had nothing in his hands when dying."

2009-11-28T01:41:00.000-08:00

These rules are directed towards the dumb girls (with no common sense) who make the good girls look bad (so obviously, only a dumb girl would get mad). You say you want honesty, so here you have it:

Rule #1: Going to clubs, bars, parties, dressing skanky (which shows insecurity), acting skanky, posting skanky pics of yourself and getting wild isn’t attracting decent guys. If you want a good guy, stop going for the partiers, the bad asses, and life of the party guys with a million friends (there's no such thing as a bad boy with a good heart, so stop dreaming). And seriously, anyone who gets you into those scenes doesn’t care about your well being. Don’t let people who you probably won’t see in 15 years dictate your life (like if they disapprove of the guy you're dating. So what, you're the one dating him, not them.) Parties, bars, clubs, BBQ's, tailgates, drinking, etc....is that all you know how to do? You drink something that tastes bad, breaks your bank, makes you act stupid and vomit, and the next morning gives you headaches. Wow, you're cool now, lol.

#2: It takes most men about 5 minutes to know whether or not they’d commit to you. Men like "simple" women, not women who are fake, stupid and can’t think for themselves (and it’s so easy to tell them apart). Remember the first time you got drunk (or stoned)? I’m sure you didn’t want to start, but a "friend" pushed you, you did it, and now you like it! That shows you can’t think for yourself. Sadly, people who are truly themselves, and stick to their values and beliefs tend to be alone and get overlooked often, but that’s not their problem. Just because some people use their brain, it doesn’t mean they’re boring. People who can't enjoy their life without alcohol, drugs, partying, and all their friends, are much more pathetic than people who can enjoy life without all that.

#3: You need common sense and street smarts to survive in this world, not a paper that says "degree". I know too many people with PhDs and MBA's who are working sh!t jobs because of bad decisions they made. Who cares if you're too tall, too short, thick (which most men like), too skinny, deaf, live at home, etc...it doesn’t change you. A true friend and lover will accept you exactly how you are. Everyone has flaws, imperfections, baggage, and issues (though there's a fine line between a flaw and ignorance/stupidity).

#4: This is a rule that girls never understand: Girls don’t like guys who whine, are bitter, negative, insecure, clingy, stereotype, judge, etc. These things are human nature, we all do it, girls especially! I’ve never met a girl who isn't whiny, insecure, stereotype, and bitter like it’s her job (just look at most girls' profiles, most say "omg don’t message me if..."). Do you honestly think people wake up one morning and decide to be bitter/whiny for no reason? Maybe if people were nicer to one another, people wouldn’t be like that. And honestly, you girls will date any guy as long as he’s hot, lol. You'll date guys who are drunks, criminals, don’t have high school diplomas, controlling...yet you won’t date a clingy guy? Lastly, the reason jerks don’t whine, is because they have no reason to! They’re jerks, and still get girls!

#5: Why are girls so mean to nice guys? Because nice guys don’t talk back. A girl will never mouth off a jerk because he will tear her heart apart. So when she finds a guy who will take her whiny attitude, she mouths him off (then wonders why no guy wants to be nice to her, lol). Yes, girls love the 'edge' bad boy thing........till they get heartbroken lol). Girls are turning nice guys into jerks everyday because of all this.

#6: If you think nice guys are boring, you'll think husbands and marriages are boring. Jerks get girlfriends, nice guys get wives. Who's going to make a better husband and father? The bad ass drunk, or the nice dude? Some girls say they dig tough guys because they feel more protected (umm, protected from what? lol). Plus, girls don’t dislike overly nice whiny guys, because if some tall, hot tough guy was being whiny, bitter, and knitting, girls would fall in love lol. It’s just most nice guys aren’t "hot". Girls go for jerks in hopes to convert him to a nice guy, but trust me, you will fail. You wont change men.

#7: To girls it’s all about looks (height especially, and you shouldn’t demand a guy be any taller than you). Guys don’t care for looks, they care for sex. All a girl has to do to get a guy is spread her legs. Looks fade: We all know someone in high school who was butt ugly and 10 years later is smokin hot. The more you bond with someone, the more attractive they become anyway. If some unattractive guy came up to you at a social event and started talking, you'd talk, get along, and eventually really like the guy and may end up dating. Now if that guy wrote you online, you'd take one look at his picture and never write back.

#8: Biggest rule of all: Girls are too superficial. They watch too many romance, fairy tale movies and think its reality. Girls date thinking love is easy, then dump him months/years later because she realizes its not easy and she just wants to have fun (women do call for the majority of divorces). If you think you're going to date/be married to someone and never argue, never be bored, always seeing each other and having fun, talking, laughing, never being hurt, and never getting nasty and bitter at each other; you're living in a dream world. Did our grandparents do all that? No, and they lasted! Im a satirical blogger so humor is great, but even I know not to expect it all day.

#9: Girls love drama and games. They love to play games like 'hard to get', and guys don’t. This is why guys don’t like to give compliments, because you'll just play 'hard to get', and when you do, he's going to run off to his backup girl, which all guys have. Why? Because no guy trusts his girlfriend 100% percent, no guy! Why? Because girls can be really naive and ignorant when they go out, and all guys know that girls are always the ones running away the moment something goes wrong. Relationships are not one way streets, you have to give and get, talk stuff out like adults, and you have to sacrifice a little.

#10: Thanks to girls, dating is turning into a game. If a guy mentions sex, politics, religion, money, his ex's, jokes, doesn’t pay on the first date (dutch is the best way to go, why pay for someone you may never see again?), doesn’t tell you what you want to hear, he's done. (If a guy and girl are going to date, shouldn’t they be able to talk about anything together?) Sadly, that’s all dating is: A game. And it’s a game that girls will never win, because guys know girls more than girls know themselves lol. It's true, we guys know that the girls who say they dont put out, are the ones who do. The girls who say they cant stand drama and games, are the ones who actually love it. Never say "I dont care what you think!". All guys know that females care "too much" what everyone thinks! lol. We guys can tell just by looking at your pics and profile, exactly what kind of girl you are. Yes, girls are that predictable.

#11: Every time a guy mentions anything sexual, the girl runs off. Why?! Sex is the most natural, normal thing alive. You wouldn’t look at the other gender if it wasn’t for sex. Girls are far hornier and want sex more than guys do (they just hide it, which shows dishonesty). In relationships, it’s the girls who want to fool around all the time (and if he's not good or doesn't do it often, she'll dump him, lol). Waiting till marriage is fine, as long as you'll do other stuff. Just look at how girls dress, act, dance, etc and it’s obvious they are horny as hell. No good guy wants a slut, but all guys want a freak in the bed. All guys know that "keeping" a girl is all about how good you are in bed lol. Getting a girl though, is all about telling her what she wants to hear and not being yourself lol.

#12: Some guys pretend they don’t care for sex (then use you for it lol). Ladies, all guys care! So if a guy mentions sex, he’s an honest guy! You want honesty? I LOVE legs and oral sex. Some girls say they don’t want to do things on dates because it’s whoreish or because they’ve put out and the guy never called them. Well guess what, you girls are no better! We guys spend our hard earned money on you, and you don’t call us back! There's nothing whoreish or wrong about fooling around as long as you two like one another. But girls say "you risk stds that way", which is an excuse. Did you and your ex's ever get tested? Probably not, so how do you know he’s clean? Lastly, stop being co ckteasers (like sucking on a guy's finger then stopping.) No, finish what you start.

#13: You can’t expect a spark, connection, chemistry (words you all love to use, yet can’t define lol) on a first date. Were you and your best friend, best friends right away? Of course not. Again, the more you chill with someone, the more attractive they become. First dates are supposed to be weird and awkward; you're hanging out with someone you barely know! Speaking of words, girls say it’s about confidence (even though girls lack it), yet none of them can tell us what 'confidence' means lol. They're just in love with "saying" those words. It’s simple: If he's hot, there's a connection lol.

#14: This is very important: Girls want a "man". Well guess what, men want a "woman". No girl wants a guy who knits, sews, bakes cakes, watches/enjoys cheerleading, flowers, etc, right? Well no man wants a girl who drinks like a fish, has a sailor mouth, watches/enjoys ufc (or does that), or acts all tough. You're not impressing "good" guys by being into that stuff. Females are becoming more un-lady like, and it’s a big reason why relationships don’t last as long and aren’t as healthy as they used to be. Sure, guys will date those kinds of girls (for ass), but they wont commit to them (unless it’s for ass). You want us to act like men? Well you act like women. Girls wonder if there's any good guys left, well we guys wonder if there's any "women" left lol.

#15: Girls are difficult and complicated. I know so many girls who refuse to chill with girls because "they are too difficult" (there’s a reason most world and company leaders aren’t women, lol). Girls expect too much out of life, relationships and people, whereas guys are simple. Guys can sit around all week watching TV and talking, and they’ll still call each other the next day. But girls? You won’t hear from her after the first day if you do that lol. Ladies, the world isn’t going anywhere! No guy is going to get in debt and take you out everyday.

16: You want to know what pleases men? Food, football, and women. Make us lunch, put on our football game (watch it with us as long as you're not whiny), and when the game is over put on a cute outfit and take us upstairs, that’s it! But women; you have to take them out everyday, make a picnic, buy flowers, buy a necklace, go here, go there...yikes! Here's a rule: If you won’t act/dress like a Victoria's Secret girl, don’t expect us men to act/dress like soap opera guys.

#17: Think "realistically". Everyone wants to be with someone who's gorgeous and amazing in bed. But realistically, 85% of people wont. Until you learn to accept that, you'll be disappointed. Also, get used to sitting around doing nothing, because that's how relationships/marriages are after a few months. Actually, girls dont mind sitting around doing nothing, as long as their boyfriend is hot lol. This is why I say: Girls aren’t in love; they’re in love with the "thought" of being in love. They don’t want love; they want excitement (which are two different things lol). Be realistic.

#18: When men get older, they do start getting serious about life, money and their careers. Most young people treat life like it’s a joke, then they get older, see reality and go "oops!" At least men are smart enough to admit that they do stupid things, that their friends aren’t 'real friends', and that they’ll probably regret their actions in 20 years. Girls though, seriously think they’re going to be young and stupid forever lol. Kenya is a serious country (unfortunately), if you want to live life like it’s a huge party and joke forever, move to Europe. And it doesn’t matter what age you are, you can "live up" at any age.

#19: Girls say they want honesty, but guys can’t be honest. Every time a guy is honest with you, you call him a jerk. If he does the slightest thing wrong, he’s a jerk. If he says one bad thing about himself or life, he’s a negative pessimist. If he says one thing good about himself, he’s cocky. If he’s nice to you, he’s a pushover. If he doesn’t help you out one day, he’s a jerk. If a girl says bad things about guys, guys just laugh and play along. But if a guy says bad thing about girls, girls get bitchy and defensive (because they know it’s true). It's okay for girls to reject guys, but if a guy rejects a girl, it makes him a jerk who's only after sex. Wow, girls cannot handle rejection, can they?

#20: Men are more attracted to introverts. Extroverted girls, girls with big jobs and big cars are intimidating to guys (unless all he wants is sex). Sadly, nowadays more and more people get these big jobs and put those jobs ahead of their family and love. We guys would rather a sweet faithful housewife, than a girl who makes big bank, can’t shut up and is always out. It's funny how the "majority" of girls nowadays are big extroverts, highly educated, bar hoppers, or partiers. Hmm, I wonder why. This is why. You dont see "many" nerdy introverts in pubs, do you? Maybe that should tell you something..

#21: I love girls and their "omg live everyday like it’s your last". Umm, if today was your last day, you'd be having sex all day. Or "life’s too short". Umm, life is the longest thing you have, lol. Or how about the "I like to have fun sometimes!” I like to have fun everyday! Oh but "fun" doesn’t just mean 'drink, party, be wild and stupid' to some of us. Or, "I have the best friends ever!” Yeah, till you both have a crush on the same guy, or til you ditch the party scene (then see how many of your friends still talk to you). Speaking of friends, you're not approachable when you're with your friends.

#22: So you may be thinking, "what girl wants to date a guy who talks sh!t about girls?!” Well I guess you don’t want any guy then, because all guys do it, just not publicly. See, the more ignorant girls are, the more ass a guy gets, so guys want girls to be ignorant. And I don’t care if all of your friends are guys; guys say totally different things when just one girl is around, as opposed to when it’s all guys.

#23: I found an article by a dating expert. She says the best ways to see if a guy is a keeper are: He has his act together (isn't a party boy). He puts you first (like if he makes dinner, he asks which piece you want first). He's not afraid of your germs (if you get sick, he offers to come over and take care of you). He's a family man (cares about his/your family). He is a cheerleader for you. He listens to you and remembers the little things (like how did your work meeting go?). Seeing you happy, makes him happy. He compromises, doesn't point the finger and yell. Hmm, sounds like a "Nice Guy", you know, the kinds you reject and criticize all the time? Lol. Maybe I’m wrong about all of this, but there's a reason why so many of you have been here forever and still single.

Reasons to Wake up early.

2009-11-26T01:38:00.000-08:00

1. Work on yourself
Early morning is an excellent time for personal development. How many times you complained you don’t have time to read that self-improvement book? Read it in the morning! Quiet morning time is a god sent gift which you should use for growing yourself – professionally, emotionally, physically, mentally and spiritually. Use this time to “sharpen the saw”.

2. Exercise your body
Do I really need to comment it? Exercise at home, go jogging or go to gym (they open early)…

3. Get ready for big stuff
Clean up small stuff to take it from your way to big things you plan to do during the day. Jump on that bunch of emails sitting in your inbox so it doesn’t drag your attention later in the day.

4. Increase your productivity
If you start early, you make your day longer, you can do much more in one day than you usually do. Got a lot of work pressing on you? Wake up earlier, jump to work, you may be done by the afternoon…

5. Use morning time for thinking
Jim Citrin wrote: “The quiet of the morning is often the time when your mind is at its clearest and most well-suited to solving important problems”. Read his article Tapping the Power of Your Morning Routine to get more insight on how valuable morning time can be. In the same article Jim reports that 80% of executives he questioned wake up at 5:30am or earlier.

6. Go with the nature
The nature wakes up every day when the sun goes up. So should you because your body is a part of the nature! Of course it depends at what time sun goes up in your area (in some areas, it doesn’t go down for half a year :-) , but you have got the idea…

7. Medidate
Meditation induces well-being and emotional balance. If you start your day with meditation you will carry that balance through the day, improving your life. Morning is a better time for meditation because you are fresh, your brain is relaxed and mind is much sharper.

8. Beat the traffic
If you spend too much time commuting to and from work every day, you can actually save time if you wake up and drive to work earlier. Even if you work fixed hours, by arriving to work earlier you can spend the extra time you’ve got on things listed above – reading, exercising, planning, and so on. It’s free time for you, which otherwise you would waste in traffic jams.

Cathars and Cathar Beliefs

2009-11-16T23:54:00.000-08:00

The Cathars were a religious group who appeared in Europe in the eleventh century, their origins something of a mystery though there is reason to believe their ideas came from Persia by way of the Byzantine Empire, the Balkans and Northern Italy. Records from the Roman Catholic Church mention them under various names and in various places. Catholic theologians debated with themselves for centuries whether Cathars were Christian heretics or whether they were not Christians at all. The question is apparently still open. Roman Catholics still refer to Cathar belief as "the Great Heresy" though the official Catholic position is that Catharism is not Christian at all.
Cathars believed in two principles, a good creator god and his evil adversary (much like God and Satan of mainstream Christianity). Cathars called themselves Christians; their neighbours distinguished them as "Good Christians". The Catholic Church called them Albigenses, or less frequently Cathars.

Cathars maintained a Church hierarchy and practiced a range of ceremonies, but rejected any idea of priesthood or the use of church buildings. They divided into ordinary believers who led ordinary medieval lives and an inner Elect of Parfaits (men) and Parfaites (women) who led extremely ascetic lives yet still worked for their living - generally in itinerant manual trades like weaving. Cathars believed in reincarnation and refused to eat meat or other animal products. They were strict about biblical injunctions - notably those about living in poverty, not telling lies, not killing and not swearing oaths.

Basic Cathar tenets led to some surprising logical implications. For example they largely regarded men and women as equals, and had no doctrinal objection to contraception, euthanasia or suicide. In some respects the Cathar and Catholic Churches were polar opposites.For example the Cathar Church taught that all non-procreative sex was better than any procreative sex. The Catholic Church taught - and still teaches - exactly the opposite. Both positions produced interesting results. Following their tenet, Catholics concluded that masturbation was a far greater sin than rape, as mediaeval penitentials confirm. Following their principles, Cathar could deduce that sexual intercourse between man and wife was more culpable than homosexual sex.

PLEASURES OF MEMORY

2009-10-23T08:06:00.000-07:00

Hail! Memory hail! In thy exhaustless mine,
From age to age unnumbre'd treasures shine,
Thought & her shadowy brood they call obey,
And place & time are subject to thy sway,
Thy pleasures most we feel when most alone,
The only pleasures we call our own,
Lighter than air, hope's summer-visions die,
If but a fleeting cloud obscure the sky,
If but a beam of sober reasons play,
Lo! Fancy's fairy frost-work melts away,
But can the wiles of art the grasp of power,
Snatch the relics of a well spent hour,
These when the trembling spirit wings her flight,
pour round her path a stream of living light,
And gild those pure and perfect realms of rest,
Where virtue triumphs and her sons are blest!

Take time to develop your talents.

2009-09-02T04:16:00.000-07:00

The deepest personal defeat suffered by human beings is constituted by the difference between what one was capable of becoming and what one has actually become. Ever heard that we are all born original and die photocopies? Well, that is what happens if you do not develop your uniqueness; basically your talents.There is a difference between simply existing and truly living,simply surviving and really thriving.
There is a huge treasure in everyone of us, and its only the bearer that can develop that into tangible results that make our lives and even lives of those that we relate to better. Do not spend time thinking about your weaknesses, rather, concentrate on your strengths and how your can make that even stronger.
The weakest among us has a gift, however seemingly trivial,which is peculiar to him and which worthily used will be a gift also to his race.
So go on, take your time to develop what you got. And bear in mind that the first step is finding out what it is!

Something you dd not know.

2009-08-22T10:14:00.000-07:00

Did you know that the most blood soaked publication in the world was published by the Catholic church called "Malleus Maleficarum' ( roughly translated to The Witches Hammer). It warned against the '..dangers of freethinking women', instructing the clergy how to locate, torture and destroy them. Enlightened women were deemed as 'Witches'. Thats where the phrase 'Witch hunt' comes from.

Infidelity.

2009-08-22T10:12:00.000-07:00

Blurred visions believing,
Unrelenting and seething,
Kindred constantly deceiving,
Unrequiting and suffocating,
Selfish gains pursuing,
Unabashed and rancoring,
Inchoate affection withholding,
Uncouth and tormenting,
Bullshit and canal vanity.

International Youth Day.

2009-08-15T04:35:00.000-07:00

August 12th was the International youth day. It was supposed to be the day that every young member of planet Earth was to do something towards sustainability of our environment. I wonder how many of us did anything towards the above course.
Today I am feeling proud of myself. I did something that, to me, was enough for a person of my standard; towards a better world. I encouraged a young generation to become better citizens of their world, more akin to climate change and their role in this big talk about environmental degradation. I left them with a sense of satisfaction within myself and a convergence of maturity with time, leaving energy with means; a recognition of accomplishment that frees the spirit.
So I have done something for the future generation; Let it not be said of you that you came took all you found and left nothing for them. Its selfish.

Obama's Speech. (Ghana)

2009-07-11T09:32:00.000-07:00

Good morning. It is an honor for me to be in Accra, and to speak to the representatives of the people of Ghana. I am deeply grateful for the welcome that I've received, as are Michelle, Malia and Sasha Obama. Ghana's history is rich, the ties between our two countries are strong, and I am proud that this is my first visit to sub-Saharan Africa as President of the United States.

I am speaking to you at the end of a long trip. I began in Russia, for a Summit between two great powers. I traveled to Italy, for a meeting of the world's leading economies. And I have come here, to Ghana, for a simple reason: the 21st century will be shaped by what happens not just in Rome or Moscow or Washington, but by what happens in Accra as well.

This is the simple truth of a time when the boundaries between people are overwhelmed by our connections. Your prosperity can expand America's. Your health and security can contribute to the world's. And the strength of your democracy can help advance human rights for people everywhere.

So I do not see the countries and peoples of Africa as a world apart; I see Africa as a fundamental part of our interconnected world — as partners with America on behalf of the future that we want for all our children. That partnership must be grounded in mutual responsibility, and that is what I want to speak with you about today.

We must start from the simple premise that Africa's future is up to Africans.

I say this knowing full well the tragic past that has sometimes haunted this part of the world. I have the blood of Africa within me, and my family's own story encompasses both the tragedies and triumphs of the larger African story.

My grandfather was a cook for the British in Kenya, and though he was a respected elder in his village, his employers called him "boy" for much of his life. He was on the periphery of Kenya's liberation struggles, but he was still imprisoned briefly during repressive times. In his life, colonialism wasn't simply the creation of unnatural borders or unfair terms of trade — it was something experienced personally, day after day, year after year.

My father grew up herding goats in a tiny village, an impossible distance away from the American universities where he would come to get an education. He came of age at an extraordinary moment of promise for Africa. The struggles of his own father's generation were giving birth to new nations, beginning right here in Ghana. Africans were educating and asserting themselves in new ways. History was on the move.

But despite the progress that has been made — and there has been considerable progress in parts of Africa — we also know that much of that promise has yet to be fulfilled. Countries like Kenya, which had a per capita economy larger than South Korea's when I was born, have been badly outpaced. Disease and conflict have ravaged parts of the African continent. In many places, the hope of my father's generation gave way to cynicism, even despair.

It is easy to point fingers, and to pin the blame for these problems on others. Yes, a colonial map that made little sense bred conflict, and the West has often approached Africa as a patron, rather than a partner. But the West is not responsible for the destruction of the Zimbabwean economy over the last decade, or wars in which children are enlisted as combatants. In my father's life, it was partly tribalism and patronage in an independent Kenya that for a long stretch derailed his career, and we know that this kind of corruption is a daily fact of life for far too many.

Of course, we also know that is not the whole story. Here in Ghana, you show us a face of Africa that is too often overlooked by a world that sees only tragedy or the need for charity. The people of Ghana have worked hard to put democracy on a firmer footing, with peaceful transfers of power even in the wake of closely contested elections. And with improved governance and an emerging civil society, Ghana's economy has shown impressive rates of growth.

This progress may lack the drama of the 20th century's liberation struggles, but make no mistake: it will ultimately be more significant. For just as it is important to emerge from the control of another nation, it is even more important to build one's own.

So I believe that this moment is just as promising for Ghana — and for Africa — as the moment when my father came of age and new nations were being born. This is a new moment of promise. Only this time, we have learned that it will not be giants like Nkrumah and Kenyatta who will determine Africa's future. Instead, it will be you — the men and women in Ghana's Parliament, and the people you represent. Above all, it will be the young people — brimming with talent and energy and hope — who can claim the future that so many in my father's generation never found.

To realize that promise, we must first recognize a fundamental truth that you have given life to in Ghana: development depends upon good governance. That is the ingredient which has been missing in far too many places, for far too long. That is the change that can unlock Africa's potential. And that is a responsibility that can only be met by Africans.

As for America and the West, our commitment must be measured by more than just the dollars we spend. I have pledged substantial increases in our foreign assistance, which is in Africa's interest and America's. But the true sign of success is not whether we are a source of aid that helps people scrape by — it is whether we are partners in building the capacity for transformational change.

This mutual responsibility must be the foundation of our partnership. And today, I will focus on four areas that are critical to the future of Africa and the entire developing world: democracy; opportunity; health; and the peaceful resolution of conflict.

First, we must support strong and sustainable democratic governments.

As I said in Cairo, each nation gives life to democracy in its own way, and in line with its own traditions. But history offers a clear verdict: governments that respect the will of their own people are more prosperous, more stable and more successful than governments that do not.

This is about more than holding elections — it's also about what happens between them. Repression takes many forms, and too many nations are plagued by problems that condemn their people to poverty. No country is going to create wealth if its leaders exploit the economy to enrich themselves, or police can be bought off by drug traffickers. No business wants to invest in a place where the government skims 20% off the top, or the head of the port authority is corrupt. No person wants to live in a society where the rule of law gives way to the rule of brutality and bribery. That is not democracy, that is tyranny, and now is the time for it to end.

In the 21st century, capable, reliable and transparent institutions are the key to success — strong parliaments and honest police forces; independent judges and journalists; a vibrant private sector and civil society. Those are the things that give life to democracy, because that is what matters in peoples' lives.

Time and again, Ghanaians have chosen Constitutional rule over autocracy, and shown a democratic spirit that allows the energy of your people to break through. We see that in leaders who accept defeat graciously, and victors who resist calls to wield power against the opposition. We see that spirit in courageous journalists like Anas Aremeyaw Anas, who risked his life to report the truth. We see it in police like Patience Quaye, who helped prosecute the first human trafficker in Ghana. We see it in the young people who are speaking up against patronage and participating in the political process.

Across Africa, we have seen countless examples of people taking control of their destiny and making change from the bottom up. We saw it in Kenya, where civil society and business came together to help stop postelection violence. We saw it in South Africa, where over three quarters of the country voted in the recent election — the fourth since the end of apartheid. We saw it in Zimbabwe, where the Election Support Network braved brutal repression to stand up for the principle that a person's vote is their sacred right.

Make no mistake: history is on the side of these brave Africans and not with those who use coups or change Constitutions to stay in power. Africa doesn't need strongmen, it needs strong institutions.

America will not seek to impose any system of government on any other nation — the essential truth of democracy is that each nation determines its own destiny. What we will do is increase assistance for responsible individuals and institutions, with a focus on supporting good governance — on parliaments, which check abuses of power and ensure that opposition voices are heard; on the rule of law, which ensures the equal administration of justice; on civic participation, so that young people get involved; and on concrete solutions to corruption like forensic accounting, automating services, strengthening hot lines and protecting whistle-blowers to advance transparency and accountability.

As we provide this support, I have directed my administration to give greater attention to corruption in our human rights report. People everywhere should have the right to start a business or get an education without paying a bribe. We have a responsibility to support those who act responsibly and to isolate those who don't, and that is exactly what America will do.

This leads directly to our second area of partnership — supporting development that provides opportunity for more people.

With better governance, I have no doubt that Africa holds the promise of a broader base for prosperity. The continent is rich in natural resources. And from cellphone entrepreneurs to small farmers, Africans have shown the capacity and commitment to create their own opportunities. But old habits must also be broken. Dependence on commodities — or on a single export — concentrates wealth in the hands of the few and leaves people too vulnerable to downturns.

In Ghana, for instance, oil brings great opportunities, and you have been responsible in preparing for new revenue. But as so many Ghanaians know, oil cannot simply become the new cocoa. From South Korea to Singapore, history shows that countries thrive when they invest in their people and infrastructure; when they promote multiple export industries, develop a skilled work force and create space for small and medium-sized businesses that create jobs.

As Africans reach for this promise, America will be more responsible in extending our hand. By cutting costs that go to Western consultants and administration, we will put more resources in the hands of those who need it, while training people to do more for themselves. That is why our $3.5 billion food security initiative is focused on new methods and technologies for farmers — not simply sending American producers or goods to Africa. Aid is not an end in itself. The purpose of foreign assistance must be creating the conditions where it is no longer needed.

America can also do more to promote trade and investment. Wealthy nations must open our doors to goods and services from Africa in a meaningful way. And where there is good governance, we can broaden prosperity through public-private partnerships that invest in better roads and electricity; capacity-building that trains people to grow a business; and financial services that reach poor and rural areas. This is also in our own interest — for if people are lifted out of poverty and wealth is created in Africa, new markets will open for our own goods.

One area that holds out both undeniable peril and extraordinary promise is energy. Africa gives off less greenhouse gas than any other part of the world, but it is the most threatened by climate change. A warming planet will spread disease, shrink water resources and deplete crops, creating conditions that produce more famine and conflict. All of us — particularly the developed world — have a responsibility to slow these trends — through mitigation, and by changing the way that we use energy. But we can also work with Africans to turn this crisis into opportunity.

Together, we can partner on behalf of our planet and prosperity and help countries increase access to power while skipping the dirtier phase of development. Across Africa, there is bountiful wind and solar power; geothermal energy and bio-fuels. From the Rift Valley to the North African deserts; from the Western coast to South Africa's crops — Africa's boundless natural gifts can generate its own power, while exporting profitable, clean energy abroad.

These steps are about more than growth numbers on a balance sheet. They're about whether a young person with an education can get a job that supports a family; a farmer can transfer their goods to the market; or an entrepreneur with a good idea can start a business. It's about the dignity of work. It s about the opportunity that must exist for Africans in the 21st century.

Just as governance is vital to opportunity, it is also critical to the third area that I will talk about — strengthening public health.

In recent years, enormous progress has been made in parts of Africa. Far more people are living productively with HIV/AIDS, and getting the drugs they need. But too many still die from diseases that shouldn't kill them. When children are being killed because of a mosquito bite, and mothers are dying in childbirth, then we know that more progress must be made.

Yet because of incentives — often provided by donor nations — many African doctors and nurses understandably go overseas, or work for programs that focus on a single disease. This creates gaps in primary care and basic prevention. Meanwhile, individual Africans also have to make responsible choices that prevent the spread of disease, while promoting public health in their communities and countries.

Across Africa, we see examples of people tackling these problems. In Nigeria, an interfaith effort of Christians and Muslims has set an example of cooperation to confront malaria. Here in Ghana and across Africa, we see innovative ideas for filling gaps in care — for instance, through E-Health initiatives that allow doctors in big cities to support those in small towns.

America will support these efforts through a comprehensive, global health strategy. Because in the 21st century, we are called to act by our conscience and our common interest. When a child dies of a preventable illness in Accra, that diminishes us everywhere. And when disease goes unchecked in any corner of the world, we know that it can spread across oceans and continents.

That is why my administration has committed $63 billion to meet these challenges. Building on the strong efforts of President Bush, we will carry forward the fight against HIV/AIDS. We will pursue the goal of ending deaths from malaria and tuberculosis, and eradicating polio. We will fight neglected tropical disease. And we won't confront illnesses in isolation — we will invest in public health systems that promote wellness and focus on the health of mothers and children.

As we partner on behalf of a healthier future, we must also stop the destruction that comes not from illness, but from human beings — and so the final area that I will address is conflict.

Now let me be clear: Africa is not the crude caricature of a continent at war. But for far too many Africans, conflict is a part of life, as constant as the sun. There are wars over land and wars over resources. And it is still far too easy for those without conscience to manipulate whole communities into fighting among faiths and tribes.

These conflicts are a millstone around Africa's neck. We all have many identities — of tribe and ethnicity; of religion and nationality. But defining oneself in opposition to someone who belongs to a different tribe, or who worships a different prophet, has no place in the 21st century. Africa's diversity should be a source of strength, not a cause for division. We are all God's children. We all share common aspirations — to live in peace and security; to access education and opportunity; to love our families, our communities, and our faith. That is our common humanity.

That is why we must stand up to inhumanity in our midst. It is never justifiable to target innocents in the name of ideology. It is the death sentence of a society to force children to kill in wars. It is the ultimate mark of criminality and cowardice to condemn women to relentless and systematic rape. We must bear witness to the value of every child in Darfur and the dignity of every woman in Congo. No faith or culture should condone the outrages against them. All of us must strive for the peace and security necessary for progress.

Africans are standing up for this future. Here, too, Ghana is helping to point the way forward. Ghanaians should take pride in your contributions to peacekeeping from Congo to Liberia to Lebanon, and in your efforts to resist the scourge of the drug trade. We welcome the steps that are being taken by organizations like the African Union and ECOWAS to better resolve conflicts, keep the peace, and support those in need. And we encourage the vision of a strong, regional security architecture that can bring effective, transnational force to bear when needed.

America has a responsibility to advance this vision, not just with words, but with support that strengthens African capacity. When there is genocide in Darfur or terrorists in Somalia, these are not simply African problems — they are global security challenges, and they demand a global response. That is why we stand ready to partner through diplomacy, technical assistance, and logistical support, and will stand behind efforts to hold war criminals accountable. And let me be clear: our Africa Command is focused not on establishing a foothold in the continent, but on confronting these common challenges to advance the security of America, Africa and the world.

In Moscow, I spoke of the need for an international system where the universal rights of human beings are respected, and violations of those rights are opposed. That must include a commitment to support those who resolve conflicts peacefully, to sanction and stop those who don't, and to help those who have suffered. But ultimately, it will be vibrant democracies like Botswana and Ghana which roll back the causes of conflict, and advance the frontiers of peace and prosperity.

As I said earlier, Africa's future is up to Africans.

The people of Africa are ready to claim that future. In my country, African-Americans — including so many recent immigrants — have thrived in every sector of society. We have done so despite a difficult past, and we have drawn strength from our African heritage. With strong institutions and a strong will, I know that Africans can live their dreams in Nairobi and Lagos; in Kigali and Kinshasa; in Harare and right here in Accra.

Fifty-two years ago, the eyes of the world were on Ghana. And a young preacher named Martin Luther King traveled here, to Accra, to watch the Union Jack come down and the Ghanaian flag go up. This was before the march on Washington or the success of the civil rights movement in my country. Dr. King was asked how he felt while watching the birth of a nation. And he said: "It renews my conviction in the ultimate triumph of justice."

Now, that triumph must be won once more, and it must be won by you. And I am particularly speaking to the young people. In places like Ghana, you make up over half of the population. Here is what you must know: the world will be what you make of it.

You have the power to hold your leaders accountable and to build institutions that serve the people. You can serve in your communities and harness your energy and education to create new wealth and build new connections to the world. You can conquer disease, end conflicts and make change from the bottom up. You can do that. Yes you can. Because in this moment, history is on the move.

But these things can only be done if you take responsibility for your future. It won't be easy. It will take time and effort. There will be suffering and setbacks. But I can promise you this: America will be with you. As a partner. As a friend. Opportunity won't come from any other place, though — it must come from the decisions that you make, the things that you do, and the hope that you hold in your hearts.

Freedom is your inheritance. Now, it is your responsibility to build upon freedom's foundation. And if you do, we will look back years from now to places like Accra and say that this was the time when the promise was realized — this was the moment when prosperity was forged; pain was overcome; and a new era of progress began. This can be the time when we witness the triumph of justice once more. Thank you.

Great fighters

2009-05-21T08:39:00.000-07:00

Good fighters put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat. Securing yourself against defeat lies in your own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is presented by the enemy himself. To see victory only when it is within the ken of the common herd is not the acme of excellence. The thing is to see the plant before it has germinated. One may know how to conquer,without being able to it. In such instances, you become wise in taking unremitting precautions.
A wise fighter is the one who not only wins but excels in winning with ease. You need to put yourself in a position that makes losing impossible. Make moves when you are favorably circumstanced, if you don't,then you are really afraid, if not a coward.
The Art of War

Things you should know.

2009-02-26T08:14:00.000-08:00

I have come to discover many things.Life is not so unfair after all. Think about it. I mean, traffic jams eventually clear up, sunsets are for free,Art can correct most human misconceptions; if you take it right, most planes take off and arrive on time...
Am also learning that most folks are good folks, who are just as timid as I am to start a conversation.
To live happy and fulfilled, we just need to get rid of the saboteur, within or without.

THE A-Z OF HAPPINESS

2009-01-28T08:30:00.000-08:00

A spire to reach your potential
B elieve in yourself
C reate a good life
D ream about what you might become
E xercise frequently
F orgive honest mistakes
G orify the creative spirit
H umor yourself and others
I magine great things
J oyfully live each day
K indly help others
L ove one another
M editate daily
N urture the environment
O rgaise for harmonious action
P raise performance well done
Q uestion most things
R egulate your own behavior
S mile often
T hink rationally
U nderstand yourself
V alue life
W ork for the common good
X -ray and carefully examine problems
Y earn to improve
Z estfully persdue happiness

All the best.

BUSH LESSONS

2009-01-27T06:57:00.000-08:00

As much as we welcome change and hope into today's direction of the world,and our lives, it is important that we take lessons from the past. We all loved to see Bush leave, but I must say i learnt a big deal from the dude. Here are some of the important lessons Bush taught me.

1.
Always have a plan, and stick to it, no matter what. Even when nobody approves of your plan or intentions, you assume they cant see as well as you can, or they are short sighted! That makes the problems theirs.
'Eye Rack' had many problems, its only that they were visible through 'Bush' eyes. And Saddam Hussein was a real threat to humanity. (Talking about Saddam, I don't know how he would feel if he were around to share a name with an American President!)

2.
Once you make a gross mistake, you should never be there to explain yourself, just in case some bright fellow figured. Bush once said "....I will be long gone before somebody ever figures what happened in this oval office."

3.
Intellect is overrated. I mean you don't really need to be so sharp to achieve your goals ( ..or even your fathers). This might be partly because intellectuals have a way of confusing simple things with simplistic ones. You can be simple without being simplistic. Simplistic is worse by the way.

4.
If you have grammar problems, or issues with self articulation get bright people to do the work for you. That's how Condi comes into play. Do not get a person of your mental capabilities. Get better, because you don't have to understand half the things they say, you just trust its nice on your side.

5.
If you must leave a legacy, and you notice you are running out of time, make a bad one. Because if you want to make something bad, no matter how bad it is, you can always make it. And bad legacies are much more outstanding since they are few and isolated, hence easier to pinpoint. The last time there was a financial crisis as bad as the Bush one was 1930s. How many American presidents do you remember between Roosevelt and Obama? Three? Bush included? They are close to nine! so who's the man?

OBAMA'S INAUGURAL SPEECH

2009-01-20T20:51:00.000-08:00

OBAMA: My fellow citizens:

I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.
Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because we the people have remained faithful to the ideals of our forebears, and true to our founding documents.
So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.
That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.
These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land — a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.
Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America — they will be met.
On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.
On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.
We remain a young nation, but in the words of scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.
In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of shortcuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted — for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things — some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.
For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.
For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.
For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.
Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.
This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions — that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.
For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act — not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do. Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions — who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage. What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them — that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works — whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account — to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day — because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government. Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control — and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our gross domestic product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart — not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good. As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our founding fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more. Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint. We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort — even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you. For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace. To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West — know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist. To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it. As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us today, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment — a moment that will define a generation — it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all. For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate. Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends — hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism — these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility — a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task. This is the price and the promise of citizenship. This is the source of our confidence — the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny. This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed — why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath. So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people: "Let it be told to the future world ... that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive...that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet (it)."

America, in the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.

Try this today.

2009-01-15T20:39:00.000-08:00

-Leave excuses out of your life. You are good enough as you stand.

-The greatest casualty of fear is love. Fear not, in loving. We fear being without love, but unseemingly, we are more afraid of being in love.

-The more uninteresting you choose to become, the more difficult your life becomes.

MISAPPROPRATION

2008-12-30T07:26:00.000-08:00

People spend their live doing and wishing for things they should not. All it takes to be happy is to love the right things, in the right amounts. Not money, not careers, but people.
Adult who never understand this never quite get fulfilled.

LIFE AND FAILURE

2008-12-11T08:56:00.000-08:00

The hardest things to comprehend in life are failure and age; which are, by some sense, one and the same thing. Perfection is the consequence of age, eternity; wait long enough and everything will realize its potential. Coal becomes diamonds, sand becomes pearls, apes become men! Its simply not given to us, in one lifetime, to see those consummations, and so every failure becomes a reminder of death.
However, love lost is a special kind of failure. Its a reminder that some consummations,no matter how devoutly wished for, never come; that some apes will never become men, not in all ages!
Whats a monkey to think, who with a typewriter and eternity still cant eke out Shakespeare?

ON LEADERSHIP; MY SAY.

2008-11-27T07:51:00.000-08:00

The system we are living in colludes with corrupt leaders, condones bad leadership and relegates anything important to the periphery. What we see in the high offices is a shameful lack of consistency in pursuit of larger ideals of development, environmental conservation and education. Leadership should not be approached as a cafeteria, where you order the things that you like and avoid those that you don’t. You can’t choose glory, power, and status and ignore things such as performance, responsibility and accountability.
Within us is the ability to spur our country and continent forward, but it will take a deliberate effort, at personal level to develop such abilities to practicability in the real sense.
We must review our standards and values, and then align ourselves to professional and godly ideals. We must believe in ourselves strongly enough to defend our positions on issues, to internalize our roles, forge a clear identity on the basis of truth and good leadership. This will be achieved by personal efforts, better training, and deliberate quality enhancement. Only then can we expect a future where we would be proud to stand tall and be counted as citizens of this great nation; Obamaland!

Misdemeanour; Kenyan MPs

2008-11-27T07:48:00.000-08:00

It’s rather appalling and down right disturbing to watch news in this beloved country of ours. Not that I am any less patriotic than I was on November 5th, or immediately after the Beijing Olympics, but come on, our mps are a total bunch of useless characters. This is of course with an exception of a few, who surprisingly can differentiate between simple and simplistic. I don’t need to mention Hon. Johnstone Muthama and company.
A cross section of the former has been openly ganging up to do some things i would not imagine somebody calling themselves a leader would do in the 21st century. Take fro instance the Coast MPs, publicly calling on the coastal people, telling them that they should be president come 2012. How do you single out one community, polarise them, with skewed politics and expect to have the whole of Kenya stand united? What is tribalism, if this isn’t? And if they think coiling back to their ethnic communities is how to win the presidency, or premiership, do they really think they have enough numbers at the coast only to get to the statehouse? Come on, this isn’t going to happen. My advice to you is that give yourself a national appeal, not a tribal one, and that way you can get your name on the presidential ballot, otherwise we don’t even like you as you are!
I was growing weary of the vibe that every MP was giving, that they would like to pay taxes, but the whole august house has to pass such a bill. Now that there is a way each individual member can pay, can the real men and women stand up please? And now they all go silent! Can the real leaders queue behind Muthama? Philanthropy, charity, or whatever they may rubbish it as, that’s the true sense of being a Kenyan leader; by example, not mouthing everywhere. Ababu, Martha, etc, are you listening?

Interesting observation …….

2008-11-19T07:53:00.000-08:00

45 years ago, Kibaki and Michuki were in Cabinet and J. F. Kennedy was running for President. Obama was 1 year old. 45 years later, Kibaki and Michuki are still in cabinet, and Obama is PRESIDENT-ELECT for the same seat Kennedy was running for. In 45 years, we have had Johnson, Carter, Nixon, Ford, Reagan, Clinton, Bush 1 and Bush 2 in between as presidents of USA but in Kenya the same guys in their 70's and 80's are still trying to tell Kenyans they can make development models that work? Makes u think??

Seriously, is it just me?

2008-11-18T09:46:00.000-08:00

I have been wondering whether anyone else notice the striking resemblance between President Paul Kagame and Gen. Laurent Nkunda!
Are these en related by any chance? Given their history way back, am just thinking how deep a problem Kabila is facing.

A big shame at Athletics Kenya.

2008-10-16T09:30:00.000-07:00

The drama and theatrics in Kenyan politics, at whatever capacity end only to begin a new. And we quite never look below the surface of things, really.
I am quite dismayed by the recently concluded elections at Riadha house, not that I run or swim, can do it or will ever consider doing so, unless something really huge and very dangerous is running behind me just as fast, or faster. My concern is the attitude of the old guns now comfortably occupying the prestigious house.
Almost all officials comfortably retained their seats, quite discouraging in a country where power is shared even in the highest office, which by the way I think, is absurdly dangerous. This is an assumption of monopoly of knowledge and skills, which is a perfect cocktail for the looming lapse in leadership gap; not so dissimilar if you are a Kenyan. Worse still is the business-as-usual attitude assumed by Kiplagat and team.
My discontent is not so irrational, and here are my adduced facts.
Soon after being elected Kiplagat said that he ‘…would spend 50% of the time resting, and the rest ensuring that general Tuwey does …’ I don’t know what. But it is to the effect that Tuwey will be doing the work Kiplagat was elected for. So my issue; now that the chairman, implicitly will be doing nothing in the office, unless 100% minus 50% minus ‘the rest’ does not amount to zero, why did he vie in the first place? Why can’t he let this Tuwey do whatever it is that he is supposed to do the office the whole time, now that during his share of the time he will be sleeping in the office? (That’s the only way I know to rest.) and again, why should we believe that Kiplagat will do that, given what he said four years ago, when he was elected, something to the effect that it would have been his last term?
Maybe you don’t, but I see a big problem in our style of leadership, when we are ignoring the ambrosial talent in the youth. And the whole process of elections was apocryphal anyway.
And I almost forgot to mention that all officials elected in Athletics Kenya are men, as though women don’t do athletics! Yeah, of course I remember Jelimo!

OUR LIVES.

2008-10-01T09:07:00.000-07:00

Our lives are very interesting. They do not follow the dramatic arc that our good plans intend. Life is not an art, and only in very rare incidences of pure perfection does the world actually become a stage; and that clearly, people, we can see, is a shame. Imagine all you have to do having been premeditated?
The reality is, our live are actually imperfect visions of reality, and only art, like a pair of reading glasses can correct it. This, my dear readers, is not pro activity, but a reactionary measure.

Problematic English.

2008-09-24T09:41:00.000-07:00

AFTER ITS' CURRENCY PROBLEM EUROPE SOLVES ITS LANGUAGE PROBLEMS

I have received fresh news from the ongoing UN summit in the United States concerning the current sorry state of English as a language. The European Union commissioners have announced that agreement has been reached to adopt English as the preferred language for European communications, rather than German, which was the other possibility. As part of the negotiations, Her Majesty's Government conceded that English spelling had some room for improvement and has accepted a 5 year phased plan for what will be known as Euroenglish. (Euro for short.)

In the first year, "s" will be used instead of the soft "c". sertainly, sivil servants will resieve this news with joy. Also, the hard "c" will be replaced with "k". Not only will this klear up konfusion, but typewriters kan have one less letter.
There will be growing publik enthusiasm in the sekond year, when the troublesome "ph" will be replaced by "f". This will make words like "fotograf" 20 per sent shorter.
In the third year, publik akseptanse of the new spelling kan be expekted to reach the stage where more komplikated changes are possible. Governments will enkorage the removal of double letters, which have always been a deterent to akurate speling. Also, al wil agre that the horible mes of silent "e"'s in the languag is disgrasful, and they would go.
By the fourth year, peopl will be reseptiv to steps such as replasing "th" by "z" and "w" by "v". During ze fifz year, ze unesesary "o" kan be dropd from vords kontaining "ou", and similar changes vud of kors be aplid to ozer kombinations of leters.
After zis fifz yer, ve vil hav a reli sensibl riten styl. Zer vil be no mor trubls or difikultis and evrivun vil find it ezi tu understand ech ozer. Ze drem vil finali kum tru!

Leaders read.

2008-09-10T10:39:00.000-07:00

It has been clear to me for a while, and now i feel obligated to let you know that its not an option for leaders to read, its a lifestyle. If there is anyone following you, you need to know something that they dont. Acommon saying goes that if you want to hide anything from an African, put it in a book, but guess what, they are wrong now. Africans are the medicine for our beatiful continent, and unless we interact with great thinkers, through their books, there is not much we can do for Africa. Our brothers who have gone before us have fascinating reads; think Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe, Ngugi wa Thiong'o.... list is endless. Recently i read Duncan Ndegwas 'In the Footsteps ...' and that is a really mind wakening book.
Now get up and grab a book!

The trouble with mankind.

2008-09-02T06:06:00.000-07:00

I just figured that mankind will be hoist by his own petard.
What is wrong with us? The other day they changed the composition of the galaxy. They ostracized Pluto from the solar system. What can we say of a Galaxy which we keep altering rules for conveniences sake? And if Pluto had a serious name, say Amsterdam, Sydney or Desmond, would things be different?

Pointers you should know

2008-09-01T09:41:00.000-07:00

Energy flows where attention goes.
The Economic thought we are taught about scarcity is a lie! There is enough for us in the catalogue of the universe.There are enough resources to go all round the whole world, if only you set your mind to be aware of its infinite nature.
The moment you think about scarcity, it becomes your experience, and when you follow your heart, you hardly chase after the same things.
There is certainly enough for you, if you can believe it, you can see it, if you can see it, you can act from if, and it will show up for you. We all have unbounded potential! Think about the possibilities.

the thing with love

2008-08-29T04:10:00.000-07:00

Love, love, love!All the wretched cant of it, masking egotism, lust, masochism, fantasy under a mythology of sentimental postures, a welter of self induced miseries and joys, blinding and masking the essential personalities in the frozen gestures o courtship!

wanna know more? check this space.

ANOTHER POWERFUL DEMOCRAT.

2008-08-28T04:19:00.000-07:00

Was just watching Joe Bidden give his acceptance speech, and man, that is another powerful American. Is this not the future for America and the world over?
As i sat there listening to this guy i realized how much our leaders should be in touch with the so called 'common wananchi' which by the way i think is as wrong as i can ever get. But thats a story for another day. Anywho, Joe is such a humble leader and so down to Earth. Men these two great Americans sure deserve a chance at the capital hill, and am very sure the world will be a better place. Change is the thing everybody needs, not four more years of the last eight years.

HILLARY IS SUCH AN INSPIRATION.

2008-08-27T03:28:00.000-07:00

I was watching Hillary give her speech over the weekend and man, that woman is strong. Among the powerfull things she quoted was that ' ... if you want a taste of freedom, then you must keep going. ...but before you keep going, get going by electing Obama to the whitehouse......NO WAY, NO HOW, NO McCAIN!