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Saturday, January 10, 2009
Homecoming Part Four
Check out Homecoming Part Three
Mercy spent the whole of the next day shopping: five pairs of trousers for her father and three pairs of shoes to match; three trendy dresses for her mother and two pairs of shoes to match; two pairs of jeans trousers each for her three younger brothers; five loaves of bread; two kilograms of margarine; five kilograms of sugar and two giant-size packets of tea leaves.
That done, she went home and prepared for her journey early the next day. Before she went to bed she made a solemn prayer asking God to grant her a peaceful journey.
She was up and about very early the following day. After her toilet and other preliminary preparations, she was ready to go.
When she got to the stage, there was only one bus that was travelling to her destination. She boarded it.
Throughout the journey she did not pay attention to the beautiful scenery that they passed. Her mind was replete with thoughts of home…home…home. Home sweet home.
She knew she would see changes at home. Every wild idea of what kind of change she would see, traversed the breadth of her mind.
“It will be a whole new experience,” she thought.
“Maragwa…Maragwa. Nani Maragwa?” the conductor shouted at the top of his voice. “Nani anashukia hapa. Ah, dere, twende. Hakuna mtu anashuka.”
[This roughly translates to: “Maragwa…Maragwa. Who is alighting at Maragwa? Driver, it seems there is no one getting off. Let’s continue with the journey.”]
Mercy was jolted from her reverie. Maragwa was her destination.
“Please, let me alight I have reached my destination,” she told the conductor. The driver looked at her angrily and told her, in no uncertain terms, that she was wasting their time.
She pretended not to have heard, paid her fare and got off the vehicle.
Her first impression of Maragwa was that it was dry. The ground was dusty and parched, a sure sign that it had not rained for weeks. Maybe even for months.
She went to a shop that was near the stage, bought a soda and sat down on some stones that were beside the shop.
Nursing her drink, she took in the whole scenery. The shop was new and the shopkeeper was unfamiliar. There was a primary school nearby. She had not left it when she left for the city. Farther left, there was a police station. That was new to her too.
When she left for the city, there had been many trees but now there were fewer trees in the horizon. Where they had once been, there stood buildings of various shapes and sizes.
She paid for the drink and started her climb home. Her home was less than two hundred metres from where she was.
Her baggage seemed even heavier than before. She was tempted to leave part of the load with the shopkeeper and send her brothers to fetch it when she got home. She decided against it for she did not know the shopkeeper well.
On the way home, people kept looking at her in a queer way. She recognized some of them but, because they did not come to her to either greet or help her, she pretended not to know them. Among them she saw people she had turned down when they offered to marry her. Maybe they had never forgiven her.
At last her home loomed in the distance. Her heart started singing and her heartbeats tripled. And, for a reason she could not place, a cold sweat trickled down her spine.
She trudged on painstakingly, wishing that she were already at home.
On reaching the gate, she pushed it open. Its creaking hinges made a hell 0f noise. That did not deter her.
“Anybody home!” she shouted with a touch of liveliness in her voice. “Father…mother…Mwangi...Njuguna…Chege I am home. Mercy Mugure is home!” Silence.
Pregnant silence. Ominous silence. Loud silence. Only the sound of the wind whistling through the trees could be heard.
Gradually her spirits were dampened but she cautiously advanced towards the crannied, dilapidated house. Lines of weakness ran from one corner of the house to the next. The iron sheets were done for: brown with rust.
“Anybody home,” she tried with renewed vigour.
It was a futile attempt.
To be Continued
Drug Rehab
Nowadays many of us are working hard and earning money for our day to day life. But in spite of the money that we earn through our hard work, many are wasting their life by getting into some bad habits. Among that drug is such a main thing, which is causing so many problems to the entire world. For this in order to save us out we all definitely need a perfect guidance provider. At the same not all are that much legalized one’s to cure us from the habit of drug. Recently I visited a site Chapman House INC there is a technique that was originated by Vernon Johnson of the Johnson Institute in Minnesota. Mr. Johnson’s original idea was to create a “controlled crisis” for the Alcoholic who was reluctant to enter into drug rehab. The Chapman House staff is trained in the original Johnson method, as well as techniques developed exclusively by our own treatment team. We are capable of performing intervention on both adults and adolescents. As professional Interventionists, we have witnessed firsthand the method of Intervention, which again is 96% successful. It can be successful for you as well, because there’s one thing that we’re sure about; although each person is unique, the process of addiction is not. This type of Intervention was then modified to address all crisis situations. Intervention, when conducted by a trained professional is 96% successful in convincing a reluctant person to enter into drug rehab. They would welcome the opportunity to answer any questions you may have about drug detoxification, drug intervention, addiction and inpatient drug treatment for adults, co-existing disorders, our exclusive inpatient program for adolescents, and their Executive Drug Rehab at Capo. Thus this site is designed in such a way that we can get to know whatever we need about drugs, their effects and so on. So try them out and make use of it…
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
Homecoming Part Three
Check out Homecoming Part Two
On looking, she saw that it was her best friend, while she was in college.
She was overjoyed and literally ran across the road, arms flying in the air – the traffic the least of her worries!
They hugged and exchanged pecks on the cheeks.
“Bena, where’ve you been, lady? You’ve grown so fat; just look at these shapely er…er… bums!” Mercy teased her friend.
“Don’t say that. Just look at yourself you’ve grown gorgeous, Mugure. Wow! Tell me, who’s the man behind your evident beauty? Who’s pampering you?” Bena asked, her eyes all over Mercy.
Mercy cast a rather icy look at her, softened and said, “Ah, no need to ask. I am behind all this. Let’s just say I am taking good care of myself. Okay, girlfriend?”
Bena grinned and pretended to be satisfied with the answer.
“By the way,” Bena said, “I met with your younger brother, Chege, four weeks ago and he told me to pass his regards to you if we ever met. Now we have. Receive them.”
Jolted, Mercy said, “Oh, you did. What a delight! Did he tell you about people at home?”
“No, he didn’t. When I met him he was in a hurry and he told me he was hurrying to see someone downtown. So, I didn’t want to bother him with questions.”
After sometime they parted ways, promising each other to keep in touch.
That evening, the thought of visiting home came down heavily upon Mercy. She thought about her home; her old parents; her siblings; and the many lives she had shattered.
She brushed that thought away.
“I must only think of the good things about my life at home. The negative should not spoil the party,” she told herself.
….. ….. ….. …. …..
The next day, at the office, she took a week’s off so that she could finalize everything she had in mind.
“People in my village must know that M zee Kuria has a daughter. Not just a daughter, but an affluent daughter at that. I’ll build my parents the best house in the district,” She mused.
That thought whet her appetite for the ‘homecoming’ experience.
To be Continued…
Sunday, January 04, 2009
A Story to Share - Part Two
Check out Homecoming Part One
Her name was Mercy Mugure. She had left her home in the village for the city in a bid to land a big job. Of course she was entitled to a good job. What with the skills, enthusiasm and vim she possessed for secretarial work. Any manager with a head for business would swoop on her, never to let go.
Her speeds in shorthand were breathtaking. Her grasp of language was superb if not excellent.
So, when she presented her certificates and résumé to the managing director of Afuong’o Soap Company, the boss literally blurted: “You’ve got yourself a job, Miss.”
She was head over heels with joy; brimming with joy so to speak. No harsh encounters with a boss who reduces one to an infinitesimal ant. It had been pure luck and a God-send, so to speak.
If the boss’ intention in giving her the job was different from that of just giving her the job, then it was hard to tell.
But, anyway, Mercy Mugure was a woman of class. Beautiful in all aspects of the word. What with sparkling, white eyes that always gleamed with innocence.
Her chubby cheeks were endowed with immaculate dimples reminiscent of the centre of a whirlpool. The milk-white teeth that graced her mouth were exquisitely carved to fit.
Her gorgeous, long, smooth and chocolate-brown legs were sure to excite any man who gave concupiscence and prurience paramount consideration.
Mugure started working for the soap company as head of the secretarial department. She proved to be worth her salt because everything she set out to do was done explicitly and with the precision of a trained marksman.
Her salary was doubled, and then tripled. And the perks started coming in.
She became a woman of repute. Then her boss started making sexual advances. But she put it across clearly that lewd jokes and sentimentality suggested in jest did not work with her. She simply did not like them. Period.
The boss apologized and strived as much as he could to put his relationship with Mugure at business level; no strings attached.
….. …. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. …..
Two years down the line and she was fairly swimming in opulence, at least for a lady of her age – unmarried as she was.
Mercy put aside some finances to build her parents a decent house when she decided to visit them. And that was God-knows-when!
Three years down the line, no husband and the idea of visiting her parents had not come to her.
Then one day as she was crossing a busy road, someone beckoned to her from across the road.
To be Continued...
Her name was Mercy Mugure. She had left her home in the village for the city in a bid to land a big job. Of course she was entitled to a good job. What with the skills, enthusiasm and vim she possessed for secretarial work. Any manager with a head for business would swoop on her, never to let go.
Her speeds in shorthand were breathtaking. Her grasp of language was superb if not excellent.
So, when she presented her certificates and résumé to the managing director of Afuong’o Soap Company, the boss literally blurted: “You’ve got yourself a job, Miss.”
She was head over heels with joy; brimming with joy so to speak. No harsh encounters with a boss who reduces one to an infinitesimal ant. It had been pure luck and a God-send, so to speak.
If the boss’ intention in giving her the job was different from that of just giving her the job, then it was hard to tell.
But, anyway, Mercy Mugure was a woman of class. Beautiful in all aspects of the word. What with sparkling, white eyes that always gleamed with innocence.
Her chubby cheeks were endowed with immaculate dimples reminiscent of the centre of a whirlpool. The milk-white teeth that graced her mouth were exquisitely carved to fit.
Her gorgeous, long, smooth and chocolate-brown legs were sure to excite any man who gave concupiscence and prurience paramount consideration.
Mugure started working for the soap company as head of the secretarial department. She proved to be worth her salt because everything she set out to do was done explicitly and with the precision of a trained marksman.
Her salary was doubled, and then tripled. And the perks started coming in.
She became a woman of repute. Then her boss started making sexual advances. But she put it across clearly that lewd jokes and sentimentality suggested in jest did not work with her. She simply did not like them. Period.
The boss apologized and strived as much as he could to put his relationship with Mugure at business level; no strings attached.
….. …. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. …..
Two years down the line and she was fairly swimming in opulence, at least for a lady of her age – unmarried as she was.
Mercy put aside some finances to build her parents a decent house when she decided to visit them. And that was God-knows-when!
Three years down the line, no husband and the idea of visiting her parents had not come to her.
Then one day as she was crossing a busy road, someone beckoned to her from across the road.
To be Continued...
Friday, January 02, 2009
A Story to Share
Happy New Year good people. Thank you all for supporting me last year. I look forward to working with you even more this year.
I’d like to start this year by sharing a story with you. I wrote it in 2001. I hope you’ll enjoy it.
The title is:
….
“So tomorrow’s D-day,” she said to herself. She was utterly enthralled and elated by the thoughts that were doing their rounds in her head. She sat down on her bed but found that that was not good enough.
She needed to stand and flex her muscles, if anything, for the next day. Yes, she would need all the energy she could muster. The energy to whoop with joy. The energy to have a chin-wag after another; a rigmarole after another. Yes, the perfect homecoming. She shot from her bed and the words, “Home, here I come!” escaped her mouth.
Slowly she moved to window, a grin playing on her lean lips. After rolling up the blind, she peered outside. Instead of seeing the view outside, she saw the pictures of her father, mother and brothers dancing before her on the window.
These people were very happy. What was that again? Their lips were moving, they were communicating. But there was no sound. She blinked her clouded eyes. When she reopened them, the images were still there – vivid and life-like!
She wanted to say she loved them; that she cared. But she simply couldn’t. How could she even claim that she loved them yet she had spent three solid years away from home?
They had been communicating in the first year of her absence from home. But the communication had died off as quickly as it had started.
Tears clouded her eyes and slowly meandered down her chubby face to her chin where they stalled for a bit, made a fat drop and tore through the air to the floor.
In no time her face was awash with tears. She let tears roll freely. As she stood reminiscing the good times with her family so was her resolve to go home strengthened and solidified.
“I must go home…tomorrow!” she said with a firmness that startled her.
To be continued…
I’d like to start this year by sharing a story with you. I wrote it in 2001. I hope you’ll enjoy it.
The title is:
….
“So tomorrow’s D-day,” she said to herself. She was utterly enthralled and elated by the thoughts that were doing their rounds in her head. She sat down on her bed but found that that was not good enough.
She needed to stand and flex her muscles, if anything, for the next day. Yes, she would need all the energy she could muster. The energy to whoop with joy. The energy to have a chin-wag after another; a rigmarole after another. Yes, the perfect homecoming. She shot from her bed and the words, “Home, here I come!” escaped her mouth.
Slowly she moved to window, a grin playing on her lean lips. After rolling up the blind, she peered outside. Instead of seeing the view outside, she saw the pictures of her father, mother and brothers dancing before her on the window.
These people were very happy. What was that again? Their lips were moving, they were communicating. But there was no sound. She blinked her clouded eyes. When she reopened them, the images were still there – vivid and life-like!
She wanted to say she loved them; that she cared. But she simply couldn’t. How could she even claim that she loved them yet she had spent three solid years away from home?
They had been communicating in the first year of her absence from home. But the communication had died off as quickly as it had started.
Tears clouded her eyes and slowly meandered down her chubby face to her chin where they stalled for a bit, made a fat drop and tore through the air to the floor.
In no time her face was awash with tears. She let tears roll freely. As she stood reminiscing the good times with her family so was her resolve to go home strengthened and solidified.
“I must go home…tomorrow!” she said with a firmness that startled her.
To be continued…
Saturday, December 20, 2008
The four-letter Word
The other day I told my friends that my wife had told me the four-letter word. I was very angry (or so I seemed). The look on my face made my friends to start shooting off at the mouth. When they asked me what I had done about it, I said that I had just looked on, amused.
“How dare you stomach such a woman If I were the one on the receiving end of the four-letter word, I would be in prison right now for murdering someone,” one of them told me.
Another one looked at me, and, with all the vehemence he could muster, said:
“I never knew I had a sissy for a friend. How dare you allow your wife to use the four-letter word – directed at you – to say the very least. You must show yourself a man and kick that woman out of your house.”
They ranted on until they were jaded to the bone, literally. I looked on silently and shook my head slowly as if considering all they were advising me.
I had to cut them short, for I was running late. I told them to calm down.
“Does any of you know what my wife told me? None of you asked me what she told me. My wife is a very loving woman and she always wishes the best for me,” I told them.
“She said ‘I love you’. Love is a four-letter word, is it not?”
Check out Bold statements of Yore
“How dare you stomach such a woman If I were the one on the receiving end of the four-letter word, I would be in prison right now for murdering someone,” one of them told me.
Another one looked at me, and, with all the vehemence he could muster, said:
“I never knew I had a sissy for a friend. How dare you allow your wife to use the four-letter word – directed at you – to say the very least. You must show yourself a man and kick that woman out of your house.”
They ranted on until they were jaded to the bone, literally. I looked on silently and shook my head slowly as if considering all they were advising me.
I had to cut them short, for I was running late. I told them to calm down.
“Does any of you know what my wife told me? None of you asked me what she told me. My wife is a very loving woman and she always wishes the best for me,” I told them.
“She said ‘I love you’. Love is a four-letter word, is it not?”
Check out Bold statements of Yore
What’s it with these fundis?
There are some people in society that I have never understood. These are carpenters, tailors and radio & TV repairers. You have these people in your neighbourhood, don’t you?
These carpenters in my neighbourhood make very beautiful furniture for their clients. But one day I visited the house of one of them and I received the shock of my life. The vast room had only two wobbly stools. And there was one creaking bed at the corner. What’s it with this carpenter? I asked myself.
He caught my eyes roving from one corner of the room to the other, disapprovingly. He chuckled, cleared his throat and said:
“I know you are asking yourself why there is no good furniture here yet I make very good furniture for people. It’s not that I don’t have the money but that I take things for granted. I tell myself that I’ll do it tomorrow, but, as usual, my tomorrow never comes.”
He then drew me closer told me that all fundis are the same.
I decided to find out whether this was true. What I found out proved that my carpenter friend was right.
The tailor I visited does not have very good clothes for himself. Some of his trousers have patches. His children do not have good clothes. In fact one of them did not have the right school uniform. The dress was torn and tattered. The tailor could make a new dress for her but he hadn’t done so for two months!
I met another fundi the other day. This one came to my house. He was a computer repairer. I had asked him to come and check what was wrong with my computer and also to install new software.
As he was installing the software, selecting cds from his well-endowed, cd-laden bag, I quipped:
“Your personal computer must be a very lucky machine.”
“Why do you say so?” he asked.
“It must have the best programs that you install in other people’s machines. I believe it does not have problems with viruses, too. I believe it has the highest speed ever.”
He looked at me as I talked, and, when I was through, he said:
“If that is what you think about my computer then you must the most deluded man on earth. First of all, my computer is very slow. It also has problems with viruses. The only programs that it has are Microsoft Office and PowerDVD. The most basic of programs.”
I said nothing. When he had left, I was left wondering from which rock our fundis were hewn. What’s it with these fundis?
Do you have such people where you are?
Check out Bold statements of Yore
These carpenters in my neighbourhood make very beautiful furniture for their clients. But one day I visited the house of one of them and I received the shock of my life. The vast room had only two wobbly stools. And there was one creaking bed at the corner. What’s it with this carpenter? I asked myself.
He caught my eyes roving from one corner of the room to the other, disapprovingly. He chuckled, cleared his throat and said:
“I know you are asking yourself why there is no good furniture here yet I make very good furniture for people. It’s not that I don’t have the money but that I take things for granted. I tell myself that I’ll do it tomorrow, but, as usual, my tomorrow never comes.”
He then drew me closer told me that all fundis are the same.
I decided to find out whether this was true. What I found out proved that my carpenter friend was right.
The tailor I visited does not have very good clothes for himself. Some of his trousers have patches. His children do not have good clothes. In fact one of them did not have the right school uniform. The dress was torn and tattered. The tailor could make a new dress for her but he hadn’t done so for two months!
I met another fundi the other day. This one came to my house. He was a computer repairer. I had asked him to come and check what was wrong with my computer and also to install new software.
As he was installing the software, selecting cds from his well-endowed, cd-laden bag, I quipped:
“Your personal computer must be a very lucky machine.”
“Why do you say so?” he asked.
“It must have the best programs that you install in other people’s machines. I believe it does not have problems with viruses, too. I believe it has the highest speed ever.”
He looked at me as I talked, and, when I was through, he said:
“If that is what you think about my computer then you must the most deluded man on earth. First of all, my computer is very slow. It also has problems with viruses. The only programs that it has are Microsoft Office and PowerDVD. The most basic of programs.”
I said nothing. When he had left, I was left wondering from which rock our fundis were hewn. What’s it with these fundis?
Do you have such people where you are?
Check out Bold statements of Yore
Friday, December 12, 2008
The Marks of Motivated People
I have compiled what I believe to be marks of people who are motivated. Check them out:
1. They live disciplined lives. This is to mean they live Godly lives and put God first in everything they do.
2. They seek to succeed in everything they touch to do for God.
3. They are not lazy and do not tire or lose hope.
4. They do not neglect any area of their lives.
5. They do not sleep in their anger.
6. They do not let anger and bitterness bear the fruit of unforgiveness.
7. They do not let failure be a defeat. They know that they’ll stand once more.
8. They see obstacles/difficulties as opportunities of success.
9. They are creative in all that they do.
10. They are always alert to receive new ideas and knowledge.
11. They have a vision in life.
12. They can teach people new ideas that they have.
13. They look back to see the effects of the decisions they made in life.
14. They are practical and they know vision has to be translated into reality.
15. They are willing to stretch themselves, their bodies and their minds seeking to fulfill the will of God.
16. They are willing to step out and risk where necessary.
17. They are willing to change where necessary.
18. They are full of confidence in God knowing that He can do many things through them.
19. Their confidence in God gives them courage.
20. They are determined.
21. They know that God is with them
22. They are humble giving credit to God.
23. They don’t boast about their success.
24. They are patient.
25. They are good listeners and communicators.
26. They make important decisions after getting enough information.
27. They are trustworthy i.e. they are men of integrity.
28. They understand responsibility.
Do you know of any other marks of people who are motivated?
1. They live disciplined lives. This is to mean they live Godly lives and put God first in everything they do.
2. They seek to succeed in everything they touch to do for God.
3. They are not lazy and do not tire or lose hope.
4. They do not neglect any area of their lives.
5. They do not sleep in their anger.
6. They do not let anger and bitterness bear the fruit of unforgiveness.
7. They do not let failure be a defeat. They know that they’ll stand once more.
8. They see obstacles/difficulties as opportunities of success.
9. They are creative in all that they do.
10. They are always alert to receive new ideas and knowledge.
11. They have a vision in life.
12. They can teach people new ideas that they have.
13. They look back to see the effects of the decisions they made in life.
14. They are practical and they know vision has to be translated into reality.
15. They are willing to stretch themselves, their bodies and their minds seeking to fulfill the will of God.
16. They are willing to step out and risk where necessary.
17. They are willing to change where necessary.
18. They are full of confidence in God knowing that He can do many things through them.
19. Their confidence in God gives them courage.
20. They are determined.
21. They know that God is with them
22. They are humble giving credit to God.
23. They don’t boast about their success.
24. They are patient.
25. They are good listeners and communicators.
26. They make important decisions after getting enough information.
27. They are trustworthy i.e. they are men of integrity.
28. They understand responsibility.
Do you know of any other marks of people who are motivated?
Monday, December 08, 2008
People who expect you to exclaim “Oh!” in Awe
There are some people I talk to and after the talk I feel rejuvenated and uplifted. My self image is replenished and I feel I can move an extra mile. I honestly long for such sessions. Personally I know the people I should go to for “upliftment” and encouragement.
There are some other people who are out to deflate even the small bubble of self-image, confidence and self-esteem that one has. They are pure joy killers. I dread talking with such people for a long time for I know the end result is not always good.
I have had my fair share of experience at the “hands” of such people. I have been thoroughly smothered and squashed in their hands. If you don’t know that words are a potent tool and that you can be thoroughly squashed, then, you should have a session with such people. Or better still, you should have such people for friends.
These are people who come and tell you of their achievements and what they are planning to do to achieve their other goals. They tell you how much money they have saved up. Staggering figures, so to speak!
They tell you that they are planning to sell all their “old furniture” and stock their houses with new furniture using money from “an account specifically set up for that purpose”.
They say: “Do you know when I started saving for a new set of furniture? Ehe, you won’t believe it. I started saving the year before last.”
They proffer a piece of paper to you and say: “Here, have a look at this. This is the list of furniture that I am going to stock my house with.”
By the time they deliver their next “salvo”, your ears are numb. You realize that you have not spoken anything. You realize, too, that they have talked things that you had not asked details about.
Then, as a parting shot, they say: “Just give me two years and you’ll see how much I’ll have achieved by the end of that time. Just wait and see!”
Such kind of a “talk” (talk really! That’s a lecture. ) can deflate someone’s feeling of self-worth. Most of the people who boast in such a way, feel that they are better than other people. Thus they feel that they should be “noticed” because of their “remarkable achievements”.
These are the kind of people who don’t want to hear about your “achievements”. They feel that their “achievements” should excite all and sundry. They expect people to exclaim “Oh!” in awe as they tell of their “accomplishments”.
Phewt. What a world!
My Two Cents: Such people should realize that they are not the only people who inhabit the earth. They should also realize that they need other people to “achieve” what it is they expect to get at the end of the day.
They should temper their “boasting” with concern. They should be concerned what they are putting their listeners through. Sometimes I ask myself whether such people think that other people do not have goals and aspirations. Do they think that if you do not talk about what you have “accomplished”, you are worthless and have nothing to show for the time you have been on earth?
If three quarters of the people on the earth were such kind of people then our “collective orb” would be a mad place to live in. undesirable, even.
There are some other people who are out to deflate even the small bubble of self-image, confidence and self-esteem that one has. They are pure joy killers. I dread talking with such people for a long time for I know the end result is not always good.
I have had my fair share of experience at the “hands” of such people. I have been thoroughly smothered and squashed in their hands. If you don’t know that words are a potent tool and that you can be thoroughly squashed, then, you should have a session with such people. Or better still, you should have such people for friends.
These are people who come and tell you of their achievements and what they are planning to do to achieve their other goals. They tell you how much money they have saved up. Staggering figures, so to speak!
They tell you that they are planning to sell all their “old furniture” and stock their houses with new furniture using money from “an account specifically set up for that purpose”.
They say: “Do you know when I started saving for a new set of furniture? Ehe, you won’t believe it. I started saving the year before last.”
They proffer a piece of paper to you and say: “Here, have a look at this. This is the list of furniture that I am going to stock my house with.”
By the time they deliver their next “salvo”, your ears are numb. You realize that you have not spoken anything. You realize, too, that they have talked things that you had not asked details about.
Then, as a parting shot, they say: “Just give me two years and you’ll see how much I’ll have achieved by the end of that time. Just wait and see!”
Such kind of a “talk” (talk really! That’s a lecture. ) can deflate someone’s feeling of self-worth. Most of the people who boast in such a way, feel that they are better than other people. Thus they feel that they should be “noticed” because of their “remarkable achievements”.
These are the kind of people who don’t want to hear about your “achievements”. They feel that their “achievements” should excite all and sundry. They expect people to exclaim “Oh!” in awe as they tell of their “accomplishments”.
Phewt. What a world!
My Two Cents: Such people should realize that they are not the only people who inhabit the earth. They should also realize that they need other people to “achieve” what it is they expect to get at the end of the day.
They should temper their “boasting” with concern. They should be concerned what they are putting their listeners through. Sometimes I ask myself whether such people think that other people do not have goals and aspirations. Do they think that if you do not talk about what you have “accomplished”, you are worthless and have nothing to show for the time you have been on earth?
If three quarters of the people on the earth were such kind of people then our “collective orb” would be a mad place to live in. undesirable, even.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Tanzania should be “Sent Packing”
It is disheartening that Tanzania does not share in the other EAC countries’ desire to fast-track East Africa’s regional integration. This has come out very clearly in their unwillingness to act on decisions that have already been agreed on.
This dilly-dallying and “wariness” exhibited by Tanzania leaves more questions than answers. Will the East Africa Federation ever see the light of day with Tanzania in the picture? Is there the political will, on the Tanzania side, to see this dream (dream really! Whose dream?) come to fruition?
I read a certain article by Tom Mshindi sometime this week that says something to the effect that Tanzania’s self-interest must not derail integration.
I reproduce some sections of the said article to help us reflect even better on this issue.
1. “IT IS A GOOD THING THAT in Zanzibar last week, Tanzania finally came clean on its opposition to the desire to fast-track East Africa’s regional integration. Its position liberates the other four states from the burden of collegiality and allows them to pursue faster integration without the distraction of a partner that is clearly unwilling to commit to either a plan of action or key principles.”
2. “…Tanzania has decided to backtrack on decisions agreed by the Council of Ministers and now wants to renegotiate them.”
3. “This is what the Zanzibar meeting was intended to do, only for the Tanzania delegation to demur and submit instead that the pace should be slower.”
4. “On the contrary, there are numerous tales of frustration and distress that Kenyan companies in particular have to put up with when seeking work permits for staff who work in Tanzania.”
This brings to mind the issue of the Nation Media Company employees who were denied work permits but instead were ordered out of Tanzania some three years ago. They were declared prohibited immigrants. Prohibited immigrants?! Surely!
I honestly think that we should forget about Tanzania and go on with the fast tracking of the East Africa Federation without them. I believe this will be for the good of our people. The remaining four East African countries – Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi – will make East Africa an economic power house.
I like people of action (and vision) like Presidents Kagame (Rwanda) and Museveni (Uganda). Even before Rwanda was officially allowed into the East Africa Community, President Kagame made a very profound statement that astounded many. He said that professionals from Eastern African countries would not require work permits to take jobs in Rwanda.
As a bottom-line:
Genuine willingness to submit to the protocol is of the essence. Tanzania should not be arm twisted into committing to anything it is not ready to stand for.
* Tanzania’s self-interest must not derail integration
* Tanzania “importing” Albino body parts? – This is insane!
This dilly-dallying and “wariness” exhibited by Tanzania leaves more questions than answers. Will the East Africa Federation ever see the light of day with Tanzania in the picture? Is there the political will, on the Tanzania side, to see this dream (dream really! Whose dream?) come to fruition?
I read a certain article by Tom Mshindi sometime this week that says something to the effect that Tanzania’s self-interest must not derail integration.
I reproduce some sections of the said article to help us reflect even better on this issue.
1. “IT IS A GOOD THING THAT in Zanzibar last week, Tanzania finally came clean on its opposition to the desire to fast-track East Africa’s regional integration. Its position liberates the other four states from the burden of collegiality and allows them to pursue faster integration without the distraction of a partner that is clearly unwilling to commit to either a plan of action or key principles.”
2. “…Tanzania has decided to backtrack on decisions agreed by the Council of Ministers and now wants to renegotiate them.”
3. “This is what the Zanzibar meeting was intended to do, only for the Tanzania delegation to demur and submit instead that the pace should be slower.”
4. “On the contrary, there are numerous tales of frustration and distress that Kenyan companies in particular have to put up with when seeking work permits for staff who work in Tanzania.”
This brings to mind the issue of the Nation Media Company employees who were denied work permits but instead were ordered out of Tanzania some three years ago. They were declared prohibited immigrants. Prohibited immigrants?! Surely!
I honestly think that we should forget about Tanzania and go on with the fast tracking of the East Africa Federation without them. I believe this will be for the good of our people. The remaining four East African countries – Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi – will make East Africa an economic power house.
I like people of action (and vision) like Presidents Kagame (Rwanda) and Museveni (Uganda). Even before Rwanda was officially allowed into the East Africa Community, President Kagame made a very profound statement that astounded many. He said that professionals from Eastern African countries would not require work permits to take jobs in Rwanda.
As a bottom-line:
Genuine willingness to submit to the protocol is of the essence. Tanzania should not be arm twisted into committing to anything it is not ready to stand for.
* Tanzania’s self-interest must not derail integration
* Tanzania “importing” Albino body parts? – This is insane!
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Holiday Glass Frames
Hi friends, Zenni Optical is one of The popular online eyeglasses shop gives good news for Eyeglasses user. You can choose beautiful and high quality Holiday Glass Frames from Zenni Optical with various options. Zenni Optical offering more that 50 models. Wow, it’s plenty of choices. The color and the shape of this Holiday Glass Frame are unique and very interesting. I’m sure you won’t regret shopping eyeglasses at zennioptical.com. What about the price? Don’t worry. They give reasonable price for their product. Even you can get $ 8 Complete Rx Eyeglasses. So visit this site and get a glass frame for you…
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Car Angel
Here we will see about a donation site which offers nice support to all needy children’s and so on. Car not again luxurious goods because most people use car to go to workplace, school and even when going to have the vacation. Roadway have never ever been silent of the car traffic sometimes we see that cars walk with the speed is very high. Roadway is always become the threat for our car, even our soul. Sometimes is the damages we don't expect happened at our car. CarAngel assist us how to Donate Car very fast. With CarAngel you will receive full legal IRS tax deduction for the automobile, RV, boat, plane, property or trailer. They do free vehicle pick-up, running or note! (Restrictions apply). Avoid the headaches of selling your Used Car -- no expensive want ads, taking phone calls, showing the car, or price haggling. They have the nation's fastest online response form and up to the minute tax advice. Car Angel is a Christian Non-Profit that helps Orphans ( over 1500 sponsored through world vision at one time), at-risk youth ( see the below URL to read about the House of Samuel, a Discipleship Home for boys who need new direction in their lives http://www.boatangel.com/boatangel-outreach-center) and so on with Car Donations, boats, property and houses. They also Produce Children are Animations and send them absolutely free with the proceeds. The Donkey Ollie Series has been sent out absolutely free to over 1.8 million families. Please visit the website and get Free DVDs for Kids. Your visit and the donations are very assisting. So I hope that you all got the idea in your mind to help these ones, don’t wait for anything just visit the site and help something for them. Thank you… Visit it and make them to feel better..
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Obama: A Dream come True
The late American poet Langston Hughes may have foreseen the rise of an African American to the helm of the world’s most powerful country when he penned the powerful words encapsulated in the poem below (which was written many years ago).
AFRICA
Africa,
Sleepy giant,
You’ve been resting awhile.
Now I see the thunder,
And the lightning,
In your smile.
Now I see the storm clouds,
In your waking eyes:
The thunder,
The wonder,
And the new surprise,
Your every step reveals,
The new stride,
In your thighs.
Elsewhere on the Web:
My Son, Take it Slow: Aids is a Rapacious Prowler
Tribalism: Kenya’s Oldest Skeleton in the Closet
Who are Albinos?
Are you as Good as your Word?
Facing Challenges Head-on: The Battle is not for the Self-effacing
AFRICA
Africa,
Sleepy giant,
You’ve been resting awhile.
Now I see the thunder,
And the lightning,
In your smile.
Now I see the storm clouds,
In your waking eyes:
The thunder,
The wonder,
And the new surprise,
Your every step reveals,
The new stride,
In your thighs.
Elsewhere on the Web:
My Son, Take it Slow: Aids is a Rapacious Prowler
Tribalism: Kenya’s Oldest Skeleton in the Closet
Who are Albinos?
Are you as Good as your Word?
Facing Challenges Head-on: The Battle is not for the Self-effacing
Saturday, November 08, 2008
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Zenni Optical
Do you wanna buy perfect eye glasses and frames for you? Are you searching for the exact location to get it? Then fine don't go any where, just check the site zennioptical.com. It sells Stylish and Great Eyeglasses For Less through Online from $8. You will find huge selection of frames, with single vision lens, sun sensor (photochromic) lens, tinted sunglasses lens, bifocal lens and progressive lens. We can get Variable Dimension Frames From Zenni from the site and all are of good quality and very less prices too. An interesting news for all of us is Zenni Optical was on FOX news, which is very useful for the users across the globe.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
The decline of US’s superpower status?
Some commentators have been writing even before the global financial crisis took hold that the US was in decline, as evidenced by its challenges in Iraq and Afghanistan, and its declining image in Europe, Asia and elsewhere.
The BBC also asked if the US’s superpower status was shaken by this financial crisis: The financial crisis is likely to diminish the status of the United States as the world’s only superpower. On the practical level, the US is already stretched militarily, in Afghanistan and Iraq, and is now stretched financially. On the philosophical level, it will be harder for it to argue in favor of its free market ideas, if its own markets have collapsed. Some see this as a pivotal moment.
The political philosopher John Gray, who recently retired as a professor at the London School of Economics, wrote in the London paper The Observer: “Here is a historic geopolitical shift, in which the balance of power in the world is being altered irrevocably.“ The era of American global leadership, reaching back to the Second World War, is over… The American free-market creed has self-destructed while countries that retained overall control of markets have been vindicated.” “How symbolic that Chinese astronauts take a spacewalk while the US Treasury Secretary is on his knees.”
Paul Reynolds, US superpower status is shaken, BBC, October 1, 2008 Yet, others argue that it may be too early to write of the US: The director of a leading British think-tank Chatham House, Dr Robin Niblett … argues that we should wait a bit before coming to a judgment and that structurally the United States is still strong. “America is still immensely attractive to skilled immigrants and is still capable of producing a Microsoft or a Google,” he went on. “Even its debt can be overcome. It has enormous resilience economically at a local and entrepreneurial level.“ And one must ask, decline relative to who? China is in a desperate race for growth to feed its population and avert unrest in 15 to 20 years. Russia is not exactly a paper tiger but it is stretching its own limits with a new strategy built on a flimsy base. India has huge internal contradictions. Europe has usually proved unable to jump out of the doldrums as dynamically as the US.“But the US must regain its financial footing and the extent to which it does so will also determine its military capacity. If it has less money, it will have fewer forces.”
The BBC also asked if the US’s superpower status was shaken by this financial crisis: The financial crisis is likely to diminish the status of the United States as the world’s only superpower. On the practical level, the US is already stretched militarily, in Afghanistan and Iraq, and is now stretched financially. On the philosophical level, it will be harder for it to argue in favor of its free market ideas, if its own markets have collapsed. Some see this as a pivotal moment.
The political philosopher John Gray, who recently retired as a professor at the London School of Economics, wrote in the London paper The Observer: “Here is a historic geopolitical shift, in which the balance of power in the world is being altered irrevocably.“ The era of American global leadership, reaching back to the Second World War, is over… The American free-market creed has self-destructed while countries that retained overall control of markets have been vindicated.” “How symbolic that Chinese astronauts take a spacewalk while the US Treasury Secretary is on his knees.”
Paul Reynolds, US superpower status is shaken, BBC, October 1, 2008 Yet, others argue that it may be too early to write of the US: The director of a leading British think-tank Chatham House, Dr Robin Niblett … argues that we should wait a bit before coming to a judgment and that structurally the United States is still strong. “America is still immensely attractive to skilled immigrants and is still capable of producing a Microsoft or a Google,” he went on. “Even its debt can be overcome. It has enormous resilience economically at a local and entrepreneurial level.“ And one must ask, decline relative to who? China is in a desperate race for growth to feed its population and avert unrest in 15 to 20 years. Russia is not exactly a paper tiger but it is stretching its own limits with a new strategy built on a flimsy base. India has huge internal contradictions. Europe has usually proved unable to jump out of the doldrums as dynamically as the US.“But the US must regain its financial footing and the extent to which it does so will also determine its military capacity. If it has less money, it will have fewer forces.”
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Father takes Son to Court for Idleness
I have just read some very interesting news. The news is about a Nigerian father who took his son to court for idleness. And, surprisingly, the court took serious action.
The piece of news reads:
A father took his 20-year old son to an Islamic court in northern Nigeria for idleness, asking that he be sent to prison for refusing to engage in productive activities.
“He is not listening to my words and he is bringing shame to my family. I am tired of his nefarious deeds, please put this boy in prison so that I can be free,” Sama’ila Tahir, a market trader in the North Eastern town of Bauchi, was quoted as saying.
Tahir told the court that his son had refused to go to school and accused him of belonging to a criminal gang.
The court sentenced the son to six months in prison and 30 strokes of the cane – which were immediately administered on the premises – for being disobedient to his parents.
I wish and hope that the parents of “lazybones” in Kenya can take the cue. Maybe the situation would change. There are so many young people in this country who think life is smooth sailing.
Young people out there just know that nothing comes on a silver plate. You have to work hard to get whatever it is you think you deserve. Another thing, being disobedient to parents is being very unfair to them.
What thinkest thou?
The piece of news reads:
A father took his 20-year old son to an Islamic court in northern Nigeria for idleness, asking that he be sent to prison for refusing to engage in productive activities.
“He is not listening to my words and he is bringing shame to my family. I am tired of his nefarious deeds, please put this boy in prison so that I can be free,” Sama’ila Tahir, a market trader in the North Eastern town of Bauchi, was quoted as saying.
Tahir told the court that his son had refused to go to school and accused him of belonging to a criminal gang.
The court sentenced the son to six months in prison and 30 strokes of the cane – which were immediately administered on the premises – for being disobedient to his parents.
I wish and hope that the parents of “lazybones” in Kenya can take the cue. Maybe the situation would change. There are so many young people in this country who think life is smooth sailing.
Young people out there just know that nothing comes on a silver plate. You have to work hard to get whatever it is you think you deserve. Another thing, being disobedient to parents is being very unfair to them.
What thinkest thou?
God is not Mocked…
Hi guys, in everything you do, just make sure you do not mock God. That, in itself, has serious consequences.
Here are some men and women who mocked God:
JOHN LENNON: Some years before, during his interview with an American Magazine, he said: 'Christianity will end, it will disappear. I do not have to argue about that. I am certain. Jesus was ok, but his subjects were too simple, today we are more famous than Him'. Lennon, after saying that the Beatles were more famous than Jesus Christ, was shot six times.
TANCREDO NEVES (President of Brazil): During the Presidential campaign, he said if he got 500,000 votes from his party, not even God would remove him from Presidency. Sure he got the votes, but he got sick a day before being made President, then he died.
CAZUZA (Bi-sexual Brazilian composer, singer and poet): During a show in Canecïo (Rio de Janeiro), whilst smoking his cigarette, he puffed out some smoke into the air and said: 'God, that's for you.' He died of AIDS in a horrible manner at the age of 32.
THE MAN WHO BUILT THE TITANIC: After the construction of the Titanic, a reporter asked him how safe the Titanic would be. With an ironic tone, he said: 'Not even God can sink it'. The Titanic hit an ice berg on its maiden voyage and sank. This led to the deaths of 1,517 people out of the 2,223 on board.
MARILYN MONROE: She was visited by Billy Graham during a presentation of a show. He said the Spirit of God had sent him to preach to her. After hearing what the Preacher had to say, she said: 'I don't need your Jesus'. A week later, she was found dead in her apartment.
BON SCOTT: The ex-vocalist of the AC/DC. On one of his 1979 songs he sang: 'Don't stop me, I'm going down all the way, down the highway to hell'. On the 19th of February 1980, Bon Scott was found dead. He had been choked by his own vomit.
CAMPINAS in 2005: In Campinas, Brazil, a group of drunken friends went to pick up a friend. The mother accompanied her to the car and was so worried about the drunkenness of her friends and
She said to her daughter - holding her hand, who was already seated in the car: 'My daughter, go with God and may He protect you.'
She responded: 'Only if God travels in the trunk, cause inside here it's already full'.
Hours later, news came by that they had been involved in a fatal accident, everyone had died, and the car could not be recognized what type of car it had been. But surprisingly, the trunk was intact. The police said there was no way the trunk could have remained intact. To their surprise, inside the trunk was a crate of eggs. None was broken!
CHRISTINE HEWITT: A Jamaican Journalist and entertainer said the Bible (Word of God) was the worst book ever written. In June 2006 she was found burnt beyond recognition in her motor vehicle.
Quick quip for today: Think like a man of action, act like a man of thought.
Here are some men and women who mocked God:
JOHN LENNON: Some years before, during his interview with an American Magazine, he said: 'Christianity will end, it will disappear. I do not have to argue about that. I am certain. Jesus was ok, but his subjects were too simple, today we are more famous than Him'. Lennon, after saying that the Beatles were more famous than Jesus Christ, was shot six times.
TANCREDO NEVES (President of Brazil): During the Presidential campaign, he said if he got 500,000 votes from his party, not even God would remove him from Presidency. Sure he got the votes, but he got sick a day before being made President, then he died.
CAZUZA (Bi-sexual Brazilian composer, singer and poet): During a show in Canecïo (Rio de Janeiro), whilst smoking his cigarette, he puffed out some smoke into the air and said: 'God, that's for you.' He died of AIDS in a horrible manner at the age of 32.
THE MAN WHO BUILT THE TITANIC: After the construction of the Titanic, a reporter asked him how safe the Titanic would be. With an ironic tone, he said: 'Not even God can sink it'. The Titanic hit an ice berg on its maiden voyage and sank. This led to the deaths of 1,517 people out of the 2,223 on board.
MARILYN MONROE: She was visited by Billy Graham during a presentation of a show. He said the Spirit of God had sent him to preach to her. After hearing what the Preacher had to say, she said: 'I don't need your Jesus'. A week later, she was found dead in her apartment.
BON SCOTT: The ex-vocalist of the AC/DC. On one of his 1979 songs he sang: 'Don't stop me, I'm going down all the way, down the highway to hell'. On the 19th of February 1980, Bon Scott was found dead. He had been choked by his own vomit.
CAMPINAS in 2005: In Campinas, Brazil, a group of drunken friends went to pick up a friend. The mother accompanied her to the car and was so worried about the drunkenness of her friends and
She said to her daughter - holding her hand, who was already seated in the car: 'My daughter, go with God and may He protect you.'
She responded: 'Only if God travels in the trunk, cause inside here it's already full'.
Hours later, news came by that they had been involved in a fatal accident, everyone had died, and the car could not be recognized what type of car it had been. But surprisingly, the trunk was intact. The police said there was no way the trunk could have remained intact. To their surprise, inside the trunk was a crate of eggs. None was broken!
CHRISTINE HEWITT: A Jamaican Journalist and entertainer said the Bible (Word of God) was the worst book ever written. In June 2006 she was found burnt beyond recognition in her motor vehicle.
Quick quip for today: Think like a man of action, act like a man of thought.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Overview of Global Financial Crisis - Part 3
There is the argument that when the larger banks show signs of crisis, it is not just the wealthy that will suffer, but potentially everyone. With an increasingly inter-connected world, things like a credit crunch can ripple through the entire economy.
For example, people may find their mortgages harder to pay, or remortgaging could become expensive. For any recent home buyers the value of their homes are likely fall in value leaving them in negative equity, and many sectors may find the credit crunch and higher costs of borrowing will lead to job cuts. As people will cut back on consumption to try and weather this economic storm, yet other businesses will struggle to survive leading to further fears of job losses.
The real economy in many countries are already feeling the effects. Many industrialized nations are sliding into recession if they are not already there.
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