Health benefit of unripe plantain

Unripe plantain aka Musa Paradisiaca is an excellent food for all and sundry because of its nutritional significance. No wonder it is an ideal diet for children, men and women. Due to the nutritional content of this food, it is regard as being one of the healthiest diets across the globe. In addition, it is unique with a lot of health benefits.

Enumerated below are some of the unripe plantain health benefits and reasons why this diet is good for your consumption.

1,Plantains are very reliable sources of starch and energy.
2, Plantains contain a high amount of dietary fibre which helps ensure healthy bowels and reduces constipation.
3, Plantains have more vitamin C than bananas. Consumption of foods rich in vitamin-C helps the body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful oxygen-free radicals.
4, Plantains have more vitamin A than bananas. In addition to being a powerful antioxidant, vitamin A plays a vital role in the visual cycle, maintaining healthy mucus membranes, and enhancing skin complexion.
5, As in bananas, they too are rich sources of B-complex vitamins, particularly high in vitamin-B6 (pyridoxine). Pyridoxine is an important B-complex vitamin that has a beneficial role in the treatment of neuritis, anemia, and to decrease homocystine (one of the causative factors for coronary artery disease (CHD) and stroke episodes) levels in the body.
6,Plantains also contain folates, niacin, riboflavin and thiamin. Folates (folic acid) are essential for healthy pregnancy.
7, Plantains also provide adequate levels of minerals such as iron, magnesium, and phosphorous. Magnesium is essential for bone strengthening and has a cardiac-protective role as well.
8, Plantains have more potassium than bananas. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps control heart rate and blood pressure, countering negative effects of sodium.
9, Plantains are famed to be diuretic and can help prevent kidney and bladder problems.
10, Plantains ease the discomfort associated with the menstrual period.

Culled from www.informationng.com

Dream Team VI(Nigeria) qualify for Rio Olympics,beat Senegal

Nigeria have qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympics after defeating hosts Senegal in the semi-final of the 2015 Africa U23 Championship.
 
Etebo Oghenekaro’s penalty in the 75thh minute was all the Dream Team VI needed to ease past the hosts after Ousseynou Thioune had handled the ball in his penalty area to prevent Eyo Ebong from scoring.

7 Strategies To Become The Best At What You Do

Today in life we are constatntly faced with challenges, do this do that try this and try that and i am here to tell it to you in your face that don't follow everything that everyone tells you to do! You are in control of everything in your life so why should you listen to everything everyone tells you?Even more important why would you like to compare your accomplishment with someone else's? Aren't you your own individual with your own identity? Here are some of my 7 most important tips that i use on a consistent basis that have never failed me and i now won't fail you either if you follow them with a precision!

1. FIND OUT WHAT YOU LIKE TO DO!
   
   We have herad this over and over and over and did i say over again!Life is beautiful! Life is abundance! Life is happiness!Why would you like to spend an extra minute f not a lifetime doing what you dread? Bills don't we all have them!Strike a balance my friend! Do that job that you hate while you work on what you love!I have come to beleive that you can make a decent income in whatever you like to do and beleive me everyone of us has talent in one way or the other!As a matter of fact we all have more than one talent!So for you to find happiness enriched with longevity you absolutely have to find what you love to do passionately and effortlessly!
   
2. PERFECT YOUR PASSION
   
   You have to be at the best at trying to be the best! In short when read what you need to read! Ask the specialists call them on a constant basis! You will be amazed at the abundance of resources out there the minute you decide on what it is you have a desire for!The library, the internet, google.com, yahoo.com, magazines and the list is endless have a wealth of information!Do your homework!It is this perfection that draws attention to your works!You could run and do all the advertising in the world but to maintain your business,happiness,peace of mind etc. your perfection is absolutely mandatory!
   
3. BE CONSISTENT
   
   I can not over emphasize on this!I'm not sure how many of us are watching the current soccer world cup series but i am amazed at how my correct prediction of teams to win is! Is it a coincidence that the team that 90% of the times keeps taking shots at the goalkeeper eventually wins?Now i know there are exceptions but this rule of thumb has worked for most of the games i have watched!No matter what the weather is keep on doing what brings love and happiness to your heart!We sometimes listen to other people and the minute they introduce doubt, our confidence subsides!Success does not come that way!You may fail at times but take failure only for what it is, a lesson! Did you know that almost 80% of businesses fail within the first three years?Yet there are thise that are still there no matter what happens! Ever studied their business module? You'll be amazed!When you do what you do with such clarity and precision and happiness i almost guarantee you failure will not be an option!The problem with us is that we want good results NOW!
   
4. MONEY SHOULD NOT BE YOUR ONLY DRIVING FORCE
   
   There are a lot of things that we do simply becuase we want to get paid!Nothing wrong with that but truly ask yourself this question is money the only reason your doing what you do? Ever heard of one hit wonders? Wonder what happened to them? See you can never underate the power of a customer!Anything you do wether it's providing a service or a product, your customers can tell if you did it with a passion or you were in a hurry to get the job done!How many times have you gone to a restuarant and after eating the food you instantly knew the chef is having a bad day? Thats exactly how your clients view you!Let the perfection flow and the money will come! I PROMISE!
   
5. MONITOR YOUR THOUGHTS
   
   It is pointless to know what your good at if the minute a negative thought takes control, everything is lost!Monitor what you think about and ONLY,YES ONLY focus on the end result!Regardless of the path the destination is of the only thing that should matter!Think of it is as the movie castaway by Tom Hanks! He didn't care that he had landed on a deserted island! His point of concentration was delivering that package and going home!He had no clothes no food and yet somehow he survived! You will be suprised at what you can accomplish if only you think about it!Make it your intention and don't worry to much about the path!
   
6. ELIMINATE FEAR
   
   False evidence appearing real! We've heard about it we've experienced it but do we really know what fear is or what it can do! Fortune 500 companies embark on this principle and thats why they terrorize small business especially in advertising. Fact fortune 500 companies don't have the time to know their customers like the mom and pap shop at ther corner!Don't let fear be ther reason you do things you have no intention to do!Instead let fear be your driving force!
   
7. HAVE FUN!
   
   Whatever you do make sure your enjoying it to the fullest! I would not waste my time on something that i am not enjoying myself simply because of who you said it someone told me it would be fun!Enjoy this world of abundance and if you fail at least you had fun doing it!

Written by Lee Kariuki

Top 7 Tips For Starting A Catering Business

Catering is as an evergreen business proposition. Most catering businesses start because a person's cooking hobby has won praises from family and friends, but the majority get shut within a few months due to lack of proper business planning. Catering is not just cooking and serving, it involves many factors related to business operations. This article discusses the important ones necessary to succeed with your own catering enterprise.

Top Tips for Catering Business

While maintaining quality, taste, hygiene and freshness in the food is of paramount importance to any catering, it is equally important to look at other aspects of the business.

 1. Get Prior Hands-on Experience: Before starting on your own, it is always better to get a hands-on experience with reputable caterers. Such direct work offers real exposure to small details,risks,challenges, bottlenecks and grey areas of the catering business, without you making a large financial investment on your own. This experience will not only help you learn the tricks of the trade, but will also serve as an opportunity for a realistic self-assessment about your preparedness and temperament for catering

2. Monetary Assessment: How will you attract clients to get orders (advertising and marketing)? Where will the staples and other food ingredients be sourced from? Which localities will you serve (markets)? Where will the food be prepared (your in-house location/client location)? How will food be transported to maintain freshness? How many helpers and vendors would you need (staffing)? All need to be considered, while keeping in mind your available budget and a realistic business assessment.
3. Infrastructure Requirements: Depending upon the local laws, you may (or may not) be allowed to start catering from your home-based kitchen. You may need to rent out a dedicated commercial kitchen space, or take orders on the condition that clients arrange for the location of preparation (like, at a wedding venue). Beyond the food items and ingredients, you may need to arrange for necessary cookware, bakeware, serving cutlery, and even transportation. Instead of buying upfront, renting such equipment on an as-needed basis is a good option, especially when you are just starting and are tight on budget.

4. Pricing and Cost Consideration: Basic food staples may not show wide price swings, but other mandatory add-on ingredients (like chocolate, or exotic fruits) may show high volatility in prices. The further out an occasion is when a caterer takes the order, the more risk she runs on price uncertainty. It is best to keep pricing on an ad-hoc basis, and provide quotes considering any adverse price moves.

5. Get on Approved Caterer Lists: Most ceremonial venues maintain a list of approved caterers, and getting on that list assists in getting more business. While startup caterers may not be able to get into that list immediately, you should keep trying after having arranged for a few successful local catering gigs.

6. Network and Promote: Online social networks can help spread the word about your newly started catering business, but there are other mediums to consider. Joining an organization like National Association for Catering and Events of your country can help you network with established businesses. Through their conferences and meetings, you can learn the industry best practices to run your business more efficiently. Serving your unique food items through a food-stall during a local community event can also assist in getting you the much needed marketing.

7. Keep the Backup Ready: Beyond your ideal preparations, there are a few things that could go wrong despite your best efforts. For example, what would you serve if the kiwi fudge you put on the menu cannot be prepared because kiwis are not available at any nearby market? Who would be the backup if your main cook calls in sick? What are the terms in case of a last-minute event cancelation? Having a backup plan ready, and getting the client buy-in to those in advance, always helps.

Written by Shobite seth

Starting a drycleaning company

The drycleaning industry has two primary market groups: consumer and commercial. The consumer arena consists primarily of residential maid services, along with carpet cleaners, window cleaners and a variety of other cleaning services required on a less-frequent basis. The commercial arena is dominated by janitorial services, which typically provide a wider range of services than maid services, along with other cleaning companies, such as carpet and window cleaners that target businesses rather than individual consumers. While it's recommended that you decide on a niche and concentrate on building a business that will serve your chosen market, it's entirely realistic to expect to be able to serve multiple markets successfully.
Here are eight simple steps to get your cleaning venture on the path to success.

1. Determine what type of cleaning business you’re going to specialise in

There are three main types of cleaning company:

• Domestic – domestic cleaning will involve cleaning people’s homes (normally while they’re at work) and can be undertaken by you as soon as you secure some clients. You may eventually take on staff as your client-base builds.
• Commercial – in order to clean commercial properties you’ll need a team of people (the properties will be tend to be large office buildings) and it may be that your role is more managerial than on the ground cleaning.
• Specialised – there are lots of niches to explore, from window cleaning to schools to vehicle cleaning.

Bear in mind your skills set (are you prepared to clean every day or are you more suited to the administrative side of a cleaning business) and where there’s the best market opportunity in your desired area.

2. Research, research, research

As mentioned above – researching the potential market and local demographic will be key in determining the type of cleaning business you should start. If you’re planning on running a domestic cleaning venture you’ll need to ensure that people in the local area are financially able to pay for someone else to do their domestic chores, likewise for a commercial business are there enough viable contracts to win? Market research will also be key in determining your prices (try posing as a prospective client and ringing around the local competition to ensure your pricing point is competitive).

3. Decide on your business model (could franchising be an option?)

From the outset it’s important to think about your long-term plans for your cleaning business. If you’re looking for a business that you can grow slowly and organically and that you can keep control of in the long-run then going it alone is probably sensible. However, to hit the ground running (and if you’re nervous about some of the elements of setting up a business) you could consider franchising. There’s lots of franchises in the cleaning industry with average upfront costs of around £12,000.

4. Budget appropriately for your equipment

Cleaning equipment costs can vary considerably. For domestic cleaners, more often than not the equipment is provided by the households, but if you’re thinking of launching a commercial cleaning company there’s some basic equipment you’ll need to invest in:

• Equipment trolleys: £250-£400 each
• Professional vacuum cleaner – £100 upwards
• Sweeping machine – £200-£2,000
• Van – £3,000 upwards

It’s important that you ensure any outlays you have to spend on equipment will be counteracted in profits.

5. Create a marketing plan

As well as some initial spend on equipment – it may be necessary to allocate some budget for marketing. One of the hardest elements of starting a cleaning company (and in fact any service business) is building up a client list. Depending on the nature of your business some traditional advertising such as classified listings and flyers could be the best place to start – although it’s worth considering investing in some online advertising as well, such as pay per click, particularly if you are offering a niche service (and can therefore go for a specific search term such as ‘Brentwood carpet cleaner’).  And don’t be afraid to go out and knock on some doors – cleaning can be a personal business and prospective clients may be more likely to sign up if they meet you face-to-face!

6. Develop a strong brand and build a reputation

Once your business gets underway and starts to gain momentum it’s important to build a brand that you can be proud of – as apart from any marketing spend – you’ll mainly be reliant on gaining customers via word of mouth and personal recommendations. To build a brand identity it’s a good idea to have a logo designed and to have a uniform for any staff with clear branding on it. Subscribing to trade organisations which have a compulsory standard for membership can also help create a professional reputation, as well as getting satisfied clients to provide testimonials. Try to create a USP that isn’t just about price – something that clearly defines your brand as a cleaning business that won’t be forgotten.

7. Managing cashflow and getting paid

As with any new business, cashflow can be sporadic initially – but particularly for domestic cleaners as clients can be somewhat unreliable in terms of how regularly they’ll want you, bearing in mind holidays, sicknesses etc. In addition you’ll need to work out a payment system with clients that works for you. Typically people expect to pay their cleaner cash-in-hand per job but for your cashflow you may want to insist on an advance payment system.

8. Training and regulations

You do not need a license to run a cleaning business but obtaining a criminal records check from the CRB can only improve your image (and that of your staff) as trusted professionals. Training is also not a prerequisite but some basic training such as an NVQ or Cleaning

Written by Lucy Wayment

Samuel Jackson:I will move to SA if Trump becomes president

Samuel L Jackson said he would move to South Africa if property tycoon and US presidential hopeful Donald Trump actually became president.
It was part of a comedy skit entitled ‘The Hateful Eight Ball with Samuel L. Jackson’ on late night show host Jimmy Kimmel’s talk show.
This followed Trump’s call for a “total and complete shutdown” of Muslims entering the United States.
Trump’s comments unleashed some of the most provocative and divisive remarks of his controversial presidential campaign.
The stunning statement followed last week’s mass shooting in California by a Muslim couple believed to have been radicalised by extremists, and landed as fellow presidential candidates were contemplating ways to improve national security.

Culled from the internet

Bible Code Confirms WW3 Begins in Syria

“For 3,000 years a secret code in The Bible has remained hidden. Now it has been unlocked by computer – and it may reveal our future. The code was broken by a distinguished mathematician, and later corroborated by world-famous academics. It foretells events that happened thousands of years after it was incorporated in The Old Testament – from World War 2 to the Gulf War.

The Bible code’s statement that the final battle, Armageddon, could begin in the Middle East with an act of nuclear terrorism seemed all too real.
The word ‘Armageddon’ comes from the last Book of The New Testament, in a verse that seems fanciful: ‘The spirits of devils, working miracles, go forth unto the kings of the Earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the Battle of that Great Day of God Almighty.”
And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.’
But Armageddon is a real place. It is the Greek name for an ancient city in Israel, Megiddo.In Hebrew, ‘Mount Megiddo’ is ‘Harmegiddo’.
 ‘Armageddon’ is encoded in The Bible with the name of Syria’s leader, Hafez Asad. In fact, the name of the actual site of the long-prophesied Final Battle appears with his name in a single skip sequence: ‘Armageddon, Asad holocaust.’ ‘Syria’ is encoded with ‘world war’. It is the country that stands out, because it is not expected*. ‘Russia’ and ‘China’ and ‘USA’ also appear with ‘world war’ but they are the three superpowers most likely to be involved. Syria is the surprise.
 If Armageddon is real, it may begin the way it is prophesied in the plain text of The Bible (in Revelation 9:13 And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,
9:14 Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels [Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran] which are bound in the great River Euphrates.
9:15 And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for The Hour, and The Day, (the month, and the year) for to slay the third part of men.
9:16 And the number of the army of the horsemen [were] two hundred thousand thousand (200,000,000): and I HEARD the number of them.

The last Book of the New Testament predicts a final war of unprecedented fury: ‘Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, and shall go out to deceive the nations in the four quarters of the Earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle.’
No one knows where the ancient ‘Gog and Magog’ were located (please speak for yourself Mr. Drosnin. They are Mesech [Moscow] and Tubal [Tobolsk] – JAH). But the original prophecy of the final Battle, told in Ezekiel, is that Israel will be invaded from the North. The only modern enemy north of Israel is Syria (and then Russia – Revelation*).
* Rev. 16:12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great River Euphrates; and the “water” thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the East (eastern block) might be prepared.
‘Syria’ is encoded in Ezekiel, starting in the verse that predicts the invasion. Syria’s allies are named: ‘Persia’ and ‘Phut’ – countries that are now called Iran and Libya.
The plain text of Ezekiel predicts a terrible battle between Israel and the surrounding Arab nations. According to The Bible code, that is how World War 3 might begin – with an atomic attack on Jerusalem, followed by an invasion of Israel...”

Written by Athaliah  Berahuchia

Athaliah Berahuchia is an Isrealie history student living in the United States.She is a counsellor and a historian.

Russia Prepares For NUCLEAR WAR with ‘Invincible’ Doomsday Plane

A RUSSIAN ‘Doomsday’ plane which is used in the event of nuclear war and is ‘invisible’ could be ready to launch in the next TWO WEEKS.
Vladimir Putin’s military super-plane is designed to maintain full control over Russia’s armed forces in the event of a devastating conflict.

Tests for flying the airborne strategic command center aboard a modified Ilyushin Il-80 aircraft have already taken place.
Despite military experts saying the multimillion weapon will not be ready for operations until the end of 2015, it’s reported Mr Putin has ordered for it to be ready in just two weeks time as tensions flare between Russia and Turkey.
The plane will carry senior generals, officers and a crew of technicians, who will be scrambled, when bases on the ground are threatened.
Boasting improved function and survivability, the unit will be able to mastermind Russia’s offensive from the air as the generals on board order the army, navy, air and missile forces.
Russia and the US are the only two nations in the world who possess a weapon of this kind.

Culled from the internet

5 Things You Should Do Before Traveling to Africa

 
 We never want to discourage spontaneous travel plans, but there are a few preliminary steps you should take before your trip to Africa. A little forethought and careful consideration could save your trip from turning into an international catastrophe. Here are a few tips to help you plan for your African getaway.

1. Visit the Doctor
Virtually every nation in Africa (including South Africa) is in some stage of development, and this means that healthcare standards are not up to par with those of the United States. Hospitals are sparse, clinics are often understaffed and ill-equipped, and medications may not be readily available (especially in rural areas). For these reasons, a pre-travel visit to your doctor is definitely in order. He or she will administer the necessary vaccinations — hepatitis A, typhoid fever, and rabies, to name a few; many countries will require proof of immunization upon entry. Your doc will also prescribe the requisite medications, including malaria propholaxis (for which you should adopt a strict routine).

  Plan Your Exact(ish) Route
Africa is vast — probably much more than you think — and getting from place to place can be tricky. Availability of different modes of public transportation will vary between stops; luxury buses may be your best best in one city, while crowded mini-buses or expensive taxi cabs might be your only option for others. You’ll want to budget for these variables, as well as the different border requirements; South Africa, for instance, does not require an entry visa or fee, while Tanzania requires travelers to purchase a visa in advance of their arrival. Most larger cities have rental car agencies, which are considerably more convenient than public transport — and much more expensive. Thanks to an ever-growing Internet presence in Africa, lodging accommodations can be researched prior to the trip; for budgeting travelers, youth hostels often provide a wide array of amenities and convivial atmosphere for a fraction of the price you’ll pay to stay at a fancy hotel.

3. Buy Some New Clothes
Your Africa wardrobe should be comprised of light garments (nylon-,rayon-, or cotton-based) that cover your skin; these will keep you cool under the sweltering sun and protect you from mosquitoes, parasitic infections, and other unwanted bodily visitors. In addition to a sturdy pair of sneakers, be sure to pick up thick hiking boots for adventures in the bush and a pair of flip-flops for casual street walking and poolside relaxation. Hat and sunglasses are advised (hell, downright mandatory), and a durable backpack might also be a good investment. And don’t bother bringing jeans; their thickness will cause sweaty discomfort, regardless of the time of year.

4. Throw Away Your Watch
OK, maybe don’t trash a perfectly workable timepiece — but be prepared to seldom use it. Ever heard of ‘African time’? It’s a term that applies throughout the continent, and refers to the generally laxed attitude toward schedules and meetings that is common among native residents. This isn’t a bad quality, per se, and after all you are on their turf. But you may want to adopt a similar outlook during your travels. So if the taxi is running 15 minutes late or the post office hasn’t opened a half hour after the listed hours, don’t fret. Just relax, remind yourself of your current location, and revel in the cultural experience.
 

5. Notify Your Bank
Depending on your bank, this one may not do much good; certain financial institutions will place a hold on your account when any international activity is registered, whether or not you notified them prior to your trip. But it won’t hurt to phone your local branch and let them know you’ll be visiting Africa for the next couple weeks. Credit and debit transactions are somewhat rare in most African countries (whether you’re in a city or village), and you’ll need access to an ATM soon after your plane lands. Among your first purchases should be a pre-paid cell phone; the cheapest models cost less than $100, and may prove invaluable if you need to place a stateside call anytime throughout your trip (switchable sim cards are available as you travel from country to country).
Best of luck on your African excursions! Have fun, experience a new culture — and above all else, please be safe.

Written by Brah Nehring
Brah Nehring is a counsellor and a travelling consultant in a consultant agency in Europe

When divorce is not an option

The average couple in today's world has thought about divorce at least once during their marriage. God has put you and your spouse together for a reason — and it's not to argue. You are bonded together to cultivate in each other those virtues that lead to sanctification. Marriage is not one size fits all and most importantly,marriage is an institution where you cannot graduate.And for some, divorce is a constant threat. For others, divorce feels like their only hope. Whether you have thought about divorce once or you think about it every day, this article gives eight good reasons why divorce is not an option.

  Your Kids
The first reason is something we all know about and we all consider: the kids. Should you stay married for the children? Well, at least think about how it will affect them. You might get over it in time. They never will.
They will never get over the loss of their family, and their lives will never be the same. Never. When Mom and Dad go apart, and start living separate lives, a child's world is never the same, and they must navigate a new reality. For that boy or girl, the fairy tale is officially over. Yes, kids do "move on," but they are affected by it forever.

Custody

The next reason is very closely related to the first. It als deals with children. The number one reason was how it affected the lives of the children.
One of the worst things about divorce, if children are involved, is a new dirty word you will become very familiar with: custody. You no longer have the children in your home, full-time, as you always have. You will be sharing time with those children with your ex-partner, and you will have to arrange your whole life to accommodate these arrangements.
If you are the non-custodial parent, you can never get those hours back, and you will miss those children, guaranteed. 

It brings Emotional Devastation

Divorce is emotionally devastating for most people. Divorce forces us to kill all of the dreams we were counting on when we decided to marry our mate. It separates us from the one person we believed would always be there for us, holding our hand when we got old and feeble. We may deny the pain, but there is always pain with divorce. Divorce is a type of death, and we will need to grieve from the pain, just as we do when a person we love dies.Divorce is the ultimate rejection, because we are either rejecting, or being rejected by, the one person who knew us most in this world.

 Loss of Confidence
 Another aspect of confidence that is affected is our confidence in our desirability. This why newly divorced often go through a stage of serial dating, desperately seeking to re-establish themselves as attractive and wanted. Or they may fall into another relationship right away, rebounding, and not choosing someone that is healthy for them, compounding and complicating the already raw wound of divorce.

 Loss of Identity

When divorce happens, both individuals lose the roles of husband and wife that they were accustomed to. Even if the marriage is troubled, there is still security in knowing that you are this person's wife or husband, and all of that is gone when the divorce papers are signed. You are no longer the wife of so-and-so, but you are now the "ex" of so-and-so, not a very affirming title.

 Loss of Family

Now, this is a very difficult one, and very painful for many people. You know how when you got married, everyone said you were marrying your fiance's family, as well as your fiancé? Well, this truth also works in reverse. When you divorce your wife, you are also divorcing her family. IN MOST CASES. You see, just like the friends, family will often feel forced to take sides, and guess who they are going to pick? Of course, their son or daughter! So, the relationship with your in-laws will probably change, if not end.

 Loss of Friends

Something you might not realize when contemplating a divorce is that your social life will change. Socially, a person's marital status is important, and affects the dynamic of a social situation. Couples often feel more comfortable being friends

Financies

The longer a couple stays married, the more time they have to build up assets and their livelihood. You often see couples who have been together for a long time with a great deal of financial stability. Staying together often allows couples to accumulate assets, a good reputation, as both of them work together for the good of their household. Divorce disrupts this building process, and forces both members of the couple to start from scratch, and therefore can be very hard on both party's financial situation.

Divorce is expensive in so many ways. There are the actual legal costs of obtaining a divorce judgment. If there are children involved, custody must be decided. If there are assets, they must be divided. All of these things usually involve lawyer billing hours. Anytime a judge is involved, you must pay for the lawyer's time.

with other couples, and making the switch to two singles instead of one deuce will shake everything up. If you are really close, the couple might choose to see both of you at different times but if the tie between the two couples was based mostly on one of the persons in the divorced couple, your friends will often feel forced to take sides, to be loyal to their original friend. This doesn't sound very nice, but it's a reality.

 Dr Adebanjo Owolabi is a marriage cousellor,a writer and family awareness event planner

The Negative Influence behind Blackberry phones and Iphones

Believe it or not, year 2015 is a strange year for phone users, and if you’re anything like the four billion tech-savvy people in the world who like to stay connected, chances are that you own a cell phone. Yep, that’s right, as of 2008, the number of mobile phones in use across the globe reached four billion. That’s almost 60% of the earth’s entire population.in 2015,number of people that use mobile phones are beyond 80%.Having such a blackberry phone or Iphone is fun. Not only entertaining, but also beneficial for your job. No wonder the number of users continues to increase worldwide. However, behind the positive values being offered, it proved a powerful dangerous tool, to save a number of adverse effects that can disrupt the health of its users.

1. Addictive

Smart mobile phone devices are so easy to make the owner feel addicted. Studies at different international Universities in 2006 concluded that Blackberry and other similar devices to trigger the increase in internet usage is quite significant, but bad for mental health.

2. Disrupt sleep

With 24-hour internet service, the Blackberry device will vibrate or ring any time, when there is incoming e-mail and short messages. And all the time too, Blackberry users will be playing it, including when it was already in bed.

Quite often too, so users sensitive with Blackberry vibrating, so easily roused from sleep to open an incoming message.

Habit brings Blackberry in bed, finally make a quality sleeping. Subsequent impact, of attacking health. It's no secret that the poor quality of sleep has a negative impact on physical and mental health.

A study revealed, Blackberry users who have a habit of playing it before bed susceptible insomnia, headaches, and difficulty concentrating. Research conducted Uppsala University in Sweden, adding that mobile phone radiation can interfere with sleep activity.

3. Trigger anxiety

Having such a Blackberry smart mobile phone is fun for some people. With the Blackberry, the activity of exchanging emails, chatting, surfing the internet to be conducted simultaneously, anytime and anywhere. Many others rely on business.

Studies carried out MIT's Sloan School of Management in 2007 reveal, the use of Blackberry establish a culture of stress in the workplace. 24-hour internet facility is reliable smart cell phones that disrupt workers' leisure time. Duties and matters pertaining to employment can be present at any time, including when on vacation.

4. Debilitating brain

Behind the convenience provided, Blackberry users at risk of weakening the power of concentration. Character who can make the user perform a number of things at the same time (multitasking) tend to make a person difficult to absorb the information because its focus is easy to switch from one thing to another.

"As a multitasker, their brains are flooded with too much information, as a result they no longer selective for sorting out important information quickly," said Dr. David W. Goodman, director of Psychological Disorder Center in Maryland, Baltimore.

For that, he advised users not to activate the Blackberry's internet network for 24 hours. "Create a schedule to open the email, for example once every hour, or two hours," Goodman said. "Do not make yourself a slave of Blackberry vibrating or ringing." (FMN) -

Written by Dr Andy Bee
Dr Andy Bee is an international medical analyst with an international disorder center at the United States

HOW TO DISCOVER YOUR TALENT

To remind you that no matter how hard life gets, things can change for the better in an instant, if only you can just approach life with your gifts and talents.
Talents may be artistic or technical, mental or physical, personal or social. You can be a talented introvert or a talented extrovert. Your talents need not be profitable, useful, or conventional, but they will always be your own, a part of what makes you into you.
 Learning to look for your talents in the right places and building those talents into skills and abilities might take some work, but going about it creatively will let you explore your natural abilities and find your innate talents.

Have you thought of sharing your gifts?Everyone can’t be a world class performer or athlete, but everyone does indeed have some type of talents and skills to share.If you don’t know what your talent is, you need find out what it is or just simply create it by practicing the things you enjoy.

How do you discover your talent?

1. By doing what its easy for you.

Do you have any friends who mention to you that “I wish I could do _____ as good as you do”. Does it come so naturally, that you don’t think it’s a big deal? Take a closer look, great things don’t need to come through struggle, some people are truly blessed with natural gifts, don’t take them for granted.

2. Search inside of you.

 You can’t know if you’ve got a talent for guitar if you never try to play guitar. Praying will help you Find a talent that seems cool and learn everything you can about it. Find out what it takes and see what you've got. if you never try, you'll never know. You’re not going to find a talent without trying. You can only find your natural abilities, skills, and talents when you test your mettle and actively seek new experiences. Face down obstacles and seek out challenges to see what innate skills and abilities you might be hiding. 

3. Meditate on what you have and take action.

 Learn to go inside yourself, tune into yourself, if you learn to pay attention and know how to look, you already have all the answers to all your questions.

4.  Follow your obsessions. What are other people tired of hearing you talk about? What do you have to drag yourself away from? Use the things you're obsessed with to discover abilities and talents that might be hiding under the surface.Maybe you have a talent for telling stories, or analyzing narratives. Maybe you have a talent for appreciating camera angles. Every film critic gets a start in the exact same way. Channel that obsession into learning about film history and learning how movies are made.

5. Keep track of little successes.

 If you're feeling talentless, maybe it's because you've been missing out on your own successes. Try to pay close attention to successes, both little and big, to identify things for which you might have a natural talent. Think creatively about how these little successes might connect to more significant talents and abilities. 

6. Ignore the television. Shows like Nigerian idol talent auditions,project fame and other Nigerian or African Talent hunt have very narrow definitions of what it means to be talented. If you’re not an attractive young person with a manufactured sob story and a loud, showy singing voice, these shows all lead people to believe they’re untalented. It’s not true. Being talented doesn’t mean being famous, being attractive, or being some kind of performer. It means dedication, creative thinking, and attention to detail. It means you have an insatiable curiosity to develop some innate abilities into skills. You've just got to find them. 

7, Find other talented people. 

As iron sharpens iron, so one talented person sharpens another. If you've got a talent for something, or even if you just hope to develop talent in some field, surround yourself with other talented people and model yourself after their behaviors, practice routines, and attitudes about their talent and you will discover what you carry. Learn everything you can from talented people.

Written by Owolabi Adedotun

12 Nigerian students bag First Class at Crawford University

Crawford University, Igbesa, Ogun State,Nigeria, announced on Tuesday that 12 of the 216 graduating students of the institution bagged First Class.
The Vice-Chancellor of the Institution, Prof. Rotimi Ajayi, made this known at a news briefing to mark the 7th convocation and 10th anniversary of the institution in Igbesa.
Ajayi said that 74 students passed out with Second Class (Upper) and 87 with Second Class (Lower) division respectively, while 39 had Third Class.
He said that the university was also graduating 135 post-graduate students.
According to him, the number of first class students increased from 10 in 2013/2014 to 12 in 2014/2015.
The vice chancellor said that the institution started operation with 235 students in 2003 and had graduated over 1,664 students, with majority of them occupying enviable positions in the public and private sectors.
”Some have earned their PhDs in top-rated universities abroad while others have become successful entrepreneurs.”
The vice-chancellor said that the institution had continued to contribute its quota toward the development of highly skilled manpower to the nation.

Eleven Reasons You Are Not a Millionaire Yet

                                              Written by Pst Sunday Adelaja

Many people out there desperately want to be millionaires, and why wouldn’t they? While money may not buy happiness it can buy a better, less stressful and more fulfilled life. However, before you can be a millionaire you need to have the right strategy and know the reasons why you haven’t met this goal already.

Everybody who wants to be millionaire but isn’t has excuses. “I didn’t pick the right career,” “I can’t afford the schooling,” or “I don’t have time.” These are not reasons, but just excuses and excuses only get in the way of your success. Here are 11 reasons why people do not become millionaires.

1. You have no one guiding you in the right direction.

You need to surround yourself with positive people. Most importantly, you need to find someone you can trust that will help guide you in the right direction. The people you trust most should be the ones pushing you towards success. This is one advantage I did not have early on. I am entirely self-taught, which is why I have created my mentoring program to give that advantage to others.

2. You aren’t willing to make sacrifices.

You really cannot have your cake and eat it too, there are things that you will need to give up. If you can’t sacrifice things like hanging with friends or going out and partying in order to focus on your career, then you will never get the financial success you have been looking for.

3. You fear failure.

You will fail, you will make mistakes, and you need to learn to get over it. If you fear failure, you will never overcome it.

4. Your goals aren’t clear, so neither are your actions.

If you don’t have a clear goal in mind and clear action steps in place to reach that goal, you will never become a millionaire. Take the time to do the planning and do it right.

5. You think other people can succeed but not you.

Believe that you can succeed. Visualize yourself as that successful man or woman who you once envied. If you visualize yourself being a millionaire success, and truly believe it can happen, you are one step closer to your goal.

6. You think your background or location prevents your success.

Nothing can prevent you from success. Lets repeat that: nothing can prevent you from success.

7. You aren’t using the Internet.

The Internet has changed the world and it continues to change the world. If you aren’t using, you aren’t taking advantage of one of the most powerful money making tools out there.

8. You rationalize money can’t buy happiness and forget that it can buy freedom.

Money is your ticket to the freedom so many people want in this world. Freedom can lead to happiness. To find your motivation focus on the freedom that money can buy you.

9. You hang out with the wrong crowd.

The people around you should be your support system. They should be the people there for you, pushing you and keeping you positive and focused. Your crowd of friends and family should not be distractions or negative in any way. If they are, it is time to find a new crowd.

10. You play long shots like the lotto instead of building your skill set.

Building your own skill set and knowledge base is better for you in the long term. Sure, it takes more time and more work but it can lead you to the long-term success that you desire.

Keep these reasons in mind when you are working towards your next professional goal. You will see first hand what you are capable of if you just put these reasons off to the side and focus instead on your path towards becoming a millionaire.

11. You are ignorant of the laws of money and how money works

Most of the time the difference between the rich and the poor is the fact that the rich know and apply the laws of money while the poor just sit and dream about been rich without having the right knowledge of how money works. To be successful with money, you must understand how it works and its laws. Your becoming a millionaire depends largely on what you know.

CR7 breaks Champions League record

Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo has become the first player to score 11 goals in the group stage of a Champions League campaign.

The Portugal international achieved the feat with his fourth goal of the night as his side thumped Malmo 8-0 on Tuesday, having already set a new record of 10 goals with his hat-trick at Santiago Bernabeu, besting his own feat twice in the same night.
Ronaldo was previously the joint holder of the record with nine, alongside Luiz Adriano, but now becomes the outright leader after top-scoring in the group stage for the fifth time - also a record that no other player can match.

THE FALL OF THE FIRST LADY

A great king once lived several centuries ago. His name was Ahasuerus, the great emperor who reigned over the Kingdoms of Persia and Media - the then world powers. The domain of this mighty King cut across the borders of many nations and tribes, having subdued one hundred and twenty-seven provinces of various kingdoms by his unrivalled military might and great political power. With unquestionable authority and supremacy, King Ahasuerus ruled majestically from Shushan the citadel.

King Ahasuerus’ awesome greatness was attested to by his decision to make a feast for his officials, servants, nobles, governors, princes from one hundred and twenty-seven provinces and every one that lived in Shushan, the capital city. The feast was the first and the last of its kind! It lasted for one hundred and eighty days! Imagine half a year of wining, dining, merry making and total holiday for a whole nation! Drinks were served in golden cups; foods were served in silver plates; the venue was heavily decorated with expensive fine linen, marbles and precious stones such as turquoise, gems and onyx. Such were the greatness and riches of Emperor Ahasuerus’ kingdom!

To crown this majestic event, King Ahasuerus wanted his wife - Her Majesty, Queen Vashti to impress his many guests with her beauty and splendour. The first lady was indeed beautiful to behold! Her charming look and captivating frame singled her out of all that dwelt in the kingdom; she was beauty personified! The King, apparently proud of Queen Vashti, wanted her to showcase her beauty before the seated guests in order to earn himself glory, respect and honour, so he sent for her. Surprisingly, Her Majesty Queen Vashti turned down the call of the King. She was not ready to come as the king commanded; she made light the order of her husband.

Queen Vashti’s refusal to come to the feast at the King’s order was a big slap on his face. The First Lady’s gross disrespect for King Ahasuerus became known to thousands of guests present at the feast. The disrepute, shame and contempt the King suffered as a result was enormous, to say the least! Her Majesty’s refusal of the King’s order suggested that though King Ahasuerus was a great Emperor who ruled the then world, yet he was not in control in his own home! The Queen’s contemptible act established that the honour, respect and reverence accorded the King by all nations, were far from his reach under his own roof! King Ahasuerus became disdained in the eyes of all that were present at the feast and in the capital city - Shushan. How sad!

Why did Her Majesty, Queen Vashti refused the King’s call? Why did she decide to bring her highly placed husband to contempt before the whole nation? Here is a clue!

‘ALSO Vashti the Queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to King Ahasuerus’ Esther 1:9;

It is apparent that Queen Vashti was busy with ‘her own feast’. She was not part of her husband’s feast; she also made her own feast for the women in the royal house. She must have been greatly engrossed in her own feast that she had no time to spare to answer the call of her husband the great King, who being proud of her, wanted to show-case her beauty to all present at the feast. She had her own aspiration, vision and pursuit separate from her husband’s, so she ran her own feast concurrently!

Why did Queen Vashti run her own feast when the King’s feast was supposed to be for everyone? It appears that Her Majesty also wanted to do something she could call her own; she needed recognition and self actualization as we call it nowadays; she was not readily available to run with the vision of her husband, so she didn’t see any reason being part of the King’s feast. Of course, in the midst of the women for whom she made her own feast, she was the greatest. She would have all the recognition that she had always desired for herself.

Somebody might want to give in to an assumption that separation of women from men folks during feasts was traditional to the Persian’s culture hence justification for Queen Vashti’s separate feast, but there seems to be no proof for this assumption. Her Majesty’s drive to run a separate feast for the women was born out of her own burning desire to do ‘her own thing’ even if her husband –the King would be brought to disrepute in the process.

As a result of this condemnable act, Queen Vashti was dethroned and replaced at the commandment of the King. Her position was subsequently given to Esther. We can imagine how Queen Vashti, the once respected First Lady would possibly end her life following humiliation out of the palace. No matter what her justification was for 'doing her own thing', nothing could save her.

The fall of Queen Vashti brings to light great truths about God’s order for the home. It is not surprising that Queen Vashti was dethroned and replaced; her action constituted a gross violation of God’s order. God’s order is that a wife must be an integral part and parcel of her husband’s God’s-given vision and pursuits. The fulfillment of a woman is complete only when she has found her place in the vision that God committed to her husband and run together with him. A wife that is not willing and prepared to identify herself with the vision and aspiration of her husband in all things is violating God’s order.

It must be emphasized that God did not create woman to be subservient to man in anyway; both man and woman were created in the image of God as co-regents according to Genesis 1:26-28. However, woman was never designed or made independently of man. Just like the church can never imagine being independent of Christ in anything, so also is a wife in relationship with her husband. She must be identified with her husband in all things.

It does not matter what the world teaches or encourages, the order of God cannot be changed. In the name of women emancipation and self actualization crusades in every quarter, a lot of women have neglected their God-ordained vital roles in the visions and aspirations of their husbands. I am not a proponent of male chauvinism in any way and would never approve of culture or traditions that attempt to reduce women to a sort of second-rated citizens or slaves. As long as a woman integrates herself into God-given calling, vision, aspiration, and pursuits of her husband, she will always know fulfillment and excitement. Remember God created Eve from one of the rib bones of Adam which suggest that she came out of man and she must always find her rightful place in the man’s life.

Ezekiel Olukolajo
olukolajoezekieloluseun@yahoo.com

10 Things Every Father Should Teach His Son

Being a father means more than providing all of the physical needs in life, it also means having the responsibility to teach his son the most important lessons in life that will help him become a better man.
So, in order to prepare your son for manhood and give him the knowledge that will help him through many common situations in life, consider these top 10 things that every father should teach his son:


Self-discipline. Whether it is for education, work, or fitness discipline is one of the most important lessons to teach your son. Knowing how to work hard, motivate himself regardless of the situation and having the willpower to push through tough situations will greatly help him become strong.


Confidence. A solid handshake and confident personality is one of the very definitions of manhood. Having confidence is simply a way to show yourself and others that you are a strong and capable person who can handle most problem or task that may come your way.

Responsibility. One of the great lessons in manhood is taking responsibility for yourself and your actions. This will not only reinforce your self-respect but also gain respect from others. Being responsible for every choice and action builds character and builds an image of trustworthiness for others.

Independence. One of the markers for reaching manhood is being able to do things on your own. Teaching your son early what it is like to be independent will help him become a resourceful man. Learning through experience and trying things on his own will build his character. It will also provide him with real world knowledge that can help him in every avenue of life.

Humility. Just as confidence is important in manhood, so is humility. A good balance between the two creates a strong leader who can succeed in many ways in life. Confidence alone will not build good relationships with people but by combining humility, people will naturally gravitate to you.
 
Respect. Reaching manhood means earning respect from others for having the qualities that deserve it. Respect is honoring someone for the good qualities they have and showing them their importance in life. Teaching your son to respect others while also demanding respect from their actions and manly qualities is a way to help them grow up to be well-rounded individuals.

Sensitivity. Although some may think sensitivity is a weakness for men, it's a quality that every man should have. It is a way of showing compassion and taking a softer approach to situations that require it. It is a quality that all greatly loved leaders have, which is why so many respect and follow them.

Honesty. An honest person is one who is comfortable with themselves and has confidence in their actions. An honest man has an honorable manhood, which is something that every man should consider to succeed in life.

Finesse. One of the top qualities that all men should have is finesse. It involves having the proper skills to handle difficult situations in a careful and calculated way. A successful man will always have some level of finesse to help him through the times in life that may seem difficult.
While not all of these skills are easily taught, the best way is to teach by example and reinforce actions with important lessons. With these ten important lessons, your sons will be prepared for manhood and the experiences that come along with it.

Written by Jason Bettinger

Nigerian Federal Govt plans 2,000mw in 15 months

The Federal Government plans to generate 2,000 megawatts within the next 15 months to boost electricity supply, it was announced yesterday.
The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and the Second Niger Bridge linking the West to the East will get priority attention in next year’s budget, which will allocate more cash to infrastructure provision.
But tolling will likely be reintroduced on federal roads to generate cash for maintenance.

These are part of the government’s plan, which Minister of Power, Works and Housing Babatunde Fashola unfolded yesterday.
He spoke at his maiden news conference in Abuja where he unveiled his short term plans to address housing deficit, provide good roads and increase power generation.
Fashola, the immediate past Lagos State governor, said the highest amount allocated to road construction in recent years was in 2002 when N200 billion was budgeted.
He said the Works sector this year  has 206 contractors handling 206 projects, covering 6, 000 kilometres with a contract price of over N2trillion. Yet, a little over N18billion was budgeted.
The Minister said that work would soon begin on all roads that link the 36 states, adding that major roads which have been suspended due to lack of funds and are vital to boosting socio- economic activities would be quickly revisited.
Fashola spoke of plans to partner with the private sector and fully privatise the power sector for the country to witness genuine development like in the telecommunication sector.

Culled from www.thenationonlineng.net

Nigerian Protesters lock down National Assembly

The National Assembly complex was this morning, December 9, taken over by protesters and social media activists standing in staunch opposition to the infamous “social media bill”, demanding that the senate immediately discontinue its consideration of the Bill.

The controversial Bill was sponsored by the Senate’s Deputy Leader, Bala Ibn Na’Allah and has consistently drawn the ire of Nigerians across the nation.
The Bill is seen as one engineered to muzzle the freedom of expression of Nigerians on social media more than anything else.
It proposes up to four years in prison or N2m to N4m in fines for “anyone who intentionally propagates false information that could threaten the security of the country or that is capable of inciting the general public against the government through electronic message.”
The Bill also proposes up to two years in prison or N2m and N4m in fines or both for anyone disseminating via text message, Twitter, WhatsApp, or any other form of social media an “abusive statement.”

According to one of the protesters,

“We are here to say No to social media bill. We need our distinguished Senators to come down to be with us. We voted you all in and you all used the social and conventional media. Now you are in the house you now feel the same medium should be clamped down.

“There are so many things spanning across health and educational breakdown to attend to rather than wuru wuru ‎bill. People are dying on a daily basis because of the poor medical and health facilities.

“We shall call them back if this is their plans for us and replace them with people who can defend us. We are disappointed with the likes of Ibn N’allah and Dino Melaye. We are disappointed in our senate, they promised us open NASS now they want to shut us up.

MASSOB to halt demonstrations

The ground swell protests staged by the members of the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, and the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, over the continued detention of the Director, Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has been halted, following the resolve of the two pro-Biafra groups to give Federal Government room for dialogue.
 Protesters in the south-east and parts of south-south geopolitical zones had vowed to continue demonstrations until they actualize Biafra which prompted governors from the region,under the aegis of South-East Governors Forum,SEGF, to push for a dialogue to secure the release of Nnamdi Kanu among other issues of neglect and marginalzation of the people in a meeting held in Enugu Government House.
According to the National Secretary,MASSOB, and Emma Powerful,Spokesman of IPOB, which read in parts:
“We hereby issue an ultimatum to the Federal Government to prove their seriousness and sincerity on the much published dialogue on the release of Nnamdi Kanu. We shall continue with our non violence self determination on Biafra. MASSOB,IPOB will never relent or backside on the agitation for Biafra actualization. We condemn the stupidity,sabotage statement of Ralph Uwazuruike that IPOB, MASSOB introduced violence in Biafra struggle."
“Uwazuruike is a drowning man who is living on yesterday shadow. Uwazuruike has lost his grip on Biafra issues because of his deviation,compromise,open romance with Nigeria Government which has grossly affected his personality. We warn Uwazuruike and his brainwashed group to stop dragging MASSOB,IPOB into a shameless,naked dance of visionless, missionless,blind existence.”