@Pak
Per investing, actually this bearish moments are a very good time to invest - buy up the stocks, that's right. And right now am personally wishing I had the liquid cash to spare, I would have seized the opportunity to really grab some stocks that are at their year low right now. SInce u also understand that it's more of long-term investment and ur not in a hurry, then that makes it all the more okay for U.

@Stan
Thanks for bailing me out with your last post. Usually don't have time, else I would have gone back to pick out that quote, which was precisely what gave me the impression that Jisi was/is married. Anyways! Maybe it was a mistake arising from the stress of the intensive training.

JISIDAISY:


NIYOO, NIYOO, YOU BE ANOTHER CRUCIAL GUY. YEP I AM A MARKETER AND ON BEHALF OF MY VILLAGE I HOPE I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MARKET MY 'BEAUTIFUL GOOD CHRISTIAN FRIENDS' TO YOU. INDICATE YOUR INTEREST IF YOU MUST. GOOD GALS DEY OH. BUT THEY ARE SCARCE. THESE ONES COME WITH 10YEARS GUARANTEE.

Goog gals with only 10 years gurarantee? Marriage needs a life tyme guarantee o! Or have they also got good second hand value?

@Jisi
Although Calypso may have sounded a bit pert, I think he's actually making a point. Not many people see it that way, but in conventional writing, if you suddenly switch from normal lower case to only uppercase letters (i.e, like u're "printing" as they say on standard forms) then it usually signifies "shouting" or some sort of emphasis. This applies even to textmessages and online chats. (eg "Jisi, I'd like you to phone me RIGHT NOW!"

But since in your case, you posts start and run all the way through on caps lock, then there's really no need to assume that u were shouting or laying emphasis on every single word in your post.

@Marriage
As one in a very healthy, successful relationship, I'm urged to share some helpful concepts and principles, but time wont permit for now.
Cheers all!

Ah, I actually thought Jisi was married o,

@Kuwena
Congrats. Now u're gradually (nay, fast!) realising some of the things we'd earlier tried to explain about attitudes. Methinks it's going to be more fun now, reading ur posts.

@Posters on Marriage
Sure it's an interesting topic. I think I'd love to get married, (think? I'm sure!) But let's not forget the entire new series of challenges it usually brings. Be prepared for them, too.

@Kuwena
We all knew U'd be back; hope U've read all that was posted in the interim, So it's Kansas, well, lemme know whenever u'll be in Texas.

@Others
We need not over-blame Kuwena for his usual effusive declarations of love and adoration for a distant land (where he is now, anyway). Fact remains that background wise, he didn't have enough exposure to have bridged the expansive delta between the advanced west and the 3rd world in his thinking. And many of us have similar tales. There are places in Nigeria I know of, where the technological expertise and devices are comparable to those anywere in the world, US inclusive. (Kuwena, U'd have understood better if U'd been exposed to multi-racial, multicultural, global working environments as is obtainable in bue-chip conglomerates in Nigeria b4 travelling out), but then, they are only obtainable where there is heay foreign presence, and generally leaves u feeling "un-Nigerian". Frankly speaking, though, I think it's ok. You're just one of the multitudes who stream into the US each day, determined to make it to the best of thier ability, and they usually do, as I know U will.

Congrats on your succeses with your manuscripts. Wishing u all the best of your new life.

NB: @Stannesi et al
Pls, let's all get ready to be fequently entertained with great stories of how wonderful the US is when compared to good old Naija, especially as our wonderful friend settles down there. Remember he's still grasping with the huge gap between the 2 worlds. Could we be a little understanding and refrain from picking quarrels even when it seems our own fatherland is being put down?
Cheers all!

Wishing Us all a splendid week ahead. And meaningful progress to the thread. Cheers all!

Happy B/day to me? lol!! Thanks, Pak! (Hope u haven'tblown my cover, though!)

And thanks to all the lovely peers on this great thread who helped make this day really worthwhile with their well-wishes et al.

@Opoks
Actually my charger did get burnt, but it's been replaced now. Even b4 the weekend as I'd hoped.

@New/Silent posters
Forget the seeming acridity in his words, Opoks has got a silent point there. I was also one such silent reader on this thread, and at a point I almost totally stopped visiting during WW1 on ths thread (for those who know what I mean! But then, after the truce I decided to come out and begin active contributions, in the hope that together we could maximise this opportunity and spin out great ideas to make Nigeria truly great. Like I said once earlier, this entirethread started in the first place, only because at one point or the other in the past, we had wanted to work for Nigeria via NLNG!

But in retrospect, I can say that if the posts of those who have remained active on the thread couldn't stop therecent WW2 from occuring, what's the guarantee that the participation of the silent readers could have? Well, who knows? But we can all play each one, his/her little role to make the threada livelier and more constructive one.

@Kuwena
You said you're signing out, so why do I still address you? cos some how, I expect that u'll become a silent reader on this thread for a while. U started it, granted, and honour must be given to whom honour is due. I'd feel bad to see you go and would surely miss some of your brilliant postings, but if the truth must be told, I know that even if I join U in "exiting" the thread,WWNLNG will not stop simply becos we left. U see, all over the world, great people are known for starting small things that end up outliving and outgrowing them, so beware if u eventually get to float Catpar, You may also find yourself faced with the choice of either staying and being critiqued, or thrwing in the towel and quitting.

@All others
Got to run now, wishing U all the very best. Even if your Birthday falls on a very busy weekday on which U have to go to work and even work late, be sure to take out time and reflect on the more salient values of life, how far u have come, and what is needed to get U fulfil your destiny and make it into Heaven.

Cheers all!

Hey, Pak et al!
How things on the thread? That Geogy teacher of yours was real correct. In fact, psychologists say that when someone talks frequently about suicide, it's almost a sure thing he won't ever dare it; but that history has shown that the actual suicides don't ever breathe a word of their plans to anyone b4 going commiting it. So they always look out for those who start getting depressed and reclusive, even if such never mentions suicide.

any way,, no need to talk suicides, cos whereever there's life, there has always been hope of the sun rising again.

Cheers all! My laptop charge just got "burnt" in a power surge. (Had enough warning, actually.) May not post again until I get a chance to replace it, weekend perhaps,

Hi ya, all! Just taking some time off to appreciate and welcome the relatively new posters on the thread. It's quite unfortunate that it's this regretable fiery xchange that welcomes you (or was it actually what drew U out in the first place? ) Cos it's obvious that U've all been silently reading thru the thread up to this point,

Euphoria, Izi-n-bizi, kg (what a short, smart pen name!Hope it doesn't get modified or "shortened", along the line, to something longer!)

It's understandable that most of the frequent posters are just hanging out not, chilling out till the temperature of the thread chills down to a comfortable enough level , courtesy of Opoks/Kuwena. By the way, hope it's all disagreement on principles, and not on frivolities or personality clashes?

Have a slendid "rest-of-the-week", Cheers all!

Well, it's been a funny flurry of postings on the thread of late, and to be frank, I don't intend to plead with anyone to sheath his sword any longer. Looks like it's Opoks taking it out on Kuwena for his usual anti-Nigerian and anti-African sentiments (which everyone probably feels should be overlooked(?))
But something tells me that even if not Opoks, someone else would come along to ensure Kuwena meets his match. Funny thing about Kuwena's posts (with all due respect, of course!) is that he sounds at times like one whose mind is already made up, yet needs some sort of pityparty or public sympathy to endorse his choice of action. No way, guy. You go ahead and be proud of what u've decided to do. Go ahead and do it, I think that's Opoks is refering to in his last post so far.

For some of us, we're determind to bring a new dawn to Nigeria, NOT because we think we're perfect or experts, but because we've seen those who firmly stood their groun and made a mark in the noble task of repositioning Nigeria for greatness. Bad as things may seem today, the situatio is not as terrible as it could have been, simply because some dared to believe in a better tomorrow.

Kuwena, I wish U the very best in all your endeavours. But, pls, do not expect to receive endorsement or find acceptance for your ideas expressed on this thread. I think U'd hardly get that from the calivber of Nigerians who post on this thread. Opoks, there's no need over-flogging an issue. s one man said wisely, "what is the use of arguing at all? If I'm proved right, then it means my brother is wrong. And, of what value is it to me that my brother is proved wrong?"

So, let's use our good writing skills to uphold the virtues of our beloved Nigeria. We can't deny or wish away the fact that we were born Africans.

truce pls. This is a call to return to objective, positive minded postings on the thread.

@Opoks
I'm sure I didn't refer to anyone's plans while sharing a few nostalgic reminisces of my beloved Dad. Neither am I anxious to endorse anyone's heart desire as regards a choice of country of nationality, Well, we learn everyday. For me, some of my greatest moments at work and as I travel round the globe are those times when something happens to make me proud (and glad!) to be Nigerian.

The saying that our problem in Nigeria is not the laws but their implimentation was proved true again recently when we were in a business meeting some weeks back, with an attendance comprising professionals from nearly every continent of the world. A law expert was explaining the US FCPA law and asid something quite interesting. For the benefit of those who may not know, the FCPA in a nutshell, is a law that prohibit a US company from giving any sort of bribe either directly or via a 3rd party to any non-US govt official outside the US. i.e, in all parts of the world outside the US where we operate for instance, we're prohibited, by this act, from giving bribes. Now, at a point, he wanted to bring out an seeming contradictory exception to this law, which allows for minor inducement not exceeding about $50, strrictly for the sole purpose of buying time or pushing ur case (or file) forward after U've probably met ALL the reqirements that are prerequisite to being attended to. Now of course, the Nigerians in the room simply guffawed in protest, implying that, well, that IS also bribery, of course. That was when the law expert then added 3 riders to his earlier statement.
1. He emphasized again that the exception only allowed for a max of $50 (which could be seen as a mere tip) and could be given only after all other conditions were met,
2. He also stressed, that,anyway, in Nigeria, the existing regulations DO NOT allow ANY FORM OF INDUCEMENT WHATSOEVER, regardless of whatever allowances the US laws had made. I mean, at this point, U could almost hear the sigh of satisfaction that we Nigerians there heaved, like a sign that we had been vindcated. Nobody can accuse us anymore of officially institutionalising corruption. Thank God, Now for implementation,

Maybe I should speak a little here about my own dearly beloved Dad, of blessed memory, who trained as a professional on scholarship in the white man's land, and thereafter lived and worked there for many years, supervising whites and giving them technical instructions and directives, before returning to his beloved fatherland Nigeria to continue work and raise his family. A man who interacted so much with whites and imbibed so much of their polished mannerisms that his nickname amongst his peers was literally "white man", YET he didn't see it fit to give any of his kids an English name, rather, he painstakingly taught us to value our roots and traditional values, drawing on experience he gathered over the years from UK, Europe, Austrailia, etc to let us know why we should be proud of our home.

Frankly, I've also wondered why Nigerians who make it abroad (like my Dad did) would come back. But from my own little experience working in one of the world's biggest companies ( a multi-racial, multicultural environment, in fact, a global stage for short) I think it's because of that in-born personal pride that every full-blooded individual has in where he comes from. I mean, no matter how far and high You've gone, no matter how smart and westernized You've been,  it just gets to a point when You realise that, "Come, all this while I've been interacting with this people IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY, What of mine? It's a terrible thing to be in a foreign land simply because You have no place to go back to. Several Nigerians who appear to have become "successful" abroad are only there because they can't return home. Sure enough, the system works better in the white man's land, but not to mean that we can't make ours work for us.

That's why several times, I appear to be an unappologetic, unrepentant, (even adamant) patriotic Nigerian, perhaps after realising that East or West, North or South, Home is the best.

Two recent bits of news that are some sort of cool (not cold) comfort:
1. S/A govt appologises formally to Nigeria by Mbeki over the recent Xenophobic attacks on Nigeria.
2. MTN offered (actually gave) assistance running into considerable sums of money towards helping the victims of the attacks.

Beloved Nigerians, as we still work the numerous issues with our country, let's not trade our sense of national pride for anything.

Cheers all

@Kennosky

Kenny, U online right now? How U dey now? Hope the summer isn't beginning to get hotter than good old Nigeria?

WELCOME BACK, JISI!!!

Well, well, Ken wasn't the only one who missed U and Ur postings, I must say! Anyway, good for U to have had the intensive training. U either aspire or U expire. Now that huge investment has been made on you (close to a thousand man-hours na?!) you should now be fit as a fiddle to bestride the professional space of your organisation.

Kuwena got bored by recent postings on the thread and yawned, but in the past few days, some of us have actually been enjoying his wealth-creation lectures, which have also taken a considerable part of the thread, keep posting, pls,

And chaps, please permit me to include the link again to another incisive write-up from today's Sun. ( I don't work for them, pls!) But I think we need to hear such home truths, especially those of us who genuinely desire good for our beloved Nigeria.

http://sunnewsonline.com/webpages/columnists/offside/2008/offside-june-03-2008.htm

@Pak
Party politics is good, but definitely NOT the type as frequently displayd by the ruling party ("Africa's largest", which often subjugates simple truth and integrity in the name of Party loyalty and party discipline.

@Pak

Thanks for the tracks U sent.

, Man, it's been a while I heard such down-to-earth load of home truths about our situation in Nigeria. So blessed, yet so, (backward?). I almost felt myself squirming in my seat as I read. Well, although a lot of time I see myself as a die hard patriot who belives in the many good aspects and potentials of Nigeria, I must concede that several times, I just wonder if we can still get to our collective destiny. Take a look at Amanze Obi's Broken Tongues in Today's Daily Sun. Link included below. The kind of convictionless, visionless politicians who parade themselves as "leaders"

But not to worry. I sense that surely, God is phasing out the old generation of political leaders, and replacing them wit those who may not be grey headed but know the meaning of intergrity. Men like Ndudi Elumelu, Bankole, Nnamani, and some others give me some confidence that all hope is not lost,

I think we also need to talk, keep talking. and do, keep doing. Whatever we can, whenever we can, were ever we can, to see that this country gets better by the day.

Wishing us all the very best of the rest of the week. ( I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THE REST OF MY LIFE ALWAYS REMAINS THE BEST OF MY LIFE!)








http://sunnewsonline.com/webpages/columnists/brokentongues/2008/amaze-jun-02-2008.htm

Hi ya, all! Hope everyone's weekend went smoothly. Kuwena has diligently kept up the updates on financial investment advisory. Good! Pak has also given us his summarised opinion based on a comprehensive analysis of present administratio in the country Well! We're all witnesses. In the fina analysis, everyone takes responsibility for his own destiny, politically, economically, etc. I have to fend for myself and my family, govt or no govt. It's this attitude that has given us our resilience, Pak. ( and our seeming indifference, if U like!)

But one question I'm yet to answer is this, "if the political and ruling class have failed Nigerians, then from where do the huge crowds at political rallies of the ruling party and other parties come?" Are they hired foreigners, or are they also Nigerians who are living in this same country? Begs some answers, really. Cos I hold this saying to be true, that a people will always ultimately end up having the kind of leadership and leaders that it deserves.

Meanwhile, here's wishing everyone a splendid week ahead, as we step into this great month. A month of destiny, a month of favour, a month of jubilation.
Cheers all!

Good evening chaps on the thread! Hope everyone (those on Nigerian soil) is preparing to spend the Democracy day celeb in one profitable way or the other. Methinks it calls for reflections on on the past 9years of democratic rule, and more importantly, on the past one year of the current administration. Many are of the opinion that in terms of respect for the rule of law and due process, it has done creditably well; but that as far as the basics of revamping the economy and rapid infrastructural development, or even showing a clear-cut policy thrust, it still so much to be desired. I think I agree 100% with both views, though that would be gist for another day.

For those honorable gents who are pushing for greater awareness of marriage matters, I say "kudos." Someone dear to me once observed that we spend a minimum of 11-16 years or more in school acquiring formal education, but very little time to prepare for one of the most important aspects and decisions we'll ever have in life: Marriage and the choice of who to spend our lives with in Holy Matrimony.

I suggest we step up our awareness of this beautiful and important topic. Let's read more, share more, and relate more of our experiences. Cheers

Hi ya chaps! Do posts disappear from this thread or in transit to it? Funny question, but I'm in earnest because I battled with sleep last night to post a reply to Opoks and Pak, as well as comment on some current topics, only to start hunting for the post by this morning. It's well, sha!

I'm actally resisting the (temptation?) of attaching some real upsetting pictures I just received about the SA violence. Burning human torches in broad daylight, fractured and surtured skull caps, etc. It would have simply spoilt your day, anyway,  One only needs to take a look at them to appreciate why I boycotted MTN for a day. (In fact, though I did it just to show a symbolic displeasure, now I don't think that act was significant enough , with the benefit of hindsight). Well! Let's keep praying for Africa and our leaders.

I just wonder when cruel people will stop preying on hapless Nigerian job seekers! Why!!! Like Pak said, they're actually good candidates for the EFCC guest house.

Girl, keep your money. Don't even think of paying your precious N3K5 into an unknown acct. What for? Even if you want to believe that it's genuine, then take my advice and go to the test venue with your money in cash. I wager both the test venue, the so-called administrators, etc are all a hoax. And we should also realise that these scams are on the increase daily. Yes, we need jobs, but NOT at the expense of the scarce we scarcely have!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JISI!!!
It's a great time to review the past one year (and indeed, the previous years) of your life. Consider the gains, pains, losses, vicissitudes in general, and learn the lessons! Look ahead to the future. It can only get brighter, of course!!!

@Opoks
You're right there about my job. It's actually gotten more hectic as the weeks pass, but all the same, I see a ray in the horizon. Guess what? I realised recently that one of the advantages (really??) of stress on the job is that it delivers one from boredom and clock-watching, U know. Again, it could stir your interest in a job that thitherto you struggled to understand.

But my commitment to the thread is unwavering. And I leave this rider, which the man of God released this morning at Church: " A Committee without commitment will soon commit a crime!" As we move into yet another great week, I wish us all greater commitment at work. I mean, if you spend most of your waking hours in the office each day, then U simply have to love the job,

Well, Man U finally wins.Winners, losers. Great match

chelsea ahead now on penalties.

hard lesson for us all on anger and the sorrows of over-reaction

red card to drogggbbbbaaaa!

Well! The game is on and we're all watching. So much for the spirited boasts we've heard from both sides. But whoever ends on the losing side shd be ready to admit defeat without giving any excuses o.
@ Kennosky
Yes, the better team does not always win, but like we used to say back in school, you can't go for thr rest of your life explaining to all that U missed a first class result by only one point!. It's either u made a first class or U join those with 2.1. IN other words, someone simply has to lift the trophy, but by whatever means they got here, both teams have proven to be equally strong contenders, and I don't see any being a push over tonite.

@responders
Sorry for embarking on the strike b4 informing the union. Well, I guess cos I didn't really think it had gotten to the stage of an organised protest. Like I said earlier, the govt is officially against the riots and have issued statements to that effect. I think there's also been talk of being more proactive to prevent similar occurences in other hot spots. Otherwise, we may have considered giving them the B.A. treatment.

Cheers all.

Hi chaps! I can understand the high tempo and tension generated by the awaited match tomorrow. Well, let the better team win. Reminds me of what the panelist told me when I faced him at the very final stage interview for my current job: "At this stage of the recruitment process, every candidate is already qualified to work in the company," he said, " but it's just that we cannot employ everyone. So we have to find a way to choose only the very best, " In order words, I'd say that both Man U and Chelsea, for getting to this final stage, each deserve to lift the cup; but it's just that a winner has to emerge, SO cheer up, loser fans, and celebrate wisely/moderately, winner fans, after the match.

On a more serious note, I embarked on a very symbolic 24-hour boycott of MTN GSM services, in protest over the confirmed hostilities meted out to Nigerians in Diaspora. I don't see any reason why they should treat our people like dirt, while their own blue chip companies are making mindblowing profits here. Good a thing ,the SA govt has condemned the attacks and the Nigeria and I beleve thyey're workig hard to resolve it, but my 1-day boycot has been so significant to me. U don't have to join me in it, but I felt I should say it out on the thread.

Cheers

kuwena:

Please, help me understand this, and someone may go ahead and tell me what I should do. This is my predicament:

I do not have so much money, but I do have a little saved up. Many others have said that I need a lot, to be able to survive in the US. I do not entirely believe them, because I know certain people who went there with little, and they did not die.

Many people say that since school starts on August 4, I should go on working till July and save much more. This, of course, sounds very juicy, but do not forget the type of job I do. I have hated it for a very long time now, and it is only by the grace of God that I have been able to endure it for all this while.

Another thing is this: If I resign now, what will I be doing? You can see that I am confused. I feel grateful of course, but I also am very rattled. What should I do. Yemi walked out on his job without qualms, but his case and mine are two different ones. He had something to fall back on, and then not long after NLNG called him.

I need advice. Lots and lots of it.

@Kuwena
I guess Aniffy's advice should speak volumes. There's no point racing down to the US in midsummer only to hang around doing nothing till session starts in the fall. Not forgetting that Ur spending starts from the moment U step onto US soil. So U just work a few more months in Nigeria.

Ideally too, bear in mind that U should resign just a few days (at most a couple of weeks) to the date of your departure. That way, U won't have to while away time and maybe get exposed to all sorts of risks prior to your eventual departure.

kuwena:

I've not been happy lately. Someone has said, 'A philosopher is someone who torments himself too much and dies very sad.' Ashamed as I am to admit it, I think he is right. I permit myself to become a little too sensitive to the world around me.

I probably was happier when I prayed regularly, back then in school. Life did not seem so hard, even if I suffered more economically. And all this is ironic. It's like I'm saying life was easier when it was hard and is harder now it is easier.

I feel somewhat insecure. And for the first time this year I went to church. The same old church, here in Kano. Coincidentally, today was Trinity Sunday. The choir, the mass and everything was all so familiar, and yet all so new. But why did I attend church?

I felt afraid; I felt alone; I felt threatened by life itself. And I needed strength. I really don't want to resign. I may need to save more. But all the motivation to work seems to have left me. And I want to have a safe trip to the US. And for God to cure me of this sense of threat. I went to church for psychological protection.

The same preaching: God is three and God is one. Nothing new there; the same pontification: the Eucharistic feast, where Jesus appears in form of bread and wine. Again nothing new there. The prayers were still as I left them last year. The liturgy intact. I recalled that Jesus had said that the Gates of Hell were not going to successfully overthrow Christianity.

But my concern was more selfish. All I needed was for God to protect me. To protect me from fear. Or have I been alone for too long? I am thinking of asking Chima to come and spend some time with me here.

I am seriously thinking.

Doubt if there's need to comment on this, really. Just go check that "home truth" post of mine, Kuwena!


@Others
Hi ya, Guys. Hope everyone's Sunday was cool and interesting. Sequel to my earlier post on canvassing for some more patriotism, and in following Kuwena's example of asking for only sweet comments (I mean, positive statements), I'm compiling a list of negative, terrible things that "couldn't happen in Nigeria", despite how bad we're said to be. U get it? IN order words, it must be negative things that have happened elsewhere. U don't need to name the country where it happened, pls. The aim of this is not to mock other countries or put down any one, but simply to appreciate the true fact that even if we cannot be grateful for what we have in Nigeria, at least we can be thankful for what we escape!

So, let me set the ball rolling: Nigeria is a place where U're sure that U won't go to bed one nite and wake the next morning trapped in your house under piles of rubble resulting from an earthquake or a cyclone!

( U dont have to limit it to natural disasters, anyway!)

Got to run now! Cheers all.

Seems there's been some kind of lul in the flow of postings on the thread of late. Probably attributable to the pressures of work, I guess? Or the peculiarity of our different work schedules. Even for those of us who have internet access and can browse in the comfort of our homes, U still need to be home and free to be able to surf.Not mentioning physical tiredness.

However, I'd like to seize this lull to canvass for a bit more national patriotism from posters. Our daily experiences in this country leaves us short of wishing we had nothing to do with Nigeria, granted, but we know also that it's not all that bad. There are also some sunny sides of life in Africa's most populous country. I'm postive that we're moving towards a better tomorrow in this country, and that, though they don't know it, the current bunch of political leaders we have are daily taking decisions that will get us to a better place in the near future. Funny enough, those decisions will also turn around to haunt and expose the corrupt ones amongst the same leaders!

Wishing eveyone the best of the weekend. A well-deserved rest is very much in order after a hectic week. Several hours of resting at home after Sunday service has been my weekly (or is it weekend) tonic for some time now. Cheers all!!!

Greetings to all in the house! (On the thread, actually). Here's wishing everyone the best of the start of the weekend tomorrow.

@Jisi
We sure'll miss u during this period of your training. That's a good one, anyway. U grow old once U stop learning and going for training, so it's good for U that Ur bank mgt has decided to keep you Every year young. But what's Ur prayer point, na? Am yet to send U the mail, anyway. pls confirm your email address is jisidaisy@yahoo.com?

Cheers

@ken
Hope U wont spend the whole short break watching EPL matches? Ah, of course, that one is over now!

@Kuwena
While chaps on the thread are still ruminating over my last post about living "below" or within one's means in order to have greater leverage for wealth creation, I'd like to take a look at that lenghty post of yours that Pak just quoted.

Kuwena, Kuwena, I have great respect and love for you, although we're yet to meet in person, and I'm sure U'll agree that I have displayed same in my previous posts. That position has not changed at all, and probably will not. As a matter of fact, it's that component of love known as "tough love" that confronts issues head on, that motivates this post of mine.

I have no intention of joining issues with you on the various points u raised about your future plans; it's already an established trend on the thread that from time to time, you put in some posts that elicit a flurry of responses from others, and ere u know it, the thread is almost polarised, for and against, etc etc etc. Now, a lot of what U write at times wouldn't make sense to many people, unless they know what u've passed thru, and more importantly, what U have allowed what U passed thru to do to you. And perhaps, also, they need to fully appreciate that u're now reading books like "The 48 Laws". That really explains a lot!

Well, all I'd say is, you've turned your back on Salvation thru the Lord Jesus, and are right now experimenting with a mixture of several other stuffs. Rightly so, too. those who have gone an extent with the Lord and reject Him later on, usually don't settle for a religion, but in their restlessness of soul, they put their hands into so many things, , considering that u've been reading some materials that, among others, purport to teach guidelines on how to establish a cult, Kuwena, let's drop it at that! The Love of God is strong enough to pull you back, if u so desire. But I'd say that in the present state of fixedness of your heart on continuing with your present path, calling Jesus by other funny names, names that make a mockery of His Lordship and deny His Divinity. Well! Have it your way for now, silence your conscience as much as u like, struggle with finding answers to the problems of humanity which Jesus answered comprehensively 2000 years ago, and such like. But know this for sure, that U'll come back to square one, where U'll have to admit the LORDSHIP of Christ again. and acknowlege that U missed it when U turned Ur back on Him.


Finally, just to chip in this also, much as I admire and respect your visions and progressive thoughts, I believe that if some of these views you hold on the state of Nigeria and the back race are not corrected, you're simply setting yourself up for a big date with disillusionment. Am very very sorry for sounding this way, Kuwena, but let's just take it as the speaking of some home, hard truths,

@ Others
Regards to all. Pls pardon my sounding this way tonite. I hope these few words dont trigger off another flurry of posts and counter posts. Have a great time this week. Cheers

Job search, sports, shares, investments, biz floating, and now, can't believe it, cultism! Waow, Which Way NLNG (WWN) thread really has looking up on it!

Well, for a last word on the issue of soft loans, I appreciate the various contributions we all made to the topic. It's also quite clear that Opoks learnt the lessons from his financial misadventures. It seems ok to borrow a little money to get by till next pay day after having invested somewhere, but it also largely amounts to exploitation of relationship when it's done frequently, especially when the person who's giving the loan naively does so without knowing why the other is coming a-borrowing. I've been on the short end of that stick a number of times before I wisened up, and it wasn't funny. I mean, some of your friends would't mind borrowing on your behalf if they felt U really needed a loan which they didn't have to give. So, would U now allow them go to such extent of inconveniences just to enable you make some impressive profits? My take on it is that while investing, pls make provision for your daily upkeep till the next payday, ( if you're a salaried worker). And even if you're self-employed, you'd still have to put yourself on some sort of "salary", cos without a personal budgetary discipline, fiscal prudence is a mirage.

And now, on the danger of giving out soft loans, Annify and a few others talked about lending out only what they could afford to lose. Good one, I'd say. Another trap potential investors must watch out for is the vanity syndrome: Borrowing money U don't have to buy things U don't need all in order to impress people who don't care. With due respect to marketers, so many various brands and packages of credit facilities are now available in Nigeria, Ah, why save to buy a car when I can easily get a brand new ride for about N50K down payment, (then spend the next 3 - 5 years paying N50K a month!!!). I really don't want to be pessimistic here, only realistic, as I ponder this. What if something happens to the car shortly after purchase? So I'd still spend the next half decade or so, paying for what I didn't enjoy for up to a year? So we see that finally, it makes sense to save, invest the money and grow it to be able to buy whatever U need without being anyone's slave. Not only would I want to lend out only what I can afford to lose, I think I've also decided not to even own at all, any property that I cannot afford to lose. now, now, how does that sound? Miserly?  It only depends on how U look at it and on what scale we're considering.
For instance, I may be able to afford to drive a N3m worth car now. Perhaps if I scrap together my savings for some months or a year. But that would mean that all the savings would go solely on that car, and if anything happened to it, w-h-e-w!!! Everything's gone!but if, on the other hand, I decide rather to buy a car worth, say, 1m and invest the remaining N2m, I'd still have a comfortable, serviceable car, and some investment that is actively at work, multiplying resources for me. Now in the next few months to couple of years, my investments from the N2m would have grown to the point where I could comfortably take out not even 3m this time, but 4 or 5m to buy a car. but by then, the car wouldn't all I'm worth. In other words, what I mean is actually delayed gratification. Spending well below your means today, so that U can grow your means for tomorrow's bigger spending. And because in both instances, none of the 2 purchases (both the 1m car and the 5m car) cost even up to half of my resources, I could "afford to lose" it. I don't mean that anything evil must necessarily befall your possession, but that is an assumption that must be made, if you're to have the detachedness from possessions that is the only cure for materialism: having things without the things having U. And if however, the unpleasant happens and U actually lose it, well, life just goes on, cos what U lost is only an insignificant fraction of your worth. Some people have met avoidable deaths at the hands of armed robbers, mainly because they felt they couldnt' part with some cash or a car or something that seemed to be equivalent in worth to their lives. ,


that's why I opted for not acquiring anything that I can't afford to lose. Wishing u all a splendid week ahead!!