₦airaland Forum

Lovetinz: Life in the World Unseen by Anthony Borgia
Edgar-Cayce

I find this title somewhat oxymoronic. If the world is 'unseen', how come the authors are able to describe life there? I'm quite familiar with Edgar and I completely understand your view point.

The Lost Teachings of Atlantis by Jon Peniel

Atlantis? To the best of my knowledge, it's a fictitious place (except you prove me wrong) and I doubt if such teachings ever existed.
By asking for references, I thought you would provide me with peer-reviewed papers but here we are. I have the impression that you are a Lobsang T. Rampa person. Heard of him?

Lovetinz: Reading.

I'm sure you'll pardon my skepticism here. But will you mind sharing some of your sources?

Rossikk: Various sources such as the accounts of Near Death experiencers and hypnotic past life regression patients etc etc.

The former, I'm really skeptical about. But the latter even makes me more intrigued. You won't blame my stance as I have stopped believing in the existence of a soul.
I'm glad there are different angles though, however, I don't find them convincing (totally my fault). I'm of the opinion that we die and that's it! Nothing more, since there is no proven fact that we continue to exist or is there (I don't mean abstract analogies)?

FOLYKAZE: The Yoruba Spirituality and some eastern traditions like Hinduism and Buddhism would say that everything is conscious, whereas in the west we mostly see it as a matter of brain function. While I am hugely inclined to the western view the real problem is that we have no proper theory of consciousness from a physical basis and no real justification for our views at all.

The real answer to this of course is that no-one knows, so for those who have stated otherwise like plateon I will suggest to think more. The arguments will no doubt abound concerning what is 'really' meant by 'Conscious' - the 'merriam-webster dictionary' definition is perhaps not a good reference in this 'currently' hypothetical case.

This is my logomachy.
Having said that, I think 'consciousness'(in the context of this discussion) has a theoretical basis in particle physics as well as in the theory of conservation of matter. What do you think?

malon tee: Comments are optional,





You need not to be stupid with the shit you drop here.
Hope you roger



.

Okay now you are pissed at the fact that I was honest. I don't give a hoot about your inability to discern honesty from stupidity, I'm only saying try to cite your sources. I for one know this is not originally yours so acknowledge that! I was also being sarcastic. I'm appalled you failed to grasp that too.

Just saw now that another thread exists on NL that has discussed this write-up. MODs please delete this one o!!

bizmahn: No matter how beautiful the OP tried to make it look, REINCARNATION has no scriptural basis & thus is a waste of time.

I don't believe in it either, but not because it's got no scriptural basis (wouldn't believe it too if it did). I just thought it was a nice angle. My point was the italicised words which i believe transcends religious liminalities. It's a waste of time to you, and not to some others.

@lovetinz and rossikk
And you guys know this? How?

You were on your way home when you died.

It was a car accident. Nothing particularly remarkable, but fatal nonetheless. You left behind a wife and two children. It was a painless death. The EMTs tried their best to save you, but to no avail. Your body was so utterly shattered you were better off, trust me.

And that’s when you met me.

“What… what happened?” You asked. “Where am I?”

“You died,” I said, matter-of-factly. No point in mincing words.

“There was a… a truck and it was skidding…”

“Yup,” I said.

“I… I died?”

“Yup. But don’t feel bad about it. Everyone dies,” I said.

You looked around. There was nothingness. Just you and me. “What is this place?” You asked. “Is this the afterlife?”

“More or less,” I said.

“Are you god?” You asked.

“Yup,” I replied. “I’m God.”

“My kids… my wife,” you said.

“What about them?”

“Will they be all right?”

“That’s what I like to see,” I said. “You just died and your main concern is for your family. That’s good stuff right there.”

You looked at me with fascination. To you, I didn’t look like God. I just looked like some man. Or possibly a woman. Some vague authority figure, maybe. More of a grammar school teacher than the almighty.

“Don’t worry,” I said. “They’ll be fine. Your kids will remember you as perfect in every way. They didn’t have time to grow contempt for you. Your wife will cry on the outside, but will be secretly relieved. To be fair, your marriage was falling apart. If it’s any consolation, she’ll feel very guilty for feeling relieved.”

“Oh,” you said. “So what happens now? Do I go to heaven or hell or something?”

“Neither,” I said. “You’ll be reincarnated.”

“Ah,” you said. “So the Hindus were right,”

“All religions are right in their own way,” I said. “Walk with me.”

You followed along as we strode through the void. “Where are we going?”

“Nowhere in particular,” I said. “It’s just nice to walk while we talk.”

“So what’s the point, then?” You asked. “When I get reborn, I’ll just be a blank slate, right? A baby. So all my experiences and everything I did in this life won’t matter.”

“Not so!” I said. “You have within you all the knowledge and experiences of all your past lives. You just don’t remember them right now.”

I stopped walking and took you by the shoulders. “Your soul is more magnificent, beautiful, and gigantic than you can possibly imagine. A human mind can only contain a tiny fraction of what you are. It’s like sticking your finger in a glass of water to see if it’s hot or cold. You put a tiny part of yourself into the vessel, and when you bring it back out, you’ve gained all the experiences it had.

“You’ve been in a human for the last 48 years, so you haven’t stretched out yet and felt the rest of your immense consciousness. If we hung out here for long enough, you’d start remembering everything. But there’s no point to doing that between each life.”

“How many times have I been reincarnated, then?”

“Oh lots. Lots and lots. An in to lots of different lives.” I said. “This time around, you’ll be a Chinese peasant girl in 540 AD.”

“Wait, what?” You stammered. “You’re sending me back in time?”

“Well, I guess technically. Time, as you know it, only exists in your universe. Things are different where I come from.”

“Where you come from?” You said.

“Oh sure,” I explained “I come from somewhere. Somewhere else. And there are others like me. I know you’ll want to know what it’s like there, but honestly you wouldn’t understand.”

“Oh,” you said, a little let down. “But wait. If I get reincarnated to other places in time, I could have interacted with myself at some point.”

“Sure. Happens all the time. And with both lives only aware of their own lifespan you don’t even know it’s happening.”

“So what’s the point of it all?”

“Seriously?” I asked. “Seriously? You’re asking me for the meaning of life? Isn’t that a little stereotypical?”

“Well it’s a reasonable question,” you persisted.

I looked you in the eye. “The meaning of life, the reason I made this whole universe, is for you to mature.”

“You mean mankind? You want us to mature?”

“No, just you. I made this whole universe for you. With each new life you grow and mature and become a larger and greater intellect.”

“Just me? What about everyone else?”

“There is no one else,” I said. “In this universe, there’s just you and me.”

You stared blankly at me. “But all the people on earth…”

“All you. Different incarnations of you.”

“Wait. I’m everyone!?”

“Now you’re getting it,” I said, with a congratulatory slap on the back.

“I’m every human being who ever lived?”

“Or who will ever live, yes.”

“I’m Abraham Lincoln?”

“And you’re John Wilkes Booth, too,” I added.

“I’m Hitler?” You said, appalled.

“And you’re the millions he killed.”

“I’m Jesus?”

“And you’re everyone who followed him.”

You fell silent.

“Every time you victimized someone,” I said, “you were victimizing yourself. Every act of kindness you’ve done, you’ve done to yourself. Every happy and sad moment ever experienced by any human was, or will be, experienced by you.”

You thought for a long time.

“Why?” You asked me. “Why do all this?”

“Because someday, you will become like me. Because that’s what you are. You’re one of my kind. You’re my child.”

“Whoa,” you said, incredulous. “You mean I’m a god?”

“No. Not yet. You’re a fetus. You’re still growing. Once you’ve lived every human life throughout all time, you will have grown enough to be born.”

“So the whole universe,” you said, “it’s just…”

“An egg.” I answered. “Now it’s time for you to move on to your next life.”

And I sent you on your way.

Source: http://www.galactanet.com/oneoff/theegg_mod.html
Emphasis added by moi

PART ONE: WHO IS A NIGERIAN?

1914—LUGARD’S MISTAKE?
Geo-politically, the Nigerian nationality is no different from the other African states that emerged through a result of the colonisation process of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. However, Nigeria has the peculiar—and possibly, humourous—feature of being an entity invented solely for the ease of the British administration. This peculiarity is the amalgamation of two British protectorates and one colony: the Northern Protectorate of Nigeria, the Southern Protectorate of the Nigeria, and the Colony of Lagos. These protectorates were distinct socio-political entities whose only common factor were their many differences from each other. Nevertheless, these two entities form the basis for the country as it is today. But, is there really a nation called Nigeria? And what are the implications of its existence?

THE COMPONENTS OF A NATION
Since it seems that the Nigerian “nation” is neither an evolution of a people, nor is it a migration, or settlement, but an amalgamation of people who have nothing in common except a shared name, it stands to reason that we investigate Nigeria’s claim to being a state. This is relevant for a lot of reasons, the most important of which is the relationship between a state and law—both international and domestic. Under classic international law, only states had personality in the international legal system and for an entity to lay claim to being a state, there were characteristics it had to feature, and it had to be recognised as such by other states. Recognition gives the entity a certain measure of élan which capacitated it to conclude and enter treaties with other states.

However, this legalistic prescription of what makes an entity a state merely reflects positivist and natural law ideologies; and not the “true” situation. For example, Somalia may be a state in the legalistic sense, but not in the functional sense. Therefore, a proper examination goes beyond the façade of international law requirements, and examines the claim to statehood from totally different perspectives. In the case of Nigeria, to understand if a national consciousness really exists, we need to distinguish between the individuals, the ethnic groups themselves, the administrative divisions (referred to as “States”), and finally the geographical national entity.

TRIBES AND STATES
As is common in African society, individuals tend to associate themselves with their ethnic groups more rapidly than with any other political community. Ethnic groups are distinguished by their culture, which, according to Lasswell and McDougal, refers to “any distinctive and stable pattern of community values and institutions”. However, since the erosion of traditional values and the concretisation of the western style of government—independent of traditional institutions—it seems that emphasis has shifted from the ethnic groups to the wider political idea of a nation. Therefore, legally, Nigerian law does not recognise ethnicity—and nobody is asked to fill an official form asking for “Tribe” anymore.

However, the national entity, in turn, thrusts the responsibility of social solidarity to the hastily created administrative entities—states—that cut across ethnic lines. Gradually, the law shifted focus to the person’s administrative entity—his state of origin—and this replaced the individual’s ethnic origin. And so, today, ethnic origin has been taken over by state of origin—and individuals from the same ethnicity cherish the sanctity of their respective administrative states, much more than their common ethnicities—the case of Ekiti and Ondo states, being a very good example.

Can we, however, conclude that the Nigerian nation is mere fiction, and that true political solidarity exists only within these administrative states? The answer is negative. There are those who advocate for a Sovereign National Conference with a view to abolishing the national structure and instituting separate sovereign states along ethnic lines. This view cannot be supported from a sociological point of view since, as stated above, there has been a shift from ethnic lines to administrative state lines in social and political consciousness.

THE NIGERIA WE CREATED
So, where then is the Nigerian “nation” consciousness, if it is neither in the state nor in the ethnic groups? The submitted position is that the Nigerian consciousness is national—however, it is not based on a constitutional “will of the people” or any other social contract. The nation of Nigeria exists, paradoxically, through the forceful union of its component groups for almost 100 years, as well as the shared shock of civil war, military rule and economic trauma. Nigeria is a creation of time and trauma. We cannot pinpoint the exact time Nigeria was birthed, but we can be certain it truly exists.

Nigeria exists, not by virtue of its amalgamation or constitutional document, but by virtue of the shared experience of its constituent components over a period of time. The same way a class of students is built over time, and they graduate as a single entity and not just as disparate individuals sharing one building. Thus, if “Nigeria” is a creation of the process of time and not a mere colonial handover, then it is time that the basic document—the Constitution—and the laws began to shed their colonial foundation and focus more on realigning their philosophy with that of the average modern Nigerian that has developed with time.

PART TWO: WHAT IS A CONSTITUTION?

CONSTITUTIONAL QUAGMIRES
Nigeria has had virtually as many constitutions as she has had political regimes. These are classifiable into the Colonial constitutions (which were more of guiding principles for the British administration than a blueprint for a nation); the Independence Constitutions (consisting of the 1960 and 1963 Constitutions); and the Military Constitutions. The irony here is that at no single time has a “people-oriented” and “people–determined” democratic constitution been enacted as a true framework of government, social solidarity and legal pact. For it to be relevant to the evolving socio-political consciousness, the Nigerian constitutional document has to evolve into a social document and not merely a legal one. Otherwise, we will have the unfortunate situation where the Constitution says one thing, but the people think another.

THE ROLE OF THE CONSTITUTION
The Constitution is the framework of a country’s legal and political structure. If ignored, the legal (and political) structure comes crashing down—a situation which is possibly happening in Nigeria. The government: its powers, its functions, its responsibilities are outlined by the Constitution. The citizens: their duties and obligations, their rights, are all explained in the Constitution. The Constitution is supposed to be all about the people and their government. However, a casual examination of the “man in the street” reveals a situation where the average Nigerian is aware of almost all other aspects of law—contracts, family, administrative—except the constitutional, which is the most important of all.

WE THE PEOPLE…
The Preamble to the 1999 Constitution begins:

“We the People of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, having firmly and solemnly resolved, to live in unity and harmony as … a sovereign Nation…. do hereby make, enact and give to ourselves a Constitution.”

Unfortunately, as stated above, Nigerians did not exactly give themselves such a Constitution, rather it was a military enactment established with a take-it-or-leave-it attitude. Nevertheless, to give the proverbial devil his due, the military constitution as the basis of the Nigerian legal system today may be worth a second look. If a situation emerges where Nigerians are brought up to understand, acknowledge and respect the Constitution in all spheres of life, then can they truly say “we the people…. give to ourselves a Constitution”. In essence, this military imposed constitution can be adopted and acceded to by the people. On the other hand, as long as a state of ignorance and apathy continues, there can only be a position where the Nigerian flag is more recognised and more respected than the Nigeria Constitution.

FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS
The Constitution is the apparent embodiment of all rights. Any right not conferred or recognised by the Constitution, through treaty or local legislation, is no enforceable right. If Nigerians are made aware of their rights “under the Constitution” and are taught that they can only enjoy these rights because the Constitution provides it, and not because the government grants it, then self-worth would reign and the indiscriminate and irrational fear of the government (and its armed forces and police) will subside. A Nigerian, too, will boldly join his counterparts in developed countries to say, “I know my rights”.

The rights to life, dignity of person, personal liability, fair hearing, private and family life, freedom of thought, conscience and religion, are just a few of the rights guaranteed by the Constitution. But the lack of a social constitutional consciousness, unfortunately, makes these rights the privilege of a few.

THE MASK OVER THE GOVERNMENT
Also, a foundational knowledge of the Constitution will unveil the face of the government. The influence of the executive arm is so pervasive that it seems to be the government all by itself. But when the Nigerian society comes to understand that the president, governors and their cabinet are just an arm of government—and not the whole of government, it would make citizens more critical of policies and more disposed to seek remedies in the other arms – the judiciary and the legislature.

This constitutional consciousness would also make the average citizen realise that while there is no direct control—short of voting them out every four years—over the executive arm, there is an indirect control through the legislature—over whom the Constitution gives citizens direct control of removal and recall. The point here is that if the citizens can control the legislature directly, they have indirect control over the executive and the judiciary. They can dictate what policies they want, and which judge they approve of. This is possible by threatening to recall any errant legislator who abandons the wishes of his constituents in favour of personal gratification. But this scenario is possible if, and only if, the constitutional means of directly controlling the legislature is known—and utilized. Unfortunately, intellectuals who are aware of these are not motivated, or pushed to the wall enough, to make the most of it.

A NEW MODUS OPERANDI
Constitutional law should be taken out of the lecture halls and into the streets, it should be compulsory knowledge in all sectors of life, a compulsory course in the nursery, primary, secondary and tertiary institutions, and like multiplication tables: served in proportion to the degree of understanding and age of the students. It should stop being treated as an aspect of law, but as the fountain of law—and indeed, of every other aspect of political society. This can only be done by taking it away from lawyers and giving it to the people. It should be a compulsory subject which must be passed in secondary school leaving exams, and as a condition for obtaining university degrees, the higher a person goes academically, the more conscious he should be of the Constitution. It is then and only then that the social consciousness would be awakened to constitutional reality—that it is as real as daily arithmetic.

For those who have left academic study, or who never went through it, there is the mass media, and other forms of information dissemination. Catch-phrases can be coined from constitutional provisions and printed on T-shirts and posters for effective circulation and, in every Nigerian language, the fundamental rights should become street knowledge, something which children can recite as easily as nursery rhymes; non-governmental organizations can take up this challenge. As much money should be invested in political enlightenment as it is in disease control. There is no gain in the body being healthy when the mind is diseased. And if political parties can campaign rigorously for candidates, the government and NGOs too should campaign as rigorously, if not more, to educate its citizens.

A detailed education is not necessary for those outside the academic walls, but basic knowledge should be mandatory. Trade associations and labour unions should have it as part of their articles of association to orient their members on constitutional provisions and its importance to their members.

THE EFFECT OF THIS
When there is a thorough grounding of constitutional law in the intellect of Nigerian society, there will be a re-alignment of the political situation. The social structure will be improved and the intellectual community will be saved a lot of stress. Where the government contravenes the provisions of the Constitution, either by the executive, the legislature or the judicial, it will be the citizens themselves who will enforce the Constitution, and if necessary, by civil disobedience to the government, including spontaneous rallies and protests springing out of a general awareness of what is right and what is not. But until knowledge is acquired, the Constitution is no more than a lame duck.

A BASIC CONCEPT OF SOCIAL JUSTICE
Sociological jurisprudence, of course, is concerned with social justice. But as Lloyd states: in what it consists, and how it is to be attained, views differ. In the Nigerian social and legal setting, things might not be so complicated. The concern of the ordinary citizen is more for the attainment of the basics of life: food, shelter, and good health. His outcry is loudest when he feels these are infringed on. He does not demand the more sophisticated rights (For example, environmental rights, plant and animal rights, as well as social security rights, to name a few) that pervade the western judicial horizon. Social justice is thus confined to the basics: civil and political rights are not even in focus. The citizens would be as equally happy under a military regime as a democratic one if the perceived advantages of the former are higher than that of the latter. Thus, the hearty celebrations when the early democratic republics were ousted, and the weary request for elections when they became overburdening—not to assert democratic rights, but simply to find a better solution.

PART THREE: TO SUE OR NOT TO SUE?

THE AVERAGE NIGERIAN AND THE COURTROOM
However, as Nigerian history shows, the average Nigerian is quick to adjust to changes in socio-legal circumstances. Thus, from regime change to regime change, through coup d’etats and counter-coups, the average citizen keeps on trying to get the essentials of life, and that, in spite of all odds. Unlike his counterparts in the western world who resort to the courts as a way of redressing perceived wrongs, the average Nigerian hardly ever visits the courts except mostly to face a lawsuit from an irate landlord or answer a case of breach of contract from a richer party. The fact is that the judiciary has been abandoned by the ‘common man’ as a temple of last resort in the search for justice. The courts have been left to government, public officers, corporate magnates, and high flying executives, as a battle ground for their affairs which could not be settled over negotiation tables. The criminal court is more suited for the affairs of the average person, and the less privileged, and even then, the court often acts as a punisher, an oppressor, and not a defender of rights, nor protector of the masses.

This state of affairs is a result of several factors, the principal one being that our legal system, and, by extension, the judicial system is not home-grown, but an importation from the western world. The average European or North American is brought up to believe that the courtroom is the last defence for his rights, and he or she would not hesitate to drag a nuclear family member to court over a commercial dispute. The socio-traditional background of Nigeria, which cuts across the myriad ethnic groups, has as one of its basic norms, the sanctity of family relations, and the authority of the family head, and ultimately the ethnic group leader. Thus, the idea of an impersonal court was a strange and foreign imposition.

However, this imposition might have taken root in society if other conditions had been right, but instead, the activities and supervening authority of military rule, commercialisation of the role of lawyers, and ‘executive lawlessness’ contributed to making sure that the courts remained as alien and unapproachable—even far more than when it was first implanted.

The economic factors involved almost make the Marxist theory of law seem highly probable. The economic cost of getting access to the court is not worth the rights infringed, except maybe, as a matter of honour or principle. Thus, the average man would inevitably have to resort to private settlement, or trust in a higher form of justice—whether God or karma.

A MEANS TO AN END
The problem is, therefore, how to rectify this judicial disorder and fill the lacuna between the courts and the fabled man on the street. This is a problem that goes beyond the legal prescriptions of the constitution and reaches right into the street. The solution is neither in amending the constitution to create a higher level of judicial independence, nor in creating more rights of access to courts, but in “de-courting” the courts. A new structure has to be fashioned which would remove the formal and legal barriers (the fees, processes, filings, language, affidavits) between the citizen and the courtroom. The court should be open to the man in the street. A blend should be created between the formalised western system and the traditional informal setting—not just in arbitration and out of settlement cases, but in the entire judicial structure. If the average man can get familiar with the court process (or, as we suggest, lack of process) then the attainment of social justice might well be on its way.

CONCLUSION

This paper, obviously, cannot exhaust all possible problems and questions in the Nigerian socio-legal setting. However, the aim has been to apply sociological jurisprudence thinking to a familiar environment. Instead of seeking the solutions to problems in a closed legal analysis, the point has been to move into the highways and byways and seek out solutions. To adapt Lon Fuller: as we seek order, we can meaningfully remind ourselves that order itself will do us no good unless it is good for society.

Source: http://ayosogunro.com/2013/10/01/nigeria-a-nation-bound-in-freedom-by-ayo-sogunro/

Thanks a lot! You have reduced my level of ignorance by a tad.

Agbgift: The sickness is called 'Ude' (spleen sickness). Like your friends told you, the markings is to remove bad blood. It is not a common disease. I don't know what causes it, Its can be treated medically by doctors. You don't have to necessarily mark the tummy. Most tribes don't mark. However some people believes that marking it makes it heals faster. Those who mark are the Esan and few of the benin.

ajasa4link: Ok, please can u help me check for anything on " influence of intermediaries on the profitability of insurance companies "

I'm feeling drowsy so I could not go through them so the honour is yours..;-)
Here you go buddy!

http://www.ania.it/export/sites/default/documenti/fadb1dd6-9644-11de-a3d1-f3c446ddba06___paper_150309.pdf

http://lii.com.pk/uploads/4/5/5/7/4557001/inurance_companies_profitability.pdf

http://etd.aau.edu.et/dspace/bitstream/123456789/4326/1/Factors%20Affecting%20Profitability%20of%20Insurance%20Companies%20in%20Ethiopia.pdf

http://iiabca.org/pdf/Wharton%20paper%200505.pdf

http://www.researchgate.net/publication/226892759_Profitability_and_Efficiency_in_the_U.S._Life_Insurance_Industry/file/504635180450dc48d7.pdf

http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.201.5002&rep=rep1&type=pdf

https://www.genevaassociation.org/media/238919/GA2002_GP27(3)_Diacon,StarkeyO%27Brien.pdf

https://dspace.lib.cranfield.ac.uk/bitstream/1826/3947/1/Impact_of_deregulation_on_the_German_and_UK_life_insurance_markets-RP4-07.pdf

http://www.uni-ulm.de/fileadmin/website_uni_ulm/mawi.inst.140/Articles/Eling/Eling_Luhnen_JBF_2009.pdf

http://www.davidpublishing.com/davidpublishing/Upfile/12/8/2011/2011120881810529.pdf

http://www.researchgate.net/publication/225904162_Analyzing_Firm_Performance_in_the_Insurance_Industry_Using_Frontier_Efficiency_and_Productivity_Methods/file/d912f50b4f37b6ae71.pdf

I've read some really interesting posts here.
However folks, I've got an observation.
I looked up the meaning of consciousness online (via merriam-webster dictionary) and here is what I found.

Full Definition of CONSCIOUSNESS
1
a : the quality or state of being aware especially of something within oneself
b : the state or fact of being conscious of an external object, state, or fact
c : awareness; especially : concern for some social or political cause
2
: the state of being characterized by sensation, emotion, volition, and thought : mind
3
: the totality of conscious states of an individual
4
: the normal state of conscious life <regained consciousness>
5
: the upper level of mental life of which the person is aware as contrasted with unconscious processes

Is it me, or are you guys misinterpreting what consciousness means? I'm only asking innocently though.

I fully comprehend the angle of the discussion so my take on it is this:
I feel the entire universe is made up of an interaction of protons, electrons, bosons, positrons and the likes just as Lovetinz has earlier intimated. Everything that exists interacts with each other and in this vein, we can say that stones, flowers, sand, you, your red blood cell, a cadaver, Mount Everest are all embodiments of interacting vibrating particles hence they are 'active'. This is what I think the OP meant and if it is, then the Universe is as well (After all, it is still expanding as of yet)! Going by the definition of consciousness above, only sentient beings can be conscious!

Whatever looks good on you buddy! Even if na Mohican!

Increase your offer. Prayer will not do! lol

ajasa4link: Tnx bro,I really appreciate ur kind gestures,will check it out now

Alrighty..No sweat buddy!

I think the Ijebus are renowned for their 'Jazz', at least to some folks in Edo state. One man shuddered visibly when he was threatened by my Etsako friend that I was Ijebu (the man messed up and we were trying to bring him to account for himself but he was avoiding us). He started cooperating from the moment he heard I was Ijebu (mind you, I be gidi boy) and I couldn't help but laugh my bony arse out when we were done with him! On another occasion, a few days later, I was in the company of a babe from Igueben (or so, in Edo State) and whilst chatting about some random ish (on churches and miracles I think), I blurted that I was going to 'carry her waka' to some places in Ijebu she just screamed, "Jesus! [then my name], Na to dey run from you remain o!". After a paroxysm of laughter, I managed to ask her why and she was like, "Ijebu people, una juju get level die, I get una as friends well well". I'm still surprised that I learnt this in Edo State and not in Yoruba land despite having the major part of my upbringing in Yoruba land. I indeed stand to be corrected though.

I recently came across some markings on the belly of a mature lady from Edo state and upon questioning her and a few of my Edo friends, I learnt that it was to drain of ‘bad blood’ caused by a killer disease that affects infants. She was apparently given the marks as a kid. I have forgotten the name they gave the illness but I had a couple of questions that my friends failed to answer. Why is this disease predominant in that part of the country? What is the technical nomenclature for the disease? What other cures are out there for such an infant killer of a disease? I need some serious orientation here folks (and I guess my Edo friends too need some). Please enlighten a bro!

Losing a loved one can easily make one an eschatologist, even if its for a couple of days. In this state, you question a lot of things you already know about the subject of death and so in that state, I once deliberated on one question: Is there an optimal age for the afterlife (if there is such thing as an afterlife)? If there isn’t, then that ‘last’ day/paradise/or what-you-may-call-it is going to be a very confusing place. Say I lost my baby sister while I was a kid and she went to heaven, while my father died at the age of forty, and then I die at a ripe old age. Mos def, my father will not recognize me as the son he left behind, my baby sister will not too (or will they?). So, if the general consolation now is that I will be re-united with my loved ones on the ‘day of resurrection’ (what if they went to hell?), then some serious confusion awaits many of those who believe (For now, I don’t). Or is there something I’m missing here, like an optimum age for the afterlife?

ajasa4link: Ok,Tnx bro...I really appreciate

Sup bro..
I have pasted the links to 3 articles that I think address your issues. I would have attached them but NL wouldn't allow me attach any file that has a size higher than 200kb.
Pardon the impertinence, if any. I'm an Engineering graduate, not Insurance! Do feel free to let me know if they are not relevant.

http://www.aria.org/rts/proceedings/2010/Compensation_Regan.pdf
http://www.wu.ac.at/ipm/other/egrie2011/programme/papers/vii.b2.ju.pdf
http://www.aria.org/meetings/2007papers/IIA%20-%202%20-%20Prakash.pdf

You're welcome ;-)

Romanticboy1: yup!
Bt she is clean in her appearance right?

Sure! And her hips are to die for!! Quintessential figure 8/apple bottom (if you know what i mean)

On one hand,
"she don see mugu, she don see mugu" *in Dbanj's voice*
On the other hand,
"i don't care if she chop my money" *in P-Square's voice*
What exactly are you scared of if 1,500 is meagre to you? Dude, follow your heart o! Na you know wetin una talk reach there!

Na crase world we dey..*in Fela's voice*
Tis a sad situation. Until proper action (whatever that is) is taken instead of cheap talk, defenceless people will still continue to die. Pathetic!

I'd kill to be in your shoes bro! Your girl's got a girlfriend? What happened to menage a trois (my ultimate fantasy)? Dude, you're one lucky fella!
To answer your question, I think she's just bi otherwise she wouldn't have been your girl in the first place so if I were you, I'd consider it as a sign that god has answered my prayers...

Commercials have outlived thier usefulness. Never came across any that works. Eazyblaze? Joke!

iamlegend: Just pathetic! Nigerians sef. So Dana air should close because a mistake occurred? The funny thing is that the people with this mentality are those who have never flown on an aeroplane before. Na Dana plane start am? Unfortunately, so many planes have crash over the years and unfortunately, more planes will still definitely crash (not praying so). Mistakes are inevitable. Even plane crashes occur in the so called "First world countries" where they follow more advanced procedures. So why he be like say we wan use our own mouth prosecute Dana air for a mistake which they definitely will try to avoid in the future...quite hypocritical on our part if u ask me. Nigerians abeg make una grow up. We are one year older today. Ageing should bring experience not stagnation.

I feel you bro, but looking at what caused the crash last year, common man, cut folks some slack. In developed countries, you can't operate such granny aircrafts as an operator so these airlines need to be tongue-lashed. #justsaying

Romanticboy1: Sum dn't nd sum do!
D 1nes dt r aware wn't tink it wud b dt offensive!
It wud av bin better u told her! Dou she might recieve it as being rude ,
buh atleast u knw u av done ur part nd best nd its left 4 her 2 go abt it

Yea, like I said, I regret it. The next time I come across any of 'em, imma make sure I spill it irrespective of the outcome.

Chibuebem: Human beings are the reason for naijas problems. Human beings have the same nature and character everywhere. Sin you see, is the problem. some People in nigeria think they can decieve God, or think he's their goodluck charm.
On the other hand, blaming religion for nigerias problems is terrible. There are non-religious countries today, like north korea. They have problems too.

Point of correction, they are not non-religious over there. They just don't really subscribe to western religion.

Sin is the problem. Corruption in the high places and in the low. Greed. Truly Knowing God will take sin away.
Simple.
Jesus was against religious bigotry and ritualistic worship. He advocated knowledge of the true God. He was against the corruption of the roman officials, the religious hypocrisy of the pharisees, etc, etc. Jesus did not come to start a religion. He came to save people from sin. He is the answer to naijas problems. He came to reveal God. Once you take Jesus out. It all falls apart. Don't ask stupid questions. We've been through this before.
Jesus is the answer for the world today. Not religion, not atheism. Not deism. Jesus. Knowing God is deeper than a form of worship. Jesus is the way. There are witnesses through the ages of man's history.

The Jesus you describe is a character in the bible, the revered book of christians. You mean christianity is not a religion? Don't tell me it's a way of life! Culture is!

1. Two mad men fighting. This happened in Taraba.
2. One mentally retarded guy wanking in our lecture theater back in school then. We were studying overnight in ELT and then...
Other things that i've read about the state of the nation are no longer strange to me but these 2 will do for now.

Is there any legit organization that would request only bitcoins as a form of payment? Are you going down the silk road?
*minutes later*
Pardon my earlier display of ignorance, but the first time i came across the term bitcoin was when i was doing some reading about the online black market (silk road). I've since associated it with the site but now i know better. I don't know of any place you can get it tho'. Try asking the question on a yankee forum.

ajasa4link: no,but was thinking of getting it today or tomorrow so I can prepare my writeup between now and weekend sha

Let's see what today would bring. I'll get back to you later tonight.