₦airaland Forum

*Grabs Mic*

Have you ever wondered what its like for the Sun to stand Still! , for your world to pause for a moment, and in that moment, you receive a rush of inspiration, a rush of insight and have your perspective towards some thing change forever. I think the above experience best describe how I felt on stumbling on Caracta and her diary. She didn't just paint pictures with words, but reminded me that amidst the decadence in our society, the good ones do exist.

Oh Caracter...my nun... my Ms sunshine you've caught my facy not with Manchester or Assernal, but with your great personality and your unique mind.

Here I am several months later, breaking all the rules of this challenge, damning all the consequences and defying this bout of malaria I am currently facing all in a bid to let you know that somewhere several kilometres from you is a guy who belives in you, your dreams, the potential you carry within, and the grace the almight has blessed you with. Oga moderator abi Madam moderator abeg pardon me for intruding into your challenge. Good thing we both know that when it comes to matters of the heart the mind is mummified.


As I was saying, Caracta ... my Ms sunshine, you are definitely a character. Cool calm and collected. Blessed with a beautiful mind, It is no mistake you have numerous admirers *Abeg Who no like better thing*. It is of no wonder you decided to be an E-nun, my E-Nun.


*Draws Caracta closer. Locks her in warm embrace while mildly caressing her succulent lips, I stare deep into her eyes*...Caracta my dear, I'll catch a grenade for you, I'll step in front of a bullet for you" ....Ermmmmmm *Scratch that Dear* I think we both know you're smart and deserve the truth. I instead will be there with you all the way, to help you build your dreams. I Will be your last man standing when the whole world is all up in arms against you. Together we will shoulder the storm. It will be YOU & ME against the world. Our journey will be rough but don't worry I'll go the extra mile for you , not just because you deserve it but because with you the extra mile is nothing but fun.

I gbadun you Ms Caracta, I dey feel your Class, it's high time we tango, and take this thing to the next level.


Caracta... My Nun, My Sunshine
Please Stay beautiful

#Matthew Briggs #SaysSo.

Caracta: Hunger? Do rap*is*ts molest girls because they are hungry too? Hunger for sex, huh?

If you read my article indepthly you'll discover I am not implying that hunger is the cause of everything, but so many ills in our society is indirectly caused by hunger.

There are so many types of hunger but my focus was on Hunger for Food, fear of hunger and hunger for change.

Ps. I never Wrote that "Nigeria's only problem is hunger" instead "Nigeria's Biggest problem is Hunger" They are 2 different premises.

Not too long ago we witnessed firsthand the effect of Hunger and how much it can influence behavior. Nigerians in Diaspora and Nigerians in Nigeria engaged in an epic war of words. Nairaland internet servers stood still and the air was filled with an acrid smell of e-reputations been wounded in battle. It was an e-bloody sight to behold. Armed with memories of all this online bruahaha , My mind drooled into meditation mode, in that mode I pondered on what exactly is Nigerians ROOT problem. That has caused the ranting, whining and complaining that filled the air.

Is it Corruption, Bad governance,Absence of Security, Lack of infrastructure, Nepotism, tribalism, Poor educational systems and so on and so forth the list kept going on in mind. Immediately I felt hunger pangs down my tummy reminding me I have not eaten since the day before yesterday due to work related issues. My countenance changed. And all my energy, concentration and focus was directed toward getting fed, I was not just a HUNGRY man but an ANGRY man.

After getting fed, I was smiling to myself and it hit me like lighting that the desire to fill our most basic and important need "food", is a desire that cannot be unmatched, and failure to resolve it over a prolonged period can have deep psychological consequences.

With around 60% of Nigerians not sure of 3 quality square meals a day and the remaining 40% fighting tooth and nail for themselves and generation to come, to never go through the experience of hunger again. I have come to realize that Nigeria's root problem is none other than HUNGER. In fact the big 3 problems Corruption, Poverty & Bad Governance can all be traced to her. Reason been that Hunger when not resolved over a long period of time ushers in frustration. Frustration on it's own can re-engineer the mind of the sufferer making him/her one hell of a scheming beast.

When one is hungry or have the fear of hunger at the back of he's/her mind, one's sense of judgment is twisted. With a twisted sense of judgment, you pick up traits such as Corruption, Selfishness, greediness and other vices seeing them as normal all in a bid to resolve hunger. The problem is that even when you resolve hunger physically this trait get imprinted in one's DNA.

I have discovered that one of the core motivations that drives us a Nigerian is not the desire to change the world, make her a better place , or to influence positively the life our fellow man but the desire to overcome hunger. To never to feel hungry for food, power, respect, love, security and good health. To never feel lack.

Have you ever asked yourself why that policeman with 12kids that earns 19k a month seems to be addicted to your N20. Or that young unemployed graduate with a promising future decides to pick up arms and enter the underworld. Or that pretty young damsel from the village in a bid to help her poor family travels to Europe to ply the prostitution trade. Or the young boy decides to pull a mission impossible stunt by hiding in the wheels of an airplane thinking it was bound for the US. Or that young video vixen amidst several contestants with no shame decides to bare it all on satellite tv.

Have you wondered why that LGA chairman who rose from grace to grace will do whatever it take to divert fund meant for roads and infrastructure, saving it in a Swiss bank account for his unborn great grandchildren.
Hunger my friend is the culprit.

Hunger is like HIV virus. and just like the virus that morphs into Aids. Physical Hunger morphs and becomes a physiological One which in turn give room for a perfect breeding ground for vices such as corruption, bad governance, greediness, covetousness and selfishness and the likes. And Like AIDS, physiological hunger can be transferred from parent to child, from generation to generation and so the cycle continues.

In summary I have discovered a new strain of Hunger among Nigerians. This strain of hunger is quite stronger and difficult to control, it's boiling and spreading like wild fire. It's a type of hunger whose time has come.

This new strain is call THE HUNGER FOR CHANGE. It can be seen on twitter, on facebook on the threads of nairaland. This new strain of hunger is the one I was referring to when i began this piece.

This generation is one that is not just Hungry but Ripe for change.

My question is will you contribute your quota to fixing this hunger for change or or join the crying, bashing, whining, ranting and pity party that seem to rock the internet with tongues of fire.

Nigeria is in a mess, she is hungry for change. You are opportune to be born into at a very strategic period. Strategic in the sense that their is no better time to put down your name in the sands of time than now. Let's do the talk and pay the price. Lets do the hard work of fixing this nation. No matter how little or insignificant you think your effort is or the seemingly non cooperation of your fellow citizens.

I pray you don't seek the easy way out but chose to do the hard work of fixing this nation one step at a time

#Matthew Briggs

Caracta: Huh? Refine your wooing skills, huh? Ok o...nice try

Lol. I already know you're taken and you're head over heels I Wouldn't want to try disrupt what you have going with your boo. So the only option left is for me is to a least refine my wooing skills by wooing you in preparation for the main wooing. **whisper into Caracta's ears,joke aside we both know My real intention is to put a smile on your lovely face, make you giggle and add spice to your day*

Eze Promoe: [color=crimson]Why are there noone to challenge ikekings for lupey. Do you know that LUPEY is the reigning Miss nairaland? Or are you all scared to woo her?[/color]

I think most of use haven't gotten to know her due to the disappearing act she's fond of pulling.

Plus this whole wooing thing is very emotionally draining for people like me that digg deeper to woo, I would rather spend the little emotional resources I have on some one I at least fancy. For Caracta I would have tried to make the cut or at least to help refine my woo skills.

I hate when I am doubted, distrusted, disregarded or disrespected, Especially when it's for no reason.

Caracta: *covers face*

Hahahahaha! What went wrong? For you, i won't talk to all the Mikes around me till the end of this week. Come on MATTHEW, forgive my error.

Matthew read your post , he has forgiven your error. Have a blissful day Caracta.

Caracta: Awwww Mike. You are such a cute darling. I look forward to a date with you too

my name ain't mike. L L. Can't stop laughing at this typo. Our date never start my name done change from Matthew briggs to Mike .

CARACTA yea will definitely go on a date with her no strings attached, Reason is because she has a beautiful mind. Emphasis on no strings attached given that she already has her strings attached to a significant other.

Nice points raised. On a personal note I think point 5 should changed to "Command respect not Command her... I personally would'nt want a master/servant type of marriage instead more of a partnership where I am the CEO and she is the COO, I prefer been a boss than a bully, a leader instead of a dictator.

@Oguagu, you are quite right. I disagree I think it is not advisable to enter marriage with the mindset of leaving it. It's for better for worse the last time I checked. I was once a proponent for pre nups but lately I have my reservations mainly because it weakens the band of TRUST and Trust to me is the most crucial band that holds a marriage.

In fact our life as human revolves around trust. We trust pilots with our lives, doctors with our health, the bank with our money. Trusting the love of your life with your worth shouldn't be a big deal unless one's life is defined by how much he/she owns instead of the Impact he/she has made on earth. It's all vanity upon vanity remember. As usual I believe you have your reasons which is understandable.



#Matthew Briggs

Saw this on Forbes, couldn't help but share it. Bolded the key areas to aid easy scanning.

In an outrageous display of chutzpah, a group of flu researchers led by Ron Fouchier of Erasmus Medical Center in the Netherlands announced today, in a letter to the journal Nature, that they were planning to engineer the new H7N9 avian flu strain to give it new, possibly much more deadly capabilities. Fouchier is the same scientist who, two years ago, adapted the highly pathogenic H5N1 flu strain so that it could be passed from human to human, which it cannot do in its natural form. The resulting outcry delayed publication of his paper, but it eventually did appear.

Now they want to do the same thing, and much more, with the new H7N9 influenza virus, which has killed 43 people in China to date, and which epidemiologists are tracking with great concern.

They should track Fouchier and his lab instead.

Wait a second, protests Fouchier. He promises that

“All experiments proposed by influenza investigators are subject to review by institutional biosafety committees. The committees include experts in the fields of infectious disease, immunology, biosafety, molecular biology and public health; also, members of the public represent views from outside the research community.”

Sorry, but I’m not reassured. Fouchier’s group wants to do this research because it’s all they know how to do – and, I suspect, because they enjoy the publicity. Despite their claims that the research is vital to our understanding of the flu, none of their past work, including their work on H5N1, has changed our ability to respond to a pandemic. As flu expert Michael Osterholm said in a report by the Associated Press:

“H5N1 surveillance is as haphazard today as it was two years ago. Should we do the work if it’s not actually going to make a difference?”

Precisely. Fouchier and his colleagues can’t do surveillance, nor do they work on vaccine development. They have laboratories where they can engineer the flu virus to make new strains, so that’s what they want to do. Two years after their controversial H5N1 experiments, they haven’t contributed to any improvement in our ability to control a pandemic, nor have they shown how to develop a better flu vaccine. The benefits of creating a deadly new H7N9 virus are marginal, at best.

What about the risk? As reported in the Daily Mail, Fouchier and his colleague Yoshihiro Kawaoka themselves said

“H7N9′s pandemic risk would rise ‘exponentially’ if it gained the ability to spread more easily among people.”

Really? And from this they conclude that it’s a good idea to engineer a virus that can do exactly that – spread more easily among people? Are we supposed to take this risk because of some theoretical benefit from a vague “better understanding” of how mutations in the virus change its pathogenicity?

Although Fouchier is in Amsterdam, the NIH funds part of his work through the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). Dr. Anthony Fauci, the head of NIAID, offered the reassurance that a special panel will review this H7N9 project, and

“If the risk is felt to be too high by this outside review, they will recommend it won’t be done and we won’t fund it.”

Despite this additional oversight, I remain skeptical. These special panels tend to include other scientists who are very sympathetic with the work they’re reviewing, as was demonstrated two years ago when the H5N1 work was published despite the grave concerns expressed by many outside the field. I predict they will approve Fouchier and Kawaoka’s experiments.

Here’s a thought: put me on the panel: I’ve published multiple research papers on the influenza virus (including this paper in Nature and this paper on H5N1 avian flu), so I think it’s fair to say I’m qualified. But somehow I doubt they will do that.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/stevensalzberg/2013/08/08/scientists-will-create-a-deadly-new-flu-strain-just-to-prove-they-can/

I am afraid of two things Only.

1) Amnesia- Forgetting everything I have ever learnt, the knowledge & skills I spent years to acquire and the memories of moments and people that have help define my existence and purpose in life.

2) Not changing the world: Getting old and not actualizing my dreams of 1) Building one the most innovative tech companies in the world from Africa that will go on to create technologies/Products that affects positively the lives of billion of people on the planet. 2) A formidable University that will churn out high end graduates who in turn will enrich africa's labour market and prepare her for the tech dependant future that awaits us, This university will compete with the likes of Harvard and MIT when it comes to quality. Lastly a film production and visual effects company that create impactful feature films that will go down in history and put africa on the global map when it comes to film, she will be in the same league as 20th Century fox, Warner bros, ILM and Digital Domain.

The good thing about these fears is that they make me celebrate my little victories, make me value my time the more, helping me prioritize relationships and keep me on my toes 24/7.

My previous fear of death and missing heaven, died when I got saved, For me, It is not how long but how well.

#Matthew briggs

Predominantly Mesomorph with a little of Ectomorph characteristics.

Offer closed. Got a pretty good deal. thanks

...

Very well said @okx. Thanks guys for your very valid points and observation s

Nice initiative. I like the ingenuity and wisdom displayed by the op in the form of making do with what is available to create a novel solution.

Life is more deeper than getting laid and shouldn't revolves around a woman's skirt, I might be sounding too preachy but i can't help it. I don't have to memorize all this strategies just to get laid, haba I be computer. @ op If you can convert your sex drive to build a career and a life forget it, the sky is just your starting place. On a sound note Me think It pays to live your life, don't stress yourself so much about women, focus on been the best you can be and you will attract the right kind of woman, and when it is time and things fall in place you'll get laid. So far that's what I've been doing and it's working. No time to spend scheming how to get laid, they will even be the one asking you for it.

harlos: don't know how to write story

but shes' always been there for me.

I remember sometime when almost become a thug, she sat me down talk to me like i'm a gentleman, i couldn't take it cos i was determined to be what i want to be,
so i shouted back at her,talked back to her like a mad dog. The next thing..she gave me a very decent hot slap, the hardest i've ever received
and you know african woman "if you no beat me back today, no be me born you, don't ever call me your mother again..." i didn't hear the remaining cos the slap is still sounding well inside my ears.
Then all this questions started coming... Am i going to beat her back? What if i do what will happen? Will i still call her my mum after beating her?...
As the question were running in my head so i start to get myself, then i became calm.
Could not say anything again and still didn't cry.

From that day i have learnt to control my anger, i became a very gentle and cool guy, always smiling even when offended.

First lady,thats what i use to store her name.

I have one of this sort of experience with my mum. But no slap was involved, she instead asked me leave her house and never come back. NB: I had my house sha but I couldn't leave for my place that night due to her statement I had to calm down and work out my issues with her. I am by default very stubborn, heady and strong willed but she's calmed me down making me understand the power of diplomacy, that I don't have to have my way all the time. Lol.

harlos: If my mum was a white, she won't have done half of what she is doing for me as a black woman.

Thats why she is my FIRST LADY

Very Good to know you love your mum the way you do. But would love to add that If your mum was white she will equally do same.

Enegod: smh³

Mrs.Chima:
Smh.

As expected Opposing views are allowed.

Caracta: Awww thanks! As for the question, i think the 'recipients' will have to answer that. What if i say one thing and they say another? Lol...

Okay.

ndiyeauwa: What 20 year olds don't get is this; they shouldn't plan for a lifetime of working their butt*s off in someone else's "company". Trust me, most of the time, you give your all and get absolutely nothing at the end of say 35 years (if you aren't sacked before then). Becoming an entrepreneur is the BEST card you've got.

I can't agree less. So on point.

I Remember back in 2010 when I took active steps to build my Vfx and 3D skills . This exercise opened my eyes, as to how technology has greatly evolved. I got to see film production from a whole new and greater light.

We are trying to master the art of making digital movies with DSLR and Red cameras while our colleagues in the international market are out there producing movies shot stereoscopically with 3d fusion cameras, custom made to replicate the way our eyes look at objects .

We are still trying to advance our 3D graphic and animation industry, while producing 3d movies, with high degree of photorealism and human like movements in now a norm out there. When it comes to visual effects, we are nowhere close to replicating the basic fx shots in Smallville. Here Shooting on Film is a big deal.

Looking at all this i feel like there is no time to waste. Research and study should be the other of our day. This discovery's makes me see how far behind we are.

We all know that our CGI industry faces diverse challenges like piracy, Poor distribution network, lack of good infrastructure and absence of sufficient technical expertise. Moreover my focus in this blog update is not to address this numerous issues, but to take a more narrow look as to how Digital media artist in the business are indirectly contributing in retarding the growth of our industry through what I call...

[size=18pt]::THE ALL MAN FOR HIMSELF SYNDROME[/size]

NB: "All man for himself" is an expression used to communicate the idea of a state whereby individuals in a society are solely concerned about their well being even if it is in the detriment of others, a system or the society at large"


When i look at the attitude of most Digital Media Artist in the industry including my former self, I discover that we eschew creative collaboration. We care less about revolutionizing Nollywood, what we do care about is revolutionizing Nollywood all alone. We want to receive all the credit for been the first to single handedly do a 3d movie or shoot the first film that won an Oscar. We care less about the structure that Nollywood runs on. A structure that is presently run on greed, sabotage, nepotism and technical deficiency. We are blinded by the 'me, I " mentality.

We have not come to realizes the power of collaboration gleaned from the fact that the big budget movies we look up to emulating ,were not a one man show, made up of a bunch of 2,3, 4 fame hungry artist, but is instead a collaboration of hundreds and even thousand of artist spread across different vfx facilities, all working on a particular project. So what you see at the end of the day is a powerful mash-up of creative ingenuity.

This "syndrome" is evident in the way we research, download tutorials and then go on to hoard this tutorial. It is not foreign for Digital artist to snub their fellow artist when it comes to rendering production tips and advice. Mainly because we want to prevent them from becoming better than us, So as to protect our relevance.

This "syndrome" has giving rise to the absence of a knowledge sharing culture. Over the length of my career I've been privileged to met quite a number of digital media professionals as Digital media artist my self. It is quite interesting to note that I gauge and place value on the skill level of a digital media artist, not only on how complex creative and beautiful his/her vfx shots are, but as to how much technical and creative information/tips they are willing to let go, because I believe you can't give what you don't have, and the more of something you have, the more likely you are to give more out.

Changing the state of this industry is no easy task, But i believe
if we come together more often, and are willing to share ideas, collaborate more on projects without sabotaging each other, we will go a long way in pushing the quality of content produced in our industry. I think it would be beneficial, if we encourage specialization, and promote a system that encourages the deployment of production pipelines. Pipelines where everyone contribute his/her bit to making the whole picture, as opposed to a situation where a person tries to make the whole picture alone, which sadly is presently the norm.

To kill this syndrome Solid vfx community and unions need to be formed made up of professional vfx cinematographers, 2d and 3d animators, match movers,technical directors,compositors, colorist and a whole lot of artist in the vfx and post production pipeline, so as to deliberate on issues ranging from establishing standard costing for various vfx tasks, deciding retirement benefits for artist, validation of professionals, and to help promote a culture of collaboration and knowledge sharing. This community if established would hasten the development of not just Nollywood but the quality of content she churns out. Moreover I give kudos to likes of Animation West Africa, Comicpanel for championing initiatives that could help create the needed structure in the industry.

Finally it's quite glaring that "One key thing we lack in our industry is a structure that supports innovation and talent discovery. An ecosystem that helps ideas meet execution ".

Building this structure to me is more important than infrastructure and unlike infrastructure, structure is more dependant on we the people coming together to build it and less about the role of the government.

The sad thing is that few people are willing to come together for once to build this structure which is still as a result of " the all man for himself mentality" They shy out when it comes to taking real responsibility.

I know we have little film budgets and the poorest of infrastructure, but i think we stand a better chance by working together than living in our various islands.

Moreover in conclusion if we all stakeholders in the CG industry at large can eschew this mentality, Nollywood in the not too distant future will compete in international markets in terms of quality of content produced.

Best Regards
#Mathew briggs

Healing shall be your children bread. So I am told by God. He also said that "we shall not cast our young". Based on his words I decree and declare Healing, recovery, strength and divine growth of every tissue, organ and system needed for your baby to function. He will not only live but he shall fulfill God's purpose for his life. In Jesus Name.

#Matthew Briggs

Caracta: I love and respect my mum and sister. When everything crashed, they held my hands all through the storm.

I love my mum. She is a very strong pillar to my family. She is our world. She is my dad's greatest confidant. She is black, strong and beautiful. She is the best!

And as for me, i'm proud to be a black woman. I am not just beautiful, i'm also strong! Above all, i'm a Nigerian. A proud African Woman!

Lol. if not for anything I can attest to the fact you have a beautiful mind, this conclusion I came to after going through your diary. But the question for ladies is "If you are a Lady state not less than 3 ways you have added value to the life of a man you've come in contact with, instead of taking it," NB: he doesn't have to be your bf just any man, a male friend, father, brother, colleague etc.

Let me start by keeping the ball rolling

1. My mum, my strongest pillar so far. An asset and a resource. She helped me discover my self and indirectly pushed me towards the career path i have chosen. During my years of transition into adulthood, Whenever i am cash trapped i call home she never disappoints, even tho it means her lending. I had to make conscious decision to stop calling her for assistance. If i am to spill out everything she's done, nairaland's server might crash. This black woman is indeed one of my greatest resources

2. My sister a very close, partner in crime. Very resourceful when you need her. I remember when I was about registering my company she came in very handy. Balancing work and school has not been easy, but with her no stress. She bring me home my assignments, Help me with school paper-work, standing in long queues to submit one form or the order. She is as Solid as they come. Always lending a ear to listen to my crazy ideas and putting me on my toes to carry them out.

3. I have come in contact with Lots of Female friends. One of them recommend me for a six figure monthly salary job, which I got, but sadly turned down due to some personal reason. One of them not only believe in one of my ideas but was willing to invest her time and resource into bring it to life. I have received lots of love and encouragements during my down moments from them most of the time without them even knowing. They blow my trumpet louder than me atimes.

This experience and many more are what have built and changed my perception about women.

The Black woman. The Black man's greatest resources.

I was watching a movie recently, called Belly made in 1998 starring DMX, it's all about drugs, abuse, crime and all that. One scene and most importantly a line that struck me was when he(DMX) was about gunning down a priest. The priest in a bid to convince him to abort his mission told him this among several things.

"have you ever thought about how precious a life is, how difficult it is to create and how easily and loosely it's been for you to take away. Brother help me, help me to do what's right, help me to put a stop to the slaughter of our children. Help me to put a stop to the disrespect and dishonor of our most valuable resources THE BLACK WOMAN. "

I had to rewind it, What did i hear him say BLACK WOMAN!!!. Wow, this line hit me really hard. I have always had respect for women. But never have I seen them as the greatest resource of the black man. I had to open my dictionary in a bid to clear my doubt.

Resource -n
a source of supply, support, or aid, esp one that can be readily drawn upon when needed.

From the definition above. I never had to go too far to arrive at the answer, Given that one of my pillars of support in life. A pillar that's helped me reach the level I am presently is a black woman, she is not only my loving mother, but a virtuous wife that's has helpt built the fortunes of my father. Also overtime in my life, I've been opportuned to have female friends who have always been a source of support and aid when I needed them, They've helped nurtured some of my most daring ideas.

Like it or not the black woman is really our greatest resource, Given the amount of challenges the average black man get to face in life, not just because of been black but also the disadvantage and backwardness of our race when it comes to technology, innovation,finance and governance.

Our women are the only women in any race who can relate to our predicament and feel our pain and such are well pivoted to be a source of support and aid. Me think they are designed with the black man in mind.

Irrespective of how tough and strong we are as men, We can be undone by a woman, either for good or for bad. The wife of president of the US and that of Nigeria are good examples.


My question is does the average black man see the black woman as a resource and assets or as an ornament, property and tool to gratify our sexual urges. Your guess is as good as mine.

Majority of us see them a punching bags, gold diggers, superficial Barbies and materialistic bitches. The irony is that we men are the one encouraging this narrative indirectly given the perspective we look at them from.
The funny thing is we end up crying the loudest even at times comparing them to women from other races forgetting that there men don't see them the way we do.

The saddest of all is that the average black woman, seldomly sees herself as an assets or resource but more as a liability and tool for sexual gratification. This is evident in her outlook towards marriage, courtship and dating plus the way Majority of them package and present themselves.

**Laughing in drakes voice** I think they are basically are living up to our perception and expectation of them.

So what we have presently is a cycle of hatred and rancor between both genders, that at it's core is caused by perception and under utilization of the value of the black woman. This rancor is not only evident online in form of infamous e-fights but also in real life.

It's time we change our perception of the black woman. If you are man reading this I would like you to state ways your life has been influenced positively by a woman be it your mother, sister, wife or girlfriend.

If you are a Lady state ways you have added value to the life of a man that you've come in contact with instead of taking it. NB: he doesn't have to be your bf just any man, a male friend, father, brother, colleague etc.

In summary a Resource can never become a resource until it is drawn from. So it is up to you as a man to decide to draw from their well, love their virtue and not exploit it. And it is up to you as a woman to build your well, know what you are and present your self as such. You are the black man's greatest Resource that's what you really are.

#Matthew briggs.

Yea I am one of those people that hates lists, But atimes I've learnt they help convey large information in segments. Moreover I stumbled on this one on forbes which I think is worth sharing.

Tip: its Quite lengthy, I highlighted the headings to enable you scan through it and get the key points.

Enjoy.

[size=15pt]20 Things 20-Year-Olds Don’t Get.[/size]

Time is Not a Limitless Commodity – I so rarely find young professionals that have a heightened sense of urgency to get to the next level. In our 20s we think we have all the time in the world to A) figure it out and B) get what we want. Time is the only treasure we start off with in abundance, and can never get back. Make the most of the opportunities you have today, because there will be a time when you have no more of it.

You’re Talented, But Talent is Overrated - Congratulations, you may be the most capable, creative, knowledgeable & multi-tasking generation yet. As my father says, “I’ll Give You a Sh-t Medal.” Unrefined raw materials (no matter how valuable) are simply wasted potential. There’s no prize for talent, just results. Even the most seemingly gifted folks methodically and painfully worked their way to success. (Tip: read “Talent is Overrated”)

We’re More Productive in the Morning – During my first 2 years at Docstoc (while I was still in my 20’s) I prided myself on staying at the office until 3am on a regular basis. I thought I got so much work done in those hours long after everyone else was gone. But in retrospect I got more menial, task-based items done, not the more complicated strategic planning, phone calls or meetings that needed to happen during business hours. Now I stress an office-wide early start time because I know, for the most part, we’re more productive as a team in those early hours of the day.

Social Media is Not a Career – These job titles won’t exist in 5 years. Social media is simply a function of marketing; it helps support branding, ROI or both. Social media is a means to get more awareness, more users or more revenue. It’s not an end in itself. I’d strongly caution against pegging your career trajectory solely to a social media job title.

Pick Up the Phone – Stop hiding behind your computer. Business gets done on the phone and in person. It should be your first instinct, not last, to talk to a real person and source business opportunities. And when the Internet goes down… stop looking so befuddled and don’t ask to go home. Don’t be a pansy, pick up the phone.

Be the First In & Last to Leave ­– I give this advice to everyone starting a new job or still in the formative stages of their professional career. You have more ground to make up than everyone else around you, and you do have something to prove. There’s only one sure-fire way to get ahead, and that’s to work harder than all of your peers.

Don’t Wait to Be Told What to Do – You can’t have a sense of entitlement without a sense of responsibility. You’ll never get ahead by waiting for someone to tell you what to do. Saying “nobody asked me to do this” is a guaranteed recipe for failure. Err on the side of doing too much, not too little. (Watch: Millennials in the Workplace Training Video)

Take Responsibility for Your Mistakes – You should be making lots of mistakes when you’re early on in your career. But you shouldn’t be defensive about errors in judgment or execution. Stop trying to justify your F-ups. You’re only going to grow by embracing the lessons learned from your mistakes, and committing to learn from those experiences.

You Should Be Getting Your Butt Kicked – Meryl Streep in “The Devil Wears Prada” would be the most valuable boss you could possibly have. This is the most impressionable, malleable and formative stage of your professional career. Working for someone that demands excellence and pushes your limits every day will build the most solid foundation for your ongoing professional success.

A New Job a Year Isn’t a Good Thing ­­– 1-year stints don’t tell me that you’re so talented that you keep outgrowing your company. It tells me that you don’t have the discipline to see your own learning curve through to completion. It takes about 2-3 years to master any new critical skill, give yourself at least that much time before you jump ship. Otherwise your resume reads as a series of red flags on why not to be hired.

People Matter More Than Perks – It’s so trendy to pick the company that offers the most flex time, unlimited meals, company massages, game rooms and team outings. Those should all matter, but not as much as the character of your founders and managers. Great leaders will mentor you and will be a loyal source of employment long after you’ve left. Make a conscious bet on the folks you’re going to work for and your commitment to them will pay off much more than those fluffy perks.

Map Effort to Your Professional Gain – You’re going to be asked to do things you don’t like to do. Keep your eye on the prize. Connect what you’re doing today, with where you want to be tomorrow. That should be all the incentive you need. If you can’t map your future success to your current responsibilities, then it’s time to find a new opportunity.

Speak Up, Not Out – We’re raising a generation of sh-t talkers. In your workplace this is a cancer. If you have issues with management, culture or your role & responsibilities, SPEAK UP. Don’t take those complaints and trash-talk the company or co-workers on lunch breaks and anonymous chat boards. If you can effectively communicate what needs to be improved, you have the ability to shape your surroundings and professional destiny.

You HAVE to Build Your Technical Chops – Adding “Proficient in Microsoft Office” at the bottom of your resume under Skills, is not going to cut it anymore. I immediately give preference to candidates who are ninjas in: Photoshop, HTML/CSS, iOS, WordPress, Adwords, MySQL, Balsamiq, advanced Excel, Final Cut Pro – regardless of their job position. If you plan to stay gainfully employed, you better complement that humanities degree with some applicable technical chops.

Both the Size and Quality of Your Network Matter – It’s who you know more than what you know, that gets you ahead in business. Knowing a small group of folks very well, or a huge smattering of contacts superficially, just won’t cut it. Meet and stay connected to lots of folks, and invest your time developing as many of those relationships as possible. (TIP: Here is my Networking Advice)

You Need At Least 3 Professional Mentors – The most guaranteed path to success is to emulate those who’ve achieved what you seek. You should always have at least 3 people you call mentors who are where you want to be. Their free guidance and counsel will be the most priceless gift you can receive. (TIP: “The Secret to Finding and Keeping Mentors”)

Pick an Idol & Act “As If” – You may not know what to do, but your professional idol does. I often coach my employees to pick the businessperson they most admire, and act “as if.” If you were (fill in the blank) how would he or she carry themselves, make decisions, organize his/her day, accomplish goals? You’ve got to fake it until you make it, so it’s better to fake it as the most accomplished person you could imagine. (Shout out to Tony Robbins for the tip)

Read More Books, Less Tweets/Texts – Your generation consumes information in headlines and 140 characters: all breadth and no depth. Creativity, thoughtfulness and thinking skills are freed when you’re forced to read a full book cover to cover. All the keys to your future success, lay in the past experience of others. Make sure to read a book a month (fiction or non-fiction) and your career will blossom.

Spend 25% Less Than You Make – When your material needs meet or exceed your income, you’re sabotaging your ability to really make it big. Don’t shackle yourself with golden handcuffs (a fancy car or an expensive apartment). Be willing and able to take 20% less in the short term, if it could mean 200% more earning potential. You’re nothing more than penny wise and pound-foolish if you pass up an amazing new career opportunity to keep an extra little bit of income. No matter how much money you make, spend 25% less to support your life. It’s a guaranteed formula to be less stressed and to always have the flexibility to pursue your dreams.

Your Reputation is Priceless, Don’t Damage It – Over time, your reputation is the most valuable currency you have in business. It’s the invisible key that either opens or closes doors of professional opportunity. Especially in an age where everything is forever recorded and accessible, your reputation has to be guarded like the most sacred treasure. It’s the one item that, once lost, you can never get back.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonnazar/2013/07/23/20-things-20-year-olds-dont-get/

Abu Mikey: If you need my advice,I would just ask you to check my profile,den search for my thread containing my pics,maybe after that you would have a rethink and take that your FUGLY pic down!

It's sad that most people in other to feel better about themselves they try to bring others down.

Akpunku14: Here I am...Positive comments please

At op not bad, but remember there is more to a person than a pretty face.
When you understand this you wouldn't need the world to tell you you're pretty.