₦airaland Forum

Flytefalls: That pic is too cute. Such a sensible woman she looks to be. My hair is too wild. I'm deffo not her

That's not her real picture according to Adam Pacitti. He said and I quote, "I'm no artist. I think you can tell that and I'd like to point out that this picture doesn't even convey 1% of her beauty. The girl in my dream was perfect, this picture, however, is not. Therefore, I must let you know that:

She didn't have a weird little pointy nose.

She didn't have lips like a fish.

She didn't have a lumberjack's chin.

She didn't have beady little eyes.

Her hair was actually more likeKate Nash's.

Other than that, the drawing is pretty accurate"

Wema20: dreams dnt always come true

But some do come true!

Yomieluv: Cos,the woman agrees to marry the man,TY will you marry me,pls?

How about instances where the man agrees to marry the lady?

Warren Buffett, probably the world’s most successful investor, has said that anything good that happened to him could be traced back to the fact that he was born in the right country, the United States, at the right time (1930). A quarter of a century ago, when The World in 1988 light-heartedly ranked 50 countries according to where would be the best place to be born in 1988, America indeed came top. But which country will be the best for a baby born in 2013?

To answer this, the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), a sister company of The Economist, has this time turned deadly serious. It earnestly attempts to measure which country will provide the best opportunities for a healthy, safe and prosperous life in the years ahead.

Its quality-of-life index links the results of subjective life-satisfaction surveys—how happy people say they are—to objective determinants of the quality of life across countries. Being rich helps more than anything else, but it is not all that counts; things like crime, trust in public institutions and the health of family life matter too. In all, the index takes 11 statistically significant indicators into account. They are a mixed bunch: some are fixed factors, such as geography; others change only very slowly over time (demography, many social and cultural characteristics); and some factors depend on policies and the state of the world economy.

What does all this, and likely developments in the years to come, mean for where a baby might be luckiest to be born in 2013? After crunching its numbers, the EIU has Switzerland comfortably in the top spot, with Australia second.

Small economies dominate the top ten. Half of these are European, but only one, the Netherlands, is from the euro zone. The Nordic countries shine, whereas the crisis-ridden south of Europe (Greece, Portugal and Spain) lags behind despite the advantage of a favourable climate. The largest European economies (Germany, France and Britain) do not do particularly well.

America, where babies will inherit the large debts of the boomer generation, languishes back in 16th place. Despite their economic dynamism, none of the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) scores impressively. Among the 80 countries covered, Nigeria comes last: it is the worst place for a baby to enter the world in 2013


Boring is best

Quibblers will, of course, find more holes in all this than there are in a chunk of Swiss cheese. America was helped to the top spot back in 1988 by the inclusion in the ranking of a “philistine factor” (for cultural poverty) and a “yawn index” (the degree to which a country might, despite all its virtues, be irredeemably boring). Switzerland scored terribly on both counts. In the film “The Third Man”, Orson Welles’s character, the rogue Harry Lime, famously says that Italy for 30 years had war, terror and murder under the Borgias but in that time produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and the Renaissance; Switzerland had 500 years of peace and democracy—and produced the cuckoo clock.

However, there is surely a lot to be said for boring stability in today’s (and no doubt tomorrow’s) uncertain times. A description of the methodology is available here: food for debate all the way from Lucerne to Lagos.

Laza Kekic: director, country forecasting services, Economist Intelligence Unit

From The World In 2013 print edition

2gbasky22: I comment my reserve

cool

yamakuza: ladies first !

Ladies first always!

confusion247: Too bad. If what we have today in Nigeria is good news to you, permit me to say that you are not closer with the reality. May be you stay in ASOKORO or Maitama in Abuja.

A vanquished walking through a refuse dump only sees dirts while an opportunist walking through the same refuse dump sees manure and recyclable materials. candidly speaking, Nigeria is not the best of places to be born but SURELY NOT THE WORST IN THE WORLD!!! So, that's a good news to me! May be it's better we do not compare a crocodile with a lizard, I wonder how countries like Somalia, Sudan, Iraq, Kosovo, Mali and the likes would fare? So, being 80th (out of about 200) worst place to be born isn't bad afterall. Just my opinion.

Though just 80 countries are on the list. So, Nigeria is still far better than about 120 countries not listed. Good news I think!

For those born in Nigeria before 2013, it's good news. According to EIU, it might not be so much of good news for the succeeding generation....

The worst three countries to be born into, in order from the bottom up, are Nigeria, Kenya and Ukraine.

After crunching its numbers, the EIU has Switzerland comfortably in the top spot, with Australia second. The United States and Germany, two of the world’s best economies, tied for 16th place; Japan ranks way down at 25th. China, Britain and France score even worse.

Warren Buffett, probably the world’s most successful investor, has said that anything good that happened to him could be traced back to the fact that he was born in the right country, the United States, at the right time (1930). A quarter of a century ago, when The World in 1988 light-heartedly ranked 50 countries according to where would be the best place to be born in 1988, America indeed came top. But which country will be the best for a baby born in 2013?

To answer this, the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), a sister company of The Economist, has this time turned deadly serious. It earnestly attempts to measure which country will provide the best opportunities for a healthy, safe and prosperous life in the years ahead.

Its quality-of-life index links the results of subjective life-satisfaction surveys—how happy people say they are—to objective determinants of the quality of life across countries. Being rich helps more than anything else, but it is not all that counts; things like crime, trust in public institutions and the health of family life matter too. In all, the index takes 11 statistically significant indicators into account. They are a mixed bunch: some are fixed factors, such as geography; others change only very slowly over time (demography, many social and cultural characteristics); and some factors depend on policies and the state of the world economy.

What does all this, and likely developments in the years to come, mean for where a baby might be luckiest to be born in 2013? After crunching its numbers, the EIU has Switzerland comfortably in the top spot, with Australia second.

Small economies dominate the top ten. Half of these are European, but only one, the Netherlands, is from the euro zone. The Nordic countries shine, whereas the crisis-ridden south of Europe (Greece, Portugal and Spain) lags behind despite the advantage of a favourable climate. The largest European economies (Germany, France and Britain) do not do particularly well.

America, where babies will inherit the large debts of the boomer generation, languishes back in 16th place. Despite their economic dynamism, none of the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) scores impressively. Among the 80 countries covered, Nigeria comes last: it is the worst place for a baby to enter the world in 2013


Boring is best

Quibblers will, of course, find more holes in all this than there are in a chunk of Swiss cheese. America was helped to the top spot back in 1988 by the inclusion in the ranking of a “philistine factor” (for cultural poverty) and a “yawn index” (the degree to which a country might, despite all its virtues, be irredeemably boring). Switzerland scored terribly on both counts. In the film “The Third Man”, Orson Welles’s character, the rogue Harry Lime, famously says that Italy for 30 years had war, terror and murder under the Borgias but in that time produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and the Renaissance; Switzerland had 500 years of peace and democracy—and produced the cuckoo clock.

However, there is surely a lot to be said for boring stability in today’s (and no doubt tomorrow’s) uncertain times. A description of the methodology is available here: food for debate all the way from Lucerne to Lagos.

Laza Kekic: director, country forecasting services, Economist Intelligence Unit

From The World In 2013 print edition


http://www.economist.com/news/21566430-where-be-born-2013-lottery-life.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/01/07/a-surprising-map-of-the-best-and-worst-countries-to-be-born-into-today/

ebucha: Your dream long oh

No be me! Adam Pacitti is the man.

....

Very interesting story by Adam Pacitti:

Last night he had a dream. For the most part, it wasn't really a dream; it was a nightmare. That was until he met the most beautiful girl he's ever seen. He woke up in a cold sweat at 2:29AM and began drawing. It's now 5:55AM and he was writing this. After what he's seen, he's not sure he'll ever get back to sleep. Let him tell you about his dream...

I was shopping in Superdrug for some new razors when from out of nowhere I saw a man stagger from behind the tampons and bite an elderly woman on the neck. Why she was stood by the tampons at her age, I'll never know. However, that doesn't excuse his actions and I went to investigate. As I began walking towards him I saw a horde of no less than a dozen people lumbering toward me. Now I'm no fool, I've seen Dawn of the Dead, I've seen 28 Days Later and I've seen Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' enough times to realise that I was encountering the living dead. Before they got any closer I had hurdled the Colgate and burst through the fire exit in true Bruce Willis fashion.

I ran as fast as I could home, dodging group after group of zombies. How I didn't see them when entering Superdrug I'm not sure, but the fact is that they were after my big, juicy brain. To cut a long story short, I managed to get home after strangling anything that moved. Regrettably I managed to throttle a small child in the process after mistaking him for a zombie. Looking back I think he was just having a fit.

After opening my front door I was greeted by my housemate, Graham. However, it wasn't the Graham that I've grown to respect and love (in a strictly platonic way, obviously), he was infected, he was one ofthem. I had no choice but to decapitate him with his own pizza cutter. I felt bad doing it, but it really was my only chance of survival. I dashed up to my room and locked the door behind me. I was safe.

This is when I met her. I turned to see a figure in my room. Thinking it was time to slay another zombie, I picked up the heaviest item in reach: a weighty copy of The Bible I was given by some bloke with a megaphone in Oxford Street. I crept towards her, grasping the Old Testament in my hand. I lifted it up above my head with the intention of striking her but as I did so she turned to face me. I froze. In front of me was the most beautiful girl that I've ever seen, ever. I couldn't believe what I was seeing (and still can't, to be honest) as I stood there motionless looking her up and down. She was incredible. She was gorgeous. She was absolutely, genuinely perfect. She smiled at me and said: "Hello, I'm so glad you're here," and then kissed me.

And then, all of a sudden, I woke up. Distraught, I reached down the side of my bed to find a pad of lined paper and began sketching the most accurate picture I could possibly draw. This is it:



I'm no artist. I think you can tell that and I'd like to point out that this picture doesn't even convey 1% of her beauty. The girl in my dream was perfect, this picture, however, is not. Therefore, I must let you know that:

She didn't have a weird little pointy nose.

She didn't have lips like a fish.

She didn't have a lumberjack's chin.

She didn't have beady little eyes.

Her hair was actually more likeKate Nash's.

Other than that, the drawing is pretty accurate.

I don't think that I dream about people that don't actually exist. Whether they are friends, family, or people that I've seen on television; everyone that has ever been in my dream I've seen somewhere. I genuinely believe that this person exists .

This is where you come in; If you look like the person above, please, please, email me. I beg you, I'm absolutely besotted with this girl and if it might be you, then I'd love to hear from you. If it looks like someone you know, please, please, send them this website. The URL iswww.TheGirlOfMyDreams.co.uk. If you don't know anyone that looks like the person above but you believe in love and still want to assist me in finding the girl of my dreams then click the 'how to help me' link.

Thank you ever so much for reading,

.....continue reading here:

http://www.adampacitti.com/dream/story.html

Adam Pacitti x

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCpS5DiSXog

Who says he is not the best player in the world?

They said he has not won the world cup and the guy is just 25, wait until he is 30 years and see if he wins one or not. He has broken and set several records and yet they ain't convinced this guy is a unique and unprecedented midget!! Messi, keep redefining the game of soccer!!!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=B4z_eNT6Wy0

Wed or Marry means : to take in marriage, to perform the marriage ceremonies for (two people); join in wedlock, to give in marriage; arrange the marriage of (often followed by off ), to unite intimately, to take as an intimate life partner by a formal exchange of promises in the manner of a traditional marriage ceremony.

I'm still trying to look for a definition that says the bride marries the groom? I wouldn't know if it is just a traditional way of doing it or just fulfilling righteousness.

I have been thinking about it and I seem not to be getting the answer. please, why do we always have the bride's name first before the groom's name in every wedding events; I mean why do we always have 'Victoria(bride) weds Victor(groom)' instead of Victor weds Victoria and so on?

I wonder what could have happened if the approximately 60 million Americans on the path of Hurricane Sandy were to be in the Nigerian situation? That is about 40% of the population of Nigeria gone since we depend so much on 'cutting the head after an head ache'! The response of the states in USA that anticipated Hurricane Sandy is commendable. The residents of the affected areas will forever be grateful to the states that put measures in place to combat the effect of the storm. How I wish we would have the same measures in place and take urgent actions to the flood victims in Nigeria instead of the empty promises and visits just for political jamboree and gaining of undeserved political advantage? It has been weeks now and the victims still groan daily! Nigeria needs a dramatic solution!!!



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZFlxuU1FRY&feature=related

Help needed

Which is advisable? To continue working as a contract staff with no job security, marry in such an uncertain condition or take a partial scholarship offer to pursue graduate studies in the United States of America thereby postponing wedding for 2+ years?
It is very pitiable that so many companies still thrive in Nigeria by subjecting graduates to the so called 'contract employment' agreement and the Nigerian graduates are just comfortable with such 'inhuman' and obnoxious terms and agreement. The challenges of a homo sapien are multi faceted; you have got to think about good job, marriage, personal development, advanced degrees and the likes. which one should come first? Should it depend on the individual or circumstances of life?

I almost 'laffed' troway my system !!!! Ironic!!!

I have been a passive follower of this thread and I would like to appreciate all the nairalanders who have contributed meaningfully to this didactic thread. I had my interview at the US consulate general, on the 15th of August, 2012 and I would try to be brief about my interview experience. I earnestly pray that for those who have interviews afterwards, you will have success story to share. First, permit me say that just as many guys have said, the God factor can not be over-emphasized, you need the mercy and favor of God and I pray you have it in abundance on that day. Also, for first timers like myself, please ensure you have your photographs ready before your interview date cos those photographers near the embassy are out to drain you! Don't listen to anyone who offers to staple your documents for you, they will dupe you-the stapling will be done when you go in. I wouldn't advise you to arrive earlier than 1 hour before your appointment time else your precious time will be 'squandered'. Meanwhile, no two interview experiences are the same, i had to read Isaiah 50: 4-10 and it could be of help to someone. Now to my paraphrased interview proper: immediately my ticket no was displayed @ counter 1, I quickly walked up to the white guy there and....

Me: good afternoon sir ( I even forgot to smile)
Vo: afternoon, pass me your docs
Me: passed the docs (feverishly waiting for the next bombshell )
Vo: Which school are you going?
Me: abc university
Vo: is that the only school you applied to?
Me: I applied to six schools in the US, 4 admits.....
Vo: name them
Me: when I started....the Vo interrupts...
Vo: did you take the GRE?
Me: yes
Vo: show me the result and continue (guess he wanted to cross check the schools on the result )
Me: continued ( thank God my confidence level has increased here )
Vo: why abc university?
Me: good research facilities, good ranking, good student-faculty ratio and affordability (cos I already have two other better ranked schools on the result but more expensive than abc )
Vo: oh, you are offered a scholarship @ abc university?
Me: yes ( the very reason I chose abc over the other two! But dem no born me well make I tell the Vo oooooo )
At this point he was a little bit silent and then I understood the saying that silence is deafening than noise at times.....suddenly!!!
Vo: which school did you finish from?
Me: I graduated from the prestigious OAU!
Vo: why OAU?
Me: academic excellence, structural masterpiece, comprehensive reading, learning, culture and social uniqueness
Vo: (with a skeptical eye?) how do you compare Ife with the university of Lagos? ( in a matter of nanosecond, I thought 'how did this white guy know about Ife and Unilag? Then I revived.....)
Me: I just re-arranged my answer above and told him that, for those reasons, I will choose OAU anyday, anytime!!!
Vo: which course?
Me: told him
Vo: what will you do after your studies?
Me : (permit me to say that I borrowed a line from someone on this thread, I'm sorry I couldnt recollect the person's ID, please, pardon me for virtual, Internet plagiarism!).....I just opened my mouth and said....,
My current job requires expertise in this field of study, meaning that I would be able to immediately return back to Nigeria and apply those acquired skills towards the development of Nigeria......
Vo: tore the green ticket and told me to go pick my visa........
Me: thank you sir and good bye.

God did it and I am very grateful to the Lord. Yours will not be impossible!

Spain all the way.