ZenecheruB :: dele’s mind on net . . .

As with my ongoing proposals on the concept of girls and guys, relationship and their dynamics, according to the world of economics, I continue to the finally episode of The Economics of Love.

Here, I intend to sum up, conceptualize and defend all my insane ideas of:

1. Solving relationship issues; e.g. what’s the fate of the perfectly healthy man who lacks a mate.

2. As a result of (1) AIDS becomes rampant and how do I respond? Read my previous post [insert link to previous post here].

3. I disagree that there is enough market, if Air can be marketed, restrooms can be marketed, or even walking around is now marketed, I conclude that - let’s make an industry off sex…oh, I don’t refer to erotic services – mean real capitalistic sex services.

Like I’ve once comically mentioned, I’m a Modern Man-digital and well commercialized. It has been agreed that in this modern age, one of man’s greatest inventions has been the internet and of all ages, man’s sole confide - Sex. I would say: let’s bring together this invention and his confide and together we would not only solve the mystery of Love Economics as stated in Part I, we can as well cure AIDS as stated in Part II.

When I first made the proposal that having more Sex might in fact cure world of HIV/AIDS (see Part II), the major argument that has being made against it has been that: while HIV/AIDS seems to be the main STD making the news headlines, it does not underestimate the deadliness of other.

The argument continues, while I could easily push that people should have more sex, what are the chances that this folks who are about to follow my doctrine aren’t infected with other diseases such as gonorrhea, syphilis or the likes.

Or, as another quizzed, what is the chance of this two successfully coming together or at least achieving any of my proposed plans. And then, before any dismissal, I have again gone radical - I have suggested that let’s harness the power of the internet, that of modern internet technology and of economics and create Cyber-Sex networks.

Here’s the proposal:

A system (such as facebook, myspace or even Medicare; who says sex isn’t a need?) will be created; it would work in such a way as every entrant will be pre-screened and surety will be made that this person is definitely safe according to the tests of certified health centers. Here, participants who would love to curb AIDS/HIV would register and look for dates (NSA or whichever).

But wait! Before we push this any further, how about the fact that at the time of the actual contact, this person would still be as healthy as when registration was initially made. Then to this I would reply: This system would work on a ranking system where, apart from the subscription fee one has to pay, a constant certification and statement of health would be required.

And as we would let this system run itself, it would be adjusted in such a way that you have the option of submitting you current health status quarterly, yearly or bi-annually which affects your ranking accordingly from a ranking of “extremely risky” to “very safe” based on gathered records and other factor.

Now, for the economics portion, we can always guarantee that sex would be subsidized, probably certain and safe for members of this system.

As already mentioned, this system doesn’t necessarily have to be a website, it could work as a community sex plan, or maybe as a national sex reform act - depending on how radical one decides to get. For the sake of abstractness, I kept the idea simple.

The thought is radical - Yes! Impossible - Maybe. But if we decide to weigh the cost of preaching abstinence or condom use against overshadowing the “minute” STD infected people and a chance of fear-free pleasure - I’m sure, some would agree that even more sex is safer sex.

Various statistics has shown that AIDS is now an epidemic especially in most developing countries especially in African countries*

As scary as AIDS or this statistics seem, in a countries like USA or some other countries, there is still a low percentage of people infected with AIDS comparable to healthy people (all things equal) and upon this fact, I will draw a solution on combating the spreading of this deadly virus.

On discussing with some friends I mentioned: “Don’t you think encouraging people to have more sex can actually curb the spread of the Virus?” No matter how I try to prove my logic, almost everyone I have proposed this solution to finds it very ridiculous. A disease that is primary spread through sex: “how is having more sex going to curb its spread? You must be such an insane joker to even think of such a thing.”

Let dive straight into this argument:

Once again, let’s take the hypothetical market of reLove where all things are equal and (comparably similar to the real world where the figures of those living with the virus is significantly lower§) we have 96% perfectly healthy people and 4% infected with the HIV/AIDS Virus - we will be working with this data for working on my economic cure for this disease.

Let suppose, we have a guy in reLove named Jim who has tested positive for the virus and another guy Jack a perfectly health male. With the situation of things now, while the marginal cost of Jim having more HIV is almost zero, this alone can serve as an incentive for Jim to have more sex.

In what sense will Jim’s HIV incent him to have more sex? For Jack, he has the fear of contracting the virus hence he chooses the safest escape - abstinence from having sex, this simultaneously increase the chances of Jim having sex with more partners and spreading the virus to uniformed partners.

The Jacks in reLove (perfectly healthy) each on their own would not know they are disrupting the market and indirectly promoting the transmission of this virus for just the fear that another perfectly healthy female, let’s call her Jill would supposedly have a virus then transmit it to him and this false hopes drives a rather healthy female who would have otherwise had sex with Jack to have sex with Jim thereby getting the virus and so forth.

Since this may read confusing, let me just put it this way: For every less sex that the 95% of the Jacks and Jills don’t have, they almost double the chances of the Jims and Janes (HIV/AIDS infected) of spreading the disease - the 80/20 rule works here too.

Since the obvious solution might be to encourage the Jacks and Janes to have more sex (though this has obvious flaws which I would highlight in the next article), maybe even go even more wild with this idea and offer to pay every healthy person for every additional sex had with another healthy person. Yes, this sounds absolutely ridiculous as my friends have often pointed out but then, I have decided to think outside of the conventional box.

As fun as the idea of encouraging more sex to cure HIV, I have even being faced with greater bugs (as computer programmers would prefer to call it) in my logic of thought which I intend to tackle in the next part of this post. If you’re enjoying this radical thought so far, stay tuned for more coming.

* http://www.avert.org/worlstatinfo.htm

§ http://www.globalhealthreporting.org/diseaseinfo.asp?id=23

After supporting the notion of the popular fraud from Nigeria a.k.a. Yahoozee, I refuse to shift the blame to those doing this crime (considering other factors) like the Nigerian government have decide to do (which I assume by them setting-up the Economic Financial Crimes Commission [EFCC])

As an economics would think, there is a solution to every problem as long as there is the right incentive. Obviously, in most third world countries, there leaders have no incentive to want to think about the good of the populace.

Even more, most of these corrupt leaders keep some part of the economy functional and to paraphrase Tim Harford in The Undercover Economist, “so they can support their own self interest.” In a country like Nigeria where there tends to be bad roads, inadequate/non-functional social amenities, poor education, low security and may more ills. For this case, an agile teen (and maybe creative) would devise a means of his own to survival, as if to follow Darwin’s survival of fittest theory - everyone tends after themselves.

No doubt in the long run, a system that is supported by fraud will crumble so, even though I might see this advantageous in the short run as a solution to Nigerian youths sufferings, I know intend to attack the grassroots of the situation.

I have proposed some oversimplified solutions to both Yahoozee and the Nigerian economy.

1. The Nigerian Constitution and its Woes

In as much as there is the constitution that we have that has ruined the nation to this stage, and we adamantly still stick it. And for the men in constitution who are only there for their own self-interest, if at least they can only seek to review the Nigerian constitution and its may loopholes to fix the current economic lags that’s deep within the elite and should stop chasing the helpless masses who are after their daily bread.

2. Kill the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)

No, this is not a metaphor or irony; I mean that this commission should be literally killed.

Whatever policy this firm was institutionalized to combat the crime of “Yahoozee,” I would say that say that it has being grossly counter-productive. Looking at it this way (economically, I suppose):

Prior to the advent of computers and internet, this folks had no means of supporting themselves hence they had to probably resort to theft and some other crime (which is often out of frustration). At this time, those who where little incented to commit crime had to work extremely hard (often to no avail), then came the internet - these Yahoo guys worked there ways around it and where incented (by the government because of bad policies) to defraud.

As the laws of perfect competition commands, lots of youths entered the “Yahoo” market then entered the government introducing EFCC to curb these yahoos who arrests this folks thereby forcing the previously employed back to the market without the government providing alternative.

Guess what happens, sure the crime drops but then the amount of criminals increase significantly - and who are they coming after – you!

3. Grossly subsidize Companies in infected areas

I seek not to attack Nigerian government policies or encourage yahoozeeing but as argued previously, attacking the problem on the surface (with EFCC) leaves the core problem rotten. One proposal I love would be to have the government largely subsidize investment in area where Yahooing is most prevalent which obviously would create employment for those who would have otherwise being unemployed after the EFCC force.

I would suggest even local government wooing large organization to maximize the advantage of cheap labor that Nigeria might provide and maybe just like China establish sweats shops. I know most westerners hate to listen to the argument of sweats shop.

Whatever you think, this boosts trade and as usual better than the alternative of thefts and crimes.

While this can be seen as “just some thought,” I strongly believe it is time for a lot of re-orientation in the African way of thinking, implementing and planning.

As simple as it seems, establishing a firm such as the EFCC is like cutting of the stem of an unwanted tree, then fixing the underlying economy is liken to uprooting this tree.

4. Some Silent Assassins

Though it’s often a joke but I supposed if someone if going to be willing to implement this rather crude suggestion, it will not only help the country a long way but also instantly re-orient our thinking.

It is - some iron hearted assassin taking out all those in the elite, ruling the country who, not only keep putting the nation in wreck, have also sworn to continue to propagate ways to recruit followers (their kids) at the mercy of suffering citizens. Then, our will this help? After the death of some culprits, the news will certainly spread, those in their evil status might guess they’ll be next hence decide to either quit or go underground.

On this account, their will be new generation of leaders who have being kept in silence for too long, there will be an implementation of fresh ideas and the country would finally be the hands of those who have the interest of the nation at heart.

Then at some point, Nigeria can be referred to as the next superpower, after the order of countries like China or Brazil.

Meanwhile, I rest my case.

Yahoo! Yahoo!! For those whose minds wander to the online giant - www.yahoo.com, bring your minds back (that just happens to be the nickname for this “kind of thing” in Nigeria). In this post I do refer to the scam now popular amongst some citizens of Nigeria which is - people are scammed through the internet. For full details and how to avoid being scam, please stop by www.scamorama.com.

Hopefully, at this point, you understand what Yahoo means (from your trip back from scamorama.com), however, this article is not about how to avoid being scammed is about understanding the scammers.

As a citizen of this country myself, I have being reflecting deeply on the cause and effect of this situation (economically), advantages and disadvantages, that for which I intend to share some of my random thoughts.

1. Cure for Unemployment

In a third world country like Nigeria, most of the guys and girls involved in scamming are most often pushed into it by the extremely high rate of unemployment in this country. In fact, while most would prefer to do something tangible they find themselves left wit a government that doesn’t care about there well-being but only after enriching themselves. And, as the saying goes: the devil employs the idle hand; one can easily assume the rest. Bad as it may seem, the devil hasn’t necessarily employed this idle hand for mischief, but has given them a livelihood and a comfort from a government that cares less. In response, the governments have noticed the effect but don’t see the cause. It set up a body - Economic Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) to combat this issue but have wholly failed in dealing with the root - unemployment (as I intend to make evident).

I would rather see guys/girls defrauding than having hungry and idle youths holding a gun to my head (or perhaps, yours!).

2. Rescue to Talent

Unlike what the media might want to portray, when one thinks about it - this people in this trade (scams in Nigeria) are quite talented. A few of them have been able to successfully trick even those with sophisticated formal knowledge considering how little formal education these folks have.

Obviously, this is not the best use of talent or an ideal one to possess, its sure better than the alternative. At least, they are better at something than nothing at all. As will be made known soon, this kind of skills can be redirected to something more positive if the parties involved are ready.

Meanwhile, let’s put in some economics to action.

3. Economic Boost

Believe it or not, the money this folks are making is being spent or even those being saved are all done within the country. Good news for the economy, compared to if everyone was poor and no one can afford anything (except the select few). And then though illegal, there’s a boost in consumption spending which in turn gives a higher GDP (Gross Domestic Product) and in the short run, everyone [seems] better of.

Obviously, I would not, if left to me condone an act of scam as part of a nation’s income. I have intended to argue in a little way that the method Nigeria has employed in fighting this situation is in the least, ineffective.

In the next section, I will hash and propose alternatives.

While taking this long break from a post, it’s being dawning on me some ideology mostly centered around questioning the belief with which some hold up so highly.

Those belief, some of which have been forcefully embedded in us from childhood and have [strangely] held on to without questioning. Before proceeding, it might help to get this out of the way.

Some would argue the non-existence of a God, let’s call them Atheist. Others would say, their is a God; or, wait.. maybe not. They would say they would want to make the point that the existence of God might be but just can’t be conclusive enough to say there really is one; let’s just call this category Agnostics.

Then there is, how favorite group. Irregardless of [obvious] flaws, they hold on to the firm belief that God is real and he in fact created the whole world. He has unquestionable power and he often instructs us through some sort of holy book sent through some of his “messengers” who are as super-human too and most importantly, he is omniscience (knows all); we would just call them - believers (in most of this article, I would mostly refer to the largest of this group: Christians).

While I’m not conclusive about the notion of God’s existence or not. I stay confused about the gaps that the God question raises. One would not seem satisfied with the answer one gets from the aforementioned group about God. Still yet, more dissatisfaction lies in the the Christians’ explanation for God’s ever knowing power on the world.

The desire to satisfy God and adore his creation. The quest to leave according to the will of God, the longing that we are supposed to have for entering into God’s kingdom. And his will for us that he does not want us to “go astray” and God’s quest to make this so.

In a previous article (the God, its Logic and Our Common Sense), it has already been argued that creationism often leads to infinite regression, and here, it should be pushed even further that conceptualizing about an all powerful or an all knowing God leads to not just an infinite regression, it’s leads to infinite confusion.

Starting out with, let’s say, the trouble in the world today. Troubles such as, war, famine, crimes, hunger, disease and the all so many ills of today’s world which one would suppose - a God knows about and maybe supposedly has some control over.

It would be just to assume that God has some control over this and actually knows about it before it occurs. Oh, I did not mention that our God knows the beginning and the end (a.k.a alpha and omega). So, getting this right means - God knows when he created the world that it would turn into such this mess, he knows that their will be racial crises, he knows that their will be wars, he even knows that human beings would rebel grossly against him. To which effect he knows that, he would need to create an avenue of redemption.

Wait. I think someone seems to have lost the concept here. The point is basic, as a creator, God decided to create an handiwork which he knew would fail, but still decides to create it because he actually would enjoy the fun of how the drama would unfold so that the his “creations” whom are his pawns would struggle against an impossible task.

Is not this quite an extreme against omniscience concepts. I would not’t suppose it is, for, anyone would assume that a creator would not create, having a foreknowledge that his creation would be a waste, expect of course, this kind of creator.

One would even suppose that a creator would carefully guard over his creation understanding the incompetence of his creation to run independently. One would assume that the creation would intervene and keep constructing the “faults” of his creation in some effort to bring it to perfection - that’s an assumption.

Since this assumptions has become unrealistic, let us face reality. We have a messy world to face, we as human beings keep devising ways to combat our many problems, we have created power, we have created followers, created technology and science, created troubles, more so, we have created God and it’s instrument: religion.

As external as this God is, like many other human creation, it’s faulted in its creation and mistaken; the side for omniscience is just taking sides against facing reality.

I’m at this point moderately confused …

On Love and relationship
Every living human craves for attention and importance.Some often find this in Love, relationships or the combination of both. It’s hard to define “true love” this days without making it sound synonymous with “lust.” For most, Sex = Love; for those willing to be truthful they know, Sex = Lust. Since life has being sucked out of Love, let’s return to the basics; true love is one of compassion, respect, kindness, patience, then of which a relationship is built that is unselfish and yielding, understanding and capable of withstanding the test of time. Not many can boast of being able to hold up all this quality to then have a real relationship, that’s why, a real relationship is one built over time -  otherwise, let’s just call that Lust.

On Family
It’s hard to understand which we refer to as a family - one man, one woman and kid(s) or … No! I would prefer to stick to that as my basis for a real family. Every child who would want to reach his/her full potential of childhood to adulthood needs a complete set of these, not double of one, or a single one - both. Pitifully, the family is dead or dying? Most times, it’s not one’s fault that the family is breaking up but this is not good enough reason to repeat the process. Let’s break the chain of divorce, follow after true love over mere infatuation, take time to make decisions, think about the future of our offspring and live a whole life.

On being a Genius
These days,ingenuity seems synonymous to getting top grades in school. The school system emphasizes independent work and most times de-cry cooperation. I’m not sure today if the standard for measuring geniuses is by IQ (Intelligence Quotient) or by bank accounts but one thing I’m sure of is: anyone that has the power to use his/her brain to creatively imagine innovation, one that’s ready to take his/her mental alertness to the next level. Disregarding the norm and societal acceptance, I’d crown a genius.

On Materialism
Day in day out, in this American culture, we are continuously bombarded with information - TV, Radio, Internet, or cell-phones. From all this information overload, one message is central  - ‘ You’re inferior to what “WE” expect you to be, with this, that or that, it can get you to be that “PERSON”.’ So, with diligence, we program  our mind that we are never good enough, we seek to be better than our neighbors, have more possession than they, look far more better and ultimately, raise our ego. You can, if you wish, drive the biggest car, have the best of the best this world can afford - it never brings this satisfaction that we so earnestly crave for. If it in fact does, the wealthiest people would be the most satisfied, but how ironic, never the case. The greatest satisfaction we can get is hence, from within, not from without. Being content with the little we have, appreciation for the people around us, share and care for those who are not as privileged - for this - money can never buy.

On Religion

Without doubt, religion has been the most unifying confused misconception of all time. Irrespective of who, what or whom you believe in, it’s still an abstraction. The same abstraction that exist when we mention “it.” It doesn’t exist, but the knowledge (or supposed knowledge) of it gives of a sense of satisfaction. Maybe it is time we return to our inner self and look for that peace within and take that - without.

On Schooling
It’s accepted that a mind that stops to learn is a dead mind. Giving that a new twist; a mind that learns for the wrong reasons, isn’t dead yet, but a faint mind. Since our schooling system has forced us to only want to learn to get some “grades,” pushing young minds to the believe that learning is a battle that MOST be won. I await that time when, youngster would love to learn, not for grades or gratification(s) but for the genuine acquisition of knowledge, a time when you wouldn’t look forward to graduation as the time an end has come to learning. That time when every mind would be awake and every mind a creative one.

On the Rat-Race
Get Born > Grow Up > Go to School > Get a Job > Get Married > Have a Family > Grow Up some More > Die >> Get Born > Grow Up …. ad infinitum. Some would prefer this regular predictable walk through life. Fortunately, one doesn’t necessarily have to come this this world without making a difference or two. Billions of humans have existed and billions more would still exist, but some names continually exist even long after they are gone… What difference would you make on this our little world that would let you in that elite few?

On Conclusion

Why must there be one? Make your mark in life - don’t be conventional, then we can have a noble conclusion.

In honor of MLK day observed in the United States and as an honor to how far we have come as blacks in the mist of whites. I decided to add some humor to the famous commemorative speech given by Dr. Luther himself on August 28, 1963. And in case you’re wondering what that is or who he is or you prefer to read the original version of this, go here. Otherwise, enjoy this twist of the speech.

Rated PG-C for lots of rude comedic remarks

*********************

I am happy to write this here today in what will go down in [blogging] history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of this internet nation.

Many years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of black slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice (which in lieu will later help develop the American football generation). It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.

But after some more years later, the black is still is not free. One hundred and fifty years later, the life of the black is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of self-discrimination and under-achievement. One hundred and fifty years later, the black lives on a lonely island of ignorance in the midst of a vast wealth of information and knowledge. One hundred and fifty years later, the black is still languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land away from home(Africa). So we write here today to dramatize a shameful and pitiful condition.

In a sense we have come to our nation’s capital to cash a check and I honestly hope we don’t spend it on big rims and hoes (but who cares?). When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir as a fair game. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

It is obvious today that America has tried not to default on this promissory note in so far as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the black people a bad check, a check which has come back marked “insufficient funds.” (Oops, no shiny big rims or huge bash) But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation or better say, we have refused to sieze the oppurtunities. So we have come to cash this check - a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice. We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now because we sure have our reps and turfs to defend. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism (with this I don’t mean literarily, anyone has cack?). Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of some racial justice and lots of ignorance. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quick sands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of humans.

It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the black’s legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Two thousand and eight is sure not an end, but a beginning. Those who hope that the black needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual though I do think we shouldn’t be so aggrevating towards the white either. There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the black is granted his citizenship rights both in Africa and here in America. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges which means: a black man gets some rep, some platinum 20″ rims, gold teeth, new wardrope, big bash, some hoes and most important his turf’s hommies.

But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred so put down the gun and start using common sense.

We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force i.e instead killings we give kisses. The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the black community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. They have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone though they can’t be anything like us as much as they try.

As we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, “When will you be satisfied?” We can never be satisfied as long as the black is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of gangstar brutality within our community by our people. We can never be satisfied, as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities so honestly, let’s try to appear more presentable. We cannot be satisfied as long as the black’s basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their selfhood and robbed of their dignity by signs stating “For Whites Only”. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.

I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of gangstar brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering probably for crimes you indeed commit but wait… Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive as long as it was unjust.

Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair.

I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.”

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood and relate like real brothers.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character and their potentials.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day, down in Washington, with its vicious politics, with its elected having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Washington, a black man will rise and rule this great nation in which case, we could possible foget our past (Obama?).

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

This will be the day when everyone will be able to sing with a new meaning, “My country, ’tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim’s pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring.”

And for America as a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!

Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California!

But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old black spiritual, “Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!”

FIRST, I’d like to welcome everyone to this new calendar year of my posting. Sure, last year posting each new article was fun most especially developing my amateur writing skills which I believe has grown in its own accord.

TO welcome this posting year, I would write in my trademark style of extreme randomness of subjects, some of which I’ve talked about in the past, some I’m just starting to get involved in it - primarily, as usual, when reading this have an open and objective, mind to catch the fun of my brain’s randomic thoughts that making me starting to feel like my brain is rolling a die.

AS a psychological trend, new situations often bring along new challenges. An example is entering a new calendar year, it is characterized by many as the best time to make resolutions, set new goals and make better efforts. I wouldn’t want to go into details about what or what-not of goal settings (see Reso - nü - tions: Adiós 2007). To better serve my growing audience of readers and in effort to satisfy quests, I’m going to be more dedicated to writing this year. Not just by the fact that I must make at least frequent enough post to this blog, they’d be even more interesting with lots of twist and sensibility (maybe insensibility?). Some of my readers have asked me about writing a book -ummmm. Did I hear that rapper 50 cents wrote a book and made a movie? Well, if you didn’t get that; get used to it - that’s an example of the many twist that will feature in this blogging season.

SEX in the western culture has a different perspective from those of the some other culture, let’s say African (yes, I’m African and if you still care to know - Nigerian). I love the liberation of sexuality in the western world and since almost every part of the world is now becoming westernized (even the extreme middle eastern), I believe, it should safe to discuss sex from a western perspective.

IN context, some would argue the morality of homosexuality, and in some rare cases, some would argue the morality of heterosexuality. In lieu, the bigger question might be, how is morality standardized. Because I can’t tolerate an individual’s lifestyle doesn’t deem it immoral - by what standard have I based my own morality on that doesn’t even make it even more immoral. As animals, we have an organized community of fellow creature and likes but, as higher animals, we are governed by principles proposed, some by ourselves or by those indeed smarter than we are. Either ways, we have to follow this principles to consider yourself a part of the organized society.

AND some might ask, what those the concept of organized society structure has to do with one’s sexuality. Simple - if, in your organized society, your sexuality is considered immoral, then by my aforementioned definition of morality - it in fact is; vice versa. You might then ask: “how about if this organized society is wrong as I’m indeed convinced that my sexuality is not immoral.” Then, I’d respond: “To be a part of this organized society, you have to abide by it’s people, principles, and power, otherwise, make an exit to another organized society that tolerate your principles on sexuality.” Understandably, some principles of an organized society might not necessarily satisfy all and sundry, principles always shift with time. After all, at some point slavery was the norm.

BEING more familiar with heterosexual relationships, let’s be random about that a little more. All through my quest for relationship, I have always tried to ask and answer this one question: “What satisfies a true relationship?” And if you’re like most westernized habitants, you’d be quick to answer: “Sex.”

SEX is often promoted in movies, TV, magazines, billboards, and just about everywhere you as the ultimate satisfaction to a relationship. Why wouldn’t anyone almost believe this, ohhhh, so much fun. But - this is far from the truth. As many undelusion truthful lover will attest, sex is the very last (very, very last) element that brings satisfaction to a relationship. Topping the elements list are: friendship, respect, understanding, tolerance, forbearance, care, patience, … so many other good traits, then, sex. So, next time that guy tells you you should have sex because he loves you, read between the lines, has he exhibited those traits. And to mention, these elements are what while create love which in turn would satisfy a relationship.

IF there is one relationship that we are all used to, it’s one between an individual and a supreme being (a.k.a God). There is however, a relationship that is more important, the relation with an individual and the individual-self.

NOT until one learns to recognize the fact that the path to a supreme power is the path of one’s self, satisfaction cannot be reached. There have been tons of quest to reach higher powers, religions founded, theories developed, battles fought which has not gotten anywhere significant. Detaching ourself from the ideologies that we have been brainwashed with from childhood up till this moment, return of our inner original self, re-think our thoughts, and reform our ideology, then achieve a state of self-actualization which we then consider - our God-Self.

ON that note, let’s get this posting year started.

At this time of the year, everyone is thinking about some new year resolution of some sort; maybe - quit smoking and/or drinking, drop skirt chasing, study harder, or American’s favorite, eat healthy and stay fit.

Whichever it is, since I was like twelve years old, I have stopped making new year resolutions as I see them hypocritical to say the least. We all know that as soon as those resolutions are set, they wean towards February/March of the upcoming year. Now that I’m twenty, I have no plan of going back to making new year resolution, I am however creating a concept called “nü” which means, recapping on the former year; capitalize on success, learn from failures and ultimately make remarkable progress.

One non-trivial fun fact about making resolution is that, writing one’s goals down, either for a new year or not, subconsciously drives you towards wanting to achieve them. But definitely, just writing down your goals does not get it done. This part is where many fail, though it is common that not many people even write down their goals, they are often verbalized.

If you are amongst the few who haven’t failed in achieving your set goal/resolutions (for the new year or some other time) by just verbalize it, it might be helpful to have your written goals placed in a place that will be readily visible. Some suggestion might be your reading desk, room’s wall, living room or some place you frequent often as this will constantly remind of what you intend to achieve, set you mind on how far you’ve gone and possible give you some determination.

On determination; if you like you can have your house designed with your written resolutions or goals, having no determination to do it will one have it count as one of those “babbling.” The way I suppose to get determined on any task is to visualize it as already completed and imagine the benefits. This way, you get a longing to get the goal to that level of which you visualized it - takes lots of discipline, but honestly, what doesn’t.

Goals are not achieved by merely having a determination to do it. A first step must me taken and this first step needs discipline which is propelled through determination to taking the first step. To any project, breaking the barrier of doing nothing and the first step is often the hardest. For example, before I began writing this post, the first sentence, or word, is always the hardest for me to compose irrespective of having my thesis or concept all set. But when I just break-in that barrier, the flow comes in. Probably my goal of writing my book wouldn’t be far fetched afterall.

Obviously, we have left another Gregorian Calendar year behind us, we are looking forward into achieving better results in the coming calendar year, we are working towards avoiding the mistakes made in the past, we are anticipating getting over our pains, sorrows, distress, maybe confusions or some are just counting their increasing days of pain or counting down their years (as we all maybe doing), we should never forget, as I will always mention,let us reach out to our fellow humans, offer a helping hand, make sacrifices, be positive and mostly remember:

P.S. Some interesting trivia about me: I’d be 21 years old 4th April 2008 :+)

Recollecting those days when I was all socked up in books on leadership, the one I read that will never escape my mind [anytime soon] was “The 360° leader” by John C.Maxwell. This days I’m often more involved technical books and situations but it always comes in handy to be a person who commands respect, gives respect and follows respect - who doesn’t like that feeling? Come along then.

Ze Rating: 4.0 stars

As much as we may think that it isn’t much of anything, or some may think, it’s much of an ease, almost everyone today have little or no sense of commanding respect(s). I’m not refering to respect one gets by default from being in a position of authority but respect in terms of how much of it you’ve earned by the virtue of how much you have given which I present here that you can lead irrespective of your position in any group.

Being respected, someone whom when you talk, people have a sense to listen, everyone thinks you exclusionary, you are watched and often imitated - in short, you command: Respect! I will, for the sake of making this explanatory, exclude the set of people who are in position of authority who are regardless, respected. I intend to address a regular person, one who isn’t satisfied with being pushed around, or for some reason has lost a sense of self-worth.
The act of gaining respect lies on just one principle, this principle is golden: “Give and it will be given back to you.” This means that when you give respect, respect will be given back to you - no more, no less. When one can get around gaining respect, it will get clearer how one can lead irrespective of one’s position in whatever situation you find yourself.

Few considerations:

1. Your Acts: Looking after one’s acts is a must. The way you conduct yourself, your dressing (more on this later), your reaction to situations and those little acts of courtesy that we think doesn’t count. People watch and unconsciously judge you based on this and will unconsciously determine if you deserve their time, merit and importantly, respect or maybe not. Some practical tips include, always appearing calm and composed, listening attentively to others and giving valuable feedback, allowing people’s rude actions pass and the likes.

2. Your Talks: What can ruin or make one as fast as one’s talks? None! It is important that one watches his/her talks. Don’t try to “be cool” by talking carelessly, those careless talks that we make and really think aren’t of significance can build up and gradually act against one. As words, once spoken, cannot be taken back. This in turn should make anyone willing to be a 360° leader re-think, re-evaluate, weigh cause and effects of what will be said. Most importantly, as a rule, leaders are listeners and not talkers. The more you take your time to listen to others, talk less, people will value more and more of your opinion when you tend to give one. Everyone values more of what is less - use this principle in your favor. Who doesn’t like a little bit of mystery?

3. Your Composition: While almost all the “leader’s-acts” I will state comes down to composition, I will prefer to give one’s composition as your outward appearance. Believe it or not, the way one dresses, speaks loudest (at least before personal encounters and talks). At all times, a leader would give proper attention to his/her appearance, the kind of dress you wear should be decent (both in price and looks), one should dress to suit occasion and in modesty. These situation include - those around you, where you intend to appear and your persona. (Leaders often prefer less attention than too much; little wonder they are often dressed in lighter wears than bright, flashy ones).

4. Your Intellect: It’s a most, leaders must be sharp and intelligent. Fortunately, everyone has the potential to be both sharp and intelligent (except in extreme cases where this might not be feasible). To get to this potential, a prospective leader must at all times assume that he/she is ignorant, always constantly needing to learn. In this case, the saying that “a mind that stops learning is a dying mind,” is the leader’s motto. Seeking ways to improve one’s knowledge could include, listening to great minds, learning from humans (there is so much lessons to learn in this life that it’s just so impossible to learn it all yourself), reading books, writing and other ways to continuously seek knowledge.

5. Your Simplicity: A leader has to be simple and modest by default. Since most leaders are usually the best around their mates, they are usually more accomplished and more focused, there’s usually a strong tendency for them to get immodest (proud?) in their conduct. This, differentiates the boys from the men. Irrespective of their achievements, 360° leaders don’t and never think they are better than anyone else - they have the general mindset that whatever they have is a service to someone else, it’s a privilege not a right and one they have a duty to serve with.

6. Your Thoughts: To catch a monkey, you have to think (and act) like a monkey. Likewise, to be a leader, you have to think (and act) like one. Most (if not all) actions first place of occurrence is on our mind. Any prospective leader most train his/her mind to continuously think like a leader, hence act accordingly (even copying another accomplished leader’s act). So, how exactly is thinking like a leader? A leader solves problems no one else is interested in, they act unconventional, they think of themselves as servants who can influence people by serving them, most importantly, they think of their neighbor’s best interest.

7. Your Life: For a leader, her life is a book before everyone’s eyes. Which means, one must consider every step taken exemplary. No time wasted or unnecessary aforementioned abrupt behaviors. Most accomplished leaders have so trained their minds that it’s almost impossible for them to waste their time, there is always something to fill the time. This takes lots of discipline and denial, but the pay-off is great, no doubt.

8. Your Time: Time, it is said, is the soul of business. A prospective or I’d say a 360°leader knows that every moment in time wasted is one less chance to set him/her-self apart from the rest. A leader considers it his soul concern to account for her time, as spent in productivity.

360° leadership is not about the way you can command people and have them “fear” you, it’s a respect earned that gives you the privilege to lead anyone, anywhere irrespective of your position in your company, school, organization or any other relative settings.
Anyone can be a leader, it’s a status that should be converted and earned, statutory privilege aside, - through service and diligence to others with a taming of one’s own self.
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Disclaimer: This is is no way a summary of John Maxwell’s book. Maxwell approached leadership from quite a different perspective though driving towards the same end.