School Resumption Day!

As most schools resume today, I remember my secondary school days. I never liked going to school on the first day of resumption. Going to school or not wasn't my call to decide. I had no choice, but a few antics. 

"Oya wake up and prepare for school" 😇

"Ah! But today's the first day of resumption"

😉

"And so? Won't your teachers come? "😕

" They will come but the class will be dull and boring, in fact the teachers will not teach anything because of the few students in attendance."😃

"Ehen. Go like that. If they don't teach, they will review last term's lessons. That way you'll have an edge over those who resume late."😎

"They will tell us to clean the dust specs that has accumulated over the harmattan period on the chairs, desks, louvres and fan. The dust specs are like 5 meters thick. They will still tell us to sweep again and darken the blackboard..." 😦

"Ehen. Still go like that. You don't know that by doing those chores, you're learning something new. You think it's only formal knowledge you learn in school?  Goan baff jorh "😜

***

" I don't have new books to go to school with"

😀

"Use your old books"😉

"I just noticed, my uniform is not ironed and I can't find the other leg of my socks" 😔

"Wear it like that. You had about 5 weeks to prepare for school. If you're punished for not dressing properly, serves you right."😠

"My belly is bitting me."😴

"sorry o. Finish your breakfast. I will take you to the hospital and from there I will drop you off at your school."😝

😪😖😱

***

Parents I hail o🙆

Read More

Bitcoins And Plastic Rice

"Guy how far?" 

"Boss I dey o. How your side."

"Na you be boss o. I dey look up to you. Nothing much dey happen. Holiday tinz on a low key."

"Who you dey whine. You wey be boss. Omo this harmattan no be hear o."

"Leave harmattan first. It comes and goes. Let's talk business. Have you heard the latest?"

 "I listened to the network news last night, there wasn't anything different from the usual updates. So what's the latest?" 

 "Just guess" 

"Have that unfreezed mavro? "

" No. They said till January 14th. Guess again."

"You know I'm not good at guessing. So spill, else I continue going where I'm going, maybe if I come back, I'll continue guessing."

"Okay. You sef. Well, It's bitcoins. Heard of it? "

" Ermm, not exactly. I've been hearing people talk about it but honestly, I know nothing about it.  What is it all about?"

"It's a digital currency. One can use it to carry out international transactions seamlessly without having to go through rigorous bank procedures."

"Hmmm. So how does that affect the price of Agege bread? How does bitcoins concern me? You know I'm a local trader and I earn in Naira. So...?"

"Bryan Tracy said one shouldn't depend on one source of income. Robert Kiyosaki further explains the need for investment through his E.B.S.I quadrant..."

"Leave theory abeg. Who theory epp?  Just tell me why I should invest in bitcoins, and when I'll get  back my capital."

"I'm only telling you this as a friend. It's not as if I stand to gain anything if you invest in it not."

"Oya no vex. Teach me. You know say you be my oga."

"See ehn, this bitcoins is appreciating almost on daily basis. Three months ago, 1btc was equal to N270000, today 1btc equals N460000."

"Oh boy!"

"You've not seen anything yet. The price surge started after Trump won. As at last week Tuesday, 1btc was equal to 760USD, today, 1btc is equal to 930USD. You can google it."

"Hmmm. This is serious. That means, one can buy this bitcoins, stock it and sell when it appreciates and make cool dough. Soft work."

"Yes. But you must watch it, it's a volatile currency and depends on market demand. The good news is, the demand is on a steady rise as countries are adopting crypto-currencies. I heard CBN is delibating on introducing it formally into the country. In fact, it is predicted that by the end January 2017, 1btc will equal 1000USD"

"But ehn, I'm afraid o. Since you said it's a universal currency, it might be the apocalypse thing the Bible prophesied about in the book of Revelations. "

"Hahaha. You're funny and skeptical. I didn't say it's a universal currency. I said it's a digital currency. Crypto-currency, better put."

"Okay o. If I come back we'd discuss more about it. I'm in a haste. "

" No qualms. Where are you heading to? "

"I'm going to the market to see if I can buy a bag of rice."

"Alright. The festivity didn't affect the price of rice as there were more supply, supplies including plastic rice. So be careful not to buy plastic rice o."

"Which one is plastic rice again? There nothing one will not hear in this country."

"I thought you said you have been listening to news. Don't you find plastic rice unusual?"

"See this one o, you think I don't listen to news? We've not had light for some time. I don't even know about the plastic rice thing. Let alone finding it unusual. Tell me more."

"Well, in summary it's a synthetic-fake-adulterated rice shipped in from China. It's not the normal rice that is grown biologically in farms. This one is manufactured using nonbiodegradable plastic materials and it is dangerous to the health."

"People are wicked o. How can someone produce such for human consumption? How can someone import such into the country? What are the custom officers doing? 

So how can I differentiate between plastic rice and normal Thailand or Malaysia rice?"

"It boils down to greed my friend. They must have bribed the custom officials. Well, to differentiate, you can put samples of the rice in a bowl of water. If it sinks, then it's normal. If it floats then it's plastic. Or better still, buy Ofada rice. Buy made in Nigeria."

"I heard the Ofada rice is now making sense."

"Yeah. So I heard. I also heard it has better nutritional benefits."

"You mean you've not tasted Ofada rice?"

"I can't remember. You're running late right? We'll discuss more when you come back."

"Alright bro. When I come back, we'll discuss more about bitcoins."

Read More

Zarfund The New Online Scheme.

The name of the company is ZARFUND - Where Wealth is Predictable and It was founded by a South African named Harnnes Jordaan. 

ZARFUND is a Person-To-Person Direct Donation Platform.

The system was designed in such a way that it can be used by Fundraisers, such as Charities, Schools, Clubs, non-profits, family, and personal financial needs etc.

The donations are NOT collected by the Administrator, nor are they automated by the system, rather donations are sent directly and personally from one member to another member, from one member’s Bitcoin Wallet to another member’s Bitcoin Wallet. The donations are done voluntarily by the members without the administrators' directives. 

What are the risk factors? 

The only way you will run zarfund at a loss is if you do not get two referrals. 

Your money is kept in your bitcoin wallet that is different from zarfund. So if anything should happen to zarfund and it folds up (highly unlikely), your money is intact in your bitcoin wallet. 

What makes zarfund scam proof?

The fact that there is no central account where donations are made coupled with fact that no administrator assigns donations makes it scam free. 

How quick can I start earning? 

You earn your first money N17000 or $36 by getting two referrals. You upliners can feed you with new referrals because there is a maximum of two direct referrals for anyone. So if you can't get a referral, it is advisable to join a good team. 

Zarfund is new and rapidly growing, it's advisable not to procrastinate on your decision. 

Here is a  step by step guide on how to start ZarFund:

Pre-step: Go to https://blockchain.info/ register as a new user and SAVE your wallet ID AKA account number (a long string of text). That is what you will use to buy bitcoin and in most of your zarfund transactions. 

Step 1:

Send the donation amount PLUS a transactional fee (if any) to your upline’s Bitcoin wallet. You can find all the information about your sponsor (including his Bitcoin address) in the first Step on the Upgrade page.

Step 2:

Now, you need to “prove” that you’ve really sent the money to your sponsor. You can do that by providing the Hash ID of the transaction from the Step 1. In order to find that Hash ID, proceed as follows:

I. Go to https://blockchain.info/

II. Paste the address of your upline’s Bitcoin wallet in the search box, and click on the “Search” button.

III. Find your transaction on the next page, and copy a long string of characters (the Hash ID) that is “assigned” to that transaction.

III. Fill the Transaction Hash ID field on

ZarFund with the Hash ID that you’ve found on BlockChain.

IV. Click on “Submit”.

You can find your TX Hash number like this on Blockchain:

That’s it!

Your account will be upgraded once the system verifies the validity of your transaction (it should take up to an hour)!

Actually, you can upgrade to ANY level whenever you want. However, we strongly advise you to step up to the next level as soon as your current level has earned you enough money for moving up, as that’s the only way for you NOT to miss ANY donations from ALL of your referrals! In fact, bringing in just TWO active referrals who will proceed the same way you did will let your downline fill up very fast – and will qualify you for receiving up to a whole lot of 164 BTC every month!

For more clarification watch the video 

Read More

Men Too Can Cook

I stepped into the compound of my residence, through the main gate,  and many thoughts about the day's event started aligning in my head. Somethings I thought were done perfectly and some others I thought would have been near perfect if a different course of action had been taken...  

But after taking few steps in the compound, and approaching the main building, my free flowing thought process was interrupted. I lost focus. My nostrils caught hold of a fine wave of tomato aroma. Tomato sauce frying gently in hot oil, mixed-up with other condiments that adds value to life. I couldn't say for sure if it was stew or jellof rice. But whatever it was, I thought, it smells great and it must taste great. The aroma was delicious to say the least. It could make a suicide bomber have a change of mind. 

I took another deep breath, I lost count of how many deep breaths I'd taken since I first picked the signals of tomato sauce and spices earlier on. Something wasn't quite clear, and that was the source of the delicious aroma. I began to do all the possible permutations and combinations. I have four neighbours living in four different flats. Two on either side of the building. One flat on the left side of the building had been under lock and key for days since the inhabitants went on vacation. Leaving only three possibilities: the flat I live in, the flat adjacent mine, and another at the left end of the building. The flat adjacent mine is occupied by bachelors. This rich aroma can never be from the bachelors' flat, I thought to myself. I'm not saying guys can't cook jellof rice or fry stew properly, but this particular sumptuous aroma is the job of a feminine specie, specialized with exceptional culinary endowments. With that injunction, I zeroed the possible source of the aroma to two locations. 

I got inside the building, and in the junction where the entrance led to a hallway. The two possible source of the aroma were on either side of the building. It was either left or right. If it was right, then it was no doubt from my flat because the bachelors can't pull off something of this magnitude. I could hear myself wish the aroma wasn't from the left side of the hallway. I turned rightwards, where my flat and the bachelors' were located. The aroma became richer and stronger with each step I took. It could only mean one thing. I was delighted. I hastened my steps. My mouth was already salivated. 

When I entered the parlour, and shut the door behind me, the aroma ceased to flow. It stopped. It disappeared just like good dream in the morning. I sniffed. I sniffed again but nothing perceived, nothing smelled. Instead of seeing stew or jellof, my gaze went straight to the tray on the table filled with beans that was being selected from chaff and stones. 

I was disappointed but I hid the expression. I changed my clothes quickly and decided to pay my neighbours an important August visit. I needed to acertain if a man was truly behind this atmospheric assault. When I got inside my bachelor friends' apartment, the parlour was redolent with the smell of tomato sauce and spices. The whole airspace was saturated and the sumptuous aroma permeated my skin. There was no doubt. This was the source and origin of the aroma. I walked past two guys busy playing Xbox and headed straight to the kitchen and behold Ejike was stirring the pot and sweating. 

When he saw me, he said I must taste his special food today. Yes, it was indeed a special delicacy. If it was the not so special delicacy, he wouldn't have summoned the courage to tell me I must have a taste. It took about twenty minutes for the food to be ready, albeit it seemed like four hours. Finally the food was ready and when I tasted it, I couldn't believe my tongue. I didn't stop eating until I emptied the plate. My goodness, it was finger-licking. I never knew guys could prepare a meal that delicious. 

What a woman can do, a man can do. 

Men too can cook. 

Read More

Social Media Ills

Since Y2K, technology has recorded tremendous advancements. It has spread its tentacles across many platforms, and every sector in life have since registered colossal breakthroughs. One of the revolutionary introduction then, was the mobile phone. It was so unprecedented that people on the streets looked  with awe and wonder at someone who's making a phone call. Speaking to a handset device then seemed awkward, and as with every awkward deed, it attracted feasting eyes. 

Just like every other technological inventions, the mobile phone has undergone through its own evolutionary circle. From big phones with long antenna pole, to smaller ones without a pole, and back to big phones but this time, smarter ones. Somewhere in the circle of mobile phone evolution, social media was birthed. 

Social media has since then changed our lifestyle. It now seems awkward talking to someone on the street. It is so old fashioned. What are you doing, chatting with someone on the street? People will look at you with awe and wonder. What an archaic way to socialize. We now use terms like: I'll whatsapp you, I'll ping you, I'll snap chat you, I'll skype you... This new way of communication has made mobile phones more personal than personal computers. One hardly stays an hour without checking his smartphone - I'm a culprit. It is like a part of the human body - only independent. 

 Social networks have  connected us to people far from us, and distance us from people close to us. Talk about building bridges and walls. In family reunions for instance, you see family members glueing their eyes to their phone screens and their hands busy fingering their smart devices. Instead of holding chit chats with their loved ones whom they've not seen for over a year, two or even more. The only evidence of such reunion is the group selfies that ends up on social networks.

Aside from bridging fences and borders, another thing social media has done is eliminate the regard of social status or age. There are no code of ethics on social media, anybody can take shots at you. Irrespective of your social reputation, age or wealth; If you post a photo or a text on a subject, and it is misinterpreted, you get firsthand criticisms. More often than not, the criticisms escalates to feuds. Online beefs. Such is often the case when you post about sensitive subjects about religion, race and politics. 

Talk about politics. Politicians have taken to social media to spread their propaganda. They use it as as a very lethal weapon of mass deceit. The propagandists continue with their evangelism, even in the face of  clear contrary evidence. Lies are spread and truths covered; and the gullible swindled. 

Another ill of social media is the uncensorship of contents. On Facebook for instance, anything can appear on your homepage timeline. I mean anything. Good, bad and ugly. Even at that, what appears on the homepages are lesser evils compared to what are being circulated via inboxes - the most secret zone. 

The lack of authenticity of posts is worth mentioning here. So long as you can concoct an eye-catchy headline, and google a corresponding image, your post is likely to go viral, even if the story is fabricated. The idea is making the post eye-catching. The relevance or authenticity is not considered. 

I can't help but wonder how the younger generation of kids will adapt to life with a massive social media presence. Back then, parents protect their children from the influence of the outside world by confining their kids within the perimeter of their homes, of course with the exception of schools and religious gatherings. But today, things are different. Children nowadays, can reach the ends of the earth while in their rooms, without turning the door knob. New gen parents now have to take pragmatic approaches, different from that of yesteryears' to instil morality into their kids. 

I mean, there're several forces lurking around on social media that the underaged might be exposed. An instance, CNN reports that most terrorists recruitments are carried out through social media. In fact, the victims of social media brainwashing are not children alone but adults as well. To get an insight into what I'm talking about, visit the pages of any succession movements, anti religious/race groups, political parties... 

These are just  tad bits of the adverse effects of social media. There are many more negatives. It questions the moral decadence of the next generation. However, humanity will thrive as usual, there will be an adaptation, maybe in the form of social media bill or policing. I also believe notwithstanding, there will continue to be a balance of good and evil. 

Read More