tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21708780176164493262024-02-19T16:06:07.894+01:00AUFGEWECKTUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170878017616449326.post-11428408132323585682021-09-01T14:36:00.000+02:002021-09-01T14:36:46.621+02:00Ensnared In The Joy of Edi – To The Little Known Woman<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">O, how thou could have such piercing effect of soul;</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">And still remain clueless of the depths you have touched in me.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">In such little time did you have me thinking of a lifetime with you;</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">And if thou would have appeared a little more sooner,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">I should still wish I could be born a little less later.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;"> 'Tis wearisome for my heart to explore the what-ifs and what-nots of an anticipated life with you.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">In this tortuous train of forbidding thoughts, the only reality I see is being with you.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">I would love at higher rate if you should but give time and chance sway;</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">And you need not, if you would, have any fear of my scurried affections;</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">For this kind of estate, my dear, emerges only from the laughter of the Trinity.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">A personage as beautiful and captivating as thee,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">Commands a love as timeless as the stars and constant as the sun.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">And I would not, even if I could, wish to be free of these chains.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">For with a bewitching glance, a quietening smile and a tender voice, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">Did you wield your enchantment and rendered me eternally bedazzled.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">How the iron bars of my hardened heart could easily dissolve,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">In a swift instance of your touch is a mystery to me.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">A mystery I fear will assail me for a lifetime and entangle me in its unfathomable cords.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">The mystery of your piercingly glorious beauty, the depth of intimate love that allures me,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">And the precarious but fascinating adventure I am being called to.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">O treacherous state of soul!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">A high, upon which my weary self levitates.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">Sweet desire that threatens to burst my soul with infinite joy.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">A dispiriting chasm that opens the floods of deep despair.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">An awakening that puts all my troubles to sleep;</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">And yet kindles it's own sort of grief!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">--- Daniel Ekow Buckman (Sunday, October 31, 2010)</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170878017616449326.post-66247138610616700822014-10-26T21:00:00.001+01:002021-01-09T17:22:44.361+01:00Some Names of Music Bands around the world.I will try to keep a list of names of music bands around the world. Some may sound funny, others provocative and yet others weird. I hope it makes you realize the creative minds of people around the globe.<br />
<br />
Chvrches<br />
KMFDM - Kein Mehrheit Für die Mitleid<br />
Alt-J<br />
Dead Kennedys<br />
<div class="yt-lockup-title">
The New Pornographers</div>
<div class="yt-lockup-title">
The Flaming Lips</div>
<div class="yt-lockup-title">
Lynyrd Skynyrd</div>
<div class="yt-lockup-title">
Sigur Rós</div>
<div class="r">
Söhne Mannheims</div>
<div class="r">
Impotent Sea snakes</div>
<div class="r">
Cattle Decapitation </div>
<div class="r">
<span class="st">Mannheim Steamroller</span></div>
<b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Efterklang</span></b><br />
<div class="r">
<span class="st">Daughter</span></div>
<div class="r">
<span class="st">Spooky Tooth</span></div>
<div class="r">
<span class="st">Alien Sex Fiend</span></div>
<div class="r">
<span class="st">Timber Timbre</span><br />
The Gaza Strippers</div>
<div class="r">
Led Zeppelin</div>
<div class="r">
The National<span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Edward Sharpe And The Magnetic Zeroes</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Freelance Whales</span><br />
The Dancing French Liberals of ‘48<br />
Blue Öyster Cult<br />
The Jesus and Mary Chain<br />
Dropkick Murphys<br />
Niggaz Wit Attitudes<br />
Alabama Thunderpussy<br />
Foxy Shazam<br />
Dark Suburb<span class="watch-title" dir="ltr" id="eow-title" title="Timber Timbre: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert"> </span><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="r">
<br /></div>
<div class="yt-lockup-title">
<b> </b></div>
<div class="yt-lockup-title">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170878017616449326.post-26320883600563899682014-06-25T13:40:00.000+02:002014-06-25T13:43:38.995+02:00Omawumi ft. 2Face Idiba - What a Bang bang <div class="MCE_2">
Omawumi,</div>
<div class="MCE_2">
(Tell Them, tell ) 2 Baba in the building,</div>
<div class="MCE_2">
Thank you very much, Danke Schön, Asante sana.. </div>
<div class="MCE_2">
<br /></div>
<div class="MCE_2">
<b>Verse (Omawumi)</b></div>
<div class="MCE_2">
I don’t wanna be a guest in my home (i be oo)<br />
I no want to dey feel like I be stranger with my very own (at all)<br />
I want my people back at home to live in peace and unity o (na so, na so)<br />
But them wuru wuru people dey feed on we like bread and tea </div>
<div class="MCE_2">
<br /></div>
<div class="MCE_2">
<b>Coda </b></div>
<div class="MCE_2">
<a class="toggle" href="http://www.freenaijalyrics.com/lyrics-omawumi-what-a-bang-bang-ft-2face/#MCE_2" title="Add or View Explanation for this Paragraph"></a></div>
<div class="MCE_3">
Dem dey claim diplomatic immunities<br />
On top of the <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD9">civil</span> political ingenuity<br />
And them people dem using spirituality<br />
Like a mask to hide their <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD1">anxiety</span> </div>
<div class="MCE_3">
<br /></div>
<div class="MCE_4">
In case you no notice<br />
There’s a guy on vacation called justice<br />
When he approaches<br />
You’ll be mumbling words like<br />
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious</div>
<div class="MCE_4">
<br /></div>
<div class="MCE_4">
<b>Chorus</b></div>
<div class="MCE_4">
</div>
<div class="MCE_5">
Monkey work, Baboon chop<br />
Fire in the jungle<br />
What a bang bang, What What a bang bang (x2)</div>
<div class="MCE_5">
</div>
<div class="MCE_5">
<br /></div>
<div class="MCE_6">
E be like dem don see monkey<br />
God forbid I no be suffer head<br />
One day (this country go better)<br />
Na me and you (go do am together)<br />
Coz if we no try (our people go suffer)<br />
And wuru wuru people oo</div>
<div class="MCE_6">
<br /></div>
<div class="MCE_6">
<b>Coda </b></div>
<div class="MCE_6">
</div>
<div class="MCE_7">
Dem dey claim diplomatic immunities<br />
On top of the civil political ingenuity<br />
And them people dem using spirituality<br />
Like a mask to hide their anxiety</div>
<div class="MCE_7">
<br /></div>
<div class="MCE_7">
</div>
<div class="MCE_8">
In case you no notice<br />
There’s a guy on vacation called justice<br />
When he approaches<br />
You’ll be mumbling words like<br />
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious</div>
<div class="MCE_8">
<br /></div>
<div class="MCE_8">
<b>Chorus </b></div>
<div class="MCE_9">
Monkey work Baboon chop<br />
Fire in the jungle<br />
What a bang bang, What What a bang bang (x2)</div>
<div class="MCE_9">
<br /></div>
<div class="MCE_9">
</div>
<div class="MCE_9">
</div>
<div class="MCE_10">
God forbid I no be suffer head<br />
One day (this country go better)<br />
Na me and you (go do am together)</div>
<div class="MCE_10">
</div>
<div class="MCE_10">
</div>
<div class="MCE_10">
</div>
<div class="MCE_10">
<br />
<b>Verse (2Face ) </b></div>
<div class="MCE_10">
I dey fear for the thing wey I dey see<br />
Day by day dem upgrade their thiefability<br />
This kind of thiefing don turn to insanity<br />
How long shall we wait for the poverty subsidy<br />
If na u na u need am pass</div>
<div class="MCE_10">
<br />
Na only for your mouth <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD3">money</span> sweet pass<br />
Instead of to go go work pass<br />
You say na reverse<br />
Make all your people to dey carry last<br />
Many days for the thief<br />
Osino ga e che o de ya<br />
As we hope and pray for the messiah</div>
<div class="MCE_10">
<br />
I hope I live to see<br />
My people living in harmony<br />
Everything guy na monanry<br />
And there’s no reason to thief money<br />
I hope and pray one day<br />
Only better thing go dey come my way<br />
Stop all corruption of yesterday<br />
And replace it with honesty today</div>
<div class="MCE_10">
<br /></div>
<div class="MCE_10">
<b>Chorus</b></div>
<div class="MCE_11">
Monkey work Baboon chop<br />
Fire in the jungle<br />
What a bang bang, What What a bang bang (x2)</div>
<div class="MCE_11">
<br /></div>
<div class="MCE_11">
</div>
<div class="MCE_12">
Make e no burn you<br />
Make e no burn me<br />
Fire(x2)</div>
<div class="MCE_12">
<br /></div>
<div class="MCE_12">
</div>
<div class="MCE_13">
Me sef go work oo<br />
You sef go work too<br />
One day (x4)<br />
<br />
We will be great<br />
Them go catch all the thief ooo<a class="toggle" href="http://www.freenaijalyrics.com/lyrics-omawumi-what-a-bang-bang-ft-2face/#MCE_13" title="Add or View Explanation for this Paragraph"></a></div>
<div class="MCE_14">
Bang Bang yeah yeah!<a class="toggle" href="http://www.freenaijalyrics.com/lyrics-omawumi-what-a-bang-bang-ft-2face/#MCE_14" title="Add or View Explanation for this Paragraph"></a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170878017616449326.post-28655715137504764702014-03-21T20:34:00.002+01:002014-06-25T13:04:52.290+02:00What Russian President Vladmir Putin said about Crimea crisis. Dear friends, we have gathered here today in connection with an issue
that is of vital, historic significance to all of us. A referendum was
held in Crimea on March 16 in full compliance with democratic procedures
and international norms.<br />
More than 82% of the electorate took part in the vote. Over
96% of them spoke out in favour of reuniting with Russia. These numbers
speak for themselves.<br />
<br />
To understand the reason behind such a choice it is
enough to know the history of Crimea and what Russia and Crimea have
always meant for each other.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/73648000/jpg/_73648407_73648406.jpg" height="252" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="448" /></td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td class="tr-caption">President Putin said the Crimea vote numbers "speak for themselves"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Everything in Crimea speaks of our shared history and pride.
This is the location of ancient Khersones, where Prince Vladimir was
baptised. His spiritual feat of adopting Orthodoxy predetermined the
overall basis of the culture, civilisation and human values that unite
the peoples of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. The graves of Russian
soldiers whose bravery brought Crimea into the Russian empire are also
in Crimea.<br />
<br />
This is also Sevastopol - a legendary city with an
outstanding history, a fortress that serves as the birthplace of
Russia's Black Sea Fleet. Crimea is Balaklava and Kerch, Malakhov Kurgan
and Sapun Ridge. Each one of these places is dear to our hearts,
symbolising Russian military glory and outstanding valour.<br />
<div class="caption full-width">
</div>
Crimea is a unique blend of different peoples' cultures and
traditions. This makes it similar to Russia as a whole, where not a
single ethnic group has been lost over the centuries. Russians and
Ukrainians, Crimean Tatars and people of other ethnic groups have lived
side by side in Crimea, retaining their own identity, traditions,
languages and faith.<br />
<br />
Incidentally, the total population of the Crimean peninsula
today is 2.2 million people, of whom almost 1.5 million are Russians,
350,000 are Ukrainians who predominantly consider Russian their native
language, and about 290,000-300,000 are Crimean Tatars, who, as the
referendum has shown, also lean towards Russia. more <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-27344029" target="_blank">here</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170878017616449326.post-64372600387419075692014-01-28T06:03:00.002+01:002017-09-30T15:08:39.316+02:00Animals in Ghana : AFRICAN CIVET.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpJYQJJlnexkKaevB8ZsuBEWF2ayQI5Rb_M8sbF_uagLJ0rWlcBZkRtbrMfQPtwZDo6T6hC6bX4QUQqxmh4T48KbsdHfEFpqSMHbEgefpMxxpiRQBpUn64r9iiv1zye9RL9SycYBQShZex/s1600/animal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpJYQJJlnexkKaevB8ZsuBEWF2ayQI5Rb_M8sbF_uagLJ0rWlcBZkRtbrMfQPtwZDo6T6hC6bX4QUQqxmh4T48KbsdHfEFpqSMHbEgefpMxxpiRQBpUn64r9iiv1zye9RL9SycYBQShZex/s1600/animal.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">Whiles traveling from Saltpond in the Central Region to the capital Accra of Ghana, the driver stopped in one of the towns en-route Accra. Two young men approached our car holding two of these animals, obviously on sale. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">I was surprise at the sight of these animals because i thought they were from the family of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raccoon" target="_blank">raccoons</a> which are found largely in Europe and the North Americas. After posting in a Facebook group, i finally got the name of the animal; An <span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".i.1:3:1:$comment713993571966452_713995915299551:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.0:3"><span data-reactid=".i.1:3:1:$comment713993571966452_713995915299551:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.0:3.0"><span data-reactid=".i.1:3:1:$comment713993571966452_713995915299551:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.0:3.0.$end:0:$0:0">African spotted CIVET.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">They are </span><span style="font-size: small;">mostly nocturnal mammals. </span>They feed on small vertebrates, invertebrates,
eggs, carrion and vegetable matter. They are capable of taking on
poisonous invertebrates (such as the millipedes most other species
avoid) and snakes.<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">Civets have a broadly cat-like general appearance, though the muzzle is extended and often pointed, rather like that of a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongoose" target="_blank">mongoose</a>. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">They produce a musk
(also called civet) highly valued as a fragrance and stabilizing agent
for perfume. Both male and female civets produce the strong-smelling
secretion, which is produced by the civet's perineal
glands. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The musk is harvested by either killing the animal and removing the
glands, or by scraping the secretions from the glands of a live animal.
The latter is the preferred method today.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Civets are endangered species and can also be used as pets. I will sure love to have one as a pet in the future.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170878017616449326.post-30473166454367622292014-01-06T20:44:00.002+01:002017-09-27T00:40:03.759+02:00The African SpiritsEven in those centuries, they abhorred corrupt people,<br />
Here we are, filled with all the Godly people,<br />
Whiles toddlers and infants die of malaria and measles.<br />
Wondering how the Spirits will render us clean of these malady,<br />
Wondering how the spirits shall lead us to Electricity and Water.<br />
<br />
Here we are, sitting in abundance and shame, <br />
Our amulets began to wane when we threw our hands inane,<br />
We are back to centuries afore when The vultures landed ashore,<br />
O sour memory of extorted kisses,<br />
Promises mutilated by daily whisperings,<br />
Known men, we never really knew,<br />
To our satisfaction, we christen them; Spirits.<br />
-Kwesi Moore<br />
<br />
-----------------------------------------------------<br />
Once while reading an article from an online outlet, i read a post where an African Bishop blames the woes of the land to Spirits. I was a bit upset but on a second thought acknowledged the sense in what he said. Truly, the African leaders are Spirits. The poem was a 15 minutes thought with two lines inspired by David Diop's, The Vulture.<br />
---------------------------------------------------Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170878017616449326.post-53757726507628315312013-09-27T18:39:00.000+02:002018-01-21T21:50:05.156+01:00Futurism : Will Europe survive its wild horses For some few years that i have been reading and following events unfold across Europe, i have had a bizarre feeling of the most bizarre future of Europe. The financial crisis has changed and continues to rapidly change many European countries for the worse. This disaster has lead to the collapse of many philosophies and ideals. And an increasing migration of people across continents and imaginary boundary lines creates panic and fear.<br />
<br />
If you believe in evolution as formulated by Darwin, then you're right to consider this an evolutionary process. As riots upon riots set in across many cities, so will common sense loose grounds. The signs are clear as many major European countries shift towards <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right-wing_politics" target="_blank">right-wing politics</a>. This is a dire consequence for foreigners or migrants especially non-caucasians.<br />
<br />
Economic conditions in Europe are fast changing the way many issue are solved. An increase to information accessibility to general populace is creating a well-informed generation. Albeit an over-load of information is creating sects or cults as people seek for information that only asserts their views. People are sticking to their views and seeking only those who share in similar views. The death of reasoning and argumentation.<br />
<br />
Europe's access to many markets will shrink as Asia gets stronger and USA will either become heavily militarized to fight off anything against its interest or face stronger opposition from other nations who feel threatened by the US dominance. Economics, especially debt-management, will play a big role in the coming years for global players.<br />
<br />
The mistrust among leadership will create an environment for bad leaders to rise. These leaders will not follow the rules and norms but will make their own choices irrespective of global issues. Many similar leaders will create the conducive environment for a major calamity :(.<br />
<br />
As Asian markets become stronger and more competitive, African markets will benefit. More competition for African products and goods and services will open wider opportunities for many Africans. Many resources which in years past were obtained for pittance will increase in cost as Asian markets will also be bidding for such products.<br />
<br />
** To be continued<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170878017616449326.post-74560051033997442722013-07-04T10:23:00.012+02:002022-12-11T12:32:37.069+01:00Profiling at the Rosenheim police stationI always found it hard to reconcile with people protesting racial profiling. I felt somehow, it was untrue but i guess it was because i had not come into the reality of such an incident.<br />
<br />
As a research worker in Austria, and having lived in Germany for more than a year in the past, it was shocking to say the least of how border control police workers accurately profile anyone who did not look German ('wondering what that will even mean') traveling across the border.<br />
<br />
On my way to a conference at Obergurgl, Tyrol from Linz, Upper Austria, i had to pass through Rosenheim , the border town between Germany and Austria only to be accosted by the police just about 100meters into German territory.<br />
<br />
The police requested for my passport to which i handed over my Austrian residence permit. To my surprise, the police (Bundespolizei) did not accept the residence permit as a form of identity. I was kept at the Rosenheim police station for over two hours with police protection. They needed someone in Linz to go to my room, take my passport and send it to the Linz police station to be faxed to them.<br />
<br />
As absurd as it sounds, this is how the German police reasons. I was probably going to be kept in the cells because the keys to my house were in my pocket as we argued on such a silly demand. How was someone ever going to enter my house, search my drawers, find a passport and report to the police station.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, this is what happens to many people. The police chef and his co-workers exploit foreigners at their will. Even after confirming by telephone conversation from the Linz Police station that i was a resident in Linz. The police officer looks at me and says, "what if you stole this residence card?"<br />
<br />
I was charged 25€ for not carrying my passport and given a poorly written receipt that the police could not even spell "zwanzig" correctly or just didn't care because the money was just going to be shared amongst them.<br />
<br />
Indeed, after such an incident, one has to come to reality that the Bundespolizei, Deutschland really has a specialty in racial profiling and that such issues are happening on daily basis. Who can really protect us from the police?<br />
<br />
>>>this article was a contribution to the deutche welle article on racial profiling: http://www.dw.de/are-the-german-police-using-racial-profiling/a-16921363<<<<< (#polishit)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170878017616449326.post-37954654467673950342013-03-12T10:27:00.000+01:002014-01-02T03:04:45.383+01:00When Hitler Visited Linz.Today marks the 75th year of Hitler's speech in Linz, Austria. Hitler was born in 1889 at the Gasthof zum Pommer, a town on the border with Bavaria, Germany. When Hitler was three, the family moved to Passau, Germany. In 1894 the family relocated to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonding" title="Leonding">Leonding</a> (near <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linz" title="Linz">Linz</a>). After many years of service in Germany and rising to the leadership of the country. He finally gets to visit Linz.<br />
<br />
The preceding days were tumultuous and angst-gripping as He did not give a direct plan for his invasion. Nonetheless, the German troops walked into some Austrian cities and took over within days without waging war. Many Austrians were struck with fear about the Nazis' invasion. Some cities had armed themselves in the face of the invasion but his address from Linz changed the fate of many. With thunderous cheers of "Hitler!Hitler!Hitler!" broadcast across Bavaria and the other cities, the Nazis' had captured Austria. He was back to his land of birth and his aim was to rebuild it and give it a befitting status. The main city center in Linz used to be called "Adolf Hitler platz" during those years of the occupation...<br />
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From a Balcony at the old Rathaus (City center), this is what he had to say:<br />
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"I thank you all for your words of greetings. But above all I thank you who are assembled here and testified to the fact that it is not the will and desire of only a few to establish this great Reich of the German race, but the wish and the will of the German Volk (people)!"<br />
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[Crowd shouting: Hitler!Hitler!Hitler!]<br />
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"There be those among you this evening, our reputed international truth-seekers, who will not only perceive for themselves this reality, but admit it afterward too. When i first set forth from this city, i carried within me exactly the same devout that fills me today. Try to fathom my inner emotion at having finally made this faithful pledge come true after so many long years."<br />
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[Crowd shouting: Hitler!Hitler!Hitler!]<br />
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"The fact that providence once summoned me forth from this city to the leadership of the Reich, must have meant it was giving me a special assignment, and it can only have been the assignment of restoring my cherished home to the German Reich! "<br />
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"I...[Crowd shouting: Hitler!Hitler!Hitler!] I have believed in this assignment, i have lived and fought for it, and i believe i have now fulfilled it!"<br />
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[Crowd shouting: Hitler!Hitler!Hitler!]<br />
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"May you all witness and vouch for this! I do not know when you yourselves will be summoned. I hope the time is not far off. Then you shall be asked to stand up to your own pledge, and it is my belief that i will be able to point to my homeland with pride before the entire German Volk.<br />
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[Crowd shouting: Hitler!Hitler!Hitler!]<br />
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"The outcome must then prove to the world that any further attempt to tear this Volk assunder will be in vain."<br />
<br />
[Crowd shouting: Hitler!Hitler!Hitler!]<br />
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"Just as you will then under an obligation to make your contribution to make your obligation to this German future, the whole of Germany is likewise willing to make its contribution."<br />
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[Crowd shouting: Hitler!Hitler!Hitler!]<br />
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"And this, it is already doing today! May you see in the German soldiers who are marching here this very hour from all the Gaus of the Reich fighters willing and prepared to make sacrifices for the unity of the great German Volk as a whole, and for ..."<br />
<br />
[Crowd shouting: Hitler!Hitler!Hitler!]<br />
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"...and for the power and the glory and splendor of our Reich, now and forever!Deutschland, Sieg Heil!"<br />
<br />
[Crowd shouting: Sieg Heil!Sieg Heil!Sieg Heil!]<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170878017616449326.post-58857080154864367752013-02-23T21:52:00.002+01:002018-01-21T23:33:06.394+01:00Job creation: Thinking aloud!What can a million dollar do towards relevant and sustainable job
creation. The issue of job creation is really important and whiles
governments all over seriously deliberate how to create jobs for their
citizenry same must be done for the Ghanaian or African. <br />
<br />
Firstly,
the government has a problem of wealth distribution, poverty
alleviation and jobs for the numerous graduating students from the
tertiary institutes, vocational institutes,etc. The trip towards poverty
alleviation is not through freebies at all levels of the society. If
government can radically introduce sharp solutions which i hope to
propose a few in this article, it will be a leap towards poverty
alleviation.<br />
<br />
<b>Start-ups, Start-ups and Start-ups:</b> What can a million dollar
achieve? Firstly , why can't government learn from the organizers of
events like Ghana Most Beautiful, Miss Ghana, Miss Universe, Miss
Malaika, etc? In almost all these events, which aim towards unearthing
the talents of the youth, the organizers travel across the length and
breadth of the nation. From one region to another , they organize
miniature events to select usually the best two or three people.
Similarly, government can create regional competition among the youth (i am not careful enough for this definition); with a million dollar,
each region can get an equivalent of 100,000dollars. Even if the best
three are selected and the amount shared amongst them (i.e. a minimum of
30,000dollars) , this will be 30 start-ups every year. Government can
provide an office space to help these start-ups for a period of five
years to ensure their sustainability and survival since it stands to
benefit immensely with each success. If the government decides to commit
to this for a decade, this will result in 300 start-ups. Of course, its
such start-ups which will create some employment for the teeming
graduates in the society.<br />
<br />
<b>Copy-Right: </b>If there is any administrative assistance to help poverty alleviation then it certainly must be Copy-right. Most developments start off as competitions which finally creates competitors in a market. As can be clearly observed, in all thriving markets in Ghana where there are recognized and healthy competitors, there's a drive for quality and uniqueness in brand. Lets consider the movie industry, its clear some producers have tried enough to create a unique label for their work e.g. Sparrow production, etc. This does not only enhance their creative ideas but also distinguishes them from their competitors. Also consider the competition among musicians and acknowledge what these professional entertainers are doing; they are creating that niche for their endeavors. Some of which sometimes leads to bad rivalry like Shatta Wale and Samini. This is clearly the case for all aspects of life. Government must recognize the individual efforts of the youth who are earnestly trying to create a living from the ingenuity. Copy-right laws are the sure way to enable people earn a living by their creativity. This will encourage individuals to be creative whiles expecting rewards for their ideas backed by governments protection. This will similarly help to create more jobs. Imagine what will happen for every one creative idea that yields a company. Most of the people living in Ghana live by copying and a copy-right law will be ideal to help inventors receive the appropriate rewards for the effort.<br />
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<b>Decentralization</b> : The current system where every instruction must be taken in Accra and sent to the regions creates more systematic lapses and increases inefficiencies. A gradual systematic change towards a more decentralized system of governance is vrey appropriate. Election of District and Municipal Executives should be considered as a means towards decentralization and poverty alleviation. How will decentralization cure the canker poverty alleviation? Decentralization increases accountability to the citizenry, this removes several redtapeism, nepotism and yields a significant reduction to corruption. Election of MMDCEs will for example give an autonomy to the direction of development of the districts and dissolve the presidency from such debacles as occurs often regarding the selection of MMDCEs. An elected official will run on his policies towards improving the living conditions of the people in the district. It'll sensitize the citizenry on what is relevant for their various communities. An improved disctrict or municipality will finally yield an improved country at large.<br />
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Decentralization of the health system for instance will prevent unecessary health workers strike actions whiles improving the health conditions of many people. Collective contracts usually leads to strike. If hospitals are made to hire health professionals they need, it'll encourage professionals to work on themselves and aim for top positions are performance. When all medical doctors are lumped into promotion based on years of service, there is no incentive to acquiriing knowledge and setting new standards as it won't really pay much dividend. There's no incentive to trying to find something groundbreaking in the profession. For example, decentralization of the health system can be done region-wise or district-wise. I think this will improve significantly the health delivery and the living conditions of people. Good health is the most significant poverty reduction. It'll create new jobs as health professionals will recognize new needs in the system.<br />
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<br />
<b>To be continued...</b><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170878017616449326.post-73911832981255756712012-12-17T02:38:00.000+01:002015-06-22T11:37:53.258+02:00Personal facts about Adam Lanza<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj3G8NauJb4sfeHw5JAfy5qBQVOtRVu9jzZET4ko_z_ObIquI2J9TD8J0GJbJ665n5J5bmNrDvtGhHY60pNiVB7tHu8F6TzYGImpfMMF_cLJVQj1WNcsUQjqb7iOi3tMAMtpdl7CMOCkq2/s1600/lanza.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj3G8NauJb4sfeHw5JAfy5qBQVOtRVu9jzZET4ko_z_ObIquI2J9TD8J0GJbJ665n5J5bmNrDvtGhHY60pNiVB7tHu8F6TzYGImpfMMF_cLJVQj1WNcsUQjqb7iOi3tMAMtpdl7CMOCkq2/s400/lanza.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The house of Adam Lanza and family. picture by examiner.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
"Former
classmates of Adam
Lanza, 20, the man identified as the gunman in the Sandy Hook School
killings, do not remember much about him.They talk of a boy who dressed
smartly and worked hard, but who barely said a word during his time at
school.Lanza appears to have kept a low profile throughout his life. US
media
report that unusually, his high school yearbook of 2010 contained no
photograph of him."[<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-20738732" target="_blank">BBC]</a><br />
<br />
"He carried a black briefcase to his 10th-grade honors English class, and
sat near the door so he could readily slip in and out. When called
upon, he was intelligent, but nervous and fidgety, spitting his words
out, as if having to speak up were painful. Pale, tall and scrawny, Adam Lanza walked through high school in
Newtown, Conn., with his hands glued to his sides, the pens in the
pocket of his short-sleeve, button-down shirts among the few things that
his classmates recalled about him." [<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/15/nyregion/adam-lanza-an-enigma-who-is-now-identified-as-a-mass-killer.html?_r=0" target="_blank">NYTimes</a>]<br />
<br />
"If that boy would've burned himself, he would not have known it or felt
it physically," Novia told The Associated Press in a phone interview.
"It was my job to pay close attention to that." [<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/15/adam-lanza-pain-loner-teacher_n_2308641.html" target="_blank">HuffingtonPost</a>] <br />
<br />
"In the desperate scramble to name the perpetrator who forced his way into a Connecticut
school on Friday and shot dead 20 children, the family and friends of
the Lanza family were rooted out through their social media pages and
old-fashioned door knocking, with even 20-year-old Lanza's father,
Peter, hearing about the shootings from a local paper reporter as he
drove home."[<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/dec/16/adam-lanza-quiet-friendless-boy" target="_blank">Guardian</a>]<br />
<br />
"He was a 20-year-old man who, by multiple accounts, was incredibly
smart and quiet. He didn't appear to have any run-ins with the law.
<br />
<div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph2">
But Adam Lanza's
seemingly innocuous life was thrust into the spotlight when authorities
said he perpetrated the second deadliest school shooting in U.S.
history.</div>
<div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph3">
On Friday morning, Lanza
walked into Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut,
dressed in black battle fatigues and a military vest" and began firing,
according to a law enforcement source. By the time he was done, 26 were dead -- 20 of them young students." [<a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2012/12/14/justice/connecticut-shooting-suspect-profile/index.html?hpt=us_t5" target="_blank">CNN</a>]</div>
<div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph3">
<br /></div>
<div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph3">
"Friday's massacre in Newtown, Connecticut, the second-deadliest
shooting event in United States history, has sent shock waves well
beyond the country's borders. During his shooting spree, 20-year-old
Adam Lanza killed 27 people at Sandy Hook Elementary School before
turning the gun on himself. Most of the victims of the mass shooting,
including 20 children, mostly kindergartners, and six school employees,
were found in two classrooms. The shooter also killed his mother." [<a href="http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/germany-s-merkel-deeply-saddened-by-killings-in-newtown-a-873139.html" target="_blank">Spiegel</a>]</div>
<div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph3">
<br /></div>
<div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph3">
"Who was Adam Lanza,
why did he kill 20 innocent children, and how is it possible that one
20-year-old can inflict so much pain in the world? If Adam Lanza’s last
actions mirror who Adam Lanza was, then he was a young man who had a
troubled relationship with his mother, with children, and, most
importantly, with himself. According to a Dec. 15, 2012, AP News Brief,
Adam Lanza’s former school adviser remembers Adam Lanza as “awkward
loner who had trouble feeling pain.” [<a href="http://www.examiner.com/article/a-killer-s-profile-why-adam-lanza-killed-innocent-children" target="_blank">Examiner</a>]</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170878017616449326.post-22316611636650269662012-10-24T13:15:00.000+02:002016-04-12T03:59:45.413+02:00QR code<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img alt="QRCode" src="http://qrfree.kaywa.com/?s=8&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.moorekwesi.blogspot.com" height="200" width="200" /></div>
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QR code is the new quickest way to share your webpage and i have mine. Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170878017616449326.post-72489041764496985202012-07-05T02:09:00.000+02:002012-07-05T02:09:33.001+02:00What Is Right with Akpeteshie?No one ever swallowed Akpeteshie and smiled. At best the reaction is a grimace or a frown. Some drinkers acknowledge receipt by blowing out air or pounding the chest. Such is the potency of the local gin that all senses are put under instant attack. But it does not end there. Akpeteshie is so positively notorious that given the chance, its patrons would rather consume it in secret. To begin with, the local gin has a tall list of accusations which is almost incriminating.<br />
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The criticisms are solid enough to confine the drink to the bottom of the hard liquor range. Still, this position in no way affects its popularity. With an active grass root loyalty, Akpeteshie is easily the most recognisable alcoholic brand in Ghana. But without any advertisement how has the drink survived over the years? More importantly, can anything good come out of Akpeteshie?<br />
<br />
Kill Me Quick, Ogoglo, Apio, VC10, Efie Nipa, Kele, Kumepreko, Anferewoase, Apiatiti, Home Boy, Nana Drobo, One Touch, Sodabi, Holy Water, Liquid Fire, Y2k, Agbaa, Yahoo.Com, Man Pass Man, African Ice. Quick Action, Yes We Can.<br />
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The above is just one paragraph of accolades Akpeteshie answers to. For the information of the general public, this list is by no means exhaustive. When one turns to the various Ghanaian languages there are more. If the drink has so many aliases it only shows that it means so many things to so many. Rather humbly, Akpeteshie then becomes a kind of ‘‘that I shall be all things to all people.’’<br />
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According to patrons, using these titles is a way of showing reverence to a very important product. For the souls that Akpeteshie has won, the drink is too valuable to be referred to on first name basis. In respect of this sentiment we shall, for the purpose of this discourse also refer to Akpeteshie as Apio.<br />
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In the days of yore when Britannia ruled the shore of the Gold Coast they found Apio abominable. The open secret was that Akpeteshie was too competitive for their imported beverages. They knew that leaving the drink all alone would be a marketing disaster for their Jack Daniels and Old Toms. They therefore banned it. Oh yes, they did. So, when in March 1957 Ghana, our beloved country gained independence, Akpeteshie also became free forever.<br />
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Indeed, the drink’s very name is derived from its contraband history. In Ga, the phrase, ‘‘akpe teshie’’ means to go into hiding. Because it was an outlawed drink, distillers, distributors and consumers all had to be secretive in dealing with the product. They had to operate in a ‘‘mau mau,’’ guerrilla fashion. This experience went a long way to account for the defiance character Akpeteshie and its drinkers are associated with.<br />
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The ‘bad boy’ image was thus handed down from one generation to another. Little wonder Akpeteshie has a freedom fighting spirit. Sons-in-law and oppressed tenants who have borrowed ‘Apio courage’ to face the powers-that-be will attest to this. Therefore, if the brand essence of champagne, for example, is ‘celebrating achievement,’ that of Akpeteshie would be ‘obiaa nnye obiaa.’<br />
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But to be honest, and for the records, Akpeteshie also has a very serious value proposition- that of faithfully serving Ghanaian traditional culture. From birth through marriage to death, the drink is required for a number of customary rites. It is used to pour libation and at the traditional level, it is part of the fine imposed at arbitrations. If one thinks of what Schnapps (in all it’s glory) is used for today, one should know that Akpeteshie ‘has been there and done that.’ Except for Islamic communities, this is true across the length and breadth of Ghana.<br />
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Like all forms of alcohol, akpeteshie denotes power relations. For example, in traditional communities, the true elder worth his salt is the one who always has a bottle of the stuff stashed under his bed. This gesture speaks volumes of the man’s readiness to serve custom at any given time. Also, when men gather for an occasion power or manliness tilts towards those who can swallow Akpeteshie with the solemn face of a priest at communion.<br />
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From time immemorial the process of distilling has remained the same. Apio is made mainly from palm wine and sugar cane. Typically, the juice is allowed to ferment over a couple of days. Distilling involves applying intense heat to the fermented juice until it turns into vapour before finally trickling through copper pipe into sieved jars. The set up includes two barrels; one with the boiling fermented juice and the other is a barrel filled with cooling water. The copper pipe connects the two through the cooling system.<br />
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Akpeteshie is also distilled with juice from the cocoa fruit and also with sugar. Some distillers use nails to quicken fermentation. Scientists call this process oxidisation. Who says our ancestors knew no science?<br />
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Without a doubt, the defining feature of the drink is the rather high alcohol content. Because it is not well-documented, Apio’s alcoholic volume has become a myth of a sort. To some observers, it is as well because the alcohol content is so high that it is almost scandalous. To understand the kind of resource Akpeteshie is, let us note that Guinness Stout contains 7.5% alcohol while Star Beer has 5%. For proper comparison, Castle Bridge (another gin) is 40%. However, anybody who knows the game will tell you that Castle Bridge has no business rubbing shoulders with Akpeteshie. End of analysis.<br />
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Of course, our medical doctors are not at all amused by this concentration of alcohol. They warn that Akpeteshie could be harmful especially, to the liver. Medical doctors would tell you that any amount of alcohol taken causes some changes in the brain. When this persists it damages the brain leading to forgetfulness, lack of focus and depression.<br />
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Akpeteshie rocks the body. For the first timer, there is a kind of body-conquering je ne sais quoi which is hard to describe. If one hasn’t tried boxing before the effect helps you see what a knockout punch probably feels like.<br />
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Each time you take in Apio, there is a feeling of attack. The nervous system instantly gets alerted and within seconds messages are sent to all the senses.<br />
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Then there is an upliftment, a buoyancy to a certain level of consciousness, this is quickly followed by a sinking feeling. If one is standing this is the time to tell the ground to stop moving.<br />
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Connoisseurs tend to liken Akpeteshie to Russian Vodka. Whether this is a compliment or not is a matter of debate. In Tokyo, I remember ever giving a sample of the drink to a friend from Kryghstan, former Soviet Union. Soon after recovering from the initial effects. ‘Boris’ sucked in air and with eyes all reddened asked:<br />
<br />
‘Thhis, your national trink?’ Conscious to defend my nation’s pride, I did not know whether to agree or deny.<br />
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Another powerful element of Apio is the scent. When unconsumed, the drink cannot be said to smell that badly. But as soon as Akpeteshie enters the mouth, an abominable chemical reaction occurs which smells almost devilish. The ‘‘fuse’’ is more provocative when one is boxed in an air-conditioned room. According to experts, the following can be chewed to offset the smell: groundnuts, ginger and corn on-the-cob. Trying to subdue the smell with chewing gum and peppermint is a waste of effort. As for brushing up the teeth after Akpeteshie, there is no worse remedy. It provokes the smell.<br />
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Perhaps, if there is one factor that restricts big men from the product it is the scent. Actually, the relationship between Akpeteshie and ‘‘big men’’ is a curious one. Though the drink is seen as mass-oriented, in practice, a good number of consumers happen to be prominent folks. They usually use it as ‘‘foundation’’ while enjoying their prestigious drinks.<br />
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There is this standing rumour of a past Ghanaian Head of State. Apparently, this First Gentleman had a little fondness for Akpeteshie. The only problem was that the exigencies of high office were depriving him of the local gin.<br />
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As the story goes, this Commander -in- Chief once bumped into an old friend who used to be a drinking pal. Contrary to such encounters, it was not the ordinary citizen but rather the ruler of the land who had an urgent request. He bemoaned how the high office has deprived him of the good old stuff. Would his trusted old friend be kind enough to undertake a small national assignment? Could he secure and discreetly deliver a gallon of Akpeteshie, for old time’s sake? And whilst at it, could he bear in mind that the affair remained a state secret?<br />
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Based on the intrigues of this antecdote an obvious question is: who drinks Akpeteshie? In demographic terms (gender, religion, age, occupation, etc), there is only one answer. Everybody. Yes every group in the above examples has a subset of Akpeteshie, drinkers; namely:<br />
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Doctors, housewives, lawyers, traditionalists, school boys, pastors, bankers, machomen, kayayes, fishermen, Christians, politicians, by-day labourers, civil servants, writers, the elderly, cocoa growers, designers, professors, hiplife rappers, journalists, election officers, khebab sellers, commercial drivers.<br />
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For many of those who consume it, Akpeteshie functions as the appetiser before meals. They claim that it enables them to eat well. Many female drinkers assign this as their reason. After cooking, the smell of the food sometimes overwhelms them and makes them lose appetite. But Apio becomes a good remedy. Interestingly, when you spell Akpeteshie on the computer without the last ‘e’ Bill Gates’ Microsoft Word will play it back as the synonym of appetite. This is no lie.<br />
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Akpeteshie is actually an international drink. Elsewhere, particularly in the Carribeans, its equivalent is rum. In Brazil the first cousin of Apio is a well known drink marketed as Cairpirinha.<br />
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In terms of the marketing mix, Akpeteshie has not done badly. As a product, it is the strongest in its category. Its price is right (about ten times less than its acclaimed competitor, Vodka). It is available in nearly every place. Anytime you hear of "blue kiosk", know that the reference is to a base where the drink is sold. These days the market penetration has been improved by hawkers who carry it around town.<br />
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There is only a problem when one considers how the drink is packaged. Packaging is part of promotion and here, Akpeteshie scores zero. The drink is not bottled, not sealed and not labelled. Akpeteshie is always poured in used and borrowed bottles. In considering the possible images that I could use for this feature story, it occurred to me that though Akpeteshie has been with us all these years, there is not a single symbol that identifies it.<br />
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Irrespective of the brand, one can always recognise a beer bottle, same for soft drinks. With our traditional drinks a calabash, depending on the setting could denote Pito or palm wine. What is the symbol for Akpeteshie? Can the absence of this be a national achievement or indictment?<br />
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Though it is doing well in sales the fact also remains that Akpeteshie has a huge image problem. Apio is not available in supermarkets or even in retail grocery outlets. This is in part due to its own failings.<br />
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As the l’enfant terrible of the hard liquor range, Akpeteshie does not have a good character. The drink has wrecked several homes. Many a young man has turned out to be worse off because they abused it. It has made accomplished men useless. Maybe, if Akpeteshie has not developed to a refined, well labelled brand it is due to its own ill reputation. Therefore, no tears for Akpeteshie.<br />
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These challenges notwithstanding, Apio is good business. Demand for it is round the clock and round the calendar. For retailers, starting up the trade is pretty easy. All one needs is a gallon, a beer bottle, a minerals bottle, a couple of glasses and a funnel. A bench for customers to sit on is good but not necessary. Many customers prefer to do the ‘standing ovation’, ie, stand, drink and move on.<br />
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If there is one alcoholic drink that has not needed advertising it is Apio. The drink has defied the theories of marketing. Everybody knows Akpeteshie. Even those who have never tasted know what it stands for. For any product, this is more than good. The drink has attained the stage in marketing communication known as ‘brand recognition’.<br />
<br />
While the love of Akpteshie is enough to make some grown-ups weep, some people also hate it with self-righteous anger. There is this anecdote of a British parliamentarian on a campaign, who was asked ‘if elected, would you ban alcohol in your constituency?’<br />
<br />
'What is alcohol?' begins the politician’s response. "If by alcohol you mean that drink that causes distress and tears families apart then I would condemn it in no uncertain term. But if by alcohol you mean that satisfying liquid that soothes in times of sorrow and delights in times of joy; that which lubricates societal relations then why, it must be preserved and promoted as a spirit of human civilisation."<br />
<br />
In our own parliament not long ago, there was a nice little debate on the use of alcohol vis-a-vis health needs. I believe we can leave that incident for the national gazette. As for Apio, it offers more than a policy dilemma to state actors. But whether we wish it ‘‘long live’’ or ‘’go to hell’’ Akpeteshie is still out there, with a smile.<br />
<br />
-Kofi Akpabli -Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170878017616449326.post-43019952062235205952011-08-01T12:32:00.000+02:002015-06-22T12:33:56.830+02:00Anders Behring Breivik and the future of Europe.Anders Breivik, currently a household name in Norway and many other parts of the world,might be well remembered for the atrocities caused to Norwegians at large.In as much as there's hatred for his act of terrorism the issues he raises should not be swept under the carpet. <br />
<br />
Anders' is not an isolated case of extreme hatred and indignation towards minority in Europe albeit the most horrendous. The increase in right wing groups across Europe is disturbing if not worrisome. Some commentator argue that the media has propagated a liberal message to hide these real issues.<br />
<br />
Several cases of mistreatment towards immigrants have been left untouched to rot in dockets. Several groups keep springing with hatred. This is not a solely Jewish hatred but also hatred for non-european looking people. This of course is problematic; as such definitions are gradually becoming a nuace due to globalization.<br />
<br />
Of course, the stereotype created by the media of immigrants and other minorities is the what is creating such hate. The numbers keep increasing of hate crimes, of abuse and or on-towards behaviour.<br />
<br />
The future is looking like a racial war for supremacy and hate will be its fuel. The numerous far-right parties gaining power in the seat on EU and several european countries should be a fore-warning of what is to come. That many europeans are getting worried about their daily living and benefits.<br />
<br />
---to be continued.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170878017616449326.post-54660584422572010342011-07-25T03:13:00.024+02:002011-08-27T16:51:00.249+02:00Personal facts about Andrew Berwick (Anders Behring Breivik)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2pfWNt53X6ZVVO_tgTtyAu16uZ4NXltoSahC90NeSg6Sp9Kuxp5dIJHJHTVhy7mYzhIbVwdZ37PFvOjN3tjtDt6MhT6GgM6Wz3Vyhc4wKDE4J1X9R4xSdsJgIlLfXHJuV9tEj3occl_01/s1600/AndrewBerwirk.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 229px; height: 176px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2pfWNt53X6ZVVO_tgTtyAu16uZ4NXltoSahC90NeSg6Sp9Kuxp5dIJHJHTVhy7mYzhIbVwdZ37PFvOjN3tjtDt6MhT6GgM6Wz3Vyhc4wKDE4J1X9R4xSdsJgIlLfXHJuV9tEj3occl_01/s320/AndrewBerwirk.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="Andrew Berwick" /></a><br />
<span style="font-weight:bold;">Name:</span> Anders Behring Breivik (Andrew Berwick)<br />
<span style="font-weight:bold;">Nationality:</span> Norwegian<br />
<span style="font-weight:bold;">Born:</span> February 1979<br />
<span style="font-weight:bold;">Height:</span> 183 cm<br />
<span style="font-weight:bold;">Weight:</span> 80 kg<br />
<span style="font-weight:bold;">Ethnicity:</span> Nordic/Norwegian<br />
<span style="font-weight:bold;">Address: </span>Oslo ,Norway<br />
<span style="font-weight:bold;">Personality:</span> Optimistic, pragmatic, ambitious, creative, hard working.<br />
<span style="font-weight:bold;">Political view:</span> Cultural conservative, Revolutionary conservative, Vienna School of Thought,economically liberal.<br />
<span style="font-weight:bold;">Religion:</span> Christian, Protestant but I support a reformation of Protestantism leading to it being absorbed by Catholisism. The typical “Protestant Labour Church” has to be deconstructed as its creation was an attempt to abolish the Church<br />
<span style="font-weight:bold;">Religious:</span> I went from moderately to agnostic to moderately religious.<br />
<span style="font-weight:bold;">Education: </span>Non-formal equivalent to 7 years + at university level.<br />
<span style="font-weight:bold;">Professions:</span> Investor, Director, Manager - founder of several companies, Small business management (including organisational development), political analyst, author, stock analyst/trader. I'm unsure whether resistance fighter (Justiciar Knight Commander) and martyr counts as a profession.<br />
<span style="font-weight:bold;">Nicotine:</span> Yes<br />
<span style="font-weight:bold;">Alcohol:</span> Occasionally<br />
<span style="font-weight:bold;">Drugs:</span> No<br />
<span style="font-weight:bold;">Tattoos:</span> No<br />
<span style="font-weight:bold;">Sports:</span> Snowboarding, fitness (body building/spinning), running.<br />
<span style="font-weight:bold;">Watch sport:</span> Only women’s sand volley ball:P Perhaps I would if Norway didn’t suck so hard in football.<br />
<span style="font-weight:bold;">Name of your primary weapon:</span> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mj%C3%B6lnir" target="_blank">Mjöllnir</a><br />
<span style="font-weight:bold;">Name of your side arm:</span> Gungnir.<br />
<span style="font-weight:bold;">Hobbies:</span> Political analysis, studying new topics, Free Mason, Heraldry, Genealogy, gaming (MMO or Modern Warfare 2), travelling – learning about new cultures, music, friends. I have had the privilege of experiencing the following countries:<br />
Sweden, Denmark, UK, Germany, Poland, Belarus, France, Austria, Hungary, Croatia,Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Spain, Cyprus, Malta, US, Turkey, Mexico,China,Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire,Liberia.<br />
<br />
Key points – Curriculum Vitae<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight:bold;">Key qualifications:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight:bold;">Organisational/business development</span> – Experience with the establishment, development and management of smaller businesses related to the fields; organisational/business development, small business management, marketing and sales<br />
Financial analysis – stock/currency analysis relating to the fields/indicators; candlesticks, RSI, stochastic, MACD, Bollinger bands, DMI, momentum<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight:bold;">2005-2007: Managing director of E-Commerce Group AS </span>(part investment company – 50%, part sales/outsourcing company – 50%). I converted ABB ENK to a corporation (AS). Total of 7 employees: 3 in Norway, 1 in Russia, 1 in Indonesia, 1 in Romania, 1 in the US. Distribution of outsourcing services to foreign companies, sold software/programming solutions. Worked part time with day trading (stocks/options/currency/commodities). This was a front (milking cow) with the purpose of financing resistance/liberation related military operations. The company was successful although most of the funds were channelled through a Caribbean subsidiary (with base in Antigua, a location where European countries do not have access): Brentwood Solutions Limited with bank accounts in other Caribbean nations and Eastern Europe. E-Commerce Group was terminated in 2007 while most of the funds were channelled in an “unorthodox manner” to Norway available to the coming intellectual and subsequent operations phase.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight:bold;">2002-2004: Director of Anders Behring Breivik ENK) (</span>part time from May 02 (shortly after my inclusion in PCCTS) – des. 02, full time from March 03. Same emphasis as E-Commerce Group. This was a front (milking cow) I established and focused on shortly after my inclusion in PCCTS, Knights Templar with the purpose of financing resistance/liberation related military operations.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight:bold;">2002-2003:</span> Supervisor/internal advisor for Bankia Bank ASA (Apr. 02 – March 03)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight:bold;">2001-2002:</span> Customer service representative for Bankia Bank ASA (Nov. 01 – Apr. 02)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight:bold;">2000-2001: Managing director of Media Group AS.</span> Development and sales of outdoor media solutions (primarily billboards). My company was partially acquired/bought by Mediamax Norway AS after I (and my employee, Kristoffer Andresen) had built a billboard portfolio from scratch in the Oslo area which was then sold to Mediamax Norge AS (which was later bought by JC Decaux Norway) and Clear Channel (July 00 – July 01)<br />
<span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />
1999-2000: </span>Team leader for the customer service rep. dept. for Enitel Telephony/mobile/internet/support division (March 99 – July 00)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight:bold;">1998-1999: Director for Behring & Kerner Marketing DA.</span> Implenetation and sales of telephonic services (part time from Aug. 98-Feb. 99)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight:bold;">1997-1999: </span>Corporate customer care rep. for customer care/internet support for Telia Norway AS (Nov 97-Feb 99)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight:bold;">1996-1997: </span>Part time as a sales rep. for ACTA Economical Counselling (Feb 96-97)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight:bold;">Education:</span> Non-formal studies/degrees: Bachelor of Business Administration (major: small business management) part time studies using the curriculum/online study courses from AIU, American InterContinental University (98-02), Bachelor of Political Science (major: political science and history) part time studies (00-05), Master of Political Science, full/part time studies (05-10). See other chapter for specification.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight:bold;">Other professional activities:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight:bold;">2005: </span>Was coached by my friend, former mentor and independent stock analyst; Xun Dai over a 6 month period on the areas: technical stock analysis: candlesticks, RSI, stochastic, MACD, Bollinger bands, DMI, momentum<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight:bold;">2000-2001:</span> Was coached by mo former mentor – and managing director of Hypertec AS; Richard Steenfeldt-Berg over a 12 month period on the areas; management, administration, corporate/business/organisation development (May 00-May 01)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight:bold;">1995-1998:</span> Oslo Handelsgymnasium/Hartvig Nissen High School<br />
<span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />
Board positions, professional activities, responsibilities</span><br />
<br />
2003: <span style="font-weight:bold;">Candidate for the Oslo City Council</span> election on behalf of the Oslo Progress Party. This was during the “crossroad” when I was in the process of deciding whether I would fully abandon conventional politics (and a career within conventional politics) as a solution/source to acquire funds for the future operation or if I would rather leave conventional politics altogether and rather focus on entrepreneurship/business as the source for financing my future and clandestine participation in the pan-European Conservative Revolutionary Movement/pan-European Resistance Movement. As you already know I became one of the founding members of the PCCTS, Knights Templar in 2002 and among the very first Justiciar Knight Commanders. However, regardless of this choice, I was not completely convinced I was done with conventional politics. I actually decided to do a last push (after my pledge to the PCCTS) as I was already nominated on behalf of the Oslo Progress Party for the City Council election in 2003/2004. I came relatively close to being elected but was not among the final contestants due to the fact that the Progress Party Youth (lead by my rival Jøran Kallmyr) refused, for strategical reasons, to support my candidature. At the time I was more popular than Jøran but needed the support of the youth organisation (an organisation I had been a part of for a few years). I don’t blame him for backstabbing me like that though. After all, he had invested so much more of his time to the organisation than I had. He deserved it while I didn’t and I would probably have done the same thing if I was him.<br />
<br />
Also, during the “crossroad phase” I had lost all faith in the Progress Party as a solution to Norway’s rapid disintegration due to multiculturalism and Islamisation. A moderate cultural conservative political party like the Progress Party is un-capable of solving any of our primary problems as they are systematically ridiculed and isolated by all other political parties and a united media sector. This, even despite of the fact that they have taken measures and gotten rid of all true nationalists ending up with only opportunistic career cynisists unwilling to take any political risks.<br />
<br />
The Progress Party is now a part of the problem as they continuously give the Norwegian people false hope and thus contributes to pacify them. They should rather be honest and admit that all hopes for the democratical change of the society is futile and rather encourage all patriotic Norwegians to resist the multiculturalist regime through armed resistance. Their unwillingness to do this makes them a central part of the problem and in fact an obstacle to the liberation of and the reconquista of Norway.<br />
<br />
I anticipate that the Norwegian media will persecute and undermine the Progress Party for my earlier involvement in the organisation. This is not a negative thing as an increasing amount of Norwegians will then have their “illusions of democratic change” crushed (if the Progress Party is annihilated by the multiculturalist media) and rather resorts to armed resistance. From a tactical and pragmatical viewpoint; the PC Medias defeat of the Progress Party will benefit the armed National Resistance Movement in Norway. The more moderate alternatives are persecuted the more likely it is that the average nationalists illusions of peaceful reform will be crushed, which will lead to him seeking “other means”. Because at this point, armed resistance and the violent overthrow of our regime is the only thing that can save us.<br />
<br />
2002: <span style="font-weight:bold;">Founding member</span> (national representative) of the PCCTS, Knights Templar, in London (April).<br />
<br />
2002: <span style="font-weight:bold;">Member of the board of directors </span>of the control authority for Majorstuen Eldresenter (Majorstuen Retirement home), political position for the Norwegian Progress Party.<br />
<br />
2002: <span style="font-weight:bold;">Member of the board of directors</span> for Uranienborg Elementary and Secondary School, political position for the Norwegian Progress Party.<br />
<br />
2001: <span style="font-weight:bold;">Development of the financial prospectu</span>s for Hypertec AS in cooperation with NB Partner AS and PriceWaterhouseCoopers DA (Jan 01-May 01)<br />
<br />
2000-2003: <span style="font-weight:bold;">Board member in Progress Party Frogner</span> and Vice Chairman in the Progress Party Youth – Oslo West.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170878017616449326.post-45169221962955453472011-04-14T02:16:00.012+02:002017-12-18T02:57:44.697+01:00Love - A Happy Gaol.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqAKHkGpjTrfs2v7evcAUT-yblhqTgwokzV_bQdMch3_eh9ty3_O8q3FIDhoFm_1erWx5W96lD50EgmxW2iDpEVyL8xtpDesM7ZeMEo-wJA9L6pv2BYm6BqpZKLUe5jl2FJw9AwxILd9ib/s1600/bond.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595235415597841650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqAKHkGpjTrfs2v7evcAUT-yblhqTgwokzV_bQdMch3_eh9ty3_O8q3FIDhoFm_1erWx5W96lD50EgmxW2iDpEVyL8xtpDesM7ZeMEo-wJA9L6pv2BYm6BqpZKLUe5jl2FJw9AwxILd9ib/s320/bond.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 275px;" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The sight of a chain bounded around anyone foists your thoughts with illegality, pain and anguish. A prisoner you may call him or her but for what and of what? You may see the chains but he will not be perturbed, you may feel the pain nevertheless s/he'll not be in anguish, it may be illegal and yet legal. S/He is not bothered by the weight of the chains, the boredom of loneliness nor the shrewdness of the gaoler. To be imprisoned by love? Certainly yes!<br />
<br />
You never notice that the prisoner is in chains. The ambivalence of a chain and its accompanying gay. The chains of Love.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170878017616449326.post-12585710890485453112010-12-12T07:02:00.010+01:002017-09-27T00:40:43.228+02:00No smoke is forever.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie00xn7FX6wMEboNByOR2h0ovth9349uXOP1MieipmWkwlV23yF6tmhv8lWyDv7MncLMSl9yI8mVMCWbHVOSsiXvo_2rAlacrfCqDQHNJjH0O7IpXXiX103BD_jVlHHnxl-Sd93hpjBz36/s1600/smoke_fire.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595554357960522770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie00xn7FX6wMEboNByOR2h0ovth9349uXOP1MieipmWkwlV23yF6tmhv8lWyDv7MncLMSl9yI8mVMCWbHVOSsiXvo_2rAlacrfCqDQHNJjH0O7IpXXiX103BD_jVlHHnxl-Sd93hpjBz36/s320/smoke_fire.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 214px;" /></a><br />
After the light from the candle goes out,it's proceeded by a smoke. A tentative look assumes the smoke will be ever-present. It's strength is only dependent on the strength of it environment. Harsh winds keep them silent. Sooner, everything dies out and a new beginning dawns.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170878017616449326.post-7286453386492305252010-11-17T23:37:00.004+01:002013-02-24T23:20:07.393+01:00When Cattle lead a man<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirAEpoUcwbIX7uu3YYUo6fgVwrDpUgKOTL88_F8EXdIppLI4HhmyK-7Dg-YrJ2eJq2PoQQwTZcTm-BFjryE5Ukn6FqYPhYrp-Zs6pDrw2wGHrt9nuLd6jve9ZRjpcK9I2S7kEtc1oInf1Y/s1600/cow_man.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540668513670202290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirAEpoUcwbIX7uu3YYUo6fgVwrDpUgKOTL88_F8EXdIppLI4HhmyK-7Dg-YrJ2eJq2PoQQwTZcTm-BFjryE5Ukn6FqYPhYrp-Zs6pDrw2wGHrt9nuLd6jve9ZRjpcK9I2S7kEtc1oInf1Y/s320/cow_man.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 218px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a> Poor leadership is ignoring realities for fantasies and allowing your responsibility to be taken by others. One must see leadership as a response to society's need for direction and courage. The leader must lead with passion and determination to a successful end.There's no hiding behind the crowd.if you fear the cries of the cattle,then you cannot be a herdsman.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170878017616449326.post-75814323676226217052010-11-01T03:12:00.006+01:002012-10-14T01:30:03.858+02:00The truth about Fufu<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj25cKaTYgHVidz3gQJ4F56d45sXnph2977djqF2rUIdAiv76E_FqOWy7Ffr23D2wJNaKywDPGykzK6MF9raLPke-E1YjKBF09jbaC90hYopCGknV7sFl0zH7LoV9ns7oPY1hH0mQ5BH5SA/s1600/fufu.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608344984382822594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj25cKaTYgHVidz3gQJ4F56d45sXnph2977djqF2rUIdAiv76E_FqOWy7Ffr23D2wJNaKywDPGykzK6MF9raLPke-E1YjKBF09jbaC90hYopCGknV7sFl0zH7LoV9ns7oPY1hH0mQ5BH5SA/s320/fufu.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 242px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 173px;" /></a>Perhaps, if there is one reason why we refuse to adopt a less laborious way to pound fufu, it is because we believe it is worth the sweat. For those Ghanaians who eat fufu, they love it to the morsel and the toil of preparation seems fair effort for the yummy reward.<br />
<br />
Of course, one is aware of these modern, pre-made innovations but frankly, what has powder got to do with it? Fufu is about boiled tubers and topam-topam, that’s all.<br />
<br />
In Ghana, we express serendipity by saying that ‘fufu has fallen into soup.’ One does not wish for a more palatable situation. Whether done with yam, cassava, cocoyam, plantain or combinations of these, fufu provides a delicious, full meal for many Ghanaians. It also allows us to show our zest for life.<br />
<br />
Just consider this: a sweaty encounter with an ‘asanka’ of fufu, overran with hot, delicious soup- crabs, snails, fish and all. The ginger and pepper and prekese gets the nose to run, still the swallowing continues unabated. While the right hand is ferrying the fufu in, the left hand busily wipes the sweat, the phlegms and the tears. Occasionally, the soup trickles from the palm down to the elbow but the mouth still follows this and actually sucks the drip at the tip of the elbow…<br />
<br />
This may not exactly be your style but that is what the love of fufu can do to folks. For those who don’t like it (how saaaad) sorry, but you can’t be helped here.<br />
<br />
Fufu is important because it is one of the most widespread staple foods in Ghana. From the coastal belt through the forest regions to Savannah-land fufu is a staple in its various forms.<br />
<br />
Boiled tubers are pounded until they turn gummy, soft, and uniformly textured. But there is a price to pay. Fufu preparation takes much time. It is energy demanding and produces noise.<br />
<br />
Owing to these reasons, fufu is not a meal that one person would ordinarily prepare. At home, fufu effectively becomes a family affair. Contrast this to a saucepan of rice prepared for the family.<br />
<br />
All day long, each person can come and dish their portions. Not so with fufu. By constitution, fufu goes bad in a couple of hours. (Some people try to preserve by placing salt on top). What this means is that the food must be faced and cleared like the football penalty event.<br />
<br />
In Ghana the day most associated with the fufu phenomenon is Sunday. There isn’t much activity and everyone is home. Fufu thus becomes a ceremonial dish, much like the English family’s Sunday Roast Dinner. Because of these connections, when the Ghanaian says he or she is looking forward to the weekend, fufu is likely to be part of the motivation.<br />
<br />
In rural or traditional societies, however, fufu is a daily situation. Indeed, there are communities in which (like bird song at sunset) evenings are marked with a symphony of fufu sound splash blaring from every household.<br />
<br />
Fufu pounding comes with a skill set and style of its own. It involves repeatedly thrusting the pestle into the mortar. The complementary technique has to do with massaging or moderating the gummy paste in the mortar with the bare hand.<br />
<br />
The moderation involves, adding up boiled tubers one at a time, softening with water, turning and removing lumps (Lumps are a curse and disrupt the smoothness of the fufu eating experience). The skill set also includes regulating the intensity of each pestle hit. Like a choir director, the moderator instructs the pounder to hit hard or land softly. Finally, the moderator smoothens the fufu, cuts the portions and serves them out.<br />
<br />
How fufu turns out depends a lot on how it has been moderated. The one in charge must understand the dynamics of tubers. For instance, some turn out fantastic when pounded hot. Others only do well when pounded cold. (With boiled cassava the general rule is that the colder and drier it is, the more elastic the fufu).<br />
<br />
The position of the fufu pounder is to stand facing the moderator (who sits on a low stool). The technique is to hold the pestle with both arms. With eyes glued to the mortar, he raises it up and brings it crashing into the specific spot indicated by the moderator (actually, where the moderator’s fingers have just left). Call this the game of ‘follow my fingers.’<br />
<br />
For those who wonder why there is no hand crashing in this enterprise, the secret is simple. Rhythm. Fufu pounding is all about rhythm (actually, fufu swallowing is also about rhythm). This is what ensures that the hand of the moderator is not flattened because right from the first pestle crash it is established when the hand can get in and out of the mortar.<br />
<br />
At chop bars where giant pestles and mortars are used, it is common to see fufu macho-men punctuate each hit with a moaning refrain.<br />
<br />
Sometimes, their manly sweat drip down to flavour the fufu. But hold it, if you intend to complain to the Food and Drugs Board. A number of Ghanaians surveyed eating fufu at the restaurant confessed that they still respect the pedigree of chop bar fufu. When the soup is prepared by a man, then we’re talking something quintessential.<br />
<br />
In Ghanaian culture the stance of the fufu pounder is determined by his relationship with the moderator. Fufu pounding protocol demands that a junior must be upstanding and hold pestle with both hands.<br />
<br />
However, when the pounder is of a higher social status, eg. a husband, he may sit and pound. He may also hold the pestle with just one hand.<br />
<br />
The fufu pounding process does not always follow the two-person model (known also as ‘fufu-one-on-one’). There are those who have mastered both techniques of pounding and moderating and can single-handedly merge the two talents. Call this one-person operation ‘Automated Fufu Machine’ or ‘aworka’ in local parlance.<br />
<br />
AFM requires a high level of efficiency and synchronisation. The person sits using one hand to hold the pestle in the middle while the other hand does the turning. method also requires sharp psychomotor abilities and a mental balance. In our society, individuals skilled in AFM, are taken for granted but they are an asset to the nation.<br />
<br />
Finally, there’s the format where fufu is pounded in a giant mortar.<br />
<br />
Up to about six people stand round the mortar with pestle in hand.<br />
<br />
Here, there is no moderator, (that would be murder, won’t you say).<br />
<br />
At a signal, each participant hit rhythmically at the mass of boiled yam. This is the ‘Pestles of Mass Destruction’ technique. The PMD method pertains in northern parts of Ghana.<br />
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For many enthusiasts fufu is life. It’s life attributes are typified by the mortar and pestle which are analogous to the copulation that leads to procreation. The pestle is not only phallus shaped it actually simulates its piston action. The mortar is feminine, the one with the vital opening.<br />
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Pestle expends the energy to thrust in and out while mortar is imbued with soaking the pressure. Together, both implements help each other to consummate the task thereby releasing tension.<br />
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When all is done, the pestle is no longer needed until the next session. Meanwhile, the end product lies in the bosom of the mortar just like a new baby issues from the woman’s womb.<br />
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There is a trinity of unspoken rules governing fufu. Firstly, it must go with soup (not sauce, not stew, not gravy). We mean soup in the unadulterated Ghanaian sense. Fufu without soup is like a groom without a bride.<br />
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Rule two: fufu must be swallowed. Nothing can be uglier than watching someone chew. D.i.s.g.u.s.t.i.n.g.<br />
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Rule three: fufu must be eaten with the fingers, all the time and all the way. Don’t forget, the fufu encounter also involves portioning and rounding up each morsel, lapping up soup, breaking bones and cutting fish. The fingers can perform all these smoothly. Simply put, fufu is a hand-y affair. Using a cutlery is an aberration. (Time to bow your heads in shame, all you who use cutlery) For clarification, one is allowed to use spoon, to scoop the soup.<br />
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When it comes to how folks like their fufu it’s not quite a simple affair. While some prefer the fufu swimming in soup (Island Delight), others like it separated from the soup. But it goes beyond that. For some, the type of fufu desired actually squares up with the type of soup. The permutation may thus go like this: light fufu with thick soup or thick fufu with thick soup.<br />
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Because of the emotional attachment to fufu over the generations, there is a body of habits and myths that have developed round it. For example, in Ghanaian society, when someone owes you and you visit to claim your money, there is nothing more irritating than to catch the person pounding fufu (how dare you?).<br />
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Connoisseurs believe that when it is very well pounded fufu is able to breathe. According to experts this breathing phenomenon occurs between the time fufu has just been pounded and before the soup comes.<br />
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After fufu has been pounded it is a taboo for the mortar to be left in the open and touched by dew. Also, to avoid seeing a ghost, one does not wash the face with water collected from the mortar. And, oh, pounding an empty mortar is tantamount to pounding your mother’s breasts.<br />
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Among certain communities it is believed that those who you don’t eat fufu have their mouths and lips formed differently (now that you know you may go ahead and examine the mouths of non-fufu folks).<br />
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People rent houses based on the fact that they are allowed to pound fufu. In selecting homes some people prefer to live downstairs so that their fufu-life will be happier. This is because some landlords do not allow pounding while others do but only before 6 pm. If you are a die hard fufu fan you need to find out about the fufu policy before renting a new place.<br />
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Fufu is special in a number of ways. All our main meals are prepared hot. Uniquely, fufu comes cold, but this is palatably neutralised with the hot soup that mandatorily accompanies it.<br />
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Fufu offers a natural body building opportunity. It is said that before gyms came to town, fufu was producing machomen for free. Also related to its exercising benefits, some communities encourage pregnant women in their last trimester to pound fufu. It is believed that this ensures easy and short labour.<br />
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Fufu is good, it is smooth, it is filling. There are those who eat it in the afternoon and they are done for the day. Others have it in the morning and eat nothing until supper. Some claim they need the fufu dosage like a medical prescription. If they don’t eat fufu in a day they have not eaten. Deprive them and you will be infringing on their human right.<br />
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All said and done, fufu is not only about finger licking and tummy filling. It also has an elevated place in Ghanaian folklore.<br />
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According to a local myth, the fufu story is central to the creation of the world. This legend goes that in the beginning the world was close to God. And the world was good. There was peace, love and joy. The creator provided rain and shine in favourable measure.<br />
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God also provided mankind’s other needs. The air was pure and water was sweet. Rivers overflowed with fish and crop harvest was three times a year. When the earth tried to quake or the wind blew too hard, the Old Man was there to take control, for he lived close by.<br />
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His home was in the clouds which hanged virtually at arm’s length.<br />
All was well until man discovered the taste for fufu. Unlike Adam’s Garden-of-Eden apple, fufu was a serious staple food. It was delicious, satisfying and most importantly, smooth to swallow. In fact, compared to apples, fufu was worth losing paradise for.<br />
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According to the folk tale, man’s obsession with fufu pounding marked the beginning of his problems with the Old Man. Each time the pestle was raised, it pushed the clouds away from the earth. Each time the pestle came down heavily, God shuddered in horror. This went on until the creator became further and further removed from mankind.<br />
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Today, God lives high upstairs and hears our prayers less. Whatever the lesson of this story, we still have to thank God for the gifts of life. This includes fufu.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170878017616449326.post-32033231666489920192010-08-03T21:08:00.011+02:002017-09-27T01:02:49.329+02:00The Rabbit ExperienceI have been living in Linz since March, 2010. It's a nice city with great surroundings. The city is close to many beautiful cities in Europe including Budapest, Prague, Vienna and Munich. Linz is in the Upper Austria state of Austria. The Upper Austria state boasts of several beautiful mountains and industries. If you love sight-seeing, i bet this is a place to visit. Great mountain views, nice lakes and rivers, good environment and above all, an increasing cosmopolitan people.<br />
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My summer was enterprising as a Scottish family who were on the their way for a month vacation invited me to stay in their house for summer break and help care for the family pets; two rabbits.<br />
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Whiles growing up in Ghana, i spent some of my holidays in Takoradi, where family friends had reared rabbits. Our holiday afternoons were spent running around the hutch since we were not allowed to touch them. After many years, i had them as pets for 5 weeks in Austria. I was going to touch them as much as i could and watch them as long as i could. :)<br />
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It was a great experience! Rabbits are very lovely, sweet and funny animals notwithstanding their stubbornness. I spent lots of time reading about them, firstly to get to know their behaviors. I surfed the Internet hours and hours for almost three days reading about rabbits. I could have easily passed a veterinary test on rabbits.<br />
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Female rabbits are called doe are rather soft and obedient compared to their male counterparts, also called buck, according some internet sources. I found this to be true as the doe was really soft and yielding to directions unlike the buck. The multi-purpose rabbits' hutch is on the grassy surrounding in the house's compound.. I opened them daily for about 2-4 hours depending on the weather conditions.If it rained, i didn't allow them to get out of the cage. This keeps them neat and also prevents them digging holes. Beware!<br />
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The Jackie experience: The buck goes by the name Jack; he is super-active and acutely stubborn. He is the first to run out of the cage and purposefully begins chewing the fence, which is normal of rabbits from what i read. One day, i returned from University only to meet an empty cage. The rabbits had escaped. Confused as i was, i knew they'll return. However, after half an hour had gone by, i decided to shout their names, Jack hopped out of the neighbor's nicely planted vegetable farm. Standing afar off, he glared at me and seems to be shouting, I'm Free!I'm Free! Few minutes later, the doe came out from the same direction. Thankfully, they didn't cause any havoc to the neighbor's veggies.<br />
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I called the doe and she hopped to me. I lifted her into the cage and left Jackie to roam about. It seems the more freedom, it had, the more difficult it became to control Jackie; a naughty doe. He didn't want me touching him and hopped around, from one spot to another. Oh Jackie! When darkness fell, he went to stand beside the cage in an attempt to get inside. On realizing it, i helped Jackie into his cage. Well, i spent the afternoon till evening relaxing whiles preparing for some exams.<br />
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Rabbits!Rabbits!i guess everyone needs a rabbit especially a stubborn one,just to keep us calmer.lol!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170878017616449326.post-44080411220460833162010-06-01T04:02:00.003+02:002012-10-14T01:36:20.594+02:00Home is where soup is<i>"Soup is not a child’s play.<br /><br />It must not be served in a cup<br /><br />Nor without meat or fish<br /><br />Soup must have pepper<br /><br />It must never, never have sugar</i>"<br />
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No, no, dear, honourable compatriots. The above prologue is not at all directed at you. The target is all those (particularly in Western society) whose concept of soup is far from that of the Ghanaian. See, these people have ideas about soup which are dangerously funny. How, for instance, can one add sugar or alcohol to soup?<br />
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The above verse is also inspired by an encounter I had with Nora a few years ago. Nora is a lively, bouncy German woman. Like me, she was also a student but with engineering focus. One day, Nora was drinking this yellowish stuff in a cup. When I asked what it was, she said soup. Then she asked if I would like some. Soup in a cup? When will people get serious?<br />
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This episode happened in Europe and must not bother us. However, the way we are adopting western lifestyles, it would only be a matter of time when some of us would start showing similar disrespect to soup. It is no secret that many among us feel inadequate when we see others sit at table with half a dozen different dishes.<br />
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Compared to ours, theirs appear grand. What with starter stuff, main dish, sauce, vegetables, lamb and the works. But do not despair, countrymen and women. With us, it is all in the soup.<br />
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In Ghana, when the dining table is laid, it is typically a tale of four items. First is the main dish; usually, Banku, Akple, Tuo Zaafi, Fufu, etc. Next is the soup bowl. Then there are two sets of water; one for washing hands, the other to be drunk. End of story. In the event of an earthquake, the one item most likely to be saved is the soup bowl. This is a Ghanaian instinct. Simple.<br />
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I could continue this yummy discourse without defining what soup is. Heaven knows the Ghanaian does not need that. We all know soup when we see one. But for the reason that other people may be reading this, let us go ahead and provide some standard explanations.<br />
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What is soup? Philosophically, soup is what makes the Ghanaian say ‘I haven’t eaten all day’ simply because all he or she has had did not contain a soup item. Soup is what makes people look forward to going home after a long day’s work. Again, soup is what gingers up nostalgia for homely, far away places. Finally, soup (especially, when taken hot) is what helps critical minds to form opinion on serious issues.<br />
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In the average Ghanaian home, the phrase ‘what’s for dinner?’ is functionally out of place. The question is: ‘what soup is doing the backing?’ For us, the chief meal of the day is supper, with the main dish usually constant. Soup, then, is what makes the difference; bringing colour to our dinner table.<br />
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Matters of soup are rather serious affairs. For instance, business folks who understand the psychology of soup do not sign a bank cheque after a good soupy treat. In Ghana, people marry because of soup. People divorce because of soup. For both the man who gives out the ‘chop money’ and the wife who prepares the meal, the forum for accountability is the evening meal. This is the moment of truth, with soup being an important indicator.<br />
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The issue of soup is the issue of serious recurrent investment. When Ghanaians complain about the effect of the economic crunch on their food budget, they are significantly talking about the cost of soup. Fact of the matter is that there is no telling how much a saucepan of soup is worth. One cannot say the same for Banku or Fufu, or rice, no matter how perfumed it is. A bowl of soup, by virtue of its richness, can be ten times more expensive than its main dish counterpart.<br />
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Although there are different types of soups the structural fundamentals remain the same. Irrespective of what soup is being prepared the following ingredients are must-include: fish and/or meat, pepper, salt, onion and water. Other leaves, nuts and vegetables are added to determine character. Therefore, we have palm nut soup, groundnut soup, Kontonmire soup, etc. But for all these soups, vegetables such as garden eggs and okra (Why do we say Okro in Ghana?) could be added to form the ‘support squad’.<br />
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Some people can be ambitious and go for an experimental mix. There is thus a combination of palm nut soup and groundnut soup (nkatibe) or groundnut soup with Kontomire soup ("Nkatinkonto") or even a mix of all three, namely, groundnut soup, Kontomire soup and palm nut soup ("Abenkatinkonto").<br />
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Also significant, though of no less importance, is the inevitable question of light soup. Big issue. Light soup, also known as 'Nkrankra', is like the basis of all soups. In deed, the subject matter of light soup is one which requires thesis or dissertation treatment. Some people refer to it as ‘fisherman soup’. The Nigerian equivalent is ‘pepper soup’ while the Japanese answer would be ‘misoshiru’.<br />
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A thing about light soup is that it is one soup that can be taken on its own. A diner can walk into the restaurant and ask for light soup, neat and straight. No other soup enjoys such patronage. Also, for those recovering from bouts of alcohol intake, light soup is a sure cure. In contrast, an attempt to treat hangover with other soups may fail.<br />
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The impressive thing about light soup is that it is so versatile. Indeed, local gastronomy experts believe that all soup come from light soup. The reverse of this logic is that you can have your light soup and easily convert it to palm nut soup or groundnut or okro soup. Such an overhaul doesn’t go against the dynamics of these soups nor does it contravene the national constitution. Do you have light soup and you want it converted to groundnut soup? Don’t worry. Just introduce groundnut paste.<br />
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Light soup enthusiasts believe that at the onset of fever, what one needs is not really a doctor. What does the trick is hot, spicy, garden eggs-stewn, dried fish-enriched light soup. Those who doubt the medicinal side of light soup should wait until they have been beaten wet and sore by the rain. Hot light soup restores sanity in seconds.<br />
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In biblical retrospect, if Jesus Christ had raised that dead 12 year old child in Ghana, the scripture in Mark 5:43 would have read: ‘And Kwaku Yesu said unto the parents, ‘‘behold, offer thy little girl a bowl of light soup.’’’<br />
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When it comes to the structure of light soup, there are two schools of thought. Those who make a meal out of it (the pun is accidental) and those who cannot stomach it (this one is intended). For those who do not like the makeup, their main bone of contention is that light soup doesn’t amount to much. They find the soup too light to be taken seriously. To them, palm nut soup or groundnut soup are not only more filling, they have got character.<br />
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But all hope mustn’t be lost. The remedy for anti-light soup folks is simple, a thick light soup. Yes, thick light soup. See, though light soup can be as light and transparent as water (and still maintain its integrity), it can also be made as thick as gravy. This is actually food for thought. But that is another kettle of fish.<br />
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Critically, the meat or fish that is used to prepare, goes a long way to flavour and define light soup. The following are thus distinct in their own rights: goat meat light soup, cow meat light soup, bush meat light soup or fresh fish light soup (a personal favourite).<br />
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Beyond light soup and others already mentioned, there is another variety of soup. This is what one might call the eclectic or ‘everything goes’ soup. Eclectic soup may begin with a small, innocent bowl of stew. After a day or two of consumption, new ideas crop up. The stew is watered to assume a soup form. More fish or meat is introduced. Then fresh vegetables are added. As the days go by, groundnut paste, okro and even boiled beans may all find their way in. The group of people who are likely to be guilty of the eclectic soup are college students on campus. Other prime candidates are bachelors who do their own cooking.<br />
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In Ghanaian culture, learning how to cook soup is part of a girl’s rite of passage to womanhood. The main setting for picking up the skill is home, usually, from a parent. Soup making involves mastering other related skills such as seasoning, grinding, frying and par-boiling. Over all, the talent of soup making requires a high sense of timing and ingredient proportioning.<br />
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Once soup is prepared and ready, what it can be eaten with is only a matter of pragmatism. Soup is game with Banku, Fufu, Kokonte, Kenkey, Tuo Zaafi, Rice and Gari (The "eba" range). In the case of boiled yam, plantain and the like, soup must advisedly be thick (for the good of the game).<br />
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The virtues of soup are accounted for in folklore as well as in pop culture. Our folk tales and proverbs reflect the importance of good soup and its implication for a woman’s fortunes in marriage. In the Highlife song entitled ‘Asiko Darling,’ Snr. Eddie Donkor speaks of two women fighting for his love. Whilst one rival was using romantic sweet talk, the other was using the power of good soup to advantage. Also, in Okomfo Kwadee’s ‘Adjoa ye me yere, Yaa ye me mpena’ the singer complains of difficulty in choosing between his mistress and his wife. He expresses this dilemma as he sings out the strength and weakness of each rival. What makes his frustrations worse is that both women make delicious soup.<br />
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How soup is taken has its own set of home-grown protocol. In Ghana, while the main dish is served separately from the soup, some people prefer to drop the main dish into the soup and transact ‘business’ from one direct source. Both techniques have their merits.<br />
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Soup is not only eaten with a main dish, it is also drunk straight. By Ghanaian table etiquette, soup drinking takes place after the meal. A woman whose soup is drunk after a meal is a happy woman. To top up a well eaten meal by drinking soup is a compliment which says ‘it’s a pleasure to have your soup.’ In some homes, it is bad manners to leave the table without drinking the soup. Some men actually use this as a weapon. When they feel peeved and proud, but are not brave enough to skip the entire meal, they leave the soup. In such a situation, the following may ensue:<br />
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‘Why, my dear, you have barely eaten?’ says the concerned wife.<br />
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‘Woman, didn’t I eat your food, what else do you want?’<br />
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The way soup is drunk is an art all its own. To date, the three established formulas can be described as ‘spoon to mouth’, ‘bowl to mouth’ and ‘hand to mouth.’ Like the name suggests, spoon to mouth is simply using spoon to drink soup. It has the element of decency. ‘Bowl to mouth’ also means raising the bowl to the mouth and sucking the soup in. The advantage here is that a lot of soup can be drunk at a time.<br />
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The last, ‘hand to mouth,’ is not only the one with the most variations, it also requires the most skill. The first step in this technique is that the fingers are aligned to prevent the soup from leaking. The centre of gravity is lowered to form a little crater in the palm. The scoop machine thus formed is dropped and soon the soup collects in the hole of the hand. This is brought up gingerly and sent straight into the mouth. None of these methods is illegal. An approach which is futuristic is using straw to draw soup like happens when drinking soft drinks.<br />
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There is no doubt that we love soup in Ghana. But let’s take our eyes a little beyond our borders and note the soup culture of other countries. As it turns out, it is not everywhere that soup is king. Even in our West African neighbourhood, not everyone gives soup the attention it deserves. Take Burkina Faso,I once visited a friend in Ouagadougou. For three days we had fun, but on what? Grilled meat and Brakina Beer. At night clubs I was wise enough to snack on boiled eggs which kept me sane. When I was leaving, I could tell my Ouagalais pal was pleased with himself. I never went back and never told him why.<br />
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How about Nigeria? Well, thanks to their videos we know that soups such as ‘orgbornor’ and ‘egwusi’ play vital roles in their nation building efforts. In Togo, too, I know they pay their dues to soup. Whilst doing boys school at St Paul’s, we had the habit of sneaking across the border to drink in delicious Lome soup along with yam fufu. I couldn’t forget that, same way I couldn’t forget my sixth form grades.<br />
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For East Africa, I cannot vouch for them because I have lived with a Ugandan who didn’t know what pepper is. (How unlucky can some people be?). Across Central Africa, I think they might be good at soup, especially, in the green leaves department. Just consider the muscular built of Cameroonian footballers and you would know that soup definitely has a role.<br />
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As for the soup credentials of North Africa, I wouldn’t even go there. Bottom line? African unity cannot be achieved on the platform of soup. Way forward? As soup-eriors in continental liberation, Ghanaians must continue to cherish their soup culture and make our nation great and strong.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170878017616449326.post-2172638180180661282010-05-09T17:08:00.003+02:002010-12-06T10:52:41.291+01:00Efie ne fie: The IlluminationThis note has been a long time coming. So much so that were I not to make full use of the opportunity to vent out months of astriction, I would do myself a disservice. The most apt description I can think of to describe a retrospective look at the situation is the feeling of having a veil pulled over your eyes, perhaps akin to what it must be like everyday for a woman in a muslim nation. I must have been wearing a niqab for about 24 years.<br /><br />I made the independent decision to leave my home country for 'Aburokyire' to get a graduate degree. While it was a choice I made freely and only too willingly, I cannot admit to it having been a comprehensive one or even a practical one. Barely crossed the one year mark being away and I cannot imagine the amounts of resolve people who spend years away from home must muster.<br /><br />The first of many 'culture shocks' that the US throws at you is the fierce and almost combative claim people have on their independence and individualism. The feeling of constantly being in competition with others is a constant oppression even when it is not tangible what the prize is. I have to conclude that the constant sizing up is both a means and an end, it is a way for the individual to feel accomplished in the most rudimentary of ways if one can convince themselves on whatever incoherent level of a claim to superiority. From a distance, I had admired the trait of Westerns to go it alone, swim against the tide *add whatever other cliche fits here. Up close, it is a less than enviable quality. The culture makes reclusion a wonderfully attractive option, it also creates an easy route to marginalization and discrimination. And it is no wonder the extent to which those constructs are very poignant in the society.<br /><br />I do not claim to be an extrovert, anyone who has met me would agree that I am more reserved than most. In the States however, I find that I have taken introversion to heights Freud might have been fascinated with. It is not the easiest thing to put in words, suffice it to say there is a difference between being alone and 'being alone'...if you are Ghanaian/Nigerian that's probably good enough for you by way of explanation.<br /><br />Recently there was a short succession of suicides at my university during the mid-semester week of exams. Like everyone on campus I was greatly distressed for both the students and their families, but what mostly dawned on me was the fact that I could relate, I understood what could drive people to such lengths. That frightened me... that I understood. I am quite sure that I do NOT want to 'inadvertently' understand such things as motive for suicide.<br /><br />Is the grass a greener shade and are the streets lined in gold in America? Most emphatically no, at least not from my personal experience thus far. In Ghana, I experienced lack and poverty but I have only been introduced to hunger since I have lived in the States. Ironic. To wake up hungry, take a shower and get on a bus, go about the day's tasks and come back home at night still hungry. The extent of financial hardship preventing the purchase of a single meal was a novel experience good ol' Yankee introduced me to.<br /><br />The thing about being in a country that is not yours is the gradual stripping away of your sense of self-validation. I shall attempt to expatiate. We all have a sense of who we are, a story that you tell yourself about yourself. It's sort of an outline you expect to gain more substantive pages as you interact with the world around you. A problem arises when the story you have in your mind contradicts that which your experience portrays such that you have to strip off and rewrite the narrative. The average American is largely influenced by stereotypical thinking and unmotivated for the most part to expand their knowledge beyond the shores of their great land (in and of itself this is understandable, considering), so a foreign accent, idea or opinion elicits a reflex reaction of sorts. It is easy to begin to see one's self in a diminished capacity in accordance to what clouded lenses reflect.<br /><br />I must say that it has not all been gloom and doom, 'abroad' has not been all rotten oranges, on the contrary the benefits have far outweighed the detriments in my mind. (Disclaimer: This is not to say that I shall not board my Kotoka flight with vim when the moment arrives). I have never felt more African than during the last year. It is as if the more invisibility society imposes the more of a counteract being able to identify and conform with my roots presents. It has been a sort of private defiance if you will. I have not done as much research into issues affecting my home country as I have since I have been here or felt a real sense of empowerment and belief in the ability of the individual to alter destiny. I have been unceremoniously stripped of my imbibed belief in the treasures of aburokyire that most people in Ghana just seem to believe without examination. It has been a most enlightening experience.<br /><br />Oh, to delve into my new appreciation for family may take another note entirely. To summarize, they say you don't know what you have until it's gone and they must have sojourned to Yankee to arrive at such a revelation.<br /><br />People, what is interesting is that I used to think I was alone in my experiences, I would say to myself "toughen up, the world is hard" and it is. But the kicker is that there are hundreds of international students who deal with the same issues. Even though my contact with fellow Ghanaian students in the States has been mostly limited to electronic communications, they always find a way to air their grievances. Lo and behold their struggles are mine, comments like "we dey inside", "small, small", "e go be" come up all too often. Most of the dreams we packaged and flew with us to JFK have become sand to gusty winds of disillusionment.<br /><br />So then, to join the returnee wagon, or not? A very important young voice in the Ghanaian blogoshere Ms Esi Cleland seems to have retraced her steps with grand success, however countless others have not. The question in reality is not as cut and dry, investing one's time, money and self into an endeavour creates grey areas. Ultimately that choice must be made with the least damage to one's psyche.<br /><br />Alas, this sad fate awaits thousands of the best and brightest from Africa who leave their home countries with stars in their eyes and lofty dreams in their hearts. I will not attempt to become immersed in a debate about brain drain or take a stand that people should not leave home to begin with. Because in my case it took leaving for me to get to the point I am at now.<br /><br />Surely this is not the tale of every African immigrant but I believe it to be common enough in varying degrees perhaps to deserve a voice. And if African culture teaches anything it would be the value of community, there is indeed a strength in unity and I feel obliged to beat on the drums in recognition of this. If I must conclude with a morale to make this rant more cohesive and/or comprehensible, here are a few things the old folks say that capture the idea succinctly: "All that glitters is not gold" , "Sankofa".<br /><br /><br />**Afternote: I am not one for regrets and I believe that life is as much as about the journey as it is the destination. Therefore, I can only look forward to perils that make for a most enlightening adventure, but more and more the waves shake and break and carry me towards where I began. Efie ne fie...<br /><br />---<span><span style="font-size:100%;"> Marie Nkiru Selali Onuoha<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span></span></span><span><span style="font-size:100%;">---<br /></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170878017616449326.post-88723125872851005812010-05-04T17:39:00.003+02:002010-11-18T02:48:23.917+01:00Haunted By BeautyI walk about the busy streets and see the myriad faces amidst their duty<br />The damp air and acrid scent of the sweltering proletariat<br />Vivifies my sensibilities with a repugnant reminder of the workaday life<br />But somewhere in the crowd, an enrapturing face arrests my sight and I lose all sense of self<br />Sometimes it happens in the dawning hours of the day<br />As I make my way through the hustle and bustle to till the hay<br />At other times it catches me at dusk as I stride home after a laborious day<br /><br />But even more timely, it happens in the awkward moments<br />When I am least accustomed to expect it<br />Just when I feel my soul sinking beneath the heavy load of existence<br />A pleasantly beauteous face flashes a captivating smile<br />A beatific scene throws me into a state of rapture<br />Or a melodious voice from somewhere says ‘hello’<br />And I am pierced and wounded anew!<br /><br />Pierced by the perennial ache that stalks me day and night<br />Wounded in heart at the exact spot where you wielded your magic<br />Wounds that opens up to reveal my familiar assailants<br />The unyielding trio who break through the iron bars of my hardened heart<br />To wreck a havoc of extreme pleasure and intense pain<br />My fractious soul is flooded with a molten torrent of Longing<br />I find myself immersed in a lava of Nostalgia and swarmed by a deluge of Desire<br /><br />A Longing for what might have been – An increase being; A rest in your arms<br />Nostalgia for those few and rare moments when I was afforded a tiny glimpse into your soul<br />Desire for a dream… a hope… the whisper of a thrill… a promise<br />A promise of something yearned for in my younger years; that remains unknown still<br /><br />In such moments of merciless assault from Longing, Nostalgia and Desire<br />I am swept in an ocean of memories and fantasies but in the noise of the waves<br />A silent voice reminds me that all I’m really missing is you<br />Oh yes! I am haunted by beauty; I am haunted by YOU!<br /><br />--- Daniel Ekow Arhin Buckman. ---Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170878017616449326.post-68946233647613192382009-07-12T12:35:00.000+02:002009-07-12T12:54:18.513+02:00The State of Man.Hi Brethen! I hope we<span class="text_exposed_hide">'</span><span class="text_exposed_show">ve all started the week on an excellent note and enjoying life! Let me attempt to oil the wheels of the personality of Jesus and what he offers.I believe the point of this discourse is not to put some idea or someone down and elevate another just for the sake of arguing and holding onto our own dogmas. But I think the whole point is we are all trying to arrive at the Truth and live in conformity with that Truth in our lives. So, if Emerson’s ideas, Transcendentalism and New Thought , were all True, then it follows that certainly everyone should realise and live in conformity with these truths and our world will be a much better place.<br /><br /></span>But I believe<span class="text_exposed_show"> that some how Emerson’s life in total did not reflect or was not in consonance with the ideas he espoused. True, he was a literary genius. No one can take that from him, he is surely one of the finest in the literary and philosophical landscape. And I will not diminish any of his achievements and laurels. But it would appear that some of ideas were merely ideas, just thoughts and wishes in the mind of how he wanted life and the world to be but in reality, empirically, he could not reconcile his ideas with his experience. I think that was the point Holmes made when he said,</span>"Emerson is afraid to trust himself in society much, on account of the failure of his memory and the great difficulty he finds in getting the words he wants. It is painful to witness his embarrassment at times"<span class="text_exposed_show">.<br /><br /></span>The other issue is that we cannot view Jesus as a man who lived a life based, in part, on his belief in the inner strength of man, because He did not say that. He was either a liar when he said that he was with God in the beginning and he preexisted before his incarnation, or He was actually telling the Truth. He said, ‘father glorify me with the <span class="text_exposed_hide"><span class="text_exposed_link"></span></span><span class="text_exposed_show">glory I had with you before the world began’, ‘before Abraham, I am’, ‘No one has seen the father except the one who came from heaven’. Cleary Jesus did not regard himself as just human but he existed and he was he was with God before the world began. And the bible makes it clear that He was God incarnate in a human body. Perhaps, he could afford to say I and the Father are one, and still be true, although he was scared because, he also said, I do nothing of my own accord, the words I speak are from my Father, and what I see my father do is what I do. Eventually He did rise up from death to show that He and the Father really are one.</span><br /><br />The mystery of Jesus is that He was fully man and fully God. But this is a vast theological discourse that I wouldn<span class="text_exposed_hide"><span class="text_exposed_link"></span></span><span class="text_exposed_show">’t want to start delving into here. But simply, my submission is we cannot view Jesus as a man like us who attained super consciousness and God-consciousness because he did not regard himself like that. He said he was God. The scriptures even say he was virgin born, conceived by the Holy Spirit. He was either a deceiver, liar and delusional (which was what the jews thought of him) or it is actually True that the guy was not merely Human.<br /><br /></span>I write my next comments with some restraint and hesitation because I am sure we are on fundamentally on the same page but for the sake of someone else who might be reading these comments and reading Emerson, new thoughts, transcendentalism, etc, and who might take those ideas out of context and believe that He himself is God and the measure of all things! I will proceed cautiously.It is true that we need proper confidence in self and believe in ourselves and that nothing is impossible, once we put our minds to it, and bring out the best in us. Some people are simply born geniuses, others attain it through growth. This is all very noble. Let<span class="text_exposed_hide"><span class="text_exposed_link"></span></span><span class="text_exposed_show">’s not limit the potential of the human soul for growth and the attainment of great feats. But that is not the entire Truth, because, on the other side of the prism is, “Nothing is impossible for God”, “this is impossible for man but with God, all things are possible”. We are able to achieve the impossible not merely because there is a great inner strength in us but because God produces that inner strength in us and in union with Him, all things become impossible for us.<br /><br /></span>I<span class="text_exposed_hide"><span class="text_exposed_link"></span></span><span class="text_exposed_show">’m sure we will all agree that not all ideas are Truth. And sometimes, some ideas are good and promise so much and excite the intellect, but in the end they fail to correspond to reality and truth and are found to be “just good ideas”. The point is the Balance of Truth. We need not limit one truth in order to elevate another truth. To get the big picture and the whole truth, it is often better to have all sides of the prism of truth in full glare, else if we focus on only one side, we become kind of half-baked and miss out on the greater truth.</span>Another side of the prism of truth is with all the stamina we can put in ‘self<span class="text_exposed_hide"><span class="text_exposed_link"></span></span><span class="text_exposed_show">’, there is the truth of the finitude of mankind. No matter how much of a genius or great, anybody is, he is still finite and have limits. As someone said, “The best of men are at best still men”. Truly, Asaph recognizes that we are gods, and Jesus even lent credence to it by quoting it to the jews, “is it not written in your scriptures that ye are gods”. But this truth only makes sense and shines brighter when it is put in the context of the other truths, that “God is infinite”, humans are mortal, humans have limits, “the heart of a man is desperately wicked”, “God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself”, “In him we have life”, “now are we sons of God”, “We are the light of the world”.<br /><br /></span>Throughout the ages, people have been deluded into believing that they were the measure of all things, and that they were the masters of their own destinies, only to find out much later in life after their labors were done that they had been running in vain and living on half truths.<br />Paul said in my weakness then I am strong, because His strength <span class="text_exposed_hide"><span class="text_exposed_link"></span></span><span class="text_exposed_show">is made perfect in my weakness. Now that was a man who recognized his own limitations and accepted the grace of God and the strength of God working in his life for what it was, not something he had achieved by putting stamina in his own self.</span>As Isaac Newton admitted, after all his achievements in life, that when he thinks of what he knows compared with the vast knowledge that is out there to be known, he feels like he was just paddling on the shores of the great ocean of knowledge.<br /><br />The conclusion of my point is this, God is God, and man is man. We find our greatness and being only in <span class="text_exposed_hide"><span class="text_exposed_link"></span></span><span class="text_exposed_show">Him. Outside of God, “All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away”(1 Peter 1:24)… “As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more” (Psalm 103:15). So let’s endeavor to put all truths in perspective.<br />Let’s all have a fruitful week, Enjoy our moments and enjoy the love of God that is shed abroad in our hearts!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2170878017616449326.post-48307908772305161902009-07-04T15:47:00.000+02:002009-07-12T12:35:38.697+02:00Why I Am the Way I Am?<span id="dnn_ctr766_CB_ArticleViewXml_lblView" class="normal">Have you ever wondered why you are the way you are? What is it that stirs us to help when we see the elderly woman struggling to get across the street? On the other hand, what can explain the dark places of the mind where thoughts arise such that we wouldn't dare voice aloud?<br /><br />For many, sin or as Nyanteh may call it 'bad acts' is a ridiculously ancient concept; the fallen nature of mankind, a snobbish notion used by the church to keep its doors open for business. But can we deny that there is a certain duality within our nature? As Winston Churchill once said, "We are all worms, but I do believe I am a glow worm." On the one hand, we seek what is noble, on the other, we struggle with what we know is not. Bravery, compassion, and generosity are traits universally valued. And yet, greed, lust, and pride linger regardless of religion, culture, or worldview. How do we explain this?<br /><br />The great 17th century philosopher-scientist Blaise Pascal saw an immensurable need for man to understand his nature; to ask ourselves the question, "Why am I the way I am?" And he offered pointed words for those standing content with the inconsistent philosophy that man is the measure of all things. Says Pascal: "It is in vain, oh men, that you seek within yourselves the cure for all your miseries. All your insight has led to the knowledge that it is not in yourselves that you discover the true and the good. The philosophers promised them to you, but they were not able to keep that promise. They do not know what your nature is. How should they have provided you with a cure for ills which they have not even understood? Your principle maladies are pride, which cuts you off from God, and sensuality, which binds you to the earth."<br /><br />It is in vain that we seek within ourselves a cure. No matter how good a person is, no matter how noble and courageous and generous we might become, we are aware that there is a standard we haven't yet reached, and in fact, cannot reach. Though we seek and strive for glory, we are still aware that we have somehow missed the mark. In the Gospels we learn that John the Baptist was called greater than the earlier prophets, because he proclaimed a fuller message. And yet, his testimony in a few words expressed what we know intuitively of our own lives, "I am not the Christ," said John. I am not the standard, but I know the One who is. To write the concept of sin out of our lives is to write away our ability to know who we are, to understand why I am the way I am, and to know personally the One who comes to set us free.<br /><br />Hobart Mowrer,a renowned professor of psychology, one time president of the American Psychological Association, once made a statement . He observed, "For several decades we psychologists looked upon the whole matter of sin and moral accountability as a great incubus and acclaimed our liberation from it as epoch making. But at length we have discovered that to be free in this sense, that is, to have the excuse of being sick rather than sinful, is to court the danger of also becoming lost… In becoming amoral, ethically neutral and free, we have cut the very roots of our being, lost our deepest sense of selfhood and identity, and with neurotics, themselves, we find ourselves asking, "Who am I, what is my deepest destiny, what does living mean?"<br /><br />John the Baptist pointed the crowds to the One who not only fulfilled all of Scripture, but came to tell us what living means. In the fullness of time, in a real moment of history, Christ came down to be with us, One greater than Moses, One greater than your sin and mine. And until,we come to this truth,we'll continue as the group Illdisposed wrote "I Believe in Me".<br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com