What we love about men I love the courage, force and firmness in men. The ideal man for me is heroic and brave. Some woman will say they want a man they can control but in reality we all crave for a man who overrules us and few women would have any respect for a man whom they could completely rule and control. “A man has got to be a man, not one that I can easily control and manipulate” Sauda, 35 I love the way men always come to your aid when you are in problems and are not afraid to get dirty. For example, if my car is having problems, I know, without a doubt, that my man can and will fix it. They generally have know-how on fixing things and how to put stuff together which, to me, is sexy. Bertha, 29 I love the way men give a woman priority; they will put your needs before theirs. My man makes sure I get a seat at a restaurant or event, I am served first and holds my hand and guides me across the street. They guide you but not in a forceful way; just gentle enough to lead. That’s such a turn on because it means he’s protective, aware and caring about my safety. It also translates to good loving. Anna, 30 I love the way men take charge of a situation, you know when something bad happens and you are panicking? A man is able to come up with solutions for it. I like when a guy is like “look, this is what we’re going to do, at this time and at this place.” I just love when a guy takes control of a situation in a manly way. I like that in the bedroom too! Happiness, 31 I love the height and size in men; he just has to be bigger than me. Am not talking about the giant type of men with bulging muscles, but a man of strength, size and fine physique, rather than a short, small and weak man. A woman always pities a weakly man, but rarely ever has any love for him. Besides, petite men have a short mans syndrome (SMS) which is not attractive .“I love being kissed from above,” says Janet, which means she loves tall men.
Noela 25, says if there is a quality she admires in men it is intelligence. “I cannot resist a man who wows me with knowledge! It is so attractive,” she says. “There are men who are so intelligent, they know a lot about everything which is so captivating. Even an ignorant woman always loves superior intelligence”
What we hate about men I don’t like how men who change so fast and expect you not to change. In the beginning of the relationship they are everything you want but once they know they have hooked you, the chivalry dies! Why? He used to text and call all the time, got you chocolate and maybe flowers or just small gifts, then stop once you fall for him. “Why do men get so comfortable so quickly?” wonders Janet, 27. “For me it’s the ego issues men have that I do not like. They sometimes think of themselves as high and mighty and cannot be wrong. For example, when lost, many men simply won’t stop for directions until they’ve gone miles in the wrong direction. I also hate it when men feel like they have a birth right over the Remote. Be it anything they feel that they have the birth right and are better than women”. Lucy, 29 “The selective forgetfulness in men is just not acceptable. A man will forget your birthday, valentines and your anniversary yet remembers all the players in a football team, all the scores in of the entire team’s history. I do not understand the selective memory in men thus refuse to believe he forgot out anniversary”. Esther 25 “The hypocrisy of men is appalling! Seriously, they will spend all their youth dating you because you are cool and sexy but when it comes to marrying, they dump you without warning and go for a simple, homely probably virgin woman. Men should stop this hypocrisy!” says Shamim, 27 “Ogling does it for me, why do men look at other women all the time? I know the girl sitting at the next table is prettier but I can’t stand my man embarrassing me and undermining my look by making a scene out of MAN April - May, 2010
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it. I don’t want to know that you’re noticing, staring at another woman when you are with me is just plain rude and I hate it”. Zawadi 26 “Some men are just clueless and expect me to make all the decisions. He will ask you out and expect you to come up with a plan on where to go, what to do or what to eat. Or you set a date then he comes late, I am normally a patient person but refuse to wait for a man on a date. Unless it’s something dire like his house is on fire or his aunt died but traffic!! Come on!!” Margaret, 23
“Why can’t men get the hint? Seriously, this not only annoys me but also leaves me perplexed at how intelligent beings cannot read between the lines. If I do not text back after 10 texts, always cancel on your dates! Give it up, it’s clear I don’t want you. I am clearly pissed and you keep asking if I am okay, seriously someone explain this.” Rose 24 There you go guys, pick and select! You belong to one of these groups. I have not included taste for or absence of fashion and style, smelly socks, drunkenness, faithfulness, telling the truth etc. There is always another fine time to continue training you guys, watch this space!
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Financial Tips
By Noella Oyugah
Money Matters! You have a great idea and are ready to start your business. You have done all the research and have learned the details of business management. To put this into practice, you need to have money to invest. You go to the bank excited that you will soon be starting something of your own. However, endless paperwork, procedures and rejection are what follow for the longest period you can imagine. Getting a loan from a bank to finance a business can be a daunting task in the country often leaving one discouraged and disappointed; it becomes even worse if you are applying for it for the first time. I have a good friend who shared his experience. I will call him Alan (34). He had been trying to secure a loan for the past two years to finance his car hire business. Despite being an employee with the same company for the past seven years and having good credit, securing a loan had proven to be a quest in vain, until a month ago when he finally got one. “There’s no single bank I hadn’t gone to requesting for a loan. To make matters worse, I had to go through numerous procedures and paper work with all the banks. Nevertheless, my efforts came through a few weeks ago when one of the banks accepted my request,” beams Alan. Despite getting the loan, the experience has made him realize that securing a loan for the first time is not easy and requires patience, knowledge and a good financial background.
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According to Ezekiel Faustine, a business consultant in Dar es Salaam, lack of proper knowledge on the process of applying for loans including bad credit history contributes to denial by banks in issuing loans to small businesses. “Very few people take their time to read and understand the requirements needed by banks before they start filling in the forms, which results to wrongly filled information. In addition, their credit history is full of bad financial shortcomings,” adds Ezekiel. In order to avoid such mistakes and speed up your chances of getting a bank loan, here are some of the things that you need to consider:
Know your credit rating. Before you apply for a loan, you need to know where you stand. Find out from your employer and other financial institutions that you deal with if you have a chance of getting the loan. In case of any shortcomings, make sure that you deal with them before applying for the loan.
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According to Alan, your creditworthiness makes you eligible for personal loans. This, together with a good business plan, will make you a likely candidate for business loans.
how this loan will meet those needs. So ensure you have a detailed description on how you will allocate the funds acquired for your business.
“Your creditworthiness plays an important role in getting funds for your small business from banks. Even if you have a great and convincing business plan, banks will not risk money on you if you have a bad credit history,” “he says
Read the terms and conditions carefully before signing.
Update your finances Before applying for the loan, ensure that your financial documents are up to date to avoid looking mediocre. Whether you are seeking a personal or business loan, you shouldn’t apply without having the proper financial documentation.
Take your time to go through each and every detail and instructions before signing or agreeing to a contract. Don’t be in a haste to fill any details that you don’t understand. Be willing to ask questions when you don’t understand. Banks are not the only source of income and therefore when you fail to secure a loan don’t be discouraged. There are several other options that you can opt for. These can include:
Give detailed explanations
(i) Business investors
When applying for a business loan, you need to indicate how the money will be used. Lenders want to see that you know exactly what your needs are and
These are people who have the money and willingness to invest in a business. They are people who are ready to help you set up and run your business as they earn their money. MAN April - May, 2010
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Alan’s advice before seeking such people is to make sure that you have all your details and requirements in order. “This is because though investors are ready to take risks, they will take only informed risks. If you can impress them with your presentation and give adequate as well as learned responses to their queries, your chances of raising capital for your small business are more,” he explains. However, once they decide to invest money, they may not allow you to run the business all by yourself. These investors are likely to demand some ownership and control of your business. Additionally, if you can show them an exit route after a certain period of time, they will be more than happy to invest in your small business.
(ii) Family and friends To raise fund from friends and family members is often the easiest investments to get for starting your company from the ground. But do not take advantage of their trust by asking too much. “Bringing a product to market is a high risk venture and you do not want your friends or family to lose too much money thereby risking ruining your relationship with them,” says our wise expert.
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Whether you intend to raise money from a financial institution or your family and friends, you should approach them professionally. Equipped with a detailed business plan, you need to impress them with your capabilities and the prospects of your business. No one would like to lend you money out of friendship.
(iii) Grants Seek out grants for a new business. Grants are money that you don’t have to repay, so it is ideal for a new business owner. However, most grants are reserved for non-profit organizations. “The chances of you securing a grant are very slim and are almost zero. Nevertheless don’t hesitate to apply for them as soon as you see one,” Search the net and read advertisements to look for grants. Realize that with grant funding, you will likely face steep competition and it can take a long time before you get one. All things being equal, getting a loan for a small business is difficult for any first-time business owner unless he or she has valuable collateral to borrow against, therefore be patient and find other sources when nothing seems to work. You may contact the author of this article for advice through; nols26@gmail.com
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Lifestyle
By Gerald Kitabu
The Kiswahili Language is a hidden treasure whose benefits seem to be over-looked by many East Africans and Tanzanians students in particular. In many schools, colleges and Universities, Kiswahili, to which many opportunities accrue, is under-estimated at the expense of English and French. In this exclusive interview, our reporter caught up with TERESA FRASCA (19), an Italian visiting student from the University of L’Orientale in Naples, located in the Southern part of Italy, who, among other things sheds light on available Kiswahili language opportunities in Europe today.
QUESTION: When and why did you come in Tanzania? ANSWER: I came on the 11th of September 2009 to study Kiswahili, the language that I study in Naples too, and to get a more tangible contact with the local context and people and see how Tanzanians are developing since independence in 1961.It was my first visit in Tanzania, I developed a zeal and curiosity to understand Kiswahili and network with Tanzanians since I was very young mainly due to its popularity in the world especially with the legacy of the great statesman in Africa, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere. These and many other factors were some of important things that most people in the world especially the current generation outside Tanzania would like to know.
In love with
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QUESTION: Some people in East Africa don’t see the importance of Kiswahili, why did you build interest in Kiswahili given the fact that you come from Europe where Kiswahili is hardly spoken?
everything on my own, I can say that I didn’t follow a real syllabus. I worked hard to practice in daily life with people I met along the way and also tried to get every single shade and differences of the language from district to district and from region to region.
Despite the fact that the world is becoming a single village through globalization where communications plays a key role in uniting people from diverse background, Africa and its languages especially Kiswahili have always fascinated me since I was a very young, and when I grew up, I wanted to fulfill my long awaited dream of studying this awesome Kiswahili language, so I swiftly moved to Naples and committed myself to studying it with all my zeal and curiosity. Because I had loved to study it, I found it very easy.
QUESTION: Apart from Dar es Salaam, what other regions did you visit in Tanzania?
In fact Kiswahili has many advantages; first to be able to communicate with the rest of the world is very important. I know Kiswahili is well spoken in East Africa particularly in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, some parts of Somalia and Democratic Republic of Congo, which means I will be able to travel and live in these countries like the indigenous people.
QUESTION: How did you find Tanzania’s Hospitality?
However, I could work in the African context one day when I get my Bachelor’s Degree and besides personal interest and curiosity, I think Kiswahili could help me to make this dream real. I confess that Kiswahili is becoming one of the strong languages in the world, and I think I may use it in Italy as well to help and facilitate communications between Immigration Offices and foreigners from East Africa who visit our country and cope with difficult communications situations.
QUESTION: By the way, what is the status of Kiswahili Language in the world today? ANSWER: Kiswahili is becoming one of the very few respected international languages, which means it is one of the fast-growing languages. In some countries today, Kiswahili is used in different forums, immigration departments, International courts and so forth. That’s why in Europe today, there are a lot of universities where you can learn Kiswahili such as in Italy, in Germany, in France and even in America ,
QUESTION: Did you manage to cover the whole Kiswahili syllabus during your study in Tanzania? ANSWER: Language is all about practice. If you real want to know a certain language you must work hard on the practical side, that’s why I actually did
ANSWER: I visited many areas ranging from Mainland to coastal areas along the Indian Ocean, some of the areas include Kilwa Masoko, Kilwa Kisiwani, Lindi, Mikindani, Newala, Songea, Mbeya, Iringa and then returned to Dar es Salaam. I wanted to know the real life of Tanzanians especially in the rural areas and taste Kiswahili Language spoken in the rural areas and along the coast.
ANSWER: I have no words to explain the hospitality of Tanzanians. Every person I met on my way was very much supportive, always willing to help, joyful and cooperative. I could get everything I wanted from them. In Dar es Salaam, I stayed in Changanyikeni, at the outskirt of University campus, with some of my friends with a beautiful big family, which has been very hospitable. I traveled throughout Tanzania and more specifically in southern Tanzania, all I saw were smiling faces, and they were always happy and willing to invite me for the morning breakfast called “chai, Ugali, Chapati, and chakula cha jioni” in their houses with their families.
QUESTION: Having traveled in all those regions meeting Tanzanians, what surprised you most? ANSWER: What surprised me was that, despite many tribes in Tanzania, Tanzanians are very united, they are united by Kiswahili, and actually it is very difficult for a foreigner like me to recognize the presence of many tribes in Tanzania because all people speak one language-Kiswahili. It is very rare in many countries where there are more than one hundred tribes to be united by a single language. This, to me, was a very big surprise.
QUESTION: What is your call? ANSWER: Kiswahili is a big deal in the world today. It should not be ignored whatsoever. Kiswahili’s demand in Europe and America is on the increase which means opening new opportunities for Swahili speakers in the world.
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Interior Design
Choosing the right SOFA
The first thing that you have to look for in your modern sofa is the color and design. To fit in the “modern” category, it has to be something creative and artistic enough for your homes.
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Here are some tips that would help make you decide which sofa is best for your modern homes.
Color And Design The first thing that you have to look for in your modern sofa is the color and design. To fit in the “modern� category, it has to be something creative and artistic enough for your homes. You could choose a color that will match the interior shade of your house. Since most modern houses today are painted with white, you can definitely settle for modern sofas which are black, white, red, or some other basic color. The design should also be simple but very useful. Since modern furniture is designed on function rather than form, your modern sofa should remain the type as well. There are actually several shapes, colors and designs that you can choose for your modern sofas today. By simply looking and ordering the finest one, you would surely have something nice to fit in your modern living room.
The Space Space is another issue in choosing modern sofas. If you are living in a small place, you definitely need something that is less bulky and that would take up lesser space in a home. Before you even visit appliance stores, make sure that you have the proper dimensions so choosing for your modern sofa could turn out very easy.
Weather Or Climate In Your Area Another way to choose modern sofas today is through the climate you have in your town. If it is always summer in your area, then you have to do away without the leather seats. You have to choose something which would absorb less heat in the room. This means that choosing white or other light shades could help a lot in reducing the heat inside a home.
Personal Choices The last thing that would matter a lot in choosing for modern sofas is your personal choice. You always have to consider what you like so you can be happy with the purchase. Of course, you have to balance your preferences together with all the other factors given above. Remember to choose what you like so you can be happy with your modern sofas for the many years to come. Always consider creativity and functionality on your decisions so you can finally choose a modern furniture to match with your homes.
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Technology
By Taji
Get Savvy In this issue, we felt you needed to clear cobwebs about those things you never care to really read about in the manual. So here is our simplified guide to understanding DIGITAL CAMERA TALK TECH -Even if we can’t give you the entire digital camera terminology list, here are some words commonly heard in the same sentence as the phrase “digital camera”. Autofocus; is a digital camera’s capability to bring the subject of a picture automatically into sharp focus before taking the picture. Manual focus is one feature generally found on advanced digital cameras. Automatic mode; is a feature of a digital camera which grants the camera full control of all photographic aspects like the shutter speed and the focus settings. The photographer will have no control over the settings of a picture.
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Digital zoom; is the feature that magnifies a digital image using special software inside the camera. Exposure metering; refers to a digital camera’s built-in system that can measure the external lighting amount in a certain environment and then determine which are the best automatics setting for the photograph. There are 3 common modes of exposure metering: the first one is center weighted metering (the camera measures the light in a particular area in the center of the shooting frame), second we have the matrix metering (the camera will divide the scenery into different segments and then measure the light level for each particular segment; after that, it can determine the automatic settings based on the settings that would be correct settings for the largest number of settings); the third mode is the spot metering (the camera will only measure the light in one tiny spot right in the center of the frame).
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The last type of lens is the macro conversion lens which helps improve the capability of the lens to take photos with extreme close-up. In order to buy a specific conversion lens, you have to know that they come in different magnification amounts (like 1.5 X). This amount is added to the already existent amount of the lens.
Electronic viewfinder; is the term for the small LCD located at the top and at the back of a camera. This LCD displays the picture that you are about to take and this LCD is located inside a small window. The Electronic Viewfinder will show you information about the digital camera settings. The Conversion Lenses; are pieces of lens hardware, small in size, which can fit over the regular camera lens and it provides wide angle capabilities and slightly increased zoom. Just like in the case of exposure metering, there are 3 different types of conversion lenses. The first type of lens is the telephoto (also known as zoom) conversion lenses which provide the camera with additional magnification capabilities. The second type of camera lens is the wide angle conversion lens which increases the scope and it helps place more items and details in the shot.
These are only some examples of digital camera terminology but the list is quite big. There are still terms to be defined like flash memory, fixed lens camera, image stabilization, megapixels, landscape mode, response time, shooting modes, scene modes, viewfinder or white balance. Stay in touch, we’ll be coming back with more. To round off this month’s gadgets list, we would like you to know that real men these days must have cameras, not phone cameras but serious cams like this one!
Computers , Accessories, Peripherals & Maintenance
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Education
By Michael Kagumya
Tips on choosing the right
Career
Are you a Form Six Leaver? Here are some tips to choosing the right course for you The long-awaited Form Six results are finally out. And what does this mean? It means better advancement in the educational journey. For those who passed to join universities, I whish you well; and for those who can’t make it to the university –due to poor performance—it does not mean an end of the world. Just sit down and recollect yourself—by either re-sitting the exams or opting for diploma and certificate courses. To join a university does not necessarily mean that one has to go directly—from Form One to Form Six; there are a variety of channels. Check them out. For those who were lucky to garner sufficient grades for university entry, the hustle now is filling in the online forms with the Tanzania Commission for Universities. Currently, there are many universities, offering an array of courses—some very new. From the experience of this writer, what matters is not necessarily the fact that you have the right grades for a certain course, but rather where your passion lies. Don’t fall in the same trap yours truly faced and many others face; studying for a course which you will never apply in life. Reading for law when in actual sense you passion lies in writing—journalism! One of the greatest poets of his time, W.B. Yeats, once said: “Education is not the filling of a bucket, but the lighting of a fire.” In the same vein, this piece is all about passion. Your passion for your course, and for your future career. Because the secret to happiness is being able to love whatever it is you do in life. And what does this all have to do with choosing the right course for you? It all starts here. Find the right course, at the right university or college, and you will be inspired to succeed. So how do you make the right choice? In order not to make the very mistakes many people make—studying for courses— which they will never apply in life because they did not like them in the first place, check out these tips on choosing your course on getting where you want to be – faster. 30
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Top tip No.1: What are you really interested in?
Top tip No. 6: What’s important to you?
This is not necessarily what are you good at, but what do you love doing? You might be great at maths, but you spend your weekends fixing up bits of old computers. So don’t study maths, focus on IT or computer engineering instead. Specialise in your passion, and learn more about it from the world’s best teachers.
While you are researching, you’ll come up with all kinds of different criteria to judge a university or course by. So make a shortlist of the top three features you’re looking for. These could be school ranking or prestige, research facilities, practical experience and internships, cost of tuition, student support services, safety, social life, chance to travel… there are so many variables, and what’s right for you may be completely wrong for someone else.
Top tip No. 2: Why? It’s really important to think about why you are interested in this subject. Is it because you can see your exciting, glittering career ahead? Or is it because it’s what your parents want? By questioning yourself now, you can work out the exact path you want your choice to take you on.
Top tip No.3: Where would you like to study? There are really two parts to this. Which is the best university to specialise in this subject area? Maybe it’s a university with plenty of internship and graduate work opportunities in that industry, or one that has access to specific resources. If you’re interested in marine biology, then a university far away from these water bodies, like the ocean and lakes, should not be your choice. It’s also a good idea to ask yourself: where in the world would you love to live for a few years? This is an opportunity to learn a new language or adopt a new culture, make amazing friends, and experience a very different way of life. And if you’re happy in your life, you’ll be happy in your study.
Top tip No.4: Take a reality check
Top tip No.7: How do you like to study? Hopefully you have some idea by now of how you prefer to study. And hopefully the answer is not ‘by sleeping’ or ‘by crossing my fingers as I walk into the exam hall.’ Some people prefer final exams, others like regular assignments to keep them busy throughout the year. Some like theory, others like practical hands-on application. Some like to work in groups, others like to work individually. Some like to present their assignment verbally, others prefer to create written reports. Choose a course that suits your study style, and you will be more confident in your success. Or, if you want to challenge yourself, choose a course that will take you out of your comfort zone!
Top tip No. 8: Look at your career prospects Studying overseas can be expensive, so think of it as an investment in your future. And that means your career and your salary. Find out where other international students at that university have worked after graduation, and if there’s an active alumni network, or the opportunity to meet industry leaders during your course.
Now that you have found your dream, let’s just stop a minute and make sure it’s realistic. Can you afford the transport, tuition and cost of living? Do you need to have certain qualifications first – English language proficiency? Don’t get discouraged – a pathway program may be all you need to cross those hurdles. And if this really is your passion, then prove it in your scholarship application and you may get some financial help.
Top tip No.9: Focus on the detail
Top tip No.5: Do your homework
Top tip No.10: You can always change your mind
You need to narrow down all your options to about five real, practical choices. That takes a lot of research. Attend career fairs where some piece of advice may be proffered by those already in the field; such careers will also afford you an opportunity to meet with man people and compare notes with them. Visit student blogs—which are becoming common these days. Glossy prospectuses don’t always tell you the full story, so talk to people you know who have studied in those universities about what it’s really like.
Yes, this is an important decision. But if you get there and you realise you’ve made a terrible mistake, it’s not too late. Talk to the student counsellor on campus, and see if there are better options for you there. Don’t spend the next five years of your life staring at textbooks you have no interest in whatsoever. Remember, it’s all about your passion – keep the excitement alive, and you will succeed!
Every subject has so many different options, so it’s good to know the most specific interest you have. Engineering students could study anything from bio-medical engineering to civil engineering. So if you’d rather build bridges than human body parts, understand that before you sign up.
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Health Management
When the going gets tough Workaholics Beware. I have been self employed for the past 10 years, and for all those years, I have never taken a leave away from work. My time has been spent creating products, promoting and delivering them to clients. It includes reading and report writing, being on the road and air, traveling for assignments such as conducting seminars, fieldwork and meeting clients. In short, I have been working hard...very hard. I remember many a days working between 10 to 14 hours a day. So how was my day like? Good question. I used to wake-up at 5am, and leave for work at 5.30am. 6am I am at work taking short breaks in between until 10pm when I would go home. 32
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Does it sound strange? Yes it is, however, that was the order of the day. The fun part is that I used to enjoy every minute of it...it is something I am passionate about. It gives me the opportunity to help other people to succeed in life through business. More importantly, I make money doing it. Am I the only person with such a lifestyle? I don’t think so, I have a friend who does the same, and I believe there are many people out there with such a lifestyle...”I DON’T MEAN YOU”, I mean them. Should you be one of them, please keep reading...and get to learn about what happened to me. There may be a few pertinent points that may add value to your life. Recently, I had feelings of fatigue, lethargy and I felt a bit burnt out with a smacking headache. It was terrible, in fact, on the surface everything seemed fine, but after a few hours it became worse! I decided to visit a doctor for help. I won’t dwell on the prescription...I would only share with you on what the Doctor thought of my situation.
The Doctor said “Felix, you are in serious trouble. The reasons for your burn-out and headache (based on what I told him) are overworking, lack of rest and physical excises. My advice to you is, first, take a long-break...don’t go to work, don’t use your computer, just find a peaceful place and relax.When you get back to work, cut down the number of hours. Secondly, start on physical exercise...and because you used to do competitive sport, I highly recommend to you to start to jog and go to a gym. Lastly, watch what you eat and make your health a first priority” My friends, I chose to follow the Doctor’s advice. Has it helped? Yes, it has helped me a lot...because, had it not been following the doctor’s recommendation, maybe, I wouldn’t have been able to write this article. Yes, I am A WHOLE NEW MAN, I cut down the workinghours, I exercise, I watch what I eat and believe me, I am energetic and pumped to achieve more success... in style.
Learning Point Working hard when you feel tired and exhausted is strictly linked to high blood pressure, which usually remains high for many hours, until the work is done. Certainly, such changes in blood pressure have a lot of negative effects on our health and, first of all, they bring to increased risks of having a heart attack or a heart disease. On this background, such problems as headaches and sleep deprivation do not sound too threatening, but they still take place very frequently when people work too hard. Overworking leads to nutritional problems and overweight. When you are in the office for days and nights, a cup of tea or coffee, doughnuts, biscuits (unhealthy seminar and meeting snacks served) and whatever you can grab from the take way joint nearby are your best friends. Eating junk food, eating on your feet and not eating at all during the day result in gastritis, developing various types of ulcers and other serious problems. Another type of “workaholics” (namely, software developers and other PC fanatics) sit in front of their computers for days forgetting to watch what they eat. As a result, poor nutrition combined with sedentary life-style lead to overweight and obesity. Over work should not be a concern of only managers and businessmen. It is not less important for the students, who are overloaded with their home works and lessons, or for modern housewives, who have crazy amounts of chores and other activities related to taking care of their families. Do not overestimate your abilities and do not work till you are quite out of breath. Take care about your health and your body, and you’ll live a happy and joyful life without sicknesses and doctors! It is almost impossible to work and earn money if you are NOT healthy. MAKE YOUR HEALTH A
FIRST PRIORITY.!
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Health
10 Tips to Healthy Eating Experts agree the key to healthy eating is the timetested advice of balance, variety and moderation. In short, that means eating a wide variety of foods without getting too many calories or too much of any one nutrient. These 10 tips can help you follow that advice while still enjoying the foods you eat. Eat a variety of nutrient-rich foods. You need more than 40 different nutrients for good health, and no single food supplies them all. Your daily food selection should include bread and other whole-grain products; fruits; vegetables; dairy products; and meat, poultry, fish and other protein foods. How much you should eat depends on your calorie needs. Use the Food Guide Pyramid and the Nutrition Facts panel on food labels as handy references. Enjoy plenty of whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Surveys show most Americans don’t eat enough of these foods. Do you eat 6-11 servings from the bread, rice, cereal and pasta group, 3 of which should be whole grains? Do you eat 2-4 servings of fruit and 3-5 servings of vegetables? If you don’t enjoy some of these at first, give them another chance. Look through cookbooks for tasty ways to prepare unfamiliar foods. Maintain a healthy weight. The weight that’s right for you depends on many factors including your sex, height, age and heredity. Excess body fat increases your chances for high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, some types of cancer and other illnesses. But being too thin can increase your risk for osteoporosis, menstrual irregularities and other health problems. If you’re constantly losing and regaining weight, a registered dietitian can help you develop sensible eating habits for successful weight management. Regular exercise is also important to maintaining a healthy weight. Eat moderate portions. If you keep portion sizes reasonable, it’s easier to eat the foods you want and stay healthy. Did you know the recommended serving of cooked meat is 3 ounces, similar in size to a deck of playing cards? A medium piece of fruit is 1 serving and a cup of pasta equals 2 servings. A pint of ice cream contains 4 servings. Refer to the Food Guide Pyramid for information on recommended serving sizes. 34
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Eat regular meals. Skipping meals can lead to outof-control hunger, often resulting in overeating. When you’re very hungry, it’s also tempting to forget about good nutrition. Snacking between meals can help curb hunger, but don’t eat so much that your snack becomes an entire meal. Reduce, don’t eliminate certain foods. Most people eat for pleasure as well as nutrition. If your favorite foods are high in fat, salt or sugar, the key is moderating how much of these foods you eat and how often you eat them. Identify major sources of these ingredients in your diet and make changes, if necessary. Adults who eat high-fat meats or whole-milk dairy products at every meal are probably eating too much fat. Use the Nutrition Facts panel on the food label to help balance your choices. Choosing skim or low-fat dairy products and lean cuts of meat such as flank steak and beef round can reduce fat intake significantly. If you love fried chicken, however, you don’t have to give it up. Just eat it less often. When dining out, share it with a friend, ask for a take-home bag or a smaller portion. Balance your food choices over time. Not every food has to be “perfect.” When eating a food high in fat, salt or sugar, select other foods that are low in these ingredients. If you miss out on any food group one day, make up for it the next. Your food choices over several days should fit together into a healthy pattern. Know your diet pitfalls. To improve your eating habits, you first have to know what’s wrong with them. Write down everything you eat for three days. Then check your list according to the rest of these tips. Do you add a lot of butter, creamy sauces or salad dressings? Rather than eliminating these foods, just cut back your portions. Are you getting enough fruits and vegetables? If not, you may be missing out on vital nutrients. Make changes gradually. Just as there are no “superfoods” or easy answers to a healthy diet, don’t expect to totally revamp your eating habits overnight. Changing too much, too fast can get in the way of success. Begin to remedy excesses or deficiencies with modest changes that can add up to positive, lifelong eating habits. For instance, if you don’t like the taste of skim milk, try low-fat. Eventually you may find you like skim, too. Remember, foods are not good or bad. Select foods based on your total eating patterns, not whether any individual food is “good” or “bad.” Don’t feel guilty if you love foods such as apple pie, potato chips, candy bars or ice cream. Eat them in moderation, and choose other foods to provide the balance and variety that are vital to good health. MAN April - May, 2010
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Healthy Drinks
By. Benedict Mpembwe
Benefits of
Drinking
Coee
1. Coffee is the #1 source of antioxidants in the American diet While fruits and veggies are still the richest sources of antioxidants, it turns out that for Americans, coffee is the main basis of antioxidant consumption (according to the Institute of Coffee Studies at Vanderbilt University). Black tea and bananas came in second and third place, respectively. Surprisingly, both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee provide similar amounts of antioxidants.
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2. Coffee increases your metabolism Studies also show that coffee is very beneficial in terms of weight loss. It is a common misconception that coffee is an appetite suppressant, however, your morning cup can significantly speed up metabolism by about 10 percent. The National Research Council on Diet and Health found that metabolic rates will be highest during the first three hours following consumption. Just make sure to skip the added sugars, syrups, and whipped toppings found in many store-bought coffee drinks.
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4. Coffee lowers the rates of some cancers According to WebMD, coffee drinkers are 50 percent less likely to get liver cancer. By drinking 2 cups per day, you’re also slashing your risk of getting colon cancer by 25 percent. Some studies have also found ties to lower rates of breast and skin cancers as well. 5. Coffee can reduce risk for Type 2 diabetes WebMD also asserts that coffee contains chemicals that lower blood sugar, making heavy coffee drinkers half as likely to get diabetes as light to non-coffee drinkers. 1-3 cups per day can reduce the risk for diabetes by single digits, but people who drink 6 cups or more per day can slash their chances by up to 54 percent. 6. Coffee is actually good for your teeth We all know that one of the biggest cons of drinking coffee is a stained smile, but the beverage can also have a positive effect on teeth. According to a 2009 article published in the Wall Street Journal, people who drink coffee are less likely to have cavities. Roasted coffee beans have antibacterial effects against microorganisms like Streptococcus, which play a hand in causing tooth decay. 7. Coffee can help prevent/stop headaches 3. Coffee can improve short-term memory According to studies published in The Journal of the American Medical Association, caffeine is a cognitive stimulant that actually boosts brain functioning. Furthermore, coffee reduces levels of beta amyloid, a protein in the brain that is responsible for Alzheimer’s disease.
Have you ever wondered why caffeine is one of the main ingredients in migraine medication like Excedrin Migraine? WebMD explains that blood vessels increase in size during a migraine-- caffeine works to decrease the size of blood vessels before they can affect nerves in the brain. So, drinking coffee in the early stages of a headache can help minimize the severity later on.
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Medical
by Dr. Gabriel Sono
BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA (BPH)
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (also called BPH) is a condition that affects the prostate gland in men. The prostate is a gland found between the bladder (where urine is stored) and the urethra (the tube urine passes through). As men age, the prostate gland slowly grows bigger (or enlarges). As the prostate gets bigger, it may press on the urethra and cause the flow of urine to be slower and less forceful. “Benign” means the enlargement isn’t caused by cancer or infection. “Hyperplasia” means enlargement.
sixties and as many as 90 percent in their seventies and eighties have some symptoms of BPH.
Though the prostate continues to grow during most of a man’s life, the enlargement doesn’t usually cause problems until late in life. BPH rarely causes symptoms before age 40, but more than half of men in their
These symptoms can be caused by other things besides BPH. They may be signs of more serious diseases, such as a bladder infection or bladder cancer. Tell your doctor
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Most symptoms of BPH start gradually. One symptom is the need to get up more often at night to urinate. Another symptom is the need to empty the bladder often during the day. Other symptoms include difficulty in starting the urine flow and dribbling after urination ends. The size and strength of the urine stream may decrease.
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if you have any of these symptoms, so he or she can decide which tests to use to find the possible cause.
enlarge again when the medicine is stopped, so your doctor may suggest another treatment.
After your doctor takes a complete history of your symptoms, a rectal exam is the next step. In a rectal exam, your doctor checks your prostate by putting a gloved, lubricated finger into your rectum to feel the back of your prostate gland. This exam allows your doctor to feel the size of the prostate gland.
Another kind of medicine, called alpha-blockers, also can help the symptoms of BPH. Alpha-blockers have been used for a long time to treat high blood pressure, but they can also help the symptoms of BPH, even in men with normal blood pressure. Some of these drugs
To make sure that your prostate problem is benign, your doctor may need to look at a sample of your urine for signs of infection. Your doctor may also do a blood test. An ultrasound exam or a biopsy of the prostate may help your doctor make the diagnosis. Once your doctor is sure that your symptoms are caused by benign growth of the prostate gland, treatment can be recommended. However, your doctor may suggest that you wait to see if your symptoms get better. Sometimes mild symptoms get better on their own. If your symptoms get worse, your doctor may suggest another treatment option. Since BPH can cause urinary tract infections, a doctor will usually clear up any infection with antibiotics before treating the BPH itself. Although the need for treatment is not usually urgent, doctors generally advise going ahead with treatment once the problems become bothersome or present a health risk. One option is a minimally invasive treatment. This means it does not involve surgery. Most of these treatments use heat to destroy prostate tissue that is pressing on the urethra. Minimally invasive treatments can usually be done by your doctor in his or her office rather than at a hospital. Surgery is considered the most effective treatment and is used in men with strong symptoms that persist after other treatments are tried. This is also the best way to diagnose and cure early cancer of the prostate. Surgery is usually done through the urethra, leaving no scars. Surgery does have risks, such as bleeding, infection or impotence. These risks are generally small. Drug treatments are available. Finasteride and dutasteride block a natural hormone that makes the prostate enlarge, but it does not help all patients. The side effects of finasteride are rare and mild, but they usually have to do with sexual function. They go away when the medicine is stopped. The prostate may
are terazosin, doxazosin, tamsulosin and alfuzosin. These medicines may not work in all men. The side effects of alpha-blockers include dizziness, fatigue and lightheadedness. The side effects go away if you stop taking the medicine. Reading this, most men and partners will wonder how BPH will affect their sex life, Some sources state that sexual function is rarely affected, while others claim that it can cause problems in up to 30 percent of cases. However, most doctors say that even though it takes awhile for sexual function to return fully, with time, most men are able to enjoy sex again. Complete recovery of sexual function may take up to 1 year, lagging behind a person’s general recovery. The exact length of time depends on how long after symptoms appeared that BPH surgery was done and on the type of surgery. This information cannot be used to treat or diagonize symptoms, as always, when you suspect an illness, consult your Doctor, in this case our Magazine Doctor: Dr. Gabriel Sono through: gmsono@yahoo.com MAN April - May, 2010
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Fitness #3 Eat more vegetables, cut down on red meat, caffeine, sugar and salt.
Then think boiled cabbage, spinach, boiled potatoes, ati majani ya maboga Yeah, yeah, yeah….boring. You’ve heard this advice before — maybe too often. And these are some of the hardest things to do. How many times have you heard that we should consume several servings of vegetables a day consistently, and reduce the amount of red meat we eat? What about our favorite foods: Chips kuku, “Zege” ndizi za kukaangiza...mmm tamu eh? that big burger and french fries ? The reasult of this is reaching middle age and beginning to see people in your life falling into the clutches of diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. Things are getting too close to home, so change your diet before you pay for the junk consumed. It’s hard but make it a gradual process. Don’t forget too that by cutting out the junk, you’re saving money.
#4 Never skip breakfast.
7 easy steps on how to
Stay Fit #1 Exercise, and at the very least, just walk.
You need to move to burn those calories, to keep your body “oiled” and revving, and your metabolism humming just fine. You also don’t need to pay up to get moving. Even a brisk walk is considered quite healthy so if you can manage a regular exercise regimen comprised of sustained activity for 30 minutes a day, you’re in good shape.
#2 Sleep earlier.
Those times when you stayed up late or even all night to try to cram even more stuff into an already hectic day are now over. The body just won’t let you do those things anymore! And here’s the reason for improving your sleeping habits: your body heals and repairs itself and does its regulatory job while you’re snoozing. So give it the rest it deserves to keep you chugging along well the next day. A lifetime of bad sleeping habits will no doubt take a toll on you and this is one easy way to avoid getting sick. 40
Are one of those breakfast skippers who would pile it on heavily in the evening. This is because you are not hungry in the morning but terribly so at night. Did you think that it was a natural cycle for some people? In reality, these are bad habits that your body has become accustomed to doing and that needs to be broken. Never skip breakfast as it is the most IMPORTANT meal of the day. It starts your day.
#5 Never eat an incomplete meal.
This means that each meal we take should always contain all three basic food groups: carbohydrates, healthy fats and protein, because your body needs all three food elements to absorb properly and most efficiently in your body.
#6 Dont stress yourself.
Health experts keep saying it: toxins are all over our environment invading our systems, but some of these things are just not within our control. I’ll guarantee you’ll be breathing second hand smoke, car fumes and smog every time you go out of the house and enter a city. What about chemical agents in our hair spray, pesticide in our food or toxic materials hiding in old buildings where you work? You can’t escape these things. Well, one thing you can control is how stressed you are. Stress impacts your body in the same way terrible toxins do, so do your best to avoid it.
#7 Toss the vices.
Over indulging in smoking, exesive drinking ...the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. It’s something you just cannot “nag” someone to do, since many a time, they’d rather take the chance and possibly face the consequences of their long term habits at a later time. After all the reasoning goes, you can just as easily get run over by a bus than pick up health problems from some random vice.If you cant stop immediately then reduce gradually and just think how much you could actually save by giving up these extras.
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Feature
By Kagumya Michael
Resignation
Before I delve into the pros and cons of resigning your job gracefully, especially by giving a written notice to your employer let me first give you two scenarios that happened to my two friends. Friend one opened his email and found an interesting message telling him that he had won himself Tsh.1 billion through lottery. What was required of him, the email read in part, was to send some of his personal particulars and bank details in order to confirm the jackpot of his lifetime. He immediately told his boss to go “to hell” and threw all the money he had on him at his colleagues. Two days later, he realized he hadn’t won; it was merely a conman’s trap! He then asked for his job back. Fortunately for him, the boss reluctantly took him back after making him ask a few times. However, a few days later, he reportedly resigned after unending teasing by his co-workers. Friend two never had even the courtesy to tell his boss “to go to hell”. Immediately she landed herself a new job, she never even had the time to go back and handover her accounts books. She simply vanished, while her employer searched for her. Being in charge of finances, and the boss suspecting foul play, he reported the matter to the police, claiming that his employee had run away with company money. Guess what hit my friend. One early morning, while busy settling into her new employment, a colleague of hers came rushing to her, holding one of our Swahili daily newspapers with a bottom column bearing the grim and bolded words: “Police Notice—Wanted.” She almost collapsed. The Police Notice in short requested for any person knowing her whereabouts to tip the police with the enticement of heavy reward.
Why you need to quit your job in peace—not in MAN April - May, 2010 42pieces! MAN MAGAZINE issue 3 fnl.indd 42
As part of your reading this piece, this is your homework. You may guess the consequences that befell my second friend. The police. The court. The whisperings at her workplace. The psychological torture. And finally, her resignation.
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The lessons
While my first friend was lucky enough to get away with it easily, my second one wasn’t that lucky. She might have been found innocent by the court of law eventually, but she went through an ordeal she ought not to have endured. She should have simply dropped a notice, informing her boss of her intention to quit her job. It did not matter whether she had already settled in her new employment or not. She held a very sensitive post in her previous employment and by absconding without any explanation was highly suspicious and therefore subject to different interpretations. In both scenarios, all my friends were made to resign due to the psychological torture as a result of exiting their jobs in pieces—not peace. However, in both scenarios, the proverbial expensive lesson is not lost. You never know what’s going to happen next, so don’t be so quick to burn your bridges. Whether you win the lottery, find your dream job or are just plain fed up, consider these tips before telling your boss to “go to hell.”
The tips 1. Get it in writing first: “You have nothing until you have a written offer. Job offers can and do get rescinded,” says Martin Yate, career-management expert and author of the “Knock ‘em Dead” series. “The only sensible way to approach resignation is when you have a firm (written) job offer in hand, and not before.” 2. Always be professional: Nicholas Kennedy, one of the executive recruitment and consulting experts based in Dar es Salaam, advises candidates to, “Leave with dignity and grace by making your resignation professional and brief. Regardless of how you feel about your current position or boss, quit time is not a time to lob a verbal hand grenade to ‘get back’ for all those years of suffering on the job.” 3. Consider how long you want to stay: Many experts agree that it is still customary and a professional courtesy to give at least two weeks notice whenever you resign from a job. “Normally when you resign, it is bad news for your boss. You are essentially firing your company and leaving your boss short of manpower. You’ll want to do everything you can to allow for a smooth transition,” Bate James, a career specialist based in Dar es Salam, says. “A career is a long term haul and you never know when you will be running into these people again. You don’t want to burn any bridges.” 4. Start packing: Take home your personal belongings, books and any resources you’ve purchased before you give your notice. Remove any personal files or documents you’ve created that you wish to take with you when you leave. Be mindful, however, to adhere to your company’s policy regarding
intellectual property and confidentiality. You don’t want to wind up in court for taking items that are not legally yours. 5. Phone home: If you have contact lists on your computer, a company-owned cell phone that you’ll need in your job after-life, download, transfer or print these out. Your company may cut off your access to your e-mail and ask that you turn over all your electronics immediately after giving your notice. 6. Confirm what is due to you: Investigate with HR what, if any, unused and accrued vacation time is due to you. This will help you with timing your departure. But don’t expect to give a two-week notice and take most of it as vacation. Many companies will choose to just give you a payout of accrued time. 7. Banking on a bonus? Timing is often everything when it comes to bonuses. Make sure you understand the required terms of the payout. Some bonus plans not only require that you be employed throughout the bonus period (for instance you must work the full quarter or year to be eligible), they may also require that you are a current employee at the time of the actual payout, which could be weeks or months after you have “earned” your bonus. 8. Put it in black and white: Though you should plan to resign face-to-face with your supervisor, Bate says you should always write a resignation letter. “Carry it in with you and ask your boss to read it. Make it short, sweet; then shut up. Such a letter can be concise, professional and positive, in ways you probably can’t, given the circumstances.” 9. Plan for an immediate departure: If you are taking a job with a competitor, don’t plan to stay on much past an hour or two after giving your notice. “Companies fear that you’ll take sensitive information, like customer lists, pricing sheets and sales data. Even if you expect to leave on the most amicable terms, when you go to work for a competitor it always feels like you’re a turncoat,” says Mike Shirima, a sales executive based in Dar es Salaam, working in one of the mushrooming car yards. 10. Don’t be a lame duck: Even if your current employer wants you to stay the customary two weeks or longer, sometimes its better to ‘get out of Dodge’ sooner rather than later. “Once you have given your notice, you become a lame duck,” Shirima says. “You are not the go-to person any more; your projects and responsibilities get cut. In some cases, the sooner you transition out the better it is for you and your employer,” he concludes. Either way you may choose to leave your former employment, the universal unwritten rule is that you should always leave in peace—or following the right procedures, no matter the situation. MAN April - May, 2010
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Rides
By Ryan Njeru
G
A car defines a grown man’s ultimate toy…. cars are their smaller movable house. They love being inside the cars, they embellish their cars to the greatest taste. In the average guy’s life, a car is the first big purchase they make and mostly remains one of the biggest assets. It comes second only to the house in value. A car defines a man, abound are stories of how much you can tell of a man from his car. A lady friend once attested to me that a man who takes care of his car will with no doubt take care of his woman. In our times we have seen the car market blossom enormously. Any open space in Dar is being converted into a car sales yard. While searching for vehicle model options online, I noticed that one major brand had a model for every letter of the alphabet and in most occasions several models per letter…now that’s a great deal of product differentiation or maybe it is something else.
BMW
Mercedes
You may need to learn the lyrics to Bennie man’s song, ‘….who’s got the key to ma Beamer….., or just loop and play the CD loudly in the stereo, this is because you will always want to ride in it. Famed for its classy engineering and cutting edge technology, the BMW is also a serious beauty. In any parking lot, you are likely to receive the highest number of nods of appreciation, when you ride a ‘Beamer’. The carmaker engines are outstanding having proved their engineering prowess in the challenging environment of Formula 1 racing.
A ‘merc’ wields authority and opulence at best. It is the car that presidents ride, the kings and princes of the Gulf States favor it; top businessmen go for it! It spells luxury and comfort, qualities of life that we dearly seek. The manufacturer has successfully perched onto the top of the luxury ladder. The brand delineates men from boys. It’s probably the car your role model drives.
The bestseller from the manufacturer is the BMW 3 Series, it boasts of high fuel economy, having been introduced to the market during an oil crisis. It is a standard setter in its lineage and is the class benchmark. I did a simple poll amongst some lady friends and found that the high Beamer appeal them all weak at the knees too.
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Check out a C class or the ‘baby Benz’. It offers the compact version of the big guns discussed. It is the kind of machine you want to hop off when you get to your 4 year old daughters parents meeting at school. You can bet she will be proud of daddy too, who wouldn’t want that?
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GERMAN Connection This type of outlay presents the novice car buyer with a choice dilemma.Some brands have consistently delivered for the ‘folks’ segment of the car market. Looking at the Tanzania ‘urban upwardly mobile’ lad, the German manufacturers do offer some choices into his tray of options when shopping for a car. Brands from this nation have continued to roll out engineering masterpieces in our generation at seemingly attractive prices comparable to the rest of the brands in the market. Here is a a sample of some versatile brands from Germany that one may consider:-
Audi
Volkswagen
With a logo that bears a close semblance to the Olympics logo, Audi embodies a sporty and consistent delivery of quality. Just like the Olympics competitions, few have had the joy of driving this engineering marvel. The cars are rolled out of the Volkswagen group design platform. It sure offers some sleekness to the market segments. This is the car when you need to set yourself apart from the herd, as an Olympian you may say.
As of November 2009, the Volkswagen Group was recognized as the largest car maker in the world. The flagship models bearing the ‘Volkswagen’ name are engineering masterpieces. From the humble beginnings of the ‘VW Beetle’ to the present day range of compact executive sedans and 4WDs, VW has been consistent in delivering value to their customer.
In the compact executive class the manufacturer offers the A4 series, which come as saloons and estate versions. Higher performance is offered in ‘S’ versions in each class. As expected design is top notch. The Audi logo is definitely imposing and will get heads turning along Bagamoyo Road as you glide through traffic during rush hour.
The most successful model from the manufacturer is its Volkswagen Golf, a compact car rolled out by the German car maker since 1974, it is a third placed best seller in the world. Without doubt it has made some inroads into the passenger car market segment. The wide berth headlights give it the all desired sporty and cool look. Deep set colors give it the posh look that makes other road users just want to let you pass. Despite its award winning ways around the world and attractive price ranges it has still not made a huge print locally. MAN April - May, 2010
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Parenting
By Patrick Kigongo
How parents can improve kids’ school performance
As an educationalist, there are so many things I have observed that concern the role of a parent/guardian in improving the kids school performance. Unfortunately, we take them for granted to an extent that we have totally neglected them. The trend in most of our schools is to entrust all school concerns to the teacher. Teacher Patrick will help my kid perform better, we reason. No, that is totally wrong. Improving kids’ school performance is the joint responsibility of both teachers and parents. I wouldn’t want any parent to use the try-and-error method I went through. I vividly remember how my parents used to harangue me to go to school every morning. Any sign that I wasn’t going to school was always greeted with heavy handedness—including serious caning. My father’s concern was however stopped short of absence or presence at home; he never went beyond home to inquire how I was performing at school. Whether I actually went to school or was a truant was none of his concern. These days, kids have become smarter; they hide school reports, bury any form of communication from school that alerts parents of behavior and state of academics. So, parent, watch out! 46
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To avoid a number of problems, here are some of the tips that you may neglect at your own peril. • Always talk to your kid: As a parent, you need to spare time to involve yourself in your child’s formal education. Your child needs your moral support to overcome some challenges of schooling. The more you show interest in their education, the more education takes meaning to them to perform better and work hard at school. Discussing the likes and dislikes of what the kid experiences at school will surely improve his concentration at school. • Check the workbooks: Do you ever check your child’s workbooks? Make remarks and also create room for your child to explain to you their areas of concern so that you can assist accordingly. It is important to appraise the child whenever there is good performance just as any human being needs recognition for a job well-done. In case of non-performance, promise rewards for improved performance. You will surely reap big. Where there has been any noticeable improvement in the kid’s performance, recognize it with out fail. • Inspire the child: Inculcate in the child right from the beginning a serious sense of competition. Use vivid examples, such as telling him that you would not have driven that good family car if you were not beating your fellows in academics. • Encourage you child to love science subjects from the beginning. Demystify the myths that science subjects are for those with ‘tough brains’. Tell him that he is capable, and nothing can fail him if he works hard. That way the child will be borne with enthusiasm and courage. Let you kid try subjects like geometry, chemistry, computer technology, a second language and art. Make sure he/she never settles for doing less than their best. • Reading Culture: This one I have no apologies. We destroy our kid’s intellectual foundations by not encouraging reading—possibly because we ourselves are allergic to touching any piece of literature, perhaps television has taken over or newspapers are the only things we read! The school may give the Basic English skills of Writing, Speaking and Reading but time spent in school cannot create a complete and meaningful impact unless you as a parent intervene. Know your child’s reading level and buy books accordingly for your child to read at
home. That is not enough, it’s the joy of any child to read for you as you do the listening. Correct the pronunciation, help them develop expressions where need be as they read. Children who read at home with their parents perform well in Language at school. Show your kids how much you value reading by keeping good books, magazines, and newspapers in the house. Let them see you read. Take them on trips to the library and encourage them to get library cards. Let children read to you, and talk about the books. What was the book about? Why did a character act that way? What will he or she do next? This practice helps a child to develop high confidence and vocabulary. • Triangular Flow: Make sure your child goes to school every day. Get in touch with your child’s school as frequently as possible. This means getting updates of your child’s progress from his or her teachers almost on a daily basis. If the school provides diaries to pupils, communicate effectively through this diary daily. By doing so, it helps you understand the educational triangle of child, teacher and parent flow of responsibilities. The outcomes of keeping the flow precisely leads to making each member to understand the targets at that time and laying of benchmarks to achieve the projected targets. How often do you follow up on your child’s progress? • All in all, consistence of the parent matters a lot. As children move to higher grades in school, parents should not lessen the follow up. You may assume that as the child moves to higher grades and greater bio-psycho development that they will learn to work independently, this may not be so without proving it with evidence. Before the child moves to secondary school, a parent has to realize the importance of these issues for a child’s positive development in education. Vygotsy, a famous psychologist once wrote, “The relationship between a child’s ability and academic achievement is well established in the scientific literature. Cognitive ability and academic achievement is influenced by the important people in their lives.” Remember that when parents and families get personally involved in education, their children do better in school and grow up to be more successful in life. Sounds like common sense, doesn’t it? By Patrick Kigongo a Dar es Salaam-based teacher Email address: patsk2005@yahoo.co.uk MAN April - May, 2010
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Beauty & Fashion
By Maria Tsehai Sarungi
Miss Universe Tanzania 2010
Hellen Dausen
Multiethnic, colorful Tanzania! Those are the words that pop into mind when we reflect on Miss Universe Tanzania 2010. It was a sizzling show with beautiful girls from 5 regions in Tanzania competing for the prestigious crown at Mlimani City Conference Center on 23rd April 2010. The pageant was a nail-biting catwalk event, interspersed with the breathtaking acrobatics of Mama Africa circus. The performances for this pageant were varied and evoked the delight of Tanzanians from all walks of life and of different background such as the Mukteshwari Indian dance group that took to the stage twice; once with a traditional dance and the second performance more reminiscent of the popular Bollywood dances that we see on big screens. The panel of judges was made up of different personalities and the star guest was Flaviana Matata – Tanzania’s own top international model who flew in from Johannesburg. As the first Miss Universe Tanzania, Flaviana went on to achieve her dream as an international model and she was key in selecting the next representative of this prestigious crown. 48
Perhaps it was not a coincidence that all three top winners were a reflection of the natural and simple Tanzanian beauty that Matata showcased in Mexico City in 2007. Hellen Dausen, beamed on stage and consistently drew the approval of the audience with her vibrant personality and impeccable catwalk. The 23 year old student from Arusha and aspiring model and actress, was ecstatic when her name was called as winner and the hall erupted in applause accompanied by stage pyrotechnics. Hellen was hugged and kissed by all the contestants on stage as they celebrated her victory. The celebrations did not end there as stars, guests and participants moved to Movenpick hotel for a glamorous after party. It was a fabulous event. We look forward to seeing Hellen Dausen, rise to the top and make Tanzania proud!
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By: Shilawinge Kileo
Men’s Fashion
Over the years men’s fashion stores and men’s grooming spas and saloons have mushroomed almost everywhere in the suburbs and thanks to these we have a number of men joining the fashion crusade. While many women even those with just a passing interest in fashion find it difficult to be fashionable so do very many men. One would say men don’t know anything about fashion, while it may be true that there are thousands of African men who know nothing about fashion, it’s also true that there are thousands of men whose knowledge of fashion could shame many fashionable women out there, only difference here is that women need a lot to make a fashion statement yet with men its only a few things put or done the right way and there you have a fashionable man. For men just having a clean hair cut, a clean shaved beard, clean manicured nails and fresh clean clothes will more than pass for a distinction were as it takes more than that in the case of women.
Fashion for men has become less intimidating with the fashion shows, fashion tv channels, magazines and the ever present television soapies in our sitting rooms to give us a clue of what is in trend and what isn’t. A fashionable and well groomed man will get away with almost anything. It’s only a fool who will agree with the notion “Don’t judge a book by its cover” because many a times when we have a well packaged brand it’s the exterior or packaging that will sell it off the shelves and same thing as attending an interview we all know that first impressions count and how well you put yourself out there will determine if you get that job, business deal or date. The good news here for men is that fashion does not have to be as nerve wrecking as climbing mount Everest , men’s fashion does not change drastically as in the case of women so with a few basics fashion tips in ones closet / wardrobe one is assured of hitting all the right notes. A good tailored custom fit suit in either black, blue or grey, a pair of black or brown dress shoes, long sleeved dress shirts in light and solid colors, bold neat patterned ties (no flowers, cartoons or animal prints), a black and brown leather buckled belt, a pair of soft cotton socks that match your trousers, undergarments a pair of cotton vest (not colored), briefs / boxers , a set of nice cuff links, a pair of cotton handkerchiefs, a nice watch, a pair of short sleeved or casual shirts, khaki, cadets and jean trousers and a pair of loafers for the weekend. When rightly put together, these will get you all the business deals, job, promotions, build your confidence and maybe get you that woman you have been trying to date. Clothes should enhance your image and depending on your profession should be used as a business tool to impact on your business or career for its better to dress not for the job you have but for the job you want. Remember, if you look good you feel good and if you feel good you do good so good do good. Until next time fashionable men, remember to watch what you wear for it depicts the kind of Man you are.
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Upcoming Movers Compiled by By Gerald Kitabu
Many people, especially University graduates, are afraid to venture into entrepreneurship because of risks associated it Despite the available opportunities in many sectors, many people are not willing to bear the risk of a new venture, especially when they cannot see a significant chance for profit. Our reporter caught up with Mr. Dickson Hyera, B.Com (Fin) - University of Dar es salaam, MSc (Fin) - University of Strathlyde (Glasgow), and Finalist – ACCA. -Postgraduate Diploma in Tax Management. Mr. Hyera is the managing consultant of Consultancy firm, Konsalt, and in this interview, during the colourful inauguration day of Konsalt firm that took place on 13 January 2010 , he sheds light on the hustles and bustles of entrepreneurship.
Dickson Hyera From Banker to Consultant
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QUESTION: It is nice to meet you Mr. Hyera, today, after you officially inaugurated your business consultancy firm, Konsalt. It was very exciting to me, especially when your guest of honour Mr. Ole Naiko, termed Konsalt as a firm “by youth, Tanzanians and for Tanzanians.” Can you tell us, what Konsalt is all about? Konsalt is a business consultancy firm providing comprehensive consulting, training and professional services to the business community, in the broad range of corporate management. With experienced professionals and a team approach to consulting service, we offer quality services to constantly meet our clients’ needs. It is a virtual organization, having working alliances with renowned professionals, specialists in a number of disciplines, including tax management, corporate governance, business and risk management, micro-entrepreneurship and micro financing, as well as ICT management, control and security. We are a hi-tech firm running a combination of physical in-door services and (more preferably) electronically delivered services – electronic commerce. We aim at utilizing technological innovations to the highest possibilities in managing our alliances as well as in serving our customers.
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Our alliance is with renowned professionals in practice, high profile academics, freelance trainers and consultants as well as other institutions with corporate management and performance visions, in varied expertise. This renders us versatile enough to serve clients from various backgrounds. We serve businesses ranging from small and medium enterprises to large corporate entities. Small and mid-sized businesses make a sizable part of our market, in finance sector, trade and industry, hotel sector as well as the public and not-or-profit sectors. Our particular focus on the service sector, financial, educational, health hotel considers the fact that quality of such services has a pronounced impact on the rest of the economy. We design and deliver advisory services to increase clients’ operations effectiveness through reduced costs, improved customer service, enhanced quality of current product lines and services, and a more rapid introduction of new products and services. We also offer industry-specific expertise to objectively evaluate, select, develop, implement, and manage information systems, networks, and applications to best serve our customers. QUESTION: Where is Konsalt situated? Our office is situated at Green Acres House, Victoria Area, along Ali Hassan Mwinyi road about two kilometers from Mwenge bus stand and four kilometers from the city centre. QUESTION: By the way, how do you feel and what do you see ahead of you? Thank you. It is a day of excitement; a day of joy to see guests we invited attend our ceremony, including journalists and newsmen. I feel indebted to the public, to the business society, to the media, the guests who joined us and also those who for one reason or another could not show up. The level of reception we got is a real joy and a real debt that we owe you. We are happy that now Konsalt is officially open, by that very strong and supportive gesture. Indeed, we also thank Mr. Naiko for accepting to honour our invitation and we also owe him a lot. After opening we see a blurred way ahead. We have our plans and strategies, but as start up, in professional services the future really hold a lot of ups and downs that we need to go through to realize our mission. We are determined. We are courageous and we will go through. Q: Your guest of honour termed Konsalt as a firm by young Tanzanians and considering the trend of people getting into consultancy services in our country you look relatively young. How did you get into this business at this age and when did you actually start?
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That is real. And for him to conclude so he has grounds as he sees majority of investors in the country and the ages at which they start businesses. Konsalt was registered about three years ago. It started as an outsourcing service center, then it took on business advisory services about a year and a half ago. However, these were somewhat at a low profile. Last year we strengthened our consultancy service by venturing into training programs complimenting the advisory services. I could say all these were through daring. We started very small, added on bit by bit.
Buffett displayed an interest in making and saving money. He went door to door selling chewing gum, Coca-Cola, or weekly magazines …”. Take a minute, sit quietly, close your eyes and think of what potentials you have and how much of them you have utilized. Have you utilized all the energies in you towards productive ventures before praising “no capital”? I call upon youth to analyze the environmental settings, identify productive ventures, in production or in service industry, analyze what potentials they personally have, and then match those potentials to available opportunities.
Q: You have conducted several researches including on Tax Planning - Opportunities and Practical Challenges in Tanzania, Financial investments returns and risk exposures in Developing Economies, and also on areas of real investments. Drawing from a combination of findings of all those researches, how can youth develop into entrepreneurship and what are the challenges?
We are at a point where we need to turn whatever we find to be a problem or a challenge into opportunities. Before thinking of financial resources, think of what can be done using your own hands in implementing those projects, and then pick a project which can be implemented greatly using your own hands and any little savings available.
The biggest enemy in youth entrepreneurship is the mindset - the way they think of their “…able…” and “… not able …” and also the myth of “no capital”, daring, determination and perseverance. These need to be addressed. They may need to learn some entrepreneurship courses like ones we conduct to stimulate the entrepreneurial talents in them, enhance and polish up their determination and commitment to becoming good entrepreneurs.However, in the foremost they need to break out of that vicious circle of capital, breaking out of the myth “no capital,” decolonize the mindset of the “…not able…” and start being initiative, oriented creative and productive with the use of available resources. Our previous president, Mr. Benjamin Mkapa tried to propagate a saying that “Mtaji wa maskini ni nguvu zake mwenyewe”. This is a very short adage, but carries a lot of motivational and inspirational message if deeply deliberated upon. Learning from others, takes the case of Warren Buffet. He combined personal energies and little savings from school pocket money to start of business at the age of twelve “… Even as a c h i l d
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After that start off, you will be surprised with what your hands can do. Above all, today’s youths do not need to re-invent a wheel. They have people they can visit and consult. Konsalt is there for them to consult. I urge them to consult Konsalt and get started. As part of our social responsibility, we spend two hours every Saturday from 4:00 p.m. to provide free consultancy to youth who need our service on how they can become entrepreneurs, how they can start and how best they can manage their businesses effectively. This is completely at no cost, at our offices at Green Acres house, Victoria Area, along new Bagamoyo Road. Q: You have served in different senior capacities in big international and local Financial Institutions, with vast experience in corporate oversight roles, participated in board meetings, heading the Internal Audit Functions in a busy and Large Commercial Bank, Facilitated Implementation of Risk Management Function in a Large and Busy Pension Fund (From the Board Level to Functional Level), drawing from those exposures and experiences, what are the available opportunities that youth can use to be successful entrepreneurs? It is not a straight forward finger pointing, right away that those are the opportunities for youth to harness. But they are unlimited. They say the sky is the limit. But if you think there is a limit up there, board a space shuttle and go and see it. All you see up there will move higher up. This means opportunities can keep opening, more and more once you start harnessing one, just like the sky will go up by a meter for each meter you go after it.
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All it needs is for one to sit and analyze the environment in which he is and identify relevant opportunities. One could start by looking at what people need to which an optimal solution has not been obtained. That is a problem to the society. However, you then turn it into an opportunity for you to provide a solution for that problem. The challenge then remains for you to identify and produce the right solution. One might also consider needs by other creatures – animals, plants, forests, insects and even soils and their deposits. So many opportunities can be unveiled in the process.
The secret behind is quality. If we produce quality products and deliver quality services, there is no reason for potential customers to fall loyal to external suppliers.
Q: You have indicated interest in conducting a detailed research on the role of Government and its Impact on Good Governance in the Private Sector, challenges of Good Governance in the Public Sector – Sub-Saharan Africa Experience with major areas of interest in corporate Governance, Corporate Performance Management, Tax Management, Corporate Finance and Investments Corporate Visioning and Strategic Planning, what do you currently perceive to be the role of the Government towards youth self employment, and what would you say about youth entrepreneurs failing for lack of Government support?
Thirdly, is commitment and readiness to work hard. Own business is more demanding than employment. On employment, you would normally find businesses in or entering their stable positions. In self employment you start at scratch, risking your resources, push up to breakeven and then drive on to profit levels. This takes a lot. A committed self is needed with preparedness to work 18 hours a day.
I personally don’t believe in complaining against the Government. My life, my success, my failure is all on me. We cannot sit and wait for the Government to come and drive our hands into doing activities for ourselves. After all, who is the Government? Is it Hon. President Kikwete or everybody, as they say? If it is everybody, then your question is like asking “what is the role of everybody?” The answer to that can best be obtained by starting with answering “what is my role?” The government provides a legal framework, rules and regulations under which businesses should be conducted. It sets up regulatory frameworks to ensure each business is properly guided and supervised.
It is advisable to enter a business that you have a thorough or fair knowledge about. That is why you would expect doctors to venture into health services, teachers into education related businesses and so on.
The rest is upon us.
Q: What is the secret behind Konsalt?
Probably what I can say regarding the Government assistance for youth in entrepreneurship and self employment is to consider a favourable licensing and tax regime tailored for youth entrepreneurs.
Konsalt has managed to offer a range of breakthrough business management solutions, unique in the market and by consistently staying innovative, introducing new products and repackaging or reengineering existing ones. Our competitive edge is customer satisfaction with real solutions to their needs developed and delivered by competent persons in an excellent manner. Clear and cost-effective internal processes and systems are the corner-stone for our score card, for our internal performance management.
Q: What are the challenges of entrepreneurship for the upcoming entrepreneurs? The first challenge is being able to produce items or offer services that potential clients will be prepared to pay for. We talk of competition and most of it being from abroad and that local products are at disadvantage against foreign products and services.
The second challenge is endurance. Many of us want to start business today and earn profits tomorrow. This is not realistic. Most of the successful businesses we see today had gone through lows and highs. Subject to nature and size of the business, entrepreneurs should be prepared to provide five to fifteen years before they say they are sailing on profits.
Fourthly, know yourself. If you don’t know yourself, you are likely to get into a business that is not yours, and that is the beginning of hardships right away.
Fifth, knowing and satisfying customers. Before starting off, know your potential or expected customers. Once you are on the ground, know your actual and potential customers. Strive to satisfy actual customers who will also help you turn the potential into actual customers. This is a challenging task. It is until an entrepreneur can do this effectively, any venture is unlikely to move and earn a profit.
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Construction
By Michael Kagumya (Staff writer)
Making Your Bid Proposal as Outstanding as a Best Selling Book When creating outstanding bid proposals, your proposal package should be as visually appealing as a tempting book displayed in a bookstore. You want your attentiongrabbing proposal to read like a best seller. Observing what readers do when considering a book purchase can tell you much. A book buyer will spend less than 30 seconds deciding whether a book is for them. • First, they will be attracted to the front cover. • They are drawn to the spine and book title second. • Next, they will open the inside cover to read the jacket. • They will then flip the book over and look at the copy on the back. • They will go back and read or scan the first page. • They will open it in the middle to determine if the format and writing style is easily read and understood. • Finally, they will read, scan and flip to get a feel for the overall content and level of information included. All seven of these steps will let them know if they want to select this book, and they will do these seven steps in less than 30 seconds. Your Proposal Response often called an RFP or Request for Proposal will most likely be bound and the reader will follow the same 30-second initial scan. To be a winner, your RFP proposal must be as compelling as a well-loved book. (Go back to the seven steps listed above and do this with your proposal.) 56
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It would be great if you could follow these same steps to make your bid proposal read like a best seller. You can use these secrets to make your bid proposal selected to go on to the finals.
knowledge you have of their project is specific enough to make them see your firm as the only logical choice.
The Cover
Design a theme to your submission. The central theme should be built around why your firm is right for this project. Everything you do or say about your projects and people in this proposal must revolve around this theme.
Make your cover memorable. Just as one would with the cover design for a best seller, make your cover attractive and your book cover color distinctive. Remember that your company name is the name of your book. Make sure that your name and logo stands out and is large enough and clearly legible, so that it is memorable and working for you while the RFP packages are in full view of the submission review committee. Use the cover to promote your firm and leave the name of your firm front and foremost in their minds. Use an outstanding color to make a strong visual impression and have the name of your firm large enough to be seen as it sits on the table in full view of the selection committee. I understand--you usually design a nice cover showing their project and their project name, while your petite logo sits quietly in the corner. Why is this wrong? Because they already know about their project--their name, their site and logo-now they need to see yours. It is a subliminal message with an association that sticks strongly in their minds and is fully visible as they review the choices.
The Binding Make sure that the binding method you use for your proposal allows the package to lie flat. You do not want the reader to have to struggle with the binding in order to see your content.
The Hot Button Issues Just as with a best seller, you have to capture and hold the reader. Uncover and physically list what you perceive are the underlying Hot Button Issues of this proposal request. Difficult site? Tight timeline? Tight Budget? Read between the lines and add these hot button issues to your list.
Cover letter Use the cover letter as more than a pleasantry saying nothing. This is your first chance to show what the RFP or RFQ asked for and how you meet that need. This is your opportunity to use bullet points and checklists to hit home why your firm is the specific and outstanding choice for this project. Your letter of interest must go beyond the usual boilerplate including your years in business and awards. Your generic expertise is what got your firm pre-selected. Now you must clearly show that what you have done before is relevant, and that the
Thematic concerns
Qualification Pick two stars in house. Star number one is the person most likely to impress the selection committee with the absolute dead-on qualifications and relevant project know how. Make that person come alive by re-writing their resume to show specific and relevant expertise to this project. Star number two is the project that demonstrates your exact relevant expertise. Turn this project into a case study showing what the primary project goal was, the main concern and issues (time, money, site difficulties) and how your firm solved those issues. Quantify your results in dollars and time.
Teaming Pick a star to team with. Here is your chance to bring a consultant to your RFP team with an impossible-to-resist charm. The world is open to you here--if you have met the point criteria elsewhere, this person is your freebie. Pick someone that brings something irresistible to the table and make sure the reason you chose that person is clear. Consider using client testimonials that can be pulled out magazine style.
Have you overlooked anything? Sure. You need an independent review. Ask the reviewer the following: • Have we shown what our firm and team brings to the project that will make this proposal land at the top of the heap? • Have we demonstrated that we have researched the project needs, shown our understanding of the concerns and issues and listed specific and unique abilities that will meet those needs? • Have we demonstrated our relevance to the project with similar case studies, targeted resumes and verifiable results?
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Feature
By Guy Picard
The MAIN Difference Between Men & Women
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Masculinity gene revealed! Scientists decoding the human genome have discovered that just 78 genes separate men from women. But what are they? It’s the Y chromosome which makes men; men, and now scientists have a better idea than ever before what makes it up. But to help them on their way, and in an effort to help everyone understand the differences between the sexes, here are:
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Women understand color. They seem to know what to wear all the time. Men just think red is nice, pink is nice, so why not have them together? Women have the Oh dear, the toilet paper is on its last sheet; must replace it immediately gene.
This is entirely absent in men who have the Oh s#*t! Can you pass me a toilet roll, love? gene!
Women have the If you need to be told I am not going to tell you Gene
Men like to have all their stuff (DVDs, CDs, etc) on show to impress their mates. Women like to hide things in cupboards.
Women have a built in calendar gene – we remember birthdays, anniversaries and appointments effortlessly. Ask a woman in the street how to get somewhere and she will direct via shops
Ask a man and it will be via pubs.
Women put things on the bottom stair to take up next time she has to go upstairs
Men just step over them until told to pick them up
Women do not.
Men appreciate the importance of a 42 inch plasma screen.
Women can use sex to get what they want.
Men cannot, as sex is what they want.
Women pick up on subtleties and then think about them.
Men need things explained IN CAPITAL LETTERS before the message gets through.
Women speak in paragraphs.
Men speak in sentences.
At weddings, women cry then get drunk.
Men get drunk, then cry.
For women, 2am is time for a discussion about where our relationship is going.
For men, 2am is time for sleep.
Women are missing the parking a car in between two straight white lines in an empty car park gene
Men can balance an infinite amount of rubbish in the waste bin, without noticing it is full.
If you told a woman that you had just returned from a trip to the surface of the Moon, she would show her interest by asking who you had gone with. Men do not even bother to look for something, then ask where it is and hope that it was the woman who put it away When women want something they make a point distantly related to the subject and wait for a response.
When men want something they ask for it.
Women have an ability to make men think they are in charge. Men need a round of applause for emptying the dishwasher. Women think E on the petrol gauge means enough. Women use we or us when they should use I or me.
Men use I or me when they should use we or us. Men refuse to pay more than Tsh 5,000 for a hair cut as it is not that important.
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Women enjoy planning a wedding. Men have the capacity to sleep through most sounds, whether it is a baby crying, dog barking, or doorbell ringing. Men have an anorak gene, which triggers a lecture on thermo dynamics when asked a simple question requiring a yes or no answer Women eat curry if they like it.
Men eat curry to prove they can.
Women could never invent weapons that kill, only ones that make you feel really bad and guilty until you surrender Women are the only ones with the noticing gene – we notice when something is dirty/nearly empty/ out of place and then we bring into play the doing something about it now gene! Men can watch an entire film without having to ask who is that, what does he do? Women will think about the risks involved before hand.
Men will do something and not think about the risks involved then be sorry after. A man can choose and buy a pair of shoes in 90 seconds over the internet.
Women pee together.
Men do not acknowledge, let alone speak, to each other when peeing. Men can drive without having to look at themselves in the mirror. Men have a gene which enables them to answer any question, no matter how complex or important, with Mmm.
Women make lists upon lists of things for men to do when they know very well we will never do them. Men can watch six different channels at the same time and know the name of none of the programmes they claim to be following Women can smell dirty socks at 100ft,
Men have to hold them to their nose. Men start a sentence and... women finish it for them Men have the empathy with computers gene. This means they are more likely to be found fiddling about with one rather than doing something useful.
Women keep carrier bags hidden away in a cupboard. They even keep carrier bags within carrier bags.! Men look at going down the gym as a physical activity, to women it is a social event. 60
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Women think that a good place to keep the TV controller is on top of the TV. Women have a gene that enables them to maintain a vice like grip on the remote control while reclining on the sofa studying the insides of their eyelids. Women can get by with 10 or 20 CDs.
Men need 200 plus.
Women know that washing machines have programmes for every kind of fabric, colour and quantity and use them appropriately.
Men will put a months supply of laundry through the 40 degree cycle (safest guess), regardless of any other detail.
Women order rice and eat men’s chips. Men will hear you open a beer from three rooms away. Women recall every outfit they have worn for the past two decades.
Men cannot remember what they were wearing yesterday without looking on the floor next to the bed.
If a woman is told about a birth, she will remember names (first and middle), weight, time, how long the labour took and whether medical intervention was required.
If a man knows an acquaintance has given birth to a baby, he will remember the sex and name - if you are lucky.
Women have the ability to brain dump their entire day when they get home -
men can only remember that it went OK Men cannot watch sports and talk to their wives at the same time.
MAN April - May, 2010
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“You live and you learn”.
Human Nature
Mbonisewa S. Mtambalike
Suff ering a price to pay for love
“To be or not to be: that is the question: whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to suffer, the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, or to take arms against a sea of troubles, And by opposing end them? To die: to sleep; No more; and by a sleep to say we end the heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks” Shakespeare once wrote 62
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Each one of us in one way or another has gone through hardships. No matter how small or big but we all have limits to what we can take; the most important thing is to overcome such moments of despair and live in the hope of a better tomorrow even if it looks extremely grim. One thing you should always consider is nothing happens for no particular reason; whichever stage of life you may be in it is your destiny. I am a firm believer of living for the moment and letting tomorrow take care of itself. For any man of faith believes in fate and the course it must take. I am not intending to turn antitheists into believers; I am simply offering an alternative outlook on life and hoping to share as individuals the many experiences we face. We share the same sun, why not share our challenges and help each other overcome them together. They say: “YOU LIVE AND YOU LEARN”. Making sense of human suffering is a challenge and many times we are confronted by man’s inhumane nature towards others. Suffering comes to us not to make us sad, but sober and not to make us sorry but wise. As a race we have encountered many difficulties and may still continue to struggle to find our centre. But as individuals we experience similar challenges and make the same mistakes whatever “GENRE” of the human kind we may be; Caucasian, African, Asian or mixed-race or decent. As long as you posses a human structure with all active organs and personality we are all actors from the same script, just in different languages and settings. The common-sense approach to life’s perils, one needs a profound understanding about the nature and true meaning of suffering. Instead of becoming embittered and resentful, find ways of empowering yourself and channel that suffering to something useful. Suffering is for anyone who needs to learn how to deal with the present situation and being able to cope. In a way you will be able to understand who you are as an individual and also deepen your relationship with others; an opportunity to re-evaluate yourself. Shakespeare understand suffering and that it is impossible to avoid its course if it takes its righteous path, but he also believes that we as individuals have the power of choice and to decide how we can change our own fortunes by overcoming the trying times of in our lives. Because we are not identified by the countless of problems we have but to how best we triumph over them. Failure to something is not a fall but just mere slip, success is determined by how fast you dust yourself off and getting back into the game. And the only way you can ease the suffering is to try and face up to the problems in your life no matter how painful and overwhelming they may be. It is a strenuous task for we are all of a different make; each one of us has their own way of receiving problems and finding ways to how best you can solve them. There are those who panic, those who do not panic and those who just go numb with nothing to say or do. Yet, what really matters the most is how best they have tried to solve
their crises. This will then be a determinate factor in living a fulfilling life. Some are just awkward even scary but some are just plain stupid and inexplicable; human beings never seize to amaze me. We are the greatest inflictors of suffering; we know no bounds when it comes to giving or placing people in painful situations. Like loving we all have our own ways of understanding the pain we receive and coping with it. Woody Allen said: “to love is to suffer; to suffer is to love then again to love is to be happy”. The only thing that sets us apart from all the other species is our level of sensitivity towards one another. Once that equilibrium is broken either one person or both may end up suffering, because love is the only thing that frees us from ourselves and requires no logic. It’s the only thing worth fighting for, risk everything for and easiest thing to begin but the most difficult thing to let go. When two kindred spirits are twined no one can come in between and dismantle their union, for no reason what-soever let them be the judge of what they want and desire. You see, true love is a candid emotion where stipulation is not required. Doubt cannot place its seeds of destruction, has no scale or aware of the merits or demerits. But the human mind is driven to put poison, deceit and dolerite in hearts that beat as one, I fathomless of this capacity. Then again, the world is full of fastidious people who think everything should revolve around them; when nothing goes their way or if a few looseends happen then all hell breaks loose. All they think about is creating friction between the two lovers causes faults in their relationship; most often than not, side-choosing occurs and usually the love-birds tend to part ways with feelings of resentment and spite. I often wonder if such people feed on the negativity or the misery they inflict in other peoples’ lives, what makes them better than the rest to behave so conceitedly and selfish towards the feelings that they themselves cannot even begin to understand. Envious people are forever miserable, that is why they cannot stand the fact other people can be happy and content. For whatever status they may be in they can prosper and reach new and farfetched heights because their souls are twined and pure. In the long-run, such people have managed to create a spiteful world where the ones who suffer scuffle to set them free from all the hurt and do not know how to start picking up the broken pieces of their hearts and lives. Restructuring one’s life for what they are used is a very difficult, but they should pay attention to their reasoning and look at the present reality without letting you emotions elude you. Consider those short-comings that made you suffer, for how long and how it made you feel about yourself and your outlook on life. Let’s not suffer on the account of others.
MAN April - May, 2010
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Life
By Azim Jamal
Determination, Discipline & Consistency The man who moves the mountain moves it one brick at a time . - Chinese Proverb Ray Kroc, founder of Macdonald’s fast food chain quotes in his autobiography “Grinding it out” “Press On: Nothing in the world can take place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful individuals with talent. Genius will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence & determination alone are omnipotent.”
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Having a big audacious goal requires focus, consistency and a long-term approach. It is like going to a mighty oak tree and trying to chop it off with an axe. Nothing will happen the first day you go at the majestic tree with your axe. But if you go to the oak tree day in/day out, one day the mighty oak will tumble. …as long you go to the same oak tree and not different oak trees. So anything big can be done through focus and persistence.
Enlightened persistence is the ability to differentiate between what is worthwhile to persist for and what is wiser to exit. Enlightened persistence forces you to revisit your goals.
Enlightenment is a strong word - it implies the goal you are chasing is also larger than self and making a difference. The power to persist comes from a goal larger than self. If you are persisting just for fame you may end up climbing the wrong tree and not enjoy the fruits you get. There are many examples of famous unhappy people. If you read the lives of many Persistence is the dogged determination to go the famous people, you will see traces of betrayal, distance to achieve one’s goals. It implies an addiction, shame, unhappiness and even expectation that there will be many hurdles bankruptcy. Usually it takes a lot of and obstacles along the way. These When hard work, focus and determination hurdles and obstacles only increase to achieve big goals. Sometimes, the your resolve, not decrease it. As the you believe stars align and you get your goal saying goes, “Circumstances do not accomplished quickly. make you, they reveal you”.
in yourself and
Showing the discipline and consistency to go the distance no matter how difficult or insurmountable the tasks appear to be, is an important ingredient of persistence. Through persistence you send the message to the universe that you have the wherewithal to go the distance no matter what.
persist, the universe
This is an exception and is illustrated in this inspiring example:
conspires to help
An eight year old girl overheard her parents say that only a miracle you achieve your can save her younger brother. So she took out her savings from her goals! piggy bank, a whopping $1.11 and went to a nearby pharmacy to buy a miracle. She stood in front of the counter and offered 25 cents in return for a miracle. Crisis is the Greek word meaning decisiveness The lady at the counter shrugged the little girl by or point of decision. Crisis leads to decisiveness! saying they don’t sell miracles. Many a dreams faltered because of a lack of consistency The little girl offered 50 cents and discipline. and received the same reply. Sometimes the results are different from what we The little girl was persistent expect. This poem highlights a philosophical reaction and offered 75 cents. While to a result that may be better for you even if it does not this was happening another appear to be. customer in the store overhears the conversation. I asked God: He asks her what kind of For Strength, I got difficulties to overcome so I could miracle she was looking for and her budget. She says be strong that her brother is very sick and her parents said only For Wisdom, I got problems to solve so I could be a miracle can save him. She has all her life’s sayings to wise pay for this miracle, which is $1.11. The customer said For Prosperity, I got brain and brawn to work so I this is exactly how much you need. Take me to your could be prosperous brother. The customer was Dr. Carlton Armstrong a For Courage, I got dangers to face so I could be neurosurgeon who performed the operation for $1.11. courageous For Love, I got troubled people to help so I can love The message of this story is if you have the conviction I got nothing I asked for but everything I needed and are willing to give up everything you have (all your My prayers were answered. life’s savings!) you can perform miracles. In this case, the stars aligned and the result came swiftly. MAN April - May, 2010
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Movie Review
With their country weakened from decades of war, embattled from the ineffective rule of the new king and vulnerable to insurgencies from within and threats from afar, Robin and his men heed a call to ever greater adventure. This unlikeliest of heroes and his allies set off to protect their country from slipping into bloody civil war and return glory to England once more.
IRON MAN 2 I sort of enjoyed the first Iron Man film having been a fan of the comics. It had a feel of Part 2 to it and here it is!! The trailer looks like they borrowed from Transformers. Anyway, I am just longing for cool CGX!
ROBIN HOOD:
In “Iron Man 2,” the world is aware that billionaire inventor Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is the armored Super Hero Iron Man. Under pressure from the government, the press and the public to share his technology with the military, Tony is unwilling to divulge the secrets behind the Iron Man armor because he fears the information will slip into the wrong hands. With Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow), and James “Rhodey” Rhodes (Don Cheadle) at his side, Tony forges new alliances and confronts powerful new forces.
I have seen so many poorly done Robin Hood films and Television flicks, I cannot wait for the 14th May release! Oscar® winner Russell Crowe stars as the legendary figure known by generations as “Robin Hood,” whose exploits have endured in popular mythology and ignited the imagination of those who share his spirit of adventure and righteousness. In 13th century England, Robin and his band of marauders confront corruption in a local village and lead an uprising against the crown that will forever alter the balance of world power. And whether thief or hero, one man from humble beginnings will become an eternal symbol of freedom for his people. The Robin Hood adventure chronicles the life of an expert archer, previously interested only in selfpreservation, from his service in King Richard’s army against the French. Upon Richard’s death, Robin travels to Nottingham, a town suffering from the corruption of a despotic sheriff and crippling taxation, where he falls for the spirited widow Lady Marion (Oscar® winner Cate Blanchett), a woman skeptical of the identity and motivations of this crusader from the forest. Hoping to earn the hand of Maid Marion and salvage the village, Robin assembles a gang whose lethal mercenary skills are matched only by its appetite for life. Together, they begin preying on the indulgent upper class to correct injustices under the sheriff. 66
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PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME
Towards the end of the month, I look forward to watching this film that seems to be “interesting”. I am worried it may be slap-stick! From the team that brought the “Pirates of the Caribbean” trilogy to the big screen, Walt Disney Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer Films present “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time,” an epic action-adventure set in the mystical lands of Persia. A rogue prince (Jake Gyllenhaal) reluctantly joins forces with a mysterious princess (Gemma Arterton) and together, they race against dark forces to safeguard an ancient dagger capable of releasing the Sands of Time—a gift from the gods that can reverse time and allow its possessor to rule the world. I realize that these films are all action and animation, those who enjoy drama and romance, watch out for Sex and the City 2!!
SHREK: Oooh, nothing makes me laugh more at the movies than Shrek! Brilliant! As an adult, I am the first to get the kids moving to go watch it! After challenging an evil dragon, rescuing a beautiful princess and saving your in-laws’ kingdom, what’s an ogre to do? Well, if you’re Shrek, you suddenly wind up a domesticated family man. Instead of scaring villagers away like he used to, a reluctant Shrek now agrees to autograph pitch forks. What’s happened to this ogre’s roar? Longing for the days when he felt like a “real ogre,” Shrek is duped into signing a pact with the smoothtalking dealmaker, Rumpelstiltskin. Shrek suddenly finds himself in a twisted, alternate version of Far Far Away, where ogres are hunted, Rumpelstiltskin is king and Shrek and Fiona have never met. Now, it’s up to Shrek to undo all he’s done in the hopes of saving his friends, restoring his world and reclaiming his one True Love.
COMING SOON in 2010 !! MAN April - May, 2010
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Ahem!
By Azim Jamal
Believe in yourself If you do not believe in yourself, no one believes in you. Hurdles will come, obstacles will come, but belief is important. Mark Victor Hansen slept on his small office floor but then went on to sell 85 million copies of the Chicken Soup series. Anthony Robbins slept in his Volkswagen before becoming the top motivational speaker. Brian Tracy was homeless before becoming an international bestseller and top speaker. JK Rowling was a single mother who went on to shatter all book selling records.
Focusing on the fundamentals gives you the foundation to create success from failure. When Lee Iacocca left Ford Motors he turned around Chrysler. Iacocca used his philosophy of focusing on the fundamentals to create a talented team. He got his priority right. He kept some mavericks around and never forgot that it is the line organization that makes the money, not the staff.
Belief in your product or service is important. If you have the conviction that you can offer something of value then you have to go the distance.
Failing thousands of times and succeeding is what it took Inventor Thomas Edison to become the greatest inventor. Some claim that he failed 25,000 times and when asked by a reporter if had failed that many times, his response was “I know of so many ways of how not to fail, what do you know?”
Sometimes the odds are staked against you. You need not only belief in self but great discipline to reach your aspirations. Lance Armstrong conquered cancer and went to win not 1 but 7 Tour de France. Tiger Woods entered the golf scene when there were hardly any African golfers. He went onto becoming one of the greatest champions in golf history defying all odds. Michael Jordan had a poor start to his basketball career but went on to become the best. Philanthropist Mohamed Yunus went through many rejections yet persevered and recently won the noble prize for his work with micro credit and the poor. Colonel Sanders at the age of 66 living on social security payments overcame more than 1000 rejections before spearheading Kentucky Fried Chicken. Walt Disney struggled in his journey. He overcame depression and financial difficulties before creating the magical World of Disney. Overcoming enormous challenges including abuse, no parental support, miscarriage, teen pregnancy is what it took Oprah to become a world class talk show host. Oprah was abused at the age of 7, 9 and 11. At 13 she was pregnant and had a miscarriage, the same time her mother was pregnant with her. At 14 she was sent to a juvenile home where there was no room for her. She went on to become the richest woman on earth. She had the capacity to bounce back, no matter what! Sheer resolve and paying attention to what he wanted was what rescued Samuel Pisar (a renowned lawyer). He survived the horror of Nazi concentration camps and had many close encounters with death. Despite all odds he went on to become a visionary lawyer who was short listed for a Noble Prize nomination.
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Avoiding the blame game was what Bernie Marcus did to build Home Depot. When retail executive Bernard Marcus lost his job when his employer Handy Dan, owner of a home improvement chain was sold, instead of blaming others for his fate and becoming defensive, he saw opportunities. Drawing from his network of carefully nurtured relationships, he got funding and went on to build Home Depot. Tom Watson, on the other hand founded IBM after he was fired by NCR. Either you blame others or you invest your energy in creating something admirable! “No one throws a stone at a barren tree.” – Sufi saying - We have seen above many examples including those of bestselling authors, businesspeople, sportspeople, philanthropists, inventors, talk show host and even prophets who went through enormous challenges, hurdles, obstacles, and failures. It confirms that persistence applies to all walks of life. These are the stepping stones to success. Even prophets – Jesus, Moses, and Mohamed - went through enormous challenges to convey their message. You wonder why then they were so close to God. It confirms the value of struggle and persistence! The power inside you can be ignited because we all have a desire to win and we all have a “Rocky” inside of us. When you manifest enlightened persistence you become in Og Mandino’s words:
• Like a raindrop that washes away a mountain • Like an ant that devours a tiger • Like a star that brightens the earth • Like a slave that builds a pyramid • You build your castle one brick at a time
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Untapped Potential Life Balance
LIVE
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Azim Jamal
Corporate Sufi
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Contact Azim at: www.azimjamal.com
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Album Review
SADE
SOLDIER OF LOVE You only grow as an artist as long as you allow yourself to grow as a person. We’re all parents, our lives have all moved on. I couldn’t have made Solider of Love any time before now….” -Sade Adu Coming into the fourth decade of her career, Sade Adu has become an esoteric figure in the music industry. Since the early 90s she’s shrouded her life from popular culture, leaving her one album per decade average as the main tool for press and fans to speculate on her private dealings and thoughts. Those sparse offerings have delivered some of the best musings on love ever recorded, ranging from unbridled ecstasy (“Couldn’t Love You More”) to wallowing anguish (“King of Sorrow”). With a new decade upon us, Sade returns with another offering from the depths of her soul in Soldier of Love. “The Moon and the Sky” opens the LP on the theme of unconditional love abused by selfishness. The string arrangements and trudging bass allow Sade’s voice to dominate, and she stretches several notes to accentuate the forlorn disbelief at how her lover abuses her loyalty (“So why did he make me cry?/Why didn’t you come get me one last time?/You let me down….You left me there dying” ). That damage transitions well to the lead single “Soldier of Love.” The stabbing, aggressive guitar chords and marching drums are a clear break from Sade’s previous work, and give a modern feel sure to catch younger fans not familiar with her work. In the context of the album, it builds on the numbing pain of the opening song, but displays the songstress still determined to persevere (“I’ve lost the use of my heart/But I’m still alive…”). The only other uptempo track, “Bring Me Home,” ironically contains the strongest lyrics of hopelessness. The despair is punctuated by backing vocals which titter on low mourning wails, and Sade invokes spiritual loss and regret (“I’ve cried for the lives I’ve lost/Like a child in need of love/I’ve been so close but far away from God….I’ve cried the tears so let the tide take me/I won’t fight/I’ve cried the tears.”)
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The Sade band, composed of Stuart Colin Matthewman (guitar,sax), Paul Spencer Denman (bass), and Andrew Hale (keyboards), have retained their innate ability to not only seamlessly glide through different music genres, but merge them as needed to support their lead singer’s ethereal voice. “Babyfather” brings street reggae rhythms to support Sade’s celebration of parenthood and first ever collaboration with 13 year old daughter Ila. On “Be That Easy,” the band embraces the blues while Adu ruminates on her life being in freefall, her love remaining as the only tangible, pure facet (“Falling down, flying as slow as I can/I’m not trying to reach the land/Just falling somewhere/It couldn’t be that easy/It had to be much harder/Meanwhile boy, I love you”). Sade’s lasting appeal has been tied to the uniqueness of her soothing, rich alto vocals. Like previous legends Billie Holiday and Sarah Vaughan, her voice has gotten deeper with age. In her early years, Sade had underrated range (see “Pearls,” Frankie’s First Affair”). The voice is now slightly weaker, but not alarmingly so. The change is only noticeable when the band’s arrangements call for her to hit higher notes, as heard on “Morning Bird.” Perhaps by design, Adu for the majority of Soldier of Love isn’t required to extend or test her vocal limits. As with all Sade LPs, the ballads are empathetic and overflow with introspection. “In Another Time” features engaging sax and string instrumentation (violin, cello) that will remind longtime fans of the jazz fusion pieces heard on Diamond Life and Promise. The track is another testament to Sade’s exceptional skill as a songwriter, as the lyrics can be interpreted as an ode to her daughter, or words of inspiration to downtrodden women. “Skin” invokes the album’s strongest imagery as a meditative piece on when self-identity and preservation supersedes love for another. The song is classic Sade, with the singer describing the process of “peeling” and “washing” away the elements of an ex-lover on her psyche. Her phrasing is flawless, working in perfect harmony with her band’s subdued melodies. The album has an unmistakable feeling of sadness, but ends with optimism on “The Safest Place.” Although the guitar and violin chords maintain a pensive color, Sade’s words show she remains unbroken, alluding to the spiritual warfare detailed in the album’s journey (“My heart’’s been a lonely warrior/Who’s been to war so you can be sure/Your love’s in a sacred place/The safest hiding place.”) For Sade, Soldier of Love is a work that continues the excellence she’s displayed since her debut, while the greatness that is Love Deluxe is likely untouchable ever again, Sade builds and exceeds her fine work from 2000’s Lover’s Rock. Sade’s extended albums breaks are an example of her dedication to her craft, and the importance she sees in letting life and spirit dictate when it’s time to drop over industry protocols. Welcome back, Sade!!
MAN April - May, 2010
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DNOMYAR
V RAYMOND
The title of Usher’s strong new album alludes to his recent divorce from Tameka Foster, whose brief marriage to the Atlanta-based R&B star (born Usher Raymond IV) provided much of the fodder for his domestic-minded 2008 album “Here I Stand.” But “Raymond v Raymond” carries another meaning: Here’s a battle between the faithful husband of the last few years and the wily lothario of yore. Over a thumping Eurodance groove in “OMG” he describes an encounter with a woman in a club that’s unlikely to last beyond tomorrow morning. The reggae-scented “Pro Lover” offers a cheerful justification for the one-night stand: “I’m better when I’m touch and go.” In “She Don’t Know,” Usher ends most of his lines with a spirited interjection that openly echoes his up-tempo 2004 smash “Yeah!”Near the end of “Raymond v Raymond,” the singer temporarily slows the beat for “Papers,” a sleekly produced ballad that appears to address the causes of his divorce: “The only time you’re here for me,” he sings, “is when the bottles popping and everything is sweet.”
ERYKAH BADU New Amerykah Part One: 4th World War Erykah Badu sent imagined political futures raging through our collective conscious. Released in 2008, when Bush was still in the White House, Badu funneled her fears into an exotic underworld. Now with Obama in the White House and a new healthcare bill passed, perhaps Badu feels that her worries have been temporarily assuaged, allowing her to focus again on the timeless subject of love and self-evolution. Whether the specifics involve being needed or wanting to fly away, lusting for someone or letting go, “New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh” is a velvety, but still appealingly odd, exploration that feels more like a casual counterweight than a heady sequel.
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Sports
Compiled By Shafi Dauda
WORLD CUP
GOAL SCORERS OF ALL TIME 'The fever is about to reach the highest pitch, you cannot miss the countdown, on Television, radio, newspapers and in your own head! With the World Cup just 10 weeks away, MAN MAgAziNe runs down the Top 10 finals goal scorers of all time. The game of soccer or football has never been more refined. The play tactics are ultra modern, the player jerseys, the ball and shoes are scientific marvels while the players are chiseled athletes. However, at the end of 90 minutes of regulation time or extra time, what counts are clinically finished goals. At the highest level of the game, it is not easy to see the net!
10)
TEOFILO CUBILLAS (PERU) 10 GOALS (1970, 1978, 1982) The greatest Peruvian of all time, Cubillas was the inspiration behind his country’s run to the quarter final in 1970. Scored a memorable goal against Scotland eight years later in Argentina.
9)
GARY LINEKER (ENGLAND) 10 GOALS (1986, 1990) Top scorer at the 1986 World Cup with six goals. Also struck four times in 1990 as England finished fourth.
Please note: player’s level on the same number of goals are separated by their goal-to-game ratio… 72
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8) GABRIEL BATISTUTA (ARGENTINA) 10 GOALS (1994, 1998, 2002) Legendary Argentine striker with a bullet of a right foot. At his peak during the 1994 and 98 editions, but also scored as a veteran in Japan/South Korea.
7) HELMUT RAHN (WEST GERMANY) 10 GOALS (1954, 1958) The Cannon from Essen’ is best remembered for scoring twice in the 1954 final against Hungary, but he was also a star four years later in Sweden. His 10 goals came from just nine games.
6) JURGEN KLINSMANN (GERMANY) 11 GOALS (1990, 1994, 1998) Prolific striker who excelled in three straight World Cups and forged an impressive partnership with Rudi Voller.
5) SANDOR KOCSIS (HUNGARY) 11 GOALS (1954) Like Just Fontaine further down this list, Kocsis only played in one World Cup but was a key player in the magnificent Hungary team of 1954, scoring in every game apart from the shock final defeat to West Germany.
4) PELE (BRAZIL) 12 GOALS (1958, 1962, 1966, 1970) ‘The King’ burst onto the scene as a 17-year-old in 1958, scoring twice in the final win over Sweden and hit the back of the net again in the final 12 years later during the 4-1 thumping of Italy.
3) JUST FONTAINE (FRANCE) 13 GOALS (1958) The striker only ever played in one World Cup, but remains to this day the top-scorer in a single tournament with 13 as France finished third in 1958.
2) GERD MULLER (WEST GERMANY) 14 GOALS (1970, 1974) Arguably the best penalty box striker of all time, Muller hit 10 as West Germany finished third in 1970, and then four in 1974 as Holland were defeated in the final.
1) RONALDO (BRAZIL) 15 GOALS (1994, 1998, 2002, 2006) Legendary Brazilian, who is best, remembered for his exploits at the 2002 World Cup where his eight goals, including two in the final, led the Selecao to glory.
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Books
By Lameck Mussa
Great Reads I first heard about this book a couple of years ago, and then I met Robin Sharma at the Kilimanjaro Kempinski hotel. That is when I vowed to find and read the book after his inspiring and motivational speech.The book is about Julian Mantle, a high-profile lawyer who decides to find the purpose of life by traveling to the Himalayas where he meets a group of sages who impart their wisdom to him via a fable. This inspiring tale provides a step-by-step approach to living with greater courage, balance, abundance, and joy. A wonderfully crafted fable, The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari tells the extraordinary story of Julian Mantle, a lawyer forced to confront the spiritual crisis of his out-of-balance life. On a life-changing odyssey to an ancient culture, he discovers powerful, wise, and practical lessons that teach us to: Develop joyful thoughts , Follow our life’s mission and calling , Cultivate self-discipline and act courageously ,Value time as our most important commodity ,Nourish our relationships, and live fully, one day at a time This is a book that will definitely change a course of your life. It gives you a way to understand yourself and others. If you think you are overworked or too busy to spend your time with your family and show love to people around you, then you must read this book.
The story revolves around three female doctors. Dr. Paige Taylor, a talented doctor who fights her way to make everyone see how she can be a good doctor and a female as well. Dr. Kat Hunter, a good black doctor who vows never to let any man touch her and Dr. Honey Taft who will do whatever it takes to be a doctor because of her family’s expectations. All of them receive the distrust of patients, discrimination and everyday pressure of being a doctor. Everything will be put to the test once they step inside Embarcadero County Hospital A Sidney Sheldon’s Nothing Lasts Forever races from the life-and-death decisions of the operating room to the tensionpacked fireworks of a murder trial and into the ambitions and fears of healers and killers, lovers and betrayers. As Paige, a character in the book thought, “Nothing lasts for¬ever. Nothing. How could everything have gone so wrong . . . so wrong . . . so wrong . . .”. Things could go wrong for a reason, but hard work pays at last……
On Becoming a Leader has served for nearly fifteen years as a beacon of insight, delving into the qualities that define leadership, the people who exemplify it, and the strategies that anyone can apply to become an effective leader. This new edition features a provocative introduction on the challenges and opportunities facing leaders today, with additional updates and current references throughout. The classic book that captures the essence of leadership like none other--expanded and updated for tomorrow’s leaders, with a new introduction by the author. This book assist in knowing yourself and the world, operating instinct, deploying yourself, moving through chaos, getting people on your side, understanding organization and forging the future. It’s a must read book for junior and senior managers.
This is a research based book. How can good companies, mediocre companies, even bad companies achieve enduring greatness? The book contrasted the good-to-great companies with a carefully selected set of comparison companies that failed to make the leap from good to great. It discovers the key determinants of greatness’ why some companies make the leap and others don’t. Reading this book you will understand among other things, type of leadership required to achieve greatness, how good-to-great companies think differently about the role of technology, when you combine a culture of discipline with an ethic of entrepreneurship you get the magical alchemy of great results, and to go from good to great requires transcending the curse of competence.
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LOL! A son asked his father Dad, what is politics ?“ • • • • • •
Look, I bring the money home, therefore I am the Capitalist Your mother administrates the money, therefore she is the Government Grandpa watches everything, therefore he is the Union Our maid is the Working Class We all want just one thing, your well-being. Therefore you are the People Your younger brother who is still in his nappy, is the Future.
Did you understand that my son? The little one thinks, and tells his father he wanted to sleep it over for one night. During the night the boy wakes up, because his younger brother produces something with an unbearable smell from his nappy and is crying. As he doesn‘t know what to do, he goes into the bedroom of his parents. But there is only his mother in her bed, and she is so fast asleep that he does not succeed in waking her up. So he goes into the bedroom of the maid where he finds his father having fun with her, and grandpa watching them secretly through the window !!!! All of them are so engaged that they don‘t realize that the boy is standing in front of them. So the boy decides to go to bed again without having been able to solve the problem. Next morning the father asks his son if he is able to explain with a few words what politics is.
“ Yes“ answers the son. •
The Capitalist abuses the Working Class,
•
The Union watches without doing anything,
•
While the Government sleeps,
•
The People are completely ignored,
•
And the Future is in s#*t!!
Human Resources Vs Accountants Eleven people were dangling below a helicopter on a rope. There were ten HR people and one Accountant. Since the rope was not strong enough to hold all the eleven, they decided that one of them had to let go to save all the others. They could not decide who should be the volunteer. Finally the Accountant said he would let go of the rope since Accountants are used to do everything for the company. They forsake their family, don’t claim all of their expenses and do a lot of overtime without getting anything in return. When he finished his moving speech all the HR people began to clap… so they fell!!!
Moral: Never underestimate the powers of the Accountants. MAN April - May, 2010
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