Check out this BBC report, 'Blood oil' dripping from Nigeria.
The situation is very bad (is that an understatement? Yes). The problem is extensive. I knew it was bad, but not this bad (talk about darkness at the end of the tunnel).
I'm partly hopeless at this point. Any thoughts?
Anya.......x
Monday, October 6, 2008
Friday, October 3, 2008
Machiavelli (the prince): Favourite Excerpts
I found these excerpts which I copied into my Journal about 2 years ago when I re-read the Prince as an adult.
I want to share this with you. I won't write any introduction for these quotations because they are all random citings since scooped them up from different sections of the book. It is intriguing because centuries later, these quotes still have meaning and relevance in my 2008. Enjoy!
Anya.......x
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"The fact is that a man (woman)* who wants to act virtuously in every way necessarily comes to grief among so many who are not virtuous".
"You hurt yourself only when you give away what is your own. There is nothing so self-defeating as generosity: in the act of practicing it, you lose the ability to do so, and you become either poor and despised or, seeking to escape poverty, rapacious and hatred; and generosity results in your being both."
"...but because men (women)* are wretched creatures who would not keep their word to you, you need not keep your word to them. And no prince (princess)* ever lacked good excuses to colour his bad faith."
"But one must know how to colour one's actions and to be a great liar and deceiver. Men (Women)8 are so simple, and so much creatures of Circumstance, that the deceiver will always find someone ready to be deceived."
"...he (she)* should not deviate from what is good, if that is possible, but he (she)* should know how to do evil, if that is necessary."
"Everyone sees what you appear to be, few experience what you really are."
Qualities a Prince (Princess)* should possess:
"Compassion,
a man (woman)* of good faith,
a man (woman)* of integrity
a kind man (woman)*
a religious man (woman)*
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*: the androcentric writing of 13th century literature make it necessary to include a feminine slant in his writing because there was some very serious stuff in this book about how it is often necessary for men to beat their wives, e.t.c, but I won't go into that right here.
If you've read the Prince what were your ideas on Machiavelli's prescriptions? If you haven't what do you think about these excerpts?
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Define those Eyes!
The aim in this photo is to get Iman's eyes using a M.A.C brow finisher, a brown palette eyeshadow, liquid and kohl eyeliner, & lots of Bronzer. She looks radiant!
Beyonce's eyes are so glamourous in this photo but she pairs them with a very subtle pink lip. This look will require lots of under-eye concealer and an intense smoky-eye with only black shadows, liquid eye-liner, and a kohl-liner for my lower lids. I'm uber excited for this weekend. It's going to be glam, glam, glam!!!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
What was I waiting for?
I know. I know. I've neglected blogging for weeks now, er..months. I've been busy, busy, busy. Life is hard work. I know, I really have no excuses to give. But let's just say, I've been gone for a while - dealing with the crap that must be dealt with. Anyway, I'm back now and I still got love for y'all.
Although i've been gone, I've still been perusing through other blogs since my hiatus/partial comeback. It's sooo much easier just having to read rather that write, then edit, then rewrite, and edit some more.
A lot of you asked wondering if everything was alright with me. Thanks for your concern. And no, everything is not alright. I'm changing. I'm morphing into an adult y'all. It's sickening. I am watching fleeting youth. Ah...but not entirely. I have changed quite a bit since returning from Nigeria. I see the world through clearer eyes. My worldview is now more compassionate with reality. I am learning to appreciate it with my heart.
In other aspects of my life, I'm back in school getting yet another degree (...keep piling 'em on). I'm currently not seriously dating anyone. Except there was this guy, Mr. R. He was really nice and admirable. But for some reason I have become repulsed by him. I can't explain it. And then there was Mr. A, who is trying to foster a relationship but I just want a fling because I know who knd who he has shagged. Then there's X-boy who is still kinda in the picture, but not quite (if that makes any sense). Generally, this relationship aspect of my life now is lacking lustre. When things have more meaning, I'll relay it to you.
But until that time, I may not blog too much till I actually have something tangible to share. I've missed reading through all your posts and commenting too but I promise to get back on that as soon as this few weeks of school drama dissipates.
Until then,
ta ta xox
Although i've been gone, I've still been perusing through other blogs since my hiatus/partial comeback. It's sooo much easier just having to read rather that write, then edit, then rewrite, and edit some more.
A lot of you asked wondering if everything was alright with me. Thanks for your concern. And no, everything is not alright. I'm changing. I'm morphing into an adult y'all. It's sickening. I am watching fleeting youth. Ah...but not entirely. I have changed quite a bit since returning from Nigeria. I see the world through clearer eyes. My worldview is now more compassionate with reality. I am learning to appreciate it with my heart.
In other aspects of my life, I'm back in school getting yet another degree (...keep piling 'em on). I'm currently not seriously dating anyone. Except there was this guy, Mr. R. He was really nice and admirable. But for some reason I have become repulsed by him. I can't explain it. And then there was Mr. A, who is trying to foster a relationship but I just want a fling because I know who knd who he has shagged. Then there's X-boy who is still kinda in the picture, but not quite (if that makes any sense). Generally, this relationship aspect of my life now is lacking lustre. When things have more meaning, I'll relay it to you.
But until that time, I may not blog too much till I actually have something tangible to share. I've missed reading through all your posts and commenting too but I promise to get back on that as soon as this few weeks of school drama dissipates.
Until then,
ta ta xox
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Anya Hiatus
I've been blogging for a few months now, but before I blog some more I want to really thank anyone who has ever read my entries. I get a warm fuzzy feeling when I plaster something over the net and I get so much positive reinforcement about my writing, my skills and a talent I thought I lost.
However, in the next few weeks I may be among the international development students approved to head out to Cochambamba and Riberalta, Bolivia for a political development project to work in close collaboration with coca farmers and the current government of Evo Morales. Bolivia's coca farmers are caught in a dilemma of the licit and illicit use and growth of coca cultivation.
For anyone unfamiliar with all of this, coca is the raw material for cocaine but is prized by many Bolivians (especially among those of Amero-Indian descent) for its traditional uses in medicines and herbal teas. Long before coca was used to make cocaine, the indigenous people of the Andean region, the Aymara and Quechua, chewed coca leaves as a dietary supplement, a means to ease pangs of hunger and thirst and an antidote for altitude sickness.
So unless you want to know the exciting details of this potential trip to Bolivia, I'll spare you the politics of coca farming. Although, for an exciting fact I hear that home-grown fresh coca (cocaine) is pretty f**king amazing, so i'll let you know how my 1st taste feels!**I wish, I wish**
In other news though, if I am chosen for Bolivia I plan to head home to Nigeria after! yes yes - it's been almost 6 years since I've been back, so I gotta say it's about damn time I paid them a visit. The only downside is that unless i'm insane I won't be blogging from a cybercafe, so this means an even more limited amount of blog entries from me. But I hope from time to time, I can find time to update this space on what's really happening with me.
Until later Blogville, ta ta xoxo
However, in the next few weeks I may be among the international development students approved to head out to Cochambamba and Riberalta, Bolivia for a political development project to work in close collaboration with coca farmers and the current government of Evo Morales. Bolivia's coca farmers are caught in a dilemma of the licit and illicit use and growth of coca cultivation.
For anyone unfamiliar with all of this, coca is the raw material for cocaine but is prized by many Bolivians (especially among those of Amero-Indian descent) for its traditional uses in medicines and herbal teas. Long before coca was used to make cocaine, the indigenous people of the Andean region, the Aymara and Quechua, chewed coca leaves as a dietary supplement, a means to ease pangs of hunger and thirst and an antidote for altitude sickness.
So unless you want to know the exciting details of this potential trip to Bolivia, I'll spare you the politics of coca farming. Although, for an exciting fact I hear that home-grown fresh coca (cocaine) is pretty f**king amazing, so i'll let you know how my 1st taste feels!**I wish, I wish**
In other news though, if I am chosen for Bolivia I plan to head home to Nigeria after! yes yes - it's been almost 6 years since I've been back, so I gotta say it's about damn time I paid them a visit. The only downside is that unless i'm insane I won't be blogging from a cybercafe, so this means an even more limited amount of blog entries from me. But I hope from time to time, I can find time to update this space on what's really happening with me.
Until later Blogville, ta ta xoxo
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