Posted By:
Unknown
on 8/16/2013 10:13:00 am
BY ELIZABETH
Eating healthy is an important part of life. Many of us strive to eat as healthy as possible every day, but are you really consuming the best nutrients for your body?
With so many superfoods available, it’s hard to know which ones offer the most benefits. That’s where we come in.
We’ve compiled a list of 10 foods you should be eating every day. If you don’t consume anything else on a regular basis, do your best to incorporate these foods into your diet:
1. Flaxseeds
Flaxseeds are an easy way to add a big dose of fiber into your diet. They can be purchased in the bulk food area of any grocery store and can be sprinkled over salads, fish or any type of meal or snack. To give you an idea of just how healthy these are, a single tablespoon of ground flaxseed sprinkled over cerea, yogurt or salad provides an easy 2.3 grams of fiber.
2. Beans
The soluble fiber found in beans soaks up cholesterol, allowing your body to dispose of it before it sticks to your artery walls. They’re also proven to be one of the best sources of antioxidants. Beans can be incorporated into your diet in many ways. You can whip up a nice batch of chili with tons of kidney beans, you can serve them fresh or you can work them into a salad.
3. Dark chocolate
Rejoice! You can eat chocolate every day, but just a small piece will do. Opt for varieties made up of over 70 per cent cocoa to take advantage of the polyphenols and flavanoids to help protect your heart from the damage caused by cholesterol.
4.Yogurt
A single serving of yogurt will give you a significant amount calcium for the day. In addition to calcium, most yogurts are a great source of probiotics. Probiotics help protect your stomach against harmful bacterias that could lead to infection or illness. Starting your day off with a cup of yogurt will work wonders for your overall health.
5. Oats
If you’re going to kick your day off with a cup of yogurt, consider adding a spoonful (or two) of oats. Oats have been proven to lower cholesterol and blood pressure, making them a great choice for adults looking to reduce these levels. 1 ½ cups (375 mL) of cooked oatmeal or thee packets of instant oatmeal provide enough beta-glucan to lower blood cholesterol by about five percent and heart attack risk by about 10 percent.
6. Broccoli
Broccoli should be your number one choice when it comes to vegetables. The sulfur compounds found in broccoli which signal our genes to increase production of enzymes and detoxify potentially cancer-causing compounds. Broccoli can be eaten uncooked with a low-fat veggie dip or can be cooked and used a side dish, worked into a salad or incorporated into a casserole. The possibilities are endless.
7. Eggs
Eggs are a great source of high quality protein. They are also known to fill you up, preventing you from snacking on unhealthy mini-meals throughout the day. In addition to these benefits, eggs also help keep your eye health in check. Eating one (or two) eggs in the morning with fresh fruit or whole grain toast is a great way to give your body the nutrients it needs to keep you fuelled throughout the day.
8. Milk
You might already know that milk is rich in bone-building nutrients such as calcium and vitamin D, but it may also help your body use fat for energy instead of storing it. One per cent or skim milk will be great as part of a healthy diet.
9. Mixed Nuts
Mixed nuts are a great source of heart-healthy unsaturated fats. A recent study reveals that adults who consumed nuts on a regular basis were likely to live 2 years longer than their non-nut-eating counterparts. Walnuts and almonds are your best options when it comes to choosing which nuts to eat. Snacking on these tasty products will benefit your health in countless ways.
10. Oranges
Eating one large, fresh orange will give you 100 percent of your daily recommended Vitamin C. Likewise, one cup of 100 percent pure orange juice will do the same. This tasty fruit is also high in fiber and folate, making it one of the best fruits to incorporate into your daily diet.
Posted By:
Unknown
on 8/16/2013 09:47:00 am
An end may be in sight for the lingering strike of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, as the Federal Government is said to be offering N30 billion as earned allowances to the striking university lecturers.
According to a top official of the Federal Ministry of Education, due to the dwindling revenue base of the government, it was ready to offer N30 billion to the striking lecturers to end the strike.
The official believes government’s position is a sincere approach in ending the strike amid dwindling revenue profile occasioned by oil theft and macro-economic measures aimed at diversifying the economy.
All the demands of the striking lecturers had been resolved except one, the issue of ‘earned allowances’, which they have put at N87 billion.
The N30 billion, which the federal government was offering, according to the source, was in the conviction that considering the nation’s current revenue base, ASUU would make some sacrifices and go back to work in the interest of the students and the country at large.
The source added that the government was desirous of a holistic and sustainable solution to the problems bedeviling the entire education sector, with a focus on infrastructure development, which the federal government had set up the Governor Gabriel Suswam-led University Needs Implementation Committee to handle.
The NEEDS Implementation Committee had announced on Tuesday, that N100 billion would be made available to universities for infrastructure development.
Posted By:
Unknown
on 8/15/2013 09:25:00 am
BY
THE NIQS EXAMINATIONS
BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR EXMAINATIONS
1. Probation Examination
The prospective Applicants must have at least HND/B. Sc. in Architecture, Building Technology/Engineering, Civil Engineering or any other approved qualifications by the Membership Committee.
1.02 Graduateship Examination
The Prospective Applicant must have at least HND from approved Polytechnic/College of Technology or B.Sc. from un-accredited University. Candidates can attempt this examination any time after graduation.
1.03 Test of Professional Competence (TPC) Examination
The prospective candidates must have B.Sc. (Quantity Surveying from accredited University or passed the Graduateship Examination conducted by the Institute.
In addition, the candidates must have a minimum of three years experience (inclusive of NYSC service year).
1.04 PROFESSIONAL INTERVIEW
The prospective candidates must have passed the NIQS Test of Competence Examination.
In addition, the candidate must have successfully completed diary and logbook covering a minimum working experience of thirty-six months.
There must be a proof showing that the working experience was acquired under the supervision of at least a financial senior associate member of the NIQS. The Logbooks are to be submitted in two instalments of 24 and 12 months respectively. The second instalment of 12 months can only be submitted when a candidate has been successful in the assessment of the first 24 months submission. Each instalment must be submitted to the secretariat within 30 days after the expiration of the periods contained in it. The candidate would be informed of the outcome of the diary and logbook submitted within three months of submission. The candidate must make good all corrections (if any) as instructed and in good time.
 Matured Candidates Examination
Separate guideline – see as attached (page 9)
The prospective candidate must have the under listed in order to qualify for the matured candidates examination: -
Academic Qualifications
i Five (5) credits at G.C.E (‘O; Level or ‘A’ Level) or SSCE which must include English, Mathematics and Physics.
ii) HND, B. Sc., B. Tech, or M. Sc. in Quantity Surveying from accredited Tertiary Institution
iii) Cognate degree holders from accredited Tertiary Institutions may be considered.
(b) Age
The age of the candidate must not be less than 40 years for Quantity Surveying Degree/Diploma holders and 45 years for cognate degree holders.
(c) Experience
i) Post-graduate practical experience in quantity surveying must not be less than 15 years for those Degree/Diploma in quantity surveying) or 25 years for those with cognate Degree/Diploma.
(ii) He/she must have been in Senior Management Levels for at least ten years.
(d) Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
i) Evidence of CPD for not less than five years before the date of application (5 x 20 Units)
ii) Evidence of active involvement at chapter level including financial contributions to the activities of the Institute
2.0. EXAMINATION CENTRES
The Institute’s various Examinations are held at the following Exam. Centres: -
2.01 Probationer, Graduateship and TPC Examinations:
The Institute’s Probationer, Graduateship and TPC Examinations are held at Abuja, Benin City, Enugu, Kaduna, Lagos and Port Harcourt.
Note: At any time the number of enrolment at a particular centre is less than five (5), the examination shall not hold at that centre. The candidates from that centre will have the option of writing the examinations at centre(s) nearest to them. For the purpose of clarity, no candidate will be allowed to write the examinations at more than one centre. i.e. all papers in an examination must be written at the same centre.
2.02 Professional Interview
The Professional Competence Interviews are held at Abuja, Enugu and Lagos.
The above notwithstanding, the Council reserves the right to review the number and location of Examination Centres from time to time.
3.0 CONDUCT OF EXAMINATION
3.1 Eligibility
Candidature is open to all those employed in Quantity Surveying professional practices, those employed in the Construction Industry, Employee of Federal, States and local Governments institutions (provided they are fully employed in Quantity surveying activities and meet the minimum qualifications approved by the Council of the NIQS.
3.2 Dates of Examination
3.1.01 The examinations are conducted once in a year and not later than the last week in July. Examination dates shall be within the periods listed on page6.
3.2 Examination Entry Dates.
3.2.1 The entry for the annual examinations starts from middle of February every year. It is open only to those who are appropriately registered with the Institute and have paid the stipulated annual subscription and the required examination entry fee.
3.3 Closing Dates of Entries
The closing date for the July examination is the end of April and no late entry will be entertained after May 31st.
3.01 Examination Materials
3.2.01 The Institute shall provide all the answer scripts including foolscap sheets, taking-off and billing sheets that the Candidates will require during the examinations.
3.2.02 The Candidates will be required to provide the under listed materials for the examinations: -
a) Pen/Biro/Pencil
b) Eraser
c) Scale Rule/Ruler
d) Calculator (Non-Programmable type)
e) Approved unmarked reference publications such as Standard Method of Measurement of Building & Engineering Services/Civil Works, Standard Form of Contract, Valuation Tables etc depending on the nature of subject.
4.0 ATTENDANCE REGISTERS
All Candidates will be required to fill and sign the following Attendance Registers: -
4.1 General Attendance Register stating the Candidate’s name and examination number. This register is to be filled once by every candidate irrespective of the number of papers he/she is writing
4.2 Subject Attendance Register stating the Candidate’s Examination Number and Signature. This register is repeated for each of the subjects the candidate is sitting for.
Note: Failure to sign the appropriate attendance register is at the risk of the Candidates concerned.
5.0 Pass Mark
5.1 Written Examinations
The Pass Mark for full Candidates is 60% while that for Referral is 65%.
5.2 Professional Competence Interview
The Pass Mark for professional competence interview 65%.
6.0 Referrals
The maximum permissible referrals are as follows:
6.1 Probationer and Graduateship Examinations Candidate with high level of performance but scored slightly below pass mark in not more than two subjects may be referred in those subjects. Referrals at more than two subjects will not be allowed.
Â
6.2 TPC Examination
So long as the number of subjects offered at the Test of Professional Examination is not more than four, the maximum referrals will remain one subject. In other words, a Candidate who has overall high level performance but with a score below the pass mark in a subject may be required to re-sit that subject but where the low scores are in more than one subject, the candidate is to re-sit the whole examination irrespective of his/her overall average score.
6.3 Professional Competence Interview
The Candidate will be required to provide evidence of adequate experience commensurate with that required to perform the duties of a qualified Quantity Surveyor. The requirements include and not restricted to the following: -
a) Duly completed Dairies and Logbook covering a period of 36 months but submitted at two instalments with each considered separately within three months of submission. The successful completion of the diary and logbook shall determine when the candidate is to sit for the professional competence interview.
7.0 Examination Results
7.01 The Institute will communicate the result of the examinations to the students by post. The Institute will not entertain further correspondence with individual candidate.
7.02 The results of the written examinations are released not later than the last week in August while that of Professional Competence Interview is released not later than the last week in October.
7.03 Exemptions
Exemptions may be granted to graduates of accredited institutions and such exemption shall not be automatic but subject to membership and education committee recommendations and Councils approval.
Application for exemption must be submitted on standard exemption form obtainable at a fee from the Institutes secretariat and State Chapters offices and must be returned for assessment by the Education committee not later than four months before the date of the examination.
Authentication
All passport photographs accompanying entry forms must be duly signed by a senior Associate of not less than 5 years) or a Fellow of the Institute.
Correspondence
Candidates are required to quote their centres and examination numbers in all their correspondence with the Institute/ examination centres.
Refund of Fees
Once an entry has been accepted there will be no refund of fees.
Question Papers
The packets of question papers are to be opened in the presence of the candidates at the time of the examination.
Examination Number
Candidates without authenticated examination number would not be allowed into examination halls.
Discipline
Severe disciplinary actions as prescribed by the council would be taken against any candidate found guilty of examination malpractices.
Depending on the gravity of the offence, any or some of the under listed disciplinary actions would be taken against the offending candidate.
(a) Cancellation of the candidates result.
(b) Suspension from the Institutes examinations
(c) De-registration of candidate.
(d Handling over the candidate to the Police for prosecution
(e) Reporting the candidate involved to his or her employer
THE NIGERIA INSTITUTE OF QUANTITY SURVEYORS
MATURED CANDIDATES
PROFESSIONAL ASSESSMENT RULE
Matured candidates for Professional Assessment shall be assessed in three stages and candidates must ensure that their submission reach the Chief Examiner, Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, 17/19, Idowu Taylor, Victoria Island not later than 12:00 noon on the dates stipulated for each submission.
Candidates must ensure that the receiving officer at the above address signs copies of their covering letters indicating the contents of their submission.
SUBMISSIONS
Candidate are strongly advised to read through the requirements for this examination, satisfy themselves that they would meet all the requirements before applying for the examination.
Full fee must be submitted with the letter of application and this is not refundable no matter the stage the candidate is adjudged not fit to continue with assessment process.
Â
(STAGE 1):Record and Summary of Experience
This must be submitted in accordance with assessment guide and not later than 15th March. This will be used to assess candidates applying for this route to qualification and ensure that the candidates have met basic requirements including that of experience.
Successful candidates after such assessment would be invited to proceed and make their submissions for the next stage of the examination.
(STAGE 2):Critical Analysis
The candidates Supervisor or Counsellor must initial each page sign all documents relating to Critical Analysis.
Candidates will submit in triplicate bound copies not later than 6th July.
(STAGE 3): Presentation and InterviewÂ
Presentation and interview will take place simultaneously on the date to be fixed in September at the National Secretariat of the Institute 17/19, Idowu Taylor Street, Victoria Island at 10:30 a.m. or any other centre that may be approved by the Council of the NIQS.
THEÂ MATUREDÂ CANDIDATESÂ ASSESSMENTÂ GUIDE
1. RECORD AND SUMMARY EXPERIENCEÂ
This is the record of the competence that the candidate must have achieve during his or her period of working as a Quantity Surveyor in a senior capacity.
The record must contain brief resume of candidate including all experience gained and must state progress made as a senior Quantity Surveyor for a period of not less than 10 years. Â
Candidates Supervisor or Counsellor on his separate headed paper must confirm candidate’s ability and readiness for the final assessment and must certify the record.Â
Without such certification, you will not be considered ready for final assessment and interview.
The Supervisor or counsellor must be a financial member of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyor  and must be a Fellow or an Associate of not less than 10 years.
2. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The Critical Analysis must be a detailed analysis of a professional and life project or projects with which candidates have being involved during their professional training period, and must demonstrate candidates approach to, and understanding of, the work of a senior Quantity Surveyor.
The Analysis must contain analysis of issues and critical problems encountered first estimate up to and including final account
The analysis must identify the following:
Key issues of the project;
Options or possible courses of action which were available;
Reasons for the rejection of those options which were not selected;
Reasons for the adopted course of action and a critical appraisal of the outcome, and
A reflective of the experience gained.
The Critical Analysis should be word processed in triplicate and must be of 3000-3500 words (not exceeding 10 pages) excluding appendices.
It must detail a professional project(s) or commission(s) with which the candidates have been intimately involved.
 The Critical Analysis may include photograph, plans and other documents but they should be no larger than A4 size when folded and should be submitted as appendices
THE FINAL ASSESSMENT
PRESENTATION AND INTERVIEW
3. PRESENTATION
You should prepare to give a fifteen-minute presentation on the purpose, investigation and conclusions contained in your Critical Analysis.
Â
PRESENTATION AIDS
Owing to the number of interviews to be held simultaneously presentation facilities at assessment centre are unlikely to match the best available in members’ offices and, for this reason, candidates should not rely on the use of an overhead projector with a laptop link being available for their presentation.
Candidates who wish to use a stand-alone laptop or PC may do so, if the format is appropriate for an audience of three. It is emphasized, however, that what is being assessed is candidates’ ability to communicate effectively, rather than their use of technology.
3. INTERVIEW
The interview will occupy the balance of the period with the panel and you will be questioned on:
Matters arising from your presentation;
Other matters from your Critical Analysis and Summary of Experience;
Your professional development record, and the broader aspects of your experience and knowledge, including ethics, the NIQS Rules of Conduct and current issues of concern to the profession.
In making their assessment, the assessors will take an holistic view of your performance.
No one component of your final assessment will constitute a pass or fail.
A Counsellor shall be a Corporate and financial member of the NIQS who is not directly supervising the candidate on his day-to-day activities but who has been a counsellor to the candidates in his professional career and development.Â
POINTS TO WATCH
PRESENTATION
In addition to your written submission, you will make a fifteen-minute oral presentation of your Critical analysis as the first component of your interview. If your Critical Analysis contains more than one project, you must indicate which will be the subject of your presentation.
CONFIDENTIALITY
Candidates must ensure that they have their employer’s consent to the disclosure of the matters, which feature in their Summary of Experience and Critical Analysis. If you are unable to obtain this consent, you may disguise facts which otherwise make the project identifiable.
REFERENCES
Extract from Journals, case law and other sources should not be quoted at length but essential references must be given.
FINALLY
Above all, your Critical Analysis and Summary of Experience must reflect candidates’ abilities in respect of:
Written and graphic communication;
Professional standards of organisation and presentation;
Analysis, reflective thought and problem solving, and
Learning from experience gained.
Candidates, Supervisors or Counsellors must certify that the Critical Analysis and Summary of Experience are candidate’s own unaided work and a true and faithful reflection of the candidates experience during the period of experience stated.
Posted By:
Unknown
on 8/13/2013 11:08:00 am
Gunmen, suspected to be Islamic militants on Sunday killed 44 people who were praying in a mosque in Konduga, about 35 kilometres outside Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
Although the killing took place on Sunday morning, the Associated Press (AP) quoted security sources as saying the bodies were counted yesterday.
The killing it said, was perpetrated by militants. +Along the way from Maiduguri to Konduga, members of Civilian JTF encountered ‘fierce resistance from heavily armed terrorists’, said Usman Musa of the Youth Vigilance Group.
Four people from the civilian group were also killed after responding to calls for help.
It was learnt that the killers wore military uniforms to gain entry into the mosque before carrying out their dastardly act. No group has claimed responsibility yet for the incident but the attack bears similar pattern to those carried out by Islamist organization, Boko Haram.
recently
Leader of Nigeria’s Boko Haram Islamists has claimed a series of recent deadly attacks on security forces in the northeast, in a video obtained by AFP Monday.
Abubakar Shekau also insisted that he was in “good health” despite an ongoing military offensive aimed at crushing the Islamist insurgent group he heads.
“You have not killed Shekau,” he said in the video distributed through a local intermediary in a similar manner to previous Boko Haram messages.
Seated on a short stool with a kalashnikov rested on his right shoulder, Shekau said Boko Haram was “responsible” for several deadly raids over the past month.
These include attacks on the police and military in the towns of Malam Fatori and Bama, which sparked clashes that killed at least 35 people, according to the military.
The video contained what Shekau claimed was footage of Boko Haram gunmen opening fire on the military in Bama, using heavy weapons mounted on flat-bed trucks.
Shekau also referred to fighting in the towns Baga and Gamboru Ngala near the border with Cameroon, .The Boko Haram leader has been declared a global terrorist by the United States, which in March put a $7 million (5.3 million euros) bounty on his head.
“I’m challenging Obama,” Shekau said in the video. He voiced similar challenges to French President Francois Hollande and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“They are no match for me,” he proclaimed.
Boko Haram is believed to be made up of different factions, with Shekau leading the most radical Islamist cell.
He has ruled out any dialogue with the government and says he is fighting to create an Islamic state in Nigeria’s north.
The northeast is currently under a state of emergency as the military pursues an offensive seeking to end Boko Haram’s four-year insurgency.
The insurgency is estimated to have claimed more than 3,600 lives since 2009, including killings by the security forces.
Nigeria’s 160 million population is roughly divided between a mainly Christian south and mostly Muslim north. [AFP]
Posted By:
Unknown
on 8/13/2013 09:59:00 am
Employing a professional to challenge your builder and/or architect on key issues like costings, value for money and quality control is a worthwhile consideration for any self-builder
AMONG the mind-boggling to-do list when you take on a self-build project, securing the services of a quantity surveyor – or a QS as the trade calls it – tends not to be the most urgent.
A shame, says Peter Judd, a QS with VB Johnson LLP, who works with many self-builders. Judd is adamant that a QS is a boon to projects at all levels, and should ideally be consulted at an early stage. ‘Self-builders tend to come to us too late,’ he says. ‘They should come earlier as a QS helps them know what they’re letting themselves in for – even if it’s just for a £20,000 extension.’
Mostly associated with commercial development, a QS’s task is to cost a construction job, making sure of gaining the best value. Often, self-builders will leave this to an architect or project manager, but some bring in a dedicated QS, who might also get involved with other aspects, like quality control, procurement and building regulations.
‘Although they’re not routinely used for domestic projects, a QS can save money,’ says Ken Rorrison of architect Henley Halebrown Rorrison. ‘They reduce the risk. Without a QS, the design goes to planning and tender without an extra layer of cost checking, and more chance of going over budget. With a QS, client aspiration is matched to budget early on.’
Architect Jon Darke of TP Bennett says that a QS is all about safeguarding. ‘If the builder doesn’t do the right thing, then there’s a fallback.’ He agrees with Rorrison that a QS adds a vital reality check. ‘If you’re after architecture with a capital A, a QS will stop you being blinded. Can that gorgeous sliding door for £40,000 be found for £20,000? The QS challenges both architect and the builder, making sure you’re never paying for more than what is done.’ Indeed, Darke thinks that a QS should be independent of both architect and builder. ‘I would go to the RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) and get a recommendation,’ he says.
Judd thinks smaller firms provide the right scale. ‘Self-builders need a lot of handholding and a personal service,’ he says. ‘When appointing the architect, I’d appoint the QS. After all, there’s no point going for planning if you find you can’t afford it – and clients often have unrealistic impressions of costs.’ Plus, a good QS can cost labour as well as materials, and quantify the hours it’ll take to do the work. ‘This is difficult for a non-builder to comprehend,’ he says. Hang a door yourself – and then think about the work needed to build a house.’ There’s another use for a QS: client- builder conflict resolution. ‘A lot of our work looks into claims when self-building goes wrong,’ adds Judd. ‘A QS can advise as to whether the client is getting ripped off, frankly.’
So, a QS can help a self-builder through the fiscal swamp, hopefully saving money en route. The QS will cost, of course: perhaps up to two to four per cent of the whole contract if used for the entire time, or at an hourly rate Judd says could be as low as £50. He adds that some QS will project manage, but this might cost more.
Still, not all agree that a QS is essential. Architect Julian Owen, of Julian Owen Associates, thinks a QS is for larger jobs. ‘We do a lot of one-off houses and self-builds are difficult for a QS to cost,’ says Owen. ‘It’s more art than science.’ Indeed, his practice used to use a QS, but now relies on its own judgement. ‘Consistently, predictions were not coming true,’ adds Owen. ‘A QS is of most use when the product is standard. A self-build is often too bespoke and complex.’ Owen concedes that a QS can be helpful at a higher contract level – £500,000 and upwards – and for estimating, he uses a RICS chart giving a thumbnail of what costs to expect per square metre.
Whether you choose a QS or not, the point is to nail down the costs early on, says Owen: ‘Otherwise it’s like going into a supermarket with a huge trolley and not knowing the price until you get to the checkout.’
Words Oliver Bennett
IllustratioN BY
Posted By:
Unknown
on 8/13/2013 09:42:00 am
Posted By:
Unknown
on 8/13/2013 09:38:00 am
Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same
hospital room.
One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an
hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from
his lungs.
His bed was next to the room's only window.
The other man had to spend all his time flat on
his back.
The men talked for hours on end.
They spoke of their wives and families, their
homes, their jobs, their involvement in the
military service, where they had been on
vacation..
Every afternoon, when the man in the bed by the
window could sit up, he would pass the time by
describing to his roommate all the things he could
see outside the window.
The man in the other bed began to live for those
one hour periods where his world would be
broadened and enlivened by all the activity and
colour of the world outside.
The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake.Ducks and swans played on the water while
children sailed their model boats. Young lovers
walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every colour
and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen
in the distance.
As the man by the window described all this in
exquisite details, the man on the other side of
the room would close his eyes and imagine this
picturesque scene.
One warm afternoon, the man by the window
described a parade passing by.
Although the other man could not hear the band -
he could see it in his mind's eye as the
gentleman by the window portrayed it with
descriptive words.
Days, weeks and months passed.
One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring
water for their baths only to find the lifeless body
of the man by the window, who had died
peacefully in his sleep.
She was saddened and called the hospital
attendants to take the body away.
As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man
asked if he could be moved next to the window.
The nurse was happy to make the switch, and
after making sure he was comfortable, she left
him alone.
Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one
elbow to take his first look at the real world
outside.
He strained to slowly turn to look out the window
besides the bed.
It faced a blank wall.
The man asked the nurse what could have
compelled his deceased roommate who had
described such wonderful things outside this
window.
The nurse responded that the man was blind and
could not even see the wall.
She said, 'Perhaps he just wanted to encourage
you.'
Epilogue:
There is tremendous happiness in making others
happy, despite our own situations.
Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness
when shared, is doubled.
If you want to feel rich, just count all the things
you have that money can't buy.
'Today is a gift, that is why it is called The
Present .'
The origin of this letter is unknown, but please
pass it on....
Posted By:
Unknown
on 8/12/2013 06:25:00 pm
Posted By:
Unknown
on 8/12/2013 04:53:00 pm
Being cheated on is probably the most devastating thing that can happen to a relationship, short of the other person dying. Actually, it can feel like your partner has died when you find out he (or she) has been cheating. It feels like what you had together died.
Here are 10 reasons not to take back a cheater:
1 The relationship will never be the same. While it’s true that some people say a relationship actually improves after cheating, we should face the fact that usually it does not. That sense of freedom, of trust, of respect is gone for a while and may never come back.
2 You don’t have to worry about it happening again. Cheaters don’t always cheat again, but there’s a decent chance he might. Why? Whatever made him cheat is probably still in his psyche unless he is seriously working on all of his issues. Because he had a choice to cheat. You didn’t make him do it (no matter what he says). Some studies even say there’s a cheating gene. I don’t believe that once a cheat, always a cheat, but I definitely believe once a cheat, good chance of being a cheat again.
3.You teach your children that cheating is not acceptable. If your children see you leave a cheater, they learn that this is something that destroys relationships and is unacceptable. Which doesn’t guarantee they won’t ever do it or put up with it, but they will realize it has severe consequences.
4''''You’ll save on therapy bills. Because, believe me, you are going to need them now that you’ve decided to stay with someone who strayed.
5;;You’ll feel safer. Not knowing if your man is going to cheat means never quite knowing when you might pick up a venereal disease.
6..You’ll keep your self-respect. If you want to stay with a cheater, you should do that and not be judged. But, let’s face it, your self-respect is going to take a huge hit for awhile. Especially if the affair is ongoing, or the cheating is chronic, how do you respect yourself staying with a man who can’t or won’t value you?
7...Things can only get better. When you stay in a relationship with a cheater who makes little or no effort to change, things can only get worse. When you leave, things can only get better.
8...You’re not taking the easy way out. It’s as difficult, if not more difficult, to leave a relationship, even a bad one, than it is to stay in one. You’re not the one giving up on the relationship, he gave up when he cheated.
9...You need a partner, not a child. It’s not up to you to “save” him, “teach him” right from wrong, or “help” him get over his cheating habit. He’s an adult and should have done that for himself.
10...You deserve better. Believe it or not, there are men and women who do not cheat and will not cheat, and you deserve one of them.
11---You don’t need any reason at all.
Posted By:
Unknown
on 8/12/2013 09:38:00 am
Young, spontaneous and excessive are words Big Brother Africa fans relate easily to her. Her stories elicit taunts and laughter from Nigerian viewers. Many waive her off, preferring to call her ‘a disgrace to Nigeria’, without a second thought.
But that is what Beverly Ada Osu has brought upon herself, going into the finale of Africa’s biggest reality TV show. She has given no one reason to think or speak otherwise.
Being real?
Beverly found herself on the wrong side of a love triangle early in the game. Many gave her the benefit of doubt when Ugandan basketballer, Isaac ‘LK4’ Lugude decided to play a fast one on her and South African model Koketso Modibo. But many failed to take that as a hint. She moved on to Ethiopian student, Bimp, after being shipped off to the Diamond House from the Ruby House. She didn’t need his permission to share his bed: She latched onto him like a leech for her daily survival. But Bimp’s avowed commitment to his girlfriend ensured that he kept the lines of friendship very clear.
When South Africa’s Angelo Collins connected with Beverly at the party zone, it was a case of two housemates finding love on the rebound; and that love which Beverly shares with the dance instructor has seen her throw caution to the winds. After two near mishaps, Beverly finally let go last Friday in Biggie’s bathtub. She became the fourth female Chasemate to have s*x on live TV, following closely in the footsteps of Betty, Selly and Cleo.
Her many exaggerations Beverly made ears twinge earlier when she revealed that she was expelled from secondary school. Then she spoke about a ‘thing’ with singer 2Shortz and tongues wagged more. The singer’s rebuttal of any links with her made people have a rethink. Could Beverly be making up her stories? Not long after many discerning fans began to pick holes in her stories. Funny enough, she told many of them to housemates without bothering if she was over-stepping boundaries of decency, tact, fact and truth.
“In Nigeria, I can be walking past a market, and a market woman will stone me,” Bev told Chasemates last week Friday. She claimed a 42-year-old man wanted to marry her after meeting her just for a day, just to buttress an earlier statement: “My mum used to tell me that the guy I will marry, I won’t date for long.”
While confirming that she dropped out of Babcock University, she raised viewers eyebrows with two blatant lies: “I went to the most expensive school in Nigeria. I was a first-class material before dropping out of school, not because I don’t have the brain.” Many can easily attest to the fact that Igbinedion University’s fees dwarf that of Babcock and many a first-class student can spell difference without blinking.
If you still care you can read through these random sensational picks: “Flirting is in my genes,” she told Angelo. “I have over 16 Bibles,” she also told housemates. She claimed that popular singer Omawumi Megbele was her best friend. That was after she let out that a journey from Nigeria to Ghana by road took between 2-3hours. For Beverly, the Nigeria naira exchanges at a N100 to $1: “ I told him [one of her ex boyfriends] that I would charge N100,000, that’s about a $1,000!”
Her loose tongue Beverly’s stories have no boundaries and respect. “My grandmother speaks Ibo and doesn’t speak English very well. She is an illiterate!” Her mother’s dealings in life are in the open. From revealing that her 52-year-old mother carried drugs, she claimed that she was also an alaiye (mother of street urchins), and spoke boldly of how her mother took one young man to the cleaners with the help of her brothers. Hmmm…
She told Elikem on Monday: “My first boyfriend was Frank Okosa. He was 18 and in SS2, I was 15 in SS3. He was the first to have s*x with me.” She went ahead to reel out a list of her many boyfriends after Okosa: CJ, Nosa (32yrs), Rukkie (35yrs), Special (32yrs) and Curtis (28yrs). To justify her many men, she gave a lame excuse: “All my ex were over-protective and they took me for granted.” If she had stopped there it would have been very unlike her. But she dropped another bombshell for Elikem, the listening ear: “I can’t make love except I am high.”
On Wednesday, Beverly still wanted to have a say, as long as any housemate made a comment. So, when Namibia’s Dillish Matthews disclosed that her mother’s birthday was August 14, Beverly jumped in, “my mum’s birthday is tomorrow.”
Beverly’s many tales coupled with her bathtub escapade with Angelo is not doing her any favours with the fans. But if she can avoid the possible eviction nomination list next week, she will be in the annals of Big Brother Africa history books as the only Chasemate who made the grand finale without being nominated for 11weeks. If her name comes up next week, it would be safe to say even at this time that she may never make it to the finale, Nigerian or not
Posted By:
Unknown
on 8/12/2013 09:16:00 am
Differences between Quantity Surveying & Cost Engineering is synonymous? see for your self
vs
Primary Skills
Each of these professions carries a wide variety of
skills and skill levels. There are however, specifi
c
primary areas which each of these professions tends
to participate in. Listed below are the various pr
imary
skills each uses within there scope of a project.
Quantity Surveyor
•
Cost Estimating
•
Feasibility Studies
•
Advise on Construction cost planning
•
Preparing Tender documents
•
Develop / Manage Cost Control Systems
Cost Engineer
•
Cost Estimating
•
Cost Analysis
•
Cost & Schedule Control
•
Constructability Planning
Fields of Specialization
Each of these professions tends to have individuals
or groups that specialize in a particular area of
interest.
The following are the areas of specialization most c
ommon.
Quantity Surveying
•
Preparing Cost Estimates
•
Project Monitoring Services
•
Mediation & Arbitration
•
Life Cycle Costing
Cost Engineering
•
Cost Estimating & Control
•
Profitability Analysis
•
Planning & Scheduling
•
Mediation & Arbitration
•
Life Cycle Costing
Level of Project Involvement
Each of these professions tends to get involved at
a different level and stage of a project. Listed be
low are
key areas or levels of involvement most commonly se
en for each of the professions.
Quantity Surveying
•
Preliminary Estimating
•
Controlling cost through the Design stage
•
Analyze cost effectiveness
•
Cost checks at various stages of the project
Cost Engineering
•
Estimating
•
Project Planning & Scheduling
•
Project Control
•
Project Closeout
Types of Projects
Each of these professions deals with similar projec
ts and deal with different projects as can be seen
below.
These are the types of projects dealt with most comm
only.
Quantity Surveying
•
Residential projects
•
Commercial Projects
•
Institutional / Public projects
Cost Engineering
•
Commercial
•
Institutional / Public
•
Industrial / Manufacturing
•
Non-Appreciable Projects
