Glo, Author at 1Africa | Page 14 of 27

What Does Pluto Look Like ?

Culture

Glo

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July 16, 2015

Many of us heard that the spacecraft New Horizons launched on a mission to Pluto by NASA 9 and a half years ago, has successfully reached its destination few days ago. This was a very thrilling news and I believe what the authors of this mission and the rest of the world have been curious to know is what does Pluto look like. in the extract below, CNN’s Amanda Barnett brings us the latest on the early pictures and information downloaded from Pluto:

It had been downgraded to a dwarf planet. It looked like a fuzzy blob in our best telescopes. And it was often referred to as just an icy orb. Even scientists working on the first mission to Pluto expected to find an old, pockmarked world.

But Pluto is turning out to be full of surprises.

“I’m completely surprised,” said Alan Stern, principal investigator for NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft.

The first zoomed-in image of Pluto was released on Wednesday, a day after the spacecraft made its closest pass over Pluto, cruising about 7,700 miles over the surface. The probe traveled more than 3.6 billion miles to snap the photo, and scientists think it was well worth the trip.

The new image shows a crisp, clear view of Pluto’s surface, and it’s covered with wide smooth areas, lumpy terrain and mountains. Huge mountains.

“They would stand up respectably against the Rocky Mountains,” said John Spencer, a planetary scientist on the New Horizons mission.

The height of the mountains is important because it’s a clue that there may be water on Pluto. Scientists know that Pluto’s surface is covered with nitrogen ice, methane ice and carbon monoxide ice. But Spencer says, “You can’t make mountains out of that stuff. It’s too soft.”

That leaves H20 — water ice like we have here on Earth.

“The steep topography means that the bedrock that makes those mountains must be made of H2O — of water ice,” said Stern. “We can be very sure that the water is there in great abundance.”

“Who would have supposed that there were ice mountains?” said Hal Weaver, another new Horizons project scientist.

“It’s just blowing my mind,” he said.

Before New Horizons was launched, scientists thought Pluto probably had a rocky core surrounded by a mantle of water ice. But they were having a hard time finding evidence of the water ice, Weaver said. He expects more data from the spacecraft will confirm that the ice mountains mean there is lots of water on Pluto.

“That’s the only way to get these huge mountains, and that’s a big surprise I think.”

Finding water on another world is important because water is considered one of the key ingredients to life as we know it.

Weaver says they’ll learn a lot more about the makeup of Pluto’s ice mountains in the days ahead. It will take about 16 months to download all of the information gathered by New Horizon’s seven instruments during the flyby.

Source: edition.cnn.com

What Is Fatherhood?

Glo

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July 16, 2015

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According to an online dictionary, fatherhood is defined as the state of having one or more children. Having a son and spending time with your son, taking him to games and getting to know him, is an example of fatherhood.

Often, these kinds of topics are tackled from the perspective of men. If it’s a blog like this one, the author would probably be a father himself, who’s been through life, raised children and acquired the necessary experience that qualifies him to speak on this topic. But sometimes, it helps to hear about fatherhood from the perspective of a child, what it means to them to have a father. I am not a father, but I have been a child, I know what I need in a father and this need can’t be different from that of many youngsters out there.

The definition above captions well the role of a father, but in the video below, life and relationships coach Stephan Laboissiere breaks it down even further.

To me, a father is a mentor; someone I look up to, love, rely on and respect. At the same time, a father is a friend; he is someone whose love, provision, protection, presence, advice, discipline and encouragement altogether prepare me for life and set me up to become the best person I can be and achieve greatness.

As sad as it is, there are many who did not get to experience life with a father by their side. Of course, having a good father physically has a great and positive impact on a child’s life but if you’re one, like Stephan whose dad was not around when growing up for one reason or another, it is still possible to experience fatherhood in God. Many things are said about God, but to us at 1Africa, He is first and foremost a loving father. Present when we need Him, and able to guide us and also supply all our needs. If you’d like to know Him, please click on the banner below

Life Is Happening Right Now

Glo

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July 15, 2015

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Life is an amazing journey and, for me, one of the things that plays the dual role of fascinating me but shaking me up is when something I held onto as a belief is shattered completely. Unlearning learned beliefs is both exhilarating and a little scary. Growing up, I used to look at my parents and think that they had it all together and that they knew everything. Being an adult myself now, I can kind of see why sometimes parents need to portray the idea that they know more than they really do. Growing up is not easy. It’s an interesting dynamic and one that isn’t easy to explain. My view of life was that the older you become, the better life becomes and the more everything lines up. The older you get, the more mature, the kinder, the wiser and more successful you become. I suppose, without realising I was doing it, I started to tie my entire life into waiting till I got older. That was a big mistake though because, as I’ve learnt, that’s not really how life works.

I recently was fortunate enough to be caught in the crossfire of a spat between two friends of mine (I say ‘fortunate’ here, not because this exchange was pleasant but only because it was a learning opportunity and I love to learn, even hard lessons). Anyway, this tension came to a head in a showdown this week and, as I sat in on the meeting, it became abundantly clear to me that they were not going to make peace. What, I suppose, frightened me even more, was the fact that they are older than I am and they are people I looked up to in some way. But, after that meeting, I came away quite disappointed and let down by them and the way they handled matters. On that day, I stopped using age as a measure of respectability and/or ‘centeredness’ and realized that, in a way, I’d been short-changing myself by placing any kind of hope about growth or improvement solely in the passage of time.

We often hear little ones say, “When I grow up, I want to be such and such” and there’s really nothing wrong with that. Yes, it’s important to dream. There’s no substitute to imagining how things can be. A life without imagination is an empty, directionless one. Of course, it’s true that some dreams take time to fully manifest and not everything we desire or aim for can happen today. Sometimes, time has the almighty ability to test how genuinely we want what we say we want and to reveal to us (and others) who we are. So, that means there must be a delicate balance then.

Let’s dream big and go for the best. Let’s grow and improve ourselves in every possible way. But in doing that, we must not place so much hope in the future as a destination that we neglect to enjoy the present and savor every moment we have. Life is happening right now and what we have now is probably just as important as what we hope for in the future. Establishing this delicate balance doesn’t come easy, everyday unexpected events take place which have the potential to through us off balance and lose focus or excitement to live altogether. We believe that knowing God and relying on His strength, is where comes stability to live a balanced life. If you have questions or comments, or would like to know God, please click on the banner below.

3 Reasons Why You Should Call And Not Text

Culture

Glo

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July 14, 2015

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3 Reasons Why You Should Call And Not Text

“LOL”, “WTH”, “WYD”, and the list goes on. Most of you are familiar with these acronyms partially thanks to the rise of sending a text message. More and more people are choosing to type on their phone rather than use it for its original use, which is to verbally communicate. It can be family, friends, co-workers or lovers. The convenient choice to send a text message is growing more and more each day, but is this a bad thing? I say yes, well at least it can be. The overuse or misuse of the text message can create all kinds of issues. It may seem harmless, but here are a few things to consider when determining if you should send a text message, or if it’s just best to make a phone call.

People Still Value Verbal Communication

More and more people are taking advantage of texting, but that doesn’t change the fact that many still view it as very informal. A lot of people still want to hear a voice (at least if they like you they do) and aren’t looking to always have to read a message on their phone. It becomes more personal and easier to connect with someone when you can actually talk to them. Ignoring this reality can create a disconnection between you and the person you are communicating with. Not to mention that it can hinder people from being able to open up and have deeper discussions with you because they simply don’t want to have to type a long dialogue. So making time to actually talk more often rather than constantly send a text message can help strengthen your ability to connect with others.

Chances For Misinterpretation Are Higher

One of the biggest problems with texting is that it is very easy for people to take things the wrong way. Tone gets lost in text and leaves it up to the receiver to assume the attitude in which you are talking to them. That can be a recipe for disaster as I have seen many texts that were not meant to be taken in a negative way, turn into a much bigger problem. So one of the best things to do is to leave the texting to short quick statements, and don’t use them to express communication where the tone can completely alter how the message is received. Even with that people can then start to assume that if you are giving short quick answers that this is evidence of something not being right. It can get tricky, so use your text wisely or balance it with enough phone conversation for people to have a better feel for how you communicate.

It Can Be Viewed As A Lack Of Interest

This one here mainly applies to dating, and to be more specific it applies more to men. I say that because every time I’m a speaker at an event I always hear complaints from women about the men nowadays texting too much. Not that every woman takes issue with it, but it is clear a lot still do. There have been countless situations where women have cut men off or lost interest because of what they perceived as a lack of interest and seriousness on his part. This can go either way, and the point remains the same. When you text too much, or have a bad text to call ratio, you run a higher risk of turning someone off when it comes to trying to build a relationship. So make sure that if you prefer to text more than call, that you’re dealing with someone who doesn’t mind it at all.

There are positives for choosing to send a text message, so it’s not all bad. Ultimately it is all about finding a good balance and understanding the person you are communicating with. Discuss with people how you like to communicate and your position on people choosing to send a text message instead of calling. You may personally want to send a text message, but be mindful of when the use of it can cause more harm than good. Technology is growing more and more each day, but in my opinion the human connection that comes with verbal communication will never lose its value. I say talk more and text less, however you have to do what works best for your situation and your relationships.

3 Reasons Why You Should Call And Not Text originally appears on the site stephanspeaks.com

Are You Keeping Your Hair Products Too Long?

Lifestyle

Glo

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July 14, 2015

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Are You Keeping Your Hair Products Too Long?

When it comes to keeping and using hair products, how long is too long? This is a question we have all no doubt pondered at one point or another.

While there isn’t one answer to this- the time varies from product to product- typically, products tend to have a shelf life of three years. This is because preservatives in products prevent them from expiring prematurely.

Though most commercial products have a long shelf life, it is equally important to take the necessary steps to protect their quality. This can be done by simply storing products in a cool dry place, not dipping fingers into jars so that products don’t get contaminated by bacteria and making sure that the lids and/or caps are closed tightly to prevent exposure to air/germs.

Products that are 100% all natural or organic expire a lot faster than commercial products as they lack the synthetic preservatives to increase shelf life, so it’s best to use these products within three to four months period.

It’s also best to regularly assess your products to see if there is any irregular odor, change in texture or consistency. If you notice any abnormal changes, it’s time to get rid of it.

However, to be on the safe side, discard any hair product within 1-2 years of initial use if you still haven’t used it up.

source: africanwomanmagazine.net

Does Hard Work Guarantee Success ?

Glo

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July 14, 2015

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Sometime last week, one of the African magazines I follow online shared a very interesting picture on their Facebook page. It was a picture of an African lady laden with a baby on her back, a bunch of baskets on one hand and a bunch of pots on the other. A caption accompanied this picture and it read:

“If wealth was the inevitable result of hard work and enterprise, every woman in Africa would be a millionaire” -George Monbiot

In the comments section, most people wrote “true” or “truth” in response to the caption above, almost like a choir singing in unison. This made me think!

I grew up in central Africa and for many years, witnessed the resourcefulness and hard work routine of African women. From running their households, nurturing children, running business, indeed, many of them work hard. And if hard work definitely produced success, then I agree that many would be rich by now.

Whenever we’re presented with ingredients to success , hard work often tops the list. But having read this quote and seen people’s responses, and reflected on my own life experience, I believe there is more to achieving success in life.

People who have attained remarkable success in life, have one common belief, expressed in the quote below by Theodore Roosevelt

“The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people.”

So does hard work guarantee success? We can’t entirely dismiss hard work from the list of ingredients to success. Hard work has its benefits, but as you work hard, remember the one important aspect of things not to be neglected and that is building healthy and honest relationships with people, both in your personal and professional space.

It’s also worth saying, while on the subject of success, that who we chose to be our influence, our adviser and foundation in life determines how we progress in life. For us at 1Africa, God is the ultimate strength and foundation and provider of wisdom and everything we may need for a life that is fulfilled and successful. If you’d like to know Him more, please click on the banner below.

Can You Be A Christian And Not Go To Church?

Glo

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July 13, 2015

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Can You Be A Christian And Not Go To Church?

If we were to narrow down what it means to be a Christian, the best place to look is at one of the people who Jesus said was a Christian. If you remember the thief on the cross next to Jesus (Luke 23:39-43), Jesus promises this man that he will be with him in paradise. This man never got to go to church, and yet he is a Christian because he trusts in Jesus. So in that sense it is true to say that you don’t have to be a church goer to be a Christian. In fact as soon as you say you “have to do something” to be a Christian you are in danger of getting the gospel message wrong.

However, the Bible has no concept of individual spirituality – that is, Christianity is not something personal that has nothing to do with anyone else. That is a very modern way of thinking. We can see it in the verse below, the way the man expresses his trust in Jesus is what shifts his allegiances to Jesus’ kingdom. He sees that Jesus is the true king and joins his kingdom, he joins a group of people – those ruled by Jesus the king.

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom”. Luke 23:42

If you are a Christian, then you are a member of God’s church. The church is now your family, and they are God’s gift to us in living Christian lives. We see this in Romans 8:28-30. Those who are saved are saved so that Jesus would be the big brother of many brothers. God is in the business of making a family (have a read of Romans 8). This can also be seen in the fact that most of the instructions for Christians are done in the plural, there are very few (if any) instructions to individuals.

The Christian life was never meant to be lived solo, God has gifted each member of his church to serve one another, you can’t do that solo. It is nearly impossible to live a Christian life alone, it runs counter to everything God has done for us. However, some people can’t help but live alone. The thief on the cross could not join a church, he had no choice; but where we have a choice, we really should become a part of God’s church.

It’s like someone who gets married, but never moves in with their husband. It is true that you can be married without living together, and there may be extreme circumstances that you can think of where someone may get married and not live together (if someone is on their death bed for example). But a real marriage involves relationship. Becoming a Christian means being a part of God’s family.

Can You Be A Christian And Not Go To Church, Sourced from christianity.net.au

There Is Room For You In This World

Glo

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July 13, 2015

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I’m a big movie fan and, each year, nothing delights me more than awards season. Whether it’s the Golden Globes, the BAFTAs or the mother of all award shows – the Oscars – nothing gives me greater joy at that time of the year than to catch up on all the nominated movies. One year in particular was a huge one for me because I had the opportunity to watch nine of the ten films which were nominated for Best Picture that year and I must say that I was quite fascinated by just how different the movies in the running were. From the light-hearted, animated brilliance of Toy Story 3 to the dark, sinister and mind-boggling intensity of Black Swan and the heart-wrenching moments of desperation and portrayals of unbelievable human strength in 127 Hours, experiencing these films night by night in the course of a week made one thing very clear to me – there is something in this world for everyone.

Sometimes it’s easy to look at the big names and big stars and think that only they matter in the great scheme of things. The rest of us feel like tiny fish in a massive pond but nothing could be further from the truth. At some level and in some way that perhaps we don’t fully fathom, we all have some significance. How can we not? Look at the incredible detail that goes into forming the human body – the intricacies of the human brain, the workings of the heart, the composition of our muscles. I believe that even in death, some have done more than in their lifetime. We may not always understand every detail but there is significance to everything.

Everyone has a space in this world and it is possible for us to make something great of ourselves if we make a quality decision to do so. There is no one person or group of people with a monopoly on greatness or achievement. Sometimes, there is a tendency to look at people who are at the top and to gawk at them with admiration and wonder. Of course, there is healthy admiration and respect which is just plain normal and human. Respect must be given where it is due. But then there is also the very obsessive worship of stars and big names (very prevalent in our day) which seems to cause us to idolize them so much that we forget that we matter too.

In this big, wide world of us, I believe that we all have something to offer. There is room for you in this world and you should never doubt it. Like the films I mentioned earlier, what we have to offer is not the same. What I have to offer the world is not what you have to offer it. So, as best as we can, at whatever level and in whatever capacity, let’s find our space in this world and occupy it. Issues of purpose in life can be understood even better when we allow God into the picture of our lives. If you have questions around the existence of God or wonder how you can relate to Him and understand your value and purpose in life better, please click on the banner below.

How Often Do You Reflect On Your Life?

Glo

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July 10, 2015

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I have a confession to make. I think I’m becoming obsessed with gadgets. Of course, it’s generally believed that even adults ‘love their toys’ but, when it comes to electronics i.e. things like smartphones, tablets and most things technological, I may slowly be heading down a path that will see me become a full-on tech geek at some point. Thing is, I’m on the hunt for my next smartphone now and, in my research, I’ve come across quite a few impressive options. A simple and innocent enough thing, right? But when I found myself comparing phone processor speeds and checking if my next phone had endless homescreen panes, I knew there was something in the water I’d been drinking.

The technologies available to us today are staggering to say the least. There’s an ‘app’ for pretty much everything and it’s all right at our fingertips. Everything can be achieved with ease and lightning speed. Yet, in the midst of rapid advancements and super-efficient social networking it is actually very possible to disconnect completely from the one entity that really needs our constant attention – ourselves. It has become very challenging in our world to create that much needed time of reflection where we can improve on ourselves and grow. We get caught up in demanding faster internet speeds from our service providers but neglect to develop our minds and make ourselves better.

As we begin the 2nd half of the year, it may be worth taking stock of how much time we’ve spent ‘socially networking’ or bonding with gadgets versus time spent just thinking in a quiet corner somewhere about how to grow and become better people. It may surprise us what we find.

I’m all for advancement and technological breakthroughs, just as long as I don’t lose myself and become just another gadget myself. Once in a while, it’s good that I come face to face with me. So the question i’d like to ask you today is How often do you reflect on your life?

Sometimes we shy away from moments of reflection because reflection often brings us face to face with reality, and the current state of affairs in our lives may not be pleasant to reflect upon and we end up getting lost in a fast paced life routine . For some, reality could be that you feel empty inside and life is just one big show. We all have moments where we ask questions and wish we could have all the answers. If you’d like to regain focus and passion in life, or understand what’s the purpose of life here on earth, we’d like to chat with you further about God, who’s the giver of life, meaning and purpose. Please click on the banner below.

Favorite African Dishes

Culture

Glo

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July 9, 2015

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Given that the first “barbecue” might well have taken place in Africa, this is a continent that can arguably claim to have invented cooking.

But African dishes — especially those south of the Sahara — are still woefully under-represented on the world culinary scene.

From the humble maize/grain porridges and root vegetables that form the basis of so many diets, to grand feasting dishes such as breyanis, tagines, stews and aromatic curries, Africa’s favorite foods offer something for every palate.

Here are some of the regional dishes that you might enjoy in some of the more popular tourist destinations:

1. Pap en vleis/Shisa nyama, South Africa

Barbecued meat and maize porridge is a combination dearly beloved across many cultures in Southern Africa, and particularly in South Africa, where the braaivleis is a treasured institution and practically a national sport.

“Pap en vleis” (literally, “maize porridge and meat”) is a colorful umbrella of a term that encompasses virtually any combination of starch and braaied or stewed meat, with an obligatory side-serving of spicy gravy, relish or chakalaka.

Shisa nyama, meaning “burn the meat” in Zulu, has come to refer to a festive “bring-and-braai” gathering; Shisa nyama restaurants are often located next to butchers’ shops so patrons can select their own meats and have them cooked to order over fiercely hot wood fires.

2. Piri piri chicken, Mozambique

Mozambique’s cuisine is a heady blend of African, Portuguese, oriental and Arab flavors — think fragrant spices, hot piri piri and creamy coconut sauces, with hints of cashews and peanuts.

Sizzling, spicy prawns and seafood are often a first choice for visitors to Maputo, but don’t miss the iconic Mozambican dish Galinha à Zambeziana, a succulent feast of chicken cooked with lime, pepper, garlic, coconut milk and piri piri sauce.

It’s generally known simply as grilled chicken piri piri by tourists, and is traditionally served with matapa, a dish of cassava leaves cooked in a peanut sauce.

3. Jollof rice and egusi soup, Nigeria

One dish you shouldn’t leave Nigeria without eating is jollof rice, a great favorite all over West Africa, and one that is thought may be the origin of the Cajun dish jambalaya.

A simple, spicy one-pot dish comprising, at its most basic, rice, tomatoes, onions and pepper, it’s often served at parties and other festive gatherings, along with other Nigerian favorites such as egusi soup (made with ground melon seeds and bitter leaf), fried plantains and pounded yam (iyan or fufu).

4. Kapenta with sadza, Zimbabwe

A heap of crisp-fried kapenta is the culinary highlight for many visitors to Zimbabwe.

Kapenta, comprising two species of small freshwater fish native to Lake Tanganyika, were introduced to Lake Kariba and now are a much-loved source of protein for lakeside populations of Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Like many African dishes, kapenta is often accompanied by a mountain of delicious maize porridge, known in Zimbabwe as sadza. Kapenta is available both dried and fresh, and is also stewed with tomatoes, onions and groundnut powder, and served with fresh greens.

Don’t pick up a knife and fork to devour your kapenta: the traditional way to eat this dish is to scoop up the sadza with your hand and to dip it or roll it in the accompanying fish and relishes.

5. Chambo with nsima, Malawi

The eyes of Malawians away from home may well fill with tears when you say the word “chambo” to them — it’s the most popular and best-known fish found in Lake Malawi, and a great national favorite.

It’s served grilled along the lake shore, usually with nsima (a stiff porridge very similar to South Africa’s pap and Zimbabwe’s sadza) or with chips.

A plate of chambo is not complete without ndiwo, a delicious relish made of pumpkin or cassava leaves, tomatoes and groundnut powder. Both nsima and ndiwo are revered staple foods in neighboring Zambia, along with Ifisashi, a dish of greens in a peanut sauce.

For more of best African dishes, click here

Source: travel.cnn.com

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