Are you on the right track?

Recently, I had a great talk with a dear friend.

His mother- and father-in-law are in their early seventies and have virtually nothing put away for retirement. Before too long, they're going to be unable to work, and because his spouse is an only child, his in-laws are expecting that his family will take them in.

On the other hand, my friend's parents are in their early sixties and already retired and will almost assuredly never become a financial burden to him and his spouse and children.

I asked him what he thought the difference between the two situations was. Was it income? Was it planning ahead? What caused the difference in the two situations? He put it very simply.
"My parents didn't spend their adulthood pretending to be rich."

It was such an insightful statement that it left me thinking for days.

When you get right down to it, the big reason that many people don't save for the future is that they would rather spend their money now. They have things that they want today — houses, cars, consumer goods, travel, clothing, electronics, and so on — and those things come before things like saving for retirement.

In truth, a balanced financial life that involves living within your means includes things like saving for retirement. A normal financial life should include saving at least 10% for the future before anything else, because without that, you're walking a high wire without a safety net during the later years of your life when you are in declining health. That was the only way that people found financial security in the past.

The last generation or two have been able to get around that thanks to pension programs especially for civil servants and Social Security like NSSF. Those things have essentially taken the place of retirement savings for many people in retirement today. So, during their adult lives, many of them have never needed to actually save for retirement.

That safety net is gone for most of us who are currently in the workforce. I know very few people that have a traditional pension — the best that any of my friends have is a individual retirement plan that is contributed to by his employer regardless of whether he donates, but that contribution plus Social Security would still make for a very meager retirement.

What does all of this mean? If people want to be able to do anything in their later years besides working until they die, then they have to start living a balanced financial life that includes at least 10% contributions to retirement. Period. There is no special magic trick that makes it possible to not do this. Yet by any accounts, most Kenyans do not save adequately for retirement.

Why do people not do that? It's simple. Most people place a much higher priority on the things they want right now in order to live an affluent lifestyle. People have a stark choice between the biggest excesses in all of their spending, the least important things they choose to spend their money on, and saving for retirement, and over and over again they choose those least important items. They choose things like a beautiful big rental house that they actually don't need or the latest iPhone over the security of their future selves.

People live as though they have more income than they actually do, and in order to do that they cut out retirement savings (and sometimes even get into credit card debt).

In other words, it's exactly like my friend described. Many people spend their life pretending to be wealthier than they are.
They live to impress others.

Why do people do that, though? What's the reason?

Spotlight Effect.
Some people do it to impress others, but that's a questionable reason due to the spotlight effect. In reality, few people even notice the car you drive or the clothes you wear, and even fewer really care.
There are many techniques for overcoming the spotlight effect, but they all boil down to one thing: spend your spare time improving yourself, so that you no longer have to feel as though you need to "fake it until you make it." Instead, you have real value to add, so you don't need to put up a false front about yourself.

Retail Therapy
Some people do it for the purposes of retail therapy, because spending makes them feel better about their situation. Doing this converts shopping into entertainment, which not only is an expensive form of entertainment but also eats up time from many other forms of entertainment.
There are several good strategies for overcoming retail therapy, including keeping constant reminders of your big goals, automating your savings, talking to your friends during rational moments outside of those shopping splurges, focusing on friendships that don't engage in retail therapy, making your spending tools difficult to access, and actively seeking non-financial outlets for your emotional peaks and valleys.
Also, avoid friends who are party animals,unworthy dates and outings.

Effects by the Media
Some people are heavily influenced by the media and take their cues for how to behave and what to buy from television, magazines, and other sources.
The key to solving this challenge is by changing your media diet. For me, the biggest key was simply watching less television, which is something I did gradually over the years until now where my television watching is minimal. Most of my reading is in the form of books, too, so I don't see many magazine ads.

Influence by other people.
Some people are heavily influenced by their friends and neighbors and take their cues from their spending habits. After all, as it's said, you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.
The best strategy here is to never live in a neighborhood where you have the lowest income — you should be above average in income in your neighborhood, so you never have the need to spend to "keep up with your neighbors.'' You should also re-evaluate your social circle and make an effort to spend more time with friends who don't choose to spend as much.

Personal Ideologies.
Some people would rather "live it up" while they are young and healthy rather than saving money for when they are old and perhaps not so healthy. They believe their "future selves" will take care of it.
The problem here is that you simply don't know what your future will bring. Employment options tend to change when you get older, as do your physical limitations, and with the rapid changes in technology, it is really, really hard to guess what life will be like 20 years down the road. Retirement savings isn't just money to live off of when you're old. It's money to ensure that you can survive during your later years when the "rules" of your life have changed quite a bit, both in terms of your own situation and the changes in society.

All of these things are simply excuses for people to pretend to be rich right now and thus, by extension, not save adequately for their future. Do any of them ring a bell for you? Most of them did for me in the past, but I've made a conscious effort to reduce their impact and I can't help but see the positive effect those changes have had on my spending. I don't feel nearly as compelled to spend as I once was, yet I don't feel as though my life is "deprived" in any way. I feel at peace because I know my future is taken care of, which is really nice.

Don't pretend to be rich. It might feel good in the moment, but that feeling doesn't last. It leaves you with stress when you reflect on your life and it leaves you with limited options even just a few years down the road.

The best thing you can do is start saving for retirement today. Don't give yourself time to talk yourself out of it. Sign up for a retirement plan at work (NSSF or something similar) or sign up for an individual retirement plan through your investment firm of choice (I use Kenindia) and start contributing immediately. Then, choose to live a little less "rich" than before.

You'll never regret it.

Signs You are Silently Leading towards ultimate poverty.

Someone asked me what the signs that someone is headed towards poverty are.
It actually left me thinking so hard about that. I looked at my life and that of some of my friends and how we have been leading our financial path.I found some of the things that we do that actually lead us to poverty.

Here are some of the signs to watch out for.

We are working hard to keep up with a lifestyle. 
We are aspiring after and admiring people who we perceive to have this lifestyle.

We are getting into debt to fund this lifestyle. Then we cheat ourselves that because we have a great lifestyle we are wealthy.

You may have a flashy lifestyle but be the poorest person in the room. Having a great income and lifestyle can cheat you that your financial life is headed in the right direction but in actual fact, it may not be.

If you are early in your working life this is still important so that you do not get into the trap that many have found themselves in.

You cannot live without your salary. If your salary was delayed for a week you would be rioting in the streets. We all start out like this and indeed we may be here.

We need our salaries to pay rent, food,entertainment, school fees, etc. This is called dependence. However this cannot be our long-term plan. You need to be actively working towards being able to live without your salary.

To do that means portions of your income (the older you are the more the portion) should be going towards savings and investments rather that simply moving to a bigger house, going to a more expensive bar or buying a bigger car. The bigger car is simply making you more dependent on the salary you earn.

Your Flossets exceed your Assets. 
The value of your cars, personal belongings, spend on holidays and so forth exceed actual investments such as property, shares,businesses etc.

If that is the case, you need to reverse this even if it means selling your flossets. The reason is simple: Flossets depreciate in value while assets appreciate in value. Have more of the things that will appreciate in value and less of the things that depreciate in value.

An asset can fund a flosset. For example, the investment property you buy can give you income to fund a holiday, but the car cannot fund the holiday. Do not sell your assets to fund flossets.

A friend of mine who is in real estate told me how she has been finding it odd that her clients with the huge lifestyles and big job titles are the same ones unable to raise deposits for the properties they are buying while other people who come across as very simple are able to, and many times pay off the properties in a couple of months in cash.

You spend to impress. 
Many times, we spend to impress other people. We falsely believe that the phone, the, neighborhood, club, car gives us respect or elevates our social status.

Usually, you find it was not respect you got but short-lived attention. To get the attention again when excitement over what you bought has died down, you will need to buy something else. This becomes a never ending cycle and a prison.

Spending is not necessarily bad if it is line with your personal values and choices. When you spend to impress, you are spending for other people not you. There is a difference between buying the car to be seen in that car and buying a car because it is something you decide you want to experience.

You have a high level of consumer debt. 
This means you have taken loans to fund lifestyle.Consumer debt includes credit cards, salary advance, school fees loans, furniture loans,car loans.

Any loan that did not result in money being made is a bad debt and you must keep these

kinds of debt to an absolute minimum. At the end of the day, these debts usually mean

you spent more than you were earning. You bought clothes you couldn’t afford with the credit card, you took your kids to a school you can’t afford through a loan, etc.

You don’t have a plan for your life. 
This is actually the biggest clue that you may be speeding down the highway of poverty. In fact it also may be the reason that you find the points raised above apply.

The Bible says that people without vision perish. I have ended with this point but it should actually be where you start. I don’t believe anyone can tell you the vision you should have for yourself.

What I know is that the steps you take in life should be taking you towards your vision.

You need to be able to tell how your current job or business is propelling you forward.

When you have these goals, you can then see why taking control of your spending is important, why exorbitant spend on lifestyle may be getting you further from the life you actually want and what the things are that have value to you that you would spend on.

Financial Market Asymmetric information.

Asymmetric information is a problem in financial markets such as borrowing and lending.
In these markets the borrower has much better information about his financial state than the lender and will have the ability to make a more informed decision than the lender.
The lender has difficulty knowing whether it is likely that the borrower will default.
To some extent the lender will try to overcome this by looking at past credit history and evidence of salary or any other consistent source of income.
However, this only gives a limited information.
The consequence is that lenders will charge higher rates to compensate for the risk.
If there was perfect information, banks wouldn’t need to charge this risk premium.

When it comes to the purchase or sale of a financial security, asymmetric information occurs when either the buyer or seller has more information on the past, present or future performance of that financial security. If the buyer has more information, he knows that the security is under priced relative to its aggregate performance. If the seller has more information, he knows that the security is overpriced relative to its aggregate performance. Asymmetric information gives either the buyer or seller a better opportunity to make a profit over the purchase or sale of a financial security.

When it comes to borrowing or lending money, asymmetric information occurs when the borrower has more information about his financial state than the lender does. The lender is more unsure whether the borrower will default on the loan. The lender can look at a borrower's credit history and salary levels, but this provides limited information compared to what the borrower knows about his own financial situation. To account for this asymmetric information, a lender will charge a risk premium to compensate for the disparity in information.

Asymmetric information can lead to either moral hazard or adverse selection. Moral hazard occurs when a party will take a risk because the cost of the risk won't be felt by that party. Adverse selection is a process that occurs when undesired results happen because of buyers and sellers have access to different information. Both moral hazard and adverse selection result in market failures.

Message to the Ladies

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD READ THESE 30 RULES FOR GODLY WOMEN-----------------
1). Never raise your voice for any reason to your husband. Its a sign of disrespect.(Prov 15v1)
2). Don't expose your husband's weaknesses to your family and friends. It will bounce back at you.You are each other's keeper.(Eph 5v12)
3). Never use attitudes and moods to communicate to your husband, you never know how your husband will interpret them. Defensive women don't have a happy home.(Prov 15v13)
4). Never compare your husband to other men, you've no idea what their life is all about. If you attack his Ego, his Love for you will diminish.
5). Never ill treat your husband's friends because you don't like them, the person who's supposed to get rid of them is your husband.(Prov 11v22)
6). Never forget that your husband married you, not your maid or anyone else. Do your duties.(Gen 2v24)
7). Never assign anyone to give attention to your husband, people may do everything else but your husband is your own responsibility.(Eph 5v33)
8). Never blame your husband if he comes back home empty handed. Rather encourage him.(Deut 3v28)
9). Never be a wasteful wife, your husband's sweat is too precious to be wasted.
10). Never pretend to be sick for the purpose of denying your husband sex. You must give it to him how he wants it. Sex is very important to Men, if you keep denying him, it is a matter if time before another woman takes over that duty. No man can withstand sex starvation for too long(even the anointed ones) (SS 7v12)
11). Never compare your husband to your one time sex mate in bedroom, or an Ex-lover. Your home may Never recover from it if you do.(SS 5v9)
12). Never answer for your husband in public opinion polls, let him handle what is directed to him although he may answer for you in public opinion polls.(Prov 31v23)
13). Never shout or challenge your husband in front of children. Wise Women don't do that.(Eph 4v31)
14). Don't forget to check the smartness of your husband before he checks out.(Prov 12v4)
15). Never allow your friends to be too close to your husband.
16). Never be in a hurry in the bathroom and on the dressing table. Out there your husband is always surrounded by women who took their time on their looks.( 1 Sam25v3)
17). Your parents or family or friends do not have the final say in your marriage. Don't waste your time looking up to them for a final word. You must Leave if you want to Cleave.(Luke 21v16)
18). Never base your love on monetary things.Will you still submit to him even if you earn more money than him?
19). Don't forget that husbands want attention and good listeners, never be too busy for him.Good communication is the bed rock of every happy home. (Gal 6v9)
20). If your idea worked better than his, never compare yourself to him. Its always teamwork.(Gal 6v10)
21). Don't be too judgmental to your husband. No man wants a Nagging wife.(Eph 4v29)
22). A lazy wife is a careless wife. She doesn't even know that her body needs a bath.(Prov 24v27)(Prov 20v13)
23). Does your husband like a kind of cooked food?, try to change your cooking. No man jokes with food. (Prov 31v14)
24). Never be too demanding to your husband,enjoy every moment, resource as it comes.(Luke 11v3)
25). Make a glass of water the very first welcome to your husband and everyone entering your home. Sweetness of attitude is true beauty. (Prov 31v11)
26). Don't associate with women who have a wrong mental attitude about marriage.(Prov 22v14)
27). Your marriage is as valuable to you as the value that you give it. Recklessness is unacceptable.(Heb 13v4)
28). Fruit of the womb is a blessing from the Lord, love your children and teach them well.(Prov 22v6)
29). You are never too old to influence your home. Never reduce your care for your family for any reason. (Prov 31v28)
30). A prayerful wife is a better equipped wife,pray always for your husband and family(1 Thess 5v17)
Have a lovely day..... God bless u all

                                                                                Shared from- Dennis Debett 's facebook page.

Enemies of success and Happiness.

There are some behaviors and vices that often drag us behind from achieving our goals,dreams and ambitions.
Sometimes they affect us sub consciously and at times they are part of us because we have done them over and over till they are a norm.

Here are some of the things derail our potential success.  
There's always another day, right? But that's a huge mistake.Whether you're working or having fun, being mindful about how you spend your time is one of the best things you can do for your life.

1. Running from problems.
Sooner or later, you will run out of places to run to. Confront your problems and get it over with.

2. Cursing the darkness.
We all have struggles and failures, but if you can focus your energy on a solution — even a small one you've started the process of finding your way out.

3. Lying to yourself.
 The truth really does set you free. The beliefs and thoughts that limit your options aren't representing   your truth, and they're keeping you from realizing your visions.

4. Fear.
It is human nature to feel fear, and most of us tend to fear what we don't understand. If you can understand your fears, you can free yourself from them.

5. Negativity.
Focus on yourself with optimism and positivity instead of dwelling on the things that are holding you back.

6. The word impossible.
There's no bigger impediment to any achievement than not trying at all, or trying and giving up.

7. Winging it.
Success favors those who work hard, put in plenty of time, and do whatever it takes to make it work. When you do your part, success has a way of showing up.

8. Cynicism.
 This is an attitude or state of mind characterized by a general distrust of others' motives believing that humans are selfish by nature, ruled by emotion, andand are generally not to be trusted.
Human understanding and kindness are at the core of the happiest people.

9. Distraction.
Stop wasting your time chasing shiny objects and focus on what you really need in your life.

10. Selfishness.
A truly successful life is made of giving, sharing, and praise, not taking, demanding, and criticizing.

11. Over thinking.
Stop over thinking everything because that just makes things worse. Think good thoughts and good things will happen.

12. Hoarding.
Any form of hoarding is unhealthy and wastes your time, whether it's possessions, information, wisdom, or emotion. Learn to let go.

13. Denial.
Look at your life and ask yourself whether what you are doing is truly representing what's within you; if not, stop denying what you really want and need.

14. Criticism.
It's easy to criticize, but it's rarely helpful. Praise is far more powerful and rewarding for everyone all around.

15. Comparison.
Remember, everyone has a unique situation and is fighting their own battles. Stop comparing yourself to others, it's never productive.

16. Procrastination.
There's no bigger waste of time than putting things off — it adds stress and takes away options for solving problems.

17. Complaining.
Taking responsibility today is the first step in accomplishing something great tomorrow.

18. Perfection.Remember, those who seldom make mistakes seldom make discoveries. Instead of searching for perfection, take this moment and make it perfect.

And, above all, stop squandering your gifts. This life is about making yourself useful and necessary, so find your purpose and run with it.
Let us just be happy and do what we do best and what we love.

Who knows what you'll find time for when you let go of all the time-wasting negatives in your life?

Determinants of Growth in an Economy

There are specific determinants that impact the long-run growth of an economy:
Growth of productivity:
This is the ratio of economic outputs to inputs (capital, labor, energy, materials, and services). When the productivity increases the cost of goods is lowered. Lower prices increase the demand for the product or service. An increase in demand can lead to higher revenue.
Demographic changes:
demographic factors influence economic growth by changing the employment to population ratio. Factors include the quantity and quality of available natural resources. Age structure of the population also influences employment and long-run growth.
Labor force participation:
the amount of labor force participation and the size of economic sectors influence economic growth. The labor force participation is the amount of workers available. In countries with high development and industrialization, labor force participation is high because of low birth and death rates.
Inflation and Excessive Growth:
When the economic growth matches the growth of money supply, an economy will continue to grow and thrive. In this case, population growth would increase, but the need for goods and services would also increase. As a result, more jobs would be available and the employment rate would also increase.

However, when economic growth is not balanced, the result can include inflation and excessive growth. Inflation occurs when the general price of goods and services are rising which causes purchasing power to fall if wages don't also rise . A decrease in the demand for goods and services will lead to a decrease in revenue and employment. A high rate of population growth will cause less capital per worker, lower productivity, and lower GDP growth.

Are you ready to Suffer upto death For God's sake? Here is how the disciples of Jesus Christ did it.

1. Matthew
Suffered martyrdom in Ethiopia, Killed by a sword wound.

2. Mark
Died in Alexandria, Egypt , after being dragged by Horses through the streets until he was dead.

3. Luke
Was hanged in Greece as a result of his tremendous Preaching to the lost.

4. John
Faced martyrdom when he was boiled in huge Basin of boiling oil during a wave of persecution In Rome. However, he was miraculously delivered From death.
John was then sentenced to the mines on the prison Island of Patmos. He wrote his prophetic Book of Revelation on Patmos . The apostle John was later freed and returned to serve As Bishop of Edessa in modern Turkey . He died as an old man, the only apostle to die peacefully

5. Peter
He was crucified upside down on an x-shaped cross.
According to church tradition it was because he told his tormentors that he felt unworthy to die In the same way that Jesus Christ had died.

6. James
The leader of the church in Jerusalem , was thrown over a hundred feet down from the southeast pinnacle of the Temple when he refused to deny his faith in Christ. When they discovered that he survived the fall, his
enemies beat James to death with a fuller's club.
* This was the same pinnacle where Satan had taken Jesus during the Temptation.

7. James the Son of Zebedee,
was a fisherman by trade when Jesus Called him to a lifetime of ministry. As a strong leader of the church, James was ultimately beheaded at Jerusalem. The Roman officer who guarded James watched amazed as James defended his faith at his trial. Later, the officer Walked beside James to the place of execution. Overcome by conviction, he declared his new faith to the judge and Knelt beside James to accept beheading as a Christian.

8. Bartholomew
Also known as Nathaniel Was a missionary to Asia. He witnessed for our Lord in present day Turkey. Bartholomew was martyred for his preaching in Armenia where he was flayed to death by a whip.

9. Andrew
Was crucified on an x-shaped cross in Patras, Greece. After being whipped severely by seven soldiers they tied his body to the cross with cords to prolong his agony. His followers reported that, when he was led toward the cross, Andrew saluted it in these words: 'I have long desired and expected this happy hour. The cross has been consecrated by the body of Christ hanging on it.' He continued to preach to his tormentors For two days until he expired.

10. Thomas
Was stabbed with a spear in India during one of his missionary trips to establish the church in the Sub-continent.

11. Jude
Was killed with arrows when he refused to deny his faith in Christ.

12. Matthias
The apostle chosen to replace the traitor Judas Iscariot, was stoned and then beheaded.

13. Paul
Was tortured and then beheaded by the evil Emperor Nero at Rome in A.D. 67. Paul endured a lengthy imprisonment, which allowed him to write his many
epistles to the churches he had formed throughout the Roman Empire. These letters, which taught many of the foundational Doctrines of Christianity, form a large portion of the New Testament.

Perhaps this is a reminder to us that our sufferings here are indeed minor compared to the intense persecution and cold cruelty faced by the apostles and disciples during their times For the sake of the Faith. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: But he that endureth to the end shall be saved..

"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they who mourn,
for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,
for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful,
for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure of heart,
for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they shall be called children of God.

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
Gospel of St. Matthew 5:3-10
We all should stand up for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and support His ministry in every way we can.

Comperative adavantage

In economics, comparative advantage refers to the ability of a party to produce a particular good or service at a lower marginal and opportunity cost over another. Even if one country is more efficient in the production of all goods (has an absolute advantage in all goods) than another, both countries will still gain by trading with each other. More specifically, countries should import goods if the opportunity cost of importing is lower than the cost of producing them locally.

Specialization according to comparative advantage results in a more efficient allocation of world resources. Larger outputs of both products become available to both nations. The outcome of international specialization and trade is equivalent to a nation having more and/or better resources or discovering improved production techniques.
Determining Comparative Advantage

Imagine that there are two Countries, Country A and Country B, that currently produce their own Sugar and Milk .  Country A uses less time to produce both products, while Country B uses more time to produce both products.  Country A enjoys and absolute advantage, an ability to produce an item with fewer resources. However, the accompanying table shows that  Country A has a comparative advantage in Sugar production, while Country B has a comparative advantage in the production of Milk. The nations can benefit from specialization and trade, which would make the allocation of resources more efficient across both countries.
Country A has a comparative advantage in producing Sugar , while Country B has a comparative advantage in producing Milk. Both nations can benefit from trade.



 

	Production without Trade
	Product	Country A	Country B
	Sugar	5 Hours	24 Hours
	Milk	10 Hours	12 Hours
	Total	15 Hours	36 Hours
	Opportunity cost of production
	Product	Country A	Country B
	Sugar	0.5 Litres	2 Litres
	Milk	2 Kg	0.5 Kg
	Production with Trade
	Country A			Country B
	1 Kg sugar	5 Hours	1 Litre	12 Hours
	1 Kg sugar	5 Hours	1 Litre	12 Hours
	Total	10 Hours		24 Hours

For another example, if the opportunity cost of producing one more unit of coffee in Kenya is 2/3 units of wheat, while the opportunity cost of producing one more unit of coffee in the United States is 1/3 wheat, then the U.S. should produce coffee, while Kenya should produce wheat (assuming Kenya has the lower opportunity cost of producing wheat).
Comparative vs Competitive Advantage

It is important to distinguish between comparative advantage and competitive advantage. Though they sound similar, they are different concepts. Unlike comparative advantage, competitive advantage refers to a distinguishing attribute of a company or a product. It may or may not have anything to do with opportunity cost or efficiency. For example, having good brand recognition or relationships with suppliers is a competitive advantage, but not a comparative advantage. In the context of international trade, we more often discuss comparative advantage.

International Trade

International trade is the exchange of capital, goods, and services across international borders or territories. Trading-partners reap mutual gains when each nation specializes in goods for which it holds a comparative advantage and then engages in trade for other products. In other words, each country should produce goods for which its domestic opportunity costs are lower than the domestic opportunity costs of other countries and exchange those goods for products that have higher domestic opportunity costs compared to other countries .
In International Trade, Countries benefit from producing goods in which they have comparative advantage and trading them for goods in which other countries have the comparative advantage.

In addition to comparative advantage, other reasons for trade include:

• Differences in factor endowments: Countries have different amounts of land, labor, and capital. Saudi Arabia may have a lot of oil, but perhaps not enough lumber. It will thus have to trade for lumber. Japan may be able to produce technological goods of superior quality, but it may lack many natural resources. It may trade with Indonesia for inputs.

• Gains from specialization: Countries may gain economies of scale from specialization, experiencing long run average cost declines as output increases.

• Political benefits: Countries can leverage trade to forge closer cultural and political bonds. International connections also help promote diplomatic (rather than military) solutions to international problems.

• Efficiency gains: Domestic firms will be forced to become more efficient in order to be competitive in the global market.

• Benefits of increased competition: A greater degree of competition leads to lower prices for consumers, greater responsiveness to consumer wants and needs, and a wider variety of products.

In summery, international trade benefits mostly all incumbents and generates substantial value for the global economy.

What is Absolute Advantage?

A country has an absolute advantage in the production of a good when it can produce it more efficiently than other countries.
Relate absolute advantage, productivity, and marginal cost
A country that has an absolute advantage can produce a good at lower marginal cost.
A country with an absolute advantage can sell the good for less than the country that does not have the absolute advantage.

Absolute advantage differs from comparative advantage, which refers to the ability to produce specific goods at a lower opportunity cost.
The capability to produce more of a given product using less of a given resource than a competing entity.

Absolute advantage refers to the ability of a country to produce a good more efficiently that other countries. In other words, a country that has an absolute advantage can produce a good with lower marginal cost (fewer materials, cheaper materials, in less time, with fewer workers, with cheaper workers, etc.). Absolute advantage differs from comparative advantage, which refers to the ability of a country to produce specific goods at a lower opportunity cost.

A country with an absolute advantage can sell the good for less than a country that does not have the absolute advantage.
For example, the Ugandan economy, which is rich in low cost land, has an absolute advantage in agricultural production relative to some other countries.
China and other Asian economies export low-cost manufactured goods, which take advantage of their much lower unit labor costs .
Many consumer electronics are manufactured in China. China can produce such goods more efficiently, which gives it an absolute advantage relative to many countries.

Imagine that Economy A can produce 5 Units per hour with 3 workers. Economy B can produce 10 Units per hour with 3 workers . Assuming that the workers of both economies are paid equally, Economy B has an absolute advantage over Economy A in producing Units per hour. This is because Economy B can produce twice as many Units as Economy B with the same number of workers.
Party B has an absolute advantage in producing Units. It can produce more Units with the same amount of resources than Party A.

If there is no trade, then each country will consume what it produces. Adam Smith said that countries should specialize in the goods and services in which they have an absolute advantage. When countries specialize and trade, they can move beyond their production possibilities frontiers, and are thus able to consume more goods as a result.

Everything happens for a Reason.

" Someday everything will make perfect sense. So for now,laugh at the confusion,smile through the tears and keep reminding yourself that everything happen for a reason." Got this quote from a email had to share. No matter what challenge you face, everything happen for a reason. Never give up.
God always has plan for you.

Natural Honey vs. Manufactured Honey

I love honey and because of that I decided to do a little research. I was shocked to learn that all the world the market for honey is full of unnatural honey.
Studies show that we are bombarded with fake honey. So in a nut shell,here are 10 ways which will help you to see whether the honey is fake or natural. Usually, you will need to undertake a thorough and detailed analysis in order to confirm whether the honey is natural:
1. Read the contents
First of all, you need to read the contents and see which ingredients it contains. You need to make sure that it does not contain additives. The contents and their percentage by a certain amount have to be listed by the producer.
2. Caramelizing
You can also do a simple test. Put a few teaspoons of honey in a bowl and then heat it to a high temperature. If the honey is natural it will get caramelized but if not, it will become foamy.
3. Natural honey is not sticky
Another good test which you can do is to take a little bit of honey and to rub it between the fingers. If the honey is natural, the skin will easily absorb it. If the honey is fake on the other hand, it will remain sticky. It is so due to the sugar it contains as well as the artificial sweeteners.
4. Bee- trick
The trick with bees is also interesting and efficient one. We know that ants do not touch real honey which is produced by bees. So, you can put a little bit of honey in a corner. If ants pass by it, you can be sure that your honey is natural.
5. Paper
You can use the paper in order to see if the honey contains water. Put a little bit of honey on a paper. If the honey is natural, it won`t break the paper after a while. But if it`s fake, it will tear up the paper due to the water that it has in its composition.
6. Egg yolks
If the honey is natural, the yolk will look like cooked when mixed with it. So try it and mix one egg with a little bit of honey.
7. Crystallization
Natural honey crystallizes with time. The fake one, even after a lot of time keeps its composition and it looks like syrup.
8. Water with honey
This trick is maybe the easiest one which helps us indicate whether the honey is natural or fake. When put in water, the natural honey falls to the bottom while the fake one melts.
9. Honey on bread
Try this trick and put some honey on a piece of bread. If the honey is natural, the bread will remain hard. If it`s fake, it will only dampen the surface of the bread due to the large amount of water which it contains.
10. Tingling in the mouth
The natural honey causes tingling in the mouth while the fake one has no effect at all.

Opportunity before judgement!

Always give someone an opportunity to showcase what they can offer before you judge them.

Never say that a person is not worth or cannot fulfill a given task or obligation without giving them a chance to prove their worth.

Judging people from the way they look,dress or go about their day to day life is often very misleading.What you see or think you are seeing might be very different from who they actually are.

It is noble to treat all people equally until they prove that they deserve to be treated otherwise.

One thing that I mostly look at is HONESTY and TRUSTWORTHINESS within a person.

You can teach and change the way a person does things,make him/her more productive and change them completely but you can never make them honest and trustworthy.

MORNING HYMN: 10,000 REASONS (BLESS THE LORD

 
Bless the Lord oh my soul
Oh my soul
Worship His Holy name
Sing like never before
Oh my soul
I'll worship Your Holy name

The sun comes up
It's a new day dawning
It's time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass
And whatever lies before me
Let me be singing
When the evening comes

Bless the Lord oh my soul
Oh my soul
Worship His Holy name
Sing like never before
Oh my soul
I'll worship Your Holy name

You're rich in love
And You're slow to anger
Your name is great
And Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness
I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons
For my heart to find

Bless the Lord oh my soul
Oh my soul
Worship His Holy name
Sing like never before
Oh my soul
I'll worship Your Holy name
Bless You Lord

And on that day
When my strength is failing
The end draws near
And my time has come
Still my soul will
Sing Your praise unending
Ten thousand years
And then forevermore
Forevermore

Bless the Lord oh my soul
Oh my soul
Worship His Holy name
Sing like never before
Oh my soul
I'll worship Your Holy name

Bless the Lord oh my soul
Oh my soul
Worship His Holy name
Sing like never before
Oh my soul
I'll worship Your Holy name

I'll worship Your Holy name
Jesus I will worship Your Holy name

Sing like never before
Oh my soul
I'll worship your holy name

Songwriters
Jonas Myrin, Matt Redman

FKF is FKF and still very corrupt

Soon the teams in FKFpl will suffer financially.
Let us do a little mathematics of reality here.
FKF has already 'eaten' 3.4 million shillings through exchange rate. The average rate for at least $100,000 has been 91.3 since january. They already declared in the media that the deal is worth 202 million for 3 years.
This means: [2,250,000 x 91.3] - [202,000,000] = 3,425,000
The 202 million is for 3 years. Now deduct the administration fee. The normal admin fee is always not more than 10%
Admin fee = [10% of 202,000,000] = 20,200,000
but since ni FKF anything can happen of upto 50%
We now have a balance of [202M - 20.2M] = 181.8 M
Now let us divide that amount by 3 years of the contract [181.8M/3] = 60.6 M per year.
So assuming that all this annual grant goes to the 18 clubs,each club will get [60.6M/18] = 3.367M per year.
Na ujue match officials hawajalipwa...
Hapa team zitaumia tena serious. They were just used as a bridge to get to the money.

How is price discrimination related to elasticity of demand?

Price discrimination implies charging different price levels to different groups of consumers for the same product, whereas price elasticity expresses the willingness and ability to pay or responsiveness of quantity to changes in price level; such that as elasticity increases consumers are willing to pay less for more units.
Therefore, a lower price is charged to a group with more elastic demand and a higher price to a group with less elastic demand.
when price is discriminated to high, then the demand for the particular product goes down and consumers try to divert their consumption on goods whose prices are low as compared to the later.

A lesson for men.

It is the nature of Girls to be affectionate and loving.
And when they are in a relationship with a wonderful guy, they love being treated in a special way by them. But more often than not, a guy just doesn’t know how to treat his girlfriend in a special manner, even if he’s trying hard to please her.
But I tend to think that making your girlfriend feel happy and loved isn’t a complicated confusion. It’s very simple. You just need to make her feel special and cared for when you’re around her.
If you want a perfect relationship envied by all others couples, learn to think from your girlfriend’s perspective. When both lovers in a relationship think from the other partner’s perspective, the relationship can only get better and more loving with time. can't wait for m
 
Here are some ways of making her feel Special and Loved:
A one sided relationship is never perfect. When you make the effort to please your girlfriend and make her happy, she’ll involuntarily put in her effort at making you happier in love if she truly loves you back.Therefore, the next time you’re with your special girl, instead of holding back, give more. In mutual love, every loving act gives back more happiness to both lovers.

Surprise her with memorable gifts.
Make sure you never forget your girlfriend’s special occasions, however trivial they may seem to you. And every now and then, show just how much you love her by giving her a memorable gift of love, be it a bling thing or a priceless gift like a heartfelt letter of love.

Make her friends envy her.
 All of us want our relationships to be perfect, but very few of us actually work towards making it perfect. Treat your girlfriend with love and affection, and pay attention to all her needs, especially when she’s around her friends. When her friends notice how good a catch you are, her heart will swell with pride and happiness, and you’ll feel like a real smooth talker too!

Get along with her friends and family.
To a girl, her family and her close friends mean everything, because she shares all the intimate details of her life with them. And to a large extent, she listens to her friends and takes their opinions seriously. So make an effort to get along with her friends and treat them well. She’ll be happy to see that you’re a big hit with her loved ones.

Don’t ignore her when she’s with you.
Make your girlfriend feel like she’s the center of your world all the time, and especially so when she’s with you. Don’t ignore her because you’re having a fun conversation with another attractive girl or are distracted by something else. When your girlfriend is around you, it doesn’t matter who or what is around, make sure your attention is focused on your girl.

Respect her opinions.
As humans, respect plays a big part in how we feel about ourselves. When we feel disrespected by someone important to us, we feel miserable. And this holds the same effect in relationships too. Don’t dismiss your girlfriend’s opinions and ideas without listening to her, and don’t take her lightly just because *she’s a girl*. In a relationship, both partners have to learn to listen to each other and respect each other’s point of view.

Ask her for help.
You may be a big, fully grown man. But that shouldn’t stop you from asking your girl for help now and then. By letting your girlfriend see your vulnerable, helpless side, she’d feel closer to you because you aren’t afraid of showing your weaknesses to her.

Compromise for her.
Every now and then, compromise your wants for her needs. If she wants to watch a romantic movie while you want to watch something else, give in to her now and then. When she sees how you’re willing to give up something you like just to please her, it’ll only make her feel more loved and happy.
 
Cuddle up with her at home. Do you end up getting turned on each time you hug your girlfriend or kiss her for a few minutes? That’s understandable. But at least once a day, hug her tight and cuddle with her while watching the telly or when both of you are lying in bed. For a girl, a few hugs and sweet kisses feel just as special as a good round of passionate sex.

Be affectionate with her in public.
Make your girlfriend feel special when you’re with her in public. You don’t need to eat each other’s faces off to make a point that both of you are dating. Hold her hand, brush her hair away from her face, make her feel like you’re completely attentive to her needs, and most importantly, don’t hold yourself back from behaving in a silly manner if you can bring a smile on your girlfriend’s face.

Make her laugh.
Humor has a very important place in relationships. Even when both of you don’t have anything to talk about, a few funny lines or gestures can make the whole day feel like such a fun activity.

Make her feel secure.
If you want to make your girlfriend feel happy in the relationship, you need to focus on the one thing girls want most in a guy, his protective streak. When your girl feels secure when you’re around, and when she feels like she can depend on you for anything, she’d instinctively feel happier to be in love with you.

Give her your attention. When you go out with your girlfriend, do you stay close to her and make sure she’s feeling comfortable, or do you leave her aside and catch up with your own friends? When your girlfriend is around, always focus on her needs first before you think of yours. If you need to spend a few minutes away from her to speak to your own friends, make sure she won’t feel uneasy when you aren’t around. Whenever you’re out with friends or relatives, always pay attention to her needs before yours.

Communicate.
Misunderstandings arise when there is a lack of communication in a relationship. If you want to have a happy relationship with your girlfriend, learn to express your feelings clearly. And every now and then, spend a few hours talking about each other’s lives. When you spend a lot of time talking about your future together, both of you will feel more secure and loved in the relationship.

Compliment her.
Women love compliments. It makes them feel more appreciated. If you like something about your girlfriend, let her know about it. It doesn’t matter if it’s something about her personality or about the way she dresses, if you like it, say it.

Let her know you’re lucky to have her.
Did you have to woo your girl for a while before she finally accepted to date you? Always let her know that you still love her just as much as you did when both of you first started dating. And more than anything else, let her know that you have never taken her for granted and never will. If you feel lucky to date such a wonderful girl, remind her about it all the time.

Be chivalrous.
Chivalry is one of those big positive traits in a guy that separates the ordinary men from the gentlemen. Always be chivalrous around your girlfriend, and learn to treat her like a princess. She’ll definitely love your courteous side and all the pampering that comes with it.

Involve her in your life.
If you’re serious about your girlfriend and see her as a big part of your life, learn to involve her more in your daily life, be it for get-togethers,church functions,Ruracios,weddings or a night out with your friends. When you invite her to spend more time with you and your friends, you’re letting her know that you’re serious about her and the relationship. And emotional security always makes any girl in love a much happier girlfriend!

Call her unexpectedly and sweet talk her.
Too predictable love is boring and obvious, especially when it’s a happy surprise. Drop by at her place or at her office out of the blue with flowers or a small gift. Call her up when she least expects your call and remind her about how much you miss holding her in your hands right at that moment. In love, if it’s a happy feeling, share it. It makes all the difference between a happy romance and a bored one.

The little things in love.
Big birthday surprises and anniversary celebrations are always memorable. But to keep a romance alive, you don’t always need those big gestures all the time. It’s the little things in love that hold a relationship together better than those big gestures. Sing her a sweet song even if your voice says stop. Indulge in sweet romantic gestures every now and then to please your girlfriend. It’ll definitely make her appreciate your relationship a lot more.

Make big promises and keep them.
Do you promise things to your girlfriend? Do you make little assurances about planning a surprise birthday party or about the future? Make promises all the time, but make sure you fulfill them even if it takes years to do so. Nothing feels more special to a girl than to know that her boyfriend is a man of his word. It makes her feel more secure, and most importantly, it makes her feel happy to be in love with you.

Sometimes, it’s the smallest of romantic gestures that can bring the widest of smiles.

Burning Bridges

"Silent is not the absence of everything ,but the presence of everything. One should never be discouraged, our worst mistake can be our best lessons."- James .N .M
Do not forget where you are coming from and Never burn the bridges behind you.
Help your brother/sister when they are down.
Love and be loved and you will Blessed from up above.

Looking For a Life Partner

Today, a lot of people seem to fall in-love with anyone they meet without following some guides, that’s why they fall into failed relationships and marriages. In my opinion,There are certain factors you should consider when choosing a partner or a spouse.

Before choosing someone, you should first understand what you want in a person and want you don’t want. This way, you can easily identify who suits you better.

Here, are some qualities you should look out for before falling in love, or before choosing your future spouse:

1). Consider The Qualities You What In A Partner:

Religion:
If you’re Christian and want to marry a Christian, “stick with your own kind” since not everyone who wants to marry a Christian will convert to Christianity. You need someone with whom you have a spiritual and religious compatibility.

Family values:
Are you dying to have three kids, or do you refuse to have children under any circumstances? Though people may change their minds more than you think, this is something to consider as you look for someone who shares your ideas (though you shouldn’t talk about this right when you meet someone, obviously.)

Personality:
Though you can’t predict someone’s personality in advance, there may be a few things that are a must for you. Do you have a killer sense of humor and absolutely need a person who shares your love for laughter? Are you naturally a bit nervous and need someone who is more laid-back to center you? Keep this in mind as you look for the perfect person for you.

Attitude toward relationships:
Are you looking for someone who wants to spend every waking second with you, or do you want someone who really understands the meaning of “alone time”? This is more important than you actually think because even though relative,everyone needs some time alone.
Social bearing:
Do you want someone who is fun and has a ton of friends around, or a person who is more reserved with just a few close and loyal friends? If you’re a social butterfly and your special someone is more of a wallflower, you can bring out his social side — or it can be a problem.

Similar interests:
Though the person you love probably shouldn’t share all of your interests, or maybe not even many of them, you should still have a few interests that you both can share so you can keep your relationship going. If you’re a novelist and your loved one refuses to read, or if you’re a fitness instructor and he has never seen a gym, you may run out of things to talk about. But maybe not! This one is fluid.

2). Consider The Qualities You Don’t Want:

Lack of attraction:
Physical attraction can grow, but it is not overrated. Though you may not want to rip off your husband’s shirt fifty years — or hey, a few years — down the line, you should have a baseline of attraction that keeps things going. Even if the person fits the mold in all other aspects, sadly, you just can’t force yourself to be attracted to someone.

Lack of agreement on something that really matters to you:
Example, if you’re a die-hard football fan and s/he hates it, there might be problem. But you never know — you can have fun disagreeing about some other things. Generally speaking, if there’s something that defines who you are that your future spouse absolutely doesn’t understand, then you may have a problem.

Geographical incompatibility:
You may have found the love of your life, but he may live in Europe and you live in Kenya. If you literally live a world apart and neither of you will move under any circumstances, it won’t work.

A fake partner wants a partner who has it all but A real Partner helps his/her partner get it all.

But above all Pray to God to guide you into getting the right partner. He knows what is good for us for he is our creator.
And just like he gave Eve to Adam in the garden of Eden, He will give you what you deserve and what is best for you if and only if you trust Him to do so.

One minute win for Kenyan Football

                                           [one of the placards at the court compound on Friday]




Yesterday- Kenyan Premier League officials walked free from court after being cleared of the contempt of court charges brought against them by the Kenyan Football Federation and its President Sam Nyamweya. The ruling comes in spite of a remarkable letter being sent to the FKL by FIFA Deputy Secretary General Markus Kattner in which he explicitly scotched reports that FIFA had requested the withdrawal of the case. 

Milimani High Court Lady Justice Roseline Aburili ruled on Friday afternoon that there was no evidence the KPL had been served with the order issued on 20th February barring it from organising football matches prior to that weekend's matches, meaning the officials including KPL chairman Ambrose Rachier, CEO Jack Oguda, Tusker's James Musyoki, Mathare United's Bob Munro, Ulinzi Stars' Col. Mwinyikai Juma, AFC Leopards' Allan Kasavuli and Sofapaka's Elly Kalekwa will not be serving the six months in jail demanded by the FKF.

Apart from finding that there were discrepancies between the accounts of the process server and Nyamweya's affidavit, the Lady Justice pointed out that it was not acceptable for a court injunction to be served at 5.30 in the evening, the time at which it was claimed to have been served.

Despite this partial victory, the order stopping the KPL from running the league has been extended until Monday when a ruling on the KPL application to have the ban lifted will be made.

The highly unusual case sees the KPL arguing that the FKL is not only banned by its own constitution and FIFA's statutes from taking football matters to court, but also does not constitute a legal person under Kenyan law, making the injunction against the KPL invalid.

Remarkably, FIFA, rather than defending its own statute preventing football matters being taken to court, sent a fax to the FKF on Wednesday to counter what it described as "misleading media reports" and to "confirm that there has been no correspondence sent from our offices to the FKF requesting the withdrawal of the pending case in the High Court of Kenya."

FIFA's Ethics Committee has yet to act in a dispute in which FIFA's own task force head reported that "the strong wish of the president of FKF to increase the size of the league to 18 teams is very much motivated on promises which have been given to two teams from the National Super league. One team is Shabana FC (from the home area in Kenya of the president of FKF). The delegation got the strong impression that there is no other justification for the increase of the KPL up to 18 teams."

Qualities of a Woman that I can't Resist.

There are countless qualities that every girl has and that men are really looking for in their relationships, but it all depends on taste and choice. Here are my definite qualities that I would wish my future wife to have.

1. Cares unconditionally
It doesn’t matter if you’re the ultimate feminist or super independent — there’s something inherently rewarding when you truly care for someone else.
Putting someone else’s well-being above your own doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your wants or needs, it means that there is someone in your life who you’re excited about, who you genuinely believe is the most special and deserving of your love.
If you really care for your partner, you’ll feel satisfaction from his happiness as well. Women are naturally compassionate, and when a man sees just how far your kindness goes, he’ll appreciate the extent of your selflessness.

2. Understanding without placing expectations
Most men aren’t great at sharing their inner feelings, but women are really good at picking up on them regardless. Especially when he makes himself most vulnerable, she’s there to support him and accept him no matter what.
Understanding him without placing expectations means that she can appreciate a guys’ night, doesn’t put demands on him to get a more high-paying job and knows that the way he unwinds is by watching hours of sports. She gets him, she’s grateful for this person he is and she finds fulfillment in knowing every inch of him.

3. Letting him be the gentleman, but stepping up when it’s her turn
Girls like it when the guy plays into the gentlemanly role, but they won’t hold back from assuming less-traditional gender responsibilities as well. She wants him to be the man, protect her and possess physical strength — and it’s important for him to fill this need too.
She also knows, though, when it’s her time to pitch in, like carrying her own bags through the airport or planning a romantic evening. We’re able to take a backseat when he wants to show-off his manliness, but we’re also ready and willing to relieve him of his duties at any moment.

4. Having her own opinions on things
Nothing is more attractive than a girl who knows her stance on a topic and is able to eloquently articulate it. If she can teach him something new, life together will be a lot more interesting.
A real man appreciates a woman who has her own mind and is confident in her beliefs. It can be as simple as knowing useless facts about the cytoskeletons of bugs or as complicated as debating stricter gun-control, either way, she has something to say and it won’t be boring. The most beautiful part of a woman is what’s inside her head and how she uses it.

5. Putting on the moves
A woman who knows how to pleasure a man (and vice versa) is key in any healthy relationship. We’re not suggesting that his satisfaction is more important than hers — they are equal — but she can get turned on by turning him on, all on her own.
Remember that line about finding fulfillment from his happiness? That holds true in the bedroom as well. Trust us, if you let him in on what you’re capable of, he’ll always be wanting seconds.

6. Making him feel like The One
At the end of the day, we all want to feel like we’re extra special to the someone whom we regard as extra special. He likes that you can get the attention of other men, but that you don’t need it for personal validation.
You like being the only girl in the world for him, and he is even more grateful for that in return. Loving someone who loves you back is the ultimate compliment. It can’t be bought, it can’t be replicated and it lasts forever.

7. Looking nice
Girls enjoy dressing up for the men in our lives to take notice. Whether this means wearing our intimate undergarments or just taking the extra time to put in our contacts, we’ll take care of ourselves because we like feeling our best selves around him.
Men can’t resist a girl who is put together and looking good, even if that’s an easy t-shirt and loose pants.

8. Intriguing without being unavailable
Men like that we women are complex without being impossible to figure out. They enjoy taking the time getting to know you by peeling back all your layers, but they’re frustrated if you’re too overcomplicated.
Women who possess a natural mystery are endearing to curious men. Your shining personality teaches him how to sparkle on his own — and the ability to build another person up is one of your most invaluable gifts.