Just a Lickle Water

Only One or Two Customers

2021-08-02T06:30:00.001-04:00

Recently, I had a rather unpleasant experience with a popular fast food restaurant, which got me thinking about something. A company that is a giant among its peers if it falls, unless the God in heaven shows it some mercy as it falls, how terrible the sound is as it hits the ground.

Suppose a company fails because of the lack of customers. In that case, usually, it is not because of a mass exodus of customers, but rather because of a company pushing its customer to its competitors one or two at a time. As a result, over time, the company will not be able to continue operating.

Now, if someone replies, “that will take a long time to happen, maybe over twenty years. That’s nothing to worry over.”

Then my question will be, “what does it matter how long it takes?” A conglomerate falling in front of you or your grandchildren is not a pretty sight. Have you heard of Staples, Bhs, Sears Canada, Ruby Tuesday, Borders, Maplin, American Apparel, and the list goes on? Well, they were once giants. What happened to them?

Let’s not ignore our lessons.

Is Secondary School Education Not Enough?

2021-05-10T06:00:00.020-04:00

Recently, on a radio News broadcast, the anchor said something to the effect of, and I am paraphrasing here, “people who are skeptical about taking the Covid-19 vaccine have a maximum of a high/secondary school diploma.” What?

What does that mean?

Was the News implying that high school education is not enough to help a person make an informed decision? Is post-secondary education now, or has it always been the benchmark of someone who can make educated decisions? Perhaps I’m late to the party, or I’d missed the memo with this information.

On the other hand, was it merely implying that educated, although limited, people were on the fence about taking the Covid-19 vaccine? Hmm. I don’t know. However, whatever the intentions were, I wonder if a high school education in any society, especially a democratic one, should be treated in an inconsequential way. Perhaps a quick search into how successful or not countries are, where even a primary school education is challenging to find, is warranted.

The expression, “we don’t burn the bridge we are walking on,” is valid here. Usually, those who can afford (financially and time-wise) to go to university or college to continue their studies need a high school education to enter these buildings.

What do you think?

Zimbabwe – Many Languages

2021-02-15T06:00:00.007-05:00

Zimbabwe is the country with the most official languages in the world. That is, sixteen languages, and it includes Shona, Ndebele, English and Tonga.

Zambia – Animals

2021-02-12T06:00:00.001-05:00

Buffalos, elephants, leopard, lion and rhinoceros lives in Zambia.

Yemen – One Country

2021-02-10T06:00:00.003-05:00

On the 22^nd of May, 1990, North and South Yemen became the Republic of Yemen. The capital of this country is Sanaa.

Vietnam - Tet – New Year

2021-02-08T06:00:00.002-05:00

This year, Vietnam, spelled initially as Viet Nam (two words), will celebrate the New Year – Tet, on Friday, the 12th of February 2021.

Venezuela – Hospital Crises for Women, Men, and Babies

2021-02-05T06:00:00.004-05:00

Last year, in Venezuela, pregnant women were turned away from hospitals even after their water break. Five hospitals refused to help a twenty-year-old pregnant woman! In the end, the fifth hospital decided to help her after she fainted. However, shortly after the birth, the baby died.

Another pregnant woman went to twelve hospitals before finally been admitted into one! Her baby would also die shortly afterwards.

Additionally, Darwin Maiquetia’s wife Kenny Chirinos died on the 20th of January last year after developing an infection after a cesarean section in a hospital. Mr. Maiquetia said, “The level of anger I have is not normal.” Also, “They’re destroying families, destroying lives.”

Note:

New York Times

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/10/world/americas/venezuela-pregnancy-birth-death.html

France 24

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210129-in-crisis-hit-venezuela-maternity-wards-have-become-death-traps

Vatican City – Small and Designated

2021-02-03T06:00:00.003-05:00

Vatican City is the smallest country globally at 0.44 sq mi. The entire country is a world heritage site. It is the only country with this designation by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Vanuatu – Location and Languages

2021-02-01T06:00:00.002-05:00

The Republic of Vanuatu is made up of eighty-three islands in the South Pacific Ocean. Many of these islands are inhabited.

The country has three official languages, and they are Bislama, English and French.

Uzbekistan – Stunning Subway System

2021-01-29T06:00:00.002-05:00

The Tashkent subway system was opened in 1977. From then up until June 2018, it was illegal for anyone to take a photograph of the subway.

Chandeliers, marbled surface, a tribute to the first woman into space, and much more help to make this subway system quite stunning.

Notes:

Business Insider

https://www.businessinsider.com/photos-tashkent-uzbekistan-subway-beautiful-illegal-photograph-until-last-year-2019-7

Escape

https://www.escape.com.au/destinations/asia/inside-the-most-beautiful-train-stations-in-the-world-in-tashkent-uzbekistan/news-story/483a9c5f5d091541396ff114fa1c544a

The Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/cities/gallery/2018/aug/24/uzbekistan-secret-underground-tashkent-metro-in-pictures

Uruguay – National Anthem

2021-01-27T06:00:00.002-05:00

Uruguay has the most bars of music in the world, in its National Anthem. It has 105 bars of music.

United States of America (U.S.A) – No. 1 Oil Producer

2021-01-25T06:00:00.011-05:00

The United States of America is the number one producer of oil in the world. It has held this position for the past six years.

Notes:

USA Today

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/03/06/56-most-amazing-things-about-america-today/41212433/

EIA

https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=709&t=6

https://www.ig.com/en/trading-strategies/world-s-biggest-oil-producers-200722

United Kingdom – A Country

2021-01-22T06:00:00.009-05:00

I will confess that for many years, I thought that the name the United Kingdom (U.K) was another name for the country, England. I did not know that the U.K was the country and that it is made up of the countries England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Great Britain is England, Scotland and Wales, whereas Britain is England and Wales.

London is the capital of the United Kingdom and England.

The United Arab Emirates – Emirates and Affection

2021-01-20T06:00:00.002-05:00

Seven states make up the United Arab Emirates, and they are Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Quwain, Ras al-Khaimah and Sharjah.

In Dubai, married or not, one can be jail for public display of affection such as kissing.

Additionally, unmarried couples are not allowed to live in a “common-law union” or share a room throughout the nation.

Visitors to the country are encouraged to learn a bit about the local customs before visiting.

Note:

Express

https://www.express.co.uk/travel/articles/1099215/dubai-united-arab-emirates-use-rules-kissing-in-public-jail#:~:text=The%20Dubai%20code%20states%3A%20%E2%80%9CHolding,punished%20by%20imprisonment%20or%20deportation.%E2%80%9D

Ukraine - Currency

2021-01-18T06:00:00.001-05:00

The Ukrainian hryvnia (UAH) is the currency of Ukraine, and it came out in September of 1996. It is a close currency, meaning that it will be difficult to purchase outside of the country.

Uganda – Election and Banning

2021-01-15T06:00:00.002-05:00

Bobi Wine (Robert Kyagulanyi) ran against the sitting President, Yoweri Museveni, in the 14th January 2012 general election. The results are due within two days.

However, earlier this month, Facebook confirmed taking down many accounts that supported the National Resistance Movement (NRM). It is Yoweri Museveni’s party. The seventy-six-year-old has been in power for almost thirty-five years.

Then, on the 12th of the month, the sitting president placed a ban on all social media platforms and messaging apps. These include Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Whatsapp.

The president stated, “If you want to take sides against the NRM, then that group should not operate in Uganda. We cannot tolerate this arrogance of anybody coming to decide for us who is good and who is bad.”

Update

Yoweri Museveni was declared the winner of the election on the 16^th of January.

Turkmenistan - Coronavirus

2021-01-13T06:00:00.002-05:00

As of today, Turkmenistan reported no confirmed case of the Coronavirus (Covid-19), and of course, no deaths from it as well.

Turkey – Location & Position

2021-01-11T06:00:00.002-05:00

About three percent(3%) of Turkey is located in Europe, while the rest of the country is in Asia. Presently, it is not a part of the European Union (EU). However, they are working to change this.

Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey, but it is not the country’s capital. Its capital is Ankara.

Tunisia – First & Second Elections

2021-01-08T06:00:00.001-05:00

In 2014, the first democratic president was elected in Tunisia, and the second one was elected in 2019. Nevertheless, these were not the first and second presidents of the country.

Trinidad and Tobago – Export Partners

2021-01-06T06:00:00.001-05:00

In 2018, Trinidad and Tobago exported items worth $476M to Spain, $484M to Peru, $630M to Chile, $707M to Guyana, and 3.36B to the U.S.

Tonga - Alta

2021-01-04T06:00:00.002-05:00

Tonga has one hundred and sixty-nine islands, and thirty-six of them are populated. One of the islands, Alta, was once inhabited. In 1863 about three hundred and fifty people lived there, but over one hundred of them were kidnapped in that year! After finding out about the kidnapping, the king at that time relocated the remaining people.

Additionally, in 1965, six teenagers from Ha’afeva island ran away from their school and boarded a stolen ship. They were shipped wrecked, but they manage to make their way to uninhabited Alta. People thought they perished in the waters, but about fifteen months later, they were rescued by a “passing” ship.

Togo – Free Primary Education

2020-12-30T06:00:00.002-05:00

Before 2008, Primary School education in the Togolese Republic cost about four US dollars, per child, every year. Since then, it is free for every child, and there has been an increase in school attendance.

Thailand – National Sport

2020-12-28T06:00:00.003-05:00

Thailand’s National Sport is Muay Thai. It is also referred to as Thai Boxing. In Muay Thai, Clinching is allowed, but only if the opponents are facing each other and one of them are “fighting” in the clinch. Many of us usually call it hugging, but the technical name is clinching.

Tanzania - In the Name

2020-12-23T06:00:00.002-05:00

Tanzania was once named German East Africa, and the current name is based partly on the joining of the first three letters of the words Tanganyika and Zanzibar when they became one country in 1964.

Tajikistan – Public Affection

2020-12-21T06:00:00.002-05:00

In August of 2017, a police officer was fired. His boss was relegated to a lower position because the officer stopped and questioned a couple for kissing in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan. In October last year, a few taxi drivers in Dushanbe posted “signs” banning hugs and kisses in the taxis.