Welcome to Bright's Blog: February 2016 |

Wednesday, 24 February 2016

Nursery School Teachers Rape Six Year Old Student

A six year old female student at the De-Emerates Nursery School, at highbrow Rijiyar Zaki Quarters of Kano State, was raped by two of her teachers The mother of the victim, who spoke with SaharaReporters, said that she had taken her daughter to school on Thursday at 7am. When she returned later that afternoon, at about 1pm, she was told that her daughter had fallen sick. According to the mother, “a female staff informed me that she was sick and cannot even stand on her feet.” The young girl was then rushed to the Imam Wali Hospital, nearby her school, but was then referred to the general hospital due to physical damage to her private parts. At Murtala Muhammad General Hospital the mother was informed that, due to the seriousness of injury inflicted on her daughter, a police officer or Hisbah Official must be informed. The official and medical professionals then told the mother that her daughter was in urgent need of medical attention because of the severity of her rape. When the little girl regained consciousness at the hospital, she told those present that it was “Uncle Bello and Uncle Sulaiman” in the morning who had told her to lie down and bring something out of their trousers and “put it here [referencing to her private parts].” Our correspondent’s investigation took him to the school but efforts to speak with Hajiya Ruqayya, the school Proprietress, proved unsuccessful. Mrs. Ruqayya denied that the rape took place at her school and asked our correspondent to leave immediately. The parents of the victim have reported the incident to the Divisional Police Office of Rijiyar Zaki Quarters for further investigation to unravel the circumstances that led to the unfortunate development

Nigerian President vows to deal with culprits

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday evening vowed that all those involved in the “padding” of the 2016 National Budget which led to the discrepancies in the document would face the most severe punishment. He said the alterations which he described as embarrassing and disappointing, made the document being debated in the National Assembly completely different from what was prepared by the Ministry of Budget and National Planning. According to a statement on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, the President spoke in Riyadh while addressing the Nigerian Community in Saudi Arabia. The President was said to have condemned the distortion of the budget proposals by those he called entrenched interests. He said since he had been holding public offices, he had never heard about budget padding before this incident. He regretted that the unauthorised alterations had completely changed the document from the one he presented to the National Assembly. The President however gave the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udo Udoma, a clean bill of health, saying he worked did a good job. Buhari said, “The culprits will not go unpunished. I have been a military governor, petroleum minister, military Head of State and headed the Petroleum Trust Fund. “Never had I heard the words budget padding. Our Minister of Budget and National Planning did a great job with his team. “The Minister became almost half his size during the time, working night and day to get the budget ready, only for some people to pad it. “What he gave us was not what was finally being debated. It is very embarrassing and disappointing. We will not allow those who did it to go unpunished.” The President also assured members of the Nigerian community that his administration was working diligently to fulfill its campaign promises, particularly on security, unemployment, and corruption. Reaffirming his government’s zero tolerance for corruption, Buhari said the war against corruption was a monumental task that he is determined to tackle successfully. “We have zero tolerance for corruption and other unethical practices. We will deal decisively with anybody found wanting,” he promised members of the Nigerian community.

Nigeria: One Die As 18 Passengers Bus Tumbles, Bust Into Flames On Third Mainland Bridge

One person was said to have burnt to death while 18 passengers escaped death by whiskers, Wednesday morning , when an 18 passengers Mazda bus fully loaded went up in flames on the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos. The incident was said to have occurred at about 7.15am at the UNILAG axis of the bridge when the 18-seater bus was journeying inward the Lagos Island from Ikorodu. Vanguard gathered that the bus with number plate MUS 781XB tumbled twice and eventually went up in flames due to over speeding on the part of the driver. It was gathered that all the occupants of the bus were trapped but were lucky to have escaped death before the vehicle went up in flames as they were later rescued by sympathisers and law enforcement agents. More details soon

Armed-drone club growing thanks to China

WASHINGTON -- Early this month, a Nigeria military crew operating a Chinese-built drone struck a suspected terrorist base tied to Boko Haram in the county's remote Sambisa Forest. The strike on Feb. 2 marked Nigeria's first foray into drone warfare, making it the sixth country to use remotely piloted drones for targeted killing. The United States and and the United Kingdom fly U.S.-made armed MQ-1 Predators or MQ-9 Reapers, and Israel builds its own. But the three newcomers -- Nigeria, Pakistan and Iraq -- all took advantage of China's growing exports of the unmanned aircraft systems that are reshaping modern warfare. That worries some military analysts who see China as undermining U.S. attempts to control a technology that gives poorer countries a relatively inexpensive bombing system. China is "engaged in an ambitious effort" to sell drones in Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia, said Ian Easton, a research fellow at the Project 2049 Institute, which is based in Arlington, Va., and tracks security issues in Asia. A total of 78 countries now deploy surveillance drones. More than 20, including the six named above, either have or are developing armed drones, according to the New America Foundation, a nonprofit public policy institute in Washington that tracks the industry. The U.S. is by far the most prolific user of drones. Independent groups say more than 500 U.S. military and CIA drone strikes have killed about 3,800 militants, about 400 civilians and at least eight Americans, in seven countries over the last decade. Most U.S. military drone exports are limited by the Missile Technology Control Regime, a 1987 international accord meant to limit the spread of ballistic missiles. The State Department agreed in February 2015 to relax those Cold War-era restrictions. Each sale requires congressional approval under the foreign military sales program, and only two foreign sales -- Spain and Italy -- have gone through in recent months. David McKeeby, a spokesman for the State Department's bureau of political and military affairs, said the U.S. policy is to try to ensure future sales aren't high-risk. "Moving forward, the United States intends to work with foreign partners to develop international standards for the sale, transfer and use of military [drones] more broadly," he said. China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp., a state-owned entity, has found a ready market for its medium-altitude, long-distance drones since 2011, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, a nonpartisan think tank in Sweden that documents the global arms trade. China has sold at least five armed CH-3 drones to Nigeria, four to Iraq and an unknown number of larger CH-4 drones to Pakistan, the institute says. The CH stands for "caihong," or "rainbow." The CH-3 is a stubby-looking plane with a 26-foot wingspan and a propeller in the back. The CH-4 appears to be a copy of the U.S.-made Reaper, with a bulbous nose, a 60-foot wingspan and a V-tail fin. "There is increasing demand around the world for this technology, and China is seizing on it," Pieter Wezeman, a researcher at the Stockholm institute, said in a telephone interview. "China does not have political restraints to sell arms. So when they see an opportunity, they will take it." The proliferation became obvious last year. On Sept. 6, Pakistani military spokesman Gen. Asim Bajwa announced on Twitter that the army had launched its first drone strike to kill three "high-profile terrorists" in North Waziristan, a tribal area in northwestern Pakistan. Three months later, on Dec. 6, the Iraqi military announced that it had used a Chinese CH-4 drone during its offensive to retake the city of Ramadi from Islamic State militants. The first sign of Nigeria's CH-3 drone fleet emerged in January last year when one crashed, and photos of the debris appeared online. The next was this month's airstrike against the Boko Haram camp in the forest. "We are not concerned about [Nigerian government forces] having this technology," said Lt. Cmdr. Anthony Falvo, spokesman for Pentagon's Africa Command, "as long as it is applied in a responsible manner and solely in an effort to better secure their borders against violent or illegal activities that disrupt stability or present a danger."

FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION...TO BE LEGALIZED???

Mild female genital mutilation should be legalised – Gynecologists Two United States gynecologists, writing in the Journal of Medical Ethics have said that mild female genital mutilation should be made legal. They argued that permitting more minimal procedures would allow families to uphold cultural and religious traditions while protecting girls from more dangerous forms of cutting. According to CBC news, communities which support FGM often consider it a prerequisite for marriage. Many also see it as a religious obligation, although it is not mentioned in the Qur’an or Bible. Gynecologists Kavita Shah Arora and Allan Jacobs said procedures that slightly changed the look of a girl’s genitalia without damaging them were comparable to male circumcision or cosmetic procedures in Western countries like labiaplasty. As written in the in the specialist publication by the British Medical Journal, the women said laws against mild modifications were “culturally insensitive and supremacist and discriminatory towards women.” Female genital cutting and female circumcision, is the ritual removal of some or all of the external female genitalia. Typically carried out by a traditionalist using a blade, with or without anaesthesia. FGM is concentrated in 27 African countries, Indonesia, Yemen and Iraqi Kurdistan, and found elsewhere in Asia, the Middle East and among diaspora communities around the world. It is conducted from days after birth to puberty and beyond. In half the countries for which national figures are available, most girls are cut before the age of five. The procedures differ according to the ethnic group. They include removal of the clitoral hood and clitoral glans, removal of the inner labia, and in the most severe form (known as infibulation) removal of the inner and outer labia and closure of the vulva. In this last procedure, a small hole is left for the passage of urine and menstrual fluid; the vagina is opened for intercourse and opened further for childbirth.

IMPORTATION A MENACE TO THE ECONOMY

Chief Eric Umeofia, Chief Executive Officer, EriscoBonpet Group, who disclosed that 91.9 percent of imported tomatoes pastes from China into Nigeria are substandard, said that the simplest way to stop dumping is to ban importation of finished goods. A fully loaded truck in one of the inland dry ports in the sub-region, will be delayed, harassed for bribes by the numerous security agents along the regionâ€™s transport corridor before it gets to its destination. Umeofia whose company produces tomato paste locally, said: “Importation is doing a lot of damage to us. The influx of foreign goods is one of the dangers the Nigerian manufacturers and producers are facing, because the cost of production here is quite high. The power situation, the cost of diesel, compared to production cost in Asia, we discover that the goods that come in here from those places would be far cheaper and at times, leave only a small margin between our cost of production and cost of sales. So, it is a very big problem, so many producers cannot just survive. “Fiscal policy should be put in place to discourage much of the importations of these goods and services. High tariffs should be placed on those goods they know that we have the capability of producing here in Nigeria. It is not too difficult to take a census or to sample goods that are being produced here and such goods; government should have a deliberate policy from Ministry of Finance hiking the tariffs of the imported ones. “That is the simplest way to stop it and it takes some good patriotic and political will to do this, and I encourage the government and the CBN to do this for the good of us all. I agree that the world is a global market right now, but we have to look at our position, we are a consuming nation. Those that are exporting to us right now, we must realise that there was a time when they had a closed market, and they did not allow goods from outside their country to flow in,” he said. According to Umeofia, a study conducted by NAFDAC recently, revealed that majority of the tomato pastes in the market across the country fall short of required standard. “The laboratory analysis of study which covers 27 main markets and four major supermarkets in Lagos indicated that 286 tomato paste out of 298 sampled fall short of the codex standards and the Nigerian Industrial Standards has specified that tomato content should be 28 percent minimum.” He said that another survey carried out by Nigerian Institute of Science Laboratory Technology, NISLT, showed that of 16 tomatoe paste samples analysed for 13 parameters selected, some manufacturers compromised standard in area of amount of lycopene, starch content and heavy metal contamination. He said it will be in the interest of local manufacturers for imported tomato paste brands in retail packs from China and other high risk countries to be suspended and immediate mop ups of those brands of tomatoes paste already in circulation. “Apart from killing Nigerians with their substandard tomato pastes, these people are also killing the Nigerian economy as they dump these substandard tomato pastes with subsidies from their home government. In the end, genuine manufacturers of tomato pastes find it difficult to remain in business as the consumers unfortunately go for this perceived cheaper tomato paste brands, not knowing they are paying for ill health and untimely death,” he stated. Umeofia commended CBN for its recent monetary policy tools, adding that the forex measure is a welcome development which will help reshape and reposition the real sector. He further urged CBN to monitor all the banks to ensure that the forex made available is not diverted to traders and Bureau De Change dealers, stressing that government should focus on industrialising Nigeria and not to trade the country away. Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/02/importation-doing-us-a-lot-of-damage/

DO YOU REALLY WANT TO SHED SOME FAT?

5 foods you should not eat again When you are trying to get healthy and lose weight, there are certain foods you should avoid. Most of these food are obvious because they contain ingredients known to cause weight gain. There are some foods not as obvious and can be just as bad for you. These foods are a problem because most people do not know how to avoid them and therefore consume them more often than they should. Here are five such foods you should never eat again. White bread White bread is a local staple but the truth is, it doesn’t have any nutritional value. It contains a lot of sugar and isn’t as filling as desired. Substitute your white bread for whole grain or whole wheat bread when possible. Also substitute bread on your sandwiches with lettuce leaves or whole grain tortillas. Fried Foods Many people only associate fried food with fast food restaurants and do not realize they also consume them at home. Avoid frying any meal, consider baking or broiling instead. Fried foods are not nutritious and can cause blood pressure and cholesterol levels to rise. They can also cause you to gain weight needlessly. Cream-based salad dressings Salads can be very nutritious but can become unhealthy when covered in cream-based dressings that contain a lot of fat and calories. There can be more calories in your salad dressing than in the rest of your entire salad. Try oil-based salad dressings instead. They taste lighter, and have less calories. White rice Rice is a common staple but the truth is, white rice can cause your body to store fat when it doesn’t need to. It also has no nutritional value. Local rice (Abakaliki) and brown rice is the best option because it is full of fibre, vitamins and nutrients. It will also keep you satisfied longer so you are less likely to overeat. High fructose corn syrup High fructose corn syrup can quickly cause you to gain weight and even make you have cravings for more sugar and sugary foods. Overeating sugary foods and foods that are high in fructose corn syrup can even lead to diabetes and other health problems. Avoid processed sugars and opt for fresh fruits and berries.

5 Snacks you can only find in Nigeria

Nigeria is a haven for anyone seeking to explore gastronomic delights. Each community within the nation offers its own unique delicacies which you will find nowhere else – not even in restaurants! These food and snacks are different from rest of the world not only in taste but also in cooking methods as they reflect a perfect blend of cultures and histories. Just as the culture, snacks in Nigeria has had its fair share of western influences. However, there are some that remain originally unique to the country. Jovago.com, Africa’s No.1 online hotel booking portal, brings you an assortment of 5 snacks that are not ‘only’ be savoured, but are set to make your mouth water. Kuli kuli kulikuli A favourite Nigerian snack originated from the Hausa people of Northern regions of the country, Kuli-Kuli is primarily made from peanuts. The process of making this snack is such that peanuts are roasted and then ground into a paste called Labu, then mixed with spices, salt, and sometimes ground pepper. The paste is further stripped of excess oil, made into the desired shape then fried until it solidifies. While the snack is often eaten alone, it can be paired with a mixture of garri (cassava), sugar and water. It is often also ground and used as an ingredient for Suya and Kilishi. Kokoro A common crunchy snack consumed in the western parts of Nigeria, Kokoro is a found only in Nigeria. The snack is made from a paste of maize flour mixed with sugar and gari (cassava) or yam flour which is deep-fried in either groundnut or palm oil. Two kinds of the kokoro are sold in the local markets :the Crunchy plain type and the Crunchy Spicy type. The difference is noted in in shape and taste. Kilishi kilishi Kilishi ,also known as the Nigerian beef jerky, is one of the most loved meat delicacies derived either from beef, mutton or chevon, and it is common among Hausa people in Northern Nigeria. Kilishi is prepared by slicing lean meat into thin sheets which are sun dried on a raised wooden table covered in rush matting for about four hours. The dried sheets of meat are then immersed in “Labu”, a slurry of groundnut and seasonings including sugar, salt and paper. After being immersed in the Labu, the meat is returned to the rush matting to dry in the sun for a five to twelve hours. The final product is finally roasted briefly over fire, and can be kept for months without much change to its taste. Nigerian Chin Chin A crunchy deep-fried snack that originated from Nigeria and very popular around the country, Chin Chin is an ideal snack for periods you feel puckish or just light refreshment. The snack is very easy to make as it does not require baking or grilling. It is made from basic combination of flour, milk and sugar with optional ingredients like egg, baking powder and nutmeg. It can be made hard or crunchy and can last for weeks if stored in an airtight container. Kpekere Kpekere is the pidgin lingo for fried unripe plantain, a Nigerian snack found in almost every part of the country, mostly sold by street vendors and hawkers. It is also known as Igbekere by the Yoruba tribe of Western Nigerian. Kpekere is the simplest plantain recipe to try and it can be made in varieties : crunchy, salty, spicy or sweet.

NIGERIA ESCAPES THE DEATH TRAP

Nigeria's Best Web design firm In spite of criticisms from various quarters, President Muhammadu Buhari’s intensive war against corruption may actually be making a noticeable mark. One of the indications that the anti-corruption war may be recording successes, is the escape of Nigeria from Transparency International’s top 10 most corrupt countries’ list. Nigeria, a regular customer, was not included in the upper echelon of corrupt countries in the world, as released by TI on Wednesday, January 27. The countries listed as the most corrupt in the world are: 1.North Korea and Somalia (Tied) 2. Afghanistan 3. Sudan 4. Angola and South Sudan (tied) 5. Iraq and Libya (tied) 6. Haiti, Guinea-Bissau and Venezuela (tied) 7. Eritrea, Syria, Turkmenistan and Yemen (tied) 8. Uzbekistan 9. Burundi, Cambodia and Zimbabwe (tied) 10. Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo and Myanmar (tied) On the other side of the coin, the top ten least corrupt countries are 1.Denmark 2.Finland 3.Sweden 4.New Zealand 5.Netherlands 6.Norway 7.Switzerland 8.Singapore 9.Canada 10.Germany, Luxemborg and United Kingdom (tied)

MTN AND HER LOYAL CUSTOMERS

Ok, I have a lot of friends that relate to the fact tha MTN hasn't been good to them at all. I appeal on behalf of them to please do something swiftly. So you don't lose your customers. A SENIOR Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Rickey Tarfa, has filed a N5 billion suit against the telecommunication giant, MTN Nigeria, over the alleged act of violation of his rights to privacy at the Federal High Court, Lagos. Joined, as respondents in the suit, are the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), its boss, Ibrahim Mustafa Magu, Mrs. Rashidatou Abdou and a Lagos lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN). The originating motion on notice was brought pursuant to Section 37 of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution (As amended) and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act Cap 10, LFN, 1990. The applicant is therefore asking the court for an order declaring that the unauthorised act of using his iPhone 6 with mobile number 08034600000 in calling one Alhaji Ado in Kaduna on mobile number 08061272929 on February 9, 2016 while the said phone was with Magu and the agency without any reasonable cause or any court order is unlawful, wrongful, illegal and a gross violation of his rights. Specifically, the applicant asked the court to declare that the unauthorised act of accessing his bank details, client’s information, private and confidential information contained in his iPhone 6 with number 08034600000 and Samsung 6 phone with number 08077341616 by EFCC and Magu without any reasonable cause or any court order is unlawful, wrongful, illegal and a gross violation of his fundamental rights. Besides, Tarfa asked the court to declare that the unauthorised act of accessing the phone call records/call log of his phone with mobile number 08034600000 by the respondents and forwarding same to Sahara reporters and other online news agencies without any reasonable cause, or any court order, is unlawful, wrongful, illegal and a gross violation of his rights under the constitution. Also attached to the motion on notice is a 134-paragraph affidavit wherein the applicant stated that trouble began when the relationship between his client, Ghanhoue Nazaire and third respondent, Mrs. Rashidatou Abdou, blessed with a child, went soar in 2011. Consequently, Mrs. Abdou complained of being excluded from the management and control of Rana Prestige Industries Nigeria Limited. By 2012, she filed a minority shareholder’s action in suit No: IKJ/CP/179/2012 between herself and Nazaire for winding up of the company. The petition was later withdrawn and struck out. And dissatisfied, she wrote another petition to the Police Special Fraud Unit complaining about her exclusion from the company and Mr. Nazaire was detained for a day but when the Inspector-General of Police discovered the case lacked merit and not within scope of their power, he told parties to settle amicably and Nazaire was released.

13 DIY Household Products That Could Save You Some Serious Coin

An American family spends an average of $504 per year on cleaning supplies. That’s a lot of money, especially toward products that are made mostly of water! In the spirit of saving, we’ve partnered with Sparkle® paper towels to bring you a way to seriously scrub down your cleaning budget: homemade household products. If you cut 75 percent of your cleaning-supply spending (which many of the following ideas do), you could save up to $378 a year. That could cover 2.5 weeks of groceries, 10 months of air-conditioning, or 47 movie tickets. Pick your jaw up off the floor and get ready to DIY! 1. Dishwasher Tabs detergent tabs We could pen an ode to dishwasher tabs. Using them feels way easier than a detergent, yet they seem to come come with a big markup. These homemade detergent tabs use baking soda to cut grease, washing soda (which you can make yourself) to clean, and kosher salt to reduce hard water buildup. This recipe could run you as little as 3 cents per tab -- about a fifth of what you might pay at the store. [Recipe] 2. All-purpose Cleaner all purpose spray This cleaner is the solution to so many messes -- in the kitchen, bathroom and the dinner table where your little one (perpetually) spills some milk. Vinegar is a homemade cleaning heavyweight and the star of this potion, with disinfecting properties thanks to its acidity. A batch of this miracle worker cost its inventor 52 cents, or a sixth of what leading cleaners sell for. [Recipe] 3. Glass Cleaner glass cleaner This glass cleaner is as simple as vinegar + rubbing alcohol + water -- three ingredients already in your house! The gamechanging ingredient in this concoction is rubbing alcohol, which works to dissolve dirt and oil and dries quickly for a streak-free finish. [Recipe] 4. Fabric Softener fabric softener It’s worth repeating, vinegar is the cleaning superhero that conquers all. This recipe for fabric softener uses it as a softening agent and static cling fighter, while a measure of conditioner incorporates your favorite scent. And at as low as $2 per batch, the price can’t be beat. [Recipe] 5. Laundry Detergent laundry detergent American families wash almost 400 loads of laundry per year on average. That’s a lot of detergent! This recipe for homemade laundry soap might seem like it has a lot of ingredients, but it will save you loads on loads. The recipe makes enough for 504 loads, and at 4 cents per load, you can be doing laundry for under $20 dollars per year. A box of one of the leading detergents will cost more and clean only a fraction of the loads. Mind. Blown. [Recipe] 6. Carpet Stain Remover carpet cleaner This DIY carpet stain remover recipe is so simple it’s foolproof. There’s just one ingredient: hydrogen peroxide. Good not only for our little one’s “ouchies,” but for pizza-meets-carpet boo-boos, as well. [Recipe] 7. Deep Clean Scrub deep clean scrub Deep cleansing scrub is a miracle worker on sinks and tubs, but can cost a pretty penny. This homemade scrub harnesses the power of baking soda and castile soap (and optional essential oil for scent) to help you banish grime and stains. While castile soap may seem like a pricier ingredient, it’s found in many DIY cleaner recipes and is highly concentrated -- it will pay for itself many times over. [Recipe] 8. Vegetable Wash vegetable wash Vegetable wash might feel like an unnecessary splurge to some -- that is, if you pay retail prices for it. We found a way to make it with disinfecting ingredients you likely already have in your home: water, white vinegar and lemon juice. [Recipe] 9. Microwave Cleaner microwave cleaner We’ve all been there. You’re heating up pasta sauce. You hear a series of pops and sizzles from across the kitchen, and you just know: it’s all over the microwave. Skip the expensive steam bags and opt for this trick. Slice lemons, place them in a bowl full of water and microwave for five minutes. Voilà! The grime is ready to scrub away. [Recipe] 10. Refeshers: Room & Fabric fresheners These two DIYs make use of the same ingredients to fight unwelcome odors. Baking soda acts as a deodorizer, while essential oils add your favorite scent. Essential oils are another concentrated ingredient; a little will go a long way. Mix the two ingredients and place in a small jar to make this two-ingredient room freshener, or simply add them to water to make a fabric refresher. Perfect for bathrooms, your pet’s favorite chair and teenager’s bedrooms everywhere. [Recipe] [Recipe] 11. Wood Polish wood polish This two-ingredient furniture polish employs olive oil for shine and lemon juice to help remove any buildup or stains. Leaving your furniture shiny and lemony-fresh will only cost you $1.55 per bottle, a fraction of leading commercial wood polishes. [Recipe] 12. Oven Cleaner oven cleaner Cleaning out the oven is not for the faint of heart. Between the crouching, scrubbing and nauseating fumes, we tend to avoid it for as long as possible. This oven cleaner is nontoxic and fume-free, with baking soda and salt for ultimate grease-cutting, scouring power. Let it sit and work its magic! [Recipe] 13. Bleach Pen bleach pen Bleach pens are the laundry room sidekick we can’t live without. But they’re a little pricey! This homemade bleach pen will cost you a minuscule 25 cents. That’s not a typo. Cornstarch, water, bleach and a little bit of stovetop magic make for a household product that’s cheaper than anything we can remember buying … ever. [Recipe] It’s a messy world out there.™ Like these DIY household cleaners, Sparkle® paper towels are priced just right for life’s everyday little messes...from wiping up a little sloppy spaghetti to erasing sticky fingerprints.

There is Good News Out of Nigeria - By Dele Momodu

Fellow Nigerians, please, let’s move away from the plethora of bad news today. Everywhere you turn in the world it seems the world would soon come to an end. If it is not some terrorist bombs exploding and floating in the rarefied air like flying saucers it is news of some deranged person spraying bullets at school kids in America. The baddest news for us lately in Nigeria apart from the unending Boko Haram menace is that of the free fall of the Naira like kamikaze divers. I have never seen anything like it. It is big trouble for those who transact most of their businesses in foreign exchange and do importations. If your family lives abroad and you have school fees to pay you are just on your own. But I want us to run away from all that migraine today and celebrate good news. As bad as things may seem, some Nigerians are marching forward, breaking down barriers and conquering territories. This period requires doing things differently. We need men and women of valour. Those who can take on humongous tasks without minding the encumbrances they are likely to encounter along the way. There is so much to learn from such people by many of our youths. Life is never a bed of roses. It is one of the reasons I love reading biographies. I also enjoy conducting interviews or reading those granted by iconic figures. They all have something in common; they had to ride through rough valleys and mountains of trouble to get to the top. Many of our young ones missed the great businessman and political colossus called Bashorun Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola. No story was better told than the way he captured his grass to grace trajectory. Chief Abiola was greatly endowed and he was able to display exceptional brilliance early in life. From a poor background, he was able to attain a global status by dint of hard work and remarkable courage. His forays into telecommunications, agriculture, shipping, aviation, books and media at a relatively young age showed a man who was clearly ahead of his time. For him, the money he made was not as fulfilling as how much he contributed to charitable causes. He touched lives everywhere and became a global brand. He invested heavily in educating the poor and elevating them in life. He promoted the development of our youths through sports and became Africa’s Pillar of Sports. You can’t ever be great if you can’t do extraordinary things, Chief Abiola taught his disciples like me. I will recommend the teaching of Chief Abiola’s life in our school. In my adult years, I have been privileged to meet and study the lives of many great Africans. I discovered nothing good comes easy. Everyone knows and talks about the Chairman of Globacom Dr Michael Adeniyi Agbolade Isola Adenuga today but they are not likely to know that the secret of his uncommon accomplishments is that of guts, hard work and tenacity. I remember one of the rarest interviews he granted Newswatch when his Consolidated Oil became the first indigenous company to strike oil in commercial quantity. The Newswatch scoop gave an insight into a man who took a risk too big for the faint-hearted. Those who should know knew that oil exploration was a most risky business but Dr Adenuga was undaunted. He had the agility of a bull. He had started business right from the time he was schooling in the United States of America and the Ijebu blood in him prepared him for the long voyage in business. Dr Adenuga went into banking and single-handedly owned two prominent brands, DEVCOM Merchant Bank and Equitorial Trust Bank. He went into telecommunications and changed the landscape spectacularly. He made the impossible possible by empowering the poor and the rich alike. We often forget where we were at some point in time but some of us cannot forget those giant strides so quickly. Dr Adenuga did not stop there; he laid submarine cables from Europe to Africa to ensure a blistering internet speed. He ventured out and landed in Benin Republic and Ghana. He united Africa through football and entertainment. He supported our stars to live like their counterparts in Europe and America. There are endless testimonies to his generosity. It is painful when we don’t teach our youths about the pains that come with seeking greatness. Barely eleven years ago, there was no Nigerian Bank in Ghana. The story we were told was that none could pass the stringent conditions laid down by the Bank of Ghana. What was more, Nigerians were largely perceived as fraudsters and harbingers of bad manners generally. But one man dared to be different and this banker Mr Tony Elumelu scaled all the huddles and the bank he led then, Standard Trust Bank became the first Nigerian financial institution to be licensed. Not just that, the much smaller bank soon acquired the powerful bank UBA and the rest is history. Today UBA has solid presence in about 19 African countries as well as Europe and America. Mr Elumelu also founded Heirs Holdings and has his fingers in many pies including power projects and hospitality business. The iconic banker has made spectacular impact as a philanthropist who has chosen to build a new crop of youthful entrepreneurs in Africa. Permit me to give one more example of how Nigerians are performing wonders at home and abroad. My last but certainly not the least is the one and only Alhaji Aliko Dangote who has exploded on the world scene in the last couple of years. From doing commodities and making stupendous money he has become Africa’s leading industrialist with Dangote Cement becoming a major force on the African continent. There is no doubt that Dangote Cement will soon become number one in the whole of Africa and one of the largest in the world. Say what you will, this could not have been an easy feat. My mission is to encourage our young ones to grumble less and emulate these inspirational leaders. Alhaji Dangote at great risk has penetrated about 14 or more African countries and I have had the privilege of visiting some of his eye-popping plants. Nothing could be more daring than his refinery project I watched on television just days ago. By the time it is ready, Alhaji Dangote would have positioned himself as one of the most influential Africans ever. What gladdens my heart today is that there are new Adenugas, Dangotes and Elumelus emerging and doing outstandingly well. I’m writing this piece in Cotonou, Benin Republic where a group of young Nigerians are set to build one of the biggest power plants for that small but ambitious country. Thanks to the opening up of the country to transparent investors by President Yayi Boni, Genesis Energy, led by its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Akinwole Omoboriowo, has signed a Concession Agreement to execute a 360MW capacity Gas Powered Projects in the Republic of Benin. This agreement empowers Genesis Energy to “construct, own, operate, maintain and supply electricity to the national grid of the country.” The projects are to be delivered in phases. The first phase of 120MW will be operated on a fast track basis from Maria Gleta through a piped gas to be supplied by the Nigerian Gas Company. The Power Purchase Agreement for duration of 20 years was signed between Genesis and the Benin Electric Power Corporation for the 120MW Power Project. The key partners in the project include General Electric, Engro Powergen Limited, Cummins Cogeneration (UK) Limited and Genesis. According to Genesis, “The power project will provide on completion over 30% of Benin’s current electricity demand.” It is good to see Nigerian companies spreading its wings everywhere and showing the world our capabilities. This Genesis has been doing for some time without making any noise about its achievement. A look at its projects portfolios is impressive. As far back as 2006, it did project in Guinea Bissau, a co-development of 50MW Emergency Power project in Ghana (2007), on grid generation in Sao Tome and Principe, off grid Distributed Power Project at NNPC’s Port Harcourt Refinery, name-plate power generation in Banana Island, Lagos; Calabar Free Zone off-grid project; multiple embedded generation for the Eko Electricity Distribution, etc. As the former Governor of Oklahoma attested at a dinner in Cotonou days ago, the success of Genesis is rested mainly on its integrity and the rock-solid determination of its team. It is so wonderful to have such wonderful news come from non-Nigerians about Nigerians. It is only a matter of time before greater things begin to happen to us after all the bad stories we’ve had to endure over time.

EVERY WIFE NEEDS TO KNOW THESE FACTS

I’m now in my third marriage. When people learn this fact about me, their reaction is usually pretty awkward. It’s almost as if they’re waiting for me to be embarrassed by my admission. While going through two divorces was some of the most painful times of my life, I’d only feel ashamed if I’d gone through it without being able to say I’ve learned a thing or two. My husband and I had both been through divorce before we married each other, and with that brings a unique perspective into many do’s and don’ts of how to treat your spouse. Don’t get me wrong — our marriage isn’t perfect, but our failures in past relationships have shaped decisions we make about the way we treat each other, and to be honest, I’m glad I went through it. We’ve learned better, so now we do better. And with that, I’d like to offer up my wise marriage tips — from a woman who has triumphed the murky waters of divorce. 1. Respect your husband. Notice how it doesn’t say “Respect your husband if he has earned it”. A man’s greatest need in this world is to be respected, and the person he desires that respect from the most is his wife. The trap that we’ve all been ensnared by is that they only deserve our respect when they earn it. Yes, we want our husbands to make decisions that will ultimately garner our respect, but the truth is that your husband is a human being. A human being who makes mistakes. This is the man that you have chosen to walk alongside you for the rest of your life, and to lead your family and he needs to be respected for that quality alone. Take it from me — when respect is given even when he doesn’t deserve it, it will motivate him to earn it. That doesn’t mean you pretend that his choices are good ones when they aren’t. Things like that still need to be communicated, but you can flesh out your differences with respect. It makes all the difference in the world to him. 2. Guard your heart. The grass is not greener on the other side. Do not believe the lie that with a slimmer figure, a higher salary, a faster car, or a bigger house, you will be a happier woman. The world is full of things and people that will serve as reminders that you don’t have the best of the best, but it’s simply not true. Live the life you’ve been blessed with, and be thankful. I get that we all have struggles, and there are even times when I would love 1,000 more square feet of house to live in, but square feet is not fulfilling — relationships are. Guard your heart from things and people that will try to convince you that your life or your husband is not good enough. There will always be bigger, faster, stronger, or shinier, but you’ll never be satisfied with more until you’re fulfilled with what you have now. 3. God, husband, kids…in that order. I know this isn’t a popular philosophy, especially among mothers, but hear me out. It’s no secret that my faith is of utmost importance, so God comes first in my life no matter what. But regardless of your belief system, your husband should come before your kids. Now unless you’re married to someone who is abusive (in which case, I urge you to seek help beyond what my blog can give you), no man in his right mind would ask you to put your kids aside to serve his every need while neglecting them. That’s not what this means. When you board an airplane, the flight attendants are required to go over emergency preparedness prior to takeoff. When explaining the part about how to operate the oxygen mask, passengers are instructed to first put the mask on themselves before putting it on their small child. Is that because they think you are more important than your kids? Absolutely not. But you cannot effectively help your child if you can’t breathe yourself. The same holds true with marriage and parenting. You cannot effectively parent your children if your marriage is falling apart. Take it from me — I tried. There will also come a time when your kids will leave the house to pursue their dreams as adults. If you have not cultivated a lasting relationship with your spouse, you will have both empty nests and empty hearts. 4. Forgive. No one is perfect. Everyone makes mistakes. If you make forgiveness a habit — for everything from major mistakes to little annoyances (every day, I have to forgive my husband for leaving the wet towel on the bathroom counter) — you will keep resentment from growing. 5. Over-communicate. I used to have a bad habit of not speaking my feelings. I played the standard “You should know why I’m mad” game, and that’s just downright unfair. Men are not wired like women, and they don’t always know that they’ve been insensitive. I’m still growing in this area, and there are often times when my husband has to pry something out of me, but I’m trying to remember that I need to just communicate how I feel. 6. Schedule a regular date night. This one isn’t new, but it’s very important. Never stop dating your spouse. Even if you can’t afford dinner and a movie (which we seldom can), spending some regular one-on-one time with your spouse is essential. Don’t talk about bills, or schedules, or the kids. Frankie and I often daydream about our future, or plan our dream vacation. We connect emotionally and often learn something new about each other – even after four years. 7. Never say the “D Word”. If you’re gonna say it, you better mean it. Plain and simple, threatening divorce is not fighting fair. I did this a lot in my previous marriages. I’m not proud of it, but I learned better. I was hurting deeply, and I wanted to hurt back, but it never helped me feel better. 8. Learn his love language. Everyone has a love language. The way you perceive love is often different from the way your spouse perceives love. Does he like words of affirmation, or does he respond better when you give him gifts? Whatever his love language is – learn it and use it. 9. Never talk negatively about him. I learned this lesson the hard way too. If you’re going through a difficult time in your marriage and you need advice, see a counselor. Family counseling is a great tool, but try to remember that your family members and friends are not the most objective people to give advice. The argument they are hearing is one-sided and they often build up negative feelings toward your spouse, which usually doesn’t subside once you and your husband have gotten past it. Protect his image with those that you’re close with and seek help from those that can actually be objective. News flash, ladies – your mother cannot be objective! 10. Choose to love. There are times in a marriage that you may wake up and not feel in love anymore. Choose to love anyway. There are times when you may not be attracted to your husband anymore. Choose to love anyway. Marriage is a commitment. In sickness and health, in good times and in bad. Those vows are sacred. They don’t say “if you have bad times”. They say “in good times and in bad”, implying that there will be bad times. It’s inevitable. So choose to love anyway. He’s worth it Culled....

My Philanthropic Spending....

Here is what Aliko Dangote has to say I am going to try my best and give part of that money to charity. I am working hard on it… I think from this year, I personally want to take it (philanthropy) very seriously. I want to be much more aggressive than what we have had in the past. I have spent N30 billion ($185 million) in two years on philanthropic and humanitarian activities. . We already have a foundation which will do all these things (charities), but I am trying to see what we can do to encourage not only Nigerians but other Africans and the World as a whole... When I grow up, I wanna be like you and more...

Turning the worst times into the best times

As i see the Naira free falling to its current level of N400 to a $1 so many questions permeate my mind, key amongst them is "how will we survive", what does the average Nigerian who does not directly influence monetary policy do about the falling Naira. These are my thoughts: 1. We need to face our new reality head on. To the new graduate, the chances of finding a secured job just got a lot worse, they were bad before but now they are infinitely worse. We all can`t be bag makers or tailors and you can't wait to finish school before starting out. Wherever you are, regardless of what you may or may not have, start something. To the loyal worker, there is a real chance that you will loose your job, companies who are afraid of rapid price increases in their products will cut costs to save on OPEX. In a best case scenario you may not get a salary increase, in a more realistic scenario you may lose your job. 2. This is not the time for unnecessary spending nor is it the time to save like crazy. If you save and consumer spending reduces in an economy with very little Oil income, the value of your savings will steadily but surely depreciate, unless of course you are saving in dollars. Your best option would be to convert part of your income to investments in the non-oil sector of the economy. 3. In times like these we need to go back to our roots, we need to stop being nostalgic about the groundnut pyramids and cocoa farms and go get them back. Companies tired of currency fluctuations will be in search of local alternatives, why not change from being just an employee to an investor in those areas. We have spent far too long as a nation in a consuming mindset, we badly need to start producing. We may not have money for big factories but we can innovate, borrow smaller, faster and more cost effective solutions and deploy them. 4. keep your eyes open for opportunities, it could mean the difference between poverty and financial success. Gone are the days when a tush job meant that you didn't need to use your head. Nigeria has so many problems and we can't all just focus on opening grocery stores, we need to start finding real solutions to the problems we have. We need to innovate locally and not just copy what we see in other climes. Remember that all the money we are going to borrow to fund this years national budget will still have to be paid back. Innovating locally means using local raw materials, using a mixture of technology and local understanding, it means community versus individual solutions. 5. We need to start running in packs. Our biggest issue is a complete lack of trust for each other. Decades of tribalism and this belief that everyone is out to destroy the other person has created an endemic lack of trust. The challenge is that no one wins when everyone is fighting. least of all the country that we have. Somehow we have to move past this and start building together. Even as i write this my mind asks me if this is not being utopian, but one must call a dog by its name. A country that fights its self can never prevail against any common enemy. 6. You need to get off the blame train and start thinking. Other countries have had it a lot worse. The tipping point always came when an idea was found that everyone could believe in. We can`t wait for our leaders to solve all our problems or get the Naira back. Everyone needs to contribute in their own way, everyone. 7. We need to fall in love with out nation again and let national pride be the fuel that motivates us to build her. It gets so tiring to see how easily the rich bolt at the smallest signs of trouble and how the poor go to extreme lengths to get out of this nation. How will we ever grow if the best of us continue to help build other nations and forget our own. Pride, Greed, the love of money and all things glamorous are the reasons we are where we are today. If this great ship is to change direction, real change is needed in the people too, not just the government or an election mantra. 8. Accountability starts from each of us, including the author of this article. We have no right to ask anyone not to steal $5 billion when we are fine to steal NGN 100. Culled thoughts

Sunday, 21 February 2016

When a loved one dies from sickness, accident, violence, or advanced age, our grief according to counsellors is label led uncomplicated or simple. however when they die by suicide our recovery process becomes complicated. fraught with often unanswerable questions. we experience guilt, even anger.Was I not there for them? should I have done purely selfish. They thought about nobody but themselves. These feelings will take time and God's grace to resolve. Friends and families of suicide often ask the following questions, the biblical answers to which can help in dealing with our grief. Is suicide murder? Scripture nowhere equates suicide with murder. Biblically, murder is an act committed against another. How does God feel about people who commit suicide? while God can't be said to support suicide. Nobody understand better than he the despair that drives someone to escape from their unbearable suffering. At our lowest moment, our Father cannot deny his compassion for us. A bruised reed he will not break and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out' Are suicidals saved or lost? There is only one unpardonable sin and it's not suicide ( Matt 12:31-32). Trust God for everything.

Magic Johnson condemns Manny Pacquiao as former sponsors distance themselves

Ending his boxing career amid controversy. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File) Manny Pacquiao is standing by his anti-gay comments, or at least the general outlines thereof, but others are coming forward to condemn the Filipino boxer’s views. On Wednesday, Nike dropped Pacquiao from it roster of athlete endorsers, a decision applauded by Magic Johnson. The former Los Angeles Lakers great took to Twitter, saying in a post, “I applaud Nike for terminating Manny Pacquiao’s contract after his derogatory statements that gay people are worse than animals.” Johnson added that “fans of all walks of life including gay fans supported” last year’s Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather fight, which became the most lucrative in boxing history, “putting $100M in his pocket.” Johnson said of Pacquiao, “I guess to him their money is still green.” Concluding his Twitter remarks, Johnson left things in no uncertain terms, writing, “I won’t be watching another one of Manny Pacquiao’s fights.” Pacquiao is set to fight Timothy Bradley for the third time in April, a bout that the 37-year-old boxing icon has said will be the final one of his career. Already a member of Congress in the Philippines, Pacquiao plans on running for a Senate seat, which would require his full-time attention, and possibly the presidency after that. Before getting dropped by Nike, Pacquiao had posted an apology for his comments on social media, saying, “I’m sorry for hurting people by comparing homosexuals to animals. Please forgive me for those I’ve hurt. God bless!” However, he subsequently posted, then deleted, this Old Testament verse: “If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own hands.” Pacquiao went on to say that he is “happier” to be “telling the truth.” He added, “I am not condemning the LGBT. What I am condemning is the act.” In the Philippines, much of which has a conservatively Catholic culture and where Pacquiao is revered, his stance likely will not deter his political campaigns. However, it could well tarnish his legacy in boxing, this after he was cast as the “good guy” in his battle with the brash Mayweather, and it has resulted in backlash from the corporate world. In addition to Nike, which described Pacquiao’s comments as “abhorrent,” Wonderful Pistachios distanced itself from the fighter. The nut company, which used Pacquiao as an endorser as recently as 2015, had this to say to Ad Week: “Wonderful Pistachios is not currently affiliated with Manny Pacquiao nor do his views align with ours. Wonderful Pistachios stands firmly for diversity and equality and we proudly support marriage equality and inclusion around the world.” Another former corporate partner, Nestlé, made it clear (to Gay Star Business) that the company “is not a current sponsor of Manny Pacquiao.” Between his winnings and endorsements, the boxer has made untold millions over his career, so he can weather this storm financially, but his public image has suffered plenty of damage. What do you think about this? Whose side are you on..

TONTO IS OFFICIALLY A MOMMA.

Nollywood actress, Tonto Dikeh has finally welcomed a baby boy in the United States, where she delivered her baby. tontoThe actress broke the good news on her Instagram page yesterday. She wrote, “Today I experienced the Greatest Miracle known to man. I can’t begin to explain the joy I feel, it’s super awesome. I bless the Lord almighty for his protection/Safety and Strength and the birth of my Baby. My Pregnancy was such a beautiful one Stress free, Lovely, Spiritually great, Healthy and safe. Please join me in welcoming my baby into a perfect and loving world that God my King kong and I will create. I am overwhelmed and over joyed, I am a Mother now. Wow. That’s something I never saw coming but God is indeed the master planner of our lives. His Grace, Love. Mercy, unlimited blessings, protection, Peace and so much more than I can express I have known & can testify to.” “Thank you God(the father,the son and the HolyGhost) for this blissful journey..I indeed gave birth like A Hebrew woman. #PROUDMUMMY #YUMMYMUMMY #LITTLESUNSHINEX #BABYX Congrats Tonto.

Adele pulls off an epic prank on The Ellen DeGeneres Show

Adele pulls off an epic prank on The Ellen DeGeneres Show Reason why we love Adele: She can pull off a prank like no other. The singer joined Ellen DeGeneres on her show recently and the pair decided to play a little prank on employees at a Jamba Juice store. After Adele's 'assistant' asks the staff to treat Adele like a normal person despite her fame, Adele enters to take centre stage. First, Adele perplexes the staff by asking for "one small cup but a large". Next, Adele reminds the staff that "money is no object", before asking for all of the smoothies on offer. At one point, Adele chops off some wheatgrass from the counter and eats it while she waits. And later her bag falls open on the table to expose the contents including scissors, knives and Twizzlers, and finally she asks "Do I have to pay? I'm a star." We won't give too much away. Watch the whole thing here: http://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/news/celebrity/2016/02/19/adele-ellen-prank

NATIONAL DRINK WINE DAY

The 20 Hollywood TV Characters Most Likely to Toast National Drink Wine Day Today is National Drink Wine Day—one of those mysterious holidays that seem to spring fully formed from your Facebook or Twitter feed. A Google search leaves the holiday’s origins ambiguous but seems to at least source it to a year: 2011. So happy Fifth-Annual National Drink Wine Day, everyone. Who are we to argue with such a fantastic idea? To put you in the mood to guzzle some grapes, here are 20 TV characters who know their way around a bottle. Let their hardy livers inspire you. Tyrion Lannister—Game of Thrones The shortest member of the Lannister clan is, nonetheless, its most accomplished drinker. Ever since Tyrion made his first appearance in the pilot he’s not been too far from a wine bottle, goblet, or skin. Cersei Lannister—Game of Thrones But if anyone could give Tyrion a run for his money in the drinking department, it’s his sister: Cersei. The thirst she developed when holed up during the Battle of the Blackwater in Season 2 has only increased in the intervening years. Maybe if she had been drinking less and scheming more, Season 5 wouldn’t have gone quite so terribly for her. Alicia Florrick—The Good Wife Alicia recently got in trouble with her neighbors for running a law office out of her swanky Chicago apartment. But if I shared a recycling bin with the Florrick household, I would have raised a few flags long before. But, as Alicia puts it, she doesn’t need wine—she likes wine. For the record, she likes tequila too. Lindsay Jillian—You’re the Worst Any one of the four core characters on this show could have cropped up here but somehow I think Linds is the most inclined to prefer wine. It’s classy, just like her. I’ll see you all back here on National Trash Juice Day when we celebrate all things Vernon. Robin Scherbatsky—How I Met Your Mother It’s possible now that she’s found a happily ever after with Ted, Robin is less inclined to drink under a desk while weeping. Then again, when Ted gets out his red cowboy boots, we won’t blame Robin for taking a deep swig, or 20. The Cul-de-sac Crew—Cougar Town If you don’t have a Big Carl or Big Joe to call your very own, then fill the closest vase with all the wine you have, make fun of your neighbors, play Penny Can, and fondly remember this late, great show. Tami Taylor—Friday Night Lights Truth be told, both Eric and Tami Taylor enjoyed unwinding with a glass of wine, but I decided to put Mrs. Coach on here because . . . Amy Schumer—Inside Amy Schumer . . . Amy Schumer paid such a beautiful homage to Connie Britton’s character in her sketch “Football Town Nights.” Bleary eyes, full glass, can’t lose. Bernard Black—Black Books I don’t recommend trying Bernard Black’s wine popsicle (or ice lolly if you’re British) at home. Freezing a full, glass wine bottle sounds like a recipe for disaster. But if you can pull it off, more power to you, and may I suggest a nice rosé? Liz Lemon—30 Rock You know what pairs well with Night Cheese? Treadmill wine. But if neither of those sounds good, you might want to try some of Liz Lemon’s patented Funky Juice. Find the recipe here. Hannibal Lecter—Hannibal What good is an elegantly prepared meal without a nice Chianti to wash it down? Carrie Mathison—Homeland I don’t, however, recommend you wash down your meds with wine. But if you do, make sure you’re ready to blow your life up completely and repeatedly. Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb—The Today Show O.K., yes, Kathie Lee and Hoda aren’t exactly characters, but, well, aren’t they? Like Tami Taylor before her, Kathie Lee got her own loving send-up courtesy of S.N.L.’s Kristen Wiig. Wiig’s preferred accessory? A wine glass, of course. Edina Monsoon and Patsy Stone—Absolutely Fabulous Eddie and Patsy—maybe the original Hoda and Kathie Lee?—are back in the news today thanks to the teaser for their upcoming movie. As you might expect, the women have not changed their hard-drinking ways one bit. You wouldn’t want it any other way, would you, sweetie darling? Skyler White—Breaking Bad When things got especially rough in the White household, Skyler turned to some classic white-wine therapy to get her through tense dinners and even tenser nights. I’d like to think that with a little bit of closure from Walt, Skyler is no longer hitting the bottle quite as hard. But she should go ahead and do whatever she needs to do to get through. She deserves it. Olivia Pope—Scandal If you decide to go full Olivia Pope today and drink red wine while wearing white, then I take my over-sized white hat off to you. You’re a braver drinker than most of us. Some people had trouble getting into this moody, deliberately paced thriller. Which is understandable. This is one of the first shows written with binge-watching in mind, unfolding like a long, engrossing novel. Episodes don’t really have arcs, they’re just chapters in the longer narrative. If you give the series time, it delivers a story as grim as its Florida Keys setting, all palm-dotted and picturesque, is gorgeous. Like too few shows do, Bloodline has a richly realized sense of place, the melancholy island breezes and ominous storm clouds rolling in off electric-blue water giving a classical family saga—about a black sheep returning to the flock, with disastrous results—the weight of something mythic. Bloodline also boasts one of the best performances by any actor, in any medium, this year: Ben Mendelsohn’s devious, pitiful, funny, scary, tragic Danny is a character for the ages, brilliantly brought to life by an actor working at the height of his powers. If you’re in need of the TV equivalent of a literary beach read, Bloodline is the show for you. — Richard Lawson

WHAT IS THE WAY FORWARD ECONOMICALLY?

During the past few years, consumers have been told that this is the time to invest in diamonds. A flurry of companies has arisen, offering consumers an opportunity to invest in the most desirable categories of polished, colorless diamonds, most often larger than two carats, in the highest color, clarity and cut ranges. Arguing that the production of rough diamonds is dwindling, and that the supply of the top categories will decrease, prices, the investment firms say, will inevitably go up sharply and therefore, diamond are a solid investment. Most industry experts, one way or another, seem to agree with this contention. But what about natural coloured diamonds? Nicholas Weinberg, of Level Diamonds, an exhibitor at the upcoming Antwerp Diamond Trade Fair, says that to the best of his knowledge, nobody has yet come up with an investment proposal involving natural coloured diamonds. “Only one out of every 10,000 diamonds mined and polished is a natural coloured diamond,” Weinberg noted. “That makes them the rarest of diamonds in the market. And coloured diamonds are consistently outperforming colourless diamonds, and for that matter, the top three coloured gemstones, i.e. sapphire, ruby and emerald. “We have put together a number of ‘natural coloured diamonds investment packages’ that we will be exhibiting at the ADTF next week. he stated "We are excited to be presenting this new project in Antwerp!”

How true is this?

Here is a recent observation of a research conducted. STEP 1. You see a post STEP 2 You skim over it or sometimes go through the comment section STEP 3 You read it if interesting STEP 4 Your mindset changes STEP 5 You tend to reason in line with the leading motion. I advice that you have a mind of your own. Don't always follow the crowd. The exceptional people in the society decided to stand out and stand for something. REMEMBER: If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything.

Mr Pee APOLOGIZES

Peter-Paul-Okoye-P-Square-Instagram-September-2012-BellaNaija00 Following his 24 hours non-stop twitter rant, accusations and counter accusations, Peter Okoye of Psquare has just apologised. It’s not clear if the apology is directed to his fans, his twin brother (Paul Okoye) or his elder brother and manager, Jude Okoye, but he says ‘I am so sorry for my actions’. Following his 24 hours non-stop twitter rant, accusations and counter accusations, Peter Okoye of Psquare has just apologised. It’s not clear if the apology is directed to his fans, his twin brother (Paul Okoye) or his elder brother and manager, Jude Okoye, but he says ‘I am so sorry for my actions’.

SENSATIONAL BREADSELLER TURNED MODEL

IN just two weeks, she has soared above her painfully obscure background. Her fortunes have changed. From a bread seller on the streets of Lagos to a model. She is now set to mount the rostrum on February 20 at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja. As a motivational speaker, she will talk on the theme “ If we were the government .” In local parlance, God has picked up and answered the call of Jumoke Orisaguma. Fast-rising afro-pop artiste and Orente crooner, Adekunle Gold, last December dropped a new song, titled Pick Up, which has become an instant hit and upstaged Korede Bello’s I Don Get Alert, Godwin. Pick Up, which is rendered in Yoruba, is a prayer asking for God’s blessings. Modeled after a telephone call, the musician in the song implores God to ‘pick up’ and answer his call. Since Jumoke got her ‘pick up’, her life has never remained the same. The mother of two is now the face of online shopping brand, Payporte and Stanbic IBTC Bank. Jumoke is also the proud owner of a luxury apartment in Lagos. These days, people no longer pray for daily bread, they want to hit the streets to ‘sell’ the proverbial bread. The latest model whose full first name, Olajumoke, is affectionately shortened to Jumoke has now joined popular on-air personalities, Toke Makinwa and former Big Brother Africa first runner-up, Tayo Faniran, as fellow brand ambassadors of Payporte. Stanbic IBTC was also quick when it used her image in one of its adverts, which went viral on the Internet on Monday, cementing her place as a model to be reckoned with in the country. Basking in the glow of her new fame, Jumoke is also enjoying massive media exposure locally and globally, the latest coming from international news network, Cable News Network (CNN.) Her story has become an inspiration to all categories of people with little means of income, especially every tall, model-looking bread seller out there, hanging on the statement that someday luck might smile on them. It’s a classic case of being in the right place at the right time. A young street seller oblivious to the scene ahead, her wares perched atop her head, photo-bombed a shoot and in that split second her life changed forever. Originally a hairstylist from Osun State, she was struggling to make ends meet, and left her husband and two children in their home town to become a street vendor in Lagos. Renowned photographer, TY Bello, was behind the change in Jumoke’s fortunes. TY Bello was photographing UK pop star, Tinie Tempah, when Jumoke walked into the shoot. “She seemed a little confused,” said Bello. “Some people were asking her to walk past really quickly, others were asking her to stay, and she was just in limbo. I said ‘is it okay to take your photograph?’ And she nodded ok.” A teary-eyed Jumoke said she never expected her fortunes to turn around like this. “I never expected that this could ever happen to me. My friends have told me they saw me on TV and they are really happy. My parents cannot believe their own child can become such a success. They are all so happy,” she said. However, Ayo Shonaiya, a TV producer, lawyer and music talent agent, has expressed his fears for the former Agege bread seller. Sharing his opinion on his Facebook page yesterday, he noted that at the risk of sounding like a hater, he is genuinely nervous about the amazing story of Jumoke. “This type of story gladdens everyone’s heart and serves as inspiration to millions of people, but I can’t help but look beyond the fairytale and feel a sense of apprehension at the same time. In my line of work, my job is to look where no one else is looking when it comes to negotiating contracts, maximising earning potential for talent, and pretty much protect such talent, and I pray to God there’s someone doing that for this girl. “When I saw that this Olajumoke girl couldn’t even speak or read English, my first concern was she’s going to be bewildered by a lot of things, especially in the fashion and modeling world in Nigeria. The sudden fame and spotlight, even often times confuse ‘experienced’ talents. I really do hope and pray that, whatever happens to Olajumoke from now on, she is well protected. The fashion and modeling industry can be the worst place you wanna be when ‘they’ decide you’re no longer happening or trending, or worse, not useful anymore,” he stated. Also, popular fashion designer and CEO of Ouch! Clothing, Uche Nnaji, has taken to Instagram to write an open letter to Nigerian banks as they struggle to use Jumoke as the face of their brands, to forget about the mad rush for her endorsement and rather help grow small businesses. “I am still excited and happy that TY Bello allowed God use her to turn around the captivity (circumstance) of Olajumoke, but I am shocked at the sudden awareness by corporate bodies to jump on the bandwagon to celebrate her with all sorts of ‘gifts’ from apartments to endorsements, as if this act has or will take away all the other million Jumokes on our streets searching and waiting for their own TY Bello. “The shocker for me is seeing a Nigerian bank rushing to make Olajumoke a brand ambassador when they would not move an inch to save a dying Nigerian. This action has further shown that most banks seldom grasp their role in growing the economy. Olajumoke is one individual, but a business or an idea the Nigerian bank supports or celebrate can become a new Facebook or Dangote, which would create jobs and feed families,” she wrote.

Wednesday, 17 February 2016

HAIR STYLES FOR MEN?

When consumers want to master the latest hairstyle, they ask. Even in the most routine moments, people try new things. With a touch, or just a word, our mobile devices can summon ideas that we may have never thought of. This is especially true when it comes to how we style our hair, a decision we make every single morning. While we used to stick with what we knew—perhaps a look from a magazine or a stylist's recommendation—now, the options are endless. Take Mabel, who was standing in front of her bathroom mirror, smartphone in hand, thinking about how to style her hair. She wanted something that was versatile, on-trend and suitable for dry hair. A mobile search later, she landed on the wet-hair look and learned how to get it. Many people now turn to smartphones in these I-want-that-look moments, as evidenced by search and video trends. Of all Google Search queries related to beauty, the majority are done on mobile. To see what consumers are looking for in these micro-moments, we analyzed the monthly volume of beauty-related Search queries from January 2013 to August 2015. The result is an in-depth look at three emerging trends—men's hair, braids, and bold hair colors. It's also a wake-up call, as we saw that many brands aren't reaching consumers in these moments of intent. Men's hair: an untapped market The market for men's hair care is rapidly expanding. In fact, 2015 is the first year that there has been more interest in men's hair than women's hair on Google (by around 6%).1 "It's like waking a sleeping giant," says Ellen Sideri, founder and CEO of the trend research agency ESP Trendlab. Not only is the industry bigger than it's ever been, but men are dream customers. "Men tend to have more brand loyalty than women, and are more likely to buy products that the barber recommends," says Rob McMillen, head barber at Blind Barber in New York. What are consumers looking for today? The "man bun" has emerged as one of the most popular hairstyle searches over the last year. While Jared Leto and Leonardo DiCaprio were among the first celebrities to put the man bun in the spotlight, search volume puts Harry Styles as the celebrity most associated with the trend since October 2014. Thanks in part to Hollywood's and social media's embrace (see #manbunmonday), the man bun is everywhere. Now, lots of men are trying to to get the look themselves, turning to search as their stylist in I-want-to-do moments. Of all queries about the style, questions like "how to grow a man bun" and "how to tie a man bun" are most common. Next up, the "comb-over." This style has been a steadily growing trend over the last few years, especially in California. Once associated with covering bald spots, today's version is more Don Draper than Donald Trump. "New high-end barber shops are re-popularizing traditional American looks from the '50s and '60s, but making them more high-end and personalized," says McMillen. For both comb-overs and man buns, men are turning to the web to educate themselves. "Overall, guys are coming in with more of a general idea of what they want. They are doing more research than ever before," says McMillen. Much of that research is happening on smartphones. Looking at top men's hairstyle terms, 82% of searches were done on mobile in August 2015.2 In moments when they're struggling to style their hair, men are also looking to YouTube for advice. Videos about these styles tend to feature a large number of hair products; the top five how-to YouTube videos about man buns featured six products in aggregate. "Increasingly, consumers are looking to these platforms for dynamic content—from tutorials to reviews to videos," says Marie Gulin-Merle, CMO of L'Oreal USA. Why should marketers care? When consumers reach out to learn—whether it's about "man buns," "comb-overs," or products for these styles—few brands capture the opportunity to be relevant in the moment. Only around 1% of searches for these terms has surfaced an ad.3 For marketers, there is a huge opportunity to be there for guys in their I-want-that-look moments. Gulin-Merle adds that the best strategy for being there is all about creating great content for these digital platforms. She says, "No matter what the beauty movement is, we want to create relevant content that allows our consumers to continuously engage with products and be given an easy, seamless way to merge online and offline experiences." Braids make a big comeback As more men stock up on products, some women are paring down. Natural hair has been trending in recent years, and braids are back in a big way. Braids are the most prominent among top trending hairstyles for women, with "box braids" and "goddess braids" representing the biggest trends based on search volume. These braid trends are seasonal, and are most popular in the South

Sunday, 14 February 2016

Here are ten steps to get you started in your Job-Hunt Like a CEO project:

Decide what kinds of jobs you are ideally suited for.
Brand yourself in your Human-Voiced Resume and your LinkedIn profile for those jobs (the ones you just identified) specifically. The worst brand in the world is the brand “Jack of all Trades” (and the same goes for Jills)!
Answer this question: “What kind of Business Pain do I solve for employers — an expensive, irritating kind of Business Pain that they will be willing to spend money to alleviate?” Your Pain-Solving ability is your power in the hiring equation!
Make a list of Target Employers who are located within your commuting radius and who might be suffering from “your” flavor of Business Pain. Maybe it’s pain related to losing market share, or pain related to a broken supply chain or cost overruns. Whatever it is, keep your eye on that pain — if you create traction with your hiring manager, the Business Pain you identified will be the reason why he or she responds to your outreach.

Use this method to identify your specific hiring manager in each of your Target Employers.
Read about Pain Letter composition and try your hand at a Pain Letter to a manager on your list. Don’t start with your favorite employer — start smaller until you get the hang of this new job-search approach!

7. For each employer you approach, customize your Human-Voiced Resume by highlighting the most relevant Dragon-Slaying Stories in your past.

8. Make a spreadsheet to keep track of the Pain Letters you’re sending out. Follow up on each Pain Letter a week or ten days after sending it if you haven’t heard anything back.

9. If you’re working full-time and conducting a stealth job search, try to send out three Pain Letters per week. If you’re not working, you can research, write and send out three per weekday!

10.Finally, take care of yourself. A job search can be draining. Get a lot of sleep and take care of your body and your mind. Don’t flog yourself to sit in front of your computer and job-hunt all day. Get out and have fun. You owe yourself some fun every day, whether it’ a bike ride or dancing to YouTube videos. Once you are working again, you won’t have time to goof off, and goofing off is an essential part of your Mojo-preservation strategy!Recommended by Forbes
If you have an idea, you have to believe in yourself or no one else would.

Welcome to Bright's Blog

Pages