To - Blog - 9jabook Africa's Ist Social Network

The mugus guide to for mugus book on how to make money

Posted by frank adeche Mr Netchurch on May 3, 2009 at 11:20pm

how to make money a simple indepth approach or should I say the mugus guide to for mugus book on how to make money ! This is a string of articles looking at the different ways to make money ! I have broken them into 5 different categories 1.Luck 2.Talent 3.Services 4.Goods 5.Criminal Money money must be funny in the rich mans world ! Money makes the world go round ! It drives business or should I say IT drives money ! or Fifty Cent Get rich or die trying ! LUCK Lets start with Luck or using some popular phrases like Favor (o boy na favor o ), chance (give me a chance) ,circumstances (beyond your control ),destiny (This was his destiny ),fate , fortune, hazard, portion ("that is not my portion" used by a lot of Pentecostal Christians) Basic Wikipedia definition Luck refers to that which happens to a person beyond that person's control. This view incorporates phenomena that are chance happenings, a person's place of birth for example, but where there is no uncertainty involved, or where the uncertainty is irrelevant. Within this framework one can differentiate between three different types of luck: Constitutional luck, that is, luck with factors that cannot be changed. Place of birth and genetic constitution are typical examples. Circumstantial luck - with factors that are haphazardly brought on. Accidents and epidemics are typical examples. Ignorance luck, that is, luck with factors one does not know about. Luck as a fallacy Another view holds that "luck is probability taken personally." A rationalist approach to luck includes the application of the rules of probability, and an avoidance of unscientific beliefs. The rationalist feels the belief in luck is a result of poor reasoning or wishful thinking. To a rationalist, a believer in luck commits the "post hoc, ergo propter hoc" logical fallacy, which argues that because two events are connected sequentially, they are connected causally as well: This is the most critical money making concept as all the others actually depend on it at one time or the other You can classify luck into one million things but fact is it is just still ends up as PLAIN LUCK ! just like the Christian Bible puts it unmerited Credit or Debit as the case may be ! Now the good news first or the Bad news ? BAD LUCK ! Now lets start with Bad Luck ! or Hex or Evil eye or cursed or Remote control or Dem swear for am ! This is the one we are mostly scared of . This one is the no go area and people actually make money from preventing it .It is big busines ! From pastors and imams in our churches(many Nigerian churches I no go name names ! ) (we pay tithes to avoid it ok for those that pay ) ,mosques to astrologers to Shamans (shams) to Olumba Olumbas, Scientology(mr tom cruise)Nation of islam (Malcom X,Micheal /JermaineJackson) , Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses, Even Oprah Winfrey and all the other so called talk show hosts ! The FBI,CIA ,Red Cross, Doctors,Lawyers,insurance people ! Plumbers too ! The government ! etc All of them are in business because they try to assure us that they can prevent Bad Luck from happening to us ! This article itself is also supposed to teach you how to avoid bad Luck . So in essence bad luck is not such a bad thing as it actually puts food on the table for most people . A lot of People have actually made millions from selling their bad luck stories ! So dont be scared of it as like the old Hymn says “Give me that old time Bad luck Give me that old time bad luck Because it is good enough for me !” ok I know it was old time religion but heh try to understand na. Ok how do I avoid this type of luck ? 1. First embrace bad luck make it your friend .look for loopholes in bad luck .A friend of mine said ok I know I am not lucky but I am going to be so good at not being lucky that I will make people to pay me on learning about bad luck ! imagine that ! 2. Bad luck in itself is not Bad it just gets bad press that is it .Ok imagine 50 thousand lawyers killed in tsunami , o yes ! Bad luck for them but Good luck for the remaining lawyers ! So Bad Luck gets bad press lets try to give it good press ! 3 .Every decision you make might bring bad luck so always look at your decisions and be ready to accept them as bad luck .Risk managers call it the risk factor .If it is high or low always realize that it can always turn out real sour . Relationships are about the riskiest things on earth and cost billions of dollars to repair but most people jump in and out of them at will ! 4.The fear of yahooze is the beginning of wisdom ! 419ers actually create bad luck .If it is too good to be true then it is too good to be true ! Nobody is perfect so that means no business deal can be perfect too ! 5.Learn to do a risk analysis at every chance you get .Even those that say they have the keys ot wisdom and can foresee bad luck a million miles away .If it is all about the benjamins and the other dead presidents or the nnamdi azikiwes and the very alive presidents .In short Bad luck always walks around with money It is the saying money is the root of all evil in reverse .Bad luck is the root of all evil . 6. It took all the kings men plus horses and maybe dogs to put humpty dumpty together again .Why ? Because the bloody fool knowing fully well he had a big head still went and sat on the WALL ! Ok you know your BLQ (Bad luck quotient) is not good yet you play the lottery every day ! And lose every day ! who to blame ? We go like to know ! O I fell in love ! Runggbish jo wich kain talk be dat ! Your history of girlfriends shows you date hotties ! and you want to get married ! hotties are hot bcos guys follow them ! so you are still unmarried at 50 and you dey complain.Like wise hotties ! hot girls like hot boys but hot boys like other hotties ! Hott chic no bobo at age 45 shuo ! na wa o ! you dey work for Fallujah and Taliban blow you up and you dey complain say you get one leg ! whos sand you go Fallujah ? Only fools dare where angels tread ! 7.Na soso bad head people you dey hang out with ! Oya Follow d money na where carcass dey naim Vultures dey maintain ! Finally to round up bad luck the only way to avoid Bad luck is to get GOOD LUCK ! Next week we talk about Good luck Your comments are welcome !

Families pay tribute to Air France victims

Posted by jackie webLondonGirl on June 2, 2009 at 3:25am

Families pay tribute to Air France victims By EMMA VANDORE – 32 minutes ago PARIS (AP) — Three young Irish doctors, all close friends, enjoying a two-week vacation together in Brazil. That's how their families want to remember Aisling Butler, 26, Jane Deasy, 27, and Eithne Walls, 29 — three of the 228 passengers who met with tragedy as Air France flight 447 ended up in the Atlantic Ocean. The women boarded the flight from Rio de Janeiro to Paris on Sunday night after a reunion with a larger group of former students who graduated in 2007 from Trinity College medical school. Aisling's father John Butler paid tribute to his daughter Tuesday from his home in Roscrea, County Tipperary. "She was a truly wonderful, exciting girl," he told Irish reporters. "She never flunked an exam in her life — nailed every one of them — and took it all in her stride as well." He said he initially thought Aisling was booked on Monday's flight and had to retrieve her itinerary from his deleted e-mails folder. "When I opened it up, a nightmare opened up as well," he said. Walls was working in Dublin's Eye and Ear Hospital. Before starting her medical studies she worked full-time as a dancer in the Riverdance troupe, and continued to perform part-time during her six years in Trinity medical school. She performed at Radio City Music Hall and in Germany, France, China and Dublin. Julian Erskine, executive producer of Riverdance productions worldwide, described Walls as "bright and sparkling." "She made an impact on anyone. When she wasn't dancing, she was studying. She was on a mission to be a doctor," he said. Investigators were still looking into what brought the plane down in the Atlantic Ocean hours into its flight to Paris. Among the 216 passengers were 61 French citizens, 58 Brazilians, 26 Germans, nine Chinese and nine Italians. A lesser number of citizens from 27 other countries also were on the passenger list, including two Americans. Ten salesmen from CGED, an electrical distributor, were on the plane with their spouses after winning a vacation to Brazil, Europe-1 radio reported. French tiremaker Michelin lost three executives, including two senior Brazilian managers and Christine Pieraerts, a young French engineer. Spokeswoman Sophie Perrier said Michelin's staff was "very moved" by the tragedy. Michelin's president for South America, Luiz Roberto Anastacio, 50, had been promoted May 4 and was traveling to France to meet fellow top executives. He had worked for Michelin for 27 years. Brazilian information systems director, Antonio Gueiros, who had worked for Michelin for over 20 years, was coming to Paris for a computer seminar. Michael Pieraerts praised his younger sister Christine, who was just short of her 29th birthday. "Christine had, a short while ago, a stroke. She had recovered. We were very happy because was starting to take up her activities and a normal life again. Fate caught up with her and us," Michael told Le Parisien newspaper. The five Britons on the plane included 61-year-old British engineer Arthur Coakley, from near Whitby, North Yorkshire. His wife of 34 years, Patricia, broke down in tears as she described her "fabulous husband," father to their three grown children. "He worked so hard for his family, that's all he wanted, to retire. It's not going to happen, is it?" she told Britain's Press Association. Coakley, a structural engineer for PDMS, an Aberdeen-based oil company, was helping with a survey in Brazil. He was booked onto an earlier flight, but was bumped onto the doomed jet after the first flight was full. Patricia Coakley said her son Patrick raised the alarm, phoning to ask "What flight is Daddy on?" She tried phoning her husband's mobile on Monday but gave up Tuesday. "Yesterday I was really optimistic, today maybe more realistic," she said. Prince Pedro Luis de Orleans e Braganca, 26, a member of Brazil's now-defunct royal family and a descendent of Dom Pedro II, the nation's last emperor, was on the plane. So was sailor Zoran Markovic, 45, from the village of Kostelji in northwestern Croatia. Air France said 11 of the 12 crew members were French but did not release their names. The flight captain, 58, joined Air France in 1988 and had 11,000 hours of flight hours including 1,700 on aircraft of the same type as the A330-200 that disappeared. The two co-pilots were 37 and 32 and had over 9,000 flight hours between them. The head of the cabin crew was 49, his deputies were 54 and 46 years old. Of the six flight attendants aged between 24 and 44, one was Brazilian.

US-based Ijaw To march to White House in protest

Posted by Akin Osunlaja WebLagosian on May 27, 2009 at 8:21pm

Yenagoa —The Ijaw in Washington DC the United States capital are planning to stage a demonstration march to the White House in protest against what they described as the ongoing genocide being unleashed on Ijaw communities by the JTF. The essence of the demonstration it was learnt is to draw global attention to the intractable and ever-intensifying crisis and genocide in the oil-rich Niger Delta region. Several Ijaw communities in the Gbaramatu Kingdom in the Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State have been destroyed by the nation’s security forces in search of militants. President of the Ijaw Foundation Board of Director, Ebipamone N. Nanakumo who disclosed this to Vanguard in a telephone interview from his base in the United States said the protest march is slated for next Monday June 1, 2009. His words, “This is to inform all of us that arrangements are being made for an Ijaw Demonstration March in Washington DC next Monday, June 1, 2009 from 12:30 PM to 4:30PM.” The protest march he said would commence at the Capitol Reflecting Pool, along the sidewalk and terminate at the White House. According to him, “the Ijaw Foundation’s application for the permit for the demonstration was sent by FEDEX on Friday May 22, 2009, to the National Park Service in Washington DC . We expect the application to be approved.” JTF offensive on Gbaramatu, intentional—Ijaw communities THE Olero Ijaw Federated Communities in Delta State says the current carnage on Ijaw communities of Gbaramtu kingdom by the Joint Task Force is designed by the Nigerian state. In a statement, yesterday, signed by the national secretary, Mr. Adanse Felix, the communities said, “we wish to state categorically that the recent onslaught against the Ijaw communities by the JTF is pre-planned by the Nigerian state”. On the support for military action in the Niger-Delta by the House of Representatives, they said, “we detest the statement credited to the Speaker of House Representatives supporting military option and backing of the JTF”, it said, adding “it is barbaric and uncalled-for for the entire House to support the current carnage in d Niger Delta”. According to them: “We want to call on Mr .President to order cessation of the hostilities that have claimed over 1,000 innocent lives in the creeks”. “We also want to call on the International Community and the United Nations to set up an independent enquiry to probe the remote cause of the recent attacks against civil Ijaw communities. “The UN and the International Community should not shy away from telling the truth and sanction the Nigerian government for the destruction of innocent civilians in their communities. “We want to call on well-meaning individuals to help the displaced persons who are still trapped in the creeks without foodstuff and shelters. We sincerely pray for the repose of the souls that died as a result of the carnage”, they asserted.

Koko Mansion goes to France, Ghana

Posted by Akin Osunlaja WebLagosian on June 2, 2009 at 12:01am

WHEN Koko Mansion, a television reality show being facilitated by HiTV Nigeria, finally begins, viewers in faraway France and Nigeria’s next door neighbour, Ghana, as well as other African countries, will have the opportunity of seeing the show being labelled as the ‘biggest reality show in Africa live. advertisement This is going to be made possible because HiTV, the wholly Nigerian pay-television company, is among other African channels currently on the French IPTV operator Free, which has introduced a new range of African channels on its platform. Being the first group brought together in the African Premium bouquet, it was developed in cooperation with Thema and comprises nine public and commercial channels from a variety of African nations –two from Senegal ( RTS and 2STV), three from Cameroun, (CRTV, STV2 and Canal 2), the national public channel of Côte d’Ivoire (RTI), the public channel of Mali (ORTM), the public channel of Congo (Tele Congo) and the pan-African channel, Africable. HiTV is available on Free as a la carte service. Free’s basic TV subscribers can in addition receive the pan-African news and information channel, Voxafrica. Also, in Ghana, a deal has been signed between HiTV and Skyy Media for the distribution of HiTV’s flagship channels, Hi-Nolly and Nigezie on its platform. Its founder and chief executive director, Mr. Toyin Subair, in a statement said, HiTV is pleased about this development “especially in the light of its new TV reality show featuring D’Banj, and tagged Koko Mansion, being supported by Nigerian Breweries Plc, Jagal Group, a programme that is billed to come up soon on our platform. The implication of this is that viewers in Africa and Europe will get to see Koko Mansion live as events unfold in the quest of searching for the ideal Kokolette (woman). We are happy that in just two years, HiTV is moving ahead on a difficult turf such as the pay-television’s.” Subair said the arrival of Hi Nolly and Nigezie in France and Ghana shows that HiTV is leading the pack in showcasing Nigeria’s culture in the area of movie and music. “It is time to take Nigeria’s culture to the outside world, we want the world to know more about us in this period that we are rebranding as a nation. So, what HiTV is doing is complementing the federal government’s efforts aimed at rebranding our nation.”

Niger Delta Solidarity Campaign to protest in London today

Posted by Choochoo Sports Book on June 1, 2009 at 11:01pm

War on militants moves to RiversBalarabe Musa condemns ACF's supportFrom Kelvin Ebiri (Port Harcourt), Tunde Oyedoyin (London), Saxone Akhaine (Kaduna) and Hendrix Oliomogbe (Asaba)FROM Delta State, the troops of the Joint Task Force (JTF) yesterday extended their military operations to Rivers State where they located and destroyed a militants' camp close to Buguma creek after fierce exchange of fire with the militants led by one 'Egbele'.But far away in England a coalition of civil and human rights groups, under the aegis of the Niger Delta Solidarity Campaign will today hold a two-hour protest in front of Downing Street, before delivering a petition to the British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, asking the British government to put pressure on the Nigerian government to stop the military invasion.Also, former civilian governor of old Kaduna State and Chairman of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), Alhaji Balarabe Musa has warned the Federal Government on the increased military action in the Niger Delta. He condemned the support by the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) for the JTF's move to end the crisis in the area with military force.Meanwhile, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has denied planning to halt attack on oil facilities if the multinationals provide employment for locals.MEND also described the former Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Richard Akinjide's assertion that oil and gas resources found in the Niger Delta did not arise as a result of the sweat or investment of the people of the region as parochial.Explaining the extension of military operations to Rivers, spokesman of the JTF, Col. Rabe Abubakar, said the militants fired at the troops from the camp over night and the security outfit had no option than to locate and destroy the camp.According to him, the task force charged with the responsibility of ending militancy in the Niger Delta is poised to neutralize any camp from which attacks on its men are planned and carried out.He said: "The action of the JTF is aimed at eliminating or getting rid of the criminals who are bent on causing unnecessary tension and apprehension in the region. We wish to once again reiterate that we are not targeting any individual or group but the criminals, and we will locate them wherever they are hiding. They can only run but they can't hide."He explained that on Saturday May 30, 2009, the JTF troops conducted a cordon and search operation during which they recovered an AK47 riffle with registration number 4504913 and three Machine Guns (MG) with 50 rounds of ammunition, at Bukuma Village, Rivers State. He said the operation was hitch free.But in an interview yesterday, MEND spokesperson, Jomo Gbomo, denied knowledge of the military incursion in Buguma. "We can only say at this time that this is a public relations stunt as no serious camp has reported any attacks on them," he said.Speaking in Kaduna yesterday, Balarabe Musa urged the Federal Government to go back to the negotiating table with the people in the Niger Delta whom he said are fighting a just cause to improve their well-being and the condition of the region. He cautioned those backing declaration of war against the militants to desist from doing so "because in the near future, it may be their own turn when they are opposing bad policies of government."He said: "It is unfortunate that the Government has declared war against the militants in Niger Delta. The best way to deal with the current situation is to negotiate to end the war and continue peaceful negotiation."This is because those people in the Niger Delta area who are protesting are fellow Nigerians and they have a case. It may be misrepresented. Government should therefore not seek to resolve this issue militarily. They should seek to deal with this issue politically. And it is not impossible to do so. Because, they have already started negotiating."Musa continued: "The so called militants are complaining about injustice, which is so glaring in the region, and they are not alone. So, those who see justification for the military solution being attempted now, I have a warning for them, that today it is the opposition in the Niger Delta area that are being treated as militants, and are being assaulted militarily. Next time, it will be others in other parts of the country. Because, opposition against bad policies of government has been going on throughout the country and it can intensify in any part of Nigeria for a variety of reasons.""The ACF aligned themselves with the wrong government policy. This issue can never be solved militarily. It has never been solved anywhere in this world militarily...the peaceful negotiation which started long ago should continue."Musa argued that the ACF's recent resolution on the matter was not the position of the entire North, stressing that "they may claim to be speaking for the North, definitely they are not; they are only speaking largely for the North of their vision, not the North of free and patriotic Nigerians."By tradition, they always align with the government of the day. They are part and parcel of the ruling class. And under this current situation, they think their economic interest is being threatened."Irked by a statement credited to former Attorney General and Minister of Justice Chief Richard Akinjide in which he was alleged to have supported the military action in the Niger Delta, Gbomo said the young generation of the Niger Delta people does not consider his comments as relevant but would like to remain focused to put an end to the injustice the region is facing because of the opinion of the likes of Akinjide.He said: "The Niger Delta people did not put oil and gas in the region the same way the people of Lagos did not create the land for which they are landowners today. Let him tell the Americans in Texas that the oil discovered in their ancestral homeland was not put there and so it belongs to everyone to use to the detriment of the person on whose land the resource was discovered."According to Gbomo, if Niger Delta people continue debating with the likes of Akinjide, another 50 years will pass without any result.Akinjide had, in a media publication entitled: "There is Still Fear of Secession", allegedly supported the on going Federal Government's military offensive against the militants, an action which civil society groups and prominent Niger Delta leaders have said claimed the lives of many innocent civilians.The former Attorney General of the Federation was said to have argued that oil and gas resources in the Niger Delta have always belonged to the Federal Government by virtue of the British Colonialist mineral ordinance law which rested all the oil in the central government in Lagos.Like Gbomo, the Chairman of the Niger Delta Civil Society Coalition (NDCSC) and a member of the Niger Delta Technical Committee, Mr. Anyankwe Nsirimovu, said he was disappointed by what he described as Akinjide's conjectures."This is very disappointing, coming from a man I thought I respected before now. He has expired, that is the best way to describe his out of currency ideas. Very remote and backward looking. 'His God given oil' indeed! But such ideas must be attacked, else they hold sway in shallow minds like his all over the land.After a protest at the Downing Street today, members of Niger Delta Solidarity Campaign will then proceed to the Nigerian High Commission and deliver another petition to the High Commissioner, Dr. Dalhatu Tafida.Both the co-ordinator of the Campaign, Inemo Samiama and an official of the High Commission, confirmed this to The Guardian yesterday. "We're aware that they're coming, they've informed us," the official said under condition of anonymity. Speaking with The Guardian moments later, Samiama said: "This campaign is not about the Ijaw or just the IPC (Ijaw Peoples Congress) issue, we've formed alliances with other organizations who will be coming out to support us." Revealing the modus operandi of the demonstration, Samiama said: "We will be at the Downing Street , chanting slogans and carrying placards and also singing between 12 noon and 2pm, but at exactly 2pm, we'll go to No 10 Downing Street (Prime Minister's office) to hand in our petition to the Prime Minister."Asked if Brown is aware that they'll be petitioning him and also demonstrating in the periphery of his office, Samiama answered in the affirmative. "No 10 is expecting us, we will deliver the letter to him and then move to the High Commission."The protest was being planned at the weekend as Col. Abubakar said the task force had uncovered a grand plan by "MEND intellectuals" in the Diaspora to engage in a smear campaign and propaganda against the JTF by linking them with different foreign bank accounts and houses abroad.According to him, the purported plan has it that the illegal oil bunkering which has been going on for a very long time was jointly perpetrated by some top army commanders for gratification which made them exceptionally rich with property and foreign accounts.He said: "The aim of this campaign is to tarnish the image of JTF and distract it from its task in the Niger Delta. The JTF therefore wishes to inform this group and any other group that it would not be intimidated and no amount of smear campaigns as being hatched by this group would deter it from carrying out its national duties."

Why Obama is going to Ghana By Reuben Abati

Posted by Akin Osunlaja WebLagosian on May 22, 2009 at 6:35am

"OL'boy, are you watching CNN now?" "No. I dey Tarmac dey chop life" "What are you chopping?" "Peppersoup. Correct isi ewu and nkwobi" "Be careful. You may be taking a typhoid concoction." "No. Oh. This one cures malaria. It is specially prepared. And the thing sweet no be small. Leave me make I chop the life of my head." "Look, that's not why I called. I think you should go and watch CNN right now. It is a sad day for Nigeria. In fact every Nigerian must hide his or her head in shame." "What is it again this time? Dis kin country wey no go let person rest. Problem today. Wahala tomorrow. To be a Nigerian na crime?" "Obama is visiting Africa in July and he is not coming to Nigeria" "And so? Is he a Nigerian? Let him go to his Kenya. Obama is coming to the land of his fathers. Is that why I should stop enjoying my nkwobi?" "Did you hear what I said? How many bottles have you taken? Obama is coming to Africa on a presidential visit in July and he is visiting Egypt and Ghana. He and Michelle, his wife, will spend two days in Ghana. I think that is an insult to Nigeria. I mean the Americans are deliberately rubbishing us." "But you should know why? That is America's own way of sending a strong message that they are unhappy with the situation in Nigeria." "That is why I am sad." "That is how the American foreign policy process works. It is based on a reward and sanctions principle, if you like - carrot and stick. America goes out of its way to reward countries that are doing well. It sanctions those that appear to be doing badly and a sanction can be in any form. Obama flying over Nigeria to go to Ghana is an act of snobbery. It is the most painful form of sanction" "But what is it that Egypt is doing well?" "It is a strategic choice. Egypt is a strategic U.S. ally in the Middle East and America's major bilateral partner." "Nigeria is also strategic. We sell crude oil to the United States. American oil companies are Nigeria's Joint Venture partners. We supported the U.S. African High Command in the Gulf of Guinea. We have a long history of relationship with the United States. We are the most powerful, the most populous..." "I beg. Leave that matter oh. Nigerians can't fool anybody with that slogan anymore. Don't you get it? You want Obama to come to Nigeria shortly after the shameful electoral process in Ekiti? You want him to visit Abuja and address your National Assembly? The same National Assembly where the lawmakers are being accused of corruption? You want Obama to attend a dinner in Nigeria where nearly all the people he would come across will be persons who organise the snatching of ballot boxes, the distribution of bribe, oil thieves, tax evaders, treasury looters, and aggressive Nigerian women who will be waiting for Michelle to go to the ladies for a second so they can swoop on the U.S. President, and squeeze their numbers into his palm? You think the Americans don't know?" "You are not serious. You should stand up for your country. We are not worse than Pakistan or Egypt, and even Obama's Kenya." "Obama is a brand apart from being the U.S. President. His handlers must have advised him that this is not a good time to visit Nigeria. And all those your countrymen and women in the United States are not helping matters. They are always telling the Americans that their country is a useless place." "You don't even need to blame those ones. The U.S. has an embassy here. They know what is going on. But it is just that I would have loved Obama to visit Nigeria, Nigerians worked very hard for that man's election." "Una vote for am?" "But he has more supporters in Nigeria than in Kenya. People bought Obama stickers and pasted on their cars. There is still an Obama billboard in Abuja. Obama photo portraits are being sold on the streets of Lagos. Musicians sang about him. Even market women campaigned for him. Not to talk of the Obama for Africa associations that tried to raise funds for his campaign. I also know many Nigerians in the U.S. who contributed to the Obama fund. I am even sure that if anybody had said Obama lost that election, bare-chested Nigerian women were ready to go onto the streets in protest. Someone said that was part of the calculations. " "You know you are actually talking about Nigerians who were using the Obama name to do business and make quick profit. By the way what happened to your sister's Obama fund campaign? You mean she and other members of the Obama for Africa movement cannot persuade the U.S. President to come to Nigeria first?" "Not fair. Obama should have visited Nigeria first. If only to come and say thank you to the Nigerian people. The U.S. Embassy will need to explain why we are being snubbed. We may not know how to organize free and fair elections, but we are a great nation." "Good people too... Tell them make dem hear." "I feel sad when I see how Ghana is now upstaging Nigeria in every respect." "Ghana organizes good elections. And its leaders are better organised and more disciplined. Obama's visit to Ghana is to encourage both the people and government of Ghana to remain the shining Black Star of the West African coast. And a way of telling Nigeria to get its acts together" "I know". "Besides, Ghana has discovered oil in commercial quantities. Soon, the United States will buy oil from Ghana and ignore Nigeria and its Niger Delta problems. Also, the U.S. has adopted a new four cardinal-point strategy in Africa. It includes South Africa, Kenya, Ghana and Egypt. Nigeria is not quite part of it." "I hope our leaders are getting the message" "They won't. Look, let's take a bet. I won't be surprised if in July, Nigerian leaders travel to Ghana to join the Ghanaians in receiving Obama. Can't you see that many Nigerians are now going to Ghana? Nigerian companies are setting up branches in Ghana, there are Nigerian-owned restaurants and shops in Accra, the population of Nigerian students in Ghanaian universities is very high and it keeps increasing. I know Nigerians who have bought homes in Ghana. Every weekend, they just hop across the border. It is 45 minutes by air. Accra is closer to Lagos than Abuja. So really, should we blame the Americans? Even Nigerians prefer to go to Ghana. In fact, I hear that Nigerians in Ghana are lobbying to be part of the Obama reception activities!" "There will always be shameless Nigerians. But we need to rebuild this country. There were more foreign dignitaries at Jacob Zuma's inauguration than there were at Yar'Adua's inauguration. Countries like Tanzania and Rwanda have better international recognition than Nigeria." "Don't worry yourself. In fact, if you ask me, I will recommend that President Yar'Adua should ask the Americans and the Ghanaians to invite him to the dinner for President Obama." "God forbid. We are a sovereign nation." "I know... I am sure somebody must have told Obama that they kidnap people in Nigeria. And he must have been advised not to put anything past those Niger Delta militants. They could organize and kidnap Obama and his wife. Or throw a shoe at him." "Kidnap who? Throw a shoe at who?" "Obama. Didn't somebody throw a shoe at George Bush in Baghdad?" "Now, I am convinced that you are drunk". "So why are you disturbing my drink with your sadness about Obama not coming to Nigeria? Okay, let me now play the Devil's advocate. Someone should go and tell that Obama that he does not know what he is missing. He should go and ask President Bill Clinton and President Jimmy Carter. Those are friends of Nigeria. When Clinton visited Nigeria, he enjoyed himself so much. Let Obama go to Ghana. He is free to prefer kenke to nkwobi. We are still the happiest people in the world and we thank God for that." "Who is talking about happiness?" "And tell President Yar'Adua not to worry. In fact, who are the Americans to tell us how to organize elections? We are a free country. We have the right to go to heaven the way we choose. President Yar'Adua should also organise a foreign trip. Let him fly over the United States and go to Canada, and from there let him go to Venezuela and Cuba on state visit. America too dey make yanga. Faure Gyassingbe Eyadema of Togo was here on a presidential visit, the same week they announced Obama's African trip. That was Nigeria's response to America's snobbery. Is Eyadema also not a President?" "The United States is the most powerful country in the world. Who is Faure Eyadema?" "Who talk so? Where were you when Maurice Iwu said we are in a position to teach America certain things about elections? Every country has its own strengths. Obama can go anywhere. Na him leg he dey take travel. That will not stop me from eating isi ewu... Baby, do you want another drink. Eh, another bottle for my darling here..." "What's that?" "I wasn't talking to you." "Looks like whatever you are doing there is beginning to get to you. May be we should continue this conversation later." "No. Don't worry. You think I am drunk? Na only bottle fit get drunk. Me, I am a human being. Anything else?" "I am just sad. We are failing at home. We are losing international goodwill." "You have said that before. Stop moaning. It's no big deal." "Our President even wanted to visit the United States, they said no." "Look, if it is about this Obama visit, forget it. On second thoughts, may be it is even a blessing in disguise. If the man had chosen to visit Nigeria, that would have been an opportunity for Nigerians to loot the treasury. By the time the man leaves, every state treasury will be near-empty. And we could have an Obama visit scandal on our hands. And come to think of it, you know Obama likes to play basketball. Suppose he invites President Yar'Adua while visiting to a game of basketball, one on one, and the man out of politeness agrees. And you know President Yar'Adua doesn't play basketball, he only plays squash. Me, I thank God o." "Good for the Ghanaians". "Don't worry, you can watch the visit on AIT, Channels TV etc live."

Yaradua Girls Chronicles : Want to be president ? just marry one !

Posted by Choochoo Sports Book on April 27, 2009 at 8:30pm

At least The suitors are getting beautiful wives cant say if OBJs daughters ... shuo make i shut up b4 SSS come carry me o !The Yar’Adua girls

have simply become the hottest merchandise for most of Nigeria’s opportunistic, treasure-hunting elites and some wealthy but failed husbands. Next on the betrothal line is Aisha Yar`Adua, the beautiful 22-year old daughter of President Umaru Musa Yar`Adua , who in a couple of months will tie her nuptial.Though diamonds are described as a girl`s best friend, nuptial dates are certainly a girl`s happiest day and the dream of every father. President Yar`Adua’s giving away of his seven daughters, 9jabook.com learnt may after all be his seven-point agenda for his family.President Musa Yar`duaThe question now is, who will she be joined to? Recently she was sighted in social circles with an oil dealer, whom she introduced as her fiancé to a 9jabook.com source. However, emerging feelers suggest that there are subterranean moves by a certain Governor, with very close ties to the Yar`Adua, family, to join the race to land beautiful Aisha.Tagged third-point agenda, Aisha `s nuptial race will certainly be an exciting one to watch as there are indication that the list of contenders are getting longer than the list of pretenders.9jabook.com checks reveals that the traditional route to financial success in Nigeria are hard work, risk-taking and maybe building one’s own business, but lately, marrying money has become the latest trend in the path to acquiring wealth that isn't talked about quite as much these days.Even after people acquire wealth, their insatiable appetite still want more. They want more money and ultimately they want power. The desperate quest for power in Nigeria`s political circles has made politician, of northern extract to fall over themselves in the bid to marry one of President Yar’Adua`s girl who have literally become a prized trophy in elite circles.Yar’dua`s first daughter

married the Governor of Kebbi state. Since the marriage, life has not been the same for Kebbi state governor and his cronies, as things drastically became better. Our checks reveal that the incumbent minister of FCT, got his plump job because of the union.Could be recalled that in May 2007, Adamu Aliero, anointed, the present governor of Kebbi state to succeed him. As an act of appreciation, the godfather was elevated to the FCT ministry, after Zainab’s marriage. Impeccable sources confided in 9jabook.com that Adamu Aliero was made minister by Zainab. In the spirit of keeping it in the family, it was Adamu Aliero who told Nigerians that President Umaru Yar`Adua will seek a second term in office.Recently, the governor of Bauchi state, Isah Yaguda also married Nafisa

, Yar’dua`s second daughter, since then he has become a major player in Nigeria’s power circles, though he belonged to the opposition party, he has since crossed to the PDP. As a result of this union, Yuguda has been tipped to replace the Central Bank Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo when his tenure elapses. However, sources reveal that his young wife Nafisa, like her mom, Turai has keen interest in being first lady. Though she is wife number four, she is scheming to supplant the three older wives, but, the reigning first lady of Bauchi state, is not giving up her position without a fight, but sources within government circles in Bauchi state, said, “considering the fact that Isa Yuguda is a very ambitious man, she is likely to lose to Nafisa.”

Ghana : Glo Mobile to commence Operations in August

Posted by Egbes Ogbeide on May 20, 2009 at 2:06am

Sources close to CITI BUSINESS say Nigerian telecommunications giants Glo Mobile intends to commence operations in Ghana in August this year, under the name Glo Mobile Ghana.According to information gathered by Citi Business, officials of GLO and Marketing Communications Agencies have met in Naija, LAGOS to fashion out strategies for the launch of the network in Ghana.Prominent among the agencies were global giants, TBWA and JWT both with their African headquarters in South Africa.The entry of the Nigerian telecommunication giant will bring to number, six mobile companies in the country, a situation which will further stretch competition in the country.Already customers in the country have a choice to switch mobile networks with ease and the addition of Glo should bring a further dimension of choice into the market.It is recalled the Globacom was awarded a license from the country’s National Communications Authority (NCA) last June in a deal worth 50.1 million dollars.The NCA said at that time that it was looking forward the Nigerian entity’s enormous contribution to telecom development in Ghana.

A last coin to my friends please forward

Posted by 9jabook.com on May 19, 2009 at 11:53pm

UNEMPLOYED GRADUATE: An unemployed graduate woke up one morning and checked his pocket. All he had left was N10. He decided to use it to buy food and then wait for death as he was too proud to go begging. He was frustrated as he could find no job, and nobody was ready to help him. He bought food and as he sat down to eat, an old man and two little children came along and asked him to help them with food as they had not eaten for almost a week. He looked at them. They were so lean that he could see their bones coming out. Their eyes had gone into the socket. With the last bit of compassion he had, he gave them the food. The old man and children prayed that God would bless and prosper him and then gave him a very old coin. The young graduate said to them 'you need the prayer more than I do'. With no money, no job, no food, the young graduate went under the bridge to rest and wait for death. As he was about to sleep, he saw an old newspaper on the ground. He picked it up, and suddenly he saw an advertisement for people with old coins to come to a certain address. He decided to go there with the old coin the old man gave him. On getting to the place, he gave the proprietor the coin. The proprietor screamed, brought out a big book and showed the young graduate a photograph. This same old coin was worth 3 million Naira. The young graduate was overjoyed as the proprietor gave him a bank draft for 3 million Naira within an hour. He collected the Bank Draft and went in search of the old man and little children. By the time he got to where he left them eating, they had gone. He asked the owner of the canteen if he knew them. He said no but they left a note for you. He quickly opened the note thinking it would lead him to find them. This is what the note said: 'You gave us your all and we have rewarded you back with the coin,' signed God the Father, Have you given all to God? If you haven't, do so today and he will surprise you. PRAYER: Here is your financial blessing! It's a simple prayer, you've got 30 seconds. If you need a financial blessing, continue reading this e-mail. Heavenly Father, most Gracious and Loving God, I pray to you that you abundantly Bless my family and me. I know that you recognize, that a family is more than just a mother, father, sister, brother husband and wife, but all Who believe and trust in you. Father, I send up a prayer request for financial blessing for not only the person who sent this to me, but for Me and all that I have forwarded this message on to. And that the power of joined prayer by those who believe and trust in you is more powerful than anything. I thank you in advance for your blessings. Father God, deliver the person reading this right now and those who will read it in the near future from debt and debt burdens. Release your Godly wisdom that I may be a good steward over all that You have given me Father, for I know how wonderful and mighty You are and how if we just obey You and walk in Your word and have the faith of a Mustard seed that You will pour out blessings. I thank You now Lord for the recent blessings I have received and for the blessings yet to come Because I know You are not done with me yet. I pray, Amen SEND THIS TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS AND YOU WILL BE BLESSED...

Houseboy aids robbers to attack boss

Posted by Akin Osunlaja WebLagosian on May 19, 2009 at 7:18pm

The police in Lagos have arrested a houseboy, Israel Adewale, for allegedly providing information and facilitating the entrance of criminals who robbed his master and battered his daughter. Adewale, who was rescued from remand home by his boss, Emuze Phillip, with the belief that he could be rehabilitated, was arrested with two other suspects, John Patrick and Dapo Sodiq. It was gathered that three robbery suspects raided Emmanuel Osakwe Street, Egbeda residence of Phillip at 12 midnight on Thursday without breaking any door. The suspects beat the man and his daughter who had just completed her youth service thoroughly and raided every room in the house before making away with valuables that they could find in their victim's Honda Accord marked HU 859 AB. Meanwhile, four young men are currently helping the Ogun State Police Command in uncovering the mystery surrounding two human skulls found in their possession in Ijebu Igbo by the police. The four men, including two herbalists, Tunde Ajenifuja, and Abiodun Adetayo, the police alleged, sponsored Shina Suleiman and Yomi Aregbe to source for the human heads for undisclosed reasons. In a statement in Abeokuta on Monday by the Police Public Relations Officer of the command, Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi, the police claimed that the suspects were nabbed after an informant hinted the police that he had seen some men with human skulls in Oke-Agbo area of the town. He said, "Immediately, the police swung into action and arrested two suspects (Shina Suleiman and Yomi Aregbe). It was revealed that the suspects were sponsored by two herbalists - Tunde Ajenifuja and Abiodun Adetayo - who were subsequently arrested by the police with the human skulls."

Manhunt for Ijaw - Dokubo-Asari escapes Mend tells Vice President to Resign youths relocate to Bayelsa

Posted by Akin Osunlaja WebLagosian on May 19, 2009 at 7:07pm

PROMINENT Ijaw elders and youth leaders in Warri went into hiding on Monday as soldiers embarked on the arrest of some known Ijaw youths that had links with known militants in the state. The fully armed soldiers were sighted at a five-star hotel in Effurun, in search of known militants in the town and suspected commanders of Government Ekpomukpolo, the leader of the recently destroyed Camp 5 in Oporoza in Warri South-West Local Government Area of the state. Former militant leader, Alhaji Mujahideen Dokubo-Asari, narrowly escaped arrest on Sunday at the hotel, where he organised an event, when undercover security agents stormed the place to allegedly effect his arrest. Soldiers continued the bombardment of the riverside communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom in search of the remnants of Ekpomukpolo and his boys in the area in line with the directive by the Presidency to “fish him out, dead or alive.” Monday’s onslaught led to the destruction of Iroko militants’ camp, located close to the former camp 5 in Oporoza at about 6.00 a.m. after a heavy gun batlle between the soldiers and hoodlums. Co-ordinator of Joint Media Campaign Centre, Colonel Rabe Abubakar revealed that fierce resistance by the militants resulted in the gun-duel between the JTF’s troops and the miscreants, adding that this led “ to the killing of a majority of them, even as others fled with gunshot wounds. There was no casualty on JTF’s side.” He disclosed that large quantity of arms and ammunition and other military accessories were recovered from the thick forest areas dump of the camp. Security has been beefed around Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, following text messages being circulated and credited to Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta, alleging that he was behind the ordeal of Ijaw. But Izon traditional rulers from the Ijaw communities in the state, in a communique read to journalists in Warri, did not only dissociate the governor from the crisis but also commended him for what they called his relentless effort and display of high sense of responsibility towards ensuring an amicable resolution of the crisis in Gbaramatu Kingdom. While expressing deep shock and dismay at the destruction of life and property, the traditional rulers appealed to President Umaru Yar’Adua to put an end to the continued use of military force in the search for a workable solution to the problems in the waterways. In a related development, there are indications that the ongoing assault on militants in Gbaramatu Kingdom by the troops of the Joint Task Force might be extended to the neighbouring Bayelsa State following security reports that some of the fleeing militants were converging on the state. Security sources told the Nigerian Tribune that intelligence reports indicated that the remnants of militants dislodged from the various camps in Delta State were regrouping in Bayelsa State with the intention of dragging the crisis to the state. “They realised that they have lost all their camps and suspected hideouts in Delta State because of our continued onslaught, so they have decided to regroup in Bayelsa State to further drag us to the area. We are ready for them, anywhere they are, we will get them,” the security source said. Colonel Abubakar, confirmed the development. He said the “ JTF, through its credible source, has confirmed that the remnants from destroyed militants camps, are regrouping in Bayelsa State with the intention of unleashing terror on the innocent citizens in that area.” In another development, the main militant group, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has asked Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan to quit his position over the continued bombardment of Ijaw communities by federal troops. This is just as Ijaw National Congress (INC) has condemned the use of force to resolve the crisis in the region, calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities. “Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has an opportunity to quit a government that has no iota of respect for him. If the president can snub him after the genocide over his people, then the post of vice-president is not worth it,” MEND spokesman Jomo Gbomo said in a statement issued on Monday. The militants, Gbomo warned, had been ordered to block key waterway channels to oil industry vessels both for the export of crude and gas and importation of refined petroleum products. Meanwhile, Action Congress (AC) chieftain, Prince Tonye Princewill, on Monday tendered his resignation as the Chairman of the Niger Delta sub-committee on the Federal Government’s Vision 2020 Technical Group over the killing and displacement of civilians in the current crisis in the Niger Delta. Princewill said in a statement issued in Port Harcourt that the current fighting was an indictment of leadership of the President Umaru Yar’Adua and showed Presidency’s lack of interest and commitment to the Niger Delta issue. He stated in his letter that military onslaught was not the best option as the Niger Delta Technical Committee, of which he was a member, had made recommendations and suggestions on how to address the Niger Delta problem. Part of his resignation letter reads, “After reading and monitoring of the ongoing carnage perpetrated by the military of the Federal Government and with the obvious connivance of the Presidency against my people in the Niger Delta region and with pronounced lack of interest and commitment towards addressing the Niger Delta issue, I, Prince Tonye TJT Princewill, after due consultation with my family and political associates consider it wise to hereby tender my resignation letter as the Chairman of the Sub Committee on Niger Delta of FG Vision 2020.” Meanwhile, the military high command on Monday told what it called the criminal elements in the Niger Delta that enough was enough and that it would fish them all out and bring them to book. Defence spokesman, Colonel Chris Jemitola, who gave the warning at a media briefing on the current security situation in the Niger Delta, accused the militants of deliberate and repeated unprovoked attacks on Joint Task Force troops, and the sabotage of oil and gas facilities, kidnapping for ransom of people and killing of innocent citizens of the society, including children, clergy men and very old citizens. The Director of Defence Information denied that no communities were razed down as collateral damage was kept to the barest minimum during the operation. Tracing the genesis of the current onslaught against the militants, Jemitola said that last Wednesday members of the JTF “Operation Restore Hope” on routine escort duties around Chanomi creek were ambushed by a militant group leading to the unfortunate and painful loss of some military personnel. According to him, prior to this an NNPC-chartered tanker CM Spirit had been hijacked with its foreign crew and some Nigerians on board. He disclosed that the vessel was run aground by the militants who also stole some of the cargoes while the crew members were tortured leading to the death of some of them and the rest held hostage. The Defence spokesman said that the JTF’s search and rescue team sent to free the hostages was attacked again by the militants, while the search led to the discovery of a large cache of illegal arms and ammunition used for acts of criminality. He noted that at no time were members of the JTF the aggressors, adding, “in fact, the JTF is only allowed the use of force in self defence or where arrest of a criminal is being resisted; extra care is taken to reduce collateral damage to the barest.” Colonel Jemitola said that Nigerians had also seen the kidnapping and harassment of site workers and contractors carrying out socio-economic development of the area. “These are all acts of criminality that cannot be condoned by any government and no responsible military leadership will fold its arms and watch its personnel attacked and killed on official assignment by any criminal gangs hence the military was left with no choice than to go after these criminals in order to bring them to book.”

Obamas to visit Ghana not Nigeria ! First Visit to Africa as president

Posted by Akin Osunlaja WebLagosian on May 17, 2009 at 6:10am

By the White House Statement by the Press Secretary on Upcoming Travel by the President. The President

is scheduled to travel to Moscow, Russia, July 6 to 8 at the invitation of President Medvedev. The summit meeting will provide an opportunity for the United States and the Russian Federation to deepen engagement on reducing nuclear weapons, cooperating on non-proliferation, exploring ways to cooperate on missile defense, addressing mutual threats and security challenges, and expanding the ties between American and Russian society and business. The President will then attend the G-8 Summit in L’Aquila,Italy, from July 8 to 10. The Summit and related meetings with world leaders from emerging and African economies will provide an opportunity for the United States to engage with its partners on a broad range of issues. The President will also chair a meeting of the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate while at L’Aquila. The President and Mrs. Obama will visit Accra, Ghana, from July 10 to 11. While in Ghana, the President will discuss a range of bilateral and regional issues with Ghanaian President Mills. The President and Mrs. Obama look forward to strengthening the U.S. relationship with one of our most trusted partners in sub-Saharan Africa, and to highlighting the critical role that sound governance and civil society play in promoting lasting development.

Approaches to Content Generation

Posted by Akin Osunlaja WebLagosian on May 12, 2009 at 4:56pm

Tuesday, 3rd March 2009 Old School Wait…I’ve seen this one before. Yeah, it was on my old blog before I let my blog die. Oh yeah, I let it die again btw, but whatcha gonna do? As this is an old post, I may or may not agree with everything I said back in ‘08. So anyway here is a vintage post: At first glance you would assume this post is going to be geared towards hardened Google spammers and the general “blackhat” community. Whilst it is true that this will probably appeal to SE spammers much more than your average Joe, I think it will still be an interesting read for people. Myself, I find it a fascinating thought that a computer could be writing intelligent content at hundreds of times the speed of a human. The whole notion of a computer doing something that we can call ourselves an expert in, is scary. We all (probably) accept that computers can replace humans for efficiency in a large amount of unskilled jobs. Computers accept that a new battery here and there is all they are going to get for their hard work, they accept that we want something to work 24/7 without 30 minute tea breaks every 20 minutes and well, they accept what we tell them to accept really. Some good examples of where computers do unskilled work are: comment spam, monitoring rankings and cracking CAPTCHAs (though it is debatable whether that is unskilled work at times). The problems with trying to apply computer to tasks arise when you make that task a skilled task. Can a computer produce art? I would say no. Can a computer produce a website template? Yes. Can a computer produce an Article? Yes. Can it create inspiring poetry? No. The difference between the no and yes is creativity. The way I see computers now, are very primitive minds. I think the human mind runs on rules, just as a computer. A human mind simple has a larger number of rules. Now, I’m going to stop before I ramble on about rules for a whole article. Simply, the reason computers can write an article but not create art, is that to write correctly there is a set of rules that we can understand and put into code. Whereas we can’t put creativity and emotion into code, because we simply do not understand it yet. Now, onwards! Lets explore the different approaches to content generation, how close they are to AI and how they fare in Google. Scraping AI Rating: 1/10 - Whilst you could argue that copying content is just like human behaviour, It’s not really AI. I’m letting it have a 1, but only because it collects the content using a keyword, so it is related content. Effectiveness: 7/10 - Despite Google ‘fixing’ the duplicate content issues in it’s algorithm, you can still rank a blog based entirely on duplicate content. It’s also readable to the general public and more importantly, makes sense and has a point to it. My Rating: 1/10 - I can’t find much exciting to say about scraped content. It’s not particularly advanced, so I don’t feel very elite when I’m scraping. Scrape & Shuffle AI Rating: 1/10 - About as intelligent as just scraping. In fact, in terms of AI, it’s a step down from just scraping. You take intelligent content then crap all over the rules of language syntax. Effectiveness: 4/10 - Will do a bit better in Google than the scraped content, but it isn’t readable to anyone so it makes zero sense. My Rating: 1/10 - Meh. Don’t like it. It destroys perfectly good content. Synonym Replacement AI Rating: 4/10 - Not bad in terms of intelligence, it understands the meaning of the word and switches the word for another word meaning the same thing. Relies on thesauri to form its intelligence, so need an intelligent human at the back end. Effectiveness: 7/10 - Makes sense most of the time and is unique-ish content. Problems can arise if you don’t scrape enough data and start repeating sentences with only 2 out of the 10+ in that sentence altered. It’s likely to fly under the radar in the current Google landscape, but could see its arse get kicked right out of the index in the future. My Rating: 6/10 - Good simple idea, makes sense to do it, but it’s not my favourite. Markov AI Rating: 7/10 - Pretty clever idea. Uses statistics it has gathered to estimate what word is likely to follow the previous word. Effectiveness: 8/10 - If the Markov script is created so it looks back slightly further the just one word, it could produce very good content, rivaling that of a human. Though the further you look back, the more likely you are to end up with just duplicate content, unless you train your script VERY hard. My Rating: 7/10 - Good stuff, I really like the idea of using statistics of collected data to statistically predict how content should be formed. When I first heard of a Markov script, I thought it just shuffled words randomly and I came up with the idea of somehow using statistics to predict which word should follow the last - then I found out what a Markov really did. So it’s a good idea :) (If you think I made that story up to sound clever - you can GTFO). Scratch writing to syntax How I generate content I use scratch writing from syntax for my content generation, it is my weapon of choice. Here is a basic outline of how I do it. * Step 1 - Grab keywords/phrases related to the root keyword. * Step 2 - Run the keywords/phrases through a POS (part-of-speech) tagger to figure out what type of word they are, i.e. Verb, determiner, noun. * Step 3 - Generate sentences based on a large database of keywords and sentence structures obtained from running the script through the wikipedia database, matching sentences to phrase patterns if necessary. AI Rating: 9/10 - This is elite in terms of AI. It produces text based on the rules of writing a sentence, just like a human brain. It almost has an understanding of correct sentence structure and could be modified so it could actually think up it’s own sentence structures, just like a human brain. It has a large database of word with an understanding of how each fits in a sentence and around other words, just like a human brain. One thing it can’t do, is understand meanings of words which can cause problems when your sentences come out like this, “The very large ball was very small”. Though on the whole, you should get pretty good content that is readable. Effectiveness: 8/10 - When a machine generates content using basically the same process as a human, how can you tell the difference? It is very difficult. The only things that let this approach down, is the fact it has no understanding of what words mean and it also is slower than the other methods My Rating: 9/10 - Love it, love it, love it. It is getting very close to AI, it produces unique and on the whole, readable content. The Content Generation Future The way I see it evolving and the way I will be going is a combination of Markov and scratch writing to syntax. Combining the understanding of natural language syntax and the understanding of natural word patterns could produce a very powerful content generator. If you want to better understand all the elements of natural language processing and natural language generation, Wikipedia and University websites/papers are the way to go.

How to argue effectively

Posted by 9jabook.com on April 3, 2009 at 8:30pm

I argue very well. Ask any of my remaining friends. I can win an argument on any topic, against any opponent. People know this and steer clear of me at parties. Often, as a sign of their great respect, they don't even invite me. You too can win arguments. Simply follow these rules: # Drink liquor. Suppose you are at a party and some hotshot intellectual is expounding on the economy of Peru, a subject you know nothing about. If you're drinking some health-fanatic drink like grapefruit juice, you'll hang back, afraid to display your ignorance, while the hotshot enthralls your date. But if you drink several large martinis, you'll discover you have STRONG VIEWS about the Peruvian economy. You'll be a WEALTH of information. You'll argue forcefully, offering searing insights and possibly upsetting furniture. People will be impressed. Some may leave the room. # Make things up. Suppose, in the Peruvian economy argument, you are trying to prove that Peruvians are underpaid, a position you base solely on the fact that YOU are underpaid, and you'll be damned if you're going to let a bunch of Peruvians be better off. DON'T say: "I think Peruvians are underpaid." Say instead: "The average Peruvian's salary in 1981 dollars adjusted for the revised tax base is $1,452.81 per annum, which is $836.07 before the mean gross poverty level." NOTE: Always make up exact figures. If an opponent asks you where you got your information, make THAT up too. Say: "This information comes from Dr. Hovel T. Moon's study for the Buford Commission published on May 9, 1982. Didn't you read it?" Say this in the same tone of voice you would use to say, "You left your soiled underwear in my bathroom." Use meaningless but weighty-sounding words and phrases. Memorize this list: * Let me put it this way * In terms of * Vis-a-vis * Per se * As it were * Qua * So to speak You should also memorize some Latin abbreviations such as "Q.E.D.", "e.g.", and "i.e." These are all short for "I speak Latin, and you don't." Here's how to use these words and phrases. Suppose you want to say, "Peruvians would like to order appetizers more often, but they don't have enough money." You never win arguments talking like that. But you WILL win if you say, "Let me put it this way. In terms of appetizers vis-a-vis Peruvians qua Peruvians, they would like to order them more often, so to speak, but they do not have enough money per se, as it were. Q.E.D." Only a fool would challenge that statement. # Use snappy and irrelevant comebacks. You need an arsenal of all-purpose irrelevant phrases to fire back at your opponents when they make valid points. The best are: * You're begging the question. * You're being defensive. * Don't compare apples to oranges. * What are your parameters? This last one is especially valuable. Nobody (other than engineers and policy wonks) has the vaguest idea what "parameters" means. Don't forget the classic: YOU'RE SO LINEAR. Here's how to use your comebacks: You say: As Abraham Lincoln said in 1873... Your opponent says: Lincoln died in 1865. You say: You're begging the question. You say: Liberians, like most Asians... Your opponent says: Liberia is in Africa. You say: You're being defensive. # Compare your opponent to Adolf Hitler. This is your heavy artillery, for when your opponent is obviously right and you are spectacularly wrong. Bring Hitler up subtly. Say, "That sounds suspiciously like something Adolf Hitler might say," or "You certainly do remind me of Adolf Hitler."

US NEWS :Brian Dawkins to give tickets to fired Eagles employee

Posted by 9jabook.com on April 3, 2009 at 6:47pm

ept_sports_nfl_experts-753263226-1238786092.jpg?ymsQ_CBDLLlVHCNy

By Chris Chase Last month, Dan Leone was fired from his part-time job with the Philadelphia Eagles after criticizing the team for letting veteran Brian Dawkins leave via free agency. Leone was a seasonal game day employee, which meant he worked during the Eagles' 10 home dates each season. His termination meant he would have been unlikely to attend any of those games in 2009. But now help is coming from an unexpected source. Dawkins signed with the Denver Broncos, who happen to be playing in Philly this season. Since each visiting player gets two tickets to away games, the 35-year-old defensive back decided to give his allotment for the contest in Philadephia to Leone. Dawkins told the Philadelphia Daily News: "I thought it'd be a good gesture. Had I not ... signed with Denver, that guy would still have his job. Obviously, he made a decision and out of emotion said something. He was one of probably thousands and thousands of Eagles fans who felt that way. That didn't surprise me, that someone said that on their Facebook. It did surprise me that he was let go, though ... I felt it would be a good thing, to reach out to that individual and just let him know how much I appreciate it.'' Well played, Brian Dawkins. It's becoming clear to see why most people in Philly didn't want to see a class act like Dawkins leave town.

Madonna's application to adopt a second child from Malawi has been rejected

Posted by Akin Osunlaja WebLagosian on April 2, 2009 at 11:38pm

The pop star will not be allowed to adopt three-year-old Mercy James, ruled the High Court in the capital, Lilongwe. Court registrar Ken Manda said the singer's bid to adopt the girl - previously believed to be aged four - had been rejected because Madonna is not a resident of Malawi. The case has stirred up controversy in the tiny, impoverished African nation where some human rights campaigners have accused the 50-year-old of child "kidnapping". They claim she has used her fame and money to by-pass the official adoption procedures. Madonna, who has spent the past six days in the country touring her charity projects, has refused to comment but her spokeswoman issued a statement denying any rules had been broken. On Monday, the US singer attended an hour-long hearing in the chambers of Mrs Justice Chomba. "She is not skirting any legal issues in her application to adopt this child and is looking to provide a loving family environment and the best education and healthcare possible for a child who has been in an orphanage since her birth," Liz Rosenburg said. Malawi's government has expressed its support for the star, who was subjected to similar criticism two years ago when she began her adoption of another Malawian child, David Banda. The boy, now three, is accompanying Madonna on her visit to Malawi, along with her other children Lourdes, 12, and eight-year-old Rocco. The country's Information Minister Patricia Kaliati praised the singer for her charity work in Malawi and said she had proved she was a good mother to David. "Very few rich and famous people can take time to fly all the way to Malawi to support our children. We support her adoption process," Ms Kaliati said. The court ruling had been expected to go Madonna's way after Mercy James was allowed to stay with her at a luxury lodge in Lilongwe. She had been expected to take the child with her when she flies home to New York at the weekend. Malawi has a million orphans, as a result of Aids, poor healthcare and poverty. Several charities, including Save the Children, have accused Madonna of setting a bad example. They said efforts to help orphaned children should focus on keeping the children in their own communities and supporting extended families so they can care for them.

Saudi judge upholds man's marriage to 8-year-old !

Posted by 9jabook.com on April 12, 2009 at 2:00am

Story Highlights Saudi judge stands by decision, refuses to annul marriage of girl, 8 Girl's father arranged her marriage to a 47-year-old to settle debts, lawyer says Appeals court declined to certify original ruling, sent case back to judge Girl's mother says she will continue to seek daughter's divorce By Mohammed Jamjoom CNN (CNN) -- A Saudi mother is expected to appeal a judge's ruling after he once again refused to let her 8-year-old daughter divorce a 47-year-old man, a relative said. Sheikh Habib Al-Habib made the ruling Saturday in the Saudi city of Onaiza. Late last year, he rejected a petition to annul the marriage. The case, which has drawn criticism from local and international rights groups, came to light in December when Al-Habib declined to annul the marriage on a legal technicality. His dismissal of the mother's petition sparked outrage and made headlines around the world. The judge said the mother, who is separated from the girl's father, was not the legal guardian and therefore could not represent her daughter, the mother's lawyer, Abdullah al-Jutaili, said at the time. The girl's husband pledged not to consummate the marriage until the girl reaches puberty, according to al-Jutaili, who added that the girl's father arranged the marriage to settle his debts with the man, who is considered "a close friend." In March, an appeals court in the Saudi capital of Riyadh declined to certify the original ruling, in essence rejecting al-Habib's verdict, and sent the case back to al-Habib for reconsideration. Under the Saudi legal process, the appeals court ruling meant that the marriage was still in effect, but that a challenge to the marriage was still ongoing. The relative, who said the girl's mother will continue to pursue a divorce, told CNN the judge "stuck by his earlier verdict and insisted that the girl could petition the court for a divorce once she reached puberty." The appeals court in Riyadh will take up the case again and a hearing is scheduled for next month, according to the relative. Child marriages have made news in Saudi Arabia in the past year. In a statement issued shortly after the original verdict, the Society of Defending Women's Rights in Saudi Arabia said the judge's decision went against children's "basic rights." Marrying children makes them "lose their sense of security and safety," the group said. "Also, it destroys their feeling of being loved and nurtured. It causes them a lifetime of psychological problems and severe depression." Zuhair al-Harithi, a spokesman for the Saudi Human Rights Commission, a government-run group, told CNN that his organization was fighting child marriages. "Child marriages violate international agreements that have been signed by Saudi Arabia and should not be allowed," al-Harithi said. Child marriage is not unusual, said Christoph Wilcke, a Saudi Arabian researcher for the international group Human Rights Watch, after the initial verdict. "We've been hearing about these types of cases once every four or five months because the Saudi public is now able to express this kind of anger, especially so when girls are traded off to older men," Wilcke told CNN.

Pressure Mounts on Dangote to resign as SEC probes Afribank Registrars

Posted by 9jabook.com on March 30, 2009 at 9:36pm

The rivalry between Nigeria`s richest duo, Aliko Dangote and Femi Otedola has taken a turn for the worse with pressure mounting on Dangote to resign his post as vice chairman of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) over perceived conflict of interests in the unfolding financial saga that has seen the SEC suspend and fined Nova Finances Securities owned by Eugene Anenih, a Dangote proxy. The SEC suspended Nova Finance Securities last Thursday March 26, 2009 after investigations uncovered unethical practices. The SEC investigation, Huhuonline learnt, triggered off another investigation into Afribank Registrars; accused of aiding and abetting the unethical practices by Nova Finance Securities. Sources within Afribank Registrars - who are registrar to AP plc - told Huhuonline that the SEC'S complaint rests on the failure of Afribank Registrars' internal control mechanism to detect or prevent the dubious transactions by Nova Finance Securities and that its records were falsified to cover up the illegal transactions. Aliko Dangote The suspension and fine of Nova Finances & Securities may not be evidence of the guilt of Afribank Registrars but it provides the clearest evidence of the complicity of the group of Dangote consortium partners in masterminding the fraud. After several months of denial, the suspension of Nova Finances is a very sad illustration of the way business is done in Nigeria and the mindless audacity of some people in authority like Dangote who remains vice-president of the Nigerian Stock Exchange. (NSE) As pressure continues to mount, the race to succeed the embattled Dangote by those who believe-or perhaps know-that he be will axed, should he fail to resign, may have begun in earnest. And a few names have been touted. But, curiously, Dangote is yet to sever all his ties to Nova. CSCS document made available to Huhuonline revealed that during the period under review, Dangote and Nova with the assistance of Afribank Registrars fraudulently swapped a total volume of five hundred thousand units of irredeemable non-cumulative convertible preference shares in ten different transactions, which were admitted to the daily official lost of the Nigerian Stock Exchange. The ensuing panic and loss of share value created a scary scenario for AP investors. The resultant effect was shareholders lost of confidence in AP shares, leading to a massive exodus of existing shareholders, who hurriedly offloaded their AP shares and precipitating a sharp decline in its price. Some of the former AP investors, who spoke to Huhuonline, said “they just wanted to get out of the investment, and had no regard for the price at which they sold”. Despite the fine and suspension of Nova Finance Securities, and the SEC’s threat to sanction operators caught on unethical practices especially, on insider and cross-share trading, it appears the warning is not being taken seriously as practitioners are engaged in premium price war in an attempt to edge out competitors. “Nova and Aliko were just crossing shares between themselves, there were no money exchanged; rather they were even loosing money by paying commissions for the swaps”, the chief executive of an investment firm told Huhuonline, adding: “the practice of cross-share trading is a common tactic within the industry. The SEC should not merely issue threats and small fines; it has the facts and profiles of all operators to ban or impose huge sanctions on those companies that are involved in these unorthodox practices but it has failed to do so.” The growing calls for his resignation from the NSE came hard on the heels of another unsavory development in the unfolding saga. The latest salvo involves a text message, currently making the rounds, and said to have been originated by Otedola. The text message, featuring the names of some married women who had allegedly engaged in extra-marital affairs with Dangote, was described by one source as Dangote’s “black box”. It contains information whose potential impact might cause considerable embarrassment to Dangote and some of his political allies, a source told Huhuonline. Dangote’s proxies have accused Otedola of employing blackmail and other crude underhand tactics to punch below the belt. But Otedola’s supporters have denied any involvement.

Letter to NEPA

Posted by 9jabook.com on January 6, 2009 at 4:43am

September 17, 2008 The Area Manager, NEPA, Lagos Dear Sir, COMPLAINT ABOUT YOUR SERVICES I am writing to you with a deep sense of humility and gentleness. I consider this a great opportunity to communicate with an entity as awe-inspiring as you. Firstly, I bring greetings to you from residents of my area in Lagos. As a dutiful citizen, I consider this letter as part of my civic responsibilities. Great countries comprise of citizens who are alive to their responsibilities. As a famous musician once said, "Ask not what your country can eat from you but what you can eat from your country.” I have benefited immensely from this country; therefore I have decided to give back. I want to bring to your notice some strange occurrences which have been happening in my area. I want to sadly inform you that in the last 2 weeks, electricity has been stable. In other words, we sleep and wake up with electricity, we go to work and come back and electricity is still running. This is terribly new and It has added DANGEROUS development in the lives of residents of my area. This is something we are not used to. There is too much electricity for us to handle. In the first week of constant electricity, I started acting strangely. I ironed all my clothes because I didn't know when 'light' will be impounded on your orders. After 2 days, the 'light' was still there. Therefore, I proceeded to re-iron the ironed clothes. My fridge which had not seen '4 hours' of constant light for months suddenly started freezing. In order to enjoy the maximum effects of refrigeration, I have decided to be drinking 20 cups of cold water before I go to sleep. Once I finish a cup, I put the bottle back into the fridge. After 10 minutes, the water cools and I drink. I just don't know what to do. All the Ceiling fans in my house have been switched on alongside my AC. My deck is playing at a high level. My life is now in state of chaos because of constant 'light'. My TV and VCD player are complaining of high blood pressure, as they have been terribly overworked in the last few weeks. Half of my light bulbs have gone on strike to protest their resurrection from blissful death. All the customers in the beer parlour beside my house are complaining that the beer is too cold and wants to destroy their teeth. Even the rats and cockroaches are complaining that human assailants find it easier to track and exterminate them under electric light than under candlelight. All the witches and wizards that regularly visited me in my sleep have suddenly taken flight in the presence of "light". Now I have to review my membership of MFM (Mountain of Fire and Miracles) since their work has been done. Can you imagine what will happen to the membership of churches if constant 'light' persists? No more demons, meaning No more offerings!! Kai!!!!!!!!! With the above situation not abating, I decided to seek the reason behind this strange situation. This task was made easy for me when I realized that it was the work of saboteurs. Sabotage is the main reason for anything going wrong or right in our country. Our elections were sabotaged, our president's health is being sabotaged, and Obama's chances of becoming the American President are being sabotaged by Nigerians. Therefore this constant 'light' is the handiwork of saboteurs within your work system. These disgruntled individuals are enemies of progress who want you to miss your set targets. These enemies want you to score very low on your KPI assessment. I realised this fact when I stumbled on a document showing your Key Performance Indicators for every month. These are: 1. Explosive growth in the amount of Candle-lit dinners and balcony-bedrooms 2. Massive boom in the sales of Candles, torchlights, generators, inverters and lanterns 3. Increased work place productivity due to Employees spending at least 16 hours at work because there is no light at home 4. Massive growth of Rock music fan clubs being aided by the endless sound of generators that are switched on overnight. 5. Volume of human blood being sucked by mosquitoes unchallenged by ceiling/standing fans 6. Incidence of heat rashes 7. Large Increase in naming ceremonies: When people have no light at home, what else do they do with their time other than *******? Sir, I strongly feel that the above achievements will not be possible if we keep on having 'light'. The saboteurs in your workplace will make you look stupid and incapable in front of your bosses. The repercussions of this charade would be unbearable. This is why I am writing to you now. As a responsible citizen, if I do not volunteer this information, I know that I will be the one to suffer. The day you realise that I have been enjoying endless light for 2 weeks, you will pay me back with 10 black months. The end will be worse than the beginning, thereof. I am at a crossroad. This is a major dilemma. Should I keep quiet? No I won't. This is because Evil triumphs when Good Men keep silent. Your incompetent staffs have left the light switch on and gone to sleep. I know you will take back all that we have stolen from you but Please remember my house in the day of recompense. posted by exschoolnerd

Note: this page contains paid content.

Note: this page contains paid content.

Note: this page contains paid content.