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AFRICAN CULTURE PROMOTED IN AWARD-WINNING 3D ANIMATION
-- Disney's first black princess comes 72 years after Snow White with their production of "The Princess and the Frog". Now, a few guys with a startup budget of less than $5,000 dollars have produced titles that can be compared with that of Pixar and Dreamworks. --
Nationwide
(BlackNews.com) -- An African film company is gaining global attention by producing award-winning 3D animation titles made from an African perspective.
TransTales Entertainment was started in 2005 on a budget of less than $5,000 dollars by Segun Williams and Obinna Onwuekwe, and is the first film company to produce African themed 3D animation films to fill the void in animation with myriads of authentic African stories.
The titles produced by TransTales are widely acclaimed by industry experts and the animated series "Mark of Uru" recently won the United Nations World Summit Award for the use of technology to promote African culture.
According to the UN World Summit Awards website, "Mark of Uru" is an exciting web animation series combining digital expertise with local folk story, imagery and culture.
"Mark of Uru" is written and directed by Obinna Owuekwe and produced by Segun Williams. Owuekwe also lends his voice to two of the characters: The Warrior and Isi Agu. The costumes and makeup are authentically African and the series has a woman empowerment theme embedded in it. The voices also feature varied accents, mostly Igbo and Efik from West Africa. According to TransTales, very few countries rival the diversity of Nigeria across the world; with 250 ethnic groups, 500 languages and a population of over 160 million. "Such diversity brings with it unique experiences and stories that need telling. While Nigerians have explored film, music, arts and literature to tell their stories, animation has been absent; but this is about to change."
In "Mark of Uru", Azuka is a girl born with a birthmark identical to the tattoo of a sinister sorceress Uru, who died long ago. Despite her mother's effort to conceal the birthmark, it is eventually discovered, and the annihilation of the child becomes imminent, in order to protect her people from the curse of Uru. The intervention of the earthbound elemental spirit Isi-Agu and his protégé Etido forestalls Azuka's execution. She is taken to a sacred mountain well beyond the reach family, friends and foes. The moment she grows into a woman under the protection of Isi-Agu and Etido, the news of her survival sparks a deadly manhunt initiated by people bent on her annihilation. With the assistance of a band of outcasts, she embarks on a grueling journey, through the most treacherous terrains to unravel the mystery behind her bizarre birthmark.
For more information, visit www.transtales.com
Extracted from http://theindustrycosign.com/site/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=11438
If you are a person that pays attention to your health you should know we are in the middle of a health war and it looks like the enemy is winning. Cancer is now the number one cause of death in the United States, obesity is at an all time high, and we are identifying diabetic teenagers on a regular basis. Young adults with heart disease are the norm. We are taking medications that are supposed to help us (which they do) but they have side effects which are breaking down our bodies and preventing us from achieving optimal health.
The food we eat is a mess as well. You need to look into high fructose corn syrup, aspartame, MSG and you’ll see what I mean. There’s a reason you can’t eat just one French fry or one potato chip, these chemical laced foods are designed to keep you eating. Your body doesn’t recognize chemicals, it cannot properly digest them so it stores it as fat, which may lead to the accumulation of free radicals which could be one of the reasons cancer is killing so many of us. I also feel these chemicals are the catalyst for our obesity issues. As I stated before, your body stores these chemicals as fat. Your body pulls these chemicals away from your major organs and surrounds it with fat and water.
These days so many people have trouble losing that last 10-12 lbs. When we are eating food that has more chemicals than nutrients there is no wonder we are obese and full of disease.
As bad as all this sounds there is good news. We can rid our bodies of toxins, we can fill our bodies with nutrients, we can lose those stubborn 10-12lbs. Nutritional cleansing is the key. Many of you may not be familiar with Nutritional Cleansing.
Many cleanses deal with cleansing specific organs. Nutritional cleansing works at a cellular level, so we’re talking about cleansing your entire body from head to toe. Many cleanses require you to fast. Nutritional cleansing programs REQUIRE you to eat. Many cleanses help you to lose weight but in the process you may lose muscle. With nutritional cleansing you may lose the weight while you gain lean muscle. The most powerful component of nutritional cleansing is the replenishing aspect. ALL cleanses remove toxins from your bodies; however, when your body is still lacking the proper nutrients your body is not capable of truly taking care of itself. What nutritional cleansing does is not only cleanse the body but it also provides the body with vital nutrients which also enables the body to function at its highest level, which in turn helps the body to fight off disease and stay healthy and keep you feeling great.
I interviewed former World Series Champion Sean Wooten, listen as he discusses the powerful benefits of nutritional cleansing.
Post by Ken Coward in Elev8 Original on May 26, 2010 at 6:56 pm
http://elev8.com/health/kencoward/its-time-to-give-nutritional-cleansing-a-try/
Proverbs 18:16 (King James Version) :A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
Proverbs 18:16 (Contemporary English Version):A gift will get you in to see anyone.
Proverbs 18:16 (Young’s Literal Translation):The gift of a man maketh room for him, And before the great it leadeth him.
Proverbs 18:16 (The Message Version):A gift gets attention; it buys the attention of eminent people.
For a long time I had read this verse of scripture. And most preachers I listened to implied that the “gift” was referring to inborn talent. I disagreed because it was obvious to me that the verse was written in the context of the “gift” being a present or some form of offering given to a person of higher status.
The more I heard Preachers emphasize the first interpretation, the more the conflict grew within. I just couldn’t accept that translation of the scripture. Until something happened…
And what was that thing that changed mind? Simple. Michael Jackson died!
I am sure you’re wondering. What does a secular artist like Michael Jackson have to do with something as spiritual as a bible verse right? Well, Michael Jackson’s life achievements and the way he was celebrated even in death, proved to me the authenticity of the pastoral interpretation I had resisted for many years.
How does one of the youngest sons of a steelmill worker born into a less than affluent family, become the world’s most celebrated entertainer, outselling any other artist in his whole career? How is it that his burial ceremony received a greater worldwide attention than any past world leader? It could only have been through the expression of his gifts -his inborn talent.
From the age of five Michael Jackson did nothing else but express his God-given talents (we could argue that he never honored God with his talents but I am not about to get into that debate). He could have lived for something else but he chose to entertain the world with dancing and singing. And that brought him before kings and earned him all the wealth and honor during and after his lifetime.
This was enough evidence to prove that truly ones gifts/inborn talents are certain to make a way for him/her. We can see similar evidence of these in the lives of Bill Gates, Billy Graham, Martin Luther King Jr, The Wright Brothers, Nelson Mandela, King Solomon and Moses. Their lives were a sum total of their commitment to a life of expressing their gifts. And this made them great and brought them before other great men.
My message to you today is start focusing on developing and expressing your god-given talents. For therein lie your wealth, honour and the fulfillment of your purpose! Your gift will make a way for you!
A few days to the national assembly primaries of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomole is facing accusations of promoting the interests of politicians who recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to his party, ACN....Photo Right :former PDP Domingo
Mr Oshiomole assumed office in November 2008 following the declaration by the court of appeal that he, and not the then sitting PDP governor, Oserheimen Osunbor, won the 2007 gubernatorial elections in Edo State. But a few months to the 2011 general elections, many stalwarts of the PDP including a senator, and members of the House of Representatives have decamped to the ACN in the state; a situation which is now causing ripples within the party..
“We don’t know why the comrade governor is doing this. People who rigged against him and the ACN in 2007, people who spent their money to ensure that he never got to office, are the same people he is now supporting against those of us who stood by him and have always been with the party,” a senior official of the ACN in Edo State, told NEXT.
One of the areas of tension is the candidacy of the party for Edo north senatorial district. At a meeting held Tuesday evening at the Benin GRA residence of the governor, elders and leaders of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) from Akoko Edo local government area of Edo State were informed by Mr Oshiomhole, after about five hours of deliberation, that he was in support of one of the senatorial candidates from the local government, and he wanted the party leaders to follow suit. The trouble is that the man is a recent decampee from the PDP.
“The governor told us that he wanted us to support Deacon Domingo [Obeinde]. They are all our sons, but his support for Domingo really surprised and upset us,” a participant at the meeting told NEXT.
Prior to the meeting, there were three aspirants for posts under the platform of the ACN. The three aspirants, who all attended the meeting, are Peter Akpatason, former president of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG); Tunde Lakoju, the present commissioner for agriculture and natural resources and AC senatorial candidate in 2007; and Domingo Obeinde, a former senatorial aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2007.
Though there are six local governments in the senatorial zone (Etsako east, Etsako central, Etsako west, Owan west, Owan east, and Akoko Edo), NEXT learnt that the ACN zoned the ticket to Akoko Edo because the local government had not produced a senator since 1999.
Other cases of support
Mr Obeinde’s endorsement by the governor is causing a stir within the CAN, as party members feel the governor is unduly favouring PDP decampees. This sort of support for PDP decampees is however not peculiar only to Mr Obeinde, who alongside several other PDP stalwarts recently decamped to the ACN.
When Edobor Uzamere, a senator elected on the platform of the PDP in 2007, decamped to the ACN in September 2010, he told his colleagues on the floor of the senate that the PDP ticket is equivalent to Zimbabwean dollars. Mr Edobor, who represents Edo South in the senate, is another decampee who allegedly enjoys the support of the governor. Supporters of his main opponent for the ACN ticket, Matthew Urokhigbe (a pharmacist), accuse the governor of abandoning loyal party members for decampees.
“The governor is trying to destroy this party by supporting these decampees. There is no guarantee that when they win, they will not decamp back to where they came from,” an ACN leader and supporter of Mr. Urokhigbe told NEXT.
Yet another decampee who reportedly enjoys Mr. Oshiomole’s support is Patrick Obahiagbon, a member of the House of Representatives who left the PDP for the ACN. Mr Obahiagbon, who represents Oredo federal constituency in the House, is mainly challenged for the ACN ticket by Rasak Bello-Osagie, a businessman.
Efforts to reach Mr Oshiomhole were unsuccessful as his principal private secretary, Olaitan Oyerinde did not answer calls placed to his phone or respond to a text message sent to the number.
THEBROKEN SALT PITCHER
Something happened,one I never forget.
Whether caused by a Demon or an Angel I cannot tell.
‘Cos a moral lesson was taught from a sin so grave.
This farted in my mouth and poured in honey.
Honey I love; fart, nobody cherishes.
My siblings and I were playing like normal kids,
In the visitor’schamber after mama left for her trade
Papa never came home easy, for his work;
Itinerant trading; from coast to coast would he go
That fateful day,whether Devil’s or God’s work I will never know
Bang, bang, bang,the ball I threw went
The direction we could control not.
Set in motion for fate to decide.
With a loud crash, the pitcher hit the floor.
Salt and enamel all mixed together.
Just then papa stepped inside.
Who broke thispitcher? Nobody responded.
Straight to the room he went.
I, conscience pricked did the confession later.
But papa said something else was broken.
With confusion all over my face I said nothing was.
He shook his head bitterly and said there was;
And it was something bigger and greater than a jug.
Trust, he said was broken, ‘cos my confession came
Just a little late after I killed his trust in me.
Breaking News
INEC names Emmanuel Uduaghan as the winner of d just concluded Delta Govenorship Re- run Election.
A WINNER was yet to emerge last night in the Delta State governorship election rerun.
The votes were still being collated this morning, but there were indications that there were two leading candidates – Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan and Chief Great Ogboru.
Uduaghan is of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Ogboru is of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP).
Fourteen political parties fielded candidates in the election..
The results released at the collation centre as at 2.10a.m. put Uduaghan ahead of his closest rival Ogboru.
But the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) identified the lapses in the exercise.
The TMG is a coalition of over 400 civil society organisations, which has been monitoring elections in the country since 1999. It deployed its observers in all the wards and the 25 local government areas in Delta State during yesterday’s rerun election.
In its preliminary report on the election signed by its chair, Mashood Erubami and Public Affairs Officer, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, the TMG listed the problems that plagued the election as: large presence of police and other security outfits; late arrival of election officials and materials in some centres; missing names in INEC voter registers; ballot snatching; harassment of voters; vote buying; and lack of secrecy at some of the voting centres.
It said the election is a template for a new dawn for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The TMG said notwithstanding these lapses, the election “went on well in majority of polling booth”. “It was generally peaceful without the reported loss of lives either by error of omission or commission, unlike before. “Expectedly, INEC officials operated above board as there were no pointed accusations against their operations, they demonstrated competence and efficiency in the conduct of the election, signposting that they were adequately trained before their deployment into the field.”
The TMG said it was not surprising that some people could not find their names on the voter register, given the fact that INEC issued the old and discredited register.
Jega gave his men a pass mark, in spite of the odds that dogged the election.
Jega spoke to reporters at the INEC office in Asaba last night after monitoring the election across the state.
He said the commission would learn from the experiences gained in the rerun election to improve on the April general elections.
He said the commission had to work extra hard in order to make a success of the rerun.
He blamed some of the political parties for exhibiting insincerity, adding after some political parties abused the trust of the commission by producing fake cards.
He said the attitude of the commission was to uphold the sanctity of one man, one vote objective.
Jega said due to the constraint of time the commission had to use the old voter register, adding that had the electoral body insisted on using a new register it would have violated the court order to conduct the rerun in 90 days.
He said the commission tried to increase the credibility of the old register by setting up a committee to scrutinise the register, adding that despite the commission’s effort some problems still arose on the register.
He admitted some of the challenges, including late arrival of election materials, snatched ballot boxes, violence and physical abuse.
Jega promised that the April elections would be better, adding that it will satisfy the yearnings of Nigerians for credible elections.
According to him, the introduction by the commission of new guidelines brought credibility into the electoral process.
He said INEC had been non-partisan while acknowledging that the commission had not conducted a perfect election but had done a good job.
He said many disenfranchised residents of riverine communities showered encomiums on INEC as this was the first time they had participated in any election.
Jega monitored several riverine communities in Burutu, Bomadi and Patani.
He praised the Youth Corps members who assisted to organise the election for their commitment.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has expressed shock over the death of former international Uche Okafor on Thursday in the United StatesThe body of the ex-Super Eagles defender was found in his Texas apartment by his wife shortly after he returned home from dropping off his daughter in school.
"This is very, very sad. Mr. Uche Okafor served this country with distinction and we are taken aback by the nature of his demise." NFF secretary-general Musa Amadu said in a statement.
"All the same, at this time, we can only pray to God for repose of his gentle soul.
Okafor, 43, was in the Super Eagles for almost a decade, and was a key member of the squad when Nigeria won their second African Cup of Nations title, in Tunisia in 1994.
Okafor represented Nigeria at two World Cups.
He was in the Super Eagles squad at the 1994 World Cup in the United States - Nigeria's first appearance in the global tournament.
He also played at the 1998 World Cup in France when Nigeria reached the second round.
"It came as a rude shock because Uche (Okafor) had gradually become a player some youngsters want to emulate," Ben Iroha who played with the late Okafor told BBC Sport.
"He was an articulate, smart and gentle man on and off the field...
"We will all miss him greatly."
Uche played for his home club ACB Lagos before moving to Belgian where he played for Mechelen and Namur.
He also played for clubs in France, Portugal and Israel before ending his career with American outfit Kansas City Wizards.
Since retiring from the game, Okafor has remained part of the game off-field.
Okafor was a representative of sport kit manufactures NIKE before creating a niche for himself as a football analyst on the international scene.
Just last month, he signed a contract with American television station ESPN as an African football expert.
So sad. . .may his gentle soul rest in perfect peace
Seriously I still find it hard to believe when I got the call from the US yesterday (Thursday) evening. This is a really sad way to begin the year,” said Iroha.
Iroha added that he is yet to know what really transpired up to the death of his former teammate. “I am yet to know what happened. But I feel so sad to hear this because he was a very marvelous friend and brother,” said the former Heartland assistant coach.
However, there are still no details concerning surrounding the death of the former winner of the Africa Cup of Nations. The former Nigerian footballer was said to have taken his daughter to school early Thursday and was later found dead in his US home.
The police in the United States are said to have cordoned off the home of Okafor, as a coroner is carrying out an inquest into circumstance surrounding his death.
Okafor’s professional career began at defunct ACB of Lagos before he moved to KRC Mechelen.
The late Nigerian player has also played for Hannover 96 before ending his career at Sporting Kansas City, formerly known as Kansas City Wizards.
Late Okafor also featured in one of the four matches of Nigeria’s Super Eagles at the 1994 Fifa World Cup in the USA. He was also a football pundit on African football for ESPN until his death.
Over 1000 people were hurriedly evacuated from the Motorways Complex at Old Tollgate, Lagos State, South West Nigeria when rumour of a bomb scare spread through the complex.
There was pandemonium as Lagosians working in the complex hurriedly scampered to safety. The building houses over 45 companies, including two banks. Commercial activities in the complex were paralysed.
WORKERS OUTSIDE MOTOWAY COMPANY ALONG LAGOS IBADAN EXP WAY WHERE THIER IS AN INFROMATION THAT BOMB IS BEING PLANTED INSIDE THE BUILDING.
The bomb scare episode was ignited following an anonymous note found in a toilet of one of the companies’ resident in the complex warning that a bomb would explode in the building in the next six hours.
Anti-bomb policemen, members of the State Security Services, SSS raced to the scene and immediate evacuated the remaining occupants of the building and sealed it up while effort to find where the supposed bomb was located proved abortive.
The rumour about the bomb had spread across the complex around 2.00 p.m on Thursday.
People intending to go into the premises to transact businesses were turned back as the complex was condoned off by the police.
A staff of Office of the Public Defender, OPD told PM NEWS that they were asked to leave the complex when the news of the rumoured bomb scare spread.
Another source stated that the anonymous note found in one of the toilets was signed by an unknown group which described itself as Concerned Nigerians, while calling for evacuation of everyone in the building.
The note, it was gathered did not specify where the bomb was planted. It only said that the explosive due to explode was planted in one of the offices.
Some of the workers were seen gathered in groups discussing the incident. While some doubted the authenticity of the note, others did not ignore the warning.
This is the second time in four days that rumours of bomb scare would spread in the Lagos metropolis after the Jos and Abuja bombing episodes.
Efforts to get to the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Lagos Police Command, Mr. Frank Mba to comment on the development proved abortive as calls to his handset were not picked.
By Kazeem Ugbodaga
More News from other Media:
There was panic among Lagos residents yesterday following reports that bombs might detonate at Alausa, Ikeja, the state capital...
The reports alleged that bombs were planted inside the premises of Motorways Plaza, near the old toll gate by noon and that they would go off in six hours.
Sources said a note was found in one of the male toilets in the complex, warning occupants to vacate the building in their own interest.
The note advised the occupants to stay away until next week.
It was gathered that when the news spread, the occupants began to move to areas considered safe.
The news also spread to the neighbourhood and the metropolis.
Representatives of Embassies and High Commissions in Lagos made calls to security agencies to confirm the veracity of the story.
A Police source told The Nation yesterday: “Most of them wanted to know if they should commence the evacuation of their nationalities from Lagos.”
Businesses were closed in Alausa as the residents called their family members, advising them against going to Ikeja.
The Commissioner of Police, Mr Marvel Akpoyibo, described the reports as spurious.
He said the information was mischievous and circulated to destabilise the state.
Akpoyibo urged residents to beware of those peddling false information through text messages, phone calls or any other means. He said such people only caused unnecessary panic.
The Police chief warned those behind the false alerts to desist, saying it is against the law.
He assured residents that the Police would check the information, investigate it and know what to do about it.
The Commissioner of Police in charge of the Bomb Disposal Unit, Mr Chris Olakpe, said his men combed the scene with bomb detection equipment but did not find any explosive.
He said his unit would continue to “sweep” the area until further notice.
Residents of Alausa and its environs were jittery...
The news broke during the inauguration of the 250 modern cabs by the government.
It disrupted business activities at Motorways Plaza; other nearby buildings hurriedly shut.
Affected by the scare were the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Office of Public Defence (OPD), MultiLinks Communications, Oceanic Bank and First Bank branches in the neighbourhood.
John Okafor alias Mr. Ibu
Nollywood star, John Okafor, popularly known as Mr. Ibu, has begged the kidnappers of his wife, Stella-Maris and son, Emmanuel Mandela Okafor, that he can’t afford the N50 million ransom they are demanding from him.
Mr. Ibu’s wife, son and two in-laws were kidnapped in Enugu State by some heavily armed masked men on Tuesday evening, but the two in-laws, a boy and a girl, managed to escape when the abductors abandoned them in a vehicle and left with Ibu’s wife and son in another vehicle.
The victims were attacked while driving in their Black Honda (End of Discussion)vehicle with registration number AQ 809 NNB.
Speaking with P.M.NEWS on phone this morning, Mr. Ibu said when the abductors attacked his family on their way home from the market, they locked one of his in-laws (a boy) in the boot, while the wife, son and the female in-law were in the car with some of the kidnappers.
“So when they got to a place, they dropped my wife’s car and drove her with my son in another vehicle. But they left the boy in the boot and the 15-year old girl in the vehicle.
“Right now, I’m just begging them to release my wife and son. My son is just a year and two months old. So, he is too young to be going through this,” Mr. Ibu said, adding that “the N50m ransom they are asking for is on the high side. Where on earth can I get such money?”
P.M.NEWS, however, gathered, that the kidnappers have slashed the ransom to N6 million as at the time of filing this report. And when Ibu was contacted again, he confirmed the latest development.
He said: “I’m currently talking to friends to see how I can raise the money. When they (the kidnappers) called me this morning, I pleaded with them that I can’t afford the N50 million, so they reduced it to N6 million.”
In 2007, Mr. Ibu was kidnapped on his way to a film location in Imo State, but was later released when his adbuctors compelled him to abuse former President Olusegun Obasanjo for neglecting them (the kidnappers).
“I did not hesitate to do that because that was the only way I can escape from their claws. In fact, after abusing Obasanjo in front of their camera, they gave me a gift of N100,000 because I did it in a very funny manner,” Ibu said.
— Bayo Adetu
Do you think kids born in 2011 will recognize any of the following?
Video tape: Starting this year, the news stories we produce here at Money Talks have all been shot, edited, and distributed to TV stations without ever being on any kind of tape. Not only that, the tape-less broadcast camera we use today offers much higher quality than anything that could have been imagined 10 years ago -- and cost less than the lens on the camera we were using previously.
Travel agents: While not dead today, this profession is one of many that's been decimated by the Internet. When it's time for their honeymoon, will those born in 2011 be able to find one?
The separation of work and home: When you're carrying an email-equipped computer in your pocket, it's not just your friends who can find you -- so can your boss. For kids born this year, the wall between office and home will be blurry indeed.
Books, magazines, and newspapers: Like video tape, words written on dead trees are on their way out. Sure, there may be books -- but for those born today, stores that exist solely to sell them will be as numerous as record stores are now.
Movie rental stores: You actually got in your car and drove someplace just to rent a movie?
Watches: Maybe as quaint jewelry, but the correct time is on your smartphone, which is pretty much always in your hand.
...
 ©Will D/flickr |
Paper maps: At one time these were available free at every gas station. They're practically obsolete today, and the next generation will probably have to visit a museum to find one.
Wired phones: Why would you pay $35 every month to have a phone that plugs into a wall? For those born today, this will be a silly concept.
Long distance: Thanks to the Internet, the days of paying more to talk to somebody in the next city, state, or even country are limited.
Newspaper classifieds: The days are gone when you have to buy a bunch of newsprint just to see what's for sale.
Dial-up Internet: While not everyone is on broadband, it won't be long before dial-up Internet goes the way of the plug-in phone.
Encyclopedias: Imagine a time when you had to buy expensive books that were outdated before the ink was dry. This will be a nonsense term for babies born today.
Forgotten friends: Remember when an old friend would bring up someone you went to high school with, and you'd say, "Oh yeah, I forgot about them!" The next generation will automatically be in touch with everyone they've ever known even slightly via Facebook.
Forgotten anything else: Kids born this year will never know what it was like to stand in a bar and incessantly argue the unknowable. Today the world's collective knowledge is on the computer in your pocket or purse. And since you have it with you at all times, why bother remembering anything?
The evening news: The news is on 24/7. And if you're not home to watch it, that's OK -- it's on the smartphone in your pocket.
CDs: First records, then 8-track, then cassette, then CDs -- replacing your music collection used to be an expensive pastime. Now it's cheap(er) and as close as the nearest Internet connection.
Film cameras: For the purist, perhaps, but for kids born today, the word "film" will mean nothing. In fact, even digital cameras -- both video and still -- are in danger of extinction as our pocket computers take over that function too.
Yellow and White Pages: Why in the world would you need a 10-pound book just to find someone?
Catalogs: There's no need to send me a book in the mail when I can see everything you have for sale anywhere, anytime. If you want to remind me to look at it, send me an email.
Fax machines: Can you say "scan," ".pdf" and "email?"
One picture to a frame: Such a waste of wall/counter/desk space to have a separate frame around each picture. Eight gigabytes of pictures and/or video in a digital frame encompassing every person you've ever met and everything you've ever done -- now, that's efficient. Especially compared to what we used to do: put our friends and relatives together in a room and force them to watch what we called a "slide show" or "home movies."
Wires: Wires connecting phones to walls? Wires connecting computers, TVs, stereos, and other electronics to each other? Wires connecting computers to the Internet? To kids born in 2011, that will make as much sense as an electric car trailing an extension cord.
Hand-written letters: For that matter, hand-written anything. When was the last time you wrote cursive? In fact, do you even know what the word "cursive" means? Kids born in 2011 won't -- but they'll put you to shame on a tiny keyboard.
Talking to one person at a time: Remember when it was rude to be with one person while talking to another on the phone? Kids born today will just assume that you're supposed to use texting to maintain contact with five or six other people while pretending to pay attention to the person you happen to be physically next to.
Retirement plans: Yes, Johnny, there was a time when all you had to do was work at the same place for 20 years and they'd send you a check every month for as long as you lived. In fact, some companies would even pay your medical bills, too!
Mail: What's left when you take the mail you receive today, then subtract the bills you could be paying online, the checks you could be having direct-deposited, and the junk mail you could be receiving as junk email? Answer: A bloated bureaucracy that loses billions of taxpayer dollars annually.
Commercials on TV: They're terrifically expensive, easily avoided with DVRs, and inefficiently target mass audiences. Unless somebody comes up with a way to force you to watch them -- as with video on the Internet -- who's going to pay for them?
Commercial music radio: Smartphones with music-streaming programs like Pandora are a better solution that doesn't include ads screaming between every song...
Hiding: Not long ago, if you didn't answer your home phone, that was that -- nobody knew if you were alive or dead, much less where you might be. Now your phone is not only in your pocket, it can potentially tell everyone -- including advertisers -- exactly where you are.
A 94-YEAR-OLD Indian farmer is claiming to be the world's oldest dad.
Ramajit Raghav claims his wife Shakuntala, 59, gave birth to their son Karamjit just last month.
The couple have described the boy as "god's gift" — and aren't ruling out having more.
Ramajit said: "It is great that I have become the world's oldest dad.
"I am a strong follower of Lord Shiva. I wanted to have an offspring and prayed for him. This child is god's gift to me."
The proud father, who was a wrestler in his youth, puts his virility down to his high-calorie diet.
He added: "My daily diet comprises of three litres of milk, half a kilo of almonds and half a kilo ghee (clarified butter).
"I had visited a quack in the village and he gave me some tablets but I didn't take them and threw them away."
When asked whether he was worried about his child's future, Ramajit said he would still be playing with his son in a decade.
He added: "Nothing will happen to my child as I will die only if a black snake bites me and that is very far.
"Visit me after 10 years and you will find me in the same appearance."
It is unknown how many children Ramajit has.
Ramajit Raghav claims his wife Shakuntala, 59, gave birth to their son Karamjit just last month.
The couple have described the boy as "god's gift" — and aren't ruling out having more.
Ramajit said: "It is great that I have become the world's oldest dad.
"I am a strong follower of Lord Shiva. I wanted to have an offspring and prayed for him. This child is god's gift to me."
The proud father, who was a wrestler in his youth, puts his virility down to his high-calorie diet.
He added: "My daily diet comprises of three litres of milk, half a kilo of almonds and half a kilo ghee (clarified butter).
"I had visited a quack in the village and he gave me some tablets but I didn't take them and threw them away."
When asked whether he was worried about his child's future, Ramajit said he would still be playing with his son in a decade.
He added: "Nothing will happen to my child as I will die only if a black snake bites me and that is very far.
"Visit me after 10 years and you will find me in the same appearance."
It is unknown how many children Ramajit has.
in Lagos, South-West Nigeria, is being turned into show business as members were made to part with N1, 000 each as gate fee before they could enter their church to attend the New Year’s Eve service, P.M.NEWS can reveal.
it was confirmed that only members who could afford the N1, 000 gate fee were allowed into the premises of Christ Embassy Headquarters at Oregun, Lagos, where self-styled cleric and business man, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, preached on 31 December 2010.
The N1,000 ticket at Oyakhilome's Christ Embassy church
Indigent members who could not afford the N1, 000 tickets, were denied access and sent back by security men at the gate, it was learnt.
The church, a source said, realised about N25 million from about 25, 000 members who bought the tickets.
It was gathered that the church informed its members that it decided to impose a gate fee to control the huge crowd that always besiege the church on the New Year’s Eve church service.
“Pastor said that to control the crowd and only allow genuine members who could do anything to be in church, it was good to pay a gate fee. Last year for instance, even senior pastors in the church could not secure a seat in the church on New Year’s Eve service,” our source said.
The ticket, bought by our correspondent, was still on sale today, five days after the New Year’s church service took place.
A copy of the ticket has the following information printed on it: “one service…different locations worldwide impact! Time: 7 pm, Venue: Loveworld Convocation Arena, N1,000, December 31st New Year’s Eve Service With Pastor Chris.”
There is also a bold picture of Oyakhilome wearing one of his flashy suits. On the background there is a huge crowd in adulation of the man who once boasted that he will never be broke in life...
At the back of the ticket is a bold inscription : “ This ticket admists one person.”
The development, described as scandalous by those who got a glimpse of it, is unprecedented in the history of Christianity in Nigeria.
In the medieval period, similar scandals led to the break-away of Martin Luther from the Catholic church. This led to the formation of the Protestant movement.
At that time, Catholic priests were collecting money, known as indulgences, from worshippers before they could confess their sins.
These indulgences had become big business in much the same way pledge drives have become big business in Nigeria.
The development outraged Luther and others who kicked against it, quit the church and founded the protestant movement.
The latest scandal in Oyakhilome’s church comes only weeks after he appeared before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to answer questions on money laundering allegations.
According to TheNews magazine edition of 13 December 2010, the alleged laundering of $35 million by Christ Embassy was traced by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission with the help of foreign partners.
The magazine reported that Oyakhilome and money have had a bitter-sweet relationship. While money has brought him a lush lifestyle: an eye-popping auto collection, a movie-star wardrobe of stylish suits and choice properties that include a stunning church auditorium, it has also brought him an arm-long list of scandals.
— Simon Ateba
Popular comedian, Francis Agoda (I go dye) has the intervention of veteran comedian, Ali Baba to thank for saving his life on Tuesday as military men on guard at the Warri township stadium venue of Uduaghan re-run campaign almost beat life out of him and his compatriot, Ogus Baba. According to an eyewitness, the incident occurred when the two comedians allegedly attempted to force their way past the stern-looking soldiers into the stadium. The source added that the security men, who did not care about their identity, ordered them to retreat or be dealt with.
Before the two entertainers could make up their minds to withdraw from the gate, the soldiers descended on them. It took the timely intervention of Ali Baba, (who threatened to stop the show) for ‘I go dye’ to be released by his tormentors. By then, he was already reeling in agony, with blood all over him from the slashes of the horsewhips. The other comedian, Ogus Baba, who showed some bravery by attempting to save his fellow comedian from the horsewhips of the angry soldiers, was not spared either as he also got his share of the flogging. He was said to have been so badly battered that he had to be rushed to an undisclosed clinic for treatment.
Also touched by the brutality of the soldiers was a personal aide of ‘I go dye’ whose name could not be identified, and another popular comedian, ‘I Go Save’, who got some bruises on his arms and legs.
Paid to perform
In a telephone conversation, the Warri-born comedian, Mr Agoda said he came to the stadium with his entourage with the intention of performing on the stage as he had been paid by the organisers of the event.
“On getting into the stadium, I was accosted by one of the soldiers and in an attempt to answer him, the other soldier unexpectedly slapped me from behind. The most annoying thing about the whole incident was that when I tried to explain to their superior officer, a colonel, the former soldier shoved me aside and immediately, other soldiers descended on me, beating the living daylight out of me,” Mr Agoda said.
He was later treated by the medical team at the stadium after being rescued from the soldiers by Ali Baba, who condemned the act of the uniformed men...
Mr Agoda has demanded for a public apology from the military for violating his “fundamental human right.” “This must be published in national newspapers,” he said.
Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the Central Bank governor, has been named as the world Central Bank Governor of the Year by a global financial intelligence magazine, The Banker, a publication of the Financial Times of London. Mr. Sanusi is also the magazine’s African Central Bank governor of the year.
Brian Caplen, editor of the magazine, noted that few candidate names can generate an overall consensus on judging panels and yet, when it came to finding the best global Central Bank governor of the year, Mr Sanusi was chosen unanimously.
Mr Caplen stresses that Mr Sanusi embarked on a radical anti-corruption campaign aimed at saving 24 banks on the brink of collapse and pressed for the managers involved in the most blatant cases of corruption to be charged and, in the case of two senior bankers, convicted...
In a release signed by the Country Representative, Nigeria of The Banker Magazine, Kunle Ogedengbe, the magazine noted in its 2011 January Edition, which will also be distributed at the World Economic Forum, Davos, Switzerland, that in the last 18 months that since Mr Sanusi has been in office, he has salvaged a crumbling Nigerian financial sector, including implementing reforms that have put Africa’s most promising market back on the map for investors globally.
Two months into his governorship, Mr Sanusi embarked on the bailout of Afribank, Intercontinental Bank, Union Bank, Oceanic Bank and Finbank and dismissed their chief executive officers in a move designed to show that banking is no longer business as usual but institutions that must serve the economy as a whole. He also injected about N627 billion into nine banks to save them from imminent collapse.
Another reform of the banking sector introduced by Mr Sanusi has been to limit the tenure of bank chief executive officers to a maximum of 10 years. They will have to leave office at the end of their term regardless of their record. This policy has already led to change of leadership at UBA, Zenith and Skye banks.
Mr Caplen added that the reforms initiated by Mr Sanusi have been hailed as necessary to sanitise the banking industry and that observers have argued that, had these reforms not been initiated, Nigeria would have entered into another round of banking distress.
The Banker, a publication of Financial Times Newspaper which is regarded as the most influential newspaper in the world, is a global financial intelligence magazine published since 1926. It is the definitive publication that provides guide to bank ratings and analysis globally and the definitive reference on international banking for finance experts, governments, chief finance officers, CEOs, Central Bank governors, finance ministers, and other decision makers globally.
As hundreds of dead birds fall from the skies across the United States, about a hundred birds again fell off in Sweden shortly before midnight on Tuesday, just as millions of dead fish surfaced in a bay in Maryland, United States. Similar unexplained mass fish deaths occurred in Brazil and New Zealand.
The Baltimore Sun reports that an estimated 2 million fish were found dead in the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland, mostly adult spot with some juvenile croakers in the mix, as well. In New Zealand, hundreds of dead snapper fish washed up on Coromandel Peninsula beaches, many found with their eyes missing, The New Zealand Herald reports. However Maryland Department of the Environment spokesperson Dawn Stoltzfus says “cold-water stress” is believed to be the culprit..
PHOTO:Rescue chief, Christer Olofsson, poses with a dead bird in Falkoping. Photo: REUTERS
Residents in Falköping, southeast of Skövde, found 50 to 100 jackdaw birds on a street further echoing the unexplained incidents that commenced earlier in the week across the Atlantic in southern US. A Swedish county veterinarian, Robert ter Horst believes that the birds may have been literally scared to death by fireworks set off on Tuesday night.
“We have received information from local residents last night. Our main theory is that the birds were scared away because of the fireworks and landed on the road, but couldn’t fly away from the stress and were hit by a car,” he explained to a Swedish online news platform — The Local on Wednesday.
“We will continue to look at whether there are other theories, but then we have to do an autopsy on the birds. The birds just now are in a car on the way to a laboratory in Uppsala. We don’t know exactly what happened yet, but we will continue the investigation,” he added.
Mr Horst noted that he has also received some reports about pigeons, but the incident has happened too quickly to assume that it is related to the untimely demise of the jackdaws. The site where the birds were found has now been blocked for a veterinary inspection of the birds. Emergency services had cordoned off the area earlier on Wednesday. Across the Atlantic, an estimated 4,000 to 5,000 blackbirds crashed into homes, cars and each other in central Arkansas on New Year eve. Another 500 birds were killed and littered the highway in Louisiana. Diverse theories such as fireworks and power lines sparks have been propounded. It’s almost certainly a coincidence the events happened within days of each other, Louisiana’s state wildlife veterinarian Jim LaCour said on Tuesday.
“I haven’t found anything to link the two at this point.” Anders Wirdheim of the Swedish Ornithological Society (Sveriges ornitologiska förening, SOF) believes the nocturnal birds were likely frightened in the middle of the night, then flew around in the dark and collided with various objects. Bird deaths and fish kills at smaller numbers aren’t all that uncommon, though the size and proximity of some of the recent events have led people to allege their relation, though officials deny the frequency of these wildlife deaths as being anything other than coincidence.
Chief Magistrate Fatimah Badrudeen of Court 1 had remanded Folarin and three other accused persons in Agodi Prison till January 14 when their case will be heard by a court of competent jurisdiction.
Others sent to prison are Raimi Ismaila, Olayide Raji and Jayeiola Bankole.
Senator Folarin was arrested on Monday and detained by the Oyo State Police Command over the death of Eleweomo.
A former President of the, Nigeria Bar Association, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), with about 14 other lawyers appeared for the defendants while Mr. M.O Ojeh was the prosecuting counsel.
The charges preferred against Mr.Folarin, Ramoni Jayeoba, Bankole Olaide Raji and Raimi Ismaila, read: "On December 30, 2010 at about 11.30 a.m., at Olunloyo Ogbere, Ibadan in the Ibadan magisterial district (the accused) did conspire with others at large to kill Lateef Salako (a.k.a. Eleweomo)".
Mr. Mathew Ojeh, further told the court that Senator Folarin with the three others and others at large "on the same date and time at Olunloyo Ogbere, Ibadan did murder Lateef Salako (a.k.a. Eleweomo) by shooting him with gun."
Counsel to the defendant, Mr. Akeredolu, however, submitted that the court had no jurisdiction to handle the allegations against the senator being a magistrate court. He pleaded that Folarin be remanded at Agodi Prison "pending the time proper application is filed at the High Court and for us to take proper bail application at the High Court". Akeredolu then urged the court to adjourn the matter till January 14 2011.
The Chief Magistrate agreed with Akeredolu that the court did not have jurisdiction to entertain the case. She then ordered that Folarin and others be remanded at the Agodi Prison till January 14, 2011, as suggested by Akeredolu when the bail application would have been filed and argued at the High Court.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigeria's government agency responsible for safety on the roads has confirmed that 472 persons died in 500 road accidents in different parts of the country in December 2010. This was made known by the Corps Marshall of the FRSC, Mr Osita Chidoka.
Chidoka said the commission would come up with the state-by-state statistics of road accidents in the period, saying that the three states with the lowest number of crashes would be rewarded. He described the activities of the commission in the last quarter of 2010 as successful,while noting that, the figure is lower compared to what was recorded in December 2009. Mr.Chidoka also applauded the collaborative efforts of other security agencies like the police, air-force and others saying their contributions ensured that the carnage on the nation's highways, saying that the introduction of aerial survey was helpful...
