Thursday 18 September 2014

15 Women’s Fashion Trends You Need to Stop Wearing (or Wear Better)


Romper
It was pretty easy for me to pinpoint the men’s fashions that I wanted to see burn. Women’s fashion is so fluid–and I do love a good trend–that I thought it would be harder to come up with 10 trends that needed to die. But, lo and behold, here are 15 things we need to stop wearing, ladies. See you in the fitting room. (But not in, like, a weird way…)
1. Rompers
Just, why? They’re not outright ugly or anything (see above), but no one over 30 should be wearing one. You’re basically a step away from donning an adult-sized baby onesie.
2. UGG Boots 
Is your house cold in the morning? Mine, too. And I look forward to snuggling my feet into my knock-off Uggs every day. But would I wear my slippers out in the world? No. I’m neither a sexy Australian surfer nor a sheep farmer.
3. Ultra Low-Rise Anything 
Back when Christina Aguilera was still a genie in a bottle, there was some allure to those stretchy jeans that seductively revealed large pointy pelvis bones. But we all know crack is whack, so find pants that stay closer to the equator.
4. Velour Sweatpants Suits 
Just when I think this one is really, truly over, I spy someone at the mall with enormous adjectives displayed across their hindquarters. And no matter what word I see, I can think of only one: “NO.”
5. Enormous Earrings
Dramatic hoops; okay, those are one thing. But when the weight and size of your earrings threaten to drag your lobes down so far, you offer an obscene view of your inner ear canal, you become a threat to the public good.
6. Super Baggy Clothes
Totally in earnest: I see the one-size-fits-all phenomenon take hold with friends who are carrying a few extra pounds but they are doing themselves such a disservice. Nothing hides your perceived flaws better than well-tailored clothes that fit, so ban the big T-shirts and take yourself shopping.
7. Loud Maxi Dresses 
I’m going to catch flak for this. But, let’s face it, a lot of these dresses are both so lumpy and so loud with their beach-towel prints that the wearer looks like she absconded with the window treatments from a Super 8 Motel in Miami. To keep these from being the dress equivalent of sweatpants, make sure yours fits; when they’re too long, they seem prone to dragging the wearer down the next open sewer grate.
8. Rubber Slip-on Shoes
Comfort and ease are fine and good but no excuse for slipping your soles into what look like silicone oven mitts.
9. Head-to-Toe Animal Print
If you’re starring in or producing The Lion King on Broadway, maybe you can get away with this. (Ditto if you’re over 74 and playing the slots in Atlantic City.) But if leopards could talk, they’d say “less is more.”
10. Uber-Logoed Everything
As bad as overdoing animal print, though possibly more obnoxious. When designers find it necessary to put their name all over stuff, I’m inclined to think, “Shouldn’t your goal be to make an object so distinctive, people know it’s your doing without you having to broadcast it?” I guess not.
11. Extreme Platforms 
I love high heels, possibly more than the next person. But when I see a woman tottering on foot-high platforms, I wonder, what are you trying to prove? If it’s that a full-body cast will look so hot with this season’s plaids, there are better ways.
12. High-Low Dresses
Someone smarter than me has named these mullet dresses – short in front, long in back. Maybe designers are running out of ideas but I’d rather make something old new again than be caught in one of these literal drags.
13. Wedge Sneakers
I’ll admit, I have a pair of these. I like them. With the right pair of black jeans, I feel like a futuristic assassin. (Sadly, beyond the black jeans, I’ve no idea what to wear them with.) But even as I purchased them, I thought, “Wedge sneakers, how long do we have, really?” I think I now have my answer.
14. Peplums Everywhere
This was a cute embellishment… for a while. But ask any 40-something who’s still trying to pull off pigtails and you’ll hear that cute only goes so far. Finding the perfect dress and adding a ruffle right above the hips: Sort of like going on the perfect date and then punching the guy in the face at the end.
15. Jumpsuits
These, they don’t actually offend me. I kind of even like them. Probably because I only see them in the pages of magazines, pinned and perfected by long-limbed glamazons. But think: Has you or anyone you know worn a jumpsuit in real life? No. So this fantasy item needs to stop making us think we can pull it off. We can’t. Leave these to Gisele.

Patience jonathan is still marketable



Social crusader and singer, Charles Oputa aka Charly Boy, is at it again this time with wife of President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience Jonathan.

The AreaFada as he is also called, recently at an event, stylishly admired the Patience Jonathan’s eyebrow while the first lady was blushing.

While sharing the pictures on his social media page, the singer wrote beneath the photo that the First Lady is still marketable. “Madam U still dey Marketooo.”

He posted another photo of him and the first lady but asked his fans to caption it as he looked lost in the conversation between him and Patience Jonathan.

 

Iggy Azalea Sues Her Alleged Sex Tape Partner for Releasing Her Old Music, Forging Contract

The Australian raptress says Maurice Williams a.k.a. Hefe Wine, who previously claimed to have a sex tape featuring her, stole her old songs while they were living together when she was 17.

Iggy Azalea Sues Her Alleged Sex Tape Partner for Releasing Her Old Music, Forging Contract
Iggy Azalea is accusing an ex-boyfriend of stealing her old music and releasing it without her consent. The Australian rapper has filed a lawsuit against her former lover who turns out to be Maurice Williams a.k.a. Hefe Wine a.k.a. her alleged sex tape partner.

According to the lawsuit filed on Wednesday, September 17 in California federal court (obtained by The Hollywood Reporter), the story began in 2008 after the then-17-year-old Azalea who was living at a hotel in Houston, Texas, met Williams and lived together with him.

Williams also followed Azalea when she moved to Atlanta in 2009. Around that time, he "downloaded the entire contents of Azalea's personal computer," including unreleased master recordings.

Williams then forged her signature from an artist management agreement she'd signed and "created a cut-and-paste" fake recording agreement. Using the signature, he released an EP called "Inzio" featuring Azalea's old songs.

"The Forged Agreement contains tell-tale signs that it is not genuine," states the lawsuit. "For example, it includes mismatched fonts on the signature page, paragraph numbers out of sequence, a signature line for 'Wine Enterprises, inc.' (rather than for an authorized agent), and provides, as an address for legal notices, the contact information of an attorney who had no prior knowledge of the Forged Agreement."

"In reality, 'Inizio' is a bootleg," the lawsuit continues. "Azalea did not authorize Defendants to copy, reproduce, prepare derivative works from, perform, or sell the Unreleased Masters and lyrics, as the EP 'Inizio', or at all."

Claiming copyright infringement, violation of California civil code and other counts, Azalea is seeking unspecified damages. 

Celebrity Birthday: 2face Idibia Clocks 38

Click for Full Image SizeToday September 18, 2014, Nigerian award winning artiste, 2face idibia is a year older. The music artiste who just lost his father few weeks ago to cancer is celebrating his life as he clocks 38.

His wife Annie Idibia was short of words in describing how much she loves him when she was wishing him a happy birthday in the early hours of this morning. The mother of two wrote this to her husband;

“My king…my super human can’t believe am totally lost of words to actually describe how much I love you. Happy birthday baby” she wrote. 2face who is known to have gained love from fans and colleagues is sure to have a blast today and also loads of messages. Happy birthday to him

I Want To Be Rita Dominic's Boyfriend- Emmanuel Ikubese, Mr. Nigeria 2014

Current Mr. Nigeria 2014, 25-year-old actor and model, Emmanuel Ikubese also emerged second runner up and the most stylish of all the contestants at the Mr. World contest which took place in Riviera International Conference Centre, Torbay, UK.

Recently, the Delta State born multi-talented entertainer shared the memories of his experiences at the contest and his love for Nollywood’s super divas, Genevieve Nnaji and Rita Dominic.

" My exprince at the Mr. World contest was great. I felt honoured to fly the flag of my country for the whole world to see. When were in camp, they don’t call me Emmanuel, they call me ‘Nigeria’. They don’t even know my name; they just call me by the name of my country. I am proud I didn’t fail my country; I made them proud as the second runner up. I also won the crown of the second Most Desirable Man in the World and the most Stylish"

On celebrity crushes; " Yes, I used to have a crush on Mercy Johnson until she got married. Then I stopped because it is not good to crush on married women to avoid getting into trouble. Then Genevieve, Rita Dominic and Omotola too. I respect hardworking women a lot. I am still looking forward to the movie where I would play a romantic scene like a boyfriend to Genevieve or Rita. I really love those two."

He also hinted few other top movie stars he sees as role models in the entertainment industry.

" Talking about role models, Desmond Elliot is number one. I am still looking forward to working with him. I have worked with Tiwa Savage and I really enjoyed every bit of the moment with her. I am also looking forward to working with Genevieve Nnaji, Mercy Johnson, Omotola Jalade, Rita Dominic, because these people really stand out," he squealed.

Monday 15 September 2014

Nicki Minaj Invited by a High School After Being Rejected by Her Alma Mater

Nicki Minaj Invited by a High School After Being Rejected by Her Alma Mater


Hempstead School District says that they are inviting the 'Anaconda' hitmaker to visit their school because her appearance will serve as 'a boost to their students.'

Nicki Minaj


Nicki Minaj is being invited to appear in a New York high school after her appearance was rejected by her alma mater, LaGuardia High School. As reported by WCBS 880, Hempstead School District is inviting the "Anaconda" hitmaker to their campus to boost the students' spirits.

"Hempstead School District, which has had some recent hardships, feels it would be a boost to their students," they said in a statement. Hempstead Board of Education President Lamont Johnson believes the raptress will accept their invitation, saying, "I think we have a very good chance. I think she's a person that's shown that she didn't forget where she's from and I think Hempstead schools are similar to the area that she came from."

Minaj talked about being rejected by her alma mater on Twitter on Friday. "I wanted to go back to my HS and speak to the students but the new principal declined. No need for me to inspire them, I guess. Smh," she said before replying to a fan that she probably wasn't "good enough."

Minaj's old school explained that they rejected her appearance because she wanted to bring cameras into the campus. "Of course alumni are welcome back to our campuses and we love to celebrate their success, providing it does not interrupt the educational process. Alumni visit all the time and address students," a rep said. "However, we do not allow reality TV to be filmed on school property. For documentaries, any visit to a public school must be educational in nature and cannot intrude on instruction."


'No Good Deed' Dethrones 'Guardians of the Galaxy' From Box Office Top Spo t

No Good Deed' Dethrones 'Guardians of the Galaxy' From Box Office Top Spot

The thriller manages to shuffle the box office positions after 'Guardians of the Galaxy' dominated the chart in the past few weeks.

Idris Elba, Taraji P. Henson
See larger image
© Screen Gems


"Guardians of the Galaxy" was eventually dethroned by newcomers this weekend. "No Good Deed" and "Dolphin Tale 2" ended the Disney/Marvel movie reign by taking the first and second spot respectively.

"No Good Deed" took the top spot with an estimated $24.5 million in its opening weekend. "No Good Deed represented brand-new entertainment with the perfect release date, two big stars and a great social-media marketing campaign," Rentrak senior box office analyst Paul Dergarabedian said of the thriller starring Idris Elba. "It came on strong Friday and never let up."

For Screen Germs, the low-budget movie's box office success is no surprise. "We really felt we were going to win. We felt we were in the zone and had a film that people were really going to like," Rory Bruer, Sony's president of worldwide distribution, told EW. "We were always very high on the film and felt that it would really work. When you put all the elements together - great casting with Idris and Taraji, and this very, very suspenseful, taut thriller that Sam Miller delivered - it worked really well."

"Dolphin Tale 2" opened to an estimated $16.6 million, which is almost $3 million less than its predecessor. With an A CinemaScore across the board, the family movie should hold its strong position through word of mouth campaign.

Meanwhile, "Guardians of the Galaxy" continued making dollars in the third place with approximately $8 million. "Guardians has completely dominated and it continues to be a runaway blockbuster hit," said Dergarabedian. "But it's finally getting pushed down the chart. For it to be sitting on top for that long is a testament to a great release date and a great movie."

"Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" entailed the biggest movie of the year by taking in an estimated $4.8 million in its sixth week release. Comedy "Let's Be Cops" scored approximately $4.3 million this weekend and landed at the fifth place.

"No Good Deed" - $24.5 million
"Dolphin Tale 2" - $16.6 million
"Guardians of the Galaxy" - $8 million
"Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" - $4.8 Million
"Let's Be Cops" - $4.3million
"The Drop" - $4.2 million
"If I Stay" - $4.1 million
"The November Man" - $2.8 million
"The Giver" - $2.6 million
"The Hundred-Foot Journey" - $2.5 million



9ice Welcomes Baby Girl With Lover




Click for Full Image Size9ice has welcomed a baby girl with his live-in-lover,Olasunkanmi Ajala. Their baby who was born in Houston/Texas last week has since been named Michelle. The Gongo Aso crooner is also a proud father of twin girls with Victoria Godis and a son with ex wife, Toni Payne.

Monalisa Chinda Throws Dinner Party To Mark Birthday


Click for Full Image Size


Last week, sultry Nollywood actress, Monalisa Chinda turned 40. This was first marked by the actress with visit to few schools in Lagos, where she donated some items to the students. At the school visitations, which was tagged ‘Slum To School Walk, friends on Monalisa ensured they made the day memorable to her.

After the school visitation, the mother of one held a dinner party where she invited some of her friends in the industry to celebrate her life at 40. The day turned out to be very special for the role-interpreter, who was all smile at the event.

As expected, Monalisa stormed the party in a queenly outfit, which wowed many at the occasion.

Those at the event rejoiced with her as she turned 40 and wished her well. According to reports, there were enough foods and drinks to go round as guests were given five star treatments. The actress thanked those who attended the dinner and her fans for making her birthday spectacular

Saturday 13 September 2014

How to Quit Being Late


How to Quit Being Late thumbnail
Rushing to work causes you to begin the day unproductively.
No matter how hard you try, you may find that you are always late to your destination. You have gotten used to arriving a few minutes late and missing the first part of a class or a meeting. Your friends have learned to start enjoying the evening without you because they know you won't be on time. Being chronically late is a negative trait that can adversely affect your life. Fortunately there are steps you can take to stop being late.
Instructions
    • 1
      Wake up 30 minutes to an hour earlier to ensure you have enough time to get ready and arrive at your destination on time. Many people try to get up as late as possible and often end up oversleeping.
    • 2
      Leave sooner than you feel you need to. Many people give themselves only the amount of time needed to get to work. They fail to consider traffic delays or the time it takes to park and get to their desk. If you have to be at work at 8 a.m. and it takes you 30 minutes to get there, leave at 7 a.m. or 7:15 rather than 7:30.
    • 3
      Prepare the night before. Choose what you're going to wear and iron it if necessary. Locate your keys and put them near your purse or wallet so you don't have to hunt for them in the morning. Prepare your lunch if you take lunch to work. Doing these things in the morning often causes delays, so you will save time if you take care of them the night before.
    • 4
      Consider the impact to others. Being late doesn't just affect you. When you are late for work, you are not at work when your boss or your coworkers need you. When you are late for a movie with a family member or friend, you keep those people waiting or they may miss the beginning of the movie. Decide that lateness is a selfish habit so you will be motivated to change.
    • 5
      Plan to arrive early and bring something to keep yourself occupied. Some people are late because they don't want to wait for other people to arrive or to wait for the class or meeting to start. Bring a book, magazine, laptop or other electronic device to keep your attention while you're waiting.
    • 6
      Set consequences for being late. If you are late, don't allow yourself to stop at Starbucks for your daily cup of coffee. Force yourself to go without makeup for the day or even skip your shower if you're running late. Negative consequences may help you begin to be on time.
    • 7
      Determine why you are consistently late. Are you late everywhere or just to a particular destination? Your lateness may indicate a deeper problem. Perhaps you dread going to a certain place or meeting a particular person. Address the problem so you're not subconsciously acting out by being late.


Friday 12 September 2014

Having a successful joint account with your spouse by Pastor Taiwo Odukoya

Click for Full Image SizeIt was a heated argument in my office between this young married couple. The young lady had come to see me with her husband for what she said was a threat to their marriage. I was a little worried because they were very committed church members and had been married for just two years. As it turned out, it was all about money. Specifically, it was about how the man was handling the money in their joint account.

They had decided that there was no point having separate accounts after their wedding. So they opened a joint account and both closed down the separate accounts they had operated prior to their wedding. Unfortunately, the man was not so prudent with money, and had practically shut her out of their finances. All entreaties to let her have a separate account had fallen on deaf ears. No longer able to cope with the situation, she opened a separate account and that was the beginning of her troubles.

To have a joint bank account or not to have a joint bank account – that is the question the majority of married couples will have to answer at some point. Unfortunately, the answer is not as straightforward as the question; it is never an outright yes or no. Often, the answer lies somewhere in-between.

Many get into marriage with the intention of becoming one with their spouse in every area, including their finances. Having a joint account therefore becomes a natural step. They soon discover however that, as much as it is desirable to pull the family funds into one account, a lot of details need to be worked out so that one party does not feel cheated or restricted. The immaturity of one party, and inability to handle the finances in a joint account in an acceptable manner to both parties, can lead to resentment and avoidable friction in the home.

A Daily Mail research showed that only one-third of couples have a joint account, with others keeping separate finances to avoid arguments or their partner spending their money recklessly. Some 34% of people who are either married (or living together) run their finances solely through a joint account, while 38% have both individual and shared accounts. But 28% of people prefer to keep totally separate financial arrangements, with 81% of women who do not have a joint account anxious to maintain their independence.

Just under a quarter of men and 13% of women keep their own accounts to avoid arguments, while 18% of men said they earned more and wanted to keep their money separate, and 21% of men worried that their partner would dip into a joint account without them knowing.

Now, a major advantage of a joint bank account is the fact that there are less chances of encountering financial “surprises” when all the family finances go into and come out of one account. It is easier for couples with joint accounts to keep track of their finances and balance the family account at the end of the month.

Depending on the kind of account, joint accounts usually provide each account holder the privilege of a debit card, a chequebook and the ability to make deposits and withdrawals. In our days, each account holder also receives online access to account information and other tools, like sms notifications, thus further simplifying the process of keeping track of transactions.

In addition, in the event of one spouse passing away, joint accounts provide a legal covering for the other party to easily access the family funds. This is different from sole account ownership, where a surviving spouse will have to go through a lengthy and often frustrating to access the account.

On the other hand, some may be uncomfortable with the loss of financial independence that comes with a joint bank account, especially early in their marriage. If one party or the two are more comfortable with personally managing their own funds, then having a joint account can be a major source of friction.

Joint bank accounts can also cause issues in a marriage when spouses carry out transactions on the account without informing their partners or continually breach the agreed terms of setting up the account. The convenience of joint access to funds, although good on its own, may cause overdrafts and bounced cheques if one partner is reckless and makes unreasonable withdrawals or payments. Having separate accounts will, therefore, keep much of the damage to the other spouse under control- if one spouse is less financially responsible.

Based on the foregoing, it is difficult to make a sweeping recommendation that works for all couples. Some young couples who have traditional views of marriage, and what it should entail, have no problem merging finances. On the other hand, some go into marriage with a resolve to separate everything only to discover later that joint accounts make more sense.

A newly married young lady confided that she does not mind having a joint account for special projects but she would want to have a separate account.

That, I think, is the best approach to the issue. For many couples, a blend of joint and separate accounts makes sense. In this arrangement, you keep a joint account that you and your spouse use for special projects like paying for holidays, paying house rents, buying or building a house, paying children’s school fees, etc. Separate accounts can then be kept for personal expenditures. This will provide a sense of autonomy which can sometimes be difficult to achieve in marriage.

Now, with your own bank account, you do not feel guilty (or require permission) when spending your own money on the things you need. This is more so when it comes to personal items like clothes, shoes, toiletries, underwear, etc. And you will not also have to worry about the resentment that comes with one partner taking the money that belongs to both of you to buy things for himself or herself alone.

There is no gainsaying the fact that money is a major issue in a lot of marriages; there is therefore no need to further complicate things. If your spouse is reckless with money, there is no point trusting him or her with family finances in the form of joint account.

Where a couple can reach an agreement on how a joint account should be managed and mature enough to respect the terms of the agreement at all times, then having one is good. However, where this is not possible, then it is better to avoid having a joint account.

Judge Who Leaked Charlize Theron Adoption Details Is Fired


An Arkansas state judge who previously shared info about the actress adopting her son Jackson in an online forum now has been dismissed from his position.



Charlize Theron
A judge in Arkansas has been dismissed from his position after he leaked details about Charlize Theronadoption proceedings in an internet forum. Circuit Judge Michael Maggio was dismissed by the Arkansas Supreme Court on Thursday, September 9. 

The judge has admitted that he revealed info about the actress adopting a son in an online forum at Louisiana State University sports fans in 2012 by using a pseudonym "geauxjudge." The adoption proceeding, which should be confidential, was handled by another judge in the same division where he served. 

The Arkansas Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission previously stated that Maggio was suspended from his duties, but he would receive his salary until his term ends at the end Judge Who Leaked Charlize Theron Adoption Details Is Fired
Add CommentSeptember 12, 2014 07:39:00 GMT

An Arkansas state judge who previously shared info about the actress adopting her son Jackson in an online forum now has been dismissed from his position.




A judge in Arkansas has been dismissed from his position after he leaked details about Charlize Theron adoption proceedings in an internet forum. Circuit Judge Michael Maggio was dismissed by the Arkansas Supreme Court on Thursday, September 9. 

The judge has admitted that he revealed info about the actress adopting a son in an online forum at Louisiana State University sports fans in 2012 by using a pseudonym "geauxjudge." The adoption proceeding, which should be confidential, was handled by another judge in the same division where he served. 

The Arkansas Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission previously stated that Maggio was suspended from his duties, but he would receive his salary until his term ends at the end of 2014. However, the Supreme Court decided on Thursday that Maggio would be removed from the position. 

"We deem any further suspension with pay to be inappropriate," the order said, as quoted by The Associated Press. "Therefore, we order the removal of Judge Maggio from judicial office, effective as the date of this opinion. By this order, Judge Maggio is henceforth prohibited from holding any judicial office in the state of Arkansas." 



. However, the Supreme Court decided on Thursday that Maggio would be removed from the position. 

"We deem any further suspension with pay to be inappropriate," the order said, as quoted by The Associated Press. "Therefore, we order the removal of Judge Maggio from judicial office, effective as the date of this opinion. By this order, Judge Maggio is henceforth prohibited from holding any judicial office in the state of Arkansas." 


 

Iggy Azalea Dismisses Sex Tape Rumor

The 'Black Widow' rapper addresses the alleged sex tape on Twitter and slams 'anyone who releases or attempts to make profit off someone else's intimate moments against their will.'


Iggy Azalea
No Iggy Azalea sex tape leaks, despite rumor suggesting that Vivid Entertainment has got a hold of her steamy tape and negotiated a multi-million dollar deal. A representative for the female rapper says, "It is categorically not Iggy Azalea in the video in question. She has never been involved in any sexually explicit recordings."

The Aussie star herself addressed the matter on Twitter, "Obviously I've seen the news feed today and i just want to say… I dont have a sex tape but for the record... Anyone who releases or attempts to make profit off someone else's intimate moments against their will is a sex offender."

"& it honestly makes me sick to see the media encourage any other attitude towards those sorts of people, we should want to protect our women and i really hope that america will follow Europe and their laws to better protect peoples privacy and fundamental rights."

The sex tape rumor came on heels of massive celebrity nude photo leaks that involved Jennifer Lawrence and Kate Upton. 

Thursday 14 August 2014

Martin Lawrence: 'Bad Boys 3' Is Happening






The on-screen partner of Will Smith in the buddy cop movie series reveals that script for the third installment is currently in the works.


Martin Lawrence: 'Bad Boys 3' Is Happening
"Bad Boys 3" is indeed happening. Martin Lawrence announced when visiting "CONAN" on Wednesday night, August 13 that a new installment of the action comedy film series had been in the works.

"I believe so. Yes," he told host Conan O'Brien when asked if "Bad Boys 3" would happen. "I just talked to Jerry Bruckheimer yesterday and he said its real, they're working on the script, they're getting close and it all looks good."

Back in July, Lawrence publicly called on his on-screen partner Will Smith to reunite for a third "Bad Boys" movie. "11 years ago today, Bad Boys II was released in theaters. Feelin' it's about time for number 3... what do you think Will Smith?" he posted on Facebook. It's unclear if Smith is up for the next installment.

In 1995's "Bad Boys" and its sequel, Lawrence and Smith played Marcus Burnett and Mike Lowrey, who are best friends and detectives in the narcotics division of the Miami Police Department. Both films were commercially successful, with the first film grossing $141,407,024 worldwide and the latter earning $273,339,556 worldwide.

Ebola: Why my husband travelled to Nigeria -Patrick Sawyer’s Wife Opens Up





Click for Full Image Size Decontee Sawyer (Photo Credit: Decontee Sawyer’s Facebook
The widow of late Patrick Sawyer, the Liberian who brought Ebola into Nigeria, has defended her husband’s decision to travel to Africa’s most populous country, saying he did so in desperate search for a country with better healthcare system than his own country.

In an article published earlier yesterday, TMZ Liberia Magazine quoted Decontee Sawyer, who is a radio host in New York, as explaining that Mr. Sawyer had no trust in the healthcare system in Liberia and had possibly headed to Nigeria with the hope of receiving better treatment for his ailment.
Mrs. Sawyer shared her thoughts on her Facebook profile from which TMZ Liberia sourced it for publication.

“I’ve read other reports in other papers (not the New York Times) about Patrick’s “recklessness.” I get where they’re coming from, and they certainly have the right to feel the way they do. However, as Patrick’s widow, I would like to shed some light on this from another perspective. One that only I, his wife, would know,” she wrote.

“I knew Patrick better than anybody else (including himself). He had told me many times in the past how much he didn’t trust the Liberian healthcare system. He would tell me about how a person would get checked in for one thing, and get misdiagnosed and get the wrong treatment as a result. On top of that, Patrick was a clean freak, and told me how filthy a lot of the hospitals were.

“He didn’t tell me this, but I know in my heart of hearts that Patrick was determined to get to Nigeria by all means because he felt that Nigeria would be a place of refuge. He has expressed to me many times in the past that he felt passionately about helping to be a part of strengthening Liberia’s healthcare system, but he knew it wasn’t there yet, and he wouldn’t want to take a chance with his life because a lot of people depended on him… Patrick had a passion for life, and he wouldn’t have wanted his to end. So, I bet anything that he was thinking, if I could only get to Nigeria, a way more developed country than Liberia, I would be able to get some help. How ironic.”

Many Nigerians, and even Liberians, condemned Mr Sawyer for traveling to Nigeria despite knowing that he was carrying Ebola virus before embarking on the trip. Some Nigerians on social media have described him as a “biological terrorist” arguing that he came into the country deliberately to spread the disease.

On Monday in Abuja, President Goodluck Jonathan described Mr Sawyer’s decision to travel to Nigeria as pure “madness” and “craziness.”

“Sawyer that brought this Ebola to Nigeria; his sister died of Ebola. And he started acting somehow, his country asked him not to leave the country, let them observe him, but the crazy man decided to leave and found his way here,” President Jonathan said.

In her post, Mrs. Sawyer wrote that the fact that her husband avoided contact with others at the James Sprigg Payne’s Airport in Monrovia as revealed by airport CCTV footage proved he didn’t set out to infect others with the disease and perhaps his actions were that of a dying man in desperate search for help.

“It has been reported that Patrick avoided physical contact with everyone he came across during his trip from Liberia to Nigeria. When he got to Nigeria, he turned himself in letting them know that he had just flown in from Liberia.

“Patrick went to Nigeria for help so that he can get properly diagnosed, and not misdiagnosed in Liberia. And if it came back that he did have Ebola, he trusted the Nigerian healthcare system a lot more than he trusted the Liberian’s. His action, as off as it was, was a desperate plea for help. Patrick didn’t want to die, and he thought his life would be saved in Nigeria.”

Mrs. Sawyer then took a swipe at the Liberian President, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, who said Mr Sawyer was indiscipline and disrespectful for failing to heed medical advise not to travel.

Mrs Sawyer said if President Johnson-Sirleaf had fixed the healthcare system in Liberia, her husband would not have left in search of treatment elsewhere.

“I write today, not simply because of Patrick, but because of the broken healthcare system in the Liberia, and the government’s inability under President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (and other past Presidents) to fix it. Good doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers aren’t given the support they need to save lives.

“President Sirleaf went on CNN News throwing stones at Patrick, a man who can no longer defend himself, a man who worked tirelessly for Liberia. She should be ashamed of herself. I use to admire this woman, and was excited and proud of her accomplishment as the first woman President in the entire continent of Africa. She will always own that. We will always own that. It can’t be taken away from her. It’s something to be proud of. But this woman has failed her country,” she wrote.

Nigeria was free of Ebola until July 20 when Mr. Sawyer arrived.

He became terribly ill on his flight and was rushed to the First Consultant Hospital Obalende, Lagos, where he died on July 24.

Nigeria’s Health Minister, Onyebuchi Chukwu, said on Monday that although the Liberian government has apologized for the incidence, it was pertinent to note that Nigeria was free of Ebola Virus until its importation by the Liberian-American.

Mr. Sawyer’s action, he said, has placed unnecessary stress on Nigeria’s health system.

Since Mr. Sawyer’s death in a Lagos hospital, two other persons who had contact with him have died of the virus. At least eight others have also tested positive to the infection and have been quarantined at a Lagos hospital.

President Goodluck Jonathan has since declared a national emergency on the disease while the federal health ministry in conjunction with health ministries in the 36 states are working to prevent the spread of the virus, which has killed over 1,000 people in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.

Getting A Child Out Of Wedlock Is Nobody’s Business—Grace Amah



Click for Full Image Size Grace Amah
Nollywood actress, Grace Amah, who welcomed a child out of wedlock some years ago, has been away from the scene for a while now. In her explanation, the actress said after she returned to Nigeria, she had to spend time with her son.

The father of her son has remained unknown and she seems not to be ready to reveal him anytime soon.

In a recent interview, she said it’s nobody’s business if she gave birth out of wedlock or not, and according to her, it’s her life.

“I don’t know what you call a mistake. Who says I must be married before having a baby? Why is it an issue? And there is no compulsion for me to come to the world and announce who the father of my child is. It is about my life,” she said.

The pretty actress said she has many suitors because she is a beautiful lady. She also stated that the father of her son is the most qualified suitor she has.

Wednesday 13 August 2014

How to Converse at a Party

      

Parties offer an opportunity to meet new people.
Conversation is easier for some than it is for others. Finding just the right topic to initiate a conversation or to keep it going eludes many party-goers to the point that they avoid parties altogether. If you like the social aspect of parties but feel awkward or embarrassed when striking up a conversation, learning and practicing the art of conversation can help you feel more at ease at your next gathering.
Instructions
1.       
    • 1
Practice conversation starters before you head to the party. Come up with five to 10 questions you might ask a stranger or someone you don't know very well to initiate a conversation. That way, you won't have to think on the spot when you get to the party.
    • 2
Be confident. You may feel self-conscious or uncomfortable because you don't know many -- if any -- people at the party. Keep in mind that other party-goers may be in a similar situation but lack the confidence to approach you. Don't be afraid to initiate conversation using the conversation starters you practiced before you arrived.

    • 3
Pose open-ended questions. Open-ended questions are questions that can't be answered with one word, such as "yes" or "no." For example, a question that starts with "What do you think of ... " requires your conversation partner to provide an answer of at least one sentence, which will open the door for follow-up questions and further conversation.
    • 4
Avoid talking too much or talking only about yourself, which can be a turn-off. Keep the focus on your conversation partner, and talk about yourself only if it is necessary to the flow of conversation. This is sometimes referred to as the 80-20 rule: Limit talking about yourself to 20 percent of the conversation, while asking questions or focusing on external subjects 80 percent of the time.
    • 5
Talk about subjects directly related to the party or the host of the party. Find out how your conversation partner knows the host. Maybe the three of you have a common history -- a school, club or activity that each of you attended or participated in. Try to identify that connection and use it to deepen a conversation.
Tips & Warnings
  • Make a good impression on other party guests by smiling and assuming a warm and welcoming appearance. This will make it easier and more tempting for other guests to approach you.