This is probably the most unforgettable and the
most embarrasing moment for a Croatian human
rights activist, whose pants fell down while he
was recieving an award from the country’s
president.

Ivan Zvonimir Cicak, Head of Croatian Helsinki
Committee for Human Rights, was posing with the
nation’s first female president Kolinda Grabar-
Kitarovic, when the worst possible wardrobe
malfunction happened.

Ivan Zvonimir Cicak, Head of Croatian Helsinki
Committee for Human Rights, was posing with the
nation’s first female president Kolinda Grabar-
Kitarovic

The man’s trousers fell down to his ankles, revealing
his underwear and leaving Cicak red-faced. The next
moment Cicak pulls his pants back up and trying to
smile for the picture but his face says it all.

Sudden;y his pants fell down
However, it seems the unexpected slip-up didn’t
impress the president, as she is seen keeping a
completely straight face during the
incident. Fortunately, Cicak was holding a large
award certificate in his hands which
somehow helped to preserve his modesty.


The award was presented to Ivan Zvonimir Cicac
and the committee in Zagreb for their work ahead of
international Human Rights Day which is marked on
December 10. Cicac is a renowned Croatian
politician and journalist and human rights activist
since 1990.

Indications are rife that one of the front-runners in the United States of America presidential race, Ben Carson, will visit Nigeria this month.
Ben Carson
Carson, 64, who is a retired neurosurgeon and a popular author, will tour Kenya, which he says is his ancestral home, Zambia and Nigeria in tour that will commence on Sunday, December 27 and will last a week.
Speaking to popular U.S radio host, Hugh Hewitt, on Monday, December 7, in an interview, Carson said: “I think a lot of our policy in the future is going to affect Africa.”
“But I’m going to those three countries in particular because my ancestors are from the Kenya-Tanzania region, the Turkana tribe. I’ve had all of that traced back.”
According to him, the tour will enable him make decisions based on “seeing things firsthand” as opposed to “filtered information”. He further informed the radio host that his trip to Nigeria will include a visit to a medical school named after him.

Harrison Agu, a 35-year-old man, has been arrested for allegedly defiling his six-year-old daughter, Vanguard reports. Agu, who was arraigned before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Tuesday, November 8, over the assault on his daughter, is said to be a resident of 23, Rotimi Omotosho Street, Isheri Osun, Lagos. The accused has pleaded not guilty to the charge of indecent treatment of a minor leveled against him, but the prosecutor, Inspector Simon Imhonwa, told the court that he (Agu) had regularly defiled the youngster within the last three years, an offence which contravenes Section 135 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.
He said: “The accused began the assault in 2013 when the child’s mother was away for the compulsory one year NYSC. “It was during this period that the child fell ill with a serious infection in her genitals for the first time. “Thereafter, the mother of the child observed that the child’s genitals regularly produced a foul smell with discharges.” He added that young girl told her mother that her father always asked her to remove her pants and then deep his fingers in her private part after which the mother took the child to the hospital where it was confirmed that the child had been defiled.
“The mother said her child told her that Agu always asked her to remove her jeans and pants and then he will put his hand in her ‘bum bum’ (vagina) and if she refuses, he beats her,” the prosecutor informed, adding that further interrogation showed that the child had been physically and emotionally abused since she was 3 years old. Mrs Bola Osunsanmi, the Magistrate who presided over the matter, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N500,000, with two sureties in like sum and ordered that the file be forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for further advice. If found guilty, Agu faces seven-year imprisonment.

excober080:
True tank...unsucessful guys folow girlz,why girls folow sucessful guyz.

thanks bro

1. Having many girlfriends does not make you a man. It only makes you a womanizer and a cheat and a boy.
2. A real man has only one woman in his life.
3. For the fact that you are good in bed does not make you a man. A real man is the man who does not run away from his responsibility but faces it squarely.
4. You don't need to sag your trousers and walk round the street before girls will love you. Infact it is only small boys that sag trousers and it is premature little girls that fall in love with men who sag trousers.
5. Don't use and dump ladies. Remember the law of karma. Whatever you do, you will receive the reward.
6. If you cannot make her your wife, don't make her a mother.
7. Do not obey your erection at all times. Most times our erections mislead us to the wrong direction. Control your erection. Don't let your erection control you.
8. It is not everything you see under skirt that you should hustle to eat, some skirts contain snakes that will bite you. Control your sex urge. Self control and abstinence pays a lot.
9. Do not date a lady because she has sexy curves, boobs and shapes. Those things are just packaging; and packaging can be very deceptive.
10. Respect any lady that loves you.
11. Do not beat any woman, even if she is your wife.
12. Real men don't gossip.
13. Spend more time to hustle for money. Real and wise men use their time to think and plan on how to be financially successful. Foolish men use their time to think and plan on how to sleep with many girls.
14. The world only celebrates successful men. Nobody will celebrate you for having many girlfriends. Therefore what is the benefit? Waste of energy and waste of protein.
BE A WISE MAN.

I saw this man in a polling unit today, kogi election

more pics

Pls save lives by sharing the pics of fake pet drinks made in the eastern Nigeria and Pls stop buying from the traffic.

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) had a compulsory headcount for all youth corps members in the country with a very short notice. This, probably to checkmate those who travel out of their serving states without properly informing necessary authorities. However, an unidentified corper was seen at her local government wearing her wedding dress in order to be counted. It was said that failure to meet the headcount might warrant an extension. The bride decided to take the bull by the horn. See her photos below:

Recently, a beautifully-dressed bride was spotted on a commercial bike around Okota area of Lagos. Although no one had an idea what prompted the bride to get on an ‘okada’ looking all stunning, many were opinion that she was trying to beat the Lagos traffic which has now turned into a daily routine. As the bike navigated past a number of people who were curious to see a bride in her white gown on a bike, the beautiful bride had a distinct smile on her all the way. See photos below:

otokx:
He is right, they should transfer all of them to Rivers State University.

you are wrong, there should be a continuity in our government.

Lucialovely:
. Not minding his business did

thank you jare!

Pls kindly judge this matter.....I was in a taxi,chatting with my friend on whatsapp and suddenly discovered that the man sitting beside me was reading my conversation. Since I did not want to embarrass the man, l decided to change the topic, I wrote: "Abeg oga, please tell Kabiru Sokoto or Abdullahi that I only took two of the bombs we just manufactured for this operation. Let them know as well that I may find it difficult to get to the target place before the bombs explode because there is terrible traffic jam now but nevertheless, I am sure casualty figure will be high since we are five in our taxi and all the vehicles in the traffic will be affected too. We have less than 3minutes for the bomb to go off. Bye and take care of my parents and siblings as agreed. The Man, without allowing the taxi to stop suddenly opened the taxi door and jumped out. He was knocked down by a passing truck and eventually died. Pls who killed him?..Me or Amebo?

Osusu Must Flow. with N500 you fit discharge that akamu na. chai, you fall my hand.[/quote]


hmm baby u get mouth ohhh

Pavore9:


It is rather painful but that is the sad reality. Our politicians are like weather, you have no hold on them. A governor who is screaming dwindling revenue as an excuse will see nothing wrong in misappropriating state funds to maintain his political machinery. Should I have a family member amongst those on scholarship l will rally other family members to see that he or she graduates there before returning as against transferring them to the schools in the state. I know it is not easy but they say where there is will, there is way.

you made a point though but in this issue, wike took the family by surprise.

hmm the matter don enter gear oh!
odili but why?

Delphi:
Stopping or allowing the continuity of the scholarship programme is a government's decision. However, the government should make sure that those already in the programme round-off their academic programmes/graduate. If not that Nigeria is rife with unexposed men as leaders, they would have known that government sponsorship of youth education is not a new thing nor absurd. In Sweden, I was baffled at how the government sponsors the (all-inclusive) education of the youth. Every (Swedish) youth has got a free education up till the university level. Not only that, but with a nice accommodation plus an option of monthly loan! If only our government should channel the money being embezzled into such a venture, our society will smile at it. It takes a futuristic leader to do these. Little wonder our leaders of old upheld the government scholarship programme. Lastly, if investing in education of the youth becomes inconsequential then investing in amoury will become imminent!

you are right sir!

Pavore9:
Some families should start thinking of funding the remaining years some still have over there because once the government stops financing their children there is nothing anyone can do!

why would u say that? where do u expect parents to get the money?

do u mean that the #30billion he borrowed was for oppression know port holes.

The Rivers state government has revealed that it can no longer sustain the overseas scholarship to benefactors of the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) and has therefore planned to withdraw students who are schooling abroad. This information was provided to parents by Ominim Jack who is the acting executive director of RSSDA and the commissioner of agriculture in Port Harcourt Daily Post reports that the commissioner told the parents that the current economic situation made it impossible for the sustenance of the overseas scholarship scheme but the state planned to return the students back to Nigeria to continue with their education. She said the students who would still be on full scholarship would either be transferred to the University of Port Harcourt or the Rivers State University of Science and Technology. She said: “I want to first of all let you know that the Governor, Nyesom Wike takes the education of our students very seriously. Today, we have to be realistic. We all know what is happening in Nigeria. We now have a dwindling revenue both from FAC and IGR. We all know our exchange rates. “We are here to give a proposal to let you know that the state is committed to pay installmentally for all our final year students totalling almost 200. “We are putting arrangements in place for students who are not in their final year to get transfer back to schools in Nigeria, especially in Rivers state with full scholarships.” Daily Post reports that the news was greeted with dissatisfaction from the parents of the students studying overseas. They pleaded with the governor to find ways to sustain the scholarship. A parent said: “My child is studying in Canada. But how can somebody who is in her 3rd year now return to Nigeria just like that? The curriculum can never be the same. We do not agree with the proposal of governor Wike.” Another added : “For almost one year now, the state government has stopped paying the students their allowance. And we have been taking responsibility for that. We won’t mind to continue but the government should just pay the school fees. It is a very bad decision to withdraw all the students and place them in schools in Port Harcourt. The Governor should not do that.”

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari yesterday attacked the judiciary, saying its reputation and integrity have been negatively affected due to delays in the administration of justice. The President made his assessment of the third arm of government in his keynote address at the opening of the ongoing All Nigeria Judges’ conference, organised the National Judicial Institute (NJI) Abuja. Buhari noted that as an institution dedicated to the pro- motion and protection of human rights that the judiciary must go the extra mile to sanitize itself and improve its capacity to act independently, courageously and timeously. “Further on point of negative perception, there is both local and international dissatisfaction with the long de- lays in the trial process. Delays in the trial process have damaged the international reputation of the Nigerian judiciary, even among its international peers”, Buhari observed. “Unfortunately, our justice system currently has a reputation for delays, usually occasioned by a combination of endless adjournments, incessant interlocutory applications and overwhelming caseloads”. This situation is a huge disincentive for businesses. It is not surprising therefore that Nigeria ranks near the bot- tom on the ease of doing business index. We are currently ranked 143 out of 189 countries by the World Bank Group’s Enforcing Contracts Indicator”, Buhari said. The World Bank says, “it takes about 510 days on average to enforce a contract at the level of a court of first instance in Nigeria. In Singapore, the top ranked country on the index, it takes 150 days on average to enforce a similar contract. “The ability to enforce contractual obligations and re- solve disputes is an essential consideration for intending investors, both local and foreign, in deciding where to put their money,” Buhari said. Earlier, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, expressed dismay that the judiciary is underfunded. “It is a source of great concern that in a country where an arm of government is appropriated with less than one per cent of the national budget, it is difficult to refer to our judiciary as being truly independent. “The Constitution prescribes the institutional independence of the judiciary under Section 6 of its provisions. Sections 121 (3) and 162 (9) further guarantee fiscal independence for the judiciary, a fact now acknowledged by the other arms of Government with recent resolutions by the Federal and some state governments to pay the judiciary its outstanding and future budgetary allocations as and when due. “However, under the circumstances, the state judiciaries continue to encounter a further burden of facing difficulties in accessing these paltry funds from their executives in order to function. Represented by the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), the President recalled that the issue of delayed trials is so high in cases involving the affluent. “In the past few years, this has become especially so for high profile cases of corruption, especially where they involve serving or former political office holders. As my Lords are undoubtedly aware, corruption transfers from public coffers to private pockets, resources required to deliver social and economic justice.” President Buhari therefore, called for the streamlining of the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, arguing that it should restrict itself to constitutional issues. “Our Supreme Court remains one of the busiest in the Commonwealth if not the world. This is obviously due to the leeway given to almost every case filed at any level of the court system from any part of the country to rise on appeal to the Supreme Court. “In my view, we need to streamline the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court to focus on key constitutional issues, novel questions of law and current areas of its original jurisdiction. “The grounds for granting leave to appeal to the Supreme Court should also be reviewed while we discourage the practice of appealing interlocutory matters to the Supreme Court while the substantive case stands suspended in the lower courts. In her address, Administrator of the National Judicial Institute (NJI), retired Justice Rosaline Bozimo, said the the biennial conference has always been a stock-taking event when Nigerian judges converge to reflect on their activities over time, thereby providing an insight into what has been achieved. It also provides a platform to strategise on how to meet the important and critical challenges in the dispensation of justice to all.




source: http://sunnewsonline.com/new/buhari-laments-delay-in-justice-delivery/

A lawyer, Barrister Asiyanbi Olajide, said:
“The death of Audu Abubakar comes with some
constitutional questions. What happens to the
inconclusive elections? Who becomes the APC’s
governorship candidate in the re-run elections in the
affected areas. Will a new election be ordered in Kogi
state? Many more questions, yet few answers.
The scenario would have been different if the results of
the election were declared before the death of Audu
Abubakar. In that case Section 181(1) of the
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria would
have been invoked. ‘Section 181. (1) If a person duly
elected as Governor dies before taking and subscribing
the Oath of Allegiance and oath of office, or is unable
for any reason whatsoever to be sworn in, the person
elected with him as Deputy governor shall be sworn in
as Governor and he shall nominate a new Deputy-
Governor who shall be appointed by the Governor with
the approval of a simple majority of the House of
Assembly of the State’.
But the scenario in Kogi is different. Nobody has been
declared the winner yet. Therein lies the constitutional/
electoral challenge. But its not beyond resolution.
This is where Section 33 of the Electoral Act (as
amended) 2010 can be invoked. It provides ‘Section 33.
A political party shall not be allowed to change or
substitute its candidate whose name has been
submitted pursuant to Section 31 of this Act, except in
the case of death or withdrawal by the candidate.
”Section 33 of the Electoral Act is wide enough to
accommodate the scenario in Kogi State, where a
candidate dies where the election is declared
inconclusive. This is because Section 33 of the
Electoral Act is not limited to pre-election substitution
of a candidate. Pre-election substitution of a candidate
is specifically provided for in Section 36(1) of the
Electoral Act. ‘Section 36(1). If after the time for the
delivery of nomination paper and before
commencement of the poll, a nominated candidate
dies, the Chief National Electoral Commissioner or the
Resident Electoral Commissioner shall, being satisfied
of the fact of the death, countermand the poll in which
the deceased candidate was to participate and the
Commission shall appoint some other convenient date
for the election within 14 days’. The postponement of
the election as contemplated under Section 36 of the
Electoral Act is to allow the party to present another
candidate.
”However, if the candidate dies where the election is
declared inconclusive as in Kogi, the party will be
allowed to substitute the death candidate for the re-run
election in the affected areas. This is the intention of
Section 33 of the Electoral Act. Limiting Section 33 of
the Electoral Act will be restricting its intention and
deviating from the purposive rule of interpretation.
The party’s garnered votes in the inconclusive election
remain valid. This is because the electorates voted for
the party not the candidate.
In the end, no constitutional/electoral lacuna exists.
The APC should invoke the provisions of Section 33 of
the Electoral Act and substitute Audu Abubakar with
another candidate, while their votes remain intact as
they go in for the re-run elections in the affected areas,
declared inconclusive.”



source: https://www.naij.com/646881-audus-death-fresh-polls-kogi-lawyer-others.html

The wife of the president Muhammadu Buhari Aisha
has released lovely photos in her formal office.
Aisha Buhari uses official office of the first lady.
Aisha denounced herself as the First Lady but she’s
using the official office.
After Buhari’s victory at the presidential election,
the wife of the president made a significant remark
about her status saying that she will prefer to be
called the wife of the president of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria than the first lady of Nigeria.
However, the formal portrait of the president’s wife
was issued several hours after the inauguration on
May 29.
Buhari during the presidential campaign first
addressed the issue of the Office of the First Lady
in December 2014. He said it was not written down
in the Nigerian constitution, and there was no
official role for presidents’ wives defined in the
main law of Nigeria.
In her response Mrs Buhari said that this fact would
not stop her from doing her work: participating in
different charity activities, visiting orphanages,
caring for societies downtrodden and etc.

The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has
reacted to the death of the APC governorship
candidate in Kogi poll Prince Abubakar Audu.
The party issued a statement signed by its national
publicity secretary Chief Olisa Metuh.
The PDP refrains from comments on conduct of
election in Kogi state, saying that it’s not important
now.
The statement reads in part: “The Peoples Democratic
Party is shocked by the news of the sudden death of
the candidate of the All Progressives Congress in last
Saturday’s Kogi state governorship election, Prince
Abubakar Audu.
“At this critical moment, the PDP refrains from
comments on the conduct of the election. That is not
important now. What is important at this point is the
sanctity of human life.
“Our deepest thoughts and prayers go to the family of
Prince Abubakar Audu and indeed, the APC fold.
“On this note, the Acting National Chairman of the PDP,
Prince Uche Secondus, charges all PDP members in
Kogi and across the nation to keep Prince Audu, his
family and loved ones in their prayers, as we mourn
with them and the people of Kogi state over this
monumental loss.”
The Independent National Electoral Commission
announced the outcome of the Kogi governorship
poll, in which Abubakar Audu was projected the
winner, inconclusive.
Briefly after this announcement, came the reports
that APC candidate suddenly passed away.
As for now, the exact medical cause of death has
not been disclosed.


https://www.naij.com/645571-kogi-sanctity-human-life-important-now-not-election-pdp.html

Senator Shehu Sani representing Kaduna Central
district has lambasted Charles Soludo, a former
governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), for
calling for removal of oil subsidy.
Shehu Sani
Leadership reports that the senator bared his mind
on Sunday, November 22, while receiving members
of Kaduna State Christian Association of Nigeria
(CAN) and the Bishara Baptist Church who paid him
a courtesy call.
Addressing members of CAN, Senator Sani said: “If
you use it for good, you are within the ambit of the
religion. But if you use it for bad, you are outside the
ambit of the religion”.
In his speech, the senator strongly criticized Soludo
for telling President Muhammadu Buhari to remove
the subsidy. He also wandered why the former CBN
governor did not suggest such removal to ex-
president Olusegun Obasanjo, under whose
administration he had served for five years.
According to Sani, such call is an attempt to
undermine the integrity of President Buhari.
“In the last 48 hours, the Nigerian media was awash
with a paper presentation by Professor Charles Soludo,
critical of the economic policies and strategies of
President Buhari. There is nothing wrong with anybody
criticising; we need criticism and alternative points of
view for us to understand whether we are wrong or
right.
“Professor Soludo called on President Buhari to remove
fuel subsidy. This was a man who was governor of
Central Bank for five years, under a government that
served for eight years. And if the government of
Olusegun Obasanjo was not able to remove fuel
subsidy while he was a leading figure in the economic
circle, is it the government of Buhari that will be told to
remove fuel subsidy,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Emir of Kano and former CBN
governor, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi 11, has advised
Buhari to remove the subsidy on fuel if he wants
the Nigerian economy to bounce back.
According to Sanusi, Nigeria can no longer afford
the many leakages that have affected its economy
for a long time.


https://www.naij.com/645457-subsidy-removal-senator-sani-blasts-former-cbn-governor.html

(1) Nigel Thornberry Nigel Thornberry, the adventurous dad from "The Wild Thornberrys" was voiced by Tim Curry. He is most known for his role in "The Rocky Horror Picture Show."

(2) Nemo The adorable son, Nemo, from "Finding Nemo" is voiced by Alexander Gould. Gould is commonly recognized as Shane Botwin from "Weeds."

(3) John Smith The "Pocahontas" movie's John Smith is voiced by none other than Mel Gibson. Other movies Gibson has starred in include "The Patriot" and "Braveheart."

(4) Yellow M&M The yellow M&M, while not a cartoon character known for appearances in movies or TV shows, also has a celebrity behind it.

FBI Confirms Alleged ISIS Threat Against WWE Event in
Atlanta on Sunday
Body slams were the defiant answer to terrorists Sunday
night, as a major WWE wrestling event at Atlanta’s
Philips Arena got underway without incident following
the FBI’s confirmation that it was aware of an alleged
threat by the Islamic group ISIS to attack it.
On Saturday, the hacker group Anonymous said that it
had uncovered information about Islamic State group
plans for additional terror attacks in Paris as well as
locations in the U.S., according to the International
Business Times . An FBI said that while the bureau was
aware of the threat, it did not have “specific or credible
information of an attack.
“The FBI is aware of reports of an alleged threat that
includes an Atlanta, Georgia venue and event,” FBI
Special Agent in Charge J. Britt Johnson of the Atlanta
office said on Saturday. “While we take all threats
seriously, we do not have specific or credible
information of an attack at this time. We have, however,
made the proper notifications as we continue to work
closely with our law enforcement and private sector
partners to keep our community safe.”
On Sunday afternoon while he was ending a trip to Asia,
President Barack Obama said the Islamic State group
“cannot strike a mortal blow” against the U.S., and he
warned that overreacting to the Paris attacks would play
into extremists’ hands.
“We do not succumb to fear,” Obama said in Kuala
Lumpur, Malaysia. “The most powerful tool we have to
fight ISI is to say that we’re not afraid, to not elevate
them, to somehow buy into their fantasy that they’re
doing something important,” Obama said.
According to Anonymous, ISIS was planning an assault
at an WWE Survivor Series event, which was to
recognize the 25th anniversary of one of its star
wrestlers, the Undertaker.
The WWE, Atlanta Hawks and Phillips Arena released
this joint statement in response to the terror threats:


https://www.yahoo.com/celebrity/news/fbi-confirms-alleged-isis-threat-against-wwe-event-180458813.html

There’s this word that you probably use all the time. It’s a seemingly harmless word — close to meaningless, really — but it’s slowly, subversively tainting your relationships. Look back over any recent texts and emails you’ve sent to friends. If they look something like this, you’re caught in this word’s trap: “I’d love to hang out! But I’m really busy.” “Sorry I didn’t get back to you earlier! I’ve been so busy.” “What’s going on with me? Just busy as usual!” You guessed it. The single-word saboteur is BUSY. It’s stealthily driving your friends away, and it’s time to eliminate it from your social vocabulary. To be clear, there’s nothing wrong with actually being busy: People can certainly have many obligations and still maintain great relationships. And it’s not being busy that drives people away; it’s the word itself. Let’s discuss the top three reasons it’s time to be done with “busy”… and three ways to replace it with something better. 1. Everyone is busy. These days, saying you’re busy is basically like saying you’re alive. Being busy may once have been an indicator of importance; it may once have implied that many people and projects relied on you. Now, it’s a filler word that can be applied to any situation: You could be 10 years into your job and be “busy.” You could be between jobs and be “busy.” You could be vacationing and be “busy.” The word itself no longer relates to any specific, making it basically meaningless — and meaningless language is a problem for relationships because it doesn’t help other people understand what, specifically, you’re going through. It actually impedes mutual understanding. 2. It’s open to (negative) interpretation. The vague nature of “I’m really busy” leaves the real reason why you’re being unavailable to a friend open to interpretation. While many people will accept “being busy” as enough of a reason for not hanging out the first few times you use it, eventually friends will see it as a veil over a more sinister reason for staying away: Maybe you don’t like them anymore and are too afraid to say it. In other words, “busy” allows others to fill in the blank of your true intentions. Often, they will fill that blank with a negative assumption. In a worst-case scenario, friends may feel like your “busy” is a way of blowing them off without having to state a reason for doing so. 3. It means “not right now.” Often, “busy” simply means that you have higher priorities right now than seeing friends — which is totally fine. You may be caring for a child or launching a new product; there are lots of legitimate reasons why friendships fall down one’s list of priorities. The issue is that “being busy” doesn’t communicate any of that. Saying “not right now” when someone tries to engage with you is a relationship killer because it fosters a feeling of rejection. “Busy” is the friendship equivalent of “not right now.” It lacks a sense of caring about the other person and fosters distance as a result. Three better options: All that being said, just because “busy” is not a word that generates closeness, that doesn’t mean you can’t communicate the same thing in a way that does. Here are some tips for telling your friends you just can’t right now, without hurting their feelings: 1. Be more specific There’s an easy way to eliminate the vagueness of “busy” and that’s telling friends specifically what you’re busy doing. Of course, this takes more of your time and effort — something that can be challenging when you’re already really swamped. But it’s worth doing because the difference in how the message is received is significant. Let’s say you invite a friend to your birthday party and she writes back: “I’d love to but I’m really busy!” But what if she had written: “I’d love to but Jack has a karate competition that evening and he specifically asked me to watch him this time. Have some champagne for me, though!” Feel the difference? The second message explains your friend’s reasoning, gives context, and communicates that she’s still invested in your happiness. The first message, frankly, is a blow- off. 2. Set a time frame. If you’re busy because of an especially difficult crunch time either at work or at home, it’s helpful to make your friends aware of just how long this “busy” time will last. For example, if you know your project will wrap up in a month and your schedule will open up soon after, communicate your desire to reconnect with everyone then. Even if that month turns into two, your friends will appreciate that you expressed the desire to be together again as soon as possible. 3. Determine if you need to have a difficult conversation. And now, it’s time to confront the dark side of “busy.” As we all know, “being busy” can be a method by which we disengage from a relationship we no longer want to have. The kids call it “ghosting” — distancing yourself from a relationship without ever explaining why. If you’re using “busy” in this way, it’s worth determining if you need to have that difficult conversation with the person you’re ghosting. While it’s always uncomfortable to “break up” with a friend, some friendships deserve this attention. In some cases, it’ll cause great sadness to both parties to “busy” a friendship to death.

The Sahara wasn’t always a desert — 7,000 years ago it was a savannah where grasslands and animals thrived. Eventually the weather changed; the rain slowed, then stopped, and the desert took over. When Michal Huniewicz was getting ready to visit Mauritania, he found an old book on West Africa, and within the pages he found something that caught his eye: The Forgotten Libraries of the Sahara, part of a town, Chinguetti, that was a 17th- century hub. “What could be more romantic?” asked Huniewicz. When Michael arrived, he found what felt like a ghost town, though 4,000 people live there, and there are librarians who will still show you the old books housed in the libraries. See these ancient and forgotten treasures that lie in the middle of the African Sahara and the unique history they reveal.