₦airaland Forum

So let's start off with American Presidents, an easy enough topic but one which one has to have a firm grasp of.

Fact: Barack Obama is the 44th President of the United States of America. Born on the 4th of August 1961, he was elected on the 4th of November 2008 and sworn in on the 20th of January 2009. He was 47 years old when he was sworn in and he went into the white house with his wife, Michelle and two daughters, Sasha and Malia. Michelle is the first black first lady of the United States of America.

The unique nature of Obama's election makes this a question that could pop up in any quiz or game, being that he's the first black man to occupy the American Presidency.

Counting back before Obama, George W. Bush is the 43rd President, Bill Clinton the 42nd, George Bush Snr. is the 41st, Ronald Reagan the 40th, Jimmy Carter the 39th. This is as far as I can count back. The others I will have to google.

BRB.

I watch this programme from time to time. I don't know how long it's been running in Nigeria but I know that no one has won the N10m yet. The highest so far to my knowledge is N5m. Sometimes I am stumped by the crass ignorance of some of the contestants. I remember a lady who was on the hot seat and the question was asked about what is used to measure earthquakes and she didn't know. This lady was someone in her 40s or so. I was very disappointed. I think many of the people who want to participate do so out of the desire to just win something, anything.

Any serious minded person who wants to play this game and win the N10m can actually do so by simply doing their homework. How? Well,
1. Simply watch the programme every week, follow the questions that are asked and do your research on those questions, as in search all related issues to those questions. Thereby, you gain knowledge of that issue. For example, one of the recent questions asked was the team that had won the most Champions' League matches. I went for Real Madrid because I knew that they'd won the league the most times, forgetting that they've not won for some years. But the answer actually was Manchester United, so I would have failed that one. But with that question, I can research the Champions League and get all the facts on it.

2. Watch the news regularly, preferably foreign media (CNN, BBC). Do this for one year everyday of the year, at least an hour of news a day should be ok to give you some knowlegde.

3. Log on to the internet. It's a well of information. Google stuff. Just be information hungry.

4. Read newspapers. If you can't buy, read papers online.

5. Just have a general awareness of things around you.

6. Follow this thread on Nairaland. I am imploring all nairalanders who are intellectually inclined and have a well of knowledge of things, whether films, literature, historical facts, medical terminology to contribute here. Let's share what we know.

Knowledge about Nigeria is also very important. Even the 36 states and their capital is not something I think many Nigerians know. I know that I am not that conversant with the Northern states in particular.

These are just some of the tips I believe anyone can use to get knowledge. Anyone who can consistently watch the programme for a year and do their homework and has the chance to get on the hot seat should be in a good stead to win the N10m at stake.

So for N10m, let's play WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE?

@lucrabasi, my friends and I always had a rule not to talk on the phone whenever we got off the bus at night after one of our colleagues got mugged in Leytonstone station one early winter morning. We all learned to take very few possessions and most of the time leave everything in our jeans pockets especially when we had to work early or late shifts.

guys seem to do this sort of thing all the time. I just had a very similar experience.

I agonised about putting this thread on here cos i was afraid of being slaughtered like it happens on NL. Yes, I'm seeing sense in all u guys are say, esp ur suggestions, 4 &5 @ Aderoy. Really on point. I'll definitely take steps. Thanks.

@Cristalz, I don't want no chick after my head o, lol. Thanks babes, u seem to understand quite well.

yinye, i wish it was as easy as the songs make it sound. sometimes u can walk away from these things very easily. other times, u just seem to be stuck in time. appreciate ur candid words, have thought so myself so many times, but it's not changed the way i feel about him. he's on the verge of breaking off his engagement and i'm actually running away, but he won't stop coming after me. that's what makes it really hard. when she found out about me, i thot that would surely end it but things simply intensified between us.

@ Areaboy, why don't u find ur level, under the bridge at Idumota!

I am in a love triangle with a guy and his fiancee. I am the other woman. I didn't know this guy had a fiancee when I started seeing him and I was already involved with him when I found out. Now breaking up with him is so hard. He's not helping matters either. When I stay away, he calls me up and he's even making plans for us to get away together for a few days. I'm so torn. Why do relationship always have to bring so much turmoil? _sigh

Can someone stop picking on Xerxes(Jackal )? What has the guy done to you?

Thanks everyone for your contributions. Really appreciate all the advise, both good and bad. I'm taking the necessary precautions and I know for certain nothing will develop between me and this guy. Truth, it's always been easy for me to get along with guys because of the nature of my private business and now the job that I do. When I was in a relationship, it was not really a big deal, my ex and I used to discuss our friends openly. It's the first time in a long time that I'm being really emotionally close to a guy without being in a relationship, and the fact he's married got me a bit worried that it may just be a bit too much.

No need to say more. Please let the thread die. If anything new comes up will say here. I'm too old to play hide and seek feelings for those who think I'm hiding something. Nothing to hide, ok.

Thanks again.

@ poster, Na Nigerian mentality you still carry go America so!
Thanks, Chiogo, for that very clear explanation.

Women get wahala sha! Na wa! Jen, did you miss the either and or?
I have to ge to bed, work in the morning.

Ehh, Jenny, I didn't say we see each other everyday. I said we do either mail or YIM or call or text. Not necessarily see o. We are both very busy people and most times we see it's even in the course of work. No ideas there, please.

And who is this Jackal?

Xerxes, Jenny, Rampant, guys, let's calm down, ok. Doesn't have to decend to a fight, seriously. I appreciate everything y'all have said. I take it all in. No need to get worked up on my account. Biko, let's stop oo.

@Xerxes, many babies running around on nairaland; should at best be left with their childish pranks.

@4Him, I thought you said you had stopped this mindless sex. Hmmm,

Thanks Xerxes for being so gracious in your defence.

Thanks y'all for all your replies. This thing had been bothering me and now that I've put it out here it puts everything into perspective. I was actually afraid of the whole Nigerian way of thinking that two people can't be friends if they are of the opposite sex. I'll make sure to define a few things with my friend and according to what you said, 4Him, I'll find out the nature of his relationship with his wife, cos I don't normally ask beyond the basics of how is your family etc.

I know for certain I'm not in love with this guy. I like him and he's a good friend. I'll cut down the amount of communication like someone said, KISS.

Thanks, omoovie, and all my brothers who have replied to this thread dispassionately. To my sisters, I think the day should come when we do not try to give a dog a bad name just to hang it. Maybe I'm actually thinking about the other woman that's why I'm putting it out here because I don't want to be seen to be getting into another woman's home. It was never my intention to be this close to the guy. It started off innocently enough, like these things normally do. Besides, he should be the one taking the necessary precautions, not me, because he's the one that has responsibilities. I'm asking the question here because the guy in question has no qualms about it. I've had friendships with guys in the past which have been close and platonic. The only reason this concerns me is that the guy is married. I'm open to advise, so please ladies, let's not reduce it to the market women bitching, name calling level.

Dodnextris:
Also is this man happy with his wife?

That's not for me to answer really, cos she doesn't come up much in our conversations. Like I said, we talk more general stuff, politics, sports and such like. He's a good conversationalist and we get on quite well, mostly at work. We've not been on any social outings together, we've never even discussed that.

@debosky, thanks. I think technology kind of lulls you into thinking that it's harmless when you say I miss you over a YIM or an email. I need to re-evaluate the depth of our interaction which may well mean that I am already involved with this person without actually having any kind of physical intimacy. I'll just have to work out how to cut back if that's the case here.

tRoOE:
Be Careful-Sparkle ft R. Kelly

Love that song. I like that bit where they say: "Wait a minute, let me finish".

I work in the same organisation with this guy but we're not in the same office. We got to know each other at a church function and started emailing, very casual stuff in the beginning. I know his wife and kid. The thing now is no day passes without either seeing or calling or emailing or YIMing. It used to be only Monday to Friday but now, even weekends, we exchange quite a lot of emails, usually general stuff, jokes, current issues etc etc. I enjoy talking to him and his friendship means a lot to me. He advises me a lot about relationships and is quite protective of me, more like a big brother.

In this day of technology, when do you know when you have crossed the line from casual friendship into a full blown affair even though you've not been intimate with the other person. (I mean, there's never been any kissing, inappropriate touching apart from the ocassional hug, no overt 'I love yous' etc etc).

Please help me out here. Have we crossed the line already?

@ topic, wahala dey ooo.

Cadet:
my fav. part of that song:
I'm not here for your entertainment
You don't really want to mess with me tonight
Just stop and take a second
I was fine before you walked into my life
Cause you know it's over
Before it began
Keep your drink just give me the money
It's just you and your hand tonight

You and your hand tonight LOL.

I like Anita Baker, No More Tears

@4Him, that's why it's called pity party songs, innit?  . Come join the party, don't tell me you don't have some bitchy songs that you know about that guys like to sing or listen to when they've had some bad outings with babes. I know my male friends liked Maroon 5's This Love

Whitney Houston's It's not right, but it's ok. I particularly liked the video, with all the women in black. Gives the picture of the liberated woman who has just kicked out her cheating boyfriend and bitchily shares all the dirty details with her girlfriends 

Unbreak my heart - Toni Braxton.

Lyrics to This Love by Maroon 5. I know guys like this one.
I was so high I did not recognize
The fire burning in her eyes
The chaos that controlled my mind
Whispered goodbye as she got on a plane
Never to return again
But always in my heart
Oh!

This love has taken its toll on me
She said goodbye too many times before
And her heart is breaking in front of me
And I have no choice, cause I won't say goodbye anymore
ooo! ooo! ooo!

I tried my best to feed her appetite
Keep her coming every night
So hard to keep her satisfied Oh!
Kept playing love like it was just a game
Pretending to feel the same
Then turn around and leave again

@angeleyz, I love that Mya lyrics. It puts it so aptly. Isn't heartbreak a bitch?
@cuteass, don't you wonder if it was really love when someone breaks your heart or acts contrary after everything you shared?

I also like Kellis' I hate you so much right now. I used to even sing it to my ex whenever we quarrelled then. Gosh, was she crazy in that song, there was so much emotion in it.

I like Keith Urban's You'll think of me. I listened to it a lot when my last relationship ended. It's a kind of "bold face" song as if the other person didn't matter and it got me through many dark days. What's your take? What songs give you that whole "I'm doing fine now, without you baby' feeling? What songs kept you going when you broke up with someone?

Keith Urban's You'll think of me lyrics

I woke up early this morning around 4am
With the moon shining bright as headlights on the interstate
I pulled the covers over my head and tried to catch some sleep
But thoughts of us kept keeping me awake
Ever since you found yourself in someone else's arms
I've been tryin' my best to get along
But that's OK
There's nothing left to say, but

Chorus
Take your records, take your freedom
Take your memories I don't need'em
Take your space and take your reasons
But you'll think of me
And take your cap and leave my sweater
'Cause we have nothing left to weather
In fact I'll feel a whole lot better
But you'll think of me, you'll think of me

I went out driving trying to clear my head
I tried to sweep out all the ruins that my emotions left
I guess I'm feeling just a little tired of this
And all the baggage that seems to still exist
It seems the only blessing I have left to my name
Is not knowing what we could have been
What we should have been
So

Chorus
Someday I'm gonna run across your mind
Don't worry, I'll be fine
I'm gonna be alright
While you're sleeping with your pride
Wishing I could hold you tight
I'll be over you
And on with my life

Chorus

And you're gonna think of me
Oh someday baby, someday

go and check out your action. it must be really bad and no other woman is going to have you, so improve yourself, maybe she will change her mind.

truly - lionel richie

drama

This is an emergency. My sister was detained in Panti because of a business that was gone awry. The person involved is a police officer and she's using her powers to do it. Please help me pray for her release. I have been praying about the business because there were some problems. I didn't know it will come to this. Please pray that she's unharmed, I hear the place is for hardened criminals. Pray God to strenghten her at this time, that her spirit will not be broken. Pray that the woman involved has a change of heart and gives her time to repay the money she owes.
Thank you.