Nurse reveals the top 5 regrets people make on their deathbed


For many years I worked in palliative care. My patients were those who had gone home to die. Some incredibly special times were shared. I was with them for the last three to twelve weeks of their lives. People grow a lot when they are faced with their own mortality.

I learnt never to underestimate someone’s capacity for growth. Some changes were phenomenal. Each experienced a variety of emotions, as expected, denial, fear, anger, remorse, more denial and eventually acceptance. Every single patient found their peace before they departed though, every one of them.

When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently, common themes surfaced again and again. Here are the most common five:

1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
This was the most common regret of all. When people realize that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made.

It is very important to try and honour at least some of your dreams along the way. From the moment that you lose your health, it is too late. Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no longer have it.

2. I wish I didn’t work so hard.
This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children’s youth and their partner’s companionship. Women also spoke of this regret. But as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence.

By simplifying your lifestyle and making conscious choices along the way, it is possible to not need the income that you think you do. And by creating more space in your life, you become happier and more open to new opportunities, ones more suited to your new lifestyle.

3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.
Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result.

We cannot control the reactions of others. However, although people may initially react when you change the way you are by speaking honestly, in the end it raises the relationship to a whole new and healthier level. Either that or it releases the unhealthy relationship from your life. Either way, you win.


4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
Often they would not truly realise the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.

It is common for anyone in a busy lifestyle to let friendships slip. But when you are faced with your approaching death, the physical details of life fall away. People do want to get their financial affairs in order if possible. But it is not money or status that holds the true importance for them. They want to get things in order more for the benefit of those they love. Usually though, they are too ill and weary to ever manage this task. It is all comes down to love and relationships in the end. That is all that remains in the final weeks, love and relationships.

5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.
This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realise until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called ‘comfort’ of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content. When deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again. When you are on your deathbed, what others think of you is a long way from your mind. How wonderful to be able to let go and smile again, long before you are dying.

Life is a choice. It is YOUR life. Choose consciously, choose wisely, choose honestly. Choose happiness


http://www.ariseindiaforum.org/nurse-reveals-the-top-5-regrets-people-make-on-their-deathbed/

The co-founder of Wikipedia says the languages of Yoruba in West Africa and Swahili in East Africa are the most popular among the several African languages being used on the online encyclopedia.

Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales, 45, says Yoruba is the most popular African language for Wikipedia, with 29,000 pages. The Swahili Wikipedia version is second among African languages with 23,000. Other African languages on Wikipedia include Afrikaans, Hausa, and Zulu.

Speaking in Lagos this week, Wales says his website is branching out from English.

"For a long time there was this sort of cultural concern as why do we have to do everything in English. What happens to local culture? Now we [are] going to have both," said Wales.

Wales founded Wikipedia in January 2001. Eleven years later, Wikipedia has become the go-to site for hundreds of millions of internet users seeking information about anything and everything. Its content is generated by thousands of self-appointed editors who write and rewrite the articles in an open, online process.

Wikipedia on has seven active editors working in Yoruba. But Wales hopes that more users for the online encyclopedia will appear in Yoruba as well as other African languages.

“Not everybody speaks English and won't," Wales noted. "So they should have a vibrant life in their own language. And that’s really great because it’s very organic and the internet provides that in a way for very low cost.”

But challenges such as internet connectivity in Africa remain. And Wales notes that getting people to work in languages besides English is not easy. The English version of Wikipedia has nearly four million pages, far more than any other language, though several languages such as French, German, Spanish and Russian have 800,000 pages or more.


http://www.voanews.com/english/news/africa/Wikipedia-Co-Founder-Adding-More-African-Languages-144875665.html#.T3a7VYkspFg.facebook

The co-founder of Wikipedia says the languages of Yoruba in West Africa and Swahili in East Africa are the most popular among the several African languages being used on the online encyclopedia.

Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales, 45, says Yoruba is the most popular African language for Wikipedia, with 29,000 pages. The Swahili Wikipedia version is second among African languages with 23,000. Other African languages on Wikipedia include Afrikaans, Hausa, and Zulu.

Speaking in Lagos this week, Wales says his website is branching out from English.

"For a long time there was this sort of cultural concern as why do we have to do everything in English. What happens to local culture? Now we [are] going to have both," said Wales.

Wales founded Wikipedia in January 2001. Eleven years later, Wikipedia has become the go-to site for hundreds of millions of internet users seeking information about anything and everything. Its content is generated by thousands of self-appointed editors who write and rewrite the articles in an open, online process.

Wikipedia on has seven active editors working in Yoruba. But Wales hopes that more users for the online encyclopedia will appear in Yoruba as well as other African languages.

“Not everybody speaks English and won't," Wales noted. "So they should have a vibrant life in their own language. And that’s really great because it’s very organic and the internet provides that in a way for very low cost.”

But challenges such as internet connectivity in Africa remain. And Wales notes that getting people to work in languages besides English is not easy. The English version of Wikipedia has nearly four million pages, far more than any other language, though several languages such as French, German, Spanish and Russian have 800,000 pages or more.

AccoPen: Peeps, where can I watch this match online?

www.frontrow sports

Basics007: I'm curious about what the OP is tryin to achieve by the titling of this article. The article called it a largesse while the OP sensationally called it a bribe. Where's the bribe in this article now? Or the definition of a bribe has changed overnight?

I never altered the original headline of this news item. Though it was posted in the politics section by my humbleself, sensationalisation of the headline must be from the moderators. And what's the fuse about honestly accepting transport fare from a billionaire by every standard by average Nigerian students strugling in difficult academic terain such as ours.Our so called journalist accept such "greek gift" from politicians aswell?

Alaba Rago: Where Prostitution Has Overtaken Trading

Written by OLALEKAN OLABULO Saturday, 31 March 2012

OLALEKAN OLABULO here periscopes the life style of people in Alaba Rago Market, particularly the sex workers and hawkers of sex-enhancing drugs that flourish in a section of the market called Tiv Yam Market.

Alaba Rago is a very popular market along the Badagry Expressway. It is supposed to be an extension of Alaba International Market, where livestock and foodstuffs are sold in large quantity. But it is arguably the only market of international standard, with a Red Light Zone where over two thousand sex workers flourish. One noticeable feature of the Alaba Rago sex market is the fact that it is heterogeneous.

The major part of the market is occupied by Hausa traders, who constitute about 90 per cent of the total population of the market. Ram and goat abattoir and foodstuff sections are the main parts of Alaba Rago Market, but the Tiv Yam Market is the most popular part of the market. On a daily basis, the Tiv Yam Market records the highest number of visitors to the market.

Alaba Rago came into the news, recently, with a report that a Hausa man, identified simply as Mustapha Nura, was caught making love to the corpse of a woman. The reports had it that the 28-year-old suspect was unaware of the presence of policemen as he continued to make love to the deceased, identified as Faith, in one of the rooms at Green Royal Hotel. The suspects was said to have used a local sex enhancing drug, popularly known as “Burantashi.”

The police at Ojo Divisional Police Station confirmed the arrest of Nura in connection with the death of a female sex worker. They, however, refuted the report that the suspect was arrested while still making love to the deceased sex worker.

“We are surprised by the reports. It is true that a Hausa man was arrested but he was not found sleeping with a corpse. The case has been transferred to the state CID Panti,” a senior police officer at the police station, who pleaded anonymity stated.

Apart from the agricultural and other items sold at Alaba Rago Market, aphrodisiacs are noticeably the major commodities in the market. Many Hausa traders were seen hawking different forms of sex enhancing drugs with some of them calling out their merchandize.

Hassan, one of the distributors of the drugs, while speaking with the Saturday Tribune, stated that many of the traders usually buy the drugs. Some of the brands of aphrodisiac on Hassan and other traders’ stable include “Melanoidis African Viagra, Lasting, Se Age, Grand Penis, Durable Sex Life, Ultra Longue, Black Diamond, Brother Long Leg Hush, Long Penis Max Glans, Strong Bird Heary Sex and Magic Penis.

The traders, while speaking on the different products, stated that all the aforementioned were imported. He also added that “these ones na local. If you want it too strong well well, you can use this” pointing to Brother Long Leg. He also gave other roots and herbs, which, according to him, all enhance sexual performance.

Hassan gave our reporter a root that tasted like Saccharine and when enquired what it worked for, the Hausa trader stated that it allowed the female partner to enjoy sex as if it were sugar, “Allah, people are buying it. Wait let me buy pure water and put in this one (pointing at a pet bottle filled with herbal roots). If you drink it and your penis is not strong, don’t pay me. Me, I no de lie,” Hassan struggled to say. When asked where our reporter could test the efficacy of his drugs, Hassan directed him to the Tiv Yam Market.

A drug seller, who owns a shop at the market, while speaking with the Saturday Tribune, decried the use of sex-enhancing drugs, especially among the Hausa men.

“You can see that there are different brands of the products in the market. It is a very common thing, especially among the Hausa men. Ibos and Yorubas also use it but it is common among the Hausa,” the drug seller stated, adding: “It is not hidden; most of these people use it after their daily work.”

A short trip to the Tiv Yam Market availed the Saturday Tribune the opportunity to see the ‘Ajegunle’ of Alaba Rago. The slum called Kango in Alaba Rago shares a boundary with the Tiv Yam Market with many parts of it sitting on a very large refuse dump site, while other parts formed a big swamp with dirty environment. Football viewing centres and film houses were all scattered around Kango. Women, children and hoodlums were seen in many of the viewing centres.

Our reporter had just manoeuvred his way out of the dirty Kango, when he ran into different shapes and forms of women, ladies and girls, whose appearances and conducts suggest perversion. Some were peeping out of rooms, which looked more like cubicles with inviting eyes, while others come out to display their mostly flabby breasts that appeared to have lost their nourishment.

From one end to another, there were rooms and partitions with many of the doors wide open with occupants lying helplessly either on the floor or half naked on the bed watching televisions. Laundry ropes were also filled with all sorts of female pants, leggings and other under wears.

The Tiv Yam Market ordinarily was supposed to be the section of the market for yam sellers, especially those of Tiv origin from Benue State. It, however, is the bubbling point of the market for sex workers from many tribes in Nigeria including the Hausa, Ibo Calabar, Idoma, Igede, Tiv and neighbouring African countries like Niger and Benin republics.

One noticeable feature of prostitution at the Alaba Rago Market is the fact that age has no barrier among them. There are many, who can be regarded as mama, whose skin were badly toned and stretch marks adorning their exposed body.

With over two thousand prostitutes spread across the place, no fewer than four thousand people, including policemen, commercial motorcyclists, popularly known as okada men daily throng the market to satisfy their libido.

A beer parlour attendant, who later introduced a prostitute to our reporter, stated that the Tiv Yam Market used to be a beehive in the night. The bar attendant, who pleaded anonymity, informed the Saturday Tribune that business at the red light zone of the market flourish in the night, adding : “Most of those people, who are still selling their market, will visit here later in the day. It is always bubbling till dawn.”

Our reporter sat down and was sipping a bottle of herbal alcoholic drink called “Ogidiga” when the bar tender brought a lady, who later discussed activities at the market. The following discussion ensued between our reporter and the prostitute.

Saturday Tribune: How are you?

Lady: I am fine

Saturday Tribune: You are welcome. What is your name?

Lady: (handling and playing with a mobile phone). My name is Rosemary.

Saturday Tribune: What do I offer you?

Rosemary: Small Stout (and slowly she began to drink, smiling and handling her phone).

Saturday Tribune: How much is your bill?

Rosemary: Why are you asking me that here?

Saturday Tribune: I need to know before we go into your room?

Rosemary: You can give me anything.

Saturday Tribune: Even if I finish and give you N100.

Rosemary: I will collect it and see it as my luck. If you do finish and what you think I worth is 100 naira, I will collect it as my luck for the day.

Saturday Tribune: What if I want to stay till day break.

Rosemary: When you are ready, we will negotiate.

Saturday Tribune, however, gathered that most sex workers at the Alaba Rago Market collect N500 for the short time period and N2000 for longer period, which they call Till Day Break (TDB).

Our reporter was taken to Roseline’s apartment and she confided in him that she had a daughter and that she came to Lagos last December. The sex worker, however, blamed her involvement in the act on a problem, which she refused to divulge. When asked why there was no television in her room, Rosemary responded: “My brother that is not my problem. No be because of TV I come here from my village. If no be problem, how I go say na asewo I wan be.”

It was getting dark around 6 O’clock in the evening and the ladies and women were coming out in their skimpy dresses and tight leggings with makeups gorgeously applied on their faces. Those who smoke were holding sticks of cigarettes while others were gulping drinks from the bottles of alcoholic and cans of energy drinks.

Teenage prostitution is rampant at the Tiv Yam Market in Alaba Rago Market. Young girls between the ages of 12 and 16 were seen with inviting amorous eyes while some of them were seen clustering around Hausa okada men.

http://www.tribune.com.ng/sat/index.php/news/7019-alaba-rago-where-prostitution-has-overtaken-trading.html

Sound Sultan, Weird MC, Goldie appointed UN Ambassadors
March 26, 2012 |

Nigeria’s popular musicians, Goldie, Weird MC and Sound Sultan were recently appointed by the United Nations as Youth and Peace Ambassadors.

They confirmed this and told NET their feelings and what is expected of them. ‘Yes it is true. It is a peace initiative. I was appointed by the Universal Peace Federation and I will be the voice and representative of UN’, Sound Sultan, a respected songwriter and performer said.

Weird MC tells us ‘I’m deeply happy and honoured. It will help me serve my country better. I already served as a celebrity Road Safety Marshall but being appointed as a UN ambassador for Youth and peace comes with greater responsibility’.


http://247nigerianewsupdate.com/sound-sultan-weird-mc-goldie-appointed-un-ambassadors/
Weird MC also told us about her appointment as a goodwill ambassador for an NGO called Project Alert. ‘We run a safe haven for women in domestic abuse situation. We counsel them and aim to reposition them in the country’, she said

All efforts to get to Goldie as at the time of this report proved abortive.

The trio have joined the league of Nigerians who have been appointed as ambassadors by the UN: Ini Edo, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Ramsey Noah, Timaya, Kefee, Chika Ike, Flavour and D’banj.

Guinness vs. Beer

Very interesting facts about guinness and beer..The health benefits of them are amazing:


http://positivemed.com/health-wellness/dataviz/guinness-vs-beer/

Performing a Miracle, Nigerian God of Man,(Man of God) doing his thing. Pastor performing what they call these healing,God works in miraculous ways. And a pastor bathing another mans wife for spiritual healing.

Quotable Adeboye


The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enouch Adejare Adeboye on Friday, March 2, clocked 70. Tayo Alufon and Adetoro Bodunrin present 20 quotes from sermons, interviews and other publications by the revered clergy.

1 Any time you see a counterfeit – it means the original must be somewhere.
2. If you kill a Muslim – you are killing a potential convert – someone who is dead cannot be converted and of course a Muslim killing a Christian – you are also killing a potential convert. But I think most of the crisis in Nigeria is not really religion – its politics.
3. If you fail to vote, fail to participate in the political situation and someone gets to become your ruler and you say you don’t like the way he’s ruling you – who’s fault? Where were you when he was being voted into power? And if someone gets into power and he’s not doing what you expect him to do – then vote him out.
4. Protesting outside government house – how much has it achieved? You go there – you carry placards, if you’re fortunate – you will return home alive, if you are not fortunate – some overzealous police officer might accidentally discharge some bullets. And you protest day after day after day and after some time you get tired.”
5. The economic situation, social problems that we face in Nigeria have been a very good catalyst in bringing people to Christ.
6. I think the largest number of students I had in one class must be less than 100- now to see you could influence 1million people at a time can be very exciting.”

7. What is the Nigerian way of worship? It is our freedom of worship – the way we dance, shout, enjoy the almighty God
8. I believe the gospel is for all people. But I believe it is even more for the masses and majority of the masses – if you are going to reach for them you have to be at their level.
9. Everybody should decide who is going to rule over him and you should not complain about anything you permit.”

10. In the past – the people have been so focused on making it to heaven that they don’t want anything to do with politics – politics has gizzards, which is another way of saying politics can be dirty.
11. When you have this kind of congregation – you have members of every party in the congregation and if you want to retain their respect for you – you must be neutral.
12. Make sure you vote for the person of your choice – if the choice you make turns out to be right – glory be to God, if your choice turns out wrong then maybe another time.

13. Don’t look onto government for everything – be creative.

I4. I would have loved to retire – I had plans of what I could do in retirement – when you are retired – you are more or less your own master – wake up whenever you like, go where you want, when you want. If I’m retired I don’t have to be in charge of the congress – I can just come and enjoy.”

15. Don't let sin truncate your destiny.
16. If I had my way, I would not want influence over anyone but my little family.
17. Of what use is prosperity to you if you are not going to heaven.

18. I love fishing. I used to be a boxer – unfortunately I can’t box anymore, except box the devil maybe.”

19 . Many are poor because of their sole reliance on government for everything.

20. Christians are the light of the world – should be shining a light not being the salt of the earth which is only of use if its applied – so I think we should be doing more than we are doing now.

http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/online-special/38494-quotable-adeboye.html

I join Nigerians home and abroad to celebrate the great man of history "the man who saw solution to Nigeria problem".EZE NDIGBO GBURUGBURU EMEKA OJUKWU The Ikemba himself,may this warrior of good tiding rest in peace.

Grandmother and her grandson do shopping at the Supermarket

Grandma: "Diploma, give me the sugar. Diploma put down that packet ofsweets."

Cashier: "Granny, is your grandson's name Diploma?(O_o)"

Grandma: "Yes."

Cashier: Why 'Diploma'?

Grandma: "Because I sent my daughter to college and this is what she brought back.

I Go Dye living like a royal Prince


By Ayo ONIKOYI


When Ali Baba said that comedy is a serious business, it sounded like one of his many jokes but the crop of stand-up comedians running the show now has taken the act to the next level. They are not only rubbing shoulders with the music and movie stars in popularity, they are also giving them a run for their money .


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They now look everything but funny. They drive the latest fast cars; wear the most expensive designer labels; and live in palatial edifices in the reserved highbrow locations that only the plum income earners can afford. The top of the draw characters have simply arrived.

We gave you a tip of the iceberg when we ran ” Comedians living larger than life lifestyles” some months ago. Then, we got to see those who are living their dreams and getting a couple of them talk did actually pay off but we never got close to a one-on-one until now.

Comedy is an endeavor reserved for the hilarious select and gifted few armed with magical words and body language to keep audience spell bound at any point the need arises. Ask those who made the top 10 list of Comedy Central's greatest comedians, from Richard Pryor to Chris Rock and Eddie Murphy, they will concur that the major ingredients of being world famous are raw talent, consistency, persistence, endurance, loyalty and humility.

From other brands like Open Mic Nites and Russell Simon's Def Comedy Jams, these established names seem to have been around since forever. They have transformed their acts through television and film as well as stage and making huge unimaginable amounts for major picture owners.

Though such success attained in the United States and other parts of Europe have not been transformed in Nigeria, this is not to say that comedians have not come strong through the years.

Since Opa Williams' 'Nite of a Thousand Laughs' stands tall as a benchmark for almost all Nigerian comedians, the industry became more challenging during what is known as the "Attitude Era" with the emergence of talented I Go Dye, Basketmouth, Julius Agwu, among others.

Since gracing the stage of ”Nite of a Thousand Laughs” in 2000, Francis Agoda aka I Go Dye has through his performance made the Opa Williams brand more sell-able and interesting across major cities in Nigeria, across West Africa and Europe.

From a humble profession, comedy has become a major business endeavour and those who know their onions have become incredibly rich through their huge paychecks as performance fees and one of the very few who command mega bucks is I Go Dye, the comedian who hails from Abraka in Delta State, and has been a fan favorite for more than a decade.

Being turned down four times from the stage of ”night of a thousand laugh” is not enough for I Go Dye to resign from his chosen career as his quest to succeed became a major driving force.

It will be recalled that just two years ago, I Go Dye collected a whooping sum of $195,000:00 US Dollars from an American Company, Point Gate for a tour of the USA and Europe in ironical contrast to the N100 he received for his first performance back in 1992.

Over the years, his passion and technical know-how in the art has made him the toast of presidents, governors, top citizens in politics and business as well as multinational companies. Even former President Olusegun Obasanjo has also attested to the fact that I Go Dye is a step ahead of his contemporaries as regards his quick spontaneity and stage craft.

It is almost unbelievable to hear that I Go Dye collects between three to five million Naira per event but when you bother to find out how and where he lives, then it will sink in real deep.

A visit to his palatial residence

A visit to his palatable mansion spoke volume of opulence and wealth. The mansion tucked inside a choice area has an expansive well-trimmed field big enough to serve as a football pitch; a walk into the apartment presents an air of pure royalty.

The main sitting room is tastefully furnished with Italian eighteen-carat gold plated Versace settee which must have cost some whooping thousands of dollars from the high well-designed pop roof down which hangs the magnificent , 60 Lights Maria Theresa chandelier with 24-Karat gold plated frame and dressed with 30% full lead crystals, and some other accessories staggeringly disarming in grandeur and opulence

The sitting room which has a state-of-the-art electronic gadget system from the wall screened 46 inches 3D TV and classical paintings of I Go Dye dressed like Prince Albert. The interior décor looked totally flawless.

Tours of the other sitting room looked a far cry from the previous one and suffice to say that the multiple award-winning humor merchant sure knows how to live life to the fullest, an apartment reminiscent of a Roman Palace.

The visible designs of Versace in almost all the dinning settees and kitchen utensils shows that the widely travelled rib-cracker has a serious affinity with the designer.

The seven bedroom mansion has spacious two sitting rooms, a well structured private nite club, with exotic wine bar, a mini cinema, including high -tech game room that can host 10 players at a time. The description can not be complete without mentioning the snooker board, a personal library and multi-media editing suit.

His break in the industry

On his first major break, I Go Dye said though he started comedy at the tender age of thirteen on Delta Television, his first national break could be traced back to 2000 on the stage of ”nite of a thousand laughs”. "That evening became a turning point of my career as I Go Dye became a household name around the nation

I would say that things have been looking up since my eventful emergence into the very competitive industry that has seen many come and go over the past ten or more years, though the challenges involved are highly enormous and you have to come up with new materials and wit to keep you relevant over time” he said.

His daily routine

"On a regular day, the first thing I do is to pray and then, I go through my mail box to respond to numerous mails from my fans. I seldom exercise and I guess you know why (laughs).

The only pain that has come with the fame is the fact that I can no longer live for myself. I live for people. There is no privacy anymore. I can't eat where or what I want. I guess that is the price for fame but it has its good part like not being on the queue most times at the airport or gas stations. You get preferential treatment but apart from that, nothing.

His dress sense

As regards dressing, when I am not going on stage, I wear what suits me but I have a liking for eye glasses because I'm usually a shy person , hence the need to hide behind my shades. I like perfumes too because in this business, you have to smell fresh at all times of the day because one cannot tell what will happen at any point in time".

But peeking into the comedian's wardrobe, we found out that he was just being modest as all sorts of designer clothing from Gucci to Armani are arrayed in a neat pile. Anyone could have mistaken it for a boutique in Paris: hundreds of pairs of shoes, suits, shirts, jeans, several bottles of perfumes, assorted belts lined up in elegant display

His daily spending estimate

On how much the comedian spends on a daily basis, I Go Dye revealed that though he doesn't take into serious records how much he spends in a day but said when one puts into consideration that he generates his own electricity, his own water board amongst others, it is quite a sum.

His priced possessions

"I wouldn't want to be subjected to choose or pin-point what my most valuable possession is, but I have a fetish for my talent because even the Bible says a man's talent maketh a way for him. Outside that, I Go Dye is nothing. But that is not to say my son, Roy, is not valuable or his very beautiful mum".

His hopes in the next ten years

The next ten years is far away but with life, we shall still be relevant. We shall take the world by storm, we shall make sure we make ways for the younger generation because no one reigns forever but one can be relevant forever.


http://odili.net/news/source/2012/feb/10/305.html

Circus show
By Sam Omatseye


Sometimes when we contemplate this democracy, we fear the wrong things. We fear being out-rigged. We fear being misgoverned. We fear that the huge resources in this land will burst at the seams and everything, as always, will end up as a tragic anticlimax. We seldom focus on power as circus, which is the bottom of it all.

One recent event, the show of power in Bayelsa State, focused the nation on how power can bring out our sense of false ceremony. The President, Goodluck Jonathan, like an autumnal leaf in temperate zones, came out in true colours. It was the formal introduction of Seriake Dickson as PDP’s candidate for governor. President Jonathan opened a chapter about which he had professed ignorance and impotence. It was on the subject of the PDP primaries and the cold shoulder towards former Governor Timipre Sylva. He had shown cold shoulder towards governors, towards traditional leaders and host of other intercessors.

The man had said he wanted the party to do its thing, and that he knew nothing about what happened to the tall, lanky former chief executive of his state. On the stage, before national television, President Goodluck Jonathan was not interested in working in the shadows anymore. He wanted to bare the tooth and fang behind Sylva’s ouster as PDP candidate. It was himself.

He let the world know that he was the man behind it, and seemed to strut like a cock in those confessions. He explained why he led the plot against Sylva, and explained that he did not perform as governor. He also noted that a hotel he started was not finished. Sylva responded that Jonathan left the project at second floor, and he (Sylva) took it to the 18th floor and questioned Jonathan’s integrity about how much he paid the contractor, adding that the contractor is building his house for the president.

All of that made drama in the past week, and the Presidency has flailed and failed in parrying Sylva’s punches.

Impolitic as the theatrics was, what riled the common conscience was the President’s reference to stones. Some persons had pelted stones at Sylva at an event in which the president was present. Less than two weeks ago, Jonathan cautioned Dickson that if he does not perform as governor, he would join the people in stoning him. The turn of speech was unexpected. I tried to picture the president, adorned in the Niger Delta hat, among irate youths, his right hand aloft above his neck, hurling a stone. I did not want to accept it because it hinted at executive hooliganism. He probably did not mean the language in its raw manifestation of rage. He is not the type to pick up a stone.

So, you would say, he meant it as metaphor. That would be giving Jonathan a loftiness he or his lieutenants have never invested him with. He is not a poet, nor a man enamoured of metaphors. The last time he tried to use such images, he denied ever being a part of it. He said he was not a lion…If, for the sake of playing the devil’s advocate, we accept that he was trying to wax metaphoric, he was a victim of what some literary critics call mixed metaphor. So it did not work. If the event that inspired it was real, how come his extension of it can be called metaphoric? The stoning of Sylva was real, so his desire to stone Dickson could not be described as metaphoric.

If it were, how did he expect the crowd – mainly low-line, subaltern, ordinary folk with simple understanding of language –to see beyond that literal meaning? A man who uses metaphor must understand context. You don’t throw metaphors at fishermen and mechanics. Jonathan just fell victim to another unforced error in public speech. It is in line with other grandiloquent gaffes to which his public career, especially as president, has been prone in the couple of years.

Speeches like that are out of sync with the cathedral dignity of the Presidency. His speech is meant as models, not phrases of putrefaction. They should ennoble, not incite to violence, especially in the tempestuous setting of the Niger Delta. He should inspire, not obfuscate. He should sedate and not berate loosely.

The part that touched me most was the show of power. President Jonathan seemed to relish his show of power over Sylva, and that ostentation was what seemed to have missed most commentators. What I saw was the vanity of power. It is the circus show we have seen through the short life of this democracy. It is a sort of zero-sum game of ostrich where the man in power forgets that power is trust and should be handled with humility.

Jonathan will not be in power forever. He should know that someday in future, both he and Sylva could meet on the streets. Both of them would have been stripped of the glory in which they preened. We have seen too many examples, but our leaders have learned and forgotten nothing.

It was like yesterday when former President Olusegun Obasanjo seemed to live forever on the throne. He duelled with his deputy, Atiku Abubakar. Both of them seemed to be unflappable in public. They rode in the high places of the world. They were the glamour faces of power and costumes of cockiness. Today, both men cannot control anything except by feeble influence. They are, in a manner of speaking, yesterday’s men. Obasanjo has to write a letter to Jonathan or travel to Abuja to meet the President. Suddenly time has edged his Ota Farm out of the headlines.

A friend told me that Yakubu Gowon was sighted asking somebody to help him with his luggage at an airport. This was the man by whom Nigeria was defined once: Go On With One Nigeria. Ditto Shagari. In fact, Jonathan did not grant the entreaties of these two men when they interceded on behalf of Sylva. Sonekan, who took over power not to spoil anyone’s fun, did not enjoy much fun before he was ousted.

We all know about Ibrahim Babangida, who ruled this country for nearly a decade. He determined presidential candidates. Since this republic, he has tried to be president, but he has not been able to secure a place as presidential candidate.

Not long ago, we saw the story of Obasanjo and former Ekiti governor Ayo Fayose. The Ekiti man was once OBJ’s poodle. In fact, with Obasanjo behind him, he was able to restrict the movement of another governor visiting his state. Later, he turned Fayose into his footstool. I recall Fayose moaning in the interview about the vanity of power. He said a man who sleeps in the comfort of a bed should have a mat because someday he would need it. Obasanjo was the peacock then, a peacock without beauty.

But when both of them left power, Fayose unleashed words after words on his former master and Obasanjo’s response or non-response was tepid. Both men now know that power is transient.

A man like Napoleon loved power and he thought he would possess it forever. “Power is my mistress. I have worked too hard at her conquest to allow anyone to take it from me,” he said. He did not get his wish.

That is how it feels on the throne. I have seen this all over the country, and our people whether governors, local government chairmen, commissioners, ministers or presidents live so large that they almost abolish God.

I was in Europe the other day and saw a former governor in a line waiting to clear his papers for his trip. It was a humbling moment. Our leaders should learn from a former British leader, Harold Macmillan, when he described power as a Dead Sea fruit. “When you achieve it, there is nothing there.”

The presidential system imbues a president with a lot of power. But as Chekhov noted in his play, A Cherry Orchard, a giant should not use power as a giant. Shakespeare crooned: “man, proud man, dressed in a little brief authority…make angels weep.”

Obasanjo, Fayose, IBB and a whole lot of others now understand how pruned their powers are today. Everyone eventually does. So will the people in power today.


http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/columnist/monday/sam-omatseye/36587-circus-show.html

Thats Josh Sundquist, and he can squat 225 on one leg.

Joshua Sundquist is a Paralympian and a bestselling author and motivational speaker. He lost his left leg to cancer at age ten and later became a Paralympic ski racer

m:

Find within you reasons to be grateful no matter how things seem difficult they are. Express your thankfulness each and every day while working toward your dream. And magically as you express all things you are grateful for the key you seek will then appear that opens up the door.

l:

Find within you reasons to be grateful no matter how things seem difficult they are. Express your thankfulness each and every day while working toward your dream. And magically as you express all things you are grateful for the key you seek will then appear that opens up the door.

o:

Because you make me laugh, Because you're there for me even before I ask, Because you understand me even when I'm not making sense, Because I don't know what I'd ever do without you, That's why our friendship means so much to me. Happy Valentine's Day to a Wonderful Friend!

Never force yourself to
have a space in anyone's life
because if they really know your worth,
they'll surely create one for you.

Rejection is part of life, and it can’t always be avoided. But when you learn to accept and love yourself unconditionally, then the need for external acceptance is unnecessary.

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.
~Mother Teresa

I was not aware that he came only to love me for a while. I was aiming to be with him forever but he is not willing to work it all out. While I was busy planning for us, he was busy planning his life with another person. It hurts too much but all I can do is watch him walk away and that is the end of it. There goes my forever. There goes my life. I know he is gone but holding on to him has become the only way to keep me alive.

I'm not one of those girls,
I’m not one of those girls that gets all the attention. The perfect body, the perfect smile, the cute voice. I’m not one of those girls that are good at hiding their flaws, the ones that are good at sweet talks and flirting. I’m not one of those girls that has the nice style and the nice looks. I’m one the girl that tend to be really insecure about themselves. The girl that’s always in the corner hiding, I’m the girl that’s scared to show other’s her real self.

“Real love? It is when you go through the hard trials of trust and sacrifices and still wake up every morning falling on love all over again.”

"It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to your enemies, but a great deal more to stand up to
your friends."

– Dumbledore, Harry Potter

What exactly am I waiting for?
No matter how many times I look, I won’t find him there. He won’t come. So why do I anticipate? This is the reason why I dislike growing feelings for someone. I don’t want that feeling of not knowing. Not sure what’s going to happen next, or not aware about what the other person is thinking… This uncertainty is driving me to my limit, and this was the sort of position I promised myself I was never going to be in, again and again