Highly Classified; List Of US Top Government Officials In South Africa To Honor Mandela

In this list we authoritatively present to you the list of a delegation of the most powerful and well known figures in American politics that is travelling to South Africa to pay respects to Nelson Mandela.

Those Traveling on Air Force One include

President Barack Obama

First Lady Michelle Obama

Former President George W. Bush

Former First Lady Laura George W.Bush

Former Secretary of State Hilary Clinton

Attorney General Eric Holder

National Security Adviser Susan Rice

Economics Adviser Valerie Jarrett

Hilary Clinton's Daughter Chelsea Clinton

Others Traveling separately include

 

Bill Clinton and, 

Former President Jimmy Carter

Republican Senator From Texas Ted Cruz (The Imbecile that Insulted Nigeria)

32-year-old GOP representative, Aaron Schock

The chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus Marcia Fudge

The official memorial, which will take place in the 95,000-seat FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on Tuesday, will host leaders and former heads of state from across the world, plus hundreds of other VIPs and celebrities, including Oprah Winfrey and Richard Branson. The South African authorities have not released an official guest list, but countries from across the world are understood to be sending senior representatives. More than a dozen African heads of state will attend.

Ben Rhodes, a national security adviser to the White House, confirmed that Obama would "deliver remarks" during the memorial event. The president had not planned to deliver a speech and has been working on the text over the weekend and during the flight, Rhodes said. 

Some are describing the event as an unprecedented convergence of the world’s most powerful leaders, past and present, including the current and former UN secretary generals, Ban Ki Moon and Kofi Annan. It is certainly rare, outside of UN general assembly meetings, for leaders such as Obama, British prime minister David Cameron and French president François Hollande to mix with leaders from China, Iran, Cuba, Israel and the Palestinian territories.

All of Britain’s surviving prime ministers – Sir John Major, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown – will accompany Cameron, along with his deputy, Nick Clegg, and the leader of the opposition Labour party, Ed Miliband. Prince Charles will represent the Queen at the state funeral on Sunday, but is not participating in the memorial event.

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How To Tell Someone Is Gay

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Elton John To Marry Long Term Gay Partner David Furnish In 2014

Elton John is set to marry his long term partner, David Furnish, once same sex marriage becomes law in 2014 in England and Wales.

Speaking recently with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, the British singer said “I have to set an example.”

In a recent interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, Elton John revealed that his partner, David Furnish, and him would be getting married in 2014.

Those familiar with this famous gay couple know that they were among the first couples to enter a civil partnership in 2005 in the UK. Elton said that it’s his responsibility to get married…

“Listen David and I are [a] very high-profile gay couple, probably the most high-profile gay couple in the world. You have to set an example.”

Elton and David have been a couple since 1993 and presently, have two sons together. Zachary born in 2010 and Elijah who was born earlier this year.

Elton recently performed with his children’s godmother, Lady Gaga, for her Thanksgiving special with the Muppets. Below is a clip of Lady Gaga talking about Elton’s kids on The Ellen Show

Tufiakwa!

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The First Gay Prime Minister Takes Office In Luxembourg

These are certainly the end times! The first gay prime minister has been sworn in to office in Luxembourg. His name is Xavier Bettel. Prime Minister Bettel is an openly gay politician, who previously served as Mayor of Luxembourg City. He is Luxembourg’s first gay Prime Minister and in another first, he has appointed openly gay politician Etienne Schneider, as his deputy. 

Prime Minister Bettel doesn’t believe that his sexuality influences voters, “I never made my sexuality a topic in politics for people to vote against or for,” he shared in a 2011 interview.

Prime Minister Bettel has two priorities now that he’s been sworn into office: gay marriage and to replace Bible teachings with non-religious ethics.

He promised to address gay marriage shortly, “At the moment in Luxembourg, we have to go through the situation of weddings, religion and divorce laws. But I don’t think it’ll be in the next five years – it’ll be next year.

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Lagos based Pastor of the Household of God Church, Kris Okotie, has said that he stood by his recent sermon where he said the Catholics and T.B. Joshua of the Synagogue Church will burn in hell fire Since his outburst, condemnations and commendations have continued to pour on him from Nigerians who felt concerned about the statement. 

In his latest tweet, the fashionable pastor simply said 'the truth is bitter'.

However, majority of Nigerians are asking Pastor Okotie who has married and divorced twice, if God does not hate divorce, according to the Scriptures. Pastor Okotie had predicted 'hell' for
Catholics 'because they worship Satan and are led by an Anti-Christ Pope who is a friend to the devil'. 

Okotie added that the Catholic Church was "a counterfeit church set up by Satan" and that Catholics "bow to idols and crucify Jesus every Sunday when they eat bread claiming they are eating
Jesus' body." "They are not Christians and have never been," Okotie told a bewildered congregation.

"They don't know Jesus. They believe that when they eat bread on Sundays, they are eating the body of Jesus. It's ritual," Okotie said. He also alleged that Pope Francis is an Anti-Christ who does the job of the devil and that time is fast approaching when the Catholic church will pledge allegiance to Satan.

"The pope is an Anti-Christ and the Catholic church will soon declare for Satan. This is the end of times," Okotie erupted. Similalrly, Okotie also condemned famous preacher and philanthropist, Prophet T.B. Joshua, saying "T.B. Joshua is the son of the devil and his followers will go straight to hell".

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Is it a "Kardashian kurse" or is Kanye West losing his cool all on his own? In any case, popularity problems seem to be plaguing the once untouchable rap sensation.West’s performance this week brought just 4,500 people to the Sprint Center, a venue built for 19,000, meaning less than 24 percent of seats were occupied. He has had to cancel several other shows throughout his nationwide tour and drew criticism when he stopped a Florida concert after only three songs and demanded the lights be turned off before launching a profanity-laced rant at the tech staff and storming off the stage.So is West’s egotistical, bizarre behavior finally taking its toll on fans?

“We are often drawn to people who have an ego and confidence that is derived from their talent. But an empty ego, based on a fake self-inflated image and concept, creates an over powering sense of desperation and superficiality,” human behavior expert Patrick Wanis told FOX411.
West has made headlines frequently lately, more due to his outlandish remarks than his trailblazing talent. We’ve heard the rapper compare himself to everyone from Jesus, Michael Jordan and Steve Jobs to Nelson Mandela, Michelangelo and Michael Jackson – and amid all that talk, he has also managed to offend much of the Jewish population.

The Anti-Defamation League is accusing West of anti-Semitism over comments he made to a Chicago radio station last month, urging him to take responsibility for saying that Obama can't execute moves because "he ain’t got those connections. Black people don’t have the same level of connections as Jewish people.”

Adding insult to injury, a new study released in November suggests that West’s connection to the Kardashian family may also be the reason for his popularity decline. Q Scores, a website marketers use to measure recognition, reported that West’s popularity has dipped a whopping 66 percent since he first started dating his reality star fiancée in April 2011, and that he now ranks far below the average hip hop artist and male celebrity.

"When putting two egotistical, self serving individuals together, you'll create a rather vile spark. And in times of economic hardship across the country, bragging about materialism is typically frowned upon,” says California-based public relations expert Angie Meyer-Olszewski. “The Kardashian brand is a sinking ship. Anybody who jumps on board will eventually fall. A successful celebrity in his own right, Kanye made a horrible strategic decision by engaging himself with Kim."

And while West’s highly-anticipated album “Yeezus” initially shot to No. 1 on the billboard charts, it fell an embarrassing 80 percent the following week, the largest second-week performance drop for a No. 1-debuting album in more than a year.

Then there was the release of that scandalous music video for “Bound 2,” co-starring his topless fiancée and baby mama, which become an instant laughing stock across the web and was slammed with a viral video spoof courtesy of comedians Seth Rogen and James Franco.

Things are not exactly coming up roses in the Kardashian empire either, with recent reports indicating that the show has been on a steady decline over the last four seasons and has lost almost one million viewers per episode since season five.

But according to some communications experts, West can get back on top if he plays his cards right.
“He can definitely win back favor with fans, as soon as the attention moves back to his music since he is such a talented artist,” says Elissa Buchter, founder of Schmooze PR. “The amount of ego you're allowed to get away with in Hollywood is directly proportional to success of your projects. As long as his songs are on top of the charts, his romantic life isn't going to crush his credibility as a superstar.”

A rep for West did not respond to a request for comment.

Source: Fox News

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Oxford University's Women set out on the mission to grip the attention of rugby-phobics by releasing their naked charity calendar for 2014.

The Classy Black and White Hot Shots was taken in the City Of Oxford, the calender cost £10 to raise money for Oxford's mental health awareness campaign, Mind Your Head.

The team were inspired by the men who after releasing their own edition last year said to them:  "If it was you in the pictures then we'd buy one."

According to Elizabeth Dubois, the club president: "With this calendar the club hopes to highlight the inclusiveness of women's rugby. When you play women's rugby people have a stereotypical image of you and we wanted to confront that. We have girls of all shapes and sizes, and studying all types of academic subject."

See photos below:

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Flavour Nabania tells it all :His celeb crush,fav artists,Beverly Osu &39; the inspiration behind his Ada song

Flavour Nabania tells it all :His celeb crush,fav artists,Beverly Osu & the inspiration behind his Ada song

Flavour told his fans to ask him whatever they wanted to know.And some fans asked him pretty interesting questions.He is crushing on Rihanna, has been thinking of taking his dreads off(Imagine him with a low cut),he also says he has never dated Beverly Osu.The only question he didn’t answer was about his fiancee Beverly who he recently denied getting engaged to

More Q&A below

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A few days ago, some of you watched the video of the beating and torture of 2 women for allegedly stealing pepper.Here's an update on the story. Ever since the video was made public, a few people have been working behind the scenes to find the men who did this. Some sort of breakthrough has been achieved with the involvement of the Chairman of Ejigbo Local Council of Lagos. He's worked his socks off on this case since some people got in touch with him.

  Here is his response. It's now time to pile pressure on the Lagos State Govt and the Lagos State Police...


Kehinde Bamigbetan:

I promised an update in 24 hours: This incident took place in the central market, Iyana Ejigbo, Ejigbo LCDA in February 2013. The pepper sellers normally leave their goods in their stalls. They returned the next day to discover that their goods were being stolen. They reported this to the vigilante they hired to secure the market. About 6am, the two women were allegedly caught stealing pepper. They were a wife and her step-daughter. They lived near the market with the husband. The husband is said to be a wine tapper. After the barbaric torture, both confessed to stealing the pepper and were let go. However, a few members of the vigilante feared that the case may spread. And informed the leadership of the vigilante group. Those involved were allegedly penalized and the gang disbanded. The scene was then converted to shops and rented out. I have reviewed these with the DPO and both of us are bothered by the impact of the time lag of over nine months on investigation. This may also explain the initial denials by the stakeholders. We are working on getting the wine tapper to trace his wife and daughter involved. If he has not relocated from Ejigbo, then we have a good chance of retrieving information and tracking the story.

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NELSON MANDELA: The Women Who Loved And Fought Alongside Nelson Mandela

 

As the world continues to mourn the death of Nelson Mandela, many of us are getting the chance to learn more about him and all the great work he has done throughout his life. We’ve also had the chance to learn about the women who have been in his life: His wives, the women who fought with him in the ANC and against apartheid, and the women in his life who were influenced by his activism and story to tell their own .

EVELYN MASE

Mase was the first wife of Nelson Mandela. The two were married in 1944 after meeting through friends (and Mandela’s fellow activists), Walter and Albertina Sisulu. Though things became strained during their marriage as Mandela became more interested in African Nationalist ideologies (and accusations of infidelity arised), Mase had four children with him (all but one have passed on) before pushing away politics for Jehovah’s Witness work. They divorced in 1958.

WINNIE MADIKIZELA-MANDELA

The same year that Nelson Mandela and Evelyn Mase ended their marriage, he went on to marry Winnie Madikizela, the first black medical social worker in South Africa. At the time, Mandela was already the leader of the African National Congress, and she also became heavily involved in activism, especially when Mandela was targeted by the government and inevitably imprisoned in 1964 for life. She was so heavily involved while trying to raise their two daughters by herself that she wound up being jailed quite a few times for her anti-apartheid work. She became a controversial figure for believing in violent retaliation against black South Africans who supported the apartheid regime, and for future legal trouble (including being involved in acts of violence, as her bodyguards, the Mandela United Football Club, were infamous for kidnapping individuals, torturing them and even killing a teenager). But despite all that, she was known as the “Mother of the Nation.” She continued with her political pursuits and after the release of Nelson Mandela from prison, he made her his deputy minister of arts when he was elected (before being ousted in 1995), was president of the ANC Women’s League, and a member of South Africa’s Parliament. Nelson and Winnie Mandela would divorce in 1996.

GRACA MACHEL

Machel, an advocate for women and children’s righs from Mozambique, is the widow of Mozambican President Samora Machel. She wed Nelson Mandela in 1998 on his 80th birthday.  But before that marriage happened, Machel was the Minister of Education and Culture in Mozambique, and later, was behind a major report for the United Nations on how children are impacted by armed conflict. She was awarded the Nansen Medal in ’95 for all her humanitarian work, and has been a member of the Elders, a group comprised of world leaders in 2007 to help find solutions to major world problems.

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Nelson Mandela: 10 Facts You Didn’t Know

Here are 10 surprising facts you probably didn’t know about Nelson Mandela:

1. He lived up to his name: Mandela’s birth name was Rolihlahla. In his Xhosa tribe, the name means pulling the branch of a tree ortroublemaker. (The name “Nelson” was given to him by his teacher on his first day of elementary school. It’s not clear why she chose that particular name. It was the 1920s, and African children were given English names so colonial masters could pronounce them easily).

2. He had a cameo in a Spike Lee film: He had a big part in Spike Lee’s 1992 biopic “Malcolm X.” At the very end of the movie, he plays a teacher reciting Malcolm X’s famous speech to a room full of Soweto school kids. But the pacifist Mandela wouldn’t say “by any means necessary.” So Lee cut back to footage of Malcolm X to close out the film.

3. There’s a woodpecker named after him: From Cape Town to California, streets named after Mandela abound. But he’s also been the subject of some rather unusual tributes. Last year, scientists named a prehistoric woodpecker after him: Australopicus nelsonmandelai. In 1973, the physics institute at Leeds University named a nuclear particle the ‘Mandela particle.’

4. He married a first lady: Before tying the knot with Mandela on his 80th birthday, Graca Machel was married to Mozambique President Samora Machel. Her marriage to Mandela after her husband’s death means she has been the first lady of two nations.

5. He was a master of disguise: When Mandela was eluding authorities during his fight against apartheid, he disguised himself in various ways, including as a chauffeur. The press nicknamed him “the Black Pimpernel” because of his police evasion tactics. “I became a creature of the night. I would keep to my hideout during the day, and would emerge to do my work when it became dark,” he says in his biography, “Long Walk to Freedom.”

6. A bloody sport intrigued him: Besides politics, Mandela’s other passion was boxing. “I did not like the violence of boxing. I was more interested in the science of it – how you move your body to protect yourself, how you use a plan to attack and retreat, and how you pace yourself through a fight,” he says in his biography.

7. His favorite dish is probably not yours: He’s been wined and dined by world leaders. But what Mandela loved eating most was tripe. Yup, the stomach lining of farm animals.

8. He quit his day job: He studied law at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg and opened the nation’s first black law firm in the city in 1952.

9. He was on the U.S. terror watch list: Mandela wasn’t removed from the U.S. terror watch list until 2008 – at age 89. He and other members of the African National Congress were placed on it because of their militant fight against apartheid.

 

10. He drew his inspiration from a poem: While he was in prison, Mandela would read William Ernest Henley’s “Invictus” to fellow prisoners. The poem, about never giving up, resonated with Mandela for its lines “I am the master of my fate. I am the captain of my soul.” You may know it from the movie by the same name starring Morgan Freeman as Mandela

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Supermodel Heidi Klum Hangs Up Her Bra And Panties At 40

Heidi Klum has revealed that she will no longer be modelling lingerie after turning 40 in June.

The former Victoria's Secret Angel and mother-of-four said  that the thought of walking the catwalk in her underwear makes her feel 'uncomfortable'.

 

'I wouldn't model with my underwear down the runway anymore,' she said. 'I think I would find it a little uncomfortable, maybe.'

The supermodel, who fronts Germany's next Top Model and Project Runway, as well as designing a kids' fashion line for Babies R Us, is certainly not giving up modeling entirely.

'I still do photoshoots for [magazine] covers and different things or advertising stuff,' she said.

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While, to our eyes, Ms Klum still boasts a youthful complexion, she also opened up about her laughter lines, which she admits she doesn't love, but is too scared to try any kind of filler or Botox to erase them.

 

Of her crow's feet, she said: 'I wouldn't say that I love them, but that's just the way it happens. Right? We get wrinkles from smiling. . .

'I've never done any [cosmetic procedures],' she added. 'I've been too scared, to be honest with you. I'm scared that all of a sudden you’re changing too much, your face starts changing, I don’t know.

'I would have a hard time looking in the mirror and seeing something that I’m not used to seeing. I'd be afraid!'

Instead, she says, she uses bangs to make her look more youthful.

'Botox or bangs,' she said. 'I go for bangs.'

 

 

Back in the day: The supermodel walking the runway during Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in 2008

 

 

Mommy duty: The model with boyfriend Martin Kristen and three of her four children as they pick out Christmas trees in Beverly Hills

Source: Access Hollywood Live

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Tomorrow is Not Promised But We Can Live, Love & Learn from Today! Read the Heart Moving Tribute to Adaobi Obih by Stephanie Cole

On the 17th of November, 2013 a young Nigerian, Adaobi Obih was murdered by her flatmate. Her friend, Stephanie Cole has written  a very moving and touching tribute to her friend. With a very heart, we mourn the tragic loss of Adaobi. We hope you are inspired by this tribute and our hearts go out to Adaobi’s friends and family. 

I met Adaobi in 2007 at Louisiana State University (LSU) where we were both undergraduate students. She was one of the first Nigerians I met at LSU during a visit to a friend’s apartment complex where she also resided. My first impression of her was that she was a loud, no nonsense person and any accidental wrong crossing of her path would result in a serious tongue lashing. Needless to say, I stayed in my lane and only spoke when she asked me a question. After that, it was hi or hello anytime I saw her around. Fast forward to a few weeks later, I attended the National Society of Black Engineers meeting on campus and Ada was there. She ended up giving me a ride home and we talked about different things; engineering, cooking, family and most memorably Igbo catholic mass and the Christian mothers (Ndi nne mama).

From game nights to LSU football watch parties, African students’ organization banquets, society of women engineers events, birthdays, car rides, and even taking shelter from hurricane Gustav in the same apartment. Over the course of the next two years as I interacted with Ada, I realized how wrong my first impression of her had been. Ada turned out to be one of the nicest people I knew. She was always laughing, down to earth, extremely funny, smart, care free, fearless and positive. Lord did she love football! Her laugh was infectious and she was always the life of any event/gathering she was at. She was not worried about being politically correct, pleasing everyone or fitting in. Although she was very opinionated she never judged people. She was always willing to help in any way she could whether with her time or just giving some advice. I can still hear her voice saying “my dear”. That was how she referred to anyone she was talking to.

I cannot still come to terms with the fact that Ada is gone. Worse still that she was brutally murdered in the comfort of her own home. I got a slew of messages asking me to be careful, buy pepper spray, and lock the doors. All well-meaning I know but where is safe? Children go to school and a lunatic comes in and wastes 20 beautiful lives.

People go to the mall and another lunatic opens fire. Is it the movie theatre that’s any better? On a plane perhaps? Maybe on a university campus? Definitely in a church right? Sadly none of these places has been able to protect innocent people from the attack of animals in human form. It is irrelevant to me if she had a male roommate that was an older Caucasian man. All over the United States and the world at large, husbands are killing wives, children are killing parents, and siblings are killing each other. Let us not even begin to talk of those who are not related. These acts transcend gender and race. Only God can protect and keep us safe because evil is everywhere.

Over the past two weeks, trying to swallow this bitter pill, I cannot help but be angry that bad things happen to good people, and there is not much we can do about it. I am angry that her life was cut short in her prime and that her last moments were full of fear and pain. I am angry about the wedding she never got to have, the children she never got to birth and the milestones she never got to attain. I am angry about the promotions she never got to receive and the inventions she never got to create. I am angry about the hugs she never got to give, and the “I love you’s” she never got to say. I am angry that her killer has the right to defend himself when he did not afford her that right. I am angry that even if he is sent to prison, money from taxpayers like Ada will be used to feed, clothe and provide medical care for him. I am angry that there will never truly be justice because Ada can never come back.

The older I get, the more I realize that truly tomorrow is not promised. I cannot count the number of times something or someone reminded me of Ada and I thought of sending her a message but never did. We always think we can do it tomorrow, next week, over the weekend or when we are less busy. What happens when that person dies before you have the chance to? Regret? Guilt? Frustration? What we must take away from this is to never take anything or anyone for granted.

LIVE like today is your last because you never know when your time will be up. Try something new, pursue your passion, start that business, take that trip, follow that dream, spend time with family and friends. Leave no room for regret.

LOVE unconditionally and without fear. Give love freely and receive love freely. You might get hurt but it is part of life. Don’t take it for granted that they know, let people know you love them (you can never say it enough). Be kind to strangers and more importantly to the people you care about. Lend a helping hand without always expecting a favor in return. Give a hug, make a call, send a text or an email. Let someone know you love and appreciate them.

LET GO of grudges, pride, hurt. It is inevitable that people will step on your toes, but it is not worth sacrificing your happiness and peace of mind by holding onto it the rest of your life. Don’t let pride prevent you from apologizing or from accepting an apology. We all offend and get offended. No one is perfect. Be the bigger person and reach out. Let someone know you are sorry or that you accept their apology.

LEARN to show gratitude. Say thank you no matter how small the favor. To friends, colleagues, spouses, siblings, parents, subordinates. LEARN to take responsibility for your actions. Be accountable. Look inwards and make the necessary changes. LEARN to grow, the only thing constant in life is change.

LEGACY is what you leave behind. What will you be remembered for? Will anyone even notice you are gone? Will they secretly be relieved or will you make such an impact that you will forever be missed?

A scholarship fund has been set up in honor of Ada by some former classmates at LSU. It is called the ADAOBI MICHAELLA OBIH SCHOLARSHIP FUND. It is to enable young female Africans at LSU pursue a major in engineering which Ada was passionate about. Please check it out on Facebook and consider giving towards it.

In a week from today Ada would have been 27. I know it is not the norm to celebrate the death of a young person, especially with her manner of death, but Ada was so full of life. I would like to dedicate her birthday as a day to celebrate the amazing person that she was and to let her family know she was loved. In the midst of the tears and pain, let us join her family and friends to remember her for who she was and not how she died. If you knew Ada personally, on wed Dec 11th 2013, please share a memory in whatever way you feel most comfortable. A status, picture, story, prayer, anything. If you did not have the fortune of meeting Ada, feel free to post a prayer or goodwill message to her friends and family.

To Ada’s family and close friends, may the peace of the Lord that passeth all understanding be with you through this trying time. May he give you beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning and a garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.

SLEEP WELL ADAOBI MICHAELLA OBIH.

From KEMULCH'S BLOG we say Rest In Peace Ada

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PHOTOSPEAKS: Outpouring Of Grief And Celebration Across The World In Honor Of Mandela

Australian and English cricket fans observe a minute's silence to mark the passing of Mr. Mandela in Adelaide

The marquee at the Apollo Theater announces the death of Mr. Mandela in New York

A man prays under the marquee at Apollo Theater in New York

Lungi Morrison, the granddaughter of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, sings after lighting a candle for Mr. Mandela outside the South African High Commission in London.

Women sing at a gathering in memory of Mr. Mandela outside the South African High Commission across from Trafalgar Square in London

South Africans hold a candlelight vigil outside Mr. Mandela's house.

People listened to a radio broadcast in Houghton announcing the news

Outside the South African Embassy in Washington, D.C., Keaton Anderson posed for a photograph by a statue of Mr. Mandela

A woman holding a candle and a rose cried Thursday in Johannesburg, South Africa, outside the house of former South African President Nelson Mandela.

People listened to a radio in Houghton, South Africa, as Mr. Zuma announced Mr. Mandela's death

Victoria Johnson, right, attends a public meeting with her daughter and granddaughters, where a moment of silence was held in memory of Mr. Mandela at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit USA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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How People Describe Mandela

The death of Nelson Mandela, long anticipated and yet long dreaded, jolted a nation that made a political prisoner South Africa's first black president.Crowds gathered around Mr. Mandela's home here, singing songs and lighting candles. They flocked to a square bearing his name. And they checked their phones for the latest news on the passing of a leader South Africans called the father of their democracy.

Mr. Mandela spent 27 years in prison fighting for freedom and equality of people of color. He entered prison an angry militant determined to topple apartheid through a sabotage campaign. He emerged a gray-haired statesmen determined to win power peacefully through the radical message of reconciliation and forgiveness.

On Thursday evening, South Africans showed their grief from their loss. 

President Jacob Zuma  "What made Nelson Mandela great was precisely what made him human. We saw in him what we seek in ourselves,"  

Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu

 described Mr. Mandela as a figure who "transcended race and class in his personal actions, through his warmth and through his willingness to listen and to empathize with others. And he restored others' faith in Africa and Africans." 

Former President Thabo Mbeki, - Mandela's Successor Said

  "Mandela's departure demands of those of us who remain, South Africans and all Africans on the rest of our continent, that we commit ourselves selflessly to address the many challenges we face".

 F.W. de Klerk, - Another former president who shared Nobel Peace Price With Mandela for dismantling the oppressive apartheid system,praised his counterpart for his contribution "to the establishment of our constitutional democracy but also to the cause of national reconciliation and nation building." 

Helen Zille, Western Cape premier and leader of the Democratic Alliance, the country's biggest opposition party. 

 "We all belong to the South African family," said"We owe that sense of belonging to Madiba," she added, referring to Mr. Mandela's clan name.

Sibusiso Myaka and Ethel Mgwenya - Table Waiters in a resturant close to mandela's home had this to say "We got our freedom because of him. Nelson Mandela was our hero," Mr. Myaka said. "Not just South Africa, he was a hero for the whole world."

Cindy Mallugu, a 36-year-old event planner from the Soweto township where Mr. Mandela lived for years, had just finished dinner at a restaurant on Nelson Mandela Square in Johannesburg's business district when she heard of the former president's death. Next to her loomed a 20-foot bronze statue of Mr. Mandela, smiling.

"Even here—I couldn't come here, I couldn't eat here at a restaurant with whites before he was president. So much changed through him," she said.

Yet Tumi Mabeba, a 24-year-old student who was also dining on the square when she learned of Mr. Mandela's death, said the ANC had fallen short of Mr. Mandela's vision. "It's not doing what it promised for the country. It's time for change. Again."

Crowds outside Mr. Mandela's house sang the country's national anthem in both Zulu and Afrikaans. As the initial shock ebbed, people snapped photos and cheered Mandela. A couple from Cameroon stood wrapped in flags holding a burning candle, while young people danced. 

Source: WSJ

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Mandela Is Dead!

 

Nelson Mandela is dead!South African President Jacob Zuma announced late Thursday.

Mandela was 95. In his words President Jocob Zuma said;

"He is now resting in Peace"

"Our nation has lost its greatest son. Our people have lost a father."

"What made Nelson Mandela great was precisely what made him human," the president said in his late-night address. "We saw in him what we seek in ourselves."

Mandela will have a state funeral. Zuma ordered all flags in the nation to be flown at half-staff from Friday through that funeral.

Mandela, a former president, battled health issues in recent months, including a recurring lung infection that led to numerous hospitalizations.

With advancing age and bouts of illness, Mandela retreated to a quiet life at his boyhood home in the nation's Eastern Cape Province, where he said he was most at peace. He was later moved to his home in the Johannesburg suburb of Houghton, where he died.

Despite rare public appearances, he held a special place in the consciousness of the nation and the world.

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Senate President David Mark has described the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, as a failure as a result of its inability to deliver on its mandate since its establishment about 13 years ago.

Senator Mark, who was speaking at yesterday’s sitting when the Senate confirmed appointments for management and board positions in the commission, lamented that the NDDC “over the 

years has completely failed to perform and I remember that the last time we passed their budget here all of us without exception condemned the fact that they were not performing”.

An unhappy David Mark apportioned some of the blame for the commission’s failure on the Senate standing committee on Niger Delta chaired by Senator James Manager, which he said did a poor job of performing its oversight function.

The Senate President, therefore, urged President Goodluck Jonathan not to waste time in removing the new appointees “if they don’t show that they truly can perform within the next few months”.

“They are indulging into many irrelevant projects, projects that have no meaning and no impact on the livelihood of the Niger Delta people,” Mark charged.

The session, however, did not go without some mild drama as two Rivers State Senators – Wilson Ake and Magnus Abe, die-hard loyalists of Governor Rotimi Ameachi, opposed the nomination of two of their state’s representatives on the board of NDDC.

They hinged their opposition to the confirmation of the nominees on grounds that the state government was not consulted before President Jonathan forwarded their names to the Senate for confirmation.

Senator Ake and Abe jointly wrote a minority report protesting the nomination and subsequent screening of Mr. Itotenaan Henry Ogiri as Executive Director Finance and Administration and Chief Ephraim Sobere Etete as a board member representing Rivers State.

Ake, therefore, urged the senate to reject the nomination arguing that if two of the three senators in any state oppose any nomination, it stands rejected.

But their protest was ruled out of order by the Senate President, who argued that “reason why we say if two senators disagree is that senators complained here that there was no reference to them at all in getting nominees and governors were bringing nominees who had total disrespect for senators”.

Subsequently, Senator Bassey Ewa-Henshaw (Cross Rivers State) was confirmed as chairman of NDDC board and Barrister Bassey Dan-Abia as Managing Director.

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Former Gospel artist or Gospel artist turned nudist - Maheeda releases yet another set of nude pictures posted on her instagram page today >>> See  below

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How To Exercise And Develop 6 Packs Even When Watching TV At Home

If you have trouble finding the motivation to break away from the television and exercise, try couchersizing—staying on or near your couch and exercising during commercial breaks. Why bother?A growing body of evidence links the amount of time spent sitting to illness and even death. “Minimizing long periods of inactivity, like exercising during commercial breaks, can help reduce the risk of injury and may even help you live longer,” says Kailin Collins, a physical therapist at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital.

You can work many different muscle groups while seated upright on a couch. Want to get your heart rate up, work the oblique muscles on the sides of the abdomen. To whittle your waist, try twisting your torso from side to side for the length of a commercial break. You can even exercise while lying on the couch: with your legs extended, squeeze the quadriceps on the front of the thigh for a count of 10, then relax. Repeat several times. Try leg lifts while lying flat to build abs, or side lifts to strengthen hip muscles.
Here are more ideas for the couch potato set. Consider trying some of these exercises during the typical three-to-four-minute TV commercial break.

Sit to stand

Why it helps: This exercise works the quadriceps in the front of the thigh and gluteal muscles in the buttocks, which helps protect your ability to get up from a chair, out of a car, or off a bathroom seat. “In addition, it’s possible to use repeated repetitions of this exercise to get your heart rate up,” 
How to do it: Go from sitting to standing to sitting again, 10 times in a row. Rest for a minute, then repeat.

Calf stretch

Why it helps: “Keeping your calves optimally flexible can keep your walking stride longer, reduce your risk of tripping over your toes, and reduce your risk for common foot injuries such as plantar fasciitis,” 
How to do it: Sit on the edge of a couch with your feet flat on the floor. With one leg, keeping your heel on the floor, lift and point the toes toward the ceiling, so that you feel a stretch in your calf muscle. Hold for 30 seconds, then do the same with the other leg, three times per leg.

Stand on one leg

Why it helps: “Balance gets better if you practice it, which can decrease the risk of falling,”  
How to do it: Holding on to the back of a chair for stability, lift one heel toward your buttocks. Hold for 30 to 45 seconds, three times per leg. To improve your balance on unsteady surfaces, try this with shoes off on a balled-up beach towel.

Shoulder blade squeeze

Why it helps: “This can help prevent that rounded, shoulders-forward posture that can develop from many years of sitting, especially at a computer,”  
How to do it: Pinch your shoulder blades together, but not up (don’t shrug). Hold for 10 seconds, then repeat 10 times.

Hand squeeze

Why it helps: “Keeping your grip strong makes it possible to turn a door knob, open a jar, and grasp a gallon of milk,”
How to do it: While seated upright, hold a ball (the size of a basketball) over your lap with both hands, then squeeze the ball as if you’re trying to deflate it. Hold for a few seconds, then release. Repeat 10 times, rest, then do another set of 10 repetitions. You can also improve your grip strength by squeezing a small rubber ball in one hand

Source: Harvard Health Publications

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WOW!! : Lady Gaga poses fully N*KED for Candy magazine..No comment.

See more photos below:

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