Reach out to the world

Search This Blog

Tuesday 26 July 2011

Mariah Carey: Pregnancy Was "a Really Difficult Time"

Pregnancy isn't easy, darlings.

In a Sunday night appearance on HSN, Mariah Carey reminisced about her "47-week" pregnancy with twins Moroccan and Monroe.



Carey, 41, and hubby Nick Cannon, 30, welcomed their babies on April 30, their third wedding anniversary. When one caller asked the new mom if she remembered speaking with her in February, Carey admitted that was a "bleak" time.
"I was so uncomfortable," she said. "I'm kind of proud of myself. I really am -- sorry, pregnant with twins is different than anything! [People] were always saying to me, 'Oh, but it's all worth it!' Yeah, but it's easy to say when you're not the one whose feet are this big! It turned into like a really difficult time."

"My body went through so much," she added. "Holding those twins in -- you have to keep them in as long as possible. It's a sacrifice you make for them. Literally I was like, 47-weeks pregnant. And anybody pregnant right now, there's push gifts here. Tell your baby-father."

Beyonce producer trashes Kelly Rowland’s ‘Motivation’

Beyonce and Kelly
Shots fired!!! Beyonce producer trashed Kelly Rowland’s No. 1 song “Motivation” recently, exposing his jealousy on Twitter.
“How can this kr (Kelly rowland) song with the weakest beat and melody of all time be the No. 1 song on Urban?! Oh yeah Wayne,” tweeted Jeff Bhasker.

“If I was too harsh in my critique, I wasn’t. The lyrics are horrid as well,” he then tweeted.
Really?
So, Bhasker feels that Beyonce’s lyrics are audio gold: “I can make you feel like Martin did for the people” is not exactly Shakespearean, but I digress.
So did Bhasker, who got roundly bashed by Rowland’s stans.
“Let me just clear something up. I’ve got respect for KR JJ and RL. I’m not interested in comparing B and K.,” he finally tweeted.
Too late.

Kim Kardashian Surprises Kris Humphries at His Bachelor Party

The Kim Kardashian Wedding Express rolled on this weekend, as the reality supernova and her basketballer fiance partied it up in Vegas on Saturday night for their bachelorette and bachelor parties, respectively, reports People.
Khloe, Kim, Kourtney (as if you didn't know). Denise Truscello/WireImage It's sort of hard to see Kris' face here, but he does look surprised, no? David Becker/WireImage
Kim's party at Tao sounds like it went down about as you'd expect it would. There were "adult"-themed cakes, shiny tiaras and a miniature male stripper (who performed a strip tease on the dinner table). Kim was joined by sisters Khloe and Kourtney, of course, as well as mom Kris Jenner and friends including LaLa Vasquez (wife of Carmelo Anthony) and Brittny Gastineau.
"My sisters are doing everything they can to embarrass me," Kim told the crowd at one point.
Meanwhile, Humphries was mere yards away at Lavo, celebrating his bachelor party with Kardashian Men Lamar Odom, Scott Disick and Rob Kardashian, among others. Humphries, who wore a white t-shirt, was presented a cake that said "Property of Kim Kardashian FOR LIFE."
The "surprise" of the night came when Kim met up with Humphries at Lavo around 2 a.m., even though the two had vowed not to see each other during the bachelor/bachelorette party festivities. The soon-to-be-newlyweds shared a kiss (in full view of the club and the horde of photographers) and Kardashian's girl posse fraternized with Humphries' crew for about 10 minutes before heading out.
If you're reading all of this and wishing you were there, gyrating to club tracks next to Kris and Kim while trying to take a clandestine iPhone pic of Kim's rock, don't fret -- we're sure you'll be able to see it all on their E! reality show in a matter of weeks.

Monday 25 July 2011

Toni Payne back in 9ice's house

In a rather dramatic twist, cosmetologist and emerging artiste manager, Toni Payne, might have moved back into the expansive Abule-Egba, Lagos, home of estranged husband - afro hip hop singer, 9ice. Her unexpected return to the house she left in unwieldy circumstances late 2009 came as a shock to neighbours, aides, close friends and relatives of the singer who thought she had moved on for good.

According to several impeccable sources, Payne's startling about-face happened last Thursday when she came to the house demanding to see the father of her child but was prevented from entering.

“She called 9ice several times but he didn't pick the call because he had been told she was at the gate. He came with a male friend even. What angered 9ice was that she didn't pre-inform him of her visit, source says.

She left without blowing a fuse, only to return the following day. This time, Payne brought along with her the only product of the short-lived marriage, Zion, and she was allowed in without much ado. Payne was in the house until Wednesday morning. The source further says, “Throughout the time she spent in the house, she was always cooking, trying to worm her way back into 9ice's heart but he didn't eat the food because he's trying to be careful.”

New Song: Faze – Am In The Mood

Faze – Am In The Mood (Click link below to download)
DOWNLOAD

Norway mass killer wants time in court to tell why

OSLO (Reuters) - Anders Behring Breivik wants to tell Norway and the world why he killed at least 93 people in a bomb attack and shooting rampage when he appears in court on Monday, his lawyer said.
Calling himself a crusader against a tide of Islam in a rambling 1,500-page online manifesto, the 32-year-old mass murderer wants the opportunity to explain actions he deemed 'atrocious' but 'necessary'.
The judge will have to decide whether the custody hearing, expected to start after 1 p.m. (1100 GMT), will be held in public or behind closed doors.
The issue has generated a debate about freedom of expression with many Norwegians opposed to allowing a man who has shaken the nation's psyche to expound his views.
Breivik has asked to wear a uniform in court, but his lawyer, Geir Lippestad, said he did not know what type. The killer was dressed as a policeman during his shooting spree.
His lawyer said it was not clear what sort of uniform he wanted to wear. Breivik has not served in the armed forces but in some of the pictures he posted on the Internet before his killing spree he was dressed in a military-style outfit.
Police did not confirm a local media report that they planned to request a closed hearing. "It's up to the judge to decide. It's not uncommon that the police will ask for it in advance but I don't know if the police will ask for that," Liv Corneliussen, a police prosecutor, told Reuters.

Saturday 23 July 2011

8 Signs He's Totally Into You

Unfortunately, after a first date, it's rarely as simple as: "I like you, I had fun, let's get together again."
I'm coy after a first date because:
I don't want to look too eager/desperate. I won't ignore my attraction, but I'll at least try to temper it.
I want to look like I have a life. Even though I don't have a life, I might try to look a little aloof.
I'm not sure if you like me. It's scary to take the dive and show I'm interested when I'm not sure if the girl is interested.
Despite attempts to look calm, cool, and collected, there are a number a things I'll do around an initial date that clue you in that I'm interested. Here are a few:
Completing the Date
It may not indicate that you're the apple of my eye, but it does indicate that you're not a total disaster. Most people are courteous enough to do the absolute minimum on a date: finish whatever activity you're doing together and devote sufficient time out of respect for the other person. But some situations are such utter disaster, things must be cut short.
I once went out with a girl who spewed embarrassingly stupid things I couldn't respond to.  Finally, I suggested changing plans to meet up with my buddies.  Once a date is officially a bust, I'll look for any way out.
One on One
If I'm into you, and comfortable, I won't want to "share" you. A common tactic to combat a boring date is calling in "reinforcement" friends to "dilute" you. I'm naturally talkative with those around me, but if I invite everyone else around us into our party, I might be looking for a more interesting outlet.
Extending the Date
Suggesting something (other than going back to someone's place) after dinner like taking a walk, grabbing a drink, going for dessert, catching a movie, etc., indicates I'm asking for an encore. Although a masochist like myself might ask a girl to spend more time with me if I'm not enjoying her company.
Suggesting Another Date
Sometimes I get so excited during a first date I play my cards by suggesting other things we should do together. A common time to suggest another date is at the end of the date, though some guys just say this to be friendly. But it can't be bad if the guy is enthusiastic enough to suggest a second date. He just has to make good on his word.
Friendly Follow-Up Right After You Say Good-bye
Sometimes after a date, I'll text the girl telling her I had a great time, out of sheer giddiness. If I'm not interested after the date, I'll head straight home and begin my process of fading out of this girl's life (following up is not part of that process).
Striking While the Iron's Hot
I'll appear to be flaky or uninterested if I wait too long. If I enjoyed the date I'll contact her within a few days. This doesn't necessarily mean I'm asking her out again just yet. I'm just keeping the conversation going. If I'm not interested, I won't ever contact her again. Regardless of how great you thought things went, if he doesn't contact you again he's clearly not interested.
Consistency
Hold me to a higher standard than one extra date, or one call back after the initial date. How many times have you gone on a few dates only to have it fizzle out? You can't be sure I'm interested until we've gone out consistently for more than a month.
Non-Cliché Dates/Spontaneity
Take notice when I ask you to do random little things: run errands, go to the park. It's that next step when I'm getting to know you and showing you I want you around whenever, wherever. Spending this "informal" time with you indicates I'm interested.
Remember, guys sometimes act interested just to get laid, and there are guys who feel guilty cutting a date short when it's not going well. "Trying to be nice" actually sends the wrong signals if a guy is not interested.
My advice: Use these indicators as guidelines (they usually build on each other as things progress). Be vigilant, because reading the signals incorrectly will get you hurt. Hopefully you'll meet a good guy who is sending honest signals.
How do you show you're interested after a first date? Do you wait for a guy to make the next move after a first date? What signals are you looking for in guys after a first date? Do you agree with my signals, and that it's tough to read them in the beginning?

6 ways to maintain a healthy relationship

When it comes to relationships I don’t necessarily think there is really a specific "go to" person for the topic. Not saying I don’t believe in relationship advice or relationship experts, what I mean is that I don’t think there is a single person you can get this specific advice from.

Personally, I think the best relationship advice comes from practice, some of the ways that have worked for you in dealing with this specific type of person. No one is exactly the same I think the best advice someone can offer in terms of relationships are those stemming from people’s personal experiences. In other words, if you typically go for bad boys and most of your relationships have failed, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that one of the best decisions you can make for yourself this time would be to try something new, maybe try a nice guy for once. This logic can be applied to fit the different situations you have experience in. For example, if you usually date white collar, Wall Street business men and you aren’t having any luck in your love life, switch to the opposite.

However, for those that need a specific list, I’ve created one just for you. In addition with a few strategies that have helped me maintain a healthy four in a half year relationship, I did a little questioning around the office and came up with a couple of others. Check out 6 ways to maintain a healthy relationship below:

6. Trying new things. There really isn’t a nice way to say that after being in a long term relationship for so long things tend to get pretty boring. So its’ a constant struggle to try new things whether it be new ideas for dates or spicy ideas for sex everything counts and it all works in your favor in creating a fun relationship.

5. Setting your pride aside. Sometimes you will have to put your pride to the side, go against what you really want for once in the relationship and agree to disagree (this also goes with compromise). If your partner is really observing, he’ll remember this and love you more for it.

4. Compromise. Relationships are a two way street. It’s all about giving and receiving. You give a little of something once, they receive it and vice versa. You can’t just expect gifts if you never give them yourself, as with respect, you can’t receive respect if you don’t give it.

3. Make it mutual. A relationship cannot be a relationship with just one person. It has to be a mutual agreement

2. Communication. There is no doubt in my mind that this is something you have heard many times before, but as they say "communication is key." Be mindful that often times in relationships we can get so comfortable with our partner, that we forget that although you may know your partner well, we are not mind readers. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that whatever you are feeling at the moment, you have to speak on it. You have to speak up whether you’re hurt, happy or angry.

1. Faith. Nothing, and I do mean nothing will work if you don’t have faith first.

Also, I took to my Facebook and Twitter pages and asked a few folks what were some of their key ways to maintaining a healthy relationship and they came up with some awesome ideas as well, some even better than mine. Check out what they thought should make the list:

Sex. This logic depends on the person, some beings are more sexual then others so for those this will definitely be a key factor in a flourishing relationship.

Space. This is one of the most important factors in maintaining a healthy relationship and quite frankly I’m a little jealous I didn’t think of it. Couples tend to forget more often than not that we are still human beings, and everybody needs their space sometimes, and I for one can most definitely.

Honesty/Trust. These are two things that needs to be held in high regard in ANY relationship.

Understanding. Understanding is important because your partner needs to be the one person you can count on to understand exactly what you are going through when no one else knows or even cares.

Respect. Respect needs to be number one on everyone’s list of ways to maintain a healthy relationship because if you don;t have respect you have absolutely nothing. Once the respect in a relationship is lost, your partner has the freedom to disrespect you in any and every kind of way.

Communication. As I previously stated, communication is key so if you can’t communicate, you have no relationship. This was one of the most common factors in maintaining a healthy relationship.

Norway police arrive 90 minutes after firing began

OSLO, Norway (AP) — Police arrived at an island massacre about an hour and a half after a gunman first opened fire, slowed because they didn't have quick access to a helicopter and then couldn't find a boat to make their way to the scene just several hundred yards (meters) offshore. The assailant surrendered when police finally reached him, but 82 people died before that.
Survivors of the shooting spree have described hiding and fleeing into the water to escape the gunman, but a police briefing Saturday detailed for the first time how long the terror lasted — and how long victims waited for help.
The shooting came on the heels of what police told The Associated Press was an "Oklahoma city-type" bombing in Oslo's downtown: It targeted a government building, was allegedly perpetrated by a homegrown assailant and used the same mix of fertilizer and fuel that blew up a federal building in the U.S. in 1995.
In all, at least 92 people were killed in the twin attacks that police are blaming on the same suspect, 32-year-old Norwegian Anders Behring Breivik.
"He has confessed to the factual circumstances," Breivik's defense lawyer, Geir Lippestad, told public broadcaster NRK. Lippestad said his client had also made some comments about his motives.
"He's said some things about that but I don't want to talk about it now," the lawyer told NRK.
Norwegian news agency NTB said the suspect wrote a 1,500-page manifesto before the attack in which he attacked multiculturalism and Muslim immigration. The manifesto also described how to acquire explosives and contained pictures of Breivik, NTB said. Oslo police declined to comment on the report.
A SWAT team was dispatched to the island more than 50 minutes after people vacationing at a campground said they heard shooting across the lake, according to Police Chief Sveinung Sponheim. The drive to the lake took about 20 minutes, and once there, the team took another 20 minutes to find a boat.
Footage filmed from a helicopter that showed the gunman firing into the water added to the impression that police were slow to the scene. They chose to drive, Sponheim said, because their helicopter wasn't on standby.

Sean Kingston Takes The Stage For First Post-Accident Performance

After surviving a near-fatal jet-ski crash over Memorial Day Weekend, singer Sean Kingston took the stage for the first time Friday night.
Kingston joined rapper Nicki Minaj onstage during her performance on Britney Spears' Femme Fatale tour in Miami and he tweeted his excitement to his fans.
"Just killed it on stage with the lovely @Nickiminaj had an amazing time feels great to be back on stage esp. wit the hottest female out :-)" he wrote, adding, "Don't call it a comeback!"
Kingston was critically injured when he crashed a jet ski into a bridge in Miami in May. The singer spent several days in the ICU and was released from the hospital on June 22.
Now it looks like he is ready to get back to business.
"Feels good to be baccck on stage!!!... i got a big surprise coming up for my fans real soon!!' he tweeted after the concert.
Check out Kingston and Minaj performing together below (Kingston comes on around the 1:26 minute mark).

Beyonce talks babies

In the past Beyonce said that she'd like to have children by the time she turned 30. But with her 30th birthday fast approaching Beyonce is rethinking her plans. She tells Access Hollywood,
“Before I hit the age of 40, I’d love to have some children. I would love to direct, continue to learn videos and maybe by then a film, a short film… I love documentaries.

“I just hope that I’m happy and into my children and well-adjusted and still making music, if that makes me happy at that time.”
By then Jay Z will be like 55 years old. The interview video when you continue...

Tu-Baba........ The Donkey Master... lol

Don't know what to say... lol... 2gbaskie

Thursday 21 July 2011

R. Kelly Surgery: Singer Released From Hospital

CHICAGO — A spokesman for R. Kelly says the R&B singer is out of the hospital following throat surgery this week.
Spokesman Allan Mayer said Thursday that the 44-year-old left Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago and is recuperating at his home in the city.
Mayer says it isn't clear when the Chicago native might be well enough to resume performing.
The Grammy-winning singer had complained of throat pain and was taken to the hospital on Tuesday. The same day, surgeons drained an abscess on one of his tonsils.
The self-proclaimed Pied Piper of R&B released a critically acclaimed retro-soul album last year, titled "Love Letter." He recently completed the U.S. leg of a worldwide tour.
Kelly won a Grammy in 1997 for his gospel-tinged "I Believe I Can Fly."

Cameron Diaz On Divorce: 'I Would Be Divorced' If I Had Married

Cameron Diaz has claimed that she is "smart" for not getting married.

The actress, who has dated stars such as Justin Timberlake, Matt Dillon and Jared Leto and is now in a relationship with Alex Rodriguez, explained that marriage is not one of her priorities.

Diaz explained to She: "I'm not saying I wouldn't ever get married, I'm just saying it's not the most important thing in my life. [Finding a husband] is not what drives my everyday existence.

"I'm enjoying my life and if it happens, it happens. I consider relationships a marriage, no matter what; it doesn't have to be bound by some law."

The 38-year-old joked that had she taken the plunge and tied the knot, she would have divorced numerous times by now.

Diaz quipped: "In fact, I think I'm smart for not having even done it, because I would be divorced several times!"

Diaz previously stated that she thinks marriage is a "dying institution".

7 Things Your Husband Wants to Tell You

While you may not buy into the idea that men are from Mars and women are from Venus, when it comes to communication, men and women do express themselves in different ways. “For women, the purpose of communication is most often to relate; for men, it’s usually to share information,” says Karen Gail Lewis, EdD, relationship therapist and author of Why Don’t You Understand? So while it may seem to you that he disregards your feelings, he might be wishing like crazy you would just tell him what you want. Read on to learn seven things your husband wants to tell you in order to help bridge the communication gap.












Steve Williams on Tiger Woods: ‘I’ve wasted two years of my life’

Is it possible that Tiger Woods simply has no idea how people outside the ropes of a golf course relate to one another? On Wednesday, Woods formally announced that he and caddie Steve Williams were parting ways, a decision that he'd apparently broken to Williams several weeks ago. But as Williams has indicated in the last 24 hours, this decision was in no way mutual, and that he cannot believe this is the outcome of his consistent -- some would say misguided -- loyalty.
On his website, Williams released the following statement:
"Following the completion of the AT&T National I am no longer caddying for Tiger after he informed me that he needed to make a change. After 13 years of loyal service needless to say this came as a shock. Given the circumstances of the past 18 months working through Tiger's scandal, a new coach and with it a major swing change and Tiger battling through injuries I am very disappointed to end our very successful partnership at this time. I have had the opportunity to work of late for Australian Adam Scott and will now caddy for him on a permanent basis. Having started my caddying career with Australian great Peter Thompson and working for Greg Norman in the 80's I am excited about the future working for another Australian."

Lady Gaga Fans Attack Adele Via Twitter Over VMA Nomination Domination



Ed. Note: We are not implying that ALL Little Monsters insulted Adele on Twitter nor that Lady Gaga’s fans are the only people doing so (fans of Britney Spears and Katy Perry are in this particular game as well). The reason we chose to shine a spotlight on certain Monsters insulting Adele is because doing so is so incredibly inconsistent with Lady Gaga’s anti-bullying message.
Listen Little Monsters, we know you’re less than thrilled that Lady Gaga didn’t score as many nominations for the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards as you may have wanted or expected, but do you think she’d be pleased that you are attacking the appearance of a singer who did score some nods?
It’s less paws up than claws out. It’s also a pretty poor reflection of the message Mother Monster preaches.
After Adele, whose 21 is top-selling album of the year by far, scored an impressive seven VMA nominations, including Video of the Year, Best Female Video and Best Pop Video, and Gaga scored only one major nomination – Best Female Video for “Born This Way” – the pop star’s fans started getting personal on Twitter.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and we totally get not being happy when your favorite artist doesn’t get the love you think they deserve, but Adele’s weight has nothing to do with anything, and insulting it isn’t going to change Lady Gaga’s number of nominations and represents the kind of bullying that Gaga has decried.

We think Lady Gaga is probably mortified right now – not because she didn’t sweep the VMA nominations, but because of her fans’ reactions. They’re not engaging in any kind of civil debate, they are reaching for the easy insult. It’s the very thing Lady Gaga rails against. She stands in front of stadiums around the world singing, “I’m beautiful in my way, cause God makes no mistakes, I’m on the right track, baby, I was born this way,” and preaches a message of unconditional acceptance.
Except if you are overweight, it seems, then all bets are off.

Grow up, you're starting to act like real Monsters!

Lady Gaga’s top 10 craziest pianos (10 photos)

Extra-weird is the definition for dis Lady....She has really gone GAGA... lol
Click on the link below to see the weird piano pictures...
http://theberry.com/2011/07/21/lady-gagas-top-10-craziest-pianos-10-photos/

Matt Damon Shows Off His Newly Shaved Head (PHOTO)

Wait a minute! Who is that?
While on an errand in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Matt Damon debuted a new look: a completely shaved head.
Damon is on location filming 'Elysium,' a science fiction action flick.
For an actor who lives a reasonably low-key life, this (lack of) 'do will certainly get people talking.
Scary or sexy?

Drowned Lagos politician’s remains found, buried

Drowned Lagos politician’s remains found, buried: "Late Mustain Abaniwonda Forty-eight hours after he slipped and got drowned in the Lagos lagoon, the remains of Lagos politician Mustain..."

Wednesday 20 July 2011

R. Kelly Needs Emergency Surgery

Just open and say, "Rrrrrrr."
R. Kelly underwent emergency throat surgery in a Chicago hospital on Wednesday, E! News has confirmed.
So just what ails him?
MORE: R. Kelly's Million-Dollar Mansion Facing Foreclosure
Publicist Allan Mayer says the "Trapped in the Closet" singer had been complaining of severe throat pain for some time and went to see a throat specialist. After a preliminary examination, he was transported to the emergency room at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where doctors subsequently drained an abcess on one of Kelly's tonsils.
The rep said the R&B smoothie will remain "laid up" in the hospital "for an indefinite amount of time" while he recovers.
No word how the condition will affect his vocal cords or when he'll be able to resume performing. Kelly just wrapped up the U.S. leg of his worldwide Love Letter tour.

Brad Pitt And Angelina Jolie Affair? Arnon Milchan Book Claims Pitt Fell In Love Before Divorce With Aniston

An unauthorized book detailing a Hollywood producer's former life as an Israeli secret agent says he witnessed Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie fall for each other on the set of "Mr. & Mrs. Smith," while Pitt was married to Jennifer Aniston. According to "Confidential: The Life of Secret Agent Turned Hollywood Tycoon Arnon Milchan,"by Joseph Gelman and Meir Doron, "Milchan introduced Pitt to Jolie and immediately sensed that there was a spark between them." Despite denials from Pitt and Jolie that their romance began before his split with Aniston, the book alleges, "A passionate romance ensued, with one slight problem . . . Pitt was married to [Aniston] . . . when Aniston kicked Pitt out of the house, all hell broke loose." Milchan is quoted, "When I heard that Brad left home . . . I offered that he stay at my house in Malibu. He drove to the set . . . on a motorcycle, and he wore a wrap-around helmet with a tinted visor so no one could recognize him."

8 rules of email etiquette

Committing a major email faux pas is a lot easier than you think. One minute you’re forwarding a seemingly-innocent email to friends and family, only to find out that you’ve unwittingly offended half of your contact list the next. Many of us think of cyberspace as a casual arena where anything can be said and done for laughs. However, as email becomes an increasingly popular form of communication, it’s important to choose your words wisely—and to be conscious about who you send them to. So before you dash off a hasty message, make sure you avoid these eight all-too-common email blunders.


1. Don’t Abuse the Reply All
“Reply all is like salt—it should be used only when needed, and with caution,” says etiquette expert Jodi Smith. Only use reply all when everyone on the list of addresses requires your response. Most of the time, it is sufficient to only reply to the person who sent you the email. Of course, every email program displays things differently, so sometimes you don’t even realize you’ve replied all until your cubicle neighbor gently informs you that the entire company just received your snippy response about the new vacation-approval policy. When responding to an email, it’s always a good idea to take a moment and confirm that it’s only headed to your intended recipient.


2. Be Careful with the Bcc
The “Bcc:” option allows you to “blind carbon copy” someone on an email without any of the other recipients knowing. It’s useful in certain instances, like when you’re sending a message to a large mailing list and wish to keep peoples’ email addresses private, or when you are requesting information from a group and want to make sure replies only come to you. But Bcc’ing can also backfire, big time. Say you email that snippy woman from the PTA and Bcc your best friend so she can take a peep; if the best friend hits reply all, PTA lady will get her response, and you’ll be busted. The best Bcc rule of thumb: Never use it for sneaky reasons!


3. Avoid Casual Cursing
Its fine to %*@* this or $&@# that, as long as you’re emailing a friend or close coworker, right? Wrong. “You may think you’re venting to someone close to you, but if the recipient forwards that email, you no longer have any control over what you said,” Smith explains. And you know how things can get forwarded again, and again, and again. “Email is a permanent document that can always be retrieved and used against you,” warns etiquette consultant Jacqueline Whitmore. For people who aren’t familiar with your sense of humor, cursing can make you look ignorant or extremely frustrated, so keep that in mind next time your want to let off a little steam via email.


4. Don’t Be Lazy About Grammar
It’s a slippery slope: First, you stop capitalizing the first letter of sentences. Then you stop forming complete sentences. Next thing you know, even backspacing to fix a blatant spelling error feels way too strenuous—never mind double-checking your grammar usage. When even your boss’s emails lack grammatical correctness, it’s easy to relax your standards. However, keeping your grammar bar high makes you stand out—in a good way. “In this economy, you need to be as polished and professional as possible,” Smith says. “Especially in business, your competence is judged by observable behaviors. Poor grammar, punctuation and spelling can signal incompetence.”
Streamline your typing with these 15 keyboard shortcuts you probably don’t know.


5. Always Respond
After plowing through the contents of your inbox on a busy workday, it’s easy to forget to circle back and respond to messages. Take the time to reply as you go (even just to say you got the email), and you’ll avoid that constant, nagging feeling that you’ve forgotten something. In general, aim to reply to emails within 24 hours. However, “you don’t have to respond to every email,” Whitmore says. “For example, if someone thanks you in an email, you don’t have to email them to say thank you for the thank you. Use your best judgment.”


6. Watch Out for Uppercase Overkill
In email land, writing in all capital letters means YOU ARE YELLING AT SOMONE. Unless that’s what you’re going for, better unclick that caps lock button. “To emphasize one word, place *asterisks* around it instead,” Whitmore suggests.


7. Be Wary of Attachment Overload
The 11 photos of your new puppy you sent to your best friend won’t seem as cute when they’re causing her email to take 11 minutes to load—or crashing her computer completely. “Always ask permission before sending large attachments,” Whitmore advises. When in doubt, save documents in a PDF format, which will help prevent download problems.


8. No Unnecessary Use of Cuteness
If you enjoy using emoticons (smileys, the “surprised” face) and acronyms (LOL, BTW, TTYL), at least banish them from your professional correspondence. They can be distracting, confusing, or worse, make you seem more like a high schooler than a trusted colleague. One thing you should be including in all your business emails: a signature that provides your full name, title, work address and phone number.


Original article appeared on WomansDay.com.

Popular Kauai swimming hole gets deadly reputation

LIHUE, Hawaii (AP) — Travel guidebooks call Kipu Falls "a glorious little hidden place" and a "swimming hole extraordinaire." But the alluring beauty of the waterfall and natural pool conceals a deadly side.

The deaths have given rise to speculation about whether there's a powerful whirlpool current in the swimming hole and prompted local authorities to push for greater restrictions to the site. The local tourism bureau became so alarmed by the toll that it mounted a campaign last year to push guidebooks to remove all references to the place.

Ministerial nominee jumps into lagoon

Ministerial nominee jumps into lagoon: "Rescuers at the scene where former PDP Lagos East Senatorial candidate, Alade Abaniwonda drowned in Lagos yesterday. Inset: Abaniwonda La..."

Tuesday 19 July 2011

New Video: 2face - Be there

Rapper Ja Rule To Spend Over Two Years in Prison

US rapper and actor Ja Rule has been sentenced to 28 months in a Federal prison by a Federal judge for failing to file income tax returns. The sentence which was made on a three misdemeanor count requires the South-South Jamaica Queens rapper to pay up to $1.1 Million to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Born Jeffrey Atkins, the multi-platinum selling rapper who hasn’t had it going good in the music scene for a while openly admitted and pleaded guilty in March 2011 for failing to pay taxes of more than $3 million that he earned between 2004 and 2006. Even though he had asked for four to five years extensions, Ja Rule still failed to file in the tax returns.
I in no way attempted to deceive the government or do anything illegal,” he said, minutes before being sentenced in a New Jersey federal court. “I was a young man who made a lot of money — I’m getting a little choked up — I didn’t know how to deal with these finances, and I didn’t have people to guide me, so I made mistakes‘, Ja Rule explains.
Ja Rule was also sentenced in New York City last month to up to two years in prison after he pleaded guilty to attempted criminal weapon possession.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Mack who has asked the judge not to let Ja Rule off with no jail time on the federal charges says ‘The court should impose the same sentence it would impose on someone who is not a celebrity‘.
My business is very ‘out of sight, out of mind,’” he told the judge. “The longer I’m away, the longer it’ll take me to get back to doing what I need to do to actually pay these taxes‘, Ja Rule asked for leniency from the Judge.
The rapper’s seventh studio album ‘Pain Is Love 2‘ is set to drop August 2011.

Jennifer Lopez-Marc Anthony Divorce: Exes Remain Business Partners

Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony may no longer be partners in marriage, but it appears they will be partners in business--at least for now. The former couple, who announced their split Friday after seven years of marriage, will continue to collaborate on the reality show "Q'Viva!" and their Kohl's clothing line, which was announced last November.
According to Extra!, both Lopez and Anthony are still attached to the reality show. Lopez told Fox News Latino last month that "the show is the biggest thing that I’ve been involved with yet.”
In a statement released since the stars announced their split, XIX Entertainment--the management company behind Q'Viva!--confirmed the show is still set to film this fall in South America with Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony as previously announced: "Both Jennifer and Mark are committed to the Q'Viva! project and will work on it as planned. The show goes on!"
Meanwhile, Women's Wear Daily reported that the pair will also move forward with their Kohl's collaboration, which is on schedule to launch in September. But don't expect them to share a sketch pad: Lopez is set to design the women's line while Anthony will focus on the men's.
"The Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony brands have always been positioned as two separate, distinctive collections that offer high-quality contemporary style for men and women, and we look forward to a successful September launch," a spokesperson said in a statement released this weekend.
Though the couple, who have 3-year-old twins, didn't announce the cause of their split, some speculate it's work related.
“I don’t know any relationship that could survive the juggling of schedules of both Jennifer and Marc,” an industry insider told the Huffington Post. “Angelina and Brad years ago agreed that while one of them was working the other took time off. Unfortunately, knowing both Jen [and] Marc, I can tell you that neither of them is capable of putting their career on hold when a great or big paying opportunity comes along.”

British teenager bikes on top of water for charity, won’t say how

Check picture and blog comments in the link below...
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/post/British-teenager-bikes-on-top-of-water-for-chari?urn=top-wp203

UAE’s Awana Diab attempts insane penalty kick (and it works)

The United Arab Emirates crushed Lebanon 6-2 in a friendly on Sunday. So maybe in an effort to make things interesting or maybe just because he simply does not conform to acceptable standards of penalty kicks, the U.A.E.'s Awana Diab decided to attempt an absolutely ridiculous penalty. And it worked.
Diab's setup seemed like any other for a penalty, but as he ran up to the ball, he stopped, turned around and backheeled the it toward the goal. Stunned by the audacity, madness and nerve it takes to try and score a penalty with your back to the goal, the keeper just stood and watched as the ball trickled into the net.
Acrobatics aside, the back-flip penalty kick has nothing on this.
U.A.E. manager Srecko Katanec did not appreciate Diab's creativity, though. He immediately substituted the player out of the match and after the game said that he would be disciplined for the "disrespectful act."

Friday 15 July 2011

David Beckham explains baby's odd name

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- David Beckham said it isn't just his former jersey number that inspired his newborn daughter's middle name.
"A lot of people have assumed that it's just because it was my shirt number that I wore for many years, and part of it is," David said of Harper Seven Beckham in a video clip posted on his Facebook page. "Part of it is because I had so much luck around wearing that number, wearing it for England, wearing it for Manchester United -- it was such an influential number throughout my career, and a lucky number, but that wasn't the main reason.
PLAY IT NOW: 2010 Teen Choice Awards: Why David Beckham Cherishes His Third Surf Board!
"The other reasons behind 'Seven' were because it symbolizes spiritual perfection, Seven Wonders of the World, seven colors of the rainbow and in many cultures around the world, it's regarded as a lucky number," he added. "We love the name. We love Harper Seven."
As for her first name, Harper, David said that came from Harper being both an "old English name" the couple loved and because Victoria Beckham's favorite book, "To Kill A Mocking Bird" was penned by Harper Lee.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Sexy Soccer Super Stud David Beckham
"We're very proud of having her in our lives and our family," David added of the newborn, who was born just last week. "It's an amazing time for our family right now."

Lady Gaga Egged Over Wheelchair Stunt

A group of angry fans threw eggs at Lady Gaga in response to her recent appearance on stage in Sydney, Australia rolling around in a wheelchair. Though the throwers missed Gaga herself, a few eggs hit members of her entourage. It is unclear why audience members had the eggs in the first place, however.
Photos: Lady Gaga's Best Looks
The wheelchair incident occurred at Gaga's concert at the Sydney Town Hall on Wednesday. The singer came out to perform the rock ballad "Yoü and I" while dressed up as her new mermaid alter ego Yuyi. Since her legs were bound in the costume, she was able to move on stage with a wheelchair. The pop queen has previously used wheelchair imagery in her music video for "Paparazzi" and her performance of that song on the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards.
The Ultimate Ranking of Lady Gaga's Catalog
The egg-tossing fans in Sydney weren't the only ones angered by Gaga's wheelchair-bound performance. Jesse Billauer, the founder of the quadriplegic advocacy group Life Rolls On, told Radar, "I invite [Gaga] to learn more about the 5.6 million Americans who live with paralysis. They, like me, unfortunately, don't use a wheelchair for shock value."
[photo: Sydney Morning Herald/Fairfax Media via Getty Images]

Jennifer Lopez And Marc Anthony Split

Jenny's back on the singles block.After seven years of marriage, Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony have separated, their rep tells Us Weekly exclusively.
PHOTOS: Jennifer and her adorable twins
"We have decided to end our marriage. This was a very difficult decision. We have come to amicable conclusion on all matters," they said in a statement. "It is a painful time for all involved, and we appreciate the respect of our privacy at this time."
The couple are parents to three-year-old twins Max and Emme.
Crooner Anthony, 42, was conspicuously absent at Saturday's star-packed BAFTA Brits to Watch bash in L.A., where wife Lopez, 40, met Prince William and Duchess Kate with mom Guadalupe as her date.
PHOTOS: Jennifer takes mom as her date to meet Will and Kate
Friends for years, Lopez and Anthony dated briefly in the 1990s. They stepped out again as a couple in early 2004, shortly after Lopez's broken engagement from Ben Affleck, and in the midst of Anthony's divorce from first wife, former Miss Universe Dayanara Torres. They wed at a quiet home wedding in June 2004.
PHOTOS: Shocking splits in Hollywood
Just last year, they renewed their wedding vows for their sixth anniversary at their Hidden Hills, Calif. estate June 5. "We realized the bets in Vegas [on whether we'd make it] stopped at five years," Anthony joked to Us at the time. (The duo also renewed their vows in 2008, and playfully dirty-danced together at Us Weekly's Hot Hollywood bash in April 2010.)
And as recently as January, singer, actress and American Idol judge Lopez gushed on the Ellen DeGeneres Show about being a parent with Anthony. "As soon as I had the babies, I thought to myself, 'I want to do this a thousand more times...I love this. This is life."
PHOTOS: Jennifer's incredible transformation over the years
Anthony and first wife Torres share sons Cristin, 10, and Ryan, 7. Lopez (who famously dated Sean Combs in addition to Affleck), had been married twice before: to restauranteur Ojani Noa (they split in 1998) and former backup dancer Cris Judd, to whom she was married from 2001 to 2003.
Photo credit: James Devaney/WireImageUs Magazine

Mathew Knowles: I Did Not Steal From Beyonce

NEW YORK — Mathew Knowles insists he still has an amicable relationship with his daughter Beyonce – even though she dumped him as her manager two months ago – but is alleging that people close to her have tried to destroy his reputation with allegations that he stole from her.
Knowles filed papers in a Texas court this week alleging that members of Beyonce's camp, which he says includes her label, Columbia Records, Live Nation and her superstar husband Jay-Z's Roc Nation, have made "negative comments about me."
"We absolutely have not taken any money from Beyonce, and all dollars will be accounted for," he told The Associated Press in an interview Thursday afternoon. "In no way have we stole money. Again, this about the people who have made these claims – they have to come into the light."
Knowles guided his daughter's career since she was child, first to superstardom as part of the group Destiny's Child, and then as she continued with her blockbuster solo career. Beyonce has sold millions of records, won numerous Grammys, is a lucrative spokeswoman for different products, and has also had considerable success in film with movies like the Oscar-winning "Dreamgirls" and the movie "Obsessed."
When Beyonce announced in May that she would no longer use her father to guide her career, she stressed that at almost 30, she was ready to take control of her own affairs and pledged her adoration for him.
"He is my father for life and I love my dad dearly. I am grateful for everything he has taught me," Beyonce said at the time.
On Thursday, Knowles said he had no problem with his daughter.
"The relationship with Beyonce is extremely amicable. I want to make that clear. Where there's concern is the people that she's doing business with," he said. "I'm challenging all of these folks on integrity, professional integrity."
Knowles said he does not believe the allegations that he stole money from her are the reason why he was fired, and said his daughter completely cleaned house: "She changed almost every aspect of her business."

Govt Allays Fears of Tsunami in Lagos

Lagos — The federal Government has allayed fears of a tsunami hitting the country, following reports that Malabo, the Equatorial Guinean capital, was hit by the phenomenon.
This came as Lagos State government assured residents of its preparedness to curtail the negative consequences of a tsunami should it occur.
The Bar Beach, Lagos Head, Public Relations of Nigerian Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Yushau Shuaib, who responded to enquiries in respect of the claim that a 20-metre high tide was heading towards the coast of Lagos, Lome and Accra, following an offshore quake in Malabo, assured that there was currently no cause for alarm.
Shuaib, however, said while NEMA had not been able to authenticate the claim contained in the report, after intensified efforts to trace its source and veracity or otherwise, the agency was not taking chances.
Shuaibu said if that should be the case, NEMA would possibly be counting on the support of the United Nations in its disaster response and management.
This is against the backdrop of an assurance to that effect by the Under-Secretary General of the UN Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Baroness Valerie Amos, during her recent visit to Nigeria.

Lagos assures residents

Reacting on behalf of Lagos State government, General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency LASEMA, Dr. Oluwafemi Oke-Osanyintolu, assured residents of the state that the government was prepared for any eventuality concerning the tsunami in Malabo.

He said: "We are aware of the Tsunami and I want to assure you that my agency and the state government are ready to respond quickly to any emergency to mitigate any negative effect thereof."
He noted that Lagos had always been ready for any emergency situation to curtail its attendant effect.

However, effort to get the reaction of the state Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello, was unsuccessful as his mobile phone number was unavailable at press time.
But an environmentalist, Chike Chikwendu, debunked the news that a tsunami was about to hit Lagos but described the information as very disturbing.
"It is a very disturbing news; that would mean the end of this country," Chikwendu reacted yesterday.

But he was quick to point out that the story might not be true after-all, adding that the Tsunami would have struck Lagos by now, considering the speed with which it travels.
He said: "Malabo to Lagos is quite close and it won't take up to 10 minutes for the tsunami to reach here. Although I am not a tsunami expert, but I know that it (tsunami) travels about 10 kilometres per second.
"If the news is true, it would have reached here by now," Engr Chikwendu, who is the Secretary of Friends of the Environment, FOTE, said.
Efforts to reach the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and the Nigerian Institute of Oceanography and Marine Research for their comments proved abortive.

Source: Vanguard.

Thursday 14 July 2011

Monday 11 July 2011

Lagos Goes "Under Water"


The heavens poured torrential that soaked and sacked Lagos all through Sunday, drenched those who managed to go to church, and submerged homes and roads with flood water.
The rain began at 5 a.m. in some parts of the state and fell continuously till late in the night.
Motorists faced a hard time on major routes such as Okota, Ikorodu Road, Agege Motor Road, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Oshodi-Mile 2-Apapa Expressway.
Residents had to wade through the flood to get in and out of their homes.
Passengers who could not bear the standstill alighted from commercial buses and walked to their destinations.
Some, left in awe of a non-stop rainfall, cancelled appointments for the day.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NMA) had warned Lagos to brace up for a heavy downpour this year because of its coastal nature.
However, Environment Commissioner, Tunji Bello, on Sunday cautioned the residents against panic, urging them to remain indoors while it rains.
He attributed the heavy rain to the rise in water level.
Bello said the channels meant to discharge water from the roads and drainages are completely blocked because of the high tide and because both the Atlantic Ocean and lagoon that receive water from the channels have risen more than usual.
 
Governor Babatunde Fashola on Sunday night directed that all children in public schools should remain at home today to enable the government assess the impact of the flood on property and social infrastructure.
A statement issued by Bello said mindful of the fact that examinations commence on Tuesday, Fashola appealed for special dispensation to protect  children, the most vulnerable members of the society, from the devastating effects floods and heavy rains can cause.
The statement advised proprietors of private schools to take a cue from this and keep their children at home as much as possible, until the impact of the rain has been suitably assessed and potential dangers addressed.

Saudi Arabia Beheads three Nigerians

Three Nigerians were yesterday beheaded in Saudi Arabia. They had been found guilty of robbing and murdering fellow Nigerian, Omar Mohammed Adam. This was announced by the Saudi Interior Ministry and publicised by the official SPA news agency.


Mohammed Ismail, Abdulqudus Adam and Mohammed Kabir Ali broke into the house of Omar Mohammed Adam where "they beat him and his wife, tied them down and strangled Omar to death," the statement said. Then they burgled their compatriot's home, it added.



The beheadings in the western Red Sea city of Jeddah brings the number of executions in that country to 31 since January 1.


On June 10, London-based watchdog Amnesty International called on Saudi Arabia to stop applying the death penalty, saying there had been a significant rise in the number of executions in the previous six weeks. According to Amnesty, 15 people were executed in May alone.


In 2009, the number of executions was 67, compared to 102 the previous year.

Rape, murder, apostasy, armed robbery and drug trafficking are all punishable by death under Saudi Arabia's strict interpretation of Islamic sharia law.

Source:  dailytimes.com

It's a Girl for Victoria and David Beckham!

There's a new Baby Spice in the world!

David Beckham and wife Victoria welcomed a baby girl to their brood Sunday morning, PEOPLE reports.

The baby girl, whose name has not been revealed, was born at 7:55 a.m. this morning at Cedars-Sinai, weighing in at 7 lbs., 10 oz.

No other details have been released, but one thing's for sure: this little girl has some excited big brothers.

"Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz are excited to welcome their new baby sister to the family," says Beckham spokesperson Jo Milloy.
The happy couple announced they were expecting their first girl back in March.

"We're still in shock. Obviously, having three boys, you kind of expect another one, so finding out a little girl is in there is surprising, but, obviously, we are over the moon," David said at the time. "Our three boys are happy and excited, and Victoria is doing well."

Just Friday, a gorgeous photo of the expectant mom taken by David was released, showing the fashion designer was clearly nearing her due date.

Sunday 10 July 2011

Rihanna Sets Concert On Fire -- Literally! (Video)

We all know that Rihanna brings the heat on the stage, but no one expected her concert to literally burst into flames Friday night.

The singer was performing her Loud Tour in Dallas at the American Airlines Center when some pyrotechnics went haywire during her song, 'California King Bed,' according to Celebuzz.

Rihanna left the stage when a fire broke out above her stage fireworks began to fall down -- cutting her set list short and ending the show early. Due to the obvious safety concerns, the entire crowd was evacuated from the building and no injuries were reported.

The singer took to Twitter to address the incident.

"DALLAS!!! We set the stage on FYAH tonight!!! LITERALLY!!! I'm so pissed, I was havin so much fun wit yall too!!! I gotta come back man!!," she wrote, adding, "yall CRAY!!! Love this f***n place! Glad u guys are safe!!!"
The singer also noted she was heading into a production meeting to figure out what went wrong during the concert. So far, all of the her other shows are set to go on as planned.

Check out video of the fire below!

Friday 8 July 2011

Rapper Xzibit: 'Planking Is Racist, Not Funny'

After 'planking' seemed to have swept over Hollywood faster than you can say 'Kabbalah,' there's one lonely adversary who's standing up against those that are laying down. Rapper Xzibit took to Twitter to express his extreme disapproval of the trend.

"Planking is THE dumbest sh-t ever," Xzibit tweeted (via TMZ). "#Planking was a way to transport slaves on ships during the slave trade, its not funny. Educate."

From Rosario Dawson and Ellen Page to Justin Bieber and Katy Perry, celebrities have been laying down straight and narrow left and right. "Don't get it twisted," he continued. "I care less where your dumb asses lay face down and take pictures of the shit, I'm just telling you where it came from."

Although the position in which slaves were transported during the slave trade was not technically referred to as 'planking' the fashion in which they were positioned on wood plank beds was not unlike the stiff, face down, palm to side style.

The celebrity world is famous for their apt political correctness but we're not so sure they're going to give up their beloved light as a feather, stiff as a board ways.

Barack Obama's near-adoption

President Barack Obama's father, then on a student visa at the University of Hawaii, told U.S. immigration officials in 1961 that he and his pregnant wife planned to put their coming baby up for adoption, according to U.S. government memos obtained by Boston Globe reporter Sally Jacobs. Jacobs, author of a forthcoming biography of Barack Obama's father, obtained the files from the Department of Homeland Security in response to a Freedom of Information Act request. She also scoured Kenyan Finance Ministry files, where the elder Obama later worked, to learn more about the man President Obama depicted in his own autobiography, "Dreams from My Father," as an absent figure who abandoned him and his mother when he was two.
"In the spring of 1961, President Obama's father revealed a plan for his unborn son that might have changed the course of American political history," Jacobs writes in a front page piece in the Globe today:
The elder Barack H. Obama, a sophomore at the University of Hawaii, had come under scrutiny by federal immigration officials ... Although his new wife, Ann Dunham, was five months pregnant with their child ... [the elder] Obama declared that they intended to put their child up for adoption.
"Subject got his USC wife 'Hapai' [Hawaiian for pregnant] and although they were married they do not live together and Miss Dunham is making arrangements with the Salvation Army to give the baby away,'' according to a memo ... with the Honolulu office of what was then called the US Immigration and Naturalization Service.
Then-White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told Jacobs at the time the memo was released that President Obama was unaware that his parents had discussed any such plans. President Obama "is absolutely convinced that she did not," Gibbs told Jacobs, referring to the claims in the April 1961 INS memo that his mother had discussions with the Salvation Army about arrangements to place the baby for adoption.
Obama's father left him and his mother when the boy was two to pursue a PhD program at Harvard. He later returned to Kenya in 1964 before finishing his program because of apparent visa problems. He went on to work for Kenya's Ministry of Finance.
The elder "Obama's impact has proved to be profoundly greater than he could have imagined," Jacobs writes in the forthcoming biography, "The Other Barack: The Bold and Reckless Life of President Obama's Father," according to a brief sneak-peak published by Politico's Mike Allen today. "Although he never knew it, his legacy was to produce the most powerful man in the world."

Let the world hear about what you have to offer