Tuesday 27 March 2012
When Runsewe bagged Most Enterprising Director-General award•Nigerians declare him Mr Tourism •Launches 100 evergreen quotable quotes of Great Awo •Edem Duke lauded nomination
Seest the man who is diligent at his duty post, he shall be honored by men of honour. This played right for the Director - General , Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation ( NTDC) who the oldest surviving Newspaper in nigeria , the Nigerian Tribune ,conferred the Most Enterprising Director- General Award in Nigeria on.Wale Ojo - Lanre who was at the Award ceremony which took place in Abuja Sheraton Hotel and Towers here gives the account .
JOSE MOURINHO-THE HAIR IS SILVER,EXPERIENCE IS GOLD
No single person can exhaust the highly fascinating career of Real Madrid's Super Star Coach,Jose Mourinho ,yet watching Real Madrid finally dismantle APOEL's resilient defence tonight,you need not wonder why Jose is the Special One.
He said ahead of the match not to underestimate the Cypriot team and he was right.Not until Kaka and Marcelo came on as Substitutes did the goals come.Ronaldo was a beauty to watch and Kaka reminded all that he was once The World Footballer of the year.
Interestingly,this has got to be the most beautiful football a Mourinho team has ever played.This Madrid team style of play is pure class.
At Chelsea,the hardworking Coach had rugged Players but was building virtually everything from the scratch.Confidence,fan base,media support and a winning mentality for a Club that had not won any serious thing in 50 years!
At Inter,Mourinho could be said to have an average team at first.Then had to win over the fans gradually,he went on to win the treble,no wonder his team were teary as he headed out for Real Madrid.
Real is another story all together,despite having the likes of Christiano Ronaldo and Kaka,the Club had been a shadow of its old self.No thanks to a terrific Barcelona team(Can one avoid mentioning Barca whenever Madrid is discussed and vice vearsa?).Maybe not.But even the worst Mou Critic will agree that this Real Madrid team is the best in recent years.No wonder,they lead the La Liga,got the best results in the earlier rounds of this Champion's league and after subduing ambitious APOEL in Cyprus tonight,winning 3-0, are on course to give the Special One his most ambitious wish yet-winning the Champion's League with three different Clubs and in three different countries.As the 49 years old Tactitian hair turns grey each day,gold is what you have to call his expereince.
N.B ,YES AS AN UPDATE TO THIS ARTICLE,REAL CLINCHED THEIR 32ND LA LIGA CROWN TONIGHT.EVEN IF THEY DON'T PLAY THE TWO REMAINING MATCHES OF THE LEAGUE.BREAKING ALL RECORDS,AND FOUR YEARS WAIT ENDED,REAL AND JOSE MOURINHO DESERVE THE CROWN
YES,MOURINHO HAS WON PORTUGUESE,ENGLISH,ITALIAN AND NOW THE SPANISH LEAGUE CROWNS.REMARKABLE!
pix:google,real madrid fc facebook page.
Chocolates Make You Skinnier...reduced fat deposition per calories
If you've been avoiding chocolate because it makes you fat, think again. The latest research has found that eating chocolate often can make you skinnier.
A study at the University of California, San Diego, found that eating certain types of chocolate is linked to better measurements of blood pressure, insulin sensitivity and cholesterol levels, and a lower body mass index.
The authors tested the hypothesis that modest, regular chocolate consumption might be calorie-neutral. In other words, the metabolic benefits of eating small chocolate portions might lead to reduced fat deposition per calories, offsetting the added calories.
The study surveyed 1,018 men and women in good health. They were asked how often they ate chocolate, answered a food frequency questionnaire, and were weighed.
Writing in the Archives of Internal Medicine, the authors said: "Adults who consumed chocolate more frequently had a lower BMI than those who consumed chocolate less often."
The size of the effect was modest but the effect was significant – larger than could be explained by chance, the authors wrote.
This was despite the fact that those who ate chocolate more often ate more calories, and did not exercise more.
Study leader Dr Beatrice Golomb said: "Our findings appear to add to a body of information suggesting that the composition of calories, not just the number of them, matters for determining their ultimate impact on weight.
"In the case of chocolate, this is good news – both for those who have a regular chocolate habit, and those who may wish to start one."
The authors said the findings merit a further randomised trial of chocolate for metabolic benefits in humans.
source;yahoo lifestyle
Nollywood should focus on African culture –Uba Odi Onwudiwe
Uba Odi Onwudiwe is a Nigerian actress, moviemaker and musician based in Canada. With a crew of Nigerian filmmakers, she had taken part in over 10 movies in Canada. She has also received various honours for her works. She had a chat with Snr Correspondent, Hazeez Balogun, recently.
Your first major appearance was in ***Missing Link*** have you done any movies prior?
I first gained attention in 2003 in a U.S./Canada film ***Picking up and Dropping off***produced in Calgary by Voice Inc. I have featured in films, TV Commercials, Theatre/live shows having played the part of The Samaritan Woman at the Canadian Badlands’ ***Passion Play*** portraying the life of Jesus Christ in 2004
Doing Nigerian movies in Canada, do you consider them as Nollywood movies?
Yes, it is all about projecting African movie Industry no matter where the movie is filmed. You trained in the best acting school in Canada, do you ever think of bringing your skills to Nigeria and train budding actors and actresses? Yes, my goal and dream is to unleash African talents to the world. Why did you decide to go into acting? Acting is my passion; it is a God-given talent. I live in a country where I am considered a minority. My talent is my voice and my gift to all African children.
You won some international awards for your part in ***Missing Link***, but never got recognition from awards in Nigeria, how do you feel about that?
Projecting my culture and heritage to the western world is my fulfilment. No award will measure up to the satisfaction of being able to showcase my heritage. I am honoured to receive recognition for my work and contribution to Nollywood and Canada. Nigeria is my fatherland; I do not need an award to be proud of who I am. Which of the awards do you cherish most? Best Actress Award by the Nigerian High Commissioner to Canada, Prof. Iyowuese Hagher, a professor of theatre arts who saw my work on a big screen at the premiere of ***Missing Link***. An award from him gives value and courage to my career. As an overseas trained actress knowing that I have the Nigerian flavour well rooted in me is a plus.
You are also into music, how do you describe your music.
Mine is an authentic African Hi-life/Folk music. It is a celebration of my heritage, culture and tradition. All songs are composed and written by me and I am proud to be an African.
Music is doing well in Nigeria these days, but you do not seem to care about promoting your music over here?
I do care but I needed to raise my kids. Promotion takes a lot of travelling and commitment. I am not ready to be away from my family yet. I tried doing that from here but was left with so much regret. When I find the right people to promote my music I will take it from there.
How is your work accepted over there?
Very well, as Canadians would say awesomely well. Nollywood made history in Canada and I am very proud to be a part of this history.
There are lots of Nigerians in Canada; do you think there are enough to make Nigerian production in that country lucrative?
Yes, Nigerian movie is not only for Nigerians. All Africans and Caribbean cannot wait to see Nollywood Canada grow, including Canadians.
What are you working on at the moment?
I am getting ready to start shooting another Nigerian movie. Sorry, I cannot say much about this production, at the moment.
You were born in Nigeria; tell us about your early years in the country.
I was born at Ogbo-Hill Aba. I am a native of Nkwerre in Imo State and by marriage, a native of Ifite Ogbunike in Anambara State. I went to St. Catherine’s Girl’s Secondary School Nkwerre. I went into nursing training and later owned a Clothes Boutique, Dubbaa Fashions, in Owerri, Imo State. In 1997 I graduated from Wesley Theological College, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, before I left Nigeria with my kids to Canada in 1999, to join my husband. I later trained as an actress and also a professional Security Investigator with masters in computer technology. I work as a pass control officer at Calgary international airport – Transport Canada Security Clearance. Growing up as an only child, I beat loneliness with composing whatever that came to my mind, following my mother’s footsteps that had her own musical group then. After supper in the evenings I entertained my father who loved Highlife music, by dancing and sing along. When my father died, music became a connection between our souls, a bond that led to the release of my albums and my passion in acting. I can proudly say that life in Nigeria was great; it is a part of me that I will never trade for anything. It fashioned me to the woman that I am today.
You started the Nigerian Canadian Beauty Queen initiative, what is it about?
It is all about giving young Nigerian Canadian girls a chance to appreciate true African Beauty, our cultural presentation and heritage. It is a way to encourage young Nigerian women to appreciate our epic values in a foreign land, to be comfortable in their own skin. By the way, I received a Nollywood Induction Certificate Award as recognition of my hard work in projecting Nigerian beauty and heritage in Canada
Let us into your family life.
I am a proud mother of three wonderful children, a boy and two girls. My son, Obiora is 20 years old and is working on becoming a medical doctor at the University of Alberta, Canada. My first daughter, Adaeze is 18 years old who just graduated from Grade 12 and will be joining the brother at the same University. My baby, Amaka, is 16 years old, in Grade 11; she is more into arts. I have been married for 21 years to Dr. Herbert Odi Onwudiwe. Without my husband’s unshakable support I would not get to this point; he is my hero.
With all your achievements and work, will you say you are successful?
My prayer is to touch lives and make my mark. The World is like a stage and everyone must play a part. Let my part in this life be a blessing. I can proudly say that my God has brought me to success and great achievements in this lifetime.
In which areas do you think Nollywood needs changes?
Nollywood should focus on African culture, tradition and heritage. It is a shame to see my people struggling to portray western culture in some of Nigerian movies, why can we not be proud of whom God made us to be. Why can we not put our children into consideration, why are we so hungry to copy what is not in our blood making mockery of our land. Nollywood should focus in showcasing our epic values to the world. Living outside Nigeria has made me to value my culture more, I am holding onto it with every breath I take because I owe it to my grand children.
As an African producer and an actress in Canada, what are your major challenges?
Being able to project my African heritage and values in a foreign land with an accent is challenging. Creating more awareness for Nollywood is really a hard nut to crack.
Which were your most embarrassing moments?
Saying something to myself in Igbo at work while dealing with a very rude client and a white Canadian pilot standing near me replied to me in Igbo. I said, 'God have mercy in Igbo and the pilot replied me in Igbo: “nne” (my sister) you need the prayer. I was so shocked and embarrassed, till this day. I found out that the pilot used to live in Port Harcourt.
MAN RAPES IN-LAW TO DEATH
Barely two weeks after a young lady identified as Faith Akin was allegedly raped to death by a middle aged man, a similar incident has been reported at the Epe Police Station.
According to the report, 29-year-old Titus Ime raped his in-law, a 19-year-old woman identified as Blessing John, to death.
The incident occurred in a forest at Epe. The suspect allegedly trailed Blessing to her father’s farm, where he raped her to death.
Ime, reporting the incident, said he assaulted Blessing due to her refusal to date him. The rapist cum murderer blamed his dastardly act on his “great love” for the deceased.
“I just moved to Lagos from Akwa -Ibom State to look for a job when I met Blessing. She is my in-law, as my uncle is married to her elder sister,” he said.
“As soon as I set my eyes on her, I fell in love with her but I kept it to myself. When I could not bear it anymore, I went to her to declare my love for her but she turned me down. I kept pestering her but she refused blatantly that she did not love me; this made me angry.”
Ime added that despite Blessing’s refusal to date him, he had to device a means to force her to have sex with him.
“I did not intend to kill Blessing but my feeling for her was very strong. So after monitoring her movement for some time, I discovered that she goes to the farm to uproot cassava in the evening with her father. That day, I trailed her from her house to the forest.
She was alone and she did not know I was following her, when she got into the dense forest and there was no one in sight, I ran ahead of her and grabbed her, and started declaring my love for her but she turned me down.
“I was very angry and I grabbed her dress. She started struggling with me but I took a big stick and hit her on her head, she slumped immediately and I bend down over her and removed her skirt and had sex with her.
All this while, she did not respond but I still had sex with her a second time but I do not know that she was dead; I thought she was just unconscious.”
After committing the act, the suspect hid in the forest for four days. He however came out of his hiding when he could not bear the hunger anymore, and reported himself to his family who then handed him over to the police for prosecution.
Blessing’s corpse were discovered by her father and has been deposited at a public mortuary for autopsy, while the case has been transferred to the Homicide department at Panti, Yaba for further investigation.
Culled: Nigeriafilms
How to make sure you’re on the right tax code
With a new financial year around the corner, millions are set to receive new tax codes. Here’s how to make sure you’re on the correct one…
By Robert Powell | Lovemoney – Mon, Mar 26, 2012 04:55 BST.. .
If you're on the wrong tax code you could be paying far too much tax (Image © PA)
On April 6, a new financial year will dawn. And in the run-up to this date, millions of people will receive their new tax codes.
Now, your tax code may not be the most fascinating of issues, but it is important. If you’re on an incorrect code, you could find yourself underpaying throughout the year and being hit with a huge bill come 2013, or being overcharged and left out of pocket each month.
If you’ve recently changed jobs or gained a new source of income, you should be especially vigilant about being placed on the correct code.
Here’s what you need to know…
The L code – for most people
Tax codes are usually made up of a series of numbers and a letter. The most common letter is L. This means that you are under 65 and eligible for the basic personal allowance – this is the amount you can earn before income tax kicks in. The basic personal allowance for 2012-13, applicable to low and middle earners with an annual income of less than £100,000, is £8,105.
This exact allowance figure (divided by 10) will precede the letter in your code. So for the 2012-13 financial year starting next week, 810L will be one of the most common codes – indicating that you are under 65 and earn less than £100,000, and are hence entitled to a £8,105 personal allowance before income tax kicks in.
The K code – for untaxed income
Another code that many people may have is the K code. This is essentially the reverse of an L code and is used when your level of untaxed additional income exceeds your personal allowance.
To take a step back: The taxman wants to know about any additional income you get from your employer – often this will be in the form of employee benefits. This income eats away and reduces your personal allowance.
Consider this example: Your employer provides you with a brand new BMW company car to use both on the job and at home. All your petrol is paid for, as is the licensing and tax associated with the vehicle. The taxman will come up with a figure for the income you’re receiving from this (for personal journeys), and cut it from your personal allowance.
This will give you a tax code that still ends in L, but has a smaller figure preceding it. So if the taxman decided that you were getting £5,000 of income from your company car, you will see a code of 310L on your new tax code (£8,105 - £5,000 = £3,105 or 310).
However, if this additional income exceeds your personal allowance, wiping it out completely, you’ll be shunted onto a K code.
To continue our example – if the taxman decides that you’re receiving £15,000 of additional income from the company BMW, you’ll see 689K as your tax code. This means that you need to pay income tax on all of your earnings plus the £6,895 additional income from the company car that exceeds your personal allowance.
The T code for £100,000+ income
If you’re a high-earner, the situation starts to get a little more complex. For every £2 you earn over £100,000, you’ll lose £1 of your personal allowance. At this point you should be put on a T code, preceded by a figure showing the level of allowance you have left, providing any company benefits aren’t forcing you onto a K code.
For example, someone with an income of £110,000 with no untaxed benefits or other relief will see a 310T code – indicating £3,105 of personal allowance.
When your income reaches £116,210, you’ll lose all of your allowance and your whole income will be subject to the appropriate rates of income tax. At the point you’ll be put on a 0T code.
P and Y pensioner codes
If you have a low or middle income and are aged between 65 and 74 you’ll be placed on a P code, enabling you to have an income (after certain allowances such as donations or pension contributions) of £10,500 across the 2012-13 year before you pay any tax.
If you’re 75 or over, this allowance increases to £10,660 – signified by a Y code.
However, there is also a cut-off point applicable to pensioners on the upper end of the income spectrum.
For every £2 you earn over £25,400, you’ll lose £1 of your personal allowance until it reaches the basic rate - £8,105 for the next tax year.
Providing your income does not exceed £100,000, you’ll keep this allowance. If it does, your basic personal allowance will begin eroding away again at the same rate (£2 earned = £1 loss) as those aged under 65.
It’s also worth pointing out that the basic state pension is paid untaxed – though it is taxable. Most people opt to have this fall under their personal allowance.
Second jobs and pensions
You’ll usually receive a tax code for each source of income you receive. If you have more than one income, you’ll be asked to state which is your main source, and this will have the appropriate level of personal allowance applied to it.
All other income will all be taxed without any allowance. If you pay at basic rate, additional income sources will receive a BR code, higher rate payers will get a D0 code and those liable for the additional rate will get the D1 code.
An NT code will come through if no tax is to be taken. This could be because your total income is less than your personal allowance, or you’re a self-employed contractor who is liable to pay National Insurance but not income tax.
Emergency Codes
An emergency tax code is issued if HMRC does not have enough information about you to send your employer the correct code. This usually happens if you start your first job and get your first source of income part of the way into the financial year, or you haven’t got a P45 from a previous employer.
The emergency tax code for 2012-13 is 810L – the same as the basic personal allowance code. This normally ensures you receive the basic amount of monthly tax-free pay. But it doesn’t take into account any other relief or allowances.
You may also see W1 (for weekly pay) or M1 (for monthly pay). This signifies that you are being taxed as if it is the first week or month of the financial year. However, if you start work part of the way into the year, a W1 or M1 code could see you overpay in tax – as it is spreading your person allowance over too many months.
For example, if you start your first job five months into the financial year, you should receive a seventh of your personal allowance in each monthly wage packet. A W1 or M1 code will only give you a 12th – meaning that you will be overpaying.
However, when you hand over your P45 or P46 to your new employer, your tax code should change – and you should be reimbursed with any losses. If you get to the end of the financial year and still haven’t been reimbursed with the overpaid tax, you should get it back in a refund.
If your tax code is wrong
If you think your tax code is wrong you need to tell HMRC as soon as possible so it can be corrected. You’ll need to have your tax reference and National Insurance number to hand – these can be found on your payslips or any letters from HMRC.
You can get hold of all of the contact details for HMRC by heading to its website.
source:yahoo,lovemoney.com
Miss Universe Disqualifies Transgender Contestant
Archeambault/AFP/Getty Images
Jenna Talackova is everything you think of when you hear the words "beauty queen." With her bright smile, flowing blonde hair and viciously long legs, you can't deny she's stunning.
But Talackova, 23, has been disqualified from the Miss Universe Canada competition because she was born a male, according to CTV. Talackova was originally selected as one of 65 finalists for the Donald Trump-owned competition. Her profile and photos have since been pulled from the Miss Universe Canada website.
"Jenna Talackova from Vancouver, British Columbia will not compete in the 2012 Miss Universe Canada competition because she did not meet the requirements to compete despite having stated otherwise on her entry form," Miss Universe Canada said in a statement Friday. "We do however, respect her goals, determination and wish her the best."
The Miss Universe Canada website states that to enter, women must be a Canadian citizen and between the ages of 18 and 27. If basic requirements are met, they are asked to fill out a longer application form. The form does not mention any rules against sexual reassignment surgery. A representative for the Miss Universe Canada did not respond to request for comment.
Denis Davila, the national director of Miss Universe Canada, told CTV, "she was dishonest." Talackova was disqualified after she admitted her birth gender last week.
"We have to have the facts straight. There is no discrimination here at all," Davila said. "You can look at it the way she wants to look at it, but we all have to follow the same rules."
"I will look to turn this situation into a positive so that other people in a similar situation are not discriminated against in the future," Talackova said in a statement to CTV Sunday.
Talackova could not be reached by ABC News for comment.
The blonde beauty has not tried to hide her past. In a 2010 YouTube video for Miss International Queen, a transgender/transsexual competition in which Talackova was a contestant, she states that she began hormone therapy at age 14. At 19, she had sexual reassignment surgery.
A petition has been started on Change.org asking Miss Universe Canada to "reverse the unfair disqualification of Jenna Talackova." The petition currently has more than 20,000 signatures.
Other fans have flocked to Facebook and Twitter to express their feelings over Talackova's disqualification.
"Disgraceful. This is flat-out discrimination," one fan commented on the Miss Universe Canada Facebook page.
"@JennaTalackova should NOT have been disqualified from @MissUniverse! Beautiful is beautiful. Down with discrimination," one fan tweeted.
But reactions to Talackova's story have been mixed.
"If she never stated on her application such detail, I support this decision," one Facebook user posted to the Miss Universe Canada page.
This isn't the first time a transgender woman has been disqualified from a competition. In 1976, Renèe Richards, a professional American tennis player who had sexual reassignment surgery to make her a woman, was denied entry into the U.S. Open by the United States Tennis Association unless she agreed to chromosomal testing. The USTA cited an unprecedented, women-born-women policy. Richards took her case to the New York Supreme Court which ruled in her favor in 1977, allowing her to play as a woman.
The crown for Miss Universe Canada will be awarded May 19 in Toronto.
source:yahoo,ABC.
PIX:SOK
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