Chike's Blog

Just Checking In

2015-01-03T12:40:00.000-08:00

A Minister/ Priest passing through his church
In the middle of the day,
Decided to pause by the altar
To see who came to pray.
Just then the back door opened,
And a man came down the aisle,
The minister frowned as he saw the man
Hadn't shaved in a while.
His shirt was torn and shabby,
And his coat was worn and frayed,
The man knelt down and bowed his head,
Then rose and walked away.
In the days that followed at precisely noon,
The preacher saw this chap,
Each time he knelt just for a moment,
A lunch pail in his lap.
Well, the minister's suspicions grew,
With robbery a main fear,
He decided to stop and ask the man,
'What are you doing here?'
The old man said he was a factory worker
And lunch was half an hour
Lunchtime was his prayer time,
For finding strength and power.
I stay only a moment
Because the factory's far away;
As I kneel here talking to the Lord,
This is kinda what I say:
'I Just Came By To Tell You, Lord,
How Happy I Have Been,
Since We Found Each Other’s Friendship
And You Took Away My Sin.
Don't Know Much Of How To Pray,
But I Think About You Every day.
So, Jesus, This Is Ben,
Just Checking In Today.'
The minister feeling foolish,
Told Ben that it was fine.
He told the man that he was welcome
To pray there anytime.
'It's time to go, and thanks,' Ben said
As he hurried to the door.
Then the minister knelt there at the altar,
Which he'd never done before.
His cold heart melted, warmed with love,
As he met with Jesus there.
As the tears flowed down his cheeks,
He repeated old Ben's prayer:
'I Just Came By To Tell You, Lord,
How Happy I've Been,
Since We Found Each Other’s Friendship
And You Took Away My Sin.
I Don't Know Much Of How To Pray,
But I Think About You Every day.
So, Jesus, This Is Me,
Just Checking In Today.'
Past noon one day, the minister noticed
That old Ben hadn't come.
As more days passed and still no Ben,
He began to worry some.
At the factory, he asked about him,
Learning he was ill.
The hospital staff was worried,
But he'd given them a thrill.
The week that Ben was with them,
Brought changes in the ward.
His smiles and joy contagious.
Changed people were his reward.
The head nurse couldn't understand
Why Ben could be so glad,
When no flowers, calls or cards came,
Not a visitor he had.
The minister stayed by his bed,
He voiced the nurse's concern:
No friends had come to show they cared.
He had nowhere to turn.
Looking surprised, old Ben spoke up
And with a winsome smile;
'The nurse is wrong, she couldn't know,
He's been here all the while.'
Every day at noon He comes here,
A dear friend of mine, you see,
He sits right down and takes my hand,
Leans over and says to me:
'I Just Came By To Tell You, Ben,
How Happy I Have Been,
Since We Found This Friendship,
And I Took Away Your Sin.
I Think About You Always
And I Love To Hear You Pray,
And So Ben, This Is Jesus,
Just Checking In Today.'
If this blesses you, then pass it on.

Good Morning

2014-08-19T10:33:00.000-07:00

1. Prayer is not a "spare wheel" that you pull out when in trouble, but it is a "steering wheel" that directs the right path throughout life.

2. Why is a car's windshield so large & the rear view mirror so small? Because our PAST is not as important as our FUTURE. So, look ahead and move on.

3. Friendship is like a BOOK. It takes a few seconds to burn, but it takes years to write.

4. All things in life are temporary. If they are going well, enjoy them, they will not last forever. If they are going wrong, don't worry, they can't last long either.

5. Old friends are gold! New friends are diamond! If you get a diamond, don't forget the gold! To hold a diamond, you always need a base of gold!

6. Often when we lose hope and think this is the end, God smiles from above and says, "Relax, sweetheart; it's just a bend, not the end!"

7. When God solves your problems, you have faith in HIS abilities; when God doesn't solve your problems, He has faith in YOUR abilities.

8. A blind person asked God: "Can there be anything worse than losing eye sight?" He replied: "Yes, losing your vision!"

9. When you pray for others, God listens to you and blesses them, and sometimes, when you are safe and happy, remember that someone has prayed for you.

10. Worrying does not take away tomorrow's troubles; it takes away today's PEACE.

Don't Be Stressed

2014-08-19T10:17:00.000-07:00

Old man has 8 hair on his head.

He went to Barber shop.

Barber in anger asked:

shall i cut or count ?

Old man smiled and said:

"Colour it!"

LIFE is to enjoy with whatever you

have with you, keep smiling

If you feel STRESSED,

Give yourself A Break.

Enjoy Some..

Ice cream

Chocolates

Candy

Cake

Why?

B'Coz

STRESSED altered gives

DESSERTS, see?

Alphabetic advice for you:

A B C

Avoid Boring Company..

D E F

Don't Entertain Fools..

G H I

Go for High Ideas .

J K L M

Just Keep a friend like ME..

N O P

Never Overlook the Poor n

suffering..

Q R S

Quit Reacting to Silly tales..

T U V

Tune Urself for ur Victory..

W X Y Z

We Xpect You to Zoom ahead in life

Very beautiful lines pls store it.

One good friend is like a medicine. But one good group is like a good medical shop...

A while ago a new supermarket opened in Ajax, Ontario

2014-08-19T09:31:00.003-07:00

It has an automatic water mister to keep the produce fresh.

Just before it goes on, you hear the sound of distant thunder and the smell of fresh rain.

When you pass the milk cases, you hear cows mooing and there is the scent of freshly mowed hay.

In the meat department there is the aroma of charcoal grilled steaks with onions..

When you approach the egg case, you hear hens clucking and cackling, and the air is filled with the pleasing aroma of bacon and eggs frying.

The bread department features the tantalizing smell of fresh baked bread and cookies.

I don't buy toilet paper there anymore.

Some facts you may not be knowing about INDIANS!!!

2014-01-30T12:41:00.000-08:00

????1. 38% of doctors in America are INDIANS.

????2. 12% of the scientist in America are INDIANS.

????3. 28% of the IBM employees in the world are INDIANS.

????4. 36% of the NASA employees are INDIANS.

????5. 17% of the INTEL employees in the world are INDIANS.

????6. 34% of the MICROSOFT employees are INDIANS.

????7. Sanskrit is the mother language of all the European languages. WHICH MEANS SWEDISH TOO.

????8. SANSKRIT is most suitable language for computer software reported in Forbes magazine, 1987.

????9. CHESS was invented in INDIA.

????10. Creator and founder of HOTMAIL is INDIAN (SABEER BHATIA).

????11. Aryabhatta who was from INDIA, invented the number ZERO.

????12. INDIANS invented the NUMBER SYSTEM.

????13. ALGEBRA was invented in INDIA.

????14. CALCULAS and TRIGNOMETRY came from INDIA.

????15. The general manager of HEWLETT PACKARD (HP) is INDIAN (RAJIV GUPTA).

????16. Vinod Khosla, an Indian-American businessman and venture capitalist was one of the co-founders of Sun Microsystems, and served as its first CEO and Chairman in the early 1980s.

????17. Creator of the PENTIUM CHIP(90% of the today's Computer runs on it) is INDIAN (VINOD DAHM).

????18. BHUDHYANA first calculated the value of pi (3.14), and he explained the concept of what is known as the Pythagorean theorem. he discovered this in the 6th century long before the European mathematicians.

????19. We have almost 5600 different newspapers and 3500 different magazines with approximately 120 million readers every day.

????20. SUSHRUTA (from India) is the father of SURGERY. 2600 year ago he and health scientist of his time conducted complicated surgeries like --> artificial limbs, fractures, urinary stones and even plastic surgery and brain surgery

????21. LAXMI MITTAL (Steel King) is the richest man in ENGLAND. His house in England is the most expensive house in the world, more than 70 million pounds.

????22. ALBERT EINSTEIN once said:- We own a lot to the INDIANS,who taught us how to count, without which no worthwhile scientific have been made.

????23. INDIA has the THIRD largest army in the world with more than 105 million men......

Light Stuff II

2014-01-13T12:29:00.001-08:00

Five facts about You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You.

1. You're so lazy You didn't read all the You's.
2. You didn't notice I put a Yoo.
3. You are now looking to find out.
4. You are laughing because you realise there is no 'Yoo' and you've been tricked.
5. You are going to forward this to others who are like 'YOU'!??

I know at least 13 things about you now:

1. You are holding your phone.
2. You are on Whatsapp.
3. You just opened my msg.
4. You are now reading it.
5. You are human.
7. You can't say the letter "P" without separating your lips.
8. You just attempted to do it.
9. You are laughing at yourself.
10. You have smiles on your face.
11. You skipped No.6
12. You just checked to see if there is a No.6
13. You are laughing at this because I caught you.

Hahaha is it true? ???

If u smiled then Share this right now!

Body Paint

2014-01-13T12:09:00.000-08:00

It's Only Paint

Body painting by a 19 year old Japanese girl.

Warning! This is so well-done it's almost creepy.

100 facts about Nigeria

2014-01-13T11:59:00.001-08:00

1. Nigeria, with a 2013 estimated population of 174,507,539 is the most populous Black nation and the 7th most populated nation in the entire world, trailing after—from least to most—Pakistan, Brazil, Indonesia, USA, India and China (1.3bn).

2. Nigerians are 1/5th the total population of Black Africa.

3. Nigeria, with 521 languages has the fourth most in the world. This includes 510 living languages, two second languages without native speakers and 9 extinct languages.

4. The Portuguese reached Nigeria in 1472. In 1880 the British began conquering Nigeria’s south. The north was conquered by 1903.

5. Wole Soyinka is a Nigerian Nobel laureate. He wrote ‘Telephone Conversation!’

6. With a net worth of $16.1bn, Nigeria’s Aliko Dangote is the richest Black person in the world.

7. Yoruba and their bloodlines worldwide have the highest rate of twinning (having twins) in the world.

8. The 2006 Census found Nigerians to be the highest educated ethnic or racial group in America.

9. The Northern knot, Arewa insignia has Christian origins, investigation by Ibraheem A. Waziri revealed. It is adapted from the Church Celtic knot.

10. Pre-tribalism: Malam Umaru Altine, a northern Fulani man was the first elected Mayor of Enugu, in the east, and was even re-elected for a second term.

11. Pre-tribalism: John Umoru, from Etsako in today’s Edo State (Western region) was elected for the House of Assembly to represent Port Harcourt in the Eastern Nigerian House of Assembly.

12. The Colonial Cantonments Proclamation of 1914 established ‘foreign quarters,’ ‘Sabon Gari,’ institutionalizing the Sabon Garuruwa system of ‘foreigner’ residential segregation in Nigeria.

13. Crispin Curtis Adeniyi-Jones (1876-1957) who the street in Ikeja, ‘Adeniyi-Jones’ was named after, was a medical director from Sierra Leone (a Saro). As a co-founder of NNDP, he won one of the Lagos 3 legislative council seats in 1923 and represented Nigerians for 15 yrs.

14. Saros was the name given to 19th and 20th century ‘Creole’ African literati migrants from Sierra Leone.

15. Amaros was the name for repatriated Brazilian and Cuban slaves; the ‘Aguda’ people of Lagos today. This Brazilian community includes deportees of the brave “Malê Revolt” in Portugal.

16. British colonization was not all voluntary ‘happy slave trade,’ but involved brutal terror against non-cooperation and stiff opposition. Captain Lord Esme Gordon Lenox, ‘With The West African Frontier Force,’ describes: “…we stormed down to Amassana, which was a town supposed to be friendly and fined them 25 goats and 20 chickens for non-assistance, then returned to Agbeni and burned half…October 1st was spent in continuance of yesterdays incendiraism by burning every town or farm we could see. I shudder to think of how many houses we have destroyed in these two days. On our way back to Egbbeddi in the afternoon we passed by Sabagreia and told our old friend Chief Ijor that most likely we should burn down Sabagreia the next day…”

17. Nigeria’s population was just 16 million in 1911. It is projected to hit 444 million by 2050, surpassing the US and becoming the 4th largest in the world.

18. The population of Lagos today is about more than the total population of all Eastern states combined.

19. Lagos’ population in 1872 was 60,000. By 2015 it will be the third largest city in the entire world.

20. Nigeria’s north (719,000 sq. km), occupies 80% of Nigeria’s land mass. In size it is four times the South.

21. 1st republic Aviation Minister, Chief Mbazulike Amaechi hid former South African President, Nelson Mandela, for six months in Nigeria to evade his arrest by the apartheid regime.

22. Gangsta: In 1984 under the disciplinary Buhari/Idiagbon government, there was a sophisticated attempt to kidnap and repatriate ex-civilian regime minister of transport, Umaru Dikko from the UK, anesthetized in a freight crate, for the embezzlement of $1bn under the Shagari regime.

23. Valor: Part of the ‘Forgotten Army,’ Nigerians volunteered to fight with the allied forces among the 81st and 82nd West African Divisions, in the Second World War.

24. The Adubi war in 1918 was a major uprising by 30,000 Abeokuta Ebga warriors against the colonial government for colonization, taxation and slave labor. One British was killed and rail and telegraph lines destroyed. The British rewarded their soldiers with medals for quelling the uprising. Awape Adediran a Molashin/ Kingmaker was imprisoned for his active involvement.

25. Activist Mrs. Fumilayo Ransome-Kuti travelled widely, including to the Eastern bloc (Hungary, USSR and China where she met Mao Zedong). These interactions angered Nigeria, Britain and America. America called her a communist and refused her a U.S. Visa.

26. Mrs. Fumilayo Ransome-Kuti, legendary Fela’s mother, was one of the delegates that negotiated Nigeria’s independence in Britain.

27. Once upon a time, the north was the more literate part of Nigeria. According to Lord Luggard, there were 25,000 Qur’anic Arabic schools with about 250,000 pupils in the north.

28. Sardauna of Sokoto said he preferred foreign workers to Igbo’s because he felt Igbo’s are domineering. This was while Nigeria existed as regions with regional administrations.

29. Kaduna Nzeogwu killed Sardauna in Nigeria’s first military coup.

30. In 1966, a mischievous Igbo owned bakery allegedly made a loaf of bread with a label that depicted Nzeogwu as the Saint in the ‘Saint George and the Dragon’ medieval tale, killing Sardauna, the ‘dragon,’ this labeled bread provoked deadly anti-Igbo riots.

31. Idrîs Aloma (1571-1603) King of Kanem-Bornu went on pilgrimage and came across firearms. He brought some guns back, along with Turks to train his army on how to use them.

32. Travel Visa was not required to travel to the United Kingdom till 1984.

33. A brand new car sold for N2000 in 1975. A ticket to London was less than N100 in 1975.

34. In 1976, 75 kobo exchanged for one British Pound and 60 kobo for one US dollar.

35. A dollar was 90 kobo at the beginning of Babangida’s term in 1985.

36. Nigeria took its first loan from the World Bank in 1977.

37. Obasanjo’s first term and Babangida’s regime oversaw the weakening of the naira.

38. General Buhari and Idiagbon rejected IMF demands that Nigeria devalue its currency.

39. Babangida’s coup in 1985 was invaluable to the colonialists suspected to have been in support as it led to Nigeria accepting SAP restrictions, loans and crippling foreign monetary conditions.

40. Nigeria has 5 of the 10 richest pastors in the entire world, with net worth’s according to Forbes, from $10-150 million. They are Pastors, David Oyedepo, E. A. Adeboye, Chris Oyakhilome, Mathew Ashimolowo and Temitope Joshua.

41. Nigeria has the 4th highest number of poor, living under a dollar a day in the entire world. 100 million are ‘destitute’ according to figures from the NBS (National Bureau of Statistics).

42. Nigeria, the 3rd biggest economy in Africa is 160th out of 177 countries in HDI (Human Development Index).

43. Nigeria has the highest paid legislators in the entire world.

44. Based on amount squandered, of an income of $81 billion per year, Nigeria is the most corrupt nation in the world.

45. The nation with the most defrauded people, aka ‘mugus,’ in history, is Nigeria. Successive administrations continue to loot a greater percentage of the nation’s wealth, running in hundreds of billions of dollars.

46. Nigeria in 2013 was rated the worst country to be born based on welfare and prosperity projection.

47. Aliko Dangote funded Presidents Obasanjo, Yar’Adua and Jonathan’s 4th republic campaigns. Buhari rejected funding from Dangote.

48. Usman dan Fodio (1754–1817) was trained in classical Islamic science, philosophy and theology and wrote over 100 books on society, culture, religion, governance and politics. He could only declare Jihad when he was made leader in Gudu {In Islam you can only declare Jihad if you are an official Muslim leader}.

49. The Borno Empire rejected Dan Fodio’s colonization jihad. Al-Hajj Muhammad al-Amîn ibn Muhammad al-Kânemî not only militarily defended his Empire, but also did so by religious, theological, legal and political debates, challenging why a Muslim Empire should colonize another.

50. Kano history has it that a great warrior princess Magajiya Maimuna led her cavalry from Zaria to conquer Kumbwada.

51. Kumbwada in Kano today is ruled by Queen Hajiya Haidzatu Ahmed, who presides over up to half a million subjects. A throne curse which makes men sick and die, keeps males off the throne. {Sadly, the woman ruled Kumbwada is the least funded chiefdom in Nigeria}.

52. Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire) is Nigeria’s leading trade partner in Africa.

53. There are several Nigerian officials in the government of English speaking The Gambia.

54. There is a Nigerian origin, Yoruba chief in Accra. Chief Brimah is the only foreign Chief with a seat in the Ghanaian traditional council.

55. Cross River State: The Ejagham (Ekoi) people in the Southeast are believed to have originated the Nsibidi (Nsibiri) writing system which later spread to the Efik, Igbo, Ibibio, Efut, Banyang and Annag peoples.

56. Discovered in 1928, Nigeria’s North and North Central region hosts West Africa’s oldest civilization; the Nok, which flourished between 1000 BC and 300 BC. {Nok sculptures recently went on display disappointingly in Germany (not Africa).}

57. Finished in 1460 the Benin Iya or moat is a historic world defense wonder. Spanning 1,200 kilometers with walls as high as 18 metres, it is the world’s largest archeological structure.

58. Sungbo’s Eredo in Ogun state (6°49′N, 3°56′E) is a 100 mile system of up to 70 ft trenches and walls around Ijebu-Ode. It’s Queen, Bilkisu Sungbo has been attributed to the Biblical Queen Sheeba (Queen Bilkis in Quran).

59. Lord Lugard estimated in 1904 that there were 170 walled towns still in existence in the whole of just the Kano province of northern Nigeria. He described Kano: ‘Commercial emporium of the western Sudan.’ Of its wall, he said, ‘I have never seen, nor even imagined, anything like it in Africa.’

60. Osun: Queen Luwo, the twenty-first Ooni (ruler) of Ile-Ife paved the streets with quartz pebbles—and broken pottery, in 1000AD. The architecture had decorations that originated from Ancient America.

61. Borno: The capital city of Kanem-Borno, Ngazargamu, was one of the largest cities in 1658 AD; the metropolis housed “about quarter of a million people” and had 660 well planned, wide and unbending streets.

62. In 1246 AD the Kanemi of Borno created a sensation in Tunisia when he sent a gift of a giraffe to Al-Mustapha, king of Tunis.

63. Sokoto: Two-story buildings with constructions glazed with tsoluwa, (laterite gravel), 10 mile circumference city walls, some as high as 20 feet, is how 16th century Surame, a Sokoto metropolis created by empire ruler, Muhammadu Kanta Sarkin Kebbi, was. UNESCO describes Surame as “one of the wonders of human history, creativity and ingenuity.”

64. Kano: In 1851, this city, one of the largest in Africa, made 10 million sandal pairs and 5 million hides for export every year.

65. Kebbi: Nigeria’s Sorko Sea lords of Kebbi state, made ships (Kanta) which were used for far away expeditions, including the 1311 AD, 2000 ship, famous voyage of Songhai Empire’s Mansa Abubakari II to the America’s, decades before Columbus.

66. Yobe: The oldest discovered boat in Africa, and 3rd oldest on the world, the 8500 yr old Dufuna canoe was discovered by a Fulani herdsman in 1987 in Dufuna village, Fune LGA.

67. Ondo: Confusing evolution scientists, the 13,000 yr old Iwo-Eleru cave skull, the oldest human fossil remains found in West Africa, has ‘ancient’ (140,000 yr old Laetoli) features, yet lived in more modern times.

68. Benin Kingdom: The high quality and highly sophisticated bronze work of the Benin Kingdom dating as far back as the 13th century is a world wonder. Great works in iron, wood, ivory, and terra cotta products also highlight the empire’s history.

69. Benin Kingdom: Lourenco Pinto, captain of a ship that carried missionaries to Warri in 1619, described Benin kingdom, ‘Great Benin where the king resides is larger than Lisbon, all the streets run straight and as far as the eyes can see….’

70. Akwa Ibom: King Jaja of Opobo (1821–1891) founded Opobo city-state in 1867 and shipped palm oil to Britain independently of British middle men.

71. Ancient Greeks appear to have Nigerian roots as supported by the Benin Haplogroup or Haplogroup 19. According to Jide Uwechia, ‘The Benin Haplotype (which originates from Nigeria, West Africa) accounts for HbS associated chromosomes in Sicily Northern Greece.’

72. Ilorin’s Oba Afonja utilized Fulani warriors to help rebel against the Oyo Empire. The warriors after defeating Oyo took over Ilorin and Sheikh Alimi, their leader became the first Emir.

73. Much of north Nigeria was part of the Songhai Empire. Muhammad Kanta annexed Kebbi and other states between 1512 and 1517.

74. The Obasanjo military regime converted Nigeria from a Parliamentary system to a Presidential system of government.

75. Much of traditional pre-colonial Nigeria operated a parliamentary form of government. The council of elders could make or impeach the King.

76. General Johnson Thomas Umurakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi on 24 May 1966, with Decree No. 34, dissolved Nigeria’s regions, creating provinces. He unified Regional Public Services under a single Commission. Riots were provoked in Kano and mutiny in Abeokuta; eventually there was a coup.

77. In 1967 Gowon split the four regions into 12 states.

78. Gowon’s Decree No. 8 of 1967 after the Aburi conference restored Nigeria as a confederacy.

79. Late President Murtala Muhammed’s dad, Pam Azatus Iyok was from Dogon-Gaba, near Vom in Plateau state, Nigeria’s Middle Belt. Pam became a Muslim and married Ramat from Kano. Murtala Muhammed’s wife, Hafsat Ajoke was a Yoruba lady.

80. Ex- President Yakubu Gowon from Jos state (Middle Belt) is a Christian. General Obasanjo was his Army chief who helped him defeat the Biafra attempted secession from 1967-1970.

81. Nigeria has been ruled for 30 years by Christians (25 years if Azikiwe is excluded).

82. Mujahid Asari Dokubo, the leader of the southern Movement for Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) and the most vocal enemy of the north, is a Muslim.

83. Nigeria is not roughly divided between a Muslim north and a Christian South. The far north, east and far south do have concentrations, but the rest of the nation defies such demarcations.

84. In the Southwest, Osun, Lagos, Ondo and Oyo have a higher population of Muslims than Christians according to counts. Benue, Nasarawa and Plateau in the north have Christian majorities.

85. According to the Senate joint committee, Nigeria’s chief terrorist leader, Abubakar Shekau is not a Nigerian; he hails from Niger republic. {Shekau is believed by security services to be deceased.}

86. According to current demographics, after Hausa-Fulani (29%), Yoruba (21%), Igbo (18%) and Ijaw (10%) comes Kanuri (4%) and then Ibibio (3.5%) and Tiv (2.5%).

87. Not really a northern caucus, but it was late M. K. O. Abiola that orchestrated and sponsored the Buhari /Idiagbon coup and then again the Babangida coup overthrow of Buhari. –Shagari memoir, “Beckoned to Serve;” Babangida, “Karl Maier – Midnight in Nigeria.” (Max Siollun)

88. The leading caucus is basically a childhood friendship: President Obasanjo was childhood friends with President Babangida, President Abacha and Commander Danjuma.

89. President Babangida was childhood friends with President Abdulsalam.

90. President Obasanjo graduated Abdulsalam who later became President and went on to hand over power to democratically arranged President Obasanjo.

91. Under the Presidential system, Nigerians have had 7 years total Northern rule and 11+ years Southern rule.

92. Total civilian rule, Parliamentary and Presidential, Nigeria has had 12 years Northern and 11+ years Southern rule.

93. 6 coups is the highest number of any nation in Africa. Nigeria along with Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, Uganda and Mauritania are the nations with 6 coups.

94. The Biafra war included a ‘Mid West invasion.’ The Midwest was either a battle field or in Biafra’s sights—Dr. Nowamagbe A. Omoigui relays.

95. The Biafra 12th battalion headed by Lt Col Victor Adebukunola Banjo captured Benin and set out to capture Ibadan and Lagos.

96. The Biafra 13th battalion, led by Ivenso entered Kwara, now Kogi and captured Okene, Atanai and Iloshi.

97. Cameroon was an administrative part of Nigeria in 1945, hence the NCNC party (National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons). Towards independence the UN mandated British held former German territory, south Cameroon opted to join French Cameroon and not Nigeria.

98. J.C. Vaughn, Ernest Ikoli, H.O. Davies, Obafemi Awolowo and Sam Tsuiuel Akinsanya founded the Nigerian Youth Movement (NYM) in 1934 to promote national unity particularly between Yoruba and Igbo.

99. Azikiwe left Nigerian Youth Movement (NYM) because he claimed the organization had been seized by Yoruba’s and it discriminated against Igbo’s including himself.

100. Oyo defeats Ashanti: In 1764 the Ashanti army marched on Dahomey, Togo. At Atakpamé, the Ashanti army was ambushed and sacked by Dahomean infantry and female elite soldiers allied with forces from the Oyo Empire. Ashanti King Kusi Obodum was destooled after the defeat.

Nigeria’s century compilation was created as a historical snapshot of peculiar events, for our benefit and that of Nigeria’s younger generations. It was compiled to the best of our ability and influenced by our learning, recollection and prejudices. We invite Nigerians to collect and share with us more important and unique events that define 100 years of Nigeria. Resources utilized here can be found on ENDS.ng.

TIME'S PERSON OF THE YEAR

2014-01-13T10:53:00.001-08:00

1. He spoke out against frivolous spending by the Church
Source: catholic-ew.org.uk

The average set of cardinal’s clothes costs as much as $20,000. In October, Pope Francis urged officials to dress more modestly and to not squander such money. In the same month, he ordered a German bishop to explain how he had spent $3 million on a marble courtyard.

Source: globalpost.com

2. He invited a boy with Downs Syndrome for a ride in the Popemobile

Source: thehindu.com

During a general audience, Pope Francis invited Alberto di Tullio, a 17-year-old boy with Downs Syndrome, to ride in his Popemobile while thousands watched. The boy and his father were said to be "chocked up" when he was embraced by the Pope.

Source: cbsnews.com

3. He embraced and kissed Vinicio Riva

Source: huffpost.com

November saw Pope Francis embrace Vinicio Riva, a man scarred by a genetic disease. Fighting agonising pain on a daily basis, such an act restored the faith of a man who says he is often mocked in public.

Source: cnn.com

4. He denounced the judgment of homosexuals

Source: cnn.com

Pope Francis has stated several times that the Church has no right to interfere spiritually in the lives of gays and lesbians. Though Francis maintained the right of the Church to express opinions on homosexuality, he believed that Christians should not judge or ridicule. This led to The Advocate, a gay rights magazine, naming Francis the 'single most influential person of 2013 on the lives of LGBT people.'

Source: cnn.com

5. He held a major ceremony at the chapel of a youth prison

Source: incarnationparish.org

In March, the Pope held a major Holy Week service at Casal del Marmo jail for minors, rather than the Vatican. During the service, the pope washed and kissed the feet of 12 young offenders to commemorate Jesus' gesture of humility towards his apostles on the night before he died. During the service, he broke tradition by washing the feet of women and Muslims.

Source: reuters.com

6. He urged the protection of the Amazon Rainforest

Source: nationalpost.com

During his visit to Brazil, Pope Francis met with natives who have been fighting ranchers and farmers attempting to invade their land. He encouraged that the Amazon be treated as a garden and protected, along with it's native people.

Source: nationalpost.com

7. He personally called and consoled a victim of rape

Source: catholicvirtue.org

A 44-year old Argentinian woman, raped by a local policeman, was one of thousands to write a letter to Pope Francis in 2013. The woman was surprised when she later received a phone call from Francis himself--who consoled the woman and told her, “You are not alone.”

Source: catholicvirtue.org

8. He snuck out of the Vatican to feed the homeless

Source: newsfirst.lk

More recently, it has been discovered that Pope Francis regularly leaves the Vatican at night to feed the homeless. Dressed as an ordinary priest, he joins Archbishop Konrad Krajewski to feed the poor of Rome.

Source: huffingtonpost.com

9. He auctioned his motorcycle to benefit the homeless

Source: dailymail.co.uk

In October, Francis donated his own Harley Davidson motorcycle to fund a hostel and soup kitchen in Rome.

Source: ncregister.com

10. He acknowledged that atheists can be good people

Source: mercopress.com

Earlier in 2013, Pope Francis spoke out against the common interpretation within the Church that atheists, by nature, are bad people. He stated that, “Atheists should be seen as good people if they do good.” After meeting the Pope, the openly atheist president of Uruguay, Jose Mujica, compared Francis to a friendly neighbor.

11. He condemned the global financial system

Source: tempo.co

In May, Francis denounced the global financial system for tyrannizing the poor and turning humans into expendable consumer goods. He believes that, “Money has to serve, not to rule!"

Source: timesofmalta.com

12. He fought child abuse

Source: bbcimg.co.uk

The Catholic Church has been rocked in recent years by allegations and admissions of child abuse by members of the Church. Pope Francis became the first Pope to take effective action against such atrocities. He ammended Vatican law to make sexual abuse of children a crime, and he also established a committee to fight abuse.

Source: bbc.co.uk

13. He condemned the violence of the Syrian civil war

Source: blogspot.com

In regard to the use of chemical weapons in Syria, Pope Francis asked for peace and declared that, "War, never again. Violence never leads to peace, war leads to war, violence leads to violence.”

Source: reuters.com

14. He redirected employee bonuses to charity

Source: ibtimes.com

When a new Pope is elected, Vatican employees receive a bonus. Upon his election, the extra money was given to directly to charity instead.

Source: washingtonpost.com

15. He spoke out against the Church’s ‘obsession’ with abortion, gay marriage and contraception

Source: indiatimes.in

In a voice of reason, Francis shocked the Catholic world when he stated that the Church was an unhealthy obsession with abortion, gay marriage, and contraception. He criticized the Church for putting dogma before love, and for prioritizing moral doctrines over serving the poor and marginalized.

Source: nytimes.com

16. He called for cooperation between Christians and Muslims

Source: catholicsun.org

During his Angelus address, Francis paid respect to the end of Ramadan. He stated that both Christians and Muslims worship the same God, and he hoped that Christians and Muslims would work together to promote mutual respect.

Source: catholicherald.co.uk

17. He took part in a selfie

Source: telegraph.co.uk

In what might be his most progressive feat of all, Pope Francis met with youngsters to be part of a truly remarkable selfie. His is embracing the present, and he is undoubtedly taking the Church to a more loving and accepting future.

Source: telegraph.co.uk

18. He invited homeless men to his birthday meal

Source: theguardian.com

On December 17, Pope Francis invited a group of homeless men and their dog into the Vatican to share his birthday meal along with his staff. The Pope had decided that he wanted a small birthday event, which would do some good, rather than a large and expensive event.

Source: theguardian.com

19. He refused to send away a child who had run on stage to hug him

Source: buzzfeed.com

During the Year of Faith Celebrations, a young boy ran on stage as the Pope was giving a speech. When assistants tried to remove the boy, Francis allowed him to stay.

A great view of the Grand Canyon...

2013-11-11T04:34:00.001-08:00

...As you've NEVER seen it before!

U.S. Air Force Northrop F-5E Tiger II fighters of the 58th Tactical Fighter Wing

At LukeAir Force Base, Arizona (USA), flying in an echelon left formation over

The Grand Canyon .

Photo #1 by Camera Operator: TSgt Bob Simons, USAF

Ancestral Puebloan granaries high above the Colorado River at Nankoweap Creek,

Grand Canyon.

Photo #2 by Drenaline

Grand Canyon Horse Shoe Bend ..

Photo #3 by Christian Mehlführer

Grand Canyon Walls HD.

Photo #4 by WallpaperWeb

Grand Canyon Colors of the Earth.

Photo #5 by OilBac

Devil’s Corkscrew – Bright Angel Trail – Grand Canyon .

Photo #6 by Al_HikesAZ

Little red dot against the Grand Canyon .

Photo #7 by Eva Prokop

Grand Canyon, Arizona.

Photo #8 by Ignacio Izquierdo

Cheyava Falls upper cascade – Grand Canyon .

Photo #9 by Al_HikesAZ

Full Moon (upper left) over the Grand Canyon .

Photo #10 by Matthew Hunt

Beginning a new day rafting the Colorado River – Grand Canyon .

Photo #11 by Al_HikesAZ

Ooh-Aah Point view – storm clouds gathering.

Photo #12 by Al_HikesAZ

View to southeast from Clear Creek Camp – Grand Canyon .

Photo #13 by Al_HikesAZ

Grand Canyon.

Photo #14 by Ignacio Izquierdo

Grand Canyon – USA .

Photo #15 by Tenji

Photographed by Doug Dolde at Grand Canyon National Park .

Photo #16 by Doug Dolde

Mountain goat – Bighorn, Grand Canyon .

Photo #17 by Marcin Wichary from San Francisco, U.S.A.

Upper Beaver Falls from trail – Grand Canyon .

Photo #18 by Al_HikesAZ

Comanche Point on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, above the Colorado River ..

Photo #19 by Doc Searls from Santa Barbara, USA

Grand Canyon – behind Ribbon Falls .

Photo #20 by Al_HikesAZ

Grand Canyon view from Hermit’s Rest.

Photo #21 by chensiyuan

Grand Canyon taken from Bright Angel.

Photo #22 by Tomas Castelazo

Mount Hayden and storm – Grand Canyon North Rim.

Photo #23 by Al_HikesAZ

Grand Canyon West – Guano Point.

Photo #24 by Bbarnucz

Colorado River – Grand Canyon .

Photo #25 by Wolfgang Staudt

Muddy whitewater rafting Grand Canyon .

Photo #26 by MolallaRiverCowboy

Colorado River, Marble Canyon marks the beginning of the Grand Canyon .

Photo #27 by Joshua M.

Grand Canyon North Rim Panorama.

Photo #28 by Jeff Turner from Santa Clarita, CA, United States

Mount Hayden , North Rim Grand Canyon .

Photo #29 by James Marvin Phelps from USA

Grand Canyon National Park – Arizona .

Photo #30 by Poco a poco

Grand Canyon landscape.

Photo #31 by High Contrast

Grand Canyon in Winter

Photo #32 by Pescaiolo

Grand Canyon in Arizona, United States

Photo #33 by TFCforever

Skywalk at the Grand Canyon

Photo #34 by Purple

Havasu Falls – a waterfall located on the Havasupai Indian Reservation in the Grand Canyon .

Photo #35 by Photography Match

Bits & Pieces III

2013-11-09T08:17:00.000-08:00

We are the only generation who have seen ...
01/02/03
02/03/04
03/04/05
04/05/06
05/06/07
06/07/08
07/08/09
08/09/10
09/10/11
10/11/12

& lets celebrate
11/12/13 too
Share this immediately...
? ? ? ? You may be the first one to tell....

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Why Planning is important?

One Night 4 college students were playing till late night and could not study for the test which was scheduled for the next day.

In the morning they thought of a plan. They made themselves look as dirty with grease and dirt. They then went up to the Dean and said that they had gone out to a wedding last night and on their return the tire of their car burst and they had to push the car all the way back and that they were in no condition to appear for the test.

So the Dean said they could have the re-test after 3 days. They thanked him and said they would be ready by that time.

On the third day they appeared before the Dean. The Dean said that as this was a Special Condition Test, all FOUR were required to sit in Separate Classrooms for the TEST. They all agreed as they had prepared well in the last 3 days.
The Test consisted of 2 questions with a total of 100 Marks.

See Below for the question Paper

Q.1. Your Name........
(2 MARKS)

Q.2.. Which tyre burst?
(98 MARKS)

       a) Front Left
       b) Front Right
       c) Back Left
       d) Back Right

True story from IIT Bombay ....Batch 1992... ?

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In 1938, Karoly Takacs of the Hungarian Army, was the top pistol shooter in the world. He was expected to win the gold in the 1940 Olympic Games scheduled for Tokyo.

Those expectations vanished one terrible day just months before the Olympics. While training with his army squad, a hand grenade exploded in Takacs' right hand, and Takacs' shooting hand was blown off. He spent a month in the hospital depressed at both the loss of his hand, and the end to his Olympic dream. But then Takacs did the unthinkable; he picked himself up, dusted himself off, and decided to learn how to shoot with his left hand! His reasoning was simple. He simply asked himself, "Why not?

For months, Takacs practiced by himself. In the spring of 1939 he showed up at the Hungarian National Pistol Shooting Championship. Other shooters approached Takacs to give him their condolences and to congratulate him on having the strength to come watch them shoot. They were surprised when he said, "I didn't come to watch, I came to compete." They were even more surprised when Takacs won!

The 1940 and 1944 Olympics were cancelled because of World War II. In 1948, he qualified for the London Olympics. At the age of 38, Takacs won the Gold Medal and set a new world record in pistol shooting. Four years later, Takacs won the Gold Medal again at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics. Takacs - a man with the mental toughness to bounce back from anything.

Instead of focusing on what he didn't have - a world class right shooting hand, he decided to focus on what he did have - incredible mental toughness, and a healthy left hand that with time, could be developed to shoot like a champion. Winners in every field have a special trait that helps them become unstoppable. A special characteristic that allows them to survive major setbacks on the road to success. Bouncing back is not enough. Winners bounce back QUICKLY. They dust themselves off, and pick up where they left off.........

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EATING FRUIT ?????

We all think eating fruits means just buying fruits, cutting it & just popping it into our mouths. It's not as easy as u think. It's important to know how & when to eat.

DON'T EAT FRUIT AFTER MEALS! FRUITS SHOULD BE EATEN ON AN EMPTY STOMACH.

It will play a major role to detoxify your system, supplying a great deal of energy for weight loss & other life activities.

FRUIT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FOOD. Let's say u eat two slices of bread & then a slice of fruit. The slice of fruit is ready to go straight through the stomach into the intestines, but it is prevented from doing so.

In the meantime the whole meal rots & ferments and turns to acid. The minute the fruit comes into contact with the food in the stomach & digestive juices, the entire mass of food begins to spoil...

Eat fruit on an empty stomach or before meals! People complain, "Every time I eat watermelon I burp; when I eat apples, my stomach bloats up; when I eat a banana?? I feel like running to the toilet, etc" This will not arise if u eat the fruit on an empty stomach. Fruit mixes with the putrefying other food & produces gas, hence u'll bloat!

Gray hair, balding, nervous outburst, & dark circles under eyes will NOT happen by taking fruit on an empty stomach.

There is no such thing as some fruits, like orange & lemon ??are acidic, because all fruits become alkaline in our body, according to Dr. Herbert Shelton who did research on this matter. Master the correct way of eating fruits, & u'll have beauty, longevity, health, energy, happiness & normal weight.

Drink only fresh fruit juice,?? NOT from the cans. Don't even drink juice that has been heated up. Don't eat cooked fruits because u don't get the nutrients at all. Cooking destroys all the vitamins.

Eating a whole fruit is better than drinking the juice. If u should drink the juice, drink it mouthful by mouthful slowly, because u must let it mix with ur saliva before swallowing it. You can go on a 3-day fruit fast to cleanse ur body. Just eat fruits & drink fruit juice throughout the 3 days & u'll be surprised when ur friends tell u how radiant u look!

KIWI:??A good source of potassium, magnesium, vitamin E & fiber. Its vitamin C content is twice that of an orange.

APPLE: ?Although an apple has a low vitamin C content, it has antioxidants & flavonoids which enhances the activity of vitamin C thereby helping to lower risks of colon cancer, heart attack & stroke.

STRAWBERRY: ?... have the highest total antioxidant power among major fruits & protect from cancer-causing, blood vessel-clogging free radicals.

ORANGE: ? Taking 2-4 oranges a day may help keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent & dissolve kidney stones as well as lessening the risk of colon cancer.

WATERMELON:? Composed of 92% water, it is also packed with a giant dose of glutathione, which helps boost our immune system. A key source of lycopene the cancer fighting oxidant. Other nutrients found in watermelon are vitamin C & Potassium.

GUAVA & PAPAYA:?? for their high vitamin C content. Guava is also rich in fiber, which helps prevent constipation. Papaya is rich in carotene; good for ur eyes.

Drinking Cold water after meals = Cancer!

It will solidify the oily stuff u've just consumed & slow down digestion... Once this 'sludge' reacts with the acid, it will break down & be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine. This will turn into fats & lead to cancer. Better to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.

HEART ATTACK PROCEDURE: Not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting. Be aware of pain in the jaw line. U may never have chest pain during a heart attack. Nausea & intense sweating are common symptoms. Sixty percent who have an attack while asleep do not wake up. Pain in the jaw can awaken u.

A cardiologist says if everyone sends this message to 10 people, u can be sure it'll save at least one life.

Lady Cops From Around The World...

2013-11-09T05:29:00.000-08:00

...go all the way to the bottom

Nigeria...

Hong Kong...

India...

Indonesia...

Japan...

Malaysia...

North Korea...

Pakistan...

Philippines...

Singapore...

South Korea...

Taiwan...

Vietnam...

Then there's... The USA...

Maybe they just eat the bad guys...

God has such a sense of humour

2013-11-08T12:25:00.001-08:00

A woman was at work when she received a phone call that her small daughter was very sick with a fever. She left work and stopped by the pharmacy to get some medication.

She got back to her car and found that she had locked her keys in the car. She didn’t know what to do.

She called home and told the baby sitter what had happened. The baby sitter told her that the fever was getting worse. She said: “You might find a coat hanger and use that to open the door.”

The woman looked around and found an old rusty coat hanger that had been left on the ground, possibly by someone else who at some time had locked their keys in their car. She looked at the hanger and said : “I don’t know how to use this.”

She bowed her head and asked God to send her HELP. Within five minutes a beat up old motorcycle pulled up.

A bearded man who was wearing an old biker skull rag on his head. The woman thought: “This is what you sent to help me?”

However, she was desperate. She was also very thankful! The man got off of his cycle and asked if he could help.

She said: “Yes, my daughter is very sick. I stopped to get her some medication and I locked my keys in my car. I must get home to her. Please, can you use this hanger to unlock my car?”

He said: “Sure.” He walked over to the car, and in less than a minute the car was opened. She hugged the man and through her tears she said: “Thank You SO Much! You are a very nice man.”

The man replied: “Lady, I am NOT a nice man. I just got out of PRISON yesterday, I was in prison for car theft.”

The woman hugged the man again and with sobbing tears cried out loud:

“Oh, thank you God! ……….You even sent me a Professional!!

Life lessons

2013-11-08T10:03:00.000-08:00

Once upon a time a daughter complained to her father that her life was miserable and that she didn't know how she was going to make it.

She was tired of fighting and struggling all the time.

It seemed just as one problem was solved, another one soon followed.

Her father, a chef, took her to the kitchen. He filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Once the three pots began to boil, he placed potatoes in one pot, eggs in the second pot and ground coffee beans in the third pot.

He then let them sit and boil, without saying a word to his daughter. The daughter, moaned and impatiently waited, wondering what he was doing. After twenty minutes he turned off the burners.

He took the potatoes out of the pot and placed them in a bowl. He pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. He then ladled the coffee out and placed it in a cup.

Turning to her, he asked. "Daughter, what do you see?"

"Potatoes, eggs and coffee," she hastily replied.

"Look closer", he said, "and touch the potatoes." She did and noted that they were soft. He then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg.

Finally, he asked her to sip the coffee. Its rich aroma brought a smile to her face.

"Father, what does this mean?" she asked.

He then explained that the potatoes, the eggs and coffee beans had each faced the same adversity-the boiling water.

However, each one reacted differently. The potato went in strong, hard and unrelenting, but in boiling water,
it became soft and weak.

The egg was fragile, with the thin outer shell protecting its liquid interior until it was put in the boiling water. Then the inside of the egg became hard.

However, the ground coffee beans were unique.

After they were exposed to the boiling water, they changed the water and created something new.

"Which one are you?" he asked his daughter.

"When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a potato, an egg, or a coffee bean?"

Moral: In life, things happen around us and things happen to us, but the only thing that truly matters is how we choose to react to them and what we make out of them.

Life is all about learning, adopting and converting all the struggles that we experience into something positive.

What to do?

2013-11-08T09:49:00.001-08:00

In a forest, a pregnant deer is about to give birth. She finds a remote grass field near a strong-flowing river as this seems a safe place. Suddenly labour pains begin.

At the same time, dark clouds gather around above and lightning starts a forest fire. She looks to her left and sees a hunter with his bow extended pointing at her. To her right, she spots a hungry lion approaching her.

What can the pregnant deer do? She is in labour! What will happen?

Will the deer survive?

Will she give birth to a fawn?

Will the fawn survive?

Or will everything be burnt by the forest fire?

Will she perish to the hunter's arrow?

Will she die a horrible death at the hands of the hungry male lion approaching her?

She is constrained by the fire on one side and flowing river on the other. She is boxed in by her natural predators.

What does she do?

She focuses on giving birth to a new life.

The sequence of events that follows are:

- Lightning strikes and blinds the hunter.

- As a result the hunter releases the arrow which zips past the deer and strikes the hungry lion.

- It starts to rain heavily, and the forest fire is slowly doused by the rain.

- The deer gives birth to a healthy fawn.

In our life too, there are moments of choice when we are confronted on all sides with negative thoughts and possibilities. Some thoughts are so powerful that they overcome us and overwhelm us. Maybe we can learn from the deer.
The priority of the deer, in that given moment, was simply to give birth to a baby.

The rest was not in her hands and any action or reaction that changed her focus would have likely resulted in death or disaster.

Where is your focus? In the midst of the storm keep your focus on... The Lord.

Light Stuff

2013-11-08T09:11:00.000-08:00

Earth's most breathtaking landscapes

2013-10-26T08:51:00.001-07:00

Unforgettable photographs capture a new perspective on the world's most magnificent scenes from Bryce Canyon to Big Ben

A new pictorial volume from the world travel experts at Lonely Planet puts a new and unique perspective on some of Earth's most inspiring scenes.

Looking up from the bottom of Utah's majestic, rust colored Bryce Canyon National Park shows the park, for those who've been there, as its never been seen before.

Among striking shots of an ocean feeding frenzy and Aurora Borealis is a panoramic view of London and Big Ben at dusk that proves human landscapes can be just as breathtaking as those from mother nature.

The title of the book, Lonely Planet's Beautiful World, does not disappoint.
This sampling of the book's 200 or so scenes that depict precisely what makes Earth a living masterpiece is sure to leave you wanting more.

Bryce Canyon: Photographed from below looking up, Bryce Canyon makes Bryce Canyon appear all the more spectacular. This masterpiece of natural erosion in southern Utah's most striking feature is its amphitheater, a multicolored 6-square-mile collection of awe inspiring slopes and spires

London calling: While perhaps not as sublime as Bryce Canyon, a panoramic view of Big Ben, the London Parliament, and Westminster Bridge evokes an undeniable appreciation for man's ability to produce beauty to rival nature's splendors

Explore earth's most inspiring locations with Lonely Planet.

Later, troubles: Held on the full moon night in the month of November, Thailand's Floating Lantern festival in Chiangmai sees the release of thousands of tiny Lanna-style hot air lanterns believed to rid the people of their troubles.

Plum delicious: England's picturesque, pastoral Lyth Valley is known the world over for its Damsons -- a type of plum -- and the verdant region even plays host to Damson Day each April

Inspiring: Like the striking view of London, this shot taken from the Empire State Building of the mega city of New York sums up humanity's ability to take on almost supernatural feats

Traditional splendor: It hardly looks real, but some people call these impossible Alpine landscapes home. Cheese and pastry making, wood carving, and other traditional arts remain alive and well in areas like these

Champion diver: Even cormorants, a deep-diving seabird, joins the fray in this sardine feast alongside a common dolphin. Some cormorants have been filmed diving as deep as 150 feet into the ocean, the equivalent of a 13-story building

Emerald country: A gorgeous view of the waterfalls at Croatia's Plitvice Lakes National Park where the 20 some Plitvice Lakes take on a characteristic hue thanks to emerald colored algae. The lakes play home to wolves, bears, eagle owls, and 126 species of birds

Snow bird: Pretty male Rufous Hummingbird with lit up gorget, collects nectar of white flowers. The Rufous is seen in the summer in the Northwest U.S. and in western Canada. In the winter, it migrates Florida and a few surrounding areas in the East

Dancing lights: The unique majesty of Aurora Borealis as photographed in the early morning hours in the arctic circle. Also known as the Northern Lights, these fascinating light shows are at their peak when sunspots occur with the most frequency

Do not adjust your monitor: No, this isn't a Wile E. Coyote cartoon, but roadrunners can be found in the area of Red Rock Towers in Monument Valley where Arizona and Utah's borders meet

Do good and Don't ever stop doing good

2013-10-25T04:03:00.001-07:00

A woman baked chapatti (roti) for members of her family and an extra one for a hungry passerby. She kept the extra chapatti on the window sill, for whosoever would take it away. Every day, a hunchback came and took away the chapatti. Instead of expressing gratitude, he muttered the following words as he went his way:
"The evil you do remains with you: The good you do, comes back to you!" This went on, day after day.

Every day, the hunchback came, picked up the chapatti and uttered the words: "The evil you do, remains with you: The good you do, comes back to you!"

The woman felt irritated. "Not a word of gratitude," she said to herself... "Everyday this hunchback utters this jingle! What does he mean?" One day, exasperated, she decided to do away with him. "I shall get rid of this hunchback," she said. And what did she do? She added poison to the chapatti she prepared for him!

As she was about to keep it on the window sill, her hands trembled. "What is this I am doing?" she said. Immediately, she threw the chapatti into the fire, prepared another one and kept it on the window sill. As usual, the hunchback came, picked up the chapatti and muttered the words: "The evil you do, remains with you: The good you do, comes back to you!"

The hunchback proceeded on his way, blissfully unaware of the war raging in the mind of the woman. Every day, as the woman placed the chapatti on the window sill, she offered a prayer for her son who had gone to a distant place to seek his fortune. For many months, she had no news of him.. She prayed for his safe return.

That evening, there was a knock on the door. As she opened it, she was surprised to find her son standing in the doorway. He had grown thin and lean. His garments were tattered and torn. He was hungry, starved and weak. As he saw his mother, he said, "Mom, it's a miracle I'm here. While I was but a mile away, I was so famished that I collapsed. I would have died, but just then an old hunchback passed by. I begged of him for a morsel of food, and he was kind enough to give me a whole chapatti. As he gave it to me, he said, "This is what I eat everyday: today, I shall give it to you, for your need is greater than mine!"

"As the mother heard those words, her face turned pale. She leaned against the door for support. She remembered the poisoned chapatti that she had made that morning. Had she not burnt it in the fire, it would have been eaten by her own son, and he would have lost his life!" It was then that she realized the significance of the words: "The evil you do remains with you: The good you do, comes back to you!"

Do good and Don't ever stop doing good, even if it is not appreciated at that time.

The Extraordinary Underwater Hotel!

2013-10-12T05:19:00.001-07:00

Imagine yourselves spending a night at a beautiful hotel, overlooking the vast ocean beneath you. Now imagine you could penetrate the waves with your eyes, see the amazing underwater world, the colorful fish and algae, the otherwordly glow of the sun through the water.

You can stop pretending now. On the private islands of Fiji, at the Poseidon Resort, this dream has become a reality.

Introducing the first underwater 5 star hotel!

    This is the first hotel that is completely underwater, at a depth of 12-40 feet under the
    waves, in a crystal clear lagoon that offers guests a breath-taking view of coral reefs
    and the fish that live around them.

In essence, you get to feel like a fish kept in the most luxurious of aquariums, while
the fish swim free! How about that for reversal of positions?

70% of the room will be made of plexiglas, allowing total immersion in the
underwater environment.

Each suite is carefully being designed to be totally modular, and in case of a malfunction
or maintenance, it can be raised to the surface individually.

The hotel is going to include 25 suites guest suites and everything else a hotel offers.

Eating in incredible style. We wonder if it's all sea food?

For those guests who have had enough of this spectacular view, they will be
able to darken theglass or use 'virtual drapes' to cover them.

A more beautiful room cannot exist.

What else is here? A restaurant, bar, gym and even an underwater wedding
chapel for those who'd like to say their vows in a very unique setting.

Laying on the bed, looking up at the sea - this is a unique experience.

A stylish lounge to enjoy a drink.

A library offers a great place to read while also enjoying the fish swimming by.

But it doesn't end there, as guests will have access to four personal submarines that will take them around the lagoon.

For those worried about safety, the resort claims on its website that its buildings
are based on the design of passenger submarines, which it describes as 'statistically the world's safest form of transportation'.

The hotel will be accessed through a special elevator that will take

them down from the beach.

               Getting out of the water, visitors will find tennis courts, a spa and a 9 hole golf
             resort waiting for them. However, this amazing resort fits the pocket of the rich
             or those who are willing to spend for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Cost of a
             room for a week is $15,000 per person. So if you are planning a romantic week
             under the sea, you'll have to shell $30,000 for the experience.

Bits & Pieces

2013-10-12T04:53:00.003-07:00

It was their anniversary, and Aisha was waiting for her husband Rajiv to show up.
Things had changed since their marriage, the once cute couple couldn't-live-without-each-other had turned bitter.
Fighting over every little things, both didn't like the way things had changed.
Aisha was waiting to see if Rajiv remembered it was their anniversary!
Just as the door bell rang she ran to find her husband wet and smiling with a bunch of flowers in his hand.
The two started re-living the old days. Making up for fights, then was d plan for champagne, light music And it was raining outside! It was perfect.
But the moment paused when the phone in the bedroom rang.
Aisha went to pick it up and it was a man. "Hello ma'am I'm calling from the police station. Is this Mr Rajiv Mehra's number?"

"Yes it is!"
"I'm sorry ma'am; but there was an accident and a man died.
We got this number from his wallet; we need you to come and identify his body."
Aisha's heart sank.!!! She was shocked!
But my husband is here with me?"
"Sorry ma'am, but the incident took place at 2 pm, when he was boarding the train."
Aisha was about to lose her consciousness
How could this happen?!
She had heard about the soul of the person coming to meet a loved one before it leaves!
She ran into the other room.
He was not there. It was true! had left her for good!!
Oh God she would have died for another chance to mend every little fight! She rolled on the floor in pain. She lost her chance! Forever!
Suddenly there was a noise from the bathroom, the door opened and Rajiv came out and said "Darling, I forgot to tell you my wallet got stolen today".
LIFE MIGHT NOT GIVE YOU A SECOND CHANCE. SO NEVER WASTE A MOMENT WHEN YOU CAN STILL MAKE UP FOR YOUR WRONGS!!!
Let's start making amends.
To parents
To siblings
To friends
And many more.
No one has a promised tomorrow.
Have a wonderful Life with no regrets!
This has to be one of the best message!!

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A Generous Will....!!!! TOO INTERESTING

A milkman dying in hospital is surrounded by his two sons, daughter, his wife and the nurse.
He says to his eldest son, "To you Peter, I leave the Beverly houses."
To his daughter, "My pretty Rose, to you I leave the apartments in the Los Angeles Plaza."
"And Charlie, you being my youngest son, I leave you the City Center offices".
And to his wife, "Darling, you get the three residential towers downtown."
The wide-eyed nurse, obviously impressed, tells his wife, "Madam, your husband is very rich! And what's great is he is bequeathing all his properties to his family. You are all so lucky!!"
The wife retorts,"Rich? Lucky? Are you kidding me?? Those are the routes where he delivers milk!"

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What is STRESS?
It's The Gap Between Our Expectation & Reality...
More The Gap.
More the Stress.
So Expect Nothing & Accept Everything...good mrg.

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"Time is free, but it's priceless. You can't own it, but you can use it. You can't keep it, but you can spend it. Once you've lost it, you can never get it back."
Just like yesterday we entered 2013, now we are in October, the end of the year is here.

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Perfection of means and confusion of goals seem - in my opinion - to characterize our age.
-Albert Einstein
As long as you are going to be thinking anyway, think big.
- Donald Trump

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Letter from a newly married girl to her mother.

Dear mom,
Like every normal girl, I was excited about marriage right from my childhood days. I never thought beyond the time that I would spend happily with my prince charming. But today when I am married, I realize that marriage is not all roses. It's not just about being with your beloved and having a gala time. There is so much more to it. It comes with its own share of responsibilities, duties, sacrifices and compromises. I can't wake up anytime I want to. I am expected to be up and ready before everyone else in the family. I can't laze around in my pyjamas throughout the day. I am expected to be presentable every time. I can't just go out anytime I want to. I am expected to be sensitive to the needs of the family. I just can't hit the bed anytime I want to. I am expected to be active and around the family. I can't expect to be treated like a princess but am supposed to take care of everyone else in the family. And then I think to myself, 'why did I get married at all?' I was happier with you, mom. Sometimes I think of coming back to you and getting pampered again. I want to come home to my favorite food cooked by you every evening after a nice outing with friends. I want to sleep on your laps like I have no worry in this world. But then I suddenly realize, had you not got married and made such sacrifices in your life, I wouldn't have had so many wonderful memories to hang on to. And suddenly, the purpose of all this becomes clear- to return the same comfort, peace and happiness to my new family that I got from you. And I am sure that as time would pass, I would start loving this life equally as you do. Thank you mom for all the sacrifices and compromises you made. They give me the strength to do the same. Love you.
It's an excellent letter for all daughters.

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COINCIDENCE OF LIFE

1. CHURCH has 6 letters so does MOSQUE.

2. BIBLE has 5 letters so does QURAN.

3. LIFE has 4 letters so does DEAD.

4. HATE has 4 letters, so does LOVE.

5. ENEMIES has 7, so does FRIENDS.

6. LYING has 5, so does TRUTH.

7. HURT has 4, so does HEAL.

8. NEGATIVE has 8, so does POSITIVE.

9. FAILURE has 7, so does SUCCESS.

10. BELOW has 5, but so does ABOVE.

11. CRY has 3 letters so does JOY.

12. ANGER has 5 so does HAPPY.

13. RIGHT has 5 so does WRONG.

14. RICH has 4 so does POOR.

15. FAIL has 4 so does PASS.

16. KNOWLEDGE has 9 so does IGNORANCE.
Are they all by Coincidence?
We should Choose wisely, this means LIFE is like a Double-Edged Sword.
WE should always Choose the Better side of Life!!!

Shalom!

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A Touching Story

Isaiah 65:24. - This is a story written by a doctor who worked in Africa.
One night I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in spite of all we could do, she died, leaving us with a tiny, premature baby and a crying two-year-old daughter. We would have difficulty keeping the baby alive; as we had no incubator (we had no electricity to run an incubator). We also had no special feeding facilities.
Although we lived on the equator, nights were often chilly with treacherous drafts. One student midwife went for the box we had for such babies and the cotton wool that the baby would be wrapped in.

Another went to stoke up the fire and fill a hot water bottle. She came back shortly in distress to tell me that in filling the bottle, it had burst (rubber perishes easily in tropical climates). "And it is our last hot water bottle!" she exclaimed. As in the West, it is no good crying over spilled milk, so in Central Africa it might be considered no good crying over burst water bottles. They do not grow on trees, and there are no drugstores down forest pathways.
"All right," I said, "put the baby as near the fire as you safely can, and sleep between the baby and the door to keep it free from drafts. Your job is to keep the baby warm."
The following noon, as I did most days, I went to have prayers with any of the orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the youngsters various suggestions of things to pray about and told them about the tiny baby. I explained our problem about keeping the baby warm enough, mentioning the hot water bottle, and that the baby could so easily die if it got chills. I also told them of the two-year-old sister, crying because her mother had died.
During prayer time, one ten -year-old girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual blunt conciseness of our African children. "Please, God" she prayed, "Send us a hot water bottle today. It'll be no good tomorrow, God, as the baby will be dead, so please send it this afternoon."
While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added, "And while You are about it, would You please send a dolly for the little girl so she'll know You really love her?"
As often with children's prayers, I was put on the spot. Could I honestly say "Amen?" I just did not believe that God could do this.
Oh, yes, I know that He can do everything; the Bible says so. But there are limits, aren't there? The only way God could answer this particular prayer would be by sending me a parcel from the homeland. I had been in Africa for almost four years at that time, and I had never, ever, received a parcel from home. Anyway, if anyone did send me a parcel, who would put in a hot water bottle? I lived on the equator!
Halfway through the afternoon, while I was teaching in the nurses' training school, a message was sent that there was a car at my front door. By the time I reached home, the car had gone, but there on the verandah was a large 22-pound parcel. I felt tears pricking my eyes. I could not open the parcel alone, so I sent for the orphanage children. Together we pulled off the string, carefully undoing each knot. We folded the paper, taking care not to tear it unduly. Excitement was mounting. Some thirty or forty pairs of eyes were focused on the large cardboard box. From the top, I lifted out brightly-colored, knitted jerseys. Eyes sparkled as I gave them out. Then there were the knitted bandages for the leprosy patients, and the children looked a little bored. Then came a box of mixed raisins and sultanas - that would make a batch of buns for the weekend.
Then, as I put my hand in again, I felt the.....could it really be?
I grasped it and pulled it out. Yes, a brand new, rubber hot water bottle. I cried. I had not asked God to send it; I had not truly believed that He could.
Ruth was in the front row of the children. She rushed forward, crying out, "If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly, too!"
Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she pulled out the small, beautifully-dressed dolly. Her eyes shone! She had never doubted! Looking up at me, she asked, "Can I go over with you and give this dolly to that little girl, so she'll know that Jesus really loves her?"
"Of course," I replied!
That parcel had been on the way for five whole months, packed up by my former Sunday school class, whose leader had heard and obeyed God's prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator.
And one of the girls had put in a dolly for an African child - five months before, in answer to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it "that afternoon."
"Before they call, I will answer." (Isaiah 65:24).

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Four insurance companies are in competition. One comes up with the slogan, "Coverage from the cradle to the grave."
The second one tries to improve on that with, "Coverage from the womb to the tomb."
Not to be outdone, the third one comes up with, "From the sperm to the worm."
The fourth insurance company really thought hard and almost gave up the race, but finally came up with, "From the erection to the resurrection."?

Jokes

2013-10-07T04:52:00.002-07:00

Boss : There are 50 bricks on an aeroplane. If u drop 1 outside. How many are left?
Employee : That's easy, 49.
Boss : What are the three steps to put an elephant into a fridge?
Employee : Open the fridge. Put the elephant in. Close the fridge
Boss : What are the four steps to put a deer into the fridge?
Employee : Open the fridge. Take the elephant out. Put the deer in. Close the fridge.
Boss : It's lion's birthday, all animals are there except one, why?
Employee : Because the deer is in the fridge.
Boss : How does an old woman cross a swamp filled with crocodiles?
Employee : She just crosses it because the crocodiles are at the lion's birthday
Boss : Last question. In the end the old lady still died. Why?
Employee : Er....I guess she drowned....err...
Boss : No! She was hit by the brick fallen frm the aeroplane. Thats the problem, you are not focused on your job....You may leave now!!!
Moral: If ur boss has decided to screw u, no matter How much u prepare u will be screwed.

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NIGERIA. Look right and left for vehicles and okada, look up for aeroplane, down for bomb, back for kidnappers, look side, hold ur handbag tight nd watch d person beside u, Then walk zig zag to reach your destination.....

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Very strange But True ?
???????
The Prime minister of this country is Economist,
???????
The President is Economist,
???????
Finance minister is Economist,
???????
And..
Governor of the Reserve Bank is also Economist...
???????
Even Then country's economy is sinking ...
Moral : Too many cooks will spoil the food. .???

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A Nigerian, an American and a German board a plane. As the plane was flying over the sea, Satan came out and said to them: I want u to drop something into the sea, if I find it, u die and if I don't u live. The American quickly plucked a button from his shirt and threw into the sea, Satan dived into the sea and came up with the button. "See!" he said and killed the American. The German threw a pin into the sea. Satan dived in and came out with the pin. "See!" he said and killed the German.

The Nigerian brought out a pure water sachet, opened it and poured the contents into the sea holding back the sachet he said to Satan "Oya begin find water inside water... Idiot".....

Proud to be a Nigerian!!
Even the devil bowed.
Naija rocks......

Arab Sheikhs Are Going Crazy for This $3 Million Motor Home

2013-10-07T04:26:00.001-07:00

The world's most expensive mobile home has gone on sale in Dubai for £2 million, or $3.1 million at today's conversion rates, The Daily Mail reports.

The humongous, 40-foot-long eleMMent Palazzo from Austrian company Marchi Mobile is covered with gold and comes with a ton of luxury features, including a 40-inch flat screen, a pop-up cocktail lounge, a fireplace, a master bedroom, and underfloor heating.

The moving mansion can even clean itself. "... the vehicle has been a hit among oil-rich Arab Sheikhs - the state-of-the-art homes even wash themselves after a day's driving through the Middle Eastern desert," the Daily Mail reports.

But the amazing vehicle could also cater to any multi-millionaire or global superstar on the road. It's also available in white (shown here).

Inside, there is ample space for for lounging.

Upstairs (yes, it's a double decker) there's a master bedroom, complete with windows and wall art.

It even has its own en-suite bathroom.

There's also a cocktail lounge area for entertaining.

This is where the driver sits on the top floor.

The eleMMent can expand at the touch of a button to give riders more interior space.

And there's a drop down staircase and pop up sky lounge at the top.

Complete with couches and a table for guests.

This is the WHITE model

Muhammad Ali's advice to his daughters

2013-10-07T04:23:00.000-07:00

The following incident took place when Muhammad Ali's daughters arrived at his home wearing clothes that were not modest. Here is the story as told by one of his daughters:

When we finally arrived, the chauffeur escorted my younger sister, Laila, and me up to my father's suite. As usual, he was hiding behind the door waiting to scare us. We exchanged many hugs and kisses as we could possibly give in one day.

My father took a good look at us. Then he sat me down on his lap and said something that I will never forget. He looked me straight in the eyes and said, "Hana, everything that God made valuable in the world is covered and hard to get to. Where do you find diamonds? Deep down in the ground, covered and protected. Where do you find pearls? Deep down at the bottom of the ocean, covered up and protected in a beautiful shell. Where do you find gold? Way down in the mine, covered over with layers and layers of rock. You've got to work hard to get to them."

He looked at me with serious eyes. "Your body is sacred. You're far more precious than diamonds and pearls, and you should be covered too." Source: Taken from the book: More Than A Hero: Muhammad Ali's Life Lessons Through His Daughter's Eyes.

Entrepreneurship does not need an email id

2013-08-05T13:19:00.003-07:00

A jobless man applied for the position of “office boy” at Microsoft. The HR manager interviewed him, then gave him the ‘ability test”: Clean the floor.The applicant did so. “You passed the test” the HR Manager said ” give me your e-mail address and I’ll send you the application form to fill, as well as when you will start.

The man replied, ” I don’t have a computer, nor an email”

“I’m sorry,” said the HR manager, “if you don’t have an email, means you do not exist. And who doesn’t exist, cannot have the job.”

The man left with no hope at all. He didn’t know what to do, with only 10 US$ in his pocket. He then decided to go to the supermarket and buy a 10 Kg crate of tomatoes.

He then sold the tomatoes in a door-to-door round. In less than two hours, He succeeded to double his capital. He repeated the operation three times, and returned home with 60 US$…

The man realized that he can survive by this way, and started to go everyday earlier, and return late. Thus, his money doubled or tripled every day.

Shortly later, he bought a cart, then a truck, and then he had his own fleet of delivery vehicles. 5 years later, the man is one of the biggest food retailers in the US…

He started to plan his family’s future, and decided to have a life insurance. He called an insurance broker, and chooses a protection plan.

When the conversation was concluded, the broker asked him his email address. The man replied, “I don’t have email “. The broker answered curiously “you don’t have email, and yet have succeeded to build an empire. Can you imagine what you could have been if you had an email?”

The man thought for a while and replied” Yes, I’d be an office boy @ Microsoft!”