I've Been Thinking

Security breach? Kenyan airline official leaks Obama's exact itinerary

2015-07-22T16:36:00.001+03:00

In a stunning breach of protocol, the national airline of Kenya, where President Obama will visit later this week, published the arrival and departure times of Air Force One, prompting scrambling by White House security officials.

A Kenyan Airways official sent an e-mail blast with the expected time of arrival and departure of the presidential plane in Nairobi, even though it’s standard White House practice never to publish the 40- to 50-minute window during which Air Force One is scheduled to land or take off. And safeguards are enhanced when the president visits a location which could pose added danger, as is the case in Kenya, where the State Department has issued a travel alert and warned that the summit on entrepreneurship Obama is attending is a likely terrorist target.

“Jomo Kenyatta and Wilson will be closed as follows,” reads an e-mail marked "high" importance and originally sent July 13 by a Kenyan aviation official to a wide range of aviation officials who work in and around the nation's two major airports. The missive went on to give dates and times for the airports’ closure, which Fox News will not disclose, and states: “This corresponds to the expected arrival and departure time for President Obama.”

The Secret Service, when contacted by Fox News, said it would have no comment.

Airports and airspace around them typically close prior to Air Force One's arrival and remain on lock down until his motorcade departs.

Kenya has been the scene of several attacks by Somali-based Muslim terrorist group Al Shabaab since September 2013, when the terrorist group struck Nairobi's Westgate mall and killed 67 people. The mall only reopened this week after nearly two years of reconstruction. Kenya was also was the site of a surface-to-air missile attack on an Israeli airliner in 2002. Two shoulder-fired missiles missed the plane, in an attack for which Al Qaeda claimed credit. Al-Shabaab is widely believed to have surface-to-air missiles.

The original email was blasted out to airline customers, "all operators" of both of Nairobi’s airports, including staff, aircraft operators and even flight schools at the general aviation Nairobi Wilson field. But making matters worse, earlier this week a Johannesburg travel agent sent out an email with the sensitive text pasted in to all its customers with the subject line: "Info on Obama visit to Kenya."

The State Department's terror alert stated, "there is the opportunity for criminal elements to target participants and other visitors. Large-scale public events such as this Summit can also be a terror target.”

Even within the last month, Al Shabaab has been active in Kenya, although its efforts have been largely in the northeast, near the Somali border. The Kenyan government has been spending millions of dollars sprucing up the roads and pavements of Nairobi ahead of Obama’s visit. Kenyans have dubbed the clean-up “Obamacare.”

Van Gaal casts fresh doubt over Di Maria

2015-07-22T16:03:00.000+03:00

Louis van Gaal has cast fresh doubt over Angel di Maria’s future as Paris St Germain step up their bid for the Manchester United winger.

Di Maria is set to join up with the rest of Van Gaal’s squad in the US this weekend.

But with PSG expected to table a £45m offer for the Argentine international Van Gaal failed to dismiss talk of his potential Old Trafford exit.

Asked about Di Maria’s future, the Dutchman said: “I cannot answer that. You can ask every time, but it’s a process, what I’m always saying, and when we think we shall have to say something I shall say it.”

Jumia Fashion

Van Gaal’s comments had echoes of his response to questions in the build up to Robin van Persie’s departure to Fenerbahce earlier this month.

Just days before the Holland striker completed a move to Turkey, the United manager said: “When we feel he is gone, you will hear from Manchester United. We don’t have that feeling yet.”

Di Maria has vowed to fight for his place at United, but continues to be the subject of speculation following a disappointing first season in the Premier League.

Manchester United vs Arsenal match report: Danny Welbeck comes back to haunt old club as Angel Di Maria season hits new low

2015-03-09T09:00:00.000+03:00

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And by the former standards of Manchester United that was certainly right. His strike rate for his home town club was almost one every five games and the misses included the shot he lifted straight into the arms of Bayern Munich’s Manuel Neuer, as the light was last being extinguished on the club’s European status. But the problem for the Dutch manager who is about to preside over a second successive United season minus season for the first time since 1989 is that those former United standards no longer apply.

It wasn’t really a stellar offering from Welbeck on his return home. He hardly set a perishing Manchester alight. But he did a simple thing very well - seizing on Antonio Valencia’s backpass that sold David de Gea short and doing the substantial amount of work still required to slip past the goalkeeper and score.

Radamel Falcao, whom Welbeck made way for, has scored just four goals , assisted three and has – van Gaal assured us last night - stamped his mark and provided some kind of “motivational” support, but regardless of the £265,000 a week you’d certainly still take Welbeck ahead of him.

Van Gaal huffed and puffed when the comparison between the two was put to him last night but who did he have up front as the game finished? Marouane Fellani and Chris Smalling. So much for the master tactician and his famous “philosophy.” His was a deeply unattractive sulk and you just had to like the simple, uncomplicated strategy of Arsene Wenger’s decision to try a counter-attacking game, with Welbeck at the apex of it because of his pace. “There was a psychological consideration. We always want to do well against our former team,” Wenger said of Welbeck.

The striker cast a quick, though unmissable, glance at the United bench after he scored and you fancied he wanted to rub van Gaal’s nose in it after all that had been said. It was only four minutes later that Angel di Maria did just that, when he was dismissed for diving and grabbing at the referee. Another metaphor for a player struggling to make any headway because he is no longer doing the simple things, like running at defenders, having time to cross. The United side is scrambled and tactically confused. He’s suffering the consequences.

Wenger’s side were at it harder from the start. Their record here looked pitiful – just the one win in their last 15 games at Old Trafford, a stadium where there could not even make David Moyes suffer. And though Hector Bellerin was tested early on by the wide player who is running at full backs as we thought di Maria would – Ashley Young – Wenger’s players were the ones with a plan. Nothing titanic from them: sit, allow United possession and strike on the counter-attack. Santi Cazorla was bound the operation together but the regularity with which Van Gaal’s side s passed up easy possession – three times in 20 seconds from Danny Blind at one stage and a di Maria calamity which saw Ander Herrera booked in the rescued effort - made it a serviceable approach.
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Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, the most dangerous player of the first half, found width to operate, too. He had already clipped narrowly over the bar after seizing a slightly undercooked Danny Welbeck pass and driving forward, when he took on Mesut Ozil’s measured ball and embarked on a slalom across the edge of United’s area, beyond Young, Blind and Smalling. He slid the ball left to Nacho Monreal to slide home an opening goal: only his second for Arsenal.

Wenger jigged with delight on the touchline, a lead at Old Trafford being the reward for the same midfield resilience the team had displayed in that win at Manchester City in January and for enterprise in the way that they broke at pace. The goal really was gift wrapped, though: too much space for Ozil, no challenge on Chamberlain and Monreal left unmarked because Antonio Valencia had gone roaming and not made it back.

It was a catalyst for United to find some kind of life. The prime strategies - diagonal crosses to Marouane Fellaini – wasn’t quite what we had always anticipated when they were spending all that money last summer. Any port in a storm though. As things turned out, Rooney was the one jockeying for space when di Maria delivered from the right, only three minutes after United had fallen behind. Laurent Koscielny was at fault but Rooney’s movement was as exquisite as his headed finish.

Van Gaal’s sense of discomfort was clear with two half time substitutions – most significantly Michael Carrick for Ander Herrera, who had been struggling against Cazorla – and though the night ended desperately prematurely for Oxlade-Chamberlain, with a snapped hamstring, Arsenal continued to threaten. Chris Smalling was the weak link. David de Gea made four superlative saves again but, with the exception of one moment’s danger from di Maria, United had nothing.

There was an inevitability about Welbeck’s goal. In hope of some sparkle, Adnan Januzaj arrived but then, within minutes, di Maria was gone – booked for diving in search of foul under barely a challenge from substitute Aaron Ramsey and dismissed after grabbing referee Michael Oliver’s shirt. He was not worthy of the claps from the Stretford End which accompanied his dismissal.

Januzaj’s booking for simulation was more theatrically ridiculous still as the chasing Monreal followed him into the box. But in an assured disaply of refereeing Michael Oliver was unmoved. Even then, there were more chances for Arsenal. Alexis Sanchez sent a ball skimming across the area at the death. For Wenger, joy. For van Gaal, public assuredness but a private struggle to know where things go from here.
All in all we thankyou welbeck.

Post courtesy of http://www.independent.co.uk/

The Phenomenon that is the Infinix X507

2015-03-06T05:04:00.000+03:00

Infinix Hot X507 adds a little bit of color to the budget android market. The 5-inch smartphone is available in a range of jaunty colors to suit different tastes for the young generation. The new Infinix is a budget revision of the Zero, with a textured plastic frame being its distinguishing feature. In case you weren’t a big fan of the Infinix Zero glass body, then this smartphone is a good option to consider especially if your devices are prone to flying off the hands. This device is thicker, giving you a lot more to grab onto while also getting a larger battery inside.

A 50% discount on a phone may lead you to asking. How? Why? Maybe there is something wrong with the phone. Maybe it is a lie.

Well I thought of all that too. But NO. The deal is true. I have seen people buy and get their phones delivered. Plus NO this post is not about the Jumia Deal. This post is about the Infinix Hot itself. So let us jump in to the specs.

The phone runs on Android 4.4.2 Kitkat. It has a Quad Core processor clocked at 1.3Ghz and I must agree is super fast. RAM is 1GB which is really acceptable. The internal storage of the phone is 16GB but expandable with an external SD card.

The phone is 5 inches in size with a resolution of 480 x 854 pixels. This may not be impressive on paper but once you take a look at the phone’s clarity you will find nothing to complain about. Text and pictures are sharp and clear and good to look at. (Or maybe I’m just saying this because the phone is still new).

The front camera is 2MP. The selfies are understandable. The back camera is a good 5MP. Images are agreeably sharp and smart. It doesn’t have the bad quality the 8MP F6 camera had.

Technical specifications

Device type	Smartphone
Dimensions (LxWxD)	142.4 x 73.2 x 10.1 mm
Weight	160 grams
OS	Android OS, 4.4.2 KitKat
Processor	1.3 GHz Quad-core, MediaTek MT6582 chipset
RAM	1GB
GPU	Mali-400MP2
Internal storage	16GB
External storage	Micro SD, up to 32GB
Screen size	5.0 inches
Resolution	480 x 854 pixels
Pixel density	196 ppi
Screen type	IPS capacitive, 16M colors
SIM	Mini SIM, dual SIM
Speed	HSPA+ 21Mbps DL, 5.76Mbps UL
Wi-Fi	Yes
Bluetooth	4.0
Battery	2,000mAh
Camera	5MP, 2592 x 1944 pixels; 2MP front-facing
Video	1080p@30fps

Pricing

About Sh. 6,999 exclusively on JUMIA KENYA.

Public Holiday For Ivory Coast After AFCON Win

2015-02-10T04:04:00.000+03:00

Ivory Coast announced a public holiday on Monday to celebrate its dramatic win over Ghana in the Africa Cup of Nations final.

A 9-8 victory on penalties on Sunday night gave the Ivorians their second title, in a repeat of the 1992 final.

The game was followed by joyous celebrations on the streets the country's biggest city, Abidjan.

Ivory Coast's win brings to an end a 22-year drought during which they lost twice on penalties.

President Alassane Ouattara announced the paid holiday on public radio and television after the game.

'Unbelievable'

Celebrations in Abidjan went on late into the night on Sunday.

Gozo Maxime Blessing, a 27-year old student, told the BBC that fans had been waiting 23 years for this moment.

"I'm great. I don't know how to express my joy. But this is a very good performance by the Elephants.

"I am happy. I am voiceless. For 23 years, we were waiting for this trophy and by the grace of God we've got it."

The team are due to arrive back home on Monday afternoon, with a celebration planned at the city's Felix Houphouet-Boigny football stadium.

Announcements on local radio requested that fans stay away from the stadium as its 35,000 capacity had already been reached.

Ivory Coast goalkeeper Boubacar Barry scored the decisive spot-kick to seal the victory against Ghana.

Captain Yaya Toure, who won the Premier League with Manchester City last season, described winning the cup as "unbelievable".

"When you win with your club, it's quite amazing," he said. "With your country, it's unbelievable."

The competition was organised by Equatorial Guinea in just two months after Morocco pulled out over fears of the spread of Ebola.

Morocco was subsequently banned from the 2017 and 2019 tournaments. Its football federation was fined $1m (£650,000) and ordered to pay $9.1m in damages to the Confederation of African Football (Caf).

Post Courtesy Of BBC Africa

Throwing in my two cents

2015-01-09T09:30:00.000+03:00

New Laws of the land.

Nothing has brought much bigger debate to the land than the controversial new laws that our president signed into law last year. Apparently these laws infringe on so many of our personal rights that experts claim them to be the worst move by a Kenyan government yet, I mean these laws make mututho likeable.

However that being said, I think we are all concentrating on the wrong things as a nation, we have mps fighting for salaries, MCA's becoming the new pigs on the block, teachers on the other hand are back to their regular intrigues (I mean seriously, why do they even go back to work if they know they are going to strike over the same issues each year?!!... this time just don't go back to work unless you get everything handed to you and not as an "I owe you", if not then do not go back on the streets again). oops, I veered out of topic, sorry for that.

State Of The Nation

I am all for the idea of people working hard and making money, hard work should and needs to be rewarded, humanity cannot be equal....those who study hard deserve better pay and , there should be a gap between the rich and the poor. We are a growing nation, oozing with potential, our GDP grows every year, we are the envy of the world, we have room to grow and be the best yet. In all honesty I couldn't be more proud of being Kenyan than I am at this very moment. But I believe with great success comes an even bigger responsibility.

Opinion

In my personal opinion, I believe there should be a base, a level that no Kenyan should be below, no child should go without a proper meal, nobody should live on less than a dollar a day, we all deserve access to proper healthcare, we deserve and have every right to security, nobody should be living out in the cold. We all see those children malnourished living in poverty stricken areas, not even capable of shedding a tear,with no energy to even cry,completely given up on life. We all see that man who waits for the rest of civilization to retire into their homes and get into their cozy warm beds so that he can pull out his little carton box and sleep in the cold streets of Nairobi,no meal,no warmth and at the mercy of mother nature.We all had that classmate who came to school in torn uniform,hand me down books,chapped lips and a certain smell that clearly indicated their clothes were not completely dry. We need to ensure every Kenyan is above this point, proper meals for everyone, proper shelter and access to affordable healthcare for all Kenyans. If we can dedicate ourselves to ensuring that every single Kenyan is above this cut off point, then we will have achieved a far greater feat than any dual carriage highway, standard gauge railway or port we could ever think of building.

Think about it, it isn't illegal yet.

Your Network Is Your Networth

2014-12-11T16:45:00.001+03:00

Networking” – the word alone can make introverts break into a cold sweat, while gregarious colleagues stuff their pockets with business cards to hand out to anyone they meet. But what is networking, exactly, and how can it fit into your already-packed schedule?

Networking is an important part of planning for your future. The relationships you make now can last for years to come and help you in your career.It is a well known fact that in Kenya,you are only as great as the people you know and the greater your connections,the higher your chances in advancing in any career.Whether you are doing something as Simple as pulling a hand cart or you are a massive engineer at a tech company,the number of influential people you know really influences the pace at which you grow in your business.

How you look,your body language and how you carry yourself are very important in Networking.

Here are a few tips:

Managing Networking Expectations.

Networking is not about selling your product or service; it should be a conversation.You can’t expect that everyone is automatically going to use you because you’re the person that they met at a networking event. Most people already have longstanding relationships with other business people. But if eventually the work starts to come your way, whether it is directly from the people that you meet or from the referrals that they provide your name to, then you’ll know that it’s working.

Preparations Before An Event
the people putting on the event.

You’re headed to a trade show, conference or seminar, and you’re hoping to make some connections while there. Preparation is key. Here are some ideas of what to do before you leave.

• Let others know you’re going. Use social media to not just promote yourself but to promote others, such as

• See if you know anyone else who’s going. If it’s possible, I like to know who’s going to be there and see if there’s anyone attending who I haven’t seen for a while. Or someone new that I’d like to make a connection with.

• If someone you’d like to meet is going to be there, find out more about them. A quick Google search may lead you to an interesting article they wrote or were mentioned in.

Conversation Starters

Smile. It may seem basic, but it's hard not to start a discussion or at least smile back.
"Hi, my name is...." It can be intimidating to approach someone (or a group of people), but push yourself to walk over and introduce yourself. Start with your name and follow it up with an easy-to-answer question like "How do you know the host?" or "What brings you here tonight?"
"I love your [shoes/shirt/necktie]." You'd be surprised how quickly someone's guard can come down when you dish out a compliment. "That was an interesting presentation you just gave" or "That's one of my favorite books you're reading" can go a long way.
"You look familiar." You run into each other at the library,mall or coffee shop several times a week. Why not say hello?
Bring up a timely topic. Talk about a book or movie that just came out, or something big that's happening in the news. Try to avoid religion or politics.

Networking Online

Online associations are great ways to connect with a larger number of people.Forums are becoming a part of that, and online chats are great ways to get your name out there and make your presence known without having to put yourself out.

• Use a digital signature – four lines maximum – that acts like a business card on your email and online posts.

• Join LinkedIn and online associations.

• Use your online activities to promote others wherever possible. That includes re-tweeting to build Twitter relationships.

Assess Your Network

You’re probably more connected than you think. Your network includes people you know on a personal and professional level, such as:

• Friends
• Family
• High-school alumni
• Church members
• Fellow volunteers
• Former colleagues
• Fellow club members
• College/university alumni
• Former and current neighbors
• Healthcare professionals you see routinely (doctors, dentists,Lawyers.)
• Service people you go to regularly (auto technicians, dry cleaners,Tailors etc.)
• Fellow association members

Volunteering

Serve on the board of a charitable organization that you truly believe in, and you’ll soon be connecting with like-minded professionals.

Be A Go-Giver, Not A Go-Getter

How can you turn a networking opportunity into a new business relationship? By using the right approach.

• What turns people off is asking, ‘Can you help me?’ right away.In networking, you give before you get.

• Once you’ve helped an individual, that person sees you as someone on their side, part of their professional circle of colleagues, and someone they will one day return the favour to.

The Networking-Don’t List

• Don’t stand by yourself at an event or gathering, waiting for others to approach you.

• Don’t broadcast a sales pitch repeatedly.Most people who believe that they’re networking are trying to sell a product or a service.The only reason that they’re there is for the ‘me’ effect, not the ‘we’ effect.

• Don’t interrupt. If you’re joining a group, don’t just barge in and hand everyone in their circle a business card.Wait for a break in the conversation before introducing yourself.

Adscreens-Reach Over 900k Family Bank Customers

2013-05-06T03:42:00.000+03:00

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Daily Bread

2012-11-29T04:11:00.001+03:00

But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

The Night Life

2012-11-27T21:54:00.001+03:00

So yeah the long awaited last month of the year is just days away,with most people almost going on recess the nightlife scene is about to be livened up a notch higher like the norm it is in nairobi..
With all that said trust Don Nissi to give you a walkthrough of some of the events you should look forward to.
The well reknown club volar will pay homage to some of these events.Fantasy fusion is among the hyped events to be held there with Factory djs,Electrio dj,Kumi and chuckie among the headline EDM,House Music and Trance djs.
Club ichonic will boast the annual Nairobi Rock Fest with the rock band SKINFLINT set to grace the occasion.The countdown is also among the events to be held there.
If you in Nakuru or as we rebranded it Nax Vegas we got you,The Thirst is set to take place at Capital Hill Lodge this sato.Check out the newly opened Rafikiz bar and lounge while in vegas and get to experience the talk of the town..
With international artists such as Chris Brown,Keri Hilson,Erykah Badu and Jah Cure set to grace our country this should be a holiday to reckon with..
set yo dates and have a nice one party people..STAY SAFE DONT DRINK AND DRIVE..

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The good kid in a m.a.ad city

2012-11-27T20:59:00.001+03:00

so yeah we've had a number of rookies come up and perhaps your favorite rapper can make females twerk everytime their records play but does he posses the ability to reach and pass knowledge to the listeners.Really music is much more than the partying and the flashy life which most of us know not.
Someone asked me whats my take on the current hiphop industry and i could only think of one answer to that,Compton's very own Kendrick Lamar.
Heralded as 'the future of the genre' by Nas and 'new king of westcoast' by Dr.Dre and Snoop Dogg,Kendrick boasts his own style,he independently broke boundaries without touching the mainstream market with the release of SECTION 80,his poetic story telling ability in this piece was served as motivation to his peers to struggle for a better life.
Recently the much anticipated 'good kid m.A.A.d city' dropped after all the tremendous hype and like expected he dint disappoint.
Unlike his earlier crafts GKMC is more personal and details into his life growing up.With skits,conversations and phonecalls intertwined between songs it gives a clear picture.
Highlits of the album include 'swimming pools' which is a story on how young people are exposed to alcohol and the causes,'good kid' shows type of things young people are exposed to from gangs to dealing with the police,'black boy fly' sees a kid from the ghetto with hope of making it and leading a better life,other great tracks include money trees,sherane,compton,real,mad city,the recipe and poetic justice.
The album has minimal features from Drake to Dre and AbSoul among a few others,GKMC is easily one of the most story told piece that any young person being exposed to the struggles of life growing up can relate to.Its not always about the partying Music is knowledge,Music is Therapy,Music is Love.....
BE INSPIRED.

Published with Blogger-droid v2.0.9

The good kid in a m.a.ad city

2012-11-27T05:19:00.001+03:00

so yeah we've had a number of rookies come up and perhaps your favorite rapper can make females twerk everytime their records play but does he posses the ability to reach and pass knowledge to the listeners.Really music is much more than the partying and the flashy life which most of us know not.
Someone asked me whats my take on the current hiphop industry and i could only think of one answer to that,Compton's very own Kendrick Lamar.
Heralded as 'the future of the genre' by Nas and 'new king of westcoast' by Dr.Dre and Snoop Dogg,Kendrick boasts his own style,he independently broke boundaries without touching the mainstream market with the release of SECTION 80,his poetic story telling ability in this piece was served as motivation to his peers to struggle for a better life.
Recently the much anticipated 'good kid m.A.A.d city' dropped after all the tremendous hype and like expected he dint disappoint.
Unlike his earlier crafts GKMC is more personal and details into his life growing up.With skits,conversations and phonecalls interwined between songs it gives a clear picture.
Highlits of the album include 'swimming pools' which is a story on how young people are exposed to alcohol and the causes,'good kid' shows type of things young people are exposed to from gangs to dealing with the police,'black boy fly' sees a kid from the ghetto with hope of making it and leading a better life,other great tracks include money trees,sherane,compton,real,mad city,the recipe and poetic justice.
The album has minimal features from Drake to Dre and AbSoul among a few others,GKMC is easily one of the most story told piece that any young person being exposed to the struggles of life growing up can relate to.Its not always about the partying Music is knowledge,Music is Therapy,Music is Love.....
BE INSPIRED.

Published with Blogger-droid v2.0.9

New Zealand Launch New Plane Design

2012-11-25T18:41:00.000+03:00

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Well actually, yes it is. Air New Zealand's planes have been given a Hobbit overhaul in advance of the film's release in December, with dwarves, hobbits and wizards emblazoned on the side.

It will certainly make the plane stand out among the others in Heathrow when it lands tomorrow morning and passengers arriving from other flights may wonder if they are hallucinating as the slogan 'The Airline of Middle Earth' passes by them on the tarmac.

The 777-300 aircraft has been praised by The Hobbit director Sir Peter Jackson, who says: “It’s wonderful to see such a stunning image to celebrate The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey on one of Air New Zealand’s largest international aircraft. It’s a unique representation of the innovation and creativity of New Zealanders and a great opportunity to show off the incomparably beautiful landscape of this country.”

Air New Zealand will launch a second flying billboard next year utilising another of its long haul aircraft to celebrate the second movie in the trilogy, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

Thierry Henry to train with Arsenal in December ahead of possible loan return

2012-11-20T20:58:00.000+03:00

Arsenal's all-time leading goalscorer has been told he can keep in shape at their London Colney training base during the MLS off-season.

Goal.com understands that there is a strong possibility that the informal situation could even extend into a second loan spell at the club where Henry enjoys legendary status.

Arsene Wenger wants to strengthen his squad with a new centre-forward in the window January and, as revealed by Goal.com last month, has made Atletico Madrid’s Adrian Lopez his top target.

However, if Arsenal cannot clinch a deal for the Spain international, they are considering turning once again to Henry, who has just completed his third season at New York Red Bulls.

The Londoners will lose Gervinho on Africa Cup of Nations duty in January for up to six weeks and doubt surrounds the future of Theo Walcott, even though progress has been made in his contract negotiations with the club.

Although no talks have taken place at this stage between Henry and Arsenal, he is regarded as a possible temporary solution to the club’s centre-forward problem.

The Frenchman, who turned 35 in August, had a fairytale seven-match return to Emirates Stadium at the start of the year, extending his Arsenal scoring record to 228 goals.

The striker returned to London last week after New York Red Bulls were beaten in the MLS play-offs to end their domestic campaign.

He was principally in the capital to spend time with his family but visited London Colney and was also at Emirates Stadium last Saturday to watch Arsenal beat Tottenham 5-2 in the north London derby

The Frenchman now plans to go on holiday before coming back to London in December, where he is set to make full use of Arsenal’s training facilities on his return to maintain his fitness.

The former France international capped an excellent season for New York Red Bulls, which yielded 15 goals in 29 games, by being one of the three players nominated for the MLS most valuable player of the year award. Graham Zusi of Sporting Kansas City and the San Jose Earthquakes striker Chris Wondolowski are the other nominees.

Speaking in the summer about the possibility of another stint at Arsenal, Henry said: “I would like to go back to England with Arsenal for sure.

“I wasn't planning to go back to play last season. It was only because Gervinho and (Marouane) Chamakh went to the African Nations Cup.

“I was there to train and they asked me if I wanted to play. Who knows what might happen in the future? I've not yet spoken to Arsene about it so I don't know what capacity I could go back in.”

Lionel Messi Is Better than Pele-Kinda

2012-11-14T17:09:00.000+03:00

Perhaps the best available metric to sum up Lionel Messi’s latest achievement is that precisely nobody was surprised about it. On Sunday, the Barcelona and Argentine soccer legend – and even at the tender age of 25, that description is not hyperbole – scored his 75th and 76th goals in a calendar year, breaking a certain Pele’s career-best tally of goals for both club (Santos) and country (Brazil) in a January-December timeframe. “Leo’s records are spectacular” said Barcelona’s coach Tito Vilanova. “It’s spectacular when you think that he scores so many goals. Some few players reach these numbers in seven or eight seasons, he does it in one. And most of his goals are great goals.”

Barcelona defeated Real Mallorca 4-2, with Messi’s strikes making it a simply staggering 76 goals in 59 appearances (the split between Barca and Argentina is 64-12) It’s worth noting that Pele notched his 75 goals in just 53 matches back in 1958. That was a landmark year for Pele, who was just 17; he won the first of his three World Cups for Brazil, and scored twice in the 5-2 final against Sweden (in Sweden, no less). What’s more, that club vs. country argument – an argument Pele has made in the past – leads naysayers to note that Messi has yet to win serious hardware for Argentina, whose fanatical supporters have only recently begun to take their special superstar to their hearts.

(TIME COVER STORY: Lionel Messi’s Final Goal)

It’s slightly spurious to compare eras because the soccer world of 2012 is a far different beast to 1958, where players weren’t as physically fit, formations weren’t as sophisticated and the quality gap between sides – especially in the international arena – was far wider than today. Yes, that can lead to the oft-trotted out cliché of how there are no easy games in international soccer. But recent World Cups have proven that to be true. The likes of Bulgaria, Croatia, Turkey, South Korea and Uruguay have reached the semi-finals in the last five tournaments, knocking out supposedly superior sides along the way.

The mesmerizing Messi detests being rested, wanting nothing to do with the rotation system favored by many coaches (alas, modern-day soccer isn’t always an improvement over the old ways). He doesn’t just score his goals for fun from a few yards out: what’s astounding is the quality of his strikes (“You also have to remember that some of them are genuine stunners,” said Vilanova). Even his most recent goals Sunday were typical of his brilliance. Messi’s opener saw him dribble past some defenders before finding the net (admittedly, the goalkeeper could have done better) and his follow-up was notable for its pure power. It’s the seventh time this season (which only began a few months ago) that he’s scored multiple goals in a game.

Messi managed a Spanish league record of 50 goals last season, breaking Cesar Rodriguez’s 57-year record of 232 goals, to become Barcelona all-time leading scorer in the process. In total, he scored 73 goals for Barca during that campaign, which also meant that he overtook the previous European club record of 67 goals set by the German great Gerd Müller in 1972-73. Müller holds the all-time calendar record of 85 goals (from 60 games) in 1972 for Bayern Munich and West Germany. Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo seems to be in no doubt that the Argentine is closing in on the mark, noting that Messi “has the best of Pele and Müller. He’s as good or even better than the Brazilian and as effective as the German bomber but much more elegant and virtuous.”

(INTERVIEW: Lionel Messi on His Sport, Cristiano Ronaldo — and Argentina)

You’d hope that “Der Bomber” will congratulate Messi if he does break the record but don’t go expecting Pele to offer up praise any time soon. Last year, the Brazilian was keen to point out that his fellow South American has yet to transfer his club form onto the world stage. “Nobody did what Pele did. Being champion of the world at 17 years old, won three World Cups, scored more than 1,208 goals – only him!” he modestly mentioned in the third person. “Then until now, nobody did this … to me, Pele is the best.”

Can Messi do it? He has 11 games left in 2012, starting this Wednesday with an international friendly against the not exactly heavyweight Saudi Arabia, which means he needs to score nine goals to equal the record and 10 to break it. If he stays healthy, the odds are certainly in his favor. Messi is already the favorite to win a fourth consecutive Ballon d’Or. If he eventually lifts a World Cup for Argentina, to add to his already ludicrous trophy haul with Barcelona, we will be able to anoint him the greatest player of all time and move on with our lives.

Read more: http://keepingscore.blogs.time.com/2012/11/12/its-official-kind-of-lionel-messi-is-better-than-pele/#ixzz2CCoDQoR7

Rules Were Made To be Broken!

2012-11-13T03:00:00.000+03:00

who's to say the rules must stay the same forever,
whoever made them had to change the rules that came before.
so make your own way,show the beauty within.
when you follow your heart,there's no heart you can't win.
so reach for the sky,its not as high as it seems
just follow your heart,go as far as your dreams,
dare if you want to,don't fear you'll fail
take a chance because its better,than never to chance it all.
there's a world for the changing,and you've just begun.
don't let them tell you,its simply not done
when you follow your heart,you'l shine bright as the sun.

Extravagant Home Features of the 1%

2012-11-05T01:04:00.000+03:00

If your garage has a hydraulic car elevator, you might be part of the group of high earners who make more than 99 percent of Americans: the One Percent. There is a good chance you might also be a One Percenter if a waterslide connects your master bedroom to your swimming pool.

You get the picture. For the One Percent, amenities like a home theater or a wine cellar hardly make your house stand out. The exceptional features that follow won’t be seen in just any mansion. These special features can only be afforded by famous athletes, hip hop artists and other mega-wealthy owners.
The cheapest of the following five mansions goes for $7.495 million, and the prices go up—way up—from there. Many contain a few unusual amenities, while others are loaded with them.

The Sandcastle House, pictured at top
Location: Bridgehampton, N.Y.
Price: $43.5 million
Bedrooms: 10
Square footage: 31,000

Many mansions have bowling alleys. It might even be true that more luxury mansions have bowling alleys than there are luxury mansion-dwellers who bowl. Still, other estates don’t have bowling alleys as modern and beautiful as this one.

The mega-mansion pictured at top, built by Hamptons developer Joe Farrell on 11.5 acres, has a lot going on: a heated granite pool with an underwater stereo, and a master suite with 2,800 square feet. The lowest level of the three-level home is the Air Lounge, with a two-lane bowling alley, full bar and disco, rock climbing wall, and a full spa facility. The “recreation pavilion” also features a skateboarder's halfpipe.

With all that, some of the home's best known occupants are perfectly able to entertain themselves: Beyonce and Jay-Z are said to have paid $400,000 to rent the place last August.

Full Stage
Location: Los Angeles
Price: $7.495 million
Bedrooms: 5
Square footage: 10,000

Home theaters with comfy seating and a movie screen or an oversize flat-screen TV are old hat. This estate in a gated community overlooking a country club features a full-on theater with a stage big enough for a grand piano. With Hollywood nearby, you never know when an entertainer might drop in.

Whoever does come by can enjoy a full bar and lounge area for pre-concert gatherings, and separate guest quarters if the show runs late.

Indoor Basketball Court
Location: Highland Park, Ill.
Price: $29 million
Bedrooms: 9
Bathrooms: 15 full, 4 partial

This contemporary mansion just north of Chicago has a professional-grade indoor basketball court. There’s a good reason for that, indicated by the number emblazoned on the mansion's front gates. It is the home of legendary Chicago Bulls ballplayer, Number 23 himself, Michael Jordan.

The Primm Compound
Location: Las Vegas
Price: $16.5 million
Bedrooms: 10
Square footage: 21,000

Where can you do “over-the-top” better than in Vegas? This 1991 equestrian compound has a casino with a bar plus an entirely different type of "game room" — a trophy room with light-activated animal sounds. Also on the premises are an indoor-outdoor dog villa, beauty parlor, shooting range, 20-car showroom with deionized-water carwash, and gas station.

Collector Garage Mini Village
Location: Fairfield, Conn.
Price: $19.998 million
Bedrooms: 6
Bathrooms: 8 full, 3 partial
Square footage: 22,882

The owner of this mansion not only collects cars, he also has a collection of car-collector garages. Of the three auto barns (plus a maintenance bay), one barn is reminiscent of Elvis’ classic auto museum at Graceland. It comes complete with an antique Mobil gas station with vintage pumps, Main Street-style “storefronts,” and a functioning diner. There is also a vineyard on the grounds and a caretaker’s house that dates back to 1896.

entertain themselves: Beyonce and Jay-Z are said to have paid $400,000 to rent the place last August.

Ronaldo keeps climbing Real Madrid scorers list as Mourinho's men match Barcelona

2012-10-30T12:02:00.002+03:00

It was almost too easy. Real Madrid thumped a mediocre Mallorca on Sunday to match Barcelona's 5-0 win at Rayo Vallecano and return to winning ways after losing at Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday but, as Jose Mourinho admitted afterwards, there was still something missing.
Perhaps the biggest difference of all is that, this time last year, it was Madrid - and not Barca - who were in control of La Liga. This term, however, it is the Catalans out in front following a superb start to the season and Atletico hanging on in second, with Madrid eight points adrift in fourth place.

"We are on a positive track," Mourinho said. "Even though we lost in the Champions League. We are winning games, but we are not playing as well as we did last season."

At the moment, that matters little. The important thing for Madrid is to remain in touch with Barca and that was all but assured from the moment Gonzalo Higuain made it 1-0 after seven minutes following a monumental mix-up in the Mallorca defence - the Argentine making a timely return to form following a frustrating few weeks.

Cristiano Ronaldo then scored the second with just 21 minutes gone with a low angled shot into the bottom corner and it was all too easy. Madrid were not playing that well, they did not need to.

Ronaldo chalked up his first assist of the season as he created Higuain's second midway through the second half and added another minutes later as he raced through the locals' defence before producing a slick finish to move up to joint seventh on the club's list of all-time Liga scorers with 123 goals, alongside both Pirri and Emilio Butragueno.

There was still time for another, too, as substitute Jose Callejon became Madrid's first Spanish scorer of the season with his last-minute strike for 5-0, a scoreline identical to Barcelona's at Rayo Vallecano the night before.
But Madrid are still playing catch-up in the Primera Division and must now wait until the Catalans hit a rocky run of results in order to close some ground on their fiercest rivals. And that may be easier said than done because Barca have come through a defensive crisis unscathed to register their joint-best start to a season.

In order to beat Louis van Gaal's record from 1997-98, Barca must avoid defeat at home to Celta Vigo next weekend - and will be expected to win that one comfortably against the promoted side. Madrid, meanwhile, face Zaragoza at the Santiago Bernabeu and must keep pace, even if they remain below their best.

After another goal-packed weekend in La Liga, there is no change at the top and as long as things stay as they are, Barca will be just fine with that.first Spanish scorer of the season with his last-minute strike for 5-0, a scoreline identical to Barcelona's at Rayo Vallecano the night before.

What men’s breakup excuses really mean

2012-10-10T14:35:00.000+03:00

“It’s not you, it’s me.” “I need some space.” “It’s a crazy time at work…” Ever wondered what men are really thinking when they toss out one of those hackneyed breakup lines? To find out, we asked both experts and regular guys to give it to us straight. Here’s what they told us...

What he says: “It’s not you, it’s me.”
What he really means: “This means: It is you,” says Scott Haltzman, M.D., Medical Director of NRI Community Services in Woonsocket, RI and coauthor of The Secrets of Happily Married Men and The Secrets of Happily Married Women. “You’re not to his taste, and you might as well move on.” By dusting off this classic excuse, he’s trying to soften the blow (as if an amazing woman like you needs to be babied like that!). But before you get too annoyed, consider this his attempt to shoulder the blame — which he wouldn’t do unless he really respects you, says Rick Blaiser, 31, a writer in New York. “We save this line for women that we consider to be cool, and maybe even want to stay friends with,” explains Blaiser.

What he says: “I need my space.”
What he really means: You’re, um, kind of driving him nuts. Yes, your man feels smothered, but the good news is that it may have absolutely nothing to do with you. “Many men have a fierce independent streak, and when they start to feel that they’re losing their autonomy, they do what any caged animal naturally seeks to do — escape!” says Haltzman. The relationship could be moving too fast emotionally or physically for his taste, or perhaps you’re seeing each other too often, suggests L. Joan Allen, relationship coach and author of Celebrating Single and Getting Love Right: From Stalemate to Soulmate. (In some cases, backpedaling and giving him some space may, in fact, help ease his relationship claustrophobia.) Sometimes, however, a man feels suffocated even when you’re not coming on too strong. “Being in love is a form of losing control,” explains Haltzman. “If your guy’s not used to it, there’s a good chance that as he starts to get too close, he may feel an instinct to pull away from you.” (So that explains those guys who call you three times a day, drop by every night — then tell you that you’re crowding them!) But this breed of breakup doesn’t always stick, notes Haltzman: “If he’s balking at making a deeper emotional connection, sometimes, a little space will help change his mind.” So if you’re hoping for a reconciliation, your best bet is to simply get on with your life — and let him figure out for himself how lonely his life is going to be without you.

What he says: “Work is crazy — I don’t have time for a relationship right now.”
What he really means: Sorry, but he’s just not that into you. Work may be busy, sure, but “if you’re important enough to him, he’ll find a way to fit you into his schedule,” asserts Haltzman. Lots of important men manage to juggle their careers and a relationship; just look at Donald and Melania Trump, Michelle and Barack Obama, and countless others who’ve managed to do so under the media’s microscope. Ask yourself this: “If Halle Berry or Charlize Theron came to your guy’s door in the middle of his ‘crazy work schedule,’ would he send her packing?” asks Haltzman. “If the answer is ‘no,’ then you’ve got to wonder why he could find time for one of them and not you.” You also have beauty, brains, and talent — the only thing these actresses have on you are a few stinking statues. If he can’t see your worth, he’s not worthy of your time and attention. Next!

What he says: “I think we should see other people.”
What he really means: He loves messing around with you, but he would like to do that with other women, too. Take it from John Brown, 36, a screenwriter in Los Angeles, who admits to having a “friend” who has pulled this stunt. “When a guy says he thinks you should see other people, he wants to ‘see’ if you’d be willing to let him sleep with other women, guilt-free,” Brown explains. “He still thinks you’re hot — if he didn’t, he’d completely end things — but he doesn’t want all of the obligations that come along with being your boyfriend.” (Remember, John Brown’s just the messenger, people… but he has a point.)

What he says: “You’re too good for me.”
What he really means: He’s not good boyfriend material — and he knows it. When a man says that you deserve a better guy than himself, run — yes, run — the other way. “Most people overestimate their value,” notes Haltzman. “They think they deserve that raise or to be chosen as the winner on American Idol. So if a man tells you that he’s not worthwhile, he’s probably right.” This bad-news dude is flat-out telling you that he doesn’t put much stock in what it takes to make a relationship work, like honesty, trust, or fidelity, says Haltzman. Bottom line: “Believe him and thank him for saving you from a lifetime of misery,” says Allen.

10 Unconventional But Successful Online Homebusiness Ideas

2012-10-02T19:22:00.001+03:00

http://www.hardtofindseminars.com

Michael Senoff has stumbled upon a perfect online home business opportunity – reselling old seminar materials. He was really impressed by Jay Abraham. The only problem was that it costs $20,000 to attend Jay’s workshops (no wonder the press called it, “the world's most expensive seminar"). So he did some digging and managed to find a guy from Northern California who had attended the seminar, asking to buy seminar materials off him. He bought the entire set for … 50 dollars. He later found out that Jay’s materials are being sold on eBay for several hundred dollars. He broke up the original package (that he got for $50) in several pieces and sold items for $1700. Thus, his perfect online homebusiness was born. Michael now resells old seminar materials for dozens of marketing gurus, easily profiting over $1000 a day. Read full story in Mike's own words.

http://www.hungrypod.com/

Catherine Keane, the owner of Hungry Pod, makes over $100,000 a year, uploading music to other people’s iPods. This online homebusiness idea came to her when an acquaintance offered her $500 to load his CD collection onto his iPod. Thanks in part to a small story in The New York Times, Keane's advertising efforts on Craigslist and word-of-mouth, HungryPod has expanded to three employees and four computers, and has annual sales that exceed $100,000. Read The New York Times article about Catherine and her business.

http://www.idonowidont.com/

Joshua Opperman has his ex-fiancée to thank for his thriving online home based business. After the breakup, he was stuck with the engagement ring he paid dearly for. He went back to the jeweler where he'd bought it three months earlier, but found he could only get 32 percent of its original cost. Josh didn’t like that one bit, so he set up a site, where people in the same situation can sell their engagement rights for a better price. See the full profile of this online homebusiness here.

http://www.pickydomains.com/

This is a great online home-based business idea that requires no money and that anyone can start. PickyDomains is a risk-free domain naming service that got a lot of publicity and ‘blogtalk’ in Europe lately. This is how it works. A customer deposits $50 dollars and describes what kind of domain he or she wants. Domain pickers then send in their suggestions of available domain names. If the customer likes one of the domain names and registers it, the service gets $50. Otherwise the money is refunded at the end of the month. Read full article about how you can make money naming domains here.

http://www.greekgear.com/

Reading a business magazine in the doctor's office inspired Joseph Tantillo to try his hand at online retailing. At the time, he and his wife were expecting their first child and wanted to work from home. An article about starting an online store jumped out at him, he recalls—and, as a member of a fraternity in college, he decided to sell personalized Greek apparel to that market. After setting up shop for just $79.95—the cost of a merchant account with Yahoo!— he began researching what kind of products his former fraternity brothers might like. Using the strong Greek network worked, as he's built GreekGear.com's yearly sales to $1.9 million. Read Joseph’s story here.

http://rickspicksnyc.com/

Rick Field, a Yale graduate and former TV producer for Bill Moyers, is a perfect example of how you can start successful home business out of a hobby. Field learned the art of pickling when he was growing up in Vermont. About eight years ago, gripped by a sense of nostalgia, he took up pickling again. In his tiny kitchen, Field made family recipes and then quickly began experimenting. People’s wildly enthusiastic response to his Windy City Wasabeans (soybeans in wasabi brine) and Slices of Life (sliced pickles in aromatic garlic brine) told him he was onto something. Read how Rick took his homebusiness online here.

http://www.militaryexits.com/

Karin Markley set her online business right out of home. Having 15 years of experience working in a civilian employment agency and knowing that companies value employees with military backgrounds, and she wanted to provide a one-stop link between the two. Karen contacted the Department of Defense for permission to use its seal on her Web site. It took months to get it, but MilitaryExits.com is now linked to all the military bases. Markley, who projects annual sales of $600,000, points to her biggest reward: "Helping the military. Getting the letters and phone calls from these people thanking me so much for what I'm doing for them."

http://www.hotsauceblog.com/

If I told you that you can make $200,000 blogging about hot sauces, you wouldn’t believe me. Yet, this is exactly what Nick Lindauer does. In 2001, while still in college, he launched his online homebusiness then called Sweat 'N Spice out of his Springfield (Ore.) apartment. He sold a few dozen types of hot sauces, packaged each order by hand, and shipped everything from his local post office, barely eking out a profit during his first year of operation. Today, Lindauer sells over a thousand products from some 300 manufacturers. In 2005, the business grossed around $130,000. He got $200,000 in 2006. One day, it’s going to be a cool $1000000. Full story.

http://amazingbutterflies.com/

Amazing Butterflies is really an amazing million dollar homebusiness idea success story. Jose Muñiz's career began when a friend bet him $100 that he could not sell butterflies for a living. Now, seven years later, the former business consultant and his wife, Karen, own Amazing Butterflies, a live-butterfly distributor that generated $1 million in revenues in 2006. Though Muñiz is still waiting for his $100, he says that he has backed his way into a job that he loves. "I could never go back to consulting," he says. "This is just too much fun." Full story.

http://www.laneigepurse.com/

What began as a solution to her chronic back and neck pain is now a line of purses for women who share Kristy Sobel's condition--or simply want a fashionable fanny pack. After three car accidents that resulted in extensive back and neck surgeries, the 35-year-old entrepreneur realized she couldn't do the traveling her then-job required. To ease the weight on her shoulders, Sobel searched for a fanny pack that would accommodate her condition, but realized fashionable ones were nonexistent. So she created one. Before long, family, friends and even strangers were requesting this one-of-a-kind purse. She approached boutiques with her design after successful test runs at her friends' shops, but the door-to-door routine eventually took a toll on her body. Sobel continued her venture from home, found a rep to promote her bags at a trade show and used her and her husband and co-founder Eric's savings to launch LaNeige Purse. Last year she made over $200,000 from her purses.

Best sex of your life is yet to come, study says

2012-09-11T17:25:00.002+03:00

In a recent survey of 1,281 participants about the frequency and quality of sex individuals had over an entire lifetime, LoveHoney.co.uk researchers found some interesting findings that may just keep your sexual relationship outlook, positive.

Here’s a recap of the study’s findings:

If you’re 30, you have reason to celebrate

If you’re almost 30, or just a couple of years older – don’t worry, on average participants said that they were having the best sex of their lives at the age of 30.

Quality, not quantity

The majority of the participants admitted that they were having less sex right now than during the peak of their sex lives; however the majority believed that the sex they were having was better in quality.

Good things come to those who wait

On average, participants had to wait 13 years after losing their virginity before having the best sex of their lives. This makes sense considering practice really makes things perfect. Also, finding the right partner also will take time, not to mention, being comfortable with one’s body also requires one to mature through life experiences.

The best is yet to come

Don’t worry if you aren’t having the best sex of your life yet. The study shows that the best is yet to come – so stay positive. People in their 60s said on average, that they had their best sex when they were 46.

Wenger’s had a bigger impact on Arsenal than Sir Alex Ferguson has on Manchester United’, claims chairman Hill-Wood

2012-09-11T17:08:00.002+03:00

The Gunners board member has also slammed a section of the Gunners supporters who vented their anger towards the French tactician and believes it is unlikely he will leave the club

Arsene Wenger's impact on Arsenal is greater than his managerial counterpart Sir Alex Ferguson’s at Manchester United, according to club chairman Peter Hill-Wood.
The 76-year-old praised the impact of the Frenchman since his arrival in north London in 1996, insisting that the club has been “revolutionised” under his stewardship.
“You occasionally hear rumours of him going somewhere. I do not think that is likely to happen. He’s very happy where he is,” Hill-Wood told the London Evening Standard.
“He has a very good job in that we don’t interfere with him. We agree with most of the things he says and he agrees with most of the things we say. I have seen some really successful Arsenal managers but Arsene has revolutionised the club.

“I would say he has been a bigger influence than Alex Ferguson on Manchester United in the way he has changed the traditions of the club and the outlook of the Premiership.”

The Gunners have gone seven years without winning any silverware – the 2005 FA Cup their last triumph – and, while he understands the supporters’ concerns, abuse directed towards Wenger from the stands has “disgusted” Hill-Wood.
“What those fans shouted did not influence me one little bit,” he added.
“I was disgusted to hear them because Arsene’s been absolutely outstanding. He is still outstanding."
A commonly used reason behind Arsenal’s recent failure in competitions over the past few years has been the sacking of David Dein as Arsenal’s vice-chairman back in 2007, but Hill-Wood was quick to dismiss the move had any detrimental effect on the club or staff.
Hill-Wood insisted: “I don’t think David Dein’s departure has impacted on Arsene at all.
“Arsene has a very good relationship with Ivan [Gazidis, the chief executive reportedly on £2m a year] and it’s very business-like. He and Arsene get on very well.”

Daddy Owen inks fancy deal with Airtel

2012-09-11T16:54:00.001+03:00

Gospel musician Daddy Owen has been named as the Brand Ambassador for Airtel Kenya, in a multi-million shilling deal that will include collabos with artists from across Africa and countrywide tours.

Daddy Owen, whose latest release ‘Mbona’ is taking the country by storm, signed the contract with Airtel Kenya’s Head of Corporate Communications Dick Omondi in the presence of the media on Tuesday.

In the deal, Airtel commits to facilitate several music ventures while the artist endorses the Airtel brand, products and services.

Owen says he agreed to the deal because it helps him market his music across the country and take his message to those who appreciate his tracks.

“I am passionate about creating a positive change in our communities, and I believe that my partnership with Airtel will go a long way in touching the hearts and lives of Kenyans,” he said.

In keeping with his recent work to raise awareness on the sufferings of persons with disabilities, Daddy Owen hopes to encourage disadvantaged youth to follow their dreams while on tour.

Omondi meanwhile explained that the partnership will be similar to the One 8 campaign which saw Kenya’s Amani team up with R Kelly and other African artists to record a song and video “Hands Across The World.”

He explained that the get-up will be similar and that the other African artists chosen will also be brand ambassadors for Airtel in their respective countries. He declined to mention names and it is expected that the details of the partnership will be revealed in the coming weeks.

Daddy Owen inks fancy deal with Airtel

2012-09-11T16:53:00.001+03:00

People Dying of Diabetes Who Never Knew They Had It, Study Finds

2012-09-07T18:24:00.001+03:00

People who don't know they have Type 1 diabetes may account for a surprising number of deaths from one complication of the condition, a new study says.

Nearly a third of people in Maryland who died over a six-year period from diabetic ketoacidosis, a condition of severe insulin deficiency, had no known history of diabetes, the study of autopsy results found.

While the researchers weren't able to definitively tell whether those who died had Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, their high blood sugar levels suggest they probably had Type 1, said study researcher Dr. Zabiullah Ali, the assistant medical examiner for the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Maryland.

The finding highlights the need for regular physicals that include checking blood sugar levels, especially if warning signs of diabetes are present, the researchers said.

The study was published in the September issue of the American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology.

What happens when the body runs out of sugar

Diabetic ketoacidosis is a complication of diabetes that occurs when body cells don't have enough glucose (sugar) to use for energy, so they switch to burning fat instead. (Body cells need insulin in order to take up sugar from the bloodstream; in people with Type 1 diabetes, little or no insulin is produced.)

Breaking down fat for energy produces molecules called ketones, which are acids and can build up in the blood. If ketone levels climb too high, they can poison the body, causing chemical imbalances that can lead to coma, or death.

In the study, Ali and colleagues looked at 20,406 autopsies and found 107 people who had died from diabetic ketoacidosis, although only 92 had data available for further review.

Out of the 92 cases, they found that 60 people were previously diagnosed with diabetes, while 32 were not.

Nearly half of those who died with no history of diabetes were in their 40s. The researchers also found that 84 percent of these cases were men, and 53 percent were African-American.

Adults can be diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes too

Type 1 diabetes was long referred to as "juvenile diabetes," because people tend to be diagnosed with the condition during childhood.

But now, "physicians are becoming more aware of the possibility of a diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes in the adult population," said Dr. Mark S. Segal, a nephrologist at the University of Florida, who was not involved in the study.

"It's relatively new that we're seeing more adults are being diagnosed with Type 1," Segal said.

Ali emphasized that people should pay attention to any warning signs that point to diabetes, such as needing to urinate frequently, constant thirst, nausea and vomiting.

People newly diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes may go through a "honeymoon period," in which they may be able to function even though they aren't making insulin — but that period doesn't last long, he said.

"Once the period ends, they get into trouble fast," Ali said. Healthy people should have their blood sugar checked one or twice a year.

"But if you have symptoms, you should go to the doctor immediately," he said.

Pass it on: Getting blood sugar levels checked could help prevent diabetes complications, such as diabetic ketoacidosis.