Worldstreet Chronicles

How To Get The Right Online Accounting Degree Program

2012-07-24T04:34:00.000-07:00

Undoubtedly, the internet have a strong impact on our daily living. But in retrospect, it is more of that then you expected. Today we shop online, work online, make new friends online and even fall in love online. And now you can get an accountant certification from enrolling in an online accounting degree program

You can now earn your degree on the internet through online accounting degree programs set out to deliver professional and certified training. Earning an online accounting degree is an incredibly smart move for individual aspiring to further their career and education while avoiding the hassles attached to traditional accounting school.

Depending on your specific needs and goals, you can earn your educational credentials by taking enrolling in an online accounting degree programs that's incredibly flexible, whether you’re already working, stay at home parent, or just need an accountant certification options than those offered by traditional school.
You stand a better chance in landing best job opportunities with better salary with an accounting degree from an accredited online accounting degree program. You can even earn the credit hours you’ll need to take the CPA exam.

This days, it is difficult to conclude on which online college is the best just as it is difficult to affirm what campus based college is the best. There are simply too many factors you'll need considered. But one thing is certain, the job outlook for accountant certification is good, and your educational efforts in this field will pay off well. With an accountant certification, for the private companies/ organisations, government, or even start-up your own business. Whichever your approach is, you are almost guaranteed success, as long as you have the proper educational credentials.

Understand your educational goals

Some individuals enroll into an online degree program just to sharpen their knowledge in certain fields whereas others may hope to make a career switch by earning a degree in the area they are interested in. In order to become a qualified accountant, completing education to at least the bachelor’s degree level is not just optional but mandated, most commonly in the form of a Bachelor of Science in Accounting.
Before you begin considering your options on various online accounting degree programs, self assessment on what kind of education you are looking for is very important, as well as how much time and effort you plan to invest, whether personal fulfillment or career advancement you aim to achieve through the course, please endeavor to exhaust your personal assessment skills first.

Research on your options

There are a variety of online accounting schools that offer accountant certification Most online institutions provide free information on their online degree programs and many also provide online chat session where you can ask any related questions with academic advisers as well as getting the necessary information needed before making final decision.

Take your time to gather as much resource as you can from various online institution that offer the education program that within your education scope.You’re most likely to find more programs at the master’s level, including Master of Business Administration in Finance and Accounting and Master of Accountancy. There are also programs at the associate’s and doctorate level. Generally, accounting programs provides you the knowledge essentials of financial accounting, managerial accounting, litigation, taxation and auditing, however individual program variations.

Taking the CPA exam is very essential on completion, which, once passed, will accord you licensing as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). From there, you can choose to continue your education, or begin working as a CEPA, or do both, as online school is generally flexible enough to fit around your work schedule. Individuals with an educational background in accounting can expect to receive jobs including Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA), and Certified Internal Auditor (CIA).

What Is Provigil (modafinil) - The Secret to Success?

2012-07-23T04:47:00.002-07:00

ABC News on July 17, 2012, reported that Provigil (modafinil) the prescription stimulant has been found abused by healthy persons who use it to boost energy and improve focus.

Provigil is an analeptic medicine used to enhance wakefulness in grown ups who experience excessive sleepiness due to obstructive sleep apnea, shift work sleep disorder, or narcolepsy.

Dave Asprey, a successful executive of a billion-dollar Internet security firm who regularly takes Provigil in the morning was tracked by ABC News report. According to Asprey, he performs better on cognitive tests when he was on Provigil.

However, medical professionals warn of potential side effects of the drug, which includes potentially lethal rashes, sleep deprivation and worse. The chief of the Sleep Medicine department at the Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia, Dr. Joanne Getsy, told ABC News that “Provigil is not a substitute for sleep. Sleep deprivation can cause and worsen heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure.”

Analysis for Provigil:

Provigil (modafinil, Manufactured by Cephalon, is listed as a federally controlled substance (C-IV) because it can be abused or lead to dependence. Provigil was approved by the FDA on December 24, 1998. Cephalon submitted a supplemental new drug application (sNDA) to market Sparlon in December 2004, a brand name drug containing higher doses of modafinil. The FDA rejected approval of Sparlon in 2006.

Using data from AERS, from 01/01/2004 to 03/31/2012, aggregated and standardized by the AdverseEvent RxFilter process, we identified 5,590 patients who experienced a serious adverse event where Provigil was identified as a suspect drug causing the event and 1,097 patients who experienced a serious adverse event where Provigil was identified as the primary suspect.

The most commonly reported side effects were headaches, somnolence, and anxiety. We identified 352 hospitalizations and 74 patient deaths where Provigil was identified as the primary suspect.

Source: Adversevents

Business To Business Services Industry

2012-07-21T19:10:00.000-07:00

The business services industry is exactly as it sounds: companies provision of business-related services to other businesses as well as final consumers. The basic characteristic of this sector is the production services instead of end Product. Variety of Business services are offered by companies in this industry, these professional business services includes advertising and marketing, legal services, consulting, shipping and logistics, human resources and staffing, security, leasing, outsourcing, and facility management.

The professional and business services industry is made up of three parts: the scientific, professional, and technical services industry (sector 54), the management of companies and enterprises industry (sector 55), and the administrative and waste management and remediation and support industry (sector 56).

The professional, scientific, and technical services industry consists establishments that specialize in carrying out professional, scientific, and technical activities for others.

The management of companies and enterprises industry consists (1) establishments that handles the securities of (or other equity interests in) organization and enterprises for the purpose of owning a controlling interest or influencing management decisions or (2) establishments (except government establishments) that administer, oversee, and manage establishments of the company or enterprise and that normally undertake the strategic or organizational planning and decision making role of the company or enterprise.

The administrative and waste management and remediation and support industry consist establishments carrying out routine support activities for the day-to-day operations of other organizations.

The United States business services industry consists of about 340,000 companies with combined annual sales of approx. $580 billion. Major companies include staffing services providers Manpower and Kelly Services; facilities service companies ABM Industries and Rollins Inc; and solid waste handlers Waste Management and Republic Services.

Other key player in this industry include office administrative service firms such as Automatic Data Processing and Iron Mountain; ADT Security Services, and the travel division of American Express. The business services industry is highly fragmented: the 50 largest companies account for less than 25 percent of sector revenue.

What do men really want in a relationship?

2012-06-26T10:49:00.000-07:00

There is a gross contrast between what men thinks of women and what women think about men and specifically what the opposite sex really does want.

For a successful relationship (experience),one question you must ask yourself as a woman is, What do men really want in a relationship?

"What do men want (from women) in a relationship?"

For centuries, women have been trying to answer this question. They ask their women friends and sometimes they'll ask their guy friends.

What ladies think men want from them often times causes them to have resentment and anger toward men, and thus losing hope on ever developing a passionate, loving or romantic relationship. On the other end the thoughts men possess of what women want from them also causes them much of the similar feelings and frustration.

Honest communication is top preference for men.

Men want a woman who responds to questions honestly. Men want a woman who confidently asks for her wants and needs to be met. They want a woman who can see the truth and tell it like it is while communicating with kindness. Men want a woman who can communicate without being too critical, who cares about preserving his and her dignity.

As a woman, you must know Men don't want you to be superficial. Avoid keeping mute on your needs or wants, and never to ask for anything will only send distrust signals.

Tips for Women
Men want a woman who responds to questions honestly, courageous interaction without criticism or anger. One preeminent way of attracting a man and building a satisfying relationship is to learn how to communicate your truth and needs effectively.

Men want bold, self-sufficient, guarded women.

As a woman, you must understand that men want a woman who will desire them out of love rather than out of desperation — whether materially or emotionally.

Every man needs to be wanted and desired by their partners, while still maintaining an independent identity for the partners. Men want an active and independent woman, having her own friends and interests.

Against the backdrop of what women think of men not wanting nor needing them. Every man wants and needs a woman to spend time with.

Women often think men do not need or appreciate time spent together as a couple. On the contrary, every moment spent with a loving woman is treasured by men. Women believe that showing a man he is needed will turn him off and possibly make him run away.

Tips for Women
Men want what women want — a complete partner. One preeminent way of attracting a man and building a vibrant relationship is to create a full, rewarding life for your own fulfillment

Men want a manipulation-free courtship.

As a woman, you must avoid every form of manipulation to the barest minimum. You would have notice that most men detest reading their lover’s mind at all times or involvement in signal interpretation. Men hate being forced to rush things in a relationship than they are ready. Men detest being manipulated into accepting all the blame when things turn sour.
It is absurd to think men want little or no communication, and the only way to get needs met is through manipulation. Women think men either need or want to be reminded that the relationship needs to move forward. Women think men don’t want or value praise and acknowledgment, and so tend to only verbalize criticism

Tips for Women

Men will not tolerate manipulation of any kind for any significant length of time. To attract a great man and build a wonderful relationship learn to ask without hesitation for what you want and need in every area of your life. Learn to be aware of his timing and his time-line. Learn how to acknowledge and bestow praise.

Slow Weight Loss More Effective And Lasting Than Drastic Dieting

2012-06-13T08:10:00.000-07:00

This time of year, who wants to count calories or go on a diet? But you can keep your weight steady or even drop a few pounds without any special effort. Yes, really you can with the most effective weight loss program we'll be disclosing to you.

We’ve tapped some of the nation’s top health and fitness gurus on getting slim effortlessly on the proven most effective weight loss program. Read on to learn their secrets.

Push yourself (just a little)

"If you ride the bus, walk part of the route," said Marcus Eave, personal trainer for Technogym. "If you walk, walk faster. If you run, run farther. These small tweaks will raise your body's metabolic rate, and you'll see a few pounds drop off in a few months without changing anything else!"

Think string cheese

“Americans eat, on average, around 30 pounds of cheese a year!" said Samantha Heller, author of Get Smart: Samantha Heller’s Nutrition Prescription for Boosting Brain Power and Optimizing Total Body Health. "You can slash hundreds of calories a week if you stop eating whole cheese, which is high in saturated fat and sodium, and reach for low- or no-fat varieties or tofu to get your calcium.”

Power up your yogurt

“Eat Magical Breakfast Cream—combine 2 tablespoons finely ground zero-sugar cereal (such as Post Shredded Wheat Cereal), 2 teaspoons chopped walnuts, 4 tablespoons whole or 2% low-fat yogurt, 1 tablespoon organic lemon juice, 1 teaspoon honey, and 1 teaspoon flaxseed oil—for five mornings in a row, plus fish, poultry, or eggs and tons of veggies for lunch and dinner," advised Mireille Guiliano, author of The French Women Don’t Get Fat Cookbook. "Not only will you feel better, but you will shed up to 3 to 5 pounds in a week, while giving your body necessary nutrients and boosting your energy level."

Catch some ZZZs

"Sleep at least 7 hours a night to help regulate the hunger hormone, ghrelin," said Dr. James Beckerman, author of The Flex Diet. "Researchers at the University of Chicago found that dieters who spent eight and a half hours in bed lost 55% more body fat than dieters who got five and a half hours of shut-eye. The more sleep you get, the less hungry you'll be, and the more likely you are to lose weight."

Be careful with your dough

"Lose the deli breakfast bagel and switch to a 100-calorie English muffin," said Keri Gans, author of The Small Change Diet. "You'll save 220 calories per day (1,540 per week!) and drop about a pound in two weeks, or about 5 pounds in 10 weeks."

Downsize the dairy

“I recently lost seven pounds in three weeks by ditching most dairy from my diet," said 31-year-old Michelle Buffardi of New York City. "Of course, I couldn’t totally give up cheese, so I just limit it to weekends or special occasions. No more late-night grilled cheeses for me!”

Go (a bit) vegan

“I started eating one veggies-only meal each day, and after three weeks, I noticed that my clothes fit better," said Candice Townsend, 39, from Washington D.C.

Grab a mini

"When I'm in the mood for a little fast-food 'cheat,' I order the kids meal, saving myself around 570 calories. The portions are reasonable, and the sides are healthier," said Laura Schmieg, 38, from St. Louis Park, Minn.

Take a stand

“When I want to lose an inch around my waist fast, I stay on my feet. I walk home from work, stand up while watching TV, and go for a stroll at lunch," said 29-year-old Naomi Fink from New York City.

Source: FoxNews Health

Best Father's Day Gift Ever: A $100 Heart Attack Prevention Gift Card

2012-06-13T07:42:00.000-07:00

Families in Houston, Texas have been offered a chance through the RedCircle Personalized Weight Management Inc., a subsidiary of American Rejuvenation Centers to give their fathers a gift that will show them how much they are loved and appreciated by choosing a health and wellness program at RedCircle. By reducing the risk of deadly heart attacks and other serious health issues, fathers who’ve been given the gift of wellness have the opportunity to enjoy a long and healthy life.

It is estimated that as many as five million families have lost their fathers to heart attacks. As the #1 cause of death among men and the fact that every day over 2,000 American men are struck by a sudden heart attack, choosing the gift of health and wellness this year for Father’s Day through RedCircle’s Weight Loss and Wellness Management Program could make the difference in ensuring your father is around for many more Father’s Days to come.

Records have shown that men and their families are sometimes unaware of their risk for heart attack and when it does happen it is often sudden, unexpected and deadly. In an effort to fight against the nation’s number one cause of death for men, RedCircle’s wellness program offers a $100 CardioHealth® test for Father’s Day this year to detect hidden plaques which cause heart attack and stroke. This test, when combined with RedCircle’s other testing that includes cholesterol and triglycerides, determine a person’s overall risk for heart attack and other health issues that might have otherwise gone unnoticed.

RedCircle also offers two free personal training sessions, in addition to their standard four sessions per month, with a 12-month membership to keep the father in your life healthy and fit. It also offers $149 DNA weight loss testing that will give clients insight into their genetic makeup and determines what will work best in achieving their personal weight loss goals. The individual components that are tailored to each and every client are what sets RedCircle's weight loss and wellness program apart from other "one-size-fits-all" weight loss centers such as Jenny Craig, Quick Weight Loss Centers and many others.

Source: Chron

Treatment For Drug Abuse And Addiction

2012-06-07T13:17:00.000-07:00

Drug Abuse and Addiction

Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment for Drug Problems and Substance Abuse

There are so many reasons people experiment with drugs. For Some, it's out of curiosity or to have a good time, anxiety, depression or stress. The amount or frequency of substance consumed do not entirely make up for drug abuse and addiction, rather it is the consequence of the drug used.

You're likely to have a drug abuse or addiction problem if the drug you're using is causing personal relationship problems either at home or at work, school, regardless of how little you're consuming.

Signs and Symptoms of drug abuse:

Increasing level of drug consumption is getting into illegal problems example: driving under the influence or arrest for disorderly behavior.

Often neglecting responsibilities at home, work, school, due to drug consumption.

Using drugs under critical conditions, example: using dirty needles or taking drugs whilst driving.

Signs and Symptoms of drug addiction:

When using more drugs seems to be the solution for the problem you used to attain with smaller amounts.

When you experience nausea, insomnia, depression, sweating, shaking and anxiety from your abstinence.

If you go too long without drugs you start to experience symptoms such as nausea, insomnia, depression, sweating, shaking and anxiety.

Using drugs beyond control, even though you decided not to. Feeling powerless and unable to control the urge.

Continuous usage of drugs even though you know that it is bad for you.

Recognizing that you have a drug problem is the first step on the road to recovery. And you must be willing to seek help and want to recover.

Here are some proven tips on how to recover from drug addiction:

Firstly you must to be willing to receive help for your recovery. It has to be something you desire to have.

Personal research about the addiction of drugs and its effect on your body. It helps to know about the recovery process as well as the damage it causes to the body.

You have to be conscious of "Cross Addiction". For example drugs to overcome headaches or flu must be taken cautiously, as you can become addicted to them too.

Your community play a major role to your quick recovery. Surrounding yourself with people who are supportive and ready to help you recover. You need all the support you can get during recovery.

Formulate an abuse and addiction prevention plan. For your swift recovery, write down all the components that make you relapse during your treatment. By knowing these components it can help you avoid future recurrence.

Avoid blaming yourself about the mistakes you have made. You need a positive overview and atmosphere. So device ways of being optimistic and positive.

Conclusion: Those are some tips that can help you recover from drug abuse and addiction. The first thing must be for you to be willing to make the change yourself; otherwise no amount of external help you get will make any difference as you will find yourself rejecting their treatment or help. Rather you'll be confining yourself into a darker hole.

Will Smith Slap Ukrainian Reporter Trying To Kiss Him (VIDEO)

2012-05-19T01:38:00.002-07:00

The world loves Will Smith. Maybe not enough to forgive Men in Black 2, but the world still loves him. They love him so much that he’s been claimed to be one of the only black actor who can open a movie overseas. That’s a lot of love. But sometimes those overseas folk love him too much, like a Ukranian reporter who accidentally brushed his lips against those of the star and got a slap for his effort.

Will Smith slapped the Ukrainian reporter across the face at the Moscow premiere of "Men in Black 3" -- and it was all caught on tape.

The Ukrainian reporter tried kissing Will on the lips on the red carpet and the actor angrily pushes him away and then backhands him across the face.

You can clearly see that Will is incredibly pissed that the guy showed overt affection toward him.

After Will slaps the guy, Will says, "He's lucky I didn't sucker punch him."

Despite the incident, Will stayed positive ... and happily continued to sign autographs for fans and do red carpet interviews.

Watch Video

Do you think Will Smith is for or against support of Gay marriage?

Joyce Banda: Africa's Second Female President

2012-04-07T09:56:00.000-07:00

Malawian Vice-President Joyce Banda was sworn in Saturday as Malawi’s first female president in a ceremony in the capital Lilongwe, two days after the death of her predecessor Bingu wa Mutharika.

Reuters reports that the government only officially confirmed 78-year-old Mutharika's death earlier today Saturday, two days after he had died following a heart attack.

His body had been flown to a military hospital in South Africa.

The delay in the announcement had raised worries about a political crisis because Banda had been expelled from Mutharika's ruling DPP party in 2010 after an argument about the succession, though she retained her state position.

Banda, 61, who will be southern Africa's first female head of state and Africa's second president, appeared at a news conference in the capital Lilongwe to declare 10 days of official mourning for Mutharika, who had ruled for eight years. She ordered national flags to be flown at half-mast and the state broadcaster to play somber music.

"I call upon all Malawians to remain calm and to keep the peace during this time of bereavement," Banda said, flanked by members of the cabinet, the attorney general and the heads of the army and the police.

Asked by a reporter whether she was assuming the presidency, Banda, a women's rights activist, replied: "As you can see, the constitution prevails".

The constitution stipulates that the vice-president takes over if the president dies, but Mutharika appeared to have been grooming his brother Peter, the foreign minister, as his de facto successor.

Banda is expected to run the country until scheduled elections take place in 2014.

The presidency and cabinet issued a statement assuring citizens and the international community "that the constitution of the Republic of Malawi will be strictly adhered to in managing the transition."

Both Britain and the United States, which had been major donors to Malawi until they froze millions of dollars in aid over rows with Mutharika over his policies and actions, urged a smooth transition respecting the constitution.

"We trust that the vice president (Banda) who is next in line will be sworn in shortly," the U.S. State Department said.

British Foreign Minister William Hague said in a statement on Saturday: "I urge all sides to remain calm and (hope) that a peaceful handover takes place as provided for under Malawi's constitution."

The streets of the capital Lilongwe and the main commercial city Blantyre were calm on Saturday, though police guarded strategic locations.

There appeared to be little public sorrow at Mutharika's death. Many of Malawi's 13 million people had viewed him as an autocrat personally responsible for an economic crisis that stemmed ultimately from a diplomatic row with former colonial power Britain a year ago.

Britain and others froze aid worth some 40 percent of government spending, fuel supplies dried up and food prices soared, leading to popular unrest and attacks on Mutharika's economic policies by bodies as diverse as the Catholic Church and the International Monetary Fund.

"It's sad that he is leaving behind so many unsolved problems, which will be difficult to tackle even by the vice president or whoever takes charge," said Stella Mataka, a waiter at a lodge near Blantyre's Chileka International airport.

As reports of the death of the self-styled "Economist in chief" swept the capital, there were bursts of drunken jubilation among those who accused Mutharika of turning back the clock on 18 years of democracy in the "Warm Heart of Africa".

Medical sources said Mutharika's body was flown to South Africa because Malawi's energy crisis was so severe the Lilongwe state hospital would have been unable to conduct a proper autopsy or even keep his body refrigerated.

"We as government will be in consultation with the bereaved family, advise the date when our president's body will arrive from South Africa and other funeral arrangements," Banda said.

"I also want to ask all Malawians to join me in wishing that the soul of our president rests in peace," she added.

Boy sells kidney to buy iPhone

2012-04-06T08:18:00.000-07:00

(AFP) – A teenage high-school student in China sold his kidney for an illicit transplant operation and used the proceeds to buy an Apple iPhone and iPad, state press said on Friday.

The 17-year-old boy, who was paid 22,000 yuan ($3,500), was recruited from an online chatroom and is now suffering from kidney failure and in deteriorating health, the Xinhua news agency said.

A surgeon and four others have been arrested and are facing charges of illegal organ trading and intentional injury.

The kidney donor, only identified by his surname Wang, agreed to the April 2011 operation in the central province of Hunan without his parents consent, the report said.

One of those detained was a hard-up gambler identified as He Wei, who acted as a middle-man between a hospital worker and the teenager. He was paid 220,000 yuan.

Health ministry statistics show that about 1.5 million people in China need transplants, but only around 10,000 transplants are performed annually.

The huge gap has led to a thriving illegal market for organs.

Executed prisoners remain the main source of organs used in transplant operations due to the lack of voluntary donations, Vice Health Minister Huang Jiefu was quoted by state media as saying last month.

International human rights groups have long accused China of harvesting organs from executed prisoners for transplant without the consent of the prisoner or their family — charges the government has denied.

Malawi President's Death 'Vindicates' Prophet TB Joshua

2012-04-06T07:35:00.006-07:00

Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika

MALAWIAN President Bingu wa Mutharika’s death on Good Friday was being hailed as a morbid vindication of a “prophecy” by a controversial Nigerian preacher.

Prophet TB Joshua has previously claimed credit for predicting major international events from Michael Jackson’s death to the Zambian national team’s unlikely Africa Cup of Nations triumph in February.

But even TB Joshua’s legion of internet watchers admit that none of his previous predictions were as pointed as his prophecy on February 5 this year – during a Sunday service at his Synagogue Church of All Saints – that an African President would die in the month of April.

On that day, TB Joshua first predicted that 1,000 people would perish in a ferry accident on the shores of an African nation on April 16. He did not say where the accident would happen, but feared there is nothing that could be done as “it is too close”.

“I’m going to ask God to show me the direction, the route where this ferry is going,” he told his followers.

Prophet TB Joshua

Then suddenly, TB Joshua made a second bold prediction on which he staked his growing reputation across Africa as a man who can see into the future.

He went on: “I was talking about April, we should pray for the nation, this country… God loves us, you should pray for one African head of state, when I say President… again the sickness that is likely to take life; sudden death.

“It could be sickness being in the body for a long time but God showed me the country and the place but I’m not here to say anything like that. When it’s too close and there is nothing I can do about it, I’ll mention it clear: the place, the country and the person so that they can see what they can do to rescue him.

“It is very close. Jesus loves us. Wave your hand, wave your hand.”

The “prophecy” sparked speculation across Africa, with many opposition parties taking ownership of the prophesy to suggest the Presidents of their countries were about to die.

In Zimbabwe, opposition activists were sure it was President Robert Mugabe, 88 this year. The speculation forced his Zanu PF party to deny TB Joshua was referring to their leader, who has held power since 1980.

TB Joshua returned to the theme again at his Sunday service on April 1, warning that God had showed him “everything” – which begs the question: what happened to his promise of “mentioning it clear... so they can see what they can do to rescue him?”

He told followers: “What I was saying is very close now, you want to hear more, and it’s very, very close now. Whether you like it or not, this is what I’ve seen.

“Pray for a leader. Well, God showed me everything but I’m praying to see if this thing can be changed. Pray for your leader, the head of a nation. I’m seeing a sudden death; this is as a result of sickness.

“Quote me, but the Lord showed me the country and the person but I’m not here to mention anything but when it is very close, I will mention but right now it’s a bit close.
“Every time you pray, pray for Africa, so pray; this is not even in West Africa but I will not say anything more than that.”

Reports from Malawi say Thursday began like any other day for Mutharika, who collapsed during a meeting with an MP, apparently after suffering a heart failure.
Mutharika was rushed to a hospital in Lilongwe, but was “clinically dead” on arrival, according to doctors.

Confirmation of his death – and TB Joshua’s prophesy – came on Good Friday.

Culled from: New Zimbabwe

Nigerians are one of the saddest people in the world - UN

2012-04-05T07:55:00.000-07:00

The United Nation’s first World Happiness Report places Nigerians in the 100th position, lagging behind South Africans.

The United Nation (UN)’s first comprehensive survey on national mood has rated Nigerians as the 100th happiest people on earth. South Africans and Namibians, according to the study Known as World Happiness Report, are happier than Nigerians.

South African are rated 90th. Namibians occupy the 97th slot.

The new report comes about two years after Nigeria was described in a 2010 Gallup global poll as having the “happiest people on earth”.

The 53-country Gallup poll rated Nigerians at 70 points for optimism. Britain scored a deeply pessimistic -44. The poll of 64,000 people from 53 countries around the world found Nigerians to be the most optimistic in the world in their outlook for 2011. It also found that the most optimistic people mostly live in low income countries, such as Nigeria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Kosovo, Peru and Bangladesh. Twenty countries scored low on per capita income and hope for 2011, including Russia and a number of eastern and central Asian states, plus Colombia and Ecuador. Four countries – Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Switzerland – were high on both income and optimism.

Ohio School Bans ‘Jesus Is Not a Homophobe’ Shirt, Gets Sued

2012-04-05T06:58:00.000-07:00

Waynesville High School in Waynesville, Ohio, threatened to suspend a student for wearing a shirt that said 'Jesus Is Not a Homophobe,' according to Lambda Legal, which filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against the school on his behalf.

Last April, Maverick Couch, a gay junior, wore the shirt during the National Day of Silence, which is meant to raise awareness to anti-LGBT bullying and harassment in schools.

Couch said: “I’ve been bullied and called names, I wanted to wear the T-shirt to encourage respect for all students, gay or straight. I wish my school would help me create an accepting environment for LGBT kids, not single me out for punishment.”

However, school officials said the shirt was “indecent and sexual in nature” and told Couch to turn his shirt inside out, which he did.

Christopher Clark, attorney for Lambda Legal, said in a statement: “Schools should be in the business of educating students about First Amendment freedoms, not trampling on their right to express themselves. The school has not offered – and cannot offer – any legitimate reason for threatening Maverick with disciplinary action. They have singled-out an intelligent, respectful student and tried to shame him just because he’s gay.”

Innovation: Robots Powered by Human Waste

2012-04-05T01:35:00.000-07:00

Ecorobots

How does the idea of a robot using your toilet sound? Unconventional! Well, how would you feel if we told you that the robot serving you is just going to use the crapper to feed and get its version of the ‘daily calories’? Well, even if it does sound a bit gross (did the first time to us, to be honest) the future could very well be filled with such mechanical helpers that would feed on organic waste. And the best part of this revolutionary technology, that is already well on its way, is that it does not depend on conventional sources of energy to tax you further. Welcome to a window into the alternate future.

First Human Infected With A Computer Virus

2012-04-04T14:09:00.000-07:00

As if humans didn't have enough viruses to worry about, one British resercher has successfully infected himself with a computer virus.

Mark Gasson, senior research fellow at the University of Reading, was able to infect a tiny, radio frequency identification, RFID, chip with a virus before he placed it under the skin on his hand. He uses that chip to activate his cell phone, as well as open secure doors. Thanks to the computer chip, his cell phone knows when he's using it, and when someone esle is trying to operate the device. If someone else tries to use his phone (after, say, stealing it), that person is not able to use it. Only Gasson ca.

And instead of him swiping an ID card to enter his building, he just needs to wave his hand to gain entrance. The convenience of not taking out his ID and the safety of his phone come with a price, however.

He served as carrier, and was able to pass the virus on to an external computer. The virus was of Gasson's own design and was not malicious. But he was able to show that computer viruses can move seamlessly and outside the body. And theoretically, if a person has several computers in his or her body, a compter virus could spread from one to another infecting them all.

The kind of computer chip that Gasson installed in his body is not in wide use, so no need to worry as of yet. In face, you have more reason to worry about bed bugs than computer bugs. But in the future, computers will get under our skin, and people will have to take precaution to spread digital infections.

Source: TheNews

Women Have Orgasms At The Gym

2012-04-04T12:12:00.001-07:00

Women Exercising

Women may not need a guy, a vibrator, or any other direct sexual stimulation to have an orgasm. A new study on exercise-induced orgasms and sexual pleasure has found out that some women reach orgasm during exercise, especially those that involve the core abdominal muscles.

Researchers Debby Herbenick and J. Dennis Fortenberry, both from Indiana University, wrote in the journal Sexual and Relationship Therapy that exercises most likely to be associated with female orgasms are abdominal exercises, weight lifting, spinning/biking, and climbing poles or ropes.

The researchers explain that "coregasm" - reaching an orgasm from exercising the core abdominal muscles -has been mentioned in the media for some time. However they add that the findings in this latest study are new.

Herbanic, and Fortenberry carried out online surveys which included 124 adult females who said they had had an orgasm while exercising, know as EIO (exercise-induced orgasm), and another 246 who reported having experienced exercise-induced sexual pleasure (EISP). They were aged from 18 to 63 years, the majority of whom were either married or in a relationship. Approximately 69 percent of them

said they were heterosexual.

Of the women who had orgasms during exercise, about 45 percent said their first experience was linked to abdominal exercises; 19 percent linked to biking/spinning; 9.3 percent linked to climbing poles or ropes; 7 percent reported a connection with weight lifting; 7 percent running. The rest of the experiences included yoga, swimming, elliptical machines, aerobics and others. Exercise-induced sexual pleasure was linked with more types of exercises than the orgasm phenomenon.

"Many of these women talked about it happening even as children, "Herbenick said, adding that some indicated an experience at age 7 or 8

Culled from TheNews Magazine

Anti-Bomb Unit Police Blown Up By Boko Haram Bomb In Kaduna (VIDEO)

2012-02-15T08:15:00.001-08:00

Please viewers discretion is advised.

Sergeant Sunday Badang in the anti-bomb of Nigerian police unit approached an undetonated roadside bomb in Kaduna without caution. The crowd cheered on, but a few seconds later, he was blown apart as he used his bare hands to detonate a Boko Haram bomb left beside a bus stop in Kaduna.

The Eros of Valentine

2012-02-14T05:58:00.001-08:00

By Justice Lee Adoboe

Discussions about myths, mysteries, and paganism (idolatry) that surround what has become the annual ritual of Valentine Day celebration will not go away especially as many are those Christians who would not tolerate the painting the day as a Christian festival.

The V-Day celebration, supposedly “meant for lovers” has become a huge commercial venture for businesses helping merchants to rake in so much profit, that some might wish everyday was Valentine.

In one year alone, consumers in the United States purchase 448 million dollars worth of candies to celebrate the holiday, out of which more than 345 million U.S dollars was spent on chocolates alone. (BibleStudy.org).

The same website stated that e-commerce retailers expected to rack up about 650 million dollars selling food, candy, flowers and other Valentine’s Day related goods just for a year.

“U.S. consumers, in 2009, spent an average of $102.50 on Valentine’s gifts and merchandise. Total spending on the holiday was expected to reach 14.7 billion dollars,” it added.

In all this, it is believed and not surprisingly that, men spend nearly TWICE the amount of money celebrating the holiday than women do.

In Ghana, Government took a bold decision in 2007 to rebrand the day as Chocolate Day, so the world number two cocoa producer could get a share of whatever there was to share in the day-process of chocolate have not been the same again ever since.

So what is this celebration that has become so cost-involving that businesses are taking advantage of to maximize patronage and profit?
ORIGIN(S)

Several stories are told by both adherents and non adherents about the origin of Valentine Day but most of these stories are interwoven and at the end of the day points to the fact that it is the world’s attempt to get lovers show affection to one another.

But adherents would like the world, and Christendom for that matter to believe the day was to honour the memory of a late Christian Saint, (probably a Catholic priest or Catholic priests )called Valentine.
There are several legends about at least seven different people named by scholars as St Valentine.

Four of these Roman Catholic priests known around whom the Valentine Day myth revolves are have various stories told about them.

One legend has it that Valentine was a Roman priest, who sickened and died in prison after being incarcerated for refusing to give up Christianity while another story said he was beheaded.

Another Valentine was said to have been killed for assisting Christians in their escape from the Roman prisons, while another Valentine was said to be a Roman priest of the third century, who married couples in secrecy, after Emperor Claudius II who had been planning a good future army was said to have banned marriage, since he thought single men were stronger and more focused soldiers.

Then there is yet a fourth Valentine, who was Bishop of Terni, about whom there is very little known, and was believed to have died in Africa, defending his Christian faith.- Jax Appleby
(.http://jaxappleby.hubpages.com/hub/Valentines-Day-a-Christian-Holiday-or-a-Pagan-Celebration)
(www.slate.com/articles/news…/the_shape_of_my_heart.html - Cached)

All these legends however concluded that the particular “saints” used in the Valentine apologia died or were killed on February 14.

“Whichever Valentine it was, he was imprisoned for his crimes, and legend has it, he sent a love letter to a young blind girl he fell in love with after she visited him in prison and he healed her by bringing back her sight. He signed his letter, “From your Valentine”, right before he was executed,” Jax Appleby stressed.

By the middle of the 18th century, friends and lovers began celebrating this day by exchanging notes of love and friendship, flowers, and sweets. Toward the end of the century, Valentine’s Day went commercial, and printed cards began replacing the handwritten notes, poems, flowers, and handmade tokens of love.

IS VALENTINE DAY A CHRISTIAN CELEBRATION?

According to Edward Gibbons, the legalization and institutionalizing of Christianity as the state religion of Rome by Constantine, 313 A.D also brought in its wake the entrance of many Roman pagan traditions and religious practices into the Church.

It is instructive to note that although Constantine had declared open support for Christianity throughout the Roman Empire, he himself remained the Pontifex Maximus of the Roman State religion until his death. It was just before he died in 337 AD that Constantine asked to be baptized.

One of these traditions, he said brought into the church was the fertility celebration known as the Lupercalia: “Yet the vestiges of superstition were not absolutely obliterated, and the festival of Lupercalia, whose origin had preceded the foundation of Rome was still celebrated under the reign of Anthemius’ (The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire-Edward Gibbons, Chapter 36, Part 3).

Twenty-four years after the death of Emperor Anthemius a “christianized” form of the festival of Lupercalia was officially adopted by the church as a day to honor a saint – St. Valentine:
The above is then evidence enough that like other forms of Romanism found in Christianity today,Valentine was also the paganish practice of Lupercalia smuggled into Christianity under the guise of honouring a so-called patron saint of lovers.

“As far back as 496 A.D., (Catholic) Pope Gelasius changed Lupercalia on February 15 to St. Valentine’s Day on February 14.” (Customs and Holidays Around the World by Lavinia Dobler).

“Early Christians were happier with the idea of a holiday honoring the saint of romantic causes than with one recognizing a pagan festival. In 496 A.D., Pope Gelasius named February 14 in honor of St. Valentine as the patron saint of lovers. ” (How Valentine’s Day Works (http://people.howstuffworks.com/culture-traditions/holidays/valentine3.htm)

Meanwhile, the Lupercalia festival, in part was meant to honour Lupa, the she-wolf which (according to legend) nursed the infant orphans Romulus and Remus, believed to have founded the city of Rome in 753 BC. It was also to honour Pan, the Greek equivalent of Lupercus, the Roman god of shepherds.

CHRISTIAN SKEPTICISM OVER VALENTINE DAY

Most of the common questions asked by skeptics about the Valentine Day celebration come from Christians, although it is true that Moslems and some moralists are officially opposed to it.
Arguments by the various Christian groups are based on purely scriptural principles and practices during Valentine celebration.

In the first place, the three common symbols associated with Valentine celebration are deeply rooted in idolatry.

The Red Roses: These were said to be the favorite flower of Venus, the Roman goddess of love. Red is also a color that signifies strong feelings.
Doves: These are also symbols of loyalty and love because they mate for life and share the care of their babies.

Cupid: In Roman mythology, Cupid is the god of desire, affection and erotic love. Today, Cupid is frequently shown shooting his bow to inspire romantic love. (This highlights the type of love being promoted by the Valentine idea-to be discussed fully later).

Valentine Heart: It is unclear where the familiar heart shape originated. One possibility involves the now-extinct North African plant silphium. The city-state of Cyrene had a lucrative trade in the plant, which looks just like the heart shape used today. Though mostly used for seasoning, it was also used for birth control. (http://people.howstuffworks.com/culture-traditions/holidays/valentine3.htm).

For the heart image in Valentine, which unfortunately has become the deception the whole world has come to believe as the symbol of the heart, OtisAbi writes that: “For many centuries the strangled bow was the symbol of love, for Cupid (or eros) used a bow to make two people fall in love with each other.

And with a little deductive reasoning you will find out that the bow that shoots the arrows through the hearts of its victims has been replaced with a loving heart.”( http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=334).

That particular heart shape as other writers have explained is just the shape of Cupid’s bow, hence the symbol of cupid shooting arrows into people’s hearts. (There are several other explanations for that shape of heart, but one thing is certain, that is not the shape of the human heart.

For Christians, the mere fact that all these four symbols are related to idol worship in the Roman and Greek mythologies forbids them from participating.

For instance in an article under the heading, “CHRISTIANS SHOULD NOT CELEBRATE VALENTINE’S DAY” in September 2007 which appears on http://testallthings.blogspot.com/2007/09/christians-should-not-celebrate.html, argues among other things that :

“February 14 was an old celebration to Juno Februata, the Roman goddess of sexual passion, the pagan feast day Lupercalia was a fertility rite and celebration of superstitious Romans and Lupercus, the Roman god after which the holiday is named, was the pagan god of fertility.”
For these reasons, the publishers “Test All Things” encouraged Christians not to celebrate Valentine Day.

In addition to the above, the site also stated that the pagan feast day Lupercalia was a fertility rite and celebration of superstitious Romans, and Lupercus, the Roman god after which the holiday is named, was the pagan god of fertility.

“Love is of God, while lust is of man; therefore we will only celebrate love scripturally. It is highly esteemed among men, so it must be an abomination to God (Luke 16:15).We are totally committed against spiritual adultery by worldly associations (James 4:4).God condemns customs of other gods to be an abomination to Him (Ezekiel 8:1-18),” it argued.

Not to make this write-up too long and the subject of love would be discussed briefly and then concluded.

As seen from above, the whole theme of LOVE being idolized in the celebration of Valentine is based on EROS, which is just one of the types of love there are.
There are FOUR not three types of love identified in Greek where the erotic love Valentine glorifies comes from.These are Eros, Agape, Phileo and Storge.

Quickly, as a mind refresher, “Agape love is God’s kind of love. It is seeking the welfare and betterment of another regardless of how we feel. Agape does not have the primary meaning of feelings or affection. Jesus displayed it when he went to the cross and died for you and me regardless of how He felt.” This can be seen in Mt. 26:39; Mk. 14:36; Lk. 22:41-43; Jn. 18:11. In various scriptures Christians are told to Agape their enemies.

“Phileo love is a love of the affections. It is delighting to be in the presence of another, a warm feeling that comes and goes with intensity. The Bible encourages it but it is never a direct command.

“Storge is the natural bond between mother and infant, father, children, and kin. William Barclay states, “We cannot help loving our kith and kin; blood is thicker than water” (N.T. Words, 1974).

“Eros Love : A word that was not actually used in the New Testament but was alluded to. It meant physical passion; its gratification and fulfillment. The Greek word is probably not used in the New Testament because the origin of the word came from the mythical god Eros, the god of love. It is inferred in many scriptures and is the only kind of love that God restricts to a one-man, one-woman relationship within the bounds of marriage (Heb. 13:4; Song 1:13; 4:5-6; 7:7-9; 8:10; 1 Cor. 7:25; Eph. 5:31).”-( http://paxvobisca.tripod.com/literature/fourLoves.html)

Now, the question is can the church whose doctrine and history come from the Holy Bible embrace a practice based on Eros, which the Bible itself shied away from?

Certainly, one must begin to understand the purpose of Martin Luther’s protestation against Church of the day, which led to a section of the church being called Protestants.

Why did the protestant/Reformist movements leave the Church of old, and would it be right for today’s church founded on the protestants/Reformist, Pentecostal and charismatic faiths to go back into practices that their forebears departed from?
CONCLUSION

At best, Valentine Day has been shown to be a worldly/ pagan tradition embraced by the Church of Rome which must not be tolerated in the Church of Christ at all.
Romans 12 tells us “Do not be conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewal of your minds.”

When Jacob departed from his uncle/father-in-law, Laban had cause to pursue Jacob when he realized one of his gods had been missing.

“And now, though thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore longedst after thy father’s house, yet wherefore hast thou stolen my gods? Genesis 31: 30.

Fortunately, though, Jacob was not the one who “stole” the god of Laban, but Rachael, for whom Jacob labored for 14 years.

“Now Rachel had taken the images, and put them in the camel’s furniture, and sat upon them. And Laban searched the entire tent, but found them not,” Gen 31: 34.

If we as protestants/Pentecostals/Charismatic and reformists “rebelled” against and came out of Romanism, why do we carry with us their gods?

One must know that while the Christian Church believes in the supremacy of scripture, Romanism believes in and extols Papal infallibility. In Romanism, the Pope speaks ex-cathedra
For that reason, when Pope Gelasius in 496 AD instituted the Valentine celebration, acting from the Papal seat, it was infallible. But the Papal infallibility was at the core of Martin Luther’s revolt, and the reformation.

In Deuteronomy 12: 29 to 31 God warned Israel fervently not to worship Him the way the nations in Canaan worshiped their gods, “for every abomination to the Lord which He hates they have done to their gods.”

There is evidence that Israel did not heed this warning and suffered for it right in the wilderness:
“But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.

Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth,” Revelations 2: 14-16

Valentine: modern Baal Peor sent to seduce and beguile the Church of Christ
“While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women, who invited them to the sacrifices to their gods.

The people ate the sacrificial meal and bowed down before these gods. So Israel yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor. And the LORD’s anger burned against them.

“The LORD said to Moses, “Take all the leaders of these people, kill them and expose them in broad daylight before the LORD, so that the LORD’s fierce anger may turn away from Israel.”

“So Moses said to Israel’s judges, “Each of you must put to death those of your people who have yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor.” Numbers 25:1-4.

“But that is Old Testament!” one may argue, but Paul said these things happened to them, “as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.” 1Corinthians 10: 11

Paul the apostle urged the church of Corinth that “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers,… what fellowship can light have with darkness? …What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 1What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols?For we are the temple of the living God…Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you. 2 Corinthians 6:14-17.

He went on to instruct them firmly to:

“Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. I speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?

“Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf. Consider the people of Israel: Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar?

” Do I mean then that a sacrifice offered to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons. Are we trying to arouse the Lord’s jealousy? Are we stronger than he?” 1 Corinthians 10:14 -22

But Christianity is not about the law, but freedom in Christ!, one might argue, but scripture went further to state that:

Everything is permissible”–but not everything is beneficial. ”Everything is permissible”–but not everything is constructive. …. Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”

“If some unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience.

“But if anyone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, both for the sake of the man who told you and for conscience’ sake– the other man’s conscience, I mean, not yours.1 Corinthians 10:23-29

Liberal theologians argue for contextualization of such celebrations in order to reach out to the unreached. But the superior argument is whether Bible teaches that.

It must be noted that left to liberal Theology alone, Christianity would have been reduced to a social institution where people did what pleased them.

We have compromised Christian values in many ways, and 2 Thimoty 4:3&4 warns: “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”

That the church which is to teach its members to flee sexual immorality (pre-marital sex, extra-marital sex, orgies etc)1 Corinthians 6: 18, and flee every appearance of evil, 1 Thessalonians 5:22 is itself promoting a celebration meant to promote sexual immorality in all its forms and all manner of orgies is most embarrassing to say the least.

Oh! That the leadership of today’s church shall live up to our calling and stand boldly in the face of all opposition to resist the worldliness and Romanism that has taken centre-stage in the midst of God’s people.

“Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom,” Songs of Solomon 2:15.

As recalling a passage in scripture quoted a year ago under the heading, “Every idol is an idol,” “Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. We should not test Christ, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. 1 Corinthians 10:7-10. Every idol is an idol whether it bears English, Greek, Roman or local African name. Beware of the Nicholaitans.

Why should one stop attending Akornedi festival or Dayi festival or Dente or Nogokpo cult Ogoni cult and Voodoo festivals or all other pagan festivals in Ghana and Africa because of my faith in Christ, but be encouraged by the Church to spend time marking an imported Roman and Greek pagan festival against the tenets of scripture?
God forbid.

2012-01-02T03:53:00.001-08:00

We wish you a happy New Year. 2012 will bring you a lot of success, joy and happiness.

As the New year is to blossoms, I wish you great time ahead, and may u achieve all that u wish for...

LET'S DO IT AGAIN!!!

Management

China Hackers Breach US Chamber of Commerce

2011-12-21T00:03:00.000-08:00

Some Hackers in China broke through the computer defenses of the US Chamber of Commerce last year and were able to access information about its operations and its 3 million members, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday.

The operation against the top American business lobbying group involved at least 300 Internet addresses and was discovered and shut down in May 2010, the Journal reported, citing unidentified people familiar with the matter.

The newspaper reported it was not known how much information was seen by the hackers, who may have had access to the network for more than a year before being discovered.

The group behind the breach is suspected by the United States of having ties to the Chinese government, one of the sources told the newspaper. The FBI informed the Chamber of Commerce that servers in China were pilfering its information, the source said.

Source: JerusalemPost

Nigerian Air Hostess Arrested with Cocaine at Heathrow

2011-12-20T23:11:00.000-08:00

An air hostess for Arik Air, Ms Chinwendu Uwakaonyenma Ogbonnaya, was arrested at Heathrow Airport on Sunday over an allegation of smuggling four kilogram’s of cocaine into the United Kingdom.

The airline promptly promised to support the British police and the magistrates in the matter even as it regrets that the incident is the first involving its crew.

A statement by the British High Commission in Abuja Tuesday said the drug was discovered in an item of luggage conveyed by 30-year-old Ogbonnaya.

“She had arrived into Heathrow Terminal 4 having travelled on an Arik Air flight from Lagos in Nigeria,” the statement said, adding that she was charged with attempting to import a class A substance, and appeared before Uxbridge Magistrate court Tuesday.

The British High Commission quoted the Director of UK Border Agency operations at Heathrow, Marc Owen, as saying: “UK Border Agency officers are on constant alert, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to keep class A drugs and other banned substances out of the UK.”

According to him, the agency is determined to prevent this terrible trade which can have “such a destructive impact on the lives of so many”.

Source: ThisDay Live

Oral Sex Can Cause Cancer

2011-11-24T09:26:00.000-08:00

For three months, 30-year-old Phil* had the feeling that there was something at the back of his throat. “I had a scratchiness near my right tonsil,” he says. “It wasn’t painful, but it irritated me constantly.

“And if I’d smoked more than usual over an evening, it would get particularly irritating the next morning and I’d cough a lot to try to alleviate it.”

Looking into his throat in the mirror, Phil could see only a “bit of redness”.

“It was only when I went for a filling in a back tooth that my dentist picked up that there was something seriously wrong and sent me to an ear, nose and throat specialist.”

A biopsy sample from his throat was sent to a lab for testing, and a week later Phil was told the bad news. He had throat cancer.

“I was baffled at first, but then the doctor explained that I had contracted human papillomavirus (HPV), probably during oral sex, and that in some people it causes oropharyngeal (throat) cancer. It put me into a state of total anxiety,” says Phil.

HPV is a common sexually transmitted virus. Most strains do not lead to symptoms or health problems but some cause genital warts as well as cervical, penile, anal and other cancers.

Oropharyngeal cancer can affect the soft palate, base of the tongue, tonsils and pharynx (the part of the throat situated behind the mouth and nasal cavity).

It isn’t known why HPV leads to throat cancer, but researchers have found that HPV-related throat cancer is increasing worldwide, especially among men in their 20s and 30s. The risk increases the more oral sex they have.

Worldwide, 400 000 new cases of oral cancer are diagnosed every year. Of these, about 70 percent are HPV-related, according to an authoritative US study.

Researchers say that HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer will overtake HPV-related cervical cancer in the US by 2020.

There aren’t up-to-date statistics of HPV-related throat cancer in South Africa. The National Cancer Register’s latest figures are from the early 2000s and it lists naso-oropharynx cancer (all nose and throat cancers) as the 11th most common cancer for males, and the 18th most common cancer for females .

Experts agree that the prevalence of oral cancer is rapidly increasing in poorer communities, where STDs are common and oral health is poor.

“Oral cancer is the sixth most common cancer in most countries, and we believe that, by now, it will be at least sixth in South Africa, if not higher up the list,” says Professor André van Zyl of the University of Pretoria’s (UP) School of Dentistry.

As human papillomaviruses spread from skin to skin and during unprotected oral or anal sex, the conditions are ideal for transmission from one person to another, Van Zyl explains.

In the case of HPV, you only get it in the location it attaches to. It doesn’t travel through the bloodstream.

Source: IOL

Phone App That Tells You Where To Find New Love

2011-11-24T09:15:00.000-08:00

Imagine you are heading off to a restaurant when your phone buzzes and suggests a different eaterie where you might meet someone that shares your passion for art and literature.

Sound like the stuff of science fiction? Well, apparently not.

Scientists have devised software which will allow smart phones to do much more than keep you in contact with family and friends.

Very soon, they claim, phones will be helping users make new friends by suggesting places to go where people with similar interests are likely to congregate.

The system – named Jyotish after the Sanskrit term for Hindu astrology – creates a map of people’s movements by tracking the wi-fi and Bluetooth connections on their phones to within around ten metres.

Eventually the technology would be able to go one step further, by matching their identities to social profiles and spotting situations where they may encounter a potential love match or work client.

The software was devised by Boeing scientists to predict the movement of its work crews in their huge aircraft factories.

Source: MailOnline

Prosecutors Demand 100 million Dollars From Jackson Doctor

2011-11-24T08:50:00.000-08:00

Prosecutors are demanding more than 100 million dollars in compensation from Conrad Murray, the doctor convicted of manslaughter in the death of pop star Michael Jackson, US media reported Thursday.

According to the new court documents filed by prosecutors, Jackson's children are entitled to lay claim against Murray for the money that Jackson would have earned in his "This is it" tour.

Prosecutors also demanded Murray be sentenced to the maximum four years in prison.

The 58-year-old doctor was convicted earlier this month of recklessly causing Jackson's death by administering the hospital anaesthetic propofol as a sleeping aid.

Source: Live Times

Pakistani Woman Kills Husband, Attempts Cooking Him

2011-11-24T08:10:00.000-08:00

A Pakistani woman who had killed her husband and was attempting to cook his body parts was arrested on Thursday by the state police after he planned to marry another woman without her permission.

Zainab Bibi, 32, and her nephew Zaheer, 22, were arrested in the Shah Faisal colony of Pakistan’s southern megacity Karachi, and recovered the bowl of flesh she planned to cook, said police chief for the area Nadeem Baig.

“They killed Ahmed Abbas, Zainab’s husband, and chopped his body into pieces and were about to cook the flesh in a bowl,” he told AFP, adding that the knife with which they killed the man had been recovered.

Television networks showed gruesome footage of the human flesh in a bowl ready for the stove.

A neighbour had alerted the police and investigations were ongoing, said Baig.

“There could be two factors behind her intention to cook the husband. One is to destroy the evidence and the other could be her immense hatred against him,” over his plan to marry another woman, he said.

According to family law in the Islamic country, a man has get permission from his first wife before his second marriage, but the law is rarely observed.

Source: National Post