Post Election

Random Pics of the Week

The excitement and nostalgia is still in the air with people linking everything to Obama, everyone feeling they can dream, dry jokes and so much more!

But hey, Obama did it! Congrats to him again.

They have been a few peculiar things being said and done pre and post the election.

E.g. Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Maurice Iwu criticising the U.S. Voting System - uhm, yea okay *cough* - read here


Also heard something before the election about Sarah Palin not knowing that Africa is a continent! See video here



Michael Crichton, Jurassic park author died on the 4th of November aged 66 years old.



Miriam Makeba, South African Grammy Award winner (singer of Mama Afrika) died shortly after performing on stage. She was performing in Italy at a concert singing her hit 'Pata Pata' and suffered a heart attack afterwards. At hospital, she suffered a second heart attack after drinking some cognac and died on the 9th of November aged 76 years old.

May their souls rest in peace.


Nigerian Prisons in Recruitment Scam?


The Police Zonal Headquarters in Abuja is yet to account for the N4.6 million recovered from a Chief Superintendent of Prisons, Mrs. Mba Josephine Uchenna and six others involved in a recent recruitment scam.


LASTY, GHASTLY!

On the third of november 2008 on Muhri Okunola Street, victoria Island Lagos, the traffic was chaotic. A young lady (Uzoma Okere) driving home from work didn't move her vehicle out of the way of a millitary convoy on time, resulting severe beatings by armed Nigerian Navy men. The convoy consisted of Rear Admiral Harry Arogundade's personal Navy saloon car and his pilot truck, consisting of 6 armed bodyguards. The body guards in the process physically beat up several Price WaterHouse Coopers staff and destroyed cameras that were filming the event as it unfolded. The video clip was recorded from the PricewaterHouseCoopers office on a personal camera.

Watch here

GOBAMA

What Can I say guys GEEZ!

On the 4th of November 2008, Senator Barack Hussein Obama became the first African-American president in the United States of America after 44 terms.

• He became the first democrat to receive more than 50% of the vote since Jimmy Carter.
  
• He became the first senator to be elected as president since John F.Kennedy


• He is 47 years old - albeit young but change is good and we hope for the best, let us support him far and wide.


• He is the first candidate to have sparked as much a campaign-trail heat as John F. Kennedy.


• He has already made history even without acting as President!

Now, what was it?

Was it the random Robocalls from the McCain campaign in Spanish to the Spanish/Hispanic republicans in Miami urging them to vote against Obama because he is practically in alliance with Fidel Castro or just the fact that we need a revolution in our world and it starts from U.S.A....what was it? Either way, he has finally reached his calling and will fulfil it. God said so.

I haven't been in blogville for a while but for this historic event, I will sleep in Blogville!

Here are three people's comments which are so APT and PROFOUND!

First speaker:

"We're truly witnessing a historic moment which I'm sure many of us will be talking about for years to come, and telling our children about - the day Obama became American President! This is even moreso for the American people, many of whom attended the Obama rallies exactly for that reason - to be able to tell their kids that they were there! I stayed up all night to watch the drama unfold and it doesn't take long to realise how much this victory means to the American people, but especially African Americans. We can admire the man from afar because he is black and African, but seeing the tears of people like Jesse Jackson, Oprah and everyone else in that Chicago crowd really sums up what it means to black America, many of whom remember the times when they were segregated, not allowed to vote, and so on. They remember the efforts of one preacher from Atlanta who had a dream but was taken away from this world much too soon. These are things we can only read about and attempt to fathom the magnitude of, but it is clear to see that America is a step closer to realising Martin Luther King's dream, if not there already!

I believe that Obama currently has 349 electoral votes and one more (which I think he will get once the final states are tallied up) will officially make it a landslide!

An incredible feat, especially given the fear of the dreaded "

Bradley effect", ie. white voters not wanting to appear racist saying they will vote for the black candidate and then doing the opposite once they get into the booth (named after Tom Bradley, who lost the race for California governor in 1982 despite being well ahead in the polls).

I think this is a victory for all of America and proof that they can rise above the racial divide. I did believe they could, a few days ago I was pondering on how unlikely it was for Obama to have beaten Hillary Clinton in the primaries, and I think that is where he really won this race. I reckoned that if the Democrats could vote for him against the dominant brand in their party (ie. Clinton), then surely Americans, regardless of their colour could vote for him against McCain, and they have shown exactly that. How he's done it will surely be a case study for political campaigning for years to come!

Please let's spare a thought for John McCain, he was very gracious in his acceptance speech, and would have made a fine President himself. He clearly loves his country, and having served it for the best part of half a century, would have deserved nothing less to bow out at the top. But surely this is his last chance to do that, and I think he can now take a well deserved rest and reflect on a life well spent....

These are times I think that art definitely imitates life and not the other way round.

Forget about 24, West Wing and all those other shows, it is nice to see a black man getting off his backside and doing something like this when no one else thought it was possible or the right time.

I feel sad for Obama that his grandma could not hold out for two more days to witness him achieve this, but nonetheless happy that he took time from the campaign trail to see her before she passed. He's shown himself to be a real family man who will present a great example for the first family of the United States, and the first black first family at that! All that said, let's celebrate with the people of Chicago, USA, Kenya and the rest of the world, but let us also temper our excitement with the reality that Obama has a tough task ahead of him and he will not be a perfect president. Let's continue praying for God's will to be done in his life, pray for the protection of him and his family (he is set to become the most heavily guarded President in history), and pray that his presidency makes the US and the world a better place for all! "

More from this writer at bambostic.blogspot.com

Second speaker:

"I was so happy when Obama was named President Elect. It seems monumental in a global sense somehow we're at an important turning point not just for the U.S.A. but for all of us as a people. I always used to think of Clinton as a bridge builder but Obama has doubly reinforced that perception of himself now, and the whole world is expecting great things from him........not becase he's black but because of the way he's been able to inspire a planet. So now we wait and watch or rather we help (where we can) and watch ."

To contact or hear more from this speaker please email me - aramide at gmail dot com

Third speaker:

"I am flying now and will do everything that my heart sets itself to do little or small, big or large. I'm trying to share that with people this morning and realise that for the most part people are ordinary and l,imted in their thinking and when confronted with endless possibility choose to go back to what they knowand crack a joke or choose cynsism. They refuse to believe and i guess that is the limit of who they are. Yes we all can!"

To contact this speaker, please visit http://www.onenumber.com.ng/

Interestingly, the number of search results for Obama on Google has increased over 100% from last night....from 200,000+ to over 200,000,000 - YES WE CAN!

OBAMA VIDEO

Once again, GOBAMA!

October

Colin Powell dances the Yahooze



Catch him at yesterday's ThisDay Fashion and Style Africa Rising Event at London's Royal Albert Hall.

Read here - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7670788.stm



Bella Naija launches tasty new website



What we have all been anticipating............gist at our fingertips :o) Well done Bella!

Visit www.bellanaija.com




Atlantis Palm Dubai opened last month

Read here and visit http://www.atlantisthepalm.com/


Thanks for being a fantastic audience!! Watch out for my next post - October Event Highlights

To Be or Not To Be A Nice Girl

I stumbled on this book I had been meaning to buy for a few years - Nice Girls Don't Get The Corner Office.

The excerpt says: "For every professional woman who wants to get ahead—but feels she is at an impasse—Nice Girls Don't Get The Corner Office comes to the rescue. When overlooked for that special assignment or promotion, many women point the finger outwardly, looking for someone else to blame.

Now, Lois P. Frankel presents a different view in her empowering career primer that helps women identify ingrained habits they learned as girls that may be holding them back, such as couching statements in a question, smiling inappropriately, tilting the head while speaking, and others. Only by overcoming these self-defeating behaviors will the "nice girl" learn to leverage her power in the workplace—and claim the corner office she so richly deserves."

It is in the Nice Girls series which includes another book namely - Nice Girls Don't Get Rich

How true are these statements? In the 21st century where everything is a hustle, from being a partner at a law firm to being a WAG to being vice-president, what are your thoughts?

A few other top ladies to consider (see pics below): Indra Nooyi of Pepsico, Zoe Cruz of Morgan Stanley and Anna Wintour of Vogue - wonder if they were nice girls lol! We can strike Anna out I guess hehehe.

Book available at Booksng.com

Up, Up & Away

As I am currently serving my Motherland and Fatherland, blogging will be minimal. Expect reviews from me!

Yar'Adua is healthy - says Nigerian Govt. - read

Ramadan commences and Nigerian Northern leaders worried - read

Hurricane Gustav approaching New Orleans - read


U.S. Election - Who Will Get Wall Street's vote? - read




U.S. Election - McCain's Campaign - read


Anita Baker in Nigeria

She was supposed to have a concert at Muson then at the Oceanview Expo Centre but that 'didn't' happen! Why am I not surprised? They had to refund the N100k+ per tkt tickets back to the guests. She did perform at someone's wife's birthday though - can't name names sorry.

R.I.P Bernie Mac - since I never did tribute him when I heard of his death. Died at age 51. I'll never forget his popular 'Def Jam' and stand-up comedy saying: 'I ain't scared o' you, m%^&^%$£"*^s.' [Bernie's Wiki]

R.I.P Isaac Hayes - Coincidentally, he and Bernie did a movie togther recently. He was a great soul musician. Died at age 65 [Isaac Hayes Wiki]

With the death of these two, I bet Samuel L. Jackson is scared ****less! I hear he's in the movie too.

Look out for my review on the 'Things Fall Apart' drama finale in pictures!

Videobytes

Ryan Leslie - Valentine

Basket Mouth - Chop Puff Puff

Gongo Aso - Acoustic Version

The Run Through

Not Such a Quickie Divorce for Thierry

"Thierry Henry’s ex wife Claire is reportedly demanding a £10million settlement. The pair split last year after 4-years of marriage and the model was granted a quickie divorce in September when she cited her husband’s ‘unreasonable behaviour’.

But Thierry, 30, has now hired top lawyers Mishcon de Reya to argue that he was a success before he met his wife and that she wasn't involved in his professional decisions.‘Thierry has made an offer to Claire, which she has turned down flat,’ a source tells The Sun. ‘His legal team have really come on strong — warning her to shape up for a messy and bloody battle.'

Claire, 27, who has hired Sir Paul McCartney’s divorce lawyer Fiona Shackleton, is also said to be demanding a cut their £5.9million marital home in Hampstead, north London - which he bought before they wed in July 2003." -- more at Now Magazine

Starbucks Beaned Out?

Starbucks posted its first quarterly loss as a public company for the first time in more than 15 years as restructuring costs wiped out its profits for the quarter - a closure of over 600 of their underperforming stores in the U.S. led to this -- who begged them?

It has been struggling in the US as consumers have cut back their spending on expensive coffee. Rising dairy prices have also raised costs and an increased competition with the likes of Dunkin' Donuts and McDonald's introducing their own lines of gourmet coffee.

Starbucks said that there had also been a fall-off in customers in the UK, while sales growth had slowed in Canada.

What's On in Lagos? - Things Fall Apart

50 years on, Theatre@Terra presents live on stage, Chinua Achebe’s classic work-Things Fall Apart

Every Sunday in August

Written by Chinua AchebeAdapted for the stage by Biyi Bandele

Directed by Wole OguntokunAssistant Directors-Kenneth Uphopho, Sunkanmi Adebayo (Plus a pre-show bonus of drama sketches written by Wole Soyinka)

Venue - Terra Kulture, Tiamiyu Savage St, Victoria Island

Time- 3pm and 6pm

Tickets – N2000

Produced By Wole Oguntokun

A Terra Kulture- Jasonvision Ltd -Hyve Ltd Production

For Tickets and Enquiries, please call 0702 836 7228, 0808 123 9477 or e-mail laspapi@yahoo.com

London - WLFF

An interesting Not for Profit Organisation known as "With Love From Friends" is hosting a launch event/fundraising ball this Saturday!

WLFF is an initiative started by six bright young ladies organisation dedicated to the advancement of quality education in Nigeria. It aims to work with charities and other school projects in Nigeria to raise funds, to provide BASIC resources for underfunded schools.

Their belief and saying is that..........................Education Rocks!!! (It does, doesn't it?)

So let's put our philanthropic hats on together and encourage these ladies. Go on, attend the event being held at Parker McMillan (venue details below). Visit their website and blog

Saturday, August 2, 2008 at 8:00pm - 2.00am

Parker McMillan, 47 Chiswell Street, EC1Y 4SB

Fashion Rocks Too!!

P&R's Rouse Collection is Here!

Lola Abiodun of Peridot and Ruby says:

--"I haven’t always been a fan of interviews, Period! While I understand that it is a way of getting people to know my work, my inspirations and goals, I also know that it’s a way to misinterpret one’s words. I have always wondered what my response would be if I was asked what inspires me. I would love to tell this elaborate story of how travelling, culture and all the good stuff inspire me but I can’t. So when I started working on this collection, I decided to pick at my thoughts and discover my inspirations. To me, this was an avenue to tell my story just as it is. Peridot and Ruby was as a result of having an idea of what the average woman is all about. She could be the lady next door, the mother, daughter, wife, celebrity, career woman. She could be anybody with the underlining factor, a sense of individuality. She is one who likes her style to reflect personality. No matter how glam and elaborate a woman may try to be, there is this idea of simplicity although relative, in each woman, because when I looked around to understand what simplicity means, I realised everyone interpreted it differently.For this collection, I tapped into lives of friends, family, acquaintances that inspired me to put the collection together. These women are representative of all women Peridot and Ruby caters to. In each designs, I worked delicately and consciously with each customer in mind, understanding style in its simplest form without losing the sense of individuality." --

Check out the rest of her collection here.....

Michelle Obama and Kanye West on Vanity Fair's International Best Dressed List

Speaking of fashion, Michelle Obama tops at number 2 just and Kanye pushes in at number 18! Hmmm that's wassup. More here....

Vogue Italia's Black Issue Sells Out!

40,000 printed issues (and counting...) later, this issue is hot! Can't wait to get my fingers on it!

As part of the Black BUT Invisible campaign to promote and get more models of colour into mainstream fashion I am supporting the push to make this the biggest selling issue ever by getting everyone to buy this copy of the Italian Vogue. The issue costs approximately £7.

To read more about modelling and the changes over the years in terms of discrimination against black models, click here