The Truth about Valentine

A man once lived in the old province of Rome.who cant bear seeing people like him condemned and persucuted.he hates calling some set of people 'the cast away'.A popular hagiographical account of Saint Valentine of Rome states that he was imprisoned for performing weddings for soldiers who were forbidden to marry and for ministering to Christians, who were persecuted under the Roman Empire. According to legend, during his imprisonment, he healed the daughter of his jailer, Asterius. An embellishment to this story states that before his execution he wrote her a letter signed "Your Valentine" as a farewell.St.valentine was martyred AD496.
  Valentine's Day customs developed in early modern England and spread throughout the Anglosphere in the 19th century. In the later 20th and early 21st centuries, these customs have also spread to other countries including Africa.

The major focus about valentines day worldwide today however has narrowed down only to the romantic relationship between two folks which is far from the real mission of st valentine.Larger percentage see it more as a day of the eros love than the chronos.
St valentine died for what he believed in ( the uniformity and equality of the church,society & race regardless of status and the winning of souls for God's kingdom).
How much more or even close are we as christians or members of the society today? Is this day a day of romantic relationship really or a day to reflect soberly how a life can be touched,saved & granted the reason to live?
Stand up for someone in need of help today and honour the memory of St valentine.

something is wrong somewhere(extract from punch newspaper on bokoharam insurgent)

Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau

In the early hours of April 14, 2014, Boko Haram militants invaded the sleepy little town of Chibok in Borno State. They made off with about 234 schoolgirls, and then the school was razed to the ground.

Expectedly, the Nigerian military and security operatives descended on the town and its environs in what was supposed to be a formidable military/rescue operation.   However, there continues to be incessant Boko Haram operations and mayhems in and around that general locale.

On May 5, in an attack lasting several hours, Boko Haram attacked a village used as a base by our security officers in the search for the missing schoolgirls. On May 13, there was an attack on three villages; June 2, three communities in Gwoza were sacked. On May 20, three villages not far from Chibok were attacked. Between May 29 and June 5, six attacks were carried out and 20 women were abducted. On June 3, Boko Haram attacked four more villages; June 10, 20 more women were kidnapped from a nomadic settlement near Chibok. June 13 to 19 saw two more attacks. July 4 to July 10, four more attacks. On August 6, Boko Haram attacked Gwoza on a large scale. Its men reportedly arrived on motorcycles and up to 50 Toyota Hilux trucks. On August 11, during attacks on local villages, 97 men and young boys were kidnapped. In all of these attacks, hundreds of innocent people were killed, homes and properties were destroyed. Quite a few of our military personnel lost their lives too.

All of these attacks took place in the general Chibok – Gwoza axis, an area supposedly suffused with military presence, and under a State of Emergency. Yet, Boko Haram continues to operate there and elsewhere with impunity. Clearly, something is wrong. It is akin to Al-Qaeda never leaving Manhattan in New York immediately after 9/11, and just kept going back and bombing “Ground zero.”

We are talking about the Nigerian military here; a body that has acquitted itself excellently well since the 1960s. A force that has conducted successful operations in much more volatile environments – from the Congo to Sierra Leone. And now we are to believe that this same force that has garnered even more experience and more expertise over time is suddenly unable to see off a ragtag band of criminals? Something is not right.

That is not all.

One Stephen Davis recently went to town with revelations about Boko Haram. Davis, an Australian, is something of a “hostage negotiator.” He had invited himself to Nigeria on the back of the Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction. After about four months of negotiations, the girls are still in captivity; however, Davis cut loose on the alleged sponsors of Boko Haram. He alleged that Ali Modu Sherrif (a former Governor of Borno State), General Ihejirika (a former Chief of Army Staff), and a couple of Central Bank of Nigeria officials (one “who recently left the bank,”) were all in on it.

For me, the surprise is the Ihejirika and CBN links. Now, I don’t know whether the good Reverend has been duped or not, but if I were Ihejirika, I will insist on an immediate and thorough investigation to clear my name.

As the COAS, Ihejirika was a real thorn in the flesh of Boko Haram. At one time, he shut down the telecommunications network in the North-East. That began to strangulate Boko Haram until some elders and politicians up there protested. Ihejirika then went after the insurgents with a singleness of purpose that caused the Northern Elders Forum to cry “time out.”

Sherriff is a different kettle of fish. After his electoral victory, Sherriff didn’t give the boys the type of Sharia they craved; instead he gave them a short-lived commissioner.

You could see why – assuming the people with whom Davis have been hanging out wanted to be mischievo

us – Ihejirika and Sherriff’s names would be top of the list of possible Boko Haram sponsors.

But who knows. The whole thing gets messier every day. Running for elective office in Nigeria is very expensive. The speed with which Ihejirika jumped into partisan politics so soon after his controversial stint as COAS has not helped matters either.

All I know is that the North-East is being used as a cannon fodder and a laboratory in a macabre test of political wills in Nigeria. Look at the huge money being spent to keep Boko Haram in business. Imagine the difference it would have made on the lives of the people if that same money had been spent in the same region on youth employment, training and the provision of social infrastructure. But would any government deliberately allow a section of its domain to go to ruins for electoral purposes; and would we not automatically treat as suspect any presidential candidate who campaigns on the theme of restoring security and bringing Boko Haram to an end?

Clearly, there’s more to this whole Boko Haram business than meets the eye and things are beginning to point in uncomfortable directions. And as if all that isn’t troubling enough, the Federal Government owns up to a dubious act of money laundering and/or a covert arms purchase deal gone bad, using – of all things! – the private jet of the president of Christian Association of Nigeria. That just puts the cherry on the parfait, doesn’t it? Yep…something is not right.

Six easy ways to improve your memory

Are you blanking on names? Do you often leave your phone in a cab? These latest science based tricks will really turn your mind into sharp thinking ahead of you.

1. Play brain games

Puzzles such as Sudoku or crosswords can improve your memory and delay brain decline, but experts are not yet sure why. It is a chance that playing them activates synapses in your whole brain, including the memory areas. Some studies have found that, while doing crossword puzzles makes you better at remembering the capital of any country, there is little evidence they will boost your performance at more general tasks, such as remembering where you put your keys. But a 2012 study showed that participants who played one of computer games for 6 years improved their concentration so much that they had a 53 percent lower rate of car accidents. So you can decide to try an online brain training program; creators of these programs always claim that 96 percent of users improve their memory in just 9 hours of playing time. First you should answer a few questions to identify which of your cognitive processes, including memory, can use a little help. Then you receive a personalized training regimen. A ten-minute daily series of games is free and a more advanced program is available for some price. The games are very fun and are based on what researchers have found to improve concentration and different cognitive skills.

2. Eat the right foods

According to doctors memory super-foods should be rich in antioxidant, colorful vegetables and fruits, which protect the brain from harmful free radicals. They also are enthusiastic about low glycemic carbohydrates, such as oatmeal and everything with omega-3 fatties. In fact, one recent study found that people with low levels of omega-3s have brain that appears to be a full 2 years older in MRI scans. That is incentive enough for people to follow the memory enhancing diet, which claims it works in just 2 weeks. As the Mediterranean diet, it is heavy on produce, legumes, nuts and fish. It is low on meat, since meat’s omega-6 fatty acids can contribute to brain inflammation, a possible mechanism for Alzheimer’s disease. Such sugars produce a similar effect, so they are also out. Eat a farmers market’s worth of blueberries, spinach, avocado and beets and consume enough fish to sprout gills. You can also take 2.5 micrograms of vitamin B12, the standard recommended dose as studies show people with low levels perform poorly on memory tests, and international units of vitamin D, to boost cognitive function.

3. Get more sleep

Researchers have discovered that losing half your night’s sleep on just 1 evening can erode memory. One journal recently reported that the way to slow decline in aging adults is to improve the length and quality of sleep. Having a deep eight hour sleep helps your brain to shift memories from temporary to longer-term storage.

4. Master a new skill

A recent Swedish study found that adults who learn a new language show improved memory for people’s names, among same things. Any activity which is practiced diligently, like skiing or knitting, will definitely have the same effect.

5. Hit the gym

Researchers recently discovered that a little workout might yield big mental benefits. They had a group of people ride stationary bikes for 6 minutes, while another group cooled their heels. In the end, the active group performed significantly better on a memory test. The researchers think the boost might be tied to an exercise induced brain chemical that has a strong influence on memory. Exercise is the best memory aid of all. It can increase your brain size and the bigger your brain is the greater is your capacity to remember. It is recommended at least 20- minute-brisk walking a day.

6. Quit multitasking

Main reason most of you can’t remember where your keys are- you are not paying attention when you put them down. When you put them down, stop and say out loud, ‘I’m leaving my keys wherever you are placing them. Studies show that it takes 8 seconds to fully commit a piece of information to the memory, so concentrating on the task at hand is important.

20 things you may not know about Nelson Mandela

Few lives have been thoroughly
chronicled as that of former South
African President Nelson Mandela,
who died on Thursday at the age of
95.
From his earliest days as a scion of
South African royalty to his activism
against racism and apartheid in South
Africa, Mandela and his heroism has
literally created history for more than
75 years. But even international icons
such as Mandela have little-known
facts in their backgrounds.
Here are 20 facts you may not
know about Madiba.
1) Nelson Mandela was born into the
royal Thembu family.

2) His first treason trial lasted five
years from 1956 to 1961. Mandela was
found not guilty.
3) Though Mandela rejected violence
in his later years, he co-founded the
militant Umkhonto we Sizwe in
1961 which bombed government
targets.
4) Most people know Mandela was
imprisoned at the Robben Island
prison but Mandela was also held at
Pollsmoor Prison and Victor
Verster Prison during his 27 year
sentence.
5) Mandela is the only person to ever
receive both the US Presidential
Medal of Freedom, the Soviet Order
of Lenin and the Nobel Peace Prize.
6) Mandela’s name, Rolihlahla,
means troublemaker.
7) Mandela’s father, Gadla Henry
Mphakanyiswa, was a local chief in
the Transkei region and had four
wives.
8) Mandela was baptized a
Methodist.
9) Mandela was circumcised at the
age of 16 in a ceremony called
Dalibunga
10) Ballroom dancing was among
Mandela’s skills.
11) Prior to his death, he was the only
living person to be made an honorary
Canadian citizen.
12) When Stevie Wonder dedicated to
Mandela his 1985 Oscar Award for
the song “I Just Called to Say I Love
You,” Wonder’s music was banned by
the South African Broadcasting
Corporation.
13) In 1998, Mandela married his
third wife, Graca Machel, at the age
of 80. She was the widow of former
Mozambican president and ally on
South Africa’s freedom struggle,
Samora Michel, who had died 12 years
earlier.
14) Mandela appeared in the 1992
film “Malcolm X.”
15) In the days following his release
from prison in 1990, Mandela stayed
at the home of Archbishop Desmond
Tutu.
16) President Ronald Reagan
considered Mandela a communist
terrorist and worked against the
African National Congress.
17) Mandela’s first son, Thembi,
died in a car accident in 1969.
18) Mandela’s eyesight was
permanently damaged from sun glare
while being forced to work in prison
without sunglasses.
19) In 1953, Mandela and ANC
associate, Oliver Tambo, founded
the only Black African law firm in
South Africa.
20) Mandela was 9-years-old when
his father died of a lung disease

4 good Reasons You Should Start Eating Cucumber

Cucumbers are number four most cultivated vegetable in the world and known to be one of the best foods for your overall health, often referred to as a super food. Pick a handful of firm, dark green cucumbers and drop them into your shopping cart. Congratulations! You have just bought yourself stuff full of good health.

Cucumber rehydrates body

If you are too busy to drink enough water, eat the cool cucumber, which is 90 percent water. It will cheerfully compensate your water lost.

Cucumber fights heat inside and out

Eating cucumber will get your body relief from heartburn. Apply cucumber on your skin and you will get relief from sunburn.

Cucumber eliminates toxins

All that water in cucumber acts as a virtual broom, sweeping waste products out of your body. With regular eating, cucumber is known to dissolve kidney stones.

Cucumber replenishes daily vitamins

Cucumbers have most of the vitamins the body needs in a single day. A B and C, which boost your immune system keep you radiant and give you energy. Make it more powerful by juicing cucumber with spinach and carrot. Don’t forget to leave the skin on because it contains a good amount of vitamin C, about 12 percent of the daily recommended allowance.

Ronaldo breaks Messi's record for Champions League goals in a calendar year

Cristiano Ronaldo has broken the record held for Champions League goals scored in a calendar year after his second-half strike for Real Madrid at Juventus on Tuesday - overtaking the mark previously set by Barcelona's Lionel Messi.
He equalised for Real Madrid in their 2-2 draw at Juventus and now has 14 goals in the competition in 2013 - one more than the Barca star in 2012

Ronaldo latched on to a Karim Benzema pass in the 52nd minute and beat Gianluigi Buffon with a right-footed finish to level the scores at 1-1 after Arturo Vidal had blasted the Bianconeri in front from the penalty spot in the first half.

It was the Portuguese's eighth goal in four Group B games this term and his 14th in the Champions League this calendar year, a total which sees him surpass Messi's 13 strikes in 2012.

Ronaldo's goal was his 59th in the Champions League. The Portuguese now trails only Messi (63) and Raul (71). He also needs just one more strike to set a new group stage record currently shared with Hernan Crespo, Filippo Inzaghi and Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Messi, meanwhile, can add to his tally for Barca on Wednesday at home to AC Milan. The Argentine has hit seven goals in the Champions League in 2013, having been restricted by injury at the end of last season and also at the beginning of the current campaign.

Make-or-mar meeting of ASUU and FG

President Goodluck Jonathan is currently locked in a closed-door make-or-mar meeting with striking members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities inside the First Lady Conference Room, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The President is being joined at the meeting that started at 2.40pm  by Vice President Namadi Sambo; Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Pius Anyim; Supervising Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike; and Minister of Labour, Emeka Wogu among others.
ASUU President, Dr. Nasir Isa Faggae, led the union team which included past presidents such as Prof. Abdulahi Sule-Kano, Prof. Dipo Fashina and Prof. Festus Iyayi.
President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Abdulawahid Omar and that of the Trade. Union Congress, Bobboi Kaigama, are also in attendance.
Indication that the logjam may be resolved at the meeting emerged when the President declared while shaking hands with members of the delegation that, “The matter must be resolved here today. Our children must go back to school.”
All those in attendance responded with a loud “amen.”

Nollywood Actress,Moji Olaiya gives life to christ

Moji olaiya is in the league of prominent yoruba actresses and has not been left out of scandals that follow Nollywood actors and actresses.
Moji who is the daughter of great high-life music legend, Victor Olaiya, became known after she featured in a popular television series, ‘ super story’ and since her inception, the light complexion actress has been making waves in the industry.
The actress who called it quits with her husband, Mr.Okegbenro in 2011 has now turned to God.
The mother of one, who has been maintaining a low key status recently revealed to magazine that not only is she an actress, she is also a follower of Christ.
According to her, she will spend the rest of her life preaching the gospel and winning souls for Christ.
Following the path of her colleague, Susan Peters who revealed she was for Christ some months back.

Mourinho Welcomes FA’s £8,000 Fine

Jose Mourinho will be in the dugout for Chelsea’s match against Manchester City on Sunday after accepting an £8,000 Football Association fine for “improper conduct” after the 4-1 win over Cardiff last Saturday.
Referee Anthony Taylor had sent Mourinho to the stands following his vocal protests about what he regarded as blatant Cardiff time-wasting and, although he maintains that his complaint was justified, he has accepted the referee’s report of what happened.
“What the referee wrote is true,” said Mourinho.
“I wasn’t aggressive, I wasn’t offensive, I just had a disagreement. What he writes is exactly what happened and exactly why I didn’t understand why I went to the stands. And it’s exactly why the punishment is just a fine. I accept the fine and against Manchester City I can work.”
A fine of £8,000 is the standard amount, and Mourinho is clearly keen to now move on ahead of Sunday’s showdown between the two favourites to win the Premier League.
With City having surpassed Chelsea as the big spenders of English football, Mourinho is expected to use today’s pre-match press conference to highlight the investment that has been made at the Etihad and question Uefa’s determination to impose their Financial Fair Play regulations.
Mourinho has already argued that there should be more expectation this season on City than Chelsea because of their spending on proven and experienced players.
“In my first time you (the media) were always putting pressure on me saying: ‘You buy this, you spend that, you buy the title’,” he said.
“So I hope now it is on the other side.”
Although he has not mentioned City by name, Mourinho has also complained several times this season about clubs who appear to be ignoring the new Uefa regulations.
City spent £90m on four new players last summer despite running at a loss of £97.9m in the most recent financial year.
“Clubs have to think about the future, where FFP will make us think about football in a different way,” said Mourinho.
“We have already started, but other clubs seem not to have done so.
“Other clubs seem to think FFP will never start, or they think they can over-ride what FFP says and determines.”

Why Lagbaja Covers His Real Face With Mask

Nigerian high-life musician and a new Glo Ambassador, Bisade Ologunde aka Lagbaja is without doubt the best in his game.
Since he started his career, he has never revealed his real face (identity) to the outside world.
Many have wondered on who the real man behind the mask is.
A source revealed to NaijaGists the reason why Lagbaja never unmask his face.
According to the source: “This is not Lagbaja, I know him. Why are you even trying to unmask him? He has his reasons for wearing the mask.
He used to be in the choir in one Baptist Church in Ilorin and his parents are prominent Baptist members. His family opposed his decision to sing that kind of music.
They believed that he wanted to disgrace them because of their position in the church. That was why he put the mask”.
The Ologundes are from Ijagbo near Offa in Kwara State.