Tuesday, July 31, 2012

To Love A Woman Is To Discover Her


How can you love a woman when you are yet to discover her heart and soul?
Until you discover her, you are only lost in your lust for her body.

But even a woman knows that there is more to her than her body. And she would prefer her lover to go deeper to discover her and until you do, she cannot be fulfilled.

She wants more than sex.
She wants more than money.
She wants more than fun trips.
She wants you to treat her like she is your Queen.
Then she will see you as her king.



Gossip Kick Off 13 City Tour Of North America On September 24



Gossip Kick Off 13 City Tour Of North America On September 24
TREASURE ISLAND FESTIVAL PERFORMANCE CAPS OFF TOUR

NEW YORK, July 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Columbia Records -- Gossip will kick off a 13 city North American Tour beginning on September 24 th in Washington, DC and wrapping up with a performance at Treasure Island Festival in San Francisco, CA on October 14 th (see below for full list of dates).  Gossip are touring in support of their latest release A Joyful Noise , which was produced by pop genius Brian Higgins (Kylie Minogue, Pet Shop Boys, Girls Aloud).  A Joyful Noise was released earlier this year to critical raves, with Associated Press proclaiming it the band's "finest studio album," as well as "bombastic, self-assured and a righteous floor rocker."  Bust Magazine heralded the album and the band for "creating exhilarating, potent dance music," while Magnet proclaimed the album to have "a sexy confidence that oozes cool."  "Perfect World," the first single from A Joyful Noise and a track Rolling Stone calls "dance-rock melodrama," is currently #8 on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play chart.
Since releasing A Joyful Noise in May, Gossip have crisscrossed the globe performing to sold-out crowds in New York City as well as major festivals in Germany (Rock am Ring, Rock im Park and Melt Festivals), Japan (FUJI Rock) and Australia (Splendour in the Grass).  Gossip will also perform at V Festival in the UK in mid-August in addition to their slot at Treasure Island Festival in October.  Led by the dynamic powerhouse vocalist Beth Ditto, Gossip are renowned for their incredibly high energy and amazing live shows.  NME described the band as "mind-blowing." They go on to say "everyone needs to hear this band and dance like there's no tomorrow." 
Gossip are Beth Ditto (vocals), Brace Paine (guitar, bass, keyboards) and Hannah Billie (drums).
Gossip U.S. tour dates
September 24
Washington, DC
930 Club
September 25
Philadelphia, PA
TLA
September 26
Boston, MA
Royale
September 29
Toronto, ON
Phoenix
September 30
Montreal, QB
L'Olympia
October 2
Detroit, MI
The Majestic Theatre
October 3
Chicago, IL
Bottom Lounge
October 5
Madison, WI
Majestic
October 6
Minneapolis, MN
The Fine Line Cafe
October 9
Seattle, WA
Showbox Market
October 10
Portland, OR
Crystal Ballroom
October 12
Los Angeles, CA
Fonda Theater
October 14
San Francisco, CA
Treasure Island Festival
www.gossipyouth.com
www.columbiarecords.com

SOURCE Columbia Records
CONTACT: Benny Tarantini, Columbia Records, +1-212-833-5858, Benny.Tarantini@sonymusic.com or Winnie Lam, Columbia Records, +1-212-833-8092, Winnie.Lam@sonymusic.com
Web Site: http://www.columbiarecords.com



Jillian Harris To Create “Kitchen of Dreams” for Lucky Popular Real Women of Philadelphia

Season 2 Host and Designer Jillian Harris Announces Real Women of Philadelphia "Your Kitchen of Dreams" Contest.

Leading Interior Designer, Jillian Harris, to Create “Kitchen of Dreams” for Lucky Member of Popular Real Women of Philadelphia Online Community

Interactive Website Empowers Hundreds of Thousands of Women Annually to Share Real Recipes, Engage in Real Conversations and Achieve Real Dreams

Glenview, IL (July 30, 2012) /PRNewswire/ — Millions of women across America often dream of having a new kitchen to better connect with family and friends over meals. Now one of the nation’s leading interior designers is helping make that dream a reality for one lucky person through a unique partnership with Kraft PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese. With the desire to support its consumer with an open forum to share cooking tips, recipes and culinary dreams, PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese created an interactive online community – Real Women of Philadelphia. Now, Jillian Harris, former star of popular ABC reality shows The Bachelorette and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and the new host the W Network’s Love It or List It is teaming up with Real Women of Philadelphia to give one of its members his or her very own “Kitchen of Dreams” valued at more than $45,000.

“What impressed me most with the Real Women of Philadelphia website were the genuine friendships that have ignited from all across the country, and the amazing stories of encouragement and support – especially when many of these ladies haven’t even met in person yet,” said Harris. “I was so honored to sign on to this project, as I know so many women are out there, like me, seeking other real women to talk about the things we all care about – family, friendships, food and a happy home. It’s truly amazing that PHILADELPHIA has been able to create that connectedness that we are all seeking in a virtual community.”

Through an online recipe and photo submission, the Real Women of Philadelphia will award one winner a kitchen makeover fully conceptualized by Harris including a one-on-one in-person consultation at the winner’s home, mood boards, samples and diagrams outlining suggested design concepts. This makeover also includes brand new KitchenAid appliances and high-value gift cards to local retailers. Beginning July 30, 2012, through August 19, 2012, online visitors are invited to become members of the vibrant and growing community and submit their unique recipe and photo for a chance to win. During the three-week period, a daily giveaway winner will also receive a kitchen appliance from KitchenAid.

In addition to helping make a “dream kitchen” come true for a Real Women of Philadelphia fan, Harris is also an enthusiastic new member of the popular Real Women of Philadelphia online community and will be interacting on the site with its more than 75,000 members.

“Aside from the amazing women I’ve already met on the site, I’m equally thrilled to be sharing some of my favorite recipes, and trying some of theirs, of course!” said Harris. “Ask any of my friends and they’ll tell you that my kitchen is my absolute favorite room in the house. I believe that cooking and sharing a meal is one of the best ways to share time and connect with loved ones.”

Always one to offer free do-it-yourself advice, Harris features her own personal profile on the site and offers some of her favorite kitchen makeover suggestions, including:

When one door closes…: Sick of your cabinet doors? Simply remove them completely and add wallpaper in a bright color or fun pattern to the back walls to showcase your personal style and brighten up your kitchen.
“Green” decorating: Impress your friends by using elements from your cooking to inspire your dinner party decor. For example, when making caprese salad, try incorporating fresh basil leaves into your floral arrangement or party favors for a fresh, sustainable decoration.
Super space savers: Layer both magnetic paint and chalkboard paint on the inside door of one of your cabinets. It’s the perfect hidden spot to post coupons or scrawl personal notes or shopping lists. Simply close your cabinets to hide the mess.
Stainless steel appeal on a cardboard budget: If you can’t afford completely new appliances, try painting refrigerator door handles or stove front with stainless steel paint to brighten up your kitchen.
Mixed emotions: Don’t be afraid to mix a few styles together, like modern with feminine or dark woods with bright white. It helps create dimension and unique flair in the room.

The Kitchen of Dreams contest is the third in a series of “dream-themed” contests hosted by the Real Women of Philadelphia this year. In 2012, Real Women of Philadelphia will be giving out more than $100,000 in prizes and uniting Real Women from across the country to share favorite recipes, create genuine friendships and achieve their dreams throughout the year. Recently, Real Women of Philadelphia launched a national cookbook, featuring all consumer-submitted recipes to encourage and promote the creativity of its fans.

For additional personal design tips and recipes from Jillian Harris and to learn more about the Kitchen of Dreams contest, visit RealWomenofPhiladelphia.com.

# # #

ABOUT KRAFT FOODS
Kraft Foods Inc. (NASDAQ: KFT) is a global snacks powerhouse with an unrivaled portfolio of brands people love. Proudly marketing delicious biscuits, confectionery, beverages, cheese, grocery products and convenient meals in approximately 170 countries, Kraft Foods had 2011 revenue of $54.4 billion. Twelve of the company’s iconic brands – Cadbury, Jacobs, Kraft, LU, Maxwell House, Milka, Nabisco, Oreo, Oscar Mayer, Philadelphia, Tang and Trident – generate revenue of more than $1 billion annually. On Aug. 4, 2011, Kraft Foods announced plans to divide and create two independent public companies: a high-growth global snacks business and a high-margin North American grocery business. The transaction is expected to be completed before the end of 2012. A leader in innovation, marketing, health & wellness and sustainability, Kraft Foods is a member of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Standard & Poor’s 500, Dow Jones Sustainability Index and Ethibel Sustainability Index. Visit kraftfoodscompany.com and facebook.com/kraftfoodscorporate.


Media Contacts:

Katie Cosgrove, Henson Consulting
Katie@hensonconsulting.com, 630.315.2968

Kraft Foods Media Help Desk
news@kraftfoods.com, 847.646.4538




How the Calabar Carnival Can Attract Thousands of Foreign Tourists


How the Calabar Carnival Can Attract Thousands of Foreign Tourists

For instance at the stadium yesterday (during the carnival), a seat at the governor’s booth sold for N25, 000 and I think that we made more than N5 million ($35, 000). So there are products that we think we can generate revenue from and we are hoping to get to a stage where we can concession it whereby somebody comes in and says I want the governor’s booth and pay for it then market it. The same on the carnival routes, vendors on the routes are registered and pay for space.

~ Senator Liyel Imoke, Governor of Cross River State in Nigeria, in Destination, Page 42, Travel & Tourism Section of The Guardian of Nigeria on Saturday January 28, 2012.


Only God knows how much in billions of naira the administration of Senator Liyel Imoke of Cross River State has spent so far on the so called Calabar Carvival dubbed as “Africa’s Biggest Street Party” and as the governor confirmed the carnival is presently in debt, because the state government is not generating much revenue from the billion naira investment in a month long carnival of music, dance and drama with the glitz and razzmatazz of over 50,000 costumed revelers and 2 million spectators in the coastal city of Calabar staged to boost tourism.

But why is the Calabar Carnival not yet a bankable event and not yet the biggest international tourist attraction in Africa? Because the so called “Africa’s Biggest Street Party” is not Africa’s biggest tourist event. The Reed Dance of Swaziland attracts thousands of foreign tourists and makes more money than the budget, but the Calabar Carnival makes less money than the amount spent on it.

Swaziland's annual 'Reed Dance' is a traditional show of virginity by thousands of maidens. This year around 60,000 bare-breasted girls, some as young as 10, presented reeds to the queen mother while they danced before King Mswati III. Although Mswati already has 13 wives, the "Reed Dance" presents an opportunity to add another spouse to his family.

The Calabar Carnival is a good concept of immediate past Governor of the state, Donald Duke who started it in 2004, but it has been mismanaged by opportunistic jobbers and political contractors like the other equally mismanaged Tinapa with an ultra modern film studio that has attracted more lizards and spiders than filmmakers.

Personally I like carnivals, but only when they are not bacchanalian feasts of debauchery of orgies of sex by hordes of “dogs” in heat.

The most famous carnival is the Brazilian Carnival which originated in Rio de Janeiro in 1641 when the city's bourgeoisie imported the practice of holding balls and masquerade parties from Paris. It originally mimicked the European form of the festival, later absorbing and "creolizing" elements derived from Native American and African cultures. Carnival celebrations are believed to have roots in the pagan festival of Saturnalia.

The Calabar Carnival begins on every 1st of December and lasts till 31st , with almost copycats and replicas of the Brazilian carnival on parade.

Last December, the different bands Masta Blasta, Seagull, Freedom, Bayside and Passion 4 competed to interpret the theme of the Carnival, which was “Endless Possibilities”, but might as well also mean the endless financial liabilities of the jamboree with many useless events like the football competition and wasting money on foreign entertainers like Nelly, Kirk Franklin, Sean Kingston, Rick Ross, Akon and even the defunct American bands like Midnight Star, Sky, Cool and the Gang and others specially resurrected for the Calabar Carnival and get paid what they would never have earned playing in New York.

There are some niche events in the Calabar Carnival that will be enough to attract thousands of foreign tourists than the indigenes and make millions even in a week without stretching them unnecessarily for one month of monotonous activities repeated by the same bands every year. The Boat regatta, Christmas Village and live music concerts and Governor’s Masked Ball should be strictly for paying audiences.

You don’t need one month to do a great street carnival, except it is a conduit for sleaze and public graft and a colourful camouflage for an annual government racket.:)

The famous Rio de Janeiro's Carnival does not last more than a week and last year’s edition started on Saturday, February 18th and ended on Tuesday, February 21. In 2011, attracting over 4.9 million people, of which only 400,000 were foreigners.

The Calabar Carnival should just be reduced to a one week panorama of the tourist attractions of Cross River State and Nigeria and don’t waste tax payers money on the importation of American hip hop artistes, because they have little or no attraction for the foreign tourists who are more interested in seeing the awesome displays of our cultural heritage than gyrating or shay shying to American hip hop musicians they have already seen many times over at live concerts in America and Europe and on TV. Moreover, the Calabar Carnival should look more original and unique and not a Nigerian imitation of the Brazilian carnival. The only way you can make the Calabar Carnival an international tourist attraction is by offering something new and something original that will be a fantastic kaleidoscope of the rich culture of Cross River and Nigeria which foreign tourists cannot see outside Calabar.


~ By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima
Publisher/Editor
Nigerians Report
Nigerian Times
CEO, International Digital Post Network Limited
Founder, Eko International Film Festival,
Founder/CEO, Screen Outdoor Open Air Cinema





Monday, July 30, 2012

She is Addicted To Her Laptop

She is so addicted to her laptop that she even goes to the toilet surfing the internet.




How to Avoid Internet Addiction
Edited byWes Platt and 43 others

Steps

1
Admit you have an addiction. Understand that you do have an internet addiction, and that there is no use in avoiding the truth.


2
Do you want to stop going online so much? Hmm? Well then stop! You want to stop, right? Constantly remind yourself. There will be times you are in the computer room and hear the sound of the computer. You'll think "Oh, I'll just check my email" But that's how it gets you!! Set a certain time and make a habit of sticking by your rules. It will be hard at first, but then it will get easier over time.

3
Realize that more and more people on the world are becoming addicted to the internet. You are not the only one with this problem, it is becoming more and more common and more and more well known. Do not be embarrassed, find others with the same problem and help each other beat it.

4
Get a hobby or an interest that doesn't involve the internet, video games, TV or computers. Get involved with teams, clubs, sports, church, music, dancing, singing, etc. Go for a run with a friend or get exercise some other way. Go to bed on time and get a good night's rest. Keep up with the local events in your community. There may be talks, film screenings, concerts, local sporting events, and book signings etc. Find some, as long as it is not on the internet, and get involved.

5
Complete your studies. If you are a student then do your homework and study. This is a great thing to do right away when you get home. You will feel great knowing that you did your homework early. Read books or research at the library instead of browsing Wikipedia for information. Teachers would rather have you use a real book than Wikipedia. Study lessons that you learned for the day, whether there's a test the next day or not.

6
Help with meals. Your parents will be happier that you're helping out with dinner or dishes instead of chatting online. Cook or bake something one night for the family. Anything that gets you off the computer for a while will help and increase your confidence that you can stay off even longer.

7
Hang out with friends. Plan a trip to the bowling alley, mall, or ice rink. Get a friend to walk a dog with you for the afternoon. Avoid places that have free internet access such as coffee shops.

8
Plan family nights. Instead of watching TV or doing individual things during dinner time, eat dinner as a family on the table and plan games afterward.

9
Limit your computer time. Make sure not to turn it on too many times a week. If you have a laptop, make sure to put it somewhere that you can remember but not somewhere that you see every day. Try keeping the lid closed when you are not using it; when the computer is not looking at you, you are less likely to use it. If you have a desktop PC, try not to go near it or put something over it like a sheet.

10
Call people instead of sending instant messages. Call a friend and ask them to go outside for at least 3 hours a day. This will distract you from the computer. Also try doing your homework together.

11
Use an alarm clock or timer. Before using your computer decide on a time limit such as 30 minutes. Set the clock or timer and make sure that you get off the computer when the time is up. Alternatively create a shutdown timer shortcut on your desktop (google search "shutdown timer" for tutorials). This can be programmed to shutdown your computer after a predesignated time after it has been activated.

12
Don't eat meals at your computer! Eating at a separate place will help you to not go online.



Columbia Records Celebrates 125 Years Of Great American Music With 360 Sound

Bob Dylan (in 1966) featured in new book "360 Sound: The Columbia Records Story" by Sean Wilentz, celebrating 125 years of music. (photo: Jerry Schatzberg). (PRNewsFoto/Columbia Records)

30 Jul 2012 13:00 Africa/Lagos

Columbia Records Celebrates 125 Years Of Great American Music With 360 Sound: The Columbia Records Story.

"360 Sound: The Columbia Records Story" Celebrates 125 Years of Great Music. (PRNewsFoto/Columbia Records)

Written by Pulitzer Prize-and GRAMMY-nominated author and historian Sean Wilentz, 360 Sound illustrates sweeping cultural and business changes in music over more than a century

Special deluxe version includes book by celebrated journalist Dave Marsh highlighting his selection of the 263 most important songs in Columbia's history along with a drive including all tracks
ISBN: 978-1-4521-0736-3

NEW YORK, July 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Columbia Records will celebrate its 125th anniversary with the release of a book titled 360 Sound: The Columbia Records Story on the great American record label and its role in initiating recorded music, cultivating great artists, and igniting cultural change. Written by Pulitzer Prize-and GRAMMY nominated author and historian Sean Wilentz, the book provides a journey through Columbia Records' storied past and its contributions to entertainment from the invention of commercial recording through the present day.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120730/NY48261-a)

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120730/NY48261-b)

360 Sound: The Columbia Records Story, published by Chronicle Books, will be released on October 30th. It begins in the late 1880's, when Columbia, under the leadership of Edward Easton, seized upon the phonographic inventions of Thomas Edison and others to offer the public the first commercial musical recordings. The book goes on the explore the rich stories of how Columbia's artists and producers have redefined American music and performance over the past 125 years, at once reflecting and shaping changes in the wider culture.

Simultaneously, Columbia Records will release a deluxe package, which will include, in addition to a hard cover copy of the Wilentz book, a separate book, written by Dave Marsh, entitled 360 Sound: The Columbia Records Story: Legends and Legacy. Marsh has culled from Columbia's vaults a collection of 263 songs and tracks of the greatest historical, as well as musical, significance, and his book offers his thoughts on each selection. The package also includes a beautifully crafted drive with all 263 recordings.

360 Sound: The Columbia Records Story will also be available as an e-book through multiple platforms.

Columbia's list of major performers, past and present, is unsurpassed and includes much of the most important, and beloved music in all genres, including pop, rock, country, show tunes, classical, jazz, R&B, hip-hop, and blues. Artists recorded by Columbia and its subsidiaries have included Barbra Streisand, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Miles Davis, Leonard Bernstein, Johnny Cash, Beyonce, Adele, Billy Joel, Al Jolson, Frank Sinatra, Duke Ellington, Robert Johnson, Bing Crosby, Count Basie, Billie Holiday, Tony Bennett, Simon and Garfunkel, Leonard Cohen, Neil Diamond, Aerosmith, Elvis Costello, Willie Nelson, Yo-Yo Ma, LL Cool J, James Taylor, Philip Glass, Mariah Carey, Lauryn Hill, Dixie Chicks, John Mayer, Jack White, and more.

360 Sound includes 300 rare and intimate photographs from the Columbia archives and sidebar discussions of crucial developments and performers written by eminent music historians Dave Marsh and Colin Escott. The book offers a virtual history of the music industry from its infancy, tracing Columbia's pivotal technological as well as business innovations, not least its invention of the LP. It also reflects on the connection between Columbia's artists and music and sweeping cultural and political changes, from the emergence of mass commercial culture to the rise of the civil rights movement and beyond.

The release of 360 Sound: The Columbia Records Story will be celebrated with a launch event in New York on Oct. 30 th. Additionally there will be a retrospective exhibit at the GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles. An event is set for November 7 th at the Museum on opening day.

360 Sound author Sean Wilentz is one of the nation's most prominent historians. His books and commentary on music, politics, and the arts have received numerous awards, including a Pulitzer Prize nomination, and his writing on music has been nominated for a Grammy Award. He is currently the George Henry Davis 1886 Professor of American History at Princeton University.

Dave Marsh has written more than 20 books on rock and popular music. He has written extensively for publications including Rolling Stone and Playboy. Since 2004, he has hosted a two hour weekly show on XM/Sirius Radio.

SOURCE Columbia Records

CONTACT: Dawn Bridges, +1-917-679-7390, +1-646-512-3372, dawnbridges@me.com







Saturday, July 28, 2012

Top 10 Highest Paid Super Models In the World


1. Gisele Bündchen
2. Kate Moss
3. Natalia Vodianova
4. Adriana Lima
5. Doutzen Kroes
6. Alessandra Ambrosio
7. Miranda Kerr
8. Lara Stone
9. Carolyn Murphy
10. Candice Swanepoel






From Hola With Love!

DISEÑOS PLANOS


null
1. En dos colores tipo ‘cangrejera’, de Zara: 2. Con calados a modo de rejilla y lazo frontal, de Sacha London; 3. Sandalia tipo ‘romana’ con tiras contrastadas, de Bimba & Lola; 4. Deportiva con puntera de goma, de Converse para Línea U de Adolfo Domínguez; 5. Bailarinas artesanales de rafia natural teñida a mano, de Titabonita; 6. Mocasines de estilo étnico, de Eneka; 7. En piel de serpiente en dorado, de Uterqüe; 8. Clásicas ‘flip flops’, modelo especial ’50º aniversario’ de Havaianas; y 9. Bambas de lona con bordes deshilachados, de Lacoste.


DISEÑOS CON TACÓN O CUÑA

null
1. Con el talón descubierto y suela en contraste, de Blanco; 2. De estilo ‘hippie’, de Fosco; 3. Con tiras elásticas multicolores, de United Nude; 4. Con suela y tacón de madera y tiras de gasa cruzadas en el empeine, de Cuplé para Ion Fiz; 5. En ‘color block’, de Again&Again en El Armario de la Tele; 6. De estilo ‘retro’, de Coolway; 7. Con cuña de corcho, de Nine West; 8. Con adorno de croché en el empeine, de Yolan Cris; y 9. ‘Peep toes’ con lazo, de Mango.




It's A Red Carpet Life!



28 Jul 2012 01:06 Africa/Lagos


"It's A Red Carpet Life..." Features Exclusive Interviews on "Decoding B'aqtun"
Host interviews Head Elder of the Mayan Council and film executive producer & financier Elisabeth Thieriot

SAN FRANCISCO, July 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- MBL Media Productions, an Emmy Award-winning, full-service film and video production company, is proud to announce the premiere of "It's A Red Carpet Life...The Mayan Prophecy," where host Marybeth La Motte will discuss the concept and production process behind the filming of "Decoding B'aqtun." The documentary, filmed in Guatemala in April 2012, uncovers rarely seen Mayan artifacts from the sites of Tikal and Quirigua, Guatemala.

In the episode airing this Sunday, July 29, at 5:25pm PDT on KICU TV36 (directly after "FRIENDS"), La Motte interviews the Head Elder of the Mayan Council, Apolinario Chile Pixtun, and Elisabeth Thieriot, President, Elicosma Productions and also the film's financier and executive producer. "We encourage viewers to tune in and find out about 'Decoding B'aqtun,'" La Motte shares. "The unique opportunity to learn more about the Mayan calendar and culture has been a rewarding experience for our team and we can't wait to share the insight with our audience."

In his interview with La Motte, Pixtun explains why the Mayan culture designed its calendar thousands of years ago and how it holds true today. He also recaps the development of a substantial friendship with Thieriot and his respect for her concentrated effort in the face of adversity throughout production.

In the second half of the interview, Thieriot explains the Mayan prophecies of 2012, clarifies what society has achieved in the last 5000 years, and gives a sneak peek into what the movie discloses about the Mayan calendar. She also candidly discusses production hurdles and surviving false accusations and blackmail from a previous film's production in Mexico.

For more information on "It's A Red Carpet Life...," please visit: www.redcarpetsf.com, or call MBL Media

Productions at (415) 297-3221, or email redcarpetsf@mblproductions.com.

About "It's A Red Carpet Life..."

"It's A Red Carpet Life..." is the most recent addition to the KICU network's primetime entertainment and news lineup. Pioneered by Marybeth La Motte, host of "Red Carpet Bay Area" and founder of MBL Media Productions, the five-minute spotlight is shined on select individuals during brief interviews where a wide variety of topics are discussed. Whether it's the mysteries of the Mayans, luxurious getaways, business tips, or even advice for marketing oneself in front of the camera, "It's A Red Carpet Life..." covers all of the San Francisco Bay Area's latest entertainment news.

About MBL Media Productions

MBL Media Productions is an Emmy Award winning, full-service film and video production company specializing in the unique needs of events, the fashion and luxury sectors. Host Marybeth La Motte capturing interviews of runway shows and special events, and integrates clients' editorial material into enticing online and television formats.

SOURCE MBL Media Productions

CONTACT: MBL Media Productions, +1-415-297-3221, redcarpetsf@mblproductions.com

Web Site: http://www.redcarpetsf.com



The New Celebrity Cruises' Celebrity Reflection All-Glass Shower


27 Jul 2012 15:58 Africa/Lagos

Celebrity Cruises' New Celebrity Reflection 'Clearly' Presents Industry's Most Unique Shower

Modern luxury brand's fifth stylish Solstice Class ship features all-glass shower

MIAMI, July 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- After revealing in April that the "Reflection Suite" on Celebrity Cruises' Celebrity Reflection will feature an all-glass shower extending out over the edge of the ship, the modern luxury brand has received so much interest that it has released renderings of the intriguing space.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120727/FL47720-a )

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120727/FL47720-b )

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120727/FL47720-c )

The 1,636-square-foot Reflection Suite with 194-square-foot veranda will be Celebrity's first two-bedroom suite, complete with its distinctive sea-view bathroom with soothing rain shower, and the host of amenities associated with Celebrity's luxury suites, including the brand's round-the-clock European butler service.

Celebrity's Senior VP of Hotel Operations Lisa Lutoff-Perlo was completely "transparent" about how the brand will preserve the privacy of guests using the unique glass shower: "We made a big investment in ensuring our guests can enjoy the shower entirely free of any concerns of being seen," said Lutoff-Perlo. "They can enjoy breathtaking sea views while discreetly showering, courtesy of the shower's special reflective glass. But, if they seek even further privacy, the shower also features 'smart glass.' At the flick of a switch, guests can activate an electrochromatic technology which instantly transforms the glass from transparent to translucent. We even went so far as to install a special sensor, so if guests prefer, the glass can be automatically transformed for them. It's yet another example of the modern luxury experience that only Celebrity delivers."

Nestled in the highly desirable corner location of the ship's 14th deck, and designed by New York-based BG Studio International Inc., the Reflection Suite is adjacent to the brand's five new "Signature Suites," each offering a 441-square-foot stateroom area and 118-square foot veranda, with floor-to-ceiling windows and veranda doors, all designed to maximize the stunning views of the sea. Celebrity's Signature Suites each can accommodate up to four guests, and also will offer the luxurious 24/7 butler service that is a hallmark of every suite across the Celebrity fleet.

The entire area housing the Reflection Suite and Signature Suites can be accessed only by cardkey, exclusively among guests booked in the elite group of suites, such that a family or other group of up to 26 guests can enjoy a private, six-suite modern luxury vacation experience.

Driven by high demand for Celebrity's industry-first AquaClass category of spa-inspired accommodations, and by way of an additional deck being added to Celebrity Reflection, as previously announced, Celebrity also will introduce on Celebrity Reflection the line's first AquaClass Suites. Each will offer 300 square feet of luxurious interior space and spacious 79-square-foot verandas, paired with all the amenities associated with Celebrity's AquaClass accommodations, including exclusive and complimentary access to the highly-rated specialty restaurant, "Blu," noted for its inviting, modern design and flavorful, healthy cuisine. The new suites also will offer the luxurious 24/7 butler service that is a hallmark of every suite across the Celebrity fleet.

In addition to the 34 new AquaClass Suites, Celebrity Reflection also will present an additional eight luxurious new Sky Suites, 19 additional plush ConciergeClass staterooms, and 11 additional inside staterooms, bringing the stateroom/suite total to 1,515.

Celebrity Reflection will enter service October 12, 2012, on a nine-night European cruise from Amsterdam to Barcelona.

About Celebrity Cruises:

Celebrity Cruises' iconic "X" is the mark of modern luxury, with its cool, contemporary design and warm spaces; dining experiences where the design of the venues is as important as the cuisine; and the amazing service that only Celebrity can provide, all created to provide an unmatchable experience for vacationers' precious time. In addition to offering vacations visiting all continents, Celebrity also presents immersive cruisetour experiences in Alaska, Australia/New Zealand, Canada, Europe and South America. One of the fastest-growing major cruise lines, Celebrity is one of five cruise brands operated by global cruise vacation company Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE, OSE: RCL). Celebrity's fleet currently consists of 10 ships, with an additional Solstice Class ship, Celebrity Reflection, scheduled to join the fleet in October 2012. For more information, dial 1-800-437-3111, visit www.celebritycruises.com, or call your travel agent. Follow the brand socially at www.facebook.com/celebritycruises.

SOURCE Celebrity Cruises

CONTACT: Elizabeth Jakeway, +1-305-539-6127, ejakeway@celebritycruises.com, or Tavia Robb, +1-305-539-6721, trobb@celebritycruises.com

Web Site: http://www.celebritycruises.com




She Is In Relationship With A Man On Facebook, But She Is A Lesbian


Now Nigerian guy meets pretty and sexy Nigerian girl on Facebook and falls in lust at first sight as usual. (Insert Big Grin Smiley here.)

He appeals to her to go out with him and she agrees and soon begins to send her money and gifts without even seeing her in flesh and blood.
He soon claims to be in relationship with her on Facebook and she updates her Facebook status that she is also in relationship with him and that is public online. But off Facebook or her Fakebook, she is a confirmed lesbian without apologies or regrets.

What do you think will happen when he finds out the truth?



Why I Don't Enjoy Dating Girls Like Rihanna

Rihanna in bikini. Photo Credit: The Superficial.

Yes, I was the first in Nigeria to report it when Esquire voted Rihanna the sexiest woman alive for 2011 and many guys went gaga and stumbling over the moon drooling over Rihanna being a sultry sexy diva of Pop music and all that, but please excuse me, I don't enjoy dating girls with the figure of Rihanna for one particular reason. Her BOOBS are not sexy enough for me, because I love girls with sexier boobs like Salma Hayek and not the small apples of Rihanna.

See what I mean on Salma Hayek.





Friday, July 27, 2012

The God Thing

Friday, July 27, 2012

A God Thing

Help spread the word:


"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."1

According to Jim Green, Executive Director of The JESUS Film Project, "A Jesus film team was driving to a film showing site in a Muslim nation, a remote region that has hardly been touched by the Good News. It was a restricted area, with many hazards for those who would dare to openly share their faith. As the team drove along, they prayed that God would go before them and open doors of opportunity and give them safety.

"Just before they arrived at the village, a policeman flagged down their car. It seemed that an Islamic teacher needed a ride. The officer made the introductions and asked if they could help. Feeling it was an acceptable and necessary risk, they agreed and offered a ride, and continued towards town.

"You can imagine the anxiety the team must have felt when this highly respected teacher asked, 'Tell me, are you the ones planning to tell people about God?'

"Entrusting themselves to the Lord, they responded, 'Yes, we are.' Apprehension turned to astonishment as they listened to what this teacher said next. Bouncing along the dusty road, the teacher told the team how he had experienced a unique dream.

"'I was told to come to this spot in the road, at this time, and that I would encounter someone who would tell me about God. It must be you.'

"They gave him some literature that JESUS film teams carry in the local language, and invited him to come the showing of JESUS that night. He not only came but also helped distribute literature to the people!"2

It is my personal conviction that if an individual sincerely seeks God and his truth, God will reveal himself to him/her in whatever way or through whomever he chooses.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you that whenever I or anyone sincerely seeks you with all their heart, they will find you. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

For more information about "Jesus Christ: Is He God or Man?" click on http://tinyurl.com/award

For help to know Jesus personally click on: http://tinyurl.com/8glq9

1. Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV).
2. Jim Green, Executive Director of The JESUS Film Project, a division of Campus Crusade for Christ International. Monthly report letter, July 8, 2005.



Click to watch the JESUS film...



<:))))><




Official - Brits Heading for the Dip As London 2012 Begins


Georgie Thompson pictured here in an exclusive behind the scenes photo from Glacéau vitaminwater’s Skip the Dip shoot. You can star in your own version too at http://vitaminwaterskipthedip.com

26 Jul 2012 14:34 Africa/Lagos


Official - Brits Heading for the Dip

LONDON, July 26, 2012/PRNewswire/ --

- glacéau vitaminwater urges Britain to 'skip the dip' in run up to london 2012


- More time is lost each year in dips, than through sick days!

glacéau vitaminwater, best mate and official worldwide partner of the London 2012

Olympic games, today announces research findings to show that whilst athletes may be honing their performance and going for gold this summer, Brits face a battle to avoid dipping each day (skip the dip.)

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120726/546479 )


A 'blonde moment' or a 'funny five minutes' are commonly referred to, but it seems that many Brits from all backgrounds dip on a regular basis. a YouGov spokesperson said, "this research shows us that a huge number of Brits experience dips or lulls in energy, a lack of focus or lapses of concentration during mid morning and afternoons." The study of over 2,000 people across the UK shows that 74% of Brits experience dips regularly[1], with nearly a quarter a fifth (22%) having these happen multiple times each day.




84% of Brits that dip do so for more than 5 minutes at a time, with 10% saying that their dips last for more than an hour. In total Brits lose more time through dips each year than full time workers through sick days[2], with a total of an estimated GBP17bn being lost.

The research shows suggests its not just bored office workers pummeled by power point and endless meetings into an upright snooze, 57% of full time students who dip are doing so in libraries and lectures theatres up and down the UK.

Although many of us dip, it seems each part of the UK has their own preferred ways of doing it. the welsh who dip experience them on a night out twice as much as the national average (20% vs. 9%), so expect to see more vacant expressions on a night on the tiles in Cardiff! and whilst the reputation of Londoners may be go-getters in the endless hustle and bustle of the urban jungle they are in fact most likely to be zoned out on public transport (twice the national average at 26% compared to 14%)

Overall dippy brits have admitted to not being at their personal bests when in dips with 77% of dippers citing the afternoon as a common dipping period. 21% of dippers admit to having forgotten the name of the person they are introducing in the last year, with 13% emailing or texting the wrong person when failing to overcome a mind slump. one subject questioned confessed to putting butter in the washing machine by mistake, whilst another confided that they had put on two shirts in the morning, whilst in the midst of the dip.

It also seems Brits have some equally whacky tips to help them skip the dip, with respondees confessing to remedies ranging from a self-slap in the face, yelling out loud and spontaneous star jumps.

Greg Whyte, professor of sports science and trainer to the likes of David Walliams, Eddie Izzard, and Fearne Cotton says we can all think of ways to skip the dip. "We all have dips throughout the day which are often associated with low energy levels and dehydration. These can lead to a loss of concentration and affect how well you can perform even simple tasks - by the time you feel thirsty that means it is too late!

Keep well hydrated by varying the drinks you consume. glacéau vitaminwater is a great choice; it tastes great and has some of the added vitamins and minerals that you may need. you can also give yourself a boost by taking regular breaks from what you are doing, getting some fresh air and daylight and having some fun. Sometimes even a joke is enough to break us out of a dip."

Georgie Thompson stars in a newsreel clip and app to explain the phenomenon of dips that is sweeping the UK.

Georgie Thompson stars in a new clip for glacéau vitaminwater's skip the dip campaign for London 2012.

You can star in your own version too at http://vitaminwaterskipthedip.com


For more information or for press invites to the event please contact:
Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120726/546479

Source: glacéau vitaminwater


Thursday, July 26, 2012

The Levi's® Brand Debuts 2012 Go Forth™ Global Marketing Campaign


"This is a Pair of Levi's®" Celebrates Refined and Tailored Look of Fall/Winter 2012 Collection

SAN FRANCISCO, July 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Levi's® brand (www.levi.com) unveiled its 2012 Go Forth™ global marketing campaign. The spotlight of this year's marketing initiative is the Levi's® brand's new Fall/Winter 2012 global collection, which features a refined and tailored look made for those who get dressed each morning with purpose. The campaign represents the latest chapter in the brand's signature Go Forth™ creative platform, which first launched in North America in 2009 and expanded globally in 2011. The Go Forth™ campaign was informed by worldwide research that shows the youth of today believe it is up to them to make a positive difference in the world.
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120726/SF46862)
The 2012 campaign is titled "This is a pair of Levi's®." The centerpiece of the campaign is a 60-second film directed by Lance Acord that depicts individuals putting on their Levi's® jeans in the morning and preparing to face the day. We watch them as they button their jeans, tuck in their shirts, get on their bikes, and head out the door, all the while repeating the mantra "You're gonna be great, you're gonna be great, you're gonna be great." They are teachers, they are musicians, they are interns and public servants, they are young but they are determined, and they believe in changing the world by getting up every day and living their life with purpose and intent.
"As the original jeans brand, we work hard to not just design clothing, but to design clothing that somehow inspires and empowers millions of people to pursue their passion, whatever it is, with an intuitive sense that, if you're wearing a pair of Levi's® jeans, anything is possible," said Mary Alderete, Global Vice President of Levi's® Brand Marketing." This campaign is designed to ignite a new generation of pioneers to believe in the Levi's® brand as much as we believe in them."
Levi's® Go Forth™ 2012 Global Brand Marketing Campaign
The 2012 Go Forth™ campaign will come to life through a series of TV, print, digital and outdoor advertising in markets around the world. Woven throughout the creative platform is the caption, "This is a pair of Levi's®." The caption is juxtaposed over unexpected pieces from the Collection, such as dresses and tops, to emphasize that the craftsmanship, innovation and style associated with the Levi's® brand is embedded in every article of clothing.
Go Forth™ continues to be a strong platform that embodies the pioneering spirit and intrinsic values of the Levi's® brand," said Len Peltier, Global Vice President of Creative for the Levi's® brand. "From a creative approach, we wanted to be culturally relevant while also making the product more central to the brand narrative. Our intent is to disrupt what people think they know about the Levi's® brand and redefine that with unexpected product stories and a more refined styling point of view. Each story is a confident statement – "This is a pair of Levi's®."
The campaign also takes inspiration from the Levi's® brand's pioneering spirit. The taglines featured in the outdoor, digital and print advertising, such as "Cut with Grace," and "Tailored for the Young and Hungry," capture the dynamic potential of this generation and are meant to speak to the young leaders of the world who are pioneers in their own right. The images in the creative feature the Levi's® Fall/Winter 2012 collection and head-to-toe look in action, as captured by photographer Christian Weber. The print work also features a model found through a Levi's® brand casting effort launched earlier this year to source new faces from around the world via the popular photo-sharing service Instagram. Using the #iamlevis hashtag, pioneers across the globe were encouraged to upload images of themselves, individuals who go forth every day with a sense of purpose.
In addition to traditional media channels, the campaign will come to life in digital environments where consumers are already looking for inspiration or entertainment.
With an online Lookbook as its centerpiece, consumers can immerse themselves in the Fall collection in a playful way by engaging with each product story. Whether it's spinning a model around to examine her free-flowing dress or putting a cyclist through his paces to test the mobility of the Levi® Commuter Series, the Lookbook breathes life and energy into the line. The Levi's® designers' stories are neatly woven throughout, with exclusive videos that explain their vision behind each product. The Lookbook can be found on Levi.com beginning August 20th.
Consumers can also engage in mobile experiences that bring the product stories to life, including the brand's first iAd and the first-ever shoppable brand magazine on Flipboard.
Finally, in order to fuel conversations that celebrate Go Forth™ moments, the Levi's® brand will be asking consumers to share the acts they engage in each day to make the world a better place. The conversation will begin through #goforth starting September 1.
The 2012 Go Forth™ campaign launches globally in mid-August. The campaign was created in partnership with Wieden+Kennedy, Portland, Oregon. The digital execution was led by Wunderman, New York. Media strategy across all platforms was developed and activated by OMD, Los Angeles.
Levi's ® Fall/Winter 2012 Collection
The new 2012 Fall/Winter collection is made for those who get dressed each morning with purpose, with the intention and optimism to make a positive difference in the world.
The men's collection offers classic, yet contemporary head-to-toe looks built around refined styles with sharp clean aesthetics, tailored to perfection. The key trend for men this season is the taper - a flattering fit that sits below the waist, slouchy at the top and featuring an extended rise and a slim tailored leg.  
The overall style of the women's collection is classic and refined with a clean, tailored aesthetic and pronounced femininity. The key pant silhouette for women this season is the Bootcut Skinny, which the Levi's® brand has completely reinvented. Cut with grace and confidence and inspired by the skinny jean, this season will see a new take on this classic style – a sexy, modern skinny fit making you forever think differently about the Bootcut.
In addition to the Bootcut Skinny, the brand is launching a feminine tailored dress collection. These tastefully crafted garments give a subtle nod to the idea of femininity but thoughtfully leave it up for interpretation. The Levi's® Dress Collection includes several new denim and non-denim dress styles in a variety of fabrications including light, effortless knits, cotton-linen, soft chambrays and a sustainable, coated Lyocell fabric. 
As part of Levi Strauss & Co.'s profits through principles approach, sustainability is embedded throughout the collection with the use of the WaterTM finishing process playing a prominent role this season.
ABOUT THE LEVI'S®BRAND
The Levi's® brand epitomizes classic American style and effortless cool. Since their invention by Levi Strauss & Co. in 1873, Levi's® jeans have become the most recognizable and imitated clothing in the world – capturing the imagination and loyalty of people for generations. Today, the Levi's® brand portfolio continues to evolve through a relentless pioneering and innovative spirit that is unparalleled in the apparel industry. Our range of leading jeanswear and accessories are available in more than 110 countries, allowing individuals around the world to express their personal style. For more information about the Levi's® brand, its products and stores, please visit levi.com.
ABOUT LEVI STRAUSS & CO.
Levi Strauss & Co. is one of the world's largest brand-name apparel companies and a global leader in jeanswear.  The company designs and markets jeans, casual wear and related accessories for men, women and children under the Levi's®, Dockers®, Signature by Levi Strauss & Co.™, and Denizen® brands.  Its products are sold in more than 110 countries worldwide through a combination of chain retailers, department stores, online sites, and a global footprint of more than 2,300 franchised and company-operated stores.  Levi Strauss & Co.'s reported fiscal 2011 net revenues were $4.8 billion.  For more information, go to http://levistrauss.com.

CONTACTS:
Ibby Clifford
Alexa Rudin

Levi's® Brand
Levi's® Brand

415.501.7063
415.501.7645

SOURCE Levi Strauss & Co.
Web Site: http://www.levistrauss.com



Fatima Samad To Be Presented With The IAAPA Award This Friday


Fatima Samad of Design By U, will be presented with the IAAPA Award for Excellence in Professionalism at the “I am a professional African” networking mixer this Friday.


The IAAPA Award, created by Face2face Africa, honors an individual or organization that has demonstrated a significant level of professionalism, and as a result is making a notable impact.

Fatima Samad is the Founder and Creative Director of Design By U, a Jewelry company fusion African ethnic and cultural aesthetics to create signature and bold designs for women worldwide. The ethnic and eclectic inspiration behind Fatima’s designs embrace the African culture and art, and while she is a young entrepreneur in operation just a little over a year, Fatima has and continues to make a significant impact and contribution to the fashion and design industry. Her work has been featured in several shows across the country, as well as several notable publications.

Most notable is her recent exhibit at the Fashion Center Space for Public Art within the fashion district in New York, where Fatima presented a 14-day fashion art exhibition that captivated the interest of New York’s fashion enthusiasts and notables.

Join Face2Face Africa in presenting the IAAPA Award to Fatima this Friday at Smyth Tribeca Hotel's Toro Lounge, 85 West Broadway, New York, NY, from 6pm-11pm.



Free Books Are Not Enough To Revive Reading Culture in Nigeria


Dear UBA and Read Africa,

I sincerely appreciate your commendable commitment to corporate social responsibility by your laudable initiative Read Africa for championing the revival of the reading culture across Africa.

Distribution of books to pupils and other young people through their schools is proactive, but that will not be enough to revive a reading culture in Africa, because the problem is not with our children, but with our intellectually disorientated society of youths and older people who are more distracted by the challenges and vanities of catching up with the Joneses in the rat race than being attracted to reading for pleasure, because it is what the children see their fathers, mothers and uncles are doing that they would emulate?

Giving free books to children will not make their parents to go and buy more books for them later, because they have been disconnected from the intellectual appreciation of our literary culture.

Until we address the intellectual disorientation and disconnection of the youths and older generation, the reading culture cannot be revived by the mere distribution of free books.
How many books are you going to distribute?
100, 000 or 1, 000, 000 copies of one single title or several titles of a particular book?
Are the selected titles the kinds of books the present generation of children would like to read?

Have you studied why the Harry Potter novels or The Twilight Saga attracted millions of children in America, Europe, Asia and Australia, but did not attract even a million children in Africa and the Middle East?
What factors discouraged the children in Africa and the Middle East?

Edward of the Twilight Saga and Harry of the Harry Potter fame. Photo Credit: Fan Pop.


The Missing Clock and the Missing Link in Our Reading Culture

The 2011 Nigeria Prize for Literature was won by Adeleke Adeyemi aka Mai Nasara for his children’s book The Missing Clock and the Nigeria LNG Limited, sponsors of the highly coveted prize $100, 000 which is currently the biggest literary prize in Africa distributed thousands of free copies of the book to school children and others. But that has not made the book a bestseller and even though there are over 43 million Nigerians in Nigeria accessing the Internet with other millions in the Diaspora and millions of them spend an average of $76 million daily paying for internet access, mobile phone calls and text messages, not even one thousand of them have gone to Amazon.com or Glendora and other book stores online to buy copies of the book after all the news media publicity given to The Missing Clock by the sponsors and news reporters in Nigeria and abroad. Why?

The answer is neither a puzzle nor a riddle of the Phoenix and the Sphinx, but simply the fact that the intellectual disorientation and disconnection of majority of Nigerians and other Africans distract them from the appreciation of reading books, except the books on how to get rich quick, pornographic booklets and celebrity fashion and gossip magazines or society photo albums like the popular OVATION International magazine, I call Dele Momodu’s Society Photo Album.

If Nigerians spend over $76 million daily on GSM phone calls, text messages and internet bundles, therefore they can afford to buy thousands of story books if they are attracted to them!

How do we make reading story books attractive to millions of distracted Nigerians and other Africans?

The problem of their intellectual disorientation and disconnection can be solved by behaviour change and how do we do this?

The first thing is to know what they are attracted to that is making them distracted from reading story books and prefer wasting minutes and hours chatting, gossiping and talking on their GSM phones and exchanging the same conversations via text messages.

Why are they attracted to these mundane or temporal things that do not add much value to life?

In spite of the cheering reports of Nigeria’s GDP growing at seven per cent annually and being rated as one of the fastest growing emerging markets in the world, Nigeria is still one of the most insecure places on earth with more darkness than light in majority of homes and more missing meals than having three square meals daily among the majority of the over 160 million people. So, the uncomfortable conditions of living in Nigeria have an adverse affect on reading for pleasure and those reading for academic scholarship or professional titles do so because it is compulsory for their progress and success! So, they would rather spend $1 on what comes natural to them from the oral culture of story telling by chatting, gossiping and talking to themselves on their GSM phones than going to the bookshop or roadside bookseller to spend that $1 on a small story book to read just for the pleasure of reading. Chatting, gossiping and talking on mobile phones are more engaging, exciting and interactive than reading a story book.

By our oral tradition, Nigerians and other African naturally talk more and read less.
We are naturally a talking people and not a reading people!
Western education introduced us to reading and reading more for academic retention to pass an examination in order to get a qualification for further education or for a lucrative occupation/profession for our survival and welfare. That’s all. And once we have passed the compulsory examinations and secured the compulsory qualifications to secure the dream jobs or titular positions in catching up with the Joneses in the rat race, we don’t have anymore need for books, except to read newspapers, tabloids, watch TV and surf the Internet to continue our conversations on Facebook and other social media that will not challenge our intellect. And the herd instinct drives majority of us than the intellect.

The millions of Nigerians on Facebook do nothing more than post the trivial minutiae of their daily lives with complimentary photographs to tickle their fancies in romantic escapism.

Now what is the solution to the problem I have identified and analyzed to start a positive behaviour change in the mannerisms and nuances of the daily lives of Nigerians and other Africans so that they can be attracted to reading story books for pleasure and intellectual empowerment?

I have the solution which is simple in application and the same things Nigerians are attracted to will also be used to make them turn to reading story books.
Let us consider the following approaches.


Have we tried audio books?

If they don’t like reading books, they may like listening to the books!
So, we can upload audio versions of the stories of our writers on audio blogs like Blog Radio, Facebook, Twitter, Googlle Plus, and make them downloadable on laptops, desktops, iPods, iTunes, iPhones and other mobile devices as I have done on my blogs.

Have we done enough publicity for the books to create a social buzz around them?

Majority of Nigerian and other African authors and their publishers hardly have any publicity plan for their books.
They simply dump the books at the bookshops and expect people to rush their books when the people are also being attracted by other things buzzing around them on the street and on the internet!

In America, Europe and other developed countries, authors and publishers spend thousands to millions of dollars on publicity such as placing adverts on the pages of newspapers, magazines, TV spots, and on websites and go on book signing tours from place to place to attract readers to their books! And this is why they are attracting thousands and millions of readers.
So, Nigerian and other African authors and publishers should include multimedia campaigns for the promotions of their books and start active book signing tours to bridge the wide gap between them and their target readers.

We have to promote books like music and movies, because they are all for the same entertainment and enlightenment.
In fact, there is nothing wrong in making book trailers like movie trailers to attract readers to your story books!

What else?
You can add your own ideas!


~ By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima
Publisher/Editor
Nigerians Report
Nigerian Times
CEO, International Digital Post Network Limited
CEO, King of Kings Book International
Founder, Eko International Film Festival,
Founder/CEO, Screen Outdoor Open Air Cinema