Friday, 28 October 2011

Storm forces NASA to call off underwater simulation


This NASA satellite image, taken October 24, 2011, shows Hurricane Rina near the Mexican Yucatan peninsula. REUTERS/NASA/Handout

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida, Oct.  (Reuters) — NASA evacuated astronauts and scientists participating in an underwater space simulation in the Florida Keys over concerns about Hurricane Rina, officials said on Wednesday.
Six astronauts and scientists participating in the NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations, or NEEMO, program left the Aquarius Undersea Laboratory after five days.
The start of the 15th NEEMO mission had been delayed by another storm in the area.
NASA said it will not reschedule the simulation, which was slated to last 13 days off the coast of Key Largo. The goals of the mission were to practice operations and test tools being developed for a future planned human mission to an asteroid.
Rina, a surprising late addition to the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season, was headed toward Mexico's Yucatan peninsula but losing strength on Wednesday.
Computer models forecast Rina, the sixth hurricane of the Atlantic season, will weaken into a tropical storm and move over western Cuba, potentially bringing strong winds and heavy rains to southern Florida and the Keys.
Participants in the NEEMO mission included NASA astronaut Shannon Walker, Japan's Takuya Onishi and Canada's David Saint-Jacques and scientists Steven Squyres with Cornell University and James Talacek and Nate Bender with the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.
The NEEMO crew conducted six underwater spacewalks and one day of scientific research. They also used a deep-water submersible to simulate robotic exploration of an asteroid.
"Despite the length, we accomplished a significant amount of research," NASA project manager Bill Todd said in a statement.
The next NEEMO mission is targeted for the summer of 2012. The 400 square-foot lab, which is about the size of a school bus, is anchored to the ocean floor near Key Largo at a depth of about 62 feet.
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Photo of the Day

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STAR ACTRESS OMOTOLA JALADE EKEINDE SET TO LAUNCH AUTOBIOGRAPHY


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The actress announced this yesterday during a TV interview.

The title and launch date of the book is not yet out,but we will keep you posted as soon as we get updates.

Congratulations to Omotola on this wonderful achievement.

NOLLYWOOD LOSES ANOTHER ICON

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Barely a month after the death of musician Mc Loph hit entertainment industry,another prolific Nollywood promoter, Azubuike Udensi has also died.

Azubuike Udensi, the boss of Consolidated Fortunes Ltd ,marketed landmark Nollywood films like Nneka the Pretty Serpent, Tears For Love, Onome, Brotherhood of Darkness, etc.

May his soul rest in peace...amen.

Has Tonto Dikeh’s Sold Herself to The Devil?

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Tonto Dikeh



For this Rivers State born screen beau, who hails from Ikwerre part of the State, swimming in the waters of bad press is not new to her, and as such, she is not concerned about it as she once said that she has grown a very thick skin to whatever anybody writes or says about her.

This position of hers has made people wonder how a lady of her status would not pay a listening ear to what people have been saying about her.

Though some have said that the fact that she was not brought up by her biological mother, who Tonto said died while she was age three, could be the major factor for her nonchalant attitude to life, others have argued that she is not the only person who lost her mother at an early stage in life, so she has no excuse to be controversial.

This time, this lady who almost won the 2006 edition of AMBO Next Movie Star, a reality TV show, is being alleged to have been sold to the devil.

This allegation is coming courtesy of a tattoo picture of Tonto on her back, which she posted on Twitter on October 25. The said picture has generated lots of comments and arguments among fans of this light skinned actress.

A closer look at the controversial photograph reveals a diabolic horn clinched with a set of fingers capping a heart tied with a long hair.
This, as argued by the accusers, is a sign of the devil. They believe that only those that worship, or have a connection with or have sold themselves to the devil carry and bear such sign (horn).

The question on the lips of many is; ‘why would this petrol chemical engineer-cum-actress go this far? Why would she associate herself with the devil, when she should have pitched tent with her maker?’
Source

16 Housemates To Compete In Next Movie Star Reality Show

The Next Movie Star contestants
16 contestants have been chosen for this year’s edition of the f Next Movie Star (NMS) reality show.
The housemates have already moved into the Next Movie Star house and will camp there for 30 days. In the house, they will compete for the top spot, which attracts a N250,000 cash prize, a brand new SUV, and a place in the NMS hall of fame.
Peep below the pictures and profiles of the housemates…
Contestant 1 - Kingsley Goodnews Amar
Name: Kingsley Goodnews Amar

Date of birth: 10th June 1988,
Sex: Male
State of Origin: Imo State
L.G.A: Ngor-Okpakla Local Government Area
Occupation: Entertainer
Hobbies: Travelling and Writing
Contestant 2 - Vivian Egbon
Name: Vivian Egbon
Sex: Female
Date of birth: July 28, 1987
State of Origin: Delta State
L.G.A: Ika North-East Iga Agbor
Height: 5.7
Hobbies: Acting, singing, dancing and making people laugh
Contestant 3 - Ogunrinola Funmilayo Rebecca
 Name: Ogunrinola Funmilayo Rebecca
Date of Birth: 2ND February 1986,
Sex: Female
State of Origin: Oyo State
L.G.A: Egbeda
Height: 5.5
Occupation: 4OO Level Mass Comm. Student of Olabisi Onabanjo University
Hobbies: dancing, talking and swimming
Contestant 4 - Oguejiofor I. Kimberly
Name: Oguejiofor I. Kimberly
Age: 23
State of Origin: Anambra
Hobbies: acting, dancing and travelling
Contestant 5 - Yinka Salau
Name: Yinka Salau
State of origin: Ogun state
Sex: Male
Hobbies: acting, dancing, swimming, meeting people and coordinating
Contestatnt 6 - Wisdom Macaulay
Name: Wisdom Macaulay
State of origin: Akwa Ibom state
Sex: Male
Age: 28
Height: 6.1
Occupation: Salsa dance instructor, artiste manager, model
Hobbies: Singing and writing songs, playing basketball, conversing with people
Contestant 7 - Orafu Priscillia
Name: Orafu Priscillia
State of Origin: Imo State
Sex: Female
L.G.A: Akokwa
Occupation: 200 level Psychology student of Nnamdi Azikwe University
Height: 5.7
Hobbies: Singing, dancing and acting
Contestant 8 - Shafar Bowale Cole
Name: Shafar  Bowale Cole
Sex: Female
State of Origin: Lagos State
Age: 24
Occupation: Event Manager
Hobby: Dancing, travelling and shooting pool
Contestant 9 - Grahams Ozi
Name: Grahams Ozi
Sex: Male
State of Origin: Imo State
L.G.A: Abua/Odual
Date of Birth: September 26, 1985
Hobbies: Writing, playing basketball and dancing
Contestant 10 - Alli-Balogun Aishat Thelma
Name: Alli-Balogun Aishat Thelma
Sex: Female
State of Origin: Lagos State
L.G.A: Lagos Island
Date of Birth: March 7, 1988
Occupation: Show presenter and relationship Manager
Hobbies: Reading, dancing, singing, networking, watching movies and shopping
Contestant 11 - Alexandrea I.O. Ehizogie
Name: Alexandrea I.O. Ehizogie
Sex: Female
State of Origin: Edo State
L.G.A: Ogwa, esan west
Date of Birth: November 8, 1983
Occupation: Show presenter and relationship Manager
Hobbies: Singing, watching movies
Contestant 12 - Kukoyi Yusuf Adetomiwa
Name: Kukoyi Yusuf Adetomiwa
Sex: Male
Date of Birth: May 16, 1987
Occupation: Entrepreneur and Producer
Hobbies: Singing, acting, swimming, writing and traveling.
Contestant 13 - Tamar Cassandra Roberts
Name:  Tamar Cassandra Roberts
Sex: Female
State of Origin: Bayelsa State
Date of Birth: October 27, 1988
Hobbies: Reading, writing, dancing, singing, swimming, watching TV, travelling
Contestant 14 - Beddie-Memberr Okorite Rodrigo
Name: Beddie-Memberr Okorite Rodrigo
Sex: Male
State of Origin: Rivers
Age: 24
Hobbies: Watching movies, swimming, dancing
Contestant 15 - Obodo Anita
Name: Obodo Anita
Sex: Female
State of Origin: Delta State
Date of Birth: February 14, 1989
L.G.A: Ethiope East
Hobbies: Swimming, writing, playing basketball and cooking.
Contestant 16 - Tamara Eteimo
Name: Tamara Eteimo
Sex: Female
State of Origin: Bayelsa State
Date of Birth: July 24, 1987
Hobbies: Singing and dancing
Next Movie Star (NMS)
Source

Ben Murray-Bruce To Run For Governor Of Bayelsa State


Silverbird Boss, Ben Murray Bruce

Chairman of Silverbird Group, Ben Murray-Bruce is set to declare his intention to run for the governorship of Bayelsa State.
The former Director General of Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) is said to have already picked up his ‘Expression of Interest and Nomination’ form over the weekend and any time from now should officially announce his intentions.
Yes, I heard he wants to take shot at the Bayelsa top seat’, an inside source who does not want to be named disclosed to Nigerian Entertainment Today.
Submissions of forms close today in preparations for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries scheduled for November 19, 2011.
The list of others who have already picked nomination forms are the present governor of the state Timipre Sylva, Henry Seriake Dickson, Boloubo Orufa and Christopher Enai among others.

CAN backs FG on fuel subsidy removal


LAGOS – Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has thrown its weight behind the proposed oil subsidy removal, arguing that the Federal Government must convince Nigerians that the gains from the exercise will be judiciously managed for the benefit of the masses of the country.
Speaking in Lagos, yesterday, at the annual symposium on Christian unity, CAN National President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, said the decision to remove oil subsidy was an inevitable painful pill to swallow. He argued that if the government can assure Nigerians that this exercise will not go the same way of past ones, then the country would be better for it.
Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor
Represented by the National Secretary of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, Pastor Wale Adefarasin, the cleric also advised the Federal Government to dialogue with organised labour with a view to carrying them along to avoid industrial disharmony.
In his keynote address entitled: That They May Be One, Pastor Oritsejafor stressed the need for Nigerian Christians to move in unity and strive to overcome the things that held the Church apart so that the adherents can work together in unison.
He said: “When we work together as a united church, we will accomplish much more than we currently do, because a united church will be much more powerful than the situation we have at the moment. There is the multiplier effect when we work together as a united church.”
Elder statesman, Rev. Moses Iloh, shocked the audience when he blamed the Church for the problems of the country, stating: “80 million people troop to different churches every Sunday but when it comes to changing the nation, it is zero.
“The problem of Nigeria today is not Islam as people will want us to believe. The problem of Nigeria is Christianity which has refused to use its God-given power to positively affect the nation.”
Source

MARYAM BABANGIDA's NIECE,MAUREEN OKOGWU IKOKWU ROCKING THE HOT SPOT AT MTN FASHION WEEK

 Maureen Okogwu-Ikokwu, the beautiful niece of  Nigerian former first lady,late Mrs. Maryam Babangida, is rocking the hot spot at the MTN Lagos Fashion and Design Week. Maureen flew into the country from her base in Switzerland to be part of the first edition of the octane fashion week being sponsored by MTN. Her label,Sunny Rose got thunderous applause as models steps on stage to showcase on Thursday 27 October 2011 at the new convention centre, Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoia Island,Lagos.She is very proud of her bags! "we pay attention to detail and make sure the bags come out as fabulous as anyone could ever imagine" she noted.
Born into the family of billionaire businessman, Chief Sunny Odogwu, Maureen told gistmaster in an exclusive interview that she got into the fashion business because she was inspired by close family members. 
"my parents are both fashionable people" She also mentioned that her stylish ex-first lady aunt, Mrs. Babangida also inspired her a lot"
  Maureen's business secret is simple, she has a passion for fashion and she is relentless in getting to the top.
Maureen also told us that her husband of about 5 years, is very much happy with her choice of career. He encourages me all the time, she said with a smile. The designer attended Essence Internatonal college in Kaduna, before proceeding to  Motreux,Lausanne, Switzerland for higher studies.Maureen is also an international model. Having worked in the modelling industry for about 10 years.
-Interview by Niyi Tabiti
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TUFACE IDIBIA OPENS UP ON THE SUCESS STORY OF HIS HIT TRACK AFRICAN QUEEN + WHY HE LEFT KENNIS MUSIC

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Every artiste has a defining song.For Nigeria’s hip-pop king Tuface whose real name is Innocent Idibia,global recognition and artistic success came by the way of African Queen,a love song in praise of the beauty of the African woman.

Tuface might have meant African Queen for a particular woman but today,he is entangled in a love triangle involving not less than three African Queens who have given him five children.It is not a situation that Tuface finds funny but he cannot help it.

In a recent interview,Tuface opens up on Nigerian Hip-pop,why he left Kennis Music and the success story of his song African Queen.
He said; African Queen is one of the most successful songs outside Africa so far.

I can say it was a song that really made me as an artiste.It was written by me and Blackface.It was just a desire to do a love song to show respect and love for the African woman.That’s how it came up.We wrote the lyrics and melody together.I and Blackface wrote the first and second verse.But I wrote the last part of it which says:”you know what I am feeling in my soul.”He is not claiming he owns the song.He is not claiming he wrote the song only by himself.

People are just trying to be mischievous by saying that Blackface owned that song.

That’s just all. He has the right to the song as well,so I was not surprised he did his own version.

Plantation Boys is not totally dead.I believe one day we are still going to come together as a group.It’s still going to happen.We are still going to come together in future.We have done it before,we are still going to do it again.

After Face to Face,the next album was Grass to Grace.There you found me singing a chorus line: Hey brother hey…. As you see me so…” It was also a success.It was huge.

From there I left Kenny’s Music to start Hypertek Entertainment,my own label.I had to grow.I am not going to be under a label forever.I had to grow on my own as well.My contract expired and I had to go.

Kenny knew I had this Hypertek thing on my mind and he encouraged me and that’s what I am doing.Hypertek is owned by a guy and a guy.I am the CEO of Hypertek Entertainment.And I am the only artiste on my label for now.But it’s more like an entertainment company for now.

We do shows,we do events,we produce events,we produce end-of-year parties.In the the beginning,I was not ready for the record label aspect.

But now I am ready.I am about to sign some new artistes on the label.

People talk about Kenny’s Music buying me this and that while I was on that label.

Yes,It’s true but one thing most artistes don’t understand about a record label is that they buy you house,they buy you a car but it’s all debt.You are still going to pay back.For me,I didn’t do that kind of thing.I Just wanted to work,my money is my money.

They fulfill their contract,I fulfill mine.And that’s it.Everything I owned under Kenny’s Music,I actually paid for it.I owned it.


Asked about Nigerian hip-pop,he said When it comes to Nigerian music of today,I am just going to call two names,because I don’t want to involve myself in controversy.If I start reeling names,I would offend a lot of people who would expect me to name them as among my favourites.But I am just going to call two names.Asha and MI.MI is amazing.

He is deep,intellectually talented.He is got it all.I first met MI at one show and I said Wow! Who is this guy? And that was it.He is going to go really far.It is not for me to discuss the originality of his rap.

These days,when you start talking about originality,you can’t really lay claim to any original thing.Everything has already been done.But what I can say is that he is talented.He knows his onions.

He’s intelligent.Same with Asha.She is not forcing it.She does it effortlessly.And then she has depth.She doesn’t just want to sell S*x.Most of the females artistes these days,they just want to sell s*x.The first time I heard her sing,I was amazed.I shouted: Who is this? The song I first heard was Eiye adaba.I was blown away.

Then I heard Jailer.I am talking to you Jailer… I said.” Wow,who is this? And that was before the album even came out.

The second album is also brilliant.My baby is gone,gone,gone.

I think the Nigerian music scene is exploding.People are coming up strong.

Imo recovers 800m after workers’ verification

Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha
The Imo State government says it recovered over N800 million from the verification of workers exercise conducted in the state. Special Assistant to the Governor on Print Media, Mr Ebere Uzoukwa said in a statement in Owerri on Wednesday, that the amount was being paid to non-existent workers in the past. He said an average of N200 million was saved from each of the four months of the exercise. He added that the exercise initiated by Governor Rochas Okorocha to block leakages and ensure prudence in the management of public resources. Uzoukwa added that about N150 million was recovered during the recent payment of pension arrears to retirees in the state.
“Governor Okorocha had on assumption of office introduced measures that blocked revenue leakages as well as stopped frivolous spending that drained the resources of the state,” he said. (NAN)

He expressed the determination of the administration to ensure prudence and accountability in the management of the state’s resources, warning that the government would not condone the activities of corrupt officials in its service. (NAN)