Singer Ciara writes an open letter to bloggers

It's a season of open letters and singer Ciara has
written one to bloggers. Lol. She's sick to death of
negative bloggers and comments and pens an open
letter urging people to stop...
Ciara writes on her personal blog,
I used to sometimes like visiting some of the blog
sites to see what new things are happening in the
world! Things like cool photos, current events,
etc. But nowadays it seems like there's a
competition with sites on "Who Can Tear
Someone Down the Most." The stories are going
from cool and creative to pure drama. Even the
comment sections are beginning to get out of
control and people are using the platforms to
exercise a false sense of power.
People sure do have a lot of courage when they
are anonymous. It's like a "Who Can Say the
Nastiest Comment Game." I click onto some of
the comments from something as fun as an
Instagram post that you're sharing with your fans,
and a person finds a way to turn a positive post
into a negative. I think to myself, "I could pick this
person apart so bad but what for? Why act ugly
like them?" It honestly takes the fun out of it
when people seem so miserable.
Or at least that's how I view someone wasting
their energy to tear someone down, just plain
miserable. They could be using that to do
something much more productive. If only they
could channel their energy towards positivity, it
could make a difference in their own life as well
as influence others. It's kind of scary for the kids
coming up, because even if a parent doesn't
allow their kids to have blog site access at home,
they may still have access at school or other
places. It's now almost impossible to protect your
kids from the vile things people say on blog sites
today, and it's even worse when kids hear hurtful
things about themselves, their parents or other
family members. In some cases kids have even
resorted to suicide due to "cyber-bullying."
My questions to people creating slander about
people are:
What stops you from thinking twice about trying
to defame someone? What are you trying to gain?
Words are powerful. You could say the wrong
thing about someone, famous or not, on the
wrong day and that could cost them their life
because they're at a weak point. Believe it or not,
you could also be encouraging them to give up on
their life or whatever the situation is, when they
shouldn't. Or what about a story that causes
unnecessary drama stemming from completely
false information? It's just flat out wrong and sad.
I say to myself, I thank God for making me
strong, because I've always been able to use the
negativity as motivation, and it makes me
stronger.
But I don't just think about myself in this, I think
about others that I see getting thrashed and think
it's just so wrong. It's very sad that people just
want to tear people down so bad just to see them
unhappy. It's unbelievable how far people are
willing to go to get people to come to their site.
I say this to say....
Dear Blogger,
It's never worth it in the end when you sell
your soul for a quick dollar, by creating bad
stories about people. At some point, it will
all reverse on you and you'll end up
regretting all the trash you wrote or said
about people.
The universal friend "Karma" has
demonstrated this over and over again. I
strongly encourage you to project more
positivity into the universe. If Social Media
is a world that's growing more massive by
the day, why not use it to shed light??
Otherwise, you are merely contaminating
our universe.
What about your family and kids?? Do you
think about them?? You're definitely creating
a harmful and volatile environment where
they must learn to live. It's almost like you
are cursing future generations with your
bad energy.
Not to mention...Your "Personal Karma"??...
Forget about it!
You better start doing some serious praying
and rebuking, cause only The Lord
knows!...:)
I sure do miss the good ol days when the focus
was about the pure creativity of being an artist.
Back then there was still some mystery. Social
Media Is Beginning To Take Away The
Specialness of What That Was, and Is.
Now, Off Blogs. Peaceful Mind. Living In My
Happiness. Creativity Only.
Love, C

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My parents kicked against my becoming an actress- Blessing Patrick

Blessing Patrick is one of the fast-rising actresses
in Nollywood. She talks about her life as an actress,
model and fashion designer.
My name is Blessingn
Patrick. I’m an actress from
Cross River State. I studied
Sociology and Anthropology
at the Enugu State University
of Science and Technology. I
joined Nollywood through a
friend who was also
passionate about acting. I
used to accompany her to
locations as well as movie
auditions. Then people were trying to discourage
me. Particularly, my parents were objecting to it,
saying “You can’t go into acting because you need
to go to school”. But despite their objection, I was
still going to locations with my friend. There and
then, I made my contacts and later, returned to
school. Professionally, I started acting in 2011. The
first person that gave me my first role was Solomon
Akpete, popularly known as Solo Amaco. And the
movie was called “Daughters of Eve” featuring
Mercy Johnson and Majid Michel. I have also done
other movies including “Sexy Vampires”,
“Masquerade Dancers”, “Midwifes”, “Tears of a
Holy” “Heart, Kings’ Bed”, “My World”, “Enter the
Place” and so on.
So far, it has been a worthwhile experience. It is
said that nothing good comes easily.But I give God
all the glory. Things have been working out
according to God’s plan. There was this moment in
my career when I did the movie titled, ‘King’s Bed’. I
had a lot of experiences on that set. I had to do
what is not really me. Though I’m still looking
forward to taking up a very challenging role in a
movie. I’ve done a couple of movies, but I’m yet to
do any movie that has really challenged me to the
extreme. I don’t have any regrets doing what I’m
doing today.
In the course of pursuing my career in acting, I
have won a couple of awards. Among them were
the City People Best New Actress of the Year Award
2013( English), Best New Actress of the Year at the
Nigeria Media Nite Out Award 2013 and Gbedu
Recognition Award. I feel so blessed that God is
really with me , watching over me and supporting
my efforts. Winning these awards and getting all
these recognitions meant a lot of things to me.
My parents were initially not in support of my
becoming an actress. But they don’t have a choice
because this is what I love to do. I can’t do anything
that has nothing to do with entertainment. They
realised that I have also given them what they
wanted. My movies are quite inspiring. When they
watch them, they are happy for me. As an actress, I
look up to God in the first place. I also look up to so
many stars like Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, Rita
Dominic and Joke Silva. I want to act alongside
Ramsey Noah, Rita Dominic and Omotola Jalade
Ekeinde.
Besides acting, I also write. I’m the Editor of Infinity
Fashion and Style Magazine as well as a model. I
hope to go into movie production soon. If I wasn’t
acting,I’d be a fashion designer. Combining acting,
modelling and fashion designing is not a problem for
me. This is because they are things I love doing, I
just try to strike a balance. When I was a little girl, I
used to watch movies a lot. I knew I was going to
end up becoming an actress. I can fit into any role
because that is what makes me an actress,
provided I will not be required to go nude.I am
passionate about my job as an actress. Acting is
my hobby.
My childhood was memorable because l started
doing what my mates were not doing at the time. I
was always with my mother who was a great
fashion designer and I practically learnt all that l
needed to know about fashion designing from her.
in fact, my mother made it compulsory for me to
learn how to handle a sewing machine when l was
growing up. Perhaps, she knew that she won’t be
with me for too long. She left me with a legacy and
today, I am who I am because of her.
When it comes to style, I dress the way I want to be
addressed. My style is me. I have a sweet and
lovely shape. At least, that is what people say. But I
believe what sells me is the finger of God in my life.
It is by God’s grace and hard work that I have been
able to attain the height that I have reached today
and I hope to be a shining example to the young
ones.

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A million World Cup armadillos emerge in China

BEIJING (AFP) – In the wild the Brazilian three-
banded armadillo is classed as “vulnerable”, but a
million furry versions of the creature picked as the
2014 World Cup mascot are taking shape in a
Chinese factory.
Fuleco may for now still be a largely unknown
yellow armadillo with a blue shell and tail, but the
mascot of the world’s biggest single sports event
represents 80 percent of sales for Tongchuang
Toys in the eastern province of Anhui.
The company won a contract with the tournament
organisers to produce a million furry toy versions of
Fuleco, whose name, according to FIFA, is a fusion
of the words “futebol” and “ecologia”.
The toys will be used for merchandising and gifts
for sponsors, according to a report on Anhuiwang
news portal.
The company shipped 500,000 armadillos to Brazil
last month, and is now producing its second batch.
“This big order accounts for four fifths of our total
sales volume, and we will be working on it right
through to April,” factory manager Yu Renjun told
the website. It did not give a value for the deal.
The species, Latin name Tolypeutes tricinctus, was
believed to be extinct until its rediscovery in the
early 1990s and is now considered “vulnerable” on
the International Union for the Conservation of
Nature’s Red List.
“When threatened, it has the habit of rolling into an
easily portable ball,” it says on its website.
The World Cup kicks off in Sao Paulo on June 12
with a match between Brazil and Croatia, and will
run until July 13.
The mascot for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa
was a leopard called Zakumi, while in Germany
2006 it was a lion named Goleo.

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34 jihadists killed after clashes with Syria rebel rivals

At least 34 foreign jihadists from the Islamic State
of Iraq and the Levant and an ally were killed after
clashes with rival Syrian rebels, a watchdog said on
Tuesday.
The jihadists had apparently been executed after
the fighting in the Jabal Zawiya district of the
northwestern province of Idlib, the Syrian
Observatory for Human Rights said.
The fighters, from ISIL and a group called Jund al-
Aqsa, were killed by non-jihadist rebels over the
past few days, the Observatory said.
The deaths came amid fighting on several fronts
pitting several coalitions of rebel fighters against
jihadists from ISIL.
There was renewed fighting on Tuesday in the city
of Raqa, the only provincial capital outside
government control and previously an ISIL
stronghold, the Observatory said.
The fighting centred on the provincial governor’s
office, taken over by ISIL for a headquarters, and
“heavy weaponry was being used.”
Both Islamists and moderate rebels have joined the
fight against ISIL, which has been accused of
kidnapping, torturing and killing rival rebels and
civilians.
The rebels, many of them civilians who took up
arms against the regime, initially welcomed the
arrival of battle-hardened jihadists.
But tensions have mounted, with activists accusing
ISIL of imposing a reign of terror, and rebels saying
the group has focused on accumulating territory and
fighting other rebels rather than battling the regime.
Elsewhere in the country, the Observatory said the
death toll from a government air campaign launched
in Aleppo province in mid-December now topped
600, among them 172 children.
The relentless campaign has included the use of
explosive-packed barrels dropped from aircraft on
residential areas.

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Spain king’s daughter summoned over financial crimes

MADRID – A Spanish court summoned King Juan
Carlos’ youngest daughter Cristina as a suspect
over tax and money-laundering crimes Tuesday, a
first for a direct relative of the monarch.
Cristina, 48, has been linked to the business affairs
of her husband, former Olympic handball player
Inaki Urdangarin, who is under investigation for
alleged embezzlement of public funds.
The decision by a court in Majorca is a major blow
against the prestige of the 76-year-old Spanish
king, who became head of state after the death in
1975 of General Francisco Franco and helped guide
the country’s transition to democracy.
His popularity sliding because of royal scandals,
Juan Carlos appeared tired Monday as he presided
over a military parade while supported on crutches,
his first public appearance since undergoing an
operation to replace his left hip on November 21.
The judge in Majorca, Jose Castro, has been
investigating the corruption allegations against
Cristina’s husband since 2010. In summoning
Cristina, he overruled opposition by the public
prosecutor.
In his written ruling, the judge said he had decided
to hear Cristina’s testimony “about alleged tax and
money laundering crimes”, summoning her to
appear on March 8 as part of an investigation that
could lead to formal charges.
Manos Limpias, a litigious far-right pressure group,
lodged the suit against Cristina alleging tax evasion
and money laundering, although tax authorities have
not brought any charges and public prosecutors
have said there is no case to answer.
The judge in the Majorca court is investigating
allegations that Urdangarin and a former business
partner embezzled six million euros ($8 million) in
public funds via the Noos Institute, a charitable
foundation that he chaired.
Cristina was a member of the board of Noos and
with her husband jointly owned another company,
Aizoon, which investigators suspect served as a
front for laundering the embezzled funds.
The Majorca judge had summoned Cristina on
suspicion of corruption once before, in spring 2012,
but that decision was overruled following an appeal
by the prosecutor.
Juan Carlos is widely respected for his role in
Spain’s transition to democracy after the death of
Franco.
But his standing among Spaniards has been
damaged by the corruption scandal, and outrage
over a luxury African elephant-hunting safari he
took in 2012.
His health problems together with the scandals
have raised speculation about the future of his
reign.
The number of people with a high or very high
opinion of the king fell nine points over 2013 to 41
percent, according to a poll published on Sunday in
daily newspaper El Mundo.
The number of people wanting him to abdicate in
favour of Prince Felipe, 45, surged by 17 percent to
62 percent, according to the study by pollster Sigma
Dos carried out in late December.
Sixty-six percent had a positive view of the prince
and 56 percent thought he could improve the royals’
image if he took over.
General support for the monarchy as an institution,
however, fell below half to 49.9 percent, according
to the poll.
The royal palace and the king have firmly denied
any thoughts of an abdication.
“I want to express to you, as king of Spain, my
determination to continue the faithful fulfilment of
the mandate and the powers attributed to me,” the
king said in his annual televised Christmas Eve
address last month. (AFP)

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Naija's hottest couple? Check out Mr and Mrs Balogun's sexy pic

Tiwa Savage and her husband, Tunji Balogun loved
up on a boat in Dubai...

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150 armed robbers arrested by Police in Benin Zone— AIG

Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of police, Zone 5
commandMr Hashimu Argungu,, said on Tuesday
that 150 armed robbers were arrested in a total of
124 armed robbery cases reported in 2013. The
zone comprises the three states of Edo, Delta and
Bayelsa.
Argungu, who was briefing reporters in Benin, said
the figure was against 163 reported cases and 181
arrests made in 2012.
The AIG said 2013 witnessed a drastic reduction in
crime and criminality, owing to the crime preventive
strategies put in place in the zone.
Giving a breakdown of major crimes in the zone,
Argungu said 70 kidnappers were arrested in 43
cases reported.
He said the figure was against the 43 reported
cases of kidnapping and 101 arrests in 2012.
Argungu said 70 kidnap victims were rescued in
2013, as against 52 rescued the previous year.
Similarly, he gave the number of ammunitions
recovered to be 10,150 as against 9,480 recovered
in 2012.
Argungu said while firearms recovered in 2013
were 205, 198 were recovered in 2012.
He said the number of murder cases also went
down from 17 in 2012 to 12 in 2013.
The AIG, however, said the number of cases
charged to court increased to 67 from 50 in 2012.
Argungu attributed the successes recorded in 2013
to effective supervision by the zonal headquarters,
of the three states under it.
“Worthy of mention is also the robust partnership
the zone enjoyed with members of the public who
were always willing to give useful information in the
area of crime fighting and prevention.
“Inter-agency partnerships and cooperation with
sister agencies also played a key role in adding
value to our efforts at making the zone peaceful and
safe,” he said.
Argungu said men of the zone were always ready to
ensure safety of lives and properties and he urged
members of the public to continue to cooperate by
providing the police with useful information. (NAN)

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Lagos records 193 fire outbreaks in 38 days —Official

Lagos State Fire Service says it has recorded 193
fire outbreaks from December, 2013 to till date.
The Director of the service, Mr Rasak Fadipe, made
this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on
Tuesday in Lagos.
Fadipe said the last incident occurred on Jan. 7 at
about 3.08 a.m at Sawmill Market, Ipaja, Lagos.
He said that 11 lock-up shops out of about 150
shops in the market were destroyed by fire.
Fadipe said that the shops destroyed contained
planks, paints, chemicals, wood-cutting machines
and other building materials.
According to him, it took men of the service about
four hours to put out the fire.
“The fire spread faster due to the harmattan
season.
“I advise members of the public to be careful with
anything that can cause fire fast.
“The fire took us longer time to put out due to
sawdust and chemicals in the market,’’ Fadipe said.
The director said that no death was recorded in all
the fire incidents. (NAN)

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Pic of Naomi Oni's attacker following her moments before dousing her with acid

The eerie pic above was shown in court today to
jurors in the Naomi Oni acid bath case. It's a CCTV
image allegedly showing her friend Mary Konye
dressed in Muslim veil and walking closely behind
Naomi, just moments before she doused her with
acid and destroyed her looks forever!
That same night, the jealous and obsessed student
posted a pic of Nightmare on Elm Street horror
character Freddie Krueger on her WhatsApp profile
pic & wrote 'Who looks like Wrong Turn now?'
A friend of Mary Konye told the police that Mary
planned to attack Naomi and ruin her looks "so she
would know 'how it feels' to feel bad about her
appearance', after Naomi told her she looked like
something out of a horror movie. Continue...
Naomi's lawyer said in court today
'Kamilah (Mary's friend) states that the defendant
was insecure about her looks and that Naomi had
insulted her. And there was a particular insult that
was used, and a reference to a particular horror
film and a reference to a particular disfigured
character in the horror film - "Wrong Turn". It
involves cannibal characters and disfigured
characters, one in particular called a Wrong Turn.
'And Naomi had been rude to the defendant and
said she looked like a Wrong Turn, that particular
insult stung Mary Konye. Kamilah states that the
defendant would complain that the victim would
never compliment her about her looks.
'Kamilah Andrews states that this greatly affected
the defendant, because she admired Naomi,
almost to the point of obsession.'
'Kamilah states that the defendant would
repeatedly say what she would like to do to
Naomi. She states that the defendant would say
'What if I bought acid and threw it in her face, so
she would know how she makes me feel?'
'Kamilah also states that the defendant told her
she had joked to others about throwing acid on
someone and that someone had suggested to the
defendant that she should wear a 'nijab' [sic] so
the police could not identify her.
'Following the attack on the victim Kamilah saw
that the defendant had updated her profile on
'WhatsApp'.
'It appears that the photograph on the defendant's
profile was changed and it then displayed a
photograph of Freddie Krueger, the scarred-face
character from the horror film 'Nightmare on Elm
Street'.
'Kamilah states that the photograph was
accompanied by a message stating 'Who looks
like Wrong Turn now?''
School friend Safiye Laviniere said Konye
changed her status on Blackberry Messenger so
a message read 'She better not mess with me or
I will make her face look like this' next to a photo
of Freddy Krueger.

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Lionel Messi in line for Barcelona comeback

Lionel Messi could make his return from injury for
Barcelona in the Copa del Rey match against Getafe
on Wednesday.
The 26-year-old has been out with a hamstring
injury since 10 November but is in the Nou Camp
outfit's squad for the first leg of the last-16 tie.
Messi's return comes ahead of his side's crucial
league game at Atletico Madrid on Saturday.
Barcelona are top of La Liga but only lead Atletico
on goal difference, with both on 49 points from 18
matches.
Messi was troubled by injuries in 2013 and the
latest of those came when he limped out of a 4-1
win at Real Betis.
He was initially treated in Barcelona before being
allowed to return to Argentina before Christmas to
continue his rehabilitation.
He returned to Spain at the start of January but was
not fit enough to figure in the win over Elche on
Sunday.

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Kenneth Omeruo: Middlesbrough sign Chelsea andNigeria man

Championship Middlesbrough have signed Nigeria
centre-back Kenneth Omeruo on loan from Chelsea
until the end of May.
The 20-year-old started all the Super Eagles'
matches as they won the 2013 Africa Cup of
Nations, but has played just twice since injuring his
shoulder at the 2013 Confederations Cup.
“
Joining Middlesbrough provides me with an
opportunity to be sharp for the World Cup
”
Kenneth Omeruo
Last season, he played 36 games on loan at Dutch
top-flight side ADO Den Haag.
"With the World Cup in June, it is important to have
the chance of playing regularly," Omeruo told BBC
Sport.
"Hopefully I can help Middlesbrough fight for
promotion - nothing is impossible in football."
After signing for the Blues from Standard Liege in
January 2012, Omeruo was immediately sent on
loan to Den Haag.
He is yet to make his Chelsea debut, and with his
sights firmly set on the World Cup in Brazil, Chelsea
manager Jose Mourinho has allowed him to move
to the Riverside.
Omeruro's career appearances
Standard Liege, 2010-12: no games
Chelsea, 2012-present: no games
ADO Den Haag (loan), 2012-13: 36 games
Nigeria, 2013-present: 14 caps
Omeruo will be working under Boro's Spanish boss
Aitor Karanka, formerly Mourinho's assistant
manager at Real Madrid.
"Training with the first-team at Chelsea is just not
good enough for my progress and development,"
Omeruo explained.
"More significantly, I was highly recommended [to
Karanka] by Jose Mourinho and that feels good.
"They [Karanka and Mourinho] speak to each other
on a daily basis so I believe I'll be in good hands.
"Apart from playing regularly and helping the team,
this provides me with an opportunity to be sharp for
the World Cup."

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Fifa president Sepp Blatter critical of Brazil's WorldCup preparations

Fifa president Sepp Blatter has accused Brazil of
being badly prepared with five months to go before
it hosts this year's World Cup.
Six of the host nation's 12 stadiums have failed to
meet Fifa's 31 December completion deadline.
Three workers have been killed in recent accidents
at stadiums in Sao Paulo and Manaus.
"No country has been so far behind in preparations
since I have been at Fifa," Blatter told a Swiss
newspaper.
“
It is the only host nation which has had so
much time - seven years - in which to
prepare. Brazil has started work much too late
”
Sepp Blatter
Fifa president
The 77-year-old has worked for Fifa since 1975,
becoming president in 1998.
He added: "It is the only host nation which has had
so much time - seven years - in which to prepare."
The tournament opens on 12 June when the host
nation face Croatia in Sao Paulo's Arena
Corinthians, where two workers died when a crane
collapsed on to part of the roof on 27 November.
That accident delayed the stadium's completion
date by several months, and it is not expected to be
ready until mid-April.
Construction problems and public protests about
the financial costs of hosting the World Cup have
beset Brazil's preparations for the tournament.
Brazil - which lasted hosted the World Cup in 1950 -
was awarded this year's finals in 2007.
But when asked if the country had understood the
scale of the work required, Blatter replied: "No.
Brazil has just found out what it means and has
started work much too late."

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Mikel wants team-mates to adopt Mourinho’s style

London - Midfielder, Joel Obi has told his team-
mates at Chelsea to adopt to the winning mentality
of manager, Jose Mourinho if they want to remain
useful to the club, Metro reports.
Mikel was used as a substitute since the start of
the current season after Mourinho’s return, but now
enjoys first team action at the club.
The Nigeria international admitted that pressure is
pretty much on the team as they aim to win trophy
every year.

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Liverpool, Everton battle for Onazi

London - Everton are trying to beat Liverpool to sign
Lazio midfielder Ogenyi Onazi according to reports
in Italy, KickOff Nigeria says.
According to Italian news outlet Il Tempo, the two
Merseyside clubs are set to battle it out to try and
sign the 20-year-old who has been in fine form for
his Italian club this season.
Onazi had a successful year for Nigeria in 2013
where he won the Africa Cup of Nations. He was
part of the Super Eagles squad to the FIFA
Confederations Cup in Brazil and helped his country
to book a ticket to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

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Iyanya set to star in Yvonne Nelson's movie

The ex-lovers are set to star in a movie being
produced by Yvonne Nelson,

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