Monday, November 16, 2009

10 Common Divorce Mistakes



Cases of divorce are increasing in Nigeria and the rest of the world. I have been to some colourful weddings and later gasped when the wonderful marriages crashed before my eyes.

The following article on "10 Common Divorce Mistakes...and how to avoid them" is a must read.
~ Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima
The Publisher/Editor

Are You Making One of These Divorce Mistakes?
You're not the only one

Divorce isn't easy on anybody. While there's no "right" way to go through it, there are several common mistakes. To find out the top 10 (and how to avoid them), click here now.

by AskMen.com
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In the past, the prevailing emotions during a divorce were usually sadness and regret. Today, anger is the dominant emotion: People are angry at their spouses, their spouses' parents, at their spouses' new partners, etc. All this anger translates into words and deeds that make the divorce process more costly, stressful, frustrating, lengthy, and an all out war. It doesn't have to be that way, even if you are divorcing the most irrational of humans. Below are the 10 most common mistakes men make in divorce. If you can learn to place your emotions in check and avoid these mistakes, you can alleviate some of the pain that comes with any divorce. Read more.


Saturday, November 14, 2009

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Taylor Swift Wins Four, Including Entertainer of the Year, at 'The 43rd Annual CMA Awards'



12 Nov 2009 05:59 Africa/Lagos



Taylor Swift Wins Four, Including Entertainer of the Year, at 'The 43rd Annual CMA Awards'

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Nov. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Before Taylor Swift even enters her 20s, she adds four CMA Awards to her collection, winning Entertainer, Female Vocalist, Album and Music Video of the Year at "The 43rd Annual CMA Awards," which aired live on the ABC Television Network and before a sold-out crowd at the Sommet Center in Downtown Nashville.


By winning Entertainer of the Year, 19-year-old Swift is the youngest performer to ever win the honor and the first female to win since Shania Twain in 1999. "I'll never forget this moment," an emotional Swift said, "because at this moment everything that I have ever wanted just happened to me."


Accepting the Female Vocalist Award, Swift poked fun at her famed Kanye West interruption experience: "I want to thank every single person here tonight for not running up on stage during this speech."


Fearless, Swift's five-time Platinum sophomore release, produced by Swift and Nathan Chapman, was named Album of the Year. "This album is my diary, and so for all the people who voted for it, thank you for saying you like my diary," Swift said. "The fans, you made this album into what it is."


In the pre-telecast ceremony, Swift picked up the Music Video of the Year Award for "Love Story," her Jane Austen-inspired fairytale directed by Trey Fanjoy.


Swift kicked off "Country Music's Biggest Night" with "Forever & Always" from Fearless. Later in the broadcast, Swift, with only her guitar and surrounded by former classmates, performed new current single "Fifteen."


Second-time hosts Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood summed up the night in their opening remarks: "What makes Country Music the biggest and best music in the world?" asked Underwood. "Well, Carrie, it's the songs," Paisley replied.


Top nominee Paisley picked up his third consecutive Male Vocalist Award and fourth Musical Event of the Year for "Start A Band" with Keith Urban. Those Awards bring Paisley's career CMA Awards total to 13. He performed his recent No. 1 hit "Welcome to the Future" from his nominated album American Saturday Night.


After winning New Artist of the Year in 2008, Lady Antebellum's momentum didn't slow down in 2009. The trio picked up two Awards, the Vocal Group and Single of the Year for "I Run To You," produced by Victoria Shaw and Paul Worley. "I'd like to thank my two best friends I get to do this with every day of my life," Hillary Scott said about her partners Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood. "That was a complete shock that was not expected," Kelley said backstage. "We've got a lot left to prove." The group performed "Need You Now," from their forthcoming sophomore album.


Sugarland picked up their third consecutive Vocal Duo of the Year Award, giving thanks to 14-time Vocal Duo Brooks & Dunn, who announced they were disbanding in 2010. "Thank you for what you've done for us and thank you for what you've done for Country Music," Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles said to Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn. "It's an honor to be nominated in your category."


Soon after Sugarland performed the poignant ballad "Keep You," Brooks & Dunn tore the place down with Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top performing "Honky Tonk Stomp."


Winning the coveted New Artist of the Year, Darius Rucker thanked the people who "took a chance on a pop singer from Charleston, S.C. God bless y'all for that." Earlier, Rucker performed "Alright," his third consecutive No. 1 hit from his debut Country album Learn to Live.


Jamey Johnson picked up his second CMA Song of the Year Award for "In Color" co-written with James Otto and Lee Thomas Miller. "I never thought y'all would even let me come to stuff like this," Johnson joked. "Thank you for listening to my music and letting me do what I do." Johnson won Song in 2007 for George Strait's "Give It Away" with Bill Anderson and Buddy Cannon. Johnson teamed with Kid Rock to perform "Between Jennings and Jones."


Urban, who won his first Musical Event of the Year Award with Paisley in the pre-telecast ceremony, offered the pensive new single, "'Til Summer Comes Around." Four-time nominee Strait performed his latest hit, the title track from his Album, Twang.


Country Music Hall of Fame 2009 inductee and two-time CMA Entertainer of the Year Barbara Mandrell was feted by Female Vocalist nominee Martina McBride and Strait, who dueted on Mandrell's signature hit "I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool."


The Female Vocalist nominees proved that the ladies of Country Music are some of the strongest performers in all music. Miranda Lambert offered "White Liar" off of her third album Revolution, and Reba McEntire performed "Consider Me Gone" from her latest album Keep on Loving You. Underwood, who currently has the No. 1 album and single in the nation, performed that single "Cowboy Casanova" with a bevy of back-up dancers.


In one of the many exciting collaborations of the evening, rock band Daughtry was joined by 18-time CMA Awards winner Vince Gill for a stripped down performance of "Tennessee Line" from Daughtry's album Leave This Town.


Four-time Entertainer of the Year Kenny Chesney performed the duet "I'm Alive" with Dave Matthews.


Other noteworthy performances included Jason Aldean with his No. 1 "Big Green Tractor" and superstar Tim McGraw's return to the CMA Awards stage after four years, performing "Southern Voice," the title track from his latest album. Multiple-nominee Zac Brown Band did a rousing rendition of Charlie Daniels Band's "Devil Went Down to Georgia." Fellow Georgian Billy Currington performed the Single and Song of the Year-nominated "People Are Crazy."


CMA Awards presenters included Dale Earnhardt Jr.; stars of ABC's "The Middle" Neil Flynn and Patricia Heaton; Faith Hill and husband McGraw; Julianne Hough; nominee Randy Houser; nine-time Awards winners The Judds; Kid Rock; Country Music Hall of Fame member Kris Kristofferson; nominee Jake Owen; Kellie Pickler; LeAnn Rimes; ABC News' Robin Roberts, co-anchor of "Good Morning America"; and six-time CMA Awards winner Lee Ann Womack. Love and Theft hosted the Pre-Telecast Awards.


The winners of "The 43rd Annual CMA Awards" are:



ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Taylor Swift

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Brad Paisley

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Taylor Swift

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Lady Antebellum

VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Sugarland

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Darius Rucker

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Fearless
Taylor Swift
Produced by Nathan Chapman and Taylor Swift
Big Machine Records

SINGLE OF THE YEAR
"I Run To You"
Lady Antebellum
Produced by Victoria Shaw and Paul Worley
Capitol Records Nashville

SONG OF THE YEAR
"In Color"
Written by Jamey Johnson, Lee Thomas Miller and James Otto

MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
"Start A Band"
Brad Paisley (duet with Keith Urban)
Arista Nashville

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
"Love Story"
Taylor Swift
Directed by Trey Fanjoy

MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Mac McAnally - Guitar


In 1958, CMA was the first trade organization formed to promote a type of music. Its membership includes nearly 6,000 companies and music industry professionals around the globe.


"The 43rd Annual CMA Awards" is a production of the Country Music Association. Robert Deaton is the Executive Producer, Paul Miller is the Director, and David Wild is the writer. The special will be shot in high definition and broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format, with 5.1 channel surround sound.


Premiere Radio Networks is the official radio packager of the CMA Awards. American Airlines is the official airline of the 2009 CMA Awards. Chevy: The Official Ride of Country Music.


Visit www.CMApress.com for CMA Awards history, photos, press releases, logos and on-line media credential registration for the CMA Awards. This is a protected site for the media only with restrictions on use. The public should be directed to www.CMAawards.com.


Source: Country Music Association

CONTACT: Press: Wendy Pearl, or Scott Stem, both of the CMA,
+1-615-244-2840; or Denise Carberry of PFA/NY, +1-212-334-6116, or Lisa Scalzo
of ABC/NY, +1-212-456-7109


Web Site: http://www.cmaworld.com/
http://www.cmaawards.com/




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Give up Facebook and 'Bedroom Fun' for Great Sleep?


Sleep Number customizable bed pillows, sheets and blankets make practical holiday gifts for anyone needing a better night's sleep. Sleep Number gifts start at $19.99. High-quality, customizable bedding products make great holiday gifts for couples or individuals. Sleep research shows these types of products play an important role in helping people toss and turn less and sleep longer, which increases overall sleep quality. www.sleepnumber.com. (PRNewsFoto/Select Comfort) MINNEAPOLIS, MN UNITED STATES

12 Nov 2009 14:00 Africa/Lagos


Give up Facebook and 'Bedroom Fun' for Great Sleep?

Recent Survey Shows Consumers' Desire for Great Sleep Tops Wish List

MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- According to a SELECT COMFORT (NASDAQ:SCSS) October 2009 survey of anticipated holiday spending activity, conducted by Opinion Research Corporation, sleep is at the top of people's wish lists this holiday season. And more than one-third (35 percent) claim needs-based gifts, like a gift that promotes better sleep, will motivate them to make purchases. This fact is in-line with findings from the National Retail Federation's 2009 Holiday Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, which revealed that 35 percent of Americans plan to buy more practical gifts this holiday season.


(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091112/CG09893)


According to the Select Comfort survey, sleep is so desired that, despite its popularity, more than one-quarter (27 percent) of consumers are willing to give up Facebook for a year in return for a lifetime of great sleep. Even Santa can help when asked to pick the ONE thing they'd like from Santa this year, nearly three out of ten (28 percent) adults who participated in the survey chose a lifetime of great sleep over a better sex life and an unlimited supply of chocolate. Interestingly, men (31 percent) were more likely than women (25 percent) to choose a lifetime of great sleep.


"Sleep is one of the most needed and practical gifts, but it's also a gift people may not know how to give," said Pete Bils, vice president of sleep innovation and clinical research, at Select Comfort. "High-quality, customizable bedding products make great gifts for couples or individuals. Sleep research shows these types of products play an important role in helping people toss and turn less and sleep longer, which increases overall quality of sleep."


Sleep Gift-Giving Tips


To prevent gift givers from dozing this holiday season, the sleep professionals at Select Comfort offer these tips for choosing great sleep-related gifts:


-- Customization is king. Customizable products take the guess work out
of a gift and let a person select exactly what they want. Nearly one
out of four consumers (23 percent) surveyed would like to receive a
customized comforter this holiday season and 22 percent would like to
receive a customized pillow.
-- The SLEEP NUMBER® Create Your Perfect Comforter makes a great gift
because it can be customized on each side for individual fill
preferences and is available in down or down alternative, starting
at $169.99.
-- A customizable bed pillow is just as important as the right
mattress for proper spinal alignment. Plus, a customizable bed
pillow makes an excellent gift since many people struggle to find
the ideal pillow. The SLEEP NUMBER® Create Your Perfect Pillow
lets someone build their perfect pillow in three simple steps; the
SLEEP NUMBER® Custom Classic memory foam pillow comes with three
inserts for desired neck support; and the SLEEP NUMBER® Custom
Contour memory foam pillow comes with three different layers to
achieve the perfect pillow height.
-- Consider the value of an item before purchasing. How long will the
gift last? Is there an exchange policy or warranty? Higher-quality
bedding accessories may cost a little more up front but the payoff is
that the recipient will enjoy them a lot longer than less expensive,
lower-quality items.
-- Buy products that provide solutions. Does someone you know sleep too
hot, too cold, have allergies, struggle with back-pain, is
uncomfortable sleeping while pregnant, can't get comfortable in the
same bed as their partner, only wants natural products, etc.? If you
don't know - ask. Everyone has a sleep story. There are a variety of
Sleep Number products, designed to solve problems, with gift ideas
starting at $19.99. Visit sleepnumber.com to read more about these and
other products, including:
-- Temperature-balancing sheets, blankets or pillow protectors from
the SLEEP NUMBER® In Balance(TM) line
-- Naturally antimicrobial, anti-odor, anti-static and dust mite
protection from the SLEEP NUMBER® True Silver line of pillow
protectors, comforters, sheet sets, blankets and mattress pads
-- Adjustable maternity pillows for $39.99
-- All-natural Lyocell sheet sets or down comforters
-- Velvet-soft blankets starting at $49.99
-- Warming layers with adjustable warmth on each side so couples
don't have to compromise and can stay cozy warm during the cooler
months
-- Nine models of SLEEP NUMBER® beds that are clinically proven to
improve sleep quality and have helped 93 percent of clinical study
participants report back-pain relief. Since nine out of 10 couples
are not comfortable on the same mattress, this makes a great
couples gift because each side of the bed adjusts independently;
no more compromising with your partner. Sleep Number mattresses
start at $699.
-- Buy gift cards when in doubt. Most retailers, including Sleep Number
stores, offer gift cards, and according to the National Retail
Federation's 2009 Holiday Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, 55.2
percent of consumers want to receive gift cards/gift certificates this
year.

-- Add kind gestures to help someone enjoy their new bedding accessories.
After you've selected a great bedding necessity/new mattress go the
extra mile and attach a card to your gift offering to babysit or
petsit, vacate the house, massage their feet, answer their phones,
etc., for a night of quiet solitude.



Survey Methodology

The Select Comfort survey was conducted by telephone October 15-18, 2009, by Opinion Research Corporation, among 1,000 U.S. male and female participants, ages 18 and older. Participants were given multiple choice options. Random sampling procedures were employed to ensure the respondents accurately reflect the nation's 230 million 18 year olds and older in terms of age, race/ethnicity, gender and census region. The margin of error is +/- 3.1 percent at the 95 percent confidence interval.


About Select Comfort


Founded more than 20 years ago, Select Comfort was ranked the no. 1 bedding retailer in the United States for nine years running(1). Based in Minneapolis, the company designs, manufactures, markets and supports a line of adjustable-firmness mattresses featuring air-chamber technology, branded the Sleep Number® bed, as well as foundations and bedding accessories. SELECT COMFORT® products are sold through its approximately 400 company-owned stores located across the United States; select bedding retailers; direct marketing operations; and online at www.sleepnumber.com. To find, or engage in, consumer discussion on Select Comfort Sleep Number products, and read the Select Comfort blog, please visit www.beds.com.


(1) Furniture/Today August 2009


Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091112/CG09893
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN2
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Select Comfort

CONTACT: Natasha Woods of Fleishman Hillard, +1-612-573-3160,
Natasha.woods@fleishman.com, for Select Comfort; or Sarah Panus of Select
Comfort, +1-763-551-7149, Sarah.panus@selectcomfort.com, Twitter: sarahpanus


Web Site: http://www.sleepnumber.com/
http://beds.com/




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Everyone Wears A Mask



Everyone Wears A Mask

They say first impression matters
But have we not been misled many times
When we have fallen over ourselves
Competing for titles and trophies
Breaking glass ceilings and also breaking the Golden Rules
As we are making colourful headlines
Gentlemen and pretty ladies in smiles and dimples
But with broken noses and black eyes
Hiding behind our colourful masks.
Everyone wears a mask to hide our secrets.


By Orikinla Osinachi, November, 2009.
All rights reserved. Using any part of the lyrics of this composition is forbidden.




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Monday, November 9, 2009

"Lopez Tonight" Premieres Monday, Nov. 9th!


A Personal Message from George
Monday, November 9, 2009 | 9:00 AM

Okay, listen... you have no choice -- I'm bringing the party to you! "Lopez Tonight" premieres Monday, Nov. 9th at 11:00 PM only on TBS! My first night's guests are Eva Longoria Parker, Kobe Bryant, Ellen DeGeneres and Carlos Santana. How's that for change you can believe in?!

Then, I'm having Jamie Foxx, Larry David, Charlie Sheen, Lisa Lampanelli, Oscar de la Hoya, Queen Latifah and Marc Anthony. Por que sabes que we're in it to win it!

Plus, the baddest band ever. Our musical director Michael Bearden has played with everyone from Madonna to Stevie Wonder and he was Michael Jackson's musical director for "This Is It." In the words of the late King of Pop: "This dude is Bad!"

Go to LopezTonight.com for funny videos, tickets and show news but no alcohol... yet!

I'll see you Monday! Follow me on Twitter, Facebook & Myspace because... I totally rock!!!




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Wednesday, November 4, 2009

DreamWorks Studios and Doubleday Acquire Rights to 'Robopocalypse'


"Robopocalypse" author Daniel H. Wilson. (PRNewsFoto/DreamWorks Studios) LOS ANGELES, CA UNITED STATES

3 Nov 2009 20:32 Africa/Lagos


DreamWorks Studios and Doubleday Acquire Rights to 'Robopocalypse'

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- DreamWorks Studios and Doubleday have acquired, in a pre-emptive deal, the rights to Daniel H. Wilson's unpublished manuscript, "Robopocalypse," it was announced today by Mark Sourian and Holly Bario, Co-Presidents of Production at the studio, and Jason Kaufman, Executive Editor and Vice President, at Doubleday.


(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091103/LA04506)


DreamWorks acquired the film rights from literary manager Justin Manask and is putting the project into accelerated development. Kaufman acquired world publishing rights to "Robopocalypse" from Laurie Fox at the Linda Chester Literary Agency and a tentative 2011 publication date has been set for the book.


"Robopocalypse" explores the fate of the human race following a robot uprising.


"Daniel H. Wilson's cautionary tale of man versus machine grabbed us from the very beginning," said Mark Sourian. "Wilson's background in robotics and artificial intelligence grounds his story with a frightening level of realism and he has created an exhilarating story that we think audiences will really respond to."


"As a book editor, you're always looking for something unique and riveting to come across the transom," said Jason Kaufman. "'Robopocalypse' is one of the most exciting and original novels I've read in a very long time. Daniel H. Wilson is not only a brilliant robotics engineer but also an extraordinary writing talent."


"Writing this novel is an incredible thrill, after spending years studying and thinking about robotics," said Daniel H. Wilson. "It's an honor to work with DreamWorks Studios to bring this vision to life, and I couldn't have hoped for a better editor than Jason Kaufman at Doubleday. My hope is that the story we tell will make the robots of the future proud of us humans."


Daniel H. Wilson's previous works include the 2005 book "How to Survive a Robot Uprising: Tips on Defending Yourself Against the Coming Rebellion," which was optioned by Paramount Pictures with Michael DeLuca attached to produce. His other books include "Where's My Jetpack?: A Guide to the Amazing Science Fiction Future That Never Arrived," "How To Build a Robot Army: Tips on Defending Planet Earth Against Aliens, Ninjas, and Zombies," and "The Mad Scientist Hall of Fame: Muwahahaha!" His next book, titled "Bro-Jitsu: The Martial Art of Sibling Smackdown," is scheduled for release next year. "Bro-Jitsu" was optioned by Nickelodeon Movies and Wilson hired to pen the screenplay adaptation. He has a Ph.D. in robotics from Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Institute in Pittsburgh, PA, is a contributing editor to "Popular Mechanics," and hosted a show on the History Channel called "The Works."


About DreamWorks Studios


DreamWorks Studios is a motion picture company led by Steven Spielberg and Stacey Snider in partnership with The Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group. The new company is a continuation of DreamWorks Studios which was formed in 1994 by Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg, and David Geffen. The company expects to put into production 5 to 6 films per year.


About Doubleday


The Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group is a division of Random House Inc., whose parent company is Bertelsmann AG.


Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091103/LA04506
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: DreamWorks Studios

CONTACT: Kristin Stark of DreamWorks, +1-818-733-9685,
kristin_stark@dreamworksstudios.com; or Todd Doughty of Doubleday,
+1-212-782-9796, tdoughty@randomhouse.com