SPECIAL FEATURE: INTERVIEW WITH NANA AWERE DAMOAH

In light of next week's Sebitically Speaking book launch, I bring to you this interesting interview I had with the author, Nana Awere Damoah, some months ago:

 TALE OF A LITERARY GREAT: NANA AWERE DAMOAH UNRAVELED. . .

I am Aaron Daniel Kwabena Apenteng Darko, a graduate of NIIT, a former counselor (BGEA, Billy Graham Jesus Festival Crusade, April 2012) and a blogger (motivar2.wordpress.com) Motivar2 features interviews & life stories of several people who have made worthwhile achievements in their respective fields, plus a variety of informative topical issues, from general news to business, politics, relationships, achievers profiles, etc. The goal is to motivate, to challenge, to entertain and to impact.

1. Tell us about yourself. Who is Nana Awere Damoah?

ANSWER: Thanks for this interview, Kwabena. I like to describe myself as a simple Wassa boy who had a dream to be the best he could be and to bring honor to his family, his society and his country. I was born in Kotobabi, in Accra and attended a local preparatory school, from where I proceeded to Cape Coast for my secondary education, up to sixth form. My university days were spent in Kumasi and later in Nottingham, UK, where I studied Chemical Engineering at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, respectively. I have worked in manufacturing industries since graduating from KNUST, and writing is a passion which has overtaken my life!

2. Have you been told any unusual story about where and how you were born? How about childhood struggles, are there any worth remembering and any lessons learned?

ANSWER: Oh, the unusual story is about the day I was born. My mum tells me she delivered me in the taxi and when she got to Korle-Bu, the doctors did the rest.
My big brother, Ntiako, added this to the narrative when we discussed it once: ”The registration number of the taxi was UR 1428. It was a Nissan or Mazda. If you remember Kwabena ‘Bumbum’ from the big compound house next to our house, it was his Dad’s car. The old lady won the lottery that week with the car’s number and Bombay won the following week with the registration number of his Macheres motor bike, which was AF 1839 or something nearer.”
About growing up, we did have some struggles and hard times, but my parents taught us to be proud of our heritage and to aspire. I learnt to be thankful for little mercies and to be respectful. I was taught to be hard-working as well. My parents encouraged me and congratulated me on every little achievement and this made me want to achieve more to make them proud.

3. Some of your books I have read clearly depict you as a staunch Christian. Has your faith ever been challenged at any particular point in time in your life? How about in the University or prior to the University? And how does your faith guide your life and all you do?

ANSWER: I became a believer at age 14, when I decided to take my relationship with Christ more seriously. Well, you do know that Christianity doesn’t absolve you from hard times, so I have had my own challenging points and failures. Times when I felt that God could have intervened much earlier in situations, but in all, I have learnt that his due time for me is never late. I believe God directs the affairs of men and He gives grace and strength; So I depend on Him for guidance and inspiration. I try my best to please Him and also to live a life that glorifies Him. I believe I should be an open letter to others, in my testimony of Christ and what He can do through those who profess Him.

4. To you, what is the purpose of life? And can you share any spiritual values that affect the purpose of life?

ANSWER: I believe the purpose of life is to affect our societies for good, and to leave the world better than we found it.
Spiritual values that affect life for me are honesty, faith, love for fellow man, kindness and being a blessing. Christ lived for us that we might have life more abundantly and I believe that is what I also need to pay forward.

5. Are you married? How long now? Do you have kids?

ANSWER: I have been married for 13 years, with 3 children. I feel blessed.

6. Does Nana have any interests? I know you love sports but I want to know more.

ANSWER: I love football. I grew up near a colts football club known as Powerlines FC in Kotobabi and used to play area football when I was young and didn’t wear spectacles!
I like to read, watch movies, visit and chat with friends, and browse the net in my spare time. Of course, writing also gives me the conduit to create.

7. How did you begin the writing journey? Do you do anything aside being a writer? Has the whole experience of writing been satisfying? Has combination of this work that you do and writing not eaten into your family life and time?

ANSWER: In the preparatory school, all pupils were involved in poetry recitals and plays. In our school, a class had to stage a play a day before vacation (Every term) So that is where my love of the literary started. I continued this in Secondary School when I joined a singing/drama group of the Scripture Union. I also loved to read, a lot. I always had a fat novel with me, even as a Science student. In Sixth Form, having started reading a lot of non-fiction particularly of Dale Carnegie and Robert Schuller, I started dabbling in articles and poems. In 1995, when I was home during University lecturers’ strike during our first year, I submitted a short story titled, ‘The Showdown’ to The Mirror through a family friend who used to work with Graphic. It was published! That is the first time it dawned on me that I could write – it was a great affirmation.
In 1997, whilst in KNUST, I submitted a true story for the annual Step Magazine National Writing Competition. I won the 1st prize! I have never looked back since then.
I don’t do writing full time. I work as a Technical Manager full-time, with a manufacturing company. Writing, for me, is a way to influence my society, and it aligns with my purpose in life, as you asked earlier. I see it as my ministry and my contribution to the world I live in. So I combine it with my regular job, and yes, it does eat into my family life and time, but my wife has been ever supportive, knowing how much it means to me.
It is interesting to know that many people don’t know me for what I do full-time or was trained for, but rather for my writing and passion. I feel fulfilled.

8. Where does Nana draw his inspiration from? And what challenges does Nana face as a writer and as a person?

ANSWER: I draw a lot of inspiration from my family, especially my parents (my dad has been gone for almost 10 years but his words and life still influence me; mum is still alive). I draw inspiration from our founding fathers who had dreams for our country that we can govern ourselves and make it great. I have lots of mentors who continue to chart the course ahead of me and who I learn from. I am inspired by my environment and by the daily happenings of life. I write about all these and I write to minister to myself as well.
Challenges as a writer? The tough terrain of publishing, really. And the pains one goes through to ensure his books get out in print, especially. But as we plod on, things get better.
As a person, I guess the main challenge is how to maximize time and do all that I wish to do. Which is a lot!

9. I have observed that most Ghanaians refuse to take action; And when you show the courage to do so, you are deemed arrogant. So mostly, we are ‘timid’ always ‘Nyame Beye,’ as I’ve written about in one blog post here. Just cast your mind back to the ‘Dumsor Must Stop Vigil.’ An issue affecting all of us and some can just lay back and mock the partakers of the vigil? You are a writer with our nation dear at heart. So what at all is the problem, is it that no one cares in Ghana?

ANSWER: Any Ghanaian living in Ghana cares, so that answers your last question. When one complains and nothing seems to change as a response to that complaint, there is the tendency to give up and keep one’s thoughts to himself or herself. But we shouldn’t give up. We should continue to make our voices heard and continue to do the little we can do to build our nation. Think and act, talk and work, contribute. Finally, as a people, we don’t demand much and that is another problem. We should elevate our expectations and ensure we don’t fulfill the notion that we have short memories. We have to hold our leaders, and ourselves, accountable to the promises they, and we, make.

10. What are some crucial decisions you have taken that has brought you this far in life? Are you satisfied with these decisions and choices? Any regrets? Do these decisions and choices you have taken make you nervous of or over what lies ahead? How do you want to be remembered when you are no more?

ANSWER: I have taken both good and not-so-good decisions in my life. My view of life is that I am a sum total of all the experiences I have had, both pleasant and not pleasant. So, no, I don’t have regrets. I learn from the past to improve the future. As it is said, a first fool is not a fool, a second fool is. I love the application former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo gave to this when he stated: ”If you deceive me once, shame on you because I have trusted you once and you have deceived me; if you deceive me twice, shame on me because I haven’t learnt my lessons and you have deceived me. If you deceive me for the third time, shame on me, because I am a compound fool.” I like not to shame myself!
I am not nervous about what lies ahead. I am quite reflective and thoughtful about what I intend to do, and I believe in a God who holds my future as well and directs my steps.

11. Any achievements? And are you fulfilled in life?

ANSWER: Hmmm, every day is an achievement. There have been various milestones for which I am proud. Graduating top of my class for my first degree, making my parents and family proud that day, getting married (Haha), being awarded a Chevening scholarship to study in the UK, publishing my books…I thank God for what he has made of me and I try to enjoy each day, with gratitude. I am content, I would say. Being fulfilled in life, for me, is not a destination, but a journey.

12. I will label your books as inspirational. How about you? Tell us how you find them and also the number of books you have written. Do we have a lot to do, as a country, in terms of writing? How do you see writing in Ghana? How is the response? Have Ghanaians really accepted or embraced writing?

ANSWER: I don’t do well with labels. I label my writings as ecletic. I have written five books so far. The first two books Excursions in My Mind and Through the Gates of Thought, are mostly reflective writings, where I distilled lessons from daily life’s experiences. In these, I try to bring to readers the simple yet profound lessons that we fail to capture because of the fast pace of our lives. My third book is a collection of short stories titled
Tales from Different Tails. My last two books I Speak of Ghana and Sebitically Speaking are satirical commentaries on social and political topics in Ghana and Africa.
We are seeing a rejuvenated interest in writing in Ghana but are constrained by the dearth of publishing opportunities. That is why I encourage writers to explore e-books and self-publishing outlets such as Amazon. I have just discovered a print-on-demand outfit in Tema, which means that self-published writers can have the options to print just enough to sell, as the financial burden of printing say 500 copies at a go can be daunting.
Response to writing is encouraging…for me, I love to be ahead of the curve so the more we write and engage to interest readers, the better the response would be. I believe.

13. Tell us the best book you have ever written and the best book you have ever read beside your own piece.

ANSWER: Best book I have written…difficult question, which I cannot answer (haha). It is like being asked which of your children is your favourite. The best book I have ever read is another difficult one. I have top 10 books but if I am to choose one, based on both impact on me and on my writing, I would say Dale Carnegie’s How to Make Friends and Influence People.

14. Nana, it’s been a while I heard of Joyful Way Incorporated. What’s your connection with them? That’s ‘sebitical’ of you Nana! Tell us a little about Sebitical. It’s a fantastic read.

ANSWER: Joyful Way is still very active and involved in evangelism to the youth especially, in schools, villages, churches and homes. I joined Joyful Way in 1992 and was very active till about 2008. I was blessed to be chosen as its Chief Servant and served in that capacity between 2002 and 2004. I am now an Associate, which is how we call non-active members.
Sebitically Speaking (Sebiticals) started as a column on the online portal infoboxdaily.com and is written in a no-holds back format, with infusion of local proverbs and in a story-telling style. The articles form my fifth book of the same title. The e-book format is already on various platforms such as Amazon, iBooks, Smashwords, and Azaliabooks.com and the hard copy is due in a few months.
I really enjoyed writing them.

15. It’s been great sharing your thoughts, views and life with us. Thank you so much Sir. In conclusion, I believe you have words of counsel and motivation for writers, bloggers, etc…Let us hear you, Nana.

ANSWER: Keep writing. Each day, try to either read or write. Write what you enjoy and enjoy what you write.


NB: SEBITICALLY SPEAKING BOOK LAUNCH
        VENUE: TEACHER'S HALL COMPLEX, ADABRAKA 
                       (NEAR WORKERS COLLEGE, MINISTRY OF INFORMATION
                            & TIGO HEAD OFFICE)
         DATE:  FRIDAY, 4TH DECEMBER, 2015
         TIME:   6:00PM-8:00PM

2015’S BIGGEST HEALTH CONCERN: PORN

Being healthy is a big trend these days. It seems like every week there’s a new green smoothie to try or a new type of yoga to experiment with. Every day we hear about new chemicals that can cause cancer or new exercises that get you the most weight loss results.

But what if you were unknowingly letting something unhealthy into your life every single day? What if we told you that the biggest danger to your health in 2015 wasn’t only limited to food, chemicals, or obesity?

Believe it or not, one of our generation’s biggest health issues is pornography.

So what is it about porn that causes millions of people to suffer physically, mentally, and emotionally? After all, some people believe that porn is a healthy sexual activity and a harmless matter of personal choice. We’re here to tell you that this is completely false.

Physically

Porn has numerous harmful effects on the human body, including destroying men’s ability to have real sex with a real partner. Thirty years ago, erectile dysfunction in men under the age of 35 was practically unheard of because it was generally caused by blocked blood vessels in a man’s aging body.[1] That’s no longer the case. Now, with the availability of porn, erectile dysfunction is a common problem for young men as young as 16 years old.[2] With more and more porn use, the brain begins to form new pathways to recognize what is pleasurable. What often ends up happening is that the brain becomes wired to be turned on by porn[3] and the man can no longer achieve an erection with a real partner.[4] After some time, even being turned on by porn may become difficult as some of the brain’s dopamine receptors begin to shut down as more porn and harder forms of porn are needed to get aroused.[5]

Basically, watching virtual sex can make having actual sex impossible. Not cool…and definitely not healthy.

Mentally

Depression, anxiety, and loneliness are major problems in our world today, but did you know that porn is a major cause of all three of these issues?[6] Because of porn users’ desire to keep their use a secret, their relationships ultimately suffer, leaving them lonely and vulnerable to developing other psychological problems.[7] Studies show that porn users also commonly develop body-image issues, low self-esteem, and insecurity.[8]

Emotionally

Porn takes a heavy toll on relationships. Human beings are social beings and have a need for intimacy, but porn tries to fill that need for intimacy with something fake. Not only is porn not fulfilling, it can also ruin any real intimacy-providing relationships the user has. Studies have shown that after just one exposure to pornography, men rate themselves as less in love with their partners and rate their partners as less attractive.[9] Furthermore, one study found that 56% of divorces involve at least one partner’s interest in porn.[10]

Porn portrays sex as being separate from love and relationships, all about the individual’s pleasure. In real life, this isn’t the case. According to biologist Gary Wilson, “Using porn is more than just training for the wrong sport. It’s replacing these guys’ ability to play the sport they really want to learn.”

In other words, porn kills love. It’s obvious that porn is definitely not healthy given its ability to cause erectile dysfunction and a myriad of mental and emotional problems. Porn has become a public health crisis. Millions of people are suffering from its effects. It’s time to spread the word that porn is not just a habit but a destructive behavior for all those involved.

What YOU Can Do

A lot of people don’t know the actual scientific harms of porn. SHARE this article and help to spread the facts.

Source: http://fightthenewdrug.org/

Let me know what you think about this article in the comments section below. . .

CELEB NEWS: 25 Celebrities Who Vowed to Wait Until Marriage To Have Sex

A list of celebrities who remained virgins until marriage or vowed to save their virginity until their wedding day. Just because Hollywood is notoriously filled with stories of sex and scandal, doesn't mean there are no famous people who believe in and practice celibacy until marriage. Some of the entertainment industry's biggest stars vowed to keep their virginity, whether from religious or cultural beliefs, or simply a personal preference.
Below is the list:

Adriana Lima 

Adriana Lima waited until marriage to have sex. The model has stated, "They have to respect that this is my choice. If there’s no respect, that means they don’t want me."

Jessica Simpson

Jessica Simpson was very public about her decision to wait to have sex until she was married. She told Cosmopolitan magazine, "I promised God, my father, and my future husband that I would remain a virgin until I got married. I just always knew it was something I wanted to do."

Tina Fey

The 30 Rock creator waited until she was 24 to have sex with her future husband Jeff Richmond. She told David Letterman, "That's just good, Christian values, or, being homely."

Carrie Underwood

Carrie Underwood reportedly waited to have sex until she married Mike Fisher in 2010.

Julianne Hough

Julianne Hough explained her decision to wait until marriage to have sex saying, "I want to be with that special person. I think [the choice] to have sex before marriage is an individual one, but if you’re just with one person, it’s only for one good reason, and [waiting to have sex] will strengthen that relationship. I’m not trying to preach consequences here, but I think when you say no, down the line it will be a better decision.”

Meagan Good 

Meagan Good waited until she married DeVon Franklin to have sex. She said, "Our wedding night will be the first time we’re actually together. He was willing to be celibate with me for a year."

Tim Tebow

When asked by a reporter if he was saving himself for marriage, NFL player Tim Tebow replied, "Yes, I am." Tebow is a devout Christian and has been known to bend a knee and pray on the football field.

Leelee Sobieski

Leelee Sobieski did not have sex until she was married. She said, "I guess 26 is kind of old to lose your virginity, but it was important to me that I remained a virgin until after I was married. It wasn’t for any religious reasons or anything like that, but simply because, to me, my virginity was the most precious gift that I could ever give to a man, and I wanted to be sure I was giving it to the right man."

Gary Coleman 

Gary Coleman was a virgin when he married his wife Shannon Price in 2007.

Julia Child 

Julia Child was a virgin until she met her husband. She has said of their marriage, "We had a happy marriage because we were together all the time. We were friends as well as husband and wife. We just had a good time."

See more:

http://www.ranker.com/list/celebrities-who-vowed-to-remain-a-virgin-until-marriage/celebrity-lists

Source: ranker.com

SHOWBIZ NEWS: 'I am a proud virgin' - Yaa Yaa

In spite of the perception that virgins are hard to come by these days, sultry singer Yaa Yaa has revealed she is still a virgin and a proud one at that.

Yaa Yaa, born Bertha Bridget Kamkam who is currently single after breaking up last year with her boyfriend of five years, also said she is enjoying ‘singlehood’ as that is allowing her to concentrate on her music career.



In an interview with Showbiz on her career and love life, Yaa Yaa who is in her mid-twenties, said it was very easy to stay a virgin even when in a relationship till one marries and finds it hard to understand young women who claim it is very difficult to remain chaste these days.

For Yaa Yaa, a woman holds a lot of dignity when she remains a virgin until marriage and believes sex is not the reason to be in a relationship.

She explained that no matter how much she loves a guy, she is willing to let him go if he demands for sex.

Source: graphic.com.gh

Business News: A look ahead to the new, sleek iPhone 7

It has become key to every iPhone and iPad - but could apple kill off the home button as has been claimed?

It is believed the move would allow the entire front of the gadgets to become a screen.

Instead of a button, fingerprint sensors would be built into the screen to allow the firm#s Touch ID system to work.

'Apple is internally developing touch and display driver integration (TDDI) single-chip solutions for its iPhones, according to sources in Taiwan’s IC design industry,' claimed DigiTimes

The TDDI single-chip solutions will also come with integrated fingerprint sensors, said the sources.

'The integrated design would fit into future iPhone designs – models with ultra-thin and ultra-narrow displays, and with a whole plane design eliminating the Home button.

According to AppleInsider, the new handset could appear in 2017.

'A source who in the past has correctly shared information about Apple's future product plans indicated on Monday that Apple is indeed planning on removing the home button from future iPhone hardware,' it said. 

'But they cautioned that such a change will not arrive within the next two years, leaving it as a long-term goal for the company.'

The new handset could also mean selfies could soon be even sharper, if claims about Apple's next iPhone are confirmed.

Experts analysed the recent test version of iOS 9 released by the firm - and founds hints of a big upgrade for the handset's front facing camera.

It reveals full HD video capabilities and a flash could be coming to the front of the next iPhone. 

Developer Hamza Sood has discovered code in iOS 9 that reveals support for changes to the front-facing FaceTime camera. 

According to the code, iOS 9 adds support for a FaceTime camera with 1080p video capture, up from the current 720p camera on the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus…

Code in iOS 9 also hints at support for capturing 240fps video at 720p using the front facing FaceTime camera, Sood notes. 

The code include support for a front-facing camera flash — something Apple hasn’t included on any previous iPhone — and the ability to capture panoramic selfie photos using the front camera.

Apple's next iPhone will be released on September 25th, it has been revealed by Vodafone.

In an email to staff seen by Mobile News, the operator also outlined pre-launch information, including plans to begin taking pre-orders for the device from September 18.

The email described the device as the ‘New iPhone’, suggesting Apple may look to follow its strategy with its iPads by not giving it a number. 

Several key features of the phone have already leaked. 

It's screen will know exactly how hard you are pressing it, and will have new 'smart' features to take advantage of that, it has been claimed.

The system is already being used in the Apple Watch and the firm's new Macbook portable computer.

The new iPhone, expected to be unveiled in September, is also expected to borrow the aluminium and rose gold used in apple's watch.

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said he expects the new 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch iPhones to enter mass production in mid-to-late August, and does not believe that a new 4-inch iPhone model will be released in 2015.

He says an upgraded screen will be the main selling point.  

'Force Touch will be the biggest upgraded selling point, but also one of the main bottlenecks of the supply chain. 

'Force Touch can enhance user experience due to more input methods and support of handwritten signatures, which is beneficial for expanding in the commercial market.'

The new technology could spawn new applications for the phones, such as a piano-playing app that would make different sounds when touched lightly or more heavily.

Other predicted features for Apple's next iPhone include an A9 processor with 2GB of RAM, improved 12-megapixel camera.

According to Kuo, the iPhone will also use the same materials at the Watch. 

'There will be an additional casing colour, rose gold, matching the rose gold Apple Watch Edition,' he said.

The force touch technology was first seen in the new Macbook, and it also used in the Apple Watch.

'MacBook also features the all-new Force Touch trackpad that brings a new dimension of interactivity to the Mac,' Apple said when it was introduced.

Called force click, it even allows users to 'deep press', allowing them to see the dictionary definition of a word, or access a customisation menu on their Watch.

'The new trackpad features built-in force sensors that allow you to click anywhere and haptic feedback that provides a responsive and uniform feel. 

'You can even customize the feel of the trackpad by changing the amount of pressure needed to register each click. 

'The Force Touch trackpad also enables a new gesture called Force Click, a click followed by a deeper press, for tasks like pulling up the definition of a word, quickly seeing a map or glancing at a preview of a file.'  

Daiwa Capital Markets analyst Kylie Huang said Force Touch would work better on larger-screen iPhones and could lead to more innovative gaming applications. 

The new machine, called simply the MacBook, boasts a 12 inch screen and a full size keyboard - but is just 13.1 mm thin and weighs two pounds.

It also boasts a radical new port, called USB-C, that allows it to use a single connector for power, and to hook up to other devices and even a TV.

Experts say the machine blurs the line between the iPad, iPhone and Macbook range.

'It seems more iPad than Mac, and joins the two ranges together,' said Stuart Miles of Pocket-Lint.com.

'It is also easy to see where the rumours of the iPad Pro came in. It's very easy to see how this could be turned into a large iPad, with a removable keyboard.'

Apple's Phil Schiller boasted the firm had 'reinvented every technology in it.'

For instance, Apple has redesigned the keyboard. claiming it is four times more accurate.

There is an LED under every key, so the entire keyboard has a uniform glow and can be used in the dark.

There is a new, pressure-sensitive Force Touch trackpad too so users can fast forward a film by applying more pressure.

The MacBook has the same 'taptic engine' as the Apple Watch, uses 30 per cent less energy than the previous model and is the first fanless logic board. This makes the components 67 per cent smaller.

Ian Fogg, an analyst with IHS, told MailOnline 'What Apple is doing here is following its visa for the Mac, its adding in the best features form the iPhone and iPad, and making it thinner and lighter.

'They've also kept course on not putting a touchscreen in there, and innovation with the touchpad

'The opportunity for Apple with the Macbook is to grow the Mac at the expense of competitors.

The firm has also struck every component - the main logic board is 67 per cent smaller than in previous MacBook 

Air, allowing more batteries to be installed in the case, for instance.

Measuring just 13.1 mm at its thickest point, the new MacBook design is an amazing 24 percent thinner than the 11-inch MacBook Air.

Batteries were created in sheets to fit the inside of the machine perfectly.

The notebook comes in silver, space grey and gold, starts at $1,299 for 8GB memory and will ship from 10 April. The price starts at £1,049 in the UK.

'Apple has reinvented the notebook with the new MacBook, and at just two pounds and 13.1 mm, it's the thinnest and lightest Mac ever,' said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing.

'Every component of the MacBook reveals a new innovation.

'From its fanless design, ultra-thin Retina display and full-size keyboard that's 34 percent thinner, to its all-new 

Force Touch trackpad, versatile USB-C port and breakthrough terraced battery design, the new MacBook is the future of the notebook.'

Source: etvghana.com

CELEBRITY NEWS: Idris Elba Survives Death

Idris Elba has revealed how he almost died while shooting Beasts Of No Nation, when he slipped near a waterfall in Ghana.

The 43-year-old Luther star, who plays warlord Commandant in the Netflix film, admitted he had a lucky escape when his foot slipped off a rock and the branch he held on to snapped.

Recalling the incident on The Jonathan Ross Show, Idris said: “I nearly died. I was doing this scene – we decided to do this waterfall scene where all these child soldiers were walking behind this massive waterfall.

“Cary Fukunaga, the director, decided to shoot it for real. We went to this waterfall and in this scene my character is standing there watching all the child soldiers go past. Now in the setup of that, the stunt co-ordinator says, ‘Listen everyone, this is a waterfall, that’s a 90, 100 foot drop down there and the ground is very slippery, just be careful!’

“I put my foot on this rock just to hang out and chill out while they were setting up and as I’m doing that it’s slippery, obviously. I slip… I put my hand on this tree – it’s not a tree, it’s a branch. It snaps and I go literally about six feet before I go bang over and I got caught by the security guy!”

Idris continued: “It was a great experience though, that was my most harrowing [film to shoot]. The director caught malaria and survived and it was great and he kept working so it was that type of shoot.

The on-screen tough guy also revealed his softer side, adding: “I can’t stand seeing children suffer. I watch Toy Story and I start crying so let alone Beasts Of No Nation!”

The Hackney-born actor, who found fame in US series The Wire and has starred in Marvel’s Thor films and won a Golden Globe award for his portrayal of late South African leader Nelson Mandela in Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom, became a father for the second time to 19-month-old son, Winston.

“He’s a good boy with me, really bad boy with his mum because she spoils him, I don’t,” he told host Ross.

“I am the tough guy… I am actually a doting father. I pick him up a bit but for some reason he just takes the [mickey] with his mum.”

Idris admitted balancing his hectic work schedule with fatherhood can be “tough”.

“It is tough. Most times if I can, I’ll bring my family with and we’ll just sort of live but that’s really tough because I do long hours and I never see them and I’m always grumpy so there’s no point. It is tough, you’ve just got to spread it out a bit,” he said.

Source: ghanaweb

YOUR WEEKEND MOTIVATION: BE SEXY

IMAGINE BAD ODOUR FROM YOUR MOUTH. . .

If bad odour from your armpit is a big turn off, imagine bad odour from your mouth. Don't disgrace yourself; use these 4 tips for a healthy, clean mouth, plus the added benefits of strong teeth and gums:

1. Throw away your toothpaste and use Forever Bright Toothgel!

Make your mouth smell fresh with our natural peppermint flavoured and Aloe Vera formulated toothgel. Contains no fluoride, with a green colour that fights off plaques and whitens your teeth without without bleaching.

 Contact for yours now:

For ordering, purchases and more info on this product, send me an e-mail: motivar3@gmail.com/darkoaaron72@gmail.com

(NB:
Forever Bright Toothgel contains Bee Propolis, which is cures canker sores and infections caused by bacteria (including tuberculosis), by viruses (including flu, H1N1 "swine" flu, and the common cold), by fungus, and by single-celled organisms called protozoans. Propolis is also used for cancer of the nose and throat; for boosting the immune system; and for treating gastrointestinal (GI) problems including Helicobacter pylori infection in peptic ulcer disease. Propolis is also used as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent.
People sometimes apply propolis directly to the skin for wound cleansing, genital herpes and cold sores; as a mouth rinse for speeding healing following oral surgery; and for the treatment of minor burns.
Source: http://www.webmd.com)

2. Floss properly
 Flossing reaches between the teeth where the toothbrush bristles couldn't easily reach and also helps in wiping away the bacteria formed around teeth, which can cause plaques and tooth decays. 

 

So, floss properly by being consistent. Consistent flossing (either before or after brushing) will ensure that, formation of bacteria into decay and plaques is daily disrupted.

3. Never forget your tongue

Brush tongue properly. Food particles that remain overnight leave bacteria on the tongue, and can only be removed when it is brushed away. Don't brush your tongue too vigorously that you bleed. No!

Thoroughly brush the inner surfaces of your upper and lower teeth and then finish with the tongue for a cleaner breath.

4. Change toothbrush at least within every three to four months to keep gums fresh and healthy always




When brush bristles become flared up, it is time to change them. The reason is simple:
Flared brushes lose their effectiveness and will not do any good to your gums and teeth as a 'non-flared' brush will. So, make changing your brush within three to four months a practice for maximum effectiveness always.

SUPER 8: METHODS TO COMBAT HALITOSIS (BAD BREATH)

 

1. See Your Dentist, Take Care of Your Teeth and Gums

Nixed medical causes for your bad breath? Keep your scheduled dental appointments.

"You really want to see your dentist every six months or at least yearly," Frangella says.

Good oral hygiene also is key to fighting bad breath. Ideally, you should brush and floss after every meal to help reduce the odor-causing bacteria in your mouth. While a regular toothbrush works just as well if you use it as recommended, Dr. Frangella recommends using an electric toothbrush, for two reasons.

"First, because many electric toothbrushes have timers on them and the majority of people do not brush their teeth for the right length of time. And secondly, because electric toothbrushes distribute a uniform motion, which I find helps remove plaque more efficiently than when my patients use manual toothbrushes."

Some mouthwashes or mouth rinses can help prevent cavities and reduce bacteria-causing plaque and fight bad breath. Stick to an antiseptic or antibacterial rinse that kills bacteria, rather than a cosmetic rinse that just focuses on freshening the breath.

2. Watch What You Eat

http://i1-news.softpedia-static.com

What you eat affects what you exhale. That's because as food is digested, it's absorbed into your bloodstream and then is expelled by your lungs when you breathe.

Eat a healthy, balanced diet and regular meals. Certain diets -- such as extreme fasting and very low-carb diets -- can give you bad-smelling breath.

Consider snacking on raw carrots, celery, or apple slices. "It's good to have a nice watery vegetable in there - something like celery - that will help clear your mouth of debris," Frangella says.

Avoid breath busters such as garlic, onions, and some other spicy foods. Chronic garlic users cannot only have chronic bad breath, they also often have body odor, Woodall says.

3. Stay hydrated

If you can't brush your teeth after a meal, drinking a lot of water can help speed up the process of cleaning harmful bacteria and debris from between your teeth. 

 

 

 

Drinking milk can even help deodorize some offensive breath odors, Frangella says. Avoid sugary drinks.

4. Don't drink too much coffee

It may be tasty, but coffee is a tough smell to get off the back of your tongue. Consider switching to an herbal or green tea, Frangella says.

5. Don't smoke or use other tobacco products 

 Cigarettes, pipes, and snuff can foul your breath. "Smoking can give people horrible breath," Woodall says. "And some people carry this stuff worse than others."

6. Cut back on alcohol

  Alcohol can lead to a dry mouth. Too much beer, wine, and hard liquor can make your breath reek for up to eight to 10 hours after you finish drinking, Woodall says.

7. Chew sugarless gum 

  
Doing so 20 minutes after a meal can help with saliva flow. Gum that's 100% xylitol-sweetened can help reduce cavities, but it's also "kind of cooling and gives you really nice fresh breath," Frangella says.

8. Be careful with breath mints

 Sugar-free mints are OK for a quick fix but only mask the offensive smell and don't do anything to remove harmful bad bacteria. Tempted to pick up a sugary mint as you leave your favorite restaurant? Don't. The sugar will only sit on your teeth and make the problem worse, Frangella says.

Source:  http://www.webmd.com

6 Common Causes Of Halitosis (Bad Breath)

 

 

1. Infections In The Mouth

Certain mouth problems can exacerbate bacterial development and odour. Gum disease causes bloody gums, creating more elements for those pesky bacteria to putrefy. But it is a dry mouth that could be the more common cause of bad breath. Saliva aids flush-out in the mouth, keeping bacteria moving so one of these doesn’t settle down and multiply, while drier mouth is really a breeding ground for germs.

2. Smoking

You may want to know, Smoking is one of the major causes of halitosis, Smoking is not only bad for your health, it can also give you the bad breath for ever

3. Stinky Foods

If it stinks going in, chances are it’s going to stink coming out. The obvious offenders are onions, garlic, alcohol and tobacco. “Plant oils are absorbed and the byproducts enter your bloodstream so you are actually breathing the odours out via your lungs three to four hours later,” says Jeannie Moloo, a registered dietitian and spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association

4. Poor Dental Hygiene

Sporadic or improper brushing and flossing can leave foods particles to decay into the mouth, which promotes bacterial growth between teeth, around the gums, and on the tongue.

5. Dry Mouth (Xerostomia)

This is often caused by salivary gland problems, medications or by “mouth inhaling.”

6. Body Disease

According to the American Dietetic Association, Halitosis (Bad Breath) can also be caused by body disease, which means it’s possible to have bad breath when you are suffering from a particular Disease such as Diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease, lungs illness, sinus disease, reflux disease, etc.


Source: http://www.spy.com.ng

Change Your Life With These 5 Powerful Books

Entrepreneur Brandon Turner writes:

 A book is a powerful external force that can change everything about who you are. . .

Quiz time: Can you name Newton’s first law of motion?
No? (Don’t feel bad, I had to look it up, too.)
Newton declared, “Every object in a state of uniform motion tends to remain in that state of motion unless an external force is applied to it.”
In other words, if you are flying in the International Space Station and toss an apple out the window (come on, use your imagination), it will keep going in that same direction forever, unless something stops it (like a planet, gravity or alien life form).
Although Newton was talking about physics, little did he know he was also describing life.
People tend to move in the same direction as they always have unless some external force is applied. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want my life to be lived in a straight line. I want to change, to improve, to crush it.
This is why I read.
A book is a powerful external force that can completely knock your life off its mundane straight line and change everything about who you are.
Click the link below for the full article:
http://time.com/3936846/powerful-books-list/

GHANA NEWS: Power crisis is a wisdom problem – Pastor Otabil

General Overseer of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC), Dr. Mensa Otabil, has described the energy crisis currently facing the country as a “wisdom problem”.
He believes the problem has nothing to do with money.
In a sermon titled “Wisdom”, delivered at the church’s headquarters in Accra on Sunday, Dr. Otabil identified the energy problem as an example of wisdom problems facing the country.



Making reference to how the European Space Agency recently landed a space craft on a comet in space, Dr. Otabil said: “If people can design such solutions, I think we should be able to design solutions for the electricity failures in Ghana.
"At least we are not being asked to land a spaceship, we are not being asked to go to the moon or to go to Mars, just fix electricity problem. The problems facing us are wisdom problems, they are not money problems.”
He noted the exhibition of true wisdom has to do with practical solutions to problems and not theoretical proposals.
“In this part of the world, we believe in PhDs. He went to Oxford, he went to Cambridge, he works with the United Nations…. I don’t know why people believe in the United Nations so much. He works with the World Bank, he is IMF, he must have the solution; who told you? The test of wisdom is not the theory, the test of wisdom is: does it work?” Dr. Otabil quizzed.
According to Dr. Otabil, wisdom is again seen in how people are able to execute tasks handed them successfully.
“How can somebody who has never been able to feed himself be in government and feed people?
"Because if you can’t put food on your own table, you’ve never built any structure, you’ve never worked, how can you feed other people?” the outspoken preacherman asked.
Dr. Otabil identified orderliness as another key depiction of true wisdom. Citing a national example, he questioned: “the Ghanaian Supreme Court is British, Parliament is Chinese, and the Presidential Palace is Indian, so when somebody comes and he looks at all our wisdom, he asks, who are these people. Are they Indians or they are Chinese?”
 Source: myjoyonline.com

HEALTHY LIFESTYLE: How Much Weight Should You Really Gain During Pregnancy?

Kim Kardashian-West recently revealed on Twitter that she’s put on 52 pounds during her pregnancy—and still has 6 weeks to go until her due date. As with most things Kardashian, the Internet responded swiftly, with many calling her admission “refreshingly honest,” and others deeming her weight gain “dangerous.” The truth is that every woman and every pregnancy is different, says Margaret Dow, M.D., assistant professor of obstetrics-gynecology at the Mayo Clinic—only a woman and her own doctor know for certain whether her weight gain falls within a safe range. That said, the CDC just released a report that found half of new moms surveyed in 46 states, New York City, and Washington, DC gained more than the recommended amount of weight while they were expecting.
A woman with a normal BMI should gain between 25 and 35 pounds, according to guidelines issued by the Institute of Medicine. Underweight women should put on between 28 and 40 pounds, while overweight women should pack on no more than 15 to 25. Obese women should gain no more than 20 pounds, if any weight at all.
Putting on too many pounds can lead to health problems for both mom and baby, including a higher risk for C-sections, gestational diabetes, and pre-eclampsia (dangerously high blood pressure). A mom’s weight at the time of birth can also influence her little one’s risks for conditions like diabetes and obesity later in life.
So why are so many women packing on too much? “Unfortunately it is a cultural phenomenon around the world that women during pregnancy should eat anything and everything that they want,” says Fahimeh Sasan, DO, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

Dr. Dow agrees. “We’ve all heard that you need lots of extra nutrition when you’re pregnant,” she says. “That’s partially true, only more along the lines of eating like a professional athlete than eating like a high-school wrestler.”

In reality, expectant moms only need 250 to 300 extra calories a day, and the quality of those calories counts, she says: the extra food would ideally be fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, and whole grains, not sweet or salty treats.

“It can be tough,” she admits. “Cravings and fatigue and nausea and all those factors provide an extra challenge, but the thrill of starting your baby off right can trump all of that if you stay focused.” Dr. Dow adds some women worry that exercise harm their baby—a myth that’s been debunked, but has stuck around—and so they cut back, or stop altogether. What’s more, many women fail to realize how hard it can be to shed that extra weight after birth. In fact, slimming down post-baby may be tougher for moms today than women from previous generations. “Many of our mothers—and perhaps more so grandmothers, these days—were home, chasing after three kids under 6 and doing all the housework and other physically demanding work,” she says. “Current new moms are often home for 6 weeks, then back at a desk job. It’s an entirely different paradigm.”
Still, shaming women isn’t the answer. How much weight a woman gains should be nobody’s business besides her’s and her doctor’s, Dr. Dow says. It’s also not a good idea to compare your own pregnancies to others—including Mrs. Kardashian-West’s. “The Kardashians may have 24/7 access to a personal trainer to lose it all, but most of us don’t,” she says.
Even women who aren’t celebrities are often subject to unsolicited comments and judgement about their weight and appearance during pregnancy. “I tell my patients to ignore what people tell them,” Dr. Sasan says. What’s most important, she adds, is for women to maintain open communication with their OB/GYN.
“Pregnancy is a time when women really do think beyond themselves and their focus becomes about the health of the baby,” she says. “Once we have the conversation about the risks of weight gain, they feel empowered and don’t listen to all the chatter as much.”
Source: Health.com via time.com

NB: BMI-Body Mass Index: It is a weight and height indicator in an individual or the value derived from the weight and height of an individual (both adults and children) to determine whether that individual is overweight, underweight, etc.

OB/GYN-Refers to an Obstetrician or Gynecologist. Any medical doctor who specializes in pregnancy, the female reproductive system and as well as surgical care is an Obstetrician.

Your Mid-Week Motivation: Beautiful In Every Way. . .

Hope this touches a heart. . .
There are so many great stuff you can use the social media for.
Stop copying blindly, looking at people's social media life as a standard for/of living won't help you.
You are beautiful in every way.
Comparisons are always deadly cos we are all differently shaped and uniquely gifted.
Beauty is so easily bought nowadays, so don't be fooled; For all you know, some take all these pictures and use make-up to 'make up' a 'perfect' frame to cover their insecurities and flaws.
Again I say, you are so beautiful and perfect just the way you are, flaws and all. Confidence is sexy.

"Pretty hurts, we shine the light on whatever's worst
Perfection is a disease of a nation, pretty hurts, pretty hurts
Pretty hurts, we shine the light on whatever's worst
We try to fix something but you can't fix what you can't see
It's the soul that needs the surgery. "-Beyonce