A Letter to Heaven

Dear G.O.D,

Can I offer a penny for your thoughts?

Sometimes when I contemplate the string of bizarre events overtaking planet earth, I’m caught between a cackle and a cry.

Silver Linings in Dark Times

"A time of intense hope and expectation"- the phrase captured the feelings of a young cluster of Africans some 53 years ago.

October, 1st, 1960 marked a fresh beginning for Nigeria when it gained its independence from the British Empire.

Like the beginning of a love relationship, great aspirations were birthed in this initial bliss. 

Around the World in Five Minutes

Germany Elects First Black Ministers

Charles Huber (left) and Karamba Diaby first black MPs elected in Germany

In a historic move this week, Germany elected its first two black Members of Parliament. Karamba Diaby and Charles Huber, both of Senegalese origin, were elected into the Social Democrat Party and the ruling Christian Democratic Party respectively. Mr Diaby, 51, described his election into the German Parliament as being 'of historical importance'. Nearly one in five of Germany's 80 million population are immigrants. However, less than six per cent of Germany's MPs are from minority groups.

The Secret Formula for Success

Before I commence blogging, I must offer an unreserved, unfettered, profuse, grovelling apology to all my faithful readers who have been greeted with the same stale post on Fresh Angle. Mr Mojo has been missing for the past couple of months, but I intend wooing him back. Hope you enjoy reading this Fresh post.

 Do you ever wonder why it's not you in the headlines making the news about your latest invention, book, computer programme, feat or accomplishment?

Sad...Very Sad...

Sad, shell shocked, surreal, sickening, barbaric, unthinkable, despicable...a young soldier cut down with knives and machetes on the streets of Woolwich, South east London, in broad day light. Just shaking my head. Was it a terrorist attack? Was it two black men attacking a lone, helpless white soldier? I don't know.

One thing is clear to me: whoever hacked the innocent young man to death must be a mental case. No sane man would do that. He or they are not two sane human beings. They are lunatic animals masquerading the streets in human form.

Shaking my head...shouldn't a young man feel safe in his own country, on his streets? Shaking my head...sad sad times. My heart and prayers remain with the deceased's family. May they come to terms with their loss.

Witches to Pay Hefty Fines if they Break Flying Rules!

I got an email containing this link from one of my most patriotic Fresh Angle readers...think I need to invent an acronym for all my avid readers that make my effort worth it!

Well, it was so hilarious, it had me laughing my head off. I couldn't trace the story to an official source, so it's difficult to verify. But, here is a raw version fromThe UK's Sun newspaper.

Have a fun-filled weekend!

HIGH-FLYING witches face arrest and a heavy fine if they break new laws, authorities in Swaziland have said.

Airspace rules in the southern African country have been tightened - and witches who fly above 150 metres face a R500,000 (£35,487) penalty.

Sabelo Dlamini, an official at the Swazi civil aviation authority said: “A witch on a broomstick should not fly above the [150 metre] limit."
No charges are planned for airborne witches who keep below the 150-metre 'ceiling'.
Witches’ broomsticks are deemed similar to any heavier-than-air mode of transport that takes flight.

Swazi brooms are short bundles of sticks tied together but without handles.
The new flying laws in the landlocked country follow the arrest of a private investigator who was caught using a toy drone.
He told authorities he was gathering surveillance information after police spotted him flying a mini helicopter with a video camera strapped to it.

Witchcraft is taken seriously in Swaziland where many people believe in the power of black magic

Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/4929057/witches-swaziland-new-flying-rules.html#ixzz2TVrcWaQq

A CD EVERYONE Must Own

It is always sheer joy and exhilaration to find a piece of music that is authentic, inspirational and out-of-the ordinary.

Beyond The Norm by Living Faith Connections' mass choir does not only tick all the boxes, it is a masterpiece that everyone should have on their shelves.

Reviewers have written about having to play the songs again and again because they can't get the music out of their heads.

Beyond the Norm is an ingenious blend of ballads, punk and rock. It does not only entertain, it leaves a resonance in your heart and spirit that blesses you immeasurably.

You can listen to sample tracks and buy your copy from amazon and all major online stores.

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/livingfaithconnectionsma

http://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Norm-feat-Evans-Ogboi/dp/B00CDU7FJE

Fancy a Permanent Relocation to Mars?

It's no longer news that the Dutch organisation Mars One is planning to cart off four humans to Mars in 2022 in an ambitious experiment to ultimately build a colony of 80,000 humans on the red planet.

Since the launch of the company's astronaut selection programme, thousands of people from 100 countries have indicated their interest to be part of the expedition, even though there are no guarantees that they can return to planet Earth.

Before humans make the proposed trip, there will be a series of robotic missions to find the perfect location and to ensure conditions are suitable for human survival. 

So, if you fancy a bit of adventure, hurry while 'stocks last'. It could be your passport to an undiscovered world of fantasy!

One Life = Sixty Lives

Hmm...something baffles me. The events that happened in Boston, USA are rather unfortunate. My heart goes out to the families and friends affected.Two hapless young men - motivated by reasons best known to them - decided to ruin a marathon by detonating homemade bombs that claimed three lives. It was an act of terrorism, and so it has set the news agenda ablaze. I've actually had to ease off BBC a bit, because there's little else that is 'news'.

The Passing of a Hero and a Villain

Margaret Thatcher (13 October 1925 - 8 April 2013)

She was loved. She was hated. She was loathed. She was lauded. Now she has passed on.

Tribute to a Literary Icon: Chinua Achebe

                   Chinua Achebe (16 November 1930 - 21 March 2013)

As I sat down to write this tribute to one of the world's greatest literary legends, one of the sentences that sprang to mind was "Chinua Achebe burst onto the literary scene". But I perished the thought very quickly. Such a description would belittle the magnitude of what he achieved. Chinua Achebe's triumph was not just bursting onto the global scene, it was revolutionary.

A week in the Life of a Nigerian Gold Hunter

After we had arrived Onashi, where the goldmine was located, we went in search of Alhaji.  Alhaji was the renowned gold dealer that my friend and middleman, Target, had recommended. 

Monkey with AK47 Unleashes Terror

Laugh my head off!!!!

A Week in the Life of A Nigerian Gold Hunter

It was still dawn when I set out.  The ravaging sunshine that often afflicted those of us living on the cusp of the Sahara had not thrust its way through the clouds when I met up with an old friend and also my middle man. He was called Target.

Target had an inside knowledge of Zamfara state, where we were going to hunt for gold. His father  - a prominent chief - knew a reliable gold dealer in the region, so he was taking me there.

The 'Worst' Airline on the Planet

As I watch sheets of snow blanket the road, rooftops and trees, I can’t help but spare a thought for the unfortunate travellers ground at Heathrow airport following the cancellation of 200 flights due to icy conditions.

It’s not hard to empathise with them when I recount my experience two weeks ago at Ataturk Airport, in Istanbul ,Turkey. There was snow, there was delay and there were amazingly rude staff.