Happy Birthday to me!

Just to say thank you to all  the staff at this amazing hotel. A deluxe service all round for all seasons. For more information, visit The Four Seasons

Pope dons a sombrero during his Papal visit to Mexico

Image credits: Toronto Sun

Guardian reporter confuses Kanye West for Chris Brown

Just came across this courtesy of  @EclecticSarah.
#Just tar them all black. No difference.

21st Century: The Age of Plastics

According to BBC Radio4, we live in the Plastic Age. Couldn't agree more. The plastics are usually accompanied with the logo "Made in China"; even Mao Tse-tsung couldn't have foreseen this Great Leap Forward. Meanwhile the Plastic People usually have the logo "Made in Essex" or "Genetically Modified in USA".The Stone Age almost seems a luxury from where I stand, naked sense with minimalistic modesty...
literally.

President Obama wades into Trayvon Martin's murder

"When I think about this boy, I think about my own kids.If I had a son he'd look like Trayvon. They are right to expect that all of us as Americans are going to take this with the seriousness it deserves and that we're going to get to the bottom of exactly what happened.I think every parent in America should be able to understand why it is absolutely imperative to investigate every aspect of this and that everybody pulls together – federal, state and local – to figure out exactly how this tragedy happened.I think all of us have to do some soul searching... And that means we examine the laws, the context for what happened, as well as the specifics of the incident."

The Telegraph reports Zimmerman is now in hiding.

Black teen murdered by whiteman for looking "suspicious"

Racism remains the greatest cancer of American society, and has been since the founding of this nation – by men who owned slaves. (Kevin Powell)


The spate of events over the years which have seen black U.S. male teens and young men gunned down mercilessly and often in a hail of bullets leaves one wondering if White America is imbued with a dominant racist gene prototype. Emmett Till, Amadou Diallo, Oscar Grant, Sean Bell, Ramarley Graham and now Trayvon Martin have all been victims of this gene disorder often displayed in dysfunctional White America.

Image Credits:The NewYorker

It appears Obama may have failed in his ground breaking historical accomplishment to dispel the white myth "The black-man is a f******g n****r" up to no good. If you live in the UK, perhaps that could be replaced as "You can't trust 'em bleeding gangstas innit? Dodgy hoody wearing loot they are"
The shooting dead of of a 17 year old black boy by a 28year old white-man for simply looking "suspicious" and "up to no good" is currently causing a backlash and  widespread furore across the pond.

Murderer set loose: Zimmerman

Florida:

Trayvon Martin was shot dead in the chest on the 26th of February as he walked home from the shops, with skittles and iced tea in his pocket talking to his girlfriend on the phone. Trayvon's crime was being a black male walking through a gated community. He was followed, appeared to have been pushed to the ground (according to his girlfriend who has not been named to protect her identity) and murdered in cold blood. And there you have  a 114kg 28 year old man wrestling with a 63kg boy with the latter eventually been shot and the former claiming self defence on the grounds of Florida's controversial "stand your ground law" which allows individuals use any form of self defence to protect themselves.

Self appointed neighbourhood watch Captain George Zimmerman,(described as white male by police and Hispanic by his family) with a string of offences to his name including being charge for the battering of a police officer in 2005 and resisting arrest; questioning for domestic violence, placing 46 calls to 911 operators in the month of January alone (mostly to report about "suspicious" black males lurking about);  and described by neighbours as being monomaniac about linking black-men to crime, has been let to go scot-free by defunct  US police who carry the faulty racist gene as he "acted" in self defence thus the stand your ground law applies.
However doubts have been thrown on this possible raw lie as new evidence came to light showing Trayvon had been talking on the phone to his girlfriend when he was attacked by Zimmerman. Aware he was been followed, Trayvon's unamed girlfriend asked him to run.
So what sort of "self defence" is it when a young black boy is pounced on for talking on the phone while walking through a gated community?

A released tape of the 911 call made to police by Zimmerman indicate just before he murdered Trayvon, Zimmerman made a racial slur calling the young teen a "f*****g coon". Of course police missed this and are now reviewing all their records.
At the time of posting, Zimmerman is yet to be arrested and charged for murder and a possible hate crime. Will this just be another black murder by a white-man pushed under the rug?.

Victim's parents: Tracy Martin (Center) and Sybrina Fulton(R) 

Facts about  Trayvon's execution by white American male

• Trayvon had been to the shops to buy his younger sibling skittles and iced tea.He was on the phone to his girlfriend and walked across the gated Florida community as a short cut back home. Trayvon was unarmed and aware he was being followed as he spoke to his girlfriend, who advised him to run. He replied he was just goin to walk faster.
• Zimmerman eventually caught up with him asking him "What are you doing here" (As overheard by Trayvon's girlfiend). A scuffle ensued as Zimmerman appeared to have intimidated the young lad pushing him to the ground, executing him in cold bold with a gunshot to his chest.
• Zimmerman self appointed himself as a neighbourhood watch Captain. He does not belong to any approved Neighbourhood watch society. In a call to the 911 about a "suspicious looking" black man, police advised Zimmerman not to follow Trayvon. This instruction was promptly disregarded as shortly afterwards, Trayvon was executed.
• In the relased tape, Zimmerman describes Trayvon as black and suspicious looking. He also appears to have used a racial slur...which police miraculously missed.
• Kevin Powell for The Guardian writes Zimmerman went against basic rules of the Neighbourhood watch manual which states "It should be emphasised to members that they do not possess police powers. And they shall not carry weapons or pursue vehicles."
• Florida Police did not run a breath or alcohol test on Zimmerman despite the fact that this is the standard procedure with murder investigations. Needles to say, one was run on every fibre and DNA strand of Trayvon's body.
• The officer in charge of the crime scene has a history of lacklustre performance towards white on black crime. In 2010, he failed to arrest a whiteboy videotaped attacking a homeless black man.
• A Million Hoodie March yesterday took place in New York(A nod to Trayvon's "suspicious" looking hoody attire when he was exucted). Trayvon's family have mobilised the help of social media to bring awareness to this possible hate crime. Website link created on change.org draws almost a million petitioners demanding for an arrest and investigation. The case will be brought to a Grand Jury on April 10th. Click here to show support and sign. Make a difference to all the other unreported Trayvon Martins http://www.change.org/petitions/prosecute-the-killer-of-our-son-17-year-old-trayvon-martin
• Trayvon's mother reveals at the age of 9, he saved his father from a burning house. " I can not eat. I can not sleep. I can not relax. Not until he is arrested", she says.
• A vote of  "no confidence" has been passed against the police commissioner, as pressure mounts for Bill Lee's resignation.
• Zimmerman is reported to have gone into hiding.

What if Zimmerman had been a Takhim- LeDixon and Trayvon Martin a Bill Johnson?
How can you act in self defence fearing for your life by following a boy not even old enough to buy cigarettes?. What exactly were you self defending against? Ice tea and a pack of skittles?.

"It's not about these individual acts of racism. It's about the way that black males are framed in the larger culture … as being violent, criminal and threats to safety and property." (Mark Neal, Professor of African and African American Studies Duke University).

Muamba able to speak in both French and English

Fabrice Muamba can now speak and breathe unaided without a ventilator reports Yahoo News. In a statement released by his club Bolton Wanderers, it confirmed Muamba is making progress but still remains in intensive care:

"Fabrice Muamba remains in intensive care at The London Chest Hospital. He is continuing to show signs of improvement this evening. 

"He is now able to breathe independently without the aid of a ventilator. He has also been able to recognise family members and respond to questions appropriately. 

"These are all positive signs of progress.However, the medical staff in intensive care will continue to monitor and treat him.

"His family and club would like to thank the media for continuing to respect their privacy at this time."

Black British footballers  Michael Essien and  Emmanuel Adebayor are said to have visited Muamba holding conversations in both French and English. 

Premiership support for Muamba from black British footballers Cole and  Wright-Phillips

Meanwhile Muamba's fiancee Shauna Muamba continues to take to her Twitter account thanking all for their love and support and also confirming the reports of her partner's progress.  The 27 year old business woman who runs a bespoke Caribbean Take Away service on www.shaunamuamba.com  tweeted: 

" Fabrice has felt every single prayer guys you've been INCREDIBLE!!!. Thank u all so so much I love and appreciate u all. Thank u again xx " 

Male fruit flies booze up after female rejection

PictureCredits:geeksaresexy.net

Men will be men irrespective of their species.According to The Guardian, male fruit flies display similar characteristics to British men; drowning their sorrows in alcohol when rejected by females.

The similarities with British males gets uncannier as fruit flies also lead an energetic sex life albeit having a shorter life span.

The next time you see a fruit fly buzzing around your alcohol, don't shoo it away...the poor sod has just had his heart broken.

Confirmed: Fabrice Muamba suffered a heart attack

Update: Muamba's heart is now beating on it's own and without any medications. He can move arms and legs and recognises some members of his family. 
Muamba's Fiancée Shauna Muamba tweets support and thanks to all.
The Guardian on Sunday reports Muamba's heart stopped beating for 2hours.

Picture Credits: Shauna Muamba Tweeter

 23year old  Black British footballer Fabrice Muamba remains critically ill in hospital as he battles to recover from a heart attack. BBC Radio4 lunchtime news reports Muamba received CPR continuously over a long period en route to hospital. Eventually his heart was able to beat again and he remains currently anaesthetised at the London Chest Hospital, where he is being treated following his heart attack.
The dramatic scene from yesterday on the football pitch as paramedics performed CPR in front of thousands of fans, is a poignant reminder of how precarious life is. The lachrymose event also brings to mind the tragic death of Cameroonian footballer Marc-Vivien Foé who collapsed and later died during a football match in France, in June 2003 at the age of 28. Vivien Foé had also suffered a heart attack. 
Pictures from Muamba's private Twitter account shows him on a Valentine's dinner date with his fiancée Shauna Magunda. Another shows him cuddling up with the couple's young son Joshua and the loving caption  "Chilling with my son after a long day.Fatherhood is a gift from God".

Muamba and Fiancée Shauna Magunda on Valentine's day last month, when they got engaged.

Muamba and Fiancée Shauna Magunda (Credits:DailyMail)

Muamba and Son Joshua ."Chilling with my son after a long day.Fatherhood is a gift from God"

Cameroonian footballer Marc-Vivien Foé collapsed during a football match in 2003 & later died.

Happy St Patrick's Day!

Picture Credits: DailyMail.

Pince Harry cheating Usain Bolt is significant of colonisation

All of last week the world went into a Prince Harry harried frenzy when the cheeky royal won the world's fastest man- Usain Bolt in a race, through cheating. It made for fantastic Royal PR and no doubt Nana Lizzy couldn't have resisted a chuckle as she saw the videos.
However I couldn't help but think Harry's cheating when Bolt wasn't looking is significant of the colonisation of Africa. Like Bolt, Africans had the rug pulled from under their feet from their 'friendly' visitors when they too were not looking.
We love the cheeky cheat nevertheless, especially his dancing moves. The stony face man at the back (probably an aide) didn't look overtly impressed.

The best and worst place to be a woman

Image:Mimi Magazine

Women's Day may have come and gone but for some in other parts of the world, being a woman is a daily battle against inequality and abuse. Of course the struggle intensifies when you are of a minority ethnicity in your home country. Here are a few of the best taken from The Independent.

The best place to be a woman

• Politics: Rwanda, 50% of women hold parliamentary seats
• Literacy: Lesotho, 95% of women can read and write.
• Journalists: The Caribbean, 45% of news reported stories are done by females.
• Highly Skilled work: Jamaica, almost 60% of senior roles are occupied by women.(Nothing surprising here given our plethora of "talented" black bruvs in the UK).
• Divorce: Island of Guam, has the highest divorce rate in the world.
• Birth: Greece, 1 in 31,800 risk of dying during childbirth. It is the safest in the world.
• Being a mother: Norway, has a low risk of maternal mortality- 1 in 7,600. (Will the Great British Chavs (GBC) now depart to over there? Unfortunately there is no data on available benefits).
• University: Qatar, where to every man six women are enrolled in further education.
• Sports: USA, five athletes from the US made it into the top ten highest paid female athletes' list.
• Money: Luxembourg & Norway.
• Living longer: Japan.

And all in all the best place to be a woman is Iceland, which boast of the greatest male and female equality ratio.

Ninah's Dowry: Female abuse remains prevalent

Fresh from celebrating the 101st International Women's Day on March 8th, female abuse remains problematic in many countries around the world. Women are still seen as a man's property especially with the payment of the traditional dowry, widely known as bride price.

Usually it is countries with a poor human rights track record who do not recognise the individuality and uniqueness of women. One such country stuck in the Neolithic Age and exhibiting extinct primordial traits is the West African country of Cameroon.
Famed for her football prowess and 'Africa in Miniature' status, the relatively peaceful and democratic country who has had only two presidents since independence in 1960 is home to some of the most chauvinistic males with extreme antifeminist  views.
Interestingly such views are shared by the broad spectrum of Cameroonian men; from the farmer in a remote sleepy village of say Mamfe, to the the high flying City Executive in Cameroon's vibrant metropolitan and economic capital: the city of Douala.

Californian-based-Cameroonian film maker Victor Vuyuoh, seeks to highlight the issue of female abuse in his debut  film Ninah's Dowry. Based on the true story of cousin Evelyn(Ninah),  a promising A student who was forced into an arranged marriage with a man who later became physically abusive. After plucking up courage to run away from her tormentor to her family home, Ninah endured a visible forced transfer back to her husband, as her family was unable to repay the dowry.
Ninah's family stood defenceless...or rather turned a blind eye as their daughter was dragged through the streets back to her abusive partner.
It should be noted that though the film is set in a sleepy Cameroonian village of Babanki, such prehistoric primeval practises could be found in the more advanced towns and cities of Cameroon.

As the norm with anything African and black, the film Ninah's Dowry is currently facing some glitches and hitches before it can be screened. See the video below and if any interests have been stirred to help, click here