President Obama's 'best photos' list.

January first marks not only a new year, but the last of Barack Obama's presidency. So perhaps that's the reason White House photographer Pete Souza found it so hard to come up with his yearly 'best photos' list. Souza, who has been photographing the president throughout his entire administration, released his annual 'Year in Photographs' list. See more photos below:

While visiting the Whitney Museum in New York City, the President hugged his daughter Malia as they looked at the art work

 'He was just excited to see you,’ one of the salmon fisherwoman exclaimed after a salmon spawned on the President’s feet at Kanakanak Beach in Bristol Bay, Alaska

The President exchanges a wave with Alya Dorelien Bitar, one-year-old daughter of Maher Bitar, the outgoing National Security Council Director for Israeli and Palestinian Affairs, and his wife, Astrid Dorelien

President Obama's legs dangle as he sat on top of the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office while talking with two aides

The President and First Lady react to a child in a Pope costume during Halloween

 

 

 Obama with French President François Hollande

China sends warning to Taiwan as it prepares to elect first woman president

As a British-educated admirer of Margaret Thatcher, Tsai Ing-wen, who studied in London, is the woman set to become leader of China’s fierce rival Taiwan was always likely to be regarded with suspicion by Beijing’s Communist Party apparatus.

The fact that she is head of a party dedicated to promoting the island’s independence from the Chinese mainland only makes matters worse.

Beijing duly met expectations yesterday by firing a warning shot across the bows of Tsai Ing-wen, favourite to become first woman leader of Taiwan - the first woman leader, in fact, in the modern Chinese world.

Zhang Zhijun, China's minister responsible for Taiwan affairs, warned it would be “unswerving and firm as a rock” in the face of threats to its sovereignty over the island.

"Let's not regret the value of peace and development after we've lost it," he said, in a New Year’s message.

Ms Tsai, an academic by background, is an unusual arrival in the conservative and male-dominated world of Far East Asian politics. But polls put her Democratic Progressive Party well in the lead for the presidential election due to take place in two weeks’ time.

Her sex may not officially be as important to Beijing as her politics - the DPP, unlike the ruling Kuomintang, believes Taiwan would be better off declaring the island to be an independent country rather than maintaining the international community’s polite fiction that it is an integral part of China.
But the fact that Taiwan will become the second of China’s close and democratic neighbours to be ruled by a woman - the other being President Park Geun-Hye of South Korea - will be a constant reminder of the political revolutions China prefers to resist. China’s ruling inner circle - the Politburo Standing Committee - has never had a woman member.


Source: The Telegraph

A homeless man became a tech worker at Zenefits for 45 days

Paul Krantz moved to San Francisco five years ago with dreams of living in a city of artists and writing the great American novel.
He attended the University of San Francisco, and barely survived on odd-jobs, he wrote in an essay for The Bold Italic.

"When I arrived in San Francisco, it seemed that the majority of twentysomethings I met were in the same boat," he wrote. "However, today it seems that starving young artists and writers like myself are a dying breed."

He moved four times in five years, hanging on by sharing rooms with others.
 But in that same time, things shifted in the city of San Francisco.
Salesforce, Twitter, and dozens of other companies grew up, bringing tens of thousands of new tech workers into the city.
A small startup scene ballooned. Workers for the giant tech companies south of the city started to move to San Francisco and commute, often in luxury buses provided by their employers.

And the already expensive real-estate market in San Francisco became so unaffordable that Krantz found himself homeless, sleeping on the beach.
Until he landed a contract job at the San Francisco startup Zenefits. He was hired as a copy editor to answer questions related to human resources. For the first time, he could genuinely afford to rent a home in San Francisco, he writes. Now the problem was, he couldn't find one.

Talking to co-workers, I began to see that most of my fellow employees had moved to San Francisco within the last six months. So it appeared that many of my incoming counterparts were filling up potential rooms before I had a chance at them.
A month and half after starting the job, he "caught a break when a room opened up in a friend's household" and he "thought he had it made."

But two days later Zenefits ended his contract, letting him go.

That was it, game over. Not even spared a few minutes to say my goodbyes, I was promptly escorted out of the building. I went from homeless but employed to being housed but jobless in less than a week.
A taste of financial stability was enough to make him rethink his life, he writes. He doesn't want to live hand-to-mouth each month any more than he wants to work for a company "I don't believe in."
In the end, he's looking to leave San Francisco, he says, and write his novel, perhaps returning when he can really afford to live there.

Human-like robot with emotions, personality and mood unveiled in Singapore

Scientists at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore have unveiled "Nadine," a socially intelligent, human-looking robot complete with "her own personality, mood and emotions," according to a university news release.
The humanoid "receptionist" was presented at a new media showcase Tuesday at NTU, where her human creator, professor Nadia Thalmann, predicted that "physical social robots such as Nadine are poised to become more visible in offices and homes in future."

Nadine was created to be a doppelganger of Thalmann, according to NTU's news release, which said the "humanoid" has "soft skin and flowing brunette hair. She smiles when greeting you, looks at you in the eye when talking, and can also shake hands with you."

 

The robot "can be happy or sad, depending on the conversation" and she "also has a good memory" with the ability to recognize people she's met and remember what those people have said before, NTU said. The university added that "Nadine is powered by intelligent software similar to Apple’s Siri or Microsoft’s Cortana."

 

Watch the robot interact in the video below: 

 

 

Source: ABC News

See this photo of Dija that is trending on Twitter

Dija was at the Headies 2015 with her Mavin record crew and someone at the Headies shared this photo of her that is currently trending on twitter. The comments though, smh. The people?! Read the comments below

Florida man kills 6-year-old son by crushing him into sofa for disrupting his video game

A Florida man played video games while he smothered his 6-year-old son to death against a couch on Christmas Eve, according to police.

James “Rick” Dearman told his two kids, 6 and 7 years old, to go to bed around 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 24, his girlfriend, Ashley Cole, told cops.

The children refused to go to sleep, Cole said, and instead ran around the room, WFLA reports.

The 31-year-old Dearman got up and forced both kids to stand facing the wall, then went back to playing video games with Cole in his Englewood home.

 

When he saw the 6 year old watching the couple play, Dearman forced the boy to lie on his side on the couch with his face against the rear couch cushions, authorities said.

The 270-pound man then sat on top of his son and returned to his game, while the boy screamed that he could not breathe.

 

Five minutes later, the boy was motionless and Dearman and Cole went into the garage to smoke a cigarette, cops said.

Cole returned to find the boy’s lips were blue, so she went into the garage to pray, according to the arrest affidavit.

 

Dearman later called 911 and performed CPR until the paramedics arrived.

A deputy saw bruising on the boy’s back, according to the Bradenton Herald.

“There’s not a detective or anybody who isn’t pretty upset about this and finds it egregious and malicious, the treatment of a 6-year-old child,” Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office Captain John Walsh told WFLA.

The boy was declared dead at Englewood Hospital.

Investigators interviewed the boy’s 7-year-old sibling, who demonstrated to detectives how the boy was crushed into the couch.

“When Dad squished him, he got dead,” the sibling said, according to the Bradenton Herald.

The sibling also told police that the boy had urinated on himself when he wasn’t allowed to get up to use the bathroom.

 

Dearman was arrested and charged Wednesday with aggrevated child abuse, which was then upgraded to aggravated manslaughter of a child. He is being held without bond at the Sarasota County Jail.

Coca-Cola’s “Share a Coke” Campaign Takes a New Twist (photos)

Beyond sharing a bottle of coke with friends and loved ones this season, you can now share your feelings with them as well, as Coca-Cola introduces an exciting twist to its popular “Share a Coke” campaign.
 

And what’s the twist you ask?

In its second year, the new campaign version, which is tagged “Share a Feeling”, will include fun smileys that convey diverse emotions and messages on Coca-Cola and Coke Zero packs. The smileys will also include popular Nigerian phrases that connect with everyone across boundaries.

That’s not all, Coca-Cola is taking the excitement a step further by partnering with popular rapper/comedian Falzto help deliver the personalised Coke bottles with names and smileys to consumers doorsteps.

Already, some notable influencers such as DJ Jimmy Jatt, Cobhams, Chi-Gurl, Dammy Krane, Audu Maikori, Liz Awoliyi, Kelechi Amadi-Obi have received their own personalised Coke bottles.

Some of the personalities have also identified their top fans on social media and will be sharing a feeling with them as well.

 

Want to be a part of it?

Get more information on the “Share a Feeling” campaign, on this website: www.shareacoke.com.ng

North West wears her fave $3,500 fur coat to the Playground

North West stepped out in her $3,500 fur coat to the playground and her mysterious adult stylist (Kanye? Kim?) took great care to ensure her childhood wardrobe is perfectly on point. She was seen wearing this to the playground, in Los Angeles'. Pink hoodie, matching cap, white pants, mini Converse, red lollipop, and that $3,500 fur coat she wore during fashion week. More photos after the cut...

Top 20 Slang From Music That Have Influenced The Streets December 30, 2015 By admin Leave a Comment

Some slang has found their way into the Nigeria streets from the music industry and they are not ready to fade fast.

Olamide

Even when some of the songs in which these slang came from are no longer popular the slang refuse to leave the streets.

Below is a collection of some widely used slang that found their way into the street.

1. Eeyan Mayweather – Olamide

This slang came from the latest album of the king of street slang Olamide. Eeyan Mayweather literarily means somebody that is as wealthy as WBO Welter Weight boxing champion, Floyd Mayweather.

2. Godwin – Korede Bello

This is from Mavins Record ‘mega superstar’ Korede Bello. Godwin literarily means every success recorded in all areas of life is attributed to God.

3. No Shaking – 2face Idibia
This term expresses one’s state of being/a temporary state of affairs

4. Alobam – Phyno
Alobam is another word for your brother from another mother, your friend that is closer than other friends. This is a common slang especially in the South east.

Phyno

5. Koko – D’Banj
Saying the koko is like intensifying one’s expression on a subject matter.

6. Notin De Happen – 2face Idibia
This ascertains a state of chill.

7. No Long Tin – D’Banj
This is synonymous to another popular local saying no wahala.

8. Turn Up – Olamide
When you show up for a hangout, party, club or any form of celebratory gig with loud music and booze.

9. Smellos – Olamide
Smellos can be translated to mean guys who are dulling or ‘wanna be’ guys.

10. Shoro Niyen – Olamide
If you must express astonishment at some kin yarns, shoro niyen is the perfect reply to such.

YCee

11. Jagaban – YCee

The word Jagaban became popular after the All Progressive Congress chieftain, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was conferred with the title by the late Emir of Borgu. Be that as it may, Jagaban was only attributed to Tinubu until fast rising singer YCee released a song titled Jagaban. Jagaban now means somebody of high influence according to YCee.

12. Gongo Aso- 9ice

 Though not new, Gongo Aso according to 9ice means the world will hear about your celebrations. The slang has been around with us for a while now and it is still here.

13. Koduro Soke – Olamide

Koduro soke is a slang that was coined from Olamide’s song Durosoke which means stay on top.

14. Woju O! – Kiss Daniel

The slang Woju o gets more popular when Kiss Daniel dropped his single Woju o. Woju literally means ‘look face’.

15. Baddo – Olamide
Baddo is the term used to connote the act of praising one’s reputation at a particular art

16. Jonze – D’Prince
Jonzing find its way to the street from D’Prince song. It means pride, being full of oneself.

D’banj

17. Fi le,  Don Touch It! – D’Banj
This slang was brought to be by D’banj while still with Mo’hits Records. It literally means leave it as it is, don’t touch it. this slang has been employed by broadcasting stations when they require you to stay tuned and not change that dial.

18. Turn Up – Olamide
Turn up means you showing up at gig or events.

19. Orente –Adekunle Gold

Orente is a Yoruba word for beautiful lady but it was no longer in popular use until YBNL music act Adekunle Gold used it in his song titled as same.

20. Shoki – Lil Kesh

Shoki literally means quickie. It not only become a slang, its dance step has been ruling the dance floor for over a year now. It was originated by Olamide’s YBNL singer, Lil Kesh.

Source:Naij