Lawrence of Arabia dies at age 81

 Peter O'Toole, the charismatic actor who achieved instant stardom as Lawrence of Arabia and was nominated eight times for an Academy Award, has died, his agent said Sunday. He was 81.

O'Toole died Saturday after a long illness, Steve Kenis said in a brief statement.

The family was overwhelmed "by the outpouring of real love and affection being expressed towards him, and to us, during this unhappy time. ... In due course there will be a memorial filled with song and good cheer, as he would have wished," O'Toole's daughter Kate said in the statement.

O'Toole got his first Oscar nomination for 1962's "Lawrence of Arabia," his last for "Venus" in 2006. With that he set the record for most nominations without ever winning, though he had accepted an honorary Oscar in 2003.

A reformed -- but unrepentant -- hell-raiser, O'Toole long suffered from ill health. Always thin, he had grown wraithlike in later years, his famously handsome face eroded by years of hard drinking.

But nothing diminished his flamboyant manner and candor.

"If you can't do something willingly and joyfully, then don't do it," he once said. "If you give up drinking, don't go moaning about it; go back on the bottle. Do. As. Thou. Wilt."

O'Toole began his acting career as one of the most exciting young talents on the British stage. His 1955 "Hamlet," at the Bristol Old Vic, was critically acclaimed.

International stardom came in David Lean's "Lawrence of Arabia." With only a few minor movie roles behind him, O'Toole was unknown to most moviegoers when they first saw him as T.E. Lawrence, the mythic British World War I soldier and scholar who led an Arab rebellion against the Turks.

His sensitive portrayal of Lawrence's complex character garnered O'Toole his first Oscar nomination.

O'Toole was tall, fair and strikingly handsome, and the image of his bright blue eyes peering out of an Arab headdress in Lean's spectacularly photographed desert epic was unforgettable.

Playwright Noel Coward once said that if O'Toole had been any prettier, they would have had to call the movie "Florence of Arabia."

In 1964's "Becket," O'Toole played King Henry II to Richard Burton's Thomas Becket, and won another Oscar nomination. Burton shared O'Toole's fondness for drinking, and their offset carousing made headlines.

O'Toole played Henry again in 1968 in "The Lion in Winter," opposite Katharine Hepburn, for his third Oscar nomination.

Four more nominations followed: in 1968 for "Goodbye, Mr. Chips," in 1971 for "The Ruling Class," in 1980 for "The Stunt Man," and in 1982 for "My Favorite Year." It was almost a quarter-century before he received his eighth and last, for "Venus."

Seamus Peter O'Toole was born Aug. 2, 1932, the son of Irish bookie Patrick "Spats" O'Toole and his wife Constance. There is some question about whether Peter was born in Connemara, Ireland, or in Leeds, northern England, where he grew up.

After a teenage foray into journalism at the Yorkshire Evening Post and national military service with the navy, young O'Toole auditioned for the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and won a scholarship.

He went from there to the Bristol Old Vic and soon was on his way to stardom, helped along by an early success in 1959 at London's Royal Court Theatre in "The Long and The Short and The Tall."

The image of the renegade hell-raiser stayed with O'Toole for decades, although he gave up drinking in 1975 following serious health problems and major surgery.

He did not, however, give up smoking unfiltered Gauloises cigarettes in an ebony holder. That and his penchant for green socks, voluminous overcoats and trailing scarves lent him a rakish air and suited his fondness for drama in the old-fashioned "bravura" manner.

A month before his 80th birthday in 2012, O'Toole announced his retirement from a career that he said had fulfilled him emotionally and financially, bringing "me together with fine people, good companions with whom I've shared the inevitable lot of all actors: flops and hits."

"However, it's my belief that one should decide for oneself when it is time to end one's stay," he said. "So I bid the profession a dry-eyed and profoundly grateful farewell."

In retirement, O'Toole said he would focus on the third volume of his memoirs.

Good parts were sometimes few and far between, but "I take whatever good part comes along," O'Toole told The Independent on Sunday newspaper in 1990.

"And if there isn't a good part, then I do anything, just to pay the rent. Money is always a pressure. And waiting for the right part -- you could wait forever. So I turn up and do the best I can."

The 1980 "Macbeth" in which he starred was a critical disaster of heroic proportions. But it played to sellout audiences, largely because the savaging by the critics brought out the curiosity seekers.

"The thought of it makes my nose bleed," he said years later.

In 1989, however, O'Toole had a big stage success with "Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell," a comedy about his old drinking buddy, the legendary layabout and ladies' man who wrote The Spectator magazine's weekly "Low Life" column when he was sober enough to do so.

The honorary Oscar came 20 years after his seventh nomination for "My Favorite Year." By then it seemed a safe bet that O'Toole's prospects for another nomination were slim. He was still working regularly, but in smaller roles unlikely to earn awards attention.

O'Toole graciously accepted the honorary award, quipping, "Always a bridesmaid, never a bride, my foot," as he clutched his Oscar statuette.

He had nearly turned down the award, sending a letter asking that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences hold off on the honorary Oscar until he turned 80.

Hoping another Oscar-worthy role would come his way, O'Toole wrote: "I am still in the game and might win the bugger outright."

The last chance came in, for "Venus," in which he played a lecherous old actor consigned to roles as feeble-minded royals or aged men on their death beds. By failing again to win, he broke the tie for futility which had been shared with his old drinking buddy, Richard Burton.

O'Toole divorced Welsh actress Sian Phillips in 1979 after 19 years of marriage. The couple had two daughters, Kate and Pat.

A brief relationship with American model Karen Somerville led to the birth of his son Lorcan in 1983, and a change of lifestyle for O'Toole.

After a long custody battle, a U.S. judge ruled Somerville should have her son during school vacations, and O'Toole would have custody during the school year.

"The pirate ship has berthed," he declared, happily taking on the responsibilities of fatherhood. He learned to coach schoolboy cricket and, when he was in a play, the curtain time was moved back to allow him part of the evenings at home with his son.

Sofia Hayat files complaint against Armaan Kohli

     Sofia Hayat has registered a police complaint against actor Armaan Kohli, her co-contestant on reality show “Bigg Boss-Saath 7”, the British actress-singer’s manager said.
     The complaint was filed on Wednesday, and it was gathered that the suit was as a result of  Armaan’s violent behaviour towards Sofia on the show.

“Sofia has filed a complaint against Armaan Kohli at Santa Cruz police station. She will be holding a press conference to discuss further plans,” Sofia’s manager told source on Thursday.

The actress was satisfied after successfully filing the complaint.

“Santa Cruz police have been very professional and courteous,” she posted on Twitter.

Sofia was evicted from “Bigg Boss Saath-7″ last week. During her stay on the show, an argument broke out between her and Armaan. Armaan ended up hitting Sofia with a mop and that left her hurt.

Armaan has been in the spotlight for his temper on more occasions than one, and he has been seen indulging in fights with other inmates as well.

The remaining contestants on the show include Kushal Tandon, Gauahar Khan, Tanisha Mukherjee, VJ Andy, Kamya Punjabi, Sangram Singh, Ejaz Khan.

President Obama at Mandela Memorial Service

How to Enjoy your senses

Senses are the communication channels between a person and the outer world.  They provide very useful information, which is the foundation of our learning.  They also warn us instantly of possible environmental dangers and provide endless mechanisms of personal protection.
     In addition to their utilitarian functions senses provide satisfaction, pleasure, and physical and psychological well-being.  Observing a forest in the midst of rocky mountains, listening to a concert, enjoying the beauty and aroma of flowers at dusk, tasting an exotic fruit shake, or feeling the ocean waves caress our back at the beach are all experiences that contribute to our mental health.
     We will do well to enjoy our senses in order to attain mental balance.  But, be careful with extremes!  Too much pleasure may make us lose our sensibility or may even hurt us.
VISION
     Your sense of vision is the greatest window to the outer world.  It also provides the most of all the senses.  Through vision one can contemplate the beautiful things in the environment.  Vision can be entertaining and bring about mental peace, especially when contemplating things in nature, in their original state.  Make plans to go our to the country.  Surround yourself with natural environments and use time to enjoy the sea, tree, plants, the skies, clouds, mountains, rivers, animals etc.
     The city dweller can also enjoy a clean and balanced urban landscape, through buildings, monuments, art and other man-made objects.  the mix of shapes and colours will directly affect your mood. Light and colour are basic elements in life.  Colours can relax you and stimulate you.  thus they affect your behaviour.  It is known that certain colours generate sensations that help gland secretions and variations in blood pressure.  It is called colour therapy.  The underlisted are colours and their effects on our life:

Red   -   Warm colour that favours adrenaline secretion, raises blood pleasure and stimulates circulation.  It entices the senses, causing one to remain active and dynamic.  It is recommended for shy people or those experiencing a low mood.

Orange  -   A mix of red and yellow, it softens the strength of red without cancelling it.  It favours optimism and activity.  an energetic, brilliant and cordial colour.
Yellow  -    Because of its brightness, it is ideal for the depressed person.  It is inviting when combined with some red tone.  Its liveliness entices optimism.  Too much of it, like that of light, may produce fatigue.
Blue   -    Cold colour that invites serenity and relaxation.  It reduces blood pressure and slows down metabolism.  It is advisable for persons who feel nervous to surround themselves with bluetone objects.
Green   -    Made up of blue and yellow, it is a very balanced colour, and produces a serene mood.  It is a natural colour, favouring rest and serving as an antidote against stress.
Purple   -   It is widely utilised in religious contexts, as it invites silence, serenity, and concentration.  Excessive exposure to this colour may cause depression as this is an intimidating colour.
Black  -    It actually is the absense of colour.  It portrays sobriety, limited tones and therefore discipline and self-determination.  Black causes sorrow, since, like all dark colours, it limits space and makes it appear smaller.  This colour may produce discomfort and even tiredness.
White  -   Unlike black, white contains all colours in the same proportion.  It is therefore equated to balance.  It makes defects obvious and offers the impression of purity and simplicity.
HEARING
     Nature provides a source of spirit soothing sounds.  A river or waterfall, the wind, the rain and the singing of birds are all examples of relaxing sounds that bring about not only pleasure, but also serenity.
     Music is also a blessing to mental health.  since ancient times, music has been utilised to lift up the spirit, bring about mental peace or set up a specific emotional state.
     Music also affects a number of physiological functions, such as blood pressure, the dilation of the respiratory pathways and the production of hormones.
     Under experimental condition, several effects of music upon patients with a variety of ailment have been observed.  results were amazing.
EFFECTS OF MUSIC TO THE HEALTH
  The following are some of the effect of music upon various area of health:
1.     Pain reduction  - in geriatric patients with arthritis (McCaffrey, 2003).  Participants in this study were administered a 20 minute musical session every day and they were compared to a control group exposed to environmental silence during the same time.  The elderly people who had been under the music condition attained 66% pain reduction according to themselves, and 50% reduction according to the control group that experienced pain at the same level.
2.     Stress treatment  - Elementary teachers (Cheek et al., 2003). A team of researcher carried out a comparison among teachers undergoing clinical psychological treatment for stress.  Half of the group received psychotherapy accompanied by music.  The other half received the same intervention but without music.  The first group achieved stress reduction in a significantly greater than the second group.
SOME RECOMMENDED THERAPEUTIC MUSICS
For relaxation - Debussy' Claire de lune, Albinoni's Adagio
For Stimulation - Verdi's  Triumphal March, Handel's Water Music, Elgar's Promp and circumstance March No.1
For sleeping - Massenet's Meditation of Thais, Nocturnal (by several composers)
Music to soothe anxiety - Vivaldi's Four Seasons, Rodrigo's Aranjuez Concerto.
TASTE
     Taste has a basic protective function: it alerts us of food in bad condition and may even guide the nutritional needs of someone suffering from malnutrition.  Moreover, taste is a source of pleasure.
    In order to take maximum advantage of this sense then you eat, it is important to try the following:
Be moderate - The secret of enjoying food is to eat moderate amounts.  Gourmets preserve an exquisite palate because they know how to stop eating on time.
Practice simplicity - Exercise the taste of simple flavours.  salty, sweet, sour or spicy foods in excess saturate taste, leading to lack of sensitivity and preventing the enjoyment of natural and simple food.
Eat slowly -  chew slowly, eat in a relaxed mood, with good company and without any rush. this will help you enjoy and notice the satisfaction point on time.
TOUCH
   The sense of touch reaches all corners of the body surface.  It is extremely useful to alert us of any danger coming from extreme environmental temperature or direct contact.  It may also be a source of pleasure, as its coverage is so extensive.
     There are many pleasurable sensations that promote physical and mental health and are directly related to the tactile sense: water baths, sun bathing, wind, breeze.   etc.
Types of Touch categorically
1.      Interpersonal touch  -  Massage with your couple, Hug your children and family, walk holding hands, display kind and warm greetings with others - shake hands, kiss, hug etc).
2.      Personal touch - Bath with water at pleasant temperature, enjoy breeze or soft wind on face and body, go out and sunbathe, spread hydrating cream over your body.
SENSE OF SMELL
     This is the preparation of special ambience that can be remembered for a many years.  The use of air freshners and perfumes can be strongly associated with life experiences and memories that can be retrieved easily with the presence of the odour.

President Obama and Selfie at Mandela Service

Among the enduring images from Nelson Mandela's massive memorial service in Johannesburg Tuesday will be one of a jovial President Obama taking a cell phone pic with his seat-mates, Denmark's Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt and Britain's David Cameron. 

As the three of them smile for the camera, a stern-looking Michelle Obama can be seen staring straight ahead, hands clasped. As if to remind anyone who sees this photo years from now that it was, after all, a memorial service for one of the great human rights leaders.

The first lady's reaction -- not just to the "selfie" but to her husband's chatting and joking with the young Danish prime minister -- was priceless. In one picture, Michelle Obama could be seen glaring over at him while he put his hand on Ms. Thorning-Schmidt's shoulder. 

In another, it appeared the first lady and the president switched seats, putting Michelle squarely between him and the PM.

After the images surged through social media, the White House on Wednesday released its own set of photos of Obama's South Africa visit. Perhaps it was no accident that among them was a picture of Obama, the first lady and the Danish prime minister. 

But in this one, Obama was talking to his wife, while Thorning-Schmidt seemed preoccupied with her phone. 

The "selfie" incident was the second unexpected controversy stirred up by the president in South Africa. Earlier, Cuban-American lawmakers publicly objected after Obama -- on his way to deliver his tribute to Mandela -- shook the hand of Raul Castro.

Benji Uba Spanks Ngige, says he should be held responsible

[ Masterweb Reports: Emmanuel Obe reports ] – In reaction to the allegation of electoral impropriety in the inconclusive Anambra governorship election levelled by All Progrssives Congress against the ruling party in Anambra State, All Progressives Grand Alliance,  a chieftain of APGA, Mr. Beji Uba,  describes the election as the best ever in Nigeria. He spoke withEmmanuel Obe in this interview.
 

Q. What is your impression about the November 16 Governorship election?


A.    The November 16th election was the best election that Nigeria has witnessed. I say this not because it did not have its own problems, but because, for the first time, nobody was able to rig the election. Those who planned to rig where utterly disappointment because of tight security. I think some of them, especially Dr. Chris Ngige of the APC are making statements out of frustration for not having the opportunity to unleash their rigging machines as they planned. May be it was a Freudian slip for Dr. Chris Ngige to complain about the so many security agencies that came into the State, simply because all that they planned were thwarted. Tell me when having adequate security has become a problem?


While I say this, may I remind you that shortly before the elction, Ngige was shouting of fake police and NYSC uniforms being sewed, those that knew him rightly predicted that for him to be shouting that meant that was what he was planning to do. Now, all the people caught during the election, including 181 persons from Osun State arrested in Imo State with fake ballot boxes, police and NYSC uniforms were all members of the APC.


Going by events that transpired before the election, Dr. Chris Ngige should by now helping security people in their investigations. It appears he knows so much
Still on my impression about the election, I can say that in terms of deployment of materials for the election and the conduct of INEC officials, I think there was a marked improvement to what it used to be.


Though a few disgruntled elements led by the bad loser, Dr. Chris Ngige are crying and rolling on the ground, distinguished Anambrarians, the Chairman of   ASATU, Dr. Innocent Onwubuya; Chairman of Ohaneze, Elder Chris Elumuno; Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife; Igwe Gibson Nwosu, among others who were active participants at the election have upheld its fairness.


Has it occurred to you that only APC members are against the election? Suddenly Ngige who called Ifeanyi Uba a criminal debtor and Tony Nwoye a cultist during electioneering galvanized them into protest as their spokesperson. If the same rapidity with which he united them for a common purpose is employed to unite Igbos in the National Assembly to work for Igbos, he would not have been counted among Senators that did not propose a single bill since he went to the Senate.


All in all, the election was the freest ever conducted. Security measures taken made rigging somewhat difficult. INEC also introduced some security measures that has made it difficult for people to rig.
 

Q. INEC has declared it inconclusive. Do you think it is justified?


A.    What other justification are you looking for, when they have followed what the electoral law says? It is inconclusive but valid. Rather than disobey the law and offer enemies of democracy a reason to go to Court, it is infinitely better to have a supplementary election. We support it and will participate fully.


Those who know Ngige will tell you that he is only building a case to justify his failure. By saying he is boycotting the election, he is creating the room to claim that he would have won if he did not boycott. The man is a terrible person.
 

Q. Your party is leading in the so far received results. Do you think APGA can maintain the lead and eventually win?


A.    APGA as predicted is leading comfortably. Nothing will stop APGA as far as Anambra State is concerned. The people of the State see APGA as their own identity. What else do you want them to do? Join APC? This is not possible since our needs from the country are antipodal to their own. The other day, Igbos were celebrating the possibility of a National Dialogue, only for the leader of the APC to say that it was not necessary. How they we represent their position and what our people want?


If Igbos voted the other way, it all means they have lost their sanity and are no longer worthy to be called the illustrious sons of their progeny. Why do I say so? No sane man can vote for a party that deported their people. The other day, Hon. Tony Muonago, speaking for APC kicked against the change of the name of Anambra State University to Chukwuemeka Odumwgwu-Ojukwu University. Is this the type of party that dream of winning in Anambra State?
 

Q. INEC Chairman did say the election was messed up in Idemili North Local Government Area. Do you agree with him?


A.    Prof. Attahiru Jega is a man without cant; he is one Nigerian that has not been compromised. Those of us on the ground know that the election was heavily messed up in Idemili North, but it is just one among 21 Local Government Areas and cannot be said that the messing up of the election there was substantial to call for the cancellation of the entire exercise.


Dr. Chris Ngige is from Idemili and his rigging expertise is directly related to the perennial problem that Local Government witness each time election is contested, within the Ngige Era. In 2010, he inflated the votes he got in the area by adding 10,000 votes to himself always in collusion with INEC officials. This time around, he planned all kind of rigging and magic which has become his trademark. Thanks to the Federal Government that security was water tight. When it was clear that he could not execute his nefarious plans, he, as usual, started crying. He is very good at presenting the picture of the victim, even when he is always the aggressor.


Now, the problem encountered in Idemili North was inadequate and half hazard deployment of materials. We are sure that APC colluded with some people to take away those materials. We therefore advice INEC to call back those materials and if already thumb printed, as we suspect, we know the party that were thumb printed for.


I am happy Nigerians and the people of the State now know Ngige for what he is: a terrible human being, an unrepentant liar and an old man becalmed in bad and odd ways

Q. The opposition, mainly PDP, APC and LP have called for the cancellation of the polls citing massive irregularities like missing names on voters' register, diversion of materials and non-availability of result sheets. How do you react to that?


A.    Let me ask you one question; If tomorrow, INEC says that the result of the election was not properly counted and after recounting it was discovered that Dr. Chris Ngige of the APC won, what do you think will be Ngige’s reaction? APC and Ngige will carry Jega shoulder high as the best INEC Chairman Nigeria will never have again. What I am just trying to say is that what Ngige and his ilk are doing is the acute manifestation of bad loser syndrome.


They are however insignificant when compares to Anambra people that have continued to commend the election as the best so far. Calling for the cancellation of the election is the only option available to them, since they cannot win, even if they join forces together.


Q. The parties have accused APGA, INEC and the security agencies of collaborating to rig the election. What do you have to say to that?


A.    Would Security agencies rig in favour of APGA or the PDP?   We are not strangers to Ngige’s rascality. When election was approaching, he was alleging all manner of crimes, even those he saw in his dream, against APGA. The wise Peter Obi and Willie Obiano ignored him and continued with their campign. Off course everybody in Anambra knows that whenever Ngige plans to commit crime, he will allege that another person was planning to do so.


Q. Should your party win what kind of relationship would you have with the opposition?


A.    After victory, the only party we will recognize in Anambra is the congregation of men of integrity that are interested in the development of Anambra State. We shall work with anybody who has something to offer. We shall go the extra mile to preach to people to have the disposition to work for the State and not for selfish reasons or put up the type of character consistent with Dr., Chris Ngige, whereby he is at the National; Assembly at Abuja as Senator, without contributing anything or proposed any bill or even head any Committee only to come home at weekends to cause problem and lie against his Governor.


Q. Did APGA work with the Presidency in the last election?


A.    I call on all Nigerians to work with the Presidency for the sole aim of the uplift of our country . Even when one is the opposition, he has to do it for the greater glory of our country. We must avoid what APC and people like Ngige do. Look at the Uke Tragedy; he was the one who personally sent text messages to some journalists to report what did not happen at the Adoration Ground, simply because he wanted to indict Gov. Peter Obi. He did the same thing reently by getting his Assiatnt to write news item that those protesting against the elction were shot at and killed, when nothing of such happened.
 

Q. Any other comment.


A.    We call on Anambra people to remain vigilant at all times.

Decades-old 'blue laws' ban Thanksgiving Day shopping in 3 states

As workers across America protest against working on Thanksgiving Day, laws that may date back to the Colonial era are keeping shoppers and employees in three states at the dinner table.

In Rhode Island, Maine and Massachusetts so-called "blue laws" prohibit large supermarkets, big box stores and department stores from opening on Thanksgiving.

Business groups say the laws are unnecessary barriers during an era of 24-hour online retailers, but many shoppers, workers and even retailers say they appreciate one day free of holiday shopping.

"I shop all year. People need to be with their families on Thanksgiving," Debra Wall, of Pawtucket, R.I., told The Associated Press.

The holiday shopping frenzy has crept deeper than ever into Thanksgiving this year. Macy's, J.C. Penney and Staples will open on Thanksgiving for the first time. Toys R Us will open at 5 p.m., and Wal-Mart, already open 24 hours in many locations, will start holiday deals at 6 p.m., two hours earlier than last year. In recent years, some retail employees and their supporters have started online petitions to protest stores that open on Thanksgiving — but shoppers keep coming.

Bill Rennie, vice president of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts, said many shoppers are crossing into border states that allow Thanksgiving shopping, including Connecticut, Vermont, New York or New Hampshire, which is even more alluring because it doesn't have a sales tax.

"Why not give stores in Massachusetts the option?" he told the Associated Press.

The group has backed legislation, which has so far gone nowhere, to roll back the laws and allow stores to open on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

That would include grocery stores, which also must stay closed on the holidays. Woe to the Massachusetts cook who forgets a crucial ingredient or messes up the turkey and is forced to find a replacement at a convenience store. Convenience stores are allowed to open, as are movie theaters, pharmacies, restaurants and some other businesses.

The laws do not prohibit stores from opening at non-traditional hours Friday, and some will open at midnight or 1 a.m., when holiday deals will start.

Blue laws were once widespread throughout the country and are thought to date back to Colonial times, although some of the current regulations in Maine were instituted in the 1960s. The name may be derived from an 18th-century usage of blue meaning "rigidly moral," according to the Encyclopedia Brittanica.

The rules vary among the states. Retailers smaller than 5,000 square feet can operate in Maine, for example.

Thanksgiving and Christmas are the main holidays affected in all three states, but in Massachusetts, blue laws also prohibit stores from opening on the mornings of Columbus and Veterans Day without state permission. Easter and New Year's Day are also sometimes included.

Rhode Island lawmakers have in recent years rolled back blue law prohibitions on Sunday sales of alcohol and cars, but the Thanksgiving ban remains. Maine lawmakers shot down legislation this year that would have allowed stores to open on the holiday.

Law enforcement officials in all three states said there had been no recent incidents they could recall of retailers breaking the law. In 2005, Massachusetts Attorney General Tom Reilly sent a warning letter to upscale grocery chain Whole Foods after a competitor discovered it was planning to open on Thanksgiving. In Maine, a violation is punishable by up to six months in prison and a $1,000 fine.