SABC Livestream of MANDELA memorial Service

mY nOt bEing pRo-gay is iGNoRanT???

at moments like this i care very little for being politically correct!  what is it about the world and forcing general beliefs down people's throats in the name of being politically correct? Decades ago it was sacrilegious to even bring up the issue of  homosexuality let alone gay rights. The very fact that gay rights is now front and centre is evidence of how far we have come as humans. This is the 2nd time ever i am putting forward my opinion on this issue... The tweet from Kobe Bryant below is behind my agitation: My understanding & belief in the order God established at creation is not a Display of ignorance.

As much the world says Gay rights must be taken seriously, i am of the opinion that despite my tolerance of-  and a conscious choice to co-exist with the gay movement i should reserve the right to my opinion on the distastefulness of homosexual behavior, just as long as i don't encroach on anyone's right to freedom. I am a christian and in very clear terms my christian doctrine is anti-gay. The same doctrine also preaches tolerance towards all. So if i have a made a conscious effort on my own to live peaceably with the gay movement don't take advantage of my meekness and Lord BS over me. If it were so right, why would people have to hide for years ; or why does a decision to 'come out' have to feel both physically and professionally suicidal to those who 'come out'? Think about it! while the world finds more politically correct ways to pervert the world at the end of the day the ultimate race towards eternal life is an individual one.

~g.d

$380,000 raised for bullied 68yr old

Meet Karen klien the 68yr old bus monitor in Greece, N.Y. I can understand that whenever the term bully is used it evokes images of a timid kid being pushed around by his/her peers, well not in this case.
The victim whose picture appears in this post was recorded being bullied by 4 seventh graders. The video which ended up on YouTube has already clocked over 2million views and has seen the boys receive numerous death threats. Concerned individuals who set out to raise $50,000 to send the woman on vacation as of yesterday had raised a whooping $380,000 for Karen. Who says disappointments can't be a blessing?

The Grand Conspiracy (did he know exactly how long he had to live)

I must confess that my believe in the fact that most things are not what they seem is unwavering. The news of the death of our President and Commander In Chief (President Umaru Yaradua) stirred up some very heated argument about grand conspiracies which were birth at the end of former President Obasanjo's tenure.

The summary of the cause of the argument was this:

1. Was President Yaradua aware of his eminent demise such that he was a part of the power sharing conspiracy?

2. Did President yaradua just die on the 5th of May, 2010 or he had been dead for some time before the final announcement.

3. Was President Obasanjo a corrupt leader?

The issue got so flogged that all sorts of angles were exposed which only made me wonder....

In my opinion there will always be two classes of people.

1. Those who watch the news happen.

2. Those who make the news happen.

As a PR consultant i realise that not everything we read on the pages of newspapers or watch on the news are entirely true. As a specie that thrives on appearance, we would go to any length to scheme, lie, tell half truths, omit, twist and even kill to make appearances favor us as a people. The history books are full of such records:

we all know of Prof. Wole Soyinka's reputation in the international community but yet in our national history books he was accused of profiting illegally from the National Road Safety Corps funds. Does that make him a corrupt man.?

As i understand it the world is in a constant state of balance and any disturbance of any sort cause the world to attempt a correction of the disturbance in the long run (take global warming for example).

So then you ask me was President Obasanjo a corrupt leader? and my answer to you is this. President Obasanjo is only as corrupt as President Clinton (former US president), or President Bush, or even President Obama. As a leader who desires to be seen as an effective leader i understand that certain measures have to be taken to ensure the peace & stability of of a nation.

of all the governors, senators and political heads in the country at that time Yaradua was hand picked and for balance Goodluck Jonathan was also selected to deputise. Frgive me when i say that nothing happens by accident. Call it divine arrangement, but i will tell you that even though my statements make not make sense right now, some hidden truths would not remain within the walls of the Presidential villa forever. On the day the the walls of Aso Rock decide to speak the 2 decade old hiddens truths which have reflected off it, then would realise that there is more to news headlines than meets the eye.

May God grant our Late President Eternal rest.

~gossim

Obama got a Grammy!

How much really does one have to have to be the most powerful man in the world. Obama recieved an income of $5.5mill and paid bout $1.8mill in taxes. But in contrast to what all them celebrities like beyonce, JayZ, 50cents etc.earn Obama's income is but a shadow of theirs & ordinarily Obama wouldn't even be a match.

But of course being commander in chief has its perks...lol. Obama, a former law school instructor and U.S. senator, became a millionaire a few years ago through sales of his 1995 memoir "Dreams From My Father" and his 2006 political book, "The Audacity of Hope." He earned about $4 million in royalties in 2007, the year he launched his presidential campaign.

Sales included his audio versions of the books, for which Obama won two Grammy awards in the spoken-word category. Power as it seems is in the american context is beyond bank balances as is the case in Nigeria. Its more about the people's believe in an individual.

whats your brand definition?

what do these three logos have in common?

These three logos represent about the world's best 'people' brands: Barack Obama [44](US president), Tigerwood [30](world class golfer) & Lewis Hamilton[23] (formula1 champion) respectively. Ever wondered what they have so much in common apart from a mutual respect for each other, these men a re young, intelligent, focus driven, very optimistic goal getters and they are black.
You probably have it on your mind right now that well they had everything going for them as kids (the right enviroment, wealth blah blah), not true.
A wiseman once said that "we are a 'sum total 'of all the decisions we have made in life" I have never heard anything truer... This men indeed have become the brands they are , not by accident but as a result of a strong believe in themselves, discipline and often going against the tide (lewis: 1st black formula one champ last season, Barack: 1st black US president, tiger:golf number one ).
In an attempt to make sense of our lives, it is always the wise thing to understand & develop our strengths and play down our weaknesses. If i'm still not makin any sense then maybe you should explain how it is that a 30year old black golfer has his signature on a piece of plastic card or a shoe and in return gets paid over $100,000,000. Its called branding.

so what exactly do you love doing so much that you could do for free and later get paid millions for? I bet you alone can answer that, but the truth is world class people brands aint local, they are global in their thinking. so if its dancing, you can dance so well and get bookings internationally plus you also get paid for doing what you love.
so what's your brand definition?

Obama's Security

For those of us who feel that more than ever before Obama needs to be protected then you shouldn't underestimate the power of the US secret service check this out:

Have u ever wondered what in those black GMC jeeps that flank the US President's Convoy?



also check out Obama's house..lol



Although I must say that God's protection is the SUREST!

Yes We Can

After over 21months of optimism, the King of Optimism himself, Barack Obama, made history by becoming the 1st black president of the United States of America. Find videos and transcripts of his speech below:

:: Speech Transcript::

If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.

It's the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen; by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the very first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different; that their voice could be that difference.

It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled – Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of Red States and Blue States: we are, and always will be, the United States of America.

It's the answer that led those who have been told for so long by so many to be cynical, and fearful, and doubtful of what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day.

It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America.

I just received a very gracious call from Senator McCain. He fought long and hard in this campaign, and he's fought even longer and harder for the country he loves. He has endured sacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to imagine, and we are better off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless leader. I congratulate him and Governor Palin for all they have achieved, and I look forward to working with them to renew this nation's promise in the months ahead.

I want to thank my partner in this journey, a man who campaigned from his heart and spoke for the men and women he grew up with on the streets of Scranton and rode with on that train home to Delaware, the Vice President-elect of the United States, Joe Biden.

I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last sixteen years, the rock of our family and the love of my life, our nation's next First Lady, Michelle Obama. Sasha and Malia, I love you both so much, and you have earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the White House. And while she's no longer with us, I know my grandmother is watching, along with the family that made me who I am. I miss them tonight, and know that my debt to them is beyond measure.

To my campaign manager David Plouffe, my chief strategist David Axelrod, and the best campaign team ever assembled in the history of politics – you made this happen, and I am forever grateful for what you've sacrificed to get it done.

But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to – it belongs to you.

I was never the likeliest candidate for this office. We didn't start with much money or many endorsements. Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington – it began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston.

It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give five dollars and ten dollars and twenty dollars to this cause. It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation's apathy; who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep; from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on the doors of perfect strangers; from the millions of Americans who volunteered, and organized, and proved that more than two centuries later, a government of the people, by the people and for the people has not perished from this Earth. This is your victory.

I know you didn't do this just to win an election and I know you didn't do it for me. You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime – two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century. Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us. There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after their children fall asleep and wonder how they'll make the mortgage, or pay their doctor's bills, or save enough for college. There is new energy to harness and new jobs to be created; new schools to build and threats to meet and alliances to repair.

The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America – I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you – we as a people will get there.

There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won't agree with every decision or policy I make as President, and we know that government can't solve every problem. But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And above all, I will ask you join in the work of remaking this nation the only way it's been done in America for two-hundred and twenty-one years – block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.

What began twenty-one months ago in the depths of winter must not end on this autumn night. This victory alone is not the change we seek – it is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It cannot happen without you.

So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other. Let us remember that if this financial crisis taught us anything, it's that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers – in this country, we rise or fall as one nation; as one people.

Let us resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long. Let us remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House – a party founded on the values of self-reliance, individual liberty, and national unity. Those are values we all share, and while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress. As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, "We are not enemies, but friends…though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection." And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn – I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your President too.

And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of our world – our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand. To those who would tear this world down – we will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security – we support you. And to all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright – tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from our the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity, and unyielding hope.

For that is the true genius of America – that America can change. Our union can be perfected. And what we have already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.

This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one that's on my mind tonight is about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She's a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for one thing – Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old.

She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldn't vote for two reasons – because she was a woman and because of the color of her skin.

And tonight, I think about all that she's seen throughout her century in America – the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can't, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes we can.

At a time when women's voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes we can.

When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs and a new sense of common purpose. Yes we can.

When the bombs fell on our harbor and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved. Yes we can.

She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that "We Shall Overcome." Yes we can.

A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination. And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change. Yes we can.

America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do. So tonight, let us ask ourselves – if our children should live to see the next century; if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made?

This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment. This is our time – to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American Dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth – that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people.

Extra-Ordinary People…

isn’t it amazing how a few men make a huge difference in world affairs. A wise man once said that where there is a vision there is a flock, meaning it doesn't matter what the vision is once you’ve got extraordinary people behind it people will most definately buy into that vision.

*check out Adolf Hitler despite the brutality of his vision till today we still have people who believe in his course years after his death.
*Another very good example is the US presidential aspirant: Barack Obama, the chicago Illinois senator has proven over the last couple of months that he is indeed a potential leader and that there is a new breed of politics that is far more effective than what was obtainable in the past. Enough of my ranting…

My point exactly is that every man has been blessed with a unique potential to do extraordinary things. It is my understanding that for every challenge a man faces he has already been equipped with the solution. the fact that you could even recognize that challenge is simply an indication of the fact that you can solve it.
Fela Durotoye a business consultant once echoed: "in order to achieve what has never been achieved, one must be ready to do what has never been done". this obviously means that it is only a fool that keeps doing the same thing and expects a different result. This is definately the attitude of extraordinary people like Barack Obama, Bill Gates, Woods,  and Steve Jobs.

Extraordinary people make things happen while ordinary people simply stand by and watch things happen. my question to you then  is  which would you rather be?
So every day you wake up always have it on your mind that you are alive for a reason, and that reason makes you a unique being .
till my next post…ciao.
stay Extra Ordinary.

-@gozzim