Great People who strived to succeed without loking back

Here are a few examples of failures that made good to keep you inspired to keep failing and never quit.

1. J.K. Rowling

J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter novels was waitressing and on public assistance when she was writing the first installment of what would become one of the best selling series in history. The book was rejected by a dozen publishers. The only reason it got published at all was because the CEO's eight year old daughter begged him to publish it.

“Failure meant a stripping away of the inessential.” - J.K. Rowling

Now, if that isn't a great Zen line, I don't know what is!

2. Michael Jordan

It might come as a shock, but the man who became what many would call the best basketball player of all time didn't make his high school basketball team.

“I have missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I have lost almost 300 games. On 26 occasions I have been entrusted to take the game winning shot, and I missed. I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” - Michael Jordan

3. Thomas Edison

Thomas Edison was both hearing impaired and fidgety. He only lasted three months in school where his teachers said he was "too stupid to learn anything." He eventually was home schooled by his mom. In talking about his invention of the light bulb, he said:

“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that do not work.” - Thomas Edison

4. James Carville

When I was a kid I was obsessed with political campaigns the way other kids were obsessed with sports. During the 1992 Presidential campaign there was no greater superstar-whacko than Clinton's political operative, James Carville. With his shaved bald head, snake-like facial features, and his deep Louisiana accent he seemed like a man out of the Twilight Zone!

He's now considered to be one of the greatest political operatives of a generation. But, before he ended up on that fateful campaign in his early 40's he was dead broke, had won only a handful of elections, and had never even been approved for a credit card. On paper, he looked like a complete failure. By not giving up he ended up in the White House.

"No one will ever accuse James Carville of taking himself seriously." - James Carville

5. Ludwig van Beethoven

His early skills at music and the violin were decidedly less than impressive. His teachers thought him hopeless. It was his father who saw the potential in him and took over his education. Beethoven slowly lost his hearing throughout his life and yet, four of his greatest works were composed when he was completely deaf.

"Beethoven can write music, thank God, because he can't do anything else!" - Ludwig van Beethoven

6. Christopher Reeve

The man who played Superman becoming a quadriplegic was more than ironic - it was tragic. He never learned to be happy about his situation - who could? But, he did learn to live with it.

“In the morning, I need twenty minutes to cry. To wake up and make that shift, you know, and to just say, 'This really sucks,' to really allow yourself the feeling of loss. It still needs to be acknowledged.” - Christopher Reeve

Then, he'd say, "And now...forward!"

He had to take a moment everyday to acknowledge where he was, what the reality of the situation was. But, he didn't allow that to stop him. He traveled widely doing public speaking on behalf of people with spinal injuries, tirelessly raised money for his own and other foundations, and even became a movie director. He took what he had and tried to help others in the best way he could.

7. Oprah Winfrey

Her childhood was frightful and filled with horrible abuse and abject poverty. But, like most successful people, Oprah doesn't dwell on stuff like that.

"I don’t think of myself as a poor deprived ghetto girl who made good. I think of myself as somebody who from an early age knew I was responsible for myself, and I had to make good." - Oprah Winfrey

BONUS:

Oh, what the heck, I'll give you a few more! You can never have enough inspirational stories to keep you going.

Vincent Van Gogh

The man was a manic depressive. He could barely function half the time. He never saw success in his lifetime, but his work is often regarded as the greatest painting ever done by any human on earth. Because of this, his name has become a war cry for artists around the world who have been repeatedly rejected and sidelined.

"Even the knowledge of my own fallibility cannot keep me from making mistakes. Only when I fall do I get up again." - Vincent van Gogh

Oscar Wilde

Wilde, the British play-write and satirist was gay during a time when being gay could get you prison time. And it did. Unlike our examples above, Wilde started out privileged, with successful parents. He ended up being quite famous in his own life, but he died an early death as a direct result of his imprisonment. What is instructive is that he was willing to lose everything - and did - rather than pretend to be someone that he wasn't. He also never lost his wit.

"Life is too important a thing ever to talk seriously about." - Oscar Wilde

I'll close with another quote by Michael Jordan.

"Some want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen." - Michael Jordan

Now go make something happen.

24 quotes that will make you inspired

1. "If you want to achieve greatness stop asking for permission." --Anonymous

2. "Things work out best for those who make the best of how things work out." --John Wooden

3. "To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong." --Anonymous

4. "If you are not willing to risk the usual you will have to settle for the ordinary." --Jim Rohn

5. "Trust because you are willing to accept the risk, not because it's safe or certain." --Anonymous

6. "Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life--think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body, be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success." --Swami Vivekananda

7. "All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them." --Walt Disney

8. "Good things come to people who wait, but better things come to those who go out and get them." --Anonymous

9. "If you do what you always did, you will get what you always got." --Anonymous

10. "Success is walking from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." --Winston Churchill

11. "Just when the caterpillar thought the world was ending, he turned into a butterfly." --Proverb

12. "Successful entrepreneurs are givers and not takers of positive energy." --Anonymous

13. "Whenever you see a successful person you only see the public glories, never the private sacrifices to reach them." --Vaibhav Shah

14. "Opportunities don't happen, you create them." --Chris Grosser

15. "Try not to become a person of success, but rather try to become a person of value." --Albert Einstein

16. "Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people." --Eleanor Roosevelt

17. "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." --Thomas A. Edison

18. "If you don't value your time, neither will others. Stop giving away your time and talents--start charging for it." --Kim Garst

19. "A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him." --David Brinkley

20. "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." --Eleanor Roosevelt

21. "The whole secret of a successful life is to find out what is one's destiny to do, and then do it." --Henry Ford

22. "If you're going through hell keep going." --Winston Churchill

23. "The ones who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do." --Anonymous

24. "Don't raise your voice, improve your argument." --Anonymous

Happiness is a state of mind

As someone rightly said, "Don't look for happiness. Create it." We are in the constant rush to achieve things in life, that, at times we tend to forget the tiny moments which made us happy. Right from reading a good book, having light conversations with family & friends, to buying something which we have longed for, all of us have different reasons to be happy. The very essence of our lives is to be grateful and thankful for what life has taught us and also to face our tomorrow’s with a cheerful face. With the pace of our lives speeding up every single day, what all of us need to do is to dedicate some time to retrospect on the moments/people/things that made us happy on that day and be thankful for those wonderful moments.

After all, happy moments are what we live for.

Buttetfly stories

Once a little boy was playing outdoors and found a fascinating caterpillar. He carefully picked it up and took it home to show his mother. He asked his mother if he could keep it, and she said he could if he would take good care of it.

The little boy got a large jar from his mother and put plants to eat, and a stick to climb on, in the jar. Every day he watched the caterpillar and brought it new plants to eat.

One day the caterpillar climbed up the stick and started acting strangely. The boy worriedly called his mother who came and understood that the caterpillar was creating a cocoon. The mother explained to the boy how the caterpillar was going to go through a metamorphosis and become a butterfly.

The little boy was thrilled to hear about the changes his caterpillar would go through. He watched every day, waiting for the butterfly to emerge. One day it happened, a small hole appeared in the cocoon and the butterfly started to struggle to come out.

At first the boy was excited, but soon he became concerned. The butterfly was struggling so hard to get out! It looked like it couldn’t break free! It looked desperate! It looked like it was making no progress!

The boy was so concerned he decided to help. He ran to get scissors, and then walked back (because he had learned not to run with scissors…). He snipped the cocoon to make the hole bigger and the butterfly quickly emerged!

As the butterfly came out the boy was surprised. It had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings. He continued to watch the butterfly expecting that, at any moment, the wings would dry out, enlarge and expand to support the swollen body. He knew that in time the body would shrink and the butterfly’s wings would expand.

But neither happened!

The butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings.

It never was able to fly…

As the boy tried to figure out what had gone wrong his mother took him to talk to a scientist from a local college. He learned that the butterfly was SUPPOSED to struggle. In fact, the butterfly’s struggle was God's way to push its way through the tiny opening of the cocoon pushes the fluid out of its body and into its wings. Without the struggle, the butterfly would never, ever fly. The boy’s good intentions hurt the butterfly.

As you go through school, and life, keep in mind that struggling is an important part of any growth experience. In fact, struggles are exactly what we need in our lives. It is the struggle that causes us to develop our ability to fly.

Can I borrow N50?

A woman came home from work late, tired and irritated, to find her 5-year old son waiting for her at the door.

SON: 'Mummy, may I ask you a question?'

MUM: 'Yeah sure, what it is?' replied the woman.

SON: 'Mummy, how much do you make an hour?'

MUM: 'That's none of your business. Why do you ask such a thing?' the woman said angrily.
SON: 'I just want to know. Please tell me, how much do you make an hour?'

MUM: 'If you must know, I make N100 an hour.'

SON: 'Oh,' the little boy replied, with his head down.

SON: 'Mummy, may I please borrow N50?'

The mother was furious, 'If the only reason you asked that is so you can borrow some money to buy a silly toy or some other nonsense, then you march yourself straight to your room and go to bed. Think about why you are being so selfish. I don't work hard everyday for such childish frivolities.'

The little boy quietly went to his room and shut the door..

The woman sat down and started to get even angrier about the little boy's questions. How dare he ask such questions only to get some money?

After about an hour or so, the woman had calmed down , and started to think:

Maybe there was something he really needed to buy with that N50.00 and she really didn't ask for money very often.The woman went to the door of the little boy's room and opened the door.

'Are you asleep, son?' She asked.

'No Mummy, I'm awake,' replied the boy.

'I've been thinking, maybe I was too hard on you earlier' said the woman. 'It's been a long day and I took out my aggravation on you. Here's the N50 you asked for.'

The little boy sat straight up, smiling. 'Oh, thank you Mummy!' he yelled. Then, reaching under his pillow he pulled out some crumpled up bills.

The woman saw that the boy already had money, started to get angry again.

The little boy slowly counted out his money, and then looked up at his mother.

'Why do you want more money if you already have some?' the mother grumbled.

'Because I didn't have enough, but now I do,' the little boy replied.

'Mummy, I have N100 now. Can I buy an hour of your time? Please come home early tomorrow. I would like to have dinner with you.'

The mother was crushed. She put his arms around her little son, and she begged for his forgiveness.

It's just a short reminder to all of you working so hard in life. We should not let time slip through our fingers without having spent some time with those who really matter to us, those close to our hearts. Do remember to share that N100 worth of your time with someone you love.

If we die tomorrow, the company that we are working for could easily replace us in a matter of hours. But the family & friends we leave behind will feel the loss for the rest of their lives.

Don't Give in...Stay focus

In 1883, a creative engineer named John Roebling was inspired by an idea to build a spectacular bridge connecting New York with the Long Island. However bridge building experts throughout the world thought that this was an impossible feat and told Roebling to forget the idea. It just could not be done. It was not practical. It had never been done before.

Roebling could not ignore the vision he had in his mind of this bridge. He thought about it all the time and he knew deep in his heart that it could be done. He just had to share the dream with someone else. After much discussion and persuasion he managed to convince his son Washington, an up and coming engineer, that the bridge in fact could be built.

Working together for the first time, the father and son developed concepts of how it could be accomplished and how the obstacles could be overcome. With great excitement and inspiration, and the headiness of a wild challenge before them, they hired their crew and began to build their dream bridge.

The project started well, but when it was only a few months underway a tragic accident on the site took the life of John Roebling. Washington was also injured and left with a certain amount of brain damage, which resulted in him not being able to talk or walk.

“We told them so.” “Crazy men and their crazy dreams.” “It’s foolish to chase wild visions.”

Everyone had a negative comment to make and felt that the project should be scrapped since the Roeblings were the only ones who knew how the bridge could be built.

In spite of his handicap Washington was never discouraged and still had a burning desire to complete the bridge and his mind was still as sharp as ever. He tried to inspire and pass on his enthusiasm to some of his friends, but they were too daunted by the task.

As he lay on his bed in his hospital room, with the sunlight streaming through the windows, a gentle breeze blew the flimsy white curtains apart and he was able to see the sky and the tops of the trees outside for just a moment.

It seemed that there was a message for him not to give up. Suddenly an idea hit him. All he could do was move one finger and he decided to make the best use of it. By moving this, he slowly developed a code of communication with his wife.

He touched his wife’s arm with that finger, indicating to her that he wanted her to call the engineers again. Then he used the same method of tapping her arm to tell the engineers what to do. It seemed foolish but the project was under way again.

For 13 years Washington tapped out his instructions with his finger on his wife’s arm, until the bridge was finally completed. Today the spectacular Brooklyn Bridge stands in all its glory as a tribute to the triumph of one man’s indomitable spirit and his determination not to be defeated by circumstances. It is also a tribute to the engineers and their team work, and to their faith in a man who was considered mad by half the world. It stands too as a tangible monument to the love and devotion of his wife who for 13 long years patiently decoded the messages of her husband and told the engineers what to do.

Perhaps this is one of the best examples of a never-say-die attitude that overcomes a terrible physical handicap and achieves an impossible goal.

Often when we face obstacles in our day-to-day life, our hurdles seem very small in comparison to what many others have to face. The Brooklyn Bridge shows us that dreams that seem impossible can be realised with determination and persistence, no matter what the odds are.

TRAPPED

I’m trapped, trapped inside myself, I want to get out, get out and be free. I don’t want to live in my shell, But I’m scared, scared to take away my mask.

Friends are forever letting me down, No matter how close they are. They are there if I have a problem, But when I don’t I may as well not exist.

I want someone to trust and care about me, Someone to cry on and someone to listen. I want someone to love me for who I am, Not the masked me me whom everyone knows.

Unfortunately none of this can ever come true, Not from someone on this earth anyway. No one I know is perfect, No one I know can fulfil this.

Except…

Someone I know who is watching down on everyone of us. He has a special plane and a purpose for anyone who turns to Him. There will still be hardship and sorrow, But these will make you strong.

He can be trusted, he is ever so faithful. He cares deeply about each person on this earth. He can be cried upon, and will cry with you. He even puts each tear we cry in a bottle. He is the best listener anyone could be, And most of all He loves us for who we are, No matter what we have done.

“Who could do all this?” I hear you ask. It’s a very dear and special friend of mine called Jesus, With whom I can take away my mask and be free.

I am better than Ali and Sugar ray- Mayweather

Floyd Mayweather has characteristically addressed the debate over who is the world’s greatest boxer by boasting that he is better than Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Robinson.

Speaking ahead of his mega $300m May 2 fight against Filipino great Manny Pacquiao, the 38-year-old American welterweight, who is unbeaten in 47 professional fights since making his debut in 1996, believes he has surpassed the legends in what he has achieved.

“No one can ever brainwash me to make me believe that Sugar Ray Robinson and Muhammad Ali were better than me,” Mayweather told ESPN.

“But one thing I will do, I’m going to take my hat off to them and respect those guys that paved the way for me to be where I’m at today.”

Ali is considered one of the greatest in boxing history, winning both the coveted Golden Gloves title and an Olympic gold medal, while Robinson is considered the greatest ‘pound-for-pound’ fighter among non-heavyweights with 173 wins in 200 professional bouts.

Mayweather was also quick to remind everyone of his self-proclaimed invincibility, when referencing Ali’s 1978 defeat to Leon Spinks as a pointer to his dominance over his rivals and his unbeaten record.

He also hit out at the much publicised ‘rope-a-dope’ tactics that the heavyweight great famously used in his 1974 world heavyweight title win over George Foreman.

“Leon Spinks only had seven fights,” he said. “Never put a fighter in there with Floyd Mayweather with seven fights.

“Take punishment and let a man tire yourself out from beating you? You hit him with a few punches and go down and quit and you want to be glorified for that?”

Mayweather made his debut on October 11, 1996, at Las Vegas, where he displayed his now legendary defensive skills and precision strikes to beat Roberto Apodaca 37 seconds into the second of four scheduled rounds.

Although he was genuinely tested by Reggie Sanders in his next fight on November 30, 1996, in New Mexico, his quartet of wins over Jerry Cooper, Edgar Ayala, Kino Rodriguez and Bobby Giepert in a single year, 1997, announced him as potential champion.

More recently the biggest wins of his career came against major rivals like Oscar De La Hoya (2007, split decision, 12 rounds), Ricky Hatton (2007, technical knockout in Round 10), Juan Manuel Marquez (2009, unanimous decision, 12 rounds) and Miguel Cotto (2012, unanimous decision, 12 rounds).

Pacquiao’s resume is equally impressive.

The Filipino is the first boxer in history to win ten world titles in eight different weight divisions.

Not only has the 5ft 6in fighter beaten bigger men, he has defeated the top fighter in each division such as: Marco Anonio Barrera, Marquez, Erik Morales, De La Hoya, Hatton, Cotto and Antonio Margarito. He is also rated as the best fighter at any weight in the ring today and is considered one of the sport’s all-time greats

Online Marketing hope to graduates

Despite the limited job openings in the country, there are opportunities that have not been tapped in the online marketing space, IFE ADEDAPO writes

The National Bureau of Statistics reported that in the fourth quarter of 2014, a total of 369,485 jobs were created across all sectors of the Nigerian economy out of which 138,026 were recorded in the formal sector, 4,387 in the public sector and 227,072 in the informal sector.

The rate of unemployment in the country stood at 23.9 per cent in 2011, while urban unemployment was estimated at 29.5 per cent as of 2013.

Thousands of students leave the university and polytechnics every year but remain in the labour market for a long time.

The swollen labour market, made up of majorly unemployed youths, has been highlighted by experts as one of the causes of violence and insurgency in the country.

Among the new formal jobs created in the fourth quarter, the Information and Communications Technology sector accounted for 363 employments.

This data and reports by human resource experts and professionals in the Information and Communication Technology field indicate that there is high demand for young graduates in some IT areas.

According to them, these employment opportunities which may be full-time or part-time currently have few people with expertise to fill such positions.

Speaking with our correspondent, the Human Resource Consultant, Career Solutions Africa, Mr. Chinedu Ahuchaogu, says the Internet provides a lot of opportunities for people who possess the right skills to earn a living.

According to him, searching for a job and applying for positions can be tasking but other lucrative businesses can be ventured into while looking for jobs.

He explained that there were websites where people were paid to render simple services like data entry, proposal writing, creative writing, web design, graphics design, among others.

On his part, the Chief Imaginative Officer, Mr. Daniel Malik, said that the reason why the rate of unemployment persisted was that Nigerians were not ready to explore other professional lines outside their areas of expertise.

He explained that because he trained people on digital and social media marketing, he got daily requests from companies in the banking sector, schools and small businesses to fill IT-related positions, adding that the remuneration was equivalent to what bankers were paid.

Malik said, “I get regular mails from people to help them find social media managers to manage their companies’ accounts. They send us these mails because they know we train people to do that. The problem we have is that Nigerians are not willing to learn. The job opportunities in social media are massive.

“For example, so many banks are seeking people to manage their social media pages. Even the small business owners are also seeking people to manage their accounts including schools.”

Malik said he became a professional through personal learning and development. According to him, all the skills that have enabled him to build company brands and conduct marketing are acquired through online training.

He said, “Every skill I have learnt today was acquired online. I learnt 3D animation video last year and I use it to sell stories to the online audience. We have passed the level of using corel for designing fliers or adobe Photoshop. Things have passed that level because online is about visuals, images, pictures and people are employing many people with expertise in this area.”

To prepare Nigerians for the kind of jobs that are available in the labour market, he called on the National Universities Commission to incorporate digital marketing into the curriculum of students in the tertiary institutions, adding that every professional required the used of social media platforms as seen among on-air personalities in radio and television stations.

Malik said, “I believe digital marketing should be incorporated into the curriculum of students in secondary schools and tertiary institutions. If we don’t do that soon enough, it will affect us.”

“When I was at a radio station recently, the managing director asked every one hosting a programme if they had tweeted their show that morning. It has reached a level that people don’t have a choice but to acquire expertise in these areas. Our government needs to consider this.”

Highlighting the job opportunities that are in high demand, he says digital marketers, social media managers and marketers and people who specialise in using Facebook as a marketing tool are needed by employers.

Malik explained that digital marketers were people whose responsibilities involved email marketing, social media marketing, SMS marketing and advertising.

The CIO explained that the role of social media managers was not limited to the use of Facebook to promote businesses, but also included a proper understanding of how Twitter, Google plus, LinkedIn, Pinprest and other social media platforms could be used.

A lecturer in the Department of Computer Science, University of Lagos, Dr. Victor Olumuyiwa, said the lack of competence in the IT field posed barrier to most graduates.

He noted that when students were properly trained in their schools and when they were engaged in personal development, they would be properly positioned for the unlimited opportunities in the country.

Olumuyiwa said, “A former student came to my office this morning that they were looking for people in the company where she works. There are jobs but the problem is competence.

He said, “For IT, we are interested in people who can make it in apps space. In computer science or other related disciplines, there are professional courses that make people to be creative. They are courses that require developing skills. If you have the skills, you can quickly get employed immediately after graduation.”

What really matters in Life?

A vacationing American businessman standing on the pier of a quaint coastal fishing village in southern Mexico watched as a small boat with just one young Mexican fisherman pulled into the dock. Inside the small boat were several large yellowfin tuna. Enjoying the warmth of the early afternoon sun, the American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish.
"How long did it take you to catch them?" the American casually asked.
"Oh, a few hours," the Mexican fisherman replied.
"Why don't you stay out longer and catch more fish?" the American businessman then asked.
The Mexican warmly replied, "With this I have more than enough to meet my family's needs."
The businessman then became serious, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?"
Responding with a smile, the Mexican fisherman answered, "I sleep late, play with my children, watch ball games, and take siesta with my wife. Sometimes in the evenings I take a stroll into the village to see my friends, play the guitar, sing a few songs..."
The American businessman impatiently interrupted, "Look, I have an MBA from Harvard, and I can help you to be more profitable. You can start by fishing several hours longer every day. You can then sell the extra fish you catch. With the extra money, you can buy a bigger boat. With the additional income that larger boat will bring, before long you can buy a second boat, then a third one, and so on, until you have an entire fleet of fishing boats."
Proud of his own sharp thinking, he excitedly elaborated a grand scheme which could bring even bigger profits, "Then, instead of selling your catch to a middleman you'll be able to sell your fish directly to the processor, or even open your own cannery. Eventually, you could control the product, processing and distribution. You could leave this tiny coastal village and move to Mexico City, or possibly even Los Angeles or New York City, where you could even further expand your enterprise."
Having never thought of such things, the Mexican fisherman asked, "But how long will all this take?"
After a rapid mental calculation, the Harvard MBA pronounced, "Probably about 15-20 years, maybe less if you work really hard."
"And then what, señor?" asked the fisherman.
"Why, that's the best part!" answered the businessman with a laugh. "When the time is right, you would sell your company stock to the public and become very rich. You would make millions."
"Millions? Really? What would I do with it all?" asked the young fisherman in disbelief.
The businessman boasted, "Then you could happily retire with all the money you've made. You could move to a quaint coastal fishing village where you could sleep late, play with your grandchildren, watch ball games, and take siesta with your wife. You could stroll to the village in the evenings where you could play the guitar and sing with your friends all you want."

The moral of the story is: Know what really matters in life, and you may find that it is already much closer than you think.

Firefighters discover parrots made calls for help in burning home

Firefighters responding to screams for assistance in a burning Idaho home said they thought they were saving people but instead rescued a group of parrots.
Emergency crews first heard the pleas for help as they approached the outside of the residence in Boise.

"What was actually recorded was them saying 'fire, fire,' " Victor Islas with the Middleton Fire Department told KBOI. "That's what we got. 'Help. Fire.' Yeah. It's a smart bird, smart bird. So there was actually nobody besides the birds inside the house."

The birds were removed and given oxygen. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Crews told reporters the parrots must have been trained to issue warnings.

In 2008 a parrot reportedly saved the life of a choking 2-year-old girl in Denver, Colo., when it began screaming the words "mama" and "baby," alerting a babysitter.

In January of last year a couple from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., said their pet parrot saved their lives by warning them that their house was on fire.

One month later, a parrot in India reportedly helped identify its owner's killer by screeching whenever the suspect's name was mentioned.

Firefighters discover parrots made calls for help in burning home

Firefighters responding to screams for assistance in a burning Idaho home said they thought they were saving people but instead rescued a group of parrots.
Emergency crews first heard the pleas for help as they approached the outside of the residence in Boise.

"What was actually recorded was them saying 'fire, fire,' " Victor Islas with the Middleton Fire Department told KBOI. "That's what we got. 'Help. Fire.' Yeah. It's a smart bird, smart bird. So there was actually nobody besides the birds inside the house."

The birds were removed and given oxygen. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Crews told reporters the parrots must have been trained to issue warnings.

In 2008 a parrot reportedly saved the life of a choking 2-year-old girl in Denver, Colo., when it began screaming the words "mama" and "baby," alerting a babysitter.

In January of last year a couple from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., said their pet parrot saved their lives by warning them that their house was on fire.

One month later, a parrot in India reportedly helped identify its owner's killer by screeching whenever the suspect's name was mentioned.

Firefighters discover parrots made calls for help in burning home

Firefighters responding to screams for assistance in a burning Idaho home said they thought they were saving people but instead rescued a group of parrots.
Emergency crews first heard the pleas for help as they approached the outside of the residence in Boise.

"What was actually recorded was them saying 'fire, fire,' " Victor Islas with the Middleton Fire Department told KBOI. "That's what we got. 'Help. Fire.' Yeah. It's a smart bird, smart bird. So there was actually nobody besides the birds inside the house."

The birds were removed and given oxygen. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Crews told reporters the parrots must have been trained to issue warnings.

In 2008 a parrot reportedly saved the life of a choking 2-year-old girl in Denver, Colo., when it began screaming the words "mama" and "baby," alerting a babysitter.

In January of last year a couple from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., said their pet parrot saved their lives by warning them that their house was on fire.

One month later, a parrot in India reportedly helped identify its owner's killer by screeching whenever the suspect's name was mentioned.

Baggage Handler In Frantic Call From Jet's Hold

A baggage handler who fell asleep inside the cargo hold of an Alaska Airlines jet made a desperate 911 call pleading for the plane to stop.

"I'm inside a plane, and I feel like it's moving in the air," the airport worker said.

"Flight 448. Can you please have somebody stop it?"

The dispatcher appeared understandably confused.

"You're where?" the dispatcher asked. "Where are you in a plane?"

The man - an employee of Menzies Aviation, which handles baggage for airlines - tried one more time to explain, then hung up.

He also banged on the ceiling of the cargo hold and was heard by pilots and first-class passengers.

Flight 448, from Seattle to Los Angeles, turned back after 14 minutes in the air and the worker emerged alive.

The airline said the man "has been permanently banned from ever working on any Alaska Airlines flights".

Menzies Aviation has not released the name of the worker, but said he had been with them for 18 months and knowingly violated company policies when he hid in the hold to take a nap.

They added that he was fortunate he had been trapped in a part of the plane that was pressurised and temperature-controlled.

Baggage Handler In Frantic Call From Jet's Hold

A baggage handler who fell asleep inside the cargo hold of an Alaska Airlines jet made a desperate 911 call pleading for the plane to stop.

"I'm inside a plane, and I feel like it's moving in the air," the airport worker said.

"Flight 448. Can you please have somebody stop it?"

The dispatcher appeared understandably confused.

"You're where?" the dispatcher asked. "Where are you in a plane?"

The man - an employee of Menzies Aviation, which handles baggage for airlines - tried one more time to explain, then hung up.

He also banged on the ceiling of the cargo hold and was heard by pilots and first-class passengers.

Flight 448, from Seattle to Los Angeles, turned back after 14 minutes in the air and the worker emerged alive.

The airline said the man "has been permanently banned from ever working on any Alaska Airlines flights".

Menzies Aviation has not released the name of the worker, but said he had been with them for 18 months and knowingly violated company policies when he hid in the hold to take a nap.

They added that he was fortunate he had been trapped in a part of the plane that was pressurised and temperature-controlled.

Police arrrst politician wife

The Abia State Police Command has arrested the wife of a top politician in the state (name withheld) for alleged illegal possession of sensitive electoral materials.

According to information available to The PUNCH, the politician is still at large as he allegedly fled when police stormed his house at Amiyi Nvosi in Isiala Ngwa-South Local Government Area last Friday.

Addressing journalists at the Abia State Police Headquarters on Saturday evening, the Deputy Chief of Staff, Abia Government House, Chief Charles Ogbonnaya, alleged that sensitive electoral materials were recovered from the home of the suspect.

He identified ballot papers, result sheets and police walkie talkie as some of the items recovered from the suspect.

Ogbonnaya commended the police “for a job well done,” adding that “somebody from the same Nvosi was sometime ago arrested with 120 Permanent Voter Cards.”

He alleged that the suspect was a close ally of the governorship candidate of a prominent opposition party in the state.

Ogbonnaya said, “We want the public to know that PDP does not rig elections. It is APGA that rigs election. The suspect is not a PDP member. This was how they rigged PDP out in Isiala Nwga-South.”

He, therefore, urged the police not to allow the matter to be swept under the carpet.

Meanwhile, officers at the D7 Department in the state’s command headquarters, where the suspect was allegedly detained, refused to grant journalists access to the suspect, saying that the Abia Police Commissioner, Joshak Habila, has to authorise access to the suspect.

Attempts to reach the CP were unsuccessful but when contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ezekiel Onyeke, said he had yet to get details of the matter and promised to get back to our correspondent as soon as possible.

But as of the time of filing this report on Sunday he did not call back nor pick calls our correspondent put through to his mobile telephone.

In a swift reaction, the spokesman of APGA Campaign Organisation, Chief Ahamdi Nweke, denied the allegation that the party was behind electoral malpractices in the state.

He said that the said suspect was not known to him as an APGA member and challenged PDP and police to parade the suspect.

Nweke said, “It is a case of the pot calling the kettle black. PDP members are master riggers. We have evidence that a top PDP member was arrested with sensitive electoral materials by the military.

Strugles of Life

Once upon a time a daughter complained to her father that her life was miserable and that she didn’t know how she was going to make it. She was tired of fighting and struggling all the time. It seemed just as one problem was solved, another one soon followed. Her father, a chef, took her to the kitchen. He filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire.
Once the three pots began to boil, he placed potatoes in one pot, eggs in the second pot and ground coffee beans in the third pot. He then let them sit and boil, without saying a word to his daughter. The daughter, moaned and impatiently waited, wondering what he was doing. After twenty minutes he turned off the burners. He took the potatoes out of the pot and placed them in a bowl. He pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. He then ladled the coffee out and placed it in a cup.
Turning to her, he asked. “Daughter, what do you see?” “Potatoes, eggs and coffee,” she hastily replied.
“Look closer”, he said, “and touch the potatoes.” She did and noted that they were soft.
He then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg.
Finally, he asked her to sip the coffee. Its rich aroma brought a smile to her face.
“Father, what does this mean?” she asked.
He then explained that the potatoes, the eggs and coffee beans had each faced the same adversity-the boiling water. However, each one reacted differently. The potato went in strong, hard and unrelenting, but in boiling water, it became soft and weak. The egg was fragile, with the thin outer shell protecting its liquid interior until it was put in the boiling water. Then the inside of the egg became hard. However, the ground coffee beans were unique. After they were exposed to the boiling water, they changed the water and created something new.

“Which one are you?” he asked his daughter. “When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a potato, an egg, or a coffee bean?”

GIRL GIVE BIRTH TO SNAKE

It sounds unbelievable, but from the account of 19-year-old Kehinde Adegoke, it really happened. The teenager who is an indigene of Ogbomoso in Oyo State, but whose parents live in Minna, Niger State, has told Sunday Tribune how she had sex with a snake in her dream for four years and eventually got pregnant without any physical relationship with any man.

Not only that, Kehinde was delivered of a baby boy in the early hours of March 28, 2015. The baby, however, brought strangeness as he had two teeth protruding from the gum in its lower jaw. He
however died on Sunday, March 29 without any ill health pinned to him.

For four years, Kehinde said she had to deal with a strange spirit which always came to her in a dream in form of a snake. She said the snake would turn into a Fulani man who would have sex with her, and afterwards transform into a snake, before crawling away.

She disclosed that she had to leave Niger State in October 2014 for Ogbomoso, when she suddenly found herself pregnant without having physical intercourse.

She was, however, full of joy that she received deliverance from demonic possession through the prayers and deliverance sessions she went through at one church in Ogbomoso. She expressed appreciation to the founder of the church, Apostle Johnson Olayinka Afolabi a.k.a. Okoto Jesu, that God used him to set her free from satanic bondage.

Narrating her story, Kehinde told Tribune:
“My parents live in Niger but I am from Ogbomoso, Oyo State. I was troubled by an unseen spirit. I would see the snake beside me. The snake would then turn to a Fulani man who would have intercourse with me. It started about four years ago.
After the intercourse, the Fulani man would turn to a snake again and leave. Whenever I woke up, I would not see any semen indicating that I had sexual intercourse. But in the dream, he would climax and release in me.
I have never had any man who wooed me in real life and looked like the man. His face was strange. The Fulani man also used to appear to me in real life, but I was the only person who would see him. He dared not see me with any man, even if the person was my brother. He would frown and warn me off the man. This would make me change my countenance to whomever I was talking with.
Also, if I wanted to tell my parents what I was experiencing, he would appear and warned me against revealing anything. That was why the experience I was having spanned some years.”

Her life story changed when she discovered she was pregnant towards the end of 2014. According to her,:
“I noticed that I was pregnant in October 2014. My stomach started protruding and the change in me was noticed by my mother and neighbours. They asked whether I was pregnant and I said no. Though I did not see my menses, my thinking was that it was a temporary reaction and that it would still come since I didn’t have sexual intercourse.
When I went to a hospital to carry out a pregnancy test, it was positive. I was surprised because I did not have intercourse with any man. My parents did not believe me and were furious with me. I was so confused that I left Minna for Ogbomoso in Oyo State.
At Ogbomoso, someone told me about a church. I met the founder, Apostle Johnson Olayinka Afolabi a.k.a. Okoto Jesu. He asked me to go through marathon and dry fasting which spanned 41 days.
After the fasting, I did not feel anything in my tummy again. All I noticed was that my stomach would be flat whenever I woke up in the morning but it would protrude immediately I ate. I went through another fast in March after which I experienced my miracle.”

The alleged miracle happened on March 27.

“At about 9 a.m., I started feeling stomach pain. Nothing was moving in me. I took some drugs and the pain subsided. It started again and I had to go to Prophet Afolabi . He prayed into water which he asked me to drink. The pain did not subside.
By evening, the pain had become unbearable. Prophet was told and he blessed water again and sent it to me through one of his pastors. After drinking the water the second time, I vomited. The vomit was smelly. That was all I knew as I passed out.
I did not know how I got to the hospital. I learnt Okoto Jesu poured water in the church bell and rang the bell seven times, commanding all evil spirits in me to vanish in the name of Jesus. I was then taken to a private hospital (names withheld).
I became fully conscious of my environment during delivery. The baby was also changing its skin to different colours after birth. My mother was present in the hospital. I noticed that the baby had two teeth in the lower jaw. I did not Bosom -feed the baby. But he died on Sunday, March 29.
Since then, I have been delivered and free from manipulations of the spirit world. I no longer see the snake or the Fulani man.”

Kehinde also disclosed that she had familiar spirit and belonged to a group of destroyers (egbe abatenije), though she went through deliverance in 2011. Before the deliverance, she said she used to see herself in the midst of other children, with all of them adorning black garments.

She also revealed that she was initiated into a demonic group by four women whom she knew physically, though saying that two of them were dead. But all that had become a thing of the past, she stated.

The account of the girl was corroborated by Prophet Afolabi who is popularly called Okoto Jesu. According to him:
“When Kehinde was brought to our church, we pressed her stomach but couldn’t feel any pregnancy. We told her to go through dry fast.
She fasted for three days three times making a total of nine days and she did it without any adverse effect, which could not have been so if she was pregnant. She also observed white fast. The prayers offered her and the water given to drink turned the demons in her into a human form which came out as a baby.
Even when she was taking to the hospital, the nurse who examined her said she was still a virgin, which confirmed that she was indeed possessed. It was simply God at work.” Okoto Jesu said that a case like that of Kehinde had never happened in his church “though we have had cases of women who were pregnant for six, seven years but delivered when they got here.”

Kehinde’s mother, Mrs Adegoke, told Sunday Tribune that Kehinde was a strange child right from when she was in her womb, saying that the twin brother died at birth. She disclosed that when Kehinde was undergoing deliverance session in 2011, she was rolling on the ground and screaming that witches should leave her alone as she was no longer willing to be their tool.

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BUhari Happy wuth Jonathan

The Nigerian President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, says he is in full support of the steps taken so far by the Nigerian government in its efforts to protect the country’s citizens from the wave of xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
In a statement released in Abuja on Saturday, April 16, Mr. Buhari said that Nigeria’s Head of Mission in Pretoria had taken the right steps by advising the Nigerian community in South Africa to close their shops, stay home and keep out of trouble, while ensuring that they obey the laws of their host country.
“We equally understand that the South African government is making efforts to bring an end to this unfortunate situation,” Mr. Buhari said. “In the meantime, Nigerians in South Africa should abide by the words of caution extended them by their government representative in Pretoria.”
Mr. Buhari also commended the Nigerian government for its decision to monitor the situation in South Africa and evacuate its citizens at any sign of escalation.
“I am happy to see that the Nigerian government is very well aware of its responsibilities to its citizens in South Africa,” Mr. Buhari said.
The President-elect expressed sadness at the unfolding events in South Africa, recalling Nigeria’s and South Africa’s friendly relation since the end of aparth

BUhari Happy wuth Jonathan

The Nigerian President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, says he is in full support of the steps taken so far by the Nigerian government in its efforts to protect the country’s citizens from the wave of xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
In a statement released in Abuja on Saturday, April 16, Mr. Buhari said that Nigeria’s Head of Mission in Pretoria had taken the right steps by advising the Nigerian community in South Africa to close their shops, stay home and keep out of trouble, while ensuring that they obey the laws of their host country.
“We equally understand that the South African government is making efforts to bring an end to this unfortunate situation,” Mr. Buhari said. “In the meantime, Nigerians in South Africa should abide by the words of caution extended them by their government representative in Pretoria.”
Mr. Buhari also commended the Nigerian government for its decision to monitor the situation in South Africa and evacuate its citizens at any sign of escalation.
“I am happy to see that the Nigerian government is very well aware of its responsibilities to its citizens in South Africa,” Mr. Buhari said.
The President-elect expressed sadness at the unfolding events in South Africa, recalling Nigeria’s and South Africa’s friendly relation since the end of aparth

BUhari Happy wuth Jonathan

The Nigerian President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, says he is in full support of the steps taken so far by the Nigerian government in its efforts to protect the country’s citizens from the wave of xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
In a statement released in Abuja on Saturday, April 16, Mr. Buhari said that Nigeria’s Head of Mission in Pretoria had taken the right steps by advising the Nigerian community in South Africa to close their shops, stay home and keep out of trouble, while ensuring that they obey the laws of their host country.
“We equally understand that the South African government is making efforts to bring an end to this unfortunate situation,” Mr. Buhari said. “In the meantime, Nigerians in South Africa should abide by the words of caution extended them by their government representative in Pretoria.”
Mr. Buhari also commended the Nigerian government for its decision to monitor the situation in South Africa and evacuate its citizens at any sign of escalation.
“I am happy to see that the Nigerian government is very well aware of its responsibilities to its citizens in South Africa,” Mr. Buhari said.
The President-elect expressed sadness at the unfolding events in South Africa, recalling Nigeria’s and South Africa’s friendly relation since the end of aparth

I will kill mayweather

himself ready to fight Floyd Mayweather, saying he’s willing to engage the unbeaten American in the middle of the ring if that’s what it takes to win, AFP reports.

The eagerly-anticipated May 2 welterweight unification showdown in Las Vegas promises to be the most lucrative fight in boxing history.

“I am very excited,” Pacquiao said at the Wild Card gym in Hollywood during the week. “My training and my conditioning is good. I can feel it. I am ready.”

Pacquiao says that is why he is training harder and with more drive and determination than for any other fight in his career.

“I know this is one of the biggest fights ever in boxing,” he said.

“I am not saying it is the biggest, because that would be insulting to the other fights that have been done already.

“But it is one of the biggest.”

Pacquiao defended his aggressive style after Mayweather, 38, on Tuesday called the 36-year-old Filipino superstar a “reckless” fighter whose careless actions leads to knockouts.

Pacquiao said boxing fans appreciate a fighter who comes to box and put on a good show.

“Reckless fighter, that is how people like me and love me,” Pacquiao said.

“Fans like an exciting fight. Our sport is called boxing, people like a boxer.”

Pacquiao spoke in Hollywood at the final news conference before he heads to Las Vegas for the fight at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino.

The boxer said he doesn’t need a blockbuster fight with Mayweather to define his legacy, that winning titles in eight divisions has far exceeded his expectations.

“My entire career defines my legacy. Everything I have done in boxing,” he said.

“I have had some great, great accomplishments and achievements in my career. I won titles in eight different weight divisions.”

His hall-of-fame career has surpassed anything he could have imagined when he got into sport after someone told him he could earn 100 pesos (about $2) for a fight.

The 12-year-old used the money from that first decision victory to buy rice for his poverty-stricken family in the Philippines.

“I don’t want to boast and talk about the eight different weight divisions, but that accomplishment is amazing. Beyond my expectation,” he said.

“When I started boxing, I never imagined it.”

Pacquiao spoke to a small group of reporters in the basement of the Wild Card gym in Hollywood.

He then went upstairs to the main gym for a workout in front of a standing-room only crowd of photographers and television cameras.

Pacquiao began his workout with a shadow-boxing session without gloves.

Wearing a grey t-shirt with the words Team Pacquiao on the back, he worked out on his own for several minutes, while trainer Freddie Roach watched from the corner as the throng of media pressed up against the outside of the ring.

Pacquiao said the fight would have never seen the light of day if he hadn’t agreed to a 60/40 split of the purse, with Mayweather getting the bigger share.

He sought, but failed to get Mayweather to agree on a $5 million penalty for anyone who fails a drug test in the buildup to the fight.

Mayweather had previously accused Pacquiao of using performance-enhancing drugs, which became one of the stumbling blocks that helped scuttle previous negotiations.

“I suggested it. I was surprised he turned it down,” Pacquiao said.

“I was surprised because I was not the one making accusations. They were the ones blaming me because I didn’t want to drug test.”

Pacquiao said he had already been tested about six times since the May 2 fight was announced.

The two fighters also declined to put a rematch clause in the contract.

“The negotiations for the first one were so hard,” Pacquiao said.

“How can we talk about a second one? The first one was so hard to make happen.”

Building Bridges

Once upon a time two brothers who lived on adjoining farms fell into conflict. It was the first serious rift in 40 years of farming side by side, sharing machinery, and trading labor and goods as needed without a hitch.

Then the long collaboration fell apart. It began with a small misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference, and finally it exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence.

One morning there was a knock on John's door. He opened it to find a man with a carpenter's toolbox. "I'm looking for a few days work," he said.

"Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there. Could I help you?"

"Yes," said the older brother. "I do have a job for you. Look across the creek at that farm. That's my neighbor, in fact, it's my younger brother. Last week there was a meadow between us and he took his bulldozer to the river levee and now there is a creek between us. Well, he may have done this to spite me, but I'll go him one better. See that pile of lumber curing by the barn? I want you to build me a fence - an 8-foot fence - so I won't need to see his place anymore. Cool him down, anyhow."

The carpenter said, "I think I understand the situation. Show me the nails and the post-hole digger and I'll be able to do a job that pleases you."

The older brother had to go to town for supplies, so he helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day.

The carpenter worked hard all that day measuring, sawing, nailing.

About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job. The farmer's eyes opened wide, his jaw dropped.

There was no fence there at all. It was a bridge... a bridge stretching from one side of the creek to the other! A fine piece of work handrails and all - and the neighbor, his younger brother, was coming across, his hand outstretched.

"You are quite a fellow to build this bridge after all I've said and done."

The two brothers stood at each end of the bridge, and then they met in the middle, taking each other's hand. They turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolbox on his shoulder. "No, wait! Stay a few days. I've a lot of other projects for you," said the older brother.

"I'd love to stay on," the carpenter said, "but, I have many more bridges to build."

Building Bridges

Once upon a time two brothers who lived on adjoining farms fell into conflict. It was the first serious rift in 40 years of farming side by side, sharing machinery, and trading labor and goods as needed without a hitch.

Then the long collaboration fell apart. It began with a small misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference, and finally it exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence.

One morning there was a knock on John's door. He opened it to find a man with a carpenter's toolbox. "I'm looking for a few days work," he said.

"Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there. Could I help you?"

"Yes," said the older brother. "I do have a job for you. Look across the creek at that farm. That's my neighbor, in fact, it's my younger brother. Last week there was a meadow between us and he took his bulldozer to the river levee and now there is a creek between us. Well, he may have done this to spite me, but I'll go him one better. See that pile of lumber curing by the barn? I want you to build me a fence - an 8-foot fence - so I won't need to see his place anymore. Cool him down, anyhow."

The carpenter said, "I think I understand the situation. Show me the nails and the post-hole digger and I'll be able to do a job that pleases you."

The older brother had to go to town for supplies, so he helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day.

The carpenter worked hard all that day measuring, sawing, nailing.

About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job. The farmer's eyes opened wide, his jaw dropped.

There was no fence there at all. It was a bridge... a bridge stretching from one side of the creek to the other! A fine piece of work handrails and all - and the neighbor, his younger brother, was coming across, his hand outstretched.

"You are quite a fellow to build this bridge after all I've said and done."

The two brothers stood at each end of the bridge, and then they met in the middle, taking each other's hand. They turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolbox on his shoulder. "No, wait! Stay a few days. I've a lot of other projects for you," said the older brother.

"I'd love to stay on," the carpenter said, "but, I have many more bridges to build."

Building Bridges

Once upon a time two brothers who lived on adjoining farms fell into conflict. It was the first serious rift in 40 years of farming side by side, sharing machinery, and trading labor and goods as needed without a hitch.

Then the long collaboration fell apart. It began with a small misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference, and finally it exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence.

One morning there was a knock on John's door. He opened it to find a man with a carpenter's toolbox. "I'm looking for a few days work," he said.

"Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there. Could I help you?"

"Yes," said the older brother. "I do have a job for you. Look across the creek at that farm. That's my neighbor, in fact, it's my younger brother. Last week there was a meadow between us and he took his bulldozer to the river levee and now there is a creek between us. Well, he may have done this to spite me, but I'll go him one better. See that pile of lumber curing by the barn? I want you to build me a fence - an 8-foot fence - so I won't need to see his place anymore. Cool him down, anyhow."

The carpenter said, "I think I understand the situation. Show me the nails and the post-hole digger and I'll be able to do a job that pleases you."

The older brother had to go to town for supplies, so he helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day.

The carpenter worked hard all that day measuring, sawing, nailing.

About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job. The farmer's eyes opened wide, his jaw dropped.

There was no fence there at all. It was a bridge... a bridge stretching from one side of the creek to the other! A fine piece of work handrails and all - and the neighbor, his younger brother, was coming across, his hand outstretched.

"You are quite a fellow to build this bridge after all I've said and done."

The two brothers stood at each end of the bridge, and then they met in the middle, taking each other's hand. They turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolbox on his shoulder. "No, wait! Stay a few days. I've a lot of other projects for you," said the older brother.

"I'd love to stay on," the carpenter said, "but, I have many more bridges to build."
from Giwa Damilola

Friday, 17 April 2015
Love! Meet the married woman who shares her bed with a pig

While most people cuddle up to dogs and cats, a Chinese woman has become an internet sensation after sharing her life with her pet pig who she dresses, walks and even sleeps with every day.

Zhu Chou, 27, has raised her beloved Five Flowers since it was a piglet and the porker has now grown to a whopping 187lbs (13st)

But that has nothing to weaken the bond between the two, with Ms Zhu proudly posting pictures of them snuggled up in bed together, it was reported by People's Daily Online.

Her husband is understood to be 'tolerant' of the relationship.Ms Zhu has nicknamed her pet Zhu Diandian or 'crazy pig' in English.
The owner's surname, Zhu, sounds exactly like 'pig' in Mandarin and that may be the reason for her love of this rather unusual pet.