Dream It

Posted: 08:42
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Author: Unknown

If you can dream it, then you can achieve it. You will get all you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want.
Zig Ziglar

Posted: 08:36
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Author: Unknown

Review: 'Iron Man 3' a sweetly calibrated blockbuster

Tony Stark may have started out as a Batman knockoff -- like Bruce Wayne he's a playboy entrepreneur, a mega-rich industrialist who inherited the good life before channeling his anger into homeland security -- but there's no doubt that in the movies Robert Downey Jr. has put clear blue water between Tony and Christian Bale's grim, angst-y Batman.

Flashy and frivolous, an exhibitionist who likes the glare of public attention, he's a light knight with a thick skin.

Traditionally, protagonists are punished for their hubris, and the first "Iron Man" movie went through those motions. But Downey enjoys Stark's arrogance too much to eat humble pie. He's always resisted the idea of playing the repentant. Stark may have developed a conscience after his run-in with the Taliban in the first movie, and even turned monogamous for Pepper (Gwyneth Paltrow), but he's still a flip, cynical hedonist at heart.

So what are we to make of the anxiety attacks that cripple Mr. Stark in Shane Black's "Iron Man 3"? Apparently he's freaked out after his mind-blowing experiences with "The Avengers" last summer (though no one else seems concerned that Norse gods are at large in the cosmos, and when the going gets tough you do wonder why he doesn't pick up the phone and ask his new buddies for help -- not the only plot hole by any means).

Black, who wrote "Lethal Weapon" way back when and more recently helped restore Downey's career with "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang," may have hoped that a sliver of self-doubt would crack open Iron Man's emotional armor and restore the human face behind the mask, but Downey shows no interest in introspection.

Black systematically strips Tony of almost everything he has -- gadgets, gizmos, his strongest suit -- but the actor merely shrugs it off. There's a lot of faulty wiring this time round, technology that seems as flawed as its inventor, but if his problems are largely of his own making Tony remains supremely unfazed, always primed with a quip and a smirk. Downey may as well be playing "Irony Man."

Stark's arrogance and narcissism come back to haunt him in the form of spurned entrepreneur Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce) and a larger-than-life terror-monger by the name of "The Mandarin" (Ben Kingsley).

A cross between Osama bin Laden and Fu Manchu -- but with the rumbling, tumbling vocal stylings of a Southern Baptist evangelist, The Mandarin brings out the best in Kingsley, who hasn't had a role as juicy as this one for donkey's years. Mandarin is a worthy nemesis, an extravagant showman like Tony who can hack into broadcast feeds at will, and claims credit for a string of bombings across the U.S. When Hap (Jon Favreau) is caught in one blast, Tony takes it as a personal affront -- and impetuously calls fire down on his own head.

There's an off-the-cuff quality to the storytelling here -- the movie rewrites its own laws of physics whenever it's convenient to do so -- which by rights should be a bigger problem than it is. But Black and/or co-writer Drew Pearce know how to write snappy dialogue. Even if they don't mean a thing, their scenes have plenty of zing. They also have an ace up their sleeve, a trump card that puts a giddy spin on the third act at just that point where both the previous movies began to run out of stream.

To say more would be to spoil the fun. "Iron Man 3" has plenty to offer on that score. It's a confidently tongue-in-cheek piece of blockbuster engineering, sweetly calibrated to Downey's cavalier appeal and to Kingsley's oddball interjections, a battle royale of rampant egos in which acting speaks louder than words.

7 Incredible Contemporary Flying Cars

Posted: 07:56
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Author: Unknown

Photo: mavericklsa.com
Don’t look down…
Previously on TG we looked back at early attempts to develop working roadable aircraft. Despite the best efforts of those pioneering inventors, none of their experiments and prototypes managed to produce a flying car for the masses – or even for the wealthy elite, for that matter. Still, the dream is alive, and even today, inventors, designers and manufacturers are working hard to create vehicles capable of bypassing busy traffic jams. Here’s a look at seven roadable aircraft that are currently available – or hopefully will be in the near future.

7. Moller Skycar 400

Image provided by Moller International, USA (www.moller.com). All rights reserved
With more development, the Moller Skycar 400 could soon be soaring above the clouds, as shown in this artist’s impression.
Inventor and engineer Paul Moller has been working on his flying car dream for the past four decades. Seeming straight out of sci-fi, the Moller Skycar 400 is a prototype vertical take-off and landing vehicle that is flown using two hand-operated controls that direct this craft’s on-board “fly by wire” system. Moller suggests that once the safety and operation functions of the Skycar have been fully tested and demonstrated, people may not even require a pilot’s license to fly one.

Image provided by Moller International, USA (www.moller.com). All rights reserved
The Moller Skycar 400 hovers above the ground.
Freedom Motors, also founded by Moller, is in charge of developing the Skycar’s Rotapower engines. These engines generate minimal vibration and are small enough to fit in the car’s ducted fans. Altering the fans’ thrust keeps the vehicle stable when taking off and landing. If all goes well, the Skycar – which can drive on land for short distances at speeds of up to 30 mph – could go into production as early 2014.

6. I-TEC Maverick

Photo: mavericklsa.com
With its parachute opened up, the Maverick flying car looks like something out of a James Bond movie.
The Maverick is the second vehicle in history to be confirmed legal both on the road and in the air. Created by the Indigenous Peoples Technology and Education Center (I-TEC), this beauty is aimed at people inhabiting hard to reach and out of the way places. That’s if they can afford one: the price of a Maverick in January 2012 was $94,000.

Photo: mavericklsa.com
What better way is there to explore remote areas than behind the wheel of a flying car?
On land, the Maverick drives like a dune buggy and is able to hit 80 mph on paved roads. Rough terrain is no problem for it, either; and when it’s time to take off, a parachute is hoisted up the vehicle’s carbon-fiber mast, helping the Maverick lift into the air. Meanwhile, a propeller at the rear of the craft provides the thrust.
I-TEC founder Steve Saint says he doesn’t want to over-complicate the Maverick, “If we’re going to make this the Ford of flying cars, it has to be easy to fly,” he told Popular Mechanics. And if you want to fly your own Maverick, you’ll have to put it together yourself: the vehicle comes as an assemble-it-yourself kit car.

5. Terrafugia Transition

Photo: Terrafugia
The Terrafugia Transition would definitely make the commute to work a lot more fun.
Created by Terrafugia Inc., the Transition might be described as either a plane you keep in the garage and drive to the airstrip or as a car that also flies. This interesting-looking roadable aircraft features quick-deploying wings that fold up for road use. Controls inside the cockpit unfold the wings, and once it’s in the air, the Transition flies much like any other small, propeller-driven aircraft.

Photo: Terrafugia
It certainly beats a Ford Pinto…
For safety, a parachute is included with the craft. The Transition has a 100 hp Rotax 912 ULS engine and can reach speeds of up to 100 knots in the air. On the ground, it uses rear-wheel drive and can motor along at a respectable 65 mph. As you’d expect, though, it’s not a cheap family vehicle; as of 2012, it came with a $279,000 price tag.

4. Scaled Composites BiPod

Photo: Courtesy of Scaled Composites, LLC
The funky-looking BiPod features two cockpits.
If one cockpit’s not enough, take a look at the BiPod, from Scaled Composites. Not only do the two cockpits look cool and (retro-)futuristic; the BiPod roadable aircraft is also a hybrid vehicle that runs on both gasoline and electricity. On the ground, the pilot sits in the left cockpit, switching to the right one when it’s time for take-off. Elsewhere, the wings and tail can be safely stored in the vehicle when the pilot is on the ground.

Photo: Courtesy of Scaled Composites, LLC
We have lift off…
Besides the two cockpits, each of the BiPod’s fuselages has a 450cc gas engine, and together these drive the vehicle’s electric generators. In turn, the generators power the rear wheels of the vehicle when it’s moving on land and the craft’s propellers when it’s in the air. The BiPod can attain air speeds of 174 knots and is capable of flying for 700 miles without refueling. So far, only one prototype has been built – so you’re unlikely to be able to buy one any time soon.

3. PAL-V One

Photo: PAL-V
What would Hagrid from the Harry Potter series make of this flying motorbike?
“Avoid traffic jams and cross lakes, fjords, rivers or mountain ranges like an eagle,” says the official PAL-V website. The Dutch company invented this nifty vehicle, dubbed the PAL-V One, and rather than being a car that turns into a plane, it’s a little bit more like a three-wheeled motorcycle that transforms into a gyrocopter. Don’t let its small size fool you, though; this pint-sized craft still packs a punch. On a full tank of gas, it can be driven for a distance of up to 750 miles and flown for between 220 and 315 miles. It also boasts a top air speed of 97 knots and can reach a zippy 112 mph on the ground.

Photo: PAL-V
With just enough room for two, the PAL-V One keeps things intimate.
Although there are plans for future models to run on bio-fuels, the PAL-V One is currently gasoline-fueled. This cool-seeming craft can carry two people at a time, and it handles much like a motorcycle on the road thanks to its special automatic “tilting” system. PAL-V claims that its creation will come in handy for commuting but will also be ideal for couriers, medical professionals and police who want to overcome gridlocked city roads.

2. Plane Driven PD-2

Photo: Plane Driven LLC
The Glasair Sportsman’s folding wings made it a natural choice.
The PD-2 is a modified Glasair Sportsman plane that has a specially manufactured “drive unit” added to its rear fuselage for when it’s time to hit the road. What’s more, because this model of aircraft features foldable wings, the vehicle was already halfway there when it comes to driving functionality.

Photo: Plane Driven LLC
The PD-2 flies past mountain scenery.
On the ground, the PD-2 runs on regular unleaded petrol and boasts a top speed of 73 mph, while in plane mode it uses 100LL fuel and can clock 130 knots. It’s also licensable as a three-wheeled motorcycle; and when used as a plane, the rear-drive unit is removed and stowed away in the back seat.

1. Butterfly LLC Super Sky Cycle

Photo: The Butterfly Aircraft LLC
In this craft, pilots can literally feel the air on their faces.
Wonderfully named company The Butterfly LLC is behind the Super Sky Cycle, which is a gyroplane that can also be driven on roads. The vehicle is the brainchild of company founder Larry Neal and arrives as a ready-to-be-assembled kit. The Texas Border Patrol saw how useful the Super Sky Cycle could be and have reportedly put in a big order.

Photo: The Butterfly LLC
We’d love to see the cops doing their rounds in one of these!
The propellers fold down when the Super Sky Cycle is on the ground. Yet even though it’s one of the simpler roadable aircraft on this list, this funny-looking vehicle can still clock 65 mph on land and is able to fly for up to five hours non-stop. Interestingly, it comes with a disclaimer that flying the craft can result in injury or death and that it is used completely at one’s own risk.

Bonus: Urban Aeronautics AirMule

Photo: Urban Aeronautics
We wouldn’t mess around with this behemoth.
This hefty AirMule prototype looks more of a flying tank than a flying car. In view of this, we’ve included it as a bonus entry. Created by Israeli company Urban Aeronautics, the vehicle is capable of vertical take-off and landing and flies without a pilot. The AirMule is able to hover and fly in obstructed environments and difficult conditions, which, according to its manufacturers, makes it ideal for both military and emergency rescue operations.

Photo: Urban Aeronautics
The AirMule during a test run
The AirMule’s precise maneuverability is a result of its specifically designed internal rotors. It is able to withstand winds of as much as 50 knots and is equipped with a parachute that allows it to land safely in case of rotor failure. It’s also smaller in size and quieter than a helicopter, enabling it to carry out missions stealthily. The AirMule is scheduled for continuous flight testing in 2014.

Image provided by Moller International, USA (www.moller.com). All rights reserved
This flying saucer-shaped vehicle is an earlier invention of Moller’s.
Clearly, people are still enamored with the idea of roadable aircraft – both for practical reasons and for the sheer novelty of operating a flying car. As you can see, if you’ve got the money, capabilities and inclination to pilot one, there are already a few options open. And with so many people working on them, perhaps it won’t be long before they’re available to the rest of us as well.

Posted: 07:43
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Author: Unknown

Happy 34th birthday to Ms Nnaji

The superstar actress is a year older today, May 3rd, 2013. Happy birthday to her and many more successful years ahead!

Posted: 07:40
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Author: Unknown

D'banj's brother K-Switch set to launch his own record label

Every artist in Nigeria now wants to own a record label. Ki lo de? If everyone is a record label exec, who are y'all going to sign? Anyway, Sister Caro crooner K-Switch is getting ready to launch his own record label called Products Republic, which he says means a republic for anybody who thinks he/she is a product. The record label will be under D'banj's DB Records and will be launched with K-Switch's Scam 101 mix-tape in June.

Posted: 07:34
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Author: Unknown

D'banj goes down low. Article written by James Silas

Here's an article I read and found interesting. Written by publicist and entertainment business consultant, James Silas. Read the article below and share your thoughts afterwards.

D'banj Goes Down Low - By James Silas

Two years ago, it would have been almost impossible for D’Banj to do a collaboration with an Olamide even if the latter had attained this much attention with his music, but today D’Banj is struggling for another hit since “Oliver Twist”.

Once upon a time (October 14, 2010), I tweeted “Partnerships can hardly work, not unless you’re a duo like Don Jazzy and D’Banj”… this tweet was “favourited” by Don Jazzy. Then two years later (2012), the statement returned to me – void!

A D’BANJ topic at this point in time would arouse mixed feelings, especially amongst and within fans and pundits. Many would never come to an agreement while some would rather rest the case for another day. We cannot rule out the fact that most people including yours truly are yet to phantom the reality that the ‘Koko Master’ and his erstwhile buddy, Don Jazzy are no longer together – A creative and business divorce.

The breakup cleared arguments about Don Jazzy as a major influence and source of the quality and quantity of music that came from D’Banj. The source of the music was the least of my problem – I just loved what I heard from production to vocals and lyrics. Everything was fine. There’s no point going into the obvious – we all know the breakup story. The last song that was officially promoted on Mo’hits was “Oliver Twist”. It was and still is a monster hit across the world.

Before the rise of Mo’hits, D’Banj released his first set of songs “Kiss Me Again” ft. Ruggedman, “One More Time” and “Gba Si Be” ft. Abounce on OJB’s Silver Tones’ imprint.

The advent of Mo’hits and the growth of the D’Banj brand only gave ‘collabo access’ to label mates and close friends like Ikechukwu (Whine Am Well), Kas (Fimile Remix) and Banky W (Lagos Party Remix). The dynasty was very rigid in collaboration-related matters. We weren’t sure if it was Don Jazzy’s plot to protect D’Banj’s creative weakness or the latter’s personal choice. However, the release of “Mr. Endowed Remix” with Snoop Dogg in 2010 and the Kanye West-Good Music merger confirmed that D’Banj was not about the local league. He had a bigger dream.

Going over the changes that has transpired after Mo’hits’ breakup will be over-flogging the issue. A significant change on D’Banj’s side is his sudden presence on other artiste’s songs. The first was “Bad Pass (Tony Montana)” by Naeto C, followed by Iyanya’s “Kukere Remix”. The fact that these songs were already solo hits made his input less relevant especially at a time when fans and the industry at large expect more. Fally Ipupa was featured on “We The Best”, off D’Banj’s DKM Album, but the arrangement made it sound like D’Banj was the one featured.

So D’Banj is also cutting in on Olamide’s recent buzz and they have a song that will be released any time soon. I reckon this is a strategy of some sort to either sustain relevance or a random attempt to cop another hit outside Don Jazzy’s works.

The last Nation’s Cup, placed him on the Continent’s spotlight again but instead of unveiling a new song on that platform, he continues with the Don Jazzy produced “Oliver Twist”. In my opinion, the “Scape Goat Remix” with Kanye West is a waste of an opportunity. Additions like that are done when you are just paying (one off) for the guy to voice a verse or two on your already made song, but when you are a signed artiste on Good Music (especially when it’s a paid merger), creative time should be spent on a song for the sake of the fans and listening community.

Maybe it’s too early to expect much from D’Banj but I am worried for him already. This is a man who has three flawless albums and countless hit songs on his belt. Everything he touched in the past was gold and if one artiste was literally way ahead of his time, it was D’Banj. He is the only artiste who would drop his Glo Ambassadorship due to complications from renewal talks and fee. Even at that, the guy was not blabbing when he said “I make 10 million in a week…” on “Gbono Feli Feli” (2008). He is still one of the most awarded artistes of the last decade. I mean, if he drops the music today, his achievement may not be surpassed in years to come.

The mass influx of sounds and artistes in Nigeria today is enough to distract the most loyal of fans. Ghanaian rapper, Sarkodie already has a lot of fans in Nigeria; same way new artistes are sprawling up every day to have a share of the cake.

I don’t how long we will have to wait for D’Banj but if the collaborations are intentional and strategic to fuel his relevance – let’s file! Don’t touch it!

Friday, 3 May 2013