Kissing can cause cavities.

Sugary candy gets a bad rap for rotting out people’s teeth, but the real perpetrators are bacteria that can collect on your teeth and gums! The microbes stay alive by feeding on leftover food particles in your mouth, and the acid that they subsequently produce is what causes tooth decay. These organisms can be spread by any sort of mouth-to-mouth contact, including smooching your lover! Dentists have seen the worst of this at times when a person with a pristine mouth begins dating someone who has poor oral hygiene (most often men). Despite the former’s best dental habits, they may just end up with a couple fillings of their own simply from receiving bacteria due to sucking face with their less diligent significant other!

Another common and easy way for this bacteria to spread is when parents feed their young children. Oftentimes, a mother or father will taste baby food to test its temperature and then proceed to feed their child. This is a recipe for cavities, especially because there is less of an emphasis on brushing the teeth of young babies. A 2007 study administered by the University of Queensland’s School of Dentistry in Australia found that this cavity-causing bacteria resides in 30% of 3-month-olds and over 80% of 2-year-olds!
OMG Facts.

REDEMPTION FOR EL NINO?

Two-goal Torres sends Irish crashing out

 Spain 4: Republic of Ireland 0             

 

 Fernando Torres scored for the first time in two years for Spain and then did it again to end Ireland's hopes of a Euro miracle. Photo: AP

There was a miracle in Gdansk after all, but not the one that the Republic of Ireland had been praying for.
Two goals in one game from Fernando Torres, rather than the most famous victory in the Republic's football history, was the fairytale that few had anticipated as Spain reminded the world why they are the outstanding team of this generation.

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Outpassed and outplayed for the entire 90 minutes, Ireland succumbed to their heaviest defeat under Giovanni Trapattoni and their biggest at a major tournament as they became the first team to be eliminated from Euro 2012.
The dreamers had yearned to see football's equivalent of Buster Douglas knocking out Mike Tyson, but Spain had other ideas and they ended Irish hopes with goals from Torres, David Silva and Cesc Fabregas.
The innocent optimism of the Irish that preceded Sunday's 3-1 defeat against Croatia was replaced by harsh reality as they approached this clash against the world champions.
One hopeful banner, an Irish tricolour carrying the message "Come on you Boys in Green - Miracles do happen" summed up the magnitude of the task. Even the author probably did not believe its claim.
Dreams of the miracle had lasted a mere four minutes - a minute longer than Croatia needed to score in Poznan - when Torres delivered the perfect response to his critics by putting Spain ahead.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/sport/soccer/twogoal-torres-sends-irish-crashing-out-20120615-20dsq.html#ixzz1xoW9V1BB

Tiger Woods in solid US Open start as Phil Mickelson struggles

2012 US Open Championship

• Venue: The Olympic Club, San Francisco
• Date: 14-17 June

Tiger Woods laid down a marker with a solid 69 as playing partners Phil Mickelson and Bubba Watson struggled on day one of the US Open at Olympic.

Woods went into the clubhouse in a share of second at one under, three behind leader Michael Thompson (66).
But five-time runner-up Mickelson was out of sorts and carded 76, while Masters champion Watson took 78.
The world's top three Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood were playing together in an afternoon group.

"That was the old Tiger. That was beautiful to watch”

Bubba Watson on Woods.

Woods, back up to fourth in the world after his recent win at Memorial, looked in complete control of his game as he kicked off his challenge for a 15th major title and first since the 2008 US Open.

He began with five straight pars after starting at the ninth before dropping a first shot at the par-four 14th.
The former world number one made amends with a birdie at the 522-yard par-five 17th and fired back-to-back birdies at the fourth and fifth, the latter courtesy of a 30-foot putt, before a final bogey on the sixth.
"I played well - I felt like I had control of my game all day and stuck to my game plan," said the 36-year-old.
"We knew it was going to be quick, but we didn't think it was going to happen overnight. I was really, really surprised how much it changed - it was just like they used [underground aeration system] sub-air on the whole place and you had to make adjustments."
Of his long birdie putt at the fifth, he added: "It was a fluke - that putt was off the green. I'd left myself a tough putt.
"I was very pleased with every facet of my game and I stayed very patient."
Mickelson lost a ball with his first shot and had to return to the tee and his day continued in similar vein. He followed his opening bogey with two more in the next two holes and struggled throughout off the tee.

"I didn't play very well, obviously," said the four-time major champion. "It was a tough day playing the way I did and three-putting the fourth really hurt.

"I've got a tough challenge just to get to the weekend. I will see if I can shoot under par - maybe that will get me there.
"Tiger struck it really well. He had real solid control of his flight and trajectory."
As for losing his opening shot, he said: "It must have stayed up because nobody saw it."
Watson, who looked a shadow of the man who triumphed at Augusta in April, said: "The course beat me up today. It's a lot better than I am - it beat me by eight.
"It's disappointing and it doesn't matter what tournament it is."
Watson said of Woods's performance: "That was the old Tiger. That was beautiful to watch.
"That's what we all come to see. That's what we all want to watch and that was awesome to see him strike the ball look."

US Open factfile

• No-one has won back-to-back US Opens since American Curtis Strange won it in 1988 and 1989
• American Lee Janzen won the tournament the last time it was held at San Francisco's Olympic Park in 1998
• Rory McIlroy's total of 268 at Bethesda's Congressional Country Club was the lowest in the tournament's 116-year history

Brooks support for PM revealed:

Leveson: 'We're definitely in this together', Brooks told PM

Rebekah Brooks' text to David Cameron: "We're definitely in this together"

 

Ex-News International executive Rebekah Brooks told the PM "professionally we're definitely in this together", after the Sun paper switched loyalty to his party, the Leveson Inquiry heard.

Mrs Brooks sent the text to David Cameron on the eve of his speech to the 2009 Conservative Party conference.
But Mr Cameron said ex-PM Gordon Brown's claims about a Tory deal with the company were "complete nonsense".
And he said hiring ex-News of the World editor Andy Coulson had "haunted" him.
Mr Coulson became Mr Cameron's communications chief after resigning from the paper when its royal editor Clive Goodman was jailed for phone hacking.
'Proud friend'
Mr Cameron said Mr Brown's claim - that the Tories agreed to cut funding for the BBC and media regulator Ofcom in return for political support from News International - had been made because he was "very angry and disappointed" at the Sun's decision to switch support from Labour ahead of the 2010 general election.

" Questioned about the Murdochs, Rebekah Brooks, Andy Coulson and Jeremy Hunt, he looked "tense, edgy, uncomfortable and again and again said he couldn't recall events"”

Mr Cameron said the message from Mrs Brooks, dated October 2009 and submitted as part of his written evidence, was a reflection the Sun had the previous week decided to support the Conservatives.

Mrs Brooks said in the text to the then opposition leader: "I am so rooting for you tomorrow, not just as a proud friend but because professionally we're definitely in this together."
The text refers to how they should have a "country supper soon".

Despite the friendship, Mr Cameron said there had been "no overt deals", "no covert deals" and "no nods and winks" with the company.
He said he did have some conversations with editors in which he told them "we'd love a bit more support from your paper", but "not very often".
Legal advice
Speaking about Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt's appointment to handle the bid by News International's parent company News Corporation to buy BSkyB, Mr Cameron said: "It was not some rushed, botched, political decision. If anyone had told me Jeremy Hunt couldn't do the job I wouldn't have given him the job."
He said he "definitely asked the cabinet secretary's [Sir Jeremy Heywood] view and my memory is that he sought legal advice."

The BSkyB bid was eventually abandoned in July 2011 amid outrage over the phone-hacking scandal.
 

Rebekah Brooks's message to David Cameron on eve of conference speech

"But seriously I do understand the issue with the Times. Let's discuss over country supper soon.
"On the party it was because I had asked a number of NI (News International) people to Manchester post endorsement and they were disappointed not to see you. But as always Sam was wonderful (and I thought it was OE's [Old Etonians] were charm personified!)
"I am so rooting for you tomorrow not just as a proud friend but because professionally we're definitely in this together! Speech of your life? Yes he Cam".

The Conservatives have been accused of having a biased view in favour of the bid by News Corporation.

The prime minister's witness statement reveals he had 1,404 meetings with "media figures" - 26 a month on average - while in opposition between 2005 and 2010. Once in government, that fell to an average of about 13 a month.

In 2008 he took a trip to the Greek island of Santorini for a dinner with News International boss Rupert Murdoch because it was a chance to "build a relationship" with him.

When asked by Robert Jay QC, counsel for the inquiry into the culture, practice and ethics of the press, how frequently he had seen Mrs Brooks between 2008 and 2009 when he was at home in his constituency in Oxfordshire, Mr Cameron was not specific.

He replied: "Not every weekend... um, in 2008/09, I'd have to check, I might be able to go back and check but I don't think every weekend, I don't think most weekends."
'Controversial appointment'
When he returned to give evidence in the afternoon however he said he had more details, after checking his wife Samantha's diary.

It suggested the couple were "in the constituency" 23 weekends in 2009 and 15 in 2010, meaning "we probably did not see [the Brooks] more than once every six weeks".

Lord Justice Leveson replied: "The great value of wives, prime minister."

Charlie and Rebekah Brooks appeared in court on Wednesday

Mrs Brooks and her husband Charlie - who went to school with Mr Cameron - have both been charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice in relation to the phone-hacking scandal surrounding News of the World. Both deny wrongdoing.

The prime minister told the inquiry he accepted hiring Mr Coulson was "a controversial appointment" which had "come back to haunt both him and me".

However, Mr Cameron said had been given "assurances" at the time by Mr Coulson that he had no knowledge of phone hacking at the paper.

Earlier Mr Cameron said politicians "have to take care when you have personal friendships [with individuals in the media] but that can be done and I have done that".

Mr Cameron said the relationship between politicians and the media had deteriorated. "How we get it to a better place, I think part of it will be about transparency, better regulation, having a bit more distance, that will be part of respect."

BBC political editor Nick Robinson said some of the key moments in Mr Cameron's testimony were when he was asked about Mr Murdoch, Mrs Brooks and the Sun, saying his answers were often "terse" and that he looked "tense".

Meanwhile Mr Hunt, responding to a Parliamentary question, said the Leveson Inquiry has so far cost taxpayers £3.2 million, with the total cost for part one of the investigation expected to reach £5.6 million.
BBCNews.

Allen Stanford jailed for 110 years for $7bn Ponzi

 Allen Stanford had blamed a former chief financial officer

Disgraced tycoon Allen Stanford has been sentenced to 110 years in jail for operating a Ponzi scheme that defrauded investors of more than $7bn (£4.5bn).

The scheme was described as one of the largest in US history.

In court, Stanford denied any guilt, telling the judge at his sentencing hearing: "I did not defraud anybody."

A Texan banker, Stanford rose to prominence outside the US when he bankrolled international cricket competitions in the UK and Caribbean.

But after the collapse of his agreement to stage Twenty20 cricket in England, his financial empire began to crumble amid investigations by US regulators.

Forbes Magazine listed him as the 605th richest man in the world in 2006.

However, since his arrest in 2009 he has spent three years in detention after being denied bail.
Shifting blame
Stanford's Ponzi scheme centred on his banking operation based in the Caribbean island nation of Antigua.

Some 30,000 individual investors were swindled, it was alleged. Prosecutors failed to find as much as 92% of the assets Stanford International Bank claimed to have.

In his statement in court on Thursday, which ran for some 40 minutes, he told the judge: "I'm not here to ask for sympathy or forgiveness or to throw myself at your mercy.

"I did not run a Ponzi scheme. I didn't defraud anybody."

US District Judge David Hittner, who presided over Stanford's trial, called Stanford's actions "egregious criminal frauds" during the hearing.

Two victims of the scheme spoke during the hearing, including Angela Shaw, who told the court Stanford was worse than convicted Ponzi schemer Bernard Madoff because he preyed on middle-class investors.

"He stole more than millions," Ms Shaw said. "He stole our lives as we knew them."

His sentence is 40 years shorter than the jail term handed down to Madoff, who pleaded guilty in 2009 to a Ponzi scheme targeting wealthy investors.

Stanford was convicted in March on 13 of 14 charges against him, despite his lawyers attempting to shift most of the blame on his chief financial officer.

Prosecutors had asked for a 230-year sentence, with defence lawyers arguing for a lenient term of 44 months.

Three other former executives at Stanford's company are awaiting trial, while a former Antiguan financial regulator is expected to be extradited to the US for related charges.

While a jury has cleared the way for access to about $330m in stolen funds sitting in Stanford's frozen bank accounts across Canada, England and Switzerland, legal wrangling could make it years before investors recover any of that money.

What is a Ponzi scheme?

• The fraud was named after Italian immigrant Carlos (Charles) Ponzi who set up schemes in Boston and Florida in the 1920s
• Criminals offer investors high returns over a short period of time
• Some of that money pays fake returns to other investors
• The rest of the money is used to fund the lifestyles of the criminals

BBCNews

UNBRANDING UNILAG.

"You take the factories, the mortar, the machines; just give me the brands"-John Stuart Mills, Quaker Oats Co.

Against all the hues and cries, vehement protests and opposition that greeted the announcement in his May 29 broadcast, President Jonathan has gone ahead to present a bill to the National Assembly seeking to give legal effect to the renaming of the University of Lagos. http://educationmattersng.com/v/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=509:agoha-chikaoha-justice&catid=50:news&Itemid=262

In a tactic reminiscent of the failed third term bid of Obasanjo sometime ago in which the tenure elongation clause was craftily sugar-coated with dozens of other supposed amendments to the Gen. Abubakar-midwifed 1999 constitution, Jonathan has now also presented the UNILAG renaming bill along with two other institutions - Federal University of Technology, Yola to Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola as well as Federal University of Agriculture, Umudike to Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.

We live in a country where anything can be sacrificed for political expediency. The rulers act in ways that suggest either they have not the slightest idea of what government or leadership is all about or else, have not the faintest regard for the ideas and sensibilities of those they claim to govern.

Let it be made clear from the start here that this is not about the personality of the late business mogul and politician, MKO Abiola. In all the fields of endeavour he delved into, from business to politics, he demonstrated great courage and took uncommon risks, culminating in his death in prison while fighting to actualize the June 12 1993 mandate. So, In life and in death, he deserves to be honoured.

But let's put politics aside and look at the issue from the marketing/branding angle.

A university is not just a place for churning out graduates with degrees. It is a 'universe-city'. A mini-world on its own where people go to learn and practice all aspects of human endeavour in a regulated environment, from government to business, health to theatre, education to management.

We live in the 21st century, where it is often claimed that 'image is everything'.

That 'image' comprises the name, history, culture, reputation, vision, mission, values, personality and accomplishments.

in summary, this is what marketers call the 'brand'.

"A brand is the sum of all feelings, thoughts and recognitions – positive and negative – that people in the target audience have about a company, a product or service".
—Steve McNamara.

The most valuable asset of any business is its brand. It’s an intangible asset.

To place it in proper perspective, let's look at the attributes of a brand:

Brand Name: The name is first and foremost. You welcome and accept a baby in the family by giving him a name, and you bring him up teaching him to protect the name. People spend time and money searching, crafting and choosing a name that will be acceptable, especially for a business. The name is what you hear, see and know first and relate with.

You hop into a Benz or Toyota car and zoom off without asking about the engineer who built it. You open a Coke bottle and gulp down the contents without asking who prepared it. why? you've come to know the name.

I tell you, if Toyota changes to Tata or anything else tomorrow, you will think twice before putting your money or riding in one.

The brand name is thus one of the most powerful sources of identity.

Now, write down: UNILAG. MAUL. Which one will you like to send your daughter to?

Brand Uniqueness –

To what degree is your brand onlylinked to the element? When people link multiple brands to an element, brand confusion ensues. Ideally, marketers want to develop brands that are unique in their category.

I got to know first about the UNILAG name change from a comedy program on one of the FM stations on the car radio while returning from a journey. One of the comedians had joked that you can ask an okada man to take you to Moshood Abiola University, and on alighting from the ride, you suddenly find yourself in the campus of Moshood Abiola polytechnic, Abeokuta.

Did the President consider that?

Brand Reputation/history:  Now, look at the brand examples above: why do you act as such in relation to these names? you have probably driven a Benz or Toyota for years without any issues and know several others with the same experience. You have been drinking Coke for years and know millions who have done so without any issues. I tell you, if Coke changes name today(as they did once with New Coke), you will probably ask for a lab safety analysis report before drinking. You can't achieve reputation or history overnight. it takes years, and in most cases, centuries.

Now, again, get two certificates: one UNILAG, the other MAUL: which will you want to present to an employer?

Now, you want to wipe out 50 years of history on the altar of political expediency?

Brand Equity: Simply, this is how much in monetary terms, the brand is worth. it is what you feel people will willingly pay just to have the brand or be associated with it.

"this captures the power of a brand name. Stripped to basics, it allows you to charge a higher price for exactly the same product. Very few companies have this type of power, and if they do, it clearly pays off big time in pricing power"

Now, why do you prefer to pay the highest fees to have your MBA or masters degree from UNILAG? why will you leave the school behind your house and move heaven and earth to get yourself or your ward into UNILAG? that's the price you are willing to pay.

Yes, UNILAG may be no Havard or Oxford. But even a cynical media house like the BBC still referred to it as 'the prestigious school'. It's still one of the best we've got. A brand icon in African education sector.

What Honour?

Our pre-disposition to half-measures and deceit in this country is just sickening.

Is it not an irony for Jonathan to claim he is 'honouring ' Abiola and in the same broadcast, refer to him as the 'presumed' winner of the June 12 1993 election? Yes, the then NEC did not officially announce the result and declare him the winner, but the full result was in the public domain and it was clear to all that he won.

Now, is it not a better 'honour' to officially and formally recognise him as the winner of that election? of course that will also throw up a lot of issues. Is Jonathan willing to accord him the 'honour' of an elected, though 'un-inaugurated' president, with the privileges due him(albeit post-humously) and his family?

These are the real issues, Mr President, and not just mounting another sign-post at Akoka that can easily be taken down by someone else come 2015.

Roberto Di Matteo set for permanent Chelsea appointment

By Ben Smith BBC Sport
Chelsea are expected to confirm the permanent appointment of Roberto Di Matteo as manager this week. The Italian's representatives spent the weekend in talks with Chelsea officials and the 41-year-old has been assured he is the man Roman Abramovich wants. Di Matteo has agreed to accept the position in principle and the remaining contractual issues are expected to be ironed out this week. The former West Brom manager returns from a family holiday on Wednesday. It is thought Chelsea are likely to wait until Di Matteo is back in London before making an official announcement.

Di Matteo was appointed interim coach following the sacking of Andre Villas-Boas in March.

He led Chelsea to a historic Champions League triumph over Bayern Munich last month and also lifted the FA Cup as he lost just three out of 21 matches to restore much-needed pride to Stamford Bridge.

Di Matteo's case was strengthened by the willingness of the senior players to see him handed the chance to build on last season's triumphs. One issue that remains unresolved, however, is the length of the contract.

Di Matteo had expressed a reluctance to accept a short-term deal, fearing it would affect his authority at the club and his ability to make long-term decisions.
It is now thought the most likely scenario will see both parties agree to a longer contract with a clause that would allow either to break it after 12 months

LEADERSHIP ILLUSIONS:LESSONS OF 2011

2011 witnessed lots of leadership upheavals, from business to politics and many leaders paid heavy prices. But what lessons are there for present and aspiring leaders to avoid the same pitfalls?

1.ILLUSION OF ETERNITY:Many leaders think they will be there forever.Eternity is of God. Man and his plans/purposes are time-bound.recognising your time is a critical success factor.Your exit is as important as your entry in defining you as a leader. So plan to go and plan for the work to go on UNHINDERED when you are gone. Failure to recognise your time makes you a victim of it.

2. ILLUSION OF PERFECTION: Bill Clinton in his first presidential campaign once said that 'if perfection is the standard, no one can be president'.Perfection has never been the requirement to lead, even from God. But it is surprising how many leaders assume the posture of 'know All' once in position. Worst still is the assumption that they ALONE,know it and can do it. Aversion to criticism or honest feedback and surrounding yourself with 'yes-men' are expressways to the pit.

3.ILLUSION OF CONTROL: It's amazing how many leaders expect those around them to surrender their minds and become robots at their beck and call. man was created with FREEWILL and even the Creator does not interfere with that freewill and says He will not approve of anyone who tries to subvert it.So, how do you think you can control or manipulate people for your selfish ends all their lives? Your job as the leader is to create the enabling atmosphere of trust that will inspire the positive contributions from their freewill to achieve the group's aim. They may keep quiet or say yes for a while to get their daily bread, but the day you place a crucial demand on their loyalty, you suddenly realise you are alone in the sun.

4.ILLUSION OF INFLUENCE: Many leaders confuse the position with the power and hence automatic influence over people.Positional authority is the least in the hierarchy because most times, the criteria are not objective and anybody can access position.What you do with that privilege determines your influence and power.It's sad that many see the position as the end rather than the means and so resort to all kinds of schemes to hang on to it.But the only secured position is the one you occupy in peoples' hearts.Unfortunately,you cannot scheme your way to peoples's hearts. You only get there by what you are willing to give and bear for them, honestly, sincerely and transparently. You can scheme your way to any position and even scheme to hang on there, but remember that no matter how good you are at the game, a smarter, better schemer is always by the corner.You are only as high, strong, wealthy or respected as the people below you.The reverse is equally true.

Our national leadership crisis cannot be solved top-down, it's bottom- up. you cannot be learning to lead at the presidency. Let's start where we are now and make 2012 and the coming years ones of leadership excellence.