The Woman Behind The Walls.

  Her heart bleeds, her soul weeps and the smile on her face is gradually fading away. The society has taken away her innocence; her mind is being invaded and degraded. Her dreams are stolen and killed right before her eyes, the price left to pay is that of fate, if it is the only thing left for her to face.
No one wants to look beyond what she carries outside, the people around her judge her by how she looks and how much she can please some selfish mortals. So many barriers to cross, many hurdles to jump, many truth to face and so many pains to harbour inside. Her story starts not today, but right from the very day her identity was revealed to the crazy world to see. Her society sees no reason to show her respect and love, the environment just glorifies her sexuality as if that is the only thing she carries.
Right there behind those walls lies strength, love, a good heart, a leader, a real and natural soldier and a giver of everything that means something. Who really is to blame, because she never predetermined to be who she is, neither can she question nature but she also must fight for her future. Her religion most times places a block in her way, it pushes her down the chain or ladder of relevance, her right is taken from her right from the day she took her first breath. Is that not the height of pain and cruelty?
At the other end, the society is waiting patiently to exploit her for her beauty, for her loving nature, her sweet heart and her womanly body. They never see what she carries up there in her huge brain, they never take time to understand where she is coming from and the challenges that the environment throws in her way. Her thought is even translated and interpreted before it finds expression, even in depression they wait for her to always satisfy the selfish and wicked society she finds herself.

Who really is this woman, what part of the globe is she, because she must be facing a lot. Right beyond those mirage and camouflage of smiles and laughter she wallows in pain, shame, regrets, wishes, a need for a voice and a right to be free from deep within. Never should her steps be subjected to the scrutiny of her society, religion, cultural background and environment. Never should her emotions and dreams be at the mercy of some group of people. Yes I said it, quote me and probe me, but the truth is this African woman/girl, this Nigerian woman/girl must be set free from the shackles of history, culture, religion and gender oppression.

30 Incorrectly Used Words That Can Make You Look Horrible.

  While I like to think I know a little about business writing, I often fall into a few word traps. For example, “who” and “whom.” I rarely use “whom” when I should. Even when spell check suggests “whom,” I think it sounds pretentious. So I don’t use it.
And I’m sure some people then think, “What a bozo.”
And that’s a problem, because just like that one misspelled word that gets a resumé tossed into the “nope” pile, using one wrong word can negatively impact your entire message.
Fair or unfair, it happens.
So let’s make sure it doesn’t:
Adverse and averse

Adverse means harmful or unfavorable; “Adverse market conditions caused the IPO to be poorly subscribed.” Averse means dislike or opposition; “I was averse to paying $18 a share for a company that generates no revenue.”
But you can feel free to have an aversion to adverse conditions.

Affect and effect

Verbs first. Affect means to influence; “Impatient investors affected our roll-out date.” Effectmeans to accomplish something; “The board effected a sweeping policy change.” How you use effect or affect can be tricky. For example, a board can affect changes by influencing them, or can effect changes by implementing them. Use effect if you’re making it happen, and affect if you’re having an impact on something someone else is trying to make happen.
As for nouns, effect is almost always correct; “Once he was fired he was given twenty minutes to gather his personal effects.” Affect refers to emotional states so unless you’re a psychologist, you’re probably not using it.

Compliment and complement

Compliment is to say something nice. Complement is to add to, enhance, improve, complete, or bring close to perfection. So, I can compliment your staff and their service, but if you have no current openings you have a full complement of staff. And your new app may complement your website.
For which I may decide to compliment you.

Criteria and criterion

“We made the decision based on one overriding criteria,” sounds pretty impressive but is wrong.
Remember: one criterion, two or more criteria. Although you could always use “reason” or “factors” and not worry about getting it wrong.

Discreet and discrete

Discreet means careful, cautious, showing good judgment; “We made discreet inquiries to determine whether the founder was interested in selling her company.”
Discrete means individual, separate, or distinct; “We analyzed data from a number of discrete market segments to determine overall pricing levels.” And if you get confused, remember you don’t use “discreetion” to work through sensitive issues; you exercise discretion.

Elicit and illicit

Elicit means to draw out or coax. Think of elicit as the mildest form of extract or, even worse, extort. So if one lucky survey respondent will win a trip to the Bahamas, the prize is designed to elicit responses.
Illicit means illegal or unlawful. I suppose you could “illicit” a response at gunpoint… but best not.

Farther and further

Farther involves a physical distance; “Florida is farther from New York than Tennessee.”Further involves a figurative distance; “We can take our business plan no further.” So, as we say in the South, “I don’t trust you any farther than I can throw you.” Or, “I ain’t gonna trust you no further.”
(Seriously. I’ve uttered both of those sentences. More than once.)

Imply and infer

The speaker or writer implies. The listener or reader infers. Imply means to suggest, while infer means to deduce (whether correctly or not.) So, I might imply you’re going to receive a raise. You might infer that a pay increase is imminent. (But not eminent unless the raise will be prominent and distinguished.)

Insure and ensure

This one’s easy. Insure refers to insurance. Ensure means to make sure. So if you promise an order will ship on time, ensure it actually happens. Unless, of course, you plan to arrange for compensation if the package is damaged or lost–then feel free to insure away.

Number and amount

I goof these up all the time. Use number when you can count what you refer to; “The number of subscribers who opted out increased last month.” Amount refers to a quantity of something you can’t count; “The amount of alcohol consumed at our last company picnic was staggering.”
Of course it can still be confusing: “I can’t believe the number of beers I drank,” is correct, but so is, “I can’t believe the amount of beer I drank.” The difference is I can count beers, but beer, especially if I was way too drunk to keep track, is an uncountable total–soamount is the correct usage.

Precede and proceed

Precede means to come before. Proceed means to begin or continue. Where it gets confusing is when an “ing” comes into play. “The proceeding announcement was brought to you by…” sounds fine, but “preceding” is correct since the announcement came before.
If it helps, think precedence: Anything that takes precedence is more important and therefore comes first.

Principal and principle

A principle is a fundamental; “We’ve created a culture where we all share certain principles.” Principal means primary or of first importance; “Our startup’s principal is located in NYC.” (Sometimes you’ll also see the plural, “principals,” used to refer to executives or (relatively) co-equals at the top of a particular food chain.)
Principal can also refer to the most important item in a particular set; “Our principal account makes up 60 percent of our gross revenues.”
Principal can also refer to money, normally the original sum that was borrowed, but can be extended to refer to the amount you owe–hence principal and interest.
If you’re referring to laws, rules, guidelines, ethics, etc, use principle. If you’re referring to the CEO or the president (or the individual in charge of the high school), use principal. And now for those dreaded apostrophes:

It’s and its

It’s is the contraction of it is. That means it’s doesn’t own anything. If your dog is neutered (that way we make the dog, however much against his will, gender neutral) you don’t say, “It’s collar is blue.” You say, “Its collar is blue.” Here’s an easy test to apply. Whenever you use an apostrophe, un-contract the word to see how it sounds. In this case, turn it’s into it is. “It’s sunny,” becomes, “It is sunny.” Sounds good to me.

They’re and their

Same with these; they’re is the contraction for they are. Again, the apostrophe doesn’t own anything. We’re going to their house, and I sure hope they’re home.

Who’s and whose

“Whose password hasn’t been changed in six months?” is correct. “Who is (the un-contracted version of who’s) password hasn’t been changed in six months?” sounds silly.

You’re and your

One more. You’re is the contraction for you are. Your means you own it; the apostrophe inyou’re doesn’t own anything. For a long time a local non-profit had a huge sign that said “You’re Community Place.”
Hmm. “You Are Community Place”?

            25 Foods that Banish Bloat.

  1. Bananas
They may feel heavy, but bananas do not make you gain weight. Quite the opposite: They're loaded with filling fiber and potassium, which helps relieve water retention.

2. Cantaloupe This orange melon is full of anti-bloating potassium, low in calories, and has a high water content, so you can get away with eating a lot of it.

3. Leafy greens
Some veggies, such as Brussels sprouts, are filled with important nutrients, but nonetheless make you bloat. Leafy greens, like kale, spinach, and lettuce, do no such thing. They're all super-low-cal, loaded with fiber, and help ease water retention.

4. Olive oil
Though it's not scientifically confirmed, there's some evidence that small amounts of olive oil may help reduce belly fat. That's because it contains a chemical called oleic acid, which helps break down fat in the body.

5. Grainy bread
You already know to stay away from processed white bread--all its sugars cause your blood sugar levels to spike and then plummet, leaving you hungry again fast. But whole-grain bread is packed with fiber, which stabilizes blood sugar levels to keep you full.

6. Artichokes
A medium-size one has 7 grams of fiber--almost 30 percent of your recommended daily allowance--to help your digestive system chug along properly.

7. Avocados
These guac stars are filled with healthy, filling monounsaturated fat. Spread on whole-wheat bread for avocado toast, or slice up half an avocado and mix it into any salad.

8. Brown rice
A complex carb, brown rice takes a long time to digest, helping to keep you full. Cook with it and swap it in for white rice on sushi or in Chinese takeout.

9. Lentils
Consider lentils the ultimate tummy-trimming trifecta--they're packed with protein, fiber, and complex carbohydrates, all of which help slim you.

10. Kimchi
This Korean staple is a prime example of a fermented food--others include sauerkraut, pickles, and tempeh--meaning it's filled with probiotics to help boost good, digestive-tract-healing gut bacteria.
 
11. Oatmeal
The secret ingredient? Fiber, which helps keep you full without puffing you out. Sprinkle on cinnamon and breakfast is served.

12. Probiotic yogurt
It's filled with good bacteria that help promote gut health and make your digestive tract run more smoothly. As a result, you'll be less prone to gas and bloating.

13. Fatty fish
Those like salmon and mackerel are packed with healthy, filling omega-3 fatty acids, which are structural fats, not storage fats, so they're less likely to be stored in a layer of belly fat.

14. Apples
An apple a day keeps the doctor and the pounds away. A recent study found that noshing on an apple before a meal may help you eat less later, thanks to its filling fiber.

15. Cucumbers
These crunchy veggies have few calories and are natural diuretics, meaning they help flush out excess water weight.

16. Tomatoes
These super-low-cal fruits are rich in potassium, which helps rid your body of belly-bloating sodium. Plus, they've been found to reverse leptin resistance. Since leptin helps regulate your appetite, it's important for your waistline that your body produces adequate amounts.

17. Berries
Hello, summer! Berries are full of fiber and antioxidants, plus they're low-cal. Eat them solo or use them as a topping for yogurt or cereal.

18. Celery
Since it's packed with water, celery helps your body flush out extra liquids, which makes your stomach appear flatter.

19. Asparagus
These stalks contain potassium, which helps remove excess fluids from your body. Eat them raw or sprinkle with salt, pepper, and olive oil and toss them on the grill.

20. Eggplant
This veggie is very low in sodium and high in water, so it helps fight bloat.

21. Watermelon
This red fruit is packed with water, so you can eat tons of it. And what's more refreshing at the end of a summer barbecue?

22. Almonds
Almonds are loaded with protein, making them a great afternoon snack. Just be sure to stick with the natural kind, and limit yourself to a one-ounce serving (about a shot-glass worth).

23. Eggs
All the latest science shows that having two eggs for breakfast can help you eat less throughout the day. That's because they're filled with protein, which wards off the urge to nosh.

24. Shrimp
Like eggs, shrimp are packed with keep-you-full protein. The shellfish is also super-low-cal, so you can eat up until you're satisfied.

25. Lemon water
It sounds almost too obvious, but seriously, water works. Hydration flushes excess sodium from your body to flatten your stomach and lemon soothes your digestive system, which helps you banish bloat for good.

Study lists dangerous chemicals linked to breast cancer.

 Certain chemicals that are common in everyday life have been shown to cause breast cancer in lab rats and are likely to do the same in women, US researchers said Monday.

7 Lies Wives Tell Their Husbands.

   Your Internet history isn't the only dirty little secret in your relationship. In a study from Texas A&M University, people admitted to misleading their partner a third of the time. When they got hitched, that number dropped to 1 in 10--but still, that means the woman you exchanged vows with could be deceiving you on a near-daily basis. "Women weigh the pros and cons of honesty versus lying," says Susan Shapiro Barash, author of Little White Lies, Deep Dark Secrets: The Truth About Why Women Lie. "Often they find that white lies serve them more than the truth."

A wife's dishonesty may come from a place of compassion, or may just be an attempt to please or placate you. But, the truth is, no one wants to share a bed with Pinocchio. So when should your B.S. detector sound? Listen for these seven common catchphrases--and prepare to call her bluff.


1. "This dress was on sale."
It wasn't. In your wife's mind, saving money ("It was half off!") negates spending it--and therefore reduces the odds that you'll blow up at her about blowing the budget. "This is often taught by the mother: Always downplay. Never reveal how much something really cost," says Barash. And her need to protect her image may overpower her desire for honesty. "We think a man will judge us for our spending habits, and that he'll think we're silly or frivolous," says DeAnne Lorraine, a Los Angeles-based dating coach. "We don't want him to think we're a liability."

2. "You have the biggest penis I've ever seen."
You don't. This is what psychologists call an "altruistic lie"--an untruthful compliment designed to shield you from embarrassment. "Most women have one ex-boyfriend that was enormous," says Lorraine. "But among the rest, there were only miniscule differences. So why not tell this guy he's the biggest?" Read: Unless you're packing some serious sausage, you probably aren't top dog. But you're so similar to the others that she can convince herself you've got a quarter inch more to offer. "It's not like it really matters to us, but it matters to men," says Lorraine. "So we'll stroke their egos."

3. "I've only slept with two men."
More like four. Most women can spout off their past partners' names as quickly as you can your fantasy-league roster. So, no, a few guys from college don't just accidentally get lost in the shuffle. "Women always minimize how many sexual partners they've had, mostly because they want to seem pristine," says Barash. By Lorraine's estimates, doubling her number will give you a more accurate picture of her past. "Women will say, 'That one didn't count,' because it only lasted a few minutes, they were really drunk, or never saw the guy again, even though it really was sex," she says.


4. "I don't want anything for our anniversary."
Yeah, and you don't really want to win the lottery. "We're saying what we think our partner wants to hear," says Barash. "But then the resentment builds." Translation: Your wife may scoff at the idea of a gift, but still expects you to surprise her with a dozen roses and the purse she's been lusting after. "We don't want to seem needy or demanding," says Lorraine. "It's silly, but we want our partner to read our minds. We assume he's intuitive enough to know we do want a gift."
 
5. "I'm in no hurry to have kids."
Guess again. Maybe she's not gunning to get pregnant ASAP, but somewhere in her brain, there's a clock counting down. "Women know men don't like to be rushed--that if we try to push them, they're just going to be turned off," says Lorraine. "So we act like we're cool, like our biological clocks aren't ticking. But, really, once we hit a certain age, we're freaking out inside, worrying our eggs are expiring soon." Even if your wife is only 25, she still has a timeline in mind, no matter how "go with the flow" she seems.

6. "I'm totally cool with your poker nights."
Not always. Your guys' nights may give her permission to binge-watch Scandal, but she won't be so receptive if you hold one every weekend. "It's in a woman's biological nature to want a committed partner, and to want to be around him a lot," says Lorraine. Problem is, women know men relish their freedom--and that commandeering every night of your week can push you away. "No woman wants to seem needy," says Barash. "So she won't be totally honest about her feelings toward your commitments, or what she expects from you time-wise."


7. "I wouldn't change anything about you."
She totally would. If your wife sounds like a Hallmark card, she probably is genuinely expressing her love--just with a little exaggeration. "When it comes to the big picture, women will rarely rock the boat, especially in a committed relationship," says Barash. "But the fact is, she wishes you'd lose 10 pounds, maybe 20, had a different job, or weren't so cheap." But according to her mental calculations, she has more to gain by keeping her mouth shut--and the relationship happy--than by complaining.

                      CRAZY TOUCH OF FATE.