Shamzy's Blog

List of Scholarships For Nigerian Undergraduate and Postgraduate Students In 2015 (SHARE THIS)

The List below comprises of Undergraduate Scholarships and Postgraduate Scholarships available for Nigerian Students in the 2015.

Cc; nigerianuniversityscholarships.com

12:58 AM

Well no pun intended.... Why so serious?
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1. Mbaise: Girls from Mbaise are always very pretty and wife materialistic. They dont talk too much because the believe in talk and do. If u doubt me ask Flavour what he saw in Mbaise girls

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2. Mbano: Girls from Mbano dont know how to cook. They are always the ones writing
"Divorced" after marriage because of their inability to cook. Buy them food stuffs to cook and see how they will crucify the soup. The soup will be forced to talk " Chai It is finished"

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3. Owerri West: Girls from Irete are cheerful givers; Just buy them coke and bread they will follow u straight to your bed

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4. Ideato North/South: Girls from either Ideato North or South love extorting money from their boyfriend Just to end up squandering it on chewing gum. They chew gum to the extent Chewing gum is now gradually going into extinction

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5. Ihitte/Uboma: Girls from either Ihitte or Uboma are not used to modern facilities If u doubt me take one to a big fastfood and see chemistry
practicals of Disgrace Live and Direct

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6. Ikeduru: Ikeduru girls are Brainy. They are always found at the top in class. They are also
pretty

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7. Isu: Girls from Isu love drinking alcohol. They drink alcohol more than the men but outside ! Huusai! Their favourite drink is either Malt or Sprite

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8. Mbaitoli: Mbaitolu girls are always deformed either they are short and pretty or tall and ugly or tall,pretty but with K leg and can never be both.

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9. Ngor-Okpala: Girls from Ngor Okpala are blessed with pimples U can count all the 36 states and their capitals and where each is located at with the graph respectively.. all on the same face

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10. Njaba: Njaba girls are prayer warriors they are always addicted to their bible very cool to be with

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11. Nwangele: Nwangele girls are always very fat. They eat more than their heights " No wonder the 3 fishes and 5 Loaves of bread Jesus made to
multiply in abundance in the bible finished quickly.. their girls then are from Nwangele

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12. Nkwerre: Girls from Nkwere dont Joke with bush meat. They hustle for bush meat more than
they hustle for money.

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13. Obowo: Obowo girls are young talented Farmers. They have mastered all the styles in
farming. And yet to discover more. Like takwando farming style. doggy farming style.. spear farming style etc

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14. Oguta: Girls from Oguta urinate in bed while sleeping check their beds u will see all the maps including the ones u havnt seen before that are yet to be discovered. They are bedweting scientist

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15. Ohaji/Egbema: Girls from ohaji have dedicated their lives in making garri that is why their garri happens to be the best in Imo state but one amazing thing about them is that they can cook very well

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16. Okigwe: Girls from Okigwe are mainly from royal families even those that are not from royalblood behave like one. Very gentle and calm in nature.

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17. Orlu: Orlu girls are talkactives they can talk without breathing for 2 hours. From research i think Gossiping originated from Orlu

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18. Orsu: Orsu girls like to form phoneeh but try and prolong the talk u will fear English u will
discover English with excess swag

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19. Oru East/West: Girls from Oru East or West love staying Idol and they are very lazy.. they are the main cause of our problems today

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20. Owerri Municipal/North: This is the only City / L.G:A where u can find all the types of Girls listed above plus more. They are also dope, sophisticated, and artificially and naturally beautiful..It is a City/ L.G:A where almost all the girls are fair in complexion, where Brazilian hair sells more than garri. Where it will be hard for u to find a girl who can prepare eba not to talk of soup. I believe Rapture will truly start from here.

What do you think

1:42 PM

We all have goals and dreams, but it can be difficult to stick with them. Each week, I hear from people who say things like, “I start with good intentions, but I can’t seem to maintain my consistency for a long period of time.” Or, they will say, “I struggle with mental endurance. I get started but I can’t seem to follow through and stay focused for very long.”

Don’t worry. I’m just as guilty of this as anyone else. For example, I’ll start one project, work on it for a little bit, then lose focus and try something else. And then I’ll lose focus on my new goal and try something else. And on and on. When everything is said and done, I’ve stopped and started so many times that I never really made much progress.

Maybe you have felt this way too.

This problem reminds me of a lesson I learned one day…

The Myth of Passion and Motivation

On this particular day in the gym, there was a coach visiting who had worked with thousands of athletes over his long career, including some nationally-ranked athletes and Olympians. I had just finished my workout when I asked him, “What’s the difference between the best athletes and everyone else. What do the really successful people do that most people don’t?”

He briefly mentioned the things that you might expect. Genetics. Luck. Talent. But then he said something I wasn’t expecting. “At some point,” he said, “it comes down to who can handle the boredom of training every day and doing the same lifts over and over and over again.” That piece of advice surprised me because it’s a different way of thinking about work ethic.

Most of the time people talk about getting motivated and “amped up” to work on their goals. Whether it’s business or sports or art, you will commonly hear people say things like, “it all comes down to having enough passion.” As a result, I think many people get depressed when they lose focus or motivation because they think that successful people have some unstoppable passion and willpower that they seem to be missing. But that’s exactly the opposite of what this coach was saying.

Instead, he was saying that really successful people feel the same boredom and the same lack of motivation that everyone else feels. They don’t have some magic pill that makes them feel ready and inspired every day. But the difference is that the people who stick with their goals don’t let their emotions determine their actions. Top performers still find a way to show up, to work through the boredom, and to embrace the daily practice that is required to achieve their goals.

According to him, it’s this ability to do the work when it’s not easy that separates the top performers from everyone else. That’s the difference between professionals and amateurs.
Working When Work Isn’t Easy

Anyone can work hard when they feel motivated.

When I was an athlete, I loved going to practice the week after a big win. Who wouldn’t? Your coach is happy, your teammates are pumped up, and you feel like you can beat anyone. As an entrepreneur, I love working when customers are rolling in and things are going well. Getting results has a way of propelling you forward.

But what about when you’re bored? What about when the work isn’t easy? What about when it feels like nobody is paying attention or you’re not getting the results you want? Are you willing to work through 10 years of silence?

It’s the ability to work when work isn’t easy that makes the difference.
It’s Not the Event, It’s the Process

All too often, we think our goals are all about the result. We see success as an event that can be achieved and completed.

Here are some common examples…
Many people see health as an event: “If I just lose 20 pounds, then I’ll be in shape.”
Many people see entrepreneurship as an event: “If we could get our business featured in the New York Times, then we’d be set.”
Many people see art as an event: “If I could just get my work featured in a bigger gallery, then I’d have the credibility I need.”

Those are just a few of the many ways that we categorize success as a single event.

But if you look at the people who are consistently achieving their goals, you start to realize that it’s not the events or the results that make them different. It’s their commitment to the process. They fall in love with the daily practice, not the individual event.

What’s funny, of course, is that this focus on the process is what will allow you to enjoy the results anyway…

If you want to be a great writer, then having a best-selling book is wonderful. But the only way to reach that result is to fall in love with the process of writing.

If you want the world to know about your business, then it would be great to be featured in Forbes magazine. But the only way to reach that result is to fall in love with the process of marketing.

If you want to be in the best shape of your life, then losing 20 pounds might be necessary. But the only way to reach that result is to fall in love with the process of eating healthy and exercising consistently.

If you want to become significantly better at anything, you have to fall in love with the process of doing it. You have to fall in love with building the identity of someone who does the work, rather than merely dreaming about the results that you want.

In other words…

Fall in love with boredom. Fall in love with repetition and practice. Fall in love with the process of what you do and let the results take care of themselves.

1:35 PM

Ladies, not every guy is a member of the lucky sperm club. Not every poor guy today is worth investing in. Some are simply hopeless and will never hit it big.
Some are purely millionaires in the making. But to spare you from waking up one morning realizing you’ve invested your time, effort and youth for nothing, here’s the rule of thumb I’ve used to sift out good penny stocks.

*.1. He knows he is good at something… Knowing his worth is usually the first step towards wealth creation. Baby-sitting, baking, gardening or whatever so long as he recognises that the skills he honed are exchangeable for money.

*.2. He is self-disciplined…
He has the ability to concentrate on future financial goals without swaying from everyday tasks that will lead him there. No matter how boring or unpleasant.

*.3. He blames himself, not others…
He thinks it’s always his fault. Either partially or entirely. It might seem a little sadistic but it’s him actually knowing that he has control over his environment, decisions and ultimately his own future.

*.4. He lives below his means…. It doesn’t mean he’s a miser. He chooses to accumulate more wealth rather than to succumb to short-lived pleasures of buying a Rolex or a BMW. Someone in the relationship has to make this sacrifice at the beginning. If not him, who else?

*.5. He is a doer…..
He doesn’t blabber on and on about how he is going to do something great. He just does it. He doesn’t complain about doing stuff. He just does it.

*.6. He is extremely curious….
He takes time and effort to figure out the nuts and bolts of why things work or don’t work. Opportunity sometimes arises when he stumbles upon an unserved niche.

*.7. He is thick skinned…
He has the balls to execute his crazy plans. Whatever they may be. Failure doesn’t concern him. Or should I say he isn’t afraid of being laughed at if he didn’t succeed. He repeats 6 and tries again. Investing in men is largely based on intrinsic value. You’ll win some and you’ll lose some. But when you do win, make sure you win big. So good luck ladies. May the dating market be forever bullish..

9:30 AM

We definitely are attracted to talent and success which is why Adele is our Woman Crush this Wednesday. This comes just few days after Adele broke the internet by teasing about 2 lines from her much anticipated album 25.
Yes Adele’s new album due to be released in November is called 25 and we can’t wait!
Guess who Spice Girls inspired to become a singer? Yes, Adele at the age of 4 was inspired by the Spice Girls’ music to grab a mic as well.
Adele’s albums are named after her age at the time of release. Her first album 19 was named after her age at the time and was released in February 2008; Adele’s second album 21, which was her age at the time, was released on 24 January 2011 and now we are anticipating 25 and she is 25!
At the 51st Annual Grammy Awards in 2009, Adele won awards in the categories of ‘Best New Artist’ and ‘Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.’ She was also nominated in the categories of ‘Record of the Year’ and ‘Song of the Year.’ That same year, Adele was also nominated for three Brit Awards in the categories of ‘Best British Female’, ‘Best British Single’ and ‘Best British Breakthrough Act’
She isn’t an actor yet she has a Golden Globe Award! Adele received a Golden Globe Award for ‘Best Original Song’ for her song Skyfall, which she wrote and composed for the James Bond filmSkyfall.
This Power woman has found her way to the Guinness Book of Records as well. She is the first woman in the history of the Billboard Hot 100 to have three simultaneous top 10 singles as a lead artist, and the first female artist to simultaneously have two albums in the top five of the Billboard 200 and two singles in the top five of the Billboard Hot 100.
Guess who broke Whitney Houston’s record? With 21 non-consecutive weeks at number 1 in the US, Adele broke the record for the longest number-1 album by a woman in Billboard history, beating the record formerly held by Whitney Houston’s soundtrack The Bodyguard.
Then British Prime Minister Gordon Brown also sent Adele a thank you note for ‘being the light at the end of the tunnel’ despite the country’s financial problems. How inspiring!
Sadly, Adele is estranged from her Welsh father Mark Evans.
Adele has a son a son and his name is Angelo. He was born on 19 October 2012. His father is her partner Simon Konecki.

Now you know why this powerful voice is our Woman Crush this Wednesday!

1:59 AM

Having beards is a natural gift to man, it is either you have it or you do not, and when it comes to keeping or shaving this is also optional. It happens that it has over time become a major trend to groom the beards. When asked why do you keep your beards? Here goes the response; …..“For a new look“ “serves as an identity” “makes me proud” “it’s my style” “I feel weird without it”…..

So for those who want to venture into the beard gang, though this process has been proven not to be easy, nevertheless, here are some tips on how to keep up with the beard gang:

First, you need to know the shape of your face, to know which suits you; the full beard, goatee and mustache, chin curtain, goatee, soul patch and so on.
Another major thing to consider is the patience to groom to the desired style, some may be lucky to have fast growth while others will have to wait a while.
After grooming to the desired level the perfect trim can be gotten with a personal trimmer with the help of a good barber. Also note that some skin are sensitive to some shaving equipment’s and there could be health implications like bumps if not properly treated.
Just like every other part of the body hair if not properly taken care of may become smelly so constant wash with a mild hair conditioner or face wash, also apply after-shave when necessary.
Beards also deserve to be pampered, purchase a suitable face oil, a small comb or brush to keep inline as this helps to maintain a presentable look.

The beard gang happens to be a fashion statement for men this season, so endeavor to look charming and feel good. A balanced diet, which is particularly high in protein would also help perfect this, the facial hair is greatly reliant on Vitamins B5, B3, and B9, frequent exercise which will help with blood circulation, and help increase your testosterone levels is advisable. So endeavor to also consume lean meats, nuts, egg yolks, milk, and plenty of leafy greens. Join the beard gang today! Click here to get everything you need to start your beard journey.

8:08 PM

Today, we take a look at some a-list celebrities whom we know are wealthy and have what it takes to show off on social media but would rather stay subtle and let their music or art be the only thing that fascinates their fans Here’s our list of celebrities who rarely show off on social media.
Image result for asa image

1. Asa Bukola Elemide popularly known by her stage name, Asa is that one celebrity singer who loves to keep it low. While she does great music and one of the few Nigerian celebrities signed to a foreign owned label yet have relevance both on the local and international scene. Asa has performed at several sold out tours around the globe and has every right to flaunt wealth but she doesn’t. The singer is so lowkey that we barely knew a lot about her until this year when she started sharing photos of herself
3. Femi Kuti Femi Kuti is the son of Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti and has gone to make a name for himself in the entertainment world by being one of the most popular Afro-beats artist on the planet today. Femi Kuti is one of the most simple celebrities we know today. He has travelled on tour alongside his full band to several countries where he has thrilled Afro-beat lovers. The singer still performs at The New Afrika Shrine and is commonly spotted having a raport with his fans who are more of people who are very poor. Althogh, he is worth millions, he rarely flaunts his wealth.

2Face Idibia is one of Nigeria’s biggest music export, yet he is the most humble celebrity we’ve known so far. 2Face Idibia has made millions from his music and label, Hypertek. The superstar despite his wealth and massive earnings, he doesn’t even show off at all and is so down to earth as well. He is also a philanthropist and has done a number of notable charity works. It can be recalled that he recently chastised celebrities who love to flaunt their wealth on social media.
Image result for Mi image

M.I Abaga is definitely the richest rapper in the country today. But a lot of people wouldn’t know that if he didn’t show off his automobiles. But beside showing off his car, M.I rarely flaunts expensive stuffs like other celebrities. The Choc City boss knows how to keep his lifestyle on the low which made it hard for a lot of people to believe he’s the richest Nigerian rapper. All in all, he doesn’t love to show off much.

Image result for funke akindele

Funke Akindele is one of the richest actress in the country today as she continues to produce her own movies and also act in them too. She is also the most hilarious female movie character we’ve ever seen in recent times. The beautiful actress loves to keep her profile low as she doesn’t show off her wealth despite having several endorsements which are worth millions of Naira.
Image result for banky w

Olubankole Wellington, known under the stage name Banky W, is a Nigerian R&B artist. Besides just being an artist, he is also a record label executive and has made millions for himself and his label since he kick-started in the country after relocating to Nigeria. He has had the pleasure of mentoring Wizkid, Skales and also made tons of cash while both acts were still signed to the label. Despite being rated as one of the top richest in the game, the singer just loves to keep a low profile as he doesn’t flaunt tons of cash or his several cars which we know will run into millions.

3:11 PM

With the help of journalists from Norway and Spain, we profile Watford striker Odion Ighalo - now the highest goal scorer in English football in 2015.
Sergio Aguero scored five against Newcastle last time out, Newcastle's Wijnaldum also got four last week but there's still a Premier League striker with more English league goals than both strikers this year. Odion Ighalo's equaliser for Watford against Bournemouth took his tally for the calendar year to 21 goals. The Nigerian is the country's top scorer in 2015.

Ighalo has scored the most goals in the English leagues so far in 2015

Remarkably, it was only earlier this month that Ighalo was surpassed as the Championship's top scorer in the calendar year - and he scored his last goal at that level in mid-April. The 26-year-old was a surprise hit for the Hornets, scoring 16 times after Christmas to help the team into the top flight.
Last season's goals came at a rate of one every 97 minutes. It wasn't a fluke. Even in the Premier League, the goals have continued to come. Five and counting at a rate of one every 122 minutes this season. So how did this goalscorer end up at Watford? It's certainly been a curious route to the top.
Record breaker?
Odion Ighalo has scored in five consecutive Premier League games but has some way to go to match Alan Shearer's record of scoring in nine games in a row in 1993.
Indeed, it's tempting to think that Ighalo's relatively late blooming can be explained by his unusual career progression. Born in Lagos, his European adventure began in Norway with mid-table Lyn. Before long he was attracting attention from fellow Tippeligaen rivals Brann but the deal was scuppered by interest from Italy.
Oyvind Askeland is a journalist with Norwegian paper VG and recalls the fuss. "Lyn were investing heavily in talents from Nigeria in the middle of the 2000s," Askeland told Sky Sports. "But as with John Obi Mikel when he became a Chelsea player, there was quite a lot of trouble around Ighalo when he left for Udinese after two seasons in Norway.

"Brann announced in July 2008 that they had signed Ighalo and even sold one of their strikers to make room for him. Brann said that they had a 'gentleman's agreement' with Ighalo and his agent Atta Aneke but this was denied by the pair. The case was sent to the Norwegian FA but they didn't find anything wrong and Brann decided not to appeal."
The Udinese move was not a success. Ighalo scored just once in Serie A before being loaned to Granada in Spain's third tier. The club had been newly acquired by Giampaolo Pozzo, the long-time owner of Udinese and marked the beginning of an unusual five-year loan stay that took Ighalo all the way to La Liga.

He has a lot of attributes that match the Premier League which didn't match La Liga. There are more spaces here, and because he's fast and can get to the ball first it helps him.
Guillem Balague on Odion Ighalo
He had his moments in Spain. There was the time, in 2013, when he gave Granada the lead against Barcelona before two second-half goals by Lionel Messi stole the headlines. The following year he was among the exclusive group of players to breach Atletico Madrid's defence in their title-winning campaign.
However, in total, Ighalo scored just 12 goals in 74 La Liga games. And yet, the potential was there. Spanish football expert Guillem Balague believes he is simply better suited to English football. "Some people don't realise how much of a goalscorer Ighalo is," Balague told Sky Sports. "He has a lot of attributes that match the Premier League which didn't match La Liga.

The link-up play between Ighalo and Deeney was too good for Newcastle
"For instance, in La Liga the marking is tighter and more collective. There are more spaces here, and because he's fast and can get to the ball first it helps him. Sometimes, the same as how Roberto Soldado is a striker for La Liga and not for the Premier League, it works the other way around."
Released by Udinese last October, his loan deal at Watford - yet another club owned by the Pozzo family - was immediately converted into a permanent transfer. He soon won over supporters, scoring four second-half goals against Blackpool, and the club's then boss Slavisa Jokanovic praised his quality and work rate. But the summer threatened to bring another twist.

Watford strikers Ighalo and Deeney interview each other for Sky Sports
The Chinese second tier was looming for the nomadic Ighalo. Hebei China Fortune had come up with a reported £10m offer and a salary of around £50,000 per week. He was tempted. "They offered me crazy money," said Ighalo. "But I don't think it is a good league for me. It is not always about the money." Staying put already looks a smart move.
Not only does Ighalo have a key role in the dressing room, such as in helping former Granada team-mate Allan Nyom settle in at the club, but he has developed a strong partnership with Watford captain Troy Deeney. It's the sort of chemistry that Ighalo cannot rely upon finding elsewhere.

Troy Deeney has assisted three of Ighalo's Premier League goals so far
So far this season, Deeney has assisted three of his goals. That makes it the most common goal combination in the Premier League. Operating slightly deeper, Deeney has sacrificed his own goalscoring instincts to help bring the best out of his partner. "We put Ighalo closer to the goal as his feeling close to the goal is good," said Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores.
That's certainly proving to be the case. Ighalo is one of only 13 forwards in the Premier League to get five or more clear-cut chances this season and he boasts the best conversion rate among all of them. While Ighalo praises Deeney's work rate, even his skipper admits Ighalo is "naturally a better finisher" than him.

You can see that they're never more than 10 or 15 yards apart from each other. That's the sign of a good partnership.
Kevin Phillips on Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney
They have worked at the partnership. Ighalo says playing "closer together" was the plan, and former Watford and England striker Kevin Phillips feels that's key. "You can see that they're never more than 10 or 15 yards apart from each other," Phillips told Sky Sports. "That's the sign of a good partnership. And this boy can score. He's a goalscorer."
The challenge now is to keep the run going. Recently, Ighalo spoke of his pride at his top-scorer status but, with Jordan Rhodes and Benik Afobe playing in the division below, maintaining his advantage might be too much to expect. Flores will settle for keeping his top scorer happy at Vicarage Road.
"He took a decision two months ago to stay here at Watford," said Flores. "He had offers from other teams but he decided to stay, so it's clever because he saw something in the football that is good for him. He is involved a lot with the team in training during the week, so for us, he is a very important player." He's becoming more important all the time.

8:18 PM

The suspended president of FIFA, Sepp Blatter has thrown hinted on who he would want to succeed him as head of the world’s football governing body.
As the elections draw closer and many declaring intentions to occupy the exalted position, Blatter has openly declared his support for a former Abia State Governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu over former Secretary General, Jerome Champagne, and Prince Alli of Jordan.

Former Abia Governor Orji Uzor Kalu
Kalu, who has not officially declared his interest for FIFA presidency, is preferred by Blatter. According to Blatter, nominating Kalu would be in the best interest of Africa because of his deep passion for the game.
Speaking in Zurich, Blatter told a Swiss radio on Sunday: “The position of the FIFA president is too important to be left to just anybody.

“I have heard of some candidates who want to take over from me.
“But I find the businessman from Nigeria, Kalu, very qualified and interesting because he is not only a businessman, but a politician with lots of contacts and corporate experience.
“He can bring his great experiences to bear in the running of world football.

“He is passionate about the game.
“I remember how he sponsored one of Nigerian clubs to win the CAF championship twice.
“He is a man that can take world football to the next level.”
“If Africa hopes to win the support of other federations, then they must cue behind the Nigerian businessman.
“Football has developed beyond just anybody taking over.

“I sacked Jerome Champgne in 2010, so how can he come back to lead an Association he tried to destroy.
“You need a man who can command respect and win friends for football.
“With Kalu, Africa stands a better chance.”
Other than Kanu, Segun Odegbami is another African also vying for the office.

The Confederation of African Football is expected to meet in the coming week to decide on which candidate to field for the election scheduled for next year.

8:04 PM

…
Alejandro Mayorkas, a high-ranking Department of Homeland Security official, opened a speech over the summer in Las Vegas before hundreds of hackers with a dare.

"I challenge you all to make my phone ring during my remarks," he said, brandishing a flip phone the size of a soda bottle. "Take a shot," he said, urging the crowd to hack his phone. Then he sweetened the deal: There would be a government job for anyone who succeeded.

The conference's volunteer organizers, known as goons, soon interrupted Mayorkas for a long-standing tradition at the cybersecurity convention DEF CON: First-time speakers take a shot of whiskey on stage.

"That was my first of the day, by the way," Mayorkas said after downing the Jack Daniels, "but it won't be my last."

Mayorkas was just one of a fleet of federal officials who attended Black Hat and DEF CON this year. The two gatherings have grown into annual pilgrimages for security researchers, hackers and hangers-on. Their mission? Enlist hackers to protect the homeland.

Black Hat attracts cybersecurity companies that are eager to mingle with government officials and secure government work. The DEF CON crowd skews toward the Hollywood hacker stereotypes of geeks in casual or slightly punk attire. But people at both events share a passion for tearing apart computer code to figure out how to make systems safer.

And they jut might be the government's best hope as cyberthreats, including financially motivated hacks and digital espionage, continue to increase.

That's why Mayorkas was just one of many government officials to descend on Las Vegas over the summer. Elsewhere at the conferences, a Justice Department official tried to calm fears about a controversial computer crimes law that security researchers often say criminalizes their work. And Federal Trade Commission representatives were seeking hackers to help find technical threats to consumers.

They are all struggling with a cybersecurity recruitment gap: Federal agencies trying to beef up their cyber skills are battling everyone from tech giants such as Google and Microsoft to Nike for talent - and all too often losing.

High hurdles

Even when trying to recruit for its most elite roles, the federal government is striking out. In July, the Justice Department's inspector general reported that the FBI's flagship cybersecurity program had not filled 52 of the 134 computer scientist jobs authorized under the Justice Department's Next Generation Cyber Initiative, a 2012 effort to predict and prevent cyberattacks.

The audit cited the agency's relatively low salaries and extensive background checks as roadblocks. One agency official told auditors that "the FBI loses a significant number of people" to its drug policies, namely that applicants must not have used marijuana in the previous three years and other illegal drugs in the past.

In some hacking circles, that's a dealbreaker.

"I got weird looks from some computer security friends in the Bay Area when I turned down pot because, among other reasons, I was considering jobs in the government," said Jonathan Mayer, a Stanford computer scientist and lawyer who recently relocated to Washington.

FBI Director James B. Comey acknowledged the pot problem during a 2014 speaking engagement, according to the Wall Street Journal. "I have to hire a great workforce to compete with those cyber criminals, and some of those kids want to smoke weed on the way to the interview," he said, adding that the agency was "grappling with the question" of its evolving talent pool.

The background check can be particularly drawn-out for those who self-identify as hackers, said Peiter Zatko - better known by his online handle Mudge - who worked at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's cybersecurity research division for three years starting in 2010 and later at Google until leaving the company earlier this ear. "Because I came from an area that included the word 'hacker,' I had a huge target on my back," he said, citing his extensive background check.

It took more than five years to receive a security clearance, Zatko said.

And then there is the issue of pay. "Quite frankly, we're not going to be able to match some of the private-sector opportunities financially," Mayorkas said in an interview.

The trick is to convince prospective candidates that government work is worth the effort, he said, including the "unique privilege
in working on behalf of the American public." There are training opportunities that can help sweeten the deal, especially for hacker types who "generally like to expand their skill sets," said David Raymond, deputy director of Virginia Tech's IT Security Lab and an Army veteran who taught at West Point.

But even when a government agency manages to hire a cyber expert, there can still be a culture clash that makes retention difficult. The sometimes bureaucratic nature of government work can be tough for hackers. And some say there is a lack of respect for their technical skills within the walls of government agencies.

Many pointed to an interview that White House cyber czar Michael Daniel gave to the trade publication Gov Info Security last year. A lack of technical experience actually may be an "asset" to his job, Daniel said, rankling some cyber experts.

Said Zatko: "That attitude, whether intentional or not, doesn't allow you to recruit significant talent. And if you don't have a career path for it, why would you go work there if you can go do that elsewhere and can actually make real money and have your efforts recognized?"

Making progress?

The government has made some progress. Princeton computer science professor Ed Felten, who is widely respected in the cybersecurity community, joined the Obama administration as deputy chief technology officer earlier this year. The government also has set up new agencies, 18F and the U.S. Digital Service, that aim to improve how the government delivers services online.

Until recently, a U.S. soldier who wanted to pursue a cyber career had few options. "You would have these people at Annapolis and West Point study information security and they'd be sent to infantry - not allowed to essentially make use of anything they've studied and learned," Zatko said.

The service recently created a new cyber branch - a "huge step forward," Raymond said.

Zatko says such efforts are important because they bring in people with the technical know-how to serve as ambassadors to the hacking community.

These gains are the result of years of government effort with many setbacks. Government recruiters have been attending cybersecurity conferences for decades - and at times being made fun of for doing so. At DEF CON, there is a "spot the fed" contest, which awards T-shirts for humorously outing law enforcement officials trying to keep a low profile. (Internally, the FBI took note of the competition, according to documents obtained by MuckRock, calling it "of interest to all personnel who may be working" at the conference.)

Still, top leaders seemed to realize the value of making friends with hackers: In 2012, then-National Security Agency chief Keith Alexander spoke at DEF CON. "In this room, this room right here, is the talent our nation needs to secure cyberspace," he said. "You folks understand cybersecurity. You know that we can protect the networks and have civil liberties and privacy - and you can help us get there."

But by 2013, in the wake of revelations by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden about government surveillance programs, conference organizers asked government officials not to attend. When Alexander gave a keynote speech at the Black Hat conference that year, hecklers interrupted him.

And an uphill battle still remains. Many former government employees among the crowds in Vegas cited the government's failure to protect systems at the Office of Personnel Management from a major hack disclosed earlier this year as a betrayal - and a sign of incompetence.

"There's a level of distrust of the federal government we have to overcome," said Mayorkas, the Department of Homeland Security official.

And at almost every turn at the conference, he tried to overcome that hurdle - even as he downed that shot of whiskey.

"It's very difficult to talk about a trust deficit, and how to bridge that trust deficit, and build trust when I'm a fraud," he said to the crowd, deadpanning: "This is actually water."

Then he asked for a real shot, but only a small one. He had a meeting with the Transportation Security Administration after the speech, he said.

6:24 AM

One of the biggest sins you could commit against your face is neglecting it after heavy daily make-up usage. It applies to your skin generally as well but we’ll focus on the face because of how sensitive it is. Whether or not you are prone to having acne, you should always take care of your face to ensure the skin remains healthy and glowing. Here are very simple but effective tips to help you achieve this.

Wash twice daily: For many people, washing the face happens just in the morning during their daily shower. You should however make an effort to also wash it a second time at night even if you are too tired to have a complete shower. You don’t want the gradual effect of unwashed make-up to take a toll on your skin.

Honey is such a wonder: While there are many cleansing products that are also effective for your skin, honey is a natural wonder. It removes all the dirt from your skin without absorbing your natural oils which are also important for the skin. Apply with your fingertips all over your face then wash your face with warm water. You however have to be sure it is raw and natural honey.

Have you heard of Apple Cider Vinegar?:ACV as it is popularly called is one of those home products necessary for every home. Apart from other amazing things it does, cleansing the face is another very good use of it. ACV has amazing health benefits; it removes age spots, acne, pimples as well as other skin conditions. There are many brands but the Bragg Organic Apple Cider Vinegar is the one that has the entire internet buzzing about it (see image below). To use, dilute with a little water and apply on your face with cotton wool.

Sunscreen is a good idea: We all know how harsh the sun could get. It is bad for our skin hence using sunscreens for protection will do your skin a world of good.

8 glasses of water daily: We must have heard about the at least 8 glasses of water a day rule. It isn’t overrated. Water is the best buddy for the enzymes responsible for health and glowing skin. So whatever you do, ensure you are always taking care of your face by drinking 8 glasses of water daily.

3:04 AM

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