Real Benjamin Buttons Brothers: Matthew and Michael Clark Are Aging Backwards

By the looks of their home, Tony and Christine Clark are raising two rambunctious 7-year-old boys. Model train tracks and Monopoly pieces are scattered on tables and cartoons flicker on the TV set. 

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Chinua Achebe at 82: “We Remember Differently”, By Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

 
I have met Chinua Achebe only three times. The first, at the National Arts Club in Manhattan, I joined the admiring circle around him. A gentle-faced man in a wheelchair.

“Good evening, sir. I’m Chimamanda Adichie,” I said, and he replied, mildly,  “I thought you were running away from me.”

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How To Add A Table To Blogspot Posts Without HTML Coding

by Jackson Nwachukwu of NaijaTechBlog.

Blogger platform by default has no widget or means to create a table automatically from its post editor. This has remained a problem for many users, especially those whose posts require they add tables for proper description of items. While this can be achieved using the simple HTML coding system (for those who can play HTML Codes) there is now an automatic way of creating or adding a table to your blogspot posts without doing any coding. 

While going through some updates this morning, I stumbled on an online table generator called Tableizer. This tool helps you create HTML tables out of spreadsheet data on the go. Like I said, it requires ZERO knowledge of HTML Coding, just draft your content in a table format, copy and paste and the toll does the rest of the coding. 

The following are the steps to make it happen:

Step 1: Type your work on an Excel sheet or any other spreadsheet just the way you want them to appear in the table

Step 2: Go to Tableizer, copy and paste the write up from your spreadsheet on the Tableizer editor as shown below:

The Tableizer tool will remove the extra markup from your table and leave you only with a lean table code.

Step 3: Next will be to customize the table in terms of font type, font size and the color of the table heading if you want.

Step 4: When you are done and satisfied click the Tableize It! button to create your HTML table.

The tool will generate a set of HTML and CSS codes for you to copy, and show you preview or what your table looks like.

Adding the Table to Your Blogger Post Editor

By now, you should be having the codes generated for you by the Tableizer tool. To add it to your post on Blogger copy the codes provided and paste it on your post editor.

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I just saw The Homeland

Short Review it is for the short movie series (:p well deserved). With just 12 episodes, it’s the only movie series I ever finished in a day.

metro.co.uk: “Homeland season one is a masterclass in high-wire tension” Yekpa! Super Yimu! Lies o. lol
When I first heard “Homeland”, first thing that came to mind was DHS so I thot this was gon be a movie about Department of Homeland Security and their operations. (you know CTU in Jack Bauer 24 na). But I was disappointed. The whole 12 hours wouldn’t even reach one episode of 24. Only people who know how breath-taking 24 is would understand sha.

It was too slow. It’s like they had so much time on their hands. Unnecessary sex scenes. Overemphasis on Crazy Carrie’s mental state. In fact, everything was stretched. Lil Miss Brody’s rudeness, Nick Brody’s passivity, overhyping of a sniper and his spotter (brody and walker), blah blah. The only near flawless character there would be Saul Berenson (Mandy Pantinkin).

It would have made too much sense if all that 12 hours was made into a 150 minutes movie with a wonderful trailer and all that. And the way it now ended again, people would be looking hungrily forward to the Part2. I must confess I’m really looking forward to the next season. I just hope there’s more action, more guns, more brutality, and awesomeness like 24. lol. C’mon these guys are supposed to be terrorists na. And the love of Saul’s life should please come back.

ps: it was unfair comparing Homeland with 24. I’m sorry lol.

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Chevening Scholarships for International Students

The Chevening UK Scholarships is one of the world’s top scholarship schemes for international students. It is the flagship scholarship scheme of the British Government which provides scholarships to around 1000 leaders from over 130 countries to study in the UK every year.

The Chevening Scholarships offers exceptional candidates the opportunity to undertake postgraduate study at leading universities in the UK. It is aimed at future leaders, opinion formers and decision-makers.

Areas of Study: 

Chevening scholarships are targeted towards a broad range of fields and disciplines. Depending on the priorities of the UK Embassy in your country, applications are welcome for the following fields: Development, Public administration, Governance, Journalism/media, International Relations, Human rights, Economics, Finance, Banking, Law, Human rights, Management, Project planning, Political science, Diplomatic training, Environmental studies, Civil Society, Religion, etc.

Eligibility: 

Chevening UK Scholarships are for high calibre international student graduates with the personal, intellectual and interpersonal qualities necessary for leadership. Applicants should be:
• Motivated to make a career that will take them to positions of leadership in their own country within ten years of their scholarship
• Able to use their studies and experience in the UK to benefit themselves, their countries and the UK
• Natural influencers and talented communicators, with energy and ambition
• People who value networking and who can demonstrate the value of networks to their studies, and to bringing about change on a global level
• Intelligent, with demonstrable academic potential
• Strong characters with integrity, drive, and the ability to self manage and work independently

Applicants must:
• Have good English Language skills and an IELTS score of 6.5 (or its equivalent) for admission to postgraduate courses
• Meet the academic requirements for their courses of study

Scholarship Worth: 

Chevening UK Scholarships are full scholarships which cover tuition fees, monthly stipend and various one-off allowances as well as international travel to and from UK. Most scholars undertake a one year master’s degree.

How to Apply: 

There is no coordinated global launch of the programme. British missions around the world will advertise Chevening separately, so timings will vary. Some Embassies will advertise as early as late autumn (September), while others will start as late as spring (May-June). The deadline varies per country but falls around January-June 2013.

Please check your local British Embassy or High Commission website, and your local British Council website, for details about how the scheme will operate in your country, including information about deadlines and whether criteria about areas of interest have been applied.

For more information about this Scholarship, visit the Chevening Scholarships for International Students Webpage.

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Australian Development Scholarships

Australian Development Scholarships (ADS) are scholarships for international students who wants to study in Australian Universities. Scholarship holders are required to return to their country of citizenship for two years after they have completed their studies to contribute to the development of their country.

Australian Development Scholarships are available for vocational education and training courses, undergraduate degrees, postgraduate degrees, and PhD degrees at participating Australian universities and Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institutions.

Fields of study: Study programs must relate to your country’s priority areas for development. These are listed on the participating country profiles.

Number of Scholarships: Up to 1000 Australian Development Scholarships are awarded each year across 31 countries with scholarships awarded equally between men and women.

The number of scholarships and fields of study are determined annually by each ADS participating country and in accordance with the Australian Government’s bilateral development assistance program. Some countries may limit the level of study (technical, undergraduate or postgraduate) and give priority to certain fields of study to better meet development needs and Australia’s specific aid objectives for each country.

Scholarship Worth: ADS are offered for the minimum period necessary for the individual to complete the academic program specified by the Australian higher education institution, including any preparatory training. The following benefits generally apply:

• Full tuition fees

• Return air travel—payment of a single return, economy class airfare to and from Australia, via the most direct route

• Establishment allowance—a once only payment of A$5,000 as a contribution towards as accommodation expenses, text books, study materials

• Contribution to Living Expenses (CLE) is a fortnightly contribution to basic living expenses paid at a rate determined by AusAID. From 1 January 2012, CLE payable to Scholars studying under an ADS is A$28,000 per year.

• Introductory Academic Program (IAP)—a compulsory 4-6 week program prior to the commencement of formal academic studies covering information on life and study in Australia.

• Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of the award (for award holder only)—provided to cover the student’s basic medical costs (with the exception of pre existing conditions).

• Pre-course English (PCE) fees—if deemed necessary PCE may be available for students for in-country and/or in-Australia training.

• Supplementary Academic Support may be available to ensure a Scholar’s academic success or enhance their academic experience.

• Fieldwork (for research students only)—may be available for eligible research students for one return economy class airfare via the most direct route to their country of citizenship or within Australia.

Eligibility: To be eligible to receive a Scholarship, applicants must:

a. be a minimum of 18 years of age at the time of commencing the Scholarship

b. be a citizen of a participating country (as listed on AusAID’s Scholarship website) and be residing in and applying for the Scholarship from their country of citizenship

c. not be married or engaged to or be a de facto of a person who holds, or is eligible to hold, Australian or New Zealand citizenship or permanent residency, at any of the application, selection or mobilisation phases or while on-scholarship in Australia

Note: Residents of Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau with New Zealand citizenship are eligible but must apply for an AusAID 576 student visa.

d. not be current serving military personnel

e. not be applying for another long-term AusAID scholarship unless they have returned to their home country and resided there* for twice the length of the total time that they were in Australia (for example, a previous Scholar who has been on AusAID scholarship/s in Australia for four years will not be eligible to apply for another AusAID scholarship until they have been home for eight years)

f. not hold or have held an Australian Government-funded scholarship (e.g. Endeavour Award) in the preceding two years, at the time of application

g. satisfy any specific criteria established by the applicant’s country and/or government of citizenship

h. be able to satisfy the admission requirements of the institution at which the Scholarship is to be undertaken (this may mean that Post will need to withdraw a Scholarship offer if the recipient cannot satisfy the institution’s admission requirements. This may not be known until Post requests a placement at selected institutions)

i. be able to satisfy all requirements of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) for an AusAID Student Visa 576 (this may mean that Post will need to withdraw a Scholarship offer if the recipient cannot satisfy the visa requirements)

Application Instructions: Only applications for ADS Master Awards for Africa is open at the moment. Check the open and close dates for your country, and select your country of citizenship/residency from the list of participating countries for specific information on eligibility, priority areas and how to apply.

If you intend to apply, you must read the Scholarships handbook. Some countries encourage and allow you to apply online while others require hard-copy applications. See your country page for specific information for your country.

There is usually one annual selection round in each country. Each Country Program has different timelines but deadline falls around March-April annually. The deadline for ADS Master Awards for Africa is on 14 December 2012.

It is important to read the how to apply page and visit the country specific pages, and the official website (link found below) for detailed and updated information on how to apply for this scholarship.

Visit the Australian Development Scholarships Webpage for more information about this Scholarship.

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Norwegian Quota Scholarship Scheme for Developing Countries, 2012/2013

The Norwegian Centre for International Cooperation in Education (SIU)  is a public Norwegian agency promoting international cooperation in education and research. It has many programs, one of which is the Quota Scholarship Scheme.

The Norwegian government provides students from developing countries in the South and countries in the Western Balkans, Eastern Europe and in Central Asia with financial support to study for a degree in Norway under the Quota Scheme

The main objective of the Quota Scheme is to contribute to capacity building through education that will benefit the home country of the students when they return. The Quota Scheme is also intended to strengthen relations between Norway and the selected countries and thus contribute to internationalization at Norwegian institutions of higher education.

Scholarship Description: The Quota Scheme currently provides funding for a total of 1,100 students, 800 of them from developing countries in the South and 300 from countries in the Western Balkans, Eastern Europe and in Central Asia.

The Scheme is quite popular both with the Norwegian institutions involved and among eligible students, most of whom are highly qualified in their field of study. Every year the number of applicants far exceeds the number of students admitted under the scheme.

Eligibility: If you wish to participate in the Norwegian Government Quota Scholarship Scheme,

- You must apply directly from your home country.
- You must have stayed at least one year in your home country directly prior to the planned course of   study at the Norwegian university / University College.
- you must be able to find your home country on the list below:

Eligible Developing Countries: 

Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, China, Colombia, Comoros, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Djibouti, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, Ivory Coast, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, Laos, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Marshall islands, Mauritania, Micronesia, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar (Burma), Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, North Korea, Pakistan, Palestinian territories, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Republic of the Congo (Congo- Brazzaville), Rwanda, Sao Tome & Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon islands, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, South Africa, Tanzania, Tchad, Thailand, The Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire), Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Yemen, etc.

Selection criteria: All candidates should typically have the following basic qualifications:
- Secondary school certificates
- Minimum two years of higher education from their home country
- Some exceptions apply for certain professional educational courses at Bachelor’s level.

Scholarship Worth: 

Each student receives the same amount of money as a Norwegian student would do in an equivalent educational programme. 40 per cent of the amount is given as a grant and 60 per cent as a loan. However, the loan portion may be waived when the student returns to his/her home country after completing the course of study. Students who stay in Norway after finishing their studies or take up residence in another country than their home country must repay the loan. Travelling expenses for entry into Norway may be reimbursed (fixed price).

How to Apply: 

Applications forms are available from the websites of the universities and university colleges. All applications should be sent directly to the International Office at the university/college to which the student is applying.

Download the List of Institutions offering scholarships under the Quota Scheme here.

Scholarship Application Deadline: 

The deadline for applications for the Quota scheme is usually 1st of December every year. Some courses and educational programmes may have other deadlines. Please contact the International Office at the university/college to which you want to apply for detailed information. The Letter of Admission is normally sent to the successful candidate by 15 April every year.

Please NOTE that SIU is not responsible for the admission of students . The institutions of higher education that are part of the Quota Scheme handle all applications from prospective students. Information about the application procedure for the Quota Scheme should be available at the participating universities’ and university colleges’ websites.

For more information about this Scholarship,
visit the Norwegian Quota Scholarship Scheme for Developing Countries Webpage.

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