National Assembly, Nigeria Live Stream- (video)

How to Increase Your Productivity 500% by James Altucher

In this series, professionals share their secrets to being more productive. Read the posts here, then write your own (use #ProductivityHacks in the body).

I missed investing in Google. I missed investing in Foursquare. I made fun of the guy who started Lycos. I missed, I lost, I suffered, I cried. I could’ve started other businesses instead of the ones I did. I could’ve accepted job offers instead of lying in my hammock crying about failures. How much time have I wasted thinking of just nothing but crap.

Probably years.

I want to be productive, healthy, and happy. When you spend even two minutes mentally debating the worst people in your life (as I did the first two minutes after I woke up today), those two minutes add up. Throughout the day, these thoughts add up until you ask yourself at the end of the day, “What happened?” and you have no answer.

People say, “Well I played too many games. Or I gossiped too much at the water cooler.” But nobody says, “I spent too many fragmented minutes and seconds thinking thoughts of pessimism or jealousy.”

Better to not have 80% of my thoughts (or more on some days!) be “not useful.” So one practice is to label thoughts even more specifically. You pretend your brain is a giant Gmail inbox. Here are nine filters you can use to get rid of the negative thoughts.

Nine types of thoughts that will prevent you from succeeding at your business or in your job.

#Movie: 'Empire' Season 2: Episode 5 Review Released; What Will Happen In 'Be True'?

Jamal (Jussie Smollett, left) and Ne-Yo (right) are going to collaborate on a song on "Empire" Season 2, episode 5.

Hakeem (Bryshere Y. Gray) and Cookie (Taraji P. Henson) have had several set backs with their new label, Lyon Dynasty, thanks to Lucious (Terrence Howard) on Season 2 of Fox's hip-hop drama "Empire." However, Lyon Dynasty make finally catch a break in episode 5, titled "Be True," thanks to someone Cookie has been refusing to work with.

The synopsis for episdoe 5 reveals that Cookie with get some help from Anika (Grace Gealey) and a new promoter named Laz Delgado (Adam Rodriguez) to throw a block party to launch their label. Hakeem will headline the show with "a signature anthem" which he wrote all by himself. The song won't be the only new thing in Hakeem's life. At the end of episode 4, Hakeem found a new lead singer for his girl group named Laura (Jamila Velazquez), who he could get into a relationship with.

Jamal (Jussie Smollett) will be back in the studio with Lucious producing for him. However, Lucious won't be the only one in the studio with Jamal as singer Ne-Yo will guest star. The R&B singer co-wrote Jamal's previous song "No Doubt About It," which he performed with Pitbull in episode 3.

#Movie : Lucious Lyon And Roxanne Ford Discover The Fate of Vernon; What Happened In Episode 4 of 'Empire' Season 2? [READ]

Hakeem (Bryshere Y. Gray, left) and Jamal (Jussie Smollett) perform in a postapocalyptic Black Panther-themed music video on "Empire" Season 2, episode 4. 

Lucious Lyon (Terrence Howard) has proved all season long that he always gets the last laugh on Fox's hip-hop drama, "Empire." Prosecutor Roxanne Ford (Tyra Ferrell) learned that in the most grotesque way possible in episode 4, “Poor Yorick.”

The episode begins with the FBI raiding Empire as Jamal (Jussie Smollett) records a new track. When he's done, he goes to do an interview with a Rolling Stone reporter but his assistant breaks the news to him about the raid. The FBI also shows up at Cookie (Taraji P. Henson) and Hakeem's (Bryshere Y. Gray) Lyon Dynasty. Thirsty (Andre Royo) wakes Lucious up at his home and tells him the FBI will be there soon. When Roxanne walks in, Lucious is naked and tells her to look anywhere she wants.

#Movie: 7 Things To Know about ‘Empire’ Season 2

Cookie Lyon (Taraji P. Henson) will look to take back the label she believes is hers in "Empire" Season 2.

It's game on once again for the Lyon family on Fox's "Empire." The family will continue to fight while loving and hating each other all at the same time in Season 2. In addition to drama, many guest stars will stop by, characters will continue to change and grow, and old faces will return. Check out what you should know before tuning into the hip-hop drama below:

75 Incorrectly Used Words That Can Make You Look Dumb by BY JEFF HADEN Contributing editor, Inc.@jeff_haden

Using the right word can matter. Using the wrong word can matter even more. I once lost a potential writing gig because I used "who" instead of "whom" in a proposal letter.

(And I still have trouble getting "who" and "whom" right.)

Even just one incorrectly used word--especially when you're trying to make a great impression--can ruin everything. Is that unfair? Yes... but it does happen.

To make sure that doesn't happen to you, I've collected some of the most common incorrectly used words from other posts into one epic post. (Thanks to all the readers along the way who offered their own examples, many of which are included here.)

Here we go.

#Entertainment: Rihanna Thought She Could Change Chris Brown: 'I Was That Girl' (Must Read)

Rihanna admits she made a mistake getting back with her ex Chris Brown after he pleaded guilty to assaulting her in 2009.

"I was that girl," she told Vanity Fair's November cover story about their brief reconciliation.

"That girl who felt that as much pain as this relationship is, maybe some people are built stronger than others. Maybe I’m one of those people built to handle s*** like this. Maybe I’m the person who’s almost the guardian angel to this person, to be there when they’re not strong enough, when they’re not understanding the world, when they just need someone to encourage them in a positive way and say the right thing."

Rihanna Speaks Out in Exclusive Interview

Wendy Williams suggests Terrence Howard should be fired from Empire - he responds

During her hot topics on her show on October 1st, Wendy Williams suggested that Terrence Howard should be fired from the Fox hit 'Empire' for his real-life abuse allegations and bizarre behavior.

"Terrence Howard, your personal life has taken over to where if by chance they took you off the show I would be happier than mad," Williams, 51, said during her Empire recap segment. "I feel like between him allegedly being abusive to women in his personal life, him giving an 18-page nutty interview to Rolling Stone magazine where he talked about all kinds of nuttiness - it’s usurped his entire situation at Empire and the show could do without Terrence Howard. I’m sorry. It's the way I feel." she said

Terrence Howard responded on twitter a few days later. His response after the cut...

#Movie: 'Scandal' Recap: Olivia Pope Is America's Mistress

On Thursday's episode of "Scandal," the White House was still dealing with leaked photos of President Fitzgerald Grant and Olivia Pope canoodling.

"How the hell did this happen?" the president asked his chief of staff, Elizabeth North, and press secretary Abby Whelan.

But when Fitz wanted to wait to make a statement with Liv, Abby suggested "a game plan," especially because she was being berated in the Press Room by the media wondering exactly what was going on.

#Life: What If I am Homosexual??

Sometime ago, a girl went to the park with her little brother, wondering about the wisdom of taking him for a horse ride on his fifth birthday — especially since she hadn’t been on a horse over ten years.

She gripped the neck of the horse for her dear life, while her brother rode with a more experienced friend.

A guy laughed at her clumsiness. “First time out on a horse?”

He was about her height, stocky, with a purple streak in his hair, purple nail polish, and purple gauges in his ears. He had an easy-going smile. “I’ve already fallen six times, girl. You’re doing good.”

This girl didn’t know when she grinned back at him, and accepted his outstretched hand, that he would tell her what he did.

As they stumbled their way on the horse, he told her about being raised and shunned in a small town in Nigeria, being kicked out of school and out of his church, moving to work on his singing career, all the while dealing with “the pressure of being different” — “being gay.”

“I believe in God,” he said, “but I don’t like who he’s made me and what he does to me. I believe in the Bible, but not the parts that have nasty things to say about people like me. People think gays are happy and confident all the time, but most of the time, I’m sad. Most of the time, I’m lonely.”

“We’re all born a little sad,” she said, smiling, “all a little lonely.”

“I’ve never met anyone so kind in such a long time,” he said. “You’re different from most people.”

This girl began to give an explanation for her peculiarity: Jesus, by his love, had changed her life. He became the first stranger she ever told about Jesus so clearly. And she became the first person he’d met all day who hadn’t sneered at him for being so expressively different.

“I just want to be loved,” he told her.

The afternoon ended two hours later with the girl explaining, “You know, I believe what the Bible says about homosexuality, and I’m passionate about believing what the Bible says —”

“Fair enough,” he interjected with a half smile.

“ — But it was so good to meet you, to hear your story, to remember, as much as both sides can seem to vilify one another, that there are real people on both sides of this issue. Is there any way I could be praying for you?”

“Why do you want to pray for me?” he asked.

“Because I love you.”

Incredulity filled his eyes: “But why?”

“Because Jesus loves me. In spite of me, Jesus loved me, and he saved me! And he has changed me, lavished his love on me, and from that I can love others. I can love you. I know you’ve probably heard it a thousand times.”

“Actually, no one I’ve ever just met has told me that they love me, and I’ve met plenty of Christians. They tell me that I’m going to hell that I’m disgusting, and they try to get away from me. But here you are . . . letting me hold your hand.”

“Because I know you need his love. We all do. We need him. And I get to be here with you to tell you about him.”

The story doesn’t end with the boy on the horse coming to Jesus in a dramatic moment. Once the horse riding was over, they both went their separate ways. But the story changed me. In a moment, I thought many would typically be too uncomfortable to speak, distracted by their sheltered life and unsure of what to say, God can help you share his love.

Sometimes we can get so bogged down in the issues that we forget that all issues belong to people — hurting people, lost people, disoriented people, and confused people. People just like us before Jesus stepped into our lives (1 Corinthians 6:11).

During this past week, I asked on my BBM pm –Is Homosexuality an illness or an illusion?? Personally, I really don’t know which because I can’t just imagine it. However, a friend on twitter said Homosexuality is just preference disorientation, whichever it is-Homosexuals are HUMAN. Humans created by GOD and should be treated with love.

Reading Roman 1: 24-32 gave me a direct punch that homosexuality is a sin, no doubt! Homosexuality was as widespread in Paul’s days and even more 2000years ago, as it is now. Homosexuality is rejecting God and God allows them to continue because He has given us the power of choice. He lets us declare our supposed independence from him, even though he knows that in time we will become slaves to our own rebellious choices. People tend to believe lies that reinforce their own selfish personal beliefs. Homosexuality is considered an acceptable practice by many in our world today-even by some churches. But society does not set the standard for God’s law.

Now that we know homosexuality is neither a normal nor a healthy lifestyle nor a godly life then the most loving thing we can do is to help homosexuals realize this and offer them our help and encouragement rather than abusing or judging them. Who are you to judge or abuse them? Even God gave them over to their sinful desires. He couldn’t do anything, however He still loves them and want them to realize their foolishness themselves. God gives people over so that they will experience the ruin of their sin and call out to him for salvation.  It is the Christian’s task to point out that while homosexuality is a sin, we are all sinners and there is forgiveness and deliverance for all who turn to Jesus Christ. Homosexuality is ‘a behavior, not a condition,’ and something that some people can and do change, just like they sometimes change other tastes and personality traits. They need our love and explanation of the love of God concerning them. You would be amazed so many homosexuals are doing great, however they lack the core love and purpose of God upon them. Let us show them the way. Reach the heart before the hand. LOVE is the key.