Ambassador Jon Scieszka courtesy Christian Science Monitor
Jon Scieszka is the first National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature 2008 (USA). He was appointed by the Librarian of Congress for a two year term. He has written over 25 books illustrated by Lane Smith. Scieszka (pronounced SHEH-Ska) was a medical student who changed his mind to study writing. The American writer of Polish origin is married, has two children and lives in Brooklyn. His collection of poetry Science Verse was published by Viking in 2004. It was a follow up to Math Curse and he was awarded the the Golden Ducks Award in 2005. He also won the Rhode Island Children’s Book Award 1994 and the Golden Archer Award 1997 for the book The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales. Scieszka won the following awards for Math Curse:
•1995 – Blue Ribbon Book from the Bulletin Center for Children's Books
•1995 – Publisher's Weekly Best Children's Book
•1996 – American Library Association Notable Book
•1997 – Maine's Student Book Award
•1997 – Texas Bluebonnet Award
•1997 – New Hampshire's The Great Stone Face Book Award (Wikipedia)[/ALIGN]
Gobblegooky – by Jon Scieszka[/B]
‘Twas frustose, and the vitamins
Did zinc and dye (red #8).
All poly were the thiamins,
And the carbohydrate.
Beware the Gobblegook, my son!
The flavorings, the added C!
Beware the serving size, and shun
The dreaded BHT.
And as in folic thought I stood,
The Gobblegook, with eyes nitrate,
Came gluten through the dextrose wood,
Its extracts carbonate…
BEYOND CHANNEL 4
Channel 4 is a UK television station with a gay concept but with good programmes. That is why there ‘must’ be a gay, transvestite or gender reassigned person in the Big Brother House. The recent revelation of how Nigerian kids were killed and maimed after some Pastors claimed they were witches and wizards is still a big issue in the UK. It would not be surprising if the immigration authorities decide to be tough on Pastors entering the UK. It was 'advertised' that Hotel Rwanda actress Sophie Okonedo whose father is a Nigerian would narrate the documentary for Channel 4. A Nigerian Ministry of children and Family Affairs should be established without delay and children’s hospitals should be built in geographical zones. Children should not ‘pay’ medical bills worldwide.
Every sector should be regulated… The Charity Commission is the regulator for charities including churches in the UK. Nevertheless, I did not agree with Channel 4 on the statement that oil companies were blamed for killing people instead of Pastors of doom because the execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa et al was not caused by the church. A few oil companies should not be exonerated from the Niger Delta genocide. It was a good documentary and Nigeria may continue to be 'Channel 4ed'. ***After the Miss Uzoma Okere saga legislators should have embarked on a PROTECTION FROM HARASSMENT BILL otherwise people may continue to be 'Okered'. [/B]
Postscript…
Nothing Pass God – Skala Wee
MERRY ROBBERS
All night long the fear of darkness keeps me awake, the events of the past week has almost wreaked my nerves. Will tomorrow be any better? Ibadan is under attack and armed robbers have shattered our peace. One thing is certain: something has to be done and very fast too!
———–TERROR IN IBADAN by Nwachukwu Egbunike[/URL]
Your hard earned money maybe better spent on lovely holidays in Spain or Poland. In fact, it is now easier to buy a land and build a holiday home in Poland than vice-versa in Nigeria. At least, bandits are unlikely to pay you a visit at godly or ungodly hours. Imagine going back to Nigeria to settle down and you are unsettled by bandits. One of the 'attacked' (in Ibadan) is now blaming himself for moving from the US to Nigeria. I don’t need to tell you that he is likely to move back to the US. Who wants to die ‘cheaply’? It was so bad in Ibadan that banks were closed and policemen were killed by robbers. How can people have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year?
Some Nigerians claimed that mass unemployment was responsible for mass robbery incidents. According to the Journal of Quantitative Criminology, unemployment can lead to a high crime rate. Who could have changed Nigeria’s unemployment situation? During the past DUE PROCESS era Comrade Adams Oshiomhole would have made a good Minister of Labour. In the present RULE OF LAW era he is the Governor of Edo State. He has a vast knowledge and experience to tackle unemployment in Nigeria and Africa. People like Oshiomhole can change employment rights; ‘invoke’ anti-discrimination and equality laws.
FREEZE NUDITY BILL
Nobody has a monopoly of knowledge… A lot of women were not in support of the Public Nudity Bill in Nigeria. It has passed its second reading but some sections should be changed before the third reading and passage. Nigeria is a third world country but not in the Stone Age. Would it not affect the Tourism industry? How can people be so old fashioned? According to groups against the bill: The bill fails to take into consideration the cultural diversity of our country. A senator said that indecent dressing can cause mental problems. How? http://www.nassnig.org/senate/bills_progression.php?page=6
