‛Friends’ theme songwriter dies aged 72

Allee Willis, who wrote the theme song for the hit television show “Friends,” has died at age 72, her partner Prudence Fenton announced Wednesday.

“Rest In Boogie Wonderland Nov 10,1947-December 24, 2019,” Fenton wrote on her Instagram account in a post with a photo of Willis, referring to the 1979 hit she co-wrote for Earth, Wind and Fire.

Willis’ Instagram account also included a screenshot of an article about her death along with the caption: “We are extremely shocked and devastated to share this news.”


She died Tuesday of a “cardiac event,” The New York Times reported, citing her publicist.

Willis, who penned “I’ll Be There For You” — the theme for the long-running show “Friends” — as well as several hits by Earth, Wind and Fire, was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2018.

She won a Grammy in 1985 for her work on the soundtrack for “Beverly Hills Cop,” and was nominated for another two decades later for “The Color Purple,” according to the Recording Academy’s website.

Willis did not know how to play music, but learned to become a songwriter by listening to rhythms coming through the walls of Motown studios in Detroit, the city in which she grew up, according to the Times.

“I, very thankfully, have a few songs that will not go away,” Willis said. (Vanguard)

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Tips to avoid weight gain during this holiday

The holidays have a way of tempting even the most adamant of dieters into eating recklessly. Maybe it’s the celebratory spirit in the air which for most, translates to sharing foods and drinks.

Maybe it’s the laid backness of the season persuading you to just take a break from the strict habits you’ve been devoted to.

Either way, one thing is constant; weight gain at the end of the holiday is not how you want to begin your new year. Most especially, if you have worked hard on shedding some weight.

Knowledge is power. And in this game of Holiday dieting, knowing the foods to avoid is a capable weapon which must be mastered.

Snack wisely

There’s bound to be snacks everywhere during the holidays. Whether it’s at a friend’s place, at that office party, at your aunt’s and etc, you can be sure to be served more chin-chin, cookies, cakes, and snacks than preceding months.

Also read: How bathing in warm water boosts your health

While it’s no crime to snack a little here, and there, be conscious to avoid eating just because and not because you’re hungry.

Learn how to politely decline snack servings at events, visits and so on.

Get enough sleep

You probably didn’t know that depriving yourself of sleeping over time can cause weight gain.

Do not spend all of your holiday nights partying and ‘catching cruise’. Get as much rest as you can to keep your mind and body fit.

Protein is your friend

You heard right. Make proteins your friend during this holiday. The math is simple: most snacks and meals served during the holidays are carbohydrates.

By being friends with proteins, you can balance these foods high in carbs with proteins such as poultry, dairy and so on.

Cut down on your dessert consumption

Most desserts contain huge amounts of sugar. Sugar encourages weight gain. In simple terms, the less dessert you consume, the safer for you.

Use smaller plates

This trick works every single time. Most times, because of engagements, you might be unable to escape celebratory meals.

The hack is to request for your meal to be served in smaller plate sizes so that you automatically consume less food. (The Cable)

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200 homes destroyed as forest fires tear through historic Chilean city

Source:Helen Regen

At least 200 homes have been destroyed after forest fires swept through a residential area in the Chilean port city of Valparaiso on Christmas Eve.

Hundreds of firefighters struggled to control the fast-moving blaze, which continued into Christmas Day and was made worse by dry weather and strong winds.
Military units and helicopters were deployed to help battle the flames and residents were evacuated to shelters.
The government regional leader of Valparaiso Jorge Martinez Duran said in a news conference on Wednesday that it is believed the fires were started intentionally.

Aerial view of burnt houses after a forest fire in Valparaiso, Chile.
Chilean Interior Minister Gonzalo Blumel said in a post on Twitter that authorities were working to investigate and “there will be no impunity” for those found responsible.
Images show dozens of houses completely destroyed by the flames and residents tried to salvage any belongings.

Also read: Tens of thousands stranded as typhoon hits Philippines on chrismas day


“Progress has been made in containing the fire, but unfortunately more than 200 homes are already destroyed,” Blumel posted on Twitter.
“This isn’t just about the numbers — there are families behind this to whom we have to answer,” Chilean Housing Minister Cristian Monckeberg said at a news conference on Wednesday.
Chilean President Sebastian Pinera said on Twitter, “We deeply regret the fire that affects so many families in the hills of Valparaiso and especially on Christmas Eve.”

Residents look at the destruction caused by the fires in Valparaiso.
He said a working group had been set up to help the affected families and begin reconstruction.
Located about 70 miles (113 kilometers) northwest of the capital Santiago on Chile’s coast, Valparaiso is a popular tourist destination known for its colorful houses, idyllic hills and its historic old town.
The city has been ravaged by wildfires in the past. In 2014, at least 12 people died and 2,000 homes were destroyed when fires tore through the city. CNN

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Gay Jesus Film: Brazil police probe attack on actors

On Wednesday, a video circulating on social media showed three masked men claiming to have carried out the attack in retaliation for “an attack against the Brazilian people’s faith.”

The two-minute video included images of several people lighting Molotov cocktails before throwing them at a building.

 The attack, in which no one was hurt, took place Tuesday night at the studio of a group of actors called Porta dos Fundos, whose 46-minute film “Christ’s First Temptation” began streaming on Netflix on December 3.

 The satirical comedy depicts Jesus returning home with his boyfriend Orlando after 40 days in the desert, as Mary and Joseph plan a surprise party for Jesus’s 30th birthday.

It has angered many evangelicals and Catholics, and hundreds of thousands of people signed a petition to have it taken down. Far-right President Jair Bolsonaro’s son Eduardo — a lawmaker — criticized the movie on Twitter.

 “We believe in freedom of expression but is it really worth attacking the faith of 86 per cent of the population?” he wrote. The masked men in the video held up a flag of the 19th-century Empire of Brazil and another sporting a symbol linked to the 1930s far-right political party Brazilian Integralist Action.

“All hypotheses are being investigated,” police commissioner Marco Aurelio Ribeiro told journalists. Police have identified the registration numbers of a vehicle and motorcycle used by the attackers and said the masked group’s video “matches” the crime committed.

Actor Joao Vicente de Castro, a member of Porta dos Fundos, told journalists the incident was “an attack on freedom of expression.”

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Chrismas Homage: Buhari receives FCT Community, says 2019 very successful

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday declared 2019 as a very successful year for the nation, thanking Nigerians for believing in him and supporting his administration to take Nigeria to the Next Level.

The president stated this when he received residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) led by the Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, during the traditional Christmas Day homage, at the State House, Abuja.

We thank God. It has been a very successful year, relative to the composition of this country, both politically and ethnically,’’ he said. The president told the delegation, comprising religious, traditional and political leaders as well top civil servants and members of the press: ‘‘You are our eyes and ears, we have to listen to you and I hope you are encouraging your constituencies that this leadership means well and is concerned about them.’’

He reiterated that his administration would continue to do the utmost best to effectively utilise national resources to rebuild the country. Buhari recounted that the extreme infrastructure deficit inherited by his administration was worsened by the volatility in the oil market and the activities of militants in the Niger Delta.

He, however, expressed confidence that in the last four years the federal government had recorded sustainable progress in mobilising resources to rebuild infrastructure across the country. ‘‘This administration sincerely believes that if you get infrastructure right, most Nigerians will mind their own businesses.

They may not even care who is in government. ‘‘But when you deny them infrastructural facilities then there is nothing they can do. ‘‘But I can assure you that I thank Nigerians very much from the bottom of my heart.

‘‘When I travelled to all the 36 states before the elections, what I personally observed and the number of Nigerians that turned up in every state to see and listen to me, is more than what anybody can pay or force. ‘‘What I saw made me believe that the majority of Nigerians understand and sympathise with me,’’ he said.

The president also reassured Nigerians that he was conscious of his duty as president, saying: ‘‘I swore to hold this office in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and God willing, I will follow the system diligently to the end of my term and I hope history will be kind to me and Nigerians.’’

In his remarks, the host Minister said the Christmas Day homage presented an opportunity for FCT residents to thank the president for his unwavering support. While acknowledging the support of security agencies in the country, Bello said FCT had enjoyed relative peace because of their collaboration.

He promised that his administration would continue to work hard to make the city safe, secure and open to all Nigerians.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the highpoint of the event was the presentation of Christmas cards to the president by the FCT Community and State House Chapel. VANGUARD

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