According to the rabbis, the “Lost Ten Tribes” are for all intents and purposes “Gentiles.” This information constitutes further proof that the “Lost Ten Tribes” are not those diverse claimants (African, Indians, Burmese) who maintain remnants of Judaism from somebody’s former conversion or contact with the religion of Judaism.

Such truly Gentile claimants, unlike the Anglo-Saxons and white Northwestern Europeans, don’t bear a single biblical birthmark of fulfilled prophecy. Joseph was an international leader and a feeder of the nations – not some impoverished people in a jungle looking for a better life in this material world. Besides, Joseph isn’t Jewish!

The birthmarks of fulfilled biblical prophecies include, as the Jerusalem-based Brit Am Israel organization teaches:

According to the Bible ten out of the twelve tribes of Israel split away (1 Kings 12:19), formed their own kingdom of “Israel” (1 Kings 12:20) and were exiled by the Assyrians (2 Kings 17:18). They forget their identity (Hosea 1:9, 7:8; Isaiah 49:21) and became the Lost Ten Tribes. In the future they will re-unite with the Jews (Ezekiel 37; Isaiah 11:13; Jeremiah 3:18) of “Judah”, but until then they have a role of their own to fulfill. They were destined to be situated at the continental extremities of the earth such as North America, the British Isles, Scandinavia, the Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa (Deuteronomy 33:13; Isaiah 24:16, 26:15, 41:8-9, 49:6), to be the richest (Genesis 27:28, 49:25; Deuteronomy 33:13-16; Hosea 2:8), and most powerful (Numbers 24:8-7; Micah 5:7-9) nations on earth and to control major international strategic bases (Genesis 22:16-17, 24:60). All of these points together with numerous others show that descendants of the Lost Ten Tribes can only be found amongst Western Nations, especially the English-speaking ones.

I don’t denigrate those who are converts to Judaism, however those who are legitimate ETHNIC Israelites have every reason to be concerned when we see hordes of converts pretending to be our specific tribe (Indian converts pretending to be from Manasseh) rather than acknowledge they’re merely descendants of converts to Judaism.

If you study the Bible you will see converts are the exception to the rule, and yet some are attempting to force it to be the rule. It is not and never will be according to the Bible that rejects such replacement theology. The Bible continues to make the clear distinction between all Twelve Tribes and doesn’t blur their identity into the tribe of Judah and neither should we.

Whereas I believe some Israelites have merged with those of the Kingdom of Judah, they are the exception and not the rule. Proof that the “Lost Ten Tribes” (represented by Joseph – the Joes) is not incorporated, as a rule, into Judah is the very clear and distinct prophecy of Ezekiel 37 that the two (not one) are represented as TWO STICKS – Joseph and Judah – who will again become “one” in the future. They’re not one now despite all the attempts by some to teach otherwise.

I praise Judah within Beyond Babylon: Europe’s Rise and Fall (at least those Jews to whom it applies) for remaining faithful to their God-given understanding of the Sabbath, biblical festivals, dietary laws, preserving the sacred calendar, and other holy responsibilities. God has blessed the Jews to bless us all with such knowledge.

The Gentilized Israelites (many Catholics and Protestants) must confess and forsake our baptized paganism, our whitewashed heathen customs that Roman wolves have polluted the world with and misled the masses, and Judaism must reject its Babylonian relics of astrology, amulets, “hell” and other religious lies, as Zechariah proves Judah isn’t perfect either. Gentilized Jews, assimilated Jews, must remember their Hebrew roots and biblical responsibilities and act accordingly.

Both Joseph and Judah need to get our House in order that we may become filled with the Holy Spirit of God and serve as His light to the nations. The House of Jacob-Israel must become the House of God, so help us God.

Some members of Judaism have suggested I become a Noahide or convert to Judaism, even though they’re opposed to any proselytizing for them to become Christians. I’m very aware of the Noahides and of Judaism and consider both incomplete. I am graciously numbered among the pioneers, the chosen few, who have already perceived who the Pierced One is, who are partakers in spirit of the prophesied renewed covenant, and patiently await the political and religious rulers of Jerusalem to look up and come around and have the necessary change of heart and attitude that Zechariah 12:8-14 foresees, preparing for the Blessed One who comes in the Name of the LORD – sent from Heaven above.

One in the spirit of Elijah (who is dead and buried according to the Bible) – a living descendant of King David – will lead the Way to bring Israel and Judah to such a place, ready to receive our King, prepared to meet our God. Such a scion of David will be the chief spokesman between two witnesses who will testify to these truths and offer hope and comfort to their captive audience.

Jews are free to believe whatever they want and I have never said otherwise, even if I call them (like traditional Christianity) on certain inconsistent points, and encourage them to follow their Judaism to Israel rather than remain in a self-imposed exile. I believe what I’m convinced of before God whether or not Judaism or professing Christianity approves. God is my Judge. I just find it rather interesting that according to Judaism an atheist or Communist is still a “Jew,” yet some Jews (members of Judaism, not necessarily from the Tribe of Judah) have the chutzpah to deny the other tribes’ inheritances and reject their legitimate claims as Joes (Joseph) or whatever ETHNIC tribe they’re from which remains true regardless of religious affiliation. This anti-Semitic attitude is represented and foretold:

Ezekiel 11:15

15Son of man, thy brethren, even thy brethren, the men of thy kindred, and all the house of Israel wholly, are they unto whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, Get you far from the LORD: unto us is this land given in possession.

Thankfully, such sibling rivalry will soon be history, as Isaiah assures us:

Isaiah 11:12-13

12And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.

13The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim [Joseph] shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim.

Even as some Karaites and Orthodox Jews reject the modern state of Israel (because it was founded by secular Jews – for the most part – and is far from holy) because they’ve failed to see or submit to the prophecies that reveal Jews would begin to be restored in these latter days, with repentance FOLLOWING that fact (once they’re in the Land, in God’s good time), so some stumble that the Gentilized Israelites aren’t kosher enough according to their “Jewish” standard rather than humbly acknowledge them as brethren (having all the biblical birthmarks of fulfilled prophecy), and patiently pray for whatever conversion or change of heart is necessary, one step at a time, leaving it all in God’s good hands who gathers the stick of Joseph and the stick of Judah and makes us one (Ezekiel 37).

The Kasubi tombs, traditionally known as Muzibu-Azaala-Mpanga, a religious place in the Buganda kingdom is situated on a hill within Kampala-Uganda. The tombs are a burial place for the four previous Kings of Buganda known traditionally as Kabakas, and are situated five kilometers away from Kampala city center on Kasubi hill. Historically, Buganda Kabaka’s have always built their palaces on strategic hills inorder to find easy ways to escape during an invasion and to control the major roads to the palace.

The Baganda belong to the Bantu speaking people, one of Uganda’s ethnic groups. According to tradition, the first Kabaka of Buganda was Kintu who is said to have come with his wife Nambi. Kabaka Kintu is said not to have died but to have disappeared into a forest at Magonga.

The Kasubi tombs are one of the burial grounds/royal tombs of the Kabakas of Buganda, and the site is an example of traditional Ganda Architecture and living traditions. The palace was built by Kabaka Mutesa 1 in 1882 and according to culture, each king was supposed to be buried at a separate site when he died and a royal shrine to house his jawbone which was believed to contain his spirit was to be established at another site. Mutesa 1 was the 35th King of Buganda (1856-1884) and the first king to be buried in his former palace (the Tombs) at Kasubi without removing his jawbone. Mwanga II who succeeded his father Mutesa in 1884 was the second king to be buried at the Tombs after his remains were brought back from exile (seychelles islands) in 1910. His son Daudi Chwa II succeeded him at the age of one year in 1896 and ruled until his death in 1939. He too was buried in the Tombs. Daudi Chwa II was succeeded by his son Edward Mutesa II and the then governor of the Uganda protectorate. He died in 1966 in exile (London) and his remains were brought back and buried in the Tombs in 1971.

The Kasubi Tombs is an important Burial site for the Kabakas of Buganda because old traditions where broken at the site when the Kabakas were buried together. Each prince and princess who is a descendant of the four Kabakas is also buried at Kasubi behind the main shrine. The site is important as a cemetery of the royalty of the Buganda kingdom.

The tombs comprise of the Bujjabukula (Gatehouse) a beautifully built gate, which is the entrance of the site. Its constructed with wooden columns and a wall made of wooden woven reeds.The gate leads to a small courtyard with a circular house-House of Royal drums (Ndoga-obukaba) where the drums are kept. In the main courtyard, there are several houses built for the widows of the kabakas and other ritual purposes.

At Kasubi and all other royal tombs, there is an area behind a back-cloth curtain known as kibira (forest)where the real Tombs of the kabakas are and where certain royal ceremonies are performed like the new moon ceremony and the consultations of the mediums. In front of the curtain, there are raised platforms corresponding to the position of each kabakas tomb behind the curtain.Entrance to the “Secret forest” is anly limited to the widows of the Kabakas, the the royal family, the Buganda Prime-minister (katikkiro) and the Nalinya (kabakas official sister).

The Kasubi Tombs are adorned with royal regalia like spears, drums,medals, photographs and shields of the kabakas buried there.The structure is supported by wooden poles wrapped in backcloth and the floor covered with grass and palm leaves mats. Backcloth traditionally popular for clothing is a fabric made from the soft back of a fig tree (Ficus natalensis) and has a strong ritual importance to the people of Uganda. Thatching of the roof is carried out by members of the Ngeye clan (colobus monkey clan) ant the decorators of the poles are from the Leopard clan, who are the only people allowed to do this work.Pregnant women and widows are not allowed to enter the the building while its being thatched since this is believed to cause leakage. Similarly, the thatchers are not supposed to haver sexual intercourse during the thatching period.The great roof is supported by 52 rings, which represent the 52 clans in the Ganda culture.

The Baganda cultures can also be experienced at sites like Katereke prison where the king imprisoned his brothers in a trench. Naggalabi coronation site, Buddo where the kabakas of Buganda have been crowned for the past 700 years. Wamala Tomb the secret burial place of Kabaka Suuna II (1836-1856) who had 148 wives and 218 Children. Namasole Kanyange Tombs where the mother to Kabaka Suuna II was buried. Ssezibwa falls a spiritual place for the kings and Baagalayaze Nnamasole Tombs where the mother of Kabaka Mwanga II was buried.

The magnificent features of the Kasubi tombs represent the rich traditions and heritage of the Baganda people. People believe that every persons death has a spiritual origin and there is interaction between the living and the dead. The cultures of the Baganda lie in the Magnificent Tombs, where the bodies and spirits of their fore fathers, rulers and traditions lie to date.

In a world ravaged by tension, violence and crime, it is needful to preach and off course practice peace, unity, progress and humanitarianism.

Anything to the contrary, the collective karma will prevail. What we sow, we reap, either as an individual, community, state or nation.

This is what High Cief Oluwayemisi Adeshina Fadipe, Agbodere 1, Baale of Ifelodun, Orile Ifo, Ogun State, at the weekend preached the gospel of peace, unity and progress for residents of his community, Ogun state, our beloved country and the entire world.

The occasion was the 13th years coronation and installation of 16 chiefs held at Community Nursery & Primary School, Orile Ifo, in Ogun State.

In his welcome address, the Baale, poured encomiums on the residents of the community for living in peace, love and unity with one another, regardless of their tribe, gender, tribe and nationality.

He also praised Prince Dapo Abiodun and Hon Taiwo Oluomo, Governor and Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly respectively, for working tirelessly in ensuring that the state is peaceful, loving and united, despite its diversities.

Abiodun and Oluomo are both politicians on the platform of the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC. The party is holding forth at the federal level with Muhammmadu Buhari, as the president of Nigeria.

Honestly speaking with insecurity and poverty presently ravaging Nigeria, the self-acclaimed giant of Africa, what we need foremost at this point in time is peace, unity and progress.

Anything less is not acceptable to those of us who hold the country dear in our daily dealings.

The Ifelodun Baale also praised HRM Alayehiwa, Oba Abdul Semiu Adewale Ogunjobi, Arolangbade 1, Olorile of Orile-Ifo land and HRM Olowu Kangunere, Oba ( Dr) Olusanya Adegboyega Dosunmi, Amororo II, the Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Abeokuta, for gracing the occasion, accompanied with notable Baales and Chiefs from various communities in the State.

A copy of the programme made available to this writer by the Baale named those installed as: Chief Ismaila Akibo( Otun Baale), Chief Yinka Akinwale(Balogun), Chief Mrs Adun Ogunmodede( Iyalode), Chief Semiu Ajani ( Akogun), Chief Ishola Akeem(Akinrogun), Chief Abiodun Olubiyi(Bada) and Chief Mrs Oluwakemi Onifade(Iyalaye)

Others are: Chief Amos Fakeyi ( Oga-Nla), Chief Akindele Samuel, (n Oluwo), Chief Femi Ibitoye,(Ekerin Agba), Chief Wasiu Badmus(Asiwaju), Chief Yemi Amos( Agba Akin), Chief Akeem Olude( Odofin, Chief Ajibola Akulola, ( Olori-Odo) and Chief Richard Abiodun Samuel( Akeweje), among others.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that in attendance at the event were traditional rulers within and outside Ogun State, politicians, government officials, security agents, as well as officials of the various community development associations.

It featured prayers and presentation of certificates to the installed chiefs, dances and entertainment.

The Tiger is recognized as one of the big 5 cats. The list is headed by the Lion which is closely followed by the Tiger. Generally male tigers are about 9′ in length and could have an average weight of 400 lbs. The measurement of length is from the nose to the tail. Female tigers are slightly smaller in size and weight. Till about 100 years back the tiger was in abundance all over the world and thousands roamed the areas of Asia, India and Africa. However indiscriminate hunting and destruction of its natural habitat has reduced the tiger population to a pittance and has become an endangered species. In case this species is not looked after there is a good chance that the tiger will remain only in photographs.

India holds pride of place as far as tigers are concerned. The Cat Specialist Group has estimated that nearly two thirds of all the worlds’ tigers are concentrated in India. India has been home to the tiger for as long as Indian history. The Indus valley civilization which thrived nearly 4500 years back has clear reference to the Indian Tiger. A seal with a tigers head is proof enough that the tiger as a wild cat flourished at that time. Even earlier about 5000 years back the rock paintings of the Warli tribes in Thane show the existence of the tiger.

The Indian Tiger also referred to as the Bengal Tiger has pride of place in the list of tigers. Panthera Tigris Tigris is the name given to the Indian tiger by zoologists. The Bengal tiger is also referred to as the Royal Bengal tiger because of its majestic appearance. The Bengal tiger is a carnivorous animal. But sometimes it can turn into a man eater. Tigers generally are not man eaters, but an injury or a provocation can lead a tiger to become a man eater. The tiger in India is a protected species, but the sad part is that as per the last tiger census conducted by the Indian Government ,only 3846 tigers were counted. But experts have questioned the method of conducting census of the tigers by the Indians which they feel is not scientific. Indian censuses of wild tigers are carried out by identification of footprints also referred to as pugmarks of individual tigers. For this identification an expert tiger tracker is a must. However experts feel this method is not accurate.

With the Tiger population dwindling the government and wild life enthusiasts launched ‘Project Tiger’ to help the species from becoming extinct. But the launch of ‘Operation Tiger’ for the conservation of the tiger is at least 3 decades late. Prior to this the Maharajas carried out extensive shootings of the tiger to satisfy their ego. Big tiger shoots were organized to please the British rulers as India was a colony at that time. The Bengal tiger has been part of folklore in the tales written by Jim Corbett. He shot hundreds of tigers but regretted it in later life and became a tiger conservationist. The Corbett national park is named in his memory in Western Utter Pradesh.

One of the most famous reserves for the Tiger in India is the Smlipal reserve in the state of Orissa. Here the thick jungles give ample cover to the tiger. The melanistic or black tiger is a rare color variant of the tiger and is also supposed to be alive in this reserve albeit in very scanty number. The white tiger also a rarity is only found in India in Rewa in Madhya Pradesh. As things stand the tiger is an endangered species and it is incumbent on all wild life enthusiasts to help save the tiger and its habitat. This magnificent animal cannot be relegated to the dustbins of natural history.

The parable of the talents

A man travelled to a far country but before he left he left his goods to three servants.

“To one he gave five talents, to another two, and another one, according to each one’s ability; and he immediately went on a journey.”

“Then the one who had received five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.

“And likewise he who had received two gained two more also.”

“But the one who had received one went and buried his Lord’s money in the ground.”

“After a long time the master came and settled accounts with each of the three servants.”

“So the one who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.”

His Lord said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant, you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.”

He who received two talents, also doubled his talents and the master was pleased with him too.”

Then the one who had received one talent buried his talent and returned the talent to his master.

The Master was not pleased, in fact he was angry and told the servant, “Why did you not at least deposit my money with a bank where I would have received interest on my money?”

The Master took the talent from him and gave it to the one who has ten talents.

THE LESSON

“Use it or lose it,” which in a nutshell if we must make use of what has been given to us or we lose it.

The servant who buried his one talent did not use what was given to him and so it was given to someone else.

It also teaches us it is not how much you make from your pay packet that determines your financial future but how much you save.

Playing it safe by not taking any risks may make you feel secure but the day will come when you will lose everything you have so you may as well make use of what you have.

International sport is full of talented human beings who have reached the elite level of their chosen sport but what we do not see is the hard work and sacrifices made by these individuals to get where they are. Talent takes you so far but hard work took them further.

Ask any sports person how long it takes to reach peak fitness after they have been out of action for a while and they will say, “It takes a while to get fit but quicker to lose their fitness when they stop training.”

As far as the parable of the talents is concerned, if you cannot be faithful with what has been given to you then you cannot be put in charge with larger things.

Once upon a time, there were 12 mighty gods living atop of mythical mount Olympus: Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Demeter, Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Ares, Aphrodite, Hephaestus, Hermes and either Hestia, or Dionysus. Zeus was the ruler of all. Relationships between the twelve gods were always tense and some of them even wanted to overthrow Zeus and become the one and only King. Zeus, apparently decided that a fighting contest would be held in order to decide who is the mightiest god and the most suitable to rule Olympus. All gods would be able to use their special skills to prevail in this contest. Well, at least that is the story behind the new card game coming from Greece, titled OMG (Oh My Gods!).

OMG is a card game designed by a new designer, George Christofidis who has collaborated with artist Tony Tzanoukakis, responsible for the card art. OMG can be played by two to six players and lasts about 20 minutes. Its only components are cards. The board game market is actually full of such little card games, packaged in small boxes and costing about 10$, so the competition to face is great. Let’s see if OMG is up for the challenge.

OMG’s rules are remarkably simple. At the start of the game all cards are shuffled and each player is dealt six cards. The rest of the cards form a deck from which players will be drawing cards during the game. Each card depicts a god and also has a number and a color. The card may also have the god’s special ability or not. Cards can have four possible colors: blue, red, green and black and four numbers, 1 to 4. Designers have provided for color-blind people and have included a small symbol on the bottom right of each card, related to its color: red is represented by a fire symbol, green by a leaf, black by thunder and blue by waves.

Players are taking part in the fighting contest that Zeus announced by helping the gods strike blows to one another. The goal of OMG is simple: be the first to get rid of all the cards in your hand. Each player during his turn, must play a card face up, on top of the last face-up card at the center of the table. In order to strike a blow, the card played must match either the number or the god of the last played card. If that is the case, then it’s the next player’s turn. If neither the number nor the god is matched, then the player takes a penalty and must draw some extra cards, their number depending on numbers on the two cards (the one played and the one already at the table). If the two cards have the same color, the penalty is equal to the difference of the two numbers. If the color is different, the penalty is equal to the difference of the two numbers plus one.

If the card played has an ability on it, then after checking for a penalty, the active player gets to perform the special ability of the god. Special abilities may enable the player to get rid of cards, force other players to draw cards or make a player skip his next turn.

The game is as simple as that, so let’s see how it scores in our usual scoring categories:

Components:

As I said before, the game’s components are only cards. The artist’s approach to the theme of the twelve Greek gods is a very light and fun one. Each god is depicted in a comic way, emphasizing on his general known characteristics. For example, Aphrodite, goddess of beauty, appears as Miss Olympus, admiring herself in the mirror while Poseidon, god of the sea, holds a trident which is bitten by a naughty-looking fish and Hephaestus, god of blacksmiths and craftsmen, stands before his anvil having accidentally hammered a finger. The cards have beautiful colors and they are fun to look at and play with. They are made of quality cardboard and should best be sleeved due to shuffling. One problem about that is that the little box that hosts the game includes a paper insert and in the middle of it there is space for the cards to be placed in. However, when the cards get sleeved, they don’t fit anymore in this space and you must get rid of the insert so to accommodate them all in the box. This way, on the other hand, the cards are spread all around the box and get pretty messed up.

Inside the game’s box, a small rulebook can also be found that fulfils its role of explaining the simple rules of the game, has some examples of play and meticulously describes all the gods’ abilities with clarifications on points that may be unclear. A small description for each god and his/her main characteristics is also there, which is a very good idea and enhances the theme of the game, although not really related to the actual gods’ abilities. 7/10

Gameplay:

There are many card games out there that require to empty your hand in order to win. However, OMG introduces a refreshing theme and some interesting new mechanics tied to it. If the case was only to match the number or god of the card last played and take a penalty for not doing so, the game would be over-simplistic. The introduction of gods’ abilities gives a new twist to the gameplay and makes it more unpredictable and more interesting.

Luck of course plays a big role in this game. The cards dealt to you at the start of the game may be all you need to win under certain circumstances and there are games that will last no more than 10 minutes. The decision with which players are faced are pretty simple and the strategy to follow is clear enough as well. Of course, if you have a card that matches the number or god last played, this is the one to play and if you don’t, then you will try to play a card with the closest number, in order to draw a minimum amount of extra cards. If you have to choose between two cards that have the same effect, then you’ll have to put some more thought in it and probably try to think cards already played. Maybe your best option will be to play a god that has already been played several times before so that opponents will have more difficulty finding a match for him. The same approach of course could be taken, if you think about numbers having been played in previous turns. That is to say that however simple the rules of a game may be, there is always some room for extra strategic thinking.

OMG supports up to six players and from my experience, the more players involved, the most interesting it gets and the more a single game can last, elevating enjoyment. I’ve experienced games with 2 or 3 players that have only lasted 10 or even 5 minutes, which felt a little bit disappointing and made me think something like “What the hell? That was all?”. Statistically speaking however, this happens not so frequently.

All in all, OMG, although not having to offer something truly innovative in terms of gameplay, can keep you interested and have some fun time as a filler game or a game night with the whole family. Hardcore gamers however may find it a bit too simple for their taste. 6/10

Learning Curve:

This game is one of the few games in my collection that can be explained in less than 5 minutes, making it accessible to a large group of gamers. Rules are that simple. A few gods’ abilities may require further explanation, provided in the rulebook, but basically you will be playing within a few minutes after deciding to play this game. Thus, people that are easily bored not only by reading rules but even just by listening to them, will be delighted by the simplicity and quickness of setup. 9/10

Theme:

I find that OMG’s theme is very loosely tied to the game. Yes, the images of the gods are there to remind us that there is this fighting contest going on but no further thoughts can be made upon this matter. Gods’ abilities have really nothing to do with the gods themselves, so the cards could actually depict anything and still have the same function. For example, Hephaestus, god of fire and the forge, enables to discard a card. I can’t really relate the god to his ability. That’s why I never seem to remember which god has which ability. Some other gods like Aphrodite for example may be a bit easier to remember. She is the goddess of beauty, love and desire and can make anyone fall in love with her. This way she could probably seduce an opponent and make him skip his next turn.

Another thing that baffled me about the theme of the game is that you are supposed to help a god/goddess in their fight and that the fighting contest has a winner god that becomes the new ruler of Olympus, but that really doesn’t feel that way. It seems that you are using the gods’ abilities to help yourself win the game, and not a particular god. At the end of the game, it’s a player that wins but what about the fighting contest? Which god prevails? The player who won, probably used many gods’ abilities to succeed. That question remains unanswered, though it’s supposed to be the center of the game.

All in all, the theme in OMG seems to serve only the purpose of existing, without making the players really feel its presence. However, in such small games, that is rarely the goal of the design. 5/10

Replayability:

OMG is a fun little game that can be played easily by anyone, young or old, regular gamer or not and lasts less than half an hour. That means it can easily find its way on your gaming table either most probably as a filler between more serious and time consuming games or for a relaxing game night with the whole family. Its easy rules make it easy to learn and to remember, so a game can start within minutes from deciding to play it. Apart from these facts, my experience shows that the game shows more replayabillity around the 4-6 player base, kind of serving more as a party game. Replayability will also be considerably greater among youngest ages or rather old ones, that have less requirements from a game. 7/10

Fun:

The game’s fun factor, stems from gameplay and its simplicity as well as from the funny, cartoonish-style artwork in cards. Just as you are ready to throw your last card, you may suddenly be forced to draw many cards, to the delight, of course, of your opponents. You will have the chance to laugh at them too, when this happens to them. OMG seems to have that little secret recipe to make you pass your free time enjoyably with your favorite company. 7/10

Final Verdict:

Although OMG has nothing too revolutionary to show in terms of gameplay, it can serve its cause of entertaining you with ease as long as your demands are not too high. The cards’ artwork seems to hit the nail on the head, by providing an amusing representation of the twelve gods, mixing their traits with a pinch of humor. The game’s short duration and ease of rules allows it to appeal to a large target group, especially kids and older people. Expert gamers may find it overly simplistic and prefer games with more challenging gameplay. Luck and skill have their share regarding gameplay. Although luck seems to prevail at a first glance, if you pay more attention on your plays, you will find there is a fair share of strategy also involved. All in all, OMG is a family / party game that can give many hours of fun to those who are looking for just that.

Pros:

• easy rules
• nice artwork
• short duration
• suitable for all ages and levels of expertise in board games

Cons:

• poor implementation of theme
• not much originality in game mechanics

Recommended for: parties, kids, casual board game players

According to our scoring system, scoring categories have different weights. Components have 15% weight, Gameplay 35%, Learning curve 5%, Theme 5%, Replayability 25%, Fun 15%. According to this system and the above scoring in each category, overall weighted scoring of the game is:

Overall: 6.65

So you’re shopping for elementary school supplies, checking things off the list. You’ve got crayons, tissue, ruler, pencils, lined paper…check, check, check. These are the essentials for the elementary school experience. But in all the list-keeping, item-checking back-to-school frenzy, you may be missing out on the joy and delight of those special items, the kind of things that will add sizzle and sparkle to the elementary school adventure.

In other words, there are probably some school supplies you haven’t thought of. These won’t appear on the school-issued shopping lists, but they’re great to have. Some parents and students claim that they are essential. What’s more, these supplies will help to spark inspiration in your elementary scholar.

1. Personalized Stuff – Having personalized school supplies immediately creates charm. By adding his or her name to a lunchbox, backpack, or pencil, you add a level of appeal that’s impossible to achieve otherwise. Personalized school supplies take the mundane boredom out of everyday objects, and turn them into prized possessions. Buying personalized school items means that you will, of course, purchase the supplies on the list. Instead of being the same old boring supplies everyone has, you can have supplies that are cool and fun.

2. Desk Organizer – Elementary school desks can easily become a jumbled mess of papers, pencils, and who-knows-what-else. It’s easy to eliminate much of the mess with a simple plastic desk organizer because it makes keeping things ordered a breeze. By investing a few dollars in a desk organizer, you can help cultivate your child’s sense of orderliness and decorum. Besides, with a clean desk, it’s far easier to find that essential pink eraser when she needs it.

3. A Pencil Box or Bag – While on the subject of organization, don’t forget a pencil box. Pens, pencils, highlighters, and retractable erasers have a knack for fleeing into crevices and dark crannies – never to be found. A pencil box is the perfect solution. These make life a lot easier and mean your kids will rarely lose those personalized pencils.

4. Mechanical Pencils – Guess what happens to the traditional yellow number two pencils? To begin with, they break, they have to be sharpened all too often and they provide a very tempting thing to chew on. The solution is mechanical pencils. Even a first-grader can use a mechanical pencil with ease. Just make sure you buy extra lead refills.

5. Thermos – If you send your child to school with lunch everyday, a thermos is a must-have. Sandwiches and juice boxes can get boring. With a thermos, you can serve up delicious hot meals such as spaghetti, hot dogs, soup, chili, macaroni – you name it. Having a thermos means you’ve got the ability to give them warm, nutritious meals with a lot more variety than you can have with sandwiches.

You want your child to be taken care of while at school. Adding these things to your list of elementary school supplies is a great way to start school.

Mozambique – A New Democracy in Africa

Independence

Did you know- In the mid-1970s, like Seychelles (Africa), Suriname (South America), Guinea Bissau (Africa), and Papua New Guinea (Oceania), Mozambique became an independent nation on the Planet.Following over three centuries under Portuguese rule, Mozambique, a resource-rich nation, won its independence on June 25, 1975. In the succeeding months, the modern nation of Mozambique, a former war-torn country (1977 -1992), joined the United Nations.

World-famous Women

Did you know- In the 1990s and 2000s, the Olympic team was led by Maria de Lourdes Mutola, who won a host of medals and trophies, including a gold medal at the XXVII Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. Educated in the United States of America, Mutola (800m and 1500m /track & field) is a female idol in Africa and Mozambique since 1996 when earned a bronze medal in the women’s 800m in the Olympics in Atlanta, GA.

Modern History

Did you know- Following independence in 1975, this Portuguese-speaking nation, led by Samora Machel, became a Marxist state, with Russian/Chinese backing, until the break-up of the Soviet Union. Certainly, it was one of Europe’s last colonies on the continent of Africa. Around this time, the African country of Mozambique boasted one of the world’s worst civil wars, between 1977 and 1992. In the meantime, under that atmosphere, it was one of the ten poorest countries on Earth, along with other Marxist states such as Ethiopia, Cambodia, and Angola. Over that time, the African nation became a Soviet satellite state in the Third World. Nonetheless, Mozambique — like Guyana, Kenya, Mauritius, and India– was an anti-apartheid leader on the Planet.

During Cold War, it was home to several anti-apartheid activists and black South Africans. In the decade that followed, the nation’s ruler Joaquim Chissano became one of the architects of the 1990 Constitution. In the subsequent years, the modern nation of Mozambique held its first multi-party election, making it one of Africa’s first democracies in the 1990s, alongside republics as Cape Verde, Sao Tomé and Príncipe, and Cote d’Ivoire.On the other hand, by that time, the government and the rebel Mozambique National Resistance (MNR) signed a peace agreement in Rome, ending years of conflict. Then, Armando Emilo Guebuza won Mozambique’s first free presidential election in the 21st century.

Geography

Did you know- This former Marxist state is located on the southern coast of Eastern Africa. The Portuguese-speaking country is surrounded by Tanzania (also former Socialist republic), Malawi (ex anti-Communist nation), Zambia (ex British colony), Zimbabwe (one of the world’s most brutal dictatorships), Swaziland (an absolute monarchy) and South Africa (a multiparty democracy). It is home to tropical rainforests, swamps, savannahs and several rivers.

Maputo

Did you know- The capital city is Maputo, which was set up in 1544. It is located in the south. There are other metropolises such as Beira and Nampula.

National Heroes

Did you know- This nation has a handful of idols: from Samora Moises Machel (Mozambique’s former ruler, 1975-1986), Jose Craveirinha (author), and Maria de Lourdes Mutola (2000 Olympic champ, 800m) to Luis Bernardo Honwana (novelist) and Luisa Dias Diogo (former Prime Minister), as well as Graca Machel (one of sub-Saharan Africa’s most eminent campaigner for democracy and women’s rights).

Major International Organizations

Did you know- In addition to being an official member of the United Nations ( UN), it is also member of many international organizations: The Commonwealth (originally called the British Commonwealth of Nations), the Organization of Africa Unity (OUA), and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).

Multi-sport Events

Did you know- Curiously, Maputo, Mozambique’s capital, has been elected as the host for the 2011 African Games.

Woman and Power

Did you know- Graca Machel, former First Lady of Mozambique ( from 1975 to 1986) and South Africa ( 1998-99), is a pioneer African campaigner for women’s rights. Thanks to her crusade for the rights of African women, Mozambique boasted one of the highest proportion of women in its national congress in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Graca, Nelson Mandela’s wife, was born on October 17, 1945, in Incadine, Gaza Province, Mozambique. In the meantime, in the 21st century,Mozambique became one of the first former Portuguese colonies in the world to elect a female (Luisa Dias Diogo) as its Head of Government.

Tourism

Did you know- With its natural beauty, from spectacular waterfalls and unique tropical beaches to amazing rivers, picturesque towns and historic buildings, and abundant wildlife, Mozambique is one of the new paradises on the Planet. But there’s more, of course. This land is home to the Mozambique Island, one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Foreign Relations

Did you know- The new democratic rule has opened the country to the outside world, and today Mozambique maintains close relations with all African nations, Portugal, France, Britain and the United States of America. Like most of Africa, this Portuguese-speaking country has strong links with the People’s Republic of China.

Naming a boat can be fun and bring out creativity, and what about re-naming a second-hand boat; let’s look at what to consider!

It would be wise not to make a hasty decision that could cause regret latter; think of a name you can be proud of, easy to pronounce… something that speaks to you! Why not think of a favourite location, what type of boat you have and the pleasure and adventure it will bring you!

What should you consider; Naming a Boat?

First think of safety!

Make the name easy to pronounce and relay in times of an emergency, your life could potentially depend on this. You don’t want a name that can be misinterpreted or hard to pronounce when calling it out on the emergency radio. Complicated spellings can also cause confusion, especially when you are using the phonetic alphabet to call the Coastguard in a crisis.

Think the feminine touch!

Boats are traditionally ‘she’s’ but you don’t have to go overboard with this. A lot of boats bear a women’s name, maybe something personal to the skipper. Too cute doesn’t generally work either.

Avoiding Cliché’s

Some names are very common and you see them repeatedly over different boats. When naming your boat think outside the square and look for something original, something personal and unique to your boat! Some of the sail boats commonly seen have been called ‘Cool Running,’ ‘Keel Over,’ ‘Ocean Runner’ and ‘Ocean Spirit,’ ‘Wind Dancer and ‘Wind Breaker’ to name a few.

Re-Naming a Boat!

But what about if you have bought a boat and you don’t even like saying the name with a vengeance… It is so awful and inappropriate it sticks in your throat when asked?

So how do I go about changing it?

Nautical folklore is heavily wrapped up in superstitions! One of the most famous superstitions is that if you re-name your boat it will anger the Gods of the sea, and will curse the boat with bad luck forever. What if you don’t like the name of a boat are you stuck with it?

Mythology says you can rename a boat without being cursed with bad luck as long as you undergo a special re-naming ceremony!

Superstition says renaming a boat is tantamount to defying the deities. According to myth, every vessel’s name is recorded in the Ledger of the Deep, which is Poseidon’s (the Greek god of the sea) personal record book. To actually change a boat’s name, you must purge its original name from the ledger.

Pour the champagne overboard to appease Neptune while splashing some on the boat hull. An alternative is to smash a bottle of champagne on the boat hull, so Neptune and the boat both get their appropriate portions.

Then, while you’re surrounded by family and friends, christen your boat as if it was the first time. This process is fraught with danger and tradition, and getting it right is a serious business. However, you should take the advice below with a huge pinch of (sea) salt!

Here is a basic summary for you to follow;

• Remove all traces of the old name. Obviously, only do this once you have formally changed the registration but do not bring anything on board with the new name until this is done.

• Perform a ritual ceremony! See below.

• Offer a sacrifice – champagne is the norm but a tot of rum, wine red or white might suffice, don’t forget to have enough for you and your friends.

• Attach the new name as soon as possible

Neptune’s purging Ceremony

“Oh mighty and great ruler of the seas and oceans, to whom all ships and we who venture upon your vast domain are required to pay homage, implore you in your graciousness to expunge for all time from your records and recollection the name (here insert the old name of your vessel) which has ceased to be an entity in your kingdom.

As proof thereof, we submit this ingot bearing her name to be corrupted through your powers and forever be purged from the sea. (At this point, the prepared metal tag is dropped from the bow of the boat into the sea.)

In grateful acknowledgment of your munificence and dispensation, we offer these libations to your majesty and your court. (Pour at least half of the bottle of Champagne into the sea from East to West. The remainder may be passed among your guests.

Neptune’s renaming Ceremony

Oh mighty rulers of the winds, through whose power our frail vessels traverse the wild and faceless deep, we implore you to grant this worthy vessel (Insert your boat’s new name) the benefits and pleasures of your bounty, ensuring us of your gentle ministration according to our needs.

(Facing north, pour a generous libation of Champagne into a Champagne flute and fling to the North as you intone. Great Boreas, exalted ruler of the North Wind, grant us permission to use your mighty powers in the pursuit of our lawful endeavours, ever sparing us the overwhelming scourge of your frigid breath.

(Facing west, pour the same amount of Champagne and fling to the West while intoning. Great Zephyrus, exalted ruler of the West Wind, grant us permission to use your mighty powers in the pursuit of our lawful endeavours, ever sparing us the overwhelming scourge of your wild breath.

(Facing east, repeat and fling to the East.) Great Eurus, exalted ruler of the East Wind, grant us permission to use your mighty powers in the pursuit of our lawful endeavours, ever sparing us the overwhelming scourge of your mighty breath.

(Facing south, repeat, flinging to the South.) Great Notus, exalted ruler of the South Wind, grant us permission to use your mighty powers in the pursuit of our lawful endeavours, ever sparing us the overwhelming scourge of your scalding breath.

Oh! Neptune, you spirit God of waters great and small, on this vessel, by your grace, allow these sons and daughters all, to pass from port of hailing to their port of call, and on these sailing subjects make your gentle blessings fall.

“You who cause the seas to rage or lie in sweet repose, please list to we mariners here, your servants of the flows. This ship, the captain, the crew and all those who love the wind and seas – will follow where thee goes.”

Is this Re-Naming Ceremony Necessary!

It’s entirely up to you! Do people actually do it; an absolute yes! Tongue in cheek or for a bit of fun with this ceremony, traditional words and some good champagne! If nothing else it’s a good excuse for a party!!

Chitral is a mountainous country in the north of Pakistan. It remained an independent kingdom for most of its known history. The early history of this region is wrapped in the mist of antiquity. We can gather only some fragments of it from the oral traditions, folk songs and scanty archeological remains. Recent archeological excavations have discovered graves pertaining to the era called “Arian grave culture”, which is estimated to be 4500 years old. The graves reveal that those people buried their dead with their belongings, such as jewelry, arms and utensils. Some Buddhist remains are also found various parts of the country, showing that this area was, at least partially included in the Buddhist world, during the First Millennium.

In clear contrast to its neighboring regions, Chitral has since long been ruled by kings and petty chiefs. The concept of authority or centralized rule was unknown the surrounding areas till very recent times. These regions were mostly acephalous or headless states. Some names of old rulers are still remembered in traditions and folk tales like Bahman e Kohistani and Sumalik.

The earliest dynasty, which has got historical evidence, is called “The Raees”. Raeeses are generally believed to be of a Badakhshani origin. This Dynasty ruled the country till the 2nd half of the Eighteenth Century. During the sixteenth Century, the Chagatai kingdom of Kasghar made inroads to Chitral, and it was directly ruled by the Chagatais for quite sometimes.

In the 2nd half of the Eighteenth Century, a local family belonging to the Mulkhow Valley of Chitral, rapidly increased their powers, culminating in a clash with the then Raees Ruler, in the result of which the Raees Rule came to an end. The victorious sons of Muhammad Beig were now master of the kingdom, which extended to the now Ghizer District of the Gilgit-Baltistan Province of Pakistan. They partitioned the country among themselves and ruled it in peace for sometimes. Chitral, the main seat of power was occupied by the elder Muhtaram Shah Katur-I.

Then the Raeeses returned from Badakhshan and expelled them from Chitral. Members of the losing family fled in all directions. One of them, Sangeen Ali reached the Mughal Court of Dehli, and sought help from the Emperor, on the plea that he belonged to the same line of Taimur (Tamerlane). The Emperor gave him some money, with which, Sangeen Ali recruited mercenaries from Swat, and attacked Chitral via Bashqar Gol. After reconquering the country, he called back all the family members, and ruled it for many years. The central throne of Chitral was occupied by the descendants of Katur-I and his brother Khushwaqt for alternately, until Muhtaram Shah Katur-II finally established himself firm in Chitral. The line of Khushwaqt had to be content with the Mastuj district of Chitral and Ghizer.

Both lines remained in continued conflict among themselves, until Amanul Mulk of the Katur line finally occupied the whole kingdom, deposing the last of the Khushwaqt Ruler in 1880s. The Khushwaqt line produced some able warriors like Shah Faramurd, Suleiman Shah and Gouhar Aman. But these were no match of the clever rulers of the other line, like Katur-II and Amanul Mulk.

During the reign of Amanul Mulk (1857-1892), Chitral became a little mountain kingdom, experiencing a long period of stability and peace for the first time. However neighboring powers like Kabul, Kashmir, and Jandul were threatening its very existence. Amanul Mulk finally succumbed to it and had to sign a treaty with Kashmir. In the meantime British also made overtures to Chitral. As Kashmir was itself part of the British Empire, Chitral also came under the British Suzerainty.

In 1892, the powerful and sagacious ruler Amanul Mulk died. Without any law of succession, a long war of succession ensued between his sons. One of his brothers, Sher Afzal Khan also became a contender. Two other parties, The British and Umera Khan of Jandul also became involved. Most of the Katur family was annihilated, or exiled during this struggle. The British agent in Gilgit, Sir George Robertson was besieged in the Chitral Fort for 47 days, after much loss of life to his force. Finally he was rescued by two columns of British Force, one marching from Gilgit and the other from Peshawar. In 1895, Chitral formally became part of the British Empire. They made Shujaul Mulk, a boy of fourteen, the Mehtar (Ruler) of Chitral, who was the only remaining son of Amanul Mulk, eligible for accession. Shujaul Mulk, was no more independent as his forefathers, nevertheless he proved himself an able ruler. He was followed by his elder son, Muhammad Nasirul MUlk in 1836. Nasirul Mulk was scholarly person, with a university degree. He tried to make Chitral modern state. His worked a lot for the educational development of Chitral. His untimely demise in 1943 proved a great setback for the country.

With the departure of the British, Chitral opted to join the newly created country Pakista. From that day onward the independence of Chitral vanished rapidly, culminating its complete merger in Pakistan in 1969.