Henry Bromell Dead: 'Homeland' Producer Dies At 65

Henry Bromell, a veteran TV writer and producer, has died after suffering a heart attack, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Bromell, who worked on Season 2 of Showtime's "Homeland," was 65.
"We were lucky to work with Henry on and off for the past 18 years. He was a supremely talented writer and as kind and warm a person as you could ever meet. He will be deeply missed at the studio and on 'Homeland.' Our hearts and prayers go out to his wife and children," Twentieth Century Fox TV and Fox 21 said in a statement.
Bromell was an executive producer on "Homeland" and wrote the episodes "Broken Hearts," "Q&A," "Representative Brody" and "The Good Soldier." He also worked on "Rubicon," "Chicago Hope," "Homicide: Life on the Street" and "Northern Exposure."
The veteran producer took home a Golden Globe and Emmy for his work on "Homeland" and received a Writers Guild of America award for the "Homeland" episode "The Good Soldier."
"We are deeply saddened at the loss of our dear friend Henry Bromell, who has been a part of the Showtime family for over a decade," Showtime said in a statement. "Henry was an immensely talented and prolific writer, director and showrunner, and his work on 'Brotherhood' and 'Homeland' was nothing short of brilliant. His passion, warmth, humor and generosity will be greatly missed. Our hearts and thoughts go out to his wife and family."
Bromell had relatives in the intelligence field and spoke with HuffPost TV in December 2012 about the research he and the other "Homeland" writers do to make the show's depiction of intelligence work as realistic as possible.
"It'll make you crazy because of the conflict in your own head, just trying to hold all these pieces together and trying to make decisions based on fragments," he said. " What is it like to be these people and to really, really understand that your job is to keep something hideous from happening, and you're probably going to fail?"

Alamieyeseigha’s Pardon: Reverse Decision within 7 Days or we will Mobilise 1 Million Nigerians – VGOCC

The Veteran Group for Operation Clean Crusade (VGOCC), a non-governmental organisation, has demanded urgent revocation of prerogative of mercy granted ex-governor of Bayelsa State, Chief D.S.P Alamieyeseigha, within seven days. The VGOCC threatened to go on peaceful demonstration with one million people, if the decision was not rescinded.
This was made known in a press statement signed by its national coordinator and secretary general, Adeniyi Alimi Sulaiman and Abioye Abass Onikoyi respectively. The group condemned the undue state pardon given to the former governor.

According to VGOCC, the actions of President Goodluck Jonathan “depicts that corrupt leaders should continue to corruptly enrich themselves as state pardon is awaiting them. The action just make the EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) and the ICPC (Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission) as mere toothless dog, which cannot really fight corruption in Nigeria.
“VOGCC strictly demands for the urgent revocation of prerogative of mercy/state pardon given to Chief Alamieyeseigha within seven days, otherwise we will go on peaceful demonstration with one million people march in Abuja, Lagos and Oyo states.”
InformationNigeria

The Glass Balls Of Life And Marriage

Sandy Malone

You've probably heard somebody, at some point, use the example about life being a series of balls -- some are rubber and bounce back if you drop them, some are glass and they shatter and break if you don't give them enough attention and accidentally drop one. School, social clubs, community commitments, work (usually) are all rubber balls. Meaning that if you get too overwhelmed and one of them gets away from you, the worst case scenario is that you have to chase that sucker like one of those little crazy balls until you get life back under control.
Your health, your family, your spouse/marriage, your friends and a few other things are glass balls. Because life is unfair, you also have to keep balancing all of these balls in the air at the same time that you keep everything else aloft. And these are far more important balls because they are made of glass... some maybe even of the finest crystal. And if you look away for too long, you will drop AT LEAST one and it will shatter and break. Irreparably. These are things you can never replace if you destroy them, however accidentally.
So what's a modern woman to do? Lately I haven't been blogging much about marriage because I don't feel like I'm very good at it, and I definitely shouldn't be claiming any expertise. Don't get me wrong -- we're happily married (to the best of my knowledge), but I feel like I'm not keeping that particular ball terribly well supported. And I blame it on life. I'm expected to run my business, keep my commitments to my community, spend time talking to friends I live too far away from and miss terribly, keep my house clean, keep in touch with a somewhat extended family AND be a good wife. Is that even possible? And it's not Bill who is being hard on me about this -- my husband is 100 percent supportive 99 percent of the time. It's me who sees my shortcomings and doesn't like it.
I was talking with a groom this week who was hanging out while his new bride shopped in our boutique, and we were laughing about the one requirement they'd had for their destination wedding -- absolute, 100 percent privacy. They wanted us to be witnesses at the wedding, they wanted a photographer and a chef for dinner... they just absolutely positively didn't want anything or anyone to interfere in the slightest way in what was clearly the most important and intimate moment they will ever share in their lifetimes. And they wanted a fab villa with no visible neighbors. We were able to execute all of their requests and they were happy.
Why was it so important to be alone on their big day? Both have busy jobs and don't ever feel like they have enough time together, so they made their wedding week an extended vacation all about themselves. They spent time daydreaming about their next 50 years together and they made plans for the future. Nothing was allowed to interfere. It was their week. I was so jealous by the end of the conversation.
Marriage is a hard job in its own right. It's about learning when to speak up, and when to shut up. You pick your battles, and sometimes you start wars you never meant to finish. Sometimes the best laid plans go awry, and sometimes you can't fix the things you mess up. It's a little bit scary when you think about it like that. It's very easy after a long, hard day at the office to go home and forget that your partner might have had the same day, and that he or she might need whatever you need back from them as badly as they do. But you're both too darned tired to see the forest for the trees. Or rather, to see what each other needs and be there for each other.
So what's the solution to this one? In this world where most of us work full time and all of us are worried about money and the future? Obviously, nobody can juggle all those balls successfully all of the time. Family and work are the trickiest ones because your family is always willing to forgive you for ignoring them... or are they? Work is sneaky because it masquerades as Baccarat crystal when really it's a recycled giant ball of rubber bands that will probably dry rot on you eventually anyway, no matter how much attention you give it. And yet, how many of us find ourselves using work commitments as an excuse when we should really be doing something with one of those legitimately fragile globes? How many times have you postponed plans with someone you love to fulfill the wishes of someone who pays you?
Alright, enough with the bad metaphors. Do you spend enough time with your husband or wife? Does he or she complain that you don't? In this day and age, if you're hearing complaints, it's probably legit. Face it, aren't almost all families double job, double income nowadays? So we're all like ships passing in the night because nobody has the exact same schedule, nobody has the same deadlines, and nobody has the same sorts of worries that keep them up all night long. A very famous and brilliant political consultant name Bob Goodman once told me that if I ever owned my own company, I'd never sleep another solid night again. Damn, I hate that Bob is always right. What I didn't ask him about when he was explaining how to grow my career and build success was how to make sure I had time to spend with my husband and other people I love at the same time. Is it even possible? I see other people doing it. Why is it so hard for me? Is it easy for everybody else? Or does it just look that way.
It doesn't matter how everybody else is doing it. What matters is that we (you, me and all the other married couples out there) have to figure out a way to make it work. We have to make time for our life partners. We have to make time for our health (if you think you don't like the dentist, you'll like him even less if you skip your appointments for a few years). It's not okay to forgo visits to your elderly relatives when you finally have a moment to yourself that you'd rather spend doing anything else -- reality check, they aren't going to live forever. Everything I've just mentioned is a glass ball. And there are so many, many more of them depending on who you are as an individual. The list is pretty scary when you really start to think about it. It seems insurmountable. But it's not. Partially because, in the scenarios I'm referring to, you are not alone. You are fortunate enough to have a husband or wife who loves you and is there to share the burden... or to help you juggle. If you let them.
The moral of the story -- put your spouse and marriage first. It's the ball that's really made of fragile, irreplaceable crystal and it's the one that needs the most love, attention and diligence. If you keep your relationship happy and healthy, you will automatically have a stronger foundation for everything else you're trying to juggle. Remember, four hands are far more effective than two.
Until next time, happy wedding planning from Weddings in Vieques and Weddings in Culebra!
Sandy
HuffingtonPost

'Enough Is Enough, GEJ Please Be Serious For Once'

By Chukwuemerie Uduchukwu
“In a sane country, a government will not stand and watch her citizens be slaughtered like festive cows.” We are tired of President Jonathan’s usual condemnation of attacks without any further move to trace and deal with the perpetrators. In a sane country, a government will not stand and watch her citizens be slaughtered like festive cows. This government is not doing anything serious to fight insecurity.

Also, this PDP government is clueless from top to the bottom. How can individuals that call themselves leaders and elders find it safe to advise the government to dialogue with cannibals that have no good intention for the lives of Nigerian people? The comparison of this bunch of enemies of life to that of the Niger-Delta militants is totally illogical. The Niger-Delta militants had a defined and justified aim for their attacks which was the total negligence of the region by the government in spite of the fact that about 90 per cent of Nigerian revenue is derived from the region.
Also, they mainly attacked government facilities that catalysed the pollution of their land and never innocent Nigerians. Boko Haram targets innocent lives. They claim to be fighting Jihad but at the same time they attack and even kill their Muslim brothers by bombing mosques. They also don’t have respect for their spiritual leaders which include the Emirs and the Sultan. The Boko Haram sect claims that they are anti-western education but they use the products of western education like bombs, cars, motorcycles and different kinds of ammunition.
It is now even more worrisome that one can no longer tell which attack has Boko Haram backing as our security agencies lack adequate intelligence. As a result of this, any group may rise up and attack lives and we would end up blaming Boko Haram for it. There are some questions that need to be answered: Is Boko Haram really faceless as the government always claims?
If yes, how were the security agencies able to identify some of the people they have arrested as Boko Haram members and even leaders of the sect? How sure are the security agencies that they haven’t arrested innocent people? What happened to those people who were arrested? One only hears of their arrest but not of their prosecution or conviction? Is the government afraid of prosecuting or convicting them?
The government should fight insecurity with a focused and sincere mind because that is its prime function. Any government that fails to secure the lives of her citizens is nothing but a total failure. If a quarter of funds budgeted for the security of Nigerians is well utilised, these blood suckers will never have a ground to execute their attack. The government should conduct a sincere probe on the security sector and all those found guilty of embezzling our security funds should be punished for crimes against humanity.
Also their sponsors should be traced and charged for crimes against humanity. A small group cannot be bigger than a country. Enough is enough.
Naij.com

We must end petrol subsidy - Jonathan - Court says deregulation illegal

by Kayode Ekundayo (Lagos), Hamisu Muhammad & Atika Balal (Abuja)

President Goodluck Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday said government is still planning to withdraw petrol subsidies but that consultations will be held first to decide the best way to do it.

Speaking at the Economist Magazine’s Nigeria Summit in Lagos, Jonathan said the subsidy regime is wasteful and corrupt, and that only the “affluent middle class” benefits from it.

“Our investigation into corrupt practices in the fuel subsidy scheme has led to the recovery of large sums of money, and prosecution of suspected culprits,” the President said.

“We cannot continue to waste resources meant for a greater number of Nigerians to subsidise the affluent middle class, who are the main beneficiaries,” he added.

Jonathan’s previous attempt to end petrol subsidies sparked street protests and national strike in January last year, forcing the government to partially reinstate the subsidy.

Civil society groups and labour unions have vowed to resist any fresh attempt to withdraw the support regime, which will mean rise in petrol prices.

When the Federal Government cut subsidies last year, petrol prices rocketed to nearly N200 per litre from N65 per litre. The current official price per litre is N97.

‘Illegal, null and void’

Jonathan yesterday did not specifically say how the public consultations will be held ahead of the planned subsidy removal.

But as he spoke in Lagos, a court in Abuja declared the deregulation of the petroleum industry as illegal. Government has insisted that deregulation will save billions in subsidy funds which would then be funnelled towards infrastructure development.

Delivering a judgement in a case instituted by Lagos-based private lawyer Bamidele Aturu, Justice Adamu Bello of the Federal High Court declared that the deregulation policy is unconstitutional, illegal, null and void.

Aturu went to court challenging the 2009 decision of the government to deregulate prices of petroleum products in Nigeria. He sought an order restraining the government from deregulating the downstream sector of the petroleum industry or from failing to fix the prices of petroleum products as required by the Petroleum Act and the Price Control Act.

In the judgment, the court said the policy of deregulating the sector by not fixing petrol prices is unlawful.

Justice Bello said government must always fix the prices of petroleum products sold across the country as stipulated in the Petroleum Act and Price Control Act.

The Attorney General of the Federation and the Minister of Petroleum Resources, who were joined as defendants in the suit, had argued that Aturu lacked the locus standi to institute the action and asked the court to strike it out.

But the court said on constitutional matters, the law of public litigation allows Aturu to file the suit because the issues raised affect him and other Nigerians.

Justice Bello ruled that the deregulation policy is in conflict with Section 16(1)(b) of the 1999 Constitution which provides that the government should control the national economy in such manner as to secure the maximum welfare, freedom and happiness of every citizen on the basis of social justice and equality of status and opportunity.

“The policy decision of the defendants to deregulate the downstream sector of the petroleum industry by not fixing the prices at which petroleum products may be sold in Nigeria is unlawful, illegal, null, void and of no effect whatsoever being in flagrant violation of the mandatory provision of section 4 of the Price Control Act, cap P28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004,” Bello said.

He added that the deregulation policy has the effect of making the freedom of movement (which is guaranteed in section 41 of the 1999 Constitution) illusory for the generality of Nigerians and is therefore illegal, unconscionable and unconstitutional.

When contacted for comments yesterday, a spokesman for the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Mr Kingsley Agha, said he was not aware of the judgement but pledged to find out when work resumes today.

Officials of the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), which is responsible for regulation of petrol prices, did not answer telephone calls and text messages sent to them seeking for comments on the court decision.

Jonathan: We’re open to dialogue

In Lagos yesterday, President Jonathan also said his administration would continue to fight corruption and recovery of all ill-gotten wealth to ensure the principles of good governance and successful implementation his transformation agenda.

“Corruption and issues of good governance are also being vigorously tackled on all fronts,” said Jonathan, who came under criticism over the past week for granting state pardon to corruption convict, former Bayelsa State governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.

“The recent dismissal of three judges found to have compromised their offices is an unmistakable signal of zero tolerance for corruption in the judiciary,” he added.

Jonathan said he was using a three-pronged pronged approach to tackling terrorism, including through strengthening of counter-terrorism cooperation with neighbouring countries.

“Our second approach is openness to political dialogue. We believe, however, that this can only realistically progress when the groups and individuals involved in acts of terror, relinquish their anonymity, and come forward in sincerity to make their objectives known to the Nigerian people,” he said.

The third approach, the president added, focuses on economic inclusion targeting the disadvantaged especially in the North East, with economic opportunities in agriculture, entrepreneurial support, graduate employment and unskilled jobs programmes.

The Economist Magazine Nigeria Summit is being held with the theme: “Enabling and Implementing Change.”

DailyTrust

Elizabeth Colbert Busch Wins Democratic Primary In South Carolina 1st District

By Harriet McLeod

CHARLESTON, S.C., March 19 (Reuters) - Elizabeth Colbert Busch, the sister of TV comedian and political satirist Stephen Colbert, was the easy winner of the Democratic Party nomination on Tuesday in a special primary election to fill a vacant South Carolina seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, CNN projected.

Former Governor Mark Sanford was comfortably leading the field of 16 Republican candidates, according to preliminary election results posted on the official website of the State Election Commission, but could face a run-off April 2 if he fails to win more than 50 percent of the ballots.

The general election for the vacant 1st Congressional District seat is set for May 7.

Colbert Busch was leading early results in a landslide with more than 95 percent of ballots cast. During the campaign she touted her experience as director of sales for a shipping line and a leader in advocating science and math education in South Carolina.

Her famous brother, host of the late night TV political comedy show, The Colbert Report, actively campaigned on her behalf.

Sanford gained notoriety in 2009 for trying to hide an affair with an Argentine woman.

Sanford says he is seeking redemption after the affair that ended his marriage. Sanford's wife divorced him when the affair became public, after aides said he was hiking the Appalachian Trail while he was in fact visiting Argentina.

He is now engaged to his former mistress Maria Belen Chapur, an Argentine journalist.

The congressional vacancy was left by Republican Tim Scott, who was appointed to replace Republican Jim DeMint in the U.S. Senate after he resigned last December to head the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.

The district, which was redrawn after the 2010 Census, takes in the city of Charleston and parts of four nearby rural counties and stretches south along the coast to include wealthy Hilton Head Island. (Editing by Dan Trotta, David Adams and Lisa Shumaker)
HuffingtonPost

10 Ways To Get Used To Being Alone Again After Divorce

Written by Aunt Becky on CafeMom's blog, The Stir.
I've never lived alone before.
No, stop staring at me like that -- I swear, I have good reasons. I got pregnant and waddled from an apartment I shared with my ex back to the house I lived in with my parents so that I could go to nursing school and get a job that pays more than "do you want fries with that?"
Then, I met and married my husband shortly after graduation, when we bought a condo together. So in all those years, I was always living with someone.
But in July, we decided to divorce after nearly 10 years of marriage and I moved into my own place. Which means that I'm in the process of learning how to live on my own. I couldn't be happier, but it's hard to get used to sometimes. Here's how I'm learning to live alone after my divorce.
1) Get thee a tool box. One thing everyone needs when they find themselves living alone again is a tool box with all the basics to fix things around the house. Then ask everyone you know if they have any duplicate tools they can donate. Make sure to get a book on simple home repairs, too.
2) Get an AAA membership. I'm a car fiend, but I know very little about fixing them. So instead of finding yourself stranded in the middle of nowhere with no one to call, get an AAA membership and they'll come help you.
3) Reach out to friends and family. Make sure that people know you're learning to live alone again and that you're really feeling it. Divorce is a terribly lonely process and having people around who know you're hurting is never a bad idea.
4) Write it out. When you're feeling blue, write it out. Write about the divorce and what you're going through. Doesn't matter if you do it in a blog or in a journal. Just let it out.
5) Make a list of all of the things you want to do. Start small -- maybe you want to get some wall art of your own. Or maybe it's painting a room or taking a trip. But make a long list, put everything down that you've not done (and want to) and begin to complete it.
6) Use this as an opportunity to purge. Not just your stuff, mind you, but your head and your heart. Dump the friends who make you feel like crap and move forward.
7) Seek help. If you're not coping well with the divorce, don't hesitate to find a therapist who specializes in divorce situations to guide you through this hard time.
8) Set up weekly "dates" with friends and family so you have something to look forward to. Doesn't have to be anything fancier than movie night, but it helps to have something positive to focus on.
9) Remember, above all else, that this is your life and you alone dictate how you spend it.
10) Get involved with all those things you had to put aside during your marriage. Maybe it's something as silly as getting green pepper on your pizza, but do it because now you can. No one will stop you.
What would you tell someone learning to live alone again?
HuffingtonPost