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Barack Obama: America’s Greatest Presidential Orator

Barack Obama

You don’t have to be a fan of Barack Obama’s administration in the United States to agree that he is America’s greatest presidential orator of the modern world. The former US president need not apply the high tone of Hilary Clinton or childishly disagree with reporters as Donald Trump does. However, one thing is clear. Obama gets his message across in a way the United States has never witnessed.

As a young senator, Barack Obama gave a keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. His 16minutes and 11 seconds speech was longer than Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” speech, the speech often referred to as the greatest in America’s history. The similarity with Obama’s “Audacity of Hope” was how his eloquence moved the audience. A deep conviction in his voice as he spoke about unity, equality, and change.

Four years after, Barack Obama was the president of the United States. His campaign was thrilled with persuasive speeches displaying his wealth of information about the United States Constitution, Declaration of Independence, essential texts of civic culture, speeches of Abraham Lincoln, Franklin Roosevelt, John Kennedy, and Martin Luther King.

His preparation and rigorous study were the secrets to his great speeches. His ability to change his tone, raise his volume, and naturally increase his speed. Barack Obama’s prowess in oratory is unmatched. Undoubtedly, America has a great history of some of the world’s most powerful speeches. The inaugural address of Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1933 and John Kennedy’s inaugural address in 1961 are some of the most famous speeches in America’s history. However, it’s the technique used by Obama that differentiates him from the other United States presidents. His audience can feel his calmness and empathy.

Beyond his campaign speeches filled with messages of unity and equality, Barack Obama’s speech has been one of the best ways to pay tribute to heroes of civil rights. His great speech at the burial of Nelson Mandela summed up his relevance. Obama’s one-time political rival, John McCain, got Obama to promise to deliver a speech on his burial, one which the African American honored. Obama was also given the honor of delivering a speech at the burial of the civil rights icon, John Lewis, on July 30, 2020.

Like every other American president, Obama may have instituted controversial reforms during his tenure in Washington. Still, one undeniable fact was that no one listened to him without admiring his public speaking ability.

 

Electric Cars: The Advantages And Limitations You Should Know About

Electric Cars

Have you ever thought of the largest source of climate pollution in the United States? Transportation. Emissions from cars and trucks are not only bad for our planet, but they’re also bad for our health. Air pollutants from gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles cause asthma, bronchitis, cancer, and premature death.

Electric cars are 100 percent eco-friendly as they run on electrically powered engines. They do not emit toxic gases or smoke in the environment as it runs on a clean energy source. You’ll be contributing to a healthy and green climate.

Electric cars are entirely charged by the electricity you provide, meaning you don’t need to buy gas ever again. Driving fuel-based cars can be costly as prices of fuel have gone all-time high. The average American pays about 15 cents a mile to drive a gas-powered vehicle. In contrast, many electric cars run on five cents a mile.

An electric car is safer to drive, given their lower center of gravity, which makes them much more stable on the road in case of a collision. In case an accident occurs, one can expect airbags to open up and electricity supply to be disconnected from the battery. This can prevent you and other passengers in the car from serious injuries. They are also less likely to explode in the absence of any combustible fuel or gas.

In the world of automobiles, electric cars have the simplest driving method. Commercial electric cars come with a transmission comprising of only one really long gear. Also, they don’t suffer from the stalling problem as petrol cars do.

Another really useful feature is regenerative braking. In normal cars, the braking process is a total wastage of kinetic energy that gets released as frictional heat. However, in an electric vehicle, the same energy is used to charge the batteries.

Now, despite all these exciting features, electric cars have some limitations you should be aware of. Take, for instance, they can travel only about 100 miles on average, and on a single charge. The technology of Chrysler’s proposed EVs is supposed to have the cars run longer, though. Sure, it won’t match gasoline in terms of range and availability.

Batteries that power these cars are a costly affair. The long-lasting lithium-ion batteries cost about thousands of dollars each, which for the most part, makes these cars expensive. And if the batteries last only about 4 years, they could add to the maintenance costs.

Electric cars can also be a hassle on your energy bill if you’re not considering the options carefully. If you haven’t done your research into the electric car you want to purchase, you may be making an unwise investment. Sometimes electric cars require a huge charge to function properly, which may reflect poorly on your electricity bill each month.

Electric cars are not suitable for cities facing a shortage of power as electric cars need the power to charge up, and cities already facing acute power shortages are not suitable for electric cars. The consumption of more power would hamper their daily power needs.

Henry Ford, a Successful Entrepreneur: Did He Ever Fail?

Henry Ford

Every entrepreneur has a story to tell. A story of how they moved from the point of despair to hope. Henry Ford’s story is not an exception. It perfectly depicts what it means to move from obscurity to limelight. He was an industrialist, entrepreneur, business tycoon and founder of Ford Motor Company. He was also the chief developer of the assembly line technique of mass production. He achieved this great feat with persistence and dedication to his work. However, his life was not a fairy tale. It was full of ups and downs.

Henry Ford was born on the 30th of July, 1863, in Dearborn Township, Michigan. He was born into the family of William and Mary Ford. He developed a passion for building and creating masterpieces at an early age. At age 15, Ford could disassemble and reassemble watches for his friends. This earned him the reputation of a watch repairman. He worked in Detroit and James Flower & Bros as a machinist. Again, he worked at Westinghouse, where he repaired their steam engines. Ford was a person who knew what he wanted at a young age. And he pursued it with much diligence.

Ford started building a two-cylinder engine in 1887. And by 1892, he had completed his first car. This car featured a two-cylinder engine, four horsepower motor. It had a two-and-half-inch bore and six-inch stroke. It was recorded that Ford drove this car for about 1000 miles from 1895 to 1896. He began building a second car in 1896. This iconic man died in 1947.

“Failure is only an opportunity to begin all over again, this time more intelligently.”
Henry Ford

Henry Ford’s beginning was not all rosy. It seems as though his failures were more than his successes. He started as a brilliant, skillful, and intelligent engineer who could not invent anything. But he remained audacious and resolute in his resolve to achieve success. He also remained dedicated to perfection. He wanted to produce a near-perfect car. It was because of his love for perfection that deliveries were delayed. This contributed negatively to his reputation.

Asides his damaged reputation among customers, nobody wanted to finance his business. Most financial heavyweights saw his company as a lost course. But he did not lose hope. He continued to press further, even more tenaciously into greatness.

He went on to build the Ford “Model A.” This was met with a lot of setbacks, as there were complaints all over the country. The car began to break down all over the place. But he didn’t stop; he learned from his mistakes and created “The Ford Model T.” This new model revolutionized the automobile industry at that time. Ford Motors was brought to the limelight. Today, Henry Ford is no more, but his name still lingers in many because he refused to give up.

Yes, Henry Ford failed at some point in his life. But his endless and relentless efforts were sufficient to overcome all his setbacks. Every entrepreneur should learn from Henry Ford’s life. You must learn to convert your failures to success through persistence and doggedness.

Three Times Zuckerberg Has Been Grilled By Congress

Three Times Zuckerberg Has Been Grilled By Congress

The evolving trends in digital technology continue to impact every sector of our nation. Hence, the need for government regulation without discouraging the private sector from innovating is crucial. Government intervention is also inevitable, based on the quality of information shared and data possessed by the tech industry.

One platform that has regularly come under fire is Mark Zuckerberg’s Facebook. The app has about 2.5 billion users worldwide, making it the most popular social media platform. The availability of a wide range of data stored on the platform by independent users makes it an attractive place for advertisement. Since the 2016 election in the United States, Zuckerberg has been summoned thrice by the Congress.

The billionaire’s first appearance before Congress was on April 10, 2018. Zuckerberg was grilled by lawmakers on how “Cambridge Analytics”, a political consulting firm, acquired data and influenced the 2016 elections. The Facebook founder was questioned whether his company had been selling data to advertisers. As a response, Zuckerberg said,” We allow advertisers to tell us who they want to reach, and then we do the placement… That’s a very fundamental part of how our model works and something that is often misunderstood”. He further admitted his greatest regret in running the company was that they were slow in identifying the Russian information operations in 2016. Zuckerberg faced 600 questions in the meeting, which lasted for ten hours.

The second meeting of Zuckerberg with the Congress was October 2019, 11 months before the next election. The major difference from his first appearance was the range of questions he faced. The tech expert was questioned on free speech, hate groups, fake news, and electoral interference. The lawmakers also questioned his plan to engage in the provision of financial services. Zuckerberg responded on how the company intends to fight online child exploitation, political misinformation, and data privacy lapses.

The Facebook founder was summoned again on July 29,2020. Zuckerberg sounded confident before the lawmakers this time. It was his third appearance before the Congress in just two years. The lawmakers questioned Zuckerberg’s acquisition strategy of Instagram following some leaked emails that showed the Facebook founder threatened his former rivals with fierce competition. The tech expert was also questioned further on the protection of data before the 2020 US elections.

It is the government’s role to protect the state from foreign interference while also protecting its citizens. As the tech industry flourishes and social media grows, more government intervention will be expected. This may be the start of many meetings between the Congress and tech leaders.

 

Why Rihanna Is A Fashion Icon Forever

Why Rihanna Is A Fashion Icon Forever

As far as the fashion lifestyle is concerned, Rihanna is simply a goddess of style! Fashion isn’t just about what you wear but how you wear what you wear. For this, Rihanna is perhaps everything and even more. She has no boundaries as she creatively “legally” breaks the rules regarding style preferences and clothing choices. It will interest you to know that she won the first-ever CDFA (Council of Fashion Designers of America) Fashion Icon Award in 2014. She emphasized that fashion rules were meant to be broken, and she sure lives up to her word always! Here’s why she is a fashion icon, not just for now but forever.

Rihanna sure looks good in anything. Over the years, her arrival at any red carpet is like an event itself. She looks fabulous in all wears as she pushes the boundaries and delivers timeless looks! It is not a doubt that her looks and outfits – elegant, gothic, or risqué – have been risky. Nevertheless, she wears them with confidence, and her style turns out to be trending and glorious!

It is a fact that just about anything looks good on her. Even styles or clothes that are pretty outdated and well-considered a fashion faux pas for the world still looks good on her. When Rihanna wears it, she makes the old new! Besides, her confidence encourages people to be comfortable with their bodies and wear what truly makes them happy. A vivid example is a big pink, poufy Giambattista Valli princess dress she wore on a red carpet at the 2015 Grammy Award. It immediately became an Internet sensation. To tell you that she decides what’s pretty, ugly, and fashionable.

She’s not just awesome with the clothes and wears, but also pretty great with the shoes. She wears her products, and now the public has gradually adapted to her exclusive style. When she wore her Fenty Puma Sneaker heels, people joined the trend in no time!

She is truly an icon not just for blacks, but for women generally. She has done well as a girl by influencing the fashion industry with her Caribbean style. She looks fabulous in dreadlocks as well as Rastafarian colors. She truly embodies what it means to be a Caribbean queen in every sense of it.

Although Rihanna is just for Rihanna, anyone can model their fashion inspiration and aspirations after her. Rihanna owns her company, Fenty. It is home to several fashionable wears and accessories and even skin products. She sure is an icon for the elegant fashion lifestyle!

Facts About Beyoncé You Probably Didn’t Know That May Shock You

Beyonce

Beyoncé Knowles-Carter is one of the greatest entertainers of all time. She has managed to maintain a firm status of an excellent singer, songwriter, international icon representative of power, activism, and sheer confidence for about three decades of her career! As much as she keeps private life, there’s not much she can hide as a celebrity. Millions of fans and others are always in search to know more about their favorite star. She has done great work in keeping her private life private. However, here are some facts about Beyoncé you probably didn’t know.

The gorgeously looking Beyoncé had just one boyfriend before Jay-Z named Lyndell Locke back in high school. They split up before she went ahead to pursue her glorious career. On one occasion, she told Telegraph that when she was 12-13, she had her first boyfriend, who remained her boyfriend until 17. She acknowledged that she has always been quite loyal and a little more mature despite her young age as at then. And ever since, she’s had only one boyfriend after that in her entire life – Jay-Z.

She Struggled with Depression

Beyoncé’s father, who was the then girl group’s manager of Destiny’s Child, was sued for mismanagement when the group split up. It made Beyoncé battle depression, which made her seclude herself without eating quite much while the depressed state lasted. She acknowledged her mother, who helped her recover as she encouraged her to care for her mental health.

Beyoncé Is Allergic to Perfume

Although she’s allergic to perfume, she went ahead to launch her perfume line in the year 2010, and over the years, she has endorsed and released other scents. Her fragrances are noted to have been chemically altered during the development process of its making because she’s quite allergic to most perfumes.

She Added A Word to The Dictionary

After releasing ‘Bootylicious,’ which was a hit song under Destiny’s child, guess who paid apt recognition to the title and went further to coin it as an official word? The Oxford English Dictionary! ‘Bootylicious’ is now an adjective that means “(of a woman) sexually attractive.” The super talented singer has sure had her print in the vocabulary world!

A Fly Is Named After Her

In 2012, a scientist, Bryan Lessard, actually discovered a species of horsefly in Northern Queensland, Australia, and he named it Scaptia beyonceae, due to the golden hairs noticeable on the fly’s abdomen. As it stands, the fly is known as the all-time diva of flies! Pretty impressive, right?

Beyoncé is one of a kind among millions. These facts succinctly accentuate this point and show she’s truly a unique gem!

Richest Actors In America Whose Wealth Will Blow Your Mind

Jami Gertz

Like many other professions in the entertainment industry, acting in America has gifted several film stars massive wealth. It’s not much of a secret any longer that actors are some of the world’s wealthiest people. Ever wondered who some of the richest actors in America are and what their net worth range is? Read closely.

One movie star you should be aware of is Jami Gertz, worth $3 Billion. She is not just the richest American star, but also in the world! She’s an actress and producer who is popular for starring in:

Twister (1996), The Lost Boys (1987), Still Standing (2002-2006), and Sixteen Candles (1984). She’s also a philanthropist, an investor, and a co-sports team owner. It is no doubt that her career contributed quite well to her net-worth. However, much of her wealth is attributed to her marriage to the billionaire, Tony Ressler, the co-founder of Ares Management, with over $136 billion worth of assets.

Tom Cruise is another wealthy actor, who is worth $570 Million. He’s an American film star, a screenwriter, producer, and director who has starred in popular movies like: Mission Impossible franchise, Magnolia (1999), Minority Report (2002), and Edge of Tomorrow (2014), among several other highly rated movies. As it stands, he’s a proud winner of three Golden Globe Awards with three Oscar nominations. He’s easily one of the richest American actors with millions of his movies sold worldwide.

The list cannot be complete without the mention of George Clooney, worth $500 Million. George is an American actor, producer, director, stern businessman, and of course, a social activist from Kentucky. His wide fame is accredited to movies such as ER (1994-2009), From Dusk till Dawn (1996), and Three Kings (1999). In 2018, he was ranked as the highest-paid film star when he sold his Casamigos Tequila factory for a whopping $1 billion. One might easily think he’s the wealthiest actor.

Adam Sandler is not just a popular American actor but also a film producer and comedian who has been in over 30 movies that have grossed over $2.4 billion at the worldwide box office. His highest-grossing movie of all time is Hotel Transylvania (2012), which brought in $358.38 million. He’s pretty much one of the wealthiest American actors, with a net worth of $420 Million.

The name, Jack Nicholson, is another popular name among the wealthy actors. Asides his acting, Jack is also a known writer and producer. He has won over 80 accolades and received more than a hundred nominations in various awards, including BAFTA Awards, Golden Globes, and the Oscars.

Now, everyone knows Sylvester Stallone. He’s not just an American actor with incredible acting skills, but also a film director and producer. He has appeared in over 40 films including the popular ones you know like: Rocky, Rambo, and The Expendables.

He has pretty much accumulated wealth for himself and received several awards and nominations for his hard work, including three Oscar nominees, The César Award, and a Golden Globes award, among several others.

Arnold Schwarzenegger, the 38th Governor of California (2003-2011), is a global icon when it comes to acting and bodybuilding. Among several movies, he’s famous for Terminator franchise, Commando (1985), and True Lies (1994). As it stands, he has earned an estimated net worth of $400 million!

Finally, this shows you that wealth comes with diligence, hard work, and versatility even while being in the entertainment industry!

Popular American Food Restaurants Noted For Housing The Glamorous Lifestyle Of Celebrities

Food Restaurants

America is home to a multicultural blend of cuisines. These cuisines will gift you delicious tastes you may never recover from! There are also a vast number of food scenes that beautifully showcase the delightful flavors of cultures in their trendy restaurants. It is not a surprise that celebrities visit these food restaurants to show off their glamorous lifestyle! Here are some of the popular ones.

Craig’s

is one great Hollywood hotspot to find classic American food that’s got an upscale twist. It practically has all sorts of food, even ones that cater to vegans with their unique dishes. As it stands, the restaurant is often regarded as “The Olive Garden for celebrities.” What’s more, the food and interior décor accentuate the glamorous lifestyle fitted to grace celebrities. Larry King, for instance, is noted to have eaten here, as well as other stars. It’s sure a great place to look out for some industry connections and celebrity hangouts.

Juvia

is another choice restaurant that offers some of the best food in Florida. It uses an eclectic mix of Peruvian, French, and Japanese cooking to make outstanding meals with the freshest of ingredients. It also creatively offers incredible views embellished with floor-to-ceiling windows that peep out over Miami. Notable celebrities have been seen here, like Harry Style. Don’t be surprised to catch one if you decide to eat at Juvia.

The BOA Steakhouse, Los Angeles

beautifully fits the glamorous lifestyle as it combines artistic design with outstanding steakhouse fare. Have you ever heard of a bone-in Rib Eye and a Dry Aged New York Strip? Yes, it’s some of the best cuts of meat available in Los Angeles, which the BOA steakhouse is home to. They also house seafood, poultry, sandwiches, and salads to soothe your cravings. What’s more, there’s an extensive wine list and cocktail menu to drink on! David Spade, Ryan Seacrest, Alexander Ludwig, Sharon Stone, and many more entertainment professionals have been spotted at this location!

Rosie’s, in New York City

houses one of the best Mexican-inspired cuisines in the US. Chef Marx Meyer heads it, an incredibly experienced culinary artist that has an immense taste as far as the food of America’s southern neighbor is concerned. Rosie’s creates an exceptional traditional dining experience while using original techniques, including cooking on some griddle and grinding masa by hand. This restaurant attracts the rich and famous, like Jessica Simpson, who has been spotted here.

If you have plans for the classy and extravagant lifestyle, you might want to stop by these restaurants and enjoy the delicious foods they offer!

Tesla: An Innovative Icon In The World Of Technology

Tesla

Tesla has been noted to be at the forefront among several major automakers globally, especially with the innovative use of artificial intelligence (AI). It is no news that carmakers are possibly the most tech-focused auto manufacturers today, as there is the constant usage of hardware and software integration into manufactured vehicles. However, Tesla stands tall when it comes to the innovative use of technology.

Elon MuskTechnological innovation is home to Tesla’s operations. Elon Musk, the primary figure behind Tesla’s growth, alongside JB Straubel, co-founder and CTO of Tesla, keeps accelerating Tesla’s products and business ideas. The cybertruck is a vivid example for the world to see. Musk brilliantly builds, using innovation capital to boost his ideas, while leveraging his past success at PayPal and Space X to achieve future projects effortlessly.

Tesla has birthed electric cars that surpassed consumers’ expectations and several unique vehicles and world-changing technology like the fast charging sustainable batteries it manufactures. As far as innovation is concerned, Tesla has transformed energy production like the supercharger stations, global transportation, as well as consumption systems.

One outstanding structure noted to be evident in Tesla’s organizational system is that it gives its employees easy access to share brilliant ideas and likely alternatives in the company’s interest to the executive team. This has given them an edge in securing a system that provides a pool of ideas that can be built on for subsequent successful innovations. Here, hierarchies do not pose much of a hindrance. This sharpens the problem-solving systems therein, as well as the reduction of unhealthy friction among workers. There is a healthy corporate structure that births flexible communication, which brings fast and efficient solutions.

As it stands, Tesla is home to a worldwide Supercharger network of fast DC chargers, outstanding power electronics, innovative vehicles, battery technology, firmware software and controls, and of course, much more, with an ever-growing super-efficient army of the innovative automaker in the world!

In sum, Tesla has changed the world with its innovative creations, using technology in creative ways that bring about amazing results that enhance the living experience. This has, no doubt, made them an innovative icon in the world of technology.

Incredible! Find Out Why Elon Musk Became An Entrepreneur

Elon Musk
Elon Musk

America has witnessed the emergence of many great and powerful entrepreneurs. These entrepreneurs have built great fortunes and empires in the US and the world at large. Elon Musk is no doubt one of such men. He has emerged to become one of the world’s most famous entrepreneurs. He is the CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and OpenAI, among a host of other companies. We’ve gathered sufficient information on Musk’s rise to prominence and why he became an entrepreneur. This article is especially for you.

Elon Musk was born and bred in Pretoria, South Africa. He portrayed his entrepreneurial spirit at an early age. This passion was supported by his father, an engineer, and his dietician mother. His parents discovered his deep passion for technology and helped to nurture it.

In furtherance of his unwavering commitment to technology and computers, Musk began to teach himself how to write programming codes at 10.  He also designed a video game called Blaster, which he reportedly sold at $500.3.

He studied at the Pretoria Boys High School and graduated in 1988. He then furthered his education at the University of Pretoria, where he spent just five months. Later, he migrated to Canada, where he was admitted to the Queen’s University of Ontario in 1989. He also attended the Wharton School of Business of Pennsylvania, where he gained a bachelor’s degree in Economics.

Musk began his Internet company at age 24 alongside his brother, Kimbal and partner, Greg Curry. This company was created to provide content to newspapers like The New York Times. Musk’s fortunes grew significantly. The growth effect is seen in his ownership of companies like Tesla Motors, Space X, X.com, eBay, etc.

Musk has, through his space travel company (SpaceX), landed numerous high-profile contracts with NASA and the United States Air Force. His company is known for designing rockets and carrying out military missions.

Musk once revealed the real reason he became an entrepreneur. He stated that he didn’t become an entrepreneur to be financially successful, but he has a passion for changing the world. He made this known at the 36th annual ENCORE Award reception at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. He is instead focused on affecting the future in a positive way than making money. Some of the positive ideas include Sustainable Energy, Artificial Intelligence, The Internet, Making Life Multi planetary, among others.

So far, one cannot deny that Elon Musk is an achiever and a force to reckon with. His goals for the world being a better place are very valid and should be pursued tenaciously by every aspiring entrepreneur.