LeBron James at the mall in Orlando

Why don't we appreciate what we have. We do not recognise our own but we fantasise about celebrities abroad who care  less about us. Just as a prophet is not appreciated in his country so is a Nigerian celebrity who we go all the way just to buy their movies or albums.

This might not be the fault of the passers by as some of them at some point or the other would have been embarassed by these celebrities, we feel too highly of ourselves and see how lowly it has gotten us. This is just food for for thought. Treat others how you want to be treated.

Words "viral" and "epic" consigned to college trash

This story might be epic, and could even go viral, but not if Lake Superior State University has anything to do with it. Just sayin.'

The small college in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, released on Friday its annual list of "banished words" -- terms so overused, misused and hackneyed they deserve to be sent to a permanent linguistic trash can in the year ahead.

"Viral," often used to describe the rapid spreading of videos or other content over the Internet, leads the list for 2011.

"This linguistic disease of a term must be quarantined," Kuahmel Allah of Los Angeles said in making a nomination.

Runners-up included "epic" and "fail," often twinned to describe a blunder of monumental proportions.

A total of 14 words were on the list.

Cliched terms such as "wow factor," "a-ha moment," "back story" and "BFF" (Best Friends Forever) rated highly. The very au courant use of "Facebook" and "Google" as verbs got a thumbs down as well.

As usual, election-cycle zingers and catchwords quickly look as worn out as last year's campaign posters.

In that vein, voters suggested the banning of "Mama Grizzlies," used to describe right-wing female politicians in the mold of Sarah Palin, and "man up," famously used by Nevada Republican Senate candidate Sharon Angle in a testy debate with Democrat Harry Reid and a favorite Palin expression as well.

"A stupid phrase when directed at men. Even more stupid when directed at a woman, as in 'Alexis, you need to man up and join that Pilates class!'" said Sherry Edwards of Clarkston, Michigan.

LSSU began its popular list in 1976, when it named "at this point in time," as substituted for the concise and elegant "now," as a linguistic dud. The college now receives well over 1,000 nominations each year through its website, lssu.edu/banished.

Previous winners and nominees include the terms "shovel ready" for 2010, "battleground states" for 2005, "24/7" for 2000 and "family values" for 1995.

(Reporting by Ros Krasny; Editing by Jerry Norton)

11Things You Really Should Have Done Before Getting Married

1. Watch yourself eating in front of a mirror. If you're put off, that's the view your future partner will have...

2. Live on your own. It's important that you find out what a hopeless slob you are before your beloved tells you. And then leaves you...

3. Men: Get rid of those "How to Get Girls Even Though You're Poor and Ugly' books. They never work anyway... 

4. Gobble the last slice of pizza without having to go through the 'No you have it, no really... Are you sure you don't mind...?

5. Walk about the house naked, without having to hold any bits in...

6. Have friends of the opposite sex. After marriage, it's too much effort to keep saying: "No, I really don't fancy them"...

7. Men: Enjoy that wardrobe space while you can! You will not believe the vast number of shoes that one woman needs...

8. Women: Fill in silly magazine quizzes with titles like 'Are You Seductive', without having to listen to loud laughter from your partner (who then runs off with the magazine)...The Gift

9. Men: Get rid of anything inflatable and female-shaped...

10. Relish clipping your toenails straight onto the carpet...

11. Remember that your best option with in-laws is to marry an orphan...