Valentine’s Day is on Tuesday, 14 February 2012

Valentine’s Day is on Tuesday, 14 February 2012, Tomorrow, Tuesday February 14 is Valentine’s Day; therefore the offices of NEWS-ONE got a bit alarmed when the paper received a red envelope containing a letter addressed to the editor and dated Friday, February10, 2012.

After opening the envelope, it was revealed the letter was from the Chief Executive of Movie Africa Production, controversial movie producer Socrate Safo.

We reproduce the contents of the letter in full for the benefit of our readers:-

“This may be my final communication to you with regards to the type of stories you publish on my person, my movies and my company.

In the first place, I hope you would be objective enough to publish this letter just the way I am writing it and not to twist it to suit your editorial style or rephrase it in a way to make me look stupid as you have always done.

I want to put on record that I am not happy at the negative image your paper has carved for me and the continuous nature of your attack on my person, my movies and my company.

If I have wronged you in any way to deserve this negative publicity, I deserve to know what my crime or crimes are so I apologise where and if necessary.

I consider it very unfair that I have committed no offence yet your newspaper continues to attack my person, my movies and my company.

I have neither slept with your wife nor broken the virginity of your daughter. I have neither taken a loan from you and refused to pay nor seized your ancestral lands. I therefore find it impossible to understand your motive and mission.

Because of your negative publications, I now walk in town with an evil tag on my neck. People see me as someone with no morals, no proper upbringing and no sense of responsibility all because of your negative stories.

All these years, I have tolerated your nonsense and held back my anger. I have decided not to write any rejoinders because my reputation and integrity is worth more than a rejoinder which I know you would hide somewhere in your middle pages. I have worked hard to earn my reputation and it is an expensive one far more than what you have reduced it to.

Valentines Day

Valentines Day, Iraq’s capital is embracing Valentine’s Day this year with a huge public display of affection in what its residents say is the nation’s most amorous celebration of the holiday ever. Street corners across Baghdad are blanketed with the synthetic red fur of teddy bears, while silken nighties and lip-shaped satin pillows hang in store fronts.

It’s a vivid counterpoint to a place that’s still a far cry from warm and fuzzy — with bombings remaining a fact of life since the withdrawal of U.S. forces two months ago.

“Valentine’s Day is for everybody — not only for lovers,” said Lina, a school administrator who would only identify herself by her first name. She was among the throngs browsing through an array of plush kittens, scented candles, red lamps and heart-shaped purses outside a store this weekend in the Baghdad downtown shopping district of Karradah.

“It’s for you and I, for me and my brother, even for someone on the street. It’s not just about me and my fiance,” Lina said. “Iraqis need happy moments to make them forget what they have been through — we have had enough sadness.”

After decades of war and dictator rule, and with improving security, Iraqis say they are able to relax and enjoy Valentine’s this year. Others believe the recent burst of text messages, mobile phones and use of the Internet among Iraqi youth has helped foster romance like never before.

But Valentine’s Day may come with its own baggage.

Conservative Muslims, from Indonesia to Saudi Arabia, have strongly frowned on the holiday’s growing popularity around the world as an encouragement of perceived Western decadence and premarital sex.

Last year, Iran banned cards, gifts and other tokens of the day, which tradition says is named after one of several early Christian martyrs. Saudi Arabia’s feared religious police launched patrols each year to stamp out any stores displaying too much red or selling heart-shaped products this time of year.

So far, however, Iraq appears to be drifting the way of other Middle East centers such as Dubai or Beirut that stock shelves high with chocolates, flowers and other trappings of the day.

Some Iraqis are using the day to proclaim that love conquers all — including studying.

At the Technology Institute in Baghdad’s southeastern Zafaraniyah area, students will hold a months-delayed meet-and-greet for university freshmen on Tuesday. Usually the gathering is held in December when the semester began, but 21-year-old Muataz Mohammed said scheduling it for Valentine’s Day might more easily stoke friendships.

“It is a very special day,” said Mohammed, who plans to wear a red shirt and carry red roses to the party. Women students are planning to wear red shirts and headscarves.

From his Karradah storefront, Abdul-Wahab Abdul-Rahaman has watched toddler-sized red teddy bears and plush hearts in high demand this year. He speculates it’s because young lovers now meet and talk more frequently with the help of their mobile phones.

Mobile phones, satellite TV and the Internet were virtually banned during Saddam’s regime, and the war and rampant violence after his ouster discouraged tech companies from marketing Iraq until the last few years.

“The new communication means help making relationships between the sexes faster than before,” Abdul-Wahab said. “I think I will sell all my Valentine’s Day products as the occasion is becoming more popular among Iraqis year after year.”

Iraq remains a relatively conservative society, and only recently have many unmarried couples dared to be without a chaperone in public.

Valentines Day Ideas

Valentines Day Ideas, Flowers, candy, cards, and candlelit dinners are on the horizon as Valentine’s Day quickly approaches. Though February 14th can be stressful, it’s a fantastic opportunity to show someone special how much you care. There are plenty of opportunities in the San Diego area for a romantic night, and the more creative the better. Start planning early and the day will be memorable and unique.

For the outdoorsy couple, why not take advantage of the stunning San Diego coast? If weather permits, pack a homemade picnic and head to the beach for a walk along the water followed by a sunset picnic dinner. If you don’t want to prepare your own food, check out grocery stores like Whole Foods, which offer a wide selection of healthy to-go options like sushi, burritos, sandwiches, and salads. This laid back plan is also budget friendly and offers an opportunity to spend some quality time bonding with your date in a relaxed atmosphere. If you don’t want to make a huge deal of the day and aren’t fond of Valentine’s clichés, keeping the night low-key is ideal.

For a more elaborate Valentine’s Day, enjoy a fancy dinner followed by a show. Head to a restaurant you’ve never tried before for a delicious meal. Always wanted to try tapas or Ethiopian food? Never strayed into the world of sushi? Trying something new with a partner is healthy for any relationship and keeps things fresh. Follow up the meal with a live performance or a movie that interests you both.

Maybe the relationship is new, therefore creating a lot of V-day anxiety. Suggest an evening out barhopping with a group of friends, as the group experience makes the night less intense and takes the pressure off a newly formed relationship. By heading out in a group, the one-on-one interaction is minimized while still allowing for time spent together. Check out bars and pubs if that’s your thing, or head to a club if dancing appeals to you.

Though V-Day is often associated with love and relationships, the single people of the world need not be left out. Show yourself some love by enjoying the day with unattached friends. Head to a local spa for a pick-me-up or hit up a yoga studio and get the endorphins pumping. Meet up with friends for a fancy dinner followed by drinks and dancing in the Gas Lamp district of downtown San Diego. Not interested in going out? Have a night-in with friends and host a movie marathon or have a dessert potluck. If you have the time, take the day to head to a neighborhood you’ve never experienced and explore the shopping there. It’s important to take time to appreciate yourself and have some fun, so why not make February 14 an excuse to enjoy the single life?