Looking for a free Text to Speech (TTS) software that you can use for your video projects, then try Amazon Polly.
Amazon Polly is a Text To Speech (TTS) software from Amazon Web Services (AWS). It turns text into human-like speech. It has many human-like voices and languages you can choose from. For me, it’s the best TTS engine I have seen till date .
Amazon Polly is cloud based, you can use it on your phone or laptop.You don’t need to install any software. Just point your web browser to the Amazon Polly web page, enter your text into the space provided and click DOWNLOAD to download the human-like speech in MP3 format. It supports other sound file types as well.
To use this wonderful TTS engine you must first sign up to AWS. Signing up is free but you must enter details of a valid and acceptable credit or debit card.
Upon successful sign up you automatically qualify for AWS FREE TIER. Since Amazon poly TTS engine is part of the free tier, you get to use this amazing TTS engine for 1 year free of charge.
Note that the free tier Amazon Polly comes with its limitations, these are;
For standard voices, you can convert 5 million characters to speech for free per month for up to 12 months.
For neural voices which can produce the most human-like voices possible, you can convert 1 million characters to speech per month for free for up to 12 months.
Now if you exceed these limitations on the free-tier, then you have to pay. Amazon Polly is very cheap to use, you pay for what you use. Click here to see pricing.
Scotch bonnets are a type of very hot chili peppers common in west Africa and the caribbean. They have a heat rating of between 100000 – 400000 scoville units.
Scotch bonnets also have their completely sweet varieties too known as cachucha peppers. In Yoruba land in west Africa, Scotch bonnet is known as atarodo.
Fresh ripe scotch bonnets came in red, green, yellow, orange peach and even chocolate brown varieties.
Uses of Scotch bonnets
Scotch bonnets is a major ingredient used in the preparation of condiments for flavouring food.
They are used to spice many dishes worldwide.Used to cook hot sauces and pepper stews. Also used in the flavouring of roasted and fried meat.
Bell pepper is a common type of pepper that is actually not pepperish. In fact it is known as sweet pepper due to its lack of hot chili characteristics noted for other types of pepper species.
Bell peppers come in various types of colours. The most commonly encountered colours of bell peppers are red, green, yellow and orange. Other colours are white, pink,brown and lavender.
Other names of bell pepper are sweet pepper, paprika, green pepper ( name based on its colour). In southwestern Nigeria, it is called tatashe.
Bell peppers are classified as berries but also considered as a vegetable.
Uses of Bell Pepper
Bell pepper is an edible vegetable used to prepare a variety of dishes. It can be eaten raw or cooked. It is used in the preparation of salads, pizza, stew , jollof/fried rice, roasted meat spicing and much more.
Health Benefits of Bell Peppers
Bell peppers contain 94% water, 5% carbohydrates and 1% protein. They are a rich source of vitamin C and to a lesser extent, vitamin A.
Tomato is an edible Berry plant. History has it that it originated from Mexico and neighbouring areas. Tomatoes can be eaten raw or cooked. It is used to prepare many dishes including stew, salad, juice and much more.
Origin and cultivation of tomatoes
Tomatoes are said to have originated from Mexico, and some parts of Central and South America. These days, tomatoes are cultivated in many countries all over the world. There are many species of tomatoes. Tomatoes can grow from a height of about 0.3 m to 3 m in height. They are easy to plant and require a considerable amount of water to properly cultivate.
Health benefits of tomatoes
Red Tomatoes
Tomatoes are classified as berries, but they are also regarded as vegetables.
Tomato can be eaten raw or cooked. It contains 95% of water, little carbohydrates and vitamin C. It is not clear what are the benefits tomatoes have but they are berries that contain less sugar and carbohydrates. It can be safely consumed with other vegetables if you are a diabetic patient or someone who is looking to slim or reduce body weight.
Storage of tomatoes
Tomatoes are best stored or washed at room temperature. You can also store tomatoes in the refrigerator but they will lose their freshness and flavour. Even if you store tomatoes on washed at room temperature try to consume as soon as possible as tomatoes easily get spoilt.
Portugal defeated Ghana in their first world cup matches in group H. But it was a highly controversial game. It was a five goal thriller and both teams gave a good account of themselves. Portugal won the game but we’re aided by poor officiating.
The first two goals by Portugal were questionable. In the 65th minute C. Ronaldo was brought down by a Ghanian defender in the 18 yard box, but that contact was minimal and C. Ronaldo took full advantage of it. A penalty was awarded to Portugal which led to their first goal. What amazed me was that there was no VAR check on the foul of C Ronaldo.
In the 78 minute, Joao Felix scored assisted by a defense splitting pass from Bruno Fernandes, but Felix was slightly offside before Fernandes played the pass. Again, there was no VAR check.
Ghana felt hard done by. It is up to FIFA to review the situation and ensure such doesn’t repeat itself in the future.
Advice to African Teams Qatar World Cup Advice to African Teams in the on going world cup tournament in Qatar:
Play good and neat football, particularly against World Class Teams.
Defenders should be very careful and precise when tackling world class players in delicate situations. The odds will always favor them ( the world class players in these situations)
To African Players in Qatar; dont get too emotional during a match, just play the football the way it is meant to be played.
If the final results go against your team, accept it in good faith, take a critical look at mistakes made and how a repeat can be prevented in the next game.
