Reflections of a one year Old Blogger!!

It only starts with a match and fire. Before you know it , everything will burn.

One of the greatest changes to my thinking resulted from a discussion with the boys last weekend.What we chatted about could be summarized into this sentence: If my reality is a product of the blood and dreams of those that came before me, what can I do for those that will come after? Of all the ideas discussed, none was as captivating as the belief that some difference would not be possible unless we say so..
Thinking further about that statement made me aware of how much impact I can make to the world around me, without even knowing it. But why a change? Our experiences are metamorphosing at a rate faster than our society's capabilities. To prevent chaos we must transfer these changes to the world around us (a catalyst that makes this vicious cycle continues, until we evolve to a point where our collective mental state is at par with the environment around us).
I question my position in the grand scheme of things, and I realize how insignificant I am; I am referring to me, a product of the net generation. This is reflected in how different my perspectives is to those that dictate the harmony of my life. And I am not alone in this internal crisis.
Most Western economies,for example were built on a foundation of racial hatred ("our leaders must be protestant, white, heterosexual males"). African on the other hand, has a foundation where economic policies are influenced by politics and selfish interest. But we, the emerging product of a new world order, are different. There is something similar in how we speak; a similarity reflected in our writings. Passion, and a desire for something we cannot see, yet.

I didn't know what a blog was until June 2007. My first conscious encounter with one was with that of Jeremy. (Before then, I had probably seen some very disjointed stories and wondered what magazine the person worked for; I thought all writers were either established journalists or freelance writers) .A friend sent me an article that we found interesting. I read it and took no serious thoughts about who the dude was (till we met at a friend's place and struck me I had seen his face before). My clicking on the long forgotten bookmark is how my journey started. I observed the content of the articles and after a few days, I noticed a link called 'comments'. From this I came across the blogs of the in my head and around me lady and a weird bloke who named his blog Unaked Soul. Through this network, I also came across the writings of Good Nigerian Girl and the blogs of Vera (that babe don kolo since....LOL ).

To be honest, this type of writing is something I am new to; the art of 'expressive' writing. I termed it such because, the writer is required to use words as a medium in describing his opinion and personal conviction on an issue. My profession as a Management Analyst has put in place the discipline of unbiased opinion on external issues, business report writing style, and a step by step approach to reporting; thus makes this very hard to write in a fluid manner (I sometimes can be found demonstrating my idea with hand movements as I try to write sentences that makes cognate sense and is aligned with my personal compass, at the same time goes along with the story). Article of this kind could take me two straight hours of uninterrupted thinking (a rare instance for me in these "dark" NEPA days) to write and express something that will engage reader.
Arriving at present state was the result of continual transformation. The name, for example, has been changing. Previously, this blog was called:

• The world as I see it (burrowed from Albert Einstein book of the same name)
• Blogging my mind (from the previous url name which was www.bloggingmymind.blogspot.com)
  
• Thinking Far>>>>

The concept and style of writing kept changing also. Since I don't have the time to do my own research, I use people's blog to determine my benchmark. I am super at look at things from a first principle basis then linking that idea with a critical issue under review; thus most of my post will try to relate the issues to fundamental units that everyone can relate with. Units that identifies cost/benefits. I have used other blogs to help refine the medium through which my concept is expressed

• Jeremy's blog was helpful in pointing me out to contemporary Nigerian issues, as he effortless dug out articles from archives that I am still baffled how he found them out
  
• I use the style of 'in my head and around me' to test how fluid my sentences are. I still haven't got her style yet but I am now falling in love with that of Vera.
  
• Naked Soul's use of quote at the beginning of every new post is brilliant (which I adopted)
  
• I am using GNG's rambles to develop my "Internal conversations**" (statements labeled in red) (**Internal conversations are meant to uphold my opinion of the idea with a comment that doesn't fit into the structure of the sentence in consideration. This word should be in Wikipedia if it doesn't exist as something else already.lol)

As I try to redefine better ways to express myself, I cannot help but notice that although all blogs seem to explain personal stories, there is always something this undertone that questions the norm. There is like this silent revolt against all that the establishment stand for. Institution that are not evolving rapidly enough to deal with our changing ideals and perceptions of the world around us.
It have been tolling with the idea of a wiki-blog, after I came across this blog. If a mega blog is built that any registered blogger can edit, how powerful would that idea be if all our skills are channeled towards one single idea? The impact of that can be so overwhelming that it could set the right energy in motion capable of engaging policy makers and project managers towards implementing the issues being deliberated about. This could be a thesis more powerful than what is present being pushed out of the ivory towers today. An idea backed with a passion, loads of humour, well-researched articles and a proposed practical solution can be a platform upon which academic ideologies can be transfered to the way our society runs. With passion, people in the corridors of power,NGO will discover practical ways to manage ideas they believe in (and edited) to develop and execute work plans. As people see the impact of their work in action, they get motivated to work more and with more peer to peer softwares available, the idea will spread like wildfire with everyone contributing their own conclusions and suggestions; no one can ignore the power to a concept something as little as a 'comma' can do.

We are all striving to achieve something. It might be on a very subliminal level but being every article, blog, comment writeup, there is this drive to change something no matter how mundane. It might be the mood of a reader, someone perception of us or an issue, or to draw our support a particular notion. Once we know our capabilities and strength and focus on it, we would be capable of making the change that replicate our vision. With an idea, the right skills and passion, the mind of the world remains the conquest we must dominate.

Versions.

She studied History in university.
Bright student, I must say. Intended on studying law, but ended up with something else.
Never did I realize how important her profession was until we had that heart to heart conversation.
Historians do change the world also. They interpret the world that came before us, which helps us shape our perception of things.

Think of this; do you see facebook (and other social network sites) playing any role in communicating our ways of living to other generations? With the present trend of things, facebook will possible contain pictures of all your life experiences and expressions. It might even contain the day of death (enabled by some application an MIT nerd comes up with). The profile will be archived for public domain viewing (or maybe the deceased’s next of kin will determine how much of the profile is sharable).

Wow!
We are making history.

Strange innit?

I wrote this poem....

..at one point in time. I wrote it to encourage myself. A message of hope, believing that as one day, we as a people will moving forward.
This nation does frustrate, but I think with persistence and the bold daring, we might make something new.

Lands are tilled with many hands,
But it is the product of vision of one,
Someone courageous enough to push forward an idea,
which becomes a spark,
then a flame,
afterward it consumes everything in this path,
till a new order is formed,
new ways and a new future. Just like a fire
I am not sure of our heritage,
but I can guess our origins,
somewhere in forest,
amongst plants and wild beast,
fertile land and a lovely weather,
the till of the land is consumed before it is ripe,
by the harvester sent to pick,
the people are relentless and say the must survive.
Our foundation made us strong,
resilience made us multiply,
giving us the seed we scattered across the earth.
Similar yet different, charming yet unattractive. But a desire to survive
No order of formation, but our place on the earth is known.
In the right season wherever we touch will be conquered
a plantation will evolve consuming what exist on our path
till the whole world see that what we fought for was a battle to stand the test of time.

This will be our way.
We are Nigerians, the children of the corn.

Do you qualify?

This poem was sent to me by a friend way back in 2004.
I thought it was brilliant.
Thanks Ekanem.


A Sista's Poem and a Brother's Response

Do you qualify to be the man I need you to be?
Will you be able to recognize the things you
need to see? Will you be able to understand, that
I'm a good woman and in my life I need a good man?
Do you qualify?

Do you qualify to fertilize my unproduced seeds?
Can you fulfill, as I can, all of our needs?
Can you put me in my place if you see I am slippin?
Can you talk to me, wholeheartedly, not
constantly trippin??
Do you qualify?

Do you qualify to be called all mine?
Can you leave the other women and temptations
behind? Can you come to me with your problems and
not wait until it's too late?
Can you stand up and admit if you made a mistake?
Do you qualify?

Do you qualify to be the honest ebony man I
would want you to be?
Would you be able to look me in my eyes and
admit your feelings to me?
Could you take me in your arms and make love to
me all night long?
Can you be sensitive and still be strong?
Do you qualify?

Do you qualify to be my friend as well as my
lover? Can you put our love before any other?
Can you cherish me as if I were Diamonds &
Gold? Can you make me feel like I'm the last
woman you'll ever hold?
Do you qualify?

Do you qualify to be called a good man?
If I have doubts can you reassure me and understand?
Can your love intoxicate me as if I were High?
To be in my life, I need to know,
DO YOU QUALIFY?


The Brother's Response:

You ask, do I qualify.
Can I fulfill your needs and become the man you need me to be?
My sister, are you prepared for what you've asked for?
Can you handle the responsibility?
Can you accept that, by GOD, I am the chosen?
one, the authority, the comforter, and the head?
Will you submit and willingly follow my path?
Or will you fight with me instead?

If I am your King, will you treat me as such?
Will I get the best of your beauty and poise?
Or will I be subjected to an appearance
neglected, and checked with some serious noise?
When I talk, will you listen?
I mean whole heartedly and feel me?
Or will you rush me just to make your point too?
Can I be the man at all times? Even when it hurts?
Or is it just when it's convenient for you?

Can you love me for me, and not who you wish I could be?
Will you see the strong Black Man within?
Or will you always remind me of the all
the past brothers behind me and make me pay for their sins?
If I don't send you flowers the day your co-worker
received some, will you know that I love you still?
Or will my good name be uttered along with those other doggish brothers?
Will you question if my commitment is real?

Will you be patient and teach me to understand you,
and allow my knowledge of your needs to grow?
Or will you shut me out when I ask, Baby
what's wrong?
Or will you respond with, "Well a REAL man would know!"

When we first met, what was it that caught your
eye? Was it my mind, my heart, my personality?
Or was it my suit, or my job, or do you love
what I drive, instead of what's driving me?

Yes I can, and I will, make love to you from midnight to the dawning of the sun.
But, if I tell you I'm tired, will you trust
I'm sincere or believe that there must be another one?
My sister, I love you and my heart can be yours. No woman could lead me astray.
But like you, I have needs, so I beg of you, please, in this love thang meet me half way.

In life's tough times I'll hold you, in the rough times I'll mold you;
your simplest wish will be my command.
My life is yours if need be.
Yes you can fully bleed me, and when hell comes, in your place, I'll stand.
A good relationship is a powerful institution that must be built on a foundation of two.
So to answer your question,

YES sister, I do qualify.

What Lord Lugard thought about Nigerians

I came across this article. Quite annoying!!

"In character and temperament, the typical African of this race-type is a happy, thriftless, excitable person. Lacking in self control, discipline, and foresight. Naturally courageous, and naturally courteous and polite, full of personal vanity, with little sense of veracity, fond of music and loving weapons as an oriental loves jewellery. His thoughts are concentrated on the events and feelings of the moment, and he suffers little from the apprehension for the future, or grief for the past. His mind is far nearer to the animal world than that of the European or Asiatic, and exhibits something of the animals’ placidity and want of desire to rise beyond the State he has reached. Through the ages the African appears to have evolved no organized religious creed, and though some tribes appear to believe in a deity, the religious sense seldom rises above pantheistic animalism and seems more often to take the form of a vague dread of the supernatural"


“He lacks the power of organization, and is conspicuously deficient in the management and control alike of men or business. He loves the display of power, but fails to realize its responsibility ....he will work hard with a less incentive than most races. He has the courage of the fighting animal, an instinct rather than a moral virtue...... In brief, the virtues and defects of this race-type are those of attractive children, whose confidence when it is won is given ungrudgingly as to an older and wiser superior and without envy.......Perhaps the two traits which have impressed me as those most characteristic of the African native are his lack of apprehension and his lack of ability to visualize the future."

---Lord Frederick John Dealty Lugard, The Dual Mandate, pg.70 (1926)"

The people we don't know about.

I think I need to go out more.

The speed of the internet here is so freaking slow. (sometimes I think it might be faster actually flying to yahoo or wherever, to get the email yourself; hardcopy that is) I have tried a couple of providers. I recently got XXX over starcomm (I am not about to reveal and do cheap publicity for the my provider; before you know it, their network is clogged and I am back to a life without the internet); a decision I have not regretted(at least for the past three weeks since I got it) .

But thats not the point of this post. Waiting for the page to load gave me time to look around for things on the screen of my laptop that could interest me; then it pops out "AVG Anti-virus Network Edition has successfully update". I tend to think I know people, but who actually knows anyone that works in a company that makes anti-virus softwares?

Day to day, I receive updates on virus definitions, malwares and some complex stuff that i don't have any interest in understanding. And I am like, the developers of these virus definition, what do they do in the office everyday?

I secretly (it is no more a secret anymore) believe that anti-virus developers, in their spare time, create the viruses themselves. But do they have staff meeting, normal office politics and stuff? What do you see on their business cards? ( "I am a virus expert"). When the anti-virus specialist, meet a virus developer, do the have physical fights (you know like police and thief), or do they laugh at all "the gentiles who have to use our softwares, hahaha"

But I do need to go out more. Hopefully, I will meet someone that actually develops viruses.

Finally, it is loading.

What is the point?

An unexamined life is not worth living......Socrates.

No one has attained perfection yet. We are always on a quest for it. But at all point in our evolution, it is always essential to look back and critically evaluate the actions we take, the reason behind the action, and finally, how it all fits into our whole life objective goals and general direction. A clearer understanding of that is useful in enabling us know, if our directions have meaning. Accumulated knowledge of this form is wealth for the next generation.

I am still thinking about Nigeria. I look at some of our rituals daily, and I cannot help asking myself, what is the point of it all?

What is the point of our Nigeria ego? Our educational system does not produce graduates that are (on average) useful to the demands of corporate Nigeria. We train our enlightened abroad and they are of little use to the masses.

What is the point of Tinapa? We build a mini-Dubai and came up with policies that ensured it cannot function.

What is the point in Abuja Boulevard, Eko city on the Atlantic, the Lagos beautification project? People are starving, infrastructures are run down, and we barely have public supply of electricity.

What is the point of the Megabanks consolidation? They seem more interested in branches and making profit than kick starting the economic engine.

What is the point of the Nigerian stock market? Their stocks appreciate in all sectors yet the economy does not experience any noticeable change.

What is the point of the seven point agenda? Yar' Adua stated electricity was a "state of emergency" (if he had not said that, maybe the situation would have been worse).

What is the point of all these elections? We all know who is going to win anyways.

What is the point of the probes? All those investigated will be granted bail later on, the case slowly forgotten the accused are free to do whatever they want.

What is the point of the clamour for foreign investors? We already have the money (it just appears we do not know what better to do with it, that purchase houses in Bishop avenue or South Kensington, London).

What is the point of Nollywood? Most of the movies on review reflect no semblance with reality. Dialog, relationship chemistry, effective police officers

What is the point of aso-ebi in wedding? I mean, really what’s the point?

What is the point of ….….. I think I have run out of issues for now. Might as well go get some work done.

Children of the corn

A society will stand if fairness and equality is promoted in a stable environment governed by the enlightened.... Mr C

Roads in Lagos State reflect the state of the Nigerian society. A typical Lagos drive is characterized by:

1. Decent drivers (like you and me, the enlightened ones) with neat car and windows up , air conditioner in full blast ("we cannot afford to share the air with those mad Nigerians")
2. Dare-devil Okada riders involved in some life threatening stunts (I wonder who thought these people how to ride. Possibly the =N=250, 25 in one DVDs expose them to impressions they cannot handle. Those buffoons just don't realize that there is no director on alert to shout "cut" )
3. Yellow rickety vans (officially called Danfo) broken down, trying to pick passengers or reversing on the highway (the only qualification to become a danfo driver is to be certified mad).
4. Reckless drivers in vehicles with sirens who drive above the "law" (because they are "big boys", they have the right to go pass traffic-light and scare mere mortal (normal drivers) to make way in crazy traffic situations)
5. On-the-go services "professionals" (law enforcement (woefully dressed) criminals officers, part-time/full time beggars, car washers, hawkers, trainee armed robbers, armed robbers, and mad men/women)

And every one meets in Traffic!!

The most crazy traffic are in t-junctions; Poor coordination in planning, positions two opposing lanes (going in the same direction) to meet at the same time point at the same time.
A lot of psychology goes into determining who goes first and why. All the thinking takes place within a span of 1 to 2 seconds.

Everyone believes their issues are more urgent than the other so rush to the lane, Adrenaline pumped!!
Manners of reckless driving should convince the other driver of a lack in vehicle control and that the driver will not stop.
The more experienced driver have tactics in vehicle positioning that can prevent the next driver from being able to go ahead before his/her.
But before they make that move, time is spent to evaluate the next man; what is the worse that can happen if I position my car in front of his/her? Will the person scatter my headlamps? If the person does, can he/she pay for it? Do I have the time to prove my right? Am I dealing with a human being here?

A gridlock emerges. Then some danfo drivers (concerned about the time wasted) send their conductors to clear the traffic. Three to four hooligans gather to manage the situation. The decent drivers (you and I) sit back to watch as hooligans and street boys decide "how we go forward".

This is Nigeria!!

Daily the enlightened ones fill the newspaper with conferences and workshop on "how to move Nigeria forward". We receive/give awards for all forms of distinguished actions towards apparent steps aimed at "promoting the well being of the Nigerian populace".
It is not uncommon to see discussions that make a mockery of the current system and the incapability of errand staff and the service industry. Yet we fail to see that we are actually making a mockery of ourselves. I believe that the beauty of quality education and enlightenment is that it increases the probability that the individual, who possesses it, imbibes some form of order in how he/she does his/her thing. Without order in thinking, vision lacks depth and rational basis. When the enlightened remove themselves from leadership, according to Wole Soyinka, “The man dies”. What we create is a vacuum that leaves room for the type of leaders Nigeria has today; leaves room for Nigeria to have its first graduate president 47 years after independence.

I have a personal conviction that I have let this country down. It invested in providing me with the best training the world has to offer abroad. On my return back, my focus has been to make money. We have made the money and used it to create barriers between the enlightened and the average Nigerians. Their jealousy is evident in the ferocity used to conduct criminal operations. But the truth is, they need jobs. And we have not been able to create it for them. While we enjoy 24 hour local supply of electricity (thanks to Mikano (generators) and Zenon (diesel)) amongst other things, they ponder in the heat and curse the day they were born.
Like most young Nigerian around my age, we are perfecting plans on foreign countries with easy naturalization process to aid our children later on in life (Issues that spurs us to think that way:what will happen if we (Nigeria) falls into war? Which university, ABROAD, can I send my child to school in, so they can have a upper hand?), instead of focusing on how to develop this nation and create opportunities where they can effectively functions and add value.
I think we need to create groups charged towards making a change (not focusing only on criticizing the government, but also developing and implementing ideas that should change our socio-economic-political environment). Our media needs to work on collating ideas that can make a difference and channeling it to those can implement. There should be more volunteer organizations tasked with empowering the youth with skills.
Maybe I am not well informed, but most group that have such "drive" in present day Nigeria are usually elitist and filled with so much politics. The participants are either too sophisticated to assist the Nigerian case (the most evident I know of, from my opinion, are participants that are lost in developing irrelevant art on the issue or some form of awareness that does not in anyway affect the people they are fighting for) or big-bellied politicians (who are just looking for some naive girls/guys to sleep with).

I strongly believe that Nigerians await the coming the enlightened into the scheme of things. They are tired of looter and the present crop of politicians (with no proven track record in other endeavors or personal conscience). They need those who can see beyond what the human eyes permits; who can develop vision that coordinates the personal aspiration of its citizens towards a greater good.

Till my conscience takes over and forces me to do something, I will sit back in my car, in this crazy traffic. My ipod will have Asa's "fire on the mountain" playing with all my window up, as hooligans and street boys decide "how we go forward".

Wrong application of Salt

Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under the foot of men. Matthew 5:13

I presently advise the management body of a distribution firm on issues in their processes. Due to turnover and growth, a core operational aspect requires recruitment on a day to day basis. I make frequent attempts to review the employee evaluation processes (which requires that the candidates take a test). To fit in, my dress sense will give any onlooker that I am some university graduate or an aspiring yahoo yahoo guru.
An interview just finished ten minutes before I started writing this blog. I noticed these two men passing about papers during the exam and exchanging ideas. Immediately the exam was over, the older one bowed his head and offered a prayer, clearly for success. After which he made the sign of the cross and left the examination hall.
What do you think about that?
First lets get this straight; Facts about me:

1. I come from a Christian family. Most of my friends are Christians also.
2. I practice Christianity (not necessarily to the level at which i can be considered "born again" but I think I can be classified a "good" person (by standards))
3. I encourage Christianity and believe it provides a sustainable way to life long happiness

One aspect of my philosophy on life, looks at value and systems. I believe we are all working together for our perception of a greater good. Due to the complexities of our society, one individual is not equipped enough to produce everything he/she requires for survival.So some form of batter trading takes place. And this value is stored in the form of cash/money.
I generate money from the value I add by providing analytical services to interested clients. This earnings is diverted to meet my wants & needs (as I do not have the time or expertise to do that, and at the same time, focus on meeting the needs of others). While I focus on writing this blog (for example) , Acer can focus on building better laptops. In the general case, some groups focus on tilling the land for our needs (food, oil and mineral resources)some other modify what has been tilled, others apply it, while another are bungled up with the task of deciding what to do with the produce. That is how it works.
Those that work are those that can eat!!
I tend to believe that institutions within a society are employed to add value and earnings for such, reflects the amount they add. To falter would mean certain aspect of societal living will be affect. Different institutions have been employed to review different aspect of living. They are either based on governmental nomination or voluntary mandate. The government delegates ministries to create/maintain infrastructures and (depending on the level of development in that society) provide social goods. The people nominate religion to help provide a conscience/essence to living. It objectively should instill a universal truth; a truth that will be acceptable across all social segments. It should be an institution managing an aspect of the society that both government/private institutions are not capable of handling; the state of the human mind. I am talking about putting the right control mechanism in place to prevent the powerful from inflicting extreme social experiences on the weak. As this position of power in this institution links its congregation closer to God, the the seat of power enjoys immunity.

The Nigerian church can be estimated to be a $19.14 billion industry (Estimation is based assuming annual GDP at PPP of $191.4 billion (source wikipedia April 2008) that is evenly distributed, and Christians are 50% of the population; they all pay their tithe, which is 10% of their income and pay an extra 10% on pledges, building fund, church offering and thanksgivings).There is a balanced distribution of both the rich and the poor but a similar clamour seem to be fueling their desire to "invest" more in the church; change. People are fed up with epileptic electricity situation, bad road, corruption in government, high crime rate, and a general decay in the social fabric that lies underneath the structure of our society. I don't think our religious engagement will be this high if Nigeria functioned better.
I cannot help but voice out my perception on the whole thing. Agreed the bible says:
"For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness" 1st Corinthians 3:19.
For all I know, there might be aspects that I overlooked or am not capable of analyzing. But the bible also says:
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land" 2nd Chronicles 7:14
Statistics at one time ranked Nigeria has the country with the 2nd highest number of churches per people (Jamaica was ranked first).
In line with my thinking, the church revenue along with the above statistics do not give any indication of the value it adds to our well being.
The media publishes daily news on:

1. Corruption cases against almost all governors, minister and governor over allegedly siphoning money (papers as at time of writing are filled with the case of Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello and the N300 million health ministry scandal)
2. Death from preventable diseases are on the increase
3. Rising crime rate levels
4. Soaring unemployment rate
5. Crisis in the Niger Delta
6. Traffic in Lagos
7. Increasing brain drain

At the same time, we hear news on night vigils are becoming society events that attract the rich and mighty (Ex president Olusegun Obasanjo, was a regular at the redemption Camp along with a host of other governors to include Chief Gbenga Daniel).

I might be wrong but I believe that the church should be a more pivotal role in deciding how this society should function.

• The church should have a laid out plan on how it intends to ingrain discipline in the mind of the youth. Although it has not been completely successful, I think introduction of private universities by some churches are a step in the right direction (I am not completely convinced that shielding them totally from the evils of the world would make them become good Christians; how do you what is right, when you don't know what is wrong?).They should also be active in developing survival strategies for its youths that will enable them function in a society like this and still maintain their faith.
• They should also be effective in ensuring that the law rewards and punishes fairly. These institutions should be out there making comments on government policies and effects on the grassroots, designing better ones and constructively criticizing the government's negative actions.
• The church should be heavily involved in charity work and welfare services. (not by donating one bore-hole and organizing a ceremony to do that; I am referring to welfare packages that will ensure the individual comes out better off at the other end).

I believe the issues the church should deal with must reflect the challenges the society faces at that time. The missionaries who came from the West (before the colonisation of Africa) required expanding the gospel at that time because that was the major challenge they faced. Societal values functioned better and people barely knew what they know now. So unrest was not like it is now. The major issue then could include convincing new convert that they are doing the right thing (as the religion seemed to be gaining ground elsewhere). I am not critizing any expansion strategy but I don't think it is a priority (especially when you are expanding in the same location). Our challenges as a society go deeper than make more money, kill all enemies or building bigger churches. They are more fundamental (that is why we now have pastors who roam about with siren vehicles and security guards).

The amount is of salt applied to food is usually very little (compared to the volume and quantity of the food and other items in the pot). Yet, there is always a difference. I think the question we need to be asking is if the salt is wrongly applied or simple has lost its savour.
Whatever the case maybe, something definitely is not right.

Vantage Point

I heard this story when I was much younger. It was meant to be a joke (it was funny to us geeks then, but now I take it more like a story). The movie "Vantage Point" reminds me of the joke.
I modified it a lot to make it sound more realistic. Here it goes.

Four men and two ladies arrived at the gate of heaven. The angel of at the gate asked them how they got there.

Man one: " I live on the ground floor of Missionary Rise of 3rd close. Tola came to my house this evening looking really worried. We discussed over a bottle on his worries. " I think Simi is cheating on me. She has been hanging around with Fisayo lately. I don't think it is good a newly wedded lady be found around a harlot" He said. "Don't say that" I replied and said without thinking "She was with Kunle (the finance guy) this morning". "WHAT? That B*tch? So she is still seeing her ex-boyfriend? What is wrong with ladies of today? I am going to kill that girl". I immediately rushed out in a bid to stop him (knowing the type of animal an ex-military man can become when provoked). He entered the lift and shut the door before I could stop him. Since he lives on the 5th floor, there was no need stopping him. I ran to the staircase but it was locked. Then the call came in. I had to rush back into my flat to take the call "This dude has lost it. You need to see this" I said and hung up. Out of options, I ran back out, stood by the balcony and just kept screaming "Tola" at the top of my voice. It was dark and I couldn't see so when but all I remember was something inaudible sound, a loud crash, before you know it, I find myself here."

Man 2: " I came back from work a bit early today. Not a very exciting day at work really. The boss had been stressing about the compliance report for a long time. I needed some facts to finish it off. So I called up Kunle (the accounts manager) who told me to follow meet him up at a party in Missionary Rise. On getting to there. I was not so shocked to see Kunle with his usual handbag (Taiwo); that means we are getting no work done. True to my word, Kunle was off. " I should be in downstairs. Taiwo & I are going to Kemi's flat, (which is right beneath).I should be back in a bit". Bored to my head I go to the balcony to hang out. "Taiwo would look good naked" I thought. I tried to peep into the kemi's flat by leaning over the balcony, hoping I would see something "NICE". FREAKS!. They were actually doing it right next to the balcony. I could see everything. And Taiwo was looking.... (let me spare the details). Suddenly, I heard someone scream "TOLA! TOLA!!!" Out of shock I tripped and fell. Luckily, the railings of Kemi's balcony was on my way. So I held on to it for my dear life. Suddenly, this huge man comes from no where and starts stepping on my fingers (hoping I fall off). The man was so filled with rage, that he grabbed something huge and slammed it on my head. That is all I remember".

Man 3: (stark naked): " Today, started. Taiwo kept telling me I need to come over to see her. She said she has something special to show me. I just flew back to town after the long conference on finance compliance. Everyone had been putting pressure on me; the 2008 audit was coming and everyone had to be up to scratch. She invited me over to her new flat on the 5th floor of Missionary Rise at 3rd close. For some reason, SHE WAS LOOKING HOTT!!!! "Let me show you something down stairs". Downstairs has dual meaning. I thought, with that sheepish grin. This dude with ill-fitting suit is calling again. "Yes. upstair". This dude should get a life. He comes in and starts blabbing about the compliance and process alignment. We will talk about that later; I really need to get laid now.I thought. After 2 minutes of chatting (and seeing that the silly man could not deduce from my hints), I interrupted his conversation by telling him I need to go to Kemi's flat. Before we entered, I pounced on her and started ripping her clothes apart. I have missed my baby purring at my manliness. It was sweet to touch her again. Suddenly, we heard knocks on the door. "KEMI OPEN THE DOOR!!!! YOU AND FISAYO WANT TO RUIN MY LIFE. AND THIS IS JUST THE FIRST MONTH OF MARRIAGE! I WONT LET THIS HAPPEN"!! The shock of hearing that made us trip and we fell together. Taiwo rushed to wear her clothes. The maniac batched the door opened. I hid behind the couch. Immediately, the guy saw her he grabbed her by the neck."WHY??!!!" He screamed into her face. Is there something I don't know? I was so frightened by the whole thing that I rushed into the fridge to hide. In no time I felt the fridge being lifted. After a heavy fall, I found myself here".

Man 4: "It has been hard to get a date. After my stint in the military kept a lot of girls from me when I moved back to countryside. I met a girl online called Simi. Darling beauty. We kept in touch for months before we finally met. She came to see me in December. On seeing her, I knew she was the one for me. She stayed over for two weeks. I actually proposed to her on the day she wanted to leave. She accepted on the condition her move to her area which was on 3rd Close (that is about two hours away from the Bridge). I finally accepted. We came over two weeks later and we got married. We moved over to 3rd Close after the wedding. We got a place on the 5th floor of Missionary Rise. The landlord (Jide) took a liking for me. We hit it off and became good friends. While trying to settle down in the house, I noticed she had pictures of herself and a guy called Kunle on which she wrote "the love of my life". I also saw pictures of a friend of hers Kemi and Fisayo. She always goes to see Kemi (who lives just beneath). I was so angered by that because those girl where single. They will make a b*tch out of my baby.
Tired and frustrated, I decide to hang out with last Jide night, when I got back home. He seems to agree that Simi was cheating on me. Although he didn't want to tell me outrightly. Then the word came out of his mouth "KUNLE". I rushed out of his flat. The lift to odd numbers was not working so I took the other one and stopped on the 4th floor. Dashed to the stairs but the door was locked. Struggling with the door I looked to my left and saw a jacket on the floor "This looks like Simi's". I remember clearly that was the blue jacket she wore on the first day we met. And it was right in front of Kemi's flat. I banged at the door. At first I didn't hear a sound. After a while I heard some shuffling. I banged opened the door to see my Simi naked. The pain was too much for me to bear so I strangled her to death. But where is the man. I thought I saw him a minute ago. "TOLA! TOLA!!" I heard Jide calling. I then saw the bastard hanging by the railings of the balcony. Jide is hinting me of where the f*cker was hiding I thought. I tried stepping on his feet but the guy had some strong grip. I looked for something to throw him off. Nothing seemed movable except the fridge which I carried and slammed on his head. The fridge pushed him down and he fell. But the fridge's wire caught my leg and pulled me along. That was how I fell, died and found myself here".

Lady 1:" I have been dating Kunle for about a year. He is the sexiest guy alive and I could not get my hands off him. He was away for about three months due to the conference he had. I had some other commitment so I was out of town for a while. Finally moved to the 5th floor of Missionary Rise on 3rd Close I wanted him to come and see me there and know that we "have arrived". This flat was massive with a whooping four rooms (getting such on high street is difficult these days). On seeing him, I wanted to rip him out and touch every part of his body. But i couldn't. Besides for decency sake, this geek kept standing around asking silly questions. " I should be in downstairs. Taiwo & I are going to Kemi's flat, (which is right beneath(Kunle pointed).I should be back in a bit". That was how we escaped. Getting down to it suddenly we heard a scream. Some man was shouting about what Kemi and Fisayo did. He banged opened the door and strangled me to death. That is how I got here".

Lady 2: " After my breakup with Folarin, I decided that men in this town where not good enough. So I went online and met a marine officer called Tola. He was huge. But very calm but he seemed to have a temper that he has successfully been able to control. We got married after sooner than normal and I forced him to move over to Missionary Rise. We got a spot on the 5th floor. Since the beginning of the week,I noticed there was something bothering him so I decided that maybe I should cheer him up with a small party. We locked the lift on the 5th floor and also all the fire exits (that led to the stair case). This is to prevent children from running out of the building because all their parents where in the party. We had intended to give Tola all the surprises so the plan was that Jide hangs out with him and brings him up later. When I called Jide and he said "This dude has lost it. You need to see this", I was petrified. So I rushed down stairs only to see a fridge on Jide with Tola on it and Kunle lying out of it (the fridge had burst open on impact). I was collapsed and that was how I got here".
"What was the surprise you wanted to show him?" The angel asked. "It is a secret I had always kept from him. I share everything with her. And people get us confused. We are identical twins. My name is Kehinde. People call me Simi".

New things under the Sun

Right clicking enabled me to “copy” and “paste” the item unto my hard drive. 730mb of moving picture, 1hour 30 minutes of movie time. It was a brilliant movie that out on cinema. Story line: Two men in the hospital ward (One poor, black and principled man, the other white, rich and crazy) received information that they would die within 6 to 12 months. The film was took their life before the day it happened. I got the soundtrack off the internet afterward (that was the bomb).

But later it hit me; I just consumed material that could have taken ten years to develop. And I did it all for free? Is it that easy?If it continues this way, quality of movies will drop (as Hollywood ceases to become a viable investment). This could affect musicians, writers, software developers and those who activities can be threaten by what goes on online. The Wiki-world Order would emerge. Content provided by bloggers and products of the Web 2.0 generation. As much as I hate paying for content online, the Wiki-world does not exactly do it for me. Don’t get me wrong, I use firefox and wikipedia. I also enjoy reading other blog. But that can only fulfil part of your desires. There are limits to how the Wiki idea can sustain movie production and musical entertainment. The Wiki ideology will be able to enable content comes only from those who have passion for it. But quality content goes beyond passion. Time has to be dedicated for experiments and research. But that is only possible if those investing their time had nothing else to think about. That’s our challenge; how to manage the new things produced under the sun.

This is how I think of it all
The basic challenge of every civilization has always being produce goods that its citizens can consume. And these items must appeal to certain needs and desires at that point in time. Industrial revolution created the opportunity for processes to result where goods are produced faster than present consumption rate. As present consumption expanded beyond threshold points, surviving in industries required new sets of skills; skills that where transferable across board and skills for communicate (and enable the process of communication). This new demand gave rise to computers (instruments that converted electronic pulses into symbols that we understand). Computers created the internet. The internet created a situation where everything is convertible into ones & zeros, bytes and megabytes.

We live in a knowledge based society. From the present horizon, I would be right in saying that as humans we have reached our peak in terms of development of manual skills. The next frontier involves the application of these skills towards handling the challenges we face daily. If we all decide to explore who we are, what we will figure out is that we are products of yesterday’s solution, implying that the today we live in, is a product of frameworks and ideals designed by yesterday’s thinkers towards managing the challenges they faced then. It is a simple fact. Think of your daily experiences and spend sometime researching into their source. You would find out that something as simple as the key on which I type this blog has a history. The pioneers might have been lunatics, but the result of their ideas kicking into contemporary ways, resulted in acceptance, which created an entirely new type of demand that resulted in job opportunities where the regular Joe could contribute his/her own quota (and make the world the way it is today).

But now there is the internet, and all that comes with it. The internet is here to stay and so is piracy. The continuous boom of this sector remains a threat to the survival of other industries that thrive off its existence- a result of misalignment of our collective senses. But there are limits to how much more a lot of industries will develop if its content providers have to focus on other things to do. There is only so much passion can go. Afterwards, the basic needs will start crying for attention.

Take me for example. I enjoy very much my profession but I have recently developed this flair for blogging. The mental reward of constructing an article that is tight in the areas to include use of word, general layout, presentation, and the idea is mentally fulfilling Reading this piece in the future would be euphoric. But it is not sustainable; I don’t get paid.
This may be my niche. But I cannot invest more time into it, as the rewards cannot be quantified and expressly compared with what I presently enjoy from my present job.
I wonder daily how Jeremy (http://www.naijablog.blogspot.com/) or the Good Naija Girl (who manages a total of four blogs) gets to do this frequently for no financial reward (or maybe there is some form of benefit that is not glaring; I need to figure that out).

This is my idea
Before I develop further, have these facts at the back of your mind.

1. There is always a fee to access the internet. The fact that the cost keeps getting cheaper indicates to me that it is a big market. Primary desire of the internet is to either communication or access to content. Content providers don’t get nada.
2. Softwares exists that are copy protect; implying people cannot copy/past items on them. There should be capacity to prevent unauthorized printing.
3. Speculation in the stock market creates the atmosphere for new economic activities.
   

Communicating this idea is complicated without some form of diagram or PowerPoint presentation. My efforts at that will be to talk you through the processes involved as the idea leaves the content provider, satisfy the internet user and comes back as money. This thought is very idealistic (as it might require some changes to current operating platforms). But just read on. It might be real one day.

Imagine an environment exist where people can buy and sell idea, music, and intangible assets. People develop ideas, put it up for sale. Others buy the ideas off them. Everyone wants to make money right? So the question is who would pay the bills? The final consumers via internet access provider.
My model requires five economic agents to function:

• The content provider
• Content exchange
• Content buyers
• Internet access provider (those who actually charge on a wholesale level)
• The internet user

The content provider will be someone/an organization that focuses on developing content. Content here (a noun) refers to intellectual properties like music, movies and articles like blogs. For simplicity sake, the modality of him becoming one could be that he registers on the Net as one. He registers with the content exchange for a small fee. Possibly at the start of an internet session, the content provider will log on to his account. Any idea he creates will be stored on his account and ready for trade. The price on his content will be based going market price, demand for his content and information.

But why would anyone want to buy the content's Right? Just read on.

The content exchange will be an environment where content's rights are exchanges. Buyers and sellers meet and trade content. Beyond the role as a market, the content exchange will serve a dual purpose to ensure access to content is accounted for. Accounted for meaning, viewing, printing, copying and downloading of content created by the content provider. Information that will also be cumulated will also include, source of request for information and internet service provider. The fees they will charge will finance the collection of all these information (and research into developing more up to date methods of doing their trade).

The buyer will be companies that have access to the internet service providers. They will review stats on contents and decide if a content is worth their while. "Worth their while" will be determined by how much internet users are accessing the content. This will determine income stream from it. At the end of a given period, they liaise with internet service provider to collect fees that result from users accessing content they have rights to (this information would have been collected by the exchange).

At the time of writing, internet access was not free (I presume it will remain so for a long time). I envisage the price dropping with time; notwithstanding there will be room for content fees. To the user content fee will be a minute fraction of the total cost of internet access (lets say 2 to 5%). The reason why it will be so small is to encourage people agree to use the service. As I do not know the legal implications, I will assume that internet users are empowered to decide what they pay for. Content providers are also empowered in the sense that they decide if on not to allow users download, copy or print their contents. The cost will be determined by assuming the user is downloading, at maximum internet speed capacity, information (at megabytes per seconds) throughout period he/she pays the bill for. The exchange now uses this to calculate the unit cost of a byte and allocates bytes downloaded to the content rights. Example: Lets say a user pay $10 as content charge per month for 30 days internet access with internet speed at 1mb per second. 30 days is 2,592,000 seconds. 1 Megabyte is 100,000 bytes. Cost of a byte could be as low as
3.85 × 10^-9 Cent (if you divide $10 by 100,000 bytes and 2,592,000). 1 mega byte of download from that user could earn 3.85 × 10^-6 cent to the right owner. Remember this is the globe we are dealing with; so with volume, the returns changes.

Thus buyer will be looking to purchase contents that have high returns, content providers will work on developing contents that will appeal to the audience. The result is, the internet user does not feel the cost, the buyers and sellers have a bubbling market, while the content provider earns enough to sustain their trade.

I don’t think this idea is top notch yet (this article is 44kb on words; I don’t even want to try calculating my earning as I think of the low turnout to my site). But I think it is a good step.

Or what do you think?

Standing Tall

We stand tall because we stand on the shoulders of those that came before us
-------------Yoruba Proverbs

I am presently working on doing a self-exploratory analysis. I am trying to point out what went into making me who I am, NOW. The steps I took involved:

1. Creating a table with three column
   
2. Thinking of everything that makes me ME and list under the heading "Individual Component"; they include my name, languages spoken, clothes you wear, music you like, food you eat, your home, relationship with your friends, your job, education, your hobbies, political deposition, sexual orientation, culture. These has been listed on the first row
   
3. The 2nd column has been named the "Sense Affected". It will be a cluster of all my "Individual Components" into the senses the affect (all the five sense plus, the general act of speaking "speech", "sexual", "mood" and "orientation").
4. The last column would now reflect the resources employed towards providing that Components that make me ME.

This is how far I have been able to go.

Individual Component		Sense Affected		Resources Employed
My name - Seyi Osinowo		Speech		The English & Yoruba Language
				Parent
				Grand Parents
				Societal Status
				Culture
Sexual Preference		Sexual		Peer pressure
		Taste		Access to media information
		Smell		Society's concept of sexual beauty
		Sight		Genetic disposition
		Touch
		Hearing

Developing this report is quite complex due to the limited abilities of applied metrics to quantify every single aspect of the human experience. A full report will deviate from the point of this article.
Explore this; how did we get here? How am I able to communicate ideas and present these issues to you? Making sense over the internet requires a range of professional advisory from fields to include:

1. Software engineers
2. Computer programmers
3. Hardware engineers
4. Business analysts
5. Wireless technologists
6. Lawyers
7. Economists
8. Finance specialists
9. Teachers
10. Me (obviously)
    

The aspect here evaluated is the resources employed. Many people came together to make my present experience a reality. While a man sat under a tree trying to grapple the concept of gravity, another man was persecuted because he stated that the earth is round. All these combined efforts has been gathered by physical and mental systems towards defending our rights to survive within the environment we conceptualized.

As humans today, the knowledge economy is our strength. The future that is path dependent; implying that it depends on our collective effort in developing a reasonable today. All previous efforts, when effectively applied, should work at driving the senses of possible consumers towards being able to produce value that syncs with the overall objective of our the society. In other word, long term success depends on how sharp our collective senses are. More importantly, these sense should be aligned with the overall society's objective.

I strongly doubt the level of alignment and sharpness of our collective senses. Why, is a topic for another day.

My Newspaper Man

In the simplest form, Capitalism is the survival of the fittest

Donatus (not his real name) has been selling newspaper even before we moved to Omole Estate (in 1995). Everyday when I pass by, I cannot help but wonder, who is Donatus?Does he enjoy being a newspaper man? Sometime i want to stop and ask him but such conversations could position me for unwarranted requests on funds transfer (and I personally am not that keen on such information).

But just as a mental exercise, I cannot help but wonder how life being him is. As human we have our little habits, ways of doing things that makes us uniquely ourselves. His presence is such that he has become a permanent fixture in the Omole morning landscape come rain, sun and all the holidays taken in Nigeria.
I tend to wonder the size of his market (in terms of profit returns) as his "lucrative" business has created competitior. There are over three newspaper seller located at strategic points across my estate.To me, understanding Donatus gives insight into the Nigerian struggle. Suffering and Smiling without knowing it.

I sometimes think they are a different species entirely. Just think about this questions. I mean really think about these questions in the context of their livelihood. How is life being a newspaper man?
1.What is his perception of a lucrative business?
He earns an average of =N=10 per item sold. Assuming he sells 60 Newspaper. That is a profit of =N=600 per day; about $5
2. Does he love his jobs?
3. Beyond becoming a newspaper man, is there a career progression path in view?
3. What is his work-life balance?
4. Is he married?
5. Is he the perfect husband to his wife?
6. Are they happy?
7. Do they express their love they way we do?
8. What is a holiday to them like (because I see him in the on the street everyday)?
9. What are their day to day challenges?
I have seen him on the phone a couple of times (hands on the red button ready to cut the line.. I think he was flashing).
10. Does he have friends?
11. What jobs do they do?
12. How/where do they hang out?
13. Do they have "Recharge card" girls that disturb them daily, and who are they?
14. When they hang out what do they talk about, and find funny?

Behind that embodiment of a newspaper man is someone just like me. The failure of our welfare system has placed him in a position where his views are neglected and people over look what value he adds to our general life experiences; aiding smooth transfer of information.

Simply life

One thing that is similar amongst all humans, is the quest to be different
Mr C

It was fun hanging out with the fisherman on their boats some swimming distance away from the seashore. These Fanti locals have another perspective of living different from what I can envisage. They work everyday. The end of the day is spent gathering spoils and enjoying the little life has to offer. Some guy on dreadlocks sold weed on a boat. The other guys chatted about family, extramarital affairs and their business partners. A guy was in a distance having his shower and counting fishes caught at the same time. Ladies of the night came around to hang with them (these girls where shabbily dressed with wrappers and some had very dirty bras; I think in these environment that look is generally sexy). The aroma of Kente and other Ghanaian food filled the air. In normal times I would have found the smell repulsive. But this moment was spiritual; engaging with another civilization as they experienced life at it best.

[Question: How I did I get here? Bored out of my brains in Lagos, I took a trip to Ghana on my own, as all my fake friend had other commitments (I know you guys are reading this and yes I still haven't forgiven any of you. My thoughts will come out one day). I took a trip to Ghana to explore what the whole hype is all about. From Accra I took a trip to Cape Coast. Kofi was my taxi driver who found a hotel that way alright. I hung out with him that night as my options where very limited. And that was me but the sea shore with the Fanti fishermen, enjoying our God given rights to exist]

To the people of the Fanti region, this is life. The boundaries of their existence is contained in this. Their pains joys and moments they share is all contained within the here, by the Cape Coast Castle.

It makes me reflect and think about life, its purpose and hidden meanings we have not yet figured out. The Western World (or bad copies of it, e.g. Lagos) requires high testosterones and balls for basic survivals. Fueled by a mixture of paranormal drives, "the quest", pushes our society into the rat race struggle we presently live in.
But truthfully, life demands are basic. Food, water, sex, shelter, clothing and a sense of belonging. Simple receipt for happiness.

What I wonder about is how all these excesses came into being, and their purpose in achieving basic life objectives.
We still have a long way to go.....