I heard a story that changed the way i looked at how ideas work
A man woke up late in the night, with sweat on his brows. He had a bad dream (a nightmare), it that dream someone was trying to kill him, the person claimed to be from the future. Rather than that man go on his knees and bind the evil spirits like any Nigerian religious man or woman would do, he took his notepad and pen and started writing the dream out.
That man was James Cameron. The movie turned out to be Terminator.
I can only imagine if it was my country men that had that dream he would get his bible out and pray though the night till either it was morning, or he had lost a lot of sweat (no offence to anyone).
But the reality is simple
1. James Cameron is not dead (at least not yet)
2. The dream (the nightmare) only served to motivate him to do something.
3. Terminator is still one of the biggest franchise all thanks to a nightmare.
Many might disagree with my illustration but the reality is simple, we are so ignorant of the problems out there that we can't see how we can capitalize on getting the solution.
It all starts with an idea
A idea is just an idea, until it is put into writing, it remains a thought, insignificant and just plain clouds int he sky.
It is the effort to drive that idea that makes the difference between a successful idea and failure.
Just like a dream, once we wake up it starts to fade away fast unless we consciously try to write it down.
Someone once said to me, that all that could be invented has already been invented. I disagree with him, because there will always be nightmares and problems out there.
It's up to us to either write them down and fix them or simply ignore them and allow our ideas to fade out like a dream that has not been written down.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Thursday, March 29, 2012
25 tips on Driving in Lagos
Although I am not the author of this article, I find it hilarious and even mostly true
Found this on NVS...hilarious and so true of Lagos motorists
1. When in doubt, accelerate!
2. Be prepared to ram anything stoping you wearing uniform in Lagos (police, traffic warden,FRSC,
Kai brigade, fire brigade, VIO, lastma, lamata, laswa, even lawma sef)
3. If you get caught by any chance, DO NOT allow them to enter your car, if they happen to get in
DO NOT drive from that spot (vere off traffic & settle 5hun), and if they don’t agree, form calling
your uncle who is in the army (believe me it always works), never follow them to ANY sort of
office except you wanna pay X10
4. Never give police or VIO your original particulars (whether expired or up to date)
5. Danfo drivers believe they are immortal. NEVER yield to the temptation to teach them otherwise.
6. Okada riders have a pact with suicide, avoid them like a plaque
7. Avoid BRT buses in all ramifications, they have NO brakes
8. Taxi cabs (oko asewo) should always have the right of way, all of them have been driving in
Lagos for 25yrs.
9. Never, ever, stop for a pedestrian unless he flings himself under the wheels of your car.
10. The first parking space you see will be the last parking space you see.
Grab it. Survival of the fittest you may say!
11. Learn to swerve abruptly. In Lagos , potholes (and sometimes car-holes) are put in key locations
to test drivers’ reflexes and shock absorbers,( I saw one man fishing in one of the potholes last
week).
13. Never get in the way of a car that needs extensive bodywork, except you want to spend ur whole
saturday @ the panel beater’s place.
14. Morning rush-hours are equivalent to Lagos grand prix (who gets to the junction first)
15. There is no such thing as a short-cut during rush-hour traffic in Lagos . Everybody might be
inclined to take that ’short-cut’.
16. When asking for directions, always ask at least 3 people. Lagosians ALWAYS claim to know
every inch of the city – even areas they’ve never been to.
17. Use extreme caution when pulling into service lanes. Service lanes are not for breaking down
the traffic, but for speeding, especially during rush hour.
18. Never use directional signals, since they only confound and distract other Lagos drivers, who
are not used to them.
19. Similarly, never attempt to give hand signals. Lagos drivers, unused to such courtesies, will
think you are making obscene gestures to them. This could be very bad for you in Lagos .
20. Hazard lights (popularly called “double pointer”) is not, (as commonly
supposed) used to indicate a hazard. It is a warning to you that he is a bonafide Lagos driver, he’s
headed ’straight’ and as such, will not stop under any circumstance. Take him extremely seriously
especially if he backs it up with a continuous blast from his “horn”.
21. At any given time, do not stand on the zebra crossing expecting traffic to yield to you, or else
you will have to explain to the on coming traffic whether you look like a zebra.
22. Speed limits are arbitrary figures posted only to make you feel guilty.
23. Remember that the goal of every driver is to get there first by whatever means necessary.
24. In Las Gidi every spot is a potential bus stop. FRSC and LASTMA know that too. It is in their
constitution.
25. Above all, keep moving. Even with a flat tire!!!
HORNING IN LAGOS
- ‘Horn’ when someone executes a dangerous manoeuvre.
- ‘Horn’ when you’re about to move off.
- ‘Horn’ when you’re about to overtake.
- ‘Horn’ when someone is about to overtake you.
- ‘Horn’ when turning into a road.
- ‘Horn’ when emerging from a road.
- ‘Horn’ back when someone horns at you. It’s considered good etiquette.
- ‘Horn’ when you hear a chorus of horns. Don’t worry if you don’t know what all the ‘horning’ is
about.
- ‘Horn’ when you’re happy.
- ‘Horn’ to the beat when you’re playing music in your car.
Good luck, as you expeditiously navigate through Lagos
NO TAILGATING ALLOWED
Found this on NVS...hilarious and so true of Lagos motorists
1. When in doubt, accelerate!
2. Be prepared to ram anything stoping you wearing uniform in Lagos (police, traffic warden,FRSC,
Kai brigade, fire brigade, VIO, lastma, lamata, laswa, even lawma sef)
3. If you get caught by any chance, DO NOT allow them to enter your car, if they happen to get in
DO NOT drive from that spot (vere off traffic & settle 5hun), and if they don’t agree, form calling
your uncle who is in the army (believe me it always works), never follow them to ANY sort of
office except you wanna pay X10
4. Never give police or VIO your original particulars (whether expired or up to date)
5. Danfo drivers believe they are immortal. NEVER yield to the temptation to teach them otherwise.
6. Okada riders have a pact with suicide, avoid them like a plaque
7. Avoid BRT buses in all ramifications, they have NO brakes
8. Taxi cabs (oko asewo) should always have the right of way, all of them have been driving in
Lagos for 25yrs.
9. Never, ever, stop for a pedestrian unless he flings himself under the wheels of your car.
10. The first parking space you see will be the last parking space you see.
Grab it. Survival of the fittest you may say!
11. Learn to swerve abruptly. In Lagos , potholes (and sometimes car-holes) are put in key locations
to test drivers’ reflexes and shock absorbers,( I saw one man fishing in one of the potholes last
week).
13. Never get in the way of a car that needs extensive bodywork, except you want to spend ur whole
saturday @ the panel beater’s place.
14. Morning rush-hours are equivalent to Lagos grand prix (who gets to the junction first)
15. There is no such thing as a short-cut during rush-hour traffic in Lagos . Everybody might be
inclined to take that ’short-cut’.
16. When asking for directions, always ask at least 3 people. Lagosians ALWAYS claim to know
every inch of the city – even areas they’ve never been to.
17. Use extreme caution when pulling into service lanes. Service lanes are not for breaking down
the traffic, but for speeding, especially during rush hour.
18. Never use directional signals, since they only confound and distract other Lagos drivers, who
are not used to them.
19. Similarly, never attempt to give hand signals. Lagos drivers, unused to such courtesies, will
think you are making obscene gestures to them. This could be very bad for you in Lagos .
20. Hazard lights (popularly called “double pointer”) is not, (as commonly
supposed) used to indicate a hazard. It is a warning to you that he is a bonafide Lagos driver, he’s
headed ’straight’ and as such, will not stop under any circumstance. Take him extremely seriously
especially if he backs it up with a continuous blast from his “horn”.
21. At any given time, do not stand on the zebra crossing expecting traffic to yield to you, or else
you will have to explain to the on coming traffic whether you look like a zebra.
22. Speed limits are arbitrary figures posted only to make you feel guilty.
23. Remember that the goal of every driver is to get there first by whatever means necessary.
24. In Las Gidi every spot is a potential bus stop. FRSC and LASTMA know that too. It is in their
constitution.
25. Above all, keep moving. Even with a flat tire!!!
HORNING IN LAGOS
- ‘Horn’ when someone executes a dangerous manoeuvre.
- ‘Horn’ when you’re about to move off.
- ‘Horn’ when you’re about to overtake.
- ‘Horn’ when someone is about to overtake you.
- ‘Horn’ when turning into a road.
- ‘Horn’ when emerging from a road.
- ‘Horn’ back when someone horns at you. It’s considered good etiquette.
- ‘Horn’ when you hear a chorus of horns. Don’t worry if you don’t know what all the ‘horning’ is
about.
- ‘Horn’ when you’re happy.
- ‘Horn’ to the beat when you’re playing music in your car.
Good luck, as you expeditiously navigate through Lagos
NO TAILGATING ALLOWED
Sunday, March 18, 2012
A Simple Taxi Ride Home
I was on my way home one evening, I had decided to take a taxi home rather than using a motocycle popularly called okada, Taxi's over here are cheaper than taking a
bike ride. I went to the motor pack, asked about which was going towards my street, When i approached the car, i noticed two men sitting at the back seat and one woman sitting at the front; The average taxi cab takes four passengers at the rear and one in front. It beats the time i had to be sandwitched between three fat ladies at the back seat. We waited for the forth and final passenger to arrive and then we set off, the ricketty Datsun or Opel (I am not sure of the make and model of the car anymore), hey besides most Taxi drivers over here use either of the two for reasons best known to them.
The Old rickety car could barely move faster than the average man could run, (am not kidding) as we went on, nothing eventful happened, nothing extra ordinary happened; Only the notice of the direct contrast i see the average time i watch a cable TV movie.
While over here our cabs may be ricketty (at least some of them) and used more like public buses, on TV, it looks fine and flashy.
As the Taxi crawled on, Nothing eventful happened only the look of tired market men, a teacher and the taxi driver. Knowing the risk involved in taking a quick and crazy bike ride was the only comfort as i was eager to get home, I can not compare this small town to the high and mighty Lagos or Abuja city where traffic builds up and where people practically have to get off their cabs and buses to walk home. I am however grateful, that however slow the cab ride was, I got home in one piece to write this here.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
The Onion Ring
I want to be fresh as the Onion ring.
To be one of many people but yet fresh
Yes, fresh as the Onion,
how bad can it be?
To be crisp on the outside
and yet Make people cry when they cut through you.
To be an Onion,
That's what I want to be.
To be less demanding on the environment
and yet people can't imagine a world without the onion.
To have multiple talents both cooked and used raw.
Just like the Onion ring.
That's what I want to be.
And if the world, knew me,
They would realize,
that am not of the environment
I am just what I am,
The Onion ring.
To be one of many people but yet fresh
Yes, fresh as the Onion,
how bad can it be?
To be crisp on the outside
and yet Make people cry when they cut through you.
To be an Onion,
That's what I want to be.
To be less demanding on the environment
and yet people can't imagine a world without the onion.
To have multiple talents both cooked and used raw.
Just like the Onion ring.
That's what I want to be.
And if the world, knew me,
They would realize,
that am not of the environment
I am just what I am,
The Onion ring.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
On the hook
On the hook
I woke up one-morning feeling I had done someone wrong, I had left a friend on the hook for too long
I don't remember how we met back in school, I don't even remember who introduced Sarah to me; the only thing I remember is she liked me a lot but I had no feelings for her none what's so ever.
I did what cowards do back then; I left her on the hook. She called me all the time, but I did not call back, and when i did call back, it would be to because I felt guilty for not calling her back. She told me her story her personal stories, but i never shared mine;
So today after three years i woke up feeling bad, wishing i had the stomach to let her know back then that
i had no feelings for her and that she was a great girl and would find someone who was better.
But i did not do that, rather i had stuck my head in the sand wishing the whole situation would go away.
I had been wishing I would find someone who liked me as I am and when i found one, i felt
i had no feeling for that one.
But here is where the real twist comes; The day i woke up feeling bad for her what the day i realized that
i was also on someone else's hook; Her name (not her real name) is Sarah.
This girl had the same name as the girl three years ago, I called her a lot but she never called me back, i shared
my personal stories but she shared none.
Realizing how wrong I had been, i decided to call the girl I had feelings for and set things straight and tell her
how I felt about her. As the phone rang I calculated the worst-case scenario and the best all in my mind.
The words came out wrong in my mouth, by the time the phone conversation was over, i was banging my head on my
table, literally.
I paced up and down the room hoping i had not destroyed the one thing; her friendship.
I went to bed early that day hoping i would find an excuse to explain what happened during the phone conversation
(maybe i can claim i was drunk or even half asleep when we spoke).
The next morning I was clean, sober, and praying to God to fix what i had broken; and then she called back.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Life is like Building a Christmas Tree
Saturday, December 3, 2011
The Hamattan Dairy
The dry season is back, the chill and dryness can never be forgotten and almost never missed,I am already missing her - the rainy season of course.
This weather with its gentle wind blows dry and irritating dust. The weather - she creeps all over even in closed quaters, creeping through holes and vents, welcoming herself into your room without your request.
Her friend, the fog that comes stares you in the face, chosing to block from view your sight as though telling you that your future is unclear as the new year coming, serving as curtain blocking your present from the future, the past on the other hand is past and plain when you look back, but some what obscured by what we want to believe.
The chill, oh that wicked chill comes in the morning to harass you, he gets under your skin quickly causing an allergic reaction to anything cold and if you think a cardigan will fix your problems in the long term wait till the noon breaks.
And then the sun shines so bright and yet you can still stare at it. It looks like a disk, a plain white disk but the heat, yes that heat makes you wish you had
beared with the cold in the morning; the cardigan becomes a burden to carry, an ackward burden, while your mates unbutton their sleeves to allow air through you look like a bear in the desert sweating it out. He also mocks you accusing you of not keeping tidy cause your hands and feet are white
as though you never washed them, your face peppered with dust and your hair a shade lighter that what it is, oh sun.
So you remove the sweater thinking its over but wait till evening breaks, when the sun (a shell of itself) goes down, then cool weather sets in again asking you if you missed her and circle begins again.
This weather with its gentle wind blows dry and irritating dust. The weather - she creeps all over even in closed quaters, creeping through holes and vents, welcoming herself into your room without your request.
Her friend, the fog that comes stares you in the face, chosing to block from view your sight as though telling you that your future is unclear as the new year coming, serving as curtain blocking your present from the future, the past on the other hand is past and plain when you look back, but some what obscured by what we want to believe.
The chill, oh that wicked chill comes in the morning to harass you, he gets under your skin quickly causing an allergic reaction to anything cold and if you think a cardigan will fix your problems in the long term wait till the noon breaks.
And then the sun shines so bright and yet you can still stare at it. It looks like a disk, a plain white disk but the heat, yes that heat makes you wish you had
beared with the cold in the morning; the cardigan becomes a burden to carry, an ackward burden, while your mates unbutton their sleeves to allow air through you look like a bear in the desert sweating it out. He also mocks you accusing you of not keeping tidy cause your hands and feet are white
as though you never washed them, your face peppered with dust and your hair a shade lighter that what it is, oh sun.
So you remove the sweater thinking its over but wait till evening breaks, when the sun (a shell of itself) goes down, then cool weather sets in again asking you if you missed her and circle begins again.
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