ADEREMI'S NOTEBOOK

Can Nigeria really get better (5)

Last night I had a long conversation with Obinna on whether Nigeria can get better (see figure 1). I challenged him to come up with a plan which can be effectively in improving the situation in Nigeria. In the process of just searching to find general info about recent activities in Nigeria, I can acorss a comment by Brig. - Gen. Mohammed Marwa, a former Military Administrator of Lagos State (best known for introducing “Operation Sweep”):

Any person who retires from military service and becomes the president, takes along with him, the leadership qualities which were part of the training in the military, the discipline and the patriotism

He was effectively suggesting that “aspiring Presidents Must Have Military Background. Dr Femi Ajayi has been kind enough to respond to such a claim here.

I am not going to dwell too much on Marwa’s comments because the initial reason for writing this post was know if Nigeria can be a better place but each time I read that old boys association (former Military men) will be running for president election - The thought begs the question “Can any change implemented by the regime be effective?”. In fact, is any change implemented supposed to be effective.

The suggestion that the president must have military background implies that some people want method of looting to stay in the place. At the moment, the military professional are perhaps one of the best paid in the country which could explain why Obsanjo has continued to enjoy an uninterrupted so-called democratic rule.

One of the basic solutions, is to ensure that policemen and teachers are paid well. It will keep the police reduce begging for bribe off the street. It create a system where law and order are completely upheld in the majority of the Nigeria.

For teachers, It will reduce the strikes and ensure we have proper academic sessions. The result is that other professions will of course want a pay rise. There will be a shift in the labour market and this will effectively create a supply for police officers and teachers - hopefully satisfying the initial shortage which has occurred as a result of several people leaving these professions.

Also do read this interesting article on A practical solution to nigerian foreign debts along with democracy is failing in Nigeria again.

Lost in Flying Daggers (7)

Last night I saw House of flying Daggers along with a few friends and managed to miss the first 15mins (in hindsight I didn’t miss much). My lateness also guaranteed a free entry into the VIP section (also called the gallery in UK) So there I was in my comfy leather seat gashing to be entertained and what did I get? Not entirely sure. I remember I wanted to get out of the cinema immediately the first dance and music scene came up (I am not a fan of musicals in films, I believe they are best left apart. Of course Sound of Music is a timeless exception). Eventually I convinced myself that it would be brief. My thoughts were right, in no time - some fighting action filled the screen - again I felt the fighting scene had lasted just too long.

Should I continue? Well, I love to run you through the commentary that played in my head for the entirety of the movie but it will be better for me not to relive the brutal torture of the boredom I experienced. More than 3 times, my friends proposed that we should leave the cinema but I felt some journeys just have to be completed. In the name of the twisting story lines to create suspense, instead they created an dragging effect of boredom. One positive thing, the flying daggers were pretty cool. Even the dude that works in the cinema said afterward, you should have known, what do u expect from a film called House of flying Daggers. (Don’t take my word that this film is bad, you must see it to decide.)

Often I wonder who writes film reviews (e.g Times, Filmthreat, Guardian ) - are they ordinary human beings like me or do they see something I can’t see. I feel tempted to go with the latter. I reckon they must have invisible eyes.

Oh I also recently saw Lost in Translation, don’t even get me started on that one. I am not even going rant about it but all I want to know is what was the point/message/gist of the film. Comments much appreciated.

Warren Buffet Said (0)

The stock market is a wonderfully efficient mechanism for transferring wealth from the impatient to the patient.
- Warren Buffet

100 things you didn’t know (0)

100 things we didn’t know this time last year; Brussels sprouts have 3 times as much vitamin C as oranges.

Found this nice Innovation Weblog.

Why do record companies release artist albums on Tuesdays? because sales figures are released on Mondays