Decades: Chunks of Time

Flying Birds

2024-01-25T09:24:00.002+01:00

A puzzle kept me awake most of the night and its still boggling my mind.

Backstory: I belong to many WhatsApp groups, one of which is a group for the members of my predegree class of 2001 (yeah I know what you're thinking. Dont say it out loud though). Someone posted this puzzle on the group yesterday:

Some birds were flying and met a bird in their way. The bird greeted them, hello hundred! They said we are not hundred, we need half of us plus you to make us hundred.

Question - how many birds were flying?

Possible answers are -

A. 198

B. 49

C. 66

D. 51

E. 101

F. 199

I copied the script verbatim for a reason.

My default answer was 199:

(x/2) + 1 = 100

(x/2) = 100 - 1 = 99.

x/2 = 99

x = 99*2 = 198.

Total number of birds flying = 198 + 1 bird they met = 199.

But the poster said it's wrong. I wasn't the only one who derived this answer, but the poster kept insisting that we got it wrong.

The other posted answers are 198 and 66. The person who supplied the 66 answer used the formula "x + 2x + 1 = 100" i.e.

x + (x/2) + 1 = 100.

x + (x/2) = 100 - 1 = 99.

3x/2 = 99.

3x = 99*2 = 198.

x = 198/3 = 66.

But the question remains how many birds were flying?

You'd think ChatGPT would know the answer, right? I must tell you it was just as confused as we were. I pushed the same question four times and it came up with 4 different answers!

Here is what I think: if a certain number of birds are flying (say y) and meet another single bird (say z) on their way, the total number of birds flying would be y + z. We know the value f z to be 1 (single bird).

Then to make a hundred, if 100 = (y/2) + 1 then we get y = 198. And total number of birds flying would be 199.

But if the puzzle had said "we are not YET hundred, we need half of us plus you" then we know that the formula would be 100 = y + (y/2) + 1 = 3y/2 then we get y = 66. And the total number of birds flying would be 67.

But 67 is not an option in the list of possible answers

What do you think? Does anyone know the solution?

We are not Edom

2024-01-16T13:26:00.003+01:00

I know its been a minute I posted to this blog... make that ten minutes. Several times I have reached for my phone to type my thoughts, but the drive to actually post isn't there. Today that ends.

Happy New Year x how many years? 6? 12?

2024 finds me rounding up my master's degree program in Rwanda, and let me tell you, the feeling is way different from when I was in my undergraduate degree program 18 years ago. Wait... if I'd had a kid back then, s/he would be a full-grown adult this year... wooow.

I actually don't find the fact that I'm older than most of the lecturers odd - I try not to think about the time lost while getting into and trying to rise above the 'presents' Life gave me since 2009. I focus on learning a lot from my peers and the teachers. I'm trying to soak up as much as I can and to catch up you see.

Today I want to share what I learned about Africans, but let me first give you context.

Our lecturer had schooled in South Korea, and we all listened in wonder as he described the crime-free and secure environment that the country, and I couldn't help comparing that to the Lagos, Nigeria that I know. The conversation switched to the question: Are Africans cursed? My answer was yes, its even in the Bible. One classmate graciously asked that I send her the verses that support that.

And that's when my re-learning on that topic took place.

You see, it was taught to me when I was in high school (that was several decades ago, I assure you) that Africa, Edom, is cursed. That we are descended from Esau and of course, he was cursed and Jacob was blessed. I had accepted the fact that the African race was battling a curse and that's why the continent was not as developed as its peers.

Brethren, I was wrong.

FACTS

1. The Curse of Canaan: The Curse of Ham is a biblical story that has been interpreted in various ways, including its relation to the African diaspora. In the story, Noah curses his (grand)son, Ham's son, Canaan, and this curse has been interpreted as a justification for slavery and the subordination of African peoples. However, a closer examination of the biblical text and historical context reveals that the curse was not meant to apply to all descendants of Ham and does not support the idea of eternal slavery for black Africans.

2. The Actions of Doeg the Edomite: In 1 Samuel 21:7, it says Doeg the Edomite was there to witness David being given food and Goliath's sword, by the priest. Doeg was in charge of King Saul's sheep. Later when King Saul heard about David having 400 men with him, he got angry and accused his followers of betraying him. Doeg could not keep his mouth shut - without being asked, he told King Saul of David's visit to the priest. This led to the death of almost all the priests in Nob - only one escaped to tell David. And who else raised his hand to slaughter them by this same Doeg.

3. Edom is NOT Africa: In terms of location, Edom was a territory to the southeast of Israel/Judah, in what is now southwestern Jordan, between the Dead Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba. The biblical traditions consider Edom to be the land of the descendants of Esau, the twin brother of Jacob. The area includes the famous site at Petra in Jordan and is closely associated with the hill country of Seir in the Hebrew Bible.

This led me to conclude that:

Africa is not Edom.
Africa is not cursed.

The Curse on Africa is one of the major excuses we use to justify the backwardness of the continent. Instead of teaching another person what I had imbibed without question, decades ago, I learned the truth.

Africa needs to work this new era. If we shed our excuses, and creatively work around our shortcomings, I believe we can thrive as a continent.

2020: A Clean Slate

2020-01-18T14:37:00.002+01:00

Imagine a life where you sacrifice your own happiness based on what other people want for you. From small things like wearing a dress you don't really like because your friend said it looks cute, to picking a career just because it's what your parents want you to do.

Next thing, you're sitting in an armchair at 70 years old with a life you're not happy about thinking, "How did I get here?"

Doing what others want may be fine for a while, but when you don't put yourself and your own choices first, little decisions could build up to resentment and regret down the line.

We want to be sure we're choosing our own path at every point in time Adedayo Adeniyi because it's easier to give your best self to the world when you're happy inside.

She Leads Africa newsletter, Saturday January 18, 2020.

I feel as if the writer took a peek into my life and decided to write about it.

The last quarter of 2019 had me rolling around one thought in my head: I must start with a clean slate next year.

I sat down and visualized how I wanted my life to be, this next decade.

I determined that I wanted to cut away everything that had influenced me against my innermost wishes in this decade. Ten years ago I was still under my parents’ thumb, and I had no means of livelihood. As an African child, a Nigerian for that matter, we all know how strongly our parents hold onto us, but my case was more extreme.

It isn't that I do not love my family. It is just that Matthew 10:36 MSG has become my reality. My well-meaning family members have become my worst enemies. I realized that I was never truly at peace except when I am far away from them all, even when I was a child. I need to find myself and know the true meaning of being happy.

I let go of so many golden opportunities over the years because of my parents’ irrational fears and ego. I was the proverbial good girl, obeying to the last degree, but by the end of the decade, I was unhappy, full of resentment and regret, and not where I wanted to be. Back home after pretending to be happy in an eight-year-long failed marriage, with a child in tow, I had spent more than two years still back under their thumb. By Mid 2019, I was done.

So I picked up my pen and wrote and drew.

What do I want to be this new decade? Who do I want to be this new decade? Where do I want to go? Who do I want to be with? What part of my life do I need to work on to get there?

The first thing I knew I wanted to have was peace of mind. I needed to actually spend time to think about my life. I felt like the Runaway bride who didn't even know how she liked her eggs, sometimes. I spent time away from home, visiting friends who just let me be me. I took the time to plan and plot my escape. I blocked out every dissenting voice that felt I should not abandon my mother and have my own life.

The next thing I knew I needed to do was to look for a place of my own. It need not be big or in some fancy estate, but what it needed to have was a lot of distance between it and my family. I had tried to move away once after I had gotten physically better. Let’s just say my mother managed to draw me back, using my son’s welfare as a major point. Changing his school to her the one she suggested turned out to be a disaster for the child, but that’s a story for another day. This time around, my place has to be somewhere so far away from the whole family, that they would definitely never drop in, unannounced.

While waiting for that to become reality, I need to begin to build good habits for every aspect of my life. I need to imbibe habits that will sustain me in terms of mental and physical health, and I need to target habits that are to be a part of the person I want to become.

Above all, I know I needed to write everything down. Journalling my past, and more importantly, my journey to true happiness will definitely help me have a clear picture of where I was and how I am faring as I work towards where I want to be. I will be writing posts about my rebirth periodically this year and going forward.

As you read how this 'chunk of time' and the new decade unfolds, I really hope it helps someone else out there avoid my mistakes, and learn the lessons I had to learn the hard way.

Happy New Year!

Techies make me smile

2018-06-30T14:17:00.001+01:00

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Still at #WordPressMeetup #Lagos. Sitting among techies makes me smile

Song by ORU

2018-06-23T08:17:00.001+01:00

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Another song that's been moving me lately. Amen

Nonstop

2018-06-09T12:17:00.001+01:00

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I've been playing this song nonstop since @aramideogedengbe mentioned she went to their concert. I love it so much. And it totally describes how God pulled me out this time last year and showed me love. Believe me when I tell you that God's love is overwhelming, never-ending and reckless.

Don't fret

2018-05-28T08:17:00.001+01:00

I wrote that in 2012. Little did I know that a huge storm was waiting for me in 2014. I still believe this is true, and because God has helped me I will continue to help others. This is for someone out there: #Godhasnotforgottenyou #Godhasaplan #letgoandletgod and watch him turn all your tests into testimonies. Don't fret.

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WordPress is 15!

2018-05-26T16:17:00.001+01:00

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More fun at #wp15 @WordPress 15th anniversary. There's a child in all of us 😇

Self love matters

2018-05-26T14:17:00.001+01:00

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You see that ever-smiling ever-laughing ever-grinning attitude I have? It's in the genes.
I hope I pass on the self-love I'm imbibing now as well because it matters. When you love yourself then you can ensure no one pushes your boundaries. #loveyourselffirst #itmatters

What should top your priority list

2018-05-09T15:52:00.003+01:00

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#Life is top on the priority list. Choose #Life and #peaceofMind if you find yourself in a toxic marriage. Reach out - God will always send a helper.

Scars

2018-05-06T10:24:00.001+01:00

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Scars are reminders of battles won. Your painful memories should be scars, not channels for bitterness, pain or anger. Wonderful service today @daystarng and as usual Pastor @thesamadeyemi was on point. #marriageandloveseries

Maturity

2018-05-02T11:56:00.001+01:00

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Your peace of mind and self-worth is very important. Without it, so many things will not work no matter how hard and long you try #believeme #ihavebeenthere #wasntworthit

Good Deed: Apply Now!

2018-05-01T16:19:00.001+01:00

Do you know anyone that would benefit from a Full Scholarship worth NGN250,000.00 used for learning to be a full stack developer? NESA by Makers are giving out scholarships sponsored by Tech Advance.
The application process is laid out on the NESA by MAKERS website and its pretty straightforward. The deadline is May 7 2018 so hurry!

I have done my good deed for the day by sharing this information as soon as I saw it. Its your turn - spread the word!

GTBFoodandDrink 2018: TigernutRepublic

2018-05-01T09:26:00.001+01:00

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Met the versatile and gifted @tigernutsrepublic.ng yesterday too. The kiwi tigernut mix is awesome! I bought the avocado chilli sauce too - I'm told it's not out yet. Feeling #priviledged #gtbfoodanddrink 2018.

GTBFoodandDrink 2018: Datesweeteners

2018-04-30T15:54:00.001+01:00

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Did you know it was possible to use dates as sweetener? I never thought of it! Met @date_sweeteners just now and walked off with the chocolate date jam. #gtbfoodanddrink 2018

GTBFoodandDrink 2018: Oh So Nutrition

2018-04-30T15:30:00.001+01:00

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At the @ohsonutrition stand. Lovely quinola salad! #gtbfoodanddrink 2018

Another Voice is born

2018-04-24T00:15:00.000+01:00

Ruti Olajugbagbe
Image credit: FemaleFirst.co.uk

Another Voice is born - For the second year in a row, a Nigerian has won The Voice UK.
The winner of The Voice UK 2018 is 18 year old Ruti Olajugbagbe. The chubby beauty has such a pure voice, and an open personality, I would have screamed murder if she did not win.

Its not like I follow these stuff religiously, but I stumbled on her voice on Instagram and fell in love. Her voice is like a cross between Adele, Enya, Beyonce and Fergie. Its so fresh and new, I could listen to her all day every day.

What I love most about her is that she has her father's love and obvious support. She's grounded in family. Its an added bonus that her father is Nigerian, and from my part of the country, Yoruba too.

Many Yoruba fathers (mine included) do not have good track records for this generation. This man doesn't look all classy and fly in any of the clips I have seen of him cheering his daughter on, but you can see the joy and love and pride in his face, in his enthusiasm, in his eyes. This one did not force his child to read medicine or law and practically leave her to fend for herself if she did not follow his dictates. This one let the child shine through. Ruti appears so calm in all I have seen. I am proud of her, and not just because she's half Nigerian.

Here are the lyrics to her debut song, Dreams. It kind of describes where I am right now - hit me at the right spot, and with that voice (hear it here), I can only smile and get tearful every time:

Oh my life is changing everyday
In every possible way
And oh my dreams
It's never quite as it seems
Never quite as it seems

I know I felt like this before
But now I'm feeling it even more
Because it came from you
And then I open up and see
The person falling here is me
A different way to be

I want more, impossible to ignore
Impossible to ignore
And they'll come true
Impossible not to do
Impossible not to do

And now I tell you openly
You have my heart so don't hurt me

You're what I couldn't find
A totally amazing mind
So understanding and so kind
You're everything to me

Oh my life is changing everyday
In every possible way
And oh my dreams
It's never quite as it seems
'Cause you're a dream to me
Dream to me

Love needs nurturing always

2018-04-18T00:15:00.001+01:00

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#Truth #loveneedsnurturing always.

MSG in Quick Bible finally!

2018-04-16T17:44:00.000+01:00

Since I discovered I could actually read a bible on a mobile phone, I have been an avid fan of mobile bibles.
I think the first one I tried was from Olivetree, before I moved to YouVersion. The latter was not so satisfactory however, because one had to stay online to actually use it. Back then data was really a high end commodity so I once again went in search of another option.

Then I stumbled on Alkitab, also known as the Quick Bible app, on Android, and fell in love.

I could choose the versions I wanted, bookmark sections, add notes and basically use it offline. The app kept getting better, with the addition of hymns and even devotions. The best part was the fact that it was open source and developers encouraged others to contribute. Then the developer added a way for you to sync your bookmarks in the cloud so you could have a backup when you changed devices.

All in all it was great, until I heard the Message translation for the first time. The language was very modern, I wanted it on my app immediately. Unfortunately it was not listed in the versions available. After over a year of waiting for it on the list I gave in to the urge to hunt for it myself and if possible, actually do the conversions needed to make it compatible.
That hunt began over four years ago. Im glad to say it ended some mornings ago, when I found this goldmine from 2011.
Some angel decided to create the YES files for various versions including the Message translation. The download link for that translation had been unproductive and was just updated recently. I am happy to report that it's working now and I have imported the version into my app. Hoorah!

Good Deed - Writing a Resume

2018-04-09T16:46:00.000+01:00

One of my nieces came over for the weekend, and I was so entertained by her. She has developed into a full woman, and I kept thinking about what I must have sounded like, at her tender age of twenty-three.

She is in her final year of the university, and I was shocked to find out that she did not have a CV or resume. I took the time out to help her with drafting one.
We started off by visiting Google Docs, so that she could choose from the long list of free templates - using Google Docs was a new experience for her too. Then we drafted her information, which included her skills, competencies, educational background, work experience, and interests.

I told her to finish off the document, then send it to via Google Drive, so that I could review. The next step would be to start applying for jobs that would enhance her career in Human Resources.
I feel good knowing I helped at least one young person kickstart the search for a good job. Good deeds do that to me :)

This year

2018-03-27T08:17:00.001+01:00

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#blogpost #thisismyyear #thisismyyear2018

Most important life lesson

2018-03-22T17:44:00.001+01:00

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The most important life lesson is captured right there in the image: every relationship teaches you something. Either it shows you what you don't want, or it gives you what you want.

Good Deed: WordCamp Lagos 2018

2018-03-10T11:39:00.000+01:00

In January, a friend suggested I attend the WordPress Meetup in Lagos, since I was in the city. I thought, "What harm would it do?" and decided to go.
Little did I know that just that one day would change everything for the next couple of weeks.

I discovered they had a conference coming up. Not just any conference by the way. It's a WordCamp, the first in Nigeria.
WordCamp Lagos 2018 promises to be a day filled with lots of talks, and workshops. We have several sponsors backing the event e.g JetPack, WordPress (of course), Woo Commerce and more.
There will also be a workshop for teens (discounted ticket, only 20). And there's the Happiness Bar, which is a desk that WordPress developer can approach with their challenges and get help.

So what was my Good Deed? Well, since I heard about the event, I volunteered to be part of the organizers. I applied to speak as well. I was taken up on both offers. Since joining I have had a nice time working with other WordPress enthusiasts, who give their all to make things move forward in the community .
I'm happy to be a part of this new family.

Good Deed: Social Media Week Lagos

2018-03-04T08:41:00.000+01:00

Social Media Week image from Eventbrite

Social Media Week Lagos is an event I have always heard about. Every year I would see adverts about it online, and once again wish I was back in Lagos, so I could attend at least one day of the week-long event. That wish came true this year.
Turns out that not one, but two of my close friends were to be part of a panel in Social Media Week Lagos 2018. Abosede Sobodu, CEO of Octavia Informatix and Ibrahim Ganiyu, CEO of Imperial Creations Studios were on the panel titled "Being a Change Maker".

Being A Changemaker is a meetup that celebrates the power of people and the resources available to individuals in Lagos to do something that effects change in their own lives, this city and country and eventually the continent of Africa. Unemployment is on the rise and young people in secondary schools and universities need a plan. We will meet to network and chat about the power of the volunteer, the power of the collaborator, and the power of the creator. Participants will be broken up into various groups that will focus on making an idea a reality by collaboration, team work and creativity.

The panel was being hosted by Shola Ajayi of UR4Africa, an initiative that

teaches content creation and produces unique, educational, content about Africa in collaboration with youths and women to inspire the masses.

Everybody has a story to tell.

What was my Good Deed for the day? Well, I might have missed it again this year, if not because Abosede (Who I fondly call "The Boss") asked that I come along so I can help stream the session live on Facebook. I agreed.
I'm not skilled as a cameraman, and I had power and internet speed issues, but I tried my best. You can view their videos here.

The whole event took place at Landmark Centre, Victoria Island. The setting and decor was beautiful - I was too busy to take a lot of pictures, but I did jam my friend Mary Job there and we took a selfie. I also saw some old friends, some that I had not seen for a decade.
All in all, I had a beautiful time, and look forward to attending more Social Media Weeks in future.

Another MSG-free Sundaylunch served

2018-02-12T07:41:00.001+01:00

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Another #MSGfree #Sundaylunch served. Thanks @abosede.sobodu and @seuntaylor for the inspiration. That #goatmeat sauce though...wish I could lick the pan without raising eyebrows 😂 #FastRepost from @abosede.sobodu by @fastrepost_app ••• Feeling a little under the weather today but that didn't stop us from having an awesome lunch of crepes with some goat meat sauce. Thanks @jibirises . Join us pls.... #crepes #lunch #sunday #foodie #brunch #sunday #goodfood #goodafternoon #pasta #healthyfood #foodlover