One of the tributes that matters the most, from Chadwick's Black Panther director, Ryan Coogler

One of the tributes that matter the most, from Chadwick's Black Panther director, Ryan Coogler:

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/black-panther-director-ryan-coogler-pens-emotional-beautiful-tribute-to-chadwick-boseman?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

What makes Christoper Nolan the greatest filmmaker of the modern age

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My video above is my response to the one below

The problem with my Nigerian Parents

The problem with my Nigerian Parents (audio)
Duration: Less than 7 minutes

Here's the video that I referenced: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PW7Cx3iYYLk

My friend, Osa's reply (audio). Posted with her permission.

2 days later:

No more nicknames, no more subjugating name-calling

Osa's brilliant reply:

"Wow, it’s good that you were able to stand up for yourself like that and set the boundaries of what you would not like going forward. As harsh as they may think it is, it’s important because it lets them  know that what they’re doing is not okay. We’re not a punching bag and we have worth and value.  By discrediting the way we feel and making us feel like our feelings and points are invalid, gives them a feeling over power. And in any relationship, whether a parent-child, friend or romantic relationship, when someone feels like they are the one in power over someone it is very unhealthy and toxic. I’m tired of “I’m the parent, you’re the child” mentality. How about you treat me with respect and make me feel valued, respected, appreciated, and heard."

I needed a Tesla branded baseball hat

I needed a Tesla-branded baseball hat (click audio link) and got it in less than half a day.


T Logo Hat on the Tesla Shop

Tesa hat from some random guy on Amazon.ca

The solution: https://brimzofficial.com/

Success photo:

My older cousin wrote:

My friend from secondary school said:

Emotional Abuse

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaslighting


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychological_abuse

Some silver-linings from the COVID-19 pandemic

I talked about some silver-linings from the COVID-19 pandemic

Found this video over a year after posting mine. We made similar points

Nigerian Parents have not adjusted their communication when their children become adults

I have noticed that Nigerians are addicted to giving advice. I have also noticed that Nigerian parents have not adjusted their behavior and communication when their children become adults.

I was born and grew up in Nigeria.

At the age of 18, I moved to America to continue my University Education. After working hard for 3 University degrees, I moved to Nigeria at 27 years old.

I will refer to Nigerian parents a lot. Think of their age as upper 50s and above, because by that age, their children would be over 21.

I am also employing generalization when I refer to Nigerian parents. Keep that in mind.

The Good
Many Nigerian young adults will agree that many Nigerian parents are experts at raising children, instilling great morals, impressing the importance of a good education. I have to say that because Nigerian parents have emphasized education so much, many of us are highly educated, well behaved, and have achieved very high positions in industries and high statuses in society. That must be said. It was as if, 30 - 40 years ago, Nigerian parents had a conference and all agreed to send their children to the best schools, so that whenever you hear of Nigerians in North American and European companies, they are usually smarter and more intelligent than the average person. Well done Nigerian parents.


Here's where they have fallen short
Where the Nigerian parents fall short is adjusting to their children when those children turn 18 years old or 21 years old. In every conversation, the parents still speak as if to tell these people whom most states around the world would consider adults.



I have done my research. 
I was in it. For 25 years, on and off,  I lived in Nigeria with my parents. I have been to many friends' homes, birthdays parties, and general get-togethers.

In my adulthood, 27 years to 35 years of age, I have spoken to many Nigerians in my age group about how their parents communicate with them. The results are 98% the same. My parents still treat me like a child. When I moved to Nigeria at 27 years old, it took me about 8 years (7 in Nigeria, 1 after I had moved to Canada) of serious efforts from me before my parents adjusted to now communicating to me as an adult.

Talking to me like a child vs. talking to me as an adult
As I began this article with, talking to me like a child is talking down to me. When I call, and mum and dad is of the mindset that they always have the answer, and they proceed to tell me what I must do, that is talking to me like a child.

Talking to me as an adult is when I call and present a situation, we all speak about it on the same level. We present our thoughts and perspectives equally. It sounds simple to write, Nigerian parents don't do it. This has caused many rifts between these two generations. It is a class system that permeates in the workplace and in governments, where just because someone is 15 or 25 years older, they must know more than the ones that are 15 or 25 years younger.


When I talk to some people about this, a few would agree and say, "Yes o, hmm, I am 45, and my parents still talk to me like I'm 15. Isn't that funny?" and they laugh.


But it isn't funny. It's not. It is a debilitating epidemic.

This epidemic is so pervasive that in every Nigerian movie, in a scene between parents and young adults, it's the same dynamic.


Over protectiveness
Many Nigerian parents can be over-protective. Because of "love" they shelter their children way too much. Not allowing them to go into the world by themselves. Not allowing them to go to clubs on Friday or Saturday nights. Overemphasizing studying, but not emphasizing arts and giving them a voice to speak amongst much older adults. Then when these children become 24 and start working, they wonder why their children have not grown the ability to comfortably speak with the Vice President or CEO calmly.

Sex
Nigerians do not talk about sex. Sex is not a regular part of regular conversation, yet when the children turn 30, they are quick to ask, "Why are you not married yet?"

Medical,  Sex, and Behavioral Experts would agree that parents should make speaking about sex, sexuality, boyfriend/ girlfriend relationships a part of regular conversations around the house and on the phone. It should be normal. Nigerian parents have not developed the ability to make it normal. Sure they know how to talk about Education. They know how to talk about Jobs, and Career, Housing. But when it comes to condoms, contraceptives, being okay with their teenagers kissing, having sex and everything in between, they would throw religion and a quick bible verse in your face. This is not right. This is not mature.
There is a balance. But Nigerian parents have failed at reaching that balance.

Neil Tyson and Dan Savage on "The Perfect Relationship"

2018 Oscar Nominations

This time a year ago, I wrote my academy award nominations  & winner prediction list, which was pretty accurate. 

Let's try again this year. 

Hair Love | Oscar®-Winning Short Film (Full) | Sony Pictures Animation

How I Overcame Stuttering

If SoundCloud makes things difficult, listen to the audio file via my Dropbox. 

"This is CNN" line spoken by James Earl Jones


Correction(s): Those early writings are no longer in this blog. I remember that years ago, I removed them.

Oscar (Academy Award)

I’ve seen an Academy Award (Oscar) in real life before...I just wanted to say that. And it was breathtaking.

My fairwell message to Kobe Bryant and a celebration of his life's work

‪

This is the video that got me in tears for Kobe Bryant.

"Shaq Breaks Down In Tears Talking about Kobe Bryant"

I mean ugly tears...I mean holding-my-mouth tears. I cried more than I cried when my grandparents passed away because I knew Kobe more than them.

‪Sorry grandma and grandpa, I love you. But I didn't know you intimately. Even though I never met Kobe, I knew him more than I knew you. I am going to talk about Kobe from the aspect of playing his character in the best NBA video game series, the annual NBA 2k series.

When I played NBA 2K video games over the last 2 decades, my friends and family would tell you, over 90% of the time I would choose the LA Lakers because of 1 person...Kobe Bryant.

He was fluid in movement. Anyone who knows anything about video games knows that the basketball players performed motion capture for these games to accurately capture their actual motion. This way, the video game characters moved like the actual basketball players.

‪Kobe was the best player. Until Lebron and Steph came around. Yet there was something about Kobe that I understood. I would watch him in real NBA games and his video game character moved the same as he did in real life. ‬

‪So, I had the opportunity to move with Kobe Bryant when I played the LA Lakers in the NBA 2K series. Because of those many hours I spent with Kobe and his team and watching him on tv and seeing how much of a good man he was on and off court.

‪When I watched one of his closest compadres, Shaq talk about him, it broke me, I cried on my bed, I cried in the bathroom the next day while I was brushing my teeth. Tears rolled down my eyes when I was at work facing my computer...I cleaned those tears so no-one would see‬.

‪Kobe, we are all crying, not because we are sad for you. We are celebrating your million accomplishments. We are celebrating your incredible longevity: 20 years with a single team, the LA Lakers. We are celebrating your Academy Award win for "Dear Basketball" after retirement from the NBA. Of course retirement is the wrong word, because you never retired. You became a coach for young women, including your daughters. We are sad because your daughter's promise was cut short. Thank you Kobe for doing all you did. For all the inspiration. ‬

‪I'll keep playing you on NBA 2k series. I'll keep crying until the tears stop and the smiles resume. God bless you and your  daughter, Gianna. Rest in perfect peace. But as all know, Kobe is not resting in heaven. Kobe is still taking Gianna to basketball practice. ‬

‪There’s no such thing as rest for Kobe, even in death. Kobe is not even dead, he just transitioned to the Spiritual realm. He's still doing what he was doing, because that's the kind of relentless spirit that Kobe Bryant has. ‬

My 2020 Academy Awards / Oscar Predictions

I do not care about the Academy Awards anymore. The nominees are no longer based on merit.

Thanks for reading.

A G.O.A.T. is Crowned - Jeopardy! The Greatest of All Time

Be happy when you get sick

When you fall sick. Be happy that your body could at least detect that you were sick. If your body did not have the ability to detect that you were ill, you would be sick and you would get worse and worse until you would just fall down and die.

The fact that your body tells you that you are sick by indicating to you via a fever or a cough or a cold, is good. Because of this, you can get up and go to the doctor or pharmacy.

Folarin's commentary of the "Bad Boys For Life" Official Trailer 1

Folarin's commentary of the "Bad Boys For Life" Official Trailer 1.

I plan on doing a video later. For now watch the trailer first, then listen.

Folarin's commentary on the Bad Boys For Life Official Trailer 1

The underlying trailer music is an updated version of the 2001 song by P.Diddy featuring Black Rob and Mark Curry "Bad Boy 4 Life"

The Official Music Video by Bad Boy Entertainment, which is Sean Combs entertainment company can be seen here; https://youtu.be/GbJO59nWQRU

P Diddy made the soundtrack for Bad Boys 2 as well.

"Shake Ya Tailfeather" https://youtu.be/bG7DBO0k5lA

Are you seeing the connections?

Sean Combs founded Bad Boy Entertainment in 2003.

Bad Boys begin principal photography in 1994 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bad_Boys_(1995_film)

So it made sense to have Bad Boy Sean Combs to do the soundtrack for Bad Boys II.

It also makes sense for the directors to find a song titled "Bad Boy 4 Life", update the beats, and use it for the Bad Boys For Life trailer and hopefully it will be in the actual movie.

The head of a film production is the Executive Producer Jerry Bruckheimer. Jerry must be given a lot of credit as well. He is the behind the scenes producer extraordinaire.

Longtime Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek has been very vocal about his ongoing treatment for pancreatic cancer and in response, fans are being equally transparent and their support for the beloved host.

For those who do not understand, Dhruv, likely knew the answer, or he did not, but he likely did. However, that part does not matter. He had $2,000 and he gave away $1,995. This means he gave away 99.25% of his accumulated wealth on the show away to prove his love for the game show host Alex Trebek, who announced that he is battling cancer. The irony is that the dollar amount did not matter because Alex had not seen the wager. Alex was moved by the words and the 'heart' or 'love' emoji, "What is, We ♡ you, Alex!" This is where Alex was moved. The part after, how much Dhruv wagered, cemented Dhruv's gesture even further. Dhruv is saying that whatever money I made on this show, I will give away 99.25% away to prove to you Alex, that we, the guests and, we the people, love you, Alex Trebek.

When I saw this clip for the first time, it brought tears to my eyes😢

@jeopardy

Celebrate people first before trying to correct their shortcomings

Celebrate people first before identifying their shortcomings.

Do not be one of the people that tries to correct your friend's shortcoming without first appreciating all the things that they do very well first. Have you complimented them on their skills. Have you even noticed those good traits?

If you haven't yet noticed their good habits, you have no right to mention the things that they do not do well. That does not foster good relationship building.