Remembering Vaclav Havel

"The manager of a fruit-and-vegetable shop places in his window, among the onions and carrots, the slogan: “Workers of the world, unite!” Why does he do it? What is he trying to communicate to the world?"

#WomenWontWheesht

"I think it can safely be assumed that the overwhelming majority of shopkeepers never think about the slogans they put in their windows, nor do they use them to express their real opinions."

"That poster was delivered to our greengrocer from the enterprise headquarters along with the onions and carrots. He put them all into the window simply because it has been done that way for years, because everyone does it, and because that is the way it has to be."

"If he were to refuse, there could be trouble. He could be reproached for not having the proper decoration in his window; someone might even accuse him of disloyalty. He does it because these things must be done if one is to get along in life."

Got yer pronouns on yer profile and in yer email signatures, boys and girls?

Don't want tae be accused a being *disloyal* dae ye!

Got get on, keep that salary coming in. Wullnae daere upset the wee plooky ranty tyrannical 15 year auld son a the boss, eh!

#WomenWontWheesht

There was no stigma around 1982 coup; Kenya was already sliding to the abyss. My fourth thread on Railaphobia in Kikuyuland. LONG THREAD, FREE TO DISCARD

As alluded to in a previous thread, Moi was very popular when he inherited the power from Jomo. He played an important historical role in dismantling Kikuyu hegemony that peaked at Kenyatta’s death. The whole nation supported him thinking it was all driven by national interest

Just that time he was very popular, he made a lot of decisions that laid the ground for his future dictatorship which he was cunningly planning for. Like civil servants’ union and university staff union were proscribed. This time, President's word was law and Moi took advantage

To compensate lack of charisma, Moi resorted to populist roadside decrees that would make people happy. In the process, he was making so many policy decisions at the spur of the moment. Some were so expensive to the country economically and politically

Among such decisions was to ban traditional liquor. The implications were enormous to this day – the gvt spends so much time and resources following up people and pouring liquors. It was a prime opportunity for gvt agencies to meddle in peoples social and economic lives

THOUGHT EXPERIMENT: Some 70% of people, depends how you ask, accept the global emergency. Climate system destabilisation is one aspect, declining biodiversity and increasing pollution is another. I ask: what would actually *break* if humanity responded decisively? 1/

Climate: a decisive response = cap on fossil fuel extraction and planned phase out. Fewer private car journeys, less electricity. Nothing would *break*. We still live and eat. There are alternatives and we can all cut back and share more. So what are we afraid of breaking? 2/

Pollution: reducing the above helps all that, cracking down on pollution and biodiversity loss will reduce materials consumption but changing and sharing we can still live on the planet. What would break? 3/

Most pollution and resource consumption is done by rich people. Billions of poor people live and thrive so the rich can too. Nothing will *break* there? 4/

Of course, a rapid reduction in resource consumption, less of most things and enough of the essentials for everyone will *break*something. Economic growth for one thing. But if that broke, what would *break*with it? 5/

On loving one's neighbour/enemy.

The often-quoted "Love your enemies" (Mt. 5:44, Lk. 6:27) reads "diligite inimicos vestros," αγαπατε τους εχθρους, and not "diligite hastes vestras".

No mention is made of the political enemy. What’s the difference here? The political enemy is the outside. Is “hostis”. “Inimicus” is within the order.

To illustrate an example, within the order of Catholic Christendom, two politically competing orders, say the Dominicans and Franciscans in the late Middle Ages, are inimicus. They should love each other.

As Carl Schmitt points out, Never in the millennia of political struggles between Christians and Muslims did it occur to Christians to surrender rather than defend Europe out of love toward the Saracens or Turks.

The enemy in the political sense, hostis - the definition of which clearly demarcates an exteriority, need not be hated personally, but with regards to interior factions, only then does it make sense to love one's “enemy”, i.e., one's adversary.

As a grad student, I heard stories about Jewish candidates facing antisemitism on the job market. 

This was ancient history I thought, a sign of how far things had come.

Then I was a finalist for an ancient Judaism job at a Christian denominational university.

Strap in.

🧵

I was picked up at the airport by a professor I knew who was a visiting scholar at the university.

As he drove me to campus, he explained that he had volunteered to pick me up so as to warn me that there was no way I was getting the job... because I am Jewish. 

2

He explained that the "old guard" on campus would oppose my hire no matter what I did.

I was picked up by a new member of the faculty, who gave me a tour of the campus.

As we set off, she asked me: "so...did the professor who picked you up tell you anything about the job...?"
3

I said cryptically: "he warned me that I might face a hostile audience here for reasons outside of my control..."

She responded with visible relief and sadness: "Phew. I wasn't sure how to warn you. It's terrible, I'm really sorry."

4

I called my beloved advisor that evening to commiserate. She gave me typically wise advice:

1st, this was a small taste of what women & BIPOC face on the market all the time.

2nd, I would not get the position, so I should view the campus visit as an opportunity to practice.

5

5 golden rules of building muscle ⚡️

THREAD ⬇️

1- ABSOLUTE ADHERENCE

If you wanna get anywhere in this gym game you need to stick to your training plan with ruthless consistency for fucking years.

That's what it genuinely takes.

I don’t wanna hear no lame excuses for missed sessions.

I’m sick of all these shit excuses from people as to why they can't train that day.

Bullshit, it just isn’t a priority for you.

Without adherence, you’ll get absolutely fuck all from your training and that’s a fact.

2- TRAINING INTENSITY

Quite simply, most people just don’t train hard enough in the gym. When it starts to hurt people throw in the towel.

GET COMFORTABLE BEING UNCOMFORTABLE!

That’s the only way.

Most sets should be taken to 0-3 reps in reserve (RIR) to elicit an optimal hypertrophic response.

If you can do 12 reps, but you stop at 6, you’re not training hard enough. Simple

POLICE ARREST 5 FOR MULTIPLE ABDUCTION, CAR THEFT AND ABUSE OF WOMEN, 2 OTHERS FOR INT’L CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

• A total of 2,792 others arrested for SGBV offences in 2020

The Inspector General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, NPM, mni has said that the action plan being implemented by the Force to curb Sexual and Gender Based Violence, particularly all forms of abuse on women and children in the country, is yielding positive results.

The IGP made the affirmation on the heels of the arrest of five (5) members of a kidnap for ransom gang which specializes in the abduction of women and the girl child, sexually abusing them and obtaining ransom from their families before their release.

The five (5) suspects were arrested by operatives of the Intelligence Response Team following massive manhunt by the Force for the perpetrators of the recent trend of abduction of women in some States in the South-South part of the country, especially Port Harcourt

and its environs. The victims are subjected to series of sexual abuses and ransom demanded from their families before their release. The suspects are Osinachi Ngwakwe 'm' 22yrs from Ubaka Community in Umahia South LGA, Abia State,

Mini Hungarian language lesson: the secret dish.

"What's a dish universally known and eaten in your country but virtually unheard of outside it?" is a question that makes the rounds on Twitter every few months but I can't be bothered waiting for the next one.

It's "főzelék".

The word itself looks as simple as the dish: "főz" is "to cook" and "-elék" is a suffix roughly meaning "the result of", so "the result of cooking".

Thanks for nothing.

The official definition is "any kind of boiled or parboiled vegetable"; closer, but still a load of bollocks.

So here's mine: "főzelék is made of vegetables and it has a thick sauce".

What kind of vegetables?

Practically any: potato, cabbage, bean, pea, chickpea, spinach, squash, carrot, but usually only one veg at a time.

There is a mixed abomination called "finomfőzelék" but we don't talk about it.

Most of us have been scarred for life by school dinners featuring the pallid little harbingers of death suspended in a beige gel of doom.

In all honesty though, főzelék in general doesn't look very appetising: it has its roots in that old peasant staple of gruel and it has a serious image problem as a result.

Which is why, even in Hungary, you won't see many on restaurant menus, except in specialist outlets.

#nofgm thread about getting period for the first time. Trigger warning. So in our communities no ones discuses period or sex. So you don't know that .you are suppose to get period and its part of life. You truly have no idea

The first time I got period. I freaked out . I thought, I was dying literally. I told my cousin I am dying
She asked how .I said I am bleeding and my abdomen is on fire 🔥. First she said you are not dying . You have become a woman .

There its my panic gear goes into overdrive. She mentioned the word woman. The source of my pain. I associate the womanhood with something terrible will occur again. Before the Mutilation. They throw you a party and what everyone says to you is. You are going to be a woman.

For me at that time .everytime I heard the word woman. I panicked and literally scared. My cousin explain abit more. She said now that you have your period
You are a woman. That means you ready for marriage. You are not dying. Its a celebration for the family .

She must have told my mother and other aunties. All of a sudden they were whispering and I can see in their faces the happiness. I dont trust them. I am extremely wary of been hurt again. They are truly happy.. my aunty says. Mashallah( praise the lord) you are a woman

Steve Bannon the day before Trump's deadly attack on the Capitol.

"All hell is going to break loose tomorrow ... This is not a day for fantasy, this is a day for maniacal focus. Focus, focus, focus. We're coming in right over the target"

Listen:

Today, an emotional Sunday thread on signs & wonders in Lagos, and why my trip to Ajah is on hold.

TL:DR - God safe Lagos drivers

It all started after I decided I needed to hear God's voice directly this Sunday, and so I would go to physical mass, no more online.

I decided I would go to Divine Mercy in Lekki, as opposed to St. Charles Borromeo in VI.

My first decision.

As I parked my car, I noticed the car on my left side was not parked properly - one of those criminal offences people commit when they take up space for two cars, instead of parking properly inside the designated lines.

As a law abiding citizen, I hinted at this to the attendant

Fast forward to the end of Mass, filled with the spirit, I stepped out of church and walked towards my car.

As I did, a man said to me - 'this your corolla is fine o, very smooth and clean, you should borrow me'

Now, people who know me know that I like my car to be clean - inside and outside. I don't like scratches or bashes. I'm too good a driver to have such.

So after hearing this, I was very proud. I entered my car and drove to pick up something from the office (still Lekki)

[QUICK THREAD: PERSPECTIVE]
1/11
Make no mistake, I abhor that prancing peacock, I really do. Just not for your reasons. His financial corruption doesn't bother me. His Islamophobia does, but only so much. His lies, again, only to an extent.

2/11
Financial corruption is as old as politics itself. Lying isn't a Modi-exclusive feature, it practically underscores Indian politics. And islamophobia? Ask yourself, is he the inventor of Islamophobia, or the product?

No, what bothers me is his mainstreaming of trash.

3/11
Men can set you on fire and livestream your death under far-from-tacit political patronage. That's what I hate Modi for.

It's a mundane reality that you'll receive threats of rape and death for merely pointing out his flaws. That's what I hate Modi for.

4/11
Academic institutions get addressed by conmen like Jaggi and Ramdev. That's what I hate Modi for.

Congregations of scientists talk about Vedic airplanes and radioactive dung with a straight face and it's elitist to call them out for it. That's what I hate Modi for.

5/11
A panwala in Bombay not only has a strong opinion on what's best for Kashmiris but also wants every one of them gunned down to uphold that opinion, even though nobody in his entire family tree has even a hint of stake in the state in question. That's what I hate Modi for.

Okay, let's learn this morning😊😊. Quote your replies.

1. What is the pronunciation of "SUITE?"

2. What's the difference between Homonyms, Homophones and Homographs?

3. Words Denoting Places, Profession/Trade.

A. What's a house of an Eskimo called?

B. A place for the collection of dried plants is called?

C. A place where spirituous liquors are produced is?

D. One who is skilled in the care of hands and feet is what?

E. One who cuts special stones is?

F. One who lends money at exorbitant interest is?

G. One who collects postage stamps is what?

H. The head of a town council or corporation is?

I. One who compiles the dictionary is ?

4. FLOUR is pronounced as _________?

Of all the stupidest things I read this week, none was more stupid than the Ekiti State Police Command standing behind their dismissal of a pregnant policewoman because according to Mr. Babatunde Mobayo, the command’s commissioner,

“Section 126 of the regulation (states) that married woman police (sic) who is pregnant may be granted maternity leave, while Section 127 (states that) unmarried woman police (sic) who becomes pregnant shall be discharged from the Force" & needs IGP's approval to be enlisted

So if Sis had been married, she would not have been punished. And if the man who got her pregnant had been a police officer one is to assume he wouldn’t have lost his job. It wouldn’t have mattered then whether he was married or not.

It is frustrating that in this 21st century, our women are still being treated like second class citizens with single women at the bottom of the ladder. In some cities, young women can’t rent because foolish landlords refuse to rent to unmarried women.

Some hotels won’t let them in because no man. What’s next? Single women can’t drive? Shop? Eat? Women need to show proof of marriage to teach? Enter cabs? Travel? The ridiculousness knows no end. Na who do us this thing?

#RoyalAmbassadors #PraiseandWoraship
🎶The heavens declare, Your power and royalty
Lord You reign
King of all ages, You are the ancient of days
Lord You reign
Your throne is established in justice and righteousness
Lord You reign🎶

#ChurchGRA #GRAService #Restoration

#RoyalAmbassadors #PraiseandWoraship
🎶Great are You Lord and greatly to be praised
Lord You reign
We cry Holy, Holy is our God
Let Your glory, glory fill this place🎶

#ChurchGRA #GRAService #Restoration

#RoyalAmbassadors #PraiseandWoraship
🎶Arugbo Ojo
Arugbo Ojo
Iwo Aseda, Laweda, Lameda o (You are the ancient of days)
Arugbo Ojo
Arugbo Ojo
Iwo loniyin, kaabo, kaabo, marora
Arugbo Ojo
#ChurchGRA #GRAService #Restoration

#RoyalAmbassadors #PraiseandWoraship
🎶We cry Holy, Holy is our God
Let Your glory, glory fill this place
Arugbo Ojo (You are the ancient of days)
Arugbo Ojo (Aterere Kariaye ooo)
Iwo Aseda, Laweda, Lameda o
Arugbo Ojo🎶

#ChurchGRA #GRAService #Restoration

#RoyalAmbassadors #PraiseandWoraship

🎶Who has the final say?
Jehovah has the final say
Who has the final say?
Jehovah has the final say🎶

#ChurchGRA #GRAService #Restoration

People who want to switch on growth for their startups or marketing professionals ask me what to read to get their thinking up. Here's a thread of some books and blogs I read

When you read these, it's important to focus on the principles and not the exact strategy. Copying and pasting what someone else has done is not a guarantee that it'll work

Books:

1. Nir Eyal - Hooked: How to build habit-forming products.

Nir writes about the psychology of human behaviour with digital and physical products and shares real-life examples of how you can engage, nudge and encourage your customers to keep using your product

2. Ryan Holiday - Growth Hacker Marketing: A Primer on the Future of PR, Marketing, and Advertising

Ryan writes how boring simple advertising is and what growth hackers need to do/take advantage of to be truly unique and to switch things up

3. Gabriel Weinberg and Justin Mares - Traction: A Startup Guide to Getting Customers.

Gabriel and Justin focus on channels you can lever to acquire and retain customers. This book is a guide if you have no clue how to approach customer acquisition. It's an inexhaustive list tbh