Author Archives: Jide Salu

Who am I ? I spread news. I am an ideas man. I am a solution provider. I am a creative content provider. I listen and offer solutions on taking your idea to the next level.

ROCKSHOCK PODCAST – Episode 1

Introducing Rockshock | Life lessons from extraordinary achievers on LinkedIn and Instagram.

Kindly click to watch, subscribe, like and comment.

And thank you to everyone who has subscribed, the success of Rockshock is your success.😊🙏🏾

RIP Sidney Poitier. First Black man to win Best Actor Oscar dies aged 94.

Here is a look at the life of Sidney Poitier, award winning actor and civil rights activist.

PERSONAL

  • Birth date: February 20, 1927
  • Birth place: Miami, Florida
  • Birth name: Sidney Poitier
  • Father: Reginald Poitier, tomato farmer
  • Mother: Evelyn (Outten) Poitier
  • Marriages: Joanna Shimkus (January 23, 1976-present); Juanita Marie Hardy (April 29, 1950-July 9, 1965, divorced)
  • Children: with Joanna Shimkus: Sydney and Anika; with Juanita Marie Hardy: Gina, Sherri, Pamela and Beverly

OTHER FACTS

Grew up on Cat Island in the Bahamas. The family later moved to Nassau. His parents sent him to live with relatives in Miami at age 14. After an encounter with the Ku Klux Klan, he left Miami at age 16 and moved to New York.

Lying about his age, he joined the Army at age 16. He feigned insanity to obtain a discharge after nine months, and later admitted the ruse in his book, “The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography.”

A heavy Bahamian accent and limited reading ability cost him an acting job at Harlem’s American Negro Theater. He overcame the accent by imitating radio announcers and improved his reading skills by studying newspapers.

Has dual citizenship in the United States and the Bahamas.

TIMELINE

1946 – First audition after losing his accent earns him the role of understudy to Harry Belafonte in “Days of Our Youth.”

1950 – Film debut in “No Way Out.”

1959 – First African-American to receive an Oscar nomination for Best Actor for “The Defiant Ones.”

August 28, 1963 – One of many Hollywood celebrities in attendance at the March on Washington.

1964 – Wins Academy Award for Best Actor for “Lilies of the Field.” He is the first African-American to win for Best Actor and only the second to ever win an Academy Award. Hattie McDaniel was the first; she won Best Supporting Actress for “Gone with the Wind.”

1967 – Stars in three of the highest-grossing films of the year, “In the Heat of the Night,” “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” and “To Sir, with Love.”

August 14, 1967 – Keynote speaker at the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in Atlanta.

1980 – His autobiography, “This Life” is published.

1983 – Nineteen-year-old David Hampton pretends to be Poitier’s son and convinces wealthy New Yorkers to provide him with food, clothing, money and a place to stay. Hampton is charged with grand larceny when his lies are discovered. “Six Degrees of Separation,” a stage play in 1990 and a movie in 1993, is based on the story.

1995 – Receives the Kennedy Center Honors.

1997-2007 – Bahamian ambassador to Japan.

2000 – His second autobiography, “The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography” is published.

February 21, 2001 – Wins the Grammy Awardfor Best Spoken Word Album for “The Measure Of A Man.”

2002 – Receives an honorary Academy Award“in recognition of his remarkable accomplishments as an artist and as a human being.”

2006 – Receives the Marian Anderson Award in recognition of his humanitarian and diplomatic work and the Cunard Britannia Award for Lifetime Contribution to International film from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.

2008 – “Life Beyond Measure: Letters to My Great-Granddaughter” is published.

July 30, 2009 – Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama.

May 7, 2013 – His sci-fi book, “Montaro Caine” is published.

February 14, 2016 – Poitier receives the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Fellowship,its highest honor.

January 25, 2021 – Arizona State University announces it has renamed its film school the Sidney Poitier New American Film School in honor of Poitier’s legacy.

Source – CTV News

Day 176: Desmond Tutu Dies!

“You talk to the one that you least like.” That is one of my favourite and inspirational quotes by The Arch, Desmond Tutu.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the Nobel Peace prize laureate who helped end apartheid in South Africa, has died aged 90.

Tutu was one of the country’s best known figures at home and abroad.

A contemporary of anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela, he was was one of the driving forces behind the movement to end the policy of racial segregation and discrimination enforced by the white minority government against the black majority in South Africa from 1948 until 1991.

He was awarded the Nobel prize in 1984 for his role in the struggle to abolish the apartheid system.

Tutu’s death comes just weeks after that of South Africa’s last apartheid-era president, FW de Clerk, who died at the age of 85.

President Ramaphosa said Tutu was “an iconic spiritual leader, anti-apartheid activist and global human rights campaigner”.

He described him as “a patriot without equal; a leader of principle and pragmatism who gave meaning to the biblical insight that faith without works is dead.

“A man of extraordinary intellect, integrity and invincibility against the forces of apartheid, he was also tender and vulnerable in his compassion for those who had suffered oppression, injustice and violence under apartheid, and oppressed and downtrodden people around the world.”

The Nelson Mandela Foundation was among those paying tributes, saying Tutu’s “contributions to struggles against injustice, locally and globally, are matched only by the depth of his thinking about the making of liberatory futures for human societies.

“He was an extraordinary human being. A thinker. A leader. A shepherd.” © BBC

Day 174: Power of Practice!

“I practice my saxophone three hours a day. I’m not saying I’m particularly special, but if you do something three hours a day for forty years, you get pretty good at it.” – Kenny G

Watching a documentary about Kenny G took me to another level of appreciating the significance of developing a thick skin to critics, combining it with knowing precisely what you want and going for it and…..not forgetting the power of PRACTICE. That is Kenny G personified.

On a number of times, I noticed Kenny G mentioned how good a student he is. He made a lot of emphasis on the importance of practice. That stuck with me.

The incredible artist whom I have had the honour to watch live has been lampooned by Jazz critics for years, yet he persevered with what he knows how to do best – Practice, Practice and more Practice doing what he does best.

Next time you tune into Smooth Jazz station anywhere in the world, remember it was Kenny G’s brand of music that inspired the radio station.

Next time someone laughs at you for doing what you believe in, ignore them and practice, practice and practice more.

Crypto News courtesy of Crypto.com.

1BN Crypto Users, Friendlier Regulations, Countries Adopting Crypto – Crypto.com’s 2022 Predictions.

The crypto lending and borrowing platform Crypto.com has published a report that details its five main predictions for crypto in 2022. And judging from the report, 2022 may be the year when even the nation-states realize that crypto is here to stay, leading to a friendlier stance from countries around the world towards the industry.

1. A billion crypto users by end of 2022

The first prediction for 2022 Crypto.com’s analysts make in the report is that 2022 will be the year when the global number of crypto users for the first time reaches 1bn people.

As of November 30 this year, there were more than 292m crypto users worldwide, the report said, while adding that the top three countries in terms of their number of crypto users are India with 100m, the United States with 27m and Russia with 17m.

“Nations can no longer afford to ignore the growing push toward crypto by the public,” which forces them to adopt a friendlier stance towards crypto, the report predicted.

It added that developed nations will likely develop clearer crypto regulations during the year, and that some countries with high inflation could follow El Salvador’s example and “adopt cryptocurrency as legal tender.”

2. Crypto to become “a staple” in investment portfolios

Secondly, Crypto.com predicts that crypto will become “a staple in TradFi [traditional finance] investment portfolios” through crypto exposure adapted to the traditional financial market.

“Crypto will become a fixture in the alternative asset class for investment portfolios. The first crypto ETFs [exchange-traded funds] launched this year were met with demand beyond their capacity, suggesting that more crypto instruments in the mainstream finance industry will soon follow,” the report said.

It also noted that major firms from the world of traditional finance, including Morgan Stanley, Citi, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, and others, are already seeking partnerships with crypto exchanges, and that more firms are likely to follow in 2022.

3. Play-to-earn will fuel crypto adoption

­Crypto-based play-to-earn games, sometimes referred to as GameFi, has grown exponentially in 2021, and will become “one of the main vehicles for mass conversion to the crypto space,” the report predicted.

Traditional game studios will be in a race to introduce play-to-earn features in their games, which will accelerate the boom in this field further in 2022, Crypto.com said.

4. Multi-chain becomes the norm

The researchers said that the multi-chain development that we have already seen with many decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols this year, will continue.

“Cross-chain DeFi protocols will become the norm, paving the way for a multi-chain future of replacing the siloed chains of the past,” the report predicted, adding that interoperability and bridging between blockchains is becoming – and will continue to become – “more seamless.”

5. DAOs to change the way we work

Lastly, in this year’s report, Crypto.com predicted that decentralized autonomous organizations, or DAOs, will change the way we work in the new year.

“In the era of Web 3.0, we will see the influence & outreach of [DAOs] expanding significantly beyond the crypto space, and becoming a widely accepted governance mechanism,” the report noted.

The researchers added that they predict more countries to develop legal frameworks for DAOs, and eventually recognize them “as legal entities,” opening up the possibility of using DAO structures instead of traditional companies.

Day 171: Compromise!

Compromise where you can. Where you can’t, don’t. Even if everyone is telling you that something wrong is something right. Even if the whole world is telling you to move, it is your duty to plant yourself like a tree, look them in the eye, and say ‘No, you move’. ~ Christopher Markus (Captain America)

Crypto News courtesy of Independent .co.uk.

FACEBOOK UNBANS BITCOIN ADS IN HUGE BOOST FOR CRYPTO INDUSTRY.

Meta, formerly called Facebook, has reversed its ban on cryptocurrency ads across its platforms.

The move will give bitcoin exchanges, wallets and other crypto companies access to more than 3 billion people around the world who use the firm’s various platforms, which include Instagram, WhatsApp and Facebook itself.

Day 170: My Golden Thoughts

Early in the morning, inspiring thoughts usually drop in my mind. When that happens, I get my phone to take notes. Below are a few of those golden thoughts. I hope you are as inspired as I was and still am.

GOLDEN THOUGHTS.

“Profits are better than Wages.”

“You can’t earn what you can’t visualise.”

“We know less than we like to think we do.”

“Personal experience drives financial decision-making.”

“With the right people, we can move mountains.”

“I speak not to be understood, but to understand.”

“A wise man once said, there is no sense in rehearsing for a tragedy.”

“Nobody likes to be pushed, however everyone is pushed (on purpose or inadvertently) towards achieving their destiny. Some push you on purpose towards greatness, like your inspirational boss, coach, brother or parents, while some insult you, cheat you, mock you….unintentionally pushing you to keep your eyes focused on the goal which will drive you towards your destiny.”

“The Sun comes out regardless…”

“The brave may not live forever, but the cautious do not live at all.”

“Everyone has a bucket load of genius deposited in them. However, to get it out, you have your mind set in a peculiar way not to ever give up.”

“Some people don’t have the opportunity to wake up. Feel privileged. Live in Grace, not in disgrace. Live in the moment.”

“If my plans worked out the way I wanted them to work out, I wouldn’t be me today.”

“If you have all the things you wished or prayed for, you wouldn’t have had all the experiences in your possession.”

“I am not religious in any form or shape. If by me referring to my spirituality is what you term as religious, then you are mistaken.”

CRYPTO NEWS courtesy of MarketWatch.

‘No longer just bitcoin and ether’: Crypto industry braces for wider adoption, more competition and perhaps regulatory clarity in 2022.

Broader adoption of crypto related technology could drive further growth in 2022, while competition is also increasing among different blockchains and sectors, industry participants said.

The past year has proved that crypto is “not just a fad,” said Devin Ryan, director of financial technology research at investment bank JMP Securities. “This is a market where there’s been significant network effects building. And there’s a very strong vested interest in the ongoing success,” Ryan said. 

In November, total crypto market capitalization topped $3 trillion for the first time, before it fell to $2.39 trillion as of Tuesday, according to CoinGecko.

Meanwhile, the companies that are supporting the crypto economy also boast a value of $500 billion or more, according to Ryan. “This is the infrastructure companies and the exchanges and all the other plumbing and picks and shovels of the industry.”  

As the crypto industry grows increasingly mature, some analysts expect more funds to flow into cryptocurrencies other than bitcoin and ether.

“In 2022, people will begin to understand the vast scale of what’s possible with crypto and blockchain technology,” said Diogo Monica, president and co-founder of Anchorage Digital, the first federally chartered crypto bank. “It’s no longer just speculative investing in Bitcoin or Ethereum; we’re talking about NFTs (nonfungible tokens), DeFi (decentralized finance), remittances, capital preservation, and many other verticals,” Monica said. 

Some analysts are positive that the U.S. regulators will provide more clarity in the coming year. “It’s been very nice to kind of see across the board, a thoughtful and careful approach to regulation, and very good engagement from federal regulators with the industry,” Nathan McCauley, co-founder and CEO at Anchorage Digital told MarketWatch.

Day 169: “Sleep is everything to me” says LeBron James.

What’s the key to the LeBron’s success? At least eight hours of sleep, every night. 

James and Mike Mancias, his trainer joined Tim Ferriss on his podcast (3 years ago) to talk about James’ lifestyle, habits, and more.

Mancias said that a key to James’ longevity is his “never-ending” recovery and that sleep is a crucial component.

James said Mancias is always on his case, asking if James got at least eight to nine hours of sleep.

James also discussed how important sleep is to his mental and emotional health.

“That’s the best way for your body to physically and emotionally be able to recover and get back to 100% as possible,” James said

“Now, will you wake up and feel 100%? There’s some days you don’t. Some days you feel better than others. But the more and more and more time that you get those eight — if you can get nine, that’s amazing. Sometimes I even get 10 hours of sleep,” he added.

“I just think that’s just the best way to recover,” James continued. “I mean, I can do all the training, I can do all the ice bags and the NormaTecs and everything that we do that we have as far as our recovery package while I’m up, but when you get that good sleep, you just wake up and you feel fresh. You don’t need no alarm clock. You just feel like ‘OK, I can tackle this day at the highest level.'”

James, who says he sometimes even gets 10 hours of sleep, says that if he doesn’t get enough rest, then he’ll often take a one to two hour break from his day to sneak in a nap.

(Culled from BusinessInsider)

LeBron is right. You can spend loads of time, money and energy on training and recovery, but if you don’t get adequate sleep, much of it will go to waste. Restorative sleep is what gives your body the opportunity to cash in on all that hard work and turn it into significant, lasting improvement.

“Not meeting your sleep requirement has serious deleterious consequences. It significantly increases your risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, obesity, cancer—you name it,” renowned sleep expert Dr. James Maas told STACK.

“Sleep deprivation lowers your immunity and puts your health at risk. Emotionally, sleep deprivation increases your risk of clinical depression and makes you more irritable and anxious. Your motor coordination and reaction time suffer. Cognitively, there’s a huge detriment. Concentration, critical thinking, creative thinking—it all suffers when you don’t meet your sleep requirement. Sleep quality and quantity is also the best prediction of how long we’re going to live. In short, sleep deprivation makes you clumsy, ignorant and shortens your life.”

For athletes, not getting enough sleep is particularly harmful. A 2011 study in the journal SLEEP found Stanford basketball players were able to dramatically improve their on-court performance simply by increasing their total amount of sleep time. After increasing their sleep to 10 hours per night for five to seven weeks, players clocked faster sprint times, increased their free-throw percentage by 9 percent, and boosted their 3-point shooting accuracy by 9.2 percent. Reported fatigue also decreased.

(Culled from Stack)

Crypto news courtesy of CoinTelegraph.

Dubai World Trade Centre to create new crypto hub and become regulator.

Another government-backed project in Dubai aims to set up an attractive environment for the crypto industry.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) continues to emerge as one of the world’s biggest cryptocurrency-friendly jurisdictions as the government of Dubai has a new initiative to support local crypto development and regulation.

The Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), a government-owned event and exhibition venue in Dubai, will become a comprehensive zone and regulator of cryptocurrencies, products, operators and exchanges, DWTC officially announced Monday.

As part of the initiative, the DWTC will design a comprehensive ecosystem for this progressive sector within Dubai and collaborate with the private sector to set up an “attractive environment for the sector.” The project also aims to enforce rigorous standards for investor protection, Anti-Money Laundering measures and combating the financing of terrorism, the DWTC stated.

“The World Trade Center will deliver and oversee a new world-class regulatory framework of Virtual Asset legislative and enforcement policies,” the statement reads.

Cointelegraph reached out to the DWTC and will update the story pending new information.

Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao was among the first people in the crypto community to celebrate the new announcement from the DWTC. Zhao has apparently been growing interested in the crypto ecosystem in the UAE as he reportedly bought his first home in Dubai in October.

Day 166: Inspiring Quotes by Richard Branson

“Respect is how to treat everyone, not just those you want to impress,” Richard Branson told us.

Justin Brown said he was fortunate to be part of a small group of entrepreneurs visiting the British entrepreneur’s home on his private island.

What struck him over the course of the 5 days he spent with Branson was how well he treated everyone on the island. It made sense that he treated the visiting group well.

However, he treated all of his staff with the same level of respect.

He seemed to be to be a truly humble person with clear values on how to live a good life. He also loves to have a good time, as you can see with the costume he chose below for one of our dress-up parties.

Personally, I have always admired Richard Branson for his attitude to life. How he treats his staff, strangers, business approach has inspired me for many years

Here are a few inspirational quotes by Branson.

“Please be polite. Nothing in life should erode the habit of saying thank you to people or praising them.” – Richard Branson

“Respect is how to treat everyone, not just those you want to impress.” – Richard Branson

“There is no greater thing you can do with your life and your work than follow your passions – in a way that serves the world and you.” – Richard Branson

“Listen. Take the best. Leave the rest.” – Richard Branson

“Life is a series of ups and clowns. Make it worth your wild!” – Richard Branson

“Take a chance. It’s the best way to test yourself. Have fun and push boundaries.” – Richard Branson

“My general attitude to life is to enjoy every minute of every day. I never do anything with a feeling of, ‘Oh God, I’ve got to do this today.” – Richard Branson

“Being a good listener is absolutely critical to being a good leader; you have to listen to the people who are on the front line.” – Richard Branson

“There’s no point in starting a business unless you’re going to make a dramatic difference to other people’s lives. So if you’ve got an idea that’s gonna make a big difference to other people’s lives, then just get on and do it.” – Richard Branson

“Those who know me know I’m passionate about lists, and top of my list of priorities is my family. My wife Joan and I do not consider our legacy to our children to be wealth or fame but the opportunity to pursue happiness by following their own path.” – Richard Branson

“You don’t learn to walk by following rules. You learn by doing, and by falling over.” – Richard Branson

“If you don’t succeed at first, there’s no need for the F word (Failure). Pick yourself up and try, try again.” – Richard Branson

“Do not be embarrassed by your failures, learn from them and start again.” – Richard Branson

“My attitude has always been, if you fall flat on your face, at least you’re moving forward. All you have to do is get back up and try again.” – Richard Branson

“Overcoming fear is the first step to success for entrepreneurs. The winners all exemplify that, and the hard work and commitment they have shown underlines what is needed to set up a business.” – Richard Branson

Day 165: 13 Inspirational Mountain Quotes.

I have always been fascinated by Mountaineers and Astronauts. I have watched a few documentaries on conquering Everest and other peaks. I have also spent hours watching films, captivated by the unbelievable feats exhibited by astronauts. I have a great deal of respect for these resilient humans who have extraordinary strength to go beyond.

Today, I post thirteen inspirational quotes that capture the heart of mountaineering.

“Every mountain top is within reach if you just keep climbing.” – Barry Finlay

“You are not in the mountains. The mountains are in you.”  -John Muir

“The cliche is that life is a mountain. You go up, reach the top and then go down.” – Jeanne Moreau

“Somewhere between the bottom of the climb and the summit is the answer to the mystery why we climb.” -Greg Child

“The way up to the top of the mountain is always longer than you think. Don’t fool yourself, the moment will arrive when what seemed so near is still very far.” — Paulo Coelho

“Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go.” – T.S. EliotMountain

“I’ve realized that at the top of the mountain, there’s another mountain.” – Andrew Garfield

“Earth and sky, woods and fields, lakes and rivers, the mountain and the sea, are excellent schoolmasters, and teach some of us more that what we could learn from books.” – John LubbockMountain 

‘’The most dangerous thing you can do in life is play it safe.’’ – Casey Neistat

“May your dreams be larger than mountains and may you have the courage to climb their summits.” -Harley Ki

“The farthest mountain is the one you think you can never reach and it may even be just by the side of you!” -Mehmet Murat ildan

“It’s not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.

“Don’t be afraid to fail. Be afraid not to try.”

Day 164: Extra Time!

How you do things is more important than what you achieve. You can’t take medals with you. That was a statement made by Glenn Hoddle in appreciation of the second opportunity he was given to live.

Glen Hoddle survived a cardiac arrest after he was saved by CPR applied by a staff of BT studios where Glen works as a TV punter.

He wanted to say a big thank you to Simon Daniels (Sound Supervisor, BT Sports).

Simon narrated how he how heard the commotion after Glenn’s collapse. He rushed to his side where he felt no pulse in his neck. His lips had gone blue. He said Glenn’s heart had stopped, which meant he was technically dead. Simon was now hoping CPR to give the heart a jolt, which it did before he was rushed to the Royal London Hospital where he was eventually given a quadruple heart by pass. Thankfully, Glenn has lived to tell his story.

Glenn is ever so grateful to be alive to see his grandchildren. He said there is not a day that goes by that he doesn’t send positive thoughts towards Simon for saving his life. In his words, he has been given ‘extra time.’

“Life is just like that. Realistically, we are dust. Every minute is precious. How we treat people is far more important than what I have achieved. You can’t take your bank balance with you, your house or car. It’s your link with people that is more important” says Glenn, England’s former Football manager.

What do you make of life?

Are you living a life of regret or a that of gratitude?

The choice is yours to make.

CRYPTO NEWS courtesy of Yahoo!

Ray Dalio: It’s ‘very impressive’ that cryptocurrency has ‘held up’ for a decade.

Ray Dalio, who runs the world’s largest hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates, has been slow to embrace cryptocurrency. He volunteered during a Coindesk event in May that he “has some bitcoin,” but he also told CNBC this fall that regulators will “kill” cryptocurrency if it becomes too successful.

He predicted in an interview with Yahoo Finance late last year that he didn’t think digital currencies would “succeed in the way people hoped they would,” in part because of possible government action. And in a separate interview with Yahoo Finance this past May, he said it was likely that bitcoin could be outlawed.

“Every country treasures its monopoly on controlling the supply and demand. They don’t want other monies to be operating or competing, because things can get out of control,” Dalio said. “So I think that it would be very likely that you will have it under a certain set of circumstances outlawed the way gold was outlawed.”

But this week, in a new interview Monday for Yahoo Finance’s Influencers with Andy Serwer, crypto came up again and while he didn’t address whether the government would eventually outlaw the currency, the billionaire investor’s tone had noticeably changed over past comments.

For one thing, he revealed he is getting deeper and deeper into the pool with an investment in Ethereum (ETH-USD) in addition to his bitcoin (BTC-USD), though he declined to reveal exactly how much he held. He also said he had taken notice of the industry’s staying power.

“I think it’s very impressive that for the last 10, 11 years, that programming has still held up,” he told Yahoo Finance’s editor-in-chief, Andy Serwer. “It hasn’t been hacked and so on and it has an adoption rate.”

But the legendary hedge fund founder is still a long way from being a crypto evangelist. “I’m very big on diversification,” he said of his investing strategy. “And it’s a relatively small part of the portfolio.”

Stiill, Dalio is far more enthusiastic about crypto than he is about a more traditional currency — cash, especially in an inflationary environment. 

“I view [crypto] as an alternative money in an environment where the value of cash money is depreciating in real terms,” he says. Later, he added, “I would like to say that cash, I’ve been quoted [saying] ‘cash is trash.’ That cash, which most investors think is the safest investment is, I think, the worst investment.”

Day 163 – The Inspiring story of 51 homeless children in one of the most dangerous ghettos in Nigeria vying to become Chess Champs!

Greatness can be found in the most unlikely places, and here is the story told by Tunde Onakoya (@Tunde_OD on Twitter) who passionately believes that “it is possible to do great things from a small place.”

Here is is story.

Adeoye Fawaz, an 18 year old boy who works as a bus conductor and has lived years of his life under Oshodi bridge emerged as our overall champion in both chess and mental maths.

To us, A STAR IS BORN!

It was impossible to hold back tears in this moment when Oshodi came to a complete standstill to celebrate our newly crowned chess champion.

The final phase of the Mental maths competition was fast and furious but Fawaz aced the questions.

Now imagine if you gave these boys a proper education?!

Imagine if you gave them coding?!

Imagine how many of them we’ve lost to the streets because no one paid attention.

I took the pictures (Third and fourth frame) of Fawaz about a month ago when we saw him for the first time and wrote down his name. He mentioned that his dream was to become a musician and a comedian.

Who could have thought that he was an UNTOLD STORY.

His dreams are valid.

Everyday for two weeks, we taught them our mantra and made them believe that it was possible to do great things from a small place.

It bothered us so much to see them wear the same clothes (Rags) everyday for almost a month, so we thought about what we could do to give them a new look on the tournament day.

So we brought in a barber to give them nice haircuts and a stylist to take their measurements.

We styled them in classy Native attires with Fìlà and new shoes to match their Owambe swag.

They switched up very quickly from RAGS to ROYALTY.

This simple gesture of LOVE is a reflection of what their future could really look like if we gave them equal opportunities to thrive.

The grand entry was so beautiful.

Cars came to a halt.

Market women cheered for them.

Everyone wanted to associate with them.

We gave them the GIFT of CHESS.

BECAUSE WHERE THE MIND GOES, EVERYTHING FOLLOWS.

The Nigerian National Chess champion – International Master Femi Balogun was impressed by their performance and had a heart to heart talk with them after the games to inspire them on their journey towards chess mastery.

And for the ones we SUBCONSCIOUSLY tag deplorable criminals and refer to as the scourge of society, they were critical to the entire success of this project and none of this would have been possible without their commitment to our activities.

We forget that they’re humans too!

Tope was the only girl in the midst of the 51 children we trained, she’s incredibly smart but has lived a horrible experience trying to survive on her own out here.

She now lives with one of our volunteers and will be enrolled in a school next year.

51 homeless children in one of the most dangerous ghettos in Nigeria showed up everyday for our chess training because they saw an opportunity to learn – A NEW LEASE OF HOPE.

Some of are them orphans,while some ran away from their villages to seek greener pastures in Lagos.

During our mentorship sessions with them, they confided in us about some of the terrible vices they’ve committed in the past but they have shown great remorse and a willingness to follow a new path.

We created a Database for everyone we trained between the ages of 11-20.

We’re already in contact with Shelter homes, rehabilitation centres and Orphanages while working out modalities to enroll them and mapping out a financial plan to cater for their education/Skills acquisition for at least the next one year.

I now carry a great burden in my heart for those 51 children because now I know their names and I have seen what they can truly become if they are given an opportunity to let their light shine.

Even if it means going to sleep under the bridge with them….

We’re far too disconnected from the realities of these people we call “Area boys”.

Often than less, we underestimate the power of kindness. We query the security of our country whilst inadvertently turning a blind eye to the dreams of these little ones.

For most of us, the Oshodi bridge is just a means from point A to B, but for these people, it’s the only home they’ll ever know.

This is a call to action for all of us.

The only future worth dreaming of is one that includes all them.

The story!

We’re all Area boys!

LET’S DO THIS.

If you’re in Nigeria, you can donate to :

0491316991 Gtbank

(Chess in slums initiative)

If you’re outside Nigeria, you can donate to our Go fund me page:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/chess-education-in-africa?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_campaign=m_pd+share-sheet

Partnerships: chessinslums@gmail.com

chessinslumsafrica@partnerships.com

Day 162: Be Thankful

2021 is ticking to an end. 2022 will gracefully slide in, like minutes and seconds.

Ecstasy fills the atmosphere. You notice the mood of everyone, more smiles and laughters. Love is in the air.

Shopping malls packed to the brim with people spending, buying goodies with money saved or borrowed.

There is excitement all over the place. People no longer mind stuck in traffic, smiling in the gridlock.

Why should you be thankful you ask. There would be some who have lost loved ones. Some have lost their livelihood. Many have been admitted in the hospital due to an illness. And here you are complaining of your salary, or your boss, unaware that many are unemployed.

This period is always a reminder to be thankful for where you are and what you are. Twenty Fours hours is a long time, let alone Three Hundred and Sixty Five Days. If you lack any reason why you need to be thankful, I hope you don’t any more.

I am always thankful to God for every moment of my life. If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough.

Remember, there are many things around you to be thankful for.

Day 161: Your past is your past! 14 Inspired Quotes.

It has been wiped out.

It is gone! Forever! Unless, you insist you have to recreate it. That power and choice belongs to you.

Is your past robbing you of the joy of today? Then forget your past!

Don’t let your past rob you of today’s joy.

A lot of people hold dearly on to the past. Past failures. Great achievers don’t. They learn from past mistakes and enjoy moments of glory, and move on to the next challenge. That’s the difference.

Why should you empower your past if it’s not empowering you to take strides towards your future?

On a scoreboard of between 1 to 10, which of your past with a score of less than 5 do you hold on to abs why?

I have to live an intentional life. Whatever decisions I make must have a reason behind it. I cannot afford to live by default, unable to account for 24 hours. I just cannot.

This is why I have chosen to view ‘the past’ as a step taken on a staircase on my way to the top. And whilst descending, ‘the past’ will not be viewed differently. It still remains the step taken, this time on my way from the top.

Imagine I stood still on the step, still on the staircase analogy, there would not be any movements, either up or down. There will not be any experience to record.

THE PAST IS IN THE PAST!

14 QUOTES

“The past is a stepping stone, not a millstone.” ~ Robert Plant

“Forgiveness means letting go of the past.” ~ Gerald Jampolsky

“The past has no power over the present moment.” ~ Eckhart Tolle

“Stop being a prisoner of your past. Become the architect of your future.” ~ Robin Sharma

“I realise there’s something incredibly honest about trees in winter, how they’re experts at letting things go.” ~ Jeffrey McDaniel

“Hanging on to resentment is letting someone you despise live rent-free in your head.” ~ Ann Landers

“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift of God, which is why we call it the present.”

~ Bill Keane

“The past cannot be changed. The future is yet in your power.”

~ Unknown

“Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.” ~ Mother Theresa

“I use memories, but I will not allow memories to use me.” ~ Deepak Chopra

“There is a fine balance between honoring the past and losing yourself in it. For example, you can acknowledge and learn from mistakes you made, and then move on and refocus on the now. It is called forgiving yourself.” ~ Eckhart Tolle

“The past can’t hurt you anymore, not unless you let it.” ~ Alan Moore

“We are products of our past, but we don’t have to be prisoners of it.” ~ Rick Warren

“What’s done is done.” ~ Hilliard MacBeth

CryptoNews courtesy of BitCoin Magazine.

U.S. SENATE CANDIDATE: BITCOIN CAN BRING POWER BACK TO THE PEOPLE.

An interest in power decentralization and freedom is pushing U.S. senate candidate Morgan Harper to learn more about Bitcoin.

Morgan Harper has begun her Bitcoin learning trajectory. The 38-year-old Senate Candidate for Ohio is researching opportunities that the decentralized monetary network can bring to her constituents, namely a push for the decentralization of power — which she believes is overdue.

“One of the greatest problems in our society is too much power centralized in too few hands, which produces anticompetitive effects that entrench incumbents and prevent innovation,” Harper told Bitcoin Magazine. “It shifts power to a select few, large cities and a few dominant players within each market and away from people in states such as Ohio.”

“I’m intrigued by the concept of decentralized networks, where we can have the benefits of network effects without concentrating power in the hands of a few people or corporations,” Harper said, adding that so far she has “mostly focused on Bitcoin and its potential to disintermediate banks and to serve as a store of value.”

Harper said that for her state, Bitcoin could help create economic power and freedom for individuals so that the people of Ohio are less reliant on “outsized corporations that stifle growth and innovation in a system rigged in their favor.”

Bitcoin has been very appealing to underserved communities in countries like El Salvador and Nigeria, where clumsy and unequal financial systems prevent many people from obtaining even the most basic access to money and banking. The peer-to-peer (P2P) monetary network aims to restore financial sovereignty by enabling anyone to store and transact value, irrespective of gender, skin color or power status.

“By contrast, traditional banks put you at the mercy of arbitrary and often discriminatory policies,” Harper said. “The banks are set up to favor the rich, with preferred access and preferred terms. But a lot of working class people and Ohioans don’t get those benefits. Instead, they get hidden overdraft fees and almost no return on their capital.”

Day 160: Although I may not understand it, I trust on….

Trust is the key word here.

What happens when your plans fall flat?

When you have waited and plotted strategies and after a few days or weeks or months, the plans all look wrong. What happens next?

Well, what happens next is to dust yourself up and plan again.

The goal is not to get distracted but to keep your eyes on the ball.

Nobody has said it would be easy. Failure is part of the equation. The twist is that I don’t equate a failed plan as a failure, but a lesson.

I know it’s coming to the end of the year, and the customary exercise is to look at goals you never once revisited during the year and stamp a seal of failure on it.

Don’t you think that’s a bit harsh? Those plans were mapped out as a new year’s resolution. And like all the years gone by, you have never sat down to review the year’s resolution.

I would suggest not to be harsh on yourself but to do something different this year.

This is the time to think carefully of one thing, just one thing you will like to accomplish and stick with it for the following 12 months.

Just one thing!

Write it down!

Visualise yourself achieving it!

Review it every end of the month! Yes, set an alarm for a day’s review!

And continue believing!

This is what I am doing.

I wish you well and let me wish you a Merry Christmas and a fulfilling 2022.

God bless you!

Crypto news courtesy of CryptoNews.

State-Owned Investment Giant Mubadala Invests In Crypto, Blockchain-Based Ecosystem.

In a move that could potentially inject billions of dollars into the global crypto markets, Abu Dhabi’s leading state-owned holding Mubadala Investment Company is acknowledging it has started to invest its assets in cryptocurrencies and their surrounding blockchain-based ecosystem. 

Khaldoon Al Mubarak, CEO of Mubadala Investment Company, made the announcement in an interview with US broadcaster CNBC during which he said that while “many people are skeptics” of cryptocurrency he did “not fall into that category.” 

“I see it as real,” he said of cryptocurrencies. “I think the regulatory environment that isn’t there yet in its final form, [and] that will have to be there at some point, I think will come in and will help, I think, transition this asset class into something new.”

Al Mubarak stated that the business was looking “at the ecosystem around crypto” and is “investing in that ecosystem. That could be the blockchain technology, energy usage etc.”

Day 159: Hamilton vs Verstappen – A Lesson In Never Giving Up!

Was Lewis Hamilton ‘robbed’ as Max Verstappen wins F1 title?

Lewis Hamilton looked destined for victory before Verstappen capitalised on a crash by Nicholas Latifi to win what was effectively a one-lap dash for the title.

Masi was at the centre of two controversial incidents in the race which drew the ire of Mercedes.

The first saw Hamilton and Verstappen appear to touch on the opening lap but Masi ruled there was no need for an investigation.

That was despite strong protests from Verstappen that his rival should give the place back but Masi explained that Hamilton had already ceded the advantage.

The second – and far more contentious – came after Nicholas Latifi crashed his Williams, with Masi allowing the five lapped cars between Hamilton and Verstappen to overtake.

“No, no Michael – that was so not right,” Mercedes boss Toto Wolff fired back.

Verstappen was formally confirmed as the Netherlands’ first ever champion. But only five hours after the race had ended, and only after Mercedes had had two separate protests thrown out by the stewards. 

Mercedes informed the FIA of their intention to appeal those decision and have 96hrs in which to lodge it. 

Hamilton was stunned, but collected himself to congratulate Verstappen before making a strange remark to Jenson Button in his post-race interview, saying “we’ll see about next year” which some took to mean he might quit.

If that also goes against Mercedes, there is the option to go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner indicated that he would fight them to the bitter end.

“We’ll fight them in the appeal court and in the legal court after that if they go that route.”

Hamilton and Verstappen started side-by-side for one final trip around Yas Marina Circuit and the British driver surged to the lead. Verstappen stalked him through the first four turns then made his pass in turn five and pulled away in his Red Bull.

Some would say it was a fitting end to a season that saw the two contenders go wheel-to-wheel over 22 races spanning four continents and arrive in Abu Dhabi tied in the championship standings. It marked the first time the contenders were level going into the season finale since 1974. But was it?

Was there a conspiracy to deny Lewis Hamilton of his 8th World title?

Was the chief referee Michael Masi right to change the rules in the middle of a world title race?

Should Michael Masi resign his position?

All in all, you cannot blame Verstappen. He never gave up. His team Red Bull didn’t give up daughter based on their strategy. Or was the crash part of the conspiracy? I am laughing here because I don’t believe it is, but conspiracy theorists will create so many theories riot back up Masi’s crazy decisions all season long.

Congratulations to both drivers, it was an unforgettable season.

QUOTES

“Michael this isn’t right,” said Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff desperately over the radio.

“Toto it’s called a motor race,” Masi replied.

“Masi is surely finished here as Race Director. Can see why the protests have been thrown out, they had no other option but to stand by his shocking decision. You can’t take the title from Max. It wasn’t Max who broke the rules. Masi did. A terrible ending to an incredible season.” ~ Sophie Barley

“Michael Masi wanted an entertaining race ending so he broke his organizations own rules to put Max as close as possible to Lewis in the last lap of the last race knowing Max had the upper hand with brand spanking new tyres. That’s it.” ~ Yizo Yizo

“Does Masi work for FIA or Netflix with this scriptwriting?” ~ Fnatic Alex

“Incredible finish! This will be talked about for years to come. Happy for Max who has been mega this year!

That being said Masi needs to walk. Totally out of his depth all year and now we have this situation. Basically making the rules up as we go along!” ~ Dan Cammish

“Michael Masi has some serious answering to do! This could/should end in court #f1” ~ Freddie Burns

“Mercedes are going to go mental. That is absolutely outrageous from Michael Masi, an astonishing change of heart. He’s been so weak all through this championship.” ~ Tyrone Marshall

“Wonderfully generous and dignified reaction from Lewis Hamilton. He really is very special, on the track, and off it. Class act to the end.”~ Gary Lineker

Day 158: Winning! by Tim Grover.

It has often been said that it is lonely at the top.

Grover agrees. “To win consistently, you need to be different, and different scares people,” shares Grover. We are conditioned to fit in.

In his book, Winning, Tim Grover shares stories of some of the basketball legends he’s trained, including Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Dwayne Wade. Their road to greatness, according to Grover, is based on 13 principles, which he calls The Winning 13.

The Winning 13 are distinct mindsets, which Grover all ranks as number one because there is not a single step that is more important than the other.

To achieve greatness, you need to accomplish all thirteen steps. You can decide which order and where to put greater emphasis, but you cannot pick and choose which steps to take and which to ignore. 

When you become a high achiever, you stand out, not fit in. Most people want to be an accepted member of a social circle.

Getting to the top of the elite level means you do not conform to the masses.

There are few people at that level. “One day, your success wears a halo,” writes Grover, “the next day, it has fangs.”

Listed below, in no order of preference are the 13 principles.

1. Winning is everything.

2. Winning makes you different, and different scares people.

3. Winning wages war on the battlefield of your mind.

4. Winning is the ultimate gamble on yourself.

5. Winning isn’t heartless, but you’ll use your heart less.

6. Winning belongs to them, and it’s your job to take it.

7. Winning wants all of you; there is no balance.

8. Winning is selfish.

9. Winning takes you through hell. If you quit, that is where you will stay.

10. Winning is a test with no correct answers.

11. Winning knows all your secrets.

12. Winning never lies.

13. Winning is not a marathon; it is a sprint with no finish line.

THE IMPORTANCE OF HOPE! – Day 157

“Faith is being sure of what we hope for. It is being sure of what we do not see.”

Hope is seeing what you can become.

It is writing down your success story ahead of time.

It is attending rehearsals to your success scripts.

What is the point in calling out obvious things that you despair?

What is the point in calling those things that you are afraid of…those things that you call problems.

What is the point? Will it change anything?

I must say it will help if you believe in God, because I do and I call those things that do not exist as though they do. It reassures me that there is a better tomorrow. That change is a journey on its way to visit the expectants.

I am nothing without Hope.

I always look forward to tomorrow with Hope.

We can always hopeful.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Don’t go to bed without deciding on what you are hoping for tomorrow.

Crypto view courtesy of Coindesk.

What Intellectuals Still Don’t Get About Crypto.

“Yes, Web3 is a bunch of bullshit. The problem is, compared to what?”

That subhead to Matt Stoller’s newsletter this week set me off even more than the headline, which read, “Cryptocurrencies: a Necessary Scam?”

To be clear, my issue isn’t with the all-too-common grammatical slip in the comparative. (Hint: Matt, please review Shakespeare and the difference between “compare to” and “compare with.”)

No, what got me was the “yes” in Stoller’s statement. It was a wink to the intellectual elite, as if to say, “Don’t worry, it’s okay to acknowledge that those crazies in the crypto community, while possibly well-meaning in their critique of broken political-economic order, are, yes, Kool Aid-drinking cultists.”

It was especially galling because I’d been scheduled to join Stoller on Peter McCormack’s “What Bitcoin Did” podcast this past weekend, with a format that Stoller suggested we describe as “convince Matt Stoller.” Scheduling conflicts meant I couldn’t make it. I guess he remains unconvinced.

It also stung because I’m a big fan of Stoller, a leading light in the so-called Hipster Antitrust movement who is closely aligned with Lina Khan, chairwoman of the Federal Trade Commission. Stoller’s book Goliath is a must read on why we must confront monopoly power to protect democracy and long-term prosperity. In so many other respects, his worldview aligns with mine. He’s a believer in free, open, competitive markets and, most importantly, that it’s necessary to prevent excessively powerful gatekeepers from manipulating and distorting those markets. In an age when dominating internet platforms have forged an insidiously destructive system of surveillance capitalism, Stoller’s writings – found in his BIG blog/newsletter – have done much to focus our attention on why society needs to act on this, now more than ever.

Where we clearly disagree is on whether cryptocurrencies and blockchain are a viable mechanism in the digital age for executing on that.

Click to read the rest of the story.