Here you will find the people or things that made my day one way or another!
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29-02-16
SHOUT OUT TO
DIVERSITY
I am mentioning diversity here not to add to the last American Oscars controversy regarding the poor representation of African-American actors among the Nominated. Although I am of the opinion that nobody should be discriminated against, I will not delve here into this particular complex matter. What I want to shout out about is the amazing diversity that could be found in Nature where not only humans, but animals and plants, come in all shapes and colors. This world we live in, isn’t it amazing? And everyone of us is unique into it and bring his/her particular light!
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22-02-16
SHOUT OUT TO
UBER TAXIS
I know this is a controversial one as traditional taxis are under the impression that there is not an even playing field here and that Uber is reaping undue benefits. But as a customer who knows how difficult finding a taxi at the last minute can sometimes be, Uber, in Lagos, comes as a welcome development. Some customers are complaining about the fact that the amount on the receipt given by Uber taxi drivers will differ from the amount ultimately charged on your debit card and I must say that I was not able to register my card as apparently some Nigerian banks have declined doing further business with them due to those discrepancies. So, I paid cash but the amount charged was less than the one I pay on a ride with a yellow cab without A.C. and with damaged seats from where I would be inhaling all the dust and pollution from exhaust pipes. I heard about the horrible event of a girl who was raped in an Uber Taxi in India and I was a little distrustful, but a family member, who was already using them, reassured me and she was right, anything can always happen, but your safety is even better taken care of than with a traditional taxi, as your trip is tracked from beginning to end, and you are given the driver’s name with his picture and the plate number of his car. It is true that it drives some old taxis out of business but it also creates jobs for new drivers. The only negative point I can see is that Uber is faceless. They have no offices or even a phone number. Every contact is through their App or by email. I hope the police and the tax collector know how to find them!
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15-02-16
SHOUT OUT TO:
LOVE
What can I say? What would life be without love? Isn’t it amazing that we can experience so many kind of love? I don’t know which one is the best. The one that makes your heart beat at fourteen for that handsome guy you saw on the train, who gave you the warmest smile ever, but that you will never encounter again? The one you feel when you cuddle your baby in your arms and you smell that enchanting perfume of freshly washed skin, a unique combination of baby cream and innocence? Or is it the sisterly love that keep you in its embrace at all times, knowing that your sister will always be there for you, no matter what? It can also be the quick kiss that your husband of more that twenty-five years suddenly plant on your cheek for no reason at all. But even a perfect stranger smiling at you unexpectedly can top it all because it reminds you that we are all together in this life to keep it alive: LOVE.
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08-02-16
SHOUT OUT TO:
MEDICAL RESEARCH
Today, I want to shout out to all the medical researchers, conducting studies and experiences in order to bring relief to many suffering patients. It seems like an unending battle as Lassa fever and Zika virus are raising alarm right now. Nonetheless, so much have been accomplished to treat people with HIV, cancer, and heart diseases. Thank you all in your labs for keeping the fighting human spirit alive.
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01/02/16
SHOUT OUT TO:
SINGLE MOTHERS
Whether by choice or due to different life circumstances, a lot of mothers are raising their children by themselves and they sure deserve a shout out. It is not easy everyday. Sometimes you just feel that children are this huge burden that you need to give to a partner to carry for a few hours, but you can’t! However, based on what I can see around me, the good news is, more often than not, your children will turn out to be great children! With flaws, as everybody else! So, give it your best but take it easy!
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18/01/16
SHOUT OUT TO:
WRITERS
This time I want to shout out to writers, to my fellow bloggers, to journalists, to playwrights, screenwriters, everyone that is using his/her pen trying to bring a little more sense, a little more understanding, a little more togetherness, a little more love. And a shout out to people who read them of course! And to think that the Internet was supposed to be the end of writing and reading and it is just the contrary that is happening! Here is what Earl Nightingale, the American motivational speaker, was saying about reading: “You may read because you are tired of the shallowness of contemporary life, bored by the current conversational commonplaces, and wearied of shop talk and gossip about people. Whatever your dominant personal reason, you will find that reading gives knowledge, creative power, satisfaction and relaxation. It cultivates your mind by calling its faculties into exercise.”
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10/01/16
SHOUT OUT TO
SWIFT NETWORKS LTD CUSTOMER SERVICE
It is so hard to find businesses here that will go the extra mile to give their customer the best experience possible. Usually, it is more like, take the money and run! Most of the time, nobody cares if the washing machine you just bought is functioning or not, it is written on the invoice: it comes without any warranty! That is why I find it my duty to acknowledge the efforts of this Internet provider. They experienced some technical difficulties during this last holiday season and the service was down for some time, but I was happy to receive messages on my phone keeping me updated on their progress. At least, you do not waste your time disconnecting and reconnecting, plugging and unplugging, thinking that there is something wrong with your own modem when the problem is not coming from your installation. It really feels good to have a customer care that actually cares for its customer!
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27-12-15
SHOUT OUT TO
2016
The New Year is here and it is amazing to think that, when I was younger, Year 2000 seemed like a remote and almost unattainable time in the future. And now, the future is here! We should better put this time that is granted to us to good use, don’t you think? This is the moment to reflect on the past year and plan some improvements for this coming year. Truly, most of our good resolutions would be quickly abandoned, but some of our objectives will also be achieved. I don’t think it is a waste of time to set ourselves targets, and try and adopt new and healthier habits.
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20-12-15
SHOUT OUT TO
THE GOOD GUYS
I always root for the good guys. When watching a movie, I am upset when the audience is invited to show support to the bad guy. In a film like The Godfather, for example, the viewer is on the side of the Mafiosi and I don’t find it right! Not that Mafiosi are not allowed to have a soul, but it is a kind of glorification that I have a hard time to accept. It is not always easy to choose Good over Bad and to do what is right, so I don’t need moviemakers to blend lines that are blurred already! Villains are needed to get a story, I agree, but can we continue to put the emphasis on kindness over wickedness, please?
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13-12-15
SHOUT OUT TO
CHRISTMAS
I know that for some of us the all idea of Christmas is just a punishment. Because it is this time of the year when it is compulsory for everybody to feel good and to cheer up even when you are alone, or you don’t feel like it, or you don’t want to be part of this mainly commercially driven festivities! But to me, Christmas will always be a reminder of the good times we had when my children were younger and my sister would come to spend time with us, and my daughters would be so excited to see their aunt. She would always offer her nieces those pretty pyjamas, and my daughters would look so cute in them, all year round. And even if they stopped believing in Santa Claus pretty soon, they would still have some doubts about it because we were so good at hiding their presents that they would not find them until we set them under the Christmas tree!
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06-12-15
SHOUT OUT TO
AFRICAN HUSBANDS
But not to all of them! Only to those who understand what being a “real man” means: treating your wife with respect. And a special shout out to those of you who share the household chores with their wives! We know you are there, but not enough in numbers yet. We need to praise you and recognize your efforts, even if you are just doing what everybody should be doing, because it takes courage to ignore the disdainful look of other members of the family and to fight the indifference of society at large!
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29-11-15
SHOUT OUT TO:
NIGERIAN ARTISTS
Life is tough everywhere in the world for artists. So it takes a particular courage and a lot of passion to be an artist in Nigeria. I want to tell them that they are not working in vain, that they are touching many lives even if they hardly get any feedback. They are certainly making my life better.
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14/11/15
SHOUT OUT TO:
OUR HEROES: MAHATMA GANDHI, MARTIN LUTHER KING JR, NELSON MANDELA AND MAYA ANGELOU
Their strong response to Hate was Love!
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08/11/15
SHOUT OUT TO:
DSTV
I know that this satellite TV provider is often criticized here in Nigeria due to his monopoly, and his taking us for granted with its many reruns of old films and so on. But, for once, I was pleasantly surprised when I saw an Indian Film on a Kenyan channel translated into Swahili. I can speak Swahili, so it was very thrilling to actually hear foreign actors interacting in that language. I think it is a step in the right direction to actually take into consideration local African languages. Wouldn’t it be thrilling to hear Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible speaking in Yoruba or Hausa or Igbo?
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13/09/15
SHOUT OUT TO:
STUDENTS
September is here and so are the students, back to school.
I want to give a shout out to all of them.
It is not always easy, but do your best. You will definitely be better of tomorrow because of what you are studying today. Even if you don’t see how all of it is useful, everything that sharpens your mind is worth it.
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21/08/15
SHOUT OUT TO:
MOTHERS AND FATHERS
I am giving a shout out to Mothers and Fathers out there who are trying to raise responsible children. It is not easy, not easy at all, for anybody. But you are not alone. Some of us have God to lean on; some of us don’t, or feel betrayed and helpless. Just remember it is a journey, for all of us. The sun will rise again tomorrow. Just take one day at a time.
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12/08/15
SHOUT OUT TO:
NEPA/PHCN/DISCOS
Lack of Electricity is a nagging problem in Nigeria. And lately I was quite frustrated with the Electricity Company in charge of my area for giving me a scribbled piece of paper as a receipt. Fortunately, they were able to provide a decent computerized receipt this time. And, light is not constant, but we are at least provided several hours every day and we are spending much less to power our own generators. Let’s hope we are on the right path for good this time!
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04/08/15
SHOUT OUT TO:
KONGA, JUMIA, MALL FOR AFRICA
Shout out to Konga, Jumia, Mall for Africa, and all the online shops that have made the shopping experience in Nigeria so convenient! I was chatting with a young man the other day, asking him if he missed the UK, where he studied, and his reply was: No, with the internet available everywhere in Nigeria now, there is not much you will miss! And that is so true! At Mall for Africa, I can buy from a variety of UK stores and US without having to pay for a flight ticket first! It is a little bit expensive but minus the travel expenses, hotel and all that, it is pretty much worth it. And 10 days delay is fine compared to when you have to wait for somebody you know to get back from Europe or America before you can get your goods!
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28/07/15
SHOUT OUT TO:
NIGERIAN BANKS
I want to recognize the fantastic work accomplished by the Banking Industry in Nigeria. They have promised that with online banking, we would be able to operate all banking transactions from the comfort of our home. And they have indeed made me so comfortable right now that I have not seen the interior of a banking hall for months! I transfer funds on my mobile, I pay my DSTV bill, the plumber, the mechanic, I change euros into Naira, all this online, without stepping out of my house! Kudos to The Central Bank of Nigeria and to Nigerian Banks!
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24/07/15
SHOUT OUT TO:
LEA
Today, I want to give a shout out to a talented young lady named Lea, who inspired me to create this blog. She started her own site a few weeks ago and her first posts were so funny and showed so much variety that it opened my eyes. She made me understand that it is possible to write without it becoming a punishment. I have worked for a magazine before and deadlines can be so stressful. But this is a brand new way of communicating. Thank you Lea!
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22/07/15
SHOUT OUT TO:
LAGOS
Today, I feel like declaring my love to Lagos. Not that life is easy with this untamed and unruly Lion or is it Lioness? I understand that Lagos is a “she”. In French, I would rather say “he”. But who is going to bring up this gender issue this early morning. I will simply say that with Lagos, it is tough love! Nowhere else in Nigeria , will you feel this energy. Sometimes, I look at Nigerians, and I am just like: Wow!
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13/07/15
SHOUT OUT TO:
NAIJALINGO
The Pidgin/English dictionary from NaijaLingo is a really great idea. However, It doesn’t have all the necessary words for a learner.
But it is collaborative, so if you master Pidgin and English please become a contributor here.
We should keep it alive.
Glory Matthews'blog 