DrAjao

“Adunni Dares to Dream” is a book about a young girl who grew up poor in the village in a time when expectations were much different for girls than for boys. Girls were (and in many places still are) expected to help in the home or on the farm and hope to become a mother and homemaker someday. They simply were not a priority when it came to formal education. It was rare for girls to develop a determination to break those gender barriers, even more so for a girl in a poor family. This is what makes Adunni’s journey extra inspiring. This is my first time illustrating a book for this age range so, naturally, I assumed the book would have to be colorful, clear/clean/crisp, and easy for a child to digest what’s going on. In hindsight, I may have been wrong but that was the summary of my strategy. I harked back to my college days when I was in charge of the art department in one of our student fellowships. We used to make a lot of posters using cardboard cutouts. I’d make a sketch of th...

Typecasting must really suck for an actor. And it's a potentially sad result of humans' lazy dispensation towards summary judgements based on appearance and first-impressions. However some other actors dream of being so lucky to even get a role memora ble enough to lead to typecasting. On the less harmful side of typecasting is the notion that you created a character so real that it overshadowed your real self. Jim Parsons will have to work extra hard to not be Sheldon Cooper in the eyes of the public... ...or he could just cash his cheques smiling all the way to the bank knowing his betters could possibly be bussing at coffee shops as I type.

Hello, any Rep. who bashes new devices or industries. It's not really the new devices that are causing unemployment. Blame Mother Technology who keeps rearranging the labor market whenever demand crosses critical thresholds. If you must launch a campaign, launch it against technological advancement. I assure it will be a losing battle but at least you will be fighting the real 'enemy'. I, however, urge you to be patient. The market will once again attain equilibrium...I promise.

Believe it or not, I believe in Capitalism (yikes...that sounded like when a racist starts with "I'm not racist...but..."). Sure, I believe in capitalism but only as far as it treats people with respect and dignity. If you chase after the money far enough you will eventually find yourself reaching the limit where your legal rights abut bad PR. I had only little pity for United Airlines after their PR fiasco . You may have the legal right to throw anyone off your plane...but you have to use common sense. If United had offered a hundred thousand dollars for a passenger to get off the plane...they'd be in a better financial state than they were after the incident. I'm not saying they should have offered a hundred thou off the bat. I'm saying you gradually sweeten the pot until someone grabs the winnings. If nobody volunteers after you've reached $100,000, then increase it some more and keep increasing it till you are sure you can no longer afford it...

What if your name is Valerie and you hail an Uber ride and as you get in and shut the door, Amy Winehouse's (sorry Mark) version of The Zutton's "Valerie" comes on? You know because Uber has some special deal with Spotify where drivers have access to a premium subscription while on an active drive. Still not impressed? Okay what if your favorite...no scratch that...your most favoritest (favoritestest?) song comes up? You know, because Uber has allowed you create a playlist on its servers that it streams via fairy dust and rainbows to the driver's car speakers. Still not impressed? Okay what if you hear a radio station where up-to-the-minute local whether and traffic conditions (plus breaking news relevant to you in particular) are being read by a Siri-like voice? You know, because magic. Still not impressed? Never fret. The self-driving cars will be ready for deployment in our lifetime. Sheesh. PS. If you look hard enough, you'll find people at...

Netflix performance chart from Google Finance "Each Netflix show doesn't have to be a massive success in its own right....just good enough" Part 1: I once saw a post about a crowdfunding Hollywood studio startup and it got me thinking. While I'm mistrustful of Kickstarter startups like these, I like the idea in theory. The idea of involving the masses in choosing what gets made next. I think of Netflix because they have perfected this model. Not in the sense of asking people what they want to watch next (like Amazon now does) though. Netflix doesn't necessarily ask people what they want to watch (let's face it, people never really know what they want). Netflix uses algorithms and analytics to figure out what a target demographic will want to see next based on automated feedback from their viewing habits. This is the real advantage of the streaming paradigm...the analytics...not the convenience (which is a nice perk...don't get me wrong). T...

Image Property of Marvel Studios "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 does everything a movie of its budget and scope is expected to do." Hey folks! Look who's back from blogging retirement, though I didn't retire as much as figure out a way to distill my angst into 140 characters or less . Anyhoo, let's see how things go this time around. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 does everything a movie of its budget and scope is expected to do. If you're insistent on a plot-heavy, character-driven thesis on what it means to be human...yada yada yada, then you might want to consider retracing your steps. This movie might not be for you. But if you want a humorous joyride with spectacular visuals and attendant action, you've come to the right place. The previously mentioned things the critics love are there but they won't distract you. Yes, it's less plot-heavy than its predecessor but it's not all fluff. There's enough plot in there to k...

If you're not a photographer, the 'color' of the dress is important because it shows us how two people can look at the same object and see something different (wars have been started for less). But if you're a photographer the 'color' of the dress becomes extremely significant...especially if you don't know the science behind why people are seeing different things. Yes it is a science...and as a photographer you should not only know why the photo is color-ambiguous but also how to use your photography knowledge to simulate similar scenarios and to solve problems that could arise for your client…without use of excessive Photoshop. Okay back to the dress. People are either seeing “White and Gold” or “Blue and Black”. Those seeing one color or the other are not color blind or a tad mentally retarded. No they are not trolling you. They are ‘seeing’ what they are seeing. Some even see a different thing at different times, and what they see at an...

It's very easy to click on the wrong thing. For example a search for "Google Earth" shows a suspect looking site as the top query. (No reputable service needs to advertise themselves as "100% virus tested...Trusted Website") Search results for "Google Earth".

Super Eagle? Okay I'll just let you know I don't know much about soccer so stop me when I'm wrong. Nigeria faced Iran at 3PM Eastern Time on Monday, June 16th and immediately the match started the Iranians found themselves leading by a goalless draw! So they set out to defend that lead with all the men they had. Since all their players were standing in front of the goal post, Nigeria's Super Eagles had no choice but to try to penetrate via the flanks. The only problem was the Eagles seemed content with getting the ball along the flanks all the way to the opponents corner and then stopping. This they did over and over until the Iranians realized they didn't seem to have an interest in scoring so they figured they might as well try and attack. So the Eagle's keeper, who'd been taking a nap all this while, had to wake up and explain to the Iranians that the Eagles were not necessarily intent on losing...so the Iranians went back to their post. A certain...

Dear New Parent, The time will come, and oh it will surely come, when your kid starts asking you "why"...instinctively and perpetually. Your first experience could go like this: Kid: Daddy can I go to the playground? The Infinite "Why" Dad: No. Kid: Why? Dad (don't bother me kid): Because. Kid: Why? Dad: Because I said so Kid: Why? Dad (hmm...it might just be easier to reason with him): Because it's too late. Kid: Why? Dad: Because it's dark outside Kid: Why? Dad (hey this is kinda fun): Because the sun's gone down Kid: Why? Dad: So that we can go rest and get some sleep Kid: Why? Dad : Because if we don't get some sleep we'll be very tired in the morning Kid: Why? Dad: Because we're not machines, and even machines need their rest Kid: Why? Dad (okay this is no longer fun): Because sleep and rest is good Kid: Why? Dad: Why is sleep good? Are you even serious? Kid: Why? Dad (now this kid is just trolling): Hey will you sto...

F Police by DrAjao Facebook’s DNA has changed. It started as a frat party that never ended and just kept growing until it was a complete festival (a la Burning Man) with sideshows, hippie communes, concession stands , people making out, people puking, pissing,  pooping, using psychedelic drugs, rocking to music, drinking, eating good food, eating bad food...just generally having a good time in a way they know how and in the way they define ‘good’... ...but it still was a party. The party became very popular. More people flocked in. They came in with family and friends and left with strangers. Some didn’t even remember why they were there anymore. Some didn’t even remember who they were anymore… ...but it still was a party. More concession stands showed up. Generally, more people showed up to sell all sorts to the party goers. The organizers of the party charged them a token to set up their stalls, which were, by and large, ignored by the party goers…. ...I mean, serio...

#BringBackOurGirls These days when racism rears its ugly head, you will see people rise up and clamour against it. Chances are, you'll see that the people complaining are are not defined by their race or gender but by their being non-racist (relatively speaking of course).  So when gender discrimination rears its ugly malformed head, those clamoring should not be defined by their gender or race but by their being non-sexist (or non-ignorant-douchebags). Women should not form the majority of those campaigning against gender inequality. We men need to step up. I need to step up.  But get this, this #BringBackOurGirls issue goes beyond gender discrimination right into general disregard for basic human rights. If some other deranged faction started kidnapping boys for whatever deranged reason, should majority of the protesters be male? If we equally campaign against removal of a fuel subsidy, or the change of the name of a university, we should equally campaign against...

Crying Toddler in Cart. Daddy has found this to be a really good way to add to his step count. Just cruising the aisles for a couple of items could earn him up to 1000 steps. A full blown shopping list would easily be a cool 5000 steps, which is half of his daily goal. Looking good yeah? Now, he straps a two-year-old to the cart and he’s burning more calories from pushing. He adds a four-year-old to the mix in the hope of the kid helping to push the cart. #RookieDadMistake number 1. Nope, the little tyke doesn’t help push. He grabs on to the cart alright but he simply hops on one of the cart wheels and puts his weight on the thing. More exercise...yaaay! After a while, Two-Year-Old starts whining that he’s hungry. The fact that he’s strapped in the cart (when he could be running wild and free down the maze of aisles) doesn’t help his countenance. #RookieDadMistake number 2: Not packing a snack for a hungry child. So Dad relents and allows the child out of the strap. #Rookie...

The month of February is frequently chosen for fasting and other try-out resolutions because it is the shortest month (Super Bowl countries are exempt of course). Sorry but I will be eating heartily this month. I will however be giving up something else that starts with "F" for those 28 days. This addictive drug that my body doesn't seem to be able to do without. Facebook! My only treatment plan for the craving will be to actually pick up my phone and call someone...anyone and have some live conversation. So let the jonesing begin.

Here is a follow-up on this earlier post  where I suggested that Facebook add amenities to their "Groups" feature such as "search" and "categories". Thankfully, they implemented the search feature but we're still waiting for a day when group administrators (admins) will have the power to really order and prioritize the posts on their forums via categories and other means. Also, sadly, Facebook's group search feature can't seem to search beyond a limited time-frame or number of entries, depending on whether the entry was made in a comment or in a post. Illustration by Dr Ajao In another post , I commended Facebook on introducing the Timeline feature which serves as a categorization feature of sorts based on time. As long as anyone vaguely remembers what time a post was made, it can be more easily found via the timeline feature. A timeline feature should be highly appreciated by admins if also applied to Facebook Groups, the same way it h...

This is the second major post in what is going to become the Billion-Dollar Club series tracking the Box Office performance of movies that came out with enough hype to justify some expectation of reaching a billion dollars in worldwide ticket sales. Well some expectation on my part at least. These movies are tracked in comparison to the progress of other movies that made it to a billion. I've added a few other outliers to round the number to the top 20 movies worldwide. While the spreadsheet I'm using features the current top 20 movies, I'll only be tracking progress in relation to movies of my choice. The next major tracking after "Man of Steel" (MOS) will be "Avengers 2" or "Man of Steel 2"...whichever comes first. If I get a special request to include a movie that could do some box office damage, say "Pacific Rim" or something, then I'll oblige. Otherwise, it's the flagship caped supers all the way. MOS started it...

I'm back again, and Facebook (FB) should listen this time because they end up implementing my suggestions anyways. For shame! FB does not allow one to send messages to only the administrators (moderators)  of a group. The closest FB comes to this is a feature available to only small groups. What does FB mean by "small groups"? Apparently only groups with 50 members or less count as small groups. This won't do FB. We're not able to move as fast with our four-hundred-or-so-member groups because we can't rally the administrators (admins) conveniently. Imagine having to create a new message list of recipients every time you want to reach twenty group admins (Yes some groups need that many admins...even more).  I guess, once one has created such a message the hard way, one could keep that message thread going indefinitely, instead of needing to create a new message and painstakingly repopulating the recipient...

I said it blatantly in a post  a year and a half ago that "Nobody is as well-positioned to benefit from the proliferation of the internet like Google is." Google's decision to provide free WiFi to one of the most densely populated metropolitan areas in the US seems to be proof of that. Many businesses make a profit DESPITE providing free internet access to consumers. Google will probably be the first (if they aren't already) to make more money BECAUSE they provide free internet access to consumers. It's like a car dealership knowing of someone who wants to buy a car (and can afford to make regular car payments). They could probably afford to pick that person up at his home and chauffeur-drive him to their lot to see their latest selection. Other businesses are able to provide that free ride to that car dealership BUT they don't sell cars. They're hoping that while that person is driving off the lot...

This is obviously a sore topic. I do not condone pastors embezzling money. I do not condone pastors using church funds for personal gain (save their allotted salaries). I do not condone pastors being selfish and/or greedy. But that's where my outrage ends. I do not have a knee-jerk negative reaction to a jet acquisition…not until I know all the facts. I do not believe that because one is a pastor, he cannot be well-to-do. There are poor pastors, and there are rich pastors. There are poor doctors and there are rich doctors. There are poor and rich engineers, lawyers, musicians, Danfo drivers, and even presidents! Wealth is not a function of one's occupation. Too many factors come into play, such as investment and/or business savvy, inheritance, use of valuable property (both material and intellectual), use of goodwill and social networks. A pastor of a church where many of the congregants are rich will drive a better car than one where the congregants are poo...