Haidar's Corner

as Day runs away clouds outline celestial canvas with help of Sun's retreat hue of cautious brushstrokes with a golden dazzle adorning Western horizon before night's shroud is drawn over patch of Earth. Haidarwali 201609271805hrs

Sustainability is the trending buzzword these days especially with issues of climate change, burgeoning world population and other related social issues. According to Dr. Brad Allenby of Arizona State University, Sustainability is a subjective issue that is highly value-laden - which I agree - and depends to a large extent on the point of view of the observer. Dr. Allenby goes on to say that Sustainability lacks a common definition because of two issues: 1. First, there is no agreed basis on how resources in the world should be utilized. Most of the Western world (as well as members of the world power club) have a libertarian philosophy which believes in giving everyone equal opportunity which will ultimately lead to unequal outcomes which is the natural result of Capitalism. On the other hand, the Emerging economies and developing world believe in egalitarian principles which has to do with ensuring that there is equitable re-distribution of resources amongst the populace.  Th...

I remember when eyes met connection that sent electric shock waves rippling to the deepest reaches of heart's core beats racing at stupendous proportions in expectation of seeing you. oh! why does reality play this cruel joke! if only I could continue being in arms of intoxicating dreams, wrapping me with their exhilarating facade now I wallow forlorn, wakeful to routine's bland pinch and atrophy soon embraces, reinforced by appetite's disappearance I close my eyes but the image is blurred I only remember the way you make me feel alive Haidarwali 201609260358hrs

Systems thinking and approach is a very interesting tool of inquiry especially when looking at issues and trying to tackle challenges that are the natural outcome when phenomena interact. Essentially, problems are tackled most effectively when analyzed systematically. What this means is that since 'problems/challenges' are the outcomes of systems, solutions should be sought from looking at how the constituent parts of a system interact internally and externally. Which means you will have systems within systems within systems...almost ad infinitum till you get to a relatively 'simple system' - if anything like that exists! This is because most things thought to be simple are actually complex if looked at more closely.  However, to avoid complications we 'simplify' in order to allow for meaningful discussion. Now since complexity is inherent in almost all systems -  varying only by degree - in order to have a working framework we can look at situations that aris...

Writers have one of the keenest senses of empathetic observation. It is as if they enter our minds to pry emotions and thoughts from us. If ever there were mind readers in existence,  it has to be writers. Listen to how C. JoyBell C. puts it: "Living is about capturing the essence of things. I go through my life every day with a vial, a vial wherein can be found precious essential oils of every kind! The priceless, fragrant oils that are the essence of my experiences, my thoughts. I walk inside a different realm from everybody else, in that I am existing in the essence of things; every time there is reason to smile, I hold out my glass vial and capture that drop of oil, that essence, and then I smile. And that is why I have smiled, and so you and I may be smiling at the same time but I am smiling because of that one drop of cherished, treasured oil that I have extracted. When I write, I find no need to memorize an idea, a plot, a sequence of things: no. I must only capture the es...

First thing you should obviously know (at least from the title), is that Zizou - as his nickname goes - is my best footballer ever. Let me try to put words to why I feel so. You see when watching Zidane playing football, it is sheer artistry! I have never seen a football player that can mesmerize the audience with touches that are simply magnificent. Words cannot fully describe the grace, guile and genius, wrapped up in the body of this player! Silky, velvety suede is what comes to my mind! With Zizou, the football seemed to defy the rules of physics and there seemed to be an invisible connection with his body; almost magnetic, that ensured that the ball was always within touching distance and at his beck and call! He had a unique distinctive style of ball control that was impossible to imitate. At odd and constrained angles, he maneuvered and navigated his way, creating opportunities out of nothing and converting wishes to reality such as his acrobatic finisher at the 2002 UEFA Cha...

Everything that is to be grown needs nourishment. The human being is a dynamic that fuses the physical and the psychological in one seamless whole and any unbalance is capable of affecting the system negatively. Exercise is the methodical process of keeping the system in shape whether it is the mental or the biological, it needs to be periodically tuned up and a maintenance needs to be carried out to reset and reinvigorate. Usually, we lack motivation because exercise is strenuous and lacks any visible payoff as the effects are gradual and need time before they start to show. The key to overcoming this lies in beginning with modest gradual and disciplined increments that would lead to achievement of set goals. And this is why the balance of the mental with the physical is important as it enables the individual to be in an appropriate frame of mind that would ensure perseverance towards the target. The mind is exercised when we engage in creative thinking which has a practical output...

During the course of a day thousands (if not millions) of thoughts course through the mind and at certain points it seems so overwhelming that a person is left with no choice but to employ a coping mechanism of shutting out all the 'noise' and concentrating on the familiarity of routine. Thus, do we daily lose the sparks of brilliance that could have become a wonderful reality and over time we accept as fate, the monotony  and safety of the ordinary. Imagine if there was a way to engage in a process of assaying your thoughts and sorting the diamonds and rubys from the limestone! Well there is. And it's called Theory U. 😃 It might sound weird and somewhat too academic but I assure you it's not. Theory U is as simple as they come. The following three steps summarize it.   First observe. Open your mind to the possibilities that can be created. This will ensure that you do not place limits to your imagination which would limit the alternatives that you will have ...

Good morning my people,  Another Monday morning is here. It's the 3rd week of September and we in Nigeria are just getting back from the Muslim festival of Sallah/Eidul Adha! I hope everyone enjoyed the break despite the 'biting recession'!   :D There's usually a mix of dread and a sinking feeling for many people especially when you have to make that early rise and return work. It seems like a huge load is placed on your back and we trudge along to report for duty, resuming the routine. But it doesn't always have to be this way. According research, it has been found that emotions trigger release of chemicals in our body which lead to certain physiological outcomes in our body systems. And this would eventually affect the way we react from one moment to another.  Thus to avoid starting off the day on a negative note and subsequently setting yourself up for a 'bad' week,  a person needs to become more aware of the kind of thoughts that go thr...

Hi everyone! Today I'm entering a new chapter of this book of life. I'm becoming a fulltime blogger! Though this blog has been in existence for several years, I've never put enough effort into making it a fully functional one. Well finally I'm taking a plunge in a series of actions that I hope will lead me to the next level. What that is, I myself have not yet fully known. But it'll surely be exciting and thus I hope you'll join me in this journey. Let me share this as an appetizer: THE ROAD TO UTOPIA (1) & (2) (1) This is a tale of many sorts You shall therefore enter many ‘boats’ However, you shouldn’t worry And needn’t think you’ll be sorry For we charge no extra fees Likewise we make no unnecessary queries We implore of you only one task That of co-operation And coupled with providence and luck We might reach Utopia by nightfall However, you should be forewarned We mightn’t find ‘Understanding’ And if he’s wi...

"When facts  become so widely available and instantly accessible, each one becomes less valuable. What begins to matter more is the ability to place these facts in  context  and to deliver them with  emotional impact."   The above is a quote from a book we are reading titled A Whole New Mind: Why Right Brainers Will Rule the Future and for me it perfectly explains what will eventually happen to education in the coming years. As we observe today, people are 'mastering' concepts and phenomena at an increasingly younger age because 'rote memorization and 'recall' are not as important as they used to be and thus 'mastery' takes less time!  Instead, with the abundant tools technology has made available, it is more valuable a skill to situate issues either looking at how constituent parts make up a whole, or what the larger picture is than it is to know a bunch of facts. Unfortunately,  our educational system in Nigeria and Africa generally is setup as...