Poor chap dies on English beach

Sad to see this beautiful sperm whale die on the Redcar Beach, Cleveland. See detailed report.

Esiaba Irobi, one year already

It is one year already since the passing of Esiaba Irobi. It hasn't been all fun this side of existence. Eni-Jones Umuko must have given him the report in person. I hope his journey continues to be blessed.



(excerpt from Irobi's Kingdom of the Mad)

I spit upon the laws that thieves have made
To give the crooked the strength to rob the straight.
I spit upon a country so full of wealth
Yet millions wallow in squalor and in want.
I spit upon the flag that flaps like a rag
On an iron pole planted on the vision of pregnant generals.
I spit upon rabid religions that defend a hell on earth
and preach a heaven beyond this mire
I spit upon the education that turns into stenographers
A generation that could have been philosophers
visionaries and revolutionaries. Upon this whole damned
nation of mine do I spit. And while I spit, I weep.
- Esiaba Irobi

The “Anyway” Mindset

There was no room at the inn so to say, today, at our Trinity Methodist Church, Plumstead. Therefore we went to St Joseph’s Catholic Church instead. Father Jim Kirby was not there, but a visiting Father connected to the Columban Misssionaries, celebrated the mass. As we left the church, the Father handed me a copy of Far East – magazine of the Columban Missionaries. I turned the back of the magazine and saw what looked like a poem, titled “ANYWAY” - a version of Kent Keith’s “The Paradoxical COMMANDMENTS (1968); it is one of those things you are certain you know already, but you are glad that somebody else is saying it to you.  I hope you like it as much as I love it:

THE PARADOXICAL COMMANDMENTS

by Dr. Kent M. Keith

People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.
If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.
If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.
The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.
The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.
People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway.
What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.
People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.
Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you have anyway.

© Copyright Kent M. Keith 1968, renewed 2001