What's Up? What's Hot? (You'll Like This one!)

Olaiya Update!
People, you need to be VERY scared of laspapi. Be VERY, VERY scared. He just posted a comment on my last (one of my friends called it 'everlasting'!) post warning me for the second time that Amala Olaiya is 'armed and dangerous' - and guess you what? It turns out that it is!

Just last week, robbers stormed the hideout (I hear this is the umpteenth time - no one ever told me that or I would NEVER have gone there!) and killed someone. Businesswoman that she is, the next day, the owner opened her restaurant and the family members of the deceased (reportedly) went haywire and got armed men (the police, this time) to close down the place!

So Olaiya is closed now ... and I didnt even know because I have been hooked on Mr. Bigg's Asaro instead and 'cause White House is the closest hangout to my office ... Armed and dangerous Amala ... let's have a moment of silence people ...

Spider-what?!
I went with the gang to watch a movie on thursday (it is becoming a weekly ritual!) -and it was Spider-Man 3, against my better judgement.

It makes me sad to confess but I shamefully allowed myself become a victim of branding. The truth is, the only reason I went to see Spiderman is because that is the 'cool' movie to watch now. Everyone who's hip and cool has seen the movie or is about to, and I - mere mortal me! - fell headlong for the hype.

Cut long story short, the movie was a huge disappointement. Cheesy, cliched, lazy, an insult on my intelligence ... and of all things for a sci-fi (well, well) movie - it was badly edited! There was no believablity, the characters were incredulous, the comedy was flat ... sadly when I am very upset I tend towards incoherence so you have to forgive me (You can read an efficient and interesting review on http://www.debonairmag.com/the_death_of_spiderman.htm). In a bid to create a 'new side' for spiderman, the scriptwriters completely turned the essence of the character upside down - and it wasn't for the best.

Then no one even thought to pay attention to continuity so that we could at least believe what they were saying. Then all those ridicuoous villains who were rebelling without a cause? The whole thing about the black crawling suit and the evolution of the sandman was STUPID. How it turns out that the ex-convict who becomes the Sandman becomes the guy who killed Spidey's precious Uncle Ben? And the pole officer's daughter is also the girl who was saved by Spidey is also his lab colleague and is also supposed to be dating his arch-enemy? Oh please give me a break!

Unfortunately, it is still a watchable movie - there's all the boom and the bam that technology brings to save poor quality movies. Except of course for the editing with its very poor transitions from scene to scene. Spiderman 3 basically runs on the Spiderman format and nothing else. It is a big anticlimax from Spiderman 2 - and based on scripting and characterisation, Nollywood films have done much better.

Myself and Emilia left the cinema about 10 minutes to the end of the movie in protest. And immediately we stood up, about 5 other people followed suit.

I know that Toby Mcguire wants to be able to have enough money to make more million-dollar donations to political campaigns (and even I wish the same for him seeing as he is channeling the movie towards my dear, dear Hillary Bill-Clinton) but really, he should have passed on this one. And oh dont get me started on the ageing Kirsten Durst or whatever her name is.

Irapada Instead
One of the reasons I am even the more upset with myself for going against type and falling for the Spidey hype is the fact I know I SHOULD HAVE gone to see Nigeria's new offering at the cinemas - Irapada.

Irapada is an excellent movie, into which a lot of hard work I went: actually the same production suite that moulded the movie produced the future awards promo at about the same time and so I knew it was going to be fantastic. Kunle Afolayan, who I am not particularly fond on sha, did a lot of hard work for that film. And everyone who has seen it agrees that all the work paid off. I am proud of him.

I should have gone to see that movie! I shouldnt have been shallow and gone for the hype! What moral right do I have to charge others with cultural hypocrisy when I just fell for it myself?

Anyways, since my mum has been bugging and bugging that she wants to see Irapada (even her!), anyone looking to give me a million dollars can deliver it to me by hand at the Silverbird Galleria on Tuesday evening. Just look for which hall is showing Irapada!


MY GIST!!!
The Law Office
Okay, I must apologise for not posting all these days. The internet in the office that I had praised earlier (oh dear Nigeria!) has gone bonkers! And so it seems have the ogas at the Law Office. Putting up an attendance register at the office ... and then one of them comes up the other day and starts threatening fire and brimstone because someone didnt come to work: "I will start being wicked with you people," he says. Oh purlease! I last heard that from my class captain at K. Kotun Memorial Nusery and Primary School!!

Add that to the 2-hour traffic to and from home; and you will pity me. So - here's thanking my friend whose internet I am sending this from on a fantastic Sunday afternoon!!!

A New Toy (Old for many I know, But this is Chude's Blog, Remember)
FINALLY, I had the guts to walk into the Nu Metro store at The Palms and get myself an i-pod after years and years of agonising!!!!!! This time, I rushed into the bank, cashed the money and ran off immediately to get it before my courage failed me one again!!!

It's funny, because i-pods were most certainly was made for me. I am a music junkie; I live on and for music, and had always wondered how one could get music on the go - music per mood.

But you know those thoughts you think only you are having?! Until about half of a decade ago (I am one of those slow to catch up on new technology thank you very much) I was submitted to the 'indignity' of my former boss, yapping me once again for being 'old in the head' when I asked what an ipod was. I couldnt beleive someone had actually done it!



She ended up buying me an mp3 player, which I later lost - but the i-pod had to be the final destination. Still I couldnt bring myself to go beyond my usual sensibleness to spend on this luxury! Yes, the cost of a 20-gig i-pod is the amount of money some people spend at Saga VII in one night I know, but not for me, thank you very much.

So each time I had 'free money', I had to think of something more urgent, more sensible. But I hjavbe finally been defeated by the spirit of music! And ever since I liberatyed my senses with the pod - which I have already filled halfway - it has been a rollercoaster, I tell you. An ipod isnt a luxury ... it's a NECESSITY! A NECESSITY!

Lunch Here, Lunch There
Emilia tells me I will soon be broke (I reject it in Jesus' Name!) because I have been spending so much money on lucnh with my friends since I came back, but it is money worth spending! Over the past two weeks, I have graced Barcelos, Nandos and Robert's Cafe with my presence having lunch with all the people I havent seen with my eyes since Abuja, and it is straining my pocket yes, but it is worth it!

One or two of course have been dates, and I am happy to inform you that I finally got the date I prayed for two posts ago!!!! It was all I wished for and more, since a mutual friend also joined us. I had a rollicking time just listening to the two ladies out-talk me ... I couldnt get a word in! (Which reminds me, dear 'Mutual Friend' otherwise called my 'Sparring Partner' - I am holding you to your promise!!!!!!)

Another lunch that was fun - twas with my my one sure source for Island gossip, my super-ED friend who I have blogged about before. It was fun, fun lunch gisting on all and sundry (oh and this time, someone else paid for lunch!). Plus I have INSIDE Scoop on Ms. Osinowo/Mrs. Soleye's 'happily married life' - but sadly can't share!lol

What else?
'Aunty Stella' as I fondly called her, and the enfant terrible of Nigherian gossip, has opened her blog. Its stelladimoko-korkus.blogspot I think and it has all the juicy gist from Lagos. She has called me names on the blog I hear, and I will check it out - but she can yab me all she wants; Stella has been good to me that I can forgive her bad mouth!

When Stella plugs anything on her column, people hear about it! And not just anybody, i mean THE people who you want to talk to! And this she has done for me continuously without asking a kobo at anytime! I will blog about her properly sometime soon, but meanwhile check her out for yourself. And just ignore all the bravado - that young lady (not so young!) is all mush inside!

Well that's it people ... I have more than made up for the past week havent I?