Most animals shed skin at regular intervals and we regenerate new ones. In humans the process is rather unceremonious and happens all the time but not so in reptiles. When I was younger I had seen a lizard in the process of shedding skin and had been riveted.

Sir Isaac Newton is easily regarded as one of the greatest minds in mathematics/physics. To him is credited the 3 laws of motion; the 1st one, also known as the law of Inertia is attributed to an equally great mind Galileo. Coincidentally Isaac Newton was born the same year Galileo died; a good argument that both men demonstrated the beauty of motion by passing the baton, one to the other in their exemplary existence.

John Steinbeck is the award-winning author of the book that is the title of today’s column. To lovers of deep prose; he is a master craftsman whose words come to life in the twisted tale he tells so beautifully! To those not in the know; it is the tale of George and Lennie; two friends with a dream and a passion to work towards achieving that dream.

Not too long ago, I had been on my way home from a land so very far away. My journey each way included two long haul flights, two three-hour stop- overs and then a four-hour drive before I would eventually be at my destination.

Not too long ago, I had been on my way home from a land so very far away. My journey each way included 2 rather long haul flights, two 3 hour stop overs and then a 4 hour drive before I would eventually be at my destination.

Truth is hardly ever universal as there is no ideology with complete acceptance by all of humanity. Many people have different truths and only the passion with which that truth is defended is universal. Some people hold fast to the truth that there is no truth and that in itself is a legitimate right and a truth of sorts.

Human evolution is not a static process, through the ages, man has physically evolved and remains in the process of evolution. From the Stone Age to the Iron Age, man has had to adapt to different situations that best supports the primal need to survive.

Just a week ago, I sat down in the company of a few people to a robust argument about the nature of the new generation that we are parents to. In the past couple of weeks my mind has been fully focussed on the parenting skills of my generation and I would not be fair if I didn’t present another valid argument which I will admit makes me a lot more comfortable.

The letter published last week has been circulating for months on the Internet and while it is indeed, a brilliant read, its value is in the indictment of the new generation Nigerian parents. I had received it over 10 times in chain e-mails and I am just as curious to know its author.

Friends,let me add the benefit of my time as a student and then resident in the UK – and I live in Lagos now. The first thing that I discovered about UK-born, white, English undergraduates was that all of them did holiday or weekend job to support themselves – including the children of millionaires amongst them. It is the norm over there – regardless how wealthy their parents are. And, I soon discovered that virtually all other foreign students did the same – the exception being those of us status-conscious Nigerians.

Life is a forward moving event, it’s wheels turn constantly and it goes on in spite of our personal challenges, triumphs, tragedies and successes. The world doesn’t miss a beat and the rhythm of life is uninterrupted day in and day out.

The earth will not be destroyed by us or even generations worse than we are. It’s an entity that will survive our greed and plunder. What we should learn from the ice age is that it will purge itself of polluting forces and renew itself with a new generation that will adapt and conquer the elements to survive! I pray that we are able to reduce the pollution and come together to develop a new consciousness that will take from the old and modify with the new. We could easily turn things around if profit was no longer our priority at the expense of our humanity.

The dream of parents back then was that their offspring have a better life than they did and education and a disciplined upbringing were an integral part of that. Parents back then were the generation of baby boomers and they gave birth to us. They had many struggles, life wasn’t easy but they lived as members of a community and took their place gladly.