In My Head

“Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning a lion wakes up. It knows it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death. It doesn’t matter whether you are a lion or a gazelle… when the sun comes up, you’d better be running.” 

- Pg. 114 of “The World is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century” by Thomas L. Friedman

“Whoever said ‘it is the thought that counts’ was never much for action.”

“Actions speak louder than words.”

Chinese New Year
2010 – The year of the tiger

THE TIGER
2010, 1998, 1986, 1974, 1962, 1950

The Tiger is said to be lucky vivid, lively and engaging. Another attribute of the Tiger is his incredible bravery, evidenced in his willingness to engage in battle or his undying courage. Maybe he’s so brave because he is so lucky. But the Chinese say a Tiger having a Tiger in the house is the very best protection against the evils of fire, burglary.

Tigers do not find worth in power or money. They will be completely honest about how they feel and expect the same of you. On the other hand, they seek approval from peers and family. Generally, because of their charming personalities Tigers are well liked. Often, failing at a given task or being unproductive in his personal or professional life can cause a Tiger to experience a depression. Criticism from loved ones can also generate this type of Tiger reaction. Still, like all felines, Tigers always land on their feet, ready for their next act in life, pursuing it with unyielding energy and hunting it infallibly.

Tigers are also incorrigibly competitive – they simply cannot pass up a challenge, especially when honor is at stake, or they are protecting those they love. Tigers are unpredictable and it would be unwise to underestimate their reactions. They may appear cool, but they have the Big Cat’s instincts to pounce at a moment’s warning. Natural leaders, they have a strong sense of their own dignity, and if they find themselves in the ranks, they can be stubborn and obstinate. In positions of power they can be difficult though stimulating bosses. Tigers are intelligent, alert, and farsighted. They have their fingers on the pulse. Good strategists and tacticians, they often have a hidden agenda. As long as they do not risk their luck too often, and keep their restless nature under control, their tactics usually pay off in life.

CHARACTERISTICS

Courage, Vehemence, Self-Reliance, Friendliness, Hopefulness, Resilience, Vanity, Disregard

The number 9 in Chinese culture, being the greatest of single-digit numbers, was historically associated with the Emperor of China; the Emperor’s robes often had nine dragons, and Chinese mythology held that the dragon has nine children. Moreover, the number 9 is a homophone of the word for “longlasting” (久), and as such is often used in weddings.

Riding home from class last night, a Hispanic guy kept trying to look down my shirt.  There was nothing to see, but he was sitting all squished up against me, so it was uncomfortable (he was not being subtle).

I decided to stand the remainder of the ride, and across from where I stood was this quote which I found thought provoking.

“Out of the crooked timber of humanity, nothing entirely straight can be built.”  ~ Immanuel Kant

Conceived by an NYC mechanical engineer and tested by heroic nerds at MIT Aeronautics and Astronautics to withstand a 60mph gale, this ultra-huge rain & pigeon poop shield sports all-fiberglass construction, two vented canopies to channel wind and, in the shaft handle, a hidden steel spike — drive it into moist turf to protect golf balls & prop clubs, or into the face of pedestrians rightly scolding you for having such a damn big umbrella.

Image credit: Sean McCabe

Great article in The Atlantic this month.  Though it is long, it was very interesting in looking at the history of past economic crises and what it took to break out of them and predicts what areas of the country and what factors about those areas are going to make it easier for them to survive and flourish  after this current upheaval.  For those of you in transition of some sort, wondering where and how to make this time eventually work for you, this article may have some good insights.

Umami…  Hmm.  Who knew?

On a side note, did anyone know that a banana is considered to be a berry?

The banana fruit is a berry. Berries are identified as being many seeded with a fleshy inner layer. So, technically a banana is a berry. And, believe it or not, bananas don’t grow on trees! Originally from Asia, the “banana tree” is really not a tree in the true sense. In fact, banana plants have no wood fiber. The banana plant is the world’s largest herb and a member of the lily family.

“I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment, I still have a dream.” ~ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., August 28, 1963, Washington, D.C.