usually refers to a stylised knife (said to be Nepalese in origin), but in this case it refers to an extremely smart-looking snake – around 10-12cm long – that paid a visit to my house yesterday. Here’s a picture of it all essed up, set to strike.
Kukri snakes are really handsome snakes, with bright lengthwise stripes that converge on their heads in a nice pattern, and a brilliant underside. Here’s the kukri showing that off :)
that I had wanted to post when I read them, but was too lazy to :p
I believe stories are key to the way we persuade, and I enjoy the fit and sense of completeness when someone makes a pertinent point with an appropriate story. Here are some excellent examples :)
The panhandler’s secret [Seth's Blog] – Couldn’t come up with a better moral for the story than Seth’s own: Interact first, sell second.
The disappointed Coca Cola salesman [~synthesis~] – Again, the moral is supplied by the writer: The audience matters most. I find that this rule – drummed into me during university while I was doing communication studies – serves one well whenever and whatever we communicate.
Heaven and hell with long-handled spoons [Harga-Blog] – A very nice way to make the point that our mindset – and in this case we are using the word quite precisely, referring to the mind’s being set on something, reluctant to change its shape – determines whether we live happily or not.
Two minutes into this heartfelt, inspiring performance someone I respect sent to me, I realised that the woman dancer did not have a right arm.
One of the rituals of working life is the exchange of business cards. Mine looks normal, as any civil servant’s would – the most unusual civil service business card I know has Braille, to make it extremely clear we don’t discriminate against blind folks – so I don’t particularly look forward to or think it is a big deal to pass someone one of my cards. To be honest, if someone wanted to contact me, I’d refer him or her to the government directory.
If I had these business cards, on the other hand…
A LEGO avatar for a business ‘card’ – now that’s quite something! (from the Chief Happiness Officer blog)
A business card that fits into a ‘decoder sleeve’ – extra, but cool (from Freelance Switch)
Subtle increments in the height of the coloured blocks make the simple company name even more sticky (from Freelance Switch)
I’m not sure what ninjas have to do with creative design and illustration, which is what Cubicle Ninjas the company purports to do, but ninjas on my business card is something I can *so* aspire to. Someday… (from Freelance Switch)
A fitting way to make an impression, or several… (ok ok ok corny I know) (from creativebits.org)
This is waaaaay cool, but – if your business card can do what *you* can do, isn’t it reducing your business potential? I guess one can see the business card serving as a demo as well, like “my business card makes you stretch *one, two, three* and I will work you hard too”… (from creativebits.org)
Another super-apt card, for an acupuncturist :) (from creativebits.org)
Oh, and I know that a company called Bus Ads, which sells advertisement space on buses, has business cards that look like bus tickets from decades ago, when there were different colours for different prices of tickets. (In Singapore, most passengers use contactless RFID (I think) cards to pay for their bus rides – no more tickets.)
This is too darned cool! [Via the WIRED Gadget Lab's RSS feed, in particular this post]
is not just a synonym for quite rich; it’s also a web site that collects loading graphics or preloaders, those arresting little animations that allow you to visually track the progress of a web page’s loading. These days, with ultra-speedy broadband supporting high resolution and intense graphics, such itty-bitty morsels of art are far less common. So reminisce a bit and take a look at www.prettyloaded.com – it’s well worth it :)
[Learnt of Pretty Loaded from Very Short List, a free service that sends you daily alerts about cool bits of media before they become too cool.]
This is a hilarious and utterly insightful summary of a recent very important months-long event :)
[Hat tip to my sis for telling me about this :)]
P/S. Just so happened that this cheered me up from a lil’ depression induced by reading Truman Capote’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
“things that are needed or wanted”.
One of the most enjoyable parts of following Calvin & Hobbes during its immensely popular stint from 1985 to 1995 was the grotesque/satirical/just-plain-fun snowmen scenes Calvin would make during the winters. And amazingly, some University of Nebraska Medical Center students have put together scenes that Calvin would be proud of.
There is also a set of reenactments of Gary Larson’s The Far Side cartoons at this Flickr group. An example:
Awesome.
Came across two beautiful pieces of writing and one intriguing blog post the last few days, and I thought I’d share them.
Joshua Bell
The intriguing blog post was from Tim’s Blog, about a stunt/experiment that violinist extraordinaire Joshua Bell took part in. [See the Washington Post story here to get the background. (Free registration may be required.)] To paraphrase the Post, on this Friday morning, in the middle of the first rush hour of the day, at the arcade of a busy train station, one of the best violinists in the world played some of the most moving music ever written on one of the most valuable violins ever made, for 43 minutes. Many walked past Joshua Bell without a second glance, even though he wasn’t being miserly with his talent – he played one of the most difficult pieces a violinist can play, in his energetic, all-motion style. At the end, he earned just over 50USD, including a 20USD donation toward the end of the stunt/experiment from someone who recognised him.
This stunt/experiment asks several questions about beauty and its context, but I also like Tim’s question: “How many things are we missing?” If people can ignore Joshua Bell’s music, what else that is significant and beautiful and true might they be missing?
I think this context bit is worth thinking about a little more, too. Say you saw this athletic floppy-haired chap with a liquid backhand playing tennis with a powerful muscular left-hander who hits his forehands with a vicious topspin, would you know who they were if you hadn’t seen them on TV before? And would it make a difference, to whether you watch them play or not? Should it? That says something about the power of globalisation and media and technology.
Desiderata
I came across Max Ehrmann’s Desiderata via the Personal MBA blog and absolutely loved it. I think you will too.
Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.
Detroit
(Not sure why, but I usually misspell “Detroit”.) I really enjoyed this article about Detroit’s resilience as its famed automobile industry collapses. The article is written by Mitch Albom – author of “Tuesdays with Morrie” – and a stirring piece, even from this far away.
