Thursday, December 18, 2008

Quote of the Day inspired by the Collyer brothers

As I was talking about my domain name bulimia with a colleague, the latter mentioned that instead of bulimia, I should use the word hoarding, and I was like: "what?" which led him to introduce me to the the Collyer Brothers with the help of Wikipedia...

The New York Times on March 26, 1947 wrote:
There is, admittedly, something unattractive about the avidity with which society now pores over every detail the Collyer brothers vigorously withheld from public scrutiny... It is almost as though society were taking revenge upon the brothers for daring to cut the thread that binds man to his fellows.

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Thursday, October 02, 2008

Cool design reusable water bottle, the Kor One launches in 2 hours

The Kor One, a well-thought reusable bottle, will be available for sale in a few hours. Its sleek design reminds of the Voss disposable bottles, packed with innovative features such as "the small release button that allows easy one-hand opening and closing, the hinged cap that stays open while you drink and the extra-wide mouth," to quote the NY Times article. I like the fact that you have the option to insert a mantra you can read when opening the cap, why not insert your kid's or lover's picture? Available @ $29.95.

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Sunday, September 21, 2008

What Should We Do With Our Life?

By: Po Bronson
The real meaning of success -- and how to find it.

A fantastic article about why and how each individual should find meaning in what he/she does and go for it. I especially like how the author, Po Bronson, finds out about some misconceptions and kills in the process the idea of wanting to make (tons of) money 'first' in order to fund/unleash that meaningful dream.
To me, it's like parents who plans to have kids when they earn enough, thinking that this financial comfort will automatically bring the emotional balance required for the 'preparation of the nest'.
The article is from 2002 (published in Fast Company), I wonder if the author still thinks that way, or if he made some new discoveries on the topic.
Apparently he wrote a bunch of books:
Front Cover

More excerpts from the article:

  • Being smarter doesn't make answering The Question easier. Using the brain to solve this problem usually only leads to answers that make the brain happy and jobs that provide what I call "brain candy." Intense mental stimulation. But it's just that: candy . A synthetic substitute for other types of gratification that can be ultimately more rewarding and enduring. As the cop in East L.A. said of his years in management at Rockwell, "It was like cheap wood that burns too fast."
  • What am I good at? is the wrong starting point. People who attempt to deduce an answer usually end up mistaking intensity for passion. To the heart, they are vastly different. Intensity comes across as a pale busyness , while passion is meaningful and fulfilling.
  • Every industry has a culture. And every culture is driven by a value system [...] One of the most common mistakes is not recognizing how these value systems will shape you. People think that they can insulate themselves, that they're different. They're not. The relevant question in looking at a job is not What will I do? but Who will I become?
  • Probably the most debilitating obstacle to taking on The Question is the fear that making a choice is a one-way ride, that starting down a path means closing a door forever.
  • If you don't like The Inevitable Cocktail-Party Question [i.e. "What do you do?"], maybe it's partly because you don't like your answer.

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Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Japan's Salarymen, With Pensions At Stake, Work on Their Marriages

An article about last year's new divorce law forces Japanese men to learn how to pay more attention to their wife...

Learn to Be Nice to Your Wife, or Pay the Price

Japan's Salarymen, With Pensions At Stake, Work on Their Marriages

Washington Post, By Blaine Harden


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