Month: March 2013
Atticus bought Jem and Scout new air guns. When uncle Jack taught them how to shoot with the guns, Atticus said to Jem:
“I’d rather you shot at tin cans in the back yard, but I know you’ll go after birds. Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ’em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.”
Later Miss Maudie explained to Scout, “Your father’s right,” she said. “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s gardens, don’t nest in corncribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mocking bird.”
If you can learn only one thing in life, let it be this.
Be kind to everyone, especially to those who can’t defend for themselves.
“Teaching a child not to step on a caterpillar is as valuable to the child as it is to the caterpillar.”
– Bradley Miller
I was always a misfit. It’s not easy. There were times when it was achingly difficult. I tried to blend in, but it had its limits. Pffft, and after all, there is no fun in being normal, regular. I finally decided to cherish what I’m, rather than what everybody expected me to be. I wanted a name. I began searching for the perfect name. The perfect name for a born rebel. The perfect name for a knowledge junkie. The perfect name for a free soul.
It dawned to me that the perfect name was the name deemed most imperfect. Name of the child of Dawn. The original misfit. Morning star. I chose Lucifer.
But.. Lucifer? The devil?
Before you run for your pitchforks and torches, take a moment and think of all the atrocities committed by god fearing people. Murders, rapes and world wars, discrimination, torture and hate crimes, and all the other things heard and unheard of. If all these are the doings of God’s followers, then I would rather have very very nothing to do with such a God.
You teach, you are a teacher. You heal, you are a healer. Your actions become you. Your beliefs become your actions. You are what you believe in.
In a world where people say they love the rain but stays inside when it rains, In a world where people pray to God to be kind to them, but are themselves not kind to others, In a world filled with perfect people, I’m a mistake and a misfit. I’m what I believe in. I’m Lucifer.
The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference.
Elie Wiesel
The opposite of beauty is not ugliness, it’s indifference.
The opposite of faith is not heresy, it’s indifference.
And the opposite of life is not death, but indifference between life and death.
(This is a very old joke and you probably have read it somewhere already. I didn’t write it, but it was too funny to pass up. So here it is.)
Lesson 1: A man is getting into the shower just as his wife is finishing up her shower, when the doorbell rings. The wife quickly wraps herself in a towel and runs downstairs. When she opens the door, there stands Bob, the next-door neighbor. Before she says a word, Bob says, ‘I’ll give you $800 to drop that towel.’ After thinking for a moment, the woman drops her towel and stands naked in front of Bob, after a few seconds, Bob hands her $800 and leaves. The woman wraps back up in the towel and goes back upstairs. When she gets to the bathroom, her husband asks, ‘Who was that?’ ‘It was Bob the next door neighbor,’ she replies. ‘Great,’ the husband says, ‘did he say anything about the $800 he owes me?’
Moral of the story: If you share critical information pertaining to credit and risk with your shareholders in time, you may be in a position to prevent avoidable exposure.
Lesson 2: A priest offered a Nun a lift. She got in and crossed her legs, forcing her gown to reveal a leg. The priest nearly had an accident. After controlling the car, he stealthily slid his hand up her leg. The nun said, ‘Father, remember Psalm 129?’ The priest removed his hand. But, changing gears, he let his hand slide up her leg again. The nun once again said, ‘Father, remember Psalm 129?’ The priest apologized ‘Sorry sister but the flesh is weak.’ Arriving at the convent, the nun sighed heavily and went on her way. On his arrival at the church, the priest rushed to look up Psalm 129. It said, ‘Go forth and seek, further up, you will find glory.’
Moral of the story: If you are not well informed in your job, you might miss a great opportunity.
Lesson 3: A sales rep, an administration clerk, and the manager are walking to lunch when they find an antique oil lamp. They rub it and a Genie comes out. The Genie says, ‘I’ll give each of you just one wish.’ ‘Me first! Me first!’ says the admin clerk. ‘I want to be in the Bahamas , driving a speedboat, without a care in the world.’ Puff! She’s gone. ‘Me next! Me next!’ says the sales rep. ‘I want to be in Hawaii , relaxing on the beach with my personal masseuse, an endless supply of Pina Coladas and the love of my life.’ Puff! He’s gone. ‘OK, you’re up,’ the Genie says to the manager. The manager says, ‘I want those two back in the office after lunch..’
Moral of the story: Always let your boss have the first say..
Lesson 4: An eagle was sitting on a tree resting, doing nothing.. A small rabbit saw the eagle and asked him, ‘Can I also sit like you and do nothing?’ The eagle answered: ‘Sure, why not.’ So, the rabbit sat on the ground below the eagle and rested. All of a sudden, a fox appeared, jumped on the rabbit and ate it.
Moral of the story: To be sitting and doing nothing, you must be sitting very, very high up.
Lesson 5: A turkey was chatting with a bull. ‘I would love to be able to get to the top of that tree’ sighed the turkey, ‘but I haven’t got the energy..’ ‘Well, why don’t you nibble on some of my droppings?’ replied the bull. They’re packed with nutrients.’ The turkey pecked at a lump of dung, and found it actually gave him enough strength to reach the lowest branch of the tree. The next day, after eating some more dung, he reached the second branch. Finally after a fourth night, the turkey was proudly perched at the top of the tree. He was promptly spotted by a farmer, who shot him out of the tree.
Moral of the story: Bull Shit might get you to the top, but it won’t keep you there..
Lesson 6: A little bird was flying south for the winter. It was so cold the bird froze and fell to the ground into a large field. While he was lying there, a cow came by and dropped some dung on him. As the frozen bird lay there in the pile of cow dung, he began to realize how warm he was. The dung was actually thawing him out! He lay there all warm and happy, and soon began to sing for joy. A passing cat heard the bird singing and came to investigate. Following the sound, the cat discovered the bird under the pile of cow dung, and promptly dug him out and ate him.
Morals of the story:
(1) Not everyone who shits on you is your enemy.
(2) Not everyone who gets you out of shit is your friend.
(3) And when you’re in deep shit, it’s best to keep your mouth shut!
THUS ENDS THE FIVE MINUTE MANAGEMENT COURSE
When you have to make a hard decision, flip a coin.
Unknown
Because when that coin is in the air, you suddenly know what you’re hoping for.
Pete: You need to give the painting back. People are looking for it, bad people..
Johnny: You may have a point, Pete, but I can’t give it up.
Johnny: You know why?
Pete: No, why?
Johnny: You see that pack of Virginia killing sticks on the end of the piano?
Pete: Yes.
Johnny: All you need to know about life is retained within those four walls. You will notice that one of your personalities is seduced by the illusions of grandeur. A gold packet of king size with a regal insignia. An attractive implication toward glamour and wealth. A subtle suggestion that cigarettes are indeed your royal and loyal friends. And that, Pete, is a lie.
Your other personality is trying to draw your attention to the flip side of the discussion. Written in boring, bold, black and white, is the statement, that these neat little soldiers of death, are, in fact, trying to kill you. And that, Pete, is the truth.
Oh, beauty is a beguiling call to death and I’m addicted to the sweet pitch of its siren.
That that starts sweet ends bitter. And that which starts bitter ends sweet.
That is why you and I love the drugs, and that is also why I cannot give that painting back.
Conversation between Johnny Quid and Pete, RocknRolla.
well, duh!
