108: Knowing is not doing, March 2011

Lots of stuff to share this week!

"Knowing is not doing."

"Courage is the first step of a virtuous action."

Enjoy!
-Andrew


I have a new video of the ‘Isn’t is Grand!’

The Office Experiment tank is coming along well.  I've added a piece of drift wood and java moss. The extra plants must have taken the nutrients the algae blooms were consuming. Right now the algae are at the lowest point since I started the tank in January.

 

 There is a big giant tank in the office now. That is 72 gallons of birthday excess. This glorious tank sits inches away from my chair and offers a four feet wide view.  The Legacy Tank is now this.  Soon it will be a simple hard-scape with may fish.  The reason behind this change is the realization that I want an easier tank to manage.

PS>
No-fly zone has been established in Libya, we’ll see how this turns out. State military should never be used on its people. 

I did my taxes two weeks ago.  When you do your duty be happy to pay for streets, emergency services.  Be proud of the government you support that keeps your children educated, food safe and keeps news from not being controlled by a private corporation.

I have a few endorsements this week.  Nissan Thermos Mug has been a great Christmas gift.  I’ve had tea and coffee keep warm for up to three and four hours.  

I have gone completely digital with my final frontier, books.  Audible.com had peaked my interest for a while.  I’ve always like the concept of audio books and finally signed up.  I’m always reluctant to use my credit card for monthly services.  With no commitment and the monthly credit encourages me purchase and listen to a new book every month.  Great selection helps too!

The auto show was this past week and I went on the 16th of course.  The MB S550 and Chevy Stingray, what's not to love.  One American car that caught my eye was the Ford Mustang Boss 302.

Went all out on and indulged in my Friday lunch.  Doesn’t get much better that Chipotle.  BTW, Fajita burrito without rice, black beans, barbacoa, green salsa, pico, sour cream, cheese, side of gauc with chips and a can of coke.

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There are two wonderful music pieces to share this week. American Beauty Soundtrack by Thomas Newman.  Second is a very moving orchestral piece, adagio for stings. 

Before I ending with a joke, take care of you this week. Do something you love at least once a day.

A DEA officer stopped at a ranch in Texas , and talked with an old rancher. He told the rancher, "I need to inspect your ranch for illegally grown drugs." The rancher said, "Okay , but don't go in that field over there.....", as he pointed out the location. The DEA officer verbally exploded saying, " Mister, I have the authority of the Federal Government with me !" Reaching into his rear pants pocket, he removed his badge and proudly displayed it to the rancher. "See this badge?!  This badge means I am allowed to go wherever I wish.... On any land !!  No questions asked or answers given!!  Have I made myself clear......do you understand ?!!" The rancher nodded politely, apologized, and went about his chores. A short time later, the old rancher heard loud screams, looked up, and saw the DEA officer running for his life, being chased by the rancher's big Santa Gertrudis bull...... With every step the bull was gaining ground on the officer, and it seemed likely that he'd  sure enough get gored before he reached safety.  The officer was clearly terrified. The rancher threw down his tools, ran to the fence and yelled at the top of his lungs....."Your badge, show him your BADGE........ ! !" 

107: My first tank ever & THE WALL

Hello everyone!  Happy almost spring! 

This photograph was taken around 2003, give or take a year.  This week’s post is more about me than aquariums and fish tanks. The photo below shows the collection of me and friend’s contribution to the teenage tapestry we called The Wall.  As you can see this wall is very colorful.  Turning thirty on March 16^th, I figured this was a great time to reflect on who made this wall art and how it made me who am I today.

PS>
My birthday is in two days!  FYI, I like red or yellow paint on my Ferrari's!

It was an incredible news last week from around the world.  The strongest earthquake in 1,200 years of recorded history hit Japan on Friday.  The subsequent tsunami with damaged nuclear plants; whoa!  Continued strife in Libya dominated the news.  Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker signed legislation that strips the majority of the states workers there collective bargaining rights with a shady, illegal, mid-night, back handed action.  

On a light note; progress to cherish life in Illinois is shown this week.  I read this article then ran into this quote a few days later.  Normally this topic isn’t something I share however the thought is powerful and worth reflecting on.  “Every man has his secret sorrows which the world knows not; and often times we call a man cold when he is only sad.”  -Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Buddha said “The tight string breaks and there is no music.  The relaxed string doesn't make any sound and the music stops.  The focus of life should be how to achieve balance.” 

I’ll end with a highlight for International Woman’s Day.  This video clip (1m30s) is Tina Fay in last week’s 30 Rock.

Make it a great week!

106: Featuring a rearranged 'Isn't it Grand', March 2011

Welcome! This week’s tank is a revisit of ‘102: Isn’t it Grand’ from week one.  I’ve rearranged a few plants in the tank.  Enjoy the video too!

This week’s post is simple.  For many reasons, the main one is I lost a couple hours of work by not using correct writing platforms; more about this later in the blog.  This rookie mistake is deflating.  You’ll see, next week’s post will be fun.  It’s a tank with some history so I want to do it right.  I’m not going for perfection and keeping it to want I like.

New! Haiku of the week:

five pieces of glass

hold life in

just keep swimming

PS>

Hello everyone.  As many who visit this blog know, this blog is more than aquariums for me.  While I like to share my hobby this gives me a chance to share my point of view. I hope you enjoy and I would love to start a discussion with anyone of you should you like.  Some of life's favorite people share opposing views.

I wanted to start the PS this week and share the empowering wise thoughts of Don Miguel Ruiz  “You don't need to know or prove anything.  Just to be, to take a risk and enjoy your life, is all that matters.  Say no when you want to say no, and yes when you want to say yes.  You have the right to be you.”

To continue a thought from last week, I was talking about seasonal effectiveness disorder.  The people of Finland have an interesting insight on the suns daily absents in the winter time.  Check out this funny story on CNN about Finish Light Problems.

Not too sure how many times I have lost content writing this blog.  How do all those writers trust technology with your craft? I noticed the preverbal balloon that keeps me afloat gets quickly popped when the trust of technology to keeps your words safe fails or is mismanaged.  I had to make a different post just to get past the frustrations it created.  Not that I lost much content but I couldn’t revisit that topic without thinking how much I hated working in the ‘cloud’.  So I’m back to a word processor with data on only one computer.  Fine.

It was a very interesting work week.  I cover the east coast area.  Working with schools and churches, last week about 80% of the schools had winter break in mid-February. It was slow.  Not a big problem just went a little stir crazy.  Starting on Monday, thinking this week would be back to normal, the Mayor of Road Island has given pink slips to 2,000 teachers.  Check out the story here.  Instead of asking ‘how was your break and what do you think about this project for next year’ the conversations are ‘do you think you will be employed next year?’  Ridiculous!  I’ve learned from Stephen R. Covey to only worry about things I have control over.  All I can be is grateful for what I have and pray this insanity is resolved in a timely manner.

Be inspired with invigorating and wonderfully spoken words of Congressman Ryan from Ohio as he Stands Up Against SB-5 on the House Floor.

Final thought to leave you with a warm fuzzy.

Breaking down an aquarium this past week end, pictured below, it was setup at my friend Nichol’s for the past year or so.  Pictured is my friend Rocky and son Harley.  While filling the 5 gallon jug, Harley was holding the hoes.  Harley not paying too much attention I got him wet a little and we laughed.  No more than 30 seconds later he looks at me sternly and say “hey, this shirt was ten dollars” and we all erupted.  What a great kid and parents.

Make it a great week everybody!  You’ll see me next Monday! Same time?  You got that right!