Sunday, May 31, 2009

[did you know?] Park Statues of a Person on a Horse

From a poster apparently at the Village Coffee Cafe (in Pretoria?) in South Africa: "If a statue in the park, of a person on a horse has both front legs in the air, the person died in battle. If the horse has one front leg in the air, the person died as a result of wounds received in battle. If the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural causes. (Unknown)"

Saturday, May 23, 2009

[prustrations] If We Just Have The Sense of a Goose

____________Forwarded Message____________
The
next time
you see Geese
heading South for
the Winter, flying along
in V formation, you might
consider what science has discovered
as to why they fly that way:
As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an
uplift for the bird immediately following. By
flying in V formation the whole flock adds at least
71% greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own.
People who share a common direction and sense of community
can get where they are going more quickly and easily
because they are travelling on the thrust of one another.

When
a goose falls
out of formation,
it suddenly feels the drag
and resistance of trying to go it alone
and quickly gets back into formation to take
advantage of the lifting power of the bird in front.
If we have as much sense as a goose,
we will stay in formation
with those who are headed the same way we are.

When
the Head Goose
gets tired, it rotates back
in the wing and another goose flies point.
It is sensible to take turns doing demanding jobs
with people or with geese flying South.

Geese
honk from behind to encourage
those up front to keep up their speed.
What do we say when we honk from behind?

Finally,
and this is important,
when a goose gets sick,
or is wounded by gunshots
and falls out of formation,
two other geese fall out with that goose
and follow it down to lend help and protection.
They stay with the fallen goose until it is able to fly,
or until it dies.

Only then do they launch out on their own, or with another formation
to catch up with their group.

IF WE JUST HAVE THE SENSE OF A GOOSE,
WE WILL STAND BY EACH OTHER
LIKE THEM.

____________Ronjie's Reaction____________

sa nakikita ko, nagsusubok naman tayo na mag-V-formation. pero pag ang iba ay biglang "nagutom," aalis na lang bigla ng formation pag makakita ng makakain. "gutom na ako e!" wala nang pakialaman bigla. maririnig mo kung minsan ito sa mga hirit na "mahirap lang ako / kelangan kong mag-hanap-buhay e / matanda na ako e / mayaman ka naman e" na dahilan nila para lumabag ng batas, sumingit sa linya, atbp.

kung minsan naman mapapagod ang nasa harap at walang gustong pumalit. kakaunti lang ang mga kusang papayag na mapunta sa harap ng pormasyon. ang karamihan ay ayaw akuin ang responsibilidad. gusto nila sila na lang palagi ang nasa likod at magtamasa ng mas madaling paglipad. umaasa na lang sa iba.

ang iba namang mapupunta sa harap ng pormasyon, ang bagal ng lipad! pero gusto nilang manatiling nasa harap sila, di bale nang meroong mas may kakayahan pa sa kanila. sikat kasi pag ikaw ang nasa harap. hindi nila ma-sikmura na merong mas magaling sa kanila.

ano ang nangyayari dahil ganito ang karamihan sa atin? hindi kalayuan ang inaabot ng grupo.

totoo nga, kung sana lang ..."If We Just Have The Sense of a Goose"

Saturday, May 2, 2009

[did you know?] go veggie now!

I've said this before but... I'll still say it again.

The livestock industry produces 40% [1] more global heating emissions than cars, trucks, trains, planes, and ships combined; one pound of beef requires over 10,000 [2] litres of water to produce; and 80% [3] of Amazon deforestation is for cattle ranching.

Not necessarily to go complete vegetarian, but you are helping the environment a great big deal if you eat lower on the food chain, to choose food that pollutes less wherever possible, and support people who make those choices. What more if most if not all of us are going veggie.

Think about it. And tell the world.

[1] http://www.fao.org/docrep/010/a0701e/a0701e00.HTM
[2] http://www.sakia.org/cms/fileadmin/content/irrig/general/kreith_1991_water_inputs_in_ca_food_production-excerpt.pdf
[3]
http://www.cifor.cgiar.org/Publications/Corporate/NewsOnline/NewsOnline33/livestock.htm