The goal of this blog, is to catalog and record something new that I learn every day. Whether it be academic or nonsensical, I believe this will be something valuable to look back on in the future.
Catching Elephant is a theme by Andy Taylor
What I Learned Today: Pay it Forward
So it has been a while since I last updated my tumblr…sorry for that..for the few who might be reading this, LOL. Today it is raining cats and dogs. Kind of ironic, with Gov. Brown about to sign a repeal of a law that gives funding to animal shelters for medical treatment and euthanizing stray/lost animals.
ON TO THE POINT!
So…everyone has had that moment when their car breaks down or something falls off of their car and they need to get it fixed. That happened to me. The plastic shield under my engine came down and began to drag on the street as I drove my car. It caused so much noise that people hundred of feet away started to turn around to stare at me. Needless to say, I wanted it fixed. ASAP. I was able to take my car to a place called Gilman Collision Repair in Berkeley, CA, where a lady named Nicole and a guy named Craig were SUPER friendly and really helpful. They had multiple cars waiting to get seen and quoted from the rainy day’s victims, but they still took the time to see my car, write me a quick quote for the replacement, and then had a technician get a jack and take out the plastic shield (which I found impossible to do on my own). Since it was so easy for them, they just gave me a smile and told me that it was on the house and to have a great day.
…..really?
It has been such a long time since someone has done something so kind to me. Usually I am the one who holds doors open for people and does random kind acts for strangers. It was actually extremely refreshing to have someone you don’t even know repay that kindness. Other body shops wanted to charge me $20-30, but they did it for free.
I am a believer in karma, and I sincerely hope that the people at Gilman Collision Center have a good deed coming their way.
Pay it forward people! One person can make a huge differenced if they can start a chain reaction of good deeds from one simple act.
What I Learned Today: How to GroOove~
I saw this through a friend’s blog and thought, “omg, this was so long ago!” I still think Rush Hour is one of my favorite comedies of all time. The duo of Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker is pure dynamite…BOOM!!
I think that I will follow in their example and start dancing like that while I study for my college midterms :).
Link: http://news.yahoo.com/photos/tornadoes-tear-through-midwest-slideshow/
WHAT I LEARNED TODAY: Cherish EVERY SECOND of EVERY DAY.
I am ashamed. No. I am not ashamed that I have not appreciated every second of every day - like the title above might portend. I have been so desensitized from the major crises going on in the world, that when I first heard of 10-15 people dying from tornadoes and storms in the middle of the United States…..I chose not to care. I chose to click the article and pictures that were funny and more interesting.
”People died? O well… it isn’t the first time.”
Did I really just think that? Did I really just discount the value of each person’s life that was lost in one night. In ONE night, families lost husbands, wives, daughters, brothers, and friends. In ONE night, people will no longer see someone they loved. They will never be able to apologize for fighting with them hours before the storms. They will never get to have that person smile and take pictures at their high school or college graduation.
It is amazing how awesome each life really is…and yet we choose to forget that in the daily bombardment of news headlines and snit-bits.
Hours after hearing of these deaths, I saw this picture of a man named hugging onto his dog. For some reason, this picture spoke mountains to me. In his shoes, I suddenly began to appreciate my loving parents, my loving sister, my girlfriend, and every friend I have.
I also read today about the inexcusable violation of human rights currently going on in Syria. Babies, Children, Teenagers, Adults, and helpless Grandparents are being slaughtered in the streets. People are living in fear and turmoil. Starbucks at 8AM in the morning before going to work and Yoga at 6PM? Forget about it. These people are praying that when the sun goes down, they will be able to see it come back up.
THAT. That is life outside the bubbles of Orange County, the United States, and what the media sometimes forgets to cover.
Put yourself in their shoes. Life is more than what society puts onto yourselves. There is more to life than being a lawyer, banker, doctor. If I could be so bold as to make one suggestion - If you are reading this article, which I don’t know how many people will - please give the nearest person you love a hug and a kiss and tell them that you love them. You really never will know when they are gone. And live life like there is no tomorrow.
Takeaways:
1.) Appreciate every day, because each day is a miracle of life.
2.) Be aware of how society and the media may desensitize you from what really is important in this world.
3.) Be happy.
I know what I want for Christmas. Birds.
Link: http://news.yahoo.com/air-force-shelves-3b-worth-brand-drones-215342660—abc-news.html
So it seems that the United States Air Force will be putting $3 Billion of brand new unmanned reconnaissance drones in storage. It’s ironic that this highly sophisticated technology still cannot beat out a decades old U-2 spy plane used during the Cold War.
It costs too much to purchase each drone and to maintain them for active use.
My solution: Let’s make some poor kids very happy this Christmas 2012. ;)
What I Learned Today: What!? A Skateboard you don’t have to push off of?
Today I learned that I still have a bit of that inner skater inside of me. I have never been one to be adventurous with skateboards. I have always stuck to my rollerblades, razor scooter, and bicycle. However, seeing some of these gadgets like the spinkicks and the Zboard makes me want to be a teenager again (O God, I’m that old now).
Main take-away: It’s never too late to be a kid!
What I Learned Today: What!? Don't Drink 8 Glasses of Water!?
WHAT!?!?
Apparently, I’ve been doing it all wrong.
I like to describe myself as a “fish,” because I can drain a 1 liter mug of water in minutes….on a normal basis. I don’ know what it is, but I love drinking water. Staying hydrated definitely has made my life more enjoyable and more energized. For that main reason, I always thought that I was doing the right thing of drinking the recommended 8 glasses of water (and then some) everyday. APPARENTLY NOT! According to this article, from the experts at Oprah.com (a trusted medical source), you should gain your daily servings of water through water-rich foods like quinoa, rice, fruits, and vegetables.
*TIP!* The article mentions that having watermelon and cucumbers can provide tons of water but with the added antioxidants!
The other health tips from the article are also surprising for me, but I was truly shocked to find out that I have been doing it wrong for most of my life.
To the start of doing it right! *Cheers*
<Gulps tons of water.>
What I Learned Today: metaphorical tipping
So. We all thought that the whole class warfare between the 1% and the 99% was dying down. The encampments in SF and Oakland, CA have been broken up and life was returning to its normal course. However, a wealthy investment banker left a waitress a “1%” tip (I see what he did there) and gave her a written “tip” in advising her to “get a real job.”
Stepping away from whether this was ethical or not ethical, or moral or immoral. My mind was blown in how there was such a sharp and poignant metaphorical message behind such a simple notion of tipping 1%.
I am a fan of metaphors (I love creative writing), and I thought this was an interesting example of metaphors/symbolism in real life.
What do you think?
What I Learned Today: Cheese!
I am a huge foodie. I believe that food is a way into a man’s heart, a woman’s heart, and a hungry child’s heart. That being said, some foods like CHEESE cause me much stress because it is absolutely delicious in many recipes but also high in fat and calories.
HOWEVER! I learned today the 5 healthiest cheeses that you can eat with LESS guilt (notice I don’t mention zero guilt).
1.) feta (good with salads!)
2.) mozzarella (good with basil and tomatoes)
3.) parmesan (pasta! yum!)
4.) swiss (panini anyone?)
5.) cottage cheese (Extremely delicious with yogurt and fresh fruit)
I’m sad that muenster, cheddar, fontina, and gruyere wasn’t on the list, but life must go on!
Soy Sauce w/ Sake Chicken Recipe
So today I learned that I could cook chicken thighs from costco in a new way that I haven’t tried before.
Ingredients:
one pre-packaged Foster Farms pouch from Costco (4 thighs)
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup sake
8-10 garlic cloves
table spoon of minced ginger
dash of roasted sesame oil
olive oil
Directions:
1. Mix soy sauce, sake, crushed/finely chopped garlic, and minced ginger in a bowl.
2. Add a teaspoon of roasted sesame oil to the bowl (this will meld the flavors well and add in a new dimension to the saltiness)
3. Marinade the chicken for 30 minutes in the bowl. (Be careful not to marinade too long. The chicken will get really salty from the soy sauce.)
4. On medium heat, heat up a pan with olive oil and put in the chicken thighs. While cooking the chicken thighs, be careful not to use too high a heat, or you will get burned sauce and chicken. Add in about 1/4 cup of olive oil to the pan and continue to cook with a lid over it to thoroughly cook the chicken thighs. (WARNING: Never eat undercooked chicken or risk food poisoning!)
5. Before serving, put in the sauce from the bowl and let the chicken simmer in the sauce at medium heat for about 8 minutes.
6. Serve and enjoy!
A fun, tasty, chicken recipe for the poor college student.
Something new that I learned today. My girlfriend can be mean and call me a silly, annoying person :(. QQ #sad #awesomegirlfriend #iloveheranyways
