If, on the main aiesec weblog page, we've stopped updating the ''top 100'' list of "most read weblogs yesterday" (it was last updated in may) can we expand the list of recently updated blogs?  you know, like 20 or 50 or 100 instead of 10? 

The recently updated list is the only exposure that blogs not on that outdated 'top 100' get.  However, as soon as the 10th person updates... a blog not on the '100' drops from view. 

The 10 recently updated list is how i learn about newer aiesec blogs.  People who hit the main page irregularly like myself are probably missing out on some good blogs because they aren't listed the '100' and drop from 10 recently updated fairly quickly.  However some of my favs from the 'top 100 yesterday' haven't been updated in... ages.  (truly tantamount to taunting and teasing!)

just a thought.

On a side note, it's been a long long time since i couldn't log in to my blog because the aiesec.ws server was down... oops.  JYNXED.

Singing Japanese plants
Tue 20 July, 2004 11:44

TOKYO (Reuters) - People who like talking to their plants can now enjoy a musical accompaniment, thanks to a Japanese invention that turns petals and leaves into amplifiers.

Called the "Flower Speaker Amplifiers", the gadget made by Let's Corp is hidden in a vase or a potted plant and sends music at just the right frequency to vibrate up the stems and then be converted into audible sound by the plant as a whole.

A device such as a CD player or radio can be connected to it.

"Anywhere where you would want music naturally integrated with a natural surrounding," said Hirohiko Okugawa, a manager at Let's, referring to locations for the device, which he expects it to be popular for hotels and hospital lobbies.

The inventor of the gadget, Keiji Koga, said: "We are finally able to experience plants and flowers with all five of our natural senses."

The firm expects to begin selling the speakers by mid-August for 5,000 yen (24.8 pounds) to 50,000 yen depending on the plant's size.

And according to Koga, music is also good for the plants, which are invigorated by the constant musical vibes.

Ahhhhh yes, google really is cool... they've got google in the language of
the sweedish chef from the muppet show!

http://www.google.com/intl/xx-bork/
Posted by BG on 7/19/04; 11:41:02 AM

There's just something about having one of your boys come out and see ya,
drink'n, bullshitting, and hanging out till boo foo in the morining. (aka 5
AM plus...)

glad the girl got to see some of it. maybe she'll lay off the 'other
boyfriend' jokes some....
Posted by BG on 7/17/04; 4:41:05 AM

car won't run... grrrrr

thought i had it fixed.  not so much.

i've said it before, and i'll say it many times again... however, tonight i'll convey my message in the form of a remembered quote/conversation.

so, right before leaving purdue, one of my classes gave us the oportunity to listen to big shots come lecture us.  (yeah, total attendance class...) but they also gave us the same 'opportunity' to have either breakfast or lunch with them also.  (also read, required attendance at a certain number of these things... but hey, a decent free lunch.)  anyway, i took the 'opportunity' to have lunch with Mike Cave, Senior V.P. Commercial Avaiation Service, Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

One of the things he spoke of was how family affects your decisions and actions, especially children.  He and his wife made the conscious decision that work would never follow him home.  When discussion this, she made the following point... While children grow up, some concepts are harder to grasp than others.  When 'dad' walks out the door in the morning, they can understand he's at work.  They can't play or be with him, they miss him until he returns.  If 'dad' shuts himself in an office at home, the concept 'dad is at work' is impossible to understand.  The absence is far more personal and esoteric.  'Dad' isn't 'at work,' he's there behind that door, and he doesn't love me enough to come play with me.

Heady stuff to be sure, and definetely something to consider when planning a family and maintaining balance.  The problem, however, is that nephews have a similar problem with their uncles.  I accomplished far less than I had planned today.  Tomorrow, is another day.  Many people considered today a "de-facto holiday."

Anyway, Heather's freaky book ended up having strong religious overtones.  And a comment from one of Mike's dates gone bad struck a thought.  He had an evening where an overtly religious date stated that a person with no chance of exposure to christianity's path to heaven had no chance at entry to heaven.  I personally reject such things.  It just seems too much like a professor who tests you on a more advanced chapter or even material from another class or book.  Some people would interpret that by saying living by a code of values and beliefs similar to those espoused in christianity as a prime method to 'earning' a spot in heaven.  However, any good AIESEC'r will tell you that values and beliefs are shaped in part by culture, and many cultures value many different things. 

Do things like reason have a place in deciding matters of faith? 

I've been intrigued by these blog entries on Micro-Businesses.  (Micro-businesses are all businesses under a million dollars gross... basically me and most other starting entrepreneurs.)

First client euphoria aside... I'm pretty pleased. 

I suppose I should explain more about the situation.  Wednesday was a good day.  Up early, and at the coffee shop of my first meeting well before meeting my referal service (YCC).  They wanted to chat me up about getting myself some advertising.  Fairly decent rates I think.  A fairly interesting ploy to get everybody in the service in one magazine and then have everybody leave that with their clients and potential clients...

Walked over from there to the potential client.  Got in, and was barely through introductions before they launched into payment options and 'we need help' type questions.  Always nice not to have to sell, eh?

So, I'm committed to doing the event planner work for a group which teaches marketing to lawyers.  They've got a home course, and also a seminar.  Last year, the seminar was at Mandalay Bay in L:as Vegas.  They've already started promoting this seminar in Vegas, so it'll stay there.  At whatever hotel I can find.  They want something that creates an impression... the Bellagio, the MGM Grand, et al... **fights back evil grin**

AND, they want me to go out there with them and deal with the hotel and help out where I can.

Anyway, the current payment plan revolves around me getting a commission on the sales of the rooms booked at the hotel.  I also plan on getting some kind of lump sum payment from them.  Plus, I don't want to pay to fly to Vegas, or for my room.  **evil grin is harder to fight back this time**

I'm ready to start sending out RFP's to the hotels, I've got that prepared.  And as I go, I'm tracking my time on a spreadsheet.  So I should get a pretty decent look at how my billable hours will fall out.  I've heard that for event planners, you hit a billable hour wall which limits how much you can make.  At that point, you need to start selling something along with your service.  But I have quite a long time before that issue arrises.  But hopefully, not that long.  With more clients, I can play with my payment options to find something that works.

Anyway... more thoughts as they develop.  Happy Blogging!