Taking a shuttle

Equitable Life Insurance Co, NYC
Postcard

I wonder


What is the world's most popular transportation company?


... therefore, I think!

Think, think hard my friends about your answer ... and one clue ... do not think cars! as in vehicle on the road.

If your answer is OTIS, you win.

If you are puzzled by the answer think as in vertical shuttle ! as in to go from ground floor to which ever floor you are going to. Apparently, it is estimated that the equivalent of the world's population travels in Otis elevators, escalators or moving walkways every three to nine days! Now, you are surprised, aren't you?

A parenthesis on history: 

Elisha Otis invented in 1852 a special mechanism to lock the elevator car in place should the hoisting cable fail. The following year,  Otis founded an elevator company under the name Union Elevator Works, which later was renamed Otis Brothers & Co. Today, the company is owned by the United Technology Company.

Just in case, you have never paid attention while you were in an elevator, here is to refresh your memory:

There is life before and after the OTIS elevator.

Before: 

no skyscrapers. Rent was more expensive on floors below (that has changed) and revenues of business on top floors were also lower since fewer people were going up ... Stair cases were dark and narrow, not too convivial for anyone ... 

After:

Well ... in 1868, the Equitable Life Assurance Co. thought about it carefully and having prime location at the corner of Broadway and Cedar Street in NYC, launched a competition (architecture) for a new building that would have to have a passenger elevator ... and that was it. They kept the lower floors for their business and rented the top floors at the maximum price selling the fact that there was lighter, fresh air, less noise from the street and a better view! That was a radical new idea !

The elevator has completely changed are way of living! Today, the cream of the cream is on top floor that is for housing, offices or stores. Just to give you an idea, here are some famous building that have Otis elevators: the Eiffel Tower (Paris, France), Empire States Building (NYC, USA), Petronas Twin Tower (Malaysia), CN Tower (Toronto, Canada), Skylon Tower (Niagara Falls, Canada), and Burj Khalifa (Dubai).

Bet you will check next time you take the vertical shuttle just to see if it is an OTIS !

Great people

I read

All you need is love...
or
It's a beautiful morning ...

or
You've got a friend ...

... therefore, I think!

How do you know you are working with the right people?

Well, one good answer is when you do not have such a good week and your new employee of only few weeks comes to your office all chirpy telling you that you look good today. She takes care of stuff you don't have time to and then phones you to tell you: "Go at the front door ... trust me ... you'll be happy."

You trust her so you go ...
and find out that she has ordered you flowers to put a big nice smile on your face !!!
That's when your week suddenly turns into a great one!
Thanks AP.

Need a vacation?

I read

Nous avons en partie perdu notre capacité à assumer notre vie et à composer avec les changements d'humeur inévitables, inhérents à notre existence.

N'arrêtez jamais de danser! Dr. Gordon Livingston

I translate:

We have lost part of our capacity to fulfill our lives and deal with the inevitable mood swings inherent in our existence.

... therefore, I think!

OOPS! re-oops! Mood swings ??? life is a big mood swing !

You know I love traveling for work or pleasure ... but ... how do you know you need a vacation?

I had a so-so good weekend ... yes, thinking about work ... and fun fun making plans for my summer vacations. I have sooooo much to do at home. I also have to prepare for customers' meeting in the US this week and next. Two one day round-trips.

I had so many meetings Monday all day ... I have little time for lunch ... Lunch. That's what saved my week.

Imagine the situation ... Monday morning I keep running around between meetings, reports, emails, conf calls ... the total package ... as in the cartoon Astérix & Cléopatre when the pirates' captain say: "Alors les enfants, on s'énerve pas! On les aborde, on les égorge, on les étripe, on les massacre et on les coule!! La routine habituelle quoi!  

(OK kids, we stay calm! We board the ship, we cut their throats, we slaughter them, we butcher them, and we sink them!! What! the usual.)

The Routine!!! 12:30 time to go for lunch ... but before I have to reply to the customer I am meeting Wednesday and who is asking me to move the meeting from 10 to 9 ... as scheduled on Tuesday ! WHAT ???   no way, the meeting is Wednesday NOT Tuesday !!! I will tell the %&$$   that he is mistaking in his dates, but before giving hell ... I check my traveling schedule ...

... and that's when hell broke loose! for the first time, I have mixed my traveling dates ...

It is 12:30, lunch time and I was supposed to be on the 11am flight!!! SHIT! that means I will not make the connection in Toronto ... 

... do not worry there is a God for people like me ! 

I have been able to go back home in a rush, pack in a rush, find my passport in a rush, drive to the airport in a rush, catch a flight to Toronto and board the next flight to my destination at 9:30pm ... I finally arrived at the hotel pass midnight ... meeting the customer at 9:30 the next morning ... and  NOT miss my return flight ... coming home last night around 10pm ... ooooooooooooooof ...

I need a vacation! 

Heat waves

Autralian Declan Lee-Smith surfs the rapids along
the St. Lawrence River near Montreal on July 18.
(Ryan Remiorz/CP)

I read

A heat wave continues to scorch Canada from Manitoba to Quebec.

In Southern Ontario, Toronto broke a high temperature record. Environment Canada reported temperatures in Toronto reached 35 C at around 3:00 p.m. That broke the previous record for July 17 — 34.4 C — set in 2002.

 CBC

... therefore, I think!

The definition recommended by the World Meteorological Organization is when the daily maximum temperature of more than five consecutive days exceeds the average maximum temperature by 5 Celsius degrees (9 Fahrenheit degrees), the normal period being 1961–1990.

I found this on Wikipedia: In the Netherlands, a heat wave is defined as period of at least 5 consecutive days in which the maximum temperature in De Bilt exceeds25 °C (77 °F), provided that on at least 3 days in this period the maximum temperature in De Bilt exceeds 30 °C (86 °F). This definition of a heat wave is also used in Belgium and Luxembourg. This happens to be the same as in Canada ! 

Heat waves often occur during the Dog Days of summer; indeed the French term canicule, denoting the general phenomenon of a heat wave, derives from the Italian canicula applied to the star Sirius, also known as the "Dog Star."

Each summer, we go through one of these heat waves and I keep thinking: And our so-called cousins from France who keeps thinking that we still live in igloos or tipis, wear furs all year long ... 

When it's hot better eat light ... 

This recipe is real nice, simple and tasty. 

Shrimp Slaw with Cilantro-Lime Vinaigrette

Prep: 40min     Cooking time: 0      Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds medium shrimp, shelled and deveined

• 1/3 cup fresh lime juice
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 jalapeño, seeded and minced
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• Salt and freshly ground pepper
• 1/2 pound green cabbage, cored and finely shredded (4 cups)
• 1/4 pound red cabbage, finely shredded (1 1/2 cups)
• 1 medium carrot, coarsely grated
• 1 cup cilantro leaves

Preparation

In a large saucepan of salted boiling water, cook the shrimp until just white throughout, about 1 1/2 minutes. Drain and let cool.

In a large bowl, whisk the lime juice, oil, jalapeño and garlic and season with salt and pepper. Add the green and red cabbages, carrot and cilantro; toss well.

Add the shrimp, toss again and serve right away.

Source: FoodandWine

Summer Holidays

I read

Car n'oublions pas, on devient ce à quoi on pense le plus souvent.

I translate:

And don't forget, we become what we think about most.

Ma vie de Groupie, Chantal Peticlerc, Châtelaine, May 2011

... therefore, I think!

In 1970, Quebec legislated an annual holiday for the construction industry and the holiday came into effect officially in the summer of 1971. Many Quebecers outside the construction industry also take their holidays during these two weeks, and it is the busiest time of year for the province's tourism industry, with a surge of up to 40% in activity at some sites. This period started last Friday, July 22nd.

Use this time wisely, replenish your batteries.

Sometimes, we need vacations from our vacations.

Doing nothing is also good.

All year long, we work like crazy.

Busy, busy bees … sometimes too much.

How do we arrive at the summer vacations so tired?

What is pushing us to work so hard, so much?

The problem of overwork is complex and can somewhat only be explained by demanding bosses to consenting employees. And why do we accept this?

Some reasons are externals to us and others we have some control over.

External:

- External demands: requirements: your boss, customers, colleagues.

- Work load

- Quality of your work

- Deadlines: too tight

- Corporate culture

YOU

- Your own requirements: are you a perfectionist and you are never happy with your own work?

- Negative thoughts: are you always thinking the worse?

- Lack of self-confidence

We often put more pressure on ourselves than what really comes from external factors. We have no control over the first ones (external), but nothing forces us to suffer from the last three.

However, if you cannot control the external factors, you can manage them. For example, we can verify our perception of the request. It is possible that are just adding some non-imposed stress, giving ourselves deadlines that are too tight or unrealistic. It is for us to recognize that we cannot do everything that is required (if it does not make sense) ... and yes, we can reject and / or propose a new schedule. Although, it is always a good idea to come up with plan B to your boss and not just answering mindlessly: no, I will not do the job.

We also need to protect the time we have. It is sometimes necessary to say no. When the schedule is too full, we cannot just add to it without cancelling or rescheduling something.

We often talk about positive thinking ... but it's true. We must stop the self-destruction that we create by refuting our negative thoughts. No, the sky will not fall if a project is postponed or is not perfect.

These 5 reasons should not be receivable to work too much:

1. The desire to succeed at all cost: keep a balances life.
2. The consuming passion for your work: yes, you are successful and hard work has probably contributed to it, but do not obsess with it. Are you in a catch 22, praise vs work?
3. The need to feel appreciated: you have trouble saying no and you always tend to do a little more than the client application? Your employer may appreciate your dedication, but it could also lead you to overwork. If you are afraid of disappointing your boss or your clients, learn how to affirm and build your confidence. This will allow you better respect and uphold your personal boundaries
4. Perfectionism: people are often anxious perfectionists. This may be your case if you tend to exaggerate all the possible consequences of an error or omission. Therefore, you may have trouble delegating. However, controlling and managing every detail of a project can become exhausting over time. Learn to assign tasks to others, because it is by delegating one learns to trust. By transferring some of your responsibilities to others, surely you will feel some relief.
5. The competitive business environment: some workplaces value surpassing oneself and the spirit of competition by offering incentives such as performance bonuses or commissions. Stop comparing yourself to others. Give yourself the right to take time off for illness and not always be "Employee of the Month."

On this note, I wish you all the best on your summer vacations. Mine will be in August ...

Source: Coup de Pouce, Jobboom

Nails not construction style

I read 

That Madame Magasine is having a manicure!
Wow!
with in style nail polish ...

... therefore, I think!

OK humor me and do the following:
Left hand ... LOOK AT YOU NAILS.


Now, tell me how did you look at them?

A while back, I had read an article talking about the difference on how men and women were looking at their nails ... different perspective ...  have tried to find back that article on the internet and have only found reference to it on Crossdressers website, so I gave finding it, you will have to believe me.

SO, what is your answer?

Option 1

Apparently that would be the way women look at their hands (nails)

Option 2

Colour I've picked: N.Y.C. Canal street

... and that would be the way men are looking at theirs.

It may just be an urban myth, but whenever I have done the test ... it never fails.
However, as in every rule there are exceptions ... and I had the idea on doing today's topic when I saw JJP's picture on Madame Magasine ... and my exceptional friend just made an exception to this "myth/rule" ...

Here is her picture ...

Colour: Lise Watier - Urban Taupe

Just for fun, try it with your friends and let me know your results.

The Doors ... of Bern!

I read

Archaeologists in the Swiss city of Zurich have unearthed a 5,000-year-old door that may be one of the oldest ever found in Europe.

The ancient poplar wood door is "solid and elegant" with well-preserved hinges and a "remarkable" design for holding the boards together, chief archaeologist Niels Bleicher said

Swiss unearth 5,000-year-old door | Switzerland | The Guardian 

- The Guardian 20 October 2010

... therefore, I think!

You will remember that when I was visiting Yale, I had fallen in love with the doors ... since then, I do not look at doors the same way. On my trip to Bern, Switzerland I had the pleasure to photograph several really nice ones. 

The one on the right top corner, reminded me a bit of the Elizabeth Arden Red Door or even Talbot's ... I do not specially like shopping, but I like spending ! The bottom right one is very interesting because it looks like nothing but in fact this door gives on the street ... during business hours it is opened and leads to a downstairs store ! very clever. This one was my favorite of this style. 

The other two are from 2 different houses.

These doors are all of different usage (not only used as front door for a house). 

Picture on the right top: a house (wooden door) and bottom: garage door of a private house.

The top and bottom left corners door are at the Nydeggkirche church. The original small church was built from 1341 to 1346 to replace the old fortress. This early church featured a roof turret. From 1480 to 1483 the city added a tower and from 1493 to 1504, a new nave was added. After the Protestant Reformation in 1529, the Nydeggkirche was transformed into a warehouse for barrels, timber and grain, but in 1566 again served as worship space, and until 1721 it was a branch church of the Münster of Bern.

In 1863, the church was extended to the west and an entrance from the Nydeggbrücke (Nydegg Bridge) was added. Then, from 1951 to 1953 a total renovation happened. During the renovation, bronze reliefs by Marcel Perincioli were added to the main entrance at Nydegghöfli and the entrance to the bridge.

No windows, but if you look carefully you will notice that all of them have a peephole to see who is at the door. I like them all but my favorites are the ones on the far right (top and bottom)

I absolutely love the right top shelf door. This door was inside the Cathedral - Münster of Bern which by the way is splendid! Look at theses!

If you look at the right picture Nice window), you will see 3 of them on the left picture, way way in the back above the doors.

Can you imagine me on my knees in front of a lying man?
Being enlighten !! 
tsk tsk tsk ... I've just read your mind !
... but I love this picture with the light coming down on them

OK, let's continue our doors' journey ...
Front door of different houses, nice hey?

 ... and to complete the series ... 2-door doors ...

... and major entrances of different government offices.

Don't you think it is interesting to think of the personality of the owners when we look at one of these doors?
It is unfortunate that in America, we have lost the usage of wooden doors, carved, and all ... love it!

Nutella loaf

I had breakfast 

in Europe ... with Nutella

... therefore, I think!

That I can share with you another great recipe I made and that reminds me of breakfast in Switzerland, Germany or France. Europeans seem to fuel on Nutella in the morning !

Nutella was first created in the 1940s by Mr Pietro Ferrero, a patisserie maker and founder of the Ferrero company. Second World War rationing meant that cocoa beans were in short supply. To extend the chocolate ratios, Mr Ferrero mixed toasted hazelnuts with cocoa, cocoa butter and vegetable oil to create 'Pasta Gianduja', which was originally sold in loaves.

In 1949 Ferrero altered the original recipe so it could easily be spread onto bread and was then known as 'Supercrema Gianduja'. In 1964, reflecting one of the main ingredients, it was renamed nutella. 

Nutella Loaf

Prep: 30 min + 2 hours rising     Cooking time: 25 min     Serves: 12

Ingredients

• 7g dried yeast
• 5 ml sugar
• 250 ml warm milk
• 400g plain flour
• 5 ml salt
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 30 g butter, melted and cooled slightly
• 15 ml milk (extra)
• Nutella, enough to spread

Preparation

Grease a baking tray.

Mix the yeast, sugar and warm milk in a bread machine. Start the Dough program and close the cover for 10 min.

Mix the flour and salt in a bowl. Add to cover the yeast mixture. Make a well in the center and add the egg. When the kneading process is completed, put the dough in an oiled bowl, cover loosely with greased plastic wrap and leave in a warm place for 75 min, or until doubled in size.

Punch down the dough, turn out into a floured surface and knead for 30 second, or until smooth. Roll out to a rectangle, 30 x 20 cm, and brush with some extra milk. Spread the Nutella. leaving a border. Roll lengthways into a log shape.

Lay on the baking tray and brush with the remaining milk. using a sharp knife, slash the loaf diagonally at intervals. Leave to rise in a warm place for 30 min (cover with a damp tea towel).  Preheat the oven to 425F. Bake the loaf for 25 min, or until golden.

Source: Inspired by Soups and Breads, Step-by-Step Cookbook

Bicycling to a date

I read

La bicyclette a contribué à renforcer la diversité génétique chez les travailleurs ruraux, en triplant leur rayon d'action en matière de recherche de partenaires durant leur jour de repos hebdomadaire. Ceci fut un facteur de réduction de la consanguinité en milieu rural.

I translate:

The bicycle has helped to strengthen the genetic diversity among rural workers, triplingtheir range in search of partners during their weekly day of rest. This was a factor in reducing inbreeding in rural areas.

... therefore I think!

Quebecers are almost all cousins, but most of them do not even know it. They will have to do an extensive genealogical research to find the ancestor they have in common. Often they will find a very distant ancestor, one which could cause very little risk to the offspring of two "pure laine" Quebecers (Quebec-born) who would have fallen in love.

Until recently, 95% of all people from Québec had at least one common ancestor. This was mainly true in the region of Charlevoix, Saguenay and Iles-de-la-Madeleine (Gaspésie). The French colonists who came New France (Canada) were mainly from Paris, Île-de-France and the French provinces of Aunis, Brittany, Normandy, Picardy, Poitou and Saintonge, while settlers of Acadia were populated mainly from the provinces of Anjou, Maine and Touraine. In addition, the "Filles du Roi" were from Ile-de-France, the provinces with the largest contribution to this movement were Normandy, Aunis, Poitou, Champagne, Picardy, Orléans, and Beauce. Only Alsace, Auvergne, Bourbonnais, Dauphine, Provence, Languedoc, Roussillon, Béarn, Gascony and the County of Foix seem not to have participated. Pleasance or the colony of Newfoundland were founded by the Basques in south-western France. Louisiana and North Bay were mainly populated by settlers already established in New France.

So I had to go back way back in time to continue ...

Close inbreeding has remained very rare in the Quebec of the past, even though husband and wife were often from the same parish.

In fact, marriage between cousins was discouraged and even forbidden by the Church. The Church was forbidding marriages for those spouses that were related. It must be said here that Quebec is/was predominantly Catholic and that all marriage licenses were registered and archived, only the priests could bless a marriage. However, it could happen that a couple requests a waiver to marry if the were related. With a monetary exemption, a couple could circumvent the ban (and I imagine be told that they would not have any problems with X chromosomes ...) All religious exemptions were recorded in the archives of the Archbishop of Quebec (and then transferred the civil archives).

No data were inventoried before 1885, until it became mandatory for clergy to report annual information to the bishop. We will remember that canon law requires an exemption for consanguineous marriages up to 6th degree inclusively. Before 1917, it was to the 8th generation.

So in conclusion, should we count our blessing in Quebec to not have more "defects"? ... and before you say anything ... I have to fess up ... my paternal grand-parents ... they were cousins -- first generation. So maybe to not have had children is a blessing in disguised for humanity! I am SO considerate!!!

Source: Guajara, Le Devoir