Circuses have been around for over two centuries. According to American History Through Literature, “The circus, an itinerant entertainment comprising the exhibition of animals and the performances of skilled entertainers within rings, first appeared in America in 1793. The commercial display of spectacles, the exhibition of persons, animals, or objects possessed of unusual characteristics, first appeared in American museums perhaps as early as 1810.” In 1770, Englishman Philip Astley created an equestrian entertainment that he expanded to include acrobats and comic acts. Having a winning event, Astley took his show on the road, … [Read more...]
3 Lessons from Hurricane Sandy
October 25, 2012 by
Not having lived in Jamaica for nearly 30 years, it was quite the experience seeing Hurricane Sandy in action from the front porch. I watched the roof lifting off a neighbour’s house, and see him scrambling up there using cement blocks to hold it in place. Although it was somewhat scary, there are important lessons I gleaned from the event. Hurricane Sandy from the Front Porch in Jamaica If you cannot view the video, click here! Another View of Hurricane Sandy - From the Other Side of the House If you cannot view this video, click here! Preparation: We knew that Hurricane Sandy, a category one hurricane was coming to … [Read more...]
20 Leadership Lessons from Confucius
June 4, 2012 by
Confucius (551-479 BCE), also known as Kong Qui or K’ung Fu-tzu, was a thinker, political figure, educator, philosopher and founder of the Ru School of Chinese thought. Even though Confucius was a great leader, he took the time to listen to what his disciples had to say. Also refer to my review of The Analects of Confucius. 20 Leadership Lessons from Confucius Learn by observing yourself and others. Take pleasure in acquiring knowledge. Learning without thinking is useless. Thinking without learning is dangerous. A man without virtue cannot long abide in adversity. He who works for his own interests will arouse much … [Read more...]
10 Lessons from the Bob Marley Documentary
May 28, 2012 by
On Saturday I saw the documentary, Bob Marley at the Bloor Street Cinema in Toronto. Last weekend was also Doors Open Toronto which added more energy to the city. I love Bob Marley’s music, and I learned quite a bit about him when I wrote his profile during Black History Month. However, I learned much more about him while watching the film, especially the reasons why he wrote specific songs. Artists often create their art as a social commentary of what’s going on around them, and Bob Marley was no different. Although the film was almost two-and-one-half hours long, the time went by quickly. Here are 10 important lessons from Bob Marley … [Read more...]
Booked on Tuesday: Musings of Book Addict – Lessons I Learned in 2011
December 20, 2011 by
By the end of 2011, I would have read 200 books for the year. I have always been a voracious reader, but this year I have outdone myself. Despite this, I still feel like a slacker because quite a few people who I know are averaging between four to five books each week. I didn’t read as many classics as I’d like. I find that I struggle to read some of the classics because the story unfolds so slowly. I try to read books from many genres, and even if it’s fiction, I find that I always take away a lesson or two. I have also noticed that some of the same themes emerging, and I’d like to share them with you. Persistence … [Read more...]
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