The Mad Bull’s Blog, Version 3

Here are some interesting things I have seen, heard or read over the last few days…

While eating lunch at Bayside Cafe with the Indian consultants who are currently doing some work with me at my bank, one of the Indians recommended that I should visit India for a vacation. “There is lots to see, lots of places to go to.”, he said. He went on to mention a few places. One of those he mentioned was the Taj Mahal. The name was, of course, familiar to me but I didn’t really know what the Taj Mahal was (I did know it was a building, but thats about all), so the gentleman went on to tell me that it was a HUGE white marble tomb built between 1631-48, by Shah Jehan for his wife. He said that many, many people were involved in building the Taj Mahal, and when they were done, Shah Jahan had their hands cut off and their eyes put out so that no other such building could be erected by someone else! Crazy, huh?

The Taj Mahal is one of the “Wonders of the World”, apparently.

In a most interesting discussion of whether ideas are more important than genes in today’s Sunday Gleaner, Kevin O’Brien Chang had this to say:

[Isaac] Newton never had any children and is believed, like Adam Smith and Immanuel Kant, to have died a virgin. So arguably, the three most influential intellectuals of modern times never had sexual relations with a woman. Maybe there’s a lesson there.

Genghis Khan ruled the largest land empire ever known and was the most prolific human breeder on record. An estimated one in every 200 persons alive carry his genes. The key was his unique value system: “The greatest joy a man can know is to conquer his enemies and drive them before him … and clasp their wives and daughters in his arms.” After taking a city he simply had all men killed and all beautiful women brought to his bed. None but the brave deserve the fair indeed.

Wow! I didn’t know that Newton or Adam Smith never bruck their ducks! I wonder if they were gay? Hmmm…

Also interesting was that bit about Genghis Khan! One in every two hundred people carry his blood, huh? You know, people used to say that Natty’s grand mother had some Chinese blood in her. I know that Genghis was not from China, but maybe the blood of that wicked Mongol flows in Natty’s veins! Muy interesante!

Anyway, the column by O’Brien Chang was very interesting, it definitely bears reading. In it he suggests that China will NOT be the next hyperpower in the 21st century. Why would he say that, especially given how so many other people suggest the exact opposite? Well, he is using empirical evidence suggested from studies in demography, but for more info, I say go read his column. You won’t regret it.

The next bit was taken from a novel I am currently reading, “Dragon Tears” by Dean Koontz, though I have changed it up, just a little bit, to suit this blog, ie. I have removed the conversational aspect in which this bit of wisdom was given…

The meaning of life can be found in a bowl of soup. Soup always begins with a broth of some kind, which is like the liquid flow of days that makes up our lives.

Sometimes in the broth are noodles, sometimes vegetables, bits of egg white, slivers of chicken or shrimp, mushrooms, perhaps rice.

Sometimes the soup is hot, sometimes cool. Sometimes it is meant to be cool, and then it is good, even if there isn’t the slightest warmth in it. But if its not meant to be cool, then it will taste bitter, or curdle in the stomach or both.

Consider, before the soup is eaten, it has value and purpose. After it is eaten, it is valueless to everyone except the person who has consumed it. In fulfilling its purpose, it will cease to exist. Left behind will be only the empty bowl.

Ok, so I wouldn’t say that the discussion above gives the meaning of life but it does give a good analogy of life, does it not. See, some people can see so much in such simple things. Interesting…

On Friday morning, on my way to work, I nearly ran over a large bright green iguana. It was trying to cross the road at the intersection of the road my company is on and Shedden Road, right in the heart of downtown! I was surprised to see it there, given that it was downtown! Anyway, the little critter almost dived under my tires! I slammed on the brakes and would have stopped to allow it to pass but it turned back and clambered back up on to the sidewalk. I drove past ad turned into the parking lot at my office. I alighted from my car and locked it up and then took another look. Sure enough, the iguana was making its way across the road again, no doubt to a feast on some plants or something on the property it was heading towards.

I am told that these iguanas are not indigineous to the Cayman Islands. The Blue Iguanas are the ones that are indigenous, and the green ones are really from Honduras. They were brought over here as pets and somehow they escaped captivity. I heard that they are more hardy than the Blues, and that they are really multiplying well and in time they may even displace the Blue Iguana. I also heard that they taste good, kind of like chicken. I am not so sure that I will be sampling that dish though. Not willingly, at least!

There is a move on to try to ensure that the Blue Iguana doesn’t die out however. For more info on that initiative, check out the Blue Iguana Recovery Program.

Finally, Francis Wade of “Moving Back to Jamaica” pointed out that Time Magazine has an article online suggesting that Jamaica is the most homophobic place on Earth! Can you believe it? Personally, I don’t. Then again, what do I know of the world, really? Perhaps homosexuals are embraced everywhere else, though I am sure that IU have read of them getting hazed in other Caribbean Islands and in some other countries here and there.

With that, I will end this broadcast, zeen? Thanks for passing through. I hope you enjoyed it.

Tags: General, I think its interesting! //