“Give them a torch, and someone will start yelling, “FIRE!”"

– Joshua Hall

In context, I came up with this phrase when I was trying to help a business group at work by giving them information about a technology plan to make updates to PCs.  Since I told them, they started pointing at that plan for all of their computer problems, even though they were not related at all.  If I hadn’t given them the information, they might have actually had to figure out what the real problems were.  I can’t really think of another phrase that compares, but surely there are other situations that warrant the saying.

Don’t be a walking billboard.

You know how people put ribbons on their shirts or even their cars to raise awareness for a certain charity or campaign?  What’s the difference between a pink ribbon on your chest and a Nike swoosh?  Is Polo or Ralph Lauren a brand that you strongly believe in and want to promote?  Why are you paying to wear clothes that carry their advertising on them?  I think we should all have the confidence in ourselves and display it in the form of race car driver advertising.  If you want me to promote your brand, you should give me a contract.  Otherwise, no deal.

A killer returns to his father only to shed tears
A soldier returns to his father only to tell of his fears
A lawyer returns to his father only to share his lies
Because amends must be made before my father dies
A lover returns to his father to share what he scorns
A doctor returns to his father to cry that he mourns
A teen returns to his father to confess he isn’t ready to be a man
But when we think it safe to return, it starts back up again

I had this idea sometime shortly after the attacks on the world trade towers on 9/11/01.  There were all these people stuck on floors so high up, and their only way out were the windows.  So many people just jumped to their death.  The only other method of getting out of the building was the stairwells, which were full of smoke or missing completely.

I was reminded again of this idea when I watched the movie, Towering Inferno.  Probably one of the gnarliest movies I’ve ever watched.

Anyway, I remembered when I was a kid we had one of these portable chain ladders.  You just threw it out the window, hooked it to the bottom of the window, and climbed down.

So why can’t we have a bunch of these all around buildings?  Have these chain ladders built into the sides of the buildings, all folded up, and when someone hits the emergency button, they all just fall down.  I can’t imagine it would be very expensive.  You don’t have to encase the building in chain ladders either.  Maybe every other floor have a set of 4 ladders around it, and have the ladders span down 3 floors, so if a floor is inaccessible, like a plane flies into it, you can still get to the next floors from the other set of ladders.

Even having something to grab onto would help people get down to a safer height, or if they fall off, they could grab onto.  Graphic, I know, but it just seems so simple and cheap that I’m surprised it’s not implemented.

Don’t let other people or companies define you.

Don’t give in to the stereotypes if it’s not something you want to be.  You don’t have to be put in their box if you don’t want to fit in it.  If they won’t listen when you tell them, then show them.  If someone discards you as young and inexperienced, or old and not able to adapt, prove them wrong.

“The beginning of any society is never charming or gentle.”

-Ruth in The Last Man on Earth

So what are you going to try to do this year?  Think you’ll stick to it?

Don’t let your stuff define or enslave you.

You are not your duvet cover.  If you ever saw the movie Along Came Polly, you’ll remember the scene where the couple discusses the bed pillows.  Why do you have stuff that you have to put on and take off every night and every morning?  Your time, money, and effort should be more valuable to you than appearances.  Make your stuff work for you.  You shouldn’t be spending your life maintaining all the things in your life that add no benefit to you.

“Imagination is more important than knowledge.”

– Albert Einstein

Cherish people, not stuff.

Inspired from my brother-in-law, Robbie.  Things are just things.  Too often people attach memories to the objects rather than the people associated with the item.  An argument could be made that it’s too easy to forget about that person or act if you got rid of the item, but the real solution there is to find a better way to preserve memories or signs of affection, perhaps through words or actions, rather than becoming a collector of stuff.