Patterns

I don’t go to Starbucks for coffee all that much. Certainly less than once a week, sometimes not for months.

I like a few non-food things about Starbucks: 1) the quotes on the paper cups, 2) the weekly free download from iTunes. Mind you, one has to visit an authentic Starbucks location. An outlet that “proudly brews Starbucks” does not have these nifty features.

So the following recurrence has struck me as a bit odd. During my last three visits to Starbucks, likely spanning the last two to three months, the quote on my cup has been exactly the same. Eerie, no?

I am also reading a book (The five patterns of extraordinary careers, Citrin & Smith). Last night, upon starting chapter five, I came across exactly the same quote as the one on my Starbucks cups. Double eerie.

I did some research. According to the author’s website, the quote was put on 500,000 cups in 2005. Based on this and other stats (e.g. how many cups are printed/consumed annually, US/Canada distribution patterns, total number of quotes circulating at any given time), the odds of me encountering the same statement could be calculated. But it would take me far too long to figure out if my math was correct.

Coincidences make me take notice. I don’t think coincidences “just happen.” I think they have a reason; that they have meaning.

In the end, I am left with a quote I will remember for a long time and perhaps little else.

Failure’s hard, but success is far more dangerous. If you’re successful at the wrong thing, the mix of praise and money and opportunity can lock you in forever.
Po Bronson

Safe

Safe, Ben Hallman click to listen

You’re safe in my arms, safe in my arms
Cause I’m safe in the arms of Jesus
Safe in my arms, safe in His arms
We are safe in the arms of God

Isaiah 40:1, 28-31 (NIrV)

“Comfort my people,” says your God.
“Comfort them.”

Don’t you know who made everything?
Haven’t you heard about him?
The Lord is the God who lives forever.
He created everything on earth.
He won’t become worn out or get tired.
No one will ever know how great his understanding is.
He gives strength to those who are tired.
He gives power to those who are weak.
Even young people become worn out and get tired.
Even the best of them trip and fall.
But those who trust in the Lord
will receive new strength.
They will fly as high as eagles.
They will run and not get tired.
They will walk and not grow weak.

Echos in the night

Have you ever heard the music for the circumcision ritual of the African Jola tribe? The soundscape of the Jungle Mynas in India? An interview with Max Perutz, nobel prize winner in 1962 for work on the structure of hemoglobin? Mapped dialects from across Britain? Discussions on architecture, film, fashion, gender studies, history, philosophy, science and visual arts?

The British Library has just released over 23,000 recordings from its library for free download. It’s worth a browse.

[New Music Day] Episode III

New music picks for September

Dan Mangan – Sold
:: playing at Amigo’s {Saskatoon} October 29 [and many other stops]

Justin Rutledge – St. Peter

Skybox – In a dream

Oren Lavie – Her Morning Elegance

Band of Horses – The Funeral
:: playing at the Commodore Ballroom {Vancouver} September 4