On Choosing a Flower:Anything but a Rose

25 04 2010

2 Votes

How to Choose a Flower For A Girl

By Ryan Mega

I have never bought a rose for a girl. I’m not a big fan of them. Luckily, the girls I have dated are even less in love with them. Guys will get a rose without hesitation, not realizing the deep symbolism that flowers and women share. That is an opportunity missed. Leave the roses for the deathbeds.

The easiest thing to do is to go to the florist and buy a bouquet. I’m sure they’ll stick some roses in there. But with little real effort, you can pick your own unique expression to enamor the heart of your lady friend.

There are three rules to follow. You don’t even have to follow them all, but the more that you adhere to, the higher the success of said enamored excursions, if you know what I mean.

Rule # 1: Buy a flower in the same color that she wears. If you don’t know her favorite color, match the flower to her eyes, purse, or shoes.

Rule # 2: Go for the bouquet. No, not the prearranged or twelve of a kind variety. Craft a bouquet of unique colors and flowers. (Hint: There is no rule that says 12 flowers make a bouquet. Get creative.)

Rule # 3: Find the meaning or history on her favorite flower. Find a poem that relates to it. Put it on a card with the bouquet.

Pictorial :

Lilies:

Lilies are known to be the May birth flower; white lilies symbolize chastity and virtue – and were the symbol of the Virgin Mary’s purity

Daisies:

Brings a message of innocence and purity; A white daisy symbolizes common love. A red daisy represents beauty that is unknown to the possessor.

Tulips:

Yellow tulips symbolizing cheerful thoughts, white conveying forgiveness and purple representing royalty; red symbolizes “perfect love”

Orchids:

The most highly coveted of ornamental plants, the delicate, exotic and graceful orchid represents love, luxury, beauty and strength

Roses:

Long a symbol of love and passion, the ancient Greeks and Romans associated roses with Aphrodite and Venus, goddesses of love.

Others:

Daffodils

Carnations

Freesia

Lilac

Iris

Violets

Flower-Gathering by Robert Frost

I LEFT you in the morning,
And in the morning glow,
You walked a way beside me
To make me sad to go.
Do you know me in the gloaming,
Gaunt and dusty gray with roaming?
Are you dumb because you know me not,
Or dumb because you know?

All for me And not a question
For the faded flowers gay
That could take me from beside you
For the ages of a day?
They are yours, and be the measure
Of their worth for you to treasure,
The measure of the little while
That I’ve been long away.

Sources:

http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/robert_frost/poems/705.html

http://painting.about.com/cs/inspiration/a/symbolsflowers.htm

http://symbolism.wikia.com/wiki/Daisy

http://symbolism.wikia.com/wiki/Language_of_Flowers

Zooey Deschanel spotted carrying rabbit-shaped bag. Has she gone too far?

Zooey Deschanel spotted carrying rabbit-shaped bag. Has she gone too far?:

Link: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2087594/Zooey-Deschanel-hops-adorable-bunny-bag.html

Zooey…

How much is 2 much?

4 the sake

of whimsical fashion?

Is this really ur personal brand?

Hollowing out bunnies

and vibing to them

as purses?

Stuffing them full

of ur cosmetics

U and ur goddamned bunny bag

O, BunnyBro

I hope u set urself free one day

Hopping away

2 freedom

It doesn’t have 2 be this way

U can make it on ur own, Rabbit_bro

Hop

Hop

Hippity Hop away

Even though u are weighed down by iPads, Kindle Fires, and Android Tablets

I believe that u can 1 day fill urself

with what truly represents u

and not what represents the star of

#NEWGIRL ON #FOX

Bless u, Sweet BunnyBag

May u set ur rabbit self free 1 day

U r more than just a bag

And u deserve to be happy…

Will PETA intervene on this Bunny Bag?

Do u think Zooey Deschanel hollowed it out herself?

R u worried abt BunnyBro?

Can BunnyBro launch a spinoff band/brand/tv show?

Is ZoZo the most fashionable BB in the entire world?

VIDEO: Akai MPC Fly turns your iPad into a professional beat suite

VIDEO: Akai MPC Fly turns your iPad into a professional beat suite:

The iPad is many things to many people, but to musicians, it’s largely a toy. The problem is this: computers can only process so much, so you need physical switches, knobs, and pads in order to get the timing right on certain songs, and to properly execute the mix. Software emulation only goes so far.

Fortunately, Akai, legends in techno and hip-hop, have decided to solve this particular problem and integrate the iPad into the MPC line. But how will this turn you into a techno god, or just a passable dubstep artist?

First, some background: the MPC, or Midi Production Center, is an all-in-one tool: sampler, mixer, recorder, editor. All the old-school rappers you know and love used MPCs; they were cheap (relatively), efficient, and simple to use.

So how does the iPad fit into all this? Akai has a handy video explaining how:

One thing the video doesn’t clarify, though, is the price of turning your iPad into a musician’s laptop. But considering Akai’s current standalone MPCs run into the thousands, don’t expect your future DJ glory to come cheaply.

Akai MPC Fly Stuffs A Classic Sampler Into an iPad Case [Gizmodo]

‘Shit Bartenders Say’ is the last straw

‘Shit Bartenders Say’ is the last straw:

Pardon my English, but I fucking hate these “Shit X Say” videos. Admittedly most of them are very funny, but there are just way too many of them. You’ve got them for girls, black girls, Indian girls, drunk girls, Asian girls, single girls, baby mamas, guys, Asian guys, black guys, niggas, gay guys, southern gay guys, black gays, stereotypical gays, monks, white girls to black girls, white girls to brown girls, white guys to brown guys, white guys to asian girls, white people say to Asians, and finally…New Yorkers. Those are only the ones with 100k+ views too; there are plenty of others that nobody is watching. Finally there is one that’s at least relevant enough to be posted here as part of our alcohol coverage. Shit Bartenders Say.

We’ve all come in contact with bartenders that are huge douchebags. Some are on a power trip, others ride a high horse, and a few just like to be dicks. Granted, those that act like dicks are likely doing so in response to having to deal with drunk assholes all night. They certainly aren’t all bad though.

I’ve found that the best “mixologists” spend the majority of the time working as a bartender and have no problem going by that moniker. Most say that the best part of their job is interacting with people, and that’s just not going to happen if they’re type that was mocked in this video. You’ll see in post later today a few amazing bartenders who take their jobs very seriously, but without coming of as pompous.

5 Insanely Weird Facebook Conversations

5 Insanely Weird Facebook Conversations:

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Guyism After Dark: Women

Guyism After Dark: Women:

4 Ways to be More Forward When Dealing with Women

These four ways to be more forward when dealing with women might seem obvious at first, but once you start to analyze how you behave, you might find that you’re not being all that assertive after all.

Real Simple — We always hear about how fast technology is moving, but when it comes to moving people around, we’re pretty much stuck exactly where we were back when we first figured out commercial air travel. Here are five simple ideas that could make travel (and life) way easier.

Good Sports — UFC Octagon Girls Arianny Celeste and Chandella Powell did a photo shoot for a Brazilian men’s magazine. That means it’s really, really good. … Speaking sexy women who make sports better, the ChivaGirls cheerleading squad certainly makes soccer easier on the eyes.

Take Your Pick: Edita, Scyler, or Amber??

Open Wide — The dentist is one of the most reviled people in the world – 80% of that revulsion is irrational. The other 20% is fully deserved because, as much as you may hate the dentist, he seems to hate you back. These five passive-aggressive dental weapons are proof of that.

How Do We Love Thee — Berenice Bejo is a woman we love … Kate Beckinsale is fairly gorgeous. We love her too. … Playboy Cybergirl Adrianna Kroplew just had a birthday, so we’ll show her some love too.

Mr. Belding Video-Bombs ‘Monday Night Raw’

Apparently being the principal at Bayside High still has it’s perks as Mr. Belding had some sweet seats for the WWE show on Monday night. The real weird part? He was sitting with Mikey and Ray from My Chemical Romance. Seriously. (found on Buzzfeed)

Now That MLK Day Is Over, Can We Talk About Using His Pictures On Club Flyers

Now That MLK Day Is Over, Can We Talk About Using His Pictures On Club Flyers:

Martin Luther King. He died with a dream deferred, and left an amazing legacy of peace, endurance, and resilience in the face of adversity. While many people celebrate the day that MLK our humble but steadfast servant was born with a day of service, some fools want to sully his image by plastering his face on flyers to promote their own self serving unscrupulous causes. Club promoters, Clothing Stores, Auto-dealerships and the like. One man went so far as to promote his “I Have a Dream Bash” at a local strip club establishment. This is blasphemy at it’s finest! Martin Luther King did not die to be associated with strippers making it clap in homage to his legacy.This madness has to stop. Have some respect for our slain leaders!

The 365 Charming Everyday Things Project

The 365 Charming Everyday Things Project:

A group of Japanese designers aims to introduce top design in everyday Japanese items to the rest of the world

I Want A Baby…But Not A Husband

I Want A Baby…But Not A Husband:

Maybe because dirty thirty is inching up on me, or perhaps because I have experienced the feelings of a pregnancy that did not materialize. Or maybe simply because it is one of the final rites of passage into full womanhood, but I WANT A BABY!

The catch is, I am no longer married and have no immediate plans of doing so again. To be frank, having a husband AND a baby simultaneously just seems like a lot of work that I don’t feel like doing right now. Unless I can outsource most of my wifely duties, which defeats the idea of marriage, I don’t see it happening. Because of this, I’d rather opt for a committed father to my child, than a husband at this juncture in my life. My grandmother is probably clenching her pearls in her grave at this notion, but that’s the way it is.

For nearly three decades every decision I have made has selfishly (but rightfully so) been about me, myself, and I (except for a few years of marriage.) I now feel the urge to want to be second in my life, to create something that is more significant than me, and that I can nurture and take care of. (Much unlike the plants that I have tried to nurture and inevitably have killed.) Some people have suggested I try a dog first, but there is just one problem with that: I’m not keen on the idea of anything living in my house that can’t wipe their own ass who did not come from my womb. So icksnay on any notions of a pet.

Some may ask, what’s the rush? Focus on your business. Like must young Buppie’s I am climbing the ladder of my professional career, and have accrued degrees on top of degrees in doing so. I have also traveled the world, indulged in a few too many shopping sprees along the way, but now I am ready to pass on a pair of Red Bottom’s in place of Posh Tot baby furnishings. That right there is a ginormous step in my life. Which goes to show this is not some fleeting here-today-gone-tomorrow kind of thought. The itch won’t go away and has been permeating my consciousness for the past year. So I have started doing some research. Like, the best countries to have a baby. Who has the best maternity leave laws (Sweden is winning with 480 days plus 90% pay). What country I can give birth in and my baby can have rights to citizenship (Brasil looks promising.) How much a Nanny would cost (Don’t knock it). Homeschooling versus public or private schools. And the list goes on.

I understand that having a baby is the biggest step that a woman can take in her life, and even more important is whom she decides to have a baby with. I was blessed to have been raised by my (single) father, so I know intrinsically what good qualities in a Baby Daddy will look like. (I really detest the Baby Daddy/Baby Mama lingo, but until I come up with a better title for my situation, it will have to suffice.) He needs to be healthy, have good intellectual genes, be disease free, preferably possess dual international citizenship, health insurance, devoid of crazy genes and criminal proclivities within his family line, straight white teeth, uses sizeable portions of his left and right brain, has a daddy that he knows and who raised him, but above all, wants to be a father! There are a few quality men on my radar who are friends, along with a couple potential and past lovers who I have discussed my desire to conceive a baby with ( this year, 4th quarter, yeah I’m serious). And even more promising, a few are interested in biting the carrot (theoretically anyway).

I am aware that over 70% of Black children are born to unwed parents, and have a pretty good grasp of the staggering statistics associated with such households. But, I am not poor. I am educated, and I am a grown ass woman, which sets my child up for a pretty damn awesome life comparatively.

I imagine giving my daughter the world, traveling with her right on my back in a chicy baby carrier, with and ribbons in her hair. Her learning different languages from the time she learns how to speak. I want to expose her to the arts, science, and culture from early on. Yep, I’m ready. I dream about this little girl every night. She wants to be here, as much as I want her to be. Now all I have to do is decide on her daddy!

So what are your thoughts? Is being a single divorcee’ who wants to have a baby sans a husband some post-modern bull that you simply can’t get with? Or would you be open to the idea, whether through adoption, invitro-fertilization, or any other measure?

Steve Jobs, Superhero

Steve Jobs, Superhero:

Editor’s note: Scott Weiss is a general partner at Andreessen Horowitz and the former co-founder and CEO of IronPort Systems, which was acquired by Cisco in 2007.

When I was a kid, I read tons of superhero comic books. I fantasized about superpowers, but the storylines about heroes with massive Achilles’ heels really held my attention the most. They saved the world but had screwed up personal lives, made lots of mistakes, and often acted like complete assholes. In retrospect, I related to their flaws. And, probably not coincidentally, my favorite characters exhibited core weaknesses I had experienced: Spider-Man (immaturity), Iron Man (overconfidence/hubris), and Wolverine (rage). Ironically, when the character’s weakness comingled with the superpower, it would often spur them to succeed against impossible odds.

It was in this context that I was riveted reading Steve Jobs’ biography by Walter Isaacson. Given the number of different interviews and unfettered access granted to Isaacson, it felt like an incredibly authentic account of Jobs’ life. His greatest accomplishments, mistakes, superpowers, and flaws were laid out about as raw as I’ve ever read. Steve’s superpowers were many: He was wickedly brilliant, could see around corners, and had unparalleled understanding of how people interact with technology, to name just a few.

Did Steve have an Achilles’ heel? From the book, one could conclude that he was an extremely demanding boss. Like a beacon, superstars from every function (e.g. engineering, design, marketing, etc.) were drawn to work for Steve. They described his aura as absolutely overwhelming. And Steve pushed these A+ players to extraordinary, impossible achievements. Steve’s drive for speed and perfection often resulted in harsh, public criticism — usually directed at his very best people. Steve would constantly look over their work and declare, “This is shit!” or “This really sucks!” On my Kindle, I searched the words “shit” and “sucks” and counted 24 instances where he used one of those phrases referring to someone’s work/product.

I’ve had a number of entrepreneurs suggest that this persona isn’t unique to Steve Jobs but a common trait among some of the most successful founder/CEOs in the world. Larry Ellison, Bill Gates, Larry Page, and Jeff Bezos have all been reported as similarly caustic at times. Is this something to be emulated?

As I was reading the book, something struck me like a hammer: Despite Steve Jobs’ choice of words, lack of empathy, and sometimes prickly demeanor, he spent a huge amount of time giving his most talented employees constant, hard, critical feedback.

Thinking about how most companies dole out feedback — if they do at all — it’s usually directed at the bottom quartile of performers versus the top. A typical manager at review time spends 80% of their time preparing detailed reviews on the bottom 25%. The top quartile gets lame, short reviews — the equivalent of “You’re doing great, keep up the good work!” So, a manager takes all that time and effort to get someone doing the work of half of a full-time employee (FTE) to do the work of .75 or 1 FTE. In contrast, Steve Jobs — with his feedback energy directed at the top — manages to motivate people already doing the work of 2 or 3 FTEs to do the work of 10, maybe 20 FTEs. Now that’s serious leverage! Could this be a superpower comingling with a weakness?

I’ve found that the A players are comparably lazy with regards to their potential. Without serious motivation, they will never reach it—or even try. Despite his delivery, I believe Steve’s critical energy was directionally correct.

Here are a few other suggestions for motivating top talent:

• Flip the feedback equation to 80% of your energy spent on the top quartile. This is really hard in practice as the feedback is usually more nuanced. And the top performers are usually defensive.
• Infuse some damn passion. The best people don’t just want money, they want to go on a crusade and make a difference. An entrepreneur needs to constantly re-enroll the troops with a compelling, authentic story of how and why we will do the impossible.
• Set stretch goals and push like hell to meet them. It’s great if these goals have meaning as well — e.g. we need the software release out before a

  major industry conference.

• Find a bogeyman competitor to hate. (Preferably a company bigger than yours — Microsoft!) At IronPort, we called out our competitors to the entire company and rallied the team to play catch-up. We also gave bonuses to the sales teams for rip-outs of a competitor’s appliance and then mounted them like trophies on the wall.
• Work your ass off by example. A leader who is always present, ridiculously responsive and contributes real, hard work sets the right pace and tone.

A constant challenge for leaders is to find effective AND positive ways to motivate. The very best companies have inspirational founders who have found a way to coax the superpowers out of their top employees. When the top quartile contributes at 5x to 10x, it makes a serious difference.