Life: How to recap this year; just say it was good.

Some days ago I was reading a blog, and  the author suggested that, in recapping this year, "just say it was good, no matter what happened this year".

I was unsure what she exactly meant at the time. But I like the idea. So I am passing on the idea here in my blog.


 If you had something good, you can honestly say, "it was good".

What if there was something bad in a conventional sense? You can still say "it was good". 

If we consider much of life's suffering and damage are self-inflicted, saying "it was good" is a great way to reduce damage and to move forward. Besides, like some proverbs say, fortunes and misfortunes are intertwined, and what you thought an evil may be a blessing in disguise.

Saying "it was good" can help you to change or re-define your perception, your personal evaluation of the year. It is a very empowering statement. Also, by saying that, you got to look harder to find the bright side of the event. And there are bright sides. 


Personally year 2013 was an eventful year, and also was a year of learning. Even if I take only last couple of months, I feel like I learned a lot about myself and took many other lessons more than in last 7 years combined. I can use the lessons for the future. And it is good.

Science: Grant award

Most people do something professionally, and they take the routine they do granted. But sometimes the story is interesting to others working in different business. Let's try a story by a scientist.


Last week a colon cancer foundation notified me that my research proposal is going to be funded. I am very, very, thankful for that.

Unlike other award notices like the Academy award for movies, a scientific grant award notice is not something given for the past accomplishments. The award notice is for future accomplishment. It is basically telling me that I got the contract through competitive bidding. The notice marks the beginning of the work on my part. 

They like the application's idea, they believe that the project can be done by the team, and they think the results or "returns" would match their cause or purpose. Then they invest their money. That is the nature of the contemporary scientific grant business.


Accordingly, what I did first was to contact my university's grant office, where they handle all grants and contracts. Next I did was to read my own proposal. If the project has not been initiated already, I need to refresh my memory to get the job done. Then I made a list of tasks and of reagents to order. I got to think through the project again.

When the grant office set up a new account and when we see the money, I'll start the ordering.


Incidentally, this time of the year, usually all December, is a work planning session time for me. Time to work with notepad and write down what should happen in 2014 (and beyond). 

The planning is like, "Now I got the grant and start this project, so I'll get the results by this time and I will be writing paper manuscript by this time. Based on the results, I'd be able to develop another project by this time. Perhaps I can merge the results with those from another project and develop the other proposal due on October, etc."

Science does have a moment of excitement ("Eureka!!!") not unlike the rush in fishing or hunting. But as a business, it is much more like farming. Knowing when to plant seeds of this crop, when to tend to, and when to harvest..... I did not get much of this aspect of science in my graduate school. 

Only when you see science as a small business from the standpoint of a project leader (or a PI, Principal Investigator), you can see these.

When we read scientific journals and magazines, these everyday operations are not told. Only results. This should be the same for other businesses and industries. 

Dance: Fandango de Tango 2013

The last entry was on 11/23!? When you are busy in real life, internet presence tends to diminish. Time is a precious resource indeed.

This snow day may be a good time to catch up with this blog. Thank you, winter storm.

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Fandango de Tango is an Argentine Tango event held over Thanksgiving weekend in Dallas. With classes by 5 famous couples/instructors/performers, practicas, nightly milongas and a show night (plus occasional exhibitions), it is an awesome, fun event to attend.

I went there for milongas and the show. The event was celebrating its 15th year. The running was smooth and the show was terrific. I'd go there again.


This year my wife was not joining, so instead of being busy dancing or chatting, I got some extra time to sit, watch, and think about this Tango business.

There were invited master-level instructors/performers, who did the show. They were undoubtedly a major attraction of the event. Their dance was sophisticated, and such dances are not something you see every day. I love to watch dances at the level of sophistication.

But most people don't show up just to watch the show. 

A non-subsidized event has to be financially viable. From the standpoint of business, most other attending dancers were the main people of the event. They (including myself) were the customers paying the bills eventually. They showed up expecting decent classes, which would help improving their dancing skills, and decent milongas, which would give them good time dancing and meeting up new people.

This kind of event is two sports combined; spectator sport (watching the masters) and fun sport (learn how to or improve your skills in classes and dance in the parties meeting new people). 

Even if you don't dance or are not interested in the dance, like you are dragged down by your girlfriend, something new can be fun. We choose how we have fun out of the event. 


If you see Tango as a business, it is a winner-takes-all type business. All money go to a small number of "winners".

For dancers, only a handful professionals can live only from performing dancing. Most other dancers double as teachers/instructors, where the money is, and where different sets of skills for teaching are required. Dancing and running a studio or teaching are different businesses. Yet, money-wise, they are on the winner's side.

For promoters, like any other businesses, they have to aim at financial viability. They hire pros who can perform and teach, and promote the event to get more "customers". To get the event going, they better be on the winner's side, too.

For most others ("customers"), they pay money, so money-wise, they are consumers. How well they dance actually does not matter in this business relationship. What they are buying in return is a good time. They find their niche, and find the ways they have fun out of it. They may not make money out of it, but it does not matter. What matters is having a good time out of it. By having a good time, they all can be winners. 

Time is priceless, and we better spend it well. Money is merely a facilitator of having a good time.