Mavi Boncuk's Seven Year itch

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2010 seems to be a good year for Mavi Boncuk postings. Especially December (5th ranking month), during which more postings can still be made[1]. As you all know I only post things of interest to me. Mavi Boncuk and it's related sites are not intended for advocacy. During those 7 years technology has changed a lot with Facebook and Twitter and I plan to adjust accordingly to promote the blog.

It is also a treasure hunt on Ottomania and Turcomania casting a wider net than Turkish Only Blogs. There is an inherent aim in targeting the English speaking world. With interest increasing in Turkey and things Turkish I was enthusiastic to share more postings this year. January, September and December were three months with more postings durung the 7 year period and the year ended as the third ranking year in number of postings.

I do receive some reader comments. Mostly I re-post them. Mavi Boncuk is not a discussion site and there are luckily no 'flamings'. I see it as 'match maker' that points the readers to areas of interest to further their curiosities.

Since I do not have a board to respond or need to stisfy shareholders with quarterly profit statements I set the tone and the pace. There is no pressure. I hope to keep it alive in 2011. I am planning a weekly podcast/video. More details on that later.

For the time being, my new year's wishes are in the following parable and some concluding quotations.

And Allah presents an example of two men, one of them dumb and unable to do a thing, while he is a burden to his guardian. Wherever he directs him, he brings no good. Is he equal to one who commands justice, while he is on a straight path?
Surat An-Naĥl (The Bee)

The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.
Proverbs 28:1

I take upon myself the burden of all suffering, I am resolved to do so, I will endure it and why? At all costs I must bear the burdens of all beings.
Vajradhvaja-s ktra (Conze et. al. trans. 1964, 131)

A well-known parable told by Buddha goes like this: A man, crossing a field, encounters a tiger. The man flees, the tiger pursues. Coming to a cliff top, the man grabs the root of a vine and swings himself down below the tiger's reach. The tiger waits. Looking down the precipice upon which he precariously swings, the man sees another tiger looking expectantly upwards at him. As if this were not sufficient cause for peril, two mice begin to chew the root from which he hangs. As he digests his unenviable condition, the man sees a ripe strawberry within his reach. Releasing the vine with one hand, he gently picks the strawberry with the other.

How sweet it tasted!

Let's reach for that fruit in the new year.

Mavi Boncuk |

[1] With 111 postings in the end December 2010 was the third ranking month. The year had a total of 666 (devilish isn't it) postings. 3706 postings in seven years (54.48 avg. per month).