Mike's PBX Cookbook

What are the Seven...?

The Magic Number Seven:

The number seven appears throughout our world in intriguing ways - seven days in a week, seven continents, seven colors in a rainbow, seven musical notes, and the seven wonders of the ancient world. Across history, science, art, and spirituality, the number seven holds a unique and enduring significance, shaping how we interpret and connect with the world around us.

In his influential 1956 paper The Magical Number Seven, Plus or Minus Two, psychologist George A. Miller revealed that the average human working memory can hold about seven items at a time, give or take two. This cognitive limit makes seven a natural choice for organizing information in ways that are easier to recall. Mere coincidence - or is there something truly special about the number seven?

Here is a small collection of 'lists of seven'...

Capital vices or cardinal sins:

  1. Lust:Excessive desire for sexual gratification.
  2. Gluttony:Overindulgence or overconsumption of food or drink.
  3. Greed:Excessive desire for material wealth or possessions.
  4. Sloth:Laziness, avoidance of work or duty.
  5. Wrath:Intense and uncontrolled anger or hatred.
  6. Envy:Jealousy or resentment towards others' success or possessions.
  7. Pride:Excessive belief in one's abilities or qualities; often considered the root of all other sins.

Essential qualities for moral living and spiritual growth:

  1. Faith: Belief in the right things (including the virtues!).
  2. Hope: Taking a positive future view, that good will prevail.
  3. Charity: Concern for, and active helping of, others.
  4. Fortitude: Never giving up.
  5. Justice: Being fair and equitable with others.
  6. Prudence: Care of and moderation with money.
  7. Temperance: Moderation of needed things and abstinence from things which are not needed.

Creation, according to the Book of Genesis:

  1. Day 1: Light
  2. Day 2: Atmosphere / Firmament
  3. Day 3: Dry ground & plants
  4. Day 4: Sun, moon & stars
  5. Day 5: Birds & sea creatures
  6. Day 6: Land animals & humans
  7. Day 7: The Sabbath of rest

Those who serve God directly:

  1. Michael:He who is as God. The Warrior Angel
  2. Raphael:God heals. The Healing Angel
  3. Gabriel:God is my strength. The Messenger Angel
  4. Jophiel:Beauty of God. The Angel of Beauty
  5. Ariel:Lion of God. The Angel of Nature
  6. Azrael:Whom God helps. The Angel of Death
  7. Chamuel:He who sees God. The Angel of Peaceful Relationships

Seas, of the known world:

  1. North Atlantic Ocean
  2. South Atlantic Ocean
  3. Indian Ocean
  4. North Pacific Ocean
  5. South Pacific Ocean
  6. Arctic Ocean
  7. Southern Ocean (or Antarctic Ocean)

Continents. Most widely taught model:

  1. Africa
  2. Antarctica
  3. Asia
  4. Australia
  5. Europe
  6. North America
  7. South America

New Wonders, chosen in a global poll in 2007:

  1. Great Wall of China (China)
  2. Petra (Southern Jordan)
  3. Christ the Redeemer (Rio de Janeiro)
  4. Machu Picchu (Andes Mountains, Peru)
  5. Chichén Itza (Yucatan, Mexico)
  6. Colosseum (Rome, Italy)
  7. Taj Mahal (Agra, India)

Wonders of the Ancient World:

  1. Great Pyramid of Giza
  2. Hanging Gardens of Babylon
  3. Statue of Zeus at Olympia
  4. Temple of Artemis at Ephesus
  5. Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
  6. Colossus of Rhodes
  7. Lighthouse of Alexandria

Informal group of advanced economies:

  1. Canada
  2. France
  3. Germany
  4. Italy
  5. Japan
  6. United Kingdom
  7. United States

Stans, means "country" or "place of" in Persian:

  1. Kazakhstan, Astana
  2. Uzbekistan, Tashkent
  3. Tajikistan, Dushanbe
  4. Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek
  5. Turkmenistan, Ashgabat
  6. Pakistan, Islamabad
  7. Afghanistan, Kabul

From Disney's classic animated film:

  1. Doc: The wise and experienced leader
  2. Grumpy: The grumpy (but kind-hearted) one
  3. Happy: Always full of joy and optimism
  4. Sleepy: Known for his love of napping
  5. Bashful: Easily embarrassed and shy
  6. Sneezy: Can’t help but sneeze loudly
  7. Dopey: A bit slow-witted but innocent and lovable

Longest to shortest wavelength:

  1. Red: 620-750nm, 400-484THz
  2. Orange: 590-620nm, 484-508THz
  3. Yellow: 570-590nm, 508-526THz
  4. Green: 495-570nm, 526-606THz
  5. Blue: 450-495nm, 606-668THz
  6. Indigo: 445-450nm, 668-699THz
  7. Violet: 380-445nm, 699-789THz

Fundamental building blocks of digital electronics:

  1. NOT: When the input is low the output is high, and vice-versa
  2. NOR: Returns the complement result (inverse) of an OR gate
  3. XNOR: The output is high when both the inputs are the same
  4. XOR: The output is high when both the inputs are dissimilar
  5. AND: When all of the inputs are high, the output is high
  6. NAND: Performs the inverted operation of an AND gate
  7. OR: When any of the inputs is high, the output is high

Known as the Kübler-Ross model:

  1. Shock
  2. Denial
  3. Bargaining
  4. Guilt
  5. Anger
  6. Depression
  7. Acceptance

Natural objects located outside Earth's atmosphere:

  1. Planets
  2. Stars
  3. Satellites
  4. Comets
  5. Asteroids
  6. Meteors & Meteorites
  7. Galaxies

Astronomical objects, visible to the naked eye:

  1. The Sun
  2. The Moon
  3. Venus
  4. Jupiter
  5. Mercury
  6. Mars
  7. Saturn

Practical and theoretical knowledge, critical thinking and problem solving:

  1. Grammar:The whole system and structure of language
  2. Rhetoric:The art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing
  3. Logic:Reasoning asserted according to strict principles of validity
  4. Arithmetic:The properties and manipulation of numbers in counting and calculation
  5. Astronomy:The study of celestial objects, space, and the physical universe as a whole
  6. Music:Composing or performing music perceived as pleasingly harmonious or expressive
  7. Geometry:The measurement, properties, and relationships of points, lines, angles, and surfaces

Characteristics shared by all living things:

  1. Cells & DNA:The basic unit of life. Cells combine to form tissues and organs
  2. Metabolism:Acquire and use energy to maintain complex living systems
  3. Adaptation:Organisms must be able to adapt to changing environments
  4. Homeostasis:Maintain an internal environment that is conducive to cell metabolism
  5. Development:Grow and develop following specific instructions coded for by genes
  6. Reproduction:Genes (+DNA) are passed along to offspring, continuing the species
  7. Evolution:Transform by the accumulation of changes over successive generations

Roman gods and Germanic/Norse counterparts, with astronomical roots:

  1. Monday:Moon
  2. Tuesday:Mars, god of war (Tiw in Norse mythology)
  3. Wednesday:Mercury, god of trade & travel (Woden/Odin in Norse mythology)
  4. Thursday:Jupiter, god of thunder (Thor in Norse mythology)
  5. Friday:Venus, goddess of love (Frigg in Norse mythology)
  6. Saturday:Saturn, god of agriculture
  7. Sunday:Sun

Symbols used in Roman numerical notation:

  1. I:1
  2. V:5
  3. X:10
  4. L:50
  5. C:100
  6. D:500
  7. M:1000

Bahá’u’lláh describes the stages of the soul’s journey in terms of seven valleys:

  1. Search
  2. Love
  3. Knowledge
  4. Unity
  5. Contentment
  6. Wonderment
  7. Poverty and Absolute Nothingness

Influential philosophers & lawmakers, active in the Greek archaic period (6th-5th BCE):

  1. Thales of Miletus
  2. Pittacus of Mytilene
  3. Bias of Priene
  4. Solon
  5. Cleobulus of Lindus
  6. Myson of Chen
  7. Chilon of Sparta

Words You Can Never Say on Television, George Carlin (1972):

  1. Shit
  2. Piss
  3. Fuck
  4. Cunt
  5. Cocksucker
  6. Motherfucker
  7. Tits

These are main energy centers in the body, pivotal in shaping awareness:

  1. Root (Muladhara):◉ Base of the spine, stability and security
  2. Sacral (Svadhishthana):◉ Lower abdomen, creativity and sexual energy
  3. Solar Plexus (Manipura):◉ Upper abdomen, personal power and confidence
  4. Heart (Anahata):◉ Center of the chest, love and compassion
  5. Throat (Vishuddha):◉ Throat, communication and self-expression
  6. Third Eye (Ajna):◉ Between the eyebrows, intuition and insight
  7. Crown (Sahasrara):◉ Top of head, spiritual connection and enlightenment

Historically significant elevations upon which ancient Rome was built:

  1. Palatine: The site of the original settlement of Romulus, the founder of Rome
  2. Capitoline: Known for its temples and as the political center of Rome
  3. Aventine: Associated with the plebeians and known for its gardens and churches
  4. Caelian: A residential area with ancient ruins and churches
  5. Esquiline: The largest of the hills, known for its luxurious villas
  6. Quirinal: The site of the presidential palace and various churches
  7. Viminal: The smallest hill, home to several important buildings and parks

In Greek mythology, sister nymphs condemned to hold up the sky:

  1. Maia: Bore Hermes, the messenger god, after a liaison with Zeus
  2. Electra: Mother of Dardanus and Iasion, linked to Trojan War myth
  3. Taygete: Pursued by Zeus, she bore Lacedaemon, founder of Sparta
  4. Alcyone: Poseidon's consort, mother of Hyrieus and others
  5. Celaeno: Poseidon's partner, mother of Lycus and Nycteus
  6. Sterope: Linked to Oenomaus or Ares, tied to heroes and kings
  7. Merope: Mortal King Sisyphus' wife, dim star due to mortal union

Months having 31 days. The others have 30 days or, in the case of February, 28 or 29 days depending on leap years.

  1. January
  2. March
  3. May
  4. July
  5. August
  6. October
  7. December

From William Shakespeare’s "As You Like It" (Act II, Scene VII). Jaques breaks life down into 7 stages, or 'ages', from birth to death.

  1. Infant: A helpless baby, crying and vomiting.
  2. Schoolboy: A reluctant child who goes to school, often whining and complaining.
  3. Lover: A young person filled with passionate emotion, sighing and writing love poems.
  4. Soldier: A brave and ambitious adult, eager to gain honor, sometimes quick to anger and conflict.
  5. Justice: A mature, wise, and fair individual, often a figure of authority.
  6. Old Age: A dignified elder, but with declining strength and faculties.
  7. Second Childishness and Oblivion: The final stage of life, where one becomes helpless again, like a baby, losing memory and awareness.

Mechanical building blocks, of which all more complicated machines are composed.

  1. Lever: A rigid bar that pivots around a fixed point called the fulcrum to move a load with less effort.
  2. Wheel & Axle: A larger wheel attached to a smaller axle; turning one turns the other, reducing friction and making it easier to move objects.
  3. Pulley: A wheel with a groove around it through which a rope or chain runs; used to lift loads by changing the direction of force.
  4. Inclined Plane: A flat surface set at an angle to help raise or lower objects more easily than lifting straight up.
  5. Wedge: A device with a thick end tapering to a thin edge, used to split, cut, or lift objects.
  6. Screw: An inclined plane wrapped around a cylinder, used to hold things together or lift materials.
  7. Gear: Interlocking toothed wheels that transfer motion and force between machine parts.

A framework proposed by Aristotle (384-322 BC) to explain the motivations behind human actions.

  1. Chance: Actions that happen due to luck or random occurrences without intention.
  2. Nature: Actions driven by natural instincts or biological impulses.
  3. Compulsion: Actions performed under force, pressure, or necessity, where freedom is limited.
  4. Habit: Actions done repeatedly until they become automatic or ingrained.
  5. Reason: Actions guided by logical thinking, planning, and deliberate choice.
  6. Passion: Actions driven by strong emotions, such as anger, love, or fear.
  7. Desire: Actions motivated by wants, wishes, or longings.

Foundational laws that govern the universe, as outlined in The Kybalion.

  1. Mentalism:All is mind. Reality begins within.
  2. Correspondence:As above, so below. Patterns echo through all things.
  3. Vibration:Everything moves. Nothing rests.
  4. Polarity:Opposites are twins. Extremes meet in the middle.
  5. Rhythm:Life flows in tides. What rises must fall.
  6. Cause and Effect:Every action births a reaction. Nothing is random.
  7. Gender:Creation needs both energies. Balance brings power.

The main characters stranded on Gilligan’s Island in the classic TV sitcom.

  1. Gilligan: The bumbling first mate of the S.S. Minnow, often causing accidental mishaps.
  2. The Skipper (Captain Jonas Grumby): The ship’s captain and Gilligan’s boss, a gruff but caring leader.
  3. Thurston Howell III: The wealthy, somewhat snobbish millionaire.
  4. Eunice “Lovey” Howell: Thurston Howell’s socialite wife.
  5. Ginger Grant: The glamorous movie star.
  6. Professor Roy Hinkley: The smart and resourceful science teacher.
  7. Mary Ann Summers: The sweet, down-to-earth farm girl from Kansas.

Books. Harry Potter and the...:

  1. Philosopher's Stone
  2. Chamber of Secrets
  3. Prisoner of Azkaban
  4. Goblet of Fire
  5. Order of the Phoenix
  6. Half-Blood Prince
  7. Deathly Hallows

Chronicles of Narnia, in chronological order:

  1. The Magician’s Nephew (1955)
  2. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (1950)
  3. The Horse and His Boy (1954)
  4. Prince Caspian (1951)
  5. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (1952)
  6. The Silver Chair (1953)
  7. The Last Battle (1956)

Fundamental building blocks of the metric system. Every other unit (eg, speed, force, or energy) is derived from these SI base units:

  1. Length: Meter (m)
  2. Mass: Kilogram (kg)
  3. Time: Second (s)
  4. Electric current: Ampere (A)
  5. Temperature: Kelvin (K)
  6. Amount of a Substance: Mole (mol)
  7. Luminous Intensity: Candela (cd)

Key components of a classic Big Mac:

  1. Two Patties:All-beef
  2. Special Sauce:A tangy, creamy dressing
  3. Lettuce:Shredded iceberg
  4. Cheese:A slice of processed cheddar
  5. Pickles:Sliced dill pickles
  6. Onions:Finely chopped
  7. Sesame seed bun:Three parts: top, middle 'club' layer, and bottom

Ingredients... A sour soup originating from Eastern Europe.

  1. Meat (beef)
  2. Beetroot
  3. Cabbage
  4. Potatoes
  5. Onion
  6. Carrots
  7. Tomatoes/purée

Statements Jesus made from the cross, often called the "Seven Last Words":

  1. “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)
  2. “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43)
  3. “Woman, behold your son…[Son,] behold your mother.” (John 19:26-27)
  4. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34)
  5. “I thirst.” (John 19:28)
  6. “It is finished.” (John 19:30)
  7. “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” (Luke 23:46)

Kingdoms of life, covering all living organisms:

  1. Animalia: Animals
  2. Plantae: Plants
  3. Fungi: Mushrooms, molds, yeasts
  4. Protista: Mostly single-celled organisms like algae and protozoa
  5. Archaea: Ancient, single-celled microorganisms without a nucleus
  6. Bacteria: True bacteria, single-celled without a nucleus
  7. Chromista: Mostly algae and some other protists like diatoms and kelp

Social Sins according to Mahatma Gandhi:

  1. Politics without principles
  2. Wealth without work
  3. Commerce without morality
  4. Pleasure without conscience
  5. Education without character
  6. Science without humanity
  7. Worship without sacrifice

Things you need for a balanced diet:

  1. Carbohydrates: for energy (like rice, bread, potatoes)
  2. Proteins: for muscle and repair (meat, beans, eggs)
  3. Fats: for energy and cell health (nuts, oils, fish)
  4. Vitamins: for overall health and body functions (fruits, vegetables)
  5. Minerals: like calcium and iron (dairy, leafy greens, meat)
  6. Fiber: for digestion (whole grains, fruits, vegetables)
  7. Water: for hydration and body processes

Life Processes that all living organisms carry out:

  1. Movement: changing position or motion of parts
  2. Respiration: releasing energy from food
  3. Sensitivity: responding to stimuli
  4. Growth: increase in size and development
  5. Reproduction: producing offspring
  6. Excretion: removing waste products
  7. Nutrition: taking in and using food

Key priorities many people find essential for a meaningful and balanced life:

  1. Health: Physical, mental, and emotional well-being
  2. Relationships: Family, friends, and meaningful connections
  3. Purpose: Having direction, goals, or a sense of meaning
  4. Personal Growth: Learning, self-improvement, and development
  5. Work/Finance: Earning a living and managing money wisely
  6. Spirituality: Faith, values, or a deeper sense of connection
  7. Rest & Recreation: Time to relax, recharge, and enjoy life

Common ways our memory can fail, identified by psychologist Daniel Schacter:

  1. Transience: Forgetting over time
  2. Absent-mindedness: Lapses in attention causing forgetting
  3. Blocking: Temporary inability to retrieve information (like "tip of the tongue")
  4. Misattribution: Remembering something incorrectly or attributing it to the wrong source
  5. Suggestibility: Memories influenced or altered by suggestions or misinformation
  6. Bias: Memories distorted by current beliefs or feelings
  7. Persistence: Unwanted memories that stick and intrude

Key Functions of Human Resources (HR):

  1. Recruitment and Staffing: Finding and hiring the right people
  2. Training and Development: Enhancing employees’ skills and growth
  3. Performance Management: Evaluating and improving employee performance
  4. Compensation and Benefits: Managing salaries, bonuses, and perks
  5. Employee Relations: Handling workplace conflicts and maintaining morale
  6. Compliance: Ensuring company follows labor laws and regulations
  7. Health and Safety: Creating a safe work environment

Factors of Awakening (Bojjhanga) are key qualities in Buddhist:

  1. Mindfulness (Sati): Awareness of body, feelings, mind, and phenomena
  2. Investigation (Dhamma Vicaya): Examining and understanding reality
  3. Energy (Viriya): Effort and persistence in practice
  4. Joy or Rapture (Pīti): A joyful interest or enthusiasm
  5. Tranquility (Passaddhi): Calmness of body and mind
  6. Concentration (Samādhi): Deep mental focus
  7. Equanimity (Upekkhā): Balanced, unbiased, and peaceful attitude

Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen Covey:

  1. Be Proactive: Take responsibility for your actions
  2. Begin with the End in Mind: Set clear goals and vision
  3. Put First Things First: Prioritize what’s important
  4. Think Win-Win: Seek mutually beneficial solutions
  5. Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood: Listen empathetically before speaking
  6. Synergize: Work together creatively with others
  7. Sharpen the Saw: Take care of yourself physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually