2 January 2009

Warm Greetings.

This is the first mailing that is going to my general mailing list in several years. I try to keep mailings to an absolute minimum.

I used to send many Christmas cards but with the advent of internet, cards became emails and later stopped, knowing how busy people are this time of year and how much mail we all get.

This year is different. We are at a critical stage. Economically, the world has had its worst year since the Great Depression. We all want this to end. Many folks here in Europe believe the crisis is due to poor leadership in the US. True or false, the leadership is changing.

During the last eight years, fanaticism gained ground across the globe. It seems with worsening of economics fanatics everywhere are beginning to wake up -- but they never will unless they see how similar we all are as people, everywhere, regardless of sex, age, color, religion, ethnicity, and how the dogmatic ways of thinking that "my way is the best" only leads to conflict. Fanatic thinking is our single most dangerous problem in the world, and right education is the only answer.

Aside from that, please, let's join together, in starting this new year with the best of optimism and positive attitude we can. Let us all hope, pray, imagine, wish, foresee, and most importantly, live, with the attitude that we will survive these storms. Yes, there are chances of this chaos getting deeper, more unemployment, stagflation, more wars, and so on, but let us imagine healing, peace, happiness, music, joy, laughter, and a renewed prosperity for the world which we had not long ago before it was destroyed by fanatics. Our ill world needs all the help it can get and I do believe our love, together, will help it.

It has been years since I sent a personal update so might as well, briefly: I am healthy, still vegetarian and do exercises regularly, I had a nice project in 2008 with a large Swiss bank which was enjoyable (project management, business analysis). The only drawback was I had to commute to work to Monte Carlo with a helicopter regularly :-)   I am starting a new project on Monday (information technology project management) with a large insurer. I enjoy doing contract work because it gives you more freedom and I have done a combo of music and IT over the years.

Before these projects, for some time I was practically a lawyer, studied cyber-law in detail and prosecuted litigation against some anonymous cyber stalkers who turned out to be guitarists who violated several laws including copyright. The case finished in 2007. I will tell the story in the form of a video or film in the next few months and will send you the link. It's a fascinating story of how dangerous the internet is, what I had to go through to find the anonymous defendants, and what victims of internet crimes can do (some notes are available at the bottom of my main site: www.rezamusic.com).

Music was hurt as a result of the case but is coming back to the foreground. I met Angela who is a sensitive, beautiful human and a wonderful bass player, and Rosa, a delightful drummer, and together we have a band: Rezangela (www.rezangela.com). I still like to revive the next classical guitar CD project. I am keeping an online journal again (www.rezajournal.com). And some videos are on www.rezatv.com . Nothing classical guitar related yet but it will come.

In 2008, I was active in rattling the cages of the SEC to refine their rules which seemed to favor Wall Street. The stories you read about how some hedge funds destroy good companies by manipulative techniques are all true. The hands-off approach of the current administration has really hurt the economy. But things are changing and I have a lot of hope in the upcoming administration to regulate financial markets better.

I have also written a number of other articles which you can find on my site. There's a "what's new" link on top of my website, www.rezamusic.com which includes new articles I write and other additions to the site.

I have an ongoing digitizing project to convert my pre-laptop archives to digital format. Photos and audios are all done. Digitizing the writings is half way done. On that note, I learned that my cousin's family in California destroyed my first six years of writings, since age 14 (a box they had agreed to hold in their large attic). That was a painful blow but life goes on. Recently I found a lot of letters from that era. I am not stuck on the past but may write a book one day.

My sister Shadi got her Philosophy Doctorate in Linguistics from University of Southern California. Parents are a delight. Dad retired from a stellar career.

Lots of love and good wishes for your inner peace, peace in your community, peace in the world, and a positive 2009.

Reza Ganjavi
www.rezamusic.com
www.rezajournal.com
www.rezangela.com
www.rezatv.com

COPYRIGHT NOTICE: This message is the intellectual property of Reza Ganjavi and the contents are to be considered confidential and may not be reproduced, published, or disclosed to other parties without the express written permission of the author.

Dear Reza, Thanks for your communications, blessed 2009. It's nice to notice that there are people of good will.

Thank you very much for the wishes and CONGRATS on your  - and your clan's - accomplishments! Here's wishing you
   The MOSTEST of a MIGHTY 2009 in store!
Every good wish.

Reza,   Happy New Year to you.   I am beginning to see your prolific and exciting  life to date.  ... This new life cannot compare with the things you have and are doing.   I will be
following your adventures.  All the best, 

So nice to get this personal update.  Congratulations to your sister and good luck with your new musical group.  Wishing you a healthy, happy, and wonderful year.  

all the best to you for 2009. Including your own chopper - prices are in free fall now.....

It was such a pleasure and delight to read your memo. THANK you so much.
 I wish you the best in 2009 and let's hope for more peace, less war, more prosperity and less poverty for all.

Dear Reza 

It has been years since we met in train on the way to Zürich. I'm surprised to still be on your mailing list and to hear how active and creative you are with your music. Congratulations! 

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Dear Reza, thank you for your very colourfull mail...sounds you're top fit! take good care, work, play, and stay healthy, 
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Wendy and I appreciate your communications