23 Feb
2012 -- First obesity medication got thumbs up from
VVUS
doubled afterhours due to FDA ADCOM very strong vote which makes no
sense actually given the poor safety profile for pregnant women and CV
risks. ARNA moved up in sympathy as well. Most people think
ARNA will get approved. I'm not as optimistic just due to the political
influences.
18 Feb
2012 -- Anti-depressant Fraud? $11+ Billion industry -- not better than placebo
Head
of Harvard Medical School dept of Placebo studies has determined SSRI's
are not any better than Placebo. Not just that but they're a lot worse.
They destroy. I've seen it with people I know who take SSRI's. And
millions of people take them. The study found it's combination of
doctor placebo and pill placebo -- when doctor says something the
patient believes it and it has a placebo effect.
Told Swiss woman that I am very Swiss. She said you can't be very Swiss because you're talking to me in the train :)
The
reservedness is sometimes too much. Friend doesn't want to call A
at 8 pm because ... .??? it's not sunday it's not dinner time
it's not bed time. So finally called to ask the question. The world
didn't end. Why? Maybe because of the closedness and reservation of
culture? It's often not accepted to reach out - but when someone from
outside
of this style reaches out it's liked. Is 9 pm too late to call? I get
calls all hours and to be a good friend I don't object.
15 Feb
2012 --
Most of my Indian friends marry when they're in their 20's. He said don't join the club, stay single and stay happy.
12 Feb
2012 -- Kids, Cell Phone, etc.
Talked to friend who has 2 little kids now.
Most
parents I know find little kids to be huge amount of work. He said he
regrets it sometimes but once you're in it "if one foot under water or
10 feet under water it's the same".
Good
talk w/ AR. A.H. died from brain tumor - AR thinks it was because of
cell phone use: He was on the cell phone the whole time being a
“wheeling
dealing guy” – the removed the tumor – he lost some congnitive
functions.
11 Feb
2012 -- Facebook Tragedy
Another
Facebook disaster: Facebook "defriending" led to double murder, police
say
(http://news.yahoo.com/facebook-defriending-led-double-murder-police-014442236.html).
NASHVILLE, Tenn (Reuters) - A Tennessee couple who "defriended" a woman
on Facebook were murdered in their home by the jilted woman's father
and another man, police said on Thursday. "It's the worst thing I've
ever seen," Johnson County Sheriff Mike Reece said, adding he had never
seen anything like it in his 27 years in law enforcement in the area.
"We've had murders, but nothing like this. This is just senseless."
Talked to Laura after a long time - she also doesn't like Facebook. William also neither uses Facebook nor Google+
07 Feb
2012 -- Sugar Should Be Regulated As Toxin, Researchers Say
A
spoonful of sugar might make the medicine go down. But it also makes
blood pressure and cholesterol go up, along with your risk for liver
failure, obesity, heart disease and diabetes. Sugar and other
sweeteners are, in fact, so toxic to the human body that they should be
regulated as strictly as alcohol by governments worldwide, according to
a commentary in the current issue of the journal Nature by researchers
at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF).
LOVE doesn’t die. Thought ca murder love. That’s the tragedy of our civilization.
Much of Haydn's music is annoying and shows an internal conflict and bitterness. Bach on the other hand shows an immense depth.
03 Feb
2012 -- Beatles Forever
We
wrote BEATLES FOREVER many years ago on school notebooks. It seems to
be the case. Big music store has a new big Beatles display selling
merchandise etc.
Teenager wearing Beatles. Kindergarten kids wearing Beatles. Beatlemania is alive.
-------------------
Tatoos, like ego, on even the prettiest of woman - is a show stopper.
-------------------
Before it even starts the place is full of “fog” – it’s nuts
– you don’t need so much of it – just a bit for effect is enough. Smoking is
not allowed so these silly people fill it with “fog”.
They played 2800 for the hall plus a lot for the PA – the
boss of the PA was here – normal price for PA is around 2800 too. Plus DJ. Total is around 6000 and at 20 bucks a ticket
he hopes to recover the money with 300 people but he doesn’t think so but is
doing it for fun anyway.
--- busted
a few smokers - security is tough on them - one security guy asked me
if he should kick out the repeat smoker or give him a last chance - I
said give him a last chance. The smoker was happy and thanked me and
apologized.
03 Feb
2012 -- Management Style
My management style is very democratic - rooted in understanding cooperation and affection joy and understanding. And it works!
--------------------
On his resume he wrote in the summary: Personal fitness,
literature, whisky.
---
02 Feb
2012 --
Had
two serious Outlook / Exchange issues which they couldn't solve despite
working on it all day. Asked the guy if he's seen this before. He said
they have these issues all day every day!! It was a kind of a
tough day with this stream of misfortune and a period of reflection.
Have had a lot of nice song ideas - sometimes nice phrases come
packaged with the melody. Love can be shot at but it can get up and
walk when it's seen without the filters of divisive thought and its
image making. A nice song idea was a nice relief and emptying.
01 Feb
2012 --
Does
innocence mean naivety? Not in my book. innocence is a quality of mind
which is not corrupted by thought and tradition. Tradition's key
motives are conformity and security. A free mind is a threat to
tradition.
31 Jan
2012 -- Michael Jackson
Saw
the Jackson show, Thriller -- it was very well executed but they went
overkill on the smoke machine. The entire theatre was filled with smoke
-- they used it indiscreetly -- I told the guy during the break - that
it's like putting a whole bag of spice in a dish. A little is nice a
lot is not. But nothing changed. We could really feel it in breathing
but there was no choice. And those dancers do heavy exercize in that
air every night. We had great seats in front center rows.
29 Jan
2012 -- Two Concerts
-
I'd never even heard of
Band of Skulls. Checked them out and liked the sound of 3 piece which I
always have. It was heavy rock but some interesting material. The
drummer like most rock drummers has no concept of dynamics and
throughout played at his max volume which is very unmusical. The part
that captures people the most - that spice - is the vocal
harmonies. Emma Richardson has good stage presence. Angela Jaggi
plays much better bass guitar. Emma played basic stuff -- had
a major 1000 Watt or so amp and weak finger stroke articulation yet got
a nice big sound. They both sang fairly well
for a heavy metal band. Guitarist used 5 diff guitars and lots of
effects and synth which is cool - I like to get a synth guitar like I
wanted to before but changed my mind - but now I can see with the
direction we're going it increases the possibilities. He used the same
amp as me - two blond Fender Supersonic 60 plus extra cabinet. The two
people I talked to also didn't know the band's name. Talked to the
manager - nice guy - and got the ins and outs of different arrangements
to play there. I am sure we can play there. Our product is top notch
and well targeted to a wide market. Just need a really good video.
-
Spinach safaron, kale salad, sprouts, cucumber salad, potato
salad, eggplant salad, garbanzo salad, pea salad, macaroni salad,
lentil salad, potato gratin, hummus, red quinoa salad, and so on :) - City is very cool - so many possibilities for culture. Going back to the club after this nice meal to check it out. -
At the club met the events manager (same guy who gave us a discount),
the club manager, and hung out until I had a chance to meet the booking
manager who seems to be the big boss. The seed is planted. Now dream
needs to come reality. This is absolutely the hottest spot in the first
class city in every way - - the crows - the location - etc.
-
Lara's Theme echoed the night on a wet silent night where rain was
barely trying to turn into snow in the background of the horror that
mankind has done to the Planet.
-
Ended up going to Mohammad Reza Mortazavi's concert. He's very good
player and makes lots of exotic sounds but doesn't seem to connect to
the audience. 30 minutes of Daf is too much - same basic monotone
sound. So it's just as boring as I had thought. Playing approximate
melodies with the drums which is pretty brilliant but after a while it
doesn't hold interesting. I had a feeling it would be exactly as it is
- but came anyway for other reasons too. He can imitate a Tar on a
tonbak with the tremolo and all. He's creative and unique in the sounds he gets out of a drum.
-
The wonder of Tonbak or Tombak is in what it was meant for - not to
imitate Ravel but to play nice traditional Persian rhythms. Now he's
doing that and now people are engaged.
- Friend said Mortazavi could have done that in 20 minutes and charged 1/2 the price :) - Talked to soundman at the percussion concert - got some ideas for our video.
29 Jan
2012 --
-
I do not regret not being married. 50% of cases end up in divorce which
is often painful and costly and erosive to the psyche. Our of the
other 50% I am sure at least 25% of couple fight sometime and some that
I know live in pain but put up with it because or materialistic reasons
(property) or for sake of children. I am not against marriage and there
are many successful marriages but I give it a 25% rate of success. At
that rate, I don't regret not having played that game.
- Her
sister is having hard time with school and so on - and they've put her
on psychiatric drugs !! She said she tries to help her sister get off
the drugs and face challenges of life. There is a place for medication
but in some cases it is abused as a crutch for someone who can walk
without it.
-
2 Americans were getting off in Altstetten thinking it was the airport
-- they didn't even bother to ask!! I saved them a delay.
- He asked if I have followers. I said I hope not - I don't want any followers. That would be destroying them and myself.
28 Jan
2012 -- New Research: People who give in to racism and prejudice are simply dumb,
There's no gentle way to put it: People who give in to racism and
prejudice may simply be dumb, according to a new study that is bound to
stir public controversy. That explains a lot !! The research finds that children with low intelligence are more likely to hold prejudiced attitudes as adults.
Went
to a Raja Yoga center - they don't do anything for the health of the
body. Just sit and recite affirmations (e.g. I am peaceful) -- but the
little I is still active. In the 1st hour of a 7 hour course they teach
you who you are :-)
They're nice people - typical Europeans
infatuated with the rich culture and tradition of East - in this
case India - eating India import sweets they offered but I had to
refuse (sugar) -- we had good talks. He said you must have read a lot
of books.
--------
feeling difference (harm) of 1 day of nose spray (cortisone). liking the strong body as result of every other day good workout - it clearly is effecting the posture in a good way.
-------- Disgusting: BANGKOK
(AP) — A new taste for eating elephant meat — everything from trunks to
sex organs — has emerged in Thailand and could pose a new threat to the
survival of the species. "If
you keep hunting elephants for this, then they'll become extinct," he
said. Consuming elephant meat is not common in Thailand, but some Asian
cultures believe consuming animals' reproductive organs can boost
sexual prowess. "The poachers took away the elephants' sex organs and
trunks ... for human consumption," ----------- Bribes, Chinese Mob Ties Alleged at Casino of Gingrich Money Man
27 Jan
2012 - Beatles Revolution
Musicologists are right. They predict in a 100 years Beatles music is so legendary kids will sing it in school. 100
years sooner, now, my sister said "in kindergarten there's
Beatlemania"... Rusteen (5) came home today and said he learned the
whole "Help".
What a market for our band :-)
A dream I had
since I was 13 - to make a Beatles band - and then as a 3 piece - and
then in top quality not like some of these other bands that murder the
music. The product is there. The place is clear - market is ripe. Price is clear. Only missing piece is promotion.
27 Jan
2012 - "Selfless".
From email to friend:
with regards to the "self" sometimes less is more. The self itself is
the problem. It is built by thinking. When we are inwardly very quiet
there is no self - there is no need for a self. There is nothing to work
on or improve psychologically - just being nothing which is very
powerful -- silence has tremendous power of creativity.
But our world is one of noise - internal and external - the internal
noise divides - builds walls - isolates. Look at the extremely divided
world as the proof. So the salvation is not more self but less self -
"selfless" -- but the self is so strong that many people specially
older, who are so dominated by the self as the main activity in their
minds don't even understand this.
25 Jan
2012 - This & That...
Had
a tiny bit of chocolate to prove I'm not a fanatic. Energy level
dropped like hell a few hours later - I was dragging like wanting to
die. I forgot it - looked back and asked - what did I do differently
today. And only thing diff was the choco/
Angelo: "suffering is much less worse than getting involved in banality."
Romney made 10's of millions of dollars in 2010 and paid only 15% tax. This is what's wrong with America.
Crazy Republican ideas: "Newt Gingrich promises to build a moon colony by 2020; make it a U.S. state". The guy is desperate. As
speaker from 1995 through 1998, Gingrich "had a new idea every minute
and most of them were off the wall," Dole wrote. He said he struggled
against Democrats' TV attacks in his 1996 campaign, "and in every one
of them, Newt was in the ad."
22 Jan
2012 - Primitive Psychology
After
10 years they finally told him what they think he has. Meanwhile
they've had him on therapy and medication for 10 years not knowing what
he had !!! It's one hell of a crooked corrupt system. Even now, when I
read the description of the condition and compare it with what I know
of him -- and I know him quite well -- none of that description fits.
So they've got it wrong and still can't tell what's wrong with him
because there's nothing wrong with him! His problem is he's a very
intelligent sensitive human in a brutal society which wants to make his
mind dull, have him conform, and is afraid of him dropping out of the
system of medications and therapists.
Smoker friend said: "save me I’m dying". We're going to have a discussion on stopping smoking.
20 Jan
2012 - Facebook Depression
Research found the more people used Facebook the less happy they are. No surprise.
17 Jan
2012 - Small Mindedness
The
level of small mindedness of some American customer service reps is
mind-boggling. We noticed this when we first went to the US. The reps
we dealt with only knew their little section and totally clueless about
a) the big picture b) anything outside their realm of responsibility no
matter how small and focused their area, to the degree of losing common
sense. Tonight talking to a rep reinforced this observation -- it's
like going to bakery and asking about bread and the guy who's in charge
of the oven saying sorry I just know about the oven, what's a
bread?
The
supervisor apologized - I said please educated the guy - he wasted 20
minutes of my time by not being able to put 2 and 2 together which is
so common sense and I can do it and I don't even work there.
17 Jan
2012 - Psychological Dependence
He said he popped a 100 mg of antidepressant this morning
because he wanted to have a good day and went shopping etc.
So some dependence develops -- the fact that he wanted to have a good day is
positive - it shows thise was light in his mind.
To see dependence on medication and on thisapist. He said he's going to the thisapist
on Thursday because he is not happy with his and wants to tell his that.
If I'm not happy with a hairdresser I just don't go.
For his the thisapist is like a mothis - but he doesn't like his. He prefers a
man who is strong. And the medication is also something he relies on for a
disease which is probably a non disease - no doctor has been able to say what's
wrong with his. The side effect of these drugs by themselves are enough to make
a healthy person sick.
He said how do you end psychological dependence - how do you tell your psyche
to be free from dependence. Thise is no how. Understanding is the key. To see
what you are - whatever it is that you are.
He said the drug makes the fear go away. Does it ?? The fear is also a side
effect of the drug and as long as it's not seen it stays. The medication is an
escape.
I could have escaped to night too but I didn't - I did some yoga and so on and
am feeling good.
17 Jan
2012 - Psychological Corruption
Perhaps
the highest form of corruption and violation of humanity and essence of
goodness is when thought enters where it does't belong and destroys
love.
14 Jan
2012 - 3 Piece Magic
Friday night had a jam session after a period marked by unusual pain. The new
energy is solid. Performance is great joy. I give arrangement ideas to
the band. I play and love drums and drums plays such a big role in the
dynamics and color and texture of a 3 piece band - and to have a
drummer like Peter Hasler who can execute anything flawlessly makes it easy
and fun to share what I hear and then hear it executed. The bass is
solid in hands of Angela Jaggi who's become a precise musical and amazing
player, and the guitar has a lot of possibilities in a 3 piece band.
From the perspective of a drummer: "You’re a real good guitar player because your timing is stable." It's that Persian thing!
- Joseph Haydn is so boring. - Johann Nepomuk Hummel is cool.
- she was so happy she couldn't stop smiling... laughter of joy ... filled her heart
16 Jan
2012 - Kids
She said having kids is a long term commitment. You can do things after they go out (when they're 18 or so).
He said: with 1 kid you have 50% free time. With
2 or more 0%.
The positive is you can play with them. The negative is you have to play with
them even if you don't want to.
-----------
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRtMIu4Aa_o
Eckhart Tolle - How to inhabit your body in a stressful
environment
He talks 10 minutes to explain paying attention to the body -- I guess some people need a Guru. Not for me.
14 Jan
2012 - Vicious circle
They
put him on Zoloft now - it has its own set of side effects. They
haven't been able to tell him what's wrong with him - which is probably
nothing except for being sensitive - highly talented - highly
intelligent - the society wants to dull that mind by medications and
make it confused by therapists who are confused themselves. Talking to
some good friends who love a person in some cases may be much better
than therapists. So the new drug gives him fears - he has no reasons to
be afraid - and before he takes the drug he has no fears and when he
takes it it starts. So it's clear that it is the drug 's side effects
that's causing the problem. He asked them if they can tell him what's
wrong with him if anything and they said they can inject a radioactive
contrast agent in the brain :) to see if there's anything wrong. They
said it takes time for the drug to work and settle - but it's been 2
months.
It's the question of faith in the system - which is ok
for some conditions and not others. Another friend who's been through
this said, if side effects settle real effect also settles and then the
person needs higher dose. So what can a therapist do? change the
medicine back to what was not working before? or up to dose to make the
brain more dull. Sure, it drops some inhibitions but so do many other
things - so the person can be more talkative in therapy but what is the
point and use of that therapy? I'm not giving medical advice but just
questioning this. How can putting someone on drugs to talk about
somethings he's talked about for years already in a therapy to a likely
confused therapist can help that person be free?
Insight can
liberate. What's important is to know that we are strong enough to
stand up to life's challenges. Part of it is cultural. Here there is a
very low threshold of tolerance. Suicide rate is the best indicator.
But it's an approach to life in an outwardly perfect society. A sane
person here doesn't need to have any fears about physical comfort -
nobody has to ever worry about sleeping in the street. That's one of
the great things about this society. And if one doesn't eat meat the
physical fear is not there. He appreciated tips on having todo-lists
which help the mind be less restless.
I said, suicide is
stupid, period. It's for stupid people. Nobody with a bit of brains
would commit suicide, and would know how precious life is.
Jan
2012 -
Changed guitar strings - good old EJ45's are perfect - the last strings were hand killers.
Overstock's
case against naked shorts got dismissed due to lack of jurisdiction in
California but Patrick Byrne will fight on. More power to him, Jonathan
and company.
Avanir has had a nice run the last couple of weeks.
They're building a solid business although short sellers are still
denying it, but that denial will cost the shorts a lot. The short
interest is still over 26 million.
Learned about fascinating technology of Geron. Their compound works both inside and outside the brain.
Watched a very moving movie by Annalena Fröhlich made. She's a delight and an excellent artist I've known for years.
Bristol-Myers
Squibb Co. (BMY) increased its bid for Inhibitex Inc. (INHX) and its
experimental hepatitis C drug twice in five days, raising its offer 30
percent to top an unnamed competitor, according to a filing.
9 Jan
2012 - Swiss Central Bank / Hedge Fund
BERNE
(Reuters) "[The Swiss Central Bank Chairman's] Hildebrand wife Kashya,
a former hedge fund trader who now runs a Zurich art gallery, bought
400,000 Swiss francs ($418,000) worth of dollars on August 15, three
weeks before her husband oversaw steps to cap the rise of the
safe-haven franc. She later sold the dollars at a higher rate.
Shame. This is a no-go. Even if she didn't know maybe she knew something, I mean husband and wife talk, sometimes.
------------ US
primary elections: Glad Rick Perry got just 1% of votes in NH.
Loud and clear statement on how excited people are about another tough
talking Texas governor (8 years of Bush catastrophe was enough). Glad
Santorum had weak showing too. None of these guys are strong. Will
Romney beat Obama? It depends. Hardcore Republicans don't like Romney
but who cares. Obama is a much better man.
-
5 and 7 year olds are singing Beatles and wearing Beatles shirts in school. Simply wow!!!
8 Jan
2012 - Life force
-
Healing is a miracle that happens. The signs of it are again clear and concrete. - Pranayama is very healthy for the body and brings happiness to the organism..
8 Jan
2012 - How Thought Murders Love
-
Thinking has an amazing ability to destroy love. And in thought-based
societies that is what it does all the time. So love gets murdered and
gives way to calculations formulas and a mechanical approach to life
with no tolerance for insecurity because thought absolutely needs
security of conclusions and the known. So it decides (from the word
"homicide") and murders love. An outwardly perfect society made by
thought -- with every little detail figures out -- is a wonderful thing
-- but when that same thought and its mechanistic ways creep into the
psyche and want to define love and life which are not trams and
watches, it fails. The proof of it is the high suicide rate. There is
little room for flexibility, negotiation, trying to work it out,
dialogue, finding a solution. Thought just axes love in the head. It
also shoots life in the head -- there are so many cases of suicide
around yet outward emotions are very normalized. Some of the people who
kill themselves had perfectly "normal" lives - and even people close to
them didn't know if anything was wrong.
And then there's the
whole subject of popularity and over reliance on psychiatric drugs,
psychiatrists, psychologist, psychotherapist, and mental hospitals to
deal with the consequence of an overly thought based education /
culture / upbringing / society.
What is clearly evident is that :
a) a perfect society does not lead to happiness b) material riches do not lead to happiness c) thought is incapable and destructive when it comes to dealing with matters of love and relationship
8 Jan 2012 - Love Epic or Tragedy ??
He talked about the practical vs. romantic circuitry. There
are many animalistic circutries in the brain. Some are necessary -
about food clothing shelter. There are others which are not only
unnecessary but freedom from which make a human experience life and
love at a different level. This freedom requires inward maturity and
growth which has nothing to do with age at all - open-mindededness -
and awareness. One such circuitry in the female brain is about
practicality which is translated from the animal conditioning around
security for raising children into the extreme case of finding a man,
with a clear plan for divorce and how much money it will yield. Most
cases are not that extreme but the practical circuitry always involves
the ego, the self, made from thought, and therefore it must exclude
PURE love. Pure love can not operate when the practical circuitry is
active. Love has its own practicality and intelligence.
8 Jan 2012 - Debate
Watched
yet another debate. Rick Perry, the Governor of Texas deserves to
be the last - he's so clueless but not as bad as Bush. Romney and
Santorum are clearly on top. Ron Paul has some good ideas but would
never make a good president. Huntsman had some good ideas but he
has no chance. Gingrich is a complex politician but he has no chance.
Romney will win New Hampshire.
He talked about the practical vs. romantic circuitry.
7 Jan
2012 - Jam
-
Jammed with Peter and a accordeon player. To play chords on the guitar
is one of the easiest things in life - probably a monkey can also do
it. To play the guitar well is skill-iin-action and one of the most
challenging things in life.
- Talk about Romantic fools: A Chicago police
officer allegedly turned a $132 speeding ticket into a pick-up opportunity when
he later tracked down the female driver and asked her out, saying the least he
could do for the money he cost her was to treat her to dinner, according to a lawsuitthe woman filed in federal court.
3 Jan 2012 -
- 2 year old Klaus learning words with father - so sweet - the language of a 2 year old is better than Mozart. - Some nasty dark clouds came but light of truth dispelled them. -
Late last night decided to send a New Year's Message - so composed and
sent it immediately (took about an hour including mail-list
management). -
He was with a negative grumpy unhealthy smoker drinker toomuch-meat-eater woman who often
watches these dark crime movies and he slept 5 hours and woke up
and didn't feel like getting up and was in a state of 1/2 awake 1/2
sleep. The psychiatrist said double your dose of anti-depressant, take
coffee, and come for therapy. If I were in those shoes I would try to
sleep more, do yoga, eat, take a nap, but anyway a day like that
is usually ruined anyway in terms of tiredness so let it be so - why
escape from it with medication - just sleep early and find balance next
day. This is not a medical advice just idea of how I would do it.
That's a relationship I would try to sell on Ricardo and take a break
from - much better to be alone than with someone you don't want to have
sex with because she stinks from cigarette alcohol and meat!
2 Jan 2012 - Body World
Koerperwelten
in Basel is way over-rated. It was not that interesting and kind of
gruesome and made my stomach churn. Not recommended. For me it was very
similar to just looking at pictures in an anatomy book. The most
popular spot was the erotic scene.
2 Jan 2012 - New Year's Message
Dear Friends
This
is to wish you a great 2012 and all good things that the universe can
bring, health, happiness, love, joy, wisdom, money and so on...
The rest is a spontaneous composition based on a spontaneous desire to send a new year greeting...
I
used to write Christmas cards years ago before computers become such a
dominant player in our lives. I still remember days when I did not have
my own computer - first half of 1990's but by later 1990's the good old
paper calendar gave its way to Outlook and the paper journals were done
with Word and my handwriting kept getting worse. Now, the laptop is on
from day to night and it has absorbed much of my physical possessions
-- boxes full of writings, music scores, songs, photos, you know it...
If I could only take a little tiny flash drive when I die :) -- the
ancient Pharaohs parked a boat next to their grave in Cairo so when
they come back they could ride the boat back to Aswan. All I would need
upon returning is a laptop :-) (if by that time USB is still a standard
:) -- just kidding because I don't believe in the whole coming back
theory as we know it ...
Back to reality, as I got more busy and
unconventional and digital Christmas cards gave their ways to emails
sometimes but as the email list grew that also stopped and gave way to
very very infrequent mailings -- it's been maybe 2 or 3 in the last 5
to 7 years depending on which list you're on. This is going to
'personal' list - a small subset - which is still 722 friends -- you
see why I like to keep mailings to a minimum and absolutely essential.
This
year too, I wasn't planning to send anything. I prefer to do a mass
mail when I have something creative to announce... But just now
decided to send something because today was a hard day and I
received some new year messages which were really helpful. I find a
message of love, kindness, peace, friendship and good wishes in this
crazy divisive torn-up world is helpful. Forwarding a picture of my
adorable niece and nephew - Tara & Rusteen.
As for a
personal update, I'm in Switzerland now doing a contract for a large
company as a project manager in IT -- just finished delivering a
project with a virtual team of around 80 people in 10 different
locations globally. It's an enjoyable position -- Project Management is
80% communications!
I'm still playing the guitar, and classical
guitar specially is the biggest thrill in human experience I know
(talking about thrill, after years of skiing, I've just lost interest
in downhill skiing -- the thrill compared to the time investment is not
worth it.
We have a nice band (see links below) -- we have a
good foundation in our relationships which is the most important thing
and that allows good music which has a universal source to flow. In
2011 we got a fantastic drummer, Peter, who's a joy to work with.
Angela is playing amazing bass guitar and the three of us sing
harmonies (see link below).
Love, love, love, the first phrases
of "All You Need Is Love". What can I say? I have been in a
"relationship" for the last four years and it's been really amazing,
again in terms of foundation and quality -- "nothing lasts forever but
the earth and sky" to quote the band, Kansas -- there is no permanency
in anything -- we are fleeting moments -- and specially love, it can
not be put in a box and secured -- it can be cherished and
appreciated -- it is so real but it can't be seen -- its
expression can be seen but itself is the background - it embraces
everything - and can be seen only with the eyes of eternity.
My
father passed away last year. He is still very much alive because love
doesn't die. He was an angel - and his love lives in my heart and he
rides on my shoulder (but I don't have to buy two tickets :) -- we were
very close -- the father and I are one - we loved the same love and
dreamed the same dream -- but he was a mountain and I am a grain of
sand in comparison to his greatness affection gentleness and wisdom
(poetic application of our conditioning to compare).
As for
personal projects I have some things in the works - a circular around
Jiddu Krishnamurti's work is brewing for the last 9 months on very low
priority basis. I have enough material for 2 more CD's and might do
some recording when the 9-month winter is over! I also like to write a
book about a cyber law case I litigated as a Plaintiff -- a very
interesting account of what a dangerous place internet is, and how I dealt
with some abusers.
As for stock tips, in 2012 AVNR may do really well. Here's some info I put together www.avnr.info
It's been some years so I hope you'll excuse this group mail. Love and good wishes, and thank you for yours.
1 Jan 2012 - Guitar Joy
Playing
guitar gave one so much joy. Far more than can ever be possible on ski
slopes. Quit skiing early because it seemed so stupid - majority of the
time on the lift and then only a part of the time coming down gives
true joy -- maybe 10 or 20% max of the whole time. With guitar it's
like 99% joy.
The
majestic glaciers are precious - they're not to be disturbed and warmed
by these heavy equipment and skiers and manipulation of the mountains
(gunning avalanches etc.).
Barrios was so great - I love playing his stuff
- though he's criticized by some purists because he used elements of
pop and folk music in his classical compositions.
It was nice
Remo trusted me with the forgotten passes - didn't betray his trust and
returned the 2 day passes -- sold 2 others at discount and sold my day
card for a discount as a 1/2 day card - win-win situation all around. I
think I'm done with skiing for a long time if not forever. This idea
has been brewing for some time. Today it got 100% confirmation. It's
just not worth the time and risk and hastle. I can get so much more joy
fromi playing the guitar. So thought, skiing is for those who don't
play classical guitar :-)
It's
interesting that on special occasion when thought shouldn't go where it
doesn't belong the brain itself hurts - certain spots - as though
rejecting an out of purpose use.
31 Dec
2012 - New Movie: Addiction Incorporated
- First
good news of 2012 came with the movie : "Addiction Incorporated" --
a great revelation into the inside world of criminals who run a
business out of getting young people hooked. They conciously decided
for more addictiveness vs. less harm. They want their targets to be
addicted so they spend money buying something that makes them unhappy
and kills them a slow painful death. A must see movie for every smoker
and non smoker and every government official who has a pro-smoking
sympathy.
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