One Man's Possibilities

USC 50 - UCLA 0

2011-11-27T17:26:00.000-08:00

Had a great time yesterday with friends at the LA Coliseum for the USC vs UCLA rivalry game. USC handed the Bruins a historic beat down which will most likely result in UCLA's coach Rick Neuheisel getting fired. I'm hoping it was not Matt Barkley's last game, but it most likely was. He went out in style throwing six touchdown passes.

USC 38 - Oregon 35

2011-11-19T17:38:00.000-08:00

Once again, my cousin Randy, his wife Margaret and son Kayl hosted me over the USC vs. Oregon football game weekend. I arrived in Eugene, Oregon by train on Thursday after spending two days in Portland (one of my favorite cities). We went straight to the Oregon basketball game held in their new arena called Matthew Knight Arena which is named after it's chief donor's (Phil Knight, Nike CEO) son who died at age 34 in a scuba diving accident. It cost $227 million to build and is absolutely beautiful.

On Friday, we at lunch at King Estate and enjoyed some of their amazing wines. If you ever visit Eugene, make sure you plan a stop at King Estate (www.kingestate.com)

On game day we tailgated at the stadium at the King Estate pre-game party, and then witnessed an unlikely upset as the Trojans prevailed 38 - 35 after a missed last second field goal by the Ducks. The loss knocked the Ducks out of national championship contention and was the biggest win by USC during the 2011 season where they would be banned from a bowl game for the second (and final) year in a row.

I didn't get too many pictures since it was a night game and my darn phone battery doesn't last very long. Oh well. The memories of the win will never fade. It was a glorious day to be a Trojan.

USC 42 - Colorado 17

2011-11-04T17:35:00.000-07:00

I was graciously hosted by my good friends Christine and J.T. Smiley for the USC vs Colorado football game. J.T. bought us some great tickets in the middle of the USC section (he he... thanks J.T.). We watched Matt Barkley break a school record by throwing for 6 TDs.

We spent the next two days lounging around the house, watching the snow fall and the other college football games. I made a new friend, Jade Smiley, Christine's and J.T.'s lovely little girl. She likes princesses, ponies and waking everyone up at 5am by running around the house.

We ended the visit with a delicious brunch at Red Rocks. Altogether, a great weekend with great friends. Next year, I will host them for the game in L.A.

The Quantum Activist

2011-09-16T23:58:00.000-07:00

I am a big fan of documentaries. I thank Netflix for bringing so many great ones into my home. I spend a considerable (too much) amount of time watching them before I go to bed. I don't blog about most of them, but every now and then I watch one that really grabs me. Tonight I watched The Quantum Activist which is about revolutionary visionary Amit Goswami.

I can't say I connect with him on an intellectual level... he's far more brilliant than I am. But I will say that there are bits and pieces of his ideology that resonate with my beliefs and way of thinking. Goswami tells several hypothetical stories about the interplay between consciousness and matter, between the material and possibility, and how science has and is working to prove it in a way where is it (or somewhat) predictable.

I try not to get to caught up in the esoteric explanations, but rather choose to connect with the subtle messages he gives. What I heard was about "loving your enemy", and the disappearance of the duality and separateness between matter (that which we can see and measure) and consciousness (that which is not matter but possible), I connected with him... I didn't necessarily understand, but I connected.

He touches on relationships, on creation, on the constraints of the ego, and so much more. It's a very cool story, but not one that's full of special effects and a huge climax. This is not your normal documentary so don't expect it to be. It's about how you and me, and us, if we choose, to make subtle changes in our lifestyles to invite inside our experience the possibility to create new things. It's not easy. There is no silver bullet. But it is, and I know it to be so, possible, to create significant and massive change in our own and collective lives by going beyond the material. Enjoy the show.

Sledding in Truckee, CA.

2011-09-05T00:23:00.000-07:00

I just had a memory recall of sledding in Truckee, California as a young kid with my brothers and sister. I can't quite remember why we lived there. We moved around a lot when we were young. My parents divorced and we spent some time with Dad and some with Mom. It may have been Dad's turn and we were visiting Grandma Ruby and Grandpa Gordon wherever they were at the time. But I do remember taking on "massive" hills on our sled. We had a lot of fun. Can't wait to pass this down to my kiddos.

How The Killers Became The Killers

2011-07-31T14:36:00.000-07:00

I really like the band The Killers. Many do. They've solid 6 million records in the US and another 5 million in the UK. Worldwide, they've sold over 18 million records; evident of their mass appeal. They're from Las Vegas which is another cool fact about them.

There's a couple things to know about them. First. they got their name from the sticker on the bass drum in a New Order video for the song Crystal (video below). Look closely, and you'll see the sticker. The band in the video is fictional, but the sticker and it's influence are not.

Second, their lead singer (Brandon Flowers) and guitarist (Dave Keuning) met when Flowers responded to a newspaper ad that Keuning placed. The Keuning had recorded some tracks to demonstrate his capabilities and musical influences. The first track he sent Flowers became the song known today as Mr. Brightside (video below)... one of my favorites.

Poolside in Scottsdale

2011-06-19T22:08:00.001-07:00

Scottsdale is well-known for its golf courses and desert resorts. I stumbled upon the Hyatt at Gainey Ranch about 10 years ago and manage to make my way back every couple years or so. On a recent trip to Arizona to visit my dad for Father's Day, we managed to find a few hours to enjoy some scorching sun (it was about 105 degrees), a couple cold ones, and a few trips down the kid's water slide.

The kid's slide had just closed down when we tried to enter, but fortunately one of the teen lifeguards who saw our disappointment said "if we were sneakretive" we could still go on it. Sneakretive? I think that is sneaky + secretive all wrapped into one.

Chicago Visit, March 2011

2011-03-15T13:55:00.000-07:00

I'm in Chicago this week for work Monday through Friday, and play the rest of the time. St. Patty's Day is on Thursday, so I'm sure I will play a little bit that night too.

Below is a link to my Google Map "My Chicago Spots". I will be updating it throughout my trip with the fun spots and great restaurants I visit.

View My Chicago Spots in a larger map

Dear Blogger From Android

2011-03-15T05:39:00.001-07:00

This is my first post from my Android phone. Getting ready to kick off Day 2 of meetings at the company office in Schaumburg, Illinois. Schaumburg is home to Motorola headquarters and the Woodfield Mall... the second-largest mall in America with over 300 stores.

Illinois, Schaumburg and Eventually Chicago

2011-03-14T07:59:00.000-07:00

Shannon and I are in Schaumburg, Illinois for the next week. It's a suburban town located in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago. We arrived yesterday, and we went to eat at Stoney River Steakhouse... which served great steaks. It was cold, but there is not much snow left on the ground. Here's a picture of Shannon and one of the remaining snow piles. This is the first time I've seen her in snow.

My Funny Morning

2011-01-19T23:28:00.000-08:00

My funny morning – by Kevin Lake

Woke up around 6:30 am ready to take on a new day. Sun hadn't risen yet so our bedroom was dimly lit as it natural should in the early morning. Being the considerate husband, I decided to do my morning routine without turning the lights on so I wouldn't interrupt my sleeping wife's winter slumber. I brushed the teeth, dragged the comb across the head, threw on the wool jacket, and headed out the door to SF Office.

Getting off the train, and walking down King St. (near the AT&T Giants stadium), several woman kept looking down and then up at me with a awkward smile. What was so funny?, I kept thinking. Unsure, I started to examine myself. Fly down..nope. Hair sticking straight..nope. Something stuck in my teeth..nope. OH WAIT… COULD IT BE THAT I HAVE ONE BLACK SHOE ON and ONE BROWN SHOE ON> YES!!!! Ding, ding, ding, … WINNER.

Moral of the story. Don't be considerate to your significant other and turn on the light while getting dressed in the morning!

Star Wars Theme Song

2010-11-07T19:36:00.000-08:00

Tonight, Shannon and I watched Myles play the trumpet in a performance for the Orange Coast College Wind Ensemble. The played several movie scores. This one was my favorite... the Star Wars theme song.

13-Year-Old Commits to USC Football

2010-02-06T09:42:00.000-08:00

David Sills and family react to USC commitment - ESPN

The verbal commitment of 13-year-old USC recruit David Sills has caused quite a stir. Of course, you have parents nationwide griping about kids being recruited so young, but it happens in basketball all the time. The reality is kids who look to excel at a particular sport typically pursue that sport year-round. During the "off-season" many of them are placed into corporate sponsored camps or work with high-profile, specialty coaches, and this gives them exposure.

I know because I worked with one of them. When I was in high-school at El Toro High School in Southern California, I worked out with quarterbacks such as Steve Stenstrom (Stanford, Chicago Bears), Rob Johnson (USC, Buffalo Bills) and Brett Johnson (UCLA, Michigan State). They were involved in a quarterback camp led by the El Toro HS head coach Bob Johnson. Whenever you have that type of talent all working together, it attracts attention. That attention comes from the community, the media and usually college recruiters.

So what that this kid was discovered or that his coach has in-roads with Lane Kiffin at USC and wanted to expose Sills' talent. This is how it works and upset parents are never going to stop it. In fact, it should be embraced.... even for a 13-year-old boy, who by the way, has awesome skills. I'm happy for Sills, and I'm happy for USC... if they can keep him committed. Fight on.

The Enders or The Griswolds?

2009-12-28T12:07:00.000-08:00

I always get a kick out of visiting my younger brother Jared and his family around Christmas time. He really gets into the holiday spirit and decorates his house with gusto. His house reminds me of The Griswolds from Christmas Vaction. It's no wonder his electricity bill doubles during November and December.

From High Above the Windy City

2009-10-01T23:25:00.000-07:00

Chicago is a beautiful place. A different place. It is quieter than I thought. Quite a bit less eye contact than I am used to. Tonight, we ate at the Signature Room in the Hancock Tower. Quite a view!

Pioneer Square In Downtown Portland

2009-06-18T16:02:00.000-07:00

Located in the heart of downtown Portland, Pioneer Courthouse Square is affectionately known as the City's "living room." More than 26,000 people pass by the Square each day. It is the single most visited site in Portland.

The crowd is eclectic. Out of towners people watching and shopping at the nearby department stores. Local teenagers smoking ciggarettes and showing off their tatoos, piercings and died hair. Activists asking if you would like to talk about the earth or Iran and then presenting you a petition to sign.

You can get a decent cappucino across the street or a predictable cup of coffee at the Starbucks firmly planted in the corner of the plaza. Relax and read a book, sit on the steps and people watch, eat a burrito, whatever... it's easy.

The Story of One Man's Autistic Adult Brother

2009-05-26T22:25:00.000-07:00

At ONEHOPE, we have established a sustainable contribution to the autism community by donating 50% of our profits to ACT Today!. ACT Today! is a nonprofit whose mission is to increase access to effective autism treatments. Since I became involved with ONEHOPE, I have become more educated about the autism spectrum and what families affected by autism go through.

To date, the most poignant and revealing story I've read about a family affected by autism was published in the May issue of GQ Magazine called Unreachable by Karl Taro Greenfield. This article painfully describes the relationship between Karl, his parents and Noah, his brother and a low-functioning autistic adult.

As young kids, they were just like any other set of brothers. As adults, they did not relate each other and Karl would go years without visiting his brother in his institutional home because of what he saw and the guilt he felt knowing that Noah's world was one he would never wish on anyone. Karl felt helpless. Karl was hopeless.

Karl Taro Greenfield has a new memoir is about growing up with Noah titled Boy Alone. I recommend reading both the GQ aritcle and the book and learning about how you can do to push the quest to find effective autism treatments forward.

For a video about the book and author, click here.

Alpha Blondy at the Galaxy Theater

2009-05-22T00:11:00.000-07:00

I'm a big fan of Alpha Blondy. I've been listening to him for years. His voice is amazing and his songs force you to dance. He's great!

I had a chance to see him with some good friends from Chico State at the Galaxy Theater in Santa Ana. We were right up next to the stage. Here's a few pics from his opening song - Jerusalem.

The lyrics for Jerusalem capture Alpha's over-arching message of unity, regardless of religious differences.

From the Bible an the Coran
Revelation in JERUSALEM S
HALOM, SALAMALEKOUM

You can see christians, jews and muslims
Living together and praying Amen!
Let's gives thanks and praises

Network for Hope Raises $2,000 for LLS

2009-05-21T09:24:00.001-07:00

Last night, the social group I co-founded with Christian Campisi and Jake Kloberdanz called Network for Hope, hosted another awesome Wine Tasting Mixer for Charity. We packed the house with over 120 people and raised $2,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The event was sponsored by South Bay BMW and ONEHOPE.

Everyone just seemed to have a great time. I met a lot of wonderful people who have a lot to give. Network for Hope simply exists to give these people an opportunity to connect with causes that need and want their help and contribution.

Learn more about Network for Hope at www.networkforhope.org.

Oregon's Pinots

2009-05-13T23:22:00.000-07:00

I always drink Pinot Noirs when I come to Oregon; especially Portland because you're right next to the Willamette River.

I'm not sure if this is a good sign (but I think it may be), but if you let an Oregon pinot sit for a second 9 times out 10 a fruit fly will show up and buzz aroung the lip of your glass. Its kinda like the hummingbird that shows up in two scenes in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. A bit out of place, but a sign of good things to come.

Public Transportation Done Right

2009-05-13T16:55:00.000-07:00

San Francisco knows how to do public transportation. If I fly into SFO, I can jump on BART and get to the city quick. If I need to get to Marin County, no problem. The Marin Airporter runs every 30 minutes and costs only $20.

If I'm running around in the city at night, I can still get to my office in Larkspur the next morning for a mere $7 by taking the ferry. I just seem to be able to get wherever I need to get rather easily and for a reasonable cost.

Hey Los Angeles! You could learn something from SF.

Wine Tasting Mixer for Charity

2009-05-10T07:56:00.001-07:00

About a year ago, I co-founded a local social group called Network for Hope. Our intention is to connect people with something to give (time, money, services) with nonprofits that need their help. We do this by hosting benefit events.

Our next event is May 20th at Samba in Redondo Beach. This event will benefit the Laukemia & Lymphoma Society. My good friend Jake Kloberdanz, CEO of ONEHOPE, was nominated as the Man of the Year for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and I told him I would host an event for him as part of his campaign. What started as just an idea and a conversation is turning into a reality on May 20th.

For more information, click here.

Planting Trees with Fresh & Easy

2009-04-11T14:46:00.000-07:00

A couple of years ago, a good friend of mine started what is now known as ONEHOPE wine. ONEHOPE is a California wine company that donates fifty percent of its profits to important social causes. It has formed partnerships with notable nonprofits that support five distinct causes. These causes are breast cancer awareness (Susan G. Komen), AIDS research and services (AIDS/LifeCycle), Autism research and services (ACT Today!), preservation and protection of US forests (American Forests) and support for the families of fallen US soldiers (Snowball Express).

While shopping in my local Fresh & Easy, I saw a custom-labeled Sauvignon Blanc specially made for a cause-marketing promotion ONEHOPE is running with Fresh & Easy. For each bottle purchased, ONEHOPE will plant a tree (in addition to donate 50% of its profits to American Forests).

For a Fresh & Easy near you, click here. The store locator feature is in the top right.

The Pacific Sunset

2009-04-03T06:54:00.000-07:00

Ahhh... The sunset over the Pacific. It never gets old and two are never the same.

Saint Behind the Glass

2009-03-09T01:52:00.000-07:00

I love music. Every now and then I come across a new artist and song before anyone else (in my circle) and I share with all that I know. I discovered G. Love well before he left Philly. Jurrasic 5 among my friends is my fault. Paulo Nutini had promise, but fizzled... but I gave him an early nod.

Well... today there is an OLD band I want to introduce... and an old song. This is 2005 stuff. Simple lyrics. Well coordinated strings. A good story.

Los Lobos... one of LA's gems... and Saint Behind the Glass. Download it now.

Patatas Bravas... Finally!

2009-02-26T18:51:00.000-08:00

Many years ago, I was given a cookbook as a gift. This particular cookbook, called The New Spanish Table, contains over 300 recipes of Spain's most famous dishes. An entire section is devoted to tapas or small dishes with big flavor. Each time I peruse this section, there is one particular tapa that catches my eye. It is called patatas bravas or potatoes with spicy tomato sauce.

While in Portland recently, a few of my colleagues and I stuffed ourselves silly at an energetic, yet comfortable tapas restaurant called Toro Bravo (no working website... boo!). It was here where I tried patatas bravas for the first time and I was not disappointed. It was delicious.

During the dinner, the question came up "what does tapas mean?" There were many guesses. Mine was "a party!" After a bit of research, I learned my guess was not too far off.

In Spain, the tapeo - or tapas bar crawl - is part of the country's DNA. It embodies the Spanish lifestyle and worldview. The verb tapear broadly means "a concept that encompasses drinking, eating, chatting, strolling, greeting, seeing and being seen." Sounds like a party to me!

The Red Rocks of Sedona Arizona

2009-01-10T21:41:00.000-08:00

In early 2008, I wrote on my list of goals for the year "have a spiritual experience in Sedona Arizona". I've spent a lot of time in Arizona (my father and brothers live there with their families), but I had never been to Sedona. I accomplished my goal just in the nick of time... the end of December.

Sedona is located in northern Arizona about 30 miles south of Flagstaff. It is well-known for its red rock formations and energy vortexes. I can now say firsthand that the rock formations are stunningly beautiful. The vortex locations were a bit crowded, but I was still able to find some great views.

Sedona is named after Sedona Miller Schnebly (1877–1950), the wife of the city's first postmaster, who was celebrated for her hospitality and industriousness. Its landmark rock formations include Coffeepot Rock, Bell Rock, Cathedral Rock, Chimney Rock, Courthouse Butte, the Mittens, the Cow Pies, and the Rabbit Ears.

A few pics from my journey are below or view the entire slide show.

A Historical Night in New York City

2008-11-14T19:44:00.000-08:00

Regardless if you voted for Obama, McCain, neither or someone else, the 2008 election was historic. I was fortunate to be in New York City the night of November 4th and there was definitely a buzz. Many of the news shows were either filmed at or showing shots of the Rockefeller Center near Times Square. My hotel was only blocks away. Here are some photos I took of "Election Plaza" at Rockefeller Center. It was absolutely gorgeous.

See the full album

Awesomely Awesome by Barney Stinson

2008-10-16T23:00:00.001-07:00

Besides Laker games, USC football games, the occasional Dodger game and Soul Train, I don't watch much TV. However, I did stumble upon an awesome show called 'How I Met Your Mother' awhile back. Now, it is the only non-sport show I have set to record on my DVR and each episode gets played at least two times.

The glue to the show is Barney Stinson played by Neil Patrick Harris. Yes ladies and gentlement... Doogie Howser. Barney is famous for his many ways of saying 'awesome' and 'legendary' and his long list of short relationships with New York's beauties. Here are a few of my favorite Barney Stinson moments.

The Greatest Stadium on the Planet

2008-10-11T19:19:00.000-07:00

I'm a huge University of Southern California football fan. I've been going to games and pulling for the 'cardinal and gold' since I started playing football when I was 5.

The Trojans have been playing its home games at the Los Angeles Coliseum since 1923. It's an amazing venue. Not because of its technology and great views, but because of its history and nostalgia. In fact, compared to other stadiums I've been to for college football games (and I've been to many... Texas Memorial Stadium, Autzen Stadium, Sun Devil Stadium to name a few), the Coliseum is run down, low-tech, has uncomfortable seats, has bad views and, from the outside, looks decrepid. However, once you get inside, you feel it... you're at the Coliseum!

The Coliseum is the only venue to host two Olympic games (1932 abd 1984). It's hosted Super Bowls, World Series and NFL Pro Bowls. In 1960, John F. Kennedy gave his acceptance speech there at the 1960 Democratic National Convention. Although I was not there for the one, I did witness the first ever 360 backflip landed by Travis Pastrana during the 2003 X Games. This guy is the Michael Jordan of motocross and he is also crazy!

Here are some recent photos from USC games at the Coliseum.

Top 100 Places To Go In London

2008-10-10T10:53:00.000-07:00

Ok... so there's not 100 spots yet, but I am going to share a Google Map with places that I've visited in London. I will continue to add to this map (along with comments and pictures) over time and share with you great blueprint for having an awesome time in London Town. Enjoy!

View My 'London Spots' map

View Larger Map

The Stickiest Bird and Elephant of All Time

2008-08-22T16:26:00.000-07:00

If you're familiar with marketing theory, there is a concept referred to as 'stickiness'. Stickiness is a measurement of how well something (i.e. advertisement, television show, website article) can keep a person's attention. A high stickiness factor is highly sought after by marketers, producers, and even the lay person. We all want to be remembered. That's why you were that obnoxious Hawaiian shirt to a BBQ and how Crocs became the huge fashion trend among the middle-class virtually worldwide (they are all over Italy, UK and United States). People want to be different, individualistic... they want to be remembered.

I recently read a book called The Tipping Point by Malcom Gladwell. The premise of this book is a scientific and theoretical journey into what causes and idea or trend to all of a sudden spread like wildfire. Gladwell claims that one of the elements necessary for something to reach its "tipping point" is it must be sticky. He goes on to site several experiments and real world examples ranging back to several decades to support his claim. One of the examples he uses is the challenge the producers of Sesame Street faced when they first set out to create a TV-based learning tool for children.

At the time, this idea of a show that taught children something thought to be ridiculous because of the nature of television where there is a clutter of messages shown to the viewer in rapid fire. How could a show possibly keep a child's attention long enough for them to stay interested and actually learn something? Enter Ed Palmer, social psychologist who specializes in the use of TV as a learning tool.

Among the many techniques used to effectively engage young children and produce segments that kept their attention, Palmer came up with a way to measure stickiness. He called it 'The Distracter'. What the Distracter revealed was that children lost attention when the show moved to the street scenes.

In the beginning of Sesame Street, the street scenes were of children and adults casually talking in front of an apartment or on a street corner. There were no fantasy characters in these scenes. These scenes were critically important because they tied the various 'fantasy scenes' together. The fact that these scenes were causing the children to lose attention when they were intended to draw them in was a major discovery. It had to be resolved immediately or the show would die.

Originally, the producers were told by their developmental psychology advisers not to mix fantasy and real world elements in the same scenes. It was believed that this would confuse children. Ultimately, the decision was made to go against this advice and the show invented characters that could walk, talk and live alongside the children and adults in the street scenes. Two of the characters that were invented are Big Bird and Snuffleupagus. Here they are doing a little Vaudeville.

Gladwell writes:

What we now think of as the essence of Sesame Street - the artful blend of fluffy monsters and earnest adults - grew out of a desperate desire to be sticky.

There you have it. Big Bird and Snuffleupagus - the stickiest bird and elephant of all time.

The Best Driver in Portland

2008-08-10T15:25:00.000-07:00

It doesn't take long to realize it's virtually impossible to flag down a cab in Portland in any sort of reasonable time. It's not like San Francisco, New York or Los Angeles where hailing a cab is easy as stepping to a curb and raising your hand. It takes phone calls, coordinating times so you don't pay for a running fare while you wait, and standing curbside while your ride shows up. If you want to avoid wasting time and get around Portland with grace and ease, call my man Mostafa Mebkhouti.

Mostafa has been driving for 20 years and is the best driver in Portland. He's prompt, polite and keeps his Towncar clean and up-to-date with the latest magazines to inform you where to go and what to do while in Portland. He offers good conversation (in his New York accent) and speaks French, Arabic and of course English. He is available 24/7 and I've coordinated airport pickups, short local rides and late night pickups all by text messaging. He also accepts fares and tips by credit card (a nice service for business travelers who expense travel on their corporate cards). If you're in Portland for a few days, he'll agree to receive a single payment at the end of your trip.

Mostafa can be reached at (503) 608-9114 or nelimo@comcast.net. Tell him Joshua from LA referred you.

The Masterpieces of Rijksmuseum

2008-07-19T09:31:00.000-07:00

This post will reveal the best of what Rijksmuseum has to offer and why this museum should be on any 'must see' list when visiting Amsterdam.

The keystone to discovering Rijks' best is to purchase the audio tour by famous actor, painter and director Jeroen Krabbé (called 'Jeroen Krabbé's favourites'). It's available in Dutch and English in the foyer and costs 4 euro. Listen to a sample

Krabbé was born in Amsterdam and has spent quite a bit of time at the Rijks. He guides you through the various galleries with purpose, and points out the specific pieces he's been drawn to over the years. Krabbé spends significant time describing and analyzing the works of Rembrandt whose larger-than-life paintings, in my opinion, are the best that Rijks has to offer. Let me show you a couple of my favorites.

The painting above, called 'The Night Watch', is one of Rembrandt's most famous. Ironically, it is actually a daytime scene full of interesting characters and perceived motion. If you look closely, you can see that a musket was fired right before this moment in time was captured on canvas. This is just one of the many activities occurring here.

The amazing thing about the painting above is the detail in the folded collars on both the man and woman. Although difficult to see in a small photo, the actual painting is remarkable in how you can see each fold shaped perfectly next to the other with the greatest detail. These folded collars are a single piece of cloth sometimes exceeded 13 feet long.

To learn more about Rijksmuseum, go to http://www.rijksmuseum.nl.

What To Say and Do in Tropea Italy

2008-07-17T05:57:00.000-07:00

It's hard to top the beauty of the coast in southern Italy. Although I'm no expert on the region, I can make some pretty strong recommendations while visiting this small beach town. Known for its stunning beaches and sweet onions, Tropea is located in the Vibo Valentia province of Calabria about 6 hours south of Rome and 2 hours north of Messina, Scicily (by train). The onions are usually served in the antipasto dishes and the beach is where you should spend most of your time.

There's not a lot of English spoken there, so before you visit my recommended spots, equip yourself with these simple (but crucial) phrases. Most likely my spelling in Italian is way off. I've enunciated the words to make up for it.

Salve (sowl-vay): the formal way to say 'hello'.
Ciao (chow): the informal way to say 'hello' and 'good bye'.
Buon giorno (boo-own jur-noh): 'good morning' and 'good day'.
Scuzzi (skoo zee): 'excuse me'.
Buono sera (boo-own-oh ser-da): 'good evening'
Grazie (grat-zee-ay): 'thank you'
Prego (pray-go): this word is very versatile and has many meanings. It means 'c'mon... follow me', or in the context of someone attempting to sell something it means 'are you interested?', in response to grazie (thank you) it means 'you're welcome'.
Acqua (ahk-kwah): 'water'
Acqua naturale (ahk-kwa nat-chur-rowl-lay): 'still water'
Acqua frezzante (ahk-kwa fray-zahnt-tay): 'sparking water'
Botiglia (boh-tig-lee-ah): 'bottle'
Un (oon): masculine 'a' or 'one'
Una (oon-nah): feminine 'a' or 'one'
Una botiglia di acqua frezzante: 'a bottle of sparkling water'
*Vino Rosso (vee-noh rohz-soh); 'red wine'
Vina Biancha (vee-nah bee-ahn-kah): 'white wine'
Vino della casa (vee-noh dell-lah cah-sah): 'house wine'
Arrivederci (ah-ree-vah-dair-chee): also 'good bye'

* The phrase I used most often during my trip ;-)

Recommendations:

Pinturicchio: Famous among the locals for its 'pizze'. Most pizzas do not come with any sort of marinara or red sauce so be sure to know what you're ordering. It's OK to eat with your hands, but locals usually eat from the middle of the pizza outward with silverware. The house wine is great. Try the red.

Italian: Voray una botiglia di vino rosso della casa.
English: I would like a bottle of the house red wine.

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The Slurp: Grab a seat on one of the bean bags outside and enjoy a healthy serving of gelato. They also serve beer and mixed drinks (we ordered Sambuca) and if you get in good with the owner Maria, she will sell wine by the bottle (this is not on the normal everyday menu, but we talked her into it).

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Zeus: This restaurant is located on the north side of town overlooking the marina. It's too far to walk, so get a taxi. Get there in time for the sunset and order the pasta. It's hand-made and very fresh.

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La Munzione: This restaurant turns into the main gather place in town at nighttime. A DJ will spin late into the night (or early into the morning) and the dance floor will be packed. However, most of the people sit down outside to talk, people watch and smoke cigarettes. Lots of cigarettes. There are three brothers who run the restaurant: Paulo, Francesco and Fredrico. Tell them Stephano's American friends sent you. You will be in good hands.

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Amsterdam - Did You Knows?

2008-07-17T05:03:00.000-07:00

You immediately feel comfortable upon arriving in Amsterdam. The city exists with almost zero pre-tense. Come as you are. Have fun. Relax. Anything is possible, but nothing is for certain. OK, that's not original... I admit. That was how Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica was described to me (En Purto Viejo, todo is posible, pero nada es seguro).

So a few interesting things about Amsterdam (derived from Amstel dam indicative of the city's origin: a dam on the Amstel river).

You can no longer smoke inside restaurants, bars and clubs.
Amsterdam lies 6.7 meters below sea level.
There are more than 2,500 houseboats on the Amstel River.
You can check the weather forecast by the color of the Okura Hotel rooftop.
There are nearly 600,000 bikes in Amsterdam (no lie!)
More than 190 nationalities live in Amsterdam.
There are 28 different parks in the city limits.
There are 1,281 bridges that cross the various canals.
Almost 16,000,000 people visit Amsterdam each year.

War Dance

2008-06-21T00:08:00.000-07:00

I just watched an amazing documentary called 'War Dance'. ..

For the last 20 years, northern Uganda has been the site of war between the Uganda military and the Lord's Resistance Army (L.R.A.), aka 'the rebels'. The children of this area have suffered greatly, losing mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers. They've witnessed horrific and bloody deaths and over 30,000 have been abducted and forced to commit murder on their own people.

The movie focuses on three children -- Rose (13), Dominic (14) and Nancy (14). Their stories are surreal. I could never imagine seeing the things they have seen at such a young age... or any age. They carry a tremendous amount of pain borne from the loss of their parents and siblings and the resulting abandonment trauma. Sadly, they are looked down on by their countrymen who live outside the 'war zone'. This is realized as they travel across their country to the Nation Music Competition.

Here is where, in the words of Dominic, "they become giants".

Despite their struggles, they demonstrate a level of talent, determination and purpose in the national competition and redefine themselves not as children of war, but as much more. As musicians, as Ugandans and as difference makers.

Columbia River Gorge

2008-06-03T22:23:00.000-07:00

Water is amazing. It has so many interesting properties. Pure water has a pH of 7 which is neither acidic nor basic. Seventy percent of the human body is made up of water (eighty percent for a newborn). A cubic foot of water weighs just under 63 pounds (that's heavy!!!)

About 12-15,000 years ago there were two huge floods that carved out a huge area along the present day Columbia River in Oregon just outside Portland. As a result, the Columbia River Gorge Natural Scenic Area was formed spanning from Troutdale in the west to The Dalles in the east. It encompasses 292,000 acres on both the Washington and Oregon sides of the river forming a breathtaking scenic area full of amazing waterfalls. One of which is the Multnomah Falls.

These falls plummet 692 feet making it the second highest year-round waterfall in the United States. I was lucky enough to see it up close. Close enough to smell, hear and taste it's water.... it's amazing water.

Discovering Portland's Pearl

2008-06-01T22:14:00.000-07:00

Portland rules. What a great city. An abundance of great restaurants, an urban feel, fun bars, friendly good-looking people, and it's not so big that you get lost. I walked from end-to-end on a couple different occasions taking in the boutique stores, chain restaurants, beautiful parks, and more. I was fortunate enough to be there for the first day of the annual Portland Rose Festival which is a century-old celebration attended my more than two million people each year.

In it all, there is a neighborhood called The Pearl which is akin to New York's SOHO and Greenwich Village but smaller. Kiplinger Magazine has dubbed the Pearl District as one of the top-five places to retire. However, I didn't see anyone under the age of 40 when I walked around. Anyways, it's a hip, cool, sophisticated neighborhood with a multitude of restaurants, home furnishing stores and high-end fashion stops. A must see for any visit to Portland... which is my new favorite US city. Sorry San Francisco.

Who Would Have Thunk It

2008-06-01T18:38:00.000-07:00

Last summer when Kobe Bryant publicly declared that he wanted to be traded from the Los Angeles Lakers, while most of L.A. expressed disappointment, I personally applauded his actions. I supported my position by saying "what Kobe is doing is forcing change". And change is exactly what happened. My beloved Lakers are back in the NBA Finals and Kobe's MVP-level play and cry for immediate change is what got us there. And it gets better, not only are we (yes, that's a 'we') back in the Finals, we are facing our historical nemesis Celtics of Boston. This is unreal!

John Maxwell, in his book 'The 360 Degree Leader', sites several principles for how a person can lead upward in an organization; in other words how to influence your superiors. One of the principles he sites is to demonstrate that you can be counted on as a 'go-to' person. Well, Kobe is definitely a go-to person within the Lakers organization (on the court that is) and although I wouldn't necessarily recommend publicly criticizing your boss to influence and create change in your organization, in this case it worked for Kobe and enabled him to influence the Lakers GM to make the moves needed to get us back on top.

Lakers in 6...

New Stadiums and Championships

2008-05-04T20:25:00.001-07:00

I don't watch too many baseball games at parks other than Dodger Stadium, but I recently attended a game at the new Busch Stadium while visiting St. Louis. The stadium is located in downtown and opened in 2006. The seats were great, a foul ball came within two seats of me, there was a bench-clearing non-brawl and the rain managed to stay away until the game was over. A little fact-searching about the new Busch Stadium revealed that the Cardinals were the first team since the 1923 Yankees to begin play in a new stadium and win the World Series in the same year (2006).

The Master Chemist

2008-05-04T19:20:00.000-07:00

The "toughest" man-made material is kevlar. Kevlar is made by heating petroleum to 1,400 degrees Fahrenheit and then cooling under extreme pressure. Obviously there is no way a living organism could reproduce such conditions. However, a spider web, a material made inside the abdomen of a spider by intaking flies, crickets and water (which never warms beyond basic room temperature), is ounce for ounce five times stronger than kevlar.