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Day of the Dead
October 5, 2012
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death photo
All Souls Day in the Catholic tradition is a time to honor and remember the dead. In native belief systems of the Americas death played a central part. Making fun of death, or mocking the fanciest parts of life have gone together forever, everywhere. In Basel Switzerland I saw a collection of art from the middle ages portraying the same dancing skeletons used in Mexico to show death as a fiesta. Being mindful of mortality is known as memento mori. Skulls and other reminders of the transience of life were used in churches and religious settings. Ancestors graves have been a place of reverence for almost all peoples. Art depicting death in a whimsical or dramatic way has been with us in many cultures around the world. To remember mortality is essential to living a full life.
If there are rituals in the entire culture that honor the souls of departed there is a continuity. Fear of of death is made comical when portrayed as the dance of death or the fancy dressed skeleton. The folly of amassing worldly goods seems obvious when the fiddler and the dancers have nothing but bones and clothing. In 1839 the possibility of capturing the image of a dead person became very popular. I have seen quite a few graves embellished with photos. Others use symbols. Have you ever given any thought to your own death, your own grave and epitaph?
Tucson celebrates All Souls Weekend in a mixed tech cultural expression of art and celebration. By building personal or community altars, by artful masquerade, and by watching or participating in the procession Tucsonans have the opportunity to bring mortality to life. Come on down to the Old Pueblo for an old time custom revived.
dance macabre
marigold offering
Asteya
October 4, 2012
Honoring what belongs to others is a yama, or social restraint, set out by Patanjali in the yoga sutras. To practice asteya is to understand that being satisfied with what I have is essential to my contribution to society. It also requires that I honor the time, accomplishments, and possesions of others. The yamas are simple and straightforward, designed for endless practice. They provide an ethical framework for living in this world while seeking enlightenment. Asteya has the effect of priming the pump by a mindset of coveting absolutely nothing. It is to be satisfied. It is to respect everyone’s boundaries and belongings. The most precious belonging anyone has is time.
Lena West
At the TribeUpNY on the equinox we enjoyed the presence and the teachings of Ms. Lena West, social marketing historian/wizard/teacher cum laude. She made the excellent point that time is not money, as the trite saying would have us believe. She ably demonstrated that time wasted can never be found. Money can be leveraged. If one cares to increase the value and the impact of time it must be leveraged as well. Her point is that influence is real, is valuable, and is gained by leveraging ( focusing) time. It was not her intention to come off yogic. Her message was 100 % asteya. Do what you do well. Don’t try to digest the entirety of the world at all times. Make and respect boundaries that create value. When you focus on your own well, take care of it and set limits on it, flow happens. When your focus travels to distractions of any kind you loose the value of the time that is only given once. I think Lena Patanjali West is brilliant. Here is her presentation from TribeUp:
Big Chief
October 2, 2012
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Triberr held the first TribeUpNYC on the equinox, 22 September, 2012. I flew in the day before to enjoy the neighborhood with some friends. I was very happy to be in the city after so many years of absence. The weather was perfect, the crowd was the right size, and the speakers all delivered value in different ways. The face of Triberr is Dino Dogan. He has a booming voice with a cute tiny accent. He is welcoming and very self assured. This event was like no others because this tribe is itself unique. The material presented was valuable and current. It was the combination of the hospitality provided by Media Labs and the sponsors and the high quality of every aspect of the event that created a memorable afternoon. To be true to the tribe’s core value of influence over traffic the small group was treated to delicious party food and drink while given plenty of time and space to schmooze. No name tags, very little Powerpoint, and one guy won a new iPad in the drawing…this was my kind of conference. I am not so much encouraging extra participation in the next New York TribeUP because it was outstanding to be there off peak ( for the first one). There is a plan to spread the Tribal spirit throughout the land. I think that is a good idea. Let’s TribeUp Tucson!! ( not the same as cowboy up for those of you who live here).
Mr. In Between
September 30, 2012
My friend and I have been in a discussion about what is a typical New Yorker. I have gone to visit, enjoyed the company, pondered the nature of things and done ancestry research. TribeUpNYC was a fine example of how simple and yet how complex New York City is now and always will be. I have always appreciated the culture and the talent, not to mention the exceptional goods available there. I have never before attended a conference held in Manhattan.
I knew this was the conference for me because it was being held by my blogging tribe Triberr. I enjoy participating with other bloggers in sharing content and appreciating each other. I like the nature and helpful vibe of the big chiefs, so I decided to go in person. I was blown away by the perfection of the event to my own needs as a blogger. Seriously professional points of view were effectively delivered, including a section about comedy. We were both entertained and educated before being turned loose to party with some yummy food and drink created by mighty fine Haitian caterers. There was that international mix that is common in Manhattan. That is how those of us from way out west know something is very different. We are not in Tucson any more. Multi lingual, multi ethnic cuisine is just the start of the exciting shift.
I was very happy to be able to meet many people I had known on line in one way or another, and thrilled to have direct access to the presenters. They all hung out schmoozing around the party giving darshan. They were all really impactful, and wildly diverse, just as one might want to have in any tribe. Lena West introduced herself as a New Yorker, and my friend Marc and I agreed she is a typical one. She was brilliant and to the point. Her most important teaching in my recollection is that time is not money. Money can be made, lost, made, grown, lost again, invested, etc. Time spent has been spent forever. This brings me back to my definition of the typical New Yorker. Time management is way different for New Yorkers because just being there takes up huge amounts of time and money. Strategy is wildly important to them.
I nominate Lena as typical New Yorker for the following reason: She has no time for Mr. In Between. I think that is what they all have in common. They are masters of a certain kind of discernment.
Bonfire of the 10th Great Grandfather
September 29, 2012
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Rowland Taylor, burning at stake
In England the official night for bonfires is Nov. 5. In Britain it is officially to recall a plot to blow up the king in 1605. Lewis, a town in East Sussex, England is a special center for this holiday. In Lewis the processions of very fancy dress include 17 burning crosses, symbolizing 17 Protestant martyrs killed by Mary Tudor between 1555 and 1557. One of these martyrs was Rowland Taylor, my 10th great grandfather.
Rowland Taylor (1510 – 1555)
is your 10th great grandfather
Son of Rowland
Son of Thomas
Son of Thomas
Son of James
Son of John
Son of John
Son of John
Son of John Nimrod
Son of John Samuel
Son of William Ellison
Daughter of George Harvey
William Ellison Taylor (1839-1918) was a preacher in the Church of Christ, a veteran of the Civil War, and a farmer. I never knew him, but have some of his written documents, including his war records and Confederate pension application. I am not sure what happened with religion between Rowland and William. There is something spooky and creepy about being the subject a bonfire that is burned to commemorate your own ancestor’s burning. It does not make me feel more religious, that is for sure.
Guilllaume Vigne, my 12 Great Grandfather
September 28, 2012
Manhattan in 1600s
My 12th great grandfather was in the first settlement of Dutch immigrants in Manhattan. Guillaume and his wife Adrienne were in New Amsterdam in 1613 as part of the crew of the trading ship Tiger. The ship burned in the harbor. After your ship burns you have fewer choices than before your ship burned. They persevered, as was their way. I am a result of their persistence.
Guillaume Vigne (1586 – 1632)
is my 12th great grandfather
Daughter of Guillaume
Daughter of Maria
Daughter of Abigail
Daughter of Aeltie
Son of Anneke Abramse
Daughter of Cornelius
Son of Annatje
Daughter of Johannis P
Son of Anna
Son of Swain
Daughter of Jerimiah
Son of Minnie M
Son of Ernest Abner
They came to New York after staying in Leiden, a very popular place for my entire family at that time. They offered religious tolerance at a time when Catholics were out for blood. People took big risks in those days to be part of a religious group. After arrival in Manhattan they had to survive by their wits and ability to trade and farm in the surroundings. Adrienne gave birth to the first Dutch male child born in the new world. Their daughter Maria continued to thrive and trade and live in Manhattan with her new fancy Dutch husband from Albany. They were very established by that time. After all, just 4 years after Henry discovered the Hudson the Vignes were there in the Tiger. You could say they were original New Yorkers. I can say no wonder I love lower Manahattan so much and feel at home there.
Satya
September 26, 2012
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ST Teresa of Avila
Truth and the relationship one has with it are both elements of discernment. Each person has a reality that is colored by the limits placed on observation. I have noticed that Americans have been trending toward believing what can be seen has value, whereas what is invisible has no merit or value. When presented with a choice of money or wisdom it would be very common for most to choose money as a solution to any problem. If we only consider short term solutions, money does come in handy. If we look at how the problem to be solved now has arisen we often find there has been misuse of finances. If no new wisdom arrives with new funding, this problem will very likely to expand to the extent that the new funding allows.
Some of you are naturally thinking of politics, but that is not my subject today. Satya, or the truth that is love, exists. It has no need to be believed in order to continue being true. The details, and the attention given to the infinitesimal either hide or make clear what is true. You are a detective in your own life. You not only choose your environment and the people you encounter, but you fill in all the details by focusing on some while ignoring others. When I loose an object in my office and start to hunt for it I never cease to be amazed by what I find while searching. The longer it takes me to find the desired object, the more I am able to sort, file, dump, and make clear what is in there all the time. Clearing away the outdated, the insignificant, and the garbage makes a new level of truth exist between my office and me.
St Teresa of Avila was a woman determined to see the divine in the details of life. Interesting to me is that her focus on every little tiny thing eventually brought her a big fat vision of Interior Castles. I take this to mean that when and if I finally clear out all the junk in my life I too will see my interior wealth. I already prize teaching over money, but St. Teresa is hinting at something even more elaborate and permanent. I am sure that the stern Teresa could never have allowed her office to become such a mess. She does give hope in her quote, “To reach something good it is very useful to have gone astray, and thus acquire experience.” This is very good news. There may well be castles under all this junk.
New York Revisited
September 25, 2012
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I had not been to New York City since June of 2001. The World Trade Center was there last time I looked. A recent visit for a fast paced weekend reminded me why I love the city. I like the way NewYorkers talk, dress, act, and the way they interact. For one afternoon I attended a conference for bloggers which I enjoyed immensely. I met in person some people I have known digitally for a long time, and others I had just recently followed. The Triberr conference made the trip worth the effort, but the city itself provided the perfect place to be.
I stayed in Chelsea at a very well priced and, for me, well positioned small hotel called the Chelsea Inn. It was Euro stye with breakfast vouchers for the Belgian cafe next door. I was happy with my giant room on the ground floor with antique fixtures and furniture. It was comfortable, secure, and clean. The staff made me feel very welcome. I did share a wall and the street noise with Manhattan’s busiest nightclub, The Splash. For me, this was not a problem. Not everyone is prepared to deal with that level of noise, but I was just reminded that I was not in Tucson any more. The up sides of the area far outweighed the issue of the pulsing beat all night.
My spacious room at the Inn
I thrift shop for a lot of reasons, not the least of which is the chance to find some vintage items in good condition. I sew and know fabric, so I usually feel self assured about my talent and skill as a savvy thrift shopper. In New York City, however, the thrifters have a bigger, better market from which to choose. They may even have jobs in the fashion industry. I noticed right off the bat that the company of shoppers was very advanced in discernment. The prices were so low and the quality so high that I wanted the entire inventory at the Angel Street Shop. I was over my head here, and had no room in my carry on baggage to take much back home with me. I had to leave empty in order to return later with more composure.
I dined, shopped, walked and gawked at the architectural detail in Chelsea, which is forever to be my new New York ‘hood. I have determined, after a really excellent shopping spree with my friend Margaret, that it can be totally worth the effort and the airfare to fly here and do all of one’s shopping. I did not even take in the two very local museums, Rubin and Jewish History, just blocks from my new hotel home. The value and the entertainment never stop in New York. I will not wait so long to return.
Thrift Angel
Inn
Reversible jacket fits
Tony Hsieh
September 16, 2012
Tony Hsieh of Zappos
On my recent tour of Zappos headquarters in Henderson NV I was treated to a glimpse of Tony Hsieh himself. As I departed with my shuttle driver for the ride back to town he was entering the building I was exiting. I stared for a moment to make sure he was himself. I had a fleeting question in my mind about the possibility that a hologram of Tony is somehow implanted into each person’s visit, but they are all prerecorded and projected on a green screen or something. He was low key, in jeans, and moving along with purpose. He did have the presence of mind not to be sitting in his desk when the tour comes along, but I was very excited to see him. It is hard to describe the way I think of his celebrity and my connection to it. I have been a shoe lover forever, but this is so much more than just shoes.
I admire him for his mastery of alchemy in capitalism. I admire his good taste and his smart choices. Moving the headquarters to the former Las Vegas City Hall is an example of upcycling that makes my heart beat faster. He has a strong agenda to grow his culture and provide right livelihood for his employees. The company and all of the customers who shop there are the major lucky beneficiaries of his vision of business. I love the way they completely make obvious how the culture works, how it remains strong, and how it serves all involved.
Zappos, the Zenith of Capitalism
September 14, 2012
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Zappos headquarters
Rasta office humor
At different times in history humans have taken giant leaps that transformed the world quickly and forever. We look at the printing press, the industrial revolution, and the digital age as big new waves of change. We tested the theory of capitalism against the theory of Marxism. Societies languished in state capitalism ( a la USSR) and never created the utopia they attempted. Greed and corruption have triumphed in many cases, while workers have been disempowered. The unrest and ignorance that spreads can be exasperating. I have some very good news, gentle readers. There is hope that systems of excellent good will and happiness can be created from pure capitalism. I have seen with my own eyes the purposeful and systematic creation of happiness. It is not a surprise to me that pure happiness is created by the mastery of a refined, balanced and efficient way to enchant customers. Providing the perfect footwear and more for each person and on every occasion is done purposefully. Zappos is truly the happiest place on earth. The employees practice happiness in themselves, to each other, and always with the customer.
Offering employees support and coaching for both personal and company goals includes them all in a feeling of belonging to a happy group. The work environment is as unstructured as possible, but completely measured and analyzed. If a worker wants to take one of the ongoing classes, the schedule is altered if possible and the training is placed on the schedule. The same is true if an employee wants to take advantage of the personal coach, or the entire training department available for a review or update on the company training that may be needed. At the busiest times, all employees pitch in and answer phones. They all have the current training and they all live by the core values, or they will not stay at Zappos. Statistics are posted on boards to make all aware of the rate of success. When they break a previous record for sales in one day, everyone in the company is given a commemorative t shirt. Chances are that almost everyone was very busy cross training to reach that new one day goal, so they share the glory. In fact, I think the big secret is that they share the glory. They also share great benefits and fairly unlimited ability to be promoted within the company.
The core values run the company, and the people benefit from the purity of the core values. The happy clients and the happy customer service aces share the beauty of the efficient ,well defined way to do business. I always knew heaven would include a super selection of shoes.
Zappos office
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