Pacers take the Heat

Last night we watched Pacers play the Miami Heat. The game featured the Allstars Dwyane Wade, ex-Pacer Jermaine O'neal and 2008 2nd Draft pick Michael Beasley up against Danny Granger with a bunch of rookies.

The game was won by the Pacers by 2 points and I was surprised how competitive the match was as it resembled an arm wrestle. Up until the final 1.3 seconds it was there to be won or loss and Dwyane Wade through up a 3 pointer that rimmed out.

I was also amazed at the extent of the hype and the parade of extras that proceeded through each quarter break and even during the timeouts. There were the obligatory trampoline dunking, cheer-girls and free t-shirts, balls etc projected into the crowd.

Desperado for Eagles

Tonight we went to see the Eagles. They did not disappoint their many fans and were just so professional and the quality of the music was amazing. From (Hotel California) when bell bottomed jeans, clogs and a silver belt were in fashion we fast forward to the Eagles with their most recent Long Road Out Of Eden album.

These guys have been clearly "Busy Being Fabulous" over a long period of time a (Long Run).
We so many good songs and memories I is truly hard not be cliched. So with restraint here goes

As a (New Kid in Town) Indy I clearly enjoyed this show as I've grown up with this music. Some of my favorite one-liners include:

"Desperado why don't you come to your senses."

"Take it easy, take it easy. Don't let the sound of your own wheels drive you crazy."

"Four that wanna own me, Two that wanna stone me, One says she's a friend of mine,"

"On a dark desert highway Cool wind in my hair Warm smell of colitas Rising up thru the air "

"But he knows where she's goin' as she's leavin' She is headed for the cheatin' side of town"

The guys did alot of old and new material during the three hour performance. This included many songs from their solo careers.

STOMP

Last night went to experience STOMP - which is a dynamic combination of tap dance, percussion and comedy. Was unlike anything I've experienced and seemingly combined Street (urban), Calypso, African and Asian themes into the one performance.

The beauty of the show was in synchronised percussion using 'whatever' and I mean just that. From tins, pots, signs, cigarette packets, tire tubes to the kitchen sink was utilised for making a rhythmic tones.

As we had scored third row seats the impact of the drumming was felt to the core of our body. The STOMP crew had really great interaction with the audience and while they never spoke and limited their communications to their eyes, expressions, hand signals and grunts. A international language but they have everyone tapping, stomping and clapping in 30 different ways and patterns. STOMP out to see if you you get a chance.......

2009

The world as we know it is in turmoil.....Obama has inherited a country deeply troubled with the recession that is speedily out of control into a depression. There are fundamentals that need to be corrected in this country and this won't come without some element of pain.

It seems unfair that the world has "caught a cold" from the excesses of a few on Wall Street. To many of the poor in India, China etc there livelihood, home and family are at risk.

But it is also clear that a cancer exists within the society that the government has been unwilling in the past to deal with. You can argue what are these cancers in society. I would argue: Greed, Complacency, No will to reform the past (auto industry), insufficient attention to health of the people (Obesity) and a much needed focus on the environment (Global Warming)

Is America ready and willing to accept a measure of elixir to heal itself? And more importantly to be accountable while doing this for the infection of hardship it has passed onto the world?

Things I like most about....

Below is a list of places I've lived (some that I travelled to recently) and what I miss most (or like most) about these places

Sydney's Top 5

1. Nathan, Amber and Jeremy
   
2. Mum
3. My friends and family (Ellen, Lena, Sintae, Sam & Sabrina etc etc)
4. Great Weather
5. Fresh Seafood

Kobe Top 5

1. Kumar, Sunita, Mike, Laurie, Marina, Amy, Greg, Kath, Marie-Rose, Pierre, Karsten, Michelle, Tim & Jocelyn, Tom & Alfredo
   
2. Nights @ the Kobe Club
3. Cakes from Sogo Department Store
   
4. Kobe Beef
   
5. Nadaban Restaurant

Hong Kong Top 5

1. The non-stop movement of people in Tsim Sha Tsui, Causeway Bay
   
2. Yum Cha & Cantonese Food
   
3. Kerry, Sheldon, Ethan & Heather
   
4. Golf at Clear Water Bay
5. Shopping excursions to Shenzen

Shanghai Top 5

1. The 'heartbeat' of the city
2. Shanghainese food
   
3. Shopping, shopping
4. People watching
5. The contrast of old and new cities co-existing

Singapore Top 5

1. Chili & Pepper Crab
   
2. Hawker Food (almost everywhere)
   
3. Rendevous Cafe - Nasi Lamak
4. Roti & Curry sauce
5. Singapore culture ? "Ok la"

New York Top 5

1. Great theatres around Broadway
   
2. Walking thru a living breathing being (the city that is)
   
3. Katz Deli
4. Times Square for people watching
5. Shopping @ Outlets
   

Indianapolis Top 5

1. Anna
   
2. Access to concerts & shows
   
3. Cheap Golf (especially compared to Japan)
   
4. TBA
   
5. TBA
   

Giving back

(Kobe Friends) you will recall that at the start of this year we sponsored 3 thai schoolchildren living in the poor border towns (through the duration of their high school) Recently I received a letter from the 3 students and I wanted to give you a summary of what they said:

Nattiwa Lalu - senior high school 1
"I want you and my parents to be proud of me"

Siraya Ganpetch - 1st year of Vocational college 16 years old
"In the future I want to become a doctor because I want to cure sick people and I want to help poor people"
(Siraya lives with her two elder brothers as her mother has died and her Dad has remarried)

Wachila Wonggaew -senior high school 1
" I promise that I will study hard and I will be a good person"

What I found very enlightening was that some past students had graduated from university after going through this program and they now sponsor the next generation of students.....

Friends ...what we have done to sponsor them through High School is indeed a great thing !

http://www.jeannievogt.org/OurSchool.htm

7 weeks = 49 days

During the last moment of one's life we will all think of something. This last thought, (good or evil) will influence your next rebirth. When I learnt of this I wondered what Dad contemplated but it was easy he would have thought about his family.

At the time of dying all our worldly possessions such as wealth, position or money can't help us nor can relatives and friends can neither prevent death or go with us. We leave behind our body which is a mere shell. Our state of mind is focused into "energy". That energy has been known to manifest (that should be another blog entry in itself)

In Buddhism Karma explains the differences between living beings. Karma means action, means "to do". It is intentional, conscious and deliberate action. In the Law of Karma, if we do a wholesome action then eventually we will get a wholesome fruit.

During the process of life and death, we should look as this as our personal account of profits and losses. With each of us collecting Karma credits for good acts.

Dad if you are reading this let me add that you have done a incredible job to make us all strong. In your life you have collected many many Karma credits....you must now let go and move on with your next challenge.

(Instructions below are for you Dad)

In Buddhist belief the funeral ceremony lasts 49 days - "As soon as the death of the body has taken place, the personality goes into a state of trance for four days, during which time the person does not know they are dead . (First Bardo ) During this time Lamas (monks) saying special verses can reach the dead person.

Then near the end of this time you will see a brilliant light. If the radiance of the Clear Light does not terrify you and you welcome it, then the person will not be reborn. Many flee from the Light, which then fades.

You can then become conscious that your death has occurred and (Second Bardo) begins.

At this point you will sees all that they have ever done or thought passing in front of them. It might feel as if you have a body but will realise this is not to be so and you may long to possess one again.

Finally the (Third Bardo) the state of seeking another birth. All previous thoughts and actions direct the person to choose new parents, who will give them their next body.