Transitions

The "transitions" theory by William Bridges is a simple tool I find very useful when dealing with change - not by choice. If you chose to change something in your life, you feel like you are in the driver seat. You made the choice, you have your future mapped out and you are excited.
On the other hand, when change is imposed on you, you feel ...down. Like being dumped, evacuated from your home, losing your job, something that at first sight worsens you overall well-being. So the first stage there is about ending, losing, letting go. About feeling locked in, angry, not feeling in control at all. After looking at the situation for some time and spending some time "down", most of us go into a neutral zone of not having any strong feelings, of "floating". You stop looking back with so much passion, but are not ready yet to look forward to the exciting new opportunities awaiting you. Until one day you wake up, and you feel like you have a plan. You will meet your friends again and talk about your situation, you'll open up to input from the outside. You'll map out the next steps and start building your future. Ultimately, you'll feel again like you're in charge.
The good news is that in the end we are all happy about the change. Only in the non self-induced change we go through a "down" period. And this is not necessarily bad, since it's nice to retreat and reflect a bit when coming to crossroads. The only way out is through :-)

A layman's view of 5 days off

July 15-19 2009. Five days off festival in Melkweg and Paradiso. Let me tell you how I experienced it. And I may not be the expert on electronic music, so do not expect insider gossips :-)
So, on the 15th (Wednesday night), Santigold's concert started 2,5 hours later than foreseen. But we ran into acquaintances and had a chat, so waiting wasn't that bad. Having learnt from my last experience, I told tall people who were hoping to stand in front of me to let me go in front since I am the shortest around. The Brooklyn born singer finally came on stage and gave a great show, I even recognized a few of her songs. She had 2 dancer girls with her on stage who were very cool!
We then went to see Jamie Lidell. Apparently, we were lucky to arrive too late since th first half was ...way too improvisational, thanks to the amount of light drugs consumed before the performance. But what we sw was great. And then still had a few beers with other friends we ran into.
Thursday - we only went to see Simian Mobile Disco, where the combination of very machine like sounds and flashing white neon lights made me feel nauxious after 2 minutes. My 2 hour afternoon nap may have added to the confusion of my bodily functions.
Friday - they would have to pay me to go to the festival
Saturday - after a very informal exhibition opening in a restaurant in Jordaan, we headed to Meklweg to see Crystal Castles. Starting late as usual. But the music had some traces of melody and was heavily inspired by the 80s punk movement in Germany (but these guys are from Australia). The gig had great energy, the singer jumped into the crowd, people reached the party mood. I did not even mind the flashing neon lights any more. Then we went to see Chris Cunningham. Due to technical problems, the concert started late. At least here they gave us a reason for stating late. :-) The show was short, the main focus was on the VJ work more than on the music. Very provoking, politically incorrect images. Great fun.
So, food time came and after having some delicious french fries in the supercrowded Leidseplein area full of happily drunk teenagers enjoying the freedom of Amsterdam, we headed back to see Dr. Lektroluv. A green guy, basically. You have to keep you audience excited, so you just paint yourself green. And have headphones in the shape of an old timer phone. The music was classical electonic (techno), not too heavy, quite enjoyable. People randomly couplig up. Well, that's the whole point, right? Started on time, finished even later. Nice job!
On the way home we stopped at Paradiso to see Deadmau5. A guy with the fanciest equipment, super skinny (I wonder who takes care of these people's diet / lifestyle), with a big black plastic mousehead on his head. Kinda awkward, I would say. Crowd in ecstasy! (The music was actually good, but it wasn't music by definitoin, only some mixed beats predefined and remixed on the spot.) I appreciated the improvisation. The blond babe on the stage walking around was kind of cute, too. But the flashing neon lights starting giving me a serious headache again. I felt like the 5 days off were over for me.
Sunday - writing a blogpost about the 5 days off. Oh, I think I lost my ring. It's nice to watch some light movies ... no more dancing today... maybe next year.
The thing is, you can't really get into the festival mood if you have to show up at 9am at the office the next day. Festivals should really be outdoors, away from urban areas where people can just camp. I guess that was the idea. But than lazy bums like myself though "I want a convenient festival" and they created one right downtown for us. So I guess I should not complain...

Feminism or Humanism

I felt relieved when surfing the web I realized that there are actually many people out there wanting to rename "feminism" into "humanism". The thing is, we talk a lot about the emancipation of women on the labour market - wanting equal conditions as men. Ok, that seems to be working out, more and more women get senior positions, great, this species called "women" seems to be reaching the level of men on the professional scene. As if we were a different species.
Ok, let's not go there.
However, what I persoanlly find still very frustrating is how women / men are treated (mistreated) in their private domains. All the pictures, postcards, jokes, comments about women, about their sex are so accepted. At least here, where I live. And now women turned sex into a sport, make jokes about men, treat them as a tool of their pleasure. Female supremacy.
I still find that this misses the point.
It's not male vs. female. This is not the conversation we should be having. Not one being more celebrated and better than the other.
Feminism should be replaced by humanism in the sense of mutual respect and appreciation of genders. We are different, but we so beutifully complement each other in our thinking, approach to life, past and future and our environment.
I believe that as long as we're not having an egaliatarian (not literally meant) conversation, that kind of thinking, we are still going around pretending something we fundamentally know is not right and keep missing out on great opportunities for a jollier world.
I like people regardless of their genders. Most of the time. The way we were brought up marks us for ...most of our lives. But maybe we can unlearn observing the world through a "gender lense".
Let's get started?

What a silly day! I am starting to believe we're really doomed...

Today, on 8th July 2009 the G8 leaders met in l'Aquila. Great. They decided not to waste time and start discussing measures on climate change - to arrive to Copenhagen later this year with a plan. Fantastic. Chinese leader leaves because of ethnic unrest at home. Bad news.
Negotiations start: Obama presents plan on radically cutting emissions in the developed and developing world. Sounds very exciting. But not to the developing world. The money promised in Bali has not come to them yet. They need proof of our commitment. They want $ 150 billion per year until 2020. Nothing sounds too much after the bailout money to me...
Achim Steiner, CEO of UNEP has a plan: the global consumption of oil is cca 100 million barrels a day. (If driving a car for 1km emits 160grams of CO2, you don't want to know what damage 100 million barrels a day can do. And that's just 1 single day.) Oil prices are now at $65. Not so long ago they have reached $135. And we still used it. Thus out demand flexibility is not all that price dependent in the short run if it comes to oil. Anyways, Achim Steiner suggests we add an additional $10 tax per barrel. And in 150 days you generate $150 billion. The money needed to get these guys (BRIC) going. Of course, it's not this plain simple, but it's DOABLE.
Straightforward, solution oriented. You put the moeny on the table and then can start talking again about fixing the climate.
It's already quite late. If we miss out on the opportunity in Copenhagen to reach an agreement, we've officially agreed to ... put an end to human race on Earth. Our choice.