Ever since I changed school from my suburbs to Paris, I used a Carte Orange (Paris Travel Pass). I have been a user since 1985...
When the RATP issued the first contactless less transportation card (with RFID technology inside) in 1995, I did not switch and I decided to wait for as long as I could.
Now, IT Literate users complain about the freedom breach induced by this new travel card.
Libération and xxx criticize
Today I bought it. Just before the end of this year. A symbol?
December 31, 2008
Life is a loan... don't try to save it.
I heard this on the radio in the bus this morning. It makes sense. Life cannot be a saving : you cannot get any interest at the end.
That reminded me also of the talents in the Bible : live life so that you can enjoy it more by enhancing your knowledge.
That reminded me also of the talents in the Bible : live life so that you can enjoy it more by enhancing your knowledge.
December 30, 2008
The return of Ferris Bueller
No, don't expect "Ferris Bueller, the revenge" or any sequel. When I flipped channels yesterday before going out with PN & her sister Y, I stopped on the famous scene of Ferris singing in the streets of Chicago, during the parade.
It brought back feelings to me. And even if I still have more than 10 copies of this movie, I was truly ready to watch it again.
This movie should be watched by all students as it is more than ever up to date as this article from Le Monde explains more than 78% of French students do not know what to do with their life. The question of 'guidance on careers' is the key question.
That question, I never solved...
It brought back feelings to me. And even if I still have more than 10 copies of this movie, I was truly ready to watch it again.
This movie should be watched by all students as it is more than ever up to date as this article from Le Monde explains more than 78% of French students do not know what to do with their life. The question of 'guidance on careers' is the key question.
That question, I never solved...
December 23, 2008
Message in a bottle? No, Résumé in a bottle!
What a clever idea! A french man from Strasbourg floated an excellent concept based on the informal networking and a French habit : distribute anonymous CVs/résumés in 'Celtic' water packs order to help unemployed people. As French people drink a lot of water from bottles, this cost efficent initiative is vey well tailored. He also created a Café for contacts in 2006.
You can check the successful press coverage here.
Another kind of help...
You can check the successful press coverage here.
Another kind of help...
December 15, 2008
Fishing in Cambodia for Sokkhorn Rom Group (Help_080303_76215)
For this the second project a group of 19 people in Cambodia can be helped.
You can check the Sokkhorn Rom Group project and you can support by joining Kiva
You can check the Sokkhorn Rom Group project and you can support by joining Kiva
Agriculture for Chen Nguyen in Vietnam (Help_080202_74890)
I chose to help a lady from Vietnam as my first project with Kiva.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Chen is 54 years old. Her family has 5 children, all are grown. Joining TYM fund in 1994, she borrowed money to invest in raising pigs. In 2005, thanks to improved family income, she was able to purchase a machine to grind rice for the local community. Presently, with income from raising pigs at 297 USD, rice grinding and her husband's salary, her family's income is improving every day. For her next loan, she wishes to borrow 475 USD to invest in raising pigs and chickens.
You can read her project and you can support her by joining Kiva
My first time with Microfinance & initiation of Help
Friday evening, we had a business event with a major service center. It was the first time I had ever attended after 11 years of collaboration. They invited us to a movie premiere : http://www.8themovie.com/ . Right after PN had landed in Paris after her 3 week trip, we went to the premiere and arrived 'giri giri' (Japanese for 'right on time').
I was really moved by '8' (especially by Jan Kounen's movie 'The story of Panshin Beka' shot in Peruvian Amazonia in 2006) and I thought it is time to help accordingly to the principle “Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish ; and you have fed him for a lifetime”. Check the video tab on the website to watch the trailer!
This reminded me of CL who offered money after the Tsunami in Thailand.
Thus I wrote down on paper in the dark about the microfinance society 'Kiva' and looked for it over the web. I reached http://www.kiva.org/about and I chose to help.
I am trying to follow, in a far more limited way, the efforts of my friend LS who became a saint in India, helping children dying. I can never do what he does, he is so strong and courageous.
Microfinance (also check http://www.mixmarket.org/)can truly make the difference in helping the world that suffers in silence and you can start with $25 (less than €20). Wanna start changing the world now?
December 12, 2008
Almost in Vietnam... Reading Jean Hougron
As PN was on business trip, I resumed reading for hours. I finished a biography on Richard Branson by the Virgin group founder.
Then I resumed the reading of 'La nuit indochinoise' [Indochinese night] by Jean Hougron.
At first, I felt the book was a little too wide with too many characters, then it grew on me. Jean Hougron has an excellent ability to describe the fascination of westerners towards Asians. Moreover, he has knowledge and experience about asian countries. His ability to write about vietnamese woman's psychology is also amazing.
Some refrences here and there.
Then I resumed the reading of 'La nuit indochinoise' [Indochinese night] by Jean Hougron.
At first, I felt the book was a little too wide with too many characters, then it grew on me. Jean Hougron has an excellent ability to describe the fascination of westerners towards Asians. Moreover, he has knowledge and experience about asian countries. His ability to write about vietnamese woman's psychology is also amazing.
Some refrences here and there.
December 10, 2008
Wendy and Lisa, their new album "white flags of winter chimneys"
Check on http://www.wendyandlisa.com/
Their new album is avaialbale for download. I can still remember when I bought their eponimous album in 1987. Unwrapping the Wendy and Lisa CD was a thrilling experience... Listening to Wendy and Lisa still is... 21 years after! At first it was 'honeymoon express' and 'waterfall'. Later, I redeiscovered the genius in 'everything but you'. 1995, the remixed 'The life' featured in the movie 'Dangerous minds' shook me up and brought emotions in me.
From this new record from Wendy and Lisa, I already knew "Waiting for Coffee" which I heard on their site. They created it in 1995, and it is listed as a home demo.
I also heard the tracks Wendy and Lisa did during a collaboration with Trevor Horn. I wish their album was released as Trevor Horn brought new light and energy on their musical work.
I wish I could visit Wendy and Lisa in the states and seat quietly as they create or rehearse.
Wendy and Lisa are two important ladies in my life. Should I ever success in business, I'll ask them to create music for my venture/project and I wish I could associate my name with the bewitching Wendy and Lisa some day!
Wendy and Lisa are on Twitter : https://twitter.com/wendyandlisa/statuses/954755736
Their new album is avaialbale for download. I can still remember when I bought their eponimous album in 1987. Unwrapping the Wendy and Lisa CD was a thrilling experience... Listening to Wendy and Lisa still is... 21 years after! At first it was 'honeymoon express' and 'waterfall'. Later, I redeiscovered the genius in 'everything but you'. 1995, the remixed 'The life' featured in the movie 'Dangerous minds' shook me up and brought emotions in me.
From this new record from Wendy and Lisa, I already knew "Waiting for Coffee" which I heard on their site. They created it in 1995, and it is listed as a home demo.
I also heard the tracks Wendy and Lisa did during a collaboration with Trevor Horn. I wish their album was released as Trevor Horn brought new light and energy on their musical work.
I wish I could visit Wendy and Lisa in the states and seat quietly as they create or rehearse.
Wendy and Lisa are two important ladies in my life. Should I ever success in business, I'll ask them to create music for my venture/project and I wish I could associate my name with the bewitching Wendy and Lisa some day!
Wendy and Lisa are on Twitter : https://twitter.com/wendyandlisa/statuses/954755736
December 9, 2008
December 8, 2008
HELP kids in Thailand (Help_080101)
Today, I helped Orphelinat de Pattaya taking care of Thai kids in the city of Pattaya. The site is the French page for this foundation http://www.fr-ray.org/index.php
If you'd like to contribute, you can also reach http://www.pattayaorphanage.org.uk/
Good feeling to think a little money can help these kids.
It reminds me of a conversation I had in a pub near Bastille with Hiroshi this summer : we said that if we succeed in business, we'll help people and create a foundation... Let's do it!
If you'd like to contribute, you can also reach http://www.pattayaorphanage.org.uk/
Good feeling to think a little money can help these kids.
It reminds me of a conversation I had in a pub near Bastille with Hiroshi this summer : we said that if we succeed in business, we'll help people and create a foundation... Let's do it!
My instable WA was hurt
WA means harmony. A collegue from work broke it on thursday evening when I was back from Germany.
I received a text message when I was on the train explaining that job cuts would strike our Local Market and that in my service the job cuts would bring the headcount of 5+1 down to 3+1. It looked suspicious yet, given a certain amount of anxiety, I immediately got struck by the shock.
I spend the rest of the journey sending back sms to the soucre asking for further explanations and asking a friend at work additional information. I was determined to find out about my future.
The sleep was hard to find as every 5 minutes or so it poped up in my mind. I got really sad and depressed. I lsitened to DJ Jazzy Jeff's 'My soul ain't for sale'...
Until 10:00 am this friday I had no confirmation that this was a hoax. Hence, I reviewed all my past errors, mistakes, wrong choices and wanderings. I started thinking how I can manage this midlife crisis. I also contemplated how it would be like on last day at work after all these years as I joined this company in Sept 2006.
I felt so bad thinking about how to explain this to PN, and my family... Feeling ashamed and depleted of my value and work existence.
I waited for the regular busisness hours before sending couple emails in order to get further explanations. Then I got confirmed my 'friend' took one of our collegues' mobile phone and texted several people including me.
In a nutshell, I spent about 16 hours thinking I was fired. The environment acted as an enhancer as our company decided to close down a factory and another location. These news plus a certain anxiety added to my anxious mind had me over react.
I realized how much WA is fragile and no matter what I said, it will hurt me the day I walk out of this company. I also realized that I only need a hand to count the people I would really rely on for help.
Spooky like a nightmare with a touch of reality.
I received a text message when I was on the train explaining that job cuts would strike our Local Market and that in my service the job cuts would bring the headcount of 5+1 down to 3+1. It looked suspicious yet, given a certain amount of anxiety, I immediately got struck by the shock.
I spend the rest of the journey sending back sms to the soucre asking for further explanations and asking a friend at work additional information. I was determined to find out about my future.
The sleep was hard to find as every 5 minutes or so it poped up in my mind. I got really sad and depressed. I lsitened to DJ Jazzy Jeff's 'My soul ain't for sale'...
Until 10:00 am this friday I had no confirmation that this was a hoax. Hence, I reviewed all my past errors, mistakes, wrong choices and wanderings. I started thinking how I can manage this midlife crisis. I also contemplated how it would be like on last day at work after all these years as I joined this company in Sept 2006.
I felt so bad thinking about how to explain this to PN, and my family... Feeling ashamed and depleted of my value and work existence.
I waited for the regular busisness hours before sending couple emails in order to get further explanations. Then I got confirmed my 'friend' took one of our collegues' mobile phone and texted several people including me.
In a nutshell, I spent about 16 hours thinking I was fired. The environment acted as an enhancer as our company decided to close down a factory and another location. These news plus a certain anxiety added to my anxious mind had me over react.
I realized how much WA is fragile and no matter what I said, it will hurt me the day I walk out of this company. I also realized that I only need a hand to count the people I would really rely on for help.
Spooky like a nightmare with a touch of reality.
December 1, 2008
Wonderful father is an artist!
Check what this dad makes for his two kids! http://lunchbagart.tumblr.com/
This really is so nice... Not only lunch but also a cool bag to show to friends.Again, thanks to Libération.
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