Posts from March 2007

A Day in Paradise starts at $35,000

This most expensive offering on Home Away is a Villa located in Nassau that includes a Yacht, many sport amenities, a full staff and more for $35,000 and up...If you want something more modest, $5,000 gets you a private house on Mustique.
They are part of Home Away 10 Most Luxurious Vacation Getaways...

Feel like splurging?

I realized that I forgot to touch base with the Home Away folks while I was in Texas, they are based in Austin actually.

As you can see, I am keeping it light and fluffy today.

Previously on the same topic: Home Away, a Trove of Vacation Rentals


Why did I have to catch a Cold and be Unproductive? Tell Me Please!

Since late Saturday, a nasty cold has been playing games with me and I have not accomplished much.
This morning, the 'you are not very productive' thought popped up.
Why do we obsess on how much we need to do? Circumstances such as being sick slow us down.
Why do we have a hard time accepting it?

It could be an opportunity to catch up on sleep and reading.

Here is a quote from The Common Cold and Productivity Loss by Sandy Smith on Occupational Hazards: "Each cold experienced by an employee causes an average of 8.7 lost work hours, most of which is time the employee is spending at work, miserable and unproductive. A new study examined productivity losses attributed to the common cold and turned up some shocking statistics."

At least this time I had the good judgment to lay low for a couple of days but darn I do feel unproductive.

What about you? Are you running out of Kleenex or maybe you are just laying on the beach in a tropical paradise.

Good day all!

Healing sounds: In a mellow mood, my Rest and Recovery Soundtrack


A $4,000 Coffee Table Book

You might not actually display this book on the coffee table and it does not cost quite $4,000 but rather $3,950. The Opus in question is called Superyacht and will be published in June by UK Publisher Gloria in a limited edition of 1,000 numbered copies.

Gloria made its name previously with a (limited edition) book on soccer star Pele, The Super Samba edition includes a photo of Pele showing his style to New Yorkers back in 1975 when he came to play with the Cosmos.

George Gershwin's 'Nice work if you can get it' provides the perfect soundtrack for this piece.

Other in the lap of Luxury posts: In Champagne, Single Vineyards offer rare pleasures and Jet Girl, Shopping by Private Jet


How can we change the world if we can't find our keys?

While waiting for a friend to pick up her son earlier today, I was glancing at a book shelve and something caught my eye.

Actually the humorous light touch of the title "It's Hard to Make a Difference When You Can't Find Your Keys" is what stopped me. Findkeys_2

What interested me more than the topic was the way the author Marilyn Paul approached it.

Not like a general giving marching orders but rather like a person who experienced overwhelming mess herself.

I personally rarely misplace my keys. If I do, it means it is time to slow down and take stock of things.

I've dealt in my life both with people hyper organized and on the other end utterly messy.

I think there is a middle ground when organization does not become a fanaticism but allows us to function  properly.

Sometimes our outer mess can reveal the inner turmoil.

By the way this book was published way back in December 2003, if you want to find out more about it read There must be a desk in here somewhere, an excerpt.

To fight clutter and find things more easily, you could also give a shot at the online service Highrise, a new offering (launched today) from the good people at 37 Signals. Read the Webware review for more details.

Also on loosing your keys: Harried and tend to loose your keys, a nifty service for New Yorkers also Do not sweat, locate phones, remotes with Loc8or...



Food, Memories...'A Taste of my Life'...Nigel Slater on the BBC

On his BBC TV Show A Taste of My Life, Nigel Slater invites various guests to share their favorite Food Memories.
Recipes range from Toad in the Hole (unknown to me) for Vanessa Redgrave to the middle eastern Mouttabal by Julia Sawalha and Panna Cotta with Lavender a la Miranda Richardson.

No need to act on your part. As a fringe benefit, this might give you ideas for Dinner tonight or Lunch tomorrow.

Memories of times past can make things taste even better.
Sometimes we feel disappointed when we try them again.
Where the memories of that favorite dish associated with a special event, a certain place, the  person who cooked it, god only knows?

What are your best Food Memories?

Along these lines, in my Foods from Brittany stories: Artichokes, How to cook and eat them?

Bon Appetit!


Helsinki Virtual Village...Arabianranta...6000 people and Counting

Imagine being faced with as many as 2500 ways to customize your apartment before signing up on the purchase order, this is the wealth of choices new residents of Arabianranta in Helsinki are offered.

Even though it is tagged as Helsinki Virtual Village, Arabianranta is anything but. It is designed as a Hub for Designers and Creative types.
The neighborhood balances its high tech features with jogging and bicycle paths so residents can keep in touch with nature.

A percentage of the infrastructure spending is dedicated to the purchase and display of artworks.

I found out about this real utopia while reading Helsinki Warming a piece by Jonathan Kandell (smithsonian.com).

Related Topics: Mr Conran goes to Copenhagen with Custom House


GoLoco...Share a Car Ride...Be Green and Save

Just discovered after reading Find a Ride on the Web by David Pogue (New York Times) and on Blogo Wogo (The O' Reilly Radar wrap up on Ted Conference) that Robin Chase, one of the Founders of ZipCar launched a Car Pooling service with a communal feel named GoLoco.
So if you are going to a ball game, an outing, an event and either are looking for a ride there or need a co-pilot to fight fatigue or boredom check GoLoco.

At the same time you will save money by sharing costs and be green.

Take a look.

Other Green Rides stories: Boston Taxis Go Green and Teaching Evolution: EV Car Rentals


From my 'nomadic' thoughts to San Francisco 'Bedouins'

In the follow the thread realm, Where Neo-Nomads' Ideas Percolate by Dan Frost in The San Francisco Chronicle (March 11) somehow relates to the Live and Work Anywhere ideas I toyed with earlier today.

No Camels or Tea served here. The article on San Francisco coffeehouses highlights the connection between Free Wi-Fi , Coffee Shops and Geeks.

Dan Pink who is mentioned in the article pointed to the same link in Free Agent Nation a few years back.

I do agree with Timothy Ferriss that Coffee Shops might not always be the best place for a meaningful conversation or steady work.

A quiet space such as my very own home office in my new digs works better for me.

Maybe for some it is a way to feel important and be on display while for others it is the most practical choice.

I first noticed the Bedouin story on Signal vs Noise.

Related stories:  Ryan Singel (Wired) relates how 'Ritual Coffee Roasters'...and Live Anywhere, Escape the Daily Grind plus for a real life experience Kasbah du Toubkal, a Moroccan retreat


Live Anywhere...Escape the Daily Grind and Start your Second Life

I am not talking about creating a virtual world here just rethinking how to work and live.

Timothy Ferris is on the road sharing the virtues of The 4-Hour Workweek which is also the title of his soon to be published book (Crown, Late April 07).
Our paths crossed at South by Southwest.

I might not agree with all his mottos. I adhere with 2 of them at least 'Escape 9 to 5' (as long as it is not traded for working 24-7) and 'Live Anywhere'.
I don't envision it as becoming a nomad but rather spending time living and working in various places. I would keep a home base though since I am not young and unattached like Tim.

His idea of 'outsourcing' some of your daily tasks (both personal and business related) reminded me of one of the people showcased in Po Bronson's book: The Nudist on the Late Shift.
It was a computer programmer who limited his working hours to the amount needed to cover his expenses, therefore having more control over what projects he worked on.
This person also hired a woman to help with cooking, cleaning and other tasks.

All this goes back to the idea of How Much is Enough? and that is not just quantity that matters but as much How Well we do what we do and How much pleasure and satisfaction we get from it.

My Monday morning musings with a post snow storm cold.

Also on Work, Life and the Pursuit of Happiness: The Four Day Workweek Challenge by Ryan Carson


Live more beautifully...Design Indaba, The Eggman and Cape Town

Who would not agree with the idea to 'Live more beautifully'.
South Africa showcased a world of creators for the 10th edition of Design Indaba.

From designers that shape the world to being carbon neutral for the second year the Design Indaba Expo in Cape Town opens new paths by blending its African Roots and modern design.

Amongst the speakers were the ubiquitous Brian Eno, graphic designer Neville Brody and Heath Nash who I featured in a previous story.Eggman
Also present was The Eggman (not the Walrus), the creation of Gregory da Silva (pictured here).

The people of PingMag (Tokyo) offer an  Excellent Two Part Summary of the event.

Also worth mentioning is 24.com Design. They show us the richness of what was displayed at the show from wooden rabbits to feather lamps and rainbow like dresses.

Other Cape Town flavors: It's beautiful here: Hang your coat on Heat Nash's words and Take the Stellenbosch Wine Route