Innovation

No matter how far ideas go, one idea remains constant. Education is key. We are at a stage in world development that has never been seen before.  Many nations are competing at a global level that could have never even imagined being in  the arena. So then how do we enable innovation? What is our "unfair advantage"? How do we leverage it? Investment in our universities and schools are of the utmost importance. Technology and science should remain in the forefront of industry as these are leading R&D. Cultural intelligence should be taught. We can no longer think in insulary terms and need to teach our children in this way to be able to compete. I recently heard maritime navigation used as a metaphor for where we are, in the process of enabling innovation in the world today. It was said that we lacked a cartography like the first explorers, so in essence we are navigating and drawing the maps as we go. I was raised in a generation that believed in specialization with all of its acronyms. The future is cross-disciplinary. Younger x-gens are annoyed by the older model of specialization. In the perfect, it will be about prospering not just winning.  I've been following a bill The StartUp Visa Bill. Link to article in Buisnessweek below. Its a step in the right direction of collective and co-operative collaboration.
businessweek.com/technology

A Prayer for Tolerance

I heard this tonight


Teach us to treasure the differences that distinguish one person from another.
Fill us with the strength to overcome senseless fear and hatred.
Open our hearts to the radiance that shines forth from every human soul.
Inspire us to shed our apathy;
remind us that it is our obligation to be responsible for one another.
Open our ears to the cries of all who are in need of our assistance.
Give us the courage to combat prejudice and intolerance wherever they exist.
Teach us to see eachother through your eyes, G-d.
In your eyes all people are equally loved, equally precious.
Bless us all with compassion, with kindness, and with peace. Amen
                                                                         ~Rabbi Naomi Levy

Interior Inspiration

Kreiss Collection

Kiss The Sky

Has anyone seen my "one"?

Tiger, Jesse, Charlie, John, Marc..........

I have cheaters overload.
I am in need of good male role models. Strong men with strong convictions who aren't easily seduced into making fools of themselves and their families.
I reach into the anals of my mind and there in the dusty corners are faint recollections of real men that I heard of that were made of this fabric. Is this man a rational reality? Could it be an urban myth? Am I without any real knowledge of the type of man that can make a wife proud? My answer is yes. When I sit and think about the married couples that I know there are only a handful that I can say are true companions. You know, the kind of couples that look at eachother from across a crowded room and know what the other is thinking. The couples who always call to say goodnight even if the day didn't go as well as they would have liked. You know, the two who always stick up for eachother even when they know they are wrong and then in private give it to 'em. Easy, comfortable and just right.
The biggest frame of reference that I have to go by is my own marriage of 15 years. Married once divorced once. Divorce was inevitable. I hate how I learned about all of the nasty things he did behind my back even after I found out about the ones that finally caused me to say, "I'm done". Who would have thought there could be more "crimes" against my trust. Ah, but there were. Its good that he can't do those things to me any longer. I am learning things about myself that I never knew. I like it. I like who I am. There are things about him that I refuse to "broadcast" but I'm so grateful for not having them in my life. Infidelity is not the end-all to a marriage-there are plenty of couples who get through it without a divorce. What is a deal breaker is when you take respect and dignity out of a relationship. It's the collapsing bimbos that will do ya in-it happens everytime. No woman scorned melodrama here just the truth. No hypocrisy, sloppiness, humiliation, endangerment to the emotional stability of children or destruction of the nurturing environment that advanced his career/greatness.
I know there are honest and good men I just haven't met one yet-you know my "Neo".....also commonly referred to as "the one". Must be weirder than science fiction. God, I hope not because I love that feeling. I love the feeling of being wrapped up in the arms of my love. My one.

A Good Read

The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell

"the moment of critical mass, the threshold, the boiling point at which the momentum for change becomes unstoppable."

Food & Wine

(this is a third post in a series of posts on wine tasting. The second in this series A Nose Is A Nose 3-16-2010 and the first Wine Tasting At First Sight 2-13-10)

Food and wine pairings are a dichotomy-they are either too simple or too complex. Food and wine are meant to be savored since one enhances the other.
The basic idea is to fuse two flavors to create a third, as simple as that. I think that the only wrong choice of food and wine is serving no wine at all. Wines follow a natural progression. Here are some guidelines to keep in mind when planning a large multicourse meal. This is a favorite verse to remember which comes first:

Old before Young

Dry before Sweet

White before Red

Light before Full 

Simple before Complex 

Champagne anytime and with anyone!

Wine and cheese..what can I say? Its like peas and carrots, George and Gracie, a wink and a smile. Soft cheeses are usually creamy and milky in texture so they can be served with demi-sec Champagne, Moscato di Asti, Riesling and Sauternes. Hard cheeses pair well with reds due to the fat and protein content softening by the tannins of the red wine. Bordeaux,Cabs, Barolo (my personal favorite) Burgundy, Merlot or Barbaresco. They pair well with fresh meat, sausages and breads. If you would like to serve a white, stay on the heavier side with a Chardonnay, Viognier, Meursault, or even a full bodied Blanc de Noirs Champagne. Blue cheese pairs well with sweet wines. The powerful flavor of the cheese dominates dry white wines while their creaminess cannot stand up to the light tannins of medium bodied red wines. Sauternes, Moscato d'Asti, Vin Santo, Greman Kabinett and the classic match of Stilton Bleu and Port (I always serve almonds with this) For a red, try Pinot Noir, Merlot, or Dolcetto. Goat cheeses go well with crisp young whites or reds such as Savignon Blanc, Sancerre, or Chianti and Sanviogese. (I serve with toasted buttered baguette slices)

Picnic or grilled food over charcoals can be paired well with wines that have a lower body and alcohol content due to the warmer temperatures of outdoor parties. Try Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, or Alsace for whites. Beaujolais, Grenache, and although I haven't paired these myself yet, I am told that a slightly chilled red wine from the Rhone Valley or Languedoc-Roussillon are perfect for a beach picnic.  I like a light freshly mixed Sangria for outdoor functions. 

Meat and fish cooked over charcoals require a somewhat heavier body. I like Syrah or Pinot Noir with grilled hamburgers. Bordeaux or Zinfandel with steak. Grilled fish can be served with Chardonnay (One favorite pairing of mine especially when oak is noted in the wine, it pairs nicely with smokey overtones in grilled food including grilled portobellos or vegetables) 

Dessert wines are ,to me, the "nectar of the gods". They pair well with alot of startes such as foie gras and various pates. (I pair these wines with Thai and Szechwan food). Dessert wine rules are easy-match the color of the wine to the dessert. Deep dark desserts will go best with dark dessert wines like Port or a lesser known wine Banyuls. Lighter colored dessert wines match better with fruit desserts. There is always the option of choosing a dessert wine as the dessert.
Here's to the warm weather and good friends sharing good things. Cheers!