Reminder to be Yourself

Under the Bodhi Tree

Watch the full episode. See more The Buddha.

Quote of the week

A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.  
- Lao Tzu

Favorite NEW Word

savoir-faire
(sav'wahr fair') [Fr.]: the ability to say and do the correct thing.


Read more: Foreign Words and Phrases — Infoplease.com http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0001619.html#ixzz19HhmPOhy

Another day, another song to get you through it

Home Cookin'

Beautiful Photography/Models

I have job envy.  Officially.

http://www.love-lost.net/index.php?/projects/matsuki-neiuwezijds-voorburgwal/

If I brought lunch in...

this is how I would do it.

http://shop.artifactbags.com/products/no-216

Favorite new Quote

"Luck favors the prepared."
-Louis Pasteur

A Reason to love PBS & math (& the future)

Watch the full episode. See more NOVA.

Quote of the week

"Politeness is the slow poison of collaboration."

- Edwin H. Land,
American scientist and inventor

Forever Young - MUST WATCH!

We All Want to Be Young from box1824 on Vimeo.

In watching this, I was inspired.  

Inspired to take up the torch of my generation.

Inspired to voice my opinion contrarian to the box this video-report puts me in.

Inspired to dance.

Inspired to be.

Be well, Do good.

BG

Cinematography

Beauty by design

shinya kimura @ chabott engineering from Henrik Hansen on Vimeo.

Context Free Picture

Courtesy of A Conversation on Cool.

Freakonomics Blog hits the spot

Quoting one of the blogs in my news feed:

"A number of Freakonomics readers have alerted us to yet another novel lottery idea. As Wired reports, Kevin Richardson won Volkswagen’s Fun Theory contest for his idea: “Kevin’s idea is both smart and simple. As well as ticketing you when you run through a speed-radar too fast, Kevin’s ‘Speed Camera Lottery‘ also notices you when you come in at or under the speed-limit. It then automatically enters you in a lottery. And here’s the really smart part: the prizes come from the fines paid by speeders.” The camera is currently in use in Stockholm, where the “average speed of cars passing the camera dropped from 32km/h before the experiment to 25km/h after."

http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/14/paying-drivers-to-not-speed/

Favorite find of the Day

Found a blog picturing defaced currency.... love it!

Courtesy of de-noted.co.uk: Easy.

When Reading Thoreau's "Walden"

"There are nowadays Professors of Philosophy, but not philosophers"


And that was in the 1850's.  Don't want to even think about today.


Be well, Do good.


BG

Catching up on 2 months of reading

Memorable reads from my night in of reading for the past 4 hours:

"Be sure that you go to the author to get at his meaning, not to find yours."
- Salman Rushdie

"All the strength you need to achieve anything is within you."
- Sara Henderson

"The past cannot be changed. The future is yet in your power."
- Mary Pickford


"Life's like a movie, write your own ending. Keep believing, keep pretending."
- Jim Henson

"Nothing strengthens the judgment and quickens the conscience like individual responsibility."
- Elizabeth Cady Stanton

"The price of greatness is responsibility."
- Sir Winston Churchill 

"Unless you're ashamed of yourself now and then, you're not honest."
- William Faulkner

"Never be afraid to sit awhile and think."
- Lorraine Hansberry 

"Defeat is simply a signal to press onward."
- Helen Keller 

"Think like a man of action, and act like a man of thought."
- Henri Bergson 

3 to Think about

Challenge.     Disturb.      Enlighten.

Quote of the week

"Photo: courtesy of Google Reader"

Inner City Pressure

The Learning Curve becomes a Pyramid

Re-Posting from InformationIsBeautiful.net

Data, Information, Knowledge, Wisdom?: "

Just a think-piece really.


(I was recently visiting the office of the awesome design website Swiss Miss. Over snacks, they asked me to christen their “lunch guest wall” with a scribble. Caught in the headlights and feeling the pressure to be clever and impressive, my mind, of course, went blank. Spotless white. All I had was a noodle in my notepad about the increasing organisational structure of information and how it might relate to visualization. It had been a *long* flight to NY.)

I got kinda stuck with it. So I wanted to open it up and see what you thought.

This is by no means original thought. This structure has been around for a while. (In fact does anyone knows who first came up with it?). The only new thing is relating it to visuals. And giving it a nice font.

One interesting thing. If you visualise information without designing it, you often end up with a mush or a meaningless thicket. So if you can only really ‘design’ information, rather than visualize it, then maybe the term ‘information visualization’ is a bit of a misnomer?

Anyway, how does it look to you? Does it seem logical? Truthful? Do the definitions ring true? What could be the word for the visual depiction of wisdom? Does greater verticality imply greater meaning? Or can errors creep in?"

The Joy Of Stats

Came across this on my Google Reader, and I was impressed. Keep up the good work!

The Joy Of Stats:

Hans Rosling’s famous lectures combine enormous quantities of public data with a sport’s commentator’s style to reveal the story of the world’s past, present and future development. Now he explores stats in a way he has never done before – using augmented reality animation. In this spectacular section of ‘The Joy of Stats’ he tells the story of the world in 200 countries over 200 years using 120,000 numbers – in just four minutes. Plotting life expectancy against income for every country since 1810, Hans shows how the world we live in is radically different from the world most of us imagine.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/tv/comingup/the-joy-of-stats/The Joy Of Stats

Quote of the week

(title unknown): "

"

Turf Dancing in the Rain

Feel bad about yourself as a hockey player now

When I was home I was able to play hockey with Papa G twice ---- twice!  I felt like a million bucks out there, so much so that I started daydreaming about pursuing some sort of minor league hockey play.  It wasn't about money or fame.  It was about passion.

I felt incredible for those 2 days of playing hockey.  My life started to turnaround.  Then I saw this video about Syd Crosby.

I officially suck. hard.

Stand By Me

Sound Engineer mixes series of street performers from around the world — recorded, overlayed & mixed with one another while singing the song “Stand By Me”.  The finished product could be top 40 hit:



Stand By Me | Playing For Change | Song Around The World from Concord Music Group on Vimeo.

Be well, do good.

BG

Canada Goose Tactical Line

Canada Goose Tactical Line

Gobble Gobble

On Melancholy Hill - NYC Lights from Chateau Bezerra on Vimeo.

Brick or Bone?

Design has taken over my life. Having a plan is one thing. Sticking to it is another.

Autumn Style

As I transition my wardrobe and mentality to Autumn, I can't help but reflect on the first Fall I had in NYC back in 2006.

I vividly remember being confused about the different types of sweaters, fabrics, coats and accessories needed for the weather change. Not too familiar with blends of wool that I can catalog by geography, alphabetically or by price, I once thought that Lambs' Wool was something called "William's Wool" --- one of my best friend's favorite Galgayisms. 

Fascinated by the golden and rust colored leaves of the trees in Central Park, I walked around for hours open to do anything as so much to keep me outside.  This pursuit resulted in reading the Economist on park benches. That scout badge of being a New Yorker was finally earned; I can sit in a city park next to the crazy pigeon lady and the wannabe gangster tweens sneaking out to smoke.

This weekend I found myself in the same habit.  The weather was perfect and I never wanted to get indoors.  Regretfully I did spend more time than I hoped indoors, but only limited to swapping out my spring/summer for fall/winter clothes.  As I took my inventory of sweaters, I couldn't help but laugh again at William's Wool. Now I'm looking at adding a few more sweaters like the ones here.

LLBean Norwegian
LLBean Irish Cableknit
LLBean Norwegian Stripe
Steven Alan Naval L/S

Looking back again to my "newness" to the Northern climate, I even asked one of the Senior VPs what men wear for shoes when it snows outside.  He incredulously answered "loafers".  1) I failed to look at his shoes before asking 2) now, I know that most men just wear older dress shoes, some wear in other shoes like boots to swap out for loafers in the office, and only a select few men wear rubber slip-overs.

It's great to feel this excitement again.  And not just limited to the weather.

Be Well, Do Good.

BG

Amazing photo from Sartorialist.com

 Classic Style on this little guy; must be related to the Galgays somehow

Live to Tell the Tale

So I have been featuring different quotes week after week, but I have yet to list lyrics.  Today that changes:

"Whatever happens to me

I hope that I'll fall asleep

Knowing that you'll always be

The story with no ending

The whole slew blossomed beautifully

And I was beside myself

So I gave into your love

As you rapturously commanded

And this is like I have always dreamed:

Cobblestone and dusty feet

That's the way it should always be

Head over heels and deftly

Wonderful and healthy"

- Live to Tell the Tale by Passion Pit 

Why didn't I think of this?

Original Posting: http://soup.johl.io/post/83978061/Trollin

Quote of the week

"Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value."
-Albert Einstein

Reading New Blogs and I came across...

 I came across this title, and I had to keep reading... 
You’re Going To Have To Take My Word On This: My Unphotogenic Foodblog Shortcomings – Condensed

When I read this line, I knew that there is someone else in the world who shares my thoughts...
I’m going to go ahead and say it – Indian food looks like diarrhea.

Upon further reading, I readily discovered that, sigh, I still am the only person who is no head over heels for Indian food.

Fun read, regardless...

Clams McGeechee: From Farm to Table

TED Talks on Cancer

My favorite Author says...

"Within you there is a stillness and a sanctuary to which you can retreat at any time and be yourself."
- Hermann Hesse

It's totally OK to watch Glee

I wrote this entry's title simply due to the fact that I learned about this song "The Only Exception" by Paramour. 

There is a moment in this episode of Glee when the lead girl starts to sing this song... chills.  It is one of those moments where everything just stops; the world is muted; you have complete tunnel vision and are totally fixated. 

Simply powerful.



Go out and love someone.

Be well. Be good.
BG

Motivational Quote meet Art; Art meet....

Thought these were great.  Roughly half of the quotes are really famous that most people should recognize, but the pairing with the street art really makes these something special.  A whole bunch more can be found on the Senioritis blog.  And yes, my last post from Cervantes was from this site...

Be well; be good.

BG

Quote of the week

"Time ripens all things; no man is born wise."

- Miguel de Cervantes

More music for the masses...

What I'm listening to...

With my nose in a book, I have to listen to something to block out the constant stream of noise in and around my apartment.  If it's not my roommate watching TV or the European neighbors blasting techno music, then an emergency vehicle invariably passes.  All distractions from my task at hand.

Having depleted the 400+GB of music on my drive, I decided to go though the list again and came upon some old Carly Simon.  What originally interested me in this music is the film Love Actually, whereby there is a scene where a couple falling out of love exchange gifts.  The woman in this relationship claims that Carly Simon allowed her to feel emotions. 

Fingers crossed that it works for me too.  Not really sure what the cure is for the Tin Man and the Scarecrow.  Regarldess, I've already fallen in love with the music.  Seeing the album covers makes me want to get the vinyl version and travel back in time to meet a 20-something Carly.

Here's to a great night of music.

Be well.  Do good.

BG

Quote of the Week

“You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.” 

-Winston Churchill

Can't get this out of my head...

Basement Jaxx - Raindrops

On first glance this song might make you think if you listen to it, you'll start sneezing glitter --- but this song is legit (ok -- the video is kind of out there too)!  I've been listening to a whole new set of artists like Mike Posner, White Panda and Pogo, and far and away, this is the best.

Don't fear.  Have fun, do good.

BG

Checking boxes isn't enough; how you do it counts...

Labor Day Stay-cation

After a rather typical up and down week at work, I needed to decompress.  Blew off steam at a happy hour.  Then later linked up with old friends in Brooklyn at Traif. If you haven't been, get there before there realize how good/cheap it is and change prices.  We were 5 hungry guys, and the bill was only $140 including alcohol.   By the time we were done, the sun had already disappeared but my buddy had already snapped this photo from his roof.  Thought it was too good not to share. 

The rest of the weekend flew by.  BBQ.  Day in the park.  Reading.  Football. Catching up on sleep.  It sure is good to knock out all the backlogged things I wanted to get done, but much like this photo, there is a time and place for everything. And all things end.  For now, enjoy good food and great friends.  The summer is ending.

Be well; do good.
BG

Separation

When you have 8+ million people around, how can you find the time, space, or ability to get away?

Distractions are everywhere outside: fire engines, performance artists, impromptu concerts, beggars, street fairs, etc. Inside is not better with the internet, football, 16GB of iTubes music, a shelf full of DVDs and a whole library of entertainment on-demand.

Especially for me, while I'm balancing my time between advancing at work and setting up my next step outside of work, slowing down doesn't seem like an option.

Perspective is more important than just "checking off boxes". Take the time. Slow down. Read a book. Separate.

This guy in the park did.

So am I.

So should you.

Be well, do good.
BG
Bgalgay@ecaware.org

America Pulls Out

Another day, another lesson

“Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” ~Thomas H. Huxley 

No Excuses

Determination

Motivation

When you expire

Three years ago today I was diagnosed with cancer. It is the most important date in my life. The day that could have meant my expiration has proved to be my rebirthday.

I think the most important thing a man needs to know is who he is. Cancer redefined my life. Being a survivor continues to do so.

In the blur of the last 3 years I continuously slip back into old habits: worry, stress, doubt. I then overcompensate: brag, boast, "act as if". One who is at peace with himself typically doesn't have to play that game; he merely acknowledges any negative presence and continues.

With that in mind, it has become clear to me that I have not saved enough time for reflection to stay grounded, to keep in touch with what matters, to know that ever changing sense of self.  Last night I couldn't fall asleep, as too many of those negative thoughts were in my mind. So, I got out of bed, lit a candle and sat in its flickering light. Thinking about my life, I sat and mulled over what is important, what is appropriate and what is the priority.

The last day has been an incredible reflection for me, and I encourage everyone to do the same.  Turn off everything from time to time. Tune in to yourself. It is so crucial to really know where are and where you should be.  Don't let the important things in your life expire. Hold on to their memory and live with it everyday.

Be well. Do good
Brian
ecaware.org

Finding what matters again by letting go

Let go.  It's incredible; the things that you allow yourself to do and experience when you let go.  No expectations.  No ego. No assumptions.  No judgment. No predisposition. Just observe.

After spending the day reading, I decided to make it a low key night: stayed in, cooked and watched a movie. My netflix queue was topped off recently, refreshed with award-winning blockbusters, independents, foreign films, and classics.

Two weeks ago, I was blown away by the Kirk Douglas in the title-role of Spartacus.  There are some really questionable scenes in the movie, but looking back at the time when it was released, I can imagine that it was ground-breaking --- to say the least.  Last week I finally saw The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, which tapped into some of my feelings about the certainty of death.  Not sure if it is my having battled cancer or other recent emotional events, but I was locked in for 3 hours straight.

Tonight's film was the Diving Bell and the Butterfly.  I knew nothing about this movie prior to pushing play tonight.  Within a few minutes, I find out that it is a story about a man trapped in his own body after a stroke.  The script, story-telling, cinematography, casting, score and everything else were superb.  It's not often that in the middle of a movie, you think "I may have a new one to add to my favorite all-time films".

A lot of this ties back more to my general feeling right now.  Assumptions and expectations only bring pain, and I have had way too much happen recently to not acknowledge that.  Letting go is key.  I don't mean that to mean accepting mediocrity and living in the absence of effort or passion.  I think it is more about the disposition of self prior to action, rather than after or during.

I once wrote an email encouraging people to never let go the child-like sense of wonder and awe.  That is the crux of what I am restating here.  Let go of being an adult. 

ECAA gets Social

SMO means Social Media Optimization.  It's a buzz word that has penetrated the business word.  Firms of all sizes, industries and pursuits have an interest in Social Media to a degree.  That interest may range in some firms having a simple blog or facebook page (which was created but left unsupported) to some firms specialist in SMO, curating all elements and tools at his/her disposal.




My non-profit, the Esophageal Cancer Awareness Association (ECAA), has branched out its SMO initiatives and we are now on Facebook, Twitter, Linked-In and Wikipedia.  A membership following has been cultivated, and over the course of the next year, our growth strategy will employ SMO. ECAA's ability to reach its membership, speak to their beliefs, and empower action is critical.  Social Media is a tool; SMO is a process that we see as a key in achieving our goals.

Mid-September ECAA plans to launch its newly rebranded website.  At that time, I plan to really drum up the outreach.  Lots of activities will unfold thereafter, so get ready to get involved.

Be Well. Do Good.
BG

BGalgay@ecaware.org  

Brooklyn Saturday

Flick, Caitlin and I biked all day through Brooklyn. Along the way, we checked out the Andy Warhol exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum and then got lost on our way to the Loreley Biergarten in Williamsburg.

So here we are after the Spainish victory over Paraguay in the World Cup. If you have never had a drink called a Radler, then look it up, order one up, and drink it down.

Stay well. Do good.
BG

Yankees-Mariners

Picture does NOT do the day justice.

70* and no humidity. Perfect.

Love my NYC this time of year!

Stay dry,
BG

Wedding is a fusion of 2 metals...

Here in Portland on Saturday when Colleen and Nick tied the knot! The ceremony was really touching, and surprisingly the full Catholic ceremony was enjoyable and quick!

Congrats to the happy couple!

Love truly,
BG

City of Roses

The weekend flew by, but thankfully both Caitlin and I were able to find time live in the moment. Not posed at all, I caught her stopping to smell the roses.

Life is beautiful in Portland, especially sitting up top at the Pittock Mansion.

Enjoy the moments,
BG

Off to Portland

Caught this picture as Caitlin and I were descending into Portland on Friday morning. After pulling an all nighter with Flick and Amin, I didn't think we'd survive...

Sleep well,
BG

"Takes me back to Africa" -Amin

The Cape May ferry to Dewey beach.

Let the Spring Break, er Memorial Day, shenanigans begin!

Preview: www.brosicingbros.com

BG

Writing...

If you ever have the itch to write a book, save yourself the time and write a short story.  People are inspired and analyze brevity.  Being thorough and exhaustive depletes your audience's ability to fantasize.  Communal creatively is the key to literary success.

"Don't Eat Green Bananas" hitting bookshelves in late 2009 2010 2012 2015!

Consume. Be well.
BG

Dream with your hands. Dream with heart. Dream with your life.

When I was a freshman in college I came home and turned on the TV in an attempt pass time before going to bed, the following 2 hours captivated me.  HBO was on and I was immersed in some live-action film that was drawn-over, creating a dream-like visual.  The narrative is original and touches on lucid dreams, aka ways to take control of your dreams.  That night I was aware of my dreaming and forced myself to fly --- truly one of the best dreams I have ever had.

I have since been on a quest to find this film.  For months after this night I searched the internet, poring over pages to find what film was on HBO that Wednesday night at 11pm.  Months turned to years and it was only recently that I came across a clue that brought me back to this film.  Watching it tonight I was confounded at the series of events that brought me full circle to this film. 

Like re-reading Hermann Hesse, I revisited this film and found myself experiencing a different set of emotions and reactions.  However the concept of taking ownership of your dreams still resonated.  When the credits started to roll, I was still in a state of awe as I had been nearly a decade ago. 


In the theme of living your dream, I think of my non-profit ECAA.  Two years ago, I dreamed of having a group of people that could drive awareness of esophageal cancer.  Today we have a dedicated group of amazing individuals who are making that a reality.  So much so that we are making Congressional news.  YES --- House Resolution 1343 is now under consideration in Congress.  Call your Rep and make this happen!

Make your dreams a reality.

Stay well.
Do good.
BG

From the offices of the Richest man in the World

Writing from the road again, this time from Mexico City.

One of my clients required an on-site, so here I am. The real quirk in this, my virginal visit to the federal district, is that I had a machine gun pointed at me this morning. The office clamped down on security because Hector Slim, nephew of Carlos, was in the office today.

The trip proved to be successful. Looks like we're going to sell a whole lot of work. Good for us, good for them. Should be a good celebration tonight, both in closing this deal and the holiday.

However I'm leaving for NYC tonight, missing out on Cinco de Mayo in country...

My consolation is that no one in Mexico celebrates Cinco de Mayo. Mexican independence day is on 15 September.

The real reason for writing: today in the US house of Representatives, the Esophageal Cancer awareness month resolution should be proposed by Rep. Bill Posey (R-FL). Big step forward for the team at ECAA!

Much happier about my news re: congress than work.

BG

International Traveler

Spending this past week in London has really opened a lot of opportunities for me at work.

Lots of face-time with the client and I feel that I gained their respect by defending some key positions.

With the activity ahead, this should be the first of a whole series of landmark photos.

Cheers!