My Window To The World…

The computer is a great tool. The internet is awesome.

Yet somehow they can also be very distracting - especially if, like me, you sometimes struggle to stay focussed.

So, my productivity tip number one: unless totally necessary, do not switch your computer on. (And do ask yourself more than once “Do I really have to switch it on now?”) In my case, the results have been amazing.

© Patrice Schneider. No reproduction without prior written consent.

Technorati Tags: Lifehacks, Productivity, Attention Span, GTD, Getting Things Done

I will in the future definitely write some posts regarding financial (and other) matters when co-operating with people.

Today let me just tell you: whenever anyone offers you money (that you are now or in the future entitled to), do not hesitate, but take it.

A couple of years ago, a guy I knew was supposed to move in with me and share my house for two months. January I paid the rent, and told him to pay the rent for February (directly to the landlord), since I knew I would be abroad. He said he was okay with that, but would also not have a problem paying his share for January on the spot.

After just ten days, he moved out, because he found a more conveniently located place. I told him that we had agreed on two months, but that I would be nice and charge him for the first month only. He felt insulted and could not understand why he should pay for one month. (When we had agreed to two months!)

To this day, I have not seen the money. Had I taken his January share, he would have had to make me understand why I should partially refund him. Now I have to waste time and energy to get the money that he owes me.

The importance of writing a contract when dealing with other people is a topic to be covered at a later date.

© Patrice Schneider. No reproduction without prior written consent.

Technorati Tags: Money Matters, Lifehacks, Food For Thought

Live at the Werchter Festival in Belgium. A looooooong time ago.

“They arise, manifest, and then cease”:
this is the main mantra to use when “getting”
rewards, status, praise, or any kind of happiness,
so as not to indulge, forget ourselves, or be foolish.

“They arise, manifest, and then cease”:
this is the main mantra to use when “losing”
rewards, status, praise, or even wife and kids,
so we aren’t weakened, confused, or distraught.

“They arise, manifest, and then cease”:
this is the main mantra to use “at the end”,
the best weapon for dealing with death,
fully at peace having gone beyond Mara’s snares.

Today I recommend books by the Dalai Lama, as well as “The Tibetan Book Of The Dead”.

© Patrice Schneider. No reproduction without prior written consent.

Technorati Tags: Buddhism, Supreme Buddhist Mantra, Philosophy, Food For Thought

Robert Smith himself posted today on The Cure’s website that they will probably be playing in Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore (July and August), then possibly head to Australia.

Anyone who knows me also knows that I do not only hate, but detest the current drummer (don’t even want to write his name; he’s been with them since 1994), because he is useless. So talentless, in fact, he should almost receive an award for it.

If I am in Asia come July/August, I might however make an exception, since I have never seen them as a four-piece, never without keyboards - and the one thing to look forward to is seeing Porl Thompson back on guitar. He is one of the most-underrated guitar players.

Robert: why don’t you save on some travel expenses and get me to do your Asia shows with you? Willing to do it for free. You won’t regret it. Remember: a competent drummer makes any band sound better.

My favourite The Cure albums:

Pornography
Disintegration
Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me
Seventeen Seconds
Faith

All of them - plus tons more - available from Amazon.com.

© Patrice Schneider. No reproduction without prior written consent.

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Technorati Tags: The Cure, The Cure Live, Robert Smith, Porl Thompson, Music, The Cure Asia Tour

Cannot remember where I first heard this one, but it’s never left my memory.

We - at least the majority of us - were born with one mouth, but two ears. And I think there is a reason for that.

I do believe that listening is more important than speaking.

Way too many people just babble on and on, oftentimes just for the sake of making some noise.

You even get some f***ing bible bashers who stand on a streetcorner and insult your intelligence with screaming their beliefs at all and sundry. I will post more about them in another entry. For now, I just recommend you listen to Frank Zappa’s “Heavenly Bank Account” (which can be found on his “You Are What You Is” album).

© Patrice Schneider. No reproduction without prior written consent.

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Technorati Tags: Philosophy, Food For Thought

Way back in 1988 at Eastbourne School of English (UK), my great teacher Iain McAdam Clark introduced me to Mancunian band The Fall. I used to run around in various The Cure t-shirts, so he was sure I knew The Fall - but I didn’t. (Lucky Iain had seen The Cure live when they were the supporting act for The Fall!)

Anyways. Read today that a collection of short stories that are based on The Fall’s song titles is soon going to be published. Mark E. Smith, the legend, the inspiration. He deserves this “tribute”.

To this day, I adore The Fall and their music.

I am the carry bag man…
Wrong place, right time…

The following The Fall albums are the ones I can recommend:

The Frenz Experiment
I Am Kurious Oranj
Extricate

Available from Amazon.com.

© Patrice Schneider. No reproduction without prior written consent.

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Technorati Tags: The Fall, Mark E. Smith, Music, Literature, The Cure

Finished reading Sun Tzu’s “The Art Of War”, a manual on how to “properly” conduct a war, a couple of days ago.

I am a pacifist, but can still appreciate great skills, even as far as war is concerned. (Contradiction? Who cares…? ;-))

It is very shocking to realize that the likes of George W. Bush and Tony Blair have obviously not studied “The Art Of War”. Or maybe they have, and I am just too stupid to see their intelligence? Let them surprise me.

In recent years, “The Art Of War” has also become a manual for managers and business-people on how to conduct “war” in business, how to achieve success. I do believe that if you study this book in-depth, and understand it, you can pretty much apply it to any situation in life.

Order it. Read it. (Amzon Link.)

© Patrice Schneider. No reproduction without prior written consent.

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Technorati Tags: Sun Tzu, The Art Of War, Strategy, Literature, Philosophy

I have been into computers for a long time. My whole working life has pretty much been dominated by Apple Computers and the Macintosh Operating System (I started out on system 6).

Since I went freelance and became my own boss, life without my laptop seems like an impossibility.

On one level, however, taking my laptop everywhere I go, is a strange thing.

Whether I am in Zurich (Switzerland), Bangkok or Chiang Mai or Ubon Rachathani or Koh Samui or Koh Samed (Thailand), or Penang or Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), or Vienna (Austria): I pretty much visit exactly the same websites, and listen to the same music on my beloved Sennheiser HD25 headphones.

While it is cool that I am able to do this, it is also weird… I travel half-way around the world, and am still confronted with tons of familiar stuff. When I sit in a cafe, listen to music, then take the headphones off, it is like stepping out of a dreamscape.

After saying that… today I recommend you check out Placebo. Fantastic band. Their latest album, “Meds”, is a must-have.

© Patrice Schneider. No reproduction without prior written consent.

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Technorati Tags: iPod, iBook, Laptop, Computer, Travels, Food For Thought

Came across British music magazine “The Word”.

The editors do a podcast that I find absolutely hilarious.

Two (sometimes three) of them sit together and discuss some of the artists/features that are in the current issue of Word magazine, and it is very obvious that they are enjoying themselves tremendously.

They all have been in the music press scene for quite some time, know the likes of Keith Richards and Mick Jagger personally, and therefore have some really hilarious anecdotes to share.

Highly recommended!

© Patrice Schneider. No reproduction without prior written consent.

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Technorati Tags: Music, Podcast, The Word Magazine, Music Magazine