WORKS IN PROGRESS
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind
(August 3 - xxx, 2024) Sapiens has been a runaway bestseller in the NY Times and launched Yuval Noah Harari as one of the world's most sought-after provocative thinkers. When I first stumbled into Yuval Harari's presentation about man creating fiction from thin air and then lives his life according to the dictates of that fiction, I was hooked. Finally, I get to read his book...more »»
Taking a Free Online A.I. Course
(May 18, 2024) I was having lunch with Kat when she deliberated on the many ways AI is more relevant and compelling - including having AI be the 'teacher' for home-schooled kids. I was blown away. I thought I was already proficient with AI, but now I realized I had to level-up my game. Where to start? From the bottom - what is AI?...more »»
Yoga Upanishad
(December 12, 2023) The Yoga Upanishad is a collection of ancient philosophical Hindu text that talks about the principles and practice of yoga - meditation, breath control, and subtle energy channels...more »»
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
(November 30, 2023) Benjamin Franklin became a recurring name thrown at me. First, while watching an interview of billionaire Charlie Munger, he said he kept 2 busts in his home of 2 people he admired the most - Benjamin Franklin and Lee Kuan Yew. On a '19 Recommended Books to Read in your Lifetime', I saw Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography. And while watching the American Revolution, Benjamin loomed larger than life. While watching an interview of celebrated author Walter Isaacson who was promoting his recent book about Elon Musk, I learned that he also authored a Benjamin Franklin biography! In my world-view of a benevolent universe blazing a path for me, this is a strong statement that I should roll up my sleeves and get to know Benjamin Franklin in an intimate way - by reading his autobiography...more »»
Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
(Aug 8-???, 2023) The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali have been the classic reference and standard in the practice of Raja Yoga - yoga of the mind. Beyond asana, this book underscores the importance of ethics/morality (Yama/Niyama) and meditation. In this book, Sri Swami Satchidananda gives his commentary...more »»
The Complete Book of Vinyasa Yoga by Srivatsa Ramaswami
(datedate) Srivatsa Ramaswami was a direct one-on-one student of the legendary Tirumalai Krishnamacharya for 33 years. His experience with the Master encompassed yogic elements of asana, breathing, mindfulness, and therapy. With so many neo-yoga versions by self-styled revisionists nowadays, this practice takes us back to the source. A true gem!....more »»
2024: A Year in Review
(Dec 31, 2024) 2024 started out with me wanting to leave Siquijor for interaction and stimulation in a small city (Cebu? Dumaguete? Bacolod? Iloilo?) - one year in an isolated island living a monk's life was enough.....more »»
Bangkok with $19
(Dec 8-11, 2018) Arriving Bangkok from DaNang with just $19, first thing was to get free lodging and pawn my GPS. Now with $119, I could prepare for my trip north to a forest monastery for a 10-day meditation retreat....more »»
Globe Sim
(October 13, 2024 Tagbilaran, Bohol, Philippines) Smart wifi signal is weak where I stay so I bought a P59 Globe sim card with a free 5-GB promo for 3 days. When I installed the sim card, I was not prompted to activate any promo. I didn't know what to do. I went back to the store and asked - they didn't know. I asked my neighbors - they didn't know. I was then forced to look for the Globe office and ask. I found it - but they didn't know as well. WTF??? The Globe office gave excuses that they were just a distribution point. One industrious employee called up HQ and asked their technical guy. It was only then that the promo was activated. Whoa! WTF was that? So what happened to everyone else who bought a Globe sim with a free promo? They just shrugged it away?
making carrot bread
...more Food Odyssey from October
Yoga $10 Pay-Videos 
Generations: Baby Boomers to Gen Alpha
(November 4, 2024) I'm a Baby Boomer. With so many generational names being thrown around describing how they function and shape society, I needed a clearer map of this Peoplescape. I asked AI and referred to other podcasts....more »»
Christopher Langan: 200 I.Q.
(November 3, 2024) If someone who worked as a ranch hand, laborer, and bouncer starts talking about his version of the construent essence of reality, what might make you believe him? If his IQ was 200 - the highest ever recorded! Christopher Langan is heralded as the smartest man in the world - and he's still alive today....more »»
Oct Food: FOMO, Pad Thai, Carrot Bread, Roasted Peanuts, Pizza Dough, Pizza, Taho
(October 2024) Aside from my usual staples (pizza, bread), I've added my flare for taho, Pad Thai and roasted peanuts for my trail mix....more »»
Segue to Cebu
(October 26-28, 2024) I had no business in Cebu, but since I was passing through Cebu from Ormoc enroute to Tagbilaran, why not stay a few days? Cebu is always good for a segue anyway....more »»
Exploring Ormoc, Leyte
(Oct 19-25, 2024) After LyFest, I stayed a few more days in Ormoc exploring the scene for a possible relocation from Tagbilaran. Decent rental units ranged from P8-12k...a litte too rich for me....more »»
Icebath at Sadhana Wellness
(October 24, 2024) Since I mentioned to Annie that I used to conduct icebaths in Thailand, she asked for an icebath class before I head out home. Of course I said YES!...more »»
Splashing at Lake Danao, Ormoc
(October 20, 2024) A day after LyFest, the organizers took us teachers for a day of splashing at Lake Danao on a floating cottage. Whoa!...more »»
Leyte Yoga Festival
(October 19, 2024) The Leyte Yoga Festival is already is on its 4th year, and the organizing group, Soulfulnest Yoga Ormoc, whose members I met at the Leyte Yoga Festival, invited me to be a guest teacher. I'll be conducting a workshop-type lecture/demo/class on Siddhi Activation - my core practice. I say YES to life....more »»
65 Years Old
(October 16, 2024) Now, I am officially at the traditional age of retirement, I have to redefine what it means to be 65. When I was in high school, I thought people this age become useless to society and just await the long-drawn outset of death. Boy, was I wrong....more »»
First Contact (2016)
(October 13, 2024) I've first stumbled upon Bashar before this film so I knew what to expect. This film is essentially a summary of what he had been saying all along through the years Darryl Anka has been channeling Bashar. Again, it doesn't matter to me who is talking but what the message is. And the message is always spot on given my life experience, and when the message is not verifiable, it still make sense to an open mind....more »»
US Presidential Election
(October 8, 2024) Lately, I had been listening to podcasts by great personalities and brilliant minds that have captured the public domain. With the US presidential elections less than 2 months away, their talks have all been funneled on the 'where we are' and 'what ifs' of the outcome. It seems like this is no ordinary election - more like existential Showdown at OK Corral where not only the US, geopolitics, the world and lives hang in the balance. Some even claim that this could be the last democratic election that is to take place in the US - freedom vs tyranny...more »»
Lexicon for the New Zeitgeist
(October 4, 2024) While listening to popular podcasts, I keep stumbling upon new words that describe this polarized Zeitgeist. Finally, I had to ask ChatGPT all these new words that have gained traction in this tumultous social order (given the forthcoming US presidential election)....more »»
Say What?
(October 2, 2024) Every once in a while, I come across a podcast between 2 intellectuals whose conversation I do not comprehend. It simply goes over my head. But it doesn't matter. Like opera or a Gregorian chant, you don't understand what's being said, but it's still music to your ears....more »»
Sunrise Yoga at Bantawan, Old Airport
(September 2024) On my 4 am alarm, I do Trataka before leaving the house. When I can help it, I begin my practice at the Bantawan Old Airport at 5 am - this gives me more time until the sun begins to hurt. More cardio than before with rope skipping. After the practice, I listen to noteworthy podcasts. September has been a month of intense learning...more »»
Steve Jobs
(Aug 6 - Sep 26, 2024) The book was released Jan 1, 2011 and became a bestseller. 10 months later, Steve Jobs was dead. The book became iconic and Walter Isaacson became the biographical guru of the age. I'm not exactly a Jobs fan, but I wanted to read this book by my favorite author....more »» ARCHIVE:
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