Enchanting England

Enchanting England

Dee Hock on Control

For decades, Old Monkey and I have puzzled over the essential nature of desire for certainty and control, and where it originates. Why do we strive to structure institutions as though they were predictable, controllable machines, and labor to make people behave as though they were predictable cogs and wheels? It led to a fascinating question. What would it be like if one had perfect ability to command and control?

It would be necessary to know every thing and event that ever had happened, for how could one know what total control meant without infinite knowledge of past events and their consequences? It would require omniscience about the future; necessity to know with absolute certainty every thing that could ever be and every event that could ever occur, when and how it would happen, and every nuance of what its effects would be. One could never control that which could not be known until it happened. Mystery and surprise could not be tolerated.

Perfect knowledge of past, present, and future would not be enough to achieve perfect control. It would be necessary to know the thoughts, emotions, and desires of every human being: their hopes, joys, fears, and urges. And not just those other folks. It would be necessary to know everything self might ever feel, think, know, or experience, past, present, and future. Even beyond that, it would be necessary to be rid of all emotions, feelings, beliefs, and values, for such things catch us unaware and affect our behavior. Compassion must go, love must go, admiration, envy, desire, hate, nostalgia, hope - along with every aesthetic sensibility. If perfect control existed, couldn't emotions be called up and controlled at will? But how to know which to call up, to what degree, and why? Such encumbrances would be intolerable. Perfect control would require absolute knowledge of everything that came before every before, and everything to come after every after, and so on ad absurdum.
But all that reveals nothing. It is only conditions. It still leaves the question unanswered. What would it be like to be the possessor of total, infinite, absolute control? The first thought is that it would be akin to being a god, at least as gods are normally perceived. With more intense thought and a good deal more intuition, it hits like a bolt from the blue. It would be death. Absolute, perfect prediction and control is in the coffin. It requires complete denial of life.

Life is uncertainty, surprise, hate, wonder, speculation, love, joy, pity, pain, mystery, beauty, and a thousand other things we can't yet imagine. Life is not about controlling. It's not about getting. It's not about having. It's not about knowing. And it's not even about being. Life is eternal, perpetual becoming, or it is nothing. Becoming is not a thing to be known or controlled. It is a magnificent, mysterious odyssey to be experienced.

At bottom, desire to command and control is a deadly, destructive compulsion to rob self and others of the joys of living. Is it any wonder that a society whose worldviews, whose internal model of reality, is based on belief of the universe and all therein as machine should turn destructive? Is it any wonder that a society that worships the primacy of measurement, prediction, and control should result in destruction of the environment, maldistribution of wealth and power, mass destruction of species, the Holocaust, the hydrogen bomb, and countless other horrors? How could it be otherwise, when for centuries we have conditioned ourselves with ever more powerful notions of engineered solutions, domination, compelled behavior, and separable self-interest? Tyranny is tyranny no matter how petty, how well ratiopnalized, how unconscious, or how well intended. It is that to which we have persuaded ourselves for centuries, in thousands of subtle ways, day after day, month after month, year after year. It did not need to be so, ever. It need not be so now. It cannot be so forever.

What is important is not where you go, but who you are when you go.

It is the spirit that you should change and not the climate. Though you cross the immense ocean, your vices will follow you wherever you go… Why do you wonder that no journeys benefit you, if you always bring yourself with you?

Enjoy thinking of these beautiful words Seneka's.

Late start :)

I've been in the UK for half a year now... And 4 months in London...
How many weekends have I spent here? Not too many: Paris, Cologne, work...

Life is just cool: yesterday, the invitation to a barbecue from an old friend (we saw each other 10 years ago!!! at University in Germany), and our small world made us meet again!

Went to Brighton today (alone: a friend whom I would invite had to work, so I at least took a break from talking :))

Here some impressions from Brighton






Looks like waterworld, doesn't it?


Ice cold water ... brr......


And finally - the youngest street musician I've ever seen. Can you imagine this guy singing classic rock? It was gorgious :)))

Princes Square 70-71

I am not into gadgets... BUT

Can you imagine finding something practical and beautiful? Having the feeling you actually don't need it BUT.... :)))

Here the picture of the house where I live made with my new mobile phone ;)




 

Sightseeing in London

Dima in London... Mmmmhhhh... Eating out, HMS Belfast (it seems like all guys love marine and war museums! :), cabriolet tour through the sunny city...

What else do we need to feel happy? :)

 

Back...

I am sure will have more time next days - and will update my blog. So far the amazing link I found on the internet

http://www.droppingknowledge.org/bin/posts/focus/4201.page

and the homepage of my friends (if you go to pages of artists, you can listen to the music - for free :))

http://www.digitallmuzik.com

Back...

I am sure will have more time next days - and will update my blog. So far the amazing link I found on the internet

http://www.droppingknowledge.org/bin/posts/focus/4201.page

and the homepage of my friends (if you go to pages of artists, you can listen to the music - for free :))

http://www.digitallmuzik.com

Drop a Line

Budgets are done!!! Well almost - two more days to go...
Still excited about London (even if I don't really go out during the week days),
still not completely recovered from my flu (and bronchitis),
still plenty of things to do in the job...

Well then "auf zu neuen Heldentaten!" - "to the next heroic deeds!" :)

I LOVE LONDON!!!

Yes, I can tell it again and again I LOVE LONDON!!!!!!!!!

Not important: 2,5 hours commuting a (working) day, congestion charge, parking restrictions...

Important: Stop at Organic Food market, buy what your heart wants - just see what is fresh and what your eyes would recommend your stomach :), then stop at Paul at Holland Park Avenue and get a real French flute and croissant, go to Nicolas and get a demi Demoiselle..........

LIFE IS SO BEAUTIFUL SO BEAUTIFUL TO ME.....

I love you all!

Welcome in London!

After 2 rainy weeks in California (well we were there to learn at the end! :)), I am back in the UK. Still coughing, but it is getting better. Landed at 2:30, got on the bus to Reading at 3:40, sat in the car on my way to London (from Reading) at 5:00 p.m. - with all necessary things for 2 days! I moved into the apartment in London!

It is a great place, I love it!

0702 My new (again!) home

IT Council

What happens if you take Porsche FDs and IT Managers from all over the world to Madrid for 3 days? Here some pics
:)

2007-01 IT Council

Ayako...

Who would imagine that Russian and Japanese girls will meet in London? :)

(and that my friend will take me out :))))

La fête de réveillon

2006-12-31 New Year

Paris - Bourgogne - Paris...

Et voila - Paris part

2006-12-28ff Paris

Avec Dimitri, Sylvain, Marco, Victor et Francois

... and Bourgogne part

2006-12-30 Aloxe Corton

Avec Veronique et Michel

My New Warm Wonderful Place...

... I love it!

It has everything you need, it is beautiful, and it has the second bedroom and second bathroom (with a huge mirror and bath) - for the guests!

Christmas Eve

Here almost the whole family.

It was a wonderful Christmas night - we sang for my mom and for Bertram (Kristina and Melanie brought beautiful songs...), I had tears in my eyes... "Grandma loves Grandpa" - any other day, I would say it is kitschy - but this one evening it was just wonderful......

And after dinner, Melanie was busy with her Barbies (and did not allow me to change their clothes!!!), and Kristina, Regina and myself were busy putting together the huge Playmobil house with about 5 separate rooms (in the time my sisters put together 2 rooms each, I was still busy with the kitchen... And still had some pieces over - no idea where they belong... Does not matter - put everything in the fridge!!! :))

Merry X-MAS!!!

First, I met Alex. Unbelievable - it took us 5 months (last time, we saw each other on my birthday) to meet... in Cologne!

He promised me the rights for his biography in 50 years... He is one of the greatest people I have ever met!!!

Well, after coming back home, I had to put on this marvellous hut... Thank you mama for buying it for all of us! :) Why actually did my both sisters not put this staff on??? Like in childhood, the eldest has to go through... heehee

La répétition

Et voila, here is Francois :)

The concert will be great, I was amazed and loughed like crazy during the repetition last Saturday, in Francois house in Noisy!

No time to write more - tomorrow is the last working day. Move on Saturday... I am still wondering if and how all this gonna work - Ilona's chaos in perfection :)))

Anniversaire

It was a surprise... I love Sylvain, his help was great! Dimitri did not know anything about me coming to Paris on our anniversary :)







Landed in Paris on time @ 07:45 (yep, in the morning!!!). One (almost business) rdvz... Museum... Portrait Exhibition in Grand Palais (oh I love museums!!!) and a tattle with Marie-Josee. We chose different business schools, and the approaches are so different, and each of us is happy :) In between - readings on "Managing Oneself"... Dear, there are so many things to learn...





Had time until 6 p.m. The surprise was perfect, Dimitri did not anticipate anything. We had much much fun!

Mondial de l'Automobile 2006

If I was born as a guy, I would be a race driver! :)

...

Just felt like blog these...




 

Master Scotti in Stuttgart

A must for all my friends - my favorite wine bar in Stuttgart :)


 

Guinea Pig! ;o)

Would Master Scotti be proud of me? Even before my training plan was finished, I started...

Wednesday - 1 hr 10' run
Thursday - eating only (I brought cote de boeuf from Paris, and cooked it for my friends), dinner for six
Friday - 40' run
Saturday - swimming pool. 2x15' swimming and 1/2 hour of water gym... That was an experience! Well, it was not a usual swimming pool - a spa in Stuttgart (I saw no families with kids!!! And this is almost impossible in swimming!!!). Anyway, the gym is every hour, and you have to pay extra, and not where it is and so on bla bla... So a good old guy told me where to go how much to pay and the whole procedure. I did. And then I came back to the pool. And... Oh my God! All others were far over 60! So welcome to the 70+ club Ilona! And the old nice guy who explained me everythig before kept staring at me and smiling! Well grandpa :))) I highly appreciate... OK, enough!
Sunday (today) - 1/2 hr swimming (without break!). Before, it took me about 5 minutes to get into this cool prickeling mineral water (22 degrees). And (if it' truth that the pool has 70 meters) I did 1,5 km!!! gggggggggg

Les Vacances

I had whole week of vacation - well "out of office" would be more precise...

No fun going to Normandie if it is raining... So we decided to visit my very good very old friend Michel - and his cave...

Really important things...

... Forget all the exercises, all the exams - I spent three hours (no I lie - 2hrs 55 mins) with Tom - and he was allowed to experiment! Doesn't look that bad, what do you think?

Thousand kisses to Tom!

P.S. No idea what Tom is doing? Look at my hair and guess!!!

Birthday Part 2 - Geburtstag

Wednesday, July 26, 2004

A small celebration in my favorite coctail bar in Stuttgart (the best!!!)

Birthday Part1 - Anniversaire

Monday, July 24, 2006

Feel like writing again - I am in the train for over 5 hours now - and hope to get to Stuttgart close after midnight.

The battery of my notebook was empty after 2 hours, so after cleaning up my address book on the phone (madamme perfectioniste) and being bored for a while doing nothing, I discovered my old travel notes (Vietnam, last summer) on the phone. Wow, was cooooool!!! I felt like if it was yesterday, funny funny! OK before the battery of my phone is empty :))) It was (and going to be by the way) the most crazy birthday I've ever had :) First, I changed the whole planning at least three times (God thanks you are allowed to do such things in private life *hihi*). Stuttgart or Paris and when and how... Anyway, I went for partying in Paris on 24th (actually 23d night - the only possible) and Stuttgart on 25th and 26th....

Saturday, 22nd...

42 degrees in Paris, Dimitri decided to go to his mom's place in Noisy... Idyllic place, and we made the evening a little bit crazy - our dinner was a paella and chicken wings from supermarket :))))...

He looked a bit surprised as I told him I must attend a call at 5 on Sunday, but he took it as a gentleman and the only thing I had to "cook" for my Birthday party was the fruit salad :).


Sunday, 23d...

Oh it was "marvelous" (as my French friends would say). We were at Sylvain's mom's place (a huge flat with the huge garden, middle in Paris!) and just 8:

Marco was there already as we arrived. His dark eyes looked tired, his teint almost white - he definitely spent too many hours in front of the computer - he anyway was at his notebook as we left on Saturday and was almost in same position yesterday (I don't want to make assumptions if he worked or skyped ;)) 3 days beard made him look a little bit dangerous :)

Stephan came very punctually :)... Cut his hair b'cause of the job... And asked me again how I prefer his hair. My answer was same (long: then he looks like a paintist... I assume his boss has something against a pilot of a private jet looking like an artist).

Alex - the eldest friend of Dimitri... A tough woman... "La perfection de tort n'exstait pas" - hummm... I definitely did my best to follow the discussion :). She came from Nice for the weekend. Our young sweet Marco (he's only 27) looked charmed.

Ana and Bruno, I think they know me longest (well except Sylvain). Relaxed, with the beautiful teint after a week vacation... Was great to see them again, and we quickly changed the sitting order (established a "girl's corner" with Alex, even if it didn't last long ;o)) I will wear their present from now on.

Sylvain came as last... His birthday present was a "Concert pour Ilona"... V e r y romantical, so great: Sylvain at the piano, we chose the songs (the start was "Le petit Chauvier", and the end - my v e r y favorite one "Le Mysogyne"). We all were singing with him (even Alex, although she never heard the songs before, and even me who doesn't understand the half of the text :)) Oh Augenblick, verweile... Close past 2 a.m., we went home...

Of course same way as we came - by scooter. Brrrr!!!... Feel cold just thinking of that!..

July 17th...

Thursday, July 20, 2006

... and Great Britain went live!

1. Our days...
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs :) - please count! *hihi*















2. Our nights...















3. THE day... After conference call and the "Go" on Sunday, the 16th - our first meal that we did not buy at Sainsburry's after 11 p.m.

... Still exhausted...

Sunday, July 09, 2006

...Ragnar's wedding was great! Guys from Miami came to a village close to Frankfurt to celebrate!!! COOOOOL!!!

It took us 3 hours to get there - so I read a case, on a 3hrs way back, worked on my computer...

Felt asleep somewhen after midnight.

Slept out the first time since begin of June - I didn't put on the alarm clock and had almost 8 hrs sleep!!! Is this not gorgeous? ;o))))

Here finally some pics from Barcelona (it was the opening coctail :))