The one special memory that I do have is a lovely dinner with someone dear to me. I thought at the time, that it would be an anniversary day to celebrate.  It still is, in a different way. I choose to see this day as an Invitation to the flavors of life. Flavorful food, rich emotions, openness, growth, communication and  celebration of new starts and longevity.

Coming across the exhibition “Whoes Shoes?” by Crissy Fields, made my energy shift and stop for reflection.

The exhibition by The Bridge Rail Foundation displayed shoes, used to belong to and representing the 1,558 lives lost in suicides from the Golden Gate Bridge during the past 75 years.

Some people come into our lives and quickly go, 

leaving footprints on our hearts, 

and we are never, ever the same.

If you were to step into one of these pairs of shoes, as if you got a second chance, what would you do to fully live your life? 

The memorial day is a day of remembrance of the men and women who have died in while serving in the U.S. military. How can you do that? I would suggest honoring them by doing what they can not do.

Invite peace. Invite life.

Johanna

In the presidio area, there are music stages, food trucks and happening all over the place. Walking along the water by Crissy Field, there is one particular area where the busyness suddenly stops. Rock Balancer Bill Dan from Sausalito and his apprentice(?), was performing their Rock Balancing Art.

Bill Dan showed me a picture from when he started 1994. He is the only one with the title of Rock Balancer. Travels the world. Exhibiting and doing work for corporations and events.

What is the key to creating this? I asked. “Oh this? Connection.”

Want to build something special? Make a connection. And make it last. 

It’s almost unreal. What would your answer have been to the question on Intel’s Facebook Page: Fake or Real?

It brings me to another question: Do you believe what you see, or do you see what you believe? What if the magical is actually real… in more situations than this. And you can make it happen.

Enjoy the day.

Johanna

I know what might be the next big thing. It’s recently been pitched in Sweden. And I won’t say more. Just yet. Can’t wait for it to be created and cross the boarders.

What is similar to American Idol, and is still going strong, is the Eurovision Song Contest. The difference is that the artists participating compete with a new original song, representing their country, voted by the countries and the populations. I wouldn’t say that it is as ingrained in our Swedish culture to watch the national Melodifestivalen, leading up the Eurovision Song Contest Final, as it is to watch Donald Duck 3pm Christmas Eve – but very close.

Here in the U.S., a Norwegian friend hosts an annual party the evening of the final with a replay of the event. Norway won 3 years ago. There are clear and strong instructions to stay out of Social Media and news, so that we don’t know who the winner is… With the new feature of starred Facebook friends, and automatic notifications of their updates on my phone, I didn’t succeed to avoid my cousins shout out real time in Sweden… but it was fun to watch.

There is a sweet rivalry going on in-between Sweden and Norway – but they didn’t deserve to fall that far down the list…

And here is the winning song, “Euphoria” with Loreen from Sweden.

Enjoy,

Johanna

Lyrics: Euphoria
Why, why can’t this moment last forevermore?
Tonight, tonight eternity’s an open door…
No, don’t ever stop doing the things you do.
Don’t go, in every breath I take I’m breathing you…
EuphoriaForever, ’till the end of time
From now on, only you and I
We’re going up-up-up-up-up-up-up
Euphoria An everlasting piece of art
A beating love within my heart
We’re going up-up-up-up-up-up-up
We are here, we’re all alone in our own Universe,
We are free, where everything’s allowed and love comes first,
Forever and ever together, we sail into infinity,
We’re higher and higher and higher, we’re reaching for divinity.
Euphoria
Forever, ’till the end of time
From now on, only you and I
We’re going up-up-up-up-up-up-up
Euphoria
An everlasting piece of art
A beating love within my heart
We’re going up-up-up-up-up-up-up
Forever we sail into infinity,
We’re higher, we’re reaching for divinity…
Euphoria, euphoria
We’re going up-up-up-up-up-up-up
Euphoria….An everlasting piece of art
A beating love within my heart
We’re going up-up-up-up-up-up-up
Euphoria, euphoria
We’re going up-up-up-up-up-up-up

I have had the pleasure to attend a few of the recent concerts at the historical art deco style Paramount Theatre, the home of the Oakland East Bay Symphony. The Season Grand Finale May 18, was outstanding. Such a great variety of high quality performances.

Pianist Taylor Eigsti and drummer Eric Harland performed their new piece, “Courage:” World Premiere for Jazz Piano, Drums & Orchestra A new work in tribute to the victims and survivors of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami.

Daniel Bernard Roumain, who blends his Haitian Roots with classical and techno textures, has played everywhere from Carnegie Hall to American Idol—where he performed with Lady Gaga— entertaining OEBS fans with his Voodoo Violin Concerto. [OUTSTANDING!]

Paula West, locally based, international Jazz Singer. 

Click to view slideshow.

At the Carnegie Hall in New York City this past weekend, the visiting gems were Helene Vik (Herringbone team member) and San Diego based singer Ylva Elias, performing Britten’s Spring Symphony, with La Jolla Symphony Chorus. (I just had to throw it in there – I think it is so cool! Proud friend and fan.)

My favorite though is the Voodoo Violin Concerto by Daniel Bernard Roumain below. What I remember from the Paramount Theatre and the Oakland East Bay Symphony was even better.

If you would be asked to do your Voodoo – what would you do? What is your unique skill and tallent, that would hypnotize your audience? What is the gem in you? Claim it, live it – share it. 

Enjoy,

Johanna

“Muuumsfilibabba. MUUUUMSFILIBABBA.”

“What is that?”

“That’s what Swedish people say when the food is really yummy.”

So true, so true. Although, it was a while ago I used that expression. Recently though, I had a yummy situation when I happened to pitch the originator of an idea, without knowing.

I attended an INFUSION/Berkeley Startup Cluster Lunch to hear Forbes reporter and author, Larry Downes, present on The Laws of Disruption. You can get his book: “The Laws of Disruption: Harnessing the New Forces that Govern Business and Life in the Digital Age” (Basic Books 2009)

After the presentation I was talking to the entrepreneur sitting in front of me. His company was focusing on green energy.”Oh – I have someone I should introduce you to. He is working on a [CONFIDENTIAL] for green solutions. It is a really good idea. I am sure you would want to… Hm – who was it… I was just told…. anyway – it will come back to me”.

The topic changes and he asks where I am from, and if I am involved in the Scandinavian Community. “YSC.org – yes, to some extent” I respond. “Do you know Ian?” “Yes! In fact, he stayed with me last week when he was here for a conference! – oh yes! He was the one who told me.” “Interesting – he is my partner.” “Ah – so it is your idea!?”

The day after I receive an email from him with the question: “what is the (funny) Swedish expression that means “delicious” or “very yummy”? It sounds similar to “ums-feely-bah-pa”…”

So now you have it. Mumsfilibababba!

Enjoy,

Johanna

Two risks about sharing your idea: 1) someone might take it and run with it, or 2) people will spred the news and you might not yet be prepared for the customers coming your way…

And by the way: How many of you are reading the actual physical news paper these days?

I’m realizing that there is a lot of Swedish music I haven’t kept up with… here is a two hour list of Swedish house music podcast, downloadable on iTunes.

Tiësto’s Club Life Podcast #257 – “Swedish Invasion” Edition.

And thanks Martin Johnson @yourbigpicture for sharing.

Enjoy,

Johanna

Johanna

The spiritually inspired global rhythms and tunes were very well received, “we hardly could sit still in the seats”, “it put a smile on my face and in my heart”, “so nice to hear such a different style of music” and “please come back”.

We had a wonderful time performing there. Even thought it was different compared to what usually is performed – it didn’t seem that foreign for some. The favorite overheard comment when we sang the zulu song Akekho Ofana No Jesu was: “Is that Småländska?” (a Swedish dialect).

Same same – and just a little different. I think music is something that connects with our hearts and speaks the same universal language.

Music can also help a message carry through. Singing a message can give it a different weight. I heard that loud a clear last week-end when participating in a “Mastery of Self Expression” workshop lead by actor [and much more] Larry Gilman from Los Angeles. “Why don’t you speak as you sing?”

On the topic of performance, art and heart – I came across another blog post today: bite-sized wisdom – Anderson (by Thoughts on theatre).

“If you practice an art, be proud of it and make it proud of you. It may break your heart, but it will fill your heart before it breaks it; it will make you a person in your own right.”
- Maxwell Anderson

The heart is a muscle. It rips and tears, but always heals, often making the muscle stronger than before. Take a risk this weekend and chase down something that just might fill your heart to its brim.

My suggested risk from the master is to SPEAK LOUDER. To LIVE MY LIFE OUTLOUD. And that is said to someone who has a social media communications business with the tag line: “Get heard for positive change”. Getting heard online vs. offline: same same – and just a little different…

So from now on I dare you to ask “what?” when I speak. And if you think that I talk abnormally loud – or if I am singing the message – or expressing more than usual… I am just practicing and playing around with the art of self expression. Off line. What is your risk, that might fill your heart to its brim?

Embracing the differences. HELLO WORLD!
Johanna
This is Akekho from our last performance:

To Johanna
May 8 2012 8 pm

I FIRMLY BELIEVE

(Uncensored without the New device called EyePhone)

I firmly believe
in resurrection, in life eternal, in righteousness in heaven and on earth!

I believe in our mission impossible
To help make us all to become one global family
And in
Shared resources,
Shared responsibilities,
Shared values and beliefs
And shared dreams!

I firmly believe in helping one another
To grow to our full potential
To blossom and carry fruit,
Good fruit that we all can share.

Life is too short not to set out from our comfort zones
In Life boats or Viking ships
to conquer new land
And make safe landings
where we rightly belong.

This is the time
To celebrate
New journeys
New beginnings
New spring seasons and summers
New harvests and seasonal fruits

Where do we go from here?
Where our dreams and visions take us
To the Holy Land of dreams fulfilled
To the dark corners of the world
to discover and explore

I firmly believe
In our mission to build bridges
To help people share one another’s wisdom and visions and dreams
And to help bringing together
All peoples to One Family!

I firmly believe
In the tech revolution
In Facebook
Twitter , Google and Wikipedia,
I believe in mobile phones, Skype
Androids and IPad.

Social networking can help us connect
But also the simple smile and invitations to conversations
As we walk our paths
or speed through
the highways

We need one another
One another’s eyes and ears
Hands and feet
Our bodies to hold onto
To caress and express
Our feelings
And create the worlds to come….

Karl Mettinger

Thank you Karl. I believe too.

Johanna

Have you thought of creating your own app sometime? What kind? For which platform? How about a mobile webb app?

If you do, there are a number of things to consider.There is an article in Mashable Tech that summarizes it well. These are the key questions covered:

8 Things to Know Before Building a Mobile App

1. What Does It Cost to Make an App?
2. What Should You Charge for Your App?
3. When Will You Get Paid?
4. How Do You Write Your iTunes Description?
5. What’s the Best Way to Beta Test
6. What Happens When You Get Featured on iTunes?
7. How Do You Get Press?
8. How Do You Avoid the Spam?

“If you’re new to the app game, prepare for some sticker shock. Making an app will cost you, at the very minimum, around $10,000. This is for a super-simple program — none of that fancy enterprise or social networking jibber-jabber. Even still, any app worth its weight in code will likely cost you closer to $20,000.
Unless you have some basic design skills, you’ll need to enlist the help of both a programmer and a designer. And these guys ain’t cheap — particularly programmers who, thanks to a pronounced shortage of qualified coders, can pretty much name their prices. (A suggestion for those low on funds: Find some creative way to come up with the cash. I funded my app through Airbnb income.)“

Now – ain’t that funny. Airbnb – I am apparently not alone on that one. That is exactly how I also met a super nice South African woman, a social media professional peer, with whome I yesterday had a drink and the opportunity to celebrate South Africa’s Freedom Day. 18 years since the first post-apartheid elections was held April 27, 1994. They were the first national elections in South Africa in which the franchise did not depend upon race.

14 years since I was in South Africa with “Project South Africa’98″, a student initiative by 13 students from the student association AIESEC at the Stockholm School of Economics in Stockholm, Sweden. We did a study on “Affirmative Action and Employment Equity in Corporate South Africa” and organized for 7 South African students to come for an internship in Sweden. A fantastic experience.

With that I just want to say: “We are all one” – that is also what a skull symbolizes to me. Therefore this and my first Instagram photo of a Swedish candy, to die for…

© Yebo Gogo! – Freedom! Raise your glasses! And no, it’s not an app – yet. But I just got an idea… Yebo Gogo – it means Yes Grandma!

See, how it’s all connected!? Or is it that you see what you are looking for? If that is the case – then look for the good stuff!

Enjoy,

Johanna

I can warmly recommend Airbnb – a great way to travel and meet local, great people.