We attended an Argentine Tango event "Fandango De Tango 2012" in Dallas last weekend. The event was over Thanksgiving weekend with 6 milongas, a show and many classes.
For a participant like me, it is an event. We only attended the Friday milonga, Saturday show and milonga. It was a mini-vacation for Thanksgiving weekend. But for the event promoters, it is a long process. They had been having the annual event for 13 years in Austin TX, and this year for the first time in Dallas, at fancy new Omni downtown hotel.
They invited high profile instructors/active performers for the event. The featured couples were Fabian and Lora, Carlos and Mayte, Guillermo and Fernanda, Diego and Carolina, and George and Jairelbhi. The performances were strong and the show was very entertaining. I love strong show tango.
Performers alone don't make a good event. There were serious Tango dancers and instructors in the milongas. In addition to folks from Texas, there were people from Colorado, Oklahoma (including us! hehe), Louisiana, DC, Canada etc. My wife was dancing with professional Ballet dancer (it was obvious he was no amateur). The people made the event real fun.
While watching the show, my mind was wondering. As it is, Argentine Tango is either something to watch (the Show Tango) or something to do in milonga (social dance). We do not have amateur show or contests, nor a large pool of show-capable dancers. In West Coast Swing dance circuit, they introduced amateur contest division years ago, and now it serves as a source or supply pool for gifted professionals and capable performers. I was wondering whether such contests or a system for bigger Tango community would ever thrive here.
Honestly, I personally don't like contests much, especially when it is for junior league, so to speak (sorry!). Besides, the appeal of the social Argentine Tango may not be very compatible with external Show Tango. They are different dances. But I can see the merits and demerits both. As I see it, Argentine Tango still maintains a somewhat cult-like status, and the dancer pool is relatively small compared with Salsa, Swing, or Ballroom. I guess what I was really wondering was whether there is any good way to promote this dance I love.
Sure, I already wrote a how-to book about Argentine Tango. But what else?
November 28, 2012
November 19, 2012
Life: Three types of roles in the game of life
Do you like game theory?
Let's say you can assume one of following three roles in the game of life.
(1) Enabler/helper/provider/giver
(2) Neutral/indifferent
(3) Naysayer/denier/refuser/taker
Which role would you assume to win the game?
Intuitively, role (1) Enabler/helper/provider/giver wins. And in real life, it seems (1) is winning, too, assuming you are enabling something positive (i.e. not enabling killing, robbing, destruction, or some sort of warfare).
Why? Because among the three the Enablers/helpers/providers/givers are the only people who generate something of value.
We live in a capitalistic society. The most primitive form of economy is, "you provide something (e.g. fish, meat), and get something (e.g. fruits, rice) in return". Later, money came in to mediate the process, and the lending and banking system complicated the appearance of the process. But the simplest form of economy remains the same, which is "give and take".
People who are Enablers/helpers/providers/givers are likely to get something in return. Others (the neutrals and naysayers) are not.
In the recent election, "jobs" were a big issue. But even when the overall economy is down, there are always some people who thrive. I bet they are the Enablers/helpers/providers/givers, who create something of value.
What would you enable/help/provide/give to others?
The Thanksgiving holiday is approaching. This is a good opportunity for me to ask myself whether I am more on the consumer's side or on the provider's side.
Let's say you can assume one of following three roles in the game of life.
(1) Enabler/helper/provider/giver
(2) Neutral/indifferent
(3) Naysayer/denier/refuser/taker
Which role would you assume to win the game?
Intuitively, role (1) Enabler/helper/provider/giver wins. And in real life, it seems (1) is winning, too, assuming you are enabling something positive (i.e. not enabling killing, robbing, destruction, or some sort of warfare).
Why? Because among the three the Enablers/helpers/providers/givers are the only people who generate something of value.
We live in a capitalistic society. The most primitive form of economy is, "you provide something (e.g. fish, meat), and get something (e.g. fruits, rice) in return". Later, money came in to mediate the process, and the lending and banking system complicated the appearance of the process. But the simplest form of economy remains the same, which is "give and take".
People who are Enablers/helpers/providers/givers are likely to get something in return. Others (the neutrals and naysayers) are not.
In the recent election, "jobs" were a big issue. But even when the overall economy is down, there are always some people who thrive. I bet they are the Enablers/helpers/providers/givers, who create something of value.
What would you enable/help/provide/give to others?
The Thanksgiving holiday is approaching. This is a good opportunity for me to ask myself whether I am more on the consumer's side or on the provider's side.
November 15, 2012
Dance: Learning a Dance is like Life process itself
Let's say you want to learn a dance. And you want to be good at it.
What should you do?
The very first thing you need is your will to do it.
Next, you need to learn the dance of your choice. The learning involves two aspects.
Aspect One: You need to learn what to do. It is knowledge aspect. A Dance is culturally defined and has certain rules. A Dance has the dance-specific ways of doing. You need instructions or study. As it concerns brain, smart ones have an advantage on this aspect.
Aspect Two: You need to move your body to achieve "the dance-specific ways of doing". Since your body usage is something of a habit, you want to develop good habit, which takes repetition and focus. It takes patience.
Since dance is a matter of using your body, some take it very personal. Your body is the only thing in this world that is inseparably connected to you. Sure, it is personal, because it is you.
It may not be all fun as you originally thought. But your enduring will or passion can get you through the learning process.
As I think above, I realized that how similar the dance learning process is to process of life itself.
We were born without knowing a thing about this world. We suck at everything at first. We were only equipped with instincts innate to our body.
As we grow, we form our perception and understanding for this world. Pretty much all of them are told by someone else still. Guidance, teaching, mentoring, all provides us directions or explanations. They can be right, or they can be wrong. Your growth can influence your perception, and it can help you to distinguish the rights and wrongs in what they say. Our will and passion fuel us to do something. Our knowledge and instruction (guidance) tell us what to do next. But we need to physically move through it in a very personal manner.
Thus life process is like learning a dance.
Eventually, only a handful comes up with something that expands our perception and understanding. They might be an equivalent of great dancers, or any other "Greats" who create something new. I don't think this is for everyone. You can settle where you feel comfortable, and it is your choice.
Really, when some of the "top dancers" do a cool move in their dance, soon there will be a lot of imitators, and the new move becomes a standard move in the dance. We can even identify the moves popular in 2005, 2006 etc, and who might have started the popularity.
Boy, dancing is so human.
What should you do?
The very first thing you need is your will to do it.
Next, you need to learn the dance of your choice. The learning involves two aspects.
Aspect One: You need to learn what to do. It is knowledge aspect. A Dance is culturally defined and has certain rules. A Dance has the dance-specific ways of doing. You need instructions or study. As it concerns brain, smart ones have an advantage on this aspect.
Aspect Two: You need to move your body to achieve "the dance-specific ways of doing". Since your body usage is something of a habit, you want to develop good habit, which takes repetition and focus. It takes patience.
Since dance is a matter of using your body, some take it very personal. Your body is the only thing in this world that is inseparably connected to you. Sure, it is personal, because it is you.
It may not be all fun as you originally thought. But your enduring will or passion can get you through the learning process.
As I think above, I realized that how similar the dance learning process is to process of life itself.
We were born without knowing a thing about this world. We suck at everything at first. We were only equipped with instincts innate to our body.
As we grow, we form our perception and understanding for this world. Pretty much all of them are told by someone else still. Guidance, teaching, mentoring, all provides us directions or explanations. They can be right, or they can be wrong. Your growth can influence your perception, and it can help you to distinguish the rights and wrongs in what they say. Our will and passion fuel us to do something. Our knowledge and instruction (guidance) tell us what to do next. But we need to physically move through it in a very personal manner.
Thus life process is like learning a dance.
Eventually, only a handful comes up with something that expands our perception and understanding. They might be an equivalent of great dancers, or any other "Greats" who create something new. I don't think this is for everyone. You can settle where you feel comfortable, and it is your choice.
Really, when some of the "top dancers" do a cool move in their dance, soon there will be a lot of imitators, and the new move becomes a standard move in the dance. We can even identify the moves popular in 2005, 2006 etc, and who might have started the popularity.
Boy, dancing is so human.
November 12, 2012
Life: 12 % of truth
The US Presidential Election is over. Political posts in Facebook are gone, mostly.
We saw many political ads on TV, many of them made by an ad company. According to an msn article, when someone else run fact check, the rate of the political TV ads telling truth was 12%.
12% of truth?! You are better off not believing anything they say on TV, and you are 88% right.
There are patterns in deception. Out of context, exaggeration, diminishing, focus on some other issue (red herring) , an argument without control or proper comparison, are common ones.
When what we see on TV are untrustworthy, what should we rely on in the future, like, for next election?
Let's say this trend will continue. We will see even more political "factually challenged" ads in the future. What can we do about it?
It's to guard our perception. I am imposing myself a couple of rules.
My number one defense is 'focus on the source' rule. It is not true nowadays that value of an idea does not change by who is saying it. The internet allows all people to speak up. Not all opinions are generated by great or fair minds. Too many are generated by manipulators. Too many are not even generated, but distributed by people robotically pass on lies. Too bad.
My number two defense is 'know yourself' rule. If I know I tend to lose my cool head when it comes to a particular issue (e.g. gun control, abortion, healthcare, welfare on the lazy, parasitic government programs, race issues, class issues, woman's rights, misogamy, gay marriage, student loans, housing bubble mess cleanup, bailout of big companies, foreign policies, war, military, tax, job ... anything), it helps to keep my head. You can come up with your position with your own head instead of following whatever some radical radio/TV guy says.
It comes down to "use your own head, and don't follow whatever others say."
My politically active Facebook friends. I have got enough data to judge you as a source. You can speak out as much as you want, but don't expect to be heard or taken seriously if you have been BSing too much. TV ad guys who make 12% truth ads. You, too.
We celebrated our Anniversary yesterday. It feels like one year just flew by. Amazing. During the year we published our book "Beginning Argentine Tango"; also did some other things together. We'll get some other projects done this year. Looking forward to it.
We saw many political ads on TV, many of them made by an ad company. According to an msn article, when someone else run fact check, the rate of the political TV ads telling truth was 12%.
12% of truth?! You are better off not believing anything they say on TV, and you are 88% right.
There are patterns in deception. Out of context, exaggeration, diminishing, focus on some other issue (red herring) , an argument without control or proper comparison, are common ones.
When what we see on TV are untrustworthy, what should we rely on in the future, like, for next election?
Let's say this trend will continue. We will see even more political "factually challenged" ads in the future. What can we do about it?
It's to guard our perception. I am imposing myself a couple of rules.
My number one defense is 'focus on the source' rule. It is not true nowadays that value of an idea does not change by who is saying it. The internet allows all people to speak up. Not all opinions are generated by great or fair minds. Too many are generated by manipulators. Too many are not even generated, but distributed by people robotically pass on lies. Too bad.
My number two defense is 'know yourself' rule. If I know I tend to lose my cool head when it comes to a particular issue (e.g. gun control, abortion, healthcare, welfare on the lazy, parasitic government programs, race issues, class issues, woman's rights, misogamy, gay marriage, student loans, housing bubble mess cleanup, bailout of big companies, foreign policies, war, military, tax, job ... anything), it helps to keep my head. You can come up with your position with your own head instead of following whatever some radical radio/TV guy says.
It comes down to "use your own head, and don't follow whatever others say."
My politically active Facebook friends. I have got enough data to judge you as a source. You can speak out as much as you want, but don't expect to be heard or taken seriously if you have been BSing too much. TV ad guys who make 12% truth ads. You, too.
We celebrated our Anniversary yesterday. It feels like one year just flew by. Amazing. During the year we published our book "Beginning Argentine Tango"; also did some other things together. We'll get some other projects done this year. Looking forward to it.
November 5, 2012
Life: $100 startup, Presidential election
Over weekend I was reading "The $100 startup". It was a good read. I'd give it 5 stars if I'd write a review.
In an episode, it was a product launch day, and the business owner was busy taking care of positive response of the market (lots of orders). Then there was a disgruntled customer Dan, who wanted to tell the business owner what was wrong with the product according to him. The busy business owner just refunded him and moved on without wasting his precious time in the product launch day on Dan's comment.
I found the episode funny. That Dan guy would be very unhappy even after he got refund.
Another episode in the $100 startup says that cheap customers are worse in terms of complaints. That sort of confirmed my belief.
Overall it was a good read. But I see the book is a how-to book, meaning if I don't do the things directed [ to start up a (micro) business], the book would mean little to me.
Fortunately the book gave me some usable project ideas. I will work on them.
The US Presidential election is here. It has been an ugly battle, unfortunately. What I see is a battle between aggregated interest groups. "Anyone whose wallet's about to get lighter (from The Dark Knight, 2008)" resists and screams.
The defense budget makes about a half of the government spending. People who benefit from the half (military-industrial complex) will not want to accept anything less. Education, healthcare, social security and other spending make another half. People benefit from the half (also big industries) will be unwilling to yield, either.
It is clear which candidate supports which segment more. It is also clear to me which candidate I am hoping to win. I do not fancy sending US military abroad, again. But some people do, and probably they make money or other form of satisfaction out of it.
There are many political issues. Above references are only a few examples. My position does not always align perfectly well with existing political package, so that I'd have to choose lesser evil after weighing on the issues. The voting is tomorrow. Let's see how it goes.
In an episode, it was a product launch day, and the business owner was busy taking care of positive response of the market (lots of orders). Then there was a disgruntled customer Dan, who wanted to tell the business owner what was wrong with the product according to him. The busy business owner just refunded him and moved on without wasting his precious time in the product launch day on Dan's comment.
I found the episode funny. That Dan guy would be very unhappy even after he got refund.
Another episode in the $100 startup says that cheap customers are worse in terms of complaints. That sort of confirmed my belief.
Overall it was a good read. But I see the book is a how-to book, meaning if I don't do the things directed [ to start up a (micro) business], the book would mean little to me.
Fortunately the book gave me some usable project ideas. I will work on them.
The US Presidential election is here. It has been an ugly battle, unfortunately. What I see is a battle between aggregated interest groups. "Anyone whose wallet's about to get lighter (from The Dark Knight, 2008)" resists and screams.
The defense budget makes about a half of the government spending. People who benefit from the half (military-industrial complex) will not want to accept anything less. Education, healthcare, social security and other spending make another half. People benefit from the half (also big industries) will be unwilling to yield, either.
It is clear which candidate supports which segment more. It is also clear to me which candidate I am hoping to win. I do not fancy sending US military abroad, again. But some people do, and probably they make money or other form of satisfaction out of it.
There are many political issues. Above references are only a few examples. My position does not always align perfectly well with existing political package, so that I'd have to choose lesser evil after weighing on the issues. The voting is tomorrow. Let's see how it goes.
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