GMO companies you should not risk your health with!

GMO has been shown to cause numerous malformations in your body, leading to tumors and cancers. There has been no positive research about GMO unless funded by the very companies who develop it. Stay away from Monsanto and BASF - the monsters in GMO world, claiming 'to feed the world', relying instead on heavy propaganda, false advertisement and lobbying.
Fight the fight any way you choose. Here are companies that secretly use GMO and poison you on the sly:

Неизживяно детство

От 10-годишен, когато за пръв път усетих тръпката да стъпя на нестабилната дъска на скейтборда се влюбих в усещането. Дълго след това мечтаех да си имам свое чудо на колелца, но когато баща ми отиде в командировка в Германия, вместо със скейт, се върна с касетофон...и аз се захванах с музика.

Мечтата ми да карам скейт, обаче не увяхна! За жалост, баща ми се върна със скейт от командировката в Русия. Това означаваше, че години наред се мъчих с някакво жалко подобие на скейт, докато момчетата пред ФК във Варна караха специалните дъски с космически форми и страхотни рисунки.

Така, когато заводът за перални Перла нещо прищрака и взе да прави грозни, но по-големи от руските скейтове, аз си събрах парите от стипендиите и дадох 84лв за поредния си грозен и нефункционален скейтборд.

По-късно пък "Леско" започнаха да правян някои по-интересни дъски и аз си откраднах почти без да искам една от техните дъски на едно скейт състезание. Отново формата, теглото, картинките и размера на скейта ми бяха презримо-невдъхновяващи.

И така, един слънчев ден, в "малката спортна зала" отвориха скейт-щанд. Бях зашеметен! Не можех да повярвам на очите си! Там продаваха най-изящните и интересни скейтове от списанията и филмите!...по 500лв дъската. "На старите цени". Не е лесно да сравня цените днес, но знам, че хленчих на дядо си, който току-що беше продал камиона си - Мерцедес- с който работеше за 4000лв. Това означава, че 8 скейта се равняваха на един камион "Мерцедес". Ходи, че смятай.

Но най-после си имах страхотен невероятен скейт, който като че ли повече пазех отколкото да карам - та така и не станах добър в спорта. Е, сега когато 'порастнах', най-после можах да зарадвам детето в мен и да го затрупам с моделите, които мечтаех като малък. Само че сега вече ги разглеждаме с моето дете и си разказваме историйки за дракони, скелети и древни скейтъри...

Мечтите се сбъдват...понякога късничко, но е по-добре от никога!

 

Recycle - home edition

 The more I become aware of my own and my family's 'environmental footprint', the more I freak out about the amount of waste we all must burden our world with...every single day. Starting from a single bread loaf that for some reason has to ALWAYS come in a plastic package of some sort these days (more sanitary, right?), going through all the old computers (please wait a couple of days and you'll see how much e-waste we captured back in Vegas one day), clothes and...furniture. Can you imagine the toll of one single person and one single household on our fragile world? And what about all of us? What about cars, fuel, and...whims. 'Honey, I don't like this couch any more. We should buy a new one.' Yes, sometimes you'll sell the old one off but often you might just toss it on the road-side and wait for the garbage truck to pick it up.

Well, coming to a whole new country, not only did we have a concern about how much money to spend on all the new stuff we had to buy, but also we were mindful of how much more garbage we were going to generate. Additionally, having spent a couple of years in the 'old world' and...losing some dear to us people from our ancestors, we came to appreciate older stuff that much more. Rarely nowadays does a 'modern home' emit as much warmth and home-y-ness as the history of the past. So I present to you some of our home, which we furnished from scratch for under $1000 (which includes a fridge and a washing machine). This is what we now call home...

Couches are $50 each. Table is a box for $5.
Small table is off the road-side with a wine box on top. Rug is a blanket/throw.

Table with chairs - $25 for all. Small table in the back is a vintage table off an oooold house - next to free.
Armchair as well. Stand on the left is $30-new.
Stereo is $30 from a total Australian white trash. Candle-holder is $3!
Tray with tea-pot was $10 from a garage sale. It's actually silver with a stamp! 

Kids' labour is free :)

I had to have this plate! It's awesome for serving sushi.

This stand is totally DIY made from pallets, purchased second-hand.

Sami's tent is new. The carpet we brought from the UK (crazy).
The fire-truck was $5 (new but reduced by mistake at the store).
And the $20 bed, alkA sanded down and re-painted.

This vase was super expensive but we loved it too much.

Balcony furniture was a gift.

Here's our exceptional late 1920's (top right sticker says 14-3-31)
French box-suitcase for which I talked a woman down from $50 to $10.
It has customs stamps from Canada, France, Alger, Scotland and...ended up in Australia.

Vases were next to free. The pot-holder ladder on the balcony was at the road-side.

Reuse! Reduce! Relove! Reenjoy!
Live with history!

We've been waiting for you!

Do you like the world around you?

Happy with political life? With your 'freedoms'? With your credit cards? With your mortgage? With your job? With the environment? With global warming? With compulsory vaccination? With the schools? With free access to murder weapons in the hands of mass-murderers? With oil? With non-renewable energy? With animals suffering...should I go on?

ARE YOU FUCKING HAPPY WITH THE WORLD AROUND YOU???

NO?

And you ask yourself but what the hell can i do (or should I have written YOU with a capital I?) ? I am a mere noone. A snowflake in the storm, a cog in a giant machine...a sheep in the herd. Yes. Ask a mathematician, a scientist, a professor: "What are my chances to change the world? To rise against the injustice, to speak my voice, to raise awareness, to wake up the ones around me and to ACT!?".

The scholar will probably answer with a standard "ratio" answer: "You have a better chance at being hit by a lightening or drowning in a puddle than changing the world" And they may be scientifically right.

BUT WAIT!

A lightening has just as little chance of reaching you as you do of reaching it and yet, somehow people die by that. The poor lightening could have hit anywhere else...five meters behind you but somehow people get hit! A drop in the puddle may have been nothing just a second ago but now it is THE LAST DROP to fill your lungs one bit too far so that you can drown and die!

And that lightening, my friend, that drop fulfilled its destiny! It didn't complain that it was just a drop in the puddle. DID YOU?

I see. You are a firm believer in the 'ratios'. You think that the chances are too slim for you to make a difference. Just about 1: 1 000 000 000 000 000. Right?

Well, let me tell you (or remind you) something I have written before:

Ever heard the story how coincidentally your grandfather noticed your grandma with the corner of his eye? That same day he didn't feel like going out and yet he did? That time he crossed the street and a car broke his leg, so the nurse in the hospital became his wife? And then...how they didn't want a kid, or couldn't have a kid but yet miraculously your ma or dad were born? And then how them two went by a great ridiculously small chance to the same school, job, movie theater or summer camp and ended up marrying?

And then...how the HELL!? did you come out? By chance? Not having been planned? Or did they plan you but wanted a boy or a girl instead?

Oh, it gets really interesting here...have you ever heard, seen or read about what a warzone it is in the uterus? About the millions of rivals you had? About the hostile environment there? About the millions of fucking chances you had to die between that day and TODAY?

...

So tell me now, my friend...what was your chance to be here and reading this right now? What is the reason why you ARE reading it??? Is it a pure coincidence in-between your facebook updates? Is it a meaningless breakfast read? OR IS THIS THE MESSAGE YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR?

WHAT IS THE CHANCE THAT YOU ARE HERE IN THIS VERY MOMENT, READING THIS VERY MESSAGE?!

Let me answer that for you: THIS is the chance - 1: 1 000 000 000 000 000!

Have you got your answer now?

So go out there! Read, learn, act, choose wisely, make decisions, voice opinions, influence those around you, ignore petty attempts of sceptics to stop you, revolt, participate, research, invite, educate, clean, write, do, study, publish, raise awareness, recycle to death, provoke, hold your ground, be empowered, DO SOMETHING!

Just stop lying in your miserable shit-puddle, whining you are a snowflake in the storm! Because the storm, and your favorite snowboard resort is made of nothing more and nothing less but UNIQUE and beautiful snowflakes!

YOU ARE A MIRACLE, MY FRIEND! NOW SPREAD YOUR MESSAGE! AND TELL EVERYONE HOW MUCH THEY MATTER IN CHANGING THE WORLD TO A PLACE WE COULD ALL LIVE IN! YOU ARE NO COINCIDENCE! YOU ARE HERE FOR A REASON! AND THAT REASON IS TO LEAVE A FOOTPRINT AND TO BE THAT LAST DROP!

NOW GO! CHANGE THE WORLD! IT'S WAITED TOO LONG...FOR YOU!

Are we capable of making a difference in the world?

I spoke to Green Peace activists today. One of them - a girl - actually started crying. 'Nobody cares! I tried stopping and talking to so many people! I don't ask them for anything, just want them to know...the Great Barrier Reef could be devastated and nobody cares.'

I felt so bad. I was also in a hurry but could not believe that no one EVER seems to care about the important things in life. We are all digging deep in our own holes, looking down, and letting life pass us by while at the same time politicians do with us and our world whatever they want.

Well, I decided to try and make a difference. This here is my attempt to fight the world. So, join me! Prove to me that it's possible! That our voices CAN be heard!

Read through the links, watch the videos, sign my petition and spread the word! Let's make it happen! And if we lose this battle, I am ready to give up and denounce humanity one last time.

The Great Barrier Reef is in danger! Sign my petition here!

READ AND WATCH THIS

AND THIS

Is Your Diet...CRUEL?

Buried in problems, politics, poverty, disasters or mere oblivion we forget to look around and land a hand to those around us. What's left for the other inhabitants of our planet. NO time left! Everyone for himself.

I remember watching this film years ago, called Earthlings. It's narrated by none other than Joaquin Phoenix. I was devastated. But time goes by and we tend to forget. So here is a good reminder. I know I did what I could. I still learn and I still err. But I know one thing for sure. Doing nothing is not an option. So, dear friends, this is the painful truth. I loaded it to my dropbox especially for you. Watch it, think about it, spread the word and become less egocentric and more compassionate. It doesn't take much!

Watch or download the movie here!

Stay cruelty-free, positive, healthy and informed! And if you do want to be healthy and cruelty-free, here's a piece of information that can help you eat better.

 

Our Daily Poison

Define food!

Don't do it for me, do it for yourself. What is the reason we shop, cook, taste, learn, socialise, dine, etc.? No matter how you put it, food is our source of energy. Therefore, food = life. Easy enough, as No food = No life!

But something we all forget from time to time is that food is an external object that we allow into our body. Often without much thought, we take a strawberry, a biscuit or a peanut and faithfully inject it into our own core. And we do it on the basis of two main aspects of blind faith: 1. That what we put in our mouth is actually FOOD (meaning a source of energy, rather than a substance to fill our stomachs and fool us that we're not hungry any more) and 2. That IF it is harmful in a way, or contains harmful substances, our body will be clever enough to get rid of what hurts us and only keep the good stuff.

But we are often wrong in both beliefs together. And the result is: disease. And unfortunately today it is SO difficult to stay away from disease, that every single one of us knows or loves somebody that is suffering or dying from incurable diseases. What happened with cancer? I distinctly remember how terrified I was of AIDS. Now all of a sudden, I don't hear about it anymore. Somehow it's under control? All of a sudden people live with it? But whatever happened with cancer? Have you ever been more exposed to news of cancer than today? It's everywhere I turn. I've lost friends and I've lost relatives. And I know that when I was growing up it just wasn't that common!!!

I myself explain it to a large portion with one thing: Our Daily Poison! And whilst I may add stress to the list of daily poisons, I may say that we have less control over stress but can have much more control over what we put in our bodies.

Why is it that McDonalds hamburgers last forever? Did you know? Why is it that I bought baby spinach two weeks ago and forgot about it in my fridge and today it was perfectly fresh, crispy and not a single leaf had gone bad? Why do tomatoes seem to go for a month before they go bad? And lettuce? And why do I get such a powerful stomach-ache every time I eat (accidently) Chinese garlic? If you still don't know what I'm saying is it's that they are simply not food! They are poisonous enough that no other creature (fungus, microbes, or pests while in the field) would touch them!

Why is there aluminium in drinking water? Why is fluoride added to drinking water and toothpaste when it's detrimental to health? (and don't try and get picky with me on the links I post here, because I don't wanna load you with scientific papers) Why do they want to vaccinate babies IN UTERO??? This is not a joke! I have received an e-mail inviting me to a seminar, discussing exactly that!

You get my point. And I'm afraid we are caught in a trap. Genetically modified corn, meat and eggs stuffed with antibiotics (not to even mention the suffering and torture animals have to endure before they are slaughtered), fish full of poisonous deadly radioactive mercury (in addition to the devastation of marine life...do you eat tuna for example? WATCH The End of the Line - type the name in the search box here and watch the movie!!! Please do it!

I know, my friends, there is no escape...but what I suggest you do is 1. Educate yourself on those harms and be mindful when you make your choices. If not for yourselves, then at least for your children. And 2. TRY! Buy organic whenever you can, because drugs are more expensive down the line. Avoid anything plastic, as much as possible! Bags, boxes, bottles! And 3. Whenever you have the opportunity, voice your opinion! Share, educate others, participate in debates, in elections, in policy formations or merely support the ones who do. This is all we can do in order to try and stay healthy to the best of our ability. Or else, we doom ourselves and our children to disease and misery. If not today, then surely 20 years down the line. And as many of you may not know what it's like in a care clinic for elderly, some day I'll tell you about my experience of a 12-hour night shift as a nurse in such a unit. I gotta tell you...it made me think.

Stay healthy and think about this next time you choose where to buy your food. Will it be your food or your poison!?

Look at all this color!

Sami and I went for all organic today. He looooved the fruits! I've never seen him want to eat more fruit!

I read in the "China Study" that colors in food mean antioxidants and mean youth and health! Yum!

Real Life Photography

In my photography lately I have decided to take a new approach: Simplicity. I rarely arrange, instagram, crop, or exaggerate my photos. With everyone going for glamour, effect and quality lately, I am getting sick and tired of all the magazine-cover imitation over-arranged photos. Honestly, some blogs out there disgust me with their pretence and attitude! I am even convinced that albeit better cameras might be nice, they are not necessary. I am doing just fine with our good old Panasonic Lumix and don't feel like I need anything more yet. Additionally, Brisbane offers such a plethora of colors and shapes that there is nothing more I could ask for.

Simplicity is true beauty! So shed your Instragrams, Photoshops, and Picnics and enjoy the simple pleasures of real life without pretence! And here is one more advice: find the beauty in the detail!

The good life...

Going back to basics. Slowing down the pace. Enjoyong the simple things. Focusing on here and now. Forgetting anger and anguish from the past. Abandoning planning and anticipation. Being honest with ourselves. Doing a little something as simple as a beer in a pub with the one you love.

THIS REALLY HELPS YOU REALIZE. IT'S NOW! IT'S HERE! THIS IS THE GOOD LIFE!

LIVE IT!

Pain Vs. Suffering

Life inevitably throws harsh lessons at us. And oftentimes our hearts are filled with pain. As we live by our own, as well as the social pressure that life has to always be glamorous. But the truth is that life often sucks. And sometimes it kicks us hard just when we're down. Then we feel pain.

And here comes the first choice: to fight it, deny it and resent it. Or, to simply accept it and embody the wisdom that this too shall pass.

And then, we have the second choice: to overcome the pain by accepting it and letting it run its course, or to perpetuate it into suffering. Then it's our mind, working against us, long after the last life-lesson is over.

So, I'll try to accept the pain and possibly learn to tolerate it. And then, I'll try to spare myself from suffering, as I know I'm then my only true savior or my own worst enemy.

*these ideas come from what I find to be the most inspiring psychotherapy - mindfulness CBT.

What you do, comes back to you!

Just as I was telling a friend that I've almost had it up to here with Manchester and because of this, the UK is really starting to look like a lost cause, he invited us to live in his house in London in April, while he is on vacation!

This would have been a total shock, had we not let him and his girlfriend live in our flat in Manchester last year. It just so happened that while we were conquering France and Spain, they were moving from Australia to the UK. We were quite nervous to let strangers into our apartment, as we had only met them through the University network, but then we remembered that we pretty much own nothing that can be stolen, so we had little to lose and friends to gain... well, I guess good deeds do come back to you. So, do something nice today. Don't ask for payback. Because you wouldn't just be doing it for someone - you'll do it for yourself.

And now you'll get to see some more nice pictures like this one ;-)

Searching

In these times of constant mental anguish and turmoil, fueled by the fear of what's to come, I again am in a desperate need and search of sources of serenity.

In myself I have only found one answer to the riddle of self-blame and desperation - creativity.

 I wish to myself and to you new inspirations, new ideas and the bliss of attaining fulfillment through creativity. The more I experience, the more I realize that this, along with love is the only true meaning of life and happiness.

My 2011 Gratitude List

Gratitude is a major key to one of the locks of the seemingly impenetrable door to happiness.
Therefore, alkA and I urged each-other to focus on the positives of the past year in order to appreciate life a bit more in the cold, short, rainy, even lonely winter Manchester days.

So, here's what defines 2011 for me:

I am now a Master of Research in Psychology - albeit a boring-sounding degree, I am very proud of it as well as of my Merit award of the course. Now I feel that I can finally be a bit more appreciated for what I know and what I do and not merely for how well I bow and kiss ass as it was with my U.S. job.

I have fallen deeper and deeper in love with my family core! - the three of us are the absolute heart of my life. No job, no band, no place in the world, no reward is ever more important than US. However difficult it may be for me to remember it in times of hardship, this is the ultimate truth. I would absolutely and without a doubt give my life for my alkA and Sami. And even though that's not just been true for this year, it has now solidified with yet another year.

We traveled and than traveled some more. This year alone we have been in a total of 5 countries! And it still feels like it wasn't enough. I realized that traveling is absolutely my favorite occupation. If I could travel and write, that would be it for me!
So, we were in Bulgaria twice;
in the UK we explored Liverpool, York, London and even the amazing Lake District, for which I will soon write you more.
In September we went to Spain, France and Monaco and I have been writing about those experiences since.

I had amazing, blissful moments of reconnecting with my wife and with my son. Multiple moments where I could stop my mind from always racing and enjoy the MOMENT - the look in my wife's beautiful eyes, the excitement in Sami's...

I found wonderful, honest ways of making money without being devoted to a 9-5 job.

My band - BFH - recorded our best, according to me, album ever, called Bits oF Humanity. I am mega excited about it and cannot wait to be able to share some of the songs with you,

We had a concert again! Being front-stage is an amazing feeling and sharing the intense energy with another 300 people felt like an out-worldly experience.

I mastered my diet a lot by reducing all dairy and learning to cook delicious healthy vegan meals. I found true joy in cooking.

I learned that I am capable of writing such a daunting thing as a dissertation and even enjoyed it.

I started volunteering for Manchester Drug Services and found out that I can experience true joy of going to work for the well-being of others even without being paid.

I worked quite a bit on my blog and developed its design to what I find a more eye-pleasing and interesting layout.

I found out about mindfulness and acceptance and opened the door to a new world of conscious living.

I saw my favorite bands live - Roger Waters from Pink Floyd - The wall and The Ocean. I even got to hang out with The Ocean and even had the displeasure of explaining to them that I would not be able to have them sleep in my tiny apartment.

I made a few (but very few) great friends.

I skateboarded with my son many many many times and experienced the joy of skating in a half-pipe myself.

and then...

I loved, I made love and I was loved back! And this is really what made it all feel like a LIFE and not merely like existence.