By George Alexandrov on Monday, April 07, 2008

I just watched an astonishing documentary about animals. It is feature-length, free to watch on google video and is narrated by Joaquin Phoenix.

The film shows how humans treat animals for pets, food, fur,  leather, medical experiments and entertainment. The scenes shown are not exceptions of animal treatment – they are the standard in each industry. What you will see is appalling, disgusting and the truth.

You or I probably will never kill an animal with our hands, yet with our INTENDED ignorance we kill (in the most brutal way) 10 billion (yes, billion) animals a year. I keep killing animals, too, even though I do not consume animal-based food.  However, I have the power to choose not to continue doing so. 

I feel that it is time that we allow our dinner to be spoiled by allowing ourselves to know the truth.

English version on Google video: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1282796533661048967  

Other language subtitles available also (including Bulgarian) at the veg-tv.info site.

By George Alexandrov on Monday, July 30, 2007

Do you like eating delicious monosodium glutamate? Pardon,  I mean MSG? Most probably not! It is interesting though how foods that do not list MSG as an ingredient, and sometimes claim “NO MSG” on their package actually contain MSG because they can hide it in the ingredients list. I have been stuffing myself with Trader Joe's soy nuggets and certain vegetable-based burgers. Oh, my poor dying brain cells dying from that hidden MSG (they don't care if its hidden from the mind, you know, they still die...). Well, the ones that still happen to be alive started yelling out loud - No more!

In many cases the producers do not say that their food contains MSG because it is not an added ingredient but rather it is form in the process of preparing the food as a chemical reaction which results in Monosodium Glutamate.

Here are some ingredients that always contain MSG:

• Gelatin
• Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein (HVP)
• Hydrolyzed Plant Protein (HPP)
• Autolyzed Plant Protein
• Textured Protein
• Yeast Extract
  

A full list of ingredients, which are hidden names for MSG can be found here: http://www.msgmyth.com/hidename.htm 

By George Alexandrov on Monday, March 19, 2007

The web site of Nikola Gruev is the best and most comprehensive picture gallery that I have found on the Internet of various Bulgarian cities and country-side sigths. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to take a glimpse of Bulgaria.

http://www.pbase.com/ngruev/bulgaria

By George Alexandrov on Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Sometimes I wonder am I the only person that exists? Is everybody else a projection of my conscousness? Is my consciousness the same consciousness that is everybody else's? If so, then am I the only person on this planet and you are part of my simulation? Are you the only person on this planet? Does the planet exist? Do my memories exist? Do they represent an actual reality, or am I creating them when I am thinking of them? Do I write in English because I have created the rules of the language, its name and history in this very moment? What is the past? What is the future? What is reality, when in a second certain experiences can make it very unreal? So is reality actually real? What is the meaning of "real"? If so, is death unreal? Does time exist or is it a carefully crafted illusion? Are these questions being raised becuase the/a consciousness is becoming conscious of itself?

Check Steve Pavlina's podcast #16: "The True Nature of Reality". It can be found at http://www.stevepavlina.com/audio

Love, piece, and ask yourself some questions.

P.S. I had asked myself these and other similar questions some time before I even knew of the above podcast. Listening to it just pushed me to write them down.

P.P.S. When I wrote this, I only had a cup of nice Dragonwell tea.

By George Alexandrov on Saturday, December 09, 2006

As I am writing this I am sitting in my favorite place by the window at Alliance Bakery in Wicker Park. I am reading an awesome book, and from time to time I look outside the window to think over some sentence that has impressed me. I come across quite a few sentences like that actually. So I stare through the slowly passing cars on Division street, which are crawling during the notorious Chicago rush hour. From time to time entire hordes of people pass by on the wide side walk, between me and the traffic. They must have just gotten off the nearby EL stop, rushing to get to their warm homes.

So I think about my things and I stare at the passers-by – not too consciously and not too politely. And an interesting thing I observed. People just shy away so quickly. They notice me staring and then they turn their sight away. With the exception of a beggar and a few kids… kids… I remember when I was a kid playing the staring game in the city transportation or at the playground – looking at people straight in the eye to see who will move their sight first. I always found kids more challenging, as they were less shy for doing "kid" things like that. And now as I am a grown up and stare at people, even though it is accidental, they just shy away. I think that other than the “inappropriate” part of staring, many grownups have just become shy and introverted, scared to be themsleves becuase of imposed expectations from everybody else.

Are we all so shriveled in our minds? What can we do about it? Well, adding some smile to spice up that blank stare did a miracle. People smiled back! That’s like establishing communication without words. I could feel the warmth. I wondered: what if I smiled to every person I crossed eyes with? For one thing, I would know a lot more people than I do now, as it is so much easier to start a conversation with a stranger after smiles have been exchanged. It was almost as if the smile melted the window separating me in the cffee shop from the people walking outside.

I know we all know that, but do we realize it and do we do it? Probably your answer woud be "kind of". I knew it, and still came to realize it, so I will try to do the smiling in order to convert it into one of my good habits. You should consider giving it a shot and enjoying the results. I will be happy to hear any stories then.

By George Alexandrov on Saturday, November 18, 2006

• ideal - an ultimate object or aim of endeavor, esp. one of high or noble character: He refuses to compromise any of his ideals.
• goal - the result or achievement toward which effort is directed; aim; end.

By George Alexandrov on Wednesday, November 15, 2006

It's been a little while since I last posted anything on the blog. Its not that nothing has caught my attention recently. Actually it is just the opposite. Recently so much positive information has been pouring my direction that I can say I am a little dizzy. As I look in retrospect, it all started on September 30th, and the theme has not changed since. It has been becoming much stronger. I just attract more and more of it.

Many people are stuck at one point in life or another. But the problem is that in most cases unless life "unsticks" us we will continue doing what we are doing, feel not quite right and do nothing about it. We simply get used to some comfort zone. Well, we may actually do something - complain. The problem with complaining how "bad" things are is that it attracts more bad things to us. Try it on your own if you don't believe me. But do it at your own risk- if your house burns down don't ask me why. Well I decided (for a change) to start moving the slime around my "comfort" zone before life does it. I have been feeling the need for some change, the need to find the answers to some grand questions, which will determine the course of the rest of my life. And they started coming...

The Universe responded to my wish on September 30th. Following a recommendation of my best friend I decided to watch this film. It was a documentary film with some famous successful people being interviewed in it. I don't remember what was the last time I watched something so intensely. These were some of the most important 90 minutes in my life - realizing how simple it is to go about the whole game of Life. I rarely watch a movie for the second time. Well, I had already watched this one over 5 times and intend to watch it even more. I know you are dying to know what it is called by now - it's a secret! LOL Literally, the movie is called "The Secret".

The Secret didn't just make sense. The way I allowed myself to open my mind after watching it has helped me attract so many answers regarding my deepest questions at this point - what do I want to do in life, what are my strengths, how to go about achieving my most sacred dreams. The right information has been pouring over me as a continuous stream of "coincidences", books and people. It has been a nonstop influx of events in relation of finding my path. For you it may be that you know what you want already but don;t know how to achieve it.

You may ask what is in The Secret that is so fundamental? It would make no sense for me to describe in detail what The Secret is about - you just have to see it. Over and over again. The main point that I can afford to mention here is that there is only one law according to which we live whether we know it or not. It is called the Law of Attraction. Your thoughts attract everything that you have, being it a cool car and a great life or a pile of debt and a disfunctional family! Understanding the information from The Secret will allow you to change your life in any direction you wish. Do you believe in magic? Well, if you don't you better start believing it NOW!

You can watch The Secret at www.thesecret.tv - great quality and reliability of the stream. Make sure, though, that you can watch the whole film at one sitting and there will be no distractions such as crying babies, ringing phones and oh my god, I forgot I had a date. The Secret is not for entertainment. It is very serious.

I will also recommend you to watch "What The Bleep!? Down the Rabbit Hole" - this will make more sense of The Secret as it illustrates in more detail of what your mind is capable of, based on Quantum Physics. You will learn about some actual experiments that were made and are a little unbelievale at first.

There are a bunch of books and other things to follow up with. If anyone is interested to know what they are, email me, but only after watching the two movies above. I will not say a word otherwise :-)

Now I am off to continuing the creation of the rest of my life.

If you have a story to share about things that you have attracted in your life, or have questions to ask, please do so in the comments section below.

By George Alexandrov on Wednesday, October 25, 2006

I usually get my inspirations when I communicate with people. Many times when I talk with someone I may get inspired about something that has nothing to do with the conversation. My mind just constantly works at a few levels at the same time. But there these other times when the inspiration that I get is the actual words of my conversation partner.

The words that I am about to share here with you are these of one of the closest to me people - my mom. I will not comment on them. I will give them to you as they are to let you contemplate on your own. Here is what my mom said:

"These days it is sunny, warm, bright. Today, as I was taking a shower, I asked myself why I was in such a good mood; whether it just happened on its own or was it because it was sunny and warm? And I answered this question myself that the reason is not so much me but the Sun. Without it we are lost. Then it occurred to me that some close and loved by us person can play the role of the Sun in our life. Within this context, I wish you never to be left without your Sun throughout your life." ~Tanya Alexandrova

This is so wise! I will leave you with this question - who is your Sun? 

Happy contemplation.

By George Alexandrov on Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Yesterday I met with a very spiritual and wise friend of mine for a glass of wine at Webster's Wine Bar. Due to our schedules we see each other once a month, or maybe even once every two months. But every time I see her we have great conversations and  I feel recharged with new energy. Not everyone has this effect on me, but Ralitza does. Yesterday was not an exception.

We were discussing at length about what the real purpose of each one of us was in life and whether we were actually doing in life what we were mostly enjoying. The conversation shifted towards how one could find what their true Vocation was. Some people know and feel very strongly from their childhood what they want to be. And I am not talking about the "i want to be an astronaut" type of thing. I am talking about when people know deep in their souls since their childhood that they want to be a world renowned sommelier, or want to do some kind of outdoors sport, etc, and this is the only thing they want to live for. 

The question of the Vocation is also the theme in Paulo Coehlo's The Alchemist,  and is referred to as one's "Personal Legend".  All children feel what their Personal Legend, or Vocation, is. However, as we are growing up the forces of life, the ideas others impose on us and our own fears of leaving the comfort of our "safe" logical predictions, steer us further away from our true Vocation.

Some people remember much better than others what their true Vocation is supposed to be form early childhood. If these people are smart enough they will fulfil it and their lives will be filled with satisfaction and joy. These are the people who will be truly happy. At the opposite end of the spectrum are the people who are not even aware that there is something else they could be doing in their lives. These people are probably unhappy, but they are pseudo content as they have accepted their life as it is and do not (want to) know better. But there is the gray area, somewhere in the middle of the spectrum,  in which the people don't remember (or don't see) what their vocation is, yet they feel that whatever they are currently doing is not their true calling. These are the people who probably go through the most internal fights:

"Maybe I should do something else in life. This job does pay the bills, makes me feel secure, but I know my passion is somewhere else. But what is it? Maybe I should try dancing. But what if it doesn't happen to be my vocation? Maybe it is writing. No, I can't possibly write anything that I can make money with. But then again, when I was a kid I used to make such creative stories. If I let go the grip on my current reality I may fall so hard that it will hurt. I will be a complete failure in this case. But then again, I know that there is something out there that is for me and it is not what I am involved with now..." here the magic circle closes and the entire thought process repeats again. I see a hamster wheel! It is amazing how many people need to be looking for their real vocation. A friend even made a successful business out of this (Vocation Vacations).

I believe that everyone knows deeply inside them what their Vocation is but do not realize it. The Vocation is like a metal ball on a string hanging from the ceiling right in front of us. But we cannot see it because the room is pitch black. As we are standing  in front of it thinking, should I try to find it, or should I not, a year (two, three, ten) goes by. Finally we get some courage (or a kick), stretch our arms and start playing blind man's buff. But we are not quite blind if we trust our feelings and intuition, are we? Eventually we will touch the ball, find out what it feels like and pull it. Magic!!! Light shines everywhere. We just pulled the string of the light switch, and we can even see what color our Vocation ball is. Wow, your Vocation is your Passion! You may say "If I knew it was that real, I would have done it earlier!" Easier said than believed and done, eh? After all this is your life we are talking about here, and not some game... Or is it?

Let's return back to my conversation with Ralitza and to the heart of this story. After at least one very motivating and inspirational hour of our conversation Ralitza said something very close to this:

"Let me tell you of a very simple way to test whether something that you suppose is your Passion in life really is what you think it is. Every time when you say what you want to do you say 'I think that I want to do this this and this.' Well, now repeat the same sentence but substitute 'I think..' with 'I feel...'. Do you still get the same good feeling when you pronounce the sentence? Does it still give you the same good vibration? If it does, then very likely you have found, or are very close to knowing, your true Passion."

That's a simple test isn't it?
 
Ralitza also said that if one does not (try to) find their true passion and starts doing something else, she may eventually find her Passion again down the road as she will subconsciously lead herself to it. What that means is that she would have taken the long and winding path in life from point N(ow) to point P(assion). It may be years before she gets to point P and she may decide that it is too late to do anything about her Passion (or can she?).  Why not uncover and jump into the Passion or Vocation now and spare the misery of  years spent in meaningless waste of energy, time and creativity?

Ralitza amazed me again when she had the perfect advice waiting for me on her ever growing shelf of Wisdom. Well, let me repeat it again to make sure I will remember: It is as simple as evaluating "I think..." vs. "I feel...". If you happen to be in the grey area of the spectrum and have a few even remotely candidate Vocations, do try this test for yourself. I am eager to hear your results and reactions!

By George Alexandrov on Monday, October 02, 2006

A few blog entries ago I wrote about the Bugatti Veyron - I thought that was cool. Well, I found something that is even cooler (and a lot less expensive). Don;t ge me wrong, the Veyron is a slick and beautiful car. What disgusts me that I didn't mention before is it's engine. It's the same old gasoline engine. Why keep building these dinosaur gasoline engines, which are so inefficient and need so much fuel to get the power you want them to give? Why not build an alternative energy (not fuel. energy.) engine that would be more efficient and give even better results? To me keeping the old ways is like building a super hot looking sports car with a turbo super charged steam engine. Sounds stupid right? That's how I feel about continuing to improve on gasoline engines. It's stupid. We can get less and less benefit from that type of engine for every research and improvement dollar spent. How many plastic operations can you do on a 100 year old person?

I will stop bitching, and tell you what I found so cool. It's the Tesla Motors new car. It's a two seater, sexy looking roadster. Powered entirely by electricity. Yes, I will repeat - it's a sports car!!! Here are the numbers: 0 to 60 in 4 seconds, almost constant torque from 0 to 13,000 RPM, 250 miles per charge, charges in 2 hours if the battery is dead, the equivalent of 135 miles per gallon or only 1c per mile. Now isn't that awesome?

Let's not forget that it is not only the fuel efficiency that matters. Since this is an electric engine all there are tons of parts of the classic gas engine that are missing. This frees quite some room in the car by leaving the gas tank out for example, but it also makes the car a lot  more reliable as you there are a lot fewer parts to break. No transmission, no clutch, no cylinders, no pistons, no fuel injectors, no tank, no exhaust system, no intake system, no fuel pump, and the list goes on. Maintenance should be a child's play.

I have dreamed about this happening all my life. Pure electrical (or other non-burning energy source) with similar parameters. And it's a smart move - come out with a beautiful looking sports car rather than some quirky looking vehicle like we've seen so far. If people are shown that a sports car with these parameters can run (not just move) more than well on electricity, then they will be more convinced that a regular car with this technology should run even better and they will be less afraid to buy such a vehicle. I am sure that as soon as the Tesla Motors gains some more popularity, they will probably roll out a sedan.

I want to thank the people at Tesla Motors for making this vehicle come true. I do appreciate all your hard work and ability to bring this coolness to life, and I am looking forward for more.

Watch a video:



To see the Tesla Motors car visit their web site at: http://www.teslamotors.com.
Photos of the car can be found here: http://www.teslamotors.com/styling/body.php.