Photos from Toulouse June 30, 2007
Posted by Niels in : Personal, Photos , 1 comment so far
(1) A park in Toulouse. I love how people pack the benches, just to be outside and enjoy the sunshine. (2) A church in Toulouse. It’s probably famous. I like the row of support pillars right down the middle of the church - it creates a much more oppressive feeling than in churches like Notre Dame with flying buttresses. (3) I want a riverside park like this to hang out in. (4) Scratch that, I want my backyard to look like this park. (5) Look at the combination of wood and bricks and the warping of the wood. You can tell this building is ancient. (6) One of the many picturesque streets in Toulouse (7) My God, baked Camembert and fig is good (8) The town center in Toulouse (9) Three French fans of Beauty and the Geek
Your thoughts?Parental tone and dominant questioning tonality June 30, 2007
Posted by Niels in : Ask Niels, Dating coach, How to, Personal , 5 commentsMost people ask a question by raising the pitch of their voice at the end of the question. I noticed tonight that it’s possible to ask a question by beginning the statement at a higher pitch and then dropping it at the end of the statement. The falling pitch is much more dominant. Think of the difference between “Go to your room?” with the pitch rising at the end vs. “Go to your room,” with the pitch falling at the end, as a father might say to his daughter.
The really interesting thing is that parental tonality can be applied to questions as well as statements. I’m going to play around with this…
Your thoughts?Authentic Man Program June 29, 2007
Posted by Niels in : Dating coach, Personal , 4 commentsI had a great experience with San Francisco’s Authentic Man Program yesterday. They needed some volunteers to be part of an upcoming video product, so I showed up and got to watch some of the exercises they do in their workshops. The most interesting thing was that even though everyone does the same exercise, people get completely different things out of them. One of the instructors, Brian, described the process as a hologram. When you shine a light through a hologram crystal, you get an image. When you break the crystal and shine a light through one of the pieces, you still get the image. The exercises in the workshop, though very artificial, do give snapshots of different parts of people’s relationships and interactions, and the issues that arise as a result are of course very individual.
I’m really tempted to plunk down the money to take the course. I’m sure I would get a lot out of it, but at the same time, I’ve already put a huge amount of effort into improving myself. I really like the person I am now. At some point, I feel like I should accept that I have everything I need, and stop chasing the unachievable ideal.
Your thoughts?I am moving to Seattle June 28, 2007
Posted by Niels in : Personal , 3 commentsIt’s been a year since I left graduate school. I teach all my workshops on the road. There’s no longer anything forcing me to stay in the bay area. So I’m moving. Seattle, prepare yourself, because I’m coming! Most of my extended family is up there, along with my best friend and college roommate, whom I’ll be moving back in with after four years apart.
I will be picking up a Uhaul truck this evening. I’m working at the Art of Attraction - Advanced Tactics workshop this whole weekend, so somehow all my worldly possessions will have to make it into the truck between approximately 6pm Thurdsday and 11am Friday. I don’t know how that’s going to happen, but it has to, so it will. My lease expires in the middle of the workshop, so I’ll spend a couple days sleeping in the Uhaul, and then it’s up to Seattle on July 2. One shot, 13 hours. It’ll be just like the crew trips in college. I’m excited!
Your thoughts?I live in a fantasy world June 27, 2007
Posted by Niels in : Personal , 3 commentsI spent most of Monday sailing around San Francisco and Angel Island on a party boat filled with guys who make a living teaching men to be more successful with women. And a few women. Afterwards, the party moved to Project San Francisco where we traded stories about our adventures from the road. On my way out, I said goodbye to a friend who had gotten about 15 numbers from a second friend who was naturally good with women and was cold-calling them for dates. Every once in a while I have a day that reminds me how ridiculous my life has become.
Your thoughts?