Welcome back!

Hi! I'm back after quite a while - so I guess I'm saying Welcome Back to myself and to you, I'll say, sorry for the long absence and I hope you've been enjoying the content of the archives! I did my best to get away from the computer this summer and enjoy the outdoors - I hope you did, too. I actually got to Costa Rica for the first time and Wow, it's beautiful!

So, what's going on? Well last night I filmed an interview with the awesome folks at Quest.tv and as soon as I get a link to the replay I'll post it here.

I've got some follow up comments that I'll be posting later on, too. Some additional thoughts I had after the live broadcast that I think can help deepen the experience.

For now, Be well!

NYC Raw Food Meetup Group Event: Dinner and a Movie - "The Fall"

This Saturday the NYC Raw Food Meetup will have another exciting event. I've listed the basic info below and included a link for full details. If you are in NYC this weekend, feel free to join us! Just let me know and I'll put you on the list.

Announcing the NYC Raw Food Meetup Group Dinner and a Movie:

The Fall

"Each shot of film looks like a beautiful painting. Tarsem Singh is one gifted filmmaker and I hope we see more of his work in the near future."

"The Fall engages the viewer and makes for an emotional yet satisfying ride. Lee Pace is fantastic- Catinca Untaru gives a spectacular performance. The visuals will take your breath away, and the music will stay with you long after you've left the theater. A magnificent piece of filmmaking."

"It's a tongue-in-cheek fairy tale based around a personal tragedy. It shares a lot with films like "The Princess Bride". It is enjoyable, well-played and shot.."

"GO see it! Stop reading reviews, don't watch trailer-just be open and check it-arsty, smart, original! left me with a big smile :)"

Synopsis: (See Meetup details)

After the film, we'll go to nearby at Caravan of Dreams (405 E. 6th Street, between 1st Ave./Ave. A) for a delicious dinner and conversation!

Please note: Advanced tickets are Now Available for 4:50 pm Showtime. Click here now.

I look forward to seeing you there!

PS: "The Children of Huang Shi" was very moving! If you didn't see it with us, definitely check it out.

Click here to visit the Meetup website for full details.

NewsFlash - Web TV Broadcast - Yoga and Raw Food Expo

NewsFlash: You can now Download the Panel Discussion that I participated in at
the Yoga and Raw Food Expo:
http://www.quest.tv/webinars/sessions/20080608rawfoodpanel2.htm

You may need to sign in and download the video player in order to view,
(which you can do for free).

Post your comments here - I can't wait to hear what you think!

An Extraordinary World of Possibilities: The Yoga and RawFood Expo: June 6-8, 2008

Dear Friend,

Just wanted to let you know that I'll be doing a 1-hour training at an Amazing Expo this weekend, June 6-8th. There is a charge for the expo, but once you're in, most of the events are free - including my training at 3pm on Sunday, June 8th. Details are below.

Yoga and RawFood Expo

On June 6 - 8, NYC will host the first Yoga and RawFood Expo. This exciting weekend highlights a wonderful synergy of 2 powerful tools for creating health: Yoga and RawFood.

Come join me and an impressive array of other trainers and learn about these tools and more as you discover how using them in harmony can help supercharge your body/mind on your chosen path - providing even more energy, tranquility and clarity, and enhancing openness to increase connection to Spirit.

In the words of Expo Organizer (and Master Yogi) Mark Becker: "Take a weekend out of your ordinary life and enjoy an extraordinary world of possibilities."

Featured RawFood presenters include Gary Null and the grandfather of living foods, Viktoras Kulvinskas. With two Raw Food Panels that include NY’s top Raw Foodists — Brenda Cobb, Matt Monarch, Debra Secunda, Kevin Shukur, Donna Perrone, “Sproutman” Steve Meyerowitz, Lisa Torres, Karen Ranzi, Mark Chabus and Robert Dyckman.

Here is a link for more information, and a full schedule of presenters, exhibitors, and musical performances: http://www.newlifeexpo.com/speakers.php?expo=11

And here is a secure link to purchase advance tickets:
https://www.newlifeexpo.com/expo-pre-reg.php?expo=11

Once you are in the Expo, my presentation, (see details below), is FREE!

Enjoying RawFood - It's Easy and Fun!
Time: 3pm
Date: Sunday, June 8, 2008
Robert Dyckman discusses How to Enjoy a Fun and Healthy Lifestyle with RawFoods and Raw Friends. You'll learn an Easy way to leverage the Knowledge and Experience of a Successful Rawfooder. So whether you are struggling with your diet or are you just looking for some tips on how to get started (or get back) on the right track, this is one seminar not to be missed.

I will also participate in the RawFood Panel Discussion at 10am Sunday, June 8th.

I look forward to seeing you at this enlightening event!

Be well,
Robert

Research Shows that Soda is Bad to the Bone (Your Bones, that is)

There’s research that links drinking certain types of soda with weaker bones… This study, reported in 2006 by researchers at Tufts University in Boston, suggests that colas, specifically, might be problematic. Among the 1,413 women whose dietary records and bone-density scans they reviewed, those who drank a diet or regular cola at least three times a week over five years had significantly lower bone densities than those who sipped cola once a month or less. No such effect occurred with other carbonated drinks, even after researchers factored in intake of calcium from foods.

The likely cause? Phosphoric acid, which is unique to colas, says Katherine Tucker, Ph.D., lead author of the study. When the body breaks down this compound, the acidity (or concentration of free hydrogen ions) of the blood increases. To neutralize acidity, hydrogen ions bind with minerals, including calcium and magnesium. If they’re not available in the blood, says Tucker, “the body draws calcium from bones.” The occasional-cola drinker probably needn’t worry. “The real risk is for those who drink cola every day,” says Tucker.

Source: Michelle Edelbaum/Joyce Hendley - EatingWell Magazine

Your Action steps: Drink water (neutral pH) or fresh pressed fruit juice (slightly alkaline) instead.

Announcing the RE-launch of ActingConsciously.com

Announcing an exciting change!

Acting Consciously now has a new division:

Acting Consciously Real Estate Solutions

If you haven't visited www.ActingConsciously.com lately, what are you waiting for?

We've totally RE-vamped the site making some major changes to the content and format, to reflect this brand new and exciting direction.

I think you'll be pleased with our new focus and will really enjoy what you find on the site as well. If you or someone you know is looking to sell their home quickly or needs to find a place to live, direct them to go to www.ActingConsciously.com and if you bring us a property that we end up buying, you may even be eligible for a REward. (conditions apply, see website for full details)

Best Picture of the Year 2007 - Juno

Last night I went to see Juno. It was everything I had hoped, based on the reviews and feedback I'd heard. What a daring and refreshingly unconventional look at life! I loved it. I laughed and I was moved - it was a triumphant ode to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of any seeming adversity. My friend was so touched, she cried.

Today, another friend mentioned that some who protest this movie on the grounds of its subject matter (teen pregnancy) claim that the response of the parents and the actions of the teen are unrealistic. Have they forgotten this is a movie? Wouldn't a critic who called Ratatouille unrealistic because it had talking rats seem a bit dimwitted? On some level all film is pretend. That's what suspension of disbelief is all about.

And it's not claiming to be realistic anyway. It's art. It can, as it has been said, hold the mirror up to life - but itself is not life. There are lots of ways to express that sentiment. Some may call it a "heightened reality." But whatever the terminology, art can depict an aspect of life or character and convey a message. And in dismissing the film as unrealistic, I believe those folks missed one of the major points of this brilliant film. That the way these people dealt with their issue - admittedly differently than the average person might have reacted - brought them closer together and created harmony and happiness and not chaos and pain. By accepting her plight with grace and dignity (and some choice sarcasm - excellently delivered by Ellen Page) rather than struggling against it, she was transformed from a naive girl to a mature woman with a deeper knowledge of life and the true nature of love.

I believe that's a lesson for us all. And hopefully one day that won't seem so unrealistic after all.

If you haven't seen it yet - go now. Yes, now before it's out of the theaters.

Today's Wisdom: Look for the love in all situations.

The Best Movies of 2007 - picked by a man who knows films

As a member of the Spiritual Cinema Circle, I got an email today from Stephen Simon - director of such famous films as, "Somewhere In Time" and "What Dreams May Come." In it he gives his picks for the top 5 films of 2007 and talks about the current state of mainstream filmmaking. I thought you might enjoy reading it:

MY FAVORITE FILMS OF 2007 by STEPHEN SIMON

Before we look at my favorite films from 2007, I have a message for both the mainstream film industry and its film critics: You have both lost all connection with film audiences.

Hollywood has seemingly decided that “quality” now equates with dark, violent, and depressing; consequently, 2007 was one of the bleakest years ever for film distribution. To make matters worse, and to illustrate anew the fable of the emperor’s new clothes, film critics have fallen into lockstep with film distributors. As I write this column on January 1, 2008, the film that has garnered almost every film critic group’s nod as the best film of 2007 is NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN, which centers around one of the nastiest, most vicious, and soulless serial killers ever depicted on screen. In the first ten minutes of the film, a man is graphically strangled while the killer looks positively orgasmic and then another innocent man is cold-bloodedly shot between the eyes. And then it gets worse…much worse. Nevertheless, the film critic for the Portland Oregonian said this about the film: “exact, spare, bloody, dark, and unrelenting, it’s superb.”

Excuse me?

While I respect every one’s right to say whatever they believe, I also reserve the right to ask, “What are you folks smoking”? “Best film” means the one film every year that is represented to the rest of the world as the premier achievement in the American film industry. Focusing on the craft itself is fine for categories like sound editing, costume design, or cinematography, but, when you’re talking about the “best film”, content itself should be of paramount importance.

For studios and critics, “superb” and “bloody, dark, and unrelenting” may belong in the same sentence but, fortunately, we in the audience don’t agree. The fall season of 2007 produced the weakest box office results for that period of time in the last ten years. The film industry is quite literally awash in red ink. According to a November 26, 2007 article in Video Business Weekly, the film industry lost a staggering six billion dollars in 2006.

In short, the business model of the film industry is broken. Creatively, it’s even worse. The chasm between the insular, dark, violent, and cynical tastes of most studios and film critics and the desire of audiences to have other choices is now deeper than the Grand Canyon.

I also think it would be wonderful, and more honest, if the Academy (of which I am a member) changed the characterization of awards from “best” to “favorite”. Factors such as both the film’s and the individual’s overall popularity always factor into Academy voting anyway, whether members want to admit it or not. Using “best” in regards to the art form of film is not only unfair to all concerned but also simply impossible to gauge. I have no idea what “best” means in films. My own list of favorite films of 2007 consists of films that personally moved me, inspired me, and made me feel better about being human. When we post these choices on the message boards for subscribers to the Spiritual Cinema Circle, I’m sure our community will share some passionate opinions and disagreements of their own. That’s the fun of it. Let the discussions begin.

1) REIGN OVER ME. With bravura performances from both Adam Sandler and Don Cheadle, the film is a beautiful paean to the powers of love, friendship, and, most importantly, healing. Sandler, in particular, is brilliant beyond words. Unfortunately, like Jim Carrey in ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND in 2004 and Will Ferrell in STRANGER THAN FICTION in 2006, Sandler is seen as, and I’m afraid somewhat resented for, being a successful broad comedian, and his incredible performance has been unjustly ignored.

2) ENCHANTED. What a delightful, whimsical, and hilarious film! Putting some of Disney’s classic fairy tale characters into a modern day context works so well that my whole family just sat there smiling, laughing, and applauding throughout the film. Amy Adams’ fairy tale princess, separated from her prince and sent to modern day New York by an evil queen, is so pitch perfect that we were repeating her lines for days.

3) THE GREAT DEBATERS. A powerful and moving tribute to the courage of the African-American Wiley College debating team and its coach in 1930s Texas. Denzel Washington directs and stars in a film that reminds us of what we can accomplish when we decide that it is we, not the world around us, who define ourselves.

4) JUNO. A funny, poignant, searingly honest, and loving story of a teenager’s unwelcome pregnancy and her search for both herself and the most appropriate adoptive parents. Ellen Page is simply brilliant as the title character and the film has much to say about love, life, and responsibility. It also has one of the sweetest and most touching final scenes in recent memory.

5) WAITRESS. An offbeat, often hilarious, and sometimes harrowing story about a small town waitress and her unique talent for baking every kind of pie imaginable. Keri Russell achieves superstar actress status with her complex and nuanced portrait of a woman in an emotionally abusive marriage that she yearns to escape. The film is also a loving tribute to Adrienne Shelly, its writer/director/costar who was tragically killed after the completion of the film.

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What's your opinion? Feel free to comment and share your favorite films of 2007. And check out The Spiritual Cinema Circle.

Happy *and Green* New Year

Happy New Year! I wish you much health and prosperity this coming year!! And as the world continues its long awaited and much needed trend toward environmental and social responsibility, here's a reminder that eco-friendly can also be enjoyable! Check out this review of the new electric sports vehicle, the Tesla! It's pretty and sporty and fast - You can even take a test drive - sort of... here's a video of a test drive:


Today's wisdom: Help make 2008 the greenest year yet by keeping your eco-footprint light - Recycle, Reduce, Reuse - and Buy Green!

Have a Happy and Healthy New Year!

Just a quick wish for a safe and happy New Year! Stay warm, be healthy - do something good for yourself. And then do something good for someone else!

Oh, and if you're in New York, Westerly Market (on 54th St. and 8th Ave.) has a delicious crop of Blackberries and Raspberries in. They are juicy and sweet. Yum!

Peace and Joy!

Is Chevy "Fuel Solutions" Just a Smoke Screen?

Can it be? Is the electric car really making a comeback? Apparently, among other "fuel solutions" Chevrolet is touting its new Concept Chevy Volt EV.

The Volt uses only electricity for the first 40 miles, then switches to gasoline, ethanol (E85) or biodiesel to address the issue of range. Which in my vocabulary makes it more a "plug-in hybrid" than a truly "Electric" vehicle.

But the real question is, will it get out of the Concept phase and into production?

See for yourself. Let me know what you think...

Reverse Evolution?

Do you believe, like so many scientists that humans are superior to chimpanzees in all cognitive functions?

Japanese researchers pitted young chimps against human adults in two tests of short-term memory, and overall, the chimps won. So much for evolution...

Here's the link to this interesting article.

Staying Healthy and Raw for the Holidays

The next meeting of the Raw Health and Happiness Society is tonight - Monday, December 3rd at 7pm.

Topic: Staying Healthy and Raw for the Holidays

West 72nd Street Studios
131 W 72nd Street, 2nd Floor (Room 2)
(between Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues)
New York, NY 10023

Nearest subways: 1,2,3,B,or C to 72nd Street.

I look forward to seeing you there!

Today's Wisdom: "Winners take control by accepting responsibility." - Donald Trump

Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving!

I want to wish you Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving!

I am so thankful for all my past learning experiences, my supportive family and my loving friends and of course, everyone who reads this blog. (that means you!) Thank you!

In a quirky turn of fate, today's wisdom comes from a physician - if you are traveling for the holidays, please take note:

"Flying makes you incredibly dehydrated, so pick snacks that are wet or have high water content. Apples and pears are great because they pack well." Dr. Amy Lanou, senior nutrition scientist, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine

"The Myth of the Cure" at the Raw Health and Happiness Society

The next Raw Health and Happiness Society meeting is tonight - Monday, November 12th from 7pm-8:30pm.

We'll talk about:

* "Healing" vs. "Curing"

* Are there foods that heal?

* Superfoods - friend or foe?

* Anything else you'd like to talk about...

West 72nd Street Studios
131 W 72nd Street, 2nd Floor (Room 2)
(between Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues)
New York, NY 10023

Nearest subways: 1,2,3,B,or C to 72nd Street.
Suggested donation only $3 (to help cover the room cost)

I look forward to seeing you there!

PS: Save the Dates - Our December Schedule is as
follows... Dec. 3rd and December 17th and we'll focus
on staying raw and healthy through the holidays!

Peak Oil and the Global Climate Crisis

I went to a wonderfully thought-provoking seminar last night on Peak oil and the global climate crisis, sponsored by Post Carbon Institute and The Sierra Club as well as some other local organizations. The main focus was to demonstrate how the limited supply of oil will soon create astronomical prices in addition to the devastating environmental impact of such heavy reliance on fossil fuel.

The speaker, Daniel Lerch, proposed that the solution would require strengthening of our economy at a local level to produce an immediate reduction of our dependence on carbon based energy sources. He strongly recommended increasing our sense of community as not only an absolutely essential element of survival - but also the key to creating a nation that thrives in the coming years.

He spoke about other means including zero energy housing as well as alternative fuel sources such as solar, hydrogen, and biodiesel. And discussed the need to organize civil leadership to assist the governmental agencies in moving these initiatives forward.

But I thought he was missing something, so I asked a question: Are you saying that the transportation and supply chains are the major factor in both our Greenhouse Gas (GHG) production and our dependence on carbon-based fuel? He said that while he hadn't specifically researched the data, he believed so.

So then I asked, "Wouldn't a shift to All-Electric Vehicles massively reduce both our dependence on oil and our impact on the planet?" He said "Yes." There it is. That simple.

Now he did go on to say that it would be a large undertaking to convert the entire shipping infrastructure to electric power and he questioned the effectiveness of an all-electric engine to replace the diesel power used to haul tons of cargo in 18 wheelers, but I never said we had to make the shift all at once and from what I've seen, hauling power isn't a real concern - the electric engine technology should meet the demand.

Lerch's point of view is that there won't be one "silver bullet" that solves both of these issues. He believes it will take many "silver BBs" - in other words many different smaller initiatives that add up to a solution. But quite frankly, from what I see, the switch to electric power could take care of both issues. The only problem is the resistance from the oil companies and other corporations whose profits seem to be threatened by a shift in energy consumption.

Just like NYC's hybrid taxi plan, a gradual shift toward a zero emissions fleet of shipping vehicles over the next 3-5 years should allow companies the time to adjust. And that could easily extend to consumer vehicles as well. So then the next question is how do we get the manufacturers to begin producing afforable electric vehicles on a large scale? What do you think?

Check out "Who Killed The Electric Car", Plug In America and Post Carbon Cities

It's Here - The NYC Rawfood Meetup Group visits Gorzynski Farm - The Video

This Video includes photos from The NYC Rawfood Meetup Group's trip to Gorzynski Ornery Farm - a farm that's "Beyond Organic" We learned a lot about how it's all done (and why) and had a great time, too. Enjoy!



Here's a link to a brief article about John Gorzynski

The NYC Rawfood Meetup Group Visits Gorzynski Ornery Farm Video - The Director's Cut

Here's a "Director's Cut" version of the video with some new images, but the same happy music! And the good news is you don't have to wait till the 25th Anniversary to see it. Plus, it still has the same great ending. Enjoy!

Raw Health and Happiness Society

The next Raw Health and Happiness Society meeting will be tonight - Monday, October 29th at 7pm.

West 72nd Street Studios
131 W 72nd Street, 2nd Floor (Room 2)
(between Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues)
New York, NY 10023

Nearest subways: 1,2,3,B,or C to 72nd Street.

I look forward to seeing you there!

Sometimes you win and sometimes you...

How would you finish that sentence?

I came across this valuable piece of insight from Robert Kiyosaki. It's definitely one of my new favorites.

Today's wisdom: Sometimes you win and sometimes you learn.