25 April 2009- I don't know to CEO

It was a great occasion to meet the who is who of Silicon Valley at the "I dont know to" CEO conference, hosted by Stanford Women In Business (SWIB) conference: It was a lesson learned on how I as a CEO was disconnected from my career vs. the company I keep building ...we all had a great time and the organizers were fabulous.
Here was the press release from SWIB: View From The Top: Changing the Face of Technology -Featuring people that have made great impact! Each of the outstanding panelists has changed the way we think about the Internet and beyond. With its revolutionary technology, Pandora has taken music by storm; YouTube has altered online video and sharing all around the world; Friendfeed is transforming how we learn from our friends' online discoveries; Gmail and Adsense shattered old conceptions of email and online advertising; Shmoop is putting education on a whole new platform; Yahoo! brought the Internet into the hands of the average Joe; and CBS International brings powerful advanced information technology to the developing world, with long-standing initiatives to bring the internet to Africa. How does one little start-up end improving so many millions of lives? What makes these people passionate about what they do? Learn how you can be one of these people whose lives affect the face of technology. Press by SWIB more

16 April 2009 - Vellamora Spain- BURN THE FLOOR!!

Went to see Burn the Floor at the Post Street Theater in SF!, organized by A-list, indeed an amazing dance sensation. So much energy, talent, beauty and enthusiasm with all the dancers!

I thought I was in Vellamora Spain, a casino/dance show. Burn the Floor is an international sensation! No cameras allowed, so I have noting to share with you. So here is the 2007 versing of the show from You Tube....

In fact the costumes here was the same, although they change almost 7-8 times throughout a 2hr show.

Cheers!

27 March 2009 - Bowling Tournament in San Francisco with GGU

My team and the missed score... we had fun! go GGU!

23 March 2009- SFBay ISOC reception at Hilton Tavern

Yes, we did it! Feb 16, 2009 - The San Francisco Bay Chapter of Internet Society. Celebrating with the ISOC International, IETF folks and ICANN Chairman, who graced us with his presence and said few words for us.
Left - Zaid (our President/Chair and Peter, ICANN Chairman) Right - Sophia Board Secretary start from left, then Franck Board Member from Fiji also on ISOC International Board of Trustees and Annalisa far right SFBay Vice Chair.

Go see more and join us on Facebbook...

SanFrancisco - Classical Tango meets Jazz

Saturday, Mar 21 8:00p at San Francisco War Memorial Opera House: Herbst Theatre, San Francisco, CA. Tango, Passion & Swing” featuring the Grammy-Award winning pianist and composer Pablo Ziegler with his Quartet in an unique pairing with special guest, Latin Grammy-Award winning flautist Nestor Torres!
I hear Paulo has his legacy from his role model Astor Piazolla, a who revolutionized the traditional tango into, incorporated Jazz and Classical music.


Tango music to me is a story of the unrequited love, boy meets girl and she always leave him.. it has no conclusion...because of that there is always a new beginning...

18 March 2009- Alamo, CA - Rotary Club

Ok, always a pleasure to visit my Rotarian friends at the RoundHill Country Club in Alamo. Brian D. Thiessen, far right, a popular Lawyer and former District Governor, who has been my long time friend now and one who has inagurated me with the Paul Harris Fellow award and his wife Ms. Thiessen at far left.
I stand in between the former Rotary International President Cliff Dochterman, the best loved Rotarian in the world and probably the most famous, who was the guest speaker today and entertained us with stories of his experience from Ethiopia to India and his wife Mary Elena. Always great to hear stories of well traveled people.

11 March 2009 - San Francisco

Ok..time for some giving back- at GGU
Does anyone care about the "other half"! Check this out!

7 March 2007 Le Dolce Vita Again

Time flies in a down economy, oxymoron!..but here comes La Dolce Vita again. I would not miss the good looking Italian Society of San Franisco for anything. Amazing elegance, genetics, great party, Auction and Charity work!

Viva the good life!

Rendezvous d'Amour:

San Francisco, CA -An Evening of Opera and Seduction presented by the SF Museum of Performance and Design, and San Francisco Opera’s BRAVO! CLUB, a pre-Valentines Day party featuring performances by San Francisco Opera’s Adler Fellows

New Years 2009

January 2009! Seems like everyone writes or speaks of 'facing ' New Year 2009.

A year not many are optimistic about. But I observe that many ordinary Americans are tuned to politics nowadays as a result of the wake-up call of the last US administration. This is a good thing for the country. People's focus on economic excesses in the past century certainly contributed to the bankruptcy of the US. Despite my hopes for optimism, I will join those many who worry about facing 2009. Indeed, we need change we can believe in! but then again, we can always ignore our troubles and hit the party floors, and live our lives! that is what I did! /sb

Art Show of the Mexican Museum

December 2008 World Affair Council - San Francisco

Interesting perspective the US-South Africa relations with the Excellencies of SA and Kingdom of Lesotho. South Africa is a success story of Africa economically, at the same time, it is now at the center of political instability and security and HIV issues still persist.

From Cairo to Sharm to Addis Nov 2008

View from my room- Sharm El Shiek

San Francisco Opera’s 86th season, Opera Ball 2008

Friday, September 5th at the War Memorial Opera House: Referred by the media as SF's most glamorous night out, Baritone sensation Dmitri Hvorostovsky (right) brought his "magnetic stage presence" and "gut grabbing vocal heft" to Verdi's Simon Boccanegra (Houston Chronicle). A Shakespearean-like tale of treachery, rebellion and familial love, Dmitri was joined by Italian soprano Barbara Frittoli, praised for her "impassioned lyricism" by The New York Times; the dou were the best fit I has seen in a long time... Donald Runnicles of course conducted a remarkable score.

Picture taking was as good as Oscar night on the red carpet - amazing gowns are like eye candy. After trying out 3-4 gowns, I settled for a short length. Weather was 90%, unusual for SF. Pictures is coming soon....

Needless that I had the privilege of seeing the same Opera during its dress rehearsal Tuesday eve, where I wiped my eyes out, I did not mind seeing it again during the gala affair. The festivities began at five o’clock. Upon entering the reception, we were transported to an exquisite Italian Palazzo where we feasted on sumptuous hors d’oeuvres while sipping fine wines and spirits. At 7pm, the curtain rose for the performance of Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra. Indeed a performance. In fact, while I would have loved to stay the whole course, I left after intermission to the glamorous Jardinière restaurant, - where we were joined by many who did the same. Late night was a stop at Scalas in WC, where night cap is the custom - A fabulous night indeed. Cheers! sb

where to go when not traveling...

Address 1515 , where? walnut creek....
The place to hang-out ... ok, there are bouncers, sleek cars, Beverly Hills types and best of all, friendlies place .... Check it out ....everyone is coming from out of town! Cheers . sb

SF The Art of the Opera - A Cocktail Gala Event by Bravo..

San Francisco- August 2008: So I am a Bravo member on and off..now that I am frequenting SF due to my current local consulting gig, I decided to be back on the scene...love this shu-shu fufu stuff..sometimes..

......is the B!C Gala Kick-off Event...at the Michael Thomson sleek and modern framing gallery. It was featuring the famous John f. Martin's highly anticipated series "In Character". An amazing photography , I kept asking - are u sure these r not paintings? hmm how crisp they are!.. Met and mingled with fellow gala ticket holders, enjoyed hosted hors d'oeuvres and got into the mood for Bravo! CLUB's magical opening night gala!. Picture taking was fun with exclusive privately-held Opera collection of spectacular Costumes and be serenaded by the local Opera talentsaround. some opera sound here.
I chose the Phantom of the Opera (above left) costume with a friend I took to the event!... and wait til you hear the talents of these Opera singers...voice media to be posted soon.... Set me in the mood to listen to my favorite Francis Coppola composition...theme from The God father as I cruised home in my car!
Ciao !! sb

The AA - in Winter time...

Addis Ababa July 2008: from the Paris of Europe to the Paris of Africa ( The double A)...

Checked-in at the Sheraton Addis left- This Pasha is suppose to be one of the 11 "Luxury Collection" Hotels of Starwood, which we are again grateful for having it as a result of out famous and wealthy Ethio-Saudi investor Shiek Al Amoudi. A patron since its construction over 9 years ago, I actually decided to stay there cause the Hiton's Gym was under construction. Unfortunately not having a Gym at one at this hotel (shame for its standard), they managed to get me a cycling machine in my room. Off I go in and out, noting service excellence, like santa who is good and who is bad during my stay:-) I assure you I get critical of this when I travel in Africa, cause I feel embarrassed when it is substandard .... depends on mgmt perception... complaint or input.
The rest was business and pleasure as usual (right). Luggage delay for 4 days is a Lufthansa experience one prays not to happen, especially in Addis, where I find it shopping challenged, so I was roaming around the Pasaha with the same clothes for 4 days...

Weekend is at the famous Kurifu Resort left, 2 hr away from town, an amazing exercises in brain and body renewal... food and Ethiopian with (Guder) is amazing!
My come back to Sheraton was an interesting series of accidents, as I was told. I had a check-out notice earlier than when I should, my inroom safe was open and my personal voicemail was reset. Did the hotel handle it properly? No ....even worst, I learned after I checked-out that I have been robbed of 1800USD out of my hand luggage inside zipper sealed in a while envelop..., which only can find out if they searched closely in my property...what an invitation of privacy?? that is that for the "Luxury collection"...management reaction was pretty standard..defend the hotel...well I am going to have a u-tube on you when I finish this blog I tell u.... glad that it went to my people, yet, this hotel needs a face lift in mgmt, which had taken down its service to a 2* level in my opinion, equal to mgmt complacency.

Birthdays in June Paris ..

Paris in June: Here we come.. the Sophie invasion!! Too anxious to meet my old time friend Sophie, after we decided to celebrate our B-Days in Europe this year...so we chose Paris. Two Sophies, myself and Sophie traveling from Irland and 2 other Irish girlfriends of her living in Paris...

Left ..Starbucks in Paris...so chic looking...

My Hotel -Westin Paris , also the chic address, not far from the Buddah Bar and Carton Hotel, hip hangouts; taxis take over 25 minutes to catch, must be so you admire the city while waiting, yes, we have checked out Hemingway Bar, Maxim's, Le Cab by Pl du Palais Royal, and the amazing Libresens Cognac bar and dinner at Perision Hall is a fantastic end!

Yes, I wanted to stop over and pay my Salute to my also old colleagues in ICANN - as the 32nd International Public ICANN Meeting was happening on 22-26 June 2008. Glad to have retired from the Council, and be a regular citizen of ICANN, I also got to announced our dot.africa initiative at the public forum.

Other times, just touring around the beautiful city that seem endlessly glamorous was fun and playing 'pose' as a model is a must, especially the same place that I used to be photographed over 10 years ago!!! 'Strike a pose';-)

Le saine

A day in the city...

So I spent few hours at GGU, in Alumni relations in SF, to discuss some of my projects that I have on my plate.....they were very excited to hear my activities since I left the school and definitely we put together a partnership strategy for way forward. I have to say , they have the best alumni relations. Met a friend for lunch who works at one of my old Bank, and headed on to a
beautiful building that caught my eye...i.e the "Museum of the African Diaspora'...MOAD... wow, how impressive...went in saw the current exhibition on how high tech has revolutionized Africa..I felt I was visiting the UN except this is far impressive in its commercialization.

Rainy Seattle..

So I am off today for business in Seattle.... my flight is from SFO, for 2 eves, I only took a carry -on which was great! Arrive in Seattle - the worst airport I have ever been ...bad info system, bad design. Hotel was great ...Starwood as usual.... excellent service..view was great from the suite, Belleveu, seem one of the trendies towns with all the ritzy stores and bars around...but have no elegance or a sense of city design..so be it. Places are chic inside and people are fairly fashionable, high priced geeks at my hotel..excellent wine tasting (Seattle has great Merlos BTW) at the hotal bar; the Seaside restaurant for dinner, and Jowes for hangout and some pool playing dance club across the street -wow makes you feel ike you are in Europe. Elegant starbucks coffee shops with the music and everything else was around, despite the new CEO is to get rid of that!! weather was bad and so I did not mind leaving soon...Bye Bye Seattle.

Googled...

A great day to drive to Mountain view, 52 minutes according to Google map and so it was. So I arrived at 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA. Ok is that "google" street name I am (Click on all the pictures....you will see more) I found a parking spot, although I noticed a "valet parking". I went to the visitors area, which seem to be situated in every building on the compound. Did I need to sign an NDA to get in, yes all electronically as well, including my sign-in. Ok I felt I was visiting FBI. So I asked the front desk guy, what the NDA is all about... He relived me when he mentioned 'product; cause I have all intention of blogging what I saw, with the exception, I could not take pictures inside the complexes, only outside.

Who cares however, I was visiting and being hosted by the famous Dr. Vint Cerf, sooooo I get to get the special tour I requested (not avail for general public, I was told by the visitors desk) with him coming along, so I got my photo opp with the the famous "dinosaur " in our background!. At any rate, we had lunch and as Vint tells me everything is for free, we ate at the MAIN cafe, hum , so there is a cafe in every building, like I learned there is a Micro kitchen in every kitchen with chefs standing around with their white gowns and caps, as well as a Gym at every building and even a laundry room... does any one have to go home then? Ok there are bicycles parks at every building for running around the compound...I think I may have also seen some scooters and Vespas

So I will say having a tour of Google HQ, with the founder of the Internet, plus lunch, and photo with the dinosaur does not always happen at the same time ..key word here is Internet, Dr. Vint Cerf, Google Tour...that is, a hard one to catch!!.

So what is this to the left: yes a pic of the oldest server, said the attendant; and how old I asked thinking 1970s or something ...no 1998 sever he said. I guess given average age of employees at Google is 26, 1998 is pretty old!!!

So to what do I charge these hours with my company? Research? Bus dev?, time off?.... i think the later suits me fine!... Cheers. sb

Ok two links worth of your time...

YouTube - The World According To Google
YouTube - The World According To Googlehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JV2HcNta1gU&NR=1