Master Close-up Magician

Jean-Pierre Vallarino, one of the greatest world-class close-up magicians, with his famous routine. His elegant way of handling the cards are definitely the smoothest of all that I've seen. Enjoy the clip of his classical act!;)This is a clip that I filmed in 2005, during my first ever major show, the KENT event. That last part when I did my card revelations, it's actually a combination of what I

Doctors - The Most Difficult Patients?

I'm wondering if you agree with this statement? Well, through what I've seen or heard, I think I now do agree with it. I've encountered:#1A doc who smokes and with cigarette's smell whenever he speaks. And he tells, "You know, it's very difficult to quit this. Easier said than done."#2A doc who's diagnosed leukemia and get frustrated and refused all chemoradiotherapy. Finally he said, "You know,

baby steps giant leaps

I've been going to a life drawing class in Kingston on Saturdays. And I've got to say it's a revelation. With a few quick tips from my friend David McKee I achieved a whole new perspective - and I mean that literally. My first 20 minute drawing was elongated and out of perspective. My 2nd was amazingly proportioned and balanced.
I'm still like a kid when it comes to creative pursuits. I honestly love everything I do. I get so excited by the process and the results. I'm without filter. There is no bad. No judgement. And that's what I really hope to share in my workshops, and now as a creativity coach.
Our culture is way too filled with criticism and comment. We don't leave anyone alone long enough to simply express themselves. One of the greatest gifts for me was something Krishna Das said during a workshop or maybe it was a kirtan: "God doesn't care if you can carry a tune." And I would say doesn't care if you color within the lines either. Or even if your line is straight, or in perspective.
The thing is, if we don't draw the line and take the risk to draw it, we can't get better at drawing. And that's true with everything we do.
But you know that. I know that. But still we get afraid or busy with laundry and full of excuses for not creating. Or singing. Or playing.
It's funny. I wasn't looking for a drawing class. I went because I wanted to support a friend. And I can't tell you how many excuses I made even while driving to give myself an easy out. I had car trouble, and even turned around once and went home before turning back around and making my way across the bridge, stopping every 5 miles or so when the engine light came on.
But the simple magic of sitting still for an hour and drawing the human figure is extraordinary. Quiet, intense, magnificent.
How can we find small ways to support our creative selves for just an hour or 2 a week? Or 5 minutes a day?
That's all it takes.
May the Magic Medicine of a new perspective open your eyes and your heart.

Intrigued? Bored? Indifferent? Drop me a line and let me know how you feel about Magic Medicine. Want more? You can buy Magic Medicine: Rx for Creativity, here. Or drop me a line at modernsacred@yahoo.com

Project Magic - Therapeutic Magic

David Copperfield, the greatest man in the magic history. I look up to him not only because of his astounding achievement in magic, but he has such a great mind to develop the use of magic in a therapeutic way, which is what I'm going to share about today."Project Magic" is a program designed by David Copperfield, to give the gift of magic to people with various physical, psycho-social and

Signs of Anemia?

A group of medical students are having a bedside teaching session with Prof. (MO and HO just happened to be doing work at the table nearby)Prof: "In a patient that we suspect to have anemia, what clinical signs do we look for?"A: "Cyanosis."Prof: "Very good (sarcastically)..you can get out from the ward now. Make sure you prepare adequately before you come to my class again."B: "(shivering voice)

lost luggage, lost years, found treasures - a long post

I spent most of the weekend waiting, and worrying about Larry's lost luggage. Only because he had to be back on a plane to Dallas Sunday afternoon, and we needed to do his laundry. The airline wouldn't deliver to our town, so we spent most of the day playing phone tag with the airline and the courier service trying to figure out when it might arrive at my parents home, a few towns over, and within their delivery zone.
I have to say, it was lesson in staying calm, present and human. You want to scream, but you know the voice on the other end of the phone has people getting nasty with them all day long. What's the point? The luggage doesn't get found any faster. And I am holding in my heart, an idea that was offered at the recent Yom Kippur retreat I attended at New York Insight Meditation: "do you want to be the kind of person who makes people anxious, angry, upset, or calm, peaceful and free from suffering?"
I want to be the kind of person who puts others at ease, including myself. So every time I found my stomach in knots and my voice just about to raise, I relaxed a bit. And someday, with enough practice, perhaps I'll skip the knot wrenching stage altogether. Even in airports. Even with lost luggage.
But it's my nature to get nervous, excited, a little on edge with just the slightest provocation, which is why I meditate, chant, knit, study karate and and do everything I possibly can to act "as if" I were more peaceful at heart.
Nobody wants lost luggage, but long lost friends are another story. A room mate from college found me on Facebook a month or so ago. I ran into two sisters from high school the other day while walking through the West Village, and just last week, my college boyfriend dropped me an email and we caught up quickly by phone.
I took a look through the college yearbook only to discover that I remembered almost no one. But what's struck me most is a sweet, sad sensation that is so tender and touching, I almost hate to let it go. I walked around for a day with tears in my eyes, and while indulging in a little thrift store therapy, had to buy myself a stuffed animal in addition to the usual armload of clothes.
It's kind of crazy: life changes us completely and yet it doesn't change us at all.
And that's the found treasure.
May your day be filled with the Magic Medicine of the peace of mind and happy heart of the child you once were and will always be.

There's a really entertaining digression on lost time on TED. Click on the John Hodgman image/link.

Frank's Sign

I think once you know this sign, you'll love looking for it.Frank's sign is a diagonal crease in the lobule of the auricle, as shown in the pic, which was a patient that I came across yesterday. (To be more specific, it's Grade 3 Frank's sign)"The sensitivity of Frank's sign reaches 75%, its specificity 57.5% and its positive predicting value 80.3%. The prevalence of Frank's sign increases

Couple Jokes (2)

#1Wife: "Dear, tonight I feel like sleeping with the light on. Is it ok?"Husband: "Oh..hmm can but..."Wife: "But what? You'll be uncomfortable with it?"Husband: "Well it should be fine, as long as you keep your make-up on..."#2Wife standing in front of the mirror.Wife: "Oh dear, I think I look old, fat and ugly. Can you just give me some compliments?"Husband: "Oh sure. Well, at least your

Randomz (2)

Well..just a post of random stuffs again;)Got my MRCP formal result today, attached with the analysis of answered items by specialty. To my good surprise, the best fields I did are cardiology (future dream..), endocrinology (ok..) and geriatric medicine (quite surprised), which are scored 100% correct. Followed by clinical science (so my magic medicine formula can work?), nephrology and

boost your creativity

As some of you know, I’ve been working towards a certification in Creativity Coaching. The model I’m working with – Kaizen Muse - is particularly effective in dealing with overwhelm, procrastination, perfectionism and discipline.
One of the requirements is a practical, and I am looking for 2 clients to coach for 4 weeks each.
Because I’m not yet certified, I am offering the 4 session package at a greatly reduced rate of $100. That’s just $25 per session. A real steal. Once I’m certified, that rate is going to jump to over $100 per session, as I am interested in working with highly motivated individuals who are passionately committed to their creative lives. (I'll be offering coaching as seva (service) but these sessions will be reserved for those in need.)
Can I trouble you to forward this link to anyone you think might be interested?
Thanks very much for your help. I really appreciate it!
If you have any questions, feel free to email me, or give me a ring at 917 747 8990.
I’ve outlined a few FAQ below which may be of interest.

How is Creativity Coaching different from Life Coaching?
Kaizen Muse Creativity Coaching focuses on creative desires, pursuits, projects vs. life/work goals. That being said, one might have a goal to live more creatively in every aspect of life – and creativity coaching can help with that.
What is Kaizen Muse?
Kaizen Muse is a coaching model created by Jill Badonsky, MS and Dr. Robert Mauer, based on a productivity model that comes to us by way of Japan . It is based on the premise that small incremental steps can help us make progress and overcome the hurdles that slow us down and even stop us in our tracks.

How long is each session?
KM sessions are 30 to 45 minutes each.

Where?
KM sessions are done over the phone. I will provide a phone number for you to call into. Sessions are recorded with your permission.

What can I expect of a session?
The first session you can expect to talk quite a bit about where you are in your creative life so that I can get an overview. Together we’ll identify what the next 3 sessions might focus on. In each subsequent session we identify what struggles you may be having, but more importantly will focus on what works for you.


What can I expect of a 4 session series?
In the course of just 4 sessions, you can expect to get a clear picture of how you can make small steps that will have lasting and cumulative impact on your creativity, specific creative projects and the way you see yourself as a creative being.

Why might I want Creativity Coaching?
Kaizen Muse can really help you get started and make progress on any dream you may have on the back burner. A book you’ve always wanted to write. A project you’ve been thinking about for months – even years, and just can’t seem to get to. We focus on things that have a creative slant, but really, there’s little that can’t be considered creative.

What Creativity Coaching isn’t…?
It’s not therapy. While issues certainly come up in relation to why we don’t get to our creative longings, Creativity Coaching focuses on sure fire ways to get to the work that speaks to your heart, one small step at a time. It doesn’t dwell on the past, but rather focuses on the present, so that you can move creatively into the future with a foundation for sustainable success.

Magic Medicine Formula (3)

3rd part: Time for microbiology!Always confused by various types of bacteria & viruses? Well, not anymore!=)You only need some codes..Gram Positive cocci - SSES - StaphylococciS - StreptococciE - EnterococciGram Negative cocci - MNM - MoraxellaN - Neisseria (N.meningitidis & N.gonorrhea)Gram Positive baccilli (rods) - ABCD.LNA - ActinomycesB - Bacillus anthracisC - Clostridium groupD -

Magic Medicine Formula (2)

Ok..now we come to the 2nd part. Well, MRCP really likes to ask about genetic diseases and mode of inheritance. It'll be a waste if you do not master this part, but to memorize all that is obviously not an easy task.A general rule is, Autosomal dominant conditions are mostly with "structural/ phenotypical" abnormalities; whereas autosomal recessive conditions are with "metabolic" disorders.A list

Magic Medicine Formula (1)

Hi dear friends, time to share my studying tips. Well, to relate magic with medicine, hmm I would say that learning magic has definitely improved my memory. However, I think to study medicine, such a profound and broad field with countless facts and terminology involved, mere memory might not be adequate. Then I found a very useful tool, it's definitely not something new, which are "mnemonics".

Preparing for MRCP?

Ok since there are quite some questions on how did I prepare for my Part 1, hmm probably I'll just show you what have I got for my preparation:






The top and the bottom form the essentials. Many seniors told me that the minimum requirement is to finish Oxford handbook and K&C Clinical Medicine..cover to cover. To be honest, it's true. Painstaking and time-consuming but, this is what MRCP is

How Sick Can One's Mind Be?

Today's the first day of Hari Raya.The workload's almost doubled. Taiping town is flooded with so many ppl who come back to hometown. Most common cases? Congestive cardiac failure who drank too much fluid, uncontrolled diabetes, road traffic accidents etc.But one case was really really unexpected.A rape case. A 6 year-old girl went to her neighbour's open house. She was brought by her neighbour