Sinanation

Thanks to the Internet we are all entitled to a bit of violation of privacy and get to learn about the lives of intriguing people we have never personally met. From geniuses such as Steve Jobs to the extravagant rich such as the Ecclestone Family, hundreds of biographies are just a click away on our computer and TV screens.

I got caught up in John Traina’s (deceased in 2011) world after I received an online auction notification from Sotheby’s with his precious cufflinks on display. What struck me about this California magnet was that unlike many other self-made billionaires he was curious, social and daring enough to use his wealth as a means to a hand-picked unique luxurious life. Traina was a San Francisco cruise magnet, the owner of Pearl Cruises which was the first cruise line to reach China from the Americas. The items Mr. Traina left behind certify that he spent his fortune on high quality living. Luxurious mansions, Faberge collections, art, classic cars, tailored suits, rare cufflinks and precious wine were among his list of musts. He was cherished by the business elite, the Hollywood and the European high society. Sophia Lauren was eager to be one of his guests at his summer homes and the famous author Danielle Steel was his 2nd wife. Mr. Traina was married 3 times, all to amazing women who loved him dearly and had 8 children with them.

I have never met John Traina and can’t in any way judge his character, but from what I have read and seen I can tell that he was good at savoring life the way he wanted it to be savored. In the end, isn’t life too short to do it any other way?

Below are a few snapshots from this gentleman’s life and a few pieces from his collection that will be auctioned off by Sotheby’s in New York on 7 December 2011.

Thanks to my subway rides to work, I came across an amazing comic book. Sosyal Hayvan is a series of illustrated books created for adults by Erdil Yaşaroğlu. Using animals, these series take the common concerns of our society under a magnifying glass and depict them in a hilariously funny satirical tone. From weight to marriage problems, Sosyal Hayvan does an impeccable job at bullseyeing the rather useless concerns we take so seriously in life. I bought the newest edition, which was displayed abundantly on the subway walls,  a few days ago and it took me less than an hour to go through the whole thing.

Pollution, disasters, wars, scandals…We are constantly bombarded with signs of an inevitable end and we are scared  of consuming our precious planet. Looking at the photos below, I know there is still hope for a better tomorrow.

The hills of Lucca, Italy:

A crystal mine in Mexico:

A sandy beach on The Virgin Islands:

There is a long list of studies analyzing the status of comfort zone in human life and no matter how hard the researchers try there is never an easy way to overcome the resistance to changing the habitual. There is a contentious love affair between the mind and the body, leaving us right in the middle of the war zone. The mind makes all the decisions and the body resists any change in routine. That is why we require extreme willpower to adapt to a new behavior. The pull to adapt to the change feeds on the customary leading to temporary isolation and despair. The body’s stubbornness becomes more apparent when we force a harder regime into our daily life. That is why the work week right after a sweet vacation seems even more unbearable. We pull ourselves out of the bed early in the morning with an extra bag of stones on top of us. We drag ourselves near the water that feels even more colder than it ever was. The legs have never been as heavy as we walk to the car, the bus or the metro. The day has never been as slow and our appetite for food has never been as big.

The first work week after a 10-day vacation: yes, I was stuck right in the middle of a vicious war this morning.

It has been two years since I got into the world of cigars. All started during a California trip with my buddies. The delicious Napa wines, the flirtatious San Francisco girls and the happy West coast weather pushed me gently into a luxurious, carefree vibe, to which cigars were the most crucial accessory. I was the casual social smoker and I had no reason to be judgmental. Then I got back to reality and took a pause on the Cubans and the Dominicans until I got enough research to deserve a humidor at home. The cedar treasure chest came as a surprise birthday gift this year as my friends finally realized I didn’t have the guts to buy one myself and admit my interest in cigars.

A small paint brush, distilled water, a rectangle plastic box: I was prepped up to set up my very own humidor. I did everything the right way and it was the box itself that failed this time. The metal plates glued to the lid of the box were not strong enough to hold the sponge box in place and were found ripped only a day after.

Disappointed and a little angry at the manufacturer, I jumped online to find the best quality cigar humidors. Other than my father’s suggestion (which is obviously S.T. Dupont) and my own (Porsche Design and Christofle), I think I finally found the most reliable and coolest (and probably the most expensive) humidor brand out there. It is Elie Bleu from France. Established in 1976, Bleu started the business as a high quality wood-maker and then expanded into the boxing of cigars, watches and jewelry. Thanks to Russians and the Asians, the company already went through a huge expansion and now has shops in Moscow and Hong Kong. I am already a big fan of the Pirates, Medals and Che lines in humidors and might one day be too crazy to get one. According to online sources, an Elie Bleu humidor sells for USD 2,000 – 7,000.

I attended a family dinner at the Four Seasons Hotel Bosphorus last night. In addition to amazing food there was something else equally impressive at our table: the cordless portable lights. These egg shaped lamps grabbed my attention at the end of my main course as I became aware of how satisfied I was with the amount of light around my spot. Not too bright or too gloomy, my eyes were not dazzled and I could easily identify every dish on my plate. So I grabbed the egg of wonder, played with its settings a little and noted the manufacturer. Neoz is an Australian Lightening company active since 1983. It turns out this company a genius when it comes to cordless rechargeable lights and started applying its bright ideas also to furniture (illuminated stools, chairs, etc.) in 1995. Neoz’s eggs from last night are the ones that officially retired the candle from work for me. I will surely try to grab a few to be used at future outside entertainments at home.

You can easily make up for it! My friend Aslı sent this over yesterday. I found it hilarious and had to share with you. The idea deserves recognition, but I still wish they didn’t make it public. Talk about overdoing creativity…

My trip to Bodrum this weekend was accompanied by an intriguing “toy for the big boy”, a water gadget called Seabob Cayago F7. I got the opportunity to take it out for a swim and was greatly impressed by its performance. Bob should be considered the Kawasaki of the mighty waters (and you don’t need a license or extensive training to take it around). Once charged, this floating water jet will take you anywhere you would like to go on or under water. It has great speed, comfortable grip and could be an awesome chick magnet. Just make sure you have good goggles to maintain vision. Keep your arms and legs as straight as possible to make smooth turns. And when you are ready to dive in put your weight on Bob and let it take you downtown.

Ready to buy one? You won’t find this baby at your local toy shop. This much fun comes with a heartbreaking price. Seabob is currently sold for USD 19K on Amazon.

I get deeper in a vortex of doubt and desperation as I read more into the news. The latest tabloid that makes me feel this way is obviously the hit on the Murdochs and the News Corp. This massive publicly traded media empire has been around for years. It has gone through continual continental expansion and successfully blocked fatal damages. Yet on the brink of its offer to buy out British Sky Broadcasting Group, British officials pulled the carpet right out of its feet and pushed the media empire into an inescapable collision. Phone hacking, geo-locating, bribing were all flushed out of the sink as if nobody was aware of their existence before. We all already knew they have been the media’s favorite sins since the humans got a taste of the gossip.

I am not saying I support all the illegal transactions that make the media work (I am obviously against all and agree that they be punished), but I am asking why all these skeletons that have been around for years are dug out on the brink of a major change among the big players in the media?

I can’t do without reading the news, but everytime I read blow-ups such as News Corp I can’t help, but accept the fact that I am among the puppets reading about the actions of our puppeteers. Sheepish, perplexed, doubtful and always delayed, I force myself not to get too much into the conspiracy and make myself believe the dull reasons behind the news of the day. And I find comfort in one unquestionable fact: obviously News Corp’s offer for BSkyB, Britain’s largest pay-TV broadcaster, is cancelled.

A friend recently forwarded me the winners of the 58th Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity that took place in June. I was greatly impressed with the numerous campaigns that received recognition. Yet, there is one website in the list that I couldn’t wait to share. Walloffame is basically an endless digital white board that allows its visitors to draw, write, scratch anything they want on it. You sign up with a username or your Facebook profile, are given 10 board-markers to choose from and then just go at it. You have the option to take snapshots of the piece that is coming together (by hundreds or users from around the world) and share it with anybody you want.

I am amazed by the possibilities we have on the internet today. I am also curious to see what kind of a server walloffame runs on. Don’t wait any longer, start drawing.