Last week, the Economist.com editors called GENI, and invited me to particpate in their on-line Oxford style debate series, from August 19-29.  The question posed -- can we solve the energy crisis using exisiting technology or do we need breakthroughs?  The bottom line is we need both.

 Please join in, add your comments, and vote!  http://www.economist.com/debate

This has been a great opportunity to inform a very respected audience to the strategy of linking renewable energy resources around the world. 

Yesterday I was on the phone with Guru (David) Steven a Positive Deviant Network member.  We were talking about the future and Bucky’ concepts of Ephemeralization” (doing more and more with less and less) and Bucky’s concept of “Emergence through  Emergency.”

When I got home, I turned on the computer and read this article.  Just thought I would share it with you.  Bucky gave me a faith in “there is something mysterious going on”. 

I believe Bucky will be eventually viewed as one of the greatest minds to ever live.  With that in mind I would love to have you join me at the Whitney Museum at 945 Madison Avenue (At 75^th) Street, New York NY 10021  (212) 570-3600 at the main entrance at 10:00 AM on Saturday August 16^th.   http://www.voanews.com/english/AmericanLife/2008-07-11-voa35.cfm

 I doubt that there will ever be an exhibit of Bucky’s artifacts like this again in my lifetime.  The artifacts, however, are like attempting to view describe an orange by looking at it from the outside and never having tasted one.  Hopefully, we will be able to look at these artifacts (the outside) and I will do my best to describe the “taste” of Bucky’s thinking.

 If you can make it, I would love to share this experience with you.  Please let me know if you can make it by responding to the Evite (Click here to view and respond to the invitation. If you don’t already have an Evite account, you will need to register when you get there.)

 
Love,

Marshall

I thank every one of you for your prayers, your flowers, your calls, your visits, your gifts etc. etc.  They have made a HUGE impact.  Approximately 50% of all people given chemo get no benefit from it.   Yet, today when we got Jan’s first official report back after two months of chemo the results made the Dr. excited (and she is not the excitable type!)  Jan’s tumor in her cervix has shrunk in by more than half.  The spots on her liver have also shrunk by more than half.  This is fantastic news.

Equally important is Jan’s CEA score.  CEA is a blood test that is used to measure cancer activity; a normal score is 3 and a normal score for a smoker is 5.  When we arrived in New York at Sloan Kettering Jan’s CEA score was 53.  Now, two months later, Jan’s score is 18.  Such a drop is as close to a miracle as the medical profession will acknowledge.   Again: THANK YOU!!!!  I am convinced your energy and support was and continues to be the difference.

Granted, Jan is not out of the woods; the tumors are not small enough yet to be operable.  However, cancer studies show that those who respond to the first two month round of chemo continue to respond during the second two month round.   Hopefully, they will get small enough to so an operation is possible. Even if the tumors disappear completely she will still need to have an operation.  The survival rate without an operation, even with the tumor complete disappears, is only 5% without surgery.

We will be moving into a small brown-stone that we bought for Jan’s daughter Jessie in Brooklyn in the Bed/Stuy area.  Since there are only three apartments, we are turning it into one single family home.  We will join Jessie and her husband Oliver in the brownstone while Jan continues her treatment.  My best case time estimate: two years.  

Again, thank you for all your good thoughts, prayers and kindness.  Your support has changed my life; I feel I am a better, kinder and more appreciative human being because of the collective you.
 
With gratitude,

Marshall

 

Jan’s Health Update 3.22.08

Elizabeth Kübler-Ross came up with five stages human’s experience to any form of catastrophic life change (job, income, freedom, health).

1. Denial: The initial stage: "It can't be happening."
2. Anger: " It's not fair."
3. Bargaining: "Just give me this….
4. Depression: "The emotions and sadness are disorientating ……"
5. Acceptance: "This is now a reality and I embrace it."

Elizabeth Kübler-Ross also claimed these steps do not necessarily come in the order. I know that I have and still am experiencing all of the above stages and I believe Jan is also.

What is certain is that all your letters, cards, phone calls, emails, flowers and prayers are helping. Each night we play one of the recorded healing sessions. We hear all your voices as you sign in. Just hearing those calling in is often overwhelming. My experience is that these are the sessions where Jan experiences the most peace. I know they are for me. Thank you.

What we know so far:

1. Jan has cancer. The pathology was finally confirmed Wednesday. It has spread to her liver since this is where the first (and only definitive) confirmation on cancer has been found. It is believed to be colon cancer yet the slides have been sent to pathology for further stain tests for more definitive confirmation.

2. We are attempting to get Jan admitted to Sloan Kettering in NYC. This is one of the best cancer hospitals in the world. Thanks to our network, it looks like we will have her on a fast track for admittance. If not, we may need to follow up with some of the other leads we have received as part of your amazing support. Again, Thank You!

My commitment is stronger than ever to work with our Positive Deviant Network. Today is the first day where I have felt strong enough to commence giving back. I have listed twenty two objectives to focus on for the next thirty days. If you are interested you can view my focus process (you must be logged in as a PDN member) for the details. They are listed on my Focus Process as part of the Positive Deviant Network Website.

If for some reason you can’t get in, please call Dwight at 435-654-9555 or e-mail him at: dwight@posdev.net.

Again, we thank you for all your support. I know this experience has already positively changed me. Although I don’t recommend it, I know that I have become and still becoming a better person because of this.

With deep gratitude,

Marshall

---

March 3rd Update

Jan is home. She is in a great deal of pain and heavily medicated. The highlight each day is when we listen to the healing sessions that were recorded. We do that both morning and evening. Watching her respond so positively each time is amazing.

We are getting a second opinion in New York at the Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. The treatment there is the best in the world.

Again, thank you. I am overwhelmed by the support she/we are receiving.

With love and gratitude,

Marshall

Letter From Marshall and Jan (February 28)

Last night’s healing session was just that.

After the call, Jan looked at me and said, “I want to live.” Until that call she had been very despondent. Thank you for this. It is a close to overwhelming as I have ever been.

Jan is in surgery as I write this. They are not addressing the cancer just the blockage. The idea is to remove the pain, get her strong and then look at the options.

For those of you who missed last night’s healing session, there is another one this morning at 9:00 AM Pacifictime. I would appreciate it if as many of you as possible would get on that call.

With deep love and gratitude,
Marshall

Click here to listen to a recording of the February 27th Healing Call (MP3 file)

Our Healing Messages for Jan

So many wonderful people are sending their positive energy to Jan and Marshall at this time. Many of you would like to send her a well-wishing message, and this is a way for you to post it. Please feel free to "comment" below with your message for Jan and Marshall.

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/128

"I don't think we're going to make it," John Doerr proclaims, in an emotional talk about climate change and investment. Spurred on by his daughter, who demanded he fix the mess the world is heading for, he and his partners at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers embarked on a greentech world tour -- surveying the state of the art, from the ethanol revolution in Brazil to Wal-mart's (!) eco-concept store in Bentonville, Arkansas. KPCB is investing $200 million in green technologies to save the planet and make a profit to boot. But, Doerr fears, it may not be enough.

What is The Story Of Stuff?

From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff is a fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It'll teach you something, it'll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever.

You just watched the teaser version. Click here if you would like to watch the entire 20 minute video.