Birkies at 42

About a week ago, a good friend sent me a text with a picture of some 1970’s Birkenstock sandals. They belonged to Steve Jobs, one of the founders of Apple Computer. The sandals had been auctioned off for $218K. That is just crazy!

However, I do understand the ‘lure’ of a good pair of Birkenstocks. I’ve had my Birkenstock clogs or Birkies, as I call them, for nearly 42 years. I purchased them in 1981, while living in San Diego.

It has become a passion of mine to keep them going until my final days. Why would this be so? What is the point in keeping these shoes alive?

For me, they are a portal to my past. Each time I slip them on, I am transported to another time in my life. A time filled with dreams of possibly working with zoo animals and living at the beach. A time filled with dreams of the future.

And… I know it’s hard to believe, but some individuals do not like my clogs. It was even suggested to use them as planters on the patio wall. Really! These are priceless and need to live on. Perhaps they are even an extension of my soul (sole)?

So, if the individual who purchased Steve Jobs’ Birkies wants to know… they can easily be resoled and recorked. You can keep your investment alive forever! Wear them, travel back in time to the ‘Home Brew Computer Club,’ and tell “The Woz” hello for me.

Enjoy your Birkenstocks – your feet will thank you!

AlphaWEAR Clothing Line

After I patented the AlphaWAVE Relaxation / Performance Improvement Disk, I thought about other ways that I might apply this concept.  How might I get people interested in learning how to improve their alpha brainwave production?

People like T-shirts… why not come up with some designs.  A Clothing Line For Your Mind became my new trademark and mantra.

Not clothing color therapy, but visual conditioning, through a process, which causes brain synchronization, producing Alpha waves.  Like biofeedback or meditation, the mind becomes quiet and in focus.  This reduces mental and muscle tension and enables optimal performance in any endeavor, and improves one’s health.

My original intention was to use the Alpha disk for training, and then wear an apparel item (shirt, hat, shoes, towel, etc.) during the actual sporting event.  This would give the user mental reinforcement during the stress of performing.  I received a second patent for this concept.

It was specifically a tool for sports performance improvement – relax the mind and your game improves.  Then it occurred to me that many of our daily or life’s events cause stress as well. 

I wanted to use clothing as a relaxation device.  Utilize the Alpha generating color, along with words and images that would have meaning to the wearer.  A Clothing Revolution so to speak that would improve people’s mental health worldwide.   Could it be done?

Here is one of my first designs. (Keep in mind that the Alpha image color as seen on your device’s screen, is not the actual yellow-green fluorescent color needed to produce Alpha waves.)

Pregnancy produces a lot of stress on a woman’s body.  Look at the Alpha producing image from the wearer’s point of view.  There is a process word, BREATHE and an outline image of a baby.  These act as queues to remind the mother to slow down, look at the image and produce Alpha waves.  In turn, her blood pressure goes down.  If it worked for my niece, then it can work for any expectant mother.

I thought that these shirts would be excellent to use in pre-birthing classes.  Then the expecting mother could take some home for daily use.  I proposed a study at UCSF, but of course received no reply back. Too bad, this really works

I did make a short production run of a long sleeve shirt for my own use.

I’ll be wearing one when I fly my Hammerhead Shark Hydrofoil Board – Flying on a Hammerhead Shark.  I know I will be very stressed prior to the first flight.  I will use the shirt to keep me calm.  Happy landings!

Here’s another shirt that I designed.

The image of the world is actually the Alpha wave producing color.  Wouldn’t it be awesome if this shirt was worn by millions of people around the world.  People’s attitudes would change for the better. Like I say, “Cambiar El Mundo – Change The World.”

The Alpha Generation would prevail. What a wonderful thought!