The Post About Nothing- 'Confluence' and the Seinfeld Show

Now I've written about Jerry before in this blog and he will be featured in the upcoming book, so you could say I've made a real example out of him. I suppose it's no surprise that I've picked the Seinfeld Show to illustrate a good high-profile example of 'Confluence' in both friendship and career terms. In 2002, Time magazine nominated the Seinfeld Show as the greatest sit-com in the history of TV. Now that's debatable, but what's not debatable is that it was a world-wide phenomenon, that makes people of just about every country and culture laugh. I think there'll always be reruns on cable.

Jerry was born 29th April,1954. I have previously demonstrated the Seinfeld Show properly began during his age 36 'Year of Revolution', which is yet another valid well-known case. It also ended when he was in his age 43 'Year of Broken Pathways' so the whole unbroken path of seven years is on display. Today, however, we're going to be looking at other cast members to see what their 'Confluence' was like to Jerry and to each other. Firstly Jason Alexander (George Castanza) was born 23rd Sept.1959, which means that he is 'Confluent' with Jerry for seven months in every second 'significant year' (ie. 7/12, 19/24, 31/36 ). The last pairing of Jason at 31 and Jerry at 36 was right in the period when the Seinfeld Show was properly launched as a mid-season replacement in early 1991. So the Seinfeld Show was born in 'Confluence'. Jerry and George are shown as the two closest buddies in the show and is a good example of 'Confluence' in both work and friendship. Does anyone have any work buddies like this?

Now let's examine Julia Louis-Dreyfuss (Elaine Benes). She was born 13th Jan.1961. This means she shared 3 1/2 months of 'Confluence' with Jerry in every second 'significant year' (ie. 12/19, 24/31, 36/43 ). This last coupling of Julia, at her important age 36 'Year of Revolution' at the same time as Jerry was in his age 43 'Year of Broken Pathways', coincides exactly with the finish of the show. So Elaine and Jerry were also work mates and good buddies and the close of the show happened at a fateful time in both their lives. Have any momentous events happened to you and your good buddies at work in times like these?

Finally let's visit the most 'out-there' member of our famous quartet, actor and comedian Michael Richards, who was born 24th July, 1949. This makes him also 'Confluent' with Jerry for nine months of every second 'significant year' (ie. 12/7 24/19 36/31 48/43). This shows again that when the show closed it was in Richards' age 48 'Year of Revolution', as well as Jerry's age 43 'Year of Broken Pathways'. In addition Richards and Louis-Dreyfuss were 'Confluent' for every 'significant year' (ie. 19/7, 24/12, 31/19, 36/24, 43/31, 48/43 ). So they would have, according to the 'Confluence' concept, a natural empathy with both each other and with Jerry. This was unlike Jason who was only 'Confluent' with Jerry.

Is your head spinning with all this? I forgive you because I realise I'm getting very detailed. Look bottom line is :- they all shared 'Confluence', which must have made working together a dream. The Seinfeld Show was properly launched in 'Confluence' and it most certainly ended in 'Confluence' with three out of the four of them in 'significant years'. What did this mean for their careers and lives? Well you'll just have to find out in the book soon. Till next month:- "May the cycles always bring you good fortune."

Knowing Me, Knowing You, A-Ha: 'Confuence' and Abba

Hands up if you're a big Abba fan. Mine is up and I'm guessing there's quite a few more. Though they hailed from Sweden, they really belonged to the world and were very popular in Australia in the 70's. Theirs is an intricate and towards the end, quite a bitter-sweet tale, of two married couples, who got divorced and then more or less, had to finish up one of the most successful pop bands in history.

But we're not going to talk their hit songs, rather we're going to analyse their relationships, from the perspective of the totally new concept of 'Confluence' taken from the totally new theory of life known as 'Life Cycles'. We are simply going to see if they share time in their 'significant years' (ie. 7/12/19/24/31 etc.). Now you may remember that 'Confluence' applies to romance, friendship and work, or adventure. Whatever brings people close together. So, with Abba you have a mix of romance, friendship and work, but then again this is not unusual in the music business. Anyway, down to business. Just who's 'Confluent' with whom? Well I must unfortunately tell you; Agnetha and Anni-Frid and Bjorn are all 'Confluent' with each other, but poor old Benny is the odd man out here. Now how does all this translate?

I'm just going to look at how they got together and how they split up. My next book may very well be about 'Confluence', so I may get around to greater detail then. OK, so Bjorn Ulvaeus was born 25th April, 1945 and Agnetha Faltskog was born 5th. April, 1950. That means they shared 'Confluence' almost the entire year for every second 'significant year'. The first adult example of this was in the period April, 1969 to April, 1970. What happened then? Well it was stated that in May, 1969 a 19 year-old Agnetha met a 24 year-old Bjorn during the filming of a Swedish TV Special. So they met in 'Confluence' as did Jackie and JFK. Anni-Frid Lyngstad was born 15th November, 1945, so she was also 'Confluent' with both Bjorn and Agnetha. She and Agnetha had a good chemistry at the personal level, that was part of the foundation of the group. This demonstrates the friendship side of 'Confluence'. Is this another excuse to get a good-looking photo in the story? Guilty as charged.

The two couples went on holiday together to Cyprus in April 1970 and what began as singing on the beach, ended up as a live concert for UN soldiers stationed on the island. Anni-Frid and Bjorn were both 24 and Agnetha was 19, so Abba (called Festfolk in the early days) was born in 'Confluence'. My apologies to Benny, but I will catch him later. Huge world-wide success was to follow along with marriages between the two couples. However the marriage of Bjorn and Agnetha was effectively over, before Benny and Anni-Frid finally got married, and in December, 1978 they announced their divorce. They continued to record, but it was a strain. It could be posited that Agnetha did not effectively get over the break up; as many years of isolation and therapy and other shorter relationships followed, including going out with a stalker. She was the one against an Abba reunion and apparently still could not stand to be in the same room as Bjorn. This can be the negative aspect of 'Confluence' when a relationship sours. The former empathy and support makes adjustment to life without the other loved one doubly hard.

OK, we now turn the clock forward a full twelve years from singing on the beach together. It is 1981/2. What was the tipping point in Abba's decision to split? It was undoubtedly the divorce of Benny and Frida in February, 1981. He had been having an affair with TV presenter Mona Norklit, who gave birth to his son in Jan. 1982 and he already had two children by an earlier marriage. So his relationship with Frida was of a different quality to Bjorn and Agnetha.

Both parties got over the divorce quickly and moved on to successful marriages. The lack of 'Confluence' in their relationship made it easier you see. No angst and therapy here. Abba effectively ended in early 1982 when Bjorn and Frida were 36 and Agnetha was 31. So, they began and ended in 'Confluence'; in their combined Years of 'Revolution' and 'Broken Pathways'. I could do more analysis but I think that's enough to make the case.

Till next month:- "May the cycles always bring you good fortune."

Camelot Was Built On Confluence

Now JFK and Jackie must be one of history's most famous couples. The era in which they were the President and First Lady was referred to as Camelot. The stuff of legend. When elected JFK dedicated himself to nobly fighting the common enemies of mankind:- tyranny, poverty, disease and war. But how did the Camelot tag come about? It was not till after his death that the association happened and the person who began it was his widow, Jacqueline Kennedy. By ironic co-incidence two days before the asassination, there was a ball at the White House and Camelot was played. She quoted the lines as favorites of the President and said- "There will be great Presidents again, but there will never be another Camelot".

Yes, but what has this to do with 'Confluence' I hear you ask? Well just about everything is my immodest reply! Let's do some basic checking shall we? John Fitzgerald Kennedy was born May 29, 1917 and Jacqueline Lee Bouvier was born July 28, 1929. Their birth years were twelve years apart, which you should know by now makes them 'Confluent' for 10 months out of a possible 12 in every 'Life Cycles' 'significant year' (ie. 19/24/31/36 and 43 in their case). That's the closest match I have presented to you so far. Now we all know they had relationship difficulties, due mostly to JFK's philandering and Jackie's overspending, so how exactly did their relationship work and why could it be considered so special?

In a forgotten corner of her correspondence Jackie wrote a note to a Newport friend, that in 1949 (as a College Junior) she had just met Jack Kennedy. This was in their combined 'Years of Broken Pathways' (at 19/31). So they met when 'Confluence' was present. Her description of him was:- "a charming, confident,and handsome but insistent flirt, to whom she responded with indifferent amusement, yet absolute attraction." As a blueprint for their marriage it was very close. Even though they went on separate journeys for a while, it was again in their combined 'Years of Revolution' at 24 and 36 that they married in Sept. 1953, in the society wedding of the year. So here was 'Confluence' again when they marked the transition to marriage.

Jack was quoted as saying:- "I'd known a lot of attractive women in my lifetime....but of them all there was only one I could have married...and I married her." They also had to immediately face Jack's severe back pain, caused through a war injury, that was to result in two potentially life-threatening operations not long after. 'Confluence' can sometimes mean facing mutual dramas, be they physical danger or emotional hurt. Even though they shared a close and supportive family life, his affairs took their toll. There is no more poignant quote about their relationship than this one:- "Jackie was a woman full of love and full of hurt. They were two private people, two cocoons married to each other, trying to reach into each other. I think that she felt that he, being so much older than her, that it was up to him to reach more. But he couldn't."

However things took another and more positive turn in their next period of 'Confluence'. When was this? I'd like you to actually tell me. OK, how's it done I hear some ask? Just add seven years to the last period of 'Confluence' (in 1953/4), because the 'Year of Broken Pathways', at either 31 or 43, is seven years later than their last combined 'Year of Revolution'. So that makes it August, 1960 to end May, 1961. No prizes for guessing what their combined challenge was at this point. Jackie, even though pregnant, had helped in the campaign and her knowledge of languages was beneficial. It was a narrow victory and she was one of the youngest First Ladies.

It has been written of this time that "they fell in love all over again" as they had to face both the campaign and gaining respect in the top job. It was said after a year in the White House:-"the dynamic of their relationship was changing and there was a more consistent pattern of expression of mutual love and devotion." There was also no doubt that Jack needed her comfort and advice especially after the Bay of Pigs.

I'm going to let Jackie have the last word, because nothing sums up the power of 'Confluence' like this does. Everything about their relationship was the veritable definition of what I mean by the term 'Confluence'. If your relationship has it, as well as mutual respect and admiration and the capacity to forgive, then you are truly blessed.

During the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 Jackie said :- "If anything happens, we're all going to stay right here with you," she remembers telling her husband. "Even if there's not room in the bomb shelter in the White House. ... I just want to be with you, and I want to die with you, and the children do, too – than live without you." May the cycles always bring you good fortune.

One Small Step-Confluence and the Moon Mission and Neil Armstrong

These titles are getting longer, but that's the way it is when you have a couple of different points to make. Neil Armstrong's recent death brought the world's focus back to the first steps taken by one man, and by logical extension all of mankind, outside of our planet on July 20th, 1969. This is forever enshrined in our history. Now what does it possibly have to do with the theme of this Lesson of posts, known as 'Confluence'? Well this serves as an ideal opportunity for me to look at the next aspect of 'Confluence' and that is having shared time with others in projects, adventures and the like. However long their duration, you are closely relating to usually a small group, for sometimes a very important purpose. There is no doubt that the Moon Mission qualifies as 'a very important purpose'. Once again, as with romance, it's not essential, in and of itself, that you be 'Confluent'; rather it is a desirable extra, that can lead to greater empathy and bonding in times of challenge or crisis.

So, this being the case let's do a little analysis of the Moon Mission team, shall we? Neil Armstrong was born August 5th, 1930 and Buzz Aldrin was born January 20th, 1930 and Michael Collins was born October 31st, 1930. What does this tell you? Yes, they were all 'Confluent' with each other for every 'significant year' in their combined lives. This would make an ideal combination for a small 'hand-picked' team. You all know how much drama they had to face, when during the landing Neil Armstrong had to take over manual control of the Lunar Module, to find a suitable place to land and they almost ran out of fuel. What you probably don't know, is that when they climbed back into the Module for their lift off, they accidentally broke the ignition switch for the ascent engine with their bulky spacesuits, and had to use part of a pen to activate the launch sequence.

Now let's go a bit further shall we? Let's set up a hypothesis for testing. You see this Moon landing did not happen when all three astronauts were in their central, mid-life, age 36 'Year of Revolution'. So what did happen, that could be considered a reasonable turning point in their careers? Well on January 27th, 1967 Apollo 1, designed to be the first lunar spaceship, caught fire on the launch pad, killing astronauts Grissom, White and Chaffee. After the inquest on April 5th, a group of 17, including obviously Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins, were told:- "The guys who are going to fly the first lunar missions are the guys in this room." This was to be the new age/directions for the eventual team. However, it is arguably a little outside Aldrin's 36th year (which ended on Jan. 20th, 1967), but in terms of other aspects of 'Life Cycles' theory, it's a complete match.

However, I'm an obsessive researcher. I'm not going to just sit back and let matters be with Buzz Aldrin. The record shows that Aldrin was confirmed as a pilot on the Gemini 12 Mission (11th to 15th November, 1966). This was the last Gemini mission and his last chance to prove himself. He set a record, showing how astronauts could work outside spacecraft. The story gets more valid, because Gemini 9A (3rd to 6th June, 1966) saw Aldrin improvise an effective docking technique, when the rendezvous with the target vehicle failed. He only got this chance because, once again in a disaster: the original pilots of Gemini 9 this time, were killed when their plane crashed into the McDonnell building in St. Louis, Missouri on Feb. 28th, 1966. This was Aldrin's story and all within his age 36 'Year of Revolution'. This is now a 100%. match with the theory.

Finally let's reflect on Neil Armstrong's earlier life. At his age 24 'Year of Revolution' (Aug. 5th, 1954 to Aug. 5th, 1955), he had just graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Aeronautical Engineering and decided he wanted to become an experimental research test pilot. He applied to Edwards Air Force base, but they had no open positions, so he went to Lewis Field. However, in July, Edwards made him an offer and his new career and thus his new age/direction was commenced. Finally let's try Neil's age 31, 'Year of Broken Pathways' (Aug. 5th, 1961 to Aug. 5th, 1962). Were there any obvious challenges and direction changes? On 15th March, 1962 he was named as one of six pilot-engineers, who would fly the Boeing X-20 space plane, when it got off the design board. In the months that followed he then became more and more excited about joining the NASA Apollo program. He applied in June and although a week late, his friend from Edwards slipped it into the pile without anyone noticing. He was eventually selected and thus his challenge and direction-change was begun in earnest.

Check any biographic sources you wish, but these were undoubtedly Armstrong's highlight years for change. Oh, and please tell me if you think all my carefully complied evidence is just pure luck. Because, so far, no one has and in all probability, it will remain this way. Why? Because I deal in facts and thus it has the ring of truth about it, that's why! Till next month:- "may the cycles always bring you good fortune".

Hollywood's Golden Couples Part 3-Taylor and Burton and Confluence

I'm going to take you further on your journey into 'Confluence'. You've already learned that it is not essential for a successful relationship, but rather a desirable extra that can add another layer of empathy, during your sometimes drama-filled 'Years of Revolution' (24,36,48 etc.) or 'Years of Broken Pathway' (19.31.43 etc.). We've also learned that 'Confluence' can be applied to close friendships as well, and may help you to understand why you have a natural bond with some people and not others. I am 'Confluent' with my two closest male friends, for example. I know I've touched upon this briefly before, but today I also want to point out that 'Confluence' can mean "too much of a good thing" and that it can increase the degree of antipathy, if the relationship gets rocky. In the hands of two volatile people, it can make for fireworks and can mean "a short ride and a merry one".

Liz Taylor is the star of this show and I'm sure she'd approve me giving her top billing. Let's take a look at some of her marriages. Now, leading the pack and her greatest relationship,was Richard Burton. Liz was born on Feb. 27th, 1932 and Richard was born Richard Walter Jenkins on Nov. 10th, 1925. This means they shared 'Confluence' between Nov. 10th and Feb. 27th (3.5 mths) for every second 'significant year'. So when Richard was aged 19/31/43, Liz was aged 12/24/36. I quote from an excellent article on the Burton/Taylor relationship in the Daily Mail :- "Into this cauldron of powerful emotions stepped Burton, then aged 36 ('Year of Revolution'), when they were both cast in the epic film Cleopatra". He was the great seducer and she enjoyed getting a rise out of all her partners and getting them to show they were real men. They shared an animal magnetism, yet had tempestuous fights and are still referred to in marriage guidance books, as an example of how a marriage can go wrong, no matter how much two people love each other.

This, of course, is what an intense version of 'Confluence' can create. Not only the positively shared empathy of others, but with their shared alcohol addiction and volatile natures, it became out of control and led to frequent temper tantrums. By the time Burton was in his 48th 'Year of Revolution' in 1974, they divorced for the first time and their second marriage was brief. So no happy ever afters here. I'm now going to surprise you by telling you that Liz was, in fact, also 'Confluent' with other of her husbands, but also without success.

In her second marriage to Michael Wilding (born Jul. 23rd, 1912), she shared 'Confluence' between Feb. 27th and July 23rd for every second 'significant year' (5 months). She in fact married Michael when she was in her age 19 'Year of Broken Pathways' and they went on to have two sons and by all accounts led a comfortable, if somewhat too quiet, an existence for Liz's liking. If his career in the US had taken off things might have gone differently, but as her career soared his waned and he wanted to go back to England. In her age 24 'Year of Revolution' and when Wilding was in his age 43 'Year of Broken Pathways' she was swept off her feet by the very macho Mike Todd (with whom she was not 'Confluent'). She actually remianed good friends with Wilding after the divorce and he even worked for her and Richard Burton in the 60's. This is a good demonstration of the friendship side of 'Confluence'. Oh, and for the record Liz's age 12 'Year of Revolution' coincided with 'National Velvet', which made her a star; and at age 24 she starred in the epic film 'Giant' and began a four year year run of nominations for Best Actress Oscar; and finally at 36 it was a movie called 'Secret Ceremony' and was referred to as 'her best acting role ever'. That year also coincided with the famous Burton/Taylor diamond, but that is another story and I'll leave it to another time.

So 'Confluence' is easy to measure and can apply to both primary relationships and friendship. With two strong-willed, volatile people like Burton and Taylor it can also burn itself out in a "short ride (or shorter ride) and a merry one". With their extravagant lifestyle it is estimated Liz and Dick went through around $350 million. The lower-profile Wilding, however, shared a comfortable marriage two sons and a lifetime friendship with Liz. Have I got any of you starting to look at your own lives and the lives of others differently? Keep reading because you will soon enough. Till next month :- "May the cycles always bring you good fortune".