Learn to relax, like Chabi here!
Friday, March 31, 2006
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Cool Silly Web Page of the Day
Online Conversion - Morse Code Conversion
- .... .. ... .. ... --..-- .-.. .. -.- . --..-- - .... . -.-. --- --- .-.. . ... - .--. .- --. . . ...- . .-. --- .-. -. --- - .-.-.-
- .... .. ... .. ... --..-- .-.. .. -.- . --..-- - .... . -.-. --- --- .-.. . ... - .--. .- --. . . ...- . .-. --- .-. -. --- - .-.-.-
Friday, March 17, 2006
Back to the beginnings...
I've been playing a bit more piano lately... it's something I haven't done in a long time. The original impetus of it was to better accompany some of my younger flute students so that they get a better sense of rhythm and harmony from the accompaniment.
It's turned into something more.
Mostly, it's a revisitation to my musical roots, to my first instrument. I've been playing some stuff from my very old piano books, now yellowing and fraying at the edges. Memories ebb and flow as oddly familiar tunes emanate from the 25 year old piano in my studio. Yet I'm seeing and hearing the old books in a new light, things I couldn't possibly have perceived when I was very young. It's amazing how fun it is when you can actually read music.
It's a new source of relaxation... it's an option, and it's how it always was meant to be for me.
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
YouTube - Super Mario Kill Bill
YouTube - Super Mario Kill Bill
What a way to take something originally deadly serious, and humor it up! :)
What a way to take something originally deadly serious, and humor it up! :)
Friday, March 10, 2006
Chron.com | Great Wall now an NBA institution
Chron.com | Great Wall now an NBA institution
Yao has really been kicking ass lately... it's a joy to see.
Yao has really been kicking ass lately... it's a joy to see.
Sunday, March 05, 2006
Retrospection
Hello... just a post to keep readers updated on what's been going on...
Things have been going well for me. I have my health, I have the health of my family and friends, I have my music, and I have my martial arts. What more can a man ask for? Well, a beautiful woman, but that will probably still take a while.
I've been substitute teaching for a flute faculty member who is on sabbatical for the rest of this year, as well as taking on new students, so I've been having greatly expanded teaching duties at COS. The flute studio at COS still needs a lot of work, but I have one or two students I teach there that are finally breaking through and starting to make some very real progress. It hasn't been easy for any of the students, since my style and standards of teaching are so drastically different from that of my predecessor. But I absolutely believe that my approach is the right one, because it's 100% No Bullshit flute playing. Pure technique, with minimal dogma and based purely on ergonomics, physics,science. No gimmicks, no crap. I totally believe that if one follows my assigned progression with diligent practice, they can be competent in 1 year, great in 3 years, and incredible in 5. I'm actually starting to run out of room to put students in my schedule, so I'm going to start to become far more picky in who I'll accept and maintain in my studio, both privately and via COS.
I've lost touch with most of the old gang at the kung fu academy I used to go to. Basically it's just occasional chats with the Master's daughter on MSN, occasional contact with this nice Japanese couple, a few training sessions with another ex-student that decided to follow me to PMAA, and not so infrequent drinking sessions with my friend Ray who went with me to China on a kung fu training vacation. I do miss the training there sometimes, even occasionally pulling out a half-forgotten form now and then. But what I've lost there has been replaced by a far more fulfilling and organized experience at the current academy I train in.
It's been nearly one year since I joined PMAA. Overall, it's been a wonderful time so far. I've learned far more about real combat there in that short amount of time than all of my time spent doing kung fu. That's not to say the kung fu training was completely useless - quite the opposite actually, since it allowed me to have preexisting discipline, flexibility, and fitness to function well in the classes. Remembering pad drills and stick combinations is almost a cinch compared to remembering all those fancy forms. But what separates this school from the other are a couple of things: a central location, proper equipment and safety gear, pressure-tested techniques and concepts, variety of curriculum, and a truly dedicated head instructor and assistant instructors, who are there nearly every day, giving and teaching their all.
It's hard work done by very hard-working people, people with apparently a pretty good history and high sense of morality. Very exciting things are going to be happening at the school soon. It's being relocated and expanding from its current tiny 1100 square feet corner location to an entire 4500 square foot building. Ten years of dedicated teaching and proper school management by Sifu/Guro Nick Sacoulas have resulted in a just reward. The students are all super psyched about the move... if anything, it means more sparring partners to play with (and more room to do it in)! :)
Just a brief plug.... On March 19th, starting at 4pm at the Queensborough Performing Arts Center, COS will be having its annual Concerto Extravaganza concert. Yours truly will be assisting Sara Aomori, a young promising flutist, in playing the Cimarosa Double Flute concerto. For more info about location and tickets, go to www.childrensorch.org
Getting sleepy now. Will write/post more stuff soon.
Things have been going well for me. I have my health, I have the health of my family and friends, I have my music, and I have my martial arts. What more can a man ask for? Well, a beautiful woman, but that will probably still take a while.
I've been substitute teaching for a flute faculty member who is on sabbatical for the rest of this year, as well as taking on new students, so I've been having greatly expanded teaching duties at COS. The flute studio at COS still needs a lot of work, but I have one or two students I teach there that are finally breaking through and starting to make some very real progress. It hasn't been easy for any of the students, since my style and standards of teaching are so drastically different from that of my predecessor. But I absolutely believe that my approach is the right one, because it's 100% No Bullshit flute playing. Pure technique, with minimal dogma and based purely on ergonomics, physics,science. No gimmicks, no crap. I totally believe that if one follows my assigned progression with diligent practice, they can be competent in 1 year, great in 3 years, and incredible in 5. I'm actually starting to run out of room to put students in my schedule, so I'm going to start to become far more picky in who I'll accept and maintain in my studio, both privately and via COS.
I've lost touch with most of the old gang at the kung fu academy I used to go to. Basically it's just occasional chats with the Master's daughter on MSN, occasional contact with this nice Japanese couple, a few training sessions with another ex-student that decided to follow me to PMAA, and not so infrequent drinking sessions with my friend Ray who went with me to China on a kung fu training vacation. I do miss the training there sometimes, even occasionally pulling out a half-forgotten form now and then. But what I've lost there has been replaced by a far more fulfilling and organized experience at the current academy I train in.
It's been nearly one year since I joined PMAA. Overall, it's been a wonderful time so far. I've learned far more about real combat there in that short amount of time than all of my time spent doing kung fu. That's not to say the kung fu training was completely useless - quite the opposite actually, since it allowed me to have preexisting discipline, flexibility, and fitness to function well in the classes. Remembering pad drills and stick combinations is almost a cinch compared to remembering all those fancy forms. But what separates this school from the other are a couple of things: a central location, proper equipment and safety gear, pressure-tested techniques and concepts, variety of curriculum, and a truly dedicated head instructor and assistant instructors, who are there nearly every day, giving and teaching their all.
It's hard work done by very hard-working people, people with apparently a pretty good history and high sense of morality. Very exciting things are going to be happening at the school soon. It's being relocated and expanding from its current tiny 1100 square feet corner location to an entire 4500 square foot building. Ten years of dedicated teaching and proper school management by Sifu/Guro Nick Sacoulas have resulted in a just reward. The students are all super psyched about the move... if anything, it means more sparring partners to play with (and more room to do it in)! :)
Just a brief plug.... On March 19th, starting at 4pm at the Queensborough Performing Arts Center, COS will be having its annual Concerto Extravaganza concert. Yours truly will be assisting Sara Aomori, a young promising flutist, in playing the Cimarosa Double Flute concerto. For more info about location and tickets, go to www.childrensorch.org
Getting sleepy now. Will write/post more stuff soon.
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
The Art of Learning
I always tell my students this. It works in any subject...
"If you don't know something, you should say you simply don't know. That's why you cannot answer my question. Now, the question is, do you want to know? There is no shame in not knowing something, but there is ultimate shame in not having the curiosity to find the answers."
A good teacher may not even know everything at once in his subject matter, but if the teacher has the curiosity to find out, and is able to impart that curiosity to the students as well as point them towards good sources to find the answers on their own, then there is nothing in this universe than cannot become known and understood.
"If you don't know something, you should say you simply don't know. That's why you cannot answer my question. Now, the question is, do you want to know? There is no shame in not knowing something, but there is ultimate shame in not having the curiosity to find the answers."
A good teacher may not even know everything at once in his subject matter, but if the teacher has the curiosity to find out, and is able to impart that curiosity to the students as well as point them towards good sources to find the answers on their own, then there is nothing in this universe than cannot become known and understood.
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
It's the BASICS, man!
Fightauthority.com - Martial Arts Video Clips, Ultimate Fighting Video Clips, Street Fighting Videos, Mixed Martial Arts Videos - Sloppy Basics Make Sloppy Technique
"Mastering basics is a lifelong activity, not just repetition of the same movements done in the same way over time. You learn the outer pattern first, but then you work on trying to understand and perform the principles and methods within. Sometimes you only understand these after years of training and watching your masters. Some teachers too will first teach one level, then another and another. The secret to improving your basics is to be attentive to yourself and your movement. You can be shown something, but only you can monitor your progress. You thus become your own teacher as you incorporate what you have learned. At some point what your have learned become so ingrained into your muscular memory and reflexive action that it becomes instinctive. You can then move your focus to new goals. "
This is true, whether you're doing martial arts, or music. It is true for almost anything in life. Read the article, it's interesting.
"Mastering basics is a lifelong activity, not just repetition of the same movements done in the same way over time. You learn the outer pattern first, but then you work on trying to understand and perform the principles and methods within. Sometimes you only understand these after years of training and watching your masters. Some teachers too will first teach one level, then another and another. The secret to improving your basics is to be attentive to yourself and your movement. You can be shown something, but only you can monitor your progress. You thus become your own teacher as you incorporate what you have learned. At some point what your have learned become so ingrained into your muscular memory and reflexive action that it becomes instinctive. You can then move your focus to new goals. "
This is true, whether you're doing martial arts, or music. It is true for almost anything in life. Read the article, it's interesting.
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Severe words of wisdom and warning!
If you see a vending machine that allows debit cards, DON'T USE THE DEBIT CARD, NO MATTER HOW THIRSTY YOU ARE, AND NO MATTER HOW LITTLE CHANGE YOU HAVE.
Why? Because I did this to get a $1.25 Gatorade (debit service sponsored by Yahoo! inc.). Now all the sudden I have unauthorized debit authorizations for $1, $1, $10, and now $40! That's the potential for a $52 bottle of Gatorade as things stand right now!
So, naturally, I'm disputing this. I've also blocked my card (it's in tiny tiny pieces shredded in the trash) and waiting for UPS to ship my new one from the bank.
Grrrr, this sort of dishonest stuff pisses me off! This stuff I bet never happens in Amsterdam, where you could do the same thing even with a cell phone to vend drinkables.
Why? Because I did this to get a $1.25 Gatorade (debit service sponsored by Yahoo! inc.). Now all the sudden I have unauthorized debit authorizations for $1, $1, $10, and now $40! That's the potential for a $52 bottle of Gatorade as things stand right now!
So, naturally, I'm disputing this. I've also blocked my card (it's in tiny tiny pieces shredded in the trash) and waiting for UPS to ship my new one from the bank.
Grrrr, this sort of dishonest stuff pisses me off! This stuff I bet never happens in Amsterdam, where you could do the same thing even with a cell phone to vend drinkables.
Feeling a little better. And leaving.
I got a few winks of sleep. Still not feeling well though... but better than the earlier two posts showed. Being depressed and exhausted is better than full-blown psychosis. I've since deleted them because it was so dark and bleak and depressing.... full of rage and anger directed at things and people to which and whom they had no responsibility and true culpability whatsoever.
I've decided to quit training Kungfu. Temporarily? Maybe. But this feels permanent. It's something I've considered before, but recent events and contemplation have pushed my mind, body, and soul into the new direction.
I still have a lot of thinking to do, a lot of careful pondering. The decision I made changes a lot of things with me. Changes in time management. Changes in long term planning. Changes in life goals. Changes in personal relationships. Changes financially.
"You could always go back.", some would say.
But I can't. Not when I no longer am capable of performing the feats demanded there to the best of my ability. Not when I no longer believe in the system. Not when I no longer have absolute confidence in the founder, something I lost several months ago.
So... why is it still feels so difficult a decision?
.... Pondering.
I've decided to quit training Kungfu. Temporarily? Maybe. But this feels permanent. It's something I've considered before, but recent events and contemplation have pushed my mind, body, and soul into the new direction.
I still have a lot of thinking to do, a lot of careful pondering. The decision I made changes a lot of things with me. Changes in time management. Changes in long term planning. Changes in life goals. Changes in personal relationships. Changes financially.
"You could always go back.", some would say.
But I can't. Not when I no longer am capable of performing the feats demanded there to the best of my ability. Not when I no longer believe in the system. Not when I no longer have absolute confidence in the founder, something I lost several months ago.
So... why is it still feels so difficult a decision?
.... Pondering.
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Ha Ha Ha!
Subject: FW: Dictionary For Women's Personal Ads-
40-ish...........................................49
Adventurous.......................Slept with everyone
Athletic......................................No boobs
Average looking..................................Ugly
Beautiful.....................Pathological liar
Contagious Smile..................Does a lot of pills
Emotionally Secure......................On medication
Feminist..........................................Fat
Free spirit....................................Junkie
Friendship first..........................Former slut
Fun..........................................Annoying
New-Age................Body hair in the wrong places
Old-fashioned..................................No BJs
Open-minded.................................Desperate
Outgoing........................Loud and Embarrassing
Passionate...............................Sloppy drunk
Professional....................................Bitch
Voluptuous...................................Very Fat
Large frame................................Hugely Fat
Wants Soul mate...............................Stalker
DICTIONARY OF WOMEN'S ENGLISH:
1. Yes = No
2. No = Yes
3. Maybe = No
4. We need = I want..
5. I am sorry = you'll be sorry
6. We need to talk = You're in trouble
7. Sure, go ahead = You better not
8. Do what you want = You ! will pay for this later
9. I am not upset = Of course I am upset, you moron!
10. You're certainly attentive tonight = Is sex all you ever think about?
DICTIONARY OF MEN'S ENGLISH:
1. I am hungry = I am hungry
2. I am sleepy = I am sleepy
3. I am tired = I am tired
4. Nice dress = Nice cleavage!
5. I love you = Let's have sex now
6. I am bored = Do you want to have sex?
7. May I have this dance? = I'd like to have sex with you
8. Can I call you sometime? = I'd like to have sex with you
9. Do you want to go to a movie? = I'd like to have sex with you
10. Can I take you out to dinner? = I'd like to have sex with you
11. I don't think those shoes go with that outfit = I'm gay
40-ish...........................................49
Adventurous.......................Slept with everyone
Athletic......................................No boobs
Average looking..................................Ugly
Beautiful.....................Pathological liar
Contagious Smile..................Does a lot of pills
Emotionally Secure......................On medication
Feminist..........................................Fat
Free spirit....................................Junkie
Friendship first..........................Former slut
Fun..........................................Annoying
New-Age................Body hair in the wrong places
Old-fashioned..................................No BJs
Open-minded.................................Desperate
Outgoing........................Loud and Embarrassing
Passionate...............................Sloppy drunk
Professional....................................Bitch
Voluptuous...................................Very Fat
Large frame................................Hugely Fat
Wants Soul mate...............................Stalker
DICTIONARY OF WOMEN'S ENGLISH:
1. Yes = No
2. No = Yes
3. Maybe = No
4. We need = I want..
5. I am sorry = you'll be sorry
6. We need to talk = You're in trouble
7. Sure, go ahead = You better not
8. Do what you want = You ! will pay for this later
9. I am not upset = Of course I am upset, you moron!
10. You're certainly attentive tonight = Is sex all you ever think about?
DICTIONARY OF MEN'S ENGLISH:
1. I am hungry = I am hungry
2. I am sleepy = I am sleepy
3. I am tired = I am tired
4. Nice dress = Nice cleavage!
5. I love you = Let's have sex now
6. I am bored = Do you want to have sex?
7. May I have this dance? = I'd like to have sex with you
8. Can I call you sometime? = I'd like to have sex with you
9. Do you want to go to a movie? = I'd like to have sex with you
10. Can I take you out to dinner? = I'd like to have sex with you
11. I don't think those shoes go with that outfit = I'm gay
Monday, January 09, 2006
Old
Got some nice clothes and cash and stuff. Just the bare essentials, just how I like it. :) In the end, I'm just thankful to have friends and family.
Still training. Today during class I passed by some guy and/or area that literally smelled like dog shit. Dammit, I wish people would observe basic hygiene sometimes. Ugh.
Still training. Today during class I passed by some guy and/or area that literally smelled like dog shit. Dammit, I wish people would observe basic hygiene sometimes. Ugh.
Friday, January 06, 2006
*Grumble*
Yeah yeah yeah... just turned 31 just now.... blah blah blah best years of your life just ahead blah blah blah.
Just give me some Single Malt Scotch and a friendly body to lean on , and I'll be happy.
Oh... and some fucking knee surgery too. :)
Thanks for reading. ;)
Just give me some Single Malt Scotch and a friendly body to lean on , and I'll be happy.
Oh... and some fucking knee surgery too. :)
Thanks for reading. ;)
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