Spirit-Tech Solutions

To Degree or Not To Degree? That Is The Question.

noreply@blogger.com (Joshua Lee) — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 18:27:00 +0000

    As a 37 year old male who has traveled for the last 20 years, wandering from place to place, learning everything I can from people and places -- I look back on it all with great reverence -- as a time in my life in which I was so free and excited for the adventure that awaited me. I also look back and think how it might have been had I finished college right out of High School. I have no regrets at how I lived, as the many older folks who I admired always told me -- do it while you're young and don't have a family to look after. So I did it. I traveled and lived life to the fullest every step of the way. Now, however, I have reached a crossroads that forced me to decide.

   The outcome of my decision was like the birth of a dream that has been culminating within me for many years now. This dream is one that is very broad and far-reaching, but what dream is worth more than it's weight in salt if it is not a big dream? One of soaring like an eagle.

    My adventures took me to places I could only have previously imagined as simply a vacation destination or a place of interest. Many people believe that it is incredibly difficult to live in Hawaii but after going there with $200 and a backpack, I assure you it is no more difficult than anywhere else (that's not freezing). The climate certainly does help but the people were what made the difference. They taught me the true meaning of Aloha and demonstrated it time and time again.

   Dreams take us places. If it weren't for dreams and dreamers we would still be in the caveman era.

   I am a dreamer and I am now dreaming bigger than ever. I want to have a house and land and a condo in Hawaii (maybe more who knows). I want to build a family and settle down and live the life of leisure as well as to accomplish great things in music, art, science, and athletics.

    This has led me finally to the decision which I just recently made to go back to school and get my degree in computer science. I have learned that it is one of the most sought after degrees when it comes to what employers are looking for. The income potential is great and I am quite computer-savvy so I think it is a good fit. Everything seems to have it's time and place and this really just feels right. For so long I fought the idea or rather wrestled with it at some times more than others. I always thought somehow I would end up a student again. Back in school. Challenging my mind to become something greater and sharper.

   So my recommendation is DEGREE. After a long time, many years in fact, I have decided this. I recommend to anyone young and starting out in life as an independent adult -- go to school and finish it early so you can set yourself up for life. It is becoming increasingly more difficult to wander around aimlessly searching for oneself, although it is also a noble path. I am just saying that to have a degree will help you tremendously as I have seen with many friends of mine who all have pretty good jobs and a substantial income.

    It is now easier than ever to get your degree and it is even recommended now to get most of your general education out of the way at a community college first before you apply for what is most likely an impacted school system and program. Many of the classes can be taken online and community colleges also offer many great services. That way you can figure out what you want to declare as your major by the time you enter a state college or university.

    For anyone deciding to go back to school it's not too late. I am living proof and will show all my friends and family that I am the tortoise and will win at life but just have done it a bit more slowly.

   Good luck to all who have gone to school and those who haven't. And to those who are trying to decide... just do it. What have you got to lose? But I wouldn't respect you any less if you decide to travel. It is an incredible education in itself.

Peace and Aloha.

File your financial aid application for free to see if you may qualify for a Pell Grant or Federal Financial Aid   http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/

A Declaration

noreply@blogger.com (Joshua Lee) — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 17:21:00 +0000

    I always kinda laughed when I would stumble upon somebody's blog where it started out something like "It's been a while since my last post..." and I thought to myself, what a familiar feeling, but I would never say that even if it had been a while. Well here I go in saying it for myself that it has been a while since my last post. One reason for that is I have been busy trying to figure out what to do with my life. Where do we go from here?

   Many suffer from boredom... but not I. Long ago I realized that the world really is our oyster, chock full of beautiful pearls of knowledge, wisdom, and experience that are ours for the taking. The only thing we must do is invest our spirit's energy and engage our hearts and minds into whatever we do and we will get back untold riches that are not the kind we can take with us to wherever our afterlife may lead us. They are the things that nobody can ever take from us.

   So I spent many years traveling and searching for those things that had the deepest meaning to me. I met so many wonderful and amazing people along the way... which I managed to reconnect with somehow on the wonderful world of Facebook. I finally could keep in touch with all of those people who mean something to me. Some are friends who are like family and some I have only met briefly, but they have all had some kind of impact on my life and I suppose that's why I remember them or look for them.

   Many of them have even helped support me in one way or another in my dire times as a traveling artist/musician in the hope that it will all serve a greater purpose -- and that my person, experience and talents will go towards something great -- also simply because they genuinely care. All I can say is thank you to those people and let them know that I will certainly get them back if I ever make something of myself. I know I have struggled along the way but I have packed so much life into these years that I really have very few regrets... and my friends and family are what I hold most dear.

   So I write this post in the first person today in a proclamation that I will most certainly make something of myself and I have finally realized what I am meant to do. It is to play music.

    Music makes me laugh. Music makes me cry. Music makes me high-five my bros. Music makes me hold my girlfriend. Music makes me dance. Music makes me happy. Music is what I am meant to do and music gives me life. We are all musicians in one way or another. We all have a heartbeat... which gives us the most basic rhythm.   It is also known as Nyabinghi (The Heartbeat Rhythm).

   Music fascinates me -- and I almost love more just to listen to it than to make it -- but the more I realize where my talent lies, the more I realize I need to make each and every day count. There is no reason that just because I am approaching 40 (Lord help me I know many are so much older but this day came way too fast) that I can't have success in music. However, I do need to make the most of every minute. I want to leave my mark on this world and I want to make great music. Not only do I want to make great music but I want to share great music.

    So here is my proclamation to you, my friends. I will be a great musician. By the time I am 40 I will have written and produced at least 1-2 full length albums. I will tour the United States (including all of the Hawaiian islands of course) and Europe when I reach 40 and my music career will be on it's way. Wish me luck. It has taken me thousands of miles and many many years to finally dedicate myself to one passion or hobby (besides surfing, bodyboarding, travel, Yoga, natural health, and cycling). This is the thing I will focus on as my 'life's work'. And many of you are a big part of why I came to that decision. Thanks so much for supporting me and my music and for the encouragement even though it is evolving and is so far less than perfect. It will get much much better. I have gone months and months at a time without practice because I was confused before on what I ultimately wanted to do with my life. Not anymore.

     Stay tuned for plenty of great cover tunes as I learn from the greats. I will also be making plenty of beats, and taking some music courses. I am excited to show off my progress so watch for it. Aloha my dear family and friends. Thank you for being alive and for sharing your lives with me. Life is so short and precious. Let's live it to the fullest.

Love and Respect.

Spirit-Tech's Top 10 Electronic Music Tracks for July

noreply@blogger.com (Joshua Lee) — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 01:41:00 +0000

I am starting out a new column in my blog to share some of my favorite electronic artists of all-time as well as new ones I might find interesting. This is post #1 of my Spirit-Tech's top 10 Electronic Music Tracks feature and I am pleased to present these artists to you. Not much commentary here. I'll let the music speak for itself. Enjoy! Here's some of electronic music's finest laying down the beats....

Gold Panda - Same Dream China

Transglobal Underground ft. Natacha Atlas

Thievery Corporation - Until The Morning

Terranova - Chase The Blues

Stanton Warriors - Good Vibrations

Trentemoller - Moan

Royksopp ft. Robyn - The Girl and The Robot

Aphex Twin - Heliosphan

Squarepusher - Come On My Selector

Flying Lotus - Mmmhmm

What is Spirit-Tech?

noreply@blogger.com (Joshua Lee) — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 18:17:00 +0000

Spirit-Tech is a concept that I am proposing so that many may be inspired to live in a way which enhances their spirit and their mind, and also the health of their body.

   We all have our own challenges and fluctuations of ups and downs many times in our lives, but living with a conscious mind and a healthy body will serve us well in the future. Eating whole organic natural foods, fruits, vegetables, and teas can give us much more energy as well as an overall sense of well being. Also, getting lots of exercise and keeping our hearts and lungs healthy; proper stretching (whether it be Yoga or some other form of systematic stretching techniques) as well as keeping proper balance of the hormones and emotions that keep us happy. Getting outdoors is important to get plenty of vitamin D from the sun. That will keep our moods positive and our bodies feeling fresh and vibrant.

   Spirit-Tech is a way of living that emphasizes being clean, healthy, and natural, While recognizing the spirit of all living things, and an appreciation of all of this creation. Regardless of whether we believe in a creator or not, there is most definitely a conscious force working in and through all of us and there are laws of nature which govern all things physical.

   It is a concept that accepts anyone, wherever they are, for whoever they are. It is just a simple philosophy that means to learn passionately about everything that interests you most, and learn from everyone. Living fully because life goes by ever so quickly -- and being creative, as we all are the creators and co-creators of our own futures and destinies. When we are in the spirit of being creative, that's when we can surprise ourselves the most with our ideas of inspiration.

   It is also the use of technology, of the physical and mind, to achieve states of awareness and to better use the tools which are available to humans for the advancement of our culture. From knowledge of technology such as computers, and musical equipment, art techniques, and modern natural medicine... to gardening and cooking and the creative process that goes into a life filled with art and music. It is the careful attention to the details of life that increase our experience immensely.

Spirit-Tech is simply an expression and a theory. Open to interpretation and of each individual human spirit. It involves being aware of our surroundings, and the expansion of our sensitivity to life.

Ring of Fire Earthquake Prediction by former USGS Scientist

noreply@blogger.com (Joshua Lee) — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 19:29:00 +0000

   The Ring of Fire, also known as the Pacific Ring Of Fire, is a horseshoe shaped area bordering and surrounding a major part of the Pacific Ocean where many earthquakes occur. There is also a very large amount of volcanic activity in this area that often is responsible for large earthquakes that can sometimes result in catastrophic tsunamis. It is estimated that about 90% of the world's earthquakes occur along the Ring of Fire. This region is also responsible for over 80% of the world's largest earthquakes.

   According to one of the top geologists of our time, circumstances and scientific observations have been leading to the prediction of a major earthquake being imminent on the west coast of the United States. Certain signs have been pointing to this prediction, including the massive fish kill that occurred near the coast of Redondo beach, as well as the unusual activity of certain whales near the coast of San Diego.

   Jim Berkland, a Geologist and earthquake expert who accurately predicted the 'World Series' quake of 1989 in San Francisco, and was formerly with the USGS (United States Geological Survey), is predicting a major earthquake somewhere on the west coast of the United States. He is saying that the recent string of earthquakes are all somehow related and that the clockwise cycle of the quakes along the path of the Ring of Fire leads him to believe that the next place for a big quake is most likely the west coast of North America, from California to the Pacific Northwest, between the dates of March 19-26.

For all of us here in the United States who have been discussing the possibility of a large earthquake in California, this is a cause of great concern. Apparently when we see signs of fish kills and beached whales as well as strange things happening with birds and other animals, we need to be aware and also prepare for disaster as it is a possibility. Hopefully this prediction is not correct but it certainly wouldn't hurt to prepare by creating for ourselves an emergency kit with basic necessities that we may need in the event of a disaster, such as a backup of canned food and dry goods, water, and blankets. Possibly a backpack with a first-aid kit, flashlight, can-opener, cell phone charger (solar-powered if possible) and a bag or box packed with other necessary evacuation supplies and clothing.

Although we may not be able to accurately predict disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis, we can be more prepared for when things do happen. As the world continues to experience disasters like we have never seen before, may we all be prepared in this time of confusion and sadness, and may the Earth return to a state of harmony for the benefit of those who inhabit it. May you be safe in your travels and always be prepared no matter where you are.

Functional Pottery - Putting Art in People's Hands

noreply@blogger.com (Joshua Lee) — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 18:24:00 +0000

What is functional pottery? It it an art? A craft? Both? Or perhaps it is something that transcends the boundaries of either category. Functional pottery is, in my opinion: an art, a craft, a discipline, a spiritual experience, and also a way for human beings to experience first hand the creations of others in a way which brings them closer to the elements in which they were made from. It is also simply pottery which is useful, but artistic, created by human hands -- such as for eating, drinking, cooking, storing, and gardening.

Clay is earth, and the elements that interact with clay during the process of creation via fire and a quartz conversion -- make it into something very useful. Something that people can interact with on a daily basis.

I think when we are talking about functional pottery, it is necessary to acknowledge the Japanese contribution to the art. They have long been revered as masters of this craft. The Japanese view pottery very much as a Zen experience, and most of the people there appreciate functional pottery a great deal. Most Japanese master potters are also very wise and have practiced their craft for many years to get to the level they have achieved. They are patient and centered people that offer great insight into the world of art and the world in general. They infuse the concepts of Zen into their work, creating shapes and creations that truly are beautiful and inspiring.

   Zen and Taoism have long been associated with fine arts and crafts and they both emphasize interacting harmoniously with the earth and all of it's inhabitants, as well as the laws of nature. They also emphasize the spirit which has a primal need to be creative. To be a practitioner of Zen or Tao is to be an artist. Many followers of Zen and Taoism are multi-faceted artists or artist/musicians who appreciate fully all that nature has to offer. They are artists of Calligraphy, painting, ceramics, sculpture, and also musicians of many different kinds of instruments.

   Functional pottery is a great way for artists to share the experience with everyone. To bring forth a vessel made of clay is such a great feeling. To center a dull looking ball of earth on the wheel and watch as a new creation takes form in front of your very eyes. There is something so primal about interacting with clay and fire, which makes glazes turn into a form of art-glass which coats the vessel. There is something so fulfilling about holding a handmade mug up to your mouth to sip some fresh coffee or tea. It was made by someone. Someone who cares. Someone who puts passion and spirit into what they do and create. Someone who had the desire to become an artist/craftsman in order to give the experience of art to the world.

   Nowadays in this cookie-cutter world where time moves so fast and so do the people, it is so very important to stop from time-to-time to smell the roses and to experience what we are put here to experience. Art and creativity help us tap into the spiritual side of things and it is important to have a balance within one's soul. Creating or using functional pottery can have a profound impact on people and I am one of those people who it has impacted. The feel of the glaze and the shape and the texture and color bring to life eating, drinking, and cooking -- some things that may otherwise become a fairly mundane experience.

Bring art into every meal or every sip, when you use something handmade from natural earthen ingredients. Support your local potters, and help them to keep alive the fine art and practice of one of the oldest forms of expression -- Functional Pottery.

Future Energy: The Search For Alternative Power Sources

noreply@blogger.com (Joshua Lee) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 18:28:00 +0000

When it comes to finding renewable and sustainable energy sources, has the world lost it's way? Are we on some kind of road to nowhere? Many believe that there alternatives available that we have somehow failed to access. Or maybe it is not that we have failed to access them as much as that the current level of technology has not been able to break through the spirit of human greed and the desire to continue making money from the old technologies, as if they were somehow going to last.

Well, sadly to say, we are learning from our mistakes via accidents such as Chernobyl, the Exxon Valdez, the BP oil spill, and now the Fukushima nuclear situation. How long though must these mistakes continue, and how many of the Earth's creatures (including humans) need to die or be affected by these catastrophic failures of human engineering? We need to start using safer forms of energy that are not harmful to human in the case of a natural disaster. We can never underestimate the power of nature and it's ability to destroy everything in it's path. If we switch to safe natural forms of energy production, such as solar, windmills, and even the ideas of the free energy device originally developed by Nicola Tesla, we will see a much cleaner and safer world.

The Tsunami as it approaches and rushes through the seaside town of Sendai, leading to an incredible amount of destruction, and ultimately a potential nuclear meltdown which could spread radioactive fallout into the atmosphere and across the world.

The 2 main issues that I believe need addressing at this very moment are the use of oil and nuclear power as our main energy sources. If we can find a solution to these energy problems, it is quite possible that it could be the end of much war and confusion, as well as unbelievable amounts of destruction to ourselves and to our home of planet Earth. We can also avoid potential disasters like our current situation in Japan.

In 1986 we had the Chernobyl nuclear accident in what is now known as the Ukraine that sent a large plume of radioactive fallout into the atmosphere and over a very large area which includes countries of both Eastern and Western Europe. Over 336,000 people had to be evacuated and many of the workers died as a result of this terrible accident. Long term effects were also seen as cancer rates rose amongst residents of the area and cancer was often the result of the exposure to nuclear fallout, mostly in the form of radioactive iodine, which permeated the air and many supplies of food and water. Experts are claiming that this disaster in Japan won't produce as much pollution and radioactivity as Chernobyl, but many sources are predicting a dire outcome.

As if we didn't learn, the human race -- which is now under what is becoming more and more a global government run by corporate power and persuasion -- has persisted in using outdated technologies so the people who make them can get rich and control the people.

Is this really necessary when we have reached a new age of technological advance that is light years ahead of the years previous? Why have nuclear reactors not been remodeled to be up-to-date and safe? Most likely it is to save money and time. Now there has been a disaster and this disaster has caused a mass exodus from Japan as the people are fearing that the radiation levels have become much too high to stay. For others who have now become homeless and stranded, the options are not so good as they must stay and face what is likely the worst nuclear accident of our time.

The workers at the Fukushima Dai-Ichi Nuclear Plant were all ordered to leave for periods of time as the radiation levels became too high over the past few days and fires burned out of control.The resulting explosions and damage done to the reactors sent a fairly large amount of radioactive fallout material into the air -- also sending a radioactive plume over the Pacific Ocean via the Jet Stream air currents. The radioactive plume has been estimated by experts to arrive sometime late Friday, March 18th. Also, experts are warning of an eminent earthquake in the coming days, as it is a logical conclusion to the clockwise motion of the recent string of earthquakes along the pacific rim, also known as the ring of fire.

   As far as the nuclear situation is concerned in Japan, according to an article by Reuters, experts are blaming corporate greed and even criticizing the Japanese government for failing to advance their nuclear technology to levels which could have avoided these terrible complications which will likely lead to large amounts of radioactive fallout being hurled into the atmosphere as well as over most of Japan and many surrounding countries. Here is what one expert (Russian nuclear accident specialist Louli Andreev, who aided in the cleanup of Chernobyl) had to say about it --

"After Chernobyl all the force of the nuclear industry was directed to hide this event, for not creating damage to their reputation. The Chernobyl experience was not studied properly because who has money for studying? Only industry..."

"But industry doesn't like it,"

"The Japanese were very greedy and they used every square inch of the space. But when you have a dense placing of spent fuel in the basin you have a high possibility of fire if the water is removed from the basin," Andreev said.

   In reference to the IAEA (the International Atomic Energy Agency, which according to it's website, was set up as the world´s "Atoms for Peace" organization in 1957 within the United Nations family" and "works with it's Member States and multiple partners worldwide to promote safe, secure, and peaceful nuclear technologies.") Andreev said:

   "The IAEA ... is not interested in the concentration of attention on a possible accident in the nuclear industry. They are totally not interested in all the emergency organisations."

     One of the main reasons that the industry doesn't want to spend the money needed to progress is because they make the most money from the older technologies (i.e. nuclear energy and oil) in which a business infrastructure has been well established. Any time a new energy source found to be viable and may be proposed, it is shot down due to the fact that much money will be lost in the industry of the old technologies, which have led more than a few to achieve unheard-of wealth, and have allowed them to gain and maintain power, and to use that power to maintain control over resources and energy sources. We have seen this time and time again, even in places like Los Angeles where the oil companies prohibited the building of a sufficient railway system, resulting in Los Angeles being the 'car capital of the USA'.

    It almost seems that these days, corporate power is virtually synonymous with political power in this new world with a nearly global government, but how long will we continue on our road to nowhere? Sooner or later these accidents are either going to be learned from, or we are going to destroy our mother planet in a hurry.

Experts are also claiming that the real truth behind the nuclear situation in Japan is being hidden or covered up due to the fear of the nuclear industry that the world will find out just how dangerous it really is -- causing a mass hysteria and fear of nuclear power and energy, and a large amount of negative sentiment towards nuclear energy being produced in our own countries. Just how safe is it really? And are the nuclear reactors (many of which were built quite a few years ago) built to withstand such natural disasters as earthquakes and tsunamis?Many are now in debate about the nuclear situations in their own countries.

We must all as humans gather together to help Japan and it's people, who have developed such a sophisticated and intelligent culture of people who are as a whole, one of the best cultures in the world. They are such respectful and friendly, good-hearted people and I believe they will be strong throughout this turbulent tribulation.

   With no real natural resources of their own, besides their own people, they have become one of the richest nations in the world by working together as a team. Even now in the face of such destruction, they are patiently working together to recover from such a disaster. It is truly impressive and I wish them Godspeed in the healing of their nation.

   It is not the people of Japan who can be blamed for this nuclear mess, nor the government. It is the ones who are in charge of these large, powerful energy source corporations who use wealth and political influence to strong-arm nations into keeping outdated technologies for the benefit of the corporate monster.

   Oil and nuclear power have long been a source of greed and war. They are still being used as energy sources when we have no doubt progressed beyond them as a human culture. Electric cars have been available for years. Free energy technology has also. Even since the time of Nicola Tesla, we have made profound advances in the area of energy. Let's put some of this technology to use before it is too late. End the corporate hunger and greed. We as a people need to educate ourselves and put an end to disasters that are the result of our own ignorance. If we can develop and implement free energy technology as well as windmills dams, and other forms of natural power producers, we can avoid future mishaps that cause unnecessary destruction.

    Pray for Japan... and pray for the world. These truly are desperate times, and we all need to wake up before it's too late. Free energy. The source of the future.

Freeriding and Urban Street

noreply@blogger.com (Joshua Lee) — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 18:52:00 +0000

There is a style of mountain biking that has become a way of life for some. It is called Freeriding. Freeriding is pushing the limits of modern adventure cycling. It is a radical approach to bicycling with riders who have developed unbelievable technical skills.

Here is the definition of Freeriding according to Urban dictionary:


	" Freeride is one of the most popular and fastest growing sports in mountain biking today. Freeriding is a term used to refer to riders who aren't focused on one area of mountain biking, but rather attack all aspects of the sport with great vigor. Freeriders can be seen riding downhill, technical X-country, dirtjumping, North-Shore style raised trails, urban assault and any other form of mountain biking that produces a rush. Freeride bikes range from small hard-tails setup for jumping, to full-suspension downhill rigs that have been reduced in weight and will sometimes have as many as 27 speeds as opposed to the standard 9-speed downhill setups. Freeriding is all about the rush!"

Check out some cool videos and see the amazing sport of Freeriding up-close.

Creating From Within - Finding Your Inner Artist

noreply@blogger.com (Joshua Lee) — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 19:31:00 +0000

Creativity -- where does it come from? Some will say that it comes from God and others will argue that it is just a natural outflow of the creative energy which we are made from.

Regardless of where this energy and inspiration come from, we can all agree that creativity is responsible for the ultimate evolution of the human race, and has been responsible for countless works of art, music, and thought -- from which we in turn receive new forms of inspiration and experience.

What was the last thing you created? It doesn't have to be Beethoven's 5th or the Last Supper -- it could be something even as simple as a peanut butter sandwich or a homemade card. It could also be a photo collage or a flower arrangement. All of these things involve our left-brain experience to increase our focus and experience of the event at hand. It is our mindset which can increase the wonder of these experiences to help us be inspired and create things that we may not have even imagined possible.

    This mindset I am speaking of is a certain state of wonder while experiencing the creative process. It is also a type of meditation in which we appear to 'lose ourselves' within the creative experience. It is in this 'losing' of ourselves that we can let go and let the creative energy flow through us -- a process which often surprises us with the results, whether those results be amazing or simply plain.

    I believe that it is through the creative process that we can find our true selves and that we can find a passion which will grow like wildfire. It can make life so much more vibrant and also can intensify any experience. We are not only in the creative mind-state when we are making art, music, cooking, or gardening. We are also the co-creators of our future as the human race. We create and co-create every aspect of our day, from deciding what we want to eat for breakfast or by working out in the gym. By going to the beach or the mountains or playing ping-pong with some friends.

   The bottom line is that we are creative beings. Most believe in some form of Creator who made us like this and many believe that this Creator is a form of a personal God that somehow we can interact with. Others simply believe that this is a mystifying force of energy that permeates all things that has created this entire realm of existence, including our complex brains and bodies.

                       Alex Grey: an artist on the forefront of modern spiritual art

   No matter who or what created all of this -- some things ring true to all of us as humans. One thing is that being creative connects us to some deep force or innate power that causes us to feel most at home. That gives us feeling of awe and wonder. It is a force or energy that we can experience first-hand, as well as intensify that experience as we learn to control our artistic expression.

We, as humans, are all artists. We are creators from the very first breath. We are creating our lives which start out as a blank canvas and end up an elaborate work of art. Some of these 'paintings' in our lives can be hard to look at, and others may inspire awe and feelings of freedom and beauty. But all of them are works of art. Every time we experience something is a a chance for us to put our touch on it. To put our defining signature on this or that experience.

    Art, music, and other creative outlets such as dance, cooking, gardening, or writing -- are all forms of creativity which can enhance our ability to experience life. One way they do this is by changing our perception of things. We start to see lines and shadows, spirals and patterns of nature. We see colors more vibrantly and learn more about what it means to be human.

Water Lilly pond with Weeping Willow @ Monet's garden, Giverny

    To live in this beautiful and wondrous although sometimes terrible creation -- we will all fare for the better to allow ourselves creative freedom in our lives -- and to find the outlets which allow us to fully express ourselves from within. To allow our inner artist to shine is to allow our soul to heal -- to bring us closer and closer to whatever may have been responsible for the creation of ourselves, and our interesting, fascinating lives. What is it that brings out your inner artist? Is there something you have wanted to learn? Some kind of creative outlet, art, craft, or music? I highly recommend that you find that if you haven't already found your passion -- and learn everything you can about it.

   Most of all, create! Create your life with passion. Create lasting and flourishing friendships and relationships. Create a life worth living. Create experiences as well as things -- and embark on a journey which you may have never imagined. Inspire yourselves and others by finding your inner artist -- and live a life full of passion and wonder. Creativity holds the key to our inner self. Unlock all that you can -- and you will be more than surprised at the creative power that you, and others around you, possess.

   It is truly an amazing and wonderful world we live in. Although it can be terrible and tragic at times, expressing ourselves will bring us closer to nature and the experience of wholeness.

Tsunami - Devastation In Its Wake

noreply@blogger.com (Joshua Lee) — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 19:15:00 +0000

The word Tsunami is a Japanese word -- which literally means harbor wave. Harbor comes from the Japanese "Tsu", and "Nami" is Japanese for wave.

Unfortunately for the Japanese people who inhabit this beautiful as well as technologically advanced country, located in the vast Pacific Ocean off the Eastern coast of China -- Tsunami and earthquakes are a fairly regular occurrence. They are such a regular occurrence that the Japanese have developed countermeasures and safeguards in the way of architectural design, sophisticated sea walls, and also by educating their people on what to do in the case of an emergency via earthquake or Tsunami.

A Tsunami wall at Tsu-Shi, Japan

Here is a brief video explaining the basic science behind a Tsunami:

Although Japan was prepared for such major disasters as large earthquakes and tsunamis, there was little that could be done about the 8.8 magnitude earthquake that struck in a very shallow zone near the northeastern coast of the Japan's main island of Honshu, and caused a series of large, powerful Tsunami waves that rushed through many towns and caused an incredibly tragic amount of destruction. Many have been reported dead and many more reportedly injured. over 9500 people in one city alone have been reported to be missing. Also it is estimated that there are were over 80 fires raging throughout Japan, including an extremely large one at an oil refinery which produced unbelievable footage as people around the world have been watching in awe and disbelief.

The 8.8 magnitude earthquake that struck the coast of Japan on the afternoon of Friday, March 11, 2011 left total destruction in the form of a series of tsunami waves that repeatedly struck Japan's coastline, particularly the northeast region which saw the worst destruction.

   The Sendai Airport was totally engulfed with water, and entire towns were swallowed up as the series of waves -- which were estimated to reach heights of up to and over 23 feet -- rushed through these towns as well as over massive areas of farmland. The waves swallowed everything in their path -- including houses, cars, trucks, boats, and buildings which had no defense over the massive walls of rushing water. 180+ aftershocks have been reported to hit the area, some of which were larger than the recent earthquake in Haiti.

   Tokyo also was affected by the earthquake as it shook the metro area violently and caused them to shut down all railway systems, leaving thousands stranded in the city for the night.

   It has also been reported that although the nuclear power plants across Japan are all designed for such disasters -- it is still possible to experience small leaks from these nuclear plants. One apparently had a small explosion and the government is prepared to give the people of the surrounding area iodine tablets in order to reduce the effects of any radiation that might be in the area.

   The massive earthquake and the series of Tsunami waves that it produced sent waves rocketing throughout the entire Pacific Region -- including the Hawaiian Islands, Taiwan, Russia, The Philippines, The Marshall Islands and Guam, Indonesia, and the entire west coast of the United States, and most of the west coasts of Central and South America.

    The impact of Tsunami waves in the past decade has shown their power and ability to cause mass destruction. Such unfortunate events call for the bonding of the human race, and for the hearts of people to reach out and help their neighbors in a time of need. President Obama has also said that the US is prepared to aid Japan in it's recovery. And the Hawaii state Governor has declared a state of emergency to aid places like Kona and parts of Maui.

    It is incredibly unfortunate when natural disasters occur and hopefully the world will recognize the need in Japan and do whatever they can to help in this time of need.   To those with family members in these regions -- may your families be safe and may they have a sense of peace during this time of upheaval. And may the human race bond together and aid Japan in this time of distress.

The Japanese government deployed over 8,000 troops to aid in the regions that were impacted and has declared a state of emergency as they prepare to recover from the aftermath of this incredible force of destruction. Google has also deployed it's 'person finder' crisis response site where people can attempt to reach their loved ones who may not be responding.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, located in Honolulu, Hawaii -- issued Tsunami warnings for all of the Hawaiian Islands as well as the west coast of the United States, and most parts of the coasts of Central and South America.
The series of Tsunami waves hit the Hawaiian islands and have caused a fair amount of damage. A series of Tsunami waves estimated to be around 3 ft. arrived at Waikiki beach around 3am in the morning on Friday. Unfortunately Kona was hit fairly hard as water reportedly rushed in as far as 100 yards and destroyed houses, cars, restaurants, and shops. A large house was floating in Kealakekua Bay and other houses and vehicles were destroyed there. Debris was strewn all over the place but people were gathering to form cleanup crews so they can resume their lives. Estimated millions in damages to one of our country's most beautiful and amazing places. Such a sad thing to happen as well, but Japan seems to have the largest loss from the Tsunami.

Fortunately, the residents of Hawaii had hours to prepare in case these waves were to cause a real threat -- which they certainly did -- and destroyed quite a few homes and vehicles. Also some boats were destroyed and others sustained heavy damages. Some people took dangerous risks to be in the area filming, although it makes for some very close- up footage. Here is some of the footage of the destruction done in the town of Kailua-Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii, my home for close to 10 years, where I happen to have many friends there who are like family to me --

If you would like to help in any way -- check out CNN's link "Tsunami Aid and Relief: How You Can Help" for information on how to help Japan in their time of need. It also may help to say some prayers for this country and their people, and for the people of Hawaii to send them wishes of healing and peace... and the means to rebuild what has been destroyed by this unfortunate event.

Electronic Music Definitions -- Making sense of the fastest growing musical genre Pt. 1

noreply@blogger.com (Joshua Lee) — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 22:47:00 +0000

Are you one of the many who just can't seem to keep up with the incredibly fast evolution of electronic music? Or simply wonder from time to time what people are talking about when they mention terms like psytrance or dubstep, jungle & drum n' bass, chillout or downtempo, and all the myriad forms of house music, or any other semi-obscure type of electronic music that you might not have heard of? Well I will attempt to break it down for you to make some sense of this ever-expanding genre. I have been a musician for more than 20 years and have followed electronic music almost religiously. As someone who is interested in the creation of electronic music as well as it's propagation, I am very passionate about it -- and would like to share some of my thoughts and experiences based on the many different genres of electronic music.

Just in case you might not be aware of how many genres there are in this vast class, have a look at Wikipedia's list of electronic music genres. It is mind-blowing to think that there could be this many classifications for what once was simply considered techno, trance, or house music. They have obscure genres listed such as Raggacore, Techstep, Psybient, and Darkside Jungle as well as a massive amount of genres that most have never come close to hearing -- except in some dark basement in an underground club somewhere deep inside the walls of urbanity. For the more obscure ones -- I will cover those in future posts as they are of great interest to me. What I will do for now is cover the main genres that have been established in the Electronic Music scene for quite a while.

Starting with some of the more common genres, I will break them down into a basic definition of the style as well it's typical bpm (beats-per-minute) range.

1. House Music - Originating in Chicago in the early '80s, and one of the oldest forms of electronic dance music (with the exception of disco) -- which has established itself as a staple in the international club scene -- is House music. House music has remained the most popular form of dance music which has evolved into a global scene with DJ's who have achieved the titles like 'Superstar DJ', attaining a status that few rockstars are even able to reach. The typical BPM range for house music is 118-135 BPM. This is not a hard and fast rule though and the House tempo can be manipulated by the DJ to create more of an up or downtempo feel. It is known for it's steady 'four-on-the-floor' beat structure, meaning that there is a steady bass kick drum beat that originated with disco, and which most people think of when they mention the word 'techno'. Depending on the style of House Music being played, it can have elements of world music or funk, and can be with or without vocals. Sometimes it is full of synth lines and bass lines, and sometimes it is stripped down to it's most basic elements. House music has seen an evolution over quite a few years and can be broken down into sub-genres such as --

(Click link for Wikipedia definitions of the sub-genres)

- Acid House (one house music's first forms)
- Chicago House
- Tech House
- Deep House
- Progressive House
- Tribal House
- Hard House
- Minimal House

2. Trance Music - Trance Music is a combination of different elements of certain styles of music which include House, Techno, Industrial, Chillout, Pop, Ambient, and Film music to name a few. It is more melodic than Techno and often the beats are a bit harder and faster than we find with most House Music. Trance is characterized by rhythmic patterns that build until they reach a climax and then sustain that climax until the rhythm drops off and returns to another steadily building pattern. Trance is mainly divided into 2-3 categories in my opinion. There is pop trance, which is very catchy and has a bubblegum pop sort of feel with predictable buildups and almost cheesy vocal or synth lines. Then there is what I would call global (I think I most associate it with the record label Global Underground which brought the Progressive Trance movement to the forefront) or Progressive Trance. This type of Trance is very similar to some forms of House Music and is often interwoven with styles of House or Techno to provide constant sets of high-energy dance music. It often has sparse vocals as well as a fairly industrial type of sound. Lastly, Psytrance -- which has seen a massive following grow over the past 10-20 years. Psytrance (most often referred to as Psychedelic Trance or Goa) is often quite fast and has elements of hypnotic world rhythms and uptempo synth lines. It has a large following of artists, musicians, yogis, dancers, seekers and travelers, as well as cyber-hippies and new-age spiritualists who dedicate themselves to this movement with somewhat of a religious fervor.

Other styles of Trance Music worth mentioning are --

- Balearic Trance
- Euro Trance
- Hard Trance
- Psybient
- Psybreaks
- Psyprog

3. Breakbeat - Characterized by it's use of syncopation and polyrhythms, breakbeat is a style that evolved in the late 70's and early 80's in the hip-hop community as a way to keep up with the evolution of hip-hop dance styles which later evolved into what we now know as breakdancing. DJ's like Kool Herc and Afrika Bambataa developed techniques of sustaining the 'break' of a song (the part of the song where the percussionist or soloist is allowed to perform unaccompanied) by use of turntables to keep it going indefinitely. Essentially the 'break' is the funkiest part of the song (at first mainly breaks from Jazz and funk tracks were used until the style evolved) where it breaks down and allows the dancer to go wild. Breakbeat music has evolved to form some of the biggest names in electronic music -- mostly from the Big Beat sub genre -- names such as Fatboy Slim, The Prodigy, The Chemical Brothers, and The Crystal Method. Some popular forms in the evolution of the Breakbeat style are -

Original Breakbeatz^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

- Big Beat
- Nu Skool Breaks
- Psybreaks

Topics to be discussed in the near future:

4. Drum and Bass
5. Electronica
6. Downtempo
7. Ambient
8. UK Garage
9. DUBSTEP

Some Late Night Chillout For Your Ears

noreply@blogger.com (Joshua Lee) — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 07:37:00 +0000

a few of my favorite late night tunes that help to unwind from a stressful day. Take a deep breath and relax. No matter the time of day it is always a good time to breathe deeply. Peace....

Thievery Corporation's Resolution remix is so good. ^^^^^

This Flamenco-Electronica is amazing. Must listen ^^^^^

For the Love of Computers...

noreply@blogger.com (Joshua Lee) — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 01:20:00 +0000

Computers. Either love 'em or hate 'em they are here to stay -- and they have infiltrated nearly every facet of our lives in one way or another. It wasn't long ago it seemed that the Radio Shack Tandy TRS-80 and the Apple computers of yesterday (Simply called Apple or Apple II) were so advanced and such an extension of the human imagination.

Step forward to the next generation of culture and existence -- and enter a world where computers and supercomputers are making advances at what appears to be an exponential rate. Computers determine our lifestyles and how we can view the world. They connect us in ways we never thought possible. They also have disconnected us in ways from nature. The need for balance becomes evident after one has 'caved out' on their computer for days... staring wide-eyed and fascinated by the world of computing and the internet... but lacking sleep and proper amounts of vitamin D. We all need a bit of balance in our lives -- but I certainly admit that it is hard to stay away from a machine so fascinating as a home computer or laptop.

   Computers are now sufficiently user-friendly and have brought the whole world of humanity into more of a synchronous and unified experience. It's too bad that they have become so expensive and the software, especially for artists and musicians, has also become incredibly expensive. Some computer programs for recording and design run upwards of $1000-$2000. More than the computer itself often costs. Would you believe me if I told you that there is a solution to the high costs of recording and design? And it is a world of freedom for so many who have felt limited by their limited monetary resources, current PC hardware, platform or operating system. Perhaps you wish you could put more money into your computer than into software? And have a computer that is fast and reliable with ease of use and a seemingly unlimited library of free art, music, design, and office applications? Well enter the world of Ubuntu and the free world of computing.

   Ubuntu was developed by a group of philanthropic software developers who go by the name of Canonical. The developers at Canonical saw the incredible potential for human growth and creativity and they created a system that is completely free to it's users -- and offers an incredibly stable platform with amazing functional ease and visual screen appeal that easily rivals Mac and Windows. It is a Linux-based operating system so it is very stable, and the developers continuously update it.

Wouldn't all of us like to understand our communication tools a bit easier? And have operating systems that are user-friendly as well as easy on the pocketbook? Everyone wants some kind of way to save money these days -- and I am going to remind you my friends that Ubuntu is an amazing free Operating System that is easy to use and is also easy to configure. An amateur in computing these days could easily build their own Linux dream computer for a fraction of the cost of a high-end already-assembled name brand computer.

Meaning of Ubuntu:
"A traveler through a country would stop at a village and he didn't have to ask for food or for water. Once he stops, the people give him food, entertain him. That is one aspect of Ubuntu but it will have various aspects. Ubuntu does not mean that people should not enrich themselves. The question therefore is: Are you going to do so in order to enable the community around you to be able to improve?" - Nelson Mandela

   The Ubuntu operating system is just that -- a blessing for thirsty computing travelers who need a stable spring from which to drink. I personally thank the developers of this awesome software and feel fortunate to have found it.

    I truly believe the Ubuntu platform has revolutionized the computing world, and has brought an incredibly useful powerhouse of free music and art software/design tools such as the DAW Ardour which easily syncs with effects programs like Rakarrack or Rosegarden -- or Blender and Fspot, the excellent 3d modeling and photo programs -- that makes it hard to decide going with something otherwise. I am a musician and artist who is interested in the arts of recording, digital film and web design, fine arts such as ceramics and painting... and I also am a passionate blogger.   So having a useful tool that has alot of memory storage space as well as video processing capabilities is key for me.

I decided to go the Ubuntu route and couldn't be happier with my computer. It is incredibly fast and has all the ease of use as my Mac G4, minus the high expense of audio/video editing software and effects, and office & design programs. The amount of amazing free software will truly blow your mind -- I still have a hard time believing it's free! Finally something free AND good!!!

I bought a barebones computer kit from Tigerdirect.com. I am recommending them and advertising for them because I highly recommend them. (They are reliable and pretty much the best deal on the net for computers and electronics) Anyway my computer has an Athlon Quad Core 64-bit processor and 8 GB of memory with 1GB of video memory, hybrid crossfire (Which enables syncing with other high-performance video cards), a 750 GB 7200rpm hard drive, all kinds upgrade options available for it... for about $500 (CPU only + about $100 for a liquid cooled CPU cooler I installed afterwards). It is quite easy actually to put together a computer these days. Seriously you would be amazed at how easy it is. If one can put together a snap-together model as a kid -- or use an erector set, they can definitely screw in and plug in a few drives -- and popping in the CPU is about as easy as putting a battery in a camera. Just remember to use demagnetized tools and a wrist band to ground yourself and not risk damage to your sensitive equipment. A nice little computer tool kit can be purchased from TigerDirect.com for around $30. Not bad considering the kind of money one saves by putting together a barebones computer. This also enables them to get a much faster and more powerful machine for a very low price.

I have been using my new computer as my art, music, and web design computer and like I mentioned earlier -- Ubuntu and other software developers including Oracle who have created the 100% free MS Word rival Open Office -- offer high quality art, music and design programs and a high-quality platform that is incredibly stable and disease free. They even offer free updates of ClamAV -- the platform's premiere Virus-protection software. It is worth it for anyone to check out this Operating System and see what an incredible powerhouse it is. They will be astonished at the quality and the amount of free time and lack of headaches they will have because of this very stable user-friendly platform. And for artists, musicians and designers who are looking for an edge in this time of need for economic wisdom -- You may just find the tools you were needing so long but couldn't afford until now. Do yourself a favor and check out Ubuntu. The new age of computing has fallen upon us. Don't be left behind. We all owe it to ourselves to see what all the buzz is about. Maybe your next computer could be more super than you had imagined....

What is Permaculture?

noreply@blogger.com (Joshua Lee) — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 20:38:00 +0000

Permaculture is a lifestyle as well as natural living philosophy that emphasizes living in harmony with the natural laws/principles of nature. It also utilizes techniques of farming and gardening/landscaping which see high yields of pure organic goodness, veggies and grains, berries and fruits, nuts and flowers and plenty of sun, shade, and water for all of them. It works in synergy with the Earth by applying organic principles and following closely the seasons and cycles of nature. This philosophy has permeated past cultures -- including the Taoists and Native Americans -- who understood the importance of the cycles and science behind all things natural -- pertaining to living off of the land and creating a peaceful existence on this planet, Earth.

According to the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu, one of the most important philosophical texts of ancient China --

" A faithful Tao cultivator does not use force.

A good warrior does not lose his temper.
A great conqueror does not challenge others.
A good leader is humble.
This is called the virtue of peace with no contention.
This is also regarded as competence to make good use of the effort of people.
Such is regarded as achieving harmony with nature.
Such is the perfect Oneness of true nature."

and

"If people do not revere the Law of Nature,
It will inexorably and adversely affect them.
If they accept it with knowledge and reverence,
It will accommodate them with balance and harmony.
Be still like a mountain and flow like a great river.
There is a thing, formless yet complete.
Before heaven and earth it existed.
Without sound, without substance,
it stands alone and unchanging.
It is all-pervading and unfailing.
One may think of it as the mother of all beneath Heaven.
We do not know its name, but we call it Tao.
Deep and still, it seems to have existed forever."

As also noted in 1994 by Katherine Wasser on Permaculture.net, a significant resoure for all things Permaculture:

"The term permaculture, meaning "permanent agriculture" was coined in the 1970's by Australian Bill Mollison.

    As I saw permaculture in the 1970's, it was a beneficial assembly of plants and animals in relation to human settlements, mostly aimed towards household and community self reliance, and perhaps as a "commercial endeavor" only arising from a surplus from the system.

   However, permaculture has come to mean more than just food sufficiency in the household. Self-reliance in food is meaningless unless people have access to land, information, and financial resources. So in recent years it has come to encompass appropriate legal and financial strategies, including strategies for land access, business structures, and regional self financing. This way it is a whole human system.

    Permaculture, then, is a design system that encompasses both "permanent agriculture" and "permanent culture." It recognizes, first, that all living systems are organized around energy flows. It teaches people to analyze existing energy flows (sun, rain, money, human energy) through such a system (a garden, a household, a business). Then it teaches them to position and interconnect all the elements in the system (whether existing or desired) in beneficial relationship to each other and to those energy flows. When correctly designed such a system will, like a natural ecosystem, become increasingly diverse and self-sustaining.

    All permaculture design is based on three ethics: Care of the earth (because all living things have intrinsic worth); care of the people; and reinvest all surplus, whether it be information, money, or labor, to support the first two ethics "

   The ability to blend in with the cycles and patterns of nature as well as practical scientific rules that nature itself has presented us -- could be crucial to the survival of the human species.

The concepts of Permaculture could offer us a great insight into the way the Earth works and also give us as humans a close proximity to the ground where we come from and where we all will eventually end up. There is something primal about working with the Earth and it's elements and I -- as an amateur looking to turn professional potter/ceramic artist-- can attest that it is quite soothing to the soul. There is some kind of amazing feeling of using the Earth's elements as I am 'throwing' a bowl or mug on the potter's wheel --

   letting the organic material of the clay slip through my fingers all wet and slippery. Feeling also the grit of the clay and knowing I am forming a new vessel from the Earth. Using the Earth's elements to form something useful and aesthetically pleasing. It seems symbolic to me of our own birth and life course. Also it is interesting to see what kinds of elements we will fill ourselves with. I would imagine that any creative act aligns us with some kind of harmonic force.

   In Eastern thought as well as now many in the West's field advanced science -- the Earth's fields and forces can be measured and observed with precision. Also -- there are principles we can follow to be more self-sufficient, more healthy, more spiritually sound and connected to our source. No matter what form of God people envision -- we are all inextricably connected to the Earth which sustains our bodies which without them our soul would have no home. We need to treat it with care and feed our bodies with the proper nutrition - as well as our hearts, minds, and souls.

   Could this be the farming of the future? Let's hope so...

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The Acoustic Revolution

noreply@blogger.com (Joshua Lee) — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 00:23:00 +0000

   Nowadays the world of music is saturated with talent in all styles and genres. To be a great guitar player means different things to different people. To some... it means being able to shred like Dimebag Darrell, Kirk Hammett, Eddie Van Halen, or some of the newer generations of rock guitarists. To others, it may mean to be smooth and full of tone like Andres Segovia, Paco De Lucia, Vicente Amigo, or Wes Montgomery. Some may associate guitar talent with tone and the kinds of tones and sounds one is able to achieve with this single but diverse instrument.

   The debate lingers on... acoustic or electric? Which is your mode of preference? Some have not wanted to decide and have gone the acoustic/electric route, and some have maintained their preference with an almost religious fervor. For convenience sake -- we can call them the 'purists'.

There are many articles on the subject I am sure -- and I would imagine the purists of the electric camp would be in the majority when it comes to modern day music and the popularity of alternative rock and indie genres -- but there is a breed of musicians who have stood by their trusty acoustic instuments and have remained true to on organic, acoustic sound.

    There has seemed to be a resurgence, or a revolution if you will... of acoustic stylists who know just how to get the right tone and sweetness out of their guitars. Many have mastered percussive techniques that even allow them to be a form of one-man-band or to play as an accompaniment to dancers such as in the world of Flamenco.

These artists have evolved and so have their instruments. What was once a very narrow field of competition has blossomed into a full-blown industry thanks to the pioneers like Taylor, Martin, Gibson, Godin, and Guild. They have developed acoustic guitars to such precision and have even engineered electronics to amplify those sweet tones without modifying the acoustic sound too much.... to allow the guitars to shine in larger and larger venues and environments.

The world of guitar lutherie seems so mysterious in ways and in ways it certainly is mysterious. It is somewhat like the making of a fine wine or sculpture -- where science and art meet with a precision touch to form a craft worthy of some of the finest musicians all over the world -- with tones that seem like they are made in Heaven. The past 20-30 years have seen a boom in the amount of acoustic guitar makers and it doesn't seem that this boom is slowing down. Many people are opting for the sweet soft or percussive and bright tones of acoustic steel and nylon string guitars.

Some of the top steel string acoustic guitar makers of the modern age are Taylor, Martin, Guild, Gibson, Collings, Santa Cruz Guitar Co., Larrivee, Seagull, Breedlove, Froggy Bottom, Olson, and the list goes on and on. Some of the top nylon string guitar makers are Conde Hermanos, Godin, Cordoba, Takamine, and many many more as well. Those are just some of the big boys. There are plenty of small name luthiers out there who make some fantastic guitars (although many of the lesser heard of make less in quantity which makes the price tags out of reach for some).

For many out there who are not familiar with some of the top acoustic guitar stylists of our time... it is definitely a genre of music worth checking out. The music has progressed and evolved and the tones of these sweet guitars are something Heavenly. Have a listen to some of the best acoustic stylists of our time --

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Transportation of The Future

noreply@blogger.com (Joshua Lee) — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 23:10:00 +0000

What a world we live in. Time ticks faster and faster by the second. Our lives whirl around and settle briefly and repeatedly like bees on flowers. We race around all busy and hurried and rarely stop to notice everything around us. Is that because most of the time we are driving our own vehicles at speeds that racers of the past would have only dreamed of? Or we run down crowded sidewalks to chase buses who would probably rather not wait for us? Ten million thoughts go whizzing through our brains and it seems sometimes that we just can't keep up. Power struggles for oil, fossil fuels, energy. It seems a global energy crisis can be greatly alleviated by the use of modern technology -- transportation in particular.

Transportation is a key factor in the development of any civilization -- and should always be developed in order to satisfy our increasing demands for time and resources. Modes such as automobile, train, plane, jet, ship, and personal vehicles have all been pushing their limits the past few decades and now -- we seem to have reached a Golden Age of transportation in that we have more options and technologies available to us than we ever had before. Electric cars, magnetic trains, personal jets, and even space craft.

In Europe, trains are used as a primary mode of transportation. Also, in crowded places such as Japan, railway seems essential in dealing with the congested city areas and rising fuel prices. The Europeans and Japanese are on the forefront of railway technology and in my opinion... the United States needs to follow suit in order to remain the thriving cosmopolitan nation that it has been for so long. We, as a country need to strive to produce the most efficient means of transportation -- public as well as private.

The Japanese Maglev train is one of the most efficient and amazing trains in the world, and can reach speeds of up to 361 mph! It basically floats due to a type of magnetic resistance that pushed it along at incredible speeds. Due to the fact that the train is not actually touching the tracks -- the ride has been reported to be amazingly smooth and quiet. There have recently been proposals made about high speed trains in the United States, but as usual they seem to be tied up in red tape. How long until we receive the transportation that we need so bad as a country? It will enable us as people to explore our own countries and states as Europeans have been able to do for so long. It will enable us to stop wasting so much as well as polluting so much. What is the future for transportation in the United States? I pray for a technological solution to our transportation confusion.

It has been an issue for many years in this country -- why there is not a more efficient system of public transportation to get from place to place -- short and long distance alike. It seems one made up of red tape, power plays, money, bureaucracy, and greed. Let us all become more aware of our options and work to build a better future for the world of travel. Bring on the Maglev and the Tesla Roadster! Bring on the new frontier of transport!

Anywhere Yoga. A modern guide to an ancient art.

noreply@blogger.com (Joshua Lee) — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 01:11:00 +0000

    Yoga. The elusive art of stretching and purifying the body. It can be very scientific -- but can also be quite organic and free. What is it to you? What is it to me? It will always be different depending on one's perspective of it.

As we grow into our bodies over time in life we realize that it is advantageous to keep our bodies flexible no matter what we do. Whether we are athletes, the regular working person, a world traveler, or just trying to live the best we can -- we owe it to ourselves to maintain a flexible body.

   As the ancient Chinese Sage Lao Tzu said in the Tao Te Ching which translates roughly as the 'Ancient Way of Virtue' --

"The stiff and unbending is the disciple of death.
The gentle and yielding is the disciple of life.
Thus an army without flexibility never wins a battle.
A tree that is unbending is easily broken. "

   It is key in any physical activity to be flexible. No matter what we want to call our 'science of stretching' -- figuring out how to stretch is a great thing -- and can lead to much freer range of movement and a more vital and energetic physical body.

   I am an athlete and I study and practice Yoga. My Yoga is a bit different at times. It is an evolving process and at different times different things. I've read books here and there and have seen videos and have somehow evolved my own style of Yoga that keeps me flexible and content. Concerning 'Yoga' -- which is a word that means many different things to many different people -- I know enough to feel I have a decent grasp on it, but of course there will always be more to learn. I might not know an incredible amount about Yoga but I do understand that you don't have to be into the philosophical side of Yoga to benefit from it.

    Although Yoga stems from certain spiritual traditions that emphasize a philosophy of purity which includes 'keeping one's temple clean' or a 'cleanliness is Godliness' belief, it can also be practiced regardless of religious or philosophical orientation or lack thereof.

    Alone, without spiritual or philosophical connotations, Yoga serves to be a system of postures and exercises combined with deep breathing techniques that can greatly enhance the human experience by giving one mobility, flexibility, healthy bones and spine, release from tension or knots, and a greatly uplifted and tranquil spirit which often accompanies lack of pain and discomfort.

   It is a systematic healing tool for our vehicle, being the body, that us humans have been given to live our lives. A type of user's manual created after hundreds or even thousands of years of observation of the human body and what makes it healthiest and most comfortable -- most agile, strong, and quick.

   I have looked into multiple spiritual philosophies including some of the ones of Yoga -- which are mainly Hinduism, Buddhism, and Taoism. Hinduism is the religion that most people associate with Yoga, partly for the reason that Yoga became so widespread within the Hindu Religion and also because the practice of Yoga in India dates back to ancient times. Although the Indian styles of Yoga (Primarily Hatha, Ashtanga, Kundalini, and Iyengar) are some of the most popular, there are also Taoist and Buddhist styles and adaptations to the ancient art. The systems of Tai Chi and Qigong involve a large amount of Yogic technique and practice. Although being mostly Taoist in nature, there are also Buddhist systems of these moving and still meditational arts.

   There are many styles and types of stretching techniques or Yoga techniques. I strongly believe that the best thing for anyone to do is find the ones that they are most drawn to. Find what works best for them and stick to a basic system of stretching that keeps their joints flexible and their spine supple. For many that system is Yoga. For many it is merely stretching.

I have found that some of the most basic and traditional forms of Yoga can be the best introduction and I personally recommend Hatha (Sun/Moon) Yoga. The reason I like it so much and feel it is good for everyone, regardless of age or ability, is that it is a fairly simple series of static postures which allow one to release tension in all the major muscle groups and spine, which is easy to practice anytime or anywhere.

   The Sun Salutation is a perfect example of this. With regular practice of this basic series of stretches, one could become quite limber and stay flexible for life. It only takes a few minutes and is a perfect way to start or end the day -- or even just to refresh the 'spring' in our step.

   If you get adventurous and decide to try more than the Sun Salutation, you could continue on to learn some more advanced Asana (posture) sequences as well as breathing techniques to allow the muscles and mind to relax. Some great books to read are The Sivananda Companion to Yoga: A Complete Guide to the Physical Postures, Breathing Exercises, Diet, Relaxation, and Meditation Techniques of Yoga or Light on Yoga: Yoga Dipika by BKS Iyengar. Also, 'The Power of Breath' by Swami Saradananda is an amazing discovery of the powerful effects of breathing exercises.

   It is not always necessary to take classes when it comes to Yoga. Classes can even be harmful on occasion for a couple of reasons. Often the instructors will try to assist the Yoga student and end up trying to push them too far, resulting in mild to severe injury -- and sometimes our egos get the best of us and we try to force ourselves to a limit we might not be ready to reach yet, due to the fact that others are watching.

   I highly recommend buying a DVD and practicing at home while one is alone. It is a great way to relax and worth more than any amount of time you could put into it. Many become hooked after they start to feel how great it feels to release tension and stress. Two of my favorite, most straightforward teachers are Rodnee Yee and Patricia Walden. Their beginning as well as advanced material is top notch and easy to follow. The music is calming and the scenery very nice. Rodney mostly does his filming on the beach in Maui so it a relaxing way to learn -- watching the tropical background while relaxing and clearing one's mind.

    I am not a physician so I am not officially recommending anything here. just giving some advice on what has worked for me. If it benefits you that is wonderful. Keep searching and stay healthy. Namaste, and Aloha.

Staying Healthy Through The Holidays

noreply@blogger.com (Joshua Lee) — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 20:27:00 +0000

Most of us see the Winter season as a time to be very active. We're buzzing around here and there seeing family and friends... shopping and cooking for Christmas and Thanksgiving... and trying to get so much done in such a few short months. Often we end up indulging our appetites as well. Stuffing ourselves with copious amounts of food, desserts, candy, and sometimes alcohol. Although this seems normal and to most is nearly essential, especially in the fast paced culture of the United States, it might not be the most beneficial way to spend our Fall and Winter seasons.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, or TCM -- the foundation for acupuncture as well as a very advanced form of herbal medicine and holistic arts -- Fall and Winter are seen as Yin seasons... and Spring and Summer as Yang seasons. Fall and Winter are times for less strenuous, restorative activities, balance, and reflection. This is easily recognized in nature, where some animals store up food and take extremely long naps -- hibernating through the Winter to store up energy for the Spring and Summer months. In essence, according to the ancient Chinese Taiost philosophy -- which is the basis for Tai Chi, Qigong, and TCM amongst other highly valued health and spiritual philosophies -- being too active in the Fall and Winter seasons causes us to fall out of sync with the natural cycles of the Earth and nature.

   The principles of Yin and Yang are an essential part of the Huangdi Neijing (The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Medicine) -- the earliest Chinese medical book, written over 2000 years ago. The Yellow Emperor is regarded as the founder of Chinese civilization. His Classic of Medicine is considered the basis for Traditional Chinese Medicine and is highly regarded by physicians all over the world. He also invented the first classical Chinese writing system as well as a myriad of other important things. Regarding the principles of Yin and Yang, The Yellow Emperor says:

   ''The principle of Yin and Yang is the foundation of the entire universe. It underlies everything in creation. It brings about the development of parenthood; it is the root and source of life and death. It is found within the temples of the gods. In order to treat and cure diseases one must search for their origins... Heaven was created by the concentration of Yang, the force of light. Earth was created by the concentration of Yin, the forces of darkness. Yang stands for peace and serenity; Yin stands for confusion and turmoil. Yang stands for destruction; Yin stands for conservation. Yang brings about disintegration; Yin gives shape to things...."

Winter Solstice, just a few short days before Christmas, is seen as the most Yin day of the year. It is the darkest and shortest day of the year. In 46 BC, Julius Caesar established December 25th as the official day of the European Winter Solstice. The day when the Earth's axial tilt is furthest away from the Sun.

   Holistic experts agree that to conserve one's energy in the Yin seasons is to nourish oneself and restore their energy for the coming Yang seasons of activity and action. To nourish Yang energy in the Yin seasons is a great way to stay balanced and to keep from depleting one's energy, and to stay in balance with the cycles of nature.

   Some great ways to keep our energy balanced and to stay healthy through the holiday seasons are:
- Eat cooked, spicy Yang foods

Yang strengthening soups
Slow simmered stews
Beans and roasted root vegetables
Warm drinks
Yang spices such as Garlic, Ginger, Black Pepper, Clove, and Basil

- Minimize intake of Yin foods

Raw vegetables
Salad greens
Cold drinks

- Restorative Yoga

Hatha Yoga (Sun/Moon) - one of the best introductions to Yoga which has many static postures suitable for beginners as well as advanced practitioners.
Sun Salutation - A basic series of Asanas (poses) which forms the basis for Hatha Yoga. Most effective when practiced daily in conjunction with deep breathing exercises.

- Tai Chi, Qigong - Ancient Chinese movement and stillness exercises.

- Rest, relaxation, meditation

   The key to staying healthy relies on a balance between the concepts of Yin and Yang. In every season we need to be aware of the cycles of nature as well as the cycles of our own bodies. Often this requires an intuitive awareness of our needs and an ability to respond to our instincts without losing control. This is one of the biggest challenges facing us all and is no easy task.

Hopefully we can all find more time to nourish our bodies with Yang energy while maintaining the balanced, restfulness of Yin. Even taking a small portion of our day to ponder these concepts and put them in action in the smallest of ways can make a world of difference.

   May you find balance, peace, and health, and have the happiest of holidays...

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Tribute to a friend I never met...

noreply@blogger.com (Joshua Lee) — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 21:09:00 +0000

   My life changed on November 2nd, 2010. I can't say yet if it is for better or for worse but all I know is that the unexpected death of surfing legend Andy Irons profoundly affected me. I never knew I could be so sad about the passing of a person who I had never met but somehow the sadness still wells up within my soul when I think about such a talent... and such a great person... being gone so instantly.
   I was getting ready for work and having a less than perfect day when, upon checking my Facebook one last time before I left for the evening, I learned of his passing. I was so shocked that a fairly loud "WHAAAT???!!!" escaped through my being and I was completely devastated by the news article a friend had posted to Facebook. It said that the surfing legend had somehow passed away in a Dallas hotel room, apparently after suffering from symptoms of Dengue Fever. I Google searched the topic and came upon a video called 'I surf because' and saw videos of Andy surfing as well as an audio reel with a kind of poem on why he surfs. I couldn't help but burst into tears upon hearing his voice and the sincerity behind it... and realized that I would never hear or see anything new from him again... and then thought about his family, his brother, his friends... and what they must be feeling.
   Andy was, and shall remain to me, one of the purest and most amazing souls to ever grace this planet. Such a cool and humble person who had so many friends who adored him as well as appreciated who he was as a person. His surfing was absolutely incredible. He was fearless and a true warrior. Pushing the limits of modern surfing to a point where only very few have dared to go. He earned the title of World Champion on more than one occasion... overcoming legends such as Kelly Slater, a long-time friend and competitor, to earn the well-deserved World Titles.
    I never knew Andy Irons but I feel like I did. My brother and I grew up surfing and watching videos of him and his younger brother Bruce, which always amazed and inspired us. I even compared us to them in my own mind although they are quite a few levels above us in the surfing realm. I imagined my brother and myself pushing each other to new heights in life just like Andy and Bruce did. When we grew up in Cali and lived in Hawaii we would surf together (I mostly on a bodyboard and my brother surfing) and would try to impress each other and show off... which would lead us to new levels of our own athleticism. I, being the older one, was the 'Andy' and my brother 'Bruce'. I related well to Andy because I really felt his sincerity in his interviews and saw him as a truly genuine person. I was inspired to be like him and he and his brother became mine and my brother's heroes.
   So not only did I lose one of my heroes the other day, I feel like I lost a friend and role model who I had learned so much about... and in a way I feel like I lost a part of myself. When you look up to someone so much, you look to them for inspiration and imagine yourself being like them.
   I was not previously aware of Andy's problem with drugs but I do have a hard time believing that is the only cause of his death. I do believe he had become ill and for some reason his body had given up on him long enough to cause the most unfortunate of deaths.
   I know this will send shockwaves throughout the world, especially in Hawaii, where the name Andy Irons is a household name. He was a key member in the Hawaiian family and will always be mentioned with respect and honor.
   Andy... I say a prayer for you today and wish you the best of luck on your journey. I imagine you surfing in Heaven for all to see... and pray that you will be united with your family and friends once again when we all reach the afterlife. You will be missed and talked about for many decades to come. You were always a trailblazer and somehow have left on a wave to the spiritual realm. May you ride it well and may your spirit fly on forever.
   I will live my life differently from this day on. You have taught me that life can be so short... and we never know what can happen. A little part of everything I do... will be for you brother.

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a superfood?

noreply@blogger.com (Joshua Lee) — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 19:21:00 +0000

   What is a superfood? This word has been thrown around the fitness community for a while and seems to be creating quite a lot of buzz. Just what exactly is a superfood and what makes it so super? Wikipedia describes a superfood as being a food that is high in phytonutrient content. These nutrients might not be officially established as essential nutrients, but seem to have made a name for themselves in the health community. They have also been used as remedies and for overall health by cultures around the world for millennia. There is laboratory evidence that phytochemicals in fruits and vegetables may reduce the risk of Cancer.
   Acai, Spirulina, Goji, Cacao, Blueberries, Wheatgrass, Mangosteen, and Maca (the ancient superfood of the Incas) are just a few of what might be considered some of the top superfoods. They have unusually high amounts of antioxidants as well as phytonutrients, vitamins, and minerals.
   In his article "Dr. Perricone's 10 Superfoods", Dr. Nicholas Perricone says that "There are more than just 10 "superfoods." In fact, just about every brightly colored fruit and vegetable fits the category of a superfood, as do nuts, beans, seeds and aromatic and brightly colored herbs and spices. The beneficial properties of each one of these superfoods could fill an entire book." He recommends the top 10 based on their direct link to the 'Brain-Beauty connection'. These foods are rich in EFA's (Essential Fatty Acids), Antioxidants, or fiber. Acai has all three so is considered one of the best superfoods available.
   Some of the reasons he recommends adding these superfoods to one's diet are:

Prevent or reduce inflammation
Help regulate metabolism and burn body fat
Lower total cholesterol
Lower blood pressure
Help protect against heart disease
Help protect against cancer
Help protect organs from toxins
Promote digestive health

Superfoods not only benefit health in these ways but also seem to have many other healing properties and may provide an energy boost in those who consume them. An overall feeling of health and well-being seems to be a popular side-effect of these nutrient-rich foods.
Here is a list of superfoods for the summer season. Try experimenting with some of these today and see if you notice a difference in your overall health. Consuming these kinds of foods over a long period of time, as well as a sound workout and nutrition program may be just what one needs to remain healthy and disease-free for life. May you enjoy a happy and healthy life.... and live long and prosper.

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Great White Population Explosion!

noreply@blogger.com (Joshua Lee) — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 20:15:00 +0000

   There appears to be an unusual amount of Great White shark sitings off the coast of Southern California in the past few years. This is due to a rise in population of the Great Whites and is seen as a cause for concern... but appears to bring a bit of good news for us beach-going folks as well.
   The more we learn about California Great White sharks... we begin to understand that they are more intelligent than had first been imagined, and they seem to know exactly what they are looking for when it comes to having a 'healthy snack'. Despite this rise in the Great White shark population... there have still been only 9 California fatalities reported to date since 1926... according to the University of Florida's International Shark Attack File.
    Apparently this is somewhat of a token of good news to beach lovers because although there has been a significant rise in the population of California's Great White sharks, attacks on humans are extremely rare. While commenting on recent shark sightings in La Jolla, California... Ralph Collier, President and founder of the Shark Research Committee, a nonprofit group formed in 1963 to assist the Smithsonian Institution in documenting shark encounters, said "Shark attacks are often the result of curiosity by the fish or an effort to keep potential threats away from their young... The sharks really don't care about us. They are not hunting us." He also said that he regularly saw sharks as large as him when he dove the La Jolla kelp beds in the 1970's. "Sharks are everywhere out there"..."Enjoy them." One piece of advice that Collier did offer seems to make good sense: "If you suddenly become very uncomfortable -- if a wave of anxiety suddenly comes over you -- get out of the water as quickly and calmly as possible."
   Wikipedia has compiled an interesting list of documented shark attacks which includes not only California but all of the United States.
   The most recent fatal California shark attack was reported In 2010 off the coast of Santa Barbara. A 19 year old bodyboarder was bitten on the legs and later bled to death. Also near Santa Barbara in August of 2010, a kayaker reports having a large Great White bite the nose of his kayak for about 10-15 seconds. In 2008 near a north San Diego County beach... a fatal attack occurred which involved a triathlon swimmer being bitten across both legs. The shark swam away after biting the man but unfortunately he later died. It appears that in most cases that humans are not favored in the Great White shark diet and are often only bitten by mistake and let go after the attack, but the sharks can most definitely become curious or agitated and bite someone. Also, according to Wikipedia, in the Mediterranean Sea, there have been 31 confirmed shark attacks against humans in the last two centuries, mostly non-fatal.
   The point being made here is to be aware. There are things one can do when they are in the ocean environment to save themselves.... or at least to give themselves a better chance against these extremely agile creatures. Reports of hitting or kicking them on the nose or side has seemed to have worked in scaring them away. Also hard banging on one's board has been reported to make an underwater sound capable of driving them away...or at least scare them off for the moment. One kayaker from the San Francisco bay area described how a Great White shark rose up out of the water and slammed down onto the kayak paddle which apparently had been annoying the shark.
   These sleek predators seem to be able to sit still in surprisingly shallow water environments -- and have been observed under people's surfboards and paddleboards while they are even on a wave! One man reports an 8-9 foot White shark swimming gracefully underneath his surfboard. He said that if he would have fallen he would have been riding the shark.
   In another report involving 2 spear-divers in La Jolla Cove reports having been nearly attacked by a couple of Seven Gill sharks but it seems the sharks were only after the recently speared fish in their dive bag. They had to repeatedly hit and kick the sharks and hit them with their spears until eventually they were able to flee and survived.
   Dolphins have occasionally been seen protecting surfers as well as small whale pods off the coast of Southern California and other areas as well. The dolphins swim between the sharks and the protected party and isolate them from the shark to allow the potential prey to escape. Dolphins have long been known to be able to fend off sharks fairly well... although they often fall prey to the sharks themselves.
These great predators of the sea have been around for thousands of years... and are not going anywhere. So if you decide to swim in the ocean... do so with care. We are in their world. And in their world... they are supreme. They command respect as they are one of the ultimate predators. One of the only sea creatures that can eat them is a Killer Whale, and it is not entirely common.
    So be aware and stay away from known shark infested waters. If someone says they have seen a shark there today... chances are... it's best to avoid the area for a while. It could save one's life to be a bit more aware and to keep a lookout for suspicious signs, like a large dorsal fin moving straight forward on the surface of the water.
   Being attacked by a Great White Shark is extremely unlikely. Stay in populated areas of the water... as these sharks seem to be disturbed by this and tend to stay away. If you surf or bodyboard... remember it is always safer to have a partner or group of friends who can help in the case of any kind of emergency. Some of us can't stay out of the water. I fall into that category. The ocean is my passion and I love it. I enjoy all it has to offer me despite the occasional fear I have of the unknown creatures that swim underneath it's surface. I am captivated by the ocean and it's incredible wildness... and it cleanses me when I decide to spend time in it. I am a surfer and bodyboarder as well as bodysurfer, freediver, and swimmer. I choose to accept my fate.. and pray it will be a good one... safe and sound. I pray that for all my friends and family as well... and the entire world of beach-going enthusiasts. Have no fear... but always be aware... on the shore... or in the water. May you travel safe always. Aloha :)

Music For The Masses...

noreply@blogger.com (Joshua Lee) — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 21:09:00 +0000

I remember a time when music recording seemed as if it were only for the rich... or for a band or singer who was already signed and had the big-money people behind them paying for everything. Recording studios were charging thousands (they still do) and to get a fairly decent recording... one had to really work hard with all kinds of fancy equipment, big sound boards, amps, effects processors, and engineers at the controls to monitor everything. Recording still remains somewhat of an esoteric art and one that is extremely difficult to master. Being a musician who has been maturing over the years, I have longed to learn this esoteric art of recording, not only to spread my music amongst the masses, but to also be able to hear what I sound like, and to use these recordings as a musical mirror in which to see myself in, as well as to jam and experiment, and use my creative skills to the fullest. Also in the past few years, my interest in electronic music and beats, synths, guitar effects, vocal techniques and other various styles of electronic music manipulation has grown, as well as the desire to create such types of music. It seemed to me, being a traveler with not much for resources, that these highly technical and extremely pricey gadgets, instruments, soundboards, microphones etc would be forever out of my reach... and that I would have to hope to just run across someone who would want to record me with their expensive equipment.
   That is until this beautiful age of electronic freedom... where there has been made available some of the most amazing free software and computer operating systems that promote it. For me it started when a friend of mine turned me on to a free computer program called Audacity. All I needed was a microphone and I had a basic recording system on my old Mac G4. I proceeded to learn how to record myself and made a few demo tracks which sounded okay... but I longed for something a bit more technically advanced.
   Enter the free (not only as in freedom... but also as in completely free... it won't cost you a thing) world of Ubuntu. Ubuntu is a free open source computer operating system which is absolutely incredible. I am ever so grateful for the creators of this, as they are doing not only artists and musicians a favor, but they are also doing humanity a favor.
   Since my old Mac G4 just couldn't seem to keep up with the demands of the new midi box hardware that I bought recently, I decided I was going to build my own computer. While shopping around online, I found a place called TigerDirect that had a barebones kit for about $500 bucks. It didn't come with a CPU cooler but I bought a liquid-cooled one with a radiator on it. It ended up needing an extra cooling fan but altogether that only cost me about another hundred bucks, and about $30 for a computer toolkit. On the good side... this is a computer which is a Quad-Core AMD 64-bit processor with 8GB of Ram, HDMI and a 750GB hard drive. It was a great deal actually and was surprisingly easy to put together. It certainly doesn't take a rocket scientist... just a bit of googling and one will have a fair grasp on it.
   So basically I was planning on making the 'big switch'. My dream of having an artist's computer was going to have to fall into the hands of the PC. Was I no longer going to be a Mac? I was sad but had optimism... as I only had to invest a few hundred bucks to have this new 'supercomputer'... and I was hoping that Windows had the right system for me.. without too much worry of viruses or crashes... as I had experienced before with Windows. I was hoping that Windows 7 held the key to a low-budget recording system and artist's studio computer. One day I was on the phone with my stepdad and he is a computer tech for a school district near Newport Beach. He told me that some friends of his were telling him about a free operating system they were using called Ubuntu and they seemed to like it so I thought that before I go out and spend a couple hundred dollars on the new Windows 7, maybe I should check it out. What have I got to lose? I could always wipe the hard drive and install it later if I didn't like the Ubuntu system. So I decided to download it onto my Mac so I could burn it onto an installation DVD. I experimented with a few different versions for a few days and finally ended up going with the version of 10.04 which is referred to as Lucid Lynx. It is a Linux based system and is very similar to a Mac. Very user friendly and incredibly fun and it looks great too! My computer is lightning fast and it works amazing with the free recording and effects packages I downloaded completely free from their list of available free applications.
   I am using the Ardour Digital Audio Workstation with my Lexicon Alpha Midi box, which is quite amazing and resembles Protools. It is pretty much all I will ever need for recording software. It can also utilize many of the LADSPA Plugins as well as Rakarrack guitar effects and works well with the Rosegarden synth/music making program as well. There are also many available packages to install which are part of the Ubuntu Studio edition. You can either install Ubuntu Studio or go for another system and install the Studio options later.
I have also been satisfying my desire to make beats with the free drum sequencer program called Hydrogen. It is also available free for Mac systems as well. Hydrogen is super fun and has some drumkits available (also free) which include Roland 303, 808, and 909 kits and some great acoustic, hip-hop, and house ones as well. All-around an amazing thing that is also easy to use. Much easier than Reason... although Reason is a complete studio where as this is just a drum sequencer.
The free program Rakarrak has about 80 presets and some are pretty darn cool. It also allows one to tweak the settings in all kinds of ways so there are an infinite number of sounds.
   So finally the day has come. I am just getting setup with this whole system.. which not only has a great array of free music programs but artist's drawing and design programs... 3D design programs... film and photo editing... Open Office... which is Oracle's free office suite which rival the Microsoft Office suite quite well.
   It still amazes me that his incredible gift is available free to humanity. I give the makers of these things much praise in their noble efforts to further the development of human creativity and exploration.
   I am not saying here that Mac and Protools are not good. They have been the industry standard for years, and have a plethora of incredibly amazing hardware and software options. But with those comes a hefty price tag. Ubuntu is a great option for those who want an affordable solution. It offers a very nice array of music and art programs, as well as design and professional programs. The interface is quite easy to use, and the free software database is quite large.
    If you have any questions about Ubuntu or how to setup your computer... feel free to send me an email and I will do my best to help you. I am just learning myself... but have got a very cool system now that I want to be able to share with the world. This is how to have an amazing and free home studio setup for a fraction of the cost of other methods.

Meaning of Ubuntu:
"A traveler through a country would stop at a village and he didn't have to ask for food or for water. Once he stops, the people give him food, entertain him. That is one aspect of Ubuntu but it will have various aspects. Ubuntu does not mean that people should not enrich themselves. The question therefore is: Are you going to do so in order to enable the community around you to be able to improve?" - Nelson Mandela

The Many Health Benefits of Coffee

noreply@blogger.com (Joshua Lee) — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 18:36:00 +0000

   Nowadays with the Starbucks revolution and the amount of coffee that is consumed around the world... there seems to be this common notion that coffee drinking is a vice... something to be shunned and avoided because of it's acidic nature and high caffeine content. It seems to be something that most people are trying to 'cut down' on because they are feeling like they are drinking way too much of the stuff or they just can't seem to function as well without it. Well what if I tell you that maybe the reason most people seem to crave coffee so much is because it is actually good for you? Would you believe me? Or would you need some substantial evidence to support this seemingly unfounded notion? I have done some research lately and even I was surprised at what I found. It is finally time for the coffee drinkers of the world to have some justification and to be proud of their love of the almighty drink. It is actually one of the better things one can do for their health in the long term. According to an article published by Harvard Medical School, 'Coffee may protect against disease'. The list of diseases that it goes on to mention are Cancer, Diabetes, and Parkinson's Disease. It says...

   " Coffee might have anti-cancer properties. Last year, researchers found that coffee drinkers were 50% less likely to get liver cancer than nondrinkers. A few studies have found ties to lower rates of colon, breast, and rectal cancers...Heavy coffee drinkers may be half as likely to get diabetes as light drinkers or nondrinkers. Coffee may contain chemicals that lower blood sugar. A coffee habit may also increase your resting metabolism rate, which could help keep diabetes at bay...Coffee seems to protect men, but not women, against Parkinson’s disease. One possible explanation for the sex difference may be that estrogen and caffeine need the same enzymes to be metabolized, and estrogen captures those enzymes."

The study does also mention that coffee may increase the risk for high blood pressure over a long period of time... and that "Two substances in coffee — kahweol and cafestol — raise cholesterol levels. Paper filters capture these substances, but that doesn’t help the many people who now drink non-filtered coffee drinks, such as lattes. Researchers have also found a link between cholesterol increases and decaffeinated coffee, possibly because of the type of bean used to make certain decaffeinated coffees." So there are a few possible negative effects but it seems that compared to the pharmaceutical and therapy treatments of today... especially those of Cancer... the side effects are extremely minimal and far from being as life-threatening as the diseases which the drinking of coffee seems to prevent.

An article published by The Mayo Clinic seems to validate the Harvard findings but does discuss the importance of exercising moderation and the use of additives in one's coffee drinks...

   "Newer studies have also shown that coffee may have benefits, such as protecting against Parkinson's disease, type 2 diabetes and liver cancer. And it has a high content of antioxidants. But this doesn't mean you should disregard the old maxim "Everything in moderation." Although coffee may not be very harmful, other beverages such as milk and juice contain nutrients that coffee does not. Also, keep in mind that coffee accompaniments such as cream and sugar add fat and calories to your diet. Finally, heavy caffeine use — on the order of four to seven cups of coffee a day — can cause problems such as restlessness, anxiety, irritability and sleeplessness, particularly in susceptible individuals."

Even reputable websites such as WebMD and news sources such as CNN, The New York Times, ABC News and Yahoo have been reporting these findings.In a recent article by CNN, "Coffee: Is It Healthier Than You Think?", the author discusses it's antioxidant properties as well as it's ability to decrease the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's later in life.

   "And in 2009, two coffee studies suggested additional benefits: Coffee-drinking men seemed to have a lower risk of advanced or lethal prostate cancer than other men, and middle-aged people who drank moderate amounts of coffee -- three to five cups a day -- had the lowest risk for dementia and Alzheimer's disease later in life compared to less (or more) frequent drinkers. Can drinking coffee even help you live longer? Maybe. A 2008 study found that women who drank coffee regularly -- up to six cups a day -- were less likely to die of various causes during the study than their non-coffee-drinking counterparts. Because consumption of decaf coffee showed similar results, researchers don't think caffeine is at work.

Coffee contains antioxidants

   While coffee drinkers may have other lifestyle habits that could explain the potential health benefits, researchers are also looking for compounds in coffee that explain the results. One possibility? Antioxidants, those healthy compounds most often associated with fruits and vegetables. While the amount of antioxidants per serving is indeed much higher in things like berries, beans, and pecans, these foods are consumed less frequently than coffee. In fact, a 2005 study found that Americans get more antioxidants from coffee than anywhere else. More than half of adults drink coffee daily, and the average coffee drinker downs about three cups each day. "Most people drink it for the caffeine," says Joe A. Vinson, Ph.D., a professor of chemistry at the University of Scranton who led the 2005 study and has studied coffee extensively. "[But] it's the Number 1 source of antioxidants in the U.S. diet." Polyphenols or flavonoids, the type of antioxidants found in coffee, are also found in other foods and drinks, like tea, red wine, and chocolate. All three have been proven to moderately help brain function, a benefit that can't be chalked up to caffeine, says Vinson, who has received speaking fees from the National Coffee Association. Caffeine, the most commonly used drug in the U.S., says Vinson, does affect alertness, but hasn't been found to offer much in the way of health benefits."

   The New York Times article titled "Coffee as a Health Drink..." draws it's conclusions from studies published in the journal of the American Medical Association and discusses it's benefits in relation to Cardiovascular disease as well as Diabetes and Cirrhosis of the Liver. In relation to Diabetes it says...

   "Coffee contains antioxidants that help control the cell damage that can contribute to the development of the disease. It is also a source of chlorogenic acid, which has been shown in animal experiments to reduce glucose concentrations." and that "Larger quantities of coffee seem to be especially helpful in diabetes prevention. In a report that combined statistical data from many studies, researchers found that people who drank four to six cups of coffee a day had a 28 percent reduced risk compared with people who drank two or fewer. Those who drank more than six had a 35 percent risk reduction."

   When discussing Cardiovascular disease it mentions that "Some studies show that cardiovascular risk also decreases with coffee consumption. Using data on more than 27,000 women ages 55 to 69 in the Iowa Women’s Health Study who were followed for 15 years, Norwegian researchers found that women who drank one to three cups a day reduced their risk of cardiovascular disease by 24 percent compared with those drinking no coffee at all. But as the quantity increased, the benefit decreased. At more than six cups a day, the risk was not significantly reduced. Still, after controlling for age, smoking and alcohol consumption, women who drank one to five cups a day — caffeinated or decaffeinated — reduced their risk of death from all causes during the study by 15 to 19 percent compared with those who drank none. The findings, which appeared in May in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, suggest that antioxidants in coffee may dampen inflammation, reducing the risk of disorders related to it, like cardiovascular disease. Several compounds in coffee may contribute to its antioxidant capacity, including phenols, volatile aroma compounds and oxazoles that are efficiently absorbed. In another analysis, published in July in the same journal, researchers found that a typical serving of coffee contains more antioxidants than typical servings of grape juice, blueberries, raspberries and oranges."

   So is it okay to continue in our passion and love for this drink that has been a substantial foundation for the energy used to build nations and the lifeblood of the business world around the globe? Is it actually time we give some credit to the ever-abused beverage that just doesn't seem like it will ever get a break? I think that the evidence is quite clear: the reason that so many people love coffee is not only the taste or pleasant aroma... or the fact that it gets them going in the morning or afternoon, or that it is the perfect beverage to stimulate their brain into creativity or thought or conversation... but that it is actually good for their health!

   So here's to you my friends who are coffee drinkers and have felt guilty about it for so many years. Bottom's up! Savor your next cup with reckless abandon and live life with the energy that you can feel from the benefits of Coffee... the best drink in the world!

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Clean Water Please?

noreply@blogger.com (Joshua Lee) — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 21:46:00 +0000

Do you ever wonder what you are drinking when you turn on the faucet to pour yourself a glass of water? Or even water that has been filtered? Bottled water or distilled... reverse osmosis? Is this water actually good for me? Will it quench my thirst? How do I know someone hasn't contaminated or polluted the water supply with some kind of nanotechnology that makes one perpetually thirsty like in the movie 'The Tuxedo' with Jackie Chan -- or will it be nanotechnology that helps us clean the pollution? Or have big corporations, to save money on proper waste disposal, dumped all kinds of pharmaceutical and toxic waste into our water supplies? And is this newly filtered water that makes up most of our 'dwindling water supply' missing some vital minerals and oxygen that it might need to fully quench my thirsty cells? My first inclination after a fair amount of research is that no, it is not good for me and no, It doesn't taste fresh and living like a river stream in the Swiss Alps -- or even like it might have only 50 -100 years ago. Nor does it taste as clean. What exactly is in the water that we should drink and why?

As quoted by healthywater.com -- 'According to Dr. John Sorenson, a leading authority on mineral metabolism, "Minerals in drinking water are more easily and better absorbed than minerals from food."'

What is the healthiest drinking water?

   I found this in the healthiest drinking water forums at yahoo and I think it is a good quick reference for bottled drinking water...

"All Organic matter on this planet has a pH level- including humans. 7.0 is considered neutral, so anything below that is thought of as ACIDIC and that above is ALKALINE. P.H. Value is measured on a 14 point scale with 10 levels within each point. This means, that a point drop on the pH scale, (from 7 to 6), measures 10x more acid, not one time! pH=potential of Hydrogen!

PURE WATER in its most perfect state, should have a pH of 7.0, neutral. However, water with 7.0 pH will quickly grow bacteria, and wil become unsafe to drink. Therefore most bottled water and tap water will be acidic (between 4.0-5.5)

If bottled water has a pH of 7.0 or above, preservatives must be added or bacteria will grow! The only way to guarantee safe drinking water with a pH of 7.0 is to have a good filtration system. When the water is fresh it will be consumed quickly preventing bacteria from growing. I have a pH Water Chart that I wish I can show you but I'll write down some of the names of the purest and healthiest waters for you>

Ranging from Least Alkaline to best:
7 Arrowhead Water
7 Crystal Geyser Water
7 Deer Park Water (made by nestle)
7 Eldorado Springs Water
7 Publix Supermarket Spring water
7.5 Biota Water
7.5 Fiji Water
7.5 Whole Foods 365 Water
7.5 Zephyrhillis Water (made by nestle)
7.5 Carico WH 750 SS & 500 SS
7.9 Eden Springs Water
8 Deep Rock Water
8 Evamore Water
9.6 Trinity Water

Aqafina, Perrier, Pellegrino, Glaceau, Dasani, Smart water are all Acidic numbers and the worst drinking waters when it comes to ph

Poland Spring, Dannon, Crystal Springs Water, Dannon, etc. Are all considered neutral which is OK to have but not the best. Neutral waters are neutral to out health but Alkaline waters are the most beneficial to our health."

That is just the drinking water situation alone. This is not even taking into account the state of our rivers and oceans and world environment in general. This polluted water that runs off into our oceans turns into clouds and rains back down the pollution that we as a whole provide from our own waste and carelessness. Not to mention the catastrophic event of the BP oil spill in which it is just mind-blowing to think of the long-term consequences of that blunder. So many animals will die and people will be eating more polluted seafood and swimming in a more polluted ocean... which is in a big way the lifeblood of our planet besides oil. Now the two are mixing to create a hazardous downslide in overall planetary health. So do a little research and by all means try to avoid drinking unfiltered tap water. Also please avoid throwing contaminants/pollutants down your drains and gutters. It is one of the most important things we can do for our health and our planet. Take a little time... breath a deep breath... drink some clean healthy water and juice from non polluted sources. We can have all of the material comforts in the world -- but if we have not health -- we have not much.

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Beautiful San Diego...

noreply@blogger.com (Joshua Lee) — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 18:26:00 +0000

Ahhh well it looks like I am finally getting my life a bit more situated now... living with my sweet and beautiful girlfriend in the North Park area of San Diego. It is nestled between downtown, Balboa Park, Mission Valley, and Ocean Beach. I know for the many who have visited here, there are many stories and mixed emotions. And for the rare breed of native San Diegans... it is probably more one of an accurate account of what makes this place so amazing and incredible... because it takes so long to get to know this place. I know that for myself... it has taken me quite a while just to even learn my way around this place... which I still feel I barely have a grasp on. It is big and vast and encompasses so many different areas and terrains... not to mention some of the best beaches in California... although some of the dirtiest as well (only after a heavy rain mostly. Other than those times it is mostly quite clean).
My journey to San Diego was about 3 years and some months ago. I came here from a place called Kailua-Kona Hawaii... where I lived for about 9-10 years altogether. I had brought my little brother (who is not so little anymore... nearing 30 now, and quite the man. Well traveled and liked by many) to Kona some years back as well... and he integrated there quite nicely. We both grew up in Ontario, California and although it is a very cool place near L.A.... near to so many great things (The mountains, the city, the river, the desert) we both longed for some adventure and experience beyond our wildest dreams. I wasn't exactly sure what my dream was... but it took me all over Europe, to studying in England... school in Minnesota, and a brief stint living in Minneapolis. Until I stumbled upon paradise. It was always my brother's dream to live in Hawaii... and was mine since the first day I landed there on the Big Island with 200 bucks and a backpack and a conga drum. I was full of starry-eyed wonder when I first encountered that place... which is entirely another topic... and good for volumes of stories and adventures.
   I bounced from Hawaii to Cali a few times... mostly to and from San Francisco and Berkeley, which became my 2nd home for a while. Music has kept me company along the way and kept me from despair when I have been living on a shoestring most of the places I went. But I couldn't have felt more rich at the time let me tell 'ya.I mostly had the feeling that I had God and his angels watching over me... as amazing and magical things would happen. Sometimes we may not have too much, but it is what is inside that matters most... and the people who share the journey with us.
   So I will tell much of my story later on... as it is quite long and full of comedy and action as well. But what I really want to say today is that San Diego is such a nice blend of both places. I get the culture and the creative community... beautiful nature everywhere. Very nice beaches with some super sick waves... skateboarding is not frowned upon. People are friendly and active and I think the creative community is really starting to come of age. So many good things will be seen coming out of this place as they already have been for years. I have really started enjoying Balboa Park and Morley field. My girlfriend and I can walk to museums and hiking trails just from our apartment downtown. I am quite grateful for this place. It has taken a while to feel settled here... and sometimes I have definitely longed for those other places... but I feel so lucky to be living in SD. So anyone I know who is coming down this way for holiday give me a shout out... and I can give you some tips on nice places as well. This is really a place to be seen and experienced... whether it be surfing, skating, bicycling, boating, beach-going, shopping, nightlife, restaurants (there are definitely some great ones here but it takes a while to find them) hiking, single-track mountain-biking... museums and attractions, sightseeing etc...
   It's another beautiful day in San Diego. I am going to watch some World Cup and call my Dad and tell him happy Father's Day. Then most likely will go ride some trails in Balboa Park. Aloha :)