Last week we found that the true universal meaning of Love is that which the Greeks called agape – a force in nature that expands knowledge and consciousness in the Universe. This is ultimately what these pages are about – helping to expand my and others’ knowledge through creative acts and through sharing in what I have learned or am in the process of learning. But the work of one person, while important, pales in comparison to what we can achieve as a community – and so it is a fitting time to share the work of some of my associates, with the hope that more people get involved in…
My opinions on Christmas have sparked some further controversy, as people come up against a potential change to their beloved institution. Check last week’s comments for some further debate on the topic. Well, luckily that’s all behind us and we can move on to discrediting the New Year as a time for new beginnings, Valentine’s Day as a day to celebrate love, and birthdays as days to celebrate life. The basic answer – let’s do these every day – I swear it’s doable, but you might have to turn off the game or the evening news to make time for it. Oh, the controversy! But much as I know people…
Last week I mentioned some tough critique I had received for my questionable beliefs about the stranglehold the Christmas holidays have over Western society. In particular, MasterDebator had the following to say to my first piece on opting out of Christmas: “Why don’t YOU completely give up Christmas yourself, hurt everyone’s feelings to do so and see how it goes before you broadcast to everyone that this is the morally right thing to do.” Now, I know a gauntlet when I see one. And this particular person has been challenging me to new heights from eating dog food in elementary school to jumping into San Francisco Bay just last year.…
For the Halloween edition of the Weekly, I took a detour on the creative front to make another short Tokyo music video. I happened upon this frightening menace at the Nijubashimae subway station on the way to the farmers market on Saturday. Funny, as Nijubashimae is the wrong stop – I was day dreaming (ok I was looking at my cell phone like everyone else) and went one stop too far. But I’m glad fate expedited the process of getting this particular song out there, as it’s been hanging in the books since July 2012.
Music has been part of me for most of what I can remember of life, and one of my first memories is hand drumming. Long before I usurped my sister’s electronic keyboard and before I built my first popcorn tin drum set I was using my hands to bang sounds out of just about anything – much to the chagrin I am sure of my teachers and parents. Unlike other parts of my musical life, hand drumming has been with me continuously from that early age – it’s one of the few skills in which I would almost admit to reaching a purple belt level. And so I feel compelled…
We compiled this video from footage taken in various parts of Tokyo during the hanami season, early April 2014. It was rainy, beautiful, and as always, short-lived. Areas of interest include Shinjuku Gyoen, Yoyogi Koen, and Aoyama Bochi (cemetary). This project is dedicated to my Great Aunt Vera, a Benedictine nun, a foundress of the Abbey of Regina Laudis, and an inspiration to many. She was always a great supporter of my music, arranging concerts during my annual visits, and listening intently at our family dinners. Through our many meetings, we exchanged few words, but we connected through music. Shortly before her passing, she took me aside in a rare…
We compiled this video from footage taken across town on Feb 10, 2014, which turned out to be the heaviest snow Tokyo has seen in the last 45 years. Areas of interest include the Imperial Palace Outer Garden, Shibuya, Omotesando, Aoyama Bochi (cemetery), Takeshita Dori, and Akasaka subway station. The “woman in red” was a random passerby, who turned into the main character of our Tokyo Snow story. We hope you enjoy! Subscribe to our channel Buy “Tokyo Snow”
