As a martial artist, from a traditional Japanese background, I have been immersed in Japanese culture for some time. Japanese people are generally, very polite, conservative and very precise in their attention to detail. I had the great pleasure to meet a unique blues harp musician last night at the Aquila open mic by the name of Ken Yoshioka.
The uniqueness of a Japanese musician playing blues harp, guitar and singing black soul is like having a black man leading a Japanese Tea Cermenony. Not impossible, just very unique. Many Japanese young people come to North America to break out of the traditional conforming roles set upon them by their society. It appears that they like American culture such as baseball, golf and now blues.
I had attended the Toronto Blues Society Harmonica seminar and Ken was there as one of the instructors. He developed his skills while busking in the Toronto subway system, doing open mic's and practicing alot.
As I inquired about his background he explained that he learned almost everything by ear. This appears to be a common trademark of accomplished musicians in the Open Mic circuit.
Ken explained that he was the feature of a short fim entitled Harmonica Man from Japan http://youtu.be/0_qnMtAiRFc on you tube.com which I watched and enjoyed. His message is that it is not easy to succeed at your chosen calling, but nonetheless, pursue it with all your heart and you will be able to accomplish it one day. Ken also has written Harmonica instruction books in Japanese. His first CD entitled I Love Harp is an acoustic blues collection of songs that he wrote and performed. A nice piece for collectors. You can check out Ken Yoshioka at the Brunch at Aquila's Jam every Sunday in the Toronto Junction
347 Keele.
Rock On.,
The Adventure Guy
Monday, October 31, 2011
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Toastmasters International - Division G Competition-A Night to Remember
Last night was the Toronto Division G competition for Table Topics and Humorous Speech event entitled "A Night to Remember". I have attended and competed at this level before, but I was not a finalisit this fine evening. I had the pleasure of being a judge for the first time.
I had always wondered how scores were calculated and what criteria were used to evaluate contestants. I now had before me a numberical scale which allocated weightings to the different sections of each competitors speech. It was very detailed and sophisticated. Items such as speech effectiveness, physical delivery, voice inflection etc. were all criterias.
We heard funny stories such as a British woman's dating tale on match.com and her preference for a sports car vs. a man. She wanted the man more, but when faced with the realities of single men and their imperfections, she decided a perfectly crafted machine, might give her more pleasure. A second contestant with a deep Romanian accent and high pitched voice described his tales of learning several languages in order to be accepted by society. Romanian, French, English, Computer, Body, Army language, etc. In the end he concluded, all one really needs is the body language of a young babe to get what you want in life. The pinnacle tale of the Humourous competion, however was by a young Canadian budding actor who did a spoof on accents, and how we need to be careful to avoid judging people by there tonalities. His story was about meeting a US southerner with a slow drawl, and concluding he was dumb. In fact he had 2 PhD's in nuclear physics and mechanical engineering. His second tale was about meeting a creative director who had a Jamican accent, a British name, but was actually of Chinese origin. Go Figure.
For those of you out there looking to engage in personal development to the highest level, at the lowest cost, Toastmasters International is the place to be. If humans can learn to use their most potent weapon, the tongue, with poise and politeness and respect, we can make the world a better and healthier experience for all. All cultures, all ages, all good.
It was indeed an Night to Rememer.
Keep on growing,
The Adventure Guy
I had always wondered how scores were calculated and what criteria were used to evaluate contestants. I now had before me a numberical scale which allocated weightings to the different sections of each competitors speech. It was very detailed and sophisticated. Items such as speech effectiveness, physical delivery, voice inflection etc. were all criterias.
We heard funny stories such as a British woman's dating tale on match.com and her preference for a sports car vs. a man. She wanted the man more, but when faced with the realities of single men and their imperfections, she decided a perfectly crafted machine, might give her more pleasure. A second contestant with a deep Romanian accent and high pitched voice described his tales of learning several languages in order to be accepted by society. Romanian, French, English, Computer, Body, Army language, etc. In the end he concluded, all one really needs is the body language of a young babe to get what you want in life. The pinnacle tale of the Humourous competion, however was by a young Canadian budding actor who did a spoof on accents, and how we need to be careful to avoid judging people by there tonalities. His story was about meeting a US southerner with a slow drawl, and concluding he was dumb. In fact he had 2 PhD's in nuclear physics and mechanical engineering. His second tale was about meeting a creative director who had a Jamican accent, a British name, but was actually of Chinese origin. Go Figure.
For those of you out there looking to engage in personal development to the highest level, at the lowest cost, Toastmasters International is the place to be. If humans can learn to use their most potent weapon, the tongue, with poise and politeness and respect, we can make the world a better and healthier experience for all. All cultures, all ages, all good.
It was indeed an Night to Rememer.
Keep on growing,
The Adventure Guy
Friday, October 14, 2011
Dave's Pizza on St. Claire Open Mic
I dropped into the open mic jam at Dave's Pizza located at St. Claire and Rushton in Toronto. The jam is held every Thursday evening from 8:00 pm until 1:00am and is hosted by a charming couple who play a country and western acoustic genre. It felt like I had landed in Montana in the sixties, with an earthy urban Toronto grunge style, that is friendly but somewhat insiduous.
There are various artists who come to perform and who work the small urban venues such as the Transat club etc. What was particularly interesting, was that in one night, a homeless man got up and sang three classic folk songs with breathtaking clarity. The crowd was very supportive. A second handicapped woman who plays guitar without a hand got up to sing and play. As she could not strum this acoustic guitar (she did not have a hand from the wrist down) the hosts played her song while she sang in a very crisp and clear tone. It was beautiful to see how people accepted her music quality regardless of her stage presence handicap. However, the two stars of the night were Anat and Paul Hornblower, who were both passionate, original and clear in their sound delivery.
I have attended this jam 4 times, and not yet had a chance to get up to the mic. I am somewhat concerned that only those that are part of the crowd get a chance to perform. However, I do think the music is good, the people supportive and the pizza and salad decent.
For a throwback to the sixties with an open mic effect, check out Dave's Pizza on St. Clair on a Thursday night.
Entertaining and warm,
The Adventure Guy
There are various artists who come to perform and who work the small urban venues such as the Transat club etc. What was particularly interesting, was that in one night, a homeless man got up and sang three classic folk songs with breathtaking clarity. The crowd was very supportive. A second handicapped woman who plays guitar without a hand got up to sing and play. As she could not strum this acoustic guitar (she did not have a hand from the wrist down) the hosts played her song while she sang in a very crisp and clear tone. It was beautiful to see how people accepted her music quality regardless of her stage presence handicap. However, the two stars of the night were Anat and Paul Hornblower, who were both passionate, original and clear in their sound delivery.
For a throwback to the sixties with an open mic effect, check out Dave's Pizza on St. Clair on a Thursday night.
Entertaining and warm,
The Adventure Guy
Monday, October 10, 2011
Freestyle Skiing the iPod and Steven Jobs
This past week we learned of the unfortunate passing of Steven Jobs, one of the great technological gurus, and entrepreneurs of our time. I felt an uncanny sadness and connection to this person I had never met, although I had purchased one of his products - the ipod a few years ago. As I reflected on his life, I realized it was his entrepreneurial spirit that I connected with. Everything I had learned about entrepreneurship, from selling jewellery in the street, to the classrooms of business school, Jobs embodied the ultimate entreprenuer. When he spoke at stanford he mentioned how bad he felt as he had let down all the great entrepreneurs of history, when he got fired from his own company. But he came back, started Next and Pixar entertainment, and regained control of Apple. The ultimate entrepreneur's come back.
In the late 1970's I took a year off pf school to follow my heart and ski full time, I recall seeing a spectacular skier carving down the slopes of Big Mountain Montana with a large black pack on the front of his ski jacket. He had headphones that went from the pack to his ears and straps that rapped around his back so that the sound pack would not fly off in the bumps. As skiers, we would all be humming our favourite song for rhythm in the bumps. This was the first skier I had seen a product that had bridged the gap between technology and humming tunes!
During freestyle competitions, organizers would install big speakers on the side of the slope to pump music onto the mountain to motivate the skiers and the audience.
When I returned home from my travels, I purchased my own cassette player, sewed together a black pouch and straps, and strapped on this 8 pounds of technology on my body. It was cool to look at and ski with, but it sure left a lot to be desired. It was heavy, it would skip beats when you would hit a bump. If you fell, snow could get into the pouch and destroy the electronics. It was crude but fun, and eventually, I got tired of lugging the extra weight, strapping it on and finally put it to rest.
One evening in 2005, I purchased an ipod online directly from Apple. It was so cool. I ordered a silver one and it was shipped in a clean white apple box. It was shipped by UPS and I remember the face of the clerk when they saw I had a package direcctly from Apple. They were very impressed with my connections, and watched to see what I got, as anything from Apple was fun and cool. I found my product beautifully polished, shiney and playful. I learned the latest technology on how to connect to itunes, limewire etc. and loaded up that ipod with my favourite music. Now when I go skiing, I slip a thin light silver ipod in my jacket pocket and pump clean crips digital music into my helmet, and I feel like I am in a Warren Miller film. There are no skips in the sound when I hit a bump at good speed, and I can barely feel the weights. The volume control is easy to adjust and the ear buds are simple and comfortable to use. I am sure that Steven Jobs wasn't thinking about user friendly ipods for bump skiers, but he did it anyways.
Entrepreneurial spirit lasts for eternity.
RIP Steve.
The Adventure Guy
In the late 1970's I took a year off pf school to follow my heart and ski full time, I recall seeing a spectacular skier carving down the slopes of Big Mountain Montana with a large black pack on the front of his ski jacket. He had headphones that went from the pack to his ears and straps that rapped around his back so that the sound pack would not fly off in the bumps. As skiers, we would all be humming our favourite song for rhythm in the bumps. This was the first skier I had seen a product that had bridged the gap between technology and humming tunes!
During freestyle competitions, organizers would install big speakers on the side of the slope to pump music onto the mountain to motivate the skiers and the audience.
When I returned home from my travels, I purchased my own cassette player, sewed together a black pouch and straps, and strapped on this 8 pounds of technology on my body. It was cool to look at and ski with, but it sure left a lot to be desired. It was heavy, it would skip beats when you would hit a bump. If you fell, snow could get into the pouch and destroy the electronics. It was crude but fun, and eventually, I got tired of lugging the extra weight, strapping it on and finally put it to rest.
One evening in 2005, I purchased an ipod online directly from Apple. It was so cool. I ordered a silver one and it was shipped in a clean white apple box. It was shipped by UPS and I remember the face of the clerk when they saw I had a package direcctly from Apple. They were very impressed with my connections, and watched to see what I got, as anything from Apple was fun and cool. I found my product beautifully polished, shiney and playful. I learned the latest technology on how to connect to itunes, limewire etc. and loaded up that ipod with my favourite music. Now when I go skiing, I slip a thin light silver ipod in my jacket pocket and pump clean crips digital music into my helmet, and I feel like I am in a Warren Miller film. There are no skips in the sound when I hit a bump at good speed, and I can barely feel the weights. The volume control is easy to adjust and the ear buds are simple and comfortable to use. I am sure that Steven Jobs wasn't thinking about user friendly ipods for bump skiers, but he did it anyways.
Entrepreneurial spirit lasts for eternity.
RIP Steve.
The Adventure Guy
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
New Years and An Inconvenient Truth
We are in the period of time between Rosh Hashanna and Yom Kippur, perhaps the most introspective time of the year for the Jewish faith. What makes the Jewish religion unique and critisized, is its continuous obsession with moral and ethical behaviour. To the heathens of yesterday, the ability to murder, adulter and steal were the good old days. Unfortunately, Abraham and Moses changed the rules, and some people have been upset ever since.
This past Rosh Hashannah, I had the opportunity to catch up on reading and watching ideas, that were required to improve my personal introspection. I chose to watch the film, An Inconvenient Truth by Al Gore (see http://www.climatecrisis.net/) . I know this movie is not recent, but better late than never.
I have been involved with environmental issues for many years, but never had I seen the argument so well laid out and presented as in this documentary film.
As a skier, cyclist, canoeist, and general outdoorsman, I have seen the warming of our cities and resorts. The snow and ice that we once received are now just memories. I remember, as a kid shovelling out my fathers car, as the snow was over the roof. I remember snowmobiles through the streets of Montreal during majour storms. Those types of storms don't happen anymore.
One of the most fascinating statistics that Mr. Gore presented is the rate of population growth since 1945. In one generation the world has gone from approximately 2 billion to nearly 7 billion people. That is a lot of bodies to keep warm and feed. The earth must be affected by this demographic shift.
However, the most compelling thought that Mr. Gore said, was that global warming (also referred to as climate change) is not just an economic issue it is a MORAL issue. Those are the words that stuck in my mind. The concept of Tikkun Olam, or repairing the world is a Jewish philosophy. The concept that global warming has to do with mankinds lack of morality when dealing with the planet and the creation of carbon dioxide, water pollution, urbanization etc. brings it more in line with the great moral dilemas of our ancestors. This is our generations great error.
This year, I will try to focus on ways to treat the planet morally and with respect. I hope you will too.
The Adventure Guy
This past Rosh Hashannah, I had the opportunity to catch up on reading and watching ideas, that were required to improve my personal introspection. I chose to watch the film, An Inconvenient Truth by Al Gore (see http://www.climatecrisis.net/) . I know this movie is not recent, but better late than never.
I have been involved with environmental issues for many years, but never had I seen the argument so well laid out and presented as in this documentary film.
As a skier, cyclist, canoeist, and general outdoorsman, I have seen the warming of our cities and resorts. The snow and ice that we once received are now just memories. I remember, as a kid shovelling out my fathers car, as the snow was over the roof. I remember snowmobiles through the streets of Montreal during majour storms. Those types of storms don't happen anymore.
One of the most fascinating statistics that Mr. Gore presented is the rate of population growth since 1945. In one generation the world has gone from approximately 2 billion to nearly 7 billion people. That is a lot of bodies to keep warm and feed. The earth must be affected by this demographic shift.
However, the most compelling thought that Mr. Gore said, was that global warming (also referred to as climate change) is not just an economic issue it is a MORAL issue. Those are the words that stuck in my mind. The concept of Tikkun Olam, or repairing the world is a Jewish philosophy. The concept that global warming has to do with mankinds lack of morality when dealing with the planet and the creation of carbon dioxide, water pollution, urbanization etc. brings it more in line with the great moral dilemas of our ancestors. This is our generations great error.
This year, I will try to focus on ways to treat the planet morally and with respect. I hope you will too.
The Adventure Guy
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