The daily salad.
A quiet weekend in the new year. The crows keep their voices down.
The first day of 2010 I start a detox diet. The remains of the St. Germain liqueur will stay in the bottle until february...
"give me symphonies, give me more than the life I see..."
1st International Conference on Other Centered Approaches
Co-sponsored by Amida USA, Todo Institute, Institute for Buddhist StudiesBuddhist Churches of America - Center for Buddhist Education
::contact conference@amidatrust.com
Berkeley CA February 19-21 2010
In the Chair
Greg White
Keynote Speakers
Caroline Brazier UK * Clark Strand NY * Gregg Krech VT * Daijaku Judith Kinst CA
Also
Yaya de Andrade BC * Kazuo Yamashita Japan * Franco Acquaro HI * Carol O'Dowd CO
Other centeredness, a principle derived from Buddhist psychology, transcends the boundaries of psychological schools and religious categories. That mental and spiritual well-being should be a function of the quality of one’s engagement with and ability to appreciate others is not exclusive to any one school or tradition. Here many contemporary concerns converge. Issues in ethics have other-relatedness at their core. Issues in ecology have our concern for the object-world in view. The practice of mindfulness raises the question 'mindful of what?' Yet psychology as practiced is generally heavily focussed on 'self'. In this conference we will present how focusing attention on what is not self - on others - is the key to a change of paradigm in therapeutic and spiritual practice.
::continue reading http://lotusinthemud.typepad.com/sujatin/2010/01/new-directions-in-buddhist-psychology-1st-international-conference-on-other-centered-approaches.html
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Kordan, I’m still befuddled. When I finally sat down for a proper listen of Longing, my immediate thoughts were “where did I go?” and “how long am I staying for?” As I’m sure I mentioned in previous reviews, the power of Kordan lies in their ability to transport listeners to a strange, rich realm of multi-sensory experiences. Perhaps that’s an exaggeration; but for most of us, whose lives are defined by shopping malls, mid-size vehicles, Starbucks lattes, and the occasional wild night of domestic brews and bar darts, Longing feels like a vacation from the mundane. We will never be this hip, but for roughly half an hour we can pretend.
The Longing is essentially an elaboration of Fantasy Nation, Kordan’s first EP released July of last year. Same bag of tricks, that is. Dizzy, spacious sound layers over a steady beat—at the core, dance grooves with an experimentalist complex. Where Fantasy Nation tapped the club vein, Longing searches for the abstract quality of pop music. Listening to the album is like listening as a musician attempts to define city or love or life simply in audio. Of course, this reads pretentious, as does any creative adventure that involves conceptual thought. The reason I’m not harder on Kordan is simple: despite the possible pretense, I can’t imagine the band playing any other style of music than this ultra stylized pretty. There’s truth in purposeful cool, even if it’s easy to spot the GWBs (Girls With Bangs) and BWGs (Boys With Glasses) somewhere in the crowd.
Thanks to production magic or magic hands, “Fantasy Nation” and “Tokyo Tears” softened a bit from their EP debut: flavors steeped, mechanics fine tuned, less thrust more lust. Actually, compared to Longing, Fantasy Nation sounds decidedly reduced, as though Eisele and co. were practicing for grander occasions. Such is the occasion. Besides “Fantasy” and “Tokyo,” tracks like “Mirror” and the haunting “Shinjuku” stand out while in sum, the album remains fairly amorphous. Eisele’s distant vocals amidst the instrumental mixed bag keep Longing interesting, but I wonder what’s next for Kordan. Logically, the progression favors total ethereal bliss (as it is, the lyrics seem secondary), but I accept all bets.
For now, the band keeps busy with live shows in and around New York City. Visit their Website / Myspace / Facebook for more information. The Longing is set to officially release in February of 2010. You can preview the album here.
01/02/2010 21:38:20 ♥ lara (
/lara206.vox.com)
♥
kordan.tv ♥ myspace.com/kordantv
I'm not making any specific resolutions for 2010. If I make resolutions they are intended to be ongoing, not subject to annual election. I am however giving myself a challenge.... well, two challenges:
- WRITE EVERY DAY in 2010 (novels, journals, blogs, limericks, letters, stories, haiku on napkin... they all count)
- Keep a photo journal. Somewhat daily, no specific content requirements... I will cross-post from flickr for ya.
Beyond that, I have some general principles that I am working on, regardless of what year it is...
Do more. I want to spend more of my time actively engaged in doing, whether it's washing dishes or doing yoga or writing or reading or vacuuming or working or playing games or going for a walk. This means less passive media consumption and internet snurffing.
Make something. A stew, a collage, a painting, a novel, a website, a film. Whatever. Always have something in progress.
Be healthier. More exercising, less drinking, more raw vegetables, less takeout, etc... This month I am doing a detox diet coupled with experimenting with a gluten-free diet.
Participate. Find ways to work with others on projects I find interesting, take classes, get involved in community action, and think of other ways to engage with other people in active ways.
In terms of goals... they are in flux. I still have many of the same goals I did last year at this time and most of them have barely moved forward... or moved sideways. The problem with most goals is that they require a financial foundation that I simply don't have right now. Grad school, travel, starting businesses... all require some sort of investment. In February I will find out whether the freelance work for my old boss will come through and tide me over for this year. Until then, I am trying to organize my options in some sort of sensible way in order to understand what they really are and make a rational decision about what to do next.
feels like I'm back in Alaska, not Atlanta.
since when is it okay for a man (or woman) to walk around in the mall with his finger in his brain, er, nose? #ewww
