Tuesday, June 7, 2011
What you can't see CAN hurt you
Radiation from cell phones can possibly cause cancer, according to the World Health Organization. Protect yourself with the Stealth Radar Shield. Radar-absorbing Stealth technology absorbs up to 98% of radiation emitted from the earpiece of wireless and cell phones. Easy to apply, and does not require a power source. Does not interfere with phone use or performance.
Friday, June 3, 2011
Got a really good deal on Father's Day gift
Just bought Dad this Jawbone Bluetooth Headset for $40, plus 7% cashback+FREE shipping from Cell Phone Shop.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Ananda Project - Cascades Of Colour (Wamdue Black Mix)
Just a couple of my favorite things: Sunrise & Sunset
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Love this song at the moment....
Send some ALOHA to Japan, and get a cool t-shirt as well...
All profits from this $20 t-shirt will go to the beautiful people of Japan. My friends have teamed up with the Hawaii Tourism Authority and the Lt. Governor’s office to get the donations to Japan ASAP. Their goal is to raise $1 Million. How awesome!
To order online, click HERE.
Life Goes On...
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| Long lines at Ueno Station the night of earthquake and tsunami. |
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| An eerily empty Shinjuku station on Saturday, March 13, 2011 |
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| Bare shelves at a convenience store in Tokyo |
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| Life goes on for people in Shinjuku, however this dog’s expression says it all. |
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Music, my love always and forever...
Before I became interested in boys, there was music, my first true love. It all started when my parents got tired of hearing me hammering on the ivory keys of the family's Steinway upright piano (in picture below). So they decided to enroll me in piano lessons. Of all the classical pieces I learned Beethoven's Piano Sonata no. 14 in C minor, aka Moonlight Sonata is my all time favorite, especially the third movement. Nearly 20 years later I have yet been able to play the third movement with perfect timing. The first two movements are easier to play, unlike the third which is considered to be one of the most difficult and technical classical compositions. It is an adajio sostenuto movement; meaning its tempo is played both slow and fast, soft and loud. In other words, Piano Sonata #14 MUST be played with fluidity and precise passion in order to achieve what Beethoven was most famous for; hypnotizing and seducing the listener (or the contessa he was trying to swoon at the time of composition).
Moby was the headliner for "Mask-a-Rave" at the infamous Sound Factory (also now defunct). The established New York DJ soon became known as a remixer shortly after this particular event. I was one of 3200 people who witnessed the one-man band perform followed by the electronic duo, Altern8 at a warehouse in the Meatpacking District. Up until this point I've never seen anyone perform solo with a stack of drum machines/synthesizers and bang out every component a live band could do. I was beyond impressed and mesmerized. Shortly after, in the crowd of sweaty ravers I saw Moby standing and observing Altern8's performance. His gaze was transfixed on the stage. My then boyfriend went up and told him that he'll be watching him as he continues onward to superstardom. Caught off guard, he paused, chuckled and said, "it's all for the love (of music)." He smiled and continued to watch Altern8 on stage. Moby went on to become an international remixer/songwriter extraordinaire and won a bunch of Grammys and awards. Many of his songs have been used in movies, commercials, product jingles, tv shows, etc, etc, etc.
After graduating from college I landed an on-air job at a radio station at Clear Channel Communications. I wasn't making music but was satisfied I was still around it. A few years later I went on to work in television production and news industry. By this time, music had become a lucid dream. Although I have forgotten music theory I learned in my younger days I continue to have a great appreciation of music. It is kind of like a part time lover. I can still recognize most hit tunes (from the 70's, 80's & 90's) within one or two beats of the first bar or riff. It's been years since I've touched a keyboard, but every so often I get musically inspired. Most recently, a friend had turned me on to an electronic/downtempo mix he made a few months ago. Within the first two minutes into the mix, an enormous rush of phrases, lyrics and samples from other songs, melodies and bass lines streamed through my mind all at once! I frantically wrote and recorded as much of it down. It has been years since I've done that. I love it when serendipity intervenes. It was beyond exhilarating, and I was immediately reminded of what it was like to have a great desideratum once again.
And while I currently have a full plate of work, personal commitments and an ever-growing list of creative projects I am seriously contemplating revisiting music- my first love. I've recently turned down (and postpone) offers to work on projects. If they read this I hope they understand. I have so many fond memories of getting lost in the music. I may have abandoned music to pursue other artistic endeavors but strangely in an unwavering way, it hasn't left my side. Music has been a faithful companion that is always awaits your return. And if you love something you will make the time to be with it! After all, it was music that provided me with the foundation of an intense, unfiltered passion for all things creative and artistic.
Fast forward 11 years later and my love for music had become an obsession. I expanded my repertoire to contemporary jazz, hawaiian reggae (or jawaiian), freestyle drum and bass which eventually led to house and electronic music, including techno (although it was called rave in the beginning). I was a well-versed kid; played sports/martial arts, danced hula, jazz and hip hop, was a cheerleader, a candy striper volunteer at an old folks home, honors student and played keyboards in the high school band. I collected vinyl and even experimented with Technics turntables, Korg and Roland synths, drum machine and Numark mixer. I was a wannabe DJ who wanted to be a songwriter/producer when she grew up. What stopped her? Her parents wanted her to pursue a career with more 'security,' like business and psychology. Double majoring in Broadcast Journalism and Communication was a happy medium. Little did they know that times would change and nothing is ever secure...
While I was in college I had the opportunity to attend the CMJ Music Marathon in 1992 and 1993 in NYC. For those not in the know, thousands of industry peeps, musicians and college radio students gather to attend new artist showcases, panel discussions and film screenings at various venues, nightclubs and exclusive events in Manhattan. Many mainstream artists get noticed here by scouts and record labels. Being that I was only 19 years old I was excited about gaining entrance to renown nightclubs such as the Limelight, Palladium and CBGB's. Unfortunately those nightclubs are long gone, and only its' legacies and memories remain.
My favorite song at the time was "Go" by electronic artist, Moby. It's still an all time fave. It was already a huge hit in big city nightclubs and overseas in Europe. And it had just become the theme song for the television series, "Twin Peaks". The "yeeeeah" sample on "Go" is from Jocelyn Brown's 1985 single "Love's Gonna Get You." There's an on-going controversy over sampling (a common practice among music producers today) which I won't bother bringing up because it's like opening up a can of worms. However, the sample remains uncredited to date.
I had the opportunity to meet Moby, aka Mr. Richard Melville Hall. Yes, he's related to Herman Melville, the author of the classic tale of "Moby Dick." Here he is as one of the panelists at CMJ in '92. Wow, he had hair back then!
After graduating from college I landed an on-air job at a radio station at Clear Channel Communications. I wasn't making music but was satisfied I was still around it. A few years later I went on to work in television production and news industry. By this time, music had become a lucid dream. Although I have forgotten music theory I learned in my younger days I continue to have a great appreciation of music. It is kind of like a part time lover. I can still recognize most hit tunes (from the 70's, 80's & 90's) within one or two beats of the first bar or riff. It's been years since I've touched a keyboard, but every so often I get musically inspired. Most recently, a friend had turned me on to an electronic/downtempo mix he made a few months ago. Within the first two minutes into the mix, an enormous rush of phrases, lyrics and samples from other songs, melodies and bass lines streamed through my mind all at once! I frantically wrote and recorded as much of it down. It has been years since I've done that. I love it when serendipity intervenes. It was beyond exhilarating, and I was immediately reminded of what it was like to have a great desideratum once again.
And while I currently have a full plate of work, personal commitments and an ever-growing list of creative projects I am seriously contemplating revisiting music- my first love. I've recently turned down (and postpone) offers to work on projects. If they read this I hope they understand. I have so many fond memories of getting lost in the music. I may have abandoned music to pursue other artistic endeavors but strangely in an unwavering way, it hasn't left my side. Music has been a faithful companion that is always awaits your return. And if you love something you will make the time to be with it! After all, it was music that provided me with the foundation of an intense, unfiltered passion for all things creative and artistic.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
At the Heart of it All
my recent search for a great desideratum was temporarily put on hold after i realized i needed to a vacation from life. i was on the verge of burning out. i was constantly tired. i also had insomnia, racing thoughts and occasional headaches which were probably the result of large quantities of caffeine i was consuming to stay awake. what a viscous cycle. usually i would prefer taking a trip to some destination far, far away on the other side of the world but i decided on a staycation because i'm trying to build up my savings that i depleted last year. during the first few days of my staycation i meditated and got in touch with nature - i went hiking and went to the beach. i also helped my aunty with her three-acre healing garden which was very rewarding. on the fourth day, i decided to take up a friend's offer to a reiki healing session. for those skeptical of reiki let me tell you it works!
according to wikipedia, "reiki (pronounced ray-key) is a form of energy healing that centers on the manipulation of ki, the Japanese version of chi. Rei means spirit in Japanese, so reiki literally means spirit life force. practitioners of reiki believe that health and disease are a matter of the life force being disrupted. "
my entire session lasted about 30 minutes. at no time did my friend's hands touch me yet whenever his hands hovered over my body i felt tingling as he passed through the area, especially my chest region. in fact, i felt my chest flutter with butterflies several times during the healing session. i was in a daze after the session ended, the kind you get after a deep tissue massage. my friend said he had removed a lot of excess energy especially from my heart region as well as my crown chakra, which would explain the butterflies in my chest. here's the low down of the heart and crown chakras.
my entire session lasted about 30 minutes. at no time did my friend's hands touch me yet whenever his hands hovered over my body i felt tingling as he passed through the area, especially my chest region. in fact, i felt my chest flutter with butterflies several times during the healing session. i was in a daze after the session ended, the kind you get after a deep tissue massage. my friend said he had removed a lot of excess energy especially from my heart region as well as my crown chakra, which would explain the butterflies in my chest. here's the low down of the heart and crown chakras.
Heart Chakra
If our early needs for security and belonging are not met, if disruption and fear are the norm, or if our connection to nature is tenuous, we end up feeling unrooted, anxious and insecure about our right to be here. Psychological symptoms may surface - neuroses, chronic anxiety, fears of becoming ill or dying, feeling vulnerable, ungrounded and afraid of getting one's hands dirty.
Crown Chakra
Healing the second chakra involves learning to recognize and respond to our wounded "inner child"; uncovering and healing painful memories of abuse or neglect; learning to forgive; and releasing blame and guilt. It means gently finding the courage to open ourselves to emotional intimacy. Often a wise and trusted counselor or healer can facilitate this process. Developing self-compassion and self-nurturing is key.
while my friend explained the different chakras to me i began to ball uncontrollably. he asked me what was wrong, i told him i didn't know. i was taken aback myself. it was very unusual for me to cry for no reason. as soon as i pulled myself together, my mother's image popped in my head. i'll spare you the details but for as long as i can remember we've always had strained yet somewhat respectful (mostly on my part) relationship. being around my mother was like walking on eggshells. she tried to be a good mother, but i think her abusive childhood and divorce from my father made her into a bitter woman. i remember listening to hours of my mother bitching about my father and other rantings. i was seven and it continued until 2010. she was affectionate only when she wanted. praise and love weren't present in my household. my father wasn't around much. he was a successful businessman and the bottle comforted him more than his family. he's no longer an alcoholic today, and i'm grateful that he is still around.
don't get me wrong i love my parents. it wasn't until the reiki session that i realized that i had not grieved nor dealt with the feelings of being robbed of a loving childhood and not feeling appreciated from my parents. i had buried the pain so deep but when it came out it erupted. i also realized i was being hard on myself. i know that my parents love me, but in their own way and i accept that now. before my reiki treatment, i had felt like a fool for thinking that they would one day love me unconditionally. i am hopeful though that one day they'll be appreciative for all the wonderful gifts that life offers them. i will smile upon that day. after my epiphany every single unrealistic expectation that i had of my parents had dissipated. i acknowledged the situation and accepted it, along with my parents. i no longer feel inferior or frightened in their presence. i have set some boundaries which makes being around them actually enjoyable. in fact, i'm taking her out for her birthday tomorrow. we're going to go to a wonderful and (hopefully) relaxing sunday brunch by the beach. i'm sure we'll enjoy ourselves, at least i will. as for that great desideratum - i no longer have a need to find something or someone to distract me. there are too many distractions in life as is. the thought of more seems maddening.
i will probably need a couple more sessions. however my friend assured me that it won't be as emotional as the first time. he said it was intense because i've been carrying a ton of emotional baggage all these years. i thanked him and gave him a big hug just before he left. i hadn't felt this light in awhile. having closure and peace of mind is golden. as i was walked back in my apartment i noticed a light colored moth on the ceiling in my living room. i hadn't seen it minutes before. the japanese believe that a visit of a moth is a deceased ancestor (or loved one) paying you a visit. what a magical way to end my first reiki healing session.
pic of the moth that visited me after my reiki session
there are a total of seven major chakras and 21 minor chakras. i'll hold off on learning the minor ones until i familiarize myself with the major seven. here's a general description of the major chakras, the emotions associated with them and the aromatherapy scents that are suppose to help maintain balance.
1st Chakra - Root Chakra
it is located at the bottom of your spine and its color is red. Emotions associated with this chakra are: fear and compulsive behavior. Weakness: nervous instability.
it is located at the bottom of your spine and its color is red. Emotions associated with this chakra are: fear and compulsive behavior. Weakness: nervous instability.
2nd Chakra - Sacral Chakra
It is located between the belly button and the pelvic and is associated with color, orangish yellow. Emotions associated with this chakra are: desires and jealousy. Weakness is lust, anger and aggression. Scents that can be used to help the Sacral Chakra are: Sandalwood, cardamom and clary sage.
It is located between the belly button and the pelvic and is associated with color, orangish yellow. Emotions associated with this chakra are: desires and jealousy. Weakness is lust, anger and aggression. Scents that can be used to help the Sacral Chakra are: Sandalwood, cardamom and clary sage.
3rd Chakra - Solar Plexus Chakra
It is located in your mid area and its color is yellow. Emotions associated with this chakra are: warmth and nurturing. Weakness is: skin elements and emotional instability. Scents that can be used to help the Solar Plexus Chakra are: Juniper, hyssop, lime, marjoram.
It is located in your mid area and its color is yellow. Emotions associated with this chakra are: warmth and nurturing. Weakness is: skin elements and emotional instability. Scents that can be used to help the Solar Plexus Chakra are: Juniper, hyssop, lime, marjoram.
4th Chakra - Heart Chakra
It is located in the chest area and its colors are green and pink. Emotions associated with this chakra are: love, compassion, friendship and generosity. Weakness: greed, anger, over protectiveness. Scents that can be used to help the Heart Chakra are: Geranium, bergamot, ylang-ylang, jasmine and lavender.
It is located in the chest area and its colors are green and pink. Emotions associated with this chakra are: love, compassion, friendship and generosity. Weakness: greed, anger, over protectiveness. Scents that can be used to help the Heart Chakra are: Geranium, bergamot, ylang-ylang, jasmine and lavender.
5th Chakra - Throat Chakra
It is located between your chin and your cervix and its color is blue. Emotions associated with this chakra are: honesty or dishonesty, vocal communications. Weakness: laryngitis or sore throats. Scents that can be used to help the Throat Chakra are: Chamomile, basil, peppermint, rosemary.
It is located between your chin and your cervix and its color is blue. Emotions associated with this chakra are: honesty or dishonesty, vocal communications. Weakness: laryngitis or sore throats. Scents that can be used to help the Throat Chakra are: Chamomile, basil, peppermint, rosemary.
6th Chakra - Brow/Third Eye Chakra
It is located between the brow and forehead and its color is indigo-purple/blue. Emotions associated with this chakra are: imagination, idealism and love. Weakness: migraines, sleeplessness, sinus and self-pity. Scents that can be used to help the Brow/Third Eye Chakra are: Lemon, Pine, and Hyacinth.
It is located between the brow and forehead and its color is indigo-purple/blue. Emotions associated with this chakra are: imagination, idealism and love. Weakness: migraines, sleeplessness, sinus and self-pity. Scents that can be used to help the Brow/Third Eye Chakra are: Lemon, Pine, and Hyacinth.
7th Chakra - Crown Chakra
It is located at the top of your head and its color is white or lavender/gold. The emotion associated with this chakra is: Emotional imbalance. Weakness: coma. Scents that can be used to help the Crown Chakra are: Neroli, myrrh, frankincense and rose.
It is located at the top of your head and its color is white or lavender/gold. The emotion associated with this chakra is: Emotional imbalance. Weakness: coma. Scents that can be used to help the Crown Chakra are: Neroli, myrrh, frankincense and rose.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Aaah, I'm on mixcloud nine...
a friend recently introduced me to a music social network called mixcloud. it's a well designed, interactive online radio network site that gives listeners control over what they want to listen to in what's referred to as cloudcasts; audio shows that are stored in a "cloud" and available to be streamed on-demand. it's like the youtube of music (just audio though). users can search and listen to a wide variety of music like house, dj mixed sets, ambient, funk/soul, jazz, indie, hip hop, drum and bass, dancehall reggae, world, and more. there's even talk radio and lectures in topics like business, politics, news, comedy, culture, music, sport, and technology. the london based mixcloud.com has been around for some time, it was launched in 2008 by co-founders nico perez and mat clayton. this short video demonstrates how mixcloud works.
Mixcloud - About video from Mixcloud on Vimeo.
the layout is cool, hip and visually appealing. navigating through the site is fluid and intuitive, and options are easy to follow and user friendly. content is uploaded by users, music publishers, trusted dj's, radio hosts, and podcasters. so far, i've listened to dj/producer behrouz and paul oakenfold.
listeners can follow other listeners and artists. they can check out what their friends have been listening to on the listener's profile page. users can also share their listening sessions on other social network platforms, ie Facebook, Twitter, even blogs too. anyway, here's the house mix by behrouz (from his siriusFM satellite radio show) i listened to while i worked and spruced up the house today.
Pure Berouz Radio Show #27 (1.15.11)
i'm assuming mixcloud is kind of a music testing ground of some sorts, unlike commercial radio that forces music on you. it trends what users are streaming the most, pushing it to the top of the hot/popular list. there's also a list for new uploads. radio presenters and DJs benefit as well, they're able to share and promote their shows without having to use filing sharing sites. i wonder how much content is actually on mixcloud? it'll be interesting to see what mixcloud produces and manifests into in the coming years. i hope it sticks around.
personally, i like it better than other free internet radio sites like pandora.com. it's online radio that's cool and interactive, although i'm not sure if i want to be all that sociable just yet. i'm just glad i was introduced to this network. i cannot wait to explore, share, and listen to more music.
the behrouz mix i'm listening to is almost over, darn it! although i was just reminded by the san francisco/miami based dj's usual tag and sign-off which best describes mixcloud, "it's all about the music!"
Mixcloud - About video from Mixcloud on Vimeo.
the layout is cool, hip and visually appealing. navigating through the site is fluid and intuitive, and options are easy to follow and user friendly. content is uploaded by users, music publishers, trusted dj's, radio hosts, and podcasters. so far, i've listened to dj/producer behrouz and paul oakenfold.
listeners can follow other listeners and artists. they can check out what their friends have been listening to on the listener's profile page. users can also share their listening sessions on other social network platforms, ie Facebook, Twitter, even blogs too. anyway, here's the house mix by behrouz (from his siriusFM satellite radio show) i listened to while i worked and spruced up the house today.
Pure Berouz Radio Show #27 (1.15.11)
i'm assuming mixcloud is kind of a music testing ground of some sorts, unlike commercial radio that forces music on you. it trends what users are streaming the most, pushing it to the top of the hot/popular list. there's also a list for new uploads. radio presenters and DJs benefit as well, they're able to share and promote their shows without having to use filing sharing sites. i wonder how much content is actually on mixcloud? it'll be interesting to see what mixcloud produces and manifests into in the coming years. i hope it sticks around.
personally, i like it better than other free internet radio sites like pandora.com. it's online radio that's cool and interactive, although i'm not sure if i want to be all that sociable just yet. i'm just glad i was introduced to this network. i cannot wait to explore, share, and listen to more music.
the behrouz mix i'm listening to is almost over, darn it! although i was just reminded by the san francisco/miami based dj's usual tag and sign-off which best describes mixcloud, "it's all about the music!"
Friday, February 11, 2011
I've got butterflies
I'm not sure if it's going to be a good night but usually when I get butterflies in the tummy it's usually a sign that something good, or something life changing is about to happen. My tummy's been jittery on and off for the past couple weeks. At first I thought it was the coffee, Red Bull, 5 Hour Energy drink, well, it could've contributed to jitters but a friend reminded me that it's my stomach chakra trying to tell me something. This includes social expectations, balance within, intense emotions and ultimate desires etc.
Well, on the work front, there were some developments this week that call for a celebration while will soon commence. I have a date tonight as well. I think the date has been giving me a lot to be jittery about.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
http://almondbrown.podomatic.com/entry/2010-11-05T10_01_40-07_00
This...
and a tall venti got me up and going this morning
Monday, January 17, 2011
I am leaving to Vancouver for a 4-day getaway in a few days and am now catching up with work. Also, selling a few things on Ebay for some extra spending money. I'm selling a Louis Vuitton denim mini Pleaty for about $500. It's in excellent condition and 100% REAL! Click here buy on Ebay. This style is discontinued and was last listed at $850.
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