Go West

No hidden meanings to be found in this post, but this song had me grooving on my bike tonight. I'm off to Tokyo tomorrow for "bring your own moleskine" weekend. Which direction are you headed in?



(p.s. Is that the burger king at 2:21?)

Musicians On Call

It's spring cleaning in Tokushima, which seems like the perfect time for me to mention my favorite nonprofit organization, Musicians On Call. I've posted some information about the organization below as well as a link to their website, but here's the important part - if you come across any gently used CDs you no longer want while cleaning out your closets this spring (the kind without those pesky parental advisory labels), please consider sending them to the address below:

Musicians On Call
1133 Broadway
Suite 630
New York, NY
10010

Part of the services offered by Musicians On Call is something they call CD Pharmacies, which are essentially entire music collections, complete with players, available to patients in hospitals across America. While MOC actually does much much more, donating to the CD pharmacies is an easy way to make a difference in the lives of others right away, regardless of where you are. Right now, MOC is specifically looking for classical and children's music for their pharmacies. Please take a moment to read below and check out this amazing organization.

From musiciansoncall.org...

Musicians On Call, a nonprofit organization formed in 1999, brings live and recorded music to the bedsides of patients in healthcare facilities. Musicians On Call uses music to promote and complement the healing process for patients, families and caregivers.

Musicians On Call was originally founded by Michael Solomon and Vivek Tiwary in the course of their volunteer work with The Kristen Ann Carr Fund at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

After a concert sponsored by the Kristen Ann Carr Fund, a hospital staff member raised the issue that some of the patients had been unable to attend the performance either because they were in treatment or too sick to leave their rooms. In response, Michael, Vivek and the musician went from room to room to play for those patients who had been unable to attend the concert. The one-on-one interaction of patient and musician created a crucial intimacy; the expressions on the faces of friends and family members at the patients' bedsides revealed a deep sense of connection and release. Musicians On Call was born!

To find out more and to see an informational video about Musicians On Call, click below.

Ah skita!

One of the coolest thing to happen to my life in Japan lately was ESPN's inclusion of the SportsCenter daily top 10 plays on their website. Not as cool is the abundance of similar-looking hockey plays that litter the countdown.

Unless, that is, it's this one from Sweden:



500 krona to that guy, for being the first person ever to make me get out of my seat during a hockey highlight.

Places to fade

Being a foreigner in Japan has its benefits, but the whole self-conscious spectacle thing gets old now and then. That's why sometimes it's nice to pull a baseball hat over your eyes and head to a movie theatre or empty cafe. My new favorite place to hide? Aquariums. Here's some shots from Japan's best (and the world's second largest) in Okinawa.

Because it's Monday

And Mondays should never be taken that seriously.

Best email ever.

From Deadspin...

Massachusetts Girls Soccer Coach Resigns Over Hilarious, Possibly Insane Email

By Rick Chandler

If George Patton had coached a girls soccer team, he probably would have run things this way; only without so many references to red meat. Meet Michael Kinahan, ex-coach of the Scituate, Mass. Green Death.

Kinahan resigned as the coach of the 6- and 7-year-old girls team (not pictured) before the season even started, due to a hilarious and possibly insane email sent to parents as a way to introduce himself. Rather than try to explain it, let's get right to the fun. This portion of the letter is aimed at the sideline behavior of the parents, and is possibly my favorite part:

"It is imperative that we all fight the good fight, get involved now and resist the urge to become sweat-xedo-wearing yuppies who sit on the sidelines in their LL Bean chairs sipping mocha-latte-half-caf-chinos while discussing reality TV and home decorating with other feeble-minded folks. I want to hear cheering, I want to hear encouragement, I want to get the team pumped up at each and every game and know they are playing for something."

Other excerpts (keep in mind this team is comprised of 6- and 7-year-old girls):

"OK, here's the real deal: Team 7 will be called Green Death. We will only acknowledge "Team 7" for scheduling and disciplinary purposes. Green Death has had a long and colorful history, and I fully expect every player and parent to be on board with the team. This is not a team, but a family (some say cult), that you belong to forever. We play fair at all times, but we play tough and physical soccer. We have some returning players who know the deal; for the others, I only expect 110% at every game and practice. We do not cater to superstars, but prefer the gritty determination of journeymen who bring their lunch pail to work every week, chase every ball and dig in corners like a Michael Vick pit bull. Unless there is an issue concerning the health of my players or inside info on the opposition, you probably don't need to talk to me."

I believe winning is fun and losing is for losers. Ergo, we will strive for the "W" in each game. While we may not win every game (excuse me, I just got a little nauseated) I expect us to fight for every loose ball and play every shift as if it were the finals of the World Cup. While I spent a good Saturday morning listening to the legal liability BS, which included a 30 minute dissertation on how we need to baby the kids and especially the refs, I was disgusted. The kids will run, they will fall, get bumps, bruises and even bleed a little. Big deal, it's good for them (but I do hope the other team is the one bleeding). If the refs can't handle a little criticism, then they should turn in their whistle. The sooner they figure out how to make a decision and live with the consequences the better. My heckling of the refs is actually helping them develop as people. The political correctness police are not welcome on my sidelines.

America's youth is becoming fat, lazy and non-competitive because competition is viewed as "bad". I argue that competition is good and is important to the evolution of our species and our survival in what has become an increasingly competitive global economy and dangerous world. Second place trophies are nothing to be proud of as they serve only as a reminder that you missed your goal; their only useful purpose is as an inspiration to do that next set of reps. Do you go to a job interview and not care about winning? Don't animals eat what they kill (and yes, someone actually kills the meat we eat too – it isn't grown in plastic wrap)? And speaking of meat, I expect that the ladies be put on a diet of fish, undercooked red meat and lots of veggies. No junk food.

Who's with me? Go Green Death!"

Hilarity did not ensue. From Kinahan's resignation letter:

"Team, After careful consideration, I have decided to resign from all coaching responsibilities related to Team 7 this season. Unfortunately, it has come to my attention that some parents and the Board of Scituate Soccer failed to see the humor in my pre-season email."

Lights in Kyoto

Kiyomizu-dera, 3.16.09