Wendy, Tribe-K, Saving the World, and more...

Okay, so most exciting update: Wendy Hartley!!!! (I know, it's not Hartley, but that's just how I'll always know you!) Yes! I can't even begin. Tribe-k is doing great and can only get better over time! Part 3 of How to Save the World coming today - I promise.

Tribe-K Seminar this weekend

Saturday: Intensive Seminar with Sean, Tony, and Joey.
Topics covered over the course of the day:
Kali
Aikido - Weapons and Empty hand
Pananlamut/Panantukan
Kickboxing
Silat and Ground Fighting
Testing to follow

Seminar fee is $50 for current Tribe-K members, $60 for non-members
Contact me or Sean Hurst about testing fees. Visitors welcome - no filming or photography allowed.

Contact Autrelle if you have any questions and please repost.
Train HARD!

Sean@Tribe-K.com
Tony@Tribe-K.com
Joey@Tribe-K.com
Autrelle@Tribe-K.com

(l-r, Mark, Ricky, Craig, Jahmal, Achilles, Autrelle)

My last piece for the evening

Okay, so here's something you can start to do consciously that will lead to you saving the world: STOP FAKING REALITY.
This will involve two things:Honesty and Integrity. I could make a LONG list of examples, but I think that 15-20 will suffice:

Quit pretending to like things that you do not like

Quit pretending to be happy when you are not

Quit pretending that you like people that you do not like

Quit supporting ideas that you do not embrace

Quit embracing ideas that you cannot live realistically

Quit creating these "support groups" of "like-minded people" when really, you don't like each other that much

Quit hating people that you have no reason to hate

Quit denying your own strengths and weaknesses

Quit denying the strengths and weaknesses of others

Quit pretending that you have to do or say something in a certain situation

Quit pretending that you don't have to do or say something in a certain situation

Quit pretending that you are a victim

Quit pretending that you are not victimizing someone

Anyways, I could go on and on forever, but the point here is simple: Really, really, think for yourself, and then live accordingly. Are you always going to be right? No. Will you always be honest? Yes. Will you always get along with people? No. Will people always know where you stand? Yes. Once again, paraphrasing Rand, you really only have to do one thing when you deal rationally with rational people: Judge, and prepare to be judged. That's right. Item three is Justice. You should always be prepared to assess any situation, and judge accordingly to your beliefs. Simply say to yourself "is this right?" If the answer is anything but "yes" then it's wrong. There's no such thing as a little bit of wrong, and little bit of cheating, a little bit of killing, a little bit of stealing. Read over this, and really think it over. Tell me what you THINK.

Matt Butler usually gets it right

Straight from the bulleting posted by Matt Butler on Myspace:

"I wish I could "I can't believe this!" but knowing what I know of human nature I'm not surprised. I also advocate and support any violent backlash that happens against these racist pieces of ...

It's time for accountability and "freedom of expression" to cease being a shield worn by those ... ugh.. I can't even finish the rant."

Source

First Jacksonville, then the WORLD

I'm going to save the world. One day at a time. One person at a time. One conversation at a time. One class at a time. Anyone can help. Here's all you have to do: Stop being MORALLY GRAY.

If you haven't read "The Virtue of Selfishness" by Ayn Rand, then get on it. It's short, and it will get you started. Anyways, cut it out. Define your beliefs and priciples in a clear, objective way, and embrace NO CONTRADICTION WHATSOEVER. You can't compromise between food and poison, and you can't comromise between good and evil. Either you believe in something, and you stand for it, and you LIVE BY IT, OR YOU DON'T. It's really exactly like that. Once you decide to live your life by integrating your own, rational thoughts, it's a no brainer: you will always eat right, you will always treat other people right, you'll actually do the things you want to do. You'll do this because you understand that IF YOU DON'T LIVE YOUR LIFE THE WAY THAT YOU THINK ABOUT IT, EITHER THE WAY YOU THINK IS SH*T, IF NOT, THEN YOUR LIFE IS, IF NOT BOTH.

How did that feel? I hear all of you, EVERYDAY.
"I'm so sick of DJ X at club X."
"I hate the way the guy I'm dating treats me."
"I hate the way my hair looks."
"I hate my job."
"I'm tired of getting my ass kicked everyday."
"I can't believe what the president did this time."

Okay then. Guess what. It's time for all of this sh*t to stop. It starts with you. You hate liars? Quit lying to people, and quit hanging out with liars. Hate cheaters? Quit dating them. Hate your job? Quit, or start your own business. Hate certain clubs or deejays? Stop going there and support what you do like. Let me give you a step-by-step idea:

1. Really take the time to think about what it is you truly believe in.
2. Having done that, integrate those beliefs in your life in a CONCRETE WAY, WITH CONCRETE ACTIONS. No abstractions at all.
3. Support things that are in line with what you believe. Go out of your way to do this. Create them if you have to.
4. Give no support or sanction AT ALL of anything that is contrary to your beliefs. Do nothing to encourage or appease evil. This is really important. As soon as you make that "tiny" allowance for evil, for WHAT YOU KNOW YOU DON'T AND CAN'T STAND FOR, look what you have done. Look at what you ENCOURAGE, and look at what you DISCOURAGE.

We can save Jacksonville, and we can save the world. It has to be ever vigilant. If you don't believe me - watch.

Sorry to keep y'all waiting

What have I been up to?

Training - a LOT. Kali, Aikido, JiuJitsu, and I guess I'll resume kickboxing and CSW pretty soon. I wanna get ripped.

Maintaining my Ubuntu PC. I had great success installing WINE today. I'm trying to avoid my usual Ubuntu OCD which involves a complete wipe and reinstall from scratch.

Pondering. I'm sick of the irony, satire, and contradiction. I'm sick of the fragmentation. I like being single, but I still think about you-know-who everyday.

Learning. About .xls, .csv, groupware, etc.

I need some back up. And I want to back you up. Get at me.

Flying Drop Kick Mother F**ker!!!

I LOVE seeing stuff like this!
Kick him!

Well that really sucks makes for an odd day

I woke up today with bad new on my mind (of course, only I think it's bad news)

Someone I care about got married

Some people I care about are getting divorced
If anyone has anything that I would think is good news, please don't hold back.
In the meantime, here's an oldie: Dreams Burn Down by Ride



Lying under sky,
She laughs at everything I say,
And pulls me under,
There's no time to resist.
Lying on the floor,
There's no time to resist,
Lying on the floor,
The tears are falling down and more,
Her eyes speak loud,
But actions speak the best.

Waiting, hoping for a sign,
That what's forbidden can be mine,
I just want what I can't have,
'Til my dreams burn down every time.

She's effortlessly cool,
But circumstances can be cruel,
And sometimes you must accept,
That you can't always get what you want.
We fill up our days and nights,
We fill up our empty little lives,
But we know we are doomed,
The moment we walk out the room

The Big Stir

How much are public officials in Jacksonville Florida making?
Click here to find out.
WOOT!

Myspace Bulletin of the Day

"myself and autrelle holland are making plans in that not-making-plans- because-all-beauty-and-goodness-comes-out-of-a-chaotic-struggle kind of way to reform the apathetic and tone deaf ears of duval county. inspired by monumental epochs in time such as the go go when kids (seemingly, which is more than we can say for today) cared about progressive thought, and an integrative and multi genre appreciation for artful music, and the search/process that leads to QUALITY music both new and old.....especially not afraid to embrace the old.....there will be, in the near future, a night of such extreme auditory intensity that your world will be fucked up forever. you will have a religious experience if you have any balls to be honest with yourself. and speaking of honesty, you should come with a box of kleenex because we plan to tear you down before we can build you up into the person you are truly entitled to be. fuck irony. we don't believe in it, which means you won't hear a single justin timberlake tune , we won't be dressed in american apparel, and you won't see us giggling behind the dj booth either. start doing your emotional warm ups now. this shit is going to come at you hard and fast."

This from dear Whitney's Myspace Page.
Check out the link for her blog also. She's brilliant.

My Wanna-Be Vice Magazine Self

Anyone that knows me knows that amongst other things, I love candid photography. The Polaroid, is my favorite medium. I think red-eye shouldn't always be reduced. Closer better than farther. Less better than more. Crop crop crop. Timing and lighting. All that being said, Here are the pictures from last night. If you like them, and want to see more, check out the pics on my Myspace page. Everyone last night was LOVELY.

The other day

I met up with my friend Heather Vega for lunch at Dona Maria's the other day. It wasn't the most memorable meal, but the company was exceptional, and the weather was great. Ours is always is brilliant conversation! It makes me feel good to have people like this in my life. That's all for now. More later for sure. Check out her site, the link is in the side column.

The Ballad of Melody White

For those of you that have known Melody White for a while, you also know that this is the 10 year anniversary of the death of her sister, Angela. If you never got to meet Angela, you really missed out, because she's brilliant. Melody has gone through a lot to get through this. She has had the support of some very good people, parents, what have you. And she has also been a source of strength and a reminder of those things that are really important in life.

Melody, I celebrate you, as triumphant, and I love you as my own sister, as you have loved Angela. To Angela: it's not enough to say that I miss you.


(From Melody's myspace page)

She's back

I'm so upset and not upset at the same time. I'm the ultimate fan of pop music good pop music. Stacey Q. She's back. A certain someone has released a cover her her hit, "Two Of Hearts." Here it is for you, live.



I never said i wasn't gonna tell nobody
no baby
But desperate lover, I can't keep it to myself
oh no
When we're together it's like hot coals in a fire
oh baby
My body's burning so come on heat my desire
come on come on

Two of hearts
Two hearts that beat as one
Two of hearts
I need you, I need you
Two of hearts
Two hearts that beat as one
Two of hearts
come on, come on

People get jealous cuz we always stay together
yeah baby
I guess they really want a love like yours and mine
together forever
I never thought that I could ever be this happy
yeah baby
My prayers were answered, boy you came in the nick of time
ohhh

I got this feeling that you're going to stay
I never knew that it could happen this way
Before I met you I was falling apart
But now at last I really know we're made of

(chorus)

I never said I wasn't gonna tell nobody
no baby
But desperate lover, I can't keep it to myself
oh no
When we're together it's like hot coals in a fire
oh baby
My body's burning so come on heat my desire
ohhh

I got this feeling that you're going to stay
I never knew that it could happen this way
Before I met you I was falling apart
But now at last I really know we're made of

(chorus)

It wasn't all bad

I lament. And I have been happier, that's a fact. But, in regard to the topic of my last post, i don't want anyone to get the impression that it was so bad. In fact, it was great. So, here's another song from the soundtrack of my year - pretty much covers it.

Bloc Party I Still Remember



I, I still remember
How you looked
That afternoon
There was only you
You said it was just like a full moon
Blood beats faster in our veins
We left our trousers by the canal
And our fingers they almost touched

You should have asked me for it
I would have been brave
You should have asked me for it
How could I say no?
And our love could have soared
Over playgrounds and rooftops
Now every park bench screams your name
I kept your tie
I'd have gone wherever you wanted

And on that teacher's training day
We wrote our names on every train
Laughed at the people off to work
So monochrome and so lukewarm
And I could feel our days where becoming night
I could feel your heart beating across the grass
We should have run, I would go with you anywhere
I should have kissed you by the water

I still remember

I hate New Order

It's like having a friend that's always right, listening to New Order. At any rate, I'm pondering this year in review so far, and this song will be on the soundtrack, for sure. Of course, this goes out to JSH. "if you give it all away..." Brilliant.

New order The perfect kiss


I stood there beside myself,
Thinking hard about the weather
Then came by a friend of mine
Suggested we go out together
Then I knew it from the start:
This friend of mine would fall apart
Pretending not to see his gun,
I said "let's go out and have some fun"
I know, you know, you believe in a land of love
I know, you know, we believe in a land of love

I have always thought about
Staying here and going out
Tonight I should have stayed at home,
Playing with my pleasure zone
He has always been so strange,
I'd often thought he was deranged
Pretending not to see his gun,
I said "let's go out and have some fun"
I know, you know, we believe in a land of love
I know, you know, we believe in a land of love

When you are alone at night
You search yourself for all the things
That you believe are right
If you give it all away
You throw away your only chance to be here today
Then a fight breaks out on your street
You lose another broken heart in a land of meat
My friend, he took his final breath
Now I know the perfect kiss is the kiss of death

Kabre' Cyntanna today

Meriam and Courtney come through and show mad love.

Much respect to Rick James

After watching a live concert by Rick in Germany three times in a row, I had to write a little something about him. This man is the best. When he sang "Big Day" I almost wanted to stand up and sway. From wikipedia:

"Rick James (born James Ambrose Johnson, Jr) (February 1, 1948 – August 6, 2004) was one of the most popular artists on the Motown label during the late 1970s and early 1980s. James was famous for his wild brand of funk music and his trademark braids, sporting them well before the style was popularized. As time went on, James was given the unofficial title The King of Punk-Funk."

All hail The King of Punk-Funk.

re-Feisty-ized

I spent all of yesterday hooking up a clean install of Ubuntu 7.04. I took the time to install every codec, including aac support for all of my iTunes-ripped cd's. I installed Amarok as the default music player, and used the cp -r command to copy over my directory of 95 gigs of music from my Lacie drive. Finally, I backed up some cd's and dvd's using k3b and k9copy. Yes Virginia-I'm leaving you for Ubuntu.

Perry Lambert's Dojo

When I first began training in Aikido there were only two dojos in the city worth going to. Since then, there are quite a few very nice venues to train and I would like to share my experiences with one of my favorites.

I first met Mr. Lambert when I was about 4-kyu. He visited the USAF dojo I was a member of. I believe he had just moved to town and was checking out the scene as it was. We didn’t talk much, we just trained. He wore a kuro obi, but I don’t know if he was 2- or 3-dan at the time. Much later, when I was perusing the ads in the phonebook for martial arts, I came across a listing for his dojo and I gave him a call. We talked and we remembered that we had already met, and we agreed that it would be fine if I were to pay him a friendly visit and train with him.

A little background on Perry is necessary and what I put here is from his dojo’s website:

"Sensei Perry Lambert, Chief Instructor of Aikido of Jacksonville, began training in Karate-do at the O.D.U. Martial Arts Program (headed by Dr. Hiroyuki Hamada) during his college years at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA from 1986-1990. Originally from Richmond, VA, Lambert later returned to his hometown, and began training in aikido with Shihan Steve Steele at Aikido of Richmond in 1993, along with camps and seminars conducted by Sensei Roy Suenaka. In 1996 Lambert moved to Charleston, SC where he trained in aikido and karate directly under Roy Suenaka. After becoming a U.S. Border Patrol Agent in 1998, Lambert was stationed in Eagle Pass, TX where he introduced aikido to the Eagle Pass area. In 2000, Lambert moved to Jacksonville, FL, and opened what is now known as Aikido of Jacksonville."

I had read Roy Suenaka’s book and I was more than curious to see his Aikido in person. I was more than impressed. One of the most painful sankyo I have felt in my life. The most economic iriminage I’ve been thrown in in a long time. A nikyo that hurt so bad I felt it my leg! My favorite, however, is when he threw me with kotegaeshi. When I used breakfall, his throw was so powerful I nearly landed standing straight up on my feet.

That covers my first visit to Perry Lambert’s dojo. My second visit was after he moved to a new location. Everyone was extremely cordial. That was not a surprise, it was just something that stood out. Perry was extremely warm and open with me. He made a point to ensure that I understood every detail and difference of his waza. He also made a point to work out with me each time on every technique. He took ukemi each time to ensure I was doing the waza as close as possible to what he was teaching.

His keynote feature is that the Aikido he learned is street effective and considers the realities of using the waza against conventional street attacks. I won’t go into much detail about that except to say that he is very successful at just that. Stylistically, when I think about martially effective Aikido, I think of the compact, bone-crunching dynamo that is Peter Bernath from USAF, the militaristic, no-nonsense teachings of Thomas Huffman, a student of both Morihiro Saito and Shoji Nishio (receiving a technique from Thom feels like you just had a car door slammed onto your body!), the subtle, efficient use of Aiki from Yoshinkan’s own T.J. Cooper, or the imaginative vigor of any number of the ASU camp. Perry’s Aikido was definitely unique in its feel. The best way that I can describe it is to say that it’s as if he effortlessly reaches out for dry twigs and snaps them off.

On a personal note, I have sort of adopted Perry as my Aiki Big Brother. We have had numerous conversations where he has given some of the best advice ever. Anyone in the Jacksonville, Florida area should definitely look him up.