19 December, 2010

Sayagyi was a total dude


The anti-corruption game is rough. Its runs into the old socratic problem of "Who watches the watchmen?". A real classical problem of governance and administrative law. It goes without saying that many people have approached this problem from different ways and produced different solutions. Below is my favourite style : : (disclaimer: I'm simplifying the story here…)

A dude known as Sayagyi wasn't down with the corruption he saw in his own country. So when appointed the director of some government office riddled with corruption, he invited the employees to meditate according to some old technique. It worked on the first office so the presidento put Sayagyi in charge of another office. The first office then became corrupt (again) in his absence. So he was put in charge of both offices at once. And then a third office. Rough. But he managed.

In the end he wasn't able to leave his own country that he served with so much passion and skill. But whatever, he had a cool student that went on to continue this meditation vibe according to this old tradition

So this Sayagyi cat is a man of profound legacy in my view. The core principle to his legacy is that he looked for the corruption in his own mind and body before trying to fight corruption on any broader scale. The problem with 'anti-corruption' efforts is that they can often 'presuppose their own conclusion'. Many 'heroes' can end taking pieces from the pie they are (publicly) attempting to share. Sayagyi was a chilled out dude that never attempted more than he was able to actually do. And even though he lost the battle, he may have won the war (in the sense that his life is somewhat inspiring). Now 'fact check' the yarn if you find it interesting at all. Again it's worth to note that the history and historiography of this yarn are complex and difficult (Its nice to reserve judgment on 'meditation' until one has given it a sincere effort I reckon).

The sky was pink.

16 December, 2010

"This is just such a comfortable drum machine...



...I can just sit here all day and chop up records and not be tired. Know what I'm saying? And just, oh wow, the soft pads and everything. And I'll take kicks and snares from records. I don't usually use library stuff ya know. For me you can't find certain snares in the library, ya know like some things ya just hear on the record and you like woa"

This just in: Pete Rock loves his MPC.

Update: Just noticed that his closing remark is fucking clever~ "Love is a battlefield" .. Wow.zers!

12 December, 2010

Bob Chance


Original 7" test pressing of the album version "It's Broken". Both brilliant.

Down By The River

Old news...


Despite being a big fan of Dave Chappelle's work, I have never seen this apparently classic sketch before until tonight. It is so fucking funny I nearly shat myself. A re-watch or first watch are both good options. Part II awesome too !

11 December, 2010

Funny story...


So barry rcmd me this track .. its way cool !
i think i need to download this guys catalogue .. he's way gifted
and apparently (i) obama has done the 'brush it off' move as a matter of public record (very cool) (ii) obama got 9 stiches playing ball the other day .. you don't know a man til you balled with em and this obama guy clearly plays with heart ! sad he got injured but cool that he is the presidento ..
usa is a.ok.
off to the pub now

06 December, 2010

Ode to self-discipline, respect and love for others


Here. This "waikru" practice is beautiful.

(the image above is just the coolest thing I could find with limited time and can't help to share a song without sharing some nice image too .. really beautiful tho eh !?)

Heart Mondays !



Rihanna is pretty cool eh ?!
Total. Credible. Pop.

05 December, 2010

MMMMmmmm


Deffo song of the weekend (lots of competition).

The whole thing is pretty remarkable, but there are two lines in particular I find particularly interesting:

1. "Throw dirt on me and grow a wildflower"

2. "Bitches try to kick me while I’m down, I’ll break your leg"

I like the first one because (in the context of the whole track) this appears like a perfectly enunciated aphorism.

I like the second because if this Mr. Wayne character is speaking literally, then the only way I know of to actually do such a thing as he talks about is with Brazillian Jiu Jitsu. I am curious to know if this Mr. Wayne actually knows this technique or if this line is just the delightful and pretty tapestry of artistic endeavour.

Here's a little smtg smtg for the road...

A nice old rule~~~

Aliquis non debet esse judex in propria causa quia non potest esse judex et pars

Lat – a person should not be judge in his or her own cause as he or she cannot be both judge and party.

(p.s.. Also love the finesse involved in how these guys sampled the fuck out of Haddaway .. so much skiiiiiiiil)

(pps. A dear friend told me this track still sounds a bit rude/angry .. I agree it is rude, it could be a bit more loving .. but its rudeness is part of what gives it its 'smtg smtg' in my view .. But I do wonder if this Mr. Eminem is skilled at certain techniques of meditation? If not, he should really try that stuff out .. If he is not already gifted, its my intuition that he'd nail it pretty hard .. apparently he is not a drug addict anymore! hooray to that..)