John Kevin's Journal

Sunday, July 8, 2012

HAPPY SUNDAY!!!

Today is my day to dance lightly with life.
~Jonathan-Lockwood Huie

GOOD MORNING!!! It's the last day of the week, the last big hurrah before Monday, when most people go back to work. Of course if your unemployed like me, it's just another day you're not getting paid.

Anyway, Let's begin the with Danni El performing C'EST DOMMAGE. If you want to know more about her, you can find links to her Facebook page, her You Tube page, and her Twitter page on the sidebar.

There are two kinds of artists: the ones who create their story without awareness, and the ones who recover awareness and create their story with truth and with love.
~don Miguel Ruiz

Saturday, July 7, 2012

Brazil - An Inconvenient History

In the last couple of Days, I've been posting video documentaries about Capoeira, a Martial Art created by african slaves brought to brazil. The video below is a documentary about the history of the african slave trade in brazil, and the environment in which capoeira sprang out of.

HAPPY SATURDAY!!!

Today, I Dance Lightly With Life.
~Jonathan-Lockwood Huie

GOOD MORNING!!!

Let's start today off with Danni El, once again performing her song COLORES, this time at Venice Beach. If you want to know more about her, you can find links to her Facebook page, her You Tube page, and her Twitter page on the sidebar.

How do we live our life? This is our art, the art of living. With our power of creation, we express the force of life in everything we say, everything we feel, everything we do.
~don Miguel Ruiz

Friday, July 6, 2012

Documentary w/ Mestre Acordeon - Jogo De Capoeira (full version)

Ah, Mestre Acordeon... In my opinion, one of the greatest masters of Capoeira alive today.

5 Ways Republicans Have Sabotaged Job Growth | ThinkProgress

5 Ways Republicans Have Sabotaged Job Growth | ThinkProgress:

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HAPPY FRIDAY!!!

Today, I choose to create joy in my life. Whatever my external circumstances, I choose to see all of life through joyful eyes.
~Jonathan-Lockwood Huie

GOOD MORNING!!! We're back here again... FRIDAY!!! This week went by so fast...

Anyway Let's start the day off with Danni El, performing my favorite song, COLORES, on Hollywood Blvd. When I first met her, she was on that same street, playing that song, but in the daytime though. If you want to know more about this amazing artist, you can find links to her Facebook page, her You Tube page, and her Twitter page on the sidebar.

As artists, we no longer have any limitation; we are creators, just like the one who created us.
~don Miguel Ruiz

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Capoeira Angola Movie Catman

This is the first documentary on Capoeira Angola I ever seen...

Higgs boson binds the universe, but humans give it meaning - latimes.com

Higgs boson binds the universe, but humans give it meaning - latimes.com:

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HAPPY THURSDAY!!!

Taking inspiration from the powerful vision of my future, I boldly set sail with courage and intent.
~Jonathan-Lockwood Huie

GOOD MORNING!!! Well, The 4th of July is over, and I made it through in one piece! I cooked some good barbecue, had a blast at the block party, sampled more food, and no one tried to get me drunk!! All in all, it was a hell of a night.

Let's start the day off with the Danni El's song, RAINDROPS. If you want to know more about this amazing artist, you can find links to her Facebook page, her You Tube page, and her Twitter page on the sidebar.

When we think of ourselves as human, we limit the way we express ourselves in life. We hear, "I'm just human; I'm not perfect." But, if we call ourselves artists, where is that limitation?
~don Miguel Ruiz

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Yvette Carnell: Chris Rock Tweets the Truth About 4th of July, and Gets Slammed For it | Your Black World

Yvette Carnell: Chris Rock Tweets the Truth About 4th of July, and Gets Slammed For it | Your Black World:

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Bill Moyers Essay: Thomas Jefferson's Betrayal | Moyers & Company | BillMoyers.com

Bill Moyers Essay: Thomas Jefferson's Betrayal | Moyers & Company | BillMoyers.com:

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Anthony de Mello - Awareness pt.18 on dependence

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!

You cannot build character and courage by taking away a man's initiative and independence. - Abraham Lincoln

Hi Everybody!!! As we all know, The Fourth of July, or Independence Day, is a federal holiday that celebrates the adoption of the Declaration of the Independence on July 4th, 1776. (What many peope don't know, is that event actually happened on july 2nd, 1776.)

So, what are you guys doing today? Me, I'm gonna cook and eat some barbecue, and go to a block party.

Anyway, let's start the day with Danni El's LITTLE HEART, with Christopher Bear on the drums. I first saw them perform that song last year at the Artwalk in Downtown L.A., which still happens every second Thursday of the month.

Those who won our independence... valued liberty as an end and as a means. They believed liberty to be the secret of happiness and courage to be the secret of liberty. - Louis D. Brandeis

P.S...

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

'Cain TV': Herman Cain's New TV Network Is Blowing Our Minds (VIDEO)

'Cain TV': Herman Cain's New TV Network Is Blowing Our Minds (VIDEO):

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R.I.P. Andy Griffith

Andy Griffith Dead: Actor Dies At Age 86:

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( JULY 4th ) LU FAM PRO presents LUMINOUS MOVEMENT feat GOVINDA, PUMPKIN, & GOLDRUSH

( JULY 4th ) LU FAM PRO presents LUMINOUS MOVEMENT feat GOVINDA, PUMPKIN, & GOLDRUSH:

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY DANNI EL!!!

Hi everyone.

If you read this blog, then the woman below needs NO introduction. But to anybody who doesn't know...

Say hello to Danni El.

She is a very talented musician, and one of the best people out there you're ever going to meet. I made a couple of posts a while back about how I met her, so here's an abbreviated version.

It was April 16th, 2011. I was out in Hollywood, hurrying back to the Hollywood - Highland Red Line Station. But just before I got there, I heard a sound, a very beautiful, angelic sound that was calling to me, so I turned around...

I saw a woman perform one of the most beautiful songs I ever heard, which I found out later that day was named COLORES, totally mesmerized.

I didn't stay long enough for her to finish singing her second song, because the time left on my Bus transfer was about to run out and I had to get out of there... but in her guitar case, she had a cardboard sign that had her name, her facebook page, her You Tube page, and her twitter. So, I borrowed a pen, wrote down her information, and when I got home, I tracked her down on FB and introduced myself, and added links to her FB page, her YouTube Channel, and her Twitter to this blog (you can find them in the Side Bar). I went back up to Hollywood Blvd, at least once a week for a whole month hoping to see her perform. And, when she was doing live shows, I posted announcements about them on my FB page and on this blog.

In other words, I became a BIG fan.

Well, that's about it. there's not much more than that. Well, there is that time when I got that Harry Potter wand, and also the time when I introduced myself to her in person, but I'll tell that story another time.

Well anyway, now that I told you all a little bit about who she is, here's my special birthday message to her.

There is a gift that gold cannot buy, A blessing that's rare and true

That's the gift of a wonderful person coming into my life,

Like I have in you.

P.S. I really hope you come back soon. And when you do, I know the world will be blown away by what you can do...

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Let's face it - think of Africa, and the first images that come to mind are of war, poverty, famine and of course, Tarzan. How many of us really know anything at all about the truly great ancient African civilizations, which in their day, and even to this day, were just as splendid and glorious as any other great civilazation on the face of the earth?

I've added numerous links to different websites to show everybody some of the Real History of Africans and thier descendants, as opposed to How we are usually stereotyped, even by some Black people. It is these stereotypes I believe (among others), that lead to discrimination, racism, and ultimately, a weaker society.

So I put those links there, not to say that we are somehow better or superior to other nations, or to try to put down any of the other great civilizations of this planet, but to show that we africans worldwide have our own cultures, civilizations, and ways of life that are just as complex, advanced, and worthy of study as any of the other great nations and peoples of the world, if not more so.

"It is in my nature to be kind, gentle, and loving...

BUT KNOW THIS: When it comes to matters of protecting my friends, my family and my heart... Do not fuck with me. For I'm also the most powerful, relentless, and ruthless MONSTER you will ever know... BELIEVE THAT."

I love the Martial arts, but I don't consider myself a "Martial Artist". I consider myself what I call a SELF PRESERVATIONIST. What I mean by that is, my interest in Martial Arts and Survival is for one main purpose. That purpose is to SURVIVE, and to PRESERVE LIFE in general, and in particular, MY LIFE, and the lives of MY LOVED ONES.

You see, I don't stick fight, I don't knife fight, I don't sword fight, I don't gun fight, or whatever.

I SURVIVE, the aforementioned methods are merely the tools I use to accomplish my goal. If you come at me looking for a "fight", you've come to the wrong place, because I'm not gonna "fight" with you.

I'm going to do EVERYTHING in my power to make sure I SURVIVE.

I don't like to be called a Martial Artist because like I just said, I'm not really a martial artist. I just use the martial arts to help achieve my goals in survival, and health (and when I say health, I mean physical, mental, and spiritual).

And honestly, there are certain "ISSUES" in the Martial Arts Universe that keep me from wanting to wear the label of, "Martial Artist".

Besides, In my opinion, a lot of martial artists, especially here in the U.S., tend to be a very STRANGE group of people(Myself included).

But I DO love to read about the arts, watch martial art movies, and learning more about the Martial Arts.

Below, I posted links to various martial art websites and media. I hope you like them.

What is a Warrior?

I see through different eyes.

I see a bigger picture when others see only grey skies.

Though many can’t conceive it,

I stand... facing the wind.

My bravery not from fighting,

but from my strength within,

I am a Warrior.

I will walk the extra mile,

Not because I have to,

Because it’s worth my while.

I know that I am different,

When I’m standing on a crowded street.

I know the fullness of winning;

I’ve tasted the cup of defeat.

I am a Warrior.

They say I walk with ease.

Though trained for bodily harm,

My intentions are for peace.

The world may come and go,

But a different path I’ll choose.

A path I will not stray from,

No matter... Win or Lose.

If you've been in the Martial Arts for a while, you'll find many people who would like to believe in the idea that just because they practice the Martial Arts, they are some kind of Warriors.(I like to call them Wannabee Warriors).

But what exactly is a Warrior? I mean, throughout history, there have been many different types of warriors, all having different Codes of Honor that they live by (And in case you're wondering, yes, there is a Warrior Creed that I follow and try to live up to also...) . But if you really try to define what a warrior is, there seems to be no one answer to that question. In fact, there seems to be many answers, almost as many answers as people you ask.

So, what I did was provide some links to some different websites about different warriors and types of warriors throughout history. Hell, I even posted links to web sites about Dan Millman and Carlos Castaneda for you "Spiritually Aware" types. Perhaps if you look through them, you'll find a good definition of a warrior for yourself...

And for you Wannabee Warriors out there... Some of the links I put up are to Law Enforcement & Military websites. If you really want to be warriors, Check out those links and become a police officer, or go join the armed forces. They need you!!!

FROM WIKIPEDIA, THE FREE ENCYCLOPEDIA: Silat is a collective word for indigenous martial arts of the Malay Archipelago and Malay Peninsula of Southeast Asia. Originally developed in what are now Indonesia, peninsular Malaysia, southern Thailand and Singapore, it was also traditionally practiced in Brunei, the Philippines, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Vietnam. As a result, it is closely related to other Southeast Asian martial arts including krabi krabong and eskrima. Practitioners are called pesilat. The Chinese fusion of silat is known as kuntao.

There are hundreds of different styles but they tend to focus either on strikes, joint manipulation, bladed weapons, throws, animal-based techniques, or some combination thereof. Silat is one of the sports included in the Southeast Asian Games and other region-wide competitions. Training halls are overseen by separate national organizations in each of the main countries the art is practiced. These are Ikatan Pesilat Indonesia (IPSI) from Indonesia, Persekutuan Silat Kebangsaan Malaysia (PESAKA) from Malaysia, Persekutuan Silat Brunei Darussalam (PERSIB) from Brunei and Persekutuan Silat Singapura (PERSISI) from Singapore.

Below, I added some links to various websites and video clips so you can get a better understanding of what Silat is about.

One of the gravest disservices we have done to the people of our world is to have provided them with a poor education. We do not teach students to think.

If you do not learn to effectively process information (and it is a learned skill) then you will always be at the mercy of people promoting their favorite dogmas.

The problem is, that all kinds of people would like you to uncritically believe what they are telling you about the way the world is. Many of them pretend that such uncritical belief is "faith", which it is not.

If you do not have the tools to discover what a given person or group is really trying to sell you, then you are libel to be making some really wacky presuppositions about the world, which will in turn become the heuristics by which you operate.

About half of what we perceive as "intelligence" is the ability to process information effectively, so if you want to be "smarter" then all you have to do is improve in that area.

While this is pretty simple, it is not necessarily easy. In my experience, most people are conditioned to a way of thinking already comfortable to the individual. When a person tries to change the way they process information they run a good chance of evoking a "threat response" from within themselves.

The wonderful thing about the internet is that you have access to so much useful information. If you're reading this, then you are able to self-educate on any number of subjects to a remarkable degree, and do it almost for free.

And that's what this section is about. I added some links here so anybody with a brain can study and learn to use it.

Remember 2 things people:

"I NOT ONLY HAVE THE RIGHT TO THINK AT ALL TIMES, BUT THE RESPONSIBILITY TO DO SO."

"IF I DON'T THINK FOR MYSELF, THEN SOMEBODY ELSE WILL DO IT FOR ME".

There are over 10,000 different religions in the world, 150 of which have at least 1 millions followers. Which one is the truth? "Christianity!" someone says, but even Christianity alone has over 38,000 different denominations. So which interpretation is the TRUE one?

Religion is not the anchor-point of truth. The truth always existed. Religion is man-made, meaning that the truth existed prior to both man and religion. Religion may be an effective catalyst for some individuals who desire to invest their minds into ideological association for whatever reason, but it is not a necessary nor a sufficient condition for a relationship with God, and understanding of the Creator, or the inner workings of the self.

Spirituality is not a belief. It is a state of consciousness, a mental framework with which you approach the world. Spirituality is in fact what birthed religion through the attempted organization of experience and wisdom, which ended up being the hierarchical stratification of various belief systems that we call religion.

Don't let the commitments you have to a religious belief system in your mind take you away from your natural state of Being with all things. You were a human before you learned religion. God's light existed in you before you learned this through some spiritual guru. Does this mean don't read or believe what Jesus of Buddha had to say? Of course not. Just make sure you take the time and effort to experience the rose instead of just believing in the accounts of others. This is not an attack on any religion by any means, and religion has brought many people happiness and the experience of being close to one's creator, but don't let it cause segregation away from our inherent unity.

As for my religious beliefs, well...

I'm a CHRISTIAN, in the sense that I believe that personal redemption is feasible for everyone and that universal love makes that salvation possible.

I'm a MUSLIM, in the sense that I believe that there's only 1 GOD, ans that all are equal under this one GOD. And, althought I'm not jewish, I do have a respect for JUDAISM.

I'm a BUDDHIST, in the sense that the seeds of enlightenment are within all of us as an integral part of our DNA, and that we are capable of reaching the Absolute through our own efforts.

I'm a HINDU, in the sense that I believe that GOD takes many shapes and forms to reach out to mankind.

I'm a TAOIST, in the sense that I have a total belief in the reality of Yin & Yang Energies.

And I also have a total belief in the world of spirits, and what we can learn from them, so I guess that makes me an ANIMIST.

I never want to tell someone what to think, for ones spirituality is a private matter between that person and their creator.

My goal here is only to show all of you the history and traditions of the many, many ways the people of the world have reached out to god.