Japanese music has had a large array of influences ranging from China, Korea and even the West. Rich and distinctive in nature it places large emphasis on pentatonic, monophonic and non-harmonic styles of music. Japanese traditional folk singers can be found throughout the country, playing several styles of folk music and classical music. While Japan may have a culturally rich heritage of folk music, it is extremely complicated and intertwined due to its small regional states.

Min’yM or Japanese folk songs are categorized into four main categories: work songs, religious songs, children’s songs known as warabe uta and songs sung when communities gather on different occasions such as festivals, weddings, funerals and others. Japanese folk singers are often accompanied by the three-stringed lute called the Shamisen, the hand drum Tsuzumi, the Taiko drums and the Shinobue also known as a bamboo flute. Today Japan’s Enka singers perform traditional folk songs with modern instruments like electric guitars along with traditional instruments.

Common Min’yM phrases such as bushi, bon uta, ondo, are commonly spoken. They consist of different beats and can commonly be heard at many Obon festivals. From unique melodies to distinct swing characteristics, Japanese folk songs are still an integral part of Japanese children’s curriculum in school. Japanese folk songs are still traditionally passed down from one generation to the next. Common Japanese folk songs which can be taught to children of any culture include the counting song, the moon and the rabbit and the turtle.

Another popular folk song is the flower straw-hat song known as the Hanagasa Ondo played at local community gatherings called Hanagasa Odori. Movements of this typical swing ondo rhythm are typically for women, but men are also encouraged to join in. However dance steps may vary for each sex. Sakura Sakura also known as Sakura elaborates on the season of spring. Sung at many international gatherings as a song representing Japan, “Blooming Cherry Blossoms” has had many renditions but Michio Miyagi’s interpretation is often regarded to be the best of them all. In 1976, Cat Stevens used the melody of Sakura in his live version of ‘Hard Headed Woman’.

Japanese folk songs ideally emerged from villages and small towns and were popularized by people living in cities trying to retain some of their culture. Today many folk songs have been commercialized and redone countless times making them highly different from the original which were once sung in different regions of Japan. Yet these traditions are being sustained and continued largely due to the efforts of the musicians’ guilds and due to various folk traditions throughout the country.

Pedro Almoldovar was born in 1949 in Calzada de Calatrava in the Castilla la Mancha region of central Spain. Since his film making debut in the eighties he’s written, directed and acted in more than thirty films and can easily lay claim to the title of Spain’s greatest living film director.

Famed for his use of melodrama and his labyrinthine plots, his films have never shied away from serious subject matter – homosexuality, transvestitism and death (particularly death by AIDS) have all popped up as themes throughout his work. Almodovar also likes to use marginalised, socially ostracised characters and groups in his films. It is this hunger for the unconventional that has made people take note of his work. In many respects his films were a response to the decades of oppression under the dictatorship of Franco and Almodovar was at the forefront of an artistic movement that was free to express itself for the first time since the Civil War.

In 2004 the controversial director launched his most recent film at the Cannes film festival. “Bad Education” drew on the directors own experiences at a catholic school during the sixties. The film confronts the sexual abuse of the boys by the teachers and also the homoerotic love of two young students. The film was met with universal acclaim and cemented Almodovar’s position at the forefront of world cinema.

The films success followed on the back of the acclaim of his two previous directorial efforts. “All About My Mother” was released in 1999 to high praise from critics and cinema goers alike; it was a candid story that showed a softer more mature side to Almodovar’s direction and continued his use of women and the idea of sisterhood that is prevalent in many of his works. Almodovar later dedicated the film to “all mothers and any actress who’s ever played a mother” and the Spaniard picked up numerous awards at home and abroad including his first Oscar for “Best overseas film”. In 2002 Almodovar released “Talk to Her” to similar rave reviews and critical acclaim and the film earned him his second Oscar for “Best screenplay”.

Before this golden period in Almodovar’s career, many thought that his talents had lost their direction. His films of the late 80’s and 90’s had come in for some fairly heavy criticism and had been the cause of some fairly fierce debate in cinematic circles. “Tie me up, Tie me Down”, “High Heels” and “Kiki”. Some were lambasted for their supposed misogynistic undertones including a shocking rape scene from “Kiki”. “Tie me up, Tie me down” also came in for some heavy criticism from women’s groups for it’s portrayal of a women who falls in love with her kidnapper.

Almodovar also famously gave a first acting role to Antonio Banderas in his 1987 film “Law of Desire”. Banderas also took on the lead role in the aforementioned “Tie me Up, Tie me down”. Banderas later moved to Hollywood where he achieved great fame as his career blossomed.

Amoldovar is currently shooting his latest offering due for release in 2006; it’s entitled “Volver” (“Filming” in English) and will star Hollywood actress Penelope Cruz, one of Spain’s most successful daughters. At the moment it seems as if the Spaniard can do no wrong and he’s acclaimed as one of the best film makers in the world today having produced many films that are already viewed as cinematic classics. At age 55, it’s clear that the man has still got a lot to offer and we could still be watching his creations for many years to come.
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If you have ever seen some of the turtle tattoos out there, you probably know what I mean when I say imagination is the only limit to design. I must admit I was never especially interested in tattoos of any animal but when I saw a woman with a tribal turtle I began to change my mind. Turns out that turtle tattoos are one of the most requested designs. I know that while looking through the database of designs I use, I came across a few award winning turtle tattoos and I was sold.

Everyone has their own preference, style and taste; mine happens to be that of black ink only and small tattoos as opposed to big pieces. That’s just my taste however, and it certainly doesn’t have to be yours. There is a design about nine inches long and it’s a trail of turtles on their way to somewhere or another; they even have turtle tracks in the design. I saw this on a woman’s thigh and it looked great. Another man I saw had psychedelic turtle tattoos and they were abstract in design while vibrant in color. My concern over color is that it fades, as all ink does and this is why I lean towards solid black ink (which looks gray or blue as it fades).

For unique turtle tattoos simply start browsing award winning designs to start (I use chopper-tattoos). Once you find a few you love, turtle or not, start brainstorming ways to combine what you’ve found. If you have a great tattoo artist you can easily take your designs and show them what aspects of each you like and request they draw a unique design for you. Don’t be shy or hesitant if this is your first inking – artists love to create unique pieces.

Blake Christina Lively, a favorite Gossip Girl cast member, is never new to the world of Hollywood. Born to actors Elaine and Ernie Lively in Tarzana, California, and the youngest of 5 children, Lively was indeed meant to thread a path in Hollywood belonging to a family that has been involved in the industry herself. However, Blake was not initially set on following her family’s path. Instead of getting involved in showbiz at an early age, she enjoyed a normal life in school.

As a child, Blake was homeschooled. She moved on to attend Burbank High School wherein she became a cheerleader, class president and a member of the National Show Choir. She was set on attending Stanford University until Hollywood fame came knocking at her door.

Blake’s Shot to Fame

Her first taste of Hollywood came when she starred in her father’s film, Sandman in which she portrayed the role of Trixie, the Tooth Fairy at age 11. Her biggest break took place when she bagged the role of Bridget in the teen hit movie, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, in 2005 opposite other famous young stars, America Ferrera, Amber Tamblyn, and Alexis Bledel. It is said that Blake’s similarity with her character in the film was so obvious that the mere act of turning in her picture already got her the part. Her amazing performance in the movie won her the Teen Choice Award for Best Breakout Actress. The success of the said film led to a sequel that stars the same cast. Lively also starred in a college comedy, Accepted, opposite Justin Long in 2006 and the film, Elvis and Anabelle in 2007 alongside Keith Carradine and Mary Steenburgen.

Gossip Girl Affair with Penn Badgley

Not long after, she got the lead role as Serena van der Woodsen in Gossip Girl. This project really cast her name in Hollywood as one of the upcoming stars of the generation. Like a chameleon, Blake was able to transform herself into the complex character she portrays in the show. Gossip Girl also paved the way for her to be reunited with childhood friend and classmate, Penn Badgley, who stars as Dan Humphrey, Serena’s love interest in the teen drama. Their rumored relationship off screen was the headline of all tabloids, but the two initially never confirmed the affair. It was only when a magazine featured photos of them on a vacation together in Mexico that Lively and Badgley came out with their relationship.

Recent Project

Many doors have been opened to Lively because of her Gossip Girl fame. She is set to star in New York, I Love You with Hollywood A-listers, Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson, and Brett Ratner. The movie is expected to hit theaters late this year.

We can definitely say that Blake has everything going for her. A member of the Gossip Girl cast, role model, and an amazing actress, she is one of the most sought after talent of this generation. There’s no doubt about it. Blake is the next best thing in Hollywood.

My first experience of the traditional Samoan Tatau (tuh-tah-uw)was in 1990 at a Volleyball tournament in Melbourne Australia. I saw a young man enter the stadium and remove his track pants to reveal what I thought at the time to be an intricately patterned pair of bike pants. I pointed the bike pants out to my Samoan husband noting the beautiful tribal design thinking they would be something he would like and it was then that I first found out about the pe’a (pay-ah), a traditional tattoo that covers 65% of the body from waist to below the knee, and yes, everything in between.

I actually did not believe my husband when he told me about the tatau, and would not be satisfied until I had seen this tattoo close up, so he took me over to meet the young man who let me have a look at his beautiful Samoan Tatau and I have been mesmerised by them ever since.

The art of adorning the body with the traditional tattoo, called tatau, has been practised in Samoa on both men and women for over 2000 years, and I am glad to say I am not the only westerner who mistakenly took them for garments.

When Europeans first discovered the Samoan islands in the early 1800’s a ships sailor wrote of the people there in this way: “They talk politely and behave very courteously, in no way barbaric or gruesome. They don’t paint themselves, as the natives on the other islands do, but on the lower part of the body they are wearing cleverly woven, silk trousers.”

If you are ever fortunate enough to see one of these beautiful tatau with your own eyes you will understand why from a distance they can be mistaken for clothing as the intricate patterns cover such large areas of skin it is difficult to believe at first that a person could undergo such physical trauma.

The tools used in traditional tatau are the Au (comb) which is made from a short piece of bamboo or light wood and a piece of turtle shell bound at right angles at one end. Attached to this is the comb made from bone or boars teeth, though today the combs are sometimes fashioned out of metal. The second stick is like a small mallet which is used to endlessly tap tap tap the ink soaked Au into the surface of the skin. The ink is made from the soot of burnt candlenut shells mixed into a smooth paste with coconut oil. This ancient form of ink is still used today.

Even the somewhat simple tatau designs can take many hours to complete, 7 to 12 hours for an arm or leg. The pe’a however can take many days and weeks, with the tapping beginning at dawn and continuing till dusk if the subject can bear it. The ritual begins again the next day unless inflammation requires a day or two to heal before resuming. Overall, the entire pe’a can take up to 3 months to complete and up to a year to completely heal.
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“Love of beauty and the desire to create it is a primal instinct of man.” Eleanor McMillan Brown

This weekend brought me the privilege of chaperoning forty
musicians to the Catskill Mountains of New York for a youth
orchestra retreat. Designed as a scenic get-away in which to
ardently rehearse for an upcoming concert, it proved an
exhausting-but delightful-escape with teens.

Considering that I made the preliminary arrangements, and
actually booked the accommodations at the retreat center, I
thought I had a fairly good idea of what to expect. When the
retreat director described our cabins as “rustic,” I envisioned
cute and cozy. Campy. Kind of with a Ralph Lauren meets L.L. Bean thing going on.

She greatly oversold them. I had better luck in third-world
countries. While the kids rehearsed late that first night, I
searched for the cabins in the middle of absolutely nowhere-pitch dark-with a couple of flashlights, a poor-to-scale hand-drawn map, and two very tired orchestra moms as my only guides. We found these tarp-roofed, no-mattress-bunks-with-little-heat-and-bad-lighting-and-did-I-mention-no-locks-on-any-doors near midnight after a long three and a half hour drive and a very bad camp retreat dinner. We moms thought it would be a good idea to locate the cabins and get things “settled in.” Mortified when we finally found them by the thought that these cabins were really “ours,” we let out a half-hour litany of moans and groans, only to decide to make the best of the situation by trying to cozy them up. That literally meant
turning on the singular light and cranking up the space heater
per each cabin.

Then came the rain. It started as a sprinkle and turned into a
constant stream, silently but surely soaking the hundred-plus
suitcases, sleeping-bags and pillows that had been dumped onto
the ground (no, dirt) by the camp help. So at nearly midnight, in the cold downpour of the rain, we schlepped forty kids’ stuff
into one of the cabins. It was pitch black, excepting the two
puny flashlights and those five measly light bulbs.

Suffice it to say that the first night was character-building.
I had eight twelve-year-old girls in my cabin. Giggly, wanting
to chat well past “lights out,” but with the cutest tank-top-pajama-bottoms combos I’ve ever seen, (and more make-up than one could imagine for a weekend retreat in the middle of friggin’nowhere) I had the distinct impression that it could be an interesting two days.

And then came Saturday. And Mozart. Grieg and Bizet. Rehearsal
after concentrated rehearsal brought teenager to his instrument
and magic out of chaos. For somewhere beneath all of the acne
cream and the eyeliner came focus and discipline and the desire
to master music of magnificent proportion.

After all-day rehearsals, as well as sectional rehearsals with
master teachers brought in from New York City, the group came
together and practiced one last time, late Saturday night after
dinner. As they were tuning, I walked around the room making sure everyone was comfortable and ready for one last practice session. I walked up to my fifteen-year-old son and twelve-year-old daughter and whispered in their ears, “Create Beauty.” Fueled with little sleep and bad camp food, neither were amused. But then the conductor raised his baton, the cute high school senior lifted her flute, and thus began the genius of The Magic Flute. And then the oboist, a highschooler I had never met before, with a bandana covering her hair and too-many earrings covering her left ear, came in, followed by the clarinetist, to create extraordinary beauty. And I just sat there, with tears rolling down my cheeks, an uncontrollable reaction to witnessing magnificence.

It caught me quite off-guard that these kids-dirty from too much
of the retreat experience and too little of the available hot
water and soap, and sleep-deprived from too much sleeping-bag
chatter-could produce something so glorious.

Sometimes kids surprise us. Sometimes, after we want to wring
their necks for their appallingly irresponsible behavior (losing
their backpacks, forgetting their music, leaving their dirty
dishes for us to clear), they sit down and do the most astounding thing. They pick up and instrument and play something
extraordinary. Or they write an essay and it changes our
worldview. Or they perform ballet with perfect timing. And we
scratch our heads and think, “Could this possibly be my kid?!?”

Because just when you’re ready to throw in the towel, throw
your hands up in quiet desperation, and pound your fists on the
table in a round of madness, your kids will do something that
will convince you that they are filled with brilliance. That
they possess a hidden gift or an indescribable magic or a
hilarious gift of humor or a quick mind or a strong shoulder or
a gentle spirit.

And you are so thrilled to have had some small part of the
creation.

Entering the private world of a master poet
is indeed a gift from God.

In her lonely room …

Nuance, alliteration,
heroism, mettle, valor
bravery
and heart;

Colon’s, comma’s, apostrophe’s, periods
exclamation points, question marks
and words.

Red ink is on the ribbon plate

A small blister on her thumb.

During the twentieth century one of the most influential poets is no doubt, Adrienne Rich. As a writer of considerable breath and scope, Rich became a recognized poet at the tender age of twenty-two.

In her last year of college, her first collection of poetry, A Change of World was selected for the Yale Series of Younger Poets Award. Rich was selected by none other than W.H. Auden, the eminent poet who is often considered one of the greatest writers of the twentieth century.

Over the years Rich became noted for the exploration of topics related to gender roles and human sexuality. In 1976, Rich published Of Woman Born: Motherhood as Experience and Institution. This controversial collection of poetry which was hailed by some critics and harshly criticized by others was a declaration of her lesbian identity. A subsequent publication, Dream of a Common Language contained explicit references of sexual desire.

In addition to her poetry, Rich’s work was combined with a spirited interest in the social and political issues of her day. She became actively involved in protesting the American War in Vietnam. And she was also a significant figure in the woman’s liberation movement.

Rich was a contributing member of the Boston Woman’s Fund, the National Writer’s Union, Sisterhood in Support of Sister’s in South Africa and the New Jewish Agenda.

Feminine tribal tattoos are on the rise and with that increasing popularity it is becoming more common to see females branding a Hawaiian flower tattoo instead of other typical “pretty tattoos.” Like all flower tattoos there are classical meanings behind the flowers and there are also typically designs such as tribal that these Hawaiian flowers are commonly found immortalized within. So what is the meaning behind these tattoos and why could this be the perfect feminine tribal tattoo?

Those who have decided to seek the Hawaiian flower instead of a rose or another common flower are making a great decision. It encompasses all the feminine beauty of any other flower with a unique twist. This flower tattoo is typically found in tribal form. Instead of the bright flowy colours we tend to see in flower tattoos it is usually made with big bold black lines, in a more tribal form. It can be added to beautiful other Hawaiian tribal designs such as the sea turtle, mountains and other well known Hawaiian symbols.

These flowers stand for friendship and hospitality just like the Hawaiian people. Another popular Hawaiian flower choice is the lei. These beautiful flowers are found in bright colourful presentations all over the bodies of both men and women. There are also those who have permanently inked these beautiful flowers in lei’s around their necks, to symbolize the hospitality and friendship that is presented by Hawaiian natives to visitors to their island. For those who choose the exotic form of the Hawaiian flower tattoo you can ensure it is one to be proud of and to wear happily.
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