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We’ve made progress on the mobile home design.  Take a look and help us find a name for the home!

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Hiro and I played a game today during a walk (”sampo” in Japanese) around our neighborhood.

Can you guess the game?

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My old koto slip cover was so old and worn, the fabric would rip with the slightest tug.  So Hiroka and I sewed a new one with material we had around the house and it turned out surprisingly well.

Old cover (click for larger ver)

New cover (click for larger ver)

With the hopes that it will be helpful to someone else, here is a quick howto for sewing a custom soft cover for a Japanese 13-string koto.

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After the workshop, Hiro and I went to a great restaurant called Shojin, located in the Little Tokyo Shopping Center, 3F.  The staff is unbelievably courteous… the chefs come out to greet the guests, and see them off at the door.  The owner, Tsuguhiro Morishima explained that it has long been his dream to create a restaurant that encourages inter-personal connections; amongst the guests and between the guests and staff.  He spent a long time thinking about what kind of food would be best for the patrons, and encourage the kind of health and well-being he was trying to foster.  Over a long period, he came to feel that vegan and macrobiotic foods were the most in line with this goal.

If you’re in the Little Tokyo area and looking for healthy uplifting food and a restaurant run by caring people, try Shojin!

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After a few days of recovery from a whirlwind tour, here are some photos from the trip!

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I got a little emotional working on my taxes today.  As I organize and tally my personal finances for last year, I’m struck by something: people are really generous.

In 2008, almost 10% of my income came from unsolicited donations.  Wow!  Now, my income is far from substantial, so 10% of a small number is a smaller number still… But all the same, these donations were unsolicited!  About two dozen folks sent me a check last year, out of the blue, as thanks for something.  Some people sent their checks in appreciation for the free 30 Days to Better Shime program, or for an essay I’d written, or for my help with something or other.  To all you generous folks, thank you very much!  I hope to repay your generosity with more good stuff this year!

But I’m way in the whole for 2009 already…  See, an unforeseen gesture of enormous magnanimity has come my way: I am the recipient of a new car.  And not any new car, but a 2004 Prius.  Bam!  In one fell swoop, the scales are way out whack. So I’ve got a whole lot of work to do and the 2009 clock is ticking!  Anyone need a free taiko lesson?  Or help with gnu/linux?  A back rub?

Thank you to everyone who supported me and On Ensemble in 2008!

A two-year English teaching position in Hakodate Japan is now available at my former employer, Daibundo Gaigo School. I worked at Daibundo from ‘99 to ‘01 while studying Japanese dance, shamisen, and practicing taiko. I am helping Daibundo interview applicants.

While working at Daibundo I was able to study Japanese dance and shamisen. I spent a lot of my time practicing taiko and turntable.  Living in Japan was stressful at times but the Daibundo teachers, staff, and students were a really supportive group.  I highly recommend this position as a way to get to Japan!

Dance lessons in Hakodate

At home in Hakodate, scratching

If you’d like more information, please contact me by Mar 24, 2009. My email address is kris at OnEnsemble dot org and my cell phone number is 310-350-8825.

Position starts mid August, 2009
Monthly salary: 250,000 yen (about $2500/mo)
25 hours per week teaching, time between classes is free
Teach conversation classes for adults, children’s classes, and university classes
Provide occasional coaching and proofreading services to children and adults
Furnished apartment provided at rent of 39,000 yen ($400)

Daibundo School website

City of Hakodate website

I was very dismayed today to read that Senator Feinstein is trying to insert legislation in Obama’s stimulus bill to undermine net neutrality.  This is really slimy, and really bad for the internet.  I’ve sent her the message below.  If you agree, please send her your thoughts as well.

Regarding Net Neutrality

I am very disappointed to see that you are attempting to augment the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program so that it “allows for reasonable network management practices such as deterring unlawful activity, including child pornography and copyright infringement.”  This is a direct attack on net neutrality and I am absolutely opposed to it.

I strongly believe that net neutrality is critical for the health and progress of the internet, and that the internet is critical for the health and progress of American culture and business.  My opinion comes from my experience as a self-employed musician, and the great benefits I have received through the ability to share my work on the internet, and benefit from the work that others share.  I use Free Software to run my own web, mail, and dns servers, so that I am on equal footing with major music producers.  The democratic, equal nature of the current internet means that I am empowered to produce and grow as far as my music will take me.  I license my music under the Free Art License which makes it legal for others to share and build upon my works.  On the back of a fair, neutral internet, we are building a collaborative community for the betterment of all.

Please, please stop your efforts to undermine net neutrality.  The real power of the internet is its potential to redefine power structure; from central authority to the edges of the net, to creators like myself.  Please don’t side with the RIAA and the MPAA who seek to bring power back to the center.  These organizations do not work in the interests of creators.

Please, please, please reverse your position and support net neutrality.  Support creators!