New Domain

I am now at a new domain, here. The backlog is still here, but I'll try and move it over.

~Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.~

Today's Walk

Went on a walk today, here are the pictures:

Looking out over the golf course.

Leaving the golf course with Baz.

At the river, it was boiling hot.

Looking out towards Rivelin Dams.

Baz.

Thanks for viewing, please send any suggestions for future blogs by email to jazzphilosophybiscuits@googlemail.com, or comment below.

~Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.~

The Moon

'A Zen Master lived the simplest kind of life in a little hut at the foot of a mountain. One evening, while he was away, a thief sneaked into the hut only to find there was nothing in it to steal. The Zen Master returned and found him. "You have come a long way to visit me," he told the prowler, "and you should not return empty handed. Please take my clothes as a gift." The thief was bewildered, but he took the clothes and ran away. The Master sat naked, watching the moon. "Poor fellow," he mused, " I wish I could give him this beautiful moon."'

Source: http://www-usr.rider.edu/~suler/zenstory/zenstory.html

Can some things never be given, or shown?

Please comment below, and send suggestions for future blog topics to jazzphilosophybiscuits@googlemail.com.

~Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.~

Wesak

Happy Wesak day people! Also known as Vesak, Vesākha and Saga Dawa, just to name a few, Wesak day is Guatama Buddha's birthday. It is always held in the first full moon of Taurus, usually in May. All Buddhists celebrate this day as Buddha's birthday, and some also celebrate his enlightenment and death on this day as well. Common practice for Wesak includes wearing white, offering donations to the poor and to charities, visiting and giving to monks, and freely giving the Dharma to people. In temples, flowers are given to represent beauty, and how the flowers will wilt and die, as all things will. Also, water is poured over a statue of baby Guatama Buddha, to represent his birth. All Buddhists are encouraged not to eat any meat on Wesak, and to observe the five precepts (in Sri Lanka, slaughter houses and alcohol shops are closed, on orders from the government). The five precepts are:

1. Do not harm living things
2. Don't steal
3. Do not engage in sexual misconduct
4. Do not lie
5. Don't take intoxicating drugs, such as alcohol

All in all, it's a day for happiness, colourful paintings and decorations, and the like.

Thanks for reading, please send any future blog topic suggestions to jazzphilosophybiscuits@googlemail.com, and please comment any thoughts below.

~Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.~

Ultimate Band

Right. Ultimate band. Go go go.

• John Zorn - Composer/ songwriter - Have you heard this man? No. I didn't think so either. Because you are a heathen. Go and listen to him. Now. Go.
• Billy Martin - Drummer - All round nice man. From Medeski, Martin and Wood fame. Not just a great drummer, but a great remixer too.

• Skerik - Saxophone - A crazy man. He's pioneered saxophonics.

You know.

Saxophonics.

• Mike Patton - Vocals - I've put vocals, but that doesn't really cover what he does. This man is a musical genius. (It's true!) He can fit his voice into any style of music and he did the zombie noises for Left 4 Dead. WHAT MORE COULD YOU WANT? I'm actually scared of meeting him. If I did, I'd just end up licking his face and crying with tears of joy.
• Les Claypool - Bassist - You probably thought I was going to put myself here, didn't you? I'm not that egotistical. But yeah, Claypool will rock you. Verily.
• Me - Guitar - Ha! Only joking. They aren't in my league.

So. Here we are. I've done it. And all my people are still alive. Instant win over Danny.

Questions over for the week.

Tom.

The Ultimate Band

Having listened to a fair of music by this point in my life, I thought I'd make my ultimate band. So, in my band, there would be:

• Sonny Rollins - tenor saxophone
• Dizzy Gillespie - trumpet
• Thelonious Monk - piano
• Charles Mingus - bass
• Elvin Jones - drums

If only they were all alive, it would be a magnificent quintet. They'd play bebop, hard bop, post bop, all the bops. And swing, led by Benny Goodman or Artie Shaw, depending on who was available at the time. Obviously, I'd rather have Benny Goodman, were they both available.

Let me know your ultimate bands, jazz or not, by email (jazzphilosophybiscuits@gmail.com) or in the comments below. Tom'll be posting about his band soon, stay tuned. This, where we both do our opinions on a single topic, may become a regular feature.

~Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.~

Look! I'm contributing!

So. Danny's asked me to become a co-author for his blog.

Exciting? Yes.

I've been told that I can 'Just do a post now and again, when you feel like it', which seems fair enough. Not as EXCITING as getting the blog. Well, co-getting the blog.

To Danny: Can I call it an internet diary? Don't like blog.

Neil Cowley - Radio Silence

Having recently acquired a 32gb iPod Touch, I decided to make use of its iTunes Store feature, where I purchased Neil Cowley's new album, Radio Silence. I was introduced to Neil Cowley's music a year or so ago, and I haven't stopped listening to his trio. If I had to categorise his style, I'd call it something vague, like contemporary jazz, but he really does have a style all of his own. There are fast, complex piano lines and phrases, played by Cowley, all backed up by double bass and drums.

His other two albums that I own, Displaced and Loud Louder Stop, are both great, and those plus Radio Silence really sum up what is so special about Neil Cowley Trio. His fast, methodical and intelligent style are unique. The chord sequences, the phrasing, the piano lines, they are all unexpected. And yet they are still catchy. Perhaps it is a love or hate style, but I thoroughly recommend listening to at least some of his stuff.

Thanks for reading, please send any suggestions for future blog topics to jazzphilosophybiscuits@gmail.com, and any comments below.

~Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.~

Exams

Just to let you know, I had my Spanish Speaking GCSE yesterday. Could have gone better, by which I mean it couldn't have gone much worse. I spent the last two years learning verbs, activities, enough so that I'd nearly be fluent. But when I get into the exam, and I'm asked what I did yesterday with my family, what do I say? The best that my brain could come up with was that I went to Scarborough and played tennis. I haven't been to Scarborough in over a year, and haven't played tennis for much longer. At least I've got six days free of exams, my next one is RE on Tuesday, that'll be a fun two hours.

On another note, I have now watched both Alien and Predator, having rented them from LoveFilm. Conclusion: Alien pretty good, Predator appallingly bad.

Thanks for reading, please send any suggestions for future blogs to jazzphilosophybiscuits@gmail.com, and comment below.

~Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.a~

Quantum Entanglement

Quantum Entanglement is based on the theory of quantum physics. When any two particles are in contact, no matter how far they may then be separated, even light years away, causing one to react will cause the other to do the same. So, any particles can be linked, even if they are separated by meters, miles, or light years. Now suppose that all particles were once all in contact with each other, all matter condensed. Sound familiar? Should the big bang theory be correct, all of known matter is linked by the 'quantum field', the energy that is everywhere. This links in quite nicely with Buddhism's view of interconnectedness, stating that all being are linked. Sorry that I can't really explain quantum entanglement properly, it really is complicated. I recommend researching quantum physics, it's a fascinating subject, if you can tolerate it.

Thanks for reading, please send any suggestions for future blog topics to jazzphilosophybiscuits@gmail.com, and any comments below.

~Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.~

DofE

Just finished my three day Duke Of Edinburgh walk and camp, and feeling more exhausted than I thought I would. Perhaps it's because I only got two hours of sleep per night. I really should be catching up on sleep now that I'm back, but I'm just not that tired right now. After three days of walking, the first thing I did was take a long bath, get changed, put Spotify on, and write this. That's how dedicated I am to this blog (this post is really to make up for a long gap in posts, I think about a five day gap). So, I'm back, feet and legs aching, but still awake. Just.

Thanks for reading, please give me any future blog suggestions at jazzphilosophybiscuits@gmail.com, and feel free to comment below.

~Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.~

Monkey Mind

Monkey Mind is the term given to someone whose mind's always running, thinking, always going from one thought to the next, like a monkey. 'Just as a monkey swinging through the trees grabs one branch and lets it go only to seize another, so too that which is called thought, mind or consciousness arises and disappears continually both day and night,' said Siddhartha Guatama. If you spend a short time simply noticing what your mind is doing, you will probably find, to a certain extent, that many thoughts will pop up, no matter how much you try and stop them. Worth a try.

Jack Kornfield's Buddhist Psychology

I'm currently reading Jack Kornfield's book The Wise Heart, subtitled Buddhist Psychology For The West. It contains explanations of Buddhist psychological beliefs, and they are summed up in concise points. I've tried to find these concise points in a list, both in the book itself and on the internet, but no luck. So I thought I'd compile them here. I'd first like to stress that these points are intended to be coupled with Jack Kornfield's invaluable detailed explanations, so don't expect to fully understand them straight off. If you want to learn more, please find a copy of The Wise Heart, this is only to a) give people who've read the book a single list, and b) give people who haven't read the book a flavour of the book as a whole.

1. See the inner nobility and beauty of all human beings.
2. Compassion is our deepest nature. It arises from our interconnection with all things.
3. When we shift attention from experience to the spacious consciousness that knows, wisdom arises.
4. Recognise the mental states that fill consciousness. Shift from unhealthy states to healthy ones.
5. Our ideas of self are created by identification. The less we cling to ideas of self, the freer and happier we will be.
6. Our life has a universal and personal nature. Both dimensions must be respected if we are to be happy and free.
7. Mindful attention to any experience is liberating. Mindfulness brings perspective, balance and freedom.
8. Mindfulness of the body allows us to live fully. It brings healing, wisdom and freedom.
9. Wisdom knows what feelings are present without being lost in them.
10. Thoughts are often one-sided and untrue. Learn to be mindful of thought instead of being lost in it.
11. There is a personal and a universal consciousness. Turning awareness to the unconsciousness brings understanding and freedom.
12. The unhealthy patterns of our personality can be recognised and transformed into a healthy expressions of our natural temperament.
13. There are both healthy and unhealthy desires. Know the difference. Then find freedom in their midst.
14. If we cling to anger or hatred, we will suffer. It is possible to respond strongly, wisely, and compassionately, without hatred.
15. Delusion misunderstands the world and forgets who we are. Delusion gives rise to all unhealthy states. Free yourself from delusion and see with wisdom.
16. Pain is inevitable. Suffering is not. Suffering arises from grasping. Release grasping and be free of suffering.
17. Be mindful of intention. Intention is the seed that creates the future.
18. What we repeatedly visualise changes our body and consciousness. Visualise freedom and compassion.
19. What we repeatedly think shapes our world. Out of compassion, substitute healthy thoughts for unhealthy ones.
20. The power of concentration can be developed through inner training. Concentration opens consciousness to profound dimensions of healing and understanding.
21. Virtue and integrity are necessary for genuine happiness. Guard your integrity with care.
22. Forgiveness is both necessary and possible. It is never too late to find forgiveness and start again.
23. There is no separation between inner and outer, self and other. Tending ourselves, we tend the world. Tending the world, we tend ourselves.
24. The middle way is found between all opposites. Rest in the middle and find well-being wherever you are.
25. Release opinions, free yourself from views. Be open to mystery.
26. A peaceful heart gives birth to live. When love meets suffering, it turns to compassion. When love meets happiness, it turns to joy.

I'd like to thank Jack Kornfield for this collection, all credit goes to him. Hope they've changed something for the better!

Thanks for reading, please send any suggestions for future blogs to jazzphilosophybiscuits@gmail.com, comment below, and you can see my Twitter page somewhere on the right of the page.

~Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.~

Daily Buddhism

A friend recently recommended that I should follow other peoples blogs, as a way of becoming more involved in the online community. With that in mind, I found many new blogs and websites, mostly relating to Buddhism, so I thought I'd draw attention to one in particular.

It is called Daily Buddhism, and it's, in my opinion, one of the more well rounded websites on the internet. There are short podcasts (along with written text to accompany them), blog posts and links to other great websites. Everything communicated is done so in a friendly, easy to approach way, while Brian Schell (the website's owner, poster, etc.) goes in to more detailed explanations and approaches to some of Buddhism's more complex or larger issues. All in all, I thoroughly recommend having a look at this website, a great way to make trawling the internet that little less monotonous!

Thanks for reading, please send any and all suggestions for future blogs to jazzphilosophybiscuits@gmail.com, and comment below.

~Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.~

To Hathersage And Back

Yesterday, being the 13th, I went on a walk to Hathersage. I was accompanied by my friend Timmy, as we were both training for our Silver Duke Of Edinburgh award. Went quite well, only got lost once, and that didn't slow us down too much. When we got there, we were met by my parents and brother at the Outdoor shop's café, where I had a very nice cheese and tomato toastie. After that, walked back over Stanage Edge, got home for about 3:45, feet hurting a lot.

Thanks for reading, send any suggestions for future blogs to jazzphilosophybiscuits@gmail.com, and comment below.

~Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.~

Santander (Continued)

Any of you who regularly read this will know about my frustrations with trying to order a debit card from Santander. It seems to have taken a step in the right direction, if very briefly. I went into a branch to order another card, all went well. My card arrived yesterday, and I opened the envelope with glee. Surprise surprise, they cocked it up again. Instead of sending a new debit card, they sent a cash card, one of which I already own. Bravo Santander, Bravo.

Thanks for reading, email me at jazzphilosophybiscuits@gmail.com with suggestions, and comment below.

~Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.~

Bill Turnbull

Who says the news is going downhill? I think at the point where BBC Breakfast's Bill Turnbull is reporting politics from a fairground in Milton Keynes, you know something's gone wrong. It is, at the best of times, a little distracting trying to follow an interview conducted in front of a candy floss stand. At the end of Turnbull's segment, he picked up some candy floss, and made a pun. I was so distracted throughout that whole time, I can't remember anything he said. I know nothing more about politics after that. I do now know that Milton Keynes has an indoor fair today.

Next up on the program, absolutely true, Sian Williams interviews Rory Bremner, discussing his impressions of this year's election politicians.

Thanks for reading, send suggestions to jazzphilosophybiscuits@gmail.com, and feel free to comment below.

~Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.~

Easter

Not really sure what to write here, Easter's pretty self explanatory. Jesus died on Friday, resurrected on Sunday, yay. In short, looking forward to chocolate.

Also, saw Goodfellas yesterday morning. It was very good, reminiscent of The Godfather series and, to a lesser extent, Scarface (but that was terrible). If you've seen The Departed (another good film), liked it, and also liked The Godfather, it's a safe bet that you'll like Goodfellas. It's got all the old-style charm of the gangsters, Godfather, mixed with new music, Departed. On top of that, with Robert De Niro and Ray Liotta in it, it's bound to be good. It's one of those one's where you hear the protagonist's commentary throughout, which, surprisingly, doesn't get annoying. All in all, I recommend watching any of those films I mentioned (if you are old enough, of course), except Scarface. Because it's crap.

Thanks, have a good Easter. Comment and email please.

~Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.~

The Filmworks Challenge

Composer John Zorn has written over twenty albums of music entitled 'Filmworks', followed by a roman numeral denoting which album it is. They are, to say the least, not your average listening material. I in fact wrote a Haiku to illustrate his work:

Juxtaposition-

John Zorn's beautiful sectrets,

Forlorn of harmony.

Not much, as Haikus go, but it sums it up. Zorn uses dissonances and silence, as well as some conventional harmony to portray a different perspective. (Incidentally, the albums are not written for films, they're just called that. Don't know why)

As such, I have given myself this challenge: to listen to every Filmworks album, in order, on Spotify during the Summer holidays. There are two or three albums missing on Spotify, but I've still got a good 14.8 hours of listening time.

Thanks for reading, please comment below, and email me with suggestions for any future blogs.

~Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.~

The Santander Banking System

The only way I can really describe this is to do a big list, so here goes:

• I phone Santander to order a Visa Electron card.
• Get redirected.
• Get told I can order it over the phone.
• Get redirected.
• Get told I have to go into a branch to order it.
• I go into a branch and order it, told it will be seven working days.

[Three weeks later...]

• I phone up to see where the card is.
• Get redirected.
• Told it hasn't been ordered.
• Get redirected, to the branch where I 'supposedly' ordered the card from.
• Told, again, it hasn't been ordered
• Get redirected to somewhere where I can order it over the phone.
• Put on hold for four minutes.
• Heavily accented Scottish man tells me it hasn't been ordered.
• He then tells me he can order it.
• Put on hold for six minutes.
• Told by Scottish man he can't order it, I have to go into a branch.

How is anyone supposed to use this system effectively? Not looking forward to applying for mortgages and credit cards...

Thanks for reading, email me at jazzphilosophybiscuits@gmail.com with suggestions, and feel free to comment below.

~Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.~