Day: July 14, 2007

Posted in Around Town, Cool Stuff

Obon Festival

Posted on by Kelly Russell

An item for the Community Bulletin Board a la Jill:

The Pasadena Buddhist Church is close to my house, close enough that I can smell the teriyaki chicken on the bbq right now.

This weekend is the Obon Festival.

Saturday – July 14
5:30 – 6:30 pm Judo Demonstration
7:00 Bon Odori (dancing!) led by Julie Toyama and Sandy Watson.
7:45 Kishin Daiko Performance

Sunday, July 15
4:45 – 5:45 Tea Ceremony in the Tea House
5:45 – 6:15 Naginata Demonstration
6:15 – 6:45 Kendo Demonstration
7:00 Bon Odori led by Julie Toyama and Sandy Watson.
7:45 Matsuri Taiko performance

Pasadena Buddhist Church, 1993 Glen Ave., Pasadena, CA.

Posted in Cool Stuff

Unintended Consequences

Posted on by Kelly Russell

1. Have you seen SiCKO yet? Frankly, it makes you want to move to another country. Well, that’s what it did for me, and for Rhea, and for Andrea who owns this salon.

Part way through the film, I was all set on Canada, and then Michael Moore goes to France. Liberté, égalité, fraternité. The people are happy and the doctors make house calls.

Frankly, I’d take just about any country where, should I ever (God forbid) have a major medical problem, I wouldn’t end up with a bust-the-bank bill.

2. I have another unintended consequence courtesy of Al Gore’s Live Earth concert. Did you watch any of it? I didn’t like the coverage on NBC (celebrities spewing earth-saving tips? Feh.). But the 7 hours of CNBC coverage was pretty good. While I didn’t learn anything new, I did recommit to my canvas shopping bag.

But did Al mean for me to become a consumer? Of music, I mean? I was surprised to find that I liked a lot of stuff I didn’t think I’d like. I like Linkin Park? Jeez! Who knew? Toni Collette has a band? Her voice is awesome. I like Razorlight?!?!?!

You can watch the concerts here. Great accompaniment for housework. Don’t miss Lenny Kravitz in Brazil.