TANGENTIAL MEDIA by Brion Shreffler

PHILADELPHIA AUTHOR AND NINJUTSU EXPERT SHEDS LIGHT ON CONTROVERSIAL FIGURE IN PAINSTAKENGLY RESEARCHED DEBUT

2009-04-14T13:48:00.001-07:00

With his book, Fuijita Seiko:The Last Koga Ninja, Phillip Hevener, a local ninjutsu instructor, illuminates the life of the one the most enigmatic martial arts figures of the 20^th century who was the inheritor and final holder of the legacy that was Koga Ryu Ninjutsu. With a wealth of primary and secondary sources, Mr. Hevener verifies that Koga Ryu Ninjutsu did indeed pass into history, much to the chagrin of those who have unscrupulously used Fujita’s legacy for their own gain. Here he speaks on Fujita and his amazing life, his own research, the ensuing controversy, as well as one of the martial systems that Fujita did pass on, which he studied firsthand.

1. How/when did you first hear of Fujita Seiko?

Fujita’s name appeared on the scene in the West after the author, Andrew Adams, published a series of articles in Black Belt Magazine in 1966 and 1967. Adams’ articles were excerpts of his 1970 book, Ninja: The Invisible Assassins. In 1980, when Stephen K. Hayes brought what are now the Bujinkan Arts back from Japan, circa 1980, Fujita’s name suggested itself as an alternative source of Ninjutsu, and some Koga re-enactors started making their claims of connection to him.

“and at one point [he] discouraged a yaku-za challenger by slicing off, cooking, and eating a piece of his own thigh while at shabu-shabu.”

2. What was your motivation for writing on Fujita?

I’m astonished it hadn’t been done before. Here was a man who claimed to be the last ninja and during his lifetime was the most famous exponent of ninjutsu. From 1936, the time of his first major publication, Ninjutsu Hiroku (Ninjutsu In Depth), he was known as a serious martial arts scholar and researcher; another important text he authored was the Koga Ryu Ninja Ichidaiki (1968), which translates as a study or story of the last [final] generation of Koga ninjutsu. He participated with and studied a multitude of Japanese and Okinawan martial arts, including ninjutsu, jojutsu, judo, kendo, and karate.

3. What was your primary aim in elucidating his life?

The purpose was to convey the true facts of Fujita’s Koga Ninjutsu claims, and that of his life and career in the English language in a way that would be recognized by Fujita and his colleagues. I wanted to represent him as he conveyed himself in his own writings. Fujita was a colorful self-promoter who wrote of himself in a way akin to myth, which is especially pertinent since he was known for making extraordinary claims, many of which stretch credulity, though he was known for performing public feats that transcended known physical limits such as, bending his fingers back to touch his arm, sticking needles through the body, walking on the edge of a sword blade or across hot coals, beating himself with chains and metal bars, and all sorts of yogic indulgences. He undertook challenges in a way similar to Takamatsu Toshitsugu (33^rd Grandmaster of Togakure Ninjutsu) and at one point discouraged a yaku-za challenger by slicing off, cooking, and eating a piece of his own thigh while at shabu-shabu.

4. Could you describe the methodology behind your research?

I utilized Fujita’s own writing, the Bugei Ryuha Daijiten- the comprehensive compendium on all Japanese martial arts- and publications of the Nihon Kobudo Shinkokai, which is the preeminent organization for Japanese martial arts known as Koryu, which pertains to the traditional warrior arts. I had photographs made of various documents from the Fujita related collections in the Iga-Ueno museum; Japanese translators were engaged in this regard. I was able to visit his house and the temple where his funeral was held. Ninjutsu Hisho Ogiden no kan - ‘the secret essence of the ninja’- is one of the most important texts from the Fujita library or the Fujita Bunko. It may have been given to him by his grandfather, on his death bed on September 10^th 1910 and his very possession of this text speaks volumes. The museum visit was important since there are people in the West who falsely claim to have personal access to Fujita’s scrolls.

Other sources include Sam Moledzki, a high ranking practitioner of Shito-ryu Karate which gave him access to the archives of the Iwata family, who are inheritors of several of Fujita’s arts including Namban Satto-ryu Kempo, Shingetsu-ryu, Shurikenjutsu, and Daien-ryu Jojutsu. Many of the photos in the book come from that source, including the cover and the internal photos of Fujita, and from the Bansenshukai, a 17th century ninjutsu document, which, along with the aforementioned text, provides historical proof of the existence of the ninja.

Robert Gruzanski, son of the famous Charles Gruzanski, who was a well known practitioner of Koryu Bujutsu, provided a copy of a 1953 Japanese magazine called ‘Liberal,’ which contains an article by Fujita in which he says ninjutsu is still alive while delving into the art’s history.

5. How has news of your work- from the initial appearance of an online article on Fujita that included a prospectus for your book to your book’s publication- been received by those who have misused Fujita’s legacy?

I can’t mention names [here Mr. Hevener laughs and comments on the legality of the threats he has received] but in the early stages of my research I did get fairly strident reactions from a few neo-Koga ninjas. This ranged from people claiming things as simple as me being a mouthpiece for the Bujinkan to threats from various people to interesting reactions from individuals across the martial arts spectrum including Bujinkan members who thought my research would only aid the fakers/fabricators as well as others who thought I would stir up trouble with the neo-Koga people.

That being said, there were those who helped tremendously with their support such as Ed Martin (15^th Dan in the Bujinkan) who wrote the preface for my book.

6. What do you think of the concern then, that you could only be aiding the frauds out there by revealing a wealth of information on such an enigmatic figure?

I don’t think it holds substance since the heyday of fraudulent ninjutsu was at a time when information was sparse to say the least. It gave individuals the leeway to take what they saw in the Bujinkan and to weave a mosaic so as to prop up false claims in regard to lineage and inheritance, which is now harder for them to do with the release of my book and other publications; I also contributed to a section on Fujita Seiko within Wolfgang Ettig’s book, entitled, Takamatsu Toshitsugu: The Last Shinobi. As a general practice I feel that the more information that is available the easier it is establish lineages- i.e. the truth- and to reveal frauds.

7. So your book firmly establishes then that Koga Ryu Ninjutsu died with Fujita in 1966?

It emphatically does so as Fujita was the only person who was looked on as a legitimate claimant to the Koga lineage in the Bugei Ryuha Daijiten (1963). His claim was the only one. The Bugei Ryuha Daijiten combined with his obituary (The Last Ninja Disappers – Nikan Kano – Jan 14^th 1966), his autobiography (Doronron: Saigo No Ninja – 1958), and statements from other knowledgeable parties, firmly establishes this fact. And as for the Westerners who lay their claim, besides common sense, there’s Fujita’s own vehement wish, inspired by WWII nationalistic feelings, to keep his art out of Western hands, particularly those of the Americans.

“he was 'the mysterious man of the martial arts...' most especially opposed to having his art fall into Western hands.”

8. Explain how you became aware of Fujita’s one extent system, Nanban Satto-ryu-kempo?

I came into contact with it during the course of my research. While viewing http//:ShitoRyu.org, I saw that Sam Moledski had verifiable information that jelled with my research and that his source was Murayama Kunio who was uchi deshi (principal disciple) to Iwata Manzo who was Fujita’s uchi deshi. During the course of my research I had the opportunity to be Murayama sensei’s uke on at least 5 different occasions during Nanban Satto-ryu seminars conducted for the Shitokai branch of Shito-ryu Karate.

9. How would compare and contrast Nanban Satto-ryu Kempo with Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu?

There are numerous similarities: they both use joint locks, throws, striking, etc. In the modern parlance, both what the Bujinkan and Sato Ryu does falls under the umbrella of jujutsu.

The substantial difference is that Satto-ryu is much more linear in its approach- the methodology applies a linear retreat and attack, a much more confined use of angling rather than clearing the line of attack, methodology that is present in Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu. Additionally, the Bujinkan arts tend to be Sogo Bujutsu, comprehensive arts that include weapons techniques, where as Satto-ryu is mainly an unarmed art based upon the Torite (locking/grappling, pg 662 – Bugei Ryuha Daijiten) of Nobeoka-han, in Satsuma.

10. What in your opinion is Fujita’s martial arts legacy and why did he not want his Koga Ryu Ninjutsu to be passed on?

As concerns Fujita’s legacy, the cynical and skeptical version that developed after the Western Ninja boom, and the use of his name by fake koga ninja, is starkly at odds with his reputation as understood by his peers. In his day, Fujita was known as a prominent martial arts practitioner and scholar. He was a Trustee of the Nihon Kobudo Shinkokai, the preeminent authority on the art of ninjutsu, and a preserver and participant in many research groups that were interested in the martial arts of Japan and Okinawa.

The depth of his contribution can be seen by the more than half a dozen books he wrote about the Japanese martial arts, and the arts such as Shitokai Karate and Yuishinkai Karate-jutsu, which he influenced via his students Iwata Manzo and Inoue Motokatsu. In the end, Fujita is best remembered as described by his student, Iwata Manzo, who said, he was “the mysterious man of the martial arts;” for this we can point to a serious yet romanticized view of the martial arts, one which saw no need to pass on the tradition of Koga Ryu Ninjutsu when the world no longer needed it. As a fervent supporter of Japan's wartime efforts he was most especially opposed to having his art fall into Western hands.

Barca AHHH!!!!!!!!

2009-03-20T00:41:00.001-07:00

Photographed this bizarre piece of urban art in the square by the Olympic Village- close to Port Vell- in Barca in 2006. Have always wanted to alter one of the shots by evoking classic sci-fi. Late at night, unable to sleep, here's the glorious result. Enjoy.

Another Parade on Broad Street? How about 2? Philadelphia Optimism

2008-12-17T18:10:00.000-08:00

I'm sure by now anyone in Philadelphia who had one has thrown out their 'No World Series Ring, No Cup, No SuperBowl Title, etc." t-shirt or has at least relegated it to the car wash pile. But then again, I live here, so I know it's more likely to see black lines through the reference to all the years spent without capturing the World Series pennant.
Santa assures me of not just 1 more parade...

But shouldn't we be happy? Or at least content? Of course not. While any Phillies fan will be quick to remind you(or any Mets fan for that matter) that we're still 'World F#$%*&# Champions!' that doesn't mean we're quite satisfied. Look at Boston afterall. The Sox amazing run in '04 capped off a year that saw the Patriots win the 2nd of 3 Superbowls in 4 years( the third coming a year later, against the Eagles of course) , and then the Sox '07 Championship run was matched by a dominating performance by the Celtics to give Beantown yet another title in the spring of '08.

That's not to say we're jealous or we cannot appreciate the triumph of a World Series victory, it just means as a sports town as equally as ravenous as Boston(okay, we're hungrier, in fact wir haben baren hunger!!!*) and as such, we're always hoping for more.

Besides sheer want though, it seems two other parades are entirely probable. Before I incur the name of a certain cartoon patriarch, along with a slew of unkind adjectives, I'd like to point out my reasons behind backing both the Eagles and the Flyers for a laudatory trip down Broad St.

The Eagles, for any dream to come true, must make the playoffs first. Besides having to knock off two tough division opponents in the final weeks, they have to hope for either the Buccaneers or the Falcons to drop at least one of their remaining games. Their best hope in this last regard comes this Sunday as the 9-5 Vikings face the 9-5 Falcons, a match pitting the #3 rushing offense vs the league's #1 ground assault. If the Vikings have another steady performance at QB( a starter has yet to be named) than perhaps their #1 ranked rush defense will prove the difference, and combined with a big win over the always tough Redskins(yes, they've dropped key games of late but there's never an easy game in the NFC East) the Eagles game against the Cowboys on the final day of the season would be a monumental showdown with one of the two teams advancing to the playoffs.

And once in, why not back The Eagles to go all the way, just as the Giants did nearly a year ago. If the Eagles do take the wildcard, they will do so on better terms than the sputtering '07 Giants who looked anything but a contender when they entered at 10-6. While the Eagles can finish no better than 10-5-1, they will seem all the more solid since a a berth will mean 5 straight wins( 3 against opponents from the toughest division in football) for a team that seemed to struggle with its own failings rather than the opposition for most of the season(it's easy to imagine a 12-4 record had they ironed out these issues earlier with all the close losses they experienced). With the play calling tilted predominantly towards the run of late, Brian Westbrook has alleviated the pressure on McNabb thereby allowing him to effectively orchestrate the offense down the field; rather than suffering the lack of a #1 receiver, the increased use of the running game enables McNabb to flourish with the talent he has( last week's game against the Brown's saw a career effort form Jason Avant as he posted 5 receptions for 101 yards). The benching of McNabb earlier in the season has served as ample motivation for all and if Jackson, Avant, and Baskett, et al, continue to raise their game to match the elevated play of number 5 than the Eagles offense will be unstoppable. Let's just hope that we can see more production from the tight end position as L.J. Smith and Brad Celek were virtually invisible against the Browns( 3 passes total for a combined 22 yards).

Equally as important is the play of the defense which has been even more ferocious of late. Playoff beards, anyone? As though SS Brian Dawkins didn't do enough as a motivator, he's borrowed a tradition from the NHL as a way to state that the Eagles are in it for the long hall. And indeed #20 has been playing like a man possessed, silencing any who suspected he might be getting too old. With the 7th ranked defense in the league(274.4 yds/game) and the 2nd best allowance per play(4.5 yards; tied with Baltimore) the Eagles D, like the offense, is keyed by the notion that every single second on the field counts. Thank God then, that Andy Reid has finally decided to run the ball more, thereby eating up the clock while keeping the D fresh.

Speaking of playoff beards...

Given the play of the Flyers its very likely they'll look like lumberjacks come late spring. While it's early in the season, the Flyers are showing the attributes of a contender with balanced scoring- they are the only team in the league with six players in double digits- during a 17-4-3 run following a hesitant start out of the gate(0-6). Simon Gagne has rebounded from a series of concussions that restricted him to 25 games last season to lead the team in points and Jeff Carter has continued his ascent, as he is currently 2nd in the NHL with 22 goals. For a team that came up short in the Eastern Conference Finals last season, they look keen to push for greater things, and have improved their greatest liability from last season with the emergence of young mobile defender Luca Sbisa and the acquisition of fellow defenders Ossi Vaananen, Andrew Alberts, Matt Carle, and Steve Emminger to compliment the solid play of Kimmo Timonen and Braydon Coburn. Everything with the Flyers begins with how well they move the puck out of their zone and its reassuring that they now have a much more mobile and reliable backline. Add to this the greater emphasis on team defense- Simon Gagne and Mike Richards lead the way with an impressive +/- of + 20 and +16, respectively- and the improved play of goalie Martin Biron and backup Antero Niittymaki, then the Flyers seem set to only improve, especially since they've so far thrived on special teams play; while they've wowed with the ability to score off the penalty kill( a league leading 12 goals) and the power play( second only to Detroit) they will be onstoppable if they can improve their goal production on 5 on 5 play. The return of Daniel Briere in a few weeks(groin injury) will surely help to make an already potent offense explosive.

That extra edge that I see both the Flyers and the Eagles playing with reminds me of the steel the Phillies had in their eyes upon landing in the Division Series against the Brewers in October.
Perhaps both teams have borrowed some of the energy from that magical run and Philly sports fans are entitled to shed their inherent pessimism and dream big.

PERUVIAN LATIN POP STAR’S TRAJECTORY TO FAME CONTINUES THROUGH NORTHEAST PHILADELPHIA

2008-09-12T12:07:00.000-07:00

By Brion Shreffler

With a contribution by Charles Tribe

Photo by Charles Tribe

Somewhat reminiscent of a line from one of Radiohead’s more dour song’s, Periko tells of how he said he wanted his music played when he’s not around prior to leaving his native Peru. Having found considerable success in the pop duo, SONDO2, along with a top thirty finish in Latin American idol, the Lima born singer reached this goal with the release of his first single, the self-produced ,Dame el Calor, which quickly overtook the airwaves back home shortly after his arrival in Philadelphia in 2006.

Though the lyrics seem to present someone steeped in the misery of a revenant light cast by a past love- the second line states, “es tan dificil retroceder el tiempo”([it] is so difficult to turn back time), and the chorus begins, dame el Calor, dame la brisa, dame el aire que respiras”(give me the heat, give me the breeze, give me the air that you breathe)- you wouldn’t deduce that by the ebullient joy that springs from Periko’s guitar and a voice embodying a forceful river, while it calmly trills away. The bonus track, Cuentame, bears a similar sentiment. Though pensive, his voice gently parries an accompanying guitar riff, which opens the song and reoccurs ¾ of the way through, evocative of all the pain he is moving past with his music; though he says, “cuentame como estan las olas del mar,”(tell me how are the waves) despairingly to his former love by the sea, he is able to declare, “porque jamás olvidaré, ese tiempo en que me enseñaste amar”( because I never forget that time that taught me to love), while concluding “no tuve la fuerza que esperabas, porque no estoy preparado para el amor. Y el que perdio fui yo”(I did not force you as expected, because I’m not ready for love…and I was lost), the energy imbued in the melody bespeaking his redoubled spirits. He’s capable of this introspection while dealing with such a topic because, just as in conversation, Periko exudes the greatest optimism in his music, his songs hopeful musings on all aspects of life.

This outlook is reflective of his strident efforts towards popularity stateside. Having come here to record an album- “there are no major record labels in Peru like there are here,” he says, indicating his dream of signing a deal to a major label after finishing his album- he spent nearly a year focused solely on working in order to build his savings. Now, he splits his time between his day-job in construction and working on his music. “It’s not easy,” he concedes, recalling his first show in Philly in October 2007, which was accompanied by one-off stops in California and New Jersey. For a couple hours, he says, all the eyes were on him: people were enjoying his music, and were lining up for his autograph. Despite the heavy distinction before him upon waking for work at 6am the next day, he quickly pointed out how the power of the experience filtered through and continues to do so, “the people loving the music he so loves” inspiring him in the same manner as the “magic moments” from which his music springs. His mind always turned to music, his spirits are raised by it even when away from his guitar (the melody and lyrics for Dame el Calor came to him whileplaying the soccer video game, Winning Eleven with a friend. He lost the game). While he proudly speaks of how hard he works at his demanding construction job, he quickly points out that it this confluence of music that always keeps him brimming with positive energy. It is his yearning to share not only his music, but also something of himself with others that invigorates him; “I meet someone and I tell them my history…my stories in 3 minutes with a song rather than telling them something for a few hours. They understand me the same way.”

5/31/08 show at Bella Noche Photo by Charles Tribe

On crossing the Boulevard on the way to the venue at St. Vincent and Bustleton Ave I notice a slight change that’s more of a continuance of a trend than anything dramatic: more shops and restaurants have sprung up to add to the cultural diversity along Bustleton avenue west of the Boulevard since the last time I visited. The diverse array of businesses here reflect the various communities that are taking root in this formerly uniform section of the Northeast; the strip boasts a Brazilian Market, a Mexican restaurant and bodega, Chinese restaurants, and a KC Pastries, which can also be found in Chinatown.

Back in 1998 during the World Cup, the excitement keyed up inside us watching the games would lead to hours spent on the pitch where we tried to burn off some of that mad energy. There at the field at Solis Cohen playground- across from the venue which, for years was an Italian restaurant named Vincent’s- we played the world’s game with players representing Brazil, Nigeria, Mexico, Costa Rica, Angola, and Guatemala to name a few, making friends with people we were shocked to find only lived a few blocks away from our local hub, a near frat-house occupied by three of my friends. We were shocked since at that time, you just didn’t notice that such a community existed right around the corner, despite the burgeoning diversity along Bustleton Ave.

Indeed, when Periko told me he was living in my native Northeast Philadelphia, I thought with certainty this was the neighborhood he called home. In actuality, he’s living further into the Northeast, pretty much where I grew up, much closer to the local Russian community than any Latino transplants.

The venue, Bella Noche, is a bit of a rarity in an area generally known for cheesy cover bands. Besides the cache of putting on live original music, there’s also the fact that they’re dedicated to their roots- Latino music. The owners- 2 women from Columbia and 1 from Peru- have been serving South American Cuisine for nearly a year (they celebrated their first anniversary in August) and have been putting on shows around the bar in their main dining room for the last four months, including monthly Colombian parties, and the recently added, Rock en Espanol. Andres Reyes, who helps manage the entertainment, stated their goal rather simply; “we wish to create an atmosphere where everyone can come and enjoy the music. A great time with great music- that’s all we want.” Having consulted club managers in the city, he’s eager for Bella Noche’s after hours appeal to continue to take off.

6/28/08 show at Bella Noche Photo by Brion Shreffler

At 10:35 a sizeable crowd waits around the bar and the adjacent tables. It’s a warm Saturday night at the end of June. Owing to the late start at his previous show at Bella Noche, most people come late, with the crowd swelling a few songs in. With time to kill, I sip a Mojito- one of the smoothest I’ve ever had- and eye the crowd. The people at the bar sip colorful cocktails between sampling a variety of dishes: fried plantains, empanadas, camarones alla plancha…I begin to rethink my heat inspired reluctance to eat. Casually, I note I’m the only one in the venue with limited skills de Espanol; I soon lose this status.

6/28/08 show at Bella Noche Photo by Brion Shreffler

The set starts well past 11 with Dame el Calor and Cuentame. More than half the crowd sings along. The tempo picks up with some of his newer songs and before long the dance floor is full, set to stay that way most of the night, the participants raucously dancing Merengue and Salsa to the music. He rounded out the evening by covering Carlos Vives a few times- I only knew this thanks to my Colombian friend- as well as doing a rendition of La Bamba that transitioned into Twist and Shot, his lone English offering of the night.

At the show here on May 31^st, there were more English only speakers drawn by word of mouth support emanating from new friends and co-workers from the Northeast curious to find out about Periko. While he hopes to continue to build towards a large Latin fan-base, cross-over fame is one of the main reasons why he came to the U.S. in the first place. Indeed, it is bringing his music to all people that he has in mind the most for these two shows; “I want to establish a history in Philadelphia. I don’t want to be somewhere else and have them say, ‘that guy from Peru.’ No, I want them to say Philadelphia when they mention me here. This is where I want to do something big for the first time, to have exposure in America,” he says, fervency in his eyes. And while he’s aware of the current limits of his audience, he hope’s to build momentum that will quickly expand his fan base. After the first show, a pair of German tourists, drawn by to the venue out of an appreciation for Latin music, enthusiastically thanked him for his performance. Amidst the show of hands given in response to the question of audience composition- Argentina? Peruano! Mexicano!- a couple hands went up when up for Estados Unitos/ U.S.A, one of those belonging of course to his girlfriend from Delaware county, whom he met in Manayunk, and who he graciously says has helped him with his English, though he hardly seems to be at a loss for words. When he speaks of any misunderstandings they have it’s hard not to conflate that to his earnest efforts of transcending cultural barriers.

Since the June 28^th show at Bella Noche, construction began that will expand Solis Cohen Elementary and effectively eliminate the soccer field that has stood for years. Perhaps Periko’s music will bring people together in the Northeast in the same manner of the beautiful game. The local Latino community could have no better ambassador.

Pedro Almeida gave a performance at the Fiestas Patrias Peru on July 26^th; hosted by the Philadelphia Peruvian community- while the 2000 census lists a number of 471, Periko says the current number is around 1,000- in celebration of their independence. It was a proud moment in which he was able to celebrate his home country in the city where he wishes to write a new chapter in his life.

In the final days of July he went to Miami for ten days of recording time. He recorded the first three songs for his debut album. His goal is to record three tracks at a time until finished. He’s looking to add some of the Miami sound to the project, while taking his time to get it right; asking if there’s not the temptation, given the expense, to quickly record the whole thing at once, he says, “I’d rather do it right, make sure it’s perfect…if it takes a year I’m happy with that.”

Hopefully, in the meantime Philadelphia will embrace him, because regardless of one’s bilingual abilities, one can’t help but be affected by the stories Periko tells.

www.myspace.com/perikolatin

UEFA EURO 2008 Kickoff! For one month the world orbits Europe.

2008-06-05T12:27:00.000-07:00

In giving my prediction for the UEFA European Championship I have to say Deutschland Deutschland Uber Alles (it's an old song that existed long before the 3rd Reich, the "uber alles" referring to German unity at a time when such a thing hardly existed, but yes, the early verses are left out now for good reason). The tourney kicks off Sat with the 2nd match being an early highlight as well as a possible early upset as Turkey faces Portugal. Of course, there's no better match in the first round then Italy v France(with the Netherlands vs Italy running a close 2nd) on Tuesday the 17th at 2:45 ET. Les Bleus and the Portugeezers are the other favorites with the Azurri coming into the tournament a bit off from their World Cup winning form. I don't see a darkhorse taking this one. I'm thinking Germany v Portugal or Germany v France in the final with Podolski, Klose, Ballack,Carvalho, Ronaldo, Nani, Henry, Ribery all shining for their respective squads. I'm inclined to pick Klose, Ribery, or Ronaldo as a clear standout but this could be Podalski's tournament should the Germans go deep. Of course, the Azurri could regain form, and there's no discounting the Oranje, especially if Robin Van Persie can get back to fitness. I'd like to think the Spaniards will finally live up to their potential with a stacked squad that includes the likes of Xavi, Fabregas, Xabi Alonso, and the deadly Fernando Torres, but their weak showing in their lead up friendly against the US- admittedly though, team USA is quite adept at playing strong 1st halves against superior oppositions of late before dropping intensity in the 2nd- seems to indicate that we may keep wondering when they're going to grab major tournament glory. Getting back to the opening reference, I think the "1000 years of rivalry settled in 90 minutes" pitch for the Euro championship has never become tired(think of all the wars and continued tension in Europe since the song's inception in 1841). I look forward to missing a lot of work. Game on!

Injuries in the NHL- being there for the team and comfort in numbers during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

2008-05-16T09:07:00.000-07:00

Brandon Coburn during the moring skate prior to Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Flyers and Penguins. He did not play that night (3-2 Flyers win) or in the final game Sunday(6-0) as the Penguins wrapped up the series 4-1.

The Stanley Cup playoffs brings with it an exponential increase in the level of intensity and determination. The high fervor and battle-like mentality yeilds a high number of injuries as players are aware that each shift can determine whether they carry on or see the end of their playoff lives. In that vein, the hitting becomes much more acrimonious, shots are unflinchingly blocked(the Flyer's Patrick Thoresen nearly lost a testicle doing so in in the Game 1, Round 1, 5-4 loss to Washington, and defender Kimmo Timonen was sidelineded for all but Game 5 of the Pittsburgh series due to a blood clot from a shot blocked in Game 4 of the series against Montreal), the pace relentless as the game, especially in the playoffs, firmly subtantiates the equation, f=ma.

With the Flyers on the edge of elimination a few days ago some wondered why Coburn, overcoming a concussion from a shot to the head that left his eye nearly shut, or Timonen would risk further injury especially with their team at a seemingly insurmountable disadvantage. As is the case with many such injuries in the NHL, many also wondered why further preventative measures aren't in place.

Of course, any ground for caution only bears weight for Coburn's injury, which was caused by a deflected puck striking him in the face. The half visors have been continuously touted to prevent eye and facial injuries. They would definitely help to some degree but given the angle and the speed the puck travels, you'd still have some horrific eye injuires, since, as with Coburn's case, deflections would still cause a problem, as you can have pucks hop from the ice at high velocity-let alone off someone's stick- to shoot upwards at a sharp angle. There's also the danger of being slashed in the face not to mention a plethora of additional scenarios: pucks to the throat (the Flyers Chris Therien ended a Habs defender's career a few seasons ago with a slapshot that said defender blocked with his windpipe), the [ouch] testicles, the feet (blood clots are serious business), and the knees, not to mention anywhere else, as well as the danger posed by skate blades(within a few days of each other in early February, Steve Downie's skate cut linesman Pat Dapuzzo, followed by the scare given Richard Zednik that was a macbre reminder of when Blues goalie, Clint Malarchuk, had his jugular severed on the ice and managed to survive). You can take reasonable measures, but too much is going to result in limited mobility and/or diminished vision when you're talking about more cumbersome cages or throat guards. Visors are a good way to go as they certainly don't restrict vision. Anything that gets in the way though is viewed with a disdain akin to the samurai, who kept their armor paired down to ensure complete freedom of movement.

For the most part, however, hockey players operate with a steely indifference, as the frequency of devastating injuries remain extremely low; they think probability, not possibility. It's certainly unfortunate to see someone take a stick blade to the eye and end up with diminished sight- as was the case with Bryan Berard in the '99-00 season- but such stick injuries are extremely rare, with eye injuries by puck being more likely, and even these are highly infrequent, with the force of impact in these occurances being diminished by the rounded edge of the puck striking the orbital bones around the eye.

As for Coburn's attempt at getting back on the ice, there's no sicker feeling than being unable to help your teammates. Down 0-3 or up 3-0 in a series makes no difference whatsoever for a hockey player. This notion is all the more pressing when facing elimination, as live or die, you want to be in the battle to the end with your teammates. In all of sport, but especially within the confines of hockey and soccer wherein the components merge into one cohesive unit, selfless players possess this tacit understanding, with their dedication unwavering even amidst the most dire of times. Their resolve is akin to that of Shichirōji of Seven Samurai, who simply smiles when told by Kambei, his former superior, that their next mission "may be the one that kills us." Of course, before returning in Game 5, Kimmo Timonen waited for the doctor's assurance that there was no danger of the blood clot in his foot becoming dislodged or exacerbated to the extent that his toes would lose their vascular flow and would have to be amputated. He merely had to deal with a mixture of excruciating pain and numbness with each stride, while Coburn was unable to return to action as the vision in his left eye did not suffiently improve. It's a hardly a moot point to say that either player was better off sitting out the end of a series turned hopeless for the Flyers. For Coburn, there is little comfort in knowing that he did everything he could to try and get back in the lineup, for even Timonen, of limited capacity in Game 5, surely regrets fate keeping him from being 100%. Both players resiliency and determinantion is reflective of the classic lines of regret that mark the end of The Wild Bunch, wherein, Deke Thornton(Robert Ryan), the bounty hunter leader, says with deep chagrin,"I should have been there, I should have been there," while viewing the bodies of his former comrades after slowly coming into empathy for them over the course of the movie, and prior to shooting the posse amidst his horrific self-loathing.

NHL vs NBA?! Do hockey fans care about ratings?

2008-05-15T08:31:00.000-07:00

VS

NBA?! For a hockey fan it doesn't exist, while their counterparts see the NHL as some weird sport given us by Elven Lords(Canadians) as a generous sign of friendship(we did invade once). Granted there's certainly fans who appreciate both sports, but for the most part you're on one side of the fence or the other, either watching the NBA on primetime or settling for the obscurity of the Vs channel and the few games that NBC chooses to pick up( always the 'if necessary' games). But as for NBA fans who, like fervent supporters of the other "top three" sports, choose to discredit the NHL by speaking of ratings, I don't think there's any sense of "competition" since hockey fans could care less about ratings or market shares. Some of the most passionate fans in all of sports, they love the game for its skill, intensity, emotion, speed, and near seamless action. One of the more astute rule changes in recent NHL history was to put the puck back into play as quickly as possible after any stoppages as well as altering the rules so as to encourage the goalies to keep the puck in play as much as possible. Basketball, and especially baseball, has too many stoppages in comparison. Hockey, like soccer, is a game that harshly punishes simple mistakes while demanding much of one's effort and courage in order to create something beautiful, the desired goal that, in basketball, is diminished by the back and forth, back and forth, back and forth scoring. What percentage of baskets has the same crowd effect as a hockey goal? Do NBA fans have short attention spans(ADD)? Granted, its nice to see a team create turnovers and fight back from a 17 point deficit, but mostly the high scoring seems like incessant Pavlonian wish fulfillement for the viewer. I can appreciate the finer points of the NBA-especially when San Antonio is playing- but can't watch it consistently. To each their own.

Flyers Rolling With Steel Born From a Dismal '06-'07

2008-05-09T07:55:00.000-07:00

With the same core of players from last season putting them in the conference finals the Philadelphia Flyers obviously weren't as bad as last year's record (dead last with a franchise worst 22 wins and 56 points) indicates. Several times they seemed set to dig themselves out of the hole, winning in spurts, such as a Western swing that saw them come back from blowing a 3-0 lead to beat L.A. 4-3 in overtime in an exciting game,followed by a 5-1 drubbing of record setting and eventual Cup winners, Anaheim. They finished fairly well on that roadtrip and had numerous other such stints, each instance offset by injury which made it all the more difficult to shake off the duldrums of a horrible '06-'07. The fans knew the team was better then its record and with a long history of contiguous playoff appearances, along with owner Ed Snyder being just as livid as the rest of us (the GM and coach were shown the door early on) we had no reason to become disinterested or dispondent,especially with some of our best players (Simon Gagne[IR], R. J. Umberger, Mike Knuble and the newly arrived Scotty Upshall) putting up points well into April when every game, since January it seemed, had become meaningless. This tireless work ethic amdist injuires and all else going wrong was certainly in some way aided by the unwavering support of the Flyers fanbase, which in turn cheered all the louder. As responding to adversity is the true distinction of character, the Flyers clearly laid the groundwork for their current run in the depths of failure.

Sometimes I comment

2008-04-10T09:46:00.000-07:00

And of course, when you're stuck with Mickey Mouse (M-I-C-K-E-Y, M-O-U-S-E) it's best to have fun especially when you come across responses that are- initially, at least in this case - overally PC and reactionary. Bad enough I have to look at this screen all day...

This photo was taken from Asianlife.com, who obtained it from the Xanga of Korean-American director Mike Kang. While the author proceeds with a PC take relating to his disgust as an Asian person, he does admit in the end that he may have taken it too seriously. Here's my take which I left in the comment section (it's helpful to read the original posting first) :

Apr 10, 2008 12:38pm - Brion J. Shreffler Maybe Mike has some angst about Asian girls dating white guys(paranoid white guy). Maybe Mike is playing to Asian stereotypes(parnoid Asian guy). Maybe the two males represent a dichotomy, the Asian male dealing with the appeal of intrusive western influences while he struggles to maintain a sense of identity(history, culture), unable to move beyond Hegelian precepts(intellectual guy).

Or maybe, it's just funny. Who leaves all their weapons on display, let alone by the passageway?One's katana, as a living embodiment of one's soul, is not supposed to be removed from the saya for anything but the kill. Anything less would show a lack a purpose and would reflect poorly upon a retainer. All small blades are to be sheathed or hidden. Shuriken are to be kept in a pouch attached to one's obi, or better yet, behind a cool, unassuming belt buckle. Look at this guy(ex or current husband or boyfriend or all purpose assassin) on his way in, with his predatorial eyes, terminator gait, hachimaki, and near trench coat- he means business. Do you really want to make it easier for him?! Of course, the white guy could be shinobi, a stealth assassin whom no one sneaks up on. Patiently the young master awaits, having heard the creaking of specially altered floorboards out in the hallway, though his highly attuned senses were already keen to this malicious presence. Rising to suprise the intruder at the last moment, he steps inside to avoid a downward sword strike, simultaneously softly planting the stem of his glass into the attacker's carotid artery, thereby resolving the connundrum, 'Why is this Ruby Port so bloody light?'

HR 676- Proposed Universal Health Care Bill

2007-11-28T04:28:00.002-08:00

Getting my hair cut recently I chipped in a few dollars to a fund for someone recently paralyzed. Some guy, a father of three, in the Hatboro area flipped off his bike and crushed several vertebrate in his neck. His insurance will either offer full or zero coverage for all subsequent treatment and the plethora of miscellaneous expenses that he will incur beyond medication needs. Given that he's not rich(with the astronomical cost of health care anyone in this situation would have to have tens of millions set aside to be considered 'rich' ) the expenses are exacerbating an already tragic event.

Unfortunately, we see this all too often. Communities are constantly "pulling together" to offer monetary support for those treated so harshly by the HMOs, such as in the case of 14 year old Brad Bamka of Bucks County. Money was raised after his insurance company said it would not cover ambulance trips back to the hospital for necessary continued care.
This can happen to anyone with insurance, no matter what type of insurance you have or how long you have been paying into your plan. Worse yet is the situation for the millions of Americans(such as myself) who do not have have insurance. The insurance companies exist to make money and nothing else. If you become sick you're a liability that they will do their best to rid themselves of.

What can we do:

We can support HR 676, a bill being proposed before congress that would provide universal health care for EVERYONE free of charge. Rather than the focus being on profits, as is the case with the current system, the system would be designed solely for the people. As citizens we have several options. We can write our state reps in congress as well as our senators, while raising awareness with everyone we know and love, since anyone we know could be adversely affected by the cruel and inhuman health care system that we now have. As citizens, we can make this one of the chief issues of the presidential campaign.

Remember we can always feel safe laughing or shrugging off someone else's complaints or protests until we are affected by the same things.But with this, we're all affected.

Points of ref:
general info:
"Single Payer and HR676-Debunking the Myths"

Find out if your local state rep and state senators support HR 676 as well as how to contact them

Rambo and Cupid Conflated

2007-02-14T11:51:00.000-08:00

Aw, Cupid does wield rocket tipped arrows doesn't he? Flying high above, or perhaps hiding in a wall of mud, he strikes when you least expect it. Love is everlasting. It gives you the ability to take on whole battalions in jungle thickets, earnest to get back to the lovely Vietnamese girl you met shortly after a near perilous parachute drop into the dense night. Love can fade away or burn, leaving you distraught and confounded. Not wanting to face it, and having your heavy air of brooding misunderstood, you run off into the Washington
wilderness, hoping for some peace in the wiles of Hope, WA, attempting a return, a Wordsworthian escape to your embowered past. National Guardsman trying to bring you back to concrete reality dealt with harshly via assorted booby traps learned back in THE SUCK. Who are they to tell you? You know well yourself. Damn Troutman and his
attempts at "helping you out", trying to aid you in getting over the past. "NOTHING IS OVER.!NOTHING!!", your soul screams every waking second of the day, always thinking of her, bathed perpetually in that revenant light. Holed up in Afghanistan, literally down in a hole, Troutman's logic finally wins you over and you emerge from your stupor
and spring out to take on a Soviet platoon- tanks, infantry and several Mi24 Hind helicopters- armed only with a shotgun and a grenade launcher equipped M-16, and of course your own personal Confucius firing away by your side. Who can wait for the 4th chapter?!

OR….

I could tell you about the small Serbian town of Zitiste, which has
decided to erect a Rocky statue in order to not only uplift the
spirits of a people beset by numerous floods and landslides, but also
to raise their profile(I've sent an email proposing that they
officially become our sister city-a proposal is needed in City Hall-
but apparently they have already contacted someone in Philly). I could
equate love and the hardships of a relationship or the loss of one to
floods and landslides and then point you towards Rocky for
inspiration, hoping that in the end that IF I CAN CHANGE, AND YOU CAN
CHANGE, THEN EVERYBODY CAN CHANGE and we can all let go of any
misgivings about things past or simply widen our perspective to better
whatever relationship we are currently in.

But floods and landslides would be a bit dramatic. Probably better to
let go of your emotions at times. Empty your mind. Proceed from zero.
Let go of your ego. Case in point: the night this picture was taken
someone tried to mug me on one of the side streets of Barcelona's
Gothic Quarter. Besides not wanting to ruin our vacation of over a
month ago, I didn't want to expose my girlfriend to any possible
danger. Here's how it happened. Some sense of joviality was given
before some pathetic attempt at tripping me. His hand removed from my
pocket, I shook the hell out of the 18 or 19 year old, really wanting
to hurt him. Angry as I was, I roared at his quickly approaching
friend and was ready to attack him too. A calm voice in my head
quieted all this. Pushing the would-be pickpocket away, I simply
walked away with Grace, greater clarity reached in the moment.

Cheers

* Movie references in order: Rambo II,I,III and of course, Rocky IV
** The photo was taken on a street in Barcelona next to IguaPop gallery, which was displaying the collaborative paintings of
Stanley Donwood(aka Dan Rickwood) and Thom Yorke which later inspired many Radiohead album covers.

Wing Bowl Interpreted

2007-02-01T08:41:00.000-08:00

Preview Piece :

So there's an event coming up on Friday of epic proportions. One in which giant Buddha-bellied fat men display their god-like prowess FUCK
THAT, THEY ARE GODS before an adoring public. Attending in an endless stream are their concubines, scantily clad voluptuous females who have forsworn themselves to these deities. Don't even try to dissuade them, for besides drawing omnipotent wrath upon yourself, you'd be wasting your time. Mothers from all across the land raise their daughters with
one intention, hopeful that one day their daughters can count
themselves amongst the attendants of the bulbous ones, and hence bring
infinite blessings upon their household and lineage for generations to
come. If you are so inclined, you may fare better with those rejected
by the all powerful lords, who descend from the heavens to momentarily
suffer our presence. BUT BE QUICK, for these lasses will be bent on
suicide post-haste. If you can keep them from sharp objects for a
while you may just be able to convince them to live out a life of
shame.

For the rest of us we can only hope for a brief encounter. The sick
and the elderly, and babies alike are anointed by sausage fingers
dripping of orange/red ambrosia. Unprepared attendees have wiped this
manna from their foreheads or cheeks to sample it only to have their
mind sharply separated from their corporeal frame. Waking upon the
ground disheveled and confused, they come to learn the audacity of
their mistake, for it is only the deeply yearning bodhisattvas that
can hope to attain the enlightened status of these gods. Only they can
benefit, if fortune provides them with a bowl of some of their
leftover manna. But this is never easy, for the trip down from the
heavens makes the all-powerful beings hungry beyond all imagining.
WATCH OUT! They have been known to eat careless mortals who venture
too close and become hypnotized by the glowing aura around them, as
well as the undulation of sea waves of skin powered by barely
discernable piston-like jaws. Most likely, only bones and that
pervasive sauce- sauce of pungent odor and neon glow- will be all
that's left. But whether drinking of it or snorting it, it will have
an effect 100 times greater then that of the most powerful yopo. Be
ready to swim through a putrid permeating sea of all you've ever done
to regret. At the very least you could wake upon the floor choking on
your own vomit, but you could also unravel into a state of permanent
insanity having come so close to a vision of perfection only to see it
slip away.

Vomiting. That is always the highlight of the most blessed occasion
that is WingBowl. For that is how the gods add to their retinue of
concubines. Covered in sacred grissom, each chosen female loses
herself to the ecstasy of the moment, and if still conscious of her
previous life, takes one last look upon her parents before leaving for
the celestial palace.

Or rather than some Banquet of the Chestnuts type vomiting display(I'm
not explaining that one), perhaps it would be better off if WingBowl
ended in a way similar to that 'Lardass' story in the movie, Stand By
Me. The 'Wingettes' and assorted strippers, and wannabe wingettes
could be kept in close proximity while the contestants gorge
themselves, and upon the first wave of eruptuous contestant vomiting,
their beaming smiles become baleful as their faces, billowed by bile,
let forth a tirade to sail through the air. Besmirched competitors,
vomit forth anew, causing a raucous procession, a domino effect of
inspired upchucking all throughout the Wachovia Center, made all the
better by my imaging of the event, in which all spectators gorge
themselves as well, screaming EAT!EAT!EAT!, the Bacchanalian chant
voiced through a mouthful of chicken, their faces stained a radiant
red perhaps the same color as the blood of alien species hidden in the
jungles of Madagascar or the tepuis of Venezuela.

But all this talk of fat bastards overlooks the most unlikely
competitor, and the one I'll be rooting for (somewhere from the back
of my subconscious), Sonya "Black Widow" Thomas.

At 105lbs she looks
more likely to be eaten by one of her competitors than to actually win
the competition. But, like Nibbler from Futurama, she is capable of devouring everything in sight.
IFOCE (International Federation of Competitive
Eating) 2003 Rookie of the Year, she's looking to get some revenge
against reigning WingBowl champion Joey Chestnut who beat her in a
recent waffle eating competition. Thomas did not participate in last
year's Wingbowl, which was dubbed a "virgin" competition, as all
previous competitors were barred from competing, including Bill 'El
Wingador' Simmons, who beat Thomas in 2005 after placing as 2nd runner
up in 2004 to her then record breaking intake of 167 wings(Joey
Chestnut broke that record last year by eating 172 wings in 30
minutes). As former Champ 'El Wingador' has retired, host WIP has once
again changed the format of the competition in the hopes of increasing
the entertainment value (though it consistently sells out) as well as
producing another local champ. This years' contest, dubbed as
"Philadelphia Agains The World", will see five competitive eaters from
the IFOCE competing against 20 local contestants, who made it through
a grueling qualification process, which included eating "stunts"
dreamed up by 610-WIP. It's doubtful that any of these mere mortals
will step up to the likes of Thomas or Chestnut, who both have their
stomachs set on dethroning competitive eating's' king, Takeru "The
Tsunami" Kobayashi, in the upcoming Nathan's Famous hotdog eating
competition(a wing competition is apparantly beneath the reigning king
of competitive eating). I mean, how can you fuck with a girl who once
ate 8.1 lbs of vienna sausage in 10 minutes or a guy who ate 5.5 lbs
of pork in a 12 minute span. Thomas, for instance, eats only one meal
a day while training. Like a python she gorges herself in one sitting,
devouring several lbs of fast food in a couple of hours.

Go to bed early Thursday night, as Wingbowl festivities start bright
and early Friday morning, with the parking lot opening at 4am(PREGAME
IT!), doors opening at 5am, the action starting at 6am, and all the
days' events sadly coming to a close at 9am with the announcement of a
new champion! One only wonders how all those lovely strippers will
make it through the day after surely being taxed from the previous
night's work. I know I won't be in work – I'll probably be out the
next few days with the concussion I'm about to sustain from slamming
my head into the table, trying to rid myself of all this useless
fucking information.

WINGBOWL 15 Feb. 2,2007
Philadelphia Against the World
Live Coverage Provided by 610-WIP
6am
Wachovia Center

Photo Credits:
1st photo by Flickr user Operators are standing by
2nd photo by Flickr user Floundies
3rd photo from Wikipedia
4th photo from Wikipedia