!~Happy Holidays~!

(in Chinese: 聖誕節和新年快樂)

Dear Friends and Family,




I've finally arrived to Manchester, New Hampshire after 5 months of traveling from Taidong, Taiwan to New England. Thankfully there are no signs of Global Warming here in New Hampshire (NH). It's freezing cold and it has been snowing every few days. My snow shoveling muscles are growing larger by the day! I've taken to the cold better than I had hoped through proper execution of "clothes layering". Most days I wear 5 layers of shirts and sweaters, and 3 pairs of long-johns and pants. When I throw my jacket, hat, and gloves on... I'm ready to take on a blizzard! Last night, I shoveled a fresh 12 inches of snow from my door out to the street and around my auntie's car. It only took me 2 hours of shoveling non-stop at full-speed to clear the way!













Update: Since writing the above paragraph, we've had a two more snow storms and now there is 2 - 3 feet of snow everywhere I look! Up to 6 foot snow banks along the roads that I must sometimes climb over when I walk down to the supermarket or walmart (just a five minute walk away). YES, I miss the tropics and wake up most days wondering what the heck I'm doing here... Oh, yeah... being a good son, helping my dad (or my "Pop" as they say in New England), and spending some great time with family!

From Taiwan to California (the 1st leg of a 9,000 mile Journey) :
July was full of sitting meditation. Yvonne and I attended a 10-day Vipassana Course. We both enjoyed it immensely and reaped great benefits. The course is offered freely around the world and I highly recommend it! We enjoyed it so much, we went to the next course and served as volunteer workers and gained much from that as well.



I then went on to Taipei for a weekend of drumming with one of the world’s greatest drummers, Mamady Keita. I have 12 of his CD’s and have been a fan for years. It was most excellent to join his course and drum with him for a weekend. On the last day I asked him about the spiritual aspect of the drum path and he shared great insight with us about how to use the djembe drum to affect positivity in the world.








I then served as a judge for the following Taiwan African Drumming Competition and had a wonderful weekend with Mountain (A Hui) and Robecca, and David and Lilian at their mountain home outside Taipei. There, we played some fascinating instruments from David’s travels through Burkina Fasso, Africa, drank Taiwan tea, ate tropical fruits and laughed a lot 

Then onward to Taidong to pack up and wrap up my fifth year in Taiwan. Yvonne and I auctioned off most of our things Thanks to Christy, Ivona, Danny, Mark, Sedarika, Rebecca, Dave, and friends for all of your help in the moving auction and move! An awesome Goodbye Party at Rolly and Dave’s, and a last surf with Mark and Emma made me sad to leave Taidong . Moving 8,000 miles around the world sure ain’t easy!!! The stress was immense and broke me a few times. But once complete I was on to Taichung for last goodbyes with Eckart, Joyce, Paul, Sandra, Raiden, Rodney, Grace, Shanice, Yariv, Janet, David, and others at a Happy Birthday bash for Paul (Paul Stock 2007)!

















A 13 hour flight and 5,000 miles brought us in to San Francisco at the end of July. Adarsh and Heleen were eagerly awaiting us with open arms and the warmest welcome back to America! We arrived to their loving temple home to 2 freshly baked corn meal crust pizzas. As we sat comfortably upon the floor cushions amongst the Indian treasures of their travels, we shared wonderful stories of the two years between our last meeting. Early to bed, and jet lagged, I couldn’t get up the next morning at 4 AM with Adarsh to attend his 6:30AM Morning Mysore Astanga class. However, the next day I did, and was treated to an amazing workout!!! Astanga rocks and will make you rock solid physically and spiritually if you practice everyday! I was so happy to see how Astanga practice has transformed Adarsh into such a superiorly rock solid being and teacher!!! I’m looking forward to attending more Astanga Yoga classes soon! Adarsh commanded his Yoga Studio and students with greatness! I was so impressed and honored to attend. Visit their website here.






After practice, Adarsh and Heleen took Yvonne and I out on the town to view their quaint and beautiful town of Mountainview, CA (nearby to San Jose). Home to Google World Headquarters, it’s a bustling town of young, bright, highly motivated, internationals from every corner of the GoogleEarth. This made for a nice array of dining styles and excellent food markets. First, we went to Whole Foods market (a super-sized Natural foods supermarket). Yvonne and I were in heaven! Having grown up on natural whole foods, I was a bit deprived of my childhood favorites while in Taiwan. It was wonderful to enjoy some such delectable delights again. Then we went to Trader Joe’s, another excellent market that’s half the price of Whole Food’s Market. We stocked up on some supplies in preparation for our next adventure… 3 days of camping in Big Sur down California’s Hwy. 1 .

Big Sur was dreamy! Palladial views of the coast with steep cliffs leading down to the turquoise Pacific. Fogs blowing in and blowing out . Walks along desolate beaches. And my favorite activity… throwin’ some rock with Adarsh! The beaches had these perfectly round baseball sized stones that were perfect for throwin’ some rock! As we tossed the rock to and fro, we reminisced back to younger days in Georgia when we were to poor to buy a ball and had to play with rocks instead (thankfully joking  ).






Another treat was staying in Adarsh’s friend’s “off the grid” solar powered home far back in a redwood forest just off of Hwy. 1 outside of Big Sur. It was fairytale-esque! And all of the foods and treats that ensued from the moment we arrived to Adarsh’s and Heleen’s home through the week were so enjoyable… So many old American favorites prepared vegetarian style. Yvonne and I were so orally ecstatic! Lot’s of sweet organic treats too. Yvonne was getting to try so many new foods and loving them all. Our first week with Adarsh and Heleen, eased the tensions and sadness of leaving Taiwan, and made Yvonne and I feel so welcomed back to the States!








Next time I’ll write about the following adventures to Santa Cruz to visit Stephen and Christine at their Santa Cruz Tree Temple Home! And here's a recent picture of Stephen flying to work on his company's private jet... I'm looking forward to flying on Stephen's personal jet soon!






New Phone Number, Communications, and Shopping:

What else have I been doing besides shoveling snow? Well, after arriving to New Hampshire and spending lots of time with family, I began reassembling the material life that I left behind in Taiwan. First thing I did was get this Verizon wireless cell phone. After being without my own computer for 4 months, I decided to get this PDA Phone. It's like a palm sized laptop that can surf the internet, check email, watch movies, listen to mp3's, take pictures, draw pictures, and it’s a phone too!

The number (my only phone number right now) is: email me for it

*Note the number, and *Note: if you're on the Verizon Wireless network too... write back and tell me so, so that I know you're "IN" on the Verizon “IN” network and that we can talk for free anytime. Otherwise, I'll call you during the free nights and weekends, or use "internet telephony" yahoo voice or skype to call you free "computer to computer" online, or cheaply "computer to landline". With a high speed connection, I've found yahoo voice and skype to have better sound quality than traditional landline long distance. Wow! Especially awesome for international calls!!! If you're not ready to use a computer as a phone yet, another cheap way to phone home is by calling card. I've found these rates to be good @ http://www.mobilecaller.com ($0.02 / min U.S. domestic. {} $0.09 / min U.S. to Taiwan). If you know of better communication rates... share your secrets with me!

This week I received the new laptop I'm using to type this and future letters to you. Thanks to Stephen and Keith who have similar HP laptop models and let me use/demo their laptops while I was visiting them. I got an awesome deal on "Black Friday" (truly the most amazing shopping deal Day of the year! The day after Thanksgiving) on This Laptop with this all-in-one printer for $475! When I bought my previous Dell laptop and printer in '2000, (a similarly current setup), I paid $2,500! Amazing how the prices are dropping! But again, I only got that $price because I stayed up all night scouring the internet for this "Black Friday" deal. If you want to buy the same setup today, it now costs $880 :( That was my first "Black Friday" shopping delirium experience. I stayed up all night searching the internet for the deal... But, I'm looking forward to next year's "Black Friday"! Don’t miss it! Yvonne spent Black Friday with April (my sister-in-law) camping outside of Best Buy to get a Wii game system for a nephew!


Searching for Wheels:

The past week and a half I've been diligently car shopping. Being Car - Less, my brother and sister-in-law have been chaufering Yvonne and I to and fro recently. My brother is an AMAZING salesman and told me that if I find a great deal on a car, I can drive it for a year or two and then sell it for a profit. WoW! Contrary to the popular belief that cars lose value over time. But he demonstrated his theory when he sold his $80,000 Mercedes-Benz this week (that he's already been driving for 3 years)... for $72,000 (with only an $8,000 loss)!

He set the bar high for me to find a good used car deal. My father also put a lot of pressure on me to maintain the "family honor" and find a good deal. Dad and my borther are Super Deal Shoppers, and it’s hard to match their skill. So, I've been spending hours a day online (mostly on Craig's List) the past week and a half searching used cars ads.

Unfortunately, not finding any great deals, or arriving to the deals too late and already sold :( My brother felt bad for my fruitless searching and stepped in this week doing a little searching on his own. Super Deal Shopper that he is, yesterday he found a 1997 Honda Accord for me that is in prime condition for half the market value! So, on Wednesday, if all goes well, I'll be picking her up. (P.S. all didn't go well, and it was a lemon... but we found a nice Toyota Corolla a few days later and I'll pick it up this week!) When we're not in Brother Jim's Benz, you might see us speeding around in Sis-in-law April's fine Infiniti.

Life with 4 Wheels and Teaching Tai Chi:

Having wheels will change life a bit... I'll be able to pick up dad or my nephew Travis to go out on adventures. I’ll also begin to visit local healthcare centers, community centers, yoga studios, and gyms to find places I can begin teaching Tai Chi classes. It'll be nice to begin contributing to the community. I haven't decided if I'm going to teach the Tai Chi classes by donation or charge a set rate ($10 / hour is the avg. rate for such classes). Any suggestions or experience on Tuition Setting? Should I teach classes by donation or ???

Returning to some discipline… The Perfect Life, Health, and The Principles that hang upon my Wall:

This morning, unpacking one of my six boxes (everything I own) that I shipped back from Taiwan, I found the list that hung in my office next to my computer in Taidong…

1) Food: Besides the tongue... there are so many other parts of the body more suitable for experiencing stimulation and pleasure. KNOW what you are eating (Read those ingredients!). If it isn't natural, whole, and nutritious, don't eat it. If you don't know what is natural and nutritious, read Healing with Whole Foods. Don't be a guinea pig for the chemical industry! As BKS Iyengar (a great Yogi still vibrant at 90 years old!!!) said, "Food should be taken to promote healt, strength, energy, and life. It should be eaten with the feeling that with each morsel one can gain strength to serve the Lord. Men are the only creatures that eat when not hungry and generally live to eat rather than eat to live. The Yogi believes in harmony, so he eats for the sake of sustenance only. He does not eat too much or too little. He looks upon his body as the rest-house of his spirit and guards himself against over-indulgence."

2) Rest: As Benjamin Franklin said, "Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise!"

3) Exercise: As Precious James said, "Daily exercise that returns the circulatory rivers and streams of one’s blood from the furthest reaches of the body back to replenish in the revitalizing organs of one's harmonious center. To pump the heart and glisten in sweat is good. To feel every part of the body and know thyself is grand!"

4) Stop, Contemplate, Meditate:
In emptiness and quietude the path may be seen and divine guidance might be heard.

5) Fasting: To break from habits allows one to better appreciate the habits themselves as well as to become more aware of alternative choices.

Honestly, I've strayed from these truths in recent months... being on the road, not a wall to call my own... I had no place to hang these principles upon. But as I find these principles once again, true as ever, I hang them back up next to my computer in hopes of living them. If these principles strike a cord with you too, share in them today and write me about your succession in living them. We may support each other on The Way.

And don't forget to LAUGH often!!! I haven't attended one of these classes yet, but hope to soon...
Have a good laugh about Laughter Yoga on youtube.

And if you want to laugh some more... visit laughter Yoga's youtube channel:
http://www.youtube.com/laughteryoga

Good News!!! It's snowing again as I finish typing this letter! There's a fresh 6-8 inches of snow on the ground outside... I'd love to write more, but time to shovel the sidewalks, entry ways, and driveway.

!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008 !!!
!!! May all your dreams and resolutions manifest !!!

Love, Peace, and Joy,
Precious James
www.myspace.com/preciousjames


Peace on Earth: The single greatest choice you can make today to individually affect Peace on Earth.

My Room for Rent in Taidong 台東房間出租:
Available for rent in a shared house. I'm moving out June 27th. It's a big, beautiful, new 3 story house. I have the 3rd floor to myself, private bathroom, 2 balconies, large storage room. Great views of mountains from the bedroom, private living room, and balconies. Nice roof with view of Mountains and ocean too. $5000 / month月. Contact Mark if interested ( fugazimark@hotmail.com ) 0913-481-392. 我的房間要出租了. 6月27日之後可以搬進來. 這件房屋真的很棒. See pictures看照片:

From Web

Taidong Local Auction finished 6/24. Thank you to all that participated! There are still hand drums and a motor cycle to buy!台東拍賣6月24日結束了. 參加的人, 謝謝. 還有手鼓和摩托車可以買.

Sunday Final Auction and Luncheon! 禮拜天最後出價機會和午餐!

Hi Taidong Friends,
台東朋友好,

Sunday is the best day for people to come make final bids and for Winning Bidders to pick up their Winnings. So, let's make a lunch of it! Friends, Friends of Friends, well known people, and Auction Bidders are Welcome! Strangers or people I've un-welcomed before are not. If you can come Sunday, Please just come Sunday (and not another day) so we can conduct all Auction matters on one day (keep bids coming in by email: taiprecious@yahoo.com ). 禮拜天就是最好一天來我家看東西和出最後一些出價. 所以我們也可以一起吃個午餐烤肉. 朋友和出價的人歡迎你來. 奇怪人不歡迎. 如果你禮拜天能來, 就最好禮拜天來. 大家一起出價拿東西回去. 很多東西不在這個網頁. 要來看看.

Come by Sunday June 24th between 1:30 and 5:30PM. I'm going to make a Big Pot of Thai Curry Vegetables and Brown Rice. Mark will fire up the BBQ. Bring what you like... food, BBQ foods, fruit, drinks, your favorite tea leaves, etc. Mark and I will finish up the luncheon around 5:30 to get ready for our school's Graduation Performance. 禮拜天 6 月 24 日, 一點半到五點半來我家. 我會煮泰式加喱菜和胚芽飯. 您可以帶你喜歡的蔡, 肉, 水果, 飲料, 茶葉, 甚麼的... 5:30PM 就結束了.

Here are directions to my house
near the Naruwan Hotel:

看吉米的家怎嗎走

Don't miss the BBQ Saturday 6/23 in Dulan too! Click Here 4 info.

Precious 吉米's 　Moving Auction
搬家離別大拍賣

My Father's health has recently been degrading quickly from Parkinson's Disease. So, I'm moving back to America to help take care of him. He's in New Hampshire (an hour north of Boston) with my brother and sister... I'll be returning there for a while... After speaking with my Dad the other night and hearing how much help he could use, I've decided to leave even more quickly than I had planned. So, I am packing up and leaving Taidong on Tuesday, June 26th. I need to sell most of my things by Sunday, June 24th. So, it's auction time with some free give aways to winning bidders! Your Bids help me return to America and will give me some time to gather students and begin teaching Tai Chi Chuan classes around America (as my Tai Chi Teacher has instructed me to do). Thank you for your help!

台東朋友們好,
因為我爸爸生病了我要回去美國照顧他. 所以, 我東西都要剛快賣掉了. 歡迎我們的

離別大拍賣.

請每人出價時需高於前一位出價者的價錢. 如果你為最高標者 , 我們會與你聯絡 (而且,會寫 'Sold to: 名字' 在下面項目的旁邊) . 常回來看這個網頁看看現在的出價. 拍賣至6月24日下午結束. 並於6月24日領貨 (6月24日不能來, 也可以月另外的時間. 打給吉米的電話月時間) , 謝謝您的幫忙與支持 ! 超多好貨 , 要買要快喔 ! 勿錯失良機ㄛ ! 如果看不動下面的英文字, 就可以打電話給吉米(0917-235-245) 還是益芳 (0917-432-555). 就可以用講的告訴你 9 (我中文字打得不好而且很慢).

怎嗎出價;　請你用 email 給吉米 ( taiprecious@yahoo.com ) 　寫: 項目，你的名字，電話號碼，　出價．　謝謝你的幫助．請你把這個 ｅｍａｉｌ 傳給你的台東朋友，　讓他們跟我們以起出價．

Please read about all of the items below and see if you're interested in anything. If you are, please make a bid. The prices next to the items are the current bids, but if you bid less and you are the winning bid, you can take it home! Bid baby bid! If after seeing the item in person, you don't want it, you don't have to buy it... this ain't eBay. So, don't be shy! If you're interested... Bid!

HOW To Bid: send me an email ( taiprecious@yahoo.com ) or a text message with your name, email, phone number, item(s) you're bidding on, and your maximum bid amount. Your maximum bid amount is not the price you must pay, but the maximum you are willing to pay (which you can also raise later). I'll increase your bids by $50 - $100 NTD (depending on the expense of the item) up to your maximum bid to keep you in the lead over other bidders. If you are out bid, and your maximum bid is surpassed, I'll try to contact you to give you a chance to raise your maximum bid. I'll update this blog regularly during this week to reflect the current bids. I'm modelling after eBay's bidding process. If you're interested about how eBay bidding works look here.

Bidding ends on Sunday afternoon, June 24th. If you are a winning bidder, you can come pick up your things Sunday morning and afternoon, June 24th, or Monday, June 25th or possibly Tuesday. If you need to see the items before you bid, you can come see things in person June 21st -23rd (Thursday after 9:30PM, Friday afternoon and evening, or Saturday morning - 2:30PM) and maybe just purchase and take items home then (if your bid is acceptable). Please call if you want to come over so we can plan a time (0917-235-245).

For larger furniture items, Danny has been kind enough to donate his van. So, it may be possible to work out delivery options.

PLEASE forward this email to Taidong friends, or if you know someone needing home goods, you can give them my phone number. Thanks again for your help and your bids... it will help me in returning to the States and beginning my new career as a Tai Chi teacher.


1. Desktop PC computer

• Intel(R) Celeron(R) 3.06 GHz Processor (Asus P5800 VM Motherboard)

• Hard drive: see *note below
  

• 512MB RAM

• BenQ DVD+R/+RW Burner

• Asus 52x CD ROM (with external headphone jack and volume control)

• 17" inch CRT Monitor included

• Windows XP SP2 Operating System

• 6 USB 2.0 ports

• Front and Rear sound out and microphone jacks

This Desktop PC computer is in excellent condition, has no problems, and is only 9 months old. I'm only selling it because I'm leaving Taiwan. It is fast, powerful, and current . *Note on Hard Drive: I'm taking the current 250 GB hardrive with me. If you can install a new hard drive and Windows XP SP2 (which I will give you the CD for) by yourself, then your price will be discounted $3,000 (That's $8,500). If you want me to purchase the new hard drive and install Windows XP SP2, then depending on the size of the hard drive you want, Bidding starts around $11,500 NTD.
Either way, you start with a brand new, fresh Windows Operating System and Hard Drive! A complete computer system for $11,500! Most any software you might need, I'll tell you how to download for free or I can give you.

2. All-in-One Hewlett Packard Printer / Scanner / Copier:

• HP PSC 1510 All-in-One Color Printer / Scanner / Copier

Includes 1 unopened Color Photo Ink Cartridge, 1 used photo color ink cartridge, 1 color ink cartridge, and 1 black ink cartridge. All cartridges are refillable. DIY Ink refill kits are included for all ink cartridges for easy refill.
Current Bid: Rebecca $1200



3. Motor Scooter, Motor Bike, Motor Cycle:

• Her name is Cherry (and she's cherry red). I've been driving her for 5.5 years and taking perfect care of her. She's a 1996 Suzuki 125cc in perfect condition. She has a large lockable box on the back, a basket up front, and a windshield for the cold days in winter. Last month I changed her oil, changed the rear break pads , and put a new tire on. I've kept up with maintainence impecably! I've never had any major problems with her. Two complaints are that she isn't so fast. She can still go 90 km/h, but I usually don't take her over 70km/h. I like to drive slowly and safely. The other complaint is when first starting her in the morning, you need to work the gas a little to get her started, but after her first drive, she starts right up with a touch of the ignition (I only had to kisckstart her once in 5 years, after leaving her at the train station for 2 weeks). Her Taxes and Insurance are current through 2007 (and maybe 2008???) I have to find out. On the last visit to the mechanic, he said she has no other problems. I can sell her and give her to you at the end of July (maybe sooner if dire). I asked the mechanic his opinion of Cherry's value. From an objective standpoint, the mechanic said he'd sell her for $11,000 NTD O.B.O. Buyer must have a valid ARC.

Current Bid: Frederika $11,000 NTD.

4. Home furniture, appliances, and goods:

• Computer Desk: Faux Light wood finish. Excellent condition. $300 O.B.O. (Or Best Offer). It looks like this, but my desks metal frame is beige with no CD racks.
  

• Office Chair (picture above): Ok condition: $100.
  

• Rattan Coffee Tables with glass tops. 1 larger table and one smaller table. Excellent condition. Attractive. Minimum: $600. Cirrent Bid: Christa $400
  

• Futon Sofa Bed: Back folds down to make a nice bed for 2. Includes 2 pillows. Good Condition. Current Bid: Christa $688
  

Peter and Sophia modelling the yellow futon:

• Surround Sound Speaker System with Sub-Woofer: Total of 9 speakers. Includes long audio cables to string the speakers throughout your house. This system will rock your neighborhood (if the need arises!) Has mic-in for Karaoke! Can easily plug into a computer or MP3 Player. $688 O.B.O. (not like this picture... older, with 3 additional large speakers).
  

• Japanese Tatami Mats: 4 full size mats and one 1/2-size mat. Ok condition. Current Bid: Ivona $1200
  

Here are the Tatamis modelled by Ivona and Yvonne. ALSO, notice the red yoga mat which is listed below 4 sale. Interested: Rebecca (wants to see)

• Hot Water Dispenser: Push button pour. Mint condition. 1 year old. New $1200, Sell $500 o.b.o. (Or best offer). Here's a pic:

• Blender: Mint condition, strong, glass container. Current Bid: Christa $500
  

• Small Rice Cooker: Good for small family. Cooks that rice so nice! $250
  

• Baking Oven: Excellent Condition. Has internal chicken rotisserie. $400 (Great Deal!)

• Very Large 7? Gallon Stainless Steel Pot: Mint condition! Current Bid: $250.
  

• Large Wooden Cupboards / Cabinets: 4 wooden doors, 6 shelves. Great for storing food , dishes, clothes, misc. Approximately 2 meters long x 700cm high x 50cm wide. Current Bid: Mark $450
  

• Spice Rack with 20 jars of different herbs and spices and other bagged spices included. Great for cooks! Current Bid: Ivona $250
  

• Wood Table with vinyl table cloth; quite tall: Great as a kitchen prep table or outdoor use. Current Bid: Christa $300.
  

• Large Stainless Steel Prep tray currently being used with a stainless steel dish drying rack: Current Bid: Ivona $125
  

• Music Chair: Round brown cushion, adjustable height. You will JAM on this chair! Current Bid: Christa $200 (elbows, knees, and strikes to the face are permissible!) .
  

• Garden Furniture: Outdoor wood BBQ table: $125. This might already be reserved for Mark unless he knows who burned out the center of this table during their last BBQ. Fess up, Who did it?
  
• Outdoor plastic chairs (3 chairs): $100
  
• Outdoor wicker chair / bench, Seats 2: Current Bid Christa $125
  

• Extra Large Yoga Mat: Great for those yoga parties! Great as a guest double bed, sleeps 2: $200

• Assorted Pillows. Plush out your pad with more pillows:
  
• 2 spaceshuttle foam bed pillows (good condition): Starting Bid $200
  
• 4 used pillows (ok condition): Starting Bid $200
• 3 attractive sofa pillows (ok condition): Starting Bid: $200
  

• Snorkelling Fins: Men's size 10 - 11. Current Bid: Jeff $125

• 3 Cutting Boards: 2 wooden and 1 plastic.
  

• Knives Knives Knives!!!: Many shapes and sizes.

• All Kinds of Kitchen dishes, containers, utensils, pots, pans, ceramics (many Japanese bowls, and Japanese ceramic cooking pots in new condition!).
  

5. Hand Drums:

• African Djembe from Ghana: This djembe is a masters drum. It is one of the best djembes currently in Taiwan. It has a goat skin, shoulder strap, African cloth travel bag, and water proof / puncture proof protective top.

SOLD to: Ivan $10,000 NTD

• BIG Djembe from Ghana: Very Large Djembe. If you want to see it. It's at Ivan's house. Ask me about contact details. Starting Bid $6,800. See pic:
  
  
  

• Peruvian / Cuban Cajon Box Drum: Cajon Drums are wooden box drums that are particularly good for accompanying guitar and acoustic sets. They are regualrly used in Flamenco ensambles. They have a big sound for acoustic sets, are easy to transport, and double as a chair . The favored chair of kit drummers. Another bonus about the Cajon, is you can pack clothes or gear inside it. With a bag (like the one I'm selling below), it's like carrying a suitcase that doubles as a sweet drum set!!! Cajon Drums are not yet available in Taiwan. I flew to Japan to buy these two models. After travelling to music shops around Japan and playing over 30 different Cajones, I picked these 2 models that I felt to be the Best. These 2 models were recommended to me by shop owners as well. The first is a Japanese made Hamasaki Sentido Cajon with 5 different playing surfaces.

1. The "Sentido " (above) is in my opinion the best Cajon currently on the market because of its multitudes of different sound. It has a traditional cajon playing surface with adjustable snare . On the opposite side of the box are two bongos and a unique bass, each with many different tones. I paid 48,000 JPY (38,000 Yen, plus 10,000 yen for shipping) last year (that's $12,936 NTD). See here for current prices:

http://www.drums.co.jp/act/percussion/hamasaki/spc-380/index.htm


I'll start bidding at $8,880 NTD. I'm selling it because I'm returning to America. If no one buys it, I won't mind taking it back with me. It is a sweet drum!!! The most versatile acoustic hand drum I've ever played!

If you think you can simply build your own, think again! I tried and failed... that's why the Japanese and German models are the best... Precision Engineering!

2. The "Cajon la Peru" is a German made Schlagwerk cajon (I have the exact model pictured below). LISTEN to An MP3 sound file of the Cajon 4007. I like this cajon because it has a higher pitch than the sentido and the snare is higher as well. The sides can be played for varied wood tones. This cajon is lighter to carry.

P 4007 Cajon la Perù^® Burl veneer

Playing surface: Burl veneer
Resonance box: 7 layers of Alder,
approx. 30 x 30 x 50 cm
Sound: rich bass, strong mid-range tones
Affectionately referred to as "el negro" in the Flamenco scene, the most successful Schlagwerk Cajon has not lost any of its aesthetics or its versatility within varying music styles. CP 4007 – the classic Cajon!

It's currently selling in Japan for 53,000 Yen (that's 14,276.54 TWD) see here:
http://www.drums.co.jp/act/percussion/schlagwerk/cp4007/index.htm

I'll also start bidding for this drum at $8,880 NTD.

3. "Meinl" Cajon Bag: High quality, padded, cajon bag with straps to protect your cajon and make transport easier. I paid 8,000 Japanese Yen ($2,130 TWD) for this bag. Start bidding at $1,600 NTD. I only have one bag to sell.




If you play one of these cajones, you'll probably find yourself surrounded by beautiful latino dancers like this:

• Nike the Kitty Cat: Nike is a 2 year old boy that has been nuetered (no more balls / 每有蛋蛋了) . He is a really good boy and loves to speak! One friend has agreed to take care of him, but will have to keep him outside. We'd prefer to find an indoor house for him if possible to keep him at peak health. $Free$

Thanks again for your Bids,
Precious 吉米 Jimmy
0917-235-245
for bidding: taiprecious@yahoo.com

http://www.myspace.com/preciousjames

Allergies: How I'm Healing Mine

About my recent discoveries about my mucous... it could be the pollen, but pollen gets in everyone's noses... so, it's us folks on the edge... with weakened immune systems or past our threshold for allergens, pushed over the top by pollen or whatever... so, we've got to get off the fence and back on the ground of well being. My "allergies" or mucous issue has greatly improved thanks to the teachings of a chinese doctor and the yoga sutras. Here are the current top 4 hanging on my wall next to the computer:

1: Sleep. Go to bed early (before 11PM). Chinese medicine says our liver must rest from 11pm to 3am aroundabouts. if it doesn't, problems ensue. I didn't bellieve, but now I do and it's helped me immensely!

2. Excercise Daily. Necessary.

3. Stop, contemplate, Meditate: Answers soon follow.

4. Eating healthy, small portions, only when truly hungry for the purpose of serving the Lord... and not for sense gratification. This one has allowed me to quit some foods that may have been aggravating my system... especially bread, which I failed to quit so many times before. I've discovered I'm allergic to yeast... putting nutritional yeast on my food now causes an instant nose explosion and coughing? So glad I found out.

*Bonus: No smoking: Smoking is enemy of our lungs, and who wants to be an enemy of their own body? If the Lungs are unhappy, the respiratory system will be unhappy, thereby causing the nose unhappiness in myriad ways. The good Herb is best taken orally through food or oil (if required at all... Chinese medicine says it weakens the Kidneys, and the Kidneys are considered a vital organ of health). Why fight the body when we can make Peace with it!

I was just amazed by this TED Talk by Edward Burtynsky:
(http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/56)


Shipbreaking No. 4, Chittagong, Bangladesh 2000

Burtynsky presents a riveting slideshow of his photographs, which show vividly how industrial development is altering the Earth's natural landscape. From mountains of tires to rivers of bright orange waste from a nickel mine, his images are simultaneously beautiful and horrifying.


Deda Chicken Processing Plant, Dehui City, Jilin Province, 2005

The second half of his presentation about China is fascinating!


And if you're inspired to realize solutions to these global issues we face, you can read this article about Japan's "Thomas Edison" Dr. Nakamats (http://www.pingmag.jp/2006/10/20/twilight-zone-dr-nakamats-inventions/)
who has pushed limits in every realm of his life to break into optimum creative conciousness. Most interesting to me was his recent Nobel Prize in nutrition for his studies on the optimal diet for health and creativity. Dr. Nakamats only eats 700 calories per day and has been for years! Is he healthy? Well, how many patents do you hold? He only has 3,000+ patents to his name. Check out this interview on his creative process: (http://www.creativityatwork.com/articlesContent/Nakamats1.html)

PyonPyon flying shoes allow the wearer to leap into the air with minimal effort.

Enjoy,
Precious James

Taiwan English Teaching

Having taught English in Taiwan for 5 years already, it's about time I share the wonders of it all. I've had such a great experience teaching here in Taiwan! Teaching part-time (avg. 20 hours / week) I've been able to earn an average of $1500 USD per month. Of the $1500 / month, I am usually able to save $1,000 of it living a very simple life. This lifestyle affords me much free time to study and do things I most enjoy. I've spent a majority of my time studying Tai Chi and computer skills. It's an amazing opportunity to be able to study and save simultaneously. For ppeople interested in studying anything Chinese, Taiwan offers awesome oppotunities!







Here are some great sites offering more information about teaching English in Taiwan:

http://www.forumosa.com/taiwan/index.php Very informative forums
http://www.tealit.com/ Job listings and Life style info
http://www.buxiban.com/ Job Listings, detailed school info, laws
http://www.englishintaiwan.com/ Gives a good feel for teaching in Taiwan
http://www.therealtaiwan.com Taiwan Lifestyle

Awesome source of Inspiration and cutting edge Wisdom /&/&/ One Media program that does it All.

My friend Stephen introduced me to this awesome source of inspiration and cutting edge wisdom (My message continues below...):

Enchanting TED
by David Pogue
http://pogue.blogs.nytimes.com/


Last week, I attended my second TED conference, which stands for Technology,
Entertainment, and Design. During the four-day conference, you hear 50
speakers, who are given 18 minutes each.

They are the most compelling, passionate, informed speakers you've ever
heard (all right, maybe 45 of them are). Some bring back reports from the
edge of medicine, archaeology, nanotech, neurology, psychiatry or the Web.
Some, like Paul Simon, Tracy Chapman, and They Might Be Giants, perform
live.

But a good number of them bring you face to face with some of the most
upsetting realities of human existence. The horrors in sub-Saharan Africa.
The viruses that are gaining on us. The increasing scarcity of drinkable
water. And over and over and over again, climate change, presented with the
most harrowing examples, measurements and projections.

John Doerr, the famous venture capitalist whose firm bootstrapped such
startups as Amazon and Google, began his climate-crisis talk with the words,
"I'm really scared. I don't think we're going to make it"-and ended too
choked up to speak.

Another speaker this year actually used the term "species extinction,"
referring to ours.

There are so many standing ovations, you're practically doing 18-minute
calisthenics. And the cumulative effect of the conference is devastating.
You can't return to the real world thinking the same thoughts you thought
before; you just can't do it.

Worse, you can't even explain to other people why the thing is so
overwhelming. I had nine minutes to try in a "CBS News Sunday Morning"
segment-and the result fell so far short at conveying the effect, they wound
up posting it online instead of airing it on TV.

Only 1,000 people can attend TED live (it's in Monterey, California). The
auditorium holds only 500 people; the rest sit downstairs in a comfortable
"simulcast lounge" and watch on flat-panel high-definition TV sets. (So why
don't they hold the thing in a bigger theater? They tried. Last year, they
held one afternoon's talks in a Broadway-style theater. It was a disaster.
The enormous hall drained all sense of intimacy, humanity and urgency from
the speakers.)

Next year's conference is already sold out-at $6,000 a ticket, if you can
believe that. (Speakers aren't paid, but get a free pass to the conference.
This year, I was one of about 20 uncredited "three-minuters"-people who
perform shorter, quirkier interstitial talks between the biggies-and was
thus given a free conference ticket.)

Fortunately, TED has begun posting high-quality videos of the
talks-specifically re-edited for Web use-at http://www.ted.com/tedtalks .
You can find 65 of them already online (mine from 2006 among them), ready to
watch online or download to your iPod, and TED plans to make many more
available.

There's even talk of streaming the talks live to the Web in future years,
which I think would be an awesome idea.

Anyway, over the next few days, I'll be writing up some of the coolest, most
interesting and entertaining talks I heard at TED last week on my blog at
nytimes.com/pogue. I'll attempt to limit myself to tech-oriented topics,
although with speakers that included Bill Clinton, Richard Branson, James
Randi, Lawrence Lessig, Alan Kay, Philippe Starck, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and
others, that might not be easy.

In the meantime, here's your homework. Set aside an hour and watch three of
the TED talks online back to back.

Then check out these Web sites, whose creators were among the presenters
this year:
http://www.bumptop.com (a radical new concept for the computer desktop)
http://www.wefeelfine.org (a visual, real-time emotion meter that depicts
the Internet's bloggers)
http://www.bmwworld.com/hydrogen/ (BMW's fleet of hydrogen-powered cars)





And now back to Precious in Taiwan...
Now for my techy tip o' the week: Watching and downloading Videos on our computers has recently seen a BOOM. Platforms for watching the videos are not highly standardized yet. So, I want to share the soutions I've found with you. Do you ever have problems watching/listening to Video/Audio that you have downloaded or are streaming online? I have put some heavy research (perhaps novice to some, but expert to most) into this subject recently and want to share my findings. Yes, One simple program can do it all (with a few downloads and clicks to get it started). All Free! Free @ Last! Free @ Last! Thank God Almighty Free @ Last! If you don't have these problems... skip this boring technofied lame BUTT info and go serve the Universe like there's no tomorrow!

I like barebones software that works and keeps my computer speeding along. First issue is your browser (Firefox blows Internet Explorer to smithereens). For my media player, I use Media Player Classic, which is Windows Media Player in it's smallest most functional form. Media Player Classic is included in the following Codec Pack (A Codec Pack is necessary to uncompress and see movies that are compressed using many different codec compressions... many times when your movie doesn't play, it's because you're missing the necessary codec). After trying a few Codec Packs, I'm having good results with the K-Lite Codec Pack FULL (17.6MB). Again, Media Player Classic is included in the K-Lite Codec Pack download. Install and configure the codec pack and Media Player Classic to handle your media files (so when you click on a video or audio file, Microsoft or other BLOATware won't take over your computer... Super small yet oh so powerful Media Player Clasic will play your media).

Now for Streaming Media: Many audio/video streams are Quicktime or Realmedia, both of which hog your systems resources, slow down your system, and constantly annoy you with pop-ups. There are now Light, adware-FREE versions available to replace the original BLOATware. Download and install Quicktime Alternative LITE (you only need LITE because you've already installed Media Player Classic) and Real Alternative LITE. (*Note 1st click the Download QuickTime Alternative//Download Real Alternative link to find the LITE version downloads). Now 1% to 5% of the time, you may still have some trouble opening your media. Try the VLC Media Player. Still having problems? Try the MPlayer.


Hope I'm sending you off on a successful trip of simplification and funtcionality... and not a download trip of misery. And if you actually take this advice, are successful, and have nice things to say... give thanks, cause I need some appreciation after typing all of this (I'm a slow typist)! And of course, I appreciate you for reading all of this!!! Now take your eyes OFF the screen, blink a few times, smile, and relax before you read on.

Now it's time for me to listen to another TED talk while practicing standing meditation (zhan1 zhuang1).

Love, Peace, & Joy raining upon you,
Precious James

--
http://www.myspace.com/preciousjames