James Jordan is much more than a magician.  I incidentally caught his show today and it’s is full of spontaneity and personality delighting adults and children alike.  His sharp wit captures the wonderment of a crowd perplexed by his playful persona.  It may be a sign of the times but on this beautiful spring day in a Calgary city centre park where belly laughs were many and the mood pulsed with joy, there were still some peculiar indifferent souls on a Sunday apparently too busy to stop and watch a man blessing a city with tricks, comedy, and charisma.  It got me to thinking that humanity is overlooking the obvious appeal of play and its right role as nourishment to the mind’s need for balance and harmony.  For those who laughed instinctually today, I commend you.  For those who gave James Jordan some attention today I commend you too.  And, for those who materially supported James Jordan – you’ve done more than remunerated a man but you’ve culturally endowed your town.   http://www.jjordanmagic.com/

Following is the ordinal presentation of four tracks from Roger Shah’s Magical Island – Music For Balearic People Volume Five.  It’s artful how he put these particular tracks together in this two CD set.

You come to discover the quality of this release at “Balearic Session – Visitas”.  Naturally infused with a trance beat, the tempo alters adding dimension.  The harmonic undulating synthesizer brings it in after a subtle catchy set of chords.  Well positioned chimes soften the beat and there’s silkiness to the sound putting you on notice that this is good music.

“When You’re Here” with Shah and Aisling Jarvis is a continuation and keeps pace flowing naturally with brightness.  Jarvis has a comforting voice which fades in and out weaving you through a mosaic like auditory quilt.  You’re now tracking into a new mood spellbound by a DJ cognizant of how to captivate your senses subliminally.  You are grateful.

Next up is “Could This Be Love” with Brian Laruso and Mila Falls.  A little more pop like, synthesizers and percussion still pulse keeping Falls in line within a soft romantic range.  The same reverberating ambience pervades and we align.

Raul Pablo Sanchez next sings “Million Questions”.  Now that we’re more impressionable, Pablo accompanies with vocals absent of vocabulary like a Buddha.  This medium alto gets inquisitive with a provocative theme.  Simpler and more impactful than predecessor pieces, Sanches delivers groove while subsequently articulating the language and communicating a message.  The denouement fades into Dimension by Verano.

Verano elevates, pulls back and then thrusts forward in a kicking chord progression which then bounces right into some rave like trance.  You turn the dial, phase out, or turn to your neighbour for the repartee amiss having been subject to a period of profound musical bliss….but then you’re right back to another remix accentuating lovely female vocals in “Back To Paradise.”  You’ll be in paradise should you investigate Shah’s Balearic Music Montage.

 

Bud was flamboyant in dress and crafty with language.  If the aesthetics of a running backhand passing shot wasn’t enough for you visually, Bud was there to fill in the blanks with outlandish metaphors far from the confines of a tennis court.  He was light in ego while heavy in wit and admired by throngs of tennis supporters and players.  His apparent friendliness with tour players added a new dimension to viewership seldom ever witnessed from a living room.  Bud’s enthusiasm for the sport was only surpassed by his mastery of vocabulary as demonstrated by outbursts of color commentary sprinkled with euphony and alliteration.  Although distant as a witness to his charm in appreciation, there will be those many heavy hearts on this day who were regulars to his antics and light hearted humour.  A side bar takes centre stage today and is elevated.

It’s time to chime in on this mass media notion that our new Prime Minister must “save us”.  It’s becoming a very tiring message.  Granted – his disposition to date has been one of platitudes, generalities, and macro think as opposed to actual policy execution.  However; in a capitalist system, it is the individual who reigns supreme and is the individual responsible for success through a disciplined and planned progression of commercial activity.  Individuals form corporations and corporations are distinguishable from personal assets.  You are empowered in our system and you are empowered through your vote to ensure that a regulatory regime and administrative oversight by your politicians favours your plight.  You best be careful with your vote because you have four years of partnership with this administrative authority in which you establish the best probability for a positive outcome.   Once it’s done, you can then implement whatever democratic measure in which you feel most suited in order to protect your interests.  The least powerful way is to complain at the water cooler, or at your kitchen table, or through facebook posts, or through degenerative self talk, or from resting on your laurels.  How many people do you know in Alberta who spent and spent and spent with absolutely no cognition that economics postulates that commodities can rise and fall.  In fact, the best way to deploy your resources is through strategic planning within the landscape at hand with full understanding of the rules of engagement.

I had never heard of Robin Sharma and “Who Will Cry When You Die” until a friend suggested I read the book.  Although this has sold 6 million copies world-wide, apparently it’s not available from North American retailers as indicated on the back cover.

This work is ideal for the individual who may be revisiting a career calling.  Passages stem from Buddhist philosophy and the points are tightly contained in small chapters.  This book is easy to read and may jolt you if your current path is not in alignment with your intuitive calling.  He presents concise exercises as means for rediscovery and makes reference to habits worth incorporating into our everyday lives all with a purpose of adding fulfillment.

“Who Will Cry” is a light read and I would recommend it as a forerunner in the self help genre.  It takes broad strokes on philosophy with tips for practical application.  At times, I found Robin to present from a posture of unnecessary authority as opposed to one which could be more suggestive given the nature of the material.

It is rare that authors reference death in the self help genre.  Typically appeals are made to the dynamic of life instead of the meaning of life given the inevitability of death.  Robin references meaning and perspective around the figures of pay and highlights the often forgotten contribution one makes when confronted with the logistics of sustaining a livelihood.  Appreciably throughout, he colorfully challenges readers on possibilities for expansion.

In the improbable chance you are left uninspired having read this book, you will at least be strengthened emotionally with a renewed sense of  Buddhist calm if faced with stressors undeserving of your attention.