a bit of heaven

My current wallpaper

from http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/photoblogfl/detailnc?entry_id=9196

taichi

Papa used his new Sony Cybershot WS50 to record my long form. It is he who says 'finished' at the end. That's the new M.H. de Young museum in the background.

As is evident, my form is basically yang style with lots of Hsing-i and bits of Pakua and Chen and Wing Chun. I usually do the form in 12 to 15 minutes.

The picture here has the old Museum in
the background, from 2000.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsP3ytfAOAk

Prime directive

I think this a good maxim to live by...


PRIME DIRECTIVE
As the right of each sentient species to live in accordance with its normal cultural evolution is considered sacred, no Star Fleet personnel may interfere with the healthy development of alien life and culture. Such interference includes the introduction of superior knowledge, strength, or technology to a world whose society is incapable of handling such advantages wisely. Star Fleet personnel may not violate this Prime Directive, even to save their lives and/or their ship unless they are acting to right an earlier violation or an accidental contamination of said culture. This directive takes precedence over any and all other considerations, and carries with it the highest moralobligation.

from http://www.70disco.com/startrek/primedir.htm

email 9/1/06

For the first time in my life I did something political.
Last Monday, I emailed the State Assembly voicing
my opposition to the Bill that was supposed to
license massage in California. It was the third hearing;
During the first hearing it passed by a sizeable
majority.
So anyway, they 'refused passage' of the bill.
This is the 3rd time in three years that it has been
refused.
I don't know if my email had anything to do with this;
I'm elated is all that's important to me.
This bill would not have affected me since I would be
grandfathered easily. But if this 'licensing' had beenenforced 9 years ago, there was no way for me to
have been interested in the profession at all.
This bill is the spawn of the massage schools who
want to sell their more expensive programs.

I don't use the word happy haphazardly.
Today is one those days.
And tonight we will be using a 10 dollar off
coupon at Hungry Hunter. Cajun Shrimp and
Black and Bleu Ribeye, and pecan torte
ala mode.

Happy Labor Day Weekend!!!!!!!!!!!

p.s. I happen to see at the tv at the gym yesterday
while I was doing my hour and 15 cardio, Emeril
doing some decadent things to hot dogs!
I'm gonna get me some this weekend!!!!!!!!!!

email 8/28/06

email I sent to the California Assembly 8/28/06

Dear Sirs and madams:

I am a massage therapist, have been so for nine years.I did not intend to be a massage therapist, I happenedto be studying to be a personal trainer and wonderedif the knowledge I can acquire if I become a massagetherapist can help me with the personal training. To cutthe story short I fell in love with massage afterreceiving a dozen of them in a week's time. I decidedto pursue massage therapy fully. I am not now a personal trainer. I have been working at the OlympicClub in downtown San Francisco for five years.

I would not have been a massage therapist if Californiarequired more than a hundred hours education. Of courselike any graduate it quickly became apparent that I needed to know more if I want my client base to grow.I've since taken courses in Neuromuscular Therapy whichhelped a great deal in dealing with my athlete clients.I have many regular clients who benefit from my work.

I am writing to oppose this legislation.This legislation will prevent many people who havethe proper compassion for this work to enter theprofession. I have a nephew who was inspired by me and withoutasking for my opinion went to massage school and wassold by the school one of their more expensiveprograms. He worked for two months as a massagetherapist but had to quit so he can get a better payingjob to pay the school loan he had to shoulder. He thenproceeded to hurt his shoulder and the last I heardhe was on disability. He was 19 years old when he entered massage school.

I got into massage at age 40.

This is an old argument but it is true that the onlywinner if this legislation passes are the massageschools. They can charge 25 thousand dollars and morefor someone to graduate their programs. For somethingthat is so natural, anybody does it. Everybody has givensomebody a neck rub. Mothers have always massage theirbabies without studying 'Infant Massage'. I insist thatI can teach anybody to give a SAFE and EFFECTIVEmassage in a couple of hours. And anybody can give afoot rub.

Massage insurance is so cheap because the risk is so little.But the people behind this legislation will have youbelieve like we're out there eager to dislocate everybone in everyone's body. Anyone who have had a massagecan attest to the perception that all the therapist intendedto do was to make them feel good.

You can not legislate intention.

Please do not prevent the people who want to make peoplefeel good from doing so. Encourage them to do so byrejecting this bill.

Thank you.

Ike Agustin