Precis issue eight 8 2015 by Chris Stecher ~ Précis Magazine

pré·cis 摘要

issue eight volume one

august.twenty fifteen

pré·cis publisher & editor: chris stecher associate editor: tracy wang lead translation: tracy wang graphics: stech design photography: stech, eric sherman, sujinyan, edward lalonde, aram sohigian, chris wheeler, tracy wang, mattia bellomi, lance crayon, katherine tosi, cheryl lister, Grrr contributing writers: chris wheeler, chris parizo, katherine tosi, cheryl lister, aram sohigian, edward lalonde, tracy wang, penelope rocketship, ICVS, charles watson, allen johnston, mattia bellomi, lance crayon, kaleidoscopekathy, eric sherman, dylan hart, andrea bumper, richard gindes, Grrr contributing artists: mike hendrickson, dana smith, mattia bellomi, joel fremming cartoonist: joel fremming Illustration: adam forguites ___________________________ content submissions and /or letters to the editor are welcome. please keep letters to 250 words,submissions to 750 words, photos and images need to be at least 200 dpi at size. contact : stech@outlook.com

A WORD OR TWO ABOUT IMAGES AND CONTENT All images and content are wholly and completely owned by the respective contributor. No redistribution of images, artwork or republication of any content can be made without written authorization of the individual contributor. 01

PERIOD.

cargo:

editorias {rant} ~ 4,5 gigs: BOI & Diders, Beijing {images} ~ 5,6 from the bay to beijing {travel} ~ 7,8 girlschool {review} ~ 9,10 social alcoholic {beer/tech} ~ 11,13 the dead. fare thee well tour {review} ~ 15,16 gigs: djang San Solo at XP {images} ~ 17 gigs: nakoma/pokemon dad {images} ~ 18 off the grid mama {travel} ~ 23-26 nader sadek interview {music} ~ 27,28 quantum suicide {connectome/science} ~29-32 facezine {cartoon} ~ 33 the fault of our grades {teaching} ~ 35,36 the industry {music/business} ~ 37-40 ICVS: relocating pets within china {pets} ~ 41 banyan trees {images} ~ 44 beastly diction {fiction} ~ 45-48 sujinyan’s eye {images} ~ 49-50 nakoma interview ~ {music} ~ 51-55 Graffiti {art} ~ 57-60 DIYFood {food/recipes} ~ 61-62 cut frenzy interview ~ {kat’s window} ~ 63,64 gigs: her big chance ~ {theatre} ~ 65 framers on the constitution ~ {opinion} ~ 67-68 “it’s ok” ~ {poetry} ~ 69 mike hendrickson ~ {art} ~ 71-72 dana smith ~ {art} ~ 73-74 beer and sex. 50 shades review ~ {review} ~ 75 brotherhood of huben knights ~ {images} ~ 76 gigs: temple 4th anniversary~ {images} ~ 77-78 gigs: summer blaze fest~ {music} ~ 79,82 remembrance ~ {obituaries} ~ 83,86 pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

images.

Celebrating 51 years!

www.varerealestate.com 925 Vt. Rte. 100, Warren

EXPANSIVE VIEWS INCLUDING BLUEBERRY LAKE will take your breath away. Your own swimmable pond right out your door. Endless panoramas, whether you are watching the weather or checking out the wildlife. Private location in the Prickly Mtn. area. Comfortable carefree home. This refuge comes with 31 acres and is offered at $1,100,000 or purchase with 26 acres for $839,000.

VARE office building has three offices, can support 8 desks. Large reception area and conference room has vaulted ceiling. Great location for real estate office, insurance office, or any professional office. Price reduced to $165,600.

SELECTIVELY LOGGED 20 ACRES, FULLER HILL. Three possible dramatic house sites. Views of the ski trails at Sugarbush. Town-approved access off Fuller Hill. Potential for second driveway from Murray Hill. Asking $225,000. CHANGE OF PLACE: Middlesex, 7 miles to Montpelier, estate site on No. Branch of the Winooski River, approved for two lots. South-facing, lovely views. Offered without driveway installed for $105,000. Terrific value at this greatly reduced price. Waiting for driveway estimates. Owner-Broker. BUILDING LOT IN THE KNOLLS, a subdivision off Sugarbush Access Rd, ½ mile to Sugarbush ski trails visible year-round. Easy lot on which to build. Lot will be cleaned up and dead trees removed. UG power, fire hydrant for all four lots. Offered at $95,000, excellent buy. Owner-Broker.

white pidgeon: © stech pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

pré·cis editorias 8

Well. It’s been 1 year and 2 months and eight issues of Précis. Hardly an anniversary, but issue eight will mark a couple of milestones that will happen in this particular Mag. For one, this will start, what I hope will be a recurring instance, of translating some of these pages into Mandarin Chinese with the help of our Beijing editor Tracy Wang. We will begin with this, the editorial page. There are very few periodicals here in China that are willing, or able to try to run a bilingual publication, but, since Précis is for now, just an online only magazine, we figured that we just may be able to pull it off. The trick of course will be trying to get the correct meaning behind the English to Chinese transpositions. If it works, then we will try it from Chinese to English and see if we can swing the proper translation of phrase and meanings the other way allowing aspiring native Chinese writers and artists to contribute. Like the first moon landing this is uncharted territory for us.

food, which you would think would be an easy enough task, but it actually is a grand old pain in the ass trying to get people to write about their favorite restaurants or pubs around the world. so we brought out big stick and threatened people, so now we have a recipe section called DIYfood.

Précis 8 will also be the start of our Obituaries that we call “Remembrance”, dedicated to We have also promised in our those of note whom we believe profile descriptions to include made the world a better place.

Submissions are welcome. Not being people who ignore the arts in all forms, we have added reviews of performance art pieces and added pages to include those who enjoy painting as well as our usual selection of stunning photographers from around the globe. We will still have our old favorite columnists as well, folks who talk about education, music, and people trying their best to make this place a better world.

pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

pré·cis

第8期卷首语样，这对我们来说完全是未知的领域。在摘要中，我们保证过会包含饮食的部分，你们可能认为这是个很简单的工作，但事实上，强迫人们写下来世界上他们最爱的餐厅和酒吧简直是无比痛苦。我们只能挥舞着大棒威胁他们，于是现在我们有了菜谱的板块，叫做“自制美食”。

嗯，《pré·cis摘要》第八期发布时，我们已经做了一年零两个月了。虽然还不是周年纪念，但是第八期将是里程碑一样的存在。举例来说，在驻北京的编辑王晨熙的帮助下，我们把一些文章翻译成了中文，我本人希望以后也能够继续下去。我们也会用卷首语做开篇。

pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

在中国，极少有杂志愿意或能够做双语期刊，不过作为在线的杂志，我们觉得可以把《pré·cis摘要》做成双语刊。方法当然就是把英文正确无误地翻译成中文。如果这样行得通，我们将要把中文翻译成英文，看看是否能用辞和意义都表达准确。这样有抱负的中文作者和艺术家们都可以参与进来了。这次尝试就如同登陆月球一

在第八期中，我们也增加了讣闻板块，叫做“纪念”，献给那些让世界更美好的逝者。欢迎大家投稿。当然我们不会忽略各种形式的艺术，所以这一期也增加了演出的评论文章，还增加了页码，为了囊括那些赏心悦目的绘画以及世界上绝色的摄影作品。我们喜爱的那些谈论教育、音乐的专栏作家们仍然保留下来，以及如何尽力让这个世界更加美好的作者们。

Bastards of Imperialism, Diders: 6.27.2015 @ School

gigs.

pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

Bastards of Imperialism, Diders: 6.27.2015 @ School

pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

gigs. 06

travel. by Aram Sohigian

From the Bay to Beijing From time to time, we at Précis meet many extraordinary people here in China who have had interesting experiences here in the land of the Great Wall, usually over cocktails at some of the great bars in the PRC. It is a rarity though to meet someone who has had the gumption to write down all of their experiences in a blog... and even more rare for them to post every single day while they were here in China. We have been honored to have Aram Sohigian and his better half, Jill lend us their account of time here in china, starting from the beginning. We will not be using every entry, however it will be in synchronous order. For the rest of the entries, feel free to visit their blog: fromthebaytobeijing.com. 07

Day 16 in Beijing: Welcome To The Academy! Food, Glorious Food!

and also senior management in a very nice restaurant. The idea is to learn about how to better train, adapt and help new employees find their way and fit into the culture of our company. It also includes amazing food, delicious drinks, and a lot of fun. The restaurant we went to was named Nomads and is about a five minute walk from my work. NOMADS Restaurant. Can’t wait to be a part of The Academy! It is based on a theme of different nomadic tribes around China and there are many animal skins, paintings of famous nomadic lords, and weapons all along the restaurant. It is very colorful and I felt like I was stepping into a different world.

Like you, I had no idea what The We were asked to talk to each Academy was or how I became other and there were three tables set up with one senior a member. manager at each one. We were I hoped there was an Oscar told that we’d be switching somewhere in my future but tables during dinner and it was the hope of my company doubted that would happen. that everyone would meet After reading the work email everyone else and we could and asking around, I found out have constructive thoughts on that it was a welcoming party, how to make the new job more of sorts, for people that have enjoyable. worked for my company less than 6 months. It is a meet and There was also food. And lots it. greet with other co-workers of pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

Plates kept coming out every the other cars and buses. They so often and it was all delicious. are tiny, have no protection, and dart in and out of where ever I’ve mostly worked in non- they need to go. profits in America and that is a very different story regarding This doesn’t sound too bad until parties and new hires. In the a massive truck or a city bus non-profit sector, there are few pulls up behind you. parties and they are usually low key because the companies And the honking starts. have to deal with government People honk their horns in funding. Beijing a lot. It was a wonderful experience to talk to so many new people, I still can’t figure out when meet senior management who and why they honk because seemed genuinely interested in it seems so random. There is helping us meet our potential the expected honking when and have great food, drink and someone is in the way but they also honk at red lights, at people fun. and at the air, from what I can After only two weeks at work, tell. I believe I’ve found my dream So, I’m in this tiny, unprotected, job. zooming along little pedicab And I welcome being a member and, without warning, an incredibly loud air horn goes off of The Academy. behind me. A huge bus is about 2 feet from me on my left. I _______________________ didn’t even notice it.

Day 17 in Beijing: A School Of Fish? Nope, A Pedicab Ride!

merging, turning, jumping, flailing, and whatever other adjective you can think of at this moment. I have yet to see a car, bike, motorcycle, pedicab or truck actually attempt a jump yet but I’m pretty sure it will happen one day soon. So, we are darting through traffic and then cut off onto a tiny little street that the pedicab barely can fit into without it hitting the walls on either side. People are walking around us and they seem to instinctively know when the pedicab is about to run them over and step aside without even looking back at us. It is very calm and serene and the driver slows down. I really enjoy the smaller streets because the neighborhoods are older and the buildings smaller with more local flavor.

We continue to cruise to my destination, about a 15 minute ride, and I pay the driver. Ten RMB, or about one dollar I almost jump out of my seat, and and fifty cents American, for the pedicab, in utter surprise. a 15 minute ride and a new The driver, on the other hand, experience. is used to it and just ignores it I’d say that I received so much more than the price and look forward to my next adventure in a pedicab!

Pedicab rides: A fun, fast, and a enjoyable way to get around Beijing on the cheap!

If you are from San Francisco, you’ve seen someone being driven around in a Golden Gate Pedicab at some point. Maybe you’ve ridden in one yourself.

and merrily keeps on driving. He continues to dart in and out of traffic, around cars trying to park, and attempts not to get us crushed by buses and trucks that are right beside us and Let me tell you, it is a whole wandering all over the road. different story in Beijing. That is something else I’ve The Pedicabs run on the streets noticed: Driving here is like a with all school of fish with everyone pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

Aram Sohigian moved from San Francisco to Beijing to work as a psychotherapist. He started a blog about his experiences two weeks before arriving and has posted once a day about his travels around the world since June 5th, 2013. His blog is www.fromthebaytobeijing.com 08

Review School is in Session review & photos: Chris Wheeler

Featuring:

Girlschool with Special Guests, Crucified Barbara, Old James and Velvet Black ________________ Coop Katacombes 1635 Boul St-Laurent, Montréal, QC H2X 2S9

________________

Friday, June 12th, 2015 Last night Old School Metal fans were treated to a special evening with N.W.O.B.H.M. band, GIRLSCHOOL playing an intimate show and performing oldies and newer goodies to a rabid crowd! The last time the band played on these shores was for the Heavy MTL summer festival back in 2011 and somehow, seeing the four women play within a stone’s throw is something enticing indeed. Add to that, Swedish Metallers, CRUCIFIED BARBARA (who could’ve headlined their own show!), blues-infused OLD JAMES and local Quebec act, VELVET BLACK and you’ve a recipe for a memorable time! 09 Playing to a sparse crowd,

VELVET BLACK took the stage with vigor, playing a brand of Blues Rock; commercially tangible and radio friendly. Clean solos with a 1970’s flavor rang through the rafters as vocalist, Gee’s strong pipes sounded perfect for the band’s cover of the ZZ TOP classic, “Sharp Dressed Man”. “Rise and Shine” showcased his harmonica playing which fit nice and snug against the backdrop guitar showmanship and swagger. With a descent stage presence and tongue and cheek stage banter, the threesome held their own even if the audience didn’t fully raise the roof with applause. Safe and predictable it may have been but nevertheless entertaining.

Toronto natives, OLD JAMES, struck a powerful chord from the get go as main man, Brian Stephenson propelled the evening into overdrive with a highly infectious performance characterized by charisma and a wide vocal range! Like an unleashed beast, he leapt from every angle, posed and cried out to “Mystery”, “Just Be”, “Don’t Put it On Me” and a highly overridden version of JEFFERSON AIRPLANE’s “Don’t You (Want Somebody to Love)”. Recalling early 1990’s Metal acts SLIK TOXIK and SAIGON KICK, the band brought bravado and musical dexterity to the fore with a charged atmosphere and youthful zeal.“Rockin’ Out” should be their catch phrase! pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

and sing-along hit, “Electric Sky” (among others) to a raucous crowd, particularly after ending on a high note with “Into the Fire”! Brilliant.

A Little Rant about Concert Etiquette... Not always, but sometimes people who go to shows can be VERY obnoxious and extremely rude and from my concert experience it depends on who’s playing! Popular bands tend to get a younger crowd whereas more extreme, underground bands and /or Classic Metal bands usually cater to an older group, but I may be wrong here. Now I’m not the tallest person in the world so I usually like to be up front where I can take the best possible photos for my reviews. At last night’s Ensiferum gig, I was near the front barrier among a slew of people around me and I politely asked this kid in front if I could stand in his place because he was taller. I figured it’s no biggie and well, he could STILL be up front and get a bird’s eye view of the stage. I also told him it was for a review I’d write. His answer, “Well I paid for my ticket, so no!” He then turns his back to me. FUCK OFF!! Also, once I had my pics, I decided to move to the back of the hall with my friend. As we were slowly moving through the crowd, these fuckin’ idiots refused to move out of the way as I was CLEARLY trying to move past them and once I did (after excusing myself), one guy pushed me out of the way! What the Hell is wrong with some people? Does everyone feel entitled and like the King Shit of the World?! If there’s someone walking through the crowd, trying to get by - let them! It’s one thing if someone is drunk and pushing their way through, but otherwise...and shit, if you’re tall and standing at the front of the stage with smaller people behind you, let them move in front. What’s the big deal? You’ll STILL be able to see and yes you’ve bought your ticket.... SO DID I ASSHOLE!!!! pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

The main attraction, the moment all had been waiting for, had finally arrived. Emerging from the side stage, drummer Denise Dufour comfortably took the stage and introduced the rest of GIRLSCHOOL with the “Demolition Boys” drum pattern which prompted a huge ovation! Smiles all around, the four icons mesmerized with classic tunes, “Emergency”, “C’mon Let’s Go, “The Hunter”, “Hit and Run”, “Future Flash” “Screaming Blue Murder” and night closer, “Take it All Away”. Included as well were later numbers, “I Spy”, and “Never Say Never”, but the evening was truly memorable for the bands early work. With wild abandon, the girls clearly showed they still have the “it” factor and even now 35 years later, still sound as good today as they did back in 1980! Singing along, jumping up and down and even crowdsurfing brought the band to the inevitable conclusion that they were missed and even though the musical landscape has changed over the years there are still those who crave, nay YEARN, for those bygone era bands/sounds. School was in session and you had better pay attention! Sweden’s CRUCIFIED BARBARA certainly didn’t need any introduction judging from the increased number of band shirt wearing onlookers taking their place. With a full house in tow, the four ladies captivated with a more aggressive approach than their previous counterparts and with this harder edge, fans began to sit up and take an undeniable notice! Although bassist, Ida Evileye experienced some sound problems early on, once they were fixed, the band’s sound was massive, thick and impenetrable. Channeling the rebellious spirit of 1980’s Heavy Metal, the act stormed through cuts, “I Sell My Kids for Rock ‘n’ Roll”, “Count Me In”, “Crucifier”, “Rock Me like the Devil”

Chris Wheeler continues to write show/album reviews and interviews for Montreal Metal shop, “La Bête Noire Emporium” and freelances his work wherever needed. His work can also be read on Facebook under simply, “Chris Wheeler”. 10

Ways to Become a “Social” Alcoholic

By Tracy Chenxi Wang

beer/tech

Have you ever been in these scenarios as follows?

Stand in front of a super big freezer which filled up with hundreds or even thousands of beers/ wines, but don’t know which one you are going to pick; Drink tons of interesting beers/wines, but after you wake up with the hangover, you couldn’t name even one drink; Want to learn more about the beverage in your hand, but don’t have the notebook to compare laterally or vertically; (say by varieties, or years)…. 11

I’ve

download-

ed all of the apps below and also experienced a lot more crappy ones. There are several applications which can help you to be a better alcoholic, let’s drink socially, as Untapped says. ___________________

Beer BuddyBarcode Scanner

This is the No.1 APP for many people, developed by RateBeer.com, and it has a lot of fans all over the world. With huge database of ratebeer.com and 300,000+ beers, and more than one million people’s comments, also has scoring mechanism of BJCP (Beer Judging Certificate Program), also a barcode scanner which makes it super easy for the shaky and drunk hands. You can check the beers you have before, the scores you give, also search for the bars or restaurants nearby. It’s based on multiple languages, like English, Chinese, Japanese, pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

French, German, Korean, and Viennese. Price: RMB 25/$3.99 ☆☆☆☆ ___________________

RateBeer

It’s also developed by ratebeer.com, but in a more simple way. It shares the same database with Beer Buddy, information looks identical with Beer Buddy too. I still don’t get the reason they have two identical applications. Price: RMB 25/$3.99 ☆☆☆☆

Even though it’s seamless to send the reviews of the forum to your phone, there’s a weakness—it’s impossible to upload the beer you just drink to the app. What a disaster for social hipsters! Price: Free ☆☆☆ ___________________

UntappedDiscover Beer

And now, on to the Free ones… ___________________

BeerAdvocate I like this one not just because it’s a free app, but it’s more like an extension of beeradvocate. com. With the white background (the Beer Buddy is brown), everything seems clean and pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015 easy.

Whoa, this one is a supermodel among the rest of free apps. It has everything, to review, score, toast to others, search for bars or top beers, and even add the homebrew/microbrewery next door, say Box-

ing Cat Brewery, Slow Boat The Great Leap, Jing A, Nbeer, Harvest, Mater Gao….you name it. And also check in with foursquare, share to twitter and Facebook. The most charming thing is that it will award you with badges, even though the last thing our drinkers need is stimulant. Once you start to use this app, upload the beer (filter the photo) and are ready to share it to all the platforms you use, under the peer pressure, your friend either join you or block you. Btw, IOS version is way better and more user-friendly than the Android version, they look like different apps, and besides it always quits unexpectedly on Android phone….so the only way to deal with this would be…buy an iPhone just like my friend did. Price: Free ☆☆☆ ___________________

Next Glass

This just released program can demystify beer and wine. Build a taste profile by rating drinks you’ve tasted, just like other apps can do. Well, just by scanning the label, it will provide all the information of this 12

drink. Better to use at a supermarket. After five times of scoring, it will predict how much you’ll like the next glass. But obviously people from this company are too snobby to think there’s no such demand and the beers and wines in the U.S. or Europe can’t be sent to Asia, so they block it in Asia. Price: Free ☆☆ (boo, snobs) ___________________

its identifying ability is superb. It happens to me often—wandering at the shelves and swinging chaotically between two terrific wines, it’s time to scan those wines and get the reviews and tasting notes. You’ll make the decision soon. It is the most popular app among the “wine celebrities”—top sommeliers, winemakers and wine pros. You can follow some of them, and make a wish list. Whenever the important day is coming, you know what to do (wink, wink.) Price: Free ☆☆☆☆ ___________________

taste it, you can review and rate it, then share to Facebook. Besides it’s faster than Delectable. Sometimes it’s depressed to see the price is twice of the average here in China. Shoot, I have to drink anyways, maybe that’s the dedication I give to the whole industry. Their website is also interesting and smart with cool topics. Price: Free ☆☆☆ So as a wrap, I have to repeat that don’t drink and drive, and drink moderately. Wish I knew the real tips to get over hangover. Cheers.

Vivino

Delectable

This is my favorite wine app. Even though it’s a little slow to “read” the photo you upload (with13 in 15 minutes), but

Now there comes to the app for wines. This one is the No. 1 wine app for now. It gathers 9 million wine lovers. You take a photo of the label, then it pops up, you can get the reviews, rankings and pricing. After you

Tracy Wang is a traveler and foodie. While waiting for the alien mother-ship to pick her up, she’s developed a passion to write about the things she loves most: craft beers and fine wines. She’s the executive editor for The Beer Link Magazine and started home-brewing recently. pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

pré·cis 摘要 The international magazine focusing on life. in all its form.

pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

Is seeking out and

individual contributors

advertisers worldwide to help round out the magazine.

Almost anything goes. Art, photography, food, travel, fiction, nonfiction, commentary. Ever want to get in print?

Now is your chance!

the dead. review Fare Thee Well reunion tour

Story and Photos by: Ed Lalonde

By 1980 I was thoroughly into punk rock. The Vibrators, Pretenders, Ramones, Talking Heads, Clash, Decentz, and Pinhead.... these were my favorite b a n d s . Vermont had a great music scene and I spent many nights in local bars enjoying the live music. But in the spring of 1983 the Grateful Dead played their second show at the University of Vermont and my younger brother, who was a freshman at UVM at the time, invited me to go. What I remember about the show was that there was a huge flock of people without tickets in the parking lot (who eventually got in) and we took just about every drug available at 15 that time. I won’t go

into details but I had an out of body experience and became hooked on the music. In one night I became a Deadhead. Over the next 12 years I traveled extensively to see the band. I bought an old school bus and went on tour. Along the way I met kindred souls, many of whom continue to be close friends today. Like thousands of others I explored America with the soundtrack being played by the Grateful Dead. It was a community born out of the music and it was a community of adventurous souls. By the time Jerry Garcia passed in 1995 I was a professional stagehand. I got to work the shows in Vermont in 1994 and 1995 and came face to face with pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

Jerry as he walked off the stage after the June 15,1995 show. He looked like a little old man to me yet was only 53 years old. We didn’t know at the time that in a few weeks he would be gone from this world. I should have said “thank you”.

girlfriend smuggled my camera in under her dress for these photos. The band shots are from Augusta, Maine in the fall of 1984 and Philadelphia in April 1985. The lot scenes are from various places along the way.

As I write this the final chapter of the Grateful Dead is about to unfold with the performance of five 50th Anniversary shows. Jerry won’t be there physically but I’m sure he will be watching over it in spirit. In his stead will be Trey Anastasio of the band Phish. This is somewhat of a full circle for folks from Burlington who knew Phish when they came out of the dorms of UVM and alternated sets with the local Grateful Dead cover band, the Jonses.

I am not going to make the trek this time, but modern technology will allow me see all five shows live from my couch. I’m sure the shows will bring back many great memories for me. They already have.

Things have come a long way since we had to smuggle 35 mm cameras into shows to get pictures of a band. Now everyone has an hd video phone that they can record film sound with. My pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

Ed Lalonde ~ I’ve taking photographs ever since my father gave me a Kodak 620 view camera when I was six. I like the ability to capture moments of time, creating an opportunity to extend the present into the future and the past into the now. 16

DJANG SAN @ XP, Beijing 6.25.2015

Djang San’s album “Bridges” part 2, new album out now. you can listen to it here:

http://zhangsian.com/newsletter/bridges-part-2-new-album-out-now

gigs. 17

pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

POKEMON DAD, NAKOMA @ DDC, Beijing 6.19.2015

pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

gigs. 18

images.

Need to find out who is playing where in Beijing?

word on the street is..

LiveBeijingMusic.com

datong caves © stech

pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

images.

Le Magasin de Musique Underground Communautaire à Montréal! Montréal’s Underground Community Music Store! photos: olympic park, Beijing © stech

pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

last night at XP, Beijing: © stech

ICVS offers monthly workshops for expatriates who need counseling on repatriating with their pets including: • Required vaccinations and pre-departure screening health examination to ensure smooth departure from China • Obtaining the official Beijing Animal Health and Immunity Certificate (vaccination red book required for export • Obtaining the EU microchip required for the official exit health examination to take pets out of China • Fulfilling pet import requirements for European Union and strict quarantine control destinations (e.g., Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, etc.) • Completing the rabies antibody titre test required to take pets into the European Union and other countries • Transporting pet by “excess check-in baggage” or unaccompanied live animal “cargo” transport • Taking multiple pets out of China under the “one-pet per-passport” regulation • Taking pets out of China when the owner has to leave the country first • Managing the process without the assistance of a pet relocation company • Exporting rabbits and other exotic animals • Reducing the stress of travel on pets and pet owners • Safe and effective calming remedies to help pets during travel CONTACT ICVS FOR MORE INFORMATION:

images. pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

Tel: (010) 8456-1939/1940 E-mail: ICVS_CHINA@yahoo.com www.ICVSASIA.com 22

travel.

story and photos: Cheryl Lister

Goodbye to our ‘hood in Piedra Blanca

Off The Grid Mama Ponders:

21 Days of Water

In my last article, I shared that my family had left our rainforest paradise in the Dominican Republic. It was clear that an intestinal amoeba that I was ravaged by did not respond to the local medication I was given. We moved to Northern California, and I took a heavy dose of American style antibiotics and meds, which did finally kill my invaders. However, I was left with a severely damaged intestinal lining: My American Gastroenteritist now said that I had “PostInfectious IBS,” which could take years to recover from. Basically, I still had diarrhea and a sense of chronic fatigue. The Western style Doctor had nothing to offer in terms of a recovery plan. I decided to let my body take a complete rest from all digestive processes, and use 23

the energy to heal. It was time to arthritis to cancer. The doctor that go on a water fast, as much as I felt was assigned to me, Dr. Klaper, felt somewhat horrified by the concept. confident that a water fast would be brilliant for my gut healing.. My I consulted with a group of Doctors husband became Mr. and Mrs. Mom from TrueNorth Center in Santa for 5 weeks, and I checked myself in to TrueNorth, determined and bummed out, all at the same time. I hated leaving my family. And – did I mention, I love food?

Rosa, California. They have been offering medically supervised water fasts for years, with success in healing everything from rheumatoid

The atmosphere at TrueNorth Center is austere. A newcomer will observe several people draped over chaise lounge chairs in the sun, inert. Once you start on water you agree not to leave the property. People who are water fasting can faint. Or they can sneak off to a Chinese Buffet and end up in the pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

hospital. The running joke at the facility is, “This is like going to prison, except in prison you get water and bread, and here you only get the water.”

stopping? I guess everyone’s journey is different, cuz that’s not my journey. I’m hungry. What is hungry? I discover it is a constant gnawing feeling in my center, as if someone is continually tapping me on the shoulder, irritating and relentless. It is not actual pain, I tell myself, simply a distracting discomfort. I use all of my somatic psychology skills to allow this sensation to be here with me, to embrace and accept the feeling, not to try to fight against it. I am still hungry.

Upon arrival, I was given a full physical exam. Dr. Klaper and I agreed that I would take a couple of days of very light food and then juice, before Day 1 of water began. I had done my best to eat vegan before I arrived, but there was one incident of what I like to call “exceptions,” just a few days earlier – it included sushi and sake. Gotta get that raw, putrid fish outta there before starting Day Nine, water: I’m over one third of the way there! My blood work the fast. and vitals are all stable. My stomach Dr. Klaper and I also agreed that is making crazy gurgling noises. I if all of my signs remained stable, decide to take that as a good sign I would go for a 21 day water fast. that my intestinal tract is healing. Here is a brief synoDay One, water: Secretly, I think it sounds as if there Not too bad. I am committed to was any food in there, I’d be having keeping a positive attitation. I rarely diarrhea. I decide not to dwell on have the chance to do this at home that negative thought path. with my adorable daughters jumping on me at 6 am, so this is a good time Day Twelve, water: My apartment companion finishes her fast. As she to practice. begins to eat, she begins to speak Day Two, water: Caffeine to me. I am now less interested in withdrawal hits big time. It’s in the speaking to her. She understands. form of a migraine that comes on She leaves a few days after “relike a drill in my head, so that the feeding.” A new roommate moves light in the bathroom almost makes in to the spare bedroom. I meet her me vomit it is so loud. This light once, and then never see her again is screaming like a dentist drill in for the entire seven days she is in the an office that doesn’t offer pain room next to me. medication. All I can do is lay down Some in the bed with all of the lights off Day Fifteen, water: and not move. Miraculously, I fall people have spiritual experiences asleep. When I wake up around somewhere around day fifteen of 3:00 am, I praise the universe that their water fast. Sometime between about 3:00 – 6:00 pm on Day fifteen, the drilling pain is gone. a profound sense of peace washes Day Three, water: They say that over me, as I lay draped across one after the first three days, your body of the now familiar chaise lounges somehow stops feeling hungry. I in the courtyard. The sun is warm will look forward to that feeling on my arms and legs, I am complete. tomorrow, on day four. I am I am deeply connected to the rich in a small apartment with three fabric of the present moment. By bedrooms. There is a woman who is about 6:30 pm, my spiritual epiphany staying in one of the bedrooms. She has ended, with the increased is on Day Eight, and I have only seen calling of my hunger. I Google her once, hobbling to her bathroom. “vegan panang curry” recipes for We barely speak. the rest of the evening, as I begin to Day Six, water: That feeling of obsessively plan my future diet. The h u n g e r quinoa pancakes look awesome, too. Regarding my spiritual epiphany, it pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

is one of the shortest ones I’ve ever had. Day Seventeen, water: My family has come to visit every week. The girls are a little bit confused as to what I am doing at TrueNorth, and I try to keep it all low key and not shocking. “Mommy got sick at the farm, honeys, and now I’m letting my body heal itself by resting...” “Mommy, if you ever get to come home,” my 6 year old begins, before I interrupt her: “No, Sofia! Not if! Mommy IS coming home..not if, but WHEN Mommy comes home...” I sound a bit desperate. I feel guilty and a bit of doubt has entered into my hugely positive approach to this whole thing. I wonder if this is going to work? Why couldn’t I just have stayed home and eaten quinoa pancakes and vegan panang curry? And speaking of vegan panang curry, there must be a killer vegan recipe for Pad Thai that I can Google. Day Eighteen, water: I’m tired. I have another roommate now. The new one is emotionally needy, having left her family behind to come on this water odyssey. I find her crying in the living room as I come out of my bedroom. I have a Master’s Degree in Counseling and have done years of Ministerial counseling with all manner of complicated clients. But this takes all of my strength to sit with her for 45 minutes, as she processes her fears. I really try to be here for her, and also, I can barely hear what she is saying. I try to ground myself by feeling my feet on the floor and holding on to my water glass. When she stops crying, I wander to the chaise lounge where I pass out in the sun. Day Twenty, water: One more day! My crying roommate has asked for another apartment to stay in that has more people in it. I understand. I have been unable to emote much more than to say, “Hi...sorry I am going to lay down...” A low key guy moves in, and he doesn’t need to talk about anything, w h i c h continued on page 25 24

is the perfect roommate for me at this point in my fast. I say to him when I meet him, “Hi, I’m Cheryl...Day Twenty. You won’t see much of me, but welcome.” continued from page 24

urgency and I race to the bathroom – and have a major diarrhea attack. I don’t think anything could seem more depressing to me, after 21 days of trying to heal from diarrhea, to have diarrhea after half a glass of juice.

Day Twenty-one, water: I still have I am depressed. I put myself in the to get through the whole day. In the morning, after a crescendo of Post Fast, Day Seven: I’ve stomach gurgling sounds, I suddenly feel very nauseated and run to the graduated to a broader bathroom. It feels as if I delivered range of food items, though a space alien from my twisting raw foods and fruits are intestines. I have expelled a strange, more like a condiment than otherworldly opaque, jellyfish part of the meal. Food looking creature into the toilet. As is starting to taste good I stand up, I have to grip the side and feels like it is settling of the sink. My heart is pounding and I break into a sweat. I make my better in my tummy. My way to my bed and lay down, spent. main symptom of diarrhea, Whatever that was, is gone. GoodI have to say, is improving bye, strange object from my bowels in a baby step kind of way. after 21 days of no food. Day twenty-one is a long day. But tomorrow, an incredible miracle will happen: A person from the kitchen will bring a green juice to me in my room. I LOVE green juice. I Google different kinds of green juices and hope that mine will have some ginger in it. I find the vegan pad Thai recipe and feel reassured by the glorious looking picture. I have lost 23 pounds but look forward to gaining a few back. Post Fast, Day One: For every two days you water fast at the center, you are required to stay one day of “re-feeding.” Therefore, I will stay 10 more days. On my schedule, I’m supposed to have green juices for the first two days. That’s fine with me. The first sip of my green juice in the morning tastes heavenly. I can make out the sweet succulent nectar of cucumber, the slightly salty celery...I sip slowly per Doctor’s orders. After about half of the drink, my stomach starts to twist and turn. The drink stops tasting yummy. Suddenly my 25 gut contorts into a cramping

Food is absorbing better overall, and providing me with energy.

bed and I am not looking forward to the next juice at all. I know I should not immerse myself in a dark emotional state, since everything is connected and affects everything. But in this moment, I really don’t

give a shit. I can barely drink the second juice, and when Dr. Klaper comes in to check on me at 3:00 pm, he finds me hidden beneath my covers. Ever the optimist, Dr. Klaper is not concerned about my diarrhea attack. He explains that my whole digestive system has been turned off and it’s like a car that was kept in a garage all winter long. Now there will be lots of sputtering and churning to get that engine going again. People with no digestive issues can have issues getting things normalized. No: He believes I have had a deep healing and he asks me to stay positive and start walking a bit outside of the center. I tell him I cannot drink any more of that green juice. He counterproposes steamed zucchini. I am appeased, and pull myself together for my first walk outside of this place in over three weeks. It’s quite uplifting to stroll through the neighborhood, slowly. Post Fast, Day Three: Re-feeding is not as exciting as I’d hoped it would be. Steamed zucchini is almost inedible after three meals in a row. Dr. Klaper and I agree that I can add in a few more steamed veggies, so I make my first trip back to the dining room where vegan, SOS-free (salt-oil-sugar free) food is prepared for the clients who are feeding. It does help to add in a couple of carrots and a stalk of cauliflower, dribbled with a bit of lemon. Yet, my stomach is still upset. Post Fast, Day Five: We’ve now added in probiotics, more walks, and I can have a sweet potato, a tablespoon of quinoa over my veggies, and two raspberries just for fun. Throughout the fast, I somehow made it to the yoga classes that were offered three times a week, but had stopped attending most of the informational lectures, and never went to a cooking class. (They let the feeders sample the food which I couldn’t pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

imagine watching over the rim of my water glass.) Now I’m starting to feel some life force re-enter my body – I have enough energy to be interested in lectures and people. I stop in my living room on the way to a lecture to talk briefly to my guy roommate, now on about Day 4 of his water fast. After listening to me for a couple of minutes, he says, “You are completely different than when I met you, everything has changed: Your tone of voice, how you walk, the color of your face... you must be feeling better, huh?” I realize from his assessment that it’s true: I feel more like me again, the Pre-Amoeba me. It hits me: I feel better. Post Fast, Day Seven: I’ve graduated to a broader range of food items, though raw foods and fruits are more like a condiment than part of the meal. Food is starting to taste good and feels like it is settling better in my tummy. My main symptom of diarrhea, I have to say, is improving in a baby step kind of way. Food is absorbing better overall, and providing me with energy. I’ve been a personal witness to many miracles here during my fast: One woman was in such chronic pain that she couldn’t even make a fist with her hands...on Day Ten of her water fast, she held up her hands and waved them around and closed and opened her fists, crying at the results. Another woman had gotten off of 13 medications, for everything from high blood pressure to God knows what. One woman I just missed before my arrival had a documented case of her Stage Three lymphoma cancer disappearing. All they did was water fast and then refeed with the healthy vegan, SOS free diet. At one lecture, the Doctor shared, “This is horrible...isn’t it? It’s so hard not to eat. We would never want to do this to anyone – except that it works. Water fasting heals people. Over and over, we’ve seen it. When I watch people recover from something pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

so debilitating that they cannot enjoy their lives, I want to keep working for this to become more mainstream, for more people to have the opportunity to fast for healing. It works.” Does it work for everyone? No. And, a large number of people cannot stick with the vegan program once they return to the world of temptation. So it’s not guaranteed, but it is remarkable in many, many cases. Post Fast, Day Nine: One more day to go. I go with a new found friend, out into the world, for a long walk through the old cemetery near the center, and then for a Foot Reflexology session down the road that is rigorous and ticklish. Returning to the center, I have dinner with some oldies and newbies, comparing notes on why we are here. I sit after dinner on one of the chaise lounges with other drifting bodies. The early evening light is thick with the settling of flowers and air. I realize: I’m completely calm and relaxed. My true spiritual epiphany is now: Feeling healthy is a miraculously rich experience. I feel nourished by the food and the quiet, the movement my body has begun to gain strength from, the happy anticipation of coming home. Is there any way I can possibly keep up with this vegan SOS free way of eating? I’ll take it a day at a time and do my best. But for sure, it feels good to feel good. Post Fast, Day Ten, my last day: I’m taking everything in the moment, step by step, breathing in fully and keeping things calm. I hope I never have to do another water fast again, but I’m grateful that I was able to do this one. I feel like a survivor of sorts, a warrior returning home. I have a few wounds still, but mostly I’m whole. I cannot wait to come home to my amazing, precious angel babies who have had to be so brave while I was on this journey. One thing I notice about my tummy that is new: When I start feeling stressed, immediately my symptoms worsen. So I’ll take that as a gift, that I

now have immediate feedback if something is emotionally toxic or if I’m beginning to feel too anxious. It will be my sign that I need to step back and breathe..take a hike...go to yoga. Post Fast, About Two Weeks After Coming Home: Life: It’s not easy, even with food included. But it’s worth everything to be fully engaged in our existence. I’ve been getting pretty creative with my vegan food and it still feels good to eat this way. I’m hiking and running a bit, and just now made it through a more advanced level of a yoga class. There is a lot of change in our lives. My husband and I are trying to figure out the next steps. Our girls are still innocent and full of the essence of their natural Selves...they are pure love. And that’s what I want to give them, the purest love I have, for as long as I can. I have more to give them now than ever.

Cheryl Lister moved off the

grid with her family in the summer of 2014. Although they have recently moved to California, Cheryl continues to work on an EcoRetreat business to help sustain the people and the land of the rainforest in the Dominican Republic near River Whisper Farm. You can find out more about the business at w w w. E c o R e t r e a t s D R . c o m . To read more of her family’s adventures, check out Cheryl’s blog at: www.offthegridmama.com. To learn more about the Fourth Way community that has established the farm, please visit: www.gurdjieffdominican.com 26

music.

The Man Behind the Art. Interview with Nader Sadek By: Chris Wheeler Nader Sadek, the visionary who brought fans to their knees with an all-star cast of players for his unique project, is back with a vengeance! One thing is certain, while the man inspires with his art, he is quick to disassociate what he does as a permanent “band”, to which many wrongfully believed. No, he firmly maintains “NADER SADEK” is NOT a band but he himself who captures the imagination with talented musicians who back his vision. With such mystery 27 and intrigue, Sadek has

INTERVIEW recently brought the legendary DEICIDE frontman, Glen Benton onboard to handle vocal duties and he couldn’t be happier! I caught up with the artist to wax poetic about the current state of the endeavor and his plans for the future. ______________________ Chris Wheeler: What was going through your mind when you learned that former players, Flo Mounier, Rune Eriksen, and Travis Ryan were leaving? Nader Sadek: Well, they actually didn’t leave. They were ASKED to leave due to inner project issues. In fact, I never “formed a band”. Label, Season of Mist, initially promoted the idea of a “supergroup” to try to gain a fan base for my artistic vision. A member of their press once stated that “Metalheads don’t have an intellectual capacity” for what I was trying to get across (in

relation to the world’s use of petroleum). At the moment I thought, “Hey, you’ve insulted just about every Metalhead out there!” Art appeals to everyone and because I’ve funded the project myself, I feel like I have to right to do whatever I feel like doing, you know? I’ve always been different from the norm. That’s actually what “Nader Sadek” means, someone different and uniquely truthful. So in that respect, I don’t feel bound by the music industry. If I think about what the essence of Metal music is, it’s about free will, uniqueness and individuality! No one else is doing this kind of thing, not even in other genres of music. I really wanted to bring people together from all walks of life and backgrounds in a special circumstance and share something new. When I approached them (the players), Rune didn’t resist the idea but the others were more standoff-ish. When they DID finally meet, pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

the chemistry was immediately apparent. There was no way to predict that. Things were good for a while but these guys are amazing musicians and I wish them all the best! At the end of the day, however, I’m a “curator” and I have the final word on MY project. I don’t feel any regret about what’s happened. My art, as I said before, is primarily about bringing people together and that’s what this world needs. Too many people have strong views about others who live across the globe and breed ignorance with naïve thinking and judgments. ______________________ Wheeler: How did you manage to pull your project back together? Was it difficult for you? Sadek: I met Glen Benton ten years ago and at the time he didn’t have any reason to be nice to me at all, but he was! He remembered me after all these years so approaching him to do the vocals was motivation in itself to carry on. What was cool too was the fact that he did the work freely out of courtesy for me and the project! Also, you have to understand that at one point before this, I was just exhausted and the atmosphere was dragging me down. To have NEW blood in the fold got me going again and I just breathed a huge sigh of relief. For me, bringing in famous and not so famous musicians is so important. It gives a younger player a platform in which to perform and gives him/her a chance. For the recent shows, I brought in NECROPHAGIST drummer, Hannes Grossman who’s a stellar drummer who I felt could bring something pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015 n e w

and uniquely his to the sound. For now, whenever there’s a chance to perform live I’ll do it and whoever’s with me, is with me! ______________________ Wheeler: On “In the Flesh” you explored the idea that petroleum is a silent evil that has gone widely unnoticed by the layperson. What lyrical themes are you exploring now? Sadek: Yeah, “Malefic Ch. III” is being rerecorded now with Glen’s vocals. It’s a narrative which is a huge departure from the petroleum theme. I’ve always wanted to write a story and I draw too so that would go hand in hand in bringing people together from various backgrounds and interests. This time I wanted to bring comic book enthusiasts to the Metal community ‘cause the figures of Superman and Batman have been influences on me for a while. So this way I can attract a different type of crowd. ______________________ Wheeler: What is the story about? Sadek: It’s about a time and place when God is dead and the Devil disappeared. Every soul is now trapped in a sort of limbo, or purgatory in between Heaven and Hell. A woman dies and her soul is no exception save for the fact that her husband is a necromancer. So, she tells him that there MUST be a way out of this “limbo”. He goes on a journey to seek out a divine power on top a mountain but faces numerous challenges along the way; challenges that slowly turn him evil. When he attains this power, he’s SO evil that he sends everyone to Hell

and becomes the Malefic! So, Chapter III is the last part of this whole narrative, a post chapter, if you will, after the souls are sent down. On his journey he’s warned about the dangers of continuing along this path, but slays the messengers anyway. What was great this time around in the studio was the “tennis match” I had with both Glen and Jason Suecof, the producer, just bouncing ideas back and forth. It was great! ______________________ Wheeler: Do you feel any pressure or expectations from fans or critics in regards to new ventures with your project? Sadek: I just hope fans and critics can focus on the art and not what goes on behind the scenes. In my opinion, an artist is a curator bringing together people to share new experiences. I manage the project, produce a lot of the material, I’m the artist, video director, etc. so for me I’ve invested so much into the product that I hope people will understand what I’m aiming to do here. I’ve never given myself any credit for the final process and what it takes to release something like this. In that respect, I hope people will enjoy what it is and not get dismayed by anything else. ______________________ With that, Nader Sadek certainly is a man with a strong vision and deep conviction in regards to his project. Leaving the past behind him, Sadek is looking ahead and embarking on new avenues in which many are invited without prejudice or vice. Here’s to the future… 28

science.

image © Cat Bat ~ http://cat-bat.deviantart.com/art/Quantum-Suicide-184243091

THE QUANTUM SUICIDE PARADOX AND THE MULTIVERSE

The Connectome by Charles

surrounded by some r a t h e r unsavory

Watson

‘gentlemen’. A cone of light sways to illuminate One of the most spiritually the table, with its patchwork enlightened individuals I have presence lending to the confusion ever met, and a dear friend of you currently feel. mine, once told me a story: that she watched herself drive past On the dented surface of this ‘herself’ on a bus, when she (and metal table rests a six-chamber apparently her-other-self) were revolver. A large mustachioed man going in opposite directions. Have stares through you with heavyyou crossed your finish line? What set beady eyes, reminding you of if you were going in the opposite the Orwellian quip: big brother is always watching. He slides a single direction? bullet in the chamber and spins Humans, with their ‘unique’ human the wheel. nature, constitute a collection of very interesting beasts, in that we Trembling, your whooshing exhale are always interested about what seems to guide your arm to the handle. You pick up the revolver, we DON’T know. and place it to your right temple (4) : If you asked me how a rocket got closing your eyes to murmur sweet to the Moon, I could tell you in somethings to the loved ones you intricate detail(1) ; but today(2) I once had. . .Russian Roulette, what received a request from Pré·cis a trip . . . As your heart fires pistons to write about something else in your thoracic cavity, and a bead entirely. Strap on your seatbelts, of sweat drips down from your because this magic school bus is brow, you squeeze the trigger. The going to the Multiverse (3)! metallic [Click] didn’t seem to be the loudest noise in the room… In a Dank, Dank Basement Introduction

I’d be happy to see him again’, as you think to yourself, ‘In another universe, I wouldn’t be in this mess!’ According to Quantum Mechanics: that is very much the truth! Let’s break it down by thinking of measurement and probability in a rather unworldly and new way. HINT: It has to do with you being, in a probabilistic sense: dead and alive at the same time! The laws of Quantum Mechanics can be succinctly summarized in a rather simple probabilistic law

known as the (non-relativistic) Schrodinger Equation:

Okay, maybe it is not so simple: a ‘wave-equation’ of a complex variable that holds a probabilistic interpretation, but you catch my drift. Without shunning philosophical ponderings and navel gazing (too much), which for the purposes of this paper, I find to be largely useless…we will adopt the mantra of the immediate successors to the pioneers of the field of QM: “Shut up and calculate”. For ease of typesetting, these ideas will largely Opening your eyes, you see that be explained verbally. You look around a dimly lit (5) , and the musky basement again basement, where you are large man smiles. ‘Never thought 29 pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

Although some educators may argue otherwise, I believe that if you want to know about quantum mechanics at a deep level, you have to go learn Linear Algebra. I adopt the stance of Roger Penrose: “ [ . . . ]what I have to say cannot reasonably be conveyed without a certain amount of mathematical notation and the exploration of genuine mathematical concepts [. . . ]” (Road to Reality, p. xv) Moving on. . . The Schrodinger Wave Equation explains a philosophical, and very much real probability wave. The mysteries of Quantum Mechanics essentially began to be discovered by Ludwig Boltzmann, Max Plank, and Albert Einstein.

Image 1

Boltzmann, to the point where a non-quantum (6) suicide was his only way out. So much for Bipolar disorder, right? (7)

In the time of Ludwig, people were attempting to explain theoretically, the behavior of atomic motions using a Newtonian World View (8) : in that atoms (then only rumored to exist) collided with each other ______________________ with perfect elasticity (in that they A Brief (Tumultuous) History did not lose any kinetic energy to heat). One such consequence of Quantum Mechanics of this Kinetic Molecular Theory was another theory known as the Rayleigh-Jeans Law. But before we get into the nitty-gritty details of the thing (Schrodinger Eqn), we have to rewind to the time of a Ludwig Boltzman, circa 1900.

This law applied to the idealized “black body radiation” or the radiation emitted from a hot oven with a slit in it. (Note that the radiation was assumed to reflect perfectly from the interior walls of the container, hence twangs of the Kinetic Molecular Theory; and absorb all light incident on the exterior walls: hence ‘blackbody’.).

Ludwig, a hardcore statistical physicist and father of ENTROPY, ended up hanging himself due to a rather unaccepting populace – those unwilling to take his ideas to their logical conclusion berated old pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

The sun and all of the stars behave as ‘black bodies’ and the universe itself is a blackbody (Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation, CMB, 2.7 K, temperature of deep space. SEE IMAGE 1. ). The way this theory worked is that “standing waves” like those of a guitar string (9) , formed inside the cavity, and constructively interfered with

each other, eventually emerging at the slit’s opening. When the waves were emitted, they were much different than otherwise imagined. So much so, that the Rayleigh-Jeans Law lead to the infamous Ultraviolet Catastrophe (in that at UV wavelengths, the energy leapt off to infinity). (See Image 2) One fine gentleman, a theoretical physicist by the name of Max Plank, attempted to resolve this ultraviolet catastrophe from the blackbody (Rayleigh-Jeans) theory by adopting the methodology of Ludwig Boltzmann, and; in order to fit the experimental data (graph), he assumed that energy came in chunk size pieces on the “string”, i.e. discrete, non-continuous, integer values. This was the birth of Quantum Mechanics, and the slope of the curve (energy vs. frequency, note that energy vs. wavelength is graphed above) was later given the moniker “Plank’s Constant “ (~10^-32 Joule-Seconds, that is a 1 with 31 zeros in front of it; which is why Quantum effects are so hard to measure (with machines)). The Plank Law stated that Energy of the wave, E, was proportional to the frequency of the emitted radiation, f; with the constant 30

Image 2

of proportionality being an integer, Where KEmax is the maximum n, multiple of Plank’s constant, h. kinetic energy (think speed) of the “photoelectrons” that were boiled E=nhf. off of the metal, hf is the energy of the incident photons, and (w.f.) Simple enough, right? is a nifty parameter known as This simple rule has profound the work function, which is the consequences, most notably in “energy barrier” to overcome the Einstein-Plank-deBroglie Law;

PHOTON. The Photoelectric Effect was important because it raised some very interesting conceptual issues: the energy of the photoelectron didn’t depend on the NUMBER (intensity/ brightness) of photons that impinged on the metal, but only on the COLOR of the light (energy and/or wavelength). It just so happens that photons of the right wavelength will overcome the work function (allowing for a more positive KE; and MORE of the photons will boil off MORE of the electrons). Very strange. . . The idea of a photon was driven home by the brilliant experiments of Arthur Compton (who also won a Nobel Prize in Physics) for the ballistic scattering of photons off of electron-billiard-balls; with

E=hf={hc/(L)} Where the ‘n’ is suppressed (10) , the ‘h’ is Plank’s constant, ‘c’ the speed of light, and ‘L’ the wavelength of the wave (the distance between successive peaks). When this law was used to explain an interesting phenomenon (known as the Photoelectric Effect), Nobel prizes were awarded. The Photoelectric Image 3 Effect effectively explains that the Electromagnetic Field (the thing that makes light: Radio, Microwave, Infrared, Visible, the metallic sea of electrons’ X-Rays, Gamma Rays) was itself ionization potential, breaking the electron out of the ocean quantized. (metals, on average, donate one It works a little something like this: electron per atom to the lattice: light is shone incident on a metal thus forming a “sea of electrons”. (think the table and the lamp cone This ‘sea’ contributes to all of the earlier, just monochromatic – of a interesting properties of metallic single color), and electrons (one of elements.). the constituent particles within an This law, The Photoelectric atom) come ‘boiling off’. Effect, inspired the definition KEmax=hf-(w.f.) of the first known quanta: the 31

the emerging photon having a wavelength scaled by the impact parameter and a numerical constant known as the Compton Wavelength. (See Image 3). (See any MODERN PHYSICS TEXT for more details; http:// hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/ hbase/quantum/compton.html). Around

the

same

time,

pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

Image 4

nobleman by the name of Louis deBroglie hypothesized that if photons (those particles now used to describe classical light waves) behave like particles (able to scatter electrons in that fashion); why can’t electrons have wave-like characteristics? (another Nobel Prize!)

Neihls Bohr. (see Image 4)

E=pc = hc/L

----------- END OF PAPER 1 ---------

In the following issue of Pré·cis, we will continue our discussion with the Bohr Model of Hydrogenic Systems, and gradually introduce the intricacies of measurement as explicated by the Schrodinger Equation and Born’s Statistical Interpretation of the wave The hypothesis was that the function. momentum of the particle, p, is inversely proportional to the Once this is fleshed out in an acceptable level of detail, we wavelength of the wave, L. can finally understand what p = h/L the Multiverse is, and whether Quantum Suicide is real in practice! Yes, that is Plank’s constant again! Just to break it to you, you You can further see, probably shouldn’t try it at home! There is an internal consistency (E=pc is the relativistic-energymomentum of a massless particle, like the photon). This lead to amazing experiments by Young (Double Slit Experiment: which would take an entire article to explain (11)) and Electron Diffraction (similar to Bragg Diffraction, but electrons are used instead of x-rays); but it also contributed to the success of a Danish Physicist named pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

FOOTNOTES & ATTRIBUTION (1) And yes, dill-hole, we landed on the moon. Get over it. (2) Okay, it wasn’t today. Free beer tomorrow. (3) [GROAN!] (4) In a left-handed universe, mind you. (5) What’s the probability of that? Well, given that you opened your eyes, the probability is 1. © (6) Or was it? How would you know for sure? http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/ File:Ludwig_Boltzmann_-_Grave_B.jpg (7) It was said that Ludwig had Bipolar Disorder. To which one of my professors quipped: “Don’t all Physicists?” (8) I will write an essay about Newton in the near future, hold on to your seats: ““Relativity eliminated the Newtonian illusion of absolute space and time; quantum theory eliminated The Newtonian dream of a controllable measurement process; and chaos eliminates the Laplacian fantasy of deterministic predictability.”” (Gleick, Chaos) http://cosmology.berkeley.edu/Education/CosmologyEssays/The_Cosmic_ Microwave_Background.html (9) https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=INqfM1kdfUc (10) BERNIE SANDERS (yeah, Stech, you’ve been trolled). (11) To quench your thirst, see The Feynman Lectures in Physics, Volume III: Quantum Mechanics

Pré·cis welcomes all science related content, articles can be submitted through our Facebook Page, or emailed directly to: stech@outlook.com .

Biography: Charles Watson is a loc’d-out gansta set trippin’ banger. . . Fool! Look ...it’s a dog in a zero-g environment!

FACEZINE by Joel Fremming

pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

by Chris Parizo

The Fault of Our Grades The concept of grades, ei- Is it ability? Is it willingness to ther numerical or letter, do their best? Or other factors, What if one student works all are so ingrained into our more elusive ones, more caus- night to support her family, has to babysit her younger sibeducational culture that we al than intelligence? lings, and works her butt off to use them as watermarks of achievement beyond just Some students innately get get a “C” and another one goes classroom assessment. Your good grades – 99’s get thrown home, sits at her desk in her school aged friends were at them left and right from all room, turns on the radio, combased on simple equations: disciplines despite the fact pletes her homework with in elementary school, it that the student did the work her loving parent helping her was based on proximity of at the last minute without along the way to an “A”? What are we really grading homes (your friends here? Convenience of live on your block), Have you ever thought about life? and then in middle what a “grade” is? What school and beyond you were divided like makes an “A student” differ- And let’s say that a cattle based on your ent than a “B student”? Is it student comes to you with that 75 and asks if grades. ability? Is it willingness to do he can get a few extra their best? Or other factors, points thrown on, mayIf you were born before the mid-80’s there is a more elusive ones, more causal be a 78 or something, if he edits the work? Sure, good reason for this – than intelligence? why not? But what if tracking. In the United that student with a 99 States, students were tracked by ability, often split any revision or with minimal asks for the same thing? into groups, and thusly form- effort – and learned little to ing new social circles. Track- nothing from the assignment. Be honest, how many times ing began to wane in the 90’s Then some students spend ev- have you sat in a classroom (and now finds itself back in ery ounce of their being prac- and learned absolutely noththe spotlight), but the residual ticing and practicing, showing ing and received an “A” at the importance of grades lingers up for extra instruction, com- end of the year? Did you ever in the air like an old fart in an plete and then revise, only to sit in a classroom and be so enrecreate the assessment just gaged in class discussions and empty room. to get a 75. And what if that learnings that you found yourHave you ever thought about second student gets a 90 – do self changing on a daily basis, what a “grade” is? What both students represent what your life and view of the world makes an “A student” dif- we define in our minds as an forever altered, but you got 35 ferent than a “B student”? “A student”? a “C” pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

– “average”? Did you deserve either grade? Typically: An “A” is a 90-100. A “B” is 8089, and so on and so on.

So if a 75 is a “C” and a 78 is also a “C”, then what’s the difference? Change the grade – what difference does it make? It’s just three points – and who knows, perhaps if you were And these rubrics further in a better mood while grad- complicate this dark, twisted ing, that 75 would be a 78. path of grading: they are broken into descriptors like “ProBut changing a 78 to an 81 – ficient”, “Satisfactory”, “Develstill the same subjective three oping”, and “Beginning”, which points – is the difference be- are then assigned a numerical tween a C and a B. Often, this is point value, then added to fia difference between scholar- nally create a letter grade. ship or no-scholarship, sometimes the difference between And it’s convenient when college or no-college. those numerical points add up to 100 – difficult when it Still the same three points adds up to 236 or 33 – imagchange the letter grade. ing breaking that up to A, B, C, D, and F’s. Perhaps we should stop grading our students the way we Imagine this approach to grade our meat? grades – there are no letter grades and no 0-100 point Teachers use rubrics to as- systems. No number repsess student ability and spend resents a letter, and no speca large portion of their time trum of numbers represent “collaborating” with rubrics a letter. Instead, students – painstakingly hovering over are graded by description. a single essay discussing the fundamentals and wording Report Card #1: of the rubric so that when all English – A parties separate, grades are leveled to the best of our abil- Report Card #2: ity. This process is helpful, but Evaluation - Produces gensometimes leads to deep mis- erally high-quality work. representations of teacher and Communicates secure unstudent work. And in the end, derstanding of concepts and you get a cold, non-malleable contexts. Demonstrates critletter/numeric grade that rep- ical and creative thinking, resents the work in-hand and sometimes with sophisticaonly the work in-hand. tion. Uses knowledge and skills in familiar classroom pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

and real-world situations and, with support, some unfamiliar real-world situations. This qualitative approach to student evaluation speaks wonders for the future of education. If my child came home with an “A”, I would have no idea of how or why my child has that grade, but if he came home with a description of his ability, his willingness to learn, and other factors, I would have a better understanding of my child’s education and his readiness for the world. Students, in turn, can read the description and know exactly how they are performing and what they can be doing to increase this evaluation. Grades should reflect many factors in student work – it should reflect the work itself, but also the process in which the work was completed, and also the students’ willingness to engage within the work. It should reinvigorate learning, and give feedback to student and family that allows growth, rather than stoic letters and numbers.

Chris Parizo is an eightyear veteran English teacher having taught in Atlanta, GA and Boston, MA. 36

The Industry

IS THIS A BUSINESS OR A GAME?

Allen L. Johnston – The Music Specialist ~ www.asha.com

Karl, the owner of SHOW OFF RECORDS has made a lot of money. He has worked long and hard to obtain and maintain his money, family, lifestyle and power. Now he believes in the American dream and feels that his “crew” is beyond a doubt the most talented group of producers and rappers in the game. He forms SHOW OFF RECORDS and is determined to make his label the greatest Rap label in history.

Now he is guaranteed a chance to walk the red carpet and sit near the front of the auditorium. He buys 2 used motor coaches to transport his 60 member crew in, rents a mansion on “Millionaires Row” for 3 days to house part of his crew and to have a place to hold an exclusive private party. Knowing that the real ballers need to be seen he rents 5 rooms at the Loews hotel for 3 days just for himself and 4 trusted lieutenants.

He calculates and determines that the yearly CORE DJ Awards in Miami is the place to launch his label so he makes sure that near the front of the auditorium. he is prepared. He buys 2 used motor coaches to transport his 60 member crew in, He first buys a full-page ad in rents a mansion on “Millionaires the Special Awards issue of Row” for 3 days to house part of the CORE DJ magazine and his crew and to have a place to 2 Platinum tickets each for hold an exclusive private party. himself, his partner and 3 artists.

just for himself and 4 trusted lieutenants. His 3 acts must look good so he gives each act a clothing allowance budget and sends them out to shop. Having seen how the greatest rap artists party he rents the VIP room at the hottest clubs in town for 3 nights and makes sure that he has plenty bottles of Moet, Grey Goose and Dom available for his guests. He has setup performances by each of his acts every night and partnered with the club owner to have a major recording artist After Party in the club while he hosts their VIP area. Within his crew are his Street Team members who will drive 2 wrapped vans around the event and make sure the city is saturated with flyers, posters and mix cd’s.

Knowing that the real ballers His lieutenants have visited the Now he is guaranteed a chance to need to be seen he rents 5 rooms main strip clubs in Miami and walk the red carpet and sit at the Loews hotel for 3 days now he knows that he will have 37

pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

beautiful people at his private party.

(VIP snacks)

Liquor:

His party plans are a huge success Mansion $2,000 and he now knows that his label Night Club $6,000 will be the talk of the weekend. (2000 per night)

Promotion: Let’s look at his total expenses: ________________________ Street Team $1,500 Transportation:

Motor Coaches $100,000 Drivers $1,600 (per diem, driving charge)

Gasoline float $500 Additional cars $10,000 (2 used Wrapped Vans)

Gasoline $250 Parking $150

Housing:

Mansion $15,000 Hotel $4,500 Club Rental $15,000 (3 nights $5000 ea)

Food:

Mansion $2,000 (2 cooks in crew)

Hotel $1,250

(room service charge)

Club $1,500

pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

(Hotel, food, misc.)

Flyers $3,000 Posters $1,200 Mix CD’s (10,000) $7,500 Source Ad $10,000 (full page color ad)

Radio Advertising $5,000 (3 days on 2 stations)

Artist Clothes $9,000 (3000 each)

Entertainment:

Platinum Tickets $30,000 (10 x $3000)

Limo $1,000

Shopping:

Clothes $6,000 Jewelry $12,000

TOTAL: $245,950

_________________________

This does not take into consideration studio costs, producer fees and individual artist costs. What has Karl received for his money outside of a wonderful, fun filled weekend in Miami? SHOW OFF RECORDS name has been blasted over the radio every night, but none of the SHOW OFF RECORDS music has been played. Hip Hop Industry attendees and some Miami fun seekers now have copies of the SHOW OFF RECORDS mix cd, they may or may not listen to it. Some industry notables now understand that SHOW OFF RECORDS throws a mean VIP room party, and a few may have even seen there acts perform in the club. Karl has personally met a few major recording artists, but doesn’t know their management team, booking agent or record label executives. continued on page 39

The majority of his promotional materials have found there way to Miami Beach & Miami Dade County Sanitation Bureau because his material was just one of several hundred labels material that was promoted during this weekend. continued from page 38

credit card. Additionally it will also give him the basis for paying his taxes and the ability to keep open and honest legal documents.

The entertainment industry is based on communication so a strong ever-increasing database of radio, promotional, retail, publicity and industry executives The organizational structure should be started. of SHOW OFF RECORDS has not been created; there are no Every good song needs products ready for sale and no distribution and in order to plan to create either. obtain a decent distributor SHOW OFF RECORDS should If Karl has an accident or for have an established marketing & some unforeseen reason cannot promotional plan available with function as the head of the label some type of radio or club play who will take over and save his prior to attempting distribution. investment? The creation of a written document outlining Most important of all is the staff the agreement among partners that SHOW OFF RECORDS should have been one of the first must utilize to accomplish the things he did. type of marketing and promotion they will need to place product Next the organization of his into the mainstream. office environment where all mailings, billings, invoices and Staffing should consist of a correspondence can be collected, primary industry professional sorted, acted upon and filed. A (Consultant), an office Manager central phone number and a and at least 3 office workers all computer based office system who should be computer literate. should have been formed. Duties will include How will he keep in contact with communication between fans, the many different individuals radio, pools, clubs, publicity and companies he & his crew and industry contacts on a have come in contact with? weekly basis. The ability to get promotional product out and to Incorporation of the business follow up on the product sent. will give SHOW OFF RECORDS And the ability to get information the tools needed to create a on upcoming shows, festivals, corporate bank account, savings events, parties and station certificates and a corporate promotions, disseminate it to 39 39

the staff and keep the lines of communication open between record label and ALL others. Unfortunately what I am finding more and more of is the young entrepreneur who really only desires the fame and popularity associated with the entertainment industry and not the basic business acumen needed to initiate and maintain a viable entertainment business. “BALLIN” has become a game of one up man ship to see who has the brightest “iced out jewelry”, biggest most expensive cars and the latest fashions. Who can market themselves into a major deal yet not have any professional team available to maintain a deal. Recently I spoke at a conference and during a private networking session I was asked how to just “jump over” all that old fashioned business and go directly to having a major record deal. My response was that it would be really easy to do if you have met someone in the position of power at the major labels that wanted to immediately sign you and spend their money on making your career. The only issue I can see would be in how you will keep a deal of this magnitude without chosen individuals around you that know the business, have connections and will work on your behalf to ensure your continued success and well being. pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

In other words where is your trusted team? Why not develop the business structure you will need now, acquire your trusted team, develop your database of industry connections and prepare yourself for success. Here is a basic Record Label startup expense sheet based for a six (6) month plan. The difference between the two expense sheets is phenomenal. ________________________

Office:

Rent $9,500 Lights $1,200 Multi phone line with paging / intercom / hold system $3,000 5 lines with account codes $1,500 Internet access $600

Hardware

Microwave oven $200 Coffee Pot $50 Stereo system $1,000 DVD system with monitor $1,000 Copy machine 250 Computer (5 each) 5,000 -Pentium 3 or better 100 gig hard drive -17” monitor -Laser printer -Multi function printer/ flat bed scanner / fax -3D accelerator -Sound cards with speakers -Microphone pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

Unfortunately what I am finding more and more of is the young entrepreneur who really only desires the fame and popularity associated with the entertainment industry and not the basic business acumen needed to initiate and maintain a viable entertainment business. “BALLIN” has become a game of one up man ship to see who has the brightest “iced out jewelry”, biggest most expensive cars and the latest fashions. Who can market themselves into a major deal yet not have any professional team available to maintain a deal.

This does not take into consideration studio costs, producer fees and individual artist costs, but now you still have money to create product, test it, sell it, market and promote. So my question becomes IS THIS A BUSINESS OR A GAME? Why venture into the entertainment industry if what you really want is your personal 15 minutes of fame. The duties of a record label are to produce, manufacture, market, promote, sell and collect monies on the music that is created by the company. Anything less is not a record company!

-Video camera -DVD / CD player -DVD / CD burner Server system for marketing, promotion teams $5,000

Software:

Microsoft Office 8 Professional $800 Right Track royalty / accounting $3,000

Salaries

Professional Consultant $50,000 Office Manager $19,500 Office Workers (3) $39,000

Total $142,600

________________________

Allen consults new and existing entertainment businesses, increasing their revenue streams while making them technically astute, providing business operations back office services for many music industry clients, publishing administration, licensing, royalty recovery, business affairs, label operation, business administration and the digital marketplace. 40

International Center for Veterinary Services

pets

北京新天地国际动物医院

Relocating to Other Chinese Cities with Pets By International Center for Veterinary Services. For owners moving with pets from Chaoyang District, Beijing to other Chinese cities by airplane, you will need to do the following to clear exit requirements of the Beijing municipal government:

before the pet’s departure date, bring the vaccination red book, your pet and the air crate to the Chaoyang District Animal Husbandry Bureau Service Center for a simple physical examination and sterilization of the air crate 1. Rabies Vaccination Immunity (address below). Certificate (vaccination red book) – pets must have been • The fee quoted is RMB 20.00rabies vaccinated at least 21-days 30.00 for the exam and crate before date of departure but no sterilization. Owners will receive more than 12-months before date a stamped certificate from the of departure. Rabies vaccinations Animal Husbandry Service Center must be administered at an at the time of the visit. The officially designated animal certificate is valid for 3-days. vaccination hospital and owners ___________________ must have proof of a signed/ stamped vaccination red book. Contact Information and

园15号，东坝乡政府斜对面. • Telephone: (8610) 5208-2649 ；5208-2650 • Please call before going to this location to ensure responsible staff are on-duty 2). Chaoyang District Animal Disease Prevention and Control Center 北京朝阳区动物疫控中心 • Hours of Operation: Monday to Sunday (7 days): 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM

• Address：Chaoyang District, Tuan Jie Hu, Bei San Tiao, Jia 8 Hao, Dong San Huan, Chang Hong Address: Qiao Dong. At the intersection of the No. 43 bus terminal, go south 1). Chaoyang District Animal 30 meters. Center on west side of Husbandry Bureau Service the road. Center 朝阳区种植业养殖业服务中心 • Telephone: (8610) 8597-5507

The International Center for Veterinary Services (ICVS) is an officially designated animal vaccination hospital. ICVS can provide the official vaccination immunity certificate (red book) for all pets vaccinated at ICVS. Please • Hours of Operation: Monday to call ICVS at 8456-1939/1940/1941 Sunday (7 days): 8:00AM – 11:30 AM and 1:30 PM – 5:00PM for more information. 2. Health examination and • Address: Chaoyang District Dong Ba Xiang, No. 15, Hong Song sterilization of the air crate: Yuan, Dong Ba Xiang Zheng Fu, 41 • No more than 1-2 days Xie Dui Mian 朝阳区东坝乡红松

images.

Click here to see the video

Representing Buyers and Sellers V ARE Real Estate Since 1964

798 artspace: © stech

pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

496-2506

In Love With Vermont? Let Us Find The Perfect Spot For You.

S e a r c h t h e E n t i r e M a d R i v e r V a l l e y a t w w w.V a r e R e a l E s t a t e . c o m 42

The NEW standard for air quality index counts across the world.

AirVisual.com is an online community that provides real-time air quality information to over 7,000 locations worldwide. People living in polluted areas or people with asthma health problems will find a wealth of information & tools on how they can control the air they breathe. Click here to find out how.

pré·cis The international magazine. Focusing on life. In all form. Click Here for:

pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

Sunrise through 100 year oaks, Ocala National Forest, FL

images. photos: © Eric Sherman

Banyan Trees Quick Facts Banyan trees at Jupiter Inlet, Jupiter Beach, FL

Banyan trees at Jupiter Inlet, Jupiter Beach, FL

• One of the most famous of banyan trees was planted on the island of Kabirvad in Gujarat. Records show that the Kabirvad tree is more than 300 years old. • Maui, Hawaii has a Banyan tree planted by William Owen Smith in 1873 in Lahaina’s Courthouse Square. It has grown to cover two-thirds of an acre. • In rural parts of India, many villages and towns have a traffic circle and a community gathering place around a big old banyan tree. At night many people come to sit, relax and chat around it. There is usually a small deity placed and worshipped at its foot. • Ta Prohm in the Angkor Wat temple complex of Cambodia is well known for the giant banyans that grow up, around and through its walls.

Jack Sparrow statue made of recycled junk at The Mellow Mushroom restaurant in Mount Dora, FL.

pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

• Several banyans can be found near downtown Hilo, Hawaii. Some of them were planted by celebrities throughout the 20th century and form Banyan Drive.

Born and raised in the picturesque mountains of Vermont, and coming of age in the late 1980s, I found my love of art ; images of vivid color. I quickly groomed my eye for photography, and graphic design because I started making layouts, and fliers for bands of which I was a member.

fiction.

Beastly Diction By Penelope Rocketship

Jacob Brouillard pushed dreadlocks back from his face with one hand as he swung the trash bag over his head and into the dumpster. The sleet dripped slow and cold on the corrugated iron steps that went up the back of the restaurant. Jake worked in the kitchens of the Centaur Grille, whose posh, neo-European front stood in sharp contrast to the smelly courtyard out back. Several restaurants and a popular bar deposited their trash in this particular courtyard, and the place was foul, covered in grease and greasy men, and on this particular evening slick and wet to the bone. “Damn!” said Jake loudly. He had managed to toss his pack of cigarettes into the dumpster along with the trash. “Fuck fuck fuck,” he swore, clutching his wet sweatshirt tightly around his neck. After weighing the balance between his financial state and his level of dependence on nicotine, there were not many appealing options. He took a deep gulp of air and hoisted himself onto the rim of the dumpster. The dumpster behind any restaurant is a foul thing, particularly on a rainy night, and this one was no 45 different. Jake squinted

to see more clearly, hoping that his cigarettes would be sitting cleanly, like a cherry on top of a mound of fluffy white sacks of garbage. No luck. He pulled a bag out of the way, trying to avoid touching the kitchen slops that coated much of the interior of the dumpster. Still nothing. He moved another. This one shifted, causing the entire mountain of garbage to readjust its weight and tumble onto itself. “Shit!” yelled Jake, then peering in a little deeper, realized he had gotten lucky. A sharp red and white corner was plainly visible about two layers down. Now, if he could just grab it without losing it again or falling in himself… He balanced precariously and steeled himself, snaking his hand into the space between the plastic bags. Something that was not a plastic bag made contact with his hand. Neither was it a packet of cigarettes. A chill took hold of the back of his neck—like the phone that rings in the middle of the night. He wrapped his fingers around the thing and yanked. When a set of cold blue fingers followed his own pink healthy ones, he dropped them and yelled bloody murder.

alley, snapping photos and speaking in hushed tones. The corpse, still in the metal dumpster, was attracting surprisingly little attention. The rubbish bags had been cleared from around the victim’s head and shoulders, and the coroner had been summoned. Torn away from his dinner, shirt half tucked, it had taken him only a quick look under the eyelids and a brief paddling at its neck with his fingers to make his pronouncement. “Dead,” he said. “As if there was any doubt. Wheel him down to my office and I’ll look him over in the morning.” The coroner folded his small flashlight and returned it to his breast pocket. A dead bum was hardly anything to keep him from his dinner. Besides, the cops all knew this one by sight—Roland Rubicante was a regular visitor to the boys in the tank. No need for an i.d. These sort of things happened to drunks all the time. The coroner ran a hand through his wet hair and shrugged— walked to his car.

Goose Hammersmith stood in the rain and watched the coroner drive off. “Lucky bastard,” he grimaced and pulled his collar around his *** neck to keep out the sleet. A The boys milled around the j u n i o r pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

officer approached cautiously.

him

“What’s the word, Garcia?” Croaked Hammersmith. “Just this,” said Garcia, and handed him a Ziploc baggie. It contained a mashed up stick of butter, still partially frozen. “It was extracted from the victim’s mouth.” “From his mouth?” “Stuffed in there like the devil,” said Garcia. “It melted half way down his throat, then solidified again postmortem. May have been the cause of death.” He cast a sorrowful glance in the direction of the cold, sodden crew of workers in their rubber gloves and hip boots, scarves wrapped around their mouths to keep out the stench.

plastered to its forehead, head dangling at a sickening angle. There was nothing human about it anymore. It was wet meat. *** Handsome, wiry Rafael Garcia approached the door of Goose Hammersmith’s office with some trepidation, and rapped lightly on the frame. “Come,” honked Goose phlegmatically from the other side.

“Photographers done?” “Yes sir.” “Fine,” said Hammersmith. “Yank him out.” “Will do sir,” said Garcia, and turned to a couple of burly men in bright yellow raincoats. “Let’s get him outta here,” he called. It took four people to heave the dead-weight out of the dumpster. Hammersmith watched the cold hulk with its doughy face emerge from the filthy iron bin, wet hair pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

Hammersmith,”

“Sharon May,” she replied, retracting her limp hand from his massive meathook. “Won’t you sit down?” Offered Goose, gesturing to a hard back vinyl chair. Sharon sat gingerly on the edge of the chair, garish purse still clutched tightly in her brightly-lacquered talons.

“None,” replied Garcia.

“Thank you sir. The ambulance is here, can we remove the body?”

Entering the room, Goose extended a thick, florid hand and received a narrow, bluish one in return. Sharon May, the hand’s owner, was a hardlooking woman in her early fifties, sporting the sort of spiky, inelegantly highlighted hairdo that was fashionable among a certain class of middleaged ladies. It made her look a bit like a triceratops. “Augustus said Goose.

“Ugh,” said Hammersmith softly. “Any other sign of a murder weapon?” “Looks like we got a weird one,” said Hammersmith, musingly. “Good work, Garcia.”

oversized lime green purse in front of her as if worried that it might be taken.

Illustration: “Triceratops” by Adam Forguites

“It’s a little bit of a long shot,” started Garcia. “But in front of the alley where the body was found is a small restaurant. Not a lot of business on a Sunday night, and we may be able to get some leads. There was only one waitress on staff that night and she’s in the interview room.”

“Now Sharon,” said Goose with his most comforting expression, which mostly succeeded in spreading his brutish stub of a nose somewhat more broadly across his face. “I understand that you were waitressing at the Centaur Grille last Sunday night.” “Yes,” said Sharon cautiously. “Are you aware that a body was found in the alley behind the Centaur that same evening?”

“Nice work, Garcia,” said Goose with admiration. “Let’s go see what she remembers.” “Yes,” said Sharon. “My husband heard it over the The interview room at the Virgil police scanner that night. But police station was a dull affair I didn’t hear nothing—it gets in whitewashed walls and loud back there in the kitchen austere furnishings, designed anyways. We wouldn’t have to elicit the discomfiture of heard a parade go by.” its occupants. Its current occupant was only mildly “ N o , ” uneasy, but clutched an s a i d continued on page 47 46

continued from page 46

no parade.”

G o o s e patiently. “There was

“I didn’t mean…” “It’s alright,” said Goose, trying to use his most patient expression, which only succeeded in producing a leer. “There’s nothing to be concerned about. We only want a little information.” Sharon swallowed hard and tried to relax. “Now,” continued Goose. “What can you tell me about your clientele on the night of Sunday, December 17?” “Sundays are slow nights,” began Sharon. “But there’s usually a good handful in there. Last Sunday, we had an older couple come in early. I know them, they’re regulars. Bobby and Susan McCammon. Bobby ordered the meatloaf—that’s his usual. And Susan had the linguine. Then around six o’clock there were two young men—a couple I think but you can’t be sure. Then two middle aged women, one of them was a real estate agent I’ve seen advertised in the papers, and the other was someone I didn’t recognize. Then Hugh Granby came in with his new girlfriend. Hugh went to school with my son Steve, and he was dating Alyssa Jane Holiday for as long as I can remember, but then Alyssa Jane got caught on camera sleeping with Paul Ducharme in the back seat on an Oldsmobile in the Rite-Aid parking lot and that was over. So he has some new girl now, but I’ve never met her…” “Did you hear or see anything else? Anything unusual?” interrupted Goose. “Nothing. But as I said, I wouldn’t have. There is just 47

one thing…”

everybody knew him.”

“Yes?”

“Did he Children?”

“I went to school with Rolly Rubicante, back before Marco Rubicante died and the family lost all their money. Everybody knew Marco—he was a creepy old man and my parents warned me to steer clear of him.” “OK.” “Well Rolly Rubicante was the

“In all my years of looking at homicide victims,” opined the stately Lal. “I have never seen a victim suffocated by a frozen stick of butter forcibly inserted into the throat. If nothing else, this one gets the prize for novelty.” spitting image of his father. I mean… in every way…if you get my meaning. Even before Rolly went to seed, he was always getting in trouble at school for touching little girls. He was just a little boy himself, of course, so there wasn’t much to be done about it. I mean, kids touch other kids. But by the time we were in middle school he had a reputation. All the girls knew to steer clear of him. There was something wrong about Rolly—he was just not right in the head.” “Thank you,” said Goose appreciatively. “Anything else you can remember about Rolly? Maybe as an adult?” “Nothing that wasn’t obvious to anyone. He was pretty much a fixture in the Virgil bars when he was on his feet, and on Virgil streets when he wasn’t. Everyone knew Rolly. Nobody liked him much, but

have

family?

“His father, Marco, died back in the ‘90s, and Rolly’s mother had passed long before then. His brother George stayed in Virgil, running the family business. But he was absolute shit at it and died in a car crash last year. Their sister Alice left town as soon as she was old enough to buy her own bus fare. No idea what happened to her. Rolly stuck around and married Jenny Blanchard from East Virgil. They had a baby boy but he died young. After that, Jenny sort of withered away, and Rolly took to drink. A few years later, Jenny divorced him, sued for everything he had and Rolly was destitute. By that time, he was in his late thirties, had never had a real job—had been living off old Marco’s money and Jenny’s pay as a registered nurse for most of his adult life. Just hung around in bars, talking about all his big plans and sleeping with desperate bar hags. Well, that just doesn’t get you far in life. I think Rolly thought that Jenny would never leave him, no matter what he did. Honestly, I was surprised when she did—I didn’t think she had it in her either. But about 20 years ago she must have grown a sack. She’s remarried now—some Canadian businessman. They have one kid, a beautiful little girl. Jenny doesn’t come to town much anymore, but the last time I saw her, maybe five years ago, she looked happy, and I’m glad for her. Being married to Rolly was a raw deal.” “Thank you, Sharon,” said Goose. “You’ve been very helpful” “Anything I can do for the Virgil police,” said Sharon pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

obsequiously, pushing her hair back with a coquettish glance. “Call me any time.” “We’ll do that,” said Goose standing up, hoping he wasn’t blushing. *** Detective Lieutenant Augustus Hammersmith swung a thick leg over his desk and picked up the police report in contemplation. Normally, a dead bum wouldn’t rate a second look. But Esha Lal, Circle County forensic pathologist, had stated definitively in her report that the blunt force trauma to the back of Roland Rubicante’s throat clearly indicated homicide. And a weird one at that. “In all my years of looking at homicide victims,” opined the stately Lal. “I have never seen a victim suffocated by a frozen stick of butter forcibly inserted into the throat. If nothing else, this one gets the prize for novelty.” Goose uncrossed his legs and crossed them again the other way, wondering how he was going to get inside the mind of the butter killer. “Garcia!” he barked at the open door. A young, darkhaired sergeant appeared in it. “Yes boss?” “Come in here and help me brainstorm.” Garcia sat gingerly in the chair opposite the mountainous detective and readied himself for brainstorming. “How do you feel about butter, Garcia?” “I like it, sir,” said Garcia, sighing inwardly. “Do you find it enraging?” pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

“ N o t

particularly, sir.”

affectionately.

“What do you imagine would “Do you think the murderer make a person choose a was deranged?” stick of butter as a murder “Most of them are.” weapon?” “I mean, is it possible that “Convenience?” the murderer meant to use “What could possibly be something else, like a butter convenient about shoving a knife, but got confused in the stick of butter forcibly down process? Wasn’t aware what someone’s throat?” he was doing?” “Availability?” “An opportunistic homicide, you think? Just happened to be passing by with a bag of groceries, and became suddenly suffused with an unexplainable murderous impulse and butter seemed a better weapon than drowning the victim in a gallon of milk. For example. Is that your opinion, Sergeant?”

“It’s a good theory. Let’s get Dr. Cornelius’ opinion about the psychological profile of someone who commits homicide with a stick of butter.”

“Or,” said Garcia, starting to warm up despite himself. “Maybe the perp used a stick of butter thinking that the evidence would drain down the victim’s throat. A murder weapon that vanishes, like. “Well no, when you put it that That would be quite brilliant.” way, sir…” Garcia’s voice trailed off and he began a “It would have been,” agreed nodding. detailed study of his own Hammersmith, “Except that the murderer fingernails. failed to unwrap the stick “No, I should think not,” said of butter, and the wrapper Hammersmith, uncrossing and doesn’t melt. Still, it’s a good re-crossing his stubby legs on thought. Let’s get Dr. Cornelius the desk. in here, see if he can give “What we have here,” he us a better picture of the continued after honking psychology of the individual.” his nose loudly into a dingy handkerchief. “What we have here is intention. This was a planned murder—the killer knew Rolly Rubicante’s habits, knew he would be drunk on a Sunday night and easy to over-power. I think the butter is symbolic of a ritual killing, someone who wanted to make a point. Perhaps it’s someone preoccupied by body image, who considered Rolly to be fat…” “Was Rolly fat?” asked a puzzled Garcia. “Well it’s a matter of degree, isn’t it? To a very thin person, I suppose any of us could be considered fat.” Hammersmith patted his ample midsection

Penelope Rocketship is the nom de plume of an extremely cranky and reclusive author who lives in the middle of nowhere and basically wants to be left the fuck alone 48

images. Kykotsmovi Double Rainbow

Graffitti at 798 Art Center

sujinyan’s eye a recurring look at the world.

Exercise Equipment at Apartment Complex

fishlake, Beijing, China

construction - Beijing, China

window washers beijing, Beijing, China

pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

Dancing Summer Palace, Beijing

photo: © Sujinyan

Next Door Cat, Beijing

Bus conductor on the 656 line pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

Old Adobe

Su Jinyan is an American-born photographer and writer who has lived in Beijing for over eight years. He and his wife live in an apartment with their young son, two cats, and a dog. He can be contacted at xiaos@sujinyan.com or +86 186 1113 0683. His blog can be found at http://sujinyan.com 50

music

the

INTERVIEW Going out into the Beijing music scene for an evening of revelry and neck damaging thrashing can be a crapshoot at times. Venue lineups often include a couple of bands you may have heard of, along with others you haven’t, and the mix of musical genres can range from cat screeching Sonics that makes your head want to explode to candy pop that has you wishing for a quick death. A year ago, and the infamous DAZEFest (a 24 hour music festival at the now unfortunately closed Dos Kolegas) in between suck aforementioned bands, a power trio caught our eye and slapped our ears around with instrumental rock that just blew our mind. Reminding us at first of an early RUSH or Coheed, we had to fight the throngs of sweaty fans to the front to see who the hell it was giving us respite from our musical desert. That band was NAKOMA, and although the three of them without instruments look like they could have walked off a fashion catalog photo shoot, with them, they brought out the serious A-game, full tilt, tight ass rock. Now one and a half years and a more than a couple of fine shows later, we catch up with them for the Précis Interview: 51

State Your Names for the of the band? record. What instruments Linda: Me and Nico were both you play? Linda Westman: Drums Tim Zhang: Guitar Nicola Mazzei: Bass ____________________

Where do you all hail from and how long have you been in Beijing? Linda: I’m from Sweden. I first came to China in 2007, but have been back and forth between Europe a lot since then.

looking for a band when we came to China, which happened to be at the same time. We were playing some shitty kind of garage rock at first I think, and we went through a number of different guitarists and singers. We reformed with Tim a couple of years ago, and should have probably just gotten a new name since we started playing totally different music. But we were lame. And we like the random associations of Nakoma. I’ll leave the question of where the name came from to the Italian.

Tim: I came in 2012, I’m from New Zealand/Taiwan, I was Tim: I hadn’t played music for actually living in Australia before a few years since my last band split in Sydney, after being here Beijing though. for awhile I got the itch to start Nico: I come from Italy and I’ve playing music again. It was hard been in Beijing since 2007. going to gigs and watch people perform and not be playing ____________________ anything yourself. I was actually What’s the back-story on the suppose to listen to some of the name and what’s the history old stuff pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

You have such high energy shows, with building harmonics merging into a full force wall of sound that whip the crowd into a frenzy. Nico: About the band name, What are your collective Nakoma it’s a slang from influences? Southern Italy, it’s an adjective and maybe learn it but I really didn’t want to. I just started writing, they seemed to like it and we just went from there.

which means appreciation, it’s used when you are under “selfmedication”. When we started playing we haven’t decide on a specific music genre we were just writing music, we chose it mostly because it doesn’t have an immediate reference to any music genre. Anyway I tend to give different explanations about it. ____________________

You just released your first album. What studio did you use and how long did it take? Linda: It took fucking ages, I don’t even want to think about it. Most of it was done at Yang Haisong’s (PK-14) studio.

Linda: Haha, we don’t have collective influences, which is why the music is schizophrenic. I’m into kind of metal-oriented stuff, this is a constant source of conflict. Bands I’m influenced by would probably be Tool and Mastodon, prog and post metal. I like complicated aggressive music, like Meshuggah, Dillinger Escape Plan, Converge… but would have to be much more awesome to be able to play that. I don’t mind when people say we sound prog (Rush, yey!), but have never been aiming for post-rock…

Nico: as my personal influencers: Soundgarden, Mars volta, Kyuss, Pink Floyd, Faith No More, some more ambient Nico: About above comment oriented like Tony Drake, please notice that Linda is not a Michael Manring, also some Italian bands with electronic really patient person. elements like Almamegretta, Tim: The actual time of recording 99 Posse and Subsonica. and mixing didn’t take that long at all, I just left it for a very long Tim: I’d like to think I take time between recording and from everything I like which is quite broad. I’ve never really mixing. been a 2 or 3 sub-genre kind ____________________ of person, if anything I try hard to draw influence from outside of the obvious continued on page 53 pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

and try to Linda: We played shows and shoehorn it in, festivals outside of Beijing, it doesn’t always work though. but no tours yet. A permanent challenge is to pull off an ____________________ unmarketable genre with no If you had to pigeonhole or singer. I always feel a bit like describe your music in one or “sorry, we ruined the party” two words, what would it or when we come on after really happy-sounding bands. they be? continued from page 52

Linda: Moody, dark? (Turned out Tim: I always feel like I’m shitting to be a wish-list, not necessarily on the party. Buzz Killingtons. a description) Nico: Now that the album is Tim: Melancholy, Hopelessness released touring both within and Anger. All the ingredients and outside China they are both part of our future plans. for a great party tune! ____________________

I notice a lack of vocals. Is this on purpose? Do you prefer being instrumental rock? Linda: Hell no. I would love to have a singer. Work in progress. T i m : We ’ v e n e v e r rejected a singer really but trying to find one that we would fit around is hard, I would like to be less busy on guitar as I feel I’m obviously making up for the lack of a singer. Getting a singer at this stage might also completely change the nature of the band. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. Nico: In the future one (or more of us) could pick up a microphone. ____________________

Have you toured outside of Beijing? Have you toured outside the country? (If So) what was the one biggest challenge?

Nico: To me the main difficulty compared with the music scene in other countries is between being a “new” rock band or an “old” one, most of promoters and organizers give very small space and attention to new bands (with “new” bands I mean, you need to be active in the scene for at least 5 years). As example, I was used to play with Voodoo Kungfu (零壹) a metal band that was doing good in the local scene and we used to play in basically all the festivals around China for the 4 years that I was with them and like Voodoo Kungfu all the other bands that have been around for 10 or more years, it was never a problem of “are we going to play at Midi\ Strawberry this year?” because the line-up of all festivals is quite similar e a c h year, you could try

comparing t h e billboards of 2 different years of any main festival and you would get a clear picture of this. This created a bad circle within the local scene because old bands get a much higher priority with no relation if they released an album last year or if the released their only ____________________ album 8 years ago. There were attempts to improve this What do you see as the some for example Midi was used to biggest difficulty being a rock have a small stage for new bands band in China? but the efforts on this could be Linda: Dysfunctional market. much bigger. Too few people have figured out how to make money on Tim: There are similar challenges underground genres in China. It’s in China and overseas obviously, just really hard to sell. We kind getting anyone to give a shit of suck at promotion ourselves, about your music when there so it is difficult to know how to is such a saturation of it is reach a larger audience. pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

difficult. I’m not complaining at all as I feel its completely fair and natural. While the market for underground music is so small considering it being the most populous country, it’s actually quite easy to get gigs. The upside is that almost any act can get a gig here and cut your teeth much easier than some places overseas, the downside is also that almost any act can get a gig. :)

mentioning above).

every time!

Tim: We have some enthusiastic fans, but I’m not sure who our typical fan is. We’ve had quite varied responses in how people interpret the music. People hear what they want to in the music I think, they interpret it in their Tim: I love the tiny stage own way which is nice. at school, it’s up close and ____________________ personal. I also love XP for their dedication to experimental music and I also played my first Do you have groupies? show in Beijing there. Linda: Haha, something that I ____________________ should have considered when I ____________________ What’s your favorite Beijing started playing this instrument venue to play (past or is that girl drummers seem to present)? be most interesting to other girls. If I wanted to start Linda: I like the sound getting groupies I system at Mao, but should develop my since we don’t pull gay interests. audiences of 100 people (YET) I Tim: We certainly usually prefer don’t inspire the smaller any panties venues like being thrown Temple and on stage. I School. The find that audience it’s mainly i s guys who standing want to one meter talk to me away from and what the drum they hear in kit, so our music… the show or just tell becomes me what more like I could be interaction. I doing better like to be able and to tell me to see how to find a singer. people react to _________ different parts. Similar to venues there are also some promoters and events that should be mentioned like: Dr SmartAss, PangBianr, Live Beijing Music, Gulou Double Decker, FakeFuzzFest.

Nico: Temple, School and DDC have all been great venues for us, about past venues, we played at 2Kolegas last year for DazeFest and was a great venue and a Who is your typical fan? Who great event, and we miss them do you see come to all of your shows? both. Venues like Temple, School, Linda: Haha, it’s not like we have DDC, Dmc, they are making so many that we can collect the biggest efforts to book statistics… We have a couple of and promote new bands enthusiastic supporters, though, compared to venues like Mao, they make it all worth it. Public YuGongYiShan, which tend to thanks to those who show up focus on more established bands to all our gigs, take awesome (same as the festivals that I was pictures, make Nakoma Beer, and head bang in the front row pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

How easy was it to book gigs when you were first starting out? What was your process? And is it easier now that you have a more established name for yourself? Linda: It has always been easy to book gigs, but hard to book good gigs. We have played an infinite number of shows to a crowd of four people out of which one is our friend and three the other band. It naturally becomes easier the more people you k n o w in the 54 continued on page 55

Tim: No but we’ve not had any releases until very recently, but that probably still doesn’t change anything. ____________________

What would be your most important word of advice for US or UK bands who want to come play China?

scene, and the more people think you are a good band. Some live houses have been very supportive, like DDC and Temple.

continued from page 54

Tim: I always feel like we don’t really fit on any bills but the upside to that is we just end up playing with all kinds of bands it seems. Overall, do you find that Beijing venues are easy to deal with in relation to getting paid? Linda: Sure, it’s fair enough as long as you are not hoping to get rich on this. Normally it’s a split of the sale of tickets or bar income.

Linda: Do it for fun. Don’t expect to make any money unless you are seriously famous. It’s still worth it though, for the some of them this a very difficult ridiculous unpredictability. point but with Tim and Linda we managed to figure it out a way Tim: Do it, I think most bands would think its worth it but be to make it work. prepared that things don’t work Tim: I’m involved in a startup like they do in the US or UK. and I also teach English, I just Laugh at everything that goes wanted to be a bit different you wrong and you’ll have a great see. :) time. It does interfere but most ____________________ musicians are in the same boat. I’d always like to put more time What does the future hold into music but really I should for the band? just learn to use my time better ____________________ probably. Linda: World fame, yeah! Nah, ____________________ song writing is first priority and You have been billed with a we should be planning touring lot of bands, who are some in China this year. Hopefully of your favorites to gig with. touring out of China eventually. Nico: We all (Linda included) like to play with effects and equipment (not much with laptops), now that the first album is released we can freely add new elements so there will Tim: Yea that’s tough, recently definitely be something new though some of my favourite in the next album but I’m not shows have been with the going to spoil the surprise. punk crowd, there’s more of a community spirit and less Tim: Hopefully become better general divas and rivalry than musicians, write better music and try to play to more people the metal crowd here. outside of Beijing. ____________________ ____________________

Tim: I just generally get told Linda: Oh tough one. I don’t what we got the next day to be think I have preferences. It’s good to be a cross genre band honest. so that we get to play lots of different kind of shows. ____________________

What do you all do for work outside of the band, and does that interfere with practice and gigging schedules?

Linda: I am finishing revisions of my PhD and start working as policy analyst at the Swedish embassy after summer. We all have jobs, so basically just plan practice and gigging according Have you been approached to work schedules. Works out by any Labels in or out of the PRC? OK most of the time. Nico: I work for an IT company, Linda: PRC labels, no, but their it takes some efforts to manage usefulness could be debated. the schedule and been able Labels from outside of China, to play in a band with lots of does that actually happen in practices, shows and have a full real life? I thought we might as time job. I played with other well be waiting for the Tooth Fairy. It would be awesome if it 55 bands in the past and with happened though of course.

NAKOMA’s Self-Titled first album can be found here:

https://nakoma.bandcamp. com/album/nakoma

pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

pré·cis The international magazine. Focusing on life. In all form. Click Here for:

Maple Refined

Tonewood l Mad River Valley, Vermont l 802-496-5512 l www.tonewoodmaple.com l pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

g raffi ti Words by: Mattia Bellomi & Lance Crayon ~ Photos: Signs_of_Art & Stech

art

enjoys a very different kind of graffiti: the painted images found on urban walls. Unfortunately, many people are unwilling to appreciate the importance of these works of art and therefore cover or erase them, while at the same time vilifying

The urge to write and paint on walls could be as old as mankind itself. During prehistoric times cave walls were drawn upon, demonstrating what could be considered as humankind’s early attempts to describe and celebrate their place in the world and relationship with nature.

rocks in western China, ancient images depicting people hunting or praying still remain. These works of primitive art and storytelling serve as precious records of early human expression and experience.

Nowadays, whether in the caves of Spain, France or on the Today, the planet 57

pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

Well-deserved mentions in Beijing go to the milestone documentary “Spray Paint Beijing,” directed and produced by Lance Crayon, and to photographer Liu Laoshi, who is considered to be the Henry Chalfant of China, and the man who launched China’s first graffiti blog (in Chinese) http://blog.sina.com.cn/ ppttyy.

the artists responsible for them. But luckily, in cities all over the world, there are people who follow the art form closely in an attempt to preserve and recount it as a distinctive and meaningful modern art form. Under these latitudes, a small number of enthusiasts in Beijing have been involved in this preservation challenge.

pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

As some pieces will invariably vanish from walls, its inherent beauty will continue to rest in its ephemeral existence, and the best one can do is enjoy the work while it lasts.

In the graffiti documentary, Crayon depicts Beijing’s emerging street art scene as it was blossoming throughout 2011 (he filmed over the course of 14 months). The film features Zhang Dali, otherwise known as AK-47, whom many believe to be China’s founding figure of the art form. In January 2000, Zhang was featured on the cover of an issue of Newsweek. A few years later graffiti crews began to emerge, with BJPZ (Beijing Penzi) establishing itself as the capicontinued on page 59

the country as they gaze at graffiti pieces along the walls of small hutong alleys or stenciled images on highway concrete columns. Meanwhile, the local residents are more driven to appreciate the art form with a degree of natural curiosity toward the art form, an enthusiasm not found in other major cities around the world.

tal’s original across throughout Beijing. crew. Beijing is home to many talentThe desire to express oneself on ed Chinese and foreign graffia grey or brown concrete wall is ti writers. The fact that the art the common trait linking spray/ form even exists, and is not vilistencil/paste-up artists, whose fied as it is in the US and Europe, pieces you can easily come continues to surprise visitors to continued from page 58

As some pieces will invariably vanish from walls, its inherent beauty will continue to rest in its ephemeral existence, and the best one can do is enjoy the work while it lasts. For More information, visit: www.spraypaintbeijing.com You can buy the SPRAY PAINT BEIJING t-shirts for 138rmb Book it at : spraypaintbeijing@gmail.com

pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

Mattia Bellomi was raised on the quiet plains near Venice, I ended up living in Chongqing for years. With an itchy passion for art and communication, I hunt street art and snap it. pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

pré·cis

DIYfood

The international magazine. focusing on life. In all form. Click Here for:

Better than a steakhouse, steak Dylan Hart, Internet Sensation 1. Get a ribeye steak (boneless).

2. Coat both sides with a generous amount of salt and place into the fridge for at least two hours. This will dry brine the steak, the longer you keep it in the better.

Food.

Its the international language, and as its has been said, we all need to eat. It may just be the only future savior of mankind in all of its geopolitical struggles, the day we all realize if we just sit down and have a meal together, and a couple of drinks, that we may just realize that we have more in common than blowing each others brains out. Or it could go horribly wrong and we end up killing and subsequently feasting on each others innards... Whichever. Anyway, we here at Précis love to eat and consume vast quantities of good food and beverages wherever we travel. Whether it be on the beach in Belize , a hut in the African Congo, farmsteads in Mexico, or a bodega in Hoboken new jersey, we will always find good eats. Which is why we always encourage folk from around the world to send in their own DIY recipes for their favorite foods, so everyone can share. Feel like sending your own? Go to our Facebook page and post them or send them in to stech@outlook.com. Make sure you send in a pic of your creation. 61

3. Pat steak dry with paper towels and place into the freezer for 45 minutes. 4. Season both sides of steak with fresh salt and pepper and a pinch of garlic salt (each side). 5. Preheat oven to 200 degrees F, and heat some grape seed oil on the stove top (high heat). 6. Sear steak on each side for 2 minutes. 7. Lift steak and place down a full bed of rosemary, place the steak directly on top. You do not want the steak to come in direct contact with the pan. 8. Place pan with steak and rosemary directly on to the bottom rack of the oven and let it cook for 30 minutes for Medium doneness. It is best to have a probe thermometer and check it at the 25 minute mark to be sure where you are at. 9. Remove steak from oven and let it sit for 5 minutes while the juices redistribute throughout the meat. Enjoy!

Carrot Ginger soup Eric Sherman, Hardcore Musician (Serves 15) • 5 tablespoons butter (Margarine if vegan) • 4 medium sweet onions, peeled and chopped • 2 large cloves garlic 15 cups broth (Chicken, or vegetable for vegan) • 5 pounds carrots, sliced • 2 celery stalks 5 tablespoons grated, or finely chopped fresh ginger Salt and pepper to taste • 1 teaspoon of turmeric Top with sour cream, and parsley Combine all ingredients in a large pot, bring to boil, and cook on medium heat until carrots are soft, approx. 20 min. Remove from heat, and cool. Blend to a thick consistency, and eat. pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

Chicken / Portabella Marsala Richard Gindes, Real Estate Entrepreneur

Ingredients: • One large chicken breast • Half pound fresh mushrooms • 4 large garlic gloves • Four tablespoons olive 0il (Maybe 6) • One cup chicken stock • One cup Marsala Wine (I prefer a light Marsala like Pastene) • Grated pecorino Romano Cheese (plenty) • Half cup all-purpose flour • Seasonings: (salt, pepper, Poultry Seasoning, fresh basil) • Two tablespoons butter • Two tablespoons Capers (Garnish) Begin by chopping garlic & basil fine. Slice mushrooms thinly. Cut the chicken into four thinner filets and pound them evenly for even cooking, I use wax paper on top of the chicken when pounding to keep things clean, pounding also tenderizes the meat. Dredge chicken filets into seasoned (salt/pepper/poultry seasoning) flour, add olive oil to large skillet and

half of the chopped Garlic and basil evenly distributed, once garlic begins to sizzle place chicken filets into the pan and add remaining garlic & basil to the top of the chicken filets. Once the underside has browned lightly (don’t overcook!), turn chicken and let it begin to brown, then add mushrooms to pan, shake the pan for even distribution of ingredients, (if more oil is needed at this stage be generous, it is the only fat in this dish except a small amount of butter

& grated cheese.) Once the chicken has browned and the mushrooms begin to cook, add the butter and an extra teaspoon of flour (you used for dredging the chicken), then quickly add the (hot) liquid (50% broth/50% Marsala) so the butter does not have time to burn in the pan. Bring to a boil and allow the liquid to reduce until desired viscosity is reached, add grated cheese and garnish with capers, mangia!!

Easiest Cookies ever

Andrea Bumper, Burning Man Goddess • 1 Cake Mix (any flavor). • 2 large eggs. • 1/3 cup oil. • 1-2 Tablespoons of water if needed -Mix will be thick.

Place cookies on cookie sheet 2-3 inches apart. Depending on how large you want them. Bake at 325 for 8-10 min. Let sit on cookie sheet to finish cooking if still soft. Cool on a rack and enjoy. Many variations can be created with this recipe. Add nuts, chocolate chips, dried fruit, and flavors like lemon, mint, or vanilla, turn into sandwich cookies or put ice cream in the middle of two!

pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

2015 SUMMER SEASON IS HERE! Nightly Specials! Live Music!

Kat’s Window ~ on China INTERVIEW

By Kat Tosi

CUT FRENZY ROCKS IT HARD. STRAIGHT OUTTA HARBIN

Harbin? “Originally it was just me, doing recordings by myself. Then I met

Harbin, known as the icecity of China with snow that can last more than half the year is home to an unexpected 4-piece punk band called Cut Frenzy. Perhaps inspired by cabin fever, going stir crazy and a bit of seasonal affective disorder, these guys made a big impression at the recent Beijing Drunk Fest. Asia’s only 100% FREE, pure, D. I. Y. (NO CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP OF ANY KIND) punk festival. I caught up with them at Dirty Monsters Club on the 8th of June as part of their first Beijing tour. I interviewed Shaun, the guy who figured out how to pull together a punk rock band in the middle of nowhere. When asked why he was doing the tour, he de63

clared, “Because I want to. It is not something that will get us much acclaim…however even in Harbin there are a few people that come out to see us play and are enthusiastic.” How does one form a band in

our bass player Mark through work and I eventually discovered the only people in Harbin that are into this type of music so it is a perfect storm right now and I hope it keeps going.” pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

Shaun is 32 and has been living in China for 8 years after an initial plan of staying for a year. He is a gentle humble guy off-stage, quite the opposite from his intense drumming and singing when on

they should be showing up and doing their part. I would love to see more support for that. Being in Beijing is amazing because there is so much going on.”

out to see them the next time they play in Beijing. I will no longer think of Harbin only as a dreadfully cold place, but as the home to Cut Frenzy. These guys deserve huge mad props out and a hug.

stage. When asked where all the anger comes from he said, “Mostly from not really being able to be angry most the time. I am a husband and a father and in my household I keep anger out.”

A fan of the Beijing based Diders and Demerit, he was initially blown away by the Diders first album and thinks it is the best Chinese punk band ever recorded.

___________________

They have written several of their own songs and have no plan to be a Karaoke band. Shaun’s dad owned a lot of Clash, Sex Pistols and Devo albums. He figured out his inner punk at a very early age with the help of his sister and cited Big Black, Songs about XXcking as an album that destroyed his mind and was one of the catalysts.

Shaun summed up their recent adventures very well in a post stating: “An amazing time spent with amazing people, and so many amazing bands. June 5 saw us playing Temple Bar with the mesmerizng Nakoma, the legendary locals Demerit, and SUBS. June 6 will forever live in my heart. One of the best times I’ve ever had. 10 bands, 10 hours, and 1000 beers at Beijing Drunk Fest at DMC.”

Shaun said, “In the beginning I would come down to Beijing just to see shows. People are really lucky to have a scene pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015 here and

Check out Cut Frenzy’s album Harbin Monoxide at: http:// cutfrenzy.bandcamp.com/releases I will definitely be heading

You can listen to Cut Frenzy by clicking here:

http://cutfrenzy.bandcamp.com/releases

Kat Tosi is a self proclaimed Punk Rock bitch who travels with impunity with in the circles of rock and /or roll to get the best information from which you should glean your listening tendencies from. She lives in a communist country with her loving husband, 2 cats and bird. She is also on record as being a noodle girl. 64

HER BIG CHANCE @ DDC ~ 7. 18. 2015

theatre.

gigs.

People like to confine themselves to doing regular things in regular spaces. Drink coffee in a café, take shots at a bar, listen to songs in a music club, watch plays at a theatre. When all of these can happen together in one space, with a story, alcohol, music, and audience like you, would the glass of wine taste even better?

HER BIG CHANCE is an experimental one person show telling the story of a young girl, brought to you by two young girls, both attended/attending women’s colleges. LESLEY in the story is an ordinary actress who hasn’t been quite successful. By chance she gets a role in a film. But on the spot things keeps happening unexpectedly. Through a series of action and non-action of hers, the film wraps, gets released, and she’s supposed to become famous. But in the very beginning, she says she killed someone…

pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

images.

opinion.

per.spec. tive. by Casey Rae

The Framers on Christianity So I have this rule about the magazine. No politics. I can’t tell you how any friends of mine submit articles either espousing or degrading one political party or another. I have politely declined each of those as they delved into politic of some sort and usually devolving into a degradation of religion somehow. I have, and will always stand by this, have none of this in the magazine, no matter how tempted I am to go back to my arguing world policy past.

Every election season, I find the need to present a few quotes on matters spiritual from the founders of the United States. This is in response to those on the right who bleat loudly about how America was built on a Christian bedrock. Poppycock.

3 issues ago, I got an article from one of my regular contributors Casey Rae, a good friend and an expert on the policies of music and law, about this article you are about to read. It had to do with politics, albeit what the framers of the United States had to say about religion and politics.

The framers were Masonic Deists. This belief system seeks knowledge of God through the application of reason and meditation on natural laws. God here is the Great Architect, not a “life coach in the sky.”

Well…

John Adams “This would be the best of all possible worlds, if there were no religion in it.” “The doctrine of the divinity of Jesus is made a convenient cover for absurdity.” Adams also signed the Treaty of Tripoli.

Casey and I had words about this, he called me a pussy for not publishing it, I called him a partisan hack, who although is a brilliant writer about all things about music the Internet and artists rights, wanted to taint my magazine under the fence. So I have been sitting on this for six months, and reread it six times, and while I believe that it is close to crossing the line like what’s his name from the Big Lebowski , I am not about to bring out the colt and point it at him. Due respect to Casey however, I have deleted 3 sentences from his initial submission. They named names, and therefore vastly changed the well written article from a thoughtful piece about a serious issue of the separation of church and state in the U.S., into a politically motivated hit piece that I will have none of. What remains is still a viable and fact checked account of what is said by the framers of the U.S. Constitution. These are their stories. {Cue the law and order theme....... DOO DOOMP} ~Stech

Article 11 states: “The Government of the United States is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion.”

error all over the earth.” “Christianity…(has become) the most perverted system that ever shone on man… rogueries, absurdities and untruths were perpetrated upon the teachings of Jesus by a large band of dupes and impostors led by Paul, the first great corruptor of the teachings of Jesus.” “The clergy converted the simple teachings of Jesus into an engine for enslaving mankind and adulterated by artificial constructions into a contrivance to filch wealth and power to themselves…these clergy in fact, constitute the real Anti-Christ.” “And the day will come when the mystical generation of Jesus, by the supreme being as his father in the womb of a virgin will be classed with the fable of the generation of Minerve in the brain of Jupiter.”

“Shake off all the fears of servile prejudices, under which weak minds are servilely crouched. Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call on her tribunal for every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the Thomas Jefferson “I have examined all the known existence of a God; because, if there superstitions of the world and I do be one, he must more approve of not find in our particular superstition the homage of reason than that of of Christianity one redeeming blindfolded fear.” feature. They are all alike founded on fables and mythology. Millions of Thomas Paine innocent men, women, and children, “It is the duty of every true Deist to since the introduction of Christianity, vindicate the moral justice of God have been burnt, tortured, fined, and against the evils of the Bible.” imprisoned. What has been the effect of this coercion? To make one half “I do not believe in the creed professed the world fools and the other half by the Jewish church, by the Roman hypocrites; to support roguery and c h u r c h , pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

by the Greek church, by the Turkish church, by the Protestant church, nor by any church that I know of… each of those churches accuse the other of unbelief; and for my own part, I disbelieve them all… of all the systems of religion that ever were invented, there is no more derogatory to the Almighty, more unedifying to man, more repugnant to reason, and more contradictory to itself than this thing called Christianity.” “The Christian church has set up a religion of pomp and revenue in pretend imitation of a person (Jesus) who lived a life of poverty.” James Madison “What influence in fact have Christian ecclesiastical establishments had on civil society? In many instances they have been upholding the thrones of political tyranny. In no instance have they been seen as the guardians of the liberties of the people. Rulers who wished to subvert the public liberty have found in the clergy convenient auxiliaries. A just government, instituted to secure and perpetuate liberty, does not need the clergy.” “During almost fifteen centuries has the legal establishment of Christianity been on trial. What have been its fruits? More or less in all places, pride and pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

indolence in the Clergy, ignorance and servility in the laity, in both, superstition, bigotry and persecution.” Madison was also against exemption for churches.

tax

And here’s One last quote, but not from a framer: “Hence today I believe I am acting in accordance with the will of the Almighty Creator.” —Adolph Hitler

______________________________ Another fun fact: a mere 7 percent of dwellers in the original 13 colonies belonged to a church at the time of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Separation of Church and State “Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should ‘make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,’ thus building a wall of separation between Church and State.” — Thomas Jefferson, Letter to the Danbury (Conn.) Baptist Association, January 1, 1802

Casey Rae is a musician, public policy wonk and the editor/publisher of The Contrarian Media. An in-demand speaker, he gives frequent talks at conferences and campuses on issues at the intersection of creativity, technology, policy and law, and is a go-to source for major media outlets from NPR to the New York Times. He is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University and VP for Policy and Education at the Future of Music Coalition. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Media & Democracy Coalition and the National Alliance for Media Arts and Culture. 68

It’s OK to not know what you want to do with your life or even what you want to do tomorrow. It’s OK to make mistakes...repeatedly. It’s OK to give up on some things. It’s OK to let go. It’s OK to not feel motivated. It’s OK to not want to do laundry, or dishes, or clean the bathroom, or pay bills.

It’s OK by KaleidoscopeKathy

I recently read a blog post in which the author wrote several statements starting with the phrase: “It’s OK.” The concept resonated with me and I decided to start my own list. It’s OK that I’m nervous about putting this list out there. It’s OK to not go to everything I’m invited to. It’s OK to take a break from activism. It’s OK to spend time on Facebook. It’s OK to occasionally “research” certain people on Facebook. It’s OK to not spend time on Facebook. It’s OK to be single. It’s OK to not want to meet every guy that messages me on OK Cupid.

It’s OK to not want to spend time with certain people. It’s OK to say no. It’s OK to be scared to stand up for yourself. It’s OK if your feelings are different than you’d like them to be or think they should be. It’s OK to struggle to express your feelings. It’s OK to be confused and sometimes even scared by your feelings. It’s OK to cry. It’s OK to sob, uncontrollably. It’s OK to laugh, loudly. It’s OK to question. It’s OK to ask questions. It’s OK to not know the answers. It’s OK to not always care. It’s OK to not take someone’s advice. It’s OK to not always want to be there to help others. It’s OK to get pissed off at people. It’s OK to express your anger.

It’s OK to fear rejection. It’s OK to fear failure. It’s OK to be afraid to express your insecurities.

It’s OK to not want to hug someone, or sometimes even anyone. It’s OK to not want to let go when your are hugging someone. It’s OK not to wear makeup or to not get manicures or pedicures or to not wear fashionable clothes. It’s OK to have tattoos and piercings and it’s OK not to, too. It’s OK to feel frustrated when you think you’re being stereotyped. It’s OK to not alway make healthy food choices. It’s OK to eat ice cream...frequently. It’s OK to not be skinny. It’s OK to be insecure about your appearance. It’s OK to really want to ride a bike in the Fremont Solstice Parade but to feel too self conscious to actually do it. It’s OK to want to fit in. It’s OK to want to be anti-capitalist but still want to make a decent salary and buy that really cute pair of shoes.

It’s OK to miss someone.

It’s OK to be scared to reach out to people. It’s OK to be scared to invite others to do things with you. It’s OK to be afraid to ask for help.

It’s OK to struggle with expressing your anger. It’s OK to think that life’s not fair.

It’s OK to question your spirituality. It’s OK if while you’re attempting to meditate your mind continues to race in different directions.

poetry

It’s OK that I’m still nervous, but also pretty excited, about sharing this list. pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

pré·cis

The international magazine. focusing on life. In all form. Click Here for:

www.thefiveeyesshow.com

pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

art

Abu Dhabi

Maritime Paintings

Dongfeng

Mike Hendrickson

resides in Burlington, Vt. He started painting as a child. He was taught as a child by his father who was a professional set designer for theater companies. He gets his inspiration for his paintings while working as a boat captain on the ocean and racing sailboats. See all the paintings at: mikehendrickson maritime paintings on facebook or contact him at finnkeel@hotmail.com

pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

Team Brunel

This is part of a series of paintings of each of the seven boats that just finished the 2015 Volvo Ocean Race. The Volvo is a one design ocean race around the world. Each of the boats are 65 feet long with a 9 man crew. It is a very exciting race and this year was particularly great because of the continuous position and condition reports and videos coming off of the boats every three hours. It was a testament to modern communications technology and really offered a lot of exposure to the sport of sailing. Team SCA

pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

Birds Eye

art

abstract impressionism

Pink Revelations

pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

Lotus Pond

About Dana Smith: Dana was born under a lonely star. Thank god she is a twin. Self taught and cauterized in the Hawaiian sun, she is a self taught original artist who takes care of the elderly in her non free time. Acrylic and canvas is her medium and she feels really weird talking about herself in third person. Sometimes when she is down she imagines herself standing among the landscape as a giant, dancing and creating vibrations in the Earths core. This is something she suggests others do as well, as it is really therapeutic and also entertaining. Coming Up Roses

pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

review.

By Tracy Chenxi Wang

beer and sex

I Downloaded, watched it, and don’t understand why people don’t just go for a porn? No one will deny that the novel was badly written, it was a fan fiction. How come this kind of books has developed another two series?

Get me drunk ASAP, so I don’t have to go through this. Or get her drunk ASAP, and switch off the damn TV. Let’s do it.

A super rich billionaire loves an innocent girl, super Mary Sue. Besides in S&M world, he shouldn’t ignore when she says the safe word, which is super unprofessional. Being a dominate doesn’t mean to ignore the partner’s life.

Pairing with beer: This movie should go with Bear Beer Extra Strong 12%. This beer is full bodied, with full strength and strong strike of alcohol. After the second one-if you can survive from the second bombards-it tastes like syrup.

While a Scottish brewery called Innis & Gunn released a beer infused ginseng, ginkgo blioba and damiana with 50 different varieties of hops to stimulate sexual desires. They only produced 200 bottles for £30 a 330ml bottle.

Crap movie. First part was like, see how handsome I am, see how rich I am. See how people respect me, now you fall in love with me? I have to warn you, I am a bad bad boy, now sign the contract. No? sex. Now be my slave, whip whip. Oops I break your heart? Over.

Or pick one from Oranjeboom 1216 family which are also from Germany.

“We had a lot of fun making this beer, doing things that have never been done before in brewing, much like couples all over Britain will be doing behind closed doors once they’ve seen the film,” said Innis & Gunn CEO Dougal Sharp. Like people are not hyper sexual enough.

pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

The Brotherhood of Huben knights & Merchants pub. Beijing, PRC

pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

Temple 4th Anniversary, 7. 26. 2015. Beijing, PRC

gigs. 77

pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

gigs.

pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

Summer Blaze Fest, DDC, 8. 1. 2015. Beijing, PRC •Cassette •Jajatone •The Twenties •Gate To Otherside •She Never Sings Our Songs •Deadly Cradle Death

gigs. 79

pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

gigs.

pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

Summer Blaze Fest, DDC, 8. 1. 2015. Beijing, PRC

gigs. 81

pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

gigs.

pré·cis • issue 8 • 8.2015

remembrance Akiko Fukumoto Balchiunas Vermont, in 2004 where Akiko loved to be. Her husband, Chuck, passed away on February 18, 2008.

Akiko Fukumoto Balchiunas,

age 51, passed away in her home in Warren, Vermont, on the beautiful morning of May 29, 2015, in the comfort and care of her partner and adventure mate, Robert F. Graham Jr. Akiko was born in Funabashi, Japan, on September 29, 1963. She was the daughter of Shoji and Masako (Shirata) Fukumoto. Akiko began her love of travel by moving with her family to Hatboro, Pennsylvania, at age 4. Then at age 12, the Fukumotos relocated to their first home in Warminster, Pennsylvania. She continued her adventure in which she created an amazing family of friends and adventures for herself and so many others in this life. Akiko graduated from William Tennent High School in Warminster, Pennsylvania, in 1981 and continued her education at Drexel University, receiving her bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering in 1986. Akiko found true love at Drexel where she met Charles A. Balchiunas. After graduating the couple moved to Glen Bernie, Maryland, and purchased their first home in 1986. The couple married on July 9, 1988. In 1995, the couple sought a new way of life by moving to Stowe, Vermont, where they later built their dream home in Hinesburg, Vermont, in 1996. They later purchased a lake camp in North Hero,

Akiko began her career as a circuit designer/test and manufacturing engineer with Lockheed Martin in Maryland in 1986. She later was employed by Osicom/Cray Communications for three years before joining IBM/Essex Junction in 1995 to 2013. At IBM, Akiko saw her responsibilities begin as an engineer for the SSRAM Wafer Test becoming the program manager of that department where she created and held registered patents for IBM. Following a period of advancements, she became the project manager for New Product Introduction/ Outsource Enablement Test Engineer. After 18 years with IBM, Akiko began a new chapter in her journey becoming a digital marketing consultant for Gravity Dance, a lifestyle clothing and artistic creations company based out of Rob and Akiko’s home in Warren, where she was responsible for developing and executing social media strategy for the company. She also paved her own way in setting up, rolling over and managing her own 401k. Also, after her time at IBM, Akiko was given a grant to go back to school at Community College of Vermont furthering her education in an associate program studying digital and social media marketing. Also within the parameters of her classes, Akiko was working on her own social media project to promote her own project called Happy Hibiscus on Facebook or online at www.HappyHibiscus.com/ Twitter/Pintrest/Youtube. Akiko created a social media presence as an *Awakened Lifestyle Brand*, with a message to “Make choices using Love instead of Fear,” to discover one’s true potential. Happy Hibiscus was also a way for Akiko to chronicle her journey ... also as a way for her “to attract like-minded people, to help others understand how awakening will give the courage to not fear cancer and other things in life.” Akiko loved to play! She enjoyed many,

many activities. The following are some of her favorites (just add “ing” to the end) snowboard, golf, kayak, fish, bike, wakeboard, surf, swim, snorkle, sail/ boat, volleyball, tennis, scrabble with her ladies, snuggling, playing and walks with her German shepherds (Malko and Kogie) and scenic drives where she always found the most scenic or best route. Akiko was a world traveler who loved life and adventure and loved her family, friends and pets deeply. She especially enjoyed arranging travel adventures and gatherings of friends, making new friends, laughing hard and being in places with a beautiful view. Akiko found great happiness living in Vermont and loved being at her camp in North Hero, Vermont. Akiko also enjoyed volunteering at the Flynn Center for Performing Arts in Burlington, Vermont ... as a “Flynn Spirit”/usher for the past five years. Akiko is loved and mourned by her partner of the last seven years, Robert F. Graham Jr. of Warren; her parents, Shoji and Masako Fukumoto of Warminster, Pennsylvania; her brother, Mas Fukumoto of Atlanta, Georgia, her dog, Kogie; and countless friends and extended family. Friends and family are invited to attend Akiko’s viewing to be held on June 4, 2015, at Perkins Parker Funeral Home in Waterbury, Vermont, from 5 to 8 p.m. There will be two celebration of life parties for Akiko: The first will be in the Philadelphia area (venue TBD) on August 8, 2015, followed by a second celebration of life party to be held at Akiko’s camp in North Hero on August 15, 2015. The family would like to request instead of flowers that memorial gifts be considered to be donated to the Mad River Ambulance Service, P.O. Box 305, Waitsfield, Vermont 05673.

Alvan R. Benjamin Alvan R. Benjamin, of Warren, Vermont, owner of The Valley Reporter in Waitsfield, Vermont, died peacefully at home on May 30, 2015. He was 88 years old. He was born in Somerville, Massachusetts, on August 6, 1926, to Ida (Barnett) and Israel Benjamin. He was raised in Malden, Massachusetts, and graduated from Malden High School in 1943, where he was one of the first Massachusetts high school students to run a five-minute mile. He enrolled in Boston University, where he attended one semester before joining the U.S. Army at the age of 17. He served in active combat duty in World War II and later in the Korean War, including the famous Retreat from Chosin Reservoir. After WWII, he returned to school and graduated from Boston University with a degree in business administration.

the first gubernatorial press conferences in Massachusetts to radio and television reporters. After his service in the governor’s office, he became the first fulltime radio/TV reporter at the Massachusetts State House, for WNAC Radio 680 and later Channel 5 WBZ-TV in Boston. He remained in that position until he left to join the Massachusetts Teachers’ Association where he served as many years as director of public relations. He continued to offer commentary about politics in the Bay State and the nation throughout his long career, and he interviewed many prominent political figures, including Eleanor Roosevelt, Ted Kennedy and Herbert Humphrey, among others.

After his military service and graduation, he opened his own advertising agency in Boston, Lee, Lewis and Benjamin, specializing in public relations, advertising and political clients.

In 1982, upon retirement to Warren, fulfilling the dream of many reporters, he purchased the Mad River Valley’s weekly paper, The Valley Reporter, and served as editor and publisher until 2000. He remained active in the paper and in his community until his death.

He assisted in the election of Endicott Peabody as a member of the governor’s council and later Peabody’s election as governor of Massachusetts. In 1961, he joined the staff of Massachusetts Governor Foster Furcolo where he served as the governor’s press secretary. In that capacity, he opened

Benjamin was a skier, a golfer and a regular at Chez Henri and Caesar’s Palace. He is survived by his beloved companion, Barbara M. Nestor; Peter Fenn and Tara Zadeh and family; the Ross family; as well as friends and colleagues in Boston and Vermont, too numerous to mention.

He was predeceased by his parents and his brother, Carl Benjamin. A celebration of Al’s life will be held at Chez Henri in Warren, Vermont, at a later date to be announced, after it re-opens next fall. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Mad River Valley Ambulance Service (mrvas.org, P.O. Box 305, Waitsfield, VT 05673) or Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice (cvhhh.org, 600 Granger Road, Barre, VT 05641). Assisting the family is Perkins-Parker Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Waterbury. To send online condolences visit www.perkinsparker. com.

remembrance Lei Jun, the former front man from the legendary Beijing born band MiSanDao left the world an emptier place on 6th May 2015.

wards the Japanese, is almost pounded into the fabric of national identity, the one guy some people dismissed as “just another skinhead” was actually one of the

Lei Jun

MiSanDao had a 2012 European tour, appeared in documentaries and featured in several foreign media articles. Alas, earlier this year after 15 years, the band broke up leaving Lei Jun developing further plans for his restaurant, Noodle In. The death of Lei Jun, the punk rock Oi! diplomat has people from every part of the music scene and every part of the world taking way more than one moment of silence. His joie de vivre (lust for life) was even more evident than his “F the Police” T-shirt. He left the world a better, more united place.

Lei Jun was one the elder statesman of the punk tribe of China and an active, vibrant man. Best known for founding the Oi! Punk band and scene as well as the Beijing Punk Festival, he was a man who touched, aggravated, Oi’ed!, impressed and expanded an enormous amount of people’s hearts around the world. Due to a hereditary heart issue, he died shortly before his 40th birthday. Lei Jun was a member of a tightknit group of Skinheads who certainly could make some think they were scary as hell with their traditional Skinhead fashion and raucous behaviour on and off stage. Never judge a man by his boots.

nect with working class people and illustrate the stress between the government and the people. The rest, as they say, is history.

most progressive men around. As Punk Fest grew, he did some pretty ballsy and bold things, extending invitations to bring in Japanese punk bands like icons The Star Club and Bobby’s Bar.

missed.

Farewell to a husband, friend, chef, promoter, performer, and a brother in arms. You earned your place in punk history, Lei Jun, and you will be sorely

Next time you want to speak truth to power, give an outsider a chance or smash around listening to whatever makes your heart sing... Remember, you are walking He started listening to punk cas- in his boots. In a nation where xenophobia in sette tapes in 1996 and adopted general, and especially to- the skinhead look and life to con85

In Memory of Casi by Kat Tosi and Grrr

below, written by ly put the kitten down out of the way, and we moved on. his loving dad.

Sometimes people show up in our lives for a reason. Casi had many reasons. On my last trip home to the USA, I announced it was largely in part to visit my spiritual advisor: Casi. Casi taught me the true meaning of the saying ‘fall down 7 times, stand up 8.’ He had no eyes but that never stopped him from hunting snakes or climbing trees or finding the perfect flower pot to sit in. His third eye was a wonder to behold. The story of Casi begins in Thailand, when he found the perfect home with the perfect parents and ends in North Carolina, where he found the perfect rock in a perfect sun spot as a purr-fect resting place. There are many people around the globe that are greatly saddened by his loss but also greatly honored to have known such an amazing being. I encourage all who are reading this to adopt pets from the street or a shelter. Casi says: Always be kind to animals, we really are people . The story of Casi finding his path in life is

What seemed like just a night out on the Thai holiday of Loi Kratong in November, 2006 ended up changing our lives forever. Anchali (my wife) and I were with friends and family at the busy riverside “Antique House” restaurant in Chiang Mai for the holiday and her brother’s birthday. There was not an empty table to be seen, and people crowded around the various decks and docks along the river to Loi their Kratongs.(float their flower and coconut trunk boats to wash away bad luck) Waiters and kids were running around like crazy, while a band played on an upper level deck. In other words, total Thai holiday chaos in a busy restaurant.

For the remainder of the evening, Anchali was very subdued and not able to stop talking about the kitten. Eventually she went looking for it again, asking waiters if they had seen it. Her search ended in failure, and eventually it was time to head home. With tears in her eyes I literally had to drag her away, secretly happy she hadn’t found the kitten. I told her taking care of blind cat sounds terrible, our one cat is plenty of trouble as it is. She didn’t agree, but had no choice.

After beer and food and food and beer we rounded up our Kratongs and made our way towards the river. On the way, Anchali noticed a tiny, dirty, white thing on the ground amidst all of the people amazingly not getting stepped on. To my dismay, she stopped and actually picked it up and quickly realized it had no eyes. We couldn’t believe a tiny blind kitten could survive walking around on such a busy night, but I immediately told her to put it down. We already had a cat (Gato), and the last thing I wanted to bring home was a sickly blind white and black dirtball. After some urging we needed to catch up with friends at the river, Anchali reluctant-

Near the end of our dinner, appearing from under the deck we were sitting on, was the dirty blind kitten. Without hesitation it walked directly to our table and stopped under Anchali’s chair. With tears in her eyes (again), Anchali flagged down a waiter and asked for a box, picked up the kitten, and never let it go again.

After a few days Anchali stopped talking about the kitten, and soon it was forgotten. A few weeks later we returned to the Antique House restaurant for a quiet dinner on a weeknight. The scene was completely different, just a few occupied tables, no music, and certainly no chaos. Anchali wondered if she’d see the kitten, but didn’t look for it or ask anyone about it. We sat at an isolated table near the river, ordered some beer and food, and enjoyed the view.

Casi: November 23, 2006 - June 8, 2015 ~ Released on July 17, 2015 to the rock in the sun at 35°23’38.3”N 82°42’51.9”W.

images.

798 artspace: ÂŠ stech