Up And Down In Dubai

Dubai has been known as the world's richest city in past decades, mainly because of its abundant oil and gold resources. However, a recent project of building man-made islands off its coast known as "The World", fell short on funding as a result of the city's recent economic downturn. The crisis comes as a result of Dubai's real estate market crashing by 50 percent. Dubai's government recently received two bailouts from neighboring city Abu Dhabi at a combined price of 25 billion dollars-money that is supposed to help pay back the loan taken out to finish the semi-built utopia.


Dubai World, the corporation that is planning the project feels some relief that the cash injection will help offset their enormous debt. Although pay back seems to be increasingly difficult as the remaining 75 billion dollar balance due continues to weigh the Emirates government down. The crisis caused all major construction projects to halt, yet they are insisting on building Burj Dubai, the world's largest tower.

The plan for Burj Dubai was revealed in January by the company Emaar. The announcement is creating skepticism among critics who feel it will only add to Dubai's increasing debt. In opposition, the Dubai government claims its sole purpose of erecting such an enormous building is for stimulating the local economy. Ten percent of units are already sold nearly six years before its official grand opening. This gives the city hope that more wealthy people will want to purchase space in the extravagant, 160 story tower. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, ruler of Dubai, is proud of the Burj Dubai and what its construction will do for their long-term economy. He will hold a special celebration the day it opens.

Dubai's newly opened Metro Network, a driver-less rail system, is another potential sign of the city's re-emerging economy. The Metro is already becoming a success as millions of tourists and work force commuters utilize the world's most advanced transit system on a daily basis.

Despite skepticism of the The World's future island construction, high hopes of the Burj Dubai and the Metro Network, many now feel that the previously wealthy city has lost its reputation because of its financial bailout and their incessant need to keep blindly creating unrealistic projects without money to back it. Only time will tell what the economic outcome of Dubai will be.


http://www.cnn.com/2010/BUSINESS/01/03/dubai.worlds.tallest.ft/index.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8462218.stm

http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/dubai-metro/

photo courtesy of morguefile.com/Khalednj

D.O.E. All Spent

Due to limited funds within the Department of Education, the institution canceled after school tutoring, made less hours for Professional Part Time Teachers, and started furlough Fridays. In the past, DOE implemented school programs such as early morning care and A+ to assist local residents in before and after school child care. However, this year alone has seen the most furlough days and budget cuts the state has ever seen. Hawaii ranked 48 out of 50 states in student achievement scores, ultimately revealing that public school education may not be a top priority in Hawaii.

After Governor Lingle issued the budget cuts of nearly 500 million dollars, results have been increasing furlough days and school consolidations. These are only some of the threatening realities Hawaii's education system is currently facing. The majority of non-certified teachers are the first to be let go as they are easily replaced. Therefore Part-time Teachers (Hawaiian, Music, Art, PE etc,) face the second wave of cuts.

Federal funding for Special Education Services are still going strong by keeping their recommended minutes such as physical, occupational and speech therapy. Parents also receive training on how to cope with DOE administration’s inconsistencies such as misappropriation of funds and school days lost from budget cuts. My roommate is currently on Department Directed Leave with pay till the end of the school year due to a minor allegation. His main concern is how can they afford to pay a substitute teacher AND him when the state is facing tough economic times? What about the children? This example shows a glitch in the education system and improper procedures at the state level.

http://doe.k12.hi.us/news/furlough/index.htm

Good Vibes to Playing Dives

It is not that often I get to play REALLY GOOD MUSIC with more than a few like-minded individuals. Last week, some friends and I collaborated at Vibe Asylum, a recording and rehearsal studio off Ward Avenue. It is the best public studio on the island because each room is fully stocked with top-of-the-line musical equipment and ice cold air conditioning. For a drummer like myself, the latter makes a world of a difference! Tracy gave great customer service too by loaning out pairs of drum sticks and allowing drinks inside the room. Thanks Trace!

The jam comprised of Girish (gear-ish) on psychedelic guitar, HPU Ian on thumping bass, Joey Zeez on drums, old man Neil on the fluttering sax, and Dizzy Darren on keyboards. All of us were equally as hyped to play because we knew it was going to sound amazing, and it did! The mixer levels were perfectly preset, so my friends plugged right in as I threw down some funky drum breaks. We blended Reggae, Blues, Funk, Soul and Hip Hop with each of our own diverse improvisational styles. It sounded better and better till we finally tore the roof off!

My mission was to record the jam on my friend's MacBook but was not working with the PA and mixer. I was only able to record a few songs on my phone, therefore only crappy sounding versions exist. It is okay because I knew we would meet again soon...

A week later on May 8th, we had a chance to play inside Bar 35. Everyone was stoked again, but this time I was exhausted from school, printing, and selling at First Friday the day before. Despite my condition, we constructed some good improvisational jams to the soulful singing of Capp on the microphone, whose vocals complemented our overall sound very nicely (Capp performed with Mykah 9, featured on my Jazz Minds and Rhymes blog).

After jamming for an hour straight, my limbs started tensing up. I was determined to finish strong so I clenched my hands tight until that last chord struck. Then wow! I was spent, and could not imagine trying to carry the drums back up four floors.

For compensation they gave us gift certificates in which we used immediately on pizza and beer! Whew!It was all down hill from there.

Into the Scene

Katie Whitman is the brainchild behind the 808 Scene Zine, a free publication that supports underground music and all art forms. The idea for it came after Whitman started writing reviews of local bands she saw on Myspace. Each band contacted her shortly after because they were ecstatic someone was writing about them. Their appreciation for Whitman's reviews motivated her to expand the idea of a website into a zine, or mini-magazine, where people could find information on the expanding underground movement.

The publication showcases all music styles along with tattoos, album and show reviews, artist bios, and other material pertaining to the culture. Whitman claims "I've always wanted the publication to be all inclusive of all styles of music, while focusing on those styles that get very little press or attention elsewhere in Hawaii's media." Katie knows the city's crevices are exploding with diversity and expression yet feels there are too many oblivious of it. Therefore her goal is to inform the masses while simultaneously having an outlet for talent to gain exposure.

Her previous experience of putting together a show for HD Radio Free Hawaii inspires her to take the zine in a different direction. She would like to have the online version include a streaming radio show of local bands. The focus on other entertainment such as comedy performances at the Laughtrack Theatre and independent films add to where Whitman sees the 808 Scene Zine headed.

Artists covered in the zine are oftentimes those who approach Whitman about the exposure. She added "There are a lot of bands out there and it's difficult to know them all. It's a great help when people contact us about being interviewed in the zine". Here Whitman proves she is a supporter of all who reciprocate the love for the underground scene.

After four years at the controls, Whitman recently handed over the publication to a few individuals she says "have similar visions for the zine in the future". She highly anticipates what these new visionaries have planned. Whitman proudly mentioned that her exposure to the island's enormous amount of talented and dedicated artists who follow their passion molded her "transformative experience" at the zine.

The 808 Scene Zine's past, present, and future contributions are helping shape the art renaissance. It continues to inspire artists and enthusiasts alike to do-it-yourself. Only a handful of active participants in Oahu's underground art scene really make it thrive, and Katie Whitman is one of them. Thanks Katie!!!!

http://www.the808scenezine.com/

Fun, Inside and Out.

Kokua Fest is one of the biggest concert events of the year. The earthy, eclectic people of Hawaii come together at the Waikiki Shell to enjoy mellow sounds of such performers as Jack Johnson, Ziggy Marley and Paula Fuga. This year, there were back-to-back shows on Friday and Saturday, possibly to make up for the festival's hiatus last year.

I remembered from past Kokua Fests that a very large number of fans congregate at Kapiolani park to listen from outside the Shell. I also remembered those fans were my JoZo!Prints target audience. At dusk, I walked with friends to the park and got ready for a live social networking frenzy.

What a turnout! By merely taking a stroll in the park, I sold 9 shirts and made some good contacts! I also threw a couple out to people that embraced my mission but had no funds. Some bought prints for sustainability support while others who were intoxicated flung ten bucks at me. Maybe it was my friend's bag that said "Feed the children of the world". Some girl insisted I sell the shirt off my back! I ended up walking home wearing a tight female shirt. I was most definitely going back on Saturday.

Saturday was a lot more calm; big family barbecues, lovers frolicking, and fans hungover from the previous night-like Joey Zeez. I took my chances with the not-as-enthused crowd anyway. It proved to be alright by selling 6 more shirts. Grand total for selling outside Kokua Fest-$150.

Not bad for just hanging in the park.

Just Like That

After a little over a year of selling high-end lighting to snooty customers with deep pockets, I was asked on the spot to leave the Honolulu Design Center. "No problem!" I exclaimed. It is surprising they kept me there as long as they did. Their reason for termination was the company's downward spiral of sales and the waning economy. I always questioned how they would make a profit with an over-stocked, outrageously plush, 50 million dollar building to account for and maintain. It was pointless why they hired me seeming only a handful of customers would come in a day on average. Business would be so slow it got me through many classes until they cracked down on employee Internet use. I will only miss the sound system I wrote about. There were no hard feelings in the end, though it's ironic it occurred on such an already eventful day in history (4/20); Hitler's birthday, Columbine massacre, National Marijuana Day, Guru's death (today), and now, getting canned in 2010. Every 4/20 gets crazier and crazier.

Monday, April 5, 2010

Geneva Convection

I walked in to the Honolulu Design Center without a clue my perceptions would instantly change on how I saw my work. There stood a Geneva sound-system in my CLIQ Lighting department. The Swiss brand has developed an iPOD dock stereo with the most wattage to date. The Large version I get to use is 400 watts (shown above) and sounds pretty dang crispy. My boss told me to turn the volume up to 100 so I did-right as an old man walked in with his fingers in his ears! We both jumped up, Sorrrry!

The second best part is now I get to sell Geneva's sound-systems alongside the crazy lights I'm already selling. The combination is actually good, but now I would rather only sell audio because I'm more comfortable with it altogether. My musical connection is an element that has been brought into the workplace! This will now be an advantage for me.

http://www.genevalab.com/v/vspfiles/default.asp

http://www.honoluludesigncenter.com/

Chinatown's Upturn (Scene-opsis)

Chinatown Honolulu is going through an economic growth spurt. Many types of businesses i.e. art galleries, retail stores, venues, restaurants and bars have surfaced/resurfaced, contributing to the area's gentrification. Events such as First Friday Art Walk along with numerous multicultural block parties are the source of Chinatown's recent transformation from business district/haven for homeless drug addicts to its current stake in the art renaissance and party capitol. The film depicts an array of demographics who shed light on Chinatown's past, present and future. Perspectives show contrast and comparison of the recent transition while documenting the day and nightlife action.

Spring Break Makapuu style

Sunday was a nice, sunny day out at Makapuu beach. It was the day after the official start of Spring, so the great weather brought out enough people to fill the water and much of the sand. While sun bathers caught rays, body surfers and boarders like myself got to catch fun waves in 1-2, occasional 3 footers (dodging nasty shore breaks) with a steady flow of sets constantly rolling in. The water had a lot of seaweed, which is way better to have than Portuguese man-of-wars, but felt similar so it was freaky at first. Para-gliders were in effect as usual, this time gliding directly overhead, and one female got swept out pretty far by the current that had everyone looking. She managed to come back in by herself, wheeew!

I was trying to get a tan and of course got burned, but that's all a part of the fun too. Going to Makapuu was a great way to start off Spring break AND birthday week (3-23).

Well,time to Partay!

Melodious Solutions

Last week I had the wonderful opportunity to check out my friend's showcase of up-and-coming local bands entitled The Rising Melody. It was held at the Waikiki Nei Theatre inside Level 4 Nightclub. The concert hall/opera house is like no other on the island-it's humongous! The theatre has a really great soundsystem that made every band sound crisp and clear. Visual patterns were also projected onto a 40 foot screen behind the performers. The view was great from the balcony center front, bucket seats and all. Of course, the millions of dollars put into the theatre's construction paid off because it is quite an experience just to be inside there.

Rising Melody's root fundamentals are to expose talent who are passionate about their craft, promoting those more concerned about listener satisfaction than money.
The crowd was very supportive; a combination of students, scensters, veteran musicians, surfers, skaters, arists, and friends of friends, all who reciprocated what they saw and heard through a frenzy of cheers for each act.

Stuck on Prius

A man drives down a San Diego highway and somehow his accelerator gets stuck to the floor of his Prius. Of course he freaks out, calling the police. They help the man slow down to 50 mph while instructing him to slam the brakes and emergency brake at the same time (a good tip-in case that ever happens to anyone reading this).
Toyota Prius had a recall of vehicles in the recent past for having accelerator problems.

That is the epitome of a scary driving experience. Hopefully Toyota gives the model proper repairs so that no one ridicules the "green" automobile.

And yes to Boo, Prius are ugly. I hope that new electric car takes off and creates a cleaner world for everyone in the future-without defects.

source:http://att.cnn.mlogic.mobi/cnn/It_ne/It_ne/detail/466635/2

Jazz Minds Finds The Rhymes

This past weekend I visited Jazz Minds, a local bar/lounge that plays live jazz, funk, hip hop and soul six nights a week. On this occasion, Los Angeles lyricist and freestyle wizard Mykah 9 performed to a packed audience, backed by local band Tempo Valley. Tempo’s deep grooves resonated from within the walls of the lounge, allowing opener and slam poet Bridget Grae to give her signature speakeasy-style lyrics. Both complimented each other well.

Mykah 9 walked up on stage as the dance floor filled with collective energy. He and Bridget collaborated for some improvisational songs that sounded like they could have been written. The audience looked satisfied one of Hip Hop’s ambassadors was performing off Chinatown’s beaten path.

The crowd was still charged by 1:45am, and only the disconnected felt the need to leave. Mykah’s encore was his Freestyle Fellowship classic and Gil Scott Heron cover song, Park Bench People. It was a very comforting rendition, reminding me of back home in L.A.

This was an all around great performance in an intimate setting that boasted seasoned musicians and a susceptive audience.

Chilean Looters

The devastation of the 8.8 earthquake in Chile brings yet another dilemma-looting. Chaos in the city of Concepcion has not let up due to vulnerable businesses that are affected by the quake. Some structures are FUBAR, where owners do not have the means for repairs. This is the point of entry where all needy people take advantage of the situation and steal everything in sight.In the midst of the looting, eight fatalities have been reported. Looters were disabled by teargas thrown from local authorities.
source:http://www.usatoday.com/video/index.htm?bctid=69251371001

I remember how intense a situation like this can be. Once at Six Flags Magic Mountain I was in the middle of a riot which started from the amusement park over-selling tickets to the diva group TLC's concert there. Once capacity was reached and people kept arriving, the rest were turned away. They broke through the gates and after that it was complete anarchy. Looters took everything from Bugs Bunny stuffed animals to food at Denny's restaurant down the hill. It was no joke!!

Palama Piece Yard

The Kalihi Palama Youth Center offers an activity not seen at too many other centers. The back field doubles as a designated area for Hawaii's best graffiti artists, kids and adults alike. All are allowed to put their works on built pre-fabricated walls for drivers passing by the Vineyard exit to see, as well as respected and non-respected peers. Every weekend, new colorful pieces, murals, and "throwups"( bubble letters and words, usually painted quicker than normal) are created. You can see local crews or solo-artists out there on the weekend having a good time, fulfilling their passion for "Graff". The designation of a yard gives the opportunity to let some of Hawaii's talent shine, and also signifies the embrace of an artistic, alternate activity.

Back to the Video

After two semesters of using professional gear in Video Production class, I finally busted out the old video camera that was sitting in the corner of my room (in its case, of course). I have a presentation in one of my classes this week and figured it would be great to add video footage of myself explaining the silkscreen process. I had forgotten how fun it is to say or do anything you want on (your own) camera.

It is great to be shooting video again even with my tiny Panasonic from Don Quiote. I also have a five year-old iMovie program which still works fine for editing. I feel the start of another creative eruption.

Art as Influence

Last week a new exhibit opened up at the Honolulu Academy of Arts entitled "From Whistler To Warhol: Modernism On Paper". On display are pieces created by the great Realists, Surrealists, Minimalists, Expressionists, and Pop Artists from the last century and a half. The first few works upon entering are of Andy Warhol screen prints. The halftones and contrasting colors he uses are a wonderful treat in itself. After seeing Warhol's screen print on one hundred colored styrene cases of artist's faces (used in the picture above, entitled "Ten From Castelli", 1967), I was in love. Works by Roy Lichenstein and Frank Stella use multiple applications (lithograph, screen print, lino-cut, embossing) in a single piece which I find very interesting. Etchings using aquatint along with other methods and paintings by various artists round out the exhibit.

I highly recommend visiting this gallery if you are inspired by creative expression through various techniques of printmaking and drawings. It is located in Room 28 at the Academy of Arts and will continue until May 3rd.

Hangin' with Nikki

Nikki Kato is a spunky individual who lives in Waipio Gentry. She graduated High School a couple years back and is currently a student at Hawaii Pacific University. She loves photography, therefore chose Photojournalism as her major. In five years she plans to be somewhere in the field where freedom of creative expression is at her fingertips. She embraces the virtual world of interactive websites and can catch her around Fort Street Mall waiting for class, instant messaging multiple friends. Though Nikki spends a lot of time online she has never visited dating websites. Nikki likes to think outside the box while striving for innovation-and has a good time doing it.

Oh, and she is positive the world will not end in 2012.

Interview with Nikki

Joey will be interviewing Nikki with these questions:


What is a typical day in the life of Nikki Kato?

Why did you choose photojournalism as your major?

What do you see yourself doing in five years?

How do you think technology will evolve by the time you have grandchildren?

Will there be a significant world event in 2012?

Should medical marijuana be legalized in all 50 states?

What runs through your mind on a Saturday night?

What do you see as your contribution to the world?

Belkin Transmitter Heaven

iPods and their accessories have been around for quite some time now, and I never bought them because of my pet peeve which is they create communication-dysfunction between humans. Years later, events happen, and different needs in life take precedence. Well, it wasn't till this last Christmas that I received an iPod Touch from my girlfriend.

From the start I've only cared about hooking it up to the Belkin car transmitter while driving, bumping sounds of bliss . It is so wonderful not to have CD's cluttering my dashboard. That was a long time complaint of mine, but never wanted to contribute to the iPod craze, so I withheld owning one till this year.

Now that I have converted to the dark side (ha ha), my car is a lot cleaner and the stereo is much easier to operate. This also means that I do not listen to KTUH as much, unless it's Tuesday or Wednesday evening.

I have no idea why I didn't think of these advantages earlier. Actually, I did, but that's when I was antiPod!

Mighty Mighty Diamonds

The spirit of legends performing on Oahu continued this weekend with the Mighty Diamonds, a trio of singers who helped make the Roots Reggae genre popular in the late 1960's-early 1970's. They performed Friday night with their backup band at Tropics on the corner of Ward Farmer's Market. I found out they were going to be there while listening to KTUH in my car around 11 p.m. waiting for my friend to come out of his house.

The gig was not advertised in any paper, gearing it towards the island's underground music community who may not have 35 dollars to see them perform on Valentine's night at Pipeline. We immediately drove to Tropics to find the place almost at full capacity. I knew the door man so we got in for 10 dollars. The energy was powerful inside because it was the headliner's first time performing in Hawaii, and it was much anticipated.

The backup band played heavy on bass, drums, and keyboard, while adding echo effects to form what is known as dub versions. They performed Reggae classics with the offbeat wizardry only veterans of the industry can do. The crowd responded with a frenzy of cheers, including myself. An hour later, the Mighty Diamonds singers came on and swooned the crowd with their soulful harmonies and hooks. I looked around to see all couples joined at the hip.

Two o'clock in the morning came upon us quick as the band played their hana hou. The crowd wanted more but the joyous occasion had to come to an end. We left immediately after the last cymbal crash at around 2:15 am in order for myself to have a few winks before work.

An Eventful First Friday

February's First Friday was a milestone in the art renaissance of Chinatown, Honolulu. People came out in droves to see the Chinese New Year celebration along side the art walk that was simultaneously occurring. It was also the first time newly renovated artist lofts were available for open house. Hotel Street became the most concentrated I had ever seen with party goers. I looked inside Smith's Union Bar which is normally empty, to see customers filling it to capacity. Vagrants and homeless were interspersed with the crowd who spilled out onto the street.

It was a special night for me; I started off doing my T-shirt gig in Chaplain Lane where I participate in a flea market entitled Shop, Bop, and Grind. Later that evening, one of Hip Hop's founding fathers was in attendance down the street at bar/venue Next Door. D.J. Kool Herc, who is given credit for making Hip Hop breaks popular in the late 70's-early 80's, performed to a full capacity. The Jamaican born, New York native had the crowd roaring with his innovative style of blending old and new music genres. Many in the crowd had no idea who Kool Herc was, yet for myself, who is a Hip Hop head (enthusiast), it was an event I had been waiting for five years to witness (I missed his performance at Next Door in 2005).

Seeing many friendly faces on the dance floor reminded me that Honolulu is a collective area of society where artists, artisans, and audiences reciprocate positive energy in a way that few cities do. The city's cultural diversity is a major contribution that is paralleled by the tradition of ohana.

The February First Friday opened up Chinatown's gateway to a larger audience, combining dual festivities whereby helping its popularity. The art walk seems to get bigger every month as the number of reasons for attendance grows: art appreciation, shopping, partying, performances, relaxation, and cultural dining. The emergence of a well rounded art scene is giving the city a reason to be hopeful for an economical upturn.

Act of War Review

Act of War contributed to my knowledge of Hawaii’s history and its unjust

past. It is clearer after watching the film as to why Native Hawaiians stand firm behind their beliefs of sovereignty and their dedication to the land and culture throughout history. Keys to the kingdom may have been handed over, but the voices of Queen Liliuokalani and King Kalakaua continue to echo in present day Hawaii with the separatist movements that exist. The concept of ‘haole’ insurgents annexing Hawaii, changing its legislature, and attempting to permanently reform its culture through Marshal Law sounds somewhat reminiscent of Afghanistan’s change in infrastructure at the hands of the United States. Will they have same ending?

Hawaii’s rich soil and easy access to the Pacific Ocean makes it an easy target for a country to take control of. The craving of the islands by the west was purely motivated by capitalism, yet that is what helped Hawaii set up to thrive globally. Aside from its abundant natural resources for export, technological breakthroughs stemming from Pearl Harbor and tourism later on manifested Hawaii’s destiny of being big industry. For locals, sustainability of the land is far more important than any corporate, mass-producing entity whose planted their roots.

Narrations during missionary accounts of events lean towards a justification of actions through ethnocentrisms, whereas the Native Hawaiians narration has a completely different conviction—one of repressed hostility. The contrast of beliefs is astounding to watch one after another because America adopts the utilitarian mind frame while Native Hawaiians try to maintain a more deontologist reality. One certainty is that both parties will never see eye-to-eye on the rights to Hawaii, and opinions are growing stronger every day.