JCC Nyusureta!

Instead of having to deal with the e-mails which seems to be a source of a lot of problems, the JCC has decided to instead post the newsletters up on the blog. Don't worry, we are STILL going to E-MAIL these to you every month. Next semester promises to be a lot more organized now that we've figured a lot of things out.

Thanks a BUNCH for being so patient and loyal. You guys are the best.

Martial Arts work outs

Hello, this is Aaron again. This Friday I'll be doing training from 7pm to about 8pm or so. If anyone wants to come and work out or just see what kind of things I do when I practice I'll probably be working at the top of Fogleman Hall. Unless you live in the building if you want to come and check it out you'll need to let me know ahead of time so I can let you in.

My phone number can be found in your newsletter and I can be reached at my school email

radney_aaron@mcastudent.org

I will also post an announcement on our facebook page later in the week.

The art of calligraphy

Hello again one and all. I've got something new for everyone. I know most of
us would like to learn the Japanese language given the chance and while I can't
really do that I thought some of you might be interested in a bit of calligraphy.
Basically the art of beautiful writing. As artists and Japanese enthusiasts it can be a
particularly interesting avenue to look at. If you're interested here are two links
to articles I found on the subject.


This first one gives a broad overview and also gives some basics of calligraphy and
 what separates good calligraphy from bad.
http://www.connectedglobe.com/ohmori/intro1.html

This one gives a broader overview of the history of the art itself.
http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/calligraphy1.shtml

Discussion is wanted and encouraged :)

November [CLUB REVISIONS]

This month is going to revolve mostly around our members and their input. November 5th is going to be an open discussion and we will talk about whatever information everyone feels like bringing to the meeting.We've also extended the discussion portion of the meeting to accommodate for time to make sure everyone gets the chance to talk and so no one feels rushed about what they bring.

With that said, please don't make this a wasted meeting. At our first meeting many of our members asked for the opportunity to know the discussion topics in advance so that they could bring their own information and research yet no one has taken advantage of that yet. And many portions of the discussions have fizzled because it appears that our members want the officers to do all of the work. We would very much appreciate it if you did bring material- even in the form of a list of questions- to the round table discussions. If it is a matter of simply being disinterested in the discussions, please inform us so that can be changed in the future. If you think that the meetings are too structured like a classroom, tough luck. This was how we established the meeting layout and there were no objections at the first meeting. If any of our members have ideas and/or believe that they have a better solution, please do not hesitate to contact us. That's what the blog, the e-mail and the Facebook page are for.

The November newsletter is going to change slightly. Instead of simply being an elaborate e-mail, we are going to try creating an image file (to allow more room for a creative layout) and the e-mail sent out will instead be a link to the blog and the post containing the newsletter. Likewise, I think we will do the same with our announcements.

Discussions are continued on the Facebook page under the discussion boards. If you feel as though you may have been cheated out of valuable information or perhaps came up with more questions, please take advantage of the boards for they are lonely and full of dust.

We really do put a lot of effort, time and enthusiasm into this group through the discussions, through the blogs, the Facebook and through everything else that it is very disheartening to see it wasted. Please take advantage of everything that is available to you so that we can make next semester more fun and eventful.

Thanks, guys.
-Melissa
Wakagashira


ALSO: If you have ideas for events that you would like to have or places that you would like to go, please e-mail the officers at mcajcc@gmail.com

November screening lineup: http://whats-new-anime.blogspot.com/2010/10/november.html

K-pop J-pop blog!

Hey, it's kamilah! I'm hosting a k-pop j-pop blog called Kami Pops You! It's on blogger also, so if you wanna tune in you are welcome too! http://kamipopsyou.blogspot.com/

Friday's Screening

http://whats-new-anime.blogspot.com/2010/09/fridays-screening-lineup.html

Cultural Resource Books

Hello all, I'm Aaron and this year I'm the JCC's treasurer/law advisor. My focus within the club aside from my official duties with managing and creating out treasury is on Japan's culture from a more historical and martial arts based perspective. If you are interested there are two books I recommend that might open some insights for you that you didn't have before. The first is this one:

The Chrysanthemum and the Sword by Ruth Benedict. An early Anthropologist, Ruth Benedict studied the Japanese culture around World War 2. Though she was never able to visit the country her studies through reading books, letters and accounts are still considered quite valuable and the book is required reading for a number of Japanese school children. Even the title itself speaks to her understanding of the culture, looking at it both through the warrior tradition that helped define the culture and the ideas of beauty and simplicity.

Now here is the second book:

The Book of Five Rings (Go Rin no Sho in Japanese) was written by Myamoto Musashi, a powerful swordsman who in his entire life of 60 duels lost only one and still was not killed. In the book he wrote his personal beliefs on swordsmanship and spirituality as well as his philosophy of winning. The book is still widely read in many parts of the world, has been applicable to business as well as the battlefield and life and is considered in some circles one of the definitive books on dominating your opponent.