James Arnold Taylor

Today at my school, we go to meet James A. Taylor, he is in the Voice-Over Industry. He came to the school with the USO doing tours and talking to kids. I got to meet him and talk to him a little while waiting for some of my kids to get autographs. (I got one too..) Here is a little background on him I got from google. Very nice and talented man.

James Arnold Taylor loves voice-over. "It has been a dream of mine since childhood to do voice work for movies, television, radio, video games, whatever!" and now James' dream is quite a reality. Because of his versatile vocal range, he has had a successful career in every facet of the Voice-Over Industry. With lead roles in animated films such as the much anticipated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as Leonardo, The Animatrix co-starring with Carrie Anne Moss, and the Disney film Atlantis: Milo's Return taking over for Michael J. Fox in the title role. Currently James has several shows on TV: he's Johnny on the WB's Johnny Test, Axel in A.T.O.M. on Toon Disney, Wooldoor Sockbat on Comedy Central's hit Drawn Together and most notably Obi-Wan Kenobi in Cartoon Networks, Star Wars: Clone Wars. James keeps busy from his home studio with regular promo work for Fox, Spike, G4, and Game Show Network. On the Video Game front, James has been in over 50 recent titles, he's Tidus in the Final Fantasy X series, Ratchet in the Ratchet & Clank series, Gabe in the Syphon Filter series, and numerous voices in games like Shrek, Spiderman, X-Men, and Lord of the Rings to name a few. A unique aspect of James' work is Voice-Doubling. When big time celebrities aren't available to do their own voice, James steps in to seamlessly fill in: from David Spade and Michael J. Fox to Billy Bob Thornton and Christopher Walken. Currently James has been busy as Captain Jack Sparrow and Willy Wonka for Johnny Depp. James' greatest honor has been becoming the new voice of Fred Flintstone for recent cartoons and commercials. "I'm rarely using my own voice, but that's what's so cool about VO. You can be anyone your voice can produce."http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0852517/bio

Here is a picture of him I found.

Taste of Asia 2009

Last night Lonnie and I went to a wonderful dinner and show at the Butller officiers' Club. We got to enjoy some wonderful Asian food and great performances by Zampa Ufujishi Daiko. Here in a little info I found about some of the things we saw.

Ryukyubuyo (Ryukyu dance). Okinawa prefecture.
The Ryukyu dance is based on different choreographic techniques, appeared in the period of the 18th - the middle of the 19th century and kept till nowadays. The form of the headdress was inspired by a big red flower, widely spread in the tropical climate of Okinawa. Blue hollows between flower's petals resemble little pieces of a sea or sky. At the present time this headdress is an inherent part of classic and modern

Ryukyudayko (a drummers' show). Okinawa prefecture.
If translated from Japanese the word "okinawa" means "a rope at seashore", actually the island looks like a rope. It is so narrow, that in some areas it is possible to cross it in half an hour. The island of Okinawa is the only island in Japan, situated in the tropical zone. The climate here is warm and the nature is really wonderful. Therefore, the tourism in this area of Japan is appreciably developing. For the last decades a lot of world-class hotels, health resorts, restaurants, museums and botanic gardens appeared here. Cultural events and festivals last here all year long without interruptions. A traditional drummers' show called ryukyudayko is very popular at this island. This show also includes a traditional dance of Okinawa island eisa, which has Buddhist roots.http://www.japanhouse.ru/eng/regions_products/okinava.php
It is supposed that the origin of the sanshin (sangen) goes all the way back to Egypt 3,000 years ago, where those introduced to the west became string instruments played with bows, like the violin, and those introduced to the east became Sangens, which are played with plectrums. Okinawa's Sanshin was introduced from China and settled into its present style after many improvements, although it became the "Shamisen" after it was introduced to mainland Japan.

Parts of the Okinawan Sanshin
Body - python skin imported from Southeast Asia is used.
Neck - ebony (Yaeyama ebony is supposed to be especially good)
Strings - silk thread, nylon thread
Plectrum - cow horn, buffalo horn, ivory
http://www.wonder-okinawa.jp/014/en/4inst/index2.html

"Shi-Shi" lion dogs -- or "Shisa" -- can often be seen standing guard on the roofs or entrances of homes, shops and other areas in need of a little protection or good luck.
Legend has it that the Shi-Shi came to the Okinawa region many years ago as a present for a Ryukyuan King. The Shi-Shi then became famous for protecting the villagers of Madanbashi from a terrible dragon who lurked in Naha port bay. According to the legend, when the king had the Shi-Shi confront the dragon, the Shi-Shi roared like a lion -- causing a huge rock to fall from the sky onto the dragon, thus turning the dragon into present-day Ganna-mui island.
Shisa are connected with the Shinto religion. They were originally used as guardians to entrances of residence, shrines, and used singularly on rooftops. One type of the creature is sometimes seen poised with a golden sphere under one paw -- symbolizing a concentration of goodness, wealth, and bountiful crops.http://futenma2.blogspot.com/2005/04/lion-dogs-on-okinawa-shi-shi-lion-dogs.html

Here are some pictures of the Head Dress,Dancers,Sanshin(guitar),and the ShiShi Dog. I took from last nights dinner.

Dragon Boat Practice 2009

Well, The Army Women's Dragon Boat Team has started their practices.. I'm so glad that I get to be a part of the team again this year. There are only about 10 people from last year rowing again, so we have a lot of new people. We need 32 on race day. Race day is on May 5, 2009. I will be posting pictures from now up through race day. Oh, and Lonnie is the Coach for the Men's Team.. I will get pictures of that this coming Monday.

SuperBowl 2009

This year Super Bowl was on our Monday in the early AM... Lonnie and some of the guys got up really early and were at the club by 530am. But smart people like Raquel and myself, slept in until 630am. They had a great breakfast and lunch set up for us. It was nice.. I took the day off of work, but Lonnie had it off anyway.. and they kids got to stay home also to watch the game.. It was a very nice day by all..