https://www.simonjamesfrench.comSimon James French2024-03-28T08:33:38.173527+00:00sjfhiddenpython-feedgenHi, I’m Simon James French aka SJF.
I’m a composer of music for places, moments and atmospheres.
I write music for contemplation. Burn some incense whilst li...https://www.simonjamesfrench.com/2023/// 20232023-03-13T22:40:27.391604+00:00sjfhidden<h2 id="5-things-im-focusing-on-this-year">5 things I’m focusing on this year~</h2>
<p>Writing them here to keep myself accountable.</p>
<p>I also printed them out, laminated them and keep them in my pocket at all times.</p>
<p><em>1. Be kind to yourself</em></p>
<p><em>2. You do not have to be good</em></p>
<p><em>3. Think before you speak</em></p>
<p><em>4. No conditions for love</em></p>
<p><em>5. Do the work</em></p>
2023-03-13T22:38:03.247999+00:00https://www.simonjamesfrench.com/the-exciting-of-coffee/The Exciting of Coffee2022-08-18T09:17:56.526660+00:00sjfhidden<p>This is absolutely genius. I love anything that pokes fun at coffee.</p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="400px" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/d1Hy7QL4pIA" title="YouTube video player" width="85%"></iframe>
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2022-08-11T21:01:09.733944+00:00https://www.simonjamesfrench.com/recipe-club-thai-noodles/Thai inspired noodles2022-08-18T09:17:56.526660+00:00sjfhidden<h3 id="recipe-club-01-thai-inspired-noodles-i-m-no-food-photographer-ingredients-for-one-person-living-on-a-boat-by-themselves-1-tablespoon-of-neutral-oil-1-2-an-onion-diced-1-2-red-pepper-diced-1-clove-of-garlic-roughly-chopped-knob-of-ginger-roughly-chopped-1-large-head-of-bok-choy-chopped-w-stalk-leaves-separated-1-egg-1-package-of-rice-noodles-i-used-konjac-noodles-which-were-yum-1-tablespoon-of-crunchy-peanut-butter-1-teaspoon-of-sesame-oil-1-teaspoon-of-rice-vinegar-1-tablespoon-of-soy-sauce-1-teaspoon-of-worcestershire-or-fish-sauce-1-tablespoon-of-water-a-few-leaves-of-basil-shredded-instructions-in-a-medium-frying-pan-add-the-oil-and-heat-until-it-shimmers-add-the-onion-pepper-and-bok-choy-stalk-let-them-all-soften-a-few-minutes-before-adding-in-the-chopped-garlic-and-ginger-cook-for-another-2-minutes-push-all-the-veggies-to-one-side-of-the-pan-drizzle-in-a-touch-more-oil-and-crack-in-the-egg-break-the-egg-and-scramble-it-combine-with-the-veggies-drop-in-the-rice-noodles-and-follow-with-the-peanut-butter-sesame-oil-rice-vinegar-soy-sauce-worcestershire-sauce-and-water-toss-to-combine-and-soften-up-the-noodles-toss-in-a-few-sprigs-of-basil-and-enjoy-and-some-music-to-listen-to-whilst-cooking-and-eating-ryo-fukui-live-at-vidro-77-youtube-spotify-apple-music-if-you-d-like-to-read-more-please-subscribe-via-email-or-rss-feed"><h3 id="recipe-club" style="color:Teal;">recipe club ♨(⋆‿⋆)♨</h3>
<h2 id="01-thai-inspired-noodles-i-m-no-food-photographer-ingredients-for-one-person-living-on-a-boat-by-themselves-1-tablespoon-of-neutral-oil-1-2-an-onion-diced-1-2-red-pepper-diced-1-clove-of-garlic-roughly-chopped-knob-of-ginger-roughly-chopped-1-large-head-of-bok-choy-chopped-w-stalk-leaves-separated-1-egg-1-package-of-rice-noodles-i-used-konjac-noodles-which-were-yum-1-tablespoon-of-crunchy-peanut-butter-1-teaspoon-of-sesame-oil-1-teaspoon-of-rice-vinegar-1-tablespoon-of-soy-sauce-1-teaspoon-of-worcestershire-or-fish-sauce-1-tablespoon-of-water-a-few-leaves-of-basil-shredded-instructions-in-a-medium-frying-pan-add-the-oil-and-heat-until-it-shimmers-add-the-onion-pepper-and-bok-choy-stalk-let-them-all-soften-a-few-minutes-before-adding-in-the-chopped-garlic-and-ginger-cook-for-another-2-minutes-push-all-the-veggies-to-one-side-of-the-pan-drizzle-in-a-touch-more-oil-and-crack-in-the-egg-break-the-egg-and-scramble-it-combine-with-the-veggies-drop-in-the-rice-noodles-and-follow-with-the-peanut-butter-sesame-oil-rice-vinegar-soy-sauce-worcestershire-sauce-and-water-toss-to-combine-and-soften-up-the-noodles-toss-in-a-few-sprigs-of-basil-and-enjoy-and-some-music-to-listen-to-whilst-cooking-and-eating-ryo-fukui-live-at-vidro-77-youtube-spotify-apple-music-if-you-d-like-to-read-more-please-subscribe-via-email-or-rss-feed"><h2 id="01-thai-inspired-noodles" style="color:SteelBlue;">01. Thai inspired noodles</h2>
<p><img src="https://i.imgur.com/T5AH7lF.jpg"/><br/></p>
<h4 id="i-m-no-food-photographer">I'm no food photographer...</h4>
<p><strong>Ingredients for one person living on a boat by themselves:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>1 tablespoon of neutral oil</li>
<li>1/2 an onion, diced</li>
<li>1/2 red pepper, diced</li>
<li>1 clove of garlic, roughly chopped</li>
<li>knob of ginger, roughly chopped</li>
<li>1 large head of bok choy, chopped w/ stalk & leaves separated</li>
<li>1 egg</li>
<li>1 package of rice noodles (I used Konjac noodles which were yum)</li>
<li>1 tablespoon of crunchy peanut butter</li>
<li>1 teaspoon of sesame oil</li>
<li>1 teaspoon of rice vinegar</li>
<li>1 tablespoon of soy sauce</li>
<li>1 teaspoon of Worcestershire (or fish) sauce</li>
<li>1 tablespoon of water</li>
<li>A few leaves of basil, shredded</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Instructions:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li>In a medium frying pan, add the oil and heat until it shimmers.</li>
<li>Add the onion, pepper and bok choy stalk. Let them all soften a few minutes before adding in the chopped garlic and ginger. Cook for another 2 minutes.</li>
<li>Push all the veggies to one side of the pan. Drizzle in a touch more oil, and crack in the egg.</li>
<li>Break the egg and scramble it. Combine with the veggies.</li>
<li>Drop in the rice noodles and follow with the peanut butter, sesame oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and water. Toss to combine and soften up the noodles.</li>
<li>Toss in a few sprigs of basil and enjoy!</li>
</ol>
<p><strong>And some music to listen to whilst cooking and eating..</strong></p>
<p>Ryo Fukui // Live at Vidro ’77 <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9FUKPbvGRU" target="_blank">YouTube</a> • <a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/1N8TvUDp9wN98tcDpfKEpa?si=fctRShGpSRGrf7cUnZxsGA" target="_blank">Spotify</a> • <a href="https://music.apple.com/ca/album/live-at-vidro77/1559705285" target="_blank">Apple Music</a></p>
<img src="https://i.imgur.com/eqTWTnD.jpg"/>
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</h2></h3>2022-07-15T14:15:12.414772+00:00https://www.simonjamesfrench.com/collab-kakeru/A collaboration with Kakeru2022-08-18T09:17:56.526660+00:00sjfhidden<h3 id="a-music-and-coffee-pairing-recently-i-was-commissioned-to-curate-a-15-minute-selection-of-my-music-for-koffee-mameya-kakeru-the-coffee-shop-bar-in-the-coffee-mecca-of-kiyosumi-shirakawa-in-east-tokyo-kakeru-were-planning-a-launch-event-of-this-gorgeous-teno-speaker-from-lumio-the-company-who-make-those-lovely-book-lights-the-team-at-kakeru-chose-a-particularly-special-coffee-to-be-served-at-the-event-and-gave-me-a-brief-of-how-they-wanted-the-music-to-shift-so-the-feeling-matched-well-with-the-15-minute-brewing-serving-drinking-phases-i-had-wanted-to-design-a-piece-of-music-for-kakeru-after-i-visited-earlier-this-year-and-heard-them-playing-one-of-my-tracks-in-their-stunning-space-the-music-matched-so-well-with-the-stunning-architecture-and-peaceful-atmosphere-after-that-visit-i-set-about-composing-specifically-for-their-space-i-ve-long-been-fascinated-with-creating-soundtracks-for-spaces-and-fully-understanding-what-music-would-work-in-a-certain-atmosphere-so-when-the-opportunity-came-up-to-curate-something-for-the-kakeru-x-teno-event-i-practically-jumped-at-the-opportunity-listen-to-more-music-from-my-album-motion-a-collection-of-pieces-that-were-composed-whilst-living-on-a-narrowboat-in-central-london-motion-by-simon-james-french"><h3 id="a-music-and-coffee-pairing" style="color:Teal;">a music and coffee pairing...</h3>
<p><img src="https://i.imgur.com/ZIUIPY1.jpg"/><br/><br/>Recently I was commissioned to curate a 15-minute selection of my music for Koffee Mameya Kakeru, the coffee shop/bar in the coffee mecca of Kiyosumi Shirakawa in East Tokyo. Kakeru were planning a launch event of this gorgeous <a href="https://www.hellolumio.com/products/teno-black" target="_blank">Teno Speaker</a> from Lumio, the company who make those <a href="https://www.hellolumio.com/products/lito-classic-orangegreen" target="_blank">lovely book lights</a>.<br/><br/><img src="https://i.imgur.com/QgvPTbV.jpg"/><br/><br/>The team at Kakeru chose a particularly special coffee to be served at the event and gave me a brief of how they wanted the music to shift so the feeling matched well with the 15-minute brewing → serving → drinking phases.<br/><br/>I had wanted to design a piece of music for Kakeru after I visited earlier this year and heard them playing <a href="https://sjfmusic.bandcamp.com/track/komorebi" target="_blank">one of my tracks</a> in their stunning space. The music matched so well with the stunning architecture and peaceful atmosphere. After that visit, I set about composing specifically for their space.<br/><br/>I've long been fascinated with creating soundtracks for spaces and fully understanding what music would work in a certain atmosphere so when the opportunity came up to curate something for the Kakeru x Teno event, I practically jumped at the opportunity.<br/><br/><video controls="" width="100%">
<source src="https://i.imgur.com/46G5hoX.mp4" type="video/mp4"/>
</video><br/><br/>
Listen to more music from my album Motion; a collection of pieces that were composed whilst living on a narrowboat in central London.<br/><br/><a href="https://sjfmusic.bandcamp.com/album/motion" target="_blank"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/bUCbmhR.jpg"/></a><br/><br/><a href="https://sjfmusic.bandcamp.com/album/motion">Motion by Simon James French</a></p></h3>
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2022-07-14T09:00:08.115408+00:00https://www.simonjamesfrench.com/thoughts-on-loneliness/Thoughts on loneliness2022-08-18T09:17:56.526660+00:00sjfhidden<p>Just thinking out loud here: I find it harder to create the same kinds of friendships I had years ago when I was living in Brighton. Back then I was friends with everyone and found it easy to create and retain fulfilling friendships.</p>
<p>Recently, I've been feeling that it's much harder to make good friends now that I'm back in London. Is it because this city is so big? On the surface that seems to make sense. But the more I think about it, I had plenty of good friends in Seoul when I lived there (hardly a small city). And in Malaysia I saw friends more often even though I was literally a 3-hour boatride away from them.</p>
<p>When I left Japan, I felt deeply lonely for the first time in my life. Even though back then I was surrounded by people, both figuratively and literally. I was living in a city of 14 million and owned a cafe which had a wealth of incredibly kind and loving regular customers. However, I still felt the pangs of loneliness and I often put it down to living in a culture so foreign to my own. I felt I wasn't able to fully integrate with the <em>Japanese way</em>.</p>
<p>However, here I am in <em>my</em> own culture, and still struggling to build deep connections with people.</p>
<p>It's a strange feeling that I don't fully understand though because I'm actually not sad about spending time alone, it's great to have time to focus on composing music, writing, slowly exploring the city at a glacial pace, biking around, visiting the library and nice coffee shops. But something definitely feels off.</p>
<p>Haruki Murakami writes, in his brilliant book <a href="https://uk.bookshop.org/books/what-i-talk-about-when-i-talk-about-running/9780099526155" target="_blank"><strong>What I Talk About When I Talk About Running</strong></a>:</p>
<h3 id="im-the-kind-of-person-who-likes-to-be-by-himself-to-put-a-finer-point-on-it-im-the-type-of-person-who-doesnt-find-it-painful-to-be-alone-i-find-spending-an-hour-or-two-every-day-running-alone-not-speaking-to-anyone-as-well-as-four-or-five-hours-alone-at-my-desk-to-be-neither-difficult-nor-boring-ive-had-this-tendency-ever-since-i-was-young-when-given-a-choice-i-much-preferred-reading-books-on-my-own-or-concentrating-on-listening-to-music-over-being-with-someone-else-i-could-always-think-of-things-to-do-by-myself-and-i-resonate-deeply-with-that-i-remember-reading-that-and-nodding-along-with-each-and-every-word-but-then-he-goes-on-to-say-sometimes-however-this-sense-of-isolation-like-acid-spilling-out-of-a-bottle-can-unconsciously-eat-away-at-a-persons-heart-and-dissolve-it-you-could-see-it-too-as-a-kind-of-double-edged-sword-it-protects-me-but-at-the-same-time-steadily-cuts-away-at-me-from-the-inside-ouch-this-is-what-it-feels-like-from-time-to-time-sometimes-i-can-ignore-the-acid-and-keep-the-bottle-sealed-tightly-but-without-fail-it-starts-to-leak-another-brilliant-writer-olivia-laing-wrote-in-her-gorgeous-tome-the-lonely-city-what-does-it-feel-like-to-be-lonely-it-feels-like-being-hungry-like-being-hungry-when-everyone-around-you-is-readying-for-a-feast-it-feels-shameful-and-alarming-and-over-time-these-feelings-radiate-outwards-making-the-lonely-person-increasingly-isolated-increasingly-estranged-it-hurts-in-the-way-that-feelings-do-and-it-also-has-physical-consequences-that-take-place-invisibly-inside-the-closed-compartments-of-the-body-it-advances-is-what-im-trying-to-say-cold-as-ice-and-clear-as-glass-enclosing-and-engulfing-does-anyone-want-to-grab-a-beer-if-you-d-like-to-read-more-please-subscribe-via-email-or-rss-feed"><h3 id="im-the-kind-of-person-who-likes-to-be-by-himself-to-put-a-finer-point-on-it-im-the-type-of-person-who-doesnt-find-it-painful-to-be-alone-i-find-spending-an-hour-or-two-every-day-running-alone-not-speaking-to-anyone-as-well-as-four-or-five-hours-alone-at-my-desk-to-be-neither-difficult-nor-boring-ive-had-this-tendency-ever-since-i-was-young-when-given-a-choice-i-much-preferred-reading-books-on-my-own-or-concentrating-on-listening-to-music-over-being-with-someone-else-i-could-always-think-of-things-to-do-by-myself" style="color:SteelBlue;">I’m the kind of person who likes to be by himself. To put a finer point on it, I’m the type of person who <em>doesn’t find it painful</em> to be alone. I find spending an hour or two every day running alone, not speaking to anyone, as well as four or five hours alone at my desk, to be neither difficult nor boring. I’ve had this tendency ever since I was young, when, given a choice, I much preferred reading books on my own or concentrating on listening to music over being with someone else. I could always think of things to do by myself.</h3>
<p>and I resonate deeply with that. I remember reading that and nodding along with each and every word. But then he goes on to say:</p>
<h3 id="sometimes-however-this-sense-of-isolation-like-acid-spilling-out-of-a-bottle-can-unconsciously-eat-away-at-a-persons-heart-and-dissolve-it-you-could-see-it-too-as-a-kind-of-double-edged-sword-it-protects-me-but-at-the-same-time-steadily-cuts-away-at-me-from-the-inside-ouch-this-is-what-it-feels-like-from-time-to-time-sometimes-i-can-ignore-the-acid-and-keep-the-bottle-sealed-tightly-but-without-fail-it-starts-to-leak-another-brilliant-writer-olivia-laing-wrote-in-her-gorgeous-tome-the-lonely-city-what-does-it-feel-like-to-be-lonely-it-feels-like-being-hungry-like-being-hungry-when-everyone-around-you-is-readying-for-a-feast-it-feels-shameful-and-alarming-and-over-time-these-feelings-radiate-outwards-making-the-lonely-person-increasingly-isolated-increasingly-estranged-it-hurts-in-the-way-that-feelings-do-and-it-also-has-physical-consequences-that-take-place-invisibly-inside-the-closed-compartments-of-the-body-it-advances-is-what-im-trying-to-say-cold-as-ice-and-clear-as-glass-enclosing-and-engulfing-does-anyone-want-to-grab-a-beer-if-you-d-like-to-read-more-please-subscribe-via-email-or-rss-feed"><h3 id="sometimes-however-this-sense-of-isolation-like-acid-spilling-out-of-a-bottle-can-unconsciously-eat-away-at-a-persons-heart-and-dissolve-it-you-could-see-it-too-as-a-kind-of-double-edged-sword-it-protects-me-but-at-the-same-time-steadily-cuts-away-at-me-from-the-inside" style="color:SteelBlue;">Sometimes, however, this sense of isolation, like acid spilling out of a bottle, can unconsciously eat away at a person’s heart and dissolve it. You could see it, too, as a kind of double-edged sword. It protects me, but at the same time steadily cuts away at me from the inside.</h3>
<p><strong>Ouch..</strong> This is what it feels like from time to time. Sometimes I can ignore the acid, and keep the bottle sealed tightly. But without fail, it starts to leak.</p>
<p>Another brilliant writer, Olivia Laing, wrote in her gorgeous tome <a href="https://uk.bookshop.org/books/the-lonely-city-adventures-in-the-art-of-being-alone/9781250118035" target="_blank"><strong>The Lonely City</strong></a>:</p>
<h3 id="what-does-it-feel-like-to-be-lonely-it-feels-like-being-hungry-like-being-hungry-when-everyone-around-you-is-readying-for-a-feast-it-feels-shameful-and-alarming-and-over-time-these-feelings-radiate-outwards-making-the-lonely-person-increasingly-isolated-increasingly-estranged-it-hurts-in-the-way-that-feelings-do-and-it-also-has-physical-consequences-that-take-place-invisibly-inside-the-closed-compartments-of-the-body-it-advances-is-what-im-trying-to-say-cold-as-ice-and-clear-as-glass-enclosing-and-engulfing-does-anyone-want-to-grab-a-beer-if-you-d-like-to-read-more-please-subscribe-via-email-or-rss-feed"><h3 id="what-does-it-feel-like-to-be-lonely-it-feels-like-being-hungry-like-being-hungry-when-everyone-around-you-is-readying-for-a-feast-it-feels-shameful-and-alarming-and-over-time-these-feelings-radiate-outwards-making-the-lonely-person-increasingly-isolated-increasingly-estranged-it-hurts-in-the-way-that-feelings-do-and-it-also-has-physical-consequences-that-take-place-invisibly-inside-the-closed-compartments-of-the-body-it-advances-is-what-im-trying-to-say-cold-as-ice-and-clear-as-glass-enclosing-and-engulfing" style="color:Teal;">What does it feel like to be lonely? It feels like being hungry: like being hungry when everyone around you is readying for a feast. It feels shameful and alarming, and over time these feelings radiate outwards, making the lonely person increasingly isolated, increasingly estranged. It hurts, in the way that feelings do, and it also has physical consequences that take place invisibly, inside the closed compartments of the body. It advances, is what I’m trying to say, cold as ice and clear as glass, enclosing and engulfing.</h3>
<img src="https://imgur.com/7qFwAsg.jpg"/>
<p>Does anyone want to grab a beer?</p>
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</h3></h3></h3>2022-06-29T20:29:43.793055+00:00https://www.simonjamesfrench.com/legacy/Thoughts on leaving a legacy2022-08-18T09:17:56.526660+00:00sjfhidden<p>I recently watched the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hA50FoqW-MY" target="_blank">intro video for Soft White Underbelly</a>, a YouTube channel where a photographer called Mark Laita takes photos of and interviews the homeless residents of Skid Row in LA.</p>
<p>In the video, he mentioned how the advertising job he had before he created the channel was slowly becoming his legacy, and he was becoming increasingly uncomfortable with that thought.</p>
<p>Watching Mark talk made me wonder what it is that I want to leave as my legacy or if I'm even going to leave one behind at all. If I think hard, is it really the work I'm doing now? Is working for a coffee roaster really giving me something to be proud of? I'm not entirely sure.</p>
<p>I want to be remembered for helping people, building things, being compassionate, and for being kind. I want to be remembered for the music I create and the hearts I touched during this brief time on earth.</p>
<p>Am I thoughtlessly using up my days with only a <em>sort of</em> noble cause? My current work is fulfilling I guess, more so than a lot of jobs, but am I doing as much as I can to be remembered?</p>
<p><strong>Benjamin Franklin summed it up well:</strong></p>
<blockquote>
<p>If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead, either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><strong>And Mary Oliver rightly asks:</strong></p>
<blockquote>
<p>Tell me, what is it you plan to do<br/>
with your one wild and precious life?</p>
</blockquote>
<p>It begs to be thought about more..</p>
<h5 id="">--</h5>
<h4 id="if-you-d-like-to-read-more-please-subscribe-via-email-or-rss-feed">If you'd like to read more, please subscribe via <a href="/subscribe/">email</a> or <a href="/feed/">RSS feed</a>.</h4>
2022-06-29T20:29:27.370623+00:00https://www.simonjamesfrench.com/apple-podcasts/A nice way to use Apple Podcasts2022-08-18T09:17:56.526660+00:00sjfhidden<p>I feel like I'm not alone in finding it hard to choose the 'best' place to listen to podcasts. I flirt with Apple Podcasts for a bit, then I get bored and move onto Spotify, I've tried Airr, and even briefly had a fling with Luminary. Then enough time will pass and I'll repeat the whole process ad infinitum.</p>
<p>However, I was with a friend recently and he just so happened to open up his podcasts app and I noticed he was using it in a way that I had never considered. But it's one that makes absolute sense.</p>
<p>He was a heavy user of the 'play next' or the 'queue' function—whatever you want to call it. He didn't subscribe to any podcasts in particular but instead searched for topics that interested him and added episodes to the queue, which was running about 25 episodes deep.</p>
<p>This was what I was looking for, finally! A way to listen to podcasts but without committing to following a podcast and getting all of their episodes flooding your notifications. Making you feel guilty for not listening. This method also means you have a steady stream of diverse topics to listen to which makes opening up the app and listening to something almost instantaneous. Before this, I'd have to open up the app, browse through recent episodes and choose something which piqued my interest; a recipe for disaster because of the agony of choice. Now I just open the app and hit play on the next show in the queue.</p>
<p>A few tips I use to find new episodes:</p>
<ul>
<li>search for a book I want to read and listen to an interview with the author</li>
<li>search for an artist I like and see what inspires them</li>
<li>find people talking about my favourite movies</li>
<li>find episodes on topics I wish to learn more about</li>
</ul>
<p>Does it really need to be Apple Podcasts? To be fair, it doesn't, but a standalone podcast app <em>is</em> crucial. This method wouldn't work in, say, Spotify because I'm going to assume you're like me and also use Spotify to listen to music. This renders the queue useless unless.</p>
<p>Am I the only one who didn't think of this? Please let me know!</p>
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2022-06-28T00:00:00+00:00https://www.simonjamesfrench.com/curating-compassion/Curating compassion2022-08-18T09:17:56.526660+00:00sjfhidden<h3 id="and-the-art-of-kaizen-episode-19-of-conversations-late-at-night-is-now-live-in-this-conversation-we-talk-about-my-recent-travels-to-kyoto-tokyo-the-importance-of-compassion-how-we-should-stay-focused-on-making-gradual-improvements-in-everything-we-do-and-cody-talks-about-the-book-he-s-currently-reading-the-fourth-turning-listen-over-on-spotify-apple-podcasts-anchor-https-www-conversationslateatnight-com-if-you-d-like-to-read-more-please-subscribe-via-email-or-rss-feed"><h3 id="and-the-art-of-kaizen" style="color:Teal;">and the art of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaizen" target="_blank">kaizen</a>...</h3>
<p><a href="https://anchor.fm/conversationslateatnight/episodes/Curating-compassion-e1jutb6" target="_blank">Episode 19</a> of Conversations Late at Night is now live.</p>
<p>In this conversation,<br/>we talk about my recent travels to Kyoto & Tokyo,<br/>
the importance of compassion,<br/>
how we should stay focused on making gradual improvements in everything we do<br/>
and Cody talks about the book he's currently reading—<a href="https://bookshop.org/books/the-fourth-turning-what-the-cycles-of-history-tell-us-about-america-s-next-rendezvous-with-destiny/9780767900461" target="_blank">The Fourth Turning</a>.</p>
<p>Listen over on: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/37rxsCiVMheGFKiRrc54pK" target="_blank">Spotify</a> • <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/conversations-late-at-night/id1572897288" target="_blank">Apple Podcasts</a> • <a href="https://anchor.fm/conversationslateatnight/episodes/Curating-compassion-e1jutb6" target="_blank">Anchor</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.conversationslateatnight.com/" target="_blank">https://www.conversationslateatnight.com/</a></p>
<img src="https://imgur.com/C5hXaXa.jpg" width="80%"/>
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</h3>2022-06-19T19:09:24.737540+00:00https://www.simonjamesfrench.com/stone-in-focus/Aphex Twin // Stone in Focus2022-08-18T09:17:56.526660+00:00sjfhidden<p>Everyone could do with slowing down from time to time and listening to Aphex Twin’s ambient music. This track is a great place to start.</p>
<p>It sounds even better with the added field recordings.</p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="400px" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qvQy10Nv35o" title="YouTube video player" width="85%"></iframe>
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2022-06-10T20:48:35.305396+00:00https://www.simonjamesfrench.com/still-moment/A still moment in a Japanese garden2022-08-18T09:17:56.526660+00:00sjfhidden<video controls="" width="85%">
<source src="https://i.imgur.com/AYHfxgf.mp4" type="video/mp4"/>
</video>
<p>A quiet moment at <a href="http://www.sanzenin.or.jp/en/" target="_blank">Sanzen-in</a>; a temple just north of Kyoto.</p>
<p>Listen to the <a href="https://open.spotify.com/track/4GC973OGZiTPig7RbJWZC6?si=179321cb622b46f4" target="_blank">music</a>. Find out what <a href="https://sjf.bearblog.dev/ichi-go" target="_blank">一期一会</a> means.</p>
<p>Thank you to <a href="https://herman.bearblog.dev/" target="_blank">Herman</a> for teaching me how to include video in Markdown!</p>
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2022-06-10T19:57:14.292715+00:00