Category: Documentaries

August 6 . Issue #103

Post author By Paul Yanuziello
Post date August 6, 2021

… circles of trust … are a rare form of community –
one that supports rather than supplants the individual quest for integrity – that is rooted in two basic beliefs.
First, we all have an inner teacher whose guidance is more reliable than anything we can get from a doctrine, ideology, collective belief system, institution, or leader.
Second, we all need other people to invite, amplify, and help us discern the inner teacher’s voice.
– Parker Palmer –

Hello all and welcome to my weekly journal where I share with you 5 points of interest. This week I continue with last weeks theme on custom motorbikes, documentaries, music and more…

1. The above featured photo, another amazing custom bike made me think about synchronicity. I pulled into a gas station just ahead of this bike. I had never seen this one before and I had just finished last weeks newsletter featuring a head turning custom bike.

I asked the owner if I could take a photo and possibly feature his bike on my newsletter, he said for sure, go for it. We exchanged pleasantries. The owners name; Kawonga, we spoke about his awesome bike for a little while and then parted ways.

2. This weeks documentary; Gaza by Garry Keane and Andrew McConnell. A look behind the scenes at life in Gaza.

The Gaza Strip, or Gaza, is a self-governing Palestinian territory on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. It borders Egypt on the southwest and Israel on the east and north along a 32 mile border.

3. My viewing pleasure during a break this week included a fantastic glimpse into life on Okinawa;

Alive and kicking at 100 – The secrets of the Japanese

Okinawa is an island to the southwest of Kyushu, the southernmost island of Japan. A place that I remember with fondness I wrote about it shortly after my visit in 2002, Japan: Ancient Traditions… part 1.

4. My ear candy this week featured the chromatic harmonica with some of the best harmonica players;Toots Thielemans, Antonio Serrano, Gregoire Maret and Hendrik Meurkens.

5. I managed to escape the city this week and to get up north for some exploring, hiking and boating. I also found time to discover a great Greek restaurant the Fig & Feta in Collingwood, Ontario.

The best service around, great beverages, fantastic food, family-friendly and a wonderful ambience. Highly recommended. 5 stars!

Thank you for reading. If you think someone you know would enjoy my newsletter please share it with them. If you are looking for a great children’s book check out my new book, Samba in Brazil; Paperback version, on sale for a limited time.

Or one of my other books, Samba on a Snowy Day or the Brazilian/ Portuguese version Samba em um Dia de Neve.

Stay safe, stay well, stay strong and keep going.

Documentaries Reading Writing

July 23 . Issue 101

Post author By Paul Yanuziello
Post date July 23, 2021

The Measure of a Man

“The true measure of a man is the legacy he leaves. Be you husband, father, brother or friend, Leave your torch burning brightly, And we will never allow the flame to die.” Traquita Thomas

Hello all, and welcome to my weekly Journal where I share with you 5 things that kept me interested this week.

1. The featured photo captured my attention as I was walking to the park early Thursday morning to take part in park training. The rose of Sharon symbolizes love, beauty, and healing.

Summertime is a great time, the flowers in full bloom, the vegetables ripening and in some cases ready to enjoy. Strawberries, raspberries and blueberries are all ready to devour. I’ve had fresh strawberry pie, morning cereal with wild blueberries, delicious!

2. Speaking of parks, they seem to be all the rage in these parts, Toronto, The Big Smoke. Everything from pop-up karate classes, soccer practice, Samba dancing and even me leading a cardio, stretch, martial arts movement, tai-chi and Jo-Do park workshop.

Not a lot of participants but great fun and great exercise too. The park is a place for folks to meet up with their dogs, for people who want to use the exercise equipment and for the occasional vendor. The ice cream man comes by regularly and some authors sell their books. I’ve sold two of my children’s books to parents who bring their children to the playground in the park.

3. This week I continue to read The Bomber Mafia by Malcolm Gladwell.

I have also started reading The Measure of a Man, by Sydney Poitier, this is an in-depth autobiography of an incredible man… Definitely, someone who will leave a lasting legacy.

4. My ear candy this week, the music of Erykah Badu, India Arie and Jill Scott. Just some of the beauty that I find in music.

5. I became a member of Hot Docs Cinema this week and as a member, I am entitled to watch some fantastic free documentaries.

I chose to watch one that I had to pay for, a fantastic documentary on one of my favourite artists – the great M.C. Esher.

Or one of my other books, Samba on a Snowy Day or the Brazilian/ Portuguese version Samba em um Dia de Neve.

Stay safe, stay well, stay strong and keep going.

Documentaries Reading Writing

July 2 . Issue #98

Post author By Paul Yanuziello
Post date July 2, 2021

“Truth. Reconciliation.

Is more than an apology and deprecation,

a prayer to remove a stain upon our Nation,

a shame rooted in colonial aspiration.

This failure of Christianity, of humanity,

our arrogance and vanity,

our era without sanity,

is Canada’s unfortunate profanity.”

An excerpt from the poem Canada Day by Patricia Heintzman

Hello all and welcome to my weekly journal where I share with you five points of interest. Things to motivate, to inspire, to learn about, or, just to have some fun with.

1. This week, Canada Day, a national holiday and this year the 154th Canada Day is a sombre one, a day of reflection and a day of mourning. All Canadian flags are at half-mast in recognition of the mass graves found at Residential Schools.

2. The “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” 1971 movie turns fifty this week; based on Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory which was written in 1964.

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is an American musical fantasy film directed by Mel Stuart and starring Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka. Wilder is outstanding as Wonka. The movie is up there as one of the greatest and most imaginative children’s movies ever made.

3. This week I am reading Indigenous authors who can enlighten me on what happened on reservations; how it happened and the repercussions for letting it happen. How do we, Canada as a country come up with reconciliation for these atrocities?

A poem inspired by reconciliation – by Patricia Heintzman from Squamish Chief.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission reports, from 2015.

Calls to Action: Donate to the Indian Residential School Survivors Society.

Sign the petition re: Residential Schools – We need to know the Truth!

What is Orange Shirt Day and the significance of wearing orange in solidarity with Canada’s First People?

4. This week I had my first online meeting with the magnificent artist-illustrator Joshua Miller. We went over my new manuscript and bounced ideas around for what the illustrations for this children’s early reader chapter book could possibly look like.

It is a short story, about 3,000 words. An early reader – chapter book designed to appeal to grade 2 and up, as well as the reluctant readers.

It’s about Scratchy who is a loveable black squirrel with a big heart. Scratchy avoids trouble, he dreams of flying, not being itchy and eating lots of nuts.

With easy to read language that is simple and fun. The story displays empathy, compassion, love and heartfelt concern for others.

5. The featured photo is of the Rare Ghost Orchid, courtesy of National Geographic.

A fantastic documentary on this elusive flower and on its pollinators, Rare Ghost Orchid.

Or one of my other books, Samba on a Snowy Day or the Brazilian/ Portuguese version Samba em um Dia de Neve.

Stay safe, stay well, stay strong and keep going.