Running barefoot through the grass

Hamas won't recognize Israel, but will accept its right to exist?

2008-04-21T13:18:00.004-05:00

So Jimmy Carter was in Damascus this weekend on a self-proclaimed 'personal peace mission'. Defying US and Israeli warnings, he met with Khaled Mashaal, the exiled leader of Hamas. One of the things Carter and Mashaal discussed was a possible prisoner exchange with Israel, as well as how to lift a siege imposed by the Jewish state in the Hamas-controlled Gaza strip. Carter, who brokered the 1978 Israeli-Egyptian peace, is trying to secure the release of captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit (who is apparently alive?)

Perhaps more importantly, "Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal says his militant Islamic group will not recognize Israel. But he will accept a Palestinian state on Palestinian territories occupied by Israel." -The Associated Press

The statement basically amounts to a tacit acceptance of Israel's right to exist alongside a Palestinian state, but without explicit recognition of the Jewish state.

I suppose that's progress. in a really ironic weird way.

Lights Out!

2008-03-27T18:28:00.006-05:00

Last year Sydney, Australia tried to think of a way to get the entire city to do something about climate change problems. Their idea was to shut all the lights off in the city for 1 hour - Earth Hour.

EnergyAustralia attributed a 10.2% decrease in electricity consumption during that hour, with some 2 million people taking part.

Earth Hour: March 29, 8 - 9 PM

As an initiative of the WWF, Earth Hour has grown from a single event into a global movement. 26 major cities and hundreds of councils and towns from more than 35 countries are on the final list of participants. Many iconic buildings and landmarks around the world will be turning out their lights for Earth Hour including the CN Tower, Toronto; Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco; Sydney Opera House, Sydney; Brighton Pier, UK and the Sears Tower, Chicago.

Candlelight dinners, unplugged concerts, glow-in-the-dark sports, community star watching.. those are just some of the ways people are marking the hour. You can participate even if your local government is not on board. Simply shut all of your lights off between 8 and 9 pm local time.

Each one of us, working together, can make a positive impact on climate change - no matter who we are or where we live.

More information can be found at http://www.earthhour.org/.

sad

2008-03-25T20:57:00.002-05:00

On monday I found out that my family veterinarian died. My mom had cut out the obit from the paper and it was sitting on the counter. I saw his smiling face and it read: died tragically while at work. I figured it was a massive heart attack or something. I asked my mom, since my aunt and uncle were friends of his. She said, no it wasn't a heart attack. and then -I'm not sure why- I realized that he had committed suicide. Euthanized himself, of all things. The clinic staff found him the next morning.

His name was dr. terry. he was a nice man. I can only imagine how alone he must have felt for so long.

Easter and the Verdi Requiem

2008-03-23T17:01:00.002-05:00

Last night I went to the WSO's performance of Verdi's Requiem. It was beautiful. This composition has so much drama and emotional intensity, parts of it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I think even people who aren't fans of classical music would like it.. To listen to my favourite part see below.

The history of the Requiem is really interesting. First performed in Italy in1874, the composer Giuseppe Verdi's inspiration came from his favorite novel: The Betrothed, by Alessandro Manzoni. When the author was close to his death, Verdi decided that his passing deserved the creation of a grand musical testimony. Verdi's symphony premiered on the first anniversary of Manzoni's death.

It left a huge impression. Some listeners have criticized it as being too operatic, but IMO that is what makes it special, be it sacred or secular? Ever since it's first european tour it has been performed in concert halls rather than churches, probably because of this theatricality.

The Requiem is made for a large orchestra, 4 solo singers, as well as a full choir. The start is slow, quiet and filled with a sense of grieving. It prepares you for the greatest possible contrast.. An apocalyptic vision of the day when God passes judgment on our souls. Violent and raging, bass drums and the full choir in unison. here is a short video, Dies irae (Day of Wrath) performed by the New Russia Symphony. Obviously it's not like being there, but you'll see what it takes. The Requiem does have more positive parts--joyous hymns and chant-like duets. The last section is the most operatic, and the final gesture is a quiet ethereal ending.

Side note: A lot of people don't understand the importance of the conductor. The best way to describe is they are like the sun and the orchestra are the planets. Alexander Mickelthwate is the Winnipeg director and he is so awesome to watch. I'm pretty sure he has ADHD.

So who wants to create a famous symphony for me when I die? :P

Springtime

2008-03-20T16:54:00.002-05:00

Today is the Vernal Equinox. The snow is melting and soon the crocuses and the narcissus will push their way through the patient soil.

Happy Spring my friends!

Condition of being Normal

2008-03-19T19:35:00.008-05:00

Is there such a thing as being too comfortable? Like sitting down with comfortable and having it turn uncomfortable. awkward even.. The last few years, my life has been drama. Complicated relationships, complicated moods. Now, things are quiet. There is no one/nothing to make my heart ache. so I'm starting to get that feeling; a stirring in my chest. It's emotional nostalgia. I start to make myself crazy because all there is in my head is white noise (vs. black noise?)

The psychological definition of normal is: free from any mental disorder; sane.
Great. Who wants to be emotionally adjusted anyway? My doctor says this is what being stable feels like. It's a new concept for us bipolar folk.

When you've gone through hypomanic periods, it changes your idea of what "feeling good" is. With the help of a mood stabilizer medication, I've managed to find middle ground. this is a good thing. No more highs, no more lows. But can I tell you something? It feels like the flatline on a heart monitor. beeeeeeep. Is this what it's like to be normal? I mean, I'm doing things I haven't been able to do in a long time. Like working, and sleeping 6-8 hours. Normal right? But I don't know what "fun" is. I'm not inspired by what I see. Not so normal.

I think [I hope] it's possible to be mentally stable and now and then want to jump around because you feel GOOD. Baby steps on the way to sanity.

Happiness come to me, and fill my head with colorful noise.

Hi everyone

2008-03-14T08:12:00.006-05:00

I guess I'll start by saying I haven't blogged in quite some time. So far I like it here. It feels fresh. A new design (thanks to a sweet friend), and hopefully some new ideas.

I've never been very good at introducing myself..

I'm 23 years old, living in the prairies. it's flat and boring

I like community gardens, dislike the suburbs

I'm single.. commitment issues

I'm not scared to say I'm bipolar

I'm jewish, but no patriarch in the sky for me thanks

I love my online friends. aww