Semele
Music by George Frideric Handel, Libretto by William Congreve, Performed by Elizabeth Futral. I went to go see Semele tonight at the NYC Opera. It was interesting to say the least. This being my first English written opera to go see, it became clear to me for the remaining need of the sur-title board just before it lost all meaning to me again. That is, I still couldn't hardly follow along with the words since they were sung with such inflection but then the lyrics were a bit overly simplistic. Every arrangement had about the same two lines repeated over and over to it. Still, the music was lovely and the singing was amazing, plenty of humor, the story was interesting and there were so many old people there waiting for God to come by in the second act to take them to opera heaven.
I think the people to my right and in front were family of someone on stage because when the arrangements were over, you couldn't time the reaction to the clapping obsessively. It was just that fanatic.
Anyway, the story of Semele was modernized to a story between Jackie Kennedy-Onassis and Marilyn Monroe with a greek tragedy twist. Hard to get into it at first but became more interesting after it got going. Not a bad performance overall.
Righteous hatred
Once upon a time there was a little boy with a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he should hammer a nail in the fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. But gradually, the number of daily nails dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.
Finally the first day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He proudly told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone. The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence.
"You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. You can put a knife in a man and draw it out, it won't matter how many times you say 'I'm sorry', the wound is still there."
'Righteous hatred' is in the same category as 'righteous cancer'or 'righteous tuberculosis'. All of them are absurd concepts."
- Khenpo Konchog Gyaltsen Rinpoche (Buddhist)
Yet another Farewell Party
A nice farewell evening hosted by Shannon (well done) for James and Victoria who are also parting soon to move back to the UK. It will be sad to see them go, this is the 4th set of friends in the last several months to say goodbye to. However, I do get one last chance to beat James in a game of golf this saturday. October it will be good to see them again.
In the Air Tonight, hold on...
There is something going on in the ether. People seem to be very defensive lately and losing their minds. Please stop.
My mother and I connected yesterday on the phone in a very positive way. It's been a long time since such honsesty but it's a seed I hope to grow.
G'Day Steve
Oh My Gah! Did you see Steve Irwin's daughter read her Eulogy to her dad at the memorial service? (snif). We should all be so lucky to remembered and regarded so well after we are gone..
Violence, Protests, Speeches, and Martial Law
Thailand is under Martial law as the military has decided to overthrow the Prime Minister from his position of power as he attends ceremonies at the UN this week here in New York.
Prime Minister Gyurcsany from Budapest, Hungary has vowed to respond in force against more rioting, the worst Hungary has seen since the fall of communism. The rioting however, was a result to a leaked tape where Mr Gyurcsany admitted his government had lied to the public in the recent elections. Thereby undermining his authority in making such threats.
It is odd to think of two places I have been to where I felt at such peace can be experiencing such turmoil.
The Iranian president attended a UN meeting while French President Jacques Chirac changed positions today in saying sanctions against Iran are not needed. Which seems to be a 180 change from their position when the resolution against Iran using nuclear weapons was drawn up. Bipolar or not, I agree with Chirac when he said that he had never seen sanctions being effective in the past.
I am actually going to give our president some praise today when he made it a point in his UN speech to say that America is not at war with the Muslim faith.
Pope Benedict has been withstanding a lot of protests and criticism from the Muslim community from his recent remarks that portray Islam as a violent faith. Honestly, I have no idea what he said as I did not hear the speech, and perhaps it was inappropriate in general or as a man of his position, but something has to be said when responses like the following from the Mujahedeen Shura Council are released in response;
You infidels and despots, we will continue our jihad (holy war) and never stop until God avails us to chop your necks and raise the fluttering banner of monotheism, when God's rule is established governing all people and nations...
This isn't fair to moderate Muslims; to portray them in the same light. But when your loudest public voice seems to be those like the Mujahedeen Shura Council, it's understandable how many not of the Muslim faith start to get tunnel vision with their view of the religion.
Gothamist
Neat, my space invaders photo made the Gothamist website.
Gap Tragedy
I am liberal on whatever other people want to wear, really, I am all about self expression through fashion. But seriously, no matter who you are, if you try to pull off Audry Hepburn looking pants, I just can't look at you.
Your not Audry Hepburn nor Michael Jackson and that's not really a bad thing.
Say No to Gap.
Memorial
It's been five years now since the day of unimaginable disaster. I have mixed feelings over the observation ceremonies. I hope the families have found some peace but America sill has a long way to go. I remember a day when the world stood with us like no other time in history.
I saw an interview a few weeks ago, a man who had lost his son, a firefighter in the attack. He was begging for the media to stop showing the footage over and over again of the towers falling. It was killing him each time to relive the moment. Not only did you see the towers falling all day today, but Fox News showed people jumping from the burning tower. Honestly, I just don't see how they justify this to themselves.
Who's feeding who? Are you giving the people what they want or are you cramming it down their throats?
waiting on a plane in minneapolis
45 min delay so far on the flightline trying to get from minn to nyc. perfect weather in nyc but too much traffic coming in.
no snakes so far.
update: Turns out it was the President arriving in NYC that delayed the plane from taking off to Kennedy Airport.
Crocodile Hunter
Steve Irwin, The Crocodile Hunter, dies today when a stingray barb went through his chest as he was filming an underwater documentary off the coast of Queensland.
It's life Jim, but not as we know it.
CBS is going to re-release the Original Star Trek series out of order but with remastered CGI effects on September 16th. Featuring re-mastered audio as well, Trek fans are split on if this is a good thing or not but most agree that Michael Okuda, veteran Star Trek effects for the movies and spin-offs, is the best guy in charge of doing so.
