Your input required

Rejected X-Men powers. Your input required.

Here are a few to get you started:

1. The ability to age rapidly.
2. The ability to go without blinking.
3. Being able to converse with inanimate objects. Problem is, they're inanimate so they can't talk back.
4. Being able to see two seconds into the future.
5. PG-ray vision (instead of X-Ray).

Concert

Hi all,
The Wind Ensemble is presenting a concert full of Gustav Holst's music. This includes Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, A Dirge for Two Veterans (featuring the Bison Men's chorus), and First Suite in Eb. It is from 8-10 on Friday, November 28th at MBCI (Jubilee Place). Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students at the door.
Hope to see you all there!

realizations

I just realized that the version of Rhapsody In Blue I have on Ronald and Avis Romm's CD "Living The Dream" was arranged by Timothy Dokshitzer. This is the arrangement that they tell stories about. Wow.

Another time-waster

This has been eating much of my time. But it's fun!

McCain Vs Obama Risk it all and use superior tactics to win the Presidential Election

Play this free game now!!

This just in...

Jack Thompson has been disbarred by the Florida Supreme Court due to inappropriate conduct. It comes into effect on October 25th.

If you don't know who this is or why you should be excited, this post probably isn't for you. If you're curious, then wiki him.

...sigh

Ugh. I just finished two journal entries for Teaching The Arts in the Senior Years, so I am all caught up now. I feel like I still haven't learned anything from that class that I don't already know. I'm doing my best to keep an open mind, though. This week's readings pointed me to www.wefeelfine.org which is a really neat site, and an exercise in transmediation (20 bonus points for me using an Educational Strategy (tm) ).

So, tomorrow is Election Day. I'm facing a dilemma that I haven't had to face yet. Now, those of you who know me know that I usually vote for the blue team. However, the captain of the blue team made some remarks that made me very unhappy (about the arts). So, I really dislike said captain now. However, I think that the red, yellow, green, and french teams do not jive with my economic/political views. Also, they may or may not destroy the country if they get in. But I'm sick of minority governments because they can't actually accomplish anything. And I think that the blue team is probably the best one to see us through our current economic turmoil. But I don't like the blue captain, once again. However, I have to vote, because if I don't vote, then I feel that I am not entitled to complain about the government.

WHAT DO I DO?????

p.s. happy thanksgiving, all! I am very thankful for my friends and family, who never cease to amaze me in many different ways.

Classical Music for you to listen to.

Here are some "classical" pieces that I have become familiar with over the last few months. You should acquaint yourself with them if you can.

The Planets - Gustav Holst

First Suite in Eb - Holst

Second Suite in F - Holst

Quiet City - Aaron Copland

Sonata for Trumpet and Piano - Paul Hindemith

O Magnum Mysterium - Morten Lauridsen

Quintet - Michael Kamen (for the Canadian Brass)

Sonata Pathetique - Ludwig von Beethoven

Phrygian Gates - John Adams

Symphonies 1-9 - Gustav Mahler

This should be enough to get you going for a while.

Requiem

Requiem

Matt Neufeld

Requiem æternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis. Te decet hymnus Deus, in Sion, et tibi reddetur votum in Ierusalem. Exaudi orationem meam; ad te omnis caro veniet. Requiem æternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis.

Rest was a luxury not afforded to me.

Kyrie eleison.

My life was spent for the sake of those I served.

Requiem æternam dona eis, Domine; In memoria æterna erit justus, ab auditione mala non timebit.

Seeking shelter for the displaced, balm for the wounded, justice for the powerless.

Absolve, Domine, animas omnium fidelium defunctorum ab omno vinculo delictorum et gratia tua illis succurente mereantur evadere iudicium ultionis, et lucis æterne beatitudine perfrui.

I was faithful to my country.

Dies iræ! dies illa solvet sæclum in favilla teste David cum Sibylla!

I shed my life’s blood for them.

Lacrimosa dies illa, qua resurget ex favilla judicandus homo reus. Huic ergo parce, Deus.

No tears were shed for me.

Domine, Jesu Christe, Rex gloriæ, libera animas omnium fidelium defunctorum de pœnis inferni et de profundo lacu. Libera eas de ore leonis, ne absorbeat eas tartarus, ne cadant in obscurum; sed signifer sanctus Michæl repræsentet eas in lucem sanctam, quam olim Abrahæ promisisti et semini ejus.

I, a soldier, served my people.

Hostias et preces tibi, Domine, laudis offerimus; tu suscipe pro animabus illis, quarum hodie memoriam facimus. Fac eas, Domine, de morte transire ad vitam. Quam olim Abrahæ promisisti et semini ejus.

My nation, in turn, betrayed me.

Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth; pleni sunt coeli et terra gloria tua.

To restore my honour, remember me.

Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini.

Remember who I served, and the zeal I had for their well-being.

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona eis requiem.

Though war is distasteful to many, letting innocents suffer is a grave sin.

Lux æterna luceat eis, Domine, cum sanctis tuis in æternum, quia pius es.

If you value my sacrifice, then do this:

Requiem æternam dona eis, Domine; et lux perpetua luceat eis.

Cherish my life, poured out for you.

Pie Jesu Domine, dona eis requiem.

Then I can rest.

Amen.

This is another piece that I wrote for my introductory creative writing course. For a translation of the Latin, you can go to the Wikipedia site for the Requiem mass. Comments are much appreciated, as this may go on to be published (I hope).

Also, I'm at Gem Lake Bible Camp for the next 10 days. No electricity/internet. See you in 10 days!

New post on Sojourn

New post on Sojourn. Check it out!

Canadian Brass

From the Canadian Brass: a Quintet by film composer Michael Kamen (Die Hard, X-Men, Mr. Holland's Opus). From the Magic Horn CD.