DARFUR. is happening right NOW.

More Websites about Genocide in Darfur:

http://www.ushmm.org/conscience/alert/darfur/steidle/?gclid=CNfUmY3w1IkCFQVYSAodxBqG2g

http://www.genocideintervention.net/index.php

http://www.darfurscores.org/

http://www.standnow.org/

http://hrw.org/reports/2004/sudan0504/

http://www.darfurisdying.com/

http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=3060&l=1#C2

http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/news/sudan.cfm

There are so many sites dedicated to Darfur. Why is it important to check out these sites? Because you can't keep ignoring it. That's what we do. We see these things on TV but then we keep eating dinner with our families and talking about our days. But just across the ocean there are people who can't eat dinner with their families. And if they did, can you imagine what they would say about their days? Genocide happening for not the first time in the last hundred years. And what is so much worse than the slaying of a people is the world's indifference to it. It's not to say that people don't care. Look at all the websites, and I didn't even post half of the ones I found. Not to mention articles about Darfur. But nothing is happening. For example, if in one month alone only 10 people at every liberal arts university became interested and started to send letters to state representatives, to congressmen, to our UN representatives that would be a total of 460 people a month just with Ohio's liberal arts colleges. Think about how much of a difference your voice really can make.

There is an episode of Everybody Loves Raymond about voting. Debra runs for a position in the PTA. Raymond ofcourse, selfishly tries to foil her plot to win by voting for the guy who brought buffalo wings. Debra lost by one or two votes. Ofcourse, Raymond has a big fat mouth and gives himself away. Debra gets pissed and it's a night in the doghouse for Raymond. There are consequences for voting and not voting. Your voice makes a difference. Use it. Use it right. A choir isn't made up of one person. It's made up of a group of one persons. You are the one person that may be the tipping point in convincing someone in our government to actually make a difference.

DANIEL.......

Is Almost Here!!!!!!!!!

We make Each other.

When you're happy, I'm happy.

When you have a bad day, I have a bad day.

When you find romance, I find romance.

When your romance turns into a douche bag, my romance flourishes into the love of my life.

Okay, my romance douche bags too...

(which is a really bad expression, come to think of it.)

All in all, my love, we're connected, something similar to sisters, I'd imagine. We make each other feel what either feels.

And I love it.

And I'm so happy you're happy!!!

Gwenn

It makes me happy when you are happy.

Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868)

What we already knew about Rossini:

He was born into an Italian music family (father was a horn player and mother was a singer) in the late 18th century. Right away little Rossini was thrown into the world of music. He learned harpsichord and couterpoint among many other things. At a very young age, Rossini went off to the Conservatory of Bologna. Early on, at least by the age of 18, Rossini began writing operas and they were well-liked. Tancerdi, written in 1813, was a huge hit. The opera is pretty much about forbidden love. At the end of a war between families, the father of one family offers the hand of his daughter to the other family but unbeknownst to either family she is secret engaged to Tancerdi, some soldier. And ofcourse, chaos insues and people die. The daughter is put in prison because she's a bad girl and Tancredi rushes off to a battle and is slain. And the daughter is married off to the other family. (Copy of the score http://www.dlib.indiana.edu/variations/scores/bhr1017/index.html) After Tancredi, Rossini continued to work and was hired as a musical director for two different theaters in Italy. He was paid well and in addition to his duties as director he was also required to produce at least one opera per year. His next huge success was in 1816, when Rossini completed the opera buffa The Barber of Seville. Opera buffa made it's way into opera permanently and in the ensuing years Rossini continued in his success and composed twenty more operas, concluding with William Tell. Ofcourse, Rossini composed in plenty of other genres other than opera such as sacred and chamber music, vocal music, cantatas and instrumental music.

What you didn't know:

At the age of 6 he played triangle in his daddy's band.
His daddy was a rebel and was sent to jail for welcoming Napolean when he invaded Italy back along time ago.
Was nicknamed "Monsier Crescendo" and "The Little German"
Could have retired when he was 32 years old. I think he kept composing till the end though...
He was quite a handful as a child.

Interesting links:
http://www.rossinioperafestival.it/
http://www.conservatoriorossini.it/default0.aspx
http://www.allposters.com/-st/Gioachino-Rossini-Posters_c1598_s53269_.htm

Karl Leister (video)

Mr. Karl Leister plays the last movement of C.M. Weber clarinetquintet with members of BPO (1990) Berliner Philarmonie.

Info on KL:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Leister
http://www.arborweb.com/reviews/0503.karlleister-review.html
http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~musi/calendar/karl_leister.html
http://www.niu.edu/PubAffairs/RELEASES/2005/feb/clarinet.shtml

I'll send my SOS to the world

MAKE SOME NOISE!

http://action.savedarfur.org/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=5175

http://www.savedarfur.org/section/take_action

And if you're going to make some noise you might as well make a BIG RACKET!

Tzipur

Sunny day, sweeping the clouds away...

Actually it's cloudy outside. But it's Dear Sunday and while all the birds have abandoned their nests and flown off to little caves I have the entire world to myself. The entire empty world is all mine. Once a week I can traverse this hectic place without confusion or chaos. I can be almost completely isolated from the other birds chirping incessantly. I can go any which way I choose...and the day is peaceful...at the start.

Collide

The dawn is breaking.

A light shining through.

You're barely waking,

and I'm tangled up in you.

Yeah.

But I'm open, you're closed.

Where I follow, you'll go.

I worry I won't see your face

light up again.

Even the best fall down sometime.

Even the wrong words seem to rhyme.

Out of the doubt that fills my mind

I somehow find you and I collide.

I'm quiet, you know.

You make a first impression.

I found I'm scared to know

I'm always on your mind.

Even the best fall down sometime.

Even the stars refuse to shine.

Out of the back you fall in time,

You somehow find you and I collide.

Don't stop here.

I lost my place.

I'm close behind.

Even the best fall down sometime.
Even the wrong words seem to rhyme.

Out of the doubt that fills your mind,

you finally find you and I collide.

Finally find...

you and I

collide.

-Howie Day

December's Rose

There sits an elderly couple behind me at this coffee shop. She reads him pieces from the newspaper that sparks her interest, and he asks her for words that stump him on his crossword puzzle. While sipping coffee, they simply share a part of their lives and interests together. Each other's company have been their world for however long... Their trials, their lessons, their lives have been each other's for however long. And to see them still sharing, still content, is as touching as a rose in December.

The Long..

Things happen. Your will is to accept them, to make the most of them, to learn from them, and to cherish them. But sometimes that is not enough. Sometimes you know it isn't through. You know something was missing, is missing... And sometimes you cannot do anything but wait. And long for it to unravel.

Tzion

Last night, even though I wasn't in Israel physically in my heart I passed through Zion Gate and prayed at the Kotel.













Walking through is so hectic and so exciting. Cars drive through, scraping against the walls of the gate as people scatter through. Lines of taxis impatiently waiting outside, and on Yom Shishi (yom katzar!) it's even more insane than you could ever imagine.




But once you step through security and you are upon the Kotel it takes your breath away and immediately you are flooded with a deep feeling of spirituality. For me, I was in awe and I couldn't wait to pray at the foot of the wall. You start far away and slowly inch your way up. Eventually you look up to get your barings and you can't believe how close you are to the wall. There are two black doves that always nestle in on of the huge crevices in the wall. There's barely enough room for them to fit. It seems like they are always there, maybe just to hear the prayers. Who knows.

And once you are right at the wall, you can see all the prayers that hold it up. And if you are me, you can't wait to kiss it with your lips. I miss the Kotel HaMaariv. I miss Yerushalaim.

Good news!!!!!!! I think I'm going back spring break in March to help restore areas devastated by ketusha rockets fired by hizbollah.

Drowning

Sometimes I feel so out of place or weird. And I also feel misunderstood. But after being at Mt. Hertzl and Yad Vashem it makes me feel so selfish and silly to complain at all. But the honest truth is that when it hurts it hurts.

I wish I wasn't me sometimes. But at the same time I like who I am. I just really hate my flaws. Some things I just can't help. Other people CAN help being mean or being assholes. Even with all my flaws I'm not mean and I don't take advantage of anyone's disadvantages. I always try to stick up for the low man on the totem pole. I try to be understanding. I try my hardest not to gossip, it's ugly and hurtful. I'm certainly not an asshole. And I am always trying to improve myself. I may have a lot of flaws. I may be quite the space cadet, but I honstly try my hardest not to space out. I just can't help it, but trust me, I try very hard to be here on earth and not out there in my thoughts. I know that I get crazy ideas in my head and get overly excited about things. But I'd rather be over enthusiastic about anything in life rather than dull and satisfied and unexcited about life at all. Sometimes I get shy or I have a hard time coming out of my shell. Sometimes I don't feel like saying anything. Or I don't know what to say. And I know some people, like you, Gwenn, think that "my version" isn't real and just in my head. And that's fine. But I disagree strongly. And it makes me feel bad that you feel that way. Because I always try to tell the truth and to imply that I don't really hurts. And you may have worded things differently, but all the same you said it. And I do not agree with you. And you don't have to agree with me. That's fine.

Right now I could really hate who I am, what with all the flaws I have, but why? I am hardworking, sweet, incredibly flawed, but always looking for friendship and understanding. I am totally a good friend. Always willing to help. And almost always willing to take advice and listen to what other people have to say. I try so hard to do the right things. Maybe I try too hard. Sometimes I even feel like the people who should be my friends are walking all over me cause maybe I'm too nice. There's not a whole lot wrong with me that I don't already acknowledge and try to fix and all the people who exploite my flaws, make caddy comments, try to hurt me, or constantly make me feel bad about myself can just shove it. So I have flaws! Ya know what, you do too. Not that the "you"s out there are ever gonna read this. C'est la vie...

It still felt good to rant.

School

It's a drag....

Actually it's not. I'm really looking forward to everything I'm going to learn. It's exciting. And I'm really excited about all my new friends. Hurray for that!

Gotta get moving!

I need to get into motion.I'm not sure how to kick it off though. I could be very meticulous and really plan it out or I could be spontanious and just dive in. Or I can slowly let unravel until its suddenly tomorrow. Or I could do nothing and just think about it.

I always either let it slowly unravel or dive in. I think it's about time I sat down. Evaluated things. Studied my life and the coming three months. And make some decisions. And get something done. I think it's about time. Time. time...time......time.....

P.S. Israeli Men are SO Hot...

I can't resist a hot Israeli with an uzi...I know. I know. But it's the truth.

Composedly.

I don't know what it is, but it feels like something is coming. Something might be different; something is happening, Composedly.

Suddenly I See..

It's simply amazing and delightful how everything in your life can change in the blink of an eye. Simply just that easy. It's incredible how stepping off a plane and walking through the gates of another city on the opposite side of the world can transform your life and the way you see it. It's amazing how one breath of air can make you feel so fresh and alive. It's insane how that one breath can make you feel like a different person. It's scary how one hello can change your life forever. It's simply indescribable.

Her face is a map of the world
Is a map of the world
You can see she's a beautiful girl
She's a beautiful girl
And everything around her is a silver pool of light
The people who surround her feel the benefit of it
It makes you calm
She holds you captivated in her palm

Suddenly I see
This is what I wanna be
Suddenly I see
Why the hell it means so much to me

I feel like walking the world
Like walking the world
You can hear she's a beautiful girl
She's a beautiful girl
She fills up every corner like she's born in black and white
Makes you feel warmer when you're trying to remember
What you heard
She likes to leave you hanging on her word

Suddenly I see
This is what I wanna be
Suddenly I see
Why the hell it means so much to me

And she's taller than most
And she's looking at me
I can see her eyes looking from a page in a magazine
Oh she makes me feel like I could be a tower
A big strong tower
She got the power to be
The power to give
The power to see

Suddenly I see
This is what I wanna be
Suddenly I see
Why the hell it means so much to me

~KT Tunstall

My Little Place

I have a little place that sits in the back window of my car... It stopped the people who were walking by. They paused, and watched it. Then other people came to join them, and they showed them that little place.
It's simply a red house, with a dock that leads to a river, with toothpick-ed faded trees surrounding the house.
I've reminded myself to throw the thing away dozens of times, but if it is going to bring people to a stop, then I might just keep it there.
It's my little place that sits in the back window of my car.

Journey Home

This was my first view of Jerusalem. We spent hours in JFK before we boarded our Israir flight. Then when we arrived in Israel we went through Israeli customs and had our passports stamped. I was so excited. I couldn't wait to get through the customs to have my stamp that said I was there. Finally!

I went through. Got stamped. The stamp was so light. Hardly discernable. But it was there! And I walked through and waited for my friends. I was so excited. We didn't go to our hotel or Jerusalem right away. We stopped in Jaffa to see Jaffa gate and Tel Aviv before going down the road to have lunch by the Mediteranean Sea. I was amazed. I stood at the scorpio point of the Wishing Bridge. And I can't remember what I wished for but I think in that moment I wished to be there forever. It was amazing. I was so amazed I don't think I was even in my body anymore. We saw Independence Hall and then we had a long drive to Jerusalem. Before we entered Jerusalem we stopped off at the edge of a mountain or cliff and looked over the Old City as the sun began to set. It was gorgious. I loved the beautiful sight. But I couldn't wait to be in it.

When we finally checked into Lev Yerushalaim I couldn't wait to see my room. It wasn't anything extraordinary but I loved it anyway. I could hear music outside and I went and opened my window. Right outside my window across from Ben Yehuda Street there was a giant chanukiah was men in a lift lighting the candles for the third night of Chanukah. So exciting. Not like in America where every street corner has a Christmas tree and the radio belts out songs of jungle bells, chestnuts, and Santa. I felt like I was at home. It was just amazing. It was like I knew right away that I wanted to be there forever.



This is Tzafat. One of the four holy cities of Israel. We stopped off here towards the end of our trip. We explored the old city, saw it's age, learned some stories, and helped aid in the rebuiding of a girls' school that had been wrecked by a ketusha rocket fired from the Lebanese border by Hizbollah. It was wonderful. We moved 40 tons of sand and rock in 37 minutes. The people on this trip were phenominal and it was really special to see us all work together to try to accomplish as much as possible as efficiently as we could in what time we had. I wish we could have done more. But I'm happy that I could have done anything at all.