I'M TAKING A DAY OFF

It was a tpss up; shall I write my blog early or shall I get the things done that  need to be taken care of?  Actually, out of habit I was going to get a blog set up in my head, but Morpheus got into a power struggle with me first.  I lost, Morpheus won. 

I'll be back on Sunday morning..  See you then.

ISRAEL'S MEDAL OF DISTINCTION TO PRESIDENT OBAMA

History will record the speech given to the Israeli people on March 21, 2013.  The Ne York Times printed a complete transcription of that speech and I believe everyone should read it.  My background shows no past of a Jewish ancestor nor does Jerusalem hold anything special for me except in Christmas carols.  However, I do believe in the principles of our Constitution that all 'men' are created equal.  That should include the many races and ethnic groups in the United States as well as all other countries and the people who have NO country, the Palestinians those who had to flee for havens when their own country was no longer safe for them.  Click here for the NY Times transcription.

Pres Obama by Associated Press

The part of the speech that brought tears to my eyes and made me so proud of our President and so ashamed of those Republicans who block him at every turn, came highest when he spoke the following:  "So peace is necessary. But peace is also just. Peace is also just. There is no question that Israel has faced Palestinian factions who turn to terror, leaders who missed historic opportunities. That is all true. And that’s why security must be at the center of any agreement. (Scattered applause.) And there is no question that the only path to peace is through negotiations, which is why, despite the criticism we’ve received, the United States will oppose unilateral -- unilateral efforts to bypass negotiations through the United Nations. (Applause.) It has to be done by the parties.

But the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination, their right to justice must also be recognized. (Cheers, applause.) And put yourself in their shoes. Look at the world through their eyes.  It is not fair that a Palestinian child cannot grow up in a state of their own -- (cheers, applause) -- living their entire lives with the presence of a foreign army that controls the movements, not just of those young people but their parents, their grandparents, every single day. It’s not just when settler violence against Palestinians goes unpunished. (Applause.) It’s not right to prevent Palestinians from farming their lands or restricting a student’s ability to move around the West Bank -- (applause) -- or displace Palestinian families from their homes. Neither occupation nor expulsion is the answer. (Cheers, applause.) Just as Israelis built a state in their homeland, Palestinians have a right to be a free people in their own land. (Applause.)

But I -- I’m going off script here for a second, but before I -- before I came here, I -- I met with a -- a group of young Palestinians from the age of 15 to 22. And talking to them, they weren’t that different from my daughters. They weren’t that different from your daughters or sons. But the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination, their right to justice must also be recognized. (Cheers, applause.) And put yourself in their shoes. Look at the world through their eyes.

I honestly believe that if -- if any Israeli parent sat down with those kids, they’d say, I want these kids to succeed. (Applause.) I want them to prosper. I want them to have opportunities just like my kids do. (Applause.) I believe that’s what Israeli parents would want for these kids if they had a chance to listen to them and talk to them. (Cheers, applause.) I believe that. (Cheers, applause.)

Now, only you can determine what kind of democracy you will have. But remember that as you make these decisions, you will define not simply the future of your relationship with the Palestinians; you will -- you will define the future of Israel, as well. (Applause.) As Ariel Sharon said -- I’m quoting him -- “It is impossible to have a Jewish, democratic state at the same time to control all of Eretz Israel. If we insist on fulfilling the dream in its entirety, we are liable to lose it all.” (Applause.)"

This is a very small portion of an extraordinary man speaking honestly to his audience as he has continually done while campaigning and in office. He talked of what it takes to build trust and of 'two stat for two people"

WHAT'S REALLY OUT THERE?

Years ago, my husband tried to gt me interested in the sky to identify stars and all the speculation about what as going on up there.  I resisted spending time (or as I looked at it then...wasting time) string at something that meant nothing to me.  I have no control of what is in the sky, therefore, it doesn't matter to me.  That was then and this is now.  Man has become far more knowledgeable about what is in our solar system. 

Wired magazine offers an interesting article on something that has been up there for 35 years.  It is still in our solar system. While the Bible limited  to science known in the years 2000 years ago, we have moved on far beyond that.  Those who ridicule science are only showing their own ignorance and resistance to change.  If we all resisted change we would remain as Aborigines

To see some wonderful pictures of what is up beyond what we can see with the naked eye, 

 click here.

Be sure to look at all the pictures using the left and right arrows at the sides of the photo.

WHOM CAN WE TRUST?

It is about to be spring but someone forgot to mention it to Mother Nature.  In the Northeast, the six inches of snow struck a feeling of deja vu.  There is something about that kind of unpleasant repeat calling for action (like shoveling snow) that just weighs one down with the added overload of information.

It is unclear to me whether we are finally hearing about the lies of G W Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz and the others that seem not to care or feel any responsibility for the hundreds of thousands of lives lost because of them and, worse, the 32,000 maimed for life military personnel returned to the US while our Republican house majority is making their lives uselessly miserable for them and their families so they can continue to have the backing of the powers that pay them campaign funds, or some other equally shameful impetus.

When people have such little human empathy for their fellow men, they are viewed suspiciously as sociopaths.  The same can be said about CEOs of huge corporations whose salaries have expanded three hundredfold while minimum wage remains just that, as little as they can get away with paying.  More people should be educated in the signs and symptoms to look for in people not to be trusted.  It amazes me constantly that people seem so little able to put together people's behaviors and character as somehow not being connected.  Not so, my friends.  How people behave and judgements they make definitely indicates what you may except from them in other situations.  Romney's taped talk to his $50,000 a plate contributors tells much about his pleasure at telling about the conditions of young women in his factories in China.

Would he want one of his granddaughters to work in such conditions.  He likely would never consider it because his family is so moneyed that such conditions would never occur.  How did he think he could be President when he is hiding his money off shore to save his taxes so that the poor people (now the former middle class) can pay it all while he build 5 story elevators for his cars.

At last, we have been hearing media admits they were not doing their job when the Iraq Was was being pushed through.  I hope they will realize they are not supposed to run the country but simply hold elected  politicians to truth and their jobs being honestly and competently performed.  In today's world that seems to be more to ask from them than for which they have prepared.

WHY RELIGION IS LOSING ITS FAITHFUL

There was a time as recently as the early 90s when two-thirds of the US called themselves Protestant.  I don't believe the downshift in numbers is a true count because more people are now able to put 'none' on forms.  Jut as there are more people who can call themselves mixed or bi-racial when  there was never a place to put that down before the last few years.

Negative judgements would have been handed down as they are today if running for elective office in Washington.  No c would dare put Atheist or 'none' for religion for either party in today's world.  I would hope soon people will respect our constitution and leave religion out of our politics and government.

Adam Lee has written an excellent article:  You Wouldn't Believe How Fast Americans Are Losing Their Religion -- But the Fundamentalists Have a Plan.  To read this, 
Click here.

ISABELLA STEWART GARDINER MUSEUM - CALDERWOOD HALL FOR GREAT ACOUSTICS

There is a relatively new venue for great acoustics and great musicians at the Calderwood Hall at the Isabella Stewart Museum.  The hall is built in a square.   On the floor there are two rows of seats on each side and one row on each of the three balconies.  (see picture at right).  On 3/17/2013, chamber music by musicians from Marlboro played.  They were:  They were, Ida Levin, Michelle Ross, violins; Emily Dean, Michael Tree, violas; and Gabriel Cabeza and Pail Wiancko, Cellos.

The first quartet number (Haydn) was quite predictable for those who have experienced Haydn before  If one felt, instead of listening for form, you could hear mosquitoes, bull frogs, and other sounds of Nature. It was String Quartet in G Major, Opus 77, No. 1for those of you who may be familiar with the piece.  Haydn is predictable and a bit like a metronome but the music is pleasant.  The musicians from Marlboro were superb.

No matter how I try to enjoy the classical world, someone is always slipping in a Schoenberg piece.  This was was a trio, Op. 45.  I will be happy never to hear the first 44.  It started with squeaks followed by the sound of rushing water in a flooding river where the debris was backing up.  It then drifted off to sleep with quiet.  It changed to horrible discordant sounds (as Shoenberg's version of 'different') with more squeaks and thumps.  It was an exercise in tolerance for me.  A growling cello made flatulent sounds then tip-toed toward sounds I thought I would never experience again of fourth graders struggling to make musical sounds as they practiced on their stringed instruments. It pained me that such well trained musicians were forced to sound as though they were suffering (or was that an echo from me?).  The piece then turned to scary music (if one were playing for a silent movie) with lots of suspense building with some naps intruding.  It felt like a climbing to the attic to find ghosts misbehaving. At times it sound like the chitter-chatter of gossips having tea.  Fortunately, three excellent musicians on strings could not disturb my brain with Shoenberg as much as a huge Symphony Orchestra did with the massive sounds it can produce.  New movements began with a pop of a string that sounded like a champagne cork.

The final number was String Quartet in F Major, Op. 41. No. 2 by Robert Schumann.  The first movement started with a feeling of lying on a water bed, rocking with gentle waves.  It was soothing as a lullaby and, since the audience was mostly senior citizens, it worked that way and there were many drooping heads and closed eyes.  The second movement woke everyone up the last two  shut off the snooze button, both being 'presto'.

The musicians have been trained by their use of bows and body language that indicated they are not through playing, only taking a slight break between movements. It was refreshing not to see the mortification of those who would start to applaud with gusto of those unfamiliar with the piece.  I realize that i hear music with my emotions and body as well as the instruments for pitch and all the other criteria that maks good musicians.

For those who love concerts, I cannot recommend the Calderwood Hall  highly enough, as it deserves.

UNSOLVED PUZZLES FROM THE OCEANS

One of the greatest mysteries is the Bermuda Triangle.  It is among many other unsolved mysteries. For ten of those mysteries published in 2011, click here.  Recently I became particularly interested in the Bermuda Triangle.  People keep looking for a singular solution and the most recent I hear about is that methane gas is produced either from a fissure or from rotting sea vegetation.  Because the methane is lighter that water, if there are enough methane bubble in the water,, it can cause heavy things like ships to sink.  Of course, that should be coupled with the theory that the loss of plane has to for with something that makes changes in the magnetic pull.

I came across an excellent article on the Bermuda Triangle.  click here.  This is an interesting article but only for those of you who don't mind reading a few pages.

On October 27, 2011, this You Tube by National Geographic made this film.  Heavily watched, for those interested, it is good to watch.  Articulately explained,  this make theories clear.  Click here.

Treasure Map 

 

 Lastly you might examine the top 10 Bermuda Triangle explanation.  Click here