Memememe...
Friday, November 2nd, 2007 01:14 amSince this is making the rounds:
* Name a fandom you know I know and I'll tell you:
1. The first character I first fell in love with
2. The character I never expected to love as much as I do now
3. The character everyone else loves that I don't
4. The character I love that everyone else hates
5. The character I used to love but don't any longer
6. The character I would shag anytime
7. The character I'd want to be like
8. The character I'd slap
9. A pairing that I love
10. A pairing that I despise.
* Name a fandom you know I know and I'll tell you:
1. The first character I first fell in love with
2. The character I never expected to love as much as I do now
3. The character everyone else loves that I don't
4. The character I love that everyone else hates
5. The character I used to love but don't any longer
6. The character I would shag anytime
7. The character I'd want to be like
8. The character I'd slap
9. A pairing that I love
10. A pairing that I despise.
"Ahh, Music, a magic beyond all we do here!"
Saturday, October 27th, 2007 01:22 pmSo, who plays a musical instrument, and which?
I'm curious.
I am curious because I lovemusicians music and always envy musicians for their proficiency. My own career as a maker of music with any instrument is pretty short and filled with unrequited love.
When I was six, my mother thought it was a good idea to have me learn the recorder. I hated it. I was not alone with the teacher, there are other children there, I liked that, but I hated the lessons. I was bad. The teacher always had me play our homework assignment in front of everyone as a punishment because I couldn't keep up with the others. She was a fiend in human shape, another musician who had never made it and now got by by giving lessons to young children. I stopped going to those lessons fairly soon. I didn't even like the sound of the recorder, and the knowledge that I could go on to nicer instruments once I'd mastered that dreaded thing was not really a great consolation for me, either.
I always wanted to wake up and be able to play the Cello. It's my favourite instrument, but I fear that it's far too difficult to learn for me now. Or the piano. That might even be fun learning. I've always envied people who were able to play it, like![[profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
angie_21_237 and, of course, Crocky.
I half-heartedly tried learning the tin whistle, with great sheet music with drawings of the whistle under each note so I could directly play according to the little drawings, but that was a very short-lived experiment. I never really managed to get proper notes out of the thing whenever I tried overblowing.
Currently, I'm thinking of learning how to play the trombone. Not easy either, but I really like the sound of that instrument, and it's possible fairly quickly to join a little amateur ensemble and play together with others, that's more fun than practising on my own, which I never keep up for long, I know myself. And I'm still looking for a choir, one that meets at a half-way decent time at a place that's half-way close by. The ones I found are either meeting on Thursday, when I have a seminar, or are just too far away. I somehow don't want to make an hour trip to get to my choir.
I'm curious.
I am curious because I love
When I was six, my mother thought it was a good idea to have me learn the recorder. I hated it. I was not alone with the teacher, there are other children there, I liked that, but I hated the lessons. I was bad. The teacher always had me play our homework assignment in front of everyone as a punishment because I couldn't keep up with the others. She was a fiend in human shape, another musician who had never made it and now got by by giving lessons to young children. I stopped going to those lessons fairly soon. I didn't even like the sound of the recorder, and the knowledge that I could go on to nicer instruments once I'd mastered that dreaded thing was not really a great consolation for me, either.
I always wanted to wake up and be able to play the Cello. It's my favourite instrument, but I fear that it's far too difficult to learn for me now. Or the piano. That might even be fun learning. I've always envied people who were able to play it, like
angie_21_237 and, of course, Crocky.I half-heartedly tried learning the tin whistle, with great sheet music with drawings of the whistle under each note so I could directly play according to the little drawings, but that was a very short-lived experiment. I never really managed to get proper notes out of the thing whenever I tried overblowing.
Currently, I'm thinking of learning how to play the trombone. Not easy either, but I really like the sound of that instrument, and it's possible fairly quickly to join a little amateur ensemble and play together with others, that's more fun than practising on my own, which I never keep up for long, I know myself. And I'm still looking for a choir, one that meets at a half-way decent time at a place that's half-way close by. The ones I found are either meeting on Thursday, when I have a seminar, or are just too far away. I somehow don't want to make an hour trip to get to my choir.
Books 24 - 35
Thursday, October 25th, 2007 04:14 pmI can't believe I forgot about this thing again. I have no clue if this list is complete.
35.
34.
33.
32.
27.
Ok. Back to The Handmaid's Tale.
35.
The Handmaid's Tale, by Margaret Atwood.
I LOVE. This book. It's absolutely unputdownable. There are not many books which nearly make me tap my foot during lectures, looking forward to the break so I can get back to my book, this is one of them. Absolutely great.
34.
Making Money, by Terry Pratchett.
Eerie. I had a lot of Going Postal flashbacks, reading this. Again great to see more of Vetinari, but on the whole... Where is the author of Small Gods?
33.
Going Postal, by Terry Pratchett.
By far not my favourite discworld novel, although it does have it's highlights. Not many, but they're there. When I read it back in '06, I thought that it's good to see more of Vetinari, and I liked Spike a lot, but on the whole... I never thought I'd say this, but where's the author of Small Gods?
32.
Imperium, by Robert Harris.31.
Great read. Experiencing Cicero's very impressive career and his various schemes through the eyes of his slave Tiro is interesting enough, and the amounts of history textbook personalities around him add to the appeal of that book. The probably most interesting character in this novel for me was not Julius Caesar, or the obscenely rich Crassus, or the notorious Verres I know from the speeches, but his Cicero's wife, Terentia.
I cannot, for the life of me, understand, why he divorced her later in life. Of course he must have his reasons, very probably political reasons, knowing the two. Still. I didn't find much information on her, but what is known seems to suggest that she was a very independent woman who knew what she wanted, and even though there never seemed a lot of romance between her and her husband, she always supported him. She invested considerable amounts of money into his career, and stood by him while he was exiled. After more than thirty years of marriage, he left her for his rich young ward who was no older than twenty - about ten years younger than his daughter.
Dragonsbane (albeit in German, Der Schwarze Drache), by Barbara Hambly.30.
I love this book. It's not the best fantasy novel there is, it's not that well written, there are whole passages which are ... long, most of all. Still, again, what makes this novel for me, is the characters. The main character is a witch in her late thirties, she's torn between pursuing what she feels is her true calling, her career as a witch, and her family, her husband, down-to-earth Lord John and her two sons. It's great to read a fantasy novel which is not about people in their twenties for once.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, by J. K. Rowling.29.
Carpe Jugulum, by Terry Pratchett.28.
I am an Agnes fangirl. There should be more Agneses in literature. It also contains some of the best quotes on literature, and I've always meant to write an essay comparing Granny Weatherwax's and Vorbis's views.
Wyrd Sisters, by Terry Pratchett.
This is the book which made me love Terry Pratchett. It's the second book I bought, and when I read it, I fell in love with Death and Granny Weatherwax at first sight.
27.
Witches Abroad, by Terry Pratchett.26.
Lords and Ladies, by Terry Pratchett.25.
I doubt that there is anyone who dislikes this book.
The End of Alice, by A. M. Homes.24.
Another very recommended book. It's very well written, and the way it forces you into the psyche of the abusive, paedophile character and narrator of the story is deeply disturbing, but also very captivating.
Incidences in the life of a slavegirl, by Linda Brent.
I really recommend this book, although the main character's story is horrible. Not an easy read.
Ok. Back to The Handmaid's Tale.
Some good things do come of reading texts for education courses. I proudly present: the education buzzword bingo!
Create your own buzzword bingo cards here.
Also, feel free to add education buzzwords. I realise some of these are not really that inventive, but I found it hard to come up with 25 buzzwords, after all.
Create your own buzzword bingo cards here.
Also, feel free to add education buzzwords. I realise some of these are not really that inventive, but I found it hard to come up with 25 buzzwords, after all.
(no subject)
Wednesday, October 24th, 2007 10:45 pmYou Are Absinthe!
You have a unique personality. Although most like you, sometimes you take some getting used to. You can be a bit strong. You are full of energy and sometimes flamboyant. You are the life of the party but if people are not careful you can knock them on their ass.
What Naughty My Little Pony Are You?
Unique. My favourite buzzword. Also good to know that I can be a bit strong and sometimes be flamboyant. Tehee.
You have a unique personality. Although most like you, sometimes you take some getting used to. You can be a bit strong. You are full of energy and sometimes flamboyant. You are the life of the party but if people are not careful you can knock them on their ass.
What Naughty My Little Pony Are You?
Unique. My favourite buzzword. Also good to know that I can be a bit strong and sometimes be flamboyant. Tehee.
Becoming Jane
Wednesday, October 24th, 2007 12:36 pm
What has the poor woman done to deserve this?
Not that I even like Jane Austen, but I feel that summing up her life so blandly as a boy meets girl story and a heartbroken romance - which also seems to be the sole inspiration for her novels - is selling her short. She is one of the greatest writers in the English language, and what does this movie do to her? Put her into an inspiring love story à la Shakespeare in Love. Of course there are people who suggest that she harboured deeper feelings for Lefroy, but there is just not enough evidence to prove or disprove what is hard fact and the basis for the story of this movie.
What is a fact is that Jane Austen was not a stomping, lovesick teenager, and nor did she write some of the greatest novels in the English language because she was one. The suggestion that she would not have been able to create the characters she did create without encountering exact real-life models is absolutely insulting. Of course she based some of her characters on people around her, she mentioned this herself, but this direct translation of reality into fiction really annoys me.
The only thing which saves this movie is Maggie Smith.
Stine. Has eaten. Two of my applications.
Not more.
Just the two.
All others are fine.
Two seminars I know I have applied for, because they were the first seminars I applied for.
Also, I was turned down for the two education courses I really need, which means I'll probably have to graduate a semester later just because of those two seminars.
High five?
Not more.
Just the two.
All others are fine.
Two seminars I know I have applied for, because they were the first seminars I applied for.
Also, I was turned down for the two education courses I really need, which means I'll probably have to graduate a semester later just because of those two seminars.
High five?
This Lime-Tree Bower my Prison - Coleridge.
Saturday, October 6th, 2007 10:31 pmBecause I'm also feeling left alone and whiny about it. Although I did not come to quite such beautiful conclusions as Coleridge here.
Author's Preface
In the June of 1797 some long-expected Friends paid a visit to the author's cottage; and on the morning of their arrival, he met with an accident, which disabled him from walking during the whole time of their stay. One evening, when they had left him for a few hours, he composed the following lines in the garden-bower.
This Lime-Tree Bower my Prison
Well, they are gone, and here must I remain,
This lime tree bower my prison ! I have lost
Beauties and feelings, such as would have been
Most sweet to my remembrance even when age
Had dimm'd mine eyes to blindness ! They, meanwhile,
Friends, whom I never more may meet again,
On springy heath, along the hill-top edge,
Wander in gladness, and wind down, perchance,
To that still roaring dell, of which I told ;
Author's Preface
In the June of 1797 some long-expected Friends paid a visit to the author's cottage; and on the morning of their arrival, he met with an accident, which disabled him from walking during the whole time of their stay. One evening, when they had left him for a few hours, he composed the following lines in the garden-bower.
This Lime-Tree Bower my Prison
Well, they are gone, and here must I remain,
This lime tree bower my prison ! I have lost
Beauties and feelings, such as would have been
Most sweet to my remembrance even when age
Had dimm'd mine eyes to blindness ! They, meanwhile,
Friends, whom I never more may meet again,
On springy heath, along the hill-top edge,
Wander in gladness, and wind down, perchance,
To that still roaring dell, of which I told ;
( Read more... )
I am torn between "OMG! How awesome" and "OMG! How scary".
If they really do that, I am so going to buy that.
I am such a good girl. I never really bother checking communities which are likely to offend me. Still, I thought, things can't get too bad, as they are famously on the paranoid side, and the member conduct says,
Nope.
So they are condoning this kind of nonsense because it's not hateful?? What is hateful if that is not hateful enough?
Yet another good reason to leave LJ.
"XVI. MEMBER CONDUCT
You agree to NOT use the Service to:
Upload, post or otherwise transmit any Content that is unlawful, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, tortious, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, libelous, invasive to another's privacy (up to, but not excluding any address, email, phone number, or any other contact information without the written consent of the owner of such information), hateful, or racially, ethnically or otherwise objectionable;"Hateful content: not allowed. Racism: not allowed. Good. When I found this post (warning, racist bullshit from a community full of racist bullshit), I therefore thought that reporting it would do the trick and the mods would delete it, as it is hateful and offensive. I am so naive.
Nope.
( LJ's answer )
So they are condoning this kind of nonsense because it's not hateful?? What is hateful if that is not hateful enough?
Yet another good reason to leave LJ.
Dear travellers in the USA,
Saturday, September 22nd, 2007 03:21 pmRemember to think twice about taking your book about building your own bomb at home on the plane. The information might will be recorded for future reference, and maybe people will come to call on you at some point. The effects of reading Harry Potter on the plane and whether it will be recorded are still not confirmed, but potentially offensive material or material which shows that your views do not directly reflect those of Fox news might be noted and recorded.
Collecting such a lot of data must be a lot of work, and the brave men and women who run the Department for Homeland Security will be pleased to hear that there are indeed people whose experience and expertise they can draw upon, people to support them with their efforts. After all, the GDR ceased to exist less than twenty years ago, and even though they may not be up to scratch with the latest technological developments, their years of training will be bound to come in handy, even for their former opponents. I am sure they will will support them with they will be happy to help the Department of Homeland Security's efforts to protect freedom and the democracy, as they themselves have been doing nothing else while they were still working for their employer, the famous GDR Ministry for State Security.
These guys were good at collecting data.
Collecting such a lot of data must be a lot of work, and the brave men and women who run the Department for Homeland Security will be pleased to hear that there are indeed people whose experience and expertise they can draw upon, people to support them with their efforts. After all, the GDR ceased to exist less than twenty years ago, and even though they may not be up to scratch with the latest technological developments, their years of training will be bound to come in handy, even for their former opponents. I am sure they will will support them with they will be happy to help the Department of Homeland Security's efforts to protect freedom and the democracy, as they themselves have been doing nothing else while they were still working for their employer, the famous GDR Ministry for State Security.
These guys were good at collecting data.
BBC Book list
Wednesday, September 12th, 2007 12:38 amNicked from ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
firenightingale. These book lists usually result in embarrassing results for me, and they did this time. And I call myself a literature student? Pshaw.
( 56/100 )
Which reminds me. I still have to read Midnight's Children. I don't know if I'm quite up to it after Grimus, The Ground Beneath her Feet, East, West and The Satanic Verses, though. I really liked the Satanic Verses, but the other ones... I can' even remember what it was that bothered me, but something did bother me so much I never picked up a book by Rushdie again after 2001. There must be something good about the book, though, ifmoonystone likes it. I have faith in her taste.
firenightingale. These book lists usually result in embarrassing results for me, and they did this time. And I call myself a literature student? Pshaw. ( 56/100 )
Which reminds me. I still have to read Midnight's Children. I don't know if I'm quite up to it after Grimus, The Ground Beneath her Feet, East, West and The Satanic Verses, though. I really liked the Satanic Verses, but the other ones... I can' even remember what it was that bothered me, but something did bother me so much I never picked up a book by Rushdie again after 2001. There must be something good about the book, though, if
moonystone likes it. I have faith in her taste.Happy Birthday!
Thursday, September 6th, 2007 12:02 am
count_tygath!Well, happy belated birthday, I should say. Sorry I didn't make it earlier! We just came back to Hamburg from painting our flat. I hope you had a really lovely, stress-free day!
As kingfishers catch fire,
Sunday, September 2nd, 2007 10:13 pmAs kingfishers catch fire, dragonflies dráw fláme;
As tumbled over rim in roundy wells
Stones ring; like each tucked string tells, each hung bell’s
Bow swung finds tongue to fling out broad its name;
Each mortal thing does one thing and the same:
Deals out that being indoors each one dwells;
Selves—goes itself; myself it speaks and spells,
Crying Whát I do is me: for that I came.
Í say móre: the just man justices;
Kéeps gráce: thát keeps all his goings graces;
Acts in God’s eye what in God’s eye he is-
Chríst—for Christ plays in ten thousand places,
Lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not his
To the Father through the features of men’s faces.
- Gerard Manley Hopkins
As tumbled over rim in roundy wells
Stones ring; like each tucked string tells, each hung bell’s
Bow swung finds tongue to fling out broad its name;
Each mortal thing does one thing and the same:
Deals out that being indoors each one dwells;
Selves—goes itself; myself it speaks and spells,
Crying Whát I do is me: for that I came.
Í say móre: the just man justices;
Kéeps gráce: thát keeps all his goings graces;
Acts in God’s eye what in God’s eye he is-
Chríst—for Christ plays in ten thousand places,
Lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not his
To the Father through the features of men’s faces.
- Gerard Manley Hopkins
Not work safe. At all.
Friday, August 17th, 2007 06:51 pmSo, I never post NWS stuff, but when I stumbled upon this vid on an education site I spent a couple of minutes trying to find out what on earth it was supposed to tell me, and was really glad when they showed whose video it was at the end. Of course the context of the site I found it on should have made that clear, but I still did not really get it at first.
( The NWS vids: nudity and sexual situations )
( The NWS vids: nudity and sexual situations )
The Spiderwick Chronicles
Tuesday, August 14th, 2007 10:06 pm
Of course they made a movie.
If you don't know the books, you definitely ought to check them out, they are awesome. The story is not all that innovative, but the characters are very sweet, and there are a lot of aspects which make this story well worth the read and it's a pity that the books only take twenty minutes to finish. The story is about three children who move from New England to ... er, England, although I don't know where, exactly. They move to the inevitable Victorian mansion they inherited from their old and frail grandmother, with their now-single, recently divorced mother. The mansion is also ridden with fairy tale creatures. The dreamy, creative Jared sees them, but it takes a while to make his twin, the animal-obsessed, tidy Simon and his sister, fencing, angry Mallory, believe that the person responsible for all the broken things and all the pranks was not him, trying to annoy his mother for moving to Britain, but a group of fairies and pixies.
Although Jared rocks, of course, the real reason to read this book is Mallory.
She's the coolest character in the entire book.
Ok, ok, this is only funny because I have been awake for 36 hours and had just survived six hours of kindergarten - when it struck me - you know what?
LORD VOLDEMORT IS A RETRIBUTION PALA!
Why?
Because he has to let others do the damage for him?
Because whenever he tries to deal damage he needs to apply himself to the services of the guild healer instantly?
No!
Well, not only.
Because he placed Nagini in a friggin' BUBBLE!!!!
That absolutely killed me when I thought of that while cooking my lunch. I had to share with my brother, who raised an appreciative eye-brow at the giggling heap that was his sister and then launched into this great big explanation on why he could also be a mage and how this and that class was more likely but no, no, I was quite right, a retribution paladin he could be.
Awesome.
My brain is melting. Will now go and get some sleep.
And then finally go and catch up on all your entries! I really haven't been around much, reading, for the past weeks. Sorry about that. And I have to find out what that recent LJ suckage was all about.
LORD VOLDEMORT IS A RETRIBUTION PALA!
Why?
Because he has to let others do the damage for him?
Because whenever he tries to deal damage he needs to apply himself to the services of the guild healer instantly?
No!
Well, not only.
Because he placed Nagini in a friggin' BUBBLE!!!!
That absolutely killed me when I thought of that while cooking my lunch. I had to share with my brother, who raised an appreciative eye-brow at the giggling heap that was his sister and then launched into this great big explanation on why he could also be a mage and how this and that class was more likely but no, no, I was quite right, a retribution paladin he could be.
Awesome.
My brain is melting. Will now go and get some sleep.
And then finally go and catch up on all your entries! I really haven't been around much, reading, for the past weeks. Sorry about that. And I have to find out what that recent LJ suckage was all about.
Scraps from the table
Friday, August 10th, 2007 07:13 pmCan someone kindly explain to me, please, please how homosexuals marrying harms the protection of the family that the German and EU government think is so important they keep quoting it in this context?
I know I am probably annoying and boring everyone with the sudden outburst of LGBT rights-related issues, and I am trying to keep them as low as I used to, but I'm going insane with trying to see the sense in the arguments. It. Does. Not. Harm. Families. And nor does it mean that families as they are and marriages as they are are somehow invalidated or defiled or desecrated. Seriously. "Homosexuals can't procreate and hence not really have a family", seems to be the sole reason, really. I'd like to see all those people who are married and not procreating stripped of some of their rights, then, please.
The best thing about this - German law does not actually take the trouble to define what a "marriage" is, they just say that everyone has a right to have one - oh, the fucking irony, as I quite apparently do not. The only thing which brings "man" and "woman" into it are the legal commentaries - and the ECHR, which is apparently designed to be especially explicit and has,
... although that still does not say that they have to marry each other, but again, the commentaries. But of course, since we have now been graciously offered the chance to get a civil union, we "can't complain".
I wonder how long that will take to be changed - but considering how long it's taken for women to be allowed to work or vote it might just take a wee while.
I know I am probably annoying and boring everyone with the sudden outburst of LGBT rights-related issues, and I am trying to keep them as low as I used to, but I'm going insane with trying to see the sense in the arguments. It. Does. Not. Harm. Families. And nor does it mean that families as they are and marriages as they are are somehow invalidated or defiled or desecrated. Seriously. "Homosexuals can't procreate and hence not really have a family", seems to be the sole reason, really. I'd like to see all those people who are married and not procreating stripped of some of their rights, then, please.
The best thing about this - German law does not actually take the trouble to define what a "marriage" is, they just say that everyone has a right to have one - oh, the fucking irony, as I quite apparently do not. The only thing which brings "man" and "woman" into it are the legal commentaries - and the ECHR, which is apparently designed to be especially explicit and has,
"Men and women of marriageable age have the right to marry and to found a family, according to the national laws governing the exercise of this right." (Article 12 ECHR)
... although that still does not say that they have to marry each other, but again, the commentaries. But of course, since we have now been graciously offered the chance to get a civil union, we "can't complain".
I wonder how long that will take to be changed - but considering how long it's taken for women to be allowed to work or vote it might just take a wee while.
Looking for Group
Monday, August 6th, 2007 08:09 amLooking for Group is a webcomic centred around four WoW-type characters on a quest, featuring a Blood elf who does not want to be evil, a wise Tauren, an adorably sarcastic Undead who is the reason for reading this comic (Riiiichaaaaard ♥), and a green Priestess of "unknown pedigree". I am usually not a big fan of all things comic, but this one is really funny.
Now excuse me while I fangirl Richard a bit more.
Now excuse me while I fangirl Richard a bit more.
Potterdämmerung by Sean O'Hara
Sunday, August 5th, 2007 09:35 amSomeone snarked the entire DH. It can get a bit long sometimes as he sometimes just takes the original text and pastes that, but all in all, there are enough funny bits to make it well worthwhile to read it.
The German law making same-sex sexual relationships between men a criminal offence punishable with up to 5 years of prison only stopped being in use in 1994.
I was eleven in 1994, I had just come to a new school, a friend of mine was in love for the first time, I was wondering why some of the other girls were suddenly interested in boys, and all over Germany, men were being imprisoned or fined or otherwise criminalised for having sex with other men.
The law responsible had been taken from the law introduced 1851, which had been altered in 1935. This version was much stricter than the 1851 one, of course. After the end of the Third Reich, the law, §175, remained in use as it did not strike the people responsible as a particularly nazi law, and hence did not need to be abolished along with the others.
As, if not more embarrassing: with their usual speed of action the German government decided in 2002 to rehabilitate men who had been imprisoned as homosexuals during the Third Reich. Two-thousand and two? I wonder how many of the original victims were even alive then. Better late then never, of course, but two-thousand and two?? These men had been interred in concentration camps like all the other people who were considered either unworthy or dangerous, but when the camps were liberated by the allies, some prisoners staid behind - murderers, rapists, thieves - homosexuals. It is so ridiculous that these men have only been rehabilitated in 2002, what the fuck has taken them so long?
The men interred in these concentration camps were subjected to the most gruesome torture, castrated, and as they were criminalised even after the end of the Third Reich. This would only end in 1969, and because they were only criminals, and as unpopular as they had been, their fates were ignored.
In 1969 the law was changed to something which was not a lot less ridiculous, but at least did not mean that all homosexual men would be interred for their relationships. The new system introduced two age limits - under 18 it would not be against the law to engage in same-sex acts, but if the men were older then 18 but younger than 21, it was a criminal offense - completely ridiculous. Still, seeing as underage sex as such has also always been a matter of debate this was probably a really modern law. Too bad it remained in use until nineteen-fucking-ninety-four.
And why did it vanish?
Did someone have a sudden brainwave?
No. Because of the German reunification. The paragraph had not been in use in the GDR since 1957, and it had been abandoned completely in 1989. There had been a debate about whether this paragraph ought to be in use in both parts of Germany, and they decided against it -last minute, I might add, as the deadline for including or chucking it was 1994.
I was eleven in 1994, I had just come to a new school, a friend of mine was in love for the first time, I was wondering why some of the other girls were suddenly interested in boys, and all over Germany, men were being imprisoned or fined or otherwise criminalised for having sex with other men.
The law responsible had been taken from the law introduced 1851, which had been altered in 1935. This version was much stricter than the 1851 one, of course. After the end of the Third Reich, the law, §175, remained in use as it did not strike the people responsible as a particularly nazi law, and hence did not need to be abolished along with the others.
As, if not more embarrassing: with their usual speed of action the German government decided in 2002 to rehabilitate men who had been imprisoned as homosexuals during the Third Reich. Two-thousand and two? I wonder how many of the original victims were even alive then. Better late then never, of course, but two-thousand and two?? These men had been interred in concentration camps like all the other people who were considered either unworthy or dangerous, but when the camps were liberated by the allies, some prisoners staid behind - murderers, rapists, thieves - homosexuals. It is so ridiculous that these men have only been rehabilitated in 2002, what the fuck has taken them so long?
The men interred in these concentration camps were subjected to the most gruesome torture, castrated, and as they were criminalised even after the end of the Third Reich. This would only end in 1969, and because they were only criminals, and as unpopular as they had been, their fates were ignored.
In 1969 the law was changed to something which was not a lot less ridiculous, but at least did not mean that all homosexual men would be interred for their relationships. The new system introduced two age limits - under 18 it would not be against the law to engage in same-sex acts, but if the men were older then 18 but younger than 21, it was a criminal offense - completely ridiculous. Still, seeing as underage sex as such has also always been a matter of debate this was probably a really modern law. Too bad it remained in use until nineteen-fucking-ninety-four.
And why did it vanish?
Did someone have a sudden brainwave?
No. Because of the German reunification. The paragraph had not been in use in the GDR since 1957, and it had been abandoned completely in 1989. There had been a debate about whether this paragraph ought to be in use in both parts of Germany, and they decided against it -last minute, I might add, as the deadline for including or chucking it was 1994.
So, I did go.
It was one gigantic party in central Hamburg. The weather was great, the mood the people were in and the costumes were, too. There were a lot of really interesting information desks belonging to various clubs and organisations, which was awesome. I never realised just how many support organisations there were, which is something I ought to know, especially as a future teacher. I took some of their info material just in case, and found to my delight that there were quite a number of support organisations for older lesbians, like the "Golden Girls", a group for lesbians in their fifties who meet once a week, and another about old age and lesbians. A brilliant idea, definitely - and one I had been wondering about. There are a fair number of support hotlines and info centres for children and teenagers, but it must be even harder to come to terms with your sexuality and resulting difficulties when you are aging - even though you have most likely learned to live with it.
I still did not buy a rainbow-colour flag, which I have been wanting to do for a while because I think they are really pretty, but I did find a little labrys pendant - not so much a statement as a pretty item of jewellery, though. The one I bought in Glasgow broke a while ago, and I have always been wanting a replacement.
Interestingly enough, while they did not take part in the parade, our ruling party deigned to put up an info stand as well. Well done, CDU, I would not have thought it possible.
( Pretty parade pictures (25) )
Colour Meme
Saturday, August 4th, 2007 05:51 pm-RED-
-ORANGE-
-YELLOW-
-GREEN-
-BLUE-
-PURPLE-
-PINK-
( Read more... )
-ORANGE-
( Read more... )
-YELLOW-
( Read more... )
-GREEN-
( Read more... )
-BLUE-
( Read more... )
-PURPLE-
( Read more... )
-PINK-
( Read more... )
Morrigan (Molly)
1998 - 2007
Molly, the lovely little black rabbit.
Molly has been ill occasionally for years, with strange fits of sneezing occasionally (though not rabbit flu), and most notably a seizure in June 2004, but she always got well again, and the vet was always able to reassure us that everything was fine with her. Always. Until today, when I noticed that she had difficulties breathing when I gave her her breakfast, which she did eat with an appetite. Still, she kept breathing through her mouth, and it seemed to give her considerable difficulty.
When I clipped her claws she panicked completely, which was very unusual, because she is not new to having her claws clipped, so I put her on the floor to calm down, but she did not. Her breathing became worse and worse, and she died while I was on the phone with the kindergarten, telling them I could not come because I had to go to the vet's. I wish I had been there, it was a question of minutes, and the thought that she must have suffocated is horrible.
The worst thing about this is that Crocky, who fed her two days ago, said that Molly's breathing had sounded strange. When I checked on her that night she was fine again, but I could have done something if I had gone to the vet immediately that night. She usually did sneeze when her cage had been cleared out because the dust from the hay got in her nose, and sometimes over a period of days, and her breathing occasionally sounded strange because there was slime in her nose, but it always went away again. It sounds as though it has really been rabbit flu this time, and that can be cured if you act immediately - and can be fatal if not.
1998 - 2007
Molly, the lovely little black rabbit.
Molly has been ill occasionally for years, with strange fits of sneezing occasionally (though not rabbit flu), and most notably a seizure in June 2004, but she always got well again, and the vet was always able to reassure us that everything was fine with her. Always. Until today, when I noticed that she had difficulties breathing when I gave her her breakfast, which she did eat with an appetite. Still, she kept breathing through her mouth, and it seemed to give her considerable difficulty.
When I clipped her claws she panicked completely, which was very unusual, because she is not new to having her claws clipped, so I put her on the floor to calm down, but she did not. Her breathing became worse and worse, and she died while I was on the phone with the kindergarten, telling them I could not come because I had to go to the vet's. I wish I had been there, it was a question of minutes, and the thought that she must have suffocated is horrible.
The worst thing about this is that Crocky, who fed her two days ago, said that Molly's breathing had sounded strange. When I checked on her that night she was fine again, but I could have done something if I had gone to the vet immediately that night. She usually did sneeze when her cage had been cleared out because the dust from the hay got in her nose, and sometimes over a period of days, and her breathing occasionally sounded strange because there was slime in her nose, but it always went away again. It sounds as though it has really been rabbit flu this time, and that can be cured if you act immediately - and can be fatal if not.
So, dumbness or arrogance?
Thursday, August 2nd, 2007 10:26 pmThe Seeker - The Dark is Rising.
Right.
I am still going to watch it, but MAN.
I like some of the things they've done, and I think that it will still be fun to watch it, but I fear that it will be nothing special any more, not the way the books were (not even for me, I know that my inner fangirl will never be satisfied, but what made the books special).
Right.
I am still going to watch it, but MAN.
I like some of the things they've done, and I think that it will still be fun to watch it, but I fear that it will be nothing special any more, not the way the books were (not even for me, I know that my inner fangirl will never be satisfied, but what made the books special).
Deathly Hallows Release in Piccadilly
Wednesday, August 1st, 2007 08:28 amThere was an amazing amount of people waiting in front of Waterstone's at Piccadilly even by the time we got there, which was around 4pm, most of them dressed up, some in really complicated and crafty outfits. The mood these guys were in was really great, it was basically one gigantic, vaguely scary party. There were a lot of spontaneous discussions among strangers prompted by signs or dresses about the series, too, it was just awesome. I am not usually a fan of great, big crowds of people, but those guys in the queue were fun to be around.
There were people from the various internet sites handing out stuff, even, like SnapeCasters who handed out Snape's Personal Shampoo, a lady who went round offering to paint lightning-shaped scars and Dark Marks (we did not go for it, though), and all sorts of people handing out flyers of sites we all know. We really should have been wearing Pensieve tees, I thought later on.
We learned that some of those guys had been there since Wednesday, camping outside the book store, in spite of the heavy rainfalls, and many had come from other countries, too, flown in only for the event. Queuing next to us were several "Beauxbaton students" from France, but there were also Italian quidditch players, Eastern European house elves, Dutch Gryffindors and German Gryffindors. There were Death Eaters who invited Crocky to "duel" the DA with them - or would have, if the cowards had showed up (thus, the Death Eaters automatically won after the period of grace they had given the DAers was up). There was a "Dumbledore", there was a Mad-eye Moody, there were the four founders, there were the Malfoys, there were two Trelawneys, there was a Firebolt, there was Hogwarts, there were several people with Hedwigs in cages - in short, it was a lot of fun which truly frightened my grandma, who saw it on telly.
Crocky has taken these great pics:
( In front of Waterstone's, Piccadilly )
And, a day later:
( ... at King's Cross )
There were people from the various internet sites handing out stuff, even, like SnapeCasters who handed out Snape's Personal Shampoo, a lady who went round offering to paint lightning-shaped scars and Dark Marks (we did not go for it, though), and all sorts of people handing out flyers of sites we all know. We really should have been wearing Pensieve tees, I thought later on.
We learned that some of those guys had been there since Wednesday, camping outside the book store, in spite of the heavy rainfalls, and many had come from other countries, too, flown in only for the event. Queuing next to us were several "Beauxbaton students" from France, but there were also Italian quidditch players, Eastern European house elves, Dutch Gryffindors and German Gryffindors. There were Death Eaters who invited Crocky to "duel" the DA with them - or would have, if the cowards had showed up (thus, the Death Eaters automatically won after the period of grace they had given the DAers was up). There was a "Dumbledore", there was a Mad-eye Moody, there were the four founders, there were the Malfoys, there were two Trelawneys, there was a Firebolt, there was Hogwarts, there were several people with Hedwigs in cages - in short, it was a lot of fun which truly frightened my grandma, who saw it on telly.
Crocky has taken these great pics:
( In front of Waterstone's, Piccadilly )
And, a day later:
( ... at King's Cross )
One fannish weekend
Wednesday, August 1st, 2007 08:26 amCrocky and I spent the HD release weekend in London rather spontaneously, for the HD release, and also as a little treat just for the two of us to celebrate.
We went there with one of those bus tours where you spend 16h of the trip in a bus, trying to sleep in the confined space offered to you. I was glad that none of the tours the company offered were compulsory, I had not been sure about that from the beginning and we wanted to spend time together. Luckily, we were able to bypass the day trips they offered, although I would have liked to go to Eton. Another time - we need to go to London again, anyway, to meet our Pensievers there.
So, here are some rather general pics of London, I'll put the really lovely Piccadilly midnight release pics Crocky's taken in another post.
( Ah doo believe in ferries, Ah doo, Ah doo )
( Baker Street (5) )
( Random tube-y pics (6) )
( Assorted pics of central London (11) )
( Wicked (3) )
We went there with one of those bus tours where you spend 16h of the trip in a bus, trying to sleep in the confined space offered to you. I was glad that none of the tours the company offered were compulsory, I had not been sure about that from the beginning and we wanted to spend time together. Luckily, we were able to bypass the day trips they offered, although I would have liked to go to Eton. Another time - we need to go to London again, anyway, to meet our Pensievers there.
So, here are some rather general pics of London, I'll put the really lovely Piccadilly midnight release pics Crocky's taken in another post.
( Ah doo believe in ferries, Ah doo, Ah doo )
( Baker Street (5) )
( Random tube-y pics (6) )
( Assorted pics of central London (11) )
( Wicked (3) )
 |
I love the Onion for things like that, even though I realise that the stereotyping is outrageous and that technically, I should not be laughing at things like that.
From the mouths of babes
Thursday, July 26th, 2007 05:19 pm- A girl, aged 3, and a boy, aged four, playing at horses. Suddenly, the boy falls over, stops whinnying, and the girl and another friend look on. A moment's hesitation. Then,
"Hey, Ben's dead! Let's EAT him! Yum, yum yum!" - A girl, aged 4, and a boy, aged 4, sitting at a table. On the table is a naked baby doll as I enter.
"What are you guys doing?"
"We want to eat the baby!"
*splutter* "Why?"
"It's so rosy!" - A boy, aged 7, comes into the room, all dressed up in black skirts and dresses so that he is entirely covered
"And what are you? A ghost with a suntan?"
"I am a dementor!"
"Argh! Expecto Patronum!"
"Hm. ... Ok, I am Lord Voldemort. Avada Kedavra!"
I hate spoilers.
Well, I love spoilers.
I can NEVER resist them, and thus I sometimes trawl spoiler forums/communities, looking for titbits on sites which provide a healthy mixture of hilarious rumours and true bits of information. Ok, my fault, but I never expected to find anything remotely... true that's actually of tremendous importance. I never expect great big leaks.
Things like the scans .... No. A peak at the first page, or the first chapter, yes. Actually reading all of it... never. But of course, not everyone thinks like that.
There are evil people on LJ who use great, big, fucking blinking icons which list the characters who are going to die according to a suspiciously real-looking scan of the entire fucking book which has been floating around online. Max had warned me, I had forgotten to be careful, I saw it. To make matters even better, there are people who post a list of the characters who die with the fucking page numbers - in fucking reviews on fucking ff.net.
Awesome.
Can someone please tell me that those scans are fakes?
Please?
Well, I love spoilers.
I can NEVER resist them, and thus I sometimes trawl spoiler forums/communities, looking for titbits on sites which provide a healthy mixture of hilarious rumours and true bits of information. Ok, my fault, but I never expected to find anything remotely... true that's actually of tremendous importance. I never expect great big leaks.
Things like the scans .... No. A peak at the first page, or the first chapter, yes. Actually reading all of it... never. But of course, not everyone thinks like that.
There are evil people on LJ who use great, big, fucking blinking icons which list the characters who are going to die according to a suspiciously real-looking scan of the entire fucking book which has been floating around online. Max had warned me, I had forgotten to be careful, I saw it. To make matters even better, there are people who post a list of the characters who die with the fucking page numbers - in fucking reviews on fucking ff.net.
Awesome.
Can someone please tell me that those scans are fakes?
Please?
Männlichkeiten
Saturday, July 14th, 2007 01:39 pmEnglish, "manhoods", or even "virilities", the title of our seminar on manliness, various constructs of manliness, and manliness, men and boys in schools, extra-curricular activities, leisure time, family, job, etc.. The last session was on Thursday, nut I can't help thinking about something I overheard during that last session.
It was another one of those courses which hammer home the view that all gender is a Construct and prone to change with the society around it. Another of those courses in which you learn that "gender" and gender roles are made up of stereotypes and norms, mostly, that nothing is inherent. After half a year of all the relativity you are completely brainwashed, I can tell you. Terms like "man" and "women" lose their communicative value completely and you find yourself avoiding them whenever possible.
It is not possible to escape this, resistance is useless.
Unless you are one of the two sports student I had the good fortune of overhearing.
They had a conversation about a fellow-student of theirs which left me in open-mouthed awe.
"I don't like her at all," one of them said. "She is like this total militant bull dyke. She has super-short hair, and she even wears those strange skater trousers only men wear. I mean, like, seriously, how can you, as a woman?"
Her friend nodded vigorously and agreed.
That fellow student of hers should really double check with this expert of femininity whether her clothing is appropriate for the only construct of feminitniy in existence.
There quite apparently is no helping some people, especially not those who after half a year of gender seminars still manage to think inside the box to such a baffling degree. I mean, sure, admittedly, it was a seminar that only acknowledged the sex/gender binary, but even so, where have they been when we talked about constructs and stereotypes, that is, all the time?
Some people's minds can only be broadened with a large crowbar.
The joys of studying with coelacanths...
Thursday, July 12th, 2007 04:56 pmImagine you want to be an EFL teacher.
What kind of language, do you think, should you be able to speak really well?
And in the requirements for the final exam, which language should be the ultimate, absolute requirement?
Yes, exactly.
Latin.
Some completely reactionary, antediluvian brainless dickhead decided once upon a time that what prospective EFL teachers really need is a sound knowledge of Latin.
Oh, and they "should", "if possible" "have spent three month in an English speaking country".
The level of proficiency required for EFL is higher than the one required for the friggin' Latin teachers. Of course their knowledge should be and is a lot sounder than ours, but it is NOT on the books, they do NOT have to take costly courses to reach the required level of proficiency. Our language requirements are, and we have to pay.
I had been relatively ok with that situation, even the fact that we have to take expensive courses and sit an expensive examination on top of the fees introduced by our darling alma mater to gain that requirement, but what really made me angry was the fact that another completely incompetent dickhead with a pen decided to make some of the language courses free of charge, modern languages a lot of people learn for fun like Spanish, Italian, Russian, Portuguese because there are some people who need them for their courses - but they did not include the fucking Latin courses.
So if you want to spend your holidays on the beach and be able to order your drinks in Spanish the university will happily pay for your course, but if you are forced to reach a medium level of proficiency (the Latinum, in other words, Hamburg still has the small Latinum, the Latinum, and the Big L), you have to pay for that yourself, €100 per course (either three intensive courses or six courses during the semester) plus the fucking fee for the examination at the end.
I want to get hold of the intellectually depleted fossile who decided we need a Latinum instead of a small Latinum - as EFL teachers do pretty much everywhere else in Germany, and of the unthinking idiot who decided to make other courses free of charge and not Latin.
I like Latin, and I would not mind taking the courses and not even the ridiculous amount of extra work if there was sense in that and I would not have to pay for it, if there was some kind of remote sense to it.
Alright. Enough anger, off to see Crocky. ♥
What kind of language, do you think, should you be able to speak really well?
And in the requirements for the final exam, which language should be the ultimate, absolute requirement?
Yes, exactly.
Latin.
Some completely reactionary, antediluvian brainless dickhead decided once upon a time that what prospective EFL teachers really need is a sound knowledge of Latin.
Oh, and they "should", "if possible" "have spent three month in an English speaking country".
The level of proficiency required for EFL is higher than the one required for the friggin' Latin teachers. Of course their knowledge should be and is a lot sounder than ours, but it is NOT on the books, they do NOT have to take costly courses to reach the required level of proficiency. Our language requirements are, and we have to pay.
I had been relatively ok with that situation, even the fact that we have to take expensive courses and sit an expensive examination on top of the fees introduced by our darling alma mater to gain that requirement, but what really made me angry was the fact that another completely incompetent dickhead with a pen decided to make some of the language courses free of charge, modern languages a lot of people learn for fun like Spanish, Italian, Russian, Portuguese because there are some people who need them for their courses - but they did not include the fucking Latin courses.
So if you want to spend your holidays on the beach and be able to order your drinks in Spanish the university will happily pay for your course, but if you are forced to reach a medium level of proficiency (the Latinum, in other words, Hamburg still has the small Latinum, the Latinum, and the Big L), you have to pay for that yourself, €100 per course (either three intensive courses or six courses during the semester) plus the fucking fee for the examination at the end.
I want to get hold of the intellectually depleted fossile who decided we need a Latinum instead of a small Latinum - as EFL teachers do pretty much everywhere else in Germany, and of the unthinking idiot who decided to make other courses free of charge and not Latin.
I like Latin, and I would not mind taking the courses and not even the ridiculous amount of extra work if there was sense in that and I would not have to pay for it, if there was some kind of remote sense to it.
Alright. Enough anger, off to see Crocky. ♥
Midnight Release
Wednesday, July 11th, 2007 08:01 amWho else went to a midnight release?
I think I am going to get a decent night's sleep before I attempt to say anything about anything, though, I've only had two hours and am off to the last session of my course now.
All in all, I really liked it, but it was too fast-paced for me, and although I was happy because of the things that did end up in the movie of course I missed certain things although I realise that this film is not made for rabid fans, but for an US American, general audience. Who probably do not care too much about the correct characterisation of characters and a correct adaptation. I liked the filming, and loved seeing the characters again, although I sure as hell don't know if our uninitiated brethren out there are able to get anything without having read the books. Still, there were many things I loved.
All those dressed-up fans were extra entertainment, adorned with different scarves, moaning about different parts of the movie that were not up to their standards ("And Sirius was played by a different dog!!!"). No Slytherins about, though, only Gryffies and Ravies, curiously, and the things they cared for were not even on my list of potentially important things.
Ok, off now.
I think I am going to get a decent night's sleep before I attempt to say anything about anything, though, I've only had two hours and am off to the last session of my course now.
All in all, I really liked it, but it was too fast-paced for me, and although I was happy because of the things that did end up in the movie of course I missed certain things although I realise that this film is not made for rabid fans, but for an US American, general audience. Who probably do not care too much about the correct characterisation of characters and a correct adaptation. I liked the filming, and loved seeing the characters again, although I sure as hell don't know if our uninitiated brethren out there are able to get anything without having read the books. Still, there were many things I loved.
All those dressed-up fans were extra entertainment, adorned with different scarves, moaning about different parts of the movie that were not up to their standards ("And Sirius was played by a different dog!!!"). No Slytherins about, though, only Gryffies and Ravies, curiously, and the things they cared for were not even on my list of potentially important things.
Ok, off now.
More Snapshots from History
Tuesday, July 10th, 2007 08:55 amI have a thing for beautiful women in beautiful dresses on sepia pictures. But then, who doesn't.
It's sad that they only have the names of the Caucasian women on these pictures. I wouldn't fancy finding myself called "young Caucasian-05" on a popular vintage picture site. The site is fittingly called Old Pictures and can be found here. The pictures below were taken in the US, also in the last century, some of them in the nineteenth century.
Ok. Off to take Sev to the vet, he needs a shot. Wish me luck.
It's sad that they only have the names of the Caucasian women on these pictures. I wouldn't fancy finding myself called "young Caucasian-05" on a popular vintage picture site. The site is fittingly called Old Pictures and can be found here. The pictures below were taken in the US, also in the last century, some of them in the nineteenth century.
( Pictures )
Ok. Off to take Sev to the vet, he needs a shot. Wish me luck.
Snapshots from History
Monday, July 9th, 2007 11:04 pmI found a great site with lots of vintage pictures!
( Snapshots from History (pictures taken roughly between 1900-1930 according to site) )
These old photographies are just great. I love the colours of them, the contrast, the patterns of light and darkness. So beautiful!
( Snapshots from History (pictures taken roughly between 1900-1930 according to site) )
These old photographies are just great. I love the colours of them, the contrast, the patterns of light and darkness. So beautiful!
Tehe.
The Collar
Wednesday, July 4th, 2007 02:51 pm
( Text of the poem )
There's also a (slightly hideous) midi musical version of The Collar.
I always enjoyed reading Herbert, although he's aggravating to discuss in class because someone will always see his stance as a personal insult to their lazy wannabe-atheism and start making idiot comments like, "Do we have to discuss this in class? No one believes in that sort of thing anymore, anyway!" - "Do I have to take part in this discussion even though I am not a Christian?"
Anyway. Off to write another oral presentation single-handedly.
Another reason to love Jason Isaacs...
Thursday, June 28th, 2007 07:12 amI died when I read that. If anyone is interested in the photo, it is for sale here, and the money goes to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
When I heard at the Close of the Day
Wednesday, June 27th, 2007 12:32 pmWhen I heard at the close of the day how my name had been receiv'd with plaudits in the capitol, still it was not a happy night for me that follow'd,
And else when I carous'd, or when my plans were accomplish'd, still I was not happy,
But the day when I rose at dawn from the bed of perfect health, refresh'd, singing, inhaling the ripe breath of autumn,
When I saw the full moon in the west grow pale and disappear in the morning light,
When I wander'd alone over the beach, and undressing bathed, laughing with the cool waters, and saw the sun rise,
And when I thought how my dear friend my lover was on his way coming, O then I was happy,
O then each breath tasted sweeter, and all that day my food nourish'd me more, and the beautiful day pass'd well,
And the next came with equal joy, and with the next at evening came my friend,
And that night while all was still I heard the waters roll slowly continually up the shores,
I heard the hissing rustle of the liquid and sands as directed to me whispering to congratulate me,
For the one I love most lay sleeping by me under the same cover in the cool night,
In the stillness in the autumn moonbeams his face was inclined toward me,
And his arm lay lightly around my breast--and that night I was happy.
- Walt Whitman
And else when I carous'd, or when my plans were accomplish'd, still I was not happy,
But the day when I rose at dawn from the bed of perfect health, refresh'd, singing, inhaling the ripe breath of autumn,
When I saw the full moon in the west grow pale and disappear in the morning light,
When I wander'd alone over the beach, and undressing bathed, laughing with the cool waters, and saw the sun rise,
And when I thought how my dear friend my lover was on his way coming, O then I was happy,
O then each breath tasted sweeter, and all that day my food nourish'd me more, and the beautiful day pass'd well,
And the next came with equal joy, and with the next at evening came my friend,
And that night while all was still I heard the waters roll slowly continually up the shores,
I heard the hissing rustle of the liquid and sands as directed to me whispering to congratulate me,
For the one I love most lay sleeping by me under the same cover in the cool night,
In the stillness in the autumn moonbeams his face was inclined toward me,
And his arm lay lightly around my breast--and that night I was happy.
- Walt Whitman
Rabbi Ben Ezra
Wednesday, June 27th, 2007 12:35 amRabbi Ben Ezra
Grow old along with me!
The best is yet to be,
The last of life, for which the first was made:
Our times are in His hand
Who saith, 'A whole I planned,
Youth shows but half; trust God: see all, nor be afraid!'
Not that, amassing flowers,
Youth sighed, 'Which rose make ours,
Which lily leave and then as best recall?'
Not that, admiring stars,
It yearned, 'Nor Jove, nor Mars;
Mine be some figured flame which blends, transcends them all!'
Not for such hopes and fears
Annulling youth's brief years,
Do I remonstrate: folly wide the mark!
Rather I prize the doubt
Low kinds exist without,
Finished and finite clods, untroubled by a spark.
- Robert Browning
Grow old along with me!
The best is yet to be,
The last of life, for which the first was made:
Our times are in His hand
Who saith, 'A whole I planned,
Youth shows but half; trust God: see all, nor be afraid!'
Not that, amassing flowers,
Youth sighed, 'Which rose make ours,
Which lily leave and then as best recall?'
Not that, admiring stars,
It yearned, 'Nor Jove, nor Mars;
Mine be some figured flame which blends, transcends them all!'
Not for such hopes and fears
Annulling youth's brief years,
Do I remonstrate: folly wide the mark!
Rather I prize the doubt
Low kinds exist without,
Finished and finite clods, untroubled by a spark.
( Read more... )
- Robert Browning
Occlumency clip
Tuesday, June 26th, 2007 12:36 pmA lot of stuff we already know, plus a seconds-long sequence to spoil yourselves silly.
Here goes.
Ok, ok. And here:
( Spoil, spoil... )
EDIT: *wipes eyes* OMGWTFBBQ?!!!! LUNA? New LOVE interest?? Did they even READ the novels? What kind of complete IDIOT wrote this shite?
Here goes.
Ok, ok. And here:
( Spoil, spoil... )
EDIT: *wipes eyes* OMGWTFBBQ?!!!! LUNA? New LOVE interest?? Did they even READ the novels? What kind of complete IDIOT wrote this shite?
Seidel revisited...
Monday, June 18th, 2007 04:35 pmBrief break before heading back to uni...
Was bleibt?
Ach, was bleibt? - Ein kleiner Hügel,
Drüber mit dem leichten Flügel
Froh ein Sommerfalter fliegt,
Und das Gras im Wind sich wiegt.
Eine Weile Angedenken
Mag man wohl dem Schläfer schenken,
Bald weiss Niemand, wer da liegt.
Manche, die der Ruhm erhoben,
Hört man ein Jahrhundert loben
Oder ein Jahrtausend lang,
Bis auch sie die Zeit verschlang.
Die zum Höchsten einst erkoren -
Ihr Gedächtniss ging verloren,
Wie ein Lied im Wind verklang.
Fern noch ragen mächt'ge Gipfel
Als der Menschheit stolze Wipfel
Leuchtend aus dem Nebelmeer:
Alexander und Homer.
Aber jene Zeit wird kommen,
Da auch sie in Duft verschwommen,
Und es nennt sie Keiner mehr,
Unterdess in ew'gen Kreisen
Und in altgewohnten Gleisen
Ihre Bahn die Erde geht,
Achtlos, was auf ihr besteht,
Achtlos auf der Menschheit Träume
Wandelt sie durch Weltenräume,
Bis auch sie in Staub verweht.
Heinrich Seidel, 1867.
Was bleibt?
Ach, was bleibt? - Ein kleiner Hügel,
Drüber mit dem leichten Flügel
Froh ein Sommerfalter fliegt,
Und das Gras im Wind sich wiegt.
Eine Weile Angedenken
Mag man wohl dem Schläfer schenken,
Bald weiss Niemand, wer da liegt.
Manche, die der Ruhm erhoben,
Hört man ein Jahrhundert loben
Oder ein Jahrtausend lang,
Bis auch sie die Zeit verschlang.
Die zum Höchsten einst erkoren -
Ihr Gedächtniss ging verloren,
Wie ein Lied im Wind verklang.
Fern noch ragen mächt'ge Gipfel
Als der Menschheit stolze Wipfel
Leuchtend aus dem Nebelmeer:
Alexander und Homer.
Aber jene Zeit wird kommen,
Da auch sie in Duft verschwommen,
Und es nennt sie Keiner mehr,
Unterdess in ew'gen Kreisen
Und in altgewohnten Gleisen
Ihre Bahn die Erde geht,
Achtlos, was auf ihr besteht,
Achtlos auf der Menschheit Träume
Wandelt sie durch Weltenräume,
Bis auch sie in Staub verweht.
Heinrich Seidel, 1867.
50 books challenge
Sunday, June 17th, 2007 11:29 am23.
22.
Arts of the Possible, by Adrienne Rich.
Once more. An essay collections with essays which often make me feel uncomfortable when I realise how much her socialisation in the fifties was similar to my own, thirty years later. I like her thoughts.
22.
Die wunderbaren Jahre by Reiner Kunze.
Great book with anecdotes and impression of life in the GDR of a teenage daughter and her father.
Israel Kamawiwo'ole - Somewhere over the rainbow
Wednesday, June 13th, 2007 08:37 pmA friend (jaywalker23 ) showed me this version of Somwhere over the Rainbow back in the day, when we were still at school, and it's my favourite version of the song.
Well, it's everybody's favourite version, really.
( Click me )
For me, it's of course connected with memories of her as well, which makes it even better.
jaywalker23 ) showed me this version of Somwhere over the Rainbow back in the day, when we were still at school, and it's my favourite version of the song. Well, it's everybody's favourite version, really.
( Click me )
For me, it's of course connected with memories of her as well, which makes it even better.