Though I cant say for sure because I don't know how to read music, but I would venture to say that when people like Rachmaninoff and Liszt composed some of their pieces they included wormholes and various other time stopping techniques to actually play so unbelievably quick. (Can you really assure me that there's not some kind of alteration of physics hiding in there somewhere?) I'm just unable to comprehend any other way that mere mortals can actually perform so inhumanly fast and accurate.
Which brings me to my posting-point (aka the point of this post, aka the moral of this story, aka the reason you're here, etc etc). Its been said that there are fewer people that can play the works of Beethoven than have walked on the moon, and one of those few people isValentina Lisista. Never have I been so seethingly envious over someone's secular talent. She is an unparalleled prodigy, a walking phenomenon, a reincarnated Chopin, a [insert hyperbole here], and AND I get the pleasure of going so see her (life permitting) next April, in Wichita of all places. Whoo doggies, I may have to go all out and rent a tux, sport a fedora, and carry a concealed weapon for this event!
Here are a few of my favorites; should you have a cup'o'tea, a pipe (tobacco, of course), a sufficiently condescending sense of culture (specifically an ostentatious appreciation of the arts), and about an hour or so, then thou shouldst listen forth!
Where you'll be, I'll go Where you'll be, I'll know Where you'll be, I'll find you
Upon the incessant request of my wife, we have adopted a cat. Her given name is Fluff'n'Stuff, but she is addressed by an onslaught of variations thereof. She was a stray being fed in our neighbor lady's back yard with her three siblings. She was chosen because she was the tiniest one and seemed the most helpless of all of them, and she took an immediate liking to Bethany. She'd just sit and purr while Bethany pet her wittle head. So after a purchase of kitten food, a night spent in solitude in our bathroom, and an irresponsibly large Vet bill, she was ours.
We say it feels like we've adopted her from a third world country because she came with fleas, worms, and some other intestinal infection that she's taking a five day dose of antibiotics to treat. She still has some potty training kinks we're working out, but she seems to be adjusting well otherwise. She is definitely an extra responsibility and a unrelenting distraction which I concede is an unwise investment at this stage of life, but you know what? Shut up.
Furthermore, I have been officially wooed by all one pound three ounces of her Fluffiest of Stuffs. She is a much more precious creature than either Bethany or I had anticipated. And here's a look at my hairy umbilicus to demonstrate.
The only one left to adjust in the house is our other son. His initial reaction was the equivalent of the prodigal son's brother. He would only go near her to hiss and walk away to glare at her from a safe distance. He's been slowly coming around (he can almost relax with her in the room), but it will be a while yet. She has been trying to befriend him, but he will have nothing of the sort. Their interaction is basically hilarious. Since corresponding with other cats has been a part of her whole life, she is relentlessly brazen with Dweezil. This translates into her chasing him all around the house under the impression that they're playmates. Dweezil, on the other hand, is running away from her as intensely as he can because he is frightened and confused. Yes, Dweezil is our home-schooled cat.
I originally told Bethany the deal was that Dweezil will be back to his normal weird self in two weeks or she'll have to go, ...but I'm not so sure I'll be able to follow through.
I'll periodically check a random science news site and occasionally come across an interesting article or photo. And, man, this article really tickled me, so I have to share. You can read it here (its short and A.D.D. friendly for readers like me) or I can just sum it up: A couple scientists pointed out the tremendous difficulty for the evolutionary step of going from a prokaryotic ("simple" bacteria-like) cell to a significantly more complex eukaryotic cell (the kind in plants, animals, and other advanced biological systems such as myself). What makes these cells so much more complex is about 200,000 times the genes within the nucleus. This information is what is responsible for the cell making things like mitochondria, its own power generators (not to be confused with power converters on Tatooine). These power generators are responsible for creating the energy necessary for these complex cells to sustain themselves. Bacteria cells are simple and resilient, not requiring much energy to survive, unlike the eukaryotic cells, which require much much more. The article states: "The problem is, getting mitochondria requires more than just one cell juggling its genes. It's one cell swallowing up an entirely new cell. There are cells which do this, but they are eukaryotes, not bacteria. So in order to become a eukaryotic cell, a bacteria has to . . . do things that almost only happen in eukaryotic cells. Although it's clearly not impossible, it's one more blow to the idea of complex life evolving on alien worlds, especially those much younger than the earth."
Jeepers, I'm all torn up about the decreased possibility of aliens, really I am. I loved K-Pax.
Can you believe that's all they apply this information to? "Hmmm it seems like evolution becomes more unlikely as we further understand the world around us, but evolution is popular and thus true. [cue high fives] Therefore, it stands that we plum lucked out, contrary to the aliens that are, sorry to say, scientifically unlikely."
I must say: I find it amazing that people are sooo ready and willing to believe in aliens, (which are statistically more improbable than ourselves, and for which we have never had any proof or rational reason to believe in), but when given substantial evidence for a Creator, they're convinced that He is a childish imagination. (Professing to be wise...)
Furthermore, if you'd like an advanced lesson in overt ignorance and chicanery, please go on and read the comments under the article. C'mon people.
There was yet another article here that shows evidence that Antarctica was once a rain forest. "I mean no disrespect, Mr. Sciencepants, but I already knew this. How did I know, you ask? Well, its in Genesis, it starts with an 'F' and it ends with your rejection."
...and this may be my favorite image of one (stolen from TIME):
But I must be honest, this blog is a bait and switch that's actually about music. (And the trap's been sprung BLAOW!)
Although nobody but me really appreciates these intrusive playlists ... alas! I have yet anuthern. Try to contain your excitement. As you may be well aware, I love the somber musics. Especially those that can strike unique chords in me that have a kind of emotional tension somewhere between a pensive melancholia and a pleasant wistfulness (I don't know how else to describe it), and these are a few (non-techno) goodies that do just that. Be warned, it takes a good pair of headphones and an element of patience to fully behold the psychological impact lurking within these tracks. Those aren't high standards are they??
Maybe so. I do also love using this genre as background chillin' music ...for the vegetables in my refrigerator to listen to.
