NOTE TO SELF: CHANUKAH CONCERT TAUGHT ME THAT ALL CANDLES CAN CAST A GLOW
BY ELEANOR TYLBOR
As a youngster, Christmas was somewhat of a demoralizing time of the year. Since our family was of the Jewish faith, we celebrated the holiday of Chanukah, which didn't seem to me to be half as exciting as the furor that went along with trimming a tree.
On occasion Chanukah fell during the same period as Christmas and somehow I couldn't work up as much enthusiasm for lighting a candle even if it was colored, as my friends seemed to experience placing ornaments on the branches of their trees.
Even though my parents explained time and time again that Jewish people don't celebrate Christmas, which meant that a tree even a miniature one was out of the question, it was difficult for me to accept. In spite of protestations that we could call it a Chanukah bush, it was obvious that there was no way a fir tree would be part of our celebrations.
Traditionally at Chanukah, children receive gifts of gelt or money and light small colored candles in a menorah (candelabra), one per night for the eight days of the holiday. While that was nice, in my mind it didn't measure up to all the excitement connected to the "other" holiday.
At Hebrew school we always celebrated the various holidays, big and small, and Chanukah was a particular favorite especially since our class, being the eldest students, entertained the residents of a seniors home. Each year the teacher would select eight students to sing and perform as Chanukah candles and competition was fierce for the part of lead candle.
Since I wasn't blessed with a good singing voice – I could barely carry a tune – I knew that my chances were slim at best to play any candle, never mind the lead candle. My biggest rival was Zelig, who had the voice and promise of a future opera singer. Not only did he have the best singing voice, he was also the top student scholastically. Plus he was also the teacher's pet. Whenever games were played for prizes during the holidays, Zelig won everything, which didn't exactly ingratiate him with the other students. Actually, we were all jealous and would have liked nothing better than for his voice to change in the middle of a concert.
Class auditions for candle parts were held a few weeks before the onset of the holiday and the best I could hope for was a minor part and even then, only if the rest of the students had an off day or laryngitis. Each student auditioned for the teacher and as expected, Zelig got the lead role, which irritated me no end.
My resentment was eased somewhat by being assigned the role of a minor candle, probably out of pity more than anything else. Those students not chosen became part of the chorus singing "tra-la-las" at the appropriate time.
Excitement was at a fever pitch when we arrived at the seniors' home, ready to perform for a live audience who were, for the most part, in wheelchairs. They were brought into the auditorium where we were lined up on stage, anxious to perform.
Glancing around the room, many of the seniors appeared half asleep.
"You will be entertained today!" their nurses might have insisted as they wheeled them into the room.
The first students opened the concert and sang well and those who followed performed admirably. Finally, it was my turn. My voice didn't fail me and I felt very proud of my accomplishment.
Zelig opened his mouth and it was like a chorus of angels had entered the room. His voice was strong and melodic and suddenly the seniors perked up, smiles on their faces in obvious appreciation of what they heard. When the last notes of his solo faded away, they all clapped appreciatively.
The musical recital was over and we performed a variety of Israeli dances, moving off the stage to mingle among our audience. Although Israeli dancing was a passion, I was consumed with the memory of the applause and accolades bestowed upon Zelig.
After our presentation and some refreshments, an elderly woman wheeled over to talk to me. She smiled, her trembling hand gently covering mine.
"Thank you," she uttered weakly and breathlessly. "You were all wonderful. How special you are to visit us!"
There was the sudden realization that it wasn't important who the lead candle was or who had the best voice. It was significant to our audience that we had taken the time to come at all.
It wasn't long after our successful performance that Zelig's voice finally broke and he never knew whether he would sing soprano or alto. Tough luck for him. My voice on the other hand, never changed and could always be depended on to sing off-key.
http://holidays.net/chanukah/
For some good Chanukah recipes and recipes for all year round, surf on down here:
http://www.gourmania.com/recipesmlym/mlnym_nofrylatkes.htm
Showing posts with label culture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label culture. Show all posts
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Ho-hum...patience is the key word for live MusselCam
NOTE TO SELF: MUSSELS ARE NOT THE MOST VISUAL MULLOSKS
One thing for sure is that anybody hoping for some exciting viewing on MusselCam will be disappointed, but then that's the way Mother Nature works. Unbelievable as it may seem MusselCam located in Prince Edward Island, Canada, was named amongst the top 25 most interesting webcams in the world. Hey - now that's an accomplishment!
That lone blue mussel is the only one of two Canadian entries to crack EarthCam's list. A webcam tracking the lighthouse at scenic Peggy's Cove in Nova Scotia
(www.peggyscovewebcam.ca/live) is also on the webcam network's list of favourites.
For the uninitiated and according to Wikipedia, "the common name mussel is used for members of several different families of clams or bivalve molluscs, from both saltwater and freshwater habitats."
Visually they aren't anything to look at being round and...round.
The message on the web page says it all: "mussels grow very, very slowly. Please check back often."
Garner Quain, the co-owner of Flex Mussels, which has locations in Charlottetown and Summerside, was surprised to hear his camera made the list.
"I didn't ever think that it would make any kind of Top 10 list, other than the fact that it's so, kind of, notoriously boring," said Quain."There's a few other ones on the internet that are sort of old favourites that have kind of always been running, so it was really kind of an homage to those, so to be included among them is a nice little honour."
Quain said MusselCam gets more than 1,000 hits a day.
Anyway, if you've got a lot of time - and patience - drop by the musselcam site here:
http://www.flexmussels.com/musselcam.html
Let us know if anything exciting happens. Yawn...
One thing for sure is that anybody hoping for some exciting viewing on MusselCam will be disappointed, but then that's the way Mother Nature works. Unbelievable as it may seem MusselCam located in Prince Edward Island, Canada, was named amongst the top 25 most interesting webcams in the world. Hey - now that's an accomplishment!
That lone blue mussel is the only one of two Canadian entries to crack EarthCam's list. A webcam tracking the lighthouse at scenic Peggy's Cove in Nova Scotia
(www.peggyscovewebcam.ca/live) is also on the webcam network's list of favourites.
For the uninitiated and according to Wikipedia, "the common name mussel is used for members of several different families of clams or bivalve molluscs, from both saltwater and freshwater habitats."
Visually they aren't anything to look at being round and...round.
The message on the web page says it all: "mussels grow very, very slowly. Please check back often."
Garner Quain, the co-owner of Flex Mussels, which has locations in Charlottetown and Summerside, was surprised to hear his camera made the list.
"I didn't ever think that it would make any kind of Top 10 list, other than the fact that it's so, kind of, notoriously boring," said Quain."There's a few other ones on the internet that are sort of old favourites that have kind of always been running, so it was really kind of an homage to those, so to be included among them is a nice little honour."
Quain said MusselCam gets more than 1,000 hits a day.
Anyway, if you've got a lot of time - and patience - drop by the musselcam site here:
http://www.flexmussels.com/musselcam.html
Let us know if anything exciting happens. Yawn...
Saturday, December 22, 2007
BAH HUMBUG - CHRISTMAS TREES BANNED IN CHINESE CITY
NOTE TO SELF: WHAT HAPPENED TO THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS, ANYWAY?
Speaking of un-Christmas-like actions... The spirit of the holiday appears to be lacking in the city of Zhuhai, a city of 1.3 million people located in southern China, where deputy-mayor, Chen Ying has banned Christmas trees. Included in the ban are no trees allowed in shopping malls, restaurants, malls, grocery stores and other entertainment venues since the feeling is that they post a fire hazard. No Christmas trees and no "flammable decorations" either and those that do fall into this category had to be removed "immediately."
So...like...what type of decorations are deemed "flammable" and which are "non-flammable" one wonders? Is there some type of Christmas tree and decoration police that go around checking out flame-a-bility?
"Those that fail to rectify the situation will be subject to legal measures like suspension or closure," Mr Chen said.
I mean - imagine having a knock on the door, opening them to the Christmas cops and having your Christmas tree AND decorations judged whether they can stay or have to be taken down. It's just so...un-Christmas like!
The crackdown on Christmas trees was part of a three-month campaign to boost fire-prevention standards that started this week in Zhuhai, directly across from the Chinese gambling haven of Macau.
The Zhuhai ban came on the same day that President Hu Jintao "reached out" to religious believers in China where commercial Christmas trappings have become increasingly ostentatious in recent years.
The manager of a Zhuhai karaoke bar ordered a Christmas tree last week and was not happy with the new regulation.
"I paid 3,000 yuan (about $400), so who can I sue for damages now?" he said.
Bah...humbug!
Speaking of un-Christmas-like actions... The spirit of the holiday appears to be lacking in the city of Zhuhai, a city of 1.3 million people located in southern China, where deputy-mayor, Chen Ying has banned Christmas trees. Included in the ban are no trees allowed in shopping malls, restaurants, malls, grocery stores and other entertainment venues since the feeling is that they post a fire hazard. No Christmas trees and no "flammable decorations" either and those that do fall into this category had to be removed "immediately."
So...like...what type of decorations are deemed "flammable" and which are "non-flammable" one wonders? Is there some type of Christmas tree and decoration police that go around checking out flame-a-bility?
"Those that fail to rectify the situation will be subject to legal measures like suspension or closure," Mr Chen said.
I mean - imagine having a knock on the door, opening them to the Christmas cops and having your Christmas tree AND decorations judged whether they can stay or have to be taken down. It's just so...un-Christmas like!
The crackdown on Christmas trees was part of a three-month campaign to boost fire-prevention standards that started this week in Zhuhai, directly across from the Chinese gambling haven of Macau.
The Zhuhai ban came on the same day that President Hu Jintao "reached out" to religious believers in China where commercial Christmas trappings have become increasingly ostentatious in recent years.
The manager of a Zhuhai karaoke bar ordered a Christmas tree last week and was not happy with the new regulation.
"I paid 3,000 yuan (about $400), so who can I sue for damages now?" he said.
Bah...humbug!
Thursday, July 19, 2007
A LITTLE RAIN MUST FALL...BUT NOT DURING THE CHINA OLYMPICS PLEASE!
NOTE TO SELF: One for the 'uh-oh' file
Now comes news that preparations are being made for the advent of bad weather during their Olympics to be held in China in 2008. In doing this Beijing weather people are proceeding with plans to fire rockets to disperse rain clouds in an attempt to get more sunshine. Predicting the weather as many weather forecasters will agree is not an exacting science to say the least.
Anybody see anything wrong with this idea?
According to Zheng Guoguang, head of China's Meterorological Administration, practice drills are ready. The drills are supposed to simulate what will happen when the Olympics begin on August 8, 2008 and this is the last opportunity for meteorologists to practice working out the kinks. When you think about it - it's not such a big deal if attendees get a little wet while watching athletes do their thing. It's all part of the experience... a little rain must fall and all that.
Course some people take the rain a little more seriously.
Chinese officials report that historical records indicate a 50% chance of rain for the opening ceremony and the same for the closing ceremony. Then there's the usual just-in-case-it-doesn't-work statement where the weather officials admitted that seeding cloud to produce rain and then shoo away rainmaking clouds is - um - immature technology.
We get the point, peeplz. Maybe it'll work...and then again, maybe it won't.
"Dispersal is more difficult than rainfall enhancement," Wang Yubin, assistant chief engineer with the Beijing Meteorological Bureau commented. "In rainfall dispersal, we are still in the experimental stage but we are continuing our efforts."
So people planning to travel to the China Olympics should bring along a raincoat and/or umbrella - just in case of course.
Now comes news that preparations are being made for the advent of bad weather during their Olympics to be held in China in 2008. In doing this Beijing weather people are proceeding with plans to fire rockets to disperse rain clouds in an attempt to get more sunshine. Predicting the weather as many weather forecasters will agree is not an exacting science to say the least.
Anybody see anything wrong with this idea?
According to Zheng Guoguang, head of China's Meterorological Administration, practice drills are ready. The drills are supposed to simulate what will happen when the Olympics begin on August 8, 2008 and this is the last opportunity for meteorologists to practice working out the kinks. When you think about it - it's not such a big deal if attendees get a little wet while watching athletes do their thing. It's all part of the experience... a little rain must fall and all that.
Course some people take the rain a little more seriously.
Chinese officials report that historical records indicate a 50% chance of rain for the opening ceremony and the same for the closing ceremony. Then there's the usual just-in-case-it-doesn't-work statement where the weather officials admitted that seeding cloud to produce rain and then shoo away rainmaking clouds is - um - immature technology.
We get the point, peeplz. Maybe it'll work...and then again, maybe it won't.
"Dispersal is more difficult than rainfall enhancement," Wang Yubin, assistant chief engineer with the Beijing Meteorological Bureau commented. "In rainfall dispersal, we are still in the experimental stage but we are continuing our efforts."
So people planning to travel to the China Olympics should bring along a raincoat and/or umbrella - just in case of course.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
MERRIAM-WEBSTER GETS WORDY
NOTE TO SELF: Pick up some agnolotti for supper
Perhaps you or someone you know participated in speed dating recently followed by a date where microgreens were eaten. If Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary is any indication, words like agnolotti (meaning: "pasta in the form of semicircular cases containing a filling (as of meat, cheese, or vegetables") or speed dating ("an event at which each participant converses individually with all the prospective partners for a few minutes in order to select those with whom dates are desired") will become part of our everyday vocabulary.
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary updates its Collegiate dictionary every year with "new words, senses and variants." The word "ginormous" (meaning: extremely large, humungous) was one of 100 neolisms or the use of new words or senses of existing words added. Here are twenty out of the list of the 100 mentioned on their site:
1. agnolotti
2. Bollywood
3. chaebol
4. crunk
5. DVR
6. flex-cuff
7. ginormous
8. gray literature
9. hardscape
10. IED
11. microgreen
12. nocebo
13. perfect storm
14. RPG
15. smackdown
16. snowboardcross
17. speed dating
18. sudoku
19. telenovela
20. viewshed
Without going to their site, http://www.merriam-webster.com/info/newwords07.htm how many do you know without having to check on the meaning? A better challenge is how many can you use in one sentence?
Meanwhile, I'm feeling very crunk-ish due to all the microgreens I ate.
Perhaps you or someone you know participated in speed dating recently followed by a date where microgreens were eaten. If Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary is any indication, words like agnolotti (meaning: "pasta in the form of semicircular cases containing a filling (as of meat, cheese, or vegetables") or speed dating ("an event at which each participant converses individually with all the prospective partners for a few minutes in order to select those with whom dates are desired") will become part of our everyday vocabulary.
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary updates its Collegiate dictionary every year with "new words, senses and variants." The word "ginormous" (meaning: extremely large, humungous) was one of 100 neolisms or the use of new words or senses of existing words added. Here are twenty out of the list of the 100 mentioned on their site:
1. agnolotti
2. Bollywood
3. chaebol
4. crunk
5. DVR
6. flex-cuff
7. ginormous
8. gray literature
9. hardscape
10. IED
11. microgreen
12. nocebo
13. perfect storm
14. RPG
15. smackdown
16. snowboardcross
17. speed dating
18. sudoku
19. telenovela
20. viewshed
Without going to their site, http://www.merriam-webster.com/info/newwords07.htm how many do you know without having to check on the meaning? A better challenge is how many can you use in one sentence?
Meanwhile, I'm feeling very crunk-ish due to all the microgreens I ate.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
HILLARY CHOOSES CELINE FOR HER CAMPAIGN
NOTE TO MYSELF: HILLARY CLINTON HAS GOOD TASTE IN SINGERS
By now most Americans must have heard the news that presidential candidate/hopeful, Hillary Clinton, has selected Celine Dion's song, "You and I" as the official anthem for her 2008 campaign.
Recently, Clinton went to directly to the people asking them to help her in selecting a campaign song and when it was all over and the votes were counted, more than 225,000 people offered their opinion regarding the song to use.
Actually and as a Canadian Quebecer, it comes as quite a surprise - a pleasant one at that - given the plethora of talented U.S. songs and songwriters available at home that she chose a song by a Canadian singer. Other suggested songs were Shania Twain's (another Canuck btw), "Rock This Country" and U'2's, "Beautiful Day" but in the end it was Celine that won everyone over. Not surprising - we Canadians have always recognized her talent.
Be that as it may - we here in Kweebek are thrilled with the decision, Hilary! One thing for sure - you have good taste in songs and singers!
Here are some of the lyrics:
"High above the mountains
Far across the sea
I can hear your voice
Callin' out to me
Brighter than the sun
And darker than the night
I can see your love
Shinin' like a light
And on and on this earth spins like a carousel
If I could travel across the world
The secrets I would tell
You and I were meant to fly
Higher than the clouds
We'll sail across the sky
So come with me
And you will feel
That we're soaring
That we're floating up so high
'Cause you and I were meant to fly."
Indeed.
http://www.accesshollywood.com/news/ah5789.shtml
http://www.etonline.com/music/news/48655/
http://www.hillaryclinton.com/blog/view/?id=6495
Writers & Friends
www.jrslater.com/forum
By now most Americans must have heard the news that presidential candidate/hopeful, Hillary Clinton, has selected Celine Dion's song, "You and I" as the official anthem for her 2008 campaign.
Recently, Clinton went to directly to the people asking them to help her in selecting a campaign song and when it was all over and the votes were counted, more than 225,000 people offered their opinion regarding the song to use.
Actually and as a Canadian Quebecer, it comes as quite a surprise - a pleasant one at that - given the plethora of talented U.S. songs and songwriters available at home that she chose a song by a Canadian singer. Other suggested songs were Shania Twain's (another Canuck btw), "Rock This Country" and U'2's, "Beautiful Day" but in the end it was Celine that won everyone over. Not surprising - we Canadians have always recognized her talent.
Be that as it may - we here in Kweebek are thrilled with the decision, Hilary! One thing for sure - you have good taste in songs and singers!
Here are some of the lyrics:
"High above the mountains
Far across the sea
I can hear your voice
Callin' out to me
Brighter than the sun
And darker than the night
I can see your love
Shinin' like a light
And on and on this earth spins like a carousel
If I could travel across the world
The secrets I would tell
You and I were meant to fly
Higher than the clouds
We'll sail across the sky
So come with me
And you will feel
That we're soaring
That we're floating up so high
'Cause you and I were meant to fly."
Indeed.
http://www.accesshollywood.com/news/ah5789.shtml
http://www.etonline.com/music/news/48655/
http://www.hillaryclinton.com/blog/view/?id=6495
Writers & Friends
www.jrslater.com/forum
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
POOR OLD PLUTO (THE PLANET) - DEMOTED AGAIN!
NOTE TO MYSELF: Sometimes you just don't get no respect
Once upon a time there was a planet named Pluto, who had some respect among eight other orbiting planets. It was considered a planet with some clout. However, as experts are known to do, last year some astronmers who are part of the International Astronomical Union that have power to make important decisions, resolved to strip Pluto of its planetary status at a meeting to debate the origin of the cosmos.
This is important stuff in the grand scheme of things.
When all the talk ended poor Pluto (the planet) was re-classified as a dwarf planet due to the discovery of Eris, a similar body created of rock and ice. In spite of this new reality Pluto was still considered the heftiest solar system object found beyond Neptune. In other words it was bad news but not that bad. At least that was the assumption until yet another recent discovery.
Now comes the news that weighing in at 16.6 billion trillion kilograms, heavenly body Eris is 27% more massive than Pluto. Eris, which has a small moon, has a diameter of 2400 kilometres, which is slightly larger than Pluto's 2270 kilometres. So now Pluto has received yet another blow to the relevance of its existence and importance among planets.
One wonders how this will affect horoscopes if at all. For example if a formerly important planet is demoted and its importance diminished, what would be the end result? In checking out this possibility, one particular horoscope had this to say about the subject:
"The presence and direction of Pluto's energy are never obvious until it is used. Pluto's influence in any sign is interpreted as generational or historical. In your personal life, Pluto's significance is interpreted from its house position and the aspects it makes to other natal planets in your horoscope. Pluto rules intense energy, and describes the areas in which you consciously or subconsciously seek to exercise power or control. Pluto is also linked to your karmic responsibility."
Another question worth pondering or at least thinking about, is will the Disney people now change the name of the 'toon dog, Pluto, to Eris?
Will things ever be the same again in the universe?
http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/node/1391
http://www.a2mediagroup.com/print.php?a=16025
Writers & Friends
www.jrslater.com/forum
Once upon a time there was a planet named Pluto, who had some respect among eight other orbiting planets. It was considered a planet with some clout. However, as experts are known to do, last year some astronmers who are part of the International Astronomical Union that have power to make important decisions, resolved to strip Pluto of its planetary status at a meeting to debate the origin of the cosmos.
This is important stuff in the grand scheme of things.
When all the talk ended poor Pluto (the planet) was re-classified as a dwarf planet due to the discovery of Eris, a similar body created of rock and ice. In spite of this new reality Pluto was still considered the heftiest solar system object found beyond Neptune. In other words it was bad news but not that bad. At least that was the assumption until yet another recent discovery.
Now comes the news that weighing in at 16.6 billion trillion kilograms, heavenly body Eris is 27% more massive than Pluto. Eris, which has a small moon, has a diameter of 2400 kilometres, which is slightly larger than Pluto's 2270 kilometres. So now Pluto has received yet another blow to the relevance of its existence and importance among planets.
One wonders how this will affect horoscopes if at all. For example if a formerly important planet is demoted and its importance diminished, what would be the end result? In checking out this possibility, one particular horoscope had this to say about the subject:
"The presence and direction of Pluto's energy are never obvious until it is used. Pluto's influence in any sign is interpreted as generational or historical. In your personal life, Pluto's significance is interpreted from its house position and the aspects it makes to other natal planets in your horoscope. Pluto rules intense energy, and describes the areas in which you consciously or subconsciously seek to exercise power or control. Pluto is also linked to your karmic responsibility."
Another question worth pondering or at least thinking about, is will the Disney people now change the name of the 'toon dog, Pluto, to Eris?
Will things ever be the same again in the universe?
http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/node/1391
http://www.a2mediagroup.com/print.php?a=16025
Writers & Friends
www.jrslater.com/forum
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