Blindness, and Wagner's Lohengrin.

First of all, I want to say that the time at the community center on Friday was very entertaining. Being led around the building with a blindfold on required a large amount of trust for the person leading you because they could obviously do things to (unintentionally) injure you or make you uncomfortable. That being said, the experience of being blindfolded and being led around was quite similar to one of those amusement park attractions with names such as "Haunted House" or something similar. I felt like I knew what was going on around me, yet there were other times when I was completely uncertain. Going down/up stairs was also completely frightening.

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Richard Wagner, born in 1813 on May 22nd, was a German composer and conductor. He was known mostly for his Operas, which have been a large influence on many composers later on. It is said that his potential as a conductor was not shown until his middle period, when works such as Lohengrin were composed.

Lohengrin is an opera in 3 parts, which takes it's story from a famous German medieval epic poem called "Parzival," and it's sequel "Lohengrin." The opera seems to carry a theme of xenophobia, which is reflected on by Wagner's anti-Semitism.

The instrumentation of the opera was quite large for the time period. Taken from http://www.mhhe.com/socscience/music/kamien/student/olc/33.htm, the instrumentation includes: flutes (3), oboes (3), clarinets (3), bassoons (3), French horns (4), trumpets (3), trombones (3), bass tuba, timpani, triangle, cymbals, tambourine, strings

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7prUFflX0_E
The prelude seems to be predominantly in a major key, with a very powerful climax near the end. I will certainly be listening to more of Wagner's works in the near future.

For Hans Carossa

Change and forgotten memories dwell within the fortress of transformation.
loss is our own, yet resides there as well
within it's stone walls and dazzling tapestry.

This place doesn't keep anything to itself.
like a missile fired from a catapult in it's bastion
memories spiral and sputter out of control

and land around us
in it's perfect circle


Original poem:
Losing too is still ours; and even forgettingstill has a shape in the kindgdom of transformation.
When something's let go of, it circles;
and though we arerarely the centerof the circle, it draws around us its unbroken, marvelous curve.

Mairead Salad

A very exotic dish with no actual name, known to be consumed by the natives of the far off island of Kellegheria. These natives put in their salad, in addition to the usual lettuce and croutons, put in chunks of meat of their fellow Kellegherians and small slices of cheesecake. A small serving for 4 people consists of the following ingredients:
3 cups of lettuce
1/2 cup croutons
3 oz. Kellegerian thigh
4 slices of cheesecake
Served with Italian dressing.

First assignment, yay!

Dina's plotting to take over the UNIVERSE! or maybe just STAC.
No fear!!!
Looks like someone took a real picture and she didnt know until after it was taken
Michelle looks so embarrassed here, hahahah
All the other ones looked staged, but Molly looks like she's answering a question here.
Very good portrait.
Very hard to pick from these. This one had the most natural feeling to me.
If you know Nick, you know that he always makes all of the other faces he made in other pics. This is the first time I've seen this one from him.
The best smile out of all his other pictures.
Very helpful looking. Must be the shirt, haha.
Very natural looking, not planned at all. Nice.
Jess looks very helpful here.
Bobby's in his own little world here.
Genuine laugh.
Fonzie!!!!
No idea what could possibly make Megan make this face. A face like this is possibly encountered once or twice every year. Good to see it was captured on camera!
"It was THIS BIG!!!!"
I like this one 'cause it's the only side portrait.
"NOOO! IT's IMPOSSIBLE!"
No Doug, the triforce power of wisdom won't help you do good on the SAT's.
Again, very hard to choose a picture. This one looks natural.
Cassie looks like she has the best idea in the world right here.
In my opinion, the best portraits are the ones which are spontaneous, and aren't necessarily planned.
Again, not much else to say. Just a really nice pic.
Best pic, nice smile.
"No no, do it this way." Great stuff Becky.
It was hard to pick one for Ashley because they were all very similar, but I thought this one captured the most genuine smile/laugh
Very nice smile, Nicole!
Great first day, no fear! haha!

Leah has a very specific kind of smirk here, as if she just exclaimed "Ohhh, yeah I know about that" or something like that.