caroljane

The honour is easier to attain for women. All mothers are Jewish mothers, especially in the Maritimes. Come to think of it, the initiation ceremony does kind of hurt.

MEM, I am already a cultist. I have watched the whole series twice. Already a Paul Gross fan after Due South, I became moreso. And I love the theme duet "Call the Understudy"- I have actually met one of the old troupers who play and sing it! The first episode is a TV classic. Also features a teenage Rachel McAdams, luscious and vibrant in a first big role. edit forgot to mention, it is also brilliantly funny

It looks to me like the teacher was doing a good job getting the kids to understand the nature of propaganda and the cultural forces that allow it to substitute for truth. Good on the one-third, indeed. And bad on the knee-jerk reactions of the school administration. As a teacher though, I would not have set an essay with that context - it is just an exercise in compiling the propaganda and deploying it in various styles. Rather I would set a refutation essay to specific pieces, with countervailing examples and arguments. But the very act of deciding to accept or refuse this assignment, taught that class some valuable lessons.

Er, Kat, that would be the Canadian Brass. I also like the Northumbrian pipes.

I would not limit the love of music to expressing one's perceptive 'intelligence'. It is far deeper ingrained. Even fetuses in the womb react to music. But it is true that in the past, those who were not born into wealth always had music to express themselves (and if it was only through the one 'instrument' we are all born with: the human voice). In his autobiography, German tenor Rudolf Schock (1915- 1986), who had been born into a family of poor miners, mentions the large number of choirs and singing clubs in the mining district. Singing was a hobby 'free of charge', so to speak, which offered the miners a huge stress relief lfrom their arduous daily toil. Schock's father taught his five children polyphonic singing at an early age. But I suppose the 'underprivileged members of society' in our cybertech-age hardly resort to singing anymore ... Wales and Cape Breton also have strong mining choir traditions - the Men of the Deep are among my faves, and who could forget "Men of Harlech" in the film Zulu? imo evryone should be required to learn the basics of an instrument as a condition for graduation from high school. And the example of the great British series "The Choir" should be followed in every school. To Mark - how could I forget Anderson? Bugler's holiday is a delight. Yes MSK, I have a thing for the brass section

Somewhat related, an enthusiastic variant on the race wars narrative is being received currently on, where else, SOLO. The originator is one Mr Desai, a surname of the ancient Hindu top caste of scholars (Brahmins). Aryans anyone?

I think it depends on what you label a conspiracy theory. Do unfounded fears of the power of corporations/big business count? How about non-scientific predictions of human-caused environmental catastrophes? How about the belief that white men have all of the power and have the goal of waging a "war on women" and keeping members of other races down? J "All the conspirators save only he, Did that they did in envy... He only in a general honest thought And common good to all, agreed with them..." with apologies to the Immortal. I suppose all acceptors of c-theories consider themselves the "only he". I think I can consider the histories of race and gender relations, and the various outcomes in our own time, while knowing that all white men are not conspiring to rape or enslave me. I think I can try to learn about climate change while believing that all scientists are not conspiring to subvert their profession and lie to me. But in some quarters I would always be labelled the deluded dupe of drooling despots.

Not even the symphonic extension of Eleanor Rigby and its transitioning into Eleanor's Dream (starting at about 2:05 in the following clip)? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJ-uOgVN0KA J Yes, this is pretty good. Not as good as Joel though, I still think. And the Liverpool Oratorio - the St John Passion, it isn't.

Back when I was a druggie, I got totally wasted and went to see Koyaanisqatsi. (You can see the whole thing in video for free here and here.) It was one of the few aesthetic experiences I remember while being that high, Still, all I could say was, "Far out, dude." But I think my current interest in covert hypnosis and persuasion techniques started at that moment. I haven't heard most of the music on this thread yet, but if Glass is still a minimalist like he was, his stuff is trance-inducing. Michael I find Glass mesmerizing too. A true original.

And chicken-egg-like, Jews cultivated their entertainment skills because for centuries they were nearly everywhere. nearly always forbidden to engage in traditional, prestigious and/or lucrative activities.

Brant, you live in Arizona, Canadianspeak for "oven." I assumed you post in the nude a lot of the time anyway.

It's OK, you don't have to be that entertaining!

Nino Rota, Ennio Morricone Billy Joel has also written good classical music. Paul McCartney, not so much (sorry, Kat!)

Nino Rota, Ennio Morricone

It does make sense and it is cool. OL is an ongoing conversation, not just a series of essay questions.

MSK and Brant, lol/Like I always say, you men were created for the entertainment of us women. Keep up the good work!

Yes Michael, if I have to you have to, and I have already read it, so tough. It's interesting. Just quick impressions - SB, your views on Canada I will discount as admit you have never been here, and your impressions are the common ones of Americans who see us second-hand. Your "feminization of the culture" thesis sounds like a sane Doug Bandler - skewed but not totally unentertainable. You are not boring, that is for sure.

PS to Marc, as you are at the mercy of Ilya "Don't Care" Bryzgalov, author of the upcoming Zen and the Art of 2-Goal Lead Maintenance, I will stop fretting that Reimer and Scrivens are too normal.

But TT is undoubtedly a Randian of a certain type. He seems to believe that talent and mastery in your chosen trade makes you a superior human being.

Tim Thomas ? So are you telling me that I have been waiting 40 years for my beloved Flyers to find one goalie - Pelle Lindbergh RIP aside - and my most favorite owner in sports along with the Rooneys of course , could not even get an Objectivist super star goalie to play a few years for us ??????? Ouch , that is a dagger to my heart , lol. I have mentioned my own goalie sufferings all too often here. Think yourself lucky. If you had got Thomas there would have been no Philadelphia jury to acclaim him at his trial for total jerkiness. The callous contempt he has shown for his team and the fans, as he enjoys his well-paid vacation year, have sent him from the toast of Boston to toast in Boston. He is despised the length and breadth of the Commonwealth and I don't just mean Massachusetts.

Tim Thomas, Stanley-Cup-Winning goalie and complete, utter jerk.

Totally agree. I feel the same way with the designated hitter in baseball. Yes, the DH always reminds me of the rich guys who paid poorer ones to do their soldiering for them. Unsportsmanlike conduct indeed.

Joannie Rochette, Olympic figure skating medallist.

God, I hate shootouts, and I would still hate them even if we ever won any. They don't belong in the regular season. I grew up wth the Original Sx who took draws and a point each, and in playoffs kept playing till nearly everyone dropped and the best men won.

No argument. And the Rangers are beating us.. aaargh Put on your man pants, Phil!