organized pluralism

I have now sung at a Unitarian Universalist church on a number of occasions, and I have to admit that I have become less and less clear as to what exactly Unitarianism is. I brought this up to my father, his response was "I was raised going to a Unitarian Church and I'm still unclear as to what it's all about". My dad also jokes "What does the Unitarian KKK burn on people's front lawns? A question mark."

On a more serious note however, this is what I've ascertained: the UU's are trying to create a pluralistic community that wished to be faithful/spiritual together. The closest that I can come to liturgy is Humanism.

This embrace of pluralism and humanism leads to some great things; respect, tolerance, and most important social action. I mean the former two in the broadest sense, as there is a tremendous emphasis on respecting the earth as well as fellow human beings. They have actually, Incorporated many Native American ideals into their worship, flowing waters, trees etc.

Anyhow I am a true proponent of pluralism in its purest form. Not relativism, not absolutism, pluralism; it appears to be the only way that we can live not only in a global community but in our more local communities as well.

:)

I don't think I really need to say anything.

No Words

To Whom it May Concern;

I am applying for the position of Research Assistant as advertised on the University's website. I am well qualified for for this job because, as you can see by my resume, I already have this job.

I understand that maybe I'll get benefits by re-applying for my job, as this is the case I am more than happy to jump through all sorts of hoops for the promise of benefits and, as I see by the description, a pay raise.

I have a years experience creating on-line catalogues, proof editing music, and doing assundry scanning and copying. I am especially good at mailing things over seas. I am entirely up-to-date with all the drama concerning our old publisher and our new publisher. I work well both alone and with co-workers, I would not complain if you need me to work in Italy with Daniella for a period of time.

As you can see my references are my bosses, you should ask them any questions regarding my work, writing ability, or interpersonal skills.

I hope to speak with you soon!
Miss, Emblies

Tick update

I found another tick today as I got in the shower, it was on my belly, I tweezered that sucker out.

I'm pretty sure that the low fever that I have (99.1) this evening is completely unrelated to the tick, for the following reasons.

1. It takes usually closer to 7 days for any effects to take place with Lyme disease.

2. I had a busy long day that started with an early flight back to Chicago and included work, a run, and the acquisition of some excellent chairs from Goodwill.

The only question I have right now is, do they mean the expiration date on Amoxicillin? I know that some drug expiration dates are for real and some are for play. I have an 8 day course of Amoxicillin in my cabinet, but the prescription date was October 2005....

five ticks

I had five deer ticks on me after tromping through fields looking for wild strawberries, rather fruitlessly (ha!)

That is positively the record for number of ticks I've had on me at once, they looked like perhaps they were baby ticks so maybe I tromped through a nest? Hey and five may not be all there are, that was on my ankles and legs, I haven't even checked more unmentionable regions for ticks yet!

Happy Father's day!

Belated Don Giovanni review

Mia and I have been to two of the three operas that Chicago Opera Theater is producing this spring. We'll go see Orlando next week but for now I'll give a long over due review of their production of Mozart's Don Giovanni (Diana Paulus, Jane Glover); the only Mozart opera produced in Chicago this season.

I'm sure that most of you have read Mia's reactions to the production, my reactions were not as violent, but I still think that they made some serious mistakes. The production was set in what appears to be a strip club that Don Giovanni owns, this means that the stage was full of hot writhing girl bodies essentially constantly. One of the problems here was that the chorus played the strippers -- let me tell you -- aspiring opera singers: not great pole dancers. Not that I have a basis of comparison really.

The first mistake in my mind was the portrayal of Donna Anna's rape. She was masked and in the club, and the way it was staged (sparkly golden curtain, lots of laughter) made it seem complicit. The only place that you see something is going wrong is that Don Giovanni removes her mask (and therefore her honor?) but not his own. We're also not clear as it happens that the man who defends her is her father. You really think that he's another lover, or her pimp or something. Honestly, what is a father doing in a club with is daughter anyway? Either way it leaves the audience with out the pity and heart break that they are supposed to feel for Donna Anna. The woman was raped and then her father was killed by the man who raped her. Of course she's messed up! Here however she just comes across as whiny because we don't get the magnitude of what happened.

The second mistake I think they made is related to my comment about the dancing girls: they were alway on stage. There was just too much going on at all times, I needed fewer things happening so I could focus. During Leporello's aria listing the Don's conquests, they had girls holding numbers. Really this sort of gimmick added nothing and just cluttered the stage.

The third mistake I thought they made was in the casting of Masetto. He was just too good looking, you don't really get why Zerlina goes off with this creepy older fellow. Masetto should be cast as sort of bumbling and foolish. Here he was certainly hot headed, but handsome enough to forgive.

Finally I want to have a discussion of the ending. I don't count the ending as a mistake. Normally after the Don descends to hell all of the characters sing about how those who are evil get what's coming to them and are joyous because they are rid of a terrible influence in their lives. In this production all of the characters are singing and the police are investigating and they come and handcuff all who were trying to prove that the Don was an evil guy. He certainly was, but as they're arrested you have to pause remind yourself that none of the characters have been particularly "good" in their actions. I liked this. Then the curtain to the upper part of the stage is lifted and you see Don Giovanni hanging, covered in blood with a ball gag in his mouth. So you're left wondering, what was the falling to hell scene? Did they all band together and murder him in a sick and twisted way and the commodore taking him to hell was what? At that point it was just too much visual stimulus. There had been too many negative sexual tropes and too much violence for the audience to be shocked out of their seats. It was almost insult to injury at that point.

So the ending was well thought out but poorly executed. In fact I would say that this is my analysis for the entire show, except for the Donna Anna thing, that was poorly thought out.