A Little Jazz

It's nice to finally have some free time again, even if that free time comes at the cost of running lights and sound for the district's band night. Over the years I have enjoyed doing tech for the band and orchestra concerts more for the uninterrupted time to write than for the music itself (although that is a great perk!). Tonight every band from 5th grade to high school is playing.The wide range of wonderful music provides an inspiring mood for writing. This is the last band night I get to push buttons for, and the last one many of my friends get to perform in. In a year filled with final moments, this one is bittersweet. It's a welcome rest after two hectic weeks working on the show (which went great!) and is some good forced writing time. I should probably be writing a psych essay or an English paper, but that's a little too much work to do at the light board. So instead I've chosen to spend my time filling space with words. Lacking any coherent idea off what I want to say, this really seems to be going nowhere. Restart:

These final months of high school are incredibly bittersweet for me. There is the parade of finales. Calling my last show; working my last band night; singing my last chorus concert; and writing my final paper. Some of that can't come fast enough, and yet I want to linger over other moments. I'm spending more time at school, and that's not only because I'm trying to catch up on the myriad of missed  work from the last two weeks. I also have to lay out the advertisements for the yearbook and starting planning the Mr. Haverford pageant. Life never seems to slow down enough to allow me to reflect. So I'm taking the time now. Every change leaves you with mixed feelings, and right now I can't decide if I really am finished high school...

As always, 50 points if you can guess the reason behind the title.

Art and Science?

I believe with Schopenhauer that one of the strongest motives that leads men to art and science is escape from everyday life with its painful crudity and hopeless dreariness, from the fetters of one's own ever-shifting desires. — Albert Einstein

Hold Please

Sorry it's been so long...I've been caught up in a show. I will write once The Wiz is finished.

An 18 Line Bet

Cards hit the table
Chips fall and scatter
One man smiles, the rest drop
Drained and empty
Slowly they trickle from game
He shut the door to his room
Slumped against the door
Years of filth weigh heavy on his skin
Struck, he rises and,
Moved to be clean,
Lowers himself into the tub
Then he turns the faucets
And the tears pour, salty,
Down his scarred face
Stinging the wounds as they cleanse
The tub fills with dirt and memories
He slides lower, the water crawls up
Til he drowns beneath his tears

Surprise Showing

Two stage managers, nearing the ends of their
careers, were discussing the likelihood of there
being some form of theatrical endeavor in the
hereafter. The first consulted a friendly medium.
Later, the following exchange took place between
the two stage managers:


SM1: "I have some good news and some bad news.
The good news is that there is a wonderful
theater in heaven - well equipped, spacious,
plenty of wing space. In fact, there's a show
opening tomorrow night."


SM2: "That's wonderful! So what's the bad news?"


SM1: "You're calling the show."

Sunlit Gates

Flitting spirits coalesce
Brought together for
A common task, completed
Pass through the gates
And out into the sun

Ave atque vale

Relatively Speaking

Cultural relativism is an excuse used by human rights violators to justify their abuses. They claim that a difference in cultural extends logically to a difference in moral understanding. That, they say, allows them to interpret human rights however they chose. This is a logical fallacy. Moral relativism does not follow from cultural relativism. Many different cultures from around the world have arrived at the same moral principle of "The Golden Rule" without outside influence. This demonstrates that morality can be independent of culture. Thus, there is no opposition between Universal Human Rights and cultural relativism since they are unrelated. One can keep one's cultural identity while still recognizing some basic, universal human rights. Now one might argue that the Golden Rule is simple, but issues like womens rights and voting rights are much more complicated. But they really are not is one takes a deep look at cultural tradition and uses logical reasoning. Most traditions do not call for the subjugation of women, it is a reinterpretation by males in power that leads to that. And now culture denies people a voice, even is democracy is not the way that voice is expressed. Thus, there can be seen underlying moral laws that flow beneath all cultures. Therefore, there no conflict between the two for moral relativism is a logical and historical fallacy and cultural relativism has no place in a conversation of morality and human rights.

New Year

The year begins
How to sum up an entire year?
I don't know. I'll try to do it in the next few days.


Good Health and Joy to All. Happy 2012!!!