So when I was in Paris, this song was huge! ...well, the original was. And since it was one of the few things I could understand - it being in English - I kind of got in to it. Plus, it's a pretty catchy song.
These guys, Los Colorados, cover Katy Perry's "Hot'n'Cold" - to pretty amazing effect, actually.
I feel that I should tell you that there are a grip of Russians in Haifa. To the point that my Hebrew accent (affected, or otherwise) sounds more Russian than anything. So yeah, I feel like this is a personalized shout out.
*Big shout out to Samimi-Extremie for the head's up*
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Creative License...
Each year, the fine folks at MENSA rub their overactive brain cells together and come up with a fun set of vocabulary words - the idea is that they change one letter in an established word and then define this new word.
One of the best is Sarchasm: The giant gulf (chasm) between what is said and the person who doesn't get it.
In case you haven't been paying attention, I love words - so these little exercises in definition really resonate with me, and sometimes make me feel creative.... The following is excerpted from an email thread with my friend Abi.
So Thursday’s W.O.D. (word of the day) was propinquity:
Word of the Day for Thursday, March 26, 2009
propinquity \pruh-PING-kwih-tee\, noun:
1. Nearness in place; proximity.
2. Nearness in time.
3. Nearness of relation; kinship.
Propinquity derives from Latin propinquitas, from propinquus, near, neighboring, from prope, near.
Which leads me create my own Mensa word:
Gropinquity: \groh-PING-kwih-tee\, verb
1. Feel coping that which is near to hand.
2. Taking advantage of close quarters/a crowded room to exercise an otherwise inappropriate display of public affection.
One of the best is Sarchasm: The giant gulf (chasm) between what is said and the person who doesn't get it.
In case you haven't been paying attention, I love words - so these little exercises in definition really resonate with me, and sometimes make me feel creative.... The following is excerpted from an email thread with my friend Abi.
So Thursday’s W.O.D. (word of the day) was propinquity:
Word of the Day for Thursday, March 26, 2009
propinquity \pruh-PING-kwih-tee\, noun:
1. Nearness in place; proximity.
2. Nearness in time.
3. Nearness of relation; kinship.
Propinquity derives from Latin propinquitas, from propinquus, near, neighboring, from prope, near.
Which leads me create my own Mensa word:
Gropinquity: \groh-PING-kwih-tee\, verb
1. Feel coping that which is near to hand.
2. Taking advantage of close quarters/a crowded room to exercise an otherwise inappropriate display of public affection.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Holy Dance Party, Batman!
Do you remember going dancing with your friends - and it wasn't about the scene or who you would 'meet' - but strictly about the dancing? Well... I do. I co-hosted such a one last weekend. And let me tell you, friends - it was gl-gl-glorious!
Here are some pictures, and etc. Enjoy - and remember, we were completely committed to the joy of dancing.
Will: aka Mr. Roboto
Julia & Abi
Ash
And The Beat Goes On...
DJ Shamim: so hot we had to put him in the kitchen
Speaking of hot...
Here are some pictures, and etc. Enjoy - and remember, we were completely committed to the joy of dancing.
Will: aka Mr. Roboto
Julia & Abi
AshAnd The Beat Goes On...
DJ Shamim: so hot we had to put him in the kitchen
Speaking of hot...Joe & Mona: Salsa Caliente
Aimee & Nava: 2/3 of the 'co-hosts'
You know the dance party is in full effect when you need a little balcony break - elevated conversation style.
Lauren, Nava, Aimee
Aimee & Nava: 2/3 of the 'co-hosts'But you can call us the 'Mostesses'
You know the dance party is in full effect when you need a little balcony break - elevated conversation style.
Lauren, Nava, Aimee
Dancing Machines...
Jean-Pierre (& Aimee): the missing piece to the co-host puzzle
I hope, for your sakes, that you find something you like to do as well I like to dance - and do it with complete and undivided joy.
Monday, March 23, 2009
I Love Love...
Notte Sento (English subtitles) from napdan on Vimeo.
I found this short film (composed entirely of still photos - over 4500!) over on Le Love. Enjoy.
Seriously. You'll thank me later.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Happy Naw Ruz!
Each year on 21 March, Bahá'ís all over the world celebrate Naw Ruz - which literally means 'new day' in Persian. This is a time to reflect on the previous year and to evaluate ways we can continue to mature and progress spiritually.
This is also an important time of year for Persians who are not Bahá'í; they also celebrate the vernal equinox as a time of rebirth and renewal.
Remember how I just suggested that today be the day that we decide that peace is our only option? ...you know you want to - everyone's doing it.
To quote my girl Safa - Eid-i-Shomah Mo-Barack Obama.
This is also an important time of year for Persians who are not Bahá'í; they also celebrate the vernal equinox as a time of rebirth and renewal.
Remember how I just suggested that today be the day that we decide that peace is our only option? ...you know you want to - everyone's doing it.
To quote my girl Safa - Eid-i-Shomah Mo-Barack Obama.
...Spoiler Alert!
Some people believe that the only answer for violence is more violence.
'Abdu’l-Bahá, son of Bahá'u'lláh, the Prophet Founder of the Bahá'í Faith, has said "There is nothing so heart-breaking and terrible as an outburst of human savagery!" He continues, "I charge you all that each one of you concentrate all the thoughts of your heart on love and unity. When a thought of war comes, oppose it by a stronger thought of peace. A thought of hatred must be destroyed by a more powerful thought of love. Thoughts of war bring destruction to all harmony, well-being, restfulness and content.
Thoughts of love are constructive of brotherhood, peace, friendship, and happiness.
Nothing is impossible to the Divine Benevolence of God.
If you desire with all your heart, friendship with every race on earth, your thought, spiritual and positive, will spread; it will become the desire of others, growing stronger and stronger, until it reaches the minds of all men."
Finally, He tells us that peace and unity "will, in very truth, take place in this world, when every child of God realizes that they are leaves of one tree, flowers in one garden, drops in one ocean, and sons and daughters of one Father, whose name is love!"
As you no doubt are aware, I have been living in Haifa, Israel for almost 2 years. I'm also pretty sure that (unless you've been living in a cave - but then anything is possible) you know that, while it may at times seem to be the exception in Israel, Haifa is a city where Jews and Arabs live in relative peace and calm. In fact, when seeming differences between the 2 communities arise here - it is usually because Jews and Arabs from other parts of Israel come in to the Haifa area and try to incite violence and ill-will here.
This happened last night.
A car, reported to have been stolen in Jerusalem, was parked at a local mall - where I was watching a movie with some friends. Thank God (truly) that the bomb failed.
Some civilians noticed something off in a car parked near the mall, and heard a small explosion - part of the bomb had detonated prematurely, and the rest failed altogether. So, instead of exiting the movie to find that 100kg of explosives and metal ball bearings had killed untold people, I exited to find the mall a little less crowded than usual - and a calm and efficient evacuation in process. So calm and efficient, in fact, that no one really knew what was going on. Certainly not yours truly.
Stranger and more miraculous things have happened than everyone waking up one day and deciding to seek true fellowship and unity with their neighbor - bombs have failed, 3 friends out to enjoy a movie on the evening of Naw Ruz (Bahá'í New Year) have gotten home safely, and woken up the next day to continue in their service to humanity and give thanks to God.
Let's let tomorrow be that 'one day' where we wake up and decide that peace is our option. Our only option.
'Abdu’l-Bahá, son of Bahá'u'lláh, the Prophet Founder of the Bahá'í Faith, has said "There is nothing so heart-breaking and terrible as an outburst of human savagery!" He continues, "I charge you all that each one of you concentrate all the thoughts of your heart on love and unity. When a thought of war comes, oppose it by a stronger thought of peace. A thought of hatred must be destroyed by a more powerful thought of love. Thoughts of war bring destruction to all harmony, well-being, restfulness and content.
Thoughts of love are constructive of brotherhood, peace, friendship, and happiness.
Nothing is impossible to the Divine Benevolence of God.
If you desire with all your heart, friendship with every race on earth, your thought, spiritual and positive, will spread; it will become the desire of others, growing stronger and stronger, until it reaches the minds of all men."
Finally, He tells us that peace and unity "will, in very truth, take place in this world, when every child of God realizes that they are leaves of one tree, flowers in one garden, drops in one ocean, and sons and daughters of one Father, whose name is love!"
As you no doubt are aware, I have been living in Haifa, Israel for almost 2 years. I'm also pretty sure that (unless you've been living in a cave - but then anything is possible) you know that, while it may at times seem to be the exception in Israel, Haifa is a city where Jews and Arabs live in relative peace and calm. In fact, when seeming differences between the 2 communities arise here - it is usually because Jews and Arabs from other parts of Israel come in to the Haifa area and try to incite violence and ill-will here.
This happened last night.
A car, reported to have been stolen in Jerusalem, was parked at a local mall - where I was watching a movie with some friends. Thank God (truly) that the bomb failed.
Some civilians noticed something off in a car parked near the mall, and heard a small explosion - part of the bomb had detonated prematurely, and the rest failed altogether. So, instead of exiting the movie to find that 100kg of explosives and metal ball bearings had killed untold people, I exited to find the mall a little less crowded than usual - and a calm and efficient evacuation in process. So calm and efficient, in fact, that no one really knew what was going on. Certainly not yours truly.
Stranger and more miraculous things have happened than everyone waking up one day and deciding to seek true fellowship and unity with their neighbor - bombs have failed, 3 friends out to enjoy a movie on the evening of Naw Ruz (Bahá'í New Year) have gotten home safely, and woken up the next day to continue in their service to humanity and give thanks to God.
Let's let tomorrow be that 'one day' where we wake up and decide that peace is our option. Our only option.
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