Sunday, November 27, 2011
Can't Beat the Classics
When I was seven years old, my parents gave me my first guitar. I played classical music almost exclusively until I was 15. Today, my commitment is only recreational, but I still love to sit and listen to recordings of the best guitarists doing their thing. Here are some of my favourite pieces.
Recuerdos de la Alhambra by Francisco Tarrega (my favourite romantic period composer), played by James Edwards
The Old Castle (my favourite piece to play when I was 14 years old - I wish I could still play it!) by Modest Mussorgsky, played by Ray Reussner
La Catedral by Augustin Barrios (my favourite contemporary composer), played by Denis Azabagic
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Stormy Weather
November storms are one of the best parts of living on the west coast. Mother Nature demonstrates her power. She reminds you that you live in her world, and that she could easily kick your butt if you don't behave.
Power. Excitement. Thrills. Passion. And wind. A lot of wind.
I'll be good, Mom. I promise.
Some (crazy people) hope that a roller coaster has rapid drops and corkscrew turns because it brings them excitement. I, on the other hand, hate roller coasters. But when a storm hits, I hope that the power gets knocked out and that the rain pounds against my window. I have plenty of candles, flashlights, and blankets to deal with a power shortage. The sound of the howling winds and the sight of the bowing trees is somehow invigorating and yet satisfying.
In Come Away With Me, Norah Jones sings,
Me too. I wouldn't mind some gale force winds, as well.
Power. Excitement. Thrills. Passion. And wind. A lot of wind.
I'll be good, Mom. I promise.
Some (crazy people) hope that a roller coaster has rapid drops and corkscrew turns because it brings them excitement. I, on the other hand, hate roller coasters. But when a storm hits, I hope that the power gets knocked out and that the rain pounds against my window. I have plenty of candles, flashlights, and blankets to deal with a power shortage. The sound of the howling winds and the sight of the bowing trees is somehow invigorating and yet satisfying.
In Come Away With Me, Norah Jones sings,
"I want to wake up with the rain falling on a tin roof."
Me too. I wouldn't mind some gale force winds, as well.
Monday, November 21, 2011
An Early Start
Most years, my motto is that Christmas season begins December 1st. At the earliest. Never in November. Never. Often, I am so busy with exams that it effectively begins around December 20th.
Not this year.
This year, Christmas season began today. Thank-you digital cable music channels for fueling my need for carols, and Martha Stewart and Canadian Living for giving me decoration ideas.
In the near future, I'm going to attempt to make these:
What crafts or goodies do you make for Christmas?
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Civic Elections are this Saturday
Nanaimo's civic elections will be held this Saturday, November 19th. If you have spent more than ten minutes commenting on (or complaining about) how this city is run in the past few years, then you certainly have ten minutes to be proactive and cast your ballot. Find out about the candidates here.
Practically the only hot button issue in this election is the low barrier housing project. Social media has facilitated the transformation of this heated conversation into a real-time 24/7 debate-apollooza. Both opponents and proponents have Facebook pages devoted to raising awareness about the issue. I think it's fabulous that technology has made it trivial for citizens, especially young adults, to engage in civic politics.
As we speculate the impacts of supportive housing will have on our community, it is natural to consider other communities which have undergone similar processes, and to assess the benefits and costs. This is called research. We then assess what we think that situation would look like here. No matter how similar another community's project is to our own, the conditions will never be identical. It is important to understand the similarities and the differences between their system and ours so that we can be aware of the level of confidence we have in our assessment.
We ask, "What happened? How are the conditions similar? How are they different? What can we learn?"
Horror stories that are kinda-sorta loosely related to Low Barrier Housing in Nanaimo suggest the worst that could happen. Accounts of similar housing projects in similar communities with similar demand and similar challenges suggest what is likely to happen.
If you are interested in learning about the issue, check out this brochure from the city. To join the conversation, head over to The Green Light Project on Facebook (in favour of the supportive housing project) or the Concerned Citizens of Nanaimo (opposed to the project.) Be aware that anyone is free to post on these pages, so not all information may be correct.
I have a great deal of respect for those who are engaging in local politics, regardless of their stance on this issue. Hats off to you! And remember to vote on Saturday!
Practically the only hot button issue in this election is the low barrier housing project. Social media has facilitated the transformation of this heated conversation into a real-time 24/7 debate-apollooza. Both opponents and proponents have Facebook pages devoted to raising awareness about the issue. I think it's fabulous that technology has made it trivial for citizens, especially young adults, to engage in civic politics.
As we speculate the impacts of supportive housing will have on our community, it is natural to consider other communities which have undergone similar processes, and to assess the benefits and costs. This is called research. We then assess what we think that situation would look like here. No matter how similar another community's project is to our own, the conditions will never be identical. It is important to understand the similarities and the differences between their system and ours so that we can be aware of the level of confidence we have in our assessment.
We ask, "What happened? How are the conditions similar? How are they different? What can we learn?"
Horror stories that are kinda-sorta loosely related to Low Barrier Housing in Nanaimo suggest the worst that could happen. Accounts of similar housing projects in similar communities with similar demand and similar challenges suggest what is likely to happen.
If you are interested in learning about the issue, check out this brochure from the city. To join the conversation, head over to The Green Light Project on Facebook (in favour of the supportive housing project) or the Concerned Citizens of Nanaimo (opposed to the project.) Be aware that anyone is free to post on these pages, so not all information may be correct.
I have a great deal of respect for those who are engaging in local politics, regardless of their stance on this issue. Hats off to you! And remember to vote on Saturday!
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
A Neat Problem - Points on a sphere
I came across a little riddle while studying for the Putnam Mathematics Contest. I thought it was neat, so I'm passing it along.
Suppose there is a sphere on which you draw five tiny dots. Prove that there is a way to cut the sphere in half (simply into hemispheres - no zig-zag cutting allowed!) so that four of the dots are on the same hemisphere, regardless of where the dots are placed. You can count dots "on the line" of the cut toward whichever hemisphere you wish.
If you have questions which begin with "Is it ok if I...," the answer is very likely "no."
Enjoy!
Suppose there is a sphere on which you draw five tiny dots. Prove that there is a way to cut the sphere in half (simply into hemispheres - no zig-zag cutting allowed!) so that four of the dots are on the same hemisphere, regardless of where the dots are placed. You can count dots "on the line" of the cut toward whichever hemisphere you wish.
If you have questions which begin with "Is it ok if I...," the answer is very likely "no."
Enjoy!
Thursday, November 3, 2011
A brief thought about a tricky problem
I'm working through a math assignment. Question 3 is a doozie. I have this sneaking suspicion that it was put on the assignment just to screw with me.
No matter what I do or how hard I try, I can't force this question to make sense. I am totally consumed. I think about it before bed. I think about it when I wake up. I think about it when I cook dinner. I think about it when I sit on the bus. I am thinking about it right now. And somehow, I still can't find the answer.
The strangest part of this experience is that I actually enjoy being driven half crazy in search of the answer. I like the challenge. I like to be up in the middle of the night thinking instead of sleeping.
But I hate feeling like a prisoner to this obsession. I'd like to be able to think about something else for a little while. And I'd like some sleep, too.
I guess it's a "love-hate" thing.
No matter what I do or how hard I try, I can't force this question to make sense. I am totally consumed. I think about it before bed. I think about it when I wake up. I think about it when I cook dinner. I think about it when I sit on the bus. I am thinking about it right now. And somehow, I still can't find the answer.
The strangest part of this experience is that I actually enjoy being driven half crazy in search of the answer. I like the challenge. I like to be up in the middle of the night thinking instead of sleeping.
But I hate feeling like a prisoner to this obsession. I'd like to be able to think about something else for a little while. And I'd like some sleep, too.
I guess it's a "love-hate" thing.
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