Laughing Giraffe

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I had a conversation about dance this morning after a dance class I went to. We were discussing (among other things), whether dance (and art in general) should be abstract or literal. We were discussing this as it pertains to the church, but I suppose it might apply to other situations as well. Someone expressed the opinion (which I don't agree with) that all dance and art should be literal because people don't understand abstract art and it is perhaps selfish to do something that the audience won't understand. Ie. "The message needs to be clear!"

So, I thought I would blog my musings since this morning's conversation (I did say some stuff in the conversation, but as usual, I come up with better stuff later....)

First, a lot of time in the Bible, God speaks to people in abstract or "unclear" ways. Most of what Jesus said was very cryptic and left his disciples (those closest to him) scratching their heads. And in the time when God spoke to people through prophets -- that was very "abstract", to say the least! Try reading Ezekiel and you'll see what I mean. In fact, as I think about it, a LOT of the Bible is abstract.

Second, I think that wanting to be "clear" in what your dance/painting/song is saying is a control issue. People want to control what the audience will understand rather than presenting something and leaving it up to God to speak to someone through that piece of art.

So, those are my musings on the subject for today. I leave you with two quotes:

"If you try to please everyone, you'll end up pleasing no one."
"Ideas are not worth as much as people."

So, I guess the novelty has worn off with this whole blogging thing. I wondered how long it would take. But I thought I should write SOMETHING today....

something

Now aren't you glad you came to my blog today? 

But seriously. My mind has been in choreography world this weekend. I went to a couple of different dance performances Thurs. and Fri. Today i went to the UofM library and checked out a couple of choreography books. And searched the internet for schools with MAs in Choreography. Apparently I have to go to England or Australia if I want to do that. (people in North America think dances just make themselves?) And spend a whole CRAP-LOAD of money, which I will never have. So, back to the drawing board on that one.

I've heard this saying before and always wondered where it came from....now i know, since I watched Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy this weekend. I haven't read the book (which i think was written in the 80s?), only seen the movie, but i thought it was interesting how they portrayed the "President of the Galaxy" very similarly to a certain president who shall remain nameless.... the accent, the level of intellect etc.....

First, the rant:
How could White Stripes win a Grammy over Arcade Fire, Beck and Franz Ferdinand? I mean, they're OK, but a GRAMMY? I was just thinking the other day how all their songs sound the same....

And the rave:
I finally read the novel my friend Michele wrote and it is EXCELLENT! "A page-turner with heart", as I called it on my review on Amazon.ca. Read more about it (and maybe even order a copy for yourself...) here: www.tidalpoolsonline.com

Today someone at work sent out an email. It was only a subject line, and it read:

I can't pick up my phone.

Needless to say me and friends at work emailed back and forth with reasons why he couldn't pick up his phone -- was he very weak? were his arms cut off?

Later, there was a "reply" by the same person to this email saying:

I have phone back, but it don't know for how long.

To which I replied (only to my friends): I hope it's not contagious!

So, my Dad put a new plug on the end of my block heater cord. I gave the old plug to my parents' cat, who batted it around for a while and then went to the nearest outlet in the wall and sat there sniffing at it and then looked me as if to say "This is where that plug goes." Coincidence or smart cat? You be the judge.....

Yesterday I came home and plugged in my car, as usual. Suddenly, there was a 3 inch flame shooting up from the plug from the block heater! My roommate, who was standing behind my car at this point, said she saw red sparks shooting out from it. I went to unplug it, but then thought maybe I should rather unplug the extention cord from the outlet first. When I unplugged it, the third prong (i think it's called the grounding prong?) stayed in the plug -- it had totally come loose from the plug. Maybe that's what caused the fireworks? Anyway, i couldn't plug in my car. Good thing it was -30 or something. This morning I thought about what had happened and wondered how I didn't end up catching my mitten on fire and burning my hand?

So, I've been trying to find these blue keys that Union Gospel Mission puts out. They are keys that you can buy to give to people who ask you for money on the street. They can then exchange them for a meal and a place for the night (i could be wrong on what exactly they get, but something along those lines). I've asked a few people if they know where I could get them. Most people seemed to think that you could get them at Hull's Bookstore. So, yesterday, I phoned there. The guy I talked to didn't seem to know what I was talking about. Then he said they had these plastic coins with Bible verses on them, which cost 10 cents. I didn't think that was what I was looking for, but I asked if they could be then traded in for a meal, place for the night or whatever. He said -- oh....no, they were just plastic coins with verses on them. I thanked the guy, but said that wasn't what i was looking for. (b/c he probably just works there and has no say in what they carry in the store). If i were a person living on the street and somebody gave me a  Bible verse coin when I asked for money, I'd huck it back in their face. Probably along with a few choice words. Because if I were hungry and cold and tired, i would not need a Bible verse. Not that there's anything wrong with Bible. In fact, that's the point! If you follow the Bible, you'll want to give food to someone who is hungry -- not a plastic Bible verse.

Well, enough ranting for today. If you know where those blue keys can be found.....

Is "having something up" the opposite of "something going down"?