And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years. ~ Abe

Kalkbrenner Lyrics

And we built our castle in the sky and the sand

Design a whole  world, that nobody can understand

I found myself alive in the palm of your hand

As long as we are fine,

Oh! This world ain't got no end, 

Oh! This world ain't got no end. 

 

In the daytime, you will find me by your side

Tryin to do my best,

Tryin to make things right.

When  it all turns wrong,

Theres no fault of mine,

But it won't hit hard,

You will let me shine......


And we built our castle in the sky and the sand

Design a whole  world, that nobody can understand

I found myself alive in the palm of your hand

As long as we are fine,

Oh! This world ain't got no end, 

Oh! This world ain't got no end. 


I really enjoyed these lyrics by Paul and Fritz Kalkbrenner's Sky and Sand. The song is from the movie Berlin Calling, which is about a German DJ. It really hit home for me. Despite the fact that its genre (underground/tech), I found it really relaxing and cathartic. I have been doing a lot of thinking about where my life is going, and I have been making some tough decisions on who I want in it. This song makes me hopeful, that I will find people, and more spefically one person, that make these lyrics descriptive of my life. I am reducing the negative energy that is circling my life right now, and this song is definitley part of that. I strongly suggest it to anyone who happens to enjoy tech or underground music. You can find it in Radio 528: Dance Department Podcast #165 or from Beatrix Control Label. 

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Back from Toronto

So I just got back from Toronto, where I had an amazing time. I had planned on keeping everybody posted while I was there, but the internet connection was really bad where we were staying. I did a lot of walking around- saw Kensington, Chinatown, Downtown, but most importantly the ROM. The architecture was really amazing and definitley inspired me to pursue my major in Western Art and Architecture. I have declared my major, but I think I will probably end up double majoring. I really like Toronto, it has a great vibe. There is a lot to do, and a lot of cultural mixture. I dont think I could live there though- as much as they have green space, I think I prefer the West Coast living. It was great seeing Yaz, her and I had a pretty chill time in the Vintage sector. The competition was pretty intense, all of us were really close in distance. I was a little dissappointed that I didnt make standard for Francophone Games, but I managed to get in the pool, so I have till the 26th to qualify. Anyways here are some of my fav pics from the trip, Enjoy!


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French president Sarkozy speaks out on burka

     I was watching BBC World News today when a story came on concerning the French president's opinion on the wearing of burkas by Muslim women within France.  In his speech he stated that he believed burkas "reduced them [Muslim women] to servitude and undermined their dignity" (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8112821.stm).
   While I appreciate the concern of the President on behalf  Women's rights, for it wouldn't have been so long ago that such an outspoken concern for the rights of women would not have been voiced, I wonder if it really is about women and not about a 'threat' to French homogeneity. I think that looking into whether or not these women are being forced into wearing the burka is important, and its relation to increases in Islamic fundamentalism is also relevant, I wonder what France hopes to achieve? What right does France have to ban a religious tenet? What is the long game here?
   In addition, I also think that public criticism of religious beliefs like the burka, female circumcision, polygymy etc (forgive the extreme examples) are a mixed bag. On the one hand, I am morally opposed to such degradation of women and basic human rights, but on the other, I also recognize that many policies and efforst against practices such as these carry subtle attempts to stigmatize for political gain. So what are we to do- take a stand and to hell with political correctness or do we run the risk of letting the subjugation of women continue?
     Thoughts?
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June 21b

     I thought that I would post these song lyrics because since its release, this song has taken on a lot of meaning for me personally. It doesn't resonate because of its relation to money specific ambition, or for any of the reasons that T.I alludes to, but rather because I find that it helps me transcend circumstances and 'haters' that I have encountered in the last year. My first significant memory of this song, was when I was living with my flatmates and wrote the lyrics on our atrium mirror. Live your life, you aint got time for no hata's! became one of our motos. I recently had an amazing weekend with my cousin, her husband, their son and a friend of mine. However, the weekend unfortunatley ended in unnecessary drama that left me feeling...well bogged down. It was sad that things didnt work out, or whatever, but after talking it out with friends (something that inspired my last post with the Arabian proverb) and watching He's just not that into you, I feel like a weight has been lifted. The movie was great, but totally caved into the 'masses', it wasn't nearly as brutally honest as the novel. I read the novel on the flight to St. Louis and I remember laughing at some of the situations these women came up with were so out of left field it was insane! But anyways, I wasn't devastated by the end to that weekend, merely bummed, but the movie definitley provided some perspective. Then this song came on the radio on my way home, and it reminded me of my flatmates and of how free spirited and independent we were. Without regret, without pride, just 100% ourselves and not to be put down by anyone. I think that too many people are being punished for living their lives to the fullest, or for living their lives by norms other than those that are purportedly the foundations of our society. I am beginning to see that I should not be scared of living my life. Living. With all the temporal implications. Life takes time, and I refuse to feel like I am falling behind.
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June 21

(Is be thankful for the life you got, y'knowmsayin?)
Miya hee, miya ho, miya hu, miya ha ha
(Stop lookin' at what you ain't got)
Start bein' thankful for what you do got
Let's give it to 'em baby girl, hey

You're gonna be a shinin' star
In fancy clothes and fancy cars
And then you'll see you're gonna go far
'Cause everyone knows just who you are

So live your life
(Hey, ayy, ayy, ayy)
You steady chasin' that paper
Just live your life
(Oh, ayy, ayy, ayy)

Ain't got no time for no haters
Just live your life
(Hey, ayy, ayy, ayy)
No tellin' where it'll take ya
Just live your life
(Oh, ayy, ayy, ayy)

Hey, never mind what haters say
Ignore 'em 'til they fade away
Amazin' they ungrateful
After all the game I gave away

I'm the opposite of moderate
Immaculately polished
With the spirit of a hustler
And the swagger of a college kid

Allergic to the counterfeit
Impartial to the politics
Articulate, but still'll
Grab a nigga by the collar quick

I got love for the game
But ay, I'm not in love with all of it
Could do without the fame
And rappers nowadays are comedy

The hootin' and the hollerin'
Back and forth with the arguin'
Where you from? Who you know?
What you make? And what kind of car you in?

Seems as though you lost sight
Of what's important when depositin'
Them checks into your bank account
And you up out of poverty

Your values is a disarray prioritizin' horribly
Unhappy with the riches 'cause you're piss poor morally
Ignorin' all prior advice and forewarnin'
And we mighty full of ourselves
All of a sudden, aren't we?
- T.I Live Your Life (abbrev. lyrics)

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June 19


" A friend is one to whom one may pour out all the contents of one's heart, chaff and grain together, knowing that the gentlest of hands will take and sift it, keep what is worth keeping and with a breath of kindness blow the rest away."
- Arabian Proverb

My Friends, you know who you are, I was thinking about how you have been there for me, threw thick and thin, and I just wanted to let you know how grateful I am for you. For your kindness. Your honesty. Your patience. Without you guys I would be adrift in the crazy swells of my mind's "perfect storm". Things have been so insane these last two years: the Mexico fiasco, my grandparents, The Robot...everything. You mean the world to me, and I hope that throughout our relationship I provide you with as much support as you have for me. Love you all.

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June 17

So, here I am writing my first blog and I have to admit that I find it exhilarating. For years I have relied off the permeable nature of my mind for recounting the stories of my life, but now I think I will rely instead, on something a little more permanent. I look forward to being able to record my adventures, triumphs and pit falls, and I hope that whom ever reads this enjoys it as well.
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Terlaakl
terlaakl
Female - 24 years old
Canada
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