More "Newmarket Choir" and "Concert Band"

a well modulated choir

following popular demand:
here are some pictures of the Newmarket Choir.

 

 

Young Canadian Musicians and Singers in Austria

There were 81 all together. Musicians and Singers, accompanied by 8 teacher-chaperons.
They came from Newmarket, a small community north of Toronto, Canada.
They came to Vienna and Salzburg, the two Musical Capitals of Austria, and gave a multi-faceted concert in Vienna in front of the Castle "Schoenbrun", the former summer residence of the Habsburgs.
Did I say "multi-faceted"? If a swinging rendition of "Hockey Night in Canada" and a vocal rendition of "Ave Maria" is not multi-faceted, then I don't know what is.
Unfortunately I did not follow them to Salzburg, so I can only assume that the listeners there were equally impressed with those young musicians.

It was nice to get a piece of "Home" presented here in Austria.

Come on, quick, give me an "e"... no.. that was an "e-flat"
Bertstravels.

The Newmarket, Ontario Highschool Concert Band and Choir visits Vienna

Smack bang in front of "Schoenbrunn Castle", the Summer Residence
of Austria's ruling "Habsburgs", The Newmarket Concert Band
and Choir gave a spirited performance.

The "Reed Section"

The Brass

and the Flutes

Some B i r d s

a while ago I showed you some flowers: Turk's Hat Lillies..
so, for a change I thought I'll show you some birds.
above: a "Scarlet Tanager"
I particularly like his wing and tail feathers being as black
as the burnt stump on which the birds sits.

I'm not sure, but I think that this is an "Oriol"
If I'm wrong, I hope somebody will tell me.

Those two birds I'm sure of:
Above sits a "Red Headed Wood Pecker"
and below is a somewhat rare sight:
A Loon upon her nest. Loons really do not like dry land.
Because of their legs being located well back of their body,
they're great swimmers and divers, but lousy runners.

 

THE TURK'S HAT LILLY

Just thought I'd show you some Turk's Hat Lillies

Nature is a Beaut, ain't she ???

 

 

Orologi in Val Pesarina

This heading is most appropriate: "Clocks in the Valley of  Pesarina" or as it is also called:
" La Valle del Tempo." (The Valley of Time)

This past Saturday we drove south into Italy: To be more precise: Friuli, or even more exact: we drove to Carnia. There is a tiny little Village called: Pesariis. I am certain you can count the inhabitants between 18 and 45 almost on the fingers of one hand. It is the sleepiest little village you can imagine. Here an old farm house, a barn or two, there are some goats, two cows, an old man pulling a four wheeled cart up a steep incline, and everything surrounded by snow-dusted mountains.
Here, however, comes a bus engorging some 50 tourists from Austria.
What brings them, and Christin and me, to Pesariis ?  A most interesting exhibit of Clocks ! That's what attracts our attention. Not for nothing is Pesariis located in "La Valle del Tempo" (The valley of Time)
There are all kinds and manners of time pieces: There, high up, on the wall of a restored building is the
"Orologio Calendario Perpetuo Gigante" .. a name, not in need of translation. It has hung there for many years and still tells you the exact time, the date, the day of the week, the sign of the stars and the phases of the moon.
It, in other words, gives me far more information than I really want to know from a wall clock.
We turn a corner, around a somewhat dilapidated barn, facing a newly restored building, and there is the
"Orologio a Palette Giganti". Not far from this "Palette Giganti" is the "Orologio A Scacchiera"... you rally have to see this one to believe it. A wall of small movable platelets, white and red, directed to turn by an intricate machinery in behind this contraption, showing you to the minute, in numbers, the almost exact time.
Many other clocks, such as the the "Orologio dei Pianeti" (The clock of the Planets).
There is the "Museo dell'orologeria" ... the "clock Museum" in other words, with some examples dating back to the 18th century. There is also a very nice "Ristorante" where they will serve you a good meal and some lovely Italian Red Wine.. (Their White Wine is too sweet for my taste)

It was a lovely day trip: We left the house at 7AM and came back at about 9PM... spending an enjoyable day, in spite of the weather not really showing off for us.

Hey, can anybody tell me what time it is?
Bertstravels.

Some Clocks of Pesariis in the Valley of Time

Orologio Calendario Perpetuo Gigante.
Probably tells you more than you need to know from a wall clock.

Orologio a Palette Giganti

Orologio A Scacchiera

Orologio as acqua a turbina.
A water wheel transfers its  gravitational energy to the clock.

A very interesting Pullback by Mr. Guenter Grass

I truly thought that I was done with writing about the statements issued by Guenter Grass, the German Author and Nobel Price winner. I honestly thought that the whole thing was too stupid for further discussion, and that, in the Blog below, I said everything that needs to be said.
However two further issues have come up which I feel need to be addressed:
A German Newspaper, during an interview with GG asked if, in light of the uproar his comments caused, he would change anything in his poem?
"Yes", GG replied: "I would avoid the general term "Israel". I should have made it clear that I was speaking about the Politics of the current government of Israel, lead by Mr. Netanyahu.  Politics which, despite UN resolutions to the contrary, continues to build settlements in disputed areas, thereby creating more enemies for the state of Israel the world over and causing its isolation.
It is Mr. Netanjahu who damages Israel the most and this I should have brought out in my poem."

Isn't it just priceless? All of a sudden GG turns into the great friend who regrets the "isolation" of Israel from the rest of the world. It seems that now his only enemy is Mr. Netanjahu.
No more talk of Israel being the "Great Atomic Danger to World Peace", no more mention of the atomic submarine sold to Israel by Germany, no more pathetic utterances like "Why do I only now speak, aged and with my last ink?
Now it becomes the building of settlements on lands claimed by the Palestinians.....  a far far far cry from the potential eradication of the people of Iran and a still further cry from the destruction of world peace.

Anyway I look at it I wonder: How can an experienced Man of the Pen be so slovenly that he writes about atomic power when he actually means house building?  Or did he mean both? Then how can he equate one with the other? I think the world can handle some illegal developments, while it probably cannot handle the destruction of world peace and the ensuing WW 3.

I think that GG has truly lost it... If not his marbles than surely the respect of his many former admirers.

Now we hear from his defenders: Iran has no atomic weapons, but Israel does;
Ahmadinejad never spoke of the destruction of Israel. People making this claim should check up what Ahmed.said on 8th, 13th December 2005, on 26th October 2005 he spoke of the need that "Israel must be wiped off the map"...  On November 13th 2006: "Israel is destined for destruction and will soon disappear"
A little research and you'll find more and more of the same litany.

Let it be said: Anyone who downplays the danger emanating from Iran is in a state of Reality Refusal.

So there... put that in your pipe and smoke it.

Bertstravels.

A Very Sad Tale

Guenter Grass beats his Tin Drum...

GG, the indisputably great man of German literature, has published a "Poem"...( more like an essay written in the form of a poem ) in which he expresses his opinion about the looming conflict between Iran and Israel.

"What Must be Said" is the title of this work.

"Why am I silent,
too long with my silence deny
that which is evident
and which has been practiced in maneuvers,
at the end of which, as survivors,
we shall be but foot notes....

It is the insisted upon right
of the First Strike, which could
eradicate the Iranian people,
subjugated by a mouthy braggart
and directed to organized jubilation,
because in its area of power
is suspected the development
of a nuclear weapon.

But why do I deny myself
to call this other country by its name
in which for years, secretly,
a growing nuclear potential
has been available, but out of control
since not accessible to examination?

The common concealment
of this fact, to which my silence
subjugated itself, I sense as an oppressive
lie and compulsion, which threatens
as penalty, as soon as it is disrespected;
the verdict "Antisemitism" is commonly used.

Why only now
aged and with last ink do I say:
The Atomic Power Israel endangers
the in any event fragile world peace?
Since it must be said
what tomorrow may be too late;
since we, - as Germans guilt ridden enough-
could become the suppliers to a crime
which may be anticipated
and why our responsibility cannot
be expunged through the usual excuses.

And admittedly, I do not remain silent
because I am sick of the two-faced nature
of the West.
As well, it may be hoped,
that many will liberate
themselves from their silence
and challenge the creator of
this recognizable danger
to renounce the use of force
and also to insist that
an unfettered and permanent control
of the Israeli atomic potential
and the Iranian atomic installations
be agreed to by both countries.

Only in this way
help can be rendered
to the Israelis and Palestinians
to all people living cheek to jowl
in mutual hatred
in this region, occupied by madness,
and finally to us.


Guenter Grass: Was gesagt werden muss. (what must be said)


Well, here is the poem, translated into English from the original German to the very best of my ability.

A storm of controversy has ensued, practically all over Europe, with the Ayatollahs sitting back, gleefully rubbing their hands and with Mr. Ahmadinejad surely  saying to himself that he could not have bought such advertising with all the oil flowing from his ground in a month of Sundays.

GG suggests that Israel's concern over its own security and a contemplated "taking out" of the Iranian Atomic Plants is tantamount to "eradicating" the Iranian people.
That Mr. Ahmadinejad has described the very existence of Israel as "a cancer which must be eradicated"
 is obviously not worth a mention in GG's poem. That several leaders of Arab Governments have pronounced their intention to "drive every last Israeli into the Ocean" does also not warrant even a line in his poem. The war started by several Arab Nations practically the day after Israel announced its independence in 1948, by collectively invading Israel's territory ( and several other "armed incursions") seems not sufficiently important to warrant even a line, not to mention a stanza in "What Must be Said".

GG identifies Israel as the "Danger to World Peace" and "The Cause of this recognizable danger"
and very cleverly suggests that anybody making such statements will be classified as "Antisemitic".
Therefore: If anyone even breathes the thought that this very latest pronouncement is a sign of GG's latent Antisemitism, he may at once cry out: "You see, I told you so. I speak the truth and right away I am called  Antisemitic...

A very clever line: "Why only now, aged and with last ink do I say the Atomic Power Israel threatens World Peace?"
What a clever line to use, in a society which, almost without question, accepts as the truth a statement made by a person who is about to take his last breath.
"Aged and with last ink" is pretty much the same as "I make this confession in light of my impending literary death"....

Hallo !!!  Must be pretty much the Incontrovertible Truth...

His reference to Germany being "a supplier to a crime which may be anticipated" apparently is based on  the fact that this country is about to sell an atomically propelled submarine to Israel.
That the Iran is acquiring long range missiles (from Russia and/or China ?) is also of no concern to GG.

Some comments in the European media:
"A total reversal of historical facts"
"An  outstanding author is by no means also an outstanding expert in world affairs"
"Comments, tasteless and historically incorrect"
"Grass is the Prototype of the Intellectual Antisemite"
"Grass lost in the Jungle of German guilt feelings"

Let me add my own comment: "Grass, the pathetic, antisemitic intellectual author, with not much more to say."

What a shame: His "Tin Drum", "Dog Years" "Cat and Mouse"  were great works of art.
His last Poem : "What has to be said"  is a biased unthinking diatribe, not worthy of a great author.

I cried when Ernest Hemingway took a shot gun into his mouth and I now cry when GG does something similar.

Bertstravels.