Conan O'Brien

Conan is flippin' SA-WEET! Since I love Conan so much, I decided to to make a post dedicated to him. Here are some interesting facts about Conan Cristopher O'Brien:

*Conan is 6'4" tall.
*He married Liza Powell on January 12, 2002 in a Catholic mass in Seattle (her home town), the two met when she was a guest on Late Night.
*The two have a girl, Neve, was born on October 14, 2003 in new York. Conan originally wanted to name his daughter the old-fashioned Irish feminine name Niamh (pronounced "knee-vh" or "neh-v"), which means "radiance, lustre, brightness" -- but decided that her life would be easier if they Americanized the spelling to Neve.
*Conan will become the 5th host of "The Tonight Show" on its 55th anniversary.
* He took tap dancing lessons as a child.
*O'Brien graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University, with a BA in History & Literature in 1985.
*He was editor of the Harvard Lampoon for two years in a row and he is the second person to have ever done this. It had been 85 years since it was done.
*Conan is a cousin of Denis Leary.
*He wrote for Saturday Night Live.
*Has been hosting Late Night with Conan O'Brien for 11yrs.
* Replaced David Letterman in the late night slot on NBC after Letterman left for CBS. Virtually no one thought the show would make it. The show was cancelled for a night but was brought back until a replacement was found, a replacement was never needed.

Loudon Wainwright III

Loudon Wainwright III is the father of the Great Rufus Wainwright. He has been playing music since the 1960s in the folk style of Bob Dylan. I saw him last night/this morning (for tom) on "Late Night With Conan O'Brien." He sang "The Grammy Song" about his grandmother. His lyrics are very autobiographical and this particular song even mentioned Rufus by name. He gives the listener the feeling that he is making the song up as he goes. He gave me a weird Howard Dean vibe. Check out some audio clips at his official website LWIII.

She Walks in Beauty

SHE walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that 's best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes:
Thus mellow'd to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.
One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impair'd the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
Or softly lightens o'er her face;
Where thoughts serenely sweet express
How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.

And on that cheek, and o'er that brow,
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent!

My Chemical Romance

Last year I saw shirts floating around with this design and I wondered what it was all about. Then one day, watching MTV (because I am evil and like rotting my brain) i saw on TRL (even worse than regular MTV) a video called "Helena." The video was about a funeral for a girl. Lots of goth people were dancing around. The singer for My Chemical Romance was very passionate and has a great voice (in my opinion). Don't be too afraid by the logo, this band isn't as scary as they seem. There are some nice and raunchy guitars and even some screaming once in a while (something I don't generally like, but the passion seems to call for it) but also some quiet and touching seniments. Great band.

Warm-Fuzzies / Cold-Pricklies

For my class I have to ask people close to me to describe my good and bad qualities. I need this done quickly, by tonight actually, so please hurry. Be honest, thanx.

Rufus Live

Saturday night I went to see Rufus at the Wharton Center. It was a great show. He is funny and self-depricating, a great combination. His voice was really great and he played both piano (awsome) and guitar(for different songs) and he was alone, not back-up band. He sang a new song that he said he had never played in a show before. That was really excieting. i was hoping to hear something I'd never heard. It made the night extra special. Since you guys don't care, I won't talk too long about the show. There were two encores and I bought a T-shirt, and if people hung out at the Ark anymore they would have seen it.

Salsa Isn't Just For Chips

Tonight there was a program put on by Sweeney and Merril Halls (my all girl hall and the all boys' one next door). An RA from Sweeney and the MA (I think, but it doesn't matter, u don't know what those mean n e ways) from Merril taught us some basic Salsa dance moves. To the surprise of everyone, there were almost as many guys and there were girls. First we stood apart, watching the instructors. We learned three basic steps and a turn in this setup. Then the guys (or "leads", since there were a few girl leads) formed a circle around the girls, who formed the inner circle. We practiced out moves and turns with our partners switching every few minutes. We made it through in 1hr 30min that workshop classes get through in maybe three weeks. It was really fun. I will have to teach you guys some time.

Crazy Conservatives

There are often (at least once per week) soap box preachers who stand at the cross walk of campus. One man always comes on Thursday. He want's to tell the young people about salvation through Jesus Christ. He talks into space usually, hoping someone will respond. The students have grown accustom to his presence, and to his "John 3:16 says...", " You shall have no gods before me...", and "...Faith, Hope, and Love..." speeches and generally ignore him or even avoid him. Once in a while a person will confront him, standing there, for I believe this is what he wants to happen, and they argue their points, dissagree in the end, and fumble there way apart from eachother. I would really like to see two people who had stong opposing beliefs come away from an argument in agreement. I don't think its possible but I know some will disagree with me (I remind you, the point is mute because I will not waver, obviously).

Another day, a man was handing out pocket size new testiments to passers-by. He didn't tell you what was in it, he didn't tell you to believe it, he jsut wanted you to have it. "Would you like a testiment?" he asked. I took the book, more as a gesture than anything else; I certainly don't need another New Testiment sitting on my shelf. But, he pleased me in his passiveness. To some he may show a lack of passion, or even laziness. But I saw an understanding that he was not going to change anyone's heart, only God, and his Word, can do that.

Today there was a group of people with flyers and a sign. A sign of a chopped up baby. Along with the adults, a little girl was standing amid a crowd of college students asking them, as they scurried off to class, if they would like a flyer. As you all know, I am not on the side of abortion, clearly. But, I don't think these shock tactics are what is needed to change the minds (no need to change their hearts, I believe everyone knows killing is wrong) of pro-choice people. People don't need to see a dead baby to understand that it is wrong; they need to first understand that it is a baby, a life, a person that is being killed. Bloody body parts do not help create this understanding.

These are some of the ways conservative values are displayed on my campus. I don't like to see people with my belief system making it seem rediculous. Passion is not a bad thing, but neither is self-control. I think that for concervatives to be seen in a better light we need to behave in a more respectable manner. Sinking to "secular" (I hate that word but I will use it anyways) tactics of creating catch-phrases, carrying out arguments instead of discussions, using images for their shock value, and sending out little girls to a mob of adults with only her flyers and cuteness to rely on are not how I think conservatives should get their message across.

Tae Kwon Do

I walked into GEO this morning, 9:20am as is the usual Tuesday and Thursday ritual. This morning, however, there was something different. Crutches in the first row? And guess who they belonged to... well I don't actually know his name, but you know, the only guy from GEO that I talk about... the beautiful mind guy haha. I asked him if he was broken and he said he was. He continued saying that he hurt his toe while at Tae Kwon Do. A spiral Fracture. I told him that at least he got broken doing something cool. We talked about the study guide and how he needed one. He missed class on Thursday because of his injury so he didnt get one. I said i was sure she would give him a copy. He said, "At least I had a good excuse for missing class." *sigh* I need real drama in my life so i don't have to pretend everything is excieting. Oh well, until then, there is... that one guy from GEO.

Sine Nomine

It turns out Altramar wasn't the group performing. ANOTHER of David's groups sang. Its name: Sine Nomine. Its a group of eight singers and one conductor who also, like Altramar, sing early music. The first half of the concert was a medley of hyms.

Ninefolds Kyrie
Sactus Benedictus
Agnus Dei

Holy Art Thou, Entreat Me Not to Leave Thee

I Sacrum Convivium

After intermission some songs of the Elizebethan Era were sang, many of which were commission for Elizebeth I. A few of her poems were also read. I really liek the first song. It sounds like "Flow My Tears"-- a song I was going to sing for my CMU audition. The poems were pretty good. The woman who read them did a nice job.

Weep, O Mine Eyes, I Languish to Complain Me

Poems Of Elizabeth I

Hard by a Crystal Fountain

April is in my Mistress' Face

Now is the Month of Maying

My Bonny Lass She Smileth

Sing We and Chant It