Opera: What Do You Mean, I Can’t Use This For Global Takeover?

Downloaded and installed Opera this morning. I found this in the user agreement:

You acknowledge that the software is not intended for use in (1) on-line control of aircraft, air traffic, aircraft navigation or aircraft communications; or (2) in the design, construction, operation or maintenance of any nuclear facility.

Well, gosh. What did I download this for, then?

I don’t know what scares me more: the fact that they feel this warning must be issued, or that (according to recent market percentages) over 90% of people will turn to IE instead, being denied the use of Opera for these particular purposes.

And Lo, The Water Fell

Woke up this morning to a dark, dark sky.

“Maybe it will rain,” I said.

“Maybe,” said my husband. “But I doubt it.”

“Maybe it will rain so you can come home and we can run about downtown this afternoon, assuming the bank unfreezes my account,” I said.

“No,” my husband said morosely. “It’s just going to play with our minds.”

He left for work. I watched the sky for a bit. It really was much too dark to just be overcast.

It raineth. Oh, ye of little faith.

The Dance Of One Who Does Not Care

Good gods.

We have a Friday the thirteenth this week.

This will be the first Friday the thirteenth I have not been called at work by CJAD to be interviewed on the radio. (I used to really disappoint radio hosts, since my whole approach was, “You know we’re just normal people who revere nature and believe in a deity concept that embodies male and female energy, right?”) I will not be speaking on the origins of the superstition, or superstition in general. or what it means to a witch, or the Pagan community in general

This is the dance of someone who doesn’t care.

La la la!

Tea Bliss

New favourite place on earth: Betjeman & Barton, the tea emporium at 5131 Sherbrooke in Westmount. Milk-gallon sized tins of loose tea across the back wall of the shop. Teapots and cups in all shapes and sizes. Preserves and sugars and chocolates to go with your tea. Cosies. Strainers. Tea balls. And as soon as you walk in the door, the scent of dry tea leaves in the air.

Heaven, I tell you.

Orchestra Etc

Married three years and I still feel a flush of excitement when I call a gentleman to firm up a coffee date. Sheesh. Some habits never die.

Last night was the first orchestra meeting of the year. I brought along my oldest friend who plays as many instruments as she has fingers (okay, perhaps I exaggerate; as many instruments as she has fingers on one hand, then). It was terrific. I knew I’d missed it, but when we picked up our first piece of sheet music and played the first phrase, I felt like I’d slipped back into a set of well-broken-in shoes and a comfy but still attractive sweater.

I replaced that A string with the Eudoxa A, and boys and girls, I’m in love. I’m off to pick up the rest of the set today after coffee. I mean, wow. Talk about a sultry and mellow voice! It does blend well with the three Aricores I still have on the cello (which do need to be replaced), but I can just imagine the deep, rich, dark sound that all of them together will produce… mmmm.

Okay, I’ve snapped out of that lovely little reverie. Ceri was over when I unstrung the old A and put the new one on the other day; “Oooh,” she said, “I’m listening to you play the cello!” as I plucked the string in order to tune it. It made me laugh. What wasn’t as amusing was the amount of stretching this string needed before it became playable. If I had to estimate, I’d say it has stretched a full two inches so far, and while it’s slowed down, I know I’ll have to tune it up again late this afternoon. Gut is very sensitive. It also doesn’t last as long, but seeing as how my Aricores lasted two or three years, and a yearly replacement is recommended for strings, I’ve done very well so far.

There’s something else I have to mention: the local riot revolving around protesting the scheduled appearance of former PM of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu at my alma mater Concordia University.

Flying in the face of the basic respect for open discourse that a true university is supposed to represent, the violent crowd prevented Israel’s former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu from speaking on campus. If not powerfully and clearly addressed over time, this act will register the breakdown of academic freedom at a major Canadian institution of higher learning. .

Go me. Two degrees at an academic institution rapidly becoming known as a joke.

There are degrees of expression, people. Yes, you have the freedom to protest. The man also has the freedom to speak. Why is it that every protest at Concordia has to turn into a violent uprising costing hundreds of thousands of dollars to clean up after? And why is it that stopping a statesman from speaking is considered a victory for oppressed people across the globe? How does violent protest make a persuasive case? Fear and pain and destruction are threats to keep people in line, not intelligent arguments calculated to make a case for your beliefs. Force a man to do something, and he resents it. Let his work it out by thinking about it and making his own decision,and he’s yours. And you look like less of an idiot.

What’s the point of echoing the mindless violence in the Middle East? It’s not working over there; it’s certaonly not going to work here in North America. We’re in Canada, for the gods’ sakes.

It’s shameful. That we in North America cannot conduct a civil lecture and allow both sides of a story to be told is nothing less than shameful.

Frederick Krantz, an historian and a teacher at Concordia for thirty-three years (and a teacher at the Liberal Arts College while I studied Western Civilization there) has written a very insightful and thought-provoking article about the narrow-mindedness which resulted in the riot on Monday which is a good read.

In the meantime, I am shocked and disappointed that any Canadian student body cannot conduct itself with honour and civility. As soon as you resort to violence, you’ve ensured a loss of respect for your beliefs. I’m embarrassed; I am ashamed that the student body of the educational instituation that I spent ten years a part of repeatedly illustrates that they are nothing more than bullies attempting to make everyone believe the same thing they do by committing violent acts. Unfortunately, I’m not the one who should be feeling this way. And I highly doubt that the mindless protesters are feeling anything but injured and righteous about their acts on Monday afternoon.