On how Shakespeare got me a Cupcake: 10 incredible degrees of separation!

1. Shakespeare wrote many plays which became famous.
2. More recently some people made a “Stratford Festival” which showcases his plays.
3. My friend's girlfriend went out to Stratford to make costumes for the festival.
4. Then my other friend's girlfriend went out to visit her.
5. As such, my friends mutually decided to have a 'boys only' night, seeing as their girlfriends were out of town.
6. I decided to attended this get-together, leaving Nyssa in North York.
7. Not wanting to be bored, Nyssa got together her friends for the same evening.
8. One of her friends happened to bring some cupcakes to the get-together.
9. Nyssa brought an extra cupcake home for me.
10. I ate the cupcake the next day.

You can clearly see the [semi]direct influence of Shakespeare on my recent life.
Who could have guessed the at effects of this man's life, even after all these years?




-C.D. CLements

On the following:

A reflection on the break up of Phish

From reading various news articles courtesy of Phish.net, catching various interviews such as Trey Anastasio on Charlie Rose, or the interviews on the “PHISH IT” documentary (to name a few sources), I feel I appreciate the decision to stop Phish.

From what I interpret, there was a 'spirituality' which was contained within Phish. This spirituality of Phish was an incorporation of all sorts of values in relationship with on another, and all of these at once in some sort of relationship with a higher power. These values certainly include community, celebration, creative expression, improvisation, joy, (to identify a few). Each of these saw their place in what the music was, and what Phish was. Over these values, through these values, and undergirding these values there was an esoteric scene of the divine presence. Similarly, over the music, through the music, and undergirding the music was this same sense of the divine presence... or as Trey comments, divine language. The spirituality of Phish was an incorporation, and intimate intertwining of these: the values, the music, and the divine, to the point where one is not easily seen and understood apart from the others.

As I understand it, over time Phish as a whole began to experience a rift (no pun intended) between what Phish was, and what this spirituality in its pure form intended Phish to be. From what I gather, there are a bunch of factors around this slow separation; factors both known and unknown. However at the time which the decision was made to dissolve Phish, there must have been an acknowledgment that Phish was slowly departing from this pure form. Phish was on a different trajectory than what Phish' original values would have informed. The options then would be to either continue the band, but only with the shell of the music, (as the core spirituality was missing), or to preserve the original spirituality and intent of Phish, by stopping Phish.

As such, I have come to think band made the right decision. As the less visible (and aural) aspects of Phish became 'unfocused' it seems like the whole thing became an abuse of what was intended, or pure.

While I am sad to never again hear any new Phish music, or to experience the Phish live experience, I think I really appreciate what the band members are doing now. It is as though each is following a path which seeks after what the hidden (mysterious, spiritual) things of life are leading them down. Following after the divine, and being true to the self are certainly noble pursuits. It would be a shame if the members of Phish were to fore go this pursuit in favor of keeping alive something which the spirit was not in.

-C.D. Clements

On the Mug of suspected Death

Pat got me a big mug for the 493 Christmas present exchange. (Also some tea to go in the mug; very thoughtful). But whenever hot liquids are placed in this mug, it emits alarming 'clicking'/'ping' sounds.

Nyssa thinks the mug is poisoned. I think it could be a tea activated time bomb. Pat is in North Bay, and cannot comment. (Clever Alibi?) Whatever the case, if you see me with large gashes on my face, and a bizarre fear of red mugs, then you will know what happened.

In such an event blame Pat, or Hallmark




-C.D.Clements

Three Posts in One Month: Paper Season is Here.

Some where along the time line of the month I became aware of the 'buy nothing Christmas'. Follow this link for some ideas.

My Personal Favorite:

Give Linux for Christmas! It's free and it works like a charm! These days, distributions include not only the operation system that runs your computer, but applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, picture and sound editing, etc. And give a hand installing it. It's not that it's too difficult, but some people's tech-savvyness is rather limited. —Gilles Pelletier

- C.D. Clements

On Something Nerdy and Neat.

This is a game. It can be found on line for free.

It is fun; yet it is simple.

It is a game for people who are both gamers and desert fathers.

-C.D. Clements

On All The Cool Places

Working Tyndale Maintenance, we (mainly myself) have a goal of being in as many restricted areas as possible before we move on from maintenance.

The only 'rule' to the contest is that an individual may only check off an 'area' when the individual has done legitimate maintenance work in the paticular area.

Here is the list of cool places I have been:

Roofs:
Gym
Cafeteria
Seminary
Hall of Missions
Chapel
6th Floor
Administrative:
Archives
Vault
All sorts of offices
President's Office
Library Work Rooms.
A few of those rooms in the basement filled with all sorts records
Facilities:
Boiler Room
Maintenance Shop (this is a given)
Electrical Room
Pump Room
Elevator Machinery Room (for the main lift)
Hydro Vault
Gardening Room (not very exciting)
Telephone Room
AV closets
Server Room
Heat Exchange Room
Services:
All over G&T cafeteria (including -17 Celsius meat locker)
Bookstore storage
Security Room
Other:
All Guest Rooms
All Female Washrooms (yuck)
6th Floor Kitchen
All Residence Storage Rooms

Only area left: The underground tunnel to Morrow Park!

-C.D. Clements

On a particular aspect of life

A romantic relationship is limited (ideally...) to the two individuals involved in this relationship.

This means that the relationship is exclusive. (Again, assuming that others are not free to get in on the action).

Therefore when in a group setting, a good thing to do is to try to be as inclusive as is reasonable.

All things considered, we want to have inclusive relationships (says Pioneer Camp) as opposed to exclusive ones.

I think this is why I don't like enthusiastic displays of public affection.

Unless they are artful.

-C.D. Clements