The Big Think

Thanks to Halley for the kind words.

For those of us who have ever wondered how much is inside stuff.

Stealth Disco. The practice of sneaking up behind your unwitting coworkers and grooving funkily while being filmed. Yeah baby.

“In These Days Live” by Billy Crockett

Many thanks to Erin’s mom for the birthday presents. Her card got here on time but the package was a bit delayed. She gave me a gift certificate to Home Depot (grunt, grunt), a CD of the Choir of St. John’s College performing the Faure Requiem and Durufle Requiem (I’ve wanted the recording for a while), and the boxed set widescreen trilogy of the Back to the Future DVD’s. Yay! Thanks Yvonne.

For an absolutely otherworldly experience, listen to “Ubi Caritas” from Durufle’s Quatre Motets (also on this recording). In my humble opinion, one of the finest pieces of choral music ever created. If you happen upon it, the Trinity College Choir’s recording on their “Voce” CD is probably the best recording. I’m deeply moved every time I hear it.

I miss singing latin in a way I don’t miss German or Italian or French (especially French). Maybe it’s the sonorities, or maybe it’s the historical weight of knowing these words have been sung by millions for millennia, but there’s a certain clarity when singing latin that calms the soul and smoothes the mind.
The only dead language that will live forever. Deservedly.

Click here for an MP3 of the song.

Ubi Caritas et Amor Deus ibi est
Congregavit nos in unum Christi amor.
Exultemus et in ipso jucundemur.
Timeamus et amemus Deum vivum
Et ex corde diligamus nos sincero.
Ubi Caritas et Amor Deus ibi est.
Amen.

Where charity and love are, there is God.
The love of Christ has brought us together into one.
Let us rejoice and be glad in that love itself.
Let us fear and love the living God and let us love from a pure heart.
Where charity and love are, there is God.
Amen.

The music of heaven.

“A craftsman controls both process and product, making work a satisfying and integral part of his life.” Robert C. Archley, the Sociology of Retirement

Jobs is at it again. As of 3 hours from now, we’ll know what the score is. Sane people will be sleeping.