The other day I went downstairs to practice violin only to discover that the light switch downstairs wasn't working. I noticed the lamp had been moved to the opposite side of the room and figured that it was no longer connected to the switch's outlet. Never mind that. I walked over to the lamp and tried to turn it on, but without success. I was sure the lightbulb had burned out. Never mind that, either. I decided to use the closet light instead. Yet again, the light switch made no difference. Hmm... well it was possible that multiple lightbulbs had burned out. I'd try the bathroom light switch. No progress. This wasn't funny: exactly half of the electricity was out downstairs for no particular reason. I mentioned it in passing to my younger brother and received the most amusing story in return. This particular little brother has a fascination with electronics and gadgets. He recently received a robotics kit and after completing that project, decided to try his hand at something bigger. He began by unscrewing one of the lightbulbs in his room and inserting an innocent-looking metal marble in its place. Of course it surprised him immensely when all of the lights in his room went out simultaneously. Thank goodness it was only a matter of resetting the circuit breaker upstairs. Funny what kind of adventures you can have with a little extra free time and a lot of curiosity.
... Just make sure you have a piece of paper in hand certifying your capability... ;^)
27.5.13
26.5.13
Choruses from 'The Rock'
Normally poetry is not my forte. It's difficult for me to read and even harder for me to decipher. I came across this bit of poetry by T.S. Eliot in a schoolbook, though, and found it so lovely that I had to post it.
O Light Invisible, we praise Thee!
Too bright for mortal vision.
O Greater Light, we praise Thee for the less;
The eastern light our spires touch at morning,
The light that slants upon our western doors at evening,
The twilight over stagnant pools at batflight,
Moon light and star light, owl and moth light,
Glow-worm glowlight on a grassblade.
O Light Invisible, we worship Thee!
We thank Thee for the lights that we have kindled,
The light of altar and of sanctuary;
Small lights of those who meditate at midnight
And lights directed through the coloured panes of windows
And light reflected from the polished stone,
The gilded carven wood, the coloured fresco.
Our gaze is submarine, our eyes look upward
And see the light that fractures through unquiet water.
We see the light but see not whence it comes,
O Light Invisible, we glorify Thee!
In our rhythm of earthly light we tire of light. We are glad when the day ends, when the play ends; the ecstasy is much too plain.
We are children quickly tired: children who are up in the night and fall asleep as the rocket is fired; and the day is long for work or play.
We tire of distraction or concentration, we sleep and are glad to sleep,
Controlled by the rhythm of blood and the day and the night and the seasons.
And we must extinguish the candle, put out the light and relight it;
Forever must quench, forever relight the flame.
Therefore we thank Thee for our little light, that is dappled with shadow.
We thank Thee who hast moved us to building, to finding, to forming at the ends of our fingers and beams of our eyes.
And when we have built an altar to the Invisible Light, we may set thereon the little lights for which our bodily vision is made.
And we thank Thee that darkness reminds us of light.
O Invisible Light, we give Thee thanks for Thy great glory!
(Choruses from The Rock, by T.S. Eliot)
O Light Invisible, we praise Thee!
Too bright for mortal vision.
O Greater Light, we praise Thee for the less;
The eastern light our spires touch at morning,
The light that slants upon our western doors at evening,
The twilight over stagnant pools at batflight,
Moon light and star light, owl and moth light,
Glow-worm glowlight on a grassblade.
O Light Invisible, we worship Thee!
We thank Thee for the lights that we have kindled,
The light of altar and of sanctuary;
Small lights of those who meditate at midnight
And lights directed through the coloured panes of windows
And light reflected from the polished stone,
The gilded carven wood, the coloured fresco.
Our gaze is submarine, our eyes look upward
And see the light that fractures through unquiet water.
We see the light but see not whence it comes,
O Light Invisible, we glorify Thee!
In our rhythm of earthly light we tire of light. We are glad when the day ends, when the play ends; the ecstasy is much too plain.
We are children quickly tired: children who are up in the night and fall asleep as the rocket is fired; and the day is long for work or play.
We tire of distraction or concentration, we sleep and are glad to sleep,
Controlled by the rhythm of blood and the day and the night and the seasons.
And we must extinguish the candle, put out the light and relight it;
Forever must quench, forever relight the flame.
Therefore we thank Thee for our little light, that is dappled with shadow.
We thank Thee who hast moved us to building, to finding, to forming at the ends of our fingers and beams of our eyes.
And when we have built an altar to the Invisible Light, we may set thereon the little lights for which our bodily vision is made.
And we thank Thee that darkness reminds us of light.
O Invisible Light, we give Thee thanks for Thy great glory!
(Choruses from The Rock, by T.S. Eliot)
23.5.13
Here Comes the Sun
At last, reader, I get to another post. May is almost over and I haven't posted yet. This particular May-post is special for two reasons: most importantly, it is in honor of one of my best friends, Lys. Here's hoping you have a safe move and an easy transition into your "new" old home. Secondly, this post is in honor of finishing up my final year of battling Wimba gremlins under the standard of the mighty Griffon, shouting at Francis, benevolently smiling at Java, and studying under incredible teachers with some of the best friends I've ever had. You guys make my day - every day - and for that, I'm wholeheartedly thankful to you. I hope I've managed to be half as good a friend as you all are.
Now, with exams finally completed, I can't wait for summer! I've got a string of busy years coming up, but for now, I'm so thankful just to enjoy some blissful moments with my family. I've already got the Beatles tune, Here Comes the Sun going through my head. Here's hoping that you, reader, will have just as many sun-filled, carefree afternoons in the upcoming months! :^)
Now, with exams finally completed, I can't wait for summer! I've got a string of busy years coming up, but for now, I'm so thankful just to enjoy some blissful moments with my family. I've already got the Beatles tune, Here Comes the Sun going through my head. Here's hoping that you, reader, will have just as many sun-filled, carefree afternoons in the upcoming months! :^)
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