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Post by Bartbär on Apr 16, 2011 1:44:48 GMT 2
I recently discovered a wonderful band by the name of Ignis Fatuu, right before their new album came out. Here is one of their songs off the new album: an interpretation of my favorite poem by Eichendorff. I never thought I'd hear a folk metal version of this song, but I must say that it fits very well to the lyrics (even if they did change up a few lines here and there) www.youtube.com/watch?v=gODWK9d4xPs
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Post by Bartbär on Apr 7, 2011 7:31:40 GMT 2
Bad: I'm sick. Thanks to being sick the past day I've slept quite a bit, and thus cannot get any sleep yet tonight, and I have to be up in less than 6 hours to get ready for the long school day (hopefully, if I'm not still sick!). Good: Finding new music, and rediscovering old tunes.
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Post by Bartbär on Mar 30, 2011 15:04:28 GMT 2
Noncho: Thank you! So far my sister has been fine after the surgery. Let's hope that she doesn't have to worry about tumors again though, and if so not for a long time!
Bad: I'm finally starting to have dreams again that I can remember, which is good. The bad part is that they are always nightmares. I hope tonight yields different dreams!
Potentially good: After German class yesterday the entire class staid behind for an extra 20 minutes or more talking with the professor. Mostly talking about how much bullshit it is that no local colleges after intermediate level German courses. Also just recently they took language courses off of humanities credits... so now it no longer counts towards anything other than an elective UNTIL you reach the fourth semester. Now less people take the class... Very very unfortunate... Anyways, the potentially good part is though that the professor said she will talk with some administrators and see about offering a 200-level German course as a summer class. So I may get to actually take an intermediate level German course for a change! Even though it will mess up some travel plans I had for the summer...
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Post by Bartbär on Mar 26, 2011 22:40:47 GMT 2
Socke: If it doesn't remain that way than I don't know what I'm doing about education. German is a dying expertise in America, and I've heard that most German Universities don't care to higher non-German natives as Professors. Thankfully I'll still have Philosophy under my belt, so that's decent. Hard getting funding, America has been giving less money for Student Loans and having earlier "due dates" for Financial Aid due to the major increase in those attending colleges in this bad economy. It's no wonder Finland has been introducing fees for foreigners... Bad: Just about everything. Yet I don't feel like talking about it because I'm tired of thinking about it all. Good: The weather is quite nice, although getting too hot for my tastes.
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Post by Bartbär on Mar 26, 2011 4:56:51 GMT 2
Hello Azurae, firstly formally welcome to the forum, although you've been lurking around it for awhile now. I'd like to applaud your efforts and your studies. History and Anthropology are both absolutely wonderful subjects, and are an excellent combination to focus on together. Indeed folk metal has done a wonderful job of keeping folklore alive. This is especially the case with Finnish and Estonian bands, two small countries whose folklore has only been appreciated by the inhabitants of those countries, and even then many times there is less appreciation than perhaps what their should be. For instance Metsatöll has managed to bring a great deal of interest into Estonian mythology, as well as Estonian culture, politics, etc. Who would have thought that such a small country could gain so much interest by the mere artwork of national musicians? Writing songs about mythology and tradition in their native language is a very intriguing concept. Although I must say that this is admittedly a double-edged blade. For instance, those who are truly intrigued by the music may gain a deep interest for the country and culture it comes from, which can in turn spark a desire to learn the language and thus better understand the traditions and cultures. However on the other side, the exclusive attitudes of certain bands in regards to lyrics, namely in not providing translations, isolates fans and can wane the interest towards the culture. Now although I greatly love and admire these bands' efforts and intentions since I myself am a lover of language, I recognize that it's hard to draw a connection with something if you don't understand it. One can love Finnish mythology all they want, but if they can't understand the language of it than it's quite a shame. Regardless of that double-edged sword though, these bands still do introduce the concepts and help preserve the history and the cultures of their native countries. Even if a person gets turned off by not being able to understasnd the lyrics (which is a common problem in the United States, where most people have a slight ethnocentric air about them and are turned away the moment they don't understand something) they at least have been introduced to the country, the culture, the people, the language, etc. And THAT does indeed have a lasting tradition! Next time they turn on the news and hear something about Finland, Hungary, etc etc etc They will stop to listen to it and gain a more encompassing perspective of the world, which is quite refreshing since many people, again especially in the states as you may well know, are much more focused on what directly effects them. I hope to see much more discussion come out of this thread. It is quite an intriguing topic! Please do keep us posted on any further work you are doing in this area, and if your project ever yields a research paper, and you are in want of peer opinion and discussion, I'd be more than happy to take a look. Good luck!
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Post by Bartbär on Mar 23, 2011 14:47:53 GMT 2
My sisters surgery went well thankfully. The reason we worried is because for a few months my sister literally didn't eat anything, partially because her olfactory senses perceived the smell of all food to be absolutely vile, and partially because it was her means of wanting to lose weight (she's always been self-conscious about her weight). It's a wonder she survived as long as she did without eating. But thankfully she's been eating again, although there are still some things that smell bad to her. Anyway, she had to get a series of tumors removed from her ovary. She already had this surgery done in the past, and the last tumor was bigger than a basketball. This time there were a few tumors, each one different size. Thankfully though each tumor was benign and not malicious. According to the doctor it's not uncommon for some people to just be prone to obtaining tumors. It's not usually harmful but can require a number of surgeries depending on how fast and how much their body continues to develop these. I hope she doesn't have to worry about it again though, or at least not for quite awhile. Tina: I don't think you ever showed me that site, so if you could find it and send my way please I'd be extremeliy grateful! I want to study in Germany since my interest is mostly in German language and philosophy, but I wish it was possible to find a Scandinavian university with such studies, simply because I know there University is free for everyone including foreigners. But even then I'd have t o worry about paying for my cost of living, and that's not cheap either....
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Post by Bartbär on Mar 22, 2011 16:24:01 GMT 2
Bad: Woke up late, so I didn't get to go to Biology lecture. I probably could have made it, but I would have been a minute or so late, and my rule is if I'm not on time or early than I just don't go. I hate when people come in late... Bad: I still have school today, and it is my sisters surgery at the University Hospital (same Uni I will be going to in some semesters) so I did not get to go to it. I hope all goes well with that, I hate the idea of surgeries even if they can be necessary. Really bad: The government has gotten a lot more applications for federal student loans due to the failing economy. However in Illinois where I go to school they have set a deadline to have these forms done by the next couple days, since the IL government is no longer providing funds after that date... I have to hope that this doesn't effect my amount, or that I can still get loans, because my parents have not yet done their Taxes and so I have not yet been able to fill out forms for financial aid... Here's hoping I can even go to Community College again next year! Good: At least I got an hour of extra sleep.
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Post by Bartbär on Mar 17, 2011 2:26:20 GMT 2
I'd have to agree with Kuusuru. Life yields many acquaintances, but very few friends. And it is much better to have a few friends than an army of acquaintances.
The difference is that the former are the type of people you spend time with at school, on the bus, etc. to help the day go by. The latter are those with whom you go "out of your way" to spend time with as an integral part of your day. One can be friendLY to strangers and even friendly to people they talk with everyday, but developing friendship takes another level.
To me a friend is someone with whom you are able to truly discuss things with. Someone who you can walk with on the battlefield of life without worrying about them leaving you behind (or vice versa) after your own battles with each other. Someone who you can agree with and disagree with without pride and egos getting in the way. Someone who at the end of the day you feel refreshed to have talked with regardless of what you talked about, whether it be some deep philosophical discussion or just an array of nonsensical jokes.
A friend doesn't even need to be someone you spend every waking moment with. Most of my friends, such as those I've made here, are ones I don't often get to talk to but whom I hold very deep in my heart. Friendship doesn't require a bombardment of communication, just a bombardment of mutual understanding and respect.
To me too friendship is a lot like a relationship: you know you've got a good partner when it's someone who you can just sit down with, doing absolutely nothing, and still walk away happy. Someone who you need not be active with to enjoy their "company" but in whose company is the enjoyment. To me if you need to go out and do something with someone all the time, than it's not them that you are connected with but the activity. Although that doesn't mean friends can't go out all the time and still hold a deep connection with one another.
There are multiple levels of relationships, but friendship is something that takes on the highest form. Friends are those people with whom you can look at as if they were your most beloved family member, or even your most beloved self, with whose preservation you hold in highest regard; with whose preservation you hold higher than your own.
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Post by Bartbär on Mar 11, 2011 15:38:34 GMT 2
You're welcome! Not sure when that will happen. The bad thing is that even if they do come to the US I guarantee the closest they will be is Chicago, which is a 3 hour drive away. Gas prices are ridiculously high and there are probably 10 toll booths on the way to Chicago. I almost never have the money to make it out there, so even when they do come I frequently miss them. Again that is the advantage of Germany, with wonderful public transport and a country that is only the size of our state of Texas it is impossible to not be at least a somewhat short distance away from a concert. Perhaps that depends though. It's hard for me to get lonely, but I'll certainly watch out for it. Thank you. Good: Speaking of Germany I forgot to mention that for German class tuesday we got to meet at the local German restaurant since we're doing the chapter on food. I've always known the place existed but for the longest time I thought it was only a bar and like most German restaurants in America I wasn't quite sure how authentic it would be. Thankfully I was proved wrong. Authentic Sauerkraut which was delicious, although I'm not sure how authentic the Weisswurst was, but it too was delicious so I can look past that. The atmosphere was wonderful and it made me feel as if I was actually in Germany. Too bad that only the owner speaks German though, so when we spoke with the waiter in German he had no idea what was being said. Good: Got good sleep for the first time in forever last night. THen again it was the first time all week I was able to sleep in an extra hour and not wake up early to work on my car. Aggravating: I ordered a DVD set of all 6 movies that Werner Herzog worked with Klaus Kinski on (my favorite director and my favorite actor, even better together) on Monday, and the tracking number continues to say that it left Sacramento California, but not that it has arrived anywhere yet. Not to mention it says it's expected to rive in 10 more days, which is VERY hard to believe, even with the cheapest possible shipping. So much for joining in on this places membership which was supposed to give me free shipping... just didn't know the free shipping was being shipped from a bicycle.
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Post by Bartbär on Mar 10, 2011 22:24:32 GMT 2
rouva: Have an awesome time at the gig tomorrow! I've already always wanted to live in Germany, but seeing concert after concert of Korpiklaani in German city after German city makes that feeling even more prominent. Bad: Haven't been on the forum in ages. Good: Spring break is only one day away, and tomorrow is my short day (only one 50 minute class!) I'm looking forward to a week off of school. Bad: I continue further and further into being a hermit, as my absence from this forum perhaps shows. It is a very good thing for me personally, I enjoy it, but I realize it effects my ability to communicate with others. Thankfully that ability is not yet completely lost.
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Post by Bartbär on Feb 18, 2011 21:03:35 GMT 2
The worst part about moronic uni mates is that they sometimes get MAD when they find out you got a good grade. Yes, we get good grades because we pay attention in class and we study at home rather than dicking around at parties and hanging out with friends all the time. Makes me go crazy. Noncho: Why do you think that? perhaps you should discuss it with your mate and find out what is actually going on. If it ends, than indeed that shall suck. Relationships ending are always hard, whether it be 1 week or 2 years, but certainly more difficult under the latter. I hope you get it all figured out soon enough though, and I wish you well!
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Post by Bartbär on Feb 18, 2011 14:36:13 GMT 2
Good: I am confident that I completely aced my Biology Exam yesterday. Although it was all multiple choice, which means it was practically cheating. All one had to do was read the question and recognize the very blatant wrong answers. haha I also always love professors who put humor into their tests: "Which one of the following is not a member of the three domain system of cellular organism: 1.) Euphoria...." Although it is possible I may have gotten one or two questions wrong, I know I at least got an A, which is all that matters. Saddest part of that though is that apparently most of the students in my class got a very very ridiculously easy answer wrong on the quiz in regards to What was Charles Darwin known for? One answer related to evolution, the rest went to utterly ridiculous areas, and yet most people got it wrong. Ouch... Good: One more test today and then it is t he weekend. Good: Rammstein is finally coming to America again after 10 years! And one of their very few stops is in Chicago, so with any luck (by luck I mean money) I should hopefully be able to go see them. Very rare for such great acts to come to the states
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Post by Bartbär on Feb 16, 2011 21:12:19 GMT 2
Happy Birthday Changpogo!!! Enjoy enjoy enjoy! Have an awesome celebration!
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Post by Bartbär on Feb 14, 2011 21:16:44 GMT 2
Ooops, I forgot to add the smiley face after the "professional help" comment. I too think it is quite bullshit. Sure, under extreme circumstances or particular occasions when the counselor lines up and fits perfectly with their patient it can have its uses, but overall and on average it's nothing but a bunch of bullshit. Some of my sisters have went to counselors actually, and most of the time they made things WORSE, usually by putting blame on our parents which in turn created a rift in their psyche in which all bad experiences could falsely be traced back to the parents. Creating in many senses that ungrateful dependency that they continue to show to our parents. But that is another story. I actually was just having a talk about this with who is perhaps one of my only local friends last night. We were talking about the absurdity of psychological explanations for things, and worse off the increased prescription of "anxiety" and "depression" medicine. On both our sides we've noticed a great deal of our acquaintances or the like falling into the trap of prescription medicine. Oddly enough both of our sisters have been prescribed the same anxiety medicine (Xanax), despite it's addictive qualities, their addictive behaviors, and only a 15 minute visit to the doctors. It's almost as if no one has a pair of balls left in this society: if you can't handle work, school, family, etc. don't worry about it and don't overcome it, just take a pill that will make it all seem to go away when in reality it just continues to fester. Then one is faced with continued problems of extreme anxiety when ones prescription has run low. Depression, anxiety, stress, etc. These things are all a part of life, and so too are countless other problems. It is the overcoming them on ones own that has value and enlightenment, not the mere short-cut (which only leads one on to a long route leading them right back to square one). In terms of gossip: sadly I have not been very far from where I've lived my entire life, so I've only been able to apply this mindset to what I've experienced. It is sad that it exists nearly everywhere, but I suppose this isn't much of a surprise. Even in cities it is becoming increasingly easy to gossip about one another, especially with tools such as facebook (which I've increasingly grown tired of because of said gossip) in which mutual "friends" can see something on facebook which they can then gossip about later in person behind the other "friends" back. Gossip has been a part of my family for years, and as much as I love my family it has done it's damage to me. It is almost impossible now to have a conversation with my Mother without it reverting to some gossip related around school, or about whatever member of the family isn't in the room at the time. Rather than tell the current daughter/sibling that this or that family member is having problems with what they have wrong with them, they go to everyone ELSE in the family. You would be surprised how many times I hear same damn problem come up 100 times before it FINALLY gets expressed to the individual. Then by that time the damage has already been done, and a piece of the relationship is fractured because of it. Rather than confront the problem when it arises, they let it continue, thus setting a precedent that such action is acceptable, in which case once the action is addressed it is no longer able to be prevented. I suppose that would explain how I've felt the past week, and the reason why I've been oddly falling asleep WAY early (21:00 or 22:00) on the weekends and generally feeling a sense of malaise. Although today I've been coming to peace with the coming spring. It is so odd how one can FEEL when the seasons are changing, and how dramatic the change occurs: one day is it -12 degrees Fahrenheit out with an even colder wind-chill, and the next day the sun is out, temperatures are dramatically increased, and one can feel and smell the spring air as they can walk outside without a coat or sweater for the first time. That feeling relaxed me today, a feeling that is 10 times more relaxing than usual when one lives in a house with no heat. Perhaps my biggest problem is that I label myself not in the way that I perceive myself, but in the way that it seems others do, or at least have perceived me previously. I am content with my inwardness and my isolation, and thankfully my real friends understand this. They know that when they dont' hear from me it is not because I am upset with them, but simply that I am on yet another one of my hibernations. You express it perfectly though when smaller groups of acquaintances are aggravated by it: even if you've expressed to them your nature of being introverted and only out of the cave every once in a while, they are quick to cast you aside: if they can't experience your jokes or presence every few days than they don't wish to worry about it at all. Luckily though I've had the fortune of even such groups being understandable, which means such people have potential of being truly wonderful lifelong (or at least somewhat lifelong) friends. Growing up as a kid Nietzsche was indeed the first writer I got into, and to this day he is still my favorite because through him I found all of my passion: German language, Philosophy, Psychology, etc. as well as an increase in the passions I already had (Music). When I was a teenager reading Nietzsche for the first time I always felt connected to him: the Schopenhauer inspired pessimism of his early writings was a helpful tool in guiding me through very hard times. As I've matured I've continued to feel related to Nietzsche: although he loved Schopenhauer early on (as I do now) he later went on to deny this pessimism, and develop the Existential ideas of the secular over-man. Pessimism fits my mind-set as of late, and it has fit my mind-set for some years, but I know and recognize that down the line this may not continue to be the case. I will always find some truth in Pessimism, but I will never find all truth there. Sadly my limits in German have prohibited my progress on the Early German literature front: such works are not easy to find in English, let alone for a bargain price and of reputable qualiety. I've been struggling through Taugenichts, I understand the context but not the content, and as of late I've only been slowly translating the first chapter (a chapter which I've listened to and read through a good 15 times in the past couple weeks). Perhaps once I am off to Uni and required to read through these texts and no longer taking General Ed to fully immerse myself in language will I be able to understand and appreciate their contents. That is why I have always yearned for travel: being stuck in the same place everyday for my entire life has really harmed my way of thinking. As much as I am independent in my thoughts I still am in part a product of my environment. It is impossible to escape the mind-sets and subliminal influences that living in any given area entails. Hopefully going off to Uni will help with that, although the town there is actually smaller, and I've never been very attracted to the types of people who attend. At least it is a start. Heck, it's only taken me 21 years (22 by the time I get there) to move 45 minutes away, so maybe when I'm 2,567 years old I will finally be on my way to Europe. Alas I can not possibly comment on all I'd wish to now. But then again I don't think I ever could with even a lifetimes worth of time. But that is the beauty of such communication: it inspires the ideas which remain, from there it is on to the individual to utilize them and express them in the very actions which are supposed to be louder than words. Sadly though this means I'll also not be able to participate in the literary reference game. Not yet anyway.
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Post by Bartbär on Feb 14, 2011 5:43:33 GMT 2
Bad: The past week has been mellow. I haven't really had any reason to be down either, so I think it's the weather. Everytime spring comes around I feel a sadness for no longer having cold weather and snow. Don't get me wrong, I love spring with the smell of the rising flowers and the frequent rain, but I always miss the peace of winter and the beauty of the snow... Good: These thoughts have slowly been shaken thanks to Philosophy. It's times like this that make me remember why it's one of my majors. Bad: headache, already almost time for bed, and I have yet to get ready for the week ahead or finish my Biology Lab homework... Good: shouldn't take too long to finish and be off to bed.
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