ONIONS ! !

In 1919 when the flu killed 40 million people there was this Doctor that visited the many farmers to see if he could help them combat the flu...
Many of the farmers and their families had contracted it and many died.

The doctor came upon this one farmer and to his surprise, everyone was very healthy. When the doctor asked what the farmer was doing that was different the wife replied that she had placed an unpeeled onion in a dish in the rooms of the home, (probably only two rooms back then). The doctor couldn't believe it and asked if he could have one of the onions and place it under the microscope. She gave him one and when he did this, he did find the flu virus in the onion. It obviously absorbed the bacteria, therefore, keeping the family healthy.

Now, I heard this story from my hairdresser. She said that several years ago, many of her employees were coming down with the flu, and so were many of her customers. The next year she placed several bowls with onions around in her shop. To her surprise, none of her staff got sick. It must work. Try it and see what happens. We did it last year and we never got the flu.

Now there is a P. S. to this for I sent it to a friend in Oregon who regularly contributes material to me on health issues. She replied with this most interesting experience about onions:

Thanks for the reminder. I don't know about the farmer's story...but, I do know that I contacted pneumonia, and, needless to say, I was very ill... I came across an article that said to cut both ends off an onion put it into an empty jar, and place the jar next to the sick patient at night. It said the onion would be black in the morning from the germs...sure enough it happened just like that...the onion was a mess and I began to feel better.

Another thing I read in the article was that onions and garlic placed around the room saved many from the black plague years ago. They have powerful antibacterial, antiseptic properties.

This is the other note. Lots of times when we have stomach problems we don't know what to blame. Maybe it's the onions that are to blame. Onions absorb bacteria is the reason they are so good at preventing us from getting colds and flu and is the very reason we shouldn't eat an onion that has been sitting for a time after it has been cut open.

LEFT OVER ONIONS ARE POISONOUS

I had the wonderful privilege of touring Mullins Food Products, Makers of mayonnaise. Questions about food poisoning came up, and I wanted to share what I learned from a chemist.

Ed, who was our tour guide, is a food chemistry whiz. During the tour, someone asked if we really needed to worry about mayonnaise. People are always worried that mayonnaise will spoil. Ed's answer will surprise you. Ed said that all commercially-made mayo is completely safe.

"It doesn't even have to be refrigerated. No harm in refrigerating it, but it's not really necessary." He explained that the pH in mayonnaise is set at a point that bacteria could not survive in that environment. He then talked about the summer picnic, with the bowl of potato salad sitting on the table, and how everyone blames the mayonnaise when someone gets sick.

Ed says that, when food poisoning is reported, the first thing the officials look for is when the 'victim' last ate ONIONS and where those onions came from (in the potato salad?). Ed says it's not the mayonnaise (as long as it's not homemade mayo) that spoils in the outdoors. It's probably the ONIONS, and if not the onions, it's the POTATOES.

He explained onions are a huge magnet for bacteria, especially uncooked onions. You should never plan to keep a portion of a sliced onion.. He says it's not even safe if you put it in a zip-lock bag and put it in your refrigerator.

It's already contaminated enough just by being cut open and out for a bit, that it can be a danger to you (and doubly watch out for those onions you put in your hotdogs at the baseball park!). Ed says if you take the leftover onion and cook it like crazy you'll probably be okay, but if you slice that leftover onion and put on your sandwich, you're asking for trouble. Both the onions and the moist potato in a potato salad, will attract and grow bacteria faster than any commercial mayonnaise will even begin to break down.

Also, dogs should never eat onions. Their stomachs cannot metabolize onions.

Please remember it is dangerous to cut an onion and try to use it to cook the next day, it becomes highly poisonous for even a single night and creates toxic bacteria which may cause adverse stomach infections because of excess bile secretions and even food poisoning.

spelling horrors

I'm just collecting phrases I come across with spelling horrors, this keeps me from going crazy or from appearing haughty by correcting them. And mind you, I'm not a writer or a wiz-kid, but things have really gotten out of hand with all the new habits of writing fast, writing on tablets and iphones and whatever. Especially when writing in English, it's really impossible to write correctly *by sound - by ear.* BTW  IMHO

The laws are there for us semi-deviants who will toe the line.

Everyone seems to of woke up happy but i woke up ferling crabby ugh

Go take ur moped for a ride thru the pits - that oughta do it fer ya

Str8 to hell u go...

Like because Syria is none of are business

Your family has truely made an imprent on my life that will forever be loved and appreciated.

time to correct in some way the wrong doings of past crazy n greediness of past...things can be done for eg to do apologies, n work towards reconciliation cause our countries need to do this!! 

Poor souls who hadn't a clue!... who were exploited, and targeted for being neive.... 

they should of took her out back and shot her in the head.  

Wow that is insane wtf next its gunna keep on rising ... omg they need to lower it down ... Ummmm economy sux these days. Many ppl getting laid off  

Humm k well. I know I was just the shortness breath and my chest hurt like I had a cold I was unable to walk 5 houses to take zac to school without like omg it is scarry also turn out I had BP meds that were keep my heart rate at one pace never raced it was crazy so much so I put on 12 lbs in two weeks no exaggeration any way hr said part of my problem too but I'm still gonna have the dye in the main artery thing cause like you my mom had had like 3 or 4 my Bio dad died from heart attack couple years ago I have a very stressful life and like you take the weight of the world on my poor ol heart you too so I'm being positive for you and your gonna break the cycle you b fine I told my cardio Dr I'm just fat old outtakes shape he said well I'm same age as you so old is out I said o but fat outrage shape is in he lol said your a funny one gotta b I was by myself nobody love me thru it I'm with ya I'm there in most thoughts prayers love ya 

To nice out to be at work so its time to fix that leave at 2 and time to play on waverunner woohoo cant wait

Why do these things awalys happen to me we stop at a gas station so i go to what is clearly marked WOMANS ROOM I open the door and their a guy peeing he looks up and goes oh sorry SO EMBARRESSING

So I'm at a stop sign and This lifted Red Jeep pulls up next to me a bit obnoxiously like and Im thinking I'm gonna kick Stephens ass for this but their was one problem he was sitting next to me in the Maxima. He has a twin truck in Town oh no their cant be two of them

A PLACE TO FIND OUT ABOUT FAMILY HISTORY PAST AND PRESENT AND TO WITH FAMILY without any animosity NO FIGHTING we are ALL adults some of us are just a lot olderer

If you pull in a driveway and there is a man you don't know with a gun ....... LEAVE RITE AWAY . The whole story doesn't make sence to me  

This is why dog's are important.

-------------------------             

For teachers out there, here are some real notes from parents to teachers:
1 My son is under a doctor's care and should not take PE today. Please execute him.
2. Please exkuce lisa for being absent she was sick and i had her shot.
3. Dear school: please ecsc's john being absent on jan. 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 and also 33.
4. Please excuse gloria from jim today. She is administrating.
5. Please excuse roland from p.e. for a few days. Yesterday he fell out of a tree and misplaced his hip.
6. John has been absent because he had two teeth taken out of his face.
7. Carlos was absent yesterday because he was playing football. He was hurt in the growing part.
8. Megan could not come to school today because she has been bothered by very close veins.
9. Chris will not be in school cus he has an acre in his side.
10. Please excuse ray friday from school. He has very loose vowels.
11. Please excuse Lesli from being absent yesterday. She haddiahre dyreadireathe the sh*ts.
12. Please excuse tommy for being absent yesterday. He had diarrhea, and his boots leak.
13. Irving was absent yesterday because he missed his bust.
14. Please excuse jimmy for being. It was his father's fault.
15. I kept Billie home because she had to go Christmas shopping because i don't know what size she wear.
16. Please excuse jennifer for missing school yesterday. We forgot to get the sunday paper off the porch, and when we found it monday. We thought it was sunday.
17. Sally won't be in school a week from friday. We have to attend her funeral.
18. My daughter was absent yesterday because she was tired. She spent a weekend with the marines.
19. Please excuse Jason for being absent yesterday. He had a cold and could not breed well.
20. Please excuse mary for being absent yesterday. She was in bed with gramps.
21. Gloria was absent yesterday as she was having a gangover.
22. Please excuse brenda. She has been sick and under the doctor.
23. Maryann was absent december 11-16, because she had a fever, sore throat, headache and upset stomach. Her sister was also sick, fever an sore throat, her brother had a low grade fever and ached all over. I wasn't the best either, sore throat and fever. There must be something going around, her father even got hot last night.
Now we know why parents are screaming for better education for our kids.

Glad it wasnt me they was harrasing and breaking my car windows i would of took that as self deffense and shot atleast 1 of them.

 

 

 

Don Sanche critique June 11th 2011

DER NEUE MERKER:

Sondershausen: Don Sanche/Liszt - konzertant - 11.6.2011

Die Oper "Don Sanche oder Das Schloß der Liebe" hat Franz Liszt im Alter von nur 13 Jahren für Paris geschrieben, wo sie 1825 uraufgeführt wurde. Da der Einakter alle Qualitäten einer Großen heroischen Oper aufweist, geht man sicher nicht falsch, wenn man Liszt als Wunderkind und Frühvollendeten, zumindest was die Oper betrifft, bezeichnet. Die Gattung Oper hat er aber später bekanntermaßen nicht mehr bedient. 'Don Sanche' wurde im Rahmen des Themenjahres 'Franz Liszt 2011 Ein Europäer in Thüringen' konzertant im zum Schlossareal gehörenden Achteckhaus zu Sondershausen vom Theater Nordhausen und dem Loh-Orchester Sondershausen sozusagen wiederentdeckt.

Das französische Libretto (3 Bearbeiter) bezieht auf ein zugegeben ein dramaturgisch etwas hölzernes spanisches Ritterdrama. In der vom Zauberer Alidor ( Abraham Singer mit charakterlich auspichtem dramatisch superbem Baßbariton) dürfen nur Liebespaare wohnen. Da die Prinzessin Elzire die Liebe des Ritters Sanche nicht erwidert, muss dieser als Single außen vor bleiben. Die Prinzessin ist mit ihrem Gefolge auf dem Weg zu einem königlichen Bräutigam. Alidor erbarmt sich D.Sanches und läßt Elzire durch Unwetter die Reise am Zauberschloß abbrechen, aber auch ihr wird kein Einlass gewährt. Die Nacht davor auf Rasenbett verbringend, wird sie von einem Ritter übel bedrängt, Don Sanche ist aber zur Stelle und verteidigt die Ehre seiner geliebten Elzire mit der Lanze. Dabei im Kampf schwer verwundet, erbittet er sich, an ihrer Seite ins Schloß aufgenommen zu werden. Da Alidor den bösen Ritter selbst gespielt hat, löst er die Verzauberung nun auf und Sanche und Elzire, die ihm nun Zuneigung entgegen bringt, können sich im Zauberschloß dazugesellen.

In der Oper kommen viele Rezitative, Bravourarien, Duette und Chöre vor, die alle von Liszt wundervoll spannend komponiert erscheinen. Das Loh-Orchester spielt diesen jungen Liszt mit einzigartiger Verve, und der GMD Marcus L.Frank dirigiert spontan und mit emphatischem Zugriff. Der Opernchor (E.: Elena Pierini) war besonders in den Frauenstimmen hochkarätig besetzt und sang klangschön von der Empore aus.

Den Sanche sang Hugo Mallet in der Nachfolge eines Adolphe Nourrit mit tenoraler Emphase, wobei ihm auch halsbrecherisch hohe Tongirlanden gelangen. Brigitte Roth gab den Pagen mit vollmundig strömenden ausdrucksreichem Sopranmaterial. Die Elzire interpretiert mit leicht herbem apartem Sopran mit reicher Farbenpallette Sabine Mucke. Sandra Schütt, auch mit hellen eigenen Tonvailleurs timbriert, sang eine hinreißende Zélis.

Friedeon Rosén

John E. Castellini, one of my favorite teachers

Monday, July 15, 2002 John E. Castellini, 96, music professor in N.Y., loved sharing knowledge Obituary By Chris Mayhew, cmayhew@enquirer.com The Cincinnati Enquirer A teacher of classical music who trained as a composer, John E. Castellini died Friday at his home in Greenwich, Conn. He was 96. A music professor at Queens College in Flushing, N.Y., for 35 years, Mr. Castellini was the fourth son of Joseph John Castellini, who started the Cincinnati produce business of the same name. “He dedicated his life to teaching because he loved to impart knowledge,” said his niece, Mona Poynter of Hyde Park. Passing on his knowledge was a way of validating the education his father was able to provide him with, his niece said. Mr. Castellini studied under several prominent musicians and composers in Europe after he graduated from the University of Cincinnati and the College of Music of Cincinnati in 1928. He first studied musical composition in Rome under Ottorino Respighi In 1929 he studied composition with Arnold Schonberg, and piano with Karl Schnabel in Berlin. After completing a bachelor of arts degree at the University of Southern California, Mr. Castellini returned to Cincinnati in 1932 to work as a sales representative in the family business. “During the Depression there weren't as many positions for musicians, and after that he went back to his first love,” his niece said. In 1937 he left for New York City to continue his life in music. He often came back to Cincinnati, usually twice a year to meet with family and always in May to see the Cincinnati May Festival. Through the May Festival, Mr. Castellini eventually struck up a friendship with the famous conductor James Conlon, who has been the festival's music director from 1979 to the present. One of the positions Mr. Conlon currently holds is the Principal Conductor of the Paris Opera. At Queens College, Mr. Castellini taught and conducted the school's symphony orchestra. He also conducted a local community choral society. Mr. Castellini considered his greatest achievement to be his students, his niece said. “To the day until he died he continued to hear from his students — they respected and loved him as both a professor and a friend,” she said. Other survivors include his daughter, Maureen Ahern of Harrison, N.Y.; a son, Michael of Bellingham, Mass.; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren; and other nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Anne MacDonald Castellini, in 1987. Visitation will be 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Elden A. Good Funeral Home, 2620 Erie Ave., Hyde Park. Mass of Christian burial will be 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Mary Church, Hyde Park. Memorials: Aaron Copland School of Music, Queens College-City University of New York, attention Jonathan Irving, 65-30 Kissena Blvd., Flushing, N.Y. 11367. Checks can be made payable to Queens College Foundation/Castellini Endowment Fund.

New description: Joan's Teaching Materials and Method

http://musicmethod.blogspot.com/

Suddenly many people are interested in the methods I have developed through the years to have fun with children during music lessons and still teach them music notation and interpretation correctly. I guess finally many families, ex-students, colleagues and theorists have discovered that many other methods are tiresome, overly strict, too demanding and narrow in thought.

I have been using my method with success for over 30 years now. My daughter is a pianist, singer and conductor who first learned to read music with my method. She has been working fulltime for over 20 years already as a professional musician, she is able to study her repertory very quickly and rarely makes mistakes while conducting. She just conducted a 3 hour opera at the Nordhausen Opera Theater without even one rehearsal, so something must be said about the method! I have also received messages on Facebook from many ex-students who tell me that they survive in the Music World on what they have learned in our choral classes at the Fiesole Music School (Florence, Italy).

The basic philosophy of the method is that one first perceives the LARGE picture of a musical line, of a score and grasps the general concept of how the music is to be interpreted - - up, down, long notes, short notes, no clefs, no time signatures, no names of notes, no sharps, no flats. Then gradually these details are added. There are 5 coloring books and 600 laminated colored plastic cards to use. Then there are 16 small volumes of 16 pages each, with easy solfegge choral pieces to sing, about 8 measures each, short enough not to present difficulties, long enough to offer sufficient practice that permits one to learn the topic at hand. The novelty here is the CONTEMPORARY IDIOM of all the music provided: the cards offer a chance for multi-rhythms and multi time signatures, the solfegge pages present dissonances and clusters.

to be continued . . .

our lovely dogs

Maxine Vespucci Pierini in Florida 2006









This is Maxine Vespucci Pierini, called 'Max' at age 10 and a half. She lived in Miami, then in Ohio, then in Sarasota, Florence and Muenster Germany. She then moved to a lovely apartment in Nordhausen, Germany. Before going to sleep in the evening, she puts all her little toys an furry friends to sleep comfortably on her soft blanket. I saw her in January 2011 in Germany, I'll see her again in the summer. She has now left us, full of tumors.
Ecco il nostro carinissima amica di famiglia, Golden Retriever la signora Maxine Vespucci Pierini chiamata "Max", anni 10 e mezzo. Ha abitato prima a Miami, poi in Ohio, poi a Sarasota, Firenze e Muenster, e ora sta in un apartamento nuovo con pavimenti di parquet a Nordhausen. preferiva il tappetto morbido di lana della casa precedente. Comunque, prima di coricarsi la sera, mette anche a dormire sempre tutti i suoi "bambini", anatroccolo e coniglietto "bunny". Fine gennaio ci siamo visitati in Germania, forse ad aprile viene a trovarmi a Firenze.


Our beautiful Maxine left us in October 2011, now Elena has brought home a lovely, once mistreated German Shepherd from the dog shelter, Raika. Let's hope both get along well. The dog is now learning English.
Nostra bella Maxine ci ha lasciato ottobre 2011, e adesso, novembre 2012 Elena ha portato a casa una bella quieta sofferta cagna di 4 anni, Raika, di antica razza Pastore Tedesco. Speriamo si trovano bene tutti e due. Il cane ora sta imparando la lingua inglese.

conductor Elena Pierini - review of Christmas Concert

Dirigierende Florentinerin liebt Pasta
Montagabend, ein trotz miserablen Wetters gut besuchtes „Da Capo“ mit erwartungsvollen Gästen, die für ihr Kommen reichlich belohnt wurden – mit Informationen und Anekdoten aus dem künstlerischen Werdegang von Elena Pierini, der neuen Chordirektorin am Theater Nordhausen und Kapellmeisterin beim Loh-Orchester Sondershausen und mit musikalischen Einlagen des Opernchores vom Theater Nordhausen. Zur Begrüßung sang der Opernchor unter dem Dirigat von Elena Pierini vorab aus dem Programm des diesjährigen Weihnachtskonzertes das Lied „Candlelight Carol“ von John Rutter, ein bemerkenswert schönes Lied zur Weihnacht. Danach ging’s zur Sache, Elena Pierini. Angela Kalms und Dr. Götz Ehrhardt befragten sie, so wie wir das von ihnen gewöhnt sind, professionell, tiefgründig – wollten alles wissen. Und Elena Pierini antwortete spontan, hemmungslos auf alles – in deutsch!
Elena Pierini wurde als Tochter einer amerikanischen Klavierprofessorin und eines italienischen Malers in Florenz geboren. Musischer konnte das Elternhaus gar nicht sein. So kam es, dass sie bereits mit fünf Jahren Klavierspielen zu lernen begann. Dazu bemerkte sie, dass es große Unterschiede in der Technik des Klavierspielens (italienisch und russisch) gibt. Auf die Frage welche Technik sie anwende, antwortete sie – dazwischen. Ihren ersten öffentlichen (unsichtbaren) Auftritt hatte sie ebenfalls mit fünf, als sie ihrer Mama beim Orgeldiplom assistierte, indem sie eines der Fußpedale der Orgel bediente.
Mit sechs Jahren begann Elena Pierini ein zweites Instrument zu spielen – sie quälte sich, wie sie selbst sagte, zwei Jahre mit der Geige und ihren zu kleinen Fingern. Also zurück zum Klavier.
Als Elena acht Jahre alt war, gründete ihre Mama einen Kinderchor und Elena wurde natürlich Mitglied dieses Chores. Ihre Mama verfolgte damit eine ganz bestimmte Absicht, nämlich ihrem Kind und den anderen Kindern nicht nur den Chorgesang sondern auch das Drum und Dran, ohne das ein Chor nicht funktioniert, wie Verantwortungsbewusstsein, Disziplin, Respekt und soziales Verhalten zu vermitteln. Mit dem Kinderchor durfte Elena bereits an Theateraufführungen in Florenz und im europäischen Ausland mitwirken.
Mit elf Jahren unternahm Elena einen erneuten Versuch für das Studium eines zweiten Instrumentes, zur Überraschung für ihre Mama wählte sie das Schlagzeug. Mit 21 Jahren hatte sie das Diplom für Klavier und für Schlagzeug in der Tasche. Zu diesem Zeitpunkt reifte in ihr der Entschluss, statt selbst als Solistin lieber mit Sängern, z.B. mit Chören zu arbeiten, d.h. Chöre auf ihre Auftritte komplett vorzubereiten, mit allem, was dazu gehört.
Ihr Rüstzeug dazu holte sich Elena in den USA. 1997 bekam sie ein sechswöchiges Praktikum in New York und gleich im Anschluss daran den damit verbundenen Job. Um ihren Lebensunterhalt bestreiten zu können, musste sie Nebenjobs ausüben, Vorbereitung von weiteren vier Chören im Großraum von New York (Harlem, Brooklyn u.a.). Dazu musste sie Fahrzeiten bis zu sechs Stunden in Kauf nehmen. Gleichzeitig versuchte sie dreimal erfolglos einen Studienplatz für Dirigieren in New York zu bekommen. Nach zwei Jahren in New York ging sie nach Miami, wo ihr das Klima und das Flair besonders gut gefielen. Auf Vermittlung ihrer Mama bekam sie in Miami die Chance, Dirigieren zu studieren. Nach drei Jahren hat sie ihr Studium erfolgreich abgeschlossen. Nur einen Job hatte sie nicht. Den bekam sie 2003 nach vielen Telefonaten in Ohio. Mit einem Cabrio fuhr sie ahnungslos aber hoffnungsvoll vom sonnigen Miami ins kalte, vom Industriesmog geschwängerten, am umweltgeschädigten, pechschwarzen Ohio River gelegenen Stadt Ohio. Sie gewann sehr bald den Eindruck, dass auch mit den Menschen hier was nicht stimmte, die waren auch umweltgeschädigt. Elena konnte und wollte sich an diese Arbeitsbedingungen überhaupt nicht gewöhnen und kehrte Ohio nach elf Monaten wieder den Rücken und ging nach Sarasota, wo sie bis 2007 arbeitete.
Nun nahm sie wieder Europa ins Visier. Burgas in Bulgarien war die erste Station. Hier belegte sie Sommerkurse als Orchesterleiterin. 2008 entschied sich Elena nach Deutschland zu gehen. Sie wusste von der großen Theaterlandschaft in Deutschland und versprach sich gute Chancen darin einzutauchen. Ein gewagter Schritt, denn sie sprach kein Wort Deutsch – kaum zu glauben, wenn man sie heute deutsch sprechen hört – Kompliment!
Zunächst wirkte Elena als Korrepetitorin am Theater in Münster. Von dort wurde sie mit einem Angebot ans Aalto-Musiktheater Essen geholt. Das große Haus in Essen hat sie fasziniert und hat bei ihr Erwartungen geschürt. Dennoch setzte Elena wohl noch größere Erwartungen in die Stellenausschreibung der Theater Nordhausen/Loh-Orchester Sondershausen GmbH, indem sie sich dafür bewarb und ab der Spielzeit 2010/2011 als Chordirektorin und Kapellmeisterin engagiert wurde. Dabei hatte sie anfangs gar keine genaue Vorstellung von der geographischen Lage von Nordhausen – so etwa neben Leipzig. Heute verkündet sie mit Überzeugung: hier ist die Atmosphäre gut, das findet man nicht oft. Ihre bisherigen Projekte in Nordhausen waren die Übernahmen aus der vorangegangenen Spielzeit „Jekyll & Hyde“, „Wildschütz“ und die Neuinszenierung „Eugen Onegin“. Die nächsten Projekte sind „Gräfin Mariza“, Das Weihnachtskonzert mit dem Loh-Orchester und „Der Bajazzo / Gianni Schicchi“. Da ist auch was von ihrem Lieblingskomponisten Puccini dabei.
Wir haben heute eine Frau kennen gelernt, die ihre Arbeit liebt und sich mit Vehemenz in ihre Arbeit rein kniet. Sie hat damit unsere Erwartungshaltung an sie sehr hochgeschraubt. Wir wünschen Elena Pierini, auch in unserem Sinne, viel Erfolg mit dem Opernchor Nordhausen und dem Loh-Orchester Sondershausen.
Last but not least : vielen Dank für die musikalischen Kostproben des Opernchores an diesem Abend – unter Begleitung von Johannes Merkle am Klavier bekamen wir zwischendurch und zum Abschied noch den „Din, Don-Chor“ aus dem „Bajazzo“ von Leoncavallo und das Lied zur Weihnacht „The Twelve Days Of Christmas“ von John Rutter zu hören – wunderbar.