Aria

Aria, in its essence, a solo piece of music that may have accompaniment, in recent times is associated with a solo singer (and is frequent in operas). I may over exaggerate with a bias opinion of aria's, however, I happen to carry the interpretation that an aria is; the poetic climax of a certain characters outward lash (when speaking of an opera.) So, as poetry in song, I wish to give you a video of "Nessun Dorma", an aria, of which happens to be my favorite. Although I confine my time of arias listening to opera versions, many composers have made movements and concerts that are equally numerous and impressive.

                                            (Source link represented by clicking picture)

Here is a link you should check out:

Pavarotti- "Nessun Dorma"

Nessun Dorma is the perfect example of an aria in opera with my "poetic lash-out" view. It appears in Giacomo Puccini's opera, Turandot


-Calaf, as the princess has no desire to marry him, gives the princess before dawn to guess his name. If she does, she can execute him, however, if she cannot find out his name she must marry him. Thus Calaf sings the aria, "Nesssun Dorma".

Nessun dorma! Nessun dorma!
Tu pure, o, Principessa,
nella tua fredda stanza,
guardi le stelle
che tremano d'amore
e di speranza.
Ma il mio mistero è chiuso in me,
il nome mio nessun saprà!
No, no, sulla tua bocca lo dirò
quando la luce splenderà!
Ed il mio bacio scioglierà il silenzio
che ti fa mia!
(Il nome suo nessun saprà!...
e noi dovrem, ahime, morir!)

Nobody shall sleep!...
Nobody shall sleep!
Even you, o Princess,
in your cold room,
watch the stars,
that tremble with love and with hope.
But my secret is hidden within me,
my name no one shall know...
No!...No!...
On your mouth I will tell it when the light shines.
And my kiss will dissolve the silence that makes you mine!...
(No one will know his name and we must, alas, die.)
Vanish, o night!
Set, stars! Set, stars!
At dawn, I will win! I will win! I will win!

René Magritte

The infamous Belgian surrealist artist, Magritte, has some of the most interesting artworks.  His work was to influence people to have sensitivity to their surroundings. I mention him for the "Pablo Picasso" and all the others are always talked about. Sometimes, and less than it should, people who are very famous like Magritte have their share only inside their niche. Here are a few of his pieces...

 

 

  

(Source links of paintings are presented by clicking picture.)

Now, as odd as they are, a surrealist view through painting, for almost all cases, supposed to have a deeper meaning behind them. As much as I wish I could illustrate the exact meaning behind his work, I cannot. As such, and I hope you do, delve a little farther into his pieces and maybe a little biography of René Magritte.

Vocabulary Word of the Week; Clairvoyance

Clairvoyance-  1.the supernatural power of seeing objects or actions removed in space or  time from natural viewing  2. quick, intuitive knowledge of things and people; sagacity.

Closer Look-    The  two perceptions of clairvoyance are: Firstly, that you can obtain information about a person, object, location, occurrences, from abnormal "senses" beyond the human five (sight, hearing, touch, smell, taste) Second, you have acute intuition of objects and other people. The latter of the two presents an ability based on preexisting knowledge whereas the counter acts as a supernatural agent.

(Please note all definition were "copied" from (Dictionary.reference.com) to provide adequate results.)

Arabist

Ingenuously labeled, Arabist, refers to a person who specializes in or mastered the Arabic language, culture, and literature. Although it has roots back to medieval Spain, currently, and more often, it is used by ambassadors and foreign service officers from the US. Although it may not be a piece of knowledge that you sit back and digress or really incorporate it into existing knowledge of the middle east in the essence of "the now', rather Arabists are to credited with an amassment of the cultural translation we have.

Weird Phobias

With the enormity of the topic finding a few "odd man outs" out of many is very difficult, and for this case is even more demanding for almost all phobias have that weirdness about them. Hence, I go forth trying to find the ones where you sit back and go "now way" and "are you serious", and "no one can have that".

Blennophobia- The fear of slime
 I know what your thinking. Ghostbusters right?

Ideophobia- Fear of Ideas
Ideas inherently bad? I must say I cannot grasp this unless; someones ideas all have a negative undertone to begin with, thus, all there ideas bring harm or insecurity towards themselves. Be that as it may, ironically, in that situation the only way to recover is to begin with the very thing you cannot do. (For other phobias you come up with an "idea" and move about fixing it.)

Epistemophobia- Fear of Knowledge
no comment. 

Francophobia- Fear of France or French Culture
Yeah, well, I keep coming across ones like this for different countries and cultures, so I put it in here, however, there are many reasons for people to have a fear against a certain country. I added just because it is one I have never thought of, and it is such a prevalent fear.  The idea of it,of which I do not grasp, is why not incorporate all of them into one word; Its meaning along the lines of fear of a country (in particular or not)

Alliumphobia- Fear of Garlic
 Now I can understand disliking, from which, some type of "fear" of encountering it might happen. However, unless your a typical classical vampire its another one I cannot grasp.




I encourage you to find out more phobias from the link below. As you read through the list of phobias you should keep in mind that fears of "something" can go and come back. So if one does not make any sense to you, try to think of a situation where someone might be afraid that particular thing. It might help. 


PhobiaList