Wednesday, April 11, 2012

The Tyranny of The Chairs: A Passover Reflection on Furniture
Bondage... and Liberation? 

 Do you need the table and the chairs? The table yes; I’ll let you know
about the chairs after I know who’s coming. Later...so what about the
chairs? Oh, you may not even need the table? Later still...sure, we
can do the table a bunch of chairs whenever you want... Even later
still: chairs/schmairs...sure you can come get them anytime before
Pesach, just let me know when... Finally, OK, OK. Tomorrow is fine,
just let me know what time... But are you sure? They’re heavy, I can’t
really help, and you’re still recovering from an injury... And beyond
all that, the background noise of the momentarily unspeakable (perhaps
a 5th question): and then we have to take them back? And so it goes. 

  The wise child asks: can you envision for a moment a world of
abundance where everything is possible, a promised land where there
are every number of tables and chairs to meet the requirements of any
gathering with ease. With aging bodies resting rather than being
taxed? And stress replaced with the possibility of enjoyment?

  The wicked, mischievous child says: you can’t do that. What makes
you think it possible to not stay in your slave mentality forever?
Isn’t it part of who you are...this bringing of tables and chairs back
and forth, there and back, again and again? How dare you? But go ahead
and try. Amuse me.

  The simple child asks: don’t we just need one chair for each person?
That should be easy. I can bring my own chair as an example.

  As for the child who asks no questions, seemingly unable to
understand and meaningfully contribute to such deliberations -- or
perhaps wise enough to avoid jumping into the fray... To that child
you can say, we have a chair for you should you wish to join us at the
table, but as always you are welcome to sit in peace on the floor,
which we know brings you much happiness. (Are we jealous?) 

 The tyranny of the chairs. One of dozens of tyrannies we subject
ourselves to in planning for a gathering celebrating liberation. (How
ironic.) One of hundreds of tyrannies, even thousands, that we may
subject ourselves to daily, knowingly or not. 

 May we listen to the voices of our inner children, and let go of
burdens -- big and small -- that do not serve us and that we need not
carry. 

 To expand upon the words of the author Paulo Coelho, may we be mindful
that in every moment we can step into fantasy, the abyss, or somewhere
in between. And in choosing where to step, may we be grateful that, as
taught by zen master Charlotte Joko Beck, we cannot avoid paradise, we
can only avoid seeing it. 

 May we embrace the Passover teaching of being grateful for hard earned
“freedom from” and engaging fully in what that opens for us, “freedom
to.” 

 As we open to and embody this newly discovered or rediscovered
“freedom to” -- freedom to visualize and create our own reality, our
own paradise -- may we find ourselves moving in grace away from fear
and gravitating increasingly towards love as our touchstone and guide 

 And may this season’s blessings of liberation, transformation and
renewal ease our process of being in that knowing, connected and
joyful promised place, as often and a much as we can stand to be free.
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Friday, February 3, 2012

KARAOKE PLAYLIST





MARK’S VERY KARAOKE AND

  SING-A-LONG BIRTHDAY
2-3-2012
INTRO
Cry Baby, Janis Joplin == go all in!!!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjD4eWEUgMM&feature=related
SHOW TUNES
Sit Down You’re Rocking the Boat: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7kzsZreG0o
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, Mary Poppins: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQ2uT34rgmo&feature=related
music of the night – phantom of the opera  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPXPwRgV-NM&feature=related
Le Jazz Hot, Victor/Victoria, Julie Andrews http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsHVLaNsCSg or Glee version http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004722YWY
Bring Him Home, Les Miserables, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-0MS72uHSQ&feature=related
I Dreamed a Dream, Les Miserables: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aeo86iOS0QU
“CLASSICS”
What a Wonderful World, Louis Armstrong http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3yCcXgbKrE 
Man’s World -- James Brown, Josh Stone  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTTYqEPAX70
Can’t Help Falling In Love With You, Elvis Presley  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAWalYmC170
Sounds of Silence, Simon and Garfunkel  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvsX03LOMhI&feature=fvst (or Ground Zero version  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3np0DMxXKzM)
Bridge Over Troubled Waters, S&G, Whitney Houston and Cece Winans version  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGL099t8i2s&feature=related
You’ve Got A Friend, Carol King and James Taylor http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIMJBDj_JkE&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PL65FC9F32BAB40D2D (or Carol, Celine, Gloria and Shania version http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUw8zQQ-Auw)
Knockin on Heaven’s Door, Bob Dylan http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GM28M0i11SU
Don’t worry be happy – Bobby Mcferrin  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNa_YiAXguU
“VINTAGE POP”
Proud Mary, Tina Turner http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCCS5fixC70 (start at 2:00)
Unchained Melody, Bobby Hayfield http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3YKtOBGMTM
a change is gonna come, sam cooke  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-X9JkM9Bgo
I heard it thru The grapevine http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1n7xv8BD7o
for all we know, donny hathaway  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVUeNHG1IFs
baby baby – supremes, Julia Noones (jaaaaaaa) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kBQ8DgkyFk&feature=related 
(Build me up) buttercup – Foundations, Julia noones (jaaaaaaa) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeP1Klmk0ng
sunshine of my life – Stevie wonder  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2xWAciTORg&feature=related
tears in heaven – eric Clapton - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCx3M9L439k 
Man in the Mirror, Michael Jackson: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94bNVOLba5A
  
Father Figure, George Michael,  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82KP_jTXfIU
YMCA, Village People  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CS9OO0S5w2k or 
Once in a Lifetime, Talking Heads: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-io-kZKl_BI

Take Me to the River, Talking Heads: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anjT71N4PGM

Shower the People, James Taylor: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWnjEMbFFME

more than words, Extreme http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0R-FGchhwLw&feature=related  (see Eastern Influenced version below from Love Guru)
Nothing Compares To You, Sinead O’Connor http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTOpQS982aM
Time After Time, Cyndi Lauper http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWDaHj2NdSE
Bohemian Rhapsody / Radio Gaga, Queen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDckgX3oU_w
Crazy Little Thing Called Love http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zO6D_BAuYCI
somebody to love – Queen, glee version http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vQj4i4awhY&feature=related
NEWER KIDS ON THE BLOCK
Single Ladies (Put a ring on it), Beyonce  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaTvQnqKT0I
Forget You- Cee Lo Green Clean Version  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mTw7t8ndaw  (see Comedy/Commentary section below for "Bar'chu!" parody remix).
where is the love black eyed peas  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FotCW5OIFZc&feature=fvsr (or official video without lyrics) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpYeekQkAdc&ob=av2e
Black Eyed Peas The Time (Dirty Bit): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GLXxRsRins&feature=fvwrel

Moves Like Jagger, Maroon 5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpIMzsnWcZQ

Waiting Outside The Lines, Greyson Chance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTHcKVeK-M0
Please Don’t Go, Mike Posner  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiCozgbXJyg
Nella Fantasia, Sung-Bong Choi,  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZ46Ot4_lLo&feature=related (English translation at bottom of list.)
BEATLES


all my loving – beatles, jaaaaaaa http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REL5R-Ls3oU





ALSO “EASTERN (or) INFLUENCED”
Deva Premal and Miten -There is so Much Magnificence  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kr7Vm72lU8E&feature=related
In These Arms, A Song for All Beings-Jennifer Berezan  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzPTHstpJ2I  (start 2:00_
chori chori gori se – the guru http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyJc_lKULos
more than words, love guru  http://youtu.be/DQ8QcJZawLY
(MORE) COMEDY/COMMENTARY -- ADULTS ONLY 
I Hold Your Hand In Mine, Tom Lehrer  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6npVZoke66s
High As F**k, Jon Lajoie  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsNRpaHnj
I'm Jewish And You Know It - Official Parody to Sexy and I know it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvjbLYXnQmE
Black and Jewish (Black and Yellow Parody) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TXNU1nh4E4
"Bar'chu!" (I'm A Jew) -- Remix of Cee Lo Green's "Forget You"  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMIrDDGZmuI
TWO FOR THE ROAD
The Places You’ll Go, Suess – burning man http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahv_1IS7SiE


_____________

Nella Fantasia 

In my fantasy I see a fair world,
Where everyone lives in peace and honesty.
I dream of a place to live that is always free,
Like a cloud that floats,
Full of humanity in the depths of the soul.

In my fantasy I see a bright world
Where each night there is less darkness.
I dream of spirits that are always free,
Like the cloud that floats.

In my fantasy exists a warm wind,
That breathes into the city, like a friend.
I dream of souls that are always free,
Like the cloud that floats,
Full of humanity in the depths of the soul.
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