Archive for November, 2006
Random…
Posted by: in Blogger on November 30th, 2006
In the… 2 minutes I have left before I start work, I just wanted to express a few things…
- Yesterday was gorgeous, it was cool – not cold, and I had a blast doing the things I had to do despite a stupid start to the morning…
- One of the things I had a blast doing was rehearsal… oh man I can’t believe how much God has really been pulling me through learning those pieces that I have to learn. I had to play all the hard pieces yesterday without support from the Orchestra and it went well.. by which I mean, I didn’t completely bomb it. So horay for that.
- Today promises to be another great day. I plan to sleep in a little (yah, missing some classes along the way), but I really need to catch up on some sleep. Then I have a class I do need to go to, piano lessons to teach, and some serious studying to do for American Politics.
- Yayyyy… I feel good. Sleepy. But Good.
Off to work…
Every Time I Breathe – Part 2
Posted by: in Blogger on November 29th, 2006
- Speaking of my Gameboy DS, which I purchased a mere 3 days ago. I’m absolutely loving it… I don’t feel competent enough in gaming systems to offer any kind of comprehensive review of it. When I was consulting with Eman and Dave about what system to buy, they kept trying to convince me one way or the other (Eman never said so specifically but he seemed to have been for buying it, while Dave was quite adamant about my getting Gameboy SP instead) by throwing technical facts at me at some points. This I could only respond by saying, “but is it fun?” That was my main concern buying this, and thus far, with its ability to make a 45 minute subway ride completely disappear into oblivion, it has performed quite well. I’m a little ticked right now that it’s out of batteries – I need to figure out exactly how long I was using it for, so I don’t run into this situation again – especially at a time when I’m completely relying on it for entertainment. For this I do need to look up some of those technical aspects I know nothing about, but as I mentioned. My review of Gameboy DS – it’s fun, and it serves its purposes. A little addicting, but nothing I can’t handle.
- Continuing on this theme, the reason why Gameboy DS has become so addicting are the 2 new games that I bought, Brain Age and Sims 2. Brain Age is this game designed to lower your “brain age” – basically exercising your brain, just like you exercise your body, so that it will be in shape – the ideal brain age being 20… I’m currently at 57. LOL. It’s pretty fun – quite novel at the moment, but I have the feeling that its use will quickly degrade to just Sudoku, which wouldn’t be so bad, except I don’t know how to play it… bleh. The second game, the Sims is actually the more addicting one, though I’ve been having to start over and over, as I slowly learn the game (so I start over to redo old mistakes). I actually still don’t get a lot of it, but that’s part of why I like it – that I have to figure it out slowly. These two were an addition to my original game purchase, Superman. Which I think I mentioned I was regretting I bought. Well, not anymore. I’m actually really enjoying it now that I’ve kind of figured it out. My severely impeded hand-eye coordinator, however, is really showing, as I find even “easy” hard to play. I’ve never really been able to get into much video games you see (except for first person shooters played with a mouse and keyboard), so this is actually quite new to me. I’ve always sucked at Street Fighter and other such type games… but I’m getting used to playing with a game pad, a lot faster than I actually thought it would take. So yay. Good training for my eventual purchase (hopefully) of PS3.
- Today was pretty freaking crazy in terms of school and work. I woke up at 4AM to work on an assignment I had been severely procrastinating on… It was my Book Review of “Ambivalent Conquests” for my Colonial American History class (Making the Americas). I had to stop of course at 6AM to start my work with TEC, but then I resumed at 8AM when I finished. I continued on literally till the last minute – I printed it off at like 9:59AM, allowing me to leave my house at 10AM to catch my train to get to school. Such close calls, but frig, I dunno what it is, but I’m just really not motivated to do work for my history classes. *Sigh*
- On top of that, I still have a whackload of stuff to do. Actually replace “stuff” with “readings”, cause I’m a Political Science student. And that’s what Political Science students do… read. I have some major major studying to do for American Politics and International Relations. I was pleasantly surprised to hear that my midterm for Making the Americas will be ridiculously easy. So I’ve been able to breathe a sigh of relief for that. But my American Politics class is a little more concerning – cause I missed that one lecture due to the elections right. I’m really beginning to regret doing that. But I’m sure this’ll last only until I get the paycheque (unless I completely bomb the test). My Intro to International Relations exam is one that I don’t really know how to feel about at the moment. I’m pretty confident in my comprehension of what’s been studied so far, though I’m afraid that I’m going to be surprised at what will pop up in the exam. So I’ll be studying extra hard for that anyway – since I’m trying to maintain that high mark on the paper that I got.
- Speaking of high mark. Whatness, I got a B on my Canadian History paper… quite a pleasant surprise, especially because of how badly I did on my first Making the Americas paper (I got a C on it… I don’t think I’ve mentioned that before). This is making me really reevaluate my goals for the end of the year. It looks like I’m going to be lowering my expectations of myself to don’t-friggin’-get-lower-than-your-current-gpa… Although, actually that’s my worse case scenario: that nothing will change with my GPA (I’m pretty confident I won’t lower it). My ideal situation is to get it over 3.0, while my dreaming situation is 3.7 (which means getting 4.0 in all of my classes this year). Not completely unreasonable, but we’ll see.
- Add to all of that of course the fact that the first production performance is next Wednesday… *Cries* I’m scared. But also quite encouraged with what I’ve seen so far… Actually what’s concerning me most about the production is the fact that I have 2 exams the day after. But meh, I’ve set up my schedule for tomorrow till next Thursday… it’s pretty rigorous, but one that of course follows my studying rule – 1 hour of vegging for every 1 hour of studying.
- OK, I think I’ve run out of things to say for now. Maybe I can do another one before the craziness of next week, but for now, on to the reason for the title of my post… I was talking about how Big Daddy Weave is now my favourite band, and “Every Time I Breathe” is my favourite song at the moment…
Here’s the lyrics…
I am sure all of heaven’s heard me cry
As I tell You all the reasons why this life is just too hard
But day by day, without fail I’m finding everything I need
In everything that You are to me
Every time I breathe You seem a little bit closer
I never wanna leave, I wanna stay in Your warm embrace
Oh basking in the glory shining from Your face
And every time I get another glimpse of Your heart, I realize its true
That you are so marvelous God
And I am so in love with You
Now how could I, after knowing One so great
Respond to You in any way that’s less than all I have to give
But by Your grace, I wanna love You not with what I say nit everyday
In the way that my life is lived
Wrapped in Your mercy I wanna live and never leave
I am held by how humble, yet overwhelmed by Your majesty
Captured by grace now I’m finding I am free
You are marvelous God and knowing You is everything
New Toy…
Posted by: in Blogger on November 27th, 2006
I forgot what my bro spent on his PSP altogether. But I figure it would have been around the same, if I bought a PSP – about $220 right now, and a large memory stick… But meh, James already had it. That was the major reason I didn’t want to buy it…
I just really hope that i find games that I enjoy… Oh yeah, this isn’t a review yet. Cause I’ve barely played it yet (some of the kids at church have had more playing time that I have…)
FUN.
I.M. Me
Posted by: in Blogger on November 25th, 2006
I found this song like… 4 years ago, I don’t even know how, it was just so random. But yah. It’s so… stupid… I don’t even have words to describe it…
–
That’s me at the same time, same place
Send you web page, I wanna see your face
Girlfriend sending I.M.
T-t-y-l, no time to spell
Oops, there goes that little bell
Bye bye for now, b-b-f-n
Hey l-o-l, g-2-g
I gotta but baby watch for me,
Cause I’ll be right back, b-r-b
So sign on and I.M. Me
Hey I.M. Me
I’ll be doing me some homework, yea research
But, I can’t help I gotta search
Gotta chat with my girlfriends on line,
We’re digital diva’s,
Leave us,
There’s a girl out webbing thats hotstuff
My buddylist is growing all the time
Hey l-o-l, g-2-g
I gotta but baby watch for me,
Cause I’ll be right back, b-r-b
So sign on and I.M. Me
(Spoken)
(Girl 1)-What’s up, cuties?
(Girl 2)-Nuttin much here.
(Girl 3)-Same here.
(Girl 1)-Did you see that note that Stephanie got from Mike?
(Girl 3)-No, what did it say?
(Girl 1)-Oh my gosh, he said our relationship wasn’t going anywhere!
(Girl 3)-He doesn’t even know what that means!
–
Sung by a 12-year old “apparently-america’s-next-superstar” named Brittney Cleary… it’s so stupid I don’t even have words to describe it. Wait I said that already. I’m having an overload here. It’s so stupid I don’t even have words to describe it. It’s so stupid I don’t even have words to describe it. It’s so stupid I don’t even have words to describe it. Wait I said that already… It’s so stupid I don’t even have words to describe it… I’m loosing my mind. Gahhhhh… Ahhhh. :S :S :S :S :S kill me now….
LOL. I just finished watching “Accepted”.. pretty cool movie, but for some reason, I just started thinking of this song after the movie.. Weird. It’s so stupid I don’t even have words to describe it. It’s so stupid I don’t even have words to describe it. Gahhh… ahhh… :S :S :S.
I’m going to bed…
Every Time I Breathe
Posted by: in Blogger on November 21st, 2006
Before when I would be asked what my favourite band is, I would usually say “I dunno” and mumble off a list of bands that I normally listen to. So I’ve never really been able to definitively say what my favourite band is… until now. I just bought Big Daddy Weave’s new CD, “Every Time I Breathe” – which incidentally, I didn’t know about until now. Not that surprising cause I’m not very good at keeping up with new music. But anyway, I love it! Such a great CD – even though I haven’t even heard the entire CD, lol. I’m really looking forward to my commute now tomorrow, as it’ll be my first chance to really get acquainted with the CD.
I still remember when I first heard about Big Daddy Weave. They were opening for a concert I went to – Rebecca St. James. The thing is, I totally thought that Big Daddy Weave was a rapper. But yeah, they came up to perform – it was their song, “Audience of One”, which I really liked right away. Enough that I bought their first CD right away – even had it signed (I even got to tell them that I thought they were rappers when I first heard their name… which they told me is why they make it a point to have a guitar on their CD cover).
I think it was like 2 years later before I bought another one of their CDs but that was because I was at Bible School (and poor). Then I think I bought 2 in a row Field of Grace and What I Was Made For…
So yah, this last buy makes also makes Big Daddy Weave my most owned artist – 4 of their CDs (but most importantly, it’s all of their CDs that I own). My next ones are Chris Tomlin, Chris Rice, and Bebo Norman – and MercyMe (though I actually own 4 MercyMe CDs, but one is a Christmas album, which I really don’t count). Oh and I also own 5 United Live CDs because I don’t count them as just one artist.
So yah. There’s my newest buy. I wanted to write about other stuff too, but I gotta wrap this up now cause my battery is dying, and I don’t feel like heading off to my room…
O Worship the King
Posted by: in Blogger on November 19th, 2006
Updates
Posted by: in Blogger on November 18th, 2006
Just a few random updates of a few random things that are going on right now…
- I’m really ticked off at MasterCard right now cause I’m disputing charges made on my credit card, and they’ve been really slow about responding… grr… grr… grr…
- So I’ve been doing this ESL thing for Korean kids for 3 months now, and I figured. Hey. If I can teach Korean kids how to speak English with twice-a-week 7-minute lessons, then it probably isn’t that hard to learn a language that way. So I went and bought a “learn French in your car” CD set so I can finally learn french. The first two lessons were easy cause they were stuff I knew already… Je, Tu, Il, Elle… bonjour, bonsoir… etc etc. But now I’m getting into tough stuff, lol. Hopefully it helps. My goal is to complete level 1 by The end of December. Level 2 by May or June. And Level 3 by next December. So that I could maybe possibly even take French in the 2nd semester of my 3rd year… Then I might even go to France or Quebec or something to really hammer it in.
- I watched Benchwarmers last night. Kind of stupid. But some genuinely funny stuff. And it was actually a pretty cool story, the whole bully-nerd thing. Does this crap actually go on? I was never bullied… I never bullied others either… So I don’t get it.
- I was called in to Main Square the other day… Giselle (my boss) wanted to explain some stuff for my next assignment in person (usually she just emails me work and I come in a few days later to drop it off). But I can understand why. I have a whackload of work to do, and not that much time to do it. And of course I’ve been procrastinating on it too. LoL. Monday it’ll be done……. But yah anyway, that really brought back alot of memories – I spent a couple of hours in the office, as opposed to when I just drop off my work which is like 15 minutes.
- I’m playing at MCF this week, which introduced me to a song I’m kind of a little obsessed with right now – O Worship the King. It’s an old hymn that’s been rearranged. I really really like it – I’m gonna take a video of the band playing it and post it up, hopefully. But yah, it’s making me want to buy another CD – by Passion Band, of old, rearranged hymns.
- On that note. I still haven’t learned the rhythm for that crazy hard jazz piece I have to learn – and time is running really short. Dress Rehearsals are in exactly 7 days :S:S:S:S scary.
- I have some major catching up to do at school. This has been an extremely lazy week…
- Oh yah, I also watched Thirteen Days – which I apperantly have seen before (cause I recognize some things in it) but don’t remember very well. I really liked the movie – although of course it’s very hollywoodized… But yeah, it’s also a requirement for one of my classes, which is the most bizzare thing I’ve ever heard of. Get this. A full 35 percent of the mid-term will be going towards writing an essay about the movie. Well ok we have a choice between this movie and a documentary “Fog of War” – which makes more sense, cause it’s a documentary. But this is a hollywood film… meh. As I said I like the movie. And from watching it, and listening to the lectures, I can kind of figure out what exactly the kind of things they’re going to ask us to write about in the essay. So I think I’m golden. Of course i’m gonna watch Fog of War too soon, so that I have more choice.
- I just realized this is probably the longest list I’ve done on this blog to date… huh. that’s kind of cool… let’s keep going…
- Ok meh, I actually have nothing to write about anymore.
- Ooh ooh ooh.. I do have one last thing… last night at work, I had a record pop up for a lady who graduated from UofT with a *Masters* in 1912, a BA in 1910… I asked my supervisor if I should even bother calling – you know, the whole, she might be dead already thing. And I was like “she graduated before the Titanic even sank!” lol. I think that’s got to be a record for oldest record ever processed at the Telefund…
Let’s move to Calgary…
Posted by: in Blogger on November 15th, 2006
So, none of the people I wanted to win in the Municipal elections did – namely Stephe Ledrew, nor did any of the people I wanted to loose loose – namely Dennis Miller (oh and of course the idiot Howard Moscoe). But what do you expect? It’s Toronto – left wing central. That’s why I wanna move to Alberta where you can’t find any NDP or Liberals. LOL.
Anyway. I spent the entire day working with Elections Toronto – 8:30 to 9:30. But I was just a stand-by officer right, so I was even hoping that I could go to school. But it didn’t work out. They’re not gonna release someone they’re paying almost 200 bucks after only a half day of work after all. So at around noon – and after sitting around for 4 hours, I got deployed to this tiny little polling place at an apartment close to Main Square Rec Centre (where I currently work, when I’m working for the City). It was pretty cool. The ladies working there were cool – I taught them how to use their cellphones. LOL. At the ward centre while waiting for an assignment I was at least half the age of the next youngest person there. At this polling place I was a third the age.
Anyway, because of that 12+ hour day, I took a “personal” day today. Heh. I was actually planning to do this American History assignment, but even that degraded to complete nothingness, between the TV and my bed you know. The good thing is I did complete all the readings, so tommorow when I have to write the paper. It shouldn’t take long, the subject is pretty easy and the paper is pretty short (1200 words). So I’m actually not really worried. I’m more worried about the last song I need to learn for the Christmas production which has ridiculous crazy rhythm (which the entire rhythm section, not just me is having issues with). Although I was too lazy to even practice that today. LOL.
So this is what it’s like to be home at 8PM on a Tuesday night. I’m watching Standoff – which I haven’t seen in a month, which is too bad cause I really like the show. Right about now if I was at work I would probably be asking some poor alumni for an obscene amount like $150 or something. But I am actually a little concerned that this loss income will hurt a little down the road.
Anyway, I actually don’t even feel like doing this right now… let’s to be continued this and get back to the show…
The Liberal and Realist Meanings of the US Intervention in Lebanon in 1958
Amazingly, this is the highest mark I’ve gotten so far on a University paper – 78, or a B+. I’m shooting for at least an A- in the class, hopefully an A. So we’ll see how this paper affects that grade after the exams.
The Liberal and Realist Meanings of the US Intervention in Lebanon in 1958
By Chris Evangelista, October 26, 2006
Prof. Lilach Gilady / TA: Anna Shamaeva
POL208Y1, Introduction to International Relations
This paper will use the realist, liberal and constructivist theoretical approaches to provide an explanation for the American decision to intervene in Lebanon in 1958. First, explanations and limitations provided by the realist and liberal theoretical approaches will be discussed. Then, the argument will be made that a constructivist approach is necessary to show the link that can be found between these two perspectives, as a result of the cultural interpretation of the meanings behind the actions of US political and military leaders.
Realism
Using the realist assumptions of statism, survival, and self-help[1], we are able to extract the most apparent explanation for the United States’ decision to intervene in Lebanon. First, we see that this intervention was initiated by a request for aid from Lebanon’s President Chamoun. In response to this, the US made it clear that their intention was to secure Lebanon’s independence and security, not Chamoun’s re-election.[2] This is indicative of the United States’ adherence to the first realist assumption of state sovereignty. Next, within the US’ preoccupation with the suppression of the Soviet Union’s influence in the Middle East, we see the United States’ “pre-eminent goal of survival”.[3] Because Lebanon was “the only pro-Western, democratic country in the Middle East”,[4] the intervention was necessary for the US to ensure that they can maintain Lebanon as a foothold in the Middle East.[5] Finally, this US decision also contains the characteristics of self-help as it was made in light of the United Nations’ inability to “intervene usefully”.[6] It also helps to explain the intervention in terms of the US’ need to maintain the balance of power in the region.
While realist interpretation provides an “obvious” explanation for the US decision to intervene, it does not account for some of the decisions made by US political and military leaders on how to manage the military campaign. For example, the intervening military force was constrained by strict rules of engagement stipulating that they are to fire only in self-defence.[7] This would have been contrary to the realist requirement, in its concept of survival, for morality to be subjected to a favourable outcome.[8] To explain these decisions we must turn to a liberal interpretation.
Liberalism
The liberal interpretation of the intervention provides a more detailed, though at times more subtle explanation. For example, while it was obvious that the intervention was necessary to maintain US survival and balance of power in the region, it was also necessary to perpetuate the threatened democracy of the country and to encourage democracy in the region. Protecting democracy would have been a means to promote peace, in light of the liberal idea that democracies tended not to fight each other.[9] The promotion of peace can also be seen even within the decision to conduct a military intervention. It is in the strict rules of engagement present during the conflict, and the efforts made by Military leaders to explain the necessity of these orders to the Marines. This resulted in the remarkable fire discipline displayed by the Marines on the ground, which was an “important stabilizing feature of the American intervention.”[10] Finally, in explaining one of the more obvious liberal interpretations of the intervention, Lebanon’s economic importance as the “crossroads to Africa, Europe, and Asia”[11] and the US’ concern that the crisis would interrupt the continued availability of oil from the Middle East[12] has to be taken into consideration. These economic concerns are in line with Liberal ideas of using economic openness to promote peace and democracy.[13]
The liberal interpretation is not without its limits, the foremost of which is its inability to explain the lack of action by the United Nations. The UN’s inability to act in this situation is contradictory with the liberal idea that international institutions can provide alternative mechanisms to resolve the conflict.[14] Also, while liberal theory provides adequate explanations for the intervention; and, while these explanations did not necessarily contradict those provided by realism, liberal explanations tended to remain secondary. For example, while promoting democracy in Lebanon and in the region was a noble cause, its peaceful effects would not have been immediately felt, as it would have needed some time to develop, and some more countries to adapt it. A much more pressing concern was the maintenance of the balance of power in order to prevent the Soviet Union from dominating. However, when we look at the constructivist concept of applying social meanings to the event, we can see that a balanced link can be established between the two perspectives.
Constructivism
In order to see how culture defines the meanings of the US intervention in Lebanon, we must define American culture in 1958 itself. And the fact is that American culture is defined both by liberal ideology, and a realist interpretation of the world around them. The very foundation of American government is rooted in liberal democracy,[15] although its policies are also affected by the United States’ position as the principal opponent for world hegemony of the introverted communist power, the Soviet Union.[16] It is this cultural context that constructs the liberal and realist meanings of the American actions in Lebanon. Using this approach, we are able to find a link between the two approaches.
In considering this cultural background, we find that the realist and liberal explanations of the US intervention in Lebanon do not contradict, but rather complement each other. The social constructs of the time required the United States to recognize the threat of Soviet domination and thus the need to maintain the balance of power, while its political roots caused it to react by promoting democracy. In this situation, the communist threat of Soviet domination is a threat against democracy itself, making it necessary for liberalism to depend on the realist assumption of the need for the balance of power. In the same way, because communism is the competition, then in order to compete and maintain the balance of power, promoting democracy becomes necessary. This makes both the realist and liberal approaches the means to the end: peace.
It is obvious in this situation that because it was able to link the obvious conclusions of the realist approach and the subtleties of the liberal approach, that the constructivist approach is the best approach to use. While some might consider constructivism an illusion – after all, the constructivist interpretation merely led to realist and liberal interpretations – because of its concern with the “big picture” in considering the entire culture as a whole, it was able to explain the United States’ decision to intervene in Lebanon with more depth. It does so by culturally linking what would otherwise have been seen as the competing interpretations of liberalism and realism.
Conclusion
These theoretical approaches provide us with an excellent basis to explain world events, by simplifying these events and allowing us to focus on specific variables, allowing for concise interpretations. Just like the example of the full-scale map being useless when finding directions,[17] examining every single aspect of an event can be cumbersome, and in fact impossible. Like the map needs to be scaled down, so must the event become a paradigm in order for it to be tangibly examined; however, the concern is that events are sometimes oversimplified, causing some aspects of the event to be ignored, or left unexplained. Such was the case with the realist and liberal perspectives as each narrowly approached the event according to its own assumptions.
But, when a balance is found in defining assumptions and in prudently creating paradigms, such as the case in this situation with constructivism, a sufficient explanation may be produced that aids in our understanding of international relations.
Works Cited
Dunne, Tim and Schmidt, Brian. “Realism”. In The Globalization of World
Politics (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005), 161 – 183.
Gilady,
Lilach. 2006. Lecture 2: Levels of Analysis, POL208: Introduction to
International Relations. University 006Ff Toronto.
Korbani, Agnes. U.S.
Intervention in Lebanon, 1958 and 1982 (New York: Praeger Publishers, 1991).
Ikenberry, G. John. “America’s Liberal Grand Strategy: Democracy and
National Security in the Post-War Era”. In American Foreign Policy: Theoretical
Essays (New York: Pearson-Longman, 2004), 268-289.
Shulimson, Jack.
Marines in Lebanon 1958 (Washington, DC: Historical Branch, G-3 Division
Headquarters, US Marine Corps).
James Wilson, American Government Brief
Version 7th Edition (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2005).
[1] Tim Dunne and Brian Schmidt, “Realism”. In The Globalization
of World Politics (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005), 161.
[2] Jack Shulimson, Marines in Lebanon 1958 (Washington, DC:
Historical Branch, G-3 Division Headquarters, US Marine Corps), 5.
[3] Dunne, 174.
[4] Agnes Korbani, U.S. Intervention in Lebanon, 1958 and 1982
(New York: Praeger Publishers, 1991), 30.
[5] Korbani, 23.
[6] Korbani, 44.
[7] Shulimson, 22
[8] Dunne, 176.
[9] G. John Ikenberry, “America’s Liberal Grand Strategy:
Democracy and National Security in the Post-War Era”. In American Foreign
Policy: Theoretical Essays (New York: Pearson-Longman, 2004), 274.
[10] Shulimson, 32
[11] Shulimson, 1
[12] Korbani, 23.
[13] Ikenberry, 277.
[14] Ikenberry, 280.
[15] James Wilson, American Government Brief Version 7th Edition
(Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2005), 2.
[16] Ikenberry, 273.
[17] Lilach Gilady, 2006. Lecture 2: Levels of Analysis, POL208:
Introduction to International Relations. University of Toronto.