One Hundred And One Things

What's this about?

From the BBC:
* Meteor showers are caused by debris from a comet burning up in our atmosphere
* This produces spectacular shooting stars which blaze across the night sky


Why do I want to do this?

Watching shooting stars? What's not to like?


How will I know I've done this?

I'll have seen at least three meteors in the same night.


I'll record this in a post in this journal.

What's this about?

TED is a fantastic thing. Interested people talking about interesting things, things they love. Many, many fascinating talks to watch online.


Why do I want to do this?

Because it's dead interesting, and I'll never do it otherwise.


How will I know I've done it?

I'll have watched 101 TED videos from beginning to end.


I'll record this in posts in this journal. Click on the numbers below to see talks I've watched.

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What's this about?

Back on my last list, I had the following goal: Articulate my opinions re. Apostles’, Nicene and Athanasian creeds, Thirty-Nine Articles [pdf] and UCCF Doctrinal Basis. I got about five clauses into the Apostles' Creed. This goal is to complete the work I began there.


Why do I want to do this?

The creeds, we're told, summarise what I'm supposed to believe as a Christian. The Thirty-Nine Articles add to this, marking out what makes the Church of England distinctive, though unless I get ordained or similar I probably won't be asked to put my name to them. However, had I ever made it onto the committee of the Christian Union (you laugh, but it might have happened, had Symphony Orchestra not rehearsed on Tuesday nights), I would have been asked to sign the [Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship] Doctrinal Basis. I want to explore just how comfortable I am with all these things I'm meant to believe.


How will I know I've done it?

I'll have articulated my interpretation of and feelings about each clause of the five summaries of belief.


This can be tracked by following the credo tag at el_staplador.

What's this about?

Music theory is the study of how music works. It examines the language and notation of music. It seeks to identify patterns and structures in composers' techniques, across or within genres, styles, or historical periods. In a grand sense, music theory distills and analyzes the fundamental parameters or elements of music – rhythm, harmony (harmonic function), melody, structure, form, texture, etc. (Wikipedia.

Developing literacy with the tonal language forms a key part of a rounded education for performers, composers and listeners of all kinds. An understanding of how written symbols relate to the elements of music, and having the skills to interpret and translate them into sounds, empowers us to communicate and experience music in a meaningful way. Without knowledge of notation it is impossible for classical musicians to access their repertoire with ease or to rehearse together; and this repertoire could not be heard at all had composers not been able to write it down. So, music theory is a very practical subject that is completely entwined with performance and composition. (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music - .pdf)


Why do I want to do this?

I love music, but I'm very conscious that I don't really know much about how it works. Oh, I can read it, I can play it, I can sing it, but I don't really understand chords, intervals, majors and minors. I think that knowing this sort of stuff will make me a better musician.

I'm going for Grade V because... it's kind of traditional. In the words of the ABRSM, again, A longstanding ABRSM benchmark is that a pass at Grade 5 or above in Theory of Music must be obtained before candidates can enter for Grades 6, 7 or 8 Practical exams. We believe that a thorough understanding of the elements of music is essential for a full and satisfying performance at these higher grades.


How will I know I've done this?

I will be able to sit and pass a Grade V Theory of Music paper. (I may or may not take this examination officially, but I ought to be able to get hold of a paper and a marking scheme, and my husband will be able to mark my efforts.)


I'll record this in posts on this journal.


This goal may be modified or replaced if I find Grade V stupidly easy - in which case I'll probably move up a few grades.

What's this about?

Meteorology, says Wikipedia, is the interdisciplinary scientific study of the atmosphere that focuses on weather processes and short term forecasting (in contrast with climatology). Studies in the field stretch back millennia, though significant progress in meteorology did not occur until the eighteenth century. The nineteenth century saw breakthroughs occur after observing networks developed across several countries. Breakthroughs in weather forecasting were achieved in the latter half of the twentieth century, after the development of the computer.

Meteorological phenomena are observable weather events which illuminate and are explained by the science of meteorology. Those events are bound by the variables that exist in Earth's atmosphere: They are temperature, air pressure, water vapor, and the gradients and interactions of each variable, and how they change in time.

I'd just like to be able to understand a weather map.


Why do I want to do this?

It seems like fairly basic knowledge that I don't understand at all. So.


How will I know when I've done it?

Good question. This is probably my vaguest goal. I will call it done when I can look at a pressure map and explain what the wiggly lines [are likely to] mean for the weather.


I'll record this in occasional posts in this journal.

What's this about?

ancientandmodern is the journal where I talk about hymns. A typical post would include the lyrics, a video, if I can find a decent one, a short(ish) meditation, and possibly some historical notes on the lyricist and composer.


Why do I want to do this?

I've let this slide recently, and it's a pity. I think I need a bit of a kick to post more often.


How will I know when it's done?

I'll have posted articles on 101 hymns at ancientandmodern.


Progress can be tracked on the journal itself, and at this post, where I'll put links to individual articles.


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