Show us a musical genius.

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Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.  I was tempted to say Mahler, but Tchaikovsky wins on sheer range, he could write symphonies, ballets, overtures and operas fantastically.  Pieces like the Nutcracker Suite and the 1812 overture are sublime works, not to mention Piano Concerto number 1.  His work is so consistently amazing that I can't think of anyone more deserving of being the answer to this question.

There are so many pieces I could upload, but I've decided to go with two of those I listen to most often, conducted here by London Symphony Orchestra.

01 Nutcracker Ballet Suite_ March

10 1812 Overture

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Show us what you're looking forward to in 2008.

71819_sbxlii_Blanket

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Show us what you hope Santa brings you.

I want Santa to come early this year and deliver the Christmas presents that were apparently dispatched from Amazon US several weeks ago and still haven't arrived! I don't really mind what he brings me, but I'd very much like to have all of my presents for giving out and I hate feeling like there is nothing you can do while you wait on the Royal Mail. I really, really want these presents sorted, especially as they're for best friends.

That is, presently, my only Christmas Wish, and I'm getting more crestfallen by the day as I wait for the mail and nothing comes.

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Show us a winter photograph.

Snow

This photo was taken in January 2004, from the front door of the holiday home I was staying in.  The snow actually got heavier and thicker after that, and stopped us being able to drive out that day, although the snow ball fights and snowy walk into town were fun.  That was the same trip where some of the homes next to ours had sled dog teams in them, so every morning we'd see people walking past with the huskies, and then after they left one of the husky owners left us there toboggan as it was starting to give a bit and they didn't think it was worth travelling back with, so we got to have great fun tobogganing too!

Icicles

This is a picture from a different trip, I was staying in an A-frame type chalet and those icicles were hanging from the tip of the roof.  That was a really, really cold day, the longer icicles there are about three foot long!  However, when I did get inside it was nice and warm thanks to this...

Fire Place

I loved the fire, although I may have spent quite some time sitting very close to it to get the best of the heat.

Seat in Snow

And that is the little seat around the corner, it's in a little community garden in the village, and I thought it looked great surrounded in all the virgin snow.

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Show us something you think isn't written about enough.

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There are so many things in this world that no one speaks out about.  There are so many things in this world that our governments and corporations turn a blind eye to because it will make them even richer if they keep silent.  So many voices that should be united in demanding change yet instead are apathetic. 

I want to highlight the issue of Christian Persecution, because there is almost a total media blackout on this problem. It's not prejudice, I'm talking about, it's organised state persecution.  Take for example one of the west's new found financial markets friends, China.  While the Chinese constitution guarantees freedom of religion, this is not the case in practice.  The only churches that are legal and un-persecuted are those that are controlled by the state, so the state can restrict their teachings. To be an unregistered Christian is highly dangerous, they meet mainly in houses as if they do get their own buildings these are destroyed. When these churches are found they are split up, people are banned from meeting and sometimes sent for re-education in labour camps.  But there is worse, the leaders are often beaten, tortured and imprisoned and there is particular danger for Sunday School teachers as it's illegal to teach Children about religion as the state curriculum states that there is no God and to believe in one is unpatriotic.

I doubt Christians are the only group treated like this, in fact, I know that they aren't, and I'm against state persecution like this against any group, but as this is my space, I wanted to highlight something that is of personal relevance to me.  I just feel sad for the people who have no voice, the people who are attacked and persecuted and yet nobody knows, because it's not really news, it just happens. 

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Show us something you recently wrote.

DSCN0902

My NaNoWriMo novel, which I'm now editing after a few days off.  I'm up to page 72 on the edit, the word count has increased by a couple of hundred and I have noticed some truly hideous errors.  (Not least the amount of times I have typed 'new' instead of 'knew').  Note the tatty old OPED and Thesaurus which I've had far too long, and the St Petersburg Wallpaper* guide, just in case I need to check where anything is.

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