ccmixter music – hisboyelroy
There really is some great music being produced with a Creative Commons License. This is a great example. see hisboyelroy’s page
Download Audio: Hisboyelroy – Remember the Name
DragonForce: Just the Right Amount of Cheese
So this may be a bit cheesy, but its just not too cheesy. Just perfect in fact. I love it.
CNN International: Actually Informative
North Korea, one of the worst contries in the world to be a citizen, tested some nuclear missles today. Big news in every media venue. CNN, however, pulled out a bit of a surprise and replaced their usual coverage with that of CNN International. I must say that if CNNI is any indication of what other news media is like in other parts of the world, then I REALLY wish we could get some of that coverage here in the U.S. Unlike so many of the talking head ‘news’ programs of CNN, MSBNC, FOXNews, etc, the hosts of CNNI did not attempt to awe or entertain the viewer with shouting matches between guests, overly flashy animation all over the place, followed by opinionated comments on the story allowing the viewer to obtain views on the subject simply by listening to the commentator. Instead, CNNI interviewed people who actually live IN KOREA, (vs. ‘experts’ in the U.S) and have a better understanding of the situation there, and took the time to focus on Kim Jong Il and his probable motivations for testing these weapons now. American news media seemed to focus mostly on Bush’s reaction to the missle launch, what will the U.S do, will we attack N. Korea? It was simply refreshing to get a new perspective on a global event for a change. Why do we have to be entertained while we get our news?
As a side note, CNN still had their distracting ticker placed over CNNI’s ticker. Only, you could just see the top of the ticker for CNNI. Do’h. It did seem that CNNI’s ticker didn’t scroll incessantly like CNN’s did, which would be nice. Who actually reads the ticker anyways?
Oh, and Happy Forth of July. Seriously. I may not agree with the currenty administration or the way things are being run in washington, but this is still one of the best countries in which to live. Do even a little research on the conditions in N. Korea and you will be very glad you live in a place like the U.S.
Who Says 18th Century Harpsichord Music is Dull?
This incredibly fun and mostly kick ass harpsichord cadenza is from the 1st movement of Bach’s Bradenburg Concerto No.5. Some info according to Wikipedia:
This concerto makes use of a popular chamber music ensemble of the time (flute, violin, and harpsichord). It is believed that it was written in 1719, to show off a new harpsichord by Michael Mietke which Bach had brought back from Berlin for the Cöthen court. It is also thought that Bach wrote it for a competition at Dresden with the French composer and organist Louis Marchand; in the central movement, Bach uses one of Marchand’s themes. Marchand fled before the competition could take place, apparently scared off in the face of Bach’s great reputation of virtuosity and improvisation.
The concerto is well suited throughout to showing off the qualities of a fine harpsichord and the virtuosity of its player, but especially in the lengthy solo ‘cadenza‘ to the first movement. It seems almost certain that Bach, considered a great organ and harpsichord virtuoso, was the harpsichord soloist at the premiere. Scholars have seen in this work the origins of the solo keyboard concerto; indeed it is said to be the first-ever example.
This excerpt is from Trevor Pinnock and the English Concerto Orchestra cd.
Download Audio: Brandenburg Concerto No.5 mv 1
07.2.06You Could. .
Learn a new languange.
Change your career.
Contact an old friend.
Change your diet.
Read a good book.
Watch a movie.
Cook something healthy for dinner.
Take a walk outside.
Quit your job.
Stop reading this, get in your car, and drive someplace you’ve always wanted to go.
Play with your cat (or dog).
Kiss your spouse (or significant other)
Try to smile more often.
Look at your current situation from a completely different point of view.
Try to get to know your neighbors.
Pick up a new hobby.
Learn to juggle.
Listen to your favorite album.
Dance to your favorite album.
Donate money to a good cause.
Do something to fix a problem, instead of avoiding it.
Call your best friend just to tell them you love them.
Do nothing.
You could also die tommorrow.