Friday, 25 December 2009
Winter Solstice
Longest day of winter, colloquially called "Midwinter". Occurs around dec 21,22 in the Northern hemisphere.
Origins of NAFTA
Treaty of "America del Norte", came into force on Jan 1 1994, during the Clinton administration (Clinton was 42nd President of the USA between 1993-2001, Clinton studied PP&E at University College, Oxford). The US had already signed a similar treaty with Canada in 1988. Some economists argue NAFTA has been positive for Mexico, which has seen poverty rates fall and real incomes rise (in the form of lower prices, esp food).
Thursday, 24 December 2009
Who is the BEA?
The BEA is the Bureau of Economic Analysis, which provides economics accounts data. It's part of the Dept of Commerce and provides data on real GDP. They make available a number of methodology papers on their website.
Tuesday, 27 October 2009
Focus on Money as Cause of Crisis?
Margaret Thatcher to priests in Scotland: "The good samaritan did not just have good intentions, he had money too".
Sunday, 25 October 2009
The Sound of Magnolias
The Sound of Magnolias, Irma Kurtz, Spanish composer Rodrigo, Concerto de Aranjuez palace of Aranjuez. born Valencia 1901. 3, diptheria, died just short of 100th birthday. produced almost 200 pieces for voice, cello, harp, piano, guitar, daughter cecilia. fragrance of magnolias gushing of fountains. pepe romero: "it is intriguing to the most knwoeldgeable of musicians,challenging to the great musicologists and it is accessible to a child" bridges the gap between the snobs of music and the people who just feel it and love it and want to tap their feets and clap their hands.
"spain has something extraordinary in its soil to produce great folkloric music" also you have the castilian in him "playing piano was like praying for him" studied at Ecole Normale de Musique, Paul Ducat. Spanish music is so distinctive, esp the guitare. many Spanish composers came to france to study not Germany, else influenced by post-Wagnerian music, may not have been happy marriage. also guitar, highly respected instrument in Spain, Rodrigo quality - adapt it to modern music. met Victoria, Turkish
jardin du luxembourg, on the rive gauche. took train back from Paris to Madrid (2 days before war broke out), carried treasure in their trunk. 1939, 2nd and 3rd movement, nothing inside just papers, 1st movement wrote once they were in Spain already. the beginning of the adagio, that appears to be simplicity itself, but is it? chooses a form that is very traditional flamenco from the holy week, which is essaillida, what R writes, the chord of guitar is very much softened. do u remember him every being very sad. yes, yes very much depressed, because artistes go thru these feelings and moments, when they cannot find what they're looking for, what they're seeking and they feel they cannot be as good as they would like, so very very much depressed, very ill. where does inspiration come from? we know R was nostalgic for the gardens of Aranjuez where he had walked with Victoria during their honeymoon
it is said the middle movement came to him entire and out of the blue. how did you think of that fantastic tune? well, actually I was just standing there waiting for a tram. only when he turned 90, movement, when they lost their first child, this was his love song to that child
he was not sad, he just accept it as it was. she was describing him everything, he could see through her eyes. some people believe he composed at the piano, no in his head, in the dark. R is quoted as saying "i can hear a smile"
perception you have when you don't see is more, sight one of senses make you more distracted. when get out of interference, you get into yourself, tend to smell around more, to think, to feel, very deep internal feelings. this cadenza is such a beautiful, tender moment, you live a thousand years in one instant and time takes on a different meaning. every time i play it it feels different, it feels fresh, first kiss i gave my children and my grandchildren when they first were born. not a composer of one work, but an entire body of strong works
I remember performing at the palace of aranjuez, and rodrigo was receiving a standing ovation. I said, maestro shall i repeat the second movement? no no no you played it magnificentlt the only thing you can do now is mess it up! yr father's legacy is the music. but his music would not be as beautiful as it is if you don't know the human being. music, we don't need to know where it comes from, but we do know it comes from an incredibly deep source of love...gave pieces, passages that will forever help mankind become more in tune with their own spirituality
paco de lucia, 2nd movement
"spain has something extraordinary in its soil to produce great folkloric music" also you have the castilian in him "playing piano was like praying for him" studied at Ecole Normale de Musique, Paul Ducat. Spanish music is so distinctive, esp the guitare. many Spanish composers came to france to study not Germany, else influenced by post-Wagnerian music, may not have been happy marriage. also guitar, highly respected instrument in Spain, Rodrigo quality - adapt it to modern music. met Victoria, Turkish
jardin du luxembourg, on the rive gauche. took train back from Paris to Madrid (2 days before war broke out), carried treasure in their trunk. 1939, 2nd and 3rd movement, nothing inside just papers, 1st movement wrote once they were in Spain already. the beginning of the adagio, that appears to be simplicity itself, but is it? chooses a form that is very traditional flamenco from the holy week, which is essaillida, what R writes, the chord of guitar is very much softened. do u remember him every being very sad. yes, yes very much depressed, because artistes go thru these feelings and moments, when they cannot find what they're looking for, what they're seeking and they feel they cannot be as good as they would like, so very very much depressed, very ill. where does inspiration come from? we know R was nostalgic for the gardens of Aranjuez where he had walked with Victoria during their honeymoon
it is said the middle movement came to him entire and out of the blue. how did you think of that fantastic tune? well, actually I was just standing there waiting for a tram. only when he turned 90, movement, when they lost their first child, this was his love song to that child
he was not sad, he just accept it as it was. she was describing him everything, he could see through her eyes. some people believe he composed at the piano, no in his head, in the dark. R is quoted as saying "i can hear a smile"
perception you have when you don't see is more, sight one of senses make you more distracted. when get out of interference, you get into yourself, tend to smell around more, to think, to feel, very deep internal feelings. this cadenza is such a beautiful, tender moment, you live a thousand years in one instant and time takes on a different meaning. every time i play it it feels different, it feels fresh, first kiss i gave my children and my grandchildren when they first were born. not a composer of one work, but an entire body of strong works
I remember performing at the palace of aranjuez, and rodrigo was receiving a standing ovation. I said, maestro shall i repeat the second movement? no no no you played it magnificentlt the only thing you can do now is mess it up! yr father's legacy is the music. but his music would not be as beautiful as it is if you don't know the human being. music, we don't need to know where it comes from, but we do know it comes from an incredibly deep source of love...gave pieces, passages that will forever help mankind become more in tune with their own spirituality
paco de lucia, 2nd movement
Monday, 19 October 2009
Cristiano Ronaldo Set to Become Billionaire
Real Madrid midfielder, and former Man United ace, is being offered £1.5m a game to play in friendlies in the Middle East. He is taking over from David Beckham as the planet's richest player. "Real Madrid are the team of the moment and Cristiano Ronaldo is the player everyone wants to see".
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