More of Cello

A while back I sent a link of Zoe Keating playing her cello. If you liked that you will like these even more.






Tetrishead
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJiybW81mXA
Tetrishead (better sound quality)
http://www.imeem.com/people/chO_Hi_/music/Pg4C2MOW/zoe_keating_tetrishead/
Exurgency
http://www.imeem.com/someonefindalice/music/FlwC5GkK/zoe_keating_exurgency/
Walking Man
http://www.imeem.com/people/chO_Hi_/music/Tjg-KlJV/zoe_keating_walking_man/

Yo Yo Ma is another very well known in the classical style, here is a improvisation of Bach Cello Suite No 1.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZn_VBgkPNY

These are the two artists who really made me get hooked to Cello sound. If you compare the sound of all musical instruments there is something moving about the sound of a cello, its considered as the closest sounding instrument to the human voice. Listening to techno or any other contemporary music revs you up for the duration of the song, but cello is something that lingers in your mind for a long time.


Venkat Reddy

Making sense of current Economic situation

Last couple of weeks have been a awash with flood of economic news by newspaper articles, TV news, blogs etc. Each of these are full of strange terms and jargon barely making any sense aside the fact of deepening the uncertainty. All the news sources single out a firm like Lehman, AIG or various CEO's to channel the blame, with so much micro look its hard to distill out whats the root cause of all these fiasco. Watch this interesting talk by Robert Reich a Economics professor at UC Berkley, in a short summary he places the single source of blame on Alan Greenspan. He was the Federal Reserve Chairman who during early 2000 reduced Fed borrowing rate to such ridiculous low rate that banks and private heavy weight investors were awash with cheap surplus money. The only way these institutions can make money is by lending to every tom dick and harry whether he needs it not.

Here is a summary talk:
http://fora.tv/2008/10/01/Robert_Reich_Finds_Causes_for_Wall_Street_Meltdown

There is a tab called "Play Full Program" if you want to watch the complete talk.


Venkat Reddy

Tragic Indian Family

I am sure it must be over the news channels by now, its just plain sad that a entire Indian family of 6 were found dead in Los Angeles, the entire family was shot by the father himself. Based on some letters he left behind, he justifies this action due to financial difficulties.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/10/06/california.murder.suicide/index.html

The thing that outrages me is that, unlike India in US there are number of avenues you have to keep going even if loose your shirt. Part of the blame can be on the typical Indian communities which have these stereotypical expectations that you always have a live upto certain standard of expectations no matter what the circumstances are. This fatherly character shot his wife, his 70 year old mother inlaw, his three sons 19, 12 and 7 yr olds and finally shot himself.


Venkat Reddy

Sarah Palin

For people in US who are familiar with Sarah Palin the potential Vice-president, here is a interesting analogy I came across:

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You are on a 747 flying to Asia.

Suddenly, on approach to land, the head flight attendant gets on the public address system and says...

"Attention all passengers. This is an emergency. The pilot and co-pilot have both suddenly died. Are there are any passengers who can fly this plane and safely land us?"

Two passengers volunteer to help. Now, you, the passengers must vote on who will land the plane.

The first passenger to volunteer is a fully-qualified professional co-pilot from another airline. He's flown hundreds of flights and logged thousands of hours flying commercial jets. He knows 747's inside and out. He knows all the major airports, runways, and regulations. He knows how to talk to air traffic control. He understands how planes work. He can land in the dark, or in any kind of weather. He says to the passengers, "I know this plane inside and out. It's my job. I've been doing it for years. I'll get you all safely on the ground, on-time."

The other volunteer is a hockey mom from Alaska. She has taken a few flying lessons in a small commuter plane in the wilds of Alaska. She has logged only a few hours of flying time so far, and doesn't even have her pilot's license yet. But she says, "Look, the fact that I haven't been flying with the big airlines and don't have my license yet, is actually a plus! I'm an outsider! You don't want someone from the big airlines to land this plane. You need someone just like you -- not some big shot professional pilot! See, I don't play by their rules. I do things my own way!"

Who would you pick to land the plane?

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Its just plain unfortunate that they even considered her as a potential candidate, if all that Americans care is to have some pretty looking candidate on TV everyday she would rank high in that department.

Source:

http://www.twine.com/item/11xh5dngx-p6/here-s-a-new-way-to-think-about-sarah-palin

Venkat Reddy