Michael Shermer says the human tendency to believe strange things — from alien abductions to dowsing rods — boils down to two of the brain’s most basic, hard-wired survival skills. He explains what they are, and how they get us into trouble.
Shermer & Purdom Interview at Creation Museum
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_CLIGJW6Ic
Dr Michael Shermer and Dr Georgia Purdom talk at the Creation Museum.
http://www.ted.com Why do people see the Virgin Mary on cheese sandwiches or hear demonic lyrics in “Stairway to Heaven”? Using video, images and music, professional skeptic Michael Shermer explores these and other phenomena, including UFOs and alien sightings. He offers cognitive context: In the absence of sound science, incomplete information can combine with the power of suggestion (helping us hear those Satanic lyrics in Led Zeppelin). In fact, he says, humans tend to convince ourselves to believe: We overvalue the “hits” that support our beliefs, and discount the more numerous “misses.”
Seattle conductor George Shangrow killed in crash
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSqoZjiS8NY
Handel Messiah Comfort Ye Every Valley. Stephen Wall tenor. George Shangrow conducting from the harpsichord.
J.S. Bach’s St. Matthew Passion. Orchestra Seattle – Seattle Chamber Singers
George Shangrow, Music Director
Seattle is in mourning today and for all time on the death of George Shangrow. Seattle area conductor George Shangrow was killed in a car crash on Saturday July 31, 2010.
It’s not normal for me to publish things like this on my website. But this is just so shocking to me. I first worked with George when I was around 12 years old as a boy soprano and in 2005 had offered to relocate my record label and internet company to Seattle to solely focus on promoting his groups. I’m so sad to hear this. What a tremendous loss. He was such a great conductor, pianist and person. Condolences to his family.
When I was around 12 years old, George Shangrow was around 27 and worked as a rehearsal pianist for the Northwest Boychoir that I was in. He would also sometimes accompany me in voice lessons and later I sang in the chorus with him conducting Bach’s St. Matthew Passion.
In 2006, before I relocated to China with Cirque Du Soleil, I last saw him conduct the Bach Mass in B Minor in Seattle, WA. I spoke with him after the concert and he said “Are you still interested in that studio and internet thing?” and I said “Yes”. But that was the last we spoke and I relocated to China.
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Sweeney Todd Music – Behind the Scenes
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lm9fxAMdhjM
“I prefer actors that can sing rather than singers that can act” – I thought that was a great quote from Stephen Sondheim in this video behind the scenes on the music for the movie version of the musical “Sweeney Todd”.
In another interview I read today with Stephen Sondheim he said although most musicals now are rock/pop or jukebox style – he said the same rules apply to creating musical theater: You create what you like and then just hope that others like it too. He says to try and second guess current trends or what audiences will like is pointless. I would say that in the world of pure art this is true. Although most of us work in arenas where budgets and projects dictate expectations.
Unless of course we are brave enough to venture out and create our own visions unhampered by monetary expectations. That is a tough decision for an artist, and a very fun one!
Cirque Casting Promo – Instrumentalists & Singers
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3-Gh4mXbyU
Cirque Du Soleil casting promo video for instrumentalists and singers. Musicians and vocalists can visit http://www.CirqueDuSoleil.com for audition submission information and updates on musician job openings.
女導遊喪鬧大陸客 7分鐘 熱爆網 Hong Kong Tour Guide Pressures Tourists to Shop
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFFRdtqqEVU
香港导游阿珍骂大陆游客购物不够多摄像录音_在线视频观看_土豆网视频 香港旅游 导游阿珍 导游骂人 大陆游客 港澳游.flv
Video is in Chinese. Hong Kong tour guide says “Spend more, you’ll be happier… don’t tell me you don’t need [to buy more], next you’ll be telling me you don’t need to eat at meal time. I will lock you out of your hotel rooms because you don’t need them [either].”
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Conrad in Hong Kong piano recording session
Finally got some pics from our recording session of the Cirque Du Soleil ZAIA soundtrack in Hong Kong – December 2008. Most of our tracks were recorded on location in Macau but we did string section and piano recordings in Hong Kong.
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Usher in Macau
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPbvvRt5MoU
Usher performed in Macau at the Venetian Casino on July 13, 2010. Rumor has it he came over to our ZAIA theater to record some audio tracks for a project he’s working on.
I didn’t get to meet him and security was tight. So I posted a video with some Usher music you might enjoy. Assuming that Usher has a good sense of humor and won’t kick my butt. Did you know that many consider Usher to be the one to take the torch from Michael Jackson’s legacy? Read on for more info.
Clarinet Overview
Range of the Bb Clarinet and characteristics of different registers. Low register called the Chalumeau octave.
More information on Clarinet construction and use in the orchestra available at:
http://www.mti.dmu.ac.uk/%7Eahugill/manual/clarinet/construction.html
Adam Baldwin – My Bodyguard fight scenes
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKMjpN2iCmc
Clip from My Bodyguard movie starring Matt Dillon, Chris Makepeace, Adam Baldwin, Ruth Gordon from 1980.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pachHZTZZic
Classic clip from My Bodyguard where the bully Mike gets his ass kicked! Excellent Movie from 1980!!
I have been watching the sci-fi series Firefly and really enjoy the character that Adam Baldwin plays. That made me remember when I first saw him in the movie “My Bodyguard” back in 1980. Chris Makepeace and Adam Baldwin are around the same age as me so My Bodyguard was a powerful movie for me when it came out that I could relate to.
Here I posted the two fight scenes from My Bodyguard. What a great film for the time.