From NPR News

U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah Sr., Of Philadelphia, Indicted On Corruption Charges

http://n.pr/1DOYH8E

Samuel DuBose video appears to show two officers reinforced false account of police killing

Samuel DuBose video appears to show two officers reinforced false account of police killing

http://gu.com/p/4b53b?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_WordPress

Banksy street art up for auction

Banksy street art up for auction

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-33705205

A tourist in the land of the ayatollahs

A tourist in the land of the ayatollahs

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-33706015

Half of online world uses Facebook

Half of online world uses Facebook

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-33712729

Hackers tweet photos with hidden code

Hackers tweet photos with hidden code

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-33702678

Noam Chomsky: The United States is totally isolated – Salon.com

Police officer indicted for murder in fatal shooting of Samuel Dubose

Police officer indicted for murder in fatal shooting of Samuel Dubose

http://gu.com/p/4b4z6?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_WordPress

From France 24 :

Israel approves 300 new homes in occupied West Bank

http://f24.my/1gmiszE

What’s Obama visit done for Africa?

What’s Obama visit done for Africa?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-33699183

Nokia to sell virtual reality camera

Nokia to sell virtual reality camera

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-33704103

Facebook loses Germany privacy case

Facebook loses Germany privacy case

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-33702674

France boosts Calais tunnel security

France boosts Calais tunnel security

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-33709244

Homenaje by Manuel de Falla – Jerry Willard – Guitar

Jerry Willard

Published on Feb 1, 2015

Homenaje pour le Tombeau de Claude Debussy, Manuel de Falla for solo guitar played by guitarist Jerry Willard – recorded in Stowe Vermont January 2015 on a Francisco Fernandez guitar made in Madrid 1960. For more about my music and me please visit my web page at http://www.jerrywillard.com. MANUEL DE FALLA Manuel de Falla was born in Cadiz Spain November 23, 1876 and died in Alta Gracia, Argentina November 14, 1946. Manuel de Falla is considered to be the greatest Spanish composer of the early 20th century. He achieved in his music a fusion of classicism and nationalism that reflected folkloric roots of Spain. Falla’s major works include the ballets “El Amor Brujo” and “El Sombrero De Tres Picos”, a suite of three pieces for piano and orchestra “Noches En Los Jardines de Espana”, an opera “La Vida Breve” and the “Homenaje pour le Tombeau de Claude Debussy” for solo guitar.

Homenaje pour le Tombeau de Claude Debussy, Manuel de Falla for solo guitar The Homenaje was written for the music magazine “Revue Musicale’’. The Revue asked many well-known composers of the day, including Dukas, Ravel, and Bartok to write compositions to eulogize to Debussy. The guitarist Miguel Llobet suggested that de Falla write a guitar composition. The Homenaje was published in the 1920 edition of the Revue.

Biographical material on some the personage in the photographs

LUISA VELA (1884 – 1938)
Luisa Vela is considered one of the greatest soprano of the early twentieth century. Vela sang the first public performance of the “Siete Canciones Populares Espanolas” song cycle on January 14, 1915, with de Falla at the keyboard.
JOAQUIN TURINA (1882 – 1949)
Joaquin Turina is known as a nationalistic Spanish composer. His compositions reflect the dances, songs and folklore of Spain. He wrote and dedicated many compositions for solo guitar to Andres Segovia. These compositions are considered standard repertoire for guitarists today.
MARÍA LEJÁRRAGA (1874 – 1974)
María Lejárraga was a feminist writer, novelist, and librettist. She wrote the librettos for “El Amor Brujo” by Manuel de Falla, and “Margot” by Joaquín Turina.
PASTORA IMPERIO (1887 – 1979) Pastora Imperio was a flamenco dancer and prima ballerina at the premiere of “El Amor Brujo” by Manuel de Falla, 82 April 1915 at the Teatro Lara in Madrid.
ARTHUR RUBINSTEIN (1887 – 1982)
Arthur Rubinstein is considered one of the great pianists of the 20th century and is considered by many to be the greatest Chopin interpreter of his time. Rubinstein performed on the concert stage for 8 decades.
WANDA LANDOWSKA (1879 – 1959)
Wanda Landowska a Polish harpsichordist played a large role in reviving the harpsichord in the 20th century. De Falla composed “El Retablo De Maese Podro” and later a harpsichord concerto both dedicated to Landowska.
ANDRÉS SEGOVIA (1893 – 1987)
Andrés Segovia considered to be the father of the classical guitar has been regarded as one of the greatest guitarists of all time. Segovia’s commissioned many compositions for guitar and left a legacy of many beautiful transcriptions, which are still performed today.
MARCEL MOYSE (1889 -1984)
Marcel Moyse, a French flautist, considered to be one of the great flautists of the 20th century. He was known for his clear penetrating sound and fast controlled vibrato. His playing and teaching influenced generation of flautists.
DARIUS MILHAUD (1892 – 1974)
Dauris Milhaud was a prolific French composer writing more than 400 works is known for his use of polytonality. He was known as one of “Les Six” representing the important French composers between World War I and World War II.
LAURA SANTELMO (1897 – 1977)
Laura Santelmo, a flamenco dancer and ballerina, she danced in “El Amor Brujo”.

Les Talens Lyriques – Christophe Rousset

Les Talens Lyriques – Christophe Rousset

J.S. BACH, Violin Concerto in D minor [after BWV 1052], Europa Galante

Ispirazione Barocca

Published on May 10, 2015

Johann Sebastian Bach

Concerto for Violin, Strings and B.C. in D minor [after BWV 1052]:
I. Allegro 0:01
II. Adagio 7:17
III. Allegro 9:27

Europa Galante
Fabio Biondi [violin, direction]

Saint-Saëns – Concerto no 1 pour piano et orchestre – Jeanne-Marie Darré

Saint-Saëns – Concerto no 1 pour piano et orchestre – Jeanne-Marie Darré

gfdsab

Uploaded on Feb 21, 2012

Camille Saint-Saëns

Concerto pour piano et orchestre no 1
en ré majeur – opus 17

Jeanne-Marie Darré

Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Française
Louis Fourestier

Enregistré en 1956

I- Andante – Allegro assai 00:00

II- Andante sostenuto quasi adagio 10:19

III- Allegro con fuoco 17:52

‘Shadow council’ speaker pushes Church acceptance of contraception, gay sex :: Catholic News Agency (CNA)

Rome’s Pontifical Gregorian University, where the May 25 secretive gathering was held. Credit: Luigi Santoro via Wikimedia Commons. Filter added

By Andrea Gagliarducci

Rome, Italy, Jul 29, 2015 / 03:01 am (CNA).- Yes to contraception, homosexual acts, and Communion for the divorced and remarried – all considering the circumstances. No to understanding any acts as intrinsically evil.

These are the positions advocated by speakers at the May 25 “shadow council” which gathered prelates and theologians, led by the German bishops, at a Jesuit university in Rome.

That day 50 specially chosen representatives of the the German, Swiss, and French bishops conferences gathered at the Pontifical Gregorian University for a closed-door meeting, with the aim of reflecting on the biblical and theological bases of the family, and of discussing their goals for the Synod on the Family which will be held at the Vatican this October.

Only a few journalists were invited to participate in the meeting, and under the condition that they would not attribute by name what they heard there. One participant told CNA they were barred from granting interviews, as “confidentiality has been requested about the discussions at stake.”

But on July 17, nearly two months after the fact, the German bishops conference released the text of the meeting’s interventions, in French, German, and Italian. Missing, however, was the final speech from Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich and Freising.

The document’s introduction explained that the convention was divided into three parts: a reflection on Christ’s words regarding marriage and divorce; on sexuality as an expression of love and “a theology of love”; and on the gift of life and “a narrative theology” – theology based on personal experience.

via ‘Shadow council’ speaker pushes Church acceptance of contraception, gay sex :: Catholic News Agency (CNA).

Saint of the Day for Wednesday, July 29th, 2015: St. Martha

Saint of the Day for Wednesday, July 29th, 2015

St. Martha

“Jesus loved Martha and Mary and Lazarus.” This unique statement in John’s gospel tells us of the special relationship Jesus had with Martha, her sister, and her brother. Apparently … continue reading

More Saints of the Day

St. Martha St. Callinicus St. Faustinus Bl. John Baptist Lo Bl. Joseph Tshang St. Kilian St. Lazarus of Bethany Bl. Louis Bertran St. Lucilla & Companions St. Lupus

Bl. Mancius of the Holy Cross St. Martha Wang St. Olaf St. Olaf of Norway Bl. Paul Tcheng Bl. Peter of the Holy Mother of God St. Seraphina St. Serapia Bl. Urban II St. William of Saint-Brieuc

today’s holliday: St. Olav’s Day

St. Olav’s Day

St. Olav is the patron saint of Norway, and the anniversary of his death is still marked by religious services, fireworks, and public merry-making. Every year the battle in which he died is reenacted during the St. Olav Festival in Trondheim. In the Faroe Islands, this is known as Olavsoka, or “St. Olav’s Wake,” a national holiday. Parliament opens on the 29th, but the festivities—which include dancing, sports events, speeches, drinking, and a parade of members of Logting (parliament)—begin the night before and continue into the early hours of the 30th. More… Discuss

quotation: Charles Dickens (1812-1870)

Father Time is not always a hard parent, and, though he tarries for none of his children, often lays his hand lightly upon those who have used him well; making them old men and women inexorably enough, but leaving their hearts and spirits young and in full vigor. With such people the grey head is but the impression of the old fellow’s hand in giving them his blessing, and every wrinkle but a notch in the quiet calendar of a well-spent life.

Charles Dickens (1812-1870) Discuss

today’s birthday: Benito Mussolini (1883)

Benito Mussolini (1883)

An ardent socialist in his youth, Mussolini turned nationalist after serving with the Italian army in WWI. He formed a fascist political group in 1919 and was soon appointed prime minister, becoming the youngest in Italian history. Supported by Adolf Hitler, Mussolini declared war on the Allies in 1940. As German defenses in Italy collapsed, Mussolini tried to escape to Austria but was captured and executed by Italian partisans. During his rule, he was known as Il Duce, which means what? More… Discuss

this day in the yesteryear: The Young Irelander Rebellion (1848)

The Young Irelander Rebellion (1848)

In the 1840s, a group of young Irish idealists began to promote Irish cultural nationalism. Known as Young Irelanders, they eventually sought revolution and, in 1848, organized a disastrous rebellion in Tipperary led by William Smith O’Brien and Thomas Meagher. Sometimes called the Famine Rebellion of 1848—since it took place during the Great Irish Famine—the Young Irelander Rebellion led to the ultimate failure of the movement. What events likely inspired the Young Irelanders to revolt? More… Discuss

Fenugreek

Fenugreek, known also as Methi, is a crop plant grown as a potherb and for the spice made from its seeds. It grows wild from the eastern Mediterranean area to China and is used in a wide variety of foods there. Fenugreek seeds are widely used as a milk producing agent by nursing mothers and recent experiments indicate it may be a useful tool in the fight against cancer and diabetes. In 2009, fenugreek was discovered to be the source of what kind of smell wafting over New York City? More… Discuss

word: gastropod

gastropod

Definition:

(noun) Any of various mollusks of the class Gastropoda, such as the snail, slug, cowrie, or limpet, characteristically having a single, usually coiled shell or no shell at all, a ventral muscular foot for locomotion, and eyes and feelers located on a distinct head.

Israeli Gaza action ‘a war crime’

Israeli Gaza action ‘a war crime’

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-33700343

Rio 2016 facing pollution challenge

Rio 2016 facing pollution challenge

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/33704373

How ant armies move massive meals

How ant armies move massive meals

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/33692054