chandra

Thanks everyone, that is very educational. Taking a little bit of a deep dive, in terms of what you look for in music, is it possible to separte that in terms of what is in the music and what the performer brings in to the mix? Meaning, no matter who performs, what items in the music do you pick out ( ( not necessarily limited to technical musical things ), if at all?

Just now I noticed this AP news head line. "Missing Boy Scout Leaves Utah Hospital" http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=...s/missing_scout

When I listen to Indian classical music, my first internal exercise is to figure out what raga it is in. Then may be what the rhymic cycle ( tala) it is set to. And to a large extent, my instinctive evaluation of the performance and the performer is how well they do the raga. If I can't figure out the raga, I am at a loss since the reference is not there (and many times that gets in the way of enjoying the music.) Relating this to Jazz, Blues, Rock.etc, besides just listening to the music and enjoying it overall, what are the things you look for in detail, identify, pin-point etc. ? And, do you use that to evalute/correlate different performers? And, are these things well defined enough that different people listening to it will characterize it the same way? ( and not necessarily agreeing whether they liked it or not ). I am not sure if I am describing clearly what I have in my mind. Let me see what you have to say..

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=...ility_orgasm_dc No faking female orgasm in scientific research By Patricia Reaney Mon Jun 20, 8:41 AM ET COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Women may be able to fool their partners by faking an orgasm but a brain scanner will catch them out every time, a conference heard Monday. Researchers at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands have used scans to show that different areas of the brain are stimulated during an orgasm but are not activated when a woman fakes it. "Women can imitate orgasm quite well," Gert Holstege told a fertility meeting Monday. "But there is nothing really happening in the brain." He and colleagues took brain scans of 13 women and 11 men, aged 19-49 who had volunteered for the study, while they were being sexually stimulated by their partner and during an orgasm and compared them to images of their brains at rest. "We wanted to know what the brain was doing during orgasm," Holstege said. When women genuinely achieved an orgasm, areas of the brain involved in fear and emotion were deactivated. Those areas stayed alert however when women were faking it. The researchers also found that the cortex, which is linked with consciousness, is active during a fake orgasm but not during the real thing. "The deactivation of these very important parts of the brain might be the most important thing necessary to have an orgasm," said Holstege. "It means that if you are fearful or at a very high level of anxiety, then it is very difficult to have sex because you really have to let yourself go," he added. The brain scans for men during orgasm were less conclusive, according to Holstege. But they did show that different parts of the male and female brain are activated and deactivated during sexual stimulation. The researchers found less deactivation in the males in the areas of the brain linked to emotion and fear when they were sexually stimulated. They are now planning further studies to compared the male and female brains during orgasm. About 5,300 delegates are attending the 4-day meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology.

I might check him out since majority of world's big systems are complex systems but at first glance it looks like 99% is over my head. One funny thing is, he has these gorgantuan equations and at the end he says something like "Note to statisticians: Sorry I am being simplistic"

I was holding up OK upto this point but it was building up along the way and tears swelled up.... Great inspirational story....Many times in the safety and comfort of daily routine, things may seem pointless but stories like this put the spark back on...

Musical Tastes Get High-Tech Analysis http://music.yahoo.com/read/news/19869155 There are couple of sites mentioned in the article where you can test out the recommendations ( e.g. www.soundflavor.com ). How does Jazz recommendations fare at these sites?

Talking of slide guitar, I recently came across the song 'Marwa Blues' by George Harrison in the album that was released posthoumously. There is a raga called Marwa but I could not tell if that song is in Marwa or not. But the slide guitar gives the flexibility to play Indian ragas. I wonder if any of you have any comments on that instrumental piece by GH.

The new home page looks nice, Jim.

Hope Carrie is a better singer than that horrible performance in that last song after she won. The bad performance is probably due to all the emotions and cries of joy etc. My friends assure me she is a lot better singer than that. We will see.

'...as had been fraudulently reported for decades" - What are you referring to? Just curious. Regarding the album behavior on the charts, the slide down is certainly true for the hot shot debuts but there are many who still climb the charts for whatever reason.

There was some discussion on Indian music a few weeks back here. Just today, I read an interview with Ravi Shankar and I thought his (brief)description might be informative to some.... ----- ... ... ... Q For someone who knows nothing of Indian music, what are the key differences between Indian and Western classical music? In what ways are they the same? A I always made it a point for people who are much more oriented to Western music not to expect the things that they are used to -- like chords, harmony, counterpoint, modulations and things like that. We dwell more on the melody, very rich melodies. There are thousands of melody forms, which we call ragas, with six notes ascending and descending. There are special rules and regulations for each raga, which we have to learn. And we improvise on them. Then, the whole rhythmic part is something so unique. Only now is the West starting to appreciate that, because it is so complex. We don't play just three and six beats or four and eight beats. We do it with seven beats, nine beats, 10 beats, 11, name it. It goes to 102 beats. A composition is based on these rhythmic cycles, and then we improvise. Some people improvise only 4 percent, 5 percent, but I have always made it a point to improvise almost 80 to 90 percent after choosing the raga and the talas, which are the rhythmic cycles. So this is the main thing, to listen for the melody and the surprise improvisations and all the rhythmic excitement. Q Is there a central role for spirituality in music? A Our music, like all our art forms, is based on nine different rasas. Rasas are the moods, different emotions, like happy, sad, brave, angry. . . . We usually start with something very serene and spiritual, like a beautiful prayer. That is the part which is most spiritual. Then it can be very playful, very romantic, with very fast rhythm, very much interplay with the drums, which gives the effect of dance. So that all different emotions are very, very prominent. Q Do you ever feel as if you are levitating when you are playing? A Not actually maybe levitating, but I get a very high spiritual feeling. It has happened to me, I don't know, thousands of times. It may not be for a long period, but even for short periods, when I get so involved and things just come out without my thinking. I don't know what I'm going to do even the next two seconds. That is a very special feeling, and I have experienced it again and again. Q How have the audiences changed in the past 35 years? A It has changed so much. There is much more understanding, much appreciation. No matter what music you hear, if you hear a lot fast drumming, lot of noise, lot of virtuosity, lot of fast passages, you are bound to get excited, no matter if it is jazz or African music or Indian music or a Western Paganini violin concerto. Virtuosity has the advantage. And loudness also has a big advantage. And today everything is loud thanks to the amplification system, which really sometimes gives me hurt. I have a problem when I go to a rock concert or any pop concert because it's too loud. I really feel it has done a lot of harm to music because it's making people conscious of music only when it's loud and with a lot of speed. Full article here: http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews...ng/11617485.htm

Two half-devils joined at the hips?

There is also this thing to consider. Many people automatically stay away from pop based on the principle: "Bigness is bad and consensus weakens the moral fiber".

I like this proposal from Selig and let us see how the player's union responds.... ----- Selig Seeks 50-Game Penalty for Steroids http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor...ne/bbo_steroids NEW YORK - Baseball commissioner Bud Selig asked players to agree to a 50-game suspension for first-time steroid offenders and a lifetime ban for a third violation under what he called a "three strikes and you are out approach" to doping. In a letter sent this week to union head Donald Fehr, Selig proposed a 100-game ban for a second offense. He also asked the union to ban amphetamines, to have more frequent random tests and to appoint an independent person to administer the major league drug-testing program. "Third offenders should be banned permanently. I recognize the need for progressive discipline, but a third-time offender has no place in the game," Selig wrote to Fehr. "Steroid users cheat the game. After three offenses, they have no place in it." Under the rules that began this season, a first offense gets a 10-day suspension, with the penalty increasing to 30 days for a second positive test, 60 days for a third and one year for a fourth. For a fifth positive, the penalty is at the commissioner's discretion. Baseball currently has no penalties for amphetamine use by players on 40-man major league rosters. Amphetamines are banned for players under minor league contracts. "Last winter, we reopened our agreement to deal with steroids," Selig wrote in the April 25 letter, a copy of which was obtained Saturday by The Associated Press. "I am asking you now to demonstrate once again to America that our relationship has improved to the point that we can act quickly and effectively deal with matters affecting the integrity of our great sport." Reached Saturday, Fehr said the union was not yet prepared to discuss Selig's proposal. "We'll respond in due course," Fehr said, adding he anticipated replying early next week. Some players began thinking about Selig's proposal Saturday. "That would get it out of the game — in a heartbeat," Kansas City Royals pitcher Brian Anderson said. New York Yankees player representative Mike Mussina said he wanted to study the proposal before responding. "I don't know if Bud's trying to get out in front and make us the good guys or the bad guys," said New York Mets pitcher Tom Glavine, a senior union leader. "I happen to be able to believe that our program is a good one and if we leave it alone, it's going to do what we want it to do," Glavine told the AP in Washington. "But if everybody has their mind set on making it tougher, then you're going to have to take the time, continue to look at it, and continue to look at alternatives. It's not something you can expect to happen in two weeks or two months. It's going to take a while, but I still think that it's something, that if it's deemed to be changed, you can probably get something done by next season." Baseball players agreed during the offseason to reopen the drug agreement, which was not set to expire until December 2006. The new rules, which began in March, for the first time instituted suspensions for a first positive test for steroid use. Four players have received 10-day bans, all with relatively low profiles: Tampa Bay outfielder Alex Sanchez, Colorado outfielder Jorge Piedra, Texas minor league pitcher Agustin Montero and Seattle minor league outfielder Jamal Strong. The new agreement, not scheduled to expire until December 2008, has been criticized by many in Congress as not tough enough and several congressmen threatened to propose federal legislation. "I continue to believe that time is of the essence in addressing this issue," Selig wrote to Fehr. Several congressmen cited the World Anti-Doping Agency code as their ideal. It calls for a two-year ban for a first offense and a lifetime ban for a second, unless there are mitigating circumstances. Some in Congress also were concerned that baseball's program is administered by a committee of management and union representatives, and several wanted a ban on amphetamines, long referred to as "greenies" in baseball. "It is time to put the whispers about amphetamine use to bed once and for all," Selig wrote. "To the extent that our culture has tolerated the use of these substances, the culture must change." Selig, Fehr, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa and Jose Canseco were among those who testified before the House Government Reform Committee on March 17. Baseball has retained the communications firm of former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer to assist on steroids and other matters as congressmen pressed for action. "This is what can happen when you shine a little light," said Dave Marin, spokesman for committee chairman Tom Davis, a Virginia Republican. "Davis' primary goal all along has been to encourage a little more self-policing. Kudos to the commissioner." Rep. Henry Waxman (news, bio, voting record) of California, the committee's ranking Democrat, said Congress will examine Selig's proposal closely. "It is weaker than the policy Congress is considering, but significantly stronger than baseball's current policy," Waxman said in a statement. Selig disclosed the letter to Fehr in a memorandum the commissioner sent Friday to team owners, presidents and chief executive officers. "This letter follows a personal meeting with Don and several telephone conversations during which I expressed my fervent views on the subject of the use of performance-enhancing substances," Selig wrote in the memo, which also was obtained by the AP. "It is my strong opinion that, regardless of whatever incremental progress we may have made under the current agreement, we continue to have a serious integrity issue with regard to our current policy and our great game," Selig wrote. "Prompt, decisive and dramatic action is needed to address the use of performance- enhancing substances because of the unfairness of such use to the rest of our players who want a level playing field." Selig said he will make alterations for 2006 to the drug-testing program for players with minor league contracts, who are not covered by the collective bargaining agreement. Currently, the minor league penalty starts at 15 games for a first offense, then escalates to 30 games, 60 games and one year, with a fifth offense bringing a lifetime ban. "These changes will include tougher discipline, including a permanent ban for a third offense, stricter regulation of amphetamines and greater reliance on independent experts," Selig said.

Setting aside the google story for a second, there may be a rational explanation for the rest. She is trying to find out where that long lost friend Laura Cunningham is and someone told her that Mr Big Wheel used to work with LC and might know where she is. She simply called directory assistance to get the number for Big Wheel and got yours by mistake.... Plausible? (Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association talked about coming up with a cell phone directory for 411 calls last year. I don't know if that is in service. You may not really know if your cell phone got on to that directory or not. May be you should call 411 and ask for your own name and see if they give out your cell phone number )

Last week Google reported that it earned 300+ Million dollars last quarter in internet advertising. That is more than a $1B a year and growing at a rapid rate. A vast majority of it is by users clicking on the sponsored links that shows up to the right of Google's search results. Similarly Yahoo earns more than a billion dollars in such click through dollars. I rarely even look at the sponsored links let alone click through. So, I was curious who clicks through. Hence the poll

This is sometimes weird but sometimes profound, often disturbing... People mail in their anonymous postcards with secret confessions on them, and PostSecret picks a few and posts them. The things that people carry around with them, little secrets and big, some silly, some petty, some touching, some a bit shocking, some extremely depressing... http://postsecret.blogspot.com/

When I read album reviews, I sometimes see mention of 'hook-laden music'. The connotation is usually a bit on the negative side. Though I see often-used 'cliche' hook as cheesy, isn't it the case that most of the popular music has the widest appeal because they all have some catchy melodic and rhythmic hook? How does 'hook' figure in Jazz?

Anthropomorphically speaking( ), evolution probably figured let us keep 'em females good until the purpose is satisfied

Alicia Keys Jill Scott India Arie (maybe under 30) Beyonce Knowles Christina Aguilera (and when she was under 30) Mariah Carey ...can all sing circles around Joss Stone. I guess the definition of soul has changed. These are pop/r&b singers as far as I'm concerned. Alica Keys definitely is modern R&B along with a good dose of vocal gymnastics and warbling.

When I post a message, if I move the mouse over one of the clickable smiles, all of them say 'smile'. But after the message is posted, you can mouse-over the emoticon and it says what it is. Can this be fixed?

.... Jeez she really does look like my missus on that pic. Just holds the mic differently. edited for spoolingh Careful now... She is only 17.

Just a few ideas, not from an artistic perspective, but from a commerical and marketing point of view... -- Price: Would drastically reducing the price of the CDs increase demand? The cost of the media is so little these days that if the volume really picks up at lower prices ( without lowering somehow the perceived value of the music, so it has to be done properly ), then the artist might end up making more money. -- Packaging. Multiple genre CDs packaged together at a reasonable price. People might then decide to check it out for an extra couple of dollars if they might have otherwise bought one of the CDs in the package. -- Promotion. Is there a nationwide association that promotes Jazz and Jazz musicians. Like an industry association without affiliation to a specific artist or label. That seems to work in other industries. This is a long term thing but every industry has one. -- I hear that Bluenote made a bit of profit ( even before all the recent windfalls ) even at the 2% market share level. The goal should be to increase it modestly to say 3% ( using the above and other techniques ). If other industry examples are similar, even such modest increases create a snowball effect which is very perceivable. I would think this will also result in increased opportunities for Jazz musicians at the local performing level and over time better rates. Anyway, some random thoughts...