Ray Urwin   Music and other essential activities

Recently seen quote:

“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.”

— Abraham Lincoln

Not just my humble opinion – there’s recent scientific research supporting it! See it at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/20/music-intelligence_n_904124.html?ref=fb&src=sp. Worth reading!

We have long had a love-hate relationship with France and the French. I’m on the love side, but I’m a bit prejudiced about it – my high school French teacher was a big influence on my life, many of my favorite musicians have been, and are, French, and a beloved uncle was at D-Day! Here’s an excellent article from today’s New York Times by the renowned historian David McCullough that puts the relationship in some perspective. To paraphrase Albert Camus, there is more to admire than to despise about it! Vive la France!

I have a certain number of things I reread each year – among them is the Declaration
of Independence. I’m a big Thomas Jefferson fan, and I reread this great document at
least every other July 4th (today was different from past years, since I read it on my phone!).

Here’s a link to a fascinating thing about Jefferson, music, and the Declaration, with
a tidbit about Einstein as well. The second link is to the full article, on music and the
brain – definitely worth your reading!

Happy July 4th!

http://grovesite.com/page.asp?o=vces&s=Homers&p=407878

http://www.cerebromente.org.br/n15/mente/musica.html