SALVO

Earth from the International Space Station — The Chill-Out Mix

Salvo — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 01:15:58 +0000

This is beautiful and awesome.

For a really cool experience open the video full-screen, sit back, and relax…

Thanks Carter for sending my way!

Thomas Friedman Interview on BBC Radio 3

Salvo — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 05:19:24 +0000

On a recent episode of the always-interesting BBC Radio 3 Arts & Ideas Podcast, Philip Dodd spoke with Thomas Friedman about his new book “That Used to Be Us: How America Fell Behind in the World It Invented and How We Can Come Back“. While I don’t usually agree with Friedman, I did find this interview interesting–Dodd challenges Friedman and engages him in constructive argument with guests Gideon Rachman and Anatole Lieven. Worth a listen for folks interested in current affairs, globalization, economics, education, and big ideas.

Listen here or download the MP3:

>> Hear more & subscribe for free: BBC Arts & Ideas

Thoughts on Peter Gabriel’s “New Blood”

Salvo — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 20:51:14 +0000

"New Blood" by Peter Gabriel

Just got my CD copy of Peter Gabriel‘s newest project, “New Blood” — an orchestral rehashing of a number of his classic songs. He revisited the studio, recording entirely new versions of tracks with a full orchestra and without drum kit or guitar. As a long-time Peter Gabriel fan, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the album. My verdict: it’s a pleasure.

“New Blood” feels like bearing witness a musical experiment. At times it feels just that–experimental. I’m still not sure that “Solsbury Hill” and “Intruder” benefit from the orchestral arrangements; nonetheless I’m glad to hear a new interpretation. Every track on the album makes me contemplate the songs afresh. “Wallflower“, “Red Rain”, “Don’t Give Up”, “San Jacinto”, and “Blood of Eden” particularly shine. A couple songs are (dare I say) better than the original album recordings.

I recommend “New Blood” not only for Peter Gabriel fans who know all the songs already. In fact, I’d be curious to learn the reactions of listeners who hear the “New Blood” versions first, then go off and listen to the original album cuts.

For a sampling of the behind-the-scenes process behind “New Blood”, check out this video:

As always, much more information at PeterGabriel.com. Enjoy.

Fouad Ajami on the U.N. and a Palestinian State

Salvo — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 19:00:34 +0000

Fouad Ajami wrote the opinion piece below for the Wall Street Journal back in June. It’s still timely a couple months later as Palestine seeks a declaration of statehood from the United Nations this week. While it’s high time that the Palestinian people join the international community and adopt the responsibilities of statehood, Ajami makes a crucial point that achieving statehood takes much more than declarations.

>> Link: The U.N. Can’t Deliver a Palestinian State

A Little Deception Helps Push Athletes to the Limit

Salvo — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 19:00:08 +0000

I’ve said before that the real difference between a lot of elite athletes–especially cyclists–is not in the muscles but in the mind. On a killer mountain, or a fast stretch, it’s your mind that often wants to back down first. You have to train yourself to keep pushing in those situations. (I like to think about this in terms that Jens Voigt famously said: “Shut up, legs!”

Many seasoned cyclists say the best way to become a better cyclist is to ride with riders better than you. I can attest that riding with better riders makes you realize just how much you can do. Now it seems that research substantiates this idea.

What I wonder is how much this principle applies in endeavors beyond physical performance? How many exercises in life do we self-limit? How can we coach ourselves to eek out an extra percentage point of performance when it comes to goals beyond just pedaling to victory?