Took a break today from my new (long and ongoing) project to play / create a new song. Sometimes staying motivated is not easy but all good things take time and the Chanukah motif is fitting in a very obtuse way.

Hanerot_Halalu.mp3 Listen on Posterous

Hanerot halalu anachnu madlikin
Al hanissim ve'al haniflaot
Al hatshu-ot ve'al hamilchamot
She-asita la'avoteynu
Bayamim hahem, bazman hazeh
Al yedey kohanecha hakdoshim.

Vechol shmonat yemey Chanukah
Hanerot halalu kodesh hem,
Ve-ein lanu reshut lehishtamesh bahem
Ela lirotam bilvad
Kedai lehodot leshimcha
Al nissecha veal nifleotecha ve-al yeshuotecha.

Vocal credit : Hanerot halalu

Music credit : Drone2
Music credit : Horn

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Audio_Wikinews_08-06-2010.mp3 Listen on Posterous

We briefly recap the top stories from around the world and on today's this day in history, we present the missingest man in New York.

The Audio Wikinews Brief for Friday, August 06, 2010

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Audio_Wikinews_08-05-2010.mp3 Listen on Posterous

California's same-sex marriage ban is ruled unconstitutional; mass panic ensues as Zimbabwean officials fake an air crash; UFO encounters may have been covered up by Churchill and Eisenhower and, in history, the story of Silent Otto.

The Audio Wikinews Brief for Thursday, August 05, 2010

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Audio_Wikinews_08-04-2010.mp3 Listen on Posterous

Eight people and a gunman are dead in shooting rampage at a Connecticut beer warehouse; US President Barack Obama'a approval ratings hit a new low and in history, we trace the importance of a humble, everyday device that was vital for the French Revolution.

The Audio Wikinews Brief for Wednesday, August 04, 2010

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Audio_Wikinews_08-03-2010.mp3 Listen on Posterous

A suicide bomber kills five Afghan children; California Representative Maxine Waters is charged with violating ethics rules; the FBI asks the Wikimedia Foundation to remove its seal from our websites and, in history, the Church Committee begins hearings on a secret US government program that involved giving unsuspecting citizens LSD.

The Audio Wikinews Brief for Tuesday, August 03, 2010

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Audio_Wikinews_08-02-2010.mp3 Listen on Posterous

As California attempts to get the Crown Fire under control, floods in Pakistan leave at least 800 dead; after 100 days, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill still threatens the Gulf coast; Chelsea Clinton gets married and, in history, one of the giants of American literature dies in 1988.

The Audio Wikinews Brief for Monday, August 02, 2010

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Audio_Wikinews_07-30-2010.mp3 Listen on Posterous

Raging Southern California wildfires force mandatory evacuation orders; 3 fatal air crashes occur in the United States; a French woman admits to killing her eight infants and, in history, Jimmy Hoffa disappears without a trace..

The Audio Wikinews Brief for Friday, July 30, 2010

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Audio_Wikinews_07-29-2010.mp3 Listen on Posterous

Police in Gibraltar investigate yet another suspicious death; Tennessee's Lieutenant Governor suggests that Islam is a 'cult'; the president of Iran sharply criticizes an octopus and, in history, the USS Forrestal incident becomes one of the worst US Naval disasters.

The Audio Wikinews Brief for Thursday, July 29, 2010

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Audio_Wikinews_07-28-2010.mp3 Listen on Posterous

A plane crash in the Pakistani capital Karachi kills 152; bull fighting banned in Catalonia; hip-hop artist Wyclef Jean is considering standing for president of Haiti and, on this day in history, The Red Priest dies a pauper in Vienna.

The Audio Wikinews Brief for Wednesday, July 28, 2010

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Audio_Wikinews_07-27-2010.mp3 Listen on Posterous

Twin car bombs kill 20 in Iraq; An investigation into Washington D.C. Metro crash finds a need for new safety rules; New Jersey governor calls television show "Jersey Shore" negative and on this day in history : it's time to put on your all-Rush mix-tape, grab a 2 liter bottle of Shasta and make a saving throw for the father of role-playing games.

The Audio Wikinews Brief for Tuesday, July 27, 2010

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Audio_Wikinews_07-26-2010.mp3 Listen on Posterous

Two NATO soldiers are captured in Afghanistan; BP CEO Tony Hayward is set to resign and "get back to his life"; British snooker player Alex Higgins is found dead at age 61 and, in history, Arizona Governor John Howard Pyle orders the raid of a polygamist Mormon fundamentalist community.

The Audio Wikinews Brief for Monday, July 26, 2010

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While researching today's This Day In History, I produced this song based on the events of the Short Creek Raid. I'm not sure if I'm going to use it in the segment, but I liked it enough to share.

I should add that I'm not defending the Mormon fundamentalists nor the raid (or religion in general since I'm not religious), however, I do believe it's important to look at historical events from as many different perspectives as possible. Also, you have to admit even if you don't agree with the subject matter of the William Chatterton Dix hymn, it is a beautiful piece of music regardless of personal belief.

Hymn.mp3 Listen on Posterous

What Child is this who, laid to rest
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom Angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?

This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and Angels sing;
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

- William Chatterton Dix

Image credit : Loomis Dean, 1953, LIFE Magazine

Vocals credit : What Child Is This
Effect credit : Wind.wav
Effect credit : Swing.wav

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Audio_Wikinews_07-23-2010.mp3 Listen on Posterous

Four earthquakes hit the Philippines in quick succession early this morning; former Illinois Governor Blagojevich rests in corruption trial; Darth Vader turns back to the dark side in, where else, New York and, in history, one of the most important Indian revolutionaries was born in 1906.

The Audio Wikinews Brief for Friday, July 23, 2010

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Audio_Wikinews_07-22-2010.mp3 Listen on Posterous

A Delta airliner experiences a tire blow-out on take off; Kosovo independence is ruled legal by the International Court of Justice; a misleading Burger King ad is banned in the UK and on this day in history, a shocking and unfortunate story.

The Audio Wikinews Brief for Thursday, July 22, 2010

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Audio_Wikinews_07-21-2010.mp3 Listen on Posterous

China attempts to clean up an oil spill in the Yellow Sea; astronomers believe they may have discovered the most massive star yet; Australian politicians promise school tax breaks ... after the cooking show is over and, in history, the Wingfoot Air Express crashes into a bank in Chicago.

The Audio Wikinews Brief for Wednesday, July 21, 2010

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Audio_Wikinews_07-20-2010.mp3 Listen on Posterous

Singapore police arrest a death penalty book author; Turkish protesters march against Internet censorship and, in history, the dream of a young president and a nation comes true on a summers day in 1969.

The Audio Wikinews Brief for Tuesday, July 20, 2010

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For Carl

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Audio_Wikinews_07-19-2010.mp3 Listen on Posterous

Leaks at the well cap and on the sea floor have been detected in the Gulf of Mexico Deepwater Horizon oil spill; violence continues in Iraq, Mexico and in Iran; India experiences yet another deadly train derailment and, in history, the Iroquois Confederacy attempt to strike a deal with The Crown.

The Audio Wikinews Brief for Monday, July 19, 2010

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Audio_Wikinews_07-16-2010.mp3 Listen on Posterous

An earthquake rattles Washington D.C. though there's no word on its political affiliation; West Virginia's governor names Carte Goodwin to replace Robert Byrd as that state's new Senator; researchers discover a common ancestor of apes and monkeys and, in history, Miss Macao is hijacked!

The Audio Wikinews Brief for Friday, July 16, 2010

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As I was doing my research for today's This Day In History segment I got sidetracked and spent a few hours producing this song. It's combines a traditional flute and sitar with Native American drums and the words of Oppenheimer from an old television interview. I got the idea from Jocelyn Pook's 1999 album, Flood - specifically the song Oppenheimer (which is why they share the same name). Enjoy!

Oppenheimer.mp3 Listen on Posterous

We knew the world would not be the same. A few people laughed, a few people cried, most people were silent. I remembered the line from the Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad-Gita. Vishnu is trying to persuade the Prince that he should do his duty and to impress him takes on his multi-armed form and says, "Now, I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds." I suppose we all thought that one way or another.

- J. Robert Oppenheimer

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Audio_Wikinews_07-15-2010.mp3 Listen on Posterous

The United States Senate passes the contentious financial overhaul bill; same-sex marriage is legalized in Argentina; India approves a new symbol for currency; Harry Potter is back in court and, in history, the key to deciphering an ancient language is dug up in the port city of Rashid.

The Audio Wikinews Brief for Thursday, July 15, 2010

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