Wonder Valley

[Recorded Feb 27, 2006]
On February 13, 1956, co-inventor of the transistor William Shockley formally announced the establishment of Shockley Labs, Silicon Valley’s first semiconductor company. In their modest Quonset hut laboratory on San Antonio Avenue in Mountain View, California Shockley’s hand-picked team of some of the nation’s brightest young scientists and engineers developed innovative technologies and ideas that forever changed the way we live, work and play. This lecture celebrates the 50th anniversary of this pivotal event in the history of Silicon Valley. Technology historian Michael Riordan is joined by early Shockley employees and associates Jim Gibbons, Jay Last, Hans Queisser, and Harry Sello in this lecture and panel discussion.

Duration : 1:37:38

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(Click THIS SENTENCE, or “MORE INFO” for song notes and LYRICS) — This is the final song on my Takoma Records debut album “One More Highway” (produced by John Fahey). Elsewhere on my You Tube channel ( http://www.youtube.com/user/randybrook77 )there are other songs from the album, and in the notes accompanying those songs I have already told about the album and how it came to be. Several of the fotos are from a 6-page Life Magazine article about my hitch-hiking exploits which was published shortly before the album was recorded.
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This song called for a choir on the last verse, so we just gathered up everyone who was hanging around the sessions, including the sound engineer and his wife, and threw them all in front of a microphone. I was amazed at how well their performance turned out. They sound like the Mormon Tabernacle Choir or something.
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True story – during recording I was thinking how nice a country-style slide guitar lead would sound. I went outside during a break and there was a guy sitting on the sidewalk playing a slide dobro (it was Hollywood, after all). I asked him to come in, and we gave him a few bucks to play on the recording. I think his music MAKES the song. Sadly, I lost his name and when it came time for credits I had to just call him “The Phantom Slide-Dobro Player”.
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I have no idea why i used the gospel-standard “Will The Circle Be Unbroken” at the end, or why I jokingly said “Take it, Jesus” right before the verse began. At the time I did not believe in God, Jesus or the Bible – in fact I was an agnostic. A long time later I had some personal revelations – not unlike some of the imagery towards the end of the video – and they completely turned me around. Now I believe, but at the time I didn’t. Maybe the whole inspiration for the song was given to me by the God and His Son who I later came to embrace. Life is funny that way (No pun intended).
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I’m not saying if that was Jesus or not who said “Easy” right after I said “Take it Jesus”, but if it was he has a better sense of humor than I gave him credit for. (Get it? “Take it , Jesus” – “Easy” – “Take it…easy”? Get it? Get it? SIgh…never mind.)
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With this song I have now finished posting what I consider to be the best songs from the album, so there’s really no need for you to go out and buy it (I know…I know…it’s a good thing I told you…you were just about to rush out the door to go get a copy, right?). I have done myself out of any future sales royalties (It’s ok, I’m used to it. I never got a dime from all the previous sales anyway. Look up “chump” in the dictionary…you’ll see my picture next to it. Oh well…”That’s show biz”).
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CAN YOU HEAR IT?
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Can you hear it?
Can you see it?
Do you know it to be real?
Can you touch it?
Can you taste it?
C’mon and tell me how you feel.
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When the morning sun is breaking,
And a new day is coming in,
Lift your head, leave your sleeping,
Let me tell you where I’ve been.
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To the valley,
Wet with wonder,
Watched a rolling river run.
You have been there,
In a vision,
Sitting golden in the sun.
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BRIDGE – Well, I’ve been
Searching such a lonely time,
Please won’t you tell me?
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Other faces,
Other places,
Know a softer side of you.
Can the ones,
Who touch you now,
Ever know what you’ve been through?
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Leaving madness,
Mournful sadness,
Broken beauty – now unmasked,
Let the stillness,
Make its answer,
For the questions you have asked.
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BRIDGE
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Will the circle,
Be unbroken,
By and by, Lord, by and by.
There’s a better,
Home a’waitin’
In the sky, Lord, in the sky.
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Song and video copyright – Randy Brook 2010

Duration : 0:5:8

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COPTIC PEOPLE ARE SONS OF THE PHAROHS:

The Copts as the successors of the ancient Egyptians are defined as the modern sons of the Pharaohs. They played an essential role in the whole Christian world, especially during the first five centuries.

Their religious background helped them to accept Christianity with eagerness and to enjoy its depth through their ascetic life, meditation and studying of the Holy Scripture.

In this topic we wish to throw some light on the ancient Egyptian culture and how it reacted towards the new Christian faith.

1- Their religious background:

It is well known that nature and upbringing have religiously minded ancient Egyptians since the very early times. Herodotus states that “The Egyptians are religious to excess, far beyond any other race of men.” Their religious curiosity was satisfied by the Christian faith that puts no limits to spiritual progress, for it raises the believers towards the bosom of the Father that they might enjoy the likeness of God, fast communion with Him and acknowledgment of the eternal divine mysteries.

2- Their high scientific background:

Modern science achieved unceasing progress, particularly in the last century. Many of the ancient Egyptians scientific work which took place thousands of years before Christ are still considered to be obscure secrets; for example the pyramids with their scientific wonder and mysteries, the art of embalming, the art of carving, colored painting on walls etc. All of these arts are still under research to the extent that some believe that the ancient Egyptians were working under the guidance of superhuman (coming from the outer space), or from other stars. Some consider that man would have conquered space much earlier if the library of Alexandria had not been burned, which led to losing scientific secrets of great importance.
In any case, the fact is that the ancient Egyptians put their scientific abilities at the disposal of the religious thinking (such as the building of the pyramids, embalming etc.). It had influenced the Copts. They looked to science not as an enemy of religion or contrary to it, but that science acts in favor of religion. Therefore, the school of Alexandria opened its doors to the scholars and philosophers, believing that science and philosophy could serve the true spiritual life.

3- Their religious dogmas:

A- Each major town in ancient Egypt used to recognize some kind of a triad. But these triads were too alien from the Christian Holy Trinity.

B- Their philosophers believed in One Supreme Being; the best example is King Ikhnaton (1383-1365 B. C.).

C- While the majority of the ancient civilizations were preoccupied with the earthly life, seeking temporary pleasures, the Egyptian mind was absorbed in the world to come, and in the resurrection. When they were converted to Christianity, they became involved in awaiting the advent of the Risen Christ, through their lengthy hymns, excessive fasting, enduring and suffering with joy. This eschatological attitude has its effect on our worship, liturgies and even in our daily life.

D- The Cross: Egyptians tended to identify the Cross with their own sign of eternal life, “the Ankh,” which was held in the hands of the immortals such as gods and pharaohs. The “Ankh” sign took the shape of a cruciform with rounded tip, which was readily adopted and used by the Copts from the very early times.

E- In addition to this, the Egyptians seem to have had an idea of the unity of God, His eternity, His infinity, as well as His loving kindness.

For more Infos:
http://st-takla.org/Coptic-church-1.html

Duration : 0:8:50

(more…)

COPTIC PEOPLE ARE SONS OF THE PHAROHS:

The Copts as the successors of the ancient Egyptians are defined as the modern sons of the Pharaohs. They played an essential role in the whole Christian world, especially during the first five centuries.

Their religious background helped them to accept Christianity with eagerness and to enjoy its depth through their ascetic life, meditation and studying of the Holy Scripture.

In this topic we wish to throw some light on the ancient Egyptian culture and how it reacted towards the new Christian faith.

1- Their religious background:

It is well known that nature and upbringing have religiously minded ancient Egyptians since the very early times. Herodotus states that “The Egyptians are religious to excess, far beyond any other race of men.” Their religious curiosity was satisfied by the Christian faith that puts no limits to spiritual progress, for it raises the believers towards the bosom of the Father that they might enjoy the likeness of God, fast communion with Him and acknowledgment of the eternal divine mysteries.

2- Their high scientific background:

Modern science achieved unceasing progress, particularly in the last century. Many of the ancient Egyptians scientific work which took place thousands of years before Christ are still considered to be obscure secrets; for example the pyramids with their scientific wonder and mysteries, the art of embalming, the art of carving, colored painting on walls etc. All of these arts are still under research to the extent that some believe that the ancient Egyptians were working under the guidance of superhuman (coming from the outer space), or from other stars. Some consider that man would have conquered space much earlier if the library of Alexandria had not been burned, which led to losing scientific secrets of great importance.
In any case, the fact is that the ancient Egyptians put their scientific abilities at the disposal of the religious thinking (such as the building of the pyramids, embalming etc.). It had influenced the Copts. They looked to science not as an enemy of religion or contrary to it, but that science acts in favor of religion. Therefore, the school of Alexandria opened its doors to the scholars and philosophers, believing that science and philosophy could serve the true spiritual life.

3- Their religious dogmas:

A- Each major town in ancient Egypt used to recognize some kind of a triad. But these triads were too alien from the Christian Holy Trinity.

B- Their philosophers believed in One Supreme Being; the best example is King Ikhnaton (1383-1365 B. C.).

C- While the majority of the ancient civilizations were preoccupied with the earthly life, seeking temporary pleasures, the Egyptian mind was absorbed in the world to come, and in the resurrection. When they were converted to Christianity, they became involved in awaiting the advent of the Risen Christ, through their lengthy hymns, excessive fasting, enduring and suffering with joy. This eschatological attitude has its effect on our worship, liturgies and even in our daily life.

D- The Cross: Egyptians tended to identify the Cross with their own sign of eternal life, “the Ankh,” which was held in the hands of the immortals such as gods and pharaohs. The “Ankh” sign took the shape of a cruciform with rounded tip, which was readily adopted and used by the Copts from the very early times.

E- In addition to this, the Egyptians seem to have had an idea of the unity of God, His eternity, His infinity, as well as His loving kindness.

For more Infos:
http://st-takla.org/Coptic-church-1.html

Duration : 0:7:40

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Cicely Tyson narrates this powerful film that tells the story of African American migration from the rural south to the prosperous north during the World War II years and beyond. www.upfromthebottoms.com It features Dick Gregory and Dr. Ben Wilson who give a national perspective on this story that was repeated all across the country. The stories are touching, thoughtful and often funny as told by fifteen residents of Muskegon, Michigan. Sponsored by Grand Valley State University, the Michigan Humanities Council an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Community Foundation for Muskegon. With help from Alcoa Howmet, JTM Associates, Brighter Futures, Harris Hospitality, Institute for Healing Racism, Muskegon Chronicle and Lakeshore Museum Center.

Duration : 0:3:13

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