An Extract from La Follia by Arcangelo Corelli 1653-1713

AO4
To understand the context of a period, say the late 1600s to the early 1700s, it helps to listen to the music that was popular at the time. This extract from "La Follia' (the latter word is derived from "folly") is useful for understanding the ornate nature of the baroque, the style in music, art, architecture and furniture at the time.

Arcangelo Corelli died a rich man because of aid of his patrons and the quality art of his compositions. Captain Corelli in "Captain Corelli's Mandolin" from the A2 text of the same name derives his name and nationality from Arcangelo Corelli.

"Elegy in a Country Churchyard" by Thomas Gray, a reading and notes

"Elegy In A Country Churchyard" by Thomas Gray, published in 1751. Surely one of the greatest poems ever penned.

Michael J. Cummings Study Guide

http://www.cummingsstudyguides.net/ThoGray.html

More excellent notes from the University of Toronto
http://rpo.library.utoronto.ca/poem/882.html

Is the FED making progress on reflating the US economy?

Two articles from different sources weigh up the evidence that the US Federal Reserve is already making progress on reflating the US economy. The implications for gold and silver from the Fed monetizing treasury bonds and other financial assets are highly favourable - although you would never know it from the action in gold and related PM stocks today. The next two to three weeks may hold pleasant surprises for some gold and silver bugs.


Boris Sobolev is a known PM investor

http://news.goldseek.com/GoldSeek/1233547200.php

Bloomberg represents "Main Street"

Dakin Campbell's revised article form Bloomberg

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aL4DN7bHk3FU&refer=home

A Chart Explaining Elizabethan, Metaphysical, and Cavalier Poetry

This is a pretty clear explanation of the differences between each poetic style from the three periods. It's also very useful for understanding the literary, historical and cultural contexts ( AO5ii ).

Max Keiser and the Oracle for 30th of January 2009

Get past the jaunty presentation and Max and his guests have serious things to say on the world economy and gold. Last week Max's Oracle predicted a currency crisis for the Pound in April this year. This is part one of the current program. If you want the other parts you can click on the program and search on Youtube.

Ronald Rosen thinks that gold blasts off in 2009-10

Ronald Rosen, a longtime proponent of Gann's method of analysing markets thinks that we have reached Stage 3 of the gold market. Given the increasing sense of crisis in the world's major economies I fully agree with him. The link is worth reading while playing the 1812 Overture. What a wonderful piece of celebratory music that is! (The link for this is within Rosen's interesting article)

http://www.gold-eagle.com/editorials_08/rosen013009.html

John Milton's "On His Blindness"

This poem from Section 2 of the "Edxecel Anthology" will be one of the focus poems this coming week. This is richly expressive rendition of Milton's great sonnet - and one worth posting.