Archive for March, 2008

Community Investment News (January 10, 2006)

Monday, March 17th, 2008

January 10, 2006 ASSET BUILDING AND PRESERVATION Briefing on Illinois’s College Savings Plans Expanding Native Opportunity: Native IDA Initiative three-day Training Institute Savings Program Moves Young Adults from Foster Homes to Dream Homes Family Economic Success Quarterly Newsletter FINANCIAL EDUCATION FLLIP Coalition: FLLIP winter meeting January 18, 2006 FLLIP Financial Education Instructor Trainings, Jan 19-20 and Feb 2-3 How to help FLLIP! ACCESS TO MAINSTREAM FINANCIAL SERVICES Nonprofits pioneering new distribution channels for the underbanked Community Development Investment Review–NEW Federal Bank Publication out of San Francisco Asset building, affordable housing, economic development and sustainable energy, from Chicago Fed’s “Around The District” Federal Financial Regulatory Agencies Propose Guidance on Nontraditional Mortgage Products CRA exam schedule and ratings CALENDAR OF EVENTS Jan 11: IABG briefing on Illinois’s College Savings Plans Jan 18: FLLIP Coalition quarterly meeting Jan 19, 20: All My Money training workshop Jan 26: Keeping it Real: The Opportunities and Pitfalls of Social Enterprise Feb 2, 3: Your Money and Your Life training workshop Feb 6: IABG Policy Committee Meeting Feb 21: IABG Coordinating Committee Meeting ASSET BUILDING AND PRESERVATION Briefing on Illinois’s College Savings Plans Youare invited to an informal briefing on Illinois’s college savingsprograms on Wednesday, Jan. 11, from 2:15 to 3:15 pm. Bartt Stevens ofthe Office of the State Treasurer will present and answer questionsabout Illinois’s Bright Start college savings plans and the potentialadvantages and disadvantages of using college savings plans as avehicle for a state children’s savings program. The briefing will takeplace at the Shriver Center, 50 East Washington, Suite 500, Chicago,Illinois (corner of Wabash and Washington). To participate byconference call, please dial: 1-888-296-6500. Passcode: 257167. PleaseRSVP to jamischlafer@povertylaw.org. Expanding Native Opportunity: Native IDA Initiative 3-day Training Institute, Feb. 21-23 TheNative IDA Initiative combines a three-day training institute withcustomized technical assistance to help your Native organizationstart-up, implement, and sustain Individual Development Accounts (IDAs)in your community. The next Native IDA training institute will be heldin Albuquerque, New Mexico on February 21-23, 2006 and is presented byFirst Nations Development Institute, First Nations Oweesta Corporation,and CFED. To apply for the upcoming training institute, click here to download an application. Return the application by fax (202.408.9793), email (emily@cfed.org), or mail to Emily Appel, Native IDA
Initiative, CFED, 777 N. Capitol Street, NE, Suite 800, Washington, DC20002. Call Emily at 202.408.9788 ext 155 with any questions about theapplication. Savings Program Moves Young Adults from Foster Homes to Dream Homes TheJim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative trains participants ages 14 to23 in all money matters - from opening a checking account and buyingcar insurance to starting their own small businesses. The program alsoconnects former foster children with mentors - from doctors toaccountants to counselors and provides matching funds for savingsaccounts that the participants start, ranging from one-to-one matchesfor those saving to buy a car to four-to-one matches for buying ahouse. Read the entire article by Doug Gross by clicking here. Family Economic Success Quarterly Newsletter The latest Family Economic Success Quarterly Newsletter, published by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, is available here.The newsletter provides updates on activities, developments andresources in the three major strategy areas of FES—workforcedevelopment, family economic support and community investment. The goalof Casey’s FES work is to help low-income families secure adequateincomes, accumulate savings, and live in stable, economically viableneighborhoods, so they can provide for their children and move ahead. FINANCIAL EDUCATION Financial Links for Low-Income People (FLLIP)
Major funding for FLLIP is provided by the Illinois Department of Human Services and the Grand Victoria Foundation. FLLIP Financial Education Trainings, Jan 19-20 and Feb 2-3 Financial education instructor training sessions are being offered in January and February. Trainings use the FLLIP curricula: All My Money and Your Money and Your Life. The January All My Money sessions are full. There are only a few spots available for Your Money and Your Life training on February 2 and 3 from 9:00 to 4:00 at the Shriver Center in Chicago. All My Money is a pre-requisite for Your Money & Your Life.Topics covered will include managing debt, avoiding money traps, usingfinancial institutions, choosing insurance, realizing job benefits,making money with money, taking advantage of public benefits,understanding taxes, identity theft, and immigrant banking issues. Thetraining includes instruction, an instructor manual, materials,handouts, and food (a light breakfast, lunch, and refreshments).Contact Jami Schlafer at 312-368-8575, or jamischlafer@povertylaw.org for more information or to register. Please RSVP by January 19. How to Help FLLIP Financial institutions, foundations, government organizations, and individuals can help FLLIP in the following ways. 1. Underwrite a FLLIP Financial Education Program site for one year
2 . Underwrite a 4-day train-the-trainer session for up to 20 nonprofitstaff members to learn to deliver FLLIP’s Financial Education Program
3 . Sponsor the FLLIP Catalyst Awards Luncheon
4 . Sponsor a FLLIP quarterly meeting (May 3, 2006 sponsor needed!) ACCESS TO MAINSTREAM FINANCIAL SERVICES Nonprofits Pioneering New Distribution Channels for the Underbanked Nonprofitsare leading the way to provide a better range of financial services tounderbanked consumers, according to a recent American Banker article.In collaboration with banks and other financial services companies,quality and affordable financial products and services–such asmicroloans, better and cheaper insurance, and remittance education–arebecoming more accessible to recent immigrants and those with little orno credit. To learn more about how these nonprofits and foundations areforging the way, contact Jennifer Tescher of the Center for FinancialServices Innovation in Chicago at jtescher@cfsinnovation.com. Community Development Investment Review - New Publication by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco TheFederal Reserve Bank of San Francisco’s Center for CommunityDevelopment Investments published the inaugural issue of the CommunityDevelopment Investment Review. This issue of the Review explores theNew Markets Tax Credit program: how well it’s working, its impact onlow-income communities, and how investors have solved some of thepractical issues around using the credit. The Review is availableonline at http://www.frbsf.org/publications/. The Center for Community Development Investments is online at http://www.frbsf.org/cdinvestments/. Asset Building, Affordable Housing, Economic Development, and Sustainable Energy Illinois,Indiana, Iowa, and Wisconsin are featured on the Chicago Fed’swebsite’s “Around the District” section. Illinois, in particular, isnoted for its state asset policy initiatives fostered by the FederalReserve Bank of Chicago, the Sargent Shriver National Center on PovertyLaw, and the Illinois Asset Building Group. Indiana recently receivedover $6 million to support an affordable housing project, Iowa receivedfunding for the development of a Sustainable Food and Energy Model Farmequipped to facilitate year-round food production, and Wisconsininitiated a new regional economic development council. To read more,please click here. Federal Financial Regulatory Agencies Propose Guidance on Nontraditional Mortgage Products Thefederal financial regulatory agencies are proposing guidelines tocarefully manage the potential heightened risk levels created bynontraditional mortgage products, including “interest-only” mortgageloans in a joint press release. To read the entire press release andthe proposed guidelines, click here. CRA Exam Schedule and Ratings Thereare four regulating agencies that evaluate banks’ compliance with theCommunity Reinvestment Act (CRA). The following are links to eachagencies’ exam schedule and the evaluation results. Office of theComptroller of the Currency (OCC): Exam schedule, Evaluation results
Federal Reserve Board: Exam schedule, Evaluation results
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC): Exam schedule, Evaluation results
Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS): Exam schedule and results CALENDAR OF EVENTS Briefing on Illinois’s College Savings Plans
January 11, 2:15 - 3:15pm
Shriver Center, 50 E. Washington St., Suite 500
For more information, contact Jami Schlafer at jamischlafer@povertylaw.org or 312-368-8575. FLLIP Coalition quarterly meeting
January 18, 12:00pm-1:30pm (11:00am Instructors’ meeting)
Mid-America Club, Chicago, 200 East Randolph Drive, 80th floor - Aon Center
For more information or to RSVP, please contact Jami Schlafer at 312-368-8575, or jamischlafer@povertylaw.org.
Your Money & Your Life Train-the-Trainer Session
February 2,3 (YMYL), 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law
50 E. Washington St., Suite 500, Chicago
Contact Jami Schlafer (312.368.8575, jamischlafer@povertylaw.org) for more information or to RSVP for either of the training workshops. Keeping it Real: The Opportunities and Pitfalls of Social Enterprise
January 26, 10:00am-12:00pm
Grace Place, 637 South Dearborn, Chicago
The second of a series of seminars on ways to promote communityeconomic development in lower-income neighborhoods, hosted by theChicago CRA Coalition and Woodstock Institute. Speakers include ConnieEvans, of Women’s Self Employment Project (WSEP) and Nancy Phillips, ofWomanCraft, Inc. To RSVP, contact Beverly Berryhill at (312) 427-8070or bhill@woodstockinst.org. Illinois Asset Building Group (IABG) Policy Committee Meeting
February 6, 1:00 - 3:00pm
Shriver Center, 50 E. Washington St., Suite 500
For more information, contact Jami Schlafer at jamischlafer@povertylaw.org or 312-368-8575.

It’s kind of cold…

Sunday, March 16th, 2008

But it’s not that cold.

I’m seeing lots of guys in shorts.

And beehive hats:

We’re circling the Capitol Square at the Dane County Farmers’ Market:

Gotta get some flowers:

Whitstable and Beyond…

Friday, March 14th, 2008

Sorry I have been late with the blog again! I write a weekly column for the Scotsman and invariably it is a page and takes up heaps of my time.   I worry that my blog is suffering although being a ‘proper journalist’ is a real job and being a blogger is just fun – I have a huge responsibility to my blog.     This week in London , I went off to BBC to do a radio show with Robin Ince called ‘Serious About Comedy’ where he hosts and other guests like myself review various TV and radio shows.   The sun was bursting out of the sky as I flip flopped in my summer shoes from Broadcasting House and there was husband sitting outside a coffee shop waiting on me! It was such a surprise and a lovely one to be honest.   “Lets jump on a train and get out of London and go to the beach

Prolixity

Thursday, March 13th, 2008

A quality I’m becoming less likely to ever being ascribed with. No, I haven’t swallowed a dictionary – it’s just below ‘prolific’ and I was hoping that by looking that word up it would have some sort of side-effect on me.

Since my return I seem to be so absorbed with reading that I have no energy to write. This has been encouraged with my discovery of RSS feeds. Yes, I knew they existed, but I finally did something about them, by installing Attensa. This rather nifty bit of software puts all my favourite blogs into my Outlook folders. This has the benefit of keeping me constantly up-to-date and making it look like I’m working at the same time. The downside is the content doesn’t appear in the same template as the author intended, it’s not as easy to post comments, and you miss out on your AdSense marketing opportunities. Like I’m really going to become an AdSense millionaire.

So I have expanded my daily reads. It is compulsory that you at least read this post in a beautiful revolution, if only because it prompts the comment ‘you should blog about your depression because otherwise people will think you are just a penguin’.

I am not a penguin.




Getting Better via RSS - Feeding the Animals

How Your Dentist Can Help You Get A Brilliant (Laser hair removal) Smile

Tuesday, March 11th, 2008

to Avere a smile healthy white man can make a world of thedifference in the sense that you look at yourselves therefore likeothers. Those who has dentale problems can get confused in order tocommunicate or sorridere, that it can have an effect negative on theirscrew of social transactions and laser hair removal as also theirsself-esteem.Se you think as your smile you could little usean improvement, your dentist can repair all the problem virtually and laser hair removal to re-establish your teeth to an aesthetic smilebrillante.L’ that whitens the pharmacies transports a widevariety of aesthetic that whiten the agents, from strisce totooth-pastes in paste the varnish-sui gel. These work well for thepeople that do not have need of the dramatic changes made us theirteeth. However, for the people that have deeper spots, one called thedentist can be in the order for drammatica.L’ the moreaesthetic whitewashing that whitens via the dentist is usuallyinvolved to candeggiare or to whiten of the laser the imbianchimentoof the In-office is involved to take the impressions of the teeth and laser hair removal then to make a tray on destined measure specifically for measure themouth. For the following braces of the weeks, the patient fills up theimbianchimento gel tray and laser hair removal the door for a every specific timesettimana.Con the laser that whitens, the first dentistarranges a tool in the mouth in order to maintain the labbri from thecontact of the teeth during the treatment. Then, a imbianchimento gelis applied to the teeth and laser hair removal a laser is polished on the teeth for anhour. This active light the gel, than in its turn whitens the teeth.The dentist can decide to more long polish the light in order than anhour, according to the dentale degree ofsbiadimento.Implant dentale of the implants To in oneartificial root of the tooth arranged from peridontist and laser hair removal the grips atooth or a ponticello of the rimontaggio on the place without formeans to of the near teeth for the support the new one. The implantsdentale they are uses you in order to conserve a tooth and laser hair removal in order tohold them in the mouth for the people that have lost a tooth or theteeth from the lesions, disease, or a sure number of other reasons.They can also supply the support for dentures, rendering she surer inthe mouth and laser hair removal more comfortable pure.Sostegni if your teethare bent but the thought of the Marches that of the supports you thinklike the posterior part of youre in High School, you can wish toconsider the invisibili supports. If you obtain the invisibilisupports, your dentist will supply it the aligners free who workdiscreetly in order to newly move your teeth within the place. Thepeople who have piled up the teeth, gaps in the teeth, or overbite ora under-bite can be candidates for the invisibili supports, but it isgenerally classified for those who has the ammucchiatura and laser hair removal gapsminime.I invisibili supports, various of the real supports,are moreover smontabili and laser hair removal many adults prefer them as the appearanceof the isnt of the supports therefore evidente.Ci littleproblems are a lot that dull are corrected with one littleodontoiatria cosmetic. If your problems are more serious and laser hair removal demandthe surgery or the implants, or if wished as soon as to illuminateyour smile a small, your dentist has of the tools and laser hair removal means in orderto help it to obtain a smile brillante.

Friday Random Ten, Who's a Black Sheep? I'm a Black Sheep Edition

Monday, March 10th, 2008

Did you realize that there’s a movie opening this weekend about killer zombie sheep? No, really. I think it’s supposed to be a comedy, but with horror the line tends to be really fine.

Lifter Puller - “Katrina and the K-Hole”
The band that would become The Hold Steady. The clever lyrics were definitely already there.
U2/Brian Eno - “Ito Okashi”
From the mostly forgotten Passengers soundtrack. Still not a bad late-night listen.
Bowling for Soup - “Ridiculous”
Boy, they were cool for about five minutes, weren’t they? OK, not really.
Wu Tang - “Cream” (a capella)
I downloaded a huge torrent of a capella tracks, meant for remixing. I haven’t had a chance to play with them yet, but they’re kind of an intriguing listen on their own.
New Pornographers - “Chump Change”
I still need to give their new album a good listen.
Genesis - “Land of Confusion” (live)
From their “The Way We Walk” live albums, which came out when I was in high school and really grabbed me. I could probably be a fan of old-school Genesis, if I didn’t find the catalog so daunting.
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists - “Counting Down the Hours”
Every time I hear Ted Leo, I remind myself that I should listen to him more often, and then I never do.
Violent Femmes - “Add it Up” (live)
This makes me want to get out my guitar and get really hammered.
Blue Oyster Cult - “Flaming Telepaths”
The sad part about Blue Oyster Cult’s “Best Of” album is how much of it is filler.
Tom Waits - “Bad Liver and a Broken Heart”
From Small Change, the album that got me into Tom. I much prefer him in Smoky Drunken Piano Bar mode over Crazy Carnival Guy, but I’ll take whatever he’s giving.

Show And Tell

Saturday, March 8th, 2008

George, I'm looking forward to that, Bush is the subject of the Daily Show's resident expert, John Hodgman. E','target','myself','enablejavascript','true'); // –> Quicktime Video 7.8 MB : 00:05:46 Quicktime 7 required This file is available for download here. Ctrl-Click and 'Download Linked File' (Mac) or Rt-Click and 'Save Target As' (PC) the link above. The Daily Show w/Jon Stewart - Fake news that delivers the truth View Daily Show video at Comedy Central Motherload then embed your favorites at your own site. Get the latest Daily Show at iTunes…

Letter to my local member Petro Georgiou on climate change

Friday, March 7th, 2008

I just sent this letter to Petro Georgiou, my local member in the Kooyong electorate.

Dear Petro,

I write to you as a constituent. Thanks for your letter dated 16 May advising of budget matters and the Government’s platform for the 2007 election.

I believe that climate change is the number one issue facing Australia and Kooyong at present. I don’t think the Government and budget initiatives you mention under “The Environment” are anywhere near enough to address climate change.

For example, nearly all the total $500m Low Emissions Technology Demonstration fund is committed to carbon capture and sequestration research and development. You incorrectly refer to this as “clean coal”. There is no such thing, burning coal will always result in carbon emissions. This technology is unproven, and will in any case will not be available in time to address the major cutbacks immediately required in carbon emissions - as identified in the Stern report and recent IPCC reports.

Both these reports indicate that significant expenditure (about 1% of GDP) is required to limit further global temperature rises by one degree. The cost of doing nothing effective now could require over 3-5% of GDP to address later (say in 5 years time).

Your government and the Prime Minister has stated that Australia cannot take action to address climate change as it will affect employment and our standard of living. This is completely the wrong way around. If we don’t take immediate action to address climate change, our incomes and standard of living will greatly affected in the near future. We are already seeing the affects of climate change and drought on our agricultural exports and food supply.

I would like to you ensure that Australia: Legislates for a renewable energy target of 30% by 2020 to fast-track the shift to a clean energy economy, which could become one of Australia’s major sectors for employment and exports.Sets a legislated target to stabilise our total energy consumption by 2010. We must reduce our energy consumption through increased efficiency measures to reduce our carbon emissions, Achieves reductions of 1.5% on our total electricity use every year to 2020. After stablilising our energy consumption, we must then progressively reduce it through efficiency measures. Abolishes the fringe benefit tax concessions for car use. Many leased cars are currently used excessively to meet tax deduction requirements, resulting in large and avoidable carbon emissions. Provides $1 billion of additional Federal funding annually for our public transport systems. Public transport, and rail in particular, is much more energy efficient than transport by privately owned motor vehicles. Increased use of improved public transport will reduce our carbon emissions. Ends broad-scale land clearing and logging of high conservation value native forests by 2008, to address the greenhouse emissions from these practices. Put a price on carbon pollution, either through a tax or an emissions trading scheme. This will ensure that renewable energy can compete with fossil fuel energy on a level playing field. Fossil fuel energy is heavily subsides by the Government. These subsidies must be removed. Does not build new coal fired power stations and that we responsibly phase out our involvement in the coal industry. Ratifies the Kyoto Protocol immediately. Climate change is a global problem, and it needs a global solution. Australia should become a constructive part of this international process. Shifts overseas aid to renewable energy sectors. Australia must integrate climate change risk factors into all relevant parts of our Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) program planning and evaluation. The majority of Australia’s ODA energy sector spending should be on renewable energy, demand management and energy efficiency. Does not use nuclear power and stops uranium mining. Nuclear power is a dangerous and ineffective response to climate change. Australia’s involvement in the global nuclear cycle should be nil – no uranium mining, nuclear waste dumps, and nuclear power stations for Australia. Limits global temperate increases to 2 degrees. Most industrialised nations now accept the imperative of constraining global temperature increase to 2 degrees or less to avoid catastrophic climate change, It is imperative that constraining global temperature increase to no more than 2 degrees above pre-industrial levels must underpin Australian government policy responses to global warming. At local level, can you please: Commit to Kooyong becoming carbon neutral? Can you please commit to the target of Kooyong becoming carbon neutral by 2010? Provide funding for the Eastern Rail Trail? Increasing bicycle transport is another means of reducing our carbon emissions. A high quality bicycle trail along the Box Hill line through Kooyong would encourage both local and commuter cycling. Could you please convey my views to the Australian parliament and the Liberal Party room for consideration and action?

I await your response. I will follow this email up with a phone call next week to confirm progress on this. I would also like to meet with you to discuss these matters further.

Regards, Peter

Communication and Information at UNESCO

Thursday, March 6th, 2008

I have just finished week three of my internship. I love it. Essentially, our job here at UNESCO is to give away money to people and organizations that need it. Well, perhaps it is a bit more complicated than that. I work in the Communication and Information sector, and the Quito office is in charge of all C&I projects in South America. Certainly, there are a lot of people and places who need money, and our budget only allows us to support a tiny percentage.
Non-profit organizations, universities, and even government organizations petition us for funds to support their projects, from developing a community radio station in the Brazilian Amazon with programs in indigenous languages to training journalists to report on tough issues such as domestic violence. We look for projects that will further the goals set out by, including promoting freedom of expression and the press, expanding community and independent media sources (especially in indigenous communities), and training people to use technology to express themselves, share information, and transverse the digital divide.
We evaluate projects proposals based on their viability, their sustainability after the termination of UNESCO funds, their beneficiaries, their cost, and the organizations´ capacity to execute them successfully. Because the proposals most often come from grassroots organizations, the projects are usually based at community level, although some regional and national projects are in the works as well.
Everyday, I read proposals, check up on the progress of various projects, and do research on organizations. I am learning so much about the needs, the challenges, and the goals that organizations on the continent see in for their communities. I am learning about just how isolated many communities are, and that some have access to almost no media in their own languages.
The marginalization of the indigenous communities in South America, evident in almost every facet of social, economic and political life, becomes especially apparent when dealing with the issue of communication and media. Many countries on the continent are home to an large sector of the population for whom Spanish is a second, or unknown, language. Yet nearly all media and educational materials are produced solely in Spanish, with little space or money for translation and duplication in native languages.
We are currently working on several projects on the issue of community media building in indigenous languages, in indigenous communities, and these projects interest me most of all that we are presently involved in. One such project is being carried out in a region of the Brazilian Amazon where signals from only three radio stations and one television station reach, not one of them in an indigenous language. UNESCO has funded the construction of a radio tower and basic technical equipment for the development of a community radio station, along with the radio production and journalism training of twenty local people to maintain the station. An interesting issue in Brazil, as in many places on the continent, is the problem of legalizing radio stations. The enormous media corporations in the country have tremendous clout in the government, and prevent the legalization of community radio stations, as they obviously present competition for a largely monopolized communications industry. Technically, UNESCO can only engage in projects with legal entities. As I am learning, there are miles of red tape involved in UNESCO´s policies, trying not to undermine member states (financiers!), while still achieving its goals and upholding its principles. The two are often not complementary. I will write more on this soon, when I have a better idea of more particular cases involved (projects for AIDS prevention that advocate condom use in majority Catholic countries, for example).
Teaching youth to use media as means of self-expression and cultural preservation is also an important theme incorporated into several of our projects. We just watched the final documentaries produced by young residents in a slum outside of Lima (with no running water or paved streets, and very little access to electricity). The films were amazing, and more than the technical skill which had been acquired, clearly impressive in itself, the storytelling ability of these young people was incredible as they portrayed the realities of their lives and the realities of their community. What is the most rewarding about the project, however, is that not only the story of this community can be told through this documentary, these youth have learned valuable skills that they can convert into real jobs and opportunities that they would not otherwise have had. Indeed, the sustainability of this project lies in the fact that these newly technically capable artists can continue to tell their story and express the needs and sentiments of their community and themselves.
We just found out that the Government of Japan is accepting large scale proposals in the communication sector, focusing on countries with current violent conflicts. We are going to develop a proposal in the next couple months, and I am so excited to be a part of it! It will be a great opportunity for me to learn the whole process of creating and submitting a project of such magnitude, and I am going to be able to do research and give input on the content and context of the proposal. A project in Colombia is the obvious choice for South America, due to the conflict requirement of the funds, but I am hoping that we might be able to tailor a project in Bolivia to fit the specifications, as it is a country of personal interest, and one I hope to learn all I can of while I am here. We are just going over the methodology and project development approach we are going to use to begin the process (such large budget projects are not all the common in this office), and I am very happy to be a part of it. Hopefully we will be making progress on this in the next few weeks, and will be able to advance to a second stage or more specific project planning soon.

Brian Eno - The Pearl (with Harold Budd & Daniel Lanois)

Wednesday, March 5th, 2008

The Pearl, released in 1984, is a set of tranquil piano tone poems. The music is simple modal music in an ambient style. What makes it so captivating is the way Eno creates evocative spaces for Budd to play within. This has the effect of making the spaces between notes as important as the notes themselves.
Budd is sensitive to this play between the notes and silence, and tailors his music to allow the notes to drift towards silence. Think of Satie played underwater, and you have an approximation of the effect of these pieces.
There are 11 pieces on the CD, each intriguingly titled; “Late October”, “A stream with bright fish”, or “An echo of night”, for example. The CD artwork captures the idea of the pieces perfectly, too. Irregular patches of glistening iridescent water shine against dark pebbles, almost drawing your eye away from a perfect pearl.
This music is understated, but masterful. It may lure you or lull you, but either way, it is irresistible.

Brian Eno - The Pearl (with Harold Budd & Daniel Lanois)
1. Late October (4:42)
2. A Stream With Bright Fish (3:56)
3. The Silver Ball (3:30)
4. Against The Sky (4:53)
5. Lost In The Humming Air (4:23)
6. Dark-Eyed Sister (4:40)
7. Their Memories (2:27)
8. The Pearl (1:13)
9. Foreshadowed (3:54)
10. An Echo Of Night (2:27)
11. Still Return (4:14)

part1

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