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Although meditation, yoga and taking naps are effective forms of stress relief, listening to music is one of the easiest ways to get your dopamine flowing. You might have your own personal playlist to calm your nerves, but this one is scientifically-backed. A study conducted by neuroscientists from Mindlab International recorded participants’ physiological responses to specific songs while solving complex puzzles. Based on the results, the scientists came up with the 10 most relaxing songs. 1. Marconi Union, “Weightless” The reason for this, as explained by Lyz Cooper of the British Academy of Sound Therapy, is that the song utilizes...

This is my first vanity post, so bear with me. I just think a lot of us need to decompress from this COVID-19 donnybrook, the whole current state of civil upheaval, the so-called 'peaceful' riots, shootings, and lootings, and sundry other manufactured irritants in our lives. I, for one, retreat to music, either from CD or online playlists, and was wondering: what are you currently listening to that is lessening your bile and lowering your blood pressure? Is it rock, classical, country, pop, chamber, ambient, opera, electronica? Who are your favorite artists in any given genre? Are they a known...

A visit to The Butterfly Place yesterday resulted in this memory of the trip. I love Joseph Blanchard's compositions. And I'm impressed at how well phone cameras work, as opposed to the big, clunky ones of the past.

Kingdom of the Bards From the composer: "A relaxing and peaceful composition in which I wanted to mix Celtic elements with melodies from the Medieval times. It's the first of its kind on my discography but probably not the last.^^ Composed and arranged 100% by myself on keyboard, as always."

Beautiful Peaceful Kittens

The EU has become lax in reiterating the three conditions Hamas has to meet before gaining international legitimacy, a top Foreign Ministry official said Monday, adding that he would not “bet his life” that some in the EU are not looking for a “back-channel” contact with Hamas. Naor Gilon, the Foreign Ministry’s deputy director-general for Western Europe, made his comments at a symposium in Jerusalem sponsored by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. Gilon’s words come just days after Hamas officials said they wanted direct contact with the US administration, and a couple of weeks after...