cognitive world

It's the beginning of a new millenium. We are biological organisms who are on the way to cntrol our evolution. People change the environment so it adapts their needs. Wouldn't they try to alter themselves, so they can become healthier, more inteligent and so on?
choosing traits for children
modifying emotions
embrio screening
eugenics
genetic enginering
...
these are some of the issues which will soon become much more common...
I am not suprised that there is lot of concern and as dr Stock said "Now everything what can be done should be done" and we should distinguish needs from desires. However I think that we are lucky that we have a chance to live currently, observe and participate in shaping a world with the possibilities that never existed.

I do believe that we will have therapies that will alow us to live much longer. How many years? For instance in 15 years scientists will develop methods which will enable us to live 30 years longer. But before we die, it's likely that a revolutionary method will appear and we will be able to live e.g. 200 years and so on, and so on. You can listen to TED Talk by Aubrey de Grey who is working on defeating biological aging.

Marc Yu - brilliant young pianist!

On Sunday, I went to Blue Note, where was Nigel Kennedy/Jarek Śmietana's concert.
I met Ania (my friend studying Cognitive Science with me), Shane and Canadian friends there.
Alex and Dave were excited to be at so small Nigel's rock concert.
We were standing quite far from the stage, but after a break we moved closer,
so we could see this performance better. It was an absolutely amazing concert.
The band played such a good stuff and so vividly.
Who was playing?
Jarek Śmietana - guitar
Krzychu Dziedzic - the drummer ('he is so ******* fast', so does Nigel - rock song )
Adam Kowalewski- double bass and bass - 'Professor of Young (...)'-(Nigel)*
Wojciech Karolak – keyboard

After the concert, Alex, who is a guitar player
(I guess that pretty good, as he was in the band playing with Brian Adams)
was the first to talk to Nigel.
Ania, Shane, Dave, Adam, Krzychu and I sat at the tables (these ones for 'snobs' )
and we were talking with the Band about the concert, music, etc.
Guys invited us to Nigel's private room.
What is Nigel doing when a fun comes to him?
He is open, talkative and he exchanges friendly hits with lenched fists (polish 'Turtle').


After some time Nigel had to go back to the hotel and he invited us to come with him!
2 Kennedy's dogs invited us there We were listening to the different kinds of music, sitting, dancing, playing fusball, ... Can you imagine how happy we were?
We left hotel at about 6am and I had to say Nigel definitely wasn't sleepy then.

What so amazing about Nigel? I think he is a genius. He causes the musician playing with him are completely engaged. He has this kind of childlike enthusiasm which people often loose while getting older. He feels the music, I cannot even imagine how, strong.

I love his hypnotizing playing of different kinds of music.
He was born to be a conductor, he can guide the orchestra by his glaze, movements and smile.
You have to watch this: Vivaldii - Winter I
Classical music is still alive and can be played with a freshness.

There is one song from 'East Meets East'
the first Nigel's album which I heard 5 years ego.
Kennedy with the Polish Chamber Orchestrate: Beethoven and Mozart concertos (with interview with Nigel)
Here: Kennedy plays jazz
I think he really enjoys being with people. Not surprisingly they love him
(Adam said that especially in Germany, UK, USA and Poland).

He entertains the audience not only by his playing, but also by his hilarious behaviour, e.g.:
Tribute to Jimi Hendrix - Purple Haze.

Nigel has a nice polish wife - Agnieszka (who is a lawyer) and they live in Cracow (Kraków).

Here is the unofficial Nigel Kennedy people info's website
More photos from the concert and party.


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*Adam Kowalewski is teaching at the The Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice.